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Gc  974.801  B45m  v.l,  pt.l 
Montgomery,  Morton  L. 
Historical  and  biographical  annals 
of  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania 


?  '?  o 


HISTORICAL   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL  ANNALS 


OF 


'     i'^ 


BERKS_COyNTY    Ji 

'"  PENNSYLVANIA 

.        V^-/,        Pt.    I 


EMBRACING 


A    CONCISE    HISTORY    OF   THE    COUNTY    AND    A 
^   CONCIS.    »  REPRESENTATIVE 

BIOGRAPHICAL    KECUKU 

FAMILIES 


GENEALOGICAL   AND 


COMPILED  BY 

MORTON  L.  MONTGOMERY 


IN    TWO    VOLUMES 

ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME    I 


CHICAGO 
J.    H.    BEERS    &    CO. 

1909 


T 


1794460 

PREFACE 

HE  nrft  atrempt  at  the  compilation  of  local  liistory  in  Berk?  Coinny  was  made  in  IcSil  by 
\Vi)li.im  Stable,  a  -'.ciekee[)cr  at  Reading.     lie  publislicd  a  ?;nall  volume  of  6^  pages 
in  two  editions,  one  in  tiie  iilnglish  language  and   llie  ether  in  the  German,  entitled  "A 
I  ■  Description  of  the  Boroiigli  of  Reading,"'  and  it  r^'cted  chiefiy  to  t'ne  business  affairs 

of  Reading.     T!:e  booi<  was  pn-pared  for  him  by   Jao'^son   M.   Sherman,  a  young  lawyer,   who 
had  shortly  before  boon  at'.millt  <;  to  practice  in  the  Courts  of  Berks  Coimty. 
I  The  next  attempt  was  made  in  1S44  by  L   Daniel  Rupp    of  Lancaster.     For  some  years 

I  before;  he  bad.  been  engaged  m  collecting  information   relating   to   a    number  of   counties   in 

f  Pennsylvania  which  were  situated  to  the  east  and  west  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  and  the  re- 

{  suit  of  his  persevering  inda.>try  was  published  in  separate  volumes,  entitled  after  the  several 

I  counties.     One  or  them  was  the  "History  of  Berks  and  Lebanon  Counties,"  an  octavo  volume 

I  oi  504  pages. 

I  In  1S59,  Amob  K.  Strunk.  of  Boyertown,  publi.'^hed  a  small  book  of  12x  pages,  embracing 

I  the  names  of  the  cor.nty  representatives  and  officials  who  served  from  17.r?  to  18G0 ;  and  he 

j  issued  it  in  two  editions,  one  in  t;ie  Engiisli  language  and  the  other  in  the  German,  for  use  as  a 

convenient  bock  of  reference.     In  7883,  the  author  of  the  present  work  published  the  "Po- 
litical  Hand-Book  of  Berks  County,"  an  octavo  volume  of  104  pages,  which  was  an  enlarge- 
'■         '  ment  or  Strunk'^  idea,  embracing  census  .nformation  of  tl.e  county,  the  names  of  the  repre- 

;  scntatives  and  officials  of  Reading,  and  also  census  information  of  Reading,  besides  the  names 

of  the  county  otticials,  from  17-">"  to  1S3t. 
I  In  1S81,  Prof.  David  B.  Brunner,  a  school  teacher  at  Reading  for  many  years,  published 

"The  Indians  of  Berk-  County,"  an  octavo  volume  of  177  pages;  Avhich  related  to  the  aborig- 
ines of  the  county  and  included  many  cuts  (17G),  made  by  himself,  of  the  various  relics 
found  in  the  county;  and  a  revised  eiiition   (2.")7  pages)   was  issued  by  him  in  1897. 

The  author  compiled  the  fcllowmg  works  on  local  liistory:    In  1«8(',  the  "History  of  Berks 
County,"  a  royal  octavo  volume  of  lv04  pages,  for  the    publishers.    ]^>Iessrs.    Everts,    Peck   & 
'  Richards,  of  Philadelphia,  which  embraced  a  comprehensive  description  and  tabulated   state- 

\  ments  of  local  affairs,  besides  numerous  biographical  sketches  of  men  who  were  prominent 

!  in  the  industrial,  financial,  political  and  professional  matters    of    the    county;    in     1889,   the 

I  "School  History  of  Berks  County,"  a  duodecimo  volume  of  300  pages,  for  use  in  the  public 

I  schools  of  the  county  as  a  supplementary  reader,  which  has  been  used  in  the  local  schools 

i  since  that  time;  in  1S'J4,  "Berks  Ccjunty  in  the  Revolution,"  an  octavo  volume  of  295  pages, 

I  for  the  purpose  of  shov/ing  what  services  the  people  of  the  county  rendered  the  national  gov- 

ernment in  the  establishment  of  independence;  and  in  1898,  the  "Sesqui-Centennial  History  of 
Reading,"  an  octavo  volume  of  298  pages,  which  embraced  a  concise  narrative  of  local  events 
and  industrial  affairs  for  150  years,  and  a  comprehensive  description  of  the  anniversary  pro- 
ceedings, as  an  appropriate  memorial  of  the  extraordinary  occasion. 

The  volumes  mentioned  are  the  works  of  a  general  historical  nature  which  have  been 
published  of  the  county.  After  the  lapse  of  more  than  twenty  years  from  the  time  of  pub- 
lishing the  large  county  history  of  ISS'l.  the  author  was  encouraged  by  many  persons  to  re- 
vise that  work  by  bringing  the  historical  detail?  down  to  the  present  tiine.  Arrangements 
were  accordingly  made  with  the  publishers  of  tjiis  work  to  pubhsh  it  under  the  title  of  '"His- 
torical and  Biographical  Annals  of  Berks  County,"  so  as  to  embrace,  besides  general  history, 
local  biography  and  genealogy,  which  in  that  time  had  becum.e  very  important  in  the  estima- 


:^  •■;■■  '■•?!:v;fr:/' .vs;l!.;,;^-rr 


J    ::,;■->;  !■■    J.'-y;-    ^iA     ■    V. 


tion  of  many  historical  societies  throughout  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  their  publication 
in  a  convenient  and   permanent    form   was   encouraged  by  those  societies. 

:\Iuch  time  has  been  devoted  to  the  careful  preparation  of  this  work  in  order  to  pro- 
duce a  compilation  which  should  be  recognized  for  its  thoroughness  in  covering  every  section 
of  the  county.  The  table  of  contents  relating  to  th.e  historical  annals  is  comprehensive  and  the 
ojig  list  of  personal  sketches  evidences  patient  inquiry  in  securing  the  biographical  and  genea- 
logical annals;  and  these  tak-n  together  will  be  appreciated  by  the  public  generally  as  well 
as  by  the  patrons  of  the  work,  as  of  incalculable  value  to  the  people  of  the  countv  and  to 
the  numerous  descendants  of  the  First  Families  who  were  located  in  the  county  before  the 
Revolution.  Many  ot  the  sketches  contain  items  of  history  which  woul.,1  not  be  preserved  in 
any  other  way.  In  nearly  every  instance  the  data  were  submitted  to  those  immediately  inter- 
ested for  revision  and  correction. 

"Family  Reunions"  has  been  a  subject  of  importance  to  many  persons  of  the  county  for 
upward  ot  ten  years,  and  descendants  of  different  families  have  assembled  at  certain  pe- 
riods m  dirterent  places  of  the  county  to  show  respect  for  their  ancestors  and  to  collect  bio- 
graphical and  genealogical  data.  Some  of  them  have  been  vcrv  successful.  A  chapter  on  the 
subject  (XIII)  has  been  included  in  this  work,  and  it  is  the  first  attempt  in  the  colIecMou  of 
this  particular  kind  of  information.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  many  others  of  the  "TTirst 
Families,"  of  equal  prominence,  have  not  also  in  this  time  formed  reunions  and  held  meet- 
ings so  as  to  increase  their  beneficent  social  influence  in  the  county  and  to  assist  in  preserving 
distinct  family  records  and  genealogies. 

November,  1909. 


I 


TABLE   OF  CONTENTS 


Chapter  I — Erection  of  County 

Page 
Physical  Geography 1-4 

Mountains,    1  Relative    Elevations,    4 

Valleys,   2  Iron    Ore.    4 

Streams,    3  Copper    Ore,     4 

Scliuyll.ill.    3  Minerals,    4 

Latitude   and   LonRitude,  4  Geulostj,    4 

Conditions  of  Tekritopv 4-6 

Pftittons  for  County 6-16 

Districts    at    Erection,    7  First    Assessment,     S 

Boundaries  of  County,  7  First    Taxabies,     Nacies    of 

in    2C    Townships,    8-lf> 

NATIONALmES     16-20 

Swedes,   16  Welsb,   19 

Gentians,    17  Irish,    19 

Huguenots,    17  Hebrews,   19 

French,    18  Negroes,    19 

English,    18 

FiKST  Occupants,  Indians 20-23 

Origin,   20  Retreat    of    Indians,    22 

Delaware  Trilies,   20  Indian    Names,    22 

Ganawese,    21  Villages,    23 

Manners    and    Customs,  21  Indian    Relics,    23 

Purchase   of   Territory 23-24 

Reductions  of  Tekritory 24 

Northumberland    County,    24  Other  Counties  Propot,ed,  24 

Schuylkill     County,    24 


Chapter  II — Industry  of  County 
Agricultupe    . .  25-26 

General   Condition  and  Aip-icu!tural    Society,    26 

Progress,    25  Farmers'   Union,   20 

Iron  Industries 27-28 

Furnaces    and    Forges,    27  General    Industiies,    2o 

Industrial    Statistics,    27  Memorial        for        National 

Iron-masicrs,    27  i-'oundry,    28 

Internal  Improvements 2S-44 

S'chuvlkill    River,   28  Canals,   34 

Fishing    and   Navigation,    28  Railvvavs,    36 

Freshets,   29  Post-Offices,    40  i      . 

Bridges,   29  Telegraph,    43 

Roads  and  Turnpikes,  31  Telephone,    43 

State    Highways,    S3  Oil    Pipe   Lines,   44 

Stages,    S3 


Political  Sentiment 68-71 

Political    Parties.    63  Vote  for  Prohibition,    89 

Vote   for  Governor,    68  Election    of   1876,   69 

Vote  for  President,   69  State   Conventions    at    Read- 
Vote        for        Constitutional  ing,   69 

Amendments,     69  Mass-Meetings,     70 

Political    Festivals 71-72 

Hiesfer  Festival   of  1820.   71  Tildcn    Festival   of   1876,   72 

Harrison    Festival    of    1840,  Cleveland    Festivals,    72 

71 

Offices  by  Special  Legislation 72-73 

National    Representati\'es 73-74 

Con,;re3s:nen,    72  U.    S.    Commissioners,    74 

Foreign     Ministers,    74  Registers  iu   Bankruptcy,  74 

Foreign     Consuls,     74 

State    REPRLSENTATa-Es 74-75 

Delegates    to    Conventions, 
74-75 

State  Officials 75 

Senators    75 

ASSEMflLVMEN      75-77 

County  On icers 77-87 

Commissioners,    77  Suri-eyors.    82 

Auditors.    73  Poor    Directors,    82 

Controllers,    79  Steward?,    83 

Treasurers,    79  Prison    Inspectors,    83 

Sheriffs,    79  '  Prison    Wardens,    85 

Coroners,    80  Jury   Commissioners,    85 

Prothonotaries,    80  Mercantile  A,ipraisers,  85 

Recorders.    81  License    Comn-issioners,    86 

Registers,    81  Oii     Inspectors.     86 

Orphans"    Court     C:erk5,    81  Sellers      of       WL-i^hts      and 
Quarter  Sessions'  Clerks,  81  Measures,     d6 

District    Attorneys,    ."Z  Superintendents  of  Common 
Special    Detectives,    82  Schools,    S7 

County  Buildixog 87-90 

Court-Houses,    87  State-House,   89 

Prisons,    89  Poor-House,    90 


Chapter  III — Education  in  County 
Religion    45-54 

Denominations  Described,  45  Sunday     Schools     of     Berks 

Pastors  Long  in   Service,  48  County,    .^1 

Churches    in    Townships,    49  Sunday    Mails,    53 

General    Education     54-58 

Early    Encouragement,  54                     Tabular    Statement   of   1903, 

Teachers   Before  1752,  54                             56 

Charity     Schools,     51  Lecture   on   Conrad   Weiser. 

Common     Schools.     .^5  '►7 

System     Accepted     by  Dis-                 Purpose   of   Lecture.    58 

tricts,    55  Teachers'    Institutes.     58 

Newspapers    59-61' 

Weekly   Newspapers,  59  Daily    Newspapers,    60 

Language,  Manners  and  Customs 61-65 

Chapter  IV — Government  and  Officials 

Election  Districts 65-n') 

Prominent  Rf.pp.esentativt:  Men 66-63 


Chapter  V — Bench  and  Bar 

Judges — 1752  to  1790 91-92 

Judges — 1790  to  1909 92-93 

President  Judges,  92  Orphans'    Court    Judges,    92 

Additional    Law    Judges,    92  Associate    Judges,    92 

Attorneys  at  Law 93-95 


Chapter  VI — Medical  Profession 
Medical  Faclt,ty  of  Berks  County 96-105 

Berk»5    County    Medical    So-  Reading,    08 

ciety,     96  Boroughs.    100 

Reading      Medical      Associa-  Manatawny    Sccti'in,    TOO 

tion.    98  Ontelauncc    .Srction.    101 

Allopathic    Practitioners,    98-  Tulpehncken    Section.    101 

101  Schuylkill    Section.    301 

Homoeopathy    101-103 

Homoeopathic     Practitioners  Homoeopathic    Medical    and 

Association   of   Reading,  Surgical       Hospital       of 

102  Reading,    in-j 

Homoeopathic    Practitioners, 
102 

Osteopathy   103 

Osteopathic    Practitioners,  -   - 

103 

Dentistry 103 

Dental    Practitioners,    103 

Veterinary    104 

Veterinary    Prjctitioners, 
104 


.<.■■•:.  i'cO  v;r  ■^•■c. 


i 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


.</" 


Market    Commissioners,    527 

■      L'.ian!  of  PiitHc  Health.  227 
Mer.bers   oi    Boird,    i.:7 
Kcaltli    Conim.r.bioners,    £"7 
Plun^hing    Inspectofs.    :!L'7 
Trustees   of   Pub'.]';   Library, 

Jjsi-ccs    01    tne    Peace,    22.S 
Aldt-r.n»n,    2i9 
Cous^alJies,     22!) 

Census     . .    

Ccnsrs    Table— 1?50-10J0, 

234 
Se.xis  of  Pop'j'.ation.  23-1 
Populption  North  a-.-l   South 

ot    Pe.in    Street.    23* 
Colored     pDpulation.    234 
Comparative     Statistxs.     C34 
Assessment    for    1?9S,    2?4 


School    Coiitroliors,    230 
Presidents  of  School   Koard, 

Sccrrfarits   of   School 

Board.   233 
Treasurers     ■!    School 

Board.    2JS 
City    S'jL.erintendents,    234 
Meat    and    Milk    Inspectors, 

231 


.234-237 

A£scs>,racrt    for    190S,    235 
Presidential   Vote.    190S,    235 
CompT'ativ*;    Statement,    2jr. 
Number     oi     Buiidinss,     235 
Lunior   Licenses   ior   ISO!', 

23''. 
Table    of    Industries    in 

1900,    237 


Chapter  XI — Boroughs 
Erf.ction     

COMP.VRATIVE     TaB/.E    

Industktss     

Statemsnt  Or   Banks 

Mercantile    License  -^ 

Liquor   Lk— N3f:s 

Churches     

Schools    

SXATEMtNT   OF    L    O.    O.    F 

state^f c.st  of  p.  o.  s.  of  a 

East  of  Schcjyikill 

Kutztovn,    24(1  Tcpton.    261 

Hamburg,    247  Leidiartsville.     2';3 

Boycrtuwn,    252  Eechtelsville,    2C4 

Fleetwood,    259  Mount    Penn,    2t,0 

West  of  SrnuYLKiLL 

Womelsdorf.     203  Wvom.ssin?,    281 

Bernville.    2T1  Mohnto-,  2S3 

Bir-.'sborc,    274  V<est    Rcadinc.    23 

Ccntrei'irt,    279  bhillington,    293 
West     Leesport,     2S0 


238 
23S 
239 
239 
239 
239 
240 
240 
240 


Chapter  XII — Townships 

Four    Sections 

Erection    or    To"'NStiips 

De\t.lovm;:ni  or  Sections 

Govern  m  f.nt    

Rail\va\   and  Telecuaph 

!NDUsrRt.\L  Situation , 

Rf.lig;on  /nd  Etiuc^tion 

St-vtistics  , 


296 
236 
20G 
297 
29" 
297 
297 
298 


Towns  og^ 

Mercantile    Licenses ogg 

Liquor    Licenses 09^ 

P.  O.  S.  OF  A.  CA.\iPS 298 

M.A.N atawny    Section 208-303 

Names    of    Townships,    298  L-on    Ore    Mines,    301 

Derivation    nf    Names,    299  Hiehways,    3'il 

Boroughs.    2';9  .\dditioMil    Taxab'es    fD-jug- 
Names    of   Tow. ,3.    300  lass.    Rockland,    and 

First    Settlers,   300  Districtl.    301 

Industrial    Prominence,    300  Noteworthy   Enterprises,  302 

Ontelaunee     Section 303-30(i 

Names    of    Tr.wnsh'ps.  30:;  Blue    Rocics.    304 

I>erivation    of    Names.  30?  Iron    O.-c    Mines.    304 

BorouRhf.     304  Htch-.vavs.     304 

Names    of    Towf-s.    304  Karly    Ircti    Works.    3n5 

First    Settlors,    ?,04  Noteworthy  Enterprises,  30.5 

Indian    Atrocities,    304 

TULPEHCCKEN      SECTION 306-308 

Names    of    Townships,    306  First    Settlers.    306 

Derivation    of    l\imci,    S06  Hii^hways,    306 

Boroughs.  3'^fl  Notewoithy   Enterprbes.  307 

Names   of   Towns,   306  Berkshire     Country     Club. 

307 

Schuylkill    Section 308-311 

Names    of    Townships,    308  Hiehways,    30!> 

Derivation    of    Nc^.mes,    308  Early    Industries.    SO!) 

Borouphs,    309  Suburban    Towns.    309 

Names    of    Town;.    SOU  Noteworthy  Enterprises.  310 
First    Settlers,    300 


Chapter  XIII — Family  Reunions 


First  Families  of  County. 
Reunions 

Baer.    313 
B-rtolct.   313 
Rov?r,    314 


Croll, 


314 


lie  Lorsc,    314 
Dierolf,'  315 
Dierricu.    315 
Dries^    315 

Fisher  Kartmai!,     316 
Furrv,    316 
Gerv,    310 
Grim.     316 
Hafer.  317 
Haitman-Fisher,    016 
lU'ftner,    317 
Ileii.ly.    317 
Kistler,    CIS 


Kline.  31 S 
Srick.     318   ~ 
Levongcod.     313 
Ludwie.     319 
Lutz.   319 
Reedy.    31!> 
Ritter.    31>) 
Roh'-Larh.    320 
Saul,     320 
Schaeffer,     320     • 
Seaman.    321 
Sehneider.    321 
Strai-Fs,    321 
Trexle;.    321 
Wanisher.     322 
Yeich.   323 


311-313 


Biographical    323 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Nicolls,    Giistavus    A 520 

Nolan,  Edward  C 576 

Nolan,   James 456 

Nolan,    VVillium 448 

Nolan,  William,  Jr 57G 

Nclde,  JacoU 600 

Old  Swede  Building    (.First  House  in  County) 17 

Otto,  Henry  M 920 

Patents,  Early,   Reading 153 

Peif  er,     Peter 152S 

Penn   Hardware  Con^pany 666 

Penn  Street  (.Harrisburp)   Bridge,  Old 29 

Pioneer   Homesteads,  Tulpehocken   Valley,  1723, 

Map        306 

Printz,    Daniel   F 640 

Prutzman,    Asaph 808 

Reading,  Adminstralion    Building   of    School    Dis- 
trict        55 

Reading,  Boys'  Hig^n  School 202 

City    Hall 196 

Early    Patents 153 

"        Federal    hin 155 

"         First    Pi'.Mic    School 202 

"         First    School-bouse 202 

"         Free    Lihrary 55 

"         Girls'    High     School 202 

"         Home    for    Friendless    Children 214 

"  "       "  "  "     Play    Grounds  214 

Hospital 212 

"  Penn  Square,  looking  east  trom  '>th  St...  192 
"  Penn  Square,  looking  west  from  5Lh  St...  192 
"  Penn  Sqrare,  looking  e:ist  from  4th  St...  103 
"         Penn    Square,    Nortlj    Side,    looking    east 

from    5th    St 200 

Reading,  Penn    Square,    N'orth    Side,    Ic^oking    west 

from    5th    St 200 

Reading,    Penn    Square,    Soutli    Side,  lookins:   west 

from    5th    St 193 

Reading,    Penn    Square,    South    Si  ie,   looking   west 

from    6th     St.. 198 

Reading,  Plan    of    Roads    to 32 

Post-Ofuce 195 

"         Public    School    Bjildir.g,    5th    and    Spring 

Sts 203 

Reading.  Piihlic  School  Buildinty.  Hth  and  Pike  Sts.  •^03 

"  Sesqui-Centennial,     Executive     Conr.nittee  166 

"  Sesqui-Centennial,  Head  of  Civic  Parade  167 

"  Sesqui-Centennial,   Division  of  Industrial 

Parade     .167 


Reading,  Town  Plan   154 

View  of  City  from  West 153 

"         Widows'    Home 213 

Rhoads,    Henry    W 1335 

Richards,    Louis 512 

Rick,    Cyrus 544 

Rick,  George  A 603 

Rick,     William 552 

Ritter,    Louis 657 

Rocks   of   Rockland 300 

Rotherniel,  Abraham  H 44\ 

Rotherniel  Coat  of  Arms 441 

Savior.    Benjamin 672 

Schaetfer,    Charles    H 368 

Schall,    David 785 

Schall.  William  A 786 

Schofer,    Christoph.er   Henry 1208 

Seidel.    Franklin 1416 

Seiders,    Henry 1490 

Seltzer.    Jonathan    R.    824 

Smink,  F.   C 432 

Smith,   Frederick  L 464 

Smith,    Levi    B 416 

Smith,    William    D 424 

Spat--:,    Isaac    S 1048 

Spatz,  John   G 104S 

Speidel.  John  G 1064 

Spinning    Wheel 63 

Stage   Coach 197 

State  .Asylum   (Wernersville) 103 

State    House <«) 

State  Xormai  School   (Kutztown) 245 

Staufer,    William    M 1032 

Strunk.  John  M 1016 

Tuipchocken  Valley,  Pioneer  Homesteads,  1723. 

Map        „306 

Turner,    Newton   R 1272 

Volunteer    Firemen,   Monument 196 

Walter,    Dr.    Robert 504 

Wanner,   Peter  D 1096 

Vv'tisf r,  Conrad,  Grave  of 331 

Weiser,   Conrad,   Store  of 155 

Whitner,    Calvin   K 408 

Willson.   Gile  J 680 

Wool    Wlicel 62 

Wunder,    W.    W 1320 


HISTORICAL  INDEX 


Additional  Law  Judges 93 

Agricultural  Societies  of  County  26 

AKfici'l'iire  of  C^'unty   2'i 

Albany,   First  Taxables  of   S 

Albany    Township    303 

Ahlcrmen    cf    Readincr    229 

Allopathic    Practitioners     ...9S-1C1 

Alsac-?.    First    Taxable^    of    8 

Albace   Township    293 

Amish  Denomination  in   County  47 

Amity,   F:r.=t  Taxables   of   9 

Amity   Townshio    298 

Area   of   County    7 

Armory    at    Hamburj;- 252 

Arm.ory   at    Reading    205 

Army   Supplies   from   County  in 

Revolution     116 

Asscnuilymen    from    County...   7S 

Assessment   of   County,   First 8 

Assessment  of  Reading,  18'jS,  1908 

235 

.■\sse5=.ors  of  Reading   219 

Associate  Judges    92 

A>soc'aiions  at   Reading    204 

Associators   in    Revolution    ....112 

Attorneys  at  Law   93 

Auditors  cf  Co'inty   7S 

Auditors  of  Reading   218 

2aer    Family    Reunion    31?. 

Pai-ds  at  Resding  211 

Rank    at    Birdsboro    277 

Bank  at   Fleetwood    261 

P.anI--   at   Leecport    3i).) 

Bank   st   ^^ohnto^    287 

Bank   at  Topton    2C3 

ilaiikin.ar    in    Berks    County     ...151 
Bankruptcy,   Registers   in,  from 

County    74 

Barks  at  Boroughs,  Statement 

of        239 

B.mks  ?.t  Bovertown   256 

Baiik.i  at   Hamburg   250 

Hanks    at    Kutztown    243 

Banks   at   Reading    209 

Baptist  Denomination  in  County  46 
Battles.    Summary    of,    in    Civil 

War       127 

n-.-hirl-'ville.  Poronrrh  of 2f)4-2<'.G 

T'.rlt   Line  in  Schuylkill  Section  310 

Bell    Lme  of  P.   &   R.  R 39 

Bench  and  Bar  of  County 91 

Berks    and    Dauphin    Turnpike...  32 

Berks  County  Law  Library 210 

Berks    County    Medical    Society 

96,  210 

Berkshire    Country   Club    307 

Ben.  Fir^;  Taxables  of   9 

r.(rn   T'T.vrship    306 

I'rrrvillc.    f'nrough  of   271-::;T4 

BcrnviHe   Hand  in   Civil  War   ..131 
Hcrnville.   Cleveland   Parade  at     72 

IVrtnlct    Family  Reunion    313 

Bethany   Orphans'   Home 106,   307 

Brtbel.    Fir-t   Taxables   of    10 

Pethfl    Townshin    306 

Heulnh   .Xiichorage    214 

r.-,r.',,'.,>rri.    Boroi-rrh    cf    274--;rS 

Bird  br>ro  Band  in   Civil  War   .132 


Black  Spot  on  Mount  Penn   ...     2 

IViuc   Mountain    1 

Blue    Rixks     264,    ^04 

Board  of    Health   of  Reading   ..227 
Board  of  Public  Works  of  Read- 
ing     219 

Board  of  Trade  of  Reading   ...203 

Boroughs    of    County    233 

Boundaries    of   County    7 

Boyer    Family    Reunion    314 

Hoyertown,  Borough  of   2."2-25T 

Eoyertown     Opera     House  F-re 

257-2.-9 

Brecknock,  First  Taxables   of   .    10 

Brecknock    Township    303 

Bridges  in  County 29-31 

Bridges  and  Ferries  at  Reading  195 
Brooke   Furnace  ir.   Manatawny 

Section      302 

Brooke    Iron    Works    at    Birds- 
boro  2~fi 

Brunswick,  Firs:  Ta.xables  of  .  10 
Building  Inspectors  of  Reading  219 

Buildings   at    Reading    236 

Bureau  of  Employm.ent  at  Read- 
ing         212 

Burgesses  of  Reading   217 

Caernarvon.   First  Taxables  of     10 

Caernarvon    Township    308 

Canals    in    County    34 

Canals,   Lottery    Privileges    for     25 
Captains   of   County   in    Revolu- 
tion        116 

Carsonia  Park  302 

Cemeteries  at   Reading   196 

CeTisus  of  County 146 

Census  of  Reading  234 

Census   Table   of   County,   1800- 

1900      147 

Centre   Township    306 

Centre  Turnpike    32 

Centreport.  Borough  of   27S-2T0 

Chapel    Rock 303 

Charitable  Associations  at  Read- 
ing         212 

Charity  Schools  of  County  ....   54 

Charming   Forge    307 

Chiefs  of  Police  of  Reading  ...218 

Churches  in  Townshins 49 

Churches  of   Borouchs    239 

Churches   of  County,   First    ....   45 

Churches  of  Reading   200 

City    Clerks    of    Reading    227 

City  Hall  at  Reading 196 

Civil   War   of    1S61-G5    123 

Clavs  of  County   4 

Clerks    of    Common    Council    of 

Reading    226 

Clerks  of  Orphans'  Court    81 

Clerks  of  Quarter  Sessions  ...  81 
Clerks     of     Select     Council     of 

Readine    221 

Cleveland  Festivals  in  County  .  73 
Ch-mor  ^L^s.s-Meeti^gs  in  18'ir,..  70 
Colebrookdale,     First     Ta.xables 

cf        10 

Colebrookdale    Iron    Works 3"2 

Colebrookdale    Mines    302 


Colebrookdale    Railroad    39 

Colebrock'iale  Township    298 

Colonels    of   Associated    Battal- 

^ions.    1775    113 

Colonels    of   County   in    Revolu- 

lion         lie 

Colonial  Forts  in   County   iOS 

Colored  Population  of  Ctmnty .  .  ..■.'34 
Comm.issioners  cf  Ccuiitv  .....  77 
Commissioners  of  Public  Works 

oi  Reading 219 

Commissioners  of  United  States 

from  County  74 

Common    Councilmen    of   Read- 

^  ing      221-2'26 

Common  School  System  Accept- 
ed  by   Districts    55 

Common      School     System      in 

County      55 

Common        Schools,        Tabular 

Staternent  of  County 56 

Companies  from  County  in  Civil 

^'v^ar       128 

Companies  from  County  in  Rev- 
olution        113-115 

Conditions  of  Territory  at  time 
of  First  Settlement  in  County     4 

(congressmen  of  County   '.   73 

Con';olidated     Telephone     Com- 

,  pany       44 

Constables   of   f\eading   229-';0 

Constitutional    .\mendmcnt?, 

Vote  for  in   County   09 

Constitutional  Conventions,  Del- 
egates from   Co'.n-ity   71 

Continental  Paiu  r  .Money 117 

ConrroIIers  of  Countv  ._ 79 

Conlrolle'-s    of    Reading    21S 

Copper  O-e  in   Coimty   4 

Coroners   of   Countv    30 

Country    Homes    in      Schuylkill 

Section         311 

County   Bridges.   Statement   oi     31 

County     Buildings     87 

Countv   Charitable   Institutions    106 

County    Commissioners    77 

Countv    Officers    77 

County,    Petitions    for    6 

Countv    Surveyors    S2 

Court-Houses   of  County    ....S7-88 

Croll    Family    Reunion    314 

Crystal     Cave     821 

Cumru.   First  Taxables  of 11 

Cumru   Townsbin    308 

Crstoms.  Languacre.  Manners  in 
County     61-65 

Daily    Newspapers    60 

D''-larntion       of      Independence 

1  'ad    in    Countv    113 

Decline  of  Staces  in  County  ..  34 
Deii^her   Indian    Relic*  at    Kutz- 

town         247 

Dela  vare  Tribes  of  Iiid'ai's  .  .  20 
Delegates        to        Con^t'trtional 

Convention";    from    ("ountv    .  .    74 
Delegates    to       Provinci.-l     Con- 
ference   from    County    74 


^.^.  ,.'.  J  w.  ^..-jy.'? 


HISTORICAL    INDEX 


XI 


DeLonff  Family  Reunion 314 

Dental   Practnioncrs   in     Coun- 
ty       10;i-04 

Dentistry    in    County    lO:? 

Department  Stores  at  Reading  184 
Detect! vti.   bpccinl  of  Countv....   8:J 

Deysher  Stock  Farm   311 

Dierolf    Family    Reunion     31a 

Dietrich     Family    Reunion ai5 

District  Attorneys  of  County   ..    82 

District   Township    299 

District  Township  Taxables    ...301 
Districts  of  County  at   Erection     7 
Districts  of  County  in   lT7f;    ...113 
Dives,    Pomeroy   &   Stewart    De- 
partment    Store 185 

Douglass.   First  Taxables   of    ..301 

Etouglass    Township    203 

Drafted    Militia    of      Countv    in 

Civil   War    ^ .136 

Drafts  of  Berks  County  in  Civ- 
il   War         126 

Dries  Faniily  Reunion   31.'5 

Drum   Corps   at   Reading    213 

Dunkard         Denomination        in 

County        47 

Durell's    Battery    in    Civil    War.. 135 

Earl    Township     299 

Earl  Mountain 2 

Early  Furnaces  and  Forges 27 

Early  Roads  to  Reading   32 

Early  Settlements  of  County   . .      5 

East    Penn    Railroad    33 

Eastern    .State    Penitentiary    ...106 

Education   at    Reading    202 

Education.      Early      Encourage- 
ment  of    54 

Education,  First  Teachers   54 

Education   in    County    15 

Election  Districts  of  Count>  . .  65 
Election  of  1376  in  Countv  ...  tJ9 
Electric  L.ight  at  Reading  .  ...199 
Electric      Plant     in      Schuylkill 

Section        310 

Electric  Rs.ilwa3's  in  Countv  .  .  40 
Elevations     at     Reading     above 

Sea    Level    200 

Elevations   of  Places  in  Countv     4 

Embargo   of   1S07    121 

Engineers    of    Reading    227 

English,    Early    Immigrants    in 

Conntv      18 

English  "War  of  1312-15    121 

Enrollment  of  County  for  Mili- 
tary Service  in  1908   144 

Erection  of  County  1,  G 

Evangelical      Denomination      in 

County      48 

Exeter,  First  Taxables  of 11 

Exeter  Township    293 

Fair  Ground  in  Manatawny  Sec- 
tion        303 

Family  Reunions  311-322 

Farmers'    Union    26 

Ferries  and  Bridges  at  Reading  193 
Fertilizer    Works    in    Schuylkill 

Section        310 

Festivals,  Political,  at  Reading.  71 
Festivals,  Political,  in  Countv....  71 
Filtration     of     Reading     Water 

Supply       194 

Financial  Associations  at  Read- 
ing       209 

Fire  Companies  at  Reading  ...205 
First  Officers   from  County 

in    Revolution 112 


First  Assessment  of  County  ...     8 

First  Cliurches  of  County   43 

First    Families    of    Berks    Coun- 
ty       311 

First  Settlements  of  County  ...     5 
First  Settlers  of  Manatawny 

Section     300 

First   Settlers  of  Ontelaunee 

Section    304 

First  Settlers  of  Schuylkill  Sec- 
tion       309 

First     Settlers  of     Tulpehocken 

Section     306 

l-'ii'st  Taxables  of  County S-16 

P'isher-Hartman       Family      Re- 
union        316 

Fishing      and       Navigation      in 

County      28 

Fleetwood.  Borough  of 250-201 

Flying  Hills  in  County 1 

Foreign  Consuls  from  County..   74 
Foreign     Ministers  from     Coun- 

ly      74 

Forest,   district   in   County    1 

Forts,   Colonial,   in   County   lOS-109 

French  and  Indian  War 107 

French.     Early     Immigrants    in 

County      ....    18 

Freshets   of   Schuylkill   River  in 

County        29 

Fiicndlcss  Children,  Home  for... 213 

Friend?  Society  in  County 46 

I'urnaces  and  Forges  in   County     27 
Furry  Family  Reunion    316 

Ganawesc    Indians 21 

Garbage  Plant  of  Reading   ....310 

Gas   Light  at   Reading    193 

Geology  of   County   4 

Germania   Band    312 

German  Immigrants  of  County    17 
Germans   to    Rescue  in   Revolu- 
tion        112 

Gery  Family  Reunion   316 

(iibraltar  iron  Works   310 

Ginseng.   Cultivation  of    244 

Glen   Mills   Reformatory 106 

<jIobe  Rendering  Co.   '. 311 

Government  of  County   65 

Government  of  Reading 216 

Governor,   Vote   for  in   County.   68 
Greenwich.   First  Taxables   of..   11 

Greenwich    Township    303 

Grim  Family  Reunion   316 

Grosch's  Sunset  House 307 

Hafer  Family  Reunion   317 

H:ihnemann   Medical   Society  of 

Reading        102 

Hails    at    Reading    200 

Hanihiirg.  Borough  of 247-252 

Hamburg  Brid.ge  30 

Harrison     Festival    of    1840    at 

Reading    71 

Hartman-Fisher       Family       Re- 
union         316 

Ifassler's   Highland   House    ....307 
Health  Commissioners  of  Read- 
ing       227 

Hebrews  in   County   19 

Heffner  Fatnily  Reunion  317 

Heidelberg,  First  Taxables  of  . .   11 

Heidelberg  Township    306 

Heinly  Family  Reunion    317 

Hereford,   First  Taxables  of   ...    12 

Hereford   Township    298 

Hiester  Festival  of  1820  at  Read- 
ing         71 


Historical     Society     of      Berks 

County    210 

Home   for     Friendless   Children 

106.    214 

Homoeopathic  Hospital   ^13 

Homoeopathic  Medical  and  Sur- 
gical Ho.-.pital  Of  Reading   ...103 
Homoeopathic  Practitioners  As- 
sociation of  Reading  ....102,  210 
Homoeopathic     Practitioners  of 

County 103 

Homoeopathy  in  County  ...101-103 
Hospital     at     Reading    in     Civil 

War      126 

Hospitals  at  Reading 1O6 

House  of  Good  Shepherd  ..106,  214 

House  Tax  of   1799    120 

Huguenots,     Ea-ly    Immigrants 

of  County      17 

Humane  Society  of  Berks  Coun- 
ty       214 

Huntingdon   Reformatory 100 

Ice  Plants  in  Schuylkill  Section  310 
Incumbents  -of  Positions  in  Revolu- 
tion     117 

Indian  Atrocities 110,  304 

Indians,   Murdered   and   Captured 

by  110 

Indian  Names  of  County 22 

Indian  Rcl'cs  in  County 23 

Indians,   Enumeration  of   22 

Indians,     First      Occupants      of 

County      20 

Indians,   Manners  and   Customs 

of      21 

Indians,  Origin  of 20 

Indians,  Release  of  Territory  . .    23 

Indians,  Retreat  of 22 

Indians.  Tribes  of 20 

Industrial    As3'X;iation3    at 

Reading     209 

Industrial    Statistics    of   County    27 
Industries  at  Reading  in  1900   ..237 
Industries     at     Reading,     State- 
ment of      170 

Industries  of  Boroughs 233 

Industrv  of  County  25 

Inspector    of    Meat   and    Milk   at 

Heading    234 

Internal   Irriprovements   of 

County        S'S 

Internal  Improvements  of  Read- 
ing         393 

Irish  Mountain   2 

Irish    Settlers   in    County       ....    19 

Iron   Industries  of  County 27 

Iron     Industries    of     County    in 

Revolution       116 

Iron     Masters     of     County     in 

Revolution       117 

Iron   Ore  of  County   4 

Jefferson   Township       3OG 

Judges  from   1752  to  1790    91 

Judges  from   1790  to  1909   93 

Jury   Commissioners    35 

Justices   of  the   Peace   of   Read- 
ing         22s 

Keystone  State  Normal  School  245 

Kistler  Family  Reunion    :;i8 

Kittatinny  Mountain    1 

Kline.    Fnrihimer   &    Co.    Depart- 
ment   Store 184 

Kline    Fanrly   Reunion    318 

Krick   Family  Reunion    318 

Kiitztown.  Borough  f.''     240-2J5 

Kutztown  Branch  Railroad   ....    39 


Xll 


HISTORICAL    INDEX 


Kutztown,  Cleveland  Parade  at    ?£■ 

Kutziown   Fair   Ground    30i 

Kutztown,   Hiester    Festival  at    71 

Ladies'     Aid     Society     in     Civil 

War         126 

Lancaster  Bridge      aO 

Land  and  Live  Stock  of  Coun- 
ty in  1908   152 

Language,     Manners  and     Cus- 
toms  of    County   61-65 

Latitude    and   Longitude   of 

County        4 

Lauer  Monument   781 

Lebanon  Valley  Railroad 38 

Leespori  Bank       305 

Legal     Association      of      Berks 

County 210 

Lehigh  Telegraph  Co.  in  Coun- 
ty            43 

LenhartsviUe,  Borough  of  ...263-2C-t 
Levengood  Family  Reunion  ...318 
Lexington,    Battle    of,   Awakens 

County        112 

Liberty-Poles  of  1799    120 

Libraries   at    Reading    210 

License     Commissioners     86 

Light  and  Power  at  Reading  ..199 
Liquor  Licenses  oi  Boroughs  .239 
Liquor  Licenses  of  Reading  ..2r!r, 
Liquor  Licenses  of  Townships  293 
Literary  Associations  at  Read- 
ing         210 

Live  Stock  and  Land  of  Coun- 
ty in  1908    152 

Livingood  Family  Reunion   318 

Location  of  Reading 200 

Longitude    and    Latitude    of 

County       4 .     4 

Longsvranip,   First  Taxables   of  12 

Longswamp  Township       303 

Lord  &  Gage  Department  Store.. 185 
Lottery    Privileges     for    Union 

Canal       35 

Letter/  Privilege  for  Church  at 

Womelsdorf   271 

Lotz    Receipt   Book   in    Revolu- 
tion       116 

Lower  Aisace  Township  ....299 
Lower  Heidelberg  Township    ..306 

Ludwig    Family    Reunion    319 

Lutheran       Denomination       i  n 

County      45 

Lutheran  Ministers  of  County  .  46 
Lutheran       and       Reformed 

Churches  of  County   48 

Lutz  Family  Reunion    319 

Maiden-creek,   First   Taxables 

of      12 

Maiden-creek   Road    32 

Maiden-creek    Township    303 

Manatawny     Section  of    Town- 
ships       ; 29S 

Manners,     Customs,     Language 

of     County 61-65 

Manor   of    Penn's    Mount    2 

^^arion    Township    306 

Market  Commissioners  of  Read- 
ing         227 

Market-Houses  at  Reading  ....193 

Mass-Meetings  at   Reading 70 

Mnxatawny,   First  Taxables  of     13 

Maxatawny  Township   303 

^^ayors  of  Reading    217-213 

Meat  and  Milk  Inspector,  Read- 
ing     234 

Medical    Associations    at    Read- 
ing         210 


Medical  Faculty  of  Berks  Coun- 
ty         96 

Medical  Protession  of  County     .96 
Medical  Society  of  Berks  Coun- 
ty  96,  98 

-Membership   of      Religious    De- 
nominations          49 

Memorial  for  National  Foundry..   23 

Merc.intilf    Appraisers    85 

Mercantile      Licenses      of      Bo- 
roughs        239 

Mercantile    Licenses    of    County    293 
Mercantile  Licenses   of  Reading  298 
Mercantile    Licenses    of    Town- 
ships     293 

Mexican    War.   1846-48    122 

Military    Associations   of    Read- 
ing     139,    204 

Militia      Encampment   at   Read- 
ing  in    1842    142 

Militia  Sysiems  of  County  .140-144 
Milk   and   Meat   Inspector,    Read- 
ing      234 

Minerals    of    County    4 

Mohnton,  Borough  of  285-288 

^loney   at    Interest,   by   Districts    149 

Monocacy    Hill    2 

Montello       Brick       Works       in 

.'>chuylkill   Section"     310 

Monthly   Newspapers   of   County.   60 
Moravian        Denomination       in 

County      47 

Mould,  J.  &  Co.  Department 

Store        184 

Mount     Neversink 2 

Mount   Penn    2 

Mount  Petin.  Borough  of 266-268 

Mountain     Railroads    at    Read- 
ing       198 

Mountains  of   County   1 

Muhlenberg   Township       299 

Murdered  and   Captured  by  In- 
dians       109-10 

Musical    Associations    at    Read- 
ing      210-211 

National     Representatives    from 

County        73 

Nationalities    in    County    16 

Navigation   of   River    Encouraged  29 
Navigation  of  Schuylkill  River     28 

Negroes  in  County   19 

Neversink    Mountain    2 

Newspapers  at  Birdsboro       ....   60 

Newspapers   at    Boroughs    60 

Newspapers  at   Boyertown    ....   60 
Newspapers  at  Hamburg       ....   60 

Newspapers  at  Kutztown 60 

Newspapers   at   Reading    ...59,  204 
Newspapers  at  Wcmclsdorf   ...    60 

Newspapers,  Daily   60 

Newspapers  of  County   59 

North    Heidelberg  Tow^nship    ..306 
Northumberland    County,    Erec- 
tion  of      £'4 

Occupations  at  Reading,  1909....  185 

Ot'hccrs    of    Conntv    77 

Offices  by  Special  Legislation 72 

Officials    of   County    65 

Officials   of    County   in    Revolu- 
tion        ..      117 

OfficiaIsj>f^eading 216 

rTof  State,  from  County     75 

:1    Inspectors        86 

Oil  Pipe  Lines  in  County 44 

Old    Swede    Building    16 

Olev,   First  Taxables   of    13 


Oley  Hills       2 

Oley    Road        32 

Oley    Township         298 

Oley  Turnpike     32 

Ontelaunee    Section    of     Town- 
ships         303 

Ontelaun«e    Township    303 

Orphans'   Asylum,   St.      Cathar- 
ine's   Female    106.   214 

Orphans'  Court  Clerks  of  Coun- 
ty         81 

Orphans'  Court  Judges   92 

Orphans'  Home  at  Topton..l06,  2G3 
Orphans'    Home    at    VVornelsdorf 

106,  307 

Orr  Stock  Farm      3H 

Or%vigsburg,     Fliester     Festival 

at      71 

Osteopathy  in  County     103 

Packets  on    Canals       36 

Paper     Mills     in     Tulpehocken 

Section        307 

Paper  Money  in  Civil  War  ....127 

Paper  Money  in  Revolution  117 

Park     Commissioners   of   Read- 
ing       219 

Pastors  Long  in  Service   4S 

Pathological     Society   at   Read- 

inR      98 

Patients  of  County  at  Stat? 

Hospital    106 

Patriotic  Associations  at 'Read- 
ing        210 

Pay    Schools    of    County 59,203 

Peace  Declared  in  Revolution 119 

Penn   Common  at  Reading  ....195 

Penn    Street    Bridge 30 

Penn   Township       306 

Penn's   Mount    3 

Penn's    Mount,    Manor   of 2 

Pennsylvania    Schuvlkill    Valley 

R.  R : 39 

Pennsylvania  Telephone   Co.   in 
County       43 

Perkiomen  Turnpike      32 

Perry   Township        303 

Petitions  for  Erection  of  Coun- 
ty       6 

Philadelphia     &     Reading    Rail- 
road           37 

Physical  Geography  of  County        1 

Pike  Township      299 

Pine-Grove.  First  Taxables  of   .    13 

Pinnacle      1 

Pipe  Lines  in  County   44 

Plumbing    Inspectors    of    Read- 
ing         • 227 

Polish _   Convent     in     Schuylkill 

Section         311 

Political  Festivals  in  County  ...    71 
Political  Parties  of  County      ...    68 
Political     Sentiment    of      Coun- 
ty     . 68 

Poor  Directors  of  County   ...82-83 
Poor-House  of  County     .  . .  .90,  310 

Poplar   Neck       2 

Poplar  Neck  Bridge    30 

Population  of  County  in   1776    .113 
Population  of  Countv.  1800-1900   .147 

Post-OfTice  at  Reading   195 

Post-Offices  of  County  . .  .40,  41,  43 
Post-Otficcs,    Discontinued,   in 

County      42: 

Postage  Stamps      40 

Premium  for  Scalps      109 

President  Judges 92 

President,  Vote  for  in  County  .   6!) 


.:-».yrT.p«i»^(i»*»;;;j«^,»^pTj:^y.~-7<*S..'»^^ 


HISTORICAL    IXDEX 


Prfsideiitial  Election  of  1876  .  69 
Presidtiiiial     Vote  by     Districts 

in   1908       150 

Presidents    of    Common    Coun- 
cil of  Reading      226 

Presidents    of    Reading    School 

Board 233 

Presidents   of   Select   Council   of 

Reading     221 

Preston's  Sunnyside    ..^ 307 

Prison  Inspectors  of  County  83-S5 
Prison  Wardens  of  County     ...   85 

Prisons  of  County      SO 

Private  Bridges  in  County  ....  30 
Private  Market-Houses  at  itead- 

ing    ; 103 

Private  Schools  at  Reading 203 

Professional    Associations    at 

Reading     210 

Prohibition    and    License.    Vote 

for   in    County        69 

Prominent    Representative    Men 

of  County      65 

Property    Valuation    of    County 

by  Districts  in  1S8.'  and  1908    143 
Protective  Associations  at  Read- 
ing       205 

Protestant  Episcopal  Denomina- 
tion in    County       48 

Prothonotaries  of  County  ....  80 
Public  Charities  in  County  ....105 
Public  Library  at  Reading  210,  2i8 
Public   Library.  Trustees  of    ...22S 

Public  Parks  at  Reading   19S 

Public  Works.   Board   of   219 

Purchase  of  Territory  in   Coun- 
ty    £3 

Quarter     Sessions'      Clerks     of 
County      81 

Railroad  Bridges  in  County   ...   31 

Railroads   in    County       36 

Railways,   Electric,  in   County    .    40 

Railways  in    County       35 

Reading  Artillerists  in  IMexican 

War       •. 123 

Reading  Artillerists  in  N.  G.  P.  143 

Reading,   Association?   at    ..214-215 

"         Borough      Erected      in 

1783      156 

"  Borough.  1783-1847  156-159 

"  Buildings   at    236 

Canals 197 

"         Cemeteries       196 

Census  of  ...147.  234,  235 
"         Charitable    A  s  s  o  c  i  a- 

tions  at   212 

"         Church    Choral    Socie- 
ty         211 

"         Churches  at   200-201 

City.  1847-1900  .  . .  159-164 
"  Qeveland  Parade  at  . .  72 
"         Clymer  Mass-Meetings 

in  1893      70 

"  County-Seat    154 

"         Development    by    Dec- 
ades     159-164 

"         Distinguished   Visitors 

of     158 

"         District  Established  in 

1760      155 

"         Early        Employments 

before   1783    167 

Early  Traffic   of    1G7 

"  Educational  Aflfairs  of 

Town       155 

"         Education  at  202 


Electric       Light       and 

Power  at    199 

Elevation    Above     Sea 

Level        200 

Employments,       Fac- 
tories,    etc..     at     in 

1840      163 

Ferries  and  Bridges  ..195 
Financial    Associations 

at     209 

Fire    Company    Build- 
ings        195,  205 

First  Lots  Sold 153 

First       Patentees       of 

Lots       153 

First    Store    at    155 

First  Patents  of  Land  153 
First   Ta.xables    of    ...    13 

Gas   Light   at    109 

Government    and    Oftj- 

cials  of   216-234 

Grant      of      Land      to 

Penn      153 

Ground  Rent  on  Lots..  134 

Halls   at    200 

History  of      153-238 

Hospital      212 

Hospital  in  Civil  War  12'6 
Industrial     Affairs     of 

Borough        157 

Industrial   Develop- 
ment        ....168-169 

Industries  at  .170-193.  237 
Internal    Improvement 

of       193-200 

Lauer  Monument  ....784 
Library,  Trustees  of  223 
Liquor  Licenses,  1909.. 236 
Literary      Associ,itioiis 

at      210 

Location  of 200 

Mass-Mecti'igs  at  ....  70 
^ledical        Association 

98.   210 

Meeting  at,  in  Revolu- 
tion '   Ill 

Mountain   Railroad.^ 198 

Musical       Associatioiit 

at       .2-10 

Nationality   of   Inhabi- 
tants   155 

Newspapers    ..59,   157,   204 

Officials      216-234 

Oldest   Buildings       ...155 

Panic  of  1837      157 

Patriotic     Associations 

at      210 

Political  Festivals  at   .   71 
Post-Office     Establish- 
ed at   40,  156,  195 

Private  Schools  at  ...203 
Public    Bui!din-gs...87,    155 

Public  Parks  195. 

Public    Roads 31,    194 

Religion  at .200 

Religious    Associations 

at       214 

Riot  at.  in   1877    164 

Ritner     Young     Men's 

Convention  at  ....  70 
School  Buildings  at  .  .203 
Schuylkill  Seminnry  at  203 
Sesqui-Centennial       of 

1898      166 

Sewers       194 

Stage-Coaches  at 197 


"         State   Conventions  at     69 
"         Statement     of     Indus- 
tries at      170-193 

Statistics     234--3S 

Steam  Heat  at   200 

"  Steam      Railroads 197 

"         Store     House     at,     in 

Revolution       116 

Streets       194 

Street   Railways  at   ...197 

Subway     194 

"         Sunday    Schools   of    . .   52 

Telegraph  at  198 

Telephone  at 199 

Town.   1743-1783       153-156 
Town    Laid    Out       ...153 

Turnpikes   from   196 

Vote  in  1903   235 

"         Washington       at,       in 

1794        120 

"         Water    Supplies    of.... 

193.    303 

"         Whig  Mass-Meeting  of 

1844  at      70 

Reading  &  Columbia  Railroad. ...   33 
Reconimendations       for       Com- 
panies  in   Revolution       113 

Recorders   of   County    81 

Reductions  of  County       24 

Reedy    Family    Reunion    319 

Reformed  Denomination  in 

County        46 

Reformed  Ministers  of  County  46 
Registered    Voters    by    Districts 

in    1908        149 

Registers   in     Bankruptcy    from 

County        74 

Registers   of   County    81 

Rehrersburg,    Cleveland    Parade 

at        72 

Relative   Elevations   of   County       4 

Religion   of   County       45 

Religious  Associations  at  Read- 
ing         214 

Religious     Denominations     De- 
scribed          45 

Religious        Denominations      in 

Countv      49 

Representative     Men   of     Coun- 
ty         66 

Return   of  Soldiers   in      Revolu- 
tion       120 

Revolution.   Cause  of       110 

Richmond.  First  Ta.xables  of  . .    14 

Richmond  Township      303 

Ringgold  Band  in  Civil  War   ..134 
Ringgold    Band   of   Reading    ...211 
Rincrgold  Light  Artillery  in  Civ- 
il War       IS'S 

Ritner    Young     .Men's     Conven- 
tion at  Reading      70 

Ritter    Family    Reunion    319 

Roads  and   Turnpikes   of   Coun- 
ty         31 

Roads  to  Reading 3'.i' 

Robeson.  First  Taxables  of  ... .    14 

Robeson  Township       308 

Robesonia  Furnace    307 

Rockland    Township     2'99 

Rockland  Township  Taxables  .301 
Rohrbach  Family  Reunion  ....320 
Roman    Catholic    Denomination 

in    County    47 

Round-head      1 

Rural  Free  Delivery  in  County     42 
Ruseombmanor.    First   Taxables 
of      14 


....  ^  U»!  J 


HISTORICAL    INDEX 


Ruscombmaiior  Tov,-nship   298 

Saul    Family    Reunion    320 

Scalps.    Proniium    for    109 

Schaeffcr  Family  Reunion  ....o!-0 
Schneider  Family  Reunion  ....321 
School  Affairs  of  Boroushs  ...240 
School    Controllers    oi    Reading 

230-233 

Schools  at   Reading   202 

Schuylkill  Canal  m  County  ...  35 
Scluiylkil!  County,   Erection  of.   24 

Schuylkill   Gap    1 

Schuylkill   &  Lehigh   Railroad    .   -VJ 

Schuylkill   River    3.  ?.S 

Schuylkill   Road       32 

Schuylkill     Section     of     Town- 
ships         308 

Schuylkill  Seminary  at  Reading  -03 

Schwa  rtzwald       2 

Scull's  Tlill      1 

Sealers    of   Weights   and    Meas- 
ures             80 

Seaman    Family    Reunion    321 

Secret  Societies  at  Reading  ...206 
Secretaries   of  Reading     School 

Board 233 

Sections  of  Berks  County   296 

Select    Councilman    of     Reading 

220-221 

Senators  of  County      75 

Sewers  at  Reading   194 

Sheriffs    of    County    79 

Siiiliincton,   Borough   of   ...203-295 
SignafService  of  V.  &  R.  R.  Co.  39 
Society  for  Prevention  of  Cruel- 
ty to  Animal!!       214 

Solicitors  of  Reading      227 

South   Mountain       1 

Spanish  War  of  1893      139 

Special  Detectives  of  County  ..  82' 
Special   Legislation,   Offices   by...   72 

Spring   Township    308 

Stage-Coaches   at   Reading    197 

Stages  and  Stage  Lines  in  Coun- 
ty          33 

Stages.  Decline  of,  in   County   .   34 
State    Appropriations    to    Coun- 
ty, laOi  and  I'.'O^   150 

State   Charitable    Institurions   in 

Conntj'-      105 

State  Conventions  at  Reading..   69 

State  Highways  in  County 33 

State  Hospital  at  Harrisburg  ..106 

State-House   of   County    89 

State  National  Guard 143 

State  Officials  from  County   ...   75 

State   Police   in    County    144 

State     Police    Barracks 144,    311 

State       Representatives        from 

Reading      21'6 

State   Representatives   of  Coun- 
ty         74 

State    Roads   in    County 302,    311 

Statistics  of  Reading,  Compara- 
tive Table      234 

Statistics  of  Secret  Societies  207,  240 
Statistics    of   the    Townships 

147-150,    298 


St.  Catharine's  Female  Orphans' 

Asylum       106,214 

Steam    Heat   at    Reading    200 

Stew.irds  at  Poor-House    83 

St.  Joseph's  Hospital 213 

St.    Michael's   Seminary 303 

St.   Paul's  Orphans'  .Asylum  for 

Boys    luG,   214 

Stock   F'arms  in  Schuylkill  Sec- 
tion        311 

Store  House  at  Reading  in  Rev- 

uhition       116 

Stoudt's   Hill   1 

Strauss  I'amily  Reunion      321 

Streauii  .jf  County  3 

Street   Railways   at   Reading    ...197 

Streets  of  Reading  194 

Suburban  Towns  of  Manatawny 

Section        303 

Suburban    Towns  of    Schuylkill 

Section        309 

Subv.ay  at  Spring  Street,  Read- 
ing       194 

Sunday  Mails,  Opposition  to   ..    53 
Sunday  Schools  of  Berks  Coun- 
ty          51 

Sunday  Schools  of  County,  Sum- 
mary of      53 

Superintendents        of        County 

Schools     S7 

Superintendents       of       Reading 

Schools       . ; 234 

Superintendent  of  Water  Board  219 
Surgeons   from   Countv  in   Civil 

War     '. 129 

Surveyors  of  County       82 

S^vede   Building.  Old       16 

Swedes,  First  Settlement  by    ..    15 

Tnxables   of  Districts^ MS 

Ta.Kcs  from  County  to  .State..  150.  151 
Teachers'  Institutes  in  County  .   58 

Telegraph  at  Reading      198 

Telegraph  in  County  43 

Telephone   at   Reading    199 

Teleplione    Exchange    in    Mana- 
tawny Section 303 

Telephone  in  County     43 

Temple    Furnace 302 

Textile  Machine   Works  at  Wy- 

omissing       283 

Tildcn  Festival  of  1876  in  Coun- 
ty     72 

Tilden  Township .3'»6 

Topton.   Borough  of 2r>l-263 

Topton    Orphans'    Home 263,    305 

Towns  of  Manatawny  Section  .300 
Towns  of  Ontelaunee  Section. ..  .304 
Towns  of  Schuylkill  Section  .309 
Towns  of  Tulpehocken  Section  3(6 
Town-hips  of  lUrks  County  296-311 
Trap  Rock  in  Schuylkill  Section  310 

Treasurers  of  County   79 

Treasurers   of  Reading       218 

Treasurers  of     Reading     School 

Board      234 

Trcxler  Family  Reunion      32'! 

Trust  Companies  at  Reading  ..209 
Tulpehocken,  First  Taxables  of     15 


Tulpehocken  Road     31 

Tulpehocken   Section   of  Town- 
ships       306 

Tulpehocken  Township       306 

Turnpikes  at  Reading   196 

Turnpikes   in    County 31 

Union  Canal      34 

Union,  First  Taxables  of 16 

Union   Township       308 

United    Evangelical    Denomina- 
tion  in   County 48 

United       States    Commissioners 

from  County     74 

Upper   Bern   To'^nship    306 

Upper  Tulpehocken   Township  306 

Valleys        2 

\'alu;ition   of     Property  in   Dis- 
tricts       143 

Veterinary  Practitioners 104 

Volunteer   Militia   in    Civil    War 

136,  137,  .138 

\'ote  for  Constitutional  .Amend- 
ments          G9 

Vote  for  Governor      68 

Vote  for  President     69 

Vote   for     Prohibition  and     Li- 
cense         69 

Voters  of  Districts,   Registered, 

1908      149 

Walter  Sanitarium    307 

Wamsher  Family  Reunion 322 

War  Periods   107 

Washington  at  Reading  in  1794.. 120 

Washington  Township      299 

Water  Board  of  Reading  ...218-19 

Waterworks  at  Reading 193 

W.  C.  T.  U.  at  Reading 214 

Weekly  Newspapers   of   County 

30,   60 

Weights  and   Measures,   Sealers 

of        86 

Weiscr,  Conrad,  Lecture  on  ..  57 
Weiser,     Conrad,     Purpose     of 

Lecture       53 

Welsh.     Early     Immigrants     of 

County        19 

Welsh  ^lountain 1 

Wenrich's  Grand  View  307 

Wernfr=ville  State  Asylum  ...105 
AVest  Lee.^pprt,  Borough  of  2S0-2.S1 
W^est  Reading,  Borough  of  28S-293 

West   Reading   Railroad    39 

■Western  L'nion  Telegraph  Co.  43 
Whig   .Mass-Meeting  of   1844  at 

Reading       70 

Whiskev  Insurrection  in   1794    .120 
White  Spot  on  !Mount  Penn   ...      2 
\\'hitner.  C.  K.  &  Co.,  Depart- 
ment  Store    of    134 

Widows'   Home       107.  213 

Wilmington    &   Northern      Rail- 
road          38 

Windsor,  First  Taxables   of   ...    16 

W'indsor   Township        303 

Womelsdorf.  Borough  of  .268-271 
Wyomissing.  Borough  of   ..281-285 

Yeich    Family    Reunion    332 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  at  Reading  214 


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</ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX 


Abraham,   August 1439 

Aclier.ba;h,    Henry .1411 

A.chenbacli,  John 7;'3 

Adam,  Calvin  H 1031 

Adam    Families 741. 

S52,    1393,    144G.    1G14,    1(3L'3     ItJOl 

Adam,  Frederick  M IIOS 

Adam,    Harry   B 1170 

Adam.   Herman 1C14 

Adam,  Jacob  S 144G 

Adam,   Michael    S. 1]68 

Ad.im,   Samuel    13'jo 

Adam.  William  K S32 

Adams.   Aaron 1430 

Adams,  Albert  H .   901 

Adams,    E.    Ralph 3G0 

Adam=,  Mrs.  Esther 14S9 

Adams  Families.  .711,  SSO,  la.^S,  150S 

Adams,  John  T 1119 

Adams.  jMrs.  Loretta  L r;")0 

Adams,   Thomas    F 15i03 

Ada-US.  William   H '^79 

Adams,  William  H.   (Reading) 

'..1.138 

Adams,   Williain   1 742 

Addams    Families G32,    ."liG 

Addanis,  Henrietta  C 033 

Addams.    Isaac (i33 

Addams,  John  V.   R 633 

Addams,    Peter 547 

Addams.    Rufu.s G33 

Addams,  Wellington  I G3C  ■ 

Ahrens,  Cyn.is   K 1246 

Ahrens,    Ednui.nd   H 903 

Ahrens   Families 963,   1407 

Ahrens,    Hov/.n.rd    E 1407 

A'brecht.    Charles  .    .  .• 1.''0 

Albrecht,    George 777 

.Albright   Families .j39,   9.55,   1545 

Albright,  George  R 539 

Albright.    Jacob   W 955 

Albright,    Mrs.    Rebecca 1428 

Albright,    Williain    H 1545 

Alleman,    Grant    t, 1665 

Alsace   Lutheran   Church 1145 

Althouse,    Cyrus    D.    1119 

Althouse.  Mrs.  Deborah  R 65S- 

A'.thousc  P'amilies. . .  .651,  1119,  1175 

Althouse,     Henry 1078 

Althouse.    Hicster 1175 

Althouse.  John  W 1166 

Althouse,  John  Z 653 

Althouse,   Mary   C 107S 

Althouse,    Nathan 968 

Althouse.  Wilson  D 968 

Ames.    Isaac 9S9 

Ammarell,   Charles 1034 

Ammarell,    John    B 929 

Ammarell,  John   S 930 

Ammarell,  Ravmond  R 930 

Ammarell.  Winfield  H..  M.  D..   930 

Ammon.    George    M 165o 

Amole.    Fdgar 1531 

Ancona.    Syd.-nham    E 376 

Anderson,    .^l1gustup    R 571 

Anderson,    Cornelius    T 735 

Anderson    I'aniilics 571.    1092 

Anderson.  John   P lOgS' 

Anderson,  Mrs.  Margaret  R 


.Anderson,   William   S 747 

.■^iigstadt,   George   P i45i 

-Angstadt.    Job-;    F 1229 

.\ngbtadt.    Jtjshua 1453 

.'X.nspach   Families 690,   1639 

Aiic^pucii,  Thomas   P G90 

.\ii?,pach,   Wallace    M 1638 

Anthony,    Edw.ird    L 1381 

Anthony    Families 039,1381 

.\nthcny,   Henry   P 1142 

Anthony,    John    C. 1406 

Antnony,    Mrs.    Mary 1142 

Anthony,    Mrs.    Mary    A 1400 

Anthony,  William   R 593 

Anthony,    William    F 639 

Armstrong.    Ephraim 727 

Armstrong.  Mrs.   Mary 'iVJS 

Arnold   1-amily 1057 

Arnold.   Fred   D 1057 

Arnold.  Joel   A 1329 

Arnold,    William 838 

Artz,    Calvin    W 1198 

Artz,  John  B 12.39 

Aulenbach,    Franklin 1149 

Aulenbach.    William 1115 

Aunian,  Charle-  E 570 

Aunian     Family 576 

Austrian,    Ben 165S 

Babb.    David    D 649 

Babb    Family 619 

Babst.    John ....1511 

Rachman    Family- 1459 

Bach.-nan.  Joseph  S 1117 

Rachman,    Eevi 1459 

Bachnjan,   Wiiiiam    892 

Eachofcr    Family 1717 

Bacliofer.  J.   Gecrg; 1717 

Bachof er,  J.   Lewis 1067 

Bacr,   Charles   A 1082 

Baer    Families 

346,  614,  725,  865,  911,  10S3,  1126, 
1180,      1625,      1G38,      1681,      1094 

Bacr,   George   F 344 

Baer,   Henry   C 865 

Baer,    Jonathan    1682' 

Baer.    Moses 1639 

Baer.   Samuel   A 1180 

Baer,   Solomon 911 

Bacr.  William    1 014 

Raer.  William   S 1083 

Bagenstose    Families 854,    1495 

Ragenstose,    Jacob 854 

Bagenstose.    Jerome    B 1495 

Bahr  Family 1351 

Rahr,  Jacob  B 1352 

Rahr,    John    R... 1352 

Balthaser    Families 

910.    1040.    1438.    1452,    1477,    1679 

Balthaser,  Howard   F 1438 

Balthaser,   Jerome  S 910 

Balthaser.  "joel    B 1679 

Ralthaser,  John  C.  K 1040 

Balthaser.   :VTahlon   A 1477 

Balthaser.   ^roscs   K 145" 

Ranks.   John ^ 

Rnptist  Churr!;.  First.  R»adi- 
Barbey,    Tarob.. 
Barl>cy.    John. 


Barbey,    Peter 584 

Hard,  A.   Raymond 410 

Bard    Family 4lo 

Bare    Family jijOl 

Bare,    Henry   G 1601 

Bare,  Jolni    H 1001 

Bare,   John    i\I 1601 

Barlow,   George 13'i'5 

Barr,  Abraham  G 1039 

Barr    Families 1251,    1638 

Barr,  Isaac  i,born  lSin>    1551 

Barr,    Isaac las'" 

Barr,    Robert    M i„ 

Barsotti.  Frank  S .' .  .100 

Barth,    Mrs.    Barbara 135 

Barth    Families 030,    105.5,    1551 

Barth.    Frederick 1355 

Barth,   Henry   E 1550 

Barth,  John  D 030 

Barrholomew,    Rev.   Jo>hin    S...;:i09 

Barto    Families 1225,    l.'J72 

Barto.    Toiiathan 1""* ' 

Barto,  William   C ..IS 

Bashore     Family 9 

Bashore.  Jonathan  K 0' 

Baitctifeld,    Louis 131 

Baus,   John    B ''1 

Bauscher,   Annie    M 1238 

Bauscher.    Daniel 1288 

Bauscher    Family 1288 

Bauscher,   Dewal't  P 1693 

Bausher   Families 875,   1693 

Bauscher,    Henry 1388 

Bausher,    Solon    D 875 

Bausher.   Thomas   C 762 

Baver,    Alfred 1231 

Baver.    David    E 9( 

Beadencu-p,  Henry  A 7c 

Ber.dencup.  I'.Irs.  Margaret  E..    7c 

Bear    Families 723,    11£ 

Bear,  George  W 11£ 

Bear,    Isaac 81 

Bear,  Lieut.  Jonathan  C T. 

Bear,   Levi   W 161 

Beard,  Elmer  H 131 

Beard    Families 650,   15' 

Beard,    Samuel 6; 

Bechtel.    Charles    W 6t 

Bechtel,   Daniel   R 4i- 

Bechtel    Families 

463,   515,   533,   1204,    xO.3 

Bechtel,    Frederick    R Sr,6 

Bechtel,  Hiram  C ir)43 

Bechtel,  Irwin  H »..    515 

Bechtel,    Jesse    F 523 

Bechtel.   Oliver   K... 1'>74 

Bechtel.   Richard  D 1204 

Beck,    George    S 8)0 

Beck,   Harry   T 1105 

Becker,  Mrs.  Anna  Eliza 947 

Becker    Families 948,    1013,    1053 

Becker,    Joseph    S fi'" 

Becker,    Simeon 1^12 

Becker,    Walter    Y 1070 

P-       r,    William   Z 1053 

-r     Willoughby.... 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


xv/ 


Behm,   Rpubcn   F 943 

Behne,  Gus;avus  A 712 

Behtie,  Mrs.  Gustavus  A..  ..330,  712 

Bchney,  Alpheus   S 309 

?eh:iey   Families 36'J,   1433 

Dehney,  John   n 143S 

Beiuler    Family S50 

Beiiller,    Isaac    Y 85d 

Keiler  Family 1011 

Beiler,     Levi.  . 1011 

Bell.   Ctciee   H 704 

Bell,    S:imu.-1 349 

Bell.  Samuel  H 1015 

Belz,    August 1159 

Beiiade,  James  A 157'i' 

Benade,  James   C 625 

Beruuie,    Sarali    M 6-:. 

Beiifield,    Aaron 1267 

Benfield,  Adam  W 1267 

Bent'ield  Family 1265 

Benfield,  Franklm  N liiGG 

Tenfield,  Henry  \V 1267 

cnnecott.    Mofes l-)54 

;eniieu-:h    Family lo4"2.' 

iennetch,    .\[orris 3542 

3enneville,    Dr.    George    de 329 

Benson,    Uavid    E CSS 

Benson.  Dr.   Lot 638 

Benson.  Susan   E 688 

Benz,   Theodore 646 

Berg,   Charles   \V 1018 

^erg  P'amily lois 

.rg,    L    Kenry 1075 

irger  Families 480.  1567 

erger,  Edward  P ,1508 

erger.  James   C 1567 

erger,  Morris  C .   480 

isc.^er,  Orlando  F 3  567 

Berger,  Mrs.  Sallie  J 1568 

Beric    Family 16S3 

Berk,    Henry 1,,-,S2 

Berkhold,   George 1703 

Bern  Reformed  and  Lutheran  Un- 
ion   Church 986 

Bernd    Family 450 

Eernd,   Rev.   Franklin   K 450 

"v.rndt,  Calvin   Q 1127 

trnet.  John  L 1148 

^rnhart,  Lizzie  M 1541 

ernhart.   Wiiliam 1541 

■rtolet  or  Bertolette  Families.. 

1262,  1657 

-rtolet,   Israel   M 1264 

ertolet,    Samuel    E 1265 

ertolette,  Daniel  N.,  M.  D 1657 

ertolette.  Dr.  ^rartin  L 126.-, 

eyer    (Boyer)    Family    583 

haer.  Franklin  A...' 1624 

ickel,    -Amandon    874 

^'ckel,  Mrs.   Angelina  F 461 

Bickel.  Cornelius 809 

Bickel   Families 461,  874 

Bickel,  J.    Isaac 461 

Bickel,   Paul   J... 875 

Bickelman    Family 837 

Bickelman,  Napoleon 83-5 

Bickley,   John  H.,  Jr 701 

Biddle.    Edward 326 

Bieber.   Benjamin   E 415 

Bieber,  Daniel  .A. 815 

Bieber  Families 415,   815,   1106 

Pleber,  Dr.  Ulvsses  S.  G 1106 

Bichl     fntni'ies 533,     1060 

P.iehl.  Georg..-  W .')38 

Biehl,  Joel   Foster  S !'"'• 

'n   E ■- 


Binganian,    William 

Bird,    Mark 

Birch,  Proi.  Robert  S 

BiSbinger,    Philip 

Pitlcr    Families 007, 

Hitler,     Henry 

Biti,.r,    \V.    H 

Bitting    Family 

Bitting,   Frank    VV 

Pitting,     John 

Bittner,  Daniel  F 

Bittner.   Mrs.   Sarah 

Bixenstine,   Christian . . 

Pi-xler,   Augustus   S 

Bixler   Family 

BLxIer,    Joseph 

Bi.xier,  lilanasses 

Blachnian,  Paul  H. .  _ 

Bland,  .Mrs.  Esther 

Bland  Families 1320, 

Bland,  Judge  H.  Willis '. 

Bland.    Robert 

Bland,    V\'illiam 

P.lankentiiller,  Daniel  B 

]^>Iankenbiller  Fairiily 

Blankenbillor,  Harry  B 

Blankitihorn,    .Andrew 

Blatt,  Cornelius  F 

r.latt,   D.   M 

Blatt   Families 1131. 

Blatt,  Isaac   G '. . 

Blimlinc,  Sebastian 

Bloom,   Lew 

Bobst.   Samuel 

Bobs;,  Vvliliam  J 

Bodder.  Mrs.  Mary 

Bodcy,  Andrew  N 

Bodey,  Benton  K 

Body,  Augustus  G 

Body    Family 

Bohii,  Adam  K 

P.oh:i,    Edward    K 

Bohn  Families 8G4,  1581. 

Eoliti.  Jerem'ah   B 

Bc-hn,  Mrs.   Mary  A 

Bohn,    Aforris    C 

Bolich   Family 

Bolich,    Reuben    W. 

Bollman,    Lewis 

Bond    Family 

P.ond,   William   F 

Boone,    Cyrus 

Boone,     Daniel 

Boone,  Edwin 

Boone  Families 1502, 

Border   Family 

Border.    William 

Bordes,   .Alfred 

Bordntr.  Cloyd  W 

Bordner  Families 478 

Bordner,  Prof.  George  C 

Bordner,  Jacob   M 

Borkert,   Albert   G 

Borkert.    .Augustus 

Borkert    Family 

Borkert,  Kate  .A 

Borkert.  Richard  G 

Borkert.  William  D.  A 

Borkert.    William    G 

Borkey    Family 

Borkey,  William   B 

Borneinann,    Rev.    George 

Borry,  Addison  W 

°orst,  John  W 

irtz.  George  B 

■    Dr.   Abr.Tm  L 


1321 

326 

KOj 

760 

1042 

1642 

907 

970 

970 

970 

1-^57 

1258 

1156 

1021 

1020 

1021 

1 0-_'  I 

1636 

1321 

1324 

400 

1324 

1320 

1604 

1 603 

1G04 

1438 

11S2 

1182' 

1329 

1329 

1560 

i-74 

1318 

1363 

1.J16 

742 

1025. 

861 

862 

1673 

86  4 

1673 

1581 

15S1 

1581 

1396 

13G6 

1370 

419 

418 

1650 

1502 

433 

1650 

611 

611 

1511 

1649 

.  515 

515 

478 

673 

686 

11. '.9 

700 


1139 

699 

1355 

1355 

119S 
1116 
1534 


431 

1100 

430,    539,    540 


Bower,  Gen.  Jacob ■. . .   333 

Bov.er,  Dr.  Joel  B 430 

Bower,   John   L.,    M.    D 540 

Bower,   John    X 539 

Bower,  V\'iilium  L 1453 

Bowman    Family 12S3 

Bo\M-ia:i,    Israel    M 12'84 

Bo  .\  man.  John  M 1284 

Boyer.    Abraham 1651 

Boyer,    Amos 900 

Boyer,  Andrew  S 678 

Boyer,    Charles    A 039 

Boyer.  Dr.  Chr.rles  C 583 

Boyer.  Charles  G. 1133 

Boyer,   Cy ranus   F 829 

Boyer.    Edwin    A 537 

Boyer  Families 

o.'jl,   537.    548.   583,   635,    T86,   829, 

900,       1132,      1254,       1278,       1651 

Boyer,  George  F 787 

Boyer,    Gottleib 6.31 

Boyer,   Harry   C 787 

Boyer,    Henry 15,24 

Boyer.  Horace  K 1279 

Boyer.   Jacob    S 1354 

I'oycr.  James   K 1279 

Boyer,    Jerome    L 548 

Boyer.  Jesse  1 1332 

Boyer,  John  A 1623 

Boyer,    John    H 635 

Boyer,  Mrs.   Mary  S 1623 

Boyer.  Morris   L    H 636 

Boyer.    Morris    R 1172 

Boyer,    Mrs.    Rosina    G61 

Boyer.   Thomas    A 531 

Boyer.  William   McH 706 

Bradley,  John   C 13^3 

Brant.  Irvin  S 1056 

Braucher.  Albert  C 1424 

Brecht    (Bright)    Families 

674,   1j57,  1166.   1097 

Breed  %r    Family 1342 

Ereedy.    Gee rge    J 1342 

Brenei^er.  Ci'.arles 736 

Breneiscr    Family 736 

Breneiser,  Thomas   736 

Brcssler.   F.    F 604 

Breyfcvgel    Family 1719 

Breviogel.  Rev.   Svlvanus 17J9 

Brickei,  Peter   F. .' 1150 

Bricker,  Edwin  1 1426 

Bricker,  Thomas  C 1098 

Bridegam,   David 606 

Bridegam,  William 606 

Bridegam.  \Viiliam  K 1148 

Briderbaugh    Family    518 

Bridonbaugh,    John    H 675 

Bright.  Albert  H 675 

Bright,    Albert    R 675 

Bright   (Brecht)   Families 

674,   11.57,   1166,   1697 

Bright,  Harry  L 1157 

Bright,    Henrv    M 867 

Bright.  John  H 1697 

Bright,  I'^hman  1 675 

Bricht,    Willis    L 1166 

Briele,    Benjamin 1529 

Brigle    Family 1529 

Briner.   Edward  A 1163 

Brintzenhoff.   J.    K 1386 

Brissel.    Charles    F 1033 

Britton,   John   A S06 

Brobst.  Dr.   Edward 4.13 

Brobst    Families 454,    1319 

Brobct,  Dr     Tr.hn   A 1319 

Broden,     Albert 482 

Brooke.    EdwTrd    338 

Brooke     Family ^^^ 

Tj.«..r,Up      George 336 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


xvu 


Brooke,    Robert    E 338 

Brossman,    Adam.  .    1660 

Brossman,   Adam    B 1660 

Brossman    F.iinily 1059 

Brcssinan,    Geor}-:f    \V 1149 

Brossman,  Isaac   *V' 1661 

Brossman,   James    \i 16C0 

Brossman,    Lc\i    -\ 1444 

Brossman,    Thomas    J 16C0 

Broughall,    Wiliiim.i 1408 

Brown,   Aaron    F 1542 

Brown,    Adam    K 123i2 

Brown,  Augustus  ^I 401 

Brown,   Charles    C 1520 

Brown,   Daniel   F 1557- 

Brown,    David 1239 

Brown,  Ella  AI 1357- 

Brown    Families 

401,    12o2,    14.:5,    ].320,    T55S 

Brown,  Frank  M 1715 

Brown,  John   M 1516' 

Brown,    George    W 1425 

Brown,    Kate    F 1357 

Brown,     Levi 1357 

Brown,    Ivforris    P 1444 

Brown,    .Mrs.    Rebecca 1520- 

Brown,    Reuben    H 1691 

Brown,   William  "H 1075 

Browne'l    Famil  v 1T16 

Browncll,  John  G.   L 1716 

Brownmiller,    Charles    M. 1706 

Brownmiller,  Rev.   Ephraim  S.  1T05 

Brownmiller    Family 1704 

Brownmiller,    Henry    H 1701 

Brubaker    Family 431 

Brubaker,    Georpe ■■■   431 

Bruckman,  Judge  Gt  nrge  W.       752 

Brumbach,    Albert     T 3i-7 

Brumbach,    Daniel    C 1237 

Brumbach,    Edwin    H 12SS 

Brumbach   Families    .3 '7,  S4'>,  3  2ei) 

Brumbiich,    Peter    Y S45 

Brumbach,    Solomon    A SjI 

Brumbach.   VVilliani   D 923 

Brunner,    Alfred    R i:i?3 

Brunner,   David   B 333 

Brunner,   Hon.   David   P, 'rTO 

Brunner  Families 508,   ]~S3 

Brunner,    William 3229 

Brunner.  W.   B 570 

Bubp,  Mrs.   Clara   768 

Bubp,   John    E 767 

Buchanan,    Thomas    C.    M.    D.    1206 

Bucher,  John  S 1^13 

Buck,    Charles    R 472 

Buck,   Nicholas    473 

Buck    Families 472,    473,    S79 

Bucks,  Calvin  W 1610 

Bucks    Family    1610 

Bucks.  William  R 764 

Bull,  Elijah    350 

Bull   Family 351 

Bulles,    Augustus    1092 

Burd.   Edward 351 

Burgert,   Benneville    1698 

Burkey   Family    1080 

Burkey,   John    A 1081 

Burkey,    Peter    1030 

Burkey,  William   F 1080 

Burkhart.    Daniel   A 1293 

Burkhart.    Elmore   A 1294 

Burkhart    Family    IS^OS 

Burkhart.  J.   TIenry    1293 

Burkhart.  J.   P.-,ul    12^3 

Burkholder.    Albert   N 798 

Burkhnlder,  Samuel   G..  AT.  D.    525 

Euricy.    Daniel 1604 

Bush.  Emanuel  L 1038 

Bush    Families 403,   1033 


Butz,  Daniel   C 710 

Butz    Family    710 

Butz,   Lewis    B 711 

Byers,  Abel  H 861 

Campbell.   Mr...   Addie  J 727 

Campbell,  Mrs.  Annie  L 743 

Ciiinpl.-cll.   David    727 

Campbell,  Mrs.   William  L.    .  . .    743 

Carlance,    John    1511 

Castor,  Ellis   L S47 

Chelius,    John     1037 

Christ  Churoh,  Reading,  Pa.   ..1390 

Christ.    Evan    P ]U89 

Christ   Families 10s9,    1477 

Christ.    Henry    D 735 

Christ,    Howard    L 1164 

Christ.   James    D 1361 

Christ,  Samuel  T 1477 

Christian,    Daniel   H 574 

Christi.in,   Edward   H S89 

Christian    Families    574,    889 

Christian.  Mrs.  Mary  C. 576 

Christma  n,  A.  G 1429 

Christman.   Charles   H 1401 

Chriitman  Families 1017,  1401 

Christman,    Nathan    G 1017 

vChurch,   Robert   B 1153 

Clauser  I'amilics 973,  1342 

Clauser.  Harrison  K 145i3 

Clauser.  Henry  S 1458 

Clauser,   John    H 1342 

Clauser,   Mahion   B 974 

Clau.=er.   Simon   B 974 

Cleaver,    Chester    R 524 

Cleaver  Families 524.  560.  990 

Cleaver,  Israel.  M.  D    566 

Cleaver,  Jonathan   291 

Cleaver.  Mrs.  Sarah    991 

Cleaver.  William  K 990 

Clenimer,   David   B 1374 

CJipmmer    FF.milies 1346,    1374 

Clemmer.  Henry  G 1346 

Close   Familv ifid 

Close.  Jackson   J 1636 

Clouser.     Beniamin     730 

Clcuser.    David    «51 

Cloi:ser    Families 151-5,    1546 

Clouser,   Francis  L IjIS 

Clouser.  J.   E 1105 

Clouser,  Mrs.   Margaret    730 

Clouser.  Simon  S.   1546 

Clvmer.   Daniel   R 360 

Hymer.   Edward   Ml    361 

Clvmer    Family 360 

Clymer.  George  E 362 

Clvmer.    TTier-ter    361 

Clymer,   William   H 361 

Colfman.    William    H 773 

Cnllctti.   Ferdinando,   M.    D.    ..12S5 

Collins.   Henry  A 652 

ConnoHv.   IMrs.   Marv    1158 

Connolly.  Peter   1158 

Conrad.  Jeremiah  M 1131 

Cook.   George   S 1084 

Coonley.  Mr=;.  Emma  C 1132 

Coonley,  Frederick  W '..1131 

Cranston.  Frederick  W 765 

Crater   Family    362 

Crater.  Lewis    362' 

Craumer.  Harrv  S 1109 

Craumer,    Rev.    L.    W 1109 

Cre^sman.   Albert  J 1<">35 

Cre=;sman,    Chr.rlc":    M 1102 

Cre^sman.   F.   Afarion 1102 

Crc-smnn.   Rev.    T     T 486 

Cre'5<:man.    \rr';     Marv   E 163.-; 

Croe-:5.int.    H.    J 1100 

Croll   Family   382 


Croll,  Martin  S 382 

Croll,    William    M 491 

Crooks,   Harry   W iJ'rj 

Crooks,  Martha  VV i:;'.'2 

Crouse,    Abrahan;  L 940 

Crouse,  Henry  701 

Crouse,  Mrs.  Afary  E 701 

Cro\%,   Sam.uel   H 104<) 

Crystal    Cave 821 

Custer,  Ludwig  T 1490 

Dampman,  John    B 421 

Darlington,   A.   J 1029 

Dauth,  Mrs.    Lewis   &39 

Dauth,  William  L 1060 

Dautrich,   James   E 774 

Davidheiser,  ilrs.   Elizabeth    ..1092 

Davidliciser.    Elmer    lOOl 

Davidheiser,    George    1091 

Davies    Families 3SS,    1031-^- 

Davies,    Lewis    0 1520 

Davie;.  Samuel 388 

Davis   Family    1031    -■ 

Davis,  Nevin  ?.[.   , 389 

Davi?,    Samnel    H.    . . . ; 1273 

Davis,  Thomas  T 1031 

Davis,  Warri'n   L 331 

Davis,   Rev.  William    F    P.    ...   6^4  y' 
Deatrick,  Rev.  Dr.  William  W.    748 
de  Benneville.  Dr.  George   ....   329 

Dechant    Family 1609 

Dechant,    William    H.,    C.    E 1669 

Dechert,  Adam  8S8 

Dcchert    Families 883,    904 

Occhert,   Henry   M 904 

Deck,    O.    W 1307 

Deeds  F.-imily 9"fl 

Deeds,    T.uke    M 950 

Decter,  Da.T-ei   H ,.   422 

Dceter,  Henr}'    422 

Degler,   Mo.^es    1603 

De   Gonr.  Dr.   Frank   L 1566 

Dehart.   David   E 1276 

Dehrirt.    David    G 1553,    1714 

DeHart   Families    

1036,    1:>7.-,   1440,   1714 

Detlart.   F,    P, i,5.v{ 

Dihart,  Afrs.  Harriet  F 1714 

DeHart,  Jeremiah   i!;76 

DeHart,    J.    Ir\-in    127C 

Dehart,  IVfrs.  Matilda )440 

Dehart,    Philip    1440 

DeHart.   William    H iCT.r- 

Deisher   (Deysher)    Families   . . . 

39S,   851,   1160,   1680 

Deisher,  Frank  A 16:!7 

Deisher,  Henry  K I16I 

Deisher,  I.   .\ 30S 

Deisher,  Jacob   P 1637 

r>e;r>ny,    George   W 583 

Dellecker.  George  W.  S 1119 

Dellinpcr,  Charles  T 1670 

DeLong.    David    609 

DeLoncr.   F.llwood  F 406 

DcLong   Families    ....404,   405.   815 

DeLong,  Howard  H 1166 

DeLong,   Irwin   D 4O6 

DcLong,   Irwin   H. 11G6 

DeLong,  Joseph   S 770 

DeLong.  Mrs.  I,ouisa  E 404 

DeLong.  Mrs.   Mary  H 771 

DcLong.    Milton    H 404      I 

DeLong.  Tilghman   4O6     / 

DeLong,  Victor  W 406     ! 

Deneler  Families      397,  11:^3     1 

Denelor.    George    C 113s    / 

Dent;Ier,   Prof.    Tdhri    Q .-jgj!  ; 

Dcnni^nn.    Rolicrt    H..    Sr 590 

Dcppen.  Dr.  Daniel   .       ' 


BIOGRAPHICAL    IXDEX 


Deppen   Family    802 

Deppen,   Dr.   James    \V 303 

Dcppcn,  Mrs.  Mary  A 80-1 

Deppen,   Samuel   R.,    Esq 802 

Derr,    C3'rus   G 779 

.Dt-rr   Families    1389,    1G4.> 

Derr.  Thomas   Lutht-r   1389 

Detample,  J.    Edward 1533 

Detempie,   Joseph   G 1317 

Detemple,  Joseph,  Jr 1517 

Detscli,   Mrs.  Anna   Marie    ....1020 

Detsch,  John    1020 

Dettra,  Benjamin  F .t^^j 

DeTurck,  Abrahain   K 1305 

De   Turck.   Charles    P J5(t7 

De    Turck,    Ezra    K 1305 

Di    Turck    (DeTurk")    Families 

493,   10?0.   1503 

Dc  Turck,  Mahlon  L l.v)6 

De  Turck.   Morris   H 1504 

De  Turck,  Seth  L 130t, 

Dc  Turck,  Sydney'  M 90S 

De  Turck,  Mrs.  Susan  K 1506 

De  Turk,  .A.mos   M 135S 

De  Turk,  Edivin  P 17i2 

De  Turk,  E J!,xne  P 10S6 

De  Turk  (De  Turck)    Fr.m'lies 

493,  105(3,  1303 

De  Turk,  Jeremiah  M 492 

Devlan,  F.  D 15-76 

Dewees,  John   M 63 1 

Deysher,  Abner  S 1074 

Dcy-slier,  Ellwood  H 810 

Deysher  (Deisher)   Families... 

398.   851,  1160,  1680 

Deysher,  Howard    B 851 

Deysher,    Isaac    D ]\)8l 

Dibert,    Samuel   D 1187 

Dick,  Amos  L 7  t4 

Dick,    Charles    K 715 

Dick.   Eli  D 745 

Dick    Family    744 

Dick,    Franklin    K 715 

Dick,  Henrv  744 

Dick.  Mrs.  Mary  .A 145 

Dick,  Nicholas   744 

Dickinson,   B.   Frank    ...1230 

Dickinson,  Joseph  R 517 

Diefrenijach" Families   474.  1615 

Dieffenbach.   Peter    1615 

Dieffenbach,  Samuel  W 474 

Diener   Brothers 7&'6 

D'ener,    Henry  J 726 

Diener,  Irwin  A 726 

Dierolf  Family   48t» 

Dierolf,  Jeremiah    489 

Dietrich,  Alfred  K 562 

Dietrich,   Azariah    C : 1014 

Dietrich,  Calvin  J 560 

Dietrich,  Charles  W 530 

Dietrich,   Daniel    F 556 

Dietrich,  Daniel  P 55.5 

Dietrich,   Daniel   S 559 

Dietrich   Families    

552,  563,  692,  954,  1014,  1446,  1631 

Dietrich,   Franklin    P 554 

Dietrich,  Henry  S 562 

Dietrich,   Howard    M 1446 

Dietrich,  Joel   D 1722 

Dietrich.  Joel   L 554 

Dietrich.   Col.   John    1651 

Dietrich,  Josiah  S 954 

Dietrich,   T.awson   G 5/>0 

Dietrich.   Levi   F 556 

Dietrich,  Lewis  S 955 

Dietrich.  Mahlon  C 561 

•.Dietrich.  Robert  D 559 

Dietrich,  Samuel  .A 559 

Irich.  Prof.  S.  P 559. 


Dietrich,  Mrs.  Susanna   539 

Dietricli.   William  A 554 

Dieirich,  \'v'illiam   H 5t)3 

Dietrich,  William  H.,  Jr 364 

Dietrich,   William   J 357 

Dietrich,  W  iison  G .    'rM 

Dillon,    George    C 1099 

Dinino.   Pietro    1199 

Dinkcl,    George    IV^O 

Dippery,   Nathaniel  S I'JO 

Dippery.  Mrs.  Salesa  M 1130 

Dorv.-ard   Fainilv    437 

Dorward,  Obadfah  B -!37 

Dotterer,  Mathias  H 1195 

Dotterrer   Families    t>09,    1195 

Dotterrer,  Dr.   Charles   B 010 

Dutterrcr,    Daniel    W G!0 

Do  rviing,    Frank    M 993 

Drayor,    Tohn   T 10S3 

Dreas,    Charles    E lio2 

Drf.belbies,  Rc\'.  George  A.   . .   497 

Iireibel'iies,  Alfred  H.   ."" i'.iS 

Drtibell-iics,    Ambrose    E 493 

Dreibelbies,    Willinm    H 498 

Dreibelbis,  Alfr'-d    5 1006 

Dreibelbis    (Dreibelbies)    F.'ini- 

ilies    406,    1534 

Dreibelbis,    Carrie    J 493 

Dreibelbis,  Cleophas  S 499 

Dreibelbis.  George  A 501 

Drei'jelbis,    Gustavus 301 

Dreihe-Ibis,   Jacob    D 300 

Dreibelbis,  Joel    500 

Dreibelbis,  John   S 1533 

DreibelDis,    Perrv    K 501 

Dre-btlbis.  Dr.   San-uel  h. 502 

Dresher    Family 1038 

Dresher.    John 1038 

Drc.v    CDry)    p-jmilies    ....1395,  1716 

Drcxel,   Mrs.   Anna   A 1*35 

Drexel,  George  W 169.'". 

Drexel,    Howard   L 1046 

Dre.xel,    Reuben   1435 

Dries,    Worths    A 1063 

Driscoll,    Daniel   J 567 

Driscoll    Fam.ily 5G7 

Driscoll,  Rev.  tohn  A 507 

Druckcnmiller,'  Ben j.    D 1527 

DruTihelier,  Anim.on   E 1675 

Drumbellcr  Families  1029,  1085,  1675 

Drumheller,    George 1675 

Drumhellcr,    Hiram    D 1085 

Drum  heller,   Jacob   B 1675 

Drumheller,    Jeremiah 1676 

Drumheller,  John  H 1029 

Drumheller,    Mahlon    B 1675 

Drv    (Drev)    Families    1395,   1716 

Dry,  Hiram  F 1395 

Dry,    Nathan     1716 

Dubbs,    Tyrus    B 1703 

Dumn,    Amos    M 1570 

Dumn,  Clarence  C 1570 

Dumn,   J.    Frank    1570 

Dumn,   Harry  J 1571 

Dumn,    Wilson    M 1570 

Dundor,  Adam  B.,  M.  D 3.5S 

Dundor,   .Adam   E 883 

Dundor    Family    358 

Dundore,    Mrs.    Amanda    .    ....1579 

Dundore,  Dr.  Darius  W 1579 

Dundore,  David  D 1579 

Dundore  Families   358.  883.   1.577 

Dundore,   Jacob    K 1578 

Dundore,    James    .\ 1635 

Dundore,    Samuel   E 1578 

Dunkel.     Daniol 939 

Dunkel    Families 

477.    851.    939.    1507 

Dunkel,    Peter   H 1507 


Dunkel,    Solomon    G 851 

Duiike-lberger    Family iruo 

Duiikelbergcr,  Mo'varfl  H 1707 

Dunkclberg'jr,  John   L 1700 

Dunkeiberger,  Dr.   Nathaniel  Z.  1706 

Durkeiberger,  Samuel  G 1130 

Dunkle,    Allen     H 770 

Dunkie    Families     477,    1307 

Dunkle,    Samuel    .L 477 

Dunkle,    Wayne    770 

Dunlap,    Alvr.i 535 

Durham,  Dr.  .Albert  R 489 

Duser,  Jacob 1622 

F.De-hcs,  Jesse   E 982 

F.aches,    Alarcus    B 509 

Eagclman.   C.   F 97s 

Earl,   Samuel   F 1577 

Early    Familv 443 

Early,    Rev.    John    W 444.    1023 

Ebcrly     Family 649 

r.herly,  .  Marry    E 1203 

l-2bcrl\-,  Joseph 649 

Kljerly.  .Samuel 649 

Ehiing    Family    835 

Eblin.g,    Obadi'ah -335 

Eck,    Charles 1231  . 

Erk,  Jacob : 1 146 

Eck,    Airs.    Siis.v.i 1146 

Eckcnroad,    .Ad.-.m 1610 

Eckcnroad   (Eckenroth)   Family.  1609 

Eckenroad,   Francis   H 1544 

Eckenroad.    George    S 1609 

Eckenrcth,  Albert  L 1609 

Fckimroth   (Eckenroad')  Family.  1609 

Eckert,    Aaron 879 

Eckert,    Capt.    Conrad 796 

Eckert  Families   346.  825,  S73 

Eckert,  George  B 797 

Eckert,  George  j 825 

Eckert,   Henry   .S 798 

Eckert,     Isaac 346 

Eckert.    Isaac    ("Born    1800") 796 

Eckert,  Airs.  Alary  T 797 

Eckert,    Jo'm 79tt 

F.rkert,    Peter    796 

Eckert,   Airs.  Retiecca   G 825 

Eckert.    Valentine 798 

Eckert.    William    J 878 

Eckert.   William    K 347 

Edinger    Families 837,    843 

Edinger,    Levi 837 

Eaingcr.    William    C 843 

Ege,    George 332 

Ege,  John,  M.  D 1636 

Egolf.  John   H 1236 

Ehst  Family 374 

Ehst.    Irwin    T 374 

Eichler,   Hugo 1436 

Filer.    Howard   1 1669 

Eisenbise,  William 1202 

Eisenbrown    Family 340 

Eiscnbrown,   Penrose  F 340 

Eisenbrown,  Mrs.  Sarah  S 341 

Eisenhower,    James 1489 

Elliott    Family 335 

Emcs.    Adam 870 

Emes    Family 870 

Emrich,    Elias 992 

Emrich    Families    580,    992 

Emrich.  Levi  J 579 

F:ndlich.   Gustav   A.,   LL.   D 793 

Endy    Family    838 

Fndv,  James  AI 1137 

Endv.    lohn    L 328 

Fngel  Families    973,   1540 

Fngel.  Jacob  S 073  —- 

Engel,   Lyman    G l.')40 

Engle   Families    376,    1197 


'5rn»\  •»,:'"!■•«• '«SP»"J'r!a*-:"Tfv 


«^■^t."v:Ss^7^^•t^«-7:■•'**-" 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


Engk,     William 1197 

E'.igle,   \\';lli;iui    (Reading) 376 

Ensslcn,    Mrs.    Mary lO'JO 

Ensslen,     Rudolph 1000 

Fplcr,    Harrisoi:    R 1358 

Epler.    Jolin    P 723 

Erb    Fnniilv    i4S0 

Erb,    Xathaniei    G liSO 

Erniold,  \\'illiam  S i  ~i'- 

Ernst,   George    131?) 

Ernst,   J.   George    '^S:; 

Ernst.    .Martin 1524 

E'-mciitrout,  .Mrs.  Adcla'de   L...   7'iO 

Ennenirout,   Hon.  Dani.-i 757 

Ertnentroiit    Families ■;.')7,    Ji.,'.:.' 

Ermentrout.   James    X 342 

Ermentrout.  Jonn  S 351 

F.nnentrout,    \\  illiain    H lf>;'2 

Escbbach,    Aaroi:    S 1376 

Ecchbach    F^unily I'j7t'' 

Eschelman,    J.    How  ard 1104 

Esenweiti,   Dr    A 723 

Esc:ib;'ch     Familv 705 

Escbbach,  Levi  R 795 

Esclibach,    Peter    B 795 

Esiielman,  iTrs.  F.meliiie  B 063 

Esheiman   FaniiM??    ..MZ,   1101,   li>7S 

Esheinian,   Henry  R 062 

Eshelmaii,    John    J 167S 

Esser     Family S72 

F.sser.    Jacob   B 8V2 

Essick.'joseph   W 357 

Esterly.  Danii.1  S f.23 

Esterly    Families .'jl'j,   C'';^ 

Esterly,   Hafrv  S 1122 

Esterly,    J.>hii    S '2'1 

Esterly,    Riimanus   546 

Evans,    Charles 333 

Evans,  Charles  V.  R 7Vi 

Evans    Family lO'.iO 

Evans,   Hannah 1091 

Evans,    Jane 7U 

Evans.    John    H 712 

Evar.s,  John  V.  R 1090 

Everts,  Garrett  B -170 

Fahrbach.  Jcbn  A 1 443 

Fahrenbach,    Charles    W 58it 

Fahrerbach.    George    D 580 

Fahrenbach.  George  W.,  M.  D..   581 

Farr,    Bertrand    H 547 

Farr    Family 547 

Faust,  Alien  E 1228 

Faust,  John   K 1118 

Feather,    M.    S 1305 

Feather,  William  C 1035 

Fegley,  Amandns  N.,  M.  D 402 

Fegley.   Emma   S 1211 

Feglcy  Families   4U2.  1174,  1211.  ]3.'7 

Fegley.    George 1  ■-'  n 

Fegley.    Lewis    P.    G 1357 

Fegley.  Thomas  J.  R 1174 

Felix    Family t^37 

Feli.x,    George    H 637 

Fenstermacher,    Edwin    R 1460 

Fenstermacher  Families. ..  .478,   1460 

Fenstermacher,    John    D 1550 

Fenstermacher,    John    P.    S 47S 

Ferguson,    Nathaniel     1321 

Ferguson.    Wilson 1321 

Fessler,    Irvin    P 1 597 

Fessler.    Thomas    J 112fi 

Fichthorn.    Andrew - 1292 

Fichthorn,    Clara    C 1292 

Fichthorn,    FfTeneer    R 1323 

Firhthorn   Families 508.   1323 

Fichthorn,  George  L 995 

Fichthorn.    Tames     597 

Fichthorn,  J^Irs.  Susan  M 995 


Fi.lier    Families     7l''i,     1063 

FiJ'er,    Henry    F HViZ 

Fidler.    William 74<5 

Field    Family    S53 

Field,    George    617 

Field.    William    W 853 

Filbert,   Charles   V 372 

Filbert.    Edward    H 372 

Filbert  Fajnilies   372,  1094,  1573 

Filbert,     George 1572 

Filbert.  Dr.  George   W 157+ 

Filbert,    Hiester   W 1575 

Filbert,    James 1570 

Filbert,    John,    Jr 1575 

f^ilbcrt,    Martin    S 1574 

Fiibert,    Thomas 1575 

Filbert,    Wi'liam    A 1612 

Filbert.   William    D 1094 

Fink.   Dr.    .Allen  J 711 

Fink.    Andrew    J.,    Jr 455 

Fink.   Andrew   J.,    Sr 455 

Fink,    Henry  J 1012 

Fink,    John 1655 

First   Baptist   Church.   Reading.  .  i::S3 
First    U.    E.    Church,    Reading.  .  37^0 

Fischer     (Fisher)     Families 

421,    434,    50S.    511.    626.    ,«:;7.    SSO 
924.    1150,    12.S5 

Fisher,    .Absalom    H 1084 

Fisher,   Adam   M 1156 

Fisher.     A.    W 62C 

Fisher.  Charles  M 837 

F'isher,    Daniel    D 421 

Fishr:r    (Fischer  I    Families 421, 

431,    503.    511,    626.    S.37,    880. 
924.   1136,   1285 

Fisher,    Henrj-    G.    lvJ16 

Fishc-r,    Jeremiah 881 

Fisher,    Jeremiah    B . .    1286 

^is>.er    Tohn  W.   ('deceased)  .508,  511 

Fis>er,  'John    W 1236 

Fisher,    '].    Wiimer   434 

Fisher,    Mrs.    Leah 881 

fisher.  Vichoias  H 024 

F'isher,   Dr.  Oliver  H 719 

Fisher.    Reilv    L 881 

Fisher.  Rosa  E 881 

Fisher,    Samuel   R 381 

Fisher.    Weslev  H 1084 

Fisher,  ''■Villiam   B 1286 

Fi'^her,  William  E 511 

Fisk,    William    E 1577 

Fix.    Charles    H 1395 

Flaig.   Joseph    F .1398 

Flannerv,   John    A 892 

Flatt,  George  W 440 

Flatt.  Joseph   O.,  Sr. 439 

Flatt.    Joseph    0 440 

Fieckner,    George 1138 

Flei^her,    Michael    F 1059 

Flicker,     Augurtus    S 601 

Flicker.  Mrs.   Emm.a   M 602 

Flicker  Family   . 601 

Flickinger.    Christian    S 934 

Flickinger.    Martin    M 1638 

Flower.    Samuel 1486 

Focht.    .Amos 880 

Focht.    Benjamin 1545 

Focht    Brothers 880 

Focht    Families 375,    443.    1545 

Focht,    Jacob 880 

Focht,    Tames    S 443 

Focht.    Levi    H 375 

Folger.    Walter 1492 

Folk.  Charles  A 1624 

Folk.    John    R 1530 

Foos.    Charles    S 430 

Foos.    George 436 

Foreman,    Daniel    B 981 


Fornwald.    Reily    M 947 

F:;rry,    \V'illi;.!n    F 1118 

rortr.a,  H'.nry  D 1125 

FiiUtz.  She-iiKui  S '  471 

Fox,  Aaron  G 961 

Fox,  C\  rus   T 1294 

Fox   Families OiU.    1308.    1544 

Fo.K,    Frederick    S 1426 

I-  o  K.  Jim(  s    £   1544 

Fox,    Joseph     D 1398 

Frame.  A.    L 686 

Frame,    Charles    X 633 

Frame    Familii-.s 638,    1299 

Frame.   John    M 1299 

Fr:irJvhau?cr,    Fremont    W 1569 

T'^ranks,    .Mfred 1693 

Franks,    Cyri-s    L 1690 

F^rasso,    R.    A 1372 

Frnuentelder,  W.  .Adam   933 

Frederick,   William   J lo39 

Freeman,   Charles   W 579 

Freeman   Families    578,  1065 

Freeman.  Jan^es    L 573 

Fveeman,  Solomon    1063i 

Frees.   Mrs.  Lizzie  S.    (Hatt)    .1043 

Frees,  William  R lllG 

rVetz.  Dr.  .Abraham  X 389 

Frey,  Daniel  F 1062' 

Frey     (Fry)     Families. ..  .442,     1662 

F'reyberger    Famil}'    1029 

Freyberger    (jeorge   W 1620 

Frick.   William    1 1660 

Fricker.   Ellsvv'orth    151)2 

Fricker,    George    W 1676 

Fricker.  Jacob    368 

Fricker.   Jacob   B. 368 

Fricker,  Zvlrs.  Louisa   1676 

I-'ries,    George   W 1522 

Fries,    Taccb    948 

Fries.  John   M 740 

Fritch    Families    823,    824,    1033 

Fntch,  Jeremiah  T 823 

Fritch,   Levi   L 1033 

Fritch.    Dr.    Miiton    L 824 

Fritz.  Ajgustus    1536 

Fritz.   Edwin    1418- 

Fritz.  _Eli    1444 

Fritz  raniilies..  1063.  1418,  1444,  15.-',G 

Fritz,  George  F 690 

Fiitz,   Henry   F C90 

Fritz,    John    S.   ' 1093 

Fritz,    Le-n-is    G     '^'^^ 

Fritz,   ATrs.    Lovina    Y 1444 

Fritz.  ]V.'artin   H 1063- 

Fritz,    Ssir.uel    E 1103 

Fritz,    .Svlvester   F l."34 

From,  William  H 321 

From   (Fromm)    Family   921 

Fromm.   Thoni.iS    H 1242 

Fro.ihe'sfr.    C'larles    Y 1380 

Fronbp-ser     Family     1380 

F'rv   CFrev)   Families   442,  1062 

Fry.    I^en'ry    H 442 

Fry.  Keyscr  8^.0 

Ffvmire.    Tohn    1228 

Fulmer,    Samuel    H 1425 

Fulton.    Andrew    M 827 

Fulton,   Mrs.   Catherine   R.    ...    626 

Fulton    Family    626 

Fulton.  William    M 626 

Funk    Families    485,    1311 

Funk,   James    B 48ri 

Funk.    Dr.    John    H 1311 

Furlow,    Henry    K 737 

Gabel.    Daniel    G I'iSl 

Gabel.    Daniel     L 1281 

Gabel.    Ephraim    G 1281 

Gabel   (Gable)   Families   ..397,  1280 


'■■.KM'.^lUHJ,-.^".-»a:'-7F->i.»'f.'...:T 


BIOGR^\PHICAL    INDEX 


Gabel,    Mrs.    Mary    A 1282 

Gable    (Gabell    Families    .397.    12.^0 

Gable.    Rev.    Zena;    il 397 

Gaenzle    Family    577 

Gaenzie,    John    577 

Gailey    Family    1713 

Gailey,  George  A 1715 

Ganger    Family    654 

Ganger,    George    I^ 661 

Ganster,    Ed.    C 1157 

Ganster,    Mrs.    Emma    R ...    904 

Ganster    Families    1157,    1516 

Ganster,   George   A 993 

"anster,    Jo?eph    170S 

Janstcr,    Lewis    1516 

Ganter,   Joseph    B 1.5SR 

Gartmann,    Frederick     1189 

Gartmar;n,    ATrs.    Gertrude    ...1189 

Gas?,    Mrs.    Charity    882 

Gass.    Henry    1386 

Gass,    Jacob     883 

Gass,    Tames    832' 

Gaul.    Benneville    Af 677 

Gaul  Fa.Tiilies  ...677,  ST'.i,  1232,  1533 

Gaul.    Franklin    M 379 

Gaul.    George    S £533 

Gaul,    Tames    IvI 1231 

Gebhard.    Charle.=    W 937 

Gebhard,    Mrs.    Sarah   A 937 

Gebhart,    Jacob    ?66 

Geehr   Family    9.')2 

Gechr.    Katie    L 053 

Geehr,    T!ion;as    B 953 

Geehr.  Titus  E 9.'^-:^ 

Gehman  Families   811,  1023,  1039 

Cehman,    Franklin    B 1039 

Gehman,    Peter    B 1024 

Gehman,   Samuel    t! 1024 

Gehman,    Rev.    Williatn    811 

Gebret.    Bentr.n    R -.341 

Gehret,    John     1223 

Gehris    Family    1507 

Gehris,    Joseph    L 1597 

Gthris,  L.  ITorvard   537 

Gehris.  Mahlon   E tl4Sr 

Gehris,   Dr.    Oscar  T 1541 

Gehrke.   Herbert  \V.   S 1319 

Gehrke,    William    L 13i9 

Geiger.    Ezra    D CS5 

Geiger    Families    685,    1033 

Geiger,    George    H 993 

Geiger,   Eewis  J 1333 

Geiger,    Wellington    D 685 

G.'iglev,    Ge.irge    828 

Geisewite,    H.    F 1415 

Geisewite,    Percival    F 1130 

Geiss,    Morris   J 904 

Geissler,   Christian   W 958 

Geissler.  John    G 415 

Geist    Family    813 

Geist.  Henry  S 813 

Genner,    .Alfred    J 1364 

George,    Daniel    S 1308 

George     Family     1308 

George,    Rev.   Jonathan   V.    ...1309 

George,    Samuel    1309 

Gerber,    Edwin    R 436 

Gerhard    Families    ...988,    1208 

Gerhard,    Rev.    George   W.    .  . .   458 

Gerhard,  J.ames  R.,  M.   D 1297 

Gerhard,  Milton  J 938 

Gerhardt    (Gerhart)    Family...    534 

Gerhardt.  Howard   E 534 

Gerhart    (Gerhardt)      Families 

399,    534,    1437 

Gerhart,    Franklin    W 639 

Gerhart.   George   W 400 

Gerhart,   John    P 1437 

Gerhart,  Peter  W.,  ]c 399 


Gerhart,   Mrs.   Sarah   .A 639 

German,   William   H 1221 

Gery,    .^illen    G.    ...    972 

Gery.    Erwin    C 483 

Gcry    Families    4S3,   1329 

Gery,    William    A 1329 

Gettis.   Oliver  S 1129 

Getz    Family    339 

Getz.   Hun.   Janies   K 339 

Gctz,    J.    Lawrence 810 

Gibson,    William    H 1490 

dicker,    Edward    A 1152 

Gicker,   Tames   M 1042 

Gift,  John  .M 1247 

Gilbert   Fanniies    359,   739 

Gilbert,    John    W 359 

Gilbert,  Milron  Z '^'Sg 

Giltclman,  John  J.  K 1592 

Glaos    Family    459 

Glaes,  John  C 459 

Glase.  -Alfred  W 683 

Glase    Families    633,    721,    853 

Glase,  Janus  L 858 

Glase,   J.    0 721 

Glass,    Mrs.    Catharine 1202 

Glass,     George 1202 

Glass,   Ma^-tin   W 1243 

Glasser    Family 1696 

Glasscr.  J  acob   1697 

Glasser,  Jacob  D 1696 

Glassmeyer,   William   R 1245 

Gnau,    Jacob 1384 

Goiifrey,    Hamilton     1020 

Goetz,   Ferdinand 540 

Gottz,    Fred    W 541 

Goldman,    Edmund 1068 

Goldman.    William    I   946 

'"ronscr.   John    R 1713 

Good    Familv   1649 

Good,  Dr.  Franklin   H 1348 

Good,  JetTerson  T 1649 

Gi >od,    William    A 347 

Goodiiart  Families   909,   1510 

Goodhart.   Frederick 099 

Goodhart,  Reuben   1510 

Goodhart,  Reuben   (21 1510 

Goodhart,    Reuben    D 1510 

Goodhart,   Victor   L 1246 

Goodman,    Daniel 1215 

Goodman,    James .1479 

Goodman,  John    E 773 

Gordon.    David    F 357 

Gossler,    Andrew 1521 

Gottschall,    Clinton 1207 

Gottschall  F.imilies  6.-3.  903, 1075. 1207 

Gottschall,    Henrv    S 653 

Gottschall,    Frank    B 1075 

Gottschall.    Jacob    C 903 

Gougler    Family     931 

Gougler.    Tames    1 931 

Graeff.     Bcniamin 1234 

GraelT    Fam.ily    1354 

Graeff,    George 611 

GraetT,   George  M.    (deceased)..   611 

Graeff,   George   M 539 

Graeff,    Tsaac 1354 

Graeff,    Isaac    L 1351 

Graeff.   Samuel   L 1345 

Grant,   Jeremiah  K 1324 

Granz,    August 702 

Grater    (Crater)    Family 362 

Graul.    Charles    F 1431 

Graul    Families    848,    1431 

Graul,     George 695 

Graul,    Mary 695 

Graul,    Willi.im    L 848 

Grec!!.    Ttop.    Henry    D 1243 

Greenawald,    Benjamin   F 1619 


Grecnawald    i.Grcenawalt)    Fam- 

ili:-?    1588,   1019 

Greeniwald,  John   S 1591 

Greenavvalt,    EJgar    D 1590 

Greenawalt,    James    V 1591 

Gregg,    Gtn.    David    AIc.M 334 

Gregg     Family 334 

(ircgory    Family 469 

Gregory.    George    R 469 

Greis.s    (Gricss)    Families   1117,   1431 

Greiss,   Jacob   F 1481 

Grcsh    P  amily 1369 

Gresh,  James    B 1369 

Greth,  Charles  .\ 1614 

Greth    Family 1612 

Greth,   Isaac  C 1013 

Greth,    Samuel    L^ 1613 

Griesemer,    Clayton    B 1713 

Griesemer,     tili    B 1421 

Griesemer   Families    1377,   1422,    1713 

Griesemer,  Jacob  L 1422 

Griesemer.    Joseph    M 1378 

Grieshaber,    William 1170 

Gricss    (Greiss)    Families.  .1117,   1481 

Gricss.  Jamc;  H.  S 1117 

GrifTirh,   .\ugu3tus    M 1186 

Griffith,    Biram. 1186 

Grifiith    Family 1135 

Griffith,   Hiram   M 1186 

Grifiith,    Wavne    F 1186 

Grill,  Adam  F.   E 465 

Grill,    Daniel    M 743 

Gnll    Families    .465,   633,    1051,    1550 

Grill,    Frank    Tsl 1550 

Grill,  F.   Pierce   D 1051 

Grill.    John    M 778 

Grill.    Martin    D 633 

■'rrim.    Daniel    P 1304 

Grim    Families    382,   6.">4,    1304 

Grim,    Miss    Mabella 382 

.Grim,    Moses    K 654 

Grim.    Wilham    K 381 

Grimes,    Peter 933 

Grimlev,   Oliver    P 1314 

Gring,    Cha-les   H 1561 

Gring  Families    '..70,  I42a,  1560 

Gring,    Fraii.klin    H 1551 

Gring,   Harrv   R 1429 

Oing,    Le vvis    \V 1562 

Gring,    Samuel    H 372 

Gnscom    Fr.iniiy 393 

Griscom,   Rachel    D 393 

Griscom,    .'^amuel 392 

Griscom,  William  'M 393 

Grohman,    Frederick   W.    E 1340 

Groman,    Israel    K 645 

G^0£S,    Mrs.    Christiana 1314 

Gross,     David 1313 

Gross,   David   G 868 

Grube,    John    1072 

Gruber.    Adam    R 863 

(iruber.  Christian   1004 

Gruber,     Alandon    J 1462 

Gruber,    Calvin    L 1001 

Gruber.   Christian,   Line   of    1004 

Gruber    Families    

863,    917,    1000,    1001,    1462 

G-uber,   George   B 917 

Gruber,    Henry 1001 

Gruber,   Michael   A 1000 

Gruber,  Mrs.  Rosa  K 864 

Gruber,  Simon,  Line  of  1005 

Guldin,    Abraham 1053 

Guldin,   Charles   R 1671 

Guldin,   Cvrus   Q 692 

Gi'Idin.    David    Y 1054 

Guldin,    Mrs.    Esther 1603 


"  ~,-ir*^e(w'^^i>^f!rf^;W-"  ,r  *-?,^-*^^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


Guldin  Families 

451,  784,  840,  10o3,  1071 

Guldiii    Genealcg>-    784 

Guld;n,    GcorgL^    Y 1054 

Guldin,  Jame;i   H 717 

Guldin,   Jeremiah   R 1602 

Guldin,    John 1603 

Guldin,   John    R 451 

Guldin,   John    Y 1054 

Guldin,    Mary    A 1603 

Gu'din,    M-s.    Sarah    B 1053 

Gundo'.   Prof.  G.  Harel 1180 

Guss,    Samuel    M 1432 

Guth,    Amos    S lt;24 

Guth    Family 1024 

Haag,'  A.    \V .* 607 

Haage,   George    De    T 1183 

Haak    Family    6i4 

Haak,    George    E tJ24 

Haas,    Allison    F 1205 

Haas,    Franklin    1121 

Haas,    Isaac 897 

Hackman,   Henry  D 1179 

Hafer.  Arnmon  L 581 

Hafer,    F.dwaru    E 1176 

Hafer    Families    

581,    830,    340,    902.    1147,    1176 

Hafer,  Howard  M r)02 

Hafer,  James   W 810 

Hater,    Lewis    -M 839 

Hafer.    Samuel    L 582 

Hafer,    William    B 1147 

ilagenman,   George    F 550 

Hagenman,   Tuage  Jeremiaii  33L',  o.'.fl 

Hagy.    Bennewel!    -.1175 

Hagy,  Mrs.  SaDie  .'\ 11T5 

Hagy,    William    'i93 

Halin,   E.  D 925 

Hahn.   Rev.   Frederick   B 5i'2 

Hahn,  Mr.=.  R.   Ella   r.'rs 

Hain.  Abraham    G 349 

Hain,    Benjam-in   A 895 

Hain,  David  H..  M.  D 661 

Kain    Fanii/ies    

572,     334,     844,     849,     895.     949 

Hain.   Jacob    949 

Hain,   James    M 850 

Hain.   Dr.    Leonard   G 572 

Kain,    Lewis  J     834 

Hain,    Miltnn    I S96 

Hain,    Peter   A 1037 

Hain,    Richard    844 

Hainly   Family   615 

Hainly.   Joel   W 615 

Halbeisen,    Henry   A 1553 

Haller,    Henry 779 

Hamilton,   Robert  T 1153 

Hamrn,    Charles    1420 

HantFch.   G.   S?m    ^ 332 

Hantsch,    James    X Ibln 

Hantsch,    jilrs.    Rebecca   J.    ...1577 

Harbach,    Charles    A 1436 

Harbold   Families   1640,  1712 

Harbnkl,   Horace  Y 1712 

Harbold.  Samuel   B 1640 

Harbster,   Ihs.    Ellen    528 

Harbster    Family    528 

Harbster.   Howard  E 486 

Harbster.   John    E 1384 

Harbster,   Matthan    536 

Harbster,    William    528 

Hare,  Mrs.   Clara  L 1491 

Haring,   Daniel   E 1197 

tlarner,    Augustus    423 

Harncr,    D.    Z 1475 

Harner  Families    428.   1061,   1475 

Harner.    Frank 1061 


Harnish,   Martin    907 

Harrisoii,  George  W 1677 

Harrison,    i-ienry    K 1077 

Hart,   G.    Howard    1003 

Hart,   Harry  E 1473 

Kartgen.    £dv\ard    A 1132 

Hartlinc,  Dr.  Charles  H 130b 

Hartline    Family    1306 

Hartline,  George  C 1307 

Hartline.  Warren   D 1300 

Hartnian,   Adam    11S9 

Hartman.  Amnion  S 447 

Hartman,    Cliarles    R 1444 

Hartman,   Daniel    H 1155 

ilartinan,   Daniel   1 1487 

Hartman,  Ephraim  R 440 

Hartman  Families   

445,    930,    937,    941,    994,    1154, 
1155,    1364,    1445,    1487 

Hartman,    Frank    0 93S 

Hartman.   Frederick  S 911 

Hartman,  George   H 994 

Hartman,   George  W 337 

Hartman,   Grant   1641 

Hartman.   Harrison   E 933 

Hartman,  Irvin   H 937 

Harlman,    James    Y 1364 

JIartman,  John   D.   L 937 

Hartman,    John   S 764 

Hartman.  Levi  R 446 

Hartman,  Mrs.  Lizzie  K 1042 

Hartman,    Sidnej'    J 446 

Hartman,    Samuel    ^[ 1154 

Hartman,    Winiield    L 933 

Hartmann  Family  1349 

Hartmann,   Henry  J 1349 

Hassler,   Augustus    B 761 

Hassler.   Ezra  S 494 

Hassler  Familv    494 

Hath  cr  Hatt  Families  ...948,  1042 

H?.tt.    Jacob    G 943 

Hatt.    Samuel    G 1042 

Hauder,  Mrs.  Catharine  E 919 

Hauder.   William    R 919 

Haueisen     Charles    A 1217 

Hauser.'  Michael    1044 

Hawk,  Charles  A 1091 

Hawk,    George    W 370 

H&wlev.  Jesse   G 472 

Hawman.  Albert  H 1277 

Hawtnnn,  Penrose  W 1276 

Ha vvs.    John    W 1  .^76 

Haws,    Mrs.    Marv    A 1576 

Heberle,    William    784 

Hebner,   Samuel  S 1G20 

Hechler     Family 428 

Hechler,  William  F 428 

Hecht.   Edward   C 950 

Hecht,   Mrs.    Matilda    952 

Heckler,    Charles    T 1464 

Hcckman.  Adam  M 1539 

Hfckman,    Daniel   W 1113 

Heckman   Families    .1019,   1112.   15.39 

Heckman.    Harry  A 1112 

Heckman,  Harry  R 1113 

Heckman,  Jeremiah  W 1019 

Heckman,   Monroe    1019 

Heckman.    William    A 1614 

Heffelfinger.    George    W 1093 

Heffner,    Abraham    C3S 

Heffner,    Daniel    A 616 

Heffner  Families    616,  638,  601 

ITeffner.    Franklin    D 691 

Heil.   Samuel   D 804 

Heil.   Mrs.   Susanna    304 

Hei'icr.   Mrs.    Carolina 1435 

Heilig.   Elizabeth   M.   B 1079 

Heilig.    i'rancis   M 1078 

Heilig,    Nathaniel    1435 


Heilman,    .•Vdam     1385 

Heilman,    Charles.  F 1511 

Ho'n,   James    H 1047 

Heine,   Gregory    869 

-Heine,    S.   Julia    1508 

Heiiiiy.   David    L 531 

Heinly,    Enoch   J 1230 

Hciiily    Families    620,    1230 

H.'inly,   Harvey   F 619 

Heir.ly,   John    £ 53C' 

Heir.ly,   V\'iili.-iin  O.   . . , 522 

^ieins   Family    457 

Heins,   Mary    457 

Keins,  Col.  William 457 

Heisler,  John    1407 

Heisler,    Mary    1407 

iieibtand   Faaiily    1332 

Heistand,  Harvey  S 1382 

HeJzmann,  Albert  A 666 

Heizmann,  Dr.  Charles  L 665 

Heizmann,  Charles  R 665 

Heiiinann     Family 664 

Heizmann,  The'^'dore  1 655 

Heizmann.  Wrliiam  A 666 

Helder,    William   B 1090 

Heller    Farr-iiies 952     975 

Heller,  F.  P 952 

Heller.   Henry   .A. 975 

Hemmich.  Tiiomas  F 998 

Hemmig  Families. .  .931,  1013,  1334 

ilemmig,  Francis  M lOlS 

Hcmroig,   Francis  Y 931 

Hemmig.  Harrison    H 1334 

Hendel.  Mrs.  Catharine 048 

HeiKlel,   Uaniel  J 648 

Hendel,  Edwin  F 649 

Hendel,   Harrison   P 648 

Hendel,  John    648 

Hendci,  George    564 

Hendricks.  John    S 939 

Hendricks,  William   H 1440 

Hcnue,   Charles   W 605 

Heller    Families    952.    975 

Henne,  Howard  F 605 

Hennc,  Jacob  W.    1123 

Henne,  (Dscar  D 466 

Henningei,   Hiram   L 1018 

Henninger,  Hunter 1191 

Henninger,  Jolin  H 76^; 

Henry,  .^mandus  E 1604 

Henry,   Cyrus   G >>'2l^ 

Henry   Families    402.   1333,  1517 

Henry,  Rev.  Jonas  0 492 

Henry,   Lewis   R 1517 

Henry,  Prof.  Samuel  1 1338 

Heplcr,  Irvin   E 1440 

Hepler,  John   C : 760 

Hepner.  Joseph   S 932 

Herb    Families     1486,    1 710 

Herb,   Henry  G 1711 

Herb.  Hiram   14SR 

Herb,    Willou-hhy   H 1710 

Herbein.  Charles  G 1205 

Herhein,  Daniel   M 1413 

Hcrbfin    Families    335,   506,   1412 

Herbein,    James    B 1412 

Herbein,   Rev.   M.  L 934 

Herbein.   Oscar    B.,   M.   D.    . . .   38.S 

Herbine,   Charles    506 

Hcrhinc.  Charles  W 506 

Herbine.   Ezra   H 722 

Herhine.    Tolin    G 1051 

Herbst.  Dr.  Edwin  M 437 

Herbst   Familv    4.37 

Herbster.  William  0 1139 

Herman,    Charles    D 1226 

HcriTian    Families     613,     1226 

Herman.  Georee  C 514 

Herr.  .-\bram,  D.  D.  S 507 


'^if^t-.tvutmtf^etf.-yrvr^ « 


-"^  -^.•••e»fT/ 


'  -y'n^'ixrmr^-a^-'' 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


Herr  Family    

Hertwig,    George    H 

Hertwig,  H.  A 

Hertzog,   David    

Hertzog.  Mrs.  Margaret       .... 

Hertzog,  William  R 

Heston,  Augustus   . 

Heston,  Mrs.  Caroline  D 

Hettinger,  luiwin   L 

Heydt,   .Abraham    M 

Heydt    FaTnilics    1407, 

Hcydt,  Henry  B 

Heydt,   Isaac  F 

Hickman.  Glendeur,  D.  D,  S.  .. 

Hiester,  .Adam  \V 

Hiester,  Danie!  F 

Hie.ster,  Edward  K 

Hiester,    Eli    E 

Hiester    Families    

352,   510,   755,    1061, 

Hiester,  Gabriel   (1749-1S-.-4') . .  . 
Hiester,  Gabriel  ( 1770-1834)  .. . 

Hiester.  Harry  K 

Hiester,  Isaac 

Hiester,  Dr.  Isaac  

Hiester,  John  A 

Hiester,    Capt.    John    A 

Hiester,  John   K 

Hiester,  Joseph    

Hiester,  Thomas  K 

Hiester,  William  M.   (1818-1878) 

331,    756, 

High,  A.  M 

High,  Charles  P 

High.  Conrad   B 

High,  David  K 

High,   Ezra    

High    (Hoch)    Families    

381,    617,    1341,    143C, 

High.  J.imes   M 

High,   Peter   K 

High,  Samuel  H 

High,   Brig. -Gen.   William    .... 

High   (Hoch),  William  M 

High,  William.   P 

High,  William  R 

Hilbert.    Henrv    E 

Hildebrand.    P.    H 

Hill,  Charles  F 

Hill,  Charles  S 

Hill,    Daniel    B 

Hill.   Mrs.   Emma  B 

Hill,  Ephraim  Y 

Hill    Families    

914,   1089.   1116,   1343, 

Hill.  James  M 

Hill,   James   S 

Hill,   Jonas   F 

Hill.  Samuel  J 

Hiltebeitel.  Mr.?.  Elizabeth 

Hiltebeitel,  Jesse   

Himmelherger  Family 

Himmelberger,  Franklin  R.  . . . 

Kine,   Charles   H 

Kine    Family     

Hinkle,    Mrs.    .Amanda    

Hinnershitz,  Mrs.  Catherine   . . 
Hinnershitz   Families    ....689, 

Hinnershitz.  Frederick  A 

Hinnershitz.   Peter  A 

Hinnershitz,  William  E.  S.   . .  . 

Hinnershitz.   William    R 

Hintz,  J.  George   

Hipsch.  Martin   H 

Hirrier,    Mrs.   Christiana    

Hirner.   ?Ienr\-  C 

Hirshland.  Solomon    '. 

Hobart.  N'athanicI  P 

Hoch,  Danie!  D 


507 

1050 

1050 

640 

641 

1548 

S15 

SJi 

721 

159G 

1596 

1596 

1107 

5:<4 

1692 

977 

353 

1403 

1403 
756 
326 

1061 
756 
757 
510 

.716 
353 
3S-6 
353 

1693 
.381 
531 
1064 
■617 
785 

ir.32 

400 

1582 

1584 


1430 

7*5 

617 

1217 

1085 

1116 

1(;32 

1244 

808 

1348 

1406 

914 

807 

1089 

1405 

1317 

1317 

772 

772 

1714 

1714 

1228 

6R0 

1301 

689 

1302 

1302 

1087 

1207 

1518 


1202 

351 

1584 


Hoch  (High)  Families  

381,  617,  1341,  1439,  1582 

Hoch.   Gi<leon   A.   D 1583 

Hoch.   Henry   R 1415 

Hocii,   Jacob   V.    R 1585 

Hoch,    Maberry   S 1585 

Hoch,  M.nrtin   R 1341 

Hoch,    Phili])    D ]:.S3 

Hoch    (High),   William   M 1439 

HofYa   Family    1006 

H otta.   Isaac    lOOo 

HntTeaitz,   Mrs.   Clara   C.    112S 

Hotteditz    Families    1128.    loTO 

Tloffeditz.  John  C 1123 

HotTert    Families    1472,    1549 

HoiTert,   Mcses   M 1473 

Hofferr,  Xclson    1549 

Hoffman,   Charles   P 429 

Hoiifm.an,   Dr.   Christian   N.    ...   279 

Huffman,  -Mr.^.  Ellen  A 355.  3.-)'3 

Hoffman   Families    

oSO,  425,  844,  983,  1135,  13G3,  1640 

Hoffman,   Franklin    W 1135 

Hoffman,   George    R 1610 

HofTman,  Jacob  D 425 

Hoffman.  John    F£ 1362 

Hoffman,  John  P 083 

Hoffman,  Michael   W 1135 

Hoffman.  Rev.  P.  P.  A 430 

Moffman,  R.  Monroe   415 

Hrffman,   Samuel   F 844 

Hoffmanij,  !Mrs.  Augusta 751 

Hoffmann,     Emil 751 

Hoffmaster,  Henry   1637 

Hofmann    Family 657 

Holl,    Elizabeth    684 

Holl,   Mrs.  Esther    1517 

Hoil    Families    1159,    1523 

Koli,  Hen.-v 1517 

Holl,   Mark   D 1159 

Ho'l.   Peler   3     1523 

Holl.  Samuel   634 

Hollenbach,    Benjamin    F 1405 

Hollenbach.   Ch.irle?   M 162S 

Hollenbach   Families   609,  734,  1283 

Hollenbach,  George  K 733 

Hohenb.'iCh.  Isaac   003 

ITollenbrch,   Jacob    1232 

Hollenbach.  William   T 1282 

Hollenback,  William  S l'.)21 

-Holiis,  W.   G 700 

Holmes,  Joseph  W 1111 

Holtry.  Mrs.  Adeline  G •.  . .   971 

.Holtry,  Daniel 971 

'Holzman.  J.  .Adam 1203 

Homan.  Charles  A 1303 

Homan    Family    ; 130S' 

Homan,  John   1 1303 

Homan.  Samuel   1303 

Honeker.    Andrew    607 

Hoover   P amily    1036 

Hoover,    Roger    S 894 

Hoover,  Samuel  S 1036 

Hoppes.  Charles  H 1013 

Hoppes    Family    1013 

Hornberger,  Charles   B 1619 

Hornberger,  Cyrus   D 1617 

Hornberger   Family    1616 

Hornberger.    Harry   G 1617 

Hornberger.   Joseph    D 16! 8 

Hornhergcr.   josephus   S.    ^....1617 

TTorning,  Aaron    105i6 

Horning.   Mrs.   Clara    770 

Horning    Family    1054 

Horning.    T^aac    Z 1055 

Horning.   Jeremiah    10',5 

Horning.   John    B 1056 

Horning.    Wesley    770 

Horst.  .Amos   956 


Hossler   Family    462 

Hossler,  Fred  B 462 

Hottenstein    Family    1076 

Houck    I-amily    1687 

Houck,  Hon.  Thomas  J.  R 1G87 

Howden,    Edward    1033 

Howden,  Mrs.   1. avina 1033 

Howerter,   Sairuel    K 1375 

Hoyer   Families    971,   1093,    1410 

Hoyer.    H'jien    A 1411 

Hover.    TIen;-y 1410 

Hoyer,  Isa.'ic  S 971 

Hoyer,   Isaiah 1411 

Hover,  Jolin    1411 

Hoyer,  William    1093 

Hiiber,   Charles   :>I 1670 

Hubcr.    Henry    743 

Hubley,    Edv.aru   B 334 

Huesman,   Henry  J 1038 

Hull.    Charles    Hartoii    371 

Hull.   Goi'-ge   .A 1314 

fliinibert.    Rev.    Da\-id    K 1336 

Humbert   Families    455,   1227 

Humbert,   George  D 15.> 

Humma.   Ifen.-y   1010 

Hunsberger,  Charles  G 1325 

Hunsicker,   B.   F 1033 

Hunsicker.   Jacob    P 1114 

Hunter,    Martin  D S85 

Huntzinger,    Benjamin   K 1000 

Huntzinger    Family    488 

Huntiiinger,  Rev.  Franklin  K.   . .   488 

Humzinger,   George    H 903 

Hdy.  Georare  F 1231 

Huyett,  A.  H 449 

Huyett,    D.    H     369 

Huyett  Families    1096,   1496 

Hnyett.  Plarvey  T.    1-193 

Huyett,    I.    3 369 

Huyett,  Irwin   W.   L 1096 

Huyett.  Mrs.  Mati'da  V 109G 

Huyett.   Af.    Luther.   M.    D.    ...1499 
Huyt-tt,  Robert  P.  R.,  M.  D.   . . .   713 

laeger.   Rev.   G.   F.  T 4m 

laeger.   ?%irs.    IMary   A 40? 

lae.ger,    Sarauei   T 16G2 

laeger.  Rev.  Thom.as  T -iOi 

Ijnii.'ff.    R.Tthold  J 493 

Irwm,    WiHiam    J 1336 

Isctt.  Dr.   Benjamin  F 80'. 

Isett,  J.  Frederick.  M.  D 805 

Jackson.  William  E 16'M 

Jacobs,   Mrs.   Hannah    E '16 

Jacobs,  J.  Howard  Hii"; 

Jacobs,  John    6 '7 

Jacobs,  John  W 1 501 

Jacobs,  Mrs.  Mary  .A Ri7 

Jacobs.   O^w-n    A.   H ■>'■>"' 

Jacobs,    William   R ...1171 

Jacoby,   Conrad    i'""^ 

Jacoby  Family   n~() 

.lanssen.    Henry  K 3-1 

Jennings,  John  A.  L ■''{'•■■<•- 

Tesberg.   TTnrrv   D ">"6 

Je=berg.   William    D "•'' 

Johnson    Family    t'-"; 

T-^hnson.  Mrs.  Grahamp  D.   ...''"1 
Johnson.  Harvev  C.  D.  D.  S.   ..i""' 

Johnson,  ff.  T 1""° 

Johnson.   Morris   Y i->-  = 

Jones,   .Alfred   S '*"> 

Jones.    .Amanda    G i'"^- 

Joncs,  Charles   H ~^i 

lone?,   ^'^s    FHen  E ■""'' 

Jones    Families 

..339,    .';54.    384.    694.    S"""-      ''"" 
Jones,   George   M ""'^■^ 


i-^r-tv-^^t^v.^r.^-*^  - 


]J<s?t^":=,'5:^-P^fr^? 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


xxm 


Jor.es,    J.    Glancy 323 

Jonc?,  John  P 327 

Joncs,   Levi  G 1470 

Jones,    Jonathan 353 

Jones,   Capt.   Richard   li J.177 

Jones,    Richn.ond    L 3S-t 

Jonti,     Samuel 355 

Jones,    Williani    H 6&4 

Kache!,   Charles   S 005 

Ksche!   F'amilies    1210,    1400 

Kachel,   Henry   T 387 

K<-'chc!,     Levi 1210 

Kachel.    Xathan    G 1100 

Kalil    Family 948 

Kalbach,    Aiiry    E 774 

Kalbach  Family 319 

Kalbadi,  Willian-   A 819 

Kantner     Fauuly 408 

Kantner,  F.  J..  "M.  D 408 

Kapp  Fainiiics    731,   1184 

Kapp,    George   J 731 

Kapp,  Leonard   I ilS4 

Katzenmoyer.    Mrs.   Mary 763 

Katzenniovtr,    William 7G2 

Kaiicher,  John   R 1322 

Kaurhcr.    Wi'liam 1433 

Kautiman,    Aibcrt   W 171 1 

Kauffmaii.    Ephraiui    K S3i 

Kanfmar.  FaiTiilies  034,  9.30.  lOll.  1711 

Kaut>'man,   Henry   E 1011 

Kauli'man,  James  G 034 

Kauflfman,   O'iver   F 943 

Kaufman,  David   K 738 

Kau/man,  Frank   V 831 

Kaufman.    John    M 8^1 

Kaiif m.ann,    .Albert    B S41 

Keehn.    Daniel    B 999 

Kcehn.    Fet'.--r   B 732 

Keeier,   Ffenry   E 1512 

Keen.  George  L.  M.  D 670 

Keen,  Morris  R 121.''i 

Keeport,    .Amos    E 1324 

Kehr,   Frederick   H . .    1546 

Kehs,   Irwin    P. 1548 

Keim,    Mrs.    Pef.i-   T 496 

Keim.   Mrs.  Emma  T 405 

Keim    Familier-    328,    1647 

Keim,    Giorge    de     B.    (son     of 

George    May    Keim)     4r.6 

Keim.  George  de  B.  fson  of  John 

May    Keim) 359 

Keim,  Gen.  Georsye  May 328 

Keim,    Henrv    Mav 405 

Keim,  Mrs.  Lillie  T 359 

Keim,  ISlrs.   Mary  A.   R 636 

Keim,   Gen.   William   H 327 

Keim,   William    'M 636 

Kciin,    William    R 1647 

Keinard.     David 1107 

Keiser,   Henry   P 1565 

Keith    Family 491 

Keith.    Michn'el    K 491 

Kelchner,    Daniel    F 410 

Keichner     Family 410 

Keller,  Mrs.  .Amelia 1377 

Keller,   David   C 1702 

Keller  Families    1258,  1700 

Keller.  Trvin   K 709 

Keller,  Jacob  ^[ 125S 

Keller,    John    G 1702 

Kelk-r.    Levi 1377 

Kelso   Family    1715 

Kemmerer.    Flia's    R 1564 

Kcnimercr    Families     ....1393,    1564 

Kemiiierr--.    Fr.Trk   K 1302 

f>'emmerer.     vVi'liam    R I">6'. 

Kemp.    A'fred    L 170S 


Kemp,    Alvin    F 1708 

Kemp,   Auine    E 1309 

Kemp  Fanulies   964,  17U7 

Kemp,     George 1174 

Kemp,  Harvey  W 1707 

Kemp,    Henry 1708 

Kemp,   Pierce   G.   S 964 

Kemp,    William    \V 1708 

Kennedy,     Edwin 1241 

Kennedy,   William   H 918 

Kepner,    Charles    E 331 

Keppel,  Mrs.   Eva   M 1450 

Keppel,   Samuel   B 1449 

Keppelman,    Albert 1441 

Keppelman    Family 507 

Keppelman,    lohn   H 507 

Kercher,   George   S 1631 

Kern,    Mrs.    Elizabeth 578 

Kern   Family ,')78 

Kern,   Franklin   Boone 578 

Kern,   Harrison  T 1158 

Kern.   John    J 1164 

Kern,     iiilton 1248 

Kerper,    William    F 767 

'Kershner,  A.   M 1372 

Kershner,    Edwin 1118 

Kershner   Families    S67.   1118 

Kershner.    James    P 609 

Kershner,    Lewis   P 867 

Kershner,  Mrs.  Mary  .A 868 

Kerst,   Henry   A 1577 

Kersr,    Samuel    W 1338 

Kessler     Family 811 

Ke?sler,   Jacob   C 1059 

Kessler,  Miss   Mary  C 811 

Kessler,  William  A 811 

Kieffer,   E.   C,   M.   D 1492 

Kieffer,    Lewis    M 915 

Killian,    Monroe    C 1149 

Killian,   Mrs.   Sue  S 1149 

Kilmer,  Levi  A 1103 

Kindt,  Charles  D.  B  .■ 1167 

King:.  William  D 1677 

Kintzer,  l>avid  M 394 

Kiiitzer  Families  873,  S:H,  1330,  13';9 

Kintzer,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  E 395 

Kintzer,   Georjje 895 

Kintzer,   Isaac  Y 1369 

Kintzer,  John   .A '1330 

Kintzer,  Mrs.  Matilda 874 

Kiiitzer,  Michael 873 

Kirbv  Family 818 

Kirby,   Stanly  J SIS 

Kirk.  Nicholas  "H 1666 

KirkhotT,  Jacob  G 1482 

Kissinger,    A.    N 503 

Kissinger  Families   

503.  644,  844,  1229,  1244,  1399,  1443 

Kissiii,B;er,    Harvey    D 1443 

Kissinger,  Mrs.  Henrietta  Z 1224 

Kissinger,   Henry  G 1229 

Kissinger,  Isaac 1043 

Kissinger,    Jacob 844 

Kissinger,  John 1399 

Kissinger,  John  M 1224 

Kissinger.    VV^ashington    S 503 

Kistler,  Rev.   Charles   E 1144 

Kitchin,  Dr.   Elias   C 453 

Kitchin    Family 453 

Klapp,   Mrs.   Elizabeth 724 

Klapp.  Joseph  G 723 

Klee  Family 820 

Klee,    William    S 820 

Klein,   Rev.   Daniel  R 954 

Klein.    James    M 954 

Klcinginna.  .Adam  L 1667 

Kleii's:nra  r.-miily 1667 

Kleinginna,  Prof.  George  L.   .  .   506 
Kleinginna,    George    S 1300 


Kieinginna,    Peter   S 1007' 

Kleinginni,   B.    Franklin    47.-, 

Kleinginni    Family    475 

Kleinginni,    Sallie 475 

Kleinschmidt,  John  C 'JAI 

Klerr.mer.   Bennevdle    1025 

Klcmnier.  Joseph   A 117 1 

Kline,   .Albert    \V ij09 

Kline,  Mrs.  Catherine    769 

Kline,   David  C.  M.  D 655 

Kline    Families    

530,    655,    833,    1201,    1223,    1343, 
1409,    1452,    1509 

Kline.   Frank    1098 

Kline,    Harry    530 

Kline.    Rev.    Harry   C 605 

Kline,   H.   Nathan    1223 

Kline,    Jerome    1 1409 

Kline,  John   S ^ 833 

Kline,  Joseph  G 769 

Kline,  J.  W 1343 

Kline,    Mahlon    716 

Kline,  Mahlon   N 776 

Kline,  Morgan  W 1107 

Kline.    Morris    H 1201 

Kline,  Peter  S 833 

Kline.    Samuel    B 1452 

Kline,  Simon 1673 

Klinger   Families    877,   1030 

Klinger,    I.^aac    P. 877 

Klinger.  John  W 1030 

Klohs    (Close)    Family    1C86 

Klopf),  Andrew  J 1689 

3<lopp,  Cyrus   P 979 

Klopp,   Edwin   J 1691 

Klopp  Families 979,  1688 

Klopp,  Ir'vin  D 1691 

Klopp,  Isaac  P 1689 

Khisewitz,  Mrs.  Elizabeth   ....1201 

Kluscwitz,  La-.vrencc  M 14S9 

Klusewitz,  Matthias    1200 

Knabb.    L;ai:iel   Y 856 

Knabb,  Mrs.  Ellen  M 563 

Kuabh   F,-.niiiies    5r.s.   S56,    1312 

Knabb,   Jacob 568 

Knabb,  Mrs.  Maiinda  C 857 

Knabb,  Peter  H 1312 

Knapp,    George 773 

K-iapp,    Geoigr.    Sr 595 

Kiiapp.  Mrs.    .Mary 773 

Knetz,  Mr=.  .Abigail 1543 

Kneiz,  John 1543 

Knittle    Family 972 

Knittle.    Jonathan    S 973 

Knoll    Fami'ies    1070,    1631. 

Knoll,  John    L.   J 1631 

Knoll.   J.    Michael 1070 

Knoske    Family 404 

Koch    Families    1033,    1050 

Koch,   Henrv  H 1050 

Koch,   J.    Clinton    D 1033 

Koch.  'Johannes 1232 

Koch,    John    Peter 140] 

Koch,    Samuel 1233 

Koch.   William 136C 

Kochel,    Samuel    H 113C 

Kohl     Family     lOOS 

Kohl,    Henrv 115« 

Kohl,    Henry    R 100? 

Kohl.    Milton    S 1005 

Kohl.    Nathan    S lOOC 

Kohl.    Nelson    S lOOJ 

Kohler,    A.    Charles 1175 

Kohler,  Dr.   Daniel    R 82; 

Kohler,    David    A 82; 

Kohler    Families     821,    825 

Knib,  J.   Adam Ill:  . 

Koller    I•^^miHcs    850.    139) 

Koller,    Owen    H 139( 


"^-.'.-V'+TiXlT' 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


Koller,   Solomon    S SaO 

Konip     Family 073 

Komp,    David 673 

Koser     Family...^ 587 

Koser,    Ralph    S 1677 

Kraemer,    Adolph 530 

Kraeincr,   Loui-. ...   :;4y 

Kraemer,  Louis   F ?,48 

Kramer,    Albert    F 700 

Kramer,   Daniel    F 872 

Kramer  Families    

737,   871,   !•'.)(,    IVi*,    \r,22 

Kramer,    Frank    D...j.    9'J4 

Kramer,   George    F S72 

Kramer.    H<.nry   F 1532 

Kramer,  Milton  H 1108 

K.ramlich,   Rev.   Benjamin    E.  ..1603 

Kramlich,  Prof.   George   E ibOS 

Kramlich,   Rev.  Join;   F 1603 

Kramlich.   .Mrs.   Sophia  B 1'50S 

Kramlich.  Rev.   William  \V....jGOa 

Krauss.   Curtis   E 1124 

Kreider    Family 596 

Kreider,   Milton   C 59G 

Kremp,  Edward  S 408 

Kremp    Family 403 

Kremp,    Joseph    P 1241 

Kremp,  Mrs.  Laura  A.  M 1241 

fCremp,    Louis 1242' 

Kreps,    Frank   L 779 

Kressley,    Rev.   George   S 51*1 

Krick,   Anna    S 631 

Krick,    Daniel    H 1071 

Krick  Families   ..529,  G27,  1143,  148S 

Krick,   Henry   B 630 

Krick.    Tacob    3 628 

Kri::k.  James   M 1143 

Krick,  Joel   H 529 

Krick,  John    1 1438 

Krick,    Mrs.    Mary   A "139 

Krick,    Richard    B 630 

Krick.  Rev.  I'liomas  H 623 

Krick.   Wollrngton    B 792 

Krick,  W;lliam   F 6?.0 

Krick,    Wiiliam    R 1366 

Xriebel,  Andrew  G M73 

K.-iebcl,  Allen   S 775 

Kriebel,  Howard   W 1113 

Kriebel  Families  77 j,  13ii7,  1173,  lu6i 

Krie>  ;1.  Jcnas  S 13G7 

Kr-.'oel.    Lewis    G 1664 

Kriebel,  Rtv.   Dr.  vOscar  S 775 

Kroningcr    F;  mily    1022 

Kroninger,  Theovlore  J 1022 

Krum,    Wihon    P 915 

Kuhns.   James    A 1133 

Kulp,    M  ilton 1483 

Kulp,    Solonion 1483 

Kunkel    Families    794,    1394 

Kunkel,    Nathan 794 

Kunkel,    William 1394 

Kupp.  D.  Webster  B..  ^L  D...    592 

Kupp    Familv .",'^2 

Kurfess,    Fra'nk   A 1154 

Kurtz,    Abram    S 1068 

Kurtz,    Adam ' MO 

Kurtz,   Adam    A 1125 

Kurtz,   B.    Frank l.iSS' 

Kurtz  Families 399,  590,  106S 

-1079,     1125,     1331,     1415.     1552 

Kurtz,    Mrs.    John 1642 

Kurtz.  Dr.   J.   E 661 

Kurtz,    John    B 1415 

Kurtz,  John   B.   (Reading) 1694 

Kurtz,  Kaiiftman  C 1331 

Kurtz.    Reuben    L 1079 

Kurtz,    Samuel ( 1235 

Kurtz.  Sainuel   L..  M.   D 399 

Kurtz,  WilHnm  S 1235 


Kutz,    Bcnneville 1193 

Kuiz,    Bernard    L 727 

Kutz,    Calvin   J 727 

Kutz,   Charles   W 1192 

Kutz.    Co>mos    D 1194 

ICutz.  Daniel   B 1193 

Kutz,    Daniel   S 1195 

Kutz,    Edwin   S 1192 

Kutz   Families 406,  1191 

Kutz,   Franklin   S 1192' 

Kutz,   Ira   G 1193 

Kutz,  John  J 406 

Kutz,    Nicholas  J 1193 

Kutz.  Samuel  D 1193 

Kutz,  S.    Jairus 727 

Kutz.    William    S 1195 

Lacey,  Theodore  R 1105 

Ladd,  Mrs.   .\manda  S 1152 

Ladd.  Samuel   W 1152 

Lamm,   Charles    F 884 

Lamm    Family 884 

Lamm.  Lewis   F 884 

Landis    Families     381,    1279 

Landis.    Harrison 380 

Landis,    Homer    L 1280 

Landis,     Tohn    H 1425 

Landis,    Levi    S 724 

L.andis,    Oliver    M 745 

Landis,   Reuben  T 1279 

Landis,  bamuel   1426 

Landis,    S.    Edward 1439 

Lash,    George    H 594 

Lash.  Mrs.  Mary  A 594 

Latshaw,    ,A.dam 594 

Latshaw,   David 514 

Latshaw,    David    H 5il4 

Latshaw,    George 514 

Latshaw    Families 513,    593 

Latshaw,    Harvey   H 513 

Latsha.v,     Howard 594 

Latshaw.  Jacob  S 514 

Latshaw.    John  .  H 513 

Latshaw,  Samuel  B 514 

Latihaw,    Samuel    H 513 

Lattemann,  Frederick  A 1141 

Lauer,    Franklin    P 783 

Lauer,   Frederick 783 

Lauer,     George , 734 

Lauer,  M'-s,  ^lary 784 

Lauer    Monument 784 

Lauer,    Solo.mon    E 1450 

Lauter,     Gerhard 1512 

Lawrence,  Edward 1458 

Lawrence,    Richard    L 1322 

Leader,  Adam  H 594 

Leader    Family 594 

Leaver.    Effir.ger   W 1237 

Lechner    Families    SS2,    1297 

Lechner,  Hamlin  Y 1297 

Lechner.     Richard 882 

Lechner.  Wallace   1 1297 

Leedom,    George   W 991 

Leedom,    John 991 

Lefevre    Family    380 

Letcvre,  Levi  E 330 

LcFcvre.    K.    E..    M.    D 1377 

Lch,  Ephraim  M 1463 

Lehman    Family     1109 

Lehman,  Sarah'    E 1109 

Leibelspergcr,    .Vdam    K 1332 

Leibelspcrger    Family 1644 

Lcibelsperger,   Joel   M 1644 

Leibold    Family 1392 

Leibold,  Tames  0 1392 

Leidy.    .Mbert    S 643 

Lcidy   Families    643,   1464 

Leidy.    Frank    G 1-164 

Lcinbach,   Rev.  Aaron  S 1260 

Leinhach.   A.   Ellsworth 379 


Leinbach,    Albert 769 

Leinbach.   Mrs.   Ann    E 1262 

Leinbach,  Benjamin  F 1342 

Leinbach,    B.    Franklin    (Read- 
ing)  1380 

Leinbach.  Calvin  A 1108 

Leinbach,   Charles    li 695 

Leinbach,    Daniel    G 025 

Leinbach  Families    ....518,  5S2,  592, 

625,  S62,   1108,   125S,   1337,   1342 

Leinbach,  George  A 592 

Leinbach,  James    B 582' 

Leinbach,  J.   Calvin 1337 

Leinbach,  Jonathan   G 720 

Leinbach.   Joseph    L 1519 

Leinbach,    Llewellyn 1262 

Leinbach.  Mahlon  .V 1211 

Leinbach,   Peter    M 862 

Leinbach,  Rev.  Samuel  A 1259 

Leinbach,  Rev.  Thomas   C 1259 

Leinbach,    Tyler 1260 

Leinbach,    William    0 1260 

Leininger,   Albert  G 1046 

Leininger,    Charles 818 

Leininger    Families    099,    1044 

Leininger.  George   H 1045 

Leininger,  Howard  S 1045 

Leininger,  Irwin  G 999 

Leininger,  Isaac  G 1045 

Leininger.    William    G 1046 

Leippe.   Charles   E 681 

Leitheiser.    Charles    1105 

Lencke,  Mrs.  Alice   1086 

Lencke.    Henry 1086 

Lengel  Families   855,  1331 

Lengel.  Jerome   C 1206 

Lengel,  Joel  S 1331 

Lengel,    William    W 1468 

Lenhart,  Elmer  T 1G80 

Lenhart  Families  819.  1G2C,  1627,  1G80 

Lenhart,  Mrs.   Missouri   1630 

Lenhart,    Samuel    H 1626 

Lenhart,   Solomon   H 819 

Lerch.    George   W 1123 

Lesher.  Allen   R 703 

Lesher,  Augustus  A 920 

Lasher  Families    

703,  919,   112],   1142,   1100,   1513 

Lesher,   Franklin    W 919 

Lesher,  Oscar  L 1142 

Lesher,  William  W 1513 

Lessig,   Cj'rub 1225 

Levan,  Abraham    F 1084 

Levan.  Cyrus   B ?78 

Levan,    Elizabeth    H 1546 

Levan.   Mrs.    Emma 930 

Levan  Families   

494,    60S.    873. 

957,  1048,  1052,  1066,  13S8,  1491 

Levan,  Francis  L 1160 

Levan,  Francis  W 1065 

Levan,   Dr.   George    K 1389 

Levan,    George    K 1190 

Levan,    Harry    E 1414 

Levan,  Henry  B 49 1 

Levan,    Isaac    B 10(9 

Levan,   Jacob    B 1052 

Levan.  Jacob   K 1546 

Levan,  James   B 1333 

Levan.   John    S 1491 

Levan,  John   Y 980 

Levan.  Joseph  H 878 

Levan,   Mrs.   Kate    1663 

Levan,  Mrs.  Mary  E 1414 

Levan,    Nathan    E 957 

Levan,    Walton   G 603 

Levan,  Wellington   R 1663 

Levan,  William  T 1121 

Levan,   William's 909 


r » f  I 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX  xxv 

l.evan.  William  Y 104S  Lutz,  John  C 1270        Matternes,  James  G.,  M.  D 504 

Leveiigood,  Andrew  J. 1630  Lutz.    John    F 1141        -kfattheu-.  John  A 414 

Levcngood,   WiJliam    li 1103  Lutz.  Wellington  L 1-J71        Mathias   Family C5S 

Lewis.  Mrs.  Anna  E 070  Lntz." William    B 1143        Muthias.   Morris  .\I 653 

Le-.vis,  Charles  A OVO  Matthias.   John   S 639 

Lewis,   Mrs.   Fmma   E 13S4  ,,   ^      ,         „  t    t  Matthias.  Wiiliim  C 1310 

Lewis,  John   ]I H47  -\f*=^aulcy    Ta  nek  J 1140  Matz    (.Motz)    Families    ..1189,   14->8 

Lewis,   John    P 1,^..'>2  AtcCoriTnck-,     V.  ilham 515       Matz,     Isaac 1427 

Lewis.  Mrs.  Mary  E 1522  ?\IcCulloiii:rh,  Joseph  1 1441         Matz',     Tames ...'!!.        1189 

Lewis.    Samuel     P 1334  McCullovigh,   ilichael    1441        Mauger,'    Davirl    B 527 

Leyniaster    Brothers 1490  .^fc^>onongh.  Mrs.  Mary  A 1170        Mauger.    David    F 527 

Leymaster.    Charles 14Q0  McGowan,  Allison  F 718        ^ia-.Tgcr,    Mrs.    D.    L .'!.!. !ll91 

Lcymaster,  William 1490  .McGow.:in,    non.   Houard   G.    ..Ifi53        Mauger,    Dani:!    R 1G78 

Lichtciuvallncr,     John 1450  McGowan,  Ja;nes ir-!:,i        Mauger   Famiitcs    528,    1678 

Lichtenwalner,  Dr.  Milton  D  . .   074  .M  cGowan.  J.   Wallace  R 14S4        Mai'.gvr,   Saii.uei    B ....'.1G78 

Lieb,    Aaron     L 908  McGowan.  .Mt-s.  Loni^a 719        Maurer,    Charles   A 923 

Lieb   Families 90S,   926  McHose,  Isaac i:jH>        Manrer.    Dominic 063 

Lieb.  Nathaniel  W 92G  McKittrick,  Robert 5r;5  Maurer    Families    ....603.    923,    1007 

Lightloot,   Jr.sper    Y 916  McKnight  Family 367        -Maurer.   Franklin   O .'.1008 

JJncohi,  Abrr.liam.  Berks  Conn-  McKnigiit,    Mrs.   Lydia   A 1717        -Nlaurer,    Isaac 703 

ty    Ancestry     324  McKnight,  MiltonB m7        A'ay   Family    329 

Lincoln   Families McKnight,  William  S i:i7        May,    James 32-9 

^..324.   597,   .1147  McLean  Family 510        Mayer.    Samuel    C 5.03 

Lincoln,  Richard  G 1147  McLean.  James  B 1237        Mays    Families    996     1110 

I.incenmuth,  Rev.  .\rson  W...1646  ^icLean,    William    F 510        Mays,  H.  R')bert !.1494 

Lindenmuth    Family    1646  McLenegan.  John  A 705        Mays.    Jacob    il 1110 

i-inuerman   Families    800,   1314  McLenegan,   Mrs.   Mary  ,\ 700        Ma3's.    William    K 996 

Linderman,   George  K.. 806  MtMurtrie    r'amily -ioS        Meek,    Benjamin 817 

Lindern'.an    Wairen  F lLil4  McXuiney,   John   J .1398        Meek    Families 641.    841 

Link,  William 1524  ^iach-mer.  Ho:iry  L 1024        Meek,    Jacob    R '.   817 

Litschi.  Charles 76S;  Mach.»mer,  Henry  S 1636        Meek,     Randolpn    S 641 

Livlngood,  ZV'rs.  .\nna  H 343  Machemer,   Joseph    B lfio4        Meek.  Samuel   H 841 

Livingood,  Charles  J 1227  Mnchmer,   Charles   H 771        Meckstrotli    Famiiv    808 

Livingood,   Frank   S 66C  Machmer     Family 771        Meckstroth,  William   L 808 

Livingood,   Jacob    B 1251  Aiadeira,  Ambrose  B 1167        Mee,   Francis   H 772 

Livingood.  William   H 343  Madeira.   Chat-les   S 1165        Megeriy,    Charles    0 1470 

Livingood,    W.    W..  M.   D 1305  :\Iadeira  Families    ...9.?0,   1167,    ]'",45        A!eharg   Family 886 

Lcchman,  Conrad ...    83.8  Madeira.   Lee   D 1045        Mebarg,    George    F 886 

Loder,    Joseph 1320  Madeira,     Levi lO-tS        Mcinholtr.    Conrad 974 

Long,  Rev.  A.  Johnson _^)5  Madeira.  Roboa  W OOP        ATc-nig.  E.  Richard 482 

Long  Families    ,.5f>-.,  ;uu,  1122,  13S3  Maiden  Creel,-  iTosiery  Co XG50        Meitzier.  Frank  E 1111 

Long,    Frank    B 1383  Mallery.    Garrick .',.-.0        Melcher    Famiiv 1095 

Long,  Henry  W 615  Maltzbcrger,  Charles  C 1219        Meicher.   George   W 1096 

Long,  Joel 615  Maltzberger,  Emw.r^  E 13T5        Melcher,  John  R 1597 

Long,  Marcus 700  Maltzberger     Family.^ 47  4        ^[elci-.er,    Nidiolas     1095 

Long.  Thomas 1122  Maltzberger,   George   R 474        Meii,  John    1356 

Lord,    Cyrus !C>90  .Malt.Tberger.   Heiiry.... 433        Mcllert,  Albert   H .  160S 

Lord.    Luther   W 1673  Maltzberger.     Levi 1374        jMellert.     roh-i    H 1034 

Loft.    William    K 1300  Malizh.r-ger.  ?^l^s.   Ma'-gr. rot  C.  1219        ilellert,    t.Wi.    Ludema    087 

L<".z.    Casper    H 592  Maiusecki.  Rev.  Adalbert 847        ^ilellcrt.   Magnus    087 

L.jtz   Families 3:)0,   591,   671  .Manneibacic,  Wi'.liam  A 1141        Melot,    Mo-ris    B 1097 

I^otz,  George  E 592  Manwiller,    Daniel    H 1-.S5        ^'engel.    l\ivid    G 9«2 

Lotz,  Col.   Nicholas 350  Manwiller    Families     1047,     1585        Mengei.    Ephraim. 1333 

Lotz.  Philip   H 671  :\Ian wilier.   Irvin   N 1047        Mengel    Families    

Lowe,  Lewis  N 6S5  March,  Isaac  F 485  -!00,    520.    9GK.    9S2,    1334,    147G 

Loy,    Phaon 1124  :March,    Mrs.    Sarah    R 4S5        Mengel,   J.    Haiti 1305 

Loy,  Walter  J 1030  Markert.   Geo.    A 1415       Mengel.    K.    Laura 068 

Loy.   Walter    S 738  Markley.    Mrs.   Amanda   E 018        Mengel,    Martin    R 742 

Luckcnbill.   Cyrus 1CT.3  Marklc}-.    D.    Frank 018        Mengel.    Mckmcthon 1476 

Luckenbill   Families   1253.   1400.    1551  .Markley,  Frank  A 018        Mencel,    Ralph    H 400 

Luckenbill,  Thomas 1551  Marks,    George    W 1233        Mengel,    Solomon 908 

Luckenhii!,  Thomas  R 1406  :\rarks.  Howard   F 1034        ^.Icrcer.    Jan-es    B 1494 

Luden.  William   H 768  Marks.  Dr.   William   F MOO  Merckel  (Merke!)  Families.... 

Ludwig.    Brooke 1079  Marquett,   John    G.    H 907  59s,  618.  739.  1971.  1541 

Ludwig,   Charles   R 1311  Marquett.    Mrs.    Mary    R 967        Merkel,  Augustus   P 1541 

i,ndwig.  Clayton   C 1123  :\Iartin.    Adam    S 598        Merkel.    David 589 

Ludwig   Families 1079.    1310  Marx    Family 403        Merkel,     Elias i  791 

Ludwig,  Jam,es   M 1310  Martin    Famiiv .' 598        Merkel    Families    

Ludwig.    Philip    D 131t>  Marx.   Frederi'ck  A 463  589,  61S.  789.   1071,   1541 

Li:ft,    Benjamin 1484  Massev.  Dr.  Franklin  F" 1405        Merkel.    Elwood    S 792 

Luigard.     Edward 14SS  Mast    Families    Merkel,    E-ther   H 791 

Luken.  Harry  J 1103  1028,    1143,    1508,    1564        Merkel.    James   J 1071 

Luppold  Family 518  Mast,  George   L 1508        Merkel.     Tames    R 618 

Luppold,  Wilham  H .518  Mast,    Hcber 1488        Merkel.    fohn    E 790 

Lntz.    Allen 1271  Mast.   John   H 1143        Merkel.   Airs.  Sallie   M 590 

Lntz.    Charles    A 1271  Mast.   John    R 1564        Merkel.    Titu^    S     7)0 

Lntz   T--ainilies    1113.    1.270  Mast.    Levi 1028        Merkel.   \A'-lliam   D 700 

i-utz.   George    K lOOO  Mattern.  F.   L.  R..  M.  D 1051        Merkel,    William    S 701 

Lutz,  George  W 1270  M.'.ttcrnes     Family 504        Merkel.    Wilson    C 791 


",.  TjC^  *^wv^:5^■=f^*' 


XXVI 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


Merkel,   Wilson    W 790 

^lerk-el,    Zacharias    K 7U1 

Merkey    Family 1)87 

Merkey.   Joseph    M 088 

Merritt,  Thomas   P 480 

Mcrtz,    Allen    G 1053 

Mcrtz,   Elias   Y 1>>1-1 

Mertz   Families    1000,   5611 

Mertz,   Mrs.   Florenda 7t;3 

Mertz,    G.    Fred 1404 

iviertz.    Isaac 7G3 

Mervine,    Moseh    1519 

Messner.    Arciiihald lo.'SS 

Miller,  Albert  G <)':6 

Miller,   Amaiul'jri    M Kill 

Miller.  Re\.  Dr.  rier.noviil'.'  H.    SOi 

Miller,    Charles    J U51 

Miller,   Clayton   1 Ii)fi2 

Miller,    Cyrus    A lo.TS 

-Miller,    Daniel 1174 

Miller,    Daniel    H. 599 

Miller   Fainilies    . .  ^ 

441.  46,"?.   599.   071.   67'3.  3r>2,   S67. 

889,  947,  1017.  JiSTJ, 'l227.  V.'A?,, 

1302.  1449,  1451,  1467,  1527, 

1538,    1611,    1021,    1641 

>Til!er,  Franklin  K GO', 

Miller.  Prof.   Franklin   P ?G12 

.  IMiller,   George 1449 

Miller,  George  J 1527 

-]Miller,    Georpe    \V !>49 

Miller.   G.  Wilson 143? 

Miller,    Harry    R 1407 

Miller,    Harvey    A 10'20 

Miller,    Henry    G 13£'5 

Miller,    James"   M 1313 

Miller.  J.  Jerome 1053 

Miller,     John      H.      (Werncrs- 

..viile)      580 

Miller,    Jo'm    H.     (Tonton;  . .  . .   4o3 

Miller.    Tohn    T.  -    "..  •■ SSO 

Miller,   T.   Milton 573 

Miller,  'Jonathan    E,.- 1352 

Miller.  Jonathan  Ff 698 

Miller,    Joshua    L *')71 

MiUcr,  Lafayette 1G21 

Miller,    Levi    A^.    1017 

Miller.     Lewis 1240 

Miller,   Lewis   F 867 

Miller,  Martin  L.,   M.   D 820 

Miller.  Mrs.  Matilda  0 1549 

Mirier,    Peter    S 1G12 

Mil'er,  M'rs.   Reiiecca  S IIS'J 

Miller,    Samuel     676 

MiUcr,  Samuel   F 359 

Miller,    Solomon    S 1227 

Miller,  William   A 1611 

Miller,   W.    Oscar 441 

Miller.    William    W 1244 

Mills,   V/.   E 686 

Minkhouse,  Albert  0 1551 

]Vfinnich,   Charles   O.    l^^f 

Minnich    Family    1339 

Mishler.  John  D G95 

Missimer,  John   D 442 

Mitchell,   Augustus    D 1470 

Mo-'el,  Albert  F 131G 

Mogei   Families    630.   1316 

Mogel.    Dr.    Peter   S 636 

Mohn.    Benjamin 527 

Mohn   Family 728 

Mohn,  Rev.  licnry  V 896 

Mohn,    Tcrcmiah    C} 728 

Mohn,  j.  G.  &  Brothers 720 

Mohn,    John    G 729 

Mohn,     Richard 729 

Mohn,    Samuel    K 730 

Mohn.  Wesiev  D 527 


Mohn,    William    H 729 

Mohr,    Edwin    F 374 

Mohr,    John    H 1391 

Muhr.    R.ivmund    373 

Mohr,  Susannah   M 1392 

-Mohr,   William   S 714 

Moll,   Chark-;   L 545 

Moll    Familv    812 

Moll.    William    B S42 

?\Ionicr,  William  S 1084 

Montg-omery,   Morton    L 40:;' 

Moore.   A.    B 1441 

Moore,    Mrs.   Amanda 1535 

Moore.   George   K 1317 

."Moore.    Ge.irge    1 1493 

Moore,  James 1535 

Mcore.  John   W lOHS 

Morgan     Family 355 

M  organ,  Jac  4) 3  55 

Morgan,  Thomas    H 1027 

Morret,  H.  IZckert,  M.  D 1232 

Morris,    Edward     J 545 

Morris    F"aniilies     "45,    1507 

^1  orris,     William Ii07 

Closer,  A.   Monroe 1153 

Moser.  Calvir   D 1035 

Mc'Ser,    Edwin    L 566 

Moser  Fainilies  

5o6.   915,    112S,   1212,   1688 

j\Ioser.    George    fi 915 

^io>er,    Henry    G V.3SS 

Moser.  Hovvard   L 1213 

Moser,  Samuel  H 1230 

Mosser,  Benneviile  G 1473 

Mosser,   Daniei    A 1  ]  28 

Mosser.  Franklin  G 1247 

Mosser.  John    G 1529 

Mot/,    I  Mat7)    Fjinily    14£8 

Mo'ild,    Jo-;athan    704 

Morntz   F.-imi!y    .  j,'^42 

Aiountz.     Henry 1542 

Moyer,  Adam   F 1  .50 

Moyer,   .Mfred   K lOGG 

Mover,  Charles'  G 1210 

Moyer    Families    714,    814.    8.5J,    996, 

997,  1027,  lOiiG.  1067,  1274, 
129^,    1514,    1650,    1693 

Moyer.    Frederick 906 

i-ioyer,  George  B..  .    1514 

Mover,  rieorge  L 996 

Mover.   Jacob 859 

Mover,  Jacob  B 1007 

Moyer,    Jeremiah    H 1274 

Moyer.  John    E 715 

Moyer.    Joseph    H 1274 

Mover,  Joseph    H.    fdeceascd') . .   6(U 

Moyer,  josepli  0 814 

Mover,  Joseph  Y 814 

Moyer,  T-uther 1547 

Mover,   iVIahlon   A 715 

?.[over.  Mrs    Marcraret  C 604 

Mover.    Nathaniel 1296 

Mover.    Peter.    Sr 1027 

Mover,    Tobias    K 1274 

^royer,    William' 1404 

Mover.  Wil'iam   H 609 

ATover.   WMlliam   J 129> 

Mover,  Wilson   E 907 

Aliihlenberg.    Charles     P 793 

ivruhlenherg.  Hcnrv-  A.    d)    440 

Muhlenberg.   Henry  A.    (2)    ....   7S0 

Muhlenberg,   Henry  A.    (?^)    783 

Muhlenhera-.  Hies'ter  H.,  M.  D.  7«0 
Muhlenberg.  Dr.  William  F....   35.1 

Xaftzirgcr     Family     470 

Naftzinger.  Jacob    E 471 

Nattzinijer.    Peter   E 471 

Xagle    F.aiiii'y 672 


Xagel,  Col.  George 434 

Xagel,  Capt.  i'eter 434 

Xagle,  Hiestcr  M..  M.  D 672 

Xagle.  Mrs.  L 67a 

Xe.tt.  Mrs.  Lizzie  N 503 

Xein,    David   D 1586 

Xein.  William  R 1671 

Xewcomet,    Dr.   Isaac   W 1384 

Xevvcomet,  Mrs.  Sarah  K 962 

Xi wcomet,    William    \V 963 

Xcwkirk,  Harry  E 1431 

Xewmc'^n,  Xewton  R 1610 

Xice,    Berjamiii,    M.    D 1044 

Xice   Familicb    946,    1644 

Xice,  Frank  M.,  M.  D 946 

Xice,   Dr.   Franklin   B 503 

Xicks,  David  L 549 

Xicks    Family 549 

Xicks,    Henry   R .549 

Xicolls,   Mrs.    Anne    H 782 

XicoUs.    Frederick  W 781 

Xicolls,  Gastavus  A 5£'0 

Xiethammer  Family 393 

Xiethanimer.  John   G 393 

.Xolan,    Edv/ard    C 577 

Xolan,    James 45'6 

Xolan,    William 448 

Xolan,  William,  Jr 576 

Nolde,    Jacob 600 

Noll.  Harry  N 1077 

Xoll,    William    H 1413 

Northeimer.  John   E 1434 

Xortheimcr,  Oliver  1 1434 

Xunemacher,  Lloyd  M 1349 

Xyce,   Percival   C 807 

Oberhoitzer   Family 426 

Oberhol'.zer,  Jacob  E 42G 

Oborlin    Family 533 

Oberlin,  Thonias  J 5i33 

Oixild  F^amilies    . .' 597,   1196 

Obold.     Harold 1196 

Obold.    Tohn    H 597 

O'Brien,    Harry   L 1070 

Odeair    Family SG3 

Odeair,   William  S 863 

O'Harra.  Isaac  H 843 

O'Harra.  Mrs.  Maria  J 843 

Ohnmacht.  .Adam   A 14S1 

Ohnma.:ht.   Samuel   S 1479 

Ohnmacht.   William   S 1478 

Oneaili     Family 003 

Onraill,   James". 602 

O'Reiiiy    Family 385 

O'Reillv,    Joseph    P 3S5 

O'Reillv,    Tvlrs.    Sallie    1321 

Orr   Familv 407 

Orr.  J.   Allison 407 

Orth.   ,-\.    R 64.5 

Oswald.    Beniamin    1641 

Otto    Family 920 

Otro.  Harry  W 733 

Otto,    Henry    M 9S0 

Otto,   Jacob 731 

Otto.    Mrs.    S.   A 920,   950 

Oxenreiter,  John  S 935 

Paine,   Allen   C 13~7 

Painter,   Georcre  W 146o 

Painter.    T-hn    R 823 

Painter.  \Tr5.  Rebecca 824 

Pnlm.    Atiiton    S 1175 

Palmer- Poroner,    F.     . ; 1510 

PannoHeckfr         (Pennj-packer) 

Families    396.    1317 

Parker.   T.  Heber 11G5 

P:-,r\in.   Afnrdecai   S 935 

Paul.    Harrv    T 1531 

Pnxson.  Levi  B 3S6 

Pearson.    John    S 934 


.;  ^,~-:rT:^..-..^  ■-i..T'.v.-yirvj<.' 


'■*'.-(i>'T?'W*r 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


P-ifer,    Daniel    N 860 

Pt'il'cr   Faniilics    800,   IS'JS 

Pi-ifor.  George  N ••  ■   St.O 

Peiu-r,    I'etef i^-5 

Peifcr,    Robert    L 1^23 

Peiffc-r.    Charles    S ^...1065 

pflffcr    i-aini'.y l'->6> 

P.-iplior.  Ja.:,jb   S 1313 

piM^ellv,    Edward 533 

Per.ntbacker,    Adam    M 1213 

I'ennebatkcr.    Yiicliard    11 1-'17 

Pcnncpacker,    Amos    B 390 

Penrvrjacker        (.Paniif^bcokcrj 

"rami  lies     30i;,    ILM" 

Penrose.  Georc^e  D 350 

Penrose,  Mrs.  Kate  M 35G 

Penta   &   Radnazzo    112T 

Pepper.   Harlar.    X l^"-3 

Perkiomep.   Seminary "76 

Peters    Faniily 13  tS 

Peter?.    Jacob     -313 

Pii.llip-,.  Charles  S.,  -M.  D T09 

Phdlips    Famines    710,    1063 

Piiill-.ps.   Frank .1514 

Phdlips.    Ir-.vin  Y If 03 

piiirert   Fninily 101'^ 

PilLTcrt,   Hei.ry  P lOlt 

P!;.n.r.    George ^^^ 

Pl;..ik.  Charles   M 401' 

Pkaik,    Is.iac 9"''3 

Plank.  J.   L 1352 

Plowfield.    Frank 1346 

Pohlig.    Louis 747 

Poole.    Ernest   J 163G 

Porter,    Robert 3r)3 

Pott,    William     J4R9 

Potteiger,  Abraham   L 1594 

I'otteieer.  Albert loG4 

Pott?'frer,  Albert  S 150.-> 

I'otteiKer.  Amos  W •'44 

Fotreiger,  Chrrles  F. loDS 

P.itteiger.  Charles  W i5&5 

Pottei^er    Families    f)44,    1393 

Potleiger.  Howard  Vy HUG 

Potteiger,  Samuel  N *J44 

Potteiger.  Sainuel  0 159r> 

Pr tieiger,  Webster  J 1594 

Potter    Familv    334 

P-tter,   William 333 

Potts,  .-\t!dre«-  ; 1602 

,— Polts   Families    345,    1602 

Potts,    Howard   J 797 

Potts.  Mrs.  Susan  M 845 

Potts.  William  H.  R 845 

Price.    Edward    C 1023 

Price    Family 1023 

Price,     Henry 698 

Price.    Josiah    E 1603 

Price,  Lizzie  V 1522 

Printz,  Daniel   F 640 

Printz,  John   C 651 

Printz,   Mrs.    Lavinia   C 651 

PrintzenhofF  Family 435 

Printzenhoff.   Henry  F 435 

Priitzmon.    Asaph 803 

Prntzman,  Mrs.  Margaretta  M.  SOS 

Prutzmar..     Walter 1138 

Pnrdy,  W.   A 1699 

Putt.    George 733 

Ouier.  Edwin   .A 472.  713 

Oi-imhy,   ,Mlen   G 1007 

Qi'imbv    Family    1006 

Uuinter.   F.   H 1199 

Raab.    Ge<:)rgo    1175 

Rn:,b.    ('.eorge    T l'>72 

R.'nb,  Charles  t 117.> 

Radenbacli.  John 1456 


Radenbacii.    Rebecca 1456 

Radnazzo    (  Penta  &  Radnazzo)    ll'-H 

Rahn   Families 857,   1483 

Rahn,   John    W 1483 

R.-din,  Murkel  M 1537 

Rahn,   Wilson    M aST 

Rarner.   Jaii.es    H 634 

Ranek    Familv 702 

Rr-.nck.  II.   Herbert 703 

Rankin.   Robert  A 1115 

Rapp,  Eli  M li'69 

Rapp.  J'dm  W 751 

Ratlije   Family   1607 

R.ithjc      William 1667 

Rath.ma!'..   Anu.s   S 1029 

Rathinan.    Hov.-urd    C 9^:0 

Raubrnh.>id  Family 891 

Raobenhold.   Walter   M 391 

R.uich,    David    B 1344 

Ranch    Families 537,    1328,    1344 

Rauch,    Fra.ik    1 538 

Rauch,   James    M 1341 

Rauch,    Jo'-,n   W 517 

Rauch.  Wellington  K 132S 

Raudenbush.  Dr    Abraham  S. . .    esr 
Raudenbush,   Dv.   Charles   H.    .   614 

Raudenbiish.    Richr.rd    E 1563 

Rauenzahn    Familv 719 

Rauenzahn,   Harr>    S 720 

Rauenzaiin,    Henry    B 720 

Rauenzahn,    William    B 719 

Ravel.    Ger.rge     \ 503 

Reber,  .Albert  D 1043 

Reber,  Conrad  S.,  M.  D 1056 

Reber.  Com-nodore  V 1043 

Reber    Families 343, 

1043.   1050,   123;'.   1255,  1298,  1320 

Reber.  Honr.    C.  G...: 1321 

Reber,    ?Ionry  AI 1299 

Fveher ,    Horatio   K 1  ■'^62 

Reber,   Ira  J.   T l'-40 

Rob.-r.  fames  B 910 

Reber.  James  T 343 

Rftber.   >.irs.   Jlary   A 15-02 

Reber,  Morrir  B 896 

Reber,  Samuel  M.... 12.54 

Rtbcr,     Simulecius.  .' 7u6 

tieber,  Solomon  R 12'J9 

Red  cay     b"amily '667 

Redcay.  Tames  Elia.s 603 

Redcay,  William    D 1472 

Reed.  Capt.  Edward  F 6G0 

Reed,   Elmer   F 590 

Reed   Families 

590.   660,    848.    898,   906,   1450 

Reed.   Dr.   lohn  H 347 

Reed,  Thomas  W 906 

Reed,    Wavnc    A 398 

Reed.   William   A 1450 

Reedv   Families 877,  900 

Rec'iy.    .^ranklm    I'OO 

Reedv,  Henry 877 

Reedy,  J.   Thomas   K 897 

Reeser,  Abraham  F 652 

Rceser.   Charles   C 1463 

Reeser,  Daniel  H 1372 

Reeser.  Eugene  S 1420 

Reeser    Families 

652,  370.  SSfi.  1136,  1371,  1462,  1634 

Reeser.   Jacob   H 1371 

Reeser,    James    D 1684 

Reeser.   Jarius   H 837 

Reeser.    Jerome    P 1136 

Reeser.     Levi 876 

Rec«rr.    William   D 837 

Rc-ichcrt.  J.    H 667 

Reichwine.   Penrose    L 1157 

Reidenaucr  Fair.ilics   11)8,  1543,  1537 
Reidenauer.  Harrison  M 158S 


Reidenauer,  Mahlon  -M 1533 

Reidenauer,  William  B 1587     : 

RtidLiiouer,  Jonas  B 1148     : 

Keider,  Daniel  T 1485 

Reider.   Daniel  Q 970 

R..ift'    Familv     1635 

Reiff,   Charles 1636 

Reitt.    Lnt   W 1630 

Reiff,  William  M 1073 

Reifsnyder,   Mrs.  Anni'j   G 597 

Reifsnyder  Family    1361 

Reifsnyder.  Frank  K 1143 

Reifsnyder.  John  F 596 

Reifsnyder.    Samuel    S 1361 

Reigncr,  S.  Y 1400 

Reimer,  Mar.x 917 

Reinart,  Mrs.   Catharine 609 

Reinert,  David  M 1424 

Reinert,  Franklin  B 1201 

Reinert,  Henry  H 676 

Reinert,   Samuel    B 1102 

ReiTihart.    Charles    835 

Reiniger,   Daniel  J 111^4 

Reinhart    Family 83.5- 

Rcitennuer,   Irwin   G 1471 

Reitnauer,  John   .\ 1543 

Rcmp,    .\aron    K 992 

Remp   Family 1345 

Remp,  Henry  E 1344 

Remp,   Samuel  K 992 

Renninger.  David 1139 

Rennitiger.  James  H 1058 

Rentscnler,    .\'.bert 1471  • 

Renitschler   Families.  .903.    1074,    1471 

Rentschler,  John  F. 903 

Rentschler.  Morr-s   F 1074 

Rentz.    C.    .Milton 1355 

Rei>i)ert.    Charles    B 1253 

Rhein    Families 1123,    1023 

Riiein.   Henry   S 1623 

Rhein,    T.    G 762 

Rhein.  Mrs.  Mury  E 762 

Phoads,    Ambrose     L 1126 

Rhoad-:,    ili^n    J 431 

Rhoads,    C.ilvin    S 3713 

Rhoads,   Catharine   E 1268 

Rhoads.    Charles    S 449 

Rhoads.    D.at-.ie!    L 1268 

Riio.ad>.   Da-^i-'    F '.^17 

Rhoads,    Elain    H 1^46 

Rhoids     (Roth)     Families    427.    449. 
431,    670.    lOT:,    1.2r,3,    1233.    143.5 

Rhoads.    Henry   1417 

Rhoad«.    Henrv    E 670 

Rhoads.    Henrv    W 1336 

Rhoads.   Tacb  H 1076 

Rhoads,  James  F 427 

Rhoads,  j.  Xewton 707 

Rhcads.   Tolin   G ■'82 

Rh-.ads.   Xewton    I l''S9 

Rhoads,    Dr.    Reuben    B ir;90 

Rhoads,  Dr    Thomas  J.  B 1290 

Rnoads.    Willir.m    T l''«9 

Rhoads,    William    R 1263 

Rhode,   .Nrus ll'«" 

Rhode.    Cyrus    J 423 

Rhode    Famili.-^ 428.    11  iO.    ^~"9 

Rhode.    Homer    T 423 

Rhode.  Luther  .\ 1667 

Rh.-de.   XefF  H 1215 

Rhndc.    Wi'linm    H 12i5 

Rhode.  William   S 1""^ 

Richards.  Rev.  Flias  L "' 

Richards.  Emanuel 6R3 

Richards   Faniilies    435.  6«3 

Richards.  Joseph  W 7^5 

R;;-hard  =  .     Louis 51*? 

Richards.     Richard 43.'; 

Richards,    Thomas    M 413 


- >r'7-p'sti«T7«>«»w*r-»^i^^i^*  '  i>i  ^"^.^  W; 


75^'i-?!**,^fi^i'5MBi«,^'''i^~A^ 


xxvin 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


Richardson,   Charles   M 434 

Richardson    Families 431,   llGj 

Richardson,    Robert   E 1165 

Richardson,    Wilson 946 

Rick,    Charles 431 

Rick,    Cvrus 544 

Rick  Families  431.  538,  544,  552,  1171 

Rick,   George   A 003 

Rick,    Jamci 544 

Rick,  John 538 

Rick,    Joh'.i    G 1222 

Rick,  Paul  A 1171 

Rick.    William 552 

Rickenbach,  Levi  P lO-'ti 

Riegel,  J.  Allen 95t) 

Riegncr,    Austin    H. . . : S26 

Riegner   Family. 8i'5 

Riegncr,    Robert    E 826 

Rieser    Family    857 

Rieser.    WiUiam    S 857 

Rigg    Family    801 

Rigg.  John   A 801 

Rigg.  Airs.  ]Mary  Ellen   1322 

Rigg,  Sam'iel   E 1322 

Ringler,   Airs.    Kate    1399 

Ringler,   John    W 1399 

Ringler,   Lewis    907 

Rishel    Family : 1685 

Rishel,  James  I lOSi 

Rishel,    William    P 3  685 

Ritner,  George   1537 

Rittenhouse   Family    467 

Rittenhouse,   Dr.  Jacob  S 467 

Ritter,  Albert   423 

Ritter,    Christian    658 

Ritter,  Daniel  K 927 

Ritter   Families 

423.   656.   912,   928,   1451 

Ritter.  Daniel  S 763 

Ritter,  Getjrge  G 1517 

Ritter,  Henry  L 912 

Ritter,  Jacob  R 659 

Ritter,  Jeremiah   G 1451 

Ritter,  Hon.  John    423.  657 

Ritter,    Louis    657 

Ritter,   IMrs.   -Mary   E.   \V 657 

Ritter,  M  rs.  Rebecca   763 

Ritter.   William   C 657 

Ritter,   William   S (■-56 

Ritzman.    Levi    W.    1683 

Roberts.    John    D 916 

Roberts,  Owen  B 800 

Rodgers,  Jos-eiih   F 1214 

Roehrich,  John  666 

Rohrbach,   Daniel    1188 

Rohrbach,  Hcnrv  H 1707 

Rohrbach,   John    F 1422 

Rohrbach,    Lewis    F Ii87 

Rohrbach.    William   F IISS 

Roland  Family  424 

Roland,    Frnn.:is.    Jr 1630 

Roland,    Frederic    A 424 

Rolland,   Charles  L 11G4 

Rollman.   Adam    M 545 

Rollman  Families   545.  13'vG 

Rollman.   Frr.ncis  1 1350 

Rollman,  William  H 1136 

Romich,    William    H 1417 

Romig.   George   0 1010 

Romig,  George  W 1 132 

Romig,  Joseph    1133 

Romig,  Samuel   H 1503 

Romig,   William    E 1503 

Rosch    (Rush)    Family    403 

Rosenthal,   Wilhelm    1177 

Rote,  John    F 061 

Roth.    .Mbert     1442 

Roth    (Rhoads)    Families    427.   4  49. 
431,  670,  1076,  1140,  12G8,  1288.  148.-> 


Rotlicrmel 
Rotherme 


Rothermei 
Rotherme! 
Rothe-mel 


Roth,   John    C 1485 

Rothenberger,  Clayton  M 934 

Rothenberger,  Cornelius  K.  . . .   669 

Rotheiibcrger,   D.^niel    1373 

Rothenbeig'jr.  Daniel  A 1495 

kotlKiibcrgcr  Faiiiiiics  669,  1373,  1486 

Rutl!enl)erger,    Francis    146ii 

Rothenberger.    Frank    M 934 

Rothenberger,  Georgi.  \V 669 

Rothenberger,   Isaac  M 914 

Rothenberger,  John   C 1495 

Rothenberger,  Lewis   1374 

Rothenberger,    William    K.    ...1486 

Rotlierme!,  Abraham  H 440 

Rothermel.  Adam  S.   , 928 

Rothermel,   Prof.   Amos   C.    ...    787 
Rothermel,    .Mrs.   Catherine   M.   650 

Rothermel.  Daniel   tl 851 

Rothermel,   Mrs.   Deborah    S54 

Rothermel,  Enoch  G 977 

Roi  he  nuel  Families 

650,    851 ,    922,    028 

977,    978,    1158,    1184,    1207,    1625 

Rothermel.  Frank  H llSiS 

Rothermel,  Ira  P 415 

Rothermel,  Jackson    978 

Rothermel,  Jacob   H 1206 

Rothermel.  Jeremiah   R 11S4 

John    G 922 

John    H 1626 

Rothermel.  John  K 502 

Rothermel,   John  S 650 

'N'.   G 899 

Silas   R 1311 

Wilson  H.,  IM.  D.  .   820 

Row,  FVcderick    734 

Rowe   Family    491 

Rowe.    Joseph    Z 1523 

Rowe,    William    G 491 

Royer.   Jereruiaii    \\' 1467 

Ri'bnght.    Dayid   W 1213 

Rudy.   John    1120 

Ruhl,  Christian   H 551 

Ruhl  F'amilv   551 

Runyeon,   F.   G.,   M     D 1494 

Riipp,  Dr.  Jolm  D 1606 

Rush   (Rosch)   Family  403 

Rush,   Jacob    328 

Ruth.  CaK-in    1169 

Ruth.  Daniel    1630 

Rutii.    Ed\vin    C 1442 

Ruth,  Mrs.  Ellen  11.39 

Ruth,  Mrs.  Emma  1696 

Ruth    Families 519, 

833,   SfiO,   SD3,  1169,  1442,   1634,   1695 

Ruth,   Isaac    1634 

Ruth,  John  A 1138 

Ruth,   John    J 1700 

Ruth,  j'ohn  T.  CCumru")    833 

Ruth.    Leonard   AI 519 

Ruth.  Leri   1695 

Ruth.   Alovris   M 1075 

Ruth,      William      H.       (Hotcl- 

keeper^i    893 

Ruth.   William   H.    (Farmer)    .   869 

Sailer    Family    646 

Sailer.   Mrs.   Sallie   Ann    912 

Sailer,    Samuel    H 640 

Sailer.    Solomon    H 912 

Salem  Reformed  and  Lutheran 

L'nion    Church    987 

S.illndc.   Abraham  G 469 

Salladc    Family 46S 

-Sal lade.    Taroh    332 

Sailade.    Dr.    James    W 468 

Sallade.    William    H 408 

Sander  Faniibv    1634 

Sander,   Oliver   H 1634 


Sanders,  Charles  F 1201 

Sandt,    Eugene    1 1190 

Sartorius,  Henry  L 1153 

Sassaman   I'amilies    516,   1347 

Sassaman.  Geort;e  W 1391 

Saisaman,  Horace   M 1347 

Sassaman,    Louis    A 516 

Sauer    Family     595t 

Saner,    John    595 

Sauer,  Airs.  Margaret    595 

Saul,    Daniel    1600 

Sausscr.   Albert   B 1210 

Savage,   James    -M 1622 

Saylor,   Howard  B 672 

Saylor,    Benjamin    672 

Saylor,    John     672 

Schadel.  Amandus   G 1478 

Schadler.    William    P 1487 

Schaeter.  Mrs.  Fredricka  V.   . .    771 

bchaefer.    J.    George    771 

Schacffer,    Annie 1558 

Schaeffer,  Mrs.  Catharine   Y.    .1023 

Schaeffer,   Charles   tl 368 

Schaeffer,  Charles  P 1298 

Schaeffer,   Rev.   Daniel   E 816 

Schaeffer,    David    Y 1447- 

Schaeffer,    D.    Nicholas 573 

Schaeffer    Families 573,    707, 

801,    816,    1173,    1298,    1456,    1558 

SchaelTer.  George  B 405 

Schaefifer,  Harry  D 404 

Schaeffer.    Capt.    Henry    533 

Schaeffer,   Jacob    1558 

Schaeffer,  James    801 

Schaeffer,   James    D 1173 

Schaeft'er,   Joel    B 893 

Schaeffer,  Joel    M.    707 

Schaeffer,    John    E 1456 

Schaeffer.    Nathan     1023 

Schaeffer.   Dr.    Nathaniel    C.    ..    356 

Schaeffer,    Sallie 1558 

Schaicli,    Karl    A 1133 

Schall,    David    736 

Schall    .Family    785 

Schall,    D.    Horace    924 

Schall,   Capt.   W^m.   A 786 

Schannauer,  Abraham  R 1090 

Schappel  (.Schappell,  Shapnell) 

Faaiilies 490,    1255 

Scb.appel.  Chester  E 1257 

Schappell    (Schappel-Shappell) 

Families    490,    1255 

Schappell,    Franklin   S 1£'56 

Schappell.  John   S 490 

Scharff    Family    631 

Scharft',  John    L 031 

Schealer,   John    G 682 

Schearer    Family     1300 

Schearer,    John  '.M 1300 

Schearer,   Weaver    H.    1301 

Scheetz,   John    D r.93 

Scheifley.    John    1427 

Schell.    George    P 1403 

Schellhammer,   Henry   W 1712 

Schitler,    Hiram    W'.    IIOI 

Schitler,    Milton    J.    H 1402 

Schlappich,  Charles  E.,  M.  D.  .1403 

Schlasman.   James    F 1072 

Schlegel.  Adam  II 1165 

Schlegel.   Charles   H 044 

Schlegel.    Daniel    S46 

Schlegel   Families 846.  045,  1223 

Schlegel,  George  S..  D.  D.  S.    .    ."37 

Schmcck.    Frank    H 1703 

Srhmehl.    Elias    B 1328 

.SchmicJc   Faniiiics 1151.   1621 

Schmick,    George    E 1171 

Schiiiick.  Henry  J.  (Hamburg)  1621 
Schmick,   Henry  J 1151 


=,;-!s«r»<«c:7rp^«ir-WTr?-S*- ■-:=»•  <rrf''H.V>^--'-:T<»J^J(«B^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


Schmidt    (Schniit,   Smith)    Fam- 

ilie? 042,   915,   975,   1110 

Schmucker,   Fred   A lo76 

Schnabel.   Joseph    G 732' 

Schnader    Family    1340 

Schih-idor,  James  F 1340 

Schneider,    Augustus    1514 

Schneider     (Snyder)     Families 
413,   470,    4^4,  t;T8,    1100,    1443.   1671 

Scnr.eider,    Leander    9S1 

Schoender,  Jacob   B 1571 

.Schoed!er  Families 1454,  J 487 

Schoedler,    George    P 145G 

Scho'er,    Charks    D I'MO 

Scbofer,    Cllri^topher   Henry DiOS 

Schofer,    Franklin    A ll,'09 

Schofer,    George    E 1209 

Schofer,   Harry   L i:;09 

Schofer,  Jacob  A 1209 

Schofer,  James  A 407 

Scholl,   Edward  Z 707 

Schollenberger,   Edgar   R 1248 

Scholienberger  (Shollenberger) 

Famil''c5 fi-JI,    1249,    1R99 

Schollenberger.   Franklin  A.    ..1700 

Schra<ler,  Charles   F. 1401 

Schrciiier,  John    1139 

Schroeder,  Adan:   IT 1206 

Schro(det.    Dan-'cl    E 6G2 

Schroeder  Family   663 

Schucker,  Urias   M 1647 

Schuez,   Charles   1531 

Schiildt,   Edward    118S 

Schuler.    George    J 1448 

Schiiltz,  Andrew  '. :  . .  . .   422 

Schaltz,   Daniel   N 90S 

Schultz,    Edwin    .V 412 

Schultz  Families  411,  42£',  .573.  32?- 
975.   1357,   l.'?70,   1387 

Schultz,    Horatio    K 1370 

Schultz,    Joseph    K 574 

Schultz,    Mary   A.    M 423 

Schultz,    Owen    K 574 

Schultz,    Samuel    S 328 

Schulze,    Edward    735 

.Schulze,    Elias    735. 

Schumacher,  John  G 1100 

Schutter.   Christopher    8".0 

Schwartz,    Ellen 1016 

Schwartz.  Mrs.  Emily  S    12GQ 

Schwartz    Fatiilies lOlC.    1269 

Schwartz.    I)  cnry   N 1209 

Schwartz,    Hiram    H 356 

Schwartz,    Joseph    H 1016 

Schwartz,    Thomas    H 1016 

Schwartz,   William   S 12'19 

Schweimler,    Andrew    L 1035 

Schweitzer,   .Augustus   W 1526 

Schweitzer,  Emery  1526 

Schweitzer    Family     1525 

Schweitzer,    Franklin    K 1379 

Schweitzer,  Theodore    1526 

Schweriner.   S.    S 1413 

Schweyer.    Daniel    H 1535 

Schweyer  (Sweyer,  Swover)  Fam- 
ilies  1105,    1535,    1553 

Schwoyer.  Cosmos  M 70s 

Schwoyer,   Mrs.   Maria    703 

Schwoyer.   Peter   S 1553 

Schwoyer,   Samuel   G 1105 

Scott    Family 826 

Scott.  Miss  Laura  R 827 

Scott,  William  A 826 

Scull,    Fdward    1334 

Scull,  William   0 13.34 

Seaman,   M(^<:es   B 939 

Seaman    Family    939 

Sechlcr    Family 1653 

Sechler,   l^vi 1653 


Sechler,  Williara   1654 

Seibcrt,    George    M 1082 

Seibert,   Isaiah   B 1078 

Seibert,   Rush   G hM 

Seidcl,  Alfred   S 703 

Seidel.   Benjamit.    H 890 

Seidel,  Charles  V 923 

Seidel.    Claude    L 1657 

Seidel     (Scidlc)     Families    853.    S'JO, 

023,    932,    1120,    1178,    131.5,    1416, 

1481,   1659 

Seidel,  Francis   F 1659 

Seidel,    Franklin    1416 

Seidel,  Fr:iiikhn  H Il2i; 

Seidel.    Henry    spo 

Seidel.  Henry  C I3i5 

Seidel,    Henrv    G 1249 

Seidel,    Henry   U 1481 

Seidel.   Jacob   J S53 

Seidel,  Alafary  S 933 

Seidel,   Oliver   H 1121 

Seider,  Jeremiali    646 

Seiders,    Henrj'    U96 

Seidcrs.    Her.rjr   E 1245 

Seidle.  Thomas  C    1178 

Selling.   George    1579 

Seitzineer,   Mrs.   Ann?    B 779 

Seitzinger,   Lta-idon    W 1223 

Seitzineer,  William  W 779 

Selak,    Fraidc    C 1222 

Sellers,    Elmer   J 799 

Sellers,  Jan;es    P 528 

Seltzer,  Charles  Yi.,  1\{.  D.   . . .   349 

Seltzer  Families   350,  824 

Seltzer,  Jonathan   R 824 

Sembower,    C    H 1403 

.Shuaber.    Daniel    645 

Shaaber,  Harry  C 1503 

Sliaaber.  Mahfon 964 

Shade,  Ignatius 1026 

Shndle,  John   1323 

Si-.adle.  Airs.   Marv   1323 

S!-afTer.    Charl-s    W 1154 

Shaffer.    Mrs.    Elizabeth    1154 

ShatiFner.  George  W 907 

Shalter,  Benjamin  599 

Shalter    Families 509,    916,    1228 

Shalter,   M.  J 1228 

Shalter,   Reuben    G 599 

Shalter,    William    K 916 

itialier's   (Salem)    Luth.  Union 

Church       987 

Shane,  William   C 1539 

Shapiro.    Philip 662' 

Shappell,    Adam    A 1256 

Shappell     (Schappel-Schappell) 

Families    490.  1255 

Shappell,  P.  Sassaman. 1257 

Shapoell,   Sa.~saman    S 1256 

Sharadin    Family 1332 

Sharadin.  Francis  E 1333 

Sharman,    David    1580 

Sharman    (Sherman)     Families 

?25,    1547,    1579 

Sharman.    Irwin     M 535 

Shartle,    Alvin    J 1656 

Shartle   Families 1397,    1656 

Shartle,    Harry   H 1397 

Shearer.   (Thristopher    724 

Shearer.  Christopher  H 1566 

Shearer,  r)avid  R 1222 

Shearer    Families 

518.    724.     1040,    1222.    1300,    1598 

Shearer,    Frank   D 1600 

Shearer,  James  Y..  M.  D 1041 

Shearer.  Josepli    1590 

Sliear>'r,     Solomon 1599 

Shearer,   Wayne   L,   M.   D 518 

Shearer,   William   Y 1040 


Sheeder,    Benjamin    F 746 

Sheeler    Family    ^ji 

Sheeler,  Harry  W 870 

Sheidy,    Joseph 1137 

Sheidy,  V.'illi:.m  E 1137 

Shenk,    Tobias    K 713 

Sheradin,   William   G 1025 

Sherman  (Sharman)   l>"amilies  . 

525,    1547,    1579 

Sherman.   George   B issi 

Snerman.   'i'homas    C 1547 

.S,",i!!ir,g    Families 084,    1672 

Shilling,  Howard  M 1672 

Shi'liiig,  Juhn  Jacob,   Sr r,S4 

Shilling,  John   Jacob,  Jr 1711 

Sriirey,    Daniel    \V 942 

Shirey,   Jesse    1093 

Shirey,  AUIton   L 1374 

Shollenberger,  Calvin  D S59 

Shollenberger  (SclioMenberger) 

Families 8.'.'.i,    920.    1249.    1099 

Shollenberger.  Milton  D 929 

Shor.io   Family   526 

Shomo,  Harvey  H 1409 

Shomo,   Joseph   N 445 

Shomo,   William  A 525 

Shoup   Families    520,   958.  1436 

Shoup.    (reorge   K 143i:; 

Shoup,  Henry 959 

Shoup,  James   G 959 

Showalter  Family   1300 

Sho  waiter.  El  wood    1300 

Showalter,  Emma  V 1360 

Shultz,  Benneville  S 976 

Shuit:;    (Soliultz)    Families    411,   422. 

573.     828,     975.     1357,     1370,     13S7 

Shultz,  Henry  H 1387 

Shul/e,  Gov.  John  A 332 

Sidel  Family 891 

Sulel,  James  H S91 

Siegfried    Family    909 

.Siegfried,  Mrs.  Mary  £ 9n<i 

SiL'gfried,    William    909 

Signiund.  Matthias  C 1356 

.■^immon  Family 928 

Sim.iiiou,    HeiiTy    F 928 

Sinde:,     Reuben     1200 

Slater,    Samuel    W 1397 

Slater.   Wilmer   H 1151 

Slei.;^'!,    W.    Scott     1223 

SlicLter,    Frank    W 1531 

S'ipp,   Johi'.    W 832 

Smeck.   Charles    M 1213 

.Smink,    F.    C 43S' 

Smink,   Harry   A 432 

Smith.    Charles    .A 591 

Smith,   Cyrus    B 843 

Smith,   Hon.   Edmond   L 949 

Smith,   Edn-ard   D 1518 

Smith,    Edwin    F 371 

Smith.    Emma    E 747 

Smith    Families    

417,  464,  642,  843,  975,  1058,  1110 
Smith,  Judge  Frederick   ...354.  464 

Smith,    Frederick    Le.nf    464 

Smith,  Rev.   George   B 042 

Smith,   George   W 1531 

Smith.  Isaac   747 

Smith,    James    F 372 

Smith,   Joseph    821 

Smith,  Levi   B 416 

Smith.  Mrs.   Magdalena   R.    ...   949 

Smith,    Marie    C 465 

Smith,    Mrs.    Mary    E 1141 

Smith,  Milton   \V llio 

Smith,   Thimas   J 1058 

Smith.    William    A 646 

Smith,   \Viili,ini    B     973 

Smith,  William   D 424 


XXX 


BIOGRAPHICAL     INDEX 


Smover.    Henrv    L 1210 

Snell.   Johr.    H 15CS 

Snyder,    Cimrles    W 475. 

Snyder     (Schneider)      f-':imil!;-3 

413,  4rc,  4St,  ers,  iioo,  144:;^,  iori 

Snydtrr,   George    VV tyr's 

Siiydcr.    JaniL-s    E '.   C7S 

Snyder,   Jefferson    413 

Snyder,    Jonu;     11 loOS 

Snyder.  Jonas  K 1101 

Snyder,    Joseph    S IIUO 

Snyder,  ^irs.   Louisa  R ObO 

Snyder,    Peter    II 9'22 

Snyder.    William    M 144:5 

Siivdor,    William    T. 4.U 

Snyder.   W  illuini   W     C-'J 

Snvdsr,    WiLson    S 1070 

Soaar,  Eclw.Trd  W l?,u?, 

Snaar    .F:;m,'lv    iHi'.y 

Spaar,    Wiliiam    J ir/J« 

Spang  Fsini!i'-i .'19,    1371 

Spang,    Frederick    15S."> 

Spang.    Tacob    K l.'i'l 

Spang.    Robert.   W 734 

Soang.   S.ir.iuel    K 519 

Spanglcr.    Harry    105.^ 

Spangler,   Jchn    l.'ilO 

Spannuth    Family    5'.»5 

Spannuth,    Karvev   .\ 595 

Spatz,    Adam    P 852 

Spatz,    Charles    B 45() 

Spatz,  Cyrus  K 650 

Spatx  Families ^.".O.  ■S.'f;.  nsi 

Spatz.   Isaac    S 1043 

Spatz,    Jchii    H 104S 

■■ijpatz.  Samuel   K IISI 

Spavd.   Ch.irlcs    E l;-'00 

Snayd,    John     340 

Snayd,    Henrietta    943 

Spayd.    W-iiiiam     942 

Spears.    Cyrus    G 16.">3 

Spears,    Ida    M 1653 

Spears,    James     733 

Specht.  Prof.   Charles  G 809 

Speidel.    John    G 10ti4 

Spengler.    Jacob    P. 1508 

Sperry.    Wm.    H 1302 

Spiess     Ret.    and    Liith.    Union 

Church         r,84 

Spohn.    Evan    -M 385 

Spohn    Family    -.    384 

Spohn.    Lewis    E 885 

Sponagle,  James  W 1430 

Sponagle,    John     1013 

Spotts.    Mr>.    Emma    1099 

Spotts.    John    J 1099 

Sprecher,    Jesse    ]M 1113 

Sproesser,    William    H 1537 

Spuhler,    George    M S86 

Spuhler.    John    M 868 

St.  James  Luth.  Church.  Read- 
ing      1700 

St.  John's  Evan.  Lnth.  Church, 

Boyertown 1391 

St.  John's   Evan.   Luth   Church, 

Hamburg 1378 

Sr.  Luke's  Evan.  Luth.  Church  1381 
St.     Paul's     Church.     Windsor 

Township 1379 

St.      Paul's      Memorial       Ret. 

Church 1393 

Stahl,    Edwin    C 1220 

Stahl.  Otto  J 1110 

Stamm.    .Vdam    S 542 

Stamm,   Cornelius   S 542 

Stamm.  Mrs.   Emma  M. 543 

Stamm     ['.imily 541 

Stamm,   Rev.   tames   C 5 12 

Stamm,  Levi  S 541 


St:'.mm,  William  J 5»42 

Stamm.  William  \V.  B 543 

.St.ingier.   Charles    E It55 

Sm^jrctoii,  John   P UjO 

Stark.    John 1663 

Siauiit.    .Xarun    1 1094 

Staudt     (Stoudt,    Stout)    Fam- 

il:es 505,    804.    Iw93 

141!>.   14:i2.   1461,    1462,    1484,    1(;8:: 

Staudr,   Franklin   11 1484 

Staudt,    Henrv    L 109  t 

Sl.uidt,    William    B 1422 

Staufer     Family 1032 

Staulcr,    \Viili:im    M 1032 

Stauffer,   Abncr  K 390 

Suuffer,    Flhner    E 413 

StaufFer    Fam^i^' 414 

Stauffcr.    Iui'i,'e'   T(.l-.!i 390 

Steckler,  i)a^id  H 1044 

Stcckler.   Mrs.  Theresa ..1044 

Steckline.    Ge'jrge     L ..1106 

Stecklii-e.  Mrs.  Kate  M 1106 

Stefie,  C.  Gilbert 532 

Steffy,  Benjamin  Fr.-ir.k'.in 1049 

Steftv,    Joseph    K 101:2 

StcfTv  Famiiie? 10J2.    riS."..   l.'.4."> 

Steftv,    John 962 

Steffy.    John    1 1 l.">45 

StetcS-,  Pierce  K 13S5 

Steffy.   Rudolph 962 

Stehman,   D.   W 436 

Stehman.  T^Irs    ^]a.Ty  V.  R 430 

Ste'.,ger,   Samuel    S 903 

.Steigerwald.    Thomas 1234 

Stein.  Jacob   D 1475 

Stei.Tcr,   Fr.ink   P 1146 

S;ein:i-,ger    Waiter   G 1304 

S^'iiinnan     Family 1304 

Stf:iniT;an.  (jeorge  H 13*05 

Sieinman.  John   F I36.'i. 

Stephan,    David 1512 

Stepiian.   Mrs.  Julia  A 1.U3 

Sterley.  Mrs.  Amanda  R 5S5 

Sterlev     Farnilv 585 

Sterley.  John    B 585 

Sternhergh,   Herbert   AI 515 

Sicrrbc-gh.   Tames   H 341 

Sterrett, 'Jacob  K 1623 

Stetson,   Capt.    Prince    R li'o'O 

Stetson.  Mrs.  Rebecca  .H 1623 

Stetr^ler,  Jeremiah  W 1252 

Stevens    Family 543 

Stevens.    Garrett   B 783 

Stevens.  J.   B 782 

Stevens,    William    K... 543 

Stewart.   ]\Ir.s.   Angelina 493 

Stewart.   Lemuel,  M.   D 493 

Stiely,  .Adam  S 944 

Stimmei.  Elton,  D.  D.  S 098 

St^mmri     Family 9f>7 

Stinimel.   William    F 997 

Stirl,  Cxcor-e  S 1099 

Stitzel.   Ephraim   H 1569 

Stocker.  John  G 1447 

Stocker,   J.    George 1447 

Stoltzfus.    Chri'^tian    U 1526 

Stoncr,   John    H 447 

Stoncr.    S'domon 909 

Stoudt,  Edwin  B 1419 

Stoudt  (see  St.iudt.  Stout)  Fam- 
ilies     804,  1093 

Stoudt.  George  B 1420 

Stoudt,  George  W 739 

Stoudt,  Rev.  John  B 804 

-Stoudt,   [ohn   R 1012 

Stoudt,  "loscph 1461 

Stoudt,  Lewis  B. 14  19 

Stoudt.   T.ucian    ...1682 

Sioudt.  Xathanie!  P 1462' 


Stout,    David    E -J)5 

Stout,  Edward  H 505 

Stout  (Stoudt,  Staudt)  i'aniilies 

505.  804.  1093 

:419,   1422,   1461,   1462,   1484,    1682 

Stoyer    Family 493 

Sto)-cr,    Henrj' 493 

Stra?£(;r,    Cornelius    H 1082 

Strasser  Families 586.  1082 

Strasscr,  Robert  E..  -M.   D 589 

Strasscr,   Dr.  Thomas  A 5S8 

Strasscr,  Wilson   H 1032 

Strauser,    Thomas 170i 

Strauss,    B.    Me->rris 386 

.Strauss,   Cameron   E 1057 

Str.'iuss    Family .386 

Strauss.    James. 1108 

Sirohecker.  .\lbert  J 1449 

Str-'hecker,    John    A 1390 

Strobecicer.  Sarah  L 1524 

Strong,    William 343 

Stroud,     Edward 1681 

Stroud,   Mrs.   Susan 1681 

Stroup,    John 1050 

Strouse.  jonatb.an   M 1468 

Strunk,  .-Xmnion  S 477 

Strunk   (Strunck)   Families  476,  1016 

Strunk,    Henry   S 477 

Strunk.  Jacob   S 477 

Strunk,   John   M 1016 

Strnr.k,    Milton    R 956 

Stump,  Adam  G 1134 

Stump,    Calvin    S 679 

Stump    F'amilies 

.•419,    670.    1076,    1127.    1133 

Stump.  Franklin  S 1127 

Stump,   Henry   L .....1076 

Stump,  Jacob  H 679 

Snirr.p,    Tohn    R    fOIcv   Tp.'! 1077 

Stvmp.  John  B 1133 

Stump.   Milton   L 1134 

.Stump,  William  B 1134 

Stupp,   Aaron   S. . .  .^. 1443 

Suender,    George    C 610 

Suender.   James   W 1004 

Sullenberger    Family 858 

Sullenberger.    Henry    M 858 

Summons.    Edwin    S 1173 

Suuflav.  Elias  B 860 

Sunday  Families 860.   977,   1620 

S\indav,    Tohn    A 1620 

Sunday,    William 977 

Swavely   Families..    1533.   1556.   1553 

Swnvely,   Frank   S lr.''8 

Swavely.  John    L 1556 

Swavely,  Wellington   G. 1532 

Sweitzcr,    Abraham 989 

jsweitzer,  FIdward  E 088 

Sweitzcr,    Harry   K .1526 

'  Sweney,   'Mrs.    Pamclia   C 696 

Sweney.  Thomas  W 695 

.Swope.    Jacob 1250 

Swopc,    Jonathan ■. .  .  1250 

Swover.    Albert    M 1377 

Swoyer.   Eli    H 876 

Swover.    Tacob   S 1069 

Swoyer.  Walter  D 1069 

Symons,   William    S 1557 

Tallev,  James  F 1327 

Tavlor.  S.  Banks,  M.  D 1307 

Teel.  Rev.  Warren  F 383 

Temnlin.     Tames 1562 

Templiri.    William     1563 

Tiiiry.   Oden   F 1224 

ThoTTipson.    John    S 370 

Thompson,    Nicholas 370 

Th.MTipson.  William   D 1213 

Thornburg,   WMliani    C 1515 


rrgr;ragfrnrv:rv'-.-v^':"g":g^.."-»-'°Tiigg?';'" 


'■•^-'»;??i^!f*;jvt?v*f«  liKTifW'si?!. 


BIOGRAPIIJCAL    INDEX 


Ihun.  Ferdinand 432 

'i\-4)iar-,    Albert    tl )5,)u 

'l\.L)i;ii,  Charles  H 1035 

IV'hias,  Charles   L 1437 

Tubias   Families J4S7,   1,jj4 

Tobias,    Herman    R 1 '> jj 

Tcl^ias,  Jamu:.    R l<-^r 

T'-'bias,   Solomon    H i."ijj 

Todti,  C    W.  B.... ...    4>l 

'I'amlinson,    Lewis    K 'J'jij 

Townsend,  F>ank  A ry.-i 

To^vnscnd.  Prof.  R.  A 4.V-' 

Trate,    James 14M 

Trate,  Airs.  Sarah i  ITu 

Treat,   Albert J  j>:i 

Treat    Family :',S7 

Treat.   Isaac   G :;.^7 

Tr^-ichler,    David   G K!7.-. 

Treichler  Families 4S:.',   t:j75 

Trtichler,  James  G -i^:. 

Trethewcy.   Rich.ard 7:iO 

Troxler   Families a:i'J,    Hiii4 

Tre.vler,  Benjamin   K loi/V 

Trexler.    Charles     L n;w) 

Trcvler,    Joel H.oT 

Trexler,   Jonas ir.07 

Trexler,   Jonathan    D U'.l,G 

Trexler,  ISlrs.  Leanda  S ]i;('6 

Trexler,    Levi    B ]ijii7 

Trexler,   Nathan    D Ii'.OG 

Trexler,  Richard  G 1007 

Trexler,  Col.  William jVJ 

Trickel,    Joseph »i71 

Trinity  Lutheran  Church 13S5 

Trinity  Rctormed   L'hurch 0S5 

Troop,  Mrs.  JNIagdalena   1")24 

Trostle    Families 704.    838 

Trestle.    Henry    ¥ 701 

Troup,    Theodore lOJ? 

Trout,   Daniel    M 14G5 

Trout,  James  R f)76 

Troutman   Family    r'.50 

Troutman,    Frank   \V l.t.'^O 

Troutman,  John   ii :;i50 

Troxel,  John  E 1-J47 

Turner,  Amos IL'TS' 

Turner,   Newton    R.. 1:.'72 

Ubil,  James  G 10';2 

Udree,  Col.  Daniel "o'.i 

Ulle,   Frrncis   A Ills 

Ulrich.  Morris  J I  iio 

Umbc'ihauer   Family    SIS 

Umbenhauer,  Isaac  S S18 

Cmhlc,  Joseph  D.  C 533 

Undcrcufflf.T,  Harvey  B 1210 

Unger,  Allen  S 152S 

Unger,   .Mue   F 125  1 

Unger,    Calvin    A 1477 

"Unger,    Charles    W SOI 

Unger  Families 

466,    8'n.    1255,    1477,    152S 

Unger.  George  W 4t;6 

Lnger.    Isaac 465 

Unger.  Mrs.  Svria 466 

Untcrkoflcr,    Daniel 15r>8 

Urich,  Ellsworth  P 993 

Van  P.u-k-i'-k.  I'.phraim 1420 

Van  Dcnbcrc:,  J.  E.  Delner. .  .  .1521 
Van  Reed   Families.  ..  .471.  479.  C81 

Van  Reed,  George  R 479 

Van    Reed,    Hcnrv 359 

Van  Reed.  S.   I..' .'  fisi 

Van    Reed.   Wellington 471 

Vath.  Leonard  A..  Jr 1517 

Verrendo.    Leonardo    1127 

Voolker.    Chailes 401 

Voelker.  Charles  T 401 

Vogel,   Mrs.   Annie  E 1520 


Vogel.    l->ancis    F 1520 

Von  Nicda,  Rev.  J.  HciIcr Iii65 

U'ageniiorst    Brothers 1204 

Wajenhorst,    Llewelh-n I2i)5 

\Vagenhor~t,  Mahlon v^or, 

W'ageiier,   Samuel    B 14~2 

Wagner.    Aari.in    S 745 

Wagner,  Mrs.  Cathariu.j 035 

\\  agncr.   Mrs.   Cathc.-ine   M....    724 

W  agncr    Families 

..45S,    579,    745,    1315.    M70,    1559 

Wagner,    Frank 12'..0 

Wagner,   Frank   K 14(59 

Wagner,   George    W J 177 

\\'agner,  Henry  T 570 

Wagner,  James  H 45,S 

Wagner,   Dr.  John  R i3i4 

Wagner,  John  S 724 

Wagner.    Julius    r,85 

Wagner,  Levi  F..  M.  D 1559 

Wagner,  Moses  li 1568 

Wagi;er.   William   H n42 

Wahl,   Dr.   J.    H 7iO 

Walbcr^,  Levi  .\ jis 

W.'.lley,  Sainud  N 1065 

W  alter,   Dr.    Ro:)err 504 

Wa'tcr.  Robert  F 1159 

\Va!::cr,   William    A j31S 

Wakcr,   Col.   William   F 1318 

Wanner,    Abram    K..    M.    D 1557 

Wanner,  Charles  A til3 

Wanner.  Daniel  R 15^3 

Wanner,   Elmer  E ti?4 

Warner    Families 

420.  612,  907.  925,  1090,  1453,  1557 

Wanner,   Frank   R 907 

Wanner.  Jacob M53 

W'anner,  Jacob  S 925 

Wanner,  J.   Edward 420 

Wanner,  Peter  D 1096 

Wanner,    Solon   A 613 

Wnriier,  .Aaron  R .:70 

Warren.  Joh.n 1245 

Wartmar.  George  W 1052 

Wartman,  Lewi-  .M. . . 1199 

\\arttnan.  Mr.=.   Mary  A lO'.J 

Wartzcnluft,  Daniel   1 S36 

Wartzenlutt    Family ?3G 

Weand.  Harry  B 1  iu3 

Weand.  O.   :\I 1677 

Weasncr.  Harvey  K 751 

Weaver  Families .817,  965.   l.'^35 

Weaver,   Henry  G 955 

Weaver.  William 1335 

AVeavcr,  Wilb'am  B 817 

\\'ebber.   William    W 1137 

Weber.    Fidel    462 

Wooer   Families 462.   966.    1556 

Wei)cr.   Albert    S 1557 

Weber.  Tf arry  C "> 635 

\V  el)er,    Herman    G 1673 

Weber.     Paul 577 

Weber,  Rudolph  S 1556 

Weber,    William    F 462 

Weber,  W.  Wayne 462 

Weida.  George  W 1472 

Wc-<lenhammer    Family 1048 

Weidenhammer.  George  S 16  iS 

Weidman    Families 960.    1571 

Weidman,  Joel  K 960 

Weidman.  Marion  D 1572 

Weidman.  William  M.  M.  D...1571 

Weidner.    Caleb 394 

Weidiicr,  Daniel   IT in "2 

Weidner   Farriiits 395.    505, 

903.    1211,    1343.    1414,    143:,'  10^!) 

Weidner.    George    .X 1414 

Weidner,  George   L 1*11 


Weidner,   Harry  J 134s^ 

Weidner,  John 1437: 

Weidner,  John  V ir,4'j 

Weidn;r,   .Mahlon    E >ij 

Weidner,   .Milton   N yu3 

\V'eidaer,  William  R 1002 

Wfigley  Family si2 

Weigicy,  Miss  Lizzie  R ^  i:j 

\v  eiglcy,  Jonathan  W sij 

Wcii,    -\1  ji  ris ic,54 

\V  ciler,  John 519 

Wei-     Family (,02 

\\  e;s.  Sairiuel  S 602 

Weiser.  Alviii 911 

Weiser,   Conrad 330 

Weisner  Family 169  1 

V.'eisner,  Jonathan   A 1091 

Welter,   Em.anuei    M 1402 

>VeIler    Fair.ilies 5u9,    1402,    1421 

A\  eller,  Harvev  H 1421 

Weller,  Joel    H 509 

Weller,    Nathan    N 1402 

Wells,  I'.Irs.  Anna  S 834 

W'clls,  Llewellyn  U 7(il 

Wells,  Wesley'  H 834 

Wendler.   Harry   J 1041 

VV'cndling.  Frank  R 1147 

Wenger.'Leroy  J.,  M.  D 800 

Wenrich,    Albert    D 901 

Wenrich,  Ezra  S 1019 

Wenrich   h'amilies  400,  508,  981,  1074 

Wenrich,    Mart    H . .' 981 

Wenrich.  Nathan   M 1074 

Wenrich,    Paul   A 1163 

Wenrich,   Dr.   Reuben    D 508 

Wf.iit?.el,  Augustus   L 835 

Wciitzel.    David    S 1459 ■ 

Went-'el    FamiHos 855.    1459 

>\'crley,  Dr.  Charles  D. 1179 

Werley,   Cj  rus   ]•., 938 

Werley,  Thomas  G^ 852 

Werner,  F.phraini  G 647 

Werner     Family 963 

Werner,   Joiin    C 989 

Werner,    William    G 963 

V/ercer.    William    W 747 

Wf rt.  Mrs.  .-\me!ia 742 

Wert,  Daniel  R 1632 

Wert    Family 1632 

Vv''ert,   George 742 

VVerlz,  Edward  S 378 

Wertz  Family 839 

Wertz,   George   W 839 

Wertz,  Samuel    378 

Wesley.  John  H 740 

Wessner.  Jerry  M 1418 

Westley  Family 1009 

Westley.  John  L 1009 

Weyman,  William  A 1135 

Wharton,  Hon.  Thomas 325 

Wharton,  Susan   F 325 

White.  John   R 1694 

White,  Joseph  A 700 

Whitman,  Abraham   S 607 

Whitman.  Joel  W.  D 763 

Whitman.    Richard    M 007 

Wliitner.    Calvin    K 408 

Whitner    F'amily 409 

Wieand,    Rev.    Daniel 1002 

Wieand,    Mrs.    Alatilda    1662 

Wilder.  O.  B.  S 670 

Wilgcrotli.    John 1400 

Wilhelm.   Mrs.  Catherine i490 

Wi!helm,    Hcnrv-   .-\ 1457 

Wilhelm.    William     H 1490 

Williams.    Jacob    N ....  1219 

Wiis,  >n.    Giie    J 680 

Willson,    M.    Elizabeth 680 

Wilson,    Chalkley 1203 


'  ^PEfSf  WRSHawaftff 


~'?«r-.'.'a.v--yv-«*»ls.T*At'fi-i»a«-J:'-r  -»..  >  .i:--— '.■■; 


BIOGRAPHICAL    INDEX 


Wilson,   John    B S07 

Windbigler,    Charles HtS 

Winings,  Howard  K 1073 

VViiUer,    FerdiiiaiKl Ijl3 

Wiiiler,    Mahlon     D lO'JO 

Winters.  John   M.  S 927 

Wi^e    l\Veis3)     Family HOI 

Wise,   Haivey   L 1101 

Wise,    Warren    L 1534 

Wise,  Wtllington   L 1101 

Wisser,  Stephen  S 14 JS 

Withers,    Eli    M Sd4 

Withers,  Mrs.  Emeline 7~'3 

Withers    Family aG4 

Withers,  Martin  M 723 

Witman,     Ephraim 841 

Witman  Family f 41 

Witman,  John    F 1115 

Witman,   William   A IC'OO 

Witnioyer,  Mr;.  Elizabeth l-'-'O 

Witmoyer,    John vs:0 

Wittich,  Arthur 5ol 

Wittich,   John    D 531 

Woerner.    Oscar    L 1432 

Wolf,  James  G OSO 

Wolfe,   David   S 1  tiS3 

Wolfer:>bertrer,  Richard  A 1109 

Wolff  Family 525 

Wolff,  Oliver  M 526 

Woodward.   Warren   J 34.? 

Wootten,  John  1443 

Wootten.  Mrs.  Martraret  A. ...1443 

Worley,  Ellis  M....T 12-12 

Worley    Fatr.ily 1474 

Worley,  Henry  H 1475 

■VVorley.    Levi 6S3 

Worley.   Mrs.   Marv   M G.U 

Worley,     W.     M 1242 

Wrede,  Mrs.    Barbara I'SiZ 

Wrede,    Christian 1522 

Wren.  William  W 1"25 

Wunder,  William   L li:)S 

Wunder,   W.   W 1320 

Xander,  John  G 438 

Yarnell     Family • 1366 

Yarnell.   Jared    G 13r.6 

Varrington    Family 356 

Yeager,  Edward 1492 


Yeager    Families. ..  .600,    1202,    14y2 

Yeagcr,  Hiram  P 1262 

Yeager,  William   B 606 

Vcagley,   George   W 1037 

Ycakel,  Dr.   Isaac   B 1630 

Yeakel,    Joseph    B 1642 

Yerg.r   Families 604.    Ii65 

Ycrgcr,    James    M 004 

Yerger,  Joiin 140'> 

Yettcr,  Charles  M 1244 

Yetzer,  Joseph 1100 

Yocom,  .\lbert  S 935 

Yocom,  Charles  S 13^.1 

Yocom   Families 935.    1350 

"iKocom,  llarry  Y 1350 

Yocom,    William    S 1717 

Yocnm,    Mr.s.    Agnes    G 342 

Yocum,   James    \V 312 

Yocum,    Valeria 1634 

Yocum,    William 1G33 

Yoder.    Absalom    S 623 

Yoder,    Adam 1088 

Yoder,  Amos 1083 

Yoder,  Amos  S 1423 

Yoder.   Augustus    K 1225 

■^'odcr,  Daniel  B 62;-; 

Yoder.  David  S 623 

Yocier    Families 

620.  r".'5,  1225.  12'.»5,  1401,  1423.  1185 

Yoder.   Frank  D 1295 

Yoder,  Frederick  F 1485 

Yoder.  Fred-.-rick  5 995 

Yoder,  Henrv  H 621 

Yoder.  John  "S 1423 

Yoder.  Kensic    \' 995 

Yoder,   M ahry   K 633 

Yoder,    Alary    B 622 

Yoder.  \at;i:.n   R 1!04 

Yoder,  Samuel  I) 12C5 

Yoder.  S.  Herbert 1003 

Yoder,  Solomon  R 1439 

Yorgey,   A' (red    B 1339 

Yor^ev  Familv 1339 

Y'ost,  Albert  R 1102 

Y'ost   Fa.niiies 708.    1102,    1494 

Yost.  Heber  Y 1^94 

Yost,  Henry  H 309 

Yost,  Tames  F.  R 709 


Y'ost,  Rufus  R 709 

Y'oung    Families 641,    131S 

Y'ouiig,   Henry   G €41 

Y'oung,  Mrs.  Hettic  A 642 

Y'oung,    Walter    S 1315 

Y'oung,   William  J 811 

Young,  VN'illiam  S 642 

1  ouse,  .Abraham  H 1381 

Youse,  Charles   H 840 

Y'ouse,  Edwin  S 1173 

Y'ouse  Families S41,  13SS' 

Yundt  Family 827 

Yundt.   Horace    A 827 

Zable,  Harry 1524 

Zarharias,    Daniel    K 1483 

Zacharias,   iarah 1483 

Zelier.  George  M 752 

Zeller,  Wilson  B 754 

Ze'krs,   John 1168 

Zellers,  William  F 1108 

Zerbe   (Zerby)   Families  717,  866;  98» 

Zerbe,  Levi  M 717 

Zerbe,    Rcily 988- 

Zerby,  Thomas  J 866 

Zerby.  William  A 71T 

Zerr    Family 777 

Zerr.   John'H 78.'. 

Zerr,    Ben    H 77T 

Zerr,    Samuel 778 

Zieber.    Philip    S 544 

Zieher.    William    E 921 

Zieglcr.    Capt.    Aaron 417 

Zieglcr,   Jarius   W 765 

Ziegler,   J.    F 1361 

Ziegler.  Mrs.   Sarah  A 551 

Ziegler,  Dr.  Philip  M 5*50 

Zimmerman,     Eldridge 433 

Zimmerman     F"amilie3 43o,    66S 

Zimmerman,  Mrs.  Sarah  B 547 

Zimmermin.    Thorr.as    C 36S 

Zion's   Church,  Perry  Township 

1379 

Zion's  (Spiess)    Ref.  and  Luth. 

Church 984 

Zook,    Christian 1071 

Zook    Family 1071 

Zook,    Mrs.    Susan 1071 


rvrr^,—<c!rr!ryi'irr»^rr^i!!^,-Xi^'  -,j'ir«f55'>  w,~  •Er.»-r!^rr#''^'5i^:*"^'^-'^ 


HISTORY 

OF 

BERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


CHAPTER    I    ERECTION    OF    COUNTY 


PHYSICAL  GEOGRAPHY 

Mountains. — The  Appalachian  chain  of  moun- 
tains extends  through  the  eastern  territory  of  the 
United  States  from  the  St.  Lawrence  river  on  the 
north  to  the  State  of  Georgia  on  the  south.  The 
greatest  heights  are  in  North  Carolina.  There  they 
are  between  6,000  and  G.SuO  feet  above  the  sea.  This 
conspicuous  chain  includes  all  the  ridges ;  and  two 
ridges  extend  through  Berks  county.  Thev  are  the 
Blue  Mountain  and  the  South  Mountain. 

The  Blue  Mountain,  in  its  course  south  twenty- 
five  degrees  west  from  the  Delaware  at  Easton  to 
the  Susquehanna  at  Harrisburg,  forms  the  present 
northern  boundary  line  cf  }'.crks  countv.  It  was 
a  barrier  to  migration  in  the  earliest  settlements 
of  this  section  of  the  State,  and  it  was  the  limit  of 
the  "earliest  surveys  which  were  made  northwest- 
wardly from  the  Delaware  river.  The  earliest  map 
of  surveys,  whicli  was  prepared  by  Lewis  Evans, 
and  published  by  him  in  1T4!».  is  in  the  possession 
of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania  at  Phila- 
delphia. Several  drafts  of  earlier  dates  appear  in 
the  first  two  volumes  of  the  Pennsylvania  Archives, 
and  relate  to  purchases  of  land  from  the  Indians. 

The  apex  of  this  mountain  undulates.  Its  aver- 
age height  above  the  -ea  is  about  l,"?f»0  feet.  The 
distinguishing  peculiarities  in  the  formation  of  the 
mountain  in  Berks  county  are  the  "Pinnacle,"  the 
"Schuylkill  Gap,"  the  "Round  Head."  and  numerous 
ravines  which  were  washed  out  in  the  mountain- 
side by  rolling  waters  in  the  course  of  time,  and 
came  to  be  useful  to  man  in  having  marked  out  for 
him  easy  passes  over  the  mountain. 

From  a  distance,  the  mountain  has  a  bluish  ap- 
pearance. Hence  it  was  and  is  called  Blue  Ridge. 
On  one  of  the  early  maps  it  is  called  the  "Kittatinny 
^Mountain."  corrupted  from  the  Indian  word  Kau- 
ta-tin-chunk,  meaning  endless.  It  is  also  sometimes 
called  North  ^dountain. 

The  South  Mountain  extends  through  the  countv 
southeastwardly.  It  enters  about  the  m.iddle  of  the 
western  Ixmndary.  near  the  corner-stone  of  the 
dividing  line  between  Lancaster  and  Letianon  coun- 


ties. At  this  point  it  is  distant  from  the  Blue 
Mountain  about  fifteen  miles.  It  is  called  South 
^Mountain  because  it  lies  south  of  the  Blue  Moun- 
tain. The  distance  between  them  increases  as  they 
diverge  eastwardly.  At  Reading  it  is  about  twenty- 
three  miles.  The  highest  point  in  this  mountain 
is  near  the  county  line  in  Lebanon  county,  on  a 
spur  extending  several  miles  southwestwardly.  Its 
height  is  about  twelve  hundred  feet. 

In  the  southern  section  of  the  count}-,  this  moun- 
tain has  a  greater  width.  It  includes  a  succession 
of  rolling  hills,  alm.ost  entirely  covered  with  grow- 
ing trees.  Some  portions  have  been  cleared  and 
converted  into  farming  lands.  This  district,  being 
thus  covered  and  having  the  appearance  of  a  forest, 
is  called  "The  Forest."  The  ''Welsh  Mountain"  i 
and  the  "'Flying  Hills"  are  included  in  this  range,  i 

The  "Flying  Hills"   extend  along  the  southerly  i 
side  of  the  Schuylkill  river  for  several  miles.    They  i 
comprise  a  small  ridge  broken  by  gorges,  and  were  ] 
given  this  name  by  the  early  settlers  because  num- 
erous grouse  were  seen  fJyi>i^^  there.     Thev  are  in- 
dicated on  an  early  map  of   1743.  and   from  that 
time  till  now  they  have  been  so  known  and  called. 
They  can  be   seen   and  identified   for   forty  miles 
down  the  Schuylkill  X'alley.     From  afar  they  re- 
semble  great   monuments,   and   thev   were    famous 
for  game  until  about  1860.     Of  the  gorges  men- 
tioned, the  "Gibraltar"  is  the  most  remarkable  and 
picturesque. 

Numerous  hills  are  scattered  throughout  the 
county,  which  subserve  the  agricultural  districts 
admirably  in  respect  to  wood  and  water.  Their 
natural  arrangement  and  distribution  are  wonderful. 
The  cupidity  of  man  is,  however,  gradually  break- 
ing up  this  harmony  of  nature  by  cutting  down 
the  trees  and  tilling  the  land. 

In  the  western  section,  the  most  conspicuous  hills 
are  "Stoudt's  Hill,"  located  at  the  great  bend  of 
the  Schuylkill,  about  six  miles  north  of  Reading 
(named  after  the  owner  of  the  land),  and  "Scull's 
Hill."  distant  about  five  miles  farther  to  the  north 
( named  after  Nicholas  Scull,  the  sur\'eyor-general 
of  the  province  from   174s  till  1761"). 


•;?'- ..  ...«*^  ,r«^  -^;;  •«.  ^M^r^i 


r,fr^J^y',rr~.^  -^ftftuf  n 


3 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


In  the  eastern  section,  the  county  is  consider- 
ably broken  by  intersecting-  hills  which  extend  in 
ditierent  directions,  nio-tly,  however,  to  the  north 
and  south.  The  "Oley  Hills"  are  most  conspicuous 
in  a  historic  aspect.  They  are  'nentionetl  in  patents 
and  deeds  of  land-  before  !?•.'<•.  Since  1783  the 
most  prominent  iiill  in  that  vicinity  has  been  called 
"ILarl  Mountain,"  because  it  was  cut  from  Oley 
and  included  in  a  new  township  of  that  name  then 
erected.  The  "Monocacy  Hill."  cone-sb.aped.  is 
situated  several  miles  southwardly,  near  the  river. 

The  "Reading  Hills"  are  the  most  conspicuous 
in  the  central  section  in  a  natural  aspect.  They 
were  included  in  the  "r^Ianor  of  Penn's  Mount," 
a  large  tract  which  was  set  apart  for  the  use  of 
the  Penns  before  the  erection  of  the  county,  and 
included  about  twelve  thousand  acres.  The  hill 
known  by  the  citizens  of  Reading  as  "Penn's 
Mount"  adjoins  the  city  on  the  east.  To  the  north 
and  west  its  elevated  top  commands  a  magnificent 
view  of  the  Schuylkill  and  Lebanon  Valleys,  which 
are  especially  rich  in  agriculture,  manufactures  and 
internal  improvements ;  and  it  overlooks  an  area  of 
territon-  including  about  five  hundred  square  miles. 
It  has  two  conspicuous  spots  at  the  apex,  facing 
the  west,  wdiich  are  called  "White  Spot"  and  "Black 
Spot."  They  are  visible  to  the  naked  eye  for  a 
distance  of  thirty  miles,  and  were  so  called  by  the 
first  inhabitants  of  Reading.  Their  general  appear- 
ance does  not  seem  to  change ;  they  are  bare  spots 
on  the  hillside,  composed  of  stones  and  rocks.  The 
"White  Spot"  is  the  nearer  and  more  accessible. 
It  has  been  for  many  years,  and  is  still,  resorted 
to  for  stones  for  building  purposes;  and  it  is  fre- 
quently visited  also  by  resident  and  stranger  for 
the  view  it  commands.  The  removal  of  the  stones 
gives  the  spot  a  white  appearance.  Time  and  the 
weather  are  not  given  an  opportunity  to  darken 
the  surface  of  the  stones.  The  "Black  Spot"  was 
not  disturbed  till  1889,  when  the  ^ft.  Pcnn  Gravity 
Railroad  was  constructed,  and  the  "Tower"  erected 
on  the  top:  hence  its  black  appearance.  Their  ele- 
vation above  the  Schuylkill  river  at  the  foot  of 
Penn  street  is  as  follows:  \\'hite  Spot,  7Cu.CA 
1  feet:  Black  Spot,  879.78  feet.  The  elevation  of 
the  higher  point  above  the  sea  is  about  1.100  feet. 

The  hil!  knowm  as  the  "Neversink"  adjoins  the 
city  on  the  south.  Its  highest  point  is  somewhat 
lower  than  Mt.  Penn.  It  rnnimandN  a  magnificerit 
view  of  the  Schuylkill  \'allcy  to  the  southeast  for 
forty  miles,  and  of  "The  Forest"  to  the  south  and 
southwest  for  upward  of  ten  miles.  It  overlooks 
the  double  bend  in  the  river,  which  forms  a  large 
S,  both  projections  being  mo'^tly  farming  land :  the 
one  extendincf  northwardlv  bcincf  known  as  "Lewis's 
'Xeck"  (from  the  first  settler  there),  and  the  other 
southwardlv  as  "Poplar  Xcck"  (from  the  great 
poplar  trees')  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  tiftv 
years.  This  hill  lies  east  and  west  and  forms,  with 
Mt.  Penn.  a  large  T.  Its  northern  declivity  i-^ 
ratlier  gentle,  but  the  southern  steep  and  rugged. 
It   lias   been   known   bv  the  name   of  "Xeversink" 


for  many  years.  It  is  mentioned  in  surveys  of  ad- 
joining land  which  were  made  as  early  as  1714. 

An  interesting,  though  ridiculous,  tradition  is 
connected  with  its  origin.  It  was  said  by  early 
settlers  that  an  Indian  had  devised  a  flying  ma- 
chine, by  which  he  proposed  to  fly  from  the  one 
hill  (Flying  Hill  at  Poplar  Xeck)  to  the  other  and 
"never  sink."  His  etforts  proved  a  failure.  In- 
stead of  flying  into  fame  he  sank  into  shame.  The 
word  is  of  Indian  origin,  "X'avesink,"  and  means, 
fishing-ground.  The  Scliuylkill  river  in  this  vicin- 
ity was  fomierly  a  famous  fishing-ground  for  shad. 
Fisheries  were  carried  on  successfully  until  the  con- 
struction of  the  canal  about  18".30. 

"Schwartzwald"  is  situated  several  miles  to  the 
east.  It  was  included  in  the  "Manor  lands."  The 
woods  are  dark  and  like  a  forest.  This  name  was 
given  by  the  early  settlers  in  commemoration  of 
their  native  place. 

"Irish  Mountain"  is  near  the  center  of  the 
county.  It  is  prominent  and  overlooks  the  Schuyl- 
kill \"alley  from  the  Blue  Mountain  to  the  South 
Mountain,  especially  the  fertile  lands  which  adjoin 
the  Maiden  creek  and  its  tributaries. .  The  early 
settlers  round  about  were  mostly  Germans.  They 
named  the  hill  after  English  settlers  who  had  lo- 
cated or  rather  "squatted"  there.  The  language 
and  manners  of  the  latter  were  more  or  less  objec- 
tionable to  them,  and  they  among  themselves  en- 
tertained contempt  for  the  intruders,  and  in  con- 
versation called  them  the  "Irish." 

"Spitzenbcrg"  is  a  cone-shaped  hill  near  by  the 
Pinnacle.  Its  peculiar  shape  makes  it  conspicuous. 
It  is  not  as  elevated  as  the  mountain  to  the  north. 

Vallei's. — X^ature  has  arranged  the  earth's  sur- 
face within  the  borders  of  Berks  countv  in  a  super- 
ior manner.  Its  xolling  character,  interspersed 
with  liills  and  mountains,  and  intersected  by  num- 
erous irrigating  rivulets  and  streams,  renders  it 
most  admirable  for  successful  cultivation  with  or- 
dinary labor.  The  well-directed  energy  and  enter- 
prise of  the  farmers  have  enriched  and  improved 
it  to  a  wonderful  degree. 

.A.  depression  in  the  central  portion  of  the  county 
extends  from  the  Blue  Mountain  on  the  north  to 
the  boundary  line  on  the  southeast,  a  distance  of 
thirty-two  miles.  It  resembles  an  L  irregularly 
drawn.  It  is  called  "Schuylkill  Valley,"  and  takes 
its  name  from  the  meandering  river  that  flows 
through  its  bosom.  It  is  not  distinguished  for 
width.  Above  Reading  it  is  rather  open,  below 
rather  confined.  Valleys  enter  it  on  the  east  and 
on  the  west.  The  most  conspicuous  of  the  eastern 
valleys  are  the  Maiden-creek,  the  .\ntietam.  the 
^lonocacy  and  the  Manatawny:  and  of  the  western, 
the  Tulpchocken.  the  Wyomissing.  the  Allegheny, 
and  the  Hav-creek.  .-\11  take  their  names  from  the 
streams  v.-hich  flow  through  them.  On  both  sides 
they  begin  at  the  extreme  limits  of  the  county,  ex- 
cej)ting  the  .Antietam  and  the  Monocacy,  which  be- 
gin in  the  central  portion. 


7-r.^KTi^:^:s!rsfr 


,jjfatmtr.n:'^'9nry'^.,  .m  ■«<,»' iyV^^i**"'*'^'  •'•'•>*** 


,;    ii.  •"...  ,    Vftj    c)    r..j 


NOTE.  —  Gan'-sho-han'-nt,  meaning  "the  mother  of  waters,"  is  the  Indian  name  for  the 
Schuylkill  river.  The  Dutch  name,  Sihuylkill,  means  hidden  stream,  the  outlet  of  the 
Schuylkill  flowing  into  the  Delaware  river  being  so  widi-  as  not  to  be  ohse.Table. 

The  Schuylkill  is  the  principal  stream  of  Berks  county,  with  important  branches — Onte- 
launee  and  Manatawnv,  flowing  int.i  it  from  the  east,  .ind  Tulpcho^kcn  and  Allcghenv  from  the 
west.  They  together  flow  into  the  Delaware  river  below  Pliiladelphia,  and  thence  into  the 
Atlantic  ocean. 


p  mjir.'mji.  .yix'9 


i 


ERECTION    OF    COUNTY 


Together  those  va!lev>  present  a  remarkable  con- 
formation. They  distribute  the  water  supply  equal- 
ly. Their  depression  is  from  the  limits  of  the  county 
toward  the  center,  with  a  southerly  inclination. 
The  principal  valley  has  the  lowest  points  of  the 
county  from  tiie  northern  limit  to  the  southern. 
The  limits  on  the  east,  west  and  south  are  water- 
sheds to  a  great  degree:  in^ide  the  waters  flow 
inwardly,  but  at  the  lines  and  outside  they  flow 
outwardly — on  the  east  into  the  Lehigh  river  and 
Perkiomen  creek,  and  on  the  west  and  south  into 
the  Swatara  creek  and  Conestoga  creek,  which 
empty  into  tl:£  Susquehanna  river.  These  valleys, 
therefore,  gather  all  the  waters  within  the  county 
and  direct  them  into  and  through  its  territory  for 
the  great  benefit  of  its  industrious  inhabitants  be- 
fore they  allow  them  to  depart. 

Berks  county  occupies  the  central  portion  of  the 
large  district,  in  area  forty-si:c  hundred  square 
miles,  which  lies  between  the  Delaware  and  Sus- 
quehanna rivers.  The  plan  of  distribution  of  val- 
leys and  waters  between  these  rivers  is  marvelous, 
and  the  leaders  in  the  movement  for  the  erection 
of  the  county  in  this  large  body  of  land  displayed 
remarkable  foresight  and  knowledge  in  obtaining 
such  boundary  lines. 

The  Tulpehocken  Valley  forms  the  eastern  sec- 
tion of  the  Lebanon  Valley,  the  Swatara  Valley 
(which  extends  westwardly  through  Lebanon  and 
Dauphin  counties)  the  western  section.  These  two 
valleys  together  are  about  fifty-four  miles  long,  and 
they  take  the  name  of  Lebanon  X'alley  from  the 
town  which  occupies  the  highest  point  midway. 

There  are  other  ^'alleys.  but  they  have  only  a 
local  character  and  take  their  names  from  the  re- 
spective streams  ^vhich  flow  through  them.  There 
are  several  gaps  in  the  county,  but  the  Schuylkill' 
Gap  in  the  Blue  [Mountain,  where  the  Schuylkill 
river  enters,   possesses   the   most  marked   features. 

Streams. — Springs  are  the  great  sources  of  all 
streams.  Thev  arise  mostly  in  the  mountains  and 
elevated  portions  of  country,  and  supply  all  the 
streams  in  Berks  county,  almost  the  entire  quan- 
tity floW'ing  from  numerous  springs  which  are  sit- 
uated within  its  borders.  This  is  exceptional;  for 
comparatively  little  water  is  drained  from  the  ad- 
joining counties  into  Berks  county,  but  a  great 
quantity  is  drained  from  Berks  county  into  all  the 
adjoining  counties,  excepting  Schuylkill  county  on 
the  north.  This  indicates  that  the  borders  of  Berks 
county  are  higher  than  the   surrounding  territory. 

Bethel  township,  in  the  northwest,  is  entirely 
drained  by  the  Little  Swatara  creek  into  the  i>wa- 
tara,  and  the  waters  pass  through  Lebanon  and 
Dauphin  counties  into  the  Susquehanna  river. 
Caernarvon  township,  on  the  south,  is  entirely 
drained  bv  the  Little  Conestoga  and  Muddy  creeks, 
into  the  Conestoga,  and  the  waters  pass  through 
Lancaster  county  into  the  Susquehanna  river.  A 
part  of  L'nion  township,  on  the  southeast,  is  drained 
bv  French  creek,  and  the  waters  pass  through 
Chester  countv  into  the  Sohuvlkill  river.     Consid- 


erable parts  of  the  ea-'tern  townships  (Colebrook- 
dale,  \Vashington  and  Hereford)  are  drained  by 
Perkiomen  creek,  and  the  waters  pass  through 
Montgomery  county  into  the  Schuylkill.  And  the 
greater  part  of  Longswamp  township  on  the  north- 
east, and  the  remaining  part  of  Hereford,  are 
drained  by  the  Little  Lehigh  into  Lehigh  river,  and 
the  waters  pass  through  Lehigh  county  into  the 
Delaware  river. 

The  streams  of  the  county  are  numerous.  They 
irrigate  every  section  and  contribute  much  to  the 
natural  fertility  of  the  soil.  The  most  conspicuous 
feature  of  the  water  system  is  the  Schuylkill  river. 
Streams  flow  into  it  from  the  east  and  from  the 
west,  and  the  territory  on  each  side,  thus  supplied, 
is  about  equal  in  area.  On  the  eastern  side,  begin- 
ning in  the  upper  section,  they  are  1,  Windsor; 
2,  Perry;  3,  ]\Iaiden  creek  (which  has  two  principal 
tributaries  flowing  into  it,  both  on  the  east — !Mose- 
lem  and  Sacoiiy)  ;  4,  Laurel  Run;  5,  Bernhart  Run; 
G,  Rose  \'alley  run;  7,  xA.ntietam ;  8,  ]\Ionocacy; 
and  9,  ]\L-inatawny  (which  has  two  principal  tribu- 
taries flowing  into  it — the  Ironstone  from  the  east, 
and  the  Little  ]\Iaiiatawny  from  the  wesf).  Of 
these,  the  Maiden  creek  and  Manatawny  are  espe- 
cially large.  The  Bernhart  run  and  the  Antietam 
( formerly,  for  a  time,  known  as  Ohlinger  creek) 
have  been  entirely  appropriated  by  the  city  of  Read- 
ing for  a' municipal  water  supply. 

On  the  western  side  they  are  1.  [Mill  creek;  2, 
Irish  creek;  3,  Tulpehocken;  4.  .. Wyomissing;  5, 
Angelica;  6,  Allegheny;  7,  Hay  creek;  8,  S'xpenny; 
and"  9,  Mill  creek.  Of  these,  the  Tulpehocken.  Wy- 
omissing and   Hay  creek  are  especially  large. 

All  the  streams  mentioned  afford  valuable  water- 
power.  They  attracted  the  attention  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county  and  their  ine.xhaustible  sup- 
ply was  fully  appreciated,  having  been  appropriated 
immediately  by  the  settlers,  and  turned  to  account 
in  running  gristmills  and  iron  forges.  Many  of 
the  earlv  deeds  on  record  relate  to  this. 

Schuylkill— The  word  Schuylkill  is  of  Dutch  or- 
igin and  means  Hidden  creek,  or  Skulk  creek.  The 
Dutch  named  the  river  when  they  took  possession 
of  the  land  about  its  mouth.  The  outlet  is  very 
wide  and  deceiving,  and  appears  to  be  a  part  of  the 
Delaware  river  instead  of  being  a  tributary.  By 
some  persons  it  is  said  to  be  of  Indian  origin,  but 
this  is  not  correct.  The  name  given  to  it  by  the 
Indians  was  "Ganshowehanne/'  which  means  a 
roaring  or  falling  'Stream.  Rupp  says  they  called 
it  "Manajung,"  which  means  mother.  The  river 
rises  in  Schuylkill  county.  It  flows  generally  in  a 
southeasterly  direction  and  traverses  the  State  for 
a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles, 
until  it  empties  into  the  Delaware  river  at  Phila- 
delphia. It  has  many  important  branches  which 
flow  into  it  on  the  east  and  on  the  west,  from  its 
source  to  its  mouth.  These  contribute  much  to  the 
phvsical  and  productive  welfare  of  the  southeastern 
section  of  the  State.  Together  they  drain  a  very 
large  area  of  territory. 


r^^^^fW^:^  ii.— ^Ji 


'  "-;:=«^-*F.'-  •^r_''«»ss'<Vf-'.\'5«*. ; «  c^;*~' 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    rEXXSYL\-ANIA 


The  imiwrtant  branchc-  are  the  followino::  On 
the  east,  beginning-  in  the  north:  1,  Main  Branch; 

2,  Little    Schuylkill    ( formerly    called    Taniaqua)  ; 

3,  Maiden  creek;  4,  .Mauatauny;  5,  i'erki'>men; 
and  6,  Wissahickon :  and  on  the  \\e>t :  1,  West 
Dranch ;  2,  Bear  creek;  ;),  Tnlpeht  x.'ken  ;  4.  W'vi'- 
missing;  5,  French  creek;  and  6,  Pickering.  Each 
is  conspicuous  for  length  and  large  tlow  of  water: 
and  in  a  general  way  they  are  about  ec[ual  in  these 
respects.  This  harmony  in  their  proportions  is 
wonderful.  The  earliest  drafts  ^how  the  Maiden 
creek,  Manatawny  and  Tulpehocken,  which  indi- 
cates that  the  surveyors  regarded  them  of  more 
than  ordinary  importance.  The  Schuylkill  is  not 
only  the  grand  trunk  of  this  sy.-teni  of  water,  but 
it  occupies  the  central  line  of  the  territory  in  which 
this  system  is  arranged. 

Latitude  and  Loxgitlde. — The  county  of  Berks 
lies  in  the  lower  central  portion  of  the  Xorth  Tem- 
perate Zone,  between  40°  and  41°  Xorth  Latitude, 
and  between  ^°  and  1^°  East  Longitude,  reck- 
oning from  Washington. 

Relative  Elevations. — The  following  state- 
ment exhibits  the  elevation,  above  mean  ocean  tide, 
at  Philadelphia,  of  the  several  places  in  FJerks  coun- 
ty, and  other  places  out  of  the  county,  as  compared 
with  Reading,  in  different  directions.  The  figures 
to  the  left  of  the  places  indicate  the  distance  in 
miles  from  Reading,  and  those  to  the  right,  the 
elevation  in  feet. 

Reading 

Seventh  and   Penn  "Streets    265  feet 

Foot   of   Penn   Street    198   feet 

Miles  North  F''<=' 

17      Hamburc;    372 

35       Pottsville     611 

Tamaqua 800 

Northeast 
18..-)  Topton    482 

36      Allentovvn     254 

East 

Mana'.awny   189 

Boyertowii     386 

Barto 466 

Southeast 
9      Birdsboro   170 

18      Pottstown   147 

41      Norristown     72 

58 Philadelphia     25 

South 

13.0   White    Bear    346 

19.2   Joanna    624 

Southwest 

8.5    Fritztown    460 

10      Deep-Cut    570 

35      ; . .  .  .Lancaster    ^-''O 

45       Columbia      261 

West 

.15      -. Womelsdor ' 453 

2S       Lebanon     463 

54      Harrisburs     318 

Iron  Ore. — The  mining  of  different  ores  wa<^ 
carried  on  quite  extensively  from  the  beginning  of 
the  settlements  in  Berks  county,  particularly  iron 
and   copper.     The   former  of   these   was   mined   in 


coimection  with  the  manufacture  of  charcoal  iron. 
Rich  deposits  were  found  at  many  places  within 
the  limits  of  the  county,  and  became  a  great  source 
of  profit  to  miners  and  manufacturers.  These  de- 
posits v.ere  mostly  in  the  townships  of  Cumrn,  .Al- 
sace, Oley,  Ruscombmanor,  Colebro<:>kdale  and 
Caernarvon,  and  along  the  East  Penn  Valley. 

In  1S80  the  Census  Report  placed  Berks  county 
third  in  the  list  of  ore-producing  counties  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  seventh  in  the  United  States.  The 
iron  ore  ])roduced  in  that  year  was  2'y-l,\)  U)  tons  and 
over  one  hundred  mines  were  in  successful  opera- 
tion. The  character  of  the  ore  v.'as^primitive  and 
hematite. 

Copper  Ore. — It  is  believed  that  copper  ore  was 
found  in  the  southern  section  of  the  county  before 
1700.  Subsequentl} .  a  tract  of  one  thousand  acres 
of  land  came  to  be  owned  and  occupied  by  David 
J(jnes.  in  1735,  and  he  mined  large  quantities  of 
copper  ore,  causing  the  locality  to  be  known  from 
that  time  until  now  as  the  "Jones  Mines."  X^o  sta- 
tistics have  been  published  relating  to  it.  It  was 
operated  at  different  times  afterward  for  nearly  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years. 

Cl.ws. — A  number  of  beds  of  clay  have  been 
found  and  worked  in  recent  years,  which  are  de- 
scribed in  the  several  townships  where  the  opera- 
tions have  been  carried  on. 

Minerals. — Prof.  David  B.  Brunner  (prominent 
educator  of  Berks  county  for  many  years)  tabu- 
lated a  list  of  the  minerals  found  in  the  county  and 
this  list  comprises  seventy  different  kinds. 

Geology. — A  geological  survey  of  Pennsylvania 
was  made  from  iSSS  to  1S57  by  the  State,  and  this 
immediate  section,  including  Berks  county,  was 
found  to  contain  four  principal  strata,  which 
extend  through  the  county  from  nurtheast  to  south- 
west. By  a  published  map  it  appears  that  the  slate 
formation  covered  nearly  the  upper  half  of  the 
county,  or  four-tenths;  the  limestone,  the  central 
section,  or  three-tenths;  the  white  sandstone,  the 
lower  central,  or  one-tenth ;  and  the  red  sandstone, 
the  lower,  or  two-tenths. 

CONDITIONS  OF  TERRITORY 
When  the  province  of  Pennsylvania  was  granted 
to  William  Penn  by  Charles  II.,  King  of  Great 
Britain,  in  1681,  no  township  or  county  organiza- 
tions existed  within  its  limits.  But  the  arrival  of 
Penn  was  the  dawn  of  governinent,  progress  and 
civilization,  and  within  a  month  afterward  he 
caused  three  counties  to  be  laid  out — Bucks,  Chester 
and  Philadelphia.  County  government  then  began, 
and  county  representation  in  the  Provincial  As- 
sembly was  inaugurated. 

During  this  period,  thousands  of  immigrants 
came  into  the  province  and  effected  permanent  set- 
tlements ;  and  each  succeeding  year  found  them 
farther  removed  from  the  county-seats  of  the  coun- 
ties named.  They  proceeded  up  the  courses  of 
streams  mostly.  \'ery  few  followed  the  'Streams 
from  their  sources  to  their  outlet^.     Only  one  col- 


"."?t-r.t«Mfti»"WJ:T'» 


*.';— •wi':T?'.:^y,i.  :■«"' 


•  •*f^';:,9t«oi^s^    r^>^v 


^       iVd 


ERECTION    OF    COUNTY 


ony  came  from  New  York  overland,  and  this  was 
nearly  fifty  years  after  the  settlements  liad  Leg-un, 
and  the  g-overnment  had  been  gjiven  a  fixed  ciiarac- 
ter.  Nearly  all  landed  at  I'hiiadelphia  :  and  thence 
the  great  majority  proceeilcd  toward  the  interior 
districts  and  the  head-waters  of  -treams.  This  is 
particularly  the  case  with  the  Schuylkill  river  and 
all  its  tributaries. 

The  settlements  between  the  Schuylkill  and  Del- 
aware rivers  were  numerous  before  ITOO.  Every 
decade  thereafter  found  them  farther  northward 
from  the  \\'is^ahicko.n  to  the  Perkiomen,  from  the 
Perkiomen  to.  the  .Manatawny,  and  from  the  Alan- 
atawny  to  the  Maiden  creek.  And  so  they  pro- 
ceeded between  the  Schuylkill  and  Susquehanna 
rivers. 

Gradually  those  who  had  settled  in  the  interior 
districts  toward  the  niounfj.ins  began  to  feel  the 
inconvenience  and  expense  incident  to  their  location. 
They  were  compelled  to  travel,  regardless  of  roads 
or  weather,  to  the  county-seat  far  removed  from 
their  settlements,  and  to  haul  their  goods  many 
miles  to  the  market  before  they  could  realize  any 
value  for  the  products  of  tlieir  hard  manual  labor. 
Naturally  they  felt  inclined  to  improve  their  condi- 
tion. A  county  organization  was  the  first  step 
toward  accomplishing  this  object,  as  well  to  bring 
the  county-seat  into  their  midst  as  to  create  a  mar- 
ket near  by  for  the  disposition  of  their  produce. 

But.  notwithstanding  the  numerous  settlements 
and  the  large  population  in  the  great  district  of 
territory  east  of  the  Schuylkill  and  south  of  the 
Blue  Mountain,  no  additional  counties  were  erected 
before  1750.  It  was  different  to  the  west  of  the 
Schuylkill.  The  tide  of  immigration  seems  t^v  have 
been  greater  in  that  direction.  They  did  not  have 
the  natural  facilities  to  enable  them  to  reach  their 
county  seat  in  Chester  county,  as  the  settlers  had 
in  the  districts  to  the  east  of  them,  which  lay  in 
Philadelphia  and  Bucks  counties.  In  1129  they, 
induced  the  Executive  Coimcil  to  separate  them 
from  Chester  county  and  erect  their  settlements 
into  a  new  county,  which  they  called  Lancaster. 

During  the  first  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century 
many  immigrants  proceeded  to  the  right  into  Per- 
kiomen Valley  along  the  West  Branch,  and  into 
Oley  Valley  along  the  Manatawny  and  its  tribu- 
taries. These  were  mostly  Germans:  some  were 
EngHsh,  and  others  Swedes.  Other  immigrants, 
mostly  Welsh,  proceeded  to  the  left  into  Conestoga 
Valley.  The  settlements  for  miles  on  both  sides 
of  the  river  were  mostly  confined  to  the  south  of 
the  .succession  of  hills  commonly  called  South 
Mountain.  This  was  especially  the  case  to  the  right. 
In  this  district  of  territory  the  settlements  were 
then  known  by  the  names  ".\mity,"  "Oley"  and 
"Colebrookdale."  But  to  the  left,  a  small  settle- 
ment of  Germans  had  taken  place  in  the  Tulpe- 
hocken  \'a]ley,  the  enterpri;^ing  settlers  having  come 
down  the  Susquehanna  river  from  New  York,  and 
migrated  eastwardly  to  the  head-waters  of  the  Tul- 
pehocken  creek;  and  another  settlement,  of  English 


(commonly  called  "Friends"')  and  Welsh,  had  taken 
place  along  the  Allegheny  and  Wyomissing  creeks. 
These  settlements  were  known  by  tUe  names  "Tul- 
pehocken"  and  "Robeson,"  An  earlier  settlement 
t(i  the  south  was  called  "Caernarvon."  Accord- 
ingly, durmg  the  tirst  quarter  of  that  century,  six 
distmct  settlements  in  this  vicinity  had  come  to  be 
formed  and  recognized. 

During  the  second  quarter,  the  way  for  settle- 
ments north  of  the  South  Mountain  was  opened  b}- 
the  purchase  of  the  territory  from  the  Indians- 
The  Friends  were  the  first  to  enter  the  new  dis- 
trict to  the  right  of  the  river.  They  took  up  large 
tracts  of  land  along  the  Ontelaunee,  called  by  them 
Alaiden  creek.  Many  Germans  followed  imme- 
diately afterward.  x\nd  to  the  left,  many  Germans, 
Friends,  and  Welsh  were  added  to  the  settlements 
along  the  Tulpehocken,  Wyomissing  and  Alleghenv 
creeks. 

Improvements  were  carried  on  with  great  energv 
and  success  throughout  the  great  valleys  which  lay 
between  the  South  Mountain  and  the  Kittatinny 
Mountain  (sometimes  called  "North,"  but  com- 
monly "Blue  Ridge").  New  districts  were  formed 
to  encourage  local  government  and  to  facilitate 
intercourse.  To  the  right  they  were  called  Doug- 
lass, Exeter,  Ruscombmanor,  Alsace,  Maxatawny, 
Maiden-creek.  Richmond.  Longswanq)  and  .\llc- 
mengle;  and  to  the  left,  Heidelberg,  Bern,  Cumru, 
Bethel  and  Brecknock.  Altogether,  till  1750,  the 
districts  were  twenty  in  number.  This  was  the 
territorial  situation  of  the  settlements  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  province  toward  the  close  of  the  second 
quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

The  settlers  had  provided  themselves  with  meet- 
ing-houses and  schools  for  their  religious  and  secu- 
lar education.  In  this  respect  they  had  exhibited 
commendable  zeal.  The  German  population  pre- 
dominated ;  consequently,  the  preaching  and  teach- 
ing were  mostly  done  in  the  German  language.  But 
the  Friends  were  not  backward.  Thev  were  prom- 
inent in  Oley,  Exeter,  Robeson  and  Maiden-creek: 
and  their  schools  were  distinguished  for  excel- 
lence. 

Manufactures  were  carried  on  ever\'where :  spin- 
ning was  a  common,  if  not  a  necessary  employ- 
ment in  every  household.  \\'earing  apparel  was 
home-made;  carpenters,  masons,  blacksmiths  and 
shoemakers  were  in  every  locality:  and  iron  ore 
mines  and  furnaces  and  forges  were  in  operation 
to  the  north,  south,  east  and  west. 

The  great  highways  were  comparatively  few, 
the  most  prominent  public  road  being  the  Tulpe- 
hocken. It  extended  from  the  Tulpehocken  settle- 
ment in  the  west,  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  -•;« 
the  ford  across  the  Schuvlkill  (now  the  site  of.  the 
Penn  street  bridge  at  Reading^  and  Pine  Iron 
Works,  to  Philavlelphia.  From  this  ford  a  prom- 
inent road  extended  to  the  north,  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  river,  called  Maiden-creek  road;  and 
another  to  the  south,  on  the-  western  side,  called 
Schu\lkill  road. 


:'1'S?=i'^.ae.=»:ii*™«'>«(TpT;=v.3»S;7C4 


i.r-^fT  'UAirmy-}^ 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    TEXXSYLVAXIA 


This  point  of  concentration  naturally  attracted 
attention  toward  thi?  locality  as  a  practicable  place 
for  a  town-site.  Elsewhere,  for  many  miles 
round  about,  there  was  no  town,  not  even  a  village; 
and  there  were  then  apparently  no  step-  toward 
foundinj^  either.  But  just  as  the  settlers  had  labored 
for  years  to  establish  a  count\-  out  of  the  surround- 
ing territory,  similar  efforts  were  expended  for  a 
town  here. 

PETITIONS   FOR  COUNTY 

The  first  efforts  for  the  establishment  of  a  new 
county  out  of  the  upper  sectiLms  of  Philadelphia 
and  Lancaster  counties,  adjoining  the  Schuylkill, 
were  niade  in  the  latter  part  of  17ob.  (,)n  Jan. 
13th,  of  that  year,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the 
province  laid  before  the  Council  two  petitions  ad- 
dressed to  him — one  from  the  inhabitants  of  Prov- 
idence, Limerick,  etc.,  in  Philadelphia  county  :  and 
the  other  from  the  inhabitants  nf  the  northeast 
side  of  the  county  of  Lancaster  (  with  a  map  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania) — praying  that  a  new 
county  may  be  bounded  as  by  the  dividing  lines 
in  the  said  map,  for  that  they  labor  under  great 
inconveniences  and  damage  by  reason  of  their 
distance  from  the  courts  held  at  Philadelphia  and 
Lancaster,  and  for  many  other  reasons  in  the  said 
petition  mentioned ;  which  were  read  and  ordered 
to  lie  on  the  table  for  further  consideration.  The 
first  petition  has  not  been  found :  but  a  copy  of 
the  other  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Historical 
Society  of  Pennsylvania  at  Philadelphia,  and  it 
includes  the  names  of  172  subscribers,  of  which  the 
first  61  were  Welsh,  the  others  Germans. 

In  May,  1739,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  addressed 
a  message  to  the  Assembly,  in  which  he  referred 
to  these  petitions,  but  the  Assembly  took  no  action. 
The  petitioners  waited  patiently  for  six  years  with- 
out any  progress  in  the  matter ;  then  they  forwarded 
another  petition,  renewing  their  request  for  a  new 
county.  It  was  read  to  the  Council,  "and  their  case 
being  thought  proper  to  be  recommended  to  the 
Assembly,  the  same  was  done,"  in  a  message  sim- 
ilar to  the  first.  The  Assembly  ordered  it  to  lie  on 
the  table.  It  was  signed  by  John  Potts,  Henry 
Harry,  William  Bird,  Francis  Parvin  and  num- 
erous  other   inhabitants. 

On  Jan.  1-1,  174."),  a  similar  petition  was  ]ire- 
sented,  in  which  the  petitioners  (the  persons  named 
"in  behalf  of  themselves  and  a  great  many  other 
inhabitants")  prayed  "that  their  former  petition 
might  now  be  considered."  It  was  read  and  or- 
dered to  lie  on  the  table.  The  next  day  (15th) 
it  was  again  read,  but  referred  for  further  con- 
sideration. In  two  weeks  afterward  Ton  the  3nth). 
another  "petition  from  a  considerable  number  of 
inhabitants  of  Philadelphia  and  Lancaster  counties, 
praying  to  be  set  off  into  a  new  county,"  was  pre- 
sented, read  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table.  On 
Feb.  28,  1745,  sundry  persons  appeared  before  the 
House  and  urged  the  matter  of  the  erection  of  this 


new  county,  but  the  matter  was  dropped  for  five 
years  more. 

In  the  mean  time  settlements  had  been  extended 
westwardly  and  northwestwardly  beyond  the  Sus- 
quehanna river.  York  county  was  erected  on  Aug. 
19,  1749,  and  Cumberland  county  on  Jan.  27,  175U, 
both  out  of  the  westerly  part  of  Lancaster  county. 
This  successful  action  on  the  part  of  the  German 
settlers  west  of  the  Susquehanna  awakened  a  new 
interest  in  behalf  of  the  new  county  between  the 
Susquehanna  and  the  Delaware ;  for,  some  months 
afterward  (^Ia\  7,  1750),  a  petition  was  presented 
and  read,  but  again  it  was  not  effective.  If  they 
were  then  disappointed,  they  were  not  discouraged. 
Their  determ.ination  prepared  them  for  another 
effort.  A  year  afterward,  they  tried  it  again. 
They  caused  their  petition  to  be  brought  up  before 
the  Assembly  Aug.  16,  1751,  and  read  a  second 
time;  but  it  was  "referred  to  the  consideration  of 
the  next  Assembly." 

When  the  next  Assembly  met,  these  earnest 
petitioners  were  on  hand.  They  prepared  the  way 
by  presenting  still  another  petition,  Feb.  4,  1752, 
which  represented — 

Tliat  they  were  inhabitants  of  Reading-town,  upon 
the  Schuylkill.  That  they  had  settled  in  the  said  town, 
expecting  that  it  would  be  a  great  place  of  trade  and 
business,  and  had  put  themselves  to  vast  expenses  in 
building  and  removing  thither  with  their  families,  several 
of  whom  had  left  tolerably  good  plantations;  that  though 
the  said  town  had  not  above  one  house  in  it  about  two 
years  ago  (17o0),  yet  it  now  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty  dwelling-houses,  besides  forty-one  stables  and 
other  out-houses;  and  that  there  were  one  hundred  and 
sixty  families,  consisting  of  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  persons,  settled  therein;  that  they  had  good  reason 
to  believfe  that  in  another  summer  they  would  be  much 
increased,  as  the  chief  part  of  the  province  that  could 
be  settled  was  already  taken  up,  and  the  settling  of  the 
town  would  be  of  great  benefit  to  tradesmen  and  others 
who  are  not  able  to  purchase  tracts  of  land  to  live  on; 
that  they  humbly  conceived  it  their  interest,  to  the  iion- 
orable  proprietaries  as  well  as  to  themselves,  and  that 
unless  this  House  would  be  pleased  to  erect  part  of  the 
counties  of  Philadelphia.  Chester  and  Lancaster  into  a 
separate  county,  they  slioidd  be  '-ntirely  disappointed 
in  their  expectations,  notwithstanding  all  the  cost  and 
trouble  they  had  been  at;  they  therefore  prayed  that  this 
House  would  take  their  case  into  consideration  and  grant 
theni  relief  by  erecting  such  parts  of  said  counties  as 
they  should  think  most  proper  into  a  new  county,  with 
the  same  privileges  that  the  other  counties  of  this  prov- 
ince enjoyed;  and  that  the  seat  of  judicature  should  be 
fi.xed  within  the  said  town  of  Reading. 

.A.nd  on  the  following  day  (5th)  another  petition 
was  presented,  in  which  they  stated  that 

Although  their  grievances  were  laid  before  the  As- 
semblies of  this  Province  several  years  past,  and  their 
petition  again  renewed  at  the  last  sitting  of  the  .Assembly. 
yet  as  they  find  the  causes  of  their  complaint  still  grow- 
ing, they  humbly  beg  leave  further  to  represent  tiiat 
they  are  settled  at  a  very  great  distance  from  the  place 
of  judicature,  many  of  them  not  le=s  than  one  hundred 
miles,  which  i*  a  real  hardship  upon  thn<:e  who  are  so 
unhappy  as  to  be  -iued  for  debts,  their  charges  in  long 
journeys,  and  sometimes  in  severe  weather,  with  the 
officers'  fees,  amounting  to  near  as  much,  if  not  more, 
than   the   debts;    that    the   hardships   on   jurymen,   consta- 


'..•<ra«i*f>.<-*^;- 


-V'V'V^  V.%li»?S:«fi»^.--:^4*li«''?'"«?"'>'S;<---i  /•■^i-TS"  If/' 


ERECTION  OF    COLXTY                                                             7 

Lies,    etc.,   in    being;   olilit^ed    to    attend    when    required,    is  farther  on :    which   caused   complaint-^   to  arise    bo- 

alio  verv  great:   that  new   there   is   a   rcw   town   laid   out  „_„<-„    ti.^    ^^i,v:„-„                 ^-           t    •         ,       '    ,      ' 

by  the  Proprietaries'  Order,  within  nftecn  perches  of  the  ""^^^^^    ^'''^    adjoinm-    counties    claimed    and    exer- 

division    line    between    Phila.Ielphia    and    Lancaster    coun-  ci>ed    the    right    of    levying    taxes    On    the    inhabi- 

ties,  and  above  one  hundred  and  thirty  houses  built,  and  tants   and   their  property   aloncr   the   line"? 

near    as    many_  families    liv>n,,'    therein;    it    is    very    easy  ^,,    ^^^^    ^^.^^    therefot^e    pass^'ed    On    Februarv    18 

for   rogues    ana   others   to   escape   justice   by  crossing   the  -.^..o        ,.•   ,          ^i       ■       i     ,                       .     .                '          ' 

Schuylkill,    which    has    alreadv    been    their    practice    for  1' <^-:  ^^ ''^^h  authorized  three  commissioners  to  run 

some    years;    that,    though    their    grievances    when    laid  ^''^  '""'e^  between  Lanca.-ter,  Cumberland  and  Berks 

before  the  Assembly  some  years  past  were  not  redressed,  counties    on    the    west,    and    between    Northampton 

because  of  other  weighty  affairs  being  at  that  time  under  and  Berks  counties  on  the  northeast,  bv  actual  sur- 

consideration,  yet  the  pravcr  of  their  petition  was  thought  .,,„,    „_,i  «..f„_,i  ^u^„,  ;„  „          .u       \.   '    '  m 

,,          J    i.             u                  •  ■            u  •         ■  ^'-Y'  '^nci  extena  tnem  in  at  northwestwardly  course 

reasonable,    and    the    number    ot    petitioners    being    since  "^               u     i       i                            » i.  >"  v-otvv  ai  uiv   (_uui5c 

doubled    by    the    increase    of    the    back    inhabitants;    they  ^^  tar  as  the  lands  extended  which  were  purchased 

therefore  pray  that  this  House  would  grant  relief  in  the  from  the  Indians  by  the  Proprietaries  in  1708. 

premises,     by     erecting     them     into     a     separate     county.  The  territory  to  the  east  of  the  Schuylkill  river 

bounded    as    to    the    wisdom    of    the    House    shall    seem  ,,,.,.    4.,.i.-„„    f,.^~    xji  -i^^^i    u-               .         '   ,     , 

jjgg^  was  taken   from    Philadelphia  county,  and  that  to 

the  west  from  Lancaster  and  Chester  counties.    The 

In    pursuance    of    the     reference,    the    [>etition  estimated  area  of  the  county,  as  at  present  bounded, 

was   read   on  the  5th,   and   referred   for  the  next  from  each  of  them    is  as  follows: 

day.     The  Gth  arrived  and  it  was  read  again  and 

referred.        On    the    12th,    the    same    proceedings  ,-,,.,    .  ,  ,  .                                                                   Acres 

,      ,        A      1   r-      1,  .       ^ ,,  ,       .  Jrnilaaelpnia    county     280  nnn 

were  had.     And  finally,  on  the  13th,  the  monotony    r  '  "  ^su.noo 

r  J.  ,        r  '  .1  r  u    '       Lancaster   county    238,500 

of   readmg      and   reterence   was   broken;   for   then     Chester   countv    7  50o 

the   House,   after   having   considered   the   petition,  ' 

and   also   the   petitions    from    Reading.   "Resolved,  526  ooo 

that  the  petitioners  have  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  ^^                         „ 

pursuant  to  the  praver  of  their  petition."  Districts    at    ERECTiox.-At   the    time    of   the 

On  that  day,  some  of  the  petitioners  presented  '""'f^"  J^  '^^  county  there  were  twenty  districts 

4.U         1        u  r        ..u     Tj-                I    1     •     J  1           .L  o^  townships,  and  takmj^:  the  river  as  the  natural 

themselves  before  the  House  and  desired  leave  to  ,•   •,•        i-         ,                "      ,  „ 

u     u       J              .•       4.U     T,        J        I  •  u  .u            1  dividing  line,  thev  were  as  follows: 

be  heard  respecting  the  bounds  which  they  under-  ^         >        . 

stood   the   House   proposed    for   a   new   county   in  eastern  division 

case  it  should  be  granted.     Tlieir  objections  were  Am,„„                                     t 

,          ,            A        i4.                      ■                -u              ^-  Albany                                       -   Longswamp 

heard ;    and,    atter    answering    such    questions   as  Alsace                                        Maiden-creek 

were  put  to  them,  they  wiihdrev\-.  Amity                                        Maxatawny 

On   the   18th,   the  bill   was    read   the   first   time  nnnX°«'''^'''                          ^'"'^       a 

,          ,         ,            ,.                ,            ,,          /-,,,„,  Douglass                                     -    Richmond 

and   ordered   to   lie   on   the   table.      On   the    19th,  Exeter                                        Ruscombmanor 

it  was   read  a  second  time,  considered   paragx-aph  western  division 
by    paragraph,    and.    after    some    debate,    ordered 

to    be   transcribed    for   a    third    reading.      On    the  ^"^  ,                                        9^^J^, 

on^u    •<.                   J       4.U-   J  ^-               A               ^u  Bethel                        .                    Heidelberg                        •: 

20th,  It  was  read  a  third  time,  and,  upon  the  ques-  Brecknock                                 Robeson                          •■ 

tion  that  the  bill  do  pass  it  \vas  ordered  to  be  Caernarvon  -  Tulpehocken 
given  the  Governor  for  his  concurrence.  After  .^  /-  -r-i  •  , 
some  consideration  and  amendments,  the  Act  was  Boundaries  of  County.— The  county  is  bound- 
finally  passed  on  March  11,  ir.V?.  So,  after  the  ^^  O"  ^^e  northwest  by  Schuylkill  county,  the  Blue 
lapse'  of  fourteen  years,  the  zeal  and  persistent  Mountain  forming  a  natural  boundary  line  in  length 
efforts  of  the  petitioners  were  at  last  crowned  with  about  thirty-six  miles ;  on  the  northeast  by  Lehigh 
success.  The  Act  specified  the  name  of  the  county  county,  the  line  extending  S.  49  degrees  E.,  twentv- 
to  be  "Berks,"  fixed  the  boundarv'  lines,  authorized  four  miles;  on  the  southeast  by  Montgomery  countv 
the  erection  of  county  buildings  for  the  public  serv-  and  Chester  county,  the  line  along  the  former  ex- 
ice,  and  gave  the  inhabitants  the  customary  powers  tending  S.  33i  degrees  W..  si.xteen  and  one-fifth 
of  local  government,  etc.  j^jles^  an^j  the' line'" along  the  latter.  S.  53  degrees 
,^^"'^^>'"?  Commissioners,  appointed  in  the  Act  ^y  ^j^^^^  ^^j  ^  half  miles;  and  on  the  southwest 
|Edward  Scull  ot  Philadelphia  countv,  Benjamm  ^v  Lancaster  county  and  Lebanon  countv,  the  entire 
Lightfoot  of  Chester  countv,  and  ihc>mas  Cook-  ,.'  ,  ,.  ,,-  ,\,  ,  t^-  ^i  •  ^  '  •  •, 
son  of  Lancaster  countvV  made  a  survey  of  the  Ime  extending  N.  49^  degrees  W  ..  thirty-mne  tniles. 
boundarv-  lines  of  the  new  county  extendfng  them  ^^°"S  the  former  county  nineteen  miles,  and  along 
as   far  as  the   Susquehanna  river,  which  y,-as  then  ^he  latter  twenty  miles. 

the  limit  of  settlements.  The  population  of  the  new  coumy  at  the  time 

The    settlers,    soon    ascertaining    that    the    lines  of  its  erection  cannot  be  approximately  estimated. 

were  run,  then  extended  their  settlements  rapidly  It  may  have  been  about  twelve  tbousand. 


'TV^n  ■f,.':..i1'-K 


HISTORY    OF    r.ERKS    COUXTV,    PENXSYLX^WIA 


First  AsiCi^iiEXT,  1T34 

E.\ST£SN    DIVISION 


Dislr^cts  Tax     Levied     X^"*'        '  Collectors 

•AlbaiiT. ;^  1'^     Is.  6d.      63  Corm'lius    Trci:.s 

AUacJ 1  IT  14  0  ,     59, 

Amity I  -1.V  9  '  1   139, John    Webb 

CoiLbrookdale.  .  .  ;  23,   4  G  .     81,.\icholas  Isch 

Dougi.iss ,         ;  I  !         i 

Exettr :  31i  2  16  'i     S.i'Jacob  Wilcr. 

Greenwich ;  22j  3  j  |     7.)  Frederick    .N[uye'r 

Hereford j  24  15  .G  |     69  Bencdic  Lei.-:,cr 

Longswamp '  25;  ,6  |     S2  Frederick   llelwi^ 

Maiden-creek ,|  21 1   5     6  I     SGiPaul   Rodarniell 

Maxatawnv 3li   6  ,  i     !32  .\ndre\v    lla;;rk 

Oley " 301  |6       115  Jchn    HUl 

Reading |  36|l6  ;6  .   140,Chrisi.;iij!ier   Witman 

Richmond 1  18'19  JR  j     OG'Abrain  Kicier 

Ruscoinbmanor. .  I  14il0  M  '     53, Anthony    Peck 

Windsor i  28ll6     G  '   10], Leonard  Recver 

409     6  1.250 

WESTERN'  DIVIS'OM 


Bern 

Bethel 

Brecknock. . . 
Caernarvon . . 

Cumru 

Heidelberg. . . 

Robeson 

Tulpehocken. 
Union 


52110s. 

6d 

17!14 

6 

6i   3 

6 

5llS 

fi 

27,10 

44il3 

17ln 

6 

84f  3 

6 

u!  4 

16^  Jacob  Reescr 
09 1  Nicholas   Wolf 
27 i  Henry   Brandle 
23l 
94fJohn    Morris 

127  i  Leonard  Grow 
73}Ephraim  Jackson 

284, Christopher   Wciser 
4L  Thomas  Pratt    -      " 


906 


BEYOND    BLUE    MOUNT.MN 


Brunswick |  £lCilSs.l 

Pine  Grove I       3;i6    !6 


56 i Francis  Yarnal) 
291  Nicholas   Long 


Total 


9      6      2,247 
Explanations 


erection  of  tb.e  couiu\  (Greenwich,  Here i or.  1. 
Readin;^,  \\'ird--or,  I'nion,  Brunswick  and  Pine- 
Gruve).  This  is  the  hr.^t  time  that  tiie  naines  of 
these  laxahlcs  v.ere  publi.^hcd,  and  no  attempt  was 
made  to  correct  the  improper  spe.'hng  in  many  in- 
stances as  reporttd  bv  tlie  several  assessors. 


Alsace. — Ta--:   ccUectnr   same   as    Reading. 

Caernarvon. — Tax  co'lector  same  as  Union. 

Douglass. — Established    in    173G,    included    with    Aniify. 

Brunswick  and  Pine  Grove  had  not  yet  been  estal)lislied 
as  Districts,  but  tlie  taxable  inhabitants  there  were  as- 
sessed. 

Assessment  made  after  erection  of  the  count>-, 
the  additional  districts  having  been  established  and  reco'g- 
nized  in  the  meantime. 


First  Taxables. — Tlie  fnllowint;-  hst-^  sh.nv  the 
names  of  the  taxables  as  thev  appear  in  a  record 
recently  found.  It  i'^  believed  that  the  .Assessment 
was  made  in  the  year  1752  or  shortly  afterward 
by  direction  of  the  Commissioners  for  the  purpose 
of  levying  the  necessary  tax  to  carry  on  tlie  local 
government :  but  1T54  has  been  set  in  at  the  head  of 
the  preceding  tabic  as  the  year  when  it  was  probablv 
prepared,  tlie  Commissioners  having  in  the  mean- 
time doubtless  taken  the  assessinent  made  of  the 
districts  in  the  original  counties  as  a  guide  until 
they  were  enabled  to  put  the  legal  inachinery  in 
proper  motion.  It  will  be  noticed  that  seven  ad- 
ditional districts  came  to  be  recognized   since   the 


Albany 


Bomgartner 
Bu.' 


.\nthon>-    .\dara 
John    Raily 
.Vrnold  Bittick 
.Adam  Boose 
Geo.    Orchard 
Anrireu-  Haign 
John    Creeker 
Chris;o(jlier   Celphack 
George    Clcannian 
Philip   Co>.glcr 
John    Michael    Corker 
Jacob  'Cuntz 
Adam    lirnrci 

Nicholas  F.mricli 
W'illiam  Firmer 
Julius  Flack 

Casper    F'oolweiier 

George    Gorncr 

Jacob    Hacker 

George    Hard 

C'hristian     tlefteler 

Christian    Henrick 

Michael    Herbester 

Fredrick   Hower 

Jacob  Jarkmer 

Martin    Kelfer 

John    Ke-dor 

Peter  Kis'jner 

Jacob  Lantz 

George   Lemher 

George    Lentz 

F"redrick   Mensel 

Tohn    Miller 


Jacob    Backer 
Henr>'    Bi!;er 
Peter    Kingi.man 
Detrick   Bittleman 
Dewait  Boom 
George  Born 
John    Clo^e 
Herman   Dchaven 
lacob    Delia ven 
"Mathias   Drenkle      ■ 
Simon  Driseliogh 
John    Eabling 
Micliael    Fether 
Micliael  Fisher 
-Adam    Garrett 
FTenry    Garrett 
Rudolph   Garrett 
Leonard    Giaser 
Fredrick    Goodhart 
Tohn   Haberacker 
Philip    Haflick 
Jacob  Heidelshoe    • 
George    Heir 
Samuel  High 
Barnard    Keller 
Conrad    Keller 
Christian   Kinsey 
George    Kline 
Mathsas    Knip 
Joh.T   Kuip 


Michael    Mowner 
Casper    Nigh 
Valentine    Peter 
.Anthony    Petershiminer 
Michael   Proabst 
Martin    Probst 
Felty   Probst 
Nicholas    Ratick 
Henry    Reifcldorfer 
Fredrick    Rickeidorfor 
Henry   Ritter 
Jacob  Stam 
William    Smader 
William    Stamp 
Philip    Staiiipack 
Tobias    Stapleton 
Nicholas  Strawser 
Daniel   Smith 
Christopher    Swing 
Peter   Treese 
Henry    Treese 
Simon    Treese 
Cornelius    Treiss 
-Andreas    Wenner 
Nicholas   Wenner 
John  Witt 
Henry    Zimmerman 

Single   Men 

Nicholas    Milderberger 
Solomon    Packerman 
Adam    Staler 


Alsace 


John  Lamer 
Jacob    Lansiscus 
George    Lorah 
Casper    Millhouse 
Baltser  Moon 
Christian     Morian 
George  Nees 
Peter    Norgong 
W^illiam    Null 
Conrad    Pop 
Philip  Rcaser 
Adam  ReifiFel 
Rinehard   Rorcbausrh 
Christopher  Spangk-r 
-Adam   Sv.-asbogh 
Jonas  Seely  Esq. 
Ernst    Seydel 
John   Smeck 
Bolser    Swenck 
Peter  Smith 
Henry  Snider 
Victor    Spice 
George  Sowerbeir 
Stephen    Shlunacker 
.Adam  Wagoner 
Lawrence   VVinscl 
Hen-y  Woif 
Francis    Yost 
Nicholas    Yost 


v^jpnsr^TisvT^  v'A-^s.** 


ERECT rOX    OF    COL'XTY 


Amity 


Rinehard    Abcrshan 
Abraiii  Andrew 
Daniel   Androw 
Mary   Anti5 
Jacob   Arlv 
Philip   Jacob    Eakcl 
Tliornas  Banfield 
Thomas   Barnard 
Joseph    Boone 
Moses   Bower 
John   Boyer 
John   Boyer 
Nicholab   Boyer 
Thomas  Bromtield 
James   Burn 
Andrew   Busserd 
Samuel  Busserd 
David    Cnnibell 
John  Campbell 
Godfrey  Cassebe 
Derick  Cleaver 
Balster  Creesman 
John    Child 
Michael  Cogel 
John   Colter 
Lawrence   Cooper 
John    Close 
Jacob   Crust 
Bridget   Davis 
Cornelius  Dehart 
Marg't  Dehart 
Edward  Douyhty 
Edward    Drury 
Francis  Eckerman 
Aaron    Eppler  . 
Lodwic  Eisey 
Morris  Ellis 
Daniel  Fraley 
John    Fretz 
Lodwic  Filiiiger 
George  Adam  Fii-her 
John    Eye 
Francis  Gibson 
Ellis  Griffith 
John   Griner 
Lodwic  Govvger 
John   Hammer 
George  Hanslcman 
Rowland    Harris 
Adam    Hatfieid 
Joseph   Holoway  ■ 
^Taf-tha   Howard 
Michael    Hufnian 
Andrew  Huling 
John  Hulings 
Marcus   Huling 
Jonas   Jones 
Nicholas   Jones 
Peter   Jones 
Felty   Keely 
John   Kerlin 
Peter  Kerlin 
John  Klinper 
Simon  Lightner 
Peter  Livergood 
Daniel    Lodwick 
Jacob  Long 
John   Lowrow 
George  Lutts 
William   Macky 
Patrick  Magwire 


John   Abler 
Christinn    V'brccht 


Stin   Maybcrry 

Hugh   McCattcry 

Michael    r^Ieiiiuger 

Hugh   Mitchell 

Mathias    Moud^ 

Jacob   Xaugk- 

Philip   Near 

Martin    Peker 

Walter    Price 

John   Potts 

John    Powell 

Adam  Reed 

Andrew  Rcingbcrry 

Jacob    Roads 

Leonard    Rodermel 

Barnabas   Rhoads 

John    Rutter 

Abijah    Sands 

John   S.mds 

Balster  Si'u 

George    Shedler 

John    Ralph    Snider 

George    Stiniier 

George   Swiger 

John    Ta\lor 

Joseph  Thomas 

Michael    Trump 

Henry  Van  reed 

Jacob   Waren 

James  Waren 

John    Waren 

Jacob    Weaver 

Peter  Weaver 

John    Webb 

George    Adam    Weidner 

Isaac  Weisman 

Stophel  Wigel 

Daniel  Will 

Elisabeth    Williams 

William    Winters 

Fredrick  Wombach 

Daniel    Won;eldor!T  ^ 

Peter  Yoacam 

John  Yocam 

Jonas  Yocam 

Single  Men 

Michael    Berfenstone 
Jeremiah   Boone 
Solomon    Bromfield 
Hugh   Caain 
Solomon   Davids 
William  Davis 
Adam    Drinknut 
Joshua  Evars 
Alexander   Gey 
Tames   Hicklc 
Samuel    Hucrhns 
M^ountz  Jone? 
Valentine   Liirhtner 
Henry    Martin 
Xicholas    Mcissner 
Peter  Jesse    Minker 
Valentine  Morte 
'^rcdrick    Stone 
Joseph  Wallick 
Daniel   Walter 
'^osenh   Williams 
William  Williams 


Bern 

'^Cob     Albmcht 

Jacob  Appier 


Valentine  Appier 

Jacob  AUwine 

Christian   Althousc 

Joim    Althouse 

Llrick    Bak'rnstove 

Jacob   Bayicr 

George  Belloman 

George  Benter 

Christian   Fierger 

David  Brecht 

Adam  Boone 

Philip  Boyer 

John    Bugs 

Jacob   Burkey 

Jaeub   i-;urkce  jun'r 

Christian  Eyler 

Nicholas   Clay 

Jacob  Conrad 

Hans    Curtr 

Titus    Denning 

Jacob   Dilman 

Mathias  Dombach 

Benedic   Domma 

John   Ebbert 

John    Eiem.an 

Adam    Eiler 

John    Faust 

Christian  Fight 

John    Fight 

Christian    Fi;-,hcr 

Hieronimus    Fisher 

Philip    Foust 

Jacob   Fox 

Fredrick  Frum 

Christian  Furry 

George    Gernant 

Eberhard   Geshwind 

Jacob  Gicker 

David   Grim 

Jacob  Grim 

Jacob   Grim 

Jacob  Good 

Abram  Hna:; 

John  Haas 

Jacob  Hackley 

Lawrence  Hansel 

Peter  Harpine 

Jacob  Hartzler 

William   Hatrick 

Yost    Heck 

Jacob  Heek 

Hieronimus  Helming 

John   Hester 

Yost  Hester 

Valentine    Himmelberger 

Jacob    Hocnstutlar 

Peter    Hofman 

Nicholas    Holler 

John  Holly 

John  Hutman 

Jacob    Jeis 

Paul  Junger 

Christian  Kaufman 

Isaac  Kaufman 

Jacob   Kaufman 

Jacob  Kaufman 

John   Reabert 

Benedic    Keprer 

George  Kershner 

Martain  Kershner 

Christian   Kershberger 

Henry   Ketner 

Peter  Krchiel 

Henry  Kicke'- 

Christian    King 

Samuel  King 

Peter  Kli.ie 


Stephen   Kurtz 
Hans   Lantz 
\V  iduw  Leib 
Michael    Lindemoth 
George    Loose 
Valentine   Long 
William  Lymister 
George  Magner 
Jacob  Mayer 
Philip    Magemer 
Jacob  Mast 
John  Meat 
John    Megemer 
Fredrick   .Me\tr 
George    Miller 
Jacob   Miller 
John    Miller 
Nicholas    .Miller 
Simon  Mink 
Valentine  Mogel 
Jacob    Neis 
Lodwic   Nicholas 
Joseph  Obald 
Casper   Philips 
Peter  Radinbach 
Ulrich  Radmacker 
Jacob   Reeser 
Adam  Rickenbach 
Nicholas  Rime 
Philip  Jacob  Rode 
John  Runkle 
Nicholas  Runcle 
Sebastian  Rutt 
Barnard  Shartlj' 
Henry   Staly 
Jacob  Stain 
Adam  Stam 
George   Schall 
Albright  Strauss 
Lodwic   Seaman 
Martain   Specht 
John   Sieber 
Conrad  Snider 
John   Snider 
John   Snider 
Samuel   Spilbert 
Nicholas   Souder 
John    Shock 
Yost   Shoemaker 
Philip  Strouse 
Adam  Stoudt 
John    Stout 
Martha  Stoudt 
Michael  Stout 
Christian   Stutzman 
Jacob    Stutzman 
John   Tomlinson 
\\'^ininm  Tomlinson 
George    Tripner 
Baltas   I'r'hohavir.nr 
George   Wagoner 
Herman   Weaver 
Mathias  Weaver 
Jacob  Weidman 
George  Weidman 
Andrew  Weiler 
Jacob   Wet:^ler 
Christian    Kurtz   ^ViIlets 
James    Williamson 
Andrew  Winter 
Samuel    Wollason 
Barnhard  Wommer 
Nicholas   Wommer 
Christian    Yoder 
Christian   Yoder  Jun'r 
Tacob   Yoder 
John  Yoder 


if.  -ibj **■>•'■': 


10 


HISTdRY    C)1-    BERKS    OjL'XTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


John   Young 
Rolar.d  Young 
Joseph    ZoUbcrKcr 
Chr;=tian   Zoog 
Moritz  Zocg 
Hans  Zimmerman 


John  Apple 
Christian    Bartorf 
John    Adam    l^>artorf 
George  Berger 
Henry   Berger 
George   Besehore 
Thomas  Bover 
Adam  Daniel 
Jacob  Dene 
Peter   Delrick 
John   Eichgelberyer 
Martin  Eichgeiberger 
Martin    Eisenhocker 
Balster  Emrich 
John  Emrich 
Jacob  Emrich 
George    Emrich 
Leonard    Emrich 
John  France 
Conrnth   Further 
Nicholas  Gebhart 
George   Groft 
Michael  GrofF 
Michael   Groseman 
Lorentz  Haucks 
Christopher  Herold 
Martin    Kapler 
Christopher    Knebel 
Andrew   Kremer 
Henry  Kowbel 
John    Kitncle 
Adam    Kussel 
Francis    Leyenberger 
Jacob    Leynincr 
Dav'd  Marks 
Nicholas    Marks 


John  Ahtonberry 
Kenry   Brnndle 
Adam    Bclimer 
Christian   Betz 
Daniel    Comer 
Daniel   Ct'.per 
Joh.n   France 
Adam  Fellbon 
Jacob  Fry 
Valentine  Fry 
John  Plemick 
Lodwick   Herman 
Peter  Holler 
Charles    Hornbery 


Michael     Zuber 

Siit^ii:  Men 

Henry   Reeser 
Peter  Suei\:r 
Cliriitopher  Winter 


Bethel 


Pt'ter   Mayer 
Rudy  Mover 
Chrissel  Newcomer 
William    P;.r?ons    Esq. 
Peter   Picklcr 
Xichola?   I'l.'ncio'.is 
Wendel   Reeger 
George   Rt-ni'igcr 
Christopher   Rier 
Nicholas  S-'innan 
Martin    Spi.rk 
Werich  Scllier 
Jacob   Seirer 
Caiper  S:5' .a\cl\- 
Daniel    Sneider 
Ulrick    Spice 
Wendel   Siverf 
Detrich   Sixth 
Andreas    Smith 
r.aitser    Smith 
Cliarle?   Smith 
Jacob   Smifh 
Rastian   Stone 
Henry  Shuhin 
Ti'hn   Shuy 
Fredrick    Frester 
Martin  Trestcr 
John   Adam  Walliorn 
Michael  Weitand 
Nicholas  Wolf 
Jacob  Zerbc 

Teeter   Marcle 
Peter    Leening 


Brecknock 


Adam  Housh 
Tohn  Loy 
Lawrence  I.yfred 
Francis   Marshall 
William    ^loore 
Adam    Niduc 
Henry  Oiirwaser 
David  Pealer 
Peter    Sliarman 
Baltser   Snider 
Michael    Sloug>- 
Leopold  Yost 
'^eremiah  Zenier 


Brunswick 


John    Adams 
Burgoon  Bird 
Valentine    Bomgartner 
Abram    Boulebaugh 
John  Bushe 
Tohn   Costnets 
Stephen  Coiifrnan 
George  Crow! 
Tohn  Cloii^er 
Peter   Conrad 
Michael  Dewer 
Thom.as  Ellas 


John    Fincher 
George   Fitchime 
Jacob    Fudge 
John    Green 
Adolph    Henry 
George    Honsinger 
Michael   Humble 
Paul    Hyme 
Tfihn   Jones 
Joseph    Jordan 
P'-,ilip    Kinder 
Henry  Kitner 


Daniel    LaJee 
Nicholas  Miller 
Henry    Miller 
Adam    Miller 
Daniel  ^lilberger 
Goorge   Mock 
Polser    Nifong 
Michael  Platner 
Barnabas    Purtese 
John   Rersh 
Sylvenus    Robinson 
Moses  Rolip'^on 
Joseph   Rue 
Jacob  R'lst 
Jacob    Sb.ai'cr 
John    Starreti 
Richard    Stevens 
George    Sheffer 


John   Brackin 
Michael  Close 
John  Davis 
John    Dobbins 
Robert    Eilis 
John    Farn 
Francis   Fisb.er 
James   Fisher 
Nicholas    Hudson 
James    Jaines 
Daniel  Jones 
David  Jones 
Valentine  Kirby 


Andrew    Asshenbach 
John   Backer 
Jeremiah   Bacon 
Francis   Beally 
Conrad  Beam 
Fredrick    Eettenman 
Casper   Brocke 
David   Bookcrt 
Casper  Bowman 
Jacob   Buckwalter 
Michael    Cline 
Peter    Clingersmith 
Jacob    Cunez 
Michael    Deiner 
Peter    Erctt 
Fredrick   Erne 
Philip  Fisse! 
Adam   Gerber 
John    Gerber 
Frederick    Goss 
John    Goulden 
Harpine 
Jacob  Haucke 
Stephen   Hauck 
Herp 

Rudolph   Hover 
Nicholas   Isch 
Geortre    Joseph 
Fredrick  Kchlcr 
David   Kepler 
Peter    Kill 
Jacob    Klodz 
Conrad  Leachlider 
Hans    Adam    Link 
Deobalt  Long 
Peter   Lubber 
Nicholas  Mathias 
Jacob  Mattis 
Jacob   Miller 
Cunrad    More 
Paul    Moser 
Tobia"^    Mouck 


Jacob    Shearman 
Peter   Smelkcr 
Barnabas  Sidle 
Hanteeter    Switese 
Nicholas  Timmerman 
George  Webb 
Thomas  Willits 
George  Widener 
Francis   Yarnall 

Single  Men 

Wm.  Anderson 
Conrad    Creebaum 
Joseph  Lodwic 
John    Sheaver 
John  Willits 


Caernarvon 

Jacob  Light 
John   Light 
Christian  Long 
William   Low 
Ruth  Morgan 
Mark    Pealor 
Aaron   Ratow 
William    Robinson 
John    Witson 

Free  Men 

Christian    Longs 

CoLEBROOKDALE 

Emanuel  Pifer  /> 

Thomas    Potts 

Widow    Potts 

Peter    Pyfer 

John    Adam    Reidener 

Casper  Rickert 

Mathias    Rode 

Conrad   Roude 

Paul  Rutter 

Thomas   Rutter 

Thomas  Sehone 

John   Sleagle 

George  Schwinharth 

Hermanus   Sossamauhous 

Michael    Spots 

Daniel    Stover 

Lawrence  Shuller 

Jacob   Tongier 

Rudolph  Totterolph 

Mathias   Tutrow 

Wagoner 

Bernhard  Wanmacker 

John   Werstlcr 

Thomas  Willson 

Charles  W"ise 

Single  Men 

George    Church 
John   Wollrick   Dumari 
Henry    Elagle 
John    George   Eagle 
Erasemus — (tailor) 
Francis   Gerleck 
Jacob   Machline 
Valentine  Machline 
fohn    Negrom 
John    Pile 
Anthony   Spaez 
Peter   Shene 
Thomas    Walker 


1794160 


■.sv-i<T 


oattB'ii 


ERECTION    OF   COUNTY 


11 


CUMRU 


Jacob  Ashman 
John    Best 
Martin    Briner 
Christian    r.ow:naii 
Jacob   Bowman 
Francis  Crock 
Jacob    Cloward 
Michael    Crowl 
Nicholas   Cmir 
Martin   Colber 
John    Duvis 
James  Davis  Sen'r 
Wm.   David 
Tames  Davis 
Elisabeth   Davis 
John  Dealy 
John   Dealy 
David   Edwards 
Joseph    Evans 
David  Evans 
David  Evans 
Nathan   Evans 
George   Enslehart 
John    Englebrown 
Jacob  Ecoy 
Sam'l    Emry 
Henry  Freyley 
Jacob  Frymire 
Geo.    Hague 
Conrad  Hart 
Henry   Harry  Esq. 
Andrew  Hicman 
Adam   Household 
Tho's  James 
Wm.    Jones 
Michael  Laph 
James  Lewis 
Geo.  Lewis 
Rich'd   Lewis 
Eleanor  Lewis 
John    Little 
Widow   Loyd 
George  Mawra 
Geo.    Minder 
Lodwick  Moon 
Werner  iMoon 
John  Moon 


Martin    Alstatt 
Nicholas  Alstatt 
Jacob  Bacly 
Fred'k   Baker 
John    Bishop 
Adam  Bouman 
Joseph  Boone  Jun'r 
James   Boone 
William  Boone 
Benjamin    Boone 
Jacob  Boyer 
Christoplier  Boyer 
Joseph    Browne 
Peter  Cime 
James  Cooper 
Paul    Durst 
Rowland    Ellis 
Enoch    Flower 
Martin   Gerich 
George   Henton 
John    Heeler 
Rudick   Heeler 
George  He.st 
Jacob    Hesterly 


John    Morri,; 
ilorgan    Morgan 
Peter    Munich 
Tho's    Nicholas 
Henry   Olsloff 
Jno.   Geo.    Pak 
Tho's    Paine 
Evan    Price 
John  Pinclay 
John    Pugh 
Michael    Rood 
Geo.    Roleman 
Peter    Rood 
Jacob  Rood 
Matis    Ryton 
Henry  Staupher 
Francis  Steal 
Jacob  Steak- 
Jonathan    Stephen 
Casper  Sfiver 
Adam  Sigler 
Mich'l    Shoemaker 
Peter  Shoup 
John    Stoic 
Wm.  Thomas 
Evan    Thomas 
Peter    W?idner 
John    White 
Sam'l    Wilkinson 
Warner  '\\'isei 
Casper  Winernan 
Jacob  Worst 
Philip   Worstloff 
Isaac  Young 

Single  Men 

Evan   Evans 
James   Goudye 
Peter    Hause 
Wrn.  Howell 
Thomas  James  Jun'r 
Nicholas  Kilicn 
Daniel    Murphoy 
Thomas    Perkins 
Peter   Penon 
Thomas  Weaver 


EXETIJ? 


Peter    Hewett 
Ellis    Hu-hes    - 
Samuel  Hughes 
John  Hughes    _ 
Edward  Hughes 
Leonard   Hye 
Henry   Kerner 
Jlenry  Kcrsten 
Michael  Keister 
Nicholas   Kime 
John  Lark 
Isaac  Levan 
John  Lebo 
Michael  Lodwic 
William   Maugridge 
Valentine    Messersmith 
Martin   Moll 
John  Mnre 
Ulrick  Moore 
Michael  Mure 
John  Ourhawn 
Benjamin  Parks 
Robert  Patterson 
George  Ritter 


Ferdenand   Rutter 
Francis  Rutter 
George   Rutter 
William  Riissel 
Widow   Sadler 
Peter    Sneider 
John    Stitzel 
Maihias   Teetler 
Henry  Thompson 
James  Thompson 
Michael  Turlings 
Martin    Walls 
Peter   WatTer 
Wjdov.'    Wagoner 
Venal  Wawl 
John    Webb  ' 

Jacob  Wiler 
Christian    Wicks 
-  Adins   Williams 
Henry  Wolf 


Paul   Zerleafel 

Single   Men 

Peter  Beckley 
John  Boone 
George  Cross 
Nicholas    Herner 
Fredrick  Keller 
George  Keller 
William   Kirbe 
Joseph   Kirbe 
Jacob  Koop 
Abram   Levan 
Mordecai  Lincoln 
George    Messersmith 
Peter    Nol 
John  Stadwiller 
Henry  Shlieg 
John  Thompson 
Martin   Vesner 
John    Wainnght 


Greenwich 


Henry  Aspbach 

Lawrence    Beaver 

Jacob  Beel 

Melchior   Beele 

Geo.   Bouman 

Fredrick  Bower 

Adam  Bower 

Widow  Buzzard 

Rudy   Buzzard 

Philip   Callback 

George   Creamer 

Fredrick   Creiner 

God  f rid  Cremer 

Simon  Derek 

John   Duncle 

Philip  Foust 

Jacob  Foust 

Leonard    Fox 

Jacob   Grenoble 

Nicholas  Gotshall 

Fredrick  Hairn 

Peter    Kaucka 

Sim.on  Isenberager 

Gabriel    Iseiiberger 

Peter    Kardent^ingcr 

John   Keller 

Mathias   KefTer 

John   Keel 

Philip  Kerker 

Daniel  Kline 

George  Komp 

George   Koser 

John   Kooler 

Mathias  Lay 

Peter    Lenard 

Michael  Lesher 

Fredrick  Leve_v's   Widow 

Geo.    Mich'l   Liver 

Jacob  Liver 


John  Long 
Daniel    Manusmith 
Fredrick  Mayer 
George   iMiikr 
Charla   Palmer 
Henry   Polender 
Mathias  Reamer 
Geo.  Wm.   Reel 
Conrad   Reigleman 
Anthony   Starren 
Adam    Staup 
Fred'k   Shallaberager 
John   Sesem.an 
Henry    Sheafver 
Rudolph   S'.ear 
John    SweeJner 
Jacob    Sittleniier 
Michael   Smith 
Nicholas  Shoemaker 
George    Spone 
Peter  Suites 
Daniel  Teer 
And'w   Unaugust 
Mich'l   Uvidercuffeler 
Jacob  Wery 

Single   Men 

Jacob    Adam 
Christian  Baum 
Martin   Beeker 
Abraham   Clease 
Conrad  Dennis 
Adam  Foust 
Conrad  Kefner 
George   Keller 
Henry    Miller 
Jacob   Sheffer 
George  Swinger 


Heidelberg 


John   Arts 
Nicholas  Bachtle 
John   Blank 
Abram  Besler 
Simon    Bennet 
Peter  Betz 
George  Brindle 
John   Boyer 
Aridreas    Boyer 
Henry  Bnyer  Sen'r 
Henry   Boyer  Jun'r 


Adam   Bonevitz 
Adam    Brown 
Michael    Bush 
Frantz  Brustman 
Nicholas   Cl.-it 
John  Cowbel 
Fredrick  Cowbel 
Andrew   Croir 
Thomas    Davis 
Christian   Deby 
George   Derr 


;  Hv.' 


,.;i/-.-  Ml. 


r.-i:ia   .nioiti 


12 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COL'XTY.    PENXSYL\*AXIA 


John  Desler 
John  Henry  Dick-i.rt 
John  Ditter 
Casper   Durst 
Eleazor  Evans 
John    Echard 
Peter    Eberly 
Conrad   Ernst 
Christ   Frantz 
Peter  Peg 
Leonard    Peg 
W'ilhain    Fisher 
Joiin   Jacob   Fisher 
Henry    Fidlcr 
Philip   Fitzinier 
Peter    Fitzer 
Conrad   Finck 
Yost   Fox 
Peter   Fciist 
Anthony  Foust 
Henry  Fry 
Fredrick    Gerrard 
Leonard    Grow 
Henry   Haines 
Fredrick    Haines 
Hans   Christian   Haines 
George    Haines 
Peter   Haines 
Casper    Haines 
Adam  Haines 
Peter  Haus 
Henry  Hetterick 
Martin   Hehdorn 
Yost   Hederick 
William  Johnson 
Jacob  Kern 
Valentine  Kcyser 
John  Keller 
John  Klinger 
Peter  Knop 
Jacob  Knhl 
Henry   Kru'oer 
Casper  Lerg 
Martin  Link 
Paul    Lingle 
John    Martin   Longf 
Georgo    Loi'ck 
Michael    Lower 
Nicholas   Tsktrtin 
Dietrick  r.iarshall 
Melchor  Mchl 
Ulrich    Micliael 
Christian    Miller 
Fredrick   ^filler 


Hans    Moyer 
Catherine   Mountz 
G'joTKC  _  X;iglc 
Peter  Newman 
John  Melchor  Norr 
Ba5tian  Obaldt 
Michael   0berh;iuser 
Martin    Pattniger 
Tobias  Pickle 
Henry    Printz 
Peter    Pricker 
Gabriel  Razar 
William  Rceser 
Nicholas   Roi-d 
Peter    Reedly  '-^J-.-. 
Ulrich  Richard 
Nicholas   Rooi 
Conrad   Sharp 
Detrick    Shall 
Casper   Shaffer 
Nicholas    SIialTer 
Jacob   Sencebach 
^^ch3el  Smell 
Thomas    Stierns 
Adam   Shorf 
Phiiip  Stort 
Catherine  StruiicKin 
Michael    Shower 
Adam   Shower 
John  George  Shock 
Adam  Spohn 
Henry   Spohn 
William   Spotz 
Henry   Stnrt 
John    Snrby 
Henry   Sugar 
John    Stump 
Peter  Werner 
Balser  Wendrick 
Mathias   Wendrick 
Philip  Weiser 
Conrad  Weiser  Esq. 
Lazarus  Winncrt 
Nicholas  Weinhart 

Siiis'e  Men 

Lodwick    E)urr 
Jacfih    Fox 
Peter  Fry 
Henry   Klasner 

R  udolph 

Henry  Stort 
Peter  Werlau 


Hereford 


Thomas  P>ansfield 
Abram  Beightle 
George  Eeiffhtcll 
John^  Beightle 
Michael    Bower 
Abram    Bower 
Samuel   Bower 
Martin   Craden 
Valentine  Crasmore 
David    Coley 
George    Cones 
^''alentine   Dclinger 
lacob  Evener 

Vichotes   Fink 

acob    Fisher 

Christian    Gamman 

ohn    Gregnrv 

lichard   Gregory 

'hilip    Hciney 

Vnncis  Latchor 

irnedic  Leeser  &  Brother 


Fredrick    Mason 
David    Masters 
Gregorics    M^aster 
Scpliia    Mayb'.-rry 
George    ?vIcrcL' 
Jacob  Miller 
White    Miller 
Adam    Moser 
Peter   Mnll 
I'redric   Nesler 
Andrew   Oldnian 
Conrad    Pope 
Conrad   Popp 
William    Rickert 
John    Ri'lcnour 
George  Rorcbach 
Jacob   Rosman 
George   Sailer 
Michael   Shell 
Theodore   Schneider 
Widow    Stoneinan 


Daniel    Stover 
Jacob   Stover 
John   Stopp 
l!enedic    Stroam 
Christopher  Shultz 
2>re!chor    Shutts 
iMartin  Sturtsman 
Mason   Tark 
Peter  Teddrolfe 
Melchor    Wagoner 
Jacob   Walter 
John   Walters 
Peter   Welkr 
Jacob    WeL.sel 


\'alentine  Wibell 

Single   Men 

George    Bav.er 
Leonard    Crascmer 
Jacob  Creesmer 
Richard    Gregory    Jun'r 
John    Godfrey 
John   Latcher 
Philip  Lawr 
John    Aleene 
Casper  Meyers 
Henry   Routh 
Philip    Routh 


LON-CSWAMP 


Cl'.ristian    Abenshen 
Jacob   Bard 
Michael   Beeber 
Jacob  Beery 
Nicholas   Beringer 
Frederick    Boffenmoyer 
Henry  Bollinger 
-Martin    Boger 
Jacob    Buger 
Samuel  Burgher 
Philip  Burgher 
Baltus    Cleaner 
George  Cumb 
Jacob    Danner 
Henry   Delong 
John   Dieh! 
Mathias    Eigener 
John    Egg 
Philip  Emert 
George  Falk 
Barnard    Fegely 
T.icob  Fenstermacher 
Philip   Fenstcrm.acher 
John  Fiamer 
Satnuel   Fogel 
Frederick    Hehvig 
Christian  Henry 
John   Hess 
Jacob   Huffman 
Martin  Hurcher 
Jacob   Hum 
Nicholas  Jacoby 
Dewalt  Karl 
Georpe   Keplinger 
Jacob   Kieffer 
Frederick    Kieflfer 
Nicholas    Kintz 
Bernhr.rt   Klein 
Dewalt  Klein 
Henry   Knoblich 
Lorentz  Lofer 
Jacob   Long 


Jacob   Long 
Nicholas   Long 
Nicholas   Martz 
Peter  Martz 
Joast   Mertz 
Henry   ]Mentz 
Andreas   Milshlegel 
^rathias    Morell 
Michael   ^^othstein 
Michael    Nederaur 
Inias    Noel 
Peter  Putser 
Peter   Redler 
George   Severt 
George  Shaffer 
Andreas  Sharley 
Frederick   Sheffer 
Christian   Shick 
George  Shroder 
Michael   Shroder 
Henry    Strickler 
Nicholas  Swartz 
Henry    Tear 
Conrad   Treiss 
Frederick  Ulry 
Jacob    Wimer 

Single  Men 

Anthony  Abal 
John  Agncr 
John   Cline 
r.ielchoir  Danner 
Jacob  Droliinger 
Adam   Gary 
Philip    Heesner 
Adam    Helwig 
Philip  Hen 
Martin  Ibert 
Michael  Jacobe 
Elias   Klenler 
Peter   Kline 
Michael  Long 


iL\IDEN"-CREF.r 


John    Barger 
Stephen  Barnett 
Anthony   Brest 
Melclior   Clinefelter 
Jacob    Dipra 
Geiirge  Flagly 
Pheliz  Franfelter 
Michael    Feller 
Philip   Fitzsimons 
Rnily    Hoy 
John    Hutton 
Tames    Hutton 
James    Jordan 
James   Kays 
Thomas  Kirbv 


Jacob  Lightfoot 
Leonard    Mire 
Edward    Moran 
Godfred   Orby 
Francis  Parvin  Esq. 
Thomas   Pearson 
Richard   Penrose 
Joseph  Penrose 
William   Penrose 
Elias   Read 
John    Ree.-er 
Jacob  Richard 
Paul    Rodarmell 
^^oses    Star 
Moses  Star  Jun'r 


■,u  v.-i.«,<. 


^f»1»H-;--/.jW.IJ'.|-' 


ERECTION    OF    COUNTY 


i;3 


Me  rick  Starr 
L'rban  Shettle 
John    Sook  ■ 

Philip   Wax-  f 

Xully  W'hce  ^ 

Henrv  Willits 
John   Wily  ' 

John  Wily  -^ 

SinL;le       1/,.;, 
Peter    Ax 
Simon    Harder b 
Ihomas   B.ir^.    Vr 
Fredrick  Chr  .;'[;„„ 

Barnabas    C 

urrce 

;'^ 

Conrad    ',•  u    , 
Christon^'f'^"^"  , 
Christi.-^,  H  ^'"''-■'^ 

Johrv;:,'/^lt   tccv.r 

Di-  ^^M^  j"-^'-^' 

\     if.-ter   Ber.ier 
R      fnthony  Bcnsiiiizer 
\    -"udolph  Btrgy 
1,   S'lbram   Berling 
i_  ;     jhn    Bost 
■>  1  i,,odwick   Buss 
i;^\lichael    Crcasman 
i  /  l^'Iichael    Clir.e 
•^    -\Tenry   Christ 
'    t^Vido'w    C'.ut7    (Kutz 
i       Fredrick    Delaplaiik 
/       John    Delong 
f  Peter   Dick 

Peter  Delontc 
Anthony  Fisher 
Urbon   Fribi-ll 
Henry   Grar.U 
Jacob    Graul! 
Jacob  Gireadm   (Sha 
Lorentz   Groin 
William   Grol^f 
William  Gross 
N'ichola?    Harmcny 
John    Hartman 
Andrew  Huick 
Conrad    Hcniner 
Michael   Henninger 
John    HerRenroeder 
John  Hill 
John  Hostader 
Widow    Hiittenstein 
Dewalt   Kemp 
Julius    Kerper 
Casper  Kil'.rain 


Robert    Dicky 
Martin  Houesman 
Jacob   Housnian 
Owen  Hughes 
f'eter  Kirby 
B    Parvin 

Francis   Parsin  Jun'r 
Jeremiah   Starr 
James  Starr 
John  Starr 
George   Secre 
Casper    Stroal 
Beniamin   Wiley 


.Maxatawny 

Jacob  King 
Dcrst  Kursner 
George  Kutx 
Jacob  Kutz 
Daniel   Levan 
Jacob  Levan 
Sebastian    Levan 
Henry  Lukenbill 
Conrad    Manusmith 
Nicholas    Muffly 
Casper  Reap 
Christopher    Ruth 
George    Sassman 
Andrew    Sassman 
Casper   Smack 
Martin  Sick 
Joseph    Sickfred 
)  John  Sigfred 

Jacob    Sigfred 
jost  Henry  Sossamanhous 
Henry  Wetzstone 
Peter    Will 
Casper   Wink 
Sabastian  Zimmerman 

Single    Men 

raden)       George   Bauder 
Joseph   Bridle 
Ulrick   Bruner 
Phillip  Cr.nil 
Nicholas   Dehoe 
Andrew   F.-idle 
Peter   F-ick 
Jacob  Floher 
William    H;iuck 
Philip  Hen 
Henry    King 
Jacob   Kumerer 
Michael   Man 
Michael   Steinborn 
George   Shriber 
Peter    Weiler 


Benjamin  Hufnail 
Valentine  Hufnail 
John  Hunter 
Nicholas   Hunter 
Adam  Ingboden 
George  Katesen 
Jacob   Kaufman 
Simon   Kraus 
John   Kegle 
John    Keplinger 
Widow  Kersten 
Jacob  Kime 
Widow  Kin'.e 
Samuel   Lee 
Thomas    Lee 
Anthony  Lee 
John  Lee 
John  Lesher 
Nicholas  Lesher 
Abram  Levan 
Fredrick  Limcbach 
Henry  Limebach 
John   Limcbach 

Peter   Lobach 
Benjamin  Longworthy 
Jacob   Loutz 

Nicholas   Matery 

Peter    M^athcw 

Jacob  Miller 

Henry     Neunkerch      ( New- 
kirk) 

George  Oyster 

Abram  Peter 

Peter   Priel 

William   Pott  Jnn'r 

Conrad  Reif 

Stephen   Report 

Valentine  Rice 

Widow    Richard 

Christian  Riplc 

Leonard   ShatTer 

John   Stapleton 

William    Stapleton 

Henrv  Shefer 


Oley 


Conrad   Arnold 
John    Barto 
Abram   Bartolet 
Fredrick  Bartolet 
John    Bartnlet 
John  Bechtold 
George  de  Benneville 
Gabriel    Boyor 
George   Brown 
Nicholas    Clemmons 
Casper   Crecsmer 
Jacob  Dcplank 
Jnhn    Dorke 
Mordecai  F.llis 
Jacob   Engle 


John  Fredrick 
Conrad  Fi^^her 
William  Fonlk 
John   Gclbach 
Casper  Gregory 
Fredrick  Gulden 
Samuel  Gulden 
Peter  Harpel 
Jonathan    llarpine 
Peter   Herpinc 
Samuel    High 
John   High 
Jacob  Hill 
NTichael    Hiller 
Henrv   Hose 


Jacob   Selser 
Jacob  Sncider 
Martin  Shinkle 
George    Shitz 
Nicholas  Shlichter 
Jacob  Stover 
Dehecus  Weidner 
Lazarus  Weidner 
George   VVindbegler 
David   Weiser 
Anthony   Yager 
John    Yoder 
John  Yoder  Jun'r 
Samuel   Yoder 
John   Yoder   Yost 
Jacob   Young 
Valentine   Young 
Widow   Younkam 

Single   Men 

William    Collins 
John  Fredrick- 
Samuel  Gulden 
Jacob    Hart 
Christopher  Harple 
John    Hercher 
John   Hill 
Daniel    Hoch 
John   Hoch 
John   Hoof 
Elias    Hufnail 
Michael   Knap 
John    Mertz 
Henry    Alusk 
Degcnhart  Pott 
John   Pott 
Peter   Reed 
Philip  Reiff 
John   Schneider 
Nicholas  Smith 
Jacob    Stutz 
Jacob  Yoder 
John  Yoder  Yost 


Pine-Gro\t: 


Jacob    Barger 
John    Bresler 
Mathias    Brickie 
Christopher  Bollinger 
Willpart   Compart 
Leonard  Conrad 
John    Donder 
Nicholas    Eshway 
Philip    Graver 
Michael    Gimberlc 
Christopher    Hedrick 
Henry  Kline 
Andrew  Kockcndorfer 
Lodwick   Kornmer 


William    Armon 
William   Armald 
Peter   Baum 
Marks   Beek 
James    Biddle 
Peter    Bingaman 
Joseph   Brimlinger 
Jacob    Boldce 
Farhard  Bomgartner 
Jacob  Boocher 
Conrad  Bower 
Henry  Boyle 
Abram   Bro>ius 


Nicholas    Long 
Jacob  ]Miller 
George   Miney 
Peter  Miney 
John  Mozt 
Casper  Newfong 
:>rartin    Potaker 
George   Rith 
Philip   Smell 
Jacob   Stealy 
George   Six 
Peter   Smith 
Jacob    Shope 
Philip    Summer 
Nicholas    Youngblood 


REAorNG 


Fredrick  Brown 
Samuel  Cays 
NLirtin  Craft 
John  Curtz 
John  Crul 
Conrad   Deboy 
Fredrick  Degohard 
George   Devil 
George  Dom 
George    Douglass 
Ludwic    Fmlan 
Andrew  Engle 
Hieronimus  Eigelberger 


I  \r.A'-:\~t^n'^ 


14 


HISTORY    OF    B1-:RKS    COUNTY.    rEXXSYLX'AXIA 


Peter    Feather 

Michael    Ficrtliorn 

Lawrence  Fix 

Charles  Frikcn 

Fredrick  F'oUind 

George    Gisler 

Henry  Goodhart 

Christopher    Gotschall 

Bastian  Growser 

Joseph    Hank 

Philip  Hart 

Peter    Hans 

Henry   Hawa 

Craft  Heiner 

Moses  He>nian 

Michael  Hollich 

Peter  Holtzscider 

Samuel  Flude 

William  Huttenstone 

William  Iddings 

Paul   Iselore 

Israel  Jacobs 

Evan   Jones 

Casper  Kepperlin 

Jacob  Kern 

Abram   Kerper 

Christian  Kimro 

Alexander   Klinger 

Peter  Klinger 

Peter    Kooch 

Peter  Kop 

Martin   Kost 

John  Knorr 

Paul   Lebo 

Jacob  L^ibrook 

Christopher  Lemon 

Benjamin  Liglitfoot.  Esq. 

John   Margen 

George  Marks 

William   Marks 

Everhard  Martin 

Jacob  Masoner 

Henry  Medcalt 

Baltser  Meyerly 

David    Meverly 

William  Miller 

Jacob  Morgan 

Jacob  Mover 

Philip   Xagle 

Tidrick    Parlet 

Benjamin    Pearson 

Paul   Perlet 

Michael  Prest 

Nicholas    Pick 

Jacob  Pick 

Derst    Pister 

John   Philippi 

Evan  Popkins 


Jacob  Rabolt 
James    Read,   L;q. 
John   Ream 
Josiah    Recs 
Henry    Reidmeyer 
Michael   Renner 
John   Richards 
Earhard  Roade 
Michael    Rouch 
Leonard   Rupert 
Philip   Sailer 
Joseph   Shaino 
Nicholas  Seysinger 
Adam  Sheck 
Adam    Slegel 
George   Steel 
Henry  Shier 
Abram    Smith 
John    Smith 
Peter  Smith 
George    Scwerpry 
Nicholas   Shofart 
Michael    Spot 
George   Shuler 
George   Shulf 
Tobias  Wagner 
Peter  Weiser 
Isaac  Wickcrsham 
Fredrick   Windish 
Adam    Witman 
John  Witman 
Lodwic  Witman 
Christopher  Witman 
George  Wonder 
Adam   Wordenberger 
Jacob  Yager 
George   Yoe 
Nicholas  Yost 

Single   Men 

Christian   Busse 
David  Fox 
William  Graff 
James   Gjbbins 
Stephen  i-Iaveracker 
George   Isenbeis 
Peter  Momah 
Christian  Mourer 
Lyon   Natlian 
John  Readinger 
David  Rinc 
John  Rose 
Conrad   Sigtor 
Bernhard  Shisser 
Mathias   Souermilk 
Michael   Shun 
Andrew  Wolf 
Martin  Young 


Richmond 


Michael  Adam 
Peter  Adolph 
Jacob  Breon 
Peter   Biel 
Henrick  Burget 
William  Cowwood 
Jacob  Dreblepiss 
Henry  Dilbon 
Christopher  Disher 
Henrich   Edle 
David   Ely 
Abram  Ely 
Conrad  Fogelfender 
John  Glas 
Peter  Grcnewald 
Henry  HefTnur 


Michael  Hcsler 
Michael    Hessely 
Daniel    Hoy 
Jacob   Huttenstone 
Henrick    Kelkner 
George  Kern 
Abram   Kiefer 
Peter   Merkle 
Nicholas  Mcrckel 
George    Merckle 
Conrad    Miller 
George   Nutes 
George  dinger 
Baltas   Reim 
Michael   Revert 
John  Riel 


Peter    Rodor 
John    Rodermtll 
Christian  Rotermel 
George  Shefier  Jun'r 
Michael   Steinbumer 
Christopher  Shlegel 
Peter   Sjiiin 
Philip  Suntz 
Martin   Wanner 
Michael  Weiman 
Fredrick  Zirr 

Sins'ie   ^Jen 
George  Michael  Derr 


James  Bird 
Josiah  Boone 
Walter  Burk 
Jacob    Bychle 
John  Cadwaliader 
France  Colony 
Jacob  Cough 
Henry   Cough 
Garrett  Dewese 
Cornelius  Dewese 
Stephen  Douty 
George  Dycass 
Felty  Eamse 
Isaac  Edwards 
Christopher  Ergate 
Enos   Ellis 
Christopher  Freat 
David  Garrad 
Richard  George 
Christopher  Giger 
Tohn    Griffith 
Philip  Hart 
Marg't  Harris 
William  Ilarvot 
Michael    Flewet 
David   Howel 
John   Howman 
VVidow    Hoyle 
Hudson  Flughes 
Owen   Humphrey 
Ephram   Jackson 
Evan  Jones 
Thomas  Lewis 
Peter   Liking 
Robert  Long 
Samuel  Mooney 
John   Moore 
Richard    More 


Peter  Dilbone 
Paul    liboiman 
David    Kimb 
Martin   Kanib 
John   Kaniber 
Jacob   Lupfer 
Christian   Merkle 
Casper   Merckle 
John  Rany 
Jacob  Shoemaker 
Christopher    Wanner 
Conrad    Wolf 


Robeson 


Jenkins    Morris 
James    Nox 
Jacob  Ovcrdear         ■- 
Thomas   Pew 
Elias   Redkey 
Jacob  Redkey 
Griffith    Rees 
Israel    Robeson 
John  Scarlet 
Adam   Shaver 
Samuel  Scely 
Robert    Stewart 
William  Sowers 
George  Sowers 
Fredrick   Stoncr 
Willctrick    Stoner 
William  Talman 
Thomas  Thomas 
Thomas  Thomas 
John    Thomas 
David    Thomas 
Benjamin  Williams 
George    Windle 
Henry    Winterberry 

Single  Men 

Andrew  Allen 
James    Cadwalader 
Joseph  Dowdle 
Thoiuas    Emry 
George    Hart 
Jonas    Likins 
Owen  Nicholas 
Jacob  Overdear 
Samuel  Robinson 
James  Thomas 
Jacob   Wilkler 


RUSCOMBMAN'OR 


Adam  Ahar 
George    Angstat 
George    Angstat 
Julius    Bauhman 
Philip   Berninger 
Peter   Breifogel 
John   Rudolph    Camber 
Peter  ColI> 
Mathias   Colb 
Jacob    Diser 
Jacob  Ely 
Titer  Fohl 
Jacob  Fox 
Bastian  Gernant 
NichohT;  Gnliard 
Peter    t3uidleman 
George   Hcfnor 
Caspar    Hoofman 
I.udwic  Hospolb.on; 
Christian    Hufnai! 
Philip  Keller 


Peter  Kulter 
Henry   Long 
Jacob  LibLert 
Philip    Lining 
Tacob   rvlichael 
John   Miller 
Ciodlick   Nolick 
Conrad   Price 
Anthony    Peck 
Casper    Piking 
John   Reel 
Peter    Rcit 
George    Rock 
Casper    Routzhorn 
George  Swartz 
Christian  Shoemaker 
Adam    Shurel 
John  Sowers 
N'ost    Wagner 
John    Wickenhammer 
Michael  Widower 


U      •-.?,»"', 


^^,^.v    -.>   -V! 


:-,"<•.■  l\-'',in 


ERECTION    OF    COL'.VTY 


L5 


John   William. 
John    Yon 
Jacob    Zangi.T 

Stng  le 

Fredrick   Bia 
Stophel  Colb 


Men 


Jost    Faall 
Teeter  Folb 
George  Kiher 
John   Kohl 
Michael  Miller 
Henry    Rincer 


TULPEHOCKEX 


John  Ansbach 
Leonard   Ansbach 
Peter    Ansbach 
Michael   Albert 
William    Albert 
George    Bachtcl 
John    Bachtcr 
JeremiaVi   Barr 
Adam  Crick- Bawni 
William     Crick- Bawm 
Jacob    Beck 
George  Beel 
Felty    Bensel 

Christian   Bergke    (Burkey) 
Ge-orge    Blei stein 
Phiiip    Bleistein 
Jacob    Breck 
Jacob    Biznian 
Simon    Boreit'f 
Fish   Eornen 
George   Boyer 
Henry  Boyer 
Jacob  Brown 
Philip  Brown  Sen'r 
Philip  Brown  Jun'r 
Jacob    Buhz 

Capwriglit 

Jacob   Casser 
Fredrick    Clasbrener 
George  Christ 
Stephen    Conrad 
Peter    Grouser 
Nicholas  Deck 
Adam    Deiffebach 
Barthel   Deisinger 
George    Dollinger 
Jacob   Bonder 
^^eIchor  Dotweiler 
Mathias   Dnbeler 
Andrew    Eber 
John  Eder 
Jacob  Ezberger 
Jacob   Eichler 
Adam    Emrich 
Bastian   Eruth 
Nicholas  Ely 
George  Faurs 
Nicholas  Framer 
Christian  France 
George   Fenikle 
Widow  Fidler 
Jacob   Fisher 
Ulrick   Fisher 
George    F'olk 
Jacob   Fomler 
John   Force 
Adam   Fox 
George    Gardner 
Peter  Gebhart 
Philip    Gebhart 
George    Goodman 
Leonard  Grow 
Jacob    Grub 
Henry  Haine 
Michael   Hambarger 
John    Hartman 
Michael  Hartman 


Jacob    Hartman 
George   Hauck 
John   Haveler 
Peter    Hecman 
Samuel    Herman 
Jacob    Hoi'man 
Fredrick  HoitLiier 
Thomas  Hon 
Adam  James 
David    Kaderman 
Jacob   Kaderman 
John    Kaler 
John   Kaufman 
Michael    Keal 
David    Keisler  ' 
George   Klein 
Mathias   Ken^p 
Daniel    Kremcr 
Rudolph   Kcndel 
Thomas   Kern 
Daniel    Kenzner 
William  Kesran 
Peter  Kreyer 
Michael    Keyser 
William    Keyser 
George  Kinler  &  Son 
Nicholas    Kinser 
Peter    Kissener 
Michael    Kitner 
Christian    Krugar 
Jacob  Kubellcr 
Christian   Kurtz 
George    Kutner 
John  Kofp 
Jacob    Konner 
^lichael    Kope 
Thomas    Knorr 
Fredrick  Koufman 
Nicholas    Kouger 
Christian    Lawferweller 
Abram  Lebo 
Peter  Lebo 
George   Lechner 
Jacob   Lederman 
George    Lehman 
Adam    Lesh 
William    Lightner 
Jacob  LiverQ-ood  &  Son 
George    Lodwic 
Casper  Long 
John    Long 
Nicholas  Long 
Jacob    Lost 
Christian   Lower 
Daniel    Lucas 
Abram    Luke 
Abram  Luke  Jun'r 
Peter    Luke 
Jacob    Lux 
Francis  May  &  Son 
Daniel   Maver 
Philip   Meat 
Jacob    Miller 
Jacob  Miller 
Nicholas    Miller 
Wende!    Miller 
Jacob    Millcisin 


Jacob   Ming 

Michael    Moser 

John  George  Moule 

Daniel  Moushavner 

Bernhard   Mounti 

Christian   Moyer 

John   Moyer 

Rudy   Moyer 

Jacob   Moz 

Valentine    New 

John    Nokle 

George   Noll 

Mathias  Noxser 

John    Oberle 

Andrew   Oleback 

George   Paft'enberger 

Christian    Pens 

John    Poncious 

Jacob   Portner 

George     Procias     and     two 

married  sons 
Michael   Rice 

John    Rigelmiller  < 

Zacharias   Rockroch  / 

Henry  Rodebach 
George  Rool 
Joseph    Rozs 
Mathias    Rozs 
Michael   Rimcle 
Adam    Rya! 
Casper    Read 
John   Ream 
George    Read 
Conrad    Reber 
Casper  Reed 

Casper  Reed  . 

Fredrick  Reed 
Jacob   Reed 
Leonard   Reed 
Leonard   Reed 
Peter   Reed 
Widow  Reed 
Christopher    Reeser 
Andrew  Reger 
Godfred    Rehrer 
Jacob    Rehrer 
Abram    Reiber 
Daniel  Reigel 
John    Repman 
Andrew  Shafer 
George  Shaffer 
John    Shaffer 
Michael    Shaffer 
Michael  Shaffer  Jun'r 
Fredrick  Shaffer 
Peter   Shaffer 
Michael    Sauser 
John    Snably 
Jacob  Swanger 
Lodwick   Swartz 
John    Swartz 
Henry  Seller 
George  Seller 
Jacob  Seibcr 
Philip    Seiper 
Philip   Shearman 
Widow    Shell 
Adam  Stein  Jun'r 
Adam  Stein  Sen'r 
Peter  Stein 
Bastian  Sweyger 
George    Shireman 


Adam  Smith 
George   Smith 
Mathias   Smith 
Abram   Snider 
Benjamin   Spicker 
Peter   Spicker 
Nicholas  Swingel 
Adam   Shelter 
Bernhard  Shoon 
Adam    Sonday 
John  Shop 
George   Stock 
Jacob  Stock 
Henry   Stoll 
Fredrick  Stop 
Martin   Stoup 
John  Snow 
Michael  Summay 
Casper  Stump 
Melchor  Tabler 
Adam  Team 
John  Thearri 
Melchor  Ticeler 
William    Ticeler 
Oly   Tonkleberger 
John   Troutman 
George  Ulrick 
Valentine  Unrow 
Christopher    Urns 
Christopher   Ury 
Peter  Wagoner 
Mathias  Wagoner 
Widow  Walborn 
George  Weber 
Adam  Weeber 
Jacob  Wellielm 
Christopher    Weiser 
David    Weiser 
John   Weiser 
France   Wenrich 
Henry  W^ilberger 
Conrad  Wirth 
Fredrick  Winter 
Jacob   Wolf 
Jacob   Wolf 
George  Wolf 
George  Wolf 
Michael    Wolffart 
John   Wolleben 
John    Wombledorf 
John  Zerbe 
Peter  Zerbe 
Peter  Zerbe  Jun'r 
John  Zellor 
Oley  Zoleberger 
John  Zollete 

Single   Men 

Fredrick  Anters 
Jacob  Arbs 
Peter   Carbrigh 
Godfret    Carkert 
Henry  Cuns 
Valentine  Grasey 
Jacob    Gessler 
Geo.  Goodman  Jun'r 
Adam    Haverle 
Little  Jacob 
Fredrick   Miller 
Jacob    Precias 
William   Resman 
John    Roster 
Nicholas  Sneider 
Lorentz  Simple 
John  Strosneider 
John    Unrue 


V'^ 


Thomas  Banf.eld 
Jacob    Bashance 
William   Bird 
Jeiikin    Davis 
Evan  Evans 
John   German 
John  Godfrey 
Mordecai   Harris 
John    Harrison 
Caleb   Harrison 
John   Haus 
Andrew    Hoffman 
John  HollMw.-n 
Mathew   Hopkin 
Edward    Hnuh 
Mounce  Jones 
Steven   Lewis 
Morgan    Lewis 
John   Lincorn 
Charles  Magrew 
Jonathan  Millard 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEKNSYIA'AXIA 


U.VION 


Joseph   Millard 
Benjamin  Millard 
Timothy   Millard 
Thomas   Pratt 
Christian    Standly 
John    Stone 
Henry  Sudlar 
Conrad    Walter 
Abram  Wanger 
Andrew  Wolf 
Daniel  Yodcr 

Single   Mev 
Fennel   Evans 
Fredrick  Hause 
Obediah   Jerman 
Jeremiah  Jerman 
Paul  Ryley 
Andrew   Smith 
Charles  T^erdman 
George    Tishler 
George  Trust'e 


Windsor 


i  Alsboch 
\lspoch 
ily 

'.y-mzy 

let 
Brening 

esler 
Bickel 

vnian 

iine 
joper 
Jcar 
Dewald 
,.iz   Donclebcrger 
,  ccer  Donkkberger 
Michael    Duiikle 
Martin    Fell 
Nicholas   Fey 
Patrick   Finley  , 

John    Carver 
Jacob  Grave 
George    Godtchall 
Afichael   Hansel 
John   Hart 
Fredrick  Hershe 
Fredrick   Hess 
Daniel   Hill 
Daniel  Hill  Jun'r 
John  Daniel  Hill 
Tacob  Hill 
John  Hill 
Philip    Hingel 
Valentine  Hoof 
John    Hossinger 
John  Hnuser 
Christian    ITousgneit 
Conrad   Housman 
Jacob   Howcr 
Wendel   Mowers 
Widow   Hughes 
Philip    Huniel 
Jacob  Hummel 
Michael   I>eman 
Daniel  Kamh 
Michael  Kei=lier 
Leonard  Kcplinger 
Conrad  Kersner 
George   Kersner 
Henry  Kime 
Adam    Kline 
John  Koch 


Christopher   Kosner 
Michael  Kower 
Widow    Kuhn 
Peter    Kluke 
Valentine  Kyme 
George  Lindermood 
Adam.  Lookinbill 
George  IMillcr 
Hans  Moyer 
Jacob    Petery 
George    Poust 
Henry  Proabst  (Brobst) 
Leonard   Rcever    (Rcber) 
Barnard  Rend 
George   Resler 
Lawrence  Rodermell 
Peter  Rodermell 
Jacob   Rouse 
Martin    Rouse 
Nicholas   Roust 
Michael  Slcer 
Elias    Stein 
.i\ndreas    Sidle 
Henry   Shiera 
George   Shnider 
Jeremiah  Shoppel 
Mathias  Trayer 
George  Adam   Wagner 
Theobald   Warner 
Peter   Weaver 
Philip    Wensil 
Caret  Will 
Jacob  \\'^inger 
Nicholas  Winger 
Nicholas  Winger 
Thomas   Wright 
Jonathan    Worral 

Single   Men 
Lips    Adam 
William  Anderson 
William   Andlcmon 
Peter   Cratsler 
Tacob   Dewald 
Jacob   Hill 
George   Hower 
Andrew   Humel 
Leonard   Ketz 
George  Lusher 
Tames    Mnlone 
Jacob  ^^cycr 
John  Mingel 


XATIOXALITIES      ; 

S\VEDii;s. — The  fir.-t  iiermanent  settlement  along 
tlie  Delaware  in  Pcinisylvania  was  etfected  by  a 
small  colony  uf  Sw.'iles  in  1638.  Ten  vears  before 
this,  the  subject  of  encouraging  Swedes  to  settle 
in  Pennsylvania,  for  purposes  of  trade,  had  been 
discussed  by  the  King  of  Sweden ;  but  hi.s  warfare 
with  the  Germans  about  that  time,  and  h?s  sudden 
death,  ended  the  matter,  till  it  was  reconsidered  and 
revised  bv  his  lord  chancellor  under  the  patronage 
of  his  daughter,  the  young  Swedish  Queen  Chris- 
tina. The  whole  number  of  settlers  then  in  the 
new  country  (which  they  called  New  Sweden)  did 
not  exceed  fifty.  The  Swedes  effected  the  most 
of  their  settlements  on  the  western  side  of  the 
Delaware  river,  and  extended  them  along  this  river 
and  its  prominent  tributary,  the  Schuylkill.  In  ten 
years,  their  number  did  not  increase  to  one  hun- 
dred. Notwithstanding  their  success  in  carrying  on 
trade,  they  could  not  acquire  such  a  finn  hold  iipt^n 
the  country  as  to  continue  their  governnitnt  a  score 
of  years.  In  1655,  their  Governor  surrendered  to 
the  Dutch,  and  this  ended  the  rule  of  the  Swedes 
in  Pennsylvania.  But  those  who  had  settled  and 
taken  up  lands  along  the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill 
did  not  abandon  their  settlements.  Penn,  upon  his 
arrival  nearly  thirty  years  afterward,  encouraged 
them  to  move  toward  the  interior. 

The  English  settlers  multiplied  rapidly  after  Penn 
had  given  a  fixed  government  to  the  province,  and 
toward  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century  the 
Swedes  began  to  consider  the  propriety  of  accept- 
ing Penn's  offer.  A  small  colony,  under  the  lead- 
ership of  Andrew  Rudman,  found  suitable  land 
along  the  Schuylkill,  several  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  the  ]Manatawny  creek,  and  they  in  1701  petitioned 
for  ten  thousand  acres.  Immediately  afterv/ard,  in 
pursuance  of  warrants  issued,  certain  tracts,  aggre- 
gating 10,500  acres,  were  surveyed  and  laid  off  for 
them.  The  natnes  of  these  Swedes  were  Andrew 
Rudman,  Andrew  Ban_kson,  Benjamin  Burden, 
Peter  Boon,  Benjamin  ?,oox\,  Mounce  Tones,  Justa 
Justason,  Mounce  Justice.  John  Cock,  Peter  Cock, 
Otto  Ernest  Cock,  Jacob  Culinn,  Matthias  Holston, 
Morton  Morton,  Richard  Roads  and  Jonas  Yocum. 

All  of  these,  excepting  Rudman,  remained  and 
inade  permanent  settlements.  A  building  erected 
by  one  of  them,  in  1716,  is  still  standing  though 
somewhat  altered.  It  is  the  oldest  building  in  the 
county.  Descendants  of  some  of  thcin  are  still 
in  the  township  fcalled  Ainity  shortly  afterward), 
notably  the  Joneses  and  Yocums.  This  was  the 
only  colony  of  Swedes  which  came  into  the  county, 
and  the  only  section  of  the  county  in  which  they 
took  up  lands :  and  they  did  not  wander  away,  re- 
maining in  the  township  almost  entirely. 

They  were  the  first  settlors  who  erected  a  build- 
ing for  religious  worship  in  this  county.  They 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  denomination,  and 
thev  possessed  admirable  characteristics  to  take  up 
and  develop  a  new  coimtry.     They  remained  more 


•tw 


ERECTIOX    OF    COUNTY 


17 


ininic(iiate!y  t'\qetiitr  tlian  any  other  subsequent 
class  of  settlers.  The  Ii'dian^  must  luive  appre- 
ciated their  virtues  in  -"UrYerini;  tliem  to  remain 
unmolested   before   the   land   was   released.      Hence 


OLD  SWEDE   PUILDIXG 

they  were  a  peaceable  people.  There  was  amity  be- 
tween them,  and  so  the  township  came  to  be  named 
in   1720. 

Germ.\xs. — The  German  immigrants  were  the 
second  to  enter  this  section  of  territory.  The  first 
settleinent  by  them  was  eiTected  in  IT  10,  along  the 
Manatawny,  in  Oley.  Alany  arrived  within  the 
next  decade.  To  the  east  of  the  Schuylkill  river 
they  proceeded  northwardly  from  Philadelphia.  To 
the  west,  however,  the  first  colony  of  Germans,  be- 
fore 1730,  entered  from  the  west,  proceeding  from 
New  York  southwardly  and  from  the  Susquehanna 
river  ea.stwardly  into  Tulpehocken  \  alley.  The 
total  number  of  Germans  who  settled  in  the  county 
previous  to  1752  cannot  be  estimated,  but  they 
were  certainly  more  numerous  than  all  the  other 
nationalities  taken  together.  In  1747  Governor 
Thomas  stated  that  the  German?  of  F'ejinsylvania 
comprised  three-fifths  of  the  whole  population,  or 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand. 

Many  of  them  were  redemptioners,  or  persons 
who  had  bound  thcmselvL-s  or  one  or  more  of  their 
children  to  the  masters  of  vessels,  upon  their  ar- 
rival, for  a  term  of  years,  to  pay  for  their  passage 
across  the  ocean.  The  usual  terms  of  sale  depended 
upon  the  age,  strength  and  health  of  the  persons 
sold.  Boys  and  girls  generally  served  from  five 
to  ten  years,  till  thev  attained  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years.  Many  parents  were  compelled  to  sell 
the  service  of  their  own  children  in  order  to  sat- 
isfy their  passage-money,  so  that  t'ley  might  be 
released  from  the  vessel  upon  which  they  were 
brought  to  tbis  country.  Children  under  five  years 
nf  age  could  not  be  sold  to  service.  They  were 
'lispo^ed  of  gratuitously  to  persons  who  agreed  to 
raise  them  and  give  them  their  freedom  when  they 
attained  the  age  of  twenty-one  vears.  In  this  man- 
ner the  redemptioners  came  to  cKcupy  a  very  hum- 
hie  position:  but  "from  this  class  there  have  sprung 
'ome  of  the  mo^t  reputable  and  wealthy  inhabit- 
ants of  the  province." 


Prior  to  1727,  most  of  them  brought  considerable 
means,  but  afterwards,  many  of  them  were  poor, 
and  they  came  to  be  redemptioners  on  that  account. 
The  years  in  which  they  arrived  were  1728,  1729, 
1737,  1741,  1750  and  1751.  The  principal  part  of 
them  were  farmers ;  but  many  were  mechanics  who 
brought  with  them  a  knowletlge  of  those  arts 
which  are  necessary  and  useful  in  all  countries,  com- 
prising carpenters  and  builders,  weavers,  tailors, 
tanners,  shoemakers  (cordwainers),  comb-makers, 
smiths  of  all  kinds,  butchers,  paper-makers  an<l 
clock-makers.  They  became  perfect  mechanics  and 
workmen  through  a  custom  of  "Peregrination," 
(Wandcrschafi),  which,  as  young  men, "just  after 
the  close  of  their  apprenticeship,  they  carried  on  for 
one  or  more  years  in  order  to  make  themselves 
inore  proficient  in  their  several  trades.  This  was 
required  of  young  mechanics  before  they  were  per- 
mitted to  set  up  for  themselves.  By  this  course, 
they  were  atTorded  opportunities  of  acquiring  much 
useful  knowledge  which  books  could  not  supplv, 
besides  proficiency  in  their  trade.  They  were  called 
"Traveling   Journeymen'    (Handzccrks-Burscli). 

This  was  the  class  of  Germans  which  settled 
the  countr)-  along  the  Schuylkill  and  its  tributaries. 
They  were  a  valuable  acquisition  to  Penn  and  his 
sous  in  the  development  of  their  great  province. 
They  were  just  what  a  new  country  needed  to 
start  it  grandly  in  the  march  of  material  progress. 
Their  labor,  economy,  perseverance  and  stability 
added  great  and  increasing  wealth  to  the  cotmtry. 
In  this  manner  they  prepared  the  way  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  county,  and  having  thus^  fitted  the 
settlements  for  a  separate  political  organizatiom 
they  proceeded  earnestly  in  behalf  of  its  establish- 
ment. 

The  Germans  were  along  everv  stream  except- 
ing the  Wyomissing,  Allegheny,  and  Hav  creek  in 
the  southern  section.  They  were  in  the  vallevs  and 
on  the  hills  rather  than  along  the  Schuylkill.  This 
selection  of  locaHties  was  not  accidental,  for  thev 
found  the  best  quality  of  land  away  from  the  Sohuvl- 
kill.  The  best  farms  in  productiveness  and  ap- 
pearance are  in  the  localities  where  they  settled — 
in  Oley,  in  Maxatawny.  and  in  Heidelberg.  And  in 
these  respective  localities  we  still  find  the  grand- 
children and  great-grandchildren  of  the  first  Ger- 
man patentees. 

And  the  Germans  were  extreme  Revolutionists, 
having  encouraged  the  war  for  Independence  to  the 
utmost  of  their  ability.  Their  conduct  was  admir- 
able through  the  whole  trying  period,  and  when 
the  great  struggle  was  succcssfullv  ended,  with 
the  acquisition  of  increased  power  to  the  people, 
they  naturallv  asserted  their  rights  and  took  elect- 
ive oflfices  to  themselves. 

Hrnt'F.xoTS. — Manv  of  the  earlier  immigrants 
were  Huguenots,  who  had  been  encouraged  by  Penn 
and  the  English  government  to  emigrate  to  Penn- 
svlvania  and  New  York.  In  France,  this  name  was 
used  as  a  term  of  reproach  for  those  who  aimed 
at  a  reform  of  religion  according  to  the  principles 


18 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTV,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


enunciated  by  Calvin.  The  n^ime  attaclied  itself 
to  tliese  rofonr.ers  when  liiey  broke  oti  nil  connec- 
tion with  Lnthtraiii-m  and  began  u>  orixanize  them- 
selves both  as  a  church  and  as  a  political  budv. 
Their  chvirclies  sprang  up  with  wonderful  quick- 
ness during  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century; 
but  they  became  very  unpopular. 

After  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew's  day.  in 
1572,  the  subordination  of  their  religious  interests 
to  their  political  interest-  became  inevitable,  and 
having  become  followers  of  Henry  of  Xavarre, 
heir  to  the  French  crown,  their  sub-equent  discon- 
tent obtained  from  him,  as  King  Hcnrv  IW.  in  15!.'S 
(April  13th),  the  famous  Edict  of  Xante?.  But 
the  provisions  of  this  Edict  were  found  as  help- 
ful for  Catholics  as  for  Protestants,  and  thev  were 
so  modified  as  to  show  a  decreasing  favor  of  the 
Calvinists,  wdio  had  dreamed  of  dominance  and 
had  hoped  for  equality,  but  were  put  ot'f  with  tol- 
erance. This  situation  caused  them  to  become  dis- 
satisfied with  the  Edict;  and  the  King  then  deter- 
mined to  reduce  them  to  nothing. 

About  1590,  the  Huguenots  carried  on  worship  in 
about  thirty-five  hundred  chateaux  and  two  hun- 
dred towns,  which  were  situated  chiefly  in  the  south 
and  west  of  France.  When  Eouis  XI\'.  took  up 
his  reign,  the  tranquility  of  the  Huguenots  began 
to  pass  away.  In  1657,  they  were  forbidden  to 
hold  colloquies,  lest  they  might  take  to  politics ; 
and  in  1G50,  they  were  told  to  hold  no  more  synods. 
Soon  the  court  went  further  and  conversions  were 
undertaken.  Wherever  a  pastor  could  be  bribcl., 
converted  or  got  rid  of,  his  temple  was  torn  down. 
Their  worship  then  became  almost  impossible  in 
towns.  As  the  King's  conscience  grew  morbid,  he 
became  more  eager  to  expiate  his  own  crimes  by 
punisliing  heretics.  Within  twenty  years  seven 
hundred  churches  were  destroyed.  Throughout  that 
trying  period,  whilst  thousands  of  them  yielded  to 
oppression  or  bribery,  thousands  ot  others  fled  the 
land.  The  emigration  began  in  inr.fi.  and  contin- 
ued for  fift_v  years.  It  is  probable  that,  in  16fi0, 
there  were  over  two  millions  of  Huguenots  who 
were  regarded  as  the  best  and  most  thrifty  citizens 
in  that  countr\- ;  and  of  these  it  is  said  fully  a  mil- 
lion escaped  from  their  inhospitable  fatherland.  At 
last,  the  King  revoked  the  Edict  of  X'antcs,  because 
he  thought  that  the  Huguenots  were  suppressed. 
This  w-as  on  Oct.  15,  IfiSo.  and  it  was  the  sentence 
of  civil  death  on  all  Huguenots.  It  crushed  more 
than  half  of  the  commercial  and  manufacturing  in- 
dustry of  the  kingdom. 

Fren'ch. — Among   the    Huguenots,    there    were 

many   settlers   with   French   names,   which   may  be 

found  in  the  li-ts  of  the  first  ta.xables  to  the  east 

of  the  Schuylkill.     The  spelling  has  been  changed 

so  much   that  they  can  hardlv  be  recognized,  this 

having  been   done  by  the  assessors  to  conform  to 

the  English  or  the  German   pronunciation.     Some 

i  of  these  names   and   changes  will  be   enumerated : 

:  Bardo   or    Barto    was    Bardeau :    Bushong.    Reau- 

!  champ;    Bushoisr.    Boucher    or    Buchat:    Bertolet, 


BerthoUet;  Bast,  Baste;  Deisher,  Duchere ;  Deturck, 
De  Turcg;  Dippcry,  Duprez;  Dilplain,  Delaplaine: 
Lessig,  Lesecq:  Lorali,  Larue;  .Monyer,  .Monnicr; 
Plank,  De  !a  Piank ;  Sharad.in.  (3irardiu;  Shappel. 
Ciiapelle;  Shomo,  Chauir.onl.  Several  of  the  un- 
changed names  are  Boyer,  Delcamp,  De  Long,  Le- 
van. 

English. — The  English  entered  this  territory 
and  took  up  lands  shortly  before  17-,^0.  They  were, 
accordingly,  the  third  class  of  settlers.  Their  first 
families  were  the  Boones,  Ellises,  Lees  and  Lin- 
colns.  They  settled  in  Oley, — the  Ellises  and  Lees 
in  the  eastern  section,  along  the  Alanarawny.  and  the 
Boones  and  Lincoins  in  the  central  and  western 
sections  along  the  Monocacy  and  the  Schuylkill. 
Within  ten  years  after  their  permanent  settlement, 
they  established  a  meeting-house  for  religious  wor- 
ship. This  w'as  about  1726,  at  a  point  where  the 
Exeter  meeting-house  stood  until  recently,  in  an 
elevated  position  near  the  northwestern  limit  of  the 
Swedes'  tracts,  then  called  .Amity  township. 

Shortly  after  1730,  they  also  settled  along  and 
about  Hay  creek  and  Allegheny  creek,  to  the  west 
of  the  Schuylkill,  and  also  farther  north,  along  and 
about  the  ^Maiden  creek,  immediately  after  the  In- 
dians had  released  their  rights  to  the  territory. 
The  first  families  in  the  former  settlements  were 
the  Embrees,  Lewises,  Humphreys,  Scarlets,  Har- 
rys, Prices,  Webbs,  Hughes.  ]\Ioores,  \\'illiam?es 
and  Thomases :  and  in  the  latter  settlements  the 
Parvins,  Lightfoots,  Huttons,  Starrs,  Davises,  Pen- 
roses.  Pearsons,  Wileys,  Wrights,  Willits.  Flarveys 
and  Reeds ;  and  these  respective  families  also  es- 
tablished meeting-houses  in  the  rnidst  of  their  set- 
tlements, about  the  year  1736  —  the  one  at  the 
cross-roads  near  the  center  of  Robeson  township, 
and  the  other  near  the  center  of  3.1aiden-creel:. 

All  these  families  were  connected  with  the 
Friends.  Thev  exerted  a  strong  influence  in  tliese 
three  sections  of  the  cottnty.  The  numerous  Eng- 
lish names  given  to  the  townships  cast  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill were  suggested  by  them.  George  Boone  was 
particularly  prominent  in  the  lower  section,  and 
Benjamin  Lightfoot  in  the  upper  section,  in  res- 
pect to  proceedings  for  setting  apart  new  townships. 
They  were  surveyors  and  men  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary ability.  And  just  as  these  two  men  were  prom- 
inent in  their  branch  of  service,  Anthonv  Lee  and 
Francis  Parvin  were  equally,  if  not  more,  prom- 
inent in  these  respective  sections  as  justices  of  the 
several  courts  of  the  county.  Indeed,  until  the  Rev- 
olution, the  Friends  exerted  the  most  influence  in 
directing  political  aflfairs  here  notwithstanding  their 
numbqr  was  far  le^s  than  the  Germans.  But  dur- 
ing the  Revolution  and  immediately  afterward, 
the  natural  energy  of  the  Germans  carried  them 
forward  in  political  matters,  just  as  it  had  carried 
them  forward  in  agriculture  and  manufactures  be- 
fore it :  and  Indepeinlence  having  elevated  them  into 
political  rights,  thev  cxerci'^ed  thc^e  by  placing 
themselves  into  power.     So  the  Friends  lost  their 


fir"->q    r  };■;        .  /'.•;•.,:,',"!      ,J; 


ERECTIOX    OF    COUNTY 


19 


orticial  positions  and  consequently  their  public  influ- 
ence. 

Before  the  Revolution,  their  number  was  strong 
and  their  religious  meetings  were  active  and  suc- 
cessful, but  since  that  time  they  have  gradually  de- 
creased. 

There  were  English  people  here  besides  the 
Friends.  At  fir-t,  between  IToo  and  1740,  before 
the  erection  of  the  county,  they  were  in  the  south- 
ern and  southeastern  sections,  the  one  body  in  Caer- 
narvon township,  and  the  other  in  Amity.  They 
were  members  of  the  Establislied  Church  of  Eng- 
land, here  called  Episcopalians.  Afterward,  when 
the  county  was  erected,  they  also  ^'ppeared  in  Read- 
ing, though  without  sutlicient  strength  to  cause  the 
erection  of  a  church  for  themselves  untillS24. 

Welsh. — ^Just  as  the  Swedes  settled  in  the  coun- 
ty on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Schuylkill,  so  the 
Welsh  settled  in  the  county  to  the  west  of  this  river. 
They  migrated  through  Chester  county  till  they 
crossed  the  South  ^Mountain,  and  though  some  of 
them  reached  a  point  beyond  the' mountain  before 
the  purchase  of  the  territory  from  the  Indians  in 
1732,  yet  the  most  of  them  entered  this  district  im- 
mediately afterward.  The  Swedes  did  not  have  a 
township  named  after  any  of  their  places,  but  the 
Welsh  Avere  earnest  in  this  behalf,  having  named 
three  townships,  Caernarvon,  Cumru  and  Brecknock. 

The  Welsh  had  purchased  from  Penn  in  England, 
before  1700,  a  large  body  of  land,  aggregating  40,- 
000  acres,  to  be  selected  in  Pennsylvania :  and  these 
acres  they  located  to  the  west  oi  tiie  Schuylkill. 
They  settled  the  country  so  numerously  that,  before 
1698,  they  had  named  six  townships  in  the  county 
of  Chester. 

Rovv-land  Ellis  was  a  prominent  Welshman  who 
induced  a  large  emigration  from  Wales  to  this  coun- 
tr}-.  After  having  persuaded  Thomas  Owen  and 
his  family  to  emigrate  and  settle  in  Chester  county, 
he.  himself,  in  IGSG.  embarked  with  109  W'elshmen. 
Some  of  the  settlers  were  named  Thomas  Evans, 
Robert  Evans,  Owen  Evans,  Cadwallader  tvans, 
William  Jones,  Robert  Jones,  Hugh  Griffith,  Ed- 
ward Foulke  and  John  Humphre\-.  The  territory 
which  lav  to  the  south  of  the  South  'Mountain  and 
west  of  the  Schuylkill  was  gradually  settled  by  these 
Welsh  people,  and  they  migrated  farther  and  farth- 
er up  the  river  during  the  next  fifty  years.  Before 
1740.  several  hundred  of  them  had  settled  in  the 
district  beyond  this  mountain.  They  were  adher- 
ents of  the  Baptist  denomination.  Their  lands  were 
taken  up  mostlv  along  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
W  yomissing  and  Caconing  creeks,  and  there  they 
w-ere  most  thickly  settled,  the  manv  tracts  they  took 
"P  aRS^fcgating  20.000  acres,  before  17.")2.  They 
were  enterprising,  having  a  gristmill  along  the  Wy- 
omissing  before  1740.  This  flowing  stream  was 
appreciated  bv  them  for  its  superior  water-power, 
and  they  accordingly  erected  different  factories 
along  its  banks  for  the  manufacture  of  gun-barrels, 
files,  etc.  .Agriculture  was  the  prmcipal  emplny- 
Tnent.    Like  the  Swedes,  they  remamed  in  their  first 


settlement,  southward  of  the  Schuylkill  and  Cacoos- 
ing.  They  co-operated  earnestly  with  the  Germans 
in  obtaining  a  new  county  out  of  the  upper  sections 
of  Lancaster  and  Philadelphia  counties. 

Irish. — Per?on3  of  Irish  nativity  did  not  settle  in 
Pennsylvania  for  nearly  forty  years,  after  Penn  had 
obtained  the  province.  Penn  visited  Germany  in 
this  behalf,  kindling  a  strong  interest  in  the  prov- 
ince ;  but  it  would  seem  that  he  did  not  care  for  the 
Scotch  or  Irish.,  not  having  encouraged  them  to  emi- 
grate. Accordingly,  neither  of  these  came  until 
after  his  death  ;  and  when  they  did  arrive,  they  set- 
tled that  portion  of  the  province  which  lay  mostly 
along  the  southern  borders,  adjoining  Alaryland. 
Though  some  of  them  followed  the  course  of  the 
Susquehanna  and  settled  in  Lancaster  county,  the 
great  body  of  them  migrated  into  the  country  which 
lay  west  of  the  river.  Very  few  proceeded  up  the 
Schuylkill  Valley. 

Doubtless  the  German  element  in  this  direction 
was  not  agreeable  to  them.  Hence,  they  directed 
their  way  to  the  westward  from  Philadelphia,  im- 
mediatelv  after  landing,  rather  than  to  the  north- 
ward. No  settlement  was  effected  by  them  in  any 
of  the  districts  which  are  now  included  in  Berks 
county. 

HecrevvS. — The  same  can  be  said  of  the  Hebrews 
in  this  respect.  Their  immigration  was  so  limited 
and  so  quiet  that  no  notice  was  taken  of  them. 
Some  of  them  have  been  in  the  county  for  many 
years,  but  almost  entirely  at  Reading.  A  nimtber 
of  them  settled  along  the  h.ead-watcrs  of  the  Tulpe- 
hocken  at  or  in  the  vicinity  of  ]\Iyerstown.  Single 
individuals  wandered  to  Womelsdorf,  and  even  to 
Reading.  In  183G  there  were  six  of  them  at  Read- 
ing— Abraham  Speier.  John  Siegel.  Mayer  Siegel. 
Mayer  Arnold,  Alexander  Pleyman  and  Bernard 
Dreifoos. 

The  Hebrews  here  have  been  engaged  almost  ex- 
clusively in  trading,  and  used  the  German  language 
amongst  themselves  for  many  years.  Through  their 
children  and  local  education,  however,  the  English 
language  has  become  prevalent  among  them. 

In  1S64  the  following  were  in  Reading:  Bernard 
Dreifoos,  Solomon  Hirsch,  Abraham  Speier,  flayer 
Einstein,  Aaron  Henlein,  Solomon  \\'eil,  Marcus 
Lyons,  Isaac  Mann,  Isaac  Hirschland,  Joseph  Loeb, 
Jacob  Levy,  Ralph  Austrian.  Abraham  Arnold, 
Aaron  Einstein  and  Isaac  Schwerin. 

Negroes. — The  negro  is  also  worthy  of  mention. 
Slaverv  existed  here  to  a  very  limited  extent.  The 
slaves  of  which  anv  notice  was  found  were  owned  al- 
most entirelv  by  early  ironmasters,  but  they  were 
few  in  number.  This  condition  of  servitude  was  in- 
compatible with  the  notions  of  our  early  settlers  ; 
hence  it  was  not  encouraged.  The  farmers  had  no 
slave^;. 

Pennsvlvania  in'^tituted  an  early  movement  for  the 
gradual  abolition  of  slavery.  An  Act  of  Assembly 
was  passed  on  March  1,  17S0.  to  this  end.  The  Act 
required  the  owner  of  slaves  to  file  a  statement  in 
the  Quarter  Sessions'  office,  giving  age,  surname. 


■J  <::>..  1  •■:i. 


iiT'i  ::£  f'ji"'.!}-'!!  ffif.. 


20 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


etc.,  of  eacli  slave.     A  statement  of  this  kiii'l  could 
not  be  fouml  in  the  office. 

Colored  people  were  at  Readinij  soon  after  it  was 
founded.  It  was  not,  however,  till  after  1>'20  that 
they  became  sufficiently  stron.i^  tn  form  a  society 
for  religious  purjioses.  Some  f>f  them  owned  real 
estate  before  L-^OO,  and  loni;''  before  their  enfran- 
chisement in  ISij;),  they  were  orderly,  industrious 
and  progressive. 


Descendants  of  many  of  the  fir^t  settlers  are 
still  flourishing  in  numbers,  industry,  wealth  and 
social,  religious  and  political  influence  in  the  county, 
and  they  have  continued  persistently  engaged  in 
agriculture  upon  or  in  the  vicinity  of  the  original 
settlements.  Some  mc>ved  to  other  districts  of  the 
county  ;  others  to  Reading.  }ilanv  sons  and  daugh- 
ters migrated  to  the  West  and  settled  particularly 
in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Michigan,  Wis- 
consin, Kansas  and  Colorado.  Some  of  the  sons 
turned  to  tlie  professions,  and  others  to  trades  and 
manufactures,  in  which  they  realized  rich  rewards 
for  their  industry  and  well-directed  energv.  In 
tracing  down  all  the  pursuits  of  life  carried  on  in 
the  county,  it  is  only  occasionally  that  a  complete 
stranger  appears  and  identifies  himself  with  her 
onward  movement  for  any  considerable  length  of 
time.  This  is  especially  the  case  in  our  politics. 
The  names  of  the  old  families  are  continually  on 
the  surface.  Not  particularly  dem.onstrative,  they 
are  like  expert  swimmers  in  deep  water  and  float 
on  majestically  in  the  great  stream  of  time,  their 
heads  always  visible,  their  endurance  prevailing. 

FIRST  OCCUPANTS,  INDIANS 

Origix. — Where  the  Indians  of  this  vicinity  came 
■from  and  when  they  settled  in  this  immediate  sec- 
tion of  country  no  one  has  yet  determined.  It  has 
been  generallv  conceded  that  they  migrated  east- 
wardly  hundreds  of  years  ago  till  they  reached  the 
large  bodv  of  water  which  we  call  the  Atlantic 
Ocean.  As  a  nation,  they  were  known  as  the  Lcnni 
Lcnapc  (original  people).  This  general  name 
comprehended  numerous  distinct  tribes  which  spoke 
dialects  of  a  common  language — the  .ll^onquin. 
According  to  the  traditions  of  their  ancestors,  the 
Lcnni  Lcnapc  were  an  unmixed  and  unchanged 
race,  residing  many  centuries  ago  toward  the  set- 
ting of  the  sun,  somewhere  in  the  western  part  of 
this  continent.  For  some  reasons  not  explained, 
they  determined  to  migrate  toward  the  rising  of  the 
sun.  After  journeying  for  a  time  they  arrived  at 
the  Mississippi  river  (Xaniasi  Sipii.  meaning  Fish 
River).  There  they  fell  in  with  another  nation  of 
Indians,  who  were  also  in  quest  of  a  new  home  to 
the  ea<^tward.  Those  were  the  }[cn<^wc.  or.  as  they 
have  been  named  by  the  French,  the  Irnquois.  At 
that  river  both  nations  imited  their  forces,  because 
they  anticipated  opposition  to  the  ea-t  of  the  river 
from  the  A!li\^c7i'l.  who  were  a  populoxis  race  of 
gigantic  form.    Shortly  after  their  union,  and  before 


they  had  advanced  any  distance,  they  realized  their 
anticipations,  fur  they  were  compelled  to  fight  manv 
severe  battles  in  carrying  out  their  determination 
to  march  onward.  At  last  their  enemy,  the  .^llli^cici, 
to  escape  extermination,  abandoned  the  countrv,  fled 
far  southward  and  never  returned.  The  victors 
then  divided  the  country  between  themselves  —  the 
Iroquois  choosing  the  country  to -the  north  along 
the  great  lakes  and  their  tributary  streams,  and  the 
Lcnapc  taking  possession  of  the  country  to  the  south 
of  them,  from  the  river  eastward  to  the  ocean. 

The  Lcnapc,  on  their  way  hither,  became  divided 
into  three  separate  bodies.  One  body  settled  along 
the  Atlantic  ocean  and  the  country  adjacent  for 
some  hundrerls  of  miles,  comprising,  it  was  sup- 
posed, one-half  of  the  nation;  and  the  other  bodies 
settled  to  the  east  and  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river.  That  part  of  the  body  which  was  situated 
in  Pennsylvania  became  known  as  the  "Dclazivres." 
The  word  "Delaware"  is  unknown  in  the  Indian 
language.  At  first  the  Indians  thought  that  the 
white  people  had  given  this  name  to  them  in  deri- 
sion, but  when  they  were  informed  that  they  were 
named  after  a  great  while  chief — Lord  de  la  Ware 
— they  were  satisfied. 

Delaware  Tribes. — The  Delawares  divided 
themselves  into  three  tribes — the  Unajnis  or  Turtle, 
the  Unahiclitj^o  or  Turkey,  and  the  Minsi  (some- 
times called  Monseys)  or  Wolf.  The  first  two  were 
settled  on  the  territory  which  lay  nearest  to  the 
ocean,  between  the  coast  and  the  high  mountains, 
and,  as  they  increased  in  niunbers,  they  extended 
their  settlements  from  the  Hudson  river  to  the  Po- 
tomac. 

The  Minsi  Hved  back  of  the  other  tribes,  to  form, 
as  it  were,  a  bulwark  for  their  protection  and  to 
watch  the  actions  of  the  Mengivc.  Their  settle- 
ments extended  from  Minisink.  on  the  Hudson  (  a 
place  named  after  them  where  they  had  their  coun- 
cil-seat), to  the  west,  far  beyond  the  Susquehanna. 
Their  northern  boundaries  were  supposed  to  be 
along  the  head-waters  of  the  great  rivers,  Delaware 
and  Susquehanna,  which  flowed  through  their  ter- 
ritory, and  their  southern  boundaries  along  that 
rirlge  of  hills  known  in  Pennsylvania  by  the  name 
of  Lehigh. 

Manv  clans  sprang  from  these  tribes.  They  se- 
lected distant  spots  as  places  of  settlement,  and 
gave  themselves  names  or  received  names  from 
other  tribes.  Their  names  w-ere  generallv  taken 
after  simple  natural  objects  or  something  striking 
or  extraordinary.  Though  they  formed  separate 
and  distinct  clans,  yet  they  did  not  deny  their  ori- 
gin, retaining  their  affection  for  the  parent  tribe, 
of  which  they  were  proud  to  be  called  grandchildren. 
Many  families,  with  their  connections,  lived  by 
themselves.  They  were  settled  along  the  streams 
throughout  the  coimtrv.  They  had  towns  and  vil- 
lages, in  which  they  lived  in  '-eparate  clans,  with 
a  chief  in  each  clan  ruling  over  them.  The<e  chiefs 
were  subordinate  to  the  council  which  comprised 
the  great  chiefs  of  the  nation. 


ERECTIOX    OF    COUNTY 


21 


Minsi  Clans. — The  clans  of  the  !Minsi  Indians 
wert-  the  Schuylkills,  Susquehaiinas,  Xcshamines, 
Conestogas,  Assunpinks,  Rankakos,  Andastakas  and 
Sliackmaxons.  They  were  regarded  as  the  most 
warlike  of  all  the  Indians  in  these  tribe-.  Each 
clan  liad  a  chief  to  control  its  actions.  The  chief 
of  the  Schuylkill  clan,  which  was  settled  along  the 
Schuylkill  and  its  tributaries,  was,  for  a  time,  .\Ian- 
angA' ;  and  each  chief  was  under  the  command  of 
a  Grand  Sachem. 

Gaxawese. — The  Ganawese  (sometimes  called 
the  Shawnees,  or  Piscataway)  were  also  one  of  the 
tribes  of  the  Lcitni  Lcnapc.  They  had  lived  for- 
merly along  the  Potomac  river,  and  were  permitted 
by  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania  to  locate  among 
the  Schuylkill  Indians,  near  Tulpehocken,  in  pur- 
suance of  a  request  from  Manangy  (the  Indian 
chief  in  this  section)  with  a  guaranty  of  their 
friendship  by  the  Conestoga  Intlians.  This  request 
was  made  in  1705,  because  the  Ganawese  had  been 
reduced  by  sickness  to  a  small  number,  and  had 
exprcsse'd  a  desire  to  settle  here.  It  is  not  known 
whether  they  came  immediatelv  or  ix^t ;  but  four 
years  afterward  they  were  classed  with  the  Indians 
in  this  vicinity.  In  1728  they  were  represented  at 
Philadelphia  by  their  king,  Manawkyhickon,  who 
was  called  Shekellamy,  also  Winjack;  and  he  was 
appointed  then  by  the  "Five  Nations."  It  is  sup- 
posed that  he  lived  at  Shamokin,  his  tribe  having 
by  this  time  removed  thither  beyond  the  Blue  Moun- 
tain. 

After  Conrad  Weiser  had  settled  in  Tulpehocken, 
in  1729,  an  intimacy  was  cultivated  between  him 
and  Shekellamy.  In  11:^2  these  two  were  appinnted 
to  travel  between  the  Indians  and  the  settlers,  "in 
order  to  speak  the  minds  of  each  other  truly  and 
freely,  and  to  avoid  misunderstandings" :  and  as 
such  agents  thev  performed  invaluable  services  in 
our  earlv  history  by  the  satisfactory  and  amicable 
adjustment  of  disputes.  "They  were  universally  re- 
spected for  their  wisdom  in  council,  their  dignity 
of  manner,  and  their  conscientious  administration 
of  public  affairs." 

Grand  Sachems. — The  sachems  of  the  Lcnrd 
Lcnapc,  from  the  time  of  the  first  English  settle- 
ments till  the  Indians  retreated  before  the  onward 
march  of  civilization  and  eventually  disappeared  en- 
tirely from  this  part  of  our  country,  were,  in  suc- 
cession, Kekerappan,  Opekasset,  Taminent,  AUum- 
apees  (who  was  afterward  also  called  Sassoonan) 
and  Teedyuscung.  They  had  their  headquarters  at 
Minisink,  on  the  Delaware  river,  some  miles  above 
the  F.lue  Mountain  (now  in  Pike  countv).  and  al'^'> 
at  Shamokin,  on  Shamokin  creek  (in  Berks  county 
for  a  period  of  twentv  vears,  and  since  1773  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Northumberland  county). 

M.vN'XERS  .Nxn  CrsTONts. — The  earlv  settlers  of 
Pennsylvania  found  the  Indians  possessed  of  a 
kindly  disposition  and  inclined  to  share  with  them 
tite  comforts  of  their  rude  dwelling-places.  A\'heu 
they  were  guests  of  the  Indian'^,  their  persons  were 
regarded  as  sacred.     Penn  said  that  thev  excelled 


in  liberality ;  that  they  never  had  much,  for  thev 
never  wanted  much;  that  ihtir  wealth  circulated 
like  the  blood ;  that  none  wished  for  the  property 
of  another;  and  ihat  they  nere  exact  observers  of 
the  rights  of  property.  "'They  are  not  disquieted 
wuh  bills  of  lading  and  exchange,"  said  he,  "nor 
perplexed  with  chancery  >uits  and  exchequer  reck- 
onings. We  sweat  and  toil  to  live;  they  take  pleas- 
ure in  hunting,  fishing  and  fowling,  which  feeds 
them.  They  spread  their  table  on  the  ground  any- 
where, and  eat  twice  a  day,  morning  and  evening. 
They  care  for  little  lor  they  want  but  little,  if 
they  are  ignorant  of  our  pleasures,  thev  are  free 
from  our  pains." 

The  Indians,  in  their  peculiar  savage  life,  pos- 
sessed, on  the  one  hand,  certain  personal  virtues — 
a  high  sense  of  honor  (according  to  their  concep- 
tions of  duty),  mutual  fidelity  among  individuals, 
fortitude  that  mocked  the  most  cruel  torments  and 
devotion  to  their  own  tribe,  for  whose  welfare  thev 
were  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice ;  but,  en  the  other 
hand,  they  had  no  appreciation  of  domestic  virtues, 
for  they  treated  their  wives  with  cruelty  and  their 
children  with  indifference.  They  were  gloomy, 
stern  and  severe,  and  strangers  to  mirth  and  laugh- 
ter. They  permitted  no  outward  e.xpression  of  pain. 
Remarkable  indifference  to  the  good  or  ill  of  life 
was  one  of  the  peculiar  elements  of  their  character: 
and  they  exhibited  no  pleasure  in  anything,  save 
boisterous  joy  in  the  moment  of  victory.  They  had 
a  great  aversion  to  regular  labor,  and  yet  they  were 
capable  of  enduring  the  greatest  possible  exertions 
during  the  chase  or  times  of  war.  Thev  were  ex- 
tremely improvident.  When  they  had  an  abundance 
of  food  and  liquor  they  ate  and  drank  great  quan- 
tities, not  thinking  of  the  morrow  and  the  famine 
they  might  have  to  endure.  They  recognized  po- 
lygamy. 

They  believed  in  the  existence  of  a  Supreme 
Being,  and  of  a  Being  in  a  subordinate  position. 
The  former  was  the  Great  Spirit  to  them  wdiich  did 
not  require  prayers  for  aid  and  protection,  but  the 
latter  was  looked  upon  as  hostile  to  them,  and  to 
this  they  atldressed  their  worship.  And  they  also 
believed  in  a  future  state,  where  the  souls  of  brave 
warriors  and  chaste  wives  enjoyed  a  happy  exist- 
ence with  their  ancestors  and  friends.  Their  fun- 
erals were  conducted  with  great  decorum.  They 
dressed  the  deceased  persons  in  their  best  clothes, 
and  disposed  of  their  bodies  in  various  ways  and  in 
different  places,  some  in  the  air  on  scaffolds,  some 
in  the  water,  and  .some  in  the  earth.  They  also 
practised  cremation. 

The  general  dress  of  the  Indian  in  the  temperate 
and  cold  parts  of  the  country,  previous  to  the  ar- 
rival of  the  Europeans,  consisted  of  three  articles 
— a  cloak  of  buffalo  skin  (which  hung  from  the 
shpulders),  a  piece  of  skin  used  as  an  apron,  and 
a  pair  of  mcKcasins  or  loose  lx)ots,  manufactured 
out  of  undressed  skin.  The  women  wore  a  long 
robe  of  buffalo  skin  which  was  fastened  around 
the  waist. 


-jdi  i;i 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY.    REXXSYLWVXIA 


Their  habitations  were  huts  or  cabins,  generally 
of  a  circular  form,  con^^^ucte^i  of  poles  fixed  in 
the  ground  and  tied  together  at  the  top.  The  outer 
covernig  consisted  of  the  bark  of  trees.  A  hole 
was  left  open  at  the  top  for  ventilation  or  the  es- 
cape of  smoke.  Beds  and  seats  were  made  out  of 
skins.  The  diameter  of  some  huts  was  thirty  feet, 
and  even  forty. 

The  painting  of  their  bodies  was  a  universal  cus- 
tom. Tattooing  was  practised.  Some  painted  only 
their  arms ;  others  both  arms  and  legs.  Those 
who  had  attained  the  summit  of  renown  in  suc- 
cessful warfare  Iiad  their  bodice  painted  from  the 
waist  upward.  This  was  the  heraldry  of  the  In- 
dians. Besides  this  ornamentation,  the  warriors 
also  carried  plumes  of  feathers  on  their  heads. 

Tneir  weapons  consisted  of  the  tomahawk,  knife, 
club,  and  bow  and  arrow.  \\'hen  the  Diitch  arrived 
the  ritle  was  introduced  to  them :  and  then  the  In- 
dians became  as  expert  in  the  use  of  this  weapon 
as  the\-  had  been  in  the  use  of  the  tomahawk  and 
bow  and  arrow. 

They  subsisted  chiefly  on  wild  game  and  fish. 
They  were  great  hunters  and  fishers.  In  the  use 
of  the  spear  in  fishing  they  were  very  successful. 
They  carried  on  agriculture  to  a  limited  extent  in 
raising  maize,  beans  and  pumpkins.  But  the  labor 
v.-as  performed  entirely  by  their  women. 

Each  tribe  was  governed  by  an  elected  chief  and 
council.  In  matters  of  great  importance  all  the 
warriors  were  consulted.  In  their  deliberations, 
questions  were  decided  by  the  consent  of  all,  not 
by  a  majority.  Their  assemblies  were  conducted 
with  great  formality.  Their  debates  were  carried 
on  by  set  speeches  which  abounded  in  bold  figures 
and  bursts  of  impassioned  eloquence.  The  oldest 
chief  always  commenced  the  discussion.  The  young 
men  were  permitted  to  attend,  but  not  to  speak. 

They  conducted  their  warfare  in  a  particular  and 
peculiar  manner.  They  declared  war  by  sending  a 
slave  with  a  hatchet  (the  handle  of  which  was 
painted  red)  to  the  ofifending  party.  In  taking  the 
field  for  action,  they  proceeded  in  small  squads ; 
and  from  the  time  of  entering  the  enemy's  territory 
they  killed  no  game,  they  lighted  no  fires,  they  made 
no  disturbance  of  any  kind :  but  they  advanced  with 
the  utmost  caution,  not  even  speaking  to  one  an- 
other, only  communicating  bv  signs  and  motions. 
In  making  an  attack,  they  would  first  lie  flat  a  whole 
night,  and  at  the  break  of  day,  upon  the  signal  of 
the  chief,  rush  upon  the  enemv.  If  thev  succeeded 
(as  they  generally  did  succeed  in  such  a  quiet  but 
deliberate  mode  of  warfare)  their  horrifying  deeds 
baffled  description. 

Retreat  of  Indians. — The  Indians  having 
moved  north  of  the  Blue  Mountain  in  1T32.  the 
Friends  then  entered  and  took  up  large  tracts  of 
land  in  the  Maiden-creek  \'allcy  ( Ontelaunee  Sec- 
tion"). Within  the  previous  decade,  a  '^mall  colonv 
of  Gennans  had  settled  in  the  Tulpehockcn  Valley, 
having  migrated  thither  from  Xew  York  asrainst 
the  complaints  and  protests  of  the  Indian^.     Before 


ITjU,  these  settlers  had  even  occupied  tracts  of 
land  beyond  the  mountain,  reaching  as  far  north 
as  the  sources  of  the  Schuylkill  river.  And  thus 
it  appears,  as  the  settlers  pressed  forward,  the  In- 
dian^  retreated   westward. 

