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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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PROF. L. B. LANDIS, until recently Superintendent of Schools of Allentown, and one of the most prominent citizens of this city, was born in Bucks County, Pa., his early life being spent upon a farm. The neighboring district school afforded fair educational advantages, and gave him a love for study and an earnest desire to prepare himself for the work of teaching. With this end in view, he began to earn the money which would be required to pay his tuition in the Bucks County Normal and Classical School. His attendance thereon necessitated a daily walk of eight miles, but, undaunted, he entered the school, and at the end of two years of earnest effort and close application he began teaching in the rural schools of the county. After a few years of labor in the ungraded schools, with the means which he had thereby acquired, he was enabled to enter upon a full course of study in the Millersville State Normal School, from which he was not only graduated, but also completed the post-graduate course.

As an educator and instructor Professor Landis has been most successful. On leaving the State Normal School, he accepted a position in the Westchester Academy, and then, at the end of the first year, left that institution, as he had been offered a more lucrative position in the public schools of Allentown. Here he remained for seven consecutive years, winning the confidence and high commendation of all concerned. On the expiration of that period, however, he accepted a call to become Principal of the schools in Hokendauqua, Pa. There he at once re-organized the schools and started them on the road to their present high standing in the county. After four years of very successful work in Hokendauqua, he was called back to Allentown, for the people appreciated his services and offered him the position of City Superintendent, which position he held for twelve consecutive years, being twice unanimously re-elected, each time at a large increase of salary. As Superintendent of Schools, Professor Landis was regarded as a man of progressive ideas, a hard, enthusiastic and untiring worker. He possessed most marked executive ability, and he always won and retained the confidence and regard of the students under him. At the expiration of his fourth term as City Superintendent of Allentown he retired from the profession to which he had devoted over thirty years of his life.

Professor Landis organized the Leader Publishing Company, of which he was Manager and Treasurer for a period of one year, at the end of that time disposing of his interests. He has a wide acquaintance in this community, and is held in the highest regard by all.

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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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