CYRUS E. BREDER, Cashier of the First National Bank in Bethlehem, a prominent financial institution with a splendid record of thirty years, has filled that responsible position for many years. He is a native of this county, having been born in Hanover Township in 1842, and is the son of George Breder, also a native of the above township, where his father, who likewise bore the name of George, was born and followed farm pursuits his entire life.

George Breder, Sr., is an agriculturist of prominence in his neighborhood, and although now eighty-two years of age is hale and hearty. He has been the recipient of many official positions of honor and trust, and in the discharge of his respective duties gave entire satisfaction to all concerned. He is a member of the Reformed Church, and in politics never fails to cast a vote for Democratic candidates.,

Mrs. Susan (Schall) Breder, the mother of our subject, was born in Moore Township, this county, and is also in the eighty-second year of her age. She reared a family of two children, the sister of our subject being Lavinia, now the wife of Alfred Yoder, of Fullerton. The subject of this sketch received his primary education in the public schools of his native township, and afterward attended what is now Central Pennsylvania College at New "Berlin, Pa. When attaining his seventeenth year he taught one term of school in Moore Township, and then, abandoning that occupation, began clerking in a general store, following that occupation until 1863, when he was elected Teller of the bank. In December of the above year, when the First National Bank was opened for business, our subject assumed the duties of Teller, and continued to fill the office until April 1, 1871, when he was appointed to his present position, that of Cashier. The first President of the institution was C. A. Luckenbach, who was succeeded by George H. Myers. The bank was organized with a capital stock of $72,000, which was soon increased to $200,000, and in 1871 to $500,000. It was reduced, however, to $300,000 in 1876, there not being sufficient demand for such a heavy capital in the volume of business transacted. When the reduction was made the stockholders were paid back in full.

In 1866 the officers of the bank, finding their building inadequate to the demands of a largely increasing business, moved to their present site, which, however, has undergone many material changes since then. At first it only consisted of an office and the residence where our subject resided. The first alteration was begun in 1886, by making a large addition to the rear of the building and other slight changes in the property. Again, in 1891, it was further altered and improved by the addition of another story, and the putting in of an entirely new and imposing stone front, making it as it stands today, one of the finest business buildings in the Lehigh Valley. The present officers of the institution are: President, George H. Myers; Vice-President, Joseph M. Leibert; Cashier, C. E. Breder; Teller, W. B. Myers; note clerk, F. J. Klinker; bookkeepers, L. J. Heller and T. F. Keim.

Our subject was married in this city, in 1863, to Miss Augusta, daughter of John C. Malthaner, a prominent manufacturer, of this section. To Mr. and Mrs. Breder there have been born four children: Kate; Charles, a civil engineer in New Jersey; Cornelia and Claire. The family occupies a pleasant home at No. 332 Market Street, in this city. Socially Mr. Brerler is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and belongs to the order of the Golden Chain. He is a true-blue Republican in politics, and in religious affairs is prominently identified with the Moravian Church.