William R. Grubb

WILLIAM R. GRUBB is now serving his second term as Justice of the Peace for the borough of Bangor, Northampton County, having been elected to that responsible position in 1887. With the work of the Republican party he is actively identified, and during the last fifteen years has very often been sent as a delegate to the conventions of his party. In 1892 he established the American Slate Trade Journal, the only paper devoted to the interests of this important industry in the country. It is a monthly journal, comprising sixteen pages, three columns to the page, and has met with universal favor throughout the United States. Since 1879 Mr. Grubb has made his home in this place, and at that time became proprietor of the Bangor Observer, an eight-page, seven-column sheet, which is politically independent, and has promoted the local interests of the community in every possible manner.

The father of our subject, who bore the same Christian name, was born in Dundee, Scotland, December 3, 1835, and in his early years followed the trade of nailmaking. In 1849 he came to the United States, settling at Boonton, N. J., where he subsequently became a member of the firm of Patterson, Anthony & Grubb, nail manufacturers. He is still living, being retired from business, and is yet a resident of Boonton. Though he has money invested in a number of commercial and financial enterprises, he has to a large extent withdrawn from commercial circles. Prior to the war he was a strong anti-slavery man, and is now a Republican. In Arcana Lodge No. 60, F. & A. M., of Boonton, he is the oldest living member. At various times he has been elected to local offices, and among others to that of Justice of the Peace, but never served in that capacity. A man of good moral habits, his upright and industrious life has been a blessing to the community in which he dwells. He married a daughter of Samuel C. Tibbals, Miss Emily F., of Boonton. The family to which she belonged came originally from Connecticut. Four children were the result of this union: William R.; George W., who married Belle Delp, of this county, and is in charge of the store owned by E. A. Bacer & Co., of Boonton, N. J.; Charles L., editor of the Suffolk County News, of Sayreville, N. J., and who married Clara Kunstman, of Nazareth; and Frank C., an Auditor of the Prudential Life Insurance Company of Newark, N. J., his home being at Little Falls, in that state.

The birth of William R. Grubb occurred March 21, 1857, in Boonton, N. J., and his primary education was obtained in the public schools of that city. He early commenced learning the printer’s trade in the office of the Boonton Bulletin, where he remained for some four years, and during this time for a short period had editorial charge of the paper. Afterward he worked at Newark, Paterson, New York City, and in Hackettstown, N. J., had charge of a paper for a few months. In 1879, as previously stated, he came to Bangor, and has since edited the Observer. From 1880 to 1882 he served as Town Clerk, and has held a leading place in local affairs. At this writing he is Master of Bangor Lodge No. 565, F. & A. M., and holds membership with Bangor Chapter No. 274, R. A. M.; Slate Council No. 726, R. A.; and Prosperity Lodge No. 661, I. O. O. F.

March 18, 1880, Mr. Grubb was married to Miss Carrie Schooley, whose father, Stephen Schooley, now deceased, was a former resident of Bangor. By her marriage Mrs. Grubb has two living children: Ethel F., born November 3, 1883; and William E., June 27, 1887.

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; Pages 800-801.