USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania. : Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 15
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania. : Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 15
USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania. : Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 15
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WILLIAM H. AINEY.
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the purpose of mining and selling anthracite coal. The mines of tlic company are located near St. Clair, Schuylkill County, and during the two years since commencing operations the output of the mines has increased largely, the company being in a prosperous condition. Mr. Linderman has very large interests in the lead and zinc mining regions of Missouri, and is closely identified with the man- agement of three mining companies in that state. He is a member of the Board of Managers of the South Bethleliem Supply Company, and a Director of the following concerns: The Lehigh Valley Na- tional Bank, the Dodson Lead and Zinc Company, the Houston Lead and Zinc Company, and the Sat- ler Lead and Zinc Company.
In November, 1889, Mr. Linderman was married to Miss Jennie S. Brodhead, of Bridgeport, Conn., and they have one child, who is named for his father and grandfather, Garrett B. Mr. Linderman is a member of the Protestant Episcopal denomina- tion, being connected with the Church of the Na- tivity of South Bethlehem. One of the Trustees of St. Luke's Hospital of this place, he is now serv- ing also as a member of the Executive Committec. The home formerly owned by his father, beauti- fully situated on Fountain Hill, has been pur- chased by Mr. Linderman. It is kept up in the finest shape, and the lawns are as beautiful as can be seen in any place in the valley. They are laid out- tastefully, and fine shade trees and shrubs are dis- posed with an eye to the beauty of the whole.
H ON. WILLIAM H. AINEY, a lawyer, banker and iron manufacturer of Allen- town, is a native of Susquehanna County. His grandfather, William Ainey, was of French de- scent, his Huguenot ancestors having settled in the Mohawk Valley, in Montgomery County, N. Y. His grandmother, Hannah Crawford, was from Connecticut, and her ancestors were among the early Puritan settlers in New England. His great- grandmother, Elizabeth Van Dusen, was of Ger- man lineage. The father of our subject, Jacob
Ainey, was born in 1802, and in 1824 married Cathrine Kinnan, of Goshen, Orange County, N. Y., a daughter of John Morrison Kinnan, who was of Irish descent, his father, Rev. John Kinnan, having emigrated from the North of Ireland to the Em- pire State before the Revolution.
The subject of this sketch, after receiving a lib- eral cducation, began the study of law under Hon. E. B. Chase, of Montrose, Pa., in 1853. He was ad- mitted to the Bar in 1857, and the same year open- ed an office in Allentown. After devoting him- self closely and successfully to legal practice for several years, he became desirous of opening up a larger field for his active temperament than was af- forded by law practice, and so organized the Allen- town Savings Institution, of which he was chosen President. It prospered beyond the most sanguine hopes of its friends, and two years later a banking house was erected at No. 532 Hamilton Street. He gave his close personal attention to the busi- ness of the institution, and it soon became recog- nized as one of the best managed savings banks in the statc.
In 1862 Mr. Ainey bought the Lehigh Register, which he edited in connection with his law prac- tice and other duties. A ready and vigorous writer, the Register under his management became an able advocate of progressive doctrines and ad- vanced Republican views on all the great questions of the day. Its editor was several times chosen a delegate to the Republican State Conventions, and was senatorial delegate to, and chairman of con- tested seats in the convention of 1863, when two sets of delegates were claiming admission from sev- eral of the Philadelphia districts. He succeeded in harmonizing the factions ou a basis of future union satisfactory to both. The following year he served on the State Central Committee and was elected one of the executive committee of nine members to conduct the campaign.
In the years 1863 and 1864 the Second Na- tional Bank of Allentown was organized, and Mr. Ainey was clected its first President, and has filled that office ever since. His management has been conservative but highly successful, and the bank has accumulated the largest proportionate surplus fund of any bank in the Lehigh Valley.
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In 1867 he was one of the projectors and organiz- ers of the Lehigh Iron Company, and has since been its President.
