History of Allentown, (Lehigh County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Local History Notes:

ALLENTOWN, formerly Northampton, a thriving borough, capital of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, on Jordan creek, an affluent of the Lehigh, half a mile from the latter 85 miles E. N. E. from Harrisburg, and 51 miles N. by W. from Philadelphia. It is pleasantly situated on an eminence; the streets are wide and straight, and the dwellings are substantially built of brick and stone. It contains a court-house, an academy, 2 public libraries, 5 churches, a bank, and 6 newspaper offices. A substantial stone bridge crosses the Jordan creek, and another the Lehigh, near this place. The canal of the Lehigh Coal Company, which passes through Allentown, contributes largely to its prosperity. The proposed railroad leading from Easton to Mauch Chunk will, when completed, pass through this town. The adjacent country is fertile, and highly improved, and contains extensive beds of iron ore and roofing-slate. There are in the town and its vicinity some 15 flourishing mills, and 8 or 9 large anthracite furnaces. Population in 1853, about 6000.

Biographies:

Henry Clay Longnecker, representative, was born near Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pa., April 17, 1820; son of Henry and Elizabeth (Kendig) Longnecker. He was a student at Wilbraham academy, Mass., 1836-39, and at the Norwich Military institute, 1839-41, and in 1841 matriculated at Lafayette college, Easton, Pa., but was not graduated. He was admitted to the bar in 1843, and in 1844 settled in practice in Lehigh county. He served in the Mexican war as a 1st lieutenant, captain and adjutant, participating in all the principal engagements under General Scott, and was wounded at the battle of Chapultepec, Sept. 13, 1847. He was district attorney of Lehigh county, 1849-50, and a delegate to the Democratic state conventions of 1851 and 1854. In 1856 he left the Democratic party on account of his opposition to slavery extension. He was a Republican representative in the 36th congress, 1859-61, and while in congress served on the committee on military affairs. He took an active part in organizing the Pennsylvania troops, and was made colonel of the 9th Pennsylvania volunteers; commanded a brigade in western Virginia, and in 1865 he resumed his practice at Allentown, Pa. He was married, June 27, 1866, to Mary J. Lewis. He was elected associate judge of Lehigh county in 1867. He was a member of the Union League club of Philadelphia and of the Loyal Legion. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Lafayette in 1851. He died at Allentown, Pa., Sept. 16, 1871.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor