My Genealogy Hound

NATHAN ZIEGENFUSS, M. D., who is a practicing physician and surgeon of Bethlehem, Lehigh County, is rapidly winning an enviable reputation among his professional brethren, while his skill and ability are gaining for him throughout the community a liberal and lucrative patronage. He was born at Friedensville, Lehigh County, December 20, 1849, and his father, Henry Ziegenfuss, was a native of Bucks County.

Grandfather Michael Ziegenfuss was a farmer in Bucks County, where he lived and died. His father came from Berlin, Germany, located in Bucks County, and there carried on farming pursuits. The father of Nathan was a shoemaker by trade, but while residing in Friedensville was in the employ of the Lehigh Zinc Company for thirty years. He is now living in Lehigh County, retired from active work, and has reached the advanced age of eighty -six years.

The mother, Mrs. Sarah (Marsteller) Ziegenfuss, was born in Northampton County, and was an active member of the Reformed Church. Of her family of seven children, three are living, Nathan being the youngest but one. William during the late war was a member of Company K, Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry, and after serving through that period, died at Alexandria, Va. Charles H, who was also a Union soldier, was Corporal of the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry; he is now General Superintendent of the Juragua Ponnugo Iron Company and is located at San Diego, Cuba. He is a practical mechanic, and for many years was the Mining Superintendent of the Bethlehem Iron Company. The members of the family who are deceased are Amos, Matilda and Eveline.

Nathan, of this sketch, was reared in Friedensville, and after obtaining his education in the common school, entered the employ of the Lehigh Zinc Company, with whom he remained for six years. In 1869, however, he engaged to work for the Bethlehem Iron Company, and being a mechanical engineer, was employed in putting up engines in New Jersey, principally in the mills of the company. He continued to work for them until 1877, when he was given the position of contractor with the Bethlehem Iron Company, and in their interest opened several mines of iron ore and limestone.

Being desirous of following a professional career, Dr. Ziegenfuss in 1886 began reading medicine, and in the fall of 1888 entered the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, where he took five courses of lectures, graduating in the spring of 1892. When looking around for a suitable place to locate, he came to Bethlehem, where he has since resided, having a beautiful residence situated on First Avenue.

Dr. Ziegenfuss was married in 1868, in Slatington, to Miss Mary Nonnemaker, a native of that place, and the daughter of Jacob Nonnemaker, a wheelwright by trade. She departed this life in 1873, while residing in Hoffmansville, leaving at her decease three children, of whom John died in 1888, when in his eighteenth year. Jacob died in infancy, and Lillie is at home with her father.

The second marriage of our subject occurred in 1875, at which time Miss Lillie Kerschner, daughter of Reuben Kerschner, became his wife. To them have been born a daughter, Annie, and a son, Claude, the latter dying when a year old.

Dr. Ziegenfuss is a prominent Thirty-second Degree Mason, and belongs to Conimandery No. 20, K. T., of Allentown. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum and Red Men, holding membership with the lodge at Philadelphia, and is a Knight of Pythias. In religious affairs he belongs to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. He is a true-blue Republican in politics, and has served as a member of the standing committee for many years. He is connected with the Lehigh Valley Medical Association, the Northampton County Medical Society, and is the Medical Examiner for the Union Central Life Insurance of Ohio.