My Genealogy Hound

LA FAYETTE LENTZ, one of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of Mauch Chunk, who is now an extensive coal operator and the proprietor of the American House, was born in Northampton County, Pa., on the 29th of February, 1828. He is a son of John Lentz, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, and was one of the active business men of his day, thoroughly alive to all enterprises calculated to prove of benefit to the community in which he lived. He was a prominent citizen, and held several important offices. He was serving as Sheriff of Northampton County when Carbon County was set off from it. In politics he was a pronounced Democrat, but had a high regard for the opinions of others, believing in the sincerity of those whose views differed from his own.

LaFayette Lentz spent his boyhood days in a part of Northampton which has since become Carbon County, to which place his parents removed during his early youth. His school privileges were those afforded in the country districts; but his educational advantages were limited, as at the early age of twelve years he was thrown upon his own resources and forced to make his own way in life unaided. He was industrious and frugal, saved his earnings, and as the result of his keen foresight and good judgment, met with good success in the various undertakings which he followed until he attained his majority. At the age of twenty-one he accepted a position as clerk in a general store in Parryville, and continued to serve in that capacity for a period of eight years. The practical business experience which he there gained has proved of much value to him in the years which have followed.

On leaving Parryville Mr. Lentz went to Catasauqua, where he remained for a short time. He sought and obtained employment in grading the road bed of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and soon became a contractor. He was among the first to agitate the question and make estimates as to the cost and the time it would take to drive through Vosburg tunnel. He also became one of the principal contractors of the Morris & Essex Railroad, New Jersey, and took large contracts on the Catasauqua & Fogelsville Railroad, and also on the North Pennsylvania, the Easton and Amboy Railroads. In all these undertakings he met with success, and continued in that line of business for thirty years, his career being a prosperous one.

In 1868 M. Lentz became connected with coal interests near Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, under the firm name of Lentz, Bowman & Co. For some years they were successfully engaged in coal mining, when about 1880 a change in the partnership occurred and the firm became Lentz, Lilly & Co. Mr. Lentz is also a member of the extensive coal mining firm of L. A. Riley & Co., operating at Centralia, Columbia County. He is a Director of the Second Naiional Bank of Mauch Chunk, gives some attention to real-estate dealing, owns two good farms in a high state of cultivation, and is the proprietor of the American House, the leading hotel of Mauch Chunk.

In 1847 Mr. Lentz married Miss Mary, daughter of John Swartz, both natives of Northampton County. They are the parents of two sons: William O., a coal operator; and Horace D., a graduate of Harvard University, and at present a law student under Laird H. Barber, one of the prominent attorneys of Mauch Chunk. Mr. Lentz is a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party, but has neither time nor inclination for public office. He is a prominent Mason, and holds membership with Carbon Lodge No. 242, F. & A. M., Lilly Chapter No. 181, R. A. M., and Packer Commandery, K. T. He may truly be called a self-made man, for he started out in life empty-handed, and has steadily worked his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence. Through the legitimate channels of business he has achieved a success which is certainly well merited. He is now one of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of Mauch Chunk, and well deserves representation in the history of Carbon County.