Johan Jacob George ¹

   Other names for Johan Jacob were Jacob Georg ³ and Jacob George.⁵

   FamilySearch ID: L81L-CSL.

  Christening Notes:

Sponsors were Jacob Fenstermacher and Gertraut Knoerr.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. He has conflicting birth information of 24 Mar 1792. ⁶

2. Census in 1820 in Lowhill Twp., Lehigh, PA. ⁷ Males (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 1 son
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 father Jacob
Females (born)
16-25 (1795-1804) = 1 wife Lydia.

3. Census in 1860 in Lowhill Twp., Lehigh, PA. ⁸ Jacob George (age 67) is listed as head of a household including Lydia (60) and six others.

4. Census in 1870 in Lowhill Twp., Lehigh, PA. ⁵ The 1870 Census lists Jacob George, age 78, occupation innkeeper. He is living with his wife, Lydia, age 71; and Isabella Diehl, age 15.

5. Newspaper: Record of the Times: "Jacob George, who keeps a hotel at the "Leather Corner Post," in Lowhill township, Lehigh county, is the veteran landlord of Eastern Pennsylvania. He has kept the same inn continously for 59 years and is 88 years of age., 29 Apr 1878, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, PA. ⁹

6. Newspaper: Reading Tikmes: article about Jacob George, 29 Jun 1878, Reading, Berks, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹⁰ Jacob George, of Orefield, is the senior member of a family that is noted for their longevity. Jacob is eighty-six years old; his sister Betsy is eighty-five; Kate, eighty-two, and his brother John eighty-one. Jacob, by his healthy looks and springliness, may well be expected to live one hundred years.

7. Newspaper: Allentown Democrat: A Fine Property, 3 Sep 1879, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. ¹¹ A FINE PROPERTY -- While there are a number of very desirable properties advertised for sale in these columns there is none that is more so than the tavern stand and farm in Lowhill tsp., owned by the late Jacob George, decd., at the Leather Corner Post. So far as the hotel property is concerned it is hardly worth while that we should say a great deal about it. The stand is one of the oldest and best known in the county. With a new, commodions and well adapted house, on a principal thoroughfare, it has always been a favorable stopping place. The farm is also a good one. Whoever wants to exameine this valuable stand and farm can do so by calling on either one of the executors, or on the occupant of the premises.

8. Newspaper: Allentown Democrat: Ad: Hotel, Smithery and Personal Property At Auction!, 26 Nov 1879, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. ¹² HOTEL, SMITHERY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AT AUCTION!
The well known Leather Corner Post Hotel, at the Leather Corner Post, in Lowhill township, so long kept by Jacob George, deceased, as well as the smithshop on the same premises, will be rented to the highest bidder for the coming year at a public sale to be held on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6th, 1879, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. At the same time will be sold two full sets of smithing tools, with two bellows, a farm wagon, several truck sleights, a wheelbarrow, a new extension ladder, barrels, boxes, several sets of harness, and a variety of other articles.
The conditions will be made known on the day of sale, and due attendence given by
JONAS GEORGE
DANIEL GEORGE
ELI GEORGE
Execturos of Jacob George, deceased.

9. Newspaper: Allentown Democrat: Large Sale [of Jacob George estate]., 17 Dec 1879, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. ¹³ LARGE SALE.-- The sale of the personal effects of the late Jacob George, decd., at the Leather Corner Post, in Lowhill, on Saturday week, was largely attended, and the articles offered brought fair prices. The hotel stand, so long in the occupancy of the deceased, was at the same time rented for the coming year to the highest bidder, who proved to be Mr. Tilghman Deshler, butcher, at Fogelsville. His bid was $215.

10. Newspaper: Allentown Democrat: Ad: Executor's Sale of Jacob George Estate, 6 Jul 1881, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. ¹⁴ EXECUTOR'S SALE OF VALUABLE REAL ESTATE.
Will be sold at public sale, on SATURDAY the 23d day of JULY, 1881, at 1 o'clcok in the afternoon, on the premises, in Lowhill township, Lehigh county, the following valuable real estate, to wit:

No. 1 -- All that certain tavern stand well-known as the "Leather Corner Post," situate in Lowhill township, Lehigh county, containing about
10 Acres of Land, more or less
The improvements thereon consist of a two story
BRICK TAVERN HOUSE,
40 by 32 feet, with a brick kitchen attached, 20 by 18 feet, a good summer house, a swiss barn, 36 by 36 feet, a shed with stabling for 20 horses. A fine well of water is at the house. A large cistern with pump at the house and at the barn. A splendid garden and a choice variety of fruit trees are on the premises. This is one of the best hotel stands in the county.

No. 2 -- Consists of three certain tracts of land, adjoining each other, one containing 18 Acres, and the other two tracts each 20 Acres, in a high state of cultivation and under good fencing, the same being good farming land.

No. 3 -- All that certain tract of land containing 7 Acres, together with a Frame Dwelling House, stable and other necessary outbuildings. A variety of choice fruit trees &c., are on the premises.

