Columbia-Northampton County PA Archives Biographies.....WERKHEISER, Jacob D. 
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  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  JACOB D. WERKHEISER, a prosperous and enterprising merchant of Espy, Columbia
  County, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is a son of John and
  Helena (Dietrich) Werkheiser, and was born in Upper Mount Bethel township,
  Northampton County, Pa., September 28, 1827.
  
    The paternal grandfather of our subject, Carl Werkheiser, was a native of
  Germany, upon coming to this country he located in Northampton County, where he
  was one of the leading agriculturists. He reared a large family of children.
  
    John Werkheiser, the father of our subject, was born in Northampton County,
  February 16, 1791, and at an early age learned the trade of a tailor. He
  followed that occupation in Upper Mount Bethel township until 1831, when he
  moved to Briarcreek, now Center township, Columbia County, and there devoted the
  remainder of his life to tilling the soil and operating a saw-mill. He was an
  industrious worker and was quite successful in business affairs. He was a stanch
  Democrat and held many township offices. He was an active member and officer in
  the Lutheran Church. His death, which occurred March 6, 1860, was the result of
  accidentally falling from a wagon and breaking his neck. He was united in the
  holy bonds of wedlock with Helena Dietrich, a daughter of Mr. J. Dietrich of
  Upper Mount Bethel township, Northampton County, and they reared five sons and
  three daughters, namely: Charles, deceased, formerly a tailor but later a
  huckster and farmer of Mifflinville, Columbia County; Elizabeth, deceased, who
  was the wife of the late Samuel Dietrich of Berwick; Peter F., deceased, who was
  a tailor and afterwards a huckster of Mifflinville; John, a retired tailor and
  miller of Mifflinville; Reuben, who died at an early age; Sarah Ann, deceased;
  Katie Ann. the wife of Nehemiah Richart of Espy; and Jacob D., the subject of
  this personal history.
  
    Jacob D. Werkheiser received his education in the public schools, after which
  he worked for a time at the tailor's trade with his father. He then learned the
  trade of a shoemaker which he followed from 1845 to 1878, during which time he
  was also engaged in boating on the Pennsylvania canal; he also engaged in
  huckstering for one year. In 1863 he opened a general merchandise store in
  connection with the manufacture of shoes and has very successfully continued the
  mercantile business since. He has a neat, well-appearing store and under his
  capable management it has the patronage of the leading citizens of the community.
  
    Mr. Werkheiser has twice taken the marriage vows. His first union, which
  occurred in 1850, was with Catherine Stricker, a daughter of Peter Stricker of
  Catawissa, and they were the proud parents of five children: Miles Arthur, a
  shoemaker of Byron, Lee County, Ill.; John Lloyd, a resident of Pittston, Pa.;
  William Charles, an employee in the railroad signal station at Duryea, Luzerne
  County, and also a groceryman of that place; Sarah Matilda, wife of Lewis Miller
  of Pittston, Pa.; and Clara, who died when four years of age. His second
  alliance was with Elmyra Lunger, a daughter of Jacob Lunger of Jackson township,
  Columbia County. Our subject is past grand master of Espy Lodge, No. 681, I. O.
  O. F., and was also chaplain for several years. In religious attachments he is a
  Lutheran. He joined the Lutheran Church when he was eighteen years of age. He
  has been a member of the council of that church since 1852 and has been the
  secretary of the council for forty years. He was one of the charter members of
  St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Espy; and was superintendent of the
  Sunday School several years. He has also been secretary of the Creveling
  Cemetery Company for thirty-five years and is the treasurer of the Odd Fellows'
  Hall Association of Espy, Pa.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
    Extracted from:
      
      Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
      Published by 
      Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
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