My Genealogy Hound

CALVIN FEGELY, of the firm of J. Fegely & Son, wholesale dealers in hardware, coal, iron, etc., 60-62 High street, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was born in Pottstown, September 16, 1858. He is the son of Jacob and Mary (Hunsberger) Fegely. Jacob Fegely was a native of Berks county and Mary, his wife, was a native of Chester county. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters, three of whom are now living: Calvin; Mary, wife of George Gilbert of Lehighton, Pennsylvania, and Susan, wife of Dr. Charles M. Vanderslice, of Pottstown.

Jacob Fegely (father) was a mill-wright by trade but he worked at his trade only a few years. In 1853 he came to Pottstown and established a coal business in partnership with his brother Isaac. The firm continued so for a number of years when William Swinehart became interested in the business, and they began dealing in lumber also and later Isaac withdrew and Samuel Fronehiser became a member of the firm, which was known as J. Fegely & Company from the time of Mr. Swinehart’s connection with it, this arrangement continuing until about 1886.

In the year mentioned the business was divided, Mr. Swinehart taking the lumber department and Mr. Fronehiser retiring from the business. The firm then became J. Fegely & Son, Mr. Fegely’s son, Calvin, being associated with him. In 1878 hardware was added to the business, first in a retail way, and, since the son became associated with the firm, a hardware business has been conducted along both wholesale and retail lines.

Jacob Fegely continued in the business to the time of his death, in November, 1901. He died at the age of seventy years. His wife survives him. Both were members of Emmanuel Lutheran church. He was church treasurer until his death, a period of forty years. He was a member of the town council one year and a school director one term. Politically Mr. Fegely was a Democrat.

Jacob Fegely was one of the organizers of the Warwick Iron Company and its treasurer for many years. He was also one of the directors of the Electric Light Company, Pottstown Market Company, Pottstown Cemetery Company and of the Pottstown Hospital. He was president of the Iron National Bank, and one of its organizers; of the South Bethlehem Bank and of the Security Company of Pottstown. He was always active in support of institutions and enterprises whose tendency was towards the development of Pottstown. He owned a farm in Chester county. He erected one of the handsomest residences in Pottstown, at No. 63 High street. He was also the owner of the Merchants’ Hotel, now the largest in Pottstown.

Jacob Fegely (grandfather) was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania. He was of German descent, and a farmer by occupation. He died at the age of eighty-five years. His wife, Susanna Fegely, died at the age of seventy-nine years.

They had seven children. He was a Lutheran in religious faith and was church treasurer for many years. After retiring from the farm, he resided in Pottstown ten or twelve years previous to his death.

Conrad Fegely (great-grandfather) was a resident of Berks county, living there his whole life.

John Hunsberger (maternal grandfather) was a native of Chester county and a farmer by occupation. His wife was Rebecca Hunsberger. He died at the age of seventy-five years, she at the age of eighty-seven. They had five children.

Calvin Fegely has resided in Pottstown all his life. He attended the public schools of that borough in the different grades, and later the Hill school for two years. He followed farming one year; and in 1874 became bookkeeper in his father’s store. He has continued in the business ever since, becoming a member of the firm in 1886, and carrying on the business the same as it was prior to his father’s death.

On April 14, 1878, he married Miss Lillie Hetzel, daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Wartman) Hetzel. The couple have had four children: Minnie, who died at the age of nearly ten years; Florence, who married George W. Zimmerman, of Collegeville; Anna and Jacob.

Mr. and Mrs. Fegely are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat. The family reside at No. 55 High street, the old homestead which he has remodeled.

He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Fegely is a director in the following corporations: Security, of Pottstown; the Pottstown Water Company; the Pottstown Passenger Railway Company; and the Cold Storage Company of Pottstown.

Mrs. Fegely’s father, who is deceased, was a glassblower by trade, and later worked in the rolling mills as roller for many years. His wife, who is a native of Montgomery county, is still living in Pottstown. The couple had four children, all of whom are living: John, Jane, Daniel and Lillie (Mrs. Fegely). Jane is the wife of Daniel Weidensaul.