Earned the rank of General from his service with the quartermaster corp of the National Guard during the Spanish American War and World War I. In 1890 he took over his family lumber business in Allentown, PA and turned it into one of the largest lumber companies on the east coast. In 1897, along with two business associates, he formed the Lehigh Portland Cement Company. It would become the largest maker of cement in the United States. In 1905, he and a business partner took over the Lehigh Valley Traction Company and renamed it the Lehigh Valley Transit Company. Lines were expanded to connect all the cities in the Lehigh Valley and there was even a rail line connecting Allentown and Philadelphia. He also played a prominant role in the creation of the Pennsylvania Power & Light Company and Bell Telephone. He created West Park in Allentown; established Romper Day in Allentown on August 28, 1914, an event which has been held annually ever since; he founded the Trexler Game Preserve and brought buffalo from the west when they were in danger of extinction. The buffalo have thrived there to this day; he donated fish hatchery land to the city of Allentown which eventually became Lehigh Parkway. He died from injuries received in an auto accident but his will established a $10 million Trexler Trust to be put in place upon the death of his wife. When his wife died on December 20, 1934 the amount of the Trexler Trust increased to $12 million. The Harry Trexler Trust has now distributed nearly $85 million to the Allentown Park System and other charitable organizations over its 70 plus years of existence. His country estate was converted into Trexler Memorial Park. A bronze statue of General Trexler on his horse "Jack O' Diamonds" presides over the grounds.
Earned the rank of General from his service with the quartermaster corp of the National Guard during the Spanish American War and World War I. In 1890 he took over his family lumber business in Allentown, PA and turned it into one of the largest lumber companies on the east coast. In 1897, along with two business associates, he formed the Lehigh Portland Cement Company. It would become the largest maker of cement in the United States. In 1905, he and a business partner took over the Lehigh Valley Traction Company and renamed it the Lehigh Valley Transit Company. Lines were expanded to connect all the cities in the Lehigh Valley and there was even a rail line connecting Allentown and Philadelphia. He also played a prominant role in the creation of the Pennsylvania Power & Light Company and Bell Telephone. He created West Park in Allentown; established Romper Day in Allentown on August 28, 1914, an event which has been held annually ever since; he founded the Trexler Game Preserve and brought buffalo from the west when they were in danger of extinction. The buffalo have thrived there to this day; he donated fish hatchery land to the city of Allentown which eventually became Lehigh Parkway. He died from injuries received in an auto accident but his will established a $10 million Trexler Trust to be put in place upon the death of his wife. When his wife died on December 20, 1934 the amount of the Trexler Trust increased to $12 million. The Harry Trexler Trust has now distributed nearly $85 million to the Allentown Park System and other charitable organizations over its 70 plus years of existence. His country estate was converted into Trexler Memorial Park. A bronze statue of General Trexler on his horse "Jack O' Diamonds" presides over the grounds.
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