Olive — Mr. WOODS. [Group Sheet]

James — Sevilla Lucy Ann WISSER. Sevilla (daughter of Oliver F. WISSER and Amanda Louisa HAMMEL) was born 6 Jul 1893, Pennsylvania, USA; was christened 30 Jul 1893, Jordan United Church of Christ, Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania; died 3 Apr 2000. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Social Security Number: 1973, Pennsylvania, USA; 169-50-7042 Last Residence 33613 Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, USA
• Residence: 2000, 33613 Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, USA; Last Residence 33613 Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, USA

Notes:

CENTENARIAN ENJOYS LIFE -- ESPECIALLY PRO WRESTLING
[Z2 Edition]
Morning Call - Allentown, Pa.
Author: MARIE LATHROP, The Morning Call
Date: Jul 29, 1993
Start Page: N.02
Section: NEIGHBORS
Text Word Count: 768
Document Text
Sevilla Seidel reached up and yanked at the shirt of a girl who was blocking her view at a wrestling match in Tampa, Fla. "Sit down," Sevilla screamed.
Her children don't get it, but Sevilla does. Professional wrestling is her passion. She glues herself in front of the television and cheers the good guys and boos the bad.
Through the years, Dusty Rhoads was her favorite. "But he doesn't wrestle much anymore. I guess age sidelined him," she says.
But age hasn't sidelined Seidel, who turned 100 on July 6. She's still glued to the television Monday nights to watch the action of the World Wrestling Federation.
And, she's planning to go to another live wrestling match someday.
In honor of her 100th birthday, the Borough of Emmaus issued a proclamation declaring July 6, 1993, as Sevilla L. Seidel Day. Family and friends gathered at her home to celebrate. Her "baby sister," Beulah Weidner, 84, presented her with a $100 bill and others gave her gifts and cards.
Seidel's soft voice still holds a hint of the Pennsylvania Dutch she spoke at home with her parents and family. "I learned English in a one-room schoolhouse in Crackersport where I was born." Although she speaks English with her children and grandchildren, she says she often yearns for conversation with a Dutch-speaking friend.
She remembers how she and her husband James looked forward to reading Pumpernickel Bill Troxell's Pennsylvania German column in The Morning Call. "We had many a laugh and good discussion over it," she says.
Sevilla Wisser was the second of seven children born to the late Oliver and Amanda (Hamel) Wisser. Her dad owned and farmed the land now occupied by Springhouse Farms in South Whitehall Township. Only the small farmhouse and one barn remain standing among the homes in the development.
A farm child, she learned how to cook, clean, use the horse-drawn hay rake and do most other farm chores. "I used to harrow until I got so tired I could hang my tongue out," she says. She remembers walking about three miles to school and how she carried her shoes when it rained so they wouldn't get muddy.
Her favorite job was baking. She used to enter her chocolate cake in competitions at the Allentown Fair and win prizes. Her son, Ernest, remembers how she hid the cakes from the kids so she could present a whole cake to the judges.
Sewing was another love. After a three-year apprenticeship to a dressmaker, she spent the next 70 years and millions of stitches making clothes for area women.
She always says her farm chores, school work and apprenticeship kept her so busy she didn't have time to think about boyfriends. However, James Seidel, a school friend, courted her with a horse and buggy until she said "yes." They were married Sept. 5, 1914, shortly after Sevilla's 21st birthday.
Cooking, cleaning, sewing and raising six children kept her busy, but she found time to cook on school days at the former South Whitehall High School. Those were the days when hucksters and butchers came to the school and she could pick and choose what she would cook for the more than 200 boys and girls.
In those early days, vacations were rare. "But, every year in September, James watched the kids and I went off to the Fair. Working in Agricultural Hall at the Allentown Fair was my vacation. I got to see many of the same people year after year and we would exchange family news. They were like old friends."
After James died in 1976, Sevilla moved in with her son Ernest and wife Emma. She moved in without her sewing machine. To keep her hands busy, she took up crewel work. Her expertise and attention to fine detail is evident in the dozen or so pictures decorating the walls of the home in Emmaus. Emma Seidel likes them all but is most proud of one that won a prize in a contest at Framing Palace, Wescosville.
The Seidel's raised six children: Henry of Jacksonville, Fla.; Ernest; James of South Whitehall Township, and three daughters: Arlene Schreiber, South Whitehall Township; Miriam Fluker, Tampa, Fla., and Olive Wood, Jacksonville.

