My Genealogy Hound

SIMON MESSINGER, who is a retired farmer of Washington Township, Northampton County, was born in Warren County, N. J., July 21, 1833, being a son of George and Susanna (Simons) Messinger, natives of Northampton County. His father was during the most of his life a resident of Lower Mt. Bethel Township, but at the age of sixty years he moved to Stephenson County, Ill., and there remained until his death. Of his children the following survive: Peter, living in Illinois; Miles, whose home is in Washington Township; Zachariah, of Warren County, N. J.; Theodore, residing in Iowa; Simon, of this sketch; and Lucinda, Mrs. Adam Young, who lives in Plainfleld Township.

At the age of about sixteen our subject began to learn the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for ten years. Subsequently he began farm work in Washington Township, and as the years passed by he met with the reward which his painstaking efforts deserved. He remained an agriculturist until 1890, when, having accumulated a competence, he retired from active cares. In youth his advan- tages were meagre, his attendance at school being limited to three months each year between the ages of eight and fifteen. The schools were poor in those days, and the quality of instruction afforded crude and meagre, but he availed himself to the utmost of every opportunity, and through self culture gained a broad knowledge of men and things.

In December, 1856, occurred the marriage of Simon Messinger and Lovina Wilhelm, who was born in Northampton County, April 20, 1833. Her parents, John and Susan (Gum) Wilhelm, were natives of Northampton County; the former deceased, and the latter, now eighty-four years of age, one of the oldest surviving residents of Washington Township. Grandfather Wilhelm resided for many years in Upper Mt. Bethel Township, whither he had removed from Nazareth, Pa. Mrs. Messinger was one of eight children, of whom five are now living, namely: Jacob, who lives in Washington Township; Lovina; Henry, a resident of Upper Mt. Bethel Township; Sabilla, the widow of Charles Rutt; and Theobald, of Upper Mt. Bethel Township.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Messinger has been blessed by the birth of eight children, named as follows: John, Isaiah, George; Flora A., wife of Gilmer Spangenberg; Susan, Mrs. Herbert H. Slamp; William; Lucinda, who married William Spangenberg; and Herbert. In religious connections Mr. and Mrs. Messinger are members of the Evangelical Association at Bangor. He is a Democrat in politics, public spirited and enterprising, a man of whose citizenship any community might well be proud.

The farm property of Mr. Messinger consists of one farm of one hundred acres and another place comprising fifty-six acres, in addition to which he has valuable real-estate interests in Bangor. Successful in life, he is now enabled to spend his declining years in the enjoyment of a handsome income, sufficient to surround his family with every comfort. He is liberal in his benefactions, a generous contributor toward all projects calculated to promote the moral and spiritual welfare of the people. He has served as a member of the building committee of the Emanuel Evangelical Church of Washington Township and has given personally a large amount toward the contraction of the house of worship.