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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 REDINGTON, one of the prominent citizens of South Bethlehem, has been for thirty years an efficient employe of the Lehigh Valley Eailroad, and is one of the most practical men in the railroad business in the country. He was appointed June 1, 1894, to the important post of Supervisor of the Lehigh Division, his office being at South Bethlehem, and his division comprising the territory from Easton to Mauch Chunk. A native of Ireland, Mr. Redington was born in County Galway, in 1842, being a son of John and Bridget (Fallon) Redington, who were likewise natives of the Emerald Isle, where they passed their entire lives. The father followed agricultural pursuits, and in religious faith was a member of the Catholic Church.

The subject of this record is next to the eldest of eight sons and one daughter, who are all living, and his boyhood was passed on his father’s farm in Ireland until he was fourteen years of age. In 1856 he came to America, and on landing at New York City proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he had several iincles living. He went to school in that city for some time, and during the vacations drove a team from the refinery to the docks, one of his uncles being superintendent of the concern by which he was employed. At the age of sixteen he commenced teaming, steadily following that vocation for nineteen months, and during that time making one trip to New Orleans with Captain Simms. The war breaking out, he entered the Government employ, being engaged for nearly fifteen months at work on the construction of tracks near Nashville, Tenn. He next went to New Jersey, working on the Morris & Essex Railroad until 1864, when he came to the Lehigh Valley. Here he worked for nearly a year as a section hand at Mud Run, and when the track was laid over Wilkes Barre Mountain, between White Haven and Wilkes Barre, he was engaged in assisting on the same until June, 1867, when he became foreman of a section of the Wyoming Division. He was later employed on this division until 1869, when he took charge of a gravel train at Wilkes Barre, continuing in that capacity until 1876. From that time until 1884 he was stationed in the vicinity of White Haven, in charge of construction work. Next he was Roadmaster of the Wyoming Division, laying the track on the mountain cut-off. In 1890 he commenced laying the track of the Pottsville Division, of which he was Roadmaster from the start, and in 1894 was promoted to his present place.

In January, 1869, Mr. Redington married, in Wilkes Barre, Miss Mary Fox, who was born in Birkenhead, Lancashire, England, and was brought to America in her infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Redington has been born one son, John, Jr., who is a member of the Class of ‘96, of the Jefferson Medical College. The family are members of the Church of the Holy Infancy, and have many warm friends in this city. For fifteen years Mr. Redington, while a resident of White Haven, served as a Councilman, at the end of which time he refused further service. Though a Democrat, he is not a radical one, but believes in voting for the best men, regardless of party lines. He is a member of the Roadmasters’ Association of America, and makes his employer’s interests ever paramount to all others.

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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 Northampton County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Northampton County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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