Other Events:

• Death: Arterio Sclerotic cardiovascular Disease / Certificate Number: 72939 Cause of Death
• Occupation: Farmer (see notes for more details)
• Residence: 23 Aug 1940, 1826 Pennsylvania Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA; 50th Wedding Anniversary
• Weiser Families In America Vol 1: 1997, Page 1756; GW36C4

Notes:

Oliver F. Wisser, of South Whitehall township, was born in that township, March 2, 1872. He has followed farming all his life. In 1900 he began farming where he now lives. His farm consists of 115 acres and was formerly known as the
Henninger homestead. In 1912 he purchased the Phaon Hummel farm of 65 acres, located near Crackersport. It is now cultivated by Edwin Wisser. The house upon the tract was built in 1800. That he is a man of prominence in his community is
evident from the fact that he has filled the following offices in his township: School Director, being President of the board for two years; tax collector and road commissioner. He filled the office of

Deacon for six years in the Jordan Lutheran Church.

(From the HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA)

Wedding Anniversary - 50 years

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver F. Wisser
Newspaper dated August 23, 1940

The golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver F. Wisser is being observed today at their home, 1826 Pennsylvania Street, Allentown, the couple having been married Aug 23, 1890, in the parsonage of the Fogelsville Reformed congregation by Rev. Edwin J. Fogel.
Mr. Wisser was born at Walberts, a son of the late Emanuel and Mary Krause Wisser. He was reared in South Whitehall Township, and attended the public school at Crackersport.
Mrs. Wisser who before her marriage was Amanda Hammel, daughter of the late James and Elizabeth, Gangewere Hammel, was born near Crackersport. She too attended the Crackersport school.
Mrs. Wisser has been a lifelong member of Jordan Reformed congregation at Walberts. Mr. Wisser in the early years was a member of Jordan Lutheran at Walberts, but has since become a member of Jordan Reformed.
Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wisser, moved to a farm on the Wennersville-Cetronia road not far from Crackersport and resided there until about 14 years ago,w hen they sold their farm to the late Gen. H. C. Trexler and came to the city to spend their remaining days.
They are the parents of seven children, Edwin, of Crackersport; Sevilla, wife of James Seidel of Troxells Crossing; Robert, of near Seipstown; Ma?,w ife of Floyd Merkle of Hamburg, James of Detroit, Mich. George, of Allentown, and Beulah, wife of Charles Weidner, of Weidner?s hotel near Wescosville. There are also grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Beulah, the youngest of the couple?s children, was born on her mother?s birthday anniversary.
The couple had planned to celebrate the golden wedding anniversary with a reunion of their 40 offspring but the serious illness of their daughter, Mary, who is in a Reading hospital, has precluded this.

Submitted by Sue Jones

http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?503,432691,432691#msg-432691

Oliver married Amanda Louisa HAMMEL 23 Aug 1890, Jordan, Lehigh, PA. Amanda (daughter of James HAMMEL and Lucy GANGEWERE) was born 6 Jan 1872, Crackersport, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA; died 10 May 1941, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried 14 May 1941, Jordan United Church of Christ Cemetery, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Census: 07 Jun 1880, South Whitehall Township, PA; 1880 Census
• Obituary: 11 May 1941; Amanda L. Wisser Newspaper dated May 11, 1941 Bedfast since October, Mrs. Amanda L. Wiser, of 1826 Pennsylvania St., died at her home at 8:45 am. yesterday. She was 69. The former Amanda L. Hammel, she was the daughter of the late James and Elizabeth nee Gangewere Hammel and was born near Crackersport on January 6, 1872. On Aug. 23, 1890, she was married to Oliver F. Wisser, a farmer and last August the couple observed their golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Wisser had been a lifelong member of the Jordan Reformed congregation at Walberts. The last member of her family, she is survived by her husband and the following children: Edwin, Allentown R 3; Robert, Breinigsville R 2; James, Detroit, Mich; George, Allentown; Mrs. Beulah Weidner, Bethlehem, Another daughter, Mary, died last year. Funeral services will b held at her late home on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with continued services at 2:30 p.m. at Jordan Reformed Church, Walberts. Rev. George Johnson will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Submitted by Sue Jones http://www.pa-roots.org/data/read.php?504,432678,548746#msg-548746

