Aaron Balliet (1813-1895)

From Iron Allentown Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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]. His great-grandson, Aaron Balliet [2] was born in North Whitehall Township on March 7, 1813[3] to Stephen Balliet (1781-1854) and Susan Ihrie (1784-1852)[4]. He attended an academy in Milford, NJ[5] and then went to school in North Whitehall Township, PA[6] before ending his studies at Easton[7]. In 1845, Aaron Balliet married Sarah Dengler (1827-1863) and had eight children, six of whom survived into adulthood[8]: Francis, Julia, Ella, Emma, Anna, Ida, Susan, and Stephen[9]. Then, in 1867, Aaron Balliet remarried and became the husband of Catherine Housman[10].

Career

In 1837 Aaron Balliet erected a charcoal furnace in Carbon County and operated it for twenty years before relocating to Ballietsville[11]. 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[12]. In 1854 his father died and the company admitted new partners and became the Lehigh Valley Iron Company [13]. In 1879 after various financial hardships, the company reincorporated as the Coplay Iron Company, with Aaron Balliet serving as a director of the company[14].

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[15]. Following the death of his father, the furnace was sold to Solomon Boyer and Charles H. Nimson[16]. The property was soon after passed to John Balliet (1819-1886)[17].

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[18].

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)[19].

Aaron Balliet helped form the Second National Bank and served as a director for twenty-four years[20].

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[21].

Notes

  1. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 510-511
  2. ↑ FamilySearch.org LHJ3-LWT
  3. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
  4. ↑ Find a Grave
  5. ↑ The Allentown Leader November 1, 1895
  6. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
  7. ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 2:49
  8. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
  9. ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 2:49-50
  10. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
  11. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
  12. ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 1:633
  13. ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 1:633
  14. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 504
  15. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
  16. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 723
  17. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
  18. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 523
  19. ↑ Hellerich 1987, 144
  20. ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 2:49
  21. ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505

References

  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 May 2020), memorial page for Susanna “Susan” Ihrie Balliet (7 Oct 1784–28 Mar 1852), Find a Grave Memorial no. 71937601, citing Dinkey Memorial Cemetery, Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Thomas G Raub (contributor 46584711).
  • 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.
  • Mathews, Alfred, and Austin N. Hungerford. 1884. History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Everts & Richards.
  • 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. Vol. I, Allentown, PA: Lehigh Valley Publishing Company, Limited.
  • 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. Vol. II, Allentown, PA: Lehigh Valley Publishing Company, Limited.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.ironallentownpa.org/index.php?title=Aaron_Balliet_(1813-1895)&oldid=1151"