My Genealogy Hound

HENRY J. DETWILLER. It affords us pleasure to place before our readers an outline of the history of this gentleman who is one of the leading chemists of Allentown. He was born in Hellertown, Northampton County, this state, February 3, 1848, and is a son of Charles N. Detwiller, also a native of the above county. The father, who was a prominent physician, departed this life when our subject was a lad of five years.

Henry Detwiller, the grandfather of our subject, who was a native of Switzerland, completed his studies in Paris, France, alter which he went on a sailing-vessel as surgeon. Later, concluding to come to America, he, in company with two friends, Messrs. Herring and Wiesselheft, set sail for this country. On arriving in the New World, he established the first homeopathic college in America, which was located at Allentown, Pa., but which, however, was conducted only a short time. Henry Detwiller is said to have had the distinction of administering the first homeopathic medicine ever given in America. He was very successful as a physician, and continued to practice until his death, which occurred at the extreme old age of ninety-seven years. The father of our subject was also a practicing physician of the homeopathic school, and was widely known throughout the Lehigh Valley.

The mother of our subject, who prior to her marriage was Miss Sarah Correll, was a native of Lehigh County, and the daughter of Jacob Correll, who died when ninety-six years of age. Mrs. Sarah Detwiller passed away in August, 1891, having attained her seventy-third year. Henry J. of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth in Friedensville, this county, where he prosecuted his early studies in the common school. Later he entered the Bucks County Normal, and afterward became a student in the classical school at Quakertown. Thence he went to Doylestown, where he took private lessons under the instruction of Rev. Levi C. Sheip, after which he entered the Philadelphia Polytechnic College.

In 1866 our subject entered the employ of John Rickert & Co., of Philadelphia, with whom he remained in the capacity of an apprentice for three years. In 1869, in company with Daniel Phreaner, he embarked in the wholesale drug business in Philadelphia, and carried on operations for one year. Thence he went to New York City, where he became Superintending Chemist of the Excelsior Fire Works Company. After remaining in the employ of that company for some time, Mr. Detwiller went to Old Mexico, and thence to San Francisco, Cal. While in the West he engaged in prospecting through Lower California. From the Golden State he made his way northward to British Columbia, at which place he was engaged in mining. Later returning to California, he superintended the construction of a flume for the Hydraulic Mining Company, in Chester Valley, after which he made a thorough tour of the West.

In June, 1875, returning to Bethlehem, this state, our subject was petitioned to accept the position of chemist with the Bethlehem Iron Company, with whom he remained for eight years. In November, 1888, he came to Allentown, and a year later opened his present laboratory, which is complete in every respect, and there Mr. Detwiller analyses iron and cement, being employed by three iron and eleven cement companies.

In October, 1882, our subject was married to Miss A. Belle Saeger, of Allentown, and a daughter of Henry J. Saeger. Her father was Cashier of the Allentown Terminal Railroad, and is at present residing in the above city. To Mr. and Mrs. Detwiller have been born two daughters, Mary S. and Anna S. Mrs. Detwiller is a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, while our subject is connected with the German Reformed Church. In politics he is a Republican.