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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 H. SEIP, for many years proprietor of the Seip Hotel at Seipsville, and now a resident of Northampton Street, Palmer Township, Northampton County, was born in this county, December 22, 1849. The founders of the family in America came hither from Germany and settled in Palmer Township, upon the site of the present town of Seip’s. The exact date of their settlement is not known definitely, but it was during the Indian wars of the eighteenth century.

The parents of our subject, Jacob and Anna M. (Edelman) Seip, were natives of Northampton County, where the mother died. The father, who lives retired in Seipsville, Palmer Township, engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, and also kept the well known Seip’s Hotel at Seipsville for a number of years. This hotel was built by the founder of the family in Northampton County, and is a historic structure, one of the old landmarks of the county. From the time of its erection to the present it has never been out of the hands of the descendants of the original owner.

Twice married, Jacob Seip is the father of six children, namely: Peter H., of this sketch; Emma E., wife of Peter Hess; John J.; Sarah M., who married Oscar Bower; Carrie and Lulu. In politics the father is a Democrat, and has held a number of local offices, to which he has been elected upon the party ticket. His has been a successful life, and he is numbered among the representative citizens of Palmer Township. His membership, religiously, is with the Lutheran Church of Easton.

In the schools of Palmer Township our subject was educated, in addition to which he also attended a private school in Easton. He remained in his father’s employ until he was twenty-six years of age, when he became proprietor of Seip’s Hotel. He acted as “mine host” of that popular inn for eighteen years, or until the spring of 1893, when he settled in his present place of residence. Through his efforts the postoffiee at Seip’s was established, and he was appointed the first Postmaster, serving in that capacity until his removal to Northampton Street, when he resigned.

Mr. Seip was united in marrrage with Alice, daughter of Michael Walter, formerly of Forks Township, but now deceased. Two sons, Asher P. and Jacob W., have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Seip. The family is one of social prominence and is widely known and respected. In Palmer Township our subject has served as Auditor and School Director, and his efforts have aided in the promotion of the welfare of the locality. His religious connections are with the Lutheran Church in Forks Township, the services of which he attends when possible. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Malta at Easton.

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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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