My Genealogy Hound

M. E. HORNBECK, M. D., one of the oldest and most skillful physicians of the Lehigh Valley, is at present practicing in Catasauqua, where he has a large patronage and has been very successful in a financial way. He comes of a well known family in this section, his father having been a prominent attorney and Member of Congress for many years.

Dr. Hornbeck was born in Allentown, on the 24th of January, 1842, and is the son of Hon. John W. Hornbeck, who was a native of Sussex County, N. J., where his father, Dr. Jacob Hornbeck, was also born. Hon. John W. Hornbeck was graduated from Union College in Schenectady, N. Y., and after completing his study of Blackstone located for practice in Allentown. He was elected on the Whig ticket as a Member of Congress from Lehigh and Bucks Counties, but died at his home in 1849, before the expiration of his term. He was one of the organizers of the Presbyterian Church in Allentown, in the work of which he always took a prominent part.

Mrs. Maria (Martin) Hornbeck, who was the mother of our subject, was born in Allentown and was the daughter of Dr. Jacob Martin, also a native of that city. He was educated in the University of Pennsylvania, where he also conducted his medical studies. After graduating he practiced during his entire life in Allentown. His father, Dr. Charles Frederick Martin, was born and educated in Berlin, Germany. He emigrated to the United States, locating first in Montgomery County, this state, and later removed to Macungie, where his decease occurred.

The household of Hon. John W. and Mrs. Hornbeck included four children, only three of whom are living, and of these the subject of this record is the eldest. His primary studies were carried on in the academy of Allentown, and when ready to commence reading medicine he entered the office of his uncle, Dr. T. H. Martin, of the above city, with whom he remained until enlisting for nine months in the Union army in 1862. He became a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered in as Hospital Steward and with his company, which formed a part of the Twelfth Army Corps, was sent to join the Army of the Potomac. They fought in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and Mr. Hornbeck was honorably discharged in May, 1863.

In the fall of the latter year our subject entered the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated from the medical department in the year 1865. Locating at once in Catasauqua, which was then a small village, he began the work of caring for the sick, in company with his uncle, Dr. F. B. Martin. They continued together until 1868, when the latter died, and Dr. Hornbeck succeeded to the entire practice. In 1884 he completed his comfortable residence at No. 225 Bridge Street, in which he also has his office.

In 1868, in Northampton County, Dr. M. E. Hornbeck was married to Miss Mary Laubach, and there have been born to them a son and a daughter: James L., who is a student in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia and Helen, who is at home. Hon. Joseph Laubach, the father of Mrs. Hornbeck, was for sixteen years Associate Judge of Northampton County. He was also President of the Northampton County Bank in Easton, and held the same position in the Coplay Iron Works for many years. He is now deceased, his last days having been passed in Bethlehem.

Dr. Hornbeck is a member of the Board of Health in the city, and socially belongs to Fuller Post, of which he is Surgeon; the Lehigh Medical Society, the Lehigh Valley Medical Association and the State Medical Society. He is also connected with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Surgeons’ Association. He stands very high in his profession, and has a reputation as a skillful surgeon which extends throughout this and surrounding counties.