File:1885 - William H. Ainey.jpg

English: William H. Ainey, son of Jacob and Catharine Ainey, was born in Susquehanna county, November 30, 1834. He received his early education in the public schools, which was supplemented by a preparatory course in Woodruff Academy. In 1853 he was graduated from Harford University, then an institution of learning of high standing in Northern Pennsylvania. He studied law under the direction of Hon. E. B. Chase, of Montrose, Pa. In 1855 he moved to Lehigh county, where he continued his legal studies under Hon. R. E. Wright, of Allentown. He was admitted to the bar Jan. 6, 1857.

• In 1860 he organized the Allentown Savings Institution and was chosen its first president.

• In 1862 he became the owner of the the Lehigh Register which he edited in connection with his other business duties. He was a vigorous writer and a Republican of pronounced views.

• In 1863-64 the Second National Bank of Allentown was organized. He was elected its first president, a position he filled up to the time of his death; a large part of the success of this institution was due to his efforts.

• In 1867 he organized the Lehigh Iron Co. and was chosen its first president, and Continued in this office until the discontinuance of the making of pig iron.

• In 1872 he was elected one of the fourteen members of the Constitutional convention of 1872-73. This committee framed our present admirable constitution introducing many needed and excellent reforms, which have since been copied and adopted as part of the fundamental l.iws of other states.

• In 1879 he was one of the prime movers in the re-organization of the Coplay Iron Company of which he was elected tieasurer. In the same year he, in conjunction with George Brooke and H. S. Eckert secured control of the extensive pipe works at Reading, of which company he was elected president. He owned and operated ore mines at the following places: South Whitehall, Upper and Lower Macungie, Longswamp, Maxatawney, all in Pennsylvania, and in Morrison county, N.J.

• He owned and operated the first local private telegraph line in Lehigh county in 1870. This line was operated between his office in the bank and the furnace at Aineyville. Mr. Ainey was a public-spirited man and through his energy a number of improvements were made and new industries located in Allentown.

He was the prime mover in having the Central Railroad of New Jersey come into Allentown and in the building of the Allentown Terminal Depot. Through his industry and assistance the following industries were established: The Iowa Barb Wire Co., which was later absorbed by the American Steel and Wire Co.; The Pioneer Silk Factory, The Palace Silk Mill, and the Allentown Spinning Company. Mr. Ainey and family were members of the Episcopalian Church.

He died on Nov. 12, 1907 at the well-known Ainey residence, corner of Fifth and Hamilton streets, where he had resided since the close of the war.

William H. Ainey was married to Anna C. Unger, who was born Nov. 18, 1843, and died on Feb. 25, 1905, aged 62 years. They had the following children: A. Caroline, married to Robert D. Ghriskey, of Philadelphia; May Hattie, married to Henry J. Foster, now of Scranton, Pa., who at one time was associated in the iron business with Mr. Ainey; Katie Irene, who was an invalid and died in June, 1914; and William H., Jr.