In 1872 Mr. Ainey was elected, for the state at large, a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1872-73. This convention framed the present constitution of Pennsylvania, introducing many needed reforms. These have since been copied and adopted as part of the fundamental law of several other states. Mr. Ainey was an earnest advocate of these reforms and an active member of that distinguished body. His remarkable read- iness and practical ability were frequently shown during the sessions of the convention. An instance may be appropriately mentioned. When the Dem- ocrats and Republicans were in hostile array over section 5 of the Declaration of Bighits, as follows: " Election shall be free and equal, and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere with the free exercise of the right of suffrage," the Democrats demanded, the Republicans opposed it. The debate had become bitter and party lines were closely drawn. Up to that time political measures and discussions had been carefully avoided, as li- able to prove fatal to the work of the convention, but it seemed there was no way to avoid it in this instance. At this juncture, Mr. Ainey proposed a compromise by striking out "with" and inserting "to prevent," so as to make the section read, " No power, civil or military, shall interfere to pre- vent the free exercise of the right of suffrage." This was immediately accepted by both parties, and the dreaded political division happily avoid- ed. He is the author of the proviso giving cities of sufficient population separate legislative repre- sentation, and many other important and useful provisions.
In 1879 George Brookc, President of the First National Bank of Reading, and of the E. & G. Brooke Iron Company; H. S. Eckert, President of the Farmers' National Bank of Reading, and of the Henry Clay Furnaces; and several other prominent business men, obtained control of the extensive pipe works in Reading, Pa., and of the company then organized Mr. Ainey was elected President, which position he filled for five years, when he sold his interest in the company. Under his di-
rection the establishment was re-organized, and what had previously been a losing business soon became a paying one. These works employed from three to four hundred men. Pipes were made of all sizes, from three to forty-eight inches in diameter. One season they furnished New York City alone over five miles of the forty-eight- inch size, the contract amounting to more than a quarter of a million dollars.
Mr. Ainey is considered one of our ablest think- ers on matters of business and finance, being fully abreast of the times, and the author of some able papers relating thereto. His suggestions with ref- erence to the feasibility of continuing our National Banking system when the United States Bonds shall have been redeemed or become no longer available for use as the basis of the system, as it now exists, have attracted wide attention. He delivered an address on this subject before the Associated Banks of Eastern Pennsylvania in 1882. The plan he then proposed was favorably regarded at the time. The year following its suggestions were taken up by the Association, and a large com- mittee, composed of the representative men of the leading banks of Eastern Pennsylvania, and of which Mr. Ainey was Chairman, was appointed to present the same to Congress, which was done in the beginning of the year 1884. At this time, there being United States Bonds in excess of the requirements of the banks, the committee was un- able to con vince Congress that the time had arrived for making the proposed change. The subject, however, was then extensively discussed by the leading banking and daily journals in the prin- cipal cities.
At the annual meeting of the Associated Banks of Eastern Pennsylvania, June 14, 1894, Mr. Ainey again delivered a very able and exhaustive ad- dress on this subject, in which the whole scheme was most convincingly presented, and its feasibility fully shown. This address was published at the time in all the leading banking journals. It is no small compliment to the well known ability of Mr. Ainey, that the plan originally proposed by him should have been first unanimously approved by the Associated Banks of Eastern Pennsylvania, and recently by the National Association of American
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Bankers, the latter, however, with a few but unim- portant modifieations. It also constitutes the es- sential basis of the plan for continuing our Na- tional Banking system as proposed in the reports and recommendations of the Secretary of the Treas- ury, the Comptroller of the Currency, and in the message of the President, of December, 1894, viz .: the suggested substitute security to take the place of the United States bonds, now no longer avail- able for continuing the system, with eirculation as contemplated by the National Currency Act.
F RANCIS STUBBS is Superintendent of the Wahnetah Silk Mills Company, which has a capital stoek of $200,000, and is among the most prosperous manufactories of the kind in this country. Its exhibits of different kinds of fine and pile fabrics received the highest award at the World's Columbian Exposition, and rivaled the products of the French looms. Mr. Stubbs is the oldest man in his line of manufacture in the United States. He was present at the time these special fabrics were first made in England by Mr. Watson, and is now the only one of his original assistants living. A thorough and praetieal silk manufacturer, he understands every branch of the business, and, as may be readily imagined, is in- valuable to the company with which he has so long been connected.
