My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH A. WEAVER, Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager of the Times Publishing Company, and widely known as one of the influential citizens of Bethlehem, was born in Weaversville, Northampton County, Pa., August 14, 1843.

The family is of German descent, and has long been established in Northampton County. Our subject’s grandfather, Michael Weaver, was an extensive merchant and farmer, and upon his land built a tannery, which he operated. He succeeded in getting a postofflce at Weaversville, which was named in honor of him, and of which he was the first Postmaster, having been appointed about the close of the last century. He was an old-line Whig, a man of considerable prominence, and Captain of a company in the War of 1812. His wife, who was a Miss Dreisbach, died in 1860, at the age of about eighty-eight years. He died of apoplexy in 1834, when in his sixty-fourth year.

Our subject’s father, Samuel Weaver, was born in Weaversville, and with his two brothers, David and Thomas, became a partner in the mercantile establishment founded by his father. They also conducted the farm and tannery, but after a time he bought out the interests of his brothers and became the owner of the homestead of one hundred acres, with the tannery, located on Catasauqua Creek. In 1835 he was appointed Postmaster, and held that position until his death. He was very active in educational work, and did his utmost to increase the educational facilities of the community. He was one of the prime movers in establishing the Weaversville Academy, which was opened in 1856. The ground for the site was donated by him, and he was Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the academy until his death.

In early days, while engaged in the mercantile business, Samuel Weaver bought his goods in Philadelphia and New York, and at first they were hauled by teams the entire distance, later were conveyed by canal, and finally by railroad. His establishment was the largest in the vicinity. For many years he was Treasurer of the Lutheran Church at Weaversville, and also served as Sunday-school Superintendent. Politically he was an ardent Republican. The disease which ended his career was angina pectoris, he dying in 1863, at the age of fifty-four years.

The mother of our subject, Sarah, was a daughter of Jacob Boyer, a substantial farmer of Allen Township. She was born in Howertown, and in 1870 located in Bethlehem, where she resided until her death, December 24, 1893, in her seventy-fourth year. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom eleven attained years of maturity. William T. is a traveling salesman, and during the Civil War was Sergeant of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry; Amelia M. lives in Bethlehem; Jane S. is the wife of Dr. J. F. Raub, and lives in Washington, D. O; Joseph A. is the subject of this sketch; Amanda E. is the wife of Rev. E. Martinis, of Hillsboro, Ill.; Clinton T. is a bookkeeper; Dr. S. J. lives in Bethlehem; David M. is a clerk in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company in Bethlehem; C. Annie, the wife of George Green, lives in Brooklyn, N. Y.; and Frances C. is married and lives in Boston, Mass.

In the public schools of the township our subject laid the foundation of his education, preparing for college at Weaversville Academy. It had been his ambition to obtain a collegiate education, but his father’s death changed his plans and obliged him to remain at home. During the Civil War he was a Union man, and for one year served as a member of Company I, Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Infantry, being honorably discharged at the expiration of his period of service. After his return home he took a course at Eastman’s Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and in 1867 came to Bethlehem, with the interests of which he has since been identified. Opening a book and stationery store at this place, he conducted the business successfully until 1873. Meantime he established domestic ties, being married in 1871 to Miss Mary M. Hemphill, of Weaversville.

The connection of Mr. Weaver with the Bethlehem Times began in 1874, when he purchased a half-interest in the paper. At his direction the Times strongly advocated the improvement of the streets of the borough; the purchase of a steam road roller, which has since been of great benefit to the place; fostered the Bethlehem Fair scheme until it became a success; urged the building of an electric street railway; and advocated the consolidation of all the Bethlehems, and the changing of county lines so as to give West Bethlehem to Northampton County. He was an ardent supporter of the project to extend Main Street to the river, and unite South Bethlehem with Bethlehem by means of a bridge, which was to span the river, canal and two railroads.

In 1887 Mr. Weaver organized the Times Publishing Company, of which he is a member of the Board of Directors, as well as Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager. For years he was a member of the Bethlehem School Board, and for one year was President of the board. For ten years he filled the position of Secretary and Treasurer of the Masonic Mutual Life Insurance of the Lehigh Valley, but resigned in 1890 because of multiplicity of duties. However, he still retains his Directorship in the company. He was the first Secretary of the Bethlehem Board of Trade, serving in that capacity in the days when the silkmills were built. At present he is one of the Directors of the National Butter Company of New York, and of the Bell Punch and Printing Company.

Socially Mr. Weaver is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, and has held official positions in the lodge, chapter and commandery, being Past Master of Bethlehem Lodge No. 283, F. & A. M.; Past High Priest of Zinzendorf Chapter, R. A. M.; and Past Commander of Allen Commandery No. 20, K. T. For many years he has been Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, and is generous in his contribution to the support of the Gospel, as well as to all benevolent and charitable projects.