The Balliet Family
This page gives context to the activities of Paul Balliet (1811-1886), Aaron Balliet (1813-1895), and Stephen Balliet (1781-1854)'s iron-producing activities in the mid 1800s and the Balliets' presence in the Lehigh Valley.
Paulus Balliet
Paulus Balliet (1717-1777) was one of the oldest settlers in the Lehigh Valley. Unlike most early settlers who were Swiss or German, Paulus Balliet was born in Alsace, France in 1717 and emigrated to America on the ship "Robert Oliver" in 1738[1]. He applied for and received ninety-seven acres of land and founded the Balliet Farm on April 12, 1759. Later, he acquired one hundred and thirty-one acres of land between 1749 and 1774. He was married to Maria Magdalena Wortring, who was from Lorraine, France[2]. Paulus Balliet gained the nickname of "Bowl" Balliet which he reportedly received from Native Americans because that was what he used to distribute food to them[3]. Despite this idyllic story, he fought with Native Americans and armed militias against them[4]. Paulus Balliet was the grandfather of Paul, Aaron, and Stephen Balliet.
Paul Balliet
Aaron Balliet
Stephen Balliet Sr.
In 1826, Stephen Balliet and Samuel Helffrich bought the land upon which the Lehigh Furnace would be built, purchasing twenty-five acres at the southern foot of the Blue Mountain from Christian Snyder and Christian Bloss[5]. In 1828 Stephen Balliet and Helffrich erected the East Penn Forge on the north side of the Blue Mountain in East Penn Township, Carbon County[6]. In 1830, Helffrich died,[7] and his shares in the iron business were bought by Stephen Balliet two years later[8]. In 1837, Stephen Balliet purchased three thousand acres of land near the forge, built another furnace, and constructed additional housing for workers, bringing the total to eleven[9]. Stephen Balliet continued to operate the furnace until his death in 1854[10].
Notes
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 538
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 538
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 511
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 519
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 553
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 553
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 722
- ↑ Mathews and Hungerford 1884, 553
References
- Mathews, Alfred, and Austin N Hungerford. 1884. History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Everts & Richards.