The son of Thomas and Mary A. (Downing) Stubbs, the subject of this sketch was born in Staffordshire, England, January 30, 1845. His father was also a native of that portion of Eng- land, and was a farmer by oceupation. The mother likewise was born in Staffordshire, and by her mar- riage became the mother of five children, of whom our subject is the fourth in order of birth. At the age of two years he was sent to Maeelesfield, Cheshire, where at the early age of nine years he went to work in the silk mills. At the age of fourteen he left Macclesfield and went to Burtle, a small village between Rochdale and Barry, and served his time with his unele, Francis Reve, who was a master dyer. Continuing to live with Mr.
Reve until he was twenty years of age, the young man then married and entered the employ of Mr. Watson as a dyer. This Mr. Watson was the founder of the industry of making plushes and union velvet, these pile fabrics having never be- fore been manufactured. Franeis Stubbs eontin- ued in his special braneh as a dyer with Mr. Wat- son for twelve years with sueeess. At the end of this time he answered the advertisement of Samuel Conliflister, now Lord Masham, who wanted a dyer to engage in the manufacture of plushes, etc. Mr; Stubbs was given the position, and became master dyer, continuing as such for about fourteen years, during which time he taught the trade to a great many persons who are now following the business in America.
In Mareh, 1890, our subject emigrated to Amer- iea and, coming to this city, accepted the position of foreman of the Wahnetah Silk Mills, in August of that year being appointed Superintendent over the whole business. The mills were started in No- vember, 1889, though not ready for business be- fore April, 1890. There are twenty-four looms in the plant, having a capacity of twelve thousand yards of silk per week. The mills consist of four buildings, well equipped with all modern improve- ments and inventions, and having a boiler and en- gine house containing two boilers which furnish steam-power. In the dying department all of the beautiful shades and tints are accomplished in the most artistic manner, and a specialty is made of velvets and plushes for upholstery and similar lines. Employment is furnished to over one hundred hands, and, in short, the business is constantly growing and acquiring a fine reputation under the able management of its present' superintendent. The President of the mills is James Thomas, a mem- ber of the firm of Davis & Thomas; and the Secre- tary and Treasurer is Frank M. Horn, President of the National Bank of Catasauqua.
In 1865 Francis Stubbs married Miss Elizabeth Saxon, who was born near Rochdale, England, and to them have been born five children. Mary is the wife of Joseph Pearson, who is engaged in the lum- ber business in Bradford, England, with the firm of Becroft & Weetman; William, whose education was obtained in the Bradford Grammar School, in
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the Crayfeld Technical College in Germany, and in the Yorkshire College at Leeds, England, is a master dyer and is working with the John J. Dob- son Company of Philadelphia as foreman dyer; the younger members of the family are Annie, Liz- zie and Henrietta. Mr. Stubbs while in England was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was connected with the Masonic fra- ternity. In religion he is an Episcopalian, having been reared in that faith from boyhood.
AMES WAGNER. Numbered among the capable and successful business men of Hel- lertown is the gentleman aboved named, who is well known, not only in Lower Saucon Township, but also throughout the entire county of Northampton. He is a representative of a fam- ily that has been identified with the history of this section for several generations. His father, Charles Wagner, a native of Northampton Coun- ty, was born in 1811 and died in 1876, having re- sided here throughout his entire life. His occupa- tion was that of milling, in which he gained a com- petence.
In everything pertaining to the welfare of the county Charles Wagner took an active part, giv- ing his sympathy and active assistance to all meas- ures for the benefit of the people. In politics he was an advocate of Democratic principles, and upon his party ticket was at different times elected to offices of trust and honor. In educational af- fairs he was especially interested and served for some time as a 'School Director. As Deacon and Elder, he was one of the prominent workers in the Lutheran Church, and in that faith he passed from earth. He and his wife were the par- ents of two sons and two daughters, namely: James, the subject of this article; Milton, a gradu- ate of Franklin and Marshall College, who died in 1886, after teaching school successfully a couple of years, or until his health failed; Matilda, wife of Jacob Koplin; and Selinda.
