Robert Heysham Sayre

Married 4 times and had about 14 children

Sayre was the son of William Heysham Sayre and Elizabeth (Kent) Sayre.

In 1828, they moved from Bloomsburg, Columbia Co, PA. to Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe), PA. William worked as a lockmaster for the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company As an engineering, Sayre worked on the Morris Canal in NJ.and the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway. Sayre was named Chief Engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1854. He expanded the railroad into the state of New York and became vice president of the railroad. Sayre helped found the Bethlehem Iron Company (Bethlehem Steel). He became vice president of Bethlehem Iron Works in 1891. He was also the general manager. Sayre built Sayre Mansion in Bethlehem until his death in 1907. He died at 82. Sayre served as a trustee of St. Luke's Hospital and as a Charter Trustee of Lehigh University. Sayre gave Lehigh University a gift of $5,000 to build Lehigh’s observatory. Sayre, PA was named after him. Submitted by Peggy Spengler-Moser.