History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

 

THOMAS BUTZ.

 

Abram Butz, the father of Thomas, removed in 1793 from Long Swamp township, Berks Co., to the township of Whitehall, in Lehigh Co., where he purchased the land now embraced in a portion of the property of the Thomas Iron-Works, at Hokendauqua.  Here he followed the occupation of a farmer until his death, which occurred in December, 1826.  He was united in marriage to Esther Egner, and had children—Thomas and Anna (Mrs. Peter Mickley).  The former, who is the subject of this biographical sketch, was born Nov. 3, 1798, in Long Swamp township, Berks Co., and at the early age of five years became a resident of Whitehall township.  Here, during youth, he became familiar with the routine of a farmer’s life, and continued thus employed until 1853, when active labor was abandoned, and two years later Allentown became his home.  After a residence of seven years in the latter city, Mr. Butz returned to the scenes of his early life, and for the succeeding seven years his residence was in Whitehall township.  Allentown again became his home in 1869, where he continued to reside until his death, on the 24th of March, 1880, in his eighty-second year.  His wife still survives, and resided in Allentown.  Mr. Butz possessed strong force of character, great aptitude for business, and a matured judgment, which rendered his counsel invaluable.  These qualities contributed greatly to his successful career.  He was in politics a Republican, having formerly been identified with the Whig party, though not in an official capacity.  He was formerly a member of the German Reformed Church of Egypt, and later, of the Whitehall Reformed Church.  He contributed liberally to the erection of the latter, and served as treasurer of its building fund.  Mr. Butz married Maria Elizabeth Beil, of Northampton County, and had children,--John Peter (deceased), Thomas F., Eliza Ann (Mrs. Daniel Troxell), and Elenora L. S.

Page 224

 

History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Alfred Mathews and Austin N. Hungerford

J. B. Lippincott & Co., Pennsylvania. 1884

 

Transcribed by Annette Bame Peebles

The Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies Project – http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~arkbios/Lehigh/index.html.

Date of Transcription: 11 June 2007

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