Charles R. Horn

Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Pages   201-203

Kindly submitted by: Joyce Wallace

Charles R Horn, a popular and well known citizen of Catasauqua, is one of her enterprising young business men and is a native of this city. He has served in various official and public capacities. For five years he was Commissary Sergeant on the staff of General Gobin, Third Brigade Pennsylvania National Guards, having been appointed by the General and having held the post until made Cashier of the National Bank of this city. In February, 1894, he received further public honors, being elected Burgess of Catasauqua. In many of the most important local enterprises he is prominent, and is President of the Coplay Knitting Mill and Secretary of the Electric Light and Power Company of this city.

The birth of our subject occurred October 13, 1863. He is the son of M.H. and Matilda L. (Heller) Horn, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Easton. Grandfather Horn removed from New Jersey, to Pennsylvania, and for several years carried on the Easton Hotel. M. H. Horn was reared in Easton and became a prominent banker of the city during the 50’s. In 1857, when the Bank of Catasauqua was organized, he was elected Cashier, and from that time forward made his home on this city, where he passed his most active years. On the death of the President, Eli J. Saeger, in January, 1889, he was elected to the presidency, which office he continued to hold until his death, being connected with the bank for almost thirty-three years. In all local affairs he was prominent, particularly in connection with the public schools, in which he took great interest. For many years, he was a member of the School Board, and in every way endeavored to secure good schools and the best of teachers.

Coming from a very patriotic and military family, his ancestors and relatives having served in the leading wars of this country, M.H. Horn was himself several times connected with the army. Capt. H. Reeder’s Democratic Artillerists, which he entered as a private, he finally commanded as Captain, and after his removal to Catasauqua was chosen Major of the Lehigh Battalion, Allen Rifles, Allen Infantry, Gordon Infantry and Catasauqua Guards. Governor Curtin commissioned him in 1861 Paymaster of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment, and in September of the same year he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel on the staff of the Governor. In 1862, as acting Brigadier-General, he had charge of the ammunition and stores forwarded by way of Harrisburg to McClellan’s army during the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. September 11, 1862, he was commissioned Major of the Fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, June 30, 1863, was sworn in as Captain of Company B, Thirty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, and on the following 3d of July was commissioned Colonel of the regiment. After the close of the war he continued active in army circles, receiving several commissions and being a member of the National Guards.

In politics the Colonel was always a stanch Democrat, and in 1874 was chosen Burgess of Catasauqua, serving for one term. In church and Sunday-school work he was very much interested, being an active leader in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church for a number of years, and later helping to organize the Trinity Lutheran Congregation in 1871, being one of the five to assume the mortgage on the building, which was created at the cost of $16,000. During the panic of 1873 it was due to him and colleague, J.S. Lall, that the property was saved. His wife, Matilda L; is still living and makes her home with our subject; of their union were born seven children, one of whom is deceased. After a most useful and worthy life Colonel Horn passed away, February 25, 1890, and his lost was deeply regretted.

Charles R. Horn was reared in this city, and attended the high schools after completing his primary education. August 1, 1879, he became identified with the National Bank as a clerk. Successively promoted as time passed, he has filled every position up to Cashier, and has been most faithful in the discharge of his duties. In March, 1890, he was elected Cashier, and is also Director in the bank. He has invested to a large extent in real estate and in other business enterprises. In the upper part of the city he has put up sixty houses, and since November, 1889, when the Catasauqua Land Company was organized with a capital stock of $15,000, has laid out twenty acres in this locality. This company was started in the year, 1889, and is making a financial success of its enterprise. Mr. Horn is Treasurer and was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Home Building Association, which has a capital stock of $1,000,000, which is likewise doing well in a business point of view. Since the start of the Coplay Knitting Company, in June 1892, with a capital stock of $5,000, he has been President of the same. One of the promoters of the Electric Light and Power Company, which was organized with a capital stock of $60,000, he is a Director and Secretary. The plant of this concern is well equipped with large engines, power-houses, etc., and though they operate about sixty-five large lights, could run over three times as many with the power on hand.

In this city, in 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Horn and Miss Bianche Thomas, who was born in Parryville, Carbon County. Her father, James Thomas, an extensive machinist, is engaged in the foundry business in Catasauqua. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Horn: Isabella Traill, Catherine Richards, James Thomas, Blanche, and Mary who died in infancy. Mr. Horn built a substantial frame residence in 1890 at the corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets, the architecture of which is in accord with modern ideas.

Being much interested in secret societies, our subject belongs to a number. He is now a Past Master of Porter Lodge No. 284, F. & A. M., of Catasauqua; is connected with Catasauqua Chapter No. 278, R. A. M., and Allen Commandery No. 20, K. T. As a member of the Order of the Mystic Shrine, he belongs to Lulu Temple of PhiladFebruary 5, 2022 Fellows, being the Past Grand of Catasauqua Lodge No. 269, and also a member of the Fraternity Encampment at this place. A member of the Sons of Veterans, he belonged to Arnold Lewis Camp of this city. For thirteen years he has been interested in the Phoenix Steam Fire Company, having been Chief of the same for years, and is now President. In politics, he sides with the Democratic Party, and in February, 1894, was chosen by his fellow-citizen to serve as Burgess of the city, for a term of three years. His family is members of the Lutheran Church, in the faith of which he was reared.