No. 4 -- All that certain valuable farm, containing
50 Acres of Land,
together with a Log Dwelling House, a large swiss barn, and all other outbuildings. A fine orchard with choice fruit trees is on the premises. The land is in a good state of cultivation and under good fencing.

The above tracts of land adjoin each other, and are all situate in Lowhill township.
Being the real estate of Jacob George, deceased, late of Lowhill township, Lehigh county.
Conditions will be made known on the day of sale and due attendance given by
JONAS GEORGE
ELI GEORGE
DANIEL GEORGE
Executors.

11. Book: History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, 1884. ¹⁵
Leather Corner Post is the somewhat odd name applied to a tavern-stand in this township. Its origin is involved in obscurity, but doubtless it arouse from some trivial circumstance. A tavern was kept here during the Revolution by Ludwig Smith, and later by Moses Coyne (who also opened a store about 1806), by Jacob Wotring about 1815, and by Conrad and Christian Bobst. In 1826, Jacob George, son in law of Woodring, became landlord, and greeted the few guests who came this way until his death in 1878, being a Boniface for the period of fifty-two years. His widow is still living, aged eighty-four, or three years younger than her husband was at the time of his death. The present hotel at the Leather Corner Post was built in 1861. It is kept by John P. Bear.

12. Book: Anniversary History Of Lehigh County, Volume II, 1914. ¹⁶
Jacob George, was born in Lowhill Township. For almost 70 years he was owner and proprietor of the Leather Corner Post Hotel, an old Landmark of that part of the state. He married Lydia Woodring. Issue: Reuben; Eli; Jonas; Elmina, (Mrs. Reuben Diehl); Elizabeth, (Mrs. Augur); Jemima (Mrs. Menno Klutz); Lydia, (Mrs. Fenstermacher); Daniel and George George.

13. Magazine: The Weisenberg/Lowhill Historical Society News: Leather Corner Post Hotel, Apr 2013, Lowhill Twp., Lehigh, PA. ¹⁷ Leather Corner Post Hotel
-----
This is one of our historical gems. The hotel greeted immigrants to our area before the Revolutionary War. The current building is believed to be the oldest building in continuous operation as a hotel in Lehigh County. It was a post office, a store, you could pay your taxes, or see the justice of the peace here. It was home for the boomba's for many years. An owner donated land for Morganland Church. It was an integral part of the community. The first hotel was built by Ludwig Smith by 1776. He sold to Christian Nesher in 1786. This began a continuing history for the hotel as it changed ownership many times. Moses Coyne bought it in 1806, Jacob Woodring in 1812, his son-in-law Jacob George in 1826. In 1861, John P. Bear built the current brick building. He is not listed as owning the hotel until 1893. In two years (1895), ownership changes to Sarah and Henry Yundt. In 1898, it passes to Walter J. Miller who keeps it for a long time. In 1924, it belongs to William and Agnes Roth. 1955 Alexander and Goldie Christman and 1959 Stephen and Ruth Mazepa. 1975 William and Wanda Zammer own the hotel until 1988, when ownership passes to Don and Nancy Gilliard. The 2000's see Daren and Anna Miller in 2002. Today's owner is Al Anderson. What began as a rest for weary travelers and a stop for local farmers to refresh on their way home from market, now serves as a neighborhood gathering place. The menu has changed from simple Pa. Dutch fare to delicious full dinners. In summer, you can eat on the porch or in the enclosed garden. Sadly, the boombas are seldom played. A few hang on the wall where daring musicians can retrieve them for play, but this Pa. Dutch instrument has passed its prime. Today local bands entertain twice a week. There is karaoke and open mike, game nights with trivia contests. A pool league will be starting in spring. The endless question is how did it get its name? Most sources give this explanation. There was a nearby tannery where they hung the skins outside to dry. A valuable pelt disappeared. The owner of the tannery was quite clairvoyant and declared that it would return in the morning. Sure enough, there it was hanging on a post at the hotel. Another version says that the owner chased the thief who threw the pelts as he ran. One landed on the actual hitching post for the stagecoach. The name stuck. In 1913, there were 3 houses and one hotel in Leather Corner Post. Today, there are many more, but no one could agree exactly where the "city" limits are. All agree the food is delicious. The ambience is unique. They promise that they no longer serve groundhog as they did in Walter Miller's time. It was his father-in-law Reuben Krause, who donated land to the church. (The Krause family Bible is in our library.) Many articles have been published about the hotel in the Morning Call. The last on April 6, 2013.

Johan Jacob married Lydia Wotring, daughter of Jacob Wotring and Magdalena. (Lydia Wotring was born on 30 Oct 1799 in Whitehall Twp., Lehigh, PA ^{2 4}, christened on 23 Mar 1800 in South Whitehall Twp.: Jordan Reformed Church, Lehigh, PA,¹⁸ died on 5 Oct 1884 ^{2 4} and was buried in Leather Corner Post: Morgenland Church Cemetery, Lehigh, PA ^{2 4}.)