Peter Edelman

PETER EDELMAN is one of the worthy American-Germans who have been important factors in upbuilding Northampton County. Here his birth occurred June 20, 1835, his parents being Charles and Susan (Walter) Edelman, who were both natives of Palmer Township. The former is now deceased. The great-grandfather of our subject on the paternal side, who founded the family in this country, emigrated from the Fatherland, and settled near Easton, this county, where the family became pioneers, and assisted greatly in developing those parts. His son, Peter Edelman, was also a resident of a farm near Easton.

Charles Edelman, the father of our subject, was a carpenter by trade, which calling he followed for many years successfully. In his later years he devoted his attention to farming, settling in Lower Nazareth Township. He was called from this life January 24, 1892. His widow survives him, being now in her eighty-sixth year. She was one of the pioneer women of the county, sturdy, courageous and industrious, and of her children only one, our subject, survives to comfort her in her declining years. The father was a public-spirited man and a progressive farmer. In politics he was a Republican, and endeavored to further the interests of his fellow-men as far as possible.

Peter Edelman was reared to manhood in this county, and from early years has made agriculture his life work. In boyhood he attended the common schools of the county, where he received a general education, to which he has constantly added by subsequent reading and study. On arriving at a suitable age he married Elizabeth C., daughter of George H. Beck, of Lower Nazareth Township, now deceased. To our worthy subject and wife one child was born. This son, Charles H., married Sarah Dech, and one child, Preston J., graces their union.

Many years have passed since Peter Edelman was elected Secretary of the Northampton Horse Insurance Company, and as such he is still serving. For eight years he was the efficient President of the Northampton Agricultural Society, and at the present time is a member of the Revising Committee of that organization. One of the Directors of the Poor Farm, he has endeavored to further its interests, and in politics he supports the Republican party. Formerly he was a Director of the Easton Trust Company Bank. In religion, like his forefathers, Mr. Edelman is a Lutheran, belonging to the church of that denomination at Hecktown, in which he served for a number of years as an Elder. In addition to the various offices we have enumerated, Mr. Edelman is President of the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Northampton County. Mr. Edelman is the proud possessor of one hundred and eighty-two acres of choice land in this township, and four acres of woodland in Moore Township, this county.

Source: Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties, Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States. Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co., 1894; Page 800.