Northumberland-Berks-Schuylkill County PA Archives Biographies.....Leader, Charles C. 1843 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 29, 2005, 9:25 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. CHARLES C. LEADER, proprietor of the finest dry goods business in Shamokin, Pa., conducted in one of the largest and handsomest stores in the state of Pennsylvania, is a son of Edward and Katharine (Snyder) Leader, and was born in Alsace township, Berks County, Pa., July 13, 1843. Our subject's grandfather was a native of Montgomery County, Pa., as was his father, Edward, but both died in Berks County. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and received such education as the neighboring schools offered. When fifteen years of age he went to Schuylkill County, where he attended a school for a year, and then took a position as a clerk in the general store of A. J. Medlar, in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., where he was employed three years. He then removed to Pottsville, Pa., with the same employer, where he was clerk in a store for three years. His six years' experience as a clerk gave him an excellent insight into the general-store business, and in 1865 he returned to Schuylkill Haven, where he opened a store, doing a general business, which he conducted with marked success for ten years. Never content to remain in a small town, however successful he might be, and seeking greater and more promising opportunities for his abilities, Mr. Leader migrated to Shamokin in 1875 and for three years conducted a general store, being the head of the firm of Leader, Muir & Company, which did business at Liberty and Independence streets. The firm was dissolved by mutual consent in 1878 and Mr. Leader again went into business on his own account, opening a dry goods store at Shamokin and Sunbury streets, which he conducted for two years. In 1880 the business was removed to Independence street and in the following year Mr. Leader formed a union with R. G. Eisenhart, the firm name being Leader & Eisenhart, and a clothing denartment was added to the store. This partnership successfully continued for three years, when Mr. Leader bought Mr. Eisenhart's interest and associated his brother, Edward M. Leader, with him, under the firm name, Leader & Brother. The store now occupied by our subject was built in 1889, when the business was divided by the brothers, our subject retaining the dry goods branch in the new building, and Edward continuing the clothing business at the old stand in Independence street. One of the largest, handsomest and most commodious to be found in this state, the store now-owned by our- subject is regarded as one of the most attractive as well as important mercantile features of Shamokin. The store has a frontage of 48 feet and a depth of 125 feet and is fitted with every modern appliance which is calculated to make trading pleasant for the customer and to expedite business. In addition to the store on the ground floor a basement and the two upper floors are utilized to accommodate the large stock of the newest and most desirable dry goods, etc., which is constantly kept on hand. The store is equipped with several electric elevators, by which the patrons of Mr. Leader are quickly and comfortably conveyed to the various departments on the upper floors; also with the cable cash-carrier system. In addition to his store and to his numerous other commercial and manufacturing intrests in Shamokin, Mr. Leader, in conjunction with his son, Edward R., conducts a dry goods store in Mount Carmel, Pa., which, practically, is a counterpart of the Shamokin store in size and in the quality of goods and the extensive business which is done. The large and successful business which Mr. Leader has built up forms the most substantial monument to his energy, his remarkable talent for correctly judging the needs of people, and to his equally remarkable executive ability and tact in organizing his forces and., in catering to his fellow-citizens. Industry, hard work, constant labor, added to great natural ability and energy, account for the success of our subject, who to-day is recognized among those who know him best as a man of great personal enterprise and ability and of commendable and most helpful public spirit. Mr. Leader has connected himself in various capacities with several of the more important corporations of Shamokin and to his wise counsel and energetic management is due much of the success they have attained. He is president of the Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Company, which was organized and began business in March, 1896, and of which he has been president since its organization; a stockholder and president of the Shamokin Banking Company; a director in the Shamokin Illuminating Company; a director in the Shamokin Arc Light Company; a director in the Anthracite Mutual Insurance Company, of Shamokin; and a director in the Shamokin Manufacturing Company. Our subject was one of the loyal Pennsylvanians who quickly responded when the invasion of this state was threatened by the rebels, and he served in an emergency regiment of volunteers at Chambersburg and also at Gettysburg. Mr. Leader is an elder in St. John's Reformed Church. In politics Mr. Leader formerly was a Democrat, but he is now an independent voter, with strong Prohibition tendencies. In May, 1867, Mr. Leader was united in marriage to Amanda R., daughter of Benjamin Ketner, of Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and to them have been born five children: Emma May, Charles F., William C, Harry K., and Edward R. The brother of our subject, Edward M. Leader, was born in Berks County, Pa., in June, 1859. He now conducts the clothing business which he acquired when he and our subject separated their business ventures in 1889. Mr. Leader is treasurer of the board of trustees of the local Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat, but not active as a politician. Mr. Leader married Carrie, daughter of George Hamilton, of Pottsville, Pa., October 10, 1888. William C. Leader, who was formerly employed at Mount Carmel, was killed in the terrible wreck at Dunellen, on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, in January, 1898. He was succeeded in the management of the Mount Carmel store by his brother, Edward R. Leader. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 6.8 Kb