Prepared for practical business by a thorough education in the public schools of Hellertown, our
subject afterward started in the milling business as an employe in his father's mill. About 1868 he and his cousin, Jacob Wagner, purchased his fa- ther's mill, and the concern has since been carried on under the firm name of J. & J. Wagner. Under the practical management of the members of the firm the business has been conducted so as to produce the best financial returns, and at the same time guarantee satisfaction to the patrons. It is considered one of the substantial enterprises of the village, and merits and receives a large patron- age from the people.
The lady who in 1870 became the wife of Mr. Wagner, and who has since been his faithful help- mate and counselor, was Amanda Laury, daughter of John Laury, of Lower Saucon Township. Three children were born of their marriage, but Mary and Annie have been taken from the home by death, Eva being the only survivor. In his polit- ical affiliations Mr. Wagner is a Democrat, and is actively interested in the success of his party. For fifteen years or more he has served as School Director in the borough of Hellertown. In relig- ous affiliations he is a Lutheran, devoted to the faith of his forefathers, and takes a warm interest in the progress of that denomination. He has served as Elder and Treasurer of the church, and is one of its most energetic workers. A public- spirited citizen, he takes an intelligent interest in all matters pertaining to borough and county im- provement.
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F RANCIS H. BREINIG, of this sketch, has reached that age when the dignity of years well spent in active life and productive labor exempts him from the weariness of toil at the present time. He is now recognized as one of the prominent, wealthy and retired farmers living in Whitehall Township, this county.
Our subject was born in Lehigh County, on the 27th of October, 1828, and is a son of Benjamin and Hetty (Pope) Breinig, also natives of that place. He is of German descent, his paternal grand- father having come from the Fatherland in an early day and made settlement in Lehigh County.
B. M. KRAUSE.
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He was a tailor by trade and a musician of some note, leading the choir of the Lehigh Church at Macungie during his residence there. His son, George Breinig, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation and died in this county. He reared a family of three sons and a daughter, George, Benjamin, Jesse and Lidia. At his de- cease he gave each of his sons a fine farmi, but Lidia received her share of the property in money.
Benjamin Breinig was one of the representative men of this section, and for many years served as Commissioner of Lehigh County. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics, and had the confidence and high regard of a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances. He departed this life in April, 1879, and was preceded to the better land by his wife, who died in January, 1878. He was a man of excel- lent character and a member of the Lutheran Church.
Francis Breinig, our subject, was reared on the farm which he is at present occupying, and which was given him by his father when ready to com- mence life on his own account. He received his education in the district school and his training was for an agriculturist's life. So well did he learn the mysteries of soil and grains, of rainy sea- sons and droughts, with the proper means of tak- ing advantage of one and protective measures against the other, that he made a success of his farming life.
The lady to whom Mr. Breinig was married May 30, 1836, was Miss Polly Laubach, born in this county June 1, 1867. She is the daughter of Edwin and Adeline (Kern) Laubach, who are at present residing in Whitehall Township, where the father is now living retired. Mrs. Breinig is one in a family of six children, the others being: Peter, Mary, Joseph, Catherine and Alice. Her parents are members of the German Reformed Church.
Our subject has been School Director for two terms, and in politics never fails to cast a Demo- cratic vote. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and has sung in the choir for over thirty years. His landed possessions comprise a quarter- section under an admirable state of cultivation, and his life of usefulness and industry and his record for integrity and true-hearted faithfulness
in all the relations of life have given him a hold upon the community which all might well desire to share. The father of our subject was the first man in this community to make use of the thresh- ing machine and rcaper, and also many other im- proved farm implements, which at that time were the source of a great deal of curiosity.
B ENJAMIN M. KRAUSE, who has charge of the passenger and freight departments of the Lehigh Valley Road at Allentown, was born near Pottstown, Montgomery County, December 25, 1827. He is a man of very superior business talents, and is thoroughly fitted to dis- charge the duties of his responsible office.
John Krause, the father of our subject, was also a native of the above county, where he carried on the occupation of a farmer until his decease. His father, Henry Krause, was likewise a native of Montgomery County, and a tiller of the soil. The family is an old and honored one in that county, and in an early day had in their possession large tracts of land. The wife of John Krause was Elizabetlı, daughter of Benjamin Misimer, a farmer, and is now deceased.
