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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN C. MACK. Among the successful business men of Lehigh County may be noted the subject of this sketch, who is a resident of Slatington. He is a retired hardware merchant, and in his chosen line of business has gained popularity and affluence. He is a native of the Keystone State, having been born in Northampton County, April 17, 1840.

The parents of our subject were Ahaha and Elizabeth (Grave) Mack, also natives of the above named county. The father was a farmer by occupation, and both the father and mother died in the year 1851. Thus orphaned at the early age of eleven years, John C. Mack started out in life for himself, and was employed for seven years on a farm. He was then engaged for two and a-half years in serving an apprenticeship to the tinsmith’s trade, which he learned under William Genge. After having gained a complete knowledge of his trade, he did journeyman work for four years.

On the 8th of August, 1862, Mr. Mack cast in his lot with the Union cause, enlisting in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, commanded by Colonel Uhfud. He was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, Third Brigade, Third Division of the Second Army Corps, and served nine months. He participated in the battles of Antietam, September 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 13 of the same year; and Chancellorsville, May 3-9, 1863. May 26, 1863, he was mustered out at Harrisburg, Pa. He returned to Mauch Chunk and later removed to Hazleton. May 24, 1864, he came to Slatington and began the tinware and hardware business, and continued to successfully conduct the latter business until 1891.

Since the year 1891, our subject has lived retired, devoting part of his time to his property interests. He was one of the organizers of the rolling mills and carries stock in that company. Politically he is a stanch Republican, unswerving in his devotion to the party’s interest, and socially he is a member of Slatington Lodge No. 640, I. O. O. F. He has been a member of the Council for a number of years, and is always prominently connected with any enterprise for public improvement.

September 22, 1865, Mr. Mack was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Remaby. She was the daughter of John Remaby, who built the first hotel in Slatington, and who always took an active part in all enterprises calculated to be a benefit to the community. His death occurred in Slatington in the year 1862. Her mother who was Laurine Wert before her marriage, was a native of Lehigh County, and died in the year 1890, at the age of sixty-six years. She was the daughter of John C. Wert, who was of German descent. Mrs. Mack’s paternal grandfather was George Remaby, who was a native of Lehigh County, but of English descent. His ancestors came to America and settled in the above county in a very early day.

Mrs. John C. Mack spent her girlhood days in Slatington, receiving a common-school education. She is the mother of four children, of whom we make the following mention: Dr. John S., who has a drug store at the corner of Main and Dowell Streets, where he practices his profession as a physician, is the eldest; James W., who is now employed with Shoemaker & Co., druggists of Allentown, was formerly a student in the Philadelphia Pharmaceutical College; Charles B. is a school boy; and Minnie is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mack are members of the German Reformed Church of Slatington, Pa. They can remember the first train of cars that passed through this part of the county. Their home is a hospitable one and their many friends are always cordially welcomed.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

View additional Lehigh County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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