My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM WALP, an honored resident of Bethlehem, bears the distinction of being the oldest furniture dealer in the city, having been engaged in that business since 1866. He also has a fine undertaking establishment in connection with this line of trade, and is classed among the well-to-do and highly esteemed merchants of the place. He was born in Bucks County, this state, March 17, 1834, and is the son of James Walp, also a native of that place, but the father of James Walp, who bore the name of William Walp, hailed from Germany. James Walp was a carpenter and contractor by occupation, which business he followed after his removal to Saucon Township, Lehigh County. In 1850, however, he located in Bethlehem, where he worked at his trade until his decease, when in the seventy-second year of his age. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, in the work of which society he always took a deep interest. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Catherine Fluck, a native of Northampton County, having been born near Leithsville. She departed this life at the age of seventy-one years.

The parental family of our subject included two sons and three daughters, of whom he is the eldest. He remained in Saucon until a lad of sixteen years, when he began learning the carpenter’s trade under the instruction of his father. He afterward worked for John Walp, a prominent builder of Bethlehem in that day, and remained with him until embarking in the furniture business in 1866. His first partner was a Mr. Gerstner, and they continued to operate together in the manufacture of all kinds of furniture for two years, when the connection was dissolved, and our subject carried on the business under the firm name of William Walp & Co. until 1875, since which time he has been the sole proprietor.

In 1885 Mr. Walp built his present place of business at No. 17 North Main Street. It is a two-story and basement structure, 22x100 feet in dimensions. The first floor is used for his furniture department, the second is devoted to the undertaking outfit, and the basement serves as the work-shop. Mr. Walp is a graduate of the Sullivan School of Embalming of Philadelphia, and in this branch of his business has been exceedingly successful.

William Walp was married in this city in 1855 to Miss Mary Beidler, a native of Pottsville. She departed this life in 1891, having become the mother of nine children, seven of whom lived to mature years. Alice is the wife of Daniel G. Wiggins, of this city; Annie and Minnie are at home with their brother William; Edward is residing in Easton; William is a pharmacist; Emma died in 1884, and James passed away at the age of twenty-five.

Mr. Walp has his residence located in West Bethlehem, to which portion of the city he removed in 1872. He has been very prominent in local affairs, and served as a member of the first Borough Council in West Bethlehem, of which he was President for one year. He has been School Director for five years, and socially is a charter member of the Knights of Honor, in which he has passed all the chairs, and was Representative to the Grand Lodge for one year. He belongs to the State Association of Undertakers, and is an ardent Democrat, and influential in, the political life of the community. He is a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, to the support of which he is a willing and liberal contributor.