WILLIAM H. STOUDT.
Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Page 513
Kindly submitted by: Shirley Reese
Siltala
WILLIAM H. STOUDT. No better
representative of honest, upright manhood can be found than the
above-named gentlemen, an influential citizen of West Bethlehem,
where he is carrying on a large business as a brick contractor
and plasterer. If for no other reason, he deserves
representation in this volume for the noble part which he played
during the late war.
Our subject was born in Moore
Township, Northampton County, August 22, 1839, and is the son of
John Stoudt, born in Monroe County, this state, where he carried
on his trade of a millwright until removing to his fine farm in
Moore Township. His wife, prior to her marriage Mary Leh, was
born there, and was the daughter of John Leh, a farmer, who is
now deceased. Mrs. Stoudt departed this life at the age of
seventy-seven years, firm in the faith of the Reformed Church.
William H., of this sketch, was
the third in order of birth of the parental family of eight
children, and was reared in Moore Township, and there attended
the district school. He remained at home, assisting his father
on the farm, until attaining his eighteenth year, when he began
learning the brickmason’s trade, working in Nazareth. He was
thus employed when, in 1862, he offered his services in defense
of his country, and became a member of Company H, One Hundred
and Fifty third Pennsylvania Infantry. With his regiment he
participated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg,
and at the latter place was taken prisoner by the enemy, but was
soon paroled. With his company young Stoudt was mustered out in
1863, and, returning home in the fall of that year, began
farming, becoming the owner of a good estate in Bethlehem
Township. He was thus occupied for a quarter of a century, but
in 1888 abandoned that industry and, moving into West Bethlehem,
worked at his trade until 1890, when he began brick contracting,
which he has since followed with signal success, erecting some
of the best business blocks and residences in the city. He
gives employment in the busy season to twenty or thirty men, and
the work when given in his charge always proves satisfactory.
Mr. Stoudt was married in 1863
to Miss Mary A. C. Paulus, a native of Bethlehem Township, and
to them have been born three children: Howard, of West
Bethlehem; Oscar, engaged in business in Philadelphia; and
Clayton, who is at home with his parents. Socially our subject
belongs to J. K. Taylor Post, G. A. R., and in religious affairs
is a devoted member of Christ Reformed Church. He is a believer
in and a supporter of Republican principles, and as an honest
and intelligent man commands the respect of all.