Joseph S. Dubbs was born October 16, 1796, at the family homestead, in Upper Milford (now Lower Milford) township, Lehigh county, Pa. He was the youngest son of Daniel Dubbs and his wife Elizabeth, a daughter of Martin Schwenk, of Montgomery county. His grandfather, Jacob Dubs, a native of the parish of Birmansdorf, near Zurich, came to America in 1732 and secured from the Penn family a tract of land on one of the branches of the Perkiomen Creek, where he erected a small forge and engaged extensively in the manufacture of guns and agricultural implements. His wife, Veronica, was the eldest daughter of John George Welker, who appears to have speculated extensively in land. The business which Jacob Dubs founded, was enlarged by his only son, Daniel, who in course of time erected a group of rustic industries. Besides the forge he owned a mill, saw mill, oil mill, cutlery (schleifniuehle), tannery and a large farm. He was the first to build a brick house within the limits of Lehigh County, the brick for the building being manufactured on his own land. He was for many years an elder of the Great Swamp Reformed church, and of his six sons five became elders and one was a minister of the Gospel.

Joseph, the subject of this sketch, early acquired considerable mechanical skill, but also manifested talent in other directions. He took naturally to music and learned to play on several instruments; so that he was able to earn a part of the expenses of his education by conducting singing schools. For some time, he attended a Quaker school in Chester County, for the purpose of becoming more familiar with the English language.

Having determined to prepare himself for the ministry, he placed himself under the care of the Rev. F. L. Herman, D. D., who prepared many candidates for his profession. The school which he conducted was popularly know as the "Swamp College." For four years, he was under Dr. Herman's instruction, and in 1822, was licensed to preach the Gospel) with special authority to administer the sacraments. In September, 1823, he was regularly ordained.

During this period occurred the division, which led to the organization of the Free Synod of Pennsylvania. Though ordained by this body he always regretted the division and took the lead in the measures which led to reunion. In 1836, he was the chairman of the commission by which this work was accomplished.

His first charge consisted of the Windsor and Weiss churches, in Berks county, of which he assumed the pastorate in 1822. In 1824 the Eppler's church, and in 1826 the Ham's church were added to the field.

Dr. Dubbs was warmly attached to his first charge, but it proved exceedingly laborious. His churches were situated almost in a straight line for a distance of almost thirty miles. In reaching his most distant appointments lie was compelled to cross three streams, the Schuylkill, the Antelauny and the Tulpehocken. There were no bridges over these streams in those days, and in winter he was often compelled to cross them at the peril of his life.

In 1831, he accepted a call from this charge in Lehigh County, consisting of the Allentown, Egypt, Union and Jordan churches. There had been four candidates for the pastorate of this charge, and at first there was some disagreement, particularly in Allentown, where a second congregation was organized, which after three years returned to the parent body. The first baptism recorded by him at Egypt is dated August 28, 183 1. Dr. Dubbs, remained pastor of the entire charge until 1861, assisted in Allentown, in later years, by his son, Alfred, and the Rev. C. R. Kessler. At various times, he also preached at Rittersville, Cedarville and Morgenland. After retiring from the Allentown church in 1861, he continued to preach to the other congregations of his charge until 1868, when he resigned and removed to Allentown, where he lived in retirement until his death, which occurred April 14, 1877.

The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him in 1866, by Franklin and Marshall College.

Dr. Dubbs was twice married; the first time to Susan Getz, a daughter of Nicholas Getz, of Berks County; the second time in 1837, to Mrs. Eleanor Murphy, a daughter of David Lerch and his wife Eleanor Jones. By the first marriage he had three children; Alfred, who became a minister and is well remembered, and two daughters who were respectively married to Owen L. Schreiber and James O. Shimer. By the second marriage he had two sons, Joseph Henry, who has been for many years a professor in the college at Lancaster, and a prominent historian of the Reformed church, and Silas, who died in childhood.

A leading trait in the character of Dr. Dubbs was supreme regard for the demands of duty. Nothing could induce him to miss an engagement and he kept the records of his ministry with the utmost care. He preached over eight thousand sermons; baptized 7,065 infants and adults; attended 2778 funerals; and solemnized 2,176 marriages. In the general affairs of his denominations, he took a profound interest; and at a meeting of the Classis of East Penna. prepared and offered the resolution which finally led to the preparation of the "Order of Worship.'' In an extant letter the late Dr. Schaff calls him "the father of the German hymn book" because he first suggested its publication. Socially he was unusually genial and for many years was the friend and adviser of his people in secular no less than in religious affairs. Few ministers have been regarded and remembered by their people with such profound affection.