My Genealogy Hound

HENRY K. LAURY. At present a resident of Whitehall, this gentleman has been a life-long citizen of Lehigh County, where his birth occurred June 8, 1830. Through his maternal ancestors he traces his lineage to Germany while his paternal progenitors were of Scotch-Irish origin. He is of good old Revolutionary stock, and the family of which he is a member was represented in the Colonial struggle. His paternal great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather fought under General Washington. The last-named ancestor, though advanced in years when the war began, saw three of his sons leave home for the service of the country, and then himself followed them to the front, where he fought gallantly until he was killed in a battle near Mt. Bethel, N. J. There his remains were interred, and even at this far distant day the mortal remains of the valiant soldier still lie near the scene of his last battle.

The parents of our subject were Judge David and Maria Laury, natives of Lehigh County, Pa. The former was a man of prominence in his day, and Laury’s Station, Pa., was named in his honor as was also the engine “David Laury,” that bore the Liberty Bell from Allentown to Bethlehem, enroute to the World’s Columbian Exposition. Further information regarding the family history appears in connection with the sketch of A. C. P. Laury, our subject’s brother.

Henry K. was reared to manhood in Lehigh County, and early became familiar with farm pursuits, after which he clerked for several years in a mercantile establishment, and then followed the carpenter’s trade. For many years he owned and conducted a barbershop at Whitehall, and through the various enterprises in which he engaged became successful. February 29, 1864, he enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company H, One Hundred and Twelfth Provisional Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and served under both General Grant and General Burnside as Division Commanders. He took part in the five-days engagement in the Wilderness, was at Mine Run, Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg. At the latter place he was taken seriously ill with chronic diarrhoea, and for a long time was unable to leave the hospital. November 6, 1864, he was honorably discharged from the service, and is now in receipt of a pension of $18 per month.

Returning to Whitehall, Mr. Laury has since made this place his home. August 12, 1852, he married Apollonia M. Leisenring, who was born April 27, 1836, in Lehigh County, being a daughter of Conrad and Lydia (Roth) Leisenring, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Laury are the parents of one son, David C., who resides in Allentown, is married and has two children, Edna and Mabel. Socially Mr. Laury affiliates with Lieut. George W. Fuller Post No. 378, at Catasauqua. A Democrat politically, he has never been prevailed upon to accept local offices, as he has preferred to give his attention to business duties. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church.