My Genealogy Hound

JONATHAN STERNER. Whitehall Township, this county, is the home of many intelligent, industrious and prosperous farmers, who from a small beginning have won a competence, securing a goodly amount of land and surrounding themselves with many comforts and conveniences. Among this number may be mentioned Jonathan Sterner.

The gentleman above named was born in this county March 9, 1830, and is the son of Adam and Mary (Yost) Sterner, also natives of this section. His grandfather, Abraham Sterner, was during his life a well known citizen of the Lehigh Valley, and his father is believed to have been the founder of this branch of the family in America. He originally came from Germany and met with success in agricultural pursuits in this county.

The farm on which our subject lives is known as the old Sterner homestead. The stone barn which still stands on the place was built by his grandfather in 1811. Of the parental family those who are still living besides our subject are John, Elmira, and Lewis A., whose sketch will be found on another page in this volume. The father of these children was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church and was an intelligent, well informed man, possessing foresight and sagacity in business matters. He was classed among the old settlers of the county and ever took a warm interest in its development and welfare.

Jonathan Sterner, of this sketch, is a. self-made man, his educational advantages having been very limited. He has followed agricultural pursuits all his life and was reared to man’s estate on the farm where he makes his home. He has been an eye-witness to the marvellous growth of this section of country and remembers when the now large manufacturing city of Allentown was a small hamlet.

October 2, 1853, Jonathan Sterner and Miss Caroline Marsteller were united in marriage. The lady was born April 19, 1830, in Upper Saucon Township, this county, and is a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Miller) Marsteller. Mrs. Sterner has two brothers and two sisters who are living, viz.: Charles, Jacob, Eliza and Hannah.

Three children have come to bless the home of our subject and his wife, who bear the respective names of James O., Hattie (Mrs. Henry Kurtz) and Mary. As before stated, our subject resides upon ninety-four acres of land, in the management of which he is very successful. With his wife he is a member of the Lutheran Church, and gives his aid to every project calculated to advance the interests of his township. In politics he is an ardent Democrat and is justly classed among the well-to-do citizens of Lehigh County.