Samuel B. Anewalt, son of Peter Anewalt and his wife Elizabeth Bliem, has been for more than half a century a resident of Allentown, the greater part of which time he was engaged in business as a dealer in hats. He was born in Allen township, Northampton county, 3/20/1835, and attended the local schools until the age of 14, when he learned the trade of a painter, at which he spent two years and in 1857 came to Allentown and entered the employ of Coleman Keck, with whom he continued until the Civil War, when he enlisted 6/19/1863, in Co. H, 2701 Regiment, Emergency Troops, under Capt. Isaac N. Gregory, in which company he held the rank of corporal. The company went to Columbia and crossed the bridge over the Susquehanna to Wrightsville. Upon the attack of the confederates on the town last named, they retreated with the regiment and burned the bridge behind them. They were shelled by General Ewell. The regiment later moved to Carlisle, then to Waynesboro, Boonsboro, Hagerstown, Greencastle, Mercersburg, and Chambersburg.

After his return Mr. Anewalt entered the hat business, forming a partnership with his brother, John C., under the firm name of Anewalt& Brother, which continued until 1896, when John C. died, and Mr. Anewalt continued the business, taking in his sons as partners, under the firm name of S. B. Anewalt & Company, until he retired from active business in 1908. Since that time the business has been conducted by his sons, William H. and Samuel Jr. The present store building at 801 and Hamilton streets was erected in 1869 and the firm is one of the oldest in the city.

Mr. Anewalt is noted for his high standard of citizenship and has taken a deep interest in Allentown (the city of his adoption), its people and its institutions. He is public spirited, enterprising and progressive. He was one of the organizers of the Lehigh Valley Trust Company and has been a stockholder and director ever sine, serving as vice-president for 23 year and as a president from 1899 to 1902. He is a staunch Republican, having voted the Whig ticket in 1856 and cast a Republican vote at each election sine then. He has served as school director in Allentown for 8 years and for a period served as president of the school board. He and family are embers of St. John's Lutheran church and reside at Sixth and Chew streets.