When Phyllis Hardwerk heard Simonee deFuccio speaking at The Great Allentown Fair, she knew the talk would be of interest closer to home.

DeFuccio, author of the book, "Uncle Jerry Roth: Father of The Great Allentown Fair," made a similar presentation Nov. 20 to members of the Whitehall Historical Preservation Society.

The speaker's interest in the man she described as "an enterprising Pennsylvania Dutchman" came from learning he had been the former owner of her home, located on Roth Avenue in Allentown.

Born in 1833 in Lower Saucon Township, he eventually became known as the "father of the Great Allentown Fair."

After graduating from what was then Bethlehem High School, Roth became a teacher. After three years, he left to work on his father's farm in Lower Saucon Township.

By the time he was 25, Roth had become well versed in the business of agriculture. In 1858, he took over the Salisbury Township farm previously owned by his wife's father.

Roth was elected justice of the peace in 1864, and went on to become Lehigh Valley representative of the Democratic Party to the Pennsylvania State Congress.

In 1866, he moved to Allentown, which was still a borough with unpaved streets, and most of its inhabitants spoke German.

Shortly after the move, Roth began to amass a financial fortune breeding and raising cattle and horses.

According to deFuccio, the reasons remain unclear, although some speculate his money came from selling horses for use during wartime and from capitalizing on the high demand for beef after the Civil War.

In 1877, he purchased a large farm in South Whitehall Township located on present day Roth Avenue. He used it to bolster his stock of Jersey cattle and draft horses, for which he became internationally known.

The superiority of the horses Roth raised was so well known that he managed to secure exclusive contracts with the New York Fire Department.

As president of the Lehigh Valley Agricultural Society, Roth played a role in relocating the Allentown Fair to its current location.

The new location allowed for a new half-mile race track and more grandstand seating. However, despite the expansion, it wasn't uncommon for people to climb into nearby trees to watch the races.

Roth eventually began a tradition of hosting the fair opening ceremony wearing his morning coat and top hat.

Roth was a pioneer in the use of electricity. In 1894, less than 20 years after Edison invented the light bulb, Roth began using electricity to power the machinery on his farm. Most farms and rural homes did not follow suit until the 1930s.

Roth died in 1907, leaving behind a fortune of about $3 million to his surviving children and grandchildren.

Further information about Jerry Roth and The Great Allentown Fair can be found in deFuccio's book, which is available at the Moravian Book Store, the Lehigh County Heritage Center and through the Milford Township Historical Society.