Joseph Platzer was born in Bavaria, Germany, and emigrated to America in 1871, landing at New York City. He resides at Hokendauqua and is employed as an ironworker in the furnaces of the Thomas Iron Company. He was married to Margaret Haberkorn of Catasauqua, and they had six children: Annie, married to Edwin Walker, proprietor of the Eagle Hotel; Andrew J.; Joseph, silk-worker at Catasauqua; John, employed on the Ironton Railroad; and two died in infancy, Charles and Margaret.