Researching select families from: Northampton County Pa; Bucks County, Pa; Sussex/Warren County, NJ

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Elmer Jesse Dech

(04/24/1871 - 9/15/1959)

		James Adam Dech
	Elmer Jesse Dech
Marriage(s)		Anna Lucinda Unangst
1 Hazel E. Landis on: - No Issue 2 Lizzie R. Miller on: 09/28/1894 - No Issue Siblings: - Palmer Dech - Samaritan Dech - Oscar J. Dech - Sevilla Elizabeth Dech - Harvey Dech - Rudy J. Dech - Mary L. Dech - Schuyler Henry Dech	Born: Baptism: Place: Sponsors: Died: Burial: Notes: Easton Express, Wednesday, September 16, 1969, Page 1 Dr. Elmer J. Dech Dies Easton Physician for Half Century Was 88: Active in Masonic Organization. Dr. Elmer Jesse Dech, 88, an Easton physician for 50 years, died at 6:35 p .m. yesterday in Easton Hopstial, where he had been a patient for nine wee ks. Dr. Dech, who retired from active practice in 1950, lived at 3800 Jewel St ., Palmer Township. An active physician for 56 years, Dr. Dech came to Easton in 1900. In 19 15 he purchased a property at 14th and Northampton Streets now the Asht on Funeral Home and conducted his practice from thrre until his retirement . Born in Bath on April 24, 1871, he was a son of the late James and An na L. Unangst Dech. His father fought for the Union army in the Civil Wa r. The history of the Dech family in Northampton County goes back to the M id-18th Cemetery. Dr. Dech began his education in the public schools and later attended Lehi gh Preparatory School, Bethlehem. After studying pharmacy for one yea r, he began the study of medicine in Philadelphia under the preceptorsh ip of a Dr. Moore. Later he studied under Dr. Johanstonbaugh in Bethlehem. He was graduate from the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohi o, in 1894 and immediately went into practice in Pandora, Ohio. He remain ed in Pandora for six years. In 1896 he was elected coroner of Putnam Coun ty. He was re-elected three years later. Returning to Pennsylvania in 1900, Dr. Dech took post-graduate work in t he New York Polyclinic Hospital before establishing his practice in Easton . Dr. Dech was a member and president of the Eclectic Medical Society in Pen nsylvania. He was a member also of the Northampton County Medical Societ y; the Pennsylvania Medial society, the American Medical Society, and t he National Eclectic Medical Society. He belong to First United Church of Christ, Easton, and was a former memb er of the Easton Board of Trade, now the Easton Area Chamber of Commerce. A mason, he was a member of Dallas Lodge, F&AM,, Forks of the Delaware Shr ine Club. Royal Arch Chapter 173; Pomp Council 20, Royal and Select Master s, Easton forest 35, Tall Cedars of Lebanon; and Hugh DePayens Commande ry 19, Knights Templar, all of Easton, and the Rajah Temple Reading. He fo rmerly was affiliated with the Easton lodges of the IOOF and Knights of Py thias. Dr. Dechs' first was Lizzie H. Miller of Bath, died in December 1955. He is survived by his widow, the former Hazel E. Landis an a brother, D r. Rudy Dech, Bath, He also leaves niece s and Nephews. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Ashton Funeral Home. ELMER JESSE DECH, M.D.'97 Several generations of Dr. Dech's ancestors have l ived in Northampton county, all agriculturists, men of substance and wort h. With the present generation two of the sons of James Dech, of Bath, a r etired farmer, embraced the study of medicine, this review dealing with t he career of Dr. Elmer J. Dech, one of Easton's leading ph, sicians, who e stablished in the city in the year 1900. (I) The ancestor of the Dech family in Pennsylvania is John Dech, bo rn in Germany, in 1720, who came to Pennsylvania in 1734. He worked out h is passage money after his arrival, as did manj- others, but he later beca me prosi)erous, and for years resided at Sumneytt) Bucks county. Lat er he was attracted by reports from the newly created count.- of Northampt on, came to this county, and settled near Bethlehem. (II) Jacob Dech, son of John Dech, the founder, was born in 1746, and di ed in 1S33. He lived in Forks township. He married Christina Best, sist er of Conrad Best, and daughter of Jacob Best, of Williams township. He owned various tracts of farm land in Allen township, and was fairly wel l-to-do. In 1772 he bought and settled on the farm now owned by a descend ant, George H. Dech, of Bath. During the Revolution he enlisted and perfor med militar)' dutv. Jacob and Christina (Best) Dech were the parents of fi ve children: I. John, who later purchased the homestead; married Elizabe th Oberly. 2. Anna, married David Kemmerer. 3. Jacob (2), of further menti on. 4. Elizabeth, married Christian Laubach. 