In  1749,  the  Delaware  Indians  left  the  great 
region  beyond  the  Blue  Mountain  for  thousands 
of  square  miles,  and  they  departed  with  the  firm 
intention  of  remainin.,^  a\v;iy.  But  shortly  after- 
ward, having  been  deceived  by  misrepresentations 
of  the  French,  they  returned,  not  to  retake  pos- 
session, but  to  murder  the  settlers.  In  this  mali- 
cious invasion,  they  were  very  successful,  and  thev 
kept  the  country  in  an  unsettled  condition  for  eight 
years.  Then  they  fled,  never  to  return.  In  lfS9, 
the  general  government  placed  them  on  a  large 
resen-ation  of  land  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  In  181S, 
they  were  located  in  ^Missouri.  Numerous  removals 
followed  during  the  next  fifty  years,  when,  in  IS'GC, 
they  accepted  land  in  severalty  in  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. 

A  popular  notion  prevails  that  the  Indian  tribes 
are  disappearing  and  their  numbers  growing  less. 
But  it  has  been  ascertained  that,  though  certain 
tribes  have  decreased  in  number,  and  others  even 
disappeared  entirely,  many  of  the  tribes  have  in- 
creased ;  and  therefore  the  Indian  population,  as  a 
whole,  in  North  xAmerica,  has  not  decreased  verv 
much  since  the  advent  of  the  Europeans.  In  ISS'O 
there  were  in  the  United  States  300, .513  Indians 
(of  which  340,136  were  on  reservations  and  6(i,  107 
were  civilized);  in  1890,  248,2.53;  in  IPOO.  237,- 
19G ;  and  in  1908,  the  number  was  estimated  at 
300.412. 

The  general  policy  of  our  government  has  been, 
for  some  years  past,  to  treat  with  the  Indian  tribes 
in  a  respectful  manner,  purchase  their  lands,  place 
them  upon  certain  reservations,  where  thev  are  re- 
quired to  remain,  and  appropriate  supplies  for  them 
in  the  nature  of  food,  clothing,  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion. In  this  manner  the  government  has  been  hu- 
manely endeavoring  to  civilize  them.  And  it  has 
accomplished  considerable  good  results  in  respect 
to  some  tribes,  but  failed  in  respect  to  others. 

Indian  Names. — All  the  prominent  streams  in 
the  county  have  been  given  Indian  names ;  also  two 
townships  and  two  mountains.  These  names  are 
as  follows: 

Antictaiu — 

AUc^hcn\' — Fair  water. 

Gaiislwrcclw}titc — Roarinq:  or  tumbling  stream. 
This  is  now  known  as  the  Schuylkill.  In  old  deeds 
it  is  called  Manaiunk.  the  signification  of  which 
word  was  a  mother  of  stream.s. 

Gokhosing — Place   of   owds :   now   Cacoosing. 

Kaii-ta-tin-chunk — Endless  (applied  formerlv, 
now  changed,  to  Blue  Mountain"). 

Lcchauxi'cki — Place  of  forks;  now  Lehigh.     ' 

M'acJtksitliaitne — Bcar's-path  creek:  now  Maxa- 
tawny.  • 

Masclnlainclianuc — T^^ut  stream  :  now  Moselem. 


ERECTION    OF    COUNTY 


23 


Mcndkissc — Stream  with  large  bends ;  now  Mo- 
-W'here    we    drank 


liquor;    now 


nocacy. 

Mi'iilialtaiiink 
.Manatawny. 

.Wnrsink — Place  of  fishing;  now   Neversink. 

Olink — Hole,  cavern  or  cell ;  al^o  a  cove  or  tract 
uf  land  encompassed  by  hill^  :  now  Oley. 

Ontclaiiiicc — Little  maiden:  now  Maiden  creek. 

Pakiliuioniink — Place  of  cranberries ;  now  Perki- 
omen. 

Sakttnk — Place  of  outlet,  where  a  smaller  stream 
empties  into  a  larger ;  now  Sacony ;  also  Saucon. 

Sinnc-haime — Stony  stream;  now  Stony  creek. 

Sipnas-haiine — A  plum  stream:  now  Plum  creek. 

Tamaqiie-Jianne — Beaver  stream — a  stream  across 
which  the  beaver  throws  a  dam ;  now  Beaver  creek ; 
also  changed  to  Little  Schuylkill. 

Tulpczu-ihaki — Land  of  turtles ;  now  Tulpeliocken. 

lVyo7nissiiig — 

\^iLi.AGES. — Some  of  the  Indians  had  villages  in 
this  district  of  territory-.  They  were  located  in 
different  sections,  more  particularly,  however,  along 
the  Schuylkill  and  its  principal  tributaries,  and 
known  as  follows : 

1.  Angelica — opposite  "Neversink,"  at  mouth  of 
Angelica  creek. 

2.  GansJio-Ju'chaiinc — in  the  central  section,  ad- 
joining the  Schuylkill,  near  the  northern  base  of 
"Neversink,"  at  the  mouth  of  Rose  Valley  creek,  the 
place  being  included  in  Reading. 

3.  Machksithannc — in  the  northern  section,  the 
place  being  now  in  Maxatawny  township,  near 
Kutztown. 

-1.  Maschilainchaniic — situate  some  miles  east 
of  Sakunk.  on  the  stream  of  the  same  name,  now 
known  as  Moselem. 

•5.  Sakunk — in  the  northern  section,  on  the 
Maiden  creek  in  Richmond  township  at  the  mouth 
of  the.  Sakunk  creek,  now  called  Sacony. 

6.  Menhaltanink — at  a  large  spring  now  in  Am- 
ity township,  several  miles  northeast  of  Dougiass- 
ville. 

7.  Naz'csink — a  short  distance  below  the  soutliern 
base  of  "Neversink."  near  the  Big  Dam.  on  the 
Deturck  farm  :  and  it  is  believed  that  a  village  was 
also  in  the  "Poplar  Neck''  on  the  PTigh  farm. 

8.  Olink — in  Oley  township,  a  sliort  distance 
south  of  Friedensburg.  on  land  included  in  the 
Bertolet  farm.  And  it  is  believed  that  a  large  vil- 
lage was  situated  several  miles  to  the  eastward,  on 
the  Lee  farm,  adjoining  the  ^ilanatawny  creek. 

9.  Tulpczi'chaki — in  the  wc'^tcrn  section  of  the 
county,  a  short  distance  cast  of  Stnuchsburg.  near 
the  Tulpehocken  creek. 

Indi.\n  Rf.lics. — A  large  number  of  Indian  relics 
have  been  found  in  different  parts  of  the  county, 
numbering  about  twenty  thousand.  Many  of  them 
were  found  at  certain  places  w-here  villages  were 
situated.  Over  sixty-five  hundred  were  found  on 
and  in  the  vicinitv  of  Poplar  Neck  and  Lewis's 
N'cck.  "  Prof.  David  B.  Brunner  secured  a  large 
individual    collection,    numbering   over    forty-three 


hundred.  The  relics  of  Ezra  High,  found  on  Pop- 
lar Neck,  were  presented  to  the  Historical  Society 
of  Berks  County. 

Henry  K.  Deishor,  of  Kutztown,  has  a  superb 
collection,  local  as  well  as  general,  the  total  number- 
ing upward  of  twenty  thousand.  [See  mention 
of  it  in  the  Borough  of  Kutztown,  Chapter  NI; 
also  in  his  biographical  sketch,  which  appears  in  this 
publication.] 

PURCHASE  OF  TERRTTORY 

Immediately  after  Penn  had  obtained  his  charter' 
for  the  province  from  King  Charles  II.  in  16b  1.  and 
had  begun  his  administration  of  its  various  affairs, 
he  negotiated  with  the  Indians  for  the  purchase  of 
their  lands.  lie  regarded  them  as  the  rightful  own- 
ers of  the  territory  by  virtue  of  their  possession. 
Alany  purchases  were  made  by  him.  He  gave  in 
consideration  for  the  land  mostly  articles  which 
the  Indians  regarded  as  useful,  such  as  blankets, 
coats,  guns,  powder,  lead.  etc.  Comparatively  little 
money  was  paid  to  them.  Rum  was  occasionally 
given. 

There  are  two  deeds  for  lands  in  Berks  county 
in  which  we  are  particularly  interested.  One  is 
dated  Sept.  7,  1733.  It  is  from  Sassoonau,  alias 
Allummapis,  sachem  of  the  Schuylkill  Indi?ns,  Ela- 
lapis,  Ohopamen,  Pcsqueeiomen,  Mayeemoe.  Par- 
tridge and  Tepakoaset,  alias  Joe,  on  behalf  of  them- 
selves and  edl  the  other  Indians  of  the  said  nation, 
unto  John  Penn,  Thomas  Penn,  and  Richard  Penn. 
The  territory  contained  in  the  grant  is  described 
as  follows : 

All  those  tracts  of  land  lying  on  or  near  the  river 
Schuylkill,  in  the  said  province,  or  any  of  the  branches, 
streams,  fountains  or  springs  tliereof,  eastward  or  west- 
ward, and  all  the  lands  lying  in  or  near  any  swamps, 
marshes,  fens  or  meadows,  the  waters  or  streams  of  which 
flow  into  or  toward  the  said  river  Schu)'lkill,  situate, 
lying  and  being  between  those  hills,  called  Lechay  Hills, 
and  those  called  Keekachtancmin  Hills,  which  cross  the 
said  river  Schuylkill  about  thirty  miles  above  the  said 
Lechay  Hills,  and  all  land  whatsoever  lying  within  the 
said  bounds;  and  betw^-en  the  branches  of  Delaware  river, 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  said  land,  and  the  branches 
or  streams  running  imo  the  ri\er  Susquehannah,  on  the 
western  side  of  the  said  land,  together  u'ith  all  mines, 
minerals,  quarries,  waters,  rivers,  creeks,  woods,  timber 
and  trees,  with  all  and  every  the  appurtenances,  etc. 

The  consideration  mentioned  in  the  deed  con- 
sisted of  the  following  articles: 

20  brass  kettles.  100  stroudwater  matcncpats  of  two 
yards  each,  100  duffels  do.,  lOu  blankets.  100  yards  of  half 
tick,  60  linen  shirts.  20  hats,  6  made  coats.  12  pair  of 
."ihoes  and  buckles,  .^0  pair  of  stockings,  .300  lbs.  of  gun 
powder,  fiOO  lbs.  of  lead,  20  fine  guns,  12  gun-locks.  50 
tomahawks  or  hatchets.  50  planting  hoes,  120  knives.  60 
pair  of  scissors,  lOO  tobacco  tongs.  24  looking-glasses,  40 
tobacco  boxes,  1000  flints.  .>  lbs.  of  paint.  24  dozen  of 
gartering,  G  dozen  of  ribbons.  12  dozen  of  rings.  200  awl 
blades,  100  lbs.  of  tobacco,  -JOO  tobacco  pipes,  20  gallons 
of  rum  and  50  pounds  in  money. 

The  other  deed  is  <latcd  Aug.  22.  1749.  It  is 
from  nine  different  tribes  of  Indians  unto  Thomas 
Penn  and  Richard  Penn.  The  several  tribes  were 
represented  hv  their  chiefs,  who  appeared  and  exe- 
cuted the  deed  in  their  behalf.     The  consideration 


HISTORY    OF    EERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


was  £500  lawful  iiionov  of  Pfnn-»ylvariia.  The  tract 
of  land  conveyed  lay  north  of  the  Blue  Mountain, 
and  extended  from  th.e  Delaware  on  the  east  to  the 
Susquehanna  on  the  west.  It  inchuleil  the  whole 
of  Schuylkill  county.  Conrad  W'eiser  was  the  in- 
terpreter for  the  Indians  in  this  transfer. 

The  lower  section  of  the  county,  lying-  south- 
ward of  the  South  .Mountam  (or  "l.cchay  Hill"), 
had  been  released  by  the  Indians  in  IT  18.  it  having 
been   included   in   previous   purchases   of  territory. 

REDUCTIONS   OF  TERRFKjRV 

XoRTHUiiCERLAXD  CouxTY. — As  nearly  as  it 
was  possible  to  do  so,  the  provincial  o-overnment 
kept  the  settlers  from  going-  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  purchases  from  the  Indians.  After  the  purchase 
of  1749,  the  settlers  extended  the  settlements  be- 
yond the  Blue  }^Iountain.  Within  the  next  score 
of  years,  numerous  settlements  w-erc  made  in  that 
territory,  especially  in  the  district  which  lies  be- 
tween the  Blue  [Mountain  and  "Schneid  Bcr^" 
(Sharp  Mountain,  named  so  from  the  sharpness  of 
its  ape.x).  Alany  persons  located  beyond  the  pur- 
chase, in  the  vicinity  of  the  great  fork  in  the  Sus- 
quehanna (Shamokin,  now  Sunbury)  :  and  this  in- 
duced the  additional  purchase  of  1T68. 

Within  the  next  four  years,  the  Governor  was 
persuaded  to  feel  the  necessity  of  erecting  another 
county,  even  in  that  remote  locality,  notwithstand- 
ing a  much  larger  population  existed  within  the 
limits  of  the  purchase  of  1749.  Its  distance  (aver- 
aging seventy-five  miles)  from  the  county-seat, 
Reading,  was  the  principal  cause  of  complaint,  and 
the  prime  reason  to  the  Assembly  in  granting  .the 
prayer  of  the  petitioners.  X'orthumberland  was 
erected  on  March  21.  1772.  It  comprised  about 
one-third  of  the  v.hole  State,  including  the  north- 
western section.  Over  three-fifths  of  Berks  county 
was  cut  to  it.  XTo  townships  had  been  formed  in 
that  section.  Immediately  after  the  erection  of  the 
new  county,  townships  were  formed,  and  a  county- 
seat  was  established  and  laid  out  at  Shamokin. 
named  Sunbur}-.  Fort  Augusta,  at  the  fork  of  the 
river,  was  a  conspicuous  place  during  the  French 
and  Indian  war.     It  was  erected  in  1750. 

Schuylkill  Cou.vty. — Forty  years  afterward, 
Berks  county  was  again  reduced  in  area  by  contrib- 


uting territory  toward  the  erection  of  another  coun- 
ty. Many  surprising  developments  had  been  made. 
not  only  in  settlements  and  population,  but  more 
especially  in  internal  resources.  The  condition  of 
afTairs  in  the  county  was  equal  to  that  of  any  sec- 
tion of  the  State.  Coal  was  discovered  as  early  as 
1775,  along  the  head-waters  of  the  Schuylkill.  Its 
need  had  come  to  be  felt.  It  quickened  enterprise 
in  developing  new  means  of  transportation.  Agri- 
culture had  enriched  the  land  wonderfully.  Xumer- 
ous  furnaces  and  forges  were  carried  on  success- 
fully, not  only  in  the  more  populous  parts  south  of 
the  Blue  ]\Iountain,  but  also  north  of  it,  even  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  coal  regions. 

The  population  and  improvements  beyond  tlie 
purchases  of  1749,  when  Northumberland  county 
was  erected  in  1772,  were  comparatively  trifling. 
But  within  this  purchase  they  had  grown  to  large 
proportions  when  the  second  county  came  to  be 
erected  out  c>f  a  part  of  its  territory ;  for  the  popu- 
lation numbered  about  six  thousand,  and  the  sev- 
eral townships  together  contributed  over  eight 
hundred  dollars  in  taxes.  The  new  county  was 
erected  on  March  11.  1811.  and  called  Schuylkill. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  territory  was  taken  from 
Berks  county,  and  the  other  portion  from  North- 
ampton. The  portion  from  Berks  had  been  erected 
into  seven  townships,  as' follows: 

Erected  Taxable^ 

in    ISU 

Brunswick    1768  359 

Pine-Grove    1771  2.';i 

Manhein-     1790  2G9 

Schuylkill     1802  136 

Xorweijian  1803  108 

:.Iahantan50     W02  141 

Upper-Mahantango    1807  103 

1,372 

Other  Counties  PRorosEn. — Between  the  years 
1824  and  1S55,  twenty  applications  were  made  be- 
fore the  Legislature  to  establish  new  counties  out 
of  portions  of  Berks  county,  comprising  town- 
sin'ps  in  the  northern,  eastern,  southern  and  west- 
ern sections,  but  fortunately  they  all  were  unsuc- 
cessful, notwithstanding  the  great  efiforts  expended 
in  that  bel.alf. 


i<OTt. 

rrrr 

ro?r. 


CHAPTER  II-INDUSTRY  OF  COUNTY 


AGRICL'LTL'RE 

General  Cuxditiox  anu  Progress. — W'lien  the 
first  settlers  entered  this  territory,  they  found  it 
entirely  without  cultivation  or  imi)rovement  of  any 
kind.  The  land  along-  the  Schuylkill  and  its  tribu- 
taries was  in  a  primitive  statu  in  every  respect,  but 
in  a  good  condition  fur  fannini^  purposes.  Its  lo- 
cation was  fine,  its  irrie^ation  superior,  and  al- 
together it  was  very  inviting  to  them.  Labor  stood 
out  prominently  before  them  as  the  one  thing  nec- 
essary to  cause  it  to  become  fruitful.  Fortunately 
for  them,  they  possessed  this  personal  quality  in  the 
highest  degree ;  and  with  this  quahty  they  also 
possessed  other  qualities  equally  imjiortant  in  tak- 
ing hold  of  an  uncultivated  country — economy,  per- 
severance and  patience.  They  were  in  every  way 
adapted  to  their  situation.  Their  preparation  was 
of  the  best  order:  and  driven  from  their  native 
land  by  religious  persecution,  they  must  have  re- 
joiced in  finding  such  a  pleasing  situation,  such 
inviting  conditions. 

After  the  beginning  had  been  made,  can  we  won- 
der that  immigrants  came  by  the  thousand?  They 
knew  their  sutiferings,  their  uncertain  condition  at 
home,  and  their  sense  of  well-being  induced  them 
to  leave.  But  in  leaving  the  valleys  and  hills  so 
dear  to  them,  they  came  to  possess  and  enjoy  a 
country  equally  favored  for  beauty,  for  health  and 
for  profit;  and  it  was  more  highly  favored  in  res- 
pect to  a  condition  which  was  to  them  more  import- 
ant than  all  the  others  combined — freedom.  It  is 
surprising  to  find,  in  the  course  of  time  and  govern- 
ment, the  development  of  a  condition  for  mankind 
so  unfortunate,  so  objectionable,  so  discouraging; 
but  it  is  equally  surprising  to  find,  in  the  same 
course  of  time  and  government,  though  in  a  countn,' 
far  removed,  over  three  thousand  miles  across  a 
dreaded  sea,  a  condition  exactly  opposite — fortunate, 
acceptable  and  encouraging! 

The  condition  of  the  settlers  was  encouraging, 
not  only  in  respect  to  an  acceptable  country,  but 
also  in  respect  to  their  own  constitution,  physically, 
mentally  and  morally.  Thev  were  strong  and  en- 
during in  physical  development,  they  were  sensible 
and  practical  in  thought  and  feeling;  and  thev  were 
sound,  hopeful  and  trustful  in  religious  convictions. 
These  fitted  them  admirably  for  their  vocation. 

The  land  was  cultivated  then  as  it  is  now,  by 
manuring  and  enriching  the  soil,  by  turning  the 
sod,  by  sowing  and  planting  seeds,  and  by  rotat- 
ing crops ;  but  the  manner  was  infinitely  more 
laborious.  Every  act  was  performed  by  muscular 
exertion  and  endurance,  with  the  assistance  of 
horse-power.  The  plow,  the  harrow,  the  scythe, 
the  sickle  and  the  rake  .were  important  aids  then, 
and  by  comparing  the  past  with  the  present  we 
can   readily   appreciate  the  va-t   dit^erence.     Their 


farming  implements  were  rude  and  simple  in  con- 
struction and  continued  so  for  many  years.  The 
whole  of  the  eighteenth  century  passed  away  with- 
out any  improvement.  The  farmer  labored  on  ear- 
nestly and  faithfully  year  after  year,  and  decade 
after  decade  with  the  same  muscular  exertion,  and 
these  rude  implements  required  him  to  be  at  his 
place  all  the  time  if  he  wished  to  be  in  season.  But 
his  devotion  was  equal  to  the  task,  for  he  was 
up  with  the  sun  in  the  morning;  and  with  the 
moon  in  season.  He  was  never  behind,  for  he 
could  not  be  without  great  loss  and  inconvenience. 
His  implements  were  satisfactory  to  him,  because 
he  gave  them  no  thought  beyond  the  assistance 
which  they  afforded.  And  sons  followed  in  the 
footsteps  of  their  fathers,  by  imitation;  and  half 
of  the  nineteenth  century  also  passed  away  with- 
out any  material  advancement  beyond  the  days  of 
1700,  of  1750,  and  of  ISOO.  Labor-saving  machin- 
ery had  begun  to  be  introduced  within  a  score 
of  years  before  1850;  and  this  naturally  led  to  an 
improvement  in  farming  implements.  The  mower 
came  to  be  substituted  for  the  scythe,  the  rea[)er 
for  the  sickle,  and  the  drill  for  the  hand,  im- 
proved plows  of  various  patterns  were  introduced. 
And  now  we  have  the  combined  reaper  and  binder, 
a  machine  truly  ingenious. 

The  same  slowness,  simplicity  but  earnest  labor 
followed  the  threshing  of  grain  after  it  had  been 
harvested.  The  flail  and  the  walking  of  horses 
on  the  barn  floor  were  continued  for  a  hundred  and 
fifty  years.  Indeed,  some  of  the  poor,  non-pro- 
gressive farmers  in  districts  distant  from  railroads 
and  prominent  highways  still  carry  on  this  labor- 
ious performance.  But  about  1840  the  threshing 
machine  was  introduced  ;  and  also  the  horse-power 
machine  for  running  it  with  speed  and  success. 
Patent  hay-rakes,  hay-forks,  corn-shellers.  and  im- 
plements and  machines  of  various  kinds,  are  also 
used  in  every  section  of  our  county.  All  these 
things  were  developed  because  of  the  ease  with 
which  iron  could  be  manufactured  mto  any  shape. 
Accordingly,  the  foundry  played  an  important  part 
in  these  improvements ;  and  at  the  bottom  of  all 
this  progress  we  find  iron,  coal  and  steam. 

We  no  longer  see  from  ten  to  thirty  or  forty 
persons  engaged  in  haymaking  and  harvesting  on 
our  farms,  as  they  were  seen  one  hundred,  indeed, 
only  thirty,  years  ago.  A  farmer  and  his  own 
family,  with  the  aid  of  his  h(5rses  and  improved 
farming  machinery,  can  carry  on  all  the  work  from 
beginning  to  end  successfully. 

During  the  last  fifty  years  numerous  manufac- 
turing establishments  have  been  erected  in  our 
country,  and  these  have  caused  a  great  demand 
for  working  people:  and  this  demand  has  been 
supplied  to  a  great  degree   from  the   farming  dis- 


:f'    \-.:i- 


■[«;<;.   ■lOi-   "^ 


"i     ,  '>". 'It    ."■.1    1 


t     rii-.fn     ; 'n-.T  »,;'i'.-T     ---..,■    ;•      /'fit     j^-(  ••.  ?'     \/lii     '!  ^■■:        ■  .■;.■ 

/.  ■;        -  ;    I  ■  ■  "1,  :  ■       :.'•■'■  .■•"1/-,^ 

'■><■        --.-'■'  ■.:<      .  !  :.'J'i.    .  .■    ;>    .1 

'      ■  I  ;;"       !■  ■^  ,7       •••i't  -j'I'!      \r 


HISTOKY    OF    DERKS    CUL'XTV,    TEXXSVLW-WIA 


tricts.  The  nianntacturcr  pai<l  Iii.i^lier  wages  tlian 
tlie  farmer  and  limited  tiie  time  ui  daily  labor  to 
ten  hours;  and  towns  and  cities  (at  which  these 
establishments  were  almo>t  entirely  situated)  af- 
forded the  workinL;-pe(iple  more  and  better  advan- 
tages and  facilities  in  rc-^iject  to  ^chL>oi^  and 
churches,  pleasures  and  associations.  These  nat- 
urally inclined  them  to  quit  lalxjrinef  on  farms  and 
enter  establi^hments  in  pC'pulons  places.  Accord- 
ingly farm  laborers  began  to  grow  scarce  and  farm- 
ers became  alarmed;  but  fortunaiely  for  farming, 
whilst  enterprise  was  drawing  one  way  again-t  its 
interest  and  welfare,  genius  was  acting  with  equal 
force  m  the  other  for  them,  and  the  result  has  ac- 
tually come  to  be  beneticial  to  the  farmer,  more 
especially  in  respect  to  making  him  more  self-de- 
pendent. 

By  the  industrial  statistics  in  the  next  portion 
of  this  chapter,  it  will  appear  that  in  iSOi;  there 
were  upward  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  grist-mills, 
which  were  scattered  throughout  the  county.  Af- 
ter the  several  railroads  in  operation  began  to  make 
themselves  felt  in  the  industrial  affairs  of  the  county, 
these  grist-mills  came  to  be  abandoned,  and  as  they 
grew  less  in  number  the  value  of  farms  began  to 
decrease,  and  this  decrease  continued  until  the  value 
in  many  cases  was  one-half,  even  two-thirds,  less 
than  it  had  been.  This  was  noticeable  from  ISTo  to 
1900.  The  abandoned  mills  have  not  been  rebuilt; 
and  the  farm  values  have  not  yet  improved.  This 
was  a  direct  result  of  imported  grain  from  tlie  Wes- 
tern States  at  reduced  rates,  much  having  been  said 
of  the  increased  flour-producing  character  of  this 
grain  over  the  Eastern  grain  ;  and  also  of  Western 
flour.  And  this  abandonment  of  .the  grist-mills  and 
decrease  of  farm  values  led  many  thousand  of  peo- 
ple to  move  from  farms  and  locate  in  towns  and 
cities,  in  the  county  and  out  of  it.  The  cer.sus  and 
assessment  returns  show  this  plainly.  Before  1835. 
without  the  aid  of  steam  and  railroads  and  stimu- 
lated industrial  affairs,  farming  communities  had 
increased  and  improved  for  fiftv  years:  but  after 
1875,  even  with  these  extraordinary  aids  to  the 
people,  they  have  decreased  and  retrograded,  and 
the  major  part  of  the  population  and  wealth  have 
come  to  concentrate  in  the  county-scat. 

Agricultural  Society. — Tn  IS'23,  a  State  Agri- 
cultural Societv  was  lirst  suggested  tr>  the  people 
of  the  State  by  an  Act  of  Assembly.  Imt  nearly 
thirtv  years  elapsed  before  a  successful  movement 
was  in'ade  in  that  behalf.  A  public  letter  was  ad- 
dressed to  the  farmers  of  the  State,  in  May.  IS.jO. 
which  suggested  a  convention  at  Harri^burg.  in 
Tanuan.-,  ISol,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  State 
Agricultural  Societv.  Delegate-  from  the  several 
counties  were  in  attendance  and  it  resulted  in  a 
State  Fair  which  was  held  in  Octolicr.  1>.">1. 

This  movement  having  met  with  success,  a  pre- 
liminary meeting  for  organizing  a  societv  in  the 
countv  Was  held  at  the  "Kevstone  Flouse"  rnow 
"Hotel  Penn"").  in  Reading,  on  Dec.  ^0.  1S51.  It 
was    attended    bv   a   number   of    prominent   citi'^eu'^ 


of  the  county,  who  caused  a  public  address  to  be 
issueil ;  and  a  formal  organization  was  ettected  at 
the  court-house  on  Jan.  13,  ISO':?,  108  persons  sub- 
scribing the  cou'^titution. 

The  lirst  exhibition  was  held  on  Aug.  IT,  Iboi, 
at  Reading.  It  was  confined  principally  to  grains, 
vegetables,  fruit~  and  flowers ;  and  though  small, 
it  exceeded  all  expectations,  having  attracted  a 
large  number  of  visitors  from  Reading  and  all  parts 
of  the  county. 

The  first  agricultural  fair  was  held  in  October, 
1853 ;  the  exhibition  of  speed  took  place  on  a  large 
lot  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Walnut 
streets ;  of  fanning  implements,  stock,  poultrv,  etc., 
on  a  lot  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Fifth  and  Elm 
streets ;  and  of  grain,  fruits,  flowers,  fancy  articles, 
etc.,  in  the  Academy  building,  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Court  streets.  It  was  a  great 
succes-; — the  attendance  having  been  estimated  at 
50.000. 

In  a  report  to  the  society  on  April  5,  1S53,  a 
recommendation  'was  made  that  the  public  park 
and  parade-ground  be  secured  as  a  suitable  locality 
for  the  erection  of  buildings,  etc.,  to  promote  agri- 
cultural science.  This  recommendation  was  acted 
upon,  and  on  }klay  ]3,  1854,  the  county  commission- 
ers leased  to  the  society  the  ground  known  as  the 
"commons,"  for  the  purpose  of  holding  its  annual 
fairs,  for  the  term  of  ninety-nine  years.  The  third 
annual  fair  was  held  there  in  October,  1854;  and 
every  succeeding  year  the  fairs  were  conducted  on 
the  "Fair  Ground"  until  1SS7  excepting  during  the 
Civil  war  for  three  years  (18G2-3-4),  when  it  was 
occupied  liy  the  United  States  government  for  the 
purposes  of  a  militar}-  hospital  and  camp.  In  that 
year  it  was  removed  to  the  large  inclosure  at  the 
end  of  North  Eleventh  street,  and  the  annual  ex- 
hibitions have  since  been  held  there. 

The  annual  "Fair"  is  the  principal  object  of  the 
society.  ^lonthly  m.eetings  are  held  for  the  dis- 
cussion of  topics  pertaining  to  agricultural  and  hor- 
ticultural progress.  These  have  been  held  in  the 
third  ston-  of  the  court-house  for  many  vears  past. 
Formerly,  thev  were  held  at  different  places,  prom- 
inent among  them  being  the  "Keystone  House"  and 
"Keystone  Ffall." 

A  similar  society  was  formed  at  Kutztown  in 
1870.  which  also  gave  annual  exhibitions  until  1003. 
.-\nother  "Fair  Ground"  was  established  in  1905. 
on  the  north  side  of  Kutztown.  with  a  superior  half- 
mile  track. 

Farmlrs'  Uxiox. — Tn  1900,  a  number  of  farmers 
of  the  southern  section  of  the  county  in  the  vicinity 
of  Geigertown  organized  a  "Farmers'  Union"  for 
educational  and  mutual  benefit  and  erected  a  fine 
hall  (32x45)  costin.g  $1,500,  with  cement  base- 
ment and  shedding.  It  has  been  carried  on  in  a 
successful  manner  and  its  lectures  on  agricultural 
topics  have  been  highlv  appreciated.  Membership, 
100.  Officers:  E.  jNI.  Zerr.  president:  H.  G.  Mc- 
("riiwan.  treasurer:  H.  C.  Hohl,  secretarv- ;  D.  C^wen 
Brooke,  cnrrc^pcnding  secretary. 


INDUSTRY    OF    COL'XTV 


27 


IRON  ixd;:strjes 

FcKXACES  AND  FoRGES. — In  cacli  pdrticn  of  the 
county  there  were  iron  industries  at  an  early  per- 
iod in  its  history,  especially  in  t[ie  lower  portion. 
They  were  scattered  many  niilt-s  from  one  another, 
extending-  from  the  southern  boundary  to  the  north- 
em.  and  from  the  eastern  to  the  western.  All  were 
located  along  strong-  streams  for  water-power,  and 
in  the  midst  of  thickly  wooded  territory  for  char- 
coal. The  greater  number  were  ca.-t  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill. The  nine  following  streams  were  occupied 
before  the  Revolution :  IManatawny  and  its  tribu- 
tary Ironstone,  \\est-Branch  of  Perkiomen.  Mose- 
lem,  French,  Flay,  Allegheny,  Tulpehucken  and 
its  tributary,  Spring. 

Until  that  time  there  were  the  following  indus- 
tries— the    year    indicating   the    time    of    erection : 

Furnaces 

Colebrookdale    1720       Hopeu  ell     1759 

Mt.    Pleasant    173S       Berkshire     1760 

Hereford     1740       Oley    1765 

Forges 

Pool    (2)     1717       Oley     1744 

Spring 1729       Charming     1749 

Mt.   Pleasant    1738       Moselem^    1750 

Pine  1740       Gibraltar     1770 

Hay  Creek   1740 

From  1775  to  ISOO,  the  following  were  estab- 
lished in  the  county : 

(Furnaces 

Union     1780  Joanna    1792 

District     • I'ISO  Reading     1794 

Mary  Ann    1789  Greenwood     1796 

Dale     1791  Sallv    Ann    1800 


Forces 


Forges 


Erobst's    .^ 1780 

Rockland     1783 

Dale     1791 


Burkhart'?     1792 

District     170.> 

Speedwell     1800 

All  of  these  industries  were  operated  successful- 
ly for  many  years  and  contributed  a  great  deal  to 
the  material  welfare  of  the  county;  but  most  of 
them  were  discontinued  shortly  after" the  Civil  war. 
Three  of  them  are  still  in  active  operation,  tliough 
much  enlarged: 


Hay  Creek    (Birdsboro) 
Reading    (Robesonia) 


Gibraltar 


Among  the  more  recent  furnaces  and  forges  in 
the  county,  there  were  the  following,  the  date  after 
the  name  indicating  the  year  of  erection: 

Furnaces 

Sally    Ann     1811       Maiden   Creek    1854 

Reading    (  Sevfert. 

McManus  '&    Co. ■)...! 854 

second    stack    1873 

Temple     1867 

Keystone     1809 

second    stack    1872 

Topton     1873 

East    Penn    (2    stacks).  1874 

Kutztown     1875 

Rechtelsvil'.e     1875 


Do-Well   1825 

Mover's   ..  .  ., 1825 

Mdseieni     1325 

Si.Npenny     1825 

Xonh-Kill     IS.'JO 

rUoom    1830 


Windsor     

Hamburg    

.Moselem  1823 

Mount  Penn 1825 

Earl   1835 

Mount  Laurel    1836 

Henry   Clay    1844 

second    stack    1854 

Monocacy     1852 

Leesport'   1853 


E.xetcr     1S36 

Mount   Airy    1840 

Seidel'.';     1853 

Keystone     1354 

Rending     1857 

Douglass  ville     1878 


Industrial  Statistics. — In  the  year  ISOG.  Berk'- 
county  was  distinguished  for  its  numerous  manu- 
facturing establishments,  its  trade  and  enterprise. 
The  following  iron  industries  were  then  in  opera- 
tion: 


Tilt   hammers 9 

S'.itting-mill    1 

Other  industries: 

Powder-mills    4 

Fulling-mills    14 

Hemp-mill;     2 

Paper-mills   10 

Saw-mills    235 

Distilleries     212 


Furnaces S 

Forges    20 


Grist-mills     155 

Tanneries    49 

Oil-mills 20 

Hat    factories    ( Read- 
ing)        40 


In  1830,  there  were:  furnaces,  11;  and  forges, 
24;  which  employed  2,770  men. 

In  1840,  there  were:  furnaces.  11;  forges,  36; 
flour  and  grist-mills,  141;  oil-mills,  15;  sawmills, 
108;  powder-mills.  3;  stores,  119;  paper-factories, 
5 ;  potteries,  3 ;  distilleries,  29 ;  breweries,   6. 

In  1851.  there  were  41  iron  works — more  than 
in  any  other  county  in  Pennsylvania ;  and  no  other 
county  in  the  United  States  contained  more.  The 
estimated  and  reported  capital  then  invested  was 
Sl.231.000. 

In  187G,  there  were  27  furnaces,  4  forges,  and  10 
mills,  whose  total  production  was  58,G41  tons ;  and 
in  1884,  there  were  19  furnaces,  6  forges,  and  9 
mills,  whose  total  production  was  135.947  tons. 

IXDrSTRIAL  STATISTICS,   1870-1900 


1870 

18.S0 
1800 

it>no 


u 


1,414  I  8.991  i.«!ll.l.S2,r.O;^.  .S2.711.2:n  !.S10,046,049 

i,0t4  I  lo.oos    I2..v22,i40    :-;,n77.:ii:>  1  Kt.djc,;^.",! 

075  I'.f.re    2ii,.-.iT..jiu  I  T.oTS.iiiJi  iT.';i;t.;'.i':( 

1,690  I  25,o7&  I  37,279.817  I  U.tUU.li.M  !  2.". .".112.41 17 


$]0.243,4,":: 

20,143,1(U 

:;o.44C,,i;ii- 

49,!)77,2.".:: 


Irox-masters. — Tlie  iron-masters  of  the  county 
include  many  men  noted  for  their  enterprise,  suc- 
cess, wealth  and  patriotism,  all  through  the  history 
of  the  county,  from  its  earliest  settlements  till  now. 
A  great  proportion  of  the  material  prosperitv  and 
enrichment  of  the  county  has  been  contributed  by 
them.  They  have,  to  a  great  degree,  influenced 
its  social,  political,  and  industrial  welfare.  In  the 
settlement  and  development  of  its  several  sections, 
they  have  lieen  pioneers.  Though  their  great  and 
influential  industry  (lix>s  not  antedate  agriculture  in 
the  affairs  of  the  countv.  it  has,  nevertheless,  been 


'.■■■-/  u 


■•j:j:    ;■    rj  "~    -'i : 


♦•?:?■  I   .  I    o' 


2S 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY.    PENNSYLVANIA 


a  traveling  companion  ;  and,  like  agriculture,  it  has 
been  transmitted  from  qrand father  to  son  and 
grandson.  Their  name^  reveal  the  fact  that  the 
great  majority  of  them  Iiave  been  Germans  or  of 
German  origin. 

Gf.m-:ral  IxDfsTRiK.s. — The  industries  previously 
mentioned  were  prominent  in  their  several  sections 
on  account  of  the  capital  invested  and  the  men  cm- 
ployed  to  carry  them  on  successfully.  But  besides 
these  there  were  many  other  industries  in  the  sev- 
eral townships.  Blacksmith  shops  and  wheelwright 
shops  were  located  and  conducted  in  every  commun- 
ity. They  were  necessary  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  settlers.  Only  a  few  individuals  worked 
together — mostly  a  master  workman  and  his  ap- 
prentice. Grist-mills  f(jr  Hour  antl  feed  were  situ- 
ated along  all  the  large  streams.  Cooi)er  shops 
were  also  quite  numerous.  The  Welsh  were  me- 
chanics who  conducted  their  trades  in  small  factories 
along  the  W'yomissing.  Rope-makers  were  common 
in  every  section,  for  ropes  and  cords  were  largely 
used  in  the  daily  affairs  of  life.  This  industry  was 
conducted  for  many  years  by  individuals  at  their 
homes ;  but  improved  machinery  and  steam  caused 
its  decline,  and  small  ropewalks  were  compelled  to 
discontinue. 

Carpenters  and  builders  were  numerous.  They 
were  finished  workmen,  preparing  the  articles  out  of 
wood  by  hand.  Some  of  the  old  buildings,  still  in 
a  good  state  of  preservation,  attest  the  excellence 
of  their  workmanship.  Doors,  windows  and  frames 
of  all  kinds,  used  in  building  operations,  were  hand- 
made. This  custom  amongst  them  continued  till 
the  introduction  of  the  planing-mill  about  1S35, 
and  then  it  began  to  decline.  The  country  sawmill, 
run  by  water-power,  was  active  then  in  preparing 
lumber;  but  great  steam  mills  in  the  lumber  regions 
have  caused  them  to  become  less  and  le=s  active. 
Great  rafts  of  logs  are  no  longer  towed  down  the 
canals  to  Reading,  especially  the  Union  canal  from 
the  Susquehanna  river,  to  aitord  employment  to 
our  sawmills.  The  railroads  instead  deliver  finished 
lumber. 

Every  commimity  had  a  weaver,  who  conducted 
his  business  at  his  home.  He  wove  carpets  and 
coverlets  (plain  and  fancy")  and  linen  and  cotton 
stufiFs  for  domestic  use.  He  did  not  carry  a  large 
stock  on  hand ;  he  manufactured  articles  to  order. 
So  with  other  trades.  Fulling-mills,  paper-mills, 
oil-mills,  and  distilling-mills  were  conducted  for 
cloths,  paper,  oil  and  whiskey,  but  they  were  limited 
in  capacity. 

Me.mgri.vl  for  N.\TinxAL  Foundry. — In  1845, 
a  memorial  was  presented  to  Congress,  setting  forth 
reasons  why  Reading  should  be  selected  as  a  site 
for  one  of  the  national  foundries.  It  referred  to 
the  securitv  of  Reading  in  time  of  war,  its  central 
position  with  regard  to  points  of  defense  and  sup- 
ply of  ordnance,  its  transportation  facilities,  its  sup- 
ply of  iron,  coal  and  other  materials,  and  its  low 
wacfcs ;  and  it  includerl  an  itemized  statement  of  13 


furnaces  and  "^iS   forges,  with  their  respective  dis- 
tances from  Reading. 

Seven  years  before,  upon  the  ojK'ning  of  the  rail- 
road from  Reading  to  Philadelpiiia,  there  had  been 
a  similar  movement. 

INTERNAL  LMPROX'KAIENTS 

The  internal  improvements  of  the  county  relate 
to  the  several  prominent  atifairs  which  have  been 
established  and  carried  on  for  the  general  conven- 
ience, develf>pment  and  enrichment  of  the  whole 
community.  They  comprise  the  following  subjects: 
Schuylkill  River,  Bridges,  Roads  and  Turnpikes. 
Stages,  Canals,  Railways,  Post-Offices,  Telegraph, 
and  Telephone. 

SCHUYLKILL  RIVER 

In  a  natural  aspect,  the  Schuylkill  river  has  occu- 
pied an  important  position  in  the  well-being  of 
the  county.  We  can  only  appreciate  this  by 
realizing  the  great  adantages  which  it  has  af- 
forded us  in  leading  away  successfully  to  the  Del- 
aware river  the  enormous  quantities  of  water 
throughout  the  year,  from  the  mountains  and  val- 
leys. And  its  meanderin.g  channel  is  worthy  of  con- 
sideration, inasmuch  as  the  flowing  waters  are  there- 
by detained  in  their  onward  course,  to  moisten  the 
air  and  vegetation,  and  to  proceed  with  only  such 
speed  as  not  to  injure  the  adjoining  country. 

FisHixG  AND  Xavig.vtiox. — In  a  practical  aspect, 
it  has  been  valuable  in  various  ways — two  especially, 
fishing  and  navigation.  In  respect  to  fishing,  it  was 
a  source  of  profit  and  subsistence  to  the  early  set- 
tlers who  occupied  the  adjoining  properties.  They 
discovered  this  fact  immediately  after  settling  here: 
and,  to  facilitate  the  catching  of  large  quantities  of 
fish  with  little  labor  and  expense,  they  erected  weirs, 
racks  and  dams  in  the  river,  into  which  the  fish 
were  driven  by  fishermen,  who  either  waded  afoot 
or  rode  on  horseback  through  the  water.  And  in 
respect  to  navigation,  it  was  likewise  a  source  of 
advantage  in  enabling  them  to  carry  conveniently 
by  boats,  flats  and  canoes,  at  little  expense,  great 
quantities  of  grain  and  goods  of  all  kinds,  to  the 
market  at  Philadelphia.  Canoes  were  of  consider- 
able size  so  as  to  carry  a  large  quantity  of  wheat. 
They  were  hewn  out  of  the  trunk  of  a  tree.  The 
growth  of  the  trees  in  the  wild,  extended  forest  of 
that  early  day  was  very  large.  William  Penn 
stated  in  a  letter,  written  in  IfiS.'i,  that  he  had  seen 
a  canoe  made  from  a  poplar  tree  which  carried  four 
tons  of  brick.  Penn  had  hardly  landed  here  before 
he  found  that  navigation  in  the  river  was  obstructed 
by  fishing  weirs  and  dams :  and  believing  them  to  be 
objectionable,  he  encouraged  legislation  against 
them.  \'arious  .A.cts  were  passed,  but  the  weirs 
and  dams  were  not  abandoned. 

There  was  no  trouble  along  the  Schuvlkill  above 
the  mouth  of  the  Manatawny  creek  in  reference  to 
weirs  and  dams,  thoutrh  fishing  was  carried  on  to 
a  great  extent,  especiallv  bv  citizens  of  Reading. 
There  were  two  fishing-pools  which  were  particu- 
larly  famous   for  their  supplies  of  fish,  "Levan's" 


;      r. 


,   'T       1  •  •/•iiTT^  > 


INDUSTRY    OF    COUNTY 


29 


and  '"Lotz's,"  the  former  at  the  io<>t  of  "Xever- 
sink  Hill,"  and  the  huter  a  ^hurt  distance  atxi^ve. 
Fishing  was  continued  successfully  for  seventy 
years  in  these  pools,  until  tlie  construction  of  the 
darns  in  the  Schuylkill  canal,  which  f(jrced  their 
abandonment.  Fishi'.ij,'-  widi  nets  was  conunon.  It 
was  a  regular  pursuit  with  some  people. 

Navigation  Encouk.xgeo. — The  Schuylkill  river 
forms   the    western   boundary   of   Reading.      In   its 
natural  state,  before  it  was  contracted  on  both  sides 
by   the  construction  "f  the   Schuylkill   canal  along 
its  eastern  bank,  and  of  the  Union  canal  along  its 
western,   it   was  over  six  hundred   feet  wide.     Its 
bed  was  capable  of  confining  a  large  body  of  water. 
It  was  useful  in  the  transportation  of  merchandise 
by    boats   to    Philadelphia.      Spring   was   generally 
selected  as  the  time  when  the  shipment  of  goods 
could  be  most  conveniently  and  satisfactorily  made, 
for  then  the  v.ater  was  higher  than  during  the  other 
seasons  of  the  year.     Heavy,  cargoes  on  flat-boats 
would  float  down  the  river  with  ease,  requiring  only 
proper  and  careful  steering.   The  steersmen  were  ex- 
pert in  keeping  the  boats  in  the  channel,  and  very  sel- 
dom  failed  to  reach  their  destination  successfully. 
Besides  the  long  paddle  at  the  stern  of  the  boat,  for 
guiding  purposes,  there   were  polemen  at  the  bow 
with   long,   stout   poles,   who   directed   the   boat   to 
the  rig'ht  or  left  as  necessity  required.     Pohng  was 
not  generally  required  to  propel  the  boat  with  the 
current;    this    labor    was    practised    in    returning 
agciinst  the  current.    There  were  no  tow-paths  the'i. 
The  improvement  of  the  river  to  facilitate  navi- 
gation was  a  subject  of  consideration  by  the  early 
inhabitants,  both  of  the  county  and  county-seat,  for 
jnany  years.     The  matter  was  of  such  importance 
as  to  gain  the  attention  of  the  Provincial  Assembly 
in  17()0  and  secure  appropriations  for  that  purpose. 
The  river,  notwithstanding  these  early  efforts,  re- 
mained about  the  same  as  to  navigation  for  many- 
years.     The  only   substantial   improvement   worthy 
of  mention  was  efifected  sixty  years  afterward,  by 
the  construction  of  the  Schuylkill  canal ;  and  dur- 
ing that  time  the  inhabitants  continued  to  transport 
their  grain,  ir.erchandise  and  iiroductions  on  boats 
and  flats,  as  they  had  done  before. 

The  navigation  of  the  river  induced  the  organi- 
zation of  the  first  Board  of  Trade  at  Reading.  A 
number  of  nrominent  liusiness  men  of  the  borough 


assembled  on  March  13,  l^nr.  to  consider  this  sub- 
ject, and  then  they  ftjrnu-d  a  -ociety  under  the  name 
of  "The  Society  for  Promoting  the  Clearing  of  the 
River  Schuylkill";  but  nothing  was  accomplished. 
Eighteen  years  afterward,  the  difficulty  was  solved 
bv  the  construction  oi  a  narrow  channel  for  slack 
water,  with  numerous  locks  whereby  to  overcome 
grade  and  detain  the  water  in  certain  levels  to  facili- 
tate navigation. 


OLO    rii.XX    STREET    BRIDGE 

Freshets. — Numerous  freshets  have  swept  down 
the  river  and  its  tributaries  w^hich  inflicted  great 
losses  upon  the  adjoining  property-holders.  Those 
worthy  of  special  mention  are  the  following: 

Rise 

1757 In  feet 

1786 20  feet,  7\  inches 

1822 I'i  feet,  9i  inches 

'  1S39 17  feet,  li  inches 

1841 10  feet 

1850 25   feet  .  _  .- 

18G2 IT  feet 

■     -     ■  1869 23  feet 

1902* 25   feet 

♦  Shortly  before  this  great  freshet,  there  was  a  very  cold  spell 
of  weather,  after  a  fall  of  rain  and  snow,  which  cau-ed  large  quan- 
tities of  ice  to  form  mi  all  the  trees,  and  the  weight  of  the  ice 
hrokc  off  the  tops  and  branches  of  thousands  of  trees  throughout 
I'.erks  county  and  the  nirrouiiding  counties,  the  evidence  being 
still  visible  in   lHon. 

BRIDGES 

Long,  before  the  first  settlements  in  this  vi- 
cinity, there  had  been  a  ford  across  the  river  at 
Reading,  and  this  was  the  only  convenient  ford  for 
some  distance  above  and  below.  It  was  used  for 
seventy  vcars  after  the  town  had  been  laid  out.  The 
onlv  step  in  advance  of  the  first  settlers  was  the 
introduction  of  a  ferry-boat. 


'ix^Ss^t^:::^^'^  _- '--^^ 


I.AN'CASTER    liKlDGE 


iic'i  'sd  0 


K'  ■■      :'■  I    I'.l 


M  "■  ,1    'I'M'         :,  ;  ,■    /    ^".v'^f 


30 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTV.    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Pexn"  Street  Bridge. — In  170.'),  a  petition  was 
presented  to  the  court  to  order  the  grand  jury  to 
consider  the  advisabihty  of  causing  tlic  erection  of  a 
stone  bridge  over  the  river  at  the  foot  of  Penn 
street.  The  grand  jury  recommended  an  appropria- 
tion of  $3'2,(JU0.  but  thii  sum  was  deemed  insutti- 
cient.  In  119(3,  the  petitioners  tJien  devised  the  plan 
of  raising  sufficient  money  by  a  "lottery,"  but  it 
proved  unsuccessful.  In  ISOl.  another  application 
was  made  to  the  Quarter  Sessions  for  a  view,  and 
an  appropriation,  the  petitioners  concluding  with  a 
prayer  for  a  "wooden  bridge."  and  estimating  the 
probable  expense  at  iG, 000.  The  grand  jury  recom- 
mended an  appropriation  of  Slii.OOO,  to  be  assessed 
at  three  yearly  payments.  The  court  approved  of 
their  action  on  Aug.  Gth,  and  the  county  commis- 
sioners proceeded  to  cause  its  erection.  The  con- 
tract was  awarded,  and  the  contractor  began  opera- 
tions in  earnest,  but  he  failed  at  the  piers.  The 
tounty  commissioners  had  expended  S;)0,000,  and  it 
was  estimated  that  S*'0,000  more  would  be  required 
to  complete  the  bridge,  if  built  of  stone. 

In  1805,  a  third  unsuccessful  eflfort  was  made,  but 
for  six  years  afterward  this  necessary  improvement 
lay  in  idleness;  then  (Feb.  22,  lSl'3)  an  Act  was 
passed,  authorizing  the  county  coinmissioners  to 
build  a  stone  bridge  and  charge  toll ;  and  providing 
that,  when  the  principal  invested  in  its  construction 
was  realized  from  the  tolls,  it  should  be  declared 
free.  Still  the  matter  halted,  and  another  Act  be- 
came necessary,  which  was  passed  on  F"eb.  21,  1S14, 
modifying  the  previous  Act  by  giving  the  commis- 
sioners the  power  to  build  either  a  stone  or  wooden 
bridge.  Then  operations  were  resumed  and  the 
bridge  was  so  far  completed  in  December.  1815,  as 
to  be  passable,  and  it  was  finished  at  last  in  ISIS. 

It  was  GOO  feet  long,  three  spans  of  200  feet  each, 
covered  bv  a  roof.  The  first  passage  over  it  was 
made  by  Coleman's  stage-coach  on  Dec.  20,  1815. 
Many  persons  were  present  to  witness  the  occur- 
rence and  they  demonstrated  their  joy  by  loud  ap- 
plause. Such  was  the  exertion,  and  so  long  was 
the  period,  to  obtain  the  "Penn  street  bridge,"  the 
first  public  improvement  of  the  town  beyond  the 
court-house  and  the  ])rison ! 

The  subject  of  a  "Free  Bridge"  was  agitated  as 
early  as  1821,  just  three  years  after  the  bridge  had 
been  completed,  but  this  related  more  particularly 
to  persons,  and.  to  accomplish  this  purpose,  a  peti- 
tion was  presented  to  the  Fegislature  in  February, 
1821.  It  continued  to  be  agitated  for  over  thirty 
years  and  the  county  bridges  ('Harrisburg.  Lancas- 
ter and  Poplar-  Xeck)  were  not  declared  free  till 
18S.3.  This  great  step  forward  was  obtained 
through  the  citv  council^  of  Readincf.  an  earnest 
-and  successful  application  in  this  behalf  having  been 
made  to  court,  upon  the  representation  that  the  tolls 
received  excoeiled  the  cost  of  erecting  and  maintain- 
ing them,  and  the  iudgcs  decided  that  the  bridcrcs 
must  be  declared  free  under  the  legislation  which 
authorized  their  erection.  The  adjudication  was 
made  on  :March  28.  1883. 


In  1S84,  this  bridge  was  demoiishcil  l)y  the  Penn- 
sylvania Schuylkill  \'alley  Railroad  Co.,  and  this 
company  erected  in  its  stead  a  superior  iron  bridge 
at  an  expense  exceeding  SIOU.UOO,  the  county  com- 
tr.issioners  appropriating  Soo.OiK)  toward  the  cost. 
The  new  bridge  became  a  necessity,  owing  to  the 
railroad  improvements  along  the  river. 

Hamburg  Bridge. — During  the  progress  of  the 
■'Penn  street  bridge"  at  Reading,  the  subject  of  a 
bridge  was  disctissed  at  Hamburg,  and  the  spirit 
created  thereby  was  sufficient  to  result  in  the  pas- 
sage of  an  Act  of  Assembly  on  March  19,  1816.  for 
its  erection,  but  no  practical  results  flowed  from 
this  first  cftort.  Eleven  years  afterward  ("April  14, 
1S2T).  an  Act  was  passed  appropriating  SG.ndti  by 
the  State  for  the  erection  of  a  bridge  over  the 
Schuylkill,  near  Hamburg,  on  the  State  road  from 
Jonestown  (Lebanon  county)  to  Xorthampton 
county.  The  bridge  was  erected  during  the  follow- 
ing year  bv  the  commissioners  of  the  county,  and 
confirmed  by  the  court  on  Jan.  12.  1829.  Toll  was 
charged  till  December,  1883.  when  it  wa.s  made  a 
free  bridge. 

Lancaster  Bridge. — The  countv  commissioners 
were  authorized  by  an  Act  passed  April  23,  1829, 
to  erect  a  bridge  over  the  river  at  Gcrber's  ferry, 
on  the  road  from  Reading  to  Lancaster.  It  was 
finished  in  1S31.  Its  length  was  352  feet,  in  two 
equal  spans.  It  has  been  known  since  as  the  "Lan- 
caster bridge." 

In  1839,  a  part  of  the  bridge  was  swept  away  by 
the  freshet;  in  1850  two  spans  were  swe])t  away; 
and  in  1SG9,  the  eastern  half.  In  ISrG  (July  9th) 
the  bridge  was  destroyed  by  fire — the  act  of  young 
incendiaries.  Shortly  before,  there  were  loud  com- 
plaints about  its  insecurity  and  darkness  and  its 
unpleasant  condition  on  account  of  dust.  The  coun- 
ty commissioners  caused  a  fine  iron  bridge  to  be 
erected  in  its  stead,  which  was  opened  to  travel  on 
Jan.  2,  1877.  It  was  the  first  large  iron  bridge- 
structure  erected  in  the  county.  It  was  declared 
free  of  toll  in  1883. 

Poplar  Xeck  Bridge. — After  the  completion  of 
the  "Lancaster  Bridge,"  the  Legislature,  in  1832. 
authorized  the  erection  of  a  county  toll-bridge 
across  the  river  at  "Poplar  X'eck."  about  three  miles 
below  Reading.  And  a  covered  wooden  bridge  was 
accordingly  built  during  1832  and  1833.  It  w-as 
declared  free  in  1883.  At  this  place  a  ferry  had 
been  conducted  for  many  years,  known  as  "Lewis's 
Ferry." 

Other  Cot;xTY  Bridges. — Since  the  agitation  and 
establishment  of  free  bridges,  the  county  authori- 
ties have  caused  the  erection  of  other  necessary 
bridges'  across  the  river  as  follows : — Stoudt's  N^o. 

2, ;  Cross  Keys,  1S91;  Schuylkill  avenue,  1892; 

I'.xetcr,  1S93;  Bern  Station.  ISOt]. 

There  are  now  altogether  eighteen  county  bridg- 
es  crossing  the    river;    fourteen,   the    Tulpehocken 


.(.  -•••;} 


INDUSTRY    OF    COUNTY 


31 


creek ;  nine,  the  2\Ianata\vny  creek :  twelve,  the 
Ontelaiinee  creek;  and  sixty-four,  the  i>ther  streams 
in  the  different  sections  of  the  county;  making  a 
total  of  117. 

The  building  of  concrete  bridges  has  latterly  been 
encouraged  by  the  county  commissioners ;  for.  from 
1905  to  1909,  they  caused  the  erection  of  thirteen 
bridges,  twelve  of  which  were  re-enforccd  concrete, 
costing  together  upward  of  810,000.  The  Dauber- 
ville  bridge,  crossing  the  Schuylkill,  built  in  1908, 
is  a  particularly  fine  sample;  four  arches,  each  75 
feet,  costing  upward  of  S'20.00O. 

Private  Bridges. — The  following  private  bridges 
were  erected  across  the  Schuylkill  by  individuals  or 
stock  companies,  and  toll  was  exacted  until  they 
were  purchased  by  the  county  and  made  free : 

Windsor  Haven    f Shoemakersvilk) 1862 

Mohr's     CMohr.svillc) 1837 

Althou>e's     (  Lecsport") 18.35 

StoiuJt's   Ferrv    (Tuckcrton) 1357 

Leize's     ' 13X3 

Kissinger's    (  now   Sclui\Ikill  .Xvonue") 1810 

Bell's    I  at    Tulpehocken ) 1833 

Birdshoro    1845 

Monocacy    1871 

Douglassville    1832 

LARGEST  COUNTY  BRIDGES 

SCHUYLKILL  RIVER,  IS 


M.\X.\T.\WXV    CREEK.   9 


Douglassville 
Monocacy 
.Birdsboro 
Exeter 
Poplar    Neck 
Lancaster  .\venue 
Penn    Street 
Sclniylkill   Avenue 
Lc:izc's 

Stoudt's    No.    1 
Stoudt'p    No.   2 
Cross    Keys 
Lee.- port 
Mohrs\  ille 
Shoemakers  ville 
Bern    Station 
Hamburg 
Dauberville 


Wooden 

'340 

1S32 

;  18S5 

Iron 

|302 

1 1S70 

;18S7 

Wooden 

I4G2 

J1S45 

jlSSG 

Iron 

!440 

!1S93 

1893 

Wooden 

|504 

iis:!2 

I1S83 

Iron 

l5.J5 

il876 

(1831) 

1S83 

Iron 

1924 

1 1SS4 

(1815)11883 

Iron 

!G74 

;iS92 

(1810) 

1S92 

Wooden 

;23(3 

11833 

1390 

Wooden 

1240 

ilS57 

Wooden 

1   ^5 

Iron 

i3.->4 

lisoi 

1891 

Wooden 

170 

'1835 

!l88G 

^^'oo^len 

2'>8 

1837 

118S6 

Wooden 

'  104 

!l8t;2 

lisse 

Iron 

;208 

lisoo 

jlS96 

Wooden 
Concrete 

1202 
300 

'lS2S 
1908 

|1883 
1 

TULPEHCCKEX  CREEK,  14 


Bushong's 

Wooden 

330 

Wertz'  Mill 

\\  ooden 

204 

18G7 

Van    Reed's" 

Wooden 

144 

1866 

Reber's 

Wooden 

129 

Blue   Marsh 

Wooden 

120 

1846 

Stamm's 

Iron 

153 

1887 

Speicher's 

Iron 

200 

1878 

Conrad's 

Wooden 

145 

1S39 

Schaeffcr's    Ford 

Iron 

75 

1889 

Sunday's    Mill 

Iron 

90 

1903 

Knck's  Mill 

Beam    Deck 

74 

1900 

Charming  Forge 

Wooden 

isr, 

1872 

Womelsdorf 

Stone    .\rch 

153 

18ir. 

Scharff-s 

Concrete  .Arch 

180 

1902 

Ego  If 

Iron 

141 

1832 

Glendale 

Wooden 

101 

Pine  Iron 

Works 

Wooden 

154 

1855 

Weidner's 

Iron 

103 

1898 

T'isher's 

Wooden 

129 

1854 

Heist's 

Iron 

142 

1878. 

Earlville 

Wooden 

130 

185G 

1 

Baum's 

Iron 

134 

1378 

Griesenier 

s  Mill 

\\'ooden 

124 

1 

OXTEL.WXEE  CREEK.  12 


Schlegel's 

Wooden 

101 

1812 

Wilev's 

Iron 

202 

1 1883 

Maiden-creek 

Stone    .\rch 

311 

1854 

Evansville 

Tuliular 

165 

1874 

!Moselem 

Wooden 

145 

1851 

Virginville 

Wooden 

164 

Dreibelbis 

Woc-den 

172 

'l869 

Lenhartsville 

Wooden 

182 

18G8 

Greenawalt's 

Wooden 

103  i 

1875 

Albany 

Iron   Ponv 

78 

1884 

Kemp  ton 

Wooden 

103 

1887 

Trexler's 

Stone    -Vrch 

161 

1841                 1 

R.\iLRO.\D  Bridges. — Thirteen  substantial  bridges 
have  been  erected  across  the  river  by  the  several 
railroad  companies  operating  in  the  county,  viz.: 

Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad,  four — one 
near  Tuckerton — high  arch,  built  of  stone;  one,  of 
iron,  at  Birdsboro;  and  two,  of  iron,  on  '"Belt  Line," 
one  above  Reading  and  the  other  below. 

Lebanon  A^alley  Railroad,  one,  within  limits  of 
Reading,  built  of  iron. 

Berks  County  Railroad  (now  Schuylkill  &  Le- 
high), three — one  at  and  two  below  Reading,  built 
of  wood. 

Pennsylvania  Schuylkill  Valley  Railroad,  five — 
one  near  Hamburg ;  one  at  Reading  and  two  below ; 
and  one  at  Douglassville ;  all  built  of  iron. 

RO.VDS  .VXD  TURXPIKES 

IxDi.-\N  P.\THS.— There  were  paths  through  this 
section  of  country  long  before  Reading  was  laid  out. 
The  "Schuylkill  Ford"  was  a  central  point  for  the 
Indians.  Nature  would  seem  to  have  selected  the 
site  for  the  town  rather  than  the  Penns. 

TuLPEHOCKEX  Ro.\D. — The  earliest  mention  of  a 
road  in  this  vicinity  is  the  road  which  was  tnarked 
out  in  1GS7,  from  the  Delaware  at  Philadelphia  to 
the  Susquehanna,  by  way  of  this  ford,  and  was 
known  for  many  years  as  the  "Tulpehocken  road." 
In  17G8,  a  road  was  regularly  laid  out  from  Read- 
ing to  the  Susquehanna,  at  "Fort  Augusta."  by  way 
of  Middletown  (now  W'omelsdorf )  and  Rehrer's 
Tavern  (now  Rehrersburg) .  over  the  Blue  and 
Broad  Mountains,  in  pursuance  of  a  petition  from 
a  considerable  number  of  inhabitants  of  the  county. 
The  report  was  presented  to  the  executive  council 
on  Jan.  19,  17fi9.  The  road  began  "at  the  east  end 
of  Penn  street,  in  the  town  of  Reading,  and  extend- 
ed through  the  same  to  the  banks  of  the  river  Schuyl- 


:i?-fVlJl   M:^.. /UK'. 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


kill,  west  34G  porches  ;  thence  south  ^s7  dcijrees,  west 
33  perches  across  said  river;  thence  four  courses 
westward!}'  witli  a  totrd  di'-tancc  "f  1,1">';  perches 
to  Sinking  Spring-  Town:  thence  by  titteen  ci>ur>cs, 
westwardly,  a  total  (li>tance  of  v;,sl4  jierches 
to  Second  street,  in  Aliddktown  (new  \\  oniels- 
dorf)  ;  thence  across  the  Tulpehocken  creek,  and  by 
way  of  John  Rice's  tavern  and  Xicliolas  Kinser's, 
northwestwardly  to  Godfried  Rehrer's  tavern  (  now 
Rehrersburg),  and  thence  by  way  of  Henry  Derr's 
house  to  Fort  Henry,  and  over  the  P.lne  nu)untain, 
etc.,  in  a  northv.estwardly  course  to  Fort  Augusta." 
Berks  and  Danpliin  Turn  pike. — Fifty  years  after- 
ward, this  road  from  Reading  to  Micldletown.  and 
thence  westwardly  through  Dauphin  count v,  be- 
came a  turnpike,  a  company  for  this  purjiose  hav- 
ing been  incorporated  in  l.sO.~),  under  the  name  of 
"Berks  and  Dauphin  Turnpike  Company."  The 
turnpike,  however,  was  not  begun  until  in  181G. 
just  after  the  Penn  street  bridge  had  become  passa- 
ble. It  was  finished  in  1817,  and  it  was  maintained 
successfully  for  nearly  ninety  years.  In  lOu."),  the 
company  voluntarily  released  the  toll  charge  for  use 
of  pike  by  removal  of  toll-gates,  to  a  point  two  miles 
west  of  the  bridge ;  and  it  was  freed  to  Werners- 
ville,  eight  miles,  in  190G  by  the  assessment  of  dam- 
ages. 


PLAN'    OF    RO.VDS    TO    READING 

Maidex-creek  Road.— a  road  was  surveyed  by 
Samuel  Lightfoot  in  1745,  from  Francis  Parvin's 
mill,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Maiden  creek,  scmth- 
wardly  to  the  ford,  the  present  site  of  Reading, 
in  almost  a  straight  line  about  six  miles  in  length, 
and  confirmed  in  June  of  that  year.  In  1753,  it 
was  regularly  laid  out  from  Reading  northwardly, 
and  extended  to  Easton  by  commissioners  from 
Berks  and  Xorthampton  counties  who  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  executive  cmuicil  at  Philadelphia. 

Centre  Turnpike.- — A  turnpike  was  constructed 
on  this  road  from  Callowliill  street  in  Reading,  over 
the  "long  hill"  (at  cemetery)  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Maiden  creek,  and  thence  northwardlv  bv  wav  of 


Hamburg  and  Schuylkill  Gap;  and  northwc'^twardly 
over  Broad  Mountain,  I)\-  way  of  a  point  now  .\sh- 
!and,  to  Sunbury.  A  con:pany  for  this  purpose 
was  incorporated  in  1805,  called  "Centre  Turnpike 
Comjiany."  The  turnpike  was  completed  .-hortly 
before  1812.  It  was  operated  successfully  and  tolls. 
were  exacted  until  1885,  when  it  was  abandoned. 

Oeev  Road. — In  September.  1T27.  a  petition  was 
presented  to  the  court  at  Philadelphia  for  a  road 
to  extend  from  the  "Lutheran  2vIeeting-house"  at 
the  Tulpehocken  creek  to  the  highroad  at  the 
'■Quaker  Meeting-house,"  near  (jeorge  Boone"s  mill, 
in  Oley.  Eight  years  afterward,  the  court  appoint- 
ed ^lordecai  Lincoln.  Marcus  Hulings,  fames 
Thompson,  Peter  Robeson,  Benjamin  Boon  and 
Thomas  Potts  to  lay  out  this  road  from  the  high- 
road westwardly  to  the  Schuylkill  ford.  They  re- 
ported a  road  at  June  session,  173G.  which  began 
at  the  ford,  and  proceeded  a  little  south  of  east,, 
in  almost  a  direct  line,  to  a  road  called  the  "King's 
Highway."  Its  eastern  terminus  was  at  a  point 
now  Amityville. 

Perkiouicn  Turnpike. — The  road  just  mentioned 
was  the  road  to  Philadelphia  for  many  years,  until 
a  road  from  a  point  near  the  "Black  Bear  Inn,"  by 
way  of  Bishop's  Mill,  to  a  point  near  Molatton 
church,  now  at  Douglassville,  was  substituted.  In 
1810,  a  turnpike  was  authorized  to  be  constructed 
on  this  latter  road  from  Reading,  by  way  of  "White 
Horse  Tavern"  (Douglassville)  and  Pottsgrove,  to 
Perkiomen  Alills,  at  Perkiomen  creek.  In  1811, 
commissioners  were  named,  and  they  immediately 
commenced  its  construction,  completing  it  in  four 
years  at  an  average  cost  of  $7,000  per  mile.  It  was 
made  free  in  1902. 

In  1S22  the  State  held  subscriptions  of  stock  in 
the  three  turnpike  companies,  as  follows :  Berks 
and  Dauphin,  $29,000  (individual  subscription  SG:'.,- 
905)  ;  Centre,  $80,000  (individual  subscription 
$62,000)  ;  Perkiomen,  $53,(U»0  (individual  subscrip- 
tion $133,000).  Length  reported:  first,  34  miles; 
second,  75  miles;  third,  28  3-4  miles. 

Oley  Turnpike. — The  road  from  the  "Old  Phila- 
delphia Road,"  near  Schwartzwald  Church,  to  the 
King's  Highway  (Pleasantville  to  Amityville)  was 
laid  out  and  confirmed  in  1755.  The  "Oley  Turn- 
pike" is  constructed  on  this  road  from  Jackson- 
wald  eastward.  The  companv  for  this  superior, 
well-kept  turnpike  was  incorporated  in  1862.  The 
road  extends  from  "Black  Bear  Inn"  to  Pleas- 
antville, ten  miles,  and  the  total  cost  was  S50,0()0. 

Schuylkill  Ro.\d. — A  road  was  ordered  by  the 
court  of  Lancaster  county  in  1750  to  be  laid  out 
from  Chester  county  line,  in  Caernarvon  township, 
in  a  northwestwardly  direction  to  Reading.  It  was 
surveyed  bv  George  Boone,  and  reported  in  1751. 
This  is  the  road  from  Warwick  Furn.ice,  by  way 
of  Plow  tavern  and  Green  Tree  tavern,  through 
Union,  Robeson  and  Cumru  townships  and  along 
the  western  bank  of  the  Schuylkill,  to  the  Tulpe- 


/:t 


v, 


jl>i^~rn 


'y.Vi-j'ii    '■.'-    Vl/-Xr: 


^n-,-",f:  K-    %;m 


;n-,.t';7/    '.a  J    vo    ■■;,•■     vt! 


INDUSTRY    OF    COUNTY 


33 


I;'ick<-n  road  opposite  Reading.  It  was  twelve  and 
a  hali  miles  in  length. 

L)tiii:r  Roads. — Xczrrsiiik  RoaJ,  from  Reading 
.-uuthwardly  to  Flying  Hill,  in  1T.j3. 

.-llsacc  Cliurch  Road,  from  Reading  northwardly 
thri-aigh  Alsace  township,  in  IT-jS. 

Lancaster  Road,  from  Reading  southwestwardly 
tliroiigh  Cumru  township,  in  176"^. 

Siiiibiiry  Road,  from  the  fork  in  the  Schuylkill 
above  the  Blue  ^lountain  to  the  fork  in  the  Sus- 
(jnehanna  at  Sunbury — fifty-live  miles,  in  17-TO. 

Bern  Road,  from  Reading  northwestwardly  over 
rlie  Schuylkill  at  a  point  now-  occupied  by  the 
Schuvlkill  avenue  bridge,  through   Bern  township. 

in  ir':2. 

Alsace  Road,  from  Reading  eastwardiv  through 
Alsace  township  into  Oley,  to  a  point  in  the  "King's 
Highway"  (supposed  to  be  near  Friedenc^burg,  and 
now  called  the  Friedensburg  road),  in  ITTG. 

Fla'S  of  Ro.\ds  to  RE.\niN.G. — The  accompanying 
plan  will  indicate  in  a  general  way  how  the  promi- 
nent roads  extended  from  Reading  during  its  earlier 
history,  and  these  have  continued  to  be  the  chief 
thoroughfares  for  travel  till  now. 

St.ate  Highways. — The  substantial  improvement 
of  the  public  roads  was  a  subject  of  discussion  for 
many  years,  but  it  was  not  until  1905  that  any 
special  legislation  was  secured.  The  taxpayers  of 
Berks  county  immediately  began  to  show  their  ap- 
preciation of  the  State's  liberality.  Cumru  town- 
ship was  the  first  to  take  practical  steps  by  ordering 
the  improvement  of  that  portion  of  the  Lancaster 
road  from  the  Schuylkill  river  to  the  Three-Miie- 
House  in  Shilhngton,  commonly  called  the  "Three- 
Mile-House-Road,"  and  it  was  constructed  under 
the  supervision  of  the  State  Highway  Commissioner 
by  Adam  R.  Leader  of  Reading,  as  the  contractor, 
during  1905-0G-07,  at  a  total  cost  of  S18.3'26 :  of 
which  the  county  paid  one-sixth  and  the  township 
one-si.xth.  This  section  of  road  had  been  usetl  a 
great  deal  for  driving  purposes  for  many  years  and 
this  marked  improvement  increased  its  use.  Some 
time  before  1905  it  had  been  improved  bv  the  ex- 
penditure of  a  considerable  sum  of  money  (about 
$500)  with  the  assent  of  the  township  supervisors, 
which  had  been  collected  mostly  from  the  drivers  of 
speedy  horses  at  Reading. 

The  next  township  to  take  up  the  matter  success- 
fully was  Washington  and  in  190S  the  State  Depart- 
ment looked  after  the  construction  of  a  new  high- 
way from  Barto  to  Rallv  and  thence  toward  Siiultz- 
ville  and  Shultz's  grist-mill,  upward  of  three  miles. 
The  total  cost,  including  fine  concrete  bridge,  was 
aljout  $43,000.  of  which  the  county  paid  one-eighth 
and  the  township  one-eighth  (the  reduced  propor- 
tion having  been  caused  bv  the  amended  road  law 
of  TOOT). 

And  the  third  township  was  .Amity,  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  road  from  .Amityville.  via  Weaver- 
town,  to  the  Monocacy  creek,  about  two  miic? 
in  longfth.  It  was  constructed  in  190S.  including  a 
superior  concrete  bridge. 
3 


STAGES 

The  first  coach  in  New  Etigland  began  its  trips 
in  1741.  The  first  stage  line  between  New  York 
and  Philadelphia  (then  the  two  most  populous  cities 
in  the  Colonies)  was  established  in  1T5U.  The  trip 
was  made  in  three  days.  When  the  Revolution  be- 
gan, most  of  these  public  conveyances  ceased  to 
run.  and  they  did  not  take  the  road  till  the  return 
of  peace. 

The  first  public  conveyance  at  Reading  was  a 
two-horse  coach.  It  was  instituted  by  .Martin  Haus- 
man  in  17S9,  and  traveled  weekly  between  Read- 
ing and  Philadelphia  for  the  transportation  of  pas- 
sengers and  letters.  The  distance  was  about  fifty- 
one  miles,  and  the  passage  was  made  in  two  days. 
The  fare  was  two  dollars,  and  letter  carriage  three 
pence.  During  that  year,  he  transferred  the  estab- 
lished business  to  Alexander  Eisenbeis,  who  operat- 
ed it  two  years,  and  sold  it  to  William  Coleman. 
From  that  time  onward,  for  nearly  seventy  years, 
without  intermission,  the  Coleman  family  were 
prominent  throughout  eastern  Pennsylvania  for 
their  connection  with  this  great  enterprise. 

Soon  after  Coleman  had  obtained  possession  of 
this  stage  line,  he  extended  it  westwardly.  by  way 
of  Womelsdorf  and  Lebanon,  to  Harrisburg;  and 
northwardly,  by  way  of  Hamburg,  Orwigsburg. 
Sharp  ^Mountain  Gap  and  over  the  Broad  Mountain, 
to  Sunbury.  In  1818,  the  stages  ran  twice  a  week 
from  Philadelphia  to  Sunbury.  They  left  Philadel- 
phia on  Tu.csdays  and  Saturdays  at  3  a.  m.;  ar- 
rived at  Reading  at  5  p.  >t.,  and  lodged  at  Ham- 
burg on  the  same  days :  and  on  the  following  morn- 
ings left  at  3  A.  M.  and  arrived  at  Sunbury  on  the 
succeeding  days  at  10  A.  M.  And  they  ran  thrice 
a  week  from  Philadelphia  to  Harrisburg — Tuesdays, 
Thursdays,  and  Saturdays;  leaving  Philadelphia 
at  4  A.  M.,  lodging  at  Readingt  and  arriving  at  Har- 
risburg the  next  evening.  The  same  order  was  ob- 
served in  returning. 

In  1S20  William  Coleman  died.  His  widow  car- 
ried on  the  stage  lines  for  a  year,  when  their  sons 
John  and  Nicholas  purchased  and  conducted  them. 
In  1823,  they  ran  weekly  stages  to  the  southwest 
to  Lancaster,  over  a  natural  road,  in  length  thirty- 
two  miles ;  and  to  the  northeast  to  Easton,  over 
a  natural  road,  in  length  fifty  miles. 

In  1825.  Colder  &  Wilson  ran  the  "mail  stage" 
between  Reading  and  Harrisburg  three  times  a 
week.  The  passenger  fare  was  50  cents  to  Womels- 
dorf:  Si  to  Lebanon,  and  $2  to  Harrisburg. 

In  1826,  a  combination  was  made  between  the 
Colemans.  Jacob  Peters,  and  Colder  &  Co..  to  run 
a  dailv  line  of  stages  between  Philadelphia  and 
Harrisburg  via  Reading.  The  stages  left  Philadel- 
phia daily  except  Monday  at  4  a.  jr..  dined  at  Read- 
ing, lodged  at  Lebanon,  and  proceeded  to  Harris- 
burg next  morning.  Returning,  they  left  Harris- 
burg dailv.  except  Tuesday,  in  the  afternoon,  lodged 
at  Lebanon,  took  breakfast  at  Reading  next  morn- 
ing and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  at  8  p.  M.  Through 
fare,  SG  ;  to  Reading.  S3. 


34 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


From  the  begiiiniui;  till  lS"^(i,  the  stag-e-coach  in 
use  was  called  a  ■'steambi:iat" — an  uncovcrcil  wagon, 
capable  of  holding'  twenty  pa.-->engers.  Then  a 
sharp  competition  aro-e  between  three  lines;  first, 
the  '"Old  Line"  (Coleman'-),  which  conveyed  the 
mails;  second,  Reeside  ^:  i'latt's:  and  third,  Milti- 
more  &  Mintzer's.  A  new  and  improved  stage- 
coach was  introduced  as  a  consequence,  called  the 
"Troy  Coach."  It  held  eleven  passengers,  with 
room  for  five  or  more  on  top.  In  18;iO,  the  com- 
petition was  full  of  life.  The  rates  were  reduced 
one-half.  But  the  "'Old  Line"  forced  the  others  to 
withdraw.  Its  mail  contracts  were  a  great  support 
and  enabled  it  to  bear  th.e  pressure.  It  had  a  hun- 
dred horses  always  on  hand. 

Decline  of  Stages. — The  stage  business  contin- 
ued active  and  profitable  in  the  several  directions 
from  Reading  till  the  introduction  of  the  railways, 
when  it  was  discontinued.  The  stage-coacli  could 
not  compete  with  the  railroad  train,  or  horse-p<.>wer 
with  steam-pov/er ;  and  in  this  respect,  as  in  others, 
the  fittest  and  strongest  survived.  The  discontin- 
uance on  the  several  lines  was  as  follows:  From 
Philadelphia,  1S3S ;  from  Pottsville.  1S45 ;  from 
Harrisburg,  1S")S  ;  from  Allcntown,  IS.jO  :  from  Lan- 
caster, 1SG4. 

•The  following  stage  lines  (all  carrying  merchan- 
dise and  passengers,  and  several  al^o  main  are  still 
operated  to  and  from  Reading  to  accommodate  the 
public : 

Boyertown  line,  via  Yellow  House,  daily 17  miles 

Friedensburg  line,  via  Stony  Creek  .Mills,  daily....   '.»  miles 
Pleasantville  line,  via  Oley  Turnpike,  tri-weekly .  .14  miles 

Bernville  line,  via  State  lull,   daily 14  miles 

Terre   Hill  line,  via  An,gelica.   tri-weekly V'>  miles 

Hummel's  Store  line,  via  Green  Tree,  daily 1."  miles 

Strausstovvn    and   Womelsdorf    line,    daily 12  miles 

Strausstown  and  Hamburg  line,  daily 1-  miles 

Millersburg  and  Myerstown,  daily S  miles 

C.\X.\LS 

Great  internal  improvements  in  thi^  country  were 
first  projected  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  enterprise 
of  her  early  citizens  directed  public  attention  to 
the  establishment  of  canals  and  turnj)ikes  h>r  con- 
venient transportation.  In  Ki'.ti),  William  Penn 
suggested  the  idea  of  connecting  the  Susquehanna 
and  Schuylkill  rivers  by  means  of  a  canal.  l)ut  it 
was  not  acted  upon.  Seventy  vears  afterward,  this 
idea  was  again  considered,  and  then  a  survey  was 
made  by  David  Rittenhouse  and  others.  .V  cour>e 
was  marked  out  for  a  canal  between  the<e  two 
rivers,  but  nearly  seventy  year^  more  elap-e^i  be- 
fore the  great  scheme  was  reniized  and  put  iiuo 
practical  and  successful  nperaiii  ii. 

L'xiON  Cax.xl. — In  IT'.U.  the  Legi-laturc  of 
Pennsvlvania  passed  an  Act  iiKMrji.  ^rating  the 
Schuylkill  and  Susquehanna  Xavi'.:aiiii;i  Company, 
for  the  purpose  of  connectiui^f  the  t\\<>  river-  b\-  a 
canal,  and  facilitating  traffic :  and  in  17''"?.  another 
company  was  chartered,  under  the  name  of  the  Del- 
•^vare  and  Scluiv  Ikill  Canal  Com{>any.  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cxtcp.ding  a  canal   ironi  the  eastern  termi- 


nus of  the  canal  mentioned  at  Reading,  along  the 
Schuylkill  to  the  Delaware  river  at  Philadelphia. 
These  canals  were  to  be  part  of  a  great  scheme 
conceived  by  an  association  of  enterprising  individ- 
uals in  onler  to  promote  internal  improvements, 
whereby  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburg  were  to  be 
connected  by  water  communication. 

On  April  '2,  1811,  an  Acl  was  passed  to  incor- 
jiorate  "The  L'nion  Canal  Company  of  Pennsyl- 
vania." The  name  was  chosen  because  the  new 
corporation  was  really  a  union  of  the  old  Schuyl- 
kill and  Susquehanna  and  the  Delaware  and  Schuyl- 
kill Canal  Companies.  The  preamble  recited  that 
those  corporations  had  made  streiuious  efforts  to 
carrv  out  the  objects  of  their  charters,  but  failed. 
A  new  company  was  formed  by  the  stockholders 
of  the  old  corporations,  but  seventeen  years  passed 
before  the  canal  was  finished.  The  first  canal- 
boat,  which  went  west,  left  Philadelphia  on  ^larch 
•^0.  18:28,  by  way  of  the  Schuylkill  canal  to  Read- 
ing, and  thence  by  the  L'nion  canal  to  Middletown, 
arriving  at  the  latter  place  on  the  '2">(1.  The  event 
was  duly  celebrated  at  ]\Iiddletown.  There  were 
seventeen  Union  canal  boats  in  service  in  July,  that 
year,  and  over  two  hundred  were  in  operation  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  year. 

The  length  of  the  canal  was  791  miles,  with  91 
locks,  8  basins.  0:3  bridges,  16  dams,  and  17 
aqueducts.  From  the  summit  (four  miles  east  of 
Lebanon)  to  the  mouth  of  Tulpehocken  creek  the 
distance  was  37  miles.  This  section  of  the  canal 
was  2()  feet  wide  at  bottom,  and  3G  feet  at  water 
surface ;  depth  of  water,  4  feet,  and  width  of  tow- 
ing path,  10  feet. 

The  number  of  locks  required  to  overcome  the 
fall  of  310  feet  was  o2.  The  locks  were  faced  with 
dressed  sandstone ;  chambers  8^  feet  wide  and  75 
feet  long;  and  lifts  varying  from  o  to  8  feet.  About 
18."),").  the  locks  were  enlarged  to  correspond  with 
the  locks  of  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  from  the  Swa- 
tara  eastwardly  to  Reading. 

The  success  of  this  canal  was  dependent  upon 
the  con.structicn  of  a  similar  canal  along  the  Schuyl- 
kill, in  order  to  encourage  traffic  from  the  Sus- 
quehanna to  Philadelphia  bv  way  of  Reading.  A 
company  had  been  chartered  in  1815  for  this  pur- 
])ose,  which  began  the  improvement  desired,  and 
finished  it  in  18'25. 

In  1830.  the  canal  was  extended  along  the  west- 
ern bank  of  the  Schuylkill,  three  miles  below  Read- 
ing, to  the  Little  Dam,  having  its  outlet  in  the 
Big  Dam,  about  a  thousand  feet  farther  down.  But 
this  portion  was  washed  so  badly  by  the  freshet 
of  1850  that  it  was  rendered  useless,  and  connec- 
tion was  made  with  the  Schuvlkill  canal  at  a  lock 
near  the  Ilarri-lnirg  bridge.  .\t  this  point,  about 
1"^'.*8.  the  companv  had  con=;tructed  a  dam  called 
"L'nion  Dam"  (commonly  known  as  "Lotz's 
Dam"),  for  the  purpo>e  of  forming  a  connection 
with   the   Schu\  Ikill   canal :   and   this   was   the  onlv 


■/I  •,'!■!. 


Ir  J''>bri^j,:3 


)n        -jT!I]!'.Ii)tV'>.  ? 


INDUSTRY    OF    COUXTY 


35 


connection  till  ISoo,  wlu-n  the  canal  was  extended 
to  a  point  opposite  "Jackson's  Luck,"  at  the  foot 
of  Sixth  street,  where  connection  was  afterward 
made. 

In  order  to  form  an  idt.a  of  the  extent  and  q^rowth 
of  the  business  over  this  canal,  soon  after  it  was 
completed,  the  following  statistics  are  presented: 

For  the  week  ending  May  27,  IS.Tl.  SO  boats  passed 
Reading  going  down,  4.5  loaded  with  lumber  and  coal, 
and  the  others  with  Hour,  whi-kcy,  ca-tini;s,  etc.:  antl 
tjO  passe<l  going  up,  17  loaded  witli  n;erchandise.  For  the 
week  ending  June  14.  ISJJ,  1L'.J  loaded  boats  passed  down, 
and  112  loaded  boats  passed  uj).  Snnie  years  after- 
ward,   the    tonnage   and   tolls   were   as    follows: 

Tons         Tolls 

1847 139,2.-)G:$91.3.jG 

184S 153,222     9.j,9.-)3 

1849 143,332!   86,800 

The  boats  w-ere  diminutive,  being  only  18  tona' 
capacitv  at  the  opening  of  the  canal  ;  afterward,  in 
1S-.?S,  increased  to  '^3  tons;  and  afterward,  the  size 
was  increased  until  184.5,  when  the  capacity  was 
GO  tons. 

Lottery  Privileges. — T'ne  amount  of  money 
raised  in  the  course  of  the  prosecution  of  ^the 
canal  enterprise,  between  the  Schuylkill  and  Sus- 
quehanna rivers,  was  enormous,  not  so  much  from 
the  actual  cost  of  the  improvements  as  in  the  waste- 
ful way  in  which  the  money  was  raised,  and  the 
amount  taken  from,  t'le  community  which  did  no 
good  to  the  undertaking.  The  capital  of  the  two 
companies  was  insufficient  for  the  execution  of 
the  work,  and  the  Legislature  granted  them  power 
to  raise  money  "by  way  of  lottery."  The  whole 
amount  specified  in  the  grant  was  $400,000,  of 
which  the  Schuylkill  and  Susquehanna  Company 
was  to  have  two-thirds,  and  the  Delaware  and 
Schuylkill  Company  one-third.  This  Act  was  passed 
April  17,  1795,  and  under  it  the  companies  exer- 
cised the  privilege  of  issuing  lottery  tickets.  L'n- 
til  1810,  the  companies  had  realized  only  860,000. 
a  sum  wholly  insufficient  for  their  purposes.  They 
complained  that  their  affairs  "had  fallen  into  dis- 
order and  einbarrassment ;  that  thev  were  covered 
with  reproach  and  ridicule."  and  that  the  public 
confidence  was  impaired.  This  led  to  the  union 
of  the  two  corporations  in  ISll.  In  the  Act,  the 
lottery  privileges  were  renewed ;  and.  as  the  com- 
pany had  not  made  much  bv  their  own  management, 
they  were  empowered  to  sell  or  assign  their  lotterv^ 
rights  to  any  persons  whom  they  might  select. 
Sf>  the  company  leased  out  the  lottery  privileges  and 
under  this  arrangement  the  lotteries  became  very 
>itcccssful.  The  managers  took  in  large  amounts 
<n'  money,  but  the  Canal  Cotnpany  did  not  have 
much  added  to  their  funds,  and  a  report  to  the 
Lcgi.slature  stated  that  the  lottery  managers  made 
many  millions,  while  the  Union  Canal  Companv 
.i^'H  but  5269,210.     This  caused  great  scandal. 

An  Act  was  passed  for  the  suppression  of  lot- 
teries in  Pennsylvania  after  March  1,  1833,  which 


declared  that  the  lottery  rights  of  the  company 
were  exhausted,  and  prohibited  the  sale  of  lottery 
tickets  of  any  kind  after  Dec.  olst  of  that  year. 
But,  as  a  compensation  for  the  privileges  taken 
from  the  company,  the  Governor  was  authorized 
to  subscribe  for  one  thousand  shares  of  stock  on 
behalf  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  lotteries  of  the  Union  Canal  Company  were 
drawn  at  stated  periods  from  the  gallery  of  the 
stairs  in  the  tower  of  the  State-house,  which  led 
to  the  upper  chambers,  and  the  drawings  were  at- 
tended by  hundreds  of  persons. 

The  canal  was  supposed  to  be  the  only  possible 
means  of  conveyance,  except  bv  the  common  road, 
long  after  all  the  companies  connected  with  the 
navigation  of  the  Schuylkill  had  been  chartered. 
Rut  the  Columbia  railroad,  under  the  management 
of  the  State,  began  to  be  a  rival  of  the 
Union  canal  in  bringing  produce  and  passen- 
gers from  the  Susquehanna  as  soon  as  it 
was  finished.  The  movement  for  its  establish- 
ment commenced  in  1826,  w-hen  a  company 
was  incorporated  to  build  a  railroad  from  Lancas- 
ter and  Columbia  to  Philadelphia.  The  plan  not 
proving  successful,  in  1828  the  State  authorized 
a  survey  and  followed  it  up  in  after  years  by  ap- 
propriations, under  which  the  work  was  carried  on. 
The  road  was  finished  to  Lancaster  in  April,  1834. 
and  opened  through  to  Columbia  in  the  summer  of 
1835.  Just  as  soon  as  this  means  of  transportation 
was  finished,  the  Union  Canal  Company  lost  a  large 
share  of  its  business  and  prospects.  The  railroad 
offered  a  shorter  route  and  quicker  method  of  com- 
munication between  the  Susquehanna  and  Delaware 
rivers.  The  opening  of  the  Lebanon  \'alley  rail- 
road from  Reading  to  Harrisburg  in  ls.")7,  through 
the  same  section. of  territory,  proved  the  final  and 
crushing  blow  to  the  Union  Canal  Company.  From 
that  time  onward  it  began  to  decline  more  and 
more  until  it  was  finally  abandoned,  about  1890. 

Schuylkill  Can.vl. — The  Schuylkill  Canal  Nav- 
igation Company  was  incorporated  on  March  8, 
1815,  for  the  pttrpose  of  transporting  coal,  lumber, 
merchandise,  produce,  etc..  by  a  system  of  canals 
and  slackwater  navigation,  by  appropriating  the 
water  of  the  Schuylkill  river  from  Mill  creek,  in 
Schuylkill  county,  to  Philadelphia.  The  transporta- 
tion of  articles  was  then  carried  on  over  the  Centre 
turnpike  to  Reading,  and  the  Perkiomen  and  Ger- 
mantown  turnpikes  to  Philadelphia.  Certain  com- 
missioners were  named  in  the  Act.  and  they  were 
directed  to  open  subscription  books  at  various  places 
in  ^lay,  1815.  The  par  value  of  a  ^hare  of  stock 
was  fixed  at  fifty  dollars,  and  twentv-five  hundred 
shares  were  to  be  subscribed  at  Reading — one-fourth 
of  the  total  shares. 

The  first  board  of  directors  was  elected  at  Nor- 
ristown  on  Oct.  5.  1815.  It  included  two  members 
from  r.erks  county — Lewis  Reese,  of  Reailing,  and 
John  Wiley,  of  ilaiden-creek.     Samuel   Pajrd,  of 


'UM.i     V'i'i      '"' 


36 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Pottsgrove  (now  Pottstown),  was  also  a  member, 
but  he  soon  afterward  removed  to  Reading  and 
practised  law. 

The  construction  of  the  canal  was  begun  in  1817, 
and  completed  in  iS'ii,  from  John  I'otts's.  at  the 
mines,  to  within  one-half  a  mile  of  Hamburg,  be- 
low the  Blue  ^lountain.  The  lower  section,  from 
the  Schuylkill  bridge  at  Philadelphia  to  Reading, 
had  been  finished.  Boats  carricil  during  IS'.'l  over 
the  completed  portion  of  the  canal,  from  the  coal 
mines  to  the  vicinity  of  Hamburg,  large  quantities 
of  coal,  which  were  deposited  there  and  sold  out 
by  the  ton  to  the  countn-  people  from  the  neigh- 
borhood and  for  many  mile?  distant.  The  unfin- 
ished Dortion  of  the  canal  was  reported  to  have 
been  completed  during  the  year  l.'S22  ;  and  this  was 
the  first  completed  navigation  in  the  country. 

The  total  length  from  ^Vlount  Carbon  to  Phil- 
adelphia was  105  miles  (62  of  canal  and  43  of 
pools  in  river) ,  with  a  fall  of  588  feet ;  in- 
cluding 120  locks  (81  above  Reading  and  39  be- 
low) :  28  dams,  17  arched  stone  aqueducts,  and  a 
tunnel  450  feet  long,  cut  through  solid  rock.  The 
total  cost  was  $1,800,000. 

In  1827-28,  the  canal  was  extended  to  Mill  cre^k. 
making  the  total  length  108.23  miles ;  and,  by  an 
enlargement  in  1846,  the  numljer  of  locks  was  re- 
duced to  71,  with  a  total  fall  of  about  620  feet. 
The  size  of  the  locks  was  18  by  110  feet:  width 
of  canal,  60  feet;  depth  of  water,  6  feet.  The 
capacity  of  boats  was  ISO  tons. 

The  cost  of  transportation  by  land  from  Read- 
ing to  Philadelphia  was  40  cents  a  hundredweight; 
by  canal  it  was  reduced  to  12^  cents.  The  toll  on 
coal  from  ^^It.  Carbon  to  Philadelphia  in  1825  was 
6  cents  a  bushel  or  $1.68  a  ton. 

Horses  or  mules  were  not  used  for  towing  boats 
previous  to  1826.  The  boats  were  first  towed 
through  the  canals  by  men  at  the  end  of  long  tow- 
lines.  Two  men  drew  a  boat  after  them  bv  press- 
ing their  shoulders  or  breasts  against  a  stick  fast- 
ened crosswise  to  the  end  of  the  tow-line.  With 
such  locomotion,  a  trip  from  Mount  Carbon  to 
Philadelphia  and  back  gencrallv  required  six 
weeks.  At  this  time  there  were  no  tow-paths  along 
the  pools  of  the  navigation ;  hence  the  necessity 
for  man-power. 

The  following  statistics  show  the  great  trafific 
over  the  canal  during  the  fir=t  five  years  after  its 
completion : 

~Pa?sed    down     Canal  I     ISL'ii  I     1Si;7   I     I'^JS  I      IsL't^    I      l.<iiT~ 

Barrels    of    flour. I  -JlL't.-'   ■.i^  A'r.r,:  \;r..K(->\    I   -'.<>-2X  1  T.7W 

Tons  of  coal    I   laT'H !  .^1  rc^tV  A-.^J^l     TO.OT::!     S0.!tS4 

Tons  of  iron    ore    1     -.''-111      1.4"-;      1,**'74'  r,.-»i;|  yVi'2 

Tons    of    iron    I     l..''.-:      LS."".!  O.'S        Ml;.-, 

Tons  of  whi^kev     I         42"'         4>:;'      l.l.-.L'!  SC.s'        1.14f, 

Total   tons   descending    ]  C'.r.i'.l'   ,''..". 7^2    St.K;:;    lTJ.7iM    inc,. .,;>,! 

Total  tons  ascendini?     '      i'!.-4:'.     11.7I'.>    L'l.li'J!''      •Jl.SiMi'      4  l.i:.%4 

Total    tolls    received    :<;43.1ii'~  S.^s.140  .■tS7.171(.<1L'i>.ti:'.l' $T4.S.HV. 

J  In    tons. 

The  traffic  continued  to  increase  from  year  to 
year.     In  1842,  it  was  over  5(H».nnO  tons,  and  the 


tolls  over  $400,000.  Ample  dividends  were  made; 
and  shares,  which  cost  originally  $50,  were  sold 
as  high  as  $175,  and  even  $180.  In  1851,  the  total 
tonnage  was  842,097  tons,  of  which  there  were 
579,156  tons  of  coal;  and  the  total  toll  was  $285,- 
621.  After  1861,  the  canal  tonnage  reached  in  some 
vears  nearly  1,400,000  tons  of  coal  and  300,000  tons 
of  merchandise  and  miscellaneous  articles.  The 
capacitv  of  the  canal  was  estimated  at  1,800.000  tons 
descending,  and  at  least  500,000  tons  ascending. 

The  boats  were  from  17' to  17^  feet  wide,  and 
100  to  101  and  102  feet  long,  with  a  maximum 
capacity  of  190  tons. 

After  the  year  1858,  the  company  offered  prem- 
iums for  dispatch  in  transportation.  Two  boats 
competed  energetically  and  proved  that  a  trip  from 
Port  Carbon  to  New  York  and  return  could  be  made 
in  seven  days.  This  was  regarded  as  an  extraordi- 
nary performance.  The  interest  taken  in  this  con- 
test' was  so  great  that  a  boat  came  to  be  loaded  at 
the  canal  landings  in  eighteen  minutes  from  the 
time  the  boat  reached  the  wharf  till  the  trip  was 
resumed.  Finally,  trouble  was  anticipated  from 
this  rivalry  and  the  company  put  an  end  to  it.  The 
company  continued  to  operate  this  great  enterprise 
till  1870,  when  they  leased  it  to  the  Philadelphia 
and  Reading  Railroad  Company  for  a  term  of  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  years. 

P.\CKETS. — In  1825,  John  and  Nicholas  Coleman 
introduced  the  sy.stem  of  running  packets  through 
the  canal  from  Reading  to  Philadelphia.  Trips  were 
made  three  times  a  week.  The  fare  was  $2.50,  and 
a  trip  was  made  in  a  day.  The  packets  had  no 
berths  for  sleeping  purposes,  but  a  large  dining- 
room.  Cooking  was  done  aboard,  and  meals  were 
furnished. 

These  packets  were  well  patronized,  and  contin- 
ued in  successful  operation  till  about  1832,  when 
the  increasing  traffic  on  the  canal  forced  them  to 
be  withdrawn.  Theretofore  boats,  loaded  and  emp- 
ty, would  turn  out  or  lay  over  for  an  approaching 
packet,  which  was  given  the  right  of  way. 

The  first  steamboat  on  the  canal  came  from  Phil- 
adelphia to  Reading  on  Dec.  5,  1826.  Twenty  years 
afterward,  a  line  of  Steam  Packets  was  begun  be- 
tween Reading  and  Philadelphia.  The  first  packet 
arrived  on  Sept.  28.  1846.  It  was  built  of  iron,  with 
two  Ericson  propellers.  85  feet  long,  and  13i  feet 
wide.  Thev  departed  from  Reading  every  day,  ex- 
cept Sunday,  at  2  p.  m..  and  arrived  at  Philadelphia 
the  next  morning.  And  they  departed  from  Phila- 
delphia and  arrived  at  Reading  on  the  same  time. 
The  fare  was  $1  a  trip.  But  this  enterprise  did  not 
continue  long  in  operation. 

R.MLW.WS 

The  first  railway  in  Pennsylvania  was  built  in 
1827  from  ^Vlauch  Chunk  to  Summit  Hill,  in  length 
nine  miles.  It  was  constructed  to  complete  the 
transportation  of  coal  from  Mine  Hill  to  Philadel- 


•I    ■-'■'  .M    ..rifiji 


INDUSTRY   OF    COUNTY 


37 


piiia.  From  Mauch  Chunk  to  Pliiladelphia  a  canal 
had  been  constructed  shortly  before  by  the  Lehi!J:h 
Coal  and  Navigation  Company.  But  the  canal  could 
not  be  extended  to  Mine  Hill;  so  the  company  was 
compelled  to  build  a  railway  to  take  the  place  of 
ordinary  roads.  Soon  afterward,  The  Little  Schuyl- 
kill Railroad  Company  was  incorporated,  and  it  con- 
structed the  railroad  from  Tamaqua  to  Port  Clinton. 

P.  &  R.  R. — In  lS3;j,  a  railroad  was  projected 
from  Port  Clinton  ria  Reading-  to  Philadelphia. 
The  Little  Schuylkill  Railroad  Company  was  auth- 
orized to  extend  its  railroad  to  Reading,  and  to 
construct  one  from  Reading  to  Philadelphia.  A 
company  was  chartered  on  April  4,  ISSS,  under  the 
name  of  the  "Philadelphia  and  Reading  Railroad 
Company."  Twenty-seven  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed, including  George  de  B.  Keim,  [Matthias  S. 
Richards,  Isaac  Hiester  and  James  Everhart,  of 
Reading.  Immediate  steps  were  taken  to  construct 
this  road.  A  considerable  portion  wa$  finished  dur- 
ing 1835.  By  December,  18.37,  one  track  of  the 
road  was  completed  from  Reading  to  Pottstown. 
An  excursion  party,  comprising  one  hundred  citi- 
zens of  Reading,  made  a  trip  on  the  6th  of  Decem- 
ber in  five  freight  cars,  temporarily  fitted  up  with 
seats  and  drawn  by  five  horses.  It  started  from  the 
depot  at  9  a.  m.,  and  arrived  at  Pottstown  in  two 
and  three  quarters  hours,  including  all  stops.  In 
returning,  it  left  at  2  p.  ii.  and  arrived  at  Reading 
at  5  p.  M.  The  first  regular  train  from  Reading  to 
Pottstown  ran  on  IMay  1,  1S3S  ;  to  Norristown,  on 
July  IG,  1S38;  and  to  Philadelphia  in  December, 
1S39.  The  fare  was:  First-class,  $3.50 ;  second- 
class.  $2. 

The  Little  Schuylkill  Railroad  Company  being 
unable  to  construct  the  road  from  Port  Clinton  to 
Reading,  the  charter  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railroad  Co.  was  therefore  extended  to  cover  the 
construction  and  operation  of  a  railroad  from  Read- 
ing to  Pottsville;  and  notwithstanding  the  financial 
<liftkulties  which  prevailed  about  1838,  the  project 
was  completed  within  four  years  afterward.  The 
first  train  ran  over  the  whole  line  from  Philadelphia 
to  Pottsville,  ninety-three  miles,  on  Jan.  1,  1842,  and 
tlie  road  was  opened  for  general  travel  on  the  10th. 
The  second  track  was  laid  in  1843,  and  opened  for 
travel  in  January,  1844.  The  distance  from  Read- 
ing to  Philadelphia  was  traveled  in  two  hours;  to 
Pottsville  in  one  hour  and  twenty  minutes. 

In  the  establishment  of  this  great  enterprise,  the 
construction  of  two  long  tunnels  is  worthy  of  men- 
tion— one  near  Phoenixville,  in  length  1.031  feet,  at 
•I  cn^t  of  $150,000 ;  the  other  near  Port  Clinton,  in 
hii.gtii  l.fiOG  feet,  at  a  cost  of  S125,7S2.  Tlie  latter 
<'\tcnds  through  the  Blue  r^fountain,  and  the  depth 
5rom  the  surface  at  the  top  of  the  mountain  is  119 
'eet.  .A  third  tunnel  was  constructed  at  Manavunk, 
in  length  940  feet,  costing  $75,000.  The  Phoenix- 
viilo  and  I'^Ianayunk  tunnels  were  enlarged  in  1859. 


A  superior,  large  stone  bridge  across  the  SchuylkiU, 
above  Tuckerton.  is  also  noteworthy. 

The  introduction  of  this  railway  immediately 
stimulated  enterprise  at  Reading,  and  caused  energy 
and  capital  to  be  directed  toward  manufacturing. 
The  increasing  tide  of  affairs  induced  people  and 
capital  to  concentrate  here  more  and  more  every 
succeeding  year;  and  buildings  multiplied  rapidly 
to  answer  the  demands  of  the  increasing  population. 
The  company  established  its  workshops  here  when 
the  railway  was  completed,  and  the^e  have  grown 
here  in  capacity  with  the  ever-increasing  iratfic  of 
the  road.  The  first  large  shop  occupied  the  half 
block  on  the  west  side  of  Seventh  street  between 
Franklin  and  Chestnut  streets,  where  it  continued 
for  over  sixty  years.  Its  extensive  and  costly  shops 
are  now  situated  along  the  northern  extremitv  of 
Sixth  street.  Each  succeeding  decade  found  the 
company  with  more  extended  shops  of  all  kinds  for 
the  manufacture  of  engines  and  cars,  affording  in 
the  n-icantime  constant  employment  for  an  t-ver-iu- 
creasing  number  of  workmen.  The  total  annual  in- 
come to  the  people  of  Reading  from  this  single 
source  during  the  past  seventy  years  counts  into 
millions  of  dollars,  all  of  which  contributed  directly 
toward  the  substantial  growth  of  this  community, 
in  its  buildings,  stores,  factories,  churches  and 
schools. 

The  passenger  station  (or  "depot"  as  it  was 
generally  called)  was  located  at  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Seventh  and  Chestnut  streets,  and  contimsed 
there  till  1874,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  "junc- 
tion" of  the  Lebanon  \'alley  and  East  Pennsylvania 
railroads,  nearly  a  mile  to  the  north,  called  "Main 
Station,"  where  a  fine  large  building  had  been  erec- 
ted. This  was  done  to  accommodate  the  large  pas- 
senger traffic.  It  is  surmounted  with  a  large  and 
elevated  clock-tower.  Extensive  covered  platforms 
are  constructed  over  the  three  roads,  nearly  a  half- 
mile  in  length;  eastern,  1,038  feet;  northwestern, 
709  feet ;  southwestern,  C92  feet ;  the  tirst  being  47 
feet  wide,  and  the  others  42.  The  passenger  trains 
to  Philadelphia  and  Pottsville  pass  through  the  first; 
those  to  Harrisburg  and  to  Allentown  through  the 
second ;  and  those  to  Columbia,  Slatington,  and  Wil- 
mington, through  the  third.  It  was  begun  in  1871, 
and  completed  in  1874,  when  the  lower  station  was 
abandoned.  In  1884  the  company  re-established  the 
station  at  Franklin  street. 

The  stations  in  the  county  are  the  following:  . 
Douglassville,  Monocacy,  Birdsboro,  Exeter,  Frank- 
lin Street,  Reading,  Tuckerton.  Leesport,  ]\Iohrs- 
ville,  Shoemakersville,  Bern,  Hamburg.  The  length 
of  the  railway  from  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
county  to  the  northern  is  forty  miles. 

The  train  service  for  passengers,  coal  and  freight- 
over  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad  and 
its  several  branches,  is  very  extensive,  as  will  ap- 
pear by  the  following  statistics  for  July,  190S,  at 
Reading: 


.,.  (  ',r!<     <»-r      /'.H 


,{.^r^tt  l.-ir.  !>. 


■'.    -f:.,.n 


tilK    :.:'     '-■■  ''f  ■>« 


38 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Passenger  trains 94  first  ground  was  broken  at  a  spot,  now  the  highest 

Ccal  and  freight—  point  of  the  cut,  a  short  distance  north  of  Temple 

Main  Line 90  Station,  on  June   11,   18.J7  ;  and   it  was   prosecuted 

Lebanon    Valley 65  with   energy    for   two   years.      The   la=;t   spike  was 

i'adS'^'cdumbia ■.■;;.■;.■.■.■.■.;;;•.■.■.;■.:;::::::::??  ^'.'■'^■^"  '^"^^p"'  ^"^  i^^-'-  ^"^i  the  completion  was 

Wilniington  &-  XortlKTii   19    S'.STnalizcd     by     a     demonstration     at      1  emple     on 

Scliuylkill  &  Lehigh   4    May  11th.     On  that  day,  trains  began  to  run  be- 

T  T  s       \    .  1    \      -1  1  tween  Reading  and  Allentown  Tunction.  a  di'^tance 

Lebanon  \  alley. — An  Act  was  passed  April  1,       r  ^^■.^,    ■     ,;•,         j^  ,     ."■'  ^^"'  •  ''    ,  :,    ,  ,^ 

loo^    •  »•        .1      -r    1  1-  1!       r>   -1        1  °^  thirty-sLx  mdcs.     It  was    eased  to  the  Phdade - 

1836,  mcorporatmg  tlie     Lebanon   \  al  ev  Railroad  ,.,•      <..' r>  ^r     ,   t>,-i        i    r-       •      ^r         ;^  ""-i"^' 

r-  •■  r  ^'-i        1  ;  r>      r      \     ri  P'"^   "^    Keading   Railroad    Co.    in    Mav,    1S6'J.   bv 

Comoany,     for  a  railroad  trom  Reading  to  Hams-  ,..i,,-  i    ;,.  i    •,  i  .    ,    ■  -  '  '      - 

,        '      T  ■      ,  ,       .        .    ^  .    ,  which  it  has  been  operated  since. 

burg.     It   required  an   actual   subscription  ot   four        tu,.  t  .,^nrtu  r^f  ruJ  .,;i,-^    i  •    .i  .     •    . 

,     ^        ,     ,   ^         r    .     I    V.  r  1        I      .        1       11         I'lelength  ot  the  railroad  in  the  county  IS  twentv- 

thousand  shares  of  stock  betore  the  charter  shou  d  ^j,,^^  ,^^j,^^^   ^^.j^j^   ^,,^.   fallowing   stations:   Temple 

become  operative.     This  number  could  not  he  ob-  p.iandon.     Fleetwood,     Lyons,     Bowers      Topton 

tained  by  private  subscriptions,  and  the  project  was  ;Mertztown    Shamrock 

allowed 'to  slumber  for  seventeen  years.  In  1853,  '  Readinx'  &  Columbl^.— Whilst  the  Lebanon 
the  idea  was  conceived  that  Lebanon  and  Reading,  \'allcv  and  East  Penn  railroads  were  bein-  con- 
as  municipal  organizations,  should  encourage  the  en-  struct'ed,  the  subject  of  extending  a  railroad  from 
terprise  by  a  large  subscription  of  the  stock,  the  Sinking  Spring  fa  station  on  the  former)  to  Col- 
former,  two  thousand  shares,  and  the  latter,  six  urnbia  was  discussed  with  earnestness.  In  this  be- 
thousand.  half  an  Act  was  passed  on  .Alay  lU,  lS5r,  incorporat- 
A  supplem.entary  Act  was  accordingly  passed  on  ing  the  "Reading  &  Columbia  Railroad  Company," 
April  5,  1853,  with  a  provision  that  the  subject  of  and  naming  fifteen  commissioners.  The  first  pro- 
a  subscription  be  submitted  to  the  taxables  of  the  ject  was  to  extend  tlie  road  from  a  point  in  Read- 
respective  places.  The  city  councils  of  Reading  ing;  but  in  1861  an  Act  was  passed  authorizing  a 
discussed  this  subject  on  'Slay  11,  1853,  and  ordered  connection  to  be  made  with  the  former  railroacTat 
an  election  to  be  held  on  June  15th  following.  This  any  point  between  Reading  and  Sinking  Spring, 
election  was  to  decide  for  or  against  a  subscription  Numerous  meetings  were  held  at  Ephrata,  Lancas- 
of  four  thousand  shares,  amounting  to  $200,000.  ter,  Columbia  and  Reading,  and  reports  pertaining 
The  result  of  the  election  was  1.658  for  subscription,  to  the  business  which  the  territorv  would  afiford 
and  682  against.  The  election  having  tenninatcfl  were  made  to  encourage  the  construction  of  the 
favorably^  certain  taxables  applied  to  the  Supreme  road ;  and  these  eventually  terminated  in  its  suc- 
court  for  an  injunction,  but  it  was  refused.  The  cessful  completion  in  ]\Iarch,  1864,  from  Sinking 
subscription  by  the  city  councils  was  made,  and  Spring  to  Columbia,  a  distance  of  forty  miles.  The 
in  payment  thereof  city  bonds  were  issued  amount-  first  passenger  train  ran  in  May,  1864.  The  length 
ing  to  $200,000.  During  the  completion  of  the  road  o^  ^}^^  railroad  in  the  county  is  five  miles,  with  two 
an  Act  was  passed,  ^Idv  5,  1857,  to  authorize  the  stations,  Fritztown  and  \'inemont. 
consolidation  of  the  Lebanon  Vallev  Railroad  Com-  ^^■iLMI^•GTOx  &  Xortherx. — A  railroad  was  also 
pany  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  encouraged  through  the  southern  section  of  Berks 
Company,  upon  first  obtaining  consent  of  the  stock-  county,  by  inhabitants  of  Robeson,  Union  and  Caer- 
holders.'  The  city  councils  approved  of  the  consoli-  narvon  townships,  and  they  obtained  an  Act  on 
dation,  especiallv  upon  having  been  assured  bv  the  ''^I?"^  ■'^*^*-  '^^^'^-  The  road  was  to  extend  from  a 
Philadelphia  &' Reading  Railroad  Companv' that  P°'"t  on  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad,  at 
the  citv  bonds  would  'be  returned  and  that  its  "^  "^^.'j  Birdsboro,  by  the  most  available  route,  to 
company  would  assume  the  subscription  of  four  any  raikoad  built  in  Chester  county.  The  incorpor- 
thousand  shares.  The  road  was  completed,  the  con-  f-}'''^  '^"'1>'  ^^"^•;  "''^"^^^  ^"'^^^  and  Chester  Railroad 
solidation  effected,  an.i  the  citv  bonds  were  returned  <-^'"Pany ;  and  the  company  was  authorized  to  con- 
Trains  began  to  run  to  Lebanon  in  Time.  1857;  ft"^"  branch  railroads  not  exceedmg  nine  miles 
and  to  Harrisburg  in  Tanuarv.  1858.  "  Length  of  "/  '''"•^^  -J"  V^''f^  authority  was  giveii  to  connect 
this  railroad  in  the  countv,  sixteen  miles;  with  the  '^^/^^^l  ^vith  the  Delaware  and  Pennsylvania  State 
following  stations;  Sinking  Spring,  Wernersville,  ^  "' J!''™"^,'  ^",1  '^'''  ^  con..ohdation  with  this 
Robesonia.  Womelsdorf.  company  under  the  name  of  the  \\  ilmington  & 
Pvc-r  P,-N-^-  r\  Afo.^i,  a  iQ-r  "v  .  Keading  Railroad  Companv.  The  n.ame  was  sub- 
Ea.st  PLNN.-On  -^arch  f).  1S..6,  an  Act  was  sequentlv  changed  to  Wilmington  &  Xorthern  Rail- 
RnilrinT"           "^             ^'''^"•7    '-^"^1    Lehigh  road  Companv:     The  road  was  opened   for  travel 

tl       f.1     SVTrV,      ".V'r"     *T?'?',^""'"  ^-^     ^■^"^^^^•^'^^    ■•F'-^'"    Wilmington    to     CoatesviUe, 

tion  of  the  I  hi  adelphia  ^  Reading  and  the  Lebanon  thirtv-three  miles,  in  December,  1861) ;  to  P.irdsboro 

\aley  railroads  at  Rea<lmg.  to  the  Lehigh  Wnlley  sixtv-three  mile.,  in    [une.   1870;  and  to  Reading 

railroad  at  Allentown.     The  title  of  the  company  seventv-two  miles,  in  Fcbruarv    1874      It  was  con- 

wns  changed  to  "East  Penn^vlvania  Railroad  Com-  structed  to  a  point  in  Poplar  Xeck.  and  the  road 

pany,    by  Act  passed  April  21.  1857.    The  construe-  from  that  point  was  exten.led  through  Reading  by 

tion  of  the  roadw  ay  began  in  June  following.     The  the  Berks  Countv  Railroad  Companv. 


.  tr,,    i     01'   in.p 


•i    I-,',. 


''l 


INDUSTRY    OF    COUNTY 


39 


Tlie  passenger  station  of  the  companv  at  Read- 
ing was  for  a  time  at  the  bOuth\ve>t  corner  of  Sec- 
ond and  Cherry  streets.  In  1S82  the  company  eti'ec- 
ted  an  arrangement  to  run  its  trains  to  and  from 
the  station  of  tlie  Philadelphia  &.  Reading  Rail- 
road Company;  and  in  llt()-3  the  road  was  leased  to 
the  latter  company. 

The  following  stations  are  in  the  county:  Eirds- 
boro,  White  Bear,  Geigcrtown,  Joanna.  The  pas- 
senger station  at  Birdsboro  is  a  handsome  structure. 
Length  in  county,  twenty  miles. 

West  Re.vdixg. — The  manufacturers  situated 
along  the  Schuylkill  canal  secured  an  Act  on  ^larch 
'i(>,  1S60,  to  construct  a  railroad  from  the  Lebanon 
X'alley  railroad  at  Fourth  street  to  a  point  on  Canal 
street  near  the  gas  works,  and  to  organize  a  com- 
pany under  the  name  of  \\'est  Reading  Railroad 
Company.  The  road  was  constructed,  in  length 
nearly  two  miles,  and  opened  for  traffic  in  1S63. 
This  company  operated  it  for  ten  vears.  and  then 
transferred  it  to  the  Pliiladelphia  &  Reading  Rail- 
road Co.,  by  which  company  it  has  been  used  since, 
as  a  branch  road  in  delivering  and  receiving  freight. 

CoLEBROOKDALE. — In  ^larch,  186.J,  a  railroad  was 
constructed  from  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  rail- 
road at  Pottstown  to  Boyertown  and  a  company 
was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  "Colebrookdale 
Railroad  Company."  The  road  was  constructed  to 
Barto,  a  distance  of  nearly  thirteen  miles,  and 
opened  to  travel  in  November,  18(;9. 

The  stations  in  the  county  are  Zvlanatawny,  Iron- 
stone, Colebrookdale,  Boyertown,  Bechtelsville, 
Barto.  It  was  leased  to  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Railroad  Companv  on  Jan.  1,  1S70,  for  twenty 
years,  which  lease  was  renewed. 

KuTZTowN  Br.\xch. — In  1854  a  company  was 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  .Allentown  Rail- 
road Company,  to  construct  a  railroad  from  Allen- 
town  to  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad  at  any 
point  between  Reading  and  Port  Clinton;  and  if 
this  railroad  should  not  be  extendetl  by  way  of 
Kutztown,  a  branch  should  be  constructed  to  that 
place.  Subsequently  a  section  of  the  road  was  con- 
structed from  Topton  to  Kutztown,  in  length  four 
and  a  half  miles,  and  opened  for  travel  in  January, 
l^TO.  It  has  been  operated  since  by  the  Philadel- 
phia &:  Reading  Railroad  Companv  under  a  lease. 

SciTuvr.KiLL  &  Lehigh. — In  March.  1871,  a  com- 
pany was  incorporated  for  the  purpose  of  construct- 
ing a  ntilroad  from  a  point  on  the  Wilmington  & 
.Northern  railroad,  at  or  near  Birdsboro,  through 
Koading,  to  connect  with  any  railroad  or  railroads 
in  the  county  of  Lehigh;  commissioners  were  ap- 
ponncd  and  a  company  was  created  by  the  name  of 
■  r.erks  County  Railroad  Companv,"'  and  it  was  con- 
-tnictcd  from  the  "Cut"  in  "Poplar  Neck,"  through 
Reading,  by  way  of  the  Maiden  creek,  to  Slating- 
t-'U.  where  connection  was  made  with  the  Lehigh 
\'alley  railroad,  a  total  length  of  forty-five  miles. 
The  road  was  opened  for  travel  in  July,  1874. 
Sh(-.rtly  afterward,  the  road  was  sold  and'  a  reor- 
ganization  effected  under  the  name  of  "Berks  & 


Lehigh  Railroad  Company";  and  subsequently  tlrs 
name  was  changed  tu  "Schuylkill  &  Lehigh  Rail- 
road Company."  The  road  is  carried  on  by  the 
I'hiladelphia  &  Reading  Railroad  Company  under 
.  a  lease.  The  length  of  the  road  in  the  county  is 
twenty-four  miles,  and  the  stations  are  Maiden- 
creek,  Evansville,  ^losekm.  \irginville.  Lenharts- 
\ille,  Kempton. 

Belt  Line. — For  a  number  of  vears  the  increas- 
ing traffic  on  the  main  line  of  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  railroad  rendered  its  passage  through 
Reading  more  and  more  difficult  to  handle,  and 
finally,  in  1900,  the  management  determined  to  re- 
lieve the  great  congestion  wliich  extended  from  the 
"Walnut  street  Cut"  northward  several  miles,  by 
constructing  a  "Belt  Line"  around  Reading ;  which 
started  at  a  point  called  the  "Junction,"  in^Muhlen- 
berg  township,  about  a  mile  north  of  the  main  sta-  ' 

tion  at  Reading,  thence  crossing  the  river  and  pass- 
ing through   Bern,   Spring  and   Cumru   townships,  ; 
and  ending  in  the  main  line  about  two  miles  south  ! 
of  Reading.    It  was  opened  for  traffic  in  190-2. 

SiG.VAL  Service. — From  the  beginning  of  the 
service  on  the  P.  &  R.  railroad  the  company  main- 
tained along  the  main  line  a  number  of  ''signal 
towers"  for  the  purpose  of  notifying  the  trainmen 
as  to  the  situation  and  movement  of  the  trains ;  then 
the  "Hall  block  system"  was  introduced,  as  a  more 
reliable  system,  and  it  has  proved  very  useful  and 
satisfactory.  } 

Pennsylvania  Schuylkill  Valley. — The  | 
Phoenixville,  Pottstown  &  Reading  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  on  Sept.  oO,  1882,  for  oper- 
ating a  railroad  from  Phoenixville  to  Reading,  by 
way  of  Pottstown ;  and  on  the  same  dav.  the  Phil- 
adelphia, Norristown  &  Phoenixville  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  for  operating  a  railroad  from 
Philadelphia  to  Phoenixville.  On  May  1,  1883, 
these  two  companies  were  consolidated,  under  the 
name  of  Pennsylvania  Schuylkill  Vallev  Railroad 
Company,  and  a  month  afterward  a  lease  was  effec- 
ted with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Companv.  The 
latter  company  then  constructed  the  railroad  from 
Philadelphia  to  Reading,  by  way  of  Norristown  and 
Phoenixville,  during  1883  and  1884,  opening  it  to 
Reading  on  Nov.  15.  1884.  In  the  course  of  its 
construction  the  company  erected  four  substantial 
bridges  across  the  Schuylkill  within  the  countv — 
Douglassville.  Poplar  Neck.  Little  Dam,  and  Read- 
ing— and  three  handsome  passenger  stations  :  Doug- 
lassville, Birdsboro,  Reading. 

The  length  of  this  railroad  from  Reading  to  the 
Montgomery  county  line  is  fourteen  miles. 

The  Penn  street  bridge  stood  in  the  way  of  im- 
provements by  this  company  at  the  foot  of  Penrr 
street,  and,  in  pursuance  of  a  proposition  bv  this 
company  to  substitute  a  superior  iron  bridge  in  its 
place,  at  a  cost  of  $100,000,  provided  the  county  of 
Berks  contributed  $33,000.  the  old  wooden  bridge 
was  removed  and  the  present  handsome  iron  bridge 
was  erected  during  the  years  1S84  and  1885. 


•^S.w  :      .  .■,'.i\1  .'. 


J"  si:\rr     v4    ■fiA'i'j:'.' 


40 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


The  Reading  &  Pottsville  Railroad  Company  was 
incorporated  afterwaril  for  operating'  a  railroad 
from  Reading  to  Pottsville.  by  way  of  Hamburg 
and  Port  Clinton,  and  this  was  constructed  during 
1884  and  1885,  as  a  continuation  of  the  railroad 
from  Philadelphia  to  the  coal  regions.  It  was  op- 
ened to  Hamburg  on  Dec.  7,  ISs^o,  and  in  1S8G  to 
Pottsville.  On  Dt^c.  1.  188.5,  this  road  was  also 
leased  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company.  The 
company  erected  a  fine  station  at  Hamburg.  The 
length  of  the  railroad  northward  from  Reading  to 
the  .Schuylkill  county  line  is  twenty  miles  ;  and  the 
total  length  in  the  county  is  thirty-four  miles.  A 
fifth  bridge  was  constructed  obliquely  across  the 
Schuylkill  river  at  Hamburg. 

Electric  Railways. — Street  railways  began  to 
be  laid  down  in  Reading  in  1874,  but  a  number  of 
years  elapsed  before  they  were  operated  success- 
fully. The  first  extensions  of  the  system  were  made 
into  the  surrounding  country  districts  as   follows : 

To  the  Black  Bear  Inn  and  Stony  Creek  in  1890; 
and  an  extension  was  made  from  a  jwint  near  the 
latter  place  to  Boyertown  in  190'?,  bv  way  of  Jack- 
sonwald,  Oley  Line,  Friedensburg  and  Siianesville; 
and  -an  extension  from  Black  Bear  Inn  to  Birds- 
boro  in  1904  by  way  of  Seyfert  and  Gibraltar. 

To  Shillington  and  Alohnsville  (now  Mohnton) 
in  1890 ;  and  an  extension  to  Adamstown  was  con- 
structed in  1894. 

To  Womelsdorf,  on  the  bed  of  the  Berks  and 
Dauphin  turnpike,  in  1894. 

To  Temple  in  190'-3 ;  which  was  extended  to  Kutz- 
town  in  1904.  A  line  had  been  extended  from  Al- 
lentown  to  Kutztown  in  1898  and  operated  to  that 
point.  When  the  connection  was  made  in  1904, 
through  travel  was  eft'ected  from  Reading  to  Allen- 
town  ;  and  this  route  then  began  to  be  utilized  for 
cheap  Sunday  excursions  to  Xew  York  in  the  sum- 
mer season. 

These  suburban  lines  opened  travel  to  all  points 
surrounding  Reading,  excepting  to  Hamburg  to  the 
north,  and  to  Bernville,  Rehrersburg  and  ]\Iillers- 
burg  to  the  northwest.  The  former  point  is  reached 
conveniently  by  two  steam  railways,  but  the  latter 
can  still  only  be  reached  by  stage  lines  or  by  pri- 
vate conveyance. 

The  extension  of  these  lines  from  Reading  has 
encouraged  building  operations  and  the  develop- 
ment of  suburban  towns  to  a  remarkable  degree, 
more  especially  since  1900.  This  is  apparent  at 
Hyde  Park  to  the  north ;  at  Wyomissing  to  the 
west;  at  Oakbrook  and  Shillington  to  the  southwest; 
and  at  Mt.  Pcnn  and  Esterly  to  the  southeast. 

Additional  lines  are  in  contemplation :  f  n^m 
Womelsdorf  to  Mycrstown,  westward  :  from  Temple 
to  Hamburg,  northward:  and  from  Lyons  to  Top- 
ton  and  Eniaus,  northward. 

A  line  was  completed  in  1908  from  Pott-town 
to  Boyertown  via  Ringing  Rocks  Park  and  Gil- 
bertsville. 


POST-OFFICES 

The  postal  department  of  the  public  service  is 
classed  with  the  internal  improvements  of  the  coun- 
ty. The  first  attempt  to  systematize  and  regulate 
postal  communication  in  the  American  Colonics  was 
made  by  the  British  government  in  1060 ;  and  this 
subject  received  the  attention  of  William  Penn 
shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Pennsylvania,  he  having, 
in  July,  1GS3.  issued  an  order  for  the  estal)lishment 
of  a  ix)st-oftice  at  Philadelphia.  The  postal  facili- 
ties in  that  early  period  were  only  such  as  were  af- 
forded by  personal  accommodation  among  the  col- 
onists. In  109?,  the  rate  of  postage  to  and  from 
Philadelphia,  within  a  radius  of  eighty  miles,  was 
fourpence-half  penny. 

The  office  of  Postmaster-General  for  America 
was  created  by  Parliament  in  1704.  In  1737,  Benja- 
min Franklin  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  in  17o;5,  deputy  postmaster-general. 
The  delivery  of  letters  by  the  penny  post  began  in 
17^3  ;  and  also  the  practice  of  advertising  unclaimed 
letters  which  remained  in  the  office  at  Philadelphia. 

In  1774  Franklm  became  obnoxious  to  the  British 
government,  and  he  was  therefore  dismissed.  This 
caused  private  arrangements  to  be  made  for  carr\-- 
ing  letters,  and  in  1775,  the  Colonies  established 
their  own  postal  department,  and  on  July  26th 
Franklin  was  unanimously  chosen  postmaster-gen- 
eral. This  was  an  important  action  in  connec- 
tion with  the  movement  for  independence.  In  179"?, 
rates  of  postage  were  established,  which  remained 
unchanged  for  over  fifty  years. 

Re.\dixg  Office  Established. — The  first  post- 
office  in  the  county  was  established  at  Reading  on 
!\Iarch  20,  1793.  The  department  had  been  in  prac- 
tical existence  for  nearly  twenty  years.  The  popu- 
lation here  was  large  and  business  transactions  were 
numerous,  but  correspondence  was  limited.  Letters 
had  been  carried  for  several  years  previously  by  a 
'^tage  line  to  Philadelphia  and  to  Harrisburg,  at  the 
rate  of  threepence  postage;  and  about  the  year  1800 
they  began  to  be  carried  to  Sunbury  once  a  week 
on  horseback,  and  to  Lancaster  and  Easton  once  a 
week  in  a  private  two-horse  carriage.  After  the 
stage-coach  hatl  become  a  fixed  mode  of  transpor- 
tation for  people  and  light  articles  of  merchandise. 
at  regular  intervals,  postal  matter  began  to  be  car- 
ried bv  it  from  place  to  place. 

The  mails  were  carried  by  stages  till  the  intro- 
duction of  the  railways ;  then  passenger  trains  were 
substituted. 

St.vmps. — X^o  postage  stamps  were  issued  bv  the 
national  government  till  .-\ugust,  1847,  when  two 
denominations  were  issued — five-cent  and  ten-cent. 
The  idea  of  using  postage  stamps  was  first  sug- 
gested in  1841.  Previously,  postage  had  been  col- 
lected entirely  in  money:  and  in  all  cases,  pre-pay- 
ment  was  optional.  The  two  denominations  men- 
tioned continued  in  use  four  years ;  then  new  de- 
nominations for  one  cent  and  three  cents  appeared, 
and  shortly  afterward  others  for  five,  ten,  twelve. 


'.nn    '.A  :)fE 


r-i-rf   .-'!,'.,     ii,>'»rii 


')  Ti  7;   - '  '  r  -. 


?     .'1     1..  ■-    -,    ,    ■    '.■>■;:     '■[!  .■         '■■■'■  I 


-.  1- 


I'  ;    .-.vniv      = ;  .;;  rjii 


INDUSTRY   OF    COUNTY 


twenty-four,  thirty  and  ninety  cents.  In  ISGl  this 
series  was  called  in  by  the  postmaster-general,  and 
a  new  series  issued.  On  July  1,  1SG3,  the  first  two- 
cent  stamp  appeared :  which  was  to  accommodate 
local  postage.  In  18G9  a  new  seric<;  was  issued,  of 
x\\c  denominations  of  one,  two.  three,  five.  six.  ten, 
fifteen,  thirty  and  ninety  cents:  and  a  year  after- 
ward, the  following  designs  were  adopted  for  these 
stamps :  One-cent,  Franklin ;  two-cent.  Jackson ; 
three-cent,  Washington;  five-cent,  Jackson;  six- 
cent,  Lincoln:  ten-cent,  Jefiferson ;  fifteen-cent, 
Webster ;  thirty-cent,  Hamilton ;  ninety-cent.  Perry. 
Desi'^ns  of  persons  on  stamps  in  honor  of  distin- 
guished representative  men  of  our  country  had  been 
in  use  from  their  first  introduction,  particularly  of 
I-Vanklin  and  Washington. 

Post-Offices  of  County. — The  following  post- 
offices  have  been  established  in  the  county.  They 
are  arranged  in  the  order  of  their  priority. 

No.  Xanie  Established 

1.  Readinir     March    20,  1T93 

2.  Hamburg    July      1,1793 

3.  Kutztown    July      1,  1805 

4.  Morgaiitown     Jan.     1,1806 

5.  \Vomel?dorf    July      1,  1807 

6.  Rehrersbiirg May    27,  1818 

7.  Longswamp    April    IS,  1822 

8.  Blandon    . .  ; Nov.     2,  1825 

0.  Kliiie'^ville    Dec.  IG,  1825 

10.  Bethel    Dec.  21,  1827 

11.  Brower Jan.     7,1828 

12.  Dnle    Jan.  25,  1828 

13.  Colebrookdale     Feb.     4,1828 

14.  Royertown     Feb.  14.  1828 

15.  Oley     March    14,1828 

15.  Brumfield     March    27,  1828 

17.  Geiger's   Mill   March  27,  1823 

18.  New    Jerusalem    May  26,  1823 

19.  Douglassville March  3,  1829 

20.  Grimville     Jan.  14,  1830 

21.  Shartlesville    Feb.  9,  1330 

22.  Hereford     March  6,  1830 

23.  Joanna    Furnace    Dec.  29,  1830 

24.  Sinking  Spring  June  25,  1831 

23.  Stouchsburg     March  22,1832 

26.  Berrville Aug.  16,  1332 

27.  Slioeniakersville     Jan.  14,  1833 

2'«.  Pikeville     March    12,  1834 

29.  Pricetown     Feb.     6,  1835 

?0.  Lohachsville .\pril   '10,,  1835 

•11.  Pa-jm^town     '. Dec.  21,  1835 

•    ■i2.  Mohrsville     ' May    10,  1836 

33.  Gibraltar     June    16,  1836 

34.  Tuckcrton     Jan.  26,  1833 

•"!'.  F.arlville     Aug.     2,  1838 

36.  Molltown     Aug.  30,  1839 

■'•7.  Virijiiiville    .Aug.  30,   1839 

ri".  Lower    Bern    June    12,1841 

:'9.  .Mhany    Dec.  23,  1345 

io.  Mo^clem    Springs    Jan.  14,  1846 

<1.  Stoncrsville .Jan.  13,  1847 

••2.  Monterey   May    19,  1847 

<3.  Srr.nusstown    Nov.  IS,  1347 

4  4.  Rnbc>onia  Furnace   Feb.  28,  1S49 

4.V  rros?kiIl    Mills     Oct.  16,  1S49 

■•6.  Sicsholtzville    Nov.     8,  1S49 

«'•  Tiilpehocken     March    19,1850 

■tS.  Gayton    June    21,  1850 


49.  Birdsboro    Jan. 

.■lO.  Leesport     Jan. 

51.  Manatawny    March 

52.  Spangsville     '. .  Sept. 

53.  Fleetwood     Feb. 

54.  Leinbach's     Feb. 

55.  Beckersville     Feb. 

56.  Host    .\pril 

57.  Bechtelsville     May 

58.  Greshville     Feb. 

59.  Dr>-ville    .■ May 

60.  Wernersville     May 

61.  Fredericksville     Aug. 

02.  Landis'  Store   ' -\ug. 

63.  Ma.xatawny     Nov. 

64.  Mount    .\ctna    Oct 

65.  Lenhartsville    Dec. 

66.  Goiiglersville     July 

67.  Monocacy    Jan. 

68.  Knauer's    March 

69.  Moselem    July 

70.  South  Evansville  July 

71.  Windsor  Castle  July 

72.  Wintersville    July 

73.  Temple    , July 

74.  Mohn's    Store*    Nov. 

75.  Mertztown     Dec. 

76.  Cumru     March 

77.  Kirby ville  ' Oct. 

78.  Bower's    Station    June 

79.  Lyons    Station    Oct. 

80.  Topton     ■A.ug. 

81.  Exeter     Dec. 

82.  Maiden   Creek    April 

83.  Eagle   Point    Aug. 

84.  Fritztown    Nov. 

85.  Alsace Feb. 

86.  Upper   Bern    Aug. 

87.  Hill  Church   May 

88.  North    Heidelberg    June 

89.  Lower   Heidelberg    July 

90.  Krick's    Mill    ' Sept. 

91.  Hiester's    Mill    Dec. 

92.  Yellow  House  May 

93.  Mountain     Sept. 

94.  Shanesville    May 

95.  Centreport    June 

96.  Stonv  Run   Jati. 

97.  Scarlet   Mill    Aug. 

98.  Hummel's    Store    Sept. 

99.  Griesemcrsville   June 

100.  Lime-Kiln     '. . . .  June 

101.  Jacksonwald    Nov. 

102.  Pine  Iron  Works    Feb. 

103.  Little  Oley   April 

104.  Monocacy  Station    May 

105.  West   Leesport    Sept. 

106.  Huff's  Church  March 

107.  Trexler     Nov. 

108.  East  Berkley March 

109.  Bern     .....' May 

110.  Cacoosing     June 

111.  Stony  Creek  Mills   May 

112.  MeckviUe    Dec. 

113.  Berks     Dec. 

114.  Vincmont    April 

115.  Garfield   June 

116.  Kempton     May 

117.  Barto    March 

118.  .Xneelica Mav 

119.  Eckvillo     Sept. 

120.  New    Berlinville Feb. 

121.  Bally     .Aug. 

122.  Sclnveycrs     .April 

123.  Shamrock  Station May 

124.  Schubert    June 

'Changed   to    Mohnton   .Aug.   D.    lOiiC. 


41 

6,  1851 

21,  1851 

19,  1851 

19,  1351 

16,  1352 

16,  1852 

13,  1852 

22,  1852      , 

7,  1852 

10,  1853 

3,  1853 

3,  1853 

20,  1853 

20,  1853      i 

5,  1853      1 

.  2,  1854 

11,  1354     j 

16,  1855     ( 

29,  1856 

3,  1856 

8,  1856 

8,  1856 
18,  1856 

10,  1S57 

20,  1857 

6,  1357 

8,  1857 

6,  1853 

31,  1850     j 

25,  1860 

25,  18G0 

29,  1861 

25,  1S61     ' 

18,  18G2 

14,  1862 

12,  1862 

12,  1863     ! 

28,  1863     I 

27,  1864 

22,  1864 

1,  1864   ; 

11.  1865 

2,  1865 

9,  1866     i 

19,  1S66 

2,  1867 

11,  1868 

11,  1869 

4,  1869 

29,  1369 

29,  1870 

29,  1870 

11.  1870 

24,  1871 

21,  1871 

13,  1872 

30,  1872 

2,  1874 

9,  1874 

12,  1375 

23,  1878 

6,  1878 

20,  1879 

17,  1879 

23,  1879 

19,  1S80  ■  .; 

25,  18S0 

17,  1331 

16,  1SS2 

22,  1882 

8.  1SS2 

23,  1833 

7,  18S3 

14,  1884 

14,  1884 

6,  1834 

»./  '         ■     .3 '.'A 


42 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY.    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


125.     Shillington     July 

i2t).     Lorah    Dec. 

127.     Athol     Jan. 

US.     Walter's    Park     March 

129.     Kniniville     July 

l.io.     Calcium     July 

131.  Robesonia     Jan. 

132.  Schofer     Feb. 

13:!.     Obold    .\pril 

134.  Eshhach    May 

135.  Dreibelbis     June 

136.  Scull    Hill    \uj;. 

137.  Deiiglcr's*     Nov. 

133.  Hancock    March 

139.  Strause Aug. 

140.  Greenawalt    March 


Rural  Fkek  Delivery. — The  followinq-  58  rural 
free  delivery  routes  were  established  in  Berk.^  coun- 
ty from  1900  until  Dec.  1,  1U08,  the  first  having 
been  established  at  Hamburg  in  the  extreme  north- 
ern part  of  the  county,  Sept.  1,  1900.  and  their  ar- 
rangement being  set  forth  in  the  order  of  priority : 


l-i, 

1884 

5, 

1SS4 

6, 

18S5 

3, 

IS-s') 

7, 

1885 

7, 

18^.j 

15, 

1886 

26, 

1886 

2ti. 

1SS1-, 

3. 

1886 

10, 

1836 

30. 

issr 

19, 

1887 

3, 

1888 

28, 

1900 

20. 

1903 

Office 


Routes 


Hamburg  2 

Reading     1 

Dougiassville    4 

Fleetwood    1 

Bechtelsville    2 

Shoemakcrsville     1 

Hamburg   2 

Boyertown     1 

Kutztown     1 

Robfsonia    2 

Birdsboro    2 

Sinking  Spring    3 

Reading    -. 1 

Geigcr's   !Mills    1 

Blandon 1 

Fleetwood    1 

Leesport    1 

Shoemakersville     1 

Temple    , 1 

Mertztovvn  1 

Boyertown     1 

Stouclisburg    1 

Wernersville  2 

Kutztown     4 

Rarto     2 

Mertztovvn  1 

West  Leesport  1 

Oley     .■ 3 

Bernville    1 

Kempton    2 

Mohnsville    1 

Oley 1 

Geiger"s  Mills 1 

Mohrsville   1 

Bernville    1 

Mohnsville 1 

Vircinville   1 

Bethel    1 

Stony  Creek  Mills   1 

Lenhartsville 1 

The  following  fifty  oflfices  have  been 
since  1900  as  a  direct  result  of  introduc 
free  delivery : 


Sept 
Oct 
Feb 
Julv 
Julv 
July 

Sept, 


1, 

1, 

1, 
1, 
1. 
1, 
Oct.  15, 
April  1. 
April  1, 
.Mav  2. 
Sept.  1. 
Oct.  15, 
Nov.  1. 
Xov.  15, 
Xov.  15, 
Xov.  15, 
Xov.  ]5. 
Xov.  15, 
Dec.  1, 
Jan.  2, 
Jan.  16, 
Jan.  15. 
Feb.  1. 
Feb.  15. 
Feb.  15, 
Feb.  15, 
April  15, 
Mav  1, 
May  1. 
Mav  1.5, 
Mav  15. 
Mav  23, 
Aug.  1. 
Oct.  16, 
Xov.  1, 
Xov.  15, 
Dec.  1, 
Xov.  1, 
April  16. 


1900 
I'JOl 
1903 
1903 
1903 
1903 
1903 
1903 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1904 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1906 
1907 


discontinued 
ing  the  rural 


POST-OFFICES   DI.«COXTINUED 
Office  Date 

Alleglien\-v'ille    Oct.  31,  1903 

Alliance    Oct.  13,  1905 

*  Changed  to  Mount   Penn,  December  11,  19D3. 


.Angelica    May    31,  1905 

Basket May   31,  1905 

Baumstown    .April    30,  1904 

Beckersville    Oct.  31,  1906 

Brower     Jan.  31,  1903 

Rrumrieldville     Aug.  15,  1905 

Cacooiing    Oct.  31,  1002 

Cro^s-kill   Mills    June  15,  1905 

Dale    Dec.  14,  1903 

Dreibelbis Nov.  30,  1905 

Eagle    Point    March    31,  1904 

East  Berklev  April    30,  1908 

Eshbach    Feb.  2S,  1907 

Freeman     June    15,  1905 

Gablesville     Aug.  15,  1906 

Garfield    Jan.  31,  1907 

Gouglersville    Jan.  14,  1906 

Greenawalt     .April  29.  1905 

Greshville    Aug.  15,  1906 

Grill    Jan.  31,  1907 

Harlem     Xov.  14.  1904 

Huffs'  Church    Oct.  31,  1906 

Kirbyville    June    30,  1903 

Kiiauur's     Oct.  31,  1905 

Leinbach's   Jan.  31,  1907 

Lesher    Jan.  15.  1906 

Liscum    Feb.  15,  1905 

Lobachsville    June    30,  1906 

Lorah    Jan.  31,  1907 

Lower   Heidelberg    Jan.  31,  1907 

Moselem    Dec.  14,  1907 

Moselem  Springs    May  31,  1908 

North  Heidelberg  Jan.  31,  1907 

Oakbrook Oct.  31,  1906 

Obold    Oct.  15,  1907 

Passmore    March    31,  1908 

Pikeville     June    30,  1906 

Pricetown     June    30,  1905 

Schubert     Nov.  30,  1905 

Schweyers    Nov.  30,  1904 

Scull  Hill   Oct.  14,  1905 

South   Evansville    Jan.  31.  1907 

Stonetown    April      1,  1904 

Strausstown     April    30,  1907 

Tuckerton    June    15,  1905 

Upper    Bern     Sept.  29,  1906 

Windsor  Castle   May    31,  1906 

Wintersville    Jan.  14,  1905 

MAIL    OF    DISCONTINUED    OFFICES 

The   m«il    formerly   addressed   to   the   following  discon- 
tinued post-ofFices,  is  sent  as  follows : 

.Alsace    mail    to    Oley 

.Angelica   mail   to    Mohnton 

Baumstown    mail    to    . , Birdsboro 

Bccker.sville  mail  to  Geiger's  Mills 

Brower  mail   to    Dougiassville 

Brumtioldville  mail  to  Dougiassville 

Cacoosing  mail  to  Sinking  Spring 

Colebrookdalc  mail   to    Pottstown 

Crosskill   Mills   mail  to    Myerstown 

Cumru   mail   to    Shillington 

Dale   mail   to    Barto 

Eagle    Point  mail   to    ; Kutztown 

East    Berkley    mail    to Blandon 

Eckville    mail    to Albany 

E.xeter  mail   to    Lorane 

Garfield    mail    to    Bernville 

Gouglersville   mail   to    Reinholds 

Greshville   mail   to    Boyertown 

Hciilelherg  Lower  mail  to  Wernersville 

Heidelberg    Xorth    mail    to    Robesonia 

TTicster's    Mill    mail    to Robesonia 

Kirbv\-i!ie  mail  to  Fleetwood 


<       r 


;:'>^:r.'vO'r'^  ^  •y-Kt 


IXDL'STRY   OF    COUNTY 


43 


Kr.nm'r's    mail    to    Mohnton 

Loiiib.ich's  mail  to   Reading  R.  F.  D.   No.  2 

Loi-achsvilL-  mail  to   Oley 

Loni,'>wamp  mail  to  Mertztown 

Lerah  mail    to    Sinking   Spring 

I,,  .wer  Hern  mail  to Robesonia 

I )]uAd   mail   to    Robesonia 

I'lkcvillc  mail   to    Oley 

rricctovvn    mail    to    Fleetwood 

Si  liwfvcrs   mail*  to    .Mertztoun 

Sifsho'ltzville    mail    to    Alburtis 

South  Evansville  mail  t"   West  Leesport 

St'netown  mail  to   Birdsboro 

Strange  mail  to   West  Leesport 

Tuckcrton  mail  to   Reading  R.  F".  D.   Xo.  2 

L'pper    Hern   mail   to    Hamburg 

Windsor  Castle  mail  to    Hamburg 

Wmtersville  mail  to Richland 

OFFICES  IN  COUNTY 

The  following  offices  were  in  Berks  county  in  January, 
lOO'j.  The  tigures  after  post-offices  denote  number  of  rural 
free  delivery  routes  running  from  that  office. 

Albany  Maxatawny 

Athol  Meckville 

R.illy  Mertztown— 2 

p,;,rta — 2  Mohnton — 2 

Btchtels\ille— 2  Mohrsvillc— 1 
Berks                                           ,      Molltown 

I'.tfne  Monocacy 

Bernharts  ■  Monocacy    Station 

Bcrnvilie — 2  Montello 

Bithci — 1  Monterey 

!'.ird~boro — ^2  Morgantown 

r>!andon — 1  Mount  Aetna 

Bowers    Station  Mountain 

]-!.)ycrtown  Mountain  Sunset 
Calcium                  -       ,  '  ".    "     Mount   Penn 

Cer.treport  "New   Berlinville 

Chapel  New  Jerusalem 

Clayton  Oley — i 

Daubcrville  ■  Pine  Iron  Works 

Douglassville — 1  ■  Plowville 

Dryville  *  Reading— 2 

Earlville  Rehrersburg 

Esterly  Robesonia — 2 

F'leetwood — 2  Ryeland 

Frcdericksville  Scarletts  Mill 

Fritztown  Schofer 

Gciger's    Mills — 3  Siesholfzville 

Gibraltar  Shamrock   Station 

Griesemersville  Shanesville 

Grimville  Shartlesville 

Hamburg — 1  Shillington 

Hancock  Shoemakersville — 2 

Hereford  Sinking   Spring — 3 
Hill  Church        "                     ■       Spangsville 

Host  Stonersville 

Hummel's  Store  Stony  Creek  Mills — 1 

Tnckfonwald  Stony  Run 

Joanna  Stouchsburg — 1 

Kempton — 2  -  Strausstown 

Klinesville  Temple — 1 

Krick's  Mill  Topton 

Krunisville  Trexlcr 

Kut7town  Vinemont 

I.andis   Store  Virginville — 1 

l-ccsport — 1  Walter's  Park 

Ix-nhartsville  Wernersville — 2 

Limekiln  West  Leesport — 1 

Little   Oley  West  Reading 

Lorane  Womelsdorf 

Lvons   Station  Wvomissing 

.Maiden-creek  Yellow  House 
Manatawny 


TELEGRAPH 

In  184-1,  the  telegraph  was  successfully  intro- 
duced for  the  transmission  of  messages  by  elec- 
tricity. The  first  mcssa,i,'e  was  senr  throu.c^h  a  wire 
elevated  on  poles  between  WashinGfton  and  Balti- 
more, May  27,  1S44.  Consjre^s  had  (in  ]\Iarch 
previously)  appropriated  S3U.OnO  to  Prof.  Morse 
for  experiments  with  his  instrument,  to  demonstrate 
the  practicability  of  his  invention. 

P.  R.  &  P.  T.  Co. — A  company  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  Philadelphia.  Reading-  &  Potts- 
ville  Telegraph  Company,  by  an  Act  passed  !\Iarch 
15,  1847,  for  the  purpose  of  making-,  using-  and 
maintaining  telegraph  lines  between  Philadelphia, 
Reading  and  Pottsville,  and  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed to  effect  its  organization.  This  company  was 
org-anizcd  in  April,  and  the  telegraph  line  was  suc- 
cessfully established  shortly  afterward.  Communi- 
cation was  completed  between  Philadelphia  and 
Reading  on  Hay  10,  1847  ;  and  the  first  message  for- 
warded to  Reading  related  to  the  ^Mexican  war. 
The  line  has  been  maintained  successfully  ever 
since. 

Upon  the  construction  and  operation  of  the  sev- 
eral railroads  ruiming  from  Reading,  telegraph 
lines  were  extended  to  Harrisburg,  Allentown,  Col- 
umbia, Lancaster,  Slatington,  and  \\'ihnington. 

Western  Uxiox. — The  American  Telegraph 
Company  introduced  a  line  of  telegraph  here  in 
18G3  :  and,  in  lS(i5,  the  AVestern  Union  Telegraph 
Company.  These  two  then  formed  a  union ;  and 
the  lines  have  been  operated  since  under  the  latter 
name.  In  l.s71t,  this  company  and  the  Philadelphia. 
Reading  &  Pottsville  Telegraph  Company  effected 
an  arrangement  for  co-operation ;  since  then  they 
have  conducted  their  lines  together. 

Lehigh. — The  Lehigh  Telegraph  Company  was 
organized  at  Allentown,  and  opened  ati  office  at 
Reading  in  September,  1880.  It  formed  a  connec- 
tion with  the  principal  cities  in  the  L'nited  States 
through  the  American  Union  Telegraph  Company, 
but  this  connection  was  continued  only  for  a  year 
and  a  half,  when  it  was  changed  to  the  "^ilutual 
Union"  for  an  equal  period,  and  it  was  operated 
under  this  name  till  January.  ISSi,  when  its  lines, 
etc.,  were  transferred  to  the  r>ankers'  &  Merchants' 
Telegraph  Company.  This  company  has  been  op- 
erating the  lines  under  the  name  of  the  United 
Lines  Telegraph  Company,  by  which  it  is  known 
throughout  the  country.  .At  Reading  it  is  known 
as  the  "Postal." 

telephone 

Pennsylv.\ni.\. — The  telephone  was  introduced 
'  at  Reading  by  Henry  W.  Spang,  in  October,  1870. 
He  organized  a  system  of  communication  in  the 
city  and  carried  it  on  successfully  until  November, 
1880,  when  he  formed  a  stock  company  for  main- 
taining lines  and  exchanges  in  Berks.  Montgomery. 
Schuylkill  and  Lebanon  counties,  under  the  name 


't  ■ .'  J.   -   I 


':.-^.->t:' 


:?,  .:rt','i  k;  ''■■,:y  vso 


:\r  t  .?!    ;/       .vijnr.-o. 


44 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


of  East  Pennsylvania  Telephone  Company.  This 
company  then  extended  the  system,  makincf  con- 
nection with  Pottstown,  Pottsville,  and  Lebanon ; 
set  up  an  increased  number  of  instruments,  and 
operated  it  successfully  until  Tan  1.  is.So,  when  the 
entire  business,  includinc^  wires  and  instruments, 
was  transferred  to  the  Pennsylvania  Telephone 
Company,  a  similar  org-anization.  which  had  ex- 
tended its  lines  to  Lebanon  from  Harrisburg.  The 
latter  company  has  since  conducted  the  business 
very  successfully.  The  extent  of  its  system  in  the 
county  until  March,  1909,  is  shown  in  the  following 
particulars : 

Miles  of  -wire  in  county,  7,720  (of  which  6,200  are  in 
Reading). 

Instruments  in  county,  3,776  (of  which  3,332  are  in 
Reading). 

Operators,  45:   employees,  llj. 

Estimated  daily  calls,  25,000. 

CoN30LiD.\TED. — The  Consolidated  Telephone 
Companies  of  Pennsylvania  was  organized  under 
the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  in  August,  1901,  and  by 
June,  1902,  the  plant  was  established  in  Berks  coun- 
ty with  a  "central  exchange''  at  Reading.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1809,  lines  radiated  from  the  exchange  for 
a  distance  of  forty  miles  from  Reading,  touching 
all  the  small  towns  and  villages  in  the  county ;  and 
the  toll  system  had  connections  covering  a  radius 
of  several  hundred  miles  to  all  points  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  Jersey,  ?^Iaryland  and  West  A'irginia, 
and  also  to  many  points  in  New  York  and  Ohio. 
The  subscribers  in  Berks  county  numbered  3,200. 


In  the  system  at  Reading,  there  were  then  l.lGl 
miles  of  wire;  underground  in  multiple  duct  con- 
duits, more  especially  in  the  central  parts  oi  the 
city,  34  miles. 

OIL    PIPE    LIN'ES 

The  National  Transit  Company  ,  constructed  a 
pipe  line,  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  petro- 
leum, in  the  fall  of  1897  from  ]\Iillway,  in  Lancaster 
county,  through  the  lower  end  of  Berks  county 
bv  way  of  Maple-Grove  school-house.  White-Bear 
Station.  Douglassville  Station,  and  Maxatawny  Sta- 
tion, to  a  place  called  Centre  Bridge  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  Delaware  river  in  Bucks  county,  fifteen 
miles  north  of  Trenton.  The  line  was  constructed 
from  the  oil  fields  of  northern  Peimsylvania,  which 
connected  with  lines  conveying  oil  from  West  \'ir- 
ginia. 

In  the  fall  of  1908  a  similar  line  was  constructed 
bv  A.  C.  Bedford  across  the  central  section  of 
Berks  county  from  the  pumping  station  near  Myers- 
town  to  a  pumping  station  located  at  Barto,  near 
the  railroad  station,  private  persons  purchasing  the 
right  of  way  presumably  in  behalf  of  the  Standard 
Oil  Company.  The  capacity  of  this  line  is  about 
20,000  gallons  a  day.  It  is  a  continuation  of  the 
line  from  the  oil  fields  in  Illinois,  which  enters  Penn- 
sylvania near  Negley,  in  Ohio,  and  passes  a  point 
south  of  Altoona  and  Duncannon  to  ^lyerstown, 
and  from  Barto  by  way  of  Ouakertown  to  Centre 
Bridge:  from  which  point  it  is  pumped  by  way  of 
other  pipe  lines  to  the  seaboard,  where  it  is  refined. 


•M     «!;rr  -;;:^i,,f 


'V.v    u:?T7fU'fi;;:   -r'  ::>:  ■..  .iWJv''^   rf. 


CHAPTER  III  -  EDUCATION  IN  COUNTY 


RELIGION 

The  spirit  of  religion  was  manifested  by  the  first 
inhabitants  from  the  very  beginning,'-  of  their  set- 
tlcincnts  in  this  section  of  Pennsylvania.  They  did 
not  erect  churches  immediately  because  they  were 
(•'>Ii<,'ed  lo  look  after  tlie  erection  of  home;,  for  them- 
-(.Ives  and  barns  for  their  stock  and  products,  and 
tn  get  the  soil  in  proper  condition  for  cultivation. 
Xattirally,  this  required  some  years  and  until  they 
-ccured  churches  of  their  own,  they  traveled  long 
(li-tances  toward  Philadelphia  for  the  purpose 
I'f  attending-  worship.  Funerals  were  necessarily 
Conducted  in  their  homes,  and  burials  were  made 
in  small  lots  of  ground  set  apart  in  the  far  corner 
I'f  an  adjoining  field. 

Ily  studying  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the 
churches  in  the  several  sections  of  the  county,  it 
i>  apparent  that  the  subject  of  religion  occupied  a 
great  deal  of  public  attention,  and  that  the  feeling 
was  general.  Members  of  the  Lutheran  denomina- 
tion erected  the  first  church  in  the  county,  a  small 
church  in  the  southerly  end  of  Amity  township 
near  the  Schuylkill  river,  about  1T03,  having  been 
Swedes;  and  members  of  the  Friends'  Society  es- 
tablished the  next  church,  locating  it  in  the  ex- 
treme upper  end  of  the  township,  about  1705. 


During  the  next  twenty-five  years,  thirty-five 
additional  churches  were  established  by  different  de- 
nominations. So  that  by  the  tune  tlie  county  was 
erected,  in  i:52,  there  were  altogether  thirty-eight 
churches  within  its  borders,  south  of  the  Blue 
^fountain.  There  was  also  one  beyond  the  moun- 
tain (the  "Red  Church"),  settlors  having  ventured 
into  that  region  of  territory.  Their  distribution 
in  the  several  sections  was  as  follows: 


„ 



o 

t) 

D 

■3 

Sections 

- 

a. 

It 

■3 

= 

0 

as 

c 

E. 

T5 

1 

c 

1 

i 

•-J 

— 

kj 

U, 

a 

C 

^ 

C£ 

Manat.iunv     

4 

?. 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

.'i 

1 

4 

2 
4 

1 
1 

? 

2 

Tulfchocken      

Scliitvlkill      

1 

2 

1 

9 

5 

8 

5 

2 

3 

1 

3 

1 

1 

■-^ 


/^X      "' 


•<'  '•-    ■"  -''r^^n^'"^^^'?'"'*'^     -•  •^■^i5^^~,■p~:ZJ.lL,~'~*^ •'■:;*''';. 


3 


n'^-''j;i*A»4'iw  ,  _jX. 


FIRST  CHURCH   IX  COfXTV 

riie_  territory  lying  between  the  South  Mountain 
nnd  North  (or  Blue)  Mountain  ranges  was  not 
.^  t  released  by  the  Indians.  Xeverthdess.  the  set- 
J'ers  in  the  Tulpehncken  section,  being  Lutherans 
jTuin  the  Palatinate,  established  a  church  along  the 
lulpehocken  creek  at  the  western  end  of  the  main 
t-ioroughfare.  This  was  also  about  1725.  Accord- 
'"glv.  three  churches  were  established  in  this  part 
of  the  Province  until  1725. 


This  table  reveals  the  fact  that  the  religious  in- 
fluence in  this  large  area  of  territory,  about  thirty 
miles  square,  was  mostly  directed  by  the  Lutheran 
and  Reformed  denominations;  and  this  was  so  in 
all  the  sections  in  about  the  same  proportions  ex- 
cepting the  Schuylkill  section,  where  there  was  no 
Lutheran  nor  Reformed  congregation  at  all  until 
17ii5.  This  controlling  influence  has  been  continued 
throughout  the  county  from  that  time  until  now, 
not  only  in  the  country  districts  but  also  in  the  city 
of  Reading  and  the  boroughs. 

In  the  next  twenty-five  years,  until  the  Revolu- 
tion broke  out  in  1775,  fifteen  additional  churches 
were  established  as  follows : 

East  of  the  Schuylkill  river,  2  Lutheran,  4  Re- 
formed, 4  Union,  and  1  Episcopal  (at  Reading)  ; 
and  west  of  the  river,  1  Lutheran  and  3  L'nioii^. 

The  Molatton  Lutheran  Church  in  Amity  had 
become  Episcopal  in  17G5. 

At  that  time,  there  were  in  the  county  53 
churches. 

DEXOMIX.ATIOXS   DESCRIBED 

j  _  Lutheran. — Immediately  after  Penn  had  arrived 
in  Pennsylvania,  a  number  of  Germans  immigrated 
to  the  province  and  among  them  there  were  Luth- 
erans. The  tide  of  their  immigration  began  in  ear- 
nest in  1710.  Then  about  three  thousand  immi- 
grants, chiefly  Lutherans,  settled  in  Xew  York,  hav- 
ing been  encouraged  to  do  so  by  Queen  Anne,  after 
leaving  the  Palatinate  on  account  of  religious  intol- 
erance, and  arriving  in  England.  In  1713,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  families  settled  in  Schoharie,  New- 
York,  .-^ome  of  which  ten  years  afterward  came  to 
Tulpehocken,  Pennsylvania.  In  1727.  a  large  num- 
ber of  them  came  into  Pcnnsvlvania  from  various 


•  id;    •■  (  ;        ,, -•(;.'!') 


'!(.f:;iif'"i'!'' 


:/'  1     '  ■:.    :     •:■   I'i.'j     '■\-tl 


4C 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COL'XTY.    PEXXSYLX'AXIA 


parts  of  Germany,  cliietly  from  the  Palatinate ;  and 
it  i>  bi-iieved  that  many  of  the.-e  settlctl  in  this  sec- 
tion of  territory,  aiong^  the  .Manatawny  and  Tulpe- 
liocken  creeks. 

The  Lntheran  religion  exi-ted  in  tlie  connty,  botli 
witli  the  Suedes  and  (iermans  to  tlie  east  of  the 
Schnylkill  and  also  with  the  Germans  to  the  west. 
Many  of  the  Germans  were  adherents  of  the  Re- 
formed religion.  The  cluirclies  built  by  these  de- 
nominations were  mo-tl}  '"union"  churches.  In 
nearly  every  instance  the  memliers  of  the  two  de- 
nominations imited  m  iiearing  the  cost  jointly, — 
having  appointed  separate  committees  to  co-operate 
in  conducting  the  building  operations.  .\nd  the 
church  services  alternated  cverv   iwu   Sundays. 

The  harmony  between  these  denominations  in 
such  a  peculiar  and  jealous  matter  as  religion  dis- 
played the  singular  excellence  and  liberalit\-  of  the 
Germans.  These  people  were  alike  in  general  af- 
fairs, dress,  speech,  labor,  maimers  and  customs ; 
and  a  difference  in  their  religious  notions  did  not 
develop  any  antagonism  between  them.  Indeed,  the 
one  denomination  frequently  visited  the  church 
services  of  the  other  denomination. 

The  earliest  Lutheran  nnnisters  who  preached  in 
this  territory  before  the  Revolution  were  Gerhari 
Henckel, Van  Dueren.  Casper  Stoever,  Cas- 
per Leutbecker,  J.  Philip  Aleurer,  Gotilob  Puett- 
ner,  Henry  Melchoir  Muhlenberg.  John  Xicholas 
Kurtz,  Tobias  Wagner,  \'alentine  Kraft,  Peter 
Ali.shler,  Emanuel  Schulze  and  Frederick  A.  C. 
Muhlenberg. 

Rev.  Henry  ]^Ielchoir  'Muhlenberg  is  generally 
regarded  as  the  father  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
America  in  respect  to  making  it  an  organized  re- 
ligious body.  He  was  stationed  at  the  Trappe  in 
1742,  whence  he  visited  different  Lutheran  organi- 
zations as  far  north  as  the  Blue  ^^lountain,  and  as 
far  -vest  as  the  Tulpehockcn  settlement.  During 
his  ministerial  journeys  he  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Conrad  Weiser  and  shortly  afterward,  1743, 
married  his  daughter,  r^Iaria. 

Reformed. — As  mentioned  in  the  previous  sec- 
tion, persons  attached  to  the  Reformed  faith  were 
also  amongst  the  early  settlers,  but  they  Avere  known 
as  "German  Cah'inists,'"  or  "Dutch  Reformed." 
Their  first  churches  were  in  Oley,  in  Greenwich, 
and  in  Heidelberg.  In  meeting-houses,  however, 
they  were  mostly  connected  with  the  Lutherans. 
The  early  Reformed  ministers  in  Pennsylvania 
were  assisted  by  the  church  in  Holland.  In  1741.  a 
number  of  German  Bibles  (],.')U0")  were  sent  here 
for  their  use.  In  174().  Rev.  Michael  Schlatter,  the 
great  Reformed  missionary  from  Switzerland,  ar- 
rived, and  he  preached  in  Oley  and  Tulpehocken. 

The  active  ministers  of  the  Reformed  congrega- 
tions in  the  several  sections  of  the  county  before 
ISOO  were  the  following: 

Samuel  Giildin  John   Henry  Helffrich 

John    Philip   r.ochm  J.  Wm.  Hendcl.  Sr. 

Geo.  Mich'I  \\'ei-s  Willinm  Otfcrhein 

John    Peter    Miller  Philip  J.   Michael 


Micliael   Schlatter  Daniel   Wagner 

\\'iili;nii   li.   Stoy  F.   J.    Berger 

Jiihn   W'aldschniid  John  W.   Boos 

Thomas   li.   Lcinhach  J.   Conrad   Bucher 

John    C.    Guldin     •  L.   F.   Herman 

lohn    Ziiilch  •          Chas.   G.   Herman 

J.,hn  J.  Zutall  ■                Philip    PauU 
.Andrew  J.   Loretz 

Those  in  the  countv  about  1840  were: 


J.  Conrad  Bucher 

Thos.  H.  Leinbach 

Chas.  G.  Herman 

L.  C.  Herman 

.\.  L.   Herman 

J.    Sassaman    Herman 

William    Hendel 


Au;4ustus  Pauli 
William   Pauli 
I>aac  ^liei^e 
David   Bossier 
David   Hassinger 
Piiilip    Mover 
Chas.   Schulrz 


Friends. — The  Friends  were  the  third  sect  of 
people  who  settled  in  the  county.  They  erected  a 
meeting-house  in  1725  near  the  Monocacv  creek, 
along  the  western  line  of  the  Swedes'  settlement, 
then  known  as  Amity  township.  Within  the  next 
score  of  years,  they  erected  two  more  meeting- 
houses, one  in  Maiden-creek  township  antl  the 
other  in  Robeson  township.  Thcv  built  a  fourth 
at  Reading,  supposed  to  have  been  in  17.j1,  three 
years  after  the  town  had  been  laid  out  and  just  as 
the  building  improvements  began  to  be  active.  They 
were  most  active  about  that  time  when  the  county 
was  erected  and  for  fifty  years  afterward.  They 
then  exerted  the  most  pohtical  intiuence  in  the 
county  through  the  recognition  of  the  proprietaries 
of  the  government,  who  were  also  Friends.  And 
their  religious  influence  was  large  and  wide  in  the 
several  localities  mentioned.  But  they  remained 
where  they  first  settled.  They  did  not  extend  be- 
yond Oley  and  Exeter  along  the  Manatawny  and 
IVlonocacy  creeks,  Zvlaiden-creek  and  Richinond 
along  the  Ontelaunee,  and  Robeson  along  the  Hay 
and  Allegheny  creeks.  And  yet  their  families  were 
numerous  and  their  population  was  considerable.  In 
this  time  it  was  estimated  that  they  numbered  about 
two  thousand.  Their  moral  principles  were  superior 
and  their  habits  and  customs  admirable.  Simple, 
unostentatious,  earnest  and  clever,  with  good  edu- 
cation and  large  means,  they  occupied  a  position 
which  was  eminently  respectable,  and  this  they 
maintained  for  many  years  after  they  had  lost  con- 
trol of  political  power. 

E.VPTIST. — The  first  Baptist  church  in  Pennsyl- 
vania was  established  in  KisS  at  Pennypack  fnow 
called  Lf>wer  Dublin).  In  1738,  a  number  of  Bap- 
tists reinoved  from  Chester  and  Philadelphia  coun- 
ties and  settled  near  the  banks  of  the  Tulpehocken 
creek,  founding  the  Tulpehocken  Baptist  church, 
and  Thonras  Jones  was  ordained  the  pastor.  The 
congregation  had  two  meeting-houses.  The  first 
was  built  in  1740  on  a  lot  of  three  acres,  the  gift 
of  Hugh  ]Morris,  Evan  Lloyd  and  Evan  Price,  in 
the  township  of  Cumru,  on  the  Wyomissing  creek, 
about  two  miles  from  its  outlet  in  the  Schuylkill. 
The  building  was  only  2(1  by  IG  feet. 

Another  building  of  the  same  size,  about  three 
miles  west  from  the  first,  was  built  the  same  year 


:  nr     ■'■:;    r'f  !  W     '."■>  .'.•      -MUC 


EDUCATION    IN    COUNTY 


47 


on  a  lot  of  one  acre,  the  trift  of  Thomas  Bartholo- 
:iR\v  and  tlannaniah  Pugh.  This  was  at  a  point 
III  the  "Ukl  Tuli)ehockt--ii  Road,"  now  ""Sinking 
S'lring."  Tlic  building"  is  still  standing  but  con- 
v<.Ttftl  into  a  dwelling.  It  is  built  of  brick,  octa- 
gonal in  >na]K'.  A  graveyard  lies  at  the  rear,  with 
a  ip.unher  of  graves  marked  by  headstones,  now  il- 
legible. 

The  church  (with  ^Ir.  J(jnes  as  pastor)  reported 
annually  until  1774,  when  its  name  disappears 
frcni  the  records  of  the  Baptist  Association,  the 
]>astor  about  that  time  having  removed  to  Chester 
civunrv.  From  that  time  until  now,  no  church  or- 
ganization of  this  den.omination  has  been  in  the 
county  outside  of  Reading. 

DcNK.ARD. — A  religious  denomination  known  as 
tlie  '"Dunkards"  existed  at  an  early  day  in  Jhe 
county.  It  was  also  called  "The  Brethren"  and 
-  >nK'timcs  '"German  Baptists."  Certain  persons  of 
I  his  denomination  emigrated  from  Germany  in  1719. 
In  j7"-1.  thev  iicid  a  large  general  convention  in  this 
di-trict.  .A.nother  convention  was  held  ih  Oley  in 
IM".'.  which  was  attended  by  "four  priests  of  the 
congregation  at  Ephrata." 

.\  meeting-house  of  this  denomination  was  erect- 
en  in  Ru^combmanor  (at  Pricetown ) ,  and  an- 
other in  Bethel  (north  of  I\Iillersburg) ,  before  17o"i. 
Tlie  Dunkards  were  numerous  m  Oley  from  1730 
to  1745. 

.\n.->ther  congregation  was  formed  in  the  north- 
western section  of  the  county,  and  comprised  set- 
tlers in  Bethel  and  Tulpehocken  townships.  They 
(  ncted  a  church  in  the  former  township,  along  a 
hrnuch  of  the  Little  Swatara  creek,  about  the  vear 
1745. 

There  was  also  a  third  congregation  in  Bern 
and  I'pper  Tulpehocken  townships,  along  the 
Northkill,  several  miles  above  the  continence  of  this 
stream  with  the  Tulpehocken.  A  church  was  erect- 
ed in  1748.  In  1750  Elder  George  Klein  came  from 
New  Jersey  and  settled  amongst  tiie  members. 
Ti^rC'Ugh  his  energy  the  congregation  flourished  for 
twenty  years.  Then  settlements  in  the  western  part 
of  the  State  influenced  most  of  the  members  to  move 
away.  This  left  the  congregation  without  sufficient 
support,  and  it  naturally  ceased  to  exist. 

l^doR.wiAN. — The  ^Moravians  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  This  peculiar  sect  was 
represented  here  bv  Count  Zinzendorf,  who  came 
to  Pennsylvania  in  1741.  In  1743.  he  conducted 
a  synod  in  Oley ;  and  afterward  visited  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Tulpehocken.  Shortly  after  this  visit,  a  con- 
gregation of  ^loravians  was  organized  in  Bethel 
tcwnship.  Between  1742  and  1750  two  churches 
were  erected  in  Heidelberg,  and  one  in  Oley. 

In  September.  1742,  Count  Zinzendorf  visited 
Shamokin,  accompanied  by  Conrad  Weiser,  and 
they  co-operated  with  the  Moravians  for  several 
vears.  Tobias  Beckel  and  George  Beckel.  brothers, 
frr.in  Turkheun,  in  Rhenish-Bavaria,  immigrated  to 
Pennsylvania  in  the  fall  of  17.'>G  and  settled  in  this 
part    of   the    province,    the    former    in    Heidelberg 


township,  south  of  Tulpehocken  creek,  and  the  lat- 
ter in  Bern  township,  along  the  Schuylkill  river. 
They  organized  small  congregations  and  preached 
to  them.  Several  years  afterward,  George  Beckel 
removed  to  the  northern  portion  of  Heidelberg  and 
there  carried  on  his  ministrations  in  a  church  which 
was  erected  on  land  donated  by  his  brother. 

Andrew  Aschenbach  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  Moravians  in  this  vicinity.  He  settled  in  Oley 
in  1740,  and  preached  for  two  years  with  great  suc- 
cess. Zinzendorf  was  deeply  interested  in  this  con- 
gregation and  devoted  much  time  to  its  affairs. 
.Some  years  afterward  disagreements  arose  between 
Aschenbach  and  the  members,  and  these  contintied 
until  the  ^Moravians  lost  all  their  intiuence ;  and  by 
17*15  the  church  was  abandoned. 

Amish. — The  Arnish  denomination  is  a  branch 
of  the  }kIennonites.  The  first  bishop  in  this  vicinity 
(comprising  Berks,  Chester  and  Lancaster  counties) 
was  Jacob  Mast,  who  settled  here  in  1750,  when 
a  bov  about  twelve  years  old,  and  began  to  exhort 
and  preach  about  1765.  He  continued  in  active  and 
faithful  service  for  many  years.  The  second  bishop 
was  Peter  Plank,  wlio  moved  from  Oley  and  settled 
in  Caernarvon.  And  the  third  was  John  P.  Mast, 
who  officiated  as  a  faithful  and  devoted  minister  for 
nearly  fifty  years.  His  father,  Danie!  !Mast,  had 
been  a  minister  from  1830  till  1883. 

At  one  time  there  were  three  other  congregations 
in  the  county — one  in  Cumru,  one  in  [\laiden-creek 
and  the  third  in  Bern  township  (called  Northkill). 

RoitAN  Catholic. — The  early  settlers  of  the 
coimty  until  1740,  were  entirely  Protestants.  Then 
the  Roman  Catholics  appeared.  Their  number  was 
verv  small  compared  with  the  number  of  the  other 
denominations.  The  Protectants  having  been  driven 
here  by  religious  persecution,  caused  by  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion,  and  feeling  the  terrors  of  this  per- 
secution, it  was  natural  for  them  to  discourage  this 
religion  from  obtaining  a  foothold  in  their  midst; 
which  accounts  for  the  strength  of  the  one  class 
and  the  weakness  of  the  other.  In  1741  the  Roman 
Catholics  had  a  congregation  and  meeting-house  in 
the  extreme  eastern  part  of  the  county  (now  in- 
cluded in  Washington  township)  and  a  congrega- 
tion in  ^Maxatawny. 

Some  years  afterward,  it  would  seem  that  their 
number  had  grown  so  as  to  aw-aken  public  concern. 
The  matter  was  forced  upon  the  attention  of  the 
iustices  of  the  county,  who  (being  Protestants)  im- 
Iiibed  the  feeling  of  insecurity  entertained  by  the 
>urrounding  communities.  The  excitement  incident 
to  the  "French  and  Indian  war"  was  sufficient  to 
arouse  their  jealousv  and  suspicion,  and  it  was  be- 
lieved that  tiie  Roman  Catholics  manifested  sym- 
pathv  for  the  French  in  their  cruel  warfare  against 
the  Colonics.  The  justices  of  the  county  therefore 
addressed  a  letter  on  the  subject  to  the  Governor 
of  the  province  on  July  "?•').  1755,  but  nothing  was 
done. 

In  1757,  the  Roman  Catholics  of  the  province 
were  enumerated   with   a  total  of  1,3^5;   in  Berks 


.^  ,,     -n. 


'J     vr<  vi    i:,i-n:i    j-f'.  i   v,   .iy';"i  ,••'■;.' u 


■A)     or, 


48 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


countv  205,  in  two  congregations.  Under  Rev. 
Theo.  Sclnieider,  U2  men  and  55  women;  under 
Rev.  Ferdinand  Farmer,  46  men  and  42  women 
(among  whom  tliere  were  eight  Irish  peiiple). 

At  Reading,  they  had  an  association  soon  after 
the  town  was  laid  out ;  and  this  association  was 
maintained,  notwithstanding  the  smalhicss  of  their 
number  and  the  opposition  of  the  Lutheran  and  Re- 
formed people.  About  lT(ii».  they  succeeded  in  es- 
tablishing a  small  log  church  at  Reading. 

Protestant  EpiscorAL. — Three  churches  of  this 
denomination  came  to  figure  prominently  in  the  re- 
ligious history  of  the  county.  The  first  was  the 
St.  Thomas  near  !Morgantown.  in  Caernarvon 
township,  which  was  established  on  ground  devised 
by  Thomas  Morgan  about  1740.  It  was  removed 
in  1792  to  the  town,  where  a  lot  was  set  apart  by 
Jacob  [Morgan  for  that  purpose.  Several  vears  be- 
fore, the  congregation  had  secured  the  first  regular 
rector.  Rev.  Levi  Eull.  A  substantial  building  was 
erected  in  its  stead  in  1S24. 

The  second  church  was  the  St.  Gabriel's,  which 
was  established  at  Molatton  (now  Douglassville) 
in  Amity  township  in  1765,  and  Rev.  Alexander 
Murray  was  the  rector.  A  larger  building  was 
erected  in  its  stead  in  1801,  which  is  still  standing. 
And  a  third  was  erected  near  by  in  1S80-S4. 

And  the  third  church  was  the  St.  ]Mary's  (after- 
ward Cnrist's)  at  Reading.  The  congregation  ^vas 
organized  by  Rev.  Alexander  ^Murray  about  1763, 
and  the  services  were  held  in  the  same  dwelling- 
house  which  had  been  secured  for  holding  the  ses- 
sions of  the  countv  courts.  Xo  church  was  erected 
tmtil  1825. 

Evangelical. — The  only  other  religious  denom- 
ination which  established  itself  in  the  county  outside 
of  Reading  to  any  considerable  extent  was  the 
Evangelical  Association,  but  not  until  nearly  one 
hundred  years  after  the  countv  had  been  erected. 
The  first  congregation  was  organized  by  Rev. 
Joseph  'M.  Saylor  at  Reading  in  1S44.  Within  the 
next  ten  years,  others  were  organized  in  different 
parts  of  ti-.e  county,  and  the  Association  persevered 
until  it  came  to  possess  churches  in  most  of  the  dis- 
tricts. But  the  buildings  were  small,  especially  out- 
side of  Reading,  and  the  membership  was  limited. 
Their  Christian  zeal  was  strong  and  their  purpose 
very  determined  and  commendable. 

This  sect  was  started  by  Jacob  Albright  in  1800, 
after  he  had  preached  several  years,  and  the  first 
tangible  results  of  his  religious  work  were  made  to 
appear  in  the  eastern  part  of  Berks  county,  near  the 
Colebrookdale  Iron  Works.  In  that  vicinity,  he  had 
preached  in  the  homes  of  Samuel  Lieser.  Joseph 
Buckwalter  and  .\braham  Buckwalter.  and  the  sec- 
ond class  of  the  organized  body  had  come  to  be 
formed  out  of  the  members  of  the  families  of  the 
three  persons  named,  with  ]\Ir.  Lieser  as  the  clas=- 
leader.  In  a  similar  manner,  the  work  was  extended 
throughout  the  State.  But  though  the  real  work 
was  started  in  the  countrv.  the  churches  of  the  As- 


sociation were  not  erected  there  first,  for  the  first 
one  in  the  comity  was  not  established  until  1844,  at 
Reading. 

About  18Ut  a  spirit  of  opposition  began  to  mani- 
fest itself  in  relation  to  church  government  and  this 
increased  until  1^90,  when  the  Association  separ- 
ated into  two  great  parties  with  about  GO, 000  ad- 
herents.on  each  side,  called  respectively  the  Dubsites 
and  Esherites.  After  litigating  for  four  years,  the 
Esherite?  were  sustained  by  the  courcs  in  this  State 
and  others,  and  they  therefore  retained  all  the 
churches  and  the  name  Evangelical  Association. 
The  Dubsites  adopted  the  name  United  Evangelical 
and  immediately  began  the  erection  of  churches  for 
themselves.  In  1''05,  the  Evangelical  .Association 
had  5  churches  in  Reading  and  15  in  the  townships, 
and  the  L'nited  Evangelical,  4  in  Reading,  8  in  the 
boroughs,  and  11  in  the  townships  :  and  both  together 
43.  Active  work  in  some  of  the  churches  in  the 
country  districts  has  been  suspended,  either  par- 
tially or  entirely. 

Other  Dexomixations. — Other  denominations 
than  those  mentioned  were  not  organized  in  the 
countv  until  after  1825.  Their  names  and  the  time 
of  organization  will  be  found  in  the  several  districts 
where  established,  more  especially  at  Reading.  It 
is  surprising  that  only  the  Evangelicals  should  gain 
any  foothold  worth  mentioning  outside  of  Reading. 

Pastors  Loxg  in  Service. — Some  of  the  pastors 
have  served  their  congregations  for  many  years  in 
succession,  until  1909,  indicating  their  fidelity  and 
devotion  to  a  remarkable  degree.  Those  most  not- 
able in  this  respect  at  Reading  are  the  following: 

Christian  S.  Haman.  United  Evangelical    54  years 

John  J.  Kv.cndig,  Lutheran   50  years 

T.  Calvin  Leinhach.  Reformed   49  years 

Benjamin   Bailsman,   Reformed    4r>  years 

George  Borncmann,   Roman   Catholic   44  years 

Samuel  A.  Lcinbach,  Reformed  42  years 

John  J.   CresBman.   Lutheran    41  years 

Daniel  D.  Trcxlcr,  Lutheran 41  years 

Zcnas  H.  Gable,  Lutheran   41  years 

Franklin   K.  Hnntzinger.   Lutheran   40  years 

Richard  S.  Appel,  Reformed 3S  years 

Ferdinand  F.  Ruermeyer,  Lutheran  33  years 

Jeremiah  K.  Fehr,   Evangelical    38  years 

Edward   T.    Horn.   Lutheran    37  years 

William   P.   Orrick.   Protestant   Episcopal    36  years 

Sylvanus  C.  Breyfogel,  Evangelical   36  years 

William   H.  Weidner.   Evangelical    36  years 

I.  J.  Reitz,  United  Evangelical   35  years 

Mahlon  H.  Mishlcr.  Reformed 33  years 

Isaac  S.  Stalir,  Reformed    32  years 

A.   M.   Sampal.  L^nited   Evangelical    32  years 

William   H.  Myers.  Lutheran   31  years 

Levi  D.  Stambaugh.  Reformed   30  years 

William  J.  Kerschner.  Reformed  28  years 

George  S.  Seam.an,  Lutheran   27  years 

Franklin  K.  Bernd.  Lutheran   26  years 

George  W.  Gerhard.  Reformed   • 26  years 

Lutheran  .\xd  Refor.med  Churches. — The 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  churches  have  been 
grouped  together.  At  Reading,  they  have  been  tab- 
ulated separately,  but  in  the  boroughs  and  tow'n- 
ships  thev  have  been  run  together,  and  they  can  be 
distinguished  by  the  letters  placed  after  them,  re- 


(■"■*•  ° ' 


EDUCATIOX    IX    COL'XTY 


49 


spectively;  L.  standing-  for  LutliL-ron,  R.  f^r  Re- 
formed, and  U.  for  Union.  They  number  altog-eth- 
er,  including'  chapels.  lo4:  Lutheran.  oT,  Re- 
formed, 2G,  antl  Union,  ",1. 

By  comparing  the  tables  it  will  be  observed  that 
the  distribution  of  these  churches  in  the  several  sec- 
tions is  alike  to  a  remarkable  degree :  and  this  fact 
is  particularly  noteworthy  when  we  consider  that 
the  distribution  covers  an  area  of  nine  hundred 
square  miles.  They  have  evidently  been  carrying 
on  a  friendly  rivalry,  or  rather  co-operation,  for 
nearly  two  hundred  yeais.  which  is  trulv  commend- 
able. And  they  have  covered  this  large  area  so 
thoroughly  that  the  other  denominations  secured 
only  a  limited  foothold  in  several  of  the  districts 
outside  of  Reading. 

DEXOMIXATIOXS  IN'  COUNTY  —' 

The  following  religious  denominations  were  in 
Berks  count}'  in  lOOfi,  and  the  statement  exhibits 
the  number  of  the  respective  churches  and  the  mem- 
bership as  nearly  as  could  be  ascertained.  Oiher 
information  relating  to  them  will  be  found  in  the 
chapter  on  Reading,  on  the  Boroughs,  and  on  the 
Townships,  under  the  topic  of  religion. 

Denomination                                                          Number  Members 

Lutheran   92  20,154 

Reformed    S6  23,931 

Protestant   Episcopal    7  1,213 

Roman    Catholic    5  7,600 

Presbvterian    3  335 

Methodi5 1  Episcopal    11  2,389 

Baptist     7  451 

Evargelical 13  1,461 

United   Evansciical    23  3,430 

United     Brethren 5  1,107 

German  Baptist  Brethren   3 

^^ennonite     4  296 

Schwenkftlder    1 

Church  of  God  1 

CHURCHES  IX  TOWXSIIIPS 
The  following  statement  embraces  the  churches 
s'tuated  in  the  several  sections  of  Berks  county. 
The  churches  at  Reading  and  the  boroughs  will  be 
found  in  the  chapters  relating  to  these  divisions  of 
the  county. 

The  figures  which  appear  after  the  names  of  the 
churches  in  the  following  tabulated  statements  in- 
dicate the  time  of  institution  or  erection,  and  of 
rebuilding  or  improvement.  The  name  of  the  pas- 
tor serving  in  1900  has  been  placed  after  the  re- 
spective churches. 

Lutheran   and   Reformeti   Churches   in 
Manataw.ny   (S.   E.)   Section 
(L.  indicating  Lutheran;  R.,  Reformed:  and  U.,  Union, 
both   using   the   church,   alternately) 
Alsace: 

Zion's    (Spies's)    (U.).   l"S4-18tri*ST.  .  >r.    L.    Herhcin    (R.),.Ti<; 
E.    S.    Brownmiller    (L.),   400 

Salem    (Shaker's)    (U.)    1S60    (vacant)    (L), 

M.    L.    Herbein   (R.),   136 
Alsace,    Loiver : 

Bethany    Chapel    (U.),    1S08     \V.    O.    Laub.   (L.),  238 

Amity : 

St.    Paul's    (.Amityville)    (U.).    1753-'J5-1?73 

Geo.   W.   Rotn   iR.).  217 

A.    W.    Lindenmuth   (Lj,   4  25 
Weavertott-n    Chapel    (U.).    157a 
Monocacv   Chapel    (U.),    Jf^Oi 
4 


Douzlass:  '•' 

Glcndale   Cfcafel   (,U.),   ltS3 
Excier : 

Schwart/iwald    (U.).   17471SHJ-'T0.  .  .Joseph    R.    Brown    (R),   C31 

W.   O.   Laub   (L.),  435 
Eaumstown    Chapel   (IT.) 
Lorant:    Chi;K^I    (  U, ) 
St.    Lawrence    Chapel    (U.) 
Stonersville   Chapel    (U.) 
Hereford: 

Huff's     (t.:..l,     T51,'-'S1 0.     R.     Frantz    (R.),   277 

William  F.  Bond   (L.l.  695 
Herefcrdville   Chapel    (U.)    ISOO 
Muhlenberg: 

AKace     (XortU     Reading),     17-)o-'9r,-ls.-0-190S 

Charles    E.    KisUer   (L.),  SOO 

(Reformed    also   there    from    1796    to    I'lOS) 

Grace    (R.),    19ns F.lam   J.    Snyder,   803 

Hinnershiiz    (U.),    1S50-'S3 Geo.    W.    Gerhard    (R.),   336 

G.   S.   Seaman    (L.),  368 
Otcy : 

Oiey    (R.),    173.^-1S22.'S0 1.;aac    S.    Stahr,   398 

(Lutheran    also    there    from    173.5    to    I'^lij 

Christ's     (L.).     1^21-'7?-'&5 E.     S.     Brownmiller.   271) 

Friedcns   (U.>,   Friedensburg,   1830-'86.  .Isaac  b.   btalir   (K.),  300 
\.    W.    Lindenmuth   IL.).  340 

St.   John's    (L.).   rieasantville.   1S7IJ uacant) 

Oley   Line  Chape.   (U.),   1897 
Pike: 

St.    Joseph's  (Hill)  (U.),  1747-'SG-lS.i3.. .  .^r.  H.  Mish:er  (R),  350 
H.    W.    Warmkesscl    (Lo,  768 
(Lutheran    also    from    1747    to    17SR) 

St.    Paul',    a'.),    Lohachsville,    l.s;!4.'77 (vacint>     (R.), 

H.   W.   Warmkesse!    (L.),   177 
Rockland : 

Christ   (Dryville)    (L.),   1733 '64-'97-1879 J.   O.   Henry,  400 

New   Jerusalem    (U.),    1S40 Isaac    S.    Stahr    iR.),     90 

William    F.    Bond    (L.),  349 
Ruscombrtianor : 

St.    John's    (U.),    1840-1902 Isaac    S.    Stahr    (R.),     76 

.■\.    W.    Lindenmuth    (L.),     55 
Lutheran  and  Reformed   Churches   in 
O.vtelausee    (N.    E.)    Section 
Alban-i: 

Jerusalem    (Red)    (U.).    1742-1812 ^V    O.    Robert    (L.),  220 

(Lutheran  until  1>12) 

New  Bethel    (F.ck)    (U.1.    1750-■!:^-,i O.    ?.    Scheirer   (L.),  170 

Frieden's    (White;     (U.J.    Wessncrsvil'c.     177n-Hto 

O.    S.    Sc'ieirer    (L.),   240 

r.    S.    Barth.^Uimew    (K.) 
Grccnvich  : 

New   Jerusalem    (Dunkel's)    (U.),    1744-'90-1859 

J.    S.    Bartholomew    (R.),  200 

O.    S.    Scheirer    (L.),   210 
(Reformed   until  1790) 

Bethe!    Zions    (U.),    1761-1S03-'S1 R.    S.    .Appel    (R), 

O.    S.    Scheirer    (L.),  325 
(Lutheran   also   until    1844) 
Longswan:p: 

Longswamp    (U.),   1748-'90-1852. .  Wm.    L.   Mecks'roth    (R.),   335 

W'm.    F.    Bond    (L.),  435 
(Reformed    until    lt37) 
St.   Paul's    (U.'>,    Mertztown,   1S37..M.    II     Brcnsinser    (R.),      8S 

F.  K.    Bernd   (L.),  321 
Maiden-creek : 

Blandon    (U.),    1860 M.    H.    Brensinger    (R.).  168 

J.    O.    Henry    (L),  365 
Maxatau'iiy : 

Trinity    (Bower's)     (L.),    1859-1901 W.    F.    Bond,   132 

DeLong'?     (Bower's)      (R.).     17.".0.1  STlino]  .  .  G.     B.     Sinitli 

(Lutherans    used    it    from    18,')9    to    19Cn'> 
Zion's    (Siegfried's)     (U.),    lS28-'00 F.    K.    B-rnd   (L.),  236 

G.  B.    Smith    (R.) 
St.   Paul's   (Lvon's)    (L.).  lS6i    J.   M.    Ditzler 

Lyon's    Chapel    (U.) 
Onielaunee: 

St.  John's  (Gernant's)  (U.),  1794-1863.  .D.  E.  Sc'nacffer  (R.).  2.57 

G.    S.    S-?am.in    (I..).   361 
Trinity  (Leesport)  (U.),     1867-'75-'81.  .  .D.  E.  Schacder  (K.),  23!> 

G.    S.    Seaman   (L.),  157 
Perry : 

Zion's    (Zieeel's)     (U.),    1761-1804-'fi0 

J,   S.   Bartholomew   (R.),  350 

U.    C.    Kline    (L.),  340 

St.     Luke's     (U.),     Shoemakersville,     1833  1901 

n.    E.    Schaefter    (K.)     136 

D.    G.    Gerbcrich    (L).   146 
St.   Timothy's    (L'.),    Mohrsville,    1S64.D.    E.    Schncti'cr    (K.),      24 

J.    M.    Ditzler    (L.) 
Richmond: 

Zion's     (Moselem)     (L.1,     1734-'61-1S94 R.     B.     Linch,   195 

St.     Peter's     (R.).     1762  LixiO E.     H.     Lcinbach,   122 

St.    Peter's    (CecKcr's).    (U.).    1S66-'91 .  .  .  R.    S.    Appel     (10,130 

F.    K.    BernJ    (L.),  194 
.«:t.   Paul's   Chapel   (U.) 
Windsor- 

St.   Paul's   (U.),   1756-'63-1332-'92.  .J.   S.   Bartholomew   (R),     50 

H.    C.    Kline    (U),   113 
(Lutheran   until   1832) 


■■^•/y,.i.i  <  fi'..i  /.u-s; 


;■  .  .:?■>.;  .r_'(c\:--  ■"' 


■k'H\'<:':/'Jj 


'y:rv.S'.  '.-.r,;  ■-.  '',M-.  -.f- 


.  .1 


50 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


LUTHER-KN     AND     ReFOHMED    CHURCHES    IN 

TuLPSHocKES   (N.  W.)  Sectio.k 

Bern: 

Bern    (U.),    1740-'621S37 M.    L.    Heibein    (R.),  264 

E.    S.    Brownmiller    (L.),  S60 
(Reformed  until  1837) 

Epier's    (L'.),    173I-'S-.1S31 George    W.    Gerhard   (R.),  327 

G.    S.    Seaman    (L.),   ISO 
(Refonned   until   ISL'5) 
Bern,   Uffcr: 

I-'rieden's    (V.).    Shartlesvillc.   1S71-190;..R     S.    Appel   fR.),     S3 

D.    U.    Trexler    (L.),  185 
Bethel: 

Salem    (R.),    Mil!er,bu'-.iT.    1810-'5(;-'9:?. .  .C.    A.     Biitz   (R.),  210 

D.   D.   TreTler   (L.).   125 
(Lutheran  by  permission  since  1850) 
Centre: 

Belleman's    (U  ),    174'-.-lS13-'46 M.    H.    Mishler    (R.).  350 

D.   G.   Gerberich   (L.),  380 
Heidelberg : 

St.    Daniel's    (Corner)    (L.),   17J0-1S14 0.   E.   Pflueger,  777 

Robesonia    (R),    l'.tii5 E.    S.    Leinbach,   240 

Heidelberg^   Lower: 

Hain's    (R  ),    1735-'GB-1S7S W.    J.    Kerschner,  607 

Trinity    (Wernersville)     (L.).    1S97 J.    W.    Lazarus,     91 

Wernersville    Chapel    (R.),    1901 
Heidelberg,   No-th: 

Noth    IJcidelbtig    (Uj,    1744-184G E.    S.    Leinbach    (R.),   125 

(vacant)     (.L.) 
(Originally  Moravian  until   1835) 
Jefferson : 

Christ     (U.),     Little    Tu!peh.>cken,    1733-1809 

E.    S.    Leinbach    iR.),     50 

(vacant;     (L.) 

