My Genealogy Hound

TILGHMAN OCHS, contractor and builder, is now at the head of an extensive business in Allentown. A native of Northampton County, Pa., he was born on the 12th of March, 1832, and is a son of Jacob Ochs, a native of the same county. The grandfather, Jacob Ochs, Sr., was also born in Northampton County, was of German descent, and was numbered among the pioneer settlers of the Keystone State. The great-grandfather, Michael Ochs, had there located at a very early day, founding the family in this locality. He was a member of the Reformed Church. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name Of Sarah Nagel, was born in Lehigh County, and was a daughter of Jacob Nagel. Her death occurred in Allentown on the 26th of December, 1859. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, six sons and two daughters, of whom our subject is the fourth in order of birth. They are: Charles, a resident of Northampton County; William; John, deceased; Tilghman, of this sketch; and Josiah, John Jacob and Sarah J.

In the usual manner of farmer lads Mr. Ochs of this sketch spent the days of his boyhood and youth. He aided in the labors of the farm through the summer months, and in the winter seasons attended school, thus acquiring a good English education. When his school days were over, he came to Allentown, where he learned the trade of a brick-layer under the instruction of Jacob Nagel and Joseph Seip. When his term of apprenticeship had expired he worked as a journeyman with Jacob Nagel for three years. On the expiration of that period he embarked in business on his own account and began building blast furnaces at different places in the iron regions. In 1885 he admitted his son, Milton T. J., to partnership, and the firm style became T. Ochs & Son. He has built many of the present dwellings, flats and stores of Allentown, and has just completed the high-school building, which is a credit to the city. He has also erected many important business blocks, including the Allentown Atlas Silk Mill plant, the AllentownThread Mill plant and the Allen Hotel, besides many other structures of less importance.

In 1854 Mr. Ochs was united in marriage with Miss Sarah S. Long, of Allentown, a native of Montgomery County, Pa., and a daughter of Jacob S. Long. To them were born twelve children, of whom nine are yet living, four sons and five daughters. The mother of this family was called to her final rest on the 29th of August, 1889, and her loss was widely and deeply mourned by many friends, as well as by her immediate family. She was a member of the Salem Reformed Church, to which Mr. Ochs also belongs. Our subject has led a busy and useful life, and through the legitimate channels of business has achieved a well merited success. He always faithfully lives up to his part of the contract, and as the work which he undertakes is done in first-class manner, he has won and retains a liberal patronage. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, in whom the best interests of the community find a friend, and aside from his work he has always borne his part in the progress and advancement of the county.