Joseph Kammerer, p. 592

JOSEPH KAMMERER. This prominent merchant, agriculturist, distiller and stock dealer was born May 20,1835, on the place adjoining where he now resides, and of which in 1859 he became owner.

His father, John Kammerer, was born in Germany in 1793, and was educated in the schools of his land. In 1820 he was married to Margaret Dunker, who was born in 1800, and five children were the result of this union, namely: Mary Ann, Barbary, Catharine, John and Martin, all now deceased. The mother died in her native land in February, 1830, and the father was, on July 21, 1830, united by matrimony with Elizabeth Bender. Then bidding good-bye to the Fatherland, wife and children, he sailed for America. After finding a suitable location for a home, he sent for his wife and children, the next year, and settled in Nottingham township, Washington Co., Penn., following the business of millwright and milling. He then worked two years as a carpenter, after which he embarked in general merchandising and the hotel business, on a tract of land of eighty acres leased from Thomas Officer, the patentee of same (near the present site of the village of Kammerer), which he purchased in 1839. Thereon he erected a storeroom and hotel, and the place came to be known as "Dutch John's." To the union of John and Elizabeth (Bender) Kammerer were children as follows: Jonathan, born July 31, 1831; Joseph (whose sketch follows); Elizabeth, born February 28, 1837; Jacob, born November 22, 1838; William S., born February 23, 1843; Franklin G., born February 24, 1845. Of these, Jacob died July 27, 1939; Jonathan died October 20, 1887; Franklin G. and William S. are at present engaged in the commission and brokerage business in Chicago. The father died July 24, 1856, the mother on May 18, 1859.

Joseph Kammerer, after his father's death, took charge of the business, and under his management it has been conducted to the present time. In 1860 he was united in marriage with Lucinda Howden, and to their union five children have been born, namely: Elizabeth Etta Bell, born March 3, 1861; Margaret Jane, born September 5, 1863; Joseph Elmer, born November 2, 1864, James Alvin, born February 9, 1868, and Anna Barbara, born February 8, 1872.

In 1881 a partnership company was formed, under the name of "The Kammerer Manufacturing Company (Limited)," between Joseph Kammerer, Christian Hootman and John Leyda, for the manufacture of liquors, the two partners last mentioned retiring from the company before the machinery was put into operation. The capacity of the distillery is thirty bushels per day. In connection with the distillery, Mr. Kammerer conducts a roller flouring, mill, having a capacity of seventy-five barrels of flour per day, and fitted with all the latest improved machinery, making a market for several townships for grain for which the highest cash prices are paid. He owns 200 acres of land on which mills are located, and is very valuable for its coal and gas, and for grazing and farm purposes. On this he is raising a fine herd of cattle. Mr. Kammerer is also in the merchandise business, carrying a stock of goods of about $75,000, consisting of a complete line of goods kept in a general store. In 1873 he was appointed postmaster at Kammerer, which office he still holds.

Text taken from page 592 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed June 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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