SEMMEL, P. A.

Portrait and Biographical Record – Page - 121

Kindly submitted: Joanne Chubb

P. A. Semmel, who is a manufacturer of coaches and carriages in Slatington, is (as was also his father, John Semmel) a native of Lehigh County, and was born April 11, 1835.  His grandfather’s name was Tobias, and great-grandfather Schneck came from Frankfort-on-the-Main and settled in Lehigh County in an early day in its history.  Our subject’s mother was in her girlhood Marie Reinsmith, and was the daughter of Rev. Henry Reinsmith.  She was also a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Weisenburg Township, Lehigh County.  Her decease occurred at the advanced age of eighty-four years.

  Mr. Semmel spent the days of his boyhood in Lehigh County, there receiving such an education as was to be obtained in the common schools of those days, but at the early age of eleven years he started out in life for himself, and on reaching his seventeenth year was apprenticed to learn carriage making under Peter Seipp, of Seipstown, in which place he continued for two and a-half years.

  Later Mr. Semmel went to Deibertsville, Heidelberg Township, and opened a shop, remaining in that place two years.  Afterward he went to Saegersville, where he conducted a shop until 1873.  January 1 of that year, he came to Slatington and opened a shop, which he has since conducted very successfully with a constantly increasing patronage.  His coaches and carriages are of a very superior quality and by their worth recommend themselves to the public.

  In 1857 Miss Maria Muthara, of Lehigh County, became the wife of our subject.  She passed to the home beyond, leaving six sons and two daughters, as follows:  Isadore J., John A., Howard S., Charles B., Agnes M., Robert J., Oliver J., and Cora.  Mr. Semmel’s second marriage united him with Miss L. J. Hankee, of Northampton County, and they became the parents of seven children, six of whom are still living.  Lily is deceased, and the others are Mamie, Lottie, Mattie, Palmer, Ioa and Walter.

  Mr. Semmel is a member of the Lutheran Church and his wife is affiliated with the Reformed Church.  In politics he is a prominent Republican and an influential citizen.  He has served in the Town Council two terms and always uses the weight of his influence on the side of progress and public improvement.  They have in their parlor an old spinning wheel, used for spinning flax, which was brought from Germany by his ancestors over one hundred years ago.

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