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Sevilla L. Wisser

1893-2000

She lived 106 years and in three different centuries.

Sevilla Wisser 1920

 

Sevilla L. Wisser was born on July 6, 1893 to Oliver F. Wisser and Amanda L. (Hammel) Wisser. Sevilla died April 3, 2000 at 106 years old.

She was married to James Seidel. He died 1976.

James Seidel and Sevilla L. (Wisser) Seidel had 6 children.

 

NEWS
Miriam E. Fluker
By The Morning Call | October 10, 2007
Miriam E. Fluker, of Tampa, Fla., formerly of Allentown, died Sunday, September 30, 2007, in Melech Hospice House, Tampa. She was born in Allentown. She was the daughter of the late James and Sevilla (Wisser) Seidel. She was a secretary for the city government of Tampa for many years until retiring. She was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church, Westerly Chapel, Fla. and a graduate of South Whitehall High School. Survivors: Brothers, Ernest O. Seidel of Tampa, James W. Seidel of Allentown; sisters, Arlene D. Schreiber of Allentown, Olive J. Woods of Jacksonville, Fla.; nieces and nephews.

 

 

Sevilla (Wisser) Seidel turns 100!

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

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.
Sevilla Seidel said she was named after an aunt, but, with a mischievous grin, she says, "Cadillac named one of their top-line cars after ME -- they just changed the `a' to an `e'."

A seamstress for 70- plus years, Sevilla Seidel of Emmaus took up crewel work in the late '70s. She's completed about a dozen pictures.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Abstract (Document Summary)
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.
After [James Seidel] 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.

 

Sevilla L. Seidel, 106

April 06, 2000|The Morning Call

Sevilla L. Seidel, 106, of 26748 Haverhill Drive, Lutz, Fla., formerly of Emmaus, died Monday, April 3, in Palm Gardens of Tampa, Fla. She was the wife of the late James W. Seidel.

She was a dressmaker for many years in the Lehigh Valley.

Born in Crackersport, she was a daughter of the late Oliver and Amanda (Hammel) Wisser.

She was a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Allentown.

Survivors: Sons, Ernest O. of Lutz, Fla., James W. of Allentown; daughters, Mrs. Arlene D. Schreiber of Allentown, Mrs. Olive J. Woods of Jacksonville, Fla., Mrs. Miriam E. Fluker of Tampa; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son Henry J.

Services: 1:30 p.m. Friday, Trexler Funeral Home, 1625 Highland St., Allentown. Call 12:30-1:30 p.m. Friday.

 

 

 

Pictures

Wisser Family in 1920- Front Row: Amanda L. (Hammel) Wisser, Beulah M. (Wisser) Weidner, George W. Wisser, Oliver F. Wisser
Top Row: Mary Wisser, James Jacob Wisser, Ed Wisser, Sevilla (Wisser) Seidel, Robert E. Wisser (Thanks to Bob Wisser for Photo)

The Wiser Family in 1920

 

Research Note:

Sevilla was listed as Cevilla on the 1910 Census.

 

Census

1910

Starting on line 10: Oliver Wisser - head (38), Amanda L. - wife (38), Edwin J. - son (19), Cevilla - daughter (17), Mary - daughter (15), Robert E. - son (13), James J. - son (9), George W. - son (5), Buelah M. - daughter (7), Herbert Haas - hired man (19)

James Wisser 1910 Censsus

View Full Resolution

 

 

I am looking for more pictures and information on my Sevilla, my Grandfather's sister. Please contact me if you have anything you would like to share.

Thanks,

Gary