My Genealogy Hound

WILLOUGHBY E. HENRY is one of the oldest employes on the Catasauqua & Fogelsville Railroad. He has been connected with this company as engineer since 1866, and looks back upon the intervening years with great satisfaction, remembering how faithfully he has performed every duty belonging to that responsible position. He was born in Lowhill, Lehigh County, January 30, 1842, and is the son of Edward Henry, likewise a native of this county, and Lydia Henry, who was born in Berks County, and was the daughter of George Miller, a prominent teacher in early life, who later turned his attention to farm pursuits. Edward Henry and his wife were both members of the Evangelical Church, and reared a family of seven children. They also lost four, who died when quite young. The subject of this record, who is the third in order of birth, had four brothers who fought as soldiers in the late war.

W. E. Henry spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm in this county, and in September, 1863, found employment as brakeman on the yard train of the Thomas Iron Company. He worked for them for three years in that capacity, and in the spring of 1867 was promoted to be fireman, and one year later to the position of engineer. He ran the gravel train for two seasons, was then engineer on the ore train, and later held the same position on the local passenger, his run being one hundred miles or more each day. He is one of the oldest employes of that company, and can truthfully say that no person has ever been injured while on his train, nor has he had a serious wreck in his time. He makes his home in this city, having a good residence located on the corner of Race and East Streets.

When ready to establish a home of his own, Mr. Henry was married, January 31, 1864, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Henry Hoch. This lady was born in Northampton County, and her father was a native of the same county, where also her grandfather, who likewise bore the name of Henry, was born and carried on farm pursuits. The latter died when in his sixty-second year, and the father of Mrs. Henry departed this life when seventy-nine years of age. Her mother, Mrs. Susan (Rohn) Hoch, was born in Whitehall Township, and died when sixty years old. She was the daughter of James Rohn, also an agriculturist of considerable prominence. Mrs. Henry was one in a family of ten children, only three of whom are living at the present time.

To W. E. Henry and his wife one child has been born, Ellen J., now the wife of Harvey Kurtz. They have also an adopted daughter, Miss Minnie Frick. They are members in good standing of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and their friends are many throughout the city. Mr. Henry has always been a Democrat in politics, and in his relations with his fellow-men he is upright and conscientious, and justly ranks among the best citizens of the county.