My Genealogy Hound

J. WILLIAM LATTIG is one of the most practical electricians of the Lehigh Valley, and is now Superintendent of the telegraph and electrical apparatus belonging to the Lehigh Valley Railroad. This is a very important position, as he has charge of work on the Lehigh Valley and branch railroads, the superintendence of about four hundred and fifty telegraph operators, linemen and other employes in the electrical department, and has charge of the plans and increasing business in his department, which includes all automatic electric train signals, telephones, electric lights, etc.

A native of Easton, Mr. Lattig was born May 14, 1854, and in that city his grandfather, Jacob Lattig, was also born. The latter was a carpenter and builder during his active life, later becoming a farmer on land adjoining the city, in Williams Township. In old age he retired, making his home in Easton until his death. He was of German descent, his father having been a native of the Fatherland. Aaron P., the father of J. W., was also born in Easton, and by trade was a carpenter. He afterward became an employe of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in construction work. For some years thereafter he was train dispatcher for the same company at Delano, until 1873, when he turned his attention to the coal business in Easton for a time, and in 1875 was engaged in business in Freeport, Ill. Subsequently he was employed in running a farm, and then engaged in city teaming. During the Civil War he was a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania Regiment, enlisting for three years, and during the latter part of the time was detailed in the Quartermaster’s department, as Wagon master. After the war he became interested in the Grand Army of the Republic; in religion he is a member of the Reformed Church. Our subject’s mother, Harriet (Randolph) Lattig, was born in Easton and was of the old Randolph stock of Brooklyn, N. Y. Her father, William Randolph, was a shoemaker by trade, and was retired from business for some years, his death occurring at Easton.

J. W. Lattig, of this sketch, is the eldest of eleven children, all but one of whom grew to maturity, but he is the only one left in the Lehigh Valley. Reared in Easton until 1864, he then went to Delano, attending the common schools until twelve years of age. Then entering the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad he worked as a water-boy on a gravel train and at oiling cars, after which he became messenger in the telegraph office, and there picked up operating by the old-fashioned paper system and was made operator at that point. About eight months later he took up the present style, and in time became one of the most expert operators in the valley. He served one year at the machinist trade, quitting that at the solicitation of friends to re-engage in the telegraph field.

In 1873 Mr. Lattig was made dispatcher, taking his father’s place, in which he continued for six months, resigning to accept the post of assistant agent and day operator at Tunkhannock, Wyoming County. From there he was transferred to the dispatcher’s office at Towanda, Pa., and in 1874 was again transferred to the General Superintendent’s office, at Bethlehem, as night operator. At the end of a year he resigned, but was offered and accepted the post of chief operator at Mauch Chunk, and soon after, in 1877, was made division operator. In 1879 the position of Superintendent of Telegraphy, with headquarters at Mauch Chunk, was tendered him, and this he accepted. It was in 1887 that he removed his office to Bethlehem, Pa., becoming with his family a resident of his native place, Easton. In 1890 he became General Superintendent for the National Switch and Signal Company, traveling all over the United States. That post he resigned in 1891, becoming General Superintendent of the Electric Secret Service Company of New York, for whom he also traveled in all parts of the United States.

In 1892 our subject returned to Easton as Electrical Engineer for the National Switch and Signal Company, with which he had been formerly employed, and in September, 1893, he returned to the Lehigh Valley to take charge as Superintendent of the telegraph and electrical apparatus of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the position he still occupies. In the spring of 1894 he removed his family to West Bethlehem, building a good residence at No. 335 Broad Street. He is a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and active in the Association of Railway Telegraph Superintendents, before which he has read papers. He is the inventor of a number of railroad signal appliances, one of which, the Automatic Electric Semaphore, promises to all a wide field of usefulness.

In 1875 Mr. Lattig was married, in Easton, to Miss Sallie, daughter of Traill Nungesser, a carpenter of that place. Mrs. Lattig is a native of Easton, where she was reared and educated, and to herself and husband have been born six children, four of whom are living: Fannie, Irella, Charles and Traill. The parents are members of Grace Lutheran Church of Bethlehem, and fraternally Mr. Lattig is a member of the Royal Arcanum. With his ballot he supports the principles and nominees of the Prohibition party.