5. Andrew, born in 1793, died in 1854; married Katherine Heller, born in 1790, died in 186 6, a daughter of Joseph Heller, and great-granddaughter of Christopher Hel ler, who came to Pennsylvania in 1738, and the founder of Hellertown. Andr ew Dech was the owner of a large farm near Schoenersville in Allen townshi p. (III) Jacob (2) Dech, son of Jacob (i) Dech, was a farmer of East Allen to wnship, Northampton county, and there lived and died, his burial place Hec ktown. He married Mary Magdalen Oberly. and they were the parents of the f ollowing children; I. Jesse Reuben, of further mention. 2. Aaron, who di ed September 19, 1898, in his eightieth year, was a merchant of Farmersvil le ; he made frequent trips to Philadelphia with a four-horse team, taki ng heavy loads of produce to the city and bringing back merchandise for h is store; from all around the people came to bring him money to depos it in Philadelphia banks, and frequently he carried large sums. 3. Willia m, of Hanover. 4. Joseph, of East Allen township. 5. Stephen, of Bethleh em township. 6. Charles, of Lower Nazareth. 7. Thomas, who lived at Risi ng Sun. (IV) Jesse Reuben Dech, eldest son of Jacob (2) and Mary Magdalen (Oberl v) Dech, was born in East Allen township, Northampton county. He settl ed in Bath, Pennsylvania. He married a Miss Ritter, and reared a family in cluding a son, James, of further mention. (V) James Dech. son of Jesse Reuben Dech, was born in East Allen townshi p, and spent the active years of his life engaged in farming in Northampt on county, owning his own farm of one hundred acres, situated near Bat h. He was a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, a member of the Ref ormed church, and is a man most highly esteemed. He married Anna L. Ungans t. Children: Samaritan; Oscar J.; Harvey J., deceased; Sevilla, married An drew Person; Elmer Jesse, of further mention; Mary L., married Jacob Danner; Schuyler H., a physician; and Palmer, deceased. (VI) Dr. Elmer Jesse Dech, son of James and Anna L. (Unganst) Dech, was bo rn in Bath, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1871. He began his education in the pu blic schools, passed to Lehigh Preparatory School, Bethlehem, studied phar macy for one year, and in 1890 began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Moore, of Philadelphia. Later he studied under Dr. Jo hnstonbaugh, of Bethlehem. He next entered the Eclectic Medical Institu te of Cincinnati, Ohio, whence he was graduated M.D., class of 189 4. He at once began practice, locating in Pandora, Ohio, there remaining f or six j-ears and establishing a good practice. In i8g6 he was elected cor oner of I'utnam county, re-elected in 1899, serving until 1900, when he re signed, disposed of his practice and returned to Pennsylvania. Before resu ming' medical I)ractice, Dr. Dech pursued a course on i)ost-graduate stu dy and work at the New York Polyclinic Hospital, then located in Kaston, where he has beco me well established as a physician of skill and honor. In 1915 he bought t he residence property at Fourteenth and Northampton streets, one of Haston 's most beautiful homes, and erectecf thereon a fireproof addition in whi ch he has his offices, perfectly equipped with every medical or surgical a id to modern treatment of disease or injury. His abundant success is the l ogical outcome of thorough preparation, zeal and devotion to his chosen wo rk, and a sincere desire to be of service to his fellow men. He has a mo st jileasing personality, coupled with a calm, serene nature which in itse lf soothes and brings hope to the suffering. He is a member of and preside nt of the Eclectic Medical Society of Pennsylvania, and is highly esteem ed as a physician. Other professional societies are: The Northam])ton Coun ty Medical Associa- tion, Pennsylvania State Society, American Medical Society, National Eclec tic Medical Society. Through the medium of these societies and their publi cations he keeps in close touch with the medical world, and all advan ce in treatment or operation. Dr. Dech has i)urchased the old Dech homestead in East Allen township, a nd there he indulges to the utmost his love of the out-of-doors, and rever ts to the calling of his borebears. He has always been an admirer of the t rotter, and in the past has owned some of the best, although only for h is own pleasure and personal driving. With the advent of the automobi le he adopted the new steed, and is an ardent devotee of the motoring gam e. A day with rod and reel also appeals to him, and whenever possible he h as a day in the woods. He is a member of Dallas Lodge, Free and Accepted M asons; Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pomp Council, Royal and Select Master s; Hugh Dc Payen Commandery, Knights Templar; Rajah Temple, of Reading, Pe nnsylvania; Tall Cedars of Lebanon; Easton Lodge, Independent Order of Odd h'ellows ; Amanda Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chanc ellor; Easton Board of Trade; and the First Reformed Church. In politi cs he is a Democrat. Dr. Dech married, September 28, 1894, Lizzie H. Miller, daughter of Edw in and Caroline (Smith) Miller, of Bath. Mrs. Dech is active in Red Cros s, church and charitable work.
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