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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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PHILIP STORM, one of the early settlers of Catasauqua, is now retired from active business, having amassed a comfortable fortune as the result of his successful investments and management of his former business interests. He is highly respected by all, and is known as a loyal citizen and a liberal, open-hearted man, who is in touch with all movements having for their object the benefit of his countrymen. A valiant soldier of the late war, he has ever been loyal to the Union. In politics he is a Republican, and for four years served as Burgess.

John Storm, the father of our subject, was born in Bavaria, where he followed agricultural pursuits, and was also interested in wine, wheat, tobacco and hops. His death occurred in 1832. His wife, Elizabeth (Shaffer) Storm, a native of the same locality, also died in Bavaria. They were the parents of eight children, of whom our subject is the youngest and only one now living. He was born on the Rhine, in Bavaria, September 12, 1829, and received a good education in his mother tongue. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to learn the tailor’s trade, at which he worked until eighteen years of age. In 1848 he left Antwerp in a sailing-vessel, and at the end of fifty days landed in New York City. He proceeded to Elizabethtown, and from there came to Catasauqua, being obliged to walk the entire distance, as he was without means. Obtaining work on the canal, he was under the supervision of Nathan Van Horn for a time. The same year he went to Mauch Chunk, where for nine years he loaded coal on the boats along the wharf. In 1858 he returned to Catasauqua, and was employed in the limestone quarries until the war.

In October, 1862, Mr. Storm enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, being mustered in for nine months’ service. He was sent to Virginia, where he did provost duty at Suffolk and Norfolk, continuing in the service until August 18, 1863, when he was mustered out at Philadelphia. Returning home he obtained a position with the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company as foreman outside the store-house, the scales being in his charge. He helped to build the mill which was completed in December, 1863, and remained foreman until 1889, when he started out on the road as the representative of the company, buying and selling scrap iron. He traveled through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York, shipping iron from all points. This department of the trade he carried on for himself, buying and shipping iron, and then selling it to the firm on contract. He made a fine success of this enterprise, the business running up to about $85,000 a year. Since 1889 he has been retired from business, and in 1892 built his beautiful residence at the corner of Lehigh and Bridge Streets. He has also erected five other residences in this place, the finest in the western part of the city, and also owns two nice homes in the main part of Catasauqua.

In 1851 Mr. Storm married Gertrude Koch, who was born in Germany, and died in 1883. They were the parents of five children: John, whose death occurred in Catasauqua; William, who is in the iron business in Pottsville; Sarah, Mrs. A. Seifried, of this city; Mary, the wife of P. Grishert, a telegraph operator; and Lavina, Mrs. Heckman, of Catasauqua. The second marriage of Mr. Storm occurred in this city October 9, 1883, Sarah A. (Trollinger) Miller, a native of Allentown, becoming his wife. Her father, the late Samuel Trollinger, was born in Doylestown, Pa., and was a mason and contractor. His wife was in her girlhood Mary Hoffert, and her birth occurred in Bethlehem. Mrs. Storm was first married to John P. Miller, who at one time served as Sheriff, and also conducted a lumber business in Allentown. They had one child, Emma, Mrs. Cooper, of Pottsville. For three years Philip Storm was a member of the Council, was elected Burgess in 1881, and re-elected the three successive years. A Republican of the truest stripe, Mr. Storm has been active in the workings of the party. At the county convention of 1875, he was honored by being nominated for Sheriff, but the party was in the minority, though he ran four hundred votes ahead of his ticket on election. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons, and Allen Commandery No. 20, K. T. He is also connected with Fuller Post No. 378, G. A. R. Active in the work of the Lutheran Church, he has served the congregation to which he belongs as Elder. In 1874 he made a journey to his native land, traveling extensively and renewing his acquaintance with his boyhood’s home, being gone about three months on the trip.

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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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