Allentown, Pennsylvania, now the third most-populous city in Pennsylvania, was founded in 1762 as Northampton Towne by William Allen, a wealthy shipping merchant.
History During its first 50 years of existence, Northampton Towne was a small unincorporated settlement, consisting of a few homes, stores, and taverns. After reaching a population of over 700 residents in the 1810 census, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania gave Northampton Towne a legal existence on March 18, 1811, by incorporating it as the Borough of Northampton, in Northampton County. Previous to this Northampton Towne had community leaders. With its incorporation as a borough, however, the first local politicians were born. The first borough election was held at the tavern of George Savitz, a tavern-keeper who owned the Square and Compass, an inn located at the northeast corner of 7th and Hamilton streets in present-day Center City Allentown.
Peter Rhodes was chosen as the first burgess; George Rhoads as the town clerk; John F. Rhue as the High Constable, and a town council was established as the first civic legislature. Rhodes was a prominent citizen and shopkeeper who served on the Committee of Safety in Northampton Towne during the Revolutionary War. The first business of the borough government was to order cows to seek other pastures other than the public streets, an action that proved unpopular with Northampton Towne residents.
In 1812, Lehigh County was formed by partitioning a section of Northampton County, and Northampton Towne was designated as its county seat. Frederick Eckert was elected as the second burgess. George Graff was elected burgess in 1813; however, records of elections in Northampton Towne have been lost from the period 1815 to 1830.
On April 16, 1836, an act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly changed the name of the community from Northampton Towne to Allentown, and John P. Rhue was burgess. During its existence as a borough, Northampton Towne and then Allentown had a total of 47 annual municipal elections. A burgess was elected each year. The most prominent was John J. Krauss, who was elected five times in succession from 1830 to 1835. Other notable burgesses of the town were Samuel Runk (1839–1849); Robert E. Wright (1845), and Peter Wycoff (1846). In 1866, William Kern was elected burgess over Thomas Mohr by a vote of 974 to 881, Kern being the last burgess of Allentown
Allentown mayors In January 1866, Allentown's various ward districts were consolidated into the Allentown School District. This led to other consolidations of the various wards into centralized police departments, a treasurer, and a consolidated council. By the following year, in 1867, state legislation was proposed by Lehigh County State Senator George P. Shall to incorporate Allentown as a city.
The legislation was passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature on March 12, 1867, and the City of Allentown was established. The first city election was held less than two months later, on May 1. The first city charter specified a bicameral form of government, consisting of a Select Council of 14 (including the mayor) and a Common Council of 28 members.
First City Government Charter (1867) Photo Name Term(s)Party 1 – Samuel Milton McHose 1867–1869 Republican First mayor under the first Allentown City Charter, sworn into office on May 19, 1867. Born February 16, 1816, in Lower Saucon in Northampton County, the son of Isaac McHose. He founded the Allentown Fire Brick Works in 1854 at Front and Gordon streets. This company, later renamed McHose and Ritter, was in business for 25 years. He was a strong abolitionist activist during the 1850s, and was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago that nominated Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Between 1854 and 1873, McHose, an industrial contractor, "built nearly every iron furnace in the Lehigh Valley." As mayor, McHose encouraged industrial development of city after the end of the Civil War. After his term as mayor ended, he invested significantly in Hope Rolling Mills, which made railroad rail, and was a City Councilman for the Fifth Ward in 1884.
Died April 21, 1893. Buried in Union and West End Cemetery, 12th and Chew Streets, Allentown. 2, 5 – Colonel Tilghman H. Good 1869–18731874–1876 DemocratBorn in South Whitehall Township on October 6, 1830. In 1838, his father died and he moved in with his uncle, Peter Blank, in Allentown. Good attended schools in early Allentown until 1846 when he became an apprentice with a shoemaker. He later moved to Philadelphia and furthered his education as a shoemaker, and returned to Allentown in 1850, where he opened a boot and shoe store. He began to work at the Allentown National Bank in 1855 as a teller, and in 1857 began to manage the Allen House hotel. The next year, in 1848, he ran for public office and was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, he organized the first Pennsylvania Volunteers in 1861. He later organized the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry during Civil War, and he commanded the regiment for three years.
Good volunteered for service and was named as colonel of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry, which he remained in active service until 1863. During the Civil War, he saw action in the Second Battle of Pocotaligo in South Carolina and the Battle of Mansfield in Louisiana. Upon his return to civilian life, he became the landlord of the American Hotel in Allentown, and in 1865 began a career in banking and real estate. In 1869, he replaced Samuel McHose, becoming the second mayor of Allentown. When his term ended in 1873, he returned to managing Allen House hotel. In 1874, he was again elected mayor following the death of Theodore C. Yeager.