St.    Paul's    (U.),    Schaefferstown,    1S75-'S4 

L.    D.     Stambaugh   (K.),     45 

.,     .  (vacant)    (L.),     75 

Marten: 

Zion's     (L),    1725-'45-lo37-'95 E.     S.    Brownmiller,  75 

Christ     (L.),     1743-'8C-1SS5-'SS (vacant),  325 

St.   Peter's   Chapel   (.U.),   1S49- 

Tilden : 

St.    Michael's    (U.),    1769-1810-'75 S.   .\.   Leinbach    (R.),  375 

_   ,     ,      ,  D.    G.    (Serbcrich    (L.),  670 

Tulpchocken : 

Host    (U.),    1738-1SS5 E.    S.    Leinbach    (R.),  450 

,„   ,  ,  O.    E.    niueger    (L.),  243 

(Reformed   untjl   1S5S) 

R»hrershurg     fL.),     1757-1  ?0S-'S2 (vacant),  375 

St.    John's     (U.>,    1S47-'U7 L.     l).     Stamhaiieh   (R.),   135 

^       ^  D.    D.    Trexler    (L.),     90 

St.    John's    (U.),    Mt.   Aetna    L.    D.    Stanibaui-h    iR.),  170 

^  O.   E.    Pflueger    (L.) 

Tulpchocken     Upper: 

Zion's    (U),    1734-1819-1903 E.    S.    Leinbach  (R.),  250 

o       „     ..      ,T   V                                                  O-    E.    Pflueser   (L.).   441 
St.    Paul's    (L.),    1861 (vacant) 

Lutheran  and   Reformed  CHtRciiES  in 
Schuylkill  (S.  W.)   Section 
Brecknocl.' : 

Allegheny    (U.),    1765-1800-'7S J.    V.    George    (R.),  201 

Z.    H.    Gable  (L.),  350 
Cuniru  : 

Yocom's    (U.),    1822-'54 W.    T.    Kershner    (R).     81 

\V.    O.    L:iiib    (L. ).   .I.IO 

Wyomissing    (R),    1850-'86 J.    \'.    George    219 

Ck)UgIersville     ;L.),    lSCi4 Z.     H.    Gabic,   300 

Redeemer    ((Dakbrook)     (L.),    1903 F.    F.    Buermyer,     21 

Robesor. : 

Plov/    (U.),    1764-1811-'G9 J.    V.    Cn^orge    (R,),     54 

Z.    H.   Gable   (L.),  350 
(Lutheran   until   1?11) 

St.  John's    (.U.),   Gibraltar J.   V.   (^corce    (R.),      SO 

Z.    H.    Gat.;e    -r..),  320 
Frieden's     (Wicklein)     (Ind.),     1866... J.     V.     George   (R.), 
Spring: 

St.  John's  <S.  Spring)   (R.).  17!141S12'S.->.  .W.  T.  Kerschner,   295 
(Lutheran   also   from   1812   to   1S97) 

Kissinger's    (U.),    1S51-'91 R.    S.    .\ppel   (R.),  105 

E.  S.  Brownmiller   IL.),     05 

St.    John's    (S.    Spring)    (L.),    1897 J.    W.    Lazarus,  328 

Union : 

St.    James    (Geigertown)    (L.),    lS50-'96 Z.    H.    Gable,     75 


1725 


Friexds 

Exeter: 

Maiden-creek: 

Orthodox     1759 

Hicksite     1853 

Bent:  ,  1745 

Robeson:  I735 


Protestant  Episcopal 
Amity: 

St.  Gabriel's,  17G5-lS00-'34 Wm.  R.  Holloway,    .    41 

Cai.T)iar:!on: 

St.   Thomas,    1740-1824 (vacant),      29 

RcMAN"  Catholic 
U'ashingtou: 
Bally,  1743-1837 Charles  Sauer,  1,000 

Presbyterian 
Heidelberg: 

Robcsonia  Chapel,   ISGO 

Methodist  Episcopal 

Cacruan'on: 

Morgantown,   3833-'78 W.   C.  Amthor,      206 

Harmony,    1871 I.  S.  Seitz 

L'«io;i.' 

Forest,    1773-185S I.  S.  Seitz 

Monocacy,    1873 A.    I.    Collom,       20 

Baptist 
Caernarvon: 

Rock.    1844 (vacant) ,        15 

Cumru: 

Millmont,  1S93 J.  A.  Maxwell 

Mennonite 
Brecknock ' 
Allegheny  and  Gehman.     These  two  churches  are 
connected  with  Bowmaiisville,  in  Lancaster  county, 
under    Bishop    Benjamin    Weaver. 
IVashington: 

Bally-Old,  1743-1899 ^^  Jo"hn  "Ehs^^"'^'  ^° 

New,    1851-'97 A.    S.    Shelly,      206 

Schwenkfelder 
l^'ashiiigton: 

1824-'83    0.   S.   Kriebel 

Evangelical 
Albany: 

Zion's,    1872. .' G.  Burrell,  6 

Salem,    1883 G.  Burrell,        26 

Bern: 

Centreville,    1852 N.  Simon,  3 

Centre: 

Jerusalem,     1862 N.  Simon,      11 

Colebrookdale: 

New    Berlin ville,    1850 

Longszcamp : 

Shamrock,   1870 

Maidcii-crcek: 

Blandon,    1875 N.  Simon,        33 

Ontclcuncc: 

Leesport,    1901 N.  Simon,       23 

Penn: 

1852-'72-'83    

Perry: 

Shoemakersville,    1857 N.  Simon,        18 

Txilpehockcn: 

St.   Paul's,   1852 

United  Evangelical 
Heidelberg: 

Robesonia,    1895 S.    Buntz 

Hereford: 

Bethesda   Thomas  Knecht 

Olcy: 

Friedcnsburg,    lSSl-'89-'95 John  T.  Lavton  |         137 

Pleasantville,    18G9-'95 John  T.  Layton  j 

Riclunond: 

Vircinville,   lS83-'95 H.  J.  Kline 

Ruscovihtiiaiior: 

Pricetown,  1857-'95 John  T.  Layton 


?-(^''  f 


EDUCATION    IN    COUNTY 


51 


Soling-' 

Mohn's  Hill,  1845-'95 C.  S.  Mengel,        30 

lyashington: 

Clayton,   1899 Thomas  Knecht 

GFJtMAN  Baptist   Brethren' 
Perry: 
-Mohrsville    (continuation    of    Xorth-kill    Church^. 

1748    (vacant),        42 

Ruscombmavor: 
Pricetown   (continuation  of  Olcv  Church),  1740-'S0- 
1807    '. (vacant) 

United  Bkethren- 
Caernarvon: 

( Morgantown  ) 

Perry: 

Salem,    1876 

Spring: 

Sinking  Spring,  1S67 

Titdcn: 

Loose's,   1870    

Tulpehocke7i: 

Trinity,   1848-'85    

SUNDAY  SCHOOLS  OF  BERKS  COl'NTY 
The  thirty-third  annual  convention  of  the  Berks 
County  Sunday  School  Association  was  held  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  at  Reading  on  April  22, 
1909,  and  the  attendance  was  very  large.  Th; 
county  has  been  divided  into  eighteen  districts  and 
all  of  them  were  represented.  Thirteen  religious 
denominations  were  represented. 

The  association  was  organized  in  1S75  with  J-  H. 
Sternbergh  as  the  first  president  and  Lewis  Crater 
as  the  secretary.  In  1881  Samuel  J.  W'eiler  was 
elected  secretary,  and  he  has  served  continuously 
until  the  present  in  a  most  efficient  manner,  withoi;t 
compensation.  He  prepared  the  following  valuable 
statement,  which  shows  the  Sunday-schools  of  the 
respective  denomiiiations.  the  superintendents,  and 
the  membership.  Charles  H.  Leinbach,  superin- 
tendent of  St.  Andrew's  Reformed  Sunday-school, 
served  as  president  for  the  vear  1908-09.  and  was 
re-elected  to  serve  for  the  year  1909-10. 

1st   District — Birdsboro.    Union 


Eckville  Union,  .•\lb.iny Reuben    Bolich    .... 

Frieden's  Union,   Sti>iiy  Run J^mcs   A.    Schroeder 

Kempton    Union,   KcmTttt>n lames    Leibold    

New    Lelhel    Union,   Keripton James    S.    Focht    .... 

Lenharfjville    Union,    Lc;iliart-viile  A.     B.    Grcenawait     . 

New  Jerusalem  Union.   Stony  Run.. Calvin    Krause    

Salem   Evaneelical,    .Albany Tames     E.     SnyJer     . 

St.    Paul's    Union.    Virginvilie Milton  L.   Leiby   .... 


270 

106 


9i 


1,171 
4th     District — Boyertoun,     Bechtelsville,     Colebrookdale,      Douglass, 
H'aslnngton 
Name  Supt  Members 

Good  Shepherd  Reformed,   Boyei- 

town    Daniel   D.    Lcidv    436 

St.    John's     Lutheran,    Hoyenown.  .Tims.    R.    Ilo'jcic    U4."> 

Ebenezer    M.    E..    l!nyertown    W.    W.    Wrcnn    74 

Trinity    U.    E.,    Boyertown    E.    E.    Stautler    lU'J 

Hereford    New    Mennonite,    Here- 
ford      Dr.    O.    II.    Burkey 17S 

Brethren,   Boyertown    ...    F.    Ritter     Sj 

Zion's    Evangelical,    New    Berlin- 

ville     H.    B.    StautTer    .' . .         40 

Trinity    Union.    Bechtclsville     Alfred     Urur.ibach     292 

Union,   Pine  Iron   \\  ork^ Mrs.    F.    Kurtz    103 

Bethany    U.    E,    Clayton    Wni.    Clemmer    9o 

Union,     Gabelsville     lesse    K.    Bechtel    114 

Union,   Greshville    J.     Weller     112 


Sth  District — West  Reading,    M'yom 

Name 
First     Reformed.     Weniersviile. . .  . 
Trinity    Lutheran.    Werners/il'e.  .  . 
Green    Terrace    Un.,    Wernersville. 
OaU-   Hill   Union,   Lower  Heidelberg 

Kissinger's  l.'nion,  .Spring  Tp 

Marsh    Union.   Lorah 

Olive    Leaf    Union.    I'ritztown 

St.    John's    Ref..    Sinking    '■•pring.. 

Salem   U.    B.,    Sinking   Spnncr 

St.    John's    Luth.,    Smkincr    Spring. 
St.    James      Ref.,    West    Reading.. 

Vinemont   L'nion,   Spring    fp 

Evans    Union,    Spring    Tp 

Bethanv   Luthefan.   West    Reading. 
Memorial   U.    £.,   Mohn's  Hill 


2,278 

issing,  St'ring,  Lower  Heidelberg 

Supt.  Members 

.Leonard    M.   Ruth    255 

.T.   C.   Bricker    95 

John   A.   Werner    89 

.Solomon  A.  Brossman   ...       153 

.Henrv    G.    Kissinger    B2 

,X    L.   Bickel    77 

,E.    R.    Eckenroth    139 

E.    H.    Zechtnan    210 

H.    il.    Cake    115 

Henry    H     Vost    136 

Milton    ('rring    431 

Henry    Johnson    94 

..A.    I.    Noll    69 

W.   O.   Laufa    265 

55 


2,265 


6th    District — 'Hamburg,    Tilden,    IVindsor,    Upper   Bet 

Name  Supt.  Members 

Bethany   M.    E..    Hamburg H.    R.    Shollenberger    ....  159 

St.    John's    Lutheran.    Hamburg. ..  .H.    C.    Kl-ne    SfiS 

Salem    U.    E.,    Hamburg William    B.    Miller    fiS 

First    Reformed,    Il.nmourg Iivin    .A.    Diener    303 

St.    Paul's    Union,    Windsor    Tp Isa^c    Krick     105 

Libertv  Cn^ss  Roads  Union.  Tilden. C    1'.   S.   Ketner   77 

St.    Mjchaei's    Union,    Tilden F.     H.    Naftzinger,    O.    F. 

Bereer     295 

Bern    Union.    Tilden P.    E.    Naftzinger    74 

West    Hamburg   Union,   Tilden .Vlfrcd   M.   H.   DeLo'ng   ...  105 

Zion's    Union,    Windsor .A.    F.    Baver 195 

.Shartlesville     Union,     Shartlesvill^.  .  fames    F.    Naftzinger    ....  222 

Salem    U.    B.,   Tilden ,  .V.    K.    Fisher    96 

Bern  Union,   Upper  Bern ..K.   M.    Heckman    75 


Name  Supt. 

Birdsboro     M.    E..    Birdsboro G.    F.    Handwork 

Monocacy     M.    E.,    Monocacy Cjkb     IF     Bl.ind 

Trinity      Evan.,    Birdsboro Ed.    McOalackcr 

Calvary     U.    E..    Birdsboro \nna    WiUard     .. 

Grace     U.    B.,    Birdsboro S.    C.    Millard    .. 

St.    Mark's   Lutheran,    Birdsboro. ..  .riiarles    Khoads    . 

St.    Paul's   Reformed.   Birdsboro Jacob    De   Turk    . 

St   M'chael'?  Episcopal,   Bird.;horo.  .Harry    Kissin.gcr 

Kulptown    Union,    Union     Tam.es     Blond     ... 

Cedar    Hill    Union,    Union Ifarry    HotTman    . 

St.    Paul's   M.    E.,   Geig«rtow-n L.    M.    High    ... 

St.   James'   Lutheran,   (jeigertown. .  .E.    M.    Zerr    


Members 

268 


2.137 

7th    District — Topton,     District,     Longswamp,     Hereford 
Name                                                       Supt.                              Members 
Grace   U.    E..   Topton Edgar    Rohrbach    . . : 118 


332 
138 
146 
224 
113 
141 
80 
60 
122 


St.   Peter's   Union,   Topton    F.    J.    Fisher 

Longswamp     L^nion.     Longswamp.  .  .Ro>'    E.    Maybry... 

Pilgcrt's   Union,    Langswamp 

Bush's    Union.    Longswamp Augustus    R.    Frey 

St.    Paul's    Union,    .Mertztown Charles    B.    Miller    . 

Hancock    Union,    Longswamp     Cliarles    E.    Aliller    . 

Stemer's    Union,    Di=:trict ...Peter    K.    Sterner    . 

L.^ndisville    I'r.inn.    District Elmer    H,    Bechtel    . 

Huff's   Church  L'nion.    Hereford.  ..  .Jacob    Gries     

Chapel    Union,     Hereford Fred    W.    Hiiber    .. 

Schlossburg   Union,    Longswamp. .. -Lizzie    M.    Findly    . 


215 

121 

69 

64 

134 

140 

64 

49 

170 

169 

03 


id    District — ■Robeson,    Caernarfon 
Name  Supt. 

St.    John's    L'nion.    Gibraltar H.    K.    Winings    

Robeson    Union.    Plowville M.    J.    Eshleman    

Harrnony    M.    E.,   Joanna J.    W.    Jacobs    

Mt.    Shiloh   Evan.,   nr.    Morgantown.-Varon    Trait     

"Morgaatown    >L    E,    Morgantown.  .George   H     Muhlenberg 

Gibraltar    Union.    Gibraltar Samuel     W.     Kerst.... 

Seyfcrt   Holiness   Chris.,   Seyfert \.   J.    Smith    

Zion's   Union.    Robeson W.    Piersol    


1.776 
Members 


3d    District— Lenhartsi-ille,    Greenwich,    Albany 
Name  Supt. 

Bethel    Zions    Union,    Grimville .\.    A.    Fister    

Hover    Mill    Unirn.    Stonv    Kun Fred     I^cin'-ir      

Dunkcl's  Church    Union,    Virginville   C.  S.  Merkcl    

*The   word   Union   after   trie   name   of   the   Sunday-schoo' 
Lutheran   and    Reformed   combined. 


1,003 


Members 
117 


. .       Ill 

indicates 


Sth  District — Mt.  Penn,  Lower 
Name 

St.    Lawrence    Union.    Esterlv 

I^.ethany    Union.    Stonv    Creelc  Mills 
Baumstown    L'nion,     Uaumstown... 

Snvdrrville   Union,    Limekiln    

Trinity  Reformed.   Mt.   Penn 

Locust  Dale  U.   F..,    Locust   Dale.. 

L'nion    Union,    Monocacy 

Lorane    L^nion,    Lonne    

Fair\'ie\v    L'nion.     I'aumstown 

Douglassville    L'n..    Ll"UgIassv!ile. . 
Tacksonwald     L^nion,     Tarksonwald. 

Amityville    Union,     Atl.ol 

Weavert<'wn    C'n.,    Bnimfieldsvi1.!e. . 
Stoncrsville    Uni.'n.    .Sti,nrrsvi!le.  .  . 

.Mlsorts    Unii'n,    Neversiiik    

St.    Ciahriel's    Kpisc.    Douglas-sville. 
Faith    Lutheran,   Mt.   IVnii 


1,408 
Alsace,   Exeter,   Amity,    Eciri 

Supt.  Members 

W.    D.    Brumbach    2S2 

R.    T.    Calm    

C.    L.    Shantz    

Chas.     Knaab     

,J.    R,    Dickenson    

L    M.    Kehler    

I.    R.    Kline    

J.     E.    Troxell     

Howard     Happle     

C.    H.    Hine    

C.    R.   Bortz    

C.    R.    Geiger    

fL   V    HarhoM    

■  Charles    Kline     

.IL    S.    Ludwig    

S.    McElwee    

George    Hartline    


160 
123 

99 
105 
138 

80 
103 


95 


1,S86 


^    ,ii«^M:,' •,.-    r. 


52 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COL"XTY.    Pi:XXSYL\'AXIA 


Members 
113 


s)//i    District— .4l.acc,    Oh-y.    Pike 
N'ame  Stipt. 

Oley   Union,   Spangsville Tohn    1'.    Tielier 

St     Tosepu's   Union.    Hill   Church...!)     M.    Dun.  r    lli' 

Frie'ilcn's     Lutncran,     DIev f.    P.    Sclicil    190 

Fric.len's    Rcfornu-d.    Ulci     ).    li.    Unnb:-.cli    23s 

Zion    U.    K.,    Oley I.    M.    Bertulet    .'l> 

Spies's   Union.  Alsuce  Tp Ch.Trles   )!.    M.-ver    --'' 

St.    Paul's    Union.    I.  ibaJi^ville L.    ¥.    Roiivb.ich    llfi 

Bethany   U.   1-,  -Manatawny Ciiariei  L.    Sclierer    .S3 

1,199 
luih   Distfict — Ce^trcfort,    Cei.trc,    West  Lccsport,   Bern 
Name  Supt  Members 

Bern  Churcl;  Union.   Bern  Tp Tare!    L.    SnyJcr   250 

White  0:\k   Union,  liern  Tp Tared    L.    Snydir    F9 

Meeting  House  Kvang.,  Bern  Tp.      ..Tohn    Scbaurer    65 

Epler's   Lhurch    U.-.ion,   Bern  Tp I-'.    B.  Aiiimarcll    147 

Belleman's    Union.    Centre   Tp .\.    D.    K.-iijenstose    lol 

Bethany  U.    E.,   West  Lecsport Simucl    Bell    52 

724 

Jltli    District — Fleetwood,    Rnscombmanor,    MaiJcti-Creck,    Richmond 
N'ame  Sunt.  .Members 

St.    John's    Union.    Pricetown Mrs.    <.i.    V\  fb.    Brown....  !I2 

Mennonite    Brethren.    Blandon Oscar   B.    Adam    59 

St.    Paul's   Union.    Kleetwo-.d C.    II.    Adam    242 

U.     E.,     Fleetwood D.    F.    Ktlchner     1T5 

Blandon    Union.    Blandon Tacb    Shuman    ],.S7 

Kirbyville     Union.     K.rby\il!c Irvmlloch    53 

Center  Union,   Mo'-.elcrn   Snrim;?.  .  .  .lloward    Kah.i     110 

SchleniTTjjville     Union,     Mrlltown.  .  .B.    .Adrim    1*7 

Walnuttown    Un..    near     Flcetwnod .  .Matthias     Mont?     SO 

St.    Stephen's    U.    E..    VirjrinviUe. .  .William    Sh.ippcl    ;)(! 

Salem     U,    E.,    PricetoA-n Mrs.    Catharirc   Moyer    ...  49 


1,245 


Members 
123 


tith  District — M(<htiton,   Cuiriru.  Brecknock 
Name  Sunt. 

Eshlenian's    Union,    Curr.ru    Charles    Griffith    .... 

Wyomissinp   Luth.,   Gouglcrsville. ..  Sadie    Price     

Allegheny    Union,    Knauer's _. 

Wyomi^sinc:    Un.,    *^".''ai:lcrsvillc  .  .  .  .  J'rank     Eckenroth     .. 

Millmont    Baptist,    Millnrmt Harry    Stctlor    

Oakbrook    Lutheran,    ''lakh-oik... ^ 

Grace    Lut/ieran,    Shillinjrton T,    >.    Xajle    

Salem     EvauReiical       Molniion Inhn     Werner     

Enjanuel    Reformed.    .>'iilhiigton W.    A.    Miller    .. 

7ion's   U,    V..,   Mohiiton tieor^c    H.    Lcininper 

St.    John's    LuthTnn.    Mohnton C.    B.    Kindt 

"i'ocum's    Union,    Grill W.    W.    .Andre' 

Anpcliea  Linton,  Ci.mru   . H.    0.    Frey    .  . 

Gebhart's    Union,    Cumru Hcnrv    Srvfirt 

Five    .Mile    }!ouse    Union,    Cumru... T.    White    

St.    Luke's    U.    E.,    Shiliin-IOH C.    E.    Colic 


lith  District — R.-adini;,   Muhlenberg 
Xanie  Supt. 

St.    Mark's    Reformed,    Green\.ich 

and    Ritt-er     n.    V.    R.    I -id-vic:    .. 

First    Reformed.    Washingtou    end 

Rccd      Selos    R.    Barnctt    1.8^4 

St.     Stephen's     Reformed,     Ninth 

and    Greenwich     W.    D.    IJeEong .1.26C 

St     Andrew's     Reformed,     Spruce 

and    Miller    C.    H.    Eeinb.ich    1,135 

Zion's  Reformed.  Washingtjn  and 

Ced,->r     \ndrcw    S.    Lo.nfl     SIG 

St.    Paul's   Reformed,    Sixth   above 

Washincton P.cv.    C.    E.    Creitz    '56 

St.    John's   'Reformed.    Xint'i    and 

"Chestnut     William    A.    Levan    .. 

Calvary     Reformed,     Centre     Ave. 

and    Oley    .\.    V.    Cassclman    ... 

St.    Thomas'    Reformed,    Eleventh 

and    Windsor    E.    F.    Hendricks    

Second      Reformed,      Sixth     below 

Cherrv      John    ll.    Brideobauvrh 

Faith     Ref..rmed.     Bincaman     bet. 

Fourth    and     Fifth     . Di.    I).    S.    Grim    

Als.ice  Grace   Reformed.  Ku'ztown 

Road      Gcrr.;e    McKenilv    ... 

Olivet      Ref..rnHd.      Centre     Ave. 

and   Exeter    Willi.nm     I.einbach     .  . 

Temple     Reformed,     Temple,     Pa.     Joseph   A.   Wise    


704 

(142 

610 

494 

476 

339 

]sn 
114 


St.     Luke's     Lutheran.     N.     Ninth 

near    Green    Benj.     Grnbtr     .  . . 

Trinitv       Lutheran,       Sixth       and 

Washinirton      .V    Raymond    Bard 

Grace      Luilicran,      Eleventh      and 

•  Cherry    L    C.     Hollow.ay     . 

St.      I'lms     Luin.,     Church     and 

Walnut      

Hope     l-uth.,     Front     and     Green- 

w-ich      

St.     Matthew's     I.uth.,     Fifth     and 

Elm     

r-.t.       lames       Luth..       Fifth       and  ,    v      t-      .. 

(-y.j...jpy(        SaniucI    K.    Knanb 

St.      Mark'f.      Lutii!."  Tenth     and 

WiniJsor    rieury    E.    Hilbcrt 


A.     Bendel      

Jacob    T.    Drumh'-ller 
C.   W.   HauR    


i,2.';5 

?S5 
784 
709 
6.il 
552 
545 
489 


Alsace    Lutheran.    Kutztown    Road     D.     D.     Beck 

St.     I'aul's    Luth.,    Sixteenth    and 

Pcrkiomen      P.    H.    Lash 

St.  Jolin's  Mission  Luth  ,  Chap- 
el  Terrace   anove  Lotton    A.    Bcmlel    ., 

St.  Peter's  Luth.,  No.  'J.il  Doug- 
lass     A.    .•\.    Koser 

Peace  Lutheran,   Riverside    


Covenant,  M.  E.,  Ninth  and  Elm  H.  J.  Printz  .  .  . 
St.      Peter's      M.      E.,      h'ifth     and 

Pine     F.    F.    Boas    

Windsor    St.,    ^L    E.,    Front    and 

Windsor     W.    H     Morris    . . 

Holv   Cross.    M.    E.,    N.    Fifth   nr. 

Buttonwcod   'iValter    S.    Davis 

People's    -M.    C,    S.    Fourth    above 

Franklin     A.   W.   Heim    . . . . 

Bethel    -\.     M.    E.,    N.    Tenth    nr. 

Washington    T.    J.    Long    

People's     Primitive     M.     E.,     No. 

ln'Jj    N.    Tenth    Bert    LcSuer     ... 

East    End    .M.     E.,    No.    1338    N. 

Tenth    F.    C.    S.    Snyder 


340 
325 

106 


584 
483 
482 
476 
28» 
86 
133 


First  U.  E.,  Eighth  and  Court W.    H.    Hendel    971 

Si.      Paul's     U.      E.,     Mc*5     and 

Greenwich    William   W.    Fetter    75S 

Grace   U.   E..   Sixth  and  Elm    S.    N.    Walley     407 

Trinity    U.    E.,    S.    Eleventh    near 

Spruce     H.    J.    Heck 275 

Bethany  U.   E..  Second  and  Dour- 

<ass    

Salem     Evanftelical,     Eighth     near 

Court William   H.    Miller,   Jr.    ..       540. 

Immanuel     Evan.,     S.     Sixth     and 

Ket|ier     Harry   EisenDerg    420 

Ebene/er    Evan.,    Ninth    near    But- 

tonwoe.d    Waiter    C.    Hoffman    3!)7 

Christ    Evan.,    Eleventn    and    R'.ib- 

eson      R.    B.    Uavis    Z7G 

St.    Matthew's    Evan.,    Eighteenth 

and   Cotton    George   Boyer    21S 

Salem    U.    B.,   Tenth   and   Spring...  F.    G.    Leibold    61S 

Zion's    U.    B  .    Ninth    below    V'enn.  .William   J.    Levan    il'J- 

Memorial  U.   B.,  Buttonv  ood  and 

McKnijjht     William    K.    Taylor    101 

Otterbcin  U.  B.,   Eighth  and  Elm     G.    Waiter    Behney    272 


First   Bapti=t.   F'ifth  and   Chestnut..  H.    G.    Kurt/    

Berean    Baptist,    N.    Ninth    above 

Dougla.-s    R.    A.    Rankin    

Schvl.   Av.    Baptist,   Schvl  Av.   nr. . . 

'Greenwich      ." Tlavid    11.    Wvle    .  .  .  . 

Zion  Baptist,  No.  231  Poplar Mrs.    E.    D.    Ilarris    . 

Shiloh  Baptist,  No.   ]2l'.  N.   Tcnt!i..Mrs.    Mary  Clippent 

German    Baptist,    between    Green- 
wich    and     Oley     Tim    Wiess     


St.     Barnabas     Epis.,     Sixth     and 

Bingaman     Ira    W.    Stiatton    

Christ  Episcopal,   Fifth  and   Court. .  Tlio'i. as    P.    Merritt    

St.       .Marv's      Epis.,       Front      and 

Wi,,d.sor      H.    P.    Walter     

St.     Luke's     Epis.,    Robeson    and 

Mulberry W.llia-u   P.   Bu-k   

First       Presbvterian,       Fifth       nr. 

Franklin  ' H.    J.    Havdcn    

Olivet  Prcs..  Eighth  and  Wash- 
ington  J.    R.    Mortimer    

Washington     St.    Pres.,    Miiiber-y 

and    Washington    Geo.  T.   Flawkins   


First    Christian.    Chris.,    Chestnut 

above    fourth     Morris    S.    Glass 


Church     of     Our     Father,     l.'niv., 

Franklin  above   Fourth    Samuel   F.   Guss 


Mennonite     Brcth. 
near   Oley    . . 


Friendship       Mission.       Reformed 

Evan..     Cotton    above    Tenth. .  .Jacob   H.    Kutz 


Gree 


Calvary      Mission.      Followers      of 

Christ.  Washington  nr  Second  ..  Hci !» 

People's      Mission.      Followers     of 

Christ.    Little    Gordon     Pastor    

Mifflin    St..     F.  llowcrs    ot    Christ, 

No.   210   Mifflin    Mrs.     Rishell 

Neversink,    Interdenom.,    No.    72,S 

P.ingnnian     .\.    H.    Reist 

Temple,  Interdenom.,  Temple,  Pa. . .  .\.    H.    Reist 


56S 

236 

139 
57 


251 

P)7 

194 
135- 

34S 
3S8 
130 

140 

114 

ICP 

17? 

112 
106 


.Adven* 
den 


Windsor    and    Huni- 


fuvKr  .„■. 


EDUCATION    IX    COUNTY 


53 


Scientists.   Christian   Science,   No. 

■i-JO    Walnut    Lillian   D.   \Vil*jn 

ilinncrshitz        Union,       Eeformed 

and   LutU.,   Tuckerton    William  Fisher   ... 


24S 
SO.liiU 


14th   District — Bethel,    Tulfehocken.    Cffcr   Tuitchocker. 
Name  Sii^r.  Members 

Host    Union.    Tulpehccken    O.  F.  Oxcnreider,  W.  W.  Dcrr  152 

Zioa's    Union,    Strausstown    . . . .  C.    A.    Lnyer    Itfl 

St      John's      Reformed,      Mt. 

Aetna     C.    P.    Klopp    115 

U.    B.,    Mi.    Aetna    John    D.    KIopi TO 

Lutheran,    Mt.    .Aett:a    Joan    .\.    dru'it-r    61 

Union,    Rchrersburg     E.     fl.     Moyer     Ifio 

Lutheran,    Rehiersburg    W.    J.    Kurr     (•' 

Union,    Winters.  lUe    Ralph    Weber     05 

Moll's     Union,     Upper    Tulpe- 

hocken    L.     C.     Freeman     52 

Cerman   Baptist.   Ciosskill   Mills. Ira     Giblilo     .t8 

Ziegler's    Baptist,    Rehrersburg.  Htnry    L".    Zic«'er    ~'i 

Merkcy's    Baptist,    Bethel    Samuel     Sherman      66 

Bethel  Union,  Bethel   P.   C.  Clemmens    118 

Kcener's     Unioi.,     Tulpchock- 

en    F.    J.    Paulus.     .jO 

Schubert  s  Union,   Bethel    T.-^mes    R.     Roth    +6 

Merkey's   Union,    Bethel    John     I'ortrr     4S 

1.320 

Ijth   District — Bertivilh,    Jefferson,    Fenn 
Name  Supt.  Members 

Mt.       Picisant      Union,       Mt. 

Pleasant     James    O.    Kreider    130 

Berbers    Union,    Scull    Ilill M.     J.     Potteisei-     130 

Jefferson    Uniun.   J-Jferson   Tp.  .Daniel      Kcii;el      ii3 

St.  Paul's  Union,   Tetierson  Tp.  .James    .NL    Balthei«cr    6! 

Groft's    Union,    Jefferson    Tp..  .Percival     GrufT     75 

St.      Thomas'      Union,       Bern- 

ville     S.  P.  Wilhelni   155 

Friedcn's    Lutheran,    Bernville     J.    Paul    Eurket     C2 

Cross     Keys     Un'on,     Krick's 

Mills     '. B.    J.    Anderson    100 

'  80U 

l6th   District — Kutcto-cn,    liLi.ratiiwny,    Rocklaitd 
Name  Si'pt.  Members 

St.     John's     Reformed.     Kjtz- 

town     Clem.    T.    Stirhkr     ;;:l:i 

St.   Paul's   Lutheran,   Lyons    J     i\.    .Stie.walt    140 

Christ's    Reformed,    llowers J.    J.    T)e[,iing    101 

Zicn's  Union,  Alaxatawny Joe!    Ilcff'ncr,    Georyc    C.    Her- 
mann        2.'>0 

St.     Paul's     Reformed,     Kiitz- 

town      _. ..Francis     ShariHan     l-'i3 

Trinity    Luth.,    Kut7tovvn    pu'iiton    T).    Hermann    271 

Union     Union.    L>  ons    S.     M.    Ilocli     100 

St.      John's      Lutiicran,       Ivutz- 

town     Samuel    Heffncr    224 

Grace   U.    E..   Kutztown Thomas    S.    I.evan    02 

Christ's   Lutheran,    Dryville    .....\mos    F.     Urcideram     137 

New       Terusalem       Reformed. 

Roc-kland      A.    .\.    r)cl,»na    10;i 

Bethel    Union.   Rockland    William    A.     Sclnvoycr     104 

Ruppert's   Union.    Rockland    .....A.    P.    Rupprrt    VG 

Dry ville  Union,  Rockland A.     S.    Aunfstadt     Co 

2,153 


Union,     ifobrsviile     James    H.    Wagner    169 

i^ion's     Union,     Windsor     Cas- 
tle      \.     F.     Baver     404 

Gernant's    Union,    !,r.  ;,;,iirt    ....Charles    L.    Kershner    100 

Ebenezer     E"angelicai,     Shoe-.. 

makersvillc      Mrs.    A.-nanda    Voh    25 

Perry  Union,  VirqinviUr- Wils'.n    P.   Adam    Jl 

Evangelical,    Leesport    Frank   W .    Adam    <8 


North    Heidelberg 
^lembers 


I7ih    District— Womclsdorf,    Heidelberg.    Mar 
Name  Supt. 

Robesonia      Reformed,      Robe- 

sonia      T.    L.    T.    Stoudt    174 

U.    E.,    RobCFOnia    Jacob    B.     Putt    45 

V.    ¥..,    Womeltdorf    .\.     Bauer      OS 

Stouchsburg     Union,     Stouchs- 

burg      P.    W.    Gerhart    l.'l 

Bcthar.v  O    Home  Rcf.,  Wom- 

elsdorf     '.Vihop.    T.    Mo., re    153 

St.    Daniel's    Lutheran,    Robe- 
sonia      H.    W.    Sludcr    127 

Good   Samaritan   Union.   Wom- 

elsdorf     C.    R.    L-inhach    200 

Tannery    Union.    Heiib'.here    ...Dr.    F.     F.     M.assey     08 

HiU      Union,      North      Heidel- 
berg     Thoi.    J.     Zerbe     09 

Zion's   Lutheran,  Stouchsburg. .  E.    K.    Kline    1!2 

Long's    Lutheran.    Stouchsburg    ..\.    T.    Lmn;    !I0 

Moycr's    Union,    Marion    Tp Edwin     Miller      ;'0 


tSth  District — Lccsport,  Perr\\   Or.tclaimce 
Name  S'.ipt. 

Salem     U.     E.,     Siioemakcrs- 

vi'.Ie     H.     S.     Madeira     

Trinity    T'nion.    Ler-port     ..  .C._     K.     Sjn'.d     

XTnion,    ShoemakersvUle     W.   K.  Smith 


1,450 

Members 

130 

...      .'23 
2)1 


1,221 


GENERAL  SUMM.A.RY 


1st  12  12  177  l,.'i99  1,775 

2d  8  7  115  807  1,003 

3d  11  4  167  965  1,171 

4th  12  10  235  1,983  2,278 

5th  15  9  365  1,815  2,265 

6th 13  10  255  1,731  2,137 

7th  12  5  213  1,173  1,406 

8th  17  17  272  1,563  1.8S7 

9th  8  7  148  990  1,109 

10th  6  3  131  500  724 

11th  n  6  203  1,042  1,245 

12th  16  12  314  2,437  2,771 

13th  73  73  2,451  24.089  30,190 

14th  10  11  230  1,031  1,320 

15th  8  5  178  601  809 

10th  14  10  269  1,829  2,153 

17th  12  10  184  1,235  1.459 

18th  9  7  167  1,054  1,224 

Total    273  217  0,077  46,534  57,032 

Sunday  AIait.s. — During  the  winter  of  1829-30, 
a  great  excitenient  prevailed  throuijhont  tlie  coun- 
try respecting-  tiie  transportation  of  mails  on  Sun- 
days. iVttcmpts  had  been  made  by  petitions  of  cer- 
tain religious  societies  to  the  Congress  of  the  prev- 
ious year,  to  induce  legislation  on  the  subject,  bu*^ 
the  general  remonstrance  was  so  earnest  that  the 
committee  of  reference  reported  adversely,  inti- 
mating that  Congress  uught  not,  and  could  not, 
legally  exercise  the  power  of  legislation  on  ques- 
tions involving  religious  observance  and  the  rights 
of  conscience ;  and  these  attempts  were  renewed 
before  the  Congress  then  sittmg,  causing  the  de- 
velopment of  great  feeling  ever}where  on  the  sub- 
ject. 

A  large  meeting  of  citizens  of  the  county  was 
held  in  the  court-house  at  Reading  on  Jan.  23,  1830, 
for  the  purpose  of  uttering  a  protest  against  inter- 
ference en  the  one  hand  or  legislation  on  the  other, 
and  a  committee  of  distinguished  citizens  was  ap- 
pointed to  draft  approj)riate  resolutions.  It  was 
composed  of  David  F.  Gordon,  Esq..  George  M. 
Keim,  Esq.,  George  Fox,  Isaac  Ritter  and  Dr.  Wil- 
liam J.  C.  Baum.  The  attempts  to  induce  legisla- 
tion prohibiting  the  transportati.in  of  mail  on  Sun- 
day were  disapproved,  because  it  was  believed  that 
such  attempts  were  incipient  st'jps  toward  the  at- 
tainment of  an  object  fatal  to  religious  freedom — 
the  unii)n  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  authority  in  the 
same  individuals. 

Appropriate  petitions  were  circulated,  subscribed 
by    many    persons,    and    these    were    forwarded    to 


/li^      ,,. 


,-;-.. 


ir.jo  i 


M-(V'*H    .-in^H-vViC-l. 


: ;  I  r    , 


-:    :  ■'?  ;»j  t.i-;.: 


•>'r 


54 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLVANIA 


Congress;  and  this  expression  of  public  sentiment 
caused  t];e  relie^ious  movement,  to  cease  ita  agitation 
and  finally  pass  away.  Tlie  transportation  of  mail 
on  Simday  was  not  prohibited,  but  continued  as  a 
work  of  nccetoity. 

GEXERAL  EDUCATIOX 

Early  Enxoukagi-mext. — The  first  settlers  ap- 
preciated the  imi)Ortance  of  education,  and  encour- 
aged it  as  a  means  of  promoting  the  general  welfare. 
They  erected  churches  wherever  they  had  effected 
a  considerable  settlement,  and  in  them  they  caused 
their  children  to  be  taught  the  common  branches  of 
education,  such  as  spelling,  reading,  writing  and 
arithmetic.  This  teacliing  was  influenced  to  a  great 
degree  by  the  religious  spirit  that  prevailed  amongst 
them  ;  indeed,  religious  principles  were  considered 
a  vital  pan  of  their  education. 

During  the  first  settlements  and  until  the  passage 
of  the  common  school  la\v  of  1S34,  the  education 
that  pT-evailed  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  tiie  countv  was  almost  entirely  German.  The 
prevalence  of  German  education  was  a  natural  con- 
sequence from  the  great  predominance  of  German 
settlers  over  all  other  nationalities.  In  Exeter,  Oley, 
Maiden-creek,  Robeson,  and  Reading  districts,  the 
Friends  v/ere  rather  numerous,  and  they  established 
English  schools  at  an  early  period,  which  they  con- 
tinued for  m.any  years. 

The  first  German  settlers  had  brought  along  teach- 
ers and  ministers,  who  were  .so  recognized  before 
emigration.  If  there  were  no  minister,  the  teacher 
oflficiatcd  in  both  capacities.  Some  teachers  even 
practised  their  trades,  such  as  tailoring  or  shoemak- 
ing,  whilst  teaching. 

A  notion  has  obtained  that  education  was  not  car- 
ried on  to  any  considerable  extent  in  the  county  at 
an  early  da-, ,  and  till  the  adoption  of  the  common 
school  system,  but  this  is  wrong.  A  good  idea  can 
be  obtained  from  the  following  extract  from  a  let- 
ter, dated  Readiiig,  April  9,  1763.  addressed  by  Rev. 
Alexander  ?>Iurray  to  the  secretary  of  the  Venerable 
Society  for  Propagating  the  (Jospel  in  Foreign 
Parts,  stationed  in  England  : 

The  county  for  miles  around  this  town  is  thick  peopled, 
but  what  few  else  than  Germans  and  Quakers,  the  former 
being  computed  twelve  to  one  of  all  other  nations  tog^ether. 
and  seem  to  be  abundantly  well  provided  in  teachers  of 
one  denomination  or  another,  and  as  lonij  as  they  are  so 
blindly  attached  to  their  native  tongiic,  as  they  are  ar 
present,  an  English  .minister  can  be  of  no  great  service 
to  them.  For  this  they  mi£;ht  be  at  no  loss  for  English 
school-masters,  yet  they  choose  to  send  their  children 
rather  to  German  schools,  which  ilicy  haz'c  cz'cryn'hcrc  in 
great  plenty. 

The  INIoravians,  during  their  settletncnt  in  Oley, 
erected  two  dwellings  on  land  donated  to  them  by 
John  de  Turck.  The  first  was  occupied  earlv  in 
1745;  and  the  second  in  1748.  for  school  purposes. 
In  the  latter  there  was  a  flourishing  boarding-school 
for  several  years ;  into  which  were  incorporated  the 
Aforavian  schools  of  Gcrmantown  and  Frederick 
township. 


On  July  31,  1750,  a  beginning  was  made  to  dis- 
solve the  Moravian  school  in  Frederick  township, 
by  transferring  pupils  to  other  ."schools,  and  in  the 
last  week  of  August,  1750,  sixteen  Vicre  transferred 
to  Oley. 

FiKST  Te.\ciiers. — The  following  persons  were 
teachers  before  1752: 

Gvorye  Sticfel.  Joim  Nicholas  Kurtz,  and  Casper  Leut- 
bteker   in    Tulpehockcn. 

Frederirk  Hoelwit;  in  Loni,'swamp. 
John  Valentine  Kraftt  in   Richmond. 
Theodore    Schneider   in    Htretord. 
George  Youngman  in   Oley. 

In  1743,  the  following  provision  was  made  in 
Richmond  township  toward  the  encouragement  of 
teaching : 

That  it  is  our  most  earnest  desire  that  the  teacher,  as 
well  as  the  preacher,  shall  be  fairly  compensated  so  that 
he  can  live  with  his  family  as  an  honest  man,  without 
being  ubliiTcd  to  engage  in  any  business  foreign  to  his 
profession.  To  this  end  the  teacher  and  the  preacher 
shall  ha\e  the  land  and  tiic  house  on  it  free,  as  long  as 
they  officially  serve  the  congregation. 

Pay  schools  were  maintained  in  every  district,  the 
pupils  paying  several  cents  a  day,  according  to  the 
number  of  branches  taught ;  and  this  custom  pre- 
vailed from  the  beginning  until  k>ng  after  the  sys- 
tem of  1834  had  been  introduced. 

Parochial  schools  were  carried  on  and  encouraged 
in  connection  witli  churches  in  the  several  sections 
of  the  county,  being  always  situated  near  by.  The 
preachers,  eiders  and  deacons  were  expected  to  see 
that  the  teacher  maintained  good  order  and  that 
each  pupil  received  proper  attention.  The  teacher 
had  to  possess  a  good  character,  and  ability  to  sing 
and  teach  singing  as  well  as  to  teach  the  common 
branches. 

Charitv  ScHoor-S. — A  charitable  society  was  es- 
tablislied  early  for  the  instruction  of  poor' Germans 
and  their  descendants  in  Pennsylvania.  Previous  to 
1751,  certain  Reformed  ministers  who  had  settled 
an.ong  the  immigrants  found  them  in  distress.  Thev 
entreated  the  churches  of  Holland  to  commiserate 
their  unhappy  fellow-Christinns,  and  contributions 
were  sent  to  these  remote  parts.  In  1751,  Holland 
and  West  Fnesland  granted  two  thousand  guilders 
per  annum  for  five  years  toward  instructing  the 
Germans  and  their  children  in  Pennsylvania.  Great 
encouragement  was  given  to  this  .scheme  bv  per- 
sons of  the  first  rank  in  Oeat  Britain,  King  George 
III.  having  contributed  ^1,000  toward  tins  object, 
and  the  Princess  Dowager  of  Wales  ilOO;  and 
the  proprietaries  engaged  to  give  a  considerable 
sum  every  year  to  promote  the  undertaking.  The 
society  then  adopted  certain  resolutions  for  thj 
management  of  the  scheme,  and  proposed  a  plan 
for  establishing  schools.  The  Governor  of  the 
Province  recognized  the  utility  of  the  scheme  and 
ajipointed  a  Ijoard  of  trustees  for  its  proper  direc- 
tion. Conrad  Weiser  was  one  of  the  members  of 
this  board,  and  Rev.  Michael  Schlatrer  was  appoint- 
ed general  supervisor.  Petitions  from  Reading  and 
Tulpehockcn    were   addressed   to  the   board   in    the 


•lit:   )( 


.  1^  ■  ;  , 


■I    .  'ilVK  ';?•>« 


^ 


^, ,      flil 


.'iA^,  _ 


!H||lflii!fi« 


IMifelJ^fe 


-1'J;'SP  qn-j';-  .     


;:7-.?i^£**^^ 


READING    FREE    LIBKARY-PACE     210 


'  A. 


J       ' 


fi' 

i?;s 

^ 


^^' 


..•-0 


,,r        '■f        .-/        ■  --   '    ,     --  _ 


'■'--t.  'ff^-v^fcaw^itfc*:/  JrC 


ADMINISTRATION    BUILDING    OF    READING    SCHOOL    DISTRICT  -PAGE    203 


/,')!'       (  ■  r--"'AfA'iA 


EDUCATION    IN    COUNTY 


65 


early  part   of  1755   to   secure  the   benefit   of  these  In    ISo?^.   when  the   State  contained  about   eig-ht 

contributions  so  as  to  establish  some  of  the  schools,  hundred    thousand    children,    less    than    twenty-five 

and  Schlatter  accordingly  organized  a  school  at  each  thousand   attended   the   common   schools — just   one 

of  the  places  named.  in  thirty-one,  or  about  three  per  cent,  notwithstand- 

But  the  charity  schools  proved  an  utter  failure,  ing  the  ofifer  of  education   at   the   public   expense. 

and    Schlatter    was    personally    the    chief    sufferer.  But  in  1SS:>,  the  State  contained  about  two  million 

His  official  position  as  superintendent  rendered  him  children  ;  and  the  number  attending  common  schools 

the  main  object   of  popular  hatred,   though    for   a  was  over  nine  hundred  and  fifty  thousand,  nearly 

time  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  ministers  had  sus-  one-half,  an  increase  of  sixteen-fold  in  fifty  years, 

tained  him.  The  German  I'cople  lost  confidence  in  The  general  system,  provided  bv  the  act  of  1834, 

this  undertaking  through  the  denunciations  of  Chris-  is  attributable  to  a  society  which  was  organized  at 

topher  Salter,  who  asserted  in  his   Gennan  news-  Philadelphia  in   1827.     The  express  object  of  this 

paper  (published  at  Germantovvn)  that  these  schools  society  was  general  education  throughout  the  State, 

were  intended  to  prepare  the  wav  for  establishing  and  its  efiforts,  after  laboring  in  this  behalf  for  seven 

the  Church  of  England  in  this  part  of  the  province,  years   against   bitter  opposition,   culminated   in   the 


and  in  this  way  it  was  believed  Schlatter's  influ 
ence  was  entirely  destroyed. 

Common  Schools. — Various  and  repeated  legis- 
lative attempts  were  made  toward  general  educa- 
tion throughout  the  State,  and  they  gradually  devel- 
oped a  public  sentiiuent  in  its  beh.alf  until  finally 
there  was  e.stablished  the  compulsory  system,  pro- 
vided by  the  Act  of  1849,  which"  was  improved  by 
the  Act  of  1854. 

The  Constitution  of  177G  had  provided  that  "a 
school  or  schools  shall  be  established  in  each  countv 
by  the   Legislature    for  the  convenient   instruction 

of  youth,  with  such  salaries  to  the  masters  paid  by    Ruscuinbmanor     1837 

the  public  as  may  enable  them>  to  instruct  youth  at    Cokbrookdale    1S38 

low  prices";  and  that  of  1700;  "The  Lcgi?latur<: 
shall,  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  provide  by 
law  for  the  establishment  of  schools  throughout  the 
State  in  such  manner  that  the  poor  may  be  taught 
gratis."    This  provision  continued  in  the  fundamen 


passage  of  the  act  mentioned.  In  1835  a  great  ef- 
fort was  made  to  repeal  this  act,  but  it  failed.  The 
credit  of  preserving  the  system  at  that  time  is  given 
to  Governor  George  Wolf  and  Hon.  Thaddeus 
Stevens. 

System  Accepted  bv  Districts. — The  following 
statement  shows  the  year  when  the  several  districts 
of  the  county  accepted  the  common  school  system: 


Reading   1834 

Caernarvon     1834 

Rolicson     1836 

Union     1836 

Womc-lsdorf     1836 


HamhtirK     1838 

Kutztovvn    1833. 

I\rarion     1839 

Hereford     ISir, 

.Alsace    1849 

Exeter      1849 

Heidelberg    1S49 


Rockland      1850 

Spring      1850 

Tulpehocken 1850 

Washington 1850 

Windsor    1850 

Eern,  Upper 1851 

Bcrnville    1851 

Centre    1851 

Earl    1851 

Greenwich     1851 

Longbwamp    1851 

Muhlenberg  1351 

Ontelaunec      1851 

Penn     1851 

Perry      1851 

Pike    1851 

Maxatawnv     1852 

Bethel     ..' 1854 

Richmond    1854 

.\lbary     18.55 

Jefferson      18.55 

Tulpehocken,   Upper    ..1855 


tal  law  of  the  State  unchanged  until  the  new  Con-    Maulen-creek    1849 

stitution  of  1873,  when  it  was  modified  as  follovv-s :    ^"^'^-'    ^^^y 

"The  General  Assembly  shall  provide  for  the  main-    Brecknock 1850 

tenance  and  support  of  a  thorough  and  efficient  sys-    Cumru    1S50 

tern  of  public   schools   wherein   all  the  children  of   nouglass 1850 

.1  •     /-  ,.1       I  4.1  r     ■  _^  „,^,,    Heidelberg,    Lower. ...  1850 

this  Commonwealth  above  the  age  of  six  years  may    Heidelber|,     North. ..  .1850 

be  educated,  and  shall  appropriate  at  least  one  mil-   Qjcy     . . . .' 1850 

lion  dollars  each  year  for  that  purpose." 

A  great  weakness  in  its  early  history  was  the  All  the  districts  had  accepted  the  system  of  1834 
incompetency  of  teachers.  Educated  men  and  worn-  before  the  compulsory  provision  had  gone  into  ef- 
en  of  experience  in  teaching  could  not  be  obtained  feet,  excepting  District  township,  which  held  out 
because  duty  to  themselves  and  to  their  families  until  1807.  refusing  iir  the  meantime  to  accept  the 
obliged  them  to  labor  in  vocations  which  afforded  State  appropriation.  The  districts  subsequentiv  es- 
better  remuneration  ;  and  a  pronounced  opposition,  tablished.  acceptecl  the  system  at  the  time  of  their 
on  account  of  burdensome  and  unjust  ta.xation  to   erection. 

support  the  system,  discouraged  those  who  felt  in-  Pleasantville  was  established  as  a  separate  district 
clined  to  teach.     But  a  greater  weakness  than  in-  out  of  Oley  township  in  1857. 

competent  teachers  existed.  It  was  the  distinctive  Altogether  the  districts  in  the  countv  number 
feature  of  the  public   schools  and  of  the  children   sixtv-one. 

attending  them,  for  they  were  called  "pauper  In  1854,  the  schools  numbered  30?,  and  the  schol- 
schools,"  and  "pauper  scholars."  and  this  made  them  ars  lO.llfi  :  in  1881.  the  schools.  509,  attd  the  schol- 
odious  to  the  very  class  that  was  to  be  principally  ars,  20,848;  and  in  1008,  the  schools,  855,  and  the 
benefited,  '  scholars,  28,340. 


t-liii 

«*!    . 


.-•J 


y.-.^! 


j;'; 


"  .'    -i 


''        ■    ■    '      -TT      ,•(;:,?     ^: 


Miiof!:." 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


TADL'LAK    STATKMENT    FOR    SCJIOOL    YEAR    KNDT.NT,    JL'.VE    1.    lOOSi 


Schools 

1 

cathers 

Scholars 

Ta'x   and   Rate 
Per   Cent 

'-* 

1 

c: 

X 

c 

«^ 

?  S 

|: 

Districts 

■^ 

^ 

**- 

s 

•^    r 

0 

o-  5 

^ 
^ 

-I'S 

3 

vS 

^ 

>% 

i 

J 

S 

c 

=   3 

c  1 

c 

3 

~   ;r 

= 

■^ 

^  = 

= 

^ 

^^ 

ii? 

^ 

J 

•i 

s? 

^  1- 

1 

•1 

"4; 

„ 

J5  t. 

"k  £"3 

> 

< 

ir. 

i; 

< 

< 

'^. 

?. 

< 

O 

z 

f-ii 

Albany      

12 

7 

'J 

3 

S4i;.c.') 

S4u.tii; 

1<J2 

157 

87 

SI. 99 

■5?  Sir?  or. 

Alsace     0 

Alsace,    Lower    4 

Amity    Hi 

Bechtelsvilie    2 

Bern    12 

Bernville    2 

Bern,     Upper 0 

Bethel     15 

Birdsboro     11 

Boyertown     9 

Brecknock    f> 

Caernarvon       7 

Centre    9 

Centreport 1 

Colebrookdale    9 

Cumru     26 

District      1 

Douglass     S 

Earl     6 

Exeter     15 

Fleetwood     5 

Greenwich    11 

Hamburg    12 

Heidelberg     10 

Heidelberg,     North....  5 

Heidelberg,     j./Owcr....  21 

Hereford     8 

Tefierson     7 

Kiitztown     4 

Lenhart.-iville 1 

Lonpswanip      16 

Maiden-creek 11 

Marion 7 

Maxatawny      15 

Mohnton     7 

Mount   Penii    3 

Muhl(Hibc!g  ■ ■. .  12 

Oley     23 

Ontelaunee    0 

Penn    S 

Perry 12 

Pike     C 

Pleasantville,    Ino 1 

Reading    SSI 

Richmond     It 

Robeson    17 

Rockland     8 

Ruscon-.hmanor    9 

Spring     ir> 

Tilden     6 

Topton     3 

Tiilpehockcn     14 

Tulpehocken,    Upptr...  S 

Union    9 

Washi'njton    9 

West   LeespcTt    3 

West     keadini; 7 

-Windsor    

Womels'lorf   6 

Wyomissing     3 


7.00 

n 

10 

7 

3 

s 

7.11 

3 

4 

7 

5 

10 

7.14 

9 

6 
1 

1 

7.07 

12 

1 

7.11 

4 

85 


4S.cn 

42.00 

151 

129 

50. nO 

50.00 

47 

31 

43.33 

41.66 

169 

14ft 

50.00 

22 

24 

50.00 

50.00 

89 

81 

47.|-,6 

201 

182 

5S.34 

50.56 

236 

222 

56.25 

50.00 

185 

217 

45.0) 

73 

62 

00.00 

42.03 

88 

102 

44.2.S 

45.00 

148 

129 

40.00 

14 

19 

45.00 

45.71 

153 

136 

47.27 

45.00 

477 

547 

42.50 

66 

55 

43.33 

40.00 

125 

105 

48.33 

96 

84 

48.75 

43.50 

306 

271 

GO. 00 

pO.OO 

103 

120 

48.00 

43.33 

166 

154 

56.25 

50.00 

240 

226 

55.00 

46.66 

141 

151 

5U.iMl 

40.00 

66 

62 

52.32 

46. 6(-,    ' 

322 

2«2 

50.00 

43.33 

133 

99 

53  on 

4s.on 

222 

20s 

43.33 

4  3.75 

169 

157 

52.0', 

46.25 

84 

87 

4S.00 

47.00 

214 

ISS 

5"  61-, 

50.00 

14S 

151 

55.00 

50.00 

73 

62 

50.00 

44.29 

276 

253 

50.42 

40.1.0 

234 

194 

55.00 

44.ort 

127 

131 

5  I., '2 

45.17 

107 

106 

52.50 

40.1.0 

180 

1.55 

45.00 

50.00 

86 

50.00 

22 

27 

111.04 

52.51 

6.593 

6,531 

46.1(1 

45.00 

199 

170 

4  c;.  61! 

46.00 

235 

214 

45.71 

50.00 

140 

113 

47.14 

50.00 

123 

107 

4S..-,0 

46.66 

270 

243 

50.  Ill 

50.00 

115 

09 

51.50 

50.00 

77 

65 

47. 7^^ 

44.00 

179 

165 

47.14 

40.00 

113 

97 

44.44 

110 

119 

Sllillington    included    still    with    Cumru, 

Note:      State  appropriation   to  district? 
Total   estim.Ttcil    valii'.-   of   school    pfprrty 
Total    receipts    in    county    for    school    purp^ 


1.31 
2.01 
2.00 
J. 71 
2.28 
2.87 
2.19 
2.55 
2.05 
1.57 
3.74 
1.62 
1.82 
1.S6 
1.88 
1.53 
1.41 
1.80 
2.18 
1.47 
2.40 
2.22 
1.58 
2.14 
2.51 
2.27 
2.09 
1.77 
1.35 
2.50 
2.25 
2.2s 
2.33 
2.19 
1.55 
2.22 
1.32 
l.SS 
1.75 
2.60 
1.32 
2.22 
1.09 
1.68 
2.15 
2.00 
1.70 
2.08 
2.28 
1.88 
1.33 
2.57 
2.11 


1.61 
1.81 

1.99 


3 

4.5 
3 

3.5 
4.25 


2.5 

4.5 


1,481.10 
1,924.71 
2,666.33 

724.26 
3,484.71 

918.42 
1.652.99 
4,066.35 
8,848.21 
6,926.37 
1,353.78 
2.808.73 
2,414.83 

303.13 
2,460.62 
10,924.95 

968.00 
2,445.27 
1.429.19 
5.115.73 
2,943.41 
2,914.76 
6,335.55 
4,284.4  t 
1,442.03 
8. 56,". 68 
2,045.69 
1,440.07 
4,229.31 

281.04 
7,040.00 
3,492,95 
2.035.23 
4.622.22 
3,214.36 
2.573.51 
3.290,56 
3,504  31 
2,940.57 
2,660  5b 
4,451.96 
1,401. 15 

315  27 
230.938.60 
3.844.52 
4,311.48 
2.575,28 
1,972,25 
6,076.43 
2,674.70 
1.411.62 
3.54,^.01 
1,077.23 
2,121.21 
2,106.11 

969.23 
3,575.86 
1.058. 70 
3,838.49 
3,876.37 


liich   S64.155.80    to    Reading. 
I    in    State.    $90,    363.211 
Jges,    $37; 


total   expenditures,    $620,086. 


T:.. -I '.••■.'' 
%'.  ttt.I 


>.'i 


EDUCATIOX    IX    COUNTY 


57 


r.ECTL'RE  ON  Weiser. — Extracts  taken  from  the 
compiler's  lecture  on  the  "'Life  of  Conrad  Weiser," 
dehvered  in  diififerent  parts  of  the  county  during 
IbS'l.  1S92  and  1^93,  bv  way  of  describing-  the 
direction  and  intluence  of  the  echicational  system 
of  the  State  on  the  people  of  Beri^s  county  : 

The  general  education  of  the  people  of  Berks  county 
has  been  going  on  contmuously  from  the  time  of  the 
first  settlements  until  now.  Starting  at  a  time  when  a 
considerable  population  was  settled  in  all  sections  of  the 
county,  say  in  1752  when  it  was  erected  as  a  political 
organization  in  the  State,  and  extending  over  a  period 
embracing  a  century,  the  education  of  the  people  through 
the  instrum.entality  of  sciiools  was  confined  to  the  rudi- 
ments, that  is,  the  ordinary  accomplishments  which  en- 
a'olfd  them  to  carry  on  industrial  and  social  affairs  in 
a  successful  manner.  It  was  rather  of  a  practical  nature, 
and  therefore  more  inclined  to  the  useful  than  the  orna- 
mental. A  common  education  consisted  of  a  genera!  abil- 
ity to  read,  write  and  cipher,  and  to  talk  in  the  English 
language  reasonably  well,  and  this  was  regarded  as  suffi- 
cient  for   the   ordinary   demands   of   life. 

In  17.')2,  schools  were  scattered  in  all  the  sections  of 
the  county.  There  were  several  in  a  township,  and  the 
scholars  farthest  distant  were  about  five  miles  off.  There 
was  no  taxation  for  school  purposes.  Each  scholar  paid 
two  or  more  cents  a  day.  according  to  studies,  and  the 
teacher  earned  about  a  dollar  a  day.  The  buildings  were 
ordinary  btruciures,  built  mostly  of  stone  or  log.  The 
money  expended  was  made  to  reach  as  far  as  possible. 
The  education  obtained  was  necessarily  of  a  simple  nature, 
so  as  to  be  easily  acquired.  Everythir.g  connected  with 
it  was  expressive  of  economy.  Th.is  idea  stood  out  very 
prominently,  and  it  had  a  good  effect  upon  the  manners 
and  habits  of  the  people.  The  perceptive  faculties  were 
more  active  than  the  imaginative.  Labor  was  king,  not 
education.  Labor  was  regarded  as  the  foundation  of  ev- 
erything, and  education  only  as  a  means  for  facilitating 
its  intelligent  direction.  Everybody  labored — men  and  boys 
at  farniirig  and  industrial  pursuits,  women  aiui  girls  in 
household  affairs.  It  was  labor  that  produced  and  im- 
proved, and  economy  that  multiplied  results.  Hence  the 
county  grew  lapidly.  There  was  little  or  no  waste.  No- 
tions and  p.-actices  of  this  kind  prevailed  in  a  general 
way  until  about  1S54. 

Then  a  unifo'-m  system  of  education  was  established 
by  the  State  government  and  tips  has  prevailed  since. 
It  has  been  encouraged  by  increasing  annual  appropria- 
tions for  school  purposes.  The  enormous  amount  for  the 
year  1893  ($6.0(ii>,U(>U )  shows  tlie  people's  extraordinary 
spirit  of  liberality  towards  general  ediication.  In  the  in- 
terior districts,  the  school  buildings  have  not  advanced 
much  beyond  the  buildings  of  1S."4,  but  those  of  the  cities, 
even  of  some  of  the  towns,  show  a  remarkable  growth  in 
size  and  appearance.  By  comparison  of  general  results, 
it  will  be  found  that  the  system  of  1S">-1  has  inclined  in  this 
time  more  towards  the  ornam.ental  than  the  useful.  The 
scholars  are  led  to  devote  too  much  time  and  energy  to 
information  that  they  do  not  use,  and  are  not  expected 
to  use  in  the  ordinary  associations  of  life;  also  to  matters 
anrl  things  that  are  too  much  disposed  to  develop  the 
imaginative  faculties  rather  than  the  perceptive. 

In  tills  way  t'le  love  of  labor  has  come  to  lose  its  hold 
upon  a  large  proportion  of  the  people,  and  consequently 
labor  is  no  longer  king.  The  spirit  of  education  has  grown 
so  much  that  it  is  of  more  consequcnge  than  tlie  spirit 
of  labor.  Through  it  the  school  cliildrcn  are  getting  to 
be  more  and  more  inclined  to  settle  in  employments  that 
are  designed  to  produce  or  serve  things  for  ornament 
rather  than  use,  and  they  are  nuining  more  towards 
clerking,  soliciting,  negotiating  and  kindred  employments 
which  require  earnest  action  of  the  mind  rather  than  of 
the  body  far  beyond  the  natural  and  equitable  demands 
of  society.  .And  the  sustenance  of  tliis  increasing  number 
with   their   numerous   niagnified   waiUs   is   obtained   at  the 


expense  of  the  physical  exertions  of  a  large  proportion 
of  the  people.  Thi.s  has  been  stimulated  to  such  a  degree 
that  it  has  become  burdensome  in  a  very  appreciable  man- 
ner. 

A  growing  inequality  in  various  ways  is  more  and  more 
apparent,  especially  in  respect  to  property,  money  and 
income,  and  the  influences  which  they  exert;  and  as  this 
inequality  grows  on  the  one  hand,  extrava,gance  manifests 
itself  on  the  other,  indeed,  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is 
commonly  regarded  as  necessary  to  social  existence.  A 
prominent  desire,  flowing  from  this  inequality,  is  to  profit 
by  the  labor  of  others  without  mental  or  physical  exer- 
tions; and  though  this  is  admittedly  a  great  disadvantage 
against  the  industrious  element  of  any  commiuniry  it  is 
justified  and  enconra.ged  without  the  slightest  compunc- 
tion. A  desire  growing  entirely  too  common  is  to  fill 
an  office,  exercise  municipal  power  and  dispose  of  public 
funds,  all  of  which  lead  the  mind  and  conscience  away 
from  a  just  conception  of  industry  and  from  the  real 
value  of  money.  And  another  injurious  desire,  not  only 
in  Berks  county  but  elsewhere,  is  the  migration  of  many 
industrious  people  from  country  districts  to  populous 
places  where  equality,  co.Ttfort  and  contentment  are  not 
half  of  what  they  formerly  enjoyed.  Decrease  of  popula- 
tion in  townships  and  increase  of  it  in  the  cities  is  a  bad 
indication  for  the  general  welfare.  Evidently  some  evil 
inrtuence  is  at  work  that  produces  such  a  result  in  social 
attairs. 

This  general  tendency  must  be  changed.  It  must  be 
guided  into  the  channel  that  was  occupied  naturally  be- 
fore 1834.  Labor  nuist  be  restored  to  its  position  as  the 
recognized  king.  The  practical  m.ust  be  studied  and  en- 
couraged in  preference  to  t!;e  ornamental;  and  the  devel- 
opment of  the  perceptive  faculties  must  receive  a  lar.ger 
share  of  consideration  than  the  imaginative.  Each  one 
of  us  should  be  so  taught  as  to  obtain  a  proper  idea  of 
industry  and  to  feel  the  absolute  necessity  of  contributing 
his  share  of  useful  labor  in  the  production  of  things  of 
real,  not  speculative  value.  And  industrial  alYairs  slViuld 
be  so  conducted,  or  rather  they  should  be  permitted  to 
so  regulate  themselves  without  legislation  or  other  inter- 
ference, that  the  small  communitie's  shall  have  equal  op- 
portunities with  populous  cities  in  the  race  of  progress. 
The  question  may  well  be  asked :  Can  thi-~j  be  accomp- 
lished?    If  so,  how  is  it  to  be  done? 

I  would  answer  through  our  scho'ds  by  teaching  branch- 
es of  knowledge  that  can  be  utilized  by  the  scholars  when 
they  come  to  act  fnr  themselves  and  that  will  fit  them 
for  the  stations  which  they  may  be  expected  to  occupy ; 
through  a  proper  conception  of  the  importance  of  labor 
and  of  local  rights,  aiul  a  uniform  desire  to  co-operate  in 
the  several  affairs  of  life:  and  also  through  lecturing  on  the 
character  of  men  and  women  who  have  been  usetul,  just 
and  honorable  to  the  communities  in  which  they  lived. 
In  this  behalf  I  have  selected  Cux-i.\ri  Weislr  as  a  proper 
subject  for  our  consideration.  By  studying  his  career 
we  shall  find  for  our  guidance  the  useful  things  of  life 
rather  than  the  ornamental.  The  former  constitute  the 
basis  of  general  association  and  incline  us  to  co-operate 
with  one  another  in  individual  and  social  affairs;  but  the 
latter  create  a  spirit  of  ri\alry  and  incline  us  to  strike 
out  for  ourselves  regardless  of  consequences  to  others. 

Ornamental  education  lias  been  to  us  for  some  years 
a  proud  and  presumptuous  mistress,  but  we  have  come 
to  find  at  last  that  she  has  misdirected  otir  efforts  and 
generosity  and  misled  many  of  us  away  from  the  sta- 
tions for  which  we  were  adapted  by  nature  and  associa- 
tion. Through  her  a  great  many  persons  have  diifted 
into  unproductiveness,  ulleiiess,  or  restlessness  to  siic'i 
a  degree  that  it  behooves  us  to  stop  and  see  if  we  cannot 
find  what  steps  must  be  taken  to  restore  useful  industry 
and  produce  general  c*ontentment.  Investigation  and  re- 
flection will  lead  us  to  conclude  that  labor  must  be  sub- 
stituted as  master  in  the  place  of  education  as  mistress. 
In  this  way  only  can  we  come  to  adopt  and  hold  on  to 
the  useful  and  practical,  and  to  transmit  our  individuality 
to  future  generations. 


oS 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY.    PEXXSYLWWIA 


Enf  CATioxAL  PuKi'OST-:  OF  W'eiser  Lecti'ue.— Ail 
irtro'luction  to  the  compiler's  lecture,  txpiaiiatorv 
of  his  purpose,  was  published  and  distributed  with 
the  lecture  under  the  auspices  of  the  Rcading^  Board 
of  Trade  in  ISiKj,  and  the  forcibleness  and  truthful- 
ness of  his  remarks  at  tiiat  time,  sixteen  years  aq-o, 
will  be  appreciated  by  studying^  the  condition  of  edu- 
cational, political  and  indu^t^ial  atl'air-;  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  in  the  year  I'JU'.).  The  introduction  was  as 
follows : 

The  tendency  of  tlie  times  for  some  years  lia>  been 
against  the  uniform  development  of  the  districts  that  con- 
stitute larger  divisions  of  territory,  as  counties  and  States. 
Like  the  draining  waters  of  creeks  and  rivers  into  the 
ocean  without  artificial  impediments — as  in  the  primeval 
period  when  mechanical  power  was  not  den^.andcd — in- 
dustries, wealth,  and  population  have  been  drifting,  or 
rather  drained.  to'A-ard  uaeat  centers,  such  as  Boston.  Xew 
York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  Cincitmati,  Chicago,  St. 
Louis  and  San  Francisco.  It  is  even  to  be  noticed  in 
inland  counties  like  Berks,  Lebanon  and  Lehigh,  for  the 
county-seats  are  growmg  so  rapidly  that  they  are  com- 
ing to  have  the  major  part  of  assessed  proprrty  anrl  popu- 
lation, notwithstanding  tlie  area  of  territory  occupied  is 
comparatively  limiled.  Political  and  social  influences  arc 
thereby  developed  in  cliannels  leading  to  personal  distinc- 
tion rather  than  general  welfare.  In  this  way  too  much 
power  is  permitted  to  settle  gradually  but  surely  in 
certain  persons,  and  their  individual  judgment  is  taken 
as  public  opinion.  This  is  against  the  substantial  inter- 
ests and  prosperity  of  the  people  taken  as  an  organized 
body. 

General  education  and  government  have  been  carried  on 
for  many  years  by  a  prescribed  system  for  the  general 
advantage  of  all  the  inhabitants.  The.  manifest  design 
of  this  legislation  was  to  build  up  the  parts  which  con- 
stitute the  whc>le,  on  the  theory  that  if  tlie.  several  parts 
be  recognized  for  intelligence  and  self  government  the 
whole  ntust  necessarily  he  distmguishcd  in  these  respects. 
But  with  all  our  State  and  locril  appropriations  for  the 
purposes  of  education  and  government,  many  parts  are 
fcuTid  to  b;  deteriorating,  while  only  few  are  improving. 
This  is  particularly  noticeable  in  respect  to  property,  pop- 
ulation and  social  infiuenct-r  arid" in  respect  to  mdividual- 
ity,  co-operation,  confidence  and  reliability,  the  average 
development  is  not  what  we  ha\e  a  right  to  expect  in 
return  for  the  ta.xes  levied  and  expenditures  made.  Elect- 
ors contribute  their  share  of  the  ta.xes  to  enable  the  several 
parts  or  districts  to  be  successfully  maintained  and  devel- 
oped, but  the  substantial  and  uniform  local  benefits  for 
which  the  taxes  are  assented  to  without  complaint  arc  not 
realized. 

Steam  and  electricity  have  latterly  become  so  important 
in  the  development  of  industr>-  for  the  superrluities  of 
life,  and  capital  and  speculation  have  concentrated  so  • 
largely  in  metropolitan  places,  from  which  they  c.xert 
a  most  extraordinary  influence  over  the  manners,  cus- 
toms and  desires  of  society,  rt^aching  out  huiidrcds  if 
not  thousands  of  miles,  that  little  hope  can  '..e  entertained 
of  effecting  a  chnngt;  by  the  discus.~ioii  of  local  rights 
in  the  interior  parts  of  Pennsylvania  along  the  moun- 
tains, I  mean  such  a  change  as  would  give  to  labor  a  due 
proportion  of  its  products  in  the  districts  where  it  is 
carried  on. 

The  wafers  rise  not  in  the  mountains  simply  to  flow 
on  to  the  sea  witlnHit  advantage  to  the  people  as  they 
pass,  nor  are  men  and  women  intended  to  establish  do- 
mestic relations  in  the  interior  parts  of  the  country  sim- 
ply to  permit  their  otTspring  to  be  drawn  away  to  swell 
the  population  of  great  cities,  nor  are  they  expected  to 
work  and  practice  rigid  economy  simply  to  give  the  real 
benefits  to  financier'^  and  speculators  far  removed  from 
the  seat  of  industry;  but  they  are  designed  to  serve  a 
more  direct  purpose  in  tlic  atlairs  of  mankind.     Tlie  nat- 


ural results  would  be  more  advantageous  to  the  locality 
if  ihey  were  not  commonly  and  persistently  drawn  away 
I'y  selfish  manipulations.  .\  true  conception  of  local  right's 
would  greatly  modify  these  manipul.atioiis  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  encourage  plans  and  sclu-mes  of  distribution  that 
would  produce  a  uniform  appreci.ation  and  development  of 
the  general  rights,  privileges  and  conveniences  of  the  people. 
Circumstances,  sometimes  accidental,  but  mostly  the  result 
of  deliberation,  may  enable  a  man  or  body  of  men  to  take 
an  unfair  advantage  over  (jthers,  whether  as  neighbors 
of  the  same  loc.ility.  or  as  fellow  citizens  of  adjoining  or 
ilistant  localities,  but  in  the  short  span  of  a  life-time  this 
advantage  will  be  found  to  result  eventually  in  a  disad- 
vantage of  some  kind,  either  of  a  personal  or  general 
nature. 

Our  education  bei^ig  intended  for  social  elevation,  and 
our  government  for  political  equality,  the  former  should 
incline  us  to  be  just  and  fraternal,  and  the  latter  in  all 
its  departments  to  be  impartial,  whatsoever  the  situation 
of  the  several  localities.  But  nt}-  historical  researches, 
with  a  collection  of  statistics,  have  brought  me  to  see 
an  opposite  social  and  political  tendency;  and  believing 
it  to  be  inji'.rious  to  the  general  welfare,  I  was  led  to 
study  the  career  of  Con'rad  Weiser,  a  most  zealous  advo- 
cate of  local  rights,  and  to  present  the  result  of  my  re- 
llections  to  the  people  in  the  form  of  a  lecture,  with  the 
hope  that  thereby  public  attention  would  be  directed  to 
the  rights  and  demands  of  the  respective  parts  of  Berks 
county,  and  that  this  tendency  might  be  changed  in  the 
interest  of  practical  not  theoretical  political  equality,  of 
general  not  individual  industrial  power,  and  of  real  not 
imaginary  social  progress. 

Te.-\cher5"'  Ix.stitutes. — An  institute,  composed 
of  many  of  the  school  teachers  of  the  county,  was 
first  held  in  ^.Tarch,  1S51.  in  the  Court-House  at 
Reading,  for  the  pitrpose  of  encouraging  tlie  general 
work  of  educatirm  by  a  di.scussion  of  improved 
rnethods  of  teaching,  an  organization  having  been 
effected  in  January  preceding.  The  meeting  was 
largely  attended,  and  it  was  very  successful.  In- 
stitutes were  held  for  several  years  in  succession 
and  then  discontinued. 

fn  1SG7.  the  State  Legislature  passed  an  i\.ct  of 
Assembly  rccpiiring  the  county  superintendent  of 
common  schools  "to  call  upon  and  invite  the  teach- 
ers of  the  common  schools  and  other  institutions  of 
learning  in  his  county  to  assemble  together  and  or- 
ganize themselves  into  a  teachers'  institute,  to  be  de- 
voted to  the  improvement  of  teachers  in  the  .science 
and  art  of  education,  and  to  continue  in  session  for 
at  least  five  days.''  In  conformity  with  the  provisions 
of  this  law,  the  county  superintendent,  Prof.  John 
S.  Ermentrout,  held  a  county  institute  in  ISGS,  at 
Reading.  It  was  largely  attended  by  teachers  from 
a.ll  sections  of  the  county,  and  great  interest  was 
manifested.  Since  that  time,  annual  institutes  have 
been  held  with  increasing  attemlance  and  success. 

In  LSGt),  when  Prof.  D.  B.  Brunner  became 
county  superintendent,  he  inaugurated  the  systeni 
of  local  institutes,  and  during  that  year  he  held 
eight  institutes  in  different  sections  of  the  county 
which  proved  verv  succe-^sful.  Tiiis  enabled  the 
teachers  in  remote  districts  to  attend  an  institute 
and  become  familiar  with  its  proceedings,  and  also 
to  take  a  part  in  its  discussions,  an  opportunity 
being  afforded  and  an  inclination  to  <lo  so  being 
encouraged.      This   latter    feature   was   particularly 


.,;;;,,,     k',     \.:n. 


:,■,.'.   1    "■  i;i  J 


EDUCATION    IN    COUNTY 


59 


?ppreciable,  for  in  a  local  institute  the  teachers  were 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  one  another,  and,  not 
being  so  numerous,  they  were  enabled  to  partici- 
pate practically  in  its  discussions.  Each  succeed- 
ing year  till  now  has  shown  an  ever-increasing  in- 
terest in  them. 

The  Pennsylvania  State  Educational  Association 
was  tirst  organized  in  1850.  Three  of  its  conven- 
tions were  held  at  Reading;  in  isGo,  in  ISTS,  and 
in  1905. 

Pay  Schools. — Various  pay  scb.ools  were  con- 
ducted in  the  county,  out  of  the  limits  of  Reading, 
before  the  establishment  of  the  compulsory  system 
and  afterward  for  many  yea'rs,  more  especially  in 
Union  and  Oley  townships,  and  at  Boyertown, 
Kutztown  and  W'omelsdorf.  But  they  have  all 
been  discontinued  excepting  the  Keystone  State 
Normal  School  which  is  described  in  connection 
with  Kutztown. 

NEWSPAPERS 

There  was  no  newspaper  published  in  the  county 
before  17S'J.  News  was  communicated  bv  persons 
to  one  another  mostly  at  inns  and  stores,  of  which 
the  number  was  large  in  proportion  to  the  poDula- 
tion,  more  especially  at  -Reading.  The  latest  acci- 
dent, death,  transaction  or  crookedness  of  any  kind 
was  communicated  from  one  to  the  other,  or  to 
small  groups  of  persons;  and  so  it  was  carried 
from  building  to  building  and  from  place  to  place, 
not  in  the  English  language  (for  English  was  little 
spoken  then  bv  those  w!io  assembled  at  inns)  but 
Gennan,  which  was  used  almost  entirely,  through- 
out the  county  in  the  daily  affairs  of  life,  both  secu- 
lar and  rehg'ous. 

During  this  early  period,  the  Pcnnsyk-^iiiia 
Gazette,  published  at  Philaiielphia,  had  a  lim- 
ited c;rc4.dation  in  Reading  and  in  the  county. 
It  was  an  interesting  messenger  to  the  peo- 
ple; and  its  weekly  arrival  must  have  been  an 
event  of  more  than  ordinary  importance.  A  copy 
was  doubtless  busy  in  passing  amongst  ])erscms 
who  could  read  English — not  for  the  personal  mat- 
ters which  it  contained,  but  for  foreign  affairs. 
market  reports,  letters  published,  etc.  Christopher 
Sauer's  Journal,  a  newspaper  printed  in  German, 
and  published  at  Germantown,  had  a  more  extended 
circulation  in  this  vicinity,  and  it  exercised  a  large 
influence  over  the  residents. 

Forty  years  in  the  historv  of  Reading  elapsed 
before  the  newspaper  became  a  local  institution. 
The  entire  period  of  its  local  life  as  a  town,  with  all 
its  many  important  events,  passed  away  without 
havin,g  it  intrc>duced.  This  would  seem  to  be  a  long 
while  for  such  a  factor  to  obtain  a  foothold  in  a 
community  otherwise  energetic  and  progressive ; 
but  this  delav  is  capable  of  explanation.  The  peo- 
ple were  interested  in  home  rather  tiian  in  foreign 
aflairs,  and  strove  to  give  thein  successful  develop- 
ment. Local  matters  required  no  printed  publica- 
tion, for.  the  town  being  small  and  the  populatioti 
limited,  they  were  easily  communicated.  But  a'^ 
the  town  grew  into  a  borough,  and  especially  as  the 


borough  grew  into  a  city,  with  its  territory  en- 
larged, the  inhabitants  more  widelv  scattered  and 
the  population  largelv  increased,  the  natural  way 
became  more  and  more  incapable  of  satisfying  the 
inquisitiveness  of  the  people  and  an  artificial  wav 
had  to  be  introduced — and  this  was  supplied  by  the 
newspaper. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  century,  general  progress 
came  to  be  so  wonderfid,  the  people  so  numerous 
and  scattered,  and  their  relations  so  intermingled, 
that,  just  as  the  natural  way  had  to  yield  to  the 
artificial,  so  did  tlie  old  and  slow  process  of  print- 
ing on  a  hand-press,  with  its  limited  capacity,  have 
to  make  way  for  the  new  and  spirited  process,  by 
a  steam-press,  with  its  unlimited  capacity.  In  the 
beginning,  the  newspaper  was  weak  in  every  res- 
pect, small  in  size,  limited  in  circulation,  uncertain 
in  financial  support,  and  v,-anting  in  mental  vi.gor 
and  originality ;  hut  afterward  it  became  strong, 
rich,  energetic  and  inventive. 

The  newspapers  of  the  county  comprise  two 
classes,  weekly  and  daily.  Some  of  them  were 
printed  in  the  GeiTnan  language,  but  most  of  them 
in  the  English.  The  following  statement  shows 
the  names  of  the  several  newspapers  instituted 
at  Reading  and  in  the  county ;  also  the  names  of 
the  founders,  the  lime  when  instituted,  and  the  dur- 
ation of  the  publication.  Though  published  almost 
entirely  at  Reading,  they  have  been  placed  in  this 
chapter  on  account  of  their  general  circulation 
throughout  the  county  and  elsewhere. 

,WEF.KLV    NEVVSP-XPEK?  .AT    REAFU  NG, 
Name  rovindi.T 

Neuc  Unparthcyische  I      Johnscm,     P.arton  \ 

Readinger  Zeitung      )  &    Jiingmann      j' 

JVcck'ly    Advertiser Gottlob    Jungmann 1796-18 IC 

r,     J-         IT       I J  Jacob    Schm-ider    and  |     .._,-  .^„, 

Reading    Herald.. ^^eorgo    Gerrish  ^.■l'96-i,3u 


Year 
,1789-1793 


Rcadinsier    Adler* . 


179C-1909 
1810, 


Jacob    Sclinciflcr   and 

George    Gerrish 

U'ch  Bothc Hcnrv     B.     Sage     ... 

Berks  and  Sehuylkill** 

Journal George     Gctz 1316-1909 

Readinger   Post   Bote.  .  .Ch-arles  A.  Bruckman. . .  1816  IS-'r, 
^,        .  ■       r  .;     T-  Samuel    Mvers   and  }  ,  ,,  ,„^. 

Chronicle  of  the  7^"""-  -Douglass  W.  Hyde  ^  '    '  1-2-1S..6 

Jackson    Democrat Charles  J.  Jack 1826-1826 

„      ..  r.  .         Jeremiah  Schr.eider  ?         ,„„p  -„^. 

Readinger  Democrat.... '^^^   5^^^^,^,   ^j^.^^^  ^  . .  .  .  c8-6-1S.,d 

Berks  County   Press Samuel  Myers 1S3.=;1S05 

Jefferson   Democrat Robert    W.    Albright 1S?.S-J818 

Liberale    Bcohachtcr .Xrnold  Puwellc 1339-]S6o 

Reading  Gazette  and        Jacob  Knabb  and  )  1840-1878 

Democrct J.  Lawrence  Getz  \ 

Alt   Berks William    B.    Schocncr. .  .1840-1845 

Sonne  von  Alt  B.-r/ti. .  .Charles   W.   Guenther. . .  1S4.--1S48 
Reading    Herald Abraham    S.    Whitman. .  ]S:6-18.">o 

People's    Advocate -^   S.  Whitman  and  )       is:>0-1552 

Joseph  E.  Berret        ) 

r,     ,     ^        .     n  ,    Samuel  L.  Young  and) 

Berks  County  Democrat    Andrew  M.  Sallade        J   J8-"=-3»-S 

James    Millholland   and,>    „.„,^.„ 
School  Album Albert    R.    Durham  jl8.,S-18.,9 

*  Ritter    family    connected    witli    publication    since    1802. 
"Owned    by    publishers    of    Rcitdit\g    Times    since    ISCd. 


'      '•  ■  '     1  ''.'If  ■:!'■ 


•60 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


iVecl-.ly    Leader 

Rcjormirter  Hausfrcund 

Banner  von  Berks 

Die  Bicne 

Die   Deutsche    Eiche .  .  . . 
Rct'uhlikancr  I'on  Berks 

Spirit  of  Berks 

Reading    W^-eklv  Eagle. 
Readin-  Iferklv  Herald 
Reading  Weekly  Xez^'s.. 
Reformed  Cl:nrch  Ree'd 

Reading    Democrat 

Labor   Advocate 

Union    Sentinel 


J.    Robley    Dunglison 18G0-1861 

Daniel     Miller 1807-1904 

William    Rosenthal*. .  .  .1.^54-1009 

William     Rosenthal* 1S67-1909 

William     Rosenthal* 1S09-1OO9 

Daniel     Miller 1SG9-1S99 

Daniel    S.    Francis ISTO-lSSl 

Jesse   G.    Hav.Iey 1S7S-1909 

John    B.    Dampman 1SS1-1S06 

William    S.    Ritter lSSl-1900 

R.    FJausman 1SS8-190.) 

W.    C=car    Miller 1894-1809 

Harrv   U.  De  Gour   1900-1909 

Federated  Trades 

Council 1901-1909 


MONTHLY    NEWSP.^FERS 

Name  FouuiJcr  Year 

Litteratur    Blatt \usust    Eendel lSS3-190(j 

lUustrirtc    Jiigrvdblaftcr. Auizust    Rendel    is;<4-19i)9 

Pennsyhania  Philatelist    Clifford    a.   Kissinger. .  .1891-1903 

Greater    Reading: Walter    .S.    Haniaker 1897-1S9S 

Greater    An.'erica Walter  S.  Hamaker ly.lS-lOO.T 

Preacher's    Assistant Frank  J.  Boyer 1889-1009 

Mengel  &  Ment^el  have  issnej  a  Real  Estate  Reg- 
ister monthly  since  January,  IS!).",  relatincr  to  the 
conditions  of  real  estate  at  Reading  and   vicinity. 

WEEKLY  NEWSr.\FERS  AT  BOROUOHS 

KUTZTOWN 

Name  Founder  Year 

Neutralist William    Harmon v 1S:!3-1S41 

Geist    dcr    Zeit .Hawreciit  ?z  Wink 1811-1863 

Der    Hirf J.    S.    Hermnn isvt-isr.r, 

K-utztozi.'n    Journal Isaac   F.    Christ 1S70-1909 

National  Educator T.'.aac    F.    Christ ....  ^. .  .1872-^ 

American  Patriot Isaac   F.    Christ 18T-!-1900 

HAMBURG 
Name  Founder  Ve^r 

TT      I  c  1      11^     J.       John    Fchcifiv  and?  ,„,,   ,,,„. 

Ilar.iburg    Sclivel  post. .  .\x--,y  ci     i      .     r    .  .  .  .lStl-190.) 

'Hamburg  Advertiser. . .  .M.  H.  -Sho-llenlierprer. .  . .  i8'i,')-lS53 

Rural   Press J.   K    &    T.   G.   Smith 18T-'-lS7:) 

Hamburger    Bcrichter  . .  .WiWiam    F.    Tyson 187:2-1874 

Hamburg    Weekly  Item  .'innnvA    .\.    Focht 1S7J-1909 

BOVERTOWN' 

Name  Fo.'oder  Year 

Boyerto'titi  Bauer .0.    P.    Zink 

Boyertown    Democrat ..  .Gi:nri::c  Sa:<sanian 

WOMELSDORF 
Name  Fuiuidtr  Year 

Wonielsdorf   Gccettc Samiul    Mourv lSt7-lSlS 

Womclsdorf  Herald Michael    K.    Biiycr 1S79-1SS0 

Wovielsdorf  Nezi-s Joel   Wcidman 1S8?-1SS5 


..1S.",S-18GS 

.  .is(;s-i'.)(io 


Name  Founilcr  Year 

Birdsboro  Pioneer B.   F.    hries 1873-1870 

Birdsboro  Dispatch Rapp  &-  Ryan lSS.-)-lOOO 

Birdsboro    Rcvte^c    Harry    E.    Hart IS'.KMOOS 

D.Mi.Y  XF.w.-^PAri-.RS. — Weekly  newspaper  publi- 
cations v.-ere  carried  on  at  Keadinc:  fe)r  over  sixtv 
years  before  a  daily  was  thoui^ht  of,  at  least  before 
a  public  proposition  to  this  end  was  ma<lc.  .Manv 
weeklies  had  been  institiuoil  in  that  time;  but  thcv 
all    suspended    exceptinc^   two,    and   those   two   arc 

'John  Weller,  an  employer  snd  min.Tvier  for  many  years,  bcca:ne 
the  proprietor   June   20,    isuis. 


wortliy  of  especial  mention  for  their  entrg-y,  success 
and  lonq-cvity — the  Adler  and  tlie  Journal — the  for- 
mer a  German  publication  founded  in  1190.  and  the 
latter  an  F-n.t,dish  publication  founded  in  ISIG,  which 
is  strictly  a  continuation  of  the  Weekly  Advertiser, 
started  also  in  ITUG.  The  poi'ulation  was  certainly 
here  to  support  a  daily  newspaper.  The  rapid  in- 
crease of  the  people  would  seem  to  have  warranted 
— if  it  did  not  inspire — such  an  enterprise  in  that 
period  of  time.  Education  was  quite  jreneral, 
though  stimulated  with  marked  public  energy  after 
183-}:;  and  the  English  language  was  growing  grad- 
ually into  favor.  The  railroad  was  constructed, 
various  shops  and  factories,  especially  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  iron  goods,  were  erected;  even  English 
churches  were  founded. 

The  second  period  of  Reading  was  unusually 
prolific  in  producing  great  things  for  the  common 
progress  of  its  citizens.  In  1810  the  population 
was  8,410,  and  in  1817  it  was  about  12.000;  and 
in  the  respective  vears  named  tlie  entire  countv  had 
about  05,000  and  70.000.  The  railroad  extended 
through  the  entire  Schuylkill  Valley  to  the  north 
and  to  the  south,  and  the  stages  ran  daily  in  every 
direction.  These  means  facilitatetl  the  distribution 
of  newspapers,  and  encouraged  the  spirit  of  pub- 
lication ;  and  the  borough  was  advanced  into  a 
city.     Still  there  was  no  daily  uewsjiaper. 

When  the  third  period  was  begim  there  were 
seven  weekly  newspapers;  carried  on  successfully, 
Adler,  Journal,  Berks  Countv  Press,  Liberalc  Bco- 
haeJiter,  Alt  Berks,  Jefferson  Democrat  and  Reading 
Gazette.  They  were  issued  upon  ditterent  days  in 
the  week,  but  mostly  on  Saturday.  X'aturally,  this 
nimiber  was  sutficient  to  discourage  the  thought 
of  a  daily  publication.  But  the  snirit  of  enterprise 
was  working  its  way  through  the  people  in  different 
channel.^;  buildings  were  multiplying,  trade  wa« 
growing,  population  was  incrca^iing,  and  matiy 
strangers  were  locating  here  permanently.  The 
daily  events  necessarily  grew  with  the  general 
growth,  and  the  disposition  to  know  them  at  once 
was  preparing  the  way  for  a  step  beyond  the  ueekiy 
publication,  and  just  as  the  stage-coach  and  canal- 
boat,  through,  the  energy  of  trading,  came  to  be 
slow  and  had  to  make  way  for  the  steam-car,  so  the 
weekly  newspajier  was  coming  to  be  late  in  com- 
municating news,  the  feeling  against  the  delav  was 
growing  .stronger  and  stronger,  public  eagerness 
clamoring  for  an  improvement. 

Three  months  after  Reading  was  incorporated 
as  a  city,  .-\braham  S.  Whitman — a  practical  votmg 
printer  of  Rearling — took  the  first  step  beyond  a 
weekly  [lublication  by  instituting  and  carrying  on 
a  tri-weekly  newspaper,  which  he.einitlcd  Tlie 
Reading  Herald,  and  within  two  months  he  en- 
larged its  size  and  improved  its  appearance.  But 
he  scxm  found  that  he  had  stepped  beyond  his  tii.ie, 
and  was  therefore  compelled  to  issue  the  publica- 
tion as  a  weekly  newspaper. 


-  ^ 


^'^■•on's  ji» 


.nil' 


•1  I- <■;.'-  ;,'■.■!' 


I  -A     > . 


i'.    ■   .»'*.i'i   •<•■ 


EDUCATION    IX    COUNTY 


61 


About  the  sa-me  time,  J.  Lawrence  Getz,  publisher 
of  the  Reading  Gaccttc  (v.-eekly),  made  the  edi- 
torial  announcement  that  he  would  undertake  the 
publication  of  a  daily  newspaper,  if  supi)orted  :  but 
the  support  was  so  limited  that  he  was  forced  to 
discontinue  after  an  earnest  trial  of  nine  days. 

These  first  efforts  were  in  1S47.  Ten  years 
elapsed.  In  that  time  two  new  railroads  were  ex- 
tended from  this  business  center,  one  to  the  west 
through  Lebanon  \'alley.  the  other  to  the  north- 
east through  East  Penn  \'alley.  From  12.000  ths 
population  of  the  city  had  increased  to  20,000,  and 
from  TO,UOO  the  population  of  the  county  had  in- 
creased to  90,000.  The  post-oftices  round  about 
in  the  county  had  multiplied  from  forty-one  to 
seventy — a  wonderful  increase  in  this  department 
of  the  public  service.  The  added  wealth  to  the 
community  from  all  sources  was  estimated  not  by 
the  thousands  of  dollars,  but  by  the  millions,  and 
the  hand-press  for  newspapers  had  become  sup- 
planted by  the  steam-press.  Mr.  Getz  doubtless 
reasoned  in  this  manner  in  1S57,  and,  satisfying 
him.self  that  tlie  prospects  were  favorable,  he  started 
in  this  enterprise  a  second  time.  He  continued 
the  publication  successfully,  though  under  discour- 
aging patronage,  until  Feb.  3,  1S58,  when  he 
changed  the  time  of  its  issue  to  the  evening,  and 
reduced  the  price  from  ten  cents  a  week  to  six 
cents. 

His  second  experiment  was,  however,  carried  on 
for  only  three  weeks,  and  he  was  again  compelled 
to  suspend  publication.  The  Berks  and  Scluiylkill 
Journal  complimented  his  spirit  and  enterprise, 
but  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  suspension  was 
by  no  means  creditable  either  to  the  intelligence  or 
to  the  public  spirit  of  a  citv  with  20,000  inliabitants. 
Its  list  of  patrons  embraced  four  hundred  and  fifty 
regular  subscribers ;  but  only  sixteen  out  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  business  men  of  Reading  took 
sufficient  interest  in  its  success  to  give  it  advertis- 
ing patronage. 

Immediately  after  the  suspension  of  the  Gazette, 
a  stronger  feeling  for  a  daily  newspaper  manifested 
itself  b\^  the  citizens  and  so  a  third  attempt  was 
made.  This  was  by  J.  Roblev  Dunglifon,  a  young 
man  from  Philadelphia,  who  had  settled  at  Read- 
ing about  that  time.  He  issued  the  first  number 
of  his  paper  on  July  19.  18.")N.  which"  was  entitled 
Reading  Daily  Times.  It  was  a  folio,  printed  hi 
the  English  language.  IG  by  24  inches,  with  five 
columns  to  the  page,  and  issued  in  the'  morning. 
He  published  it  until  Dec.  9,  IS.jO,  when  he  sold  it 
to  Henry  Lantz.  Lantz  publi'-lied  it  until  September. 
ISGl,  when  (owing  to  his  enlistment  in  the  Civil 
war)  he  sold  the  paper  to  A.  S.  Whitman  and 
Charles  F.  Hause.  who  published  it  very  success- 
fully during  the  Civil  war.  In  ISG.").  F.  B.  Shakers 
became  interested,  and  in  1>^C,'P,  the  sole  owner  and 
editor.  In  18C9.  the  paper  was  purchased  by  J. 
Knabb  &  Co..  the  publishers  of  the  Ber/cs  and 
Sclinylkill  Journal,   and   this   nmi   and   its   succes- 


sor, the  Reading  Time-  Publishmg  Company,  have 
published  it  ever  since. 

The  Ez'ening  Dispatch  was  issued  as  an  evening 
daily  paper  from  Feb.  lit,  iMjC,  until  April  4,  IbTO, 
when  it  was  purchased  by  J.  Knabb  &  Co.  and 
merged  with  the  Reading  Times,  and  Alfred  S. 
Jones  had  started  the  Daily  Reporter  on  April  2G^ 
18G4,  and  issued  it  for  nearlv  a  vear. 

The  Daily  Eagle  was  founded  bv  William  S.  Rit- 
ter  and  Jesse  G.  Ilawley  (publishers  of  the  Reading 
Adler),  on  Jan.  28,  18GS.  In  1874,  Hawiey  pur- 
chased the  entire  interest,  and  published  the  paper 
until  his  decease  in  1903.  By  his  great  enterprise 
he  enlarged  its  circulation  very  much  and  distrib- 
uted its  issue  not  onlv  into  every  town  and  town- 
ship of  the  county,  but  into  neighboring  and  distani; 
counties  in  the  Schuylkill,  East  Penn  and  Lebanon 
Valleys.  Since  his  decease,  its  publication  has  been 
continued  with  equal  and  deserved  success  by  his 
estate. 

The  first  daily  German  newspaper  at  Reading 
was  founded  by  '\\'illiani  Rosenthal  on  Jiuie  1,  18G8,. 
under  the  title  of  Die  Readinge  Post,  and  he 
issued  it  successfully  until  1908.  when  he  sold  it 
to  John  Weiler. 

The  Daily  Xezi-s  was  issued  by  William  S.  Ritter 
(proprietor  of  the  Adler)  from  May,  1880,  until 
May,  18SG. 

The  Daily  Spirit  of  Berks  was  started  by  Daniel 
S.  Francis  on  Aug.  G.  18S1.  and  published  by  him 
until  November  following,  when  he  sold  the  dailv 
and  the  weekly  issue  of  this  paper  to  John  B. 
Dampman  and  A.  C.  Buck  waiter,  who  then  changed 
the  naiiies  tc  the  Daily  Herald  and  Weeklx  Herald. 
\\'illiam  McCormick  became  the  purchaser  in  the 
fall  of  189G  and  discontinued  the  ]l'eeklv  pa])er, 
but  has  issued  the  Dai^x  since.  During  the  Spanisli 
war  in  1898  he  published  a  morning  and  evening 
issue  of  the  daily,  but  discontinuecl  the  morning 
issue  at  the  close  of  tliis  war. 

The  Reading  Telegram,  a  daily,  owned  bv  the 
Reading  Telegram  Publishing  Company,  has  been 
issued  since  1887. 

Other  daily  newspapers  were  started  at  Reading 
and  issued  for  various  periods,  but  not  beyond  sev- 
eral years,  such  as  tlie  Daily  Leader,  Ez-ening  Star, 
Ez'cning  Record.  Daily  People,  Daily  Graphic,  Ez'e- 
ning  Rez'iew,  and  Ezrning  Jl'orld. 

LANGUAGE,  MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS 

L.\NGr.\GE. — The  great  majority  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Berks  county  were  Germans,  and  through 
them  their  language,  manners  and  customs  be- 
came predominant.  ]Most  of  them  remained  here, 
and,  to  a  great  degree,  where  the  several  families 
first  settled  and  prospered.  Their  number  iidhi- 
enced  the  early  erection  of  the  county  in  17~e2. 
Their  industry,  perseverance  and  econoniv  Iniilt  u[i 
and  enriched  its  valleys  and  hills  with  substantial 
improvements.  Nearly  two  hundred  years  have 
elapsed  since,  but  the  general  features  of  the  whole 
community  l.ear  their  impression.     Their  manners 


'U.1'1  ■•■,,    r, 


rji::   'i 


>'>:n"«}  ■)/{:  V 


r ').-.r..;;-jj,.    .j,ff^    ^.1,5- 


G2 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY.    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


and  customs  have  been  handed  down  from  c^enera- 
tion  to  generation,  witli  little  change ;  and  their 
language  is  still  in  general  use  in  every  section. 
This  permanonce  exhibits  inherent  strength.  The 
introduction  of  other  peoples,  with  ttift'erent  lang- 
uages, but  mostly  English,  have  not  weakened  their 
hold  upon  the  people. 

Their  language  is  composed  of  words  princi- 
pally from  German  dialects,  such  as  the  Alleman- 
nisch,  the  Pfalzisch,  and  the  Schwabisch,  and  some 
from  the  German  proper.  Its  preservation  to  such 
a  marked  degree  is  due  mostly  to  their  German 
Bible.  Martin  Luther  performed  a  great  service 
to  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  prolific  nations -of 
the  earth  in  translating  the  Latin  Bible  into  the  Ger- 
man, for  through  it  he  made  the  use  of  the  German 
language  here  persistent  and  continuous.  Their 
German  hymn-books  and  prayer-books,  and  Arndt's 
IVaiircH  CJiristcnthum  (True  Christianity)  assisted 
greatly  in  this  behalf. 

The  use  of  the  English  language  in  courts  of  jus- 
tice, and  in  legal  documents  of  all  kind-.,  did  not, 
and  apparently  c:ould  not,  interfere  with  its  preser- 
vation. Even  English  teaching,  through  a  general 
system  of  school  education,  has  not  disturbed  it 
very  much,  though  two  generations  have  passed 
away  since  its  introduction.  This  system  has  caused 
the  introduction  of  numerous  English,  mixed  and 
contracted  words,  and  doubtless  induced  the  lan- 
guage to  be  called  ''Pennsylvania  German" — or 
"Pennsylv'ania  Dutch."  These  remarks  are  particu- 
larly ajiplicablc  to  tlie  country  districts,  for  the 
teachers  are  mostly  young  people,  who,  in  many  in- 
stances, are  not  qualified  to  use  the  English  lan- 
guage accurately.  Through  them  many  peculiar 
and  incorrect  expressions  have  been  engrafted  upon 
the  language  of  our  locality;  and  the  German  people 
themselves  have  occasioned  the  introduction  of  a 
considerable  number,  through  an  earnest  desire  to 
succeed  in  their  business  relations  witii  the  citizens 
of  Reading.  The  sounds,  expressions  and  intona- 
tions are  peculiar  anil  cannot  be  communicated  in 
a  published  narrative. 

The  Pennsylvania-German  language  has  been 
presented  admirably  in  a  number  of  poems  which 
Thomas  C.  Zimmerman  translated  from  the  Eng- 
lish, lie  liaving  selected  a  \arietv  of  stvles  of  com- 
position in  order  to  sliow  tlie  capabilities  of  the 
dialect  for  metrical  expression.  This  variety  com- 
prehends sul)iects  both,  grave  and  gay,  as  well  as 
humorous  and  pathetic.  His  first  translation  was 
the  Christmas  poem  bv  Clement  C.  ]Vloore  entitled, 
'"Twas  the   Xight  before  Christmas."" 

Harbangh's  "Harfe,"  and  Fi^ciier's  "Pennsvlvan- 
ischT)eutsche  Gedichte"  and  '"Kurzweil  und  Zeit- 
vertreib,"  are  publications  in  the  Pennsvlvania- 
German  which  are  worthy  of  especial  mention. 
Th.ey  contain  numerons  interesting  poems  in  this 
dialect,  and  introduce  in  a  superior  stvle  tiie  notions, 
manners  and  customs  of  the  German  people  in 
Berks  ccuntv. 


The  English  language,  both  written  and  spoken, 
has  been  in  use  from  the  time  oi  the  earliest  settle- 
ments by  the  Englibh  in  the  county,  and  it  is  nat- 
ural to  suppose  that  in  all  these  years  through  ju- 
dicial proceedings,  business  transactions  and 
general  education,  it  should  have  made  con- 
siderable progress,  especially  during  the  last  fifty 
years ;  but  frequent  visits  to  churches  and  schools, 
stores  and  families  throughout  the  county  in  this 
time  enable  the  compiler  to  say  that  the  German 
language  is  still  prominent  in  the  country  dis- 
tricts. Another  generation  will  have  to  pass  away 
before  the  Englisli  language  can  take  its  place. 

The  circulation  of  English  newspapers  is  increas- 
ing gradually ;  but  their  total  circulation  is  small 
compared  with  our  population.  They  are  a  strong 
agency  in  effecting  a  change  from  the  Gerntan  to 
the  English;  in  reality,  they  are  a  stronger  agency 
in  this  respect  than  the  common  sciiools.  This  is 
particularly  apparent  in  Reading.  Before  the  daily 
English  newspaper  was  established  here,  the  Ger- 
man language  was  commonly  used  by  the  major 
jiart  of  its  inhabitants  in  their  daily  affairs  ;  but  now 
the  PInglish  has  its  place,  and  principally  through 
the  gradual  introiluction  of  the  news]:'aper.  The 
increasing  convenience  of  distribution  facilitates  its 
growth.  The  national  government  is  contributing" 
much  aid  by  extending  and  increasing  the  postal 
facilities  and  the  deliven-  of  mail  matter  throughout 
the  countv. 


VVO(  .-[.-WHEEL 

Manners  and  Customs. — The  buildings  and  im- 
provements throughout  the  county  are  mostly  the 
result  of  German  energy  and  thrift.  Profits  from 
labor  have  been  almost  entirely  ajipropriated  toward 
increasing  the  value  of  land  rather  than  toward  en- 
lightenment. Fine  barns,  dwellings  and  fieUls  are 
prominent  in  every  locality.  They  are  superior  to 
those  which  existed  in  the  previous  century.     This 


EDUCATION    IX    COUNTY 


63 


is  apparent  m  live  stock,  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit, 
in  the  possession  of  improved  inipleincnls  and  ma- 
chinerv,  besides  a  better  class  of  dwellinti^s  and 
barns.  A  hig"her  order  of  taste  in  the  adornment 
of  persons  and  places  has  made  its  way  through 
increasing  liberality. 


SPJNN'ING-WIIEKI. 

Domestic  habits,  in  re^pect  to  home-made  articles, 
have  changed.  Spiiming  and  weaving  have  been 
abandoned.  The  loom  and  the  factorv  supply  all 
the  materials  required.  A  change  began  to  be  made 
about  1840.  Before  that  time,  spinning  was  com- 
mon everywhere  in  the  county,  for  it  was  one  of 
the  necessary  accomplishments  of  mothers  and 
daughters.  Till  then,  reels  and  spinning-wheels 
were  sold  at  different  stores  in  Reading.  Sales 
then  declined  gradually,  and  within,  twenty  years 
afterward  there  was  no  demand  at  all  for  these 
articles. 

Gardening  is  still  carried  on  successfully  in  the 
country  districts.  Besides  supplying  vegetables  for 
family  use,  it  is  a  source  of  profit  to  mothers  and 
daughters,  who  dispose  of  a  large  proportion  of 
garden  products  in  the  markets  at  Reading  and  the 
boroughs. 

The  almanac  is  a  common  guide  to  indicate  by 
the  changes  of  the  moon  the  jirojier  time  for  plant- 
ing. The  practice  of  consulting  the  moon's  phases 
is  regarded  l)y  many  persons  as  a  su]ierstitious  no- 
tion ;  but  it  still  prevail-.  So  fences  are  erected 
when  tlie  points  of  tlie  moon  are  up;  shingle  roofs 
arc  nailed  in  position  when  the  points  arc  down  ; 


and  woods  are  clearetl  when  the  moon  is  full.  But 
the  custom  is  not  so  general  as  it  was,  especially 
in  towns  and  cities,  where  building  operations  are 
conducted  through  all  seasons ;  and  walls,  fences 
and  roofs  are  placed  in  position  regardles.s  of  the 
face  of  the  moon. 

A  funeral  in  the  country  districts  is  still  largely 
attended,  especially  the  funeral  of  a  citizen  of 
prominence.  The  services  are  generallv  conducted 
in  the  German  language  in  the  church  of  which  the 
deceased  was  a  meml)er.  as  well  as  at  his  home, 
briefly.  Afterward  the  guests  return  to  the  house 
of  mourning  and  participate  in  a  large  dinner.  This 
custom  has  continued  time  out  of  mind.  Great 
sociability  is  exhibited  upon  such  an  occasion. 
Friends  travel  miles  to  attend  a  funeral  in  order 
to  show  respect  for  the  deceased.  And  the  entire 
neighborhood  is  represented.  The  burials  are  gen- 
erally made  in  the  burying-ground  adjoining  a 
church.  But  the  first  settlers  made  burials  in  pri- 
vate grounds  set  apart  on  farms  for  this  purpose. 
It  was  instituted  as  a  matter  of  convenience ;  and 
then  the  funeral  service  was  held  at  the  hou.se.  The 
change  of  farm  ownership  caused  this  custom  to 
be  gradually  abandoned.  Seventy  years  ago,  private 
grounds  were  still  numerous ;  afterward  church 
cemeteries  began  to  be  more  encouraged  and  bur- 
ials in  them  increased. 

The  country  store  was  a  great  institution  years 
ago.  F3ut  its  influence,  trade  and  popularitv  are 
jnuch  reduced.  This  change  was  effected  through 
the  introduction  of  competing  stage  lines  and  the 
railway.  Variety  of  goods  and  cheapness  are  con- 
siderations which  induce  the  people  to  visit  the 
towns  and  the  county-seat  for  their  purchases.  It 
is  noticeable  that  the  railway  is  drawing  the  pat- 
ronage of  Reading  to  I'hiladelphia  more  and  more; 
so  that  as  our  townships  come  to  patronize  Read- 
ing, Reading  goes  to  patronize  Piiiladelpliia.  This 
is  apparent  elsewhere — the  cities  attracting  the 
trade  of  towns,  and  the  towns  that  of  the  country 
districts.  The  trolley  lines  are  particularly  useful 
and  influential  in  this  behalf. 

The  country  inn  was  also  a  popular  place  for 
many  years.  Frolics  and  dances  were  common  ev- 
erywhere years  ago;  and  they  were  carried  on  suc- 
cessfully at  the  inn.  The  '"fiddler"  was  an  impor- 
tant person  upon  such  occasions.  And  "Battalion 
Day"  brought  nnicli  profit  to  the  inn  that  was  near 
by  the  place  where  the  military  exercise  was  con- 
ducted. 

^Military  aft'airs  were  active  throughout  the  coun- 
ty from  the  close  of  the  Revolution  until  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Civil  war,  a  period  covering  nearly 
eighty  years.  Companies  of  men  were  formed  in 
every  section,  and  battalions  were  drilled  annually 
at  the  prominent  towns,  mostly  at  Reading,  Kutz- 
town,  Hamburg.  Rehrersburg.  Womelsdorf,  I'.over- 
town  and  Morgantown.  These  exercises  occasioned 
the  day  to  be  called  "Battalion  Day."  Thev  afford- 
ed the  men  much  pleasure  and  a  great  change  in 
their  daily  employment  in  the  field,  barn  and  work- 


;n'ir:i.;i;[   'ihj 


•J       ■:    :n: 


fJ'^l'-"  %V    '  .'<> 


r.t    -.i.,,r..     .,.. 


HH,\I     ;-.•:,    \"y,\) 


•u 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COL'XTY,    rKXXSVL\'AX[A 


shop.      Many   sons  of  early  families   became  quite 
prc'ininent  as  military  men. 

The  old  "Conestoi^a  wa.<;on''  is  no  Ioniser  seen 
passing  over  our  highways.  Seventy  vears  a.tro  it 
was  in  prominent  u-e  everywhere.     Many  were  seen 


FLAX-BRAKE 

moving  together  in  transporting  great  loads  of 
wheat,  and  other  products  such  as  manufactured 
articles,  whiskey,  etc.,  to  distant  markets,  especially 
to  Philadelphia.  Each  one  was  draw'u  by  four 
horses,  sometimes  by  five  and  six;  whicli  attracted 
much  attention,  witli  jin.gling  sweet-toned  bells  on 
the  lead-horse  of  the  team  to  indicate  its  movement 
on  the  way.  Its  capacity  was  from  two  thousand 
to  three  thousand  pounds.  It  via.s  covered  with  a 
strong  canvas  top.  In  returning,  store  goods  of 
various  kinds  were  brought  along.  After  the  open- 
ing of  the  railroad  in  l.s3S,  this  business  of  hauling 
in  Conestog'a  wagons  graduallv  ceased.  Since  then, 
the  only  considerable  hauling  by  farmers  is  in  con- 
veying their  grain,  hay,  etc.,  to  the  market  at  Read- 
ing; and  this  is  done  almost  entirel}'  in  one  wagon 
at  a  time. 

In  a  "'moving"  by  a  farmer  about  April  1st,  many 
teams  are  used  to  convey  the  wiiole  stock,  furniture, 
etc.,  in  a  day.  The  long  train  affords  to  a  certain 
degree  an  idea  how  the  Conestoga  teams  apjieared. 

The  life  of  the  fanner  is  comparatively  little  be- 
yond hard,  earnest  labor  and  rigid  economy  thrrmgh- 
out  each  succeeding  year.  His  daily  reflection  is 
upon  his  stock  and  crops.  All  the  improved  imple- 
ments aiul  labor-saving  maciiinery  are  devised  and 
introduced  by  others  for  his  benefit.  He  woidd 
have  continued  in  the  same  manner  of  conducting 
his  farming  operations  practised  from  1T"0  to  ISOO, 
and  even  till  18-jt\  if  inventive  genius  had 
not  created  new  methods  for  him.  The  farmer  of 
our  own  county  has  not  produced  anything  to  im- 
prove his  situation  in  respect  to  lalior.  He  adopts 
what  is  brought  to  him.  This  singular  inactivitv 
keeps  him  back  of  the  advancing  times.  Through 
it.  tiic  products  of  his  labor  arc  pernn'tted  to  be 
drained  to  populous  places.  One  of  the  chief  con- 
sequences   is    little    rcnumeration.      The    men    of 


thought  and  cnert^y  in  cities  absorb  the  greater  pro- 
portion of  the  profits,  [f  his  daily  habits  were  not 
sim[)le  and  his  expenses  small,  he  could  not  keep 
what  he  has,  much  less  accumulate  more.  His  net 
income  from  actual  labor  is  limited.  Compared 
with,  tjie  incomes  of  business  men,  agents,  officers 
of  corporations  and  clerks  in  cities,  it  is  insignificant. 
His'  manners  are  the  same  in  this  respect  as  in 
others.  If  we  examine  them  closely  and  compare 
them  w^ith  the  condition  of  things  one  hundred 
years  ago,  we  find  little  progress.  His  household 
furniture,  bedding,  clothing,  tablev.-are,  social  habits 
and  general  customs  are  generally  the  same.  His 
walls  are  not  decorated  udth  co.stly  paintings;  his 
floors  are  not  covered  with  fine,  soft  carpets ;  his 
beds  are  not  composed  of  easy  springs  and  hair  or 
wire  mattresses;  his  table  does  not  glisten  with  pol- 
ished silver  or  sparkle  with  cut  glass;  his  dwelling 
is  not  after  the  modern  style,  with  arrangements 
for  health  and  convenience;  and  he  himself  is  not 
a  patron  of  art,  literature  or  amusements.  In  towns 
and  cities,  however,  we  find  all  these  things,  not 
only  in  the  dwellings  of  bankers,  lawyers  and  mer- 
chants, but  also  of  industrious  mechanics,  agents 
and  clerks ;  and  art,  literature  and  various  anuisc- 
ments  are  largely  patronized  and  encouraged. 

This  great  difference  is  caused  bv  the  spirit  of 
progress,  which  obtains  more  in  populous  places 
where  the  people  are  led  in  numerous  wavs  to  inter- 
mingle daily  with  one  anotlier.  Association  creates 
the  laudable  ambition  to  develop  improvements  in 
the  various  departments  of  domestic  and  social  life: 
and  it  relieves  the  monotony  of  daily  labor  bv  lit- 
erary, musical  and  dramatic  amusements.  In  car- 
rying on  its  amusements  successfully,  it  is  convert- 
ing night  more  and  more  into  day  and  devising  new- 
methods  for  social  pleasure  and  excitement.  Im- 
proved light  facilitates  and  encourages  it  in  the 
night-time. 

Traveling  is  a  great  agciicv  in  stimulating  it. 
Indeed,  in  certain  respects,  it  is  hke  steam  on  the 
one  hand  and  electricity  on  the  other — active  and 
energetic  in  mo^^ng  about  from  place  to  place,  and 
l:)rilliant  and  powerful  in  providing  the  necessary 
light  to  accommodate  its  conceptions.  Horse- 
power, and  locomotion  attorded  by  this  means,  may 
suffice  for  the  people  in  the  country  districts,  but 
steam  and  railroads  afiford  locomotion  which  is  not 
too  rapid  for  the  people  in  the  towns  and  cities. 

Restless  energv  is  introducing  wonderful  changes 
in  the  manners  and  customs  of  tlie  people.  In  the 
mountainous  and  farming  districts,  where  distanci' 
still  separates  many  inhabitants  and  the  means  for 
rapid  intermingling  are  imi)racticable,  the  changes 
are  imperceptible.  Their  situation  does  not  warrant 
changes,  especially  such  as  are  constantlv  going  on 
in  the  cities,  for  it  could  not  su])port  them.  TIk^ 
profits  of  labor  and  investment  in  them  are  too 
slow  and  too  small.  Hence  their  manners  and  cus- 
toms, their  dwellings  and  churches,  their  roads  and 
movements,  their  speech  and  actions,  their  dress 
and  associations,  are  the  same  or  nearlv  the  same  as 


,(|  I 


go\'p:rx-Mext  axd  officials 


0") 


thev  were  a  hundred  years  ai^-o.  Their  energy  is 
inseparable  from  the  plow  and  ihe  hoe  and  niiiscn- 
lar  exertion.  But  the  cities  protluce  and  support 
these  changes,  and  in  them  energy  partakes  more 
of  the  mind  than  of  the  body.  And  these  changes, 
and  this  n;ental  energ-y,  are  more  active  amongst 
their  inhabitants. 

In  comparing--  the  situation  of  the  people  of  Al- 
bany and  Caernarvon  townships,  districts  located 
at  the  extreme  northern  and  southern  ends  of  the 
county,  thirty  miles  apart ;  also  of  Hereford  and 
Bethel  townships,  districts  located  at  the  extreme 
eastern  and  western  ends,  forty  miles  apart,  with 
the  situation  of  the  people  of  Reading,  the  county- 
seat,  the  difference  is  apparent  at  a  glance.  One 
hundred  years  ago  they  were  alike,  or  nearly  so. 
But  just  as  Reading  is  in  advance  of  the  districts 
mentioned,  so  is  New  York,  the  great  metropolis  of 
our  vast  country,  in  advance  of  Read.ing. 

By  contrasting  the  two  extremes,  oar  mountain- 
ous districts  with  the  great  metropolis,  the  differ- 
ence in  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  respective 
inhabitants  is  truly  wonderful.  And  yet  the  fore- 
fathers of  each,  as  immigrants,  started  alike.  In 
the  one,  oil  'and  tallow  are  still  used,  and  even  the 


open  fireplace  for  the  production  of  light  in  a  simple 
and  inexpensive  way ;  in  the  other,  these  have  long 
passed  away,  especially  for  public  purposes,  and 
the  people  have  light  from  electricity.  ]n  the  one, 
thousands  of  inhabitants  arc  scattered  over  miles 
of  territory,  but  in  the  other  thousands  are  concen- 
trated upon  a  few  acres,  if  not  in  a  few  very  large 
buildings.  In  the  one,  a  few  hundred  dollars  suffice 
to  make  the  inhabitants  contented  and  happy ;  but 
in  the  otlier,  millions  of  dollars  are  invested  and 
expended  to  carrv  out  successfidly  the  manners  and 
customs  of  its  inhabitants  and  such  changes  as  am- 
bition, competition  and  rivalry  produce. 

Contentment  would  seem  to  be  the  companion  of 
slowness,  if  not  of  stillness;  but  discontentment,  of 
energy  and  activity.  In  the  otic,  the  expense  of 
a  few  extra  dollars  in  travel  or  amusement  is  looked 
upon  as  luxury,  if  not  extravagance ;  but  in  the 
other,  thousands  of  dollars  are  expended  as  a  mat- 
ter of  necessity  for  the  same  purpose.  These 
strong  contrasts  enable  us  to  see  our  own  manners 
and  customs  as  they  are  or  were  or  as  they  will  be, 
more  especially  in  the  more  populous  places,  the 
nearer  that  steam  and  electricity  come  to  be  con- 
nected with  us  in  our  material  progress. 


CHAPTER  IV -GOVERNMENT  AND  OFFICIALS 


ELECTION   DLSTRICTS 

Provision  was  made  for  free  and  voluntary  elec- 
tions by  William  Penn  in  the  laws  agreed  upon  in 
England  in  HiS'i,  for  the  government  of  PeTUisyl- 
vania  and  the  right  of  election  was  given  to  every 
freeman  of  the  province.  A  freeman  was  defined 
to  be  "every  inhabitant  that  is  or  shall  be  a  pur- 
chaser of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  or  upward;  and 
every  person  who  shall  have  paid  his  passage  and 
taken  up  one  hundred  acres  of  land  at  one  penny 
an  acre,  and  have  cultivated  ten  acres  thereof;  and 
every  person  that  hath  been  a  servant  or  bondsman 
and  is  free  by  his  service,  that  shall  have  taken  up 
fifty  acres  of  land  and  cultivated  twenty  thereof ; 
and  every  inhabitant,  artificer,  or  other  resident  that 
pays  scot  or  lot  to  the  government." 

At  that  time,  the  territory  comprising  Berks 
county  was  occupied  by  Indians.  Xot  a  single  white 
man  had  yet  settled  upon  it.  There  was  no  need, 
for  election  laws  then,  nor  for  districts  to  facilitate 
elections.  But  in  one  hundred  years  afterward, 
many  permanent  settlers  had  entered  the  territory, 
and  the  necessity  lor  government  in  all  its  forms 
had  become  apparent.  Townships  had  been  organ- 
ized and  the  county  had  become  erected  \\  ilh  all  its 
offices  in  that  interval  of  time.  Independence  had 
been  declared ;  government  established ;  and  elec- 
tions of  various  local  officers  held. 

The  elections  for  county  officials  were  held  at 
Reading  from  the  beginning  of  the  county  in  i','j2 


till  1789.  During  this  time  tlie  county  comprised 
one  election  district;  and  a,ll  elections  were  directed 
to  be  held  at  the  Court-House,  in  the  countv-town. 
Then  the  county  was  divided  into  five  election  dis- 
tricts, and  the  electors  of  the  several  townships 
were  required  to  vote  at  the  places  named: 
Reading,  1st  District,  at  the  Court-House  . 


Reading 

.A.lsace 

Bern 

Brecknock 

Caernarvon 

Cumru 


Exeter 

Heidelberg 

Mciideii-creek 

Oley 

Robeson 

Ruscombnianor 


Kittclozi'u,  2d  District,  at  public  licuse  of  Philip  Gehr 

Greenwich  Maxatawny 

Hereford  Richmond 

Longswamp  Rockland 

Hamburg,  .Sd  District,   at   public  house  of  John   Moyer 

,\lliany 
Bern,  Upper 


Brunswick 
Windsor 


Tulfcliockcii,    4th    District     at    public    house    of    Godfrey 
Rochrcr 


Bethel 
Pine-Grove 


Tulpehucken 


Amity,    5th    Di>trict,    at   pi'blic   liouse   of    W'ni.    Witman- 
called  "White  Horse  " 


Amity 

Colebrookdale 

Douglass 


Earl 
Union 


-^.  !/.'■;!  :-iC^  ^- '■•'.--    1 


V  y 


,i.'./jS 


'  .  '.'i    V      .-C, 


.,.,)'      M;4: 


66 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXTA 


There  were  then  twenty-nine  townships  and  one 
borough.  Reading.  In  the  performance  of  this  poh- 
tical  chity  many  elector.s  traveled  a  distance  of  fif- 
teen miles.  But  this  was  an  improvement  on  what 
had  been  required  four  years  before — those  living 
in  the  townships  farthe^t  removed  from  Reading 
having  been  required  to  travel  froin  twenty-five  to 
thirty  miles. 

Subsequently,  until  now,  additional  districts  have 
been  established  to  facilitate  elections.  As  a  matter 
of  historical  interest  they  arc  presented  in  the  order 
of  priorit}-;  in  the  subdivisions  of  the  county  (as 
made  in  Chapter  I). 

^fa)latl.ni.•)ly   Secticn 

Muthr.rt's,  1794 — comprising  Colebrookdalc,  District 
Earl  and  Hereford. 

Hereford,   ISM. 

Keely's,  1812 — comprising  Douglass,  Amity,  Colebrook- 
dalc and  Earl. 

Oley,   1814. 

Ruscombmanor,   1815. 

Rockland,  1816. 

Pike.    1816. 

Earl,    1317. 

Reading,  two  wards,  1317. 

District,   ISIS. 

Amity,  182*?. 

Douglass,  1824. 

Colebrookdalc,  1827. 

Exeter,  1839. 

Alsace,   1840. 

Washington.  1840. 

Reading,  1840,  four  wards;  1841,  tilth  ward. 

Muhlenberg,   IsriO. 

Boyertown,   1800. 

Reading,  1804,  nine  wards;  lS7ri.  eleven  wards;  138.5, 
thirteen   wards;    1892,   fifteen   wards;    lS9t,   si.xtccn  wards. 

Alsace,   Lower,   18S8. 

Mt.  Penn,  1904. 

Ontclmiuee  Section 

Croll's   1799 — comprising  .Albany  and   Greeiiwich. 

Maiden-creek.   1817. 

Longswamp,    1817. 

Albany,    1819.  ,  ■ 

Perry,  1821. 

Richmond,  1823. 

Greenwich,  1827. 

Windsor.   1830    (at   Hamburg). 

Hamburg,  1837. 

Maxatawny  and   Kutztown,   1841. 

Ontelaunee,   IS.iO. 

Fleetwood,  1873. 

Topton,  1877. 

Lenhar'isvillc,    18S7. 

Tulpehockcn  Section 

Womelsdorf.  1797 — comprising  Bethel,  Tulphocken  and 
Heidelberg. 

Bethel,    1803. 

Tulpchocken,  1809. 

Shartlc's,  1812 — comprising  Upper  Bern  and  Upper  Tul- 
pehocken. 

Bern,   Upper,  1822. 

Tulpehocken,   I'ppcr,   1829.  ...  • 

Bernville,   1820. 

Heidelberg,  Lower,  1834. 

HeidellxTg.  1839. 

Bern.   1840. 

Penn,  1842. 


Centre.   1843. 

Marion,  1843. 

Hcjdelberg,  North,  1845. 

Jetterson,   1851. 

Cent  report,   1S84. 

TiUlen.   1887. 

West  Leesport,  1001. 

Schuylkill   Sccliosi 

Forest,  1791 — comprising  then  Caernarvon,  Robeson  and 

L'nion. 

-Marquart's,  179.8 — comprising  same  townships  with  Breck- 
nock added. 

Caernarvon,   1818. 

Union,  1829. 

Robeson,    1829. 

Brecknock,  1829. 

Cumru,  1840   (at  Reading). 

Spring,  1850.  '     ■''     . "  :    _     .  ■ 

Birdsboro,  1872. 

Wyomissing,  19O0. 

West  Reading.   1907. 

Mohnton,   1907. 

Shillington,  1908. 

Section    beyond    the    Mountiiin 

Pine-Grove,  1797 — comprising  all  north  of  the  Blue 
Mountain. 

Orvvigsburg,  1798 — t-omprising  Brunswick  and  ^Man- 
heim. 

Mahantango,    1S02 — comprismg    that    township. 

The  election  districts  in  the  county  now  noOO) 
comprise  10  wards  of  Reading,  2  wards  of  Birds- 
boro  and  2  of  Hamburg;  l.">  boroughs,  and  4.'>  town- 
ships, altogether  7S. 

PROMINEXT  RFPRESEXT.XTIVE   MEX 

Before  1820,  it  would  seem  that  the  major  part 
of  the  voters  of  the  ccmnty  did  not  show-  so  strong 
a  partisan  spirit  in  reference  to  tlie  election  of  their 
representatives  to  Congress  as  they  did  afterward. 
Joseph  Hiester  was  a  very  popular  man  with  liis 
constituents,  and  he  maintained  tlieir  confidence 
and  political  support  through  a  period  embracing 
thirty  years,  notwithstanding  his  identification  with 
the  Federal  party  and  ihc  publication  of  certain 
letters  in  local  newspapers  refiecting  against  liis 
political  character.  He  succeeded  in  accomplishing 
what  no  other  man  in  the  history  of  the  county  ha> 
been  able  to  do;  for.  besides  securing  his  repeated 
election  to  Congress  on  the  ticket  of  the  minority 
party,  he  even  int^uenced  the  sufi'rage  of  the  Dem- 
ocrats in  the  county  in  his  own  behalf  against  their 
own  regular  nominee  for  Governor  to  such  an  ex- 
tent as  to  be  elevated  to  the  highest  executive  c<ifire 
of  the  State. 

During  the  period  from  1820  to  1S44.  Rev.  Hen- 
ry A.  Muhlenberg  (the  son-in-law  of  Hiester)  was 
the  most  prominent  political  representative.  Bv  a 
reelection  to  Congress  for  five  consecutive  terms 
he  evinced  much  popularity.  In  IS:;.";.  lie  received 
the  nomination  of  the  Democratic  partv  for  ( lover- 
nor;  but  he  was  not  elected,  owing  to  the  action 
of  an  independent  element  in  the  j-arty  whiih  wa-^ 
led  by  Governor  Wolf,  the  incunibeiit  then  in  the 
executive   office   and   concludin"-    Jii^    seeond    term. 


■r.     ;':ri;:i;' .;(     il   I 


<)•■.!.;■ 


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iK<-i.ir"'>>-  T'n: 


J    i,:„:    'nvr:     V-r,.     .,    1>. 


A   \yj 


GOVERNMENT    AND    OFFICIALS 


At  that  time,  the  Anti-Mason  party  was  ^tronc;' 
in  the  State,  and,  through  the  division  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  it  was  enabled  to  elect  its  candidate, 
Joseph  Ritner.  Muhlenberg  polled  the  largest  vote 
of  the  three  candidates  in  the  county. 

Several  years  afterward.  President  \'an  lAiren 
appointed  Aluhlcnberg  to  be  the  first  minister  to 
Austria,  and,  upon  accepting  this  distinguished  ap- 
pointment, he  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress.  This 
was  the  first  honor  conferred  by  a  President  of 
the  United  States  upon  the  county  of  Berks,  and 
the  people  appreciated  it  higlily.  In  1844,  ]Muhlen- 
berg  again  became  the  regular  nominee  for  Gov- 
ernor on  the  Democratic  ticket,  but  he  died  before 
the  election. 

There  was  a  great  difference  between  Hiester  and 
Muhlenberg ;  the  former  was  a  Federalist  in  a  Dem- 
ocratic county,  successful  in  wiiming  and  holding 
a  strong  political  support  for  him.self.  and  a  stanch 
advocate  of  a  protective  tariff,  of  the  free  school 
system,  and  of  the  United  States  Bank  (of  v.hich 
it  is  probable  that  he  was  one  of  the  original  sub- 
scribers of  stock)  ;  but  the  latter  was  a  Democrat, 
and  opposed  to  the  measures  mentioned. 

Twenty  years  after  Muhlenberg's  time  in  Con- 
gress, the  first  considerable  dissatisfaction  arose  in 
the  Democratic  party  in  the  county,  which  resulted 
in  the  defeat  of  Hon.  J.  Glancy  Jones,  the  regular 
nominee.  He  had  been  the  ■re[)resentative  from  this 
district  since  1851,  and  while  serving  his  fourth 
term  announced  his  candidacy  for  re-election.  But 
a  great  political  change  was  then  working  its  way 
amongst  the  people  throughout  Pennsylvania,  and 
to  a  certain  extent  this  change  was  manifesting 
itself  also,  in  Berks  county.  It.  was  created  princi- 
pally by  the  action  of  Buchanan's  administration  on 
the  Kansas  question,  and  Jones — one  of  Buchan- 
an's ablest  supporters — having  been  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  it,  the  leaders  of  the  c^ipposition  naturally 
took  advantage  of  the  situation  to  extend  their  feel- 
ing into  the  county  so  as  to  operate  against  him. 

Though  Jones  had  made  the  nomination  before 
the  County  Convention  almost  by  acclamation,  im- 
mediately afterward  certain  inHrential  Democrnts 
of  the  county  developed  sufficient  strength  against 
him  to  be  able  to  call  another  convention  aiid  ex- 
press opposition  to  his  re-election — the  principal 
ground  being  his  course  on  the  subject  of  the  tariff. 
The  Independent  Democrats  therefore  nominated 
John  Schwartz — a  prominent  ironmaster  of  large 
ability  and  experience,  and  a  highlv  respected  sur- 
vivor of  the  war  of  1812-1."). 

The  Republicans  united  in  supporting  Schwartz, 
and  this  co-operation  causetl  the  defeat  of  Tones 
by  a  small  majority — -the  first  real  defeat  which  the 
Democrats  had  met  with  in  the  history  of  the  party 
in  the  coimty. 

The  defeat  of  Jones  was  both  a  surprise  anrl  a 
disappointment  to  President  Brchanaii.  and  immed- 
iately after  hearing  it  he  appointed  Joises  to  the 
.'\ustrian  Mission.  Jones  accepted  this  appointment 
and  thereupon  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress.     He 


represented  the  national  government  at  Vienna  for 
two  years  with  great  distinction. 

But  the  political  activity  in  the  campaign  of  1858 
was  not  permitted  to  subside  with  the  defeat  of 
Jones.  His  resignation  having  caused  a  vacancy 
which  the  electors  were  obliged  to  fill  the  Democrats 
nominated  Joel  B.  Wanner,  Esq.  (who  had,  two 
years  before,  served  a  term  as  mayor  of  Reading), 
and  the  Republicans  nominated  General  William  H. 
Keim,  a  man  highly  respected  for  his  business  qual- 
ifications and  very  popular  throughout  the  county 
in  military  affairs.  A  special  election  was  held  in 
November,  1858,  but  the  vote  was  small,  especially 
for  the  Democratic  candidate,  and  Keim  was  elect- 
ed. 

Previously,  on  two  occasions,  in  respect  to  coun- 
ty offices,  a  similar  result  had  occurred.  In  1846, 
David  Voder,  a  prominent  and  infiuential  farmer  of 
Olcy  and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  first  families 
in  that  township,  was  elected,  as  a  Whig,  to  the 
office  of  county  commissioner,  because  the  nominee 
on  the  Democratic  ticket  was  alleged  to  have  been 
an  Irishman,  the  Irish  as  a  class  not  being  par- 
ticularly appreciated  by  the  German  element  in  the 
county.  And  in  1853,  Charles  Van  Reed,  also  a 
prominent  farmer  aiul  paper  manufacturer  of  Lower 
Heidelberg  township,  was  elected  as  a  W'hig  to  the 
office  of  county  treasurer.  The  nominee  on  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket  was  .Adam  Leize,  who  had  held  the 
office  from.  184D  to  1851.  The  incumbent  during 
the  election  was  William  Ermentrout,  whose  son 
was  married  to  Leize's  daughter.  Many  Democrats 
thought  that  one  family  was  obtaining  too  m.uch 
political  preferment  and  therefore  they  opposed  the 
election  of  Leize. 

Between  1789  and  1820,  Daniel  ^Messersmith  and 
John  K.  IMesser.smith  had  continued  to  hold  the 
office  of  treasurer  alternately  for  a  period  of  thirty 
years;  David  Bright  from  18:2r>  to  1835;  and  Peter 
Nagle  from  1835^o  1843.  The  office  was  filled  by 
appointment  until  1841,  when  it  became  elective. 

In  1841,  the  Hon.  John  Banks  (then  the  president 
judge  of  the  county)  was  the  nominee  of  the  ^^'hig 
party  for  Governor.  The  Democratic  party  was 
at  that  time  under  thorough  organization  and  Gov- 
ernor Porter  was  elected  by  a  largely  increased  ma- 
jority, in  the  county  as  well  as  in  the  State.  Sub- 
sequently, in  1817.  while  the  Whigs  were  in  the 
majority  in  the  State  Legislature,  Judge  Banks  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  State  treasurer  for  one  year 
by  the  united  support  of  all  the  Whigs. 

Between  1850  and  18(;(),  there  were  two  promi- 
nent representatives  from  the  county  in  the  State 
Legislature — William  M.  Hiester,  in  the  Senate 
from  1853  to  1855,  serving  as  speaker  during  the 
latter  year:  and  J.  Lawrence  Getz,  in  the  House 
for  1856  and  1857,  also  serving  as  sjjcaker  during 
the  latter  year.  Mr.  Getz  subsequently  served  three 
terms  in  Congress  from  this  district,  1867  to  1873. 
Hiester  Clymer  occupied  great  political  promi- 
nence in  the  county  for  twenty  years,  from  1861  to 
]SMl.     He  was  in  the  State  "Senate  from  1861  to 


■>■■'■  ■':■      1   I 


>\!  :-; 


<(»    :>:.  i:( 


'-..d- 


"/■'.J'-'I'    ,  •  I  .,, 


G3 


HISTORY    (JF    BKRKS    COUXTY.    PEXXSYIAWXIA 


18GG.      In    lS(i(].    he    received    the    nmr.inntion    for  they   have   coniinuecl   to  be   till   now.      A    ?mgular 

Governor  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  hi-.t  he  was  not  change -if    not    a    transformation— in    re-pect^  to 

elected.     Readint^r  was  tiien  Republican  in  political  party  names,  arose  afterward.     As  early  as   1TP3, 

sentiment  bv  a  small  majoritv  and  the  nominee  on  the  Anti-Federal  party  was -called  the  Democratic- 

the  Repul>li'can  ticket  received  the  full  party  vote,  Republican  party;  but  the  word  "Republica!!"'  was 

notwithstanding-    Reading-    was    the    home    of    Mr.  dropped   in   1S05,  and  the  name  Democratic   alone 

Clymer.      He   was   the   representative   in   Congress  used.     Thence  the  Federals,  or  Whigs,  or  Republi- 

from  1ST3  to  188 1.  cans,  have  been  on  the  one  side  and  the  Democrats 

Daniel  Ermentrout  succeeded  Clymer  in  political  on  the  other,  the  latter  party  keeping-  its  identity 

prominence,  having  been   State  senator   from  IST-i  here   for   over   a   century.      For   twenty-five   years. 


to  1880,  and  the  rcprcbcntative  in  Congress  from 
1881  to  1889,  and  from  1897  to  1S99,  dying  before 
the  end  of  his  last  term. 

POLITICAL  SEXTLMEXT 


from  18:50  to  IS.Jo,  the  Anti-Mason  party  for  ten 
vears,  and  the  Whig  for  fifteen,  were  substituted 
in  the  place  of  the  Republican  party. 

The  Declaration  of  Independence  was  published 
on  the  4th  day  of  July,  ITTli.  Smce  the  Revolution, 
Political  Paktils.— From  the  beginning  of  the  that  day  has  been  regarded  as  the  nation's  birthday, 
county,  there  have  been  two  parties  in  political  af-  and  it  has  been  made  a  holiday  by  the  several  State 
fairs.  Before  the  Revolution,  agitation  of  political  governments.  Annually  for  about  eighty  years,  the 
questions  was  not  general  or  continuous.  The  elec-  partie.s  of  each  community  celebrated  this  great 
tive  franchise  was  a  recognized  privilege,  but  it  was  holiday  by  assembling  at  popular  places  and  drink- 
not  particularlv  encouraged  by  the  creation  of  con-  ing-  toasts,  making  addresses  and  enjoying:  them- 
venient  or  numerous  polls  to 'enable  electors  to  ex-  selves  generally.  At  Reatiing,  the  parties  celebrated 
press  political  preferences.  Local  offices  for  the  the  day  regularly  in  this  manner.  I'he  I'"ederaii£ts 
townships  and  the  town  were  filled  bv  election,,  but  and  the  Whigs  assembled  on  the  island  in  the 
county  officials  were  appointeil,  and  this  feature  Schuylkill  river,  several  hundred  feet  above  the 
contiriued  in  respect  to  the  major  part  of  them  until  ferry,  at  the  foot  of  Biiiganian  street ;  and  the  Dem- 
1841.  when  an  Act  of  Assembly  was  passed  wliich  ocrats  at  Mineral  Spring,  east  of  the  limits  of  Read- 
provided  for  a  general  change  to  election.  For  over  ing.  \\'l;en  the  Civil  war  broke  out.  this  custom 
thirty-five  years  Berks  countv  comprised  ')ne  gen-  was  discontinued,  and  it  has  not  been  revived, 
eral  election  district,  witi;  the  court-house  at  Read-  \'otf.  for  Govf,kxok. — Since  1788.  the  people  of 
ing  as  the  polls.  In  1789.  the  districts  began  to  the  county  manifested  a  most  remarkable  adherence 
increase;  and  they  have  increased  graduallv,  to  sat-  to  the  Democratic  parly  and  the  tjrinciples  which  it 
isfy  the  demands  and  encourage  the  facilities  for  advocated,  chief  am.ong  them  the  principle  of  local 
election,  till  they  now  number  seventy-eight.  ->eIf-governnient.    In  180:?.  the  Democratic  vote  was 

During  the  Revolution,  tiie  people'  formed  them-  eight  times  that  of  the  Federal.  After-.varfl  this 
selves  into  two  parties,  especially  those  who  mani-  proportion  was  at  no  time  suri)assed,  not  even 
fested  any  concern  in  the  government :  the  one  class,  equaled.  The  vote  v/as  regularly  for  the  Demo- 
favoring-  a  continuance  of  the  royal  g^overnment,  cratic  candidate,  excepting  two  occasions,  in  1817' 
called  "Tories";  and  the  other,  favoring  a  free,  rep-  and  18-?0,  when  the  people  of  the  county  manifested 
resentative  government,  called  "F"ederals,"  or  their  respect  for  foseph  Iliester,  though  on  the  op- 
"Whigs."  The  distinction  was  marked,  and  fortu-  posing  ticket.  These  occasions  were  when  Hiester 
nately  for  the  people  of  the  county,  as  of  the  State  was  a  candidate  on  the  Federal  ticket  for  Governor, 
and  the  great  confederation  of  States,  th.e  latter  He  had  distinguished  himself  in  political  aflfairs 
party  won  a  decisive  victory.  Upon  the  establish-  through  a  period  of  forty  years. 
ment  of  freedom,  new  parties  arose.  These  pro-  Berks  county  was  not  alone  in  honoring  him.  for 
ceeded  from  Whigs,  and  were  recognized  cither  as  of  the  eleven  counties  in  the  southeastern  sectiorr 
the  Government  Whigs,  or  Federals,  who  desired  of  the  State,  he  had  eight  in  1817.  This  important 
a  Republican  form  of  gnvernment,  with  checks  section  of  the  State  gave  h.im  a  majority  of  7,191, 
upon  the  impulses  or  passions  of  the  people,  and  though  the  State  wa*^  against  him  by  a  niajority  of 
with  libertv  regulated,  strengthened  and  confirmed  7.0(i.">.  Anrl  in  1S?0  he  had  nine  of  the  eleven 
by  central  authority:  or  as  the  Particularist  \Miigs.    ct)unties.  with  a  majority  of  8.191.  and  in  the  State 


or  Anti-Federals,  who  desired  the  same  form  of 
government,  but  Democratic  in  spirit,  with  the 
rights  of  local  self-gr>vernment.  and  uf  States  ever 
uppermost. 

In  1781,  there  were  two  parties  in  the  province, 
called  Republicans  and  Constitutionalists.  Most  of 
the  electors  of  this  countv  were  of  the  latter  party. 
In  a  certain  sense,  the  latter  took  the  place  of 
the  "Tories."  and  were  called  "Republicans."  They 
were  the  dominant  party   in   the   county   then  and 


a  majoritv  of  LGOTi.  In  this  connection,  the  vote 
of  Iliester  for  Congress,  as  again-^t  Daniel  Clymer, 
in  1798,  can  be  mentioned  in  order  to  show  Hiester's 
popularity.  The  vote  was  more  than  four  to  one 
in  his  favor.  .Ml  tliC  districts  in  the  county  except 
one  gave  him  large  majorities,  and  this  exception 
was  the  "Forest"  district,  intluencefl  by  the  Clymer 
family,  resident  in  Caernarvon  township. 

FX-cn  through  the  excitement  incident  to  the  Civil 
war,  18Gl-(l-5,  the  county  continued  Democratic  by 


i   ■' 


;/  ■,   ■  i^?i.    :■-   '    ■:        .  :    iV  '■.■;■]      "I    Oi    ■'■'■ 


V-  '      'I     .1,; 


GO\'ERXMKXT    AXD    OFFICIALS 


69 


lartfe  majorities.  The  city  of  Rcadinj;;-  was  other- 
wise, though  theretofore  also  generally  Democratic  : 
fur,  at  the  election  previous  to  ISUO,  it  was  almost 
three  to  one  Democratic,  hut  in  18()0,  1S0:>,  snd 
IhGt!  it  was  Republican.  Since  then,  it  has  been 
Democratic,  excepting'at  the  election  of  ISD-l.  when 
the  Republicans  received  a  ])Iural;ty  of  l,r2;i. 

\'0TE  FOR  pRESiDicxT. — In  ls->,s.  the  vote  for 
Jackson  in  Berks  was  five  to  one  against  Adams. 
Then  it  was  that  the  county  distinguished  itself  in 
voting  for  Jackson.  It  would  seem  that  the  people 
here,  as  the  people  elsewhere,  had  felt  keenly  the 
outrage  perpetratetl  upon  them  by  the  House  of 
Representatives,  in  not  respecting  the  will  of  the 
majority  by  the  selection  of  a  candidate  for  Pres- 
ident whose  electors  had  received  the  greatest  nnni- 
ber  of  votes.  The  idea  of  self-government  was 
again  uppermost  in  their  minds,  and  this  idea  they 
felt  it  their  duty  to  express  by  ballot  in  a  most  un- 
equivocal manner.  The  vote  of  Reading  was  in 
the  same  proportion.  And  at  Jackson's  re-election 
in  1833,  the  result  of  the  vote,  both  in  the  county 
and  city,  was  for  him  in  the  proportion  of  about 
four  to  one.  The  vote  in  the  county  for  President 
from  1828  to  190-1  was  always  Democratic  by  a 
large  majority. 

The  city  of  Reading  was  also  Democratic  by  a 
considerable  majority  till  I860 ;  then  a  decided 
change  tooic  place  through  the  great  upheaval  in 
political  affairs.  Lincoln  was  given  a  majority  of 
more  than  500  over  Breckenridge.  and  of  more 
than  300  over  all,  Douglas  and  Bell  included. 
This  Republican  feeling  in  th.e  city  prevailed  till 
the  re-election  of  Grant,  when,  remarkable  to  say. 
a  majority  of  1,207  was  given  for  him.  In  the  elec- 
tion of  McKinley.  there  was  a  pluralitv  of  1,717 
for  him  in  1896.  and  of  1,111  in  1900 ;  in  the  elec- 
tion of  Roosevelt,  there  was  a  plurality  of  3,069  for 
him  in  190-1;  and  in  the  election  of'Taft,  of  866 
for  him  in  190s. 

Vote  for  Coxstitutionai.  Amexoments. — On 
the  question  of  amending  the  State  Constitution,  the 
election  returns  are  interesting.  In  182-5,  the  coun- 
ty was  against  the  Convention  by  a  vote  of  five  to 
one;  and  in  1835.  also  against  it.  of  over  two  to 
one.  But  in  1838.  on  the  question  of  ratifving  the 
work  of  the  Convention,  the  county  voterl  for  the 
.Amendments.  The  chief  provision  gave  electors  the 
right  to  elect  county  officials,  excei)ting  the  judges. 
and  this  the  county  electors  appreciated  verv  much. 
The  State  adopted  them,  but  by  a  verv  small  major- 
ity compared  with  the  total  vote. 

In  1850,  on  the  question  of  making  the  judges  of 
the  Supreme  and  County  co-rts  elective,  the  countv 
was  for  it  by  a  large  majority  ;  and  the  State  was 
for  it  by  a  vote  of  two  to  one. 

Tn  1871,  the  question  of  a  C^'uvention  was  again 
si'bmitted  to  the  voters.  The  county  was  against 
it  by  a  remarkable  vote  of  two  t'>  one.  but  the  State 
was  for  it  by  a  vote  of  almost  five  to  one.  flow- 
ever,  on  the  ratification  of  the  rcnort  of  the  Con- 
vention  at   a   special   election   in    l.s73,   the  countv 


w_as_  decidedly  for  the  Xew  Convtitntion  bv  a  vote 
of  five  to  one. 

\0TE  FOR  PRoiiiiiiTiox  .\xn  LicicxsE.— The  liquor 
question  was  submitted  twice  to  a  vote  of  the  elec- 
tors ;  first  in  1854.  and  again  in  1873.  On  both 
occasions,  the  county  was  decidedly  in  favor  of  li- 
cense; first,  by  a  vote  of  four  toCine ;  and  next, 
three,  to  one. 

Election  of  1876.— The  Democrats  in  Berks 
county  were  certain  of  victory  in  187(i.  They  were 
taught  to  expect  it.  and  when"  the  night  of  the  elec- 
tion arrived  they  looked  for  it.  But  the  news  was 
doubtful.  They  had  counted  upon  a  "Solid  South," 
and  also  certain  Northern  States.  Their  leader  had 
calculated  with  great  shrewdness,  but  neither  he 
nor  aiiy  of  his  followers  had  thought  the  loss  of 
three  Southern  States  within  the  range  of  possi- 
bility. And  this  result  actually  occurred.  Late  on 
election  day,  the  chairman  of  the  Republican 
X'ational  Committee  atmounced  that  Hayes  ha-.i 
185  electoral  votes,  and  would  be  the  next  Presi- 
dent. This  came  to  be  exactly  so.  But  during 
the  four  intervening  months,'  great  excitement 
prevailed  antl  fears  of  a  political  revolution 
were  entertained.  At  Reading,  excited  crowds 
of  people  assembled  for  many  nights  in  suc- 
cession to  hear  the  returns  which  were  reflected 
upon  screens — the  Times  screen  having  been  set  up 
again.st  the  Jameson  building  on  the  Sixth  street 
side,  above  the  portico,  so  as  to  show  the  figures 
down  Penn  Square,  and  the  Ea'i^lc  screen  in  front 
of  the  Eagle  building.  Son.e  of  the  cartoons  were 
striking  and  afforded  much  merriment  in  reliev- 
ing the  monotony  of  election  returns.  The  ele- 
phant figured  conspicuously  in  them.  At  one  time 
he  came  out  with  a  rooster  in  his  trunk  lashing 
it  around  wildly  in  the  air ;  then  with  a  rooster 
tied  to  his  tail,  running  away  with  it ;  now  jump- 
irig  for  joy  at  a  favorable  report,  then  Iving  on 
his  back  as  if  dead  from  a  Democratic  victorv.  v\ith 
a  rooster  crowing  lu.stily  over  his  fallen  bod v ;  Jeff 
Davis  was  represented  as  sitting  up  in  a  sour  apple 
tree,  and  different  prominent  Democrats  were 
drawn  in  various  laughable  positions ;  and  numer- 
ous short  witticisms  appeared  frequentlv.  Alto- 
.gether,  the  exhibition  awakened  a  thrilling  interest 
in  the  people. 

State  Coxvextioxs  at  RE.\nixG. — Three  Demo- 
cratic State  Conventions  were  held  at  Reading  at 
which  candidates  for  Governor  were  nominated: 
the  first  on  June  4.  1851,  when  William  Bigler  was 
nominated  by  acclamation;  the  second  on  Feb.  29, 
■'8(i().  when  Henrv  D.  Foster  was  nominated;  and 
the  third  on  May  3(>.  1872.  when  Charles  R.  Bucka- 
lew  wns  nominated. 

A  Democratic  State  Convention  assembled  at 
Reading  in  the  Academy  of  Music  on  Aug.  31.  1897. 
■"  hich  was  reported  to  have  been  the  most  turbu- 
I'-nt  in  the  history  of  conventions  in  the  State  of 
Pennsvlvania.  The  purpo.se  was  to  nominate  candi- 
dates for  auditor-general  and  State  treasurer.  lion. 
Daniel    Krmentror.t    of   Reading   was   elected   tern- 


f-.-M    ,-   - 


,'iil 


r.;, :  '■    ..'!)     •iwttvn:  i.i,f'i'    .  •  w 


:  ■'l■^■f  ■■!■  y-.X     r 
,:  ■    .        ...  ,.•   ti  it.i   •        -'w-i. 


ro 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTV.    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


porary  chairman   and   lie   hllcd   the   position   uiuIlt 
adverse  and  exciting  circumstances. 

Mass-Mi:eti.\c;s. — Xumeroiis  mass-meetings  Iiave 
been  held  at  Reading  by  tlie  respective  political 
parties.  The  earliest  meeting  of  which  any  extend- 
ed notice  was  given,  was  held  by  the  Democratic 
party  Sept.  4.  185"<;.  for  the  purpose  of  ratifying 
the  nomination  of  Franklin  Pierce  as  the  Dcitio- 
cratic  candidate  for  President.  IMiiladelphia  sent 
a  delegation  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  accompanied 
by  three  fine  bands  of  music ;  and  large  delegations 
were  in  attendance  from  Dauphin,  Lebanon.  Lan- 
caster, Chester,  Bucks,  Montgomery,  Lehigh, 
Schuylkill  and  other  counties,  whilst  from  the  hills 
and  valleys  of  Berks  county  hundreds  of  the  in- 
domitable Democracy  came  to  swell  the  assembled 
multitude.  Conspicuous  among  those  from  the 
county  were  the  Xorth  Ifeidelberg  delegation  in 
large  hay-wagons  and  vehicles  of  every  description ; 
the  Boyertown  Pierce  Club  in  carriages  with  flags, 
banners  and  wreaths  of  flowers ;  and  the  Kutz- 
town  Pierce  Club  in  carriages,  with  flags  and  music. 
It  was  the  largest  meeting  ever  held  at  Reading  till 
that  time,  and  it  included  the  largest  number  of 
great  political  leaders  which  the  citizens  had  ever 
seen  together  here.  A  platform  was  erected  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  Western  Market-House  and 
around  it  the  crowd  assembled  and  heard  the  speech- 
es of  such  distinguished  men  as  Hon.  James  Bu- 
chanan, Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Gov.  Enoch 
Lowe  (Maryland),  Gov.  William  Bigler  (Pennsyl- 
vania), Hon.  Barnabas  Bates  (X'cw  York),  Hon. 
Charles  J.  Faulkner  (Virginia),  Hon.  B.  F.  Balktt 
(Massachusetts),  Chief  Justice  LeGrand  (I\Iary- 
land),  Hon.  John  A.  Wilcox  (Mississippi),  and 
Hon.  John  H.  Savage  (Tennessee).  Addresses 
were  made  from  noon  till  midnight.  ]\Ir.  Buchanan 
was  chairman  of  the  meeting  during  the  afternoon. 
and,  in  tlie  course  of  his  opening  remarks,  he  com- 
plimented Berks  county  for  "her  undeviating  jtatri- 
otism  and  entire  devotion  to  Democratic  princi- 
ples." 

RiT.VER  YouxG  ^Ien's  Coxventiox.- — The  young 
men  of  Pennsylvania,  who  were  favorable  to  the 
election  of  Joseph  Ritner  for  Governor  held  a  con- 
vention at  Reading  on  June  4-5,  1S."S.  Seventeen 
hundred  delegates  assembled  from  all  parts  of  the 
State.  Their  meeting  was  held  in  the  Trinitv  Luth- 
eran Church,  and  it  was  distinguished  for  earnest 
enthusiasm.  Appropriate  addresses  were  made  and 
resolutions  passed.  The  meeting  was  the  largest 
of  a  representative  character  ever  held  at  Reading 
until  that  time.  It  was  conducted  with  ability  and 
occasioned  much  excitement.  But  it  did  not  in- 
crease the  strength  of  the  .\nti-Mast)n  j^arty  in 
this  section  of  the  State.  It  was  the  first  and  cmly 
political  convention  ever  assembled  in  a  church 
building  at  Reading.  Permission  was  granted  bv 
the  church  vestry  because  there  was  no  large  hail 
in  the  borough  then,  and  the  Trinity  Church  was 
the  only  phice  in  which  so  large  a  body  of  men 
could  assemble  v.'ith  convenience. 


W'liu;  M.\ss-MEETixr,  of  1844.— The  t'residcntial 
campaign  of  1S44  was  particularly  exciting,  tlenrv 
Clay  was  the  \\'hig  candidate  for  President,  and 
James  K.  Polk  the  Democratic  candidate.  The 
former  enjoyed  a  very  high  degree  of  popularity 
tiiroughout  the  county,  and  his  friends  conducted 
a  very  active  campaign  in  his  behalf.  The  Whigs  of 
Pennsylvania  exhibited  much  enthusiasm  for"  him 
during  the  canvass,  for  he  was  a  great  favorite  in 
every  section  of  the  State,  especially  where  man- 
ufactures were  carried  on.  Reading  was  tlien  a 
growing  centre  for  industries  of  various  kinds,  and 
the  Whigs  here  idolized  him  for  his  earnest  labors 
in  the  cause  of  protection  to  home  industries.  They 
held  a  inass-meeting  at  Reading,  on  Sept.  :-?T,  1841. 
Over  five  thousand  persons  were  in  attendance, 
delegations  having  come  from  different  sections 
of  the  surrounding  country.  The  da\  was  especially 
noted  for  a  large  procession  in  which  the  various 
trades  and  employments  were  represented.  Minia- 
ture shojjs  and  factories  were  hauled  about  tiie 
town  and  successfully  operated. 

The  living  raccoon  again  figured  conspicuously 
in  the  procession,  as  it  had  in  the  previous  cam- 
paign. The  singing  of  campaign  songs  added  in- 
terest to  this  occasion,  just  as  it  had  been  practised 
four  years  before,  wdien  there  was  one  universal 
shout  for  "OKI  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too."  Not- 
withstanding this  great  efiFort  of  the  Whigs,  they 
could  not  weaken  the  devotion  of  the  Democrats 
in  the  county  or  lessen  their  majority.  The  poke- 
berry  was  brought  into  great  prominence  by  'the 
Democrats. 

During  this  campaign,  the  Democrats  also  held 
a  large  mass-meeting.  One  of  its  prominent  fea- 
tures was  a  large  boat,  rigged  as  a  "Ship  of  State." 
manned  by  a  number  of  boys  dressed  as  sailors, 
and  drawn  on  wheels  in  the  j^rocession  bv  many 
young  men.  The  majority  for  Polk  in  the  borough 
was  odD,  and  in  the  county  4,(174.  This  result  in- 
dicated the  thorough  organization  of  the  Democrats. 
Dallas,  their  candidate  for  \'ice-President,  visited 
Reading  during  the  campaign  and  delivered  an 
address  at  the  "^lineral  Spring,"  dwelling  narticu- 
larly  upon  and  favoring  the  tariff.  Gen.  Sam 
Houston  from  Texas  was  also  present. 

Clymer  M.vss-AIef.tixgs  IX  18(i(]. — Hon.  Heister 
Clymer,  a  citizen  of  Reading,  received  the  nomina- 
tion for  Governor  on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  ISCG. 
He  had  been  State  senator  from  18<11  to  18{i6.  dur- 
ing which  time  he  had  acquired  considerable  popu- 
larity throughout  the  State.  Gen.  John  W.  Geary 
was  the  Republican  candidate.  Both  parties  were 
under  thorough  organization  and  they  labored  ear- 
nestly for  success.  Many  mass-meetings  were  heM 
in  different  jiarts  of  the  State,  and  at  all  of  them 
much  enthusiasm  was  manifested. 

In  Berks  county  the  leaders  of  the  jiartv  were 
I)articularly  active.  X^umerous  public  meetings  were 
held  and  many  speeclies  delivered.  General  politi- 
cal excitement  prevailed  from  the  begiiming  until 
the  close  of  the  campaign  ;  which  increased  as  the 


t  '■■!...    I. 


,;     li-Mi    >}  ■■       M'-'' 


GOVERXMEXT    AXD    OFEICIALS 


71 


day  of  election  approached.  Two  Democratic  mass- 
meetings  were  held  at  Rcadiufr.  one  on  July  18th, 
and  the  other  on  Oct.  3d :  and  upon  cacii  occasion 
a  multitude  of  people  assembled.  At  the  former 
there  were  delegations  from  four-tifths  of  the  coun- 
ties in  the  State.  Hon.  Richard  \'aux  acted  as 
chairman  of  the  meeting,  and  addresses  were  made 
bv  IMr.  Clymer,  Hon.  Montgomery  Blair,  Hon. 
George  H.  Pendleton,  and  other  distinguished  poli- 
tical leaders.  High  party  feeling  was  produced 
under  the  great  excitemenj.  so  high,  indeed,  that 
it  almost  resulted  in  riots  with  certain  Republicans 
wOio  were  equally  earnest  and  demonstrative  for 
their  leader,  General  Geary.  There  was  a  grand 
procession,  with  Gen.  Tobias  Barto  as  chief  mar- 
shal, estimated  to  contain  five  thousand  persons  in 
a  hne  two  miles  long.  Many  wagons,  teams,  bands, 
and  banners  of  all  kinds  accompanied  the  numerous 
delegations,  and  the  enthusiasm  was  unbounded. 

Notwithstanding  all  this  exertion  and  expense 
by  the  Democrats,  th.e  citv  of  Reading  was  not  car- 
ried for  Clymer.  It  had  been  Republican  through 
the  war,  and  this  political  sentiment  still  prevailed 
by  a  small  majority  which  Clymer  could  not  over- 
come, even  witli  the  aid  of  local  prejudice  and  en- 
thusiastic demonstrations.  The  vote  in  Reading  for 
him  was  '•^,089  and  for  Geary  2,704 — a  majority  of 
15  against  him;  and  in  the  county  for  him  13,288 
and  for  Geary  7,121^a  majority  of  (i.lGT  for  him. 

POLITICAL  F1':.STI\'ALS 

HiESTKR  Festival  of  1820. — In  1817,  the  Hon. 
Joseph  Hiestcr.  of  Readings  was  nom.inated  as  the 
Federal  candidate  for  Governor  against  the  Hon. 
William  Findlay  as  the  Democratic  candidate ;  but 
he  was  defeated  by  a  majority  of  7,003.  In  1820, 
the  same  candidates  were  again  on  the  respective 
tickets,  and  Hiester  was  electetl  by  a  small  majority, 
l.GOo.  The  success  of  this  election  contest,  by 
which  the  most  distinguished  citizen  of  Berks  county 
was  chosen  to  be  the  chief  executive  officer  of  Penn- 
sylvania, v^as  an  event  which  could  not  be  permitted 
to  pass  away  in  the  annals  of  local  affairs  without 
signalizing  it  by  ati  impressive  public  demonstration. 
He  was  then  concluding  his  ninth  term  in  Congress, 
and  resigned  his  seat  soon  after  the  election.  Flis 
fellow-citizens  had  therefore  come  to  regard  him 
with  more  than  ordinary  feelings  of  respect  and 
honor.  And  what  means  could  they  have  selected 
more  adapted  to  display  their  satisfaction  and  joy 
than  a  feast  at  which  they  could  eat,  drink  and  be 
merry?  Accordingly,  in  honor  of  this  event,  pursu- 
ant to  public  invitation,  a  grand  festival  took  place 
on  Wednesday,  Xov.  1.  1820,  on  the  "Common" 
near  the  "arched  spring,"  east  of  the  borough.  Peo- 
ple assembled  from  everv  part  of  the  county  and 
nianj'  distinguished  politicians  came  from  Philadel- 
phia and  counties  adjoining  Berks  to  participate  in 
the  fea<t.  (^ver  four  thousand  persons  united  in 
the  demonstration.  A  procession  was  first  formed 
by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  on  Pcnn  Square, 


about  11  o'clock  in  the  morning,  which  marched 
up  Penn  street  to  the  "Common,"  arriving  there 
about  noon.  An  area  comprising  several  acres  was 
surrounded  by  a  barrier,  with,  a  large  platform  on 
the  eastern  side,  upon  which  the  articles  for  the 
feast  were  placed.  Two  fat  bullocks  on  spits,  and 
a  bear  and  a  hog  on  gridirons,  were  roasted  en- 
tire. The  four  skins  had  been  stutted  and  mounted 
on  cars.  The  area  was  occupied  by  the  Committee 
of  Arrangements,  High's  Dragoons,  Getz's  Guards, 
and  a  band  of  music  from  Philadelpliia ;  and  it  in- 
cludetl  thousands  of  spectators,  whose  orderly  de- 
portment was  highly  commendable. 

The  butchers  commenced  to  carve  the  roasted 
animals  about  2  o'clock.  The  first  slice  of  each 
animal  was  taken  to  the  residence  of  Hiester  on 
Penn  Square  (adjoining  the  Farmers"  Bank  on 
the  west)  by  two  butchers,  who  were  escorted  by 
a  detachment  of  the  Guards ;  and  the  carving  then 
contiiuicd  until  all  were  satisfied.  After  the  feasting 
was  concluded,  a  meeting  was  organized  and  twenty 
toast.s,  expressive  of  patriotic  and  comjilimentarv 
sentiments,  were  read,  all  of  which  were  received 
with  loud  applause.  Then  a  unanimous  desire  was 
expressed  "to  see  the  Revolutionary  X'eteran."  and 
he  was  accordingly  escortetl  to  the  meetings  from  his 
residence  by  a  special  committee,  his  presence 
awakening  "'indescribable  effusions  of  joy."  At  4 
o'clock,  the  procession  was  reformed  and,  with  the 
"Governor-elect"  supported  by  two  stalwart  citi- 
zens, it  paraded  through  the  principal  streets  of 
the  borough,  halting  opposite  his  residence,  where 
they  were  dismissed  in  jierfect  harmony. 

In  the  eveniiig,  the  celebration  w^as  continued  bv 
a  "torch-light  procession."  .-\  transparent  temple 
was  carried  by  four  men  through  the  principal 
streets,  preceded  and  followed  bv  a  train  of  citi- 
zens who  held  lighted  candles  in  their  hands.  The 
sides  of  this  temple  were  illustrated:  the  front  pre- 
sented a  likeness  of  Washington,  the  rear  the  arms 
of  the  LInited  States,  and  the  right  and  left  sides 
well-executed  likenesses  of  Hiester. 

A  similar  festival,  to  celebrate  the  same  event, 
was  held  at  Orwigsburg.  in  Schuylkill  countv.  on 
X'ov.  10,  1820.  The  moni'ng  of  that  dav  was  ush- 
ered in  by  the  firing  of  cannon  and  the  ringing  of 
bells.  A  meeting  was  first  organized  in  the  Court- 
House;  then  the  people  formed  into  line  and  pro- 
ceeded under  the  leadership  of  three  marshals,  as- 
sisted by  a  band  of  music,  to  "Mount  Monroe."  .\s 
they  marched,  bells  rang  and  cannon  boomed.  A 
fine  ox.  and  deer  were  roasted,  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  persons,  seated  at  tables  especially  arranged, 
participated  in  a  great  feast.  At  a  meeting,  after- 
ward formed,  thirteen  toasts  were  oft'ered  and 
drunk. 

On  the  same  day.  a  festival  was  also  held  at 
Kutztown.  Twenty-five  toasts  were  offered  and 
drunk  at  a  large  meeting. 

H.ARRISON  Festiv.\l  OK  1840. — The  IVe.-identi;'! 
camprdgn  of  1840  was  conducted  with,  great  etuhu- 
siasm,  and  it  developed  much  political   excitement 


'.-./It.-- 1 


HISTORY  OF  r.ERKS  COl'XTV.  rEXXSYLWxXJA 


throughout  the  country.  Grand  processions  were 
witnessed  in  every  community.  The  voters  of  Read- 
ing and  the  surrounding  districts  in  tiie  county 
caught  the  feehng.  especially  on  the  side  of  the 
Whigs.  One  of  the  ])r(X'essions  was  distinguished 
for  its  log  cabin  and  living  raccoons.  The  election 
resulted  in  a  victory  for  the  Whigs,  an  event  which 
elicited  from  them  particular  demonstrations  of  joy. 
It  was  their  first  victory,  and  they  felt  great  pride 
in  it.  What  could  they  do  upon  such  an  occasion 
but  demonstrate  their  feelings  as  their  party,  under 
the  name  of  "Federals,"  had  done  twenty  years  be- 
fore? The  leaders  therefore  decided  to  signalize 
their  triumph  by  a  "grand  ox-roast,"  on  the  "Com- 
mon," on  Wednesday,  Dec.  9,  1840,  and  they  issued 
a  public  notice  that  "an  ox  will  be  roasted  whole 
and  plenty  of  hard  cider  will  be  provided."  The 
day  was  accordingly  celebrated  under  the  direction 
of  an  organized  meeting,  wiih  men  promment  in 
respect  to  business.  ]>olitics  and  military  as  its  offi- 
cers. Thirteen  toasts  were  announced,  and  appro- 
priate responses  were  made.  Many  persons  parti- 
cipated in  the  feast. 

Tii-DEN  Festival  of  ISTG. — The  Presidential 
campaign  of  ISTfi  was  full  of  enthusiasm  fromx  the 
beginning  to  the  end.  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  of  X^ew 
York,  was  the  Demiocratic  candidate,  and  Ruther- 
ford B.  Hayes,  of  Ohio,  the  Republican.  The  Dem- 
ocrats throughout  the  county  were  very  hopeful 
of  success  with  so  distinguished  a  candidate  as  Mr. 
Tilden,  and  they  therefore  carried  on  the  political 
contest  with  all  the  energy  that  they  could  com- 
mand. The  leaders  of  the  party  in  the  county  were 
particularly  active.  Toward  the  close  of  the  cam.- 
jjaign  thev  made  arrangements  for  a  "buffalo  roast" 
in  order  to  enable  their  party  the  more  thorough- 
ly to  demonstrate  their  feelings  in  a  public  manner, 
and  they  selected  a  day  for  that  purpose.  The  pre- 
vious festivals  in  1820  and  1840  were  held  after 
the  election,  but  this  was  to  be  lield  before  the  elec- 
tion. The  announcement  was  made,  giving  the  pub- 
lic to  know  "that  the  Democratic  citizens  of  Berks 
and  adjoining  counties  will  have  a — 

GRAND  ROAST  OF  TWO   BUFFALOES, 
lately  captured  on  the  western  plains,   and   a 

JuniLEE    P.^R.\DE 

in  honor  of  their  candidates   for  President  and  Vice- 
President,    and    the    gallant    frecmcti    of    the 
West,  at  the  Fair  Grounds,  City  of  Read- 
ing, on  Thursday,  October  2G,  18TC, 
and  also  an 

Old-F.\shion'E!)    Demock.\tic    Pkocessiox, 

in    which    soldiers    and    sailors,    farmers    and    me- 
chanics and  all  good  citizens,  with  their  wives 
and  daughters,  arc  respectfully  invited 
to    participate 

The  day  arrived  and  the  programiue  w;is  carried 
out  very  successfully.  In  the  morning  manv  dele- 
gations came  to  Reading  from  all  parts  of  the 
county,  and  by  11  (Vclock  the  "Ji'])i!ee  I'.irade" 
v.'as  formed,  when  it  wa^  marched  over  a  long  route. 


besides  tiic  usual  demonstrations  in  a  procession 
of  ttiis  character,  there  wa^  an  "elephant  in  boots," 
veritably  walking  in  the  parad.e.  hired  from  I'ore- 
paugh  (the  .^bowman)  for  the  occasion.  The  sym- 
bol of  the  Rcadiiii^  Times,  in  signalizing  a  political 
victory  on  the  morning  after  an  election,  for  many 
years,  was  the  "elephant  in  boots"  at  the  head  of  its 
columns;  but  the  Democrats  desired  to  show  by  a 
living  cartoon  that  they  had  taken,  its  elephant  cap- 
tive, and  were  going  to  carry  it  along  in  their  tri- 
umphant march.  This  conception  created  much 
amusement  throughout  the  entire  route.  It  was  the 
centre  of  attraction.  On  the  way,  the  elephant 
kicked  off  one  of  his  Democratic  boots,  just  as  if 
he  were  walking  in  doubtful  company  and  on  a 
doubtful  platform,  and  desirous  of  freeing  himself. 
The  procession  was  nearly  an  hour  in  passing  a 
point,  and  ended  in  the  "Fair-Ground,"  where  the 
feast  on  roasted  buffalo  was  enjoyed  by  many  hun- 
dreds of  persons.  Speeches  were  made  by  promi- 
nent men  from  ditiferent  parts  of  the  country.  The 
most  distinguished  guest  ui>on  this  unusual  fx:casion 
was  Gen.  George  B.  ^.IcClellan,  whose  presence  elic- 
ited great  applause  wherever  he  went. 

CLi:vEr..\XD  Festivals. — The  election  of  Grover 
Cleveland,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  President 
in  the  election  of  X'oveniber,  1884,  was  the  occasion 
of  g-reat  rejoicing.  In  the  county  the  pluralitv  of 
Cleveland  over  Blaine  was  (i.yOT,  and  in  Reading, 
499.  The  victory  was  of  such  an  extraordinary  nat- 
ure that  the  Democrats  could  not  refrain  from  pub- 
he  demonstrations  of  various  kinds. 

In  Reading,  a  grand  "Salt-River  I'arade"  took 
place  on  Nov.  12th.  in  which  there  were  fifteen  hun- 
dred men  in  line,  with  numerous  teams  and  eighty 
men  on  horseback,  as  well  as  many  humorous  trans- 
parencies and  a  prostrate  stuffed  elephant  on  one 
of  the  floats. 

At  Bernville.  and  also  at  Rehrcrsburg,  there  were 
ox-roasts  on  Nov.  lath,  which  elicited  a  great  deal 
of  public  excitement. 

At  Kutztown,  on  X'ov.  21st,  there  was  one 
of  the  grandest  political  demonstrations  ever 
witnessed  by  the  inhabitants.  An  ox,  weigh- 
ing twelve  hundred  pounds,  was  roasted,  and 
after  a  grand  parade,  in  which  three  hundred  men 
on  horseback  from  all  the  surrounding  districts  par- 
ticipated, including  a  large  delegation  from  the 
"Americus  Club"  of  Reading,  there  was  a  grand 
feast  and  much  hilarity.  A  "Libertv  Pole."  IGO  feet 
high,  was  erected  to  signalize  the  victory. 

The  next  dav  after  the  election,  there  was  a  con- 
siderable fall  of  snow,  and  the  epigrammatic  expres- 
sion— "And  the  next  day  it  snowed" — caused  nuich 
merriment  among  the  participants  in  this  demon- 
stration, as  well  as  in  tlie  demonstrations  elsewhere. 

OFFICES  BY  SPhXT.M.  LE(^iISLATIOX 

The  general  ]-)olitical  hi^torv  of  Berks  corntv  is 
siiiiil;ir  to  th.it  of  the  whole  State  in  respect  to  its 
gcp.^'al  goven^'Tcnt.     Legislation  created  territorial 


■  '::.      .-lAft   ,n- 


,J^: '■ 


,   ,y,'   ■  1       '     II' 


H\  /.  '- 


■  I'   ;; .'    ■  ,     ',    ■ '    • ;.  ,!'■  )fl(:'' !', 


:■!'■  I';     (;    -VV/< 


GOVERX-MEXT    AXD    OFFICIALS 


73 


•  livisions  and  provided  offices  of  variou?  kinds  for 
them  in  order  to  facilitate  tiie  rcq-ulation  of  local 
affairs,  and  the  representation  of  the  people  in  the 
letjislative  bodies  of  the  State  and  nation.  And 
tiie-e  offices  have  been  tilled  either  by  election  or 
bv  appointment  from  the  bciijinning  ot  our  political 
exi>tence  as  a  county  until  now.  A  •sameness  ex- 
tends throughout  the  whole  period.  Comparatively 
little  special  legislation  has  been  done  for  our  county 
in  the  way  of  creating  positions. 

Four  Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  are  worthy 
of  mention:  One  passed  in  I62i,  relative  to  the 
management  of  poor  affairs;  another  in  is  18,  rela- 
tive to  the  management  of  prison  affairs ;  a  third 
in  liSGO,  relative  to  the  election  of  an  additional 
law  judge;  and  a  fourth  in  ]S^:^  to  the  election 
of  an  Orphans'  court  judge. 

A  marked  change  was  introduced  by  the  Consti- 
tution of  1ST3,  enabling  the  minority  party  to  elect 
officials.  In  Berks  county  this  applied  to  county 
commissioners  and  county  auditors.  Theretofore, 
these  officials  in  the  county  were  almost  entirely 
Democrats  since  their  election  in  1841. 

The  first  Republican  commissioner  and  auditor 
under  this  provision  were  elected  in  IST.").  And  in 
1873,  the  Act  of  1848  creating  the  board  of  prison 
inspectors  was  so  amended  as  to  enable  the  minor- 
ity party  to  elect  three  out  of  nine  inspectors  or  an- 
nually one  out  of  three. 

The  Act  of  1824,  relating  to  the  poor  directors, 
which  provides  for  the  annual  election  of  .i  director 
for  three  years,  lias  not  yet  been  amended  to  meet 
the  spirit  of  the  times  and  of  the  State  Constitu- 
tion. 

In  1867,  when  jury  commissioners  were  author- 
ized to 'be  elected,  provision  was  made  tliat  each 
elector  should  vote  for  one  person  for  this  office, 
and  the  two  persons  having  the  highest  vote  should 
be  the  commissioners.  This  provision  enabled  the 
minority  party  in  tlie  county  to  elect  one  commis- 
sioner, and  accordingly,  the  Republicans  have  elect- 
ed a  jury  commissioner  since  1SG7. 

NATIOXAL  REPRESEXTATIVES 

The  office  of  representative  to  Congress  of  the 
United  States  was  created  by  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  which  was  adopted  Sept.  17.  1787, 
and  ratified  by  the  Convention  of  Pennsylvania 
Dec.  12,  1787.  The  term  of  office  was  tlicn  made 
two  years;  and  so  it  has  continuerl  to  the  present 
time. 

Representatives  were  apportioned  among  the  sev- 
eral States  according  to  population,  which  was  enu- 
merated within  three  years  after  the  first  meeting 
of  Congress,  and  every  ten  years  thereafter. 

The  first  apportionment  by  Congress  gave  Penn- 
sylvania eight  representatives.  These  were  appor- 
tioned by  the  State  Legislature.  :March  IC,  1701, 
to  ei::f'-t  districts.  T'.erks.  Xorthampton.  and  Lu- 
zerne counties  were  erected  into  one  distriei.  wltli 
<^ne  member.     In  1'. !);1.  the  State  v.as  <Mven  thirteeit 


members.  These  v;ere  apportioned  by  the  State 
Legislature  on  April  22.  17'.»4,  \vhen  Berks  and  Lu- 
zerne counties  were  made  the  Fifth  Congressional 
District  for  the  next  ten  vears,  with  one  mem- 
ber. 

In  1802,  Berks,  Cb.ester,  and  Lancaster  formed 
the  Third  District,  with  an  apportiom^ient  of  three 
members. 

In  1812,  Berks  and  Schuylkill  formed  the  Sc\enth 
District,  with  one  member. 

In  1822,  Berks,  Schuylkill,  and  Lehigli  formed  the 
Seventh  District,  with  two  niembers. 

In  1832,  Berks  became  a  separate  district,  called 
the  Xinth,  with  one  member. 

In  1843,  and  eyery  ten  years  successively  until 
1887,  Berks  comprised  the  Eighth  Congressional 
District,  with  one  member. 

By  the  Act  of  May  19,  18S7,  in  the  apportionment 
of  the  State,  Lehigh,  county  was  included  with 
Berks  county  in  the  formation  of  the  Xinth  Dis- 
trict, and  through  delegates  of  the  Republican  and 
Democratic  parties  from  the  twc>  counties,  respec- 
tively, an  agreement  was  entered  into  that  Berks 
county  should  have  the  nominee  for  three  consec- 
utive terms  and  Lehigh  for  two  as  long  as  they 
continued  together. 

By  the  Act  of  July  11,  1901,  in  the  apportion- 
ment of  the  State  these  two  counties  constitated 
the  Thirteenth  District. 

The  following  persons  represented  Berks  county 
in  Congress : 

Name  Term 

Daniel    Hiester   ^. .  .  .17S9-PT 

Joseph    Hiester*    1797-1807 ;   1815-20 

M.itlhias    Reichf  rt     1807-1 1 

John    M.    Hyiiemant    1811-1.3 

Djiiicl    Udrec    1813-15 ;   182?  25 

Ludvvig  VVormant   1821-22 

William    Adams     1825-29 

Henry  A.  Muhlcnbergg    1829-38 

George  M.  Kcim    183S-4o 

John    Rittcr    1843-47 

William    Strong    1847-53 

J.    Glancy   Jones|l    1851-53  ;   1854-58 

Henry  A.   Muhlenberg,  Jr.^   1853-54 

William    H.    Keim 1858-59 

John    Sch\v,-rt7'  *    lS5C'-f.O 

Jacob  K.  J.IcKenty   1860-Cl 

Sydenham  E.   .^ncona    1S61-67 

*  Jo^ieph  Hiester  was  elf.cted  Covtrnnr  of  Pennsylvania  in  Oct- 
ober. 1830.  and  resipned  his  se.it  in  Coni:iess^  PanicI  UHrec  was 
ejected  in  I)eceinnpr.  1S;?0,  to  succeed  liini  f  )r  the  uncxi»ireil  term 
endintr    March    .•?.    1S21. 

>' Jiilin  >r.  Ilyncmaii  was  re-elected:  hnt  he  resigned  his  scat,  and 
Daniel  t^diee  was  elected  to  till  the  vacancy  for  the  unLxpired  term 
ending    -March    3,    1SI5. 

t  ^^ldwig  Wonnan  died  Oct.  17.  IS'JO.  whilst  fillinir  this  offic-. 
and  Udree  was  elccteii  in  Oeccniber  follow  ing  to  fill  the  iincxpircd 
term    cndinp    in    M.'irch.    l.'^-;:. 

5  Henry  A.  Muhlenberg  resiivne  1  his  seat  in  February,  l*^:!*.  an! 
accepted  the  Mission  to  Austria  as  tli"  lirst  Minister.  '  CtorRC  M. 
Keim  was  elec.ed  in  March.  ISHS.  to  fill  the  unc;-;pired  term  cndirg 
.Marrh   :!.    IS.'^O. 

II  J.  Glancy  Jonrs  reslcr-d  in  October.  !,>:.«.  nnd  accepted  Mis- 
sion to  .\nstria.  William  H  Keim  was  elected  on  .Nov.  30,  1,S')3,  to 
fin    I'tiexpired    t'^nn    endirij    March    .';.    1.*^.''.' 

•■  tlenrv  A.  ^tnlilenhere.  Jr.,  .lied  at  Washincton  on  Tan.  <>.  l«->4. 
He  had  appeared  in  Coui^ress  only  a  siniilc  liay.  when  he  was  taken 
^ick    with    typhoifl    fever,    and    thereafter    was    unable    to    resume    his 

"■John  Schw.Mt.-  died  in  Tnlv.  T^IO.  .and  Jac.b  K.  McKenty 
was  elected   to  t:ll    nnexpirt.i    i;-Vm   ei-.d>nv    Man  h   4,    I.s'.l. 


>d'  ";        ■  J'?  I'fm' )  O'     '■'<• 


74 


HISTORV    OF    r.ERKS    COUNTY.    PEXXSVLVAMA 


J.   Lawrence   Gi.ti;    ISoT-Ta 

Hiesttr    Clyincr    ]8r:;-Sl 

l.»ani<.l    Ermentrout    ISSl-S'J;   Is'JT-'JO 

David  h.   Ijru:iiur    ] SS J-9.i 

C'jiistaiiliiie  j.   E'.'lnKir:*   l^..'.;-jr 

Hcniy  U.  Green    1S'.)'J-1'J():5 

Mareiis  D.  Kline''    liKKl-UiUT 

John   H.   Rothcrniel    1907-1911 


FOREIGN'     M1MSTE.KS 


Henry   A.    Mulilrnl)crs,    to   Austria. 
J.  Glancy  Jones,  tu  Austria 


.  is:js-i() 

,  ISJS-C.l 


FOREIGN'    CON'SVI.S 

John  Endlicli.  at   Dink.  SwitzerLand 

Henry  Alay  Keim,  at  Prince  Edward  Ibland 

VNITELi    STATUS   CO.M  MISSIONERS 

W'il'.iani   Strong 

Sa:ni'.cl  L.  Young    18J3-1901 

William  J.  Young   1901-05 

Henry    I^faltzberger    1905 

RF.GISTERS    IN    L'.A  XKRC  PTCV 

Harrison    Maltzberger    18C7-92 

Christian  H.  Kuhl  1S9S-1904 

Sanuiel   E.   P.erio'ef    19(':> 

STATE  REPRRSEXTATU'ES 
The  "Contiiiontal  Ccm.L^rcs.s"  passed  a  resolution 
on  May  15,  17TG,  calliin;-  r.pcn  the  respective  Assem- 
bhcs  of  the  "United  Colonies"  '"to  adopt  svich  gov- 
ernment as  shall  in  the  ojMnion  of  the  re]iresenta- 
tives  of  the  people  best  conduce  to  the  happiness 
and  safety  of  their  constituents  in  particular  and 
America  in  general."  Li  pursuance  thereof  a  Pro- 
vincial Conference  was  hold  in  "Carpenter's  Hall." 
at  Philadelphia,  on  Tuesday,  Jinic  18,  1770.  It  was 
attended  by  representatives  from  all  the  counties  of 
the  province,  then  eleve!i  in  number.  The  repre- 
sentatives—  or  delegates,  as  they  were  called — from 
Berks  county  were: 

Jacob  Morgan  Benjamin    Sp>ker      Joseph    Hiester 

Henry    Haller  Daniel  Hunter  Chas.    Shoemaker 

Maik  Bird  Valentine    Eckert 

Bodo  Otto  Nicholas   Lut? 

This  Conference  decided  tlial  a  fVovincial  Coti- 
vention  should  be  called  to  meet  on  Monday,  July 
15.  17';'G,  for  the  express  purpose  of  "forming  a  new 
government  in  this  province  on  the  authority  of 
the  peofjle  only" ;  fixed  the  qualifications  of  electors, 
the  number  of  representatives  from  each  county  and 
the  time  of  their  election  ;  ordered  an  address  to 
the  people;  an.d  agreed  uT)on  a  "Declaration  of  In- 
dependence" of  tile  province,  the  truthfulness,  for- 
cibleness,  and  elegance  of  wliich  are  worthy  all  pos- 
sible praise  and  admiration. 

Accordingly,  on  July  15.  177t'i.  the  Convention 
assembled,  composed  of  delegates  from  eacli  coun- 
tv.     The  delegates  from  P.erks  countv  were: 


Jacob   Morgan 
Gabriel   lliester 
John  Lesher 


!'.crijaini:i  .Spyker 
Daniel    Hunter 
Valentine     Ilckert 


Chas.     Slioe:naker 


Thoinas   In 


A    constitution    was    agreed    upon    on    Sept. 
17  7(;,     comprising     a     Preamble,     Declaration 

'■'  Frmi    Lt:hi(.li    cour.ty. 


.  Jr 

2S. 


Riglits  and  i'"rame  of  Government.  Tlu'  "Declara- 
tion of  Rights"  was  reported  by  a  committee  of 
eleven,  of  which  John  Le.sher  from  Perks  was  a 
member. 

By  the  47th  section  of  the  "Frame  of  Govern- 
ment" a  provision  was  made  for  the  election  of 
Censors  in  17b3  and  every  seventh  vear  thereafter, 
who  were  "to  inquire  whether  the  Constitution  was 
preserved  inviolate  in  every  part."  The  Censors 
elected  in  1783  to  represent  Berks  county  were 
James  Read  and  Paltzer  Cehr. 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  State  met  at  Phil- 
adelphia on  March  '34.  17S9.  The  representatives 
from  Berks  countv  were: 


Joseph    Fiester 
Gabriel  Hiesler 


Joseph    Sands 
John  Ludwig 


Daniel  IJrodhead 


Trie  Assembly  decided  that  alterations  and 
amendments  to  the  Constitution  of  17  70  were  nec- 
essary; and  the  Assembly  met  again  on  Sept.  15, 
1789.  A  resolution  was  reported  by  a  committee 
of  the  whole  Assembly  which  favored  the  calling 
of  a  convention  to  amend  the  Constitution,  and 
it  was  adopted. 

Deleg;ites  were  accordingly  elected  by  each  of 
the  districts  in  the  S^ate.  and  those  from  Berks 
countv  we/e: 


Joseph    Hiester 
Christian  Lower 


Abraham    Lincoln 
Paul    Groscup 


Balser  Gchr 


The  Convention  assembled  in  the  State  House, 
at  Philadelphia,  on  Nov.  X.'4,  1789,  and  a  New  Con- 
stitution was  agreed  upon,  all  the  delegates  sub- 
scibing  it  on  Sept.  2.  1790.  h  \\as  soon  afterward 
submitted  to  the  people  of  the  State  by  a  special 
election,  and  adopted.  • 

This  Constitution  v.as  continued  as  the  general 
political  law  of  the  State  until  the  adoption  of  a 
New  Constitution  in  1S73.  In  the  mean  time  ef- 
forts were  made  to  improve  it,  .\n  Act  of  Assem- 
bly was  passed  March  28.  1R25,  which  provided 
for  an  election  to  be  held  at  the  next  succeeding 
election  to  ascertain  the  opinion  of  the  people  rela- 
tive to  the  call  of  a  Constitutional  Convention,  but 
they  decided  by  ballot  that  such  a  convention  should 
not  be  called.  The  vote  in  Berks  county  was 
against  it. 

