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Laubach, WilliamPlainfield Twp |
| Pennsylvania-German Society Proceedings and Addresses at Lancaster, PA>, November 13, 1914 Vol XXV Published by the Society, 1917 Page: 44-45 |
| Transcribed by Vicki Hartman; June 2009 for GenealogyTrails.com |
"William Laubach, born in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa., February 18, 1833, was a son of Abraham Laubach (b. Nov. 19, 18o8-d. Sept. 15, 1890), whose father, Adam Laubach (b. Dec. 23, 1766), was a son of John George Laubach (b. Nov. n, 1723), and a grandson of Christian Laubach, who was born in Germany, emigrated from the Palatinate in August, 1738, and arrived in Philadelphia, September 16, 1738. The mother of William Laubach was Lydia Beidel- man (b. April 12, 18og-d. April 30, 1895), a daughter of Abraham Beidelman (b. Nov. 26, 1772-d. Sept. n, 1857), a son of Samuel Beidelman (b. May 30, 1750- d. April 16, 1836), whose father, Elias Beidelman (b. Sept. 27, 17O7-d. Oct. 25, 1781), was born in the Palatinate and emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1730. While a boy William Laubach attended the district school and worked on his father's farm. At the age of fifteen he took a position in a country store at Kesslersville, where he remained until 1853, when he came to Easton, Pa., and entered the store of the late Jacob Hay, then a prominent retail dealer in dry goods, with whom he remained about five years, after which he spent a year as clerk in the establishment of Jacob Rader, at that time one of the leading merchants of Easton. On April 6, 1860, he opened a dry goods store in a room 12 by 40 feet in size, on a part of the site the extensive establishment now occupies. From this humble beginning the business grew, more space was needed, one property after the other was added, until now the firm of William Laubach and Sons occupies a business home with a frontage of one hundred and seven feet and a floor space of more than sixty thousand square feet. In 1908 the five sons of the founder of the business were taken into the partnership and the firm was incorporated under the name of William Laubach and Sons. On Aug. 19, 1860, Mr. Laubach married Mary Frances, daughter of the late George and Annie Horn, of Easton, Pa. This union was blessed with twelve children. Mr. Laubach was prominent as a Mason, being a member of Easton Lodge, No. 152, F. and A. M., Easton Chapter, No. 173, R. A. M., Hugh De Payens Com- mandery, No. 19, Knights Templar, of Easton, and Rajah Temple, of Reading. For sixty years Mr. Laubach was an active and influential member of the First Reformed Church of Easton. He served as a member of the school board, as a director in the Northampton National Bank and as a member of the Easton Board of Trade. "" He was always interested in everything which promised to uplift the business, industrial, educational, moral and spiritual welfare of the community. His counsel was often sought and his opinions were freely accepted, though he was deferential and never advanced his personal ideas except in a modest and courteous way. He was of inestimable service and held the respect and in his latter days the veneration of this entire section. He was a liberal giver to the church and his> charity in this community was limited only by his good judgment."" Mr. Laubach died July 30, 1914. He joined the Pennsylvania-German Society October 25, 1900. G. T. E. " |
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