Biography

01/07/1740 - 12/19/1806

Christian Lower (Laur) (Democratic-Republican6) Berks and Dauphin Counties 1796-1800 (Democratic-Republican5) Berks and Dauphin Counties 1800-1804

Early Life:

Christian Lower (Laur), born January 7, 1740, Klapperthall Junction, Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Province of Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; son of Christian and Anna Catharina Seibert Lauer; attended school; worked as a blacksmith, proprietor of an iron foundry; American Revolution, colonel of associated battalions, 1775, sublieutenant, 1780; Berks County Commissioner, 1777-1779; elected, Constitutionalist, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Berks County, 1779-1780; elected, Constitutionalist, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Berks County, 1782-1785; elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1793-1794; elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1795-1796; elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1797-1804; elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, Ninth Congress, 1805, died in office; died, December 19, 1806, at his home, Tulpehocken Township, Pennsylvania; interment, Tulpehocken Church Burial Ground, Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, remains were later disinterred and reburied, Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Stouchsburg, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Berks County Commissioner, 1777-1779.

Elected, Constitutionalist, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Berks County, 1779-1780.

Elected, Constitutionalist, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Berks County, 1782-1785

Elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1793-1794.

Elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1795-1796. 

Elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 6th district, Berks and Dauphin Counties, 1796-1800. 

Elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 5th district Berks and Dauphin Counties, 1800-1804.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, Ninth Congress, 1805, died in office.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Not currently available. 

Legacy:

German descent, in that language the name was spelled Lauer, but in writing it himself he spelled it Lower.

Sister, Eva Magdalena Lauer, wed, Michael Ley, their son, Christian Ley, (nephew), member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Pennsylvania State Senate,  4th district, Berks and Dauphin Counties 1805-1806.   Christian Ley  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "L"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Christian Lauer (1751-1806) - Find a Grave Memorial