In  1835  a  convention  was  again  recommended, 
and  the  people  decided  that  it  was  nece>£:ary.  The 
vote  in  Berks  county  was  against  it  again. 

In  1837  a  Convention  was  duly  assembled  at  Har- 
risburg  and  various  amondnients  to  the  Constitu- 
tion were  recommended,  which  were  adopted  at 
the  regular  election  in  (  )ctober.  1^38.  The  vote 
in  Berks  county  was  for  them.  The  delegates  at 
this  Convention   fro-m    Herk-^  couiiiv  were: 


John  Kittcr 
George  M.  Keim 


William    High 
Mark    Darrah 


James    Donagan 


Subsequently,  till  1873.  various  amendments 
were  propo^jed  by  .\ct?  of  Assembly  and  adopted  by 
elections  of  the  people. 


„'l,.,':l   l:.;'i.\'l 


".iJ->.i 


,1  ,\<'iy  '-*■■'    -,■],. 


:i  .     <,  -  -w^'H 


-i;.;..,    '.'    -AM 


.>,!/ 


GO\'ERXMEXT    AND    OFFICIALS 


7r. 


An  Act  of  Assembly  was  passed  in  1871  which 
provided  for  the  caliins^  of  a  trenerai  convention  to 
amend  the  Constitution  r,i  IT'jii.  It  was  .-ubmitted 
to  the  people  at  tlie  ,q-encral  election  of  October, 
1871,  and  ratified.  Tlie  vote  in  Eerks  county  was 
ag'ainst  the  proposition. 

"Delegates  were  accordingly  elected  ;  the  Conven- 
tion assembled — first  at  Harrisburg,  then  at  Phil- 
adelphia ;  and  the  result  of  their  labor  was 
submitted  to  the  people  in  1S73,  and  adopted.  The 
vote  in  licrks  county  was  favorable.  The  delegates 
from  Berks  county  were : 

Gecrge  G.  Barclay    Henry    \V.    SmithHenry    Van    Reed 

Under  the  Provincial  Constitution,  and  a~fter- 
ward  under  the  State  Constitutions  of  17TG,  1790, 
and  1873,  the  officers  named  in  the  subsequent 
pages  were  elected  and  appointed. 

STATE  OFFICLVLS 

The  following  persons  from  Berks  county  held 
State  offices : 

Charles  Biddle,  Supreme  Executive  Councillor,  elected 
by   the  Legislature,   1T8J-87. 

Joseph    Hiester,    Governor,   elected,    1820-^3. 

Gabriel  Jliester,  Sar\eyor-GcnL-ral,  appuinted  by  the 
Governor,    3S24-30. 

Frederick  Sniitli.  Supreme  Associate  Justice,  appointed 
by  the  Governor,   1S28-30. 

Jacob  Salladc.  Surveyor-General,  appointed  by  the 
Governor,   1839-4-). 

John  Banks,  State  Treasurer,  elected  by  the  Legisla- 
ture,   IS'-iT. 

William  Strong,  Supreme  ^Vssociaie  Justice,  elected, 
]  857-68. 

William  M.  Hiester,  Secretary  of  State,  appointed  by 
Governor,    1808-60. 

William  H.  Keiin,   Surveyor-General,  elected,   ISCO-fil. 

Warren  J.  Woodward,  Supreme  .Associate  Justice, 
elected,   1874-70. 

David  McMurtrie  Gregg.  Auditor-General,  elected,  18'.i2- 
95. 

SENATORS 

The  office  of  State  senator  was  created  by  the 
Constitution  of  1790.  The  State  was  thereby  ap- 
pK:)rtioned  into  senatorial  districts :  and  again  in 
1793,  and  subsequently  every  seven  years  till  the 
adoptirm  of  the  New  Constitution  of  1873,  where- 
by the  apportionment  was  thereafter  to  be  made 
on  the  decennial  census  of  the  I'nitcd  States.  In 
the  beginning.  P.erks  and  Dauphin  counties  com- 
prised a  district  with  an  allotment  of  two  mem- 
bers; and  they  continued  together  till  ISOS,  when 
Berks  was  erected  into  a  separate  district  with  two 
members,  .\fter  the  erection  of  Schuylkill  county 
in  1811,  it  was  added  to  Berks,  and  they  together 
comprised  a  district  with  two  members  till  183G. 
when  Berks  was  again  erected  into  a  district  by 
itself  with  one  member,  and  continued  so  from 
that  time  till  now.  The  term,  was  four  years  from 
1790  to  1838;  and  three  years  thence  to  i874,  when 
the  New  Constittition  fi.xed  it  at  four  ye:irs  again. 

The  members  from  I'crks  aU^ic  are  mentioned: 


X.ime  lerin 

Joseph    Hiester     1790-94 

Gabriel    Hiester    1795-96 ;  1805-12 

Christopher    Lower     1797-1804 

John    S.    Hiester    1809-12 

Charles    Shoemaker    1813-16 

.Marks  John   Biddle    1817-20 

Conrad  Fegcr    1821-24 

George     Scliall     1825-28 

Daniel   A.    Bertolet    1829-32 

Paul    Geigcr 1833-36 

John    Miller .  .  .  1837-40 

Samuel    Fegely     1841-46 

John     Potteiger     1847-49 

Henry  A.   Muhlenberg 1850-52 

William   M.   Hiester* 1853-55 

John  C.  Evans    1856-58 

Benjamin    Nunnemacher    1859-60 

Hiester    CljTiier     1861-66 

J.   Depuy  Davis    1867-73 

Daniel     Ermentrout     1874-80 

Edward    H.    Shearer    18S1-84 

Frank   R.   Brunner    1835-88 

Henry   D.   Green    1989-96 

W.    Oscar    Miller    1897  1900 

Edward  M.  Herbstf    190l-l'J08 

ASSEMBLYMEX     '        ■'- 

The  office  of  assemblyman  was  first  created  by 
William  Penn  in  establishing  a  government  for 
the  province  :  and  representatives  thereto,  from  the 
several  counties  as  they  were  erected,  were  elected 
annually  till  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and 
the  adoption  of  a  Constitution  by  the  State  in  177G. 
It  was  continued  by  this  Constitution,  and  afterward 
bv  that  of  17  90,  v.herebv  members  to  the  Assembly 
were  elected  annually  till  tlie  adoption  of  the  New 
Constitution  of  1S73.  Then  the  term  was  increased 
to  two  vears.  In  all  these  years — from  17r.2  to  the 
present  time — Berks  county  was  a  separate  dis- 
trict, excepting  after  the  erection  of  Schuvlkill 
county  out  of  portions  of  Berks  and  Northamp- 
ton, when  it  was  added' to  Berks,  and  continued  so 
for  a  period  of  eighteen  years — from  181 1  to  1829. 

The  nttmber  of  representatives  from  Berks  was 
as  foIlow'S : 

1752-71  1 

1772-76  2 

1777-81  4 

•  1782-8f:   6 

1787-1829  5 

1830-57 4 

1858-74  3 

In  1874  six  members  were  apportioned  to  Berks. 
to  so  continue  until  an  apportionment  be  duly  made 
on  next  census  of  Unhed  States  (1880) — namely, 
to  the  citv  of  Reading  two  members,  and  to  the 
county  of  P.erks  four. 

By  the  Act  of  May  12,  1887,  in  the  apportion- 
ment of  the  State  for  representatives,  the  county 
of  Berks  became  entitled  to  five  members — the 
city  of  Reading  as  the  First  District  to  elect  two 
members,   and   all   the   county   outside   of   Reading 

*  William  M.  llicstcr  w.t;  elected  and  served  ai  Sneaker  of  the 
Scr.-it.-    lor   M.ir   lS=ij. 

t  Keelectei'.    in    November,   1508. 


i4. 


■  ■    !<-    If; 


76 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


:as    the    Second    District    to    elect    tliree   members ; 
-.which  has  continued  unchanged. 

The  representntives  from  tlie  county  were  as  lol- 
llows: 

Xa:.u-  Ter:n 

.Closes    Stprr     1752-54 

Francis     Parvin 1735 

Thomas    Vorke    170G-57 

James    Boone     1758 

John     Potts     1750^)1 

John    Ross     17t);:-tJ4 

Adam    Witman     1765-65 

Edward    Biddk*     1767-81 

Henry   Christ    1771-81 

Valentine    Eckert    1776-79 

Henry    Halicr    1770-81 

John    Lesher     1776-81 

Jonathan   Jones    1779-80 

John    Hiester    l~S~ 

'Gabriel  Hiester   178^;  1787-89;   1791;   180r.'-(>4 

Baltzer   Gehr    1782 ;    1780  ;    1792-99 

Daniel    Hunter     1 7S3 

Benjamin    VVeiser    178'2 

Joel    Bishop     1782-84 

Daniel   Qvmer    1783-81:    1787;    1701 

•  Chris.  Lower   1783-85  ;   1793-94  ;   1790 

Abraham    Lincoln 1783-80 

John    Ludwig     1783;    1789;    179',l-92 

John     Patton     1T83 

George    Egs     1'i'^''3 

Nicholas    Lotz    1784-80 ;    1790-94 

John   Rice    17S4 

Henry    Spvker    1'  35-86 

David    Davis     1785-88 

Martin     Rhoads     1785 

Philip    Kraemer     178')-87 

Joseph    Hiestoi     1787-00 

Charles    Biddle     1T8S 

Joseph    Sands     1788-90 

Daniel    Brodhead    1789 

Daniel   Leiiibach    17!'0 

James  Collins   1791 

'  C.    Shoemaker    1792-1801;    1810;    1812 

Paul    Croscup     1792-98 

John     Christ     1795-90 

John    Spavd     1795-1810 

Peter  Frailcy    1797-1801;   ISIO;   1812 

William    Lewis     1797-08 

D.   Rose    : 1799-1804;    1800-OH;    1811-12 

Daniel    Udree    1799-1803;    1805 

William    Witman    1800-05 

Frederick    Smith    1802-03 

Isaac    Adams     1804-05 

Jacob  Rhoads    1804-05  ;   1809 

Jacob   Epler    1805  ;    1816 

Elias  Redcav    1800  07 

Valentine    Probst     1800-08 

Jacob    Schaefler     1890-08 

John    Bishop     ISOO 

Daniel   Yoder    1807-08 

Bernard    Kepner    1S08 

Jacob    Schneider    1809 

David  Kerbv   1809-12;   1815;   1S17 

John    M.    Hyneman     1809 

James    McFarlaiid    1809 

Adam    Ruth    1810-11 

Conrad    Fester    1811-14 

John  Miller   1813;  1815 

Jacob   Krehs    1813-14 

John    Adams    1813-14 

Jacob    Snssaman    1813 

George    Marx     1S14 

Jonathan    Hudson    1814 

Daniel    Kcrper    1815 

•  Ii>    ]"7t    EdwarJ    RlfMIe   v.as    Si-c.-i-.er   of   ilie    Assembly. 


Name  Term 

Daniel   Rhoads,  Jr 1815-17;    1S22 

Jacob    Dreibelbis     1815 

Christian     Haldcman ISlO 

D.    Hottensteir,    1810;    1822-24;    1827 

William    SchoL-ner    IS  17 

Godfried    Rochrer    1817;    1820;    1823 

Michael    Graett 1817-19 

Joseph    Good    1813-19 

Jacob    Levin     1818-19 

Elisha   Geiger    181S 

Jacob    Griesemcr     1818-19 

John    Xeikerch    1819;    1822 

John    Kohler    1820 

Abraham    Mengel    1820 

John   W.   Rosebcrrv    1820 

George    Gcrn.mt     1820-21 

Samuel    Jones     1821 

Joseph    Good    1821 

Jacob    Rahn     ' 1821 

Jacob    Schneider    1821 

William    Adan;s     1822-24 

John    Gehr     1822-23 

William  Audenri.  d    1823-24 

Henry   Boyer    1824-27 ;    1832 

James     Everhard     1824-20 

George    Ralm     1825 ;     1827-2'^ 

Jacob    Gehr    1825-26 

Geo.    M.    Od'.T.hcimer    1825 

Daniel    A.    Beriolctte     1826-23 

Michael    Graeff    1826 

Philip    A.    Good     1827-29 

Mordecai    Lewis     1828 

John    Stauffer     1829-31 

rhos.   J.    Roehrer    1829-30 

G.-orgc  Klein    1829 

Paul    Geigcr       1829-31 

Tohn   Wanner    1830-32 

John    Poltciger    1831-34;    1842-44 

William     High     1832 

Peter    Klein,    Jr 1833-34 

Benjamin    Tvson     183;^ 

Jacob    M.    Snyder    1833-34 

Adam    Schocner    1831;    1839-40 

William    Hottenstein     1835-30 

Lewis    W.    Richards    1835 

John    Ulrich     1835-30 

John     Tackson     1835-37 

John     Sheelz     1830-37 

Michael    K.    Bover    1837 

S.  P'cgclv 1837-39  ;  1848  ;  1849  ;  1851 

Jacob    Walborn    1838-39 

Abrahan-    Hill     1838-39 

James    Geiger     1838 

Henrv    Flannerv     1840-41 

Peter    Filbert     - 1840 

Daniel    B.    Ktitz    1840-41 

Robert   M.    Rr.rr    1841 

Samuel     Moore     1841-43 

John    Shcnk    1842-13 

Joseph     Bachmnn     1842-43 

henrv    W.    Smith     l«44-45 

[ohn'C.    Evans     1844:    1850-52 

Alfred    J.    Herman    184  1 

Jacob  Tice    1845-40 

Michael   HorTman    1845-46;    ]8-,7 

Honrv    G.     Stetler     1845-46;     1848 

Charles     Levan     1846-47 

Tohn     I^n-     1847-48 

(ohn    C.     Mvers 1347-40 

[acoh    Gra.  ft     1847 

William    SiiainiLT    ; ia4't-5'i 

Daniel    Zcrbev     1840-50;    1853 

Alex.    S.    Feather     1850-51 

Tacoh    Rcif snvdcr    1851  52 

'Isaac     Yost    ' 18.52-53 

George    Dengler    1852-53 


-M  '     .H 


GOVEkXAlKXr    A\D    OFFICIALS 


7r 


Name  Term 

Jacob    Wick'.cin     1S.J3-54 

juhu   B.    Smith 1854 

George    Shenk     18r)4-")5 

IXiTi'l"  V.  R.  Hunter   1S54 

Jcnniiah    Mengel    1855 

I  .hn    F.    Linderman     1855 

Samuel    Shearer    .  ■ 1855 

Andrew   il.   Sallade    1855 

J.  Lawrence  Getz* 18.'j6-57 

William   Heins , .  .1856-57 

Dcnj.    Xiinnemacher 135f>-58 

Mich  lel    Hoffman 1857 

Edmund  L.  Smith 1858-59 

Amos  Wciler 1858 

Solomon  L.  Custer 1S59-60 

Augustus  F.  Beriolct 1859 

Joshua  S.  Miller 1860 

Elijah   Peiin   Smith 1800-61 

Michael  P.  Boyer 1S61 

Henry  B.    Rhoads 1861 ;    1865-67 

Charles  A.  Kline 1S62-64 

Daniel  K.  Weidncr ]8iV3-63 

William  N.  Potttigcr 1862-64 

John   P.   Missimer 1864-66 

Frederick    Harner 1865-67 

Richmond  L.  Jones 1867-68 

Henr}    S.  Hottenstcin •.  ..18«s-69 

Henrv  Brobst 1868-70 

Aaron  T.  C.  KefTer 1870-72 

Hiram  H.  Schwann 1870-72 

John  A.  Conrad 1871-73 

Benjamin  E.  Dry 1873-76 

Michael  McCullough 1S73-74 

Aaron    Smith 1874-76 

Daniel  L.  Batdorf 1875 

Xicli'ilos  Andre ' ]8:5-7S 

Joseph  B.  Conrad 1876-78 

George  D.   Schacffer 1877-80 

Stephen   J.   Smith 1877-80 

Tames    Liggett 1879-82 

John   H.    Ri^gel 1879-82 

C.  A.  Seidel 1881-84 

George   K.   Lorah 1881-84 

Isaac  Z.  Deck 188.<-86 

James  W.   Sponagle 1883-80 

Benjamin   C.    Baer 1884-SS 

L.  V.  G.  Fegley   1SS4-88 

X.  S.  Kauftman  1887-90 

John    E.    Pautsch    1887-90 

Cyrus  W.  Kutz    1889-92 

Samuel   B.    Kcppel    ' 1891-94 

F.  I^onard  Rcber 1891-94 

Jacob  G.   Herzog 1893-96 

Cyrus   J.    Rhode    1ST5-9S 

Jacob    M.    Weible    1895-98 

Charles   B.   Spatz 1897-1900 

Frank  H.   Xa'ftzinger 1899-1902 

Lot  \V.  Reiff 1 899-1902 

Kinicr  E.  Sciuibi)   1901-04 

Francis  W.  Balthaser '. 1903-06 

Thomas  R    Houck 1903-06 

Jacob  A.   Lcsher 1905-06 

Howard   G.   McGnwan 1907-08 

Irwin   "SL   Sharman 1907-10 

David  H.  G.  Kuscr 1907-10 

Alvin   K.   Lesher 1900-10 

COUNTY  offici:rs 

Commissioners. — The  board  of  countv  conmii^- 
sioners  comprises  three  membirs.  IVevioiis  to 
'i^Ti').  one  was  elected  annually  for  three  years.  The 
Constitution   of   IST;?.   nrovideil   for  tlie   election   of 

*  Spc.ilxr   of   House  in    lg57. 


the  three  coniniissioners  in  ISTo  and  every  third 
year  thereafter. 

The  board  of  county  auditors  also  comprises 
three  members.  Previous  to  ISOO  they  were  ap- 
pointed by  tile  county  judq-cs.  An  Act  was  passed 
March  IG,  ISOO,  providing  for  the  annual  election 
thereafter  of  three  auditors.  In  ls]-J.  this  pro- 
vision was  mtxlified  so  that  a  new  auditor  was  in- 
troduced into  the  board  annually  thereafter.  This 
practice  prevailed  until  the  Con.stitution  of  18T3, 
which  provided  for  the  election  of  three  auditors 
in  1875  and  every  third  vear  thereafter. 

In  respect  to  both  commissioners  and  auditors, 
"each  qualified  elector  shall  vote  for  no  more  than 
two  persons,  and  the  three  persons  having  the 
highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  elected."'  This 
was  a  marked  departure  from  the  old  system,  by 
which  all  of  one  political  party  were  elected.  It  en- 
abled the  opposite  party  to  elect  one  member. 
Since  1875,  these  officers  have  been  elected — two 
by  the  Democrats  and  r^ne  by  the  Republicans. 


COMMISSIONERS. 

Name  Term 

Evan    Price 1752-53 

Edward  Drury 1752-56 

John  Godfrey 1752-61 

Jacob    Lightfnot 1753-56 ;   1759-62 

Thomas  Rutlcr 1756-59 

William    Recser 1757-60 

Samuel    High 1760-63  ;   ]  773-75 

Christian   Witinan 1761-64 

John    Hughes 1762-65 

(""red'k  Weiser 1763-66 

Richard    Lewis 1764-67 

Isaac    Lcvau 1765-6S 

Xicholas    Harmony 1.766-69 

Christian    Merkcl 1707-70 

Jacob  Snyder 1769-71 

John    Jones 1769-72 

Henry    Rightmeyer 1770-73 

Davis  Brecht 1771-74 

.'\brahani  Lincoln. 1772-78 

Michael     Brecht 1774-77 

Christian  Lower ]  776-79 

John    Kerlin 1777-30 

Adam     Witman 1778-Sl  ;   1784-87 

Thomas     Jones 1779-82  ;  1783-86 

Thomas     Parry 1780-83 

Daniel    Messersmith 1781-84 

Michael     Forrv 1782-85 

Conrad   Eckcrt 1785-91 

Daniel   Lcinbacli 1780-89 

John  Keim 1787-90 

Jacob    Boyer 1780-92 

Jacob   Bower 1790-93 

John  Riegel 1791-94 

George     Lorah 1792-95 

Philip   Miller 17U3-9S 

Peter    Kershner 1794-97 

William   Witman 1795-98 

Xicholas  Dick 1796-99 

Isaac    .-\ddains    1797-18  10 

Jacob    Rhoads 1798-1801 

Peter   E'eather 1799-1802 

Jacob   Epler lSOO-03 

Casper    Merkel 1801-04 

John    Cunnius 1«i>l'-05 

Daniel    Voder lS03-<n5 

.•\dam   Ruth 1804-07 


'>.:  Ji  ■.■b':  <•  ;■/ 


rs 


HISTORY  OF  P.ERKS  COL'XTV,  PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


Name  Term 

Henry   Hahn 18'J.'>-0S 

Henry    Hottciistein lSOtj-09 

Xicholas    Leib • ISOT-IO 

Jacob    -Miller lSOS-11 

N^ilcntine  Bovtr 18)0-12 

Daniel     RutJi'. 1810-13 

George     Boyer 1811-14 

Jacob    Gchr 1812-15 

William    Addaiiis    iSi:!-](j 

GeorfJte    Shreffler 1814-17 

Daniel    Levan 1815-18 

William  High 181t)-19 

Peter   Slichttr 1S17-20 

George  X.  Lechncr 1818-21 

Feter   Knabb 1819-22 

David     Bright 1820-23 

George    Kemp 1821-24 

Fred'k     Stamni 1822-25 

Henry  Reeser 1823-26 

John    Wanner 1824-27 

John    Potteiger 1825-28 

John  Hahn 1820-29 

Stanley  Kirby 1827-30 

George    Gernant 1828-31 

Anthony    Bickel 1829-32 

Daniel   K.   Hottenstein 1830-33 

John    Filbert _. 1831-34 

Jacob    Goodman '. 1 832-35 

Daniel    Snvder 1833-36 

John    Deysher 1834-37 

John  Y.   Cunnius 1835-38 

John    Seibcrt 1836-39 

David   Kutz 1837-40 

Michael   Reifsnyder 1838-41 

George   Weilcr 1839-42 

John    Long 1840-43 

William   Arnold 1S41-44 

John  Sharman 1342-45 

Adam    Lcize 1843-46 

Fred'k  Print/. 18 14-47 

Michael    Gery 1845-48 

David   Yoder 1846-49 

Charles  Fichthorn 1847-50 

Conrad    Clousc 1848-51 

Thomas    Shaner 1849-52 

Joseph    A.    Schneidf r 1850-53 

John    McGovvaii 1851-54 

Beniamm  Kut/ 1852-55 

Jacob   Young .' 1853-56 

Gabriel    Filbert 1854-57 

William  Knabb 1855-58 

Samuel    Summons 1856-59 

D.  L.  Wenrich 1857-60  ;   1863-60 

William  Miller 1S58-61 

John  F.   Moer? r 1859-62 

Pari  Wenrich.  Sr 1860-63 

J.  Donahower 1861 

George  K.  Lor?h 1861-64 

H.  R.  Hawman 1S62-65 

Adam    Stein 1864-67 

Wm.  S.  Young 1865-71  ;  1879-81 

Jacob    Schnrtel 1866-69 

Benjamin     l.evan 1867-70 

Tohn  L.  Mover 1869-72 

William    Rabn 18;o-73 

Toscnh   Mutharl* 1871-74 

David    Lord 1872-75 

Henrv    Scidel 1873-74 

William    Fry 1873-75 

William     Umbonhauer 1874-7'i 

Henrv  W.    Smith 1876-78 

William    Davidheiser 1876-7S 

William  G.  Moore 1876-73 

John    Walborn 1879-81 

*  Miithnrt    dicri    in    AprI!.    1ST2.    and    SriJcl    v.  .T!    aiipointed    to    fili 
vaciticy    fn*-   unexpire-l    Term. 


Name  Term 

Jeremiah    R.    Guldin 1879-81 

Samuel  G.  Jiattield 1882-S4 

Peter    Spang 1882-84 

David  C.   Keller 1882-84 

John  L.  Wagner 1885-87 

Samuel   K.    Fisher 1885-87 

David  C.   Keller ' 1885-87 

Samuel  G.  Herbine 1888-90 

Cyrus    Levan 1888-90 

Samuel    K.    Deppcn ]  888-90 

C  yrus  W.  Kauttman 1891-93 

Jacob  H.    Reeser 1891-93 

Franklin    Seidel 1891-93 

Jeremiah    Hartinan ' 1894-96 

Henry    Stoyer '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'..'.  1894-96 

John  Wunch* 1894-96 

George  K.  Linderman 1896-99 

Weslej-  K.  Loose 1897-99 

Charles    E.    St?ngier !  1897-99 

Alfred    Gunkel 1900-02 

Frank  H.  Moyer 1900-02 

John  W.  Slipp   ..'.'.'.'.'.'..'.  1900-02 

Harry  L,  Johnson 1903-05 

Jacob   Miller 1903-05 

Oliver  H.  Sander.-. , 1903-05 

James   M.    Yergcr 1906-08 

James  F.  Fisher 1906-03 

Chester   B.   Cleaver 1906-08 

Jacob  yi.  Bordner 1909-11 

Augustus    R.   -Anderson 1909-11 

Eugene    I.    Sandt    1909-11 


Xame  Xerni 

Thomas    Lightfoot 1797  98;  1803-05 

'yVilliam_  Moore 1797- 1800-  1803-08 

John    Bishop 1797-98 

I'anl    Groscup 1799-1800 

Jacob    Bov.-er 1799-1800 

V.  illiam    Green 1801-02 

William    Bell 1301-02  ;   1806-08 

George  De  B.  Keim 1301-02;   1809 

James    May 1803-05 

John     Wilman 1S06-0S 

Lewis   Reeser 1809 

Fred'k  Frick ]  809 

John   Richer isio 

George  Boyer 1810-11 

Daniel    Yoder ]810 

Christopher  Shearer  181 1;  1817-19 

John  S.  Hiester ]8ll 

George  Lorah 1812 

Philip    Moyer 1812 

John    Adams 1S12 

Henry    M.    Richards 1813-lG 

U'il'iain    Addanis     .    1813-14 

Peter  Trcxler 1813 

Abraham   Mengel •. 1814-17 

William    High' 1815-18  ;   1835-38 

Peter     High 1817-20 

Peter    Sheetz 1818-21 

George     Getz 1819-22 

Jacob    Dick 1820-23 

Geo.  U.  Odenheimer 1821-24 

Jacob   Sciineidcr 1822-25 

Peter     Adnin^; 1823-26 

iJenry  S.  Klein 1824-27 

J'.lijah    Dechcrt 1S25-2S 

Tohn    S.    l^earson 1826-29 

John    Beitemnan 1827-30 

Simon    Seyfert 1828-31 

John    Jackson 1829-32 

*  John    \^'^:lch    iiavliig   rtiod.    ('cnrfee    K.    Lindern-an    was   ajvpointed 
T'li'c    1»,    IS!*!'..    t'»   serve    Lincxpircii    t-^rin. 


-•}   l.^r 


;')/      n/.-il 


GOVERXMEXT    AND    OFFICIALS 


Name  Term 

John    Seltzer lS;{0-33 

John   M.  Keini .* 1831-34 

Daniel  V.  R.  Hunter n;:;-^  ;  i83ii-42 

Thomas    Wanner 18:i;'.-3o 

Jacob  Klein 1833-30 

Jacob  Fricker 1834-37 

Daniel     Yuung 1830-39 

William    WunJer 1837-39 

John    L.    Rightmyer 1338-41 

H.   H.   Muhlenberg 1839-40 

John   F.    Moers 1840-43  ;   185-'-5S 

lacob  K.   Boyer 1841-44 

David    Schall 1842-45 

John    L.    Reifsnycler 1843-40 

Chas.   H.  Adams '. 1844-50 

Jacob    Dick 1845-48 

Michael    Kraemer 1846-49:   1804-67 

Paul     Geiger 1848-51 

John   Y.  Cunnius 1849-52 

Charles  J.  Cunimenb    1850-56 

Daniel    Laucks ■. . .  1851-54 

Reuben    R.    Kline 1854-57 

Samuel    M.   Klec 1850-62 

Amos  K.  Strunck 1857-60 

Henrj'  F.   Felix 1858-01 

William     Ste^fe 1860-63 

Joseph   S.   Hoycr 1861-64 

Ezra    D.    Yorgcy 1803  65 

Andrew   Kurr 1803-09 

John    G.   Glase 1865-68 

James  Bel! 1807-70 

Peter   S.   Albright 1868-71 

William   Y.   Shearer 1869-72 

Daniel  G.  Knabb 1870-75 

Henry  H.  Dubson 1871-74 

Harrison  M.  Keber 1872-  75  ;  1870-73 

Wm.  H.  Sallaac 1875;   1S76-7S 

Henry  Z.  Van   Reed 1870-78 

Jacob  D.  Holtiiian 1870-81 

Charles  S.  Tobias 1879-81 

William  H.   Clark 1879-31 

Isaac  S.  Bagcnstose 1882-84 

Jacob  S.  Yoder 1882-84 

James    M.    High 1882-84 

Morris  H.  Bovcr 1885-87 

Jared  B.  Kramer   1385-87 ;  1888-00 

Allen  B.  Aulenbach 1885-87 

Franklin  G.  Krick 188S-93 

Reuben   Rhoads 1888-90 

Howard   Spat/    1801-96 

George  F.  Schock 1891-03 

Nathan  D.   Trexler 1894-96 

Edwin  H.  Weller 1894-99 

Henry  M.  DeTurk   1897-1901 

Peter   Hartman    1897-1901 

Charles   B.   Reis    1900-01 

Controllers. — The  Act  of  June  27.  1S9.T,  pro- 
vided that  counties  of  the  State  liaviiin^  l.jO.OOt) 
population  shall  elect  a  controller  to  take  the  place 
of  county  auditors,  and  it  a])pearin'::f  'n-  the  United 
States  census  of  I'JOO  that  Berks  county  had  a  pop- 
ulation in  excess  of  MO.OOO.  the  Governor,  on  ^lay 
22,  1901,  appointed  Joseph  X.  Shoino  as  controller 
to  serve  until  Jan.  (>,  11)02,  wlien  an  incumbent  duly 
elected  \vould  be  qualified  to  fill  the  office. 

CONTROLLERS 
Xame  Term 

Joseph   X.  Shomo 1001 

John  F.  Ancona 1902-04 

Horace    F.    I.iving-iod 1905-07 

Ambrose  L.  Rhoads .....1908-10 


Trl.\surlrs. — Previous  to  1S41  the  countv  treas- 
urer was  appointed  annually  by  the  countv  com- 
missioners. On  May  27,  is'n,  an  Act  waspassed 
providing  for  the  election  of  this  officer  in  October 
follow  iiig  and  every  two  years  thereafter.  The 
Constitution  of  1873  increa>eil  tlie  term  to  three 
years  after  1S75. 

TRE.^SURERS 
Name  Term 

Jonas    Seely 1752-63 

Christopher    Witnian 1768-79 

Daniel    Levan 1779-89 

Daniel  Messersmith   1789-1807:  1809-11:  1814-17 

John    K.    Messersmith 1807-09;   1811-14;   1817-20 

Daniel  Rhcadi 1820-23 

David    Briglit , 1823-35 

Peter    Xagic 1835-43 

Henry    X'agle 1843-45 

William    Arnold 1845-47 

Henry   Hahs 1847-49 

Adam  Lcize 1849-51 

William    Ermentrout 1851-53 

Charles  Van  Reed  1853-55 

George  Feather 1855-59 

David    Flank 1859-61 

William     Herb.^t 1861-03 

John    Kurtz     1 803-65 

Isaac  R    Fisher 1805-67 

Charles  H.  Fritz 1867-69 

Samuel    Alerkel 1809-71 

Abraham  Y. Yoder 1871-73 

Hiestcr  M.   Xagle 1873-75 

Abraham    H.    Schaeffer 1876-78 

Adam    M.    Dundore 1879-81 

John    Kr-rschner 1882-84 

John    S.    Hoh/man 1885-87 

David  W.   Mogel    1888-00 

Isaac  F.   March 180t-93 

.\mendon    Bright 1894-90 

Cosmos  D.  KutE 1807-09 

.A.Itred  K.  Eentschlcr 1900-02 

Edwin   G.   Ruth 1903-05 

Henry  H.  Fry 1905-08 

William   M.    Croll 1909-11 

Sheriffs. — The  Duke  oi  Yorke's  laws  (intro- 
duced into  Pennsylvania  Sept.  22,  KwG)  provided 
for  the  r.omination.  by  the  justices  of  the  county,  of 
three  persons  within  their  jurisdiction,  out  of  which 
the  Governor  .should  make  choice  of  one  to  be  sher- 
iff for  the  year  ensuing.  By  virtue  of  his  office  the 
sherifif  was  then  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

In  the  Fratne  of  Government,  prepared  bv  Wil- 
liam Penn  for  the  province  in  l(j82,  it  wa.s  provided 
that  the  freemen  of  the  counties  should  annually 
elect  and  present  to  the  Governor  a  double  number 
of  persons  to  serve  for  sheriff,  justices,  and  coroner 
for  the  year  next  ensuing,  out  of  which  the  Gov- 
ernor should  nominate  and  commission  the  proper 
number  for  each  office.  After  the  erection  of  the 
county,  the  first  aiipointments  of  sheriff  and  cor- 
oner were  made  Oct.  4.  T;.">2. 

The  Constitution  of  1790  |)rovided  f(ir  a  sinnlar 
election  and  appoinimcnt  of  sheriff  and  coroner; 
but  the  term  of  service  was  increased  to  three  years, 
and  no  person  was  to  be  twice  api-Muted  .slieri ff  in 
any  term  of  six  years.  The  Cnu'^tituti'in  of  1S:*.S 
provided  that  one  person  for  said  offices  re-pective- 


■I  .  •-  'j'i:  fil 


'   •■  .'.    •/  -ir, 


'V    i)(':';»»Oj 


r«ivf 

"<-r   . 


so 


HISTORY    UF    r.ERKS    COUXTV,    !'[•: XXSYLWW  lA 


-.s 

c"i3-G4 
31-03 

63-07 

es-TO 

71-73 
74-76 
77-79 
SO-Sl 
91-93 
85-S7 
S8-90 
94-90 
97-99 


Iv  should  1)0  elected  by  the  people  fur  the  term  of 
three  vear-.  And  the>e  ofhces  have  thence  been  so 
filled. " 


Xamp  TeriTi 

Benjamin   Liglitfoot 175::-:>4 

William    Boont 1 

Tlionias  Lincoln 17 

Jacob   Weaver 1739-00  ;  1 

Henrj-    Qirist 1 

Jasper    Scul! 1 

Jacob    Shoemaker 1 

Geoige    Xagle 1 

Heni-y   Vandersli^e 1 

Daniel  Levan 1 

Henry  Iloffa i 

Philip    Kraeiner 1782-84  ;  1 

Peter     Filbert 1 

Jacob    Bower 1 

Peter    Frailey 1 

John    Christ 1 

Nicholas    Dick 1800-02 

John   Spycker 1803-05 

Conrad   Fegcr 1806-08 

George    Marx ISOO-i  I 

Daniel  Kerper 1SI2  14;  1824-20 

Peter    Aurand 1815  17 

John     ^Miller 1818-20 

Henrv   Betz 1821-23 

John    Bickel 1827-29 

James    Sillvnian 1830-32 

Henry   Bovvman 1833-35 

George    Fox 18:;6-3S 

Henry    Binkley 1838-41 

Daniel    Esterley T84t-44 

George  Gernanl 1844-47 

John   S.    Schrocdcr 1847-50 

John   Potteiger ' 18.50  53 

John    Manderbach 1853-50 

Henry   H.    Manderbach 1856-59 

Jeremiah  D.  Bitting 1859-02 

Abraham  R.  Koer.ig 1802-05 

Tobias    Earto 1805-03 

William  B.  Albright 1868-71 

Evan     Mishler   1871-74 

George    R.    Yorgev 1875-77 

Alfred   C.   Ken.p  .'. 1878-80 

Levi  M.  Gerhart 1881-83 

George    D.    Bover 1884-86 

George    B.    Schaeffcr 1887-89 

Elias    Becker 1890-92 

George    D.  Fahrenbach 1893-95 

Frank    H.    Schmeck 1890-98 

Frank    Brohst 1899-1901 

Albert   F.    Mogel 1902-04 

Jacob   PL    Sassaman 1905-07 

John   C.   Bradlev 1908-10 


CORO.N'KKS 

Kame  Term 

William    Boone 1752-54 

Benjamin    Parvin 1755 — 


John    Warren 1759 

Jacob  Kern 1760-61 

Adam  W'itman 1762 

Samuel    Weiser 1763-65 

Christopher    Witman 1766 

Henrv    Hallcr 1767 

Jas.  Whitehead.   Jr 17GS-09;   1779-80 

Sarniul    Jackson 1 770 

Isaac  Levan,  Jr 1771-72 

Peter    Brecht 1773-75 

Philip   Kreamer 1770-78 


Same  Term 

Peter    Xagle .  .  .1781-87 

Peter     Feather • 1788-93 

Thomas    Wildbahn 1704-99. 

Peter  .Aurand ISOO-112 

Daniel    Kerper 1303-05 

Heiirv    Rieser 1800-11 

J.  Christian 1812-14 

Samuel     Feather 1815-17;   1821-29 

Samuel    Ritter !  .  .1818-20 

.\dam    Reitmver 1830-32 

John    Hahn..' 1833-3  t 

John    Fox 1835-37;  1859-64;  1S;8-7C 

Wdliam     Stable 1838-49 

John   H.   Seltzer 1850-52 

William  Keen 1853  58 

Henry     Palm 1805-67 

Geo.    S.   Goodhart 1877-7'J 

Will'am   H.   Kellv   l88')-t>2 

Henrv  D.  Schocdler 1883-85 

Frank    H.    Denhard 1886-88 

Dr.  John   G.   Hoffman 1889-91 

Dr.  Frank  J.  Kantncr 1892-94 

John   C.    Griescmcr 1805-97 

Dr.   W^ilson   H.   Rothermel 1898-1900 

Reuben   E.   Mover 1901-03 

Dr.  Albert  N.  Seidel 1904-06 

Dr.  Robert  E.  Strasscr 1907-09 

Protiionot.mufs,  Rix'okder.s,  Registkks.  Clerk.-- 
OF  Oi<i'H.\xs'  Cox:kt,  .\xu  Clerks  of  Quarter  Ses- 
sioxs. — The  offices  of  prothoiiotary,  recorder,  regis- 
ter, clerk  of  Orplians"  court,  and  clerk  of  Quarter 
Sessions  were  created  with  the  county  courts.  Imme- 
diately after  the  erection  of  Berks  county,  they 
were  established  at  the  county-town,  anrl  filled  by 
ap])oinliiient  of  the  Governor.  The  Amended  Con- 
stitution of  J.'^o.S  changed  the  manner  of  filling  the 
offices  named  from  appointment  by  the  Cicvernor 
to  election  by  the  people;  and  tlie  .Vet  of  July  2, 
1839,  fixed  the  term  of  ol^ce  at  three  years.  The 
first  officers  v/cre  elected  in  October,  1839.  Xo 
change  has  been  made  since.  From  that  time,  the 
tenns  of  the  ofticers  began  on  the  1st  day  of  De- 
cember following  their  election  till  the  adoption  of 
the  X'ew  Constittttion,  when  the  time  was  changed 
to  the  first  r\Ionday  of  January  follov.-ing  their  elec- 
tion. This  change  included  also  tlie  other  county 
officers. 

rROlHONOTARIES 
Name  1  em 

Jair.es  Read 1752-75  ;  1777 

Thomas    Dundas l^'O 

Jacob    Shoemaker l~~^' 

Daniel    Levan 1779-89;   1791 

John    Otto 1790 

George  Eckert 1792-1800 

John    S.    Hiestcr ISOt-OS 

Gabriel   Hiester,  Jr 1809-17 

Samuel  D.  Franks iSlS 

John     .\da:ns 1819-20  ;   1824-20  ;   1830-35 

Marks    Tohn    Biddle 1821-23 

Jacob    Sallade 1827-29 

Alex.  H.  Witman 1836-38 

Benj.    Tyson 1839-42 

Daniel    Young 1842-45 

IVtcr     Strohecker 1S45-48 

Michael   K.  Bover 1818  51 

Charles  H.  Hunter '5'''  ?* 

josiah    Hearing 1854-57 

"David     Fistor 1857-fin 

.Adam  W.  Kauffm.m 1800-63 

Jonathan   L.   RlIkt 1803-60 


GOVERNMENT   AND   OFFICIALS 


81 


N'aire  Term 

Wclli'igion   B.  Griesemer 1S66-69 

Gior^'t  K.  Levan 18ti0-72 

Hpliriiim    Arnisti  ony 1872-75 

Charles   F.   Rentschler 1870-78 

Amos    Wciler 1879-81 

William    U.    Althouse 18S2-84 

Levi   F.    Dietrich 1885-87 

Dpniel   H.    Schwcyer 1888-90 

loshua  R.  Burkey 1S'J]-9J  ;  1894 

'William  H.  B.  Schoenlv* 1894 

Oliver  J.  WolfT 1895-07 

Daniel   R.  Schineck 1898-1900 

John   G.    Rhoads 1901-03 

Edward  J.  :Morris 1904-00 

Eldridge    Zinimerman 1907-09 

EECORl'tRS 
Name  Term 

James    Read 1752-70 

Henrj     Christ 1777-89 

John    Christ 1790-91 

Jacob    Bovver 1792-99 

Peter    Frailey 1800-08 

Jacob    Schneider 1809-17 

John  Adams 1818 

Daniel    Rhoads 1819-20 

John   Millev 182l-2:i ;   1830-35 

John  Fred'k  Smith 1824-29 

Joseph    Ailgaici 1830-38 

John  Green 1839 

William   Wunder 1839-42 

Henrv  H.  Maurer 1842-45 

John  '  W.   Tyson 1845-48 

Israel  R.  Laucks 1848-51 

John     Bush 1851-54 

Hiram  S.  Getz 1854-57 

Xichoias    Heckman 1857-60 

Charles   N.  Keller 1800-03 

Isaac    Laucks 1803-00 

Henry    Reider 1800-09 

Daniel    Hummel 1809-72 

Charles    Hill 1872-75 

Jefferson    M.    Keller 1870-78 

William    Zimmerman    1879-81 

Isaac  M.  Bechtel 1882-84 

W.    Ber.ton    Slolz 18S5-87' 

James  F.  Dunm 1888-90 

Simpson  Becker .1891-93 

Isaac  W.   Kcimt 1894 

Amos  F.  Dumn 1894 

James    W.   Sponagle 1895-97 

Daniel    H.    Rieser 1898-1900 

Frank  F.  Bressler 1901-03 

Henry  H.   Holzman 1904-06 

Jeremiah  A.  Bausher 1907-09 

REGISTERS 
N'ame  Term 

James    Read : 1752-74 

Collinson   Read 1775-70 

Henry    Christ 17V7-80 

John  Christ 1790-91 

Jacob     Bower , 1792-99 

Peter    Frailey 1800-08 

Jacob  Schneider 1809-17 

Daniel    Rhoads 1818-20;  1824-29 

Peter  Aurand 1821-23 

Gi(irc;e   Smith 1830-35 

William    Zicber 1830-38 

Joel   Rittcr 1839-42 

John   Green 1842-45 

Isaac    Flv 1845-43 

JoM.iih    Ritter 1818-51  • 

Jacob    Snell 1851-54 

Daniel    Buskirk 1854-57 

'Died    on    March    11.    1-04,    .iilI    the    Derntv    T..^liiia    R.     Hurkey 
w,-i^    anpoii-tril    to    r,!!    otT.ce    until   first    .Moil. lav   of   Jar.uaiv-    l^!',,. 
t  r>K<l    .\,,ri!    i;,    l„J4 


J  obias     Barto 1857-60 

Benjamin   E.   Dry 1800-03 

Michael    S.    Thirwechter 1803-00 

J.  Daniel  Wann'T lSCO-09 

Hiram  S.  Getz 1809-72 

Fienry   C.    Croll 1872-75 

Peter  Y.  Fdelmaii 1870-78 

Solomon  S.  Kindt 1879-81 

Jonas    M.    Shollenberger. .  . . '. 18S2-S4 

Amnion    S     Strunk 1885-87 

Albert-    H.    Fcgely 1888-90 

Henry  D.  Strunk 1891-93 

\\'ill)am    H.    Schaftner 1894-96 

George    B.    Miller 1897-99 

Levi    S.    Mabry 1900-03 

William  R.  Kemmcrer 1903-05 

Wilson   M.  Dumn 1900-08 

George  R.  Gregory 1909-11 

CLERKS    OF   ORPHAXS'   CCITRT 
Xame  Term 

jaraes    Read 1752-76 

Henry   Ciirist 1777-SS 

James    Scull 1789-91 

Jacob  Bower 1792-99 

Peter    Frailey 1800-09 

John  M.  Hyncmaii 1810-15 

John    Adams 1810-17 

William  Schocncr 1818-23 

Matthias    S.    Richards 1823 

Jacob    Sallade 1824-20;  1830-31 

Nathaniel  P.  Hobert 1827-29 

Jacob  Alarshali 1832-35 

Henry   Rhoads 1830-38 

William  H.  Miller 1839-41 

James  Donagan 1842 

William    Shearer 1842-45 

Zacharias  H.  Maurer 1845-48 

William    W     Dichl 1848-5] 

Charles  J.  \Vink 1851-54 

Daniel    Pottcigcr ; 1854-57 

Ephraim    Friiz 1857-60 

Daniel  Hahn 1800-03 

.Solomon   Close 1803-60 

Levi  H.  Lies? 1866-60 

Malilon    F.    Wolff 1809-72 

Isaac  K.  Knoll 1872-T5 

C  harks    M.   Clouse 1870-73 

Ephraim   Dunkle 1879-81 

William  H.  Gilmer* 1882-83 

LXEftKS   OF   QU.\RTER   .SESSIONS 
Xanic  Term 

James    Read 1752-76 

James    Whitehead 1777-78 

Henry  Christ 1779 

Daniel    Levan 1780-91 

George   Eckert 1792-99 

John  S.  Hicster 1800-08 

Gabriel   Hiesier,  Jr 1809-12  ;  1814-17 

John    M.    Hyncman 1813 

Samuel    D.   Franks 1818 

John   Adams 1819-20 

Henry   M.   Richards    1821-23 

Jacob    Marshall    1823 

Jacob   Sallade 1824-20 

Nathaniel    P.    Hobert    1827-29 

Philip   A.   Good    13,30-32 

William   Schoener    ■ l£33-35 

Charles   Tro.xell    1830-38 

William  H.  Miller  18,39 

Samuel     Myers     1839- »3 

John    L.    Rightmycr    1842-51 

Zacharias    H.    Maurer    1851-54 

F.dwin    H.    Brockway    1854-57 

Joseph   S.   Hoyer   1857-60 

*  l'r'.->ii  Ihc  f sta1)1i^limi-r,(  nf  a  ^^cpaiat^-  nrnl:ar,,.'  l:):-,-t  in  T-"^"). 
this  (jthciT  was  di^cciitintit-rl,  .ind  the  Rcyister  became  the  Clerk, 
as    provided    by    law. 


'ivrtiU<A       ',;'^,; 


ii-f  ?.  ,ii''.\,    ,;■ 


-1',>!|       1,1:   ■f.rHi. 


;'>        '»      ril','.'/ 


82 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Nanu-  Term 

James    Bell     1800-63 

Francis    Roland    18C3-f.O 

Levi  M.  Gcrhart 18G6-69 

Adam  H.  Snilor   1869-72 

Jacob   H.  }  Iain    187::-75 

.Alahldn  A.  Sellers  1376-78 

Enoch    S.   Matthias    1879-81 

Isaac   Eckeit    1882-84 

Alorris  H.  Shaefter   1885-87 

Henrv   G.    Heinlv    1S88-90 

William    H.    Sallade    1S91-9.1 

Henrv  H.  Holl*'  1894-9") 

Edwin  T.  lirown   1895 

Harrv  J.  Dumn   1890-93 

Daniel  A.  Br.usher  1899-1901 

Jacob   B.    Esscr    1902-04 

Peter  S.  Holl    1905-07 

Samuel  T.   Bordner    1908-10 

District  Attorxev?. — The  office  of  district  at- 
torney was  created  by  Act  of  2^Iay  o.  1850.  and 
made  elective,  with  a  term  of  three  years.  Prev- 
iously, the  Attorney-General  of  the  State  appointed 
an  attorney  in  the  several  counties  to  represent  the 
Commonwealth  in  the  prosecution  of  criminal  cases. 

The  Act  of  1850  required  a  residence  of  one  year 
in  the  county  and  a  practice  of  two  years  at  the  bar. 
The  latter  was  reduced  to  one  year  by  the  Act  of 
1852,  but  increased  attain  to  two  years  by  the  Act 
of  April  2G,  1883. 

DISTRICT    ATTORXEVS 
Name  Term 

Jacob     Hublcv     1789-1817 

Frederick    Smith    1818-20;    1824-27 

Charles    Richards     182 1 

Daniel   J.    Hiester    1822-2:i 

Joseph   II.   Spavd    1828-29 

Joseph    D.    Biles    18.'5()-31 

Alexander    L.    Kiiig    18:!2-.'i5 

George   G.   Barcla'-    18:'.G-.ss 

J.    Fringle   Jones' 18J9-4G 

Peter     Filbert     1847-4S 

John    S.    Richards    1S49-30 

Jeremiah    Hageman    1850-56 

Jacob    K.    McKentv    185G-5U 

James    B.    Bechtcl     1859-62 

Daniel     Ernientroiit     1862-65 

Wharton    Morris    1SG5-68 

Edward    H.    Shearer    18G8-71 

Peter  D.  Wanner   1871-74 

Henrv   C.   G.    Reher    1875-77 

William    M.    Goodman    1878-89 

Hiram  Y.  Kanffm.nn    1881-S:! 

Israel    H.    Rothernicl    1884-86 

leremiah    K.    Grant    1887-89 

W.   Oscar   Miller    1890-92 

Frank    K.    Flood    1893-95 

Adam  B.   Rieser   1896-98 

Abraham    H.    Rotlerme!    1899-1901 

George   W.    Wagner    1902-04 

Ira  G.   Kntz   1905-07 

Harry    D.    Schaeffcr    1908-10 

Spkci.\l  DETiXTiviiS. — Au  Act  was  passed  May 
19.  IST-l.  which  provided  for  the  appointment  of  a 
special  detective  officer  in  the  ^everal  counties  of 
the  State,  by  the  district  attorney,  with  the  approval 
of  the  court  of  Quarter  Sessions.  The  first  appoint- 
ment was  made  in  February,  IST.j.  The  officers 
were : 

*  Died    April    4,    1895. 


Xanie  Term 

William   L.  Grniil    1S75-77 

John    Denhard"    lS7S-s;i 

LawreiKV   P.  Resslcr    1883 — 

James    P.    Ker^hiier    1881-86 

Georse   Kramer    1887-89 

lohn  Wimch   1890-92 

Frank   H.  Dcnhard   18it3-'.i5 

Henrv   C.    W.    MiUi;**    1895 

Willi.im    Binkncch- 1S9G-9S 

lames   P.  Kcrshner  ' 1899-1900 

Daniel   J.    McDermott    1901 

Eugene   W.   Feueh    1902-04 

James  J.   Merkel    1905-10 

SuRVEyoK.s. — The  office  of  surveyor-g-eneral  of 
the  State  was  created  April  9,  1181  ;  and  this  officer 
was  then  empowered  to  appoint  a  deputy  or  deini- 
ties  in  any  county  of  the  State.  The  first  appoint- 
ment of  a  deputy-surveyor  for  Berks  county  was 
made  in  1800.  One  deputy  was  appointed  from  that 
time  to  1834,  when  two  deputies  were  appointed. 
The  appointment  of  two  was  continued  till  the  pas- 
sag-e  of  the  Act  of  April  9,  1800,  which  provided 
for  the  election  of  a  county  surveyor  in  October 
follov.-ing',  for  the  tenn  of  three  years,  and  every 
third  year  thereafter,  and  since  1850,  this  officer 
has  been  elected  by  the  people. 

SURVEYORS 
Xame  Term 

Joseph  Hoch   1800-13 

John    M.    Hyneman    1814-22 

Matthias    S.    Richards    1823-34 

Daniel    A.    Bertolette . .  .1835-.';7 

Thomas   H.   Jones    1837-38 

Aaron    Albright    1838 

Michael    K.    Boyer    1839-44 

Benjamin  Dclong   1839-49 

Daniel  J.  Warmer   1841-47 

Daniel    Potieige:-    1845-50 

Samuel  Hoffman    1848-50 

-Augustus   F.   Bertolet    1850-56 

.Andrew    Kurr    1856-62 

Daniel  S.   Zacharias    1862-77:   ISSl 

Henrv  C.  Zacharias    1877-80 

Solomon  K.  Dreibelbis   1882-1901 

Xevin    .\I.    Davis    1902-04 

Orlando  F.   Bergcr    1905-10 

Poor  Diuectoi;.s. — Previi.ius  tu  1809,  "overseers" 
of  the  poor  were  appointed  by  the  justices  of  the 
county.  On  March  11,  1809.  an  Act  was  passed 
authorizing  the  election  of  the  overseers  annually. 
The  poor  of  the  C(iunty  were  provided  for  by  c>ver- 
seers  till  the  pa>>ai;-e  of  an  Act  of  Assembly  on 
March  29.  Is24,  e>lK^ciaiIy  for  Berks  county,  where- 
by the  county  commissioners  were  authorized  to 
lew  a  tax  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing-  land  and 
erecting  thereon  and  furnishing  necessary  buildings 
for  the  emijloyment  and  support  of  the  poor  of  the 
couiUv;  and  seven  directors  were  ajipointed  to  pro- 
ceed in  the  establishment  of  the  institution.  At 
the  following  election,  in  October  of  that  year, 
three  directors  were  elected  in  pursuance  of  th.e 
Act — one  for  one  year,  one  for  two  years,  and  one 

*  lolm  Dcnhar.i  wa^;  npr.iinnd  for  a  soenti.l  term.  ls-<I-93:  b.-t 
he  wa^  clcctc.l  to  the  ofVirc  .if  .M.lcrmaii  of  tnc  KU'hth  Waid.  Read- 
ing, in  .\laj-,  lss:i.  when  he  resipiieJ.  and  Lawrence  1'.  Kesi^ler  was 
appoitittd    tor    tlif    im.-Niiiti-d    tiim. 

*•  1-rom  .\up.  2."),  IS'.'j,  to  lill  vacancy  cau5eil  bv  death  of  Frank 
ir.    Denhard. 


i)  v,l   ]y■.J■>i^     ).>^   '!■■■ 


.;:.■  ■V't'.l 


^';/l 


>     -ill      -■     I.  ■  . 


, //     '  ./■,     M/    -       -:.Vyf 


GOVERX.MEXT    AXD    OFFICIALS 


83 


for  three  years;  and  annually  after  said  election  one 
director  was  elected  for  three  yoars.  This  law  has 
not  been  altered.  The  directors  appointed  a  stew- 
ard and  other  officers  aniuially.  to  superintend  and 
carry  on  the  mana;.,'-ement  of  the  institutioi:  success- 
fully. The  board  organizes  annually  on  third  Mon- 
day of  November. 

The  first  seven  directors  appointed  by  tlic  Act  to 
serve  till  the  election  of  three  directors  as  required 
were : 

John  Ritter  John  Bcitcnman 

Jacob  Mast  Samuel  Adams 

David    Bright  John  Wanner 
Abraham  Knabb 

DIRECTORS 
Name       >  Teiin 

John    Beitenman    1824-2') 

Daniel  K.  Hottenstein    1824-2fi 

David  Bright 1824-27 

George  Gcrnant    182.-i-28 

John   Levan   1826-20 

George   Royer 1827-30 

David    Ludwig    1828-31 

David    Dcysher    1829-32 

Henry  Reeser    ' 1830-33  ;    1835-36 

Daniel  Oyster   1831-34 

Joseph  Sclmuicker  1832-35 

John   Bickel  1833-35 

Jacob   Gilbert    1834-37 

John  Filbert 1835-38 

Ilenrv  Schoener  1830-39 

Daniel    KrufTmar.     1S37-3S 

William    Fisher    1838-40 

Peter    Fi.ster     1838-41 

Abraham   Kerper   183'J- 12 

John    Shollenberger     1840-43 

Jacob  W.  Scit/inger   1841-44 

Abraham   Kerper   18 12-45 

Daniel    Baum    1813-45 

William   Bertolet   1844-47 

John    Dotterer    1845-46 

Michael    Nuniicmachcr    .' 1845-48 

John  Gernarit    1846-49 

Daniel    Sohl    1S47-48 

Conrad  Reber   1848-49 

Jacob  S.   Fbling   1848-51 

Peter    Kershncr    1849-53 

William    Knabb    1849-52 

William    Arnold     1850-57 

William    Lorah    1852-55 

John    Riciiardi    1853-56 

John  R.  Kdelman   1855-53 

George    K.    Haag    1850-59 

Jacob    Malsbcrgcr    1857-60 

Samuel  Slianer   1858-61 

Samuel    Filbert     1859-62 

Aaron   Getz    1800-06 

R.   F.   Drumheller    1861-04 

Peter    Marshall    1802-05 

Ezra   Z.  Griesemcr    1803-07 

George   Fish    1865-08 

Joseph   Muthart    1806-69 

Silas  W.   Fisher   1807-70 

Daniel  B.  Lorah  1808-71 

Jacob  B.   Mast 1869-72 

Daniel  Y.   Peter    1870-73 

Henry    Ammon    1871-74 

Michael   Goodman 1872-75 

Samuel    Sirunk    1873-76 

Isaac    Y.    Beidler    1874-77 

George    Hcckman    1875-78 

John    Herbcin    1876-79 

Mahlon  Vogclman   1877-80 

Francis   Roland    1878-81 


Name  Term 

John  H.   Bauer   1879-82 

Flias  Obold   1880-83 

Klias    Bickel    1881-84 

Henry  Shearer   1882-85 

John  P.  F.  Marshall 1883-86 

-Michael    E.   (ieigcr    1884-87 

George    Herbein    1885-88 

Jacob    Miller     1886-89 

Isaac   D.   Whitman    i8S7-90 

.\braham    Schkgel     1883-01 

Samuel  Z.  Deck   18S9-92 

Frederick    Roland    1890-93 

Milton  H.  De  Long   1891-93 

William   H.   Seitzinger    1892-95 

Tilghman  De  Long 1 893-94 

John  A.   Hiester   1893-1902 

Jonathan    Schwartz    1894-97 

JLarrison  S.   Matz   1895-98 

Daniel  M.  Herbein   I8n7-10ii0 

Cornelius  Blatt   1898-1901 

William   M.   Kase    1900-03 

John  W.  Fisher   ' 1901-04 

Wellington   G.   Woods    1902-05 

Jacob   Hollenbach    1903-06 

facnb   Kes'lcr    1904-07 

George   G.   Ritter    1905-08 

Peter  H.  Knabb  190C-03 

William  W.   Field   1907-10 

Joel   Krick    1908-11 

STEWARDS 

Name  '  Term 

Abraham   Knabb    1825-32 

Henry    Bovcr    1833-37 

Marshall  B.  Campbell    1838 

Daniel  Kauff man    1839-45 

Daniel    Baum    1846-48 

Daniel   Sohl    1849-52 

Jacob  Coniad    1853-08 

Philip    Eagle    1869-70 

Silas  W.  Fisher   1870-77 

Beniam.in   .A.nder?on    1878-82 

Reuben   Hctrich    188385 

Joseph    Hornbcrger    ..'. 1885-92 

Jolm   W.   Gilbert    1892-96 

Oliver  C.  Sitler*   1896-1905 

William  J.   Hollenbach    1905-09 

Prison  Inspfxtors. — The  first  county  prison  was 
erected  in  1770.  It  stood  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  Fi'fth  and  Washington  streets.  Reading,  until 
1S48,  and  upon  the  completion  of  the  new  prison  at 
the  head  of  Penn  street  the  prisoners  were  removed 
thither,  and  the  old  prison  was  sold  and  converted 
into  a  store  building.  The  walls  are  still  standing, 
though  changed.  Under  the  law  then  prevailing, 
the  sheriti:  had  control  of  the  prison  during  his  offi- 
cial term;  and  he  vvas  authorized  to  appoint  keepers. 
This  practice  continued  till  the  passage  of  the  Act  of 
April  8,  1848,  expressly  for  l^.erks  county,  whereby 
seven  prison  insjjectors  were  to  be  ajjpointed.  four 
by  the  judges  of  the  court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  and 
three  by  the  county  commissioners,  who  were  to  com- 
prise the  "board  of  inspectors,"'  the  terms  of  office 
to  be  as  follows:  for  three,  three  years;  two,  two 
vears;  and  two,  one  year;  and  afterward,  all  terms 
three  vears.  The  inspectors  were  authorized  to 
appoint,  v\itli  sanction  of  the  court,  a  keeper, 
matron,  etc. 

•  Sitler  re'-iunril  nn  April  7,  1905,  nnd  Hcillenbach  was  apj'-jinted 
on    April    ir)th    to    l\ll    unexpired   term. 


■     ■>(?*    t.i'r  I     ■■■:  f.,iP.Z 


■•;  /). 


■■  re. 


84 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTV,    TEXXSYLVAXIA 


This  Act  of  Assembly  continued  in  force  till  the 
passag-e  of  the  Act  of  April  10,  liST3,  whereby  nine 
in-;pectors  were  to  be  elected  at  the  next  regular 
election,  when  each  elector  w  as  to  vote  for  six  can- 
didates, and  the  nine  hig-hest  to  be  the  inspectors. 
The  elected  candidates  were  to  draw  lots  for  one, 
two,  and  three  years.  And  annually  thereafter, 
three  inspectors  were  to  lie  elected  for  tliree  years, 
the  electors  to  vote  for  two,  and  the  three  having 
the  highest  vote  to  be  the  inspectors. 

The  following  persons  were  the  first  inspectors 
under  the  Act  of  1848  : 

Appointed    by    the    Court    .\tig.    7,    1S4S 
Name  Term 

Jacob  Lightfoot  3  yrs. 

J.  Glancy  Jfines  3  yrs. 

William  Heiilcnreich   2  yrs. 

Thomas  Shaner    1  yr- 

Appointed  by  County  Commissioners  Aug.   10,  1S48 
Name  Term 

John  Banks  3  yrs. 

Henry  Nagle  2  yrs. 

Charles  Kesslcr  1  yr. 

Appointed    from    IS-IS    to    1873 
Name  Term 

Jacob  Liglitfoot    1848-57 

J.  GLancv  Jones    1848-51 

William   Heidcnrcich    1848-50 

Thomas   Shaner    1848-55 

John   Banks    1848-49 

Henrv    Xasrle    1848-59 

Charles   Kessler    1848-51 

William   Peacock    1849-51 

David    P-lster    1850-53 

J.   Bowman   Bell    1851-57 

Lewis    Briner    1851-C4 

Samuel   Frees    1851-54 

David   Kuf .-^    18.-;.'',-fi8 

William    I  lenrv    1854-60 

Jacob    Dick    1855-57 

Daniel    Young    ; .  .1857-66 

Abr.  D.  Hill   '. 1S57-G6 

Levi  B.  Smith   1858 

Tames  Lee  1858-64 

Jacob  Young  1S59-71 

Samuel    Summons    1860-72 

Charles   H.  Fritz   1864-70 

Henry  Z.  Van  Reed   1864-70 

T    Glancy   Tone?    1864-68 

bavi.l    Mcknight    1864-70 

David    L.    Wenrich    1868-71 

Amos    Weilcr    1868-69 

Calvin   Goodman    1860-72 

Peter  A.  Kline   1860-72 

George    Lerch    1870-73 

Joseph  Ganser .1871-73 

W.    B.   Griescmer    1872-73 

William  Grim    1872-73 

Isaac  R.  Fisher 1872-73 

Benjamin  Levan  l^'i'3 

Jacob  IVIiller   IS ' 3 

Elected  under  Act  1S7.'?  * 

Name  Term 

■    John   Gcrnant    (1   vr.)    1873-74;  1874-77 

Wm.    Stump    Cl   vtA    1873-74 ;  1874-77 

S.   Schmchl    (1  vr.)    187.3-74 :  1878-81 

Samuel  Buch  (2  yrs.)  1873-75 

Ainendon   Bright    (2  yrs.)  1873-75 

William   Hcrbst   (2  yrs.)  1873-75 

W.   Y.   Lvon    (3   yrs.)    1873-76;  1876-70 

Tobias  Barto (3  yrs.)  1873-76 

•  The  first  nine  n.nmed  comprised  the  first  board  elected  in  1S7:"'.. 
After  ornaniT.-ition.  on  the  1st  dav  of  TVccmbcr.  lots  were  cast  {■■r 
the  terms  of  ihi-ie  in^pcclor-i.  The  bo.ird  org.inizes  annually  on 
the  1st  day  of  December. 


Name  '  Term 

Jacob  .Miller    (3  yrs.)    lS7:!-76 

Calvin    Goodman    1875-77 

Peter   Rapp    1874-77 

Jacob    Sha  tTner    18"5-73 

Peter  A.  Kline 1875-78 

Peter    L.    TLain       1875-7S 

James  T.  Reber   1876-79 

Wm.   S.   Rittcr 1877-82 

.^dam    Minnich    1877-80 

Daniel  L.  Rhoads 1877-80 

David   Brown    1877-so 

losiah    Boit7    1878-81 

Isaac  H.  Rahn  1878-81 

Lewis   L.    Mover    1879-8? 

John    StietY    1879-82 

.Adam    H.    Potteigcr    1880-83 

Charles    S.   Wentzel    1880-83 

Milton  T.  Donmover   1880-83 

Wm.    D.    Klopp    1881-84 

Wm.  A.  Schall   1881-84 

Wm.   W.   Lewis    1881-82 

Wm.    Schweitzer    1882-8.* 

Tohn   Obold    1882-85 

"Henrv  Riecrer    1882-85 

Jacob  S.  Wisler   1882-85 

Tohn    S.    Wenrich    1883-80 

Samuel    H.    Mensch    1SS3-80 

Dallas    Leinbach     1883-86 

John    B.   Clemmcr 1884-87 

William  H.   Seitzincrcr    1884-87 

Daniel    D.    Hinterlciicr    1884-87 

John    H.    Obold    1885-94 

ITenry    Rieger 1885-88 

Wm.    H.    Wetherhold     1885-88 

Franklin    H.    Brintzegholl    1880-92 

Levi    'M.    JN'cischwender    1886-89 

Wilson    Sweitzer 1886-89 

Charles  S.  Dcngler   1887-93 

Reuben    Updegrove    1887-90 

Joseph  B.  Clemmer  1887-90 

Tohn    Mavcr    1888-91 

William  Hiijh    1888-91 

Albert    Stamm    1889-95 

John    M.    Gift    1889-92 

William    A.    Lindemiith    1890-93 

Darius  E.  Sheidv 1890-91 

Augustus  B.  Forrey   ...: 1891-93 

Tohn    M.    Smith    1891-94 

David  E.   Snvder    l''91-94 

Charles    H.    Knabb    1892-94 

Abraham    Grimes    1892-98 

Henrv  Z.  Kramer   1893-96 

Amos'    Glass    1893-99 

Levi  S.  Reber   1893-96 

George   H.    Xagle    1894-1900 

John    H.   Kintzcr    1894-97 

.Alexander  Schlottman   1894-97 

Tohn  Fndv    1894-95 

Urias    Rothenberger     189.V9S 

Lcnious  Wessner  ...    - 1895-9 1 

Tsa.ic  L.  De  Tnrck     i897-;is 

George   Clous .1896-99 

George  B.  V^'aener   .1896-99 

Toel  H.  Krick 1897-1906 

"Tohn  T,.   Seidcrs   1897-l'.Mr, 

Daniel   Gross    1898-1907 

Tohn  Warren   1898-1907 

A.  M.  Lesher   1898-19MI 

Daniel  F.  Kramer   1899-I9ns 

T,  Hcbor  Witmau  1899-191 1 

Edmund    A.    Schenck 1899-1902 

.Martin   Hauck*    1900-05 

.\llrn   W    Eritch    1901-01 

Albert     Sei  wcrt 1902-05 

*  Died    .^pril    12,    19n.j,    and    Charles    P.    Saylor    appointed    to    fill 
unexpired   term. 


«    f    ,'  (     su' 


•(     !T,  ;.     ".■,.;.i«3 


/li!'-l-!     ,i    -ni:.;;' 


I    :"i      i 


J  i:i")'- 


■  ,-rT 


■  rt?.f  )./   •.'! .  ,.  ;.9j;,>>;,? 


GO\'ERXMEXT    AXD    OFFICIALS 


8S 


Name  Term 

Israel  il.  Weiitzcl 1903-09 

David   K.    Manniiller 1904-10 

lohii   Warren 1904-10 

David  B.  Gross 1904-07 

Charles   P.  Savior 1905-09 

Jacob  S.  Kelciincr 1905-OS 

Nathan  K.  Dundore 1906-09 

John    H.    Rhoads 1907-10 

Hcnrv  G.   Ho.>  cr 1908-11 

Edmund   A.    Shcnk .1908-11 

PRISOM     WAKDEXS 
Xame  Term 

>rablon    Bertolet 1849-53 

Dr.  Henry  Tyson 1853-05 

Joseph    Ganser 1805-70 

Daniel  S.   Francis 1870-73 

Thomas    Will 1873-76 

Isaac  K.  Knoll 1870-79 

Adam    B.    Erossman 1879-82 

Dr.  R.  B.  Rhoads 1882-85 

Aaron  M.  Wenrich  1385-88  ;   1 S98-99 

Isaac  D.  Lutz 1S38-91 

Samuel   H.    Mensch    1891-92 

John    M.    Smith 1892-95 

Isaac  Y.   Kintzer 1895-93 

William  W.    Xewcomct* 1899-1904 

Jeremiah  M.  DeTurk 1904-09 

JuRV  Co.MMissiONERS. — Before  1867  the  jurors 
for  the  trial  of  ca.^es  in  the  several  courts  of  the 
county  were  selected  from  the  qualified  elector'^ 
by  the  county  commissioners  and  the  sheriff.  On 
April  10,  ISiiT,  a  gener.i1  Act  was  passed  for  the 
State  requiring  the  election  of  two  jury  cominis- 
sioners  in  October  following,  for  the  term  of  three 
years,  and  every  third  year  thereafter,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  selecting  jurors  from  the  qualified  electors. 
The  Act  provides  that  each  elector  shall  vote  for 
one  person  for  this  office,  and  the  two  persons  hav- 
ing the  highest  vote  shall  be  the  commissioners. 
They  are  to  select  a  number  designated  by  the 
tourt,  and  place  the  names  in  a  jury  wheel  in  the 
presence  of  a  Judge  of  the  court :  and  they  and 
the  sheriff  are  to  draw  panels  of  jurors  as  grand, 
petit,  and  traverse  jurors  of  the  countv  as  there- 
tofore. The  number  generally  designated  for  the 
jury  wheel  previous  to  1875  was  a  thousand  nan.ies ; 
then,  upon  the  introduction  of  an  additional  law 
judge,  the  number  was  increased  to  twelve  hun- 
dred. Since  18(i7  the  jurors  for  the  quarterly 
terms  of  the  several  courts  of  the  county  were 
selected  and  drawn  as  mentioned,  by  the  following 
commissioners,  who  were  elected  for  that  purpose: 

Xamc 
George  W.  Bruckman  } 

Charles   J.    Faher         j  ; 

Zacharias  H.  Maurer  ) 

Joseph  Rrelsford  ji 

Israel  R.  Laucks  I 

Sanmel  U.  Hollcnbach  5    

Michael    K.    Boyer  } 

Reuben    Rhoads     j  

Henrs-    Graul  ] 

Edward   H.   Harnerf  1    18S0-S2 

Jacob  K.  Sterrett         J 

'  Oied  in  office  June  27.  ir>il4.  .ind  Tcrenii.ih  It  TKTurk,  the 
lUi.ntv-wr.r.ler.    v  as    aii.ointfl    Jiilv    .'>tll    to   til'.   11r-    v:ic.iiicv. 

''  IMwar'l  H.  U.irncr  reniovi-ii  from  tlic  county,  and  J.  K.  Sterrett 
wa?   aiipointed    ''eb.   20,    ISSl,   for   unexpired    term. 


Term 
,1867-70 

.1870-73 

.1873-76 

.1877-79 


Term 
, ..1883-85 

,..1886-83- 

...1889-91 

...1892-94 

...1895-97 

.1898-1900 

..1901-03 

. . . 1904-06 


Name 
Cosmos  Swoyer    / 

John    B.    Sn_\der  J  

William    G.    Welder  } 

Da!iiel     Sheirer  j    

Frank    R.    Wanner      } 

Ephraim   R.   Wagner  j   

Jacob  A.    Spaiigler  / 

David    Brown  f 

Constantine  Jones  ) 

John    S.    W  enrich  ) 

Constantine    Jones  ) 

Kaut'fman  C.  Kurtz  | 

Constantine    Jones  / 

Adam  .S.  Klce         f   

J.  Henrv  Burkhard  j 

Elias  W.  Seidel        5 • 

Isaac    Barr 1907-10 

William  F.  Renno 1907-10 

Merc.vntile  Appr.visers. — Previous  to  184G. 
only  dealers  in  foreign  merchandise  w^ere  required 
to  take  out  a  county  license  to  enable  them  to  make 
sale  thereof.  But  on  April  ?3,  IblG,  an  Act  was 
passed  requiring  all  dealers  in  goods,  wares,  and 
merchandise  to  take  out  a  countv  license,  and  there- 
by the  county  commissioiiers  of  each  county  were 
empowered  to  appoint  annually  a  mercantile  ap- 
praiser, who  was  directed  to  assess  and  classify 
all  dealers,  and  furnish  a  list  of  them  to  the  county 
treasurer.  From  18o0  till  this  Act  was  passed, 
the  constables  of  the  to\vnships,  etc.,  of  the  county 
furnished  under  oath  ;i.  list  of  the  foreign  dealers 
to  the  clerk  of  the  Quarter  Sessions,  and  the  as- 
sociate judges  and  county  commissioners  classiried 
them  and  delivered  a  list  to  the  county  treasurer. 
Before  FSoO,  the  foreign  dealers  were  returned  by 
the  constables  to  the  clerk  of  the  court  of  Quarter 
Sessions ;  the  clerk  certified  the  returns  to  the 
State  treasurer,  who  forwarded  a  list  to  the  countv 
trca.surer  for  the  collection  of  the  license  fees. 

In  Berks  county,  the  constal.(les  still  tijade  tlicir 
returns  for  the  years  1840  and  1847.  The  county 
commissioners  made  the  first  appointment  for  1848. 

.VERCANIILE    .APPRAISERS 
N'ame  Term 

Mahlon  r.ertolet 1843 

William     Karns 1349-51 

Adam    Leiss 1352 

Solomon   Klohs 1853 

J.  H.  Kelly 1854 

Isaac   S.    Hottciistein 1855 

I'pbraitn     Fritz 1S5G 

Daniel    S.    Kutz 1357 

George   K.   Lorah 1858 

.•\lbert  C.  Henrv 1859 

Henry     Reidtr : 1860 

T"ranklin  S.  Ludw  icr 1861 

Henrv   R.    Hawman 1802 

Elias'   Filbert 1863 

David    Lord 18G4 

Caspar  Keifsiivdcr 1805 

William    H.    Kellv 1366 

.Andrew    S.    Stras^burger 1867 

Jo'ieph     Harvcv 1868 

John    C.    Reed 1369 

.Alfred    Dreibelbis • 1370 

Charles  Hill    ....1371 

.■\arnn    Snyder 1S72 

Charles    Hottenstein 1373 


HISTORY    OF    r.F.RKS    COrXTV.    PCXXSYLX'AXIA 


Xame  Term 

Abraham  Schacffer lS7t 

Henry  F.    Bush 1875 

Jonathan    L.    Rhoads ISTO 

Michael    Seltzer 1ST7 

Benjamin    Klahr 1ST8 

Morris    Giildin 1879 

Edward     Scinnehzer 18S0 

Wilhani  A.   Young 1881 

Levi  J.  Fisher 188:: 

George  M.  Fryermuth 1  8Sj 

Peter    Spang,   J  r 18^4 

John    Stang-ier    1885 

J.   M.   S.   Stertzler ]8S(J 

Edwin   IJnibenhauer   1887 

James    P.   Kershner 1888 

Daniel  P.  Rotiiermel 1889 

Cyrus    E.    Rollinyer 1890 

John   S.  Dunkle   1891 

Elias  R.  Kemniercr 1892 

Harry   D.   Wagner 1893 

William  D.  Reeser 1894 

Frederick    Roland 1895 

Peter   H.   Knabb 1896 

J.  Howard  Eshelman 1S97 

John   E.    Stangier 1898 

Jacob  H.   Sassaman 1899 

Frederick   Siephan.  Jr 1901) 

Xathan     RotherincI 1901 

James    Sclilae^nian 1902 

John  Z.  Rieser 1903 

Jacob  Bordiier 1904 

Abraham    B.    Johnson 1905 

William  Sanders 1906 

George   Rcider 1907 

Charles    Brinlzeghoff 1908 

John  G.  1 1  erbein   1900 

License  Commissioxi.rs. — In  1G7G,  the  Duke  of 
Yorke's  laws  required  a  license  for  the  sale  of 
liquors  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania.  This  was 
granted  by  two  justices  of  tiie  peace  in  the  Quarter 
Sessions,  for  the  term  of  one  year,  upon  the  ap- 
plicant furnishing  "a  certificate  of  his  good  be- 
havior from  the  constable  an,d  two  overseers  of  the 
parish"  wherein  he  dwelt.  In  1710,  the  law  re- 
quired tlie  application  to  be  recommended  by  the 
justices  of  the  county  courts  to  the  Governor, 
who  issued  the  license.  The  number  vi'as  unlimited. 
But  in  IT 94.  the  law  required  the  judges  of  the 
Quarter  Sessions  at  the  first  session  of  every  year 
thereafter  to  limit  and  declare  the  number  of  tav- 
erns and  public  houses  to  be  licensed  for  the  \ear 
following;  and  the  judges  were  to  have  "regard 
to  the  particular  neighborhoods  and  situations 
the  most  suitable  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  inliabitants  and  travelers."'  The  Governor 
still  granted  the  licenses  upon  the  proper  recommen- 
dation;  and  he  continued  to  grant  them  till  the 
passage  of  the  Act  of  March  8,  ISlo.  when  the 
judges  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  issued  them  upon 
the  recommendation  of  the  ajiplicant  bv  twelve  rep- 
utable citizens  of  the  district  in  which  the  tavern 
was  to  be  kept. 

On  April  23.  ISiV.),  an  Act  was  specially  iias>ed 
for  P>erks  county,  whereby  a  board  of  license  com- 
missioners was  created  to  issue  licenses.  The 
first  board  was  coiui)0.--ed  of  three  members;  the  dis- 
trict attorney  in  office  rx  olTicin:  one  member  a;)- 
poinled  by  the  judges  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  for 


a  term  ending  February,  isll  ;  and  the  third  bv 
the  county  commissioners  for  a  term  ending  Feb- 
ruary, is;.;.  .And  every  tw(j  }ears  after  ISGO.  the 
court  or  commissioners  were  authorized  to  appoint 
a  person  for  a  term  of  four  years.  Licenses  in  the 
county  were  accordingly  issued  annually  by  this 
board  till  the  law  was  rejiealed  ^lay  5,  18TG.' 

In  the  year  previous,  on  .\pril  13,  18T."3,  a  gen- 
eral law  to  restrain  and  regulate  the  sale  of  liquors 
was  jias'^ed  by  the  Legislature  for  the  State,  ex- 
cepting in  those  counties  for  which  sjjecial  provi.s- 
ion  was  made.  .After  the  repeal  of  the  Act  of  18G9, 
the  court  of  Quarter  Sessions  issued  licenses  pur- 
suant to  the  Act  of  IsT.j.  And  this  is  the  law 
under  which  the  licenses  are  still  issued. 

In  respect  to  licenses  a  general  Act  was  passed 
March  2'r,  1872,  "to  permit  the  voters  of  this  State 
to  vote  every  three  years  on  the  question  of  grant- 
ing licenses  to  sell  into.xicating  liquors."  The  time 
for  the  first  general  election  on  the  question  in  every 
city  and  county  was  fixed  for  the  third  Friday  in 
.March,  1873,  and  every  third  year  thereafter  on 
the  day  for  the  annual  municipal  elections.  It  wdll 
be  observed  that  the  time  was  set  in  the  spring  of 
the  year,  in  order  to  obtain  the  expression  of  poli- 
tical sentiment  unintluenced  by  the  general  tide  of 
opinion  of  the  fall  elections.  One  election  was  held, 
but  before  the  first  three  years  had  expired  the 
Act  was  repealed,  on  April  12,  1875. 

The  board,  during  the  seven  years  in  which  thc 
Act  prevailed,  comprised  the  following  'nembers; 

Ex    officio,    being    tlie    District    Attorneys 
>ranic  Term 

Edward  H.  Shearer 1809-71 

Peter  D.  Wanner   1871-74 

Henry  C.  G.  Reber   1874-76 

Appointees 
X'amc  Term 

Richard  Ludvvig   1869-75 

John  H.  Snyder   1869-73 

William   Hints    1873-76 

Elias  Obold   1873-76 

Oil  Inspectors. — The  office  of  oil  inspector  was 
created  by  the  Act  of  May  15,  1874,  "to  provide 
for  the  better  security  of  life  and  property  from 
the  dangers  of  coal  and  petroleum  oils."  By  this 
Act  the  standard  or  fire  test  of  all  burning  "fluids 
was  fixed  at  110  degrees  Fahrenheit.  The  inspec- 
tor is  appointed  by  the  court  of  Common  Pleas  of 
the  county  for  the  term  of  three  years ;  and  he  is 
required  to  furnish  security  in  $10,000  for  the 
faithfid  discharge  of  his  duties.  The  first  appoint- 
ment was  made  in  August,  1877. 

Charles  .\.  Z.  Griesenier  was  the  fir^t  inspector. 
He  was  re-appointed  in  1S8(».  and  again  in  18s;5. 

Sealers  of  Wehuits  axd  Measures. — In  183-1. 
a  law  was  enacted  which  required  the  Governor 
to  furnish  the  county  conmn'ssioners  of  each  count v 
with  standards  of  weights  and  measures,  which 
were  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  adjusting 
weights  and  measures;  and  these  standards  were 
to  he  examined,  and,  if  necessary,  corrected  at  least 
(jnce  in  every  ten  years.     The  standards  as  required 


'    '.fiitr^-.      -c.'yj 


■j,    '    -a:  'I        :■■■'■  -     '  I 

'.■■■'Mi::  :<      ■  i':  .■':"  ■    '■;      ■■  '  -'^  :     'i'    ■  "■' 


."' 


•/    v'l.i    >.  »tr     I'M-     -j(i'_r. 


■\i    .;/    ■  '     ■!';.I    .'I'      -   "'    -y.  I  .1,'/     ■'.) 


GO\'ERXMEXT    AXD    OFFICIALS 


87 


a   county   superintendent,   au'l   the    superintendents 
have  been : 

N'ame  Term 

.William  Good 1854-60 

John  S.  Enneiitrout   3  860 -69 

David   B.   Bruimcr   1809-75 

Samuel  A.   Baer   1875-81 

David   S.   Keck    1881-90 

William  M.  Zechman   1S91-96 

Eli   -M.   Rapp    1896-1911 

COUNTY  BUELDIXGS 

Tlie  county  buildings  comprise  the  Court-Housc, 
Prison,  and  Poorhouse. 


uere  furnished  to  the  county  commissioners,  and  be  levied,  directors  to  be  elected,  etc.,  and  to  see 
de;x)sited  in  the  Court-House  for  the  purpose  in-  that  the  branches  df  a  comniun  education  were 
tended.  L'.ut  there  was  no  provision  for  an  officer  properly  tau.cht.  teaciiing  directed,  established  grad- 
whose  duty  it  was  to  test  all  weights  ami  measures,  ed  schools  maintained,  and  uniformity  in  course  of 
In  li54o,  this  discrepancy  was  supplied  by  an  Act  studies  preserved:  a  C(->unty  superintendent  was  to 
passed  on  April  1  Jth.  It  authorized  the  Governor  be  elected  for  a  term  of  three  years  by  all  the  direc- 
to  appoint  a  sealer  of  weights  and  measures  for  tors  of  the  county.  Since  1«.3  J-  the  system  of  edu- 
such  respective  counties  as  should  apply  for  and  cation  i^rovidcd  by  the  State  has  been  carried  on 
obtain  copies  of  the  standards,  as  provided  in  this  successfully  in  the  cou!ity  by  school  directors  and 
Act,  for  the  term  of  three  years.  And  it  was  made 
the  duty  of  the  sealer  '"at  least  once  in  every  year 
to  go  to  stores,  houses,  stalls,  and  offices  of  the 
makers,  venders,  or  proprietors  of  beams,  scales, 
weights,  and  measures  within  the  county,  and  try 
and  adjust  all  beams,  scales,  weights,  and  measures, 
and  seal  the  same  with  the  ijiitials  of  his  last  or 
surname,  and  the  current  year."  Under  this 
law  the  first  appointment  v.-a^^  made  on  June  IG, 
18.53.  This  office,  however,  became  burdensome 
and  offensive  to  the  people  of  the  county, 
and  accordingly  they,  witli  the  people  of  seven 
other  counties  of  llie  State — lUicks,  Dauphin, 
Lancaster,  Lehigh,  Montgomery,  Franklin,  and 
Westmoreland-— who  felt  similarly  burdened  and 
otTended,  effected  the  passage  of  a  Special  .\ct  nn 
March  22,  1850,  whereby  the  office  within  the  coun- 
ties named  was  abolished.  After  the  lapse  of; 
eighteen  years  thereafter,  it  would  seem  that  thef 
weights  and  measures  of  this  county,  as  well  as: 
oth.cr  counties  of  the  State,  needed  the  test  of  ihe: 
standards.  So  they  were  brought  to  the  notice  of-; 
the  people  again  by  the  passage  of  a  general  law  J 
on  April  4,  1877.  By  it  the  Governor  was  author- - 
i.^ed  to  appoint  one  person  as  sealer,  in  tb.e  several 
counties  where  no  such  office  existed,  for  the  term ': 
of  three  years.  The  first  appoin.tment  under  this" 
law  was  made  April  30.  ISTT.  - 

And   strangely   enough,   as  previously,  the  office  ^ 
only  survived  six  years,  and  was  again  abolished.; 
by  an  Act  passed  on  March  S,  1883.     The  standan 
are,  therefore,  not  carried   around  throughout  thc^^ 
whole  county  to  remind  the  dealers  and  storekeepers  P^ 
that  they  must  at  least  give  true  measure,  if  not  p^ 
good,  pressed  down,  and  running  over.     The  mar- -|[;-_^  ^ 
ket  commissioner  of  Reading,  who  visits  the  mar-  ==;i\ 
kets   under   the   city   ordinance,   is   the  onlv   tester     ->:^_^ 
now  with  the  standards.     The  scalers  were:  --=■' 

Xame 

Michael  S.  Thirwcchter  

Solomon   Spohn    

George  K.  Rover   , 

William    Geiger    

Matthew  Rhoda   , 

James  D.  Lont?   


rt 


"-'■i. 


18,-)8—  J 

, 1877-78  ^-. 

, 1879-81  ""-^ 

18S-J-83  "' 


'Tj*?^-r=^=*^J^Si 


SUPERIXTE.VDE.XTS  OF   COMMOX    SCHOOL.'^.- 


-Xinn-^j^'-    — 
erous  legislative  attempts  were  made  to  popularise   " 
and  thoroughly   introduce  public  education.      Fifty 
years  were  spent  in  endeavors  to  educate  the  poor- 
er classes  of  chili Iren   by   proposed   taxation,   with 
comparatively  little  prf\gress.     Finally  an  Act  was 
passed  May  8,  18.")1,  which  made  ])rocce(lings  in  tl'.is      Court-I  lofsr.s. — The    first    Cnurl-IIousc    of    the 
behalf  compulsory,  and  authorized  a  school  tax  to  county  was  erected  in  ITG"?,  at  the  intersection  of 


OT.n   COL'KT    IIOL'St, 


r.    i>      •■:!• 


88 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY.    PEXXSYI.\"AXIA 


Penn  Square  and  Callowhill  street,  now  Fit'tii.  It 
was  built  of  stone,  plastered,  and  marked  oft  in 
imitation  of  cut  stone,  and  it  was  surrounded  by  a 
brick  pavement  about  thirteen  feet  wide.  The  tirst 
floor  was  arranged  in  one  large  room  for  the 
"courts,"  and  tiie  second  floor  in  three  rooms — the 
eastern  l;a!f  iiaving  been  in  one  room,  and  the 
western  in  two  rcjums.  An  entry  separated  the 
former  from  the  latter.  The  stairway  was  con- 
structed in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  court-room. 
The  "bench"  was  arranged  along  the  northern  side 
of  the  room,  and  the  "bar"  was  inclosed  by  a  semi- 
circular railing,  the  ends  of  which  extended  to  the 
wall  on  both  sides  of  the  "bench."  The  "jury  box" 
was  situated  in  the  nortluvest  corner  of  tlie  room. 
The  court-room  w^as  entered  by  two  door-ways. 
one  on  the  south  side  and  the  other  on  the  west. 
The  latter  was  little  used.  A  large  stove  was  lo- 
cated near  by  and  wood  was  generally  piled  up 
against  the  door,  on  the  inside,  during  cold  weather. 

The  crier's  seat  was  situated  a  few  feet  west  of 
the  center  of  the  room,  adjoining  the  "bar,"  and  the 
"prisoners  dock"  was  next  to  it  on  the  east.  The 
crier  was  a  prominent  figure  in  the  room  by  reason 
of  the  elevation  of  his  seat. 

The  floor  was  laid  with  brick.  Dcnches 
were  arranged  on  inclined  platform.^ 
along  the  southern  and  eastern  ualls. 
The  seating  capacity  was  rather  limited 
for  a  public  place.  The  dimensions  of 
the  building  were  about  forty  by  fifty 
feet.  A  marble  tablet  was  built  in  tlic 
eastern  wall  near  the  centre,  which  con- 
tained the  following  inscription : 
J.  L.,  C.  W.,  S.  H..  17GL\ 

These  initial  letters  represented  tlie 
names  of  the  officiating  county  commis- 
sioners, Jacob  Lightioot,  Christopher 
V»'itman  and  Samuel  High. 

The  steeple  contained  a  bell  and 
town-clock.  The  bell  was  cast  in  Eng- 
land in  ]TG.",  esiiecially  for  the  county; 
and  the  clock  was  a  thirty-hour  clock, 
imported  from  London  about  1755. 

Previously,   for  ten  years,  the   jutlges 

of  the  courts  held  their  sessions  of  court  

in  an  inn  of  the  town.  There  were  no 
riiOins  in  the  building  for  the  county  official,  but 
many  were  not  necessary,  for  five  oftice'-  were 
vested  in  one  individual  lor  upward  of  iwentv 
years,  these  having  been  prolhonotary.  reconler. 
register,  clerk  of  the  Orphans'  court  aufl  clerk 
of  the  Quarter  Sessions,  and  the  per-on  was  Iamc-> 
Read,  a  lawyer. 

By  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Pcuusylraiiia  Gazette. 
dated  the  SOth  of  February.  17Ca;,  it  would  ap- 
pear that  "public  offices  were  opened  on  ^liondav 
previous  at  Reading."  It  ib  not  known  in  which 
building  they  were  opened,  if  not  in  the  Court - 
IIou!^e. 

I-'lecfion  polls  were  held  at  the  several  window- 
on  the  first  floor,  which  were  prnin:rly  narked   for 


3the  voters.  The  poll  for  the  electors  of  Reading 
was  at  the  eastern  window  on  the  side  facing  south. 
This  building  was  used  for  the  purposes  of  hearing 
and  determining  criminal  and  civil  matters  until 
1S40,  tlic  last  term  of  court  having  been  the  April 
term.  During  the  follow- 
ing three  months,  the  coun- 
ty records  were  transferred 
from  the  "State-House"  to 
the  new  Court-House.  It 
was  sold  to  Joseph  Kendall 
at  public  sale  and  he  re- 
moved it  in  May,  1811. 


vA?t 


:n::v"'^,zqr:^^--^^'--- 


iiS^"- 


NEW   COl'RT-nOUSE 

The  smallncss  of  t!ie  -)ld  building  had.  been  felt 
for  many  year.-,  and  the  increasing  inconvenience 
had  become  so  objectionable  by  the  year  Is;)''  that 
the  taxjiayers  and  officials  determined  to  remedy 
the  difficulty  by  securing  a  new  building,  and  in 
that  behalf  a  petiti(.n  wa>  pre.--ented  to  the  judges 
at  the  .\ugu>t  .'^fvsions.  setting  forth — "That,  in 
consequence  of  the  rapid  increase  of  the  population 
and  public  bu>ine>s  of  the  county  of  I'erks,  the  pres- 
ent (.  ourtT  louse  has  become  too  small  and  incon- 
\-enient  for  the  ti.-uisaction  i^f  l)usines>,  and  aisr.  for 
the  .-icconiniod.itton  of  tho>e  persons  who  are  obliged 
to  ;utend  court."  and  iiraving  the  court  "to  recoin- 


ft 


;;;;>     '    •■■'.       i, 


GOVERXMEXT   AXD    OFFICIALS 


89 


niend  to  the  county  commissioners  the  erection  of 
the  necessary  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  Court  and  the  Public." 

This  petition  was  referred  to  the  grand  jury,  and 
thcv  recommended  a  new  building,  selecting  the 
iMftheast  corner  of  Fifth  and  Penn  streets  as  the 
place  for  its  erection.  This  return  was  approved 
bv  the  court  on  Aug.  11,  1H'S7 .  but  the  site  was 
changed  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Court 
streets,  in  order  to  obtain  a  larger  lot  for  the  pro- 
posed building.  The  county  commissioners  then 
purchased  two  adjoining  lots  (l::iO  by  ^30  feet) 
and  during  the  years  1S3S,  183!)  and  1840  erected 
on  the  site  the  western  half  of  the  present  three- 
story  brick  building  which  fronts  on  Sixth  street, 
the  dimensions  being  {i2  feet  wide,  IIS  feet  long 
and  60  feet  high.  The  total  cost  was  $63,000.  A 
substantial  hre-proof  two-story  extension  was  added 
at  the  rear  in  1869  ;  and  this  was  subsequently  en- 
larged, when  numerous  important  improvements 
were  introduced.  The  first  session  of  court  was 
held  in  it  at  August  Term,  1840. 

Gas  was  introduced  for  lighting  purposes  in  ]\Iay, 
1849,  shortly  after  the  Reading  Gas  Co.  had  estab- 
lished its  plant.     Previously  oil  in  lamps  was  used. 

A  new  clock  was  placed  in  the  steeple  in  October, 
is.jl.  The  bell  weighed  nearly  -seventeen  hundred 
pounds.  From  that  time  on,  this  has  been  the 
'"town-clock,"  and  town-bell  for  indicating  "town- 
time."  The  clock-dials  have  been  illuminated  at 
night-time  by  electric  light  since  1895. 


The  first  floor  was  arranged  in  four  compartments, 
the  corner  room,  facing  the  streets,  having  been 
occupied  as  an  office  by  the  sheriff;  and  the  second 
floor  in  four  compartments  for  prisoners.  The 
sheriff  and  family  occupied  the  remaining  rooms 
of  the  building:  and  this  practice  was  continued 
till  the  prison  system  v,-as  changed  by  special  legis- 
lation for  Berks  county,  in  1S48.  The  property  was 
sold  on  Feb.  o,  1849,  to  William  Rhoads,  for  $7,460, 
and  by  him  converted  into  a  store.  It  has  been  oc- 
cupied for  store  purposes  ever  since. 

A  new  prison  was  erected  on  the  "Common."  at 
the  head  of  Penn  street,  by  the  comity  commission- 
ers in  1847-48,  at  a  cost  of  $17,000.  It  is  construct- 
ed of  stone  from  Penn's  Mount,  and  is  situated  on 
a  lot  of  ground  170  by  300  feet,  which  is  inclosed 
on  the  north,  east  and  west  by  a  high  stone  wall. 
The  tower  is  96  feet  high.  It  is  still  standing,  a 
fine  specimen  of  superior  workmanship. 

An  addition,  or  "anne.x,"  was  erected  at  the  rear 
in  1869.  The  total  number  of  cells  is  9'J — in  the 
main  part,  44,  and  in  the  annex,  50 ;  arranged  in 
two  stories. 

State-IIgu.se. — The  "State-House"  was  erected 
by  the  county  commissioners  in  1793  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  county  officers  and  the  public  rec- 
ords. It  was  situated  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Fifth  and  Penn  streets:  built  of  brick,  two  stories, 
3"  b}'  90  fei.t,  with  a  narrow  alley  extending  along 
the  eastern  wall  from  the   front  to  the   rear.     An 


■^-■?Z^ 


'-''fFl^^'rr.-O^'^^H^ 


■ '.  '-M^^myT^^W ' -- 


J     L 


-'^ 
>^^1 


Prisons. — The  first  prison  was  erected  in   1770,  entry  extended  acro^s  the  buildintr  near  the  center, 

on  the  northeast  corner  of  Callow'nill  and  Thnnia<  wuh   itb  (lo<~>rway  on   hifth   street;  and  a   stairwav 

streets  (Fifth  and  Washington).     It  was  construct-  led   from  this  entry  to  the  second  floor.     The  fir^-t 

cd  of  stone  and  plastered,  two  -tories  in  height,  and  floor  was  divided  into  three  compartments;  llie  first, 

in  dimensions  30  by  70  feet.     The  lot  was  60  by  •?30  adjoining    I'enn    street,    having   been    used    for   the 

feut.     A  subr-tantial  stone  wall,  ".^n  feet  high,  was  prothonotary".s  (ifiice  and  clerk  of  Quarter  Sessions ; 

erected  to  inclose  the  lot  to  the  depth  of  130  feet,  the  central   for  the  recorder,  register  and  clerk  of 


90 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


the  Orphans'  court :  and  the  rear  tor  county  com- 
missioners and  count}-  treasurer.  The  second  floor 
was  divitlcd  into  two  compartment-^,  the  front  room 
having  been  occupied  mostly  for  Sunday-school  pur- 
poses and  public  meetings  from  ISIO  for  about 
twenty  years,  and  the  rear  room  for  lodge  purposes. 
The  building  was  sold  by  the  county  commissioners 
upon  the  removal  of  the  county  offices  and  records 
to  the  new  Court-lluuse. 

The  rear  room  on  the  first  tl(X>r  was  used  a^  the 
post-office  from  isiJl  to  IbiJo. 


necessary  buildings,  and  seven  directors  were  ap- 
pointed to  proceed  in  the  establishment  of  this  public 
institution.  They  served  till  the  election  of  three 
directors  in  <  October  following,  as  provided  in  said 
Act.  In  the  mean  time  (^lay  ;5U,  18"^ -1)  they  pur- 
chaseil  the  "Brown  farm,"  formerly  known  as  the 
"Angelica  farm,"  in  Cumru  township  (owned  and 
occujMed  during  the  Revolution  by  General  Thomas 
Miftlin),  three  miles  from  Reading,  situated  on  the 
Lancaster  road,  and  containing  iir}  acres,  for  the 
consideration  of  $l(;,(i!)(),  and  there  erected  a  com- 


,.,:.,-         .v.,      ,^^j      r^^      r^^^      ^^       ^1^ 

^wii^   -G^    Ife    '^^    ^^^    ^^Mei    \M^ 


^'■■np^i';;^-'!    '^  i-jj^:  j.;:;  miiVvA  wm   t-  --4 

r-^fei-    ,i;..-;^    m^    mB    f,.--i     :M^1!;':1     \r^      '  ;- ;  J 


'"'&filii^^^ 


STATE   HOUSE 


In  January,  1ST2,  a  large  fire  broke  out  in 
Stichter"s  hardware  store,  near  by,  which  spread 
over  the  adjoining  buildings  to  the  we>t,  and  con- 
sumed the  entire  corner,  including  the  "State- 
House."  The  inscription  stone  was  preserved  and 
given  a  place  in  the  rear  wall  of  the  building  which 
was  soon  afterward  erected  in  its  stead. 

PooK-HousE. — The  poor  people  of  the  county 
were  provided  for  by  "overseers"  till  the  passage 
of  an  Act  of  Assemblv  on  ?^Iarch  29,  182-i,  especially 
for  this  county,  whereby  the  county  commissioners 
were  authurizcd  to  levy  a  tax  for  tlie  purjjose  of 
purchasing   land   and   erecting   and    furnishing   the 


modious  building  to  accommodate  the  poor  people 
of  the  county.  This  building  was  finished  in  182.j. 
It  has  since  been  known  as  the  "Main  Building." 
Oilier  improvements  Nvere  subsequently  made  upon 
the  premises,  prominent  among  thein  being  the  "In- 
sane }'.uilding."  erected  in  1837'  and  1843,  and  the 
"Hospital,"  in  1871-1ST4.  The  tirst  poor  persons 
were  admitted  on  Oct.  21,  1825,  from  Reading. 
Dining  the  first  year  130  inmates  were  admitted. 
Annually  afterward  the  average  number  increased 
until  isTS,  when  they  reached  (313;  but  since  then 
they  have  gradually  decreased  until  now,  being 
about  2-50. 


CHAPTER  V-BENXH  AND  BAR 


By  the  charter  of  William  Penn  and  the  several 
yrants  thereunder,  various  laws  and  ordinances 
were  enacted  from  time  to  time  "for  the  g-ood  £jov- 
ernment  of  the  province,"  and  the  regulation  <.>[  its 
affairs  was  directed  by  officers,  either  appointed  or 
elected,  for  the  entire  territory  or  for  the  counties 
comprising-  it.  The  several  officers  for  the  county 
were  as  follows: 

JUDGES— 1752  to  KOO 

\'arious  Acts  of  Assembly  were  passed  before 
1T22,  for  a  period  of  forty  years,  to  establish  the 
powers  of  courts  for  the  puqwsc  of  protecting-  men 
in  the  enjoyment  of  their  personal  rights,  of  re- 
dressing wrong's,  of  adjudicating  the  rights  of  prop- 
erty, and  of  administering  estates,  and  in  that 
year  the  law  for  the  several  courts  of  the  provmce 
became  settled,  continuing  so  till  the  Revolution, 
with  tlie  exception  of  certain  amendments  bv  two 
supplementary  Acts  passed  in  17-"J!)  aurl  1707. 

From  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  county  in 
17.j2  down  to  1776,  the  following  persons  acted  in 
the  capacity  of  justices,  the  length  of  service  of 
several  of  them  being  unknown  : 

Name  Term 

Conrad    Weiscr   1752-60 

Francis  Parvin ]  752-06 

-Anthony    Lee 

Jonas  Seely 175:2-66 ;  17C9 

Henry    Ilarvcv 1752-02 

William    Bird' 1 752-55 

William    Maiigridgc 1756-66 

Mosts  Starr 

James   Boone 

Jacob    Levan 1752-62 

James    Read 

Peter   Spvckor    176:^-90 

Joseph    Millard 1768-69 

Benjamin    Lightfoot 1771-74 

George    Wtbb    1770-71  ;    1 774 

Thomas    Riittcr 1770-71 

Jacob  A'organ   1768-69  ;  1772  ;  1774-77 

James    Dieiner 1766-71 

John    Pcitton 1766-75  ;    1777 

George   Douglass   1768-73  :    1775-84 

Henry   Christ    1766-71 ;    1784-90 

Sebastian   Zimmerman    1707-71 ;   1778-84 

Nicholas  Harmony   17()(>-71 

Mark    Bird 1775-76 

Daniel  Brodhead  

William    Reeser 1778-84 

Jonathan  Potts 1776-77 

Balthaser    Gehr 1775-84 

Thomas    Dunlap 

In  177n,  the  first  constitution  of  the  State  pro- 
vided that  a  Supreme  Executive  Council  should  con- 
sist of  twelve  persons,  who  were  to  be  chosen  by 
ballot  by  the  respective  counties  for  the  term  of 
three  years.  The  apportionment  gave  one  to  I'.erk- 
county.      The    following    councillors    were    elected 


from  Berks  till  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of 
17!)(l.  The  term  of  the  first  was  fixed  at  two  years; 
and  afterward  three  years. 

Xame  Term 

Richard  Tea.  elected   in   1776,  but  declined  to  serve 

Jacob    Morgan 1777-78 

James  Read 1779-81 ;   1788-90 

Sebastian    Levan 178-2-84 

Charles  Biddle 1785-87 

This  Constitution  also  provided  for  the  establish- 
ments of  courts  of  justice  in  every  county  of  the 
State.  The  following  persons  officiated  as  judges 
of  the  county,  from  177G  till  171)0.  The  first  three 
were  president  judges  of  the  courts  for  a  time. 

Name  Term 

James    Diemcr 

Henry    Christ 1784-90 

Peter    Sypcker 1776-90 

James    Read 

Daniel  Levan ' 

Valentine  Eckert 1785 

John    Ludwig 1785 

Jacob   Morgan 

Charles     Shoemaker 1785-90 

Paul     Groscup 

John    Eckerf 1785-87 

Jacob    Weaver 1785 

John    Otto 1786-87 

Matthias    Rcichert 1788-90 

Nicholas     Hunter 1788 

Egedius   Mevcr 1789-90 

Jolm     Christ 1789-90 

And  -it  provided  also  that  each  election  district 
should  elect  two  or  more  persons  for  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  that  the  president  of  the 
Executive  Council  shc)uld  coinini^sion  one  or  more 
for  each  district  for  seven  years.  The  following 
justices  were  elected  in  Beiks  county,  an<l  commis- 
sioned, from  1777  till  17'.)0 —  the  dash  after  the  vcar 
indicating-  tincertainty  whether  or  not  the  full  term 
was  served,  and  the  repetition  of  the  year  indicating- 
re-election  : 

Xanie  Term 

Ff  enry   Christ 1777-84  ;    1784— 

Jacoli    Slioemaker 1777— 

James    Read 1777— 

Daniel    Hiester 1777 — 

Peter    Spvcker    177(;-90 

Tacob  Weaver 1777-S4;  1784— 

John    Lndvvig 1777-84  ;    1784  — 

Benjamin     Shott 1777— 

Christopher    Sclnilt/ 1777 — 

Samiiel     Ely 1777-84  ;    1784- 

Tacob   Waggiiner 1777 — 

Daniel    Rothermel 1777— 

John     Old 1777— 

Chas.   Shoemaker 1777-84;   17s4— 

Egedius     .\lever 1777-R4  ;    17S4— 

Jacob  Morgan 1777-81  ;  17S4— 

Thiinias    Parry 1777— 

Michael   Lindenirnith 1778 — 


■!'        i^^ 


1:Ur:-J  '^-.n 


■:ii   i;.:.'hir'>i'. 


■  1   ';:i    .'    .  ',    :i   ':)  ,!)3(ii 


w  .'.••  --:'■:')■  ^;!(;7<! 


( ■.  -^..J . ....  


.  ,!l./i 


92 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\"AXIA 


Name  Term 

Gabriel    Hicster 1778— 

John     Guldin 173i) — 

Valentine  Eckert 17S4— 

Paul    Gro5cup 17S4 — 

John    Eckert 17S4 — 

John   Otto 17S.") — 

Matthias    Reichert 17SS-91 

Nicholas    Hunter 17SS — 

James     Dienier 17SS-91 

JUDGES— IT'JO  TO   190n 

The  Constitution  of  ITOO  pro^-ided  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  Circuit  courts  in  tlie  State  to  be  com- 
posed of  certain  counties — not  less  than  three  nor 
more  than  six ;  and  for  tlie  appointment  by  the  Gov- 
ernor of  a  president  judf^e  of  the  courts  in  each 
circuit,  and  also  of  other  judges,  not  less  than  three 
nor  more  than  four  in  number,  whose  residence 
should  be  in  the  county.  All  the  judges  appointed 
were  to  hold  their  offices  during  good  behavior. 

In  l?yi,  in  pursuance  of  the  Constitution  of  1790. 
the  State  was  divided  into  five  judicial  circuits  or 
districts,  and  each  district  became  entitled  to  a  pres- 
ident judge.  The  Third  District  comprised  Berks, 
Luzerne,  Northampton,  and  Northumberland  coun- 
ties. In  180<j,  the  State  was  divided  into  ten  dis- 
tricts, and  Berks,  Northampton,  and  Wayne  com- 
prised the  Third  District.  In  1811.  Schuylkill  countv 
was  erected  and  included  in  the  district,  but  it  was 
cut  off  in  1815.  In  1812,  Lehigh  county  was  erected 
and  included  in  the  district.  In  18:-!4,  the  State  was 
divided  into  seventeen  districts,  and  Berks,  Lehigh, 
and  Northampton  comprised  the  Third  District. 

The  county  of  Berks  was  erected  into  a  separate 
judicial  district  by  the  Act  of  April  5,  1819,  and 
called  the  Twenty-third  District.  It  has  since  been 
a  separate  district,  witli  this  number  in  the  judicial 
system. 

In  1810  the  associate  judges  were  limited  to  two 
in  number.  The  provision  in  reference  to  the  tenure 
of  office  was  niodified  by  the  Amended  Constitution 
of  1838,  whereby  the  term  of  president  judge  was 
fixed  at  ten  years,  and  of  associate  judge  at  five 
years. 

In  1850  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  was 
adopted  which  provided  for  the  election  of  the 
judges  for  the  terms  mentioned.  The  first  election 
"was  held  in  October.  1851. 

The  office  of  additional  law  judge  was  cre;)ted 
by  the  Act  of  April  15,  18G9.  for  Berks  county,  with 
powers  and  term  similar  to  those  of  president  judge. 

The  office  of  Orphans'  court  judge  was  created 
for  the  county  by  the  Act  of  June  13.  1883.  pursuant 
to  the  New  Constitution  ;  and  on  the  29th  of  June 
following,  the  Governor  made  the  first  appointment. 
His  judicial  powers  are  confined  to  matters  which 
arise  in  the  Orphans'  court;  and  the  term  of  service 
is  ten  years. 

The  office  of  associate  judge  was  abolished  bv 
the  New  Constitution,  the  incumbents  to  continue 
in  office  until  their  terms  of  scr\-ice  expired. 

Before  1871.  county  officials  t'>ok  their  offices  on 
the  second  Mondav  of  December  succeedins:  their 


election.  The  New  Constitution  provided  that 
lliereafter  tliey  should  take  their  offices  on  the  first 
Monday  of  Jamiary  succeeding. 

PRESIUEN'T    jeitCES 
N'amc  Term 

Jacob  Rush 1791-1305 

John   Spayd    lSOG-09 

Robert   Porter t810-:;:3 

Gai  rick    Malicry    1S33-3.J 

John   Banks    lS36-4«) 

J.  Prin^'le  Jones   • 1847-43;   ISji-c,] 

Da\id  F.  Gordon    1849-51 

W.  J.  Woodward*.. 1861-71;  1S71-74 

Jeremiah  llauenmant   1873-79  ;   ISSo-so 

Jaines    X.     KruK-ntroutj .' 1890-1908 

(lustav  A.  Endlich   1908-00 

ADIHTION.^L    LAW    JUDGES 
Name.  Terra. 

Henry   Van    Reed§ 1869  ;1S75 

Jeremiah   Hagennian  i    18(59-7  ; 

.-\ugustus    S.    SaSiaman 1S7G-8G 

James   X.   Ermentrout    1S87  89 

Gustav  .\.   Endlich    1890  I9(i^ 

\Vm.  Kerper  Stevens^ 1908-09 

orphans'    CO'JRT    JUliGES 
N'ame.  Term. 

Hiram    H.    Schwartz** 18S:!-]891 

H.  Willis  FJland 1891-19 — 

ASSOCIATE   JUDGES 
Name  Ttrm 

James  Dieraer 1791-lsi'.) 

George  Ege   1791  1S18 

Matthias    Rcichort    1791-97 

Josci)li    Hiester 1791-94 

.Vichnlas  Lotz  179.")  isoil 

tlenjamin     Morris 1798-]S()9 

Gabriel   11  tester 1819  23 

Charles    Shoemaker 18r.;0-2:; 

\\'illi;iin    Witnian 1823-28 

Jacob     Schneidrr 1824-29 

Alatthias  S.  Richards 1829-4:> 

William     Darlir.g 1830-38 

William  .A.ddains    ; 1839-42 

John    Stauffer 1843-51 

William     High , lS4r,-.-,0 

Samuel    P.ell is.'il 

Daniel    Young 18.">l-r)r) 

'\\'i!iiam    Heidenreich 1851  -.'lO 

David    Schall 1856-60 

*  Warren  J.  Wf>odu'arii  Mas  electi;J  one  of  the  associate  justices 
of  tlie  SuprcTTic  C'Urt  of  I'ciinryivania,  ok  Nov.  R.  1S74,  for  the 
term  of  twcntv-oi.c  vcr.rs.  He  tool<  and  held  his  seat  from  lanuarv, 
IST.j.    till    his  .leath   0:1    Sept.    23,    l.STD. 

t  Jeremiah  Has'enni.Tii  succeeded  Warren  T.  Wooihvard,  by  pro- 
motiun,  on  Tan.  1",  1S75,  when  he  was  sworn  as  president  jiidije 
for  the  remainder  of  the  term,  ending  Jan.  5,  IS.SO.  He  was  elected 
in  November,  1879,  for  a  term  of  ten"  yi  ars.  Xot  having  been  re- 
eltcted,  JudfTe  Ermentrout  was  rroniotcd  by  law  to  be  president 
judg-e. 

;.  Died   .\iur.    3  0.    IftOS.   and   succeeded  by   Gustav   .\.    Knrllich. 

S  Henrv  \'an  Keed.  a  meuiher  of  the  couutv  bar.  was  3i)pointed 
on  July  1.1.  lSfi9,  by  the  Governor,  John  W.  Geary,  to  fdl  the  ofTic-, 
and  he  held  his  seat  till  his  successor,  duly  elected,  was  qualified. 
1  >tc.  t'.  ]  sun.  He  was  appointid  a  second  time  by  the  Governor, 
John  F.  Ifartranfr.  on  Jan.  1?.  1S7.').  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  this 
oftice,  can=ed  by  the  promotion  of  Jeremiah  Hac;enni.'.n  to  the  oh-ce 
of  president  judse.  until  his  fuccessor.  Augustus  S.  SJassaman,  a 
ir.iniber  of  the  countv  bar,  dulv  elected,  was  qualified  i^n  Jan.  i. 
lS7fi.   for  ten   years. 

Jeremiah  llaccnman  v.-ns  elected  Oct.  12.  ISnp,  to  this  office  for 
ten  years  from  Dec.  fi,  1SG9.  He  was  promoted  to  the  office  of 
inrsidcnt  jud:;e,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  on  Jan,  1,S.  1^7,"., 
to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  bv  the  re'ijrnation  r  f  Warren  J.  Wood- 
ward.   v.hii   had   been    elected    to    the    Supretne   bnich. 

'  Appointi-d,  bv  Governor  Sept.  Hi,  irmS,  to  serve  till  first 
M.Mulav    in    J.m'.rlrv.    I'llO. 

*'  Hiram  H.  Sclnvartz  was  appointed  on  June  29,  1S83.  to  serve 
in  this  ntiicc  till  Tan.  7.  ISM.  He  was  nominated  for  the  olVicc. 
for  the  full  term,  bv  the  Hemocratic  Convcntii>n  in  .Nui'MSt,  1S~^H, 
and  .-lectcd  in  Xovember  f..;i,>winc.  }'.c  di.-d  before  Iho  eo.iration 
of  h;=  term,  on  .\i:l'.  2...  TStll,  when  TI.  Willis  IJlainl  was  a|tpoii.icd 
liv  the  (.ovcn.ir,  on  Sept.  1(>.  l.-tM,  an."  he  was  elcct.-d.  November, 
IS'.iJ.  for  a  full   term:   and   at  its  expiration  he  was  re-elected. 


1  -J?.    I ' 
•pa  -: 


(       ...    "■^'  ■' 


.1;    ',    ■  f  ■     ■■       ■  '•  :   ■ 


BENCH    AXD    BAR 


93 


Name  Term 

C^orac  D.  Stitzcl IS06-OG 

C  luirles   Kessler lSGO-71 

I  ).n  ill   Kutz*   186r.-70 

Henry    Rhoacis :8TO-7i 

licorge  W.   Brucknian 1871-76 

Uaiiicl    Buskirk 1871-76 

ATTORXEYS   AT   LAW 

The  office  of  attorney  at  law  i?  not  an  elective  one. 
It  never  was.  But  it  has  existed  time  out  of  mind. 
It  began  with  the  administration  of  justice,  and  is 
inseparable  from  it.  The  history  of  attorneys  would 
be  the  history  of  the  courts  of  judicature.  They 
have  always  occupied  a- prominent  place.  Their 
prominence  lias  resulted  from  enercr>'  well  directed 
in  behalf  of  the  ritjhts  and  property  of  mankind,  and 
also  in  behalf  as  well  of  the  establishment  as  of  the 
development  of  principles  regulative  of  associations 
in  everv  department:  of  life. 

A  law  was  enacted  in  this  State  as  early  as  1710 
in  relation  to  this  office.  Then  the  ju"^tices  were 
authorized  to  admit  anv  attorney  or  attorneys  to 
plead  in  any  of  the  established  courts  during  good 
behavior.  Xo  provision  was  made  as  to  the  number 
or  ability.  In  ITlo,  however,  the  authority  of  the 
justices  was  modified.  They  might  admit  'a  com- 
petent number  of  persons,  of  honest  disposition  and 
learned  in  the  Law,  to  practise  as  attorneys  who 
shall  behave  themselves  justly  and  faithfully  in 
their  practice."  And  in  1127  a  provision  wa->  made 
requiring  such  persons  before  they  were  admitted 
to  take  the  following  oath:  "Thou  shalt  behave  thy- 
self in  the  office  of  attorncv  within  the  court,  ac- 
cording to  the  best  of  thy  learning  and  ability,  and 
with  all  good  fidelity  as  well  to  the  court  as  to  the 
client ;  thou  shalt  use  no  falsehood,  nor  delav  any 
person's  cause  for  lucre  or  malice."  And  these  qual- 
ifications have  continued  to  this  day.  Since  the 
adoption  of  the  State  and  national  constitutions 
they  have  qualified  to  support  them.  This  last 
qualification  is  common  to  all  statutorv  officers. 

The  following  attorneys  have  resided  in  the  coun- 
tv  of  Berks  and  practised  in  its  several  courts. 
The  date  after  each  name  is  the  time  of  admission 
to  practice. 

Name  Admitted 

Jaine-!   Biddle 
David  TTeiulerson 
Tanie.s  Wliitcliead,  Jr. 
Edward   Bi<ldlc 

Daniel  Levnii.  Jr Xov.  11,  1700 

Collinson   Read Aug.  13.  1772 

James    Potts Aug.     1,  1773 

Daniel    CI ymcr May      4,  1776 

-Mexander  Gravdon Mav    14,  1770 

Edward   Scull . ". Aug.  17,  1770 

Xathaniel    Potts \ug.  14,  17S1 

Jacob     Huhley Xov.   14.   178G 

George     Eckert Feb.  19.  1 7S7 

James    Scull Feb.   10.  17S7 

Joseph    Huliley .Aug.  14,  1787 

John    Spayd Feb.  14.   1788 

Peter    Hoofn.\g!e Feb.  14,  1788 

*  DuM.l  Km?  hnviiiR  died  in  oft'ic;  TuK-  Oft.  isro.  ttenrv  Rho.ids 
»a5  ^piK.ir.ted  hv  Gcv.  Jolin  W.  Giarv.  on  Aug.  3,  If-Tii,  for  uiKX- 
pired   ttrm   ending   Dee.    4,   1S71. 


Name  Admitted 

Marks    John    Biddle Dec.     0,1783 

Jacob    R.    Howell Feb.  11,  1780 

Charles    Evan; Aug.     9,179] 

U'illiam    Witman Aug.  20.  170." 

Frederick    Smith \ug.     4,  1705 

Levi     Pauling Aug.  IS,  179o 

Bird    Wilson Mav    14,  1798 

Andrew  Graff.  Jr .April     0,  1798 

John  Hicster Au.g.     6,  1798 

William   S.   Biddle June      2,  1801 

Frederick  John  Haller Xov.     4,  ISOl 

AVilliam    rvlorris .Aug.     9.  1804 

.Anthony    Morris Xov.     G,  1804 

Samuel  D.  Franks Aug.  10,  1805 

James  B.  Huble\ \pril      4,  J300 

John   Spayd April      2,  ISIO 

Samuel    Baird,  Jr .April    10,  1810 

William    .Morris.    Jr Xov.     8.  ISIO 

Thomas  B.  Smith July      4,  1814 

James    Biddle .Aug.     9,1815 

Francis  S.  Muhlenberg 'Nlay      8.  1816 

Xathaniel   P.   Hobert Jail.  V.i,  1818 

Charles     Davis .Aug.     4,1818 

Charles  Whitman   '.  .Aug.     0,  1818 

William    Darling Xov.  i:^,  1818 

Edward   B.   Hubley .April      5,  1820 

James   L.   Dunn Xov.  10,  1821 

\V.  C.   Lea\  en  worth .Aug.  18.  1822 

Daniel  J.    Iliester .Aug.     4,1823 

Lloyd    Wharton March    26,  1824 

Lawrence    S.    Lardner .April      8,  1824 

David    F.    Gordon .Aug.     6.  1824 

Thomas    Morris Xov.     1,  1824 

Vv'm.    Fullerton   Duncan Jan.     3,  182.5 

David    Evans Jan.     .5,  1S2j 

Htnrv  W.   Smith Jan.     5.  182.5 

John  S.  Whnrton ^ra^cI!      4,   1325 

Edward   P.  Pearson May    23.  1S2.5 

Charles   J.  Jack .Aug.     1,  1825 

Robert    M.    Brook .Aug.     2.  1825 

John    IL    Shectz \ug.     3,1825 

Joseph   W.   Roland Aug.  20,  1825 

George  AI.  Kejm , ■•^ug.  11,  1826 

Joseph    H.    Spnvd Xov.     8,  1826 

Philip   Kendall.' Ja.n.     1,  1827 

F;iij;ih    Deckcrt Tan.     4,  1827 

Levi    B.    Smith Ian.  10,  1827 

William   Af.   Biddle April      4,1827 

Jacob  Hoffman Xov.  10,  1820 

Robert   M.    Barr Jan.     3,  1S31 

Peter    Filbert.. Jan.     6,1831 

John    Maver Jan.     8.  1831 

Henry  Rhoads April      3,  1832 

William    Strong Xov.     8,  1S32 

George   S.  Wharton .Aug.  15,  1832 

James    Pauling X'ov.     7.  1S33 

Francis  .Aurand Xov.  13,  1833 

William    Betz Jan.  10,  1834 

George   G.   Barclav .April    10,  1835 

Xewton   D.   Strong .Aug.     3.  1835 

-Aucnstus  F.  Boas .Aug.     4,  1835 

J.   Pringle  Jones Xov.     2,  1835 

.Anthonv   F.    Miller .Aug.  15,  1836 

Franklin   B.   Schoener Jan.     3.  1837 

John  S.  Ricliards April      4,  1837 

Garrick    Mallerv '. .Aug.  14,  1837 

Dennis    W.    O'Hricn    .Aug.     7,1838 

Jeremiah   D.   Bitting..".. Aug.     8,1838 

.Andrew    M.   Sallade ■. .Aug.  11,  183S 

Tackson   H.   Sl-.erman .Aug.     7,  1839 

William    M.    Hiestcr Jan.     7,1840 

Peter    Shearer .April      7.  ]S40 

Matthias   Alengel .April      8.1840 

Geor.ge  E.  Ludwig .Xov.     3.  1840 

tames    Donngan Dec.  22,  1841 

Samuel    Sohl .April      5,  1842 


r(>i    V     ,.iT 


;iMir>,i;^:-^;   '!.'-. 


■     ' I 


:'i   <(••; 


0-1 


HIST()RV    OF    BERKS    C(  )L'XTV.    PKXXSYLWWIA 


Nan-.;  A.lniuti  i 

Jeremiah     H^ue-ininn Xpril      7.   1843 

J.  Dur.das   Biil.llc May  IT.  isri 

Charles    Wiernian May   IT.  }Sr2 

George   W.   Arms March      8,  1S4:; 

John    K.    Longnecker X"V.     •''.  1S4:5 

Henrv  Van  Reed April      J,  1S44 

William    M.    P.aird Kpril    1l'.   1S44 

Henry  A.  I^Iiihlenberg- July      o.  1844 

Isaac  High   Keiiii Julv     5,  134 1 

Franklin    B.    .Miller T^ec.  14,   184  4 

Jacob    S.    Livingood Jan.     7,  1845 

J.    Glancv   Jones Jan.     7,  1S45 

Silas  E.  Rnzard April      8.  1845 

Edward  W.  Scudder Vug.     4,  184.'. 

Edward    M.   Clynier \ug.     4,  184.-) 

J.    Hownian    Bell Jan.     .5,   1846 

J.    Lavvrence    Get/ \u£;.     0,   1845 

William  B.  Schoener \ug.  1.",  184G 

J    Dc   Puy  Davis Jan.     5,  1847 

James    Mav   Jones Jan.     5,  1847 

John  Bank's April      7.  1847 

Samuel  L.  Young Aug.  10,  1847 

A.    Lucius    Hennershotz Xov.  11,  1847 

J.   Biddle  Gordon Jan.     6.  1848 

James  A.  Banks Feb.  21.  1848 

J.    Bright    Smith April      5,1848 

William.  F.    Filbert Aug.     9,  ISiS 

A.  Jordan    Swartz Sept    '-'S.  1848 

Joel    B.    Wanner Jan.   Ki,   1849 

Jacob  M.   Salladc \pril      f.,  1849 

John  A.  Banks .April      G,  1849 

Hiester    Chmer April      6.1819 

Charles  B.  Weaver Xov.     3,  18.50 

Jacob  K.   AIcKenty April      7,  1851 

Henry  C.  Kutz April    24,  1851 

W'ni.  Edmund  Banks April    25.   185 1 

Wni.    S.    Marx \ug.     4,  1 85 j 

Albert   G.    Green Xov.  11.  1851 

Ednuind    L.    Smith Xov.  11,  1851 

George  DcP>.   Kcim April      8.   1 852 

Charles   K.  Robeson April      8,  18.52 

E.   R.  ZimmermaTi April      8,  1852 

Carl  O.  Wagner Xov.     5,  1 852 

Michael   P.   Boyer Aug.     8.  1853 

Wharton    Morris Xov.  15,  185  t 

George  J,    Eckert    April  28,«1855 

Frederick  L.  Smith Xov.  10,  1855 

Amos  H.  Wanner Jan.  12.  1857 

B.  Frank  Bovcr March    15.  1S57 

Daniel  R.  Clymer Aug.  20,  1857 

James   B.    Bechtel    .April  14,  1858 

William   K.   Loose April    14.  1858 

Cha<;.  Ph.  Muhlenberg Xov.  8.  1859 

Daniel    Eniientrout Aug.     D,   1859 

Wni.    H.    Livingood Jan.  19.  1860 

Hiram  H.  Schwartz Julv    14,  18G0 

Jesse  G.   Hawlcv Sept.  20.  1800 

Thomas    S.    Brenholtz Sept.  20.  1800 

J.  George  Seltzer Feb.     5.  1801 

Abncr    K.    Stau.fler April    15,  18G1 

Edward   H.   Shearer April    15.  isoi 

John  Ralsf(jn Aug.  14,  1802 

Frank  B.  Schniucker Aug.  25.  1802 

William    P.   Bard Fel).     9,  180:i 

Charles   Henrv  Jones April    14.  180:5 

Richmond  L.  Jones .April    14,  180;! 

Daniel    E.    Schroedcr April    2.1.180.'} 

Charles   A.    Leopold April    2.1.  1803 

J.  Warren  Tryon Xov.  14.  1S03 

J.  Howard  Jacobs Xov.  14.  1S03 

Augustus   S.   Sassaman Jan.     9,  1804 

Israel   C.   Becker Jan.  28,  1804 

Francis  M.  Banks May    21,   1804 

Horace  A.  'S'undt Aug.     9,  1804 

Cbarle-    H.    Schaeffer \ug.     9,   18r,4 

Franklin    B.    Laucks Aug.  13.   1804 


N'amc  Admitteil 

William   AL   Goc^dnian Aug.  1.3.  i^i'  i 

I'dwin    Shalter Aug.  i:;,  i»i;4 

Louis    Richards Jan.  n;,  i^r,.-, 

Irenaeus   Shalter Jan.  10.  isr,-, 

J.  Ross  .Miller .Aug.  7.  iv,.-, 

J.   Dallas   Schoener Aug.  7,  1S05 

f  Icnry   May  Keini Aug.  7.  1S05 

Harrison     .Maltzl)erger Aug.  7.  1805 

Peter   D.   Wanner Xov.  4,   1805 

Llewellyn   Wanner    Aug.  — .  lS(;i; 

William    M.    Riglumyer Jan.  21,  1807 

George  M.  Ermentrout Xov.  27,  1SG7 

James   X'.   Ernientrout X'ov.  27.  1807 

Geo.    F.    Bacr Jan.  22.  ISGS 

Chas.   F.    Evans April  28,  18GS 

T.  H.  Garrigues Aug.  10,  1808 

Ben.    B.    Laucks    Jan.  11,  1809 

H.  Willis  Bland April  12,  1809 

Henry  C.  G.  Rebcr April  12,  1809 

Cyrus   G    Dcrr .Aug.  12,  1S70 

Wm.  L.  Guinthei- Xov.  14.  1870 

Morton    L.    Montgomery -Aug.  28.  1871 

Garrett  B.  Stevens .Aug.  12,  1872 

Horace  Roland ., Aug.  12,  1872 

Edgar   M.   Levan Aug.  17,  1S72 

Frank    R.    Schell Sept.  16,   1872 

Edwin   White   Moore Sept.  30,  1872 

James    .A.    O'Reilly    Jan.  13.  1873 

Stephen  AL  Aleredith Aug.  11.  1873 

Dan'l    H.    Wingcrd Sept.  29.  1873 

Hiram   Y.   Kaufn\an Xov.  9,  1874 

John  C.   K.  Heine   April  12,  1875 

B.   Frank   Dcttra .April  12,  1875 

B.  F.  Y.   Shearer April  12,  1875 

C.  H.   Ruhl April  15.  1875 

B.   F.    Mc.Atee    .April  15,   1875 

Jno.    I'.    Smith .Aug.  9,  1875 

Jefter-ii:n    Snyder Aug.  9,   1875 

John   B.  Danipm;ui X'ov.  8.  1875 

l-{enry    .A.    Muhlenberg X''ov.  8,  1875 

Daniel  B.  A'oung Jan.  10,  1876 

-Adam    H.    Schmehl Jan.  10,  1S70 

Edwin  B.  Wiegand Jan.  18,  1870 

Wesley  D.   Horning April  1",  187G 

Gustav  -A.  Endlich Xov.  12,  1S77 

Simon  P.  O'Reilly Jan.  14.  1877 

W'ayne    Ha\Tnan Jan.  14,  1877 

Henry  A.  Zieber .April  10.  1S"8 

Isaac    Hie'ter Aug.  13.  1878 

J.  H.  Marx Aug.  13,  1873 

Jeremiah   K.  Grant X'ov.  11,  1873 

Walter   B.   Craig Nov.  12.  1878 

D.  Xicholas   Schaeffer Xov.  12,  187S 

AL  Bravion  McKniij^ht Xov.  12,  1878 

Israel  C.  Becker.  .  .'" Dec.  12.  i878 

Daniel   G.    Guldin Jan.  2o.  1879 

Warren    Woodward Jan.  20,  1873 

Chas.   P.   Sherman .Aug.  11,  1879 

Frank    S.    Livingood Aug.  11,  1879 

John  W.  .Apple .Aug.  11.  1879 

{ lenry  D.  Green X'ov.  10,  1879 

William  C.  Heacock .April  12,  1880 

AVilliam  O.   Aiiller   .April  12.  1880 

Chas.    M.    Plank Xov.  22.   1880 

William   J.   Rourke X'ov.  22,  1880 

.Albert  R.  Heiliff Xov.  22,  188.9 

.Alonzo  i:.  Ream X'ov.  22,  1380 

r,eo.    F.    Hagenman Jan.  24.    1881 

Lrael  H.  Rothermel .Aug.  20,  1881 

John   H.  Rothermel .Aug.  20,  1881 

Daniel    I-".    We>tlcy X'ov.  14.   1881 

Charles   C.   Kehr    Xov.  14.   1881 

Henry     Alaltzberger Xov.  14.   1881 

George  J.  Gross.  Jr Xov.  14.   1881 

Henrv  O.  Sclirader Xov.  13.   1S>*3 

I.    Comlev    Fetter Xov.  13,  188 i 


■I         ':  •     -I 


:i-.  ;      ;■••.■>. 


f.     ',:i.^ 


.M,v..'      l'-'      " 


BEXCFt    AND     I'.AR 


93 


Name  AflmitteJ 

I.ir.u-s  B.  Baker Xov.  ]:'..  1SS2 

■\i!.an  B.  Rieser Xov.  13,   ISS:! 

niwood    H.    Devsher Xov.  13,  1882 

Kicl.arJ  H.  Koch Xov.  12,  18S.3 

i ii nrv   P.   Keiscr Xov.  12,  18S3 

I.  F.dWard  Miller Xov.  12.  1883 

Filix    P.    Kremp Xov.  12,  1SS3 

Ciirirks     H.  Tyson Xov.  10,  1 S84 

William  B.  Rcchtel Xov.  10,  1SS4 

Frank  K.  Flood Xov.  10,  388 1 

Philip    S.    Zicber Xov.  10.  1884 

William    Kerper    Stevens Xov.   10.  18S1 

Howard  P.  Wanner Xov.     9,   1885 

William  P.  Schcll ■ March    13,  ]88(> 

Daniel  F.  Ancona Xov.     8.  18§ii 

Caleb  J.   Bieber Xov.     8.  ISSf. 

F.dwin    Sassaman March  28,  1 SS7 

David    Lcvan Xov.  14,  1887 

Morris  H.  Schaffer Nov.  14,  1837 

.\rr.mon    S.    Strunk Xov.  14,  18S7 

Samuel  X.  Potteiger Nov.  24,  1888 

Abraham   H.    Rothermel Xov.  24,  1888 

Hcrl>ert  R.  Green Jan.  21,  1888 

Ira   P.   Rothcrniol Jan.  21,  18SS 

George  R.  VanReed Jan.  21,  1888 

Edward  S.  Krenip Xov.  23,  1883 

David  F.  Mauger Xov.  23,  188') 

John   II.   Zweizig Xov.  23,  1889 

John    J.    Kutz Nov.  10,  1800 

George  W.  Wagner Xov.  10,  18'.)0 

William  J.  Young Xov.  10.   1800 

Fitz-Daniel     Ermentrout Xov.     7,  1802 

Lcc    F'riday X^'ov.     7,  1802 

J.   Fred   Ilavtgcn • Nov.     6.  ISO:', 

Ralph    11.    ^[engcl Nov.     6,   1893 

Silas   R.  Rothcrniol XV)v.     fi,   1803 

Ilov.-ai  d  L.  Greenawahl Xov.  12,  1S04 

Marvey  F.  Hei-ih Xov.  \'2.  1804 

Louis  A.  Sassanian Xov.  12,  1804 

Walter    S.    Young Xov.  12,  1804 

Sherman  H.   Ilovcrtc  r X''ov.  11.  180.1 

John   II.   Millhnlland Xo\ .  11,  189.T 

F'rtderick  W.  Xicolls Xov.  11,  1S9.'> 

Robert    P.   Shick Xov.  11,  180.-) 

Hiester  A.  Bowers Nov.  11,  ISO.") 

S.   Leo   Fjonovan   Xov.     9,  ISOG 

Wilson  Ferguson X^ov.     9,  180G 

J.  Wilmer   Fisher     X'ov.     9,  180f. 

J?nifs  P.  Long Xov.     9.  180C 

William     Rick X'ov.     9,   1800 

Ira    G.    Kutz X'ov.     8,  ISO: 

Thomas  K.  Leidy Xov.     8,  1807 


Name  Admitted 

William  A.  Hope May    21,  189S 

George    D.    Humbert Xov.  14.  1S9S 

George  M.  Joiks Xov.  14,   1898 

Flarvey    F.    Kantner X'ov.  14,  1808 

J.    Mil'ton    Miller Xov.  14.  1893 

Paul  H.    Price Xov.  14,  1898 

Harry     D.     Schaet^er Nov.  14,  1S9S 

Henrv    Seidcl    Throm Xov.   14,   1898 

.Alien'  S.    Hottenstcin Dec.  13,  18i)3 

Harry    J.    Dumn Jan.     3,1899 

Samiiel  E.  Rcrtolct Xov.  13,  1S99 

Joseph    R.    Dickinson Xov.  13,  1899 

Edw  in  W.  Kalbach Xov.  13,   1S99 

Edwin    S.    Livingood X'ov.  13,  1899 

William  H.  Sadler Xov.  13,  1899 

Edward  D.  Trexkr Nov.  13,  1899 

Charles  S.   Slialtirs Dec.  23,  1S99 

Garrett    Stevens Dec.  23,  1899 

Foster    S.    Biehl Nov.  12,  1900 

Charles   K.   Derr Nov.  12,  1900 

John    M.    F^rame Xov.  12,  1900 

William   E.    Fisher Xov.  12,  1900 

Walter  B.   Freed Nov.  12,  1900 

Earl    I.   Koch : Nov.  12,  1900 

Oliver    G.    Lpnt.T Nov.  32,  1900 

Frederick  A.  Marx Nov.  12,  1900 

Charles  G.  Moyer Nov.  12,  1900 

Wilson    S.    Rothermel N^ov.  12.  1900 

Charles   R.   Wanner Jan.     7,  1901 

J.    Bennett    Nolan Nov.  18,  1901 

Oliver    }.L     Wolff Scprt.     8,  190-j 

John    H.    Rridei.baugh Nov.  10,  1902 

E.  Carroll  Schaefifcr Nov.  10,  1902 

John    B.    Stevens Nov.  10,  1002 

Thomas  laegcr  Snyder Xov.  10,  1902 

FF    Robert     .^^ays . '. Feb.  20,  1004 

II.   Franklin   Brossman March      7,  1904 

William    A.    Shcnio Oct.     3,   3904 

Spcii.er  P..  Ro1an<l Xov.     7,  1904 

Walter  G.    Steininger Feb.   13,   190.5 

William  Abbott  Winnan,  Jr Feb.  13,  190.5 

J.  Howard  Jacobs Aug.  14,  1005 

James   B.    ^Mercer \ug.   14,   1905 

Randolph    StautTer Feb.  13,  1906 

FI.   C>tto  Lowe May    14,  1903 

Robert  Gray  Bushong Sept.  22,  1900 

Leonard    G.    Yoder Sept.  22,  1905 

Frank    D.    Arnold Oct.     9,  1906 

John    S.    Eader Nov.     5,  lOOr, 

John    K.    Halm March    11,1907 

John   .Arthur    Keppclman Sept.  19,  1007 

Wayne  W.  Light   Feb.  10,  1908 


CHAPTER  \'i  -  MEDICAL  PROFESSION 


Practitioners  of  medicine  were  located  in  all  the 
sections  of  the  county  from  the  earliest  settlements, 
but  their  names  have  not  been  preserved  because 
there  was  no  place  to  reg-ister  them.  But  they 
were  scattered  many  miles  apart.  On  this  account. 
cases  of  ordinary  sickness  were  generally  attended 
to  by  the  parents  of  the  family,  and  the  adminis- 
tration of  home  remedies  was  practised.  The  phys- 
icians in  active  j)ractice  v/cre  of  the  allopathic  school 
altogether,  chose  of  the  homeopathic  school  not 
having  started  in  the  county  until  about  1S3S.  I\Iid- 
wifery  was  in  genera!  use.  Pow-wowing  was  prac- 
tised to  a  considerable  extent  until  in  recent  years. 
when  it  was  gradually  abandoned  as  education  be- 
came more  thorough  and  regular  physicians  more 
numerous. 

IVlEbic.^L  F.xcuLTv  OF  Berks  County. — The 
practising  physicians  of  this  county,  having 
associated  and  become  a  body  politic  in 
law  (incorijoratcd  July  1-1.  18"^4),  under  the 
above  style  and  title,  met  agreeably  to  public 
notice,  on  Saturday  evening,  Aug.  7.  lS'i4.  at  the 
public  building  of  this  borough,  and  duly  orga- 
nized their  institution.  Dr.  Isaac  Iliester  v.as 
called  to  the  chair,  and  Dr.  Charles  Baum  ap- 
pointed secretary.  The  charter  and  bv-laws  hav- 
ing been  read,  the  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  officers  for  the  ensm'ng  year:  Isaac  Hies- 
ter,  president ;  C.  L.  Schlemm  and  John  B.  Otto, 
vice-presidents:  Charles  Baum.  recording  sec- 
retary; William  J.  C.  Baurn  and  Edward  Hay- 
dock,  corresponding  secretaries;  George  Eckert, 
treasurer;  Bernard  M' Neil  and  Gerhard  G. 
Bishop,  curators. 

The  president  delivered  a  short  address  to  the 
association,  and  then  proceeded  agreeably  to  the 
by-laws  to  appoint  a  standing  committee  of 
three  members  for  the  examination  of  candi- 
dates for  the  grade  of  junior  membership.  The 
following  gentlemen  composed  the  committee: 
C.  L.  Schlenmi,  John  B.  Otto  and  Charles  Baum. 

The  following  resolutions  were  then  ottered, 
discussed  and  adoi)ted  : 

Resok'cd.  That  the  members  of  the  Medical  F.^culty  be 
requested  to  furnish  nioiithly  to  the  correspcmdint;  secre- 
taries, a  list  of  the  disea'^os  and  deaths  that  may  occur  in 
their  respective  ncighljorhoods.  and  an  account  of  tlie 
general  health  of  the  county,  t.opctl-ier  with  such  remarks 
as  they  may  deem   proper   for  pulilicalion. 

Resolved.  That  it  is  expedient  to  apprize  the  public  of 
the  existence  of  small  pox  in  tliis  bi->roui:h.  and  that  ina;.- 
-much  as  this  body  retain^  undimini.-hed  conlidence  in  v:ic- 
cination,  this  mild  and  safe  nreventative  be  .^tronsly  recom- 
mended in  all  cases  deemed  liable  to  the  infection  of  that 
loathsome  and   too  often    fatal   disease. 

Resokcil.  Tl'.at  the  students  in  medicine  of  Berks  county 
have  pernii<-i(in  to  ;ittv  nd  the  meetings  and  dcHhorations 
of  this  hodv. 


Rcsohcd.  That  one  hundred  copies  of  the  constitution) 
and  by-laws  of  the  Medical  Faculty  of  Berks  couiitv  bo 
printed  in  pamphlet  form,  uniler  the  superinten<lcnce  of  a 
committee  consisting  of  Drs.  Otto,  Baum  and  Bishop,  ar.d 
that  the  proceedings  of  tliis  evening,  together  with  t'l.- 
inaugural  address  of  the  president,  be  published  in  x\w 
several  papers  of  this  borough.,  signed  iiy  the  presideiu 
and  attested  by  the  secretary. 

On  motion,  Rcsohcd,  Tliat  the  president  deliver  an  ora- 
tion in  public  as  soon  as  may  be  convenient,  in  the  riaiii'.- 
and  on  behalf  of  this   faculty. 

The  faculty  adjourned  to  the  next  stated  meeting  on  the 
iirst  Saturday  in  October  next,  at  7  o'clock,  r.M. 

CHAKt,KS    Eatm.    Recording    Secretary. 

The  members  who  subscribed  the  charter  of  in- 
corporation were  as  follows: 


tlonorary 
William  Wood 
Isaac   Iliester 
John   B.  Otto 
John  F.   Baum 
Charles   Baum 
William    Cries 
Geo.    N.    Eckert 
Jacob    Rodrock 


Junior 
Bernard  M'Xeii  (  N.  Y.) 
Jonathan   F.   Evans 
F.nos   Chichester 
Gcrk   G.   Bischotz 
Edward  Ilaydock 
August   Klein 
C.    L.   Schlemm 
William  J.  C.   Baum 


The  charter  was  ai>j. roved  by  hVcderick  Sinilh 
(of  Reading),  then  attorney-general  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  June  3,  1824;  and  by  William  Tilghman, 
John  B.  Gibson  and  Thomas  Duncan,  judges  of 
the  Supreme  court,  on  June  4,  1824 

Dr.  Hiester,  ujion  assuming  the  diities  of  the 
oflice  to  v.-hich  he  was  unai:imously  chosen,  deliv- 
ered an  admirable  address  to  the  faculty.  Among 
other  things,  he  said  that  this  organization  was 
the  first  of  the  kind  in  Pennsylvania,  excepting  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Medical  Society  of  Phil- 
adelphia. 

This  society  continued  to  e.xist,  hold  regular  meet- 
ings and  annually  send  representatives  to  the  State 
^Medical  Society  for  a  period  of  twenty  years.  On 
Feb.  23,  18.t0.  the  society  was  reorganized  and  the 
name  changed  to  the  "Medical  Society  of  the  City 
of  Reading  and  the  County  of  Berks."  with  the 
object  of  cultivating  the  science  of  medicine  in  ail 
its  collateral  branches,  to  elevate  and  sustain  medi- 
cal character,  to  encourage  a  system  of  profes- 
sional etiquette  and  to  promote  mutual  improve- 
ment, social  intercourse  and  good  feeling  among 
the  members  of  the  medical  profession.  No  person 
could  become  a  memticr'  of  this  society  unless  he 
were  a  graduate  of  some  recognized  medical  col- 
lege. In  18r>f),  the  name  was  changed  to  Berks 
County  .Medical  Society.  In  18r.r  it  trmk  the  first 
steps  toward  establishing  a  public  hospital  at  Rcaii- 
ing.  which  eventually  culminated  in  the  Reading 
Hospital. 

The  society  was  disbanded  in  1870,  with  a  nntn- 
bership  of  thirty-seven.     This  dissolution  grew  out 


n:-A    :••(=; 


!f...,Lv 


'Ui'.     !:■  <'.'']■'>• 


.:iir-: 


MEDICAL     PROFESSION 


97 


oi  a  factional  fight  over  an  attempt  to  expel  one 
..f  its  prominent  members.  The  one  faction,  num- 
bering twenty-two  physicians,  immediately  after 
the  dissolution,  on  the  same  day  (Nov.  22,  1870), 
assembled  at  the  office  of  Dr.  John  B.  Brooke, 
Xo.  41  North  Fourth  street.  Reading,  and  organ- 
izetl  anotlier  society  entitled  ''Berks  County  Med- 
ical Association.''  The  names  of  the  organizers 
were  as  follows : 


].  S.  Amnion 
J.    Brobst 
Edward   Brobst 
J    B.   Brooke 
Geo.  W.   Eyerie 
Joseph    Coblertz 
A.  B.  Dundor 
J.   S.   Hunsberger 
S.  L.  Kurtz 
De  B.  Kuhii 
C.  Kreye 


J.   ^r.   Matthews 
William  Moore 
J.   -M.    Xewpher 
J.  Y.  Shearer 
J.   K.  Seaman 
J.   R.   Sterley 

C.  Turner 

D.  A.  Ulrich 
Edward   Wallace 
Charles  Weber 

W.  Murray  Weidman 


After  a  temporary  organization,  a  resolution  was 
passed  to  the  effect  that  the  new  society  be  formed 
for  mutual  improvement  in  connection  with  the 
Pennsylvania  State  IMedical  Society  and  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association.  The  constitution  and  by- 
laws were  adopted  at  a  meeting  held  Jan.  3,  1S71 ; 
and  a  permanent  organization  was  et¥ected  by  elect- 
ing William  !Moore,  president;  J.  S.  Ammon  and 
James  M.  Matthews,  vice-presidents ;  W".  r\Iurray 
Weidman,  recording  secretary;  J.  B.  Brooke,  cor- 
responding secretary ;  D.  A.  Ulricli,  treasurer ;  Ed- 
ward \^^'lllace,  J.  A.  Brobst,  De  B.  Kuhn,  censors; 
and  Joseph  Coblentz,  curator. 

The  name  was  then  clianged  from  the  Berks 
County  Medical  Association  to  the  Medical  Society 
of  the  County  of  Berks ;  and  it  was  decided  that  the 
meetings  be  held  bi-monthly  and  a  business  meeting 
should  alternate  with  a  m.eeting  for  the  discussion 
of  topics  relating  to  the  profession. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  pocictv  held  in  Stauffcr's 
Hall  fthe  meeting  place  at  that  time  and  for  several 
years  afterward)  March  7,  1^71,  Drs.  S.  L.  Kurtz, 
D.  A.  Ulrich  and  Edward  Wallace,  a  cominittee 
appointed  to  represent  this  societv  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  State  Medical  Societv  at  Philadel- 
phia, reported  that  they  had  gained  recognition 
from  that  body,  were  admitted  as  members  and  the 
board  of  censors  had  approved  of  the  society's  con- 
stitution and  by-laws. 

The  first  delegate  election  of  tin's  societv  for 
sending  representatives  to  the  American  Medical 
Association  was  held  on  March  7,  1S71,  and  Drs. 
Kuhn,  Wily  and  INIoore  were  selected  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

Tlie  societv  made  its  first  annual  visit  to  the 
Poor-House  in  March,  isn. 

In  1872,  the  subject  of  vaccination  received  the 
official  indorsement  of  the  societv. 

In  1S(75.  the  place  of  meeting  of  the  societv  was 
changed  to  the  oflfice  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Bro<->ke. 

In  1878.  it  favored  tlie  passage  of  a  law  bv  the 
State  Legislature  concerning  "privileged  communi- 
cations," so  as  to  place  phvsicians  on  an  cqualitv 
7 


with  other  professions  as  witnesses  in  a  court  ot 
justice ;  and  in  that  same  year,  the  delegates  to  the 
State  Society  were  in.-tructed  to  favor  a  resolution, 
in  connection  with  other  countv  societies,  that  no 
member  should  admit  into  his  office  a  student  of 
medicine  until  he  presented  a  certificate  showing 
his  educational  qualifications  ;  which  the  State  So- 
ciety adopted.  Shortly  afterward,  they  encouraged 
the  movement  relating  to  the  registration  of  all 
practising  pii_\sicians,  which  culminated  in  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Act  of  June  8,  1.^81,  which  required 
every  practitioner  to  register  his  name  and  qualifi- 
cations in  the  prothonotary's  ofiice. 

In  1880,  the  society  first  started  lectures  on  special 
topics,  and  on  Sept.  7th,  Dr.  E.  H.  Coover,  of  Har- 
risburg,  delivered  a  lecture  on  "spinal  curvature." 

In  1881,  the  meeting  place  of  the  society  was 
changed  to  the  Reading  Library,  where  it  remained 
for  several  years,  and  tiicn  it  was  removed  to  the 
council  chambers  temporarily.  Tiie  subiect  of  per- 
manent quarters  was  then  discussed  and  a  commit- 
tee (cc>nsisting  of  Drs.  Cleaver.  Bachman  and 
Keiser)  was  appointed  to  make  the  necessary  in- 
quiries, not  only  for  a  meeting  place  but  also  for  a 
"Medical  Library,"  which  had  been  earnestly  advo- 
cated. In  the  course  of  their  inquiries.  Dr.  John 
B.  Raser,  druggist,  voluntarilv  offered  a  room  in 
his  store  building  at  Sixth  and  Walnut  streets,  sec- 
ond story  front,  free  of  rent  for  an  indefinite  time, 
and  this  offer  the  society  gratefully  accepted.  The 
quarters  were  then  established  in  the  Raser  building 
and  the  meetings  have  been  held  there  regularly 
ever  since.     The  membership  in  l!)U'.i  was  100. 

Immediately  after  its  removal  to  this^  convenient 
place.  Dr.  W.  Murray  Weidman  took  a  special  in- 
terest in  the  establishment  of  a  Medical  Library 
and  collected  a  large  number  of  medical  works  as 
the  foundation  for  its  development,  and  this  inter- 
est he  continued  with  i^reat  earnestness  until  his 
decease  in  1902,  all  the  members  of  the  society 
recognizing  his  services  in  that  behalf.  The  library 
embraced  a  fine  collection  of  the  best  medical  works 
and  in  1909  numbered  altogether  about  1,275 
volumes. 

In  1882.  the  by-laws  were  amended,  relatmg  to 
the  requirements  of  students  and  condemning  the 
practice  of  copyrighting  common  pharmaceutical 
preparations  under  trade-marks ;  and  in  1883,  the 
society  passed  a  re-^olu;ion  encouraging  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  suitable  building  at  \\  ashington  for 
a  National  Medical  Library  and  Surgical  ^luscum. 

In  1SS4.  the  State  delegates  of  the  society  were 
instructed  to  favor  the  creation  of  a  State  Board 
of  Health;  which  came  to  be  established  in  188."). 

In  June,  1891,  the  Medical  Society  of  the  State 
held  its  forty-second  annual  convention  at  Reading. 
The  proceedings  were  interesting  and  among  the 
papers  read  there  was  one  by  Dr.  Israel  Cleaver, 
entitled  the  "History  of  tlie  Medical  Profession  in 
P.erks  Cotmty."  In  that  paper  Dr.  Cleaver  stated 
that  the  State  Society  had  been  organized  at  Lan- 
caster in  1848,  and  its  first  annual  convention  had 


:l'r.:ri 


I  '■.  ;      if 


"--rjr . '(,;    'j 


98 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


been  held  at  Roadinj;  in  l.M'i.  Then  the  local  so- 
ciety had  a  menibershii)  uf  twenty-six. 

Two  of  the  presidents  of  the  State  Society  had 
been  selected  from  the  ]'eiks  County  Society:  Dr. 
John  P.  Hie--ter,  in  1:^5". ;  and  Dr.  Edward  \\  allace, 
in  18(52. 

Since  the  or^-anization  of  the  Society  in  ISTO,  the 
members  have  held  annual  banquets  in  January  and 
outings  in  August,  which  have  been  distinguished 
for  their  literarv  excellence  and  true  sociability. 

The  member.-'hip  in  I'.M)'.),  numbered  87. 

REAniXG  Mf.dical  Associatiox  was  organized 
May  27,  18.50,  with  the  following  physicians  as  its 
first  officers : 

President,  William  M.  Cries;  vice-president,  John 
P.  Hiester;  recording  secretary,  Edward  Wallace; 
corresponding  secretary,  L.  L.  Stewart ;  treasurer, 
Charles  H.  Hunter. 

The  meetings  v,ere  not  held  regularly  until  1867; 
then,  on  July  ;!(ltl;.  a  third  re-organization  having 
been  elTected,  a  new  constitution  and  by-laws  were 
adopted.  Its  meetings  have  been  held  ever  since 
at  the  same  places  as  the  county  society.  The  mem- 
bers are  practising  allopathic  physicians  of  Reading 
and  the  surrounding  towns.  Membership  in  ]901) 
was  Go. 

The  Patiioi-ogical  Society  was  organized  ^lay 
10,  1871,  with  the  following  physicians  as  its  first 
officers: 

President,  D.  L.  IJeaver;  vice-presidents,  ^lartin 
Luther,  B.  F.  Bmm  ;  secretary  and  treasurer,  AI. 
Albert  Rhoads. 

The  members  constituted  tlie  other  faction  of 
physicians  upon  the  disbanding  of  the  "Berks 
County  Medical  Society."  and  they  kept  up  its  meet- 
ings for  nearly  twenty  year.-.  During  this  time, 
the  bitter  feeling,  shown  in  such  a  marked  manner 
in  1S70,  had  entirely  subsided  and  the  surviving 
members  had  graduallv  identified  themselves  with 
the  "Medical  Society  of  Berks  County.'' 

ALf-OPATHic  Practitioxers. — The  names  of  the 
allopathic  physicians  of  the  county,  with  college 
and  year  of  graduation,  are  presented  herewith  in 
alphabetical  order;  and  thev  have  been  classified  a'^ 
at  Reading,  in  the  boroughs,  and  in  the  several 
sections  of  the  county.  [D  indicates  decease;  R. 
removed  out  of  county.] 

RE.\DI\'G 

Jacob    S.    .'Xnimon.   D U.   of    Pa.,  18G8 

George   W.    .\mnion.    D JcfFcrs(-)n,  ISSS 

Jacob  D.  .\lbriclit   Phila.  Med.-Chi..  is'.i:! 

Solomon  G.  P.irch.  D JetTcr.son,  1S;3.". 

Joseph    F.rackhill U.    of    Pa.,  ISfiO 

George    P..    M.    P.nwcr Maryland    Univ..   1SS7 

Henry   G.    P.ncr Jefferson,  ISSS 

John   L.   P.owor Jefferson.  18SS 

Samuel   R.   Pricker. Jefferson.   1RS9 

Francis  H.  P.robsr Jefferson,  1SSR 

Daniel  R.  Probst Jefferson.  lS!i.'. 

John    M.    Pertokt Teffer-^on,  IS'.IO 

Hiester  Puclur l'.   of   Pa..  1S07 

Josiah   T.    Piintin;:,    R U.   of   Pa.,   1S04 

Thomas  C.  Piich.Tnaii U.  of  Pa..  Unio 

Samuel  G.  Piirkholilfr !n.  W.  Univ.,  Hioo 


John  B.  Brooke.  D Jefferson.   i--,. 

U.  Llewelhn  Beaver,  D Pa.  Colk-o.  imi 

Daniel  B.  D.  Beaver U.  of  Pa..  i>:i 

Charles   W.   Bachmaii Jefferson.  I'-^i 

Darius  Z.  Boivman.  D Baltimore,   i^-u 

Jeremiah  K.  Bowers Pliila.  Amer.  Uni\.,  i-::; 

John    X.    Becker Jefferson,  l-- ; 

Frank    W.    Bucks Jefferson,  is-.', 

William  S,  Bertolet U.  of  Pn  ,  IO'id 

Henry  P.  Brunner U.  of  Pa..  lOO* 

Joseph   Coblcntz,   D U.   of   Pa.,  l--4'.i 

Israel  Cleaver U.  of  Pa..  1  sr>:! 

Alfred  J.  Cressman,  D U.  of  Pa.,  iSTO 

Emma  O.  Cleaver   Pa.  Woman'--,  i.'.i;, 

Fcrdinando    Colletti Italy.  l--',ir, 

R.  M.  Culler Jeffersoii,  irnii 

George   Rav  Currv Bait.    Med.   Collese,  rMji; 

Charles  .\.  Deinin-er,  D U.  of  P.,  is,".", 

William  X.  Davis,  D Jefferson,  ISf.n 

Adam   B.   Dundor Jefferson,  ISH'.; 

W.  X'.  Davis.  D Jefferson,  isr.n 

Aaron  C.  Detwei'er.  D Jefferson,  IS'U 

Washington    C.    Detweiler.   D Jefferson,  1?;7 

Thomas  A.  Dunkel.  D Jefferson,  l^c,.-, 

William  B.  Dewecs,  D U.  of  P.,   1877 

Joseph   C.    Da\  i;". Jeffer-^on,  187.J 

C.   A.   F.   Detweiler Phila.   Med.-Chi.,  isss 

Charles  J.   Dietrich U.   of  Pa.,  1003 

George  E.  Dietrich Med.-Chi.,  lOiir, 

Samuel    C.    Ermentrout U.    of    Pa.,  ISCii 

Jacob  R.  Esteriy,  R .  .Jefferson,  1891 

Albert  F.  East Jefferson,  1893 

John   V.   Epler,   D Pa.   College 

Oliver   H.   Fisher U.   of   Pa.,  1872 

James  A.  Fisher,   D Pa    College,  IS.",?. 

Elias  H.  Frantz,  D Jefferson,  1S73 

F.    W.    Frankhauser Jefferson,  ISSii 

Oscar  Edwin  Fox U.  of  Pa.,  icni; 

John    F.    Feick Jefferson.  1872 

•  John  R.  Fau-^t Baltimore,  1886 

F.   H.  Fcnstermaker Baltimore,  1898 

William    E.    Fisher U.    of    Pa.,  1809 

Lloyd   H.   Feick Baltimore,  1002 

George  S.  Goodhart,  Ei Pa.  College,  J  849 

Frank  H.  Good.  D U.  of  Pa..  is:.s 

John    B.    Griesemer,    D J  efferson,  IS.'f) 

'Charles  H.   Gerhard U.  of   Pa.,  1008 

W.  H.  Goodenongh.  D l<r,r. 

Frederick  Grander.  R Jefferson,  18S.') 

David    S.    Grim Michigan    Univ.,  1000 

James  R.  Gerhard U.  of  Pa.,  1901 

Malcolm    Z.    Gearhart Jefferson.    IOOm 

Franklin  J.  G;ihle Tefferson.  1907 

Wellington   D.   Griesemer    Jefferson,   190S 

Charles   H.   Hunter.  D U.   of   Pa.,  1841 

Frank  M.  Hiester,  D U.  of  Pa..  IS.VJ 

Samuel  R.  Heckman.  D lefferson,  ISC,''' 

I.  S.  Ilinnershot,-:.  D U.  of  Pa..  1881 

Robert    P.    Huyett Jefferson,  1870 

Tames  M.  Hoffman,  D Jefferson,  IS.'jS 

H.  H.  Herbst,  R U.  of  Pa.,  IS'l 

Joseph  H.  Hagenman.  D U.  of  Pa.,  1871 

Charles    Edward    i  lot'fman.    D 

Isaac  Hiester.  D U.  of  Pa., 

Tr,hn  P.  Hic.tor,  D U.  of  Pa., 

James  M.  Hoffman.  D U    of   Pa.. 

Henrv  Hagenman,  D IS.'!.". 

Hnw.ard   F.    Haii<oll Tefferson,  18'; 0 

Harrv  .\.   Hc,iler U.   of   Pa..  18s,^. 

William  T.   TkMTman,   D Tefferson.  is.".! 

Trvin   H.   Ilarlnian U.  of   Pa..   1^9') 

William    .-\.    J.    Ilalbeisen Jefferson,   IS07 

Oscar  E.  Hofniann Jeffer.son.  1907 

Grace    M.    Harcurt.    R Baltir-ore.   190! 

Ralph    .\.    Harding Geo.   Washington    Univ..   190s 

Erie   G.    llawman U.   of   Pa.,  lOO.". 

John  V.   Hoffman.   P Jefferson,   1850 


W-i,  .'!      ■,!-!l 


"     iw-r.-r.      '1:1    in    '•' 


I ,      '  .1 


MEDICAL     PROFESSIOX 


99 


Isaac  B.   Hacker Jefferson, 

Frank  X.  Irvin,  R U.  of  Pa., 

George  F.  Johnson Jefferson, 

Jacob   R.   Joluis Jefferson, 

Charles  \V.   l".  Kreye.   D Germany, 

Samuel    L.    Kurtz Jefferson, 

L.  De  B.  Kuhn.  R U.  of  Pa., 

Ellis   J.    Kurtz Jefferson, 

James  \V.  Keiser.  D U.  of  Pa., 

Thomas  E.   Krum Baltimore, 

Clarence  ^[.   Kurtz Jefferson, 

Elizabetii   Kendig.   R Pa.   VX'onian's, 

Henrv  G.  Krause Phila.  Mcd.-Chi., 

Clift'ord  L.  Kaucher Med. -Chi., 

Franklin    J.    Kantner Jefferson, 

Chester  K.   Kistler Jefferson, 

Elmer  C.  Kieffer Phila.   Med. -Chi , 

Alvin    J.    Kistler Jefferson. 

J.   \V.   Kaufman Jefferson, 

Clara    Shelter   Keiser Pa.   Woman's, 

George    W.    Keh! Pa.    W.    Univ., 

Morris    W.    Koch,    R Jefferson. 

Aleyer  J.  Katz.  R Jefferson. 

Martin    Luther,    D Jefferson, 

Henry  Landis,   D U.   of   Pa., 

E.    J.    Longhorn,    R 

Charles  G.  Loose U.  of  Pa., 

Daniel  G.  Long LT.  of  Pa., 

James  B.  Lewis . .  .U.  of  Pa.. 

Bernard  R.  Lee,  R Jefferson. 

Thomas    II.    I-eidy JetTerson. 

Emi!     C.    Luks Berlin, 

Daniel    Longaker Pa.    \V.    Univ., 

John  \V.  Luther,  R U.  of  Pa., 

Israel  J.   K.  Li^^^ht,  R U.  of   Pa., 

William  W.  Livingood Pa.  W.  Univ., 

George   K.    Levan M  ed.-Chi.. 

Jacob  Marshall.  D U.  of  Pa.. 

Miles  F.  McTaggart,  R Pa.  Eclectic, 

Isaac    L.    Mingle Jefferson. 

James    D.    Y.    Madeira Jefferson. 

Thomas    B.    Miller Baltimore, 

Edward   G.   Meter Phila    Mcd.-Chi., 

John  E.   ^[eulcy Phila.   Med.-Chi., 

Thomas   II.   }\Iackin Pa.   W.   Univ., 

William   F.   Mubknherg U.  of  Pa., 

James    M.    Matthews Jefferson, 

Philip    D.    :Marshall.    D Jefferson. 

inija    Martin 

Charles    McDonough,    D Pa.    College, 

Henry   C.    Mohr.   D Jefferson. 

John  C.  McCov X.  Y.  Univ.. 

Matthias  Meng'el,  Jr.,  R U.  of  Pa.. 

Frederick  LeRoy  ^^atter^ Jefferson. 

Rudolph    C.    Mollmann U.    of    Pa.. 

Hiester  M.  X'agle,  D Jefferson. 

William  V.  D.  Xichols.  R U.  of  Pa.. 

Bodo    Otto.    D Gottingen, 

John    A.    Otto.    D 

John  B.  Otto.  D L^.  of  Pa.. 

George  W.  Overholser Pa.  W.  L'^niv., 

John   H.   Orff Baltimore. 

Jonathan   Potts.  D Phila.  Med.  Inst.. 

Theodore   Pachla.   D Germany, 

James  B.  R.  Powell U.  of  Pa., 

Louis    W.    Prevost • 

Howard    M.    Parvin Baltimore. 

.■\mbrose  Peft'er,  R Jefferson. 

Frank    Rieser Pa.    College, 

M.  S.  Reber U.  of  Pa., 

M.  Albert  Rb(5ads,   D Jefferson, 

Simon    Reinln)ld Germany, 

.\.   S.   Randenbush Tefferson. 

Walter  S.   Ricgel.   R U.  of   P;i.. 

Harrv    F.    Kentschier jL-lferMni, 

Howard  S.  Reeser Jeffer-on. 

^^'ilson    H.    Rothemiel Jefferson. 


ST9    Walter  A.  Rigg U.  of  Pa..  189.5 

89r>     Maver     Rosen Jefferson,  181)7 

837     Charles   Roland LT.  of   Pa.,  1898 

S89    John   II.    Rorke U.   of    Pa..  1901 

t<45     Homer  J.  Rhode Pa.  \V.  Univ..  1901 

?r,i     Samuel    B.    Rigg U.    of    Pa..  190:5 

854    Frank  G.  Rum  eon U.  of  Pa.,  VM.i 

8S0    Charles   T.   Reber.    D Jefferson,  1856 

883     R.  B.  Rowe U.  of  Pa..  1885 

8S6     C.  W.  G.  Schlcmm.  D Pa.  College,  1848 

856  W.  E.   Schlemm.  D TJ.   of   Pa.,  1854 

SSC     John    Stephen.    D U.    of    Pa..  184(5 

S>7    C.   E.   Shoemaker.   D Pa.  College.  ISGO 

907  John   B.    Sterlev,   D Phila.   Med.-Chi.,  1857 

83S     Geor.ge    W.    Scip Jeffer^^on.  1863 

807  Adam  Schoener.  D Pa.  College,  1840 

809     Decatur  G.  Schoener,  D Pa.   College,  1853 

902  Frederick    Spang.    D "Jefferson,  13G0 

890  Charles  J.   Schulze.   D Germany    (1S48).  1853 

S35     Erastus  R.  Scholl.  D Pa"  College.  ISSfi 

891)     Aaron    Smith.    D ' N.    Y.    Med..  1854 

896    Thomas   A.   Strasser U.  of   Pa..  1867 

90:?     S.  W.   Sine U.  of   Pa.,  1871 

818     Ann    Jane    Schulze 1863 

861     Juhn    Stolze.    D Phila.    Eclectic,  1865 

871     Walker  R.  Stephen,  D U.  of  Pa.,  1873 

868     I.   X.  E.   Shoemaker,  D 1870 

875     John    Schoi  nfeld,   D 1861 

878  Stanlcv     Smith Jefferson,  1868 

879  John  tC.   Seaman X.  Y.  Bellevue,  1869 

809     Albert     Simon.     D 1870 

85.3     Rudolph    B.    Schulze Tefferson,  1883 

89 1  Albert    W.    Sovereen Ontario,  1870 

89'J     Marv  A.   Swavzc.  R. Pa.  Woman's.  1873 

899     Horace    E.    Schlemm Jefferson.  1886 

899  Tohn    M.    Stephen Jefferson.  1887 

908  Eli/.a  A.  Shetter.  R Pa.  Woman's,  1886 

8  to     Tacob  W.  Seip Jefferson,  1883 

865  ira    G.    Shoemaker Phila.    Med.-Chi.,  1891 

866  George   R.    Sbenk Jefferson,  1889 

883     William  Seaman U.  of  Pa..  1893 

896  John     Sb.artle Tefferson.  189:*. 

897  Edwin   D.   Schaeffer Baltimore,  1893 

898  Se vmour    T.    Schmehl Tefferson,  1891 

900  Harrv   D    Stryker U.   of   Pa.,  1893 

868     Marv  McD.  Shick Pa.  Woman's,  1895 

840    Alvah    A.    Swayze Baltimore,  1897 

853     Christoi)hcr  Shearer U.  of   Pa.,  1897 

861     Albert    X.    Seidcl Baltimore,  1901 

848     Edwin    Y'.    Sevier Baltimore,  1003 

871     Amos  B.  Schnader.  R Jeft'erson,  1903 

879     Wavne  L.   Schearer U.  of   Pa.,  1904 

885  Charles   K.   Seide! Baltimore,  1904 

903  Sidney  J.   Sondheim U.  of  Pa.,  1907 

908    Walter    IT.    Scheehi •...  Med.-Chi.,  1907 

857  Henrv    Tvson.    D Pa.    College,  1843 

S85     L.  H.  Thompson,  D JefTer,-,on,  1S53 

735    Oan    J.    Thompson JctFerson,  1895 

Louis    L.    Thrinipson Jefferson.  180'> 

808  Samuel    B.    Tavlor Jefferson.  1895 

903  Daniel    A.    Ulrich.    D JetTerson.  1841 

904  Alexander  H.  Witman.  D U.  of  Pa.. 

768     Harrison    T.    Witman Jefferson.  1861 

865     Edward  Wallace.  R U.  of  Pa.. 

878    W.   Murrav  Wcidman.  D U.  of   Pa..  1860 

886  M.  LeRov  Wenger.   D X.   Y.   Bellevue,  187 1 

887  Gershoni  Wenger U.  of  Pa..  1881 

887    W.    W.    .\.    Wullingh.    D Amsterdam.  1876 

853     .\lbcrt    P.    Walter Baltimore.  1884 

863    lA-vi  F.  Wa-ner Phila.   Med.-Chi..  1890 

863    Victor    W.    Wickcrt Tefferson,  1891 

Sii.-l     William  S.  Wrav,  R t^.  of  Pa.,  1896 

S64     A.    Wildbergcr U.   of   Pa.,  1893 

893     .Abraham    K.    Wanner Jefferson,  l'<98 

s'i3     I.i-Koy  J.  C.  Wenger X.  Y.  L'niv..  190-, 

867  William  C.   Wcrls.   R Baltimore.  1904 

H9  t    John  G.  Wilson,  R Phila.  Med.-Chi..  1904 


•Ji^ 


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100 


HISTORY    OF  "berks    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Raymond    K     Weber Jefferson.  1905 

Jes'se  Levan   Wagner U.  of  Pa.,  1007 

Harrv   H.   Wanner TefTerson,  1907 

Rex  S.  K.  Wood U.  of  Mich,  and  Jeff..  1007 

Abel  E.  West Leonard  Coll..   X.   C.  i;ii'- 

C.    K.    Young Baltimore,  1879 

BOROUGHS 

Enoch    Bricker.    Bernville.    D 

William   S.   Biebcr,    Kntziown 

Wellington    G.    Ryerle.    Bernville JetTerson, 

John  A.   Brobst.   Bernville U.   of  Pa.,  1807 

Edward  Brobst.  Weft  Leesnort.  D Pa.  College,  18 jH 

Martin  L.   Bcrtolette.   Mt.   Peiin U.  of   Pa.,  1S78 

John  S.  Bowman,  Boyertown U.  of  Pa.,  1378 

Benjamin  F.   Bunn,   Birdsboro,  D Jefferson,  1840 

Henry    B.    Brusstar,    Birdsboro,    R Jeffersi.m. 

John  S.  Borneman,  Boyertown U.  of  Pa.,  1873 

Daniel  Deppen,  Bernville,  D 

James    Donagan.    Kntztown 

Darius  D.  Deppen,   Bernville.  D Pa.   College, 

Darius  W.  Dundor,  Womclsdorf U.  of  Pa., 

Frank   P.   Dundor,   W'est   Leesport Jefferson, 

Charles    B.    Dotterer.    Bovcrtown Med. -Chi., 

C.  F.  DcLong,   Bechtelsville,   D X.  Y.   Univ., 

N.  Z.   Dunkelbergtr.    Kutrtown Phila.    Med. -Chi., 

George    X^.    F.ckert.   WomcNdorf.   D 


L.  K.  Francis    Boyertown U.  of  Pa., 

A.  M.  Fretz,  Fleetwood U.  of  Pa., 

A.   P.  Foglemaii.  Womclsdorf U.   of   Pa., 

George  W.  Fahrcnbach.  Bernville Baltimore, 

William  Gries.  Womel.=dorf,  D U.  of  Pa., 

Charles  A.   Gerasch.   Kutztown.   D Germany 

Alexander   S.   Gillars.   Birdsboro JetTerson, 

Oscar  T.  Gehris.  Fleetwo(jd Boston  Univ.. 

Reuben     Haines,    Kutztown 

W.    PI.   J.    Henkey,    Boyertown Jefferson, 

Edward    liottenstein.   Kutztown Jeffcr?on. 

Edward   I-.   Hottcnstcin,  KiUzfown Jefferson. 

A.  C.   L.   Hottenstein,   Kutztov.ii Jefferson. 

William  Harris,  Hamburg.  D Jefferson, 

William   J.   Hottenstein.   Kutztown Jefferson, 

Eugene  T.  Hancock.  Boyertown,  R Jefferson, 

A.  S.  C.  Herman,  Topton U.  of  Pa., 

M.  A.  Hengst,  Birdsboro.  D Jefferson, 

Charles  A.   Hottenstein,   Kutztown Jefferson. 

Aaron   E.    Hain.   Birdsboro U.   of    South. 

James  A.  Harris,  Hamburg Jefferson, 

Milton   E.   Hartman,   Fleetwood Jefferson, 

E.  K.   Hottenstein.   Kiitzlown   Jefferson. 

George   Hetrick,    Birdsboro Jefferson, 

Henry  W.  Johnson.  Boyertown.  D Jefferson, 

Frederick  S.  Kaufman,   Kutztown U.of  Pa., 

Isaac   I.   Kalbach,   Centreport Jelicr?on, 

Oscar  F.   Kunkel,   Lenhartsville Jefferson. 

James  C.  Livingood.  Wonielsdorf.  D 

Louis  Livingood.  Wonielsdorf.   D JelTerson, 

John  Lesher.  Wonielsdorf 

John    Livingood,    Wonielsdorf,    D 

Horace  F.  Livingood,  Womel-dorf Jefferson, 

Charles  E.  Lercli.   Wonielsdorf Jefferson. 

George   PL    Landis.    Birdsboro.    D 

Caleb  Liggett.  Birdsboro.  D 

James    Lincoln.    Bird-^boro,    D Tefferson. 

Frank  P.  Lytle.  Birdsboro Pa.  W.  Univ. 

Rufus  E.  Le  Fevrc,  Boyertown.  R Jefferson, 

William   Moore,   Wonielsdorf,   D X.   Y.   L'niv.. 

Joseph   E.    Miller.    Kutztown Jefferson, 

Joseph  F.  Merkel,  Boyirtown,  R U.  of  Pa., 

James  G.  Matterncss,  Centreport Jefferson. 

Ira    K.    Moser.    Birdslioro.    D Jefferson. 

William    J.    Martin.    Hamburg Jefferson. 

F'ranklin  V.  Xyce.  Hamburg.  D Jefferson. 

Franklin    M.   Xyce.    Hambuicr Jefferson, 

Benjamin   Xyce.  Hamburg.   D Jefferson. 

Henry  G.  Xyce,  Hamburg Jefferson, 


8.33 
831 
870 
907 

S8S 
S90 
824 
871 
8r.3 
881 
900 
322 

S8S 
898 

879 
8,53 
8SG 
871 
860 
SSO 
891 
881 
873 
895 
895 
896 
002 
883 
885 
841 
891 
893 
903 
841 
S54 


850 

878 
894 
001) 
S3G 
886 
894 
«97 

';><o 

S''t 
851 
S70 


87  S      I 
883 


Howard  Y.  Xeyman.  Boyertown,  R Jefferson,  1S7'.» 

Jonathan   B.    Potteiger,    Hanibure Jefferson,  185  » 

Walker   S.   Phillips,   Womelsdr.rf I8r,'.» 

George  ¥.    Potteiger,   Hamburg Jefferson.  1890 

George  H,  Pflueger,  Topton Baltimore,  1905 

Thomas  J.  B.  Rhoads,  Boyertown ...Baltimore,  ISi'.l 

Pius  Rotiicrmel,  I'irdsboro U    of  Pa.,  1SS9 

Reuben   B.   Rhoads,    Boyertown Jefferson.  Is57 

Clarence  C.   Rether,   Centreport Jefferson,  1>=S4 

I.ev.is    P.    Rothermel,    Lenhartsville Med.-Chi.,  lOos 

Christian  L.  Schlenim,  Kutztown,  D,  Gottingen  Univ..  1798 

F.    L.    Sallade,    Wonielsdorf Jefferson,  187C 

John    H.    Spatz.   Centreport Pa.    College,  1848 

Samuel  B.  Swavelv,  Birdsboro,   R Jefferson.  1877 

Henrv   H.    Suavely.    Rernville 1878 

Frank  R.   Sallade,   Wonielsdorf Jefferson,  1893 

Adam   F.   M.    Stump.   Fleetwood Phila.    Med.-Chi.,  1002 

Charles  C.  Stauft'er.  Boyertown.  R U.  of  Pa.,  1903 

Henry  M.  Saul,  Kutztown Baltimore,  1894 

Charles  E.  Schlappig,  Bernville Baltimore,  190S 

Jeremiah   S.  Tre.Kler,   Kutztown.  D U.  of  Pa.,  1853 

Samuel  M.  Todd,  Bovertown,  D U.  of  Pa.,  1865 

W.   D.   Tre.xler.   Topton X.   Y.    Bcllcvue.  1866 

John  H.  Todd,  Boyertown.  R U.  of  Pa.,  18'J3 

Cli.irles   H.   Wanner,   Kutztown   D 

William    Woods,    Wonielsdorf,    D 

Cvrus  Wanner,  Kutztowr;.  L) 1875 

John  R.  Wagner,  Hamburg  X.   Y.  Eellevue,  1886 

Charles  D.  Werlcy,  Topton Jeft'crson,  1889 

S.-.muel  E.  Wertman,  Bcclitelsville,  K Jefferson,  1889 

William    S.    Wolfe.    Fleetwood JetTerson.  1897 

George  White.   Womclsdorf ...  .Ky.    School  of   Med..  1905 

George  W.  Ziegler,  Lenhartsville,. .  .Ky.  Sell,  of  Med..  1887 

MAX.\TAWXY  SECTIOX 

Charles    Baum.    Exeter.    U 

Wm.    J.    C.    Baum.    .\niity,    D 

Trijm    C.    Baum.    Amity.    D 

Peter  G.  Bertolet,  Olev,  D U.  of  Pa.,  JS45 

Oswin  W.   Berkv,  Washington Phila.   Med.-Chi.,  1901 

Walter    M.    Bertolet.    Olev Jefferson.  1902 

Frank  R.   Rrunner.   Eshbach.   D Jefferson,  1861 

Daniel  W.   Bortz,  Esterlv Baltimore,  1385 

Calvin  K.  Christman,  Ballv.  D U.  of  Pa.,  1869 

Monroe    F,    Clouser,    Oley Med.-Chi.,  1908 

George  de  Benneville,   Oley,  D France,  1745 

Mark  Darrah,   .\mitv.  D 

George  S.  En.gler.  Temple,  D U.  of  Pa.,  1803 

J.  Wilson  Eckert,  Temple Jefferson,  1894 

Ephraim  H.   Egolf,    Aniityville Jefferson,  1884 

Amandus    X.    Feglev.    Spangsville Jeft'crson,  1S70 

M.   O.   Greenewald.   Shanesville,   D U.   of   Pa..  1872 

Alfred    O.    Gerv.    Hercfordville Jefferson,  1803 

John  C.  Hersh,' Herefordville U.  of  Pa.,  1876 

Charles  H.   Hartline.  Friedensburg Jefferson.  1892 

William   Herbst.    Pikeville.   D lefferson.  1825 

George   E.   M.    Herbst,    Oley Jefferson,  1878 

\\"il!iam  F.  Hertzog.  X'ew  Jerusalem;  L.  Island  Col..  1830 

T.  .\.  Hatst^eld,  Olev.  R U.  of  Pa..  1862 

Roswell   F.    Herman.   Douglassville U.   of    Pa..  1870 

Warren  E.  G.  High.  Esterlv.  R U.  of  Pa.,  J89t 

John   A.  Jack.   Oley.   D U.   of   Pa.,  1862 

Augustus  Knoske.  District.  D 

P.ud  Kreye.  Oley,  D 1371 

Hlias    Ivitehen.    Amity.    T) Vermont    College,  1850 

.Xndrian    Loewen,   P'riedensburg.    D Prussia.  1825 

Tacob  S.  Lu.lwig.  Aniitvvilh,   R...    Phila.   Med.-Chi.,  1903 

Ralph  Y.  Lechncr.  Hereford Jefferson.  1890 

Tames    May,    .\niity.    D 

n.inici    McLean,    .\mitv , Jefferson.  1S73 

Michael  Ludwig.  .Amity.  D U.  of   P\i.,  1815 

F.iani   B    M.uiger.   Douglass,   R Jefferson,  1875 

Tacob    Plank.    Olev,    D. Switzerland,   1700 

Nlilt..n    W,    Pbdlips.   Eshbach Med.-Chi.,  1908 

1)  Kotlirock.  Rusce'mbm.mo'-,  D 

John   .\.   Rotii,   Sie.sholtzville,  R U.  of  Pa.,  1S7.> 


MEDICAL     PROFESSION. 


101 


r,cl  Y.  Schelley.  Hereford.  D 

'William  S.  Schantz,  HutT's  Church U.  of  Pa., 

Jnrob  .A.  Trc.xler,   Pilci-ville,   R JetTerson. 

Charles  Weber,  Pricctown,  D Germany. 

Isaac  B.  Yeakel,  Bally U.  of  Pa., 

ON'TEL.AUXEE   SECTION 

Wilson    D.   DcLoiig,   Rlandon Vermont   Univ., 

.Milton    H.    Fritch.    Virgin\illc JetTerson, 

Nicholas   K.   Fisher,   Shoemakers ville Jefferson, 

W.  E.  Hunsberger,   Maiden-creek Jefferson, 

Adam   J.    Heberly,    Kempton 

Irwin  F.  Huff,  Kempton Vermont  Univ., 

William   F.    Howerter,    Kempton. ...  Phila.    Med. -Chi., 

Henry   H.   Herb,   Mertztown !..  Phila.   Med.-Chi., 

A\  illiam  H.  Hunsbcrger,  Maiden-creek JetTerson, 

Morris  H.  Koch,  Lyons X.  Y.   Bellevue, 

Jesse  G.  Kistler,  Albany Baltimore, 

M.  S.  Long,  Longswamp,  D U.  of  Pa., 

John  A.  Long,  Longswamp Baltimore, 

Howard  A.  Long.  Longswamp Baltimore, 

Howard    U.    Miller,    Leesport Med.-Chi., 

Milton  S.  Richards,  Ma.xatawny,  D Jefferson, 

John  D.  Rupp,  Richmond N.  Y.  Bellevue  Hosp., 

H.   W.   Swcnk,   Krumsville N.   Y.   Bellevue, 

Wilson    M.    Snyder,    Mohrsville Baltimore, 

Henry    ]\L    Schall,    Shoemakersville Jeft'erson, 

James    Smith,    Maxatav.'ny Jefferson, 

I.    M.    Shollcnberger,    Lyons Baltimore, 

Owen  H.  Wily.  Berkley,  D.. Jefferson, 

Penrose  Wily,   Leesport,  I) Jefferson, 

James  F.  Wertz,  Longswamp,  D Pa.  College, 

Peter  W.  Wertz,  Longswamp,  D U.  of   Pa., 

Bartholomew    Yeager,    Lyons,    D Germany, 

TULPEHOCKEX    SECTION 

Thomas  M.  Angstadt.  Strausstcwn, Jefferson, 

William   S.    Ruehler,    Werncrsvdle Jefferson, 

Thomas  G.  Binkley,  Sinking  Spring Jefferson, 

John  M.  Braiise,  .ShartlesviUe JetTerson, 

George  A.  Bickel,  Rchrersburg,  D Jeffeison, 

Levi  G.   P.atdorff,   Mt.  Aetna,  D Pa.  College, 

Henry  Batdorff,   Miliersburg,  D U.  of  Pa., 

M.  D.  M.  Batdorff,  Miliersburg.  D U.  of  Pa., 

Daniel   B.    Brobst,   Stouchsburg Jefferson, 

Henry    L.    Bollman,    Robcsonia Jefferson, 

John  A.  Conrad,  Robesonia. . .  .Long  Island  Hospital, 

William  F.   Christ,  Rehrerslnirg 1,S71( 

James  W.  Depiieii,  Wernersville,  D N.  Y.  Univ. 

Jacob  H.  Drawhaugh,  Robesonia Baltimore 

Thomas  C.  Fanning,  Walter's  Park,  R...N.  Y.  Univ. 
John  W.  Frankhouser,  ShartlesviUe,.  Phila.  !\Ied.-Ch:., 

C.  R.  Gaul.   Smking  Spring U.  of  Pa. 

Oratio  W.   Gass,   Mt.  Aetna Phil?..    Med.-Chi. 

David  H.  Hain,  W'ernersville  Jefferson 

Charles  F".   Hertzog,   Mt.  Aetna Phila.   Med.-Chi. 

John  H.  Home,  Scliaefferstown Jeft'erson 

Leonard  G.  Hain.  Wernersville Jefferson 

Christian  X'.  Hoffnian,  Sinking  Spring,  D. . . Jetter'-on 

J.   S.   Herbein.   Sinking   Spring.    D Jctfersoii 

Isaac  S.  Herbein,  Strausstown.  D Jeffer.son 

Oscar  B.  Herbein.   Strausstown Jefferson 

Samuel  S.  Hill,  Wernersville  .Asylum..  Pa.  W.  Univ. 

T._  B.  Ho.ssler.  Upper  Bern,  D 

Warren    F.    Klein.    Strausstown Jefferson 

Aldcn  B.  MacUonald,  Wernersville.  R Jefferson 

Isaac  W.  Newcomet,  Stouchsburg Pa.  W.  Univ. 

James  S.  Preston,  L.  Heiilelberg.  Hygeo-Thcrap.  X.  Y. 

Robert   P.   Preston.    L.    Heidelberg Jefferson 

Mary   Preston,   L.    Heidelberg Pa.    Woman's 

.■\brani  Rutli.  Fritztown.  iJ Pa.  College 

\\'.   F.   Ross,    Wernersville,    R Baltimore 

.-\dani   Schoencr,   Rehrerslnirg.  D U.  of  Pa. 

C.  B.   Slroluu.  ShartlesviUe,  '^D 

■Adam  I.  Schooner.  RehrersburL'.  D P.i.  Colb-e 

J.  M.  Strohm,  Sliartlcsville X.   Y.   Univ. 


sss 
ttoi 

8f>G 


833 

STl 
f;<!3 

8G4 
870 
8S.-) 
90.3 
904 
893 
880 
883 
802 
893 
893 
908 
807 
877 
881 
383 
S.37 
89o 
901 
.831 
8,';0 
861 
864 
84  S 


890 
839 
888 
873 
S7S 


867 
8S:> 
884 
867 
1883) 

8:.o 

886 
861 
389 
884 
898 
881 
8S9 
891 
893 
80C 
86.-, 
86.5 
89.5 
894 

86.-; 

837 
90ti 
867 
873 
833 
884 
841 
881 
8?0 
334 
860 
881 


Stephen  W.  Sevman.  Wernersville. .  Phila.  Med.-Chi.,  1899 

H.   Forsvthe   Stapp,   Bethel Bait.   Univ.,  1907 

Micliael  'Tryon,    Relirersburg,    D 

Jacob    Tryon.    Rehrerjilnirg,    D 1821 

John   S.  frvon,   Rehrersburg.   D U.   of   Pa.,  18.-.7 

John  A.  Tennv,  Werntrsville,  D..  Hvgeo-Therap,  X.  Y.,  1868 

Reuben    I.    Weiirich,    Wernersville U.    of    Pa.,  1864 

E.  C.  L.  Walter,  Walter's  Park,  Ih  geo-Therap.  X.  Y.,  1870 

Maud   M.   Walter,  Walter's   P.irk Pa.  Woman's,  1898 

John   H.  Wahl,  Hiester's   Mills Indiana  College,  1838 

George  G.   Weiirich.   Wernersville L'.  of   Pa.,  1894 

John    .A.   Wenrich,   Wernersville U.   of    Pa.,  1906 

William  .\.   Ycnser,   Strausstown Jefferson,  1893 

Lucia  Anna  Wheeler,  Wernersville.  Women's  Med.  Col.,  1907 

SCHUYLKILL    SFCTIOX 

Eugene  R.   DeLong,   Geiger's    Mills Jefferson,  1891 

Tobias  S.  Gerhard,  Beckersvllle U.  of  Pa.,  1864 

F.  R.  Gerhard,   Union U.   of    Pa.,  1809 

Isaac    Halterman,    Bcckersville 1848 

Martin  L.  Huvett.  Shllbngton Pa.  W.  Univ.,  1900 

D.  W.  B.  Kupp.  Gibraltar U.  of  Pa.,  1882 

Daniel  W.  Tvlartin,  Morgantown Jefferson,  1907 

D.  Heber  Plank.   Morgantown,   D U.  of   Pa.,  1867 

Henry   Palm.   Geigertown Pa.   College,  1S.50 

Jonathan    Pounder,    Morgantown.    D 1830 

Herbert   L.    Qiiickel Med.-Chi.,  1909 

Conrad    S.    Rtbcr,    West   Reading Jefferson,  1903 

William    Rollman.     Gci^^ertown JetTerson,  18J7 

John  Vaughaii   Smith,  Joanna,   D U.  of   Pa.,  1829 

J.    Howard    Smith,   Joanna,   D U.    of    Pa.,  1338 

James  Y.   Shearer,   Sinking  Spring Jefferson.  186'-; 

R.    S.    Schv/eitzer.    Shillingtoii Baltimore,  1881 

lohn  Schnader,  Brecknock 1864 

W.   B.  Schoener,  Mohnsvillc U.  of  Pa.,  1882 

.Allison  A.  Stamm.  Mohnsville Vermont  Univ.,  1883 

Frank  W.  Wilev,  Mohnsville Jefferson.  1887 

William   S.   Yoder,    Morgantown Phila.   Med.-Chi.,  1898 

Joseph    .A.   Zook U.   of   Pa.,  1909 


HOMOEOPATin' 

The  practice  of  the  Homoeopathic  ■school  of  med- 
icine was  started  at  Reading  in  18  JO,  by  a  German 
physician  of  (Hstinction,  named  Adolph  Lippe.  He 
practised  here  two  yeais,  then  removed  to  Carh'sle. 

Dr.  John  Henry  Bchne  was  a  ,£,rra<hiatcd  allopathic 
physician  from  Wuerzburg,  in  Bavaria,  and  emi- 
grated to  Pennsylvania  in  1840,  when  fortv  years 
old,  locating  at  Reading.  He  became  intimate  with 
Dr.  Lippe  and  through  him  was  converted  to  the 
practice  of  honioeopathy.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
literary  culture  and  superior  character  and  had  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  died  at  Reading 
in  1876. 

Dr.  George  R.  Starkey  (of  Maine)  settled  at 
Reading  in  1855  and  practised  hom()eo])ath\-  for 
several  years  and  tlien  removed  to  Philadelphia. 
He  was  followed  by  Dr.  R.  Sargent,  who  also  prac- 
tised for  a  few  years;  and  then  Dr.  Benjamin  R. 
Bratt  began  in  1858,  who  continued  in  active  and 
successful  practice  until  his  decease  in  1^72.  By 
that  time,  homoeo]iathy  had  become  thoroughlv  e*;- 
tablished,  and  it  has  been  carried  on  successfully 
and  prominently  until  now  by  a  number  of  physi- 
cians. 

Rev.  John  Helfrich  became  the  first  homoeopathic 
physician  in  the  country  district-^,  having  graduated 
in  1835  at  Allentown  and  afterward  settled  at 
Kutztown.     He  was  succeeded  bv  his  son,  Dr.  John 


;.-i<"   ,  ,•..  .  ,1'.  i 


1    .■'■■;,r"  I!     ..a. 


•i     I',     '.i' 


10-? 


HISToRV    OF    BERKS    COUXTV,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Henry  Hcltrich,  who  practi>ed  at  Kutztown  from 
IbUt;  to  ISTT  and  then  removed  to  AUcntown. 

Dr.  F.  R.  Krebs  j^rncti-^ed  at  Hamburg  from  iSoT 
to  l!Sl»4,  when  lie  removed  to  Rcadini^;  and  !ic  \va^ 
succeeded  In-  Dr.  Frederick  Isctt,  and  Dr.  Joseph 
Hatzfield,  wlio  had  been  students  under  him. 

