[Newspaper not noted]

The Arners

Family Reunion

At the 7th Annual reunion of the Arner family, at Harrity on Saturday, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Joseph Arner, summit Hill; vice president, Calvin Arner, Weissport; secretary, Clarence E. Beckel, Bethlehem; assistant secretary, Charles H. Arner, Weissport; treasurer, Jacob Arner, of Harrity, and executive committee, Oliver Arner, Allentown; Milton Arner, Mantz's, William Arner, Weissport; Nathan Zimmerman, Beltz's; Thomas Arner, Parryville, William Diefenderfer, Tamaqua.

Prof. John F. Arner, of Lehighton, presided, and N. M. Balliet, Esq, made the leading address. Next year's reunion will be held at Flagstaff Park on Aug. 20.

The First Aner to Locate in this country was Johann Ulrich Arner, who landed in Philadelphia in 1735 and settled with his wife, two sons and one daughter in what is now North Whitehall, Lehigh County in 1744. These have grown to over 300. They are widely scattered but a solid bunch of them live in and around Weissport, highly esteemed and respected

Reading Eagle, August 1912

Lehighton, August 23 (Special)

The seventh annual reunion of the Arner family was held at the home of Jacob Arner, of Harrity, and was largely attended. Members of the family were present from Lehighton, Mauch Chunk, Weispport, Allentown, Bethlehem and Sunbury. Jacob Arner aged 72, of Snyders, Schuylkill County, was the oldest member present, while Thomas Joseph, the six-week-old son of Harvey and Eva (Arner) Middlecamp, was the youngest. Mrs. James Brown (nee Arner) of Baltzville, who is 94 years of age and was in former years a regular attendant at the reunions was unable to be present on account of her advanced years.

At the business session held in the afternoon the following officers were elected for the ensuing year. Joseph Arner, of Summit Hill, president; Calvin Arner of Weissport, vice president; Clarence E. Beckel of Bethlehem, secretary; C. W. Arner of Weissport, assistant secretary; Jacob Arner, of Weissport, treasurer. The following were elected members of the Executive Committee: Oliver Arner, of Allentown; Milton Arner of Mantz; William Arner, of Weissport; Nathan Zimmerman of Beltz; Thomas Arner of Parryville and William Diefenderfer, of Tamaqua. It was decided to hold next year's reunion on Aug. 20, at Flagstaff park, Mauch Chunk.

John F. Arner, of Lehighton, introduced Attorney N. M. Balliet, of this place as the orator of the day. Mr. Balliet's address was a stirring one, and in the course of his remarks he dwelt upon the importance of fostering the family ties and of preserving family records, citing instances where large fortunes were held awaiting their rightful owners who could not be located. The historian Clarence E. Beckel, gave an interesting account of the early Arner settlers in this country. The first of this name to come to America was Johann Ulrich Arner with his wife, Verona, sons, Felix and Johann Ulrich and a daughter, Margareth. They were passengers on the ship, Mercury, William Wilson Master and qualified at the port of Philadelphia on May 29, 1735.

The family settled in Whitehall Township, now Lehigh County and here the father on Feb. 27, 1744, located 105 acres and 138 perches of land. Besides the above named children of Johann Ulrich Arner, who accompanied him to this country, the records of Goshenhoppen Reformed Church contain the record of the baptism of a daughter, Anna Catharine in the year 1737, and the records of the old Egypt Church in Whitehall, the baptism of a son, Henry in 1742. Felix and Johann Ulrich, lived, the former in Lehigh and the latter in Carbon County. The third son, Henry is said to have moved to Northumberland County, where one of that name was a taxable as early as 1772. All three raised large families and their numerous descendants are now found all over Pennsylvania as well as many of the Western States.

Both articles transcribed by Sue Jones, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.