Peter Newhard, son of George Jacob, was born in Allentown, July 26, 1783, and died Feb. 19, 1860. As a young man he assisted his father and about 1812 opened the first hardware store in Allentown on Hamilton street, east of Eighth. He was coroner of the county in 1816 and 1817, and in October. 1817, was elected to the State Legislature, and re-elected in 1818 and 1819, 1824, 1825 and 1829, the term then being one year. In October 1833, he was elected State Senator and re-elected in 1837. In October 1838, he was elected to Congress representing Lehigh, Schuylkill and Berks counties, and received in Lehigh, 2,411 votes, as a Democrat, to 2,359 votes cast for Walter C. Livingston, and was re-elected in 1840. He was chairman of the town council in 1824 and 1837 and burgess in 1843. He was also a trustee of the Allentown Academy. He married, in 1810. Sarah Rornig, daughter of John Adam and Elizabeth Barbara (Newhard) Romig. She was born May 24, 1791, and died Dec. 3. 1876. They had four children, two of whom died young: Owen, born Dec. 19, 1814, died March 19, 1836; and Sarah E., born July 16, 1826, died in 1832. The surviving children were Edmund R. and Amanda A., who married Walter C. Smith