My Genealogy Hound

JAMES F. SCHREIBER. This well known business man of Coplay is a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of Lehigh County. The family was first represented in America by John Jacob Schreiber, who in 1733 emigrated to this country from Alsace, France, and became a pioneer of what is now known as Lehigh County, where he entered a large tract of land from the Government.

In Lehigh County the subject of this notice was born September 12, 1840, to the union of Aaron and Katie (Beige) Schreiber, likewise natives of the Keystone State. The father was one of the most successful agriculturists of this county, land was long identified with the Agricultural Society, in which he maintained a deep interest. His death occurred in Coplay, February 12, 1888, and four days later his remains were interred in the cemetery at this place. His loss was deeply mourned by his host of personal friends, as well as by those with whom business relations had brought him into contact.

Among the obituaries of this good man published at the time of his demise is the following, taken from one of the local papers: “He was a true Christian man, of spotless character, and unquestioned integrity, and in all respects a man in whom the fullest confidence was reposed. In all relations, whether as husband, father or friend, he was kind, courteous, forgiving and true. He was active in every good work, an earnest supporter of every worthy cause, a liberal giver to the various beneficences of the church, and a true friend of the needy. In politics he was an ardent Republican, and in his religion a life-long member of Mickley’s Church, in Whitehall Township, and several years ago one of its Board of Elders. He was a man of fixed convictions, highly esteemed for his gentle, earnest and kindly nature by all who knew him.

“Modest and quiet in his deportment, he neither courted favor nor position, nor did he shrink from any duty; quietly and unostentatiously he discharged the duties of a faithful and upright citizen. Socially he was always held in high esteem by his neighbors. In his home, at his hearthstone and in the social life of his family, dignity of manner, kindliness of speech, wisdom, and good judgment marked the rule and law by which he reared his children to honor their father and love and revere his memory. He was one of those whose ‘words are bonds, whose oaths are oracles,’ who did as he wanted to be done by, and lived in peace with all mankind. His wife died some six or eight weeks ago, and this bereavement bore heavily upon him. He was the father of two children, a son and daughter, who are left to mourn his passing away. Both lived with the parent on the old homestead. The deceased brought his age to seventy-seven years and six months. He was a son of Daniel and Barbara (Leisenring) Schreiber, and was the last surviving of five sons of the family.”

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Coplay, the growth of which he has witnessed from a straggling hamlet to a progressive village, the home of prosperous and intelligent people. While his educational advantages were few, he has supplemented the information gained in schools by close observation, extensive reading and self-culture. His youthful years were spent on a farm, but for many years he has followed the trade of a butcher, and in connection therewith devotes some attention to agriculture. Politically he is a Republican, and has served as Councilman of the borough of Coplay. In his religious connections he belongs to the Whitehall Reformed Church.