JOSEPH J. MOYER, a well known resident of Treichler's,
was formerly conductor on the Central Railroad of New Jersey,
running between Easton and Scranton. He was born in Easton, May
5, 1840, and is the son of Joseph J. and Catherine (Sierfass)
Moyer, the former born in Lehigh County, and the latter a native
of New Jersey.
The father of Joseph J., of this sketch, was a
miller by occupation, and resided for nearly a quarter of a
century in Springtown, N. J., where he followed his trade. He
died at Phillipsburg, that state, in 1877. He was an ardent
admirer of Democratic principles, and never failed to cast a
vote in favor of that party's candidates. His widow is still
living, making her home in Phillipsburg, where she has passed
her eightieth birthday. A daughter and three sons are still
living: Amos; Elizabeth, now the widow of Samuel Arndt; John Z.;
and Joseph J., who was next to the youngest. The youngest was
Jacob B., now deceased.
Joseph J. Moyer, the subject of this record, was
four years of age when his parents removed to Springtown, where
he was reared to mature years. He carried on his primary
studies in the public schools of Springtown, and later attended
school at Riegelsville, this state. When a young man he learned
the miller's trade from his father, and followed it profitably
for several years. In 1865 he accepted the position of
conductor for the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad Company, running
between White Haven and South Wilkes Barre, which was
subsequently merged into the Central Railroad of New Jersey. He
punched the first ticket on the Lehigh & Susquehanna Road after
the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company assumed control of the
road. A steam engine of the regulation kind was used, and where
they struck the mountain the train was let down about thirteen
hundred feet on the grade from Ashley to South Wilkes Barre, a
distance of two and one-half miles. The route when Mr. Moyer
was made conductor covered about thirty miles, but the road was
subsequently built to Scranton and Easton.
Mr. Moyer remained in the company's employ until the
spring of 1893, when he resigned, and located in Treichler's,
where he is living retired. He is a staunch Democrat in
politics, and is socially connected with Blue Lodge No. 52, F. &
A. M., of Phillipsburg, N. J.; belongs to Eagle Chapter No. 30,
at the same place, and Commandery No. 45 at Wilkes Barre, and is
a member of the Scottish Rites at Bloomsburg – in all of which
orders he takes an active part.
The marriage of Joseph J. Moyer with Miss Emma
Hartman was celebrated in 1869, or about that date. She was
born in Wilkes Barre, and became the mother of a daughter, Kate,
who is the wife of F. A. Day, and a son, Samuel E., a
veterinary surgeon in Michigan. The wife and mother died in
1873, and Mr. Moyer was married in 1877 to Mary E. Drinkhouse,
of Easton. Two children were granted them, Christie M. and
Edith R. Mr. Moyer's present wife, whom he married in August,
1893, was prior to her marriage Rose C. Caston, of Mauch Chunk. |