My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE M. HARLEMAN, Trainmaster for the Lehigh Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and its branches, is an old and trusted employe of that railway, in whose service he has been active since 1870. He has risen from the lower ranks, having been for many years an operator at the different points of Weatherly, Black Creek Junction, Hazle Creek Junction, Penn Haven Junction, White Haven and Fairview. He has been a resident of Bethlehem since 1877, and has been gradually promoted to his present position of trust. He is kept constantly busy traveling over the road every day, and has charge of all the train men and supervision of trains, working directly under the Division Superintendent.

Born at Weatherly, Carbon County, in 1856, Mr. Harleman comes of an old family in that vicinity, his grandfather, Isaac, having been born in Millport, where he followed his trade as a carpenter, being in the employ of the old Beaver Meadow Railroad Company until it became the Lehigh Valley Railroad, after which he was in the car department of the company until his death.

The Harlemans are of German descent, their ancestors having settled in the Keystone State at an early day, and having been instrumental in its prosperity. Our subject’s father, Samuel, was also born in what is now Millport, Carbon County, and he, too, was a railroad man, being employed by the old Beaver Meadow Road at the age of nineteen as a brakeman. Later he became a fireman, and then engineer on a locomotive. He brought the first passenger train over the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and was on the road for years. For many years he was in the wrecking department, and though in active service was very fortunate in escaping serious accidents. He is still in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and though sixty-six years of age acceptably fills the position of Assistant Trainmaster on the Beaver Meadow Division. A true patriot, he was Captain of a company which enlisted in 1863, in response to the emergency call during the Civil War, and since its organization he has been identified with the Republican party. For six years he was County Commissioner of Carbon County, and served for sixteen years as Postmaster of Weatherly. Interested in education for two decades, he was School Director. He has always been a resident of Weatherly, and is one of the Middle Coalfield Poor Directors. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian. His wife, formerly Susan Setzer, was born in Monroe County, and was a daughter of Abraham Setzer, who followed farming in that county. Mrs. Harleman died in 1872. Four of her five children are still living.

George M., of this sketch, is an only son, and is next to the eldest in his father’s family. His boyhood and youth were passed in the place of his nativity, where he received a good common-school education. He then learned telegraphy and prepared for college, at the same time working as an operator. In 1875 he entered Lafayette College at Easton and took the civil engineers’ course. At the end of two years he returned to Weatherly, where he remained until 1877, then coming to Bethlehem as night operator in the office of the Lehigh Valley Company. In 1892 he was made Train Dispatcher of the Lehigh Division, as previously stated.

In New Market, N. J., Mr. Harleman was married, in 1878, to Miss Mary, daughter of Andrew Ritter, formerly a resident of Bethlehem, but now living in Weatherly. Mrs. Harleman is a native of Bethlehem , and a lady of good education and culture. To our subject and wife have been born three children, Samuel, Helen and Mary. The parents are members of the First Presbyterian Church of South Bethlehem, and have a host of warm friends and acquaintances in this locality.