My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS H. BREINIG, of this sketch, has reached that age when the dignity of years well spent in active life and productive labor exempts him from the weariness of toil at the present time. He is now recognized as one of the prominent, wealthy and retired farmers living in Whitehall Township, this county.

Our subject was born in Lehigh County, on the 27th of October, 1828, and is a son of Benjamin and Hetty (Pope) Breinig, also natives of that place. He is of German descent, his paternal grandfather having come from the Fatherland in an early day and made settlement in Lehigh County. He was a tailor by trade and a musician of some note, leading the choir of the Lehigh Church at Macungie during his residence there. His son, George Breinig, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation and died in this county. He reared a family of three sons and a daughter, George, Benjamin, Jesse and Lidia. At his decease he gave each of his sons a fine farm, but Lidia received her share, of the property in money.

Benjamin Breinig was one of the representative men of this section, and for many years served as Commissioner of Lehigh County. He was a Democrat in politics, and had the confidence and high regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He departed this life in April, 1879, and was preceded to the better land by his wife, who died in January, 1878. He was a man of excellent character and a member of the Lutheran Church.

Francis Breinig, our subject, was reared on the farm which he is at present occupying, and which was given him by his father when ready to commence life on his own account. He received his education in the district school and his training was for an agriculturist’s life. So well did he learn the mysteries of soil and grains, of rainy seasons and droughts, with the proper means of taking advantage of one and protective measures against the other, that he made a success of his farming life.

The lady to whom Mr. Breinig was married May 30, 1836, was Miss Polly Laubach, born in this county June 1, 1867. She is the daughter of Edwin and Adeline (Kern) Laubach, who are at present residing in Whitehall Township, where the father is now living retired. Mrs. Breinig is one in a family of six children, the others being: Peter, Mary, Joseph, Catherine and Alice. Her parents are members of the German Reformed Church.

Our subject has been School Director for two terms, and in politics never fails to cast a Democratic vote. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and has snng in the choir for over thirty years. His landed possessions comprise a quarter-section under an admirable state of cultivation, and his life of usefulness and industry and his record for integrity and true-hearted faithfulness in all the relations of life have given him a hold upon the community which all might well desire to share. The father of our subject was the first man in this community to make use of the threshing machine and reaper, and also many other improved, farm implements, which at that time were the source of a great deal of curiosity.