SAMUEL CASKIE. This prominent
resident of Walnutport, Northampton County, has for the past
twenty years been engaged in operating the Heimbach Slate
Quarry, located one and one-quarter miles from Walnutport. He is
a shrewd, far-sighted business man, honest in all his dealings,
and is respected by all his acquaintances. He was born in the
North of Ireland, November 11, 1833, and is a son of David and
Jane (Boyd) Caskie, also natives of the Emerald Isle and of
Scotch-Covenanter stock.
At the age of ten years the subject of this sketch was
deprived by death of his father. Three years later he went to
Wigtonshire, Scotland, where he worked as a farm hand for
several years. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the
trade of a plasterer, of which he served an apprenticeship until
the time of his departure for the New World. In the latter part
of November, 1852, he took passage on a steamer at Wigton for
Liverpool, and at the latter place boarded the steamship
“Tonawanda,” which landed him in America after a voyage of four
weeks. From Philadelphia he went direct by stage to Slatington,
where he secured employment in a slate quarry, and remained thus
occupied for three years. Afterward he was appointed
Superintendent of the old mantel quarry for the Lehigh Slate
Company, which position he held for a number of years, giving
entire satisfaction to his employers.
In 1872 Mr. Caskie began operating a quarry on his own
account, several years afterward taking in as partner John D.
Emack. The business was then conducted under the firm title of
Caskie & Emack. For some years Mr. Caskie has operated the
Heimbach Quarry, and gives employment in both factory and quarry
to about forty men. His son, William J., is General
Superintendent of the works, the products of which are mainly
roof slates, school slates, blackboards, etc. Since coming to
this country Mr. Caskie has been a resident mainly of
Slatington, but in the fall of 1893 removed with his family to
Walnutport.
In 1853 Mr. Caskie and Miss Agnes Kerr were united in
marriage. Mrs. Caskie was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland,
February 24, 1839, and is the daughter of Hugh and Joan (Smith)
Kerr, natives respectively of the North of Ireland and Scotland.
In 1852 Mrs. Caskie came with her parents to America and settled
in Slatington. One year later Mr. and Mrs. Kerr removed to Ohio,
where the former died. The latter then returned to Scotland,
where her decease occurred.
Mr. and Mrs. Caskie are the parents of six living children,
namely: William J.; Mary, the wife of Hugh Roberts; David,
Washington, Rebecca and Louise. In politics Mr. Caskie is a
Republican, and while a resident of Slatington served for
several terms as Burgess of that Borough. He is public-spirited
and gives liberally of his means toward the promotion of every
good measure. He and his wife are members of the First
Presbyterian Church of Slatington, in which he has held the
office of Deacon.
Submitted by Shirley Reese Siltala
