My Genealogy Hound

HON. J. WILLIAM FLAD, ex-member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, is at the present time General Agent for the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, for the northeastern portion of the state, and makes his headquarters in Easton, of which city he is a native. He was born February 3, 1859, and is the son of Joseph Flad, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. The latter was a finely educated gentleman, being a graduate of Heidelberg University, in which institution he was afterward Professor of Music. He served in the Revolution of ‘48, and on account of difficulties which then arose, he came to America and made his home in Easton, where he taught music for many years. He afterward engaged in the retail cigar and tobacco business, which he followed until his decease, in February, 1884, when forty-nine years of age. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.

Our subject’s mother, whose maiden name was Harriet Hensler, was born in this city, of German parentage. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Flad were born two sons, of whom our subject is the elder. Franc Z. is boiler inspector for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company and is located in South Easton.

J. William was graduated from the Easton High School in 1875, after which he attended Lafayette College for two years, taking the classical course. At the expiration of that time he left school and entered his father’s cigar store, which was located on Northampton Street, near Sixth. In the year 1881 he was married, in this city, to Miss M. E. Dietrich, after which he located on College Hill and for two or three years succeeding was engaged in the dairy business, owning a farm near the city, which was stocked with a gbod grade of milch cows.

In 1886 Mr. Flad was nominated on the Democratic ticket to the Legislature, but with the entire ticket was in some mysterious manner defeated. He was then made Chairman of the Democratic Committee during the campaign of 1888, and on being renominated was elected to the Legislature, together with every candidate for office who ran in 1886. In that year he embarked in the insurance business, representing sixteen counties in this state for the Massachusetts Mutual, which is a fine territory. On the expiration of his official term, he was re-elected, thus serving his constituents a period of four years, during which time he rendered them valuable service as a member of various important committees, being a member of the Committee of Appropriations, Railroads, Insurance, etc. By investigating bank failures, sufficient evidence was brought to light to cause the Bank Department of the state to be established. In 1889 he presented a bill, which was passed, giving to Northampton County two judges learned in the law, and in 1891 he had charge of the bill which when passed resulted in the building of the new insane asylum in Wernersville, Pa. He also secured the first appropriation for the Easton and St. Luke’s Hospital, besides other measures which proved of great value to the community.

Mr. Flad still has in his possession his fine dairy farm, and owns valuable real estate in College Hill. His office in this city is in the Trust Building. He is very public spirited, and was one of the first men in the city to. propose the building of a street railway, which project he aided in carrying to a successful issue.

To Mr. and Mrs. Flad have been born two sons, Edward and Earl. In social affairs Mr. Flad belongs to Dallas Lodge, F. & A. M., is also a Royal Arch Mason and a member of High DePayne Commandery, K. T. He stands high in the order of Odd Fellows in this city, in which he takes great interest. Like many of the prominent business men of Easton, he is a member of the Freemont Club. The Lutheran Church finds in him one of its most valued members, and m financial matters he aids that denomination very materially. As will be seen by perusing this sketch, he is one of the most substantial and enterprising business men in this portion of the state, and as such we are pleased to be able to represent him in this volume.