Reuben Messinger

Reuben Messinger. Among the residents of Northampton County who have reaped success from a course of persevering industry and prudent living, may be properly mentioned Mr. Messinger, who is now somewhat retired from active business and is living amid the comforts of one of the best regulated homes of Belfast. It is a truth often repeated that every man who has acquitted himself honestly and as a good citizen has thus been a factor in the prosperity of his town and county, and, judged by this standard, our subject has been one of the largest contributors to the development of his native county. His reputation is a most excellent one, and is borne out by his sterling qualities, his firm principles and the part that he bears in political, educational and benevolent movements in his locality. Anxious to advance the interests of this section, which has been his life-long home, he takes an active part in enterprises which promise success in that direction, while at the same time not neglecting his more personal affairs.

The Messinger family was represented among the settlers of Northampton County. The first of the name to locate here was our subject’s great-great-grandfather, who crossed the ocean from Germany and established his permanent home in this county. Philip and Abigail (Birdinger) Messinger, parents of our subject, were natives of Northampton County, and this, too, was the birthplace of our subject, his natal day being December 31, 1826. He was only thirteen months old when orphaned by his father’s death, and from that age until he was six years old he was cared for by his mother, after which he was bound out to his uncle, Joseph Messinger, with whom the eight ensuing years were passed. At the age of fourteen years he hired out as a farm hand, continuing thus engaged until he attained maturity. His educational privileges were exceedingly limited, though he was permitted to attend school during the winter sessions in boyhood.

In 1848 Mr. Messinger married Mary A., daughter of Peter Ealer, of Lower Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County. By this union he had nine children, of whom seven are living: Emma, Mrs. James Messinger, who died December 2, 1894; Susan, who married A. Rader; Stephen; Lewis; Melinda; Sarah J., Mrs. Charles Siegfried; and Amanda, who married Milton Sandt. For many years Mr. Messinger carried on agricultural pursuits in connection with buying and selling cattle and other live stock, which has been his main business for a long time. He is the owner of eighty-one acres, comprising a well improved farm, and also owns a residence and eight acres in Belfast. He is a Director in the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Northampton County, and attends to the company’s business in his locality. For one and one-half years he filled the position of Postmaster at Belfast, and at various times has held other local offices. Socially he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in Bushkill Creek Lodge No. 878. His religious connections are with the Reformed Church.