DANIEL OLEWINE, a retired leather
manufacturer of Lehighton, was born on the 13th of
April, 1815, in Carbon County, Pa., and comes of a family of
German origin. His grandfather, Andrew Olewine, was a native of
Germany, and emigrating to America, took up his residence in
Northampton County, Pa., where was born George Olewine, the father
of our subject. The latter was a farmer by occupation, and
followed that pursuit throughout his entire life. Having arrived
at years of maturity, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan
Erdman, daughter of Henry Erdman. Their union was blessed with a
family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, but only
two are now living.
The member of the family in whom our readers
are most interested is Daniel Olewine, one of the leading and
influential citizens of his native county. In the usual manner of
farmer lads, the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, but
not wishing to follow agricultural pursuits as a life work, he
learned the trade of a tanner and currier under the direction of
Thomas Snyder. On completing his apprenticeship, he traveled
through New York and New Jersey for several years as a journeyman,
after which he located in Mauch Chunk and entered the employ of
the firm of Packer & Ripple, tanners and manufacturers of shoes,
with whom he continued his connection for ten years. In 1856 he
came to Lehighton and engaged in the manufacture of leather, doing
a good business. His trade constantly increased from the
beginning until it had assumed extensive proportions. He employed
twelve men, and sent his goods to various states throughout the
Union. He built up a large and lucrative business, which he
continued until 1873, when his tannery was destroyed by fire. He
then sold his plant to B.J. Kuntz, who is now operating the same.
Mr. Olewine has been engaged in other
business enterprises. He was for some years interested in the
foundry business in Weissport, being associated with Miner Bros.,
under the firm name of Olewine & Miners. They were largely
engaged in making castings for the Domestic Sewing Machine Company
of Newark, N. J., the daily output being more than one hundred.
He was for several years a Director of the Second National Bank of
Mauch Chunk, aided in organizing the First National Bank of
Lehighton, was its first President, and is still one of its
stockholders.
In 1850 Mr. Olewine was united in marriage
with Miss Esther Coll, a daughter of Joseph Coll, of Orwigsburg,
Schuylkill County, and to them were born three children: Susan,
now the wife of W. H. Koch, of Lehighton; Clara, wife of F. Pierce
Lentz, of Lehighton; and Daniel I., who is engaged in clerking.
The parents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
take an active part in church work, and for some years Mr. Olewine
has served as one of the officers. Their home is a pleasant brick
residence, richly and tastefully furnished, adorned with works of
art, and supplied with a fine library which indicates the cultured
and refined tastes of the inmates of the household. Mr. Olewine
has met with most excellent success, but it is not phenomenal,
being the result of close attention to the details of his
business, earnest application and well directed efforts.
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