My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON STUBBLEBINE. No name is justly entitled to a higher place in the history of Bethlehem than the one which heads this sketch, for it is borne by a man who has most honorably discharged every obligation in life, and with such tact that he has very few enemies in the world. He is a practical iron man, and is at present Superintendent of the merchant department of the Bethlehem Iron Company, with which he has been connected since 1863.

Our subject was born in Reading, May 26, 1840, and is the son of Peter Stubblebine, a native of Chester County, this state, where he is now living at the age of eighty-four years. The latter is a cooper by trade, and for many years was superintendent of the cooperage department in the Pottstown Iron Company. He is a Republican in politics, and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Our subject’s mother was in maidenhood Elizabeth Hulderman, a native of Chester County, and the daughter, of Daniel Hulderman, a farmer and mechanic. She is still living, and although eighty years of age is in the enjoyment of good health. She reared a family of ten children, four of whom are deceased. Of those living, Daniel is a professor of music in Albany, N. Y.; he fought as a soldier during the late war. John is residing in Lebanon, this state; and Charles is living in Pottstown.

Our subject received very limited advantages in the way of an education, for when a lad of ten years he commenced to work in the rolling-mills at Philadelphia. From there he went to Birdsborough, where he was similarly employed, and after leaving that place we find him in Reading, working in the mills there. In the fall of 1861 he offered his services to his country, and as a member of a regimental brass band was mustered into the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, under Col. John R. Brook. With his company he was sent to the front as a part of the Army of the Potomac, but the following spring, on the order being given to muster all bands out of service, he returned to Philadelphia, where he again became employed in the mill.

In July, 1863, Mr. Stubblebine came to Bethlehem, where he found work in the furnaces. He was promoted from time to time, until, in 1866, he became night superintendent. This position he held until 1875, when he received the appointment of Superintendent of Mill No, 1, of the merchant department of the Bethlehem Iron Company. The mill above mentioned manufactures almost every article made in iron and steel, and gives employment to four hundred men. Our subject is quite a genius, and has patented the Stubblebine Furnace, of which the Stubblebine Furnace Company controls the patents. He has made several improvements on it since getting out the patent, and finds that it sells very readily.

The marriage of our subject was celebrated January 29, 1859, in Reading, at which time Miss Margaret, daughter of Bright and Elizabeth (Brenizer) Heller, became his wife. For a further history of her family the reader is referred to the sketch of her brother, D. W. Heller, elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Stubblebine there were born three children: Winifred, in the drawing room of the Bethlehem Iron Company; Ida, the wife of Jacob W. Luckenback, of Bethlehem; and Annie, the wife of E. F. Gray, who also makes her home in this city. Mr. Stubblebine is a member of the Moravian Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is greatly interested in the success of his party.