My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM R. LAWFER is one of the most prominent businessmen of Allentown, where he is engaged as a wholesale and retail dealer in dry goods, carpets and groceries. His extensive business interests, both wholesale and retail, have made him well known, and this volume would be incomplete without a record of his life. He was born in Moore Township, Northampton County, Pa., August 5, 1838, and is a son of Jacob and Leah (Steckel) Lawfer, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation, and carried on that pursuit for many years. The grandfather was Peter Lawfer, and the family was founded in America during the seventeenth century. The mother of our subject was called to her final rest in May, 1885.

William R. Lawfer passed his early boyhood days upon the home farm, and attended the country schools until thirteen years of age, when he began clerking in the store of his uncle, Aaron Steckel, with whom he remained six months, working for $3.50 per month. In the spring of 1851 he entered the store of Stephen Rader, of Bath, Pa., with whom he continued until they sold out to the firm of Flick & Smock, in whose employ he remained for four years. At the expiration of that period, he entered the select school taught by Dr. Thomas G. Apple, a noted teacher, who was pastor of the new Reformed Church at Easton, Pa. Later he entered Phillips & Lehman’s select school, taught by John Oliver, and subsequently was engaged as a clerk in a general store in Kreidersville. He was next in the employ of A. H. & Amos Hahn, who sold out to Joseph H. Wannamaker, with whom he continued for eight years.

In 1858 Mr. Lawfer married Miss Hannah Klippinger, daughter of John Klippinger, a prominent and successful farmer near Seigfried’s Bridge, Pa. During 1864 and 1865 Mr. Lawfer was employed as salesman by Hon. Joseph Laubach, Judge of Northampton County. In 1866 he came to Allentown and formed a partnership with Mr. Steckel, under the firm name of Lawfer & Steckel, dealers in dry goods, groceries and carpets. This connection was continued until 1874, when Mr. Steckel was succeeded by Mr. Hartzell. In 1876 Jacob Lawfer, brother of our subject, bought out Mr. Hartzell’s interest, and the brothers carried on the business for three years, when our subject bought out his partner and admitted to the firm his two sons, J. Harvey and John N., under the firm name of William R. Lawfer & Co. They conduct an extensive business, dealing in dry goods, clothing, carpets, rugs, tapestries and curtains. They also have a large grocery department, and in the various branches make large sales.

Our subject is a straightforward, honorable business man, who always pays one hundred cents on the dollar, and in the community where he is known his word is as good as his bond. He is an active member of Zion’s Reformed Church, contributing liberally to its support. He takes an active part in religious and benevolent work, and though his business interests are very extensive, he finds time to devote to matters which are calculated to advance the welfare of the community. He is a man of quick perceptive faculties, sagacious and far-sighted, and an excellent judge of human nature, and therefore in business has met with more than ordinary success, yet his prosperity is justly merited.