Benjamin M. was given a good education, and for one year prior to coming to this county was engaged in teaching. He came hither in 1849, and upon thic death of Charles Gross, the County Recorder, lic was appointed by Governor Pollock to fill the unexpired term. This office he lield until December, 1856, when he accepted the position of freight and ticket agent of the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Company, and has fulfilled the duties of the same to the present time. He has full charge of the department, and has under his supervision about forty men. The Lehigh Valley Road was completed in 1855, and the following year Mr. Krause entered upon the duties of the new office, of which he has been the incumbent for thirty- eight years. As a matter of course he has a prac- tical knowledge of railroading in all its details,
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and never fails to win the respect of those under his supervision.
Mr. Krause was one of the organizers of the C. A. Dorney Furniture Company, in which he is a stockholder, Director and Secretary. He also has an interest in the Allentown Steam Heat and Power Company, and in many other ways has aided in the upbuilding of the community. In politics he is a pronounced Republican, and so- cially is a member of Barger Lodge No. 333, F. & A. M., and also belongs to the chapter, com- mandery and council.
In 1853 Mr. Krause was united in marriage with Miss Emeline, daughter of John G. and Hannah (Apple) Goundic. Her father emigrated from Germany to America when a young man, and died in this city, at the age of eighty-six years. To our subject and his estimable wife have been born a son and two daughters, namely: Charles B., of the C. A. Dorney Furniture Company, in which he is also a Director; Minnie G., the wife of Edwin Stein, of this city; and Belle G., who is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Krause are active members of St. John's English Lutheran Church. At one time be was chosen on the Republican ticket to represent the Second Ward in the Common Council, and was elected President of the same for the term. He has many warm friends and is entirely capable of fulfilling any duty entrusted to him in a most highly satisfactory manner.
EORGE M. BERTOLET is one of the old and valued employes of the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad, which he has served in dif- ferent capacities for over twenty-five years, and is now their local agent at Bethlehem. He is a man who numbers hosts of friends, as he looks on the bright side of life, and is of a genial and happy disposition. His birth occurred in Norristown, Pa., in 1850, and he is of French origin, his great- great-grandfather, John Bertolet, having been one of the French Huguenots who sought refuge in this land of freedom, becoming worthy citizens of
Berks County. The great-grandfather and grand- father were both farmers in Oley Township, Berks County, and there our subject's father, A. W., was born. He was a prominent business man of Nor- ristown, running a coalyard and drug store in that city.
During the war, Mr. Bertolet, Sr., enlisted for three years in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, and on the eve of being promoted, was honorably discharged on account of physical disability. Prior to this, however, he had already served as First Lieuten- ant, and it was probably during his army life that he contracted the dread disease of consumption. He departed this life March 30, 1864, at the age of thirty-six years. Both he and his wife belong- ed to the Society of Friends. The latter, whose maiden name was Matilda S. Potts, was a native of Norristown. Her father, George M., also a na- tive of Norristown, was of English descent, and had the honor of entertaining George Washington when he was at Valley Forge. His death occurred in Norristown. Mrs. Bertolet dicd previous to her husband's death, on November 3, 1863, and of her five children, four sons and a daughter, George M., who was the eldest, is the only one now living.
Being orphaned when quite a young lad, George M. Bertolet was deprived of his parents' care and attention, and was early thrown on his own re- sources. His education was obtained in the public schools of Norristown, and he commenced his rail- road career on the 19th of June, 1867, when he was a youth of seventeen years. His first place was at Allentown, as ticket agent for the East Pennsylvania Railroad, and there he remained un- til November 30, 1869. The following day he was employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Mauch Chunk as a clerk in their general freight office, and October 1, 1871, he was transferred to the office of the General Superintendent at Bethlehem, under whom he served as clerk for seventeen years. In 1888 he became Chief Clerk for Colonel R. H. Wilbur, Assistant to the Second Vice-Presi- dent. To that gentleman he gave his faithful services until he was appointed to his present po- sition as agent for the Lehigh Valley Road, hav- ing charge of all the local freight. This promo-
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