Manufacturer Notes: Jacob StierThe local potteries of the German settlements in eastern Pennsylvania seem to have been confined almost entirely to the counties of Montgomery and Bucks. This centralization of the pottery industry was probably the result of the localization of the deposits of suitable clays. Mr. A. B. Haring, the son of one of the old potters, states that a large number of these small establishments were situated in what is generally known as the Nockamixon Swamp, in the upper part of Bucks county, and that he can remember when there were seven potteries within two miles of each other. This swamp covers an area of about ten miles in length by five in width and lies in the townships of Nockamixon, Bridgeton and Tinicum. The soil is a clayey loam, which is underlaid with a good quality of potters' clay, admirably suited to the manufacture of red earthenware. Between the years 1780 and 1880 the following named persons operated potteries in this section:Jacob Sigafoos, Jacob Kintner, Andrew Greaser, Abraham Weaver, John Haring, Charles and Hugh Kintner, David Haring, Joseph Harwick, Jacob Taney and Son, John Herstine, Sr., John and Patrick McEntee, Michael McEntee, Jacob and Philip Scheetz, John Herstine, Jr., John Mondeau, Jared R. Haring, Peter Herstine and Brothers, Cornelius Herstine, John G. Rieley and David Herstine. Some of the journeymen potters, who at various times worked in this district, were: Samuel McCammon, John Bigley, Simon Singer, William Smith, Samuel Weaver, Jacob Stier, Gilbert Stier, Philip Stier, William Stier, Mathias Moyer, J. R. Taney, William Stackhouse, William Michel, Jacob Mills, Edwin Mondeau, David Mondeau, Solomon Herstine. Barber, Edwin Atlee; Tulip Ware of the Pennsylvania-German Potters (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Museum, 1903) _______________________________________________________________________________________ In 1851 he came to the United States, first locating in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, there meeting Rachel Ann Stier, who later became his wife. She was the daughter of Jacob Stier, who owned a large pottery in Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton county Pennsylvania, and the head of a large family, two of his sons becoming prominent in county politics. Heller, William J.; History of Northampton County and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh (Boston, American Historical Society, 1920) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Jacob Stier b.1793 Philadelphia, owner of a large pottery in Upper Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton Co PA from 1846 to 1867. Ancestry.com _______________________________________________________________________________________ Jacob Stier 1830 New Jersey Warren Greenwich Census _______________________________________________________________________________________ Jacob Stier 1840 Pennsylvania Bucks Nockamixon Census _______________________________________________________________________________________ 104 105 Jacob Stier 60 M Potter $3000 Pennsylvania Deinah " 50 F " Gilbert " 25 M Potter " William " 23 " Potter " Philip " 17 " Labourer " Charles " 8 " " Elizabeth " 18 F " Matelva " 15 " " Ann R. " 14 " " Henry Former 40 M Labourer " 1850 Pennsylvania Northampton Upper Mount Bethel Census _______________________________________________________________________________________ 285 286 William Stier 32 M Potter 1800 200 N Jersey Regina " 28 f Penna Jodine V " 6 f " Jacob " 4 M " Joseph " 2 M " Umremeda " 1/12 f " 286 287 Jacob Stier 62 M Potter 3,000 2,000 Penna Dianna " 56 f N Jersey Charles " 20 M " 288 Philip Stier 29 M Potter 200 " Malvine " 21 f Penna Danl Ludwig 16 M Potters Apprentice " Alice Parkes 7 f N Jersey 287 289 Wm Ludwig Potter 200 Penna Salethe " 21 f " Ann M " 20 " " 1860 Pennsylvania Northampton Upper Mount Bethel Census _______________________________________________________________________________________ 1864 Stier Jacob & Sons Roxburg Pottery Ware 152.00 5pct 105 1864 Stier Jacob & Sons Upper Mt Bethel Pottery Ware 317.00 5pct 105 1864 Stier Jacob & Sons Upper Mt Bethel Pottery Ware 394.00 5pct 105 1864 Stier J. & Sons Dills Ferry Pottery Ware 105 1864 Stier Jacob & Sons Upper Mt Bethel Earthen Ware 452.00 5pct 105 1864 Stier Jacob & Sons Mt Bethel Pottery Ware 105 1865 Stier Jacob & Sons Dills Ferry Pottery Ware 102.00 5pct 105 1865 Stier Jacob & Sons Dills Ferry Pottery Ware 163.00 5pct 105 1865 Stier Jacob & Sons Dills Ferry Manufacturers 219 1865 Jas. Stier & Sons Northa Co. Pottery Ware 118 1865 Stier Jacob & Sons Dills Ferry Pottery Ware 105.00 1865 J. Steir & Sons Pottery Ware .51 1865 Stier Jacob & Sons Dills Ferry Pottery Ware 105.00 1865 Stier Jacob & Sons U. Dills Ferry Pottery Ware 105.00 1865 Stier Jacob & Sons Dills Ferry Pottery Ware 105.00 IRS Tax Records _______________________________________________________________________________________ 461 465 Stier G Wm 43 M W Inn keeper 3000 400 N Jersey " Ida V 16 F W " " Jacob 4 F W " " Joseph 12 M W " " Isabella 6 F W " " Rolla 3 M W " 462 466 Sapple Joseph 43 M W Potter 3000 1000 Bavaria Ger " Hettie 42 F W Keeping House Penna " Gilbert M 17 M W " " Annie 12 F W " 1870 Pennsylvania Northampton Upper Mount Bethel Census _______________________________________________________________________________________ Go To North American Soda & Beers Home |