My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM J. SCHLEIFFER. For several years past this worthy citizen has made his home in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County. He has served capably in the position of Postmaster, and in political affairs is a straight Republican and an active member of the Union League.

On the paternal side our subject is of German descent, his ancestors having been residents of the Palatinate. One, John Schleiffer, the founder of the family in America, went to Liverpool, where he took passage in the ship “Lydia,” commanded by Captain Allen, and after a long voyage across the Atlantic landed in the United States in 1853. He settled in Montgomery County, Pa., near the old Gashenhoppen Church. He reared two sons, one of whom was a prominent resident of Montgomery County, and from him descended one branch of the family. The other brother went to Bucks County, locating near Cook’s Creek, at a place now known as Schleiffer’s Valley, where he purchased about three hundred and sixty acres of land. This property was subsequently divided among his three sons, Abraham, Jacob and Henry, and it has passed from father to son until it is now in the hands of the present generation. The early members of the family were active in the support of the Colonial party during the War of the Revolution. Jacob Schleiffer, our subject’s grandfather, was born in Bucks County, and was a farmer by occupation. He married a Miss Kauffman, of the same county, and they had two sons and three daughters, namely: Nancy, Eva, Mary, Samuel and John. In politics the grandfather was a Whig, and religiously was affiliated with the Mennonite Church.

John Schleiffer was born in 1815, and on arriving at maturity devoted his energies to farming. For his wife he chose Miss Caroline, daughter of Benjamin Jacoby, of Durham Township, Bucks County. Seven children, three daughters and four sons, were the result of this union, and in order of their birth they are as follows: Catherine, wife of Moses S. Eisenhart, a hotel-keeper of Spring Valley, Lehigh County; Franklin, a farmer, who married Sarah Ann Meyers, of Bucks County; Jacob J., who wedded Elizabeth Geissinger, and is the present owner of the old homestead farm near Springtown, Bucks County; William J., our subject; Mary, who became the wife of Llewellyn Gerhart, of Coopersburg, Pa.; Emma, the wife of John Y. Young, a grocer of Philadelphia; and John, deceased.

The birth of William J. Schleiffer occurred on the 28th of December, 1846, near Springtown, Bucks County. He made the best of his educational privileges, managing to secure a good education, and for a time pursued his studies in East Springtown Academy. Then obtaining a certificate, he taught school himself for five terms in Bethlehem Township, at what was known as Church Hill School. Later he embarked in merchandising at White Cabin, Bethlehem Township, where he remained for a year. On the expiration of that time he removed to Spring Valley, Lehigh County, where the next eight years of his life were passed in a general store business. In 1878 he became a resident of Bingen, where he was engaged in mercantile business successfully for the thirteen years following.

In 1869 Mr. Schleiffer married Miss Mary E. Nicholas, daughter of Jacob F. Nicholas, a citizen of Bethlehem Township. Mr. and Mrs. Schleiffer have become the parents of four children, who are as follows: Lottie C., J. Ward, Harry F. and William Penn.