My Genealogy Hound

JOHN BROPHY, Justice of the Peace of Upper Hanover Township, is located in East Catasauqua. He is a young man of much character and influence in the community, and is doing good service as the incumbent of his responsible position. He was born in Fogelsville, this county, April 28, 1855, and is the son of Henry Brophy, who was born in Mt. Hope, N. J. He was a molder by trade, and his father, James Brophy, who was born in Ireland, followed the same occupation. The latter came to America many years ago, and made his first location in Philadelphia, whence he removed to Mt. Hope, N. J., and later made his way to this county. He worked in the furnaces for some time, and on returning to the Quaker City followed his trade there until his decease.

The father of our subject learned his trade in that city in a stove foundry, after which he moved to Fogelsville, and after working some time for other parties purchased the foundry from Solomon Fogel and was engaged in manufacturing all kinds of castings. He was a Catholic in religion, and died in 1877, when fifty-four years of age. His wife, the mother of our subject, was prior to her marriage Miss Lucy Haas. She was born in Breinigsville, this county, and was a daughter of Samuel Haas, a farmer in this locality. The mother is now living in Allentown, and is a member of the German Reformed Church.

John, of this sketch, was the eldest of six children born to his parents, of whom only three are living. He was reared in his native place, and when a lad of thirteen years began work as a molder, which occupation he pursued under the instruction of his father. After the latter’s death he carried on the business for two years, giving employment to seven or eight men. In 1879, however, he sold the foundry and removed to Pleasant Corners, where in addition to working in a foundry he was engaged in the flour and feed business.

In April, 1880, while living in the above place, Mr. Brophy received an offer from the Davies & Thomas Company, and coming to Catasauqua, he worked for them one year in the capacity of a molder, when he left and went to Walnutport, near the Blue Mountain. There he took charge of the Walter B. Grosh Foundry as foreman, and continued as such for the following three years. At the end of that time he returned to the city and was in the employ of the Davies & Thomas Company until 1885, when we find him in Elizabethport, N. J., working as a molder in Moore & Sons’ Foundry. Mr. Brophy remained in that state just six months, when he was taken sick, and on his recovery returned to this city, and has since been in the employ of Davies & Thomas. Twenty-six years have given him wide experience in his occupation and he is well known throughout the entire state as a man thoroughly qualified to hold any position in a foundry.

The lady to whom our subject was married in 1884 was Miss Augusta, daughter of August Stitz, who was one of the representative citizens of the county, and whose history will be given in full in his biography on another page. Their union has been blessed by the birth of seven children: William; George, who was drowned in 1892; John, Eddie, Annie, Minnie and Mabel.

Our subject is a genial gentleman, and his ability gives him a prominent part in the management of local affairs. He is a leader in politics, and for four years was a member of the Democratic Standing Committee. In the spring of 1893 he was elected Justice of the Peace of Upper Hanover Township, which position he fills with credit to himself and benefit to the community. He occupies a comfortable residence on Race Street. He is agent for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company at Hartford, and the Inter-state Accident Insurance Company of New York.