My Genealogy Hound

HON. JAMES S. BIERY, who gained distinction through his public services as a Member of Congress, is a prominent attorney-at-law of Allentown, and holds an enviable position in the legal circles of Lehigh County. He has the honor of being a native of the state which is still his home. He was born on the Alleghany River, in Venango County, March 2, 1839, and is a son of Henry and Esther (Slotrey) Biery, both of whom were natives of Lehigh County. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1837 removed with his family to Venango County, where he and his wife spent their remaining days.

Upon the old homestead farm our subject was reared, and in the district schools of the neighborhood he began his education. He afterward attended a select school, and later pursued his studies in Emlenton Academy. On leaving that institution he began teaching, at the age of nineteen, and successfully followed that profession for several years. Three years of that time he was a teacher in Venango County, and for eight years followed teaching in Lehigh County. Subsequently he engaged in the study of theology for two years, but, changing his mind about entering the ministry, he instead entered the law office of Judge Edwin Albright, of Allentown, and after thorough preparation was admitted to the Bar, in September, 1868, in this city. Here he at once began practice, and his time and attention have since been devoted to his chosen profession. He was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court in 1875, in Washington, D. C. He has ever been a close student of his profession, and his abilities, both natural and acquired, have placed him among the leading practitioners at the Lehigh County Bar and in eastern Pennsylvania.

In 1872 Mr. Biery was elected to Congress, representing the Sixth Congressional District, which comprised the counties of Lehigh and Montgomery. He is a Republican in politics, and on that ticket was elected. On the expiration of his term of office he returned to Allentown and resumed his law practice, which he has diligently prosecuted up to the present time. When in Congress he took an active part in the discussion favoring the resumption of specie payment. He has been a close student of the topics and issues of the day, and has made himself well informed concerning everything pertaining thereto. He has written many learned and able articles on different subjects, for various periodicals and papers. He was the author of a series of articles on the revision of the tariff, published in 1879 and 1880 in the Allentown Chronicle and News, and copied in the Reading Times. They were also copied and commented upon by many of the leading journals throughout the country. His latest literary effort is a satire on “King Grover,” which has had a wide circulation, and which received much favorable commendation from metropolitan journals throughout the land.

On the 1st of March, 1864, Mr. Biery was united in marriage with Miss Annie Mertz, of Allentown, daughter of Elias Mertz. They have one son, Arthur L., a practicing attorney of this place. The family is widely known in the community in which they have so long resided, and its members are prominent in social circles. Mr. Biery takes an active part in political affairs by advocating the principles of the Republican party. He is also a stanch supporter of those interests and enterprises which are calculated to benefit and improve the city and advance the general welfare. The community which has so long been his home finds in him one of its best citizens.