My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. JACOBS, part owner in the Excelsior Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company, is a practical machinist, and with his partners, E. A. Hirner and A. F. Henninger, ranks among the prominent business men of South Bethlehem. Their plant is located on Birch Street and is one of the important industries of the Lehigh Valley. Our subject was born in Allentown February 26, 1859, and is the son of Aaron P. Jacobs, whose birth occurred near Schnecksville, the above county. The great-grandfather of our subject, who bore the name of Christian Jacobs, was a native of Germany, whence he came to the United States when eighteen years of age, and later participated in the Revolutionary War. He located in the Lehigh Valley and purchased land from William Penn, which is still in possession of the family.

Aaron P. Jacobs was a miller by trade, which branch of business he followed successfully for many years. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church and bore well his part in church work. The maiden name of his wife was Anna M. Gaumer, daughter of John A. Gaumer, who was a farmer by occupation and possessed fine iron ore mines on his estate. The parents of our subject reared a family of three children, of whom William H. was the eldest but one. He grew to manhood in Allentown and took a thorough course in the public schools of that city, and later attended Blackman’s Business College.

Upon attaining his seventeenth year our subject began learning the trade of a miller in his father’s mill located at Bethlehem. He worked under a superintendent for four years and was then given charge of the plant, which he operated for three years. In 1882 he went to Easton, and for eighteen months worked at the machinist’s trade, after which he accepted a position in the Excelsior Knitting Mill at Bethlehem. He was soon promoted to be Master Mechanic in the silk mills of that city, which position he held for a period of seven years.

In February, 1893, the original of this sketch formed a partnership with E. A. Hirner and A. F. Henninger and established the Excelsior Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company, having their plant located at No. 14 South Church Street, Allentown. In February of the following year, however, they changed their location to this city, now occupying the block which our subject erected in the fall of 1893. The building, 80x54 feet in dimensions, is three stories in height, with a basement, which is occupied by the machinery. They have a fifty-five-horse-power boiler with a twenty-five-horse-power engine. The first floor is devoted to the manufacturing interests of the company, and the second and third floors are rented to C. & J. Gould for their knitting works. The Excelsior Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company give employment to thirty-five men, and their shops have a capacity of turning out from thirty-five to forty knitting machines each week. They find a ready market for the machine, which was invented and patented by Mr. Hirner and which is shipped to all points in the United States.

The marriage of our subject occurred in this city February 13, 1883, at which time he was united with Miss Emma J. Foltz, a native of Saucon. Socially Mr. Jacobs is an Odd Fellow, belonging to the Wreath of Friendship in this city, also to the Knights of Pythias. He is likewise connected with the Order of Red Men and the Royal Arcanum. He has been a resident of South Bethlehem since 1883, and has made many warm friends in this community. He is a devoted member of the Reformed Church, and in politics is a stanch Republican. Mr. Jacobs is the owner of considerable real estate in the city, having four residences located on Fourth and Birch Streets and four on Fifth and Spruce Streets. He takes a part in every reform and assists by his presence, purse and influence in all improvements for the benefit of the city.