My Genealogy Hound

HON. CHARLES H. SEIDLE. It is not ease but effort, not luck but labor, that wins success in the busy workaday world. Upon those who are energetic, persevering, industrious and honorable, fortune bestows her favors, though in varying degree. As one who has gained an honorable place in the regard of his fellow-men and in the respect of the business world, mention properly belongs to Judge Seidle, formerly Associate Judge of Carbon County, and now one of the prosperous business men of Normal Square, Mahoning Township. The events in the life of this gentleman will possess interest for the many readers of the Record, and to the young will furnish an example worthy of emulation.

The entire life of the Judge has been passed in Carbon County, and here his birth occurred December 8, 1842. His parents were Jonathan and Sallie (Kocher) Seidle, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Northampton County, and the latter in Carbon County. Both the paternal and maternal ancestors were represented among the early settlers of the Lehigh Valley, with the development of which they were prominently identified. Charles H. is the eldest in a family of six children. He was reared to manhood in the locality of his birth, receiving a common-school education in the home neighborhood. It was his ambition to gain a collegiate education, but his father being a man of limited means, this privilege was not accorded him. However, by self-culture he has atoned for the lack of early advantages, and is now a well informed man, thoroughly posted concerning events of local and national importance. In early manhood he was for five winter seasons engaged as school teacher in Carbon County, in which profession he met with success.

The business career of Mr. Seidle began in 1863, when he secured a position as clerk with Daniel Nothstein, a merchant at Normal Square. Until the death of that gentleman he remained in his employ, and then assumed control of the business, which he has since conducted with success. As a merchant he is efficient, energetic and persevering, and the success that has rewarded his efforts is truly merited by his devotion to the work. In addition to merchandising, he has been identified with other important interests, and for a number of years served efficiently as Postmaster at Normal Square. In 1888 he was elected Associate Judge of Carbon County, which position he held for five years, filling it with marked efficiency and to the satisfaction of all concerned. In political belief he is a Democrat, stanch in his adherence to party principles.

On New Year’s Day of 1855 Judge Seidle was united in marriage with Catherine A., daughter of the late Daniel Nothstein, of Carbon County. Three children were born of this union, one of whom is deceased. Emma L., the only daughter, is the wife of N. M. Balliet, a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and a student in a New York law school. The only son, Ira E., was graduated from Muhlenburg College and Yale University, and is now (1894) in the Senior class of the law department of the University of Pennsylvania.

During the late war Judge Seidle was a firm friend of the cause of the Union. On the 28th of June, 1863, he enlisted as a member of Company F, Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Militia, and did guard duty at Philadelphia and Reading. On the 10th of August, at the expiration of the period of his service, he was honorably discharged. He enlisted as Corporal and served in that capacity during the period of his service. In religious belief he is a member of the Lutheran Church in East Penn Township, in which he has been a Deacon. He was one of the original stockholders of the First National Bank at Lehighton, and is now one of its Directors. The success which has come to him is the result of his unwearied efforts and excellent judgment. In business and social circles he is highly esteemed and occupies a prominent place among representative men of Carbon County.