The  H.xhnemanx  Meuilal  .Society  of  Reauim', 
was  organized  in  l6b'?,  in  the  oliice  of  Dr.  Samuel 
R.  Rittenhouse,  at  Xo.  38  South  Fourth  street,  by- 
eight  homoeopathic  p!i_\sicians  of  Rea(Hng,  and  it 
had  an  active  existence  for  about  ten  years. 

The  Homoeop.\thic  Pk.vctitio.n'ers  Associ.mion 
OF  Re.vdixg  was  organized  in  ISDG  and  it  has  con-ie 
to  be  the  representative  society  of  the  homoeopathic 
school  of  medicine  in  this  vicinity.  The  meetings 
are  held  monthly  for  the  discussion  of  scientific 
papers ;  and  the  Julv  or  midsummer  meeting  is  held 
at  one  "of  the  mountain  resorts  near  the  city.  The 
midsummer  meeting  is  also  attended  by  members 
of  the  homoeopathic  county  societies  of  eastern 
Pennsylvania. 

The  following  named  homoeopathic  physicians 
constitute  its  membership : 


W.   F.   Marks 

D.  C.  Kline 

H.  F.  Schaiitz 

Marg.iret  Has'^lcr  Sciiantz 

C.  R.  Haman 

F.  W.  Seidd 

C.  M.  Richards 


M.  L.  Miller 

F.  E.  Howcl! 
J.   E.  Harner 

G.  I.   Keen 
\V.   A.   Haman 

E.  M.   Deacon. 

F.  F.   Massey 


Homoeopathic  }^Iedical  and  Surgical  Hospi- 
tal OF  Reading. — During-  the  summer  of  1888,  Dr. 
E.  R.  Scholl  inviti'd  the  hom.oeopathic  physicians 
of  Reading  to  assemble  at  his  office,  Xo.  517  Wal- 
nut street,  to  organize  a  Homoeopathic  Dispensary 
Association,  and  an  organization  was  then  effected 
by  the  election  of  Dr.  Scholl  as  president  and  Dr. 
D.  C.  Kline  as  secretary.  They  proceeded  immedi- 
ately to  open  a  dispensary  at  the  corner  of  F'ranklin 
and  Plum  streets,  and  rendered  mucli  needed  serv- 
ice to  the  poor  of  the  city.  Upon  being  incorpor- 
ated in  1S91,  a  board  of  trustees  was  organized  and 
the  present  property  on  Xorth  Sixth  street,  beyond 
Washington,  was  purchased  through  the  generosity 
of  friends  and  the  public;  and  the  trustees  were 
enabled  to  open  the  hospital  in  July,  isTSl. 

Many  ladies  became  interested  in  its  welfare  and 
they  organized  a  "Ladies  Auxiliary,"  which  rend- 
ered valuable  service  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
hospital.  Later  a  "Young  Ladies  Auxiliary"  was 
organized  '"  to  supply  flowers,  delicacies  and  luxur- 
ies" to  patients,  and  they  raised  funds  at  various 
times  for  the  renovation  of  parts  of  the  hospital, 
and  the  purchase  c>f  instruments  and  sujiplies. 

A  training  school  for  nurses  has  been  conducted 
in  the  hospital  from  the  beginning,  proving  of  great 
benefit  to  the  hc'spltal  in  addition  to  the  training  of 
young  women  as  nur^e-^.  in  the  commiinitv. 

From  time  to  time  various  improvements  were 
made  to  the  building,  fitting  it  more  thoroughlv  for 
a  hosj;ita],  until  in  r.)0.'>  tile  demand  for  rooms  be- 


came so  great  that  a  new  building  was  erected  in 
the  rear  of  the  main  building,  increasing  the  capa- 
city to  seventy-five  beds  in  public  and  private  ward- 
and  private  rooms,  and  giving  the  city  a  modern 
and  up-to-date  hospital  under  homoeopathic  man- 
agement. 

The  staff  of  the  hospital  is  selected  from  the 
members  of  the  "Homoeopathic  Hospital  and  Dis- 
pensary Association,"  and  while  varying  somewhat 
from  time  to  time  the  following  phvsicians  consti- 
tuted the  staff  for  IDuO:  W.  F.  Alarks,  S.  L.  Dreib- 
elbis.  L.  A.  Shollenberger,  D.  C.  Kline,  FF.  F. 
Schantz.  C.  R.  Haman,  M.  Flassicr  Schantz.  L.  ^1. 
Richards,  F".  E.  Flowell,  and  W.  A.  Haman. 

FIo.moeopathic  Practitioners. — The  names  of 
the  homoeopathic  pnysicians  are  presented  also  in 
alphabetical  order  for  the  entire  county  on  account 
of  the  limited  number  in  the  distiicts  out  of 
Reading. 

H.    M.   Allen,   Reading Phila.    Med.-Chi.,  ISOi 

George  W.  Crock.  Reading Hahnemann,  ISS'.) 

Samuel    L.    Dteibelbis,     Reading Hahnemann,   ISGl 

D.    Frank    Drtibelbis,    Reading,    R Hahnemann,  TSOii 

Edward    M.    Deacon,    Rirdsboro Hahnemann,  jSOl 

C.  A.  F.  Detwcikr,  Reading Med.-Chi.,  18SS 

Solomon   L.    Dreibelbis,   Reading Hahnemann,  1907 

John    Fge,    Reading Hahnemann,  ISS.". 

David  W.  Ensinger.   Mt.  Aetna Hahnemann,  1002 

J.  G.  Grosscup,  Reading,  D Hahnemann,  1S7:J 

Pa-jl    H.   Gerhardt.    Reading Hahnemann,  lOOS 

William  A.  Haman.  Reading llahnemann,  ISSrj 

P'rederick    E.     Hovcll.    Reading Hahnemann,  lOOM 

Charles    R.    Haman.    Reading Hahncmaini,  isi.if 

George  W.  Heck,  Reading •.  Hnhneniann.  19'iT 

Charles  T.  Haines,  Sinking  Spr'ng Hahnemann,  19i)S 

Joseph  F.  Isett,  Hamburg Hahnemann.  1870 

John  C.  Knauer,  Reading 

Col.  of  Phys.  &  Surg.,  Baltimore.  18S6 

Chester    B.   Jennings.    Reading Hahnemann,  1S81 

L.  J.  Knerr,   Reading.   R I lahnemann,  1880 

D.  C.    Kliiie,    Reading Hahnemann,  1SS3 

Calvin  L.  Kicpp,  Stonchsburg.  D }1ahneniann,  1SS7 

George    I.   Keen,    Reailing Hahnemann,  1892 

Henry  R.  Klopp.  Reading.  R } lahnemann,  1394 

Egljert  Leroy  Kloek,  Reading Hahnemann,  1906 

Frank    H.    Lawrence,    Reading Hahnemann,  1906 

Franklin    F.    Massey,    Womelsdorf Hahnemann,  190;! 

A.  S.   -McDowell.  Reading Hahnemann,  lS9f> 

William   F.    Marks.    Reading Hahnemann.  1809 

-Alvin   I.  Miller.  Reading.  R H.ihncmann.  1S7-' 

Martin   L.    Miller,   Mohnsvillc Hahnemann,  1S9S 

William  E.  Morgan,  Reading.  R Hahnemann.  1900 

Theodore  Pachali,  Reading  

.Med.^Dept.  U.  of  Kiel,  Germany,  1809 

Isadore  L.  Peters,  Kutztown Hahnemann.  JSs.s 

John  S.  M.  Pratt.  Re.idng.  R Hahnemann.  190.'? 

J.   S.    Rittenhof.se.   Reading Hahnemann,   1385 

Charles    M.   Richards,   Reading Hahnemann,  1890 

J.  C.  Sanders.  Reading X.  Y.  Homoeopathic,  1900 

I'rancis  R.  Schmucker,  Reading  D 

X.   Y.   Homneopathic,  1S7.-? 

E.  Z.  Schmucker,  Reading,  D Hahnemann.  187i» 

V-.  K.  Steckel.  Kutztown H.ihncmann.  IS.s-t 

I,.  .\.  SchoHcnberger.  Reading Hahnemann,  ISSi 

.K.   Cecil   Stewart.  Ridgewood,   R 

X.  Y.  Homeopathic.  18S7 

Hor.'ice  T.  Shinkle,  Reading.  R Hahnemann.  issi> 

Henry   V.    Sch:inl/.   Rearliug Hahnemann.  1891 

Frank  W.  Seidel,  Re.'iding Hahnenianii,  1894 

M.  I lasslcr  Sciiantz,  Readinu 

Cleveland  Homo.   Med.   Col.,  1892 


fr.' 


MEDICAL     PROFESSION 


103 


. .  Thihiicnunn. 
. .  HahiH-manii. 
.  .  Hahnemann. 
. .  Hahnemann, 


18VIT 
is;)- 
1SS4 
lillKl 


F.  \V.  Snnandy.  Hyde  Park 

Wiliiam  I  .  Vanshn.  Stouchsbnri,'.  . 

}•  im'    B.    W'aldman,   Readin;.^ 

Kl.liert   L.   Walter.  \Vaher'>  Park. 

K'liert  Waher.  Walter".-;  Park 

Hvgeo-Therapentic.   \.   V.,   ISr:;.      Halmemann.  18S8 
Joseph    .^I.    Walbcrn,    Fleetwood Hahnemann,   1U07 

OSTEOPATHY 

A  school  of  medical  science  whose  therapeutic 
system  constitutes  a  practice  of  treating  disease  in 
all  forms  without  the  aid  of  drug^  was  instituted 
in  18T4  by  Dr.  A.  T.  Still,  of  Baldwin,  Kans.,  who 
is  known  as  the  founder  of  the  "School  of  Osteop- 
athy." 

The  first  college  was  started  in  1894  in  Kirk.svillc, 
Mo.  Since  that  time  other  colleges  have  been  es- 
tablished in  the  principal  centers  of  the  United 
States,  and  there  are  now  osteopathic  practitioners 
in  all  the  large  cities  and  most  of  the  larger  towns 
in  the  country. 

The  practice  of  osteopathy  has  been  legally  ac- 
knowledged in  thirty  States :  and  in  many  States 
there  is  an  independent  examining  and  licensing 
board,  or  an  osteopathic  representative  on  the  State 
Board  of  Health. 

A  bill  was  laid  before  the  Legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania at  the  session  of  1904  for  the  purpose  of 
legalizing  the  practice  in  Pennsylvania,  but  it  was 
not  passed.  It  was,  however,  recognized  in  1909, 
the  Act  regulating  the  practice  having  been  ap- 
proved March  9th. 

The  osteopaths  have  been  organized  into  State 
associations  ;  also  one  national,  called  "The  Amer- 
ican Osteopathic  Association.'" 

Osteopathy  was  first  introduced  into  Reading  in 
February,  1S99,  by  Dr.  Anna  C.  Towle.  but  owing 
to  ill  health  after  having  practiced  for  nearly  a 
year,  she  di.'^posed  of  her  practice  to  Dr.  PI.  II.  Wal- 
pole.  and  he  continued  it  until  190S,  when  he  left 
the  city.  P'our  practitioners  are  now  at  Reading, 
namely : 

Laura  De  Long 

H.  L.  Ma.xv.ell  and  his  wife 

H.  J.  Vastine 


DENTISTRY 

The  practice  of  dentistrv  was  not  carried  on  as  a 
distinct  profession  in  Berks  county  until  about  18o0. 
The  first  dental  college  was  establisb.ed  at  Balti- 
more shortly  before  that  time,  and  the  next  was  at 
Philadelphia  in  1851.  Theretofore  regular  physi- 
cians extracted  teeth.  Previously  the  repair  of 
teeth  and  the  supplv  of  false  teeth  were  rare,  con- 
fined almo.'-t  entirelv  to  great  cities  and  indulged  in 
by  people  of  means. 

Alx3ut  that  time  and  for  twenty  years  afterward 
the  per.sons  who  were  inclined  to  dentistry  would 
spend  several  months  with  a  recognized  dentist  and 
under  him  acqmre  some  practical  experience,  then 
{■tart  out  ft>r  themselves.     The  first  graduated  dent- 


al surgeons  in  Berks  county  from  a  college  were 
Dr.  William  H.  SchoU  and  Dr.  John  \V.  Clemson, 
both  of  Reading,  who  graduated  from  the  Penn- 
sylvania Dental  College  at  Philadelphia  in  l8G.j. 
Dr.  SchoU  has  practised  his  profession  at  Reading 
ever  since,  but  Dr.  Clemson  never  practised  here, 
having  shortly  afterward  removed  to  Bordeaux, 
France,  and  there  carried  on  (until  now)  the  manu- 
facture of  dental  ;>upplies. 

The  earliest  recognized  dentists  at  Reading  were 
John  Piper,  John  Arnold,  W.  K.  Breneizer,  T. 
Yardly  Brown,  and  F" rank  Hickman,  the  last  two 
still  surviving  but  residing  c>ut  of  the  county. 

In  18TG,  an  Act  was  passed — on  April  17th — by 
the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  which  required 
dental  surgeons  who  practised  in  the  State  to  be 
graduates  of  a  reputable  institution  where  this  spe- 
cialty was  taught,  and  to  register  their  diplomas 
in  the  county  where  they  resided.  The  diplomas 
were  to  be  registered  within  three  months  after  the 
passage  of  the  Act.  But  the  Act  was  not  to  apply- 
to  any  surgeon  who  had  practised  dentistry  for 
three  years  prior  to  its  passage.  The  following 
statement  shows  the  registered  practitioners  in  the 
county,  with  college  and  year  of  graduation. 
Where  no  college  is  given,  the  year  shows  the  time 
when  the  practitioner  started. 

The  Act  of  lS7t]  established  a  State  Board  of  six 
examiners,  who  were  to  be  selected  by  the  State 
Dental  Society,  and  this  Board  was  to  approve  the 
di]jlomas  before  registration.  This  Act  was  amend- 
ed in  1.S9T,  and  Dr.  C-  V.  Kratzer.  of  Reading,  was 
one  of  the  members  of  the  first  Board  imder  tins 
amended  Act,  having  been  appointed  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, but  he  served  only  several  months,  until  the 
the  appointment  of  a  new  Board  by  the  succeeding 
Governor  in  January,  1898. 

Dr.  Wilson  D.  De  Long,  of  Reading,  was  ap- 
pointed as  one  of  the  State  examiners  in  September, 
190(1,  for  the  term  of  three  years. 

The  thirty-fourth  annual  meeting  of  the  Lebanon 
Vallev  Dental  As.sociation  was  he'd  at  Reading,  in 
the  Masonic  Temple,   Alay   11,   1909. 

DEXTAL  rR.\CTITIOXERS 

Morris  R.  Adam,  Reading Pa.  University,  1903 

Charles    S.   Bcrtolet.    Reading Pa.    University,  1900 

Abram   L.   Bower.   Boyertown Pa.   Unircrsity.  1901 

Samuel   L.   Bovver,    Bovcrtown Philadelphia.  190-.? 

John   T.   Bair.   Reading Pa.   University,  190,-; 

Joseph   H.   Borneman.    Boyertown,   D 1S67 

Daniel  B.  Bowrr.  Bover'own 18G7 

N.  S.  Borneman.  Bovertown,  D 18SI 

Joel  B.   Bower,  B.nertown ^. 1SS2 

Henrv    W.    Bohn,    Reading Pa.    Universitv,  

Daniel  L.  Bower,  Bovertown.  D Philadelphia,  189:J 

Edward  W.  Bohn.  Reading Pa.  University.  1S97 

Harry   L.   Cleaver,   Reading Pa.   University,  1S9G 

Raymond  S.  De  Long.  Reading Pennsylvania.  1900 

Georce   F.   De  Long.   Reading Pa.   University,  1903 

IVaiik    L.    DeGour.    Reading Pennsvlvania,  1S70 

.\rfhur  B.  Davis,  Reading,  R Philndelphi.i,  lS9f. 

Wilson  D.  DcLong.  Reading Pa.  Universitv,  1S07 

William    G.    Du.sto.    Reading Medico  Chi.,  19iir, 

Charles  S.  Fry.  Reading T^72 

Charles  E.  Grim.  Reading Philadelphia,  I'JOl 


I,,.!f  (.-.••IV 


104 


HISTORY    OF    r.ERKS    COUXTY.    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


Milton  U.  GL'rharil.  Rt^adiiig Pa.  University.   lOiK; 

Jacob  M.  Gartinan.  Reading' Pennsylvania,  I'.to:; 

Clarence  B.  Grim,  Rcadini,' U.  of  Pa.,  I'.tnr 

Walter  S.  llerr.   Reading Pennsylvania,   I'^'.iT 

Abrani  Herr.  Reading ]^W 

H.  B.  Hamaker,  Womel.^dorf Isr.T 

Kurtz   D.    Mill Penn.sylvania,  ISSl 

Glyndeur    Hickman.    Reading Philadelphia,  ISsr. 

Ziba   Hickman.   Reading Philadelphia,  1S8S 

H.  J.  Hickey,   Reading.   R P.altimore.  18S4 

Charles  .-K.  Hottensteiii.  Kiitztown Pennsylvania,  IS'J'J 

Edwin   E.    Howerter,    Reading Medico-Chi..  l!>ii:} 

Raymond  L.   Hamaker.   Womelsdorf. .  Pa.   Dent.  Col..  lUOS 

Abraham  B.  Johnson.  Kutztown ]SSO 

Harry  T.  Johnson.  Reading 18S0 

Harvey  C.  Johnson.   Reading Philadelphia,  18S9 

J.  F.  Kinsey,  Reading,  U. . .  7 1804 

William  H.   Kalbach.   Hamburg ISfili 

William    H.    Kilmer,    Readi'.ig Pennsylvania,  1878 

Henry  D.  Kurtz,  Reading,  R Baltimore.  18SI 

C.  V.  Kratzer,  Reading..' Pennsylvania,  1S97 

Frank    P.    Lewis,    Reading Baltimore,  18S0 

George   M.   Maxwell.   Birdsboro Baltimore.  189S 

William  Meter.  Reading Phila.  Med.-Clii..  1900 

Jonathan    P..    Miesse.    Reading Philadelphia,  1ST2 

Peter   S.   Mogel,    Reading Pa.   University.  ISso 

George  S.  Rothermel.  Fleetwood Pa.  University,  19ihi 

J.   L.   Ritter,   Reading,   R 1S7:} 

G.  H.   P.   Rabenhold,    Hamburg Pennsylvania,  1890 

Levi    H.      Reinhart.    Birdsboro.    D .-.Philadelphia.   1894 

George   S.    Schlegel,    Reading Pa.    University,  1900 

Otto    J.    Specker,    Reading Pa.    University,  1902 

Myron   B.   Sliunian.    Reading Pa.   Universitv.  190^ 

U.  of  Pa..  190.-, 

Eli   Slegel.   Reading.   D 18.-,.-> 

William  H.  Sclioll,  Reading Pennsvlvania.  18G.') 

Joel  E.  Slegel,  Readine.  D Philadelphia.   180^ 

Charles    R.    SchoU,    Reading Philadelpliia,  1SS8 

Calvin  G.  Shomo,  Hamburg Pennsvlvania,    1S89 

Walter  R.  Slegel.  Reading Philadelphia,  1891 

Elton    Stiinniel,    Reading Pennsylvania.   ISO:! 

D.  Ambrose  Stein,  Readin-.  R Pa.  Universitv,  1894 

Samuel    E.    Slegel,    Reading Philadelphia.  1897 

John    F".    Schocnbcrger.    Reading Medico-Chi..  190? 

George   Stimmel.   Kut/.town Pa.   Dental   College.  1905 

Carlos   H.  Thimme,   Reading,   R Philadelphia,  1870 

Jacob    F.    Thom.as.    Reading.    R 1882 

Elwood  Tate.  Reading Pennsylvania.  1891 

S.    Edmund   Tate,    Reading Pennsvlvania.  1897 

Caleb  1).  Thomas.  Reading Pa.  Dental  College.  190t) 

Herman  G.  Wotherspoon,  Reading U.  of  Pa.  1007 

Kensie   N.   Yodcr,    Wernersville Pa.    L'niversity,   100?, 

William  L.   Yocum.  Reading,   R Philadelphia,  1891 

Levi    Zimmerman,    Bethel,    R Boston.  1877 


\XTERIXARY 
From  the  bci::;innin_c:  of  the  first  settlements  until 
the  year  1880,  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surcjery 
in  connection  with  domestic  animals  was  carried  on 
without  anv  legal  restrictions.  F""armers  and  men 
of  experience,  who  had  become  familiar,  through 
long-  observation,  with  animal  sicknesses  and  dis- 
eases, prescribed  and  administered  the  necessary 
remedies,  and  in  every  section  of  the  county  there 
came  to  be  men  who  were  recocrnized  for  their  skill 
in  curing  domestic  animals  of  their  various  ail- 
ments. Then  (Aiiril  11th)  an  .\ct  of  .\s>embly 
was  passed  by  the  Le^tifislature  of  Pennsylvania 
which  related  to  the  practice  of  veterinaiy  medicine 
and  surgery,  and  every  ()ractitioner  of  this  particu- 
lar branch  of  the  profession  wn<  oblipred  to  be  a 
graduate  of   a   regularly  chartered   veterinary   col- 


lege, and  to  recri>ter  his  qualitications  in  the  pro- 
thonutary's  office  of  the  county  where  lie  practi.-ed  ; 
but  all  those  who  had  practised  for  five  years  before 
were  allowed  to  register  by  filing  the  necessarv 
affidavits,  within  six  months  after  the  passage  of 
tlie  Act.  This  legislation  was  brought  about  bv 
the  efforts  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  X'eterinarv 
Association,  which  had  been  orq-anized  in  18S:',. 
The  first  president  was  James  W.  Sallade,  then  of 
Pottsville.  but  formerly  of  P.erks  county.  In  1!)04 
and  Idor,  Dr.  Otto  G.  Xoack,  of  Reading,  was  the 
president.  Membership  in  1909  was  two  hundred; 
from  Berks  county,  five. 

In  189.5.  a  State  P>oard  of  \'eterinary  Examiners 
was  established  by  an  Act  passed  on  Mav  IGth.  and 
all  practitioners  after  that  tlate  not  theretofore  reg- 
istered were  obliged  to  secure  a  certificate  from 
this  State  Board,  which  had  to  be  filed  in  the  pro- 
thonotary's  office  of  the  county  where  the  practi- 
tioner resided  ;  but  tliis  Act  was  amended  in  190.j, 
which  authorized  the  secretary  of  State  to  issue  a 
license  on  the  Board's  certificate,  and  this  license 
qualified  the  pr.-'ctitioncr  to  practise  anvwhere  in 
the  State. 

This  Board  was  created  for  the  purpose  of  look- 
ing after  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  live  stock 
in  Pennsylvania.  In  190;.  Dr.  Xoack  was  appoint- 
ed agent  for  the  entire  State.  Since  the  creation  of 
this  Board  over  four  hundred  cows  in  Berks  county 
have  been  killed  on  account  of  tuberculosis. 

In  1908  tiiere  were  five  veterinary  surgeons  in 
Reading-  and  tliirty-fi)ur  in  Berks  counlv. 

The  followint,'-  statement  shows  the  registered 
veterinarians  cf  Berks  county,  with  college  and  year 
of  graduation.  A\'here  no  college  is  given,  an  affi- 
davit was  filed  without  specifying-  the  time  of  start- 
ing practice.  [D  after  name  indicates  deceased;  C. 
ceased  to  practice;  R,  removed  out  of  county.] 

Emanuel  Althouse.  Reading 1889 

John   .\lbright.  Onielannee 1889 

William  .\pi>el.  Kutztn-.vn.  R Xcw  York.  1889 

Joel   r.iehl.   ;\Iose!cm  Springs jsso 

John    K.    Biehl.    Molltown 1889 

Flarris  S.  Borneman.   Boyertown Ontario,  1882 

William   B.   Blatt.    Centreport.   D 1S89 

Joii.-ithan  Blatt.  Centre,  I") [ /_    iS89 

Christian    Baum,    Hamburg is89 

Daniel   L.   Barlgenstos,   Str;insstown 1889 

Ciiarles  W.  Brossman.  Wiunelsdorf Ontario.  1891 

Samuel  K.  Biehl.  Reading.  C 1891 

Ulys^s  G.  Bieber.  Kut-town -American  (X.  Y.'").  1S92 

A.   V.    Bavcr.   Krunisville Chicago,  1904 

William   U.  Custer,   Re;iding,  D Pa.   Vet.  Assn.,  ISS,'. 

Owen  E.  Collins,  Mt.  Pleasant,  D '  1889 

Cbarles  O.    Collins,   W<'sl  Leesport Ontario,  1887 

Kilburn    H.   Cleaver.   Reading Ontario,  1S70 

I'.enjamin  S.  Clausen  Upper  Tulpehocken .'  1880 

George  W.  DeHard.   Stoiiersville.   D 18S9 

James   B.   Dry.  B"wers.   D 1889 

Samuel  DeWees,  Fleetwood.  D 18*9 

I'erry    K.    Dreibelbis.   Greenwich Ontario.  188.'. 

J"bn  .\.  Dorward.  Ivcading.  C .'  1889 

William  Deck.     Bethel.... 1889 

James  Dubson,  RusciMiibmanor is9i 

(Icorgc  W.  Dunlap,  P.irdsboro,  R Ontario    ISOr. 

Martin  D.  DeTurk,  Hh-y Cliicag,.  Vet.  College.   lUOf. 

Daniel  H.  DeTurck.  Birdsboro.  .Chicago  Vef.  College,  1008 


'1/ 


,:  /I  .!.•■(  ■(!  ,  \     :■ 


5^' 


y    ■■'■ 


■i 


11.';  ,.ii         ■';   ■  .  ■'•.//■:'•' 


BERKS    COUNTY    PRISON    IN    FENN    COMMON 


r»  »«^  *»-l»J5=- 1^  ■  ■ 


STATE    ASYLUM    AT     WERNEK5VILLC 


iv'-<   \>:^-jJ' 


pursue    CHARITIES 


105 


RcuK-n    Ebert.    Trexlers 1SS9 

\rthur  C.  Foo-;.  Reading,  R Ontario,  1SS7 

F.liis    Groff.    Jefferson 1830 

\\il!iam  D.  Gross,  Kutztovvn Ontario,  ISS.") 

Iknrv  L.  Gilbert,  Colebrnokdale 1880 

Samuel  Goldsniith.  Reading,  R 1889 

Charles  D.  Gruber,  Bernville Ontario,  1888 

Salomon  K.  Hoffman.  Haniburt;,  C 1SS9 

Abraham   Henricli,   Colcbrookdale 1889 

Teniamin  Y.  Ileffner,  RiciuTionii 1889 

Frederick  B.  Hassler,  Tilden 1889 

Walter  G.  Huyett.  Wernersville Chicago,  1890 

William  Jacoby,  Lenhai  tsvillc 1889 

lacob  Kerchncr,  Windsor  Castle 1889 

Peter   I.    Ker4iner.    I'leetvvood Ontario,  1891 

Allen  Z.   Keelor.  Bovertown Ontario,  1891 

Fhner  G.  Kricbel,  Hereford 189'2 

naniel  R.  Kohler,  Bovertown Ontario,  189:1 

John  Lutz,  Klopp's  Store.  D 1889 

Tobias  E.  Landis,  Xew  Berlinville 1889 

Nathaniel  F.  Lutz,  Jefferson 1889 

Henrv  R.  Liitz.  Jefferson,  D 1889 

David  B.  Levan,  Kutztown Chicago  Vet.  College,  1908 

Franklin  W.  :\Iiller.  Gouglersvilie 1839 

Pierce  M.  stiller.  Gongler.sville 1889 

Jared  Miller,  Jefferson 1889 

Henrv   B.    Mover,    Hereford 1889 

Fmendon  Mogel,  Bernville 1889 

Henrv  .A.  Miller.  Rnsconibmanor 1889 

William  H.  Mover,  Womelsdorf.  R Ontario,  1891 


Rudolf  Mertz.  Reading,  R Ohio, 

James   W.   McXeil.    Reading Boston, 

John  P.   Miller.   Reading Pa.  University, 

Adam  F.   Xoll,  Reading 

Otto  G.  Xoack,  Reading Berlin (Germanv). 

Walter  S.  Phillips.  Reading Pa.  Vet.  Assn.. 

Sannitl  ^I.   Petersbcim,  Ca^ernarvon 

Charles  Phillips.  Womelsdorf.  D , 

John  M.  Richards.  Rea.ling.   D 

John  L.  Richards,  Yellow  House   (  Bird^boro)  T 

Amos  B.  Roberts.  Blandon.  D 

Jonathan   Rcber,   Hicster's   Mill 

Owen  B.   Roberts.    Bland. m 

Henry  K.  Rentschler,   Shartlesville 

Roijert  O.  Rotherniel,  Reading Pa.  Universitv, 

John  H.   Shaft'er,   Mt.  Aetna .'. 

William  H.  Seitzinger.  Wcrners\illc 

William    Schaeffcr,   Jefferson 

George   B.   Sebastian.   Rehrersburg 

James    D.    Schaeffer.    Fleetwood 

Jared  Spcngler,  Penn.  D 

Howard    L.    Stein,    Friedensburg,    D Ontario, 

Albert    H.    Schmoycr.    Bovertown Chicago, 

Xicholas    L.     Schaeffer.    Fleetwood Chicago, 

Elias    Troutman.    Tulpehocken 

Amos  G.  Weidenhammcr.  Richmond 

Kerby  D.  Werley,  Virgin villc Chicago, 

Henry    S.    Yoder.    PIcasr;nt\  illc ; 

Edwin    C.    Yoder,    Kutztown Ontario, 


1894 
1894 
1899 
1889 
1890 
18'<6 
1839 
1889 
1889 
1889 
1889 
1889 
1889 
1SS9 
1902 
18«!9 
18S9 
1839 
1889 
1889 
1891 
1893 
lOO.I 
1900 
1889 
1889 
1908 
1889 
1893 


CHAPTER  VII-PUBLIC  CHARITIES 


From  1S24  to  18G!),  all  matters  relatincr  to  the 
poor  inhabitants  of  Berks  county,  who  needed  pub- 
lic assistance,  were  referred  to  the  poor  directors 
of  the  county;  but  by  ISG'J  the  institutions  of  a 
charitable,  reformatory  or  correctional  character  in 
the  State  had  assumed  such  proportions,  and  the 
number  of  inmates  had  become  so  larg-c  that  the 
Legislature  passed  an  Act  of  Assemlily,  establishing 
a  State  Board  of  Public  Charities  for  the  purpose 
of  inquiring  into  the  methods  of  instruction,  gov- 
ernment of  inmates,  conduct  of  managers,  condition 
of  buildings,  and  all  other  matters  pertaining  to 
their  usefulness  and  good  management. 

In  187-1,  the  Act  of  IBfiO  was  amended,  author- 
izing the  State  Board  to  appoint  three  or  more  per- 
sons in  any  county  to  act  as  visitors  of  the  poor- 
houses  and  other  institutions  in  such  county  as  an 
aid  to  the  State  Board ;  and  to  cause  the  removal 
of  insane  jiersons  in  the  county  almshouses  to  State 
Hospitals  for  proper  treatment.  The  State  Board 
appointed  Sydenham  E.  Ancona,  Charles  Brenei^er 
and  George  D.  Stitzel  as  its  representatives  in  Berks 
county  and  thev  have  served  (excepting  Stitzel, 
who  died  Dec.  'l2.  1005,  E.  R.  Gerber  being  ap- 
pointed in  his  place)  gratuitously  ever  since, 
visiting  the  several  institutions,  penal  and  chari- 
table, and  reporting  to  the  State  Board. 

A  large  three-story  brick  building  was  erected  on 
the  poor-house  property  from  1S71  to  IS?  1  for 
an  "Insane  Hospital"  and  the  indigent  insane  peo- 
ple of  the  county  have  been  cared  for  there,  unless 
removed  to  the  State  IIos))ital  at  Harri^burg. 


The  particulars  relating  to  the  poor-house'  and 
the  pri.son  are  mentioned  in  connection  with  the. 
county  buildings  in  Cliapter  lY. 

STATE  I XSTIT CTl  ( )XS 
Wernersville  State  Asvll-m. —  In  1S91,  an  Act 
was  passed  for  the  establishment  of  an  Asylum  for 
the  Chronic  Insane  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  this 
behalf  a  commission  was  appointed  by  the  Governor 
to  select  a  site  and  erect  the  asyluuL  After  cxain- 
ining  thirty-one  sites,  in  nineteen  counties  of  the 
State,  they  selected  a  site  in  Lower  Heidelberg 
town.ship,  Berks  county,  a  short  distance  west  of 
Wernersville,  as  the  one  best  adapted  for  the  pur- 
pose designated.  Several  tracts  of  land,  embracing 
510  acres,  were  purchased,  and  a  suj)erior,  com- 
modious building  was  erected  at  a  total  cost  of 
$500,000.  The  institution  was  dedicated  in  a  for- 
mal manlier  on  Sept.  5,  18!tl,  with  the  Governor 
presidiiTg  over  the  exercises.  Since  1005,  two  new 
buildings  have  been  erected:  an  infiimary  building, 
costing  $30,000,  and  a  buiUling  costing  $;]5.0(i0.  the 
first  floor  to  be  used  as  an  additional  dining-room, 
the  second  floor  as  a  si!ting-nx)ni  for  women.  L'ntil 
the  end  of  1S9-4  the  total  luimber  admitted  was  (>'")•<?: 
in  1895,  357;  in  18n(i,  lU;  in  1897,  14(5:  from  1S9S 
to  ]900,  107:  and  from  ]901  to  1901,  109. 

The  average  weekly  cost  of  each  patient  has  been 
less  than  $3.  On  Sei>t.  30,  190S,  the  total  number 
of  patients  was  859;  men.  C,~>2 :  women,  207. 

I'rom  the  opening  of  the  A.sylum  until  Sept.  30, 
1905,  there  were  70  inmates  fnnu  Klerks  county,  50 


J,  I    ^><(  , 


-i^a'nriAH'; ')!  m'vi r^^^i.•rr*•rAl^■^ 


:;;.]      ur;',. 


,'  ■'  'j  ;  ,- 


V  j;il 


ri  '.    •:•■  7. 


■<V)<»     •'•If. 


lOG 


HISTORY    OI'    BERKS    COL'XTV.    PEXXSVL\-AXIA 


men  and  'JO  women.  During  the  fir.-t  year  (Sept.  30, 
1893,  to  Sept.  30,  18l»t)  there  were  -iC,  entered,  31 
men  and  lo  women.  On  Sej-st.  30.  I'JU.j,  there  were 
20  men  and  i)  women  from  llerks  county;  Sept.  30, 
1906,  21  men  and  9  women;  Sept.  30,  19n;^  -^.s  men 
and  9  women;  Sept.  3o,  IMOS.  '^7  nien  and  10 
women. 

Henry  ^I.  Dechert,  Esq.  (  forme rK-  of  Reading, 
but  for  nearly  sixty  years  at  Philadelphia),  has  offi- 
ciated as  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  since 
the  opening  of  the  Asylum,  in  a  most  creditable 
manner. 

The  following  trustees  from  Reading  have  served 
on  the  board :  George  E.  Baer.  1S94  to  1897 ; 
Thomas  P.  Merritt,  ""isgi:  to  1899  r officiating,  as 
treasurer),  and  since  19<i3  ;  William  H.  Schick,  189-1 
to  1895;  Thomas  C.  Zimmerman,  since  1899. 

State  Hospital. — Complete  statement  of  the 
patients  in  the  State  Hospital  at  llarrisburg,  from 
Berks  county,  from  the  time  it  was  openc.d  and  the 
cost  of  their  maintenarice,  which  was  paid  by  the 
county. 


Vear 

Patients 

Cost 

Year 

Patients 

Cost 

18.51 

0 

1880 

23 

$2,636.96 

1852 

3 

$335.40 

1881 

26 

3.0SS..52 

1S53 

4 

447.20 

(882 

33 

3,479.43 

1854 

9 

1,006.20 

1883 

36 

3,547.82 

1833 

7 

782.60 

1S84 

29 

2,969.99 

18-.6 

11 

1,329.80 

1885 

36 

2,955.2'^ 

1S57  . 

12 

1,341.60 

188G 

60 

4,690.29 

1858 

C 

670.80 

1887 

82 

5,79  l.S.-, 

1859 

8 

894.40 

'.888 

132 

8,493.37 

18G0 

11 

1,320.80 

1880 

1.59 

12,577.SS 

1861 

10 

1,118.00 

1890 

165 

12,265.09 

1SG2 

13 

1,452.40 

1891 

178 

12.860.83 

1SG3 

16 

1,78'<  80 

1892 

166 

12,444.00 

18G4 

17 

1.900.60 

1893 

165 

13.501  02 

1865 

16 

1,788.80 

1894 

187 

12.317.01 

1SG6 

22 

2,4.^0.60 

1895 

151 

10.649.11 

1867 

23 

2,571.40 

1896 

163 

11,132.60 

1868 

19 

2,223.00 

1897 

182 

12.352.60 

1869 

17 

2.100.60 

1S98 

176 

12,673.66 

1870 

10 

2.224.20 

1899 

192 

13,285.02 

1871 

21 

2,347.80 

3  900 

210 

14,521.19 

1872 

22 

2,459.60 

1901 

225 

16,119.18 

1873 

27 

2,610.44 

1902 

232 

16,646.35 

1874 

24 

2,850.65 

1903 

252 

16.919.98 

1875 

23 

2,839.90 

1904 

260 

18.432.86 

1876 

25 

3,220.59 

1905 

264 

19,31.S.72 

1877 

24 

2.555.21 

1906 

289 

19.476.93 

1878 

25 

2,719.0G 

1907 

275 

18,948.63 

1879 

2G 

2,G51.57 

1908 

294 

20,044.70 

$370,677.40 

Glex  Mill.s  Reformatorv. — A  reformatorv  for 
boys  and  girls  was  established  at  Glen  Mills  in  i3ela- 
ware  county  in  1827.  The  first  inmate  from  Berks 
county  was  entered  in  18  12.  Until  18.^0  there  were 
altogether  H;  and  from  18.51  to  1900.  190.  In  1901. 
there  were  7;  in  1902.  11  ;  in  lOO."!.  21  :  and  in  TOOK 
9.  The  total  admitted  until  Jan.  1.  l!Hi:i,  was  3o2  ; 
and  tlie  average  cost  per  diem  has  been  from  20 
to  2.T  cents.  The  cost  for  the  county  of  this  institu- 
tion from  1901  to  Jan.  1.  liMi:),  was  about  Si  1.000  to 
Oct.  1.  190r.,  and  $11,337.02  from  then  until  Jan.  1, 
1909,  but  only  one-half  was  j^aid  bv  the  count\ .  the 


other   half   being   paid   by   th.e   State.      Previous   to 
19(11   the   State  paid  the  entire  cost. 

Eastern  State  Pexitextiarv. — Previous  to  the 
year  LS^n,  no  data  on  the  subject  can  be  obtained. 
From  1850  to  1809  inclusive,  i()  prisoners  were  re- 
ceived from  Berks  county.  From  1870  to  1891  no 
prisoners  from  the  county  were  confined  here.  Thc 
following  table  shows  the  number  from  the  countv 
here  each  year  from  1,MI5  to  19(i8  inclusive.  The 
average  cost  of  each  per  diem  was  about  21  cents. 


Year 

No.  o£  prisoners 

Year 

No.  of 

prisoners 

1895 

1 

1902 

32 

1806 

11 

1903 

38 

1897 

33 

1904 

-"2 

1898 

52 

1905 

32 

I S99 

42 

1906 

36 

1900 

31 

1907 

37 

1901 

30 

1908 

63 

Huntingdon  Reformatory. — This  institution 
for  the  reformation  of  boys  was  established  by  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  and'  opened  in  1889 ;  and  the 
first  boy  from  Berks  county  was  entered  in  189  1. 
who  continucfl  to  be  the  niilv  one  during  1895  and 
1890;  there  was  none  received  in  1897  and  1898; 
then  the  number  began  to  increase  as  follows :  8 
in  1899;  11  in  1900";  17  in  1901;  24  in  1902;  43 
in  1903;  54  in  1904;  52  in  19i)5;  55  in  190G;  5i] 
in  1907  ;  and  (50  in  1908. 

The  cost  for  1904  to  tlie  county  was  $3,838.73  ; 
and  the  total  cost  for  all  the  years  named  wa.s 
$25,879.52. 

COUXT Y  I X ST  1 TL-TIOX S 

There  arc  a  number  of  charitable  institutions  i;'> 
the  county,  partly  sujiportcd  by  appro])riations  from 
the  public  fund.s ;  which  reflect  the  liumane  senti- 
ment and  generous  nature  of  our  people  in  a  mo-t 
commer.dable  manner.  They  are  classified  as  Hos- 
pitals, .Schools,  and  Widows'  Home. 

Hos,piT.\LS. — Three  hospitals  have  been  estab- 
lished at  Pleading,  dcscribefl  with  the  Associations 
of  Reading  in  Chapter  X.,  namely:  Reading,  St. 
Joseph's  and  Homoeopathic. 

Homes. —  The  homes  munber  seven:  Bethanv 
Orphans'  Home,  foimded  in  1807,  m  Heidelberg 
township,  by  the  Reforn-.ed  church. 

Topton  Orphans"  Plome,  founded  in  1897,  in- 
Longswamp  township,  by  the  Lutheran  church. 

St.  Catharine's  Female  Orphans'  Asvlum.  found- 
ed in  1871,  at  Reading,  by  Mrs.  Catharine  Aladary, 
and  devised  by  her  tc  the  Roman  Catholic  church  r 
by  which  it  has  since  been  enlarged,  improved  and 
successfully  maintained. 

St.  Paul's  Orphans'  Asylum  for  Bovs,  founde.f 
in  18S9  at  Reading,  by  the' St.  Paul's  Roman  Cath- 
olic church.  It  has  been  enlarged  several  times, 
evidencing  its  successful  management. 

House  of  Good  .Shepherd,  fouiuled  in  18.s9,  at 
Reading.  l)y  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  re- 
moved to  Bern  township  in  1900. 

Tlomc  for  bViendless  Children,  f.xmded  in  1.t>8, 
at  Reading,  under  the  au=pice=  of  the  P.urr;iu  of 
Emiiloymtnt     ( liaving    been    started    in    1S8  1};    in 


;..:",  J i.i        I :  I      '.%  1 


:t:--:',;    t'.'ll 


■  I   ■:. 


,1     !;■.  Mi     '111    !■!'■  I'     I  ■  i     ' 
,,:i   i-'.    /'.   r-       .M)  ■•'    '    I 


WAR  PERIODS 


107 


wliich  William  D.   Smith  has  shown  spt'cial  intcr- 
c-t  toward  its  enlargement  and  success. 

Widows'  Homk,  fonnded  in  ls7.j  at  Reading,  liy 
the  Society  of  the  "Home  for  Widows  and  Sinfrle 
Women"  which  became  an  incorporated  body  in 
isTG.     A  superior,  commodious   structure  was  es- 


tablished by  the  society  in  IS.sc;,  at  Sixteenth  and 
Haak  streets. 

Ihe  tl.iree  hospitals,  and  Home  for  Friendless 
Children,  and  the  Widows'  Home  have  been  aided 
and  encouraged  b}'  State  appropriations. 

The  foregoing  institutions  are  also  mentioned  in 
Chapter  X.,  under  the  head  of  Associations. 


CHAPTER  VIII -WAR  PERIODS 


FRENCH  AXD  INDIAN  WAR 
Cause  of  War. — Whilst  the  Penns  were  endeav- 
oring to  locate  a  town  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
Schuylkill  river  at  the  "F'ord''  (now  Reading),  war 
was  being  carried  on  between  England  and  France, 
•and  the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  was  formed  be- 
tween them  in  the  same  year  in  which  the  town  was 
laid  out  (1748).  But  this  treaty  of  peace  did  not 
settle  the  controversy  between  them,  in  respect  to 
territory  on  the  American  continent.  The  English 
Colonies  were  originally  planted  along  the  sea- 
coast,  but  they  advanced  westwardly,  and  tlierefore 
the  English  claimed  the  right  to  extend  their  set- 
tlements across  the  continent  from  ocean  to  ocean. 
The  French,  however,  had  possessed  Canaila  to  the 
north,  and  Louisiana  to  the  south,  and  they  too 
claimed  the  intervening  territorv  which  lay  along 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers.  Both  parties  hav- 
ing claimed  the  same  country,  they,  in  order  to 
maintain  their  respective  '■ights,  rushed  into  a  fierce 
and  bloody  war  for  lands  which  belonged  to  neither 
of  them,  and  which  after  the  termination  of  hos- 
tilities passed  away  from  both,  and  became  vested 
in  a  new  power  whose  national  existence  grew  out 
of  their  contentions.  It  was  accelerated  bv  a  grant 
of  six  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  in  that  dis- 
puted territory  by  the  English  to  certain  persons 
who  associated  under  the  title  of  the  "Ohio  Com- 
])any,"  and  the  company  having  agitated  a  scheme 
for  its  settlement,  the  French  became  alarmed.  Re- 
monstrances and  com])laints  were  fruiUess  and  each 
party  seized  and  plundered  the  .'subjects  of  the  other, 
ending  in  hostilities  wdiich  resulted  in  the  defeat  of 
Braddock  in  the  western  section  of  Pennsylvania 
in  1T.T.5. 

The  Indians,  having  united  with  the  French 
through  misrepresentation  ,and  finding  the  frontier 
open,  proceeded  eastwardly  to  repossess  the  terri- 
tory which  had  formerly  been  theirs  and  out  of 
which  they  believed  they  had  been  swindled.  On 
their  way,  they  connnitted  depredations  and  cruel- 
ties which  resulted  in  a  great  loss  of  life  and  prop- 
erty; and  notwithstanding  forts  were  erected  by 
the  provincial  government  along  the  Blue  Mountain, 
from  the  Delaware  river  to.  the  Susf|uehanna  river 
to  afford  protection  to  the  settlers  in  the  vicinity, 
and  garrisoned  with  twenty-five  companies,  com- 
prising 1,400  men,  tliey  crossed  the  mountain  and 


carried  their  arson  and  murder  into  the  counties 
adjoining.  Berks  county  was  entered,  and  numer- 
ous persons  (including  men.  women  and  children) 
were  killed,  and  many  dwellings  and  barns  burned. 
This  naturally  spread  consternation  throughout  the 
county,  and  the  settlers  ^along  the  mountain  aban- 
doned home  and  property.  The  enemy  soon  extend- 
ed their  incursions  to  a  point  near  Reading,  alarm- 
ing the  inliabitanls  of  the  town  fc>r  their  safety.  In 
consequence  of  this,  the>  armed  and  organized  them- 
selves to  defend  the  town,  and  marched  to  the 
mountain  to  assist  in  driving  the  cruel  foe  out  of 
the  county.  Many  letters  have  been  published  which 
describe  the  wretched  state  of  the  people  who  lived 
in  the  townships  to  the  north  and  northwest  of  the 
town. 

The  cruelties  of  the  Indians  and  the  unsettled 
condition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  upper  section 
of  the  county  continued  during  ]7.").'>,  ]T.">G  and  17o7. 
During  that  time,  the  Elnglish  were  un^uccessful  in 
their  campaigns  against  the  French  and  Indians,  and 
their  affairs  here  were  in  an  awful  situation.  Their 
efforts  had  produced  only  expense  and  disapjjoint- 
ment.  But  in  1758,  the  tide  turned  in  their  favor 
through  the  vigorous  administration  of  a  new  leader, 
William  Pitt.  The  Indians  retreated  and  victory 
crowned  the  British  armies  everywdiere  during  the 
succeeding  years  until  17GU,  when  the  I'rench  were 
dispossessed  of  all  territories  in  dispute  and  forced 
to  surrender  Canada.  Peace  was  declared  in  17G3. 
The  town  of  Reading  had  just  been  fairly  started' 
when  this  terrible  shock  fell  upon  the  inhabitants. 
Though  discouraged  they  did  not  abandon  their 
new  settlement  and  its  bright  prospects,  as  the  set- 
tlers were  forced  to  do  along  the  mountain.  It 
is  probable  that  the  unsettled  condition  of  affairs 
there  during  that  period  contributed  much  toward 
the  rapid  growth  of  the  town. 

Troop.s  IN'  Cou.XTY. — The  provincial  milit;iry  offi- 
cers of  the  county  in  1754  were:  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel, Conrad  Weiser;  Captains,  Christian  Busse  (at 
Fort  Henry),  Frederick  Smith,  Jacob  Orndt,  and 
facob  Morgan  (at  Fort  Lebanon)  ;  Lieutenant. 
Philip  Weiser;  Ensigns, Harry  (at  Fort  Leban- 
on) and  Edward  Biddle ;  Sergeant,  Peter  Smith; 
Corjjoral,  SchaefTer. 


vi3    t^'lif 
.';x.ty<ni'  .^  i: 


,i'"  '■ 


M  ;■        )j. 


•I  ;t?ff 


lOS 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY.    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


W'eiser  \va<  Iieutcnant-coIi:'nel  of  the  ?(1  Baltnlioii 
of  the  rennsyhania  Regiment,  which  con^isted  of 
nine  companies.  Tiiis  was  a  p<ortion  of  the  troop? 
ordered  by  the  Governor  to  be  raised  for  the  pur- 
po'^e  of  repelHnor  the  invasion.  The  total  force  was 
to  comprise  twenty-five  companies,  numbering;  l.-lOU 
men.  Of  the  nine  companies  tmder  W'ciser,  one 
and  one-half  companies  were  at  Fort  Flenry,  and 
one  company  was  at  Fort  Williams. 

In  March,  175G.  an  independent  company  of 
grenadiers,  in  General  Shirley's  regiment,  was  sta- 
tioned at  Reading  on  duty.  Upon  receiving  orders 
to  march  to  X'ew  York,  25  men,  under  the  command 
of  a  lieutenant,  were  ordered  to  Reading,  to  remain 
on  guard  until  further  orders.  In  June,  the  town 
was  occupied  by  a  company  of  men,  untler  the 
command  of  Conrad  W  ciser.  It  was  composed  of 
two  sergeants  and  2.S  privates.  The  ammunition 
at  Reading  then  consisted  of  2o  good  muskets,  25 
muskets  out  of  repair,  11  broken  muskets,  0  cart- 
ridge-boxes, 2-iO  pounds  oi  ])Owder,  (100  pounds  of 
lead.  In  August.  IToT.  50  men  from  Curnru  and 
other  townships  near  Reading  set  out  in  exjiecta- 
tion  of  bringing  in  some  Indian  scalps. 

In  February,  1758,  Fort  Williams  was  garrisoned 
by  Captain  Morgan  and  53  men  :  and  Fort  Henry 
by  Captain  Busse  with  8S  men,  and  Captain  Weiscr 
with  105  men ;  and  Fort  Augusta  with  eight  com- 
panies, numbering  302  men.  The  whole  number 
of  men  then  receiving  pav  in  the  province  was 
1,2:-1. 

In  June,  1758,  Berks  county  had  in  the  service 
5G  good  and  strong  wagons,  each  wagon  furnished 
with  four  horses  and  an  expert  driver.  These  wag- 
ons were  formed  in  two  divisions,  tb.e  first  di\!sion 
containing  2G  wagons,  and  the  second  :]0.  A  depu- 
ty wagon-master  was  over  each  division.  Their 
names  were  Jolm  Lesher  and  Jacob  Weaver,  able 
to  speak  the  English  and  German  languag'cs,  and 
they  understood  smith  and  whieelwright  work. 

In  the  limits  of  Berks  county,  in  17  58,  there  were 
at  Fort  Henry  two  companies,  comprising  105  men ; 
at  Fort  AMlliam  (Forks  of  SchuylkilH,  one  com- 
panv  of  53  men ;  and  at  Fort  Augusta,  eight  com- 
panies with  3^2  men. 

In  1761,  the  inhabitants  of  Tulpchockcn  and 
Heidelberg  to^vushijis  raised  15iJ  men  as  rangers 
to  guard  the  county  lines  of  Berks  and  Lancaster 
counties. 

Coi.oxiAL  F-OKTS. — When  tlic  officials  of  the 
provincial  government  learned  that  the  In- 
dians and  French  had  united  for  the  ])ur- 
pose  of  coo])erating  against  the  English 
on  thi.s  continent,  they  decided  to  afford 
protection  to  the  settlements  near  the  fron- 
tiers by  the  erection  of  forts  ;  and  the  number 
of  settlers  who  liad  gone  beyond  the  Blue  [Nloun- 
tain  till  this  time  having  been  small,  they  deter- 
mined to  locate  these  forts  along  this  tiatural 
boundary  line  from  the  Delaware  on  the  east  to 
the  Sus(|uehanna  on  the  west.  The  obiect  oi  tlie-e 
forts  v.-as  .simply   for  refuge — a  retreat    icr  the  in- 


l;al)itants  when  danger  was  iniminent.  They  w  ere 
erected  hastily  to  serve  a  temporary  purpose.  I'u- 
fortunately  for  the  people,  they  were  too  few  in 
number  and  too  far  apart  to  serve  the  purpose  f.,;- 
which  they  were  intended,  especially  to  those  who 
were  somewhat  removed.  The  Indians  d\<\  iiot 
marcli  over  the  mountain  in  large  numbers  together. 
and  they  did  attack  the  forts.  They  came  quietlv. 
in  small  parties,  and  without  warning  thev  fell  up- 
on the  unprotected  families  like  a  thunderbolt:  ami 
after  murdering  men,  women  and  children  indis- 
criminately and  setting  fire  to  dwellings  and  barns, 
they  departed  like  a  Hash.  Their  success  in  the>e 
wicked  incursions  was  truly  wonrlerful. 

In  1758,  the  location  of  the  forts  and  distances 
apart  were  reported  as  follows : 

Miles 

From    W'md   Gap  to  Doll's   Blockhouse 20 

Thence  to  Fort  Lehigh  8 ' 

Thence  to  I-'ort  -Allen     10 

Thence  to  Blockhonse     20 

Thence  to  Fort  Evi-rit     10 

Thence  to  Fort  Wiliiams     12 

Thence  to  Fort  Flenry 22 

Thence  to  Fort  Swatara    14 

Thence  to  Fort  Flunter.  on  Susquehanna  24 

Total  distance  140 

F"oRTS  IN  County. — The  following  forts  were 
erected  in  the  territorv  wliich  was  embraced  in 
Berks  county,  the  first  five  having  been  along  the 
Blue  Mountain,  and  the  last  at  Sliamokin  ( now 
Sunbury)  :  Fort  Flenry,  Fort  Dietrich  Snvder,  Fort 
Xorthkill,  Fort  Lebanon,  F^ort  Franklin  and  I'^ort 
Augusta. 

A  log  house  was  built  v.ithin  the  stockades, 
and  it  was  often  crowded  uncomfortably  by  the 
neighboring  inliabitants  in  times  of  danger.  The 
stockades  were  logs,  about  eighteen  feet  long,  cut 
in  the  woods  where  the  forts  v.-ere  built,  and  plantt^d 
in  the  ground  as  closely  as  possible.  They  were 
intended  to  protect  the  house  and  jirevtut  the 
Indians  from  shooting  its  occupants  when  they 
stepped  outside. 

Fort  Henry  was  situated  in  Bethel  township,  in 
what  was,  and  still  is,  commonly  known  as  "The 
Flollow,"  about  three  miles  north  of  the  present 
village  of  ]\lillersbnrg,  fiftv  vards  to  the  east  of 
the  "Old  Shamc^kin  Road,'"  which  leads  over  the 
mountain.  The  spot  was  elevated,  to  enable  the 
guard  to  look  out  some  distance  in  every  direction. 
There  is  no  particular  mention  of  this  fort  in  the 
Colonial  reconis,  and  this  omission  induces  the 
belief  that  it  was  a  frirt  erected  by  the  people  of 
that  vicinity  for  their  protection.  It  was  some- 
times called  ■T)ietrich  Six's,"  doubtless  becau.sc  it 
stood  on  the  land  of  Dietrich  Six.  The  record- 
nientifin  several  times  that  t!ie  people  fied  to  Diet- 
rich Six's,  but  the  })Iacc  wa<  not  indicitc!!  a-  a 
military  post.  The  field  where  it  was  situated  has 
Ijeen    lunler    cuki\ation    for    manv    vears,    and    not 


).;t.''  .1 


Mil 


,.;;/    >{■■'•>■!      .■;    0,,.,.  >    /'.y.  -  iv-r.,''    • 


ll      ,;    l.-i         I 


WAR  PERIODS 


10J> 


a  single  mark  remain?  to  indicate'  where  it  stood. 
It  was  erected  some  time  before  June.  17-J4.  In 
tl;e  bej::inninr:f  of  June,  11. '7.  the  Governor  visited 
Tort  Henry,  having  been  escorted  thither  by  sixty 
substantial  freeholders  of  the  county  on  horse- 
back, completely  armed.  They  presented  a  very 
dutiful  address  to  his  honor,  in  which  they  ex- 
prc'^'^ed  the  warmest  loyalty  to  the  King-  and  the 
greatest  zeal  and  alacrity  to  serve  ?Iis  Majesty  in 
defense  of  their  country. 

I-ort  Dietrich  Siiydcr. — A  fort  v.as  situated  on 
the  top  of  the  mountain,  north  of  Fort  Xorthkill. 
It  occupied  one  of  the  mo^t  prominent  spots,  and 
being  within  two  miles  of  Fort  Xorthkill,  it  is  sup- 
posed that  it  was  designed  for  an  observatory  or 
watch-house. 

Fort  Northkill  was  in  Upj.er  Tulpehocken  town- 
ship, near  the  Xorthkill  (a  branch  of  the  Tulpe- 
hocken creek)  abcnit  two  miles  east  of  Strauss- 
town  and  a  mile  south  from  the  base  of  the  Blue 
Mountain.  It  was  built  in  the  early  part  of  1704. 
.-\s  to  the  dimensions  of  the  fort  Conmiissary  Young 
says,  June  20,  ITTii):  "The  fort  is  about  nine  miles 
to  the  westward  of  the  Schuylkill,  and  stands  in 
a  very  thick  wood,  on  a  small  rising  ground,  half 
a  mile  from  the  middle  of  X'orthkill  creek.  It  is 
intended  for  a  square  about  thirty-two  feet  each 
way;  at  each  corner  i^  a  half-bastion  of  very  little 
service  to  llank  the  curtains.  The  stockades  were 
ill  fixed  in  the  ground,  and  open  in  manv  places. 
Within  is  a  very  bad  log-house  for  the  people :  it 
has  no  chimney  and  can  afford  Init  little  shelter  in 
bad  weather." 

There  was  an  attack  in  the  neighborhood  of  this 
fort  on  Oct.  1,  I'i'u.  Api)lication  was  made  to 
Conrad  Wciser  ( then  at  Reading)  for  immediate 
assistance,  and  Captain  Oswald  (who  commanded 
the  guards  about  Reading)  sent  two  lieutenants 
with  forty  men  to  the  relief. 

Fort  Lebanon  was  situated  about  six  miles  be- 
yond the  r.lue  ^Mountain,  a  short  distance  east  of 
the  Schuylkill  river.  It  was  erected  in  the  begin- 
ning of  1754.  In  17  oS,  it  was  known  as  "Fort 
Williams,"  and  called  sometimes  "Fort  Schuylkill." 
It  is  freqitently  mentioned  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Archives.  Two  vears  after  its  erection,  it  was  des- 
cribed as  follows:  '"Fort  Lebanon,  about  twenty- 
four  miles  from  Gnadenhutten,  in  ilie  line  to 
Siiamokin. — Fort,  KXi  feet  square.  Stockades.  14 
feet  high.  House  within,  built  .">0  by  20,  with  a 
large  store-room.  A  spring  within,  and  a  maga- 
zine. 12  feet  square.  On  a  barren,  not  much  timber 
on  it;  IdO  families  protected  by  it  within  the  new 
purchase.  Xo  townshi]\  lUiilt  in  three  weeks. 
Something  considered  given  by  the  nciglibors  to- 
wards it." 

Fort  Franklin. — The  fifth  fort  on  the  frontier 
ot  the  county  was  several  miles  above  the  IJlue 
Mountain,  on  Lizard  creek.  It  was  built  about 
two  years  later  than  the  other  forts.  It  was  some- 
times called  Fort  AHemaengel  ( 'all  wants"). 


Fort  A!ii:^usta.— The  first  allusion  to  this  fort  is 
in  a  letter  by  Governor  Morris,  on  Feb.  1,  17.j(;,  in 
which  he  states  that  he  proposed  to  build  a  fort 
at  Shamokin,  at  the  forks  of  the  Susquehanna,  a.^ 
soon  as  the  season  would  admit  a  passag'e  of  that 
river.  And  in  a  letter  dated  July  2Uth  following, 
he  stated  that  a  fort  was  then  building  at  Shamokin 
(where  a  camp  was  statione<l  for  some  time)  by 
Colonel  Clajjliam,  who  had  five  hundred  men  with 
him.  Shortlv  afterward  (.Aug.  14)  the  Colonel  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  the  Governor  dated  at  "Fort 
Aug-usta,"  in  reference  to  a  necessary  supply  of 
military  stores.  This  fort  was  therefore  built  dur- 
ing July  and  August,  17 •")<).  X'o  dimensions  are 
given.  But  it  was  large  and  commodious,  affording 
room  for  many  men  and  a  large  quantity  of  military 
stores.  Frequent  reports  of  the  supplies  on  hand 
and  of  the  forces  stationed  there  appear  in  the 
Records  and  Archives  ;  and  cruelties  by  the  Indians 
were  committed  in  th.c  vicinity. 

Pkemium  for  Sc.\Li'S.— In  pursuance  of  a  resolu- 
tion for  carrying  on  active  measures  against  the 
Indians,  the  Board  of  Commissioners  decided  on 
April  J),  17.5(),  to  recommend  to  the  Governor  that 
bounties,  or  premiums,  be  paid  fc^-r  prisoners  and 
scalps: 

For  everj-  male  Inrlian  pri'^nner  nbovc  ten  years  old, 
that  shall  be  delivered  at  any  of  the  government 
forts    or    towns .  ...    $150 

I'or  every   female   Indian   prisoner   or   male  prisoner, 

of  ten  years  old  and  under,  deluervd  as  above 130 

For  the  scalp  of  everv  male   Indi;ui  above  ten  vears 

old    '. " 13i> 

l""or  the  scalp  of  every  Indian  woman 50 

Peace  Declareix — After  the  French  had  receded 
into  Canada  before  the  advancii'.g  army  of  English 
soldiers,  the  Indians  naturallv  followed  their  allies. 
Hence  the  cruelties  here  ceased  after  1758;  and 
when  Canada  was  surrendered  in  17G0,  the  peace 
and  safety  of  our  community  were  assured.  The 
declaration  of  peace  was  delayed  for  three  years, 
and  when  it  was  published  in  17C-3,  only  a  few  Li- 
dians  reinained  in  the  eastern  section  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. A  small  settlement  of  them  ( who  were 
friendly  to  the  government  and  the  inhabitants)  re- 
mained at  Shamokin ;  and  some  families  were  scat- 
tered in  different  parts  of  the  countv,  where  they 
remained  for  many  years  afterward. 

Before  the  war,  considerable  trade  had  been  car- 
ried on  successfully  between  the  settlers  and  the 
Indians,  continuing  without  interruption  from  the 
time  of  the  first  settlements  until  1744,  and  even  a 
decade  afterward.  The  relations  had  become  so 
pleasant  and  firm  that  certain  Indians  remained 
in  the  county  unmolested  during  the  war,  and  car- 
ried on  their  peaceful  vocations,  such  as  basket- 
making,  bead-work,  etc.,  and  after  the  war,  travel- 
ing parties  of  them  frequentlv  visited  the  county 
and  sold  articles  of  their  handiwork. 

MuRnrKii)  AVI)  CArxrKF.D. — During  this  war.  the 
Indians  killed  about  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  cap- 
tured thirtv  inhabitants  of  the  countv.     Several  of 


M:i:    '    '.\-)il 


■  I  ■ '   ;.'    'i'i  '  A  •(]''  n. 


.  ■'  .-'ii    't.':.!;'  I    ..   1.;' 
■■.->■,■■     ■'   0/';;'  (iM)f;i  i-"^"! 


I'-      '    .'.'in     •■■il' 


110 


niSTORV    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    FEXXSYL\'AXIA 


those  who  were  taken  captive  rcturncil  after  th-.' 
war.  Man\-  persons  were  woiui'led  and  some  of 
them  died  from  their  wound-.  But.  during-  these 
eight  years,  only  four  of  t!ie  Indians  were  killed  in 
the  county,  so  far  as  ascertained. 

MURDERED 

June,  lTo4 — Peter    Goisinger.    Tiilpcl'.f'ckon. 

June,   ITJ-l — Fred.  Myers    iunl    wile.    Tulpehocken. 

June.  1754 — Young    girl,    Tulpelioeken. 

June,  lT.i4 — Ho^tetter  family.   Bern , 

June,  1754 — Sebastian   Erosius,    Bethel. 

October.  1755 — Henry   Hartman.   Bethel. 

October,  1755 — Two   men    (unknown).    Bethel. 

October,  1755 — Odwaller  and  another  unknown,'   Bethel. 

November,  1755 — Thirteen  persons,  unknown.  Bethel. 

November,  1755 — Child  eight  year?  old,  daughter  of  a 
man  named  Cola.   Bethel. 

November,  1755 — Cola's  wife  and  two  children  older. 
Bethel. 

November,  17.".5 — Philip  .   n    shoemaker.   Bethel. 

November,  175.5 — Casper  Spring,   Bethel. 

November,  1755 Beslinger,"    liethel. 

November,  1755 — Child  of  Jacob  Wolf,   Bethel. 

November,  1755 — John    Leiiiberger,    Bethel.  — 

November,  175." — Rudolph   Cnndcl.   Beihel. 

November,  175.5 — Sebastian  Bro.^ius,   Bethel. 

November,  1755 — Six  men  killed,^  Bethel. 

November,  1755 — Unknown  man,  a  shoemaker  at 
Brown's  house.  Bethel. 

November,  1755 — .A.   chdd   scalped   and   died.'   Bethel. 

November,  1755 — -A    woman'    and    male   ciiild.    Bethel. 

November,  1755^F;fteen  persons  (excluding  live  pre- 
ceding),   Betlitfl. 

November,  1755 — Christopher  Ury,    Bethel. 

November,  1755 ^'ou^gtllan.    Bethel. 

No'.-enibcr,  1755 — Wife   of Kobel.'   Bethel. 

February.  1755 — -Two  children  of  Frederick  Reichclder- 
fer,  Albany. 

February,  17,">6 — One  man,  two  women  and  six  children,' 
Albany. 

February,  1756 — -George  Zeisloff  and  wife,  two  boys  and 
a  girl,  Albany. 

February,  1756 — Wife   of    Ealser    Neyfong.    Alban}-. 

March,  1756 — Peter   Kiuck   and    family.    Albany. 

March,  1756 — .-\    woinan   at  Linderman's   honf;,   Alhany. 

March,  1756 — ^^'illiam    Yeth,    Hereford. 

March,  1756 — Wife   of   John    Krau-her.    Hereford. 

October,  1756 — Two  married  women  and  two  bovs,' 
Bethel. 

November.  1750— Wife,  daughter  and  son-in-law  of 
Philip  Culmore.  Alljany. 

November.  1756 — Martin  Fell.  Albany. 

November,  1756 — Two   old   men."  Bethel. 

November,  1756 Stonebrook.   Albany. 

June,  1757^ — ;Man   unknown,   near  Fort   Fleiiry.   Bethel. 

June,  1757 — Tv,-o  persons  near  F'ort  Nonhkill,  Tulpe- 
hocken. 

June,  1757 — Adam  Trum;,."  .\lba;iy. 

June,  1757 — Peter   Ger^inger.   Bethel. 

July,  1757 — Three  men  and   four  children.  "  Bethel. 

1  P'Wsibly  these  two  and  the  t«  3  immediately  before  arc  the  same. 

'  Xear  by  an  Inriiaii — of  Dcl.-iuare  tribe— vv.t;  found  dead  ami 
scalped — *icalped  by  Trederick  Weiscr.  Another  was  shot  and 
scalped  several    weeks   afterward. 

3  Supposed   to   have   been   soldiers. 

*  Two    others    also    scalped. 

5  Under  this  woman,  her  babe  only  fourteen  days  old  was  found. 
It   was   alive.    w-rai>ped    up    in    a    little   cuslti'jn. 

*  Four  of  their  children  w  ere  "icalped  at  llie  s.ime  time.  They 
had  eicht  children  with  them.  Two  probably  died.  The  father 
was    wounded. 

*  .\11  killed  at  house  of  Jacob  Cerhart.  situate  in  tbe'upper  sect!  mi 
ot  the  townshio.  commonly  known  as  the  "Kck"  (corner).  Eight 
of   them    were   burned. 

8  One    of   them    reported    ,*iS   likely  to   die    from   scalpinc. 

'Ten  women  an'l  cl'-iidrt-n  were  rescued  at  this  iil.ice  from  the 
cellar    of    a   burniiitc   '.•n!d;ii,'. 

1"  Found  with  a  knife  and  a  spear  (I'^xeil  to  a  pole  four  feet 
lonir)    in   his  bo.ly. 

'lAll  murdered  and  scalped   in  one  h.nise. 


Julv,  1757- 
luh-,  1757- 
julv,  1757- 
Julv,  1757— 
Julv.  1757- 
July,  1757- 
September, 
September. 
April,  175.S- 

Tulpehocken. 
April,  175S- 

Tulpehocken. 
April,  175S- 
June,  1753- 
June.  1758— 
October,  17 
September, 

Albany. 
September, 

Miller,'^  Alba 
September. 
November, . 


-Two   children   near    Bickel's. 
Martin    Jaeger   and    wife.'"'    Greenwich. 
-Two  children  of  John  Krausher,  Greenwich. 
-One   child   of   A.    Seciilcr,   Greenwich. 
-C>ne   child    of   P'lilip   Eshton,   Greenwich. 
-Ten  people.'^ 

1757 — A  man  shot  in  bed   whilst  sick. 

1757 — Two   families." 
—Jacob    Lebenguth    and    Margaret    his    wife, 

—Wife  and  two  children  of  Nicholas  Geiger. 

—Wife  of  ^iichael  Ditzeler,  Tulpehocken. 

-Wife   of   Joliii    Franlz.    Tulpehocken. 

-Son  of  Joh.n  Snabele.  Tulpehocken. 

58 — A  man.  Bethel. 

176.3 — Jfihn     F'incher,     wife    and    two     sons, 

176.'^— F'our    cliildren    at    house    of    Nicholai 

ny. 

1763 — Two  children  of  Frantz  Hubler,  P'^rn. 

.176o — Three  men  near   forks  of   Schuylkii'." 

TAKEN    PRISONERS 

June,  1754 — Daughter  of  Balser  Schmidt  (fifteen  years 
old),  Tulpehocken. 

June,  1754 — Three  rliildrcn  of  Frederick  Myers  (two 
boys,  10  and  C  years  old,  an.d  a  girl  S  years  old),  Tulpe- 
hocken. 

June,  175-t — Son  of  — —  Reichard  (eight  years  old), 
Tulpehocken. 

February,  1756 — Son   of  Balser   Neyfong.   Albany. 

March.  1756— Son  of  William  Yeth.  Hcroford. 

November,  1756 — Girl    named    Stonebrook.    Albany. 

June,  1757 — Son   of   Adam  Trump,   .\!bany. 

June,  1757 — YoLUig  woman  from  nc;,r  F'ort  Henrv, 
Bethel. 

July,  1757 — Three    children    from   near    Bickel's. 

July.  1757 — Two  children  at  same   time. 

September,  1757 — F"i\e    children. 

June,  1758 — Three  children  of  Jolm  Frantz,  Tulpe- 
hocken. 

September,  1763 — Wife  and  three  children  of  Frantz 
Hi'bler,  Bern. 

MISSING 
November,  1756 — Wife    and    child    of    Martin    Fell,    Al- 
bany. 

November,  1756— A  boy  seven  years  old.   .-\lbany. 
October,  1758 — Tliree   men   missing,    Betiul. 
September,  170."^ — Daughter  of  John  F'incluT,  .\lbany. 
September,  1703 — Wife  of   Nicholas  Miller,  Albany. 


RE\T)LUTIOX.  r.r.-.  S3 
C.\USE. — Tlie  rarliament  of  Great  Britriin  passed 
an  Act  on  starch  '^v,  ITH.j.  whidi  required  all  in- 
struments of  writing,  such  as  deeds,  honds  and 
promissory  notes,  to  he  written  on  parchment  or 
paper  stamped  with  a  'specific  duty,  otherwise  they 
were  to  have  no  legal  effect :  but  this  measure  met 
witli  such  ge;ieral  oj^position  in  Great  Britain  and 
llirougiiout  the  American  Colonies,  and  was  found 
to  be  so  unpopular,  that  the  Act  was  repealed  in 

'-John  KraushtrV  wife  ar.d  child.  -Abraham  Serhler's  wife.  jnJ 
a  child  of  .Adam  Claiiss  were  scalped  at  the  same  time  and  badly 
wounded. 

i"'  .Minded  to  in  Wciser's  lotter.  Probably  he  referred  to  party 
killed   in  (ircenwich. 

*■*  No  nun:hcr   mentioned. 

''■"'  Two  of  Mil'er's  ehildrt-ii  w  t^re  prisoners,  but  were  rescued. 
When  rescued  they  were  tied  together,  in  which  manner  they  had 
br<-ii  driven   along. 

'"These  are  suiiposed  to  hive  been  the  last  persons  kiibd  by 
th"  Iiiilians  at  tlii-;  time.  Hut  diiriiK  the  Kv.liiti'.nT-v  w  ir.  i:i 
.^r.cust,  ITSo.  John  Xevman  Tind  bis  two  youni;  children  wer~ 
cr'.icUy  n)iirdi  red  by  the  Indians  thirty  thi-eo  mi'.t^  from  Readinir 
on  road  to   Shamokin:  and  at  the  same  time  i  little  ^irl  was  carried 


.(,I.;J 


WAR  PERIODS 


111 


rh.e  lolloning  year.  Tlic  cbeape>t  stamp  was  of  the 
value  of  one  siiillinij.  The  stamps  on  documents 
increased  in  value  according^  to  iheir  importance. 
.\11  the  colonists  manifested  unbounded  joy  over 
the  repeal  of  this  odious  law. 

This  opposition,  however,  led  Parliament  to  pass 
a  deciaiatory  Act  (which  accompanied  the  repeal- 
ins^  Act)  asserting-  their  power  over  the  Colonies 
in  all  cases  whatsoeA'er.  And  in  11  ('i",  an  Act  was 
passed  imposinj^  certain  duties  on  tea.  c;^!ass.  pajjer. 
and  painters'  colors  that  were  imported  into  the 
Colonies.  There  was  no  representation  in  Parlia- 
ment from  the  several  Colonies ;  and  they,  retrard- 
ing-  taxation  of  this  kind  as  unjust  and  tyrannical, 
held  public  meetings,  formed  associations  to  dis- 
courage, and  even  to  prevent,  the  importation  of 
British  goods,  and  passed  appropriate  resolutions ; 
which  they  forwarded  to  the  King.  His  ministers, 
believing  that  a  reduction  of  the  tax  would  restore 
tranquility,  ordered  this  law  also  to  be  repealed, 
saving  only  a  tax  of  three  pence  per  pound  on  tea ; 
and  in  1770  an  Act  \vas  passed  accordingly.  But 
even  this  was  not  satisfactory  to  them,  and  their 
recommendations  to  one  another  not  to  receive  any 
tea  were  strictlv  carried  out. 

In  the  meantime,  the  East  India  Company  had 
accumulated  seventeen  million  pounds  of  this  article 
on  hand,  and  fearing  great  losses,  they  led  Parlia- 
ment to  authorize  the  exportation  of  tea  to  any 
part  of  the  v.'orld  free  of  duty.  With  such  encour- 
agement, the  com|>any  in  1771  loaded  several  ships 
with  tea  and  sent  them  to  the  American  Colonic"^ : 
but  the  colonists  were  firm  in  their  resolution  and 
determined  to  obstruct  the  sale  of  it  and  to  refuse 
to  pay  even  so  slight  a  tax  as  three  pence  per  pound. 
When  the  ships  arrived  near  T'hiladelphia  and  Xew 
York,  the  captains  were  warned  not  to  land,  and, 
fearing  this  warning,  they  returned  to  England. 
The  tea  sent  to  Charleston  was  landed,  but  it  could 
not  be  solfl.  and  after  having  been  stored  for  a 
while  in  damp  cellars  it  became  a  total  loss  to  the 
company.  And  at  Boston,  while  efTorts  were  being 
made  to  land  the  tea,  certain  men  in  the  disguise 
of  Indians  stole  their  way  u[)on  the  vessels,  broke 
open  312  chests  of  tea  and  threw  the  contents 
overboard. 

When  Parliament  heard  i)i  these  proceedings,  an 
Act  was  passed,  called  the  "Boston  Port  Bill,"  di- 
recting the  port  of  Boston  to  be  closed  and  the 
custom  house  to  be  retnoved  to  Salem  :  and  other 
humiliating  Acts  were  also  passed  whicli  were 
oflFensive  to  the  people  of  Boston.  Information 
about  these  .Acts  reaclicd  Boston  on  May  K'th,  and 
on  the  13th,  at  a  town  meeting,  the  inlial)itants 
resolved : 

That,  if  tlie  other  Col(iiii<.s  woiiM  uiiiie  ivitli  tlieni  to 
stop  all  inipurtations  from  Groat  Britain  niid  the  \Ve=t 
Indies  until  those  .Acts  should  he  rtin.aled,  it  would  prove 
the  salv.-ition  of  Xorth  .\nierica  ;'nd  her  lilierties;  hut  if 
they  should  continue  their  exports  and  imiiort;.  there 
was  reason  to  fear  that  fraud,  f.ower  and  th.-  n)0':t  odious 
oppression  would  triumph  over  justice,  right,  social  I'.appi- 
ncss  and   freedom. 


Copies  of  this  resolution  were  transmitted  to  all 
the  other  Colonies.  It  awakened  not  only  a  feeling 
of  sympathy  but  a  strong  spirit  of  co-operation, 
and  led  them  to  concur  in  the  propriety  of  calling 
a  Provincial  Congress.  Public  meetings  were  held 
at  different  places,  such  as  county  towns,  and,  be- 
sides disctissing  topics  so  important  to  liberty  and 
the  general  welfare,  committees  of  correspondence 
were  appointed  to  communicate  the  actions  of  the 
several  meetings  to  one  another  throughout  the  Col- 
onies. In  this  way,  it  was  discovered  that  the  same 
feeling  prevailed  everywhere,  and  naturally  there 
came  to  be  tinited  efforts  toward  accomplishing  a 
common  result  for  the  benefit  of  all. 

About  this  time  the  terms  "Whigs"  and  "Tories'" 
were  introduced  to  designate  either  those  who  were 
arrayed  on  the  side  of  the  Colcvniei  in  sympathy 
with  Boston,  or  those  who  were  in  sympathy  v/ith 
the  policy  of  the  British  government. 

^If.iiTiXG  AT  Rf..\dixg. — When  the  news  reached 
Reading,  in  Berks  county,  the  citizens  manifested 
great  excitement,  and  meetings  were  lield  at  which 
the  action  of  the  British  government  was  con- 
demned. These  meetings  were  calleil  by  notices 
headed  "Boston  Port  Bi!l,"  and  posted  throughout 
the  town. 

At  one  of  these  meetings  (which  comprised  a 
respectable  body  of  inhabitants  of  the  county)  held 
in  the  Court-House  at  Reading,  (:>n  July  "?.  1774, 
iidward  Biddle,  l^sq.,  in  the  chair,  tlie  following 
resolntions  were  adopted: 

This  assembli.,  taking  into  their  very  seriou''-  considera- 
tion tlie  present  critical  situation  of  American  affairs,  do 
unanimously  resolve  as  follows,  viz.: 

1.  That  the  inhabitants  of  this  county  do  owe,  and  will 
pay  due  allegiance  to  our  rightful  Sovereign,  King  George 
the  Third. 

-.  That  the  powers  claimed,  and  now  attempted  to  he 
put  into  execution  by  the  Eritish  Parliament,  are  funda- 
mentally wrong,  and  cannot  he  admitted  without  the  utter 
destruction  of  the  liberties  of  .\nierica. 

3.  That  the  Boston  Port  Bill  is  unjust  and  tyrannical  in 
the  extreme,  .-vnd  that  the  measures  pursued  against  Bos- 
ton are  intended  to  operate  e'lually  against  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  the  other  colonies. 

-1.  That  this  assembly  dotli  concur  in  opinion  with  their 
respective  brethren  of  Philadelpiiia.  that  thee  is  an  abso- 
lute necessity  for  an  imniediatc  congress  of  the  deputies 
of  the  several  athicos.  in  order  to  deliberate  iipi-m  ancl  pur- 
sue such  measures  as  may  radicallv  he.il  our  present  un- 
happy disturh.iiices,  an  1  settle  with  precision  th.e  rights 
and  lil)erties  of  .America. 

o.  That  the  inhabitants  of  this  county,  comiding  in  the 
prudence  and  ability  of  the  deputies  intended  to  I)e  chosen 
for  the  general  congress,  will  cheerfully  submit  to  any 
measures  which  may  be  found  by  tlic  said  congress  best 
adapted  for  the  restoration  of  h.irmony  between  the 
mother-country  and  the  colonies,  and  for  the  security  and 
firm  establishment  of  tlie  rights  oi  America. 

R.  That,  as  the  people  of  Boston  are  now  suffering  in 
the  grand  and  couimon  caiisi-  of  American  liberty. 

Rrsnlrrd.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  all  tiie  inhabitants  to 
contribute  to  tlu-  support  of  the  said  sutTerers.  and  that  the 
committee  hereafur  named  do  o(Hn  suliscriiitions  for  their 
relief.  .And  fuifhrr,  that  the  saiil  eomtiiitte.-  do  lay  out 
the  aniouTit  of  Mich  snl)-.criptioii»  in  inirchasiug  tlour  and 
otl'.er  provisions,  to  be  s"nt  by  tticn;  to  (.uk  said  suttenng 
brethren.    • 


jn,.-  Vl- 


'f'1    'il 


.'I'-,-..    •■;)!.     vrii  ';     Hit:,    i' ■'•    J' 


r,  .  .  ).■>■ 


113 


PIIS'J'ORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY.    rEXXSVLVAXIA 


7.  That  Edward  RiddK-.  .lame-  Read,  Dani -1  Drorlhead, 
Henry  Christ,  Hsiis..  Clirisiophcr  Schullz.  Thomas  Duiidas 
and  Jonathan  Pctts,  ge!itli.nii.n,  be,  and  they  are  hereby 
appointed  a  committee  to  meet  and  correspond  with  the 
committees  from  the  other  co.inties  of  tlie  Province. 

The  comiiiittte  raised  money  and  forwarded 
flour  and  provi>ioii>  to  the  suffering-  brethren  at 
Boston  soon  after  the  meetinsf.  Reachng-  was  a 
prominent  center  of  trade  in  1774,  and  the  country 
round  about  possessed  an  abundance  of  grain  and 
provisions.  There  were  numerous  gristmills  within 
a  radius  of  ten  miles,  and  the  collection  of  many 
barrels  of  flour  was  a  comparatively  easy  matter 
for  such  a  worthy  cause,  especially  under  the  appeal 
of  such  influential  men  as  composed  the  committee. 
Biddle  and  Read  were  attorneys;  Christ  an  inn- 
keeper ;  Potts  a  physician :  Dundas  a  merchant : 
Brodhead  a  larg^e  miller  of  Heidelberg;  and  Schultz 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  Hereford. 

From  this  meeting  to  the  close  of  the  Revolution, 
the  people  of  Reading  and  of  the  county  partici- 
pated actively  in  al!  the  affairs  of  the  province. 
Thcy  were  represented  by  delegates  at  the  several 
conferences;  and  they  contributed  their  quota  of 
men,  money  and  supplies  in  the  successful  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war. 

Lexixgto.n'  Awakens  Cou.xtv. — The  battle  of 
Lexington  was  fought  on  April  19,  17'7.5,  and  when 
the  news  of  tiie  b.^ille  reached  Reading,  about  a 
week  afterward,  a  ci>ni[)anv  of  men  was  formed, 
who  wore  cra})e  foi  a  cockade  as  a  token  of  .sorrow 
for  the  slaughter  of  their  breth.ren  ;  and  each  town- 
ship in  Berks  county  resolved  to  raise  and  discipline 
a  company  of  soldiers.  And  tiie  following  extract 
of  a  letter  from  Reading,  dated  April  l*r>,  177.j, 
shows  forcibly  the  feeling  that  prevailed: 

We  have  nised  in  this  town  two  companies  of  foot 
under  pro[KT  officers:  and  such  is  the  spirit  of  the  people 
of  this  free  connty.  that  in  iliree  weeks  time  there  is  not 
a  township  in  it  th.nt  will  not  have  a  company  raised  and 
disciplincil,  ready  to  assert  at  the  risk  of  their  lives  the 
freedom  of  America. 

The  companies  tnentioued  were  commanded  by 
Capt.  George  Xagel  and  Capt.  Joitn  Spohn. 

First  Officers  From  County. — The  first  meet- 
ing of  the  Committee  of  Safely  at  Philadelphia  was 
on  Jan.  2,  177C!.  which  Edward  Biddle  attended. 
Congress  had  recommended  that  Pennsylvania  fur- 
nish four  battalions  of  trooits ;  and  at  this  meeting 
the  Committee  were  to  agree  upon  the  four  colonels 
who  were'to  be  placed  in  command.  On  the  Itli  of 
January,  they  selected  field  officers,  George  X'agel. 
of  Reading,  being  one  of  thein.  Tlien  thev  also 
selected  thirty-otie  captains  for  the  four  battalions, 
among  those  chosen  being  John  Spohn.  Peter  Scull 
and  Peter  Decker,  all  of  Reading,  and  on  Jan.  Hth, 
they  selected  thirty-two  lieutenants,  among  them 
Daniel  Brodhead  of  Reading. 

Germ.\ns  to  RicsCfE. — I'.y  looking  over  the 
nnmc>^  of  the  mnnerotis  men  in  P.irks  coimtv  who 
participated  in  ihe  inovemem  for  independence,  it 
will  be  found  that  thev  are  almost  entirclv  German. 


The  i)opulation  of  the  county  was  largely  German 
and  of  German  descent,  and  this  preponderance  of 
names  over  those  of  all  other  nationalities  wa--  •■-) 
be  expected.  The  pro[)ortion  was  fully  nine-tentji-. 
They  used  the  German  lang-uage  in  their  dailv 
affairs,  excelling  the  transfer  of  title  to  real  estate, 
which  was  reqtured  to  be  in  the  English  language 
by  a  provincial  law.  The  location  of  the  Englivji 
people  m  1775  was  mostly  at  Reading,  and  in  Roljc- 
son.  Caernarvon.  Union,  Exeter,  Oley,  Maiden- 
creek  and  Richinoiul  townships,  or  eight  districts 
out  of  twenty-nine ;  but  the  major  part  of  the  people 
in  these  districts  also  were  German,  excepting  tlic 
southern  section  of  the  countv. 

It  can  be  stated  that  Perks  county  was  then  dis- 
tinctively the  most  German  county  of  the  eleven 
counties  in  the  province.  It  was  natural  for  the 
electors  of  the  county  to  show  a  positive  sympathv 
for  this  movement,  because  it  was  in  accordance 
with  their  notions  of  political  freedom.  They  liad 
a  firm  belief  in  local  government  and  desired  to 
carry  it  on  successfully  without  nmiecessary  re- 
strictions or  burdens.  Taxation  without  represen- 
tation was  to  them  an  unreasonable  and  unjust  doc- 
trine, and  they  were  not  disposed  to  tolerale  its 
continued  enforcement. 

The  system  of  militia,  wdiich  had  been  provided 
by  the  Assembly,  was  appreciaterl  by  them,  and  they 
co-operated  .sincerely  in  its  estaljlishment  through- 
out the  coimty.  Thev  etTected  an  organization  and 
responded  to  the  call  for  trcKips  in  a  willing  and 
prompt  manner.  The  militia  returns  of  the  county 
for  177.5  show  the  organization  of  seven  battalions; 
and  by  July  there  w-ere  at  least  fortv  companies 
ready  to  answer  the  call  for  military  dtitv  in  actual 
warfare.  Their  zeal  will  be  more  fully  appreciated 
when  we  understand  that  there  was  not  a  single 
post-office  in  the  county,  and  that  the  only  means  of 
dispatching  communications  was  by  express  riders. 

Associ.vtok.s. — At  the  inception  of  the  Revolution, 
there  were  eleven  counties  in  the  province  of  Penn- 
sylvania : 


Philadelphia 
Rucks 
Cheste:r 
Lancaster 


York 

Cumberland 
Berks 
Xorthampton 


Bedford 

Xorthnmberland 

Westmoreland 


On  June  .".().  1775,,  the  General  Assembly  aj)- 
proved  of  "the  Association  entered  into  bv  the 
good  people  of  this  Colony  for  the  defense  of  their 
lives,  liberties  and  properties"  ;  decided  to  pav  the 
necessary  expenses  ot  the  officers  and  soldiers  wliile 
in  active  service,  rc|)elh'ng  anv  hostile  invasion  of 
British  or  other  tro-ips  ;  and  recommended  the  coun- 
ty commissioners  of  tiie  several  counties  to  "im- 
mcfliately  provide  a  priii)er  number  of  good,  new 
firelocks  witli  liayonets  fitted  {o  them,  cartridge 
b(>xes  with  twenty-three  rotnnls  of  cartridges  in 
cverv  box.  and  kiiaiKacks."  Tiie  allotted  number 
for  Berks  county  was  four  hnuflred. 

Edward  Biddic  and  Henry  Ciiri-t  were  then  t!ie 
representatives  frcjin  Berks  county:  am!  Bicidle  wa-; 


,'!    }■ 


,1);.'      H  .<     I' 


WAR  PERIODS 


113 


selected  by  the  Assembly  as  one  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety  "for  calling  forth  sucli  and  so  many  of 
the  Associators  into  actual  ?er\-ice  when  necessity 
requires."  The  committee  consisted  of  twenty-five 
members. 

The  preamble  to  the  Articles  of  Association  read 
as  follows: 

We,  the  officers  and  soldior.s,  engaged  in  the  present 
association  for  the  defense  of  Amoric:'.n  liberty,  being 
fully  sensible  that  the  strength  and  sccinily  of  any  body 
of  men  acting  together  consists  in  just  regularity,  due 
subordination,  and  exact  obedience  to  comniand,  without 
wnich  no  individual  can  have  that  confidence  in  the  sup- 
port of  those  aliout  him,  that  is  so  necessary  to  give  firm- 
ness and  resolution  to  the  whole,  do  voluntarily  and 
freely,  after  consideration  of  the  following  articles, 
adopt  the  same  as  the  rules  by  which  we  agree  and  re- 
solve to  be  governed  in  all  our  military  concerns  and 
operations,  until  the  same  or  any  of  them  shall  be 
changed  or  dissolved  by  the  Assembly  or  Provincial  Con- 
vention, or  in  their  recess,  by  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
or  a  happy  reconciliation  sfiall  take  place  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies. 

There  were  thirty-two  articles  which  provided  for 
the  regulation  of  military  affairs,  and  these  articles 
the  Associators  were  expected  to  sign.  The  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  in  Berks  county  recommended  the 
adoption  of  the  Articles. 

Recommend.\tioxs  for  Companies. — On  July 
28,  1775,  the  Assembly  approved  of  the  resolution 
of  Congress,  passed  July  ISth,  which  recommended: 

That  all  able-bodied  men  bctvvei^n  sixteen  and  sixty 
years  of  age  in  each  colony  immediately  form  themselves 
into  regular  companies  to  consist  of  one  captain,  two 
lieutenants,  one  ensign,  four  sergeants,  four  corporals,  a 
clerk,   drummer   and    fifer,   and   sixty-eight  privates. 

That  the  officers  of  each  company  be  chosen  by  the 
respective  companies. 

That  the  companies  be  formed  into  Battalions,  offi- 
cered with  a  Colonel,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  two  Majors, 
and  an   Adjutant   or   Quartcrmastc*. 

That  the  officers  above  captain  be  appointed  by  the  As- 
sembly or  b\'  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

And  that  each  soldier  be  furnished  with  a  good  musket 
that  will  carry  an  ounce  ball,  with  a  bayonet,  steel  ram- 
rcd,  worm  priming  wire  with  brush  fitted  thereto,  a  cut- 
ting sword  or  tomahawk,  a  cartridge  box  that  will  con- 
tain twenty-three  rounds  of  cartridges,  12  flints,  and  a 
knapsack. 

The  musket  barrels  were  three  feet  eight  inches 
long,  and  the  bayonets  sixteen  inches  long ;  the  bore 
of  the  barrels  of  sufficient  size  to  carry  seventeen 
balls  to  the  pound. 

CouNTV  Colonels. — Delegates  from  the  eleven 
counties,  numbering  altogether  fifty-three,  assem- 
bled at  Philadelphia  on  Aug.  19.  ITT.",  for  the  pur- 
pose of  adopting  Articles  of  Association.  They 
were  colonels  of  the  Associated  Battalions,  and  the 
representatives   from  Berks  countv  were: 


Edward   Biddle 
Mark  Bird 


Daniel   Brodhead    Christian  Lower 
Balscr  Geehr 


of  Independence,  and  rlirecting  it  to  be  read  on 
Monday,  July  8th,  at  1"^  o'clock  noon,  at  the  place 
where  the  election  of  delegates  was  to  be  held. 
This  was  done  by  Henry  \'anderslice,  the  sheriff 
of  the  county,  on  that  day  at  the  Court-House,  on 
Penn  Square,  the  bell  having  been  riing  earnestly 
beforehand,  as  elsewhere,  to  call  the  people  together 
so  that  they  should  learn  the  significance  of  that 
important  public  document. 

Population  and  Districts. — In  17 7G,  the  terri- 
tory of  Berks  county  included  not  only  that  part 
which  lies  within  the  present  boundary  lines  to  the 
south  of  the  Blue  Mountain,  but  also  nearly  the 
entire  area  of  Schuylkill  county  to  the  north,  the 
excepted  portion  being  about  one-sixth  part  at  the 
eastern  end.  But  that  section  beyond  the  mountain 
was  sparsely  settled,  the  resident  taxables  number- 
ing about  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  the  population 
about  six  hundred.  The  total  population  (as  near 
as  it  can  be  estimated)  was  about  twenty  thousand; 
and  the  taxables  numbered  about  four  thousand,  the 
same  number  as  those  subject  to  military  duty  be- 
tween the  ages  of  eighteen  and  fifty-three  years. 
The  estimated  population  of  Pennsylvania  then  was 
three  hundred  thousatul  white  people,  and  two  thou- 
sand black. 

The  townships  or  districts  established  in  the 
cotmty  numbered  twenty-nine.  They  were  distrib- 
uted as  follows: 

KAST    OF    THE    SCHUYLKILL    KTVER 

Maiiati!iv)iy  Section 

Alsace  Douglass  Reading 

Amity  Exeter  Rockiand 

Colebrookdale  Hereford  Ruscombmanor 

District  Oicy 

Ontclaunce  Section 

Albany  Maiden-creek  Richmond 

Greenwich  Maxatawny  Windsor 

Longswamp 

WEST    or    THE     SCHUYLKILL    KIVER 

Schiixlkill  Section 


Declaration  Read  in  County. — In  pursuance  of 
a  resolution  of  Congress,  the  State  Board  of  Safety 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  Committee  of  P.erks  County 
on  July  r>,  1770.  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  Declaration 


Brecknock 
Caernarvon 


Cumru 
Robeson 


Union 


Ttdpchockcn  Section 

Bern  Heidelberg  Tulpehocken 

Bethel 

BEYOND   THE    BLUE    MOUNTAIN 

Brunswick    and    Piiie-Crove.  ■    • 

COMPANIES  IX  SERVICE 
The  following  companies  from  Berks  county  were 
in  the  Revolution  from  its  inception  in  177.3  to  its 
successful  termination  in  1783,  so  far  as  tiie  com- 
piler has  been  able  to  ascertain  them.  This  table 
is  as  complete  as  it  can  be  made  at  this  time  and 
presents  sufficient  evidence  to  show  the  [latriotic 
spirit  of  the  people  and  the  response  they  made  to 
the  government  in  its  numerous  calls  for  troops. 
I'he  names  of  the  colonels  and  captains  only  can 
be  given. 


-  -»-•<«?    .{i  '•    i-,''.'  I    I  t 


ry..-  1 


ia;^f>  r"'';,  ■  ■■  ;n; 


'    -I.    ••;'     ■  ,   '■■1.     -C    ?!  J7,.i.;    r,( 


114 


HISTORY    OF    BERK'S    COUNTY,    PEXNSYI.VAXIA 


STATEMENT  OF  TROOPS 

During    the   year   1775 

Company  of  Capt.  George  Xagel  (Reading),  93  men, 
at  Cambridce.  Mass.,  from  July,  1775,  to  March  1776. 
He  subsequently  became  a   Colonel. 


During  flu-  year   i//'6 

Company  of  Capt.  Jonathan  Jones  (Caernarvon"),  83 
mtn ;  at  .Montreal,  Quebec.  Ticonderoga.  and  Trenton 
from  Jai.u.'iry,    1776,   to  January,   1777. 

Battalion  of  Col.  Henry  llaller  (Reading),  which  com- 
prised eight  companies  commanded  by  tlie  following 
captains : 

John  Spohn  (Reading),  7S  men 
Peter   Decker    (Reading),   86   men 
Henry  Christ   (Reading).  87  men 
Joseph   Hiester    (Reading)  _.- 

Jacob  Graul    (Reading) 
Jacob   Maurer    (Maiden-creek) 
John  Ludwig   (Heidelberg) 
George   Douglass    (Amity) 

The  total  number  of  men  was  estimated  at  666.  They 
were  in  active  service  at  New  York  and  Long  Inland 
from  June,  1776,  to  January,  1777.  Lieut. -Col.  Nicholas 
Lotz  was  in  command  of  the  men.  and  he  was  among  the 
prisoneri  taken   at  the  BatMe  of   Long  Island. 

Also,    in    that    vicinity    during    August    and    September, 

1776,  four   companies,   estimated   at  300  men,   commanded 
by   the   following   captains : 

John  Old    (District) 
George  Will  (Reading).  72  men 
Daniel  Deturck  (iMsace),  72  men 
George   May    (Windsor) 

A.lso,  in  t!iat  vicinity  (South  Amboy)  during  the  same 
time,  four  companies  of  the  battalion  of  Col.  John  Pat- 
ton  (HiMdclberg),  estimated  at  300  men,  commanded  by 
the  following  captains: 

John  Lesher   (Tulpehocken) 
Michael  W-'olf   (Bethel) 
George  Miller   (Tulpehocken) 
^Michael  Furrer   (Tulpehocken) 

Also,  in  that  vicinity  during  the  same  time,  the  4th 
Lattalion  nf  F!erks  County  Militi.-\  uder  the  comimnd 
of  Col.  Balser  Geehr  (Bern\  It  arri\ed  at  Bethlehem 
on  the  way  on  Sept.  1st.  The  full  battalion  of  six  com- 
panies is  supposed  to  have  gone  to  the  field,  but  the 
names  of  ihc  captains  ana  the  number  of  men  have  not 
been  as  yet  ascertained ;  men  estimated  at  300. 

Also,  in  that  vicinity  during  the  same  time,  the  bat- 
talion of  Col.  Mark  Bird  (Union),  which  he  equipped  at 
his  own  expense.  The  names  of  the  captains  have  not 
been  ascertained  but  the  number  of  men  was  said  to  have 
been  about  300. 

The  company  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Weiser  (Heidel- 
berg), 53  nien.  was  at  Trentnn  in  December,  177C,  and  at 
Princeton  in  January,  1777. 

The  quota  of  500  men  from  Berks  county,  made  up 
from  the  battalion.';  of  Col.  Henry  Haller  and  Col.  Danit'l 
Hunter,  were  also  in  the  vicinity  of  Trenton  in  Decem- 
ber,   1776,    and    at    Newtown.    Rucks    county,    in    Jaiiu.iry, 

1777.  Only  five  of  the  captains  have  been  ascertained  : 
In  the  Haller  battalion,  three  captains — 

George  Will    (Reading),  40  men 
John  Diehl    (Reading).  20  men 
Nicholas   Scheffer    (Tulpehocken),  32  men 
And  in  the  Hunter  battalion,  two  captains — 
Conrad  Eckert   (Heidelberg) 
Fisher 

In  February,  a  detachment  of  the  company  of  Capt. 
Peter  Nagel,  17  men,  wa^  det.iiied  on  duty  to  guard 
prisoners  at  Reading. 


In  September,  a  detachment  of  the  company  of  Cap! 
Conrad  Geist,  39  men,  was  detailed  on  duty  also  to  gu-rd 
prisoners   at  Reading. 

Besides  the  captains  mentioned,  there  is  positive  evi- 
dence that  four  additional  captains  were  in  the  service 
in    the    summer:        Jacob    Moser    (Reading),   John    Soder 

(Bern),    Stephen    Crumrine    ( ColeKrookdale),    and 

Meyer,  they  having  been  paid  by  the  E.xecutive  Council. 
Number  of  men  estimated  r.t  300. 


During   the   year   lyjj 
The   companies    commanded    by    the    following    captains 
were   enlisted   in   the   Continental   Line — men  estimated   at 
300: 

3d     Reg't,  Peter   Scull    (Reading) 
4lh      '■      John  Mears  (Reading) 
6th       "       Jacob  Moser    (Reading),  67  men 
6th  .    "       Jacob  Bovver   (Reading) 
11th      "       Samuel  Dewees    (Heidelberg) 
12th       "       Peter   Withington    (Reading) 
The  battalion  of  Col.   Daniel   Hunter    (Olcy)    was  mus- 
tered  into    service    on   Aug    7,    1777,    with    365   men,    and 
participated  under  General    Washington  in   the   campaigns 
round  about  Philadelphia  from  August  to  December,  dur- 
ing   which    the    battles    of    Brandywine    and    Germantown 
were    fought.      It    comprised    six    companies,    which    were 
commanded  by  the  following  captains  : 

Henry  Knause    (Colebrcokdale)  .  ' 

Charles   Crouse    (Longswamp) 
Jacob  Whetstone  (Brunswiclc) 
Conrad   Geist    (Reading) 
John  McMurray   (Robeson) 
John  Lesher   (Oley.) 
The  battalion   of   Col.   Daniel   Udree    (Oley)    was   mus- 
tered in  at  the  same  time  with  301  men.  and  was  engaged 
in    the    same    service.      It    comprised    six    companies    with 
the   following   captains  : 

Stepiien   Crumrine    (Colebrookdale) 
Peter  Smith  (Reading) 
.Conrad  Minirh   (Brunswick) 
John  Reitmyer  (Reading) 
John   Essington    (Union) 
Ckorge    Battorf    (Bethel) 

The  battalion  of  Col.  Michael  Lindenmnih  (Bern)  was 
mustered  in  on  Sept.  27,  1777,  with  286  men,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  service  in  the'  Schuylkill  Valley  from  that  time 
until  Washington  went  into  v\in:er  quarters  at  Valley 
I'orgo  on  Dec.  ISth,  wiicr.  ;t  is  supposed  the  men  returned 
lo  the  county.  It  comprised  six  companies  with  the  fol- 
lowing captains  : 

Sebastian  Lentz   (Rockland) 

Jacob  Rodarmel    (Ri'-hinond) 

Francis    L'mbenhauer    (Born) 

Daniel   Deturck    (.Msacc) 

John   Wagner    (Bern) 

Daniel    Womelsdorf    (Heidelberg) 

The  battalion  of  Col.  Joscj^h  Hiester  (Reading)  was 
Inustercd  in  at  the  same  time  with  263  men.  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  same  service  r.s  the  I.indcnmuth  battalion.  It 
comprised   six   companies   with   the   following  captains: 

Jacob   Roth    (.Amity) 
Jacob   Dreibelhis    (Greenwich) 
Sebastian   Emrich    (Bctliel) 
Peter  Nagel    (Reading) 
John   Graul    (Reading) 
Conrad   Weiser   (Heidelberg) 

The  battalion  of  Col.  Henry  Siiyker  (Tulpehocken)  was 
mustered  in  on  Nov.  0.  1777,  and  was  ciigaged  in  the  serv- 
ice for  sixty  days  in  the  Schuylkill  Valley,  between  Valley 
Forge  and  Germantown.  It  comprised  seven  companies 
and  367  men,  with   the   following  captains : 

Michael  Vovgc   (Richmoi'd) 
Jacob   Shadel    (Bern) 


•,.,.'  "/M    -..:! 


WAR  PERIODS 


115 


George  Riehm   (Cumru) 

Jacob  Rhoads    (Amity) 

Michael   Brctz    (Fine   Grove) 

Conrad   Ecken    (Heidelberg) 

Henry  VV'eaver  (Tulpehocken) 
The  battalion  of  Co!.  Jacob  Weaver  (Amity)  was  mus- 
tered in  on  Dec.  13,  1777,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the 
service  for  sixty  days  in  the  same  vicinity  as  the  Spyker 
battalion.  It  ci:)mprised  eight  coinpaincs  and  361  men, 
with  the  following  captains: 

Daniel  Reiff  (Oley) 

Henry  Egncr   ( Longs wamp) 

Ferdinand   Ritter    (Albany) 

Sebastian    iMiikr    (Cumru) 

Philip  Krick    (Cumru) 

David   Morgan    (Caernarvon) 

Jacob   Krcame:    (Bethel) 

Philip   Filbert    (Heidelberg) 
The   company   of   Capt.    Charles    Crouse    (Longswnmp), 
with  40  men,  was  on  guard  duty  at  the  Windsor  powder 
magazine  for  some  time  before  Jan.  3.   1778. 

The  company  of  Capt. Jacob  Hill  (Windsor),  with  41 
men,  was  mustered  into  service  on  Oct.  25,  1777.  and  was 
also  stationed  at  the  same  powder  magazine  for  some  time, 
doing  guard  duty. 

And  two  companies,  each  comprising  40  men,  were  sta- 
tioned at  Reading  in  September,  for  the  purpose  of  guard- 
ing the  military  stores — the  n.imes  of  the  commanding 
ofhcers   not    having   been   ascertained. 

During   the  year   ijjS 

In  January,  General  Washington  recommended  that 
Capt.  Edward  Scull  (Reading)  should  recruit  150  men 
in  Berks  county  for  the  Battalion  of  the  State  in  the 
Continent.nl  Army,  which  was  done. 

A  company,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Joseph  Talbot 
(Caernarvon),  v/ith  5-i  men.  v,-as  mustered  into  service  on 
Jan.  5th,  and   detailed   for  guard   duty  at   Reading. 

In  April,  200  men  were  ordered  on  guard  duty  at  Fiead- 
ing,  and  10  men  on  guard  duty  at  Boone's  Mill  (supposed 
to  have  been  in  Exeter). 

■  During  the  middle  of  this  year,  10  men  were  enlisted 
at  Reading  to  m;ike  up  the  company  of  Capt.  Bartholomew 
Von  Hccr,  for  the  purpose  of  performing  provost  duty. 
They  were  mounted  and  accoutered  as  Liglit  Dragoons, 
to  apprehend   deserters,   rioters   and   stragglers. 

Col.  Jacob  Morgan  reported  in  A.ugiist  that  he  had  for- 
warded 180  men  to  Sunbur_\.  and  T-3  men  to  Easton  to 
render  frontier  service  .-igainst  the  Indians. 

Two  battalions,  the  quota  ordered  from  Berks  county, 
were  sent  to  Philadelphia  in  October,  to  serve  under  Gen- 
eral A.''mstrong,  in  anticipation  of  an  invasi<jii  b.y  the  Brit- 
ish, the  number  of  men  being  estimated  at  500. 


Dxiring  the  year   lyyi) 
No  evidence  of  the  enlistment  of  men  from  Berks  coun- 
ty during  this  year  has  been  discovered,   nor  any  orders 
from    the    E.xecutive    Council    to    the    lieutenant    of    the 
county  for  men.  

During   the  year  1780 

In  May,  one  class  of  men,  numbering  GO  men,  was 
taken  from  the  battalion  of  Col.  Michael  Lindenmuth 
(Bern)    for  frontier  fervicc. 

In  June,  a  company  of  52  men  was  raised  as  volun- 
teers in  Berks  county  and  sent  to  Philadelphia  under  the 
command   of    Major   Edward   Scull. 

In  August.  120  men  were  sent  to  Brunswick  township 
from  the  county  to  render  frontier  service. 

In  August,  the  fith  Battalion  of  County  Militia,  under 
the  command  of  Col.  Josc|ih  Hicster.  joined  the  army  of 
Gen.  Joseph  Reed  in  .\'ew  Jersey,  near  C.undcn,  in  pur- 
suance of  an  order  to  supply  COO  men,  who  were  to  co- 
operate with  the  main  army  near  Philadelphia.  It  was 
m  service  for  thirty  days  frnm  Aug.  10th.  The  names 
ot  437  mnn  have  been  ascertained  of  this  qnnt.i  There 
were  six  companies,  conunanded  by  tl;e  following  captains  : 


Charles   Gobin    (Reading) 
Ferdinand    Ritter    (.Mbany) 
Conrad   .'>herman    (Tulpehocken) 
John   Ludwig    (Heidelberg) 
Jacob   Baldy    (Ma.\atawny) 
Henry   Strouch    (Ruscombmanor) 

In  September,  two  companies,  numbering  120  men,  from 
the  battalion  of  Col.  Samuel  Ely,  were  sent  from  the 
county  to  perform  frontier  service  against  the  Indians. 


During   the  year   1781 

In  May,  one  class  of  the  battalion  of  Col.  Michael 
Lindenrrtuth.  nimil>ering  64  men,  was  forwarded  from 
county  to   render   frontier  service. 

In  June,  two  cla<=ses  of  the  Cth  Battalion  of  Militia, 
commanded  by  Col.  Joseph  Hiester,  numbering  128  men, 
were  placed  under  the  comniand  of  Maj.  Bayley,  to  guard 
the   encampment   of   German   prisoners   at    Reading. 

In  August,  a  detachment  of  Lieut.  Daniel  Stroud's  com- 
pany, numbering  40  men.  was  ordered  on  guard  duty,  and 
it    served    during    .August    and    September. 

A  detachment  of  Capt.  Charles  Grouse's  company,  num- 
bering 36  men,  was  on  duty  at  Reading  guarding  pris- 
oners   from    .'Xug.    Kith  to   Oct.   16th. 

In  September,  there  were  153  men  recruited  at  Reading 
and   forwarded. 

Three  clashes  of  Col.  Samuel  Ely's  Battalion,  numbering 
.■iOO  men,  were  in  service  at  Newtown  from  Oct.  Ist  to 
Oct.  ISth.  Two  of  the  companies  are  believed  to  have 
been  conunanded  by 

John   Robinson    (Caernarvon),   56   men 
Jacob  Ladich    (Brunswick) 

The  other   companies   have  not  been   discovered. 

Three  other  companies,  about  the  same  number  of  men. 
were  also  organized  in  the  county,  but  on  account  of  the 
want  of  arms  the  lieutenant  of  the  county  (then  Col.  Val- 
entine Eckert),  could  not  then   forward  them. 

In  October,  a  company  of  ritlcmcn.  ntimbering  83  men, 
was  organized  in  the  western  end  of  the  county,  and  in 
service  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Jacob  Livingood 
(Heidelberg)  until  Jan.  1,  1782.  The  place  of  service  has 
not  been  ascertained,  but  the  men  were  paid  on  Jan. 
IG,    1783. 

Militia  from  Greenwich  and  Maxatawny  townships, 
numbering   120  men,   were  on   a  tour  of   duty. 

Detachments  from  the  2d  and  nth  Battalions  of  Militia, 
numbering  169  men,  were  on  duty  at  Reading  guarding 
prisoners. 

During   the  year   iyS3 

In  February,  the  company  of  Capt.  John  Robinson, 
numberin.g  60  men,  was  in  service  at   .Vorthumberland. 

In  February,  the  first  class  of  rniiitia,  numbering  40 
men,    was    in    service    at    Reading    guarding    prisoners. 

In  August,  there  were  two  detachm.ents  of  militia,  one 
numbering  27  men,  and  the  other  50  men,  who  rendered 
frontier   service   in  the  county. 

In  September,  125  men  were  sent  from  the  county  to 
render    frontier    service    in    X'orthumhcrland    county. 

In  September,  a  det^c'imcnt  of  Capt.  Peter  Nagcl's  com- 
pany, numbering  40  men.  was  detailed  to  guard  prisoners 
who   were   sent   from   Reading   to   Philadelphia. 


RECAPITULATION 

For  the  year  1775  95 

For  the  year  1776  2,858 

For  the  year  1777  2,404 

For  the  year  1778  1,233 

For  the  vear  1770  

For  the  vear  1780  952 

For  the  vear  1781  1,093 

For  the  year  1783  342 

8.077 


'■.lr\' 


116 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLA'AXIA 


Miscellaneous    fiilistnunts    as-ccrtained    not    ini-liided 

in    above    statement    56 


Total    estimated     9,033 


The  number  of  men  for  the  years  ITlHl  and  1TT7 
appears  incredible,  but  the  reader  will  take  into 
consideration  that  the  men  for  each  year  were  not 
all  in  service  at  one  time.  Taking  the  reports  of 
men  in  service  that  have  been  given  in  detail,  and 
understanding-  that  it  was  not  possible  to  discover 
all  the  men  that  were  enlisted,  it  can  be  said  that 
the  estimated  total,  as  arranged,  is  not  above,  but 
rather  below,  the  real  number  supplied  by  the  coun- 
ty during  the  Revolution. 

The  system  of  supplying  men  was  simple,  and 
it  was  carried  on  in  such  a  manner  as  to  render  as- 
sistance to  the  government  with  as  little  injury  as 
possible  to  the  several  districts  from  which  the  men 
were  called.  The  number  demanded  at  one  time 
was  not  extraordinary,  compared  with  the  total 
number  subject  to  military  duty,  and  the  term  of 
service  was  limited  to  such  a  period  that  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  the  people  should  not  suffer  seri- 
ous losses.  In  this  way  it  was  possible  to  have  at 
least  several  hundred  men  from  a  county  in  service 
all  the  time. 

COLOXF.LS    ASCERTAIXED— 1- 


Mark  Bird 
Daniel   Rrodhead 
Valentine    Kckert 
Sami;cl    Ely 
Balser  Gechr 
Henry   Halier 
Jcseph  Iliester 
Daniel   Hunter 
Michael   Lindcnr.uuh 


Nicholas  Lotz 
Jacob  Morgan 
Jacob  Morgan,  Jr. 
George  N,-.gel 
John  Patton 
Henry  Spyker 
Daniel  Udrec 
Jacob    \\'eaver 


C.\PTAIXS    ASCERTAIXED— 85 


Jacob   Baldy 
George    Battorf 
George   Beaver 
Jacob  Bower 
Michael  Rretz 
Henry  Christ 
Charles   Grouse 
Stephen    Crumrine 
Peter  Decker 
Daniel    Detiirck 
Samuel   Dewees 
John   Diehl 
Jacob   Dreibelbis 
Conrad   Eckert 
Henry  Egner 
Sebastian    Erarich 
John    Essingtoit 
Philip    Filbert 

Fisher 

George   Focbt 
Conrad   Gei'it 
Charles  Gobin 
Jacob   Graul 
John  Graul 
Thomas    Herbert 
Joseph   Hiester 
Jacob  Hill 
Jonathan   Jones 
George   Kemii 
Henry  Knruiso 
Philip  Kreanicr 


Philip   Krick 
JacoD  Larlich 
Sebast:a:i    Lentz 
John    Lesher 
Jacob    Livingood 
John  Ludwig 
Jacob    !Maurer 
Ge-orge   May 
John   McMurray 
John    Mears 
George   Miller 
Sebastian   Miller 
Conrad  ^.Iinich 
David    Morgan 
Jacob   ifoser 

.Moyer 

George   Nagel 
Peter    Nagel 
John    Old 

Dirck    Pennvbacker 
Daniel    ReitI 
John    Reitmyer 
Jacob    Rich<;tein 
George    Richm 
Ferdinand  Ritter 
John    Robinson 
Jacob   Rotli    (Rhoads) 
Jacob   Rothermel 
Nicholas    SchefTer 
Edward    Scull 
Peter  Scull 


Francis  Umbenhauer 
Bartholomew  Von  Heer 
Peter  Wanner 
John  Wagner 
Benjamin    W'eiser 
Conrad  Weiser 
Henry   Weaver 
Jacob  Whetstone 
.Matthias  Wick 
George  Will 
Daniel  Womelsdorf 


William  Scull 
Jacob   Shadcl 
Henry    Sliepler 
Conrad   Sherman 
Casper   Snieck 
Peter   Smith 
John    Soder 

Spatts 

John   Spohn 
Leonard  Stone 
Henry   Strauch 
Joseph    Talbot 

Akmy  Supplies  fro.m  County. — During  the 
Revolution,  many  army  supplies  were  either  manu- 
factured or  produced  in  the  county  of  Berks,  more 
especially  in  the  years  1775,  1776  and  1777;  and 
these  were  collected  from  the  several  districts  and 
deposited  at  Reading,  for  the  purpose  of  enabling 
the  Commissioners  of  Forage  to  fill  the  propor- 
tional allotirients  of  the  districts  with  reasonable 
dispatch.  They  consisted  of  grain,  flour,  hay,  pow- 
der, clothing,  accoutrements,  horses  and  wagons. 

The  superior  geographical  situation  of  Reading 
led  Congress  to  select  the  place  as  a  general  depot 
for  storing  sttpplies  of  all  kinds.  It  was  far  enough 
from  Philadelphia  that  General  Howe  could  not 
entertain  any  thoughts  of  capturing  the  stores  with 
safety  to  his  army,  and  yet  it  was  near  enough  to 
enable  the  storekeeper  to  fill  orders  made  upon  him 
promptly. 

Stoke  House  at  Reading. — In  a  letter  of  Col. 
Jacob  Morgan  to  the  Executive  Council,  dated  Sept. 
IS,  177?,  he  stated  as  follows: 

There  is  at  pres2nt  a  great  quantity  cf  powi'er  and 
other  stores  bclongini,-  to  the  State  in  this  town  [Read- 
ing] and  there  are  two  companies  now  out  of  said  classes 
mounting  guard  over  said  stores.  The  people  of  the  town 
are  vastl}-  uneasy  at  having  so  much  powder  here,  and, 
unless  it  be  ver\'  vi-ell  guarded,  that  uneasiness  will  in- 
crease to  a  great  degree,  as  lire  happening  to  the  house 
where  the  powder  is  lodged  v  ould  tear  the  t.'iwn  to  pieces 
and  destroy  the  v.hole  body  of  inliabitants.  Many  persons 
of  the  towr.,  above  oO  years  of  age,  woidd  make  part 
of  a  guard  if  taken  into  pay,  which  would  rendc  it  c.isy 
to  send  so  many  more  of  the  militia  as  would  othi-rwisc 
be  requisite  for  such  guard.  The  Continental  Press  and 
Medicinal   store   also   require   some   guard. 

By  a  letter  of  the  same  day  front  Christ  and  Shoe- 
maker [Justices]  to  the  Council  it  would  appear 
that  they  had  called  two  companies  of  militia  to 
guard  the  said  stores — "not  forgetting  the  Conti- 
nental Treasurer."  The  stores  included  a  "vast 
number  of   ammunition   in   the  town,  or  near  it." 

Lotz  Receipt  Book. — In  1803,  the  compiler  saw 
the  receipt  book  of  Col.  Nicholas  Lotz  in  which  re- 
ceipts were  taken  for  nioncys  paid  from  Aug.  12, 
17S0,  to  Dec.  5,  1781.  The  total  amount  was  $20?,- 
0-3.3.  Some  of  the  items  were  reckoned  in  pounds, 
shillings  and  pence,  btit  the  most  of  them  were  in 
dollars.  A  great  part  of  the  amount  was  paid  to 
him  in  currency,  which  was  never  redeemed, 
whereby  he  and  others  suffered  great  losses. 

Iron  Industries. — Thirteen  prominent  iron  in- 
dustries were  carried  on  successfully  in  tiie  c.  miily 
during  the  Revolution.     Thev  were  situated  in  the 


'  •■  '[', 


O.  I 


WAR  PERIODS 


117 


four  sections  of  the  county,  along-  strong-  streams 
of  water,  as  follows : 

FURNACES 

Oley,  in   Oley,   on   Manatawny  creek. 

Mt.  Pleasant,  in  Colebrookdale.  on  West  Branch  of 
Perkiomen. 

Hereford,  in  Hereford,  on  West  Branch  of   Perkiomen. 

Hope-ii'ell,  in   Union,  on   French  creek. 

Berkshire,  in  Heidellicrg  on  tributary  of  Tulpehocken 
creek. 

FORGLS 

Pine,  Spring  and  Oley,  in  Douglass,  District,  and  Oley, 
on  Manatawny  creek. 

Mt.   Pleasant,   in  C.olebrookdalc.   on   V/e-t   Branch. 
Bird's,  in  Robeson,  on   Hay  creek. 
Gibra'tcr,  in  Robeson,  on  Allegheny  creek.        ■< 
Moselem,   in   Richmond,   on   Ontclaunee  creek. 
Charming,  in  Tulpehocken,  on  Tulpehocken  creek. 

Ironmasters. — The  ironniasters,  the  proprietors 
of  tlie  foregoing  industries,  were  Mark  Bird,  John 
Fatten,  John  Lesher.  David  Potts,  John  Old,  Thom- 
as Alayberry,  Daniel  Udree,  George  Ege  and  Chris- 
tian Lower.  The  assessed  value  of  the  property 
■of  these  men  in  the  different  sections  of  the  county 
amounted  to  a  very  large  sum  in  the  aggregate, 
showing  that  thev  were  in  a  situation  to  contribute 
a  strong"  influence  toward  the  successful  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war.  They  stipplied  the  Continental 
Government  with  cannoti-balls,  cast-iron  and 
wrought- iron  in  variiius  sha])es,  and  they  cooper- 
ated lieartily  in  the  great  sociril  movement  for  rep- 
resentative government.  Their  nS'^istance  was  of 
lhe  greatest  consequence  arid  cannot  be  overesti- 
m.ited.  We  can  take  great  pride  in  the  fact  that 
the  county  then  possessed  such  enterprising,  pub- 
'lic-spiritL'd  and  patriotic  men. 

Other  Industries. — There  were  other  indus- 
tries which  are  equally  worthy  of  mention,  such  as 
numerous  grist-mills,  saw-mills,  gun  factories, 
wheelwright  shops  and  blacksmith  shops.  These 
were  also  situated  along  the  strong  streams  in  dif- 
ferent sections  of  the  county  and  the\'  rendered 
•great  assistance  to  Congress  and  the  Council. 
Nicholas  Lotz,  Sebastian  Levan,  and  Daniel  Brod- 
liead  were  three  extensive  millers,  and  Valentine 
Eckert  and  Christian  Lower  were  two  influential 
"blacksmiths,  who  identified  themselves  prominently 
with  public  affairs  at  that  tiine.  Knapsacks  and 
gun-barrels  were  made  in  different  parts  of  the 
county.  And  numerous  energetic,  hopeful  and  per- 
sistent farmers  constituted  the  very  foundation  of 
the  public  welfare. 

COXTIXEXTAL  PAPER  MONEY 
During  the  progress  of  the  Revolution,  the  gov- 
ernment was  compelled  to  resort  to  the  emission 
of  "hills  of  credit"  with  which  to  purchase  army 
supplies,  etc.,  and  to  sati-^fy  the  demands  of  carry- 
ing on  the  war.  Gold  and  silver  were  not  then 
known  to  exist  in  the  country  in  any  quantity  equal 
to  the  demands  of  the  war,  nor  could  thev  be  pro- 
cured, i^ircct  taxation,  tliongh  practicable,  was 
■vlccined  impolitic.     The  only  plausible  expedient  m 


the  power  of  Congress  was  the  emission  of  these 
bills.  Congress  therefore  resolved  in  June,  1775,  to 
emit  such  bills  to  the  amount  of  two  millions  of 
dollars;  in  July,  ordered  a  million  more;  and  in 
November,  three  millions  more  :  and  for  their  re- 
demption, pledged  the  Confederated  Colonies.  Sub- 
sequently, other  emissions  were  made ;  and  such 
was  the  animation  of  the  times  that  these  several 
emissions,  amounting  to  twenty  millions,  circulated 
for  some  time  without  any  depreciation,  and  com- 
manded the  resources  of  the  countiy  for  public 
service  equally  with  gold  or  silver.  But  there 
was  a  point  both  in  time  and  qtiant'ity  beyond  which 
this  process  ceased  to  operate ;  that  time  was  about 
eighteen  months  from  the  date  of  first  emission 
and  that  quantity  twenty  millions.  The  rulers 
thought  it  still  preniature  to  urge  taxation,  and 
they,  therefore,  resorted  to  the  expedient  of  fur- 
ther emissions.  The  ease  with  which  the  means 
of  procuring  supplies  were  furnished  by  simply 
striking  off  bi'ls  of  credit,  and  the  readiness  with 
which  the  people  received  them,  prompted  Con- 
gress to  n:!ultiply  them  beyond  the  limits  of  pru- 
dence, and  a  depreciation  of  their  value  was  the  un- 
avoidable consequence. 

At  first,  this  depreciation  was  scarcely  percepti- 
ble, but  it  increased  daily,  till  finally  the  currency 
became  worthless.  It  began  at  different  periods 
in  different  States ;  but  in  general  about  the  middle 
of  the  year  1777,  and  then  increased  progressively 
for  ,^e\eTal  years.  In  the  latter  part  of  1777  it  was  • 
two  dollars  in  currency  for  one  in  specie;  in  1778, 
five  for  one;  in  1779,  twenty-seven  for  one;  in 
17S0,  fifty  for  one.  After  17?6,  the  circulation  was 
limited  tr>  certain  localities ;  but  where  the  currency 
passed,  it  depreciated  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars for  one.  In  Pennsylvania,  the  Executive  Coun- 
cil resolved,  as  late  as  Feb.  1,  17S1,  that  Continen- 
tal money  should  'be  received  for  puWic  dues  at 
the  exchange  of  seventy-five  dollars  in  currency  for 
one  in  specie.  But  an  Act  provided  that  after  June 
1st  following,  only  specie  or  equivalent  bills  of  cred- 
it should  be  received  for  taxes  or  other  public 
dues;  and  this  rendered  the  currency  worthless  in 
the  State.  This  extraordinary  depreciation  brought 
great  loss  to  many  of  the  people  who  had  aided 
the  government  in  the  grand  struggle  for  freedom. 
In  this  respect,  the  soldiers  suffered  most.  The 
people  of  Reading,-  arid  especially  of  the  county, 
met  with  considerable  losses  thereby.  Some  of 
them  had  large  quantities  which  were  transmitted 
for  some  time  until  lost  or  destroyed.  It  was  not 
redeemed. 

INCU-MBEXTS  OF  POSITIONS 

The  follow'ing  men  from  Berks  county  occupied 
the  positions  named,  for  the  time  stated,  during  the 
Revolution : 

NATIONAL 

Delegate  in  Continental  Congrcis 
Edward   Biddlc,   1774-75;   i775-7G;    1778-70. 


t        ..     ,')  w 


118 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNT V,    FEXXSYLVAXIA 

IVagon  Mastt'rs  General 


Secretary    of   Boa'-d    of    War 
Edward   Scull.   May  16,   1778. 

Sifgcons 
Dr.  Jonathan  Potts  Dr.  Bodo  Otto 

Surz'eyir.};  Defurtment 
William   Scull,  January,   177S.   to   September,   1779. 

Dcf^uty    Quartermcitcr-Gcncral 
Jacob  Morgan,  Jr.,   April.   177S,  to   1783. 

STATE 

Delegates    to    Provincial    Conference,   June    i8,    1776 


Jacob  Morgan 
Henry  Hr.Iler 
Mark  Bird 
Bodo  Otto 
Benjamin  Spyker 


Daniel  Hunter 
Valentine  Eckert 
Nicholas    Lotz 
Joseph   HiestcT 
Charles    Shoemaker 


Delegates  to  Constituticuil  Convention,  July  is,  1776 


Jacob  Morgan 
Gabriel  Hicster 
John  Lesher 
Benjamin    Spyker 


Daniel   Hunter 
Valentine  Eckort 
Charles    Slioemaker 
Thomas  Jones,  Jr. 


Henry  Haller,  June,   1779,  to  Aug.   14,   1780. 
Jacob  Morgan,  Jr.,  Aug.  14,  1780,  to  1783. 

Superintendent  of  Commissioners  of  Purchases 

Jacob  Morgan,  Jr.,  Aug.  14,  1780,  to  178,3. 

Register  cf  Court  of  Admiralty 

James   Read,  Jane  5,   3  7S1. 

Prothonotary  of  Supreme   Cowt 

Edward   Burd,   Esq.,   appointed   -A-Ug.   12.    1778 ;   he  con- 
tinued until  Jan.  20,  1780,  when  he  was  re-appointcd. 


C'onunittec   on   Correspondence,   July   2,   1774 

Edward   Biddle  Christopher  Schu'tz 

James   Read  Thomas  Dundas 

Daniel    Brodhead  Jonathan  Potts 
Henry  Christ 

Committee  on  Observation,  Dec.  5,  1774 


Metnbers  of  Assembly 


Edward  Eiddle 
Christopher  Schult? 
Jonathan    Potts 
William   Reeser 
Balser   Geehr 
Alichael    Bright 
John  Patton 
]\Iark  Bird 


John  Jones 

John  Old 
Sebastian  Levan 
George  Xagcl 
Christopher    Witnian 
Jacob   Shoemaker 
James  Lewis 


Colonels  of  Associated  Battalions,  177J 

Balser  Geehr 
Christian  Lower 


i.-an.ci     xiuiuer ;-",''  r>enjdm,n    weiser 1.01  Edward   Biddle 

P,  ^     ,  7S,     81  John     Bishop .1731  Mark  Bird 

Balser     Geehr 1777  Darnel    Ulymer .       1782     '83  Jonathan   Potts 

'80,     81  Abraham   Lincoln.  .  17s2,   83  i.-.    n_,,,„. 


Edward   Biddle 1774       Valentine    Eckert 1779 

'75,    '78       Christian   Lower 1779 

Henry   Christ 1774.   '75  '82,    '83 

Henry    Haller 177G       George    Ege 1779 

John     Lesher 1776  '80,    '82     Edward  Biddle 

James     Read 1777       Jonathan  Jones.    1779     Mark  Bird 

Benjamin     Spyker 1777       John    Patton 1780   '82    Daniel  Brodhead 

Sebastian   Levan 1777       Thomas   Miliiin 1780  ,■  '    r~ 

'78,    '79       loseph  Hiester 1780.  'SI  Standing  Committee,  1775 

Daniel    Hunter _m7       Benjaniin  ^Weiser 17S1    Edward  Biddle  Collinson    Read.    Sec. 

Valentine  Eckert 
Nicholas  Lotz.  Chairman 

T       ^.        -,  ,,  ,,„o       X-  1    .       1    .  ,-c,    'o.,  Daniel  Brodhead  •       Sebastian  Levan 

Jonathan   Potts..- 1.78       Nichoi.-iS   Lulz 1.S2,    83  p^i^^^  r^^u^  u-  1       1   t 

Mark   Bird 177S.   'SO  '^^''^'^  '^^^^^  Richard  -Tea 

Gabriel   Hicster 1778       John     Ludwig 1782  Lieutenants  of  County 

'79,    '81       John    Rice . .' 1783 

Jacob  Morgan,  June  9,  1777,  to  17S0;  Valentine  Eckert, 

Edward    Biddle   was    Speaker   of  the   Assembly    for   the  Jan.  8,  1781,  to  1783. 
year  1774-75.  c   j,  r  • 

The  representation  of  the  county  was  as  follows:     Two  i,ub-Ueiitenants 

for  the  years   1774   and   1775,   and   six   for   the   remaining  tfenry  Shoemaker 

years.  Christian  Lower,  Jr. 

The  foregoing  Representatives  were  elected   the   several  Valentine  Eckert 

years  named   for  the  term  of  one  year.  ^  ,    _  ,,-,■• 

I  aynxisters    of    Ccuvty   Mintta 

Executive    Ccuncillors  t^      •  ,   tt                                ,                              ,,            ^     , 

Daniel   Hunter,   177fi,   to   -Aug.   2.">.    1777;    Henry   Spyker, 

Richard   Tea    ("ironmaster   of    Hereford    township)    was  .Aug.  2G.  17'. 7.  to  17S3. 

a  councillor  for  a  time.    He  was  elected  in  17V6,  and  ■Jerved  ,.         .          ,           ,    r,       > 

until  April,  1777.  when  he  resigned.  Superintendent  of  I  urelwscs 

Jacob  Morgan,  Jr..   was  qualified  on   Sept.  3,   1777.     He  John    Patton.   1778. 

resigned  .April   4.   1778.  upon  accepting  the  appointment  of  Commissioners  of  Forage 
D.  Q.  M.  General.     On  Mav  25,  1778,  an  order  was  drawn 

to   him    for   £301,   5^.,    f.jr   attending  Council    ISO   davs,    in-      Valentine    Eckert 177S        Nicholas  Lotz..  1780  to  1783 

eluding  mileage.  '  J<^''t>     Lesher i778 

James   Read   succeeded  him.  and  was  qualified  on  June  y„    OcfolHr.    1779.    Col.    Michael    Linrienmnth    was    ap- 

30,   1778      On   Dec.  1,   1778,  he  received  one  vote  for  Pres-  pointed    Ccnmiissioner    to    purcha-e    tlour    for    the    iMcnch 

ident  of  the  E.\-ccutive  Council.     He  resigned  June  4,  1781.  tleet. 

and  on  the  5th.  was  elected  Register  of  the  Court  of  .\d-  r-   ,1     .            /    r-      • 

miraltv  f.f  Penn<;ylvania.  Collectors    of    F.Aase 

Sebastian   Levm,  of   Maxalawny,  was  a!<:o  a  CMunrillor.     lo!-,n    Biddle 1774       JmIiii     Witman 1780-81 

and  ofticKited   from  Oct.  31,   1781,  to  Oct.   15,   1734.  Daniel      Levan 1779-80       Ccnrad    Foo3 17.S2-83 


Daniel  Udree 
Jacob  Sweyer 
John  vicars 


-•nri,ta 


..  ^ "-( 


."^'  ^nh'r.uwuii  'VM. 


'-t'i , .  - .    . 
■•rvi .       . 


WAR   PERIODS 


119 


If'agon-Master 

Henry  Haller,  1778  to   17S3 

Quarter)iuisti'r 
Jacob   Morgan,  Jr.,   1778 

Storekeeper  at   Reading 
Joseph  Cowperthwaitc,   1778 

Local  Comniittces 

Owing  to  the  aid  given  h)-  dixers  inhabitants  to  the 
enemy,  the  Council  in  September,  1777,  appointed  com- 
mittees to  dispose  of  the  prciperty  of  such  otfendcrs  and 
make  return  of  their  procecdinpfs  xindcr  oath.  The  fol- 
lowing comtnittee  was  appointed   lor  Berks  county : 


County   Commissioners 


Samuel    Hoch 177.'<-7r) 

Michael    Bright 177.J-77 

Abraham    Lincoln. ..  177,i-7S 
Christian   Lower ....  1777-79 

John    Kerlin 1778-80 

Adam    Witman 1779-Sl 


Thomas  Parry 
David  Morgan 
Peter  \agel 
Henry  Haller 


Dame!  Udree 
Henry  Sp\kcr 
Joseph    Hiester 


This  conmiiitec  appointed  two  persons  in  each  district 
to  make  provision  for  distressed  families  whose  husbands 
and  fathers  were  in  service.  The  appointees  for  Reading 
were   lienry   Hahn  and    Peter   Feather. 

On  Nov.  Sth.  the  Council  also  appointed  committees  to 
collect  arms,  clothing,  etc.,  from  the  inhabiiants  who  aid 
not  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  or  who  aided  the  enemy, 
and  to  deliver  them  to  the  clothier-general.  The  com- 
mittee in    Berks  county  was : 


Henry  Christ 
Henry  Haller 
Thomas  Parry 
Daniel  L'dree 
Philip  Miller 


Xathan    Lev\is 
John  Lower 
Godfrey  Riehm 
Jacob   Seltzer 
Nicholas  Scheffer 


Committee  on  Attainder  and  Vesting  Forfeited  Estates,  lyySi 


Thomas    Parry 
Henrv  Haller 


David   Morgan 


Auditing  Committee 


Francis  Richardson,  Reynold  Keene,  Colliiisnn  Read, 
James  Piddle  and  Henry  Haller  were  appointed  Jan.  23, 
1777,  commissioners  for  the  county,  to  audit  and  settle 
the  accounts  for  arms  and  accoutrements  purcliased,  the 
property  of  persons  lost  in  actual  service,  and  of  those 
who  were  killed,  died  in  service,  or  were  made  prisoners. 


Judges 


Peter    Spycker 177.5-83 

George    Douglass. ..  177r,-83 

P.alser    Geehr 177.".-83 

John    Patton 1775-77 

Jacob    Morgan 1775-77 

Mark    Bird 1775-70 


Jonathan    Potts 1776-77 

Daniel    Levan 1777 

Sebastian    Zimmerman    .... 

1778-83 

William  Recser 1778-83 


Peter  Spycker  was  appointed  president  judge  of  all  the 
courts   on   Nov.   IS,   1780.        • 

Jtcstices  of  the  Peace 

1777 — Henry  Christ,  Readinij;;  Jacob  Shoemaker.  Wind- 
sor; Janies  Read,  Reading;  D;iniel  Hiester,  Heidelberg; 
Peter  Spycker,  Tulpeliocken ;  Jacob  WVavcr,  John  Old, 
.\mity;  John  Ludwig,  Exeter;  P.enj.  Sliott ;  Cliristopher 
Schuitz,  ikreford:  Sannu  1  iCly,  Richmond;  Jacob  Wag- 
oner, Bern;  Daniel  RoiIuthhI,  Maiclen-(  reek ;  Charles 
Slioiniaker,  Windsor;  ICgedius  Meyer.  Jacob  .Morgan, 
Caernarvon ;    Thcnias    Parry,    Union. 

1778 — Benjamin  Wei-^er,  Hei.lrllicrg:  Michael  Lindeii- 
niiiih,    Bern;    Gabriel    Hiester,    Bern, 

17MI — John    Guldin,    0!ty. 


Thomas    Tones 1780-82 

Thomas    Parry..    ,.1781-83 

Daniel    Messersmith    

1782-83 

Michael     Furrer 1783 

a  .        .      ^,        .     .  ■ 


Sheriffs 

George    Xagel 1775       Henry    Hoffa 1780-81 

Henry  Vanderslice,,  1776-77       Philip   Kraemer 1782-83 

Daniel    Levan ..1778-79 

Treasurers 

Christopher   Witm.an  1775-79       Daniel  Levan 1780-83 

Assessors 

The  assessors  appointed  by  the  county  commissioners 
for    tlie   years   r.anied    were: 

1776 — Vernor  Stamm.  Michael  Furrer,  Prul  Geiger, 
John   Spohn,  John    Kerlin.  John   F.gner. 

1777 — John  Hartman,  Michael  i'urrer,  John  Robinson, 
John  Egner,   George   Kelchner,  Joseph   Sands, 

INDEPENDENCE  AND  PEACE, 

The  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown 
on  Oct.  19,  1781,  was  virtually  the  end  of  the  war 
between  Great  Britain  and  America.  The  news 
of  the  surrender  reached  London  or  the  Bath  of 
November,  following.  Several  months  afterward, 
the  warfare  in  the  American  Colonies  was  discussed 
and  its  continuance  discouraged  in  the  House  of 
Commons.  T}iesc  discussions  were  continued  with 
earnestness  till  they  culminated  in  a  preliminary 
treaty  of  peace  on  Nov.  30.  1 TS-3.  In  the  first  arti- 
cle of  this  treaty,  "the  independence  of  the  thirteen 
United  States  of  America"  was  recogriized.  The 
treaty  was  not  made  final  then,  owing  to  the  three 
allied  powers- — Great  Britain,  Prance  and  Spain — 
having  been  pledged  to  one  another  not  to  conclude 
3  treaty-  except  by  common  consent.  The  final 
treaty  was  concluded  at  t^aris  on  Sept,  o,  1783,  and 
thereby  the  United  States  was  acknowledged  to  be 
"free,  sovereign  and  independent," 

During  these  two  years  of  negotiation  and  de- 
lay, there  were  no  general  military  operation>.  But 
groat  anxiety  was  felt  over  the  prospects  tor  a  per- 
manent peace.  Through  the  inactivity  of  the  army, 
the  ofticers  and  soldiers  became  restless ;  aLo  dis- 
contented, because  they  were  not  rewarded  for 
their  patriotic  services.  An  attempt  was  made 
by  anonvmous  and  seditious  publications  to  inflame 
their  minds  and  to  induce  them  to  unite  in  redress- 
ing their  grievances  whiNt  they  had  arms  in  tKcir 
hands.  But  Washington  succeeded  in  quieting 
them.  His  wisdom  and  eloquence  elicited  from  the 
otiiccrs  the  unanimous  adoption  of  a  resolution  by 
which  they  declared  "that  no  circumstances  of  dis- 
tress or  danger  .should  induce  a  conduct  that  might 
tend  to  sully  the  reputation  and  glory  they  had  ac- 
f|uin'fi ;  that  the  army  continued  to  have  unshaken 
confidence  in  the  justice  of  Congress  and  their 
country ;  and  that  they  viewed  with  abhorrence  and 


,  !T..'.::<i,,-     -r.  :h\v'iit,nnJ 


:•••   .'■•.•tj:.to5    \l: 
•.■).<;:>r>      ii,    I     , 


'fl^     !■;     / 


-    i.:v//   ■•'•;/■•)-: 


'■.v:j      ■■■;ivfj 


j-'ji'i    \- 


■i'.v-.!    r:u-l' 


"r  ••> 


M  ; 


'!<;    CR     Si  I      ;!il:  :■      ;!l" 


Ill    i  ij     .'  ,, 


.''fv 


Vif.-A     .'u   "Ic*   ;v. 


l.s    ,'      ,r 


■I,       I  t     .       ;(    ,      '/ 


1-20 


HISTORY  OF   BERKS  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


rejected   with  disdain  tiie  infamous  proposition   in 
the   late  aiionvmous  address   to  the  officers  of   the 


Return'  of  Soi.uieks. — In  order  to  avoid  tlie  in- 
conveniences of  (hsmibsing  a  great  number  of  sul- 
diers  in  a  body,  furiouglis  were  freely  granted.  In 
this  way,  a  great  jiart  of  the  unpaid  army  was  dis- 
banded and  di-ipersed  over  the  Slates  without  tu- 
mult or  disorder.  As  they  had  been  easily  and 
speedily  formed  out  of  farmers,  mechanics  and  la- 
borers in  ITT.J,  so  with  equal  facility  did  they  throw 
off  their  military  character  and  resume  their  for- 
mer occupations.  They  had  taken  up  arms  earn- 
estly for  political  freedom,  but  when  these  were  no 
longer  necessary,  they  laid  them  down  peaceably 
to  become  again  good  citizens,  as  they  had  been 
for  eight  years  patriotic  soldiers. 


WHISKEY  INSURRECTION.  1791. 

Cause. — As  early  as  ITot),  the  province  of  Penn- 
sylvania had  looked  to  excise  on  ardent  spirits  for 
the  means  of  sustaining  its  bills  of  credit.  The 
original  law  was  limited  to  a  period  of  ten  years; 
but  it  was  extended  from  time  to  time  as  necessi- 
ties pressed  upon  the  treasury.  During  the  Revo- 
lution, the  law  was  generally  evaded  in  the  we-t- 
ern  part  of  the  Stale  by  couc^idering  all  spirits  as 
for  domestic  use,  such  having  been  excepted  from 
excise.  But,  when  the  debts  of  the  Revolution  be- 
gan to  press  upon  the  States,  the  government  offi- 
cials became  more  vigilant  in  the  enforcement  of 
the  law  and  Congress,  after  a  long  debate,  passed 
an  Act  in  March.  1791.  increasing  the  duty  on  im- 
ported spirits  and  levying  a  tax  of  four  pence  ])er 
gallon  on  all  distilled  spirits,  which  went  into  o])era- 
tion  in  July  following.  The  Legislature  had  in- 
-structcd  their  representatives  in  Congress  to  vote 
against  the  law. 

Opposition  arose  at  once  in  the  western  counties 
of  the  State,  and  resolutions  were  adopted  at  pub- 
he  meetings  demanding  an  unconditional  aii]>eal. 
Liberty-poles  were  erected,  and  people  even  as- 
sembled in  arm?  to  resist  officers  in  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  law.  Various  public  excitements  con- 
tinved  until  1791,  when  an  insurrection  ensued. 
Governor  Mifflin  declined  to  call  out  the  militia  to 
suppress  the  insurrection,  and.  as  a  consequence, 
the  spirit  extended  into  contiguous  States. 

President  Washington  called  on  Pennsylvania, 
N>w  Jersey.  Maryland  and  \'irginia  for  fifteen 
thousand  men.  and  sent  conmiissioners  to  the  scene 
of  the  disturbance  in  Washington  countv.  with 
power  to  arrange  for  jicaceful  sulnni-sion  an\-  time 
before  Sept.  11,  179  1.  P.ut  the  comniis-inners  re- 
trrncd  to  Philadelphia  ten  (lay=  after  that  date 
without  a  'settlement.  The  trooj)s  were  prmuptiv 
put  in  molion,  the  governors  of  the  several  States 
named  conmianding  their  respective  quot.is.  Ciov<.r- 
nor   Lee,  of   \'irginia,   had   chief   command   <>\    the 


arniv.  Un  the  ap))earance  of  the  troops  in  Novem- 
ber, the  insurrection  subsided.  There  was  no  oppo- 
sition and  no  bloodshed.  Among  the  Pennsylvania 
troops,  there  was  a  company  from  Reading,  under 
the  command  of  Caj^t.  Daniel  De  B.  Keim.  This 
company  was  formed  from  certain  .  survivors  of 
the  Continental  army,  which  had  been  commanded 
by  Lieut. -Col.  Nicholas  Lotz,  and  was  called  the 
"Reading  Union  Volunteers."  It  was  afterward 
known  as  the  "Reading  Artillerists."  This  insur- 
rection cost  the  government  SI. 100, 000. 

Troops  from  Countv. — The  proportion  of  troops 
which  was  to  be  supplied  by  Berks  county  toward 
the  quota  of  Pennsylvania  militia  under  the  requi- 
sition of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  was 
434  officers  and  privates,  and  ?(>  cavalry.  The  4o4 
men  were  placed  under  the  command  of  Brig. -Gen. 
I'rancis  Murray,  in  the  2d  Brigade.  The  Adjutant- 
General  of  the  State  issued  an  order  on  Sept.  11, 
1794.  requiring  the  quota  for  the  counties  of  Bucks, 
Northampton  and  Berks  to  assemble  at  Reading, 
receive  arms,  equipments  and  camp  equipage,  and 
march  thence  by  way  of  Harrisburg  to  Carlisle. 

The  Quartermaster-General  of  T'ennsylvania, 
Clement  Biddle,  arrived  at  Reading  on  Sunday 
evening,  Sept.  28,  1794.  In  a  letter  by  him  to  Gov- 
ernor Mifflin  dated  the  day  following,  he  remarked 
about  the  Berks  county  troops :  "Colonel  Cowperth- 
waite  had  collected  four  hundred  men  in  the  en- 
campment at  Peter.s's  farm,  who  were  fully  fur- 
nished with  everything  Ihey^  required.  The  drafts 
from  the  county  continued  to  come  in  and  he  pro- 
posed marching  tomorrow."  And  he  reported  that 
Captain  Forrest's  troopb  had  moved  from  Read- 
ing on  Saturday  (27th )  ;  that  he  expected  the 
P.ucks  County  Militia  here  on  aOth  ;  and  that  the 
Militia  of  Berks  County  would  assemble  on  Oct. 
1st ;  also  that  the  rear  of  the  Jersey  troops  would 
march  from  here  on  the  .'M)th  under  General 
V^'hite. 

Wasiiixgtox  at  Reading, — In  anotiier  letter  to 
Governor  ATifflin,  dated  at  Reading.  Oct.  2,  17D1, 
he  stated  that — "The  President  was  here  last  night, 
and  went  on  this  morning  to  Carlisle."  He  also  re- 
ported then  that  "the  cavalry  of  this  county  [P.erks] 
are  bv  this  time  at  Carlisle.  Captain  Spayd  has  a 
fine  companv  of  infantry  readv  to  march,  and  I  shall 
hasten  the  drafts  from  the  county  oft  to-morrow." 
The  cavalrv  mentioned  was  ?^Ioore's. 


IIOUSE-TAX  AND  LIBERTY-POLES.  1799 
Cause. — During  the  early  ])art  of  Adams's  ad- 
ministration. Congress  passed  an  Act  requiring  a 
direct  tax  to  be  ievierl  upon  houses.  This  tax  was 
called  the  "honse-ta.x."'  also  "window-tax."  The 
Federal  government,  in  collecting  it  in  \.{ie  eastern 
counties  of  Pennsylvania,  caused  considerable  ex- 
citement and  opposition,  which  eventually  broke  out 
in  an  insurrection  in  17'.»9.  The  leader  was  John 
IVies.  of  Bucks  county,  who  was  tried  and  convictcl 
of  high  treason  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged,  but 
President  A;kuus.  against  the  advice  of  his  cab- 
inet pardoned  him.  and  also  issued  a  general  am- 


■r:.)';iv>-.r''.' 


.  )<;• 


WAR  PERIODS 


121 


ncsty  for  all  the  offenders.  The  excitement  extend- 
ed into  the  northeastern  border  of  Berks  county. 

RxciTEMEXT  AT  RE.xniXG. — Thc  insurrection  was 
indirectly  the  cause  of  a  considerable  commotion  at 
Reading.  Certain  troops  were  called  out  to  sn]j- 
press  the  insurrection :  and  among'  them  was  Cap- 
tain Montgomery's  company  of  Light  Dragoons 
from  Lancaster.  Their  way  to  the  scene  of  excite- 
ment was  through  Reading.  Upon  arriving  here 
they  cut  down  certain  "Liberty-poles,''  insulted  the 
people,  etc. ;  and  these  unwarranted  performances 
induced  the  Adlcr  to  publish  a  letter,  criticising 
their  conduct.  This  appeared  whilst  the  company 
was  on  the  way  to  Northampton  county.  F.ut  upon 
their  return  they  heard  of  it,  and  this  naturally 
developed  in  them  as  soMiers  a  spirit  of  revenge. 
So'  they  went  to  Jacob  Schneider,  the  senior  pro- 
prietor of  the  Adlcr,  and  demanded  from  him  the 
name  of  the  person  who  had  written  the  letter  con- 
demning and  ridiculing  them.  But  he  refused  to 
comply  and  his  refusal  led  the  soldiers  to  spend 
their  anger  on  him  by  taking  him  forcibly  to  the 
market-house  and  giving  him  a  certain  number  of 
lashes. 

Xir.  Schneider  made  complaint  before  a  justice 
of  the  peace  and  caused  the  criminals  to  be  arrested, 
but  Captain  Montgomery  denied  the  authority  to 
make  the  arrest^  and  the  matter  was  referred  to 
General  Macpherson,  who  said  iie  would  look  into 
it.  By  the  time  Montgomery's  troops  returned  to 
Reading  on  their  way  home,  Stroheckcr  liad  erected 
3  liberty-pole  in  the  place  of  the  one  erected  by  his 
children.  Hearing  this,  the  soldiers  went  to  Stro- 
hecker's  place  and  attempted  to  compel  a  common 
laborer  to  cut  down  the  "offensive  wood,"  notwith- 
standing he  protested  against  doing  so.  They  suc- 
ceeded in  divesting  the  pole,  and  with  it  as  a  trophy 
they  rode  through  thc  streets  of  Reading  to  their 
quarters.  In  a  few  days  they  left,  but  on  the  24th 
of  April  an  army,  mider  Gen.  IMacphcrson.  arrived 
at  Reading.  They  apprehended  some  of  the  insur- 
rectionists, who  were  afterward  tried  ;  some  of  them 
were  found  guilty,  some  fined  and  imprisoned,  and 
others  condemned  to  be  capitally  punished ;  but 
none  atoned  with  their  lives — they  were  pardoned 
through  executive  clemency. 

Kkim's  Company  Compltmextkd. — Upon  the 
breaklng-up  of  the  headquarters  at  Reading,  on 
April  22,  1799,  General  Macpherson  addressed  the 
following  interesting  letter  to  Capt.  Daniel  Keim : 

While  I  conprntnl.Tte  >on  and  the  company  you  com- 
mand on  their  return  lionic,  I  take  an  additiijnal  pleasure  in 
expressing  my  complete  satisfaction  with  every  part  of 
their  steady  and  soldier-liko  conduct  during  a  very  fa- 
tiguing thouRh  short  expedition.  It  is  much  to  be  rc- 
Rretted  that  in  a  country  blessed  as  this  i-.  by  an  cxcelh-iit 
constitution  faithfully  administered,  there  should  be  found 
any  portion  of  its  inhnbitanis  so  ignorant,  or  so  wicked, 
as  to  oppose  laws  peculiarly  adapted  to  thc  case  of  the 
niass  of  the  people,  since  tlie  burden  falls  inmicdiately 
upon  the  opulent.  lUit  it  i.s  a  great  consolation  to  see 
^^cntlcmcn,  such  as  compose  your  comp:u!\-.  come  forward 
•nnd  biave  fatigue  and  danger  in  'iupprirt  of  thc  honor 
and   happines.s   of   their  country.     Accept,   sir,   iny  sincere 


thanks  for  this  instance  of  your  patriotisni  and  be  pleased 
to  convey  to  every  individual  my  particular  acknowledg- 
ments, best  wishes  and  at'fectionate   farewell. 


E.MBARGO  OF  ISOT 
Congress  passed  an  Act  on  Dec.  22,  1S07,  laying 
an  embargo  on  all  the  ships  and  vessels  in  the  ports 
and  harbors  of  the  United  States  in  pursuance  of 
a  recommendation  of  President  Jefferson.  It  pro- 
hibited the  departure  of  all  American  vessels  and 
all  foreign  vessels,  except  those  in  ballast.  No 
merchandise  whatever  was  to  be  exported.  The 
Act  was  not  simply  to  save  American  ships  froin 
danger,  as  Jefferson  suggested  in  his  message,  but 
it  was  a  measure  of  aggression  against  England. 
It  was  unpopular  in  ]jroportion  as  men  were  or 
were  not  engaged  in  commerce.  The  maritime 
States  thought  th?t  the  agricultural  States  took  a 
special  satisfaction  in  a  quasi  war,  of  which  all  the 
burden  fell  at  first  upon  commerce;  but  the  burden 
at  length  became  universal.  Thc  men  whose  to- 
bacco, corn  and  cotton  could  not  be  sent  to  market 
soon  learned  that  they  also,  as  well  as  the  carriers 
of  those  products,  wore  paying  a  heavy  tax  by  this 
interdiction  of  conmicrce.  Under  the  pressure  of 
public  opinion,  this  Act  was  repealed  on  March  1, 
1800,  and  another  Act  was  then  substituted  which 
interdicted  the  commercial  intercourse  between  the 
L^nitcd  States,  Great  Britain  and  France,  and 
forbade  imports  from  Europe.  From  this  policy  of 
non-intercourse  and  from  other  difficulties,  wliich  in 
a  state  of  war  hindered  importations  from  Europe, 
there  v.'as  born  unexpectedly  that  gigantic  system 
under  which  the  United  States  has  become  a  great 
manufacturing  nation. 

During  this  interdiction,  the  people  of  Berks 
county  began  to  feel  the  evil  effects  of  this  policy 
of  non-intercourse.  A  number  of  millers  and  other 
citizens  met  at  Reading  on  April  11,  1812,  "for  the 
purpose  of  t.aking  into  consideration  the  late  meas- 
ures of  Congress,  the  perilous  situation  of  otir  com- 
mon country,  and  of  consulting  and  devising  such 
means  or  measures  as  may  tend  to  relieve  us  from 
the  distress  which  impends  over  u«"  ;  and  passed  res- 
olutions   disapproving   of   the   action   of   Congress. 


ENGLISH  WAR,  1812-15 
Cause. — The  Revolution  was  carried  to  a  suc- 
cessful termination,  and  Independence,  which  the 
Colonies  had  declared  in  177G,  was  thereby  estab- 
lished. But  though  peace  was  declared  to  exist  be- 
tween the  two  nations,  the  British  government  con- 
ducted itself  persistently  in  an  offensive  manner 
toward  thc  people  of  the  L'nited  States,  their  com- 
merce, etc..  and  to  their  great  injury  for  thirty 
years.  The  United  States  governrnent  passed  natur- 
alization laws  whereby  foreigners  C'-uld  be  natur- 
alized and  become  citizens,  but  the  Briti>li  g<jvern- 
ment  contended  that  a  British  subject  cotdd  not  be 
naturalized,  and  claimed  the  right  of  stoj^ping 
L'nited  States  vessels,  searching  for  seamen  of  Eng- 
lisli  birth,  and  imprcs>ing  them  into  their  service. 


iij  :- 


t.  •  ' 


122 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


In  exercising^  this  ricrht,  tliey  stationed  ships  at 
harbors  of  the  United  States  and  searched  every 
departing  and  arriving  vessel.  They  were  so  vigi- 
lant that  within  a  period  of  eight  years  they  cap- 
tured nine  hundred  vessels  and  impressed  over  six 
thousand  seamen  into  their  navy.  All  this  humilia- 
tion was  borne  with  patience,  but  finally  the  com- 
plaints became  too  loud,  and  the  injuries  too  griev- 
ous to  be  endured  any  longer,  and  President  Madi- 
son made  them  the  subject  of  a  message  to  Con- 
gress on  June  1,  181?,  which  ended  in  a  declaration 
of  war  on  June  19,  1812. 

Anticipating  this  Declaration  of  War,  Governor 
Snyder  issued  an  Order  on  May  12th,  requiring  the 
quota  of  troops  from  Pennsylvania,  fourteen  thous- 
and, to  be  promptly  raised  and  formed  into  tv.'o 
divisions.  The  first  division  included  the  troops 
from  Berks  county  and  was  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  ^laj.-Gen.  Isaac  Worre'l.  A  noble  res- 
ponse was  made  to  this  call;  for  the  troops  tendered 
exceeded  three  times  the  quota  requested. 

The  naval  battle  on  Lake  Eric  was  fought  on 
Sept.  10,  1S13,  with  brilliant  success.  Commodore 
Perry  then  sent  his  famous  despatch  to  General 
Harrison :  "We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  they  our 
ours."  The  news  reached  Reading  on  the  21  th  of 
September  following,  and  a  grand  illumination  of 
the  town  took  place  in  the  evening  from  7  till  10 
o'clock,  to  sig^ialize  the  glorious  c^euL. 

Families  fkom  PiixLADEr,;>inA. — PJuring  thi:. 
period  a  number  of  English  families,  resident  at 
Philadelphia,  left  the  city  for  the  interior  parts  oi 
the  country  owing  to  a  law  which  required  them 
to  move  away  from  the  sea-coast  and  ports  at  least 
fifty  miles.  Som.e  of  these  families  went  to  Read- 
ing, and  took  quarters  at  the  "Tyson  Inn,"  at  the 
head  of  Franklm  street  (where  the  Park  public 
school  is  situated).  Whilst  here  (in  August,  1814> 
the  city  of  \\'ashington  was  captured  by  the  English, 
who  wantonly  destroyed  the  government  buildings, 
excepting  the  patent  office.  This  news  caused 
these  families  to  rejoice ;  and,  to  express  their  joy, 
they  carried  on  dancing  with  the  assistance  of 
music;  but  they  misconceived  the  temper  of  the 
German  people  of  this  inland  borough,  and  soon 
found  that  their  conduct  wounded  their  national 
pride.  In  the  midst  of  their  demonstrations,  they 
were  suddenly  attacked  by  a  party  of  c'tizens,  and 
the  attack  was  made  so  earne"^tlv  as  to  require  the 
building  to  be  closed  and  the  performance  to  be 
stopped. 

This  destruction  of  the  Capitol  and  public  build- 
ings at  Washington,  and  the  threatened  attack  on 
Baltimore  by  the  enemy  shortly  afterward,  brought 
the  war  near  to  Pennsylvania.  The  inarch  of  the 
enemy  toward  the  interior  by  way  of  the  Potomac 
river  and  Chesapeake  bay  naturally  stimulated  the 
military  spirit  of  the  State  and  a  great  number  of 
men  rallied  in  her  defen-c.  Whon  the  news  reached 
Reading  this  spirit  hecaine  tiioroughly  aroused  in 
the  entire  countv. 


CoMP.\xiES  FKOM  CouxTV, — There  were  eleven 
companies  enlisted  in  this  war  from  Berks  county, 
classified  with  the  2d  Brigade,  under  the  command 
of  }^Iaj.-Gen.  Daniel  Udree,  oi  Oley,  in  tv.-o  regi- 
ments: the  1st  Regiment,  commanded  by  Lieut. - 
Cul.  Jeremiah  Shapi)ell,  of  Windsor,  and  the  2d, 
by  Lieut.-Col.  John  Lotz,  of  Reading. 

Eight  of  the  companies  in  the  1st  Regiment  were 
commanded  by  the  follov/ing  captains: 

John  May  George   Ritter 

Jchn  Mauser  -         Henry  Willotz 

Jacob  Marshall  Jonathan  Jones 

George  Marx  George    Ziebcr 

And  three  of  the  companies  in  the  2d,  by  the  fol- 
lowing captains : 

Thomas  Moore  Gabriel  Old 

John  Chri.stman 

These  eleven  companies  Vv-ere  stationed  at 
York,  Pennsylvania,  from  September,  1814,  to 
?ilarch,  1815. 

There  was  a  twelfth  company  from  the  county, 
the  Reading  Washington  Guards,  commanded  bv 
Capt.  Daniel  Dc  B.  Keim.  It  rendered  service  at 
Wilmington,  Delaware,  in  the  latter  part  of  Sep- 
tember, 1814;  and  afterward  it  was  attached  to  the 
"Advance  Light  Brigade"'  as  the  11th  Company  in 
the  1st  Regiment  of  the  Penna.  Volunteer  Infantry, 
commanded  by  General  Cadwalader,  with  which  it 
continued  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Pe.-\ci-:  Declared. — Peace  was  concluded  at  Ghent 
on  Dec.  24,  1814,  but  it  was  not  till  Feb.  22,  1815, 
that  the  event  became  known  at  Reading.  During 
that  day,  the  citizens  of  the  borough  signalized  it 
by  shooting  off  cannon,  and  at  night  by  a  grand 
illumination  in  which  sixteen  hundred  pounds  of 
candles  were  consumed. 


^lEXICAX  WAR,  181G  TO  1848 
Cause. — The  Mexican  war  arose  out  of  the  ques- 
tion relating  to  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the 
United  States.  The  constitution  of  Alexico  prohib- 
ited slavery  in  Texas,  and  this  p'ovision  was  a  sufli- 
cient  reason  why  ttie  Southern  States  should  wish 
to  control  it.  President  Adams  and  also  President 
Jackson  had  made  fruitlesr.  efforts  to  buy  the  prov- 
ince; and  subsequcntK  for  some  years  the  scheme 
of  annexation  was  considered.  One  of  the  last  acts 
of  Jackson's  official  life  was  the  appointment  of  an 
oP.lcial  agent  to  Texas,  thereby  acknowledging  the 
independence  of  the  province.  This  was  looked 
upon  as  the  first  step  toward  obtaining  possession 
of  territory  large  enough  for  five  new  slave  States. 
Henceforward,  the  project  was  urged  with  persist- 
ence, but  little  success  till  about  1S42.  when  Presi- 
dent Tyler  gave  it  his  encouragement.  It  was  ar- 
gued that  if  slavery  were  abolished  in  Texas,  the 
ruin  of  the  Souihern  States  was  inevitable,  but  if 
the  province  were  annexed  to  the  T'niou,  the  fniure 
of  tlie  slave  States  would  be  brilliant. 

In  1841,  Calhoun  became  Secretary  of  State,  and 
he  "believed  in  annexation  at  anv  cu;t,  "  and  Pre^i- 


J!:'    ; 


),'     •.'  .Mi; 


:.':7    ■•['.      :;nr 


WAR  PERIODS 


123 


dent  Tyler  jiistified  Callioun's  invitation  to  Texas 
to  join  the  United  States  because  he  thought  Great 
Uritain  was  engaged  in  a  diplomatic  intrigue  to 
abolish  slavery  in  Texas.  Calhoun  then  made  a 
treaty  with  Texas  in  reference  to  annexation  with- 
out the  consent  of  ^Mexico,  but  offered  ^lexico  $10,- 
000,000  as  an  indemnity.  At  the  close  of  Tyler's 
administration,  a  joint  resolution  was  passed  annex- 
ing Te.xas ;  and  Tyler  acting  under  this  resolution, 
the  annexation  was  carried.  But  as  Tyler  went  out 
of  office  with  the  scheme  carried  through  Congress, 
Polk  came  into  office  with  the  certainty  of  war  with 
Mexico.  In  the  beginning  of  INIay,  l.S-K;.  the  regu- 
lar troops  imder  General  Taylor  were  intercepted 
along  the  Rio  Grande  by  the  Alexican  troops  under 
General  Arista,  and  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and 
Rcsaca  de  la  Palma  ensued.  Before  the  news  of 
these  events  reached  Washington,  Congress  had  de- 
clared war  on  the  13th  of  May,  and  authorized  the 
President  to  call  for  fifty  thousand  volunteers  for 
one  year.  After  carrying  on  war  for  nearly  two 
years,  the  Mexicans  were  conquered,  and  a  treaty 
of  peace  was  signed  in  February,  1848,  at  the  City 
of  Mexico,  whereby  the  United  States  acquired  not 
only  Texas,  but  also  Arizona,  New  Mexico  and 
California. 

Reading  Artillerists. — During  the  excitement, 
a  great  patriotic  feeling  was  developed  at  Reading, 
and  on  Mav  20,  18  Id,  a  large  town  meeting  was 
held,  presided  over  by  Chief  Burgess  William  I'.etz ; 
at  which  the  national  government  was  sustained. 
A  second  meeting  was  held  on  the  next  day,  at 
which  appropriate  resolutions  v.'ere  adopted,  ap- 
proving the  course  of  President  Polk.  A  prominent 
prevailing  sentiment  was — "Our  country,  our  whole 
country,  our  country  right  or  wrong."  And  dur- 
ing that  week  the  volunteer  companies  of  Reading, 
— Reading  Artillerists.  Washington  Grays,  and 
National  Grays— tendered  their  services  to  the 
,  President.  The  first  company,  commanded  by  Capt. 
Thomas  S.  Leoser,  was  accepted. 

A  town-meeting  was  held  in  the  Court-House  on 
Dec.  19,  184G,  for  the  purpose  of  devising  means 
to  aid  the  volunteers  and  a  committee  of  prominent 
citizens  was  appointed  to  escort  the  C(>mpany  to 
Philadelphia.  The  meeting  recommended  to  tOAvn 
council  that  one  thousand  dollars  be  appropriated 
toward  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers  and  the  relief 
of  such  of  their  families  as  needed  assistance,  and 
subsequently  a  loan  for  this  amount  was  authorized. 
A  similar  apprcvpriation  was  recommended  by  the 
grand  jury  of  the  county  on  the  5th  of  January, 
following,  to  be  made  by  the  county  commissioners. 

Departure  for  Mexico. — The  company  left 
Reading  for  Philadelph.ia  on  Dec.  2C>th.  and  arrived 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day.  .\fter  their  ex- 
amination, the  I'nited  States  Surgeon  pronounced 
them  the  finest  body  of  men  he  had  vet  ])assed  into 
the  service.  On  the  day  previous  to  their  depar- 
ture, the  ofiicers  were  the  recipients  of  numerous 
tcstitnonials  of  regard,  the  workmen  of  the  railroad 


company's  shops  distinguishing  themselves  in  this 
respect.  The  Captain  and  the  Second  and  Third 
Lieutenants  were  in  the  company's  employ.  The 
officers  were  presented  with  swords.  Sergeant  Mc- 
Michael  was  presented  an  elegant  sword,  revolver, 
sash,  belt  and  accoutrements  by  his  friends  and 
shopmates  engaged  at  Johnston's  foundry.  And 
numerous   pistols   and    liibies   were   also   presented. 

The  Artillerists  left  Philadelphia  by  railroad  on 
Monday  morning,  December  ::.'8th,  and  arrived  at 
Plarrisburg  in  the  afternoon.  They  proceeded  by 
railroad  to  Carlisle  and  Chambersburg,  where  they 
arrived  on  Tuesday  morning,  at  2  o'clock.  After 
breakfast,  they  immediately  proceeded  afoot  on 
their  way  to  Pittsburgh.  That  day  they  walked  to 
McConnellsburg,  twenty-two  miles,  and  Wednesday 
they  walked  to  Bloody  Run,  twenty-six  miles.  The 
distance  was  arranged  tliat  Pittsburgh  might  be 
reached  by  Tuesday,  Jan.  -tth.  Three  large  six- 
horse  baggage  teams  accompanied  them,  having 
been  sup])lied  by  Joel  Ritter,  who  was  sent  by  the 
citizens  of  Reading  to  pay  their  exi)enses  to  Pitts- 
burgh. They  arrived  on  Jan.  5th.  On  the  same 
day,  the  company  were  mustered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  as  Company  A,  in  the  2d 
Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  under  the 
command  of  Col.  William  P..  Roberts. 

B.attles  Engaged  in. — The  company,  with  other 
companies,  left  Pittsburgh  on  the  8th  of  January, 
in  the  boat  "Anthony  Wayne,"  and  proceeded  by 
wav  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  New 
Orleans,  arriving  there  on  the  loth.  It  sen'cd  with 
distinction  throughout  the  war  and  was  [)articularly 
recognized  for  its  bravery.  It  was  engaged  in  the 
following  battles:  Vera  Cruz.  March  10th  to  28th; 
Cerro  Gordo,  April  18th;  Chapultepec,  Sept.  12th; 
Belen  Gate,  Sept.  13th. 

Return  of  Co>rrANY. — The  City  of  T^Ie.xico  was 
taken  on  the  14th  of  September,  the  ^Mexicans  hav- 
ing evacuated  the  capital  during  the  previous  night, 
owing  to  the  capture  of  the  San  Cosmo  Causeway 
and  the  Belen  Road.  The  troops,  including  Com- 
pany A,  were  stationed  in  this  famous  city  till  the 
18th  of  December,  when  they  were  removed  to  San 
Angel,  at  which  place  they  continued  till  peace  was 
declared.  Thev  were  ordered  home  in  June,  1848, 
and  then  inarched  to  Vera  Cruz  (consuming  about 
a  month  in  the  march)  where  they  took  transporta- 
tion for  New  Orleans.  1  hence  they  proceeded  up 
the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers  to  Pittsburgh,  and 
were  there  mustered  out  of  service  on  the  21st  of 
July.  They  then  took  packets  and  traveled  by  canal 
to  Harrisburg.  and  thence  by  railroad  to  Phila- 
delphia and  Reading.  Some  of  the  men  went  by 
stage  directlv  to  Reading.  Upon  their  arrival,  on 
the  2rtth  of  July,  thcv  were  given  a  brilliant  military 
reception.  Numerous  Iniildings  and  streets  were 
handsomelv  decorated  with  flags  and  wreaths. 


CIVIL  WAR.  18(;i  to  is(!.-i 
Cause. — The  Civil  war  broke  out  in  A])ril.  18(n. 
The  direct  cause  was  the  agitation  of  the  subject 


S'.i 


:r   •:,-•■,',}- 


■■J-,,  1      ■  /  ■    ' 


>  i  •  fi.r'i ' 


m;     •, ,  '•,•;!' 


124 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTV,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


whicli  related  to  slavery.  After  ISoO,  the  extension 
of  slaverv  on  the  one  hand,  and  its  restriction  on 
the  other,  became  thoroug-hly  national  questions  and 
their  animated  disca^^ion  re>ulted  in  a  severe 
struggle  for  the  supremacy.  Till  this  time,  the 
.South  had  control  of  political  affairs  through  lead- 
ership and  legislation,  hut  the  Southern  statesmen 
then  saw  that  their  political  power  was  in  reality 
passing  away  through  the  wonderful  growth  of 
the  Xorth  in  population  and  wealth,  and  in  political 
representation  in  the  national  government.  A  sim- 
ilar growth  could  not  be  effected  in  the  South ;  so 
its  leaders  desired  to  extend  the  rights  of  slavery. 
This  was  particularly  apjjarent  upon  the  admission 
•of  Kansas  as  a  State. 

The  Republican  party,  the  exponent  of  restrict- 
ing slavery  to  territory  then  occupied,  became  an 
active  political  factor  in  the  country  in  ISoG;  but 
its  Presidential  candidate  was  defeated.  Threats 
•of  secession  by  the  Southern  States  had  been  made 
about  that  time,  and  it  was  thought  that  if  the  Re- 
publican party  had  been  successful,  secession  would 
have  been  attempted.  For  four  years  this  question 
v/as  prominent  above  all  other  questions.  Buchanan 
preserved  the  peace  during  his  administration,  but 
he  could  not  preserve  the  balance  of  power.  Pub- 
lic opinion  grew  more  favorable  toward  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  in  18G0  this  party  appeared  be- 
fore the  people  with  renewed  strength.  During 
that  time  the  Democratic  party  agitated  the  ([uestion 
of  slavery  to  such  an  extent  that  two  branches  of 
the  party  were  created,  one.  the  Douglas  branch, 
for  submitting  the  qut  stion  to  the  people  of  a  new 
State  upon  its  erection,  anrl  the  other,  the  Brecken- 
ridge  branch,  for  submitting  it  to  the  Supreme  court 
for  adjudication  under  the  national  Constitution; 
and  in  the  Presidential  campaign  of  ISGO  their  poli- 
tical power  was  divided.  The  party  was  still  strong- 
enough,  as  a  whole,  to  elect  a  candidate;  but  it 
was  not  strong  enough  to  bear  a  division,  especially 
such  a  division  as  Douglas  was  able  to  create  by 
the  support  which  he  had  -won  through  public  dis- 
cussion. 

Lincoln,  the  Republican  catulidate,  was  elected. 
From  the  sentiments  of  his  party,  especially  from 
the  sentiments  of  its  ultra-leaders,  who  were  styled 
"Abolitionists."  the  Southern  leaders  felt  con- 
strained to  take  earnest  steps  toward  secession,  and 
these  were  taken  between  the  day  nf  the  election  in 
November  and  the  day  of  Lincoln's  inauguration  in 
March,  not  only  vigorously  but  successfullv  without 
the  slightest  hindrance  on  the  part  of  the  national 
government.  Prominent  cabinet  official-,  senators 
and  representatives  withdrew  from  their  respective 
positions  and  caused  their  several  States  to  pass 
ordinances  of  secession,  declaring  the  contract  be- 
tween them  aud  the  national  government  broken. 

When  Lincoln  took  possession  of  the  government, 

the  status  wa^  not  only  discouraging  bv.t  alarming. 

In   his   inaugural  address  he  stated   that  ap[)rehcn- 

sion    seemed    to    exist    among    the    people    nf    the 

-  Southern  States  that,  bv  the  accession  of  a  Republi- 


can administration,  their  property,  peace  and  per- 
.^onal  security  were  to  be  endangered,  but  that  there 
never  had  been  any  reasonable  cause  for  such  ap- 
prehension; and  he  declared  that  he  had  no  pur- 
pose, directly  or  indirectly,  to  interfere  with  the  in- 
stitution of  slavery  in  the  States  where  it  e.xisted ; 
he  had  no  inclination  to  do  so  on  the  one  hand,  and 
on  the  other  he  had  no  lawful  right,  and  those  who 
had  elected  him  did  so  with  the  full  knowledge  that 
he  had  made  these  declarations,  which  he  had  never 
recanted.  Notwithstanding  his  plain  and  direct  lan- 
guage to  perform  the  duties  of  his  office  according 
to  the  Constitution  and  laws,  without  any  mental 
reservations  or  any  purposes  to  construe  them  by 
hypercritical  rules ;  and  his  expressed  sentiments  for 
peace  and  inseparable  union  of  the  States,  the 
Southern  leaders  persisted  in  secession  and  dis- 
union. 

Call  for  Troops. — On  the  morning  of  the  12th 
of  April,  1>S61,  the  military  forces  of  Soutli  Carol- 
ina, under  the  leadership  of  Gen.  Robert  Beaure- 
gard, began  to  tire  uixm  Fort  Sumter,  which  was 
under  the  command  of  Maj.  Robert  Anderson. 
The  President,  finding  the  laws  of  the  country 
opposed  and  the  execution  thereof  obstructed  in 
seven  Southern  States  (South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
Florida,  Alabama,  ^lississippi,  Louisiana,  and  Tex- 
as) "by  combinations  too  powv'rful  to  be  suppressed 
by  the  ordinary  course  of  judicial  proceedings  or  by 
the  powers  vested  in  the  marshals  by  law,"  issued 
a  proclamation  on  the  15th  flay  of  A])ril,  calling 
for  sevcntv-five  thousand  militia  of  the  several 
States  of  the  Union,  "to  suppress  said  combina- 
tions and  to  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  executed" ; 
and  he  appealed  "to  all  loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facil- 
itate and  aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  in- 
tegrity and  existence  of  our  national  Union,  and 
the  perpetuity  of  popular  government,  and  to  re- 
dress the  wrongs  already  long  enough  endured.'" 
A  requisition  was  made  on  Pennsylvania  for  six- 
teen regiments,  two  being  wanted  within  three  days, 
inasnmch  as  the  city  of  Washington  was  entirely 
unprotected  and  a  sudden  dash  upon  it  was  strongly 
threatened. 

The  national  government  had  not  before  done 
anything  to  cause  the  South  to  feel  alarmed,  and 
it  was  hoped  that  this  simple  manifestation  of  ex- 
ecutive authority  woidd  restore  peace,  but  the  or- 
ganization at  the  Soutn  was  too  thorough,  and  its 
purpose  to  establish  a  confederation  by  itself  too 
])remeditat(:-d.  I\fen  therefore  rushed  to  arms;  call 
after  call  for  troops  was  made;  thousands  of  lives 
were  sacrificed ;  and  millions  of  dollars  were  ex- 
jiended,  in  the  two  sections,  for  a  right  which  each 
claimed,  the  one  to  establish  a  confederation  and 
the  other  to  maintain  constituted  authority;  and 
this  terrible  contest  continued  four  years  before 
peace  was  restored. 

P.\TRiOTis>r  OF  CouxTV. — TIic  feeling  in  the 
count V  for  maintaining  the  Union  ;nul  upholding 
the  constitution  was  strong  and  continuous  during 
the  entire  period  from  the  beginning  to  the  close 


.  ■)!;•;.:,•-: 


;■  '-'If.- 


WAR  PERIODS 


135- 


of  the  war;  and  this  wa:^  exhibited  by  Democrats 
and  Repubhcans  alike.  Brcckcnridu,re  had  received 
a  inaioritv  over  Lincohi.  excecdinc^  two  thousand 
votes,  but  the  sentiment  for  the  Union  v.-as  general 
in  all  the  districts,  especially  at  Reading.  Com- 
panies >vere  raised  rapidly  and  mustered  into  ser- 
vice, altogether  10-1,  almo^t  entirely  enlisted  in  and 
from  the  county,  and  they  went  to  the  rescue 
freely,  moved  by  the  highest  patriotic  impulse.  Pub- 
lic meetings  were  numerous  and  earnest  sympathy 
for  the  cause  was  manifested  at  all  of  them.  The 
prominent  men  took  the  lead.  Our  judges,  law- 
yers, merchants  and  business  men  generall}-,  with- 
out respect  to  party  affiliations,  united  to  encourage 
and  sustain  the  national  administration.  Their  pro- 
nounced opinion  in  the  matter  created  and  pre- 
served a  proper  spirit  in  the  community.  The 
county  and  city  governments  were  constantly  liberal 
in  appropriations  of  money  toward  encouraging 
volunteer  enlistments. 

The  county  contained  a  large  majoritv  of  people 
who  were  against  the  war,  if  we  inteqsret  their 
opinion  from  the  exercise  of  their  political  suftrage 
at  elections ;  but  they  were  submissive  and  they 
caused  no  trouble,  no  riotous  demonstration.  They 
went  to  the  war  by  the  thousand ;  they  endured 
conscription  without  opposition  ;  and  they  permitted 
the  assessment  of  burdensome  taxation.  They  en- 
couraged appropriations  of  money,  amounting  to 
nearly  a  million  of  dollars,  expressly  for  the  enlist- 
ment of  men;  and  they  invested  large  sums  of 
m.oney  in  the  national  securities.  These,  taken  to- 
gether, truly  constitute  significant  evidence  of  de- 
votion to  their  country  and  to  the  administration 
of  its  affairs  by  an  opposite  party,  a  party  whose 
principles  were  not  onlv  different  from  theirs,  but 
in  fact  objectionable,  if  not  repulsive,  to  them. 
Their  general  co-operation  under  such  circumstan- 
ces is  therefore  commendable. 

Capt.  James  ]\IcKnight  offered  his  company  of 
Ringgold  Light  Artillery,  and  it  was  the  Hrst  mili- 
tary organization  that  responded  to  the  call  for 
troops  by  the  President  and  moved  to  the  defense 
of  the  country.  This  historical  fact  is  worthy  of 
especial  mention,  for  in  it  our  people  take  a  just, 
patriotic  pride ;  and  it  is  a  distinction  in  this  great 
crisis  of  our  coimtry  which  no  other  community 
enjoys.  Hon.  William  ^I.  Hiester  prepared  a 
paper  to  establish  the  fact  beyond  question,  and 
read  it  before  the  Historical  Society  of  Berks 
County  on  June  14.  18T0. 

During  this  period,  the  excitement  throughout 
the  county  was  ever  active,  and  several  times  when 
the  State  was  invaded  by  the  Rebels,  and  our  own 
county  was  threatened  with  the  horrors  of  war,  it 
became  alarming.  This  was  particularly  the  case 
at  Reading.  Penn  Square  was  dailv,  more  or  less, 
in  commotion  with  the  enlistment  of  men,  the  for- 
mation and  exercise  of  companies  and  their  depart- 
ure to  the  seat  of  war  or  their  return  from  it.  The 
music  of  fife  and  drum  and  the  marching  of  men 
(fathers,  hu.<;bands,  brothers  and  sons)  thrilled  the 


entire  communitv  time  and  again.  These  were,  in- 
deed, events  that  made  a  lasting  impression  upon 
that  generation. 

The  encampments  (one  in  the  northern  part  of 
Reading  in  liSG"2,  and  another  in  the  eastern  part 
in  l.S(;;j)  attracted  much  attention.  They  afforded 
the  people  an  opi)ortunity  of  forming  a  proper  con- 
ception of  camp  life  and  military  discipline.  If 
our  peaceful  inhabitants  did  not  realize  the  actual 
terrors  and  horrors  of  warfare  by  the  booming  of 
cannon,  the  explosion  of  shells  and  the  destruction- 
of  property;  if  they  did  not  see  blood  and  death 
in  tiieir  highways  and  upon  their  fields  as  the 
evidence  of  bitter  opposition  and  revenge;  they 
saw  officers  and  soldiers  in  uniforms  and  witnessed 
military  exercises  with  tl;e  weapons  of  war,  and 
thev  knew  by  their  own  personal  observations  that 
earnest  preparations  were  made  for  encounters 
with  the  enemy. 

How  they  looked  at  these  military  cities,  with 
tents  and  streets  under  strict  regulation!  how  they 
watched  the  men  in  drill,  by  platoons  and  com- 
panies and  battalions !  how  they  pointed  out  gen- 
erals and  colonels  and  captains  as  the  men  who- 
had  been  in  war  and  passed  safely  through  the 
jaws  of  death  !  But  when  the  wounded,  the  dyin.g 
and  the  dead  were  brought  home  to  them,  then 
they  felt  that  the  curse  of  rebellion  was  in  the 
land. 

The  "Union  League,"  a  Republican  association 
at  Reading,  orgain'zed  after  the  great  "Union 
League"  at  Philadeliihia,  was  very  active  in  en- 
listing men  for  military  service ;  and  so  were  the 
various  secret  societies,  especially  the  "Junior  Sons 
of  America." 

In  the  midst  of  the  great  excitement  incident  to 
the  general  feeling  for  war  and  the  necessary 
preparations  to  carry  it  on  successfully,  our  local 
energy  displayed  itself  to  a  remarkable  degree  in 
everv  departirient  of  business.  Trade  was  active 
and  profitable,  and  it  stimulated  various  enter- 
•prises.  Railroads  were  projected  and  .substantial 
improvements  were  made  in  every  section  of  the 
county,  especially  at  Reading ;  and  matters  per- 
taining to  education  and  religion  were  directed 
with  earnestness  and  success.  The  ])rices  of  all 
kinds  of  material  were  high ;  but  money  was 
abundant  and  a  spirit  of  increased  liberality  kept 
it  moving  about  actively  from  hand  to  hand,  from 
store  to  store,  from  bank  to  bank,  and  from  place 
to  place. 

W.\R  ^Ieetixgs. — After  the  election  of  Lin- 
coln, a  sentiment  of  fear  for  the  preservation  of 
the  Union  developed  more  and  more  rapidly  with 
each  passing  day.  This  was  more  especially 
caused  by  the  action  of  certain  Southern  States  on 
the  subject  of  secession.  This  fear  obtained  at 
Reading;  and  in  order  to  cxjiress  the  opinion  of 
this  communit}-  on  the  subject  of  "preserving  the 
integrity  of  the  Union,"  a  large  meeting,  including 
prominent  men  of  both  political  parties,  was  held 
in  the  Court-House  on  Dec.  13.  iSti'J.     Appropriate 


y.iV 


U'.:    ;;    .,'7' 


12G 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


resolutions  were  adopted,  favorable  to  the  Union, 
but  particularly  recommending  non-interference 
with  the  rights  of  property  in  slaves  guaranteed 
by  the  Constitution  to  the  Southern  States. 

On  the  10th  dav  of  December  (three  days  be- 
fore) the  Democratic  City  Club  had  met  and  re- 
ported a  "Memorial  to  Congress  on  the  State  of 
the  Union,"  prepared  by  a  committee  of  thirty- 
three  prominent  Democrats,  in  which  similar  senti- 
ments of  non-interference  and  compromise  had 
been  expressed. 

In  July,  1SC>2,  when  there  was  a  threatened  in- 
vasion of  Pennsylvania,  our  people  became 
much  alarmed  for  the  safety  of  their  lives  and 
property.  Large  and  enthu'=ia?tic  meetings  were 
held  in  the  Court-House  to  devise  means  for  pro- 
tection. They  included  all  the  prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Reading.  Their  public  ex- 
pressions were  thoroughlv  patriotic ;  and  in  pur- 
suance of  their  earnest  recommendation  the  county 
commissioners  offered  a  bounty  of  iifty  dollars  to 
every  officer  and  private  mustered  into  the  service 
from  the  county.  In  September  following,  the 
commissioners  again  offered  the  same  bounty  for 
every  volunteer  soldier;  and  the  city  councils  ap- 
propriated ten  thousand  dollars  additional  for  this 
purpose  of  encouraging  volunteer  enlistments.  In 
June,  1SG3,  similar  meetings  were  held. 

Appropriations. — The  city  of  Reading  appro- 
priated altogether  for  war  purposes,  in  bounties, 
reHef,  etc.,  $373,179  and  the  county  of  Berks,  the 
sum  of  $1.52,389.  The  boroughs  likewise  apprci- 
priated  moneys  for  these  purposes  and  displayed 
the  same  patriotic  .spirit. 

L.VDiE.s'  Aid  Societv. — The  women  are  also 
worthy  of  mention  for  their  patriotism.  They  did 
not  enlist  in  practical  military  service ;  but  they 
gave  the  national  administration  a  moral  support 
which  is  truly  praiseworthy.  Just  as  the  "Ring- 
gold Light  Artillery''  were  preparing  to  take  the 
railroad  train  on  the  afternoon  of  April  IG,  ISHl, 
to  proceed  to  Harrisburg  in  answer  to  the  Presi- 
dent's call  for  troops,  certain  influential  ladies  of 
Reading  assembled  in  the  parlor  of  Airs.  Dr.  Dil- 
ler  Luther,  at  Xo.  530  Pcnn  street,  and  formed  a 
society  which  they  entitled  "Ladies'  Aid  Societv." 
Its  object  was  to  supply  the  soldiers  with  clothing 
and  materials  useful  v/hilst  in  military  service 
awav  from  home.  It  was  actively  engaged  dur- 
ing the  entire  ])eriod  of  the  war.  collecting  and 
forwarding  tons  of  materials.  A  "depot"  was  es- 
tablished at  Reading,  to  which  all  the  goods  were 
carried  and  from  which  they  were  consigned.  The 
country  districts-  co-operated  in  this  work  and  the 
women  responded  nobly  by  forwartling  inanv  ma- 
terials to  Reading. 

This  was  the  first  society  of  the  kind  organized 
in  the  country;  and  as  we  take  a  just  pride  in  hav- 
ing fumi'^hed  the  militarv  company  which  was  the 
first  to  respond  to  the  call  for  troops  and  to  report 
at  Harrisburg  for  service,  so  di>  wo  take  a  similar 
pride  in  having  organized  this  Ladies'  .\id  Societv, 


which  was  the  first  to  take  active  and  succe-^fr.l 
steps  toward  providing  for  the  comfort  and  wel- 
fare of  the  soldiers. 

This  society  participated  actively  in  the  matter;; 
pertaining  to  the  Sanitarj-  Commission  at  Phila- 
delphia ;  and  it  was  represented  by  a  number  ( ,i 
ladies  at  the  "Sanitary  Fair."  which  was  held  in 
that  city  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to  re- 
lieve the  wants  of  the  soldiers. 

Re.\ding  Hospit.vl. — A  "jNIilitary  Hospital"  wa^ 
fitted  up  at  Reading  during  the  middle  of  June. 
1SG2,  in  the  main  exhibition  building  of  the  Agri- 
cultural Society  on  the  "Fair  Ground,"  with  cot- 
sufiicient  to  accommodate  130  patients,  and  suc- 
cessfully conducted  till  the  spring  of  1863.  Tlie 
"Ladies'  Aid  Society"  of  Reading  took  an  active 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers,  and  performed  admirable  service  during 
the  continuance  of  the  hospital.  The  regularlv 
commissioned  surgeons  in  attendance  were  Dr. 
Martin  Luther  and  Dr.  John  B.  Brooke. 

Dr.a,ft  axd  Quotas  of  Berks  County. — Dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  war,  requisitions  for  troops 
became  so  frequent  that  the  government  was  com- 
pelled to  resort  to  the  conscription  of  men  so  as  to 
prosecute  the  war  with  success.  Though  numer- 
ous volunteers  enlisted  from  Berks  county,  and  the 
citizens  of  this  district  responded  nobly  to  the  sev- 
eral calls  for  troops,  here,  as  elsewhere,  the  draft 
h.ad  to  be  made.  There  were  four  drafts,  one  in 
each  of  the  years  1SG2,  18G3,  18G  1  and  18G.J.  The 
provost  marshals  of  this  di^trict  were,  in  succes- 
sion, Henry  I.  Kupp,  Jacob  C.  Hoff  and  George 
W.  Durell. 

The  first  draft  was  conducted  in  October,  1SG2. 
The  total  enrollment  of  nioi^  in  the  county  num- 
bered 17.809;  the  volunteers,  3,18G;  and  the  quota. 
2,719.  Th.e  number  of  men  who  volunteered  in 
lieu  of  draft  was  3-15  ;  and  the  substitutes  who  en- 
listed for  three  years  numbered  146.  The  total 
number  of  men  drafted  in  the  county  was  1,212. 
These  men  were  encamped  on  the  "Hiester  Farm.'" 
adjoining  the  Evans'  cemetery  on  the  north,  formed 
into  companies,  and  placed  under  the  command  of 
Col.  Charles  Knoderer ;  and  they  were  mustered 
into  service  as  the  167th  Regiment. 

A  second  draft  was  made  August  2G-29,  1S63. 
The  quota  of  men  from  the  county  was  1,55'1 — 
this  number  having  been  fifty  per  cent  in  excess, 
to  provide  against  exemptions. 

The  third  draft  proposed  in  !\Iarch,  18G1,  for 
Berks  county,  was  postponed  for  a  time.  The 
quota  in  the  call  for  two  hundred  thousand  men 
was  767;  the  deficiency  of  the  countv  under  former 
drafts  was  298;  total  number  required.  1,0G5;  and 
the  credit  of  the  county  on  .\pril  15.  18G1,  for  men 
sujiplierl  to  tlie  government,  1,":!G.  This  deficiency 
of  29  men  was  more  than  supplied  bv  re-enlisted 
veterans,  .'subsequently,  however,  in  Mav,  a  draft 
was  nrdered.  upiin  finding  a  deficiency  in  certain 
sub-districts    in    the    countv    and    each    sub-district 


i         :    'I- 


■'r:i:     >    .I'.^J 


■■'.i.Mi;;r       (Ml. -I    jri 


WAR  PERIODS 


127 


was  required  to  fill  its  own  quota.    The  total  num- 
ber drawn  was  17?. 

A  call  for  five  hundred  thousand  men  was  made 
on  July  IS,  lSC-±.  The  quota  for  Berks  county  was 
l.t^ST;  for  Readmg-,  45U.  On  Aug.  1st.  the  defi- 
ciency in  tiie  county  was  1,6:25 ;  in  Reading  212. 
A  draft  was  made  on  Sept.  22d,  but  only  for 
one  sub-district — Ruscombmanor,  52  men,  all  the 
other  sub-districts  having  supplied  their  deficiencies. 
A  fourth  draft  was  made  Feb.  23-25,  18G5.  Reading, 
Upper  IJern,  Bernville,  Cumru,  Douglass,  Spring, 
Upper  Tulpehocken,  and  Womelsdorf  had  supplied 
their  quota  of  men  by  volunteers.  The  call  was 
made  in  December,  ISfil,  for  three  hundred  thou- 
sand ;  the  quota  for  Pennsylvania  was  49,5G3,  and 
Berks  county,  1.5G0. 

Northern  j\Ien  in  Service. — The  aggregate 
number  of  men  furnished  by  Pennsylvania  was 
366,326  ;  reduced  to  three  years'  standard.  267', 55S. 

