My Genealogy Hound

LEWIS S. JACOBY. A simple narration of facts regarding the life of an individual is undoubtedly the best biographical history that can be written of him. Therefore, we shall not endeavor to elaborate upon the incidents in the career of the subject of this sketch, who is a prominent architect and civil engineer of Allentown.

He of whom we write is the son of Peter L. Jacoby, a native of Bucks County, this state, who departed this life in 1876. He was a farmer by occupation, and the son of John Jacoby, who also was born in the Keystone State. The family, which originally came from Germany, first located in New Jersey in an early day, and the later generations lived in that state. Mrs. Barbara (Shelly) Jacoby, the mother of our subject, who has attained the age of seventy-eight years, was, like her husband, born in Bucks County, and is still living, making her home in Bethlehem. She is the daughter of John Shelly, who during his life was an influential farmer in this section. Mrs. Jacoby is also of German descent.

Lewis S., of this sketch, spent the first sixteen years of his life in his native place, and conned his lessons in the public schools of Springtown, where his birth occurred April 4, 1848. Later he took a course of study in the academy of that place, after which he was engaged in teaching school for some time. In the spring of 1868 he came to Allentown, and at once prepared to study civil engineering under the instruction of Col. S. D. Lehr. Later he carried on his studies in that line with G. C. Aschbach, and in 1872 formed a partnership, conducting business under the firm name of G. C. Aschbach & Co. On the death of the senior partner, which occurred in 1875, Mr. Jacoby continued the business, and is successfully conducting the same at the present time. He has erected many of the fine buildings in the city, among which are Zion Reformed Church, Academy of Music, Hotel Allen, the Breinig and Bachman Buildings, the First, Fifth and Seventh Ward schoolhouses, the high school and F. Hersh & Sons hardware establishment.

In 1889-90 Mr. Jacoby was elected City Engineer on the Republican ticket. Socially he is a member of Lehigh Lodge No. 83, I. O. O. F.; is a charter member of Allentown Lodge No. 90, K. of P.; and is a Patriotic Son of America, being connected with Lodge No. 63. Our subject drew the plans for the magnificent court house of Carbon County, at Mauch Chunk. It is a fine stone structure, and when completed will cost $120,000.

December 18, 1873, Mr. Jacoby was married to Miss Laura R., daughter of Peter and Frances (Todd) Broes. To them have been born two sons, Albert L. and Clark W. Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and occupy a fine residence at No. 428 Walnut Street.