My Genealogy Hound

JOHN STOTZER, a well known and respected citizen of Easton, is at present serving as a Notary Public, and is Treasurer of the County Almshouse, which latter position he has filled with ability since 1882. In 1874 he was chosen to represent this district in the Legislature, and also attended the sessions of 1875-76. For four years he served efficiently as a member of the Board of Control, or Board of School Directors, and for three years was President of the organization. From 1863 to 1872, a period of nine years, he was a member of the Borough Council. It will thus be seen that he has long occupied influential positions in the public service, and at all times he has discharged his duties with a high sense of fidelity and honor.

The birth of Mr. Stotzer occurred September 12, 1829, in Berne, Switzerland. His father, Samuel Stotzer, was born and spent his entire life in the same city. For a number of years he followed the occupation of coachman, and died while in the prime of life, in 1831, aged thirty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Kocher, afterwards married Charles Bless, a cabinetmaker by trade. They came to the United States about 1833, and located in Northampton County, at what was then known as Catherine Furnace. They continued to reside in that locality until 1846, when they became residents of Easton. Our subject’s mother died in 1849, when in her fiftieth year.

The early education of John Stotzer was acquired in the public schools of Northampton County, which he attended until about thirteen years of age. He then secured a position on the canal, and gradually rose until he became the owner of a boat which was used for conveying coal from the mines to Philadelphia. In this business he continued until 1847, when he entered a store as clerk, and served in that capacity for two years. At the end of that time he engaged in the grocery business, and conducted a successful trade until 1860 on his own account. While a youth on the canal he spent much time in study, and through his own efforts became well informed on general questions.

For six years Mr. Stotzer served as Justice of the Peace. Later he was elected Register of Wills, serving two terms of three years each. In April, 1867, he was made Commissioner’s Clerk, and acted as such for three years. He then retired from public office to open up a real-estate and conveyancing business, which still occupies his attention. From 1871 to 1882 he was Secretary of the Glendon Building and Loan Association, and has been interested in other concerns having for their object the upbuilding of the city. Prior to the war he was for years identified with the Citizens’ Artillery, being First Lieutenant of the organization.

Fraternally Mr. Stotzer is a member of Fatherland Lodge No. 111, I. O. O. F., and helped to organize Elm Lodge No. 604. He also aided in founding the Valley Union Encampment, and has contributed much to the success of the Odd Fellows’ Society. He acted as First Officer in both of the above lodges at their organization. Formerly he was a member of the Ancient Order of Good Fellows and of the Ancient Order of Druids, both of which societies have been discontinued. As a member of Amana Castle No. 77, K. of P., he has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the state for about twenty years, and is a Past Officer in the state organization. He has been Grand Chancellor, and for four years was Supreme Representative from Pennsylvania to the Supreme Lodge of the World. When the lodge was organized at Easton he was made First Officer of the same, and has filled all the chairs except that of Supreme Chancellor of National Organization. For twenty-three years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, being identified with Delaware Lodge No. 52, of Phillipsburg, N. J. Religiously he holds membership with the German Reformed Church.

In November, 1849, Mr. Stotzer married Miss Sarah Catherine Dachrodt, whose father, John A., was a butcher in Easton. To our worthy subject and wife were born seven children: Mary A., wife of William B. Heckman, who is train dispatcher at Buffalo, N. Y., for the Lehigh Valley Railroad; Emma L., Mrs. Joseph Lightcap, of Easton; Charles W., whose home is in Easton; Anna J., Mrs. Gilbert Fulmer of Easton; Frank J., who is unmarried and also a resident of this place; Nellie, Mrs. E. W. Warne, of Phillipsburg; and Sallie C., who is deceased. Mrs. Stotzer was called to her final rest in September, 1884, at the age of fifty-three years.