In 1876, Goode became hotel owner of prominent Hotel Allen, and in 1885, moved to Reading to take control of the Grand Central Hotel there on Penn Square. On the evening of June 18, 1887, he suffered a heart attack and died. He was buried in Allentown, in what is now the Old Allentown Cemetery, at 10th and Linden streets with military and full Masonic honors. 3 – Dr. Theodore Conrad. Yeager 1873–1874 RepublicanBorn on April 1, 1838, Yeager was the first mayor born in Northampton Towne in present-day Allentown. He received his education at the Allentown Seminary, which is now Muhlenberg College, and Allentown Academy. Upon graduation, he went to learn the jewelry trade. Two years later, he entered medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in the spring of 1860. Shortly afterwards, he opened a medical practice and also entered the drug business. During the Confederate Invasion of Pennsylvania, he was called to service in the Union Army, acting as an assistant surgeon of the 51st Pennsylvania Infantry, Regiment E, and M during July and August 1863.
After returning to Allentown, he resumed his medical practice and became assistant medical examiner for Lehigh County. In 1873 he entered politics, becoming the Third mayor of the City of Allentown in the Republican Party. In December 1874, owing to nervous prostration brought on by overwork, Mayor Yeager was forced to take to his bed, and he died on January 14, 1874. The Allentown Democrat, on January 21, 1874, wrote in his obituary, "Allentown never had a Chief magistrate of greater efficiency or more unswerving Integrity. Buried in Union and West End Cemetery, 12th and Chew streets, Allentown. 4 – Herman Schuon 1874–1876 Non-PartisanBorn in Württemberg in Germany, February 22, 1835. Arrived in Allentown as a sixteen-year-old in 1851, entering first the hotel business. Volunteered for duty in the Civil War. After returning to civilian life, he opened a grocery store near 5th and Hamilton streets. Entered politics, representing the First Ward in the Select Council (City Council) in the late 1860s. Became president of Select Council and was appointed mayor, filling the unexpired term of Yeager upon his sudden death in 1874 by virtue of his office. Did not run for mayor in 1876 and left local politics. Schuon was an ardent musician and was a founder of the Allentown Band. Retired in 1892 and lived his latter years with his daughter. Died October 10, 1912, in Allentown. Buried in Union and West End Cemetery, 12th and Chew streets, Allentown. 6 – Col. Edward B. Young 1876–1878 Republican Known as the "Centennial Mayor". Popular mayor at the time, former chief magistrate. Born in Allentown on September 6, 1836, attended school at Allentown Academy, then learned watchmaking in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Returned to Allentown in 1855, going into business with the Barber, Young and Company hardware company. Served in the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War, fought in the Battle of Gettysburg, and then became head of Allentown Steam Heating and Power Company; took an active part in the organization of the Lehigh Valley Traction Company; director of Lehigh Valley Trust Company.
Died on December 30, 1878, shortly after leaving office. Buried in Union and West End Cemetery, 12th and Chew streets, Allentown. 7 – Dr. Alfred J. Martin 1878–1880 Democrat Born 1837 in Allentown. Attended the early Allentown public schools for his elementary education, then attended the Allentown Academy. Was medical doctor, graduating from University of Pennsylvania in 1857. He appointed former mayor Tilghman H. Good as chief of police. Encouraged business growth and also supported health issues of Civil War veterans and their families providing them medical care. After his tenure as mayor, was a delegate to the Democratic presidential convention four times, beginning in 1880. Martin also served as a prison and coroner's position. He also was a trustee at St. Luke's Hospital and was a consulting physician at St Luke's. He was one of the founders of the Lehigh County Medical Society, and a director of the Allentown National Bank.
Martin died on December 8, 1896, from complications of a cold. Buried in Fairview Cemetery, 855 Lehigh Street, Allentown. 8 – Dr. Edwin G. Martin 1880–1884 Democrat Brother of Alfred J. Martin, born October 3, 1836. Attended the early Allentown public schools for his elementary education, then attended the Allentown Academy. Was medical doctor, graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1856. Joined his father, Dr Charles H Martin's medical practice, then took over the practice after his father's death. Was a member of the Lehigh Medical society and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Medical society. Was on the board of trustees of Allentown Women's College and was also a trustee of Muhlenberg College. In addition, Martin was a director of Allentown National Bank and president of the board of trade. Served the city as coroner from 1860 to 1863. Elected mayor in 1880, and re-elected in 1882. He generally continued the progressive initiatives of his brother during his term. Stepped down voluntarily in 1884 and returned to medical practice with his brother.
Died August 30, 1893 Buried in Fairview Cemetery, 855 Lehigh Street, Allentown. 9 – Edwin S. Shimer 1884–1886 Republican Edward S Shimer was born in the former town of Shimersville in Northampton County, on July 12, 1832. He was a graduate of the Lutheran Seminary in Stewartsville, New Jersey, then moved to Allentown in 1849. He first worked at the dry goods store of H Guth & Company at 607 Hamilton Street, then as a clerk at Grim & Reninger. Shimer became a member of the firm, working there for 28 years. In 1879, he established a carpet, flooring and drapery business at 637 Hamilton Street. Entered politics in 1884 and was elected mayor. His administration was regarded as professional, taking great pride in the Allentown Police Force, which was a model of neatness and efficiency. Saw expansion of the city in population and size, being extended west to 15th Street. Stepped down voluntarily in 1886 to run for state senator; however, he was defeated by a small margin.