My Genealogy Hound

JOHN H. PASCOE, lately elected from Lehigh County to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, is a well known citizen of Allentown,and in business circles takes high rank. We feel assured that this record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers, and therefore gladly give it a place in this volume. Mr. Pascoe was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., August 25, 1851, and is a son of Richard W. and Jessie C. Pascoe. His father, a native of Cornwall, England, crossed the Atlantic to America when a young man, and settled in Pennsylvania. His mother is a native of the Highlands of Scotland.

John H. Pascoe was the third in order of birth in a family of seven children, five of whom are yet living. The days of his childhood were passed at Friedensville Lehigh Gounty, Pa. His education was acquired in the district schools. He was afterward a student in Freeland Seminary, Montgomery County, Pa. When his education was completed he entered the employ of F. Phreaner & Detwiler, druggists of Philadelphia, with which firm he continued his connection for some time. In 1876 he became a contractor, which business he successfully carried on until 1882. He also supplied firms with iron ore. Next he entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, being engaged on construction work. For the past five years he has also been connected with the Geissinger and the Kemmerer Quarry Companies, taking out and preparing for the market building and furnace stones. Their trade in this line has become quite extensive.

In 1891 Mr. Pascoe became interested in the Blue Ridge Powder Company, and was made its President, which position he still fills. The works are located in Bowman, and they engage in the manufacture of blasting powder, used in mines where high explosions are required. He is also interested in the manufacture of foundry facings. The mills known as the Mahoning Foundry Facing Mills, of which he is President, are situated at Lehighton, Carbon County, Pa. He is a wide-awake and enterprising business man, who carries forward to a successful completion whatever he undertakes, undeterred by any difficulties or obstacles which may arise.

In 1880 Mr. Pascoe was united in marriage with Miss Annie L. Reinsmeth, of Allentown, daughter of William Reinsmeth. In politics he is a Republican, and in 1885 was elected a member of the Common Council, in which he served for three terms, discharging his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He is a prominent Mason of the community and has taken the Royal Arch degree. Since becoming a citizen of Allentown, he has been prominently connected with its business interests, and a straightforward, honorable course has won for him the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact.