Aaron Balliet (1813-1895)
Early Life & Family
The Balliet Family came to Pennsylvania when Paulus Balliet (1717-1777) emigrated from Alsace, France and landed in America in 1736 [1]. Aaron Balliet [2] was born in North Whitehall Township on March 7, 1813[3] to Stephen Balliet (1781-1854) and Susan Ihrie[4]. He was educated in North Whitehall Township[5] and later studied at Easton[6]. In 1845, Aaron Balliet married Sarah Dengler (1827-1863) and had eight children, six of whom survived into adulthood[7]: Francis, Julia, Ella, Emma, Anna, Ida, Susan, and Stephen[8]. Then, in 1867, Aaron Balliet remarried and became the husband of Catherine Housman[9].
Career
In 1837 Aaron Balliet erected a charcoal furnace in Carbon County and operated it for twenty years before relocating to Ballietsville[10]. Aaron Balliet, his brother in-law Benjamin Levan (1806-1886), and his father Stephen Balliet (1781-1854) became incorporated to form Stephen Balliet & Co., with the purpose of building iron furnaces[11]. In 1854 Stephen Balliet Sr. died and the company admitted new partners and became the Lehigh Valley Iron Company [12]. In 1879 after various financial hardships, the company reincorporated as the Coplay Iron Company, with Aaron Balliet serving as a director of the company[13].
The East Penn Furnace was built by Stephen Balliet and Samuel Helffrich on land east of the mountain in the East Penn township; Aaron Balliet was in charge of the furnace from 1838-1855[14]. Following the death of his father, the furnace was sold to Solomon Boyer and A.B. Nimson[15]. In 1858 the property was passed to John Balliet (1819-1886)[16].
Aaron Balliet also managed mines with his brothers Paul Balliet (1811-1886) and John Balliet (1819-1886). Their mines were extremely prosperous, especially during wartime where $35,000 worth of material was produced in one year[17].
Recognition & Other Interests
In 1863 Aaron Balliet was listed as the top income earner in all of Lehigh County. He earned $13,153 that year through his ownership in the Ironton iron mines and in the Lehigh Valley Iron Company (roles that he shared with brother Paul and brother-in-law Benjamin Levan, who were also among the top twenty earners in the county)[18].
Aaron Balliet helped form the Second National Bank and served as a director for twenty-four years[19].
Aaron Balliet held local posts such as justice of the peace and school director, and was an active member of the German Reformed Church of Unionville[20].
Notes
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 510-511
- ↑ FamilySearch.org LHJ3-LWT
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 49
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 49-50
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 633
- ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 633
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 504
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 523
- ↑ Hellerich 1987, 144
- ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 49
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
References
- Mathews, Alfred, and Austin N. Hungerford. 1884. History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Everts & Richards.
- Hellerich, Mahlon Howard. 1987. A History of Allentown: 1861-1865. In Allentown 1762-1987: A 225-Year History, edited by Mahlon Howard Hellerich, 91–180. Allentown, PA: Lehigh County Historical Society.
- Roberts, Charles Rhoads, John Baer Stoudt, Thomas H. Krick, and William J. Dietrich. 1914. History of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Its Families. Allentown, PA: Lehigh Valley Publishing Company, Limited.