My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS LAUBACH is a native son of Northampton County, and a successful business man of Bethlehem. He is a member of the City Council at the present time, and has frequently served in public offices with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He comes from a family who are well known in this portion of the country for commercial ability, and for distinction in many of the walks of life. Among those who are widely known is Senator E. H. Laubach, who now represents this district in the State Senate, and who is a nephew of our subject.

The birth of Thomas Laubach occurred at Laubach’s Postoffice, now Northampton, Allen Township, in this county, December 30, 1830, and his father, Peter, was a native of the same township. His grandfather, Adam Laubach, was born in Saucon Township, where two generations previously the progenitors of the family had settled on coming from Holland in 1734. The father of our subject married Elizabeth Neligh, who was also born in Allen Township, and who died in 1871. Her father, John Neligh, was a farmer, and extensive miller and weaver in Allen Township. Peter Laubach was a blacksmith by trade, and in that occupation made his start toward fortune. He bought land along the canal, which in time grew very valuable and made the owner rich. He was a practical farmer, a miller, merchant and distiller at Northampton. His death occurred in 1857.

Thomas Laubach is one of nine children, and was reared to farm duties, at the same time receiving the common-school advantages of the day. He lived at home until his father’s death, in the year 1857, and the year previous to that had taken charge of the place. In the year 1856 he was married, and after that event lived for a time in Lehigh County, on the Saeger farm, but in 1860 he sold it and located on a portion of the old homestead, where he followed farming and ran a mill during the war. He continued as an agriculturist, operating a farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, until 1886, when he removed to Bethlehem, with the intention of living a retired life, but was forced again into business, as he was obliged to take a crockery store on the settlement of a claim. He still owns his farm, which he has leased.

In Allen Township, Mr. Laubach was married, in 1856, to Amanda, daughter of David Bleim, a farmer of that locality. Mrs. Laubach was born in Allen Township, and there grew to womanhood. By her marriage she has become the mother of the following children, who are living: C. D., an importer and dealer in wholesale and retail china in Trenton, N. Y.; James F., who is a clerk in Bethlehem; Jane L., Mrs. Spangler, of this city; and Mary L., wife of H. O. Smith, also of Bethlehem.

The china and crockery store just referred to, which is now carried on by our subject, is 18 x 96 feet in dimensions, and is finely located on Main Street. A well selected stock of goods in this line is here kept constantly on hand, and the trade is steadily increasing. The home of the family is at No. 318 Market Street, and their many friends are always made welcome at this hospitable residence. For three years, dating from 1876, Mr. Laubach was Auditor of Allen Township, and since 1890 has served as a member of the Borough Council from the First Ward in Bethlehem, being honored by the largest majority ever received by Republicans elected from that ward. He is an ardent supporter of the principles and nominees of the party, and is in every way a promoter of the best interests of the community in which he dwells. In religion he is a member of Christ’s Reformed Church, to which his family also belongs.