Other Events:

• Occupation: Stone and brick mason (See Notes)Farmer in 1880
• 1880 Census: Jun 1880, South Whitehall Township, PA; Age 37 - Listed as a Farmer on the 1880 census
• Weiser Families In America Vol 1: 1997, Page 1755; GW36C

Notes:

He was a stone and brick mason for fourty-five years. He resided nearly all his life in South Whitehall township and for fourty years at Walberts. For ten years he conducted a coal yard at Walberts. In 1907 he retired from business and in
1912 he moved to Guthsville. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, which he served as deacon. He filled the office of school director of South Whitehall township very acceptedly. (from the HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA - 1914)

Biography
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=adb0b3b5-a15b-4b2c-a73e-4335e2db3a1a&tid=7158548&pid=391

Last Will and Testament
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=98f4b5ec-4e5b-4ba1-b267-860655e72e6d&tid=7158548&pid=391

Moving 1912
Emanuel Wisser of Crackersport sold his house and lot there to Phoon Hammel. He will make bis home with his son-in-law, Lewis Stephen, and family

October 25, 1912
The Allentown Leader from Allentown, Pennsylvania · Page 8

Emanuel married Mary Ann KRAUSE 20 Dec 1890, Jordan United Church of Christ, Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania. Mary (daughter of Benjamin KRAUSE and Abigail MOYER) was born 14 June 1842, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA; died 17 Nov 1911, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Occupation: Housekeeper in 1880
• Obituary: 18 Nov 1911, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA; Newspaper Obituary, The Allentown Democrat (Allentown, Penn.) of Saturday, 18 Nov 1911 Mrs. Mary, wife of Emmanuel Wisser of Crackersport, died suddenly yesterday morning of general debility, aged 69 years. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Abigail Krauss and was born at Laury?s. Besides her husband she leaves the following children: Oliver of Eckert?s, Oscar E. of Walbert?s, Mrs. Ellen Buchman of Kratzer?s, Mrs. Jennie Reinhard of Cetronia, Mrs. Mantana Stephen and Mrs. Anna Stauffer of Crackersport, one brother James Krause of Northampton also survives. The funeral will be held on Tuesday morning at 9.30 o?clock at her late home with further services at the Jordan Church at which Rev. E. Semmel will officiate. Interment will be mad ein the adjoining cemetery. Undertaker Guth has charge of the remains.

Notes:

Emanuel Wisser
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=327b8660-d53a-4786-9d22-a52a8e39ba82&tid=7158548&pid=564

Listed as "Katie Krause" on the death certificate of her son Oliver.

Other Events:

• 1870 Census: Jul 1870, South Whitehall Township, PA; Age 44 in 1870 census Listed as Farmer
• Census: 07 Jun 1880, South Whitehall Township, PA; South Whitehall, Leigh, PA

James — Lucy GANGEWERE. Lucy (daughter of Joseph GANGWERE and Catherin KEMMERER) was born 28 Jun 1836; died 24 Sep 1901. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• 1870 Census: Jul 1870, South Whitehall Township, PA; Age 35 - Keeps House, Lives with husband James Hammel
• 1880 Census: Jun 1880, South Whitehall Township, PA; Age 43 - House Keeping, Lives with husband James Hammel

Notes:

Went by the name Lucy Hammel on the 1880 South Whitehall Census.