Life Story

Jacob Steiner was born in Montgomery Co., near Zeiglersville Pa. on the Perkiomen Creek, Jan. 25, 1828, the son of John Steiner and Christina Folmar.  His father John operated a small flouring mill.  The mill was enlarged over time and became the most extensive and important in the county at that time.  He later added an oil-mill which also operated successfully.  Jacob had one sibling, a sister who was married to Elias Swartley.  She died sometime in 1868. 

In order to be educated and prepared for life, his father sent 12 year old Jacob to Philadelphia to work in the commercial house of Curwin Stodart & Brothers.  At the time Jacob did not speak a word of English, but spoke fluent German.  He became an interpreter.  H e stayed there for several years.  For the first year he received no wages, and his father paid his board.  He was so adept at this work that after a year or two he was liberally rewarded for one his age.

After returning home his father sent him to a school at Trappe, Montgomery Co., where he remained a diligent student for three years, and acquired a good education.  At the age 0f 18, he went to Water St., Huntingdon Co., where he worked for his cousin, George Steiner, at the firm of Moore and Steiner where he remained until his marriage to Elizabeth Harnish on Feb. 1, 1849.  A few months subsequent to his marriage he came to Steiner Station (Chester Hill), where he began to carve out his career, which ultimately resulted in his prominence in the community. 

He first purchased a tract of ninety-five acres of land from Keller, Harnish & Huyett, then he purchased 33 acres of timberland from the Harman Philips estate.  He built a small house and barn and in 1850 brought his wife.  In 1867 he built a beautiful home, “Hillside Home” which remains to this day.  It sat near the Tyrone & Clearfield Railroad rail line at Steiner’s Station. 

At the time he purchased his land, there was an existing sawmill on his property along the Moshannon Creek that he remodeled and operated.  The lumber business was his principal occupation from his beginnings in Philipsburg.  He was one of the most energetic and successful operators in this area.  His farm contained 132 acres of cleared land and was considered one of the best in Philipsburg.  In 1867 he purchased the Hileman & Hesser tract of timber land, and known as the Beaver Dam Sawmill and went into partnership with Welser and Bender of York, Pa.  In 1872 he sold his interest in this company to the other partners.

Then, he associated himself in business with his son Alton.  From then on, the business was known as J.F. Steiner & Son.  Their mills were considered among the best on the Moshannon Creek, with a daily capacity of 25,000 bd feet.  The great secret of Mr. Steiner's success in life was his exercise of proper sagacity, close application of business, and a rigid adherence to the principles of honest dealing.  He was a man who had many friends, and those who knew him best loved him most.  He possessed a noble and generous spirit, none who ever went to him in distress ever returned empty away.  He was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Church and an honored member of the Masonic fraternity.  He was also a founder of the Moshannon Bank, organized in 1881, and one of it's directors.