Aaron Balliet (1813-1895)
Early Life & Family
The Balliet Family came to Pennsylvania when Paulus Balliet emigrated from Alsace and landed in America in 1736 [1]. Aaron Balliet (FamilySearch.org LHJ3-LWT) was born in North Whitehall Township on March 7, 1813[2] to Stephen Balliet (1781-1854) and Susan Ihrie[3]. He was educated in North Whitehall Township[4]. In 1845, Aaron Balliet married Sarah Dengler and had 8 children, 6 of which survived to adulthood[5]. Then, in 1867, Aaron Balliet remarried and became the husband of Catherine Housman[6].
Career
In 1837, Aaron Balliet erected a charcoal furnace in Carbon County and operated it for twenty years before relocating to Ballietsville[7]. 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[8]. In 1854, Stephen Balliet Sr. died and the company admitted new partners and became the Lehigh Valley Iron Company [9].
Aaron Balliet also took over the East Penn Furnace from his father from 1838-1855. This furnace was built by Stephen Balliet and Samuel Helffrich on land east of the mountain in the East Penn township. [10].
Aaron Balliet managed mines with his brothers, Paul and John Balliet. Their mines were extremely prosperous, especially during wartime when they produced $35,000 worth of material in one year. [11].
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 20 earners in the county. [12]. 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[13].
Notes
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 510-511.
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 505
- ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 633
- ↑ Roberts et al. 1914, 633
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 523
- ↑ Hellerich 1987, 144
- ↑ 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.