It  is  estimated  that  during  the  war  fifty-six  thou- 
sand soldiers  were  killed  in  battle ;  about  thirty- 
five  thousand  died  of  wounds  in  hospitals,  and  one 
hundred  and  eighty-fonr  thousand  by  disease.  The 
total  casualties,  if  we  include  those  who  died  sub- 
sequent to  their  discharge,  were  about  three  hun- 
dred thousand.  The  loss  of  the  Confederates  was 
less  in  battle,  owing  to  the  defensive  character  of 
their  struggle ;  but  they  lost  more  from  wounds 
and  by  disease,  on  account  of  inferior  sanitary  ar- 
rangements. Tiie  total  loss  of  life  caused  by  the 
Rebellion  exceeded  half  a  million  men  and  nearly 
as  many  more  were  disabled. 

SuMM.\RY  OF  Battles. — In  the  four  years  of 
service,  the  armies  of  the  Union  (counting  every 
form  of  conflict,  great  and  small)  had  been  in  2,- 
265  engagements  v.'ith  the  Confederate  troops. 
From  the  time  when  active  hostilities  began  until 
the  last  gun  of  the  war  was  fired,  a  fight  of  some 
kind  (a  raid,  a  skirmish  or  a  pitched  battle)  oc- 
curred at  some  point  on  our  widely-extended  front 
nearly  eleven  times  a  week  upon  an  average. 
Coimting  only  those  engagements  in  which  the 
Union  loss,  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  ex- 
ceeded one  hundred,  the  total  number  was  330. 
From  the  northernmost  point  of  contact  to  the 
southernmost,  the  distance  bv  any  practicable  line 
of  communication  was  more  than  two  thousand 
miles.  From  east  to  west,  the  extremes  w'cre  fif- 
teen hundred  miles  apart.  During  the  first  year  of 
hostilities  (one  of  preparation  on  both  sides)  the 
battles  were  naturallv  fewer  in  number  and  less  de- 
cisive in  character  than  afterward,  when  discipline 
had  been  imparted  to  the  troops  by  drill,  and  when 
the  materiel  of  war  had  been  collected  and  stored 
for  prolonged  campaigns.  The  engagements  of  all 
kinds  in  1S61  were  thirty-five  in  number,  of  which 
the  most  serious  was  at  Bull  Run.  In  1S62,  the 
war  had  greatly  increased  in  magnitude  and  inten- 
sity, as  is  shown  by  the  eighty-four  engagements 
between  the  armies.  The  net  result  of  tlio  vcar's 
operations  was  highly  favorable  to  the  Rebcliiiin. 
In   186.']   the   battles  Vicre  one  hundred  and  ten   in 


number,  among  them  some  of  the  most  significant 
and  important  victories  for  the  Union.  In  1861, 
there  were  seventy-three  engagemeiUs  ;  and  in  the 
winter  and  carlv  spring  of  1865  there  were  twenty- 
eight. 

Paper  ]\Ioxev. — Before  the  Civil  war.  it  had 
been  the  uniform  practice  of  the  ditt'erent  States  to 
allow  banks  to  be  established  for  the  issue  of  notes, 
payable  in  specie  on  demand,  and  the  liability  of 
the  shareholders  was  limUed.  Banking  then  was 
quite  free,  and  all  individuals  could  carry  it  on 
provided  they  observed  the  requirements  of  the 
law.  But  under  this  system  there  was  great  fluctu- 
ation in  value,  which  produced  much  bankruptcy 
and  ruin.  Between  1811  and  1820,  many  banks 
became  bankrupt;  and .  twenty  years  afterward, 
another  financial  panic  occurred.  The  inflation  of 
the  banknotes  was  wonderful  between  1830  and 
1837 ;  but  just  as  the  amount  had  been  increased, 
so  it  decreased  during  the  following  si.x  years  till 
1843;  and  this  caused  the  ruin  of  many  moneyed 
institutions  among  them  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States,  the  renewal  of  wiiose  charter  had  been 
denied  by  President  Jackson. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war,  the  paper  money 
in  circulation  amounted  to  $200,000, 000 ;  of  which 
three-fourths  had  been  issued  in  the  Northern 
States;  and  the  coin  amounted  to  5275,000,000. 
The  early  necessities  of  the  national  treasury  in 
this  trying  period  compelled  the  government  to 
borrow  money,  and  in  FeDruary,  1862,  Congress 
authorized  the  issue  of  treasury  notes  amounting 
to  $150,000,000,  declaring  them' to  be  legal  tender 
except  for  customs  duties  and  interest  on  the  na- 
tional debt. 

A  premium  on  gold  naturally  followed,  causing 
it  to  be  drawn  entirely  from  circulation,  and  this 
increased  as  the  treasury  notes  mitltiplied.  Then 
the  National  Banking  .System  came  to  be  intro- 
duced to  supply  a  circulating  mediinn.  having  been 
created  on  b'eb.  25,  18C3,  and  amended  on  June  3, 
1864.  A  Bureati  was  established  in  the  Treasury 
Department,  with  power  to  authorize  banking  as- 
sociations, imder  certain  provisions  for  public  se- 
curity, and  the  .State  banks  were  rapidly  trans- 
formed into  national  banks.  The  currency  of  the 
country  in  this  maimer  came  to  consist  of  treasury 
demand  notes  (which  in  1865  amounted  to  .$450,- 
000,000)  and  of  national  bank-notes  (which  ap- 
proached the  limit  of  8300,000.000).  The  latter 
circulated  as  freely  as  the  former,  because  their 
ultimate  redemption  was  assured  by  the  deposit  of 
an  adequate  amount  in  United  States  bonds  at  the 
national  treasury.  This  system  was  found  supe- 
rior in  the  protection  which  it  afforded ;  but  it 
could  not  prevent  a  financial  crisis  from  sweepiner 
over  the  country,  especially  when  other  causes,  such 
as  excessive  mamifactures  and  cnorniM'us  losses 
from  fire,  contributed  greatlv  toward  the  result. 
Congress  also  authorized  small  notes  for  five, 
ten,  twcntv-five  ami  fiftv  cent-  to  be  issued  fnr 
the  pi;rp<>se  of  snpi)l}-ing  the  I'lss  of  the  small  <le- 


r.  "I     :ji;.  '      ;:r 


M'-;::T./r- 


■  1     i    ;      ■ 


if:    fTi     I.. 


■  Jf'',l    '/       .Mil 

■  /    .  i '  n ' ;    ;  ; 


'    .1';-      ■,;*, 


VI,::      /|(.' 


12S 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTV,    PEXXSYLWVXIA 


nominations  of  coin  money  from  circulation.  This 
was  commonly  known  as  "currency,"  and  it  was 
all  redeemed  after  the  war. 

During  this  period,  our  merchants  at  Reading 
!Si;ued  and  circulated  for  a  time  their  own  fraction- 
al demand  notes  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging 
trade  in  ihe  community  and  it  was  gradually  re- 
deemed as  the  national  currency  was  supplied. 


Rest. 
55 
59 
70 
74 


88 
88 


CO.MPAXIKS  FROM  COL'XTY  ^^ 

The  following  IM  1  companies  of  men  were  enlisted  93 

from  Berks  county  and  mustered  into  the  service  "■'^ 

of    the    national    government    in    the    Civil    war.  ^^ 

Twelve  of  the  companies  included  men  accredited  104 

to  other  counties.     Reckoning  all  the  men  in  the  104 
companies    named    and    those    found    in    ditYerent 

companies   not   classified,   it   can   be   asserted   that  ^g^ 

about   ten   thousantl   men   of  our  county  were '  en-  ^82 
gaged  in  the  great  struggle  for  the  preservation  of 
the  Union.                                                                • 

SUMMARY  „  _^ 

Rest. 

Three   months'   service,    3SR1 733  1~'S 

Three   years'    service,    lsr)l-64 3.657  128 

Nine  months'  service.   1S62-63 1,003  128 

Volunteer  militia  of   1SG2 543  128 

Drafted  m.ilitia  of  18R2 1,2C.^  128 

Emergency    troops    of    1863 1,438  128 

One    hundred    dnys'    service,    1SC4 357  151 

One   year's    service,   1864-65 895  151 

Miscellaneous    enlistment   in   Regular   U.    S.   service,  151 

etc 250  151 

151 

10,144 

The  detailed   statement.*  showing  the  several  regiments 

and    companies,    the    nunibei    of    men    in    each    company,  K<^-'^- 

and  the  names  of  the  captains,  is  as  follows : 

11 

Three  Months'  Scrz-icc — 1S61  11 

20 

Rert.           Co.              Men                          Captain  on 

25            A              104            James   McKnijiht  ~p, 

1             G               78             Geo.    W.    Alexander  "^ 
5             H               77             Frank    M.    Cooley 
5             Band         16             E.    Ermentrout,   Leader 
7             C                7G             Isaac   .Schrocder 

7             I)                78             Geo.   .S.   Herhst  ^'■'^■ 

7            G               77            A.    F.    Riglnmver                    .  '"^'^ 

14             A               77             David   A.    Griffith  ^^'^ 

14             E                80            John  C.   Shearer  ^^'^ 

25             C                58             Henrv   Xatjle  ^^'^ 

25             Band         17             John    A.    Hocli,    Leader  ^^7 

167 

Three   Years'  Scrz'iee — 1S61-64  ic>7 

Resrt.            Co               Men                          CaiMain  167    • 

2fi             Band          13              Henrv   Grime,   Leader  107 

32             .\              100             Jacob   Lenhart,   Jr.  167 

32  D              115             \Vm.  Briner  179 

33  F              100             Wash.   Riciiards  179 
36             I                 33             Joseph   G.   Holmes    (Berks   and 

Lebanon  counties  ) 

43  F                38             R.   B.   Rickets,    1st   Artillerv     '  R^gj 

44  L  l.V->  T.  C.  A.  Iloffeditz  31  ' 
44  M  154  Thos.  S.  Richards  42 
40  E  173  Cornelius  Wise  4'> 
46  Band  10  R.  T.  Stanlev  40 
48  D  40  Daniel  Xngle  42 
50  B  166  Hcrvev  Herman  42 
50  E  ISl  Wm.  H.  Dichl  40 
50  H  177  Thos.  S.  Brenholtz  43 
53         A&B           27             Wm.   S.   Pons  42 

*  rr^parcd  by  tlie  c(  nipilrr  nf  titi-:   history-  for  tl.c  Historical   Society  . 

of   Berks    County,    ami    rc.iJ    at    a   regular' meeting   on    Feb.    14,    190j.  '' 


Co, 

B 
K 
G 
G 


A 
B 
H 
Band 

B 
G 
K 
G 
B 
H 
D 
K 
H 
H 


Men  Captain 

191  John    C.    Shearer 
33  Stephen   H.    Kdgett 

94  Geo;  E.   Clymer,  Gth   Cavalry 

50  Wm.    J.    Bart    (Berks   and 

Adams   counties^ 

64  C.    C.    McCormick    ( Berks    and 
Northumberland  counties) 

197  Geo.   W.   Knahb 

192  Henrv   A.    Mvers 
19G  David   A.   Griffith 

20  E.   Ermentrout,   Leader    (Ring- 
gold) 

185  John   E.   -Arthur 

183  A.   C.    Maitland 

74  David  C.  Keller 

31  Jas.  M.  Douden 

50  Jacob  W.   Glase 

195  Wm.    F.    Walter 

297  Geo.   W.    Durrell,    Ind.    Battery 

25  Henry   Ungerer 

16  A.  ^L   Halberstadt 

76  Geo.  F.  Cooke,  21st  Cavalry 


Nine  Months'  Service — 1S62-6J 

Co.              Men  Captain 

A                99  L.   Heber   Smith 

B                93  Wm.    McNall 

E                98  Wm.   U.   .Andrews 

H               76  John   Kennedv 

I                 89  Richard  H.  Jones 

K               88  Geo.    Newkirk 

E                93,  Jacob  S.  Graff 

G                83  Levi    M.    Gcrhart 

H               83  Wm.  K.  Boltz 

I               100  Wm.   L,   Grav 

K              101  Jas,   W.   Weida 

Volunteer  Militia  of  1S62 

Co.               Men  Csptain 

G               70  F.  S.  Bicklev 

E             104  Chas.  H.   Hunter 

I                 95  N.   M.   Eisenhower 

G               70  Wm.  Geiger 

H                45  Samuel    Harner 

I                92  Frederick    S,    Boas 

67  •        Samuel   L.   Young 

Drafted  Mi'itia  of  1S62 — p  ;)WJ. 


Co. 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

I 

K 


Co, 

H 
A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 
I 

Cavalry 


Men  Captain 

113  Jonathan  Sec 

105  Chas.    Melcher 

102  Peter  V.   Edclman 

113  Samuel    .A.    Haines 
101  H.    H.    Miller 

100  Josiah    Groh 

114  William  A.  Schall 
105  A,   H.    Schaeffer 
in  J,   M.   ShoUenberger 
105  Edw.  F.  Reed 

99  .Amos    Drenkel 

95  John   B.  Wagoner 

Eiiiergeiicy    Troops — 1S63 


Men 
63 
98 
91 

.103 
95 
83 
79 
90 
00 
91 


Captain 

David   .A,   Griffith 
Wm.  F.  Walter 
Samuel    Harner 
John    E.    .\rtlnir 
Wm.    D,    Smith 
Tno.   McKnight 
Ecntly    H.    Smith 
.Samuel    A,    Haines 
Tohn   Obold 
Edw.   Bailev 


0 


,^',>p'.\'    •■.«• 


li 


■■•■('I 


■.-I-  I- 


'ilvi;"  <>° 


rfv,'     ;•'    ,• 


WAR    PERIODS 


1?9 


Kesc 

Co. 

.Men 

Captain 

K 

65 

Jacob  Deppt  n 

43 

G 

95 

Jos.   G.   Holmes 

43 

I 

79 

Aug.  C.   Greth 

;3 

A 

86 

R.   L.  Jones 

j3 

B 

"5 

Jacob   Lehman 

» 

149 

W.    C.    Ermentroiit 

0 

le    Huv.dri 

(/    Days'    Scrziee—iS64 

Regt. 

Co. 

Men 

Captain 

194 

I 

84 

H.    E.   Quimbv 

195 

A 

85 

H.    D.    Mark-ley 

195 

B 

9:? 

H.  .Maltzbcrger 

196 

I 

95 

G.   S.   Rowbotham 

One   Year's  Service — 1S64-6J 

Kegt. 

Co. 

Men 

Captain 

83 

I 

84 

R.   W.   McCartney    ( Berks   and 
Dauphin  counties) 

192 

F 

97 

John   Teed 

195 

A 

9G 

H.    D.    Markley 

198 

D 

98 

Isaac    Schroeder 

198 

G 

99 

Wm.   L.  Guinther 

205 

B 

104 

Jos.  G.  Holmes 

205 

E 

104 

Wm.  F.  Walter 

205 

H 

111 

F.   Schmehl 

213 

D 

102 

J.   W.   Kennedy 

patch  announcing  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  found 
the  company  at  drill  at  some  distance  from  the 
city.*  The  effect  was  electrical,  and  all  were  impa- 
tient to  move  at  once  to  the  defense  of  the  tlag. 


Surgeons  from   County  in  Cix'i!  War 
The    following    medical    practitioners    of    Berks    county 
were  engaged   in  the   Civil   war,  and   the  statement   shows 
the    regiment    with    which    they    were    connected    and    the 
district   of  the   county  where  they  resided. 
33d     Regt. — Dr.    John    B.    Griesemer,    Exeter,    Surgeon 
34th  Regt. — Dr.    Harrison     T.    Witman,    Reading,    Asst. 

Surgeon  • 

47th  Regt. — Dr.  Jnhn  H.  Sheetz,  Reading.  Asst.  Surgeon 
48th  Regt. — i)r.    Charles    T.    Reber,    Reading.    Asst.    Sur- 
geon 
73d    Regt. — Dr.    Jeremiah    S.    Trexler,    Kutztown,    Asst. 

Surgeon 
75th     Regt. — Dr.    Manoah    S.    Long,    Longswamp,    Asst. 

Surgeon 
76th  Rfgt. — Dr.   Erasmus   R.   Scholl,   Reading,   Surgeon 
108th  Regt. — Dr.    Hiester    M.    Xagle,    Reading,    Surgeon 
141st  Regt. — Dr.    Wellington    G.    Byerle,    Bernville,    Asst. 

Surgeon 
154th  Regt. — Dr.  John   M.   Hoffman.   Spring,   Surgeon 
154th  Regt. — Dr.    lilias    C.    Kitcb.en.   Amity,    Surgeon 
166th  Regt. — Dr.    Alexander    IL    Witman,    Reading,    Assl. 

Surgeon 
167th  Regt.— Dr.  Daniel  T.  Batdorf,  Bethel.  Asst.  Surgeon 
U.  S.   Xavy — Dr.   Tonathan  Bertolctte,  Surgeon 


THREE  MONTHS'  SERVICE— ISGl 
Ringgold  Light  ARTii.LtRV. — The  first  troops 
to  respond  to  the  President's  call  were  the  Ring- 
gold Light  Artillery  of  Reading;  the  Logan  Guards 
of  Lewistown ;  the  Washington  Artillery  and  the 
National  Light  Infantry  of  Pottsville;  and  the 
Allen  Rifles  of  Allentown. 

On  Jan.  21,  ISdL  :\Iaj.-Gen.  William  II.  Keim 
(then  Surveyor-General  of  Pcimsylvania,  from 
Reading),  with  characteristic  sagacity,  had  advised 
Captain  McKnight  that  the  services  of  his  com]iany 
would  probably  soon  be  needed,  and  counseled  him 
to  hold  them  in  readiness  for  immediate  service. 
From  that  time  till  April  IHth.  almost  daily  drills 
were  practised.  On  the  21?d  of  February,  they  were 
in   readiness   to  obey   marching  orders.     The   dis- 

•  Ir.I.    Artillery 

9 


^     "^^^p' 


C.M'T.    J.\MES    MC  KXIGHT 

On  the  morning  of  the  IGth  of  April,  marching 
orders  were  received  from  Governor  Curtin ;  and, 
on  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  the  company  v/as 
taken  on  the  Lebanon  Valley  railroad  to  Harris- 
burg,  where  it  arrived  at  8  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
The  com])any  numbered  108  men,  fully  arintd  and 
equipped  as  light  artillery.  On  reporting  at  the 
Executive  OflTice,  the  Secretary  of  \\'ar  telegraphed 
that  the  company  be  forwarded  by  the  earliest 
train,  'but  this  order  was  countermanded  by  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Commonwealth  later  in  the  day. 

The  five  companies  named  were  nuistered  into 
the  service  of  the  L'nited  States  at  Harrisburg  for 
three  months,  and  departed  for  Washington  by  rail- 
road on  the  ISth  of  April,  at  9  o'clock  a.  m.  They 
arrived  at  P.altimore  at  1  o'clock  p.  m.,  being  under 
the  necessitv  of  marching  two  miles  through  the 
city,  from  Bolton  to  Camden  station.  On  leaving 
the  cars,  a  battalion  was  formed  in  the  following 
order:  4th  Artillery  (regulars);  Logan  Guards; 
Allen  Rifles,  of  Allentown :  Washington  Artillery 
and  National  Light  Infantry,  of  Pottsville:  with 
the  Ringgold  Artillery  bringing  up  the  rear.  As 
the  column  was  fornn'ng  near  Bolton  station,  the 
police  of  Baltimore  appearetl  in  large  force,  headed 
bv  Marshal  Kane,  and  followed  by  a  mob  which 
at  once  commenced  an  attack  upon  the  volunteers, 
countenanced  by  a  portion  of  the  police,  who  had 
been  sent  to  give  safe  conduct  through  the  citv. 
Orders  were  given  to  the  men  to  preserve  their 
temper  and  make  no  reply  to  anything  that  should 
be  said  to  them.  At  the  command  "forward."  the 
mob  commenced  hcxoting,  jeering  and  yelling,  and 
proclaimed,  with  oaths,  that  the  troops  should  not 
pa'=s  through  their  city  to  fipht  the  South. 

*   Poor-hou'f    Farm    in    ShiUinKton. 


M      •,  i-j';--    .  ••^OIlO 


.  i,  ■  - .      -   . ., ; 


,j'         ■.n'iPfl!'-; 


1;,. .''   :).■: 


'/;,:  t; 


n    I.;,,;-    ■.,! 


>r)  ! 


130 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    C(3UNTY,    PEXXSYLWWIA 


Arriving  near  the  center  of  the  city,  certain  reg- 
ular troops  filed  otT  toward  Fort  .McHenry,  leavint,'- 
the  voUinteers  to  pursue  their  way  through 
the  city  as  well  as  they  could.  At  this  juncture, 
the  mob  were  excited  to  a  perfect  frenzy,  breaking 
the  line  of  the  police,  and  pushing  through  the  files 
of  men.  in  an  attempt  to  break  the  column.  Every 
insult  that  could  be  heaped  upon  the  troops  was 
offered,  but  no  word  of  reply  was  elicited.  The 
officers  and  men  marched  steadily  on  toward  Cam- 
den station.  At  every  step,  the  mob  increased  till 
it  numbered  thousands  of  most  determined  and  des- 
perate men. 

As  the  volunteers  were  boarding  the  train  at  the 
station,  the  angry  mob  hurled  a  sliov/cr  of  bricks, 
stones  and  clubs  into  their  disorganized  ranks,  for- 
tunately, however,  inflicting  only  slight  injuries.  In 
the  midst  of  the  confusion,  an  attempt  was  made 
to  detach  the  engine  from  the  train  and  run  it 
away,  but  this  was  prevented  by  the  determined 
character  of  the  engineer  and  his  assistants,  who 
drew  revolvers  and  threatened  to  shoot  any  who 
dared  to  do  so.  At  length,  amidst  the  demoniac  yells 
of  the  crowd,  the  train  moved  off.  carrying  the  vol- 
unteers safely  beyond  the  reach  of  their  desperate 
assailants.  They  arrived  in  Washington  at  7  o'clock 
in  the  evening.  Arms,  ammunition  and  equipments 
were  furnished  and  ihe  w^ork  of  barricading  the 
Capitol  was  commenced  immediately.  Squads  of 
the  Rebel  soldiers  were  then  drilling  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Potomac  river  in  full  vie  v.-  of  the  Capi- 
tol. It  having  been  ascertained  on  the  23d  of  April 
that  an  attempt  would  be  made  to  capture  Wasl.- 
ington  by  vvay  of  the  arsenal  and  the  navy-yard. 
the  "Ringgold  Artillerists"  w'ere  ordered  to  report 
to  Captain  Dahlgrccn  at  the  navy-yard,  and  three 
twelve-i>ound  howitzers  were  assigned  to  them. 
Excepting  a  detachment  of  twelve  men,  detailed  to 
guard  the  "Short  Bridge."  the  entire  command  was 
required  to  man  these  guns.  On  the  STith.  a  ser- 
geant and  six  men  were  detailed  to  serve  as  a 
guard  on  the  steamer  "Powhatan,"  which  was  dis- 
patched to  make  a  rcconnoissance  down  the  Poto- 
mac for  the  purpose  of  searching  for  obstructions 
and  of  ascertaining  if  forts  were  being  erected  along 
the  river.  On  the  2(ith.  the  company  were  ordered 
to  duty  at  the  Capitol :  and  on  the  15th  of  Alay,  the 
Secretary  of  \\'?.r  a'^signed  them  to  dutv  at  the 
Washington  Arsenal,  where  they  remained  till  the 
expiration  of  their  term  of  service,  excepting  a 
short  interval,  when  thev  were  detailed  to  mount 
guns  in  the  forts  about  Washington.  Thev  were 
mustered  out  at  Harrisburg.  They  had  been  class- 
ified as  Company  A.  of  the  25th  Regiment.  Edward 
P.  Pearson,  Esq.,  of  Reading,  was  Adjutant  of  the 
Regiment ;  he  subscquentlv  became  an  officer  in  the 
regular  army  and  served  for  many  vears  with 
great  distinction. 

Col.  A.  C.  Buell,  in  his  book,  entitled  "The  Can- 
noneer, Recollections  of  Service  in  the  Armv  of  the 
Potorjiac  bv   a  detached  volunteer  in  the   Regular 


Army,"   published  the   following  interesting  infor- 
mation about  this  distinguished  company : 

Spe.ikiriR  of  the  "Stolidity  of  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch," 
history  records  some  nianiieitations  of  it  that  are  admir- 
abie.  For  example,  there  was  a  battery  in  the  Civil  war 
wliich  entered  the  Union  service  as  "The  Riiipgold  .\rtil- 
lery  of  Reading"  and  its  connnander  was  Capt.  James 
McKnight.  It  was  the  first  vohmteer  artillery  organiza- 
tion to  reach  Washington  in  April,  1801.  At  the  end  '^f 
its  three  montlis'  service,  it  re-cnlisted  in  a  body  for 
three  years  and  was  nitiftored  into  the  regular  army  as 
Battery  M,  5th  U.  S.  .Artillery,  being  the  only  volunteer 
organization  transferred  bodily  to  the  regular  army  in 
all  our  history.  Its  composition  may  be  inferred  from 
the  names  of  its  sergeants  in  ISG4  when  I  was  personally 
acquainted  with  it.  They  were  as  follows:  Daniel  Yoder. 
Philip  Weidner,  William  Eeckhardt,  Joseph  Gcrhardt  and 
Frederick  Volkman.  Of  its  107  enlisted  men  in  the  Valley 
Campaign  of  lSt34,  84  were  Pennsylvania  i?utchmen  from 
Berks.  Schuylkill  and  Lehigh — ail  native  Americans — 12 
Americans  of  English  descent,  and  11  Irisiimcn,  one  of 
whom,  Patrick  Flytm  Hunt,  late  of  Templemore,  Couiity 
Tippcrary,  was  acting  sergeant  on  temporarv  detail  from 
Battery  E.  Battery  M  served  all  through  the  war  in  the 
Gth  Corps.  At  Cedar  Creek  it  was  in  lir;e  with  Getty's 
(Sd)  Division  of  that  Corps  and  took  the  butt  end  of  the 
Con  federate  attack  in  the  tirst  attempt  of  the  Union  forces 
to  stop  thejont  in  the  early  stages  of  that  dramatic  battle. 
In  its  first  position  it  lost  one  gun,  a  lieutenant  and  9 
men,  tlie  gun  however  being  retaken  by  the  10th  Vermont 
Infantry.  In  its  second  position  the  whole  battery  was 
taken  by  Kershaw's  South  Carolina  Brigade  and  almost 
instantly  retaken  by  part  of  the  Old  Vermont  Brigade  in 
a  rough-and-tumble,  which  resulted  amorig  other  things 
in  the  killing  or  disabling  of  19  men  with  the  bayonet 
alone,  few  shots  being  fired.  Out  of  this  last  motion. 
Battery  M  emerged  wilh  2  guns  and  27  n-;en  fit  for  duty 
who  at  once  resumed  their  fire  with  double  canister.  This 
remnant  was  commanded  by  Sergeant  Daniel  Yoder,  Cap- 
tain ^'cKnight  being  at  that  moment  acting  Chief  of  At- 
tillery  of  the  Corps,  and  the  remaining  lieutenant  (Henry 
M.  Baldwin)  having  been  killed  in  the  previous  struggle. 
.\ftcr  the  [jattle.  Gen.  Horatin  Wright  romplunented  Cap- 
tain McKiiiglit  on  the  belia\ior  of  his  hatterv  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  few  men  that  remained.  Said  he,  '"Your  Penn- 
sylvania Dutchmen  don't  seem  to  know  when  they  are 
whipped."  To  which  the  Captain  replied,  "F)nn't  know 
when  they  are  whipped?  By  God,  General,  most  of  them 
don't  know  when  tlioy  are  killed." 

All  the  losses  of  Battery  ?J  at  Cedar  Creek  were 
either  killed  or  wounded,  none  were  missing.  Buell 
was  a  private  when' this  happened,  but  he  became 
a  colonel  afterward. 

1st  Rkgi.mext. — The  1st  Regin:ent  was  organ- 
ized at  Harrisburg  on  April  20th,  In  pursuance  of 
orders,  it  performed  duty  at  several  places  in  Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland  and  \'irginia  till  Julv  23d.  when 
it  returned  to  Harrisbn.'g,  and  was  there  honorably 
discharged  on  the  2Tth.  During  its  service  it  did 
not  participate  in  any  battles ;  but  it  accomplished 
much  good  bv  checking-  anv  movement  on  the  part 
of  the  Rebels  in  arms  along  the  borders.  It  in- 
cluded Company  G.  which  was  recruited  at  Read- 
ing, and  mustered  into  service  on  April  20,  ISHl. 

5tii  Rfx.tmext. — The  5th  Regiment  was  organ- 
ized at  Camp  Curtin  niarri-burg)  on  April  21st. 
It  performed  guard  duty  mostiv  at  Baltimore, 
Washington  and  Alexandria.  It  wa<;  at  the  latter 
place  during  the  disastrous  battle  of  Bull  Run,  in 
which    the   brigade    (to   which    it   had    been    tians- 


-.1  :■'  •  ■       .  :    I    •, 


■I     i.:    fiT' 


','  v    Ij: 


WAR    PERIODS 


131 


ferred)  participated.  It  was  discharged  at  Harris- 
burg  on  July  ^5th. 

Company  H  was  recruited  at  Reading.  It  was 
mustered  into  service  on  April  "^0.  18(J1.  Dr.  E.  R. 
Scholl,  of  Reading,  was  the  regimental  surgeon. 

Reading  City  Baud  was  attached  to  this  regi- 
ment. It  comprised  sixteen  men  (six  from  Leb- 
anon), with  Emanuel  lumentrout  as  leader.  Left 
Reading  on  May  "^i,  18G1,  for  Washington,  via  Har- 
risburg  and  Baltimore,  and  was  mu:>tered  in  there 
on  the  2od.  Remained  there  until  the  '29th  and 
then  went  to  Alexandria,  where  it  was  in  active 
service  until  July  x!lst.  Then  it  was  ordered  to 
Harrisburg  and  there  mustered  out  on  July  26th. 
The  members  from  Reading  returned  home. 

7th  Regiment. — The  7th  Regiment  was  organ- 
ized- and  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Cur- 
tin  on  April  22d.  It  was  encamped  over  a 
month  at  Chambersburg.  On  June  Sth  it  moved 
southwardly.  It  was  stationed  at  Williams- 
port  on  the  19th.  On  July  2d,  it  began  the  march 
to  Martinsburg.  On  the  way,  it  confiscated  the 
contents  of  an  extensive  flour-mill  (a  large  amoimt 
of  grain  and  flour  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  barrels 
of  whiskey),  the  owner  havmg  been  a  captain  in 
the  Rebel  army.  Shortly  afterward,  it  was  en- 
camped at  Charlestown,  where  it  remained  until 
ordered  to  Harrisburg,  and  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service  on  July  29th.  Three  companies  were  re- 
cruited in  Berks  county,  C,  G,  and  D :  the  first  at 
Friedcnsburg :  the  second  at  Pleasantville;  and  the 
third  at  Reading. 

14th  Regiment. — -The  14th  Regiment  was  or- 
ganized at  Camp  Curtin  on  April  30th.  Richards 
McMichael  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
Joseph  A.  McLean  major.  Both  were  from  Read- 
ing'. It  was  encamped  at  Camp  Johnston,  in  Lan- 
caster, til!  June  3d,  and  subsequently  it  marched 
to  Chambersburg,  Hagerstown,  Sharpsbnrg,  Mar- 
tinsburg.  Bunker's  Llill  and  Harper's  Ferry,  doing 
picket  and  guard  duty,  and  making  various  expedi- 
tions to  encounter  the  enemy.  Whilst  at  the  latter 
place,  the  term  of  enlistment  expired  and  it  was 
ordered  to  Harrisburg.  On  its  way,  it  encamped 
and  remained  two  weeks  at  Carlisle,  where  it  was 
mustered  out  of  service  Aug.  7th.  It  included  two 
companies  from  Berks  county:  A,  recruited  at 
Reading  and  mustered  in  on  April  27th:  and  E, 
recruited  at  Womelsdorf,  and  mustered  in  on 
April  24th. 

2.5th  Regiment. — Company  C  of  Reading  was 
also  in  the  2.5th  Regiment,  in  the  three  months' 
service  with  Company  .\.  It  was  recruited  at  Read- 
ing out  of  the  surplus  men  of  the  Rincrgold  Light 
Artillery  and  seventeen  men  of  the  National  Light 
Infantry  of  Pottsville.  and  mustered  into  service 
on  April  18,  1801.  The  regiment  had  been  organ- 
ized at  Harrisburg.  It  wa<=  mustered  out  of  service 
on  Aug.  1st. 

Rcgi)ncntal  Band.- — The  regimental  band  of  the 
SSth  Regiment  was  engaged  in  the  three  months' 
service,   having  been   mustered   in   at   Washington. 


in  April,  ISGl,  and  mustered  out  at  Plarrisburg, 
in  July,  IS'Jl.  It  comprised  sixteen  members 
under  the  leadership  of  John  A.  Iloch,  fourteen 
of  them  taken  from  the  Ringgold  Band.  The  other 
two  were  from  I'ottstown. 


THREE  YEARS'   SERMCE— 18G1-G4 

The  insurrection  having  become  too  powerful  to 
be  suppressed  by  the  first  display  of  military  au- 
thority, the  President  issued  a  second  proclamation, 
calling  upon  the  States  to  furnish  two  hundred 
thousand  men  who  were  to  be  enlisted  for  three 
years.  The  quota  of  men  from  Pennsylvania  was 
soon  filled  by  the  patriotic  impulses  of  her  people. 
Companies  from  Berks  county  were  in  the  follow- 
ing regiments : 

26th  Regiment. — The  Bernville  Band  with 
Henry  Grime  as  leader,  and  numbering  thirteen 
men,  was  mustered  into  the  service  at  Bladens- 
burg,  Md.,  on  Sept.  IG,  1861,  as  regimen- 
tal band  of  the  26th  Regiment  of  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers,  and  attached  to  Plooker's  1st 
Brigade.  It  remained  in  camp  at  Bladensburg 
about  two  months ;  then  it  moved  to  Budd's  Ferry, 
in  Lower  Potomac,  on  Maryland  Shore,  and  con- 
tinued there  aU  winter.  During  the  latter  part  of 
April,  it  joined  McClcllan's  army  at  Fortress  Mon- 
roe, and  was  engaged  in  the  Penmsular  campaign, 
commencing  at  Yorktown  and  ending  at  Plarrison's 
Landing.  It  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Plar- 
rison's  Landing  on  Aug.  S,  1SG2,  by  reason  of  an 
Act  of  Congress  passed  to  dispense  with  regimen- 
tal bands.  The  men  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
where  they  were  paid  off  and  sent  home, 

32d  Regiment.— The  32d  Regiment  included 
companies  A,  D  and  F  from  Berks  county,  and 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Harrisburg  on  July 
27,  18G1,  after  having  remained  at  Easton  in  camp 
for  two  months.  The  regiment  was  at  Washington. 
Tennallytown,  and  Langloy  until  March  10,  1SG2, 
when  it-  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  par- 
ticipated in  its  marches  to  and  from  Richmond  until 
February,  1863,  having  been  engaged  in  the  battles 
of  Gaines'  Mill,  Hall's  Hill,  Antietam  and  Freder- 
icksburg. 

Then  it  was  transferred  to  the  defenses  of  Wash- 
ington and  became  a  part  of  the  22d  Army  Corps, 
where  it  remained  until  January,  1864,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  duty  in  \V''est  Virginia  under  General 
Sickel.  Afterward  it  was  at  Martinsburg  and 
Harper's  Ferry  until  April,  then  proceeded  to  the 
Kanawha  \'al'ey  and  participated  in  the  engage- 
ments at  Princctown  and  Meadow  Bluff.  On  May 
22(1,  it  marched  to  Millville.  While  there  its  term 
of  service  expired,  and  then  it  proceeded  to  Phila- 
delphia, via  I'ittsburg.  where  it  was  mustered  out 
nf  service  on  June  17.  1864. 

36tii  Regiment. — The  36th  Regiment  was  com- 
posed of  companies  recruited  in  several  counties 
east  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  Company  I  was- 
inadc  up  nf  men  recruited  in  Berks  and  Lebanon 
counties.     The  men   from   Berks  cotmtv  mmibered 


I     '■;  i     ;        ,  r 


I         /  '  -r   '  / 


13:3 


HISTORY    UF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLX'AXIA 


thirty-three,  and  were  recruited  at  Reading.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  into  service  July  ~T,  lt>01. 
It  was  not  in  any  lighting-  until  the  latter  i)art  of 
June,  lbG3,  when  it  was  engag-ed  in  the  battle  of 
Gaines'  Mill,  occupying  the  left  of  the  line.  Its 
next  engagement  was  at  Charles  City  Cross  Roads, 
June  30,  1SG2.  It  passed  through  seven  days  of 
fighting,  and  upon  mustering  the  regiment  only 
two  hundred  men  were  present  to  answer  to  their 
names.  It  was  also  engaged  in  the  battles  of  An- 
tietam,  Fredericksburg  and  the  Wilderness.  Xearly 
the  entire  regiment  was  captured  in  the  last  battle, 
and  the  men  were  imprisoned  at  Andersonville. 
The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  June  16, 
1864,  at  Philadelphia. 

43d  Regiment. — In  Battery  F,  of  the  43d  Regi- 
ment of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  (1st  Artillery  i, 
recruited  in  Schuylkill  county,  there  were  included 
thirty-eight  men  from  Berks  county.  It  was  organ- 
ized at  Philadelphia  in  June,  J  861,  for  three  years' 
service,  and  mustered  out  at  Harrisburg  on 
June  9,  18G5. 

Tlie  Battery  participated  in  the  following  battles: 
Winchester,  second  Bull  Run,  Chantilly,  Antietam, 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsviile.  Gettysburg.  Bris- 
toe  Station,  ]\line  Run,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania, 
North  Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  Cold  Harbor,  Peters- 
burg, and  Dee])  Bottom. 

44TII  Regiment. — The  44lh  Regiment  (lA  Cav- 
alry) was  recruited  in  a  number  of  counties.  Com- 
pany L  from  men  of  Berks,  Lebanon  and  Lancaster 
counties,  and  Company  AI  from  men  of  Berks  coun- 
ty.    Both  were  recruited  at  Reading. 

Company  L  was  mustered  into  service  as  an  inde- 
pendent company  on  July  30,  1861,  and  stationed  at 
Baltimore  for  live  months  ;  and  Company  M  on  Aug. 
5,  1861,  and  stationed  at  same  place  until  Oct.  3d. 
On  Jan.  Tth,  these  companies  joined  their  regiment 
and  moved  with  the  army  toward  Manassas.  They 
were  eng-'agcd  in  the  battles  of  .Strasburg.  Wood- 
stock, Harrisonburg  and  Fredericksburg  during  the 
year  186';^;  and  in"  1863.  in  the  battle's  of  Brandy 
Station,  Beverly  Ford  and  Aldie.  They  were  con- 
cerned in  Sheridan's  raid  upon  Richmond,  during 
the  spring  of  1864,  in  which  they  encountered  the 
enemy  in  a  number  of  engagements,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing summer  tliey  were  engaged  in  fighting  the 
enemy  at  Saint  Mary's  Church,  Malvern  Hill, 
Gravel  Hill,  and  Ream's  Station.  On  Aug.  29th 
they  were  encamped  on  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road, 
near  the  left  of  the  army.  Tlieir  term  of  service 
having  expired,  they  withdrew  from  the  front  on 
Sept.  1st,  and  proceeded  to  Philadelphia  where  they 
were  mustered  out  of  service  Sept.  9,  1S64. 

46th  Regiment. — The  46th  Regiment  was  or- 
ganized at  Harrisburg  on  Sept.  1,  1861,  and  in- 
cluded Company  E.  recruited  at  Reading.  It  was 
ordered  to  Harper's  Ferry  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  General  Banks.  Its  first  conflict  was 
at  Winchester,  where  for  five  hour'-  it  held  its  po- 
sition with  great  coolness  and  liravery  whilst  re- 
treating toward  the  Potomac  before  Gen.  Stonewall 


Jackson.  On  Aug.  8.  1S62,  it  was  in  the  battle  of 
Cedar  Mountain,  and  on  Sept.  11th  in  the  battle  of 
Antietam.  In  May,  18G3,  it  participated  in  a  fierce 
engagement  near  Chancellorsviile ;  and  in  July  it 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
occupying  the  extreme  right  of  the  line  on  the  3d. 

After  the  withdrawal  of  Lee  from  Pennsylvania, 
tlie  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee under  General  Rosecrans.  In  January,  1864, 
it  proceeded  to  Pennsylvania  on  a  veteran  furlough, 
and  the  greater  part  of  the  of^cers  and  men  re- 
enlisted  for  three  years. 

Among  the  re-enlisted  men  in  the  regiment,  there 
was  a  young  man,  Henry  Weidensaul,  a  native  of 
Morgantown,  in  Berks  county.  He  entered  the 
regiment  when  fourteen  years  old  and  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Winchester,  Cedar  Mountain,  Chan- 
cellorsviile, Gcttysl>urg,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Kenesaw 
[Mountain  and  Peach  Tree  Creek.  He  was  wounded 
at  Cedar  ^lountain.  taken  prisoner,  and  confined 
in  Libby  Prison  for  five  weeks.  He  was  also 
wounded  at  Peach  Tree  Creek  and  Atlanta.  On 
July  1.  1863,  he  was  scz'cutccn  years  old,  and  the 
Keystone  State  claimed  him  to  be  the  youngest 
veteran  soldier  in  the  service. 

L'pon  recruiting  its  ranks,  the  regiment  rejoined 
the  army  at  Chattanooga,  and  participated  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign  under  General  Sherman  in  iiis 
great  march  to  the  sea.  After  nearlv  four  vears  of 
faithful  service,  it  was  mustered  out  on  July  IG, 
isr.r^,  near  Alexandria,  Virginia. 

Birdsboro  BahJ .— lliis Tiand  was  mustered  into 
service  for  three  years  on  Aug.  27,  1861,  as  the 
regimental  band  of  the  regiment ;  but  discharged  on 
Aug.  16.  1862.  in  pursuance  of  an  order  dispensing 
with  regimental  bands. 

48th  Regi.ment — Company  D  of  this  regiment 
was  recruited  at  Pottsville,  in  Schuylkill  county, 
mustered  into  service  in  October,  1861,  and  mus- 
tered out  July  17,  186.").  Forty  of  the  men  were 
from  Hamburg,  in  Berks  county.  The  regiment 
was  in  the  battles  of  Antietam  and  Second  Bull 
Run.  It  was  prominent  in  the  Petersburg  cam- 
paign, having  exploded  the  great  mine. 

The  Port  Clinton  Artillerv  was  connected  with 
this  regiment.  Included  with  the  battery  there  were 
twenty-five  men  from  Reading  and  Leesport.  ac- 
credited to  Schuylkill  county.  It  was  mustered  in 
.May.  1861. 

John  D.  Bertolette.  of  Reading,  was  the  adjutant; 
and  Dr.  Charles  T.  Reber.  surgeon. 

•tOtii  Regiment.— The  ."iOth  Regiment  included 
three  companies  from  Berks  county,  B.  E  and  H, 
which  were  recruited  at  Reading.  It  was  organ- 
ized at  Harrisburg  on  Sept.  2.5,  1861.  Capt. 
Thomas  Brenholtz,  of  Company  II,  was  selected  as 
lieutenant-colonel.  The  regiment  i)rocceded  to 
Wasiiington  on  (Jet.  2d.  and  on  the  Dth  to  .\nnap- 
olis.  where  it  was  assigned  to  .Stevens'  Brigade, 
which  was  then  fitting  out  for  an  expedition  to 
Suuth  Carolina.  On  Oct.  10th,  the  regiment  em- 
harked  upon  transports.  Companies  B  and  E  on  the 


WAR    PERIODS 


133 


"Winfield  Scott"  and  Company  H  on  the  "Ocean 
Oueen."  On  the  night  of  Xov.  Isr,  a  heavy  gale 
was  encountered  oti  Cape  llatteras,  and  the  "W'in- 
lield  Scott,"  an  unseaworthy  craft,  was  in  imminent 
peril.  Her  masts  were  cut  away,  the  freight  and 
camp  equipage  were  thrown  overboard,  a  portion 
uf  her  officers  a'ld  crew  deserted  her  and  every- 
thing was  given  up  for  lost.  She  was  finally  saved 
through  the  superhuman  efforts  of  the  soldiers, 
who  had  been  left  to  their  fate  without  food  or 
water.  The  regiment  went  into  camp  on  the  island 
at  Hilton  Head  and  was  employed  in  building  forti- 
fications. On  Dec.  Gth,  it  proceeded  to  Beaufort 
and  there  experienced  its  first  st<irmish  with  the 
enemy.  It  participated  in  the  battle  of  Coosaw  on 
Jan.  1,  1862.  In  General  Hunter's  demonstration 
against  Charleston,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brenholtz 
and  six  companies  took  a  prominent  part,  driving 
the  enemy  from  a  railroad  bridge  which  spanned 
a  stream  near  Pocotaligo. 

The  regiment  remained  near  Beaufc>rt  till  July 
l?th;  then  proceeded  to  Fortress  Monroe.  Subse- 
quentlv  it  was  engaged  in  the  first  and  second 
days'  fights  at  Bull  Run.  Brenholtz  commanded 
the  regiment.  He  was  one  of  the  wounded  in 
the  second  day's  fight.  On  Aug.  1st,  it  participat- 
ed in  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  and  several  weeks 
]ater  in  the  battle  of  Antietam.  Subsequently 
it  was  moved  to  Kentucky  and  participated  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  There  Brenholtz,  wiulst 
gallantly  leading  his  men  before  the  enemy's  works, 
was  mortally  wounded.  His  fall  was  greatly  la- 
mented at  Reading,  where  he  had  been  a  success- 
ful teacher  in  the  public  schools.  JMuch  of  the 
credit  which  the  organization  had  acquired  was 
due  to  his  excellent  qualities  as  a  soldier.  Xo 
braver  man  ever  led  in  battle,  and  upon  his 
death  the  service  lost  one  of  its  most  valued  lead- 
ers. In  August,  onlv  eighty  of  the  regiment  were 
present  for  duty,  and  nearly  all  had  chills  and 
fever.  The  other  men  of  the  regiment  were  in 
hospitals  suffering  from  wounds  or  malaria.  In 
October  and  November,  18ii3,  it  took  part  in  en- 
gagements, at  Blue  Springs,  Lenoir  Station,  and 
Knoxville. 

Nearly  the  entire  regiment  re-enlisted  on  Jan- 
uary 1,  1SG4.  During  Januarv  it  was  marched  to 
Nicholasville,  a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles, 
in  ten  days.  Many  of  the  men  were  barefooted 
and  walked  through  the  snow.  In  February,  they 
proceeded  .to  Harrisburg  on  a  veteran  furlough, 
and  visited  their  homc^.  In  March,  the  regiment 
encamped  at  Annapolis.  On  Mav  Gth.  it  was  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  the  Wil'lcrness,  and  on  the 
^th,  in  the  battle  near  Spottsylvania  Court-House. 
Among  the  killed  was  Cajitain  Cleveland,  of  Com- 
pany H.  Three  days  afterward  the  regiment  had 
another  desperate  encounter,  in  which  the  men  had 
a  struggle  hand  to  hand.  Adjutant  Kendall,  three 
sergeant'^  and  twenty-five  privates  were  taken  pris- 
oners. From  tlic  Xy  river  to  the  North  Anna, 
and  thence  to  Cold  Harbor,  the  reL,iment  was  en- 


gaged almost  daily.  At  Cold  Harbor,  on  June 
'^,  lbi>A,  it  occupied  the  front  hue  and  suttered 
severely.  Shortly  afterward,  it  lay  in  line  before 
Peter.sburg.  On  June  18th,  Captain  Lantz,  of  Com- 
pany E,  and  several  men  were  killed.  Jt  then  per- 
formed picket  duty  during  July  and  participated 
in  the  siege  and  great  explosion  of  the  mine. 
During  August  it  was  engaged  in  almost  contin- 
uous fighting.  It  remained  at  the  front  during 
September,  October  and  November,  when  it  went 
into  winter  quarters  inuncdiately  before  Peters- 
burg. 

The  Union  lines  began  to  close  in  on  the  Rebel 
works  on  April  1,  IbGo.  The  regiment  was  en- 
gaged during  the  operations  of  the  :3d  and  3d,  and 
it  wa.s  among  the  first  of  the  regiments  to  enter 
Petersburg  upon  its  fall.  It  moved  to  City  Point 
on  April  15tli,  and  thence  by  boat  to  Washington, 
where  it  remained  til]  June  30th.  Lpon  the  re- 
commendation of  Lieutenant-General  Grant,  this 
regiment  was  ordered  to  rcjjresent  the  infantry  of 
the  amiy  upon  the  occasion  of  laying  the  corner- 
stone of  the  national  monument  at  Gettysburg  on 
July  4,  18G5.  From  Gettysburg  it  went  into  camp 
near  Georgetown,  where  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service  on  July  31st. 

Henry  T.  Kendall,  who  was  Adjutant,  became 
Captain  of  Company  II  in  January,  ISG.'j. 

53i)  Regiment. — Company  B  of  this  regiment 
included  twenty-three  men  from  Birdsboro;  and 
Companv  A,  four  men  from  [loycrtow  n.  It  par- 
ticipated in  many  battles. 

.joTii  Regiment. — The  -ioih  Regiment  was  re- 
cruited during  the  summer  and  autunni  of  18G1, 
and  included  Company  B  from  Berks  county,  re- 
cruited at  Robesonia.  It  was  organized  at  Harris- 
burg, and  in  November  proceeded  to  Fortress 
Afonroe.  It  experienced  some  service  near  Franip- 
ton  in  October,  1SG2.  For  a  year  afterward,  it 
performed  picket  duty  at  Port  Royal  Ferry.  On 
Jan.  1,  18G-4,  the  major  part  of  the  men  rc-enlistcd 
for  three  years,  and  were  given  a  furlough.  In 
!vlarch,  the  regiment  returned  to  South  Carolina, 
and  in  April  was  stationed  at  Gloucester  Point,  op- 
posite Yorktown.  Here  it  was  assigned  to  the  3d 
Brigade,  3d  Division,  10th  Corps,  Army  of  the 
James,  and  partici[)ated  in  the  movements  and  en- 
gagements of  this  corps  under  the  command  of 
General  Butler.  It  reached  Richmond  on  .\pril 
25th,  and  encamped  near  by,  performing  fatigue 
and  guard  duty  till  the  latter  part  of  July;  then 
it  was  stationed  at  different  ])(jints  surrounding 
Petersburg  till  it  was  mu>tcrcd  out  of  service  on 
Aug.  30,  18(;.5. 

William  G.  Moore,  of  WomelMlorf,  was  Cap- 
tain of  Company  D  in  this  Rcgmienl,  from  Jul}' 
13,  18G4.  to  June  Id,  ISG.-.. 

•jOtii  Regiment. — 'l"hc  .-)9th  Regiment  (2d  Cav- 
alry) included  thirty-three  men  who  were  recruit- 
ed at  Reading,  in  ?»Iarch.  18(;2,  and  became  part  of 
C'ompany  K,  under  commarid  of  Captain  Chaimcey. 
It  cxperiencctl  much  severe  march.ing  and  ])artici- 


'.    '!    ,.;,.-;  ,■      /    ■  ''' 


134 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    rEXXSYL\'AXIA 


patcd  in  a  number  oi  battles,  promincm  among  tlicm 
being  Bull  Run,  Chantillv,  Gettysburg,  and  the  Wil- 
derness cami)aign.  Jt  was  present  at  the  surrender 
at  Appomattox  and  participated  in  the  grand  re- 
view at  Washington  on  r^lay  'i'S,  1>SG5  It  was 
mustered  out  of  ?ervice  at  Cloud's  ]\lill,  \'a.,  on 
July  13,  I8r,5. 

William  F.  Dougherty,  of  lierks  county,  was 
captain  for  a  time;  and  Stephen  11.  Edgelt  from 
March,  isi;."),  to  June,  isc.j. 

70x11  Regiment. — The  Totli  Regiment  ((it!) 
Cavalry)  was  composed  of  I'liiladelphia  men.  ex- 
cepting Company  G,  which  was  recruited  at  Read- 
ing, in  July,  181)1.  under  cnu'imaiKl  of  Capt.  George 
E.  Clymcr.  It  participated  in  the  Peninsular  cam- 
paign, and  in  various  engagements,  the  most  prom- 
inent being  Antietam  and  Gettysburg.  Subse- 
quently it  took  part  in  the  \irginia  campaigri.  and 
in  the  famous  raid  by  General  Siieridan.  It  was 
also  present  at  the  surrender  at  Appomattox,  and 
participated  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington. 
It  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
Aug.    7,  18G-J. 

There  were  tv.  enly  men  from  the  county 
in  other  companies  of  this  regiment:  t\s'elve  in 
Company  F;  one  in  Company  1);  four  in  Com- 
pany I ;  two  in  Company  K  ;  and  one  in  Compan\-  .Al. 

Dr.  G.  S.  Engler,  of  Muhlenberg  township,  was 
the  regimental  assistant  surgeon. 

7-lrH  Recumext. — C'ompany  G,  of  this  regi- 
ment, was  composed  of  men  recruited  in  Berks 
and  Adams  counties,  during  February,  18G5,  for 
a  service  of  one  year.  It  was  attached  in  Alarch 
to  this  regin>ent,  originally  organized  in  18G1.  It 
was  engaged  in  guard  duty  at  Beverly,  Clarkslnirg 
and  Parker.-burg,  from  April  to  August  '2'Jth.  wlien 
it  was  mustered  out  of  service  nt  Clarksliurg.  It 
was  disbanded  at  Pittsburg. 

SOth  Reiiimext. — The  soth  Regiment  (7  th 
Cavalry)  included  some  men  who  were  recruited  in 
Berks  county,  and  mustered  into  service  with  Com- 
pany L.  It  participated  in  various  engagements 
with  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  where  it  had 
been  ordered  to  service.  In  ^larch,  ISGo,  it  march- 
ed under  General  Wilson  across  the  Gulf  States. 
and  in  the  beginning  of  April  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Phmtersville  and  Sehna,  Ala.  .\.t  die 
latter  place,  the  regiment  led  in  the  assault  upon 
the  works  and  the  conthict  of  the  men  was  highly 
meritorious.  Its  last  engageir.cnt  was  near  Col- 
umbus, on  April  IG,  isc..^.  h  was  then  stationed 
at  Macon,  Ga.,  from  April  20th  to  .August  13th, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service.  This  company 
was  recruited  in  Berks  and  Xorthumbcrland  coun- 
ties, and  was  mustered  out  Aug.  '33,  18G.5. 

S.Stii  Recinfext. — This  regiment  included  three 
companies,  recruited  in  Berks  countv.  .A.  B.  and 
H.  It  "was  mnstererl  into  service  at  Philadelphia 
in  October.  ISGl,  and  then  ordered  to  Washington. 
It  performed  guard  duly  in  th;it  vicinity  until  May. 
ISG'3.  Subsetnientiy.  it  participated  in  the  follnw- 
ing  battlps :   Thoroughfare  Gap.   B.ull   Run,   Antie- 


tam. Fredericksburg-,  Cedar  Mountain.  Secon! 
Bull  Rim,  Clianlilly,  Gelty^bu^g.  South  Momuain. 
Gainesville,  Wilderness,  Chancellorsville.  Xurih 
Anna,  Tolopotomoy,  !Mine  Run,  Petersburg.  Wel- 
dun  Railroad,  Spottsylvama  and  Bethesda  Church.. 
It  continued  in  active  operations  until  Genera! 
Lee  surrendered,  when  it  proceeded  to  Washing- 
ton, where  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  June 
3U,  18G.J. 

David  A.  (jrifhth.  of  Reading,  was  maior  of 
the  regiment  from  September  to  December, 
1862. 

Joseph  A.  r^IcLean,  of  Fveading.  was  the  lieuten- 
ant-colonel until  he  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run  on  Aug.  30,  1SG2.  McLean  Po^t,  Xo. 
IG,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Reading,  v.-as  named  after  him 
in  18GG. 

Riiii^'^oLi  Baud. — The  regimental  band  of  the 
8sth  Regiment  was  the  '■Ringgold"  from  Reading, 
with  Emanuel  Ermentrout,  as  leader,  and  twenty 
men.  It  v.-as  mustered  into  service  at  Ph.iladel- 
phia  on  .\ug.  30,  18G1.  and  mustered  out  at  .Man- 
assas Junction  on  June  21,  18il"3.  pursuant  to  a 
general  order  dispensing  with  the  services  of  bands 
of  music. 

93i)  Regiment. — ^This  regiment  was  organized 
at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  in  October,  1861.  and  included 
two  companies,  B  and  G,  and  part  of  Company  K, 
from  Berks  county.  It  proceeded  to  Virginia  and 
jiarticipated  in  the  following  battles;  VVilliams- 
burg,  Yorktown,  Fair  Chiks,  IMalvem  Hill.  Fred- 
ericksburg. Marye's  Heights.  Gettysburg.  Wikler- 
ness,  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Op- 
equan,  Fislier's  Hill,  and  Cedar  Creek.  After  the 
surrender  of  General  Lee,  it  marched  to  Danville 
to  co-operate  with  Sherman  lor  the  defeat  of  Gen- 
eral Johnston.  .Xfter  remaining  in  cam])  there 
for  several  weeks,  it  proceerlecl  to  Washington, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  June  27, 
1865. 

John  E.  Arthur,  of  Reading,  was  lieutenant- 
colonel  from  Jul)'  to  X'ovember,  18G"2 ;  David  C. 
Keller,  major,  from  September.  ISGI.  to  December, 
l^G 4.  when  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
on  .April  2.  ISG-j,  brevet  colonel. 

\\'.  A.  H.  Lewis  was  adjutant  from  October 
IsGl.  to  August,  1SG2;  and  Jolm  B.  Dcwces  from 
r^Iarch  to  June  27,  1SG5,  when  mustered  out  as 
sergeant-major. 

9Gth  Regimext. — The  9Gth  Regiment  was  re- 
cruited mostly  in  Schuylkill  county.  Some  men 
from  Hamburg  and  of  Berks  county  were  includ- 
ed in  Conipany  G.  It  was  mustered  into  service 
on  Sept.  23,  ISGl,  at  Pottsville,  and  participated  in 
various  engagements  in  the  Peninsula,  at  Gettys- 
bm-g.  in  the  \\'i!derness  campaign,  and  in  the 
Shenandoah  \'alle\.  It  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice in  West  T'liiladelphia  on  TVt.  21.  ISGl. 

lOlTii  Regiment. — The  greater  pari  of  Com- 
l)anies  B,  and  II  in  this  regiment  consisted  of  men 
from  Berks  county :  and  amonc  the  field  officers 
was    Tohn    M.    dries,    from    Readin^r.    chosen    as 


WAR    PERIODS 


135 


major.  During  1863,  the  regiment  participated  in 
the  siege  of  Yorktown.  and  in  tlie  battles  of  Sav- 
n-ie  Station  and  Fair  Oaks,  in  the  Peninsular  cam- 
paign. In  the  beginning  of  18G3,  it  was  ordered 
to  South  Carohna,  and  there  took  part  in  the  siege 
of  Charleston  and  the  capture  of  Fort  Wagner. 
During  August.  186-1,  it  was  stationed  in  Florida, 
guarding  a  line  of  railroad  from  Jacksonville  to 
l!aldwin.  Thence  it  proceeded  north  to  Alexan- 
dria, where  it  performed  duty  in  the  fortifications 
on  the  southern  side  of  the  Potomac  river,  till  its 
term  of  service  expired.  It  was  mustered  out 
of  service  at  Philadelphia  on  Sept.  30,  1861.  Some 
of  the  rnen  from  Berks  county  re-enlisted  in  this 
regitnent.  There  were  veterans  and  recruits  suf- 
ficient to  form  a  battalion  of  five  con^panies.  Its 
principal  service  afterward  was  in  the  siege  of 
Petersburg,  participating  in  the  assault  on  the  city, 
April  3  and  4,  186.5.  It  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice at  Portsmouth  on  Aug.  3.3,  I860. 

Durpxl's  B.VTTirRY. — Tliis  was  the  famous  In- 
dependent Battery  D,  commonly  known  as  "Dur- 
ell's."  It  v.'as  organized  at  Doylestown  on  Sept. 
2-i,  1861,  and  proceeded  to  Washington  on  !\ov. 
6th,  where  it  was  equipped  as  a  six-gun  battery. 
Afterward  two  additional  pieces  were  provided. 
It  had  a  very  active  career,  and  participated  in 
the  following  battles:  Kelly's  Ford,  Bristoe  Sta- 
tion, Bull  Run,  Chantilly,  South  Mountain,  Antie- 
tam,  Sharpsburg,  Sulphur  Springs,  Fredericks- 
burg, Vicksburg,  Wilderness,  and  the  siege  of  Pet- 
ersburg. It  v.-as  mustered  out  of  service  on  luiie 
13,  1865. 

152d  Regi.ment. — Company  K.  of  th.is  regiment, 
known  as  the  3d  Artillery,  included  twenty-five 
men  from  Berks  county.  The  regiment  was  ori- 
ginally organized  for  special  duty  at  Fortress  ?,Ion- 
roo,  but  it  performed  a  large  share  of  field  ser- 
vice. It  had  the  reputation  of  being  remarkably 
well  drilled  in  every  branch  of  artillery  service, 
as  well  as  in  infantrv  and  naval  service.  All  the 
field  and  nearly  all  of  the  line  officers  of  the  188th 
Regiment  were  promoted  from  its  ranks,  and  the 
excellent  discipline  and  soldierly  bearing  of  the 
command  were  frequent  subjects  of  remark  and 
commendation  by  its  superior  ofiicers.  The  reg- 
iment was  mustered  in  at  Philadelphia ;  and  nearly 
all  the  companies  (including  Company  K )  were 
mustered  out  at  Fortress  iMonroe  on  Nov.  9,  1865. 

181.ST  REGiMn:.NT. — Sixteen  veterans  from  Berks 
county  were  enlisted  in  Com.pany  FI  of  this  reg- 
iment upon  its  re-organization  in  February,  1861. 
having  previously  been  in  the  six  months'  service. 
It  was  in  the  Shenandoah  A'allcv  canifiaign  under 
Generals  Sigel,  Hunter,  and  Sheridan,  au'l  parti- 
cipated in  numerous  battles,  including  Xew  Mar- 
ket, Piedmont,  Quaker's  Church,  Liberiy,  Salem. 
Snicker's  Gap  and  Gordonville ;  also  m  various 
battles  during  the  conchiding  campaign  before  Pet- 
ersburg, the  regiment  occupying  the  extreme  left. 
It  was  mustered  out  of  service  July  13.  1S(;5,  at 
Cloi'd'-;  Mills.  \"ir'''inia. 


183d  Regime.xt. — In  January,  1861,  authority 
was  given  to  re-organize  this  regiment  for  three 
years  (as  the  21st  Cavalry)  and  over  half  of  Com- 
pany H  were  enlisted  at  Reading.  About  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Washing- 
ton (from  camp  near  Chambersburg)  and  thence 
sent  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg, 
Weldon  Railroad,  Poplar  Spring  Church.  Boyd- 
ton  Road,  and  Bellefield.  It  was  mustered  out  of 
service  at  Lynchburg.  \"a..  on  July  8,  1SC5. 

XIXE  MONTHS'  SERVICE.  1863-63 

138x11  Regiment. — This  regiment  was  recruited 
in  response  to  the  proclamation  of  the  Governor, 
calling  for  troops  to  serve  for  nine  months,  issued' 
July  21,  1862.  Companies  A,  E,  E,  H,  I  and  K 
were  recruited  in  Berks  co:intv.  Tlie  regiment 
rendezvoused  at  Camp  Curtin,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  service  from  the  13th  to  the  15th  of  Aug- 
ust. The  majority  of  the  regimental  officers  were 
selected  from  the  companie';  named.  On  the  16th 
cf  August,  it  was  ordered  to  Washington,  moving 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  William  H.  Andrews, 
of  Company  E,  because  no  officers  had  been  as  yet 
commissioned.  Soon  after  its  arrival  at  the  capital, 
it  crossed  the  Potomac,  and  was  encamped  on 
Arlington  Heights  for  a  week.  (?)n  the  31st,  it 
moved  to  Fairfax  Seminary;  and  on  the  20th,  to 
Fort  Woodbury,  where  for  a  week  (during  the 
fierce  fighting  at  Bull  Rim  and  Clianhdlv)  it  was 
incessantly  engageil  in  felling  timber  and  erect- 
ing fortifications.  C)n  .Sept.  6t!i.  the  regiment,  m 
light  marching  orders,  recrosscd  tiie  Potomac  and 
entered  upon  the  ^^laryland  campaign.  y\.t  Fred- 
erick City,  on  the  14th,  it  was  assigned  to  Craw- 
ford's brigade,  of  Williams'  tlivision,  IMansfield's 
corps. 

It  was  engaged  in  active  service  and  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Antietam  and  the  Wihlerness.  In 
the  latter  battle,  the  regiment  was  surrounded  by 
the  enemy  and  the  greater  part  of  ihe  officers 
and  men  were  taken  prisoners  to  Richmond.  After 
the  battle,  the  remainder  of  the  reg-iment  (reduced 
to  1T2)  marched  to  Stafford  Court-House.  where 
its  term  of  service  expired.  It  was  ordered  to  Ilar- 
risburg.  and  there  mustered  out  on  May  10,  1863. 

Captain  Smith,  of  Company  A,  was  promoted 
to  lieutenant-colonel  on  Feb.  1.  1863.  Joel  B. 
Wanner  was  major:  James  II.  Gentzler,  adiutant. 
and  Dr.  J.  B.  Potteigcr,  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
regiment. 

151.ST  Regimevt. — Companies  E.  G.  H.  K.  and 
part  of  I,  were  recruited  in  I'.erk^  cnnntv,  the  re- 
maining part  of  Company  I  in  Schu_\Ikill  county. 
They  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Curtin  during  Sep- 
tember, 1863,  wliere  a  regimental  organization  was 
effected.  On  Nov.  36th,  the  regiment  moved  for 
Washinglnn,  and.  npon  its  arrival,  proceeded  to 
.\rlington  ITcicrht';.  On  Di'c.  3fl.  it  marched  to 
.\lexandria,  and  tlience  I'roceeded  by  rail  to  Un- 
ion Mills. 


'.-lijyir.i 


13G 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


About  the  middle  of  February,  the  reg-iment  was 
transferred  to  Belle  Plain,  where  the  men  suffered 
much  from  sickness  and  exposure.  Just  previous 
to  the  opening-  of  the  Chancellorsville  campaign, 
the  regiment,  with  the  3d  Division,  was  sent  to 
Port  Conway,  on  the  Lower  Rappahannock. 

Before  marching  to  the  battle-field  at  Chancel- 
lorsville,  it  was  twice  subjected  to  a  vigorous  shell- 
ing from  the  enemy  posted  on  the  opposite  shore. 
During  Sunday  (the  "d)  and  Monday  (the  4th) 
the  regiment  occupied  a  position  on  the  picket  line, 
between  the  Elv  and  Germania  Ford  roads,  where 
it  confronted  the  enemy.  Considerable  sickness 
prevailed  here,  the  morning  report  at  one  time 
showing  IGO  on  the  sick  list. 

The  march  to  Gettysburg  commenced  on  the 
12th  of  June.  The  right  wing  ui  the  army  (com- 
posed of  the  1st  and  11th  Corps  under  General 
Reynolds)  made  a  forced  march  of  10.5  miles  in 
three  days,  throwing  itself  suddenly  between  Lee's 
armv  (which  was  moving  down  the  Shenandoah 
Valley)  and  Washington.  At  Broad  Run,  they 
halted  for  the  enemy  to  develop  his  plans.  As  the 
enemy  pushed  on  into  Pennsylvania,  Reynolds  fol- 
lowed, and  on  the  Ist  of  July  his  cavalry,  under  Bu- 
ford,  met  the  head  of  .the  enemy's  columns,  and 
immediately  commenced  the  battle.  The  Jst  Bri- 
gade (commanded  by  Col.  Cha.pman  Biddle)  arrived 
upon  the  field  at  half-past  10  a.  m.,  and  took  a  po- 
sition on  the  extreme  left  fiank  (jf  the  corps,  the 
151st  Regiment  under  conmiand  of  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel McFarland,  in  the  absence  of  Colonel  Allen, 
holding  the  left  of  the  brigade  line.  As  it  moved 
into  position,  it  was  saluted  by  the  booming  of  can- 
non and  the  rattle  of  musketry. 

The  heroism  displayed  by  the  regiment  in  this 
battle  was  highly  praiseworthy.  It  went  into  the 
fight  with  twenty-one  officers  and  46G  men ;  of 
these  two  officers  and  187  men  were  wounded,  and 
100  were  missing,  an  aggregate  loss  of  367.  Lieuts. 
Aaron  S.  Seaman  and  George  A.  Trexlcr  were  of 
the  killed;  Lieutenant-Colonel  ]\IcFarland,  Adjt. 
Sanmel  T.  Allen,  Capts.  George  L.  Stone  and 
James  W.  W'eida,  and  Lieuts.  Benjamin  F.  Oliver, 
Thomas  L.  Moycr,  Ilenry  H.  ^.lerkle,  \\"illam  O. 
Blodget  and  Albert  Yost  were  wounded ;  and  Capts. 
William  K.  Boltz  and  William  L.  Gray,  and  Lieuts. 
James  L.  Rebcr  and  Charles  P.  Potts  were  taken 
prisoner.-.  At  C  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  Gth. 
the  regiment  moved  with  the  army,  in  pursuit  of 
Lee,  coming  up  with  his  rear-guard  at  Funkstown 
on  the  P.?th.  and  hi-  main  body  near  Williamsport 
on  the  14th.  That  night  the  encmv  escaped.  The 
regiment's  term  of  service  had  now  nearly  expired. 
It  was  accorilingly  relieved  from  duty  on' the  10th, 
and  returned  to  liarri.-burg.  where  i^  was  mustered 
out  on  the  ?7t]i. 

Francis.  Parvin.  of  P.erk'^  county,  was  quarter- 
master of  the  regiment. 


\ULUXTEER     -MILITIA— 18ii-> 

When  the  Rebel  army  acliieved  its  triumphs  in 
the  second  battle  of  Bull  Ruii.  it  hastened  northward 
and  commenced  crossing  tlie  Potomac.  The  result 
of  the  struggle  on  the  plains  of  Manassas  was  no 
sooner  known  than  the  helpless  condition  of  Penn- 
sylvania, which  had  been  apparent  from  the  first, 
became  a  subject  of  alarm.  On  Sept.  4th,  Governor 
Curtin  is-ued  a  proclamation,  calling  on  the  people 
to  arm  and  prepare  for  defense.  He  recommended 
the  immediate  formation  of  companies  and  regi- 
ments throughout  the  commonwealth.  On  the  10th, 
the  danger  having  become  imminent,  and  the  en- 
emy being  already  in  Maryland,  he  issued  a  general 
order,  calling  on  all  able-bodied  men  to  enroll  im- 
mediately for  the  defense  of  the  State,  and  hold 
themselves  in  readiness  to  march  upon  an  hour's 
notice:  the  following-  day  he  called  for  fifty  thou- 
sand men.  The  people  everywhere  Hew  to  arms, 
and  moved  promptly  to  the  State  capital. 

On  the  14th,  the  head  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac met  the  enemy  at  South  Mountain,  and  hurled 
him  back  through  its  passes  ;  and  on  the  evening 
of  the  IGth  and  on  the  17th  a  fierce  battle  was  fought 
at  .\ntietam.  In  the  nieantime,  the  militia  had  rapidly 
concentrated  at  Hagerstown  and  Chambersburg. 
The  enemy  was  defeated  at  Antietam,  and  re- 
treated in  confusion  across  tlie  Potomac.  The 
emergency  having  passed,  the  militia  regiments 
were  ordered  to  return  to  Ilarrisburg,  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  conditions  on  which  thev  had 
been  called  into  service,  thev  were  mustered  out 
and  disbanded  on  the  '24ih.  "The  train  on  which  the 
20th  Regiment  was  returning  over  the  Cumberland 
X'alley  railroad  collided,  upon  ncaring-  Harrisburg, 
with  a  train  passing  in  an  opposite  direction,  by 
which  four  men  were  killed  and  thirty  injured. 

The  following  seven  companies  from  Berks 
county  were  enlisted  in  this  special  service : 

Company  G,  in  2d  Regiment,  organized  Sept.  6- 
13,  1SG2,  and  discharged"  Sept.  23-25. 

Companies  E  and  I,  in  11th  Regiment,  organized 
Sept.  12,  1^G2,  and  discharged  Sept.  24-25.  Charles 
.-\.  Knoderer.  of  Reading,  was  the  colonel  of  this 
regiment. 

Companies  G.  H  and  I.  in  20th  Regiment,  organ- 
ized. Sept.  18.  L9G2,  and  discharged  Sept.  2G-.30. 

An  Independent  Cavalrv  Companv  was  organ- 
ized Sept.  17.  1SG2,  and  discharged  Sept.  27. 


DRAFTED  MILITIA  OF  1SG2 
During  the  }-ear  18i)2,  the  militarv  operations 
were  conducted  with  such  energy,  and  so  manv  men 
were  required,  that  volunteer  companies  were  not 
sufficiently  mmierous  to  supply  the  increasing  de-- 
mands  for  troops.  The  government  was  therefore 
driven  to  the  extreme  measure  of  impressing  men 
into  service  by  drafting  them  for  that  iniri-)osc.  Ten 
companies  wliich  constituted  the  lG7th  Regiment. 
and  two  companies.  I  and  K,  of  the  17'.it'.i  Regi- 
ment, were  comi)osed  of  drafted  men   from  Berks 


J.-l  Tin;.' 


'l,'ii  ji  J))  ■' 


V"' 


WAR  PERIODS 


137 


countv.     They  were  mustered  into  service  for  nine 
ir.onths. 

IGTth  Regiment. — This  rcg-iment  was  excUi- 
vivelv  from  Berks  county,  and  was  or<:;anized  in 
Xovcmber,  1SG2,  with  the  followin'T  field  officers: 
Cliarles  A.  Knoderer,  colonel ;  Dei'uy  Davis,  heu- 
lenant-colonel :  Gustavns  A.  Worth,  major.  Soon 
after  its  organization,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Suffolk,  \'a.  It  was  actively  engaged  in  fatigue 
dutv  upon  fortifications  (in  the  planning  of  which 
Colonel  Knoderer  was  an  adept)  and  in  reconnoit- 
ring and  outpost  duty.  Late  on  the  evening  of  Jan. 
29,  18G3,  General  Corcoran  (who  commanded  a  di- 
vision untler  General  Peck)  moved  with  his  column 
toward  the  Blackwater.  and  at  Deserted  Farm, 
seven  miles  out,  encountered  a  strong  force  of  the 
enemy,  under  Gen.  Roger  A.  Pryor.  Corcoran  im- 
mediately made  an  attack,  and  a  fierce  night  en- 
gagement ensued.  The  fighting  was  principally 
with  artillery  and  the  KjTth  Regiment  was  fearfully 
exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire.  At  the  opening  of  the 
battle,  Colonel  Knoderer  ordered  his  men  to  he 
down,  and  fortunately  few  were  injured;  but  the 
horses  of  the  officers,  with  the  exception  of  that  of 
the  adjutant,  were  all  killed,  and  the  Colonel  him- 
self received  a  mortal  wound.  The  enemy  was 
finally  driven  back  and  the  command  returned  again 
to  camp.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Davis  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  the  regiment,  and  was  subsequently 
commissioned  colonel.  It  participated  iri  the  des- 
ultory operations  which  were  kept  up  until  the  be- 
ginning of  April,  when  the  right  wing  of  the  Rebel 
army  under  General  Longstreet,  numbering  some 
forty  thousand  men,  advanced  upon  the  place  and 
attacked  it,  but  failed  to  carrv  it.  He  then  laid  siege 
to  it,  and  constructed  elaborate  works  for  its  re- 
duction. For  nearly  a  month,  these  operations  were 
vigorously  pushed ;  and  for  many  days  the  bom- 
bardment of  the  fortifications  was  almost  inces- 
sant; but  so  skillfully  had  they  been  planned,  and 
so  well  constructed,  that  General  Peck,  with  a  force 
of  only  about  a  third  of  the  number  of  the  invading 
army,  successfully  repelled  every  attack,  and  finally 
compelled  Longstreet  to  raise  the  siege.  The  IGTtii 
Regiment  was  actively  •  employed  in  the  defense 
throughout  the  siege,  and  rendered  efficient  service. 
Toward  the  close  of  Jmie.  and  during  the  time  of 
Lee's  invasion  of  Penn<;ylvania.  the  regiment 
formed  part  of  the  command  which  was  sent  to 
demonstrate  in  the  direction  of  Richmond,  and  up- 
on its  return  was  ortlered  to  ioin  the  armv  of  the 
Potomac,  then  in  pursuit  of  Lee's  armv  in  Mary- 
land. It  formed  a  junction  on  the  l.")th  of  Julw  the 
day  after  the  escape  of  the  enemy  across  the  Po- 
tomac, and  was  assigned  to  the  1st  Brigade,  1st 
Division  of  the  1st  Corps.  With  that  corps,  it  par- 
ticipated in  the  pursuit  of  Lee  beyond  the  Rappa- 
hannock, when,  its  term  of  service  being  about  t<i 
expire,  it  was  relieved  at  the  front,  and  ordered  to 
Reading,  where,  on  Aug.  12,  ISfi:'.,  it  was  mustered 
out. 


IT'.iTii  Rkgimi-xt. — This  regiment  included  two 
companies,  I  and  K,  from  the  county  of  Berks. 
It  was  organized  in  companies  at  jjeriods  ranging 
from  the  2;3d  of  October  to  the  Uth  of  December, 
lsii2,  at  Philadelphia  and  Jlarrisburg;  and  on  the 
bth  of  December  a  regimental  organization  was  ef- 
fected. Soon  after  its  orgaui.Tation.  it  proceeded  to 
I-'ortress  Monroe  and  thence  to  Yorktown,  where 
it  formed  part  of  the  garrison  at  the  fort,  anrl  was 
encamjied  within  its  wall-^.  It  did  little  else  than 
garrison  duty  until  the  ja-t  of  July,  when  it  was 
called  out  to  join  in  the  movement  made  by  General 
Dix  up  the  Peninsula.  During  the  march  to  White 
House  and  thence  to  BaltiuK^re  Cros^;  Roads,  the 
regiment  was  prompt  and  ready,  and  always  well 
in  hand.  In  the  return  march  the  lT;>th  Regiment 
crowned  its  reputation  as  a  first-class  organization 
by  being  always  promptly  in  its  place,  whilst  other 
regiments  were  scattered  for  miles  along  the  road. 

Upon  its  return  to  camp,  it  was  ascertained  that 
Lee  had  invaded  Pennsylvania,  and  though  its 
term  of  service  was  about  to  cxiiire,  bv  the  unan- 
imous vote  of  the  men  by  companies,  their  further 
services  were  tendered  to  Governor  Curtin  as  long 
as  he  should  need  them  for  the  defense  of  the  State. 
This  offer  w-as  accepted ;  but  by  the  time  the  regi- 
ment had  reached  Washington,  en  route  to  the  front, 
the  Rebel  army  had  retreated  to  Virginia.  It  was 
accordingly  ordered  to  Plarrisburg,  where  it  was 
mustered  out  of  service  on  July  2'th. 

EMERGENCY  TROOPS— ]S(;3 
The  triumph  of  the  Rel)el  army  at  I'redericks- 
burg  in  December,  lS(i2.  and  its  success  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  in  !May,  ISfi:!,  emboldened  its  leader  to 
again  plan  an  invasion  f)f  the  North.  It  becoming 
daily  more  evident  that  the  enemy  intended  to  cross 
tlie  Potomac  in  force,  the  President  on  June  15th 
called  for  one  hundred  thousand  men  from  Penn- 
sylvania, Ohio,  Maryland  and  West  Mrginia,  to 
serve  for  a  period  of  six  months,  unless  sooner  dis- 
charged; and  of  this  number  Pennsylvania  was  to 
furnish  fifty  thousand.  Governor  (Turtin  then  is- 
sued a  proclamation,  calling  upon  all  men  capable 
of  bearing  arms  to  enroll  themselves  in  militarv 
organizations  and  encourage  all  others  to  aft'ord  as- 
sistance toward  protecting  the  State.  In  pursuance 
of  this  call,  many  troops  were  r.-ised  throughout 
the  State.  The  citizens  of  P,erks  county  responded 
promptly  and  raised  sixteen  companies  of  men  ;  ten 
of  which  wore  formed  into  one  regiment  called  the 
42d  :  two  of  the  4Sth  :  three  of  the  .33(1 ;  and  one  of 
the  31st.  They  were  nnistercd  into  service  in  Tnlv 
and  moved  to  the  front,  but  so  rapid  were  the  move- 
ments of  the  arnu'es,  and  the  decisive  battle  of 
Gettysburg  was  fought  so  soon  after  the  call  for 
the  militia,  that  the  men  had  scarcelv  arrived  in 
catup  before  the  danger  was  over.  The  Rebel  armv 
niade  its  escape  on  the  13th  and  1  Ith  of  lulv,  and 
then  the  canniaign  was  at  end.  But  the  militia  wa<, 
however,  held  for  -^ome  time  after  thi';.  having 
been  employed  ov  various  duty. 


.J    ■■,■    .v.>l 


138 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTV.    TEXXSYLVAXIA 


With  the  clo.-e  of  this  raiti,  tlie  Rebel  invasiijii  of 
liSG3  eiideil.  Further  service  was  no  lon^'-er  re- 
quired of  tlie  mihlia,  anJ  (hiring--  the  months  of 
August  and  September  the  majority  of  the  men 
were  mustered  out.  With  few  exoeptiLins,  t!icy  were 
not  brought  into  mortal  contiict,  but  tlie\-,  never- 
theless, rendered  most  important  service.  They 
came  forward  at  a  moment  when  there  was  pre.-^s- 
ing  need,  and  their  presence  gave  great  moral  sup- 
port to  the  Union  army. 

The  31st  Regiment  was  organized  at  Ilarrisburg 
on  June  30,  1S(;3.  with  Caiit.  David  A.  Griffith,  of 
Reading,  as  lieutenant-Cdi'ine!,  and  mustered  out 
on  August  .'"ith. 

The  4?d  Regiment  was  organized  at  Reading  on 
July  6th,  with  Dr.  Charles  H.  Hunter,  of  Reading, 
as  colonel ;  John  E.  Arthur,  of  Reading,  as  lieuten- 
ant-colonel ;  Bcntley  H.  Smith,  of  Joanna,  as  major; 
and  Frank  R.  Schmncker,  Esq..  of  Reading,  as  ad- 
jutant :  and  mustered  out  on  Aug.  ll-12th,  at 
Reading. 

In  the  4Sth,  Frederick  R.  Fritz,  of  Reading,  was 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  William  W.  Dieid,  of  Read- 
ing, major.  It  was  organized  at  Reading  on  July 
6th,  and  mustered  out  on  Aug.  2Gth. 

In  the  .">3d.  Israel  C.  Becker  was  adjutant,  and 
Jeremiah  D.  Bitting,  quartermaster,  both  of  Read- 
ing. It  was  organized  at  Reading  on  July  13th, 
and  mustered  out  on  Aug.  20th. 

Enlisted  in  this  service  was  the  Independent  Bat- 
tery commanded  bv  Ca|)t.  William  C.  I^rnicntr.iut. 
It  was  organized  at  Reading  on  July  3d,  and  mus- 
tered out  A.ug.  26th. 

ONE  HUNDRED  DAYS'  SERVICE— 18G4 

Four  companies  from  Berks  county  were  in  the 
one  hundred  davs'  service,  having  been  enlisted  in 
July,  ISGl: 

IP-JTii  Reoimext. — This  regiment  was  recruited 
in  ten  counties  of  the  State,  Company  I  having  been 
from  Berks  countv.  It  was  organized  at  Camp  Cur- 
tin  on  July  22,  If^CA,  with  Richards  McMichael,  of 
Reading,  as  lieutenant-colonel.  On  the  day  of  its 
organization,  it  moved  to  Baltimore.  About  the  1st 
of  September,  it  moved  to  Camp  Carroll,  a  mile 
southwest  of  the  citv,  on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad.  Companv  I  and  five  other  com- 
panies of  the  regiment  were  stationed  at  various 
points  in  the  city  for  provc>st  duty.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  its  term,  it  proceeded  to  Ilarrisburg,  where, 
on  the  nth  of  X'ovember.  it  was  nmstcred  out. 

195th  Regiment, — This  regiment  was  principally 
recruited  in  Lancaster  county  in  July.  ISG  K  to  serve 
for  a  period  of  one  hundred  days.  It  included  two 
companies,  A  and  B,  frr-m  Tierks  comity.  It  was 
or.jjanized  at  Camp  Ciu'tin  on  the  2  1t]i  of  July. 
Oliver  C.  Tames,  of  Reading,  of  Comi>anv  B.  was 
elected  major,  and  Dr.  llani-'on  T.  Witnian,  (^f 
Reading,  as  assistant  surgeon.  On  the  da\-  of  its 
organizati(.in  it  proceeded  t'>  Baltimore,  ihencc  to 
Monocacy  JuiH'tion.  whei'e  fnr  a  periled  of  two 
months,   it  wa>  engaged   in   guarding     the     Ijridge 


which  .-pannetl  the  creek,  and  the  lines  of  railwav. 
(  )n  the  l.-t  of  Octoljcr  it  proce'cdied  to  Berkeley 
county.  W.  \'a.,  and  uas  ported  along  the  line  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad,  with  headquarters 
at  Xorih  ^Mountain  station,  where  it  remained  till 
the  expiration  of  its  term  of  service.  Three  hun- 
dred of  the  men  re-enlisted  to  serve  for  one  year 
and  the  •  were  consolidated  in  three  companies. 
They  remained  on  duty  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Henrv  D.  Markley,  of  Company  A,  Subse- 
quently seven  other  companies  were  recruited,  and 
they  together  were  reorganized  as  the  lO-lth  Reg- 
iment with  Captain  Marklcy  as  major.  It  per- 
formed guard  duty  at  Kabletown,  Berrxville,  and 
Staunton.  At  the  latter  place,  the  three  veteran 
companies  were  mustered  out  in  the  middle  of 
June,  iJSOo. 

lOGxii  REc.niEXT. — This  regiment  was  recruited 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Union  League  at  Phil- 
adelphia, to  serve  for  c>nc  hundred  days,  and  it 
was  known  as  the  5th  Union  League  Regiment, 
It  included  Company  I,  of  Berks  county.  It  wa.'^ 
organized  at  Camp  Cadwalader,  Philadelphia,  on 
July  20,  lSG-1,  and  a  week  later  proceeded  to  Camp 
Bradford,  near  Baltimore.  About  the  middle  of 
August,  it  was  ordered  to  Chicago,  111.,  where  it 
performed  guard  duly  at  Camp  Douglas,  a  large 
number  of  prisoners  of  war  having  been  confined 
there.  Early  in  X'ovember,  it  returned  to  Phil- 
adelphia, and  was  thence  ordered  to  duty  at  h'ort 
Delaware.  It  was  mustered  out  at  Philadelphia 
on  Xov.  ir,  18G4. 

OXE  YEAR'S   SFRMCE— 18G1-G.5 
Six    volunteer    companies     from     Berks    county 
were  in  the  service  for  one  vear  from  September, 
1SG4,  to  August,  18G5. 

83d  Regiment, — After  the  battle  of  Hatcher's 
Run  on  Feb.  G,  18G5.  this  regiment  went  into  camp 
at  Hampton  station,  and  while  there  four  full  com- 
panies were  assigned  to  it,  including  Company  1, 
recruited  at  Harrisburg  for  a  service  of  one  year. 
There  were  a  number  of  men  from  Reading  in 
this  company.  The  concluding  efforts  of  the  great 
strife  were  started  on  March  29th.  and  in  quick  suc- 
cession this  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of 
Tones'  Farm,  White  Oak  Road,  Gravelly  Run,  Five 
Forks,  Sutherlanrl  Station,  Jeilersonville,  and  Ap- 
pomattox Court-House.  It  was  mustered  out  of 
service  on  June  28th  at  Washington  and  thence  it 
proceeded  to  Harri>;hurg.  where  it  was  finally  d.is- 
banded  on  July  4th. 

1020  IvEontENT. — In  July,  18Gt,  a  regiment  was 
recruited  in  Philadeljihia.  for  a  service  of  one  hun- 
dred daw-,  and  mustered  in  as  the  102d.  It  was 
mustered  out  of  service  in  X'ovcmber  following. 
One  of  the  companies  re-enlisted  for  one  year,  ai:d 
in  February,  180.').  nine  new  companies  unitcil  with 
it,  which  were  nui'^tered  in  as  ;i  second  regiment  of 
the  same  number.  One  of  the  nine  companies  was 
Coniijany  V.  recruited  at  ]\cading.  The  regiment 
was   organized   at   Harper's   Ferry,   and   when   the 


•I.  .'  i:''n   'j.  ■"  J  .■  ';- 


('■     .■■-!) 


'!   !■ 


WAR    PERIODS 


139 


spring  campaign  opened,  it  moved  up  tiie  valley  to 
Staunton  and  Lexington.  It  was  retained  in  the 
department  and  engaged  in  various  duties  till  Aug. 
24th,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Har- 
per's Ferry. 

lOoTii  Regiment. — Three  companies  of  the 
IDoth  Regiment  in  the  one  hundred  days'  service 
were  re-enlisted  in  the  one  year's  service,  which  in- 
cluded Company  A,  commanded  by  Capt.  Henry 
D.  Markley.  It  v.as  classitied  with  other  companies 
which  became  the  lUSth  Regiment.  Captain  ^ lark- 
ley  became  the  major;  and  Dr.  H.  T.  W'itrnan,  the 
assistant  surgeon.  It  was  organized  on  the  field  in 
February,  lyi^o,  at  Martinsburg,  \'a.,  and  Com- 
pany A  was  mustered  out  at  Summit  Pomt,  Ya., 
on  June  21,  1865. 

On  April  1,  18G5,  the  regiment  was  sent  to  guard 
the  fords  of  the  Shenandoah  river;  and  on  the  ?2d 
it  was  ordered  to  Berryville. 

198th  Regiment. — This  regiment  was  recruited 
at  Philadelphia  during  the  summer  of  IBGl,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Union  League,  to  enter  service 
for  one  year,  and  included  Conipanies  D  and  G 
from  Berks  county.  It  was  organized  Sept.  9th, 
and  September  19th  following  it  proceeded  to  join 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  front  of  Petersburg. 
Upon  its  arrival  it  was  assigned  to  the  1st  Brigade, 
1st  Division  of  ihe  r.th  Corps.  It  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Peelile's  Farm,  Hatcher's  Run,  and 
White  Oak  Sv.-amp.  At  the  last  named  Capt. 
Isaac  Schroedcr  was  mortally  wounded.  It  vvas 
mustered  out  at  Arlington  Heights  June  3,  18G.5. 

205th  Rei;imext. — Companies  B,  E  and  H  of 
this  regiment  were  recruited  in  Berks  county.  They 
rendezvoused  at  Camp  Curtin,  where,  on  Sept.  2, 
186-1,  field  officers  were  selected,  including  William 
F.  Walter,  captain  of  Company  E,  as  lieutenant- 
colonel,  who  had  served  in  the  104th  Regiment.  On 
the  5th,  the  regiment  left  Harrisburg,  proceeded 
to  Washington,  crossed  the  Potomac,  and  went  in- 
to camp  at  Fort  Corcoran.  Afterward  it  was  en- 
gaged in  picketing  from  the  left  of  the  army  line 
to  the  James,  and  in  building  forts  and  earthworks 
for  the  defense  of  City  Point.  On  Oct.  9th.  it  was 
ordered  to  the  Army  of  the  James.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  occasional  marches  in  support  of  aggres- 
sive movements,  the  regiment  remained  in  camp, 
near  Fort  Prescott  on  the  Army  Line  railroad  dur- 
ing the  winter,  wdiere  it  was  engaged  in  drill  and 
fatigue  duty.  On  March  25,  18C5,  it  participated  in 
the  retaking  of  Fort  Steadman,  and  afterward  in 
the  siege  of  Petersburg.  It  was  mustered  out  of 
service  at  Seminarv  Hill  on  June  2.  18G5. 

21:^th  Regiment. — This  regiment  was  recruited 
at  Philadeliihia,  and  in  Berks,  Chester  and  Juniata 
counties,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Union  League. 
It  was  organized  c>n  March  2,  18G5,  and  two  days 
afterward  transferred  to  Annapolis.  Md.,  to  guard 
Camp  Parole.  Part  of  the  regiment  was  -ent  t(^ 
Frederick,  Md.,  for  dutv  on  the  line  of  tlie  B. 
&•  O.  railroad.  In  April,  it  was  conceiitrated  at 
Washington,    and    posted    along    the    northern    de- 


len'^es,  where  it  continued  until  Xov.  iSth.  when  it 
was  mustered  out  of  service.  Coinpanv  D  was  re- 
cruited in  Berks  count\. 


MISCELLANEOUS   EXLISTMEXTS 
About  225  men  from  the  count)   were  enlisted  in 

other   companies   but   not   enough   of   them   in   any 

company  to  be  classified  in  the  foregoing  list. 
5th    U.    S.    Autielerv. — Battery      tl      included 

seven  men  from  Marion  township,  Berks  countv. 
19th  U.  S.  Ixfantkv. — Company  G,  commanded 

by  Capt.   Edmund  L.   Sm.ith,  of  Re.uling,  included 

seven  men  from  Berks  county. 

MILITARY  ASSOCIATIOXS 

A  nimibei  of  associations  have  been  organized 
since  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  bv  the  survivors 
or  their  sons : 

Gr.\nd  Armv  Po.sts. — McLean  Post,  Xo.  i6,  G. 
A.  R.,  was  organized  at  Reading  and  chartered  Dec. 
12,  186G,  having  been  named  after  Lieut.-Col.  Jo- 
seph A.  McLean,  of  tlie  88th  Regiment.  It  has 
maintained  a  successful  organization  since  then. 
It  has  collected  an  extensive  library  of  military  Ht- 
erature. 

Kciui  Post,  Xo.  j6.  G.  A.  R.,  v.as  chartered  Feb. 
22,  1878,  also  at  Reading.  It  has  also  maintained 
its  organization  since,  with  separate  quarters.  It 
was  named  after  Gen.  William   H.  Keim. 

Mcadc  Camp,  Xo.  i6.  Sons  of  I  'ttirans,  was 
instituted  Oct.  30.  ll<81,  being  a  branch  of  the  Sons 
of  veterans  at  Philadelphia,  and  designed  to  keep 
active  the  memory  of  the  sacrifice  of  their  fathers 
in  the  Civil  war. 

Loyal  Ladies'  League.  Xo.  6,  was  instituted  April 
17,  1884,  at  Reading.  Only  mothers,  wives,  daugh- 
ters and  sisters  of  honorably  discharged  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  the  Civil  war  are  admitted  to  mem- 
bership. It  is  an  auxiliary  to  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic. 

McLean  JVoniaiis  Relief  Corps,  Xo.  lO,  was 
instituted  C)ct.  1,  1884,  as  an  auxiliary  to  Post  Xo. 
IG,  G.  A.  R.  It  has  held  a  number  of  fairs  and 
camp-fires  for  the  benefit  of  the  Pose  and  thereby 
contributed  much  pecuniary  aid. 

Ex-Prisoners  of  A\'.\r. — Certain  enlisted  men  in 
the  Civil  war  from  Berks  county,  who  were  pris- 
oners of  war,  also  formed  an  association  for  mu- 
tual aid  and  social  intercourse  on  July  10,  1884. 
and  thev  too  have  maintained  an  active  organization 
since  then. 

SPANISH  WAR— 1.S98 
The  war  of  the  United  States  with  Spain  grew 
out  of  the  oppression  of  the  people  of  Cuba  by  the 
Sjianish  government,  which  extended  through  a 
long  period  of  time,  and  the  repeated  cftorts  of  the 
people  toward  establishing  a  republican  form  of 
government  elicited  the  earnest  sympathy  of  our 
republic.  The  crmduct  of  our  own  government  was 
alwavs  reserved  and  guarded,  but  when  our  l>att!e- 
sln}i  "Maine"  was  blown  up  in  the  harbor  of  Havana 


.  1    !;■•-'  '.•    i;;-  M  i:s>y:M; 


'  -  '/    '■  ■  .'.■1.1  •     "i «''  -:'.. 


''"■'.:      '  }    ■  ■  •  i  ■ 


140 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLX'AX'IA 


on  Feb.  1").  IS'.is.  causinc:  the  loss  of  '-i^'iG  saili>rs, 
the  feehiiq-  of  our  per. pie.  incited  by  the  metropoli- 
tan nc\vspa]>er.-,  became  so  intense  against  Spain 
that  it  culminated  in  a  proi>osed  declaration  r,i  war 
in  Congress  on  March  ■^I'th,  and  in  the  recogniiinn 
of  the  independence  '<i  Cu')a  on  .\]iril  lUth.  Two 
days  after  this  reci.s^mition.  our  .\lini>ter  to  Spain 
was  unceremoniously  dismis>ed  from  Madrid;  four 
days  afterward  President  ^^IcKinley  called  for  1"^",- 
000  volunteers  :  and  -ix  days  afterward,  a  formal 
declaration  of  war  was  ]:)assed  by  Con,t:ress.  Wb.en 
this  signal  was  given,  the  military  operations  be- 
came immediately  very  active  and  determined,  and 
within  a  week  more  the  g-reat  naval  battle  in  .Manila 
harbor  had  taken  place,  with  unprecedented  success 
to  the  American  fleet  of  battleships  under  the  com- 
mand of  Admiral  Dewey,  and  the  total  destruction 
•  of  the  Spanish  fleet. 

While  these  events  v.ere  transpiring,  the  patriotic 
■spirit  at  Reading  was  aroused,  and  tlie  "Reading 
Artillerists,''  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Samuel 
'Willits,  res])onded  to  the  President's  call,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Mt.  Gretna,  where  it  was  mustered  into 
.service  on  May  9th,  with  the  4th  Regiment  of  Penn- 
sylvania X'olunteers.  The  reg-iment  was  transferred 
■to  Chickamauga  Park,  in  Georgia,  arriving  there 
•on  May  IGth;  and  after  having  been  quartered  at 
several  other  places,  it  finally  reached  Guanica,  in 
Porto  Rico,  on  Aug.  2d,  and  thence  it  proceeded 
to  Arroyo,  the  hills  near  by  being  shelled  bv  tlie 
American  troops  while  the  disembarkment  of  the 
men  took  place.  Tlie  regiment  ]>articipated  in  the 
movements  which  led  up  to  the  battle  and  the 
•capture  of  Guayama  without  Ijccoming  actually 
■engaged;  and  shortly  afterward  it  constituted 
-part  of  the  1st  Battalion  and  wagon-train 
which  marched  toward  Guayama  to  supjwrt 
the  advancing  arm) .  The  enemv  was  endeavoring 
to  execute  a  flank  movement  when  the  regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  occupv  a  commanding  position 
and  while  engaged  in  this  Important  work  the  news 
of  the  "Peace  Protocol"  was  circulated,  which 
■•caused  further  operations  to  cease.  Then  the  regi- 
ment was  directed  to  withdraw  to  a  point  on  the 
Ponce  Road,  near  the  town,  and  there  it  remained 
•  on  outpost  duty  until  August  '^Hth.  when  it  niarched 
about  fifty  miles  to  the  city  of  Ponce,  and  thence 
to  tiie  Port  de  Playa.  It  then  took  passage  on  the 
transport  "City  of  Chester"  for  Xew  York  Citv, 
where  it  arrived  on  Sejit.  Cth.  and  was  then  fur- 
longhed  for  sixty  days.  It  was  nnistered  o"t  of 
service  on  Xov.  Pith.  The  company  reached  R-ad- 
ing  on  SeT)t.  Tth,  at  4  a.  m..  and  many  person-  were 
at  the  railroad  station  to  extend  a  cordial  welome 
to  the  men.  A  nubile  reception  v.-as  tenderv  1  to 
the  company  in  the  form  of  a  large  parade  in  four 
divisions,  with  one  th(-iusand  men  in  line,  and  a 
ban(|uet  In  Rajah  Temi)le.  on  W'edncsdav  evening, 
Sept.  l.'ith.  Peini  street  was  crowflcd  with  inan\- 
thousand  enthusiastic  people  who  witr.es-ed  the 
parade. 


John  C.  HIntz,  the  Fir.>t  Lieutenant  of  Company 
A,  died  June  -Jfith.  in  Lclter  Hospital,  in  Chlcka- 
mai!ga  I'ark,  while  tb.e  compan_\  was  lying  thcri.- 
awaiting  orders  to  march  and  his  remains  were 
forwarded  to  Reading  and  burled  with  an  imp.>.- 
mg  ceremony. 

Company  G,  of  the  Hth  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Volunteer  Infantry,  recruited  at  Reading,  was  also 
enlisted  in  the  service.  This  regiment  was  mustered 
in  at  Mt.  Gretna  on  Mav  11,  ISfiS,  and  encamped 
at  Chickamauga  Park,  on  ]\Iay  20th.  On  Alay  2r,th, 
the  President  issued  a  second  call  for  seventy-tive 
thousand  men,  and  four  additional  companies  were 
added  to  the  regiment,  one  of  these  being  Companv 
G,  commanded  by  Capt.  Henry  D.  Green,  of  Read- 
ing. 

(Jn  August  20th,  the  regiment  as  a  part  of  the  3d 
Division,  1st  Army  Corps,  was  ordered  to  Lexing- 
ton, Ky.,  and  on  the  2.5th  it  was  encamped  at  Camp 
liamllton,  about  five  miles  from  Lexington.  It  re- 
mained at  that  place  until  Sept.  ISth,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  W'ilke^-P.arre,  Pa.  There  it  was  given  an 
enthusiastic  reception  and  then  furlougiied  for 
thirty  days.  It  arrived  at  Reading  on  Sept.  20th, 
and  on  tlie  evening  of  the  22d,  a  public  reception 
was  extended  to  it  similar  to  that  extended  to  Com- 
pany A,  but  the  parade  could  not  be  made  on  ac- 
count of  a  severe  rain. 

Both  companies  participated  in  the  "Peace  Jub- 
ilee" at  Philadelphia  on  C)ct.  27,  1.S98. 

Comjiany  E  of  Plamburg,  of  the  same  regiment, 
was  mustered  in  on  May  10,  1898,  at  Mt.  Gretna, 
and  participated  in  the  same  services  as  Company 
A ;  and  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  Xov. 
K;,  LS9S.  It  was  also  in  the  I'cace  Jubilee  at  Phil- 
adelphia. It -was  commanded  by  Capt.  William 
Kumn.ierer. 


MILITIA  SYSTEM— 1770-1909 
The  Convention  of  17;f;.  in  framing  the  first  Con- 
stitution of  Pennsylvania,  made  provision  for  the 
establishment  of  a  military  system;  and  In  pursu- 
ance of  this  provision,  the  General  Assembly  es- 
tablished the  necessary  regulations.  The  cour.tv  of 
Berks,  under  the  direction  of  the  designated  officer 
(called  a  "lieutenant,"  with  the  assistance  of  "sub- 
lieutenants"), was  enabled  to  supply  promptlv  and 
successfully  all  the  orders  made  by  the  government 
for  troops  during  the  progress  of  the  Revolution. 

IVevious  to  this  system,  the  military  affairs  were 
governed  l)y  ".-\rtlcies  of  .-\ssociation."  The  men 
who  associated  together  for  purposes  of  defense 
were  commonly  known  as  "Assoclators."  and  those 
who  acted  in  opposition  cither  openlv,  or  secretlv, 
were  called  "X'on-Associators." 

Rf.tl-rxs  roR  17 70. — The  following  officers  had 
been  chosen  for  the  several  battalions  of  the  .Asso- 
clators of  r.erks  cr>u,nty  for  the  year  l77.")-7(;.  the 
company  rosters  having  been  puldished  In  that  con- 
nection : 


:l,l 


..r./      -■; 


I    !. 


. t  r,  r,<i  ■;, 


ni'..   •     :r.N 


WAR    PERKJDS 


141 


1st    Battalion — Ccntial    Section 

Lieut-Col.,  Henry  Ihillcr.     Major,  G:ibricl  liiester. 

2d  Battalion — Southern   Section 

Lieut. -Col*  Mark  Bird.     Major,.  John  Jones. 

Sd    Battalion — Central    Section 

Lieut.-Co!..  Nicholas  Lotz.     Major.  John  Old. 

7//1  Battalion — Xorthcrn  Section 

Lieut. -Coi.,    Kalsci     Geehr.       Major.    Michai.1    Lindcnuith. 

Sth  Battalion — U'estcr)i   Section 

Lieut. -Col.,  John   Patton.     Major,  John  Thornburgh. 

6th   Battalion — Eastern    Section 
Lieut.-Col.,   Daniel   Hunter.     Major.  Conrad  Leffler. 

7//j  Battalion — Xortheastern   Section 
Lieut. -Col.,    Sebastian    Lcvan.      Major,   Samuel   Ely. 

Returns  for  177G. — Seven  battalions  were 
organized  in  the  county,  as  appeared  by  the 
delegates  sent  to  tlie  election  at  Lancaster  on  July 
4,  1776,  for  two  brigadier-generals.  The  meeting 
comprised  the  officers  and  privates  of  fifty-three 
battalions  of  Associators.  A  full  ratio  of  men  was 
sent  by  the  militia  of  Berks  county.  The  following 
delegates  represented  the  county  at  that  meeting: 

1st  Battalion:  Officers — Major,  (labriel  Hie.^te^;  Lieu- 
tenant, Philip  Cremer ;  privates,  John  Hartnian,  Peter 
P'ilbcrt. 

2d  Battalion:  Officers— Colonel,  Mark  Bird;  Major, 
John   Jones;    privates,    David  Mortran,    Benjamin   Tolbcrt. 

3d  Battalion:  Officers — Lieutenant-Colonel,  Nicholas 
Lotz:  Captain.  George  Richm;  privates,  Henry  Spohn, 
Matthias  Wenrich. 

4th  Battalion:  Officers— Major,  Michael  Lindemut ; 
Captain,    George    May:    private,    Michael    Closer. 

$th  Battalion:  Officers — Colonel,  John  Patton:  Lieu- 
tcnant-Colonc!,  John  Rice;  privates,  Jacob  Seltzer,  Chris- 
tian  Winter. 

6th  Battalion:  Officers — Major,  Conr.id  Leftler ;  Lieu- 
tenant,   John    Miller:    privates.    John    IJill,    Henry    Lark. 

7th  Battalion:  Officers — Colonel.  Sebastian  Levan  :  .-Vd- 
jutant.  Samuel  Ely;  privates,  I'hilip  W'isters,  Casper 
Smeck. 

Returns  for  1777. — Col.  Jacob  ^lorgan  and 
his  sub-lieutenants  met  at  Reading,  on  April  25, 
1777,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  returns  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Berks  county  between  the  ages  of 
eighteen  and  fifty-three  years.  The  number  then 
returned  was  about  four  thousand.  These  were 
arranged  in  six  districts,  and  meetings  were  or- 
dered to  be  held  on  the  oth  and  Gth  of  Alay  follow- 
ing, for  the  purpose  of  electing  officers  and  form- 
ing companies.  Morgan  rejiorted  that  he  had  for- 
warded to  the  Executive  Council  an  exact  list  of 
the  field-officers,  captains,  subalterns  and  court-mar- 
tial men,  comprising  the  six  battalions  of  the  Berks 
county  militia,  or  one  battalion  for  each  district. 
This  list  appears  in  tlie  Popiisxli'auia  rissociators, 
Vol.  2,  pp.  2r)7  to  27G.  The  several  battalions  were 
returned  on  May  IG,  1777. 

Battalion  Section  of  County  Colorcl 

1st  Eastern  Daniel   Hunter 

2d  Northeastern  Daniel   L'drec 

■    'Sd  ■  Northern  Michael    Lindenmuth 

4th  Central  Nicholas  Lotz 

.")th  Southern  Jacoli  Weaver 

6th  Western  Henry  Spyker 

New  SvsTI•:^t. — After  the  foregoing  returns  had 
been  made,  the  Assembly  deemed  it  necessary  to 
provide  a  next  militia  system,  because  the  Associa- 
tors had  lost  their  efifectlveness.     Shortly  after  the 


battle  of  Princeton,  whole  companies  deserted.     In 
this  behalf,  a  law  was  parsed  on  June  13,  1777. 

Oath  of  Allcylancc. — (Jne  of  the  first  require- 
ments was  the  taking  of  an  oath  of  allegiance, 
which  had  to  be  done  before  July  1,  1777.  This 
was  allowing  only  seventeen  tlays ;  but  in  this  time 
its  provisions  had  become  thoroughly  known  in 
Berks  county  for  the  time  for  deliberation  ^r  hes- 
itation had  passed,  and  prompt  action  was  neces- 
sary. 

Persons  who  neglected  or  refused  to  take  this 
oath  were  declared  to  be  incapable  of  holding  any 
office;  serving  as  jurors;  suing  for  debts;  electmg 
or  being  elected;  buying,  selling,  or  transferring 
real  estate ;  and  they  were  liable  to  "be  disarmed  by 
the  county  lieutenants  and  deputies.  If  they  were 
not  provided  with  passes,  they  were  liable  to  be 
arrested  as  spies,  upon  being  found  out  of  the 
city  or  county  away  from  their  immediate  residence  ; 
and  forgery  of  a  certificate  was  punishable  with  a 
Hogging  and  a  fine  of  ioO. 

in  pursuance  of  the  Act,  over  forty-nine  hundred 
men  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  Berks  county 
dprintr  the  years  1777  and  1778,  before  llie  justices 
of  the  peace  in  the  several  sections  of  the  county. 
The  greater  number  was  taken  from  June  to  Oc- 
tober in  1777. 

County  Districts  Established. — This  law  directed 
the  counties  to  be  divided  into  districts,  and  each 
district  was  to  contain  not  less  than  410  men,  nor 
more  than  GSO.  fit  for  duty,  to  be  arranged  in  eight 
comp.anies.  The  ofilicer  in  cliarge  of  a  county  was 
called  a  "lieutenant"  ;  and  of  each  di.strict,  a  "sub- 
lieutenant." It  was  the  duty  of  the  "lieutenant" 
to  enlist  the  people,  collect  the  fines,  and  execute  the 
details  of  the  law. 

Battalions,  Companies  and  Classes. — Each  dis- 
trict was  subdivided  into  eight  parts,  with  due  re- 
gard to  the  convenience  of  the  inhabitants,  and 
elected  its  officers  from  lieutenant-colonel  down  to 
subalterns.  The  term  of  service  was  three  years. 
A  company  was  set  apart  for  each  '-ulidiviston, 
and  this  was  also  divided  by  lot  into  eight  parts, 
called  classes,  as  nearly  equal  as  possible,  and  the 
several  classes  were  numbered  from  one  to  eight  in 
numerical  order.  Berks  county  was  divided  into 
six  districts.  Accordingly,  the  county  liad  six  bat- 
talions, or  forty-eight  companies. 

The  rank  of  tiie  battalions  and  their  officers, 
also  of  the  captains  and  subalterns  was  determined 
bv  lot.  The  precedence  of  the  officers  of  the  sev- 
eral counties,  as  to  rank,  was  arranged  according  to 
the  seniority  of  the  counties,  Philadelphia  being 
first. 

In  case  of  invasion,  or  assistance  were  asked  by 
Congress,  the  militia  was  called  out  by  classes.  The 
first  draft  con>isted  of  class  one  of  each  company, 
and  if  insufficient,  then  class  two.  and  so  on,  as  oc- 
casion required.  F:ach  class  was  liable  to  serve  two 
months,  and  it  was  relieved  by  the  next  class  in 
numerical  order. 


"»'(   b';i.    V"i>--i':i   !>;.;•    u'-'Wi 


::.q    i"f.v    \' 


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i!,      *ij:       ■  rcrut-; , 


142 


IflSTORY    OF    RERKS    COUXTV.    PEXXSYLA'AXIA 


F'ax  and  Rations. — The  pay  and  rations  were  the 
same  as  Continvnlal  troops.  They  were  to  com- 
mence two  days  before  marching:,  and  to  W  allowed 
at  the  rate  of  twenty  miles  a  day  till  the  men  re- 
turned home. 

Days  of  Drill. — Days  of  drill  were  set  apart  in  the 
spring  and  fall  for  military  exercises;  in  companies, 
on  the  last  Momlay  vi  April,  and  first  three  Mon- 
days of  May;  also,  on  the  last  two  Mondays  of 
August,  the  last  two  ^^londays  of  September,  and 
the  third  Mondav  of  October:  and  /;/  battalions,  on 
the  fourth  Mondays  of  May  and  October. 

Fines. — Enrolled  men  who  refused  to  parade 
were  fined  Ts.  (jd.  per  diem ;  absent  officers,  lOs. ; 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  5s.  On 
field  days,  the  fine  for  non-attendance  \vas  i5,  and 
for  non-commissioned  otricers  and  privates,  15s. 

Pensions. — Pensions  were  allowed  for  incapaci- 
tating injuries  not  exceeding  one-half  the  pay  re- 
ceived; and  for  persons  who  died  from  wounds, 
or  were  killed  in  service,  the  Orphans'  Court  was 
authorized  to  allow  support  to  the  families  in 
amounts  not  to  exceed  one-half  the  pay  of  such 
persons. 

Persons  E.x'cn-pted  from  Sendee. — The  excepted 
persons  from,  bearing  arms  were  delegates  in  Con- 
gress, members  of  the  Executive  Council,  judges  of 
the  Supreme  court,  masters  and  faculty  of  colleges, 
ministers,  and  servants  purchased  bona  fide. 

Subsequent  Returns. — Militia  returns  were  made 
and  reported  for  tlie  succeeding  years  of  the  Rev- 
olution until  1783,  and  those  for  the  years  1778, 
1780,  and  17S3  have  been  published  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania Archives. 

Since  Revolution. — The  military  spirit  of  the 
people  continued  to  prevail  after  the  Revolution, 
and  the  State  encouraged  it  for  the  purpose  of 
maintaining  familiarity  with  its  affairs.  Compan- 
ies, regiments  and  brigades  were  organized  and 
drilled  at  certain  fixed  times  and  places  within  the 
county.  The  meeting  was  commonly  called  "Bat- 
talion Day."  It  preserved  a  strong  general  interest 
in  public  affairs,  especiallv  in  public  defense.  This 
interest  enabled  the  several  organizations  to  re- 
spond promptly  to  calls  for  their  services,  and  their 
promptness  was  a  distinguishing  characteristic. 
Fortunately  for  them  and  especially  for  the  coun- 
try, their  services  were  not  needed  frequently.  X'ot 
to  mention  the  "Whiskey  Insurrection"  and  "X'orth- 
ampton  Affair"  as  of  any  miiitarv  consequence, 
there  were  but  two  occasions  for  a  period  covering 
over  sixty  years  in  which  their  services  were  re- 
quired, one  having  been  the  English  war  of  1S12-15, 
and  the  other  the  Mexican  war  of  184(i-i8.  each. 
by  a  strange  coincidence,  occurring  after  a  period 
of  about  thirty  years.  These  miiitarv  exercises  were 
continued  until  the  beginning  of  the  Rebellion  ;  but 
this  outbreak  of  the  Southern  States  against  the 
Northern  was  of  sucli  a  serious,  long-continued  and 
costly  nature  that  the  spirit  for  a  return  to  military 
exercise  had  come  to  be  entirely  exhausted. 


Protler  Services  to  President. — In  1798,  a  mis- 
understanding arose  between  our  Xational  govern- 
ment and  the  I'Yench  on  account  of  tl^nr  seizing  and 
detaining  many  of  our  vessels  for  examination,  to 
ascertain  whether  or  not  we,  as  a  neutral  govern- 
ment, were  carrying  English  commodities.  Some 
conthcts  arose  on  the  sea.  but  Xapoleon,  upon  tak- 
ing control  of  the  French  government,  soon  estab- 
lished a  cordial  understanding  between  the  two 
countries  and  American  vessels  were  no  longer  mo- 
lested;  and  two  years  afterward  Louisiana  was 
purchased  by  the   Cnited  States. 

During  this  excitment,  the  officers  of  the  Berks 
County  Brigade  met  at  the  Court-House  in  Read- 
ing on  June  30,  17r'S,  and  addressed  a  patriotic 
letter  to  President  Adams,  offering  their  services 
to  assist  in  resenting  the  insult  of  the  French  to 
our  government;  to  which  the  President  gave  them 
a  ver\-  appreciative  acknowledgment. 

Military  Dizisiori. — In  1807  PJerks  and  Dauphin 
counties  comprised  the  Sixth  Division.  In  lSl-1  two 
new  counties,  Schuylkill  and  Ecbanon,  were  added 
to  this  division,  Dauj-'hin  and  Lebanon  fonning  the 
1st  Brigade  and  Berks  and  Schuylkill  the  2d;  and 
in  184!),  Dauphin,  Lebanon  and  Berks  comprised 
the  5th  Division.  The  last  Act  before  the  RebeUion 
was  passed  m  1858,  by  which  Berks  was  still  a  part 
of  the  same  division. 

Encampment  at  Reading. — A  large  and  success- 
ful encampment  of  militia  was  held  at  Reading  in 
1842.  It  was  arranged  along  the  I>ase  of  Penn's 
Mount  and  continued  from  May  18th  for  one 
week. 

The   following  troops  attended: 

Company  Men 

Reading    Troop 30 

Rcadin.5    Artillerists 52 

Washington    Grays     ("Reading) 40 

Xational    Grays    (Readinji) 35 

Xational   Troop    (Oley) 4.5 

Hamburg    Troop 30 

llanihiirg  Artillerists .52 

Woraeisdorf   Legion 46 

BcrnviHc    Rifle    Gravs 65 

r.crks    Rille    Rangers 54 

T'oltsviiie  Cavalry 28 

Pottsville     Infantry 44 

Orwigsburg    Grays 40 

.A.Ileiuown    Guards 34 

595 

Attendance  from  Reading.  15";  from  country  districts, 
202.  Prii^.-Gcn.  William  High  was  in  command  o{  the 
Rcrk?  County  Brigade.  The  commander-in-chief  of  the 
State  was  also  present. 

The  dailv  ihitv  at  the  encampment  was  similar 
to  armv  regulation  during  actual  war.  It  was  as 
follows': 

!Morninff  gun  at  daybreak        Grand  parade,   10  A.^^. 

Reveille  Dinner.   12   m. 

Roll-call  Regular   parade.    -1    p.m. 

Morning  parade  Evening  gnn.   f.   p.m. 

Breakfast  Tattoo   and   countersign,   10 

Detail  (if  guards  r.^r. 

InsiKctiiin  Lights  extinguished,  li  r.  M. 

And     fr.im     11    P.M.  to    daylight    "the    sentry    walked    his 

lom-lv  roimd."  . 


.h-''-      f.-:>--r!ai 


i'     ,  ;  ,J      r  .■'■'  V 


UAR    PERIODS 


143 


A  review  of  the  troops  was  held  on  Saturday, 
Mav  21st.  The  day  was  tine,  and  thousands  of 
persons  were  in  attendance. 

Gen.  \\'infield  Scott,  accompanied  liy  his  aids, 
arrived  at  Reaihng  on  the  day  of  the  review.  He 
was  met  at  the  "depot"  (Seventh  and  Chestnut 
streets)  by  a  detachment  of  mihtary  and  escorted 
to  "Herr's  Hotel"  (United  States,  north  side  of 
Penn  Square,  between  Fourth  ami  Fifth  streets), 
followed  by  many  citizens.  Fie  spent  Sunday  at 
Reading.  On  Monday.  33d.  he  reviewed  the  troops 
at  the  encampment  and  during  this  day  medals  were 
shot  for.  General  Scott  expressed  himself  as  highly 
pleased  with  the  discipline  and  appearance  of  the 
encampment  and  he  paid  a  special  compliment  to 
the  "Reading  Artillerists."  WHiilst  here  he  presented 
each  of  the  Revolutionary  survivors  with  a  $20  gold- 
piece. 

Battalions  in  j8^6. — In  18.j(l  tliere  were  in  the 
county  twenty-four  companies  of  militia,  arranged 
in  six  battalions,  v.diich  compri'^ed  the  1st  Brigade, 
of  the  3lh  Di\  ision  of  Pcnnsvlvania  Volunteers: 


Battalion 

1st 
2d 
.^d 
4th 
5th 
6th 


Company  Men 


539 
206 
133 
311 
135 
130 


Section  Offirer 

Reading  Major  \V.    H.    Keim 

Hamburg  Major  T.    A.    Beitcnman 
Maiden-creek  .Major  D.   B.  Kaufman 

Oley  ^[ajor  Isaac   Schrocdcr 

Union  Major  W.  J.  Scliocner 

Marion  .Major  John  Bechtnid 

Total  men,  1,4G3;  total  force  of  troops  in  the  county, 
6,644. 

These  battalions  were  in  active  existence  when 
the  Civil  war  broke  out  in  ISCl. 

St.\te  National  Gu.\rd. — In  ISGI,  a  new  sys- 
tem was  provided  which  still  prevails.  The  assess- 
ors of  the  county  are  required  to  enroll  "every  able- 
bodied  male  citizen  resident  within  the  State,  of  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  and  under  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years,"  excepting  certain  persons  specified ;  and 
this  roll  of  persons  is  placed  on  record  in  the  office 
of  the  county  conmiissioners  ;  and  the  whole  num- 
ber of  persons  liable  to  military  duty  is  reported  by 
the  commissioners  to  the  adjutant-general  of  the 
State.  The  enrolled  militia  shall  he  subject  to 
no  active  duty  except  in  case  of  war,  invasion,  riot, 
etc.  The  commander-in-chief  may  order  the  militia 
to  be  drafted  from  the  persons  liable  to  dutv  or  ac- 
cept as  many  volunteers  as  may  be  re(|uired.  The 
organization  is  similar  to  the  previous  systems, 
but  the  State  is  divided  into  tweiitv  divisions,  each 
county  to  form  a  separate  brigade.  Berks.  Leb- 
anon and  Dauphin  counties  cmnprise  the  .^th  Di- 
vision.    Subsequent  mf)difications  hn\c  been  made. 

The  active  militia  is  styled  the  "Xational  Guard 
of  Pennsylvania."  In  time  of  i)eace  it  shall  com- 
prise an  aggregate  not  to  exceed  ten  thousand  of- 
ficers and  men  and  "consist  of  two  luuidred  com- 
panies, fully  armed,  uniformed  and  equipped,  to 
be  distributed  among  the  several  militarv  divi'^ions 
of  the  State  according  tr»  the  number  of  its  taxable 
population."  .And  provisi(in  is  ma<le  tor  drilling, 
inspections  and  encampments.     This  system  is  car- 


ried on  successfully,  but  witliout  causing  any  pi-.blic 
excitement,  excepting  during  the  time  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  any  encampment. 

RcaJini^  .'lrtillcrists.—'l'\K  Reading  Artillerists 
is  one  of  the  most  prominent  military  organi- 
zations in  Pennsylvania.  It  was  organized  at 
Reading,  March  33,  1791,  and  has  continued  in  ac- 
tive existence  until  the  present  tiine,  exceptitig  from 
the  close  of  the*  Civil  war  in  1«G.5  until  18si,  when 
it  was  re-organized.  At  first  it  was  known  as  the 
Reading  Union  X'olunteers,  and  in  tlie  English  war 
of  1813-15  as  the  Reading  Washington  Guards, 
and  about  1830  it  took  the  name  of  Reading  Artil- 
lerists which  it  has  retained  until  now.  The  first 
captain  was  Daniel  de  B.  Keim  and  he  served  as  such 
from  1T94  to  1S30.  It  was  engaged  in  the  Whiskey 
Insurrection  of  1794;  in  the  Xorthampton  riot  of 
1799;  in  the  English  war  of  1813-15;  in  the  Phil- 
adelphia religious  riots  of  1844 ;  in  the  ^vlexican 
war  of  1846-48  ;  in  the  Civil  war  of  18G1-65  ;  in  the 
Homestead  riots  of  July.  1893;  in  the  Hazleton 
riots  of  September,  1897  ;  in  the  Spanish  war  of 
1893;  in  the  Schuylkill  riots  of  1900;  and  in  the 
Northumberland  and  Luzerne  riots  frotn  Septem- 
ber, 1903,  to  April,  1903. 

The  captain  of  the  coinpany  since  Feb.  G,  1905, 
has  been  Dr.  H.  Melvin  Allen,  and  he  has  devel- 
oped the  coinpany  to  a  high  grade  of  efficiency ; 
for,  in  the  first  year  the  company  ranked  fourth  in 
the  regiment,  the  second  year  it  ranked  second,  and 
the  third  year  it  ranked  first,  having  in  1907  readied 
the  average  of  .!)9  55-100.  In  the  fourth  year,  how- 
ever it  dropped  to  second  place,  the  company  which 
it  had  surpassed  in  1907  having  reached  first  place 
in  1908  by  the  remarkable  average  of  .99  G.5-100 
(the  Artilieri.sts  being  .99  GO-lOO). 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  captains  of  the 
coinpany : 

Daniel  de   B.   Keim,   1704-1S:;0. 

George  Mav  Keim.  1S30-3  1. 

William   n.  .Miller,  IsrM-r.O. 

William   Strong,  1839-44. 

Thomas   S.   Leoser,  1S44-40. 

Marks  John  Biddlc.  lS49-,50;  1S52-55. 

Daniel  R.  Chmer,  1S50-52. 

William  I.  Clous.  lS.".j-5T. 

George  W.  Alexander,  1S57-61. 

William  H.  .-\ndre\vs,  1SC,2. 

Tliomas  M.  Richard,  ]8r,2-63. 

Robert   H.   Savage,   ISSl-s-J. 

William  H.  Soudcrs,  1SS2-83. 

Samuel    H.   Stahr,   1883-85. 

Henry  J.  Christoph,  1885-95. 

Samuel  Willits.  1805-99. 

Edward  E.  Machamer,  1899-1902. 

Reuben  C.  Potteiger,  1902-05. 

H.  Melvin  Alkn,  since  1905. 

A  militar\-  company  was  organized  at  Flamburg, 
.-Vpril  13,  1875,  and  became  attached  to  the  N.  G.  P. 
as  Company  K.  4th  Regiment,  having  been  a  con- 
tiiuiation  of  the  "Blue  Alountain  Legion."  It  was 
called  into  active  service  to  assist  in  quelling  the 
riots  at  Reading  in  July,  1877,  at  Homestead  in  Julv, 
In93.  in  Schuylkill  connty,  in  1900.  and  in  North- 
umberland and  Luzerne  counties  from  September, 


.!■.  ■  3' 


■  t  . '  J.  in^',-:;.i  - .   :  1 ,  -.^ 

I      -Ci      r.l  ''I'h'.l     ;{i       -'■ 

■       -■;,•    ■',-   i-       -■■■"' 


)   .    !  ri'Mi. 


;!!   .'J 


•IK..,/:    •,; 


;n    ;:•-,    v'l    .<■:  I' ;.;'.'-:-    -■;.',: 


,'.1  I, 


rr'/i;  v-.'T     --'•    .1.'  ■,    'ii  .  J    ,',;,!'    '    ,f."  I  ■'!].' Ml 


Ui 


?IISTORV    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    TEXXSYLVAXIA 


ir»0->,  to  April,  r.tti:!.  It  was  also  cii.cr'^S^^J  i"  the 
Spanish  war  with  t!u-  4th  Rcj^nment  of  i'ennsylvania 
W'luiitccr  Jiifaiitry,  having  been  mustered  into  the 
X'ational  service  May  K',  1SS)S,  and  mustered  out 
Xov.  Ii5.  Isii'S.  It  participated  in  the  movements  of 
the  army  in  Porto  Rico,  and  was  tlien  commanded 
by  Capt.  William  Kummerer.  [See  reference  to 
Company  and  Armorv  in  description  of  Hamburg, 
Chapter  XL]  It  v.as  connnanded  Ijy  the  following 
captains  : 

Edward  F.  Smith,  lST5-8;i. 
Charles  F.  Seaman.'   1883-93. 
John  F.  Ancona,  189:;-0r. 
Benjamin  F.  Gehris.  1897-08. 
Dr.  John  R.  Wagner.  1898. 
William    KumnKTcr.    1S08-1902. 
Monroe   M.   l)r<-ibclbis,   10(li;-07. 
Wilson  S.  Lewis,  since  1907. 

Company  G,  of  the  9th  Pennsylvania  \"olunteer 
Infantry,  v.as  organized  at  Reading  by  Henry  D. 
Green  (a  prominent  attorney)  in  response  to  a  sec- 
ond call  of  Presidait  AIcKinley  for  75,000  addi- 
tional troops,  and  mustered  into  the  X'ational  service 
July  27,  1S9S.  It  was  encamped  in  Kentucky  dur- 
ing August  and  part  of  September,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  of  service  Oct.  21),  1908. 

These  three  com]3anies  (Company  A,  Company  E, 
and  Companv  G)  from  Berks  county  participated  in 
the  great  Peace  Jubilee  at  Philadel]jhia  on  Oct.  27, 
1898,  after  the  successful  termination  of  the  Spanish 
war. 

Company  I,  of  the  4th  Regiment,  X".  G.  P..  was 
organized  in  1S9S  as  a  provisional  company  in  order 
to  maintain  a  military  organization  of  the  X'ational 
Guard  at  Reading  during  the  absence  of  Comi)any 
A,  and  mustered  in  June  9th,  with  a  full  quota.  It 
became  attached  to  the  X'ational  Guard  of  the  State 
in  1900.  Harry  l\l.  I'hillippi  was  the  captain  until 
he  resigned  in  1901  ;  Jerome  Seider  from  1901  to 
1903,  and  Ralph  R.  Koser  from  1903  to  1901. 

The  comijany  was  re-organized  by  Capt.  Charles 
G.  :Millcr  in"  October,  190G,  after  it  had  been  allowed 
(0  retrograde  for  five  years  to  the  point  of  disband- 
ing, with  only  thirty-five  enlisted  men.  In  two  years 
he  brought  it  to  the  standard  of  sixty  men  and  three 
officers,  and  secured  for  the  company  an  average 
of  97,  and  a  rating  as  the  fifth  conijiany  in  the  reg- 
iment ;  which  evidences  in  a  high  degree  his  superior 
character  and  abilitv  as  its  commanding  officer. 

The  company  was  called  out  to  assist  in  quelling 
the  labor  troubles  in  Schuylkill  county  in  1900,  and 
in  X'orthumberland  and  Luzerne  counties  in  1902-0.1. 

This  company  is  a  re-organization  of  the  historical 
companv  known  for  manv  vears  as  the  "Reading 
Rifies."' 

The  4th  Regiment.  X.  G.  P.,  comprises  the  com- 
panies from  I'erks,  Lancaster,  Lebanon,  Lehigh  and 
Schuylkill  count ic'^. 

ExROi.T.Mr.N'T  FOR  MiiiTAKV  Sfuvicf,. — In  .\u- 
gust,  1908.  the  countv  had  29.10.")  men  en- 
rolled for  military  service  as  reported  to  the  Com- 
missioners bv  the  assessors  of  the  several  di-tricts; 

■*  Elected    major    of    rtgiinent    in    UX>'X 


an  increase  of  2,198  over  the  number  for  190.". 
Reading  contained  over  half.  1G.383.  The  number 
for  the  several  districts  was  as  follows: 

Total 


District 

Albany    1.ti"> 

Alsace,  Lower iy9 

Alsace    118 

.\mitv  isr 

Bern    197 

Bern,  Upper lOG 

Bethel  -•:.'T 

Brecknock  12C) 

Boyertown    317 

Bechtelsville J7 

Bernville    56 

Birdsboro.  E.  W 304 

Eirdsboro,    W.    W....  l.-)7 

Centreport     20 

Centre    209 

Caernarvon     87 

Cuinru     .7 630 

Colebrookdale    237 

Douglass    152 

District    S8 

Earl     120 

Exeter    320 

Fleetwood 217 

Greenwich     ISO 

Hamburg,  W.  W 208 

liatTiburg,   E.   W 214 

Heidelberg,    X 101 

Heidelberg 236 

Heidelberg,    L o83 

Hereford     131 

Jefferson     123 

Knt;ctov\n     27.') 

Lenhartsville    20 

Longswamp    200 

Maiden-creek     253 

Marion     135 

Maxatawny    443 

Mohiuon    295 

Muhlenberg    455 

Mt.  Penn 131 

Olcy    311 


EnroUcJ 

Ontelannee    157 

Pike     S3 

Penn   1G4 

Pen  >     2.-,o 

Richmond    262 

Robeson     369 

Rackland     141 

Ruscombmanor    177 

Spring    585 

Tilden     162 

116 


Toptoi 

Tulpehocken     2'28 


Tulpehocken,   L'.    . . 

2.53 

Union     

200 

WiS'hington     

West   Lcesport    . . . . 

76 

West  Reading  

.  .       305 

Windsor    

78 

Womelsdorf     

.  ..       214 

Wyomissing     

.  .  .       135 

Reading — 

I'irst  ward    

. .  .       587 

Second  ward   ... 

.  .  .       739 

Third   ward    .... 

.  .  .       834 

Fourlli   ward    .  .  . 

.  .  .       346 

Fifth  ward   

.  .  .       479 

Sixth  ward 

.  ..    1,722 

Seventh    ivard    . . 

.  ..       815 

Eiglith   ward    .  .  . 

.  .  .       866 

Xinth  ward 

.  .  .    1,0(50 

Tenth  ward  .... 
Eleventh  ward  . .  . 
Twelfth  v.ard  .  . 
Thirteenth  ward  , 
P'o'.u'teenth  ward 
Fifteenth  v.-ard  . 
Sixteenth    ward    . . . 

Total  for  city  and 
county    '. 


010 
875 
1.340 
3,910 
1,063 
1,701 
1,028 


:9,105 


STATE  POLICE 

The  inefficiency  of  the  local  police  authorities 
throughout  Pennsylvania,  more  especially  in  the 
coal  regions  where  many  foreigners  from  diilerent 
nations  had  come  to  be  residents,  was  a  subject  of 
serious  discussion  for  many  }ears  without  any  re- 
lief or  satisfactory  protection,  notwithstanding  the 
gradual  increase  of  lawlessness  and  crime.  Einally. 
the  Legislature,  under  the  recommendation  of  Gov- 
ernor Pennypacker.  passed  an  Act  for  the  estab- 
lishment and  regulation  c^f  a  new  department  of  gov- 
ernment called  the  State  Police,  which  he  approved 
on  May  3,  190.").  In  pursuance  of  this  Act,  a  super- 
intendent was  apjiointed  by  the  Governor  and  four 
troops  were  carefully  qualified,  the  system  going 
into  operation  throughout  the  State  on  the  same 
day,  Dec.  15.  190.-,. 

The  superintendent,  Capt.  John  C.  Groome.  se- 
lected Reading  as  one  of  the  four  stations  in  th'- 
State  for  the  location  of  Troop  C  from  which  to 
carrv  on  the  ]ialrol  of  the  surrounding  country 
within  a  radivs  of  thirty  miles,  in  the  performance 


^m;, 


'■.•■in   ■ 

.•:  ■;..\/.  ,■ 

.1    tn:;ii'".«).'i 


•IT, 


>      ,'!       :>      '/ 


.,-.  t      ,T.''     .-M 

'  t.  ■';; 

■  '''    i<  '     ■'" 


'"■     ;■:■..■.':  ■!  I 


WAR   PERIOD 


145 


(_,f  tlifir  duty;  and  lie  established  a  "Barracks"  on 
tiic  Scitzinger  homestead,  situated  along  the  \Vy- 
oiiiissing  road,  a  short  distance  west  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill river  (having  leased  the  premises  for  two  years, 
and  afterward  extended  the  term  for  two  years 
more;.  Ten  sub-stations  have  been  established  in 
the  district,  with  two  in  Berks  county,  one  at  Hani- 
burg'  and  the  other  at  Manatawny,  along  the  Cole- 
brookdale  railroad. 

William  P.  Taylor,  of  Reading,  was  appointed 
Xov.  11,  190.J,  as  the  captain  of  Troop  C,  and  he 
filled  the  position  until  June  15,  19(iG,  when  he 
resigned.  The  Troop  comprised  a  captain,  a  lieu- 
tenant, four  sergeants  and  thirtv  privates,  which 
were  subsequently  increased  to  fifty-seven.  Anoth- 
er trooper  was  selected  from  Reading,  C.  !^I.  Wil- 
helm,  first  sergeant. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Captain  Taylor,  the  lieu- 
tenant was  promoted,  and  he  discharged  his  duties 
as  the  captain  of  the  Troop  in  a  superior  manner 
until  Aug.  1(),  1908.  He  was  succeeded  by  Capt. 
Lynn  G.  Adams,  who  was  tiansferred  from  Troop 
B  at  Wyoming;  and  at  the  same  time  Lieut.  Wil- 
liam Marsh  was  transferred  from  Troop  IJ,  at 
Punxsutawney,  to  Troop  C,  to  fill  the  same  posi- 
tion; and  they  have  discharged  their  trying  duties 
in  their  respective  positions  in  an  admirable  man- 
ner until  now. 

Immediatelv  after  establisliing  its  quarters  at 
Reading,  Troop  C  began  to  patrol  the  district  and 
though  for  a  tmie  the  moving  troopers  along  the 
highway  in  different  direction>  from  Reading  were 
more  or  less  objectionaitle,  and  excited  adverse 
criticism,  their  dignified,  straightforward,  cour- 
teous behavior  soon  won  the  respect  of  the  people, 
and  their  utility  came  to  be  apjjreciatcd  for  the  pro- 
tection to  life  and  property  which  they  cheerfully 
and  promt)tlv  gave  whenever  required,  and  the  ap- 
preciation of  the  taxpayers  has  been  so  tmiversal 
in  this  district  that  they  have  come  to  regard  the 
troopers  as  a  necessarv  part  of  the  government. 

In  ^L1rcll,  1006,  a  strike  occurred  amongst  the 
laborers    at    a    stone-quarrv  between  Lebanon  and 

10 


Cornwall,  and  serious  troul>le  wiili  them  ha\ing 
been  anticipated,  the  "State  Police"  at  Reading  was 
notified.  A  detachment  of  thirty-five  troopers  inider 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  Smith  was  sent  there 
and  they  soon  controlled  the  .^itualion,  which  evi- 
denceil  their  infiuence  and  power  in  such  an  emer- 
gency and  justified  the  establishment  of  this  im- 
portant branch  of  the  government. 

A  month  afterward,  a  more  serious  incident  oc- 
curred at  I\rt.  Carniel.  in  Xorthumberland  county, 
and  again  Lieutenant  Smith,  with  forty-three  troop- 
ers, was  dispatched  to  that  place,  and  the  troopers 
again  caused  the  threatening  excitement  to  subside ; 
however,  not  without  the  unavoidable  shooting  of 
twenty-two  rioters  and  the  injury  of  five  of  the 
troopers.  And  in  April,  1908,  a  detachment  was 
ordered  to  Chester  on  account  of  the  strike  of  the 
trolley-car  operators,  and  the  troopers  remained 
there  two  weeks,  until  their  assistance  and  presence 
were  no  longer  required. 

Cm  the  night  of  Sejit.  15.  l!Mi7,  Timothy  Kelle- 
her,  one  of  Troop  C,  v.hile  on  his  way  from  Read- 
ing to  the  "Barracks"  by  the  short  cut  over  the 
Pemisylvania  railroad  bridge,  was  stabbed  and 
killed  by  two  Italians,  who  were  apparently  assault- 
ing a  woman  along  the  railroad.  Kelleb.er,  hearing 
the  disturbance,  went  boldly  t<i  the  woman's  assist- 
ance, and  the  Italians,  thinking  that  he  was  interfer- 
ing with  them,  assaulted  him  with  fatal  result.  They 
were  caught  several  days  afterward,  while  trymg 
to  escape,  tried  and  convicted  ;  one  of  them  of  mur- 
der, he  being  hanged,  and  the  other  of  man- 
slaughter, he  being  sentenced  to  the  Eastern  pen- 
itentiary for  twelve  years. 

The  State  Police,  in  four  }'ears,  came  to  be  highly 
regarded  in  the  vicinity  of  Reading,  and  the  county 
officials  treated  the  troopers  with  the  utmost  con- 
sideration. 

On  May  ol.  1909.  Company  C  was  removed  to 
Pottsville,'  Schuylkill  county,  because  its  presence 
in  that  communitv  was  found  to  he  more  necessary. 


■}:■•--      i  .  ;;^: 


■  )   ';■ «;  /:. ! 


.'y''   'f    i>':/i    VI  ji\t 


CHAPTER  IX-- CENSUS 


Xo  regular  enumeration  of  tlie  inhabitants  of 
Pennsylvania  was  made  previous  tu  17'JO.  The 
first  provision  for  enumcralinn  was  made  bv  the 
Constitution  of  th.e  L'nited  States,  adopted  Sept. 
17,  1TS7.  Therein  provision  was  made  for  the 
apportionment  of  re]'resentati\'es  from  the  several 
States  to  (/'  inpre.-s.  and  of  direct  taxes :  and  to 
efTect  a  ju>t  apportionment  the  actual  enumeration 
was  required  to  be  made  within  three  years  after 
the  first  meeting-  of  Congress,  and  within  every 
subsequent  term  of  ten  years,  in  such  manner  as 
they  shall  by  law  direct. 

It  has  been  ascertained  that  in  1741.  the  follow- 
ing taxablc>  were  situated  in  the  eastern  division 
of  the  county,  then  part  of  Philadelphia  cotmtv : 

Amity     70 

Allam  ingle*     37 

Colebrookdalc     S5 

Douglass     oS 

Exeter     76 

Maiden-creek     75 

Manatawnyr     Ill 

Total     J12 

Estimated    Population     2.500 

The  number  of  laxables  in  the  various  couiuies 
of  I'ennsylvania  in  17(10  arid  177n  are  >hown  as 
follow>  :  t 

1760  1770 

Phiiadelphia    8,3lM  ]0.I  1.> 

Bucks ;i]4S  :^.ir7 

Chester     4,701  5.  !sr; 

Lancaster     .5,0?.!  (i.r.dS 

York       .'>,:;i)2  -i.4_'o 

Cumberland     1..50!  3,.")-:;i 

Berks        3.010  3.:;o-,.' 

Nortliampion     1,0S7  2.7  03 

31,007     39,00o 

The  first  census  of  Pennsylvania  was  taken  .m 
Sept.  7.  1701  ;  and  within  everv  ten  years  there- 
after, the  census  has  b^-en  regularly  taken  to  the 
present  time.  The  result  of  each  enumeration 
is  set  forth  in  the  following  table.  The  figures 
were  taken  from  the  Census  Reports  of  the  L'nit- 
ed States,  publishetl  in-  order  of  Congress.  The 
blank  spaces  in  the  table  opposite  certain  districts 
indicate  non-existence  of  those  districts  at  the  time 
of  enumeration. 

Where  large  decrease  of  population  in  certain 
districts  for  a  succeeding  census  is  observable,  it 
indicates  reduction  of  tiie  districts  by  the  erection 


t  lloiibt'pss    intcn.liil    for    OVy. 
t  14    Col.    Rec,   -XW. 


of  Others.  For  instance.  Alsace  in  1S.50  had  a  pop- 
ulation of  i'.GL)7;  but  in  ISiJO  it  had  only  l,2l'[t. 
The  township  of  Muhlenberg  was  cut  otif  in  I^-IO 
and  erected  into  a  separate  district.  Also,  Windsor 
in  1870  had  l.:.m,  but  in  1880  only  830.  The 
township  was  reduced  in  area  by  the  extension  of 
the  limits  of  the  borough  of  Hamburg.  This  ex- 
tension was  made  in  18";  1. 

For  convenience  in  making  comparisons,  the  fol- 
lowing statement  is  presented  in  order  lo  show 
when  the  districts  with  tb.e  blank  spaces  were 
erected,  and  from  which  districts  they  were  taken : 

Alsace,  Lower,  taken   from  Alsace 18R8 

Pjcchtelsville,  "  "       Wasliington     IS'JO 

Bern,  Upper,  taken   from  Bern   1739 

Bcrnville,  taken  from   Penn     18.J1 

Birdsboro,       ''         "       Union    and    Robeson    187;; 

Boyertown,     "         "       Colebrookdale     180*1 

Centre,  "         "       Bern   and   Bern.   Upper    1S42 

Centreport,     "         "       Centre     1881 

Fleetwood,     "         "       Richmond     1373 

Hamburg,       "         "'       Wnidsor     1830 

Heidelberg.  Lower,  taken  from  Heidelberg     1842 

Heidelberg,    North.     "  "  "  ^        ....18-4 

Jefferson,  take:i   from  Tulpchocken    and    Tulpehocken. 

Upper     1851 

Kutztown,     "  "        Maxaiawny     1815 

Lenh'rtsv'le.  "       "       Greenwich     18S7 

Marion,         "         "       Tulpehocken     1843 

Mohnlon,       "         "       Cumru     1007 

Muhlenberg,  taken   fmm  AL-ace     1850 

OnteJaunee,       "  "       Maiden-creek     1850 

Penn,  "  "       Bern   and  Bern,  Upper    1840 

Perry,  "  '•       Windsor     1849 

Pike.  "  "       District     1P13 

Shillinglon.       "  "       Cumru     1903 

Spring,  "  "       Cumru     1850 

Tiiden  "  "         Bern,    Upper     18.S7 

Topton.  "  ■'       Longswamp     1877 

Tulpehocken,  Upper,  taken   from  Tulpehocken    1820 

Washington,   taken   from  Colebrookdale      and      Here- 
ford  1839 

West  Reading,  taken   from  Spring     1907 

\\'omelsdorf,  "  "       Heidelberg     1833 

Wyoinissing,  "  "       Spring 1905 

In  ISOf).  Berks  county  included  three  organized 
towtiships  whic'i  lav  north  of  the  P.lue  Mountain, 
whose   enumeration    was    as    follows : 

Brunswick     1--^  ♦ 

Maiiheim     1,073 

Pinerrove     -^^ 

Unoryani/ed    903 

Total    Population     4,238 

The  population  of  the  countv  is  given  in  the  table 
at  3'2.407,  but  the  number  of  inhabitants  ''■•en  in 
that  Dart  which  lay  south  of  the  mountain  was 
?8.1(10. 

Tn  ISIO.  the  covmtv  included  seven  townships 
north  of  the  mountain,  whose  enumeration  was  as 
follows : 


^^-v:/^J--xl 


•■/■  ii.'ji 


CENSUS 


147 


?bta^o;i:ower-::;;::::::;:;:::::::::::;:;::;'S    The  population  of  me  county  for  isio  is  ^^iven  at 

Mnlinniango,   Upper    489  ^-^.IKj,  but   the   number  then   in   that  part  of  the 

v''r,l'^of-,n ^'?;\^  county   south   of  the   mountain   was   3G,S38.     The 

.Nurwci^iaii       415 

I'liit-Grove    1,290  townships  named  were  cut  to  Schuylkill  county  in 

Schuy'ki'l  ■ .^53  its  erection  in   ISll. 

Total    Population     6,303 


Census  of  County,  ISOO  to  1000 


1800        1810        1820 

Reading    2.386       3,462       4,3:'.2 

Albany   s:>S         99.j       1,1S2 

Alsace    890       1,275       1,640 

Alsace,    Lower    

Amity    817       1,090       1,279 

Bechtelsville    

Bern    ,  2.0*9       2,266       1,791 

Bern,    Upper     1,3 12       2,017 

Bernville   

Bethel    817  924       1,294 

Birdsboro   

Bovcrtown    

Brecknock    338  495  536 

Caernarvon    541  723  829 

Centre   

Centreport  

Coiebrookdale 671  792       1,046 

Ciunru    1,413       2,017       2,4';2 

District   753  805  509 

Douglass    450  660  700 

Earl 489  794  9:m 

Exeter    802       1,194       1,3S1 

Fleetwood 

Greenwich    1.004       1,1U4       1.337 

Hambiug    329 

Heidelberg    1.569       2,802       3,605 

Heidelberg-^   Lower    

Heidelberg,   Xorth    

Hereford    923       1,140       1.4,3.1 

Jefferson    

Kutztown     203     ' 

Lenhartsville    

Longswamp   863  99S       1.371 

Maiden-creek  770  918       1,192 

Marion    

Maxatawny    929       1.630       1,847 

Muhlenberg    

Oley   968       1.284       1,410 

Ontelannee    

Penn    

Perry    

Pike    645 

Richmond    731  971       1,135 

Robe<;on    1.232       1.807       2,065 

Rockland    848       1,026       1,130 

Rusconibinanor     375  932       1,057 

Spring    

Tilden    

Toptoii    

Tulpehockcn    2.119       2,204       3.238 

Tulpehocken.  Upper   

Union   669  766  921 

Washington    

Windsor      993       1,358       1.050 

Womclsdorf    370 


1830  1840  1850  1860  1870  ISSO 

5,856  8,410  15,743  23,162  33,930  43,278 

1,129  1,057  1,406  1,586  1,510  1,603 

1,042  2,498  2,697  1,299  1,294  1,523 

1,384  1,664  1,.566  1,596  1,646  1,508 


2.154        3.149        1,734        2,516 
2,117        2,906        1,747        2,027 

1.482       1,458       1,871       2,159 


866 

862 


1,229 

2,688 

562 

839 

990 

1,455 


1.709 


1.605 
1.350 


2,108 
1.469 


1.379 
1,066 
1.342 
1,256 


3.200 
1,456 
1.046 

2.208 


935 

813 
1.216 

1,124 
2,939 
583 
1,133 
1,158 
1.911 


1.407       1.629 


1,235 
693 


1.836 
1,749 


1,897 
1.877 


790 
1.907 
2,016 
1,649 
1,189 


2.941 

1.581 
1.272 
1.210 
2,882 
849 


977 
1,346 

1,102 

3,853 

842 

1,018 

i,oir 

2,074 

1,842 
1.035 

805 
2,144 

844 
1,244 

640 

1,868 
1,284 
1,530 
1.740 

1,709 
1,045 
1,470 
1,320 

8S3 
2,056 
2.404 
1.360 
1,235 


1,803 

i.os:; 

1,665 

l,15i 

1.115 

947 


844 

953 

1,302 

1,350 
2,182 
786 
1,120 
1,143 
2,308 

2,041 
1,334 
1.013 
2.308 

956 
1.372 
1.122 

915 

2.217 
1.531 
1.628 
2.093 
1.676 
2.056 
1,398 
1.444 
1,526 
1.178 

2.46. 
1.707 
1.566 
2.004 


1 .956 
1.125 
1.968 
1.600 
1.450 
1.076 


2,124 

2,008 

457 

2,285 

690 

813 

027 

1.520 

1.660 
2,573 
724 
1.072 
1.022 
2,230 

2,151 
1,500 
1,193 
2,480 

070 
1,260 
1,113 

015 

2,010 
1.615 
1.837 
2.531 
1.547 
1.0<'6 
1.330 
1.515 
l.OSO 
025 
2.874 
2,458 
1,451 
1,408 
2,253 


2.013 
1,196 
2.165 
1.600 
1.211 
1.031 


2,176 

2,170 

405 

2,329 

1,705 

1,090 

923 

951 

1,027 

1.150 
3,064 

708 
1.151 
1,141 
?  169 

802 
1,988 
2.010 
1.281 

950 
1.406 
1.072 
1.108 

3.420 
1.714 
1.:'.92 
2,843 
1.913 
2.175 
1.265 
1..530 
1,527 
921 
2.226 
2.322 
1.527 
1.466 
2,340 

515 
2,092 
1.274 
1,540 
1.024 

830 
1.007 


1800 

58,6hl 

1,401 

1,601 

1,552 

1,935 

980 

365 

2,130 

2,261 

1,436 

040 

942 

1,418 

133 

3,927 

715 

1,143 

2,:'.i)S 

878 
1,651 

1.440 
2.S76i 

854 
1.357 

969 
1.505 

152 
3.007 

i,::5 

1 ,269 
2.264 
2,069 
2,1 198 
1.129 
1.282 
1.575 

S<2 
1.916 
2  4^.'! 
1.423 
1.313 
2.5!  4 
1 .082 

500 
1.972 
1.104 
1.317 
2.173 

686 
1,141 


1900 

78,961 

1,316 

826 
1.157 
1,372 

381 
1,929 

904 

344 
1,931 
2,264 
1,709 

046 

959 
1,313 

141 
1,395 
5,772 

651 
1,020 

009 
2, .503 

978 
1,470 
2.315 
1.611 
3,896 

736 
1.202 

840 
1.328 

144 
2.507 
1,639 
1,162 
2,407 
2.060 
2.115 
1.142 
1,164 
1,583 

806 
1,727 
2.475 
1,240 
1,202 
4.064 
1.003 
542 
1,764 
1.006 
1.230 
1.737 
6Q4 
1.136 


28.160     37,864     46.: 


53.152     64,560     77,129     93,818       106.701      122.597      137.327     150.61." 


In   1790.  Reading  had  a  population  of  2,235;  and  the  whole  county  of  Berks  had  30,179. 


.•"'.I 


iX'fc'l  or  tx.<(i( 


OitK!  ','■'«:  ■'!■-'( 


<•>.-.."..       *.-f.'i( 


,c      i'ii'',s:      '(.',-      ■;i'^.      ■;"(;, 1 


;:v,:    -!{,'r.r      ?>;•.£      t';';,t 


.1      '':'2.i 


f.-':  'I.  C'       !=:.':•  !       ?' 


•     .■■;•.:'>     Of./.-. 


■h   J,-  .    ;  T",:' 


148 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


TAXABLES 

Townships 

Albany   

Alsace    

Alsace,    Lower    

Amity   

Bern    

Bern,    Upper    

Bethel   

Brecknock   

Caernarvon    

Centre   

Colebrookdale  

Cumru   

District   

Douglass   

Earl    

Exeter    

Greenwich   

Heidelberg    

HcidcnKTg.  l,o\\t:r  

Heidelberg.  North  

Hereford    

Jefferson    

Longs  warn  p   

Maiden-creek  

Marion    

Maxatawny    

Muhlenberg    

Oley   

Ontelaunee   

Penn  

Perry    

Pike    

Richmond 

Robeson    

Rockland    

Ruscombmanor     

Spring  

Tilden    

Tulpehocken    

Tulpchocken,  TJpp:r   

Union  

Washington    

Windsor      

Total    

Boroughs 

Bcchtelsville    

Bernville    

Birdsboro   

Boyertown   

Centrcport   

Fleetwood    

Hamburg    

Kutztown     

Lcnharlsville    

Mohnton 

Mt.    Penn    

Shillington 

Topton   

West  Leesport 

West   Reading 

Womelsdorf    

Wyomissing 

Total 

City  of  Reading 

Total  of  Berks  County 34.158 


1SS5 

190S 

3:8 

491 

397 

237 

334 

461 

532 

513 

620 

548 

325 

617 

784 

235 

296 

275 

304 

359 

439 

.337 

520 

770 

1,318 

187 

252 

312 

402 

294 

439 

637 

935 

475 

486 

309 

584 

737 

1.185 

220 

235 

348 

400 

208 

296 

839 

916 

499 

629 

446 

410 

673 

■  984 

504 

1,200 

605 

695 

335 

392 

389 

383 

441 

500 

260 

267 

509 

596 

630 

73S 

399 

419 

343 

,•.03 

088 

1,070 

340 

530 

573 

348 

399 

383 

olo 

545 

572 

180 

269 

18,2;!1 

24.069 

1885 

19U8 

77 

123 

151 

409 

885 

345 

761 

43 

48 

242 

497 

569 

913 

382 

658 

55 

495 

277 

434 

123 

297 

189 

598 

322 

608 

620 

2,648 

7,568 

13.279 

35,414 

PROPERTY  VALUATION 

Townships  1883  I'.His 

Albanv    $         734,446  $        588,73:; 

\Uaca       505. 199  255. IIk; 

Alsace,    Lower    39O.S03 

Amity    900,040  800,859 

Bern    1 .204.^02  1,009,7-10 

Born,     Upi.cr     1.-228,1GG  42S.5J0 

Bethel    1,203,383  850,900 

Brecknock    421,303  377,478 

Caernarvon    522,558  420,756 

Centre   875,349  712,020 

Colebrookdale  709,000  605,059 

Cumru   l,4i5,87S  2,050,0(i:; 

District   283,442  201,697 

Douglass    453,411  393,941 

Earl    293,252  231,082 

Exeter-    1.432.830  1,476,449 

Greenwich    954,907  662,910 

Heidelberg    1,181,743  1,162,487 

IJeidelber-,  Lower   1,484,363  1,943,379 

HeideilxTg,  North    564,021  456,821 

Hereford    749,171  547.265 

Jefferson    592,774  480,254 

l.ont,-wamp   1,111,980  905,015 

Maiden-creek   1,057,563  982.615 

Marion    1,124.934  878,772 

Maxatawny    1,770,988  1,70:^,407 

Muhlenberg    1,237,837  1,420,410 

Olcv    1,676,734  1,370.277 

Ont'elaunee    806,987  669.473 

Penn    844.340  612,804 

Perry    901,259  801,258 

Pike      329.935  221.527 

Richmond    1,223.167  1,051,738 

Robeson    951.427  916.109 

Rockland    518,315  395,921 

Ruscombmanor   419,727  354,455 

Spring    1.698,004  1,640.061 

iildcu    ' 488,083 

Tulpehocken    1.104,424  922,470 

Tulpchocken,    Upper     602,707  ■     4.52.270 

Union   607,398  461.095 

Washington    941.451  607,060 

Windsor      472,828  401.944 

Total $  37,304,974  $  33.378.205 

Tiorouclis  1885  1908 

Bcchtelsville    $  $        137.485 

Bernville    140.380  135,310 

Birdsboro    764,033  1,246,204 

Bovertown    648,780  1,188,444 

Ccntreport    45.600  48,910 

Fleetwood    295,233  609,514 

Hamburg    628,848  951.950 

Kutztown     430,833  793,175 

I.enhartsville    65,410 

Mohnton    338.910 

Mt.    Penn    426,705 

Shillington   * 

Topton    139,357  347,25n 

West  Leesport 154.275 

West  Reading   658.725 

Womelsdorf    402.532  552,439 

Wyomissing    774.809 

Total $3,501,590  $     8,429,515 

City  of   Reading $  23,780,222  $50,488,000 

Total    of    County $04,580,792  $92,205,720 

h'xemptcd  propcrtv  for  churches,  etc..  in  1908:  City, 
$7,'-^l5.0.-.O;  r.or.mgh's.  $052,036;  Town.ships,  $2,183,810; 
Total.  $10,081,196. 

•Included   in  Cunini. 


•'    *  ■ ' 


■J' 


CENSUS 


149 


MONEY   AT   INTEREST 

TownshiIJ^  IS.'^O  i;KW 

\lbany   $  lyoaii-i           $       l.-:!,4y:i 

Alsace    135,954  63,532 

Alsace,    Lower    255,436 

'\mitv    215,582  152,697 

Ccrn' 208,261  101,844 

Bern,    Upper    166,722  135.395 

Bethel    249,926  127,446 

Brecknock   68.011  60,060 

Caernarvon    60,842  33,023 

Centre    104.682  66,876 

Cokbrookdale 109.821  95,171 

Cuniru    234,944  269,164 

EHstrict    41,323  16,170 

Douglass   31.012  34,480 

Earl    65,920  80,203 

Exeter    189,329  275,325 

Greenwich    132.729  119,358 

Heidelberg    123.774  164.258 

Heidelberg,  Lower   289,014  395,834 

Heidelberg,   North    52,521  30,665 

Hereford    180.923  125,284 

Jefferson    76.572  57,401 

Longswamp   239,340  89.462 

Maidcn-ci  cek  159.6S3  112.420 

Marion    241,445  128,505 

Maxatawny    502,410  532,012 

Muhlenberg    216,996  295,385 

Oley    657,240  C42.818 

Ontelaunee   140.139  143.544 

Penn    159,666  132,092 

Perrv    111,039  166.011 

Pike    54,243  60,69) 

Richmond    175,014  177,200 

Robeson    117,688  141.432 

Rockland    80,002  79.763 

Ruscombnianor    111,257  48.900 

Spring    274,738  320.317 

Tilden    59.400 

Tulpehocken    190.019  114.077 

Tulpehocken,  Upper 123,508  48.950 

Union   136,493  105,121 

Washington    255,949  151,128 

"Windsor      76.003  41.650 

Total     $  7,064,920             $     6,404,993 

Boroughs 

Bcchtelsville    $  $  17,576 

Bernvillc    116,127  62.227 

Birdsboro    403,874  278,154 

Eoyertown   242,678  398,048 

Centreport   21,610              "  47,226 

Fleetwood    203,492  254.440 

Hamburg    188,917  314,486 

Kutztown     240,775  464,073 

Lenhartsville    1,520 

Monnton 124,490 

Mt.    Pcnn 62.937 

Shillington 

Topton    77,008  86.001 

West  Leesport 102.127 

West  Reading 45.725 

Womelsdorf    182.420  258.990 

Wyomissing    55,841 

Total     $  1.676.891              $     2,573,861 

City  of  Reading 5,049,482  13,434,847 

Total   of   Berks   County  $  13,791,303             $  22,412.701 

REGISTER]-:r)  VOTERS— 1908 

The  registered  voter.-;  of  the  county  in  Scptemhcr, 

1008.   numbered   2.". 012.  The   numi)er   in   tlie   scv- 
'cral  districts  was  reported  as  follows: 


I)ist:ict  Xumber 

.Albany,   1st   Precinct    168 

Albany,   2d    Precinct 149—317 

Alsace     207 

Alsace,   Lower    , 201 

Amity '.  .  . .  384 

Bern,    1st    Precinct    173 

Bern,    2d    Precinct 115 

Bern,    3d    Precinct    12.5 — 413 

Bern,    Upper 199 

Bethel,   1st   Precinct    263 

Bethel,   2d    Precinct    67 

Bethel,    3d    Precinct    93 

Bethel,    4th    Precinct    8.5—508 

Bechtclsville     119 

Bernvillc Ill 

Birdsboro,   East  Ward    464 

Birdsboro,  West  Ward   267 

Boyertown     592 

Brecknock,    1st    Precinct    Ill 

Brecknock,    2d    Precinct 126 — 237 

Caernarvon    229 

Centre      340 

Centreport      32 

Colebrookdale    394 

Cumru,   1st   Precinct   389 

Cumru,  2d  Precinct 195 

Cumru,    3d    Precinct    166 

Cumru,   4th   Precinct    118 

Cumru,    5th    Precinct    204-1,072 

District     1 56 

Douglass,    1  St    Precinct    165 

Douglass,  2d  Precinct 121—286 

ELarl,  1st  Precinct 92 

Earl,  2d  Precinct   169—261 

Exeter,  1  st  Precinct   498 

Exeter,  2d  Precinct  196—694 

Fleetwood     364 

Greenwich,   1st  Precinct   137 

Greenwich,  2d  Precinct   219 — 356 

Hamburg,   North  Ward    337 

Hamburg.    South    Ward     338 

Heidelberg     447 

Heidelberg,    North    l'i'4 

Heidelberg,    Lower,    1st    Precinct    600 

Heidelberg,  2d  Precinct  220 

Heidelberg,  3d   Precinct    112—932 

Hereford     '. 295 

JefTerson     217 

Kutztown     486 

Lenhartsville     46 

Longswamp,  1st  Precinct   242 

Longswamp,  2d  Precinct  256 

Longswamp,   3d   Precinct    125 — 623 

Maiden-creek    482 

Marion     304 

Maxatawny.  1st  Precinct   184 

Max.-itawnv,  2d  Precinct   216 

Maxatawny,   3d   Precinct    322—722 

^^ohnton     405 

Mount     Penn     200 

Muhlenberg,  1st   Precinct   445 

^ruhIenberg.  2d  Precinct  395—840 

Olcv.    1st    Precinct    305 

Oley.  3d  Precinct  234—539 

OiUelavmce     295 

Penn,   1  st   Precinct    150 

Penn.  2d   Precinct 156 — 306 

Pcrrv     427 

Pike     191 

Ricluuond     433 

Robeson,   Irt   Precinct    189 

Robeson.  2d   Precinct   338 

Robeson.     3d     Precinct     137—664 

Rucki.uid     304 

RuscDnibm.mor     322 

Shillington    367. 


->!!: 


')ii  "^M 


nnw  ,.  ■'  r 


150 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY.    PEXXSYLA'AXIA 


Districts  Number 

Spring,     1st     PrL-citict     JG 

Spriiiir,   2d    Prccincl    -ij2 

Spring,   3d    Precinct    257 — 705 

Tildon,    1st    Precinct    124 

Tildcn.  2d  Precina   i:.7— 281 

Topton    219 

Tulpt-hocken.    1st     Precinct     2i6 

Tulpchocken,   2d    Precinct    180—396 

Tulpehocken.    L'pi^er    287 

Union,   1st   Precinct    304 

Union.  2d  Precinct   VJ — 383 

Windsor     157 

Washington,    1st    Precinct     21.'. 

Washington,   2d   Precinct    21 1-— 120 

West    Leesport     13G 

West    Reading    4S3 

Woniclsdorf    3V5 

Wyoniissing     205 

Total   number   registered    23,012 

Total  registered  February    22,542 

Increase     409 


PRESIDENTIAL  VOTE,  NOV.  3,  1908 

Taft 

Districts  Rep. 

Albany,    1st    Precinct    27 

.•Vlbany,  2d   Precinct    20 

Alsace     31 

Alsace,    Lower    57 

Amity     144 

Bern,    1st    Precinct    18 

Bern,  2d  Precinct   19 

Bern,    3d    Precinct    30 

Bern,    Upper     56 

Bethel,    1st    Precinct    44 

Bethel,  2d  Precinct   12 

Bethel,    3d    Precinct    19 

Bethel,  4th   Precinct    12 

Brecknock.    1st    Precinct     8 

Brecknock,  2d  Precinct  '. 15 

Bovertovvn     149 

Bechtclsville    2*^ 

Bernville     47 

Birdsboro,  West   Ward    158 

Birdsboro.     East    Ward     312 

Caernarvon     133 

Centreport     7 

Centre  51 

Colebrookdale    65 

Cumru.    1st    I^rccinct    116 

Cumru,  2d  Precinct   47 

Cumru,    3d    Precinct    26 

Cumru,    4th    Precinct    52 

Cumru.    5th    Precinct    09 

District     24 

Douglass.     1st     Precinct     52 

Doughi^s.  2d    Precinct    10 

Earl,    1st    Precinct    9 

Earl.  2d  Precinct    17 

E.xeter.     1st     Precinct     110 

Exeter.    2d    Precinct    59 

Fleetwood     108 

Greenwich,    1st    Precinct    12 

Greenwich.  2d  Precinct   15 

Hamburg.   North  Ward    115 

Hamburg,    South    Ward    107 

Heidelberg     134 

Heidelberg,   L.,   1st    Precinct    120 

Heidelberg,  I..,  2d   Precinct    21 

Heidelberg,  I      T'd  l"'recirct   42 

Hcidel'ierg,     .\'oi  tb     22 

Hereford    52 


75 

87 

58 

104 

178 

103 

49 

52 

105 

138 


43 
73 
58 
248 
62 
39 
30 
59 
52 
22 

171 
168 
70 
55 
85 
30 
40 
01 


74 
180 

•J4 
114 
131 
145 
192 
261 
113 

42 

99 


Taft  llvrau 

Di-tricts  Ren.  IV..,, 

Jefferson     22  142 

Kutztown     122  245 

Le!iharts\  iile    9  ;:i 

Longswamp,    Isl    Precinct    60  'j; 

Lni;oj\vamp,  2d    Precinct 93  'xt 

Longswamp.  3d   Frecir.ct   30  O'J 

-Maiden-creek     107  225 

Marion     50  102 

-Ma.xatawny,    1st   i'recinci    30  luo 

Maxata.vny,    2d    Precinct    40  122 

Maxatawny,  3d    Precinct    89  145 

M  olintcn     168  S; 

^luhlenbcrg,    Ist    P'-ecinct    78  184 

-Muhlenberg,   2d    Precinct    57  175 

-Mt.  Penn 56  82 

Oley,  1st   Precinct    86  145 

01e> ,  2d   Precinct    40  153 

Ontelaunee     90  110 

Pike     14  112 

Penn.    1st    Precinct    14  92 

Penn,    2d    Precinct     11  102 

Perry     65  233 

Richmond     39  227 

Robeson,    1st    Precinct    85  39 

Robeson,    2d     Precinct     106  140 

Rob(  son,  3d   Precinct    24  72 

Fiockland    28  172 

Ruscombmanor     58  119 

Sprmg,     1st     Precinct     3  24 

Spring,    2d    Precinct     117  216 

Spring,  3d  Precinct   34  104 

Shillington     162  113 

Tildcn,   1st   Precinct    79  130 

Tilden,    2d    Precinct    39  77 

Topton 79  107 

Tiilpehorken,    Isi    Precinct    35  171 

Tulprliocken,    2d    Precinct 17  120 

Tulpehocken.    Upper     30  177 

Ur.ion,    1st    Precinct    159  94 

L^nion.    2d    Precinct    . ,    40  25 

Washington,    1st    Precinct 34  99 

Washington.    2d    Pi  ecinct     50  90 

West   Leesport    39  7:; 

West    Reading     128  191 

Windsor 12  110 

Womelsdorf     142  154 

Wyamissing     70  C6 

Total     county 5,651  10,123 

Total   city    7,825  6,9.')0 

13,470  17,032 

Bryan's    pluraiity    in    Berks 3,606 

I'arker's    plurality    over    Roosevelt    in    the 

whole   county    in    1904   was 78G 

Tiie   plurality   of    Roosevelt   then   in   Read- 
ing,   however,    was    3,369 


STATE  APPROPRIATIONS  TO  COUNTY 
Receivcd  by  County  from  State 

Per                                                                               1904  190S 

Personal     Prriperty     $  51,^93.72  .<  67.243.84 

Salaries— Judges     12,072.50  1 7,639.79 

Charities — Hospitals  and  .-\syknns 

for    Insane    3 1. 835.97  154,989.33 

—  Hospitals     08.916.48  25,000  (id 

—Homes     5,037.44  3,000.00 

Schools — Common     152.996.20  201,143.08 

—  Normal      ]0,n2:!.S2  27,742.14 

— Superintendent's  Salary  .  .        2, 000. 00  2,250.00 

$337,776.13  $502,008.18 


Vl.') 


,  I  i  !  'i '/ 


CF.ySUS 


151 


Received  by   State   from   County 


From  ir»0-l  llHiS 

Personal   Property  Tax    $69,10102     $  80,(;58.45 

Loans,   Municipal    3,oOr.70  2,448.66 

Writs,   Wills,    etc    4,270.16  4,499.49 

Loans,    County    441.94 

Collateral    Inheritance    .  .'. 3,396.08  20,927.72 

Miscellaneous     175.00  175.00 

Licenses 

Retail    Mercantile    15,500.84  17,835.90 

Wliolcsale    Mercantile    2,771.35  3,007.53 

Retail    Liquor    15,397.37  15,720.75 

Wholesale    Liquor    10,397.50  11,838.00 


From  1904 

Brewers'    $  8,407.50 

Distillers'     2,984.75 

Bottlers'     1,409.75 

Bi'l'^'fils        l,010..5O 

Brokers'     432.53 

Auctioneers'     

Peddlers'     '.'."■ 

Theatre,  etc 313..'iO 

Eating    House    429.40 


1008 
9,900.00 
1,544.00 
1,717.25 
1,503.80 
318.25 


$144,461.61  $181,854.20 


BAXKIXG    IN    BERKS    COUNTY— JANUARY,    1909 


Banks  and  Trust  Companies                                                 .  Resources 
City 

Farmers   National   Bank $  3,229,115.40 

National   Union   Bank 2,498,800.55 

First  National  Bank 1,491,003.07 

Second    National    Hank 1,898.052.05 

Penn   National   Bank 1,800,830.90 

Keystone    National    Bank 975,472.37 

Reading   National    Bank 1,580,840.45 

Schuvlkill    Vallev    Bank 084,530.53 

Neversink     Bank 210,378.07 

Pennsylvania    Trust    Co 4,011,463.81 

Reading   Trust    Co 1,872,748  59 

Colonial    Trust    Co 1,144,979.03 

Berks  County  Trust  Co 1,380,930.55 

Commercial  Trust   Co 340.281.03 

Total,     City $23,120,743.58 

County 

Hamburg    Savings    Bank 642.710.49 

National    Bank    of   Bovcrtown 1.118,378.0-; 

Farmers   Nat.   Bank,   Bovertown 207,005.91 

First   Nat.   Bank  of  Birdshoro 358,890.33 

Kufztovvn  National  Bank 44S.2G2.2V 

Womelsdorf    Union    Bank 405,984.70 

Werncrsvillc    National    Bank 273.578.CS 

National   Bank  of  Topton 137.484.40 

First  Nat.  Bank  of  Olev 141,277.42 

First  Nat.   Bank  of  Bernville 122.462.21 

First  Nat.   Bank  of  Fleetwood 143.675.47 

Mohnton    National    Bank 137,701.78 

First  Nat.   Bank  of   Ilamhurg 129.817.78 

Total,     County $  4,327.235.53 

Total,   City  and   County $27,453,979.11 


Surplus   anJ    Profits 
$    .  856,275.02 
796,004.03 

97,265.60 
541,066.46 
248,943.90 
.193,645.98 
331,351.99 
172,746.00 

22.493.84 
527,223.80 
335,209.33 
197,404.91 
147.145.49 

10,381.80 


$  4,484,118.21 

87,300.07 

196.713.11 

4.738.98 

81,852.21 

86,186.63 

35,158.82 

13.254.14 

3,875.27 

3,1.59,97 

2.972.96 

3.295.52 

1,269.63 

1,508.95 

S      521,280.20 

S  5,005,404.47 


Deposits 
$  1,528,327.78 

1,341,400.57 
093,378.81 
785,220.04 

1,356.917.35 
605,572.80 
851,487.62 
411,790..53 
113,809.23 

2,829,072.37 

1,015,327.06 
697,574.10 
952.915.93 
204.899.77 

$13,387,094.02 

495,231.83 

690,852.31 

162.760.93 

177,844.12 

2.50.104.36 

310.597.79 

185.180.88 

83,149.54 

84,317.45 

82.059.25 

90.480.15 

91,432.15 

78.308.83 

S  2.7S.S.025.59 

$16,170,319.61 


Loans,    Discounts 
and    lnvestn".ents 

$  2,382,219.44 
1,988,143.13 

925,577.35 
1,369,116.37 
1,266,321.33 

636,944.80 
1,137,377.08 

523,849.17 

171,970.36 
3,529,859.17 
1,580,734.59 
1,067,782.57 
1,107.374.81 

308,119.48 


$18,001,395.71 

534,214.60 

896.046.18 

181.038.00 

257,302.80 

339.301.33 

341.8'i3.21 

212.170.09 

82.350.65 

98,541.25 

93.728.09 

92.118.00 

98.120.01 

89,318.33 

$  3,320.760.22 

.$21,382,155.93 


<'M!   ,Yq.\  ;■•:.',!; -v:":'::.r!:;j    i/^M  '   v.;  o,-' i...  :;,\j.; 


.lr,.,;r-f 


15a 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 
LAND    AND   LIVE    STOCK— 1008 


DISTRICTS 


Albany    14.207 

Alsace,  Lower   1,110 

Alsace    4,V4  j 

Amity     11,14:; 

Bern      l:2,4')9 

Bern,  Upper  7,183 

Bethel     16,4  U) 

Brecknock     8,831 

Boyertown  

Bechtclsville   

Bernville  

Birdsboro,  East  Ward  

Birdsboro,   West   Ward    330 

Centrcport   

Centre     12,427 

Caernarvon     6,089 

Cuniru     12,838 

Colebrookdalc    5,063 

Douglass    6,794 

District    5,838 

Earl    4,599 

Exeter    15,139 

Fleetwood  

Greenwich     1 5,636 

Hamburg,  X'orth  Ward   

Haml.iurg,   South  Ward    112 

Heidelbcrtr,   North   8,058 

Heidelbertr    7,294 

Heidelberg,    Lower     10,925 

Hereford    8,552 

Jefferson    10,009 

Kutztown  

Lenhartsville    95 

Longswamp     10,220 

Maiden-creek     S.274 

Marion     9,152 

Maxatawny     18,856 

Mohnton    118 

Muhlenberg    5,548 

Mt    Penn    48 

Oley    ., 15.233 

Ontelaunee    5,372 

Pike     4,576 

Penn     11,228 

Perry    11.239 

Richmond    13,029 

Robeson     13.002 

Rockland    7,021 

Ruscombmanor     5.587 

Spring     11,047 

Tilden     8,005 

Topton  

Tulpehocken     14,288 

Tulpeliocken,    Upper    9.166 

Union     7,234 

Washington     7,455 

West    Tx'csport    116 

West  Reading  

Windsor     8,017 

Womelsdorf     255 

Wyomissing  

Total     418,753 

Total   for  City   

Total   for  County    


1  ^ 

619 

z  o  0 

10,771 

405 

$   15,095 

$  12,4411 

1,070 

102 

5,030 

119 

2,300 

2,207 

243 

11,480 

322 

0,45U 

158 

401 

26,425 

840 

21,000 

142 

582 

25,500 

785 

19,170 

4,453 

327 

23,970 

428 

10,825 

7,757 

652 

45,272 

930 

23,833 

1,652 

338 

20,805 

414 

8,000 

171 

12,305 

17 

425 

60 

3,715 

29 

800 

S5 

4,120 

r 

115 

69 

3,900 

23 

575 

36 

58 

4,850 

21 

600 

16 

1,095 

5 

150 

630 

508 

'  23,270 

785 

I6,0(i:. 

849 

248 

11,275 

704 

6,050 

1,815 

772 

37,220 

820 

21,030 

292 

284 

18.060 

497 

12,594 

723 

291 

15,835  ■ 

493 

9.875 

729 

181 

8,690 

347 

5,399 

3,571 

317 

10,834 

414 

8,300 

1,519 

723 

40,4.36 

1,291 

35,085 

91 

7,335 

22 

480 

2,545 

592 

28.295 

878 

18,349 

58 

2,620 

33 

440 

92 

6,580 

14 

400 

320 

19,695 

498 

■  ii,s;>5 

1,577 

359 

23.475 

369 

10,205 

877 

805 

70,070 

1,113 

28,300 

1,351 

375 

25,732 

637 

16,470 

386 

375 

25,260 

559 

15,351 

104 

7,055 

15 

320 

14 

27 

2,165 

10 

205 

4,003 

452 

23,905 

618 

15,620 

255 

372 

18,225 

537 

13,480 

171 

452 

22,650 

643 

16,075 

273 

742 

51,615 

1.078 

24,756 

103 

4,875 

4 

.100 

679 

360 

16,375 

393 

9,825 

45 

2.550 

8 

100 

154 

715 

40,000 

1,300 

33,730 

64 

274 

23,920 

377 

10,260 

3,518 

243 

9,791 

490 

11,003 

60S 

493 

30,165 

617 

15,425 

368 

445 

17,990 

821 

14,440 

642 

554 

34,379 

957 

23,031 

7,597 

647 

37.196 

787 

14,510 

2,459 

335 

13,900 

630 

12,115 

3,170 

266 

11,122 

410 

10,420 

1,339 

754 

34,670 

857 

17,160 

269 

313 

21.940 

526 

13,135 

56 

2.890 

15 

3.50 

583 

593 

45.135 

818 

21,800 

3,466 

433 

24.030 

481 

12,400 

6.187 

351 

15.260 

892 

10,530 

1,140 

366 

20.590 

617 

15,885 

31 

1.200 

13 

2.50 

138 

8.075 

26 

520 

6,125 

271 

13.065 

481 

12,025 

71 

7.042 

IS 

640 

49 

2,425 

50 

1,250 

58,953 

28,493 

$1,142,044 

28,493 

$654,013 

2,266 

150.010 

32 

1.200 

30,759 

$1,292,054 

28,525 

$655,813 

4f.- 


f»>  f  ; 


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.^ „_J 


CHAPTER  X- READING 


TOWN,  ]74S  TO  KS3 

Gkaxt  to  Pexx. — -The  English  came  to  own  the 
ii-rritory  comprising  Pennsylvania  hy  conquest  from 
tlu-  Dutch  in  lG6i;  and  Kinc  Charles  II.  in  1G81 
i;iantccl  the  province  to  A\'illiam  Pcnn  in  satisfac- 
tion of  a  debt  due  to  his  deceased  father.  Admiral 
i'cnn.  for  meritorious  services.  Notwithstanding 
tliis  grant,  William  Penn  recognized  the  claim  of 
the  Indians  to  the  land,  and  therefore  obtained  their 
rckase.  He  died  in  ITIS,  jwssessed  of  this  section, 
and  devised  it  to  his  children. 

First  Patext.s. — In  the  genera!  desire  to  dispose 
of  lands  in  this  section,  the  Penns  directed  surveys 
to  be  made  and  patents  issued,  which  will  appear  by 
the  following  statement : 


PATENTS 

1.  Richard  Hockley,  tract  for  l,l-.0  acres;  survev,  Feb 
19,   1733. 

2.  Thomas  Lawrence,  tract  for  300  acres ;  survev  March 
19,   1733;   patent,   Oct.   27,   1733. 

3.  Thomas  Lawrer.ce.  tract  for  137'  acres;  survev  April 
22.   r.3S;  patent,   Feb.   10,   1739.  '  " 

4.  Samuel  Finney,  tract  for  150  acres;  survey,  Feb  10 
1733.  ^ 

5.  Proprietary  land,  tract  for  126  acres;  survev,  Julv  3 
1741.  .•  J     .      , 

0.  Part  of  tract  1 ;  on  which  lots  were  laid  out,  afterward 
called  "Hockley  Out-lots." 

The  tract  for  1,1,30  acres  adjoined  the  river  and 
extended  from  a  line  now  occupied  bv  llocklev  and 
Woodward  streets  to  a  line  beyond  the  Charles 
Evans  cemetery,  known  for  many  years  as  Hiester's 
Lane. 

Some  years  after  these  patents  had  i)ecn  issued, 
alx>ut  1740,  while  ciTorts  were  being  made  to  erect 
a  county  (Perk-'-),  the  Pcnns  -xonceived  the  idea  of 
la\ing  out  a  town  at  this  point,  but  finding  that  the 


land  had  been  sold,  they  endeavored  to  re-purchase 
!t.  Lawrence,  however,  declined  to  re-sell  his  two 
tracts.  Their  agent  then  investigated  the  matter, 
and  on  Sept.  '?8,  17  43,  addressed  a  letter  to  them 
in  reference  to  the  proposed  "Town  of  Reading." 
This  is  the  first  mention  of  a  town  at  this  place,  "in 
1745,  lots  were  laid  out  on  part  C,  and  this  ac- 
tion induced  Lawrence  to  re-convey  his  tracts. 

Towx  L.uD  Out.— During  the  fall  of  174S, 
Penn's  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Richard,  caused  a 
town  to  be  laid  out  by  Nicholas  Scull,  their  sur- 
veyor-general, on  the  land  adjoining  the  Schuylkill 
(Lawrence  tract),  at  the  "Ford,"  in  the  road  that 
extended  from  the  Tulpehocken  settlements  to  Phil- 
adelphia. It  was  named  Reading,  after  the  countv- 
town  in  Berkshire,  F.tigland.  The  town-plan  com- 
prised 5-20  lots,  and  'J04  out-lots,  numbered  con- 
secutively. 

The  lots  between  t!ie  river  and  King  {'Third) 
street  were  laid  out  in  177 G.  The  double  line 
through  these  lots,  on  the  accompanying  plan,  indi- 
cates the  canal  whicii  extended  tln'ough  that  part 
of  the  town  from  182^  to  18:;  1,  At  that  time  there 
w-as  not  a  town,  not  even  a  villai;-.-,  in  all  the  sur- 
rounding tcrritoiy  f(.r  many  miles.  The  nearest 
towm  was  Lebanon,  twent\-cight  miles  to  the  west, 
which  had  been  laid  out  in  1740;  and  the  next  was 
Lancaster,  thirty-three  miles  to  the  southwest,  which 
had  been  laiil  out  in  1728. 

Lot?  Solo. — Penn's  sons  then  appointed  Conrad 
Weiser,  Francis  Parvin  and  William  Hartley  as 
commissioners,  to  sell  tlie.  lots;  and  on  Jime'  15, 
1749,  they  sold  a  large  number  of  theiri.  In  1751, 
1752,  17oo  and  1754,  patents  were  issued  for  241 
lots,  and  if  the  conditions  of  sale  were  comiphed 
with,  there  were  in  the  town,  by  the  year  1755,  at 
least  two  hundred  dwellings  autl  one  thousand  in- 
habitants. 

First  P.xtentees. — The  following  statement 
shows  the  years  in  wdiich  the  buildings  were  prob-" 
ably  erected,  and  to  whom  and  ir\T  which  lots  pat- 
ents were  issued.  It  is  possible  that  buihiings  were 
erected  in,  and  even  before,  1751,  and  the  patents 
taken  up  afterward. 

For  the   scar  17^1 


Lot  Patentee 

2.   Conrad   Wei.'ser    (.iu?tice') 
11.    Daniel      Sleinnietz      ('mer- 
chant of  rhiladelphial 
20.    I?aac    Levan    (K.xtttr.    yeo- 
man) 


Lot  Patentee 

o4.    Conrad    WcUer 
lOfi.   .Adam    Witman    (shop   and 

inn-keeper) 
114.    Isaac     Levan 
120.   Conrad   WVi.-er 


.■?.  Conrad  Wei-cr 
4.  Conrad  Bower 
inn-keeper) 


For  the  year  i~s^ 

R.   John      Epler      (Bern, 
man) 


(shop     aad 


5.    Martin    CnnR  ,0    5  Haniel    .Sfeinmetz 

>eoM^nV    ^^"'l^'^''"'^''*^"'  '-  1  .'acob     MorK.in     (inn-kee 

7.    MosVs  Sttrr   f  Mai.!en-cr-;-k,  "' ' 


13.  Jacob     Morgar. 


'    !.t-.i!    ;\r 


,t,;       ■•»_'       ••■.       :i.l,'y\ 


I.!   i;  'Vai 

I      •■,■'■! 


3-\ 


^ 


n 


'  I  V  nu-'^        r-yVjl.     ...     ''I    1     J 

..11,.    .Ir,  ,   (..,.(.;-'■,■,    ,-,•  i    .hirf- 


'{)■.'    .  y:     >>:' 


Ui    -u  ^:u: 


154 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COL'XTV,    I'ESXSYLVASIA 


Lot 


I'atcrHie 


14.  Peter    Haws    (inn-keeper  i 

15.  Daniel    Hiefter    uMo::;soni- 

try    Co.,    lannerj 

18.  Francis      Parvin      uMai'Jtn- 

cr.,    taimci) 

19.  Conrad   Wii^cr 

20.  John     Lcjcc     (Tuli-.     > '•■>^- 

man^ 
;;i.   Peter       Weidner       ((.umrv., 
veoman) 

24.  Pav'iJ    Kvauj    i  C'umru,  vom- 

nian.)  ,  t   ■  i   i 

25.  Michael     SUimcU     (lU'>Jvl- 

berg,    yeoman) 

"6    Ben'amin    Parvir.    (,Mai.!en- 

crock.    ytoman) 

27.  William    Recser    X^ordwain- 

cr) 

28.  Chriftoiiher     ^^tuInp      (.Lan- 

caster county,  yeoman) 
30    William    Parson?    (l•:a^tnn) 
33    Tobi.as     Waggoner     '.c.erkj 
35    George    Albert     i,ycor.-.an) 
3t5."  Gcorgj    Voh    (yeoman) 

39.  Isaac  Weidner  (Alsace,  yeo- 

mani 

40.  Peter       Weidner       (.\i=ace, 

yeoman) 

41.  Peter    Kuth     (Cumru,    yeo- 

man'' 

42.  Simon     Scherker 

44.  Conrad        Kissinger        (yeo- 

t"=>"^         ^  ,     „ 

45.  ChristOT'her   Gottschalk 

46.  Jacob   Ki'.^^inuer    (yeoman) 

48  laccb  Kern    (Cunvu,  g-.nt  > 

49  ilenrv  Wolf    (Cuniru,  cord- 

wainer) 
51    George      iJauni      (cordwam- 
er) 
■>  54.  John  Schneider    Cyeorrar) 
^    55.   Peter      Schnc.der      (|-.xeter. 
blackfinith  ) 
CI.   Conrad    Uowtr 
62.    Reinhard    Waldtz 
&-i.   Philip     Weisjr 
C>C>.   \Villiani   Erman    (ycom.in) 

69.  Beniamin    Lichrfoci    (-hop- 

keeper) 

70.  Willian.    Parens 

71.  Willia-n    T'ar.-.cn? 

72.  Conrad   W.:;c.- 

74.  Abraham    I'.ro-ius    (tail.^r) 

75.  Tacob    Lol'.itiKcr 

76.  Michael  Graui  (Alsace,  yeo- 

man"! 

77.  Wtii      Hottenstein    (potter) 

79.  John    Wel,cr. 

81.  Phi'.ii.    J.    Moycr    (h.ak..-r) 

82.  Andrew  Wo'f   i,  Cumru,  yeo- 

man) 
85.   Nich.     KcnncU     njec'-brrw- 

cr) 
87.   Georjje   Shei-er 

80.  Christopher   Witimn    (cord- 

wa-'ner) 

90.  Christopher  Witman 

91.  ^rich.ud    Xn^ter    (-addler) 

92.  George   l)-nn'l.-.ss    (-addler) 
9.').   rred'k   Marsteiler 


Lot  I'atcr.tee 

Uli.    Henry      Me!.;hior      Muhlen- 
berg   (minister) 

07.    Henry    Soviter 

i'V    Sam  del    lirackman 

■.i:i.    I'el.r   Knt^rr 
]•»►.    Benjamin    Pear«on    (joiner) 
111.",.   .\da;n   S.    K'.ihu   (Lancaster, 

ln7.    LIcano'r    V.agi,oner 
111^.    Ge.-rye      Hiiiier      (Philadel- 
phia,   merchant) 

111.   Adam   Gcrharl   (.Msace,  5  e-j- 
man  1 

11'!.    Henry     Keuthmyer     (wheel- 
uriKht; 

ll."!,    Ernest     Kurtz     iPhila.,     to- 
bacconist) 

lit*.    Peter      ilinganian      *  . Msace, 
veom.nn) 

117.    Mary    Bishop 

lis.    Henry    l;ovlc 

1!!'.    Kriit    lluner    (baker) 

122.    IVter   Tiumbour    (yeoman) 

IIM.  Jacob   Cucher 

l.';ii.   I'harle.s    J'ricker 

JJl.   Paul     Derst     (E.xeter,     inn- 
keeper) 

i:'2.  Andreas   Sh.ack 

1'4''..    Petei     Feder    (inn-keeper) 

v.::,.    lohn   F.arlv   .'Lane,  joint-) 

]:;<•..    HcT.ry    Bo;.Ie 

137.   lializer     Schwenk     (.Msace. 
yeoman) 

1.30.  John    Wll.,on     (Lane,    mil- 
ler) 

14(-..    Pete-     Mmna 

147.   Henry    llahn    (b!acksniith1 

1-lS.    Henry    Lick 

iV-i.    I-^van    Popkins    (copper) 

151.  George    .  Mich.      Kieter 

(slaughterer) 

152.  flrich       Richard       (Heidel- 

lie'-g.   yeoman) 
l.')'.    Paul    Parlct    (carpenter) 
ir.4.   William    .Miller   (carpenter) 
Itu.   Sebastian    Grauser    (carpen- 
ter) 
IT'!).    Henry   C,r3ul    (Green   tavn) 
i.;0.   Phihp     Ziegler     (TuI|,ehoc- 

ki.n,    veoinan) 
KU.    Henry    Goodhart 
1113.    Tohn    Ki-siiiger 
1(V»     Peter    Kaj.n    (buf^he;) 
B;.").    'ieoigc    Crumlauf 
160.   Jacob      Cnnrai'.      (Virg., 

.=;mifh) 
IC'7.    rv_;er    Baum    (turner) 
J"l>.    Fred'k     Goodhart      (.Msace. 

veoman) 
17.".   Pet?r    Baum 
jSil.    Tolin    Kissinger 
190.   Plenry        Gerritt        {.Msace, 

yeoman) 
:9ir    J.'hn    NichokiS    Yost    (Cum- 
ru.   innkeeper) 
B)0.    George    Chris.    Spengler 
;'•■■'.    I- ran.  IS    Ft  her 
lOU.   Abrahfim    Rrosius 
2i'iSi.    .Sin^on    Scheiker 
271.   Henry     Gr;,ul 
27."i.   Joseph    Wilkinson 
27.S.   Isaac    I.evan 


Lot 
2s  I. 


'.">, 


Patentee 

Philip   Jacob    .Moyer 

Henrv    Feeiei 

Conrad    Boi.ei 

Chri-tian      Bentzer      (Lane. 

county) 
Fred'k  Weiser  (Heidei't erg. 

yeoman) 
Philip   Jacob    Moyer 
Jacob    .Morgan 

Jacob    I.eiiirock    (baker)  401. 

-Micha.-!    Ludv-ig    (An:ity)  401. 

Conrad    J'ower  405. 

Conrad    Bower 


Lot.  Patentee 

3SC.   Xichola.s    Retschcw 


George    Yoh    (potter) 
Abraham  Smith 
ConraJ   Bower 
1.    Philip        Krpf        (Lancaster 
countv.) 


443 
For   the  year 


41/J.   Adam    Eeifell    (Alsace,    cur- 
tas.; 
Geo.    Francis    \\  inter 
Francis    .'ilorean    '.yeoman) 
Jacob    Erpf 
Phdip    Reaser 


atentee 


1114. 
IIKI. 
110. 
i2l. 
12i;. 
134. 
ViS. 
143. 
150. 
17  L 
172. 
174. 
170. 

js:i. 

l.VI). 

105. 
197. 

IPS. 
21.1. 
2113. 

21 1-1. 


