BIO: John LINDNER, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 156-159 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ JOHN LINDNER. Some of the most prominent and enterprising citizens of this country come from German ancestry. Conspicuous among these, in Carlisle, Cumberland county, is John Lindner, the famous shoe manufacturer, of whom we here give a brief history. Three generations ago there dwelt in Reidenhausen, Franken, Germany, Henry Lindner and Elizabeth, his wife. Both were natives and lifelong residents of that town, Mr. Lindner being employed in the government postal service all his active years, having charge of the postal service of the Province. To Henry and Elizabeth Lindner there was born, in 1820, a son, John, CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 157 who grew to manhood in Reidenhausen. He was educated in the private schools of his native town, and upon completing his studies entered the employ of his father in the capacity of clerk. After considerable experience in business he rose to be treasurer in the firm of Henry Lindner of Beikeburg, a position he filled until 1848, when he married Sophia M., daughter of Adolph Darmhurst, of Beikeburg, and came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Lindner located in Newark, N. J., where he engaged in the manufacture of clothing, at which he was very successful. To John and Sophia M. Lindner were born the following children; Frederick William, of Louisville, Ky.; Elizabeth B., wife of Frederick Heilman, of Waltham, Mass.; and John, the subject of these lines. John Lindner was born in 1859, in Newark, N. J., in the house which has been the home of his parents ever since they settled in America. He was educated in the public schools of Newark and in the New Jersey Business College, and on laying aside his books he entered the employ of Banister & Tichner, shoe manufacturers of Newark, with whom he acquired knowledge of shoe manufacturing, and thoroughly equipped himself for a successful business career. In 1882 he went into the employ of Reynolds Brothers, shoe manufacturers of Utica, N. Y., and applied himself so diligently and efficiently that he soon rose to the position of manager. Six years later he became superintendent of the G. W. Neidich & Co., of Carlisle, Pa., where he demonstrated his superior capability by, in three years' time, increasing the output of the factory seven-fold and making it one of the largest and best paying shoe plants in the country. His pronounced success encouraged him to try larger and more difficult undertakings, and in 1891 he organized and had incorporated the Lindner Shoe Co., of Carlisle, Pa. capitalized at $35,000. A suitable building was erected a little to the north of and in easy sight of the Cumberland Valley railroad, at the western end of Carlisle. It was first constructed to accommodate 100 hands, but from the very start business grew rapidly, and in a surprisingly short time the force having to be increased fivefold, it was correspondingly enlarged. It now consists of a structure 430 feet long, 225 feet wide, and three stories high, and is a veritable hive of industry. In January, 1893, the capital stock of the company was increased to S50,000, and in 1901 it was raised to $125,000, and in August, 1904, it was increased to $200,000, at which figure it rests at present. The officers of the company are: John Lindner, president; I. E. Greenwood, vice-president; M. L. Dunkleberger, secretary and treasurer. The factory is a model of its kind; two large additions just completed make it America's largest factory making women's fine shoes, constructed and arranged to facilitate the output and at the same time conserve the health and comfort of its employes. It is equipped with the best machinery known, complete in every department and detail, and has a capacity to produce every year more than three million dollars worth of ladies' fine shoes, which are marketed to all parts of the country. It is by far the largest manufacturing enterprise in Carlisle, employs the most labor, and brings from a distance and distributes among its citizens more money than any other agency. But this great shoe factory is only one of Mr. Lindner's laudable enterprises. He has others to his credit. In 1902 he embarked in the cultivation of flowers on a scale characteristic of the man. He purchased a plot of ground in the western end of town, and upon it erected the largest and 158 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. finest greenhouses ever built in this part of Pennsylvania. They are thoroughly modern in every part of their construction, and of magnificent size, requiring more than 70,000 square feet of glass to cover them. Fronting these greenhouses, and bordering on West Louther street, he has laid out a beautiful public park of artistic design. Macadamized roadways surround and cross it, granolithic pavements border its edges; through its well-kept lawns in graceful curves wind gravelled walks and shrubbery and plants and flower beds of variegated hue ornament and beautify it. In it is planted every species of tree known to the Cumberland Valley, and with a few years of growth it will be a most delightful spot for rest and recreation. Every two weeks during the past summer, Saturday evening band concerts, provided by the same liberal hand that donated the park, were here given for the benefit of the public. The creation of this pleasure reflects the tastes of the man, and the fact that he throws both park and greenhouses wide open to the children of the public schools speaks eloquently of his generosity. Not only do the public school children have free access, but the students of Dickinson College and the Indian Training School are also welcome, and such of them as delight in the mysteries of plant life are given the use of apparatus and standard works on botany to assist them in their study and analysis. Probably no employer of labor in the State of Pennsylvania entered more cordially into association and sympathy with his employes than does Mr. Lindner. He takes a personal interest in all that concerns them, and both contributes to and shares in their pleasures. For a number of years he annually gave his entire force of hands a day's outing, providing for them means of enjoyment, refreshments and music. Recognizing the importance and necessity of higher education, Mr. Lindner frequently makes contributions to the local institutions of learning, and quietly does much to encourage science and the arts. He takes a deep interest in the prosperity of the town and the general welfare of its citizens, always aiding and often leading in efforts to promote the public good. He was one of the organizers of the Board of Trade, and has been its president ever since it was organized. He is a member of the National Association of Manufacturers; of the Shoe Manufacturers Association of Pennsylvania; of the National Trade Exchange; of the National Association of Civics; of the State Forestry Association; of the Manufacturers Club of Philadelphia; of the Hamilton Library Association of Carlisle; and long a valued member of the Philadelphia Museum. He is a Republican in politics but not an aspirant for political honors or preferment. As a public-spirited citizen he is much in favor with the people, and a few years ago was elected a member of the borough council of Carlisle, was elected president of that body, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected without opposition, and again without opposition in 1903. In religious belief he is a Lutheran and contributes liberally to that church and to Christian charities generally. In 1884 Mr. Lindner was married to Matilda B., daughter of C. W. and Matilda B. Metz, of Utica, N. Y., and to them one child has been born, a son, J. Austin Lindner. Their home is at the corner of Louther and College streets, in a most desirable part of town. On the outside it is conspicuous by reason of its shrubbery and flowers and CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 159 generally attractive surroundings, and inside it is a model of comfort, culture and refinement. Here, among books and papers and rare paintings and bric-a-brac, the busy man finds rest and solace from the care and trials of his intensely active life. LINDNER PARK. - A public park located in the western end of Carlisle, containing about five acres. The residence section surrounding it is known as the Lindner Park East and West. A beautiful residence section, land has been set aside for that purpose under restrictions, so as to give the entire neighborhood a larger scope of park effect.