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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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PETER EDELMAN is one of the worthy American-Germans who have been important factors in upbuilding Northampton County. Here his birth occurred June 20, 1835, his parents being Charles and Susan (Walter) Edelman, who were both natives of Palmer Township. The former is now deceased. The great-grandfather of our subject on the paternal side, who founded the family in this country, emigrated from the Fatherland, and settled near Easton, this county, where the family became pioneers, and assisted greatly in developing those parts. His son, Peter Edelman, was also a resident of a farm near Easton.

Charles Edelman, the father of our subject, was a carpenter by trade, which calling he followed for many years successfully. In his later years he devoted his attention to farming, settling in Lower Nazareth Township. He was called from this life January 24, 1892. His widow survives him, being now in her eighty-sixth year. She was one of the pioneer women of the county, sturdy, courageous and industrious, and of her children only one, our subject, survives to comfort her in her declining years. The father was a public-spirited man and a progressive farmer. In politics he was a Republican, and endeavored to further the interests of his fellow-men as far as possible.

Peter Edelman was reared to manhood in this county, and from early years has made agriculture his life work. In boyhood he attended the common schools of the county, where he received a general education, to which he has constantly added by subsequent reading and study. On arriving at a suitable age he married Elizabeth C., daughter of George H. Beck, of Lower Nazareth Township, now deceased. To our worthy subject and wife one child was born. This son, Charles H., married Sarah Dech, and one child, Preston J., graces their union.

Many years have passed since Peter Edelman was elected Secretary of the Northampton Horse Insurance Company, and as such he is still serving. For eight years he was the efficient President of the Northampton Agricultural Society, and at the present time is a member of the Revising Committee of that organization. One of the Directors of the Poor Farm, he has endeavored to further its interests, and in politics he supports the Republican party. Formerly he was a Director of the Easton Trust Company Bank. In religion, like his forefathers, Mr. Edelman is a Lutheran, belonging to the church of that denomination at Hecktown, in which he served for a number of years as an Elder. In addition to the various offices we have enumerated, Mr. Edelman is President of the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Northampton County. Mr. Edelman is the proud possessor of one hundred and eighty-two acres of choice land in this township, and four acres of woodland in Moore Township, this county.

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This family biography is one of the 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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