My Genealogy Hound

JONAS F. MOYER, who was appointed by President Cleveland to the position of Postmaster of Catasauqua in the spring of 1894, is making a good record in this capacity. He is a leading Democrat, having been one of the workers in the ranks of his party, and for the past twelve years has been a correspondent for the Allentown Daily Item.

Born at Macungie, in this county, June 2, 1850, J. F. Moyer is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Mertz) Moyer, the father a native of Upper Milford, and the mother of Macungie. The paternal grandfather was born in the Keystone State, but his father was a native of Holland, who became one of the early settlers of this county. Samuel Moyer was a carpenter by trade, and assisted in building the locks in the canal, and also erected the first brick house in the borough of Macungie. Later he owned a slateyard, and was a partner in the foundry of Miller & Moyer. In other enterprises he was also active. Though now seventy-seven years of age he takes a great interest in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is living a retired life in the borough which has been his home since boyhood. His wife was a daughter of Henry Mertz, a native of the same place, who was a broom manufacturer.

In his parents’ family, which comprised eight children, Jonas F. Moyer is the fourth in order of birth, all but two of the family still living. He was reared in the place of his birth, attending the public schools, and about 1861 commenced his active career, his first work being in a brickyard. Afterward he worked on a farm in the vicinity, and then on one in Bucks County, during which time he attended school to some extent. We next find him a clerk in a store at Macungie, from where he went to Philadelphia, obtaining employment in a grocery. Once more returning to his childhood’s home, he engaged as a clerk in the same store, but about 1869 he began teaching at Alburtis, and taught there for one term, following the same business for some seven or eight terms in the vicinity of Macungie. During this time he attended the Keystone Normal, working his own way, and graduating June 1, 1877, with the degree of Bachelor of Elements. Two years later he received the degree of Master of Elements. After this he resumed teaching, and the following two years taught at Ironton, and later for one year at Sand Springs. Thus the years passed, his time being mainly given to teaching until 1883. In 1879 he took the First Ward School in Allentown, which he taught for a year, and then for the same length of time taught the school in North Whitehall Township, near Unionville. After leaving Unionville he came to Catasauqua, teaching here for two years, when he changed his vocation and became bookkeeper for William Yunger in his flourmill. At the end of two years he resigned his position in the mill to engage in the life-insurance business, which he has since continued in with the exception of some five winters when he taught the Faust Grammar School, and in Allen Township. While in the life-insurance business Mr. Moyer represented the Mutual Benefit Association of Newark, N. J., and in its interests has traveled considerably in adjoining counties.

In this city Mr. Moyer was married, in 1878, to Miss Celia R. Troxell, who was born in Washington Township, of this county, and is a daughter of E. A. Troxell, who is engaged in merchandising in Catasauqua. To Mr. and Mrs. Moyer were given seven children, five of whom are living, as follows: Samuel E., Ida E., William A., Russell F. and Ella May. Mary E. and Solon F. are deceased.

In January, 1894, Mr. Moyer was given the preference over about twenty-three applicants, and received the appointment of Postmaster, taking possession of the office immediately. He has many warm friends and supporters in his party, who have been most happy to give him their patronage and support, and the wisdom of their selection and recommendation has been shown in the manner in which he has conducted the affairs of the office. Mr. Mover is an Odd Fellow; is Past Officer of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, having represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge, and is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, being one of the founders of the lodge and Past Officer. For one term he served on the Grand Jury, and, in brief, has been in many ways before the public in leading roles. A member of the Reformed Church, he is one of its active workers and is Superintendent of the Sunday-school.