My Genealogy Hound

AUGUSTUS HOEVELER (deceased), son of William and Clara (Hoya) Hoeveler, was born at Ankum, Germany, in 1820. He was the youngest of six children, and came with the family to Pittsburgh when seventeen years old. The eldest, William, and the second daughter, Louisa, had been a few years here. Clemence, the second son, was founder and president of the German Insurance company. Herman, the fifth child, died in Kansas. Clara, the second, was the wife of William Hune, and Louisa is the widow of Joseph Hermann, president of the Workmen’s Savings Bank, Allegheny. Augustus engaged in the grocery trade with his brothers, and they established several branch stores in the country. After the death of William the others separated, and Augustus established himself in the same line on the corner of Fourteenth street and Penn avenue. In 1848 he built a general store on Penn avenue, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. About 1850 he began the manufacture of glue, soap and candles, etc., in what is now the Twentieth ward, and sold out his grocery store. About this time he married Elizabeth, second child of William O’Leary, a well-known glass manufacturer, and took up his abode on Black Horse hill, East End, now called Ingleside. In company with the present proprietors and John Miller, he established the Iron City brewery, and took an interest in numerous manufactories. He was one of the incorporators of the German National Bank, and continued as its president till his death, in 1868.

Mr. Hoeveler was a pioneer in laying out suburban property, and made it profitable in various quarters of the city. He was a considerable dealer, and never sold anyone out to satisfy claims. He donated the proceeds of a number of lots to St. Augustine Church, which secured to that parish its place of worship. He adhered to the R. C. Church, but could tolerate no bigotry. St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum and other charities received liberal aid from him. He was a democrat, and served many years in the borough council of Lawrenceville, and was elected to the city council after the absorption of that borough, but died before taking his seat. His widow passed away Jan. 9, 1888, aged sixty-one years. Of their eight children, three reached maturity: William A., Stella (Mrs. Roger S. Kennedy, of St. Paul, Minn.), and Joseph A. The elder in 1874 commenced building the Franklin Glue-works at Springdale and Boquet stations, W. P. R. R., and managed same to 1886. He is now engaged in the storage business, which he established in 1888. He married Katharine, daughter of James Hemphill, and has two children — Genevieve and James. The younger son, Joseph, is engaged in the pork and provision trade.