Lot 


George   Douglass 
Christophc-     VVitinaii 
Isaac      Weidner      (yeoman, 

Alsace) 
.lonas    Seely    (justice) 
lonas    Seely 
"William     Thomas     (Chester 

county) 
Xichcias    Werner 
Chri-to|iher  Canicrer 
Philip    Erpf 
.Mark    Starr 
James   St.-rr   (brewer) 
.lohn     Smith     (shopkeeper) 
George     l>ou*^lass 
Peter    Wei.-er    (Heidelberg) 
Peter   Weiser 
Hcniy    Sbc'rer 
Frederick    Weiser 
Tost    IL    Sassamanhou'-en 
James    Biddle    Gawyer) 
Jam.es    liiddle 
Henry    Sl-ejrcr 
Simon   Slitrker 
Isaac    Levan 
.•\braham     Levan 
lohn    Steel 
Peter    VN'ciser 
Wendell    Hains 
George     Saurbrev 
Adam    Scl  leeell  '(taiIor^ 
Hans     Martin     Gai  icii 
Georr;e    Hn;n_r 
JUchael    Rt.sch 
Lawrence    .Spats 
Michael     Fichthorn 
Will'am    Cluse 
I'anI    Durst 
John    Philip    Kiinger 
-Mexander    Klingcr 
Martin    .Moll 
Andrew    Engel 

For  the 
Patentee 


2;!1 
234, 


274, 
2,'<4^ 


■■:i4. 
31.S. 

310. 
329. 
331. 

x;3. 

.341. 

349. 
3.-.O. 

.3.-.';, 

3.X]. 


40;  I. 
41,3. 
433. 

43,S 
4110. 

40::. 

40.S. 


Lot 


Patentee 

.   Hans    Geo.    Back    (baker) 

Paul   Uur-t 

-\n.drcw   Steger 

Everhard       Martin       (soap- 
maker) 

Martin    .Moll 

Geo.    Mich'l    Kreter 

Christopher    Witman 

Casper   Zm 

Jacob   Zia 

Fredericka  Waggoner 

Philip  Jacob   Erpf   (maion) 

-Uidrew    Fuclis  • 

Francis    Morgan 

20.J,    (,'onrad    Bower 

William    .Marck 

William   Bird 

Geo    .Mic'..'l   Kreter- 

Jaccib    Morgan 

-Michael    Schrack 

Conrad    Stichter    'weaver) 

X'aleniine    Sticiiter 

Isaac   Weidner 

William   .Marck 

Jacob    Hitler 

Joseph   Brendlinger 

IVtcr    Klingcr 

Jacob    Morgan 

3."'i7.    Fredc;r.ek  Volant 

.Martin   K     Kraft 

Ad.,in    Kcticll 

Xichola,   Saiver 

■3'.>7.   .\dam   ReifeM 

Court  hou:c    and     I'rison 

Chnstopiier    Spengler 

Henry    Schneider 

George    K; ;  pus    (Ma'on) 

Geor;;e    Ka-,  pu^ 
4:11.    i-ranci-    (.reek 

Francis   Wenrich 

Elizabeth    Godschalk 


Patentee 


«.    Christian   Bussy 
123.    Philip    i'reitenbach 
17-3.    .Xicliolas    Keim 
205.    ChristoDher  God-chalk 
270.    Frederirk    Fern-Ier 
2S.'.    Maria  Barbara  Bishoft 
2!'ii    John    Hartrnan    (tai'.jr) 
2(13.   Jacob    Kappoit     i.tiler) 


3^5.   Tacob   Morgan 

.■f(l.s.    "Francis    Morgan 

3.88.  Nicholas  Scitzingcr  (inn- 
keeper) 

40(^  407.   Lmiicran  Church 

421,424.  Calvinist  Church  (Re- 
formed J 

509,  512.   Peter  Haws 


TOV,  .V   PLAN' 


X  \ 


READING 


155 


Gi<ocNn-RKXT.— When  the  lots  were  laid  oat 
provision  was  made  that  each  lot  should  be  subject 
to  a  ground-rent  of  seven  sliiilino^s,  payable  an- 
nually on  the  fin-t  day  of  yiay  :  but  notwithstanding 
this  provision,  numerous  lots  were  sold  withoui 
the  charge. 


CuSHATi  Wr.ISF.K  STOKE 

By  an  Act  of  Assembly,  passed  Xuv.  27,  1779, 
the  estates  of  the  Proprietaries  in  Pennsylvania 
became  vested  in  the  State  and  were  placed  at  the 
disposal  of  the  Legislature,  the  quit-rents  were 
abolished,  and  a  donation  of  £loO,000  was  made 
to  their  devisees  and  legatees. 


Ic-sfe^^t^s&Ai^ 


FEDERAL   JNN 

After  the  Revolution,  this  ground  rent  on  tlic  lots 
in  Reading  was  disregarded  until  about  1»15,  when 
it  became  a  subject  which  agitated  the  lot-holders 
fur  a  number  of  years.  In  tiiat  year,  and  again  in 
1S18,  the  local  attorney  oi  tlic  Penns  reijuired  the 
deliiuinents  to  p:iy  the  ^^■nt^  due,  otherwise  lie  would 
cause  their  lots  to  be  >old.     In  If-iO,  numercius  re- 


leases of  ground-rent  were  executed  by  the  attor- 
ney, and  these  were  placed  on  record.  In  lS^?-2,  he 
notified  the  public  that  he  would  not  settle  any 
further  claims  for  grumd-rent,  and  hi^  agency  hav- 
mg  been  discontinued,  the  matter  was  dropped. 

Couxtv-Se.vt.— By  a  petition  presented  to  the 
Assembly  at  Philadelpliia  on  Feb.  4,  K.r^.  in  behalf 
of  the  erection  of  a  new  countv  (Berks),  it  ap- 
pears that  Reading  then  contained  mo  dwelling- 
houses,  besides  41  stables  and  other  out-houses- 
and  IGO  tamilies,  which  consisted  of  378  persons' 
It  IS  believed  that  there  were  three  small  churches 
in  the  town  at  that  time,  Lutheran,  Reformed,  and 
Friends;  all  erected  in  i:51. 

Town  District  Established.— Iu  ITdO.  the 
town  and  part  of  the  township  adjoining  f  Alsace) 
were  erected  into  a  district,  called  the  -Township 
and  District  of  Reading."  The  boundary  lines  were 
fixed  by  the  court  in  inu.  They  inclo.ed  about 
950  acres. 

First  Storf.— The  first  business  place  was  the 
store  of  Conrad  Weiser  on  Penn  Square  above  Fifth 
street.  He  purchased  the  lot  (Xo.  3)  in  1749,  and 
obtained  a  patent  in  1701.  Under  the  conditions 
of  sale,  he  doubtless  erected  a  two-story  stone 
budding-  on  it  in  1750  and  started  a  general  store. 
He  carried  on  business  intercourse  there  with  the 
Indians,  and  on  this  account  tiie  stand  was  given 
particular  prominence.  In  17G9,  Nicholas  Keim 
became  the  owner.  The  Reims  occupied  it  as  a 
general  hardware  store  for  seventy  years  Then 
the  Stichters  began,  and  they  have  been  there 
since,  now  seventy  years. 

Public  Buildixg.s.— A  Court-IIouse  was  erected 
in  17C2;  a  market-house  in  17G6;  and  a  county  jail 
in  1770;  and  in  1773,  a -fire- company  was  organized 
called  the  "Rainbow,"  which  has  maintained  a  suc- 
cessful existence  until  now. 

Oldest  Euildin-gs.— Three  old  buildings,  which 
were  erected  in  this  period  of  Reading,^  are  still 
standing:  two  stories  of  the  large  hotel  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Fifth  and  Washington  streets 
erected  by  Michael  Bright  for  a  taveVn  in  17(Jo'; 
two-story  stone  building  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  Penn  Square,  below  Fifth  street,  erected  in  17(;3 
by  Adam  Witman  for  a  tavern  ("I'ederal  Inn") 
and  occupied  by  the  Farmers'  Bank  since  1814; 
and  two-story  stone  building  on  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  P^ifth  and  Washington  streets,  erected  by 
county  commissioners  in  17^0,  occupied  as  a  county 
jail  until   1848,  and  since  then   for  store  purposes. 

]£Drc.\TioxAL  Affairs.— Three  churches  were 
established  during  this  period:  Friends.  Lutheran 
and  Reformed.  The  IVotestant  Episcopal  and 
Roman  Catholic  denominations  had  no  churches, 
but  held  religious  services  in  the  homes  of  certain 
members.  .Secular  education  was  carried  on  in 
schools   which   were   connected   with   the  churches, 


t        •■'  7.'  -iX 


usm: 


15G 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\"AXIA 


and  also  in  several  private  schools.  The  pupils 
paid  tiieir  teachers  several  cents  a  day.  The 
Friends'  school  at  \\"a>hin,^on  and  Wixnd  (Madi- 
son) streets  \va.,  conducted  for  English  education, 
the  other  schools  were  mostly  for  German  education. 
There  were  no  newspajiers  published  at  Reading 
then.  The  Pcintsylz'ania  Gazette  and  Salter's  Jour- 
nal had  a  limited  circulation. 

N.vTiox.'.UTV  OF  Inii.xbit.vxts. — The  first  inhab- 
itants of  Reading  were  mostly  Germans.  There 
were  some  English,  and  men  of  this  nationality 
served  in  county  offices  through  the  influence  and 
direction  of  the  Penns  mitil  the  Revolution ;  then 
men  of  the  German  natirmality  came  to  fill  them 
and  they  have  almost  entirely  continued  to  do  so 
until  now.  This  change  was  brought  about  by  the 
determined  action  of  the  Germans  in  behalf  of  inde- 
pendence and  represen':ative  government,  the  Eng- 
lish having  favored  the  British  government,  and 
discouraged  the  Revolution,  on  which  account  they 
were  called  ''Toric,;." 

French  and  lNni.\x  \\'.\r. — The  French  and 
Indian  war  affected  Reading  more  or  less  from  1755 
to  17G0.  The  inhabitants  were  excited  and  fre- 
quently alanned  for  their  safety  during  17')5,  175G 
and  1757.  But  the  Indians  in  their  incursions  never 
reached  Reading.  They  confined  their  stealthy  at- 
tacks ar.d  barbarous  cruelties  to  the  settlements 
along  the  Pluc  mountain;-. 

The  prominent  men  from  Reading  whL>  were  ac- 
tively engaged  in  defensive  operations  were  Conrad 
Weiser,  Edward  Biddle  and  George  Nagel.  In 
1756,  a  company  of  grenadiers  was  stationed  here 
for  a  time;  also  a  companv  commanded  by  Conrad 
Weiser,  consi.sting  of  two  sergeants  and  twenty- 
eight  privates.  A  number  of  interesting  letters 
were  sent  from  Reading  during  these  years,  de- 
scribing the  dangcrotis  situation  of  affairs.  No 
-person  from  Reading  was  killed. 

Ri'.voLUTiox.--The  first  public  action  at  Read- 
ing in  behalf  of  the  Revolution  was  taken  with 
much  spirit  on  July  2,  1774,  and  from  that  time 
until  the  declaration  of  peace,  in  1783,  the  resi- 
■dents  displayed  rem.arkahle  zeal  for  political  inde- 
pendence and  representative  government.  On  the 
day  named,  a  public  meeting;  was  held  in  the  Court- 
House  and  appropriate  resolutions  were  adopted, 
-expressing  sympathy  with  Boston  and  urging  such 
measures  as  would  settle  with  precision  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  America.  Delegates  were  apf»ointed 
'to  attend  the  different  conference^  and  earnest  co- 
operation was  manifested  at  all  times  for  carrying 
■on  the  war  successfully. 

In  Aprd,  1775,  the  people  of  the  town  raised  two 
trompanies  of  infantry,  and  one  of  them,  com- 
manded by  Cap.  George  Nngel.  several  months 
afterward  marched  to  Cambridge  and  participated 
in   the  campaign   at   that    place.      Numerous   other 


companies  were  raised  in  response  to  repeated  calu 
for  trcH;)ps.  And  great  quantities  of  supplies  werv 
forwarded  to  the  government,  amounting  to  sev- 
eral hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Reading  was  a  prominent  inland  place  for  storing 
supplies  of  all  kinds  during  that  period,  having  been 
selected  b\-  the  Board  of  War  for  its  admirable  sit- 
uation ;  and  prisoners  of  war  were  sent  here  in 
large  numbers.  The  locality  where  they  were  quar- 
tered was  called  "Hessian  Camp,"  after  th.e  Hes- 
sians taken  at  Trenton  in  December,  177G.  It  was 
situated  to  the  east  of  the  town,  along  the  Hill  road. 
In  1771,  wdien  the  British  entered  Philadelphia, 
many  residents  of  that  city  tied  lo  Reading  for 
safety. 

Reading  furnished  man}-  men  who  became  ve'"y 
active  in  the  service.  Edward  Biddle  was  on-:  of 
the  representatives  from  Pennsylvania  in  the  First 
Continental  Congress ;  Bodo  Otto  and  Jonathan 
Potts  were  prominent  surgeons ;  Alark  Bird,  Henry 
Hallcr,  Nicholas  Lotz,  Joseph  Iliester  and  Daniel 
Brodhcad  were  colonels ;  and  George  Nagel,  John 
Spohn,  Peter  Decker,  Henry  Christ,  John  Diehl, 
John  Righlmyer  and  Peter  Scull  were  captains. 
Edward  Scull  was  secretary  of  t'.ie  Board  of  War; 
James  Read  was  an  Executive  Councillor,  and  reg- 
ister of  the  court  of  Admiralty;  and  Edward  Burd 
was  prothonotiiry  of  the  Supreme  couit. 

BOROUGH,   ]78;;  to  1S17 

BOTJOUGH  Erected. — -The  town  of  Reading  was 
incorporated  into  a  borough  on  Sept.  12,  1783.  It 
contained  over  four  hundred  taxables,  and  about 
twenty-one  hundred  inhabitants :  and  it  was  gen- 
erally recognized  then  as  the  hirgest  and  most  pro- 
gressive inland  town  in  the  United  States.  Nine- 
tenths  of  the  inhabitants  were  German.  The 
principal  officers  were  the  chief  burgess  and  asso- 
ciate, four  assistant  burgesses,  two  justices  of  the 
peace,  high  constable,  treasurer,  clerk,  two  super- 
visors and  two  assessors. 

Surrounding  Towns. — The  county  of  Berks 
contained  about  twenty-five  thousand  population, 
and  the  surrounding  towns  in  the  county  were 
Womelsdorf,  fourteen  miles  west:  Hamburg,  sev- 
enteen miles  north:  Kutztown,  seventeen  miles 
northeast ;  P)irdsi)oro.  nine  miles  southeast ;  and 
Morgantown,  fifteen  miles  south. 

1'ost-Okfice. — A  post-office  was  established  in 
1793.  A  daily  mail  by  stage  was  started  in  171)3, 
which  continued  until  1838,  when  the  railroad  was 
introduced,  and  increased  facilities  for  transporta- 
tion were  afforded. 

Stace-Co.xch.- — The  stage-coach  was  introduced 
at  Reading  in  1780,  and  ran  from  Reading  to  Phila- 
del[>hia.  Afterward,  lines  were  extended  in  differ- 
ent directions,  and  they  were  carried  on  until  the 
railroads  were  constructed.  'IT.e  business  was  very 
brisk  from  1S'2G  to  1838. 


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READING 


157' 


Bridges. — A  ferry  was  carried  on  at  the  "Fnrd" 
from  1T83  to  ISlo^  when  a  covered  wooden  bridge 
waa  constructed  by  the  county  commissioners.  An- 
other covered  wooden  bridge  was  constructed  by 
the  commissioners  at  Levan's  P'erry,  at  the  foot  of 
Bingaman  street,  in  1831.  The  first  bridge  across 
tlie  river  near  Reading  was  on  the  road  to  Sunbury 
through  Bern  township,  erected  in  ItilO. 

TuRxriKES. — Wliile  the  subject  of  bridges  was 
discussed  by  the  people,  another  received  their  at- 
tention. It  was  that  of  turnpikes.  These  were  ex- 
tended over  prominent  highways,  one  to  the  north 
in  1805  called  the  "Centre,"  the  second  to  the  south- 
east in  1810  called  the  "Perkiomen,"  and  the  third 
to  the  west  in  181?,  called  the  "Berks  and  Dauphin." 

Public  Buildings. — The  Court-House  continued 
in  Penn  Square  until  1840;  and  the  prison  at  Fifth 
and  Washington  streets  until  1S18.  The  "Slate 
House"  for  the  county  officers  was  erected  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  Fifth  street  and  Penn  Square 
in  1791  and  was  used  for  this  public  purpose  until 
1840.  A  second  market-house  was  erected  in  West 
Penn  Square  in  1799.  Both  market-houses  were 
rebuilt  in  1846.  They  had  seventy  stalls  and  llfi 
stands. 

Canals. — Two  canals,  leading  from  Reading, 
were  constructed:  The  Schuylkill,  extending  along 
the  river  north  to  Pottsville  and  southeast  to  Phila- 
delphia, in  18;22;  and  the  Union,  extending  west 
to  Lebanon  and  Aliddletown,  in  1828.  Large  quan- 
tities of  goods,  especially  coal  and  lumber,  were 
shipped  over  these  canals.  The  enterprise  was  suc- 
cessful through  th.is  period,  and  contributed  much 
toward  the  development  of  the  borough. 

R.\n.RO.\D.— The  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad 
was  projected  along  the  Schuylkill  throug-h  Reading 
from  Philadelphia  to  Pottsville  in  1833.  It  was 
completed  to  Reading  in  1838,  and  to  Pottsville 
in  1842;  and  then  it  became  an  additional  factor 
with  the  turnpikes  and  canals  for  great  local  pro- 
gress. 

Banks. — A  "Branch"  of  the  Bank  of  Pennsyl- 
vania was  established  at  Reading  in  1808  (in  the 
building  occupied  by  the  Union  Bank),  and  carried 
on  successfully  until  its  suspension  in  18.'">7.  The 
Farmers  Bank  was  organized  in  1814,  and  it  has 
been  maintained  successfully  ever  since,  now  over 
ninety  years,  and  in  the  same  building.  The  Eck- 
erts  were  prominently  identified  with  it  from  1838 
to  1908.  A  third  bank  was  organized  in  1S8G,  but 
it  continued  only  eight  years.  It  was  called  the 
"Berks  County  Bank." 

Paxic  of  1837. — A  money  panic  arose  in  the 
bor-ough  in  1837,  owing  to  a  suspension  of  prom- 
inent banks  in  the  large  cities,  but  the  local  busi- 
ness men  published  a  notice  in  which  they  expressed 
entire  confidence  in  the  Reading  banks  and  a  will- 
ingness to  accept  their  notes  in  payment  of  debts 
and  merchandise.  But  the  scarcitv  of  monev  com- 
pelled certain  merchants  to  report  to  an  expedient 
for  a  circulating  medium  by  issuing  notes  for  small 


sums,  which  were  called  by  the  people  "Shinplas- 
ters,"  "Rag  Barons"  and  "Hickory  Leaves."  And 
the  borough  council,  to  relieve  the  community  in 
this  behalf,  issued  loan  certificates  in  denomina- 
tions of  five,  ten.  twenty-five  and  fifty  cents,  and 
one,  two  and  three  dollars,  redeemable  Aug.  1, 
1838.  The  whole  issue  amounted  to  525,000.  They 
were  loaned  to  business  men  on  approved  security 
and  subsequently  redeemed. 

Newspapers. — A  number  of  newspapers  were 
started  in  this  period.  The  first  was  in  17^9.  In 
179G,  there  were  three  others,  the  Reading  Herald 
(English)  ;  the  Reading  Adlcr  (German),  published 
until  now;  and  the  Weekly  Advertiser  (English), 
published  until  1816,  when  the  Berks  and  Schuylkill 
Journal  (English)  took  its  place,  which  is  still  is- 
sued. The  Reeding  Courier  (German)  was  issued 
from  1816  to  ld26;  the  Chro)iic!e  of  the  Times 
(English),  from  1826  to  1835;  Berks  County  Press 
(English),  from  1835  to  1865;  Liberal  Observer 
(German),  from  1839  to  1864;  Reading  Gazette 
and  Democrat  (English),  from  1S40  to  1878,  when 
the  Reading  Weekly  Eagle  was  substituted  in  its 
place,  and  this  has  been  published  until  now  ;  Old 
Berks  (German),  from  1840  to  1848,  wdien  it  was 
transferred  to  Pottsville  and  the  name  changed  to 
Pottsinlle  Adlcr.  Several  others  were  started  but 
they  had  a  short  existence.  The  spirit  for  writing 
and  publishing  during  this  period  was  very  strong. 
The  editors  exhibited  much  courage  in  ventilating 
their  opinions  on  political  and  social  topics. 

Churches  axd  Schools. — Besides  the  three  de- 
nominations mentioned  in  the  first  period,  the 
Roman  Catholics  and  Protestant  Episcopalians 
came  to  erect  churches  in  the  second  period,  and 
also  the  Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Methodists,  Uni- 
versalists  and  English  Lutherans.  Schools  were 
carried  on  successfully,  as  before  until  1835.  when 
the  public  system  was  introduced ;  and  in  1838  the 
first  public  school  buildings  were  erected. 

Industrial  Affairs. — During  this  period,  indus- 
trial aftairs  became  the  prominent  feature  of  Read- 
ing. The  small  shops  were  developed  into  large 
factories  and  mills,  and  the  capital  invested  in  such 
establishments  increased  from  several  hundred  dol- 
lars to  many  thousands.  The  energy  of  certain  in- 
fluential men  was  directed  chiefly  toward  the  manu- 
facture of  iron,  and  this  stimulated  various  other 
enterprises,  particularly  in  the  line  of  building  oper- 
ations. The  discovery  of  coa:l  and  the  application 
of  steam  to  motive  power  for  operating  machinery 
were  the  direct  causes  of  this  marked  improvement, 
and  the  canal  and  railroad  were  natural  results 
from  their  introduction  and  increasing  use.  The 
large  increase  in  population  must  be  attributed  to 
them,  the  growth  from  1830  to  1840  having  been 
over  43  per  cent,  and  from  1840  to  1850  over  87 
per  cent."  The  cmmtrv  districts  of  Berks  county 
incrca;''d  on!v  21  per  cent,  during  the  former  de- 
cade, and  only  19  per  cent,  during  the  latter. 


■.t,l.,.,    .    ,  .•% 


■'.  .,  ■-     ,  i':n  '    'M'' 


15S 


HISTORY    OF    DERKS    COUNTY,    PRXXSYL\'AXIA 


Water  Comj'axv. — In  18-31,  a  water  company 
\va>  ori::anizc(l  to  Mipply  the  people  of  the  boronyh 
with  water.  A  reservoir  was  constructed  at  the 
head  of  I'enn  street,  and  the  water  from  "Hamp- 
den Spring"  was  ciaiveyed  into  it  by  means  of 
wooden  pipes,  and  thence  distril)ntcd  through  the 
place.  In  IS.'Jo,  the  investment  was  estimated  at 
^•^.j.OOO,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  families  were 
supplied.  The  spring  had  a  daily  flow  of  one  hundred 
thousand  gallons,  and  the  reservoir  had  a  capacity 
of  one  thousand  hoJ^shead^.  Rumps  continued  to 
be  used  in  all  parts  of  the  borough. 

LiGiiTiXG. — The  light  was  obtained  from  tallow 
candles ;  also  from  oil  and  camphene  used  in  lamps. 
The  streets  were  not  lighted.  Public  buildings  were 
seldom  occupied  in  the  night  for  meetings  or  en- 
tertainments ;  and  there  were  no  halls. 

Fire  Compaxils. — Three  fire  companies  were 
organized  in  addition  to  the  Rainljow :  Junior,  in 
1813;  Reading,  in  ISl!);  and  Xeversink,  in  1829. 
Street  Names. — Upon  the  laying  out  of  the 
town,  the  streets  were  named  as  follows:  East  and 
IVcst — Penn,  extending  through  the  center  of  the 
town;  north  of  Penn,  Thomas  and  Margaret;  and 
south  of  Penn,  Richard  and  Hamilton.  North  and 
South — King.  Queen,  Callowhill.  Prince,  Duke, 
Earl,  Clement,  Lord  and  \'igour. 

These  names  were  changed  by  tiu-  borough  coun- 
cil in  1833,  and  tli-'se  ^ubstitutec'  were  as  follows, 
Penn  having  bLCu  retained:  North  of  Penn — Lib- 
erty, \\'ashington  and  Walnut :  South  of  Penn — 
Cherry.  Franklin  and  Chestnut;  Across  Penn— 
Third,  Fourlh.  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh,  Eighth, 
Ninth,  Tenth  and  Eleventh ;  and  v.-liat  had  been 
called  for  a  time  Bridge  and  Treat,  were  changed 
to  Front  and  .Second. 

In  184.5.  council  named  the  following  alleys  ex- 
tending nortl)  from  Liberty:  Pear,  Thorn.  Rose, 
Ash.  Church.  Reed,  Poplar,  Cedar,  Moss,  and  Black; 
and  south  from  Cherry:  Oak,  Apple,  Carpenter, 
Wood,  Pear,  Phmi,  Lemon,  Peach.  Orange,  and 
Maple.  Laurel  anri  V>"il!ow  streets  were  also  named 
then.  Bin,gaman  street  took  its  name  and  diagonal 
direction  from  the  northerly  line  of  the  patent  to 
Peter  Bing-aman :  that  part  beyond  Tenth  street  hav- 
ing been  vacated  hx  an  Act  of  Assembly,  passed 
May  8,  18.-.0. 

In  183'?,  the  streets  were  graded  according  to 
regulation  by  Enoch  Lewis,  under  the  direction  of 
council. 

E.\Rt,v  ExitiniTioxs. — Exhibitions  were  given  at 
Reading  at  an  early  day. 

In  October,  U.'-'l.  a  camel  was  exhibited  at  Jacob 
Grant's  tavern. 

In  January.  17'.12,  McCrath's  Company  of  comedi- 
ans from  ^larvland  and  Mrginia  rendered  the 
"Tragedy  of  Douglass."  "Farce  of  Barnaby  P>rittle," 
and  otlier  plays. 

In  January.  17I>0.  a  man  named  Salanca  gave  a 
"curious  exhibition'"  in   Barr's  ballroom,  consisting 


of  legerdemain  performances  by  himself,  tricks  by 
a  learned  dog,  and  a  display  of  fire-works.  Ticket- 
for  adults,  50  cents:  for  children,  '2b  cents. 

In  June,  180S,  an  elephant  eight  years  old  and 
seven  feet  high  was  exhibited  at  the  public-house  of 
Daniel  Fcger;  advertised  as  the  only  elephant  then 
in  the  country.    Admission,  25  cents. 

In  November,  181?,  Purdy.  Carley  &  Bailey  ex- 
hibited a  menagerie  of  thirty  living  wild  animals,  in- 
cluding a  lion  and  lioness,  Arabian  camels  (male  a;;.! 
female),  llamas  (male  and  female),  hyena,  kanga- 
roo, tiger,  leopard  and  panther. 

On  Aug.  1,  1815,  a  whale  was  exhibited  at  the 
public  house  of  William  Jones  ;  weight  five  thousand 
pounds.  Adinissicn,  12i  cents;  children,  half  price. 
This  wdiale  was  caught  in  the  Delaware  river  at 
Trenton,   on   Nov.   11,    1814. 

In  December,  1838,  William  Paulin,  accompanied 
bv  a  lady,  ascended  from  Reading  in  a  balloon 
named  "Comet";  and  in  the  following  year  he  made 
two  successful  ascensions. 

Circuses  gave  numerous  exhibitions  and  they 
were  well  patronized ;  and  traveling  dramatic 
troupes  visited  Reading,  remaining  a  week  at  a 
tiine. 

Distinguished  \'isitors. — John  Penn  arrived  at 
Reading  on  April  7,  1788,  while  on  his  way  from 
Philadelphia  to  Ilarrisburg.  He  remained  two  days 
and  expressed  liimself  as  nuich  pleased  with  the 
town.  He  stayed  at  Witnian's  tavern  (southeast 
corner  Fifth  and  hVanklin  st'-cets),  ar.d  he  regarded 
the  accommodations  as  worthy  of  a  respectable 
countrv  town.  He  dined  heartily  on  catfi-h.  which 
were  plentiful  in  the  river.  The  next  day,  he  dined 
with  James  Biddle,  Esq.,  and  a  number  of  citizens 
called  to  pay  their  lespects.  He  came  here  to  look 
after  his  property.  On  .April  0th,  he  visited  Gen. 
Thomas  -\Iiftlin.  on  tlie  latter's  farm  (now  Alms- 
Hou<^e)  and  took  breakfast  and  dinner  with  the 
familv.      After   dinner,   he   proceeded   on   his   way. 

President  Washington  visited  Reading  on  Oct. 
1,  1794,  while  on  his  way  from  Philadelphia  to 
Carlisle  during  the  Whiskey  Insurrection.  His 
presence  caused  much  social  excitement.  During 
liis  sojourn,  he  stayed  at  the  "Federal  Inn,"  where 
many  people  called  to  pay  their  re.«pects.  A  mili- 
tary parade  was  given  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Nicholas  Lotz  (wdio  had  taken  an  active  part  in 
the  Revolution)  to  signalize  the  occasion,  and  the 
distinguished  visitor  reviewed  the  troops.  The 
"Reading  Volunteers"  (a  company  of  militia)  es- 
corted him  on  the  way,  and  at  Carlisle  they  were 
retained  as  his  body-guard.  When  ^^'a^hington 
died,  in  1799,  all  the  people  mourned  his  loss.  The 
newspapers  were  printed  with  heavy  black  borders : 
and  the  people  of  the  borough,  to  demonstrate  in 
a  public  manner  their  great  sorrow  for  liis  death 
and  great  reverence  for  his  name,  held  funeral 
services  in  Trinitv  Lutheran  Church  on  Sunday. 
Tan.  5.  iSdO.  A  jirocession  was  sr,lcnmly  formed 
on  Penn  Square,  and  a  great  concourse  of  people. 


•  i^--   J.    . -nr 


/      ,;!./;<" 


I    ■■  !'^ 


(ric 


READING 


159 


viiider    the    head    of    the    mihtia    of    tlic    borough, 
marched  to  the  church. 

President  \'an  I'.nren  visited  Rcachng  on  June 
2'),  1^39,  while  on  his  way  from  llarri'iburg  to 
Easton.  A  special  committee  met  him  at  \Vomels- 
dorf :  and  many  citizens  from  different  parts  of  the 
county  formed  a  procession  on  the  turnpike  some 
distance  west  of  the  Harrisburq-  bridge,  and  joined 
the  committee  in  escortinpf  the  distinguished  visitor 
to  Reading.  He  was  pleased  to  receive  such  an 
expressive  welcome  from  the  thriving  town  oh  the 
Schuylkill,  which  three  years  before  had  given 
him  a  'strong  political  support,  nearly  four  to  one 
against  Gen.  \V.  II.  Harrison.  The  procession 
paraded  through  the  principal  streets.  The  presi- 
dent rode  on  a  fine  cream-colored  horse,  and  his 
graceful  horsemanship  attracted  general  attention. 
He  sojourned  at  Herr's  hotel.  During  the  evening, 
a  reception  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Samuel 
Bell,  Esq.,  v/hcre  many  citizens  assembled  to  show 
him  honor.  He  left  for  Easton,  via  Kutztown. 
on  the  following  morning,  a  number  of  prominent 
citizens  having  accompanied  him.  as  far  as  Kutz- 
town. In  the  previous  year,  he  had  paid  a  high 
compliment  to  the  borough  by  selecting  Hon.  Hen- 
ry A.  Muhlenberg  to  be  the  first  minister  plenipo- 
tentiary to  Austria. 

Gen.  Wintield  Scott  visited  Reading  on  Saturday, 
May  21,  1842,  during  a  great  "^filitary  Encamp- 
ment" comprising  fourteen  companies  of  militia 
from  Berks,  Lehigh  and  Schuylkill  counties,  of 
which  four  were  from  Reading,  numbering  157 
men.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  aids.  They  were 
met  at  the  railroad  station  (Seventh  and  Chest- 
nut streets)  by  a  detachment  of  militia,  and  escort- 
ed to  Herr's  hotel,  where  they  were  cordiallv  wel- 
comed and  properly  entertained.  ]\Iany  citizens 
followed  the  parade.  On  Monday  (i'kV).  he  re- 
viewed the  troops,  and  left  on  the  next  day  for 
Danville,  to  review  a  similar  encampment.  Dur- 
ing the  day,  medals  were  awarded  for  skillful 
shooting.  He  was  much  pleased  with  the  disci- 
pline and  appearance  of  the  encampment :  and  he 
paid  a  special  compliment  to  the  Reading  Artil- 
lerists. The  encampment  was  held  on  Penn  Com- 
mon and  was  the  first  at  Reading. 

Lthkrty-Polks  of  1799. — During  the  administra- 
tion of  President  Adams,  Congress  caused  a  direct 
tax  to  be  levied  upon  houses,  which' was  objection- 
able to  many  persons.  In  eastern  Pennsylvania, 
an  insurrection  arose  in  1799.  and  liberty-poles 
were  erected  to  declare  the  feeling  of  opposition. 
A  number  of  them  were  erected  at  and  hear  Read- 
ing. A\'hile  a  company  of  soldiers  were  on  their 
way  through  Reading  to  Rucks  county,  several  of 
these  poles  were  cut  down,  and  the  conduct  of  the 
soldiers  was  severely  critici>ed  bv  an  editorial  in 
tlic  Adlcr.  When  the  company  rcnched  Reading 
on  its  way  back  to  Lancaster,  the  Captain,  hearing 
of  this  criticism,  demanded  the  name  of  the  author. 


It  was  refused,  and  the  proprietor  of  the  news- 
paper was  taken  to  Penn  Scjuare  and  publicly 
rtogged. 

ExGi.i.SH  War  of  1812-I.j. — After  the  Revolu- 
tion, the  British  government  conducted  itself  in  an 
offensive  manner  persistently  until  the  complaints 
became  too  loud  and  the  injuries  t-oo  grievous  to 
be  endured  any  longer,  when  President  ?iIadison 
made  them  subjects  for  his  message  to  Congress  on 
June  1,  1812,  and  a  declaration  of  war  was  issued. 
Berks  county  supplied  twelve  organized  companies 
in  response  to  the  call  for  troops.  The  companies 
of  Capt.  Thomas  Moore  and  Capt.  Daniel  dcB. 
Kcim  were  composed  entirely  of  men  from  Read- 
ing; and  the  greater  part  of  the  men  in  the  com- 
panies of  Capt.  Jacob  ^larshall  and  Capt.  George 
Marx  were  also  from'  Reading.  The  companies 
left  in  August,  1S14,  and  perfonned  military  duty 
at  York,  Pa.,  but  they  did  not  participate  in  any  en- 
gagements with  the  enemy.  Some  of  the  men  re- 
mained four  months,  others  six  months.  Peace  was 
concluded  Dec.  24,  1814.  When  the  event  was 
made  known  at  Reading,  the  citizens  signalized  it 
by  shooting  off  cannon  during  the  day  and  by  a 
grand  illumination  at  night.  During  the  war,  when 
the  British  approached  Philadelphia,  a  number  of 
English  families  who  lived  there  were  compelled 
to  move  away  at  least  fifty  miles,  and  on  that  ac- 
count they  came  to  Reading.  This  was  in  August, 
1814. 

]\lE.\irA.\  War. — War  between  the  L'nitcd  States 
and  Mexico  was  declared  in  May,  IStfi.  The  chief 
burgess  of  Reading  presided  at  a  public  meeting, 
held  on  ]\Iay  20ih,  at  which  the  goverr.ment  was  sus- 
tained. Three  companies  of  men  from  Reading 
tendered  their  services,  and  one  of  them  was  accept- 
ed, the  Reading  Artillerists,  comman<led  by  Capt. 
Thomas  S.  Leoser,  This,  company  left  on  Dec. 
2()th  for  Mexico,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
\'era  Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo,  Cha!)u!tepec  and  P.elen 
Gate.  They  returned  July  29.  ls)s.  and  were  given 
a  brilliant  reception. 

CITY,  1S47  TO  1909 

Readixg  IX  1847. — Reading  was  incorporated  in- 
to a  city  on  ]\Iarch  1(1.  1847.  At  that  time  it  was  in 
a  tiourishing  state.  Shops,  factories  and  stores  were 
Tumierous.  The  population  numbered  about  twelve 
thousand.  The  tendency  of  local  development  was 
to  the  south  of  Penn  street  and  to  the  west  of  Ninth. 
.\t  that  time  there  were  thirteen  churches,  seven  to 
the  north  of  Penn,  and  six  to  the  south. 

The  railroad  deserves  especial  mention.  A  de- 
cade had  not  fully  elapsed  since  its  introduction, 
yet  it  demonstrated  to  a  remarkabre  xlcgree  its  pow- 
er in  accelerating  the  growth  of  everything.  Anoth- 
er railroad  had  been  projected  in  ISr.O  to  extend 
westward  to  Harrisburg,  but  it  wa-^  not  as  yet  be- 
gun. The  canals  and  stages  occupied  a  prominent 
position.  The  former  consisted  of  two  lines,  the 
Schuylkill  and  the  L'nion ;  and  the  latter  of  three 
lines,  to  Easton,  Harrisburg,  and  Lancaster. 


M.  '  •;  ■■  1 


,  ■  .'■'  '  I   ■ ' 


or    / 

.        •/■ 

1!  !  ' 

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,-,^-:;i,  ,    i,- 


-I  ..-1:1     :'.:l: 


(    •-;■    ,,:,   ,,T.- 


160 


HISTORY    OF    r.F.RKS    COUNTY,    PEX>s'SYL\'AXIA 


A  prominent  social  movement  was  then  percep- 
tible. This  was  the  >ecret  society,  and  thoiifjli  first 
started  in  1794,  it  had  not  be|2;un  to  make  a  marked 
impression  till  toward  tlic  close  of  the  second  per- 
iod of  Readin,L,^  The  Independent  <  )rdcr  of  (^dd 
Fellows  was  parricularly  active.  As  a  beneficial 
organization,  it  extended  its  branches  in  various  di- 
rections with  remarkable  earnestness  and  success. 

The  fire  company  was  active.  Four  volunteer 
companies  were  conducted  surcessfully,  Rainbow, 
Junior.  Readiui:;-  and  Xeversink.  partly  throu.c^h  pe- 
cuniary assistance  from  the  municipal  government, 
but  mainly  from  the  spontaneous  efforts  of  their 
members. 

The  system  of  common  school  education  was  ac- 
tively conducted,  there  being  17  schools,  31  teach- 
ers, and  2,0G4  scholars.  Five  newspapers  were  pub- 
lished successfully.  Advertising  v/as  a  prominent 
feature  in  all  of  them.  The  political  sentiment  of 
the  inhabitants  was  favorable  to  the  Whigs  in  local 
aflfairs,  buf  to  the  Democrats  in  State  and  nation- 
al. 

The  public  markets  were  largely  attended.  The 
market-men  came  regularly  twice  a  week,  Wednes- 
days and  Saturdays.  Councils  had  proposed  no  im- 
provement beyond  the  advantages  first  afforded  in 
17G6;  and- rents  v.-ere  still  collected. 

The  semi-annual  fairs  were  kept  up.  Dancing, 
drinking  and  fighting  were  conspicuous  features. 
The  militia  spirit  maintained  its  activity:  and  exer- 
cise was  carried  on  annually  in  May,  on  what  was 
known  as  "Battalion-Day."' 

Most  of  the  people  were  domestic  in  their  daily 
life.  Gardening  was  c:irried  on  either  in  lots,  upon 
which  the  dwellings  stooil.  or  in  out-lots.  Fruit 
trees  were  numerous,  and  plums,  peaches,  pears, 
cherries,  quinces  and  apples  were  plentiful.  "Pre- 
serving" fruit  was  common,  not  "canning"  as  now. 
And  nearly  every  familv  boiled  apple-butter  in  an 
open  fire  place  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  Flome-made 
sausage,  pudding,  scrapple,  hams,  mince,  and  sauer- 
kraut were  in  even,-  houschi>ld.  About  Christmas 
time  the  cellars  of  housekeepers  were  well  stc-cked. 

The  fuel  for  domestic  purposes  such  as  cook- 
ing and  heating  was  almost  wholly  wood,  and,  this 
was  consumed  in  a  "ten-plate"  stove ;  and  sawing 
of  cord-wood  by  hand  w-as  a  common  occupation. 
Coal  had  been  known  to  the  community  for  nearly 
fortv  years,  but  it  was  not  used  for  domestic  pur- 
poses, its  consumption  having  been  principally  in 
public  places,  shops  and  factories. 

The  light  was  produced  from  flnid.  oil  and  tallow. 
even  common  fat.  the  first  two  having  been  used 
in  stores,  and  the  last  two  in  dwellings,  especially 
of  the  poorer  classes  of  inhabitants.  The  streets 
were  not  lighted  up  in  the  evening.  Lanterns  were 
carried  to  shed  light  upon  the  roadway.  There  were 
no  street-crossings.  The  customs  of  the  residents 
had  net  yet  come  to  convert  night  into  day  for 
amusenicnts  of  variou';  kind'.  Dramatic  entertain- 
ments were  ii^st  starting  out.  and  the  demands  for 
an  improved  light  were  gradually  grt>wing  greater. 


The  town  was  not  large.  The  principal  portion 
lav  between  Walnut  street  on  the  north  and  Chest- 
nut on  the  south;  Ninth  street  on  the  east  and  Thir.l 
on  the  west.  Business  of  all  kinds  was  done  alnio-t 
entirelv  during  tlic  daytime,  and  merchants  deriveij 
their  chief  support  from  the  farmers.  Two  consta- 
1  les  were  watchmen  of  the  night,  and  for  several 
hours  before  and  after  midnight  they  called  out  the 
hour  and  the  condition  of  the  weather  in  a  monoton-  • 
ous.  low  tone  of  voice. 

The  pump  was  used  throughout  the  place,  not- 
withstanding the  general  supply  of  superior  water 
afi'orded  by  the  Reading  Water  Company.  .  It  was 
convenient  in  every  block,  if  not  on  or  near  every 
street  corner.  At  least  one  hundred  pumps  were 
in  daily  use.  Penn  street  was  especially  well  sup- 
plied. Ice  had  come  to  be  furnished  in  small  quanti- 
ties for  about  ten  years,  but  not  for  drinking  pur- 
poses. 

The  events  which  have  transpired  since  the  incor- 
poration of  Reading  as  a  city,  have  been  so  numer- 
ous that  a  narration  of  them  must  be  necessarily 
brief.  Thev  will  be  mentioned  by  decades  in  the 
order  of  their  occurrence  as  near  as  possible,  re- 
ferring the  reader  to  other  parts  of  this  ch.apter 
for  a  more  extended  description  of  them. 

1847- jj. — During  the  decade  from  1S17  to  1857, 
business  affairs  grew  more  active,  and  continued  to 
do  so  till  toward  the  close,  when  a  panic  ensued. 
Gas  was  introduced  for  lighting  purposes  in  1^48. 
The  first  large  hall  was  erected  by  the  Odd  Fellows 
in  1847,  which  provided  a  meeting  place  for  the 
society  and  acconmiodations  for  tlie  public  in  respect 
to  entertainiTicnts.  The  Charles  FNans  cemetery  was 
founded  in  1848  ;  the  Trinity  Lutheran  and  Roman 
Catholic  cemeteries  on  the  northern  slope  of  Mt. 
Neversink  were  laid  out  in  1849;  and  the  Aulenbach 
cemetery  in  18.jl.  Interments  were  then  made  in 
these  cemeteries  ;  and  the  remains  of  many  buried 
persons,  in  graveyards  in  the  central  parts  of  the 
city,  were  transferred  to  them.  Numerous  buildings 
we're  erected,  both  dwellings  and  industrial  estab- 
lishments, the  latter  including  ])roininent  enterprises 
which  have  been  continued  until  now. 

Two  railroads  were  constructed  in  1857,  the 
East  Penn  to  the  northeast,  and  the  Lebanon  Valley 
to  the  west.  The  militia  system  was  active  and 
battalion  days  were  de\oted  to  mihtary  exercise. 
The  fair  days  at  the  market-houses  passed  away 
without  regret  from  any  one,  and  in  1852,  an  agri- 
cultural societv  began  holding  a  county  fair  for  an 
improved  annual  exhibition  of  goods,  live  stock,  etc. 
An  exciting  topic  at  this  time  w^as  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  California,  and  several  parties  went  there 
from  Reading,  but  their  discouraging  letters  dis- 
pelled the  charm,  and  the  excitement  subsided.  \  ar- 
ious  political  questions  agitated  the  people,  and  one 
of  them,  that  of  slavery,  caused  the  Presidential 
campaign  of  18."')r)  to  be  particularly  enthusiastic. 

.•\  public  high  school  was  established  in  18.5->,  and 
the  taxpayers"  realized  tlie  i>roinises  of  its  projectors 
in  afifording  advanced  education  to  such  as  attended 


r)r' 


1   :      ;     ;, ■(:>(: 


)ii; 


■:"^    J'    .'.'   :ii: 


READING 


161 


the  common  schools.  The  greatest  freshet  in  tlie 
Sclniylkill  \'allcy  occurrcfl  in  1850,  and  the  people  «)f 
Ker.ding  suffered  damages  estimated  at  more  than 
i;.-)(iO.0'JO.  On  Jan.  8,  1854,  the  I'hiladelphia  and 
Iveading  Railroad  Company  machine  shops  on  Sev- 
enth between  Franklin  and  Chesinnt  streets  were 
ilestroyed  by  fire,  causing  a  loss  of  SoO.OOO,  which 
was  the  most  destructive  fire  at  Reading  until  that 
time:  and  on  April  20,  1857,  the  roof  of  the  same 
shop  broke  down  for  a  space  of  40  by  180  feet  b} 
reason  of  a  great  fall  of  snow  on  the  day  before 
(Sunday),  followed  by  rain,  this  happening  while 
three  hundred  workmen  were  underneath,  all  of 
whom  escaped  unhurt. 

1857-67. — In  the  decade  from  1857  to  18G7,  the 
Civil  wiar  was  the  most  engrossing  subject  which  en- 
gaged the  attention  of  the  people.  ]Many  companies 
of  men  were  enlisted  here,  and  the  excitement  on 
many  occasions  was  intense.  The  people  of  the  city 
supported  the  government  devotedly  and  liberally  in 
its  great  efforts  to  suppress  the  Rebellion.  In  18G3, 
houses  were  numbered  by  councils  by  an  admirable 
system  through  the  efforts  of  Jacob  Knabb,  post- 
master, to  facilitate  and  dispatch  the  delivery  of  let- 
ters. The  streets  were  regulated  by  a  topographical 
survey  from  18G4  to  18G7,  and  the  fixing  of  lines  and 
grades  encouraged  building  operations,  especially  in 
the  northern  section  of  the  city.  The  waterworks 
were  purchased  by  Councils  in  18<j5.  Eft'orts  were 
made  to  improve  the  cil  v  charter  bv  ameiidments  in 
18G1   and  1SG4. 

The  Firemen's  Union  was  organized  in  18G1. 
The  co-education  of  boys  and  girls  in  the  high  school 
was  started  in  1851),  and  all  the  wards  were  consoli- 
dated into  one  district  for  school  jiurposes  in  18G4. 
The  people  were  active  and  energetic  in  every  de- 
partment of  life,  and  the  wealth  of  the  community 
was  increased  millions  of  dollars.  Weekly  news- 
papers became  more  thoroughly  circulated,  and  the 
daily  newspaper  was  successfully  established  in 
1858.  Postal  facilities  were  increased  to  the  great 
convenience  of  the  people :  and  another  railroad  was 
extended  to  the  soutliwest  in  18G4.  aft'ording  direct 
communication  with  I^ncaster  and  Columbia.  Poli- 
tical e.Kcitement  reached  tlie  highest  point  wliich  the 
community  was  able  to  bear  without  resulting  in 
a  public  disturbance. 

1867-77. —In  the  third  decade  from  18G7  to  1877, 
general  enterprise  was  very  active  in  the  beginning 
and  continued  so  for  several  years,  but  then  it  began 
to  decline  and  finally  showed  marked  effects  from 
the  financial  panic  which  prevailed  throughout  the 
country.  Great  fires  at  Chicago  in  1871,  and  at 
r>oston  in  1872,  destroyed  much  property,  resulting 
in  losses  amounting  to  more  than  $200,000,0(10,  and 
a  large  proportion  had  to  be  paid  bv  fire  insurance 
companies,  located  in  ditlerent  parts  of  the  country. 
whicii  caused  great  embarrassment.  It  seemed  that 
some  evil  genius  hovered  over  this  commum'ty  also, 
because  there  were  many  acts  of  inccnrliarism  in 
tlie  most  populous  parts  of  tlie  citv  about  that  time, 
11 


but  the  volunteer  fire  companies  by  their  vigilance 
previ-nted  serious  lc»sses. 

In  1872,  two  steam  fire  engines  were  added  to  the 
fire  department,  and  in  IS'lL!  the  electric  fire  alarni 
system  was  introduced,  which  immediately  demon- 
strated its  great  value.  The  old  market-houses 
were  removed  in  ]S71,  and  private  buildings  for 
market  purposes  were  substituted.  The  limits  of 
the  citv  were  extended  northward  in  l^)71,  increas- 
ing the  area  to  more  than  3,200  acres.  .-\  large 
modern  hall  for  amusements  was  erected  in  1872 
on  the  north  side  of  East  Penn  Square,  which  af- 
forded increased  opportunities  for  witnessing 
dramatic  and  operatic  performances.  The  postal 
card  was  introduced  in  1873,  and  the  business  of 
the  post-office  was  largely  increased.  The  P.  & 
R.  R.  Co.  erected  a  large  and  commodious  "Union 
Station"  at  the  junction  of  its  several  lines  of  rail- 
road, v.'hich  was  opened  for  travel  on  Aug.  3,  1874. 

The  general  Act  of  1874,  for  the  government  of 
cities  of  the  third  class — which  included  Reading — 
was  accepted;  the  water  of  Antietam  creek  was  ap- 
propriated by  the  city  and  a  storage  reservoir  was 
constructed  in  Alsace  township  with  a  capacity  for 
30,000.000  gallons.  Railroad  communication'  was 
extended  by  completing  the  road  to  Wilmington  to 
the  south,  and  to  Slatington  to  the  north  ;  and  a 
street  railway  was  introduced  along  Penn  and  Sixth 
streets.  The  "Centennial  Exhibition"  at  Philadel- 
phia w^as  a  prominent  subject  for  several  years,  es- 
pecially from  May  ]0th  to  Nov.  loth,  1S7G:  and  the 
display  of  productions  by  Reading  manufacturers 
and  of  educational  work  by  the  Reading  school 
district  was  highly  complimented.  The  management 
of  the  schools  by  the  first  city  superintendent,  elected 
in  18G7,  proved  very  successful,  and  during  the 
decade  ten  large  brick  buildings  were  erected. 

In  October.  18G0,  there  was  an  unusual  freshet, 
the  river  rising  twenty-three  feet  and  intlicting 
damages  to  the  shops  along  the  river  amounting  to 
$50,000.  ,On  Sunda-,  June  26,  1870,  the  P.  <!t  R. 
R.  Co.  car  shops  at'  Sixth  and  Oley  streets  (168 
bv  710  feet)  were  destroyed  by  fire,  causing  a  loss 
of  more  than  $100,000;  and  on' Jan.  16,  1872,  there 
was  another  large  and  costly  fire  at  Fifth  and  Penn 
streets,  Vvdiich  destroyed  Stichter's  hardware  store. 
Ebner's  building,  old  "State-House,"  and  other 
buildings  on  Fifth  street,  resulting  in  a  loss  exceed- 
ing $100,000.  The  building  and  savings  associa- 
tions were  in  a  flouri^hing  condition. 

The  political  sentiment  of  the  people  manifested 
a  great  change,  and  the  process  of  changing  from 
the  Democratic  party  to  the  Republican  by  1876 
had  developed  a  high'degree  of  excitement,  the  elec- 
tion returns  of  that  year  causing  the  loudest  demon- 
strations ever  witnessed  at  Reading.  Enterprise 
reached  out  in  different  branches  of  industry,  giv- 
ing employment  to  a  largely  increased  number  of 
mechanics  and  laborers.  Merchants  showed  a  high 
appreciation  of  the  value  of  advertising  in  liKal 
newspapers,  and  as  they  .attracted  the  residents  to 
their  stores,  the  Philadelphia  merchants  did  the  same 


M    ff'Tiv 


-■-I     .r. 


162 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PICXXSYLVAXIA 


to  theirs  bv  advertising  their  goods  in  the  Reading 
newspapers. 

iSj-j-Sj-.—The  fourth  decade  from  ISTT  to  jSST 
went  far  in  advance  of  the  previous  decades  in  pub- 
h'c  affairs,  private  enterprises  and  social  amuse- 
ments. It  started  witli  a  serious  disturbance  on  ac- 
count of  the  labor  question,  which  culminated  in  a 
riot  on  July  'i'o,  ISTT,  causing  the  death  of  ten  per- 
sons, and  the  wounding  of  thirty-nine,  and  the  loss 
of  the  large  bridge  across  the  Schuylkill  on  the 
Lebanon  \'alley  railroad.  The  riot  took  place  along 
Seventh  street  at  and  above  Penn.  The  strike  was 
general,  extending  through  Penns\lvania  and  other 
States.  In  the  previous  decade,  allusion  was  made 
to  the  panic,  but  it  did  not  seriously  affect  Reading. 
However,  conditions  generally  grew  worse  and  on 
Nov.  18,  1ST7,  the  Reading  Savings  Bank,  Bush- 
ong's  Bank,  and  Dime  Savings  Bank  suspended, 
which  caused  the  greatest  financial  excitement  that 
Reading  ever  felt. 

An  earnest  beginning  for  a  city  park  was  made 
in  ISTS,  by  cleaning  up  and  improving  the  trian- 
giilar  part  of  the  Common  which  adjoined  Perki- 
onien  avenue  and  Plill  road,  this  having  been  done 
by  taxpayers  in  the  vicinity,  who  raised  over  $6,000 
by  voluntary  contributions;  and  in  1884,  councils 
instituted  legal  steps  to  recover  that  part  of  the 
Common  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  Berks 
County  Agricultural  Society  since  1852,  and  they 
were  successful.  The  co-education  of  boys  and 
girls  vv-as  found  unsatisfactory,  and  in  1881,  after  a 
trial  of  twenty-two  years,  they  were  separated,  the 
girls  remaining  in  the  high  school  building.  In 
1883  the  commodious  Boys'  High  School  was  erect- 
ed, and  then  the  school  controllers  transferred  their 
meeting  place  and  oflices  to  it.  In  that  year,  the 
county  bridges  at  Reading  were  declared  free,  and 
electric  power  began  to  be  supplied  for  shops  and 
factories. 

'I'he  waterworks  were  much  enlarged  in  1.'->S0 
and  1881.  increasing  the  storage  over  fifty  million 
gallons.  The  building  and  savings  associations  were 
in  a  flourishing  condition,  twenty-five  having  been 
kept  up  whose  payments  and  investments  ran  into 
millions  of  dollars.  Societies  of  all  kinds  were 
very  active,  particularly  secret,  beneficial  and  social, 
numbering  altogether  150.  and  their  membership  in- 
cluding almost  every  man  of  age  in  the  commun- 
ity. Factories  of  all  kinds  were  carried  on  exten- 
sively, especially  for  hats,  stoves,  cigars  and  build- 
ing materials.  And  one  of  the  most  important 
events  in  the  decade  -was  the  construction  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Scimylkill  \'allcy  railroad  in  1884,  and 
the  direct  connection  with  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road system  thereby  afforded.  And  at  the  close 
of  the  decade,  three  additional  banks  and  two 
trust  companies  were  started ;  the  street  rail- 
way companies  were  consolidated  in  the  United 
Traction  Company  with  over  fifty  miles  of  track, 
carrying  annually  over  five  million  passengers, 
and  the  Pvcading  Hospital  and  St.  Joseph's  Hospital 


were   erected.     The   major   part  of   the  population 
shifted  north  of  Penn  street. 

iSSj--pj:— The  fifth  decade  from  18^7  to  l.^'jr 
was  more  active  than  the  previous  decades  in  every 
department  of  life.  Progress  was  remarkable,  ex- 
ceeding everything  in  the  previous  history  of  the 
place.  Tiie  supply  of  water  was  largely  increased 
by  the  introduction  of  the  water  from  the  I\Iaiden 
creek;  Penn  Common  was  improved  year  after 
vear  until  it  came  to  be  the  most  attractive  spot 
within  the  limits  of  the  city  ;  the  school  buildings 
were  increased  in  number  and  improved  in  charac- 
ter, and  so  were  the  churches  (twenty  new  build- 
ings having  been  erected),  the  moneys  appropriated 
and  collected  for  these  two  purposes  surpassing  all 
previous  efl'orts ;  the  United  States  government  sup- 
plied a  superior  building  for  post-office  purposes; 
the  subject  of  streets  and  sewers  was  agitated  for 
a  long  while  with  apparently  little  progress  in  be- 
half of  these  public  improvements,  but  it  prevailed 
eventually,  and  the  years  189G  and  1897  becanie 
notable,  a  million  dc»llars  having  been  expended  in 
their  construction;  public  demonstrations,  parades, 
excursions,  and  conventions  were  unusual  in  num- 
ber and  character,  wdiich  developed  the  reputatioTi 
of  Reading  as  a  place  of  industr}-,  substantial  wealth 
and  superior  advantages  to  a  remarkable  degree. 

The  street  railway  system  was  extended  very 
much,  and  tb.e  mountain  roads  were  established. 
Electricity  as  a  motive  power  for  running  the  street 
cars  was  applied  to  the  cars  on  the  East  Reading 
and  the  Reading  and  Soutli  Western  lines  of  street 
railway  in  1800  and  1891,  and  it  was  extended  to 
all  the  lines  in  the  city  in  1893;  and  it  came  to  be 
more  generally  used  for  lighting  public  and  private 
places  and  for  pov.er  in  shops  and  stores.  It  caused 
the  extension  of  street  railways  into  the  rural  dis- 
tricts to  the  east  and  south  of  Reading. 

Industrial  establishments  for  the  manufacture 
of  various  articles  were  erected,  especially  for  steel, 
hosiery,  cigars  and  bicycles,  aft'ording  employment 
to  several  thousand  additional  persons,  and  yiekl- 
ing  to  the  community  over  a  million  dollars  in 
wages,  and  reaching  ottt  in  trading  relations  \yith 
alf  parts  of  the  world.  Over  five  thousand  bicy- 
cles came  into  general  use  in  Reading.  The  great- 
est fires  in  the  history  of  the  city  occurred,  the 
losses  reaching  a  million  dollars,  three  worthy  of 
special  mention  being  the  Carpenter  Steel  Mill. 
Reading  Ilardware  Works,  and  Stornhergh  Nut  and 
Bolt  Works ;  and  the  city  was  visited  by  the  great- 
est .storm  in  1S89,  it  having  demolished  the  silk  mill 
and  part  of  the  East  Penn  railroad  shop,  killing 
twentv-two  persons  and  injuring  more  than  one 
hundred. 

Steam  healing  came  to  be  supplied  in  the  cen- 
tral part  of  town  along  Sixth,  Fifth  and  l\nm 
streets,  and  to  be  gradually  introduced  in  dv.-ellings. 
General  laundry  work  received  encouragement;  and 
the  washing  machine  was  being  substituted  in  the 
place  of  the  wash-board  and  tub  to  reduce  manual 
labor  in  douK-stic  life.     And  j)laning-nii!l  work  was 


■'.1     'r.[t 


'!■'''       >  ■ 


READING 


163 


much  increased  in  supplying  doors,  windows, 
frames,  etc.,  for  buildiny  operations.  Cold  stor- 
age was  introduced  and  the  use  of  artificial  ice  much 
appreciated;  and  the  creamery  as  an  institution  re- 
ceived greater  recognition. 

Four  noteworthy  large  industrial  plants  were 
started,  the  Reading  Iron  Company,  Reading  Paper 
Mills,  the  Carpenter  Steel  Mill  and  the  Si'lk  Mill. 
Department  stores  were  enlarged.  \'itrified  brick 
began  to  be  used  for  buildings  and  pavements  ;-and 
the  value  of  concrete  work  and  cement  more  ap- 
preciated. Telephone  wires  began  to  be  laid  in  con- 
duits in  the  central  portions  of  the  city  and  the  use 
of  the  telephone  was  very  much  increased  and  ex- 
tended; two  popular  amusement  halls  were  estab- 
lished, Rajah  Temple  and  Auditorium:  also  three 
more  charitable"  institutions,  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
hall. 

Building  and  loan  associations  were  still  kept  up, 
over  fifty  liaving  been  in  successful  operation.  A 
board  of  city  assessors  was  established  for  the  uni- 
form assessment  of  real  estate ;  and  also  a  board  of 
public  works  for  the  supervision  of  public  improve- 
ments. Five  more  wards  were  erected,  making 
the  total  number  sixteen.  Building  operations  add- 
ed several  thousand  dwellings  to  the  citv ;  and  the 
great  increase  in  the  assessed  value  of  properly 
caused  the  total  value  to  surpass  the  total  value  of 
all  the  country  di'stricts  taken  together. 

Nf)twithstanding  this  apparent  improvement  and 
enrichment  of  the  community,  the  tinancial  condi- 
tion of  the  country  was  extremely  distressing  dur- 
ing the  last  four  years,  owing  to  the  suspension 
of  mannfactures  and  the  closing  of  industrial  plants 
of  every  description,  which  caused  innumeral)le  fail- 
ures and  enonnous  losses.  This  was  brought  about 
by  a  change  in  respect  to  the  tariff.  The  previous 
term  of  four  years  had  been  favorable  to  it,  but 
the  term  during  these  four  \ears  uas  unfavorable. 
The  business  affairs  at  Reading  kept  moving  right 
along  nevertheless.  Fortunately,  the  large  iron 
plants  and  diversified  industrial  enterprises  were 
too  strong  and  sound  to  be  shaken. 

All  our  financial  institutions  had  the  unquaHficd 
confidence  of  the  people,  and  they  sustained  their 
patrons  with  commendable  courage  and  indulgence 
as  well  as  each  other,  therebv  displaying  in  a  re- 
markable manner  the  great  utility  of  well-conduct- 
ed banks  in  such  a  crisis.  In  looking  for  the  reason 
of  the  onward  movement  of  our  local  affairs  in 
spite  of  adverse  circumstances  during  that  trying 
poriod,  it  was  found  that  the  banks  were  the  strong- 
hold which  enabled  our  manufacturers  and  mer- 
chants to  stanrl  the  extraordinary  strain;  and  there- 
fore this  special  mention  of  it  is  marie. 

iSo/-T()op. — The  decade  just  closed  fmm  1897  to 
the  present  time  also  embraced  a  number  of  remark- 
able improvements  in  the  fnrther  development  of 
Reading. 

The  population  started  with  about  70.000,  nnrl 
the  annual  increase  was  about  ^.noo.  .\n  earnest 
and  successful  effort  was  made  for  improved  streets 


by  laying  down  asphaltum  and  vitrified  brick  on 
a  concrete  foundation  at  the  close  of  the  previous 
decade,  starting  on  Sixth  street  and  Court  street 
at  the  Court-Ilouse,  and  then  on  Penn  street,  and 
extending  to  other  streets  until  1902,  with  a  total 
expenditure  of  $350,000,  and  accomplishing  a  total 
length  of  ten  miles.  The  marked  improvement  was 
highly  appreciated  by  the  taxpayers. 

While  this  was  going  on,  sewers  were  laid  for 
surface,  and  aho  house,  drainage,  embracing  the 
city  from  Washington  street  south  and  Eleventh 
street  west;  the  former  having  been  paid  by  the 
public  at  an  expense  of  $250,000,  and  the  latter  by 
the  abutting  property  holders  at  an  expense  of 
$231,000  (excepting  the  cost  of  the  mains,  about 
$50,000).  This  was  necessary  on  account  of  the 
largely  increased  flow  of  water  in  heavy  rain-storms 
which  flooded  the  streets  and  damaged  the  adjoining 
properties;  particularly  along  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth, 
and  Sixth  streets  to  the  south  of  Penn ;  and  also  on 
account  of  the  commodious  and  costly  buildings 
for  business  purposes  then  erected,  in  which  many 
hundreds  of  persons  assembled  daily. 

The  enlarged  "?>Iansion  House,'"  and  the  depart- 
ment stores  of  C.  K.  W'hilner  &  Co.  and  Dives, 
Pomeroy  &  Stewart,  and  the  ofifice  buildings  of 
George  F.  Baer,  Esq.,  and  the  Colonial  Trust 
Company,  are  worthy  of  special  mention.  The 
Pennsylvania  Trust  Company  had  shortly  before 
put  up  the  first  five-story  building  and  Mr.  Milti- 
mr^rc  Morgan  had  enlarged  the  "'Mansion  House" 
to  the  first  six-story  building;  but  Dives,  Pomeroy 
li:  Stewart  reached  the  seventh  story  and  the  Colon- 
ial Trust  Company  the  nintli  story,  thereby  giving 
the  city  a  truly  metropolitan  appearance. 

In  the  erection  of  the  last  two  mammoth  build- 
ings, structural  iron  was  first  used  for  building 
purposes  at  Reading,  and  while  the  imposing  frame- 
work was  being  put  together,  hundreds  of  people 
IcHikcd  on  in  amazement  not  knowing  which  to  ad- 
mire most,  the  genius  of  the  contractor  or  the  skill 
and  composure  of  the  working-men.  And  here 
these  great  structures  stand  on  Penn  Square,  in 
the  very  center  of  mercantile  and  financial  aft'airs, 
as  monuments  to  local  tnresight  and  enterprise. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Patriotic  Order 
of  Sons  of  America  in  the  city  in  1S97  was  a  note- 
worthy affair  and  until  then  certainly  the  grandest 
public  demonstration  ever  witnessed  in  the  history 
of  the  community.  But  in  1898  even  this  demon- 
stration was  eclipsed  by  the  celebration  of  the 
'"Sesqui-Centennial  of  Reading."  The  local  pride 
of  the  people  asserted  itself  for  a  whole  week  in 
Jiuic.  and  the  ver\'  sun  in  the  sky  seemed  to  co- 
operate with  their  joyful,  determined,  enthusiastic 
sjiirit  in  making  the  wonderful  and  praiseworthy 
undertaking  a  glorious  success.  Though  ten  years 
have  elapsed  since  then,  the  sights  were  so  pleasing 
and  the  sounds  so  in:^piring  that  the  people,  both 
old  and  young,  iiei"e  and  elsewhere,  who  witnessed 
the  celebration,  stijl  talk  of  it  witli  delightful  recol- 
lections. 


•;i;     ' 


■f         f 


U'. 


1C4 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


The  building  operations  were  active  through  the 
entire  period,  and  these  were  particularly  encour- 
aged in  the  northern  part  of  the  city  by  the  costly 
enlargement  of  the  P.  &  R.  R.  Co.  shops.  The 
annual  increase  of  new  dwelling-houses  was  main- 
tained from  year  to  year;  and  during  1905  more 
were  erected  in  the  city  than  in  any  year  before. 
The  extension  of  the  street  railway  system  in 
all  directions  stands  out  prominently  in  this  pt  riod. 
Its  successful  management  midoubtedly  contributed 
a  large  share  in  our  Ux:al  prosperity.  Besides  busy 
industrial  plants  of  all  kinds  and  sufticient  dwelling- 
houses,  the  prompt  and  convenient  transportation 
of  the  working-people  and  their  families  in  and  to 
all  parts  of  the  city,  from  early  in  the  morning  until 
late  at  night,  had  been  a  subject  of  serious  consid- 
eration, but  it  was  appreciated  and  the  demand  sat- 
isfied. As  we  find  iron,  coal  and  steam  mter-rc- 
lated  very  closely  in  our  early  local  development, 
so  do  we  also  tind  shops,  homes  and  street  rail- 
ways equally  inter-related  in  our  most  recent  de- 
velopment. Trolley  extensions  Averc  made  to  the 
north,  cast  and  south,  thereby  increasing  the  facili- 
ties to  the  country  people  for  reaching  the  county- 
seat  with  great  convenience  at  greatly  reduced  cost 
of  travel,  and  at  frequent  intervals,  and  quite  nat- 
urally they  led  to  the  laying  out  of  suburban  towns. 
and  many  persons  soon  appreciated  the  desirability 
of  these  touns  as  dwelling  j/laces. 

The  Reading  Library  had  been  carried  on  with 
more  or  less  micertainty  since  its  reorganization 
in  1868;  but  in  the  beginning  of  this  decade  it  be- 
came a  free  institution  through  the  liberality  of 
some  of  our  citi-^ens,  and  the  enthusiastic  spirit 
then  displayed  has  continued  until  now,  with  an 
ever  increasing  interest  in  its  success.  And  the 
Historical  .Society  was  again  revived  and  a  strong 
interest  shown  in  its  welfare.  The  members  secured 
a  building,  after  having  held  their  meetings  for 
several  year>  in  the  (^ourt- House,  and  the  nucleus 
of  a  library  of  historical  works  was  collected. 

A  new  feeling  was  developed  for  outdoor  exer- 
cise which  culminated  in  the  organization  of  a  golf 
club  and  within  several  years  a  fme  property  was 
secured.  The  "Berkshire  Club"'  became  recognized 
at  once  for  its  social  prominence.  Bowling  Was 
also  prominent  and  several  new  alleys  were  estab- 
lished. It  was  indulcred  in  by  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  young  and  middle-aged  men,  and  also  some 
young  women.  Clubs  were  orgtmized  and  much 
rivalry  was  shown  in  com])eting  games.  Basket- 
ball was  another  indoor  sport  which  won  much  at- 
tention;  and  there  was  a  revival  of  interest  in  base- 
ball. Card-playing  was  indulged  in  by  all  classes 
of  society,  with  many  devotees  at  progressive  eu- 
chre, duplicate  whist,  and  bridge.  .-Vnd  the  patron- 
age of  the  theatre  and  of  amusements  of  all  kinds, 
such  as  fairs,  balls  and  athletics,  was  never  so  e.x- 
tensive  as  at  the  close  of  the  period  ;  indeed,  it  had 
become  so  prominent  by  children  of  l>oth  sexes  un- 
der fourteen  years  of  age  as  to  cxc'te  pul)lic  criti- 
cism. 


The  one  great  channel  which  made  this  high  de- 
gree of  prosj)erity  so  continuous  w-as  the  satisfac- 
tory condition  and  superb  co-operative  managemciu 
of  our  financial  institutions.  Their  total  resourcrs 
had  multiplied  gradually  until  they  were  in  exce-s 
of  ■  $23,0<;H^.000 ;  and  by  the  daily  handling  of  this 
large  sum  of  money,  both  in  receiving  it  and  then 
in  paying  it  out  by  checking  and  cashing,  in 
amounts  ranging  from  a  few  dollars  to  many  thou- 
sands, from  all  parts  of  Pernsylvania  and  of  the 
United  States,  as  well  as  in  the  city  itself,  our  nine 
banks  and  tive  trust  companies  had  come  to  do  an 
annual  volume  of  business  which  reached  the  enor- 
mous total  of  ^000,000,000.  The  annual  check  e.v- 
changes  of  these  depositaries  at  their  clearing- 
house for  the  }ear  1008  footed  up  SG4,652,121 ;  and 
the  exchanges  for  the  month  of  Januan,-,  190D, 
amounted  to  $.l;,7"i0,.j61,  an  increase  of  one  million 
dollars  more  than  the  exchanges  for  the  month  of 
January.  1005.  For  an  inland  city,  competing  with 
metro])olitan  places  at  tide-water  whose  resources 
are  superabundant  and  whose  influence  for  business 
is  both  powerful  and  far-reaching,  this  was  truly 
surprising. 

Paving  additional  streets  with  vitrified  brick  was 
continued  during  the  latter  half  of  this  decade;  ad- 
ditional sections  of  the  Rose  \^alley  creek  sewer 
were  constructed ;  and  the  improved  beds  on  Fritz's 
Island  for  filtering  the  house-sewage  were  estab- 
lished, changing  from  sand  filtration  to  sprinkling 
filtration  at  "an  expense  of  over  ,$200,000,  and  win- 
ning the  praise  of  the  best  sanitary  engineers  in  the 
country,  who  showed  much  critical  interest  in  their 
construction. 

Arrangements  were  made  by  the  water  board 
for  establishinc'  two  large  additional  filtering  beds 
for  filtering  the  water  of  Bernhart's  creek  and 
-\Iaiden  creek  at  a  cost  of  .S500,00ii,  which  will 
largely  increase  the  supply  of  good  and  clean  drink- 
ing water  for  the  citizens :  and  the  'Spring  street 
subway  was  constructed  in  1907-08-00  at  a  cost  of 
$150,000,  which  opened  a  safe  passage>vay  at  all 
times  between  the  northeastern  and  northwestern 
sections  of  the  city.  Building  operations  contin- 
ued active  and  extensive  during  the  decade,  but  in 
1908  they  fell  ofif  about  three-fourths  on  account 
of  the  depressed  condition  of  the  time.-,. 

Roller-skating  .vas  revived  at  the  clo^c  of  the 
decade  and  manv  persons  became  as  enthusiastic 
on  the  subiect  as  others  had  become  over  thirty 
-years  before;  and  the  five-cent  moving  picture 
shows  and  cheap  vaudeville  entertainments  were 
introduced,  which  immediately  won  great  favor  and 
patronag'e. 

The  suburban  towns  ("whose  occupants  are  almost 
entirelv  employed  in  Reading)  have  shown  a 
marked  increase  in  dwellings  and  jiopulation,  and 
four  additional  boroughs  to  the  west  and  south- 
west have  been  erected. 

Riot  in  1877. — The  great  riot  at  Reading  w.is 
an  extraordinarv  event  in  th.c  history  of  our  coin- 
munitv.     On  Saturday,  July  21,  1877,  great  excite- 


'tri    U.   ;:. 


READING 


165 


iiu'iit  prevailed  in  the  city,  owing  to  the  general 
-trike  of  railroad  trainmen  in  the  following-  States : 
N'ew  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware, 
Maryland,  We^t  Virginia,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois 
and  Missouri.  The  central  point  of  excitement  here 
was  at  Seventh  and  I'cnn  streets,  where  many  men 
gathered  to  discuss  the  situation.  At  that  time  the 
excitement  at  Pittsburg  was  intense,  ending  shortly 
thereafter  in  tlie  great  destruction  of  railroad  prop- 
erty, which  consisted  of  huildings,  cars,  etc.,  and 
in  the  loss  of  at  least  a  score  of  lives. 

On  the  next  day,  the  situation  was  naturally 
worse  owing  to  the  news  from  Pittsburg,  and  more 
men  crowded  at  the  point  named ;  but  there  was  no 
disorderly  dem.onstration  of  any  kind  during  the 
day.  Bj  10  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  crowd  had 
moved  to  the  passenger  station,  where  the  men 
greeted  the  last  train  from  Philadelphia  (10:30) 
with  shouts  and  yells.  Then  the  excitement  became 
uncontrollable.  The  crowd  moved  westwardly  on 
the  Lebanon  Valley  railroad,  and  fire  and  destruc- 
tion of  property  followed.  Railroad  tracks  were 
torn  up,  and  certain  cabooses  and  freight  cars  were 
set  on  fire  which  resulted  in  a  general  alarm  of 
fire,  and  the  response  of  the  fire  department ;  and 
during  the  terrible  excitement  in  and  about  the 
"cut,"  near  Sixth  street,  whither  all  attention  had 
been  directed,  the  costly  radroad  bridge,  which 
spanned  the  river  within  a  mile  to  the  west,  was 
set  on  fire  and  entirely  destroyed.  The  bright 
flames,  which  flashed  high  into  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  attracted   thousands  of  people  to  the   place. 

The  nev/s  shocked  the  whole  community.  Crowds 
had  gathered  on  Saturday,  innocently,  apjiarently, 
but  unlawfully,  without  any  earnest  movement  from 
the  police  to  disperse  them,  and  property  had  been 
destroyed  on  Sunday.  On  Monday,  the  newspapers 
were  almost  wholly  taken  up  with  vivid  descriptions 
of  the  excited  condition  of  the  community  and  of 
the  destructive  work  of  incendiaries.  Throughout 
the  day,  great  excitement  prevailed,  and  as  the 
night  approached  it  grew  greater.  The  four  cor- 
ners of  Seventh  and  Penn  streets  were  again 
crowded  hour  after  hour,  subject  to  a  weak  pro- 
test ;  but  without  any  determined  effort  from  muni- 
cipal or  county  authorities  to  clear  the  highway. 
Trains  w,cre  stopped,  coal  cars  detached  and  many 
tons  of  coal  dumped  upon  the  track  for  several 
hundred  feet. 

With  this  state  of  affairs,  the  (i  o'clock  passenger 
train  approached  the  city  around  the  bend  of  "Nev- 
ersink,"  and  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  engine  never 
sounded  in  such  a  piercing  manner.  The  engineer 
remained  bravely  at  his  post;  the  command  was 
given  to  proceed  forward  at  full  speed,  and  for- 
ward indeed  he  directed  his  engine  at  the  rate  of 
forty-five  miles  an  hour  over  the  blockaded  track. 
I'ortunately  the  train  passed  through  safely,  but 
the  ])coi)le  scattered  pell-mell  for  their  lives,  coals 
were  thrown  high  into  the  air,  and  a  dense  cloud 
of  black  dust  obscured  e^■erything  ronnd  abor.t  for 
a  time.     .\t  the  passenger  station,  great  excitement 


arose  immediately  after  the  arrival  of  this  train. 
The  next  dov.n  train  was  stopped  in  the  cut,  and 
this  daring  proceeding  drew  the  crowd  from  the 
depot  and  intensified  the  excitement  at  Seventh  and 
Penn  streets.  And  the  people  remained  at  that 
point,  immovable.  Proclamations  by  the  sheriff 
and  earnest  appeals  by  the  p(jliccmen  did  not  make 
tiie  slightest  impression  upon  thc:n.  The  vast  mul- 
titude were  in  sympathy  with  the  riotous  demon- 
strations. And  so  matters  remained  for  nearlv  two 
hours,  apparently  growing  worse  as  the  darkness 
of  night  fell  upon  the  community.  Then,  however, 
a  sudden  change  arose.  And  what  agent  was  this 
that  could,  as  it  were,  in  a  moment,  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye,  separate  a  maddened,  threatening 
crowd,  when  sober,  sensible  appeals  to  citizens  who 
had  theretofore  been  a  law-abiding  people,  were 
wholly  unavailing?  It  was  the  bullet.  This  acted 
upon  them  as  eft'ectually  as  the  lightning  upon  rest- 
less, thickening  clouds  in  a  portentous  sky. 

About  8  o'clock,  seven  companies  of  the  4th 
Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  \'olunteers,  numbering 
about  two  hundred  men.  imder  the  command  of 
Gen.  Franklin  Reeder,  arrived  at  the  railroad  sta- 
tion in  the  city,  viz. : 

Com])any  B,  Allen  Rifles,  Allentown ;  Company 
D,  Allen  Continentals.  Allentown ;  Company  E, 
Blue  Mountain  Legion,  Hamburg;  Company  F, 
Easton  Grays,  Ea^ton ;  Company  H,  Slatington 
Rifles,  Slatington ;  Company  I,  Catasauqua ;  Com- 
pany K,  Portland,  Northam[)t'in  county. 

After  some  consultation  they  were  marched  down 
the  railroad  and  through  the  "cut"  toward  Penn 
street  to  liberate  the  train  there.  On  the  way,  they 
were  attacked  by  persons  on  the  elevated  pave- 
ments wdio  threw  stones  and  bricks  upon  them. 
They  did  not  fire  in  self-defense,  but  moved  on 
bravely.  Nearing  Penn  street,  the  situation  be- 
came so  dangerous  that  some  of  the  men,  by  some 
order  or  mistaken  conmiand,  shot  off  their  rifles. 
P>ricks  and  stones  were  thrown  with  increased  en- 
ergy, and  many  shots  followed.  The  crowd  immed- 
iately scattered,  and  men  were  seen  bearing  away 
the  wounded  and  killed.  \Vith  the  dispersing 
crowd,  the  soldiers  also  became  disordered,  and 
the  companies  disorganized.  Tlieir  conduct  was 
disgraceful,  and  the  whole  community,  and  es])e- 
ciallv  the  management  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Read- 
ing Railroad  Company,  lost  confidence  in  them  as 
a  means  of  restoring  order  or  presen.-ing  ]-)eace. 
A  battery  of  United  States  Regular  Artillery, 
equip])ed  as  infantry,  then  came  here  shortly  after- 
ward, imder  the  command  of  General  Hamilton, 
and  remained  until  peace,  order  and  safety  v.-cre 
assured.  The  fidelity  of  G.  A.  Nicolls  and  George 
F.Itz  as  officials  of  the  railroad  at  this  point,  in  the 
perilous  situation  of  affairs  then  existing,  was 
highlv  commendable. 

This  riot  resulted  in  the  killing  of  ten  citizens 
(Milton  Trace,  James  J-  Fisher,  Ludwig  Hoffman, 
John  H.  Weaver.  Lewis  .-\.  F.i-^enhower.  John  .\. 
Cassidy,  John  A.  Wunder,  Daniel  Naclitrieb,  Elias 


■HV.>    ll/Ol      M^. 


,■  ■  ■•      ,  !     .  '■::;:  m!'v     Sm;-        , 

'      .    .  •--..;     '    .  ■        In  .     i,     -;, 

!j     - 1  y.h.  -  •  ■         •  .■     ^»i..ii  r    :      -J 


'/ 


166 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COl'XTY,    rENXSYL\'AXIA 


Shafer  and  Howard  Cramp)  ;  and  the  wounding'  of 
twenty-seven  persons  (including  four  policemen) 
and  twelve  soldiers. 

Dr.  Georg-e  S.  Goodhart,  the  coroner  of  the 
county,  then  held  an  inquest  to  inquire  into  the  loss 
of  life;  and  after  hearing  a  number  of  witnesses 
reported  on  Aug.  7,  18T7,  that  the  death  of  the  per- 
sons named  was  caused  by  the  military  who  were 
here  by  direction  of  the  State  authorities  firing  upon 
the  rioters,  and  the  terrible  tragedy  was  directly 
attributed  to  the  lawless  assembling  of  persons  at 
Seventh  and  Penn  streets. 

Many  men  -vvcre  arrested  and  indicted  for  alleged 
implication  in  this  riot.  Two  of  them  pleailed 
guilty  and  were  .=;entcnccd  to  imprisonment  for  five 
years.  There  was  a  hotly  contested  trial  of  an- 
other, from  Oct.  2d  to  the  Gth,  but  he  was  acquitted. 
The  following  week,  fourteen  were  tried  and  all 
were  acquitted  excepting  one,  who  was  convicted 
of  inciting-  to  riot ;  and  the  third  week,  forty  wvre 
called  for  trial  but  the  prosecution  was  abandoned. 
These  trials  caused  great  excitement.  F.  B.  Gowcn, 
the  president  of  the  P.  &  R.  R.  Co.,.  conducted  the 
prosecution  of  these  cases  in  person. 

Sesqui-Centenxial. — The  town  plan  of  Read- 
ing was  laid  out  by  the  Pcnns  in  1748,  and  in  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  the  place  was  developed  to 
great  proportions  in  every  department  of  life.  The 
Board  of  Trade,  appreciating  the  uti'ity  and  impor- 
tance of  properlv  observing  the  Sesqui-Cectennial, 
took  action  at  an  annual  meeting  on  Feb.  IS,  1>;'.)7, 
and  on  Sept.  2d  following,  a  joint  committee  was 
appointed,  comprising  a  special  committee  from 
city  councils  and  the  committee  on  Alunicipal 
Affairs  of  the  Board.  This  General  Committee  held 
its  first  meeting  on  Sept.  9th,  and  in  several  months 
a  program  of  festivities  was  adoi)ted  and  an  execu- 
tive committee  appointed  which  selected  thirty-two 
separate  committees  to  make  all  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements, and  authorized  the  compiler  of  this 
history  to  publish  a  concise  History  of  Reading 
including  the  proceedings  relating  to  the  .Sesqui- 
Centennial.  \\'eekly  meetings  were  held  until  June 
3,  1898,  and  all  the  commiitees  co-operated  heartily 
toward  making  the  anniversary  a  grand  success. 
The  official  program  was  arranged  to  embrace  the 
second  week  of  June,  from  Sundav  the  5th  to  Sat- 
urday the  11th,  as  follows: 

Sunday,  June  5tli.  Opciiing  Day,  with  church  services 
in  the  niorninp;.  aiul  innsical  concerts  in  the  afternoon. 

Monday,  June  6tli.  Citizens'  Day.  with  pnblic  reception 
in  the  court-house  in  tlie  mornincr,  Civic  Parade  in  the 
afternoon,  and  electric  illuminations  and  fireworks  in  the 
evening.  .        , 

Tuesday,  June  ~lh.  Wnmen's  and  Children's  Day,  with 
public  receptions  at  .\cadeniy  of  Music  and  court-house  in 
the  morning,  School  Parade  in  the  afternoon,  and  grand 
illumination  and  choral  concert  in  the  evening. 

]Ved)iesday,  June  Silt,  public  reccplion  nt  the  court-house 
in  the  morning  and  Firemen's  Parade  in  tlv:>  afternoon. 

Thursday,  June  gth,  public  reception  at  tb.c  court-house 
in  the  morning,  and  Industrial  P.irade  in  the  afternoon. 

Friday,  June  loth,  piililir  reception  at  the  ciiirt-liouse 
in  the  morning,  Ca\alcade  ai'd  Corse  and  I'icycle  Races  in 


the  afternoon,  and  Bicycle  Flambeau   Parade  in  the  even- 
ing. 

Saturday .  June  nth,  Regatta  and  Serenata  on  the  Scliuvl- 
kill   river  to  conclude  the  festivities. 

This  program  was  carried  out  in  an  admirable 
manner.  Most  o*'  the  stores,  business  places,  fac- 
tories and  dw(  w  all  parts  of  the  city  were 
beautifully  'decorated  with  the  national  flag  and 
with  bunting  in  national  colors,  and  many  places 
displayed  also  the  city  colors  and  citv  hag  which 
had  been  adopted  by  the  committee.  The  electric 
illumination  of  Penn  street  was  superb  and  its 
unique  character  ''ont"'^>i'ted  a  ereat  deal  toward 
the  success  of  the  '  ■--  the  first  time 
in  public  demonsiic^Lions  on  Penn  street  the  people 
remained  on  the  sidewalks.  The  decorations  on  both 
sides  of  Penn  street,  from  Third  to  Eleventh  streets, 
were  particularly  attractive.  All  the  receptions, 
parades,  concerts  and  exhi'-"'  ^  successful 
beyond  the  expectations  erybody,  and  such 
orderly  and  appreciati^  ....ongs  of  people  for  six 
successive  days  on  1  enn  street  had  never  before 
been  witnessed. 

A  fire  o.i  Penn  Square  during  the  Firemen's 
Parade  caused  extraordinary  excitement  for  sev- 
eral hours.  Many  thousands  of  persons  were  in 
the  midst  of  admiring  the  brilliant  display  about  3 
o'clock,  but  at  the  first  tap  of  the  fire  alarm  the 
general  feeling  of  joy  and  congratulation  was  in- 
stantly turned  to  surprise  and  fear,  the  entire  line 
of  procession  flew  into  indescribable  disorder,  and 
all  tiie  firemen  with  their  apparatus  rushed  to  Peitn 
.'Square.  The  dense  mass  of  humanity  pre,scntcd 
a  most  impressive  si.ght.  but  notwithstanding  the 
great  congestion  and  confusion  there  the  \'olunteer 
Fire  Department  displayed  remarkable  efficiency  in 
mastering  the  situation.  The  fire  was  at  No.  .518. 
where  a  cheap  v,';hc1y  store  was  carried  on,  and 
the  smoke  and  flames  from  that  store-room  w-ere 
working  their  way  rapidly  into  Keffer's  queens- 
ware  store  and  Kline,  Eppihimer  &  Co.'s  dry- 
goods  store,  with  indications  of  a  costly  conflagra- 
tion. Fortunately  the  air  was  calm  and  the  depart- 
ment got  control  of  the  fire  by  6  o'clock.  The  loss 
was  about  $60,000.  The  end  of  the  long  and  im- 
posing procession  had  just  reached  Penn  Square 
when  the  alarm  sounded,  so  the  multitudes  on  the 
sidewalks  saw  the  greater  part  of  it  before  it  was 
abandoned. 

Many  visiting  friends  and  strangers  were  hos- 
pitably entertained  by  numerous  families,  and  by 
associations  of  various  kinds.  I\Ir.  and  Mrs.  George 
F.  Baer  displayed  a  remarkable  spirit  of  liberality 
in  welcoming  and  entertaining  many  distinguished 
visitors  at  their  superb  home  "Hawthorne." 

The  compiler  of  this  history  issued  a  compre- 
hensive volume  of  300  pages  as  a  suitable  memento 
of  the  occasion,  embracing  a  brief  historv  of  the 
city  and  its  numerous  industrial  establishment^, 
and  a  concise  narrative  of  the  Sesqui-Centennial. 
which  was  highly  cinnplimcntcd  by  the  executive 
cnmmittce  and  given  a  \^-ide  circulation. 


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TTEE    OF    SESQUI    CENTENNIAL    OF    READING 


EXECUTIVE    COMMI 


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HF-AD    OF    CIVIC    PARADE,    SESQUI    CENTENNIAL    OF    READING 


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DIVISION    or    INDUSTRIAL    PARADE,    SESQUI    CENTENNIAL    OF    READING 


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READIXG 


167 


INDUSTRIES 

Early  Emplovmexts  Beiore  1183. — The  arti- 
sans of  Reading  liave  ahvays  been  recognized  for 
their  ^kill  and  industry.  When  the  town  lots  were 
first  sold,  and  improved  real  estate  was  transferred 
to  succeeding  owners  for  thirty  years  afterward, 
the  employments  of  the  parties  to  the  deeds  were 
usually  added  to  their  names.  An  examination  of 
the  records  iii  the  recorder's  ofhce  reveals  this  fact. 
The  employments  were  quite  diversified,  as  the  fol- 
lowing enumeration  indicates:  bakei,  blacksmith, 
book-binder,  brick-maker,  brewer,  butcher,  cabinet- 
maker, carpenter,  clock-maker,  cooper,  cordwainer, 
felt-maker,  glazier,  gunsmith,  hatter,  joiner,  lock- 
smith, nailer,  potter,  reed-maker,  saddler,  shoemaker, 
tanner,  tailor,  tinner,  tobacconist,  w  eaver,  and 
wheelwright. 

Many  articles  have -been  preserved  and  transmit- 
ted from  one  generation  to  the  other  until  now. 
There  are  instances  where  certain  articles,  such  as 
clocks,  furniture,  coverlets,  silverware,  etc.,  have 
been  handed  down  for  over  a  hundred  years  in  a 
direct  line.  The  workmanship  is  superior,  showing 
thoroughness  and  experience.  These  articles  were 
not  made  for  tlie  residents  of  the  town  and  the  sur- 
rounding settlements  only,  but  to  supply  demands 
from  distant  places.  In  this  respect,  Reading  had 
a  wide  reputation  before  17S3. 

Hat-making  was  the  most  prominent  industry 
then.  Statistics  previous  to  1705  have  not  been 
discovered;  but  a  table  has  been  published,  show- 
ing the  production  of  Pennsylvania  then,  in  which 
Berks  county  ranks  next  to  i'hiladclphia,  having 
had  thirty-eight  hatters  and  produced  ^J.'JOO  fur  hats 
and  54,000  wool  hats  (the  latter  one-third  of  the 
total  production  of  all  the  counties).  The  produc- 
tion of  the  county  was  almost  wholly  from  Reading. 
The  shops  w'ere  small 

Industrial  Character. — In  looking  over  the 
general  situation  of  affairs  until  1783,  it  is  apparent 
that  industry  was  a  distinguishing  characteristic  of 
the  people  and  that  this  was  the  direct  cause  of 
their  prosperity.  The  rapid  growth  of  the  popula- 
tion shows  the  importance  of  the  place.  Business 
relations  extended  to  different  centers  of  trade  and 
commerce.  Many  men  ',\  ere  engaged  in  carrying 
on  general  stores.  They  traded  mostly  with  mer- 
chants at  Philadelphia.  Inn-keepers  were  prom- 
inent men  and  they  took  much  interest  in  local 
government   and   representative  positions. 

In  17G2  there  were  thirty-two  liquor  licenses  is- 
sued by  the  Governor,  upon  recommendation  of  the 
justices.  This  large  number  of  hccnses  for  a  town 
of  oiilv  twelve  hundred  inhabitants  is  a  certain  in- 
dication that  many  persons  from  the  surrounding 
townships  and  distant  places  visited  Reading  to 
transact  business.  Licenses  were,  however,  issued 
to  store-keepers  besides  inn-keeper^ :  and  farmers 
mostly  purcliased  their  lln.iors  there. 

The  erection  of  a  borou'ch  in  1783  for  improved 
local  government  makes  the  developing  process  of 


the  community  apparent.  The  industry  and  enter- 
prise of  the  people  prepared  the  way  for  the  intro- 
duction of  stage-coaches,  pust-office,  newspapers, 
turnpikes,  banks,  bridges,  canals  and  railroads. 
These  improvements  of  a  public  nature  indicate 
a  strong  co-operative  spirit.  JManufacturers,  mer- 
chants and  farmers  kept  themselves  bLisy  agitat- 
ing them,  and  for  their  success  in  overcoming  vari- 
ous obstacles,  and  tinaily  establishing  them,  they 
cannot  be  given  too  much  praise.  Bv  comparing 
their  situation  with  that  which  we  occupy,  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  years  after  those  improve- 
ments had  been  introduced,  we  must  express  sur- 
prise  at  their  undertakings   and  accomplishments. 

Early  Traffic. — The  following  statement  shows 
the  extent  of  traffic  at  two  early  periods  of  Reading. 
The  articles  were  shipped  on  ilat-bottomed  boats 
to  Philadelphia  from  the  store-houses  of  Garber  & 
Strohecker,  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  one 
below^  and  the  otlier  above  the  Levan  Ferry  (now 
Lancaster  bridge). 

In  1795:  18,135  bushels  wheat,  "2,220  barrels 
flour,  105  tons  straw,  11  tons  linseed  oil,  4i  tons 
beeswax,  i)  tons  butter,  3  tons  paper,  11  tons 
hams,  2o  gallons  brandy,  70  dozen  hats. 

In  1807  (February  to  June)  :  31,108  bushels 
wheat,  4,G95  barrels  flour,  380  barrels  bread,  153 
barrels  pork,  200  bushels  corn,  50  tons  iron,  274 
casks  butter,   l,25o  gallons  brandy,  2:}  tons  paper. 

There  were  other  store-houses,  and  shipments 
were  made  from  them  also;  but  no  statistics  have 
been  preserved.  Numerous  teams  were  constantly 
going  to  and  fro,  delivering  various  productions 
and  taking  av/ay  merchandise. 

In  1831,  for  the  week  ending  ^lay  .v7tii,  SO  boats 
loaded  with  various  articles  went  down  the  canal 
from  Reading;  and  in  1835,  for  the  week  ending 
June  14th,  125  boats.  Some  of  them  had  coal  from 
Schuylkill  county. 

Warehouse  in  1826. — The  Schuylkili  canal  ex- 
tended through  that  section  of  the  town  midway 
between  Front  and  Second  streets.  A  basin  was 
constructed  in  the  quarter  block  lying  between 
Cherry  and  Franklin  streets,  and  Second  street  and 
the  canal,  and  this  occupied  a  prominent  place  in 
the  business  alYairs  of  Reading  from  182G  to  1834. 
A  large  warehouse  stood  along  Second  street.  It 
was  carried  on  by  William  P.  Orrick.  Numerous 
four-horse  and  six-horse  teams,  with  large  covered 
wagons,  collected  along  Second,  Penn  and  Franklin 
streets  waiting  their  turn  for  merchandise  to  be 
taken  from  the  boats  in  the  basin  and  hauled  west, 
northwest  and  northeast  many  miles.  They  brought 
mostly  grain  to  Reading  for  shipment  by  canal.  It 
was  the  most  prominent  business  point  of  the  town 
until  the  canal  was  moved  west,  along  the  river, 
in  1834.  This  store-house  was  afterward  converted 
into  a  planing-mill.  The  basin  was  also  used  as 
a  landing  place  for  "Packet  Boats." 

Manv  passengers  traveled  by  boat  from  Phila- 
delphia to  ]U'ading,  ami  preferrecl  to  do  po  on  ac- 
count of  the  quietness  and  coolness  of  t!ie  ride.    The 


;M^i!i 


.r-j,  1.-'  ,  ■nr/:-  :'    ■■•  :  '',•  ■  )<■  ■.]■■.   ■ 
.  ,  ,  ■■       '.     ■  •  r-     .. .',   ■     I     ii  ■;    . 


;       .•  ■  '.i.'M 


168 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PF.XXSYLWWIA 


trip  one  v,av  was  made  in  a  day,  both  by  boat  and 
by  stag-e,  that  is,  from  inornini,'  till  evening.  This 
was  accomphshed  by  chanj^in;^-  the  teams  at  fixed 
stations,  from  six  to  eight  miles  apart. 

Rkadi.vg  in  1840. — William  Stable,  a  store- 
keeper, published  a  small  hook  of  GS  pages  in  1841, 
relating  to  the  business  al'fairs  of  Reading  as  they 
■existed  in  1840.  ;More  than  sixty  dift'erent  em- 
ployments were  carried  on  at  that  time,  and  the 
manufacturing  establishments  numbered  sixty-four. 
The  enumeration,  briefly  stated,  was  as  follows: 


EMPLOYMKXTS 

1  Artist 

3 

Locksmiths 

7  Bakers 

24 

Mantua-makers 

6  Barbers 

12 

Milliners 

16  Black-smiths 

1 

Millwright 

1  Blind-maker 

3 

Painters  (.coach) 

3  Boat-builders 

7 

Painters   (house) 

17  Brick-layers 

2 

Painters   (.sign) 

14  Butchers 

3 

Plasterers 

8  Cabinet-makers 

3 

Plumbers 

30  Carpenters 

1 

Putnn-maker 

4  Cigar-niakcrs 

1 

Keed-maker 

9  Clock-makers 

4 

Saddlers 

6  Coach-makers 

1 

Scissors  Grinder 

6  Coach-trimmers 

26 

Shoemakers 

1  CotTec-mill    maker 

2 

Silver-platers 

2  Coopers 

5 

Slop-shops 

4  Coppersmiths 

5 

Stone-cutters 

3  Curriers 

3 

Stone-miisons 

4  Dentists 

34 

Tailors 

11  Doctors 

5 

Tallow-chandlers 

3  Drovers 

32 

Taver;i-kcei)ers 

4  Druggists 

7 

Tinsmiths 

4  Dyers 

4 

Turners 

2  Gunsmiths 

13 

Weavers 

1  Horse  Farrier  , 

6 

Wheelwrights 

3  Jewelers 

1 

White  Sweep 

26  Lawyers 

MANUr 

.\CT0RIES 

1  Auger  Factory 

Gun  Barrel  Factory 

1  Blacking  Varnish  Factory 

Iron  and  Nail  Works 

1  Brass  Foundry 

Iron  Foundry 

3  Breweries 

Lime  Kiln 

9  Brick  P-Iilns 

Machine  Shops 

1  Brush  Factory 

Piano'  Factory 

1  CofTee-Mill  Factory 

Rope   Factory 

1  Comb   Factory 

Sa>v   Miil 

1  Distillery 

Stove  Poundry 

3  Farming  Implement  Shops 

White  and  Morocco 

8  Fur  Hat  Factories 

Tannery 

2  Glue  Factories 

5 

Windsor  Chair  Factories 

2  Grist-mills 

14 

Wool  Hat  Factories 

PUBLIC    BUILDIN'GS    ANM    ENTERPRISES 


3  Banks  7 
2  Bridges  13 

2  Canals  13 
12  Churches  4 

5  Coal    Yards  1 

C  Fire   Companies  4 

1  Greenhouse  89 

4  Livery  Stables  8 

3  Lumi)cr  Yards  5 

2  Market-houses  1 

3  Military  Companies  4 

Tlic  foregoing  list  is  not 
known  that  many  men  were 
cufiations  which  contribulcd  t 
enrichment  and  development 


Newspapers 

Private  Schools 

Public  Schools 

Public  Libraries 

Railroad 

Store-houses 

Stores 

Sunday-schools 

Vineyards 

Waterworks 

Wood  and  Coal  Yards 

complete,  for  it  is 
erigaged  in  other  oc- 
lieir  sliare  toward  the 
of  Reading,  such  as 


uool-hat-makers.  boot  and  sh.-K?  makers,  molders, 
machinists,  ciiain-makers,  nail-makers,  potters, 
wheelwrights,  distillers,  brewers,  rope-makers,  and 
boat-builders. 

DEVELOrMEXT  OF  READING.  1^8 ^-184^. — Be- 
tween 1783  and  1847  the  energy  of  the  people  was 
constantly  shown  in  various  directions.  In  the 
course  of  local  events,  it  appears  prominent  in 
patriotism,  in  religious  zeal,  and  in  business  inter- 
course. The  erection  of  churches  by  different  de- 
nominations would  seem  to  have  been  accomplished 
mostly  by  first  efiforts;  but  the  erection  of  bridges, 
turnpikes  and  canals  required  much  perseverance 
under  adverse  circumstances,  extending  through 
many  years. 

The  growth  of  the  population  of  Reading  was  sur- 
prising, especially  considering  it  as  an  in'and  bor- 
ough. The  stage-coach  and  turnpike  contributed  the 
greater  proportion  of  this  growth  until  18,'3j,  and  the 
canal  and  railroad  from  that  time  until  1847.  Coal 
became  the  principal  factor  in  this  development 
after  182-5.  It  v/as  discovered  about  1770,  but  it 
was  not  appreciated  for  heating  purposes  until  after 
1810,  and  for  creating  steam  until  after  Ibx'5.  The 
first  practical  use  of  it  in  a  stove  at  Reading 
is  said  to  have  been  made  in  the  Branch  Bank 
about  1810.  When  the  canal  was  opened  for  trans- 
portation from  the  coal  regions  in  18'^4,  it  began 
to  be  introduced  in  large  quantities.  Then  factories 
were  erected  and  they  were  operated  by  steam 
ix>wcr.  When  the  railioad  was  extended  to  Potts- 
ville  in  1842,  the  influence  of  coal  in  accelerating 
the  development  of  Reading  was  felt  in  a  marked 
degree.  Iron  nuist  also  be  mentioned  in  this  con- 
nection. It  was  the  great  constituent  in  machinery 
for  factories,  shops  and  furnaces,  and  in  a  substan- 
tial track  for  the  railroad.  Coal,  steam  and  iron 
were  each  necessary  to  complete  the  great  combina- 
tion for  power,  despatch  and  economy,  and  they 
contributed  largely  to  the  rapid  development  of 
Reading  from  1825  to  1850.  This  appears  from  the 
census  enumeration,  as  follows:  from  1820  to  1830. 
35  per  cent.;  from  1830  to  1840,  46. G  per  cent.,  and 
from  1840  to  1850,  87.2  per  cent. 

In  184^. — As  near  as  it  can  be  ascertained. 
Reading  in  1847  contained  37  different  kinds  of 
industrial  establishments  ;  also  130  mercantile  houses 
for'  which  county  licenses  were  issued.  The  fol- 
lowing statement  includes  the  names  of  the  more 
prominent  persons  who  carried  on  business  here 
at  that  time : 

Bakeries:  Henry  Drum,  John  G.  Eben,  David  Mitchell, 
Daniel   Mover. 

Blaclsinith  shots:  John  Drcnkel.  Aaron  Getz,  Peter  D. 
Gctz,  Jaco!)  Tones,  Daniel  Miller,  Thomas  Rambo.  W'illiani 
Stoltz. 

Bocit-xards:  Vv'illiam  Krick,  Sanauel  &  Adam  Krnuscr. 
William"  Hicster,   Savage  &  Call,  Corbett  &  Stratton. 

Brr-urrirs:  Frederick  Laucr,  Nicholas  Felix,  John 
Borrcll. 

Brick-viirls:  John  Darrah,  Adam  Dicbtn,  Thoma;'- 
Diehm,  John  TfotT,  Renjatniii  Fitik,  Jacob  (jciger.  Heiiiy 
Graul,  George  S.  Levan,  William  Yea?er,  Jacob  Young. 


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READING 


169 


Brush  Factories:  Benjamin  Witman,  Helms  &  German, 
William  Sage. 

Cabinet  factories:  John  Bortolet,  Henry  Haberacker, 
JoMah  Hearing,   Htnrv   Rhein.   Daniel   Spans;. 

Candy  Factories:  P.  K.  &  H.  L.  Miller,  G.  W.  &.  A.  M. 
Souders,  Amos  B.  Yeager 

Carriage  Factories:  Ephraim  Booth,  Samuel  FilberL, 
Jacob   Hessler,    Godfrey   Simon,   Isaiah   Thomas. 

Chain  Factory:     Nicholas   Rapp. 

Chair  Factories:  Owen  Bitting-,  John  Brown,  Frederick 
Fox,  James   M.  Lewis,  Gustavu-^  Leslie. 

Cigar  Factories:  John  Beadencup.  Charles  Breneiser, 
J.  &  E.  Eyrich,  Franklin  Frantz,  J.  M.  &  G.  \V.  Hantsch, 
John    jMrdtzberffcr. 

Clothing  Shot's:  James  Jameson,  William  McFarlan. 
George   Newkirk. 

Comb  Factory:     Viven  &  Behm. 

Cooper  Shops:'  Peter  Barhey,  Daniel  Engel,  iMorton 
Righter,  William  Sands,  Henry  B.  Shearer,  Thomas 
V\'ilison. 

Distilleries:    Philip  Bushong.  Riah  Gillson. 

Farming  Implement  Works:  Adam  Waid,  Montgom- 
ery &  Armstrong. 

Firc-Drick    Works:     W'illiam   Wells. 

Glue   Factories :      Daniel   Levan,    Sanmel   Levan. 

Greenhouse:      Michael    Hauser. 

Grist-Mills :  Frees  &  I-Cissinger  (steam),  George  Smith 
(water). 

Hat  Factories :  Henry  Brown,  George  Drenkcl,  Levi 
Hildebrand,  Henry  Henritze.  John  Kiitz.  John  Lotz,  Isaac 
VV.  Levr.n,  Jacob  Maurer,  Adam  Rightmeier,  Charles  W. 
Ringgold.  Jacob  Saucrbier,  ^L  &  J.  Siegel,  John  Yerger, 
William  Yerger. 

Iron  Works:  Berlolette's  Rolling  Mill  [Enterprise], 
Darling,  Dotterer  &  Co.'s  Machine  Shop,  Eckert's  Fur- 
nace [Henry  Clay],  Jcrhnston's  Foundry  [Franklin],  Phila- 
delphia &  Rcat'ing  R.  R.  Co.  Shops,  Sabbatin's  Forge,  Sev- 
fert,  McManus  &  Co.'s  Rolling  Mill. 

Locksmith  Shops:  John  Mellert,  Jofm  Miller,  Geotge 
Heilman. 

Marble  Works :  John  F.  Moers,  John  T.  Craig,  Ferui- 
Tiand  H.  Strecker. 

Nail-)i!ukers :     George   Heilman,   Frederick   Heilman, 

Oigan  Factories:     Daniel   Bohler,  John   Schoener. 

Potteries:     Asaph   Shcnfelder,  William  Wells. 

Rope    Walks :     Thomas   Jncksnn,   Stephen   Orth. 

Saddleries :  George  Frees.  Jacol>  H.  Hain,  Andrew 
Fichthorn,    Henry    Hahs.    Gideon    Weiser. 

Sazvmills:  Boas  &  Spangler,  J.  V.  Craig,  Foos  & 
Binganian. 

Shoe  Factories:  H.  F.  Felix  &  Co.,  Henry  Fry,  Jacob 
Goodhart,  O'Brien  &  Foster. 

Silversmith  Shops:  Frederick  Grotevent,  Charles  L. 
Heizniann,  George  Heller,  Levan  Maimerback.  Otto  Ralle. 

Soap  and  Candle  Factories:  John  R.  Klein,  Albert 
Fischer. 

Tanneries :  Henry  Connard,  Andrew,  Charles  &  Wil- 
liam  Fichthorn,   Abraham    Kcrper,   George   W^inters. 

Tin-  and  Copper-smith  Sliops:  F.  i^  W.  Bright.  Jacob 
Long,   Morris   Pauli.   Charles   K.   Snell.   Daniel   Smith. 

Turner  Shops :     Joseph   Bitting,  Charles  Young. 

Whechvright  Shops :  Jacob  Goodman,  Henry  Goodman, 
Reuben  Goodman. 

Weai'im;  Shops :  George  Goodman,  George  Price, 
Philip  Rush. 

The.  follo\vin_Q'  nnist  also  be  mentioned,  because 
they  contributed  a  great  deal  toward  the  prosper- 
ity of  Reading': 

Banks:    Farmers'  Bank:   Branch  Bank  of  Pennsylvania. 

Builders:  William  Call,  X.  M.  Eisenhower,  George 
Foos,  Benjamin  Fink,  Jr.hn  Fink.  Jacob  Fritz,  William 
and  Joseph  Henry.  William  B.  liort/el,  John  and  Frede- 
rick I'rintz,  Solomon  Spohn. 

Hotels:  Herman  Board.  Wm.  Behm,  John  W.  Burk- 
hart,    John    Darrah,    Andrew    Davis,    Wm,    L.    deBourbon, 


Isaac  Enis,  Jacob  Frill,  George  Gernant,  Samuel  Graul, 
Daniel  Herr,  John  Mellon,  John  Messersmith,  John 
Mover,  Michael  Xunnemacher,  Philip  Orth,  Peter  Phil- 
lippi,   Wm.  Rapp.  Solomon  Sp<_/hn,  Harrv  Wcldv. 

Merchants:  Philip  Albright,  John  AUg.iier,  Marks  Jo.hn 
Biddle.  Boas,  Lott  &  Co.,  D.  R.  Clymer,  WUliam  and  Peter 
Coleman.  Lewis  Briner,  Baum  &  Sands,'  Sanmel  Ermen- 
trout,  Wm.  Ermentrout.  I^'.-isig  &  Henry,  Wm.  S.  Fisher, 
Frickcr  &  Stout,  John  Green.  Hott  iS:  I'.ro.,  George  Feather, 
Hart  &  Ma>er,  Johnson  &  Templin,  Keelv  &  Kerper,  Wm. 
&  John  Keim,  Michael  Ke.tYer.  Frank  ^lillcr,  J.  &  C.  M. 
Pearson,  Alexander  Peacock,  Win.  Rhoads  c&  Son.  Francis 
Roland,  Stirhter  &  .McKmght,  John  Ritter  &  Co.,  Sevfert  & 
Miner,  Frank  B.  Shakers,  David  R.  Schultz,  E.  D.'Sir.ith, 
Weitzel  &  Bro.,   Philip  Zi^bcr. 

The  following  women  were  in  business  then,  all  con- 
ducting millinery  establi.-hnients,  ;ind  several  inclndmg 
trimmings  and  notions:  Mrs.  Catharine  .Andrews,  (.Bar 
bara)  Babb  &  (Catharine)  Wanner,  Mrs.  Rachel  Boyer, 
Helen  Dwight,  Mrs.  Amanda  Heller,  Airs.  Mary  Marsh, 
Mrs.  Hannah  Phillippi.  Catharine  Price,  Deborah  Potts, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Reamer  (Norton),  Ellen  Richards,  Mrs. 
Red,  Mrs.  Runjeon,  (Mrs.  Susan)  Rapp  &  (Mrs.  Catha- 
rine)  Harvey,  Airs.  Harriet  Smith   (Kutz). 

Development  Sl^•CE  1817. — By  the  foregoing  de- 
tails it  is  apparent  that  the  community  then  pos- 
sessed a  remarkable  spirit  of  entcri)rise,  and  that 
this  spirit  caused  the  development  of  Reading  in 
its  industrial,  financial  and  social  affairs.  The  es- 
tablishments v.-ere  mostly  small,  and  employed  only 
several  mechanics.  The  iron  works,  ho-vvever,  were 
large  and  afforded  employment  to  a  considerable 
number  of  hands,  especially  the  Philadelphia  & 
Reading  Railroad  Company  shops,  and  the  Seyfert, 
.McManus  &  Company  rolling-mill.  The  major  part 
of  their  production  was  shipped  awav  by  railroad, 
canal,  stage  and  private  conveyances,  m.ore  par- 
ticularly cigars,  iron  articles  and  wool  hats. 

It  would  be  very  interesting  to  describe  in  detail 
the  development  of  the  industrial  life  at  Reading 
in  its  various  channels  until  the  present  time,  but 
the  subject  cannot  be  exhaustively  treated  here. 
The  status  at  the  beginning  of  1909,  sixtv 
years  after  the  incorporation  of  the  city,  is 
far  beyond  that  of  1847.  This  will  be  made  ap- 
parent by  comparing  the  foregoing  statement  with 
the  following.  The  improvernent  is  truly  wonder- 
ful, and  the  people  of  Reading  can  sliow  a  pardon- 
able pride  in  its  manufacturing  concerns,  to  which 
it  is  chiefly  indebted  for  the  great  increase  of  its 
wealth  and  population. 

It  must  be  stated  in  this  connection  that  a  sim- 
ilar improvement  wr  s  made  in  the  dry-goods  estab- 
lishments. Some  of  them  have  grown  into  large 
department  stores.  notal)ly  Divxs,  I'omeroy  &  Stewv" 
art,  C.  K.  Whitner  &  Co.,  Kline,  Eppihimcr  &•  Co.'  ' 
J.  Mould  &  Co..  and  Lord  S:  Cage.  The  stores 
at  Reading  from  ITGO  to  1847  were  practically 
what  the  departnient  stures  are  today,  the  ditler- 
ence  being  in  the  amount  of  st(^ck  carried.  Then 
the  value  was  f  roni  .^."i.OflO  to  SoO.OOO :  now  it  is 
from  $50,000  to  $1,000,000.  After  1847,  as  pop- 
ulation increased,  many  of  thent  began  to  carry 
distinct  lines  of  goods,  and  this  has  been  continued 
until  now.  The  department  stores  Ijcgan  here 
in  1S7G. 


■  T-fr,-.?! 


1?0 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


STATEMENT   OF   INDUSTRIES 

The  following  concise  description  of  the  numer- 
ous industrial  enterprises  at  Reading,  showing 
name  and  nature  of  business,  date  of  founding, 
etc.,  will  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  the  great 
variety  of  articles  manufactured.  The  compiler 
had  hoped  to  supply  particulars  showing  the  ex- 
tent of  the  business,  persons  employed,  investments, 
etc.,  of  the  various  establishments  in  existence  at 
this  time,  wheiher  large  or  small,  but  he  found 
that  the  information  could  not  be  made  coiriplete, 
or  reliable,  and  that  changes  in  the  firms  and  the 
business  were  constantly  going  on;  therefore  he 
confined  his  efforts  to  tlie  preparation  of  a  simple 
statement.  The  list  indicates  truly  that  Reading 
has  been  and  is  a  great  industrial  center.  Its  trad- 
ing relations  extend  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 
Many  of  the  important  facts  will  be  found  in  the 
sketches  of  the  manufacturers  which  are  includ- 
ed in  the  biographical  jiart  of  this  publication. 
The  iron  industries  have  been  described  in  a  class 
by  themselves,  at  the  end  of  the  alphabetical  list. 
Ab.-vttoirs  : 

Reading  Abattoir  Company,  1S9S,  (10  to  75  men. 

Simon  &■  Sherman,  lOOo,  3  to  4  men. 
Badges  : 

Reading  Ribbon  Badge  Company,  189C  ;  20  to  30 
hands. 

Keystone  Ribbon  Badge  Company,  1893;  S  to  10 
hands. 
Bakkkies,  Bread,  Piks,  etc.    (the  more  important, 

which  employ  several  or  more  teams  for  deliver- 
ing their  products). 

Joel  A.  Arnold  Jacob   B.    Mertz 

William  11.   Behrle  William    Mover 

Alfred    E.    Brossman  .-\ndrc\v    J.    Miintz 

ilrs.    Minnie   Bruich  Harry    Fappa 

Mrs.  Lena   C.  Dallwig  John  W.  Pfautz 

Charles   H.    DcHart  .lohn  F.  Rauch 

Charles    G.    Tender  Conrad    Schr.mburij 

Daniel  II.   Folmer  Henry   Schofer's   Sons 

Conrad  Gantcrt  James  A.  Scliofer 

Saninel  A.  J.  Green  Samuel    Spadofora 
A.    J.    Howard    &    .Andrew       Daniel  B.   Spr.tz 

Christian  luKvin   C.   Stahl 
Frederick    K.    Hunirichouse       Jfihii    S.    Sterrmann 

Robert    W.   Kingkingcr  Kdward  F.  Stoeber 

Frank  C.  Kclb  '  Mrs.   Kate   R.   Warfel 

John   P.  Luft  Michael    Wolicki 
Gottlieb  Mayer 

Bakeries,  Bretzels: 

Pennsylvania  Brctzcl  Companx.  1900  (succeeded 
Lichtenthaclcr  Brctzcl  Companv,  which  was  started 
in  ISGO). 

/.  T.  Adams  <!'r  Co..  1907  ( succeedctl  Hendricks 
&  Adams,  which  was  started  in  1893). 

Francis  J.  Bacltman,  1884. 

Addison  Ge\cr.  188"). 

Frank  P.  Nisile.  190;5. 

American  Pretzel  Compon\    (William  L.   Schul- 
er),  190G. 
Bakeries.  Crackers: 

//.  Mitchell  Est.  (succeeded  David  i^Iitchell,  wlio 
started  in  1853). 

Reading  Biscuit  Company,  1003. 


Baskets; 

George  S.  Cook,  1905  (having  succeeded  his 
father,  John  Cook,  185--^-1905j. 

IVilliain  L.  W under,  1883. 
Bending  \\'ork;s: 

.Inchor  Bending   Works,  J.   Harry   and   Charles 
E.   Leippe,   1889    (succeeded   father,   1880-89). 
Boats  : 

John  .i.  Hicster,  since  1878. 

Previously,  Samuel  Krauser,  David  Ely,  William 
Hiester  (  father  of  John),  Peter  Krick,  Adam  Waid, 
William  Call,  and  Jerome  Ringler,  covering  a  per- 
iod of  fifty  years. 
Bookbindi.vg: 

Edzvard  Taoizer,  1889  (formerly  Taenzer  Broth- 
ers, and  Engel  Brothers,  1869-85). 

Heller  Bindery,  1908  (succeedmg  Charles  F. 
Pleller,  1883-1904,  and  H.  C.  Wonnberger,  1894- 
1907). 

Arnold's  Commercial  Book  Shop  (Augustus  W. 
Arnold),  1907   (succeeding  F.  P.  Heller,' 1902-07). 

Previous  binders,  Isaac  W.  Harper  (1835-74)  ; 
George  Kesserling   (1858-86). 

National  1  cxt  Book  Company,  at  Reading,  Pa., 
was  organized  in  1909  for  the  purpose  of  binding 
books,  manufacturing-  text-books  and  tablets  of  all 
kinds,  and  publishing  magazines,  and,  when  -fully 
established,  to  include  a  printing  department.  In 
this  behalf  the  company  purchased  the  Connard 
Brass  Foundry  at  Sixth  and  Chestnut  streets  and 
secured  possession  on  June  1,  1909.  The  building 
was  e(|uip[)ed  with  the  latest  machinery  and  0[)era- 
tions  were  started  July  1st.  Its  trade  will  be  ex- 
tended throughout  tlie  United  States.  The  officers 
of  the  company  are :  President.  Hon.  L.  S.  Wal- 
ter, Mt.  Carmel,  Pa. ,  vice-president.  J.  B.  Steiner, 


Readin;; 


secretary,  W'.  W.   Ridge,  Centralia, 


Pa.;  treasurer,  Paul  K.  Leinbach,  Reading,  Pa. 
The  directors  are;  Hon.  Thomas  P.  Merritt, 
James  H.  Renninger,  F.  B.  ]\Iusser,  G.  L.  Klein- 
ginna,  Reading.  Pa. ;  Hon.  E.  M.  Herbst,  C)ley.  Pa. ; 
Hon.  Eeopold  Fucrth,  Honesdale,  Pa. ;  J.  V. 
Lesher,  E.^cp,  Sunbury,  Pa.;  E.  J.  Flyim.  Esq., 
Centralia.  Pa.;  James  F.  Carline.  !^It.  Carmel,  Pa.; 
Harry  W.  Davis,  Esq.,  Wilmington,  Delaware. 
Bottling  Works: 

/.  Fett  &  Sons,  1887  (succeeding  John  Fchr, 
1850-55,  Herman  Floto,  1855-64,  Schick  &  Fett, 
1864-87). 

Empire  Bottling  Works,  1898  (Herman  J.  Crocs- 
sant,   succeeding  Fries   S:   Croessant,   1882-98). 

Excelsior  Bottling  Coinpa>iy,  1894  (Thomas  J. 
Fessler,  succeeding  Eesvlcr  &  Dunkelbcrgcr). 

Reading  Bottli)ig  Works.  1906  (Reading  Brew- 
ing Company). 

Irz'in  Hassler.  1908  (succeeding  A.  W.  Fisher, 
1887-1908). 

Union  Bottling  Works,  1902  (Walton  A.  Griese- 
mer). 

Mountain  Spring  Water  Company,  1892  (John 
Lawrence,  and  his  sons  Edward  and  Richard). 

Ml.  Laurel  Spring  Water  Company,  1908. 


-I    .y[:-j\ 


'I  ;.  ■■:      ]■ 


i-.'.r'-'.'A 


.;;    ■',■:. a I'r.' :  ) 


:l   ,7i'<  i  '.',  ..  \<>^ 


READING 


171 


Boxes,  Cigar: 

A.  Thalhcimcr  Matiufacturing  Co)npany,  1903 
(succeeding-  John  Kaul,  ISGo-GG,  Frederick  Breclit, 
ISGG-GS,  Albert  Tlialhcimer,  lSGS-95,  A.  Thalheim- 
CT  &  Son,  1S95-1903). 

E.  R.  Ficlitlwni  Est.,  1S07  (succeeding  E.  R. 
Fichthorn,   1878-J907). 

Lyman  P.  Kline,  1905  (succeeding  Boyer  &  Hcil- 
ig,  lSGG-1905). 

'  Old  Honesty  Cigar  Box  Company,  1007  (J.  N. 
&  C.  W.  Bucks)  (succeeding  Bellman  Brothers, 
1905-07). 

Boxes,  Paper: 

Reading  Ribbon  Badge  Company,  189G  (suc- 
ceeding Julius  Webber,  who  manufactured  ribbon 
badges  etc.  from  1853  to  1896). 

Standard  Paper  Box  Compaiiv,  1894  (succeed- 
ing Albert  Trate,  1875-94). 

Williavi  H.  Engcl,  J  886. 

Reading  Paper  Box  Company,  1892. 

Mt.  Penn  Paper  Box  Company,  1894  (Ephraim 
G.  Wanner  &   Sons,  since  1907). 

Excelsior  Paper  Box  C'ompany,  1908  (Charles 
C.  Miller  &  Harry  J.  Steigcr). 

Boxes,  Packing  Cases: 

Abncr  S.  Deysher,  1894  (succeeding  Jacob  II. 
Deysher,  ISGO-SS,  and  his  widow,  1888-94). 

Leiidnich  Box  Company,  lOO?. 

/.  F.  Kachline,  1904.  ' 

Brass  Works: 

Henry  Connard  Est.,  1907-]^.Iay,  1909  (succeed- 
ing Douglas  &  Connard,  1851-96,  and  Ilenrv  Con- 
nard, 1896-1907). 

Dick  Brothers,  1901  (succeeding  Miller  &  Buck- 
waiter,   1897-1901). 

E.xeelsior  Brass  Works,  1903  (succeeding  Charles 
Dick  &  George  A.  Wicklcin,  who  start'^d  in  1897). 

Kline  &■  Co.,  1897  (J.  W.  Kline). 

Crescent   Brass   Majiiifaetiiring   Company.    1904. 

Brass  Foundries  also  carried  on  by  P.  &  R. 
R.  Company,  Reading  Hardware  Company  and 
Penn  Hardware  Company. 

Breweries  : 

Laner  Brewing  Company,  1883  (Frank  P.  Lauer) 
(succeeding  George  Lauer,  1856-35,  and  Frederick 
Lauer,  1835-83).' 

Dcppen  Breicing  Company,  1901  (succeeding  X. 
A.  Felix,  1847-79,  and  William  P.  Deppen,  1879- 
1901). 

P.  Barbey  &  Son,  18S0  (John  Barbcv)  (succeed- 
ing Peter  Barbey,  1861-97). 

Reading  Brezi'i}ig  Company,  1886. 

Schneider  Brcivijig  ll'orks,  1907  (August  Schnei- 
der)   (succeeding  Stocker  &  Roehrich,  1891-1907). 

Brick,  Fire: 

Readi)ig  Fire  Briek  JVorks,  18S9  (succeeding 
William  .\.  Wells  <S.  Isaac  r.crtolctte,  1815-57.  and 
McHose  &  Thompson,  1857-89)  ;  plant.  Fifth  and 
Canal  streets. 

George  J.  Eckeri  manufactured  fire-brick  for 
many  years  on  Canal  street,  near  Bingaman. 


Brick,  Building: 

The  manufacture  of  building  and  paving  brick 
was  a  prominent  industry  at  Reading  from  the  be- 
gnnning  of  Reading  until  1907,  when  the  last  brick 
kiln  was  abandoned.  The  manufacture  is  carried 
on  prominently  by  parties  residing  in  Reading,  but 
the  plants  are  situated  in  West  Reading  and  ad- 
joining Wyomissing. 

Brooms: 

Shanaman  Brothers,  1873  (Jacob.  William  F.  and 
Walter  Shanaman,  ihe  last  having  retired  from 
firm  in  1S9G). 

S.  E.  Nies  &  Co.,  1899  (Samuel  E.  Xies  and 
David  T.  Schmehl). 

Henry  H.  Krouse  manufactured  brooms  for  many 
years,  having  started  in  1840. 

Brushes:  ■■      . 

George  Regcnfuse,  1852. 

/.  O.  Flati  &  Co.,  1895  (Joseph  and  George) 
(sTicceeding  their  fatlier,  Joseph  O.  Flatt,  1872- 
95). 

Previous  brush-makers  were  Benjamin  Witman, 
Morris  Helms,  Peter  Steinel,  1847-70,  lohn  E. 
Steinel,  1870-1905. 

Buggyauts  : 

In  1906  Charles  E.  Duryea  became  interested  in 
the  development  of  a  horseless  conveyance  which 
he  named  the  "Bugg3'aut,"  a  carriage  propelled 
by  gasolir.e.  He  estal)lished  a  place  in  1908  on 
Clierry  street,  above  Third,  for  assembling  the 
several  parts,  which  are  made  by  different  parties 
here  and  elsewhere,  and  then  started  filling  orders. 
He  emplovs  4  hands.  ' 

Cabinet  Vv'orks: 

In  1907  John  Herb  and  Daniel  Rhoads  associated 
together  as  the  Reading  Cabinet  JVorks  for  the  pur- 
pose of  manufacturing  cabinets,  sh.ow-cases,  etc., 
having  succeeded  J.  Howard  Culler,  who  bad 
carried  on  the  business  for  a  number  of  }  ears  at 
No.  834  Court  street.    Thev  employ  5  hands. 

The  Neversink  Planiiui  Mill  makes  a  specialty 
of  supplying  cabinets. 

Candy : 

/.  O.  KoUer,  1880:  transferred  to  son  },Iay,  1909. 

Ludcn  Candy  Factory— In  1882,  William  H.  Lu- 
den  began  modestly  making  candy  for  Christmas, 
with  thirty  pounds  of  sugar,  at  No. -37  North  Fifth 
street,  and  he  disposed  of  the  result  of  his  first  ef- 
forts in  his  store.  He  continued  there  for  ten  years, 
gradually  increasing  his  productiun,  and  then  he 
was  obliged  to  move  iiito  larger  quarters,  which  he 
established  in  a  four-story  building  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Si.xth  and  Washington  streets.  He  em- 
ployed then  140  persons  and  worked  up  a  carload 
of  sugar  w-eekly.  and  his  trade  came  to  extend 
through  the  Eastern,  T\Tiddle  and  Southern  States. 
By  the  year  1900  his  trade  had  been  developed  to 
such  proportions  that  he  was  obliged  to  secure  still 
larger  quarters,  and  lie  accordingly  located  Iiis  plant 
on  ICighth  street  beyond  Walnut,  wliere  he  erected 
a    four-storv    brick    structure.    1G5    feet    front    bv 


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1?3 


HISTURY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLYAXIA 


110  feet  deep,  dedicating-  the  buildin!:^  in  June.  I'jnO, 
and  taking  possc^jsioii  sln)i"tly  afterward.  An.d 
there,  too.  hi-  hu,-iness  has  been  increasing  from 
3xar  to  year  until  he  has  come  to  employ  from  400  to 
500  hands.  During  the  summer  of  1901)  he  erected 
a  four-story  brick  adthtion  to  tlie  south  end,  HO  by 
110  feet,  making  the  pkmt  aUogeth.er  '.'■■^.■5  feet  front 
by  110  feet  deep,  lie  manulactures  all  kinds  of 
•candies  in  very  large  quantities,  which  are  shippeU 
throughout  the  United  State.-.  For  several  year.-, 
he  has  made  a  specialtv  of  "-Luden's  Menthol  Cough 
Drops,"  which  have  become  veiy  popular,,  the  an- 
nual sales  amounting  to  5,000.000  5-cent  packages. 

Mr.Luden  has  endeared  himself  very  much  to 
all  his  employes  by  his  kindness  and  generosity. 
Annually. he  provides  an  outing  for  them  at  his  own 
expense,  which  is  highly  appreciated. 

John  M.  Fries,  1888. 

Reading  Confectionery  Company,  1892. 

W.  G.^HoUis,  lSy3-iyu5,  and  since  bv  estate. 
tate. 

Numerous  other  parties  manufacture  candy,  but 
in  a  limited  way. 
•Carpets  : 

Charles  Pf  lug  felt  er,  1882  (succeeding  his  father, 
John  I'flugfelter.  1S55-97). 

Joseph  A.  Boxer,  18S3. 

Charles  J.  Smith,  1SS7. 

Carpets  made  are  entirely  of  rags.     Ingrain  car- 
pets were  also  made  for  some  time  but  discontin- 
ued. 
Carriages  axu  Wagons: 

IVethn-hold  Brothers,  18')]  (Willijun  and 
George)  (succeeding  father,  William  H.  Wether- 
hold,   1862-91). 

Bichl  Carriage  and  Wagon  Works,  1903  (suc- 
•ceeding  George  W .  Biehl,   1877-1903). 

G.  H.  Smith  &■  Son,  1902. 

Keystone  Velricic  Company. — The  Keystone  \'^e- 
hicle  Company  was  incorporated  May  4,  1909.  with 
:a  capital  of  $75,000,  for  the  manufacture  of  wagons 
and  automobile  bodies,  as  successor  of  the  Keystone 
Wagon  Works,  which  had  carried  on  a  large  busi- 
ness at  Reading  since  1890,  extending  to  all  parts 
of  the  United  States.  It  secured  the  established 
plant  along  the  Lebanon  Valley  railroad  at  Third 
street,  consisting  of  a  four-storv  brick  structure, 
200  by  225  feet,  equipped  with  first-class  modern 
machinery.  Operations  were  started  immediately 
and  employment  was  given  to  100  hands.  The  an- 
nual wages  will  amount  to  $50,000,  and  the  product 
to  $300.(100.  The  officers  of  the  company  are:  Ed- 
ward C.  Xolan,  president:  G.  Staidey  Hendel.  sec- 
retary; John  L.  Coxe,  treasurer  and  manager. 

Tobias  K.  Shcnk  followed  general  contracting  at 
Reading  for  eight  years,  and  in  1903  embarked  in 
the  business  of  manufacturing  heavy  and  light 
wagon';  and  carriages,  including  rubber  tires.,  at 
No.  1139  Moss  street,  and  has  continued  until  the 
present  time,  employing  from  i>  tn  10  hands. 

Darid  L.  Reber  (' engaged  in  local  express  and 
storage)  started  in  this  business  at  lUittonwood 
■and  Cedar  streets  in  1905  and  lias  since  carried  it 


on   successfully   with   7   to  10  hands,  according  to 
the  demands  of  his  trade. 
Celluloid  Signs  : 

The  General  Advertising  Company  was  incorpor- 
ated in  the  year  1900,  with  a  capital  of  S15,0U0,  by 
a  number  of  Reading  capitalists,  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  plant  at  Reading  for  the  manufacture 
of  steel  cnameloid  signs  of  a  general  description. 
The  company  carried  on  business  successfully  at 
several  places  in  the  city,  and  in  October,  19u7, 
erected  a  superior  four-story  brick  structure, 
30  by  100  feet,  at  Fourth  and  Franklin  streets, 
where  tliey  have  developed  a  very  large  trade, 
almost  wholly  engaged  in  manufacturing  steel 
celluloid  signs  for  paint  manufacturers,  and  for 
railroads,  which  are  sold  throughout  the  United 
Stales.  The  plant  employs  25  hands.  It  is  the  only 
one  of  the  kind  at  Reading.  The  officers  of  the 
company  are:  Walter  S.  Ilamakcr,  president;  How- 
ard J.  Potts,  secretary-treasurer. 
Cement   Paving: 

R.  L.  Wilson  &  Co. 

Dominic  Maurer  (succeeding  Engelbert  &  Wag- 
onblast). 

Franklin   Waltirs. 

Reading  Cement  &  Paz'ing  Company  (Hover- 
ter  &  Hartman). 

Wellcr  Brothers   (Frederick  W.  and  Ephraim). 

Cement  paving  began  at  Reading  about  1876. 
Th.e  first  large  j)avements  were  put  down  at  the 
Roys'  High  School  in  1883,  and  the  Post-Officc 
building  in  1887.  Cement  blocks  began  to  be  made 
at  Reading  in  1904  by  Weller  Brothers. 
Chewing  Gum  : 

The  Kola-Chemical  Company  was  incorporated 
in  the  year  1903  with  a  capitafof  $20,000.  for  the 
manufacture  of  chewing  gum  at  Reading,  and  since 
then  has  manufactured  "Richardson's  Kola  Chew- 
ing Gum"  in  large  quantities,  employing  25  hands. 
Its  quarters  are  located  in  the  Luden  Candy  Fac- 
tory. The  officers  of  the  company  are :  William 
H.  Luden,  presiilent ;  ]\liss  M.  ]M.  Boas,  treasurer; 
and  A.  X.  Bodey,  secretary. 
Cigars : 

The  manufacture  of  cigars  at  Reading  began 
about  1800,  and  the  prominent  manufacturers  un- 
til the  Civil  war  were  James  ^lorris,  John  Ey- 
rich,  Samuel  Evrich,  Isaac  James,  j.  &;  E.  Evrich. 
I'hilip  Albright,  John  Maltzberger,  J.  &  G.  W. 
Ilantsch,  Charles  Brcneiser  and  William  Hartman. 
In  1908  there  were  over  one  hundred  factories  at 
Reading  and  each  of  the  following  parties  made 
annually  upward  of  five  hundred  thousand: 


H.  G.  Burky 

Dihert  Bros.  (Samuel  I).) 

Otto   Eisenlohr   &   Bro. 

Fleck  Cigar  Conipnny 

F.   Ganter 

Tuliiis  G.  fT.insen 

r.   HiMcrbiand 

ITcvniaiin   Snti<; 

[lallfT   &   Whitrraft 

rndusfrial  Cigar  >!fp.  Co. 

M.  E.  Kahlcr  Cigar  Co. 


Geortje   W.   Lehr 
X.  &  N.  Cipar  Co. 
A.  R.  Orth 
Pcnn   Cigar  Co. 
H.  H.  Roland 
John  IT.  Rirgel 
Charles    Ream 
Rush  Mftr.  Co. 
^T.  Steppathcr 
T.  G.  Sp.'.tz  &  Co. 
j.  W.   SlH-ridan  &  Co. 


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READING 


173 


W.  W.  Stewart  &  Son  Yocum    Bros. 

Valentine  W'ilk 

During  1908  the  miiTiber  of  cigars  manufactured 
in  the  Reading  district  exceeded  120,000.000;  and 
the   revenue   paid   was   S3C1,S?3;   and  the   revenue 
paid  on  manufactured  tobacco  was  ?14,T82. 
Ci-Otiiing: 

/.  P.  Sellers  &  Co.,  successors  of  James  Jameson, 
1844. 

Leinbach  &  Bro.,  1SG5  (Joseph  and  George), 
who  were  succeeded  by  Joseph  and  Charles  H. 
Leinbach. 

Reading  Pants  Manufacturing  Company  (Solo- 
mon Hirschland),  1S9.5. 

A'tbert  J.  Brnmbach,  1895. 

There  are  numerous  custom  tailors  wlio  make 
suits  to  order;  also  upward  of  two  hundred  dress- 
makers who  are  constantly  engaged  in  making 
women's  and  girls'  dresses,  employing  from  sev- 
eral hands  to  ten  aiid  even  twenty.  Large  dress- 
making departments  are  carried  on  successfully 
by  C.  K.  Whitner  &  Co.,  Khne,  Eppihimer  «!v:  Co., 
and  Dives,  I'omero}'  &  Stewart,  in  connection  with 
their  stores. 
Cotton  Factory: 

In  the  year  1849,  certain  capitalists  at  Read- 
ing organized  a  company  for  the  manufacture 
of  nnislin  and  in  1851  erected  a  large  plant  G8  by 
274  feet  on  a  block  of  ground,  at  Ninth  and  Cotton 
streets,  whicji  has  continued  in  operation  ahnost 
constantly  until  the  present  time.  In  188G  it  was 
enlarged  to  3G0  feet.  Garner  &  Co.,  of  New  York, 
have  operated  it  since  ISfiO  in  a  very  successful 
manner,  in  connection  with  other  plants.  They 
have  employed  nearly  300  persons,  and  paid  out 
annually  in  wages  upward  of  $75,000,  evidencing 
the  important  character  of  this  enterprise  to  Read- 
ing. Ellis  L.  Castor  has  been  the  manager  of  this 
large  plant  since  1900.  His  predecessor  from  1SS4 
to  1900  was  Jonathan  Smith;  and  from  1S57  to 
1884  the  manager  was  John  Gragg.  From  1872 
to  1900,  Mr.  Castor  served  as  clerk  under  the  man- 
agers named. 
Cottox  Goods,  Hosiery: 

The  following  list  embraces  the  active  manu- 
facturers of  hosierv  at  Reading: 

Reading  Knitting  Mills,  18S3. 

Noldc  &  florst  Companw  18SS,  verv  large. 

William  J.  Bobst.  1891.  ' 

George  W.  Hazi-k  &  Co.,  189G. 

Harry  II aim,   1S9C. 

Penn  Knitting  Mills,  1H9G. 

Kuersten  S- Rick.  ISOQ.  ■  ■ 

S.  S.  Miller,  1898. 

/.  //.  Loose,  1898. 

IV.  H.  Lando,  1898. 

Hampden  Knitting   Mills   Companv,   1899. 

East  Penn  Hosiery  Company.  1899. 

Geors^e  Gncniher,  1900. 

H.  R.  lipler  &  Son.  1901. 

Haxi'k  Knitting  Company.  1901. 

Consolidated  Knitting  &  Spinning  Mills,  1901. 


Albert  Weber,  1901,  formerly  of  L.  Weber  & 
Co.,  and  Weber  &  Ilahn. 

Charles  L.  Oaks,  lUOi. 

Metropolitan   Knittino;   Mills.   1904. 

Rick  Hosiery  Co)npany,  J  905. 

A.  W.  Wolfingcr  Company,  1905.  '  ■ 

Colonial  Hosiery  Mills,  190G. 

Central  Knitting  Mills  Company,  1907. 

Reading  Knitting  Mill. — Hosiery,  both  cotton  and 
woolen,  was  commonly  made  by  hand  by  many 
females  at  Reading,  and  sold  to  the  stores.  Great 
quantities  were  made  elsewhere,  brought  here  and 
sold  at  retail  in  the  stores.  By  the  year  1S7G,  the 
custom  of  wearing  home-made  stockings  was  al- 
most entirely  abandoned. 

In  1883,  the  first  factory  was  established  at  Read- 
ing for  the  manufacture  of  hosiery  by  machinery, 
and  after  passing  through  several  hands,  the  plant 
in  1885  became  the  property  ot  I.  C.  Hunsicker 
&  Co.,  who  traded  as  the  Reading  Knitting  Mills, 
and  were  the  first  firm  to  employ  upward  of  a 
hundred  hands  and  produce  daily  about  500  dozen. 
In  1891  they  erected  a  fine  large  plant,  increased 
their  hands  to  250  and  their  daily  product  to  800 
dozen  daily;  which  evidences  the  g^rowth  of  this 
new  enterpjrise  at  Reading.  In  189G,  J.  Gaenzle 
&  Co.  became  the  successors,  and  in  1898  Charles 
E.  Leippe  secured  an  interest  in  the  business,  when 
the  name  was  changed  to  Gaenzle  &  Leippe.  In 
1905  Charles  T.  Davies  succeeded  Gaenzle  and  the 
finn  became  Leippe  &  Davies,  but  trading  under 
the  same  name.  In  December,  1907,  IMr.  Leippe 
became  the  sole  owner,  and  he  has  since  o{)erated 
the  })lant  verv  successfully,  employing  150  hands. 

Koldc-Horst  Hosiery  Mill. — Jacob  Nolde  and 
George  D.  Horst  began  to  manufacture  hosiery  on 
the  third  floor  of  the  Thalhcimer  Power  building 
on  Cedar  street,  south  ofWalnut,  in  1888,  with  25 
liands.  Their  annual  product  amounted  to  320,000. 
In  1890.  tiiev  built  a  brick  factory  on  Cedar  street 
beyond  Walnut,  and  there  continued  the  business, 
in  connection  with  a  plant  which  they  carried  on  at 
Eighth  and  Spring  streets,  until  1892,  when  they 
took  possession  of  a  four-story  brick  building  on 
Moss  beyond  Douglass,  which  they  erected.  In  189G 
thev  enlarged  the  liuilding  by  adding  two  wings; 
and  in  1897  thev  became  inenriioratefl  as  The  Nolde 
&  Horst  Company,  with  a  capital  of  5250,000. 

In  December,  1899,  the  entire  plant  was  destroy- 
ed bv  fire,  but  it  was  rebuilt  immediately  on  the 
same  site,  much  improved,  with  slow-burning  con- 
struction, fire  walls,  sprinkler  equipment,  stair- 
towers,  etc.  These  stair-towers  at  the  north  and 
.south  end  of  the  large  structure  are  the  fir«t  of 
the  kind  introduced  at  Reading  and  they  ailord  ab- 
solutelv  safe  exits  in  case  of  fire. 

In  190r.  thev  added  the  Ninth  Street  Mill,  which 
practicallv  doubled  their  plant.  They  are  now  the 
largest  hosiery  manuf.icturers  in  the  eastern  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  if  not  in  the  entire  country.  They 
produce  annual iv  1,000,000  dozen  pairs  of  hose  and 
half-hose,  worth'  .$2,000,000.  and  employ  1,500  peo- 
ple.    Their  annual  jiav-roU  is  $(^.00,000.     Their  firn- 


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Hi 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUXTV,    PEXXSVIA'AXlA 


duct  is  sold  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  but 
rone  of   it  is   exported.      The   oHieers   are :    Jacob 
Xolde,  president ;  George  D.  Horst.  secretary-  treas- 
urer ;  John  D.  Horst,  superintendent. 
Cotton  Goods,  Uxderweak:  ..  •« 

Elijah  S.  Aiitmoii,  l.syo. 

Lczcis  Kothcriiicl,  ISOS. 

Lt'z<^is  S-  Scluiltc  Maintfacturii:^  Company,  191'T; 
runnint;  anotlier   factory   at   Treniont. 

Rcadi>ii:;  Lhidcr:^\\ir  Conipaiix,  I'.'OG  (succeeding 
C.  E.  Smith,  \\".  W.  Moycr  and  R.  T.  L'.rown,  who 
started  in  I'.ioj  )  ;  have  another  factory  at  Ephrata. 

Mt.  Pcnn  Undcri^car  Company.  1905  (Levi  M. 
MiUcr  &  James  M.  Stoudt). 

Eclifsc  Knittiii:;  Compa^.x,  1906. 

Dreiscl  &  Ripka,  190r. 

Creameries: 

Peter  Zacharias,  19o5  (succeeding  Spang  & 
Zacharias,  1S93-1905). 

Keystone     Creamery,    V.W-l     (\\'iUiam     M.     and 
Charles    D.    Toole)     (succeeding   Joseph    Staufler, 
1893-97,  and  A.  S.  Clouser,  1 897-1905 j. 
Dye  Works  : 

Xcz'ersijik  Dyeing  Company,  190G  (succeeding' 
Xathan  S.  Althouse  and  'lames  H.  Knoll,  1894- 
1906). 

Liberty  Dye  Works,  1S9S  (Elias  Schulz  and  son 
Edward). 

Reading  Dyeing  Company,  1907. 

There  was   a   prominent  dyer  at  Reading  for  a 
nn.mber  oi   years   ijcTore  and   after  the  Civil   war, 
named  Sebastian  Jjoeimlein. 
Electko-Plating  : 

Fraiikiin  Speeiaity  Company  carried  on  electro- 
plating, n.ickel-plating  and  the  manufacture  of  spe- 
cialties from  1901  to  1909,  when  Oiarles  Enge!- 
meyer  became  the  proprietor  of  the  plant.  He  em- 
ploys from  10  to  l.")  hands. 
Express  axd  Traxsfer  Co.mp.axiks: 

Albright  Express. — Soon  after  the  opening  of 
the  Philadelphia  (&  Reading  railroad,  Philip  Al- 
brig-ht  established  an  express  line  for  the  delivery 
of  goods  and  merchandise,  and  he  continued  in  the 
business  until  187'i.  hor  a  long  time  he  had  an  ex- 
press car  attached  to  the  passenger  trains,  which 
enabled  him  to  de-patch  shipinents  to  Philadelphia 
and  deliverv  at  Reading. 

Express  Co-mpanies. — The  Howard  Express  was 
the  first  company  to  locate  at  Reading,  having  es- 
tablished an  office  here  in  1849  and  continued  until 
1870;  the  Central  conducted  an  ofiice  here  from 
1870  to  1880;  and  the  Adam^  from  ISSO  to  the 
present  time.  The  P.  iS:  R.  R.  Co.  started  in  187"2 
and  continued  until  1889,  when  the  business  was 
transferred  to  the  United  States  Express  Company. 

Loeal  Express. — Edwin  C.  Hiestcr  embarked  in 
the  local  express  business  at  Reading  in  IStil  for 
delivering  baggage  and  freight  and  for  transferring 
passengers.  The  latter  was  discontinued  in  18>!S, 
when  the  I'liion  Transfer  Com[>an\-  \vas  started 
expressly    for    this    branch    of    thi'   business.      The 


former  was  continued  until  1900,  when  Maurice  E. 
Roeder  became  the  successor,  and  ]\Ir.  Roeder  has 
carried  on  the  business  until  the  present  time,  em- 
ploying 11  teams. 

A  number  of  other  persons  engaged  in  this  busi- 
ness, the  important  lines  being : 

//.  A.  Brozcn,  1873,  with  1-3  teams. 

O.  B.  Coller,  1873,  with  8  teams. 

C.  IV.  Haas,  1885,  with  6  teams. 
Jolm  Greth,  1892,  with  3  teams. 

D.  L.  Reber,  1895,  with  12  teams. 
Lcibelspcrgcr  &  IValborn,  1901.  with  4  teams. 
Ambrose  Dougherty,  1907,  with  3  teams. 
Union  Transfer  Company. — ^In  l^i88,  the  P.  &  R. 

R.  Co.  began  the  business  of  transferring  baggage 
and  travelers  at  Reading  with  C.  A.  Dougherty  as 
manager,  and  in  1889  cabs  were  added  to  the  sys- 
tem. In  1893  the  business  was  sold  to  the  Union 
Transfer  Company,  which  was  conducting  similar 
systems  at  Philadelphia,  Pottsville,  Atlantic  City, 
and  other  places.  In  1896,  this  company  erected  a 
large  stable  at  Court  and  Cedar  streets,  costing 
$25,000.  The  company  employs  20  men,  25  horses, 
4  cabs,  2  coaches  and  2  baggage  wagons.  Mr. 
Dougherty  died  in  1902  and  his  son  acted  as  man- 
ager until  1907,  when  ]\licliael  C.  Quiiui  became 
his  successor. 

Readi)tg  Taxieab  Co. — The  automobile  having 
demonstrated  its  great  utility  in  the  matt(n'  of  loco- 
motion with  increasing  success  nt  Reading  since  its 
introduction  in  1891,  and  a  car  called  the  "'taxieab" 
having  come  to  be  made  since  then  to  answer  the 
purposes  of  cab  service  in  and  about  Read'ng, 
Harrv  O.  Koller  organized  the  Reading  Ta.xicab 
Company. with  a  capital  of  $20,000  on  Dec.  17,  1908, 
whicli  introduced  six  fine  taxicabs,  and  these  imme- 
diatelv  came  into  general  demand  on  account  of 
their  quick,  neat  and   satisfactory  service. 

Eire  Apparatus: 

William  A.  Wander.  1883  (succeeding  Spawn 
&  Dcnnison,  1880-S3). 

Fixtures.  Bar,  Baxk,  Store  and  OrncE:  . 
Lopcr  Brothers  (Joseph  and  Franklin),  1901. 
Schroder  &  Kline  also  provide  all  kinds  on  orders. 

Fixtures,  Gas  axd  Electric: 

Einbree  &  Goodman,  1906  (succeeding  Egid 
Thoma).  ' 

Flour-mills: 

Aaron  Yocum  Sons  &  Co.,  successors  of  Aaron 
Yocum,  established   1870. 

Wert"  Milling  Companv  (Edward  S.  Wertz), 
1898. 

Three  prominent  mills  were  operated  along  the 
canal  for  many  years  after  it  was  opened  for  traffic: 
Krick's  (on  X'orth  River  street "l,  Benson's  (at  foot 
of  Pcnn  street)  and  Packer's  (at  foot  of  Binga- 
man  street")  :  and  there  were  two  old  mills  opposite 
Reading  at  the  mouth  of  Wyomissing  creel:,  and 
one  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tulpehockcn  creek  (con- 
verted into  a  paper-mill). 


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READING 


175 


Galvanizing  : 

A.  Lincoln  Frame,  who  started  in  the  foundry 
business  in  1903,  trading  under  the  name  of  the 
Gray  Iron  Foundry  Company,  added  a  galvanizing 
department  to  his  works  in  1907,  and  has  ^ince  em- 
ployed 12  men  in  ihis  branch  of  work.  It  is  the 
only  individual  enterprise  of  this  kind  at  Reading 
(galvanizing  by  the  Reading  Hardware  Works,  the 
Penn  Hardware  Works  and  the  P.  \-  R.  R.  Works 
being  done  for  their  own  specialties). 

Gloves : 

The  Reading  Glove  and  Mitten  Manufacturing 
Company  was  incorporated  in  1899  for  the  manu- 
facture of  silk  gloves,  and  its  large  plant  has  been 
carried  on  successfully  at  Tenth  and  Spruce  streets 
until  the  present-  time,  employing  GO  to  100  hands. 

E.  Richard  Mcinig  &  Co.  was  organized  in  1905 
for  the  manufacture  of  silk  gloves,  became  incor- 
porated in  1907  and  employs  from  500  to  700  hands. 
Its  large  plant  is  located  on  North  Front  street,  be- 
yond the  Lebanon  Valley  railroad. 

Greenhouses: 

Stcckler  Brothers  (B.  Franklin  and  Leo),  1907 
(succeeding  their  grandfather,  Michael  Hauser, 
who  started  in  1S40  and  continued  until  1873,  when 
he  was  followed  by  his  sou  Francis  and  his  son-in- 
law  p.  II.  Steckler). 

Hu  J.  flucssinan,  1901  (succeeding  John  C.  Hep- 
ler,  1875-1901). 

G".  H.  Iloskiii  Coinpanx,  1905  (succeeding  IIos- 
kin  &  Giles,  1875-1905).' 

John  H.  Giles,  1905  (having  been  associated  with 
G.  H.  Hoskin  from  1875  to  1905). 

G.  W.  Bccars,  1890. 

J.  C.  Bander,  1903. 

Alexander  Burnett  was  promincntiv  engaged  in 
the  business  at  Reading  from  1850  to  1880. 

Grocers'  Bags  : 

The  Hercules  Paper  Bag  Co)npany  was  organ- 
ized in  1891  and  incorporated  in  190G,  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  grocers'  bags,  which  are  produced  jn 
great  quantities  and  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the 
country. 

Harness  : 

The  manufacture  of  harness  has  ahvavs  been  con- 
nected with  the  saddlery  shops  of  Reading.  In 
1909,  there  were  5  shops  carried  on  actively:  H. 
Luther  frees,  with  G  hands  (succeeding  his  father 
and  they  together  carried  on  the  place  for  upward 
of  sixty  years);  Samuel  Hartmau,  with  2  hands; 
Rcadim;  Harness  Coinpanx,  with  4  hands;  Joseph 
H.  Lute,  and  /.  A.  Tice. 

Horse-Collars  : 

Horse-collars  were  made  in  connection  with  sad- 
dlery at  Reading  from  the  beginning.  Gideon  Jl'ci- 
ser  was  engaged  at  it  before  the  city  was  estab- 
lished  in   1817   and   he   was   succeeded   by   an   em- 


plo\ee,  Samuel  Donahower,  who  carried  on  the 
business  for  many  years.  Upon  his  decease,  his 
widow  continued  the  business  with  an  employee, 
L.  Kantner,  trading  as  Donahower  &  Co.,  and 
they  traded  until  her  death,  in  1905.  Kantner  then 
purchased  the  business  and  he  has  carried  it  on 
since  with  a  saddlery. 

George  Frees  .carried  on  the  business  from  1818 
for  upward  of  twenty  }ears,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Luther,  who  has  since  continued  at  it. 

Nathaniel  Gery  was  engaged  at  it  for  many  years 
until  1870.  He  was  succeeded  by  Christian  Grun- 
der,  and  Grunder  by  John  :\I.  Kantner.  Samuel 
Hartman,  Joseph  Lnt::  and  Adam  Ocse  have  also 
followed  it  for  thirty  years. 

Hats  and  Caps  : 

The  manufacture  of  wool  and  fur  hats  at  Read- 
ing is  the  oldest  prominent  local  industry,  starting 
with  the  beginning  of  the  town.  They  were  hand- 
made until  1853,  when  machinery  was  introduced. 

Fur  Hats.— In  ISGO  John  Hendel  and  brother 
George  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wool  hats 
at  Adan-:stown,  and  continued  there  until  18G4, 
wdien  they  located  in  Exeter  township,  near  Black 
Rear.  They  carried  on  the  business  there  four 
years,  when  they  located  at  Reading.  In  1871  they 
purchased  the  Wyomissing  woo!en-mill  at  Fifth 
and  Willow  streets  and  operated  a  large  and  im- 
proved plant  until  1S95,  when  they  were  succeeded 
by  John  Hendel' s  Sons  (Daniel,  Edwin  and  PTarri- 
son).     In  1897  they  started  niaking  fur  hats. 

They  carried  on  the  business  in  a  very  successful 
manner  as  John  ITendel's  Sons  untiP  1907,  wdicn 
Harrison  was  killed  in  the  Honda  wreck  in  Cali- 
fornia, and  his  interest  was  purchased  by  his 
brothers,  wdio  have  continued  the  business  until  the 
present  time.  They  employ  from  400  to  500  hands, 
depending  upon  the  condition  of  the  trade. 

Charles  JV.  Hendel  started  making  fur  hats  on 
South  Third  street  in  1889  and  has  continued  a 
large  plant  until  the  present  time. 

Reading  Hat  Manufacturing  Companv  was  in- 
corporated in  1905  for  the  manufacture  of  stiff 
fur  hats  at  Reading  and  has  been  in  the  business 
since,  employing  about  100  hands.  This  plant  is 
the  successor  of  G.  W.  Alexander  &•  Co.  at 
Twelfth  and  Muhlenberg  streets. 

Wool  Hats. — The  manufacture  of  wool  hats  has 
been  continued  without  interruption  from  the  be- 
ginning of  Reading. 

J.  G.  Molm  &  Bros,  started  in  1871  and  have 
continued  until  the  present  time.  em])loying  about 
300  hands  and  I)eing  one  of  the  larg-est  plants  of 
the  kind  in  Pennsylvania. 

John  R.  Miller  and  brother  Iknry  boL^an  at  l\ead- 
ing  in  1879  and  continued  unti!  l'.'i'5,  when  Jolm 
R.   retired.     Since  then  the  business  has  been  car- 


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1T6 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXNSYLVAXIA 


ricd  on  as  Hoiry  R.  Miller  &  Co.,  with  about  200 
hands. 

C.  F.  Kessler  began  in  187(.'i,  and  for  upward  of 
thirty  years  ha^  carried  on  the  plant  successfully 
under  the  name  of  C.  F.  Kcsslcr  &  Sons  (William 
and  Georg-e,  who  were  admitted  as  partners),  em- 
ploying from  7  0  to  100  hands. 

Hoidcl  Hat  Cam  pony  is  composed  of  George 
Hendel  and  son^,  John  and  William,  and  Har- 
man  Plaigh ;  organized  in  I'JOl  for  the  manufacture 
of  wool  hats.  They  employ  from  Iv'j  to  1.50  hands, 
having  succeeded  Wetherliold  &  Co.  Previously 
W.  H.  Reinochl  &  Co.  had  carried  on  the  plant 
for  twenty  years. 

Caps. — The  Reading  Hat  &  Cap  Company  has 
been  engaged  in  making  cloth  hats  and  caps  since 
1897,  emi)loying  from  10  to  20  hands. 

Hat  Blocks: 

In  18SS  Matthias  C.  Siginun-d  engaged  in  the 
m.anufactnre  of  hat  blocks  of  all  kinds  and  has 
contmued  until  the  present  time.  He  employs  G 
hands. 

Hooks  and  Eyes  :  "' 

JoJni  JV.  Grauijcr,  who  was  employed  at  Phila- 
delphia for  twenty  years  in  the  manufacture  of 
hooks  and  eyes,  located  at  Reading  in  I'JOS  and 
incorporated  a  company  for  their  manufacture,  be- 
sides other  metal  goods,  with  a  capital  of  S^O.OdO, 
which  started  a  plant  in  January,  1909.  Hands 
employed,  from  25  to  -TO.  The  officers  are  John 
W.  Granger,  president :  J.  B.  Kaighn,  vice-presi- 
dent; F.  A.  Von  Boynebergk,  trea'~urer;  and  John 
Farrington,  secretary. 

Ice  .\nd  Cold  Storage  : 

The  business  of  supplying  natural  ice  at  Reading 
by  the  construction  of  a  dam.  erection  of  an  ice- 
house and  the  cutting  and  storing  of  ice  in  the 
winter,  was  begun  by  Abraham  Vivcns  before  1840 
and  he  carried  it  on  successfully  for  many  years. 

William  I.  Clous  was  also  active  in  it  for  a  long 
while  before  1885.  The  dam.s  were  within  the  city 
limits.  Since  then  numerous  persons  have  come  to 
engage  in  the  business,  but  they  secure  their  sup- 
plies elsewhere. 

The  Mt.  Fe>ui  lee  Conipanx  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  supplying  natural  ice  which  is  secured  and 
stored  in  Cumru  township. 

Artificial  ice  was  first  made  at  Reading  in  1893 
by  the  Reading  Cold  Storage  Conpanv,  which 
erected  a  large  plant  capable  of  producing  sixty 
tons  daily,  and  of  storing  100  cars  of  materials, 
such  as  apples,  egg-.  Imtter,  etc.,  and  has  operated 
it  since  very  successfully.  Otlicr  plants  were  es- 
tablished subsequently  and  carried  on  for  a  time. 
Its  use  is  becoming  more  genera!  annually  on  ac- 
count of  its  recognized  puritv. 

The  brewing  companies  have  also  equipped  their 
plants  with  machinery  for  producing  artificial  ice 
in  great  quantities  for  their  own  use,  and  also  for 
certain  private  customers  according  to  demand. 


Ice-cream  : 

Ice-cream  was  made  in  limited  quantities  in  the 
early  hi^tory  of  Reading.  For  forty  years  before 
18TG,  Alfred  AI.  Souders  and  his  brother  George 
were  active  and  successful  in  this  business,  besides 
making  different  kinds  of  candies  and  chocolates. 
During  the  past  thirty  years  the  following  persona 
have  been  prominently  identified  with  its  manufac- 
ture in  large  quantities  throughout  the  year,  m'lre 
especially  in  the  summer  season:  /.  R.  Sliannan 
(succeeded  by  A.  jNI.  PCershnerJ,  C.  M.  GrofF, 
John  M.  fries,  J.  O.  Roller,  D.  E.  Houck  and  Lsaac 
Barrett. 

Jewelry  : 

The  jewelers  at  Reading  always  manufactured 
various  articles,  but  almost  entirely  to  order,  and 
they  were  mostly  dealers.  After  ..members  of  dif- 
ferent secret  societies  began  to  make  frequent  de- 
mands for  badges,  charms  and  emblems  of  various 
designs,  the  business  of  manufacturing  them  was 
established.  Thomas  W.  Sweney  was  the  first  to 
engage  in  it  extensively,  having  started  about  ly<J5, 
and  continued  it  for  forty  years. 

Charles  G.  Willson  engaged  in  the  business  for 
himself  in  1887,  being  the  successor  of  his  brother 
Thomas  A.  Willson,  who  started  in  1868.  He  man- 
ufactures many  articles  to  order  and  employs  G 
hands. 

G.  A.  Sehlechter  has  been  in  the  business  since 
1870,  and,  besides  conducting  a  large  jewelry  busi- 
ness, carries  on  manufacturing  quite  extensively, 
more  especially  of  badges  and  charms  for  secret 
societies,  which  are  forwarded  to  all  parts  of  the 
country. 

Anderson  .Jewelry  Compa)iy  was  started  in  1903 
by  L.  I).  Anderson  and  J.  H.  Snyder  for  manufac- 
turing jewelry  of  various  kiiids,  but  mostly  badges, 
charms,  rings,  pins,  wire-work,  etc.,  and  tlicy  em- 
ploy from  12  to  IS  hands.  They  are  successors  of 
C.  T.  Anderson,  father  of  Mi.  Anderson,  who  be- 
gan at  Reading  in  1886. 

Upward  of  thirty  persons  are  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  business  as  dealers,  and  they  manufacture 
articles  to  ordt-r. 

Ladies'  Garments: 

In  1903,  the  Great  Eastern  Manufaeturing  Com- 
pany started  manufacturing  ladies'  garments,  of 
various  kinds,  consisting  of  wrappers,  skirts,  dress- 
ing sacques  and  kimonos,  and  since  then  has  jiro- 
duced  large  quantities  which  have  been  shipped  to 
all  parts  of  the  country.  The  factory  is  situated  at 
Sixth  and  Washington  streets  and  employs  from 
30  to  50  hands ;  in  brisk  times  over  100.  The 
officers  of  the  company  arc:  D.  E.  Houck,  presi- 
dent; J.  W.  Weidner,  secretary-treasurer;  and 
Mrs,  M.  E.  Braungart,  superintendent. 

Laundries  : 

General  laundry  work  was  started  at  Reading  in 
1875,  and  the  first  Oiiuaman  came  here  about  1S80. 
The  first  steam  laundry  was  started  in  1871)  by 
Joseph  W.  Auchenbach. 


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READING 


Excelsior  Laundry  was  started  in  1SS4  by  Charles 
E.  Witman  and  his  brother  Morgan,  and  it  has 
been  continued  by  different  owners  until  the  pres- 
ent time;  by  William  F.  Wilkinson  since  189'J,  and 
he  employs  35  hands. 

Penn  Troy  Laundry,  by  William  Y.  and  i'rederick 
Schmucker  in  l.sDrJ,  and  continued  tdl  now,  employ- 
ing 4S  hands. 

Snoii'-Flake  Laundry,  by  John  W.  II.  ITarpst 
in  1896  and  operated  since  with  15  to  5U  hands. 

City  Laundry  was  carried  on  by  Wesley  K.  Loose 
from  1897  to  1900,  when  P.  G.  Patton  became  the 
owner  and  has  operated  it  since  with  14  hands. 

Model  Laundry,  by  Frank  C.  Stringer  since  1897, 
employing  5  hands. 

Gem  Laundry,  by  Frank  ^I.  Heffner  until  his 
death  in  1908,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Harry.     He  employs  12  hands. 

A.  S.  Templin  carried  on  a  laundry  from  1902  to 
February,  1909,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Wil- 
liam Knabb,  who  continues  the  business  with  U 
hands.     His  laundry  is  called  the  "Bee  Hive." 

People's  Laundry,  by  Lewis  O.  Davis  in  1905, 
and  he  employs  from  7  to  10  hands. 

Snozv  White  Laundry,  by  H.  G.  Ellis  in  1908,  and 
he  employs  10  hands. 

Reading  Overall  Supply  Company  was  organized 
by  John  P>.  Bowers  in  1903  and  operated  since,  for 
washing  overalls,  with  'i  to  5  hands. 

Four  Chinamen  are  also  engaged  in  the  business. 
Leather: 

The  tannery  business  was  [prominent  in  Reading 
for  over  one  hundred  years,  with  plants  in  differciU 
parts  of  the  place,  but  then  it  began  to  decline  until 
the  tanning  by  bark  passed  away  entirely. 

Ferdinaiid  Goctz  Sons  Co. — This  plant  was 
started  by  Ferdinand  Winter  and  Anthony  Blatz 
in  18G9  and  operated  by  them  until  1875 ;  then 
Ferdinand  Goelz  took  the  place  of  Blatz,  and  the 
business  was  carried  on  by  Winter  &  Goetz  in  a 
very  successful  manner  until  the  decease  of  Goctz, 
in  1904,  when  the  partnership  business  was  set- 
tled by  the  retirement  of  Winter,  and  the  sons  of 
Goetz  (Frederick  W.  and  Karl)  and  his  son- 
in-law,  W.  C.  Billman,  organized  the  firm  of  Fer- 
dinand Goetz  Sons  Co.  and  have  since  carried  on 
the  business  very  extensively,  cmploving  75  hanth. 
They  prepare  cow,  calf  and  sheen  skins,  iising  the 
alum  process.  It  is  the  only  industry  of  the  kind 
now  at  Reading. 
LE.niiF.R  Goods: 

The  Reading  Saddle  Manufacturing  Com[)any 
was  organized  by  Daniel  ¥ .  J^rintz  and  incor- 
porated in  the  year  1900,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  leather  goods,  consisting  of  bicycle  saddles, 
school  bags  and  cases,  lunch  bo.ves,  etc.  'I4ie  plant 
is  situated  at  Xos.  .".IC-.S^O  Maple  street,  and  in 
its  different  departments  (including  hardware  spe- 
cialties) employs  f.o  havid'^.  It  has  been  verv  suc- 
cessful and  its  several  lines  of  gooch  are  shipjied 
to  all  parts  of  the  country.  The  officers  of  the  com- 
12 


pany  are:   Daniel  F.  Printz,  president;  Samuel  H. 
Fulmer,  treasurer;  and  Miller  M.  Deam,  secretary 
and  manager. 
.Malt: 

The  manufacture  of  malt  was  carried  on  quite 
extensively  at  Reading  for  about  forty  years  by 
different  parties,  havnig  been  started  in  18G3  by 
Frederick  Schuldt  and  Closes  K.  Graeff. 

P.  Barhcy  &  Son,  brewers,  began  in  18S5  manu- 
facturing   malt    for    their    own    consumption    and 
have  carried  on  this  department  of  tlieir  extensive 
plant  until  the  present  time. 
Mantels  : 

The  marble  inantel  business  v/as  started  at  Read- 
ing by  Daniel  IMiller  about  1805,  he  having  been 
engaged  in  the  marble  business  ai  Fourth  and 
Washington  streets  for  some  years ;  and  about 
1875  Henry  C.  Geissler  and  Thomas  Watt  em- 
barked in  the  business  of  supplying  slate  mantels, 
which  they  carried  on  for  a  number  of  years  un- 
til the  decease  of  W;itt.  Geissler  then  established 
the  Penn  Tile  and  Mantel  Company  with  his  sons 
as  partners  and  tlicy  have  developed  a  large  trade, 
which  extends  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  About 
twenty  years  ago  wooden  mantels  began  to  be 
introduced  and  then  gradually  took  the  place  of 
marble  and  slate  mantels.  They  are  manufactured 
almost  entirely  in  the  West. 
Makiile,  Gr.\nite  and  Sandstone  Works: 

P.  F.  Eisenbronni  Sons  &  Co. — In  1875,  P.  F. 
Eisenbrown  located  at  Reading,  started  a  Marble 
and  Granite  W'orks  and  carried  on  the  business 
until  1.S89,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
sons.  The  firm  name  has  been  continued  until 
the  present  tiiue.  The  works  were  located  at  Sixth 
and  Elm  streets  until  1906,  when  they  were  re- 
moved to  Mtihlenbtrg  tov.'nship.,  along  the  P.  & 
R.  railroad,  a  short  distance  north  of  Reading. 
This  firm  is  extensively  engaged  in  preparing 
granite  work  of  all  kinds  and  its  trade  extends 
throughout  Berks  and  the  surrouufling  counties. 
They  employ  from  50  to  GO  men.  They  still  re- 
tain their  yard  in  Reading. 

Ernst  Epp  embarked  in  this  business  in  1891. 
and  has  been  actively  engaged  in  it  until  the  pres- 
ent time.     He  employs  from  25  to  30  h.ands. 

SpaJigler  Brothers,  fr(Mn  Kutztown.  located  in 
Reading  in  1908,  having  purchased  the  marble 
yard  of  F.  F.  Bressler  after  his  decease. 

John  F.  Mocrs  and  his  son  Frederick  were  en- 
gaged in  the  marble  business  on  Peim  street,  above 
Second,  for  upward  of  one  hundred  years,  more 
especially  relating  to  cemetery  work.  Ilcrnian 
.Strcckcr  and  his  father  were  also  identified  with 
this  business  in  a  prominent  maimer  for  seventy 
years,  the  former  having  been  distinguished  as  a 
designer  and  sculptor  of  rare  trdents.  One  of  his 
mo=;t  notable  pieces  of  work  i<  "Christ  on  the  Cross" 
(also  called  the  "Crucifixion")  in  Charles  Evans 
cemetery. 

Flagstone. — Jacob  M:^yer  has  been  engaged  at 
Reading,   putting   down    flagstcme   pavement,   since 


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IIISTORi'    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


189(1,  securing  the  stones  from  the  Wyoming  Valley 
in  Pennsylvania:  also  concrete  and  cement  work. 
He  em;)Ioys  from   10  to  oO  hands. 

Sandstone  work  for  building  operations  was 
conunon  before  189U;  but  since  then  it  has  not 
been  popular,  being  tised  only  in  a  hmited  way. 

Mattresses  : 

In  1896,  Frederick  G.  Hodges  came  from  Wil- 
mington, Del.,  and  located  at  Reading  for  the 
manufacture  of  mattresses  and  springs  for  beds. 
He  has  carried  on  the  business  successfully  luitil 
the  present  time,  and  now  employs  16  hands. 

Metallic  Corxices: 

The  manufacture  of  metallic  cornice  and  orna- 
mental work  for  churches,  pubhc  buildir.gs  and 
dwellings  was  started  at  Reading  by  JVilliain  T. 
Hain  and  A.  J.  Geissinger  in  1ST2  at  Xo.  8v4  Court 
street.  In  1873,  Hain  became  the  sole  owner  of 
the  business  and  he  has  carried  it  on  since  at  the 
same  place.  His  work  is  forwarded  to  all  parts  of 
Pennsylvania.     He  employs  from  3  to  5  hands. 

IVilliain  B.  Ycagcr  started  in  1886  and  has  con- 
tinued till  now,  employing  from  G  to  10  hands. 

Daniel  H.  Solil  started  in  1895,  and  employs  12 
hands.    Pie  is  also  engaged  in  manufacturing  sheet- 
metal   specialties    for   automc>bik'S,   etc. 
Paikts: 

Aaron  Willielm  began  the  manufacture  of 
paint  at  Easton,  Pa.,  in  1857,  and  continued 
the  business  there  until  1871,  when  he  removed 
to  Reading.  His  brother  William  H.  was  then  as- 
sociated with  him  under  the  name  of  A.  Wilb.elm 
&  Bro.,  and  they  continued  the  business  until  1S78, 
when  William  H.  retired  and  Walter  S.  Davis  was 
admitted  in  his  stead.  From  that  time  tlie  firm 
traded  as  A.  Wilhelm  I't  Co.  In  1889  Aaron  Wil- 
helm  died  and  a  company  was  incorpc>rated  under 
the  name  of  "The  A.  Wilhelm  Co.,"  of  which 
Charles  W.  Wilhelm  became  president  and  Walter 
S.  Davis  secretary  and  treasurer,  they  serving 
these  positions  until  the  present  time.  They  manu- 
facture paints  of  every  description  and  ship  them 
to  all  parts  of  the  country  through  distributing 
houses  at  Boston.  Baltimore.  Buffalo  and  Pitts- 
burg. The  establishmer.t  was  situated  on  Poplar 
street  beyond  Walnut  until  1903,  and  until  then 
was  the  largest  paint  enterprise  in  Pennsvlvania 
outside  of  Philadelphia.  In  1902  it  was  removed 
to  Exeter  street,  in  Reading,  and  there  it  has  con- 
tinued in  active  and  successful  operation  until  the 
present  time.  The  average  number  of  hands  em- 
ployed is  75. 

B.  Frank  Ruth  was  employed  in  the  Wilhelm 
works  from  1873  to  1881.  when  he  organized  a 
company  for  the  manufacture  of  paints  of  all 
kinds,  fillers  for  wood  aiul  iron,  varnishes,  japans, 
putty,  etc.,  consisting  of  himself.  C.  Edward  Hccht 
and  Edward  Scull.  They  traded  as  B.  F.  Ruth 
&  Co.  and  c^t.ihlished  a' mill  at  No.  229  South 
Eighth  street.  They  carried  on  the  business  until 
1894,  when  the  mill  was  removed  to  No.  210  South 


Eighth  street,  where  larger  facilities  were  provided 
and  Mr.  Ruth  became  the  sole  owner.  Plis  produc- 
tions are  forwarded  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 
He  has  continued  there  until  the  present  time,  em- 
ploying from  5  to  10  hands. 

In  1887  F.  II.  Morgan,  after  being  in  the  employ 
of  the  Wilhelm  works  for  some  years,  began  the 
manufacture  of  paints  in  a  limited  way  with  James 
Ruth  as  a  partner,  on  Court  street  above  Second, 
and  in  1890  William  G.  Moore  became  associated 
with  them.  They  located  the  works  at  Eleventh  and 
Muhlenberg  streets  and  carried  on  the  same  exten- 
sively. In  1896  H.  H.  Jackson  and  Jenkin  Hill  be- 
came the  purchasers  when  ^Ir.  ^.lorgan  established 
a  place  for  himself  at  Xo.  122  Wood  street,  where 
he  has  continued  until  the  present  time,  employing 
several  hands. 
Paxts  Factories: 

In  the  year  1885,  .Solomon  Hirshland  and 
Isaac  Samuel  started  a  pants  factory,  trading 
as  the  Reading  Pants  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
carried  it  on  until  1891,  when  Hirshland  became  the 
sole  owner.  In  1S9G  he  located  at  No.  533  Penn 
Square  and  has  continued  there  until  now.  He 
does  a  large  and  successful  business  and  employs 
from  25  to  30  hands. 

In  1895,  Albert  J.  Brumbach  established  a  fine 
three-story  brick  factory  at  Fourteenth  and  Muhl- 
enberg streets  for  the  manufacture  of  pants  out  of 
his  own  woolen  cloths  produced  at  the  St.  Law- 
rence Mills  in  l",xeter  township.  He  employs  JOG 
hands. 

In  1904,  J.  G.  Leinbach  i*t  Co.  also  began  the 
manufacture  of  pants  and  vests  from  their  own 
cloths,  which  they  produced  at  the  Reading  Woolen 
Mills,  and  they  have  since  produced  great  quan- 
tities, employing  about  80  hands. 
Paper : 

The  Reading  Paper  Mills  is  a  corporation 
organized  in  1886  with  a  capital  of  $300,000, 
for  the  purpose  of  operating  three  superior  mills 
in  the  manufacture  of  fine  book  and  plate  paper. 
The  following  sketch  embraces  the  important  facts 
of  the  three  establishments : 

Penn  Street  Mill.— In  1841  Philip  Bushong,  a 
prominent  and  successful  distiller,  moved  from 
Reatr.stowm  to  Reading,  purchased  a  large  brick 
building  at  the  foot  of  Court  street  on  the  west  side 
of  Front  (which  had  been  occupied  for  several  years 
previously  as  a  machine  shop)  and  converted  it 
into  a  distillery.  He  carried  on  the  business  of  dis- 
tilling whiskev  there  until  1865,  when  he  substi- 
tuted the  manufacture  of  paper,  equipping  th.e 
building  with  the  necessarv  machinery  for  that  pur- 
pose. He  died  in  1868.  The  mill  was  then  carried 
on  for  several  years  by  his  son  George  and  his 
son-in-law  Alexander  Jacobs  for  the  estate,  and 
afterward  by  his  sons  Jacob  and  Henry  until  18^7, 
v.hen  it  was  sold  lo  the  corporatitm  named. 

Packerack  .1////.— In  1S3S  Asa  Packer  and  Rob- 
ert W.  Packer  purchased  a  large  lot  of  ground  at 


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^         ,                    READING  179 

the  foot  of  Bingaman  street  adjoining-  the  Schuylkill  automobiles    and    ornamental    work.      He    employs 

canal    from    Daniel    Sciders,    a    boat-builder,    and  5  hands. 

erected  thereon  a  large  warehouse  for  storing  mer-  Robert  .McLean  started  trading  as  the  Ideal  Pat- 
chandise  in  connection  with  operating  boats  on  tcni  Works  in  1905.  He  employs  2  hands, 
the  canal.  In  1&53  the  premises  were  sold  to  George  Picture  Frames  and  Gilding: 
R.  Frill,  who  then  converted  the  building  into  a  Godfrey  Graeff,  a  German,  came  to  Reading  m 
large  gristmill,  and  he  and  Solomon  fjrubaker  car-  1858,  and  carried  on  the  business  of  gilding  and 
ried  on  the  milling  business  until  1S7"<!,  when  it  manufacturing  picture-frames  of  all  kinds  at  No. 
was  sold  to  Jacob  Bushong,  Henry  Bushong  and  635  Penn  street  until  1871,  when  he  was  succeeded 
George  B.  Connard,  and  changed  into  a  paper-mill,  by  Francis  Woerner,  and  Mr.  Wocrncr  remained 
This  mill  was  then  operated  by  Air.  Connard  for  at  the  same  stand  until  189"?,  when  he  located  at 
some  years,  and  afterward  by  him,  Christopher  No.  23  North  Fifth  street,  where  he  continued 
Loeser  and  James  Symington,  trading  as  the  Read-  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  the  business 
ing  Paper  Company  until  1SS2,  v.-hen  George  F.  until  his  decease  in  1903.  His  son  Oscar  L.  I'/ocrn- 
Baer  becaine  the  owner;  and  after  the  organiza-  cr  succeeded  him  and  he  has  carried  on  the  busi- 
tion  of  the  Reading  Paper  Mills,  it  v.as  conveyed  ness  successfully  until  the  present  time.  He  made 
to  the  corporation.  The  building  was  enlarged  and  several  displays  of  paintings  by  local  artists,  which 
improved  and  subsequently  an  addition  was  built  attracted  much  favorable  attention  and  his  enter- 
to  it  to  supply  a  department  for  coating  paper.  prise   in   this   behalf   was   highly   appreciated.      He 

Tidpchockcn  il/j'//.— Samuel   Bell  owned  and  oj>-  employs  from  5  to  7  hands, 

erated  a  gristmill  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tulpehocken  Rcinhard  Ricgcr  learned  this  business  under  ^Ir. 

creek,   in   Bern  township,   for  a  number  of  years,  Woerner   and    continued    willi    him    from    187-1   to 

and  subsequently  until  ISGG  it  was  known  as  the  1879,  when  he  went  to  Philadelphia  to  learn  more 

Kissinger  Mill.     Then  Benjamin  F.   Schwartz  and  about  it.     In  1883,  he  returned  to  Reading  and  be- 

William   H.    Schwartz   became  the  owners.      They  gan    business    for    himself   on    Sixth    street   below 

converted  it  into  a  paper-mill,  and  carried  on  the  Penn,  where  he  continued  v/ith   increasing  success 

manufacture  of  paper  for  two  years.     George  W.  until  1900,  when  he  removed  to  No.  5  North  Fifth 

Bushong  then  purchased  the  mill  and  operated  it  street,  where  he  has  continued  until  the  present  time, 

successfully  until  187G,  producing  a  superior  grade  He  employs  4  hands. 

of  paper  which  had  a  wide  rc])utation  and  came  to  Jarins  W.  Zicgler  started  in  the  business  in  1900. 

be  known  in  the  market  as  the    'Bushong  Paper."'  and  tie  employs  from  3  to  5  hands. 

The  mill  was  afterward  operated  by  different  par-  pr^.^^xi^G  Mills: 

ties  until  1882,  when  George  F.  Baer  became  the  j,-,  i]^^  y^^r  jSfi9,  George  Gasscr,  Sr,,  came 
owner,  and  in  18S7  he  conveyed  it  with  the  two  ^^  Readin-  from  Myersiown,  established  a  plan- 
mills  mentioned  to  the  Reading  Paper  :Mills.  ing-mill  a^t  Ninth  and  Green  streets,  and  car- 
The  three  mills  have  been  operated  by  the  cor-  j-j^^j  jj  ^,-j  successfullv  until  his  decease  in  1857, 
poration  nan]ed  very  successfully  until  now.  the  having  traded  under'  the  name  of  Northeastern 
Penn  Street  IMill  prcxlucing  fme  book  and  plate  pinning  Mill.  It  was  afterward  carried  on  by  dif- 
papers;  the  Packerack  Mill,  book  and  coated  pa-  forent  ^parties  until  1903  when  the  Northeastern 
pers;  and  the  Tulpehocken  Mill,  maiiila  paper  ex-  planing  ^Mill  Companv  became  the  owner  and  it 
clusively.  The  product  of  the  first  two  mills  has  j^as  since  operated  the'  plant  in  a  successful  man- 
been  disposed  of  principally  to  publishers  and  lith-  ner,  \vith  Ar,  to  50  hands.  John  L.  Rhoads  ha^ 
ographers  in  the  United  States  for  fine  book  work;  ^een  the  president,  treasurer  "and  manager  of  the 
and  of  the  last  in  the  United  States  and  England  for  company,  and  Daniel  C.  Roth  the  secretary, 
making  sandpaper.  Hands  employed  number  300,  From  1835  to  1855,  William  B.  licrtzel  was  a 
with  James  M:  :\Iiller  as  the  general  manager,  prominent  builder  at  Reading  and  he  then  estab- 
The  offirers  of  the  company  are:  George  F.  Baer,  \\^\-^q^  a  pianing-mill  which  was  operated  bv  him 
president;  James  N.  ]Mohr,  vice-president:  Charles  ^;,ccessfully  until  1872.  It  was  afterwanl  run  by 
A.  Bushong,  treasurer;  and  Hebcr  Y.  Yost,  sec-  different  parties  until  1893,  when  the  F.  Shunk 
rctary.  •  Planing  Mill  Company  became  the  owner,  and  it 
Pattern  Works:  was  operated  In-  this  company  until  1902,  when  it 
In  1900,  Howard  F.  Hawk  started  trading  un-  was  succeeded  by  the  Penn  Planing  Mill  Company, 
der  the  name  of  Reading  Pattern  Works  for  the  which  has  carried  nn  the  plant  until  the  present 
manufacture  of  all  kinds  of  patterns.  He  employs  time,  employing  about  05  hands.  The  officers  of 
3  hands.  the  company  are:  Harry  Shunk,  president;  Con- 
In  1908,  Henry  Adams  and  William  Betz  bcc^an  rad  B.  High,  secretary-treasurer, 
trading  as  the  Mt.  Pcmi  Pattern  Works  and  they  In  187-1,  a  planing-mill  was  established  on 
employ  2  hands.  They  are  successors  of  Daniel  Spruce  street  below  Third  by  Eisenhower,  Fink  & 
Madlcni.  who  started  at  Reading  in  187-1  and  con-  Co..  and  operated  by  them  until  1877,  when  the 
tinned  until  his  decease  in  DOG.  firm  name  was  changed  to  Fink  e^-  Co.;  it  wa*^  np- 
In  190(;,  /  S.  Creitz  established  a  pattern  works  eratrd  by  tliis  company  until  ]S9},  and  afterward 
for  supplying  patterns  of  all  kinds  for  machinery,  by  different  parties  imtil  1901,  when  it  came  into 


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ISO 


HISTORY    Ol'    DERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


the  possession  of  tlie  Sheeder  Planing-  Mill  Com- 
pany, with  Benjamin  F.  Shcoder  as  president, 
which  has  carried  on  the  plant  since  in  a  success- 
ful manner,  empli;>ying  15  hand^. 

The  Never^ink  Planing-  ^lill  Company,  Ltd. 
(Frederick  Hendricks,  Jo:^ei;h  II.  Wade  and  John 
H.  Bechtel  as  pariners),  was  organized  in  lUOl  for 
carrying  on  a  planing-mill  along  the  Lebanon  \  al- 
ley railroad  at_  Gordon  street,  and  has  since  oper- 
ated the  plant  successfully,  with  ;;0  and  40  hands 
employed.  This  mill  is  equipped  for  cabinet  work 
as  well  as  general  mill  work,  which  is  a  specialty. 
Roi'ES,  Cords,  axd  Twines: 

The  first  ropew-alk  conducted  at  Reading  was 
established  there  in  the  year  IS'^i)  by  Thomas 
Jackson,  an  Englishiuan,  along  the  southerly  side 
of  the  Schuylkill  canal  between  tlie  Lancaster 
bridge  and  Jackson's  lock.  He  then  employed  5 
hands  and  manufactured  all  kinds  of  ropes  and 
twines.  By  1850  he  had  dcvelo])ed  his  plant  so  as 
to  employ  from  15  to  20  hands.  The  superinten- 
dent of  the  Schuylkill  canal.  Samuel  Griscom,  pat- 
ronized him  extensively,  whereby  he  came  to  make 
nearly  all  the  ropes  for  the  company  and  for  per- 
sonal owners  of  boats. 

In  1850  the  large  freshet  swept  away  his  factory, 
and  he  located  on  First  Hockley  lane,  between 
Eighth  and  Ninth  streets  (now  l)cyond  Greenwich 
street),  transferring  the  jilant  frum  the  extrem.e 
southern  end  of  the  city  to  the  then  extreme  north- 
ern end.  He  erected  a  larg-e  two-story  building 
and  continued  to  manufacture  rojtLS  and  twines 
by  hand-spinning.  About  isiV?  his  business  in- 
creased very  much  and  he  then  introduced  niachin- 
ery,  increasing  the  emplnycs  to  25.  His  ropewalk 
was  built  to  the  length  r,f  1,450  feet.  In  1875  his 
son  Henry  PL  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  and  from 
that  time  the  business  was  conducted  under  the 
name  of  Thomas  Jackson  &  .Son. 

The  senior  partner  died  \v.  IMS,  when  the  entire 
plant  became  the  property  of  Henry  H.  Jackson, 
but  the  firm  name  was  continued.  The  business 
has  been  carried  on  VL-ry  -^ucce-sfuliy  until  now. 
The  works  comprise  three  mills,  and  employ  150 
hands.  The  productiinis  are  fine  nianila,  sisal  and 
jute  ropes  and  cordage,  twuu-s  and  packing  yarns 
of  different  kinds,  Vv  iiich  arc  forwarded  to  all  parts 
of  the  L'nited  States. 

This  ro|)ewalk  has  lieen  the  only  establishment 
of  its  kind  carried  on  at  Reading.  Other  persons 
were  cnga.ged  in  the  business  of  manufacturing 
ropes,  cords  and  twines  at  different  times,  in  a  lim- 
ited way.  but  it  was  previcvus  to  ISCii. 

William  H.  German  has  been  connected  with  this 
plant  as  the  chief  clerk  since  ISSM). 
Rum-.KR  Stamps  and  SrrxrTis: 

In  1873,  Francis  1  1.  PatY  began  inaking  rubber 
stamps,  stencil  work  of  all  kinds,  jiolice  badges 
and  corporation  seals;  and  in  1882  he  located  his 
shop  at  No.  00  Smitli  ."Seventh  street,  where  he 
lias  continued  since,  maiutfacturing  tlic  articles 
named  on  orders. 


Rugs  : 

F.  S.  KcHcv  started  manufacturing  ru.gs  out  of 
rags  in  1907,  at  Reading,  and  has  continued  until 
now,  employing  4  hands. 
Saxd  axd  Sp.vlls: 

For  a  period  of  upward  of  forty  years  sand 
has  been  remoyed  from  the  base  of  }^It.  Penn, 
near  the  extension  of  Buttonwcx)d  street,  and  the 
parties  who  engaged  in  the  business  of  supplying 
sand  from  that  vicinity  for  building  purposes  were 
Anthony  Brown  and  William  Sweimler;  and  the 
son  of  the  former  is  still  engaged  in  the  business. 

Mr.  Sweimler  was  succeeded  by  John  Roth,  and 
Gallagher  &  Brisse,  and  since  1904  by  Gallagher 
Brothers  (John  and  James),  who  employ  from  12 
to  15  liands  and  remove  annually  about  7,000  tons 
of  superior  sand  for  all  purposes,  with  the  aid  of 
a  crusher. 

James  Gallagher  has  been  doing  business  there 
also  since  1905  as  the  Construction  Supply  Com- 
pany in  supplying  sand  and  spalls.  He  employs 
from  10  to  15  Iiands. 

George  L.  Kestncr.  Jr.,  has  operated  a  sand  works 
adjoining,  for  upward  of  ten  years,  employing  sev- 
eral hands  and  a  crusher.  He  has  named  his  place 
"Alsando." 

Hack  Crusher. — jNIichael  Haak  owned  a  tract  of 
land  on  the  northern  decliyity  of  Alt.  Neversink  and 
tliere  he  opened  a  place  in  1850  for  supphing  gravel 
and  building  sand.  (  )pcrations  were  carrietl  on  in  a 
limited  manner  until  1895,  when  the  heirs  of  Mr. 
Haak  with  George  E.  Haak  as  manager  put  up  a 
crusher  plant,  and  since  then  they  have  supplied 
large  quantities  of  sand  for  buildings  and  concrete 
paving,  also  large  qu:uitities  of  sienna  paint. 

SinvER  Pipe: 

E.  S.  Fox  <S:  Co.  manufacture  large  quantities  of 
se\yer  pipe  at  their  Ten  a  Cotta  Works  since  1870. 

Shirts: 

The  manufacture  of  men's  and  boys'  shirts  at 
Reading  was  begun  by  Samuel  L.  McCulloch  about 
1872,  and  he  carried  on  the  business  for  a  number 
of  years ;  and  during  that  time  it  was  carried  on 
also  by  William  Laratny. 

Nathan  N.  Sprecher  began  making  shirts  ex- 
tensively in  18SG,  and  he  continued  until  1890, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  G.  McGowan. 
In  1895  he  establislied  a  large  gents'  furnishing 
store  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building,  No.  fl30  Penn 
street,  and  he  continued  there  until  his  decease  in 
1907,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  J. 
Wallace  R.  McGowan,  who  then  incorporated  The 
Joh)i  G.  McGoivaii  Company  to  continue  the  busi- 
ness, including  the  manufacture  of  shirts.  The 
conipan_\-  erni>loys  5  hands  in  this  department. 

In  1880.  James  S.  Brusstar  and  Albert  C.  Weile 
engaged  in  the  business  and  after  trading  together 
for  a  year  Mr.  P.nis-tar  became  the  sole  owner. 
He  tlien  operated  the  factory  until  Jan.  1.  1898, 
when  his  brotlicr,  George  M.  Brusstar,  and  Henry 


-•;:-!    7v!o-    !, 


Mi       •.,!.        .:,'. 


READING 


181 


M.  Rettew  were  admitted  as  partners.  Since  then 
they  have  traded  as  James  S.  Bntsstar  &  Co.  The 
tinn  solicits  orders  for  custom  shirts  of  all  kinds 
in  Pennsylvania,  \"irjjinia  and  West  Virginia,  in 
which  a  large  trade  has  been  established.  They 
employ  50  hands. 

Albert  L.  Smith  came  from  Trenton  in  1882  and 
located  at  Reading,  opening-  a  gents'  furnishing 
store  at  Xo.  431  Penn  Square.  In  1^87,  he  began 
the  manufacture  of  men's  and  boys'  shirts,  which 
he  continued  until  his  decease  in  lO'il,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  his  son,  who  has  since  carried  on 
the  business,  employing  5  hands. 

S.  Licbovitz  and  his  two  sons  located  at  Reading 
in  February,  1909,  for  the  manufacture  of  men's 
and  boys'  shirts,  and  on  April  1st  established  a 
factory  on  the  third  floor  of  the  P.  &  R.  R.  Co. 
shop  at  Seventh  and  Chestnut  streets,  where  they 
have  become  extensive  manufacturers,  employing 
upward  oi  150  hands.  They  are  interested  in  num- 
erous factories  of  this  kind,  the  largest  being  at 
Reading,  Pottstown,  Myerstown  and  New  York 
City. 

In  March,  1908,  George  II.  Kaufman  and  Charles 
H.  Wesley  began  trading  as  Reading  Shirt  Com- 
pany, for  the  manufacture  of  men's  and  boys'  shirts 
of  all  kinds,  made  out  of  woolens,  percales  and 
madras.  They  employ  from  10  to  -50  hands  and 
their  factory  is  located  at  Seventh  and  Bingaman 
streets. 

In  October,  1908,  S.  K.  Cohn  and  I.  Sattenstein 
began  to  trade  as  JVidc-civulce  Shirt  Company,  for 
the  manufacture  of  men's  and  boys'  shirts.  They 
employ  from  30  to  50  hands. 

Isaac  M.  Fidlcr  started  in  1889  at  No.  1042  But- 
tonwood  street,  and  has  continued  until  the  pres- 
ent time,  employing  from  10  to  12  hands. 

Shoes: 

Curtis  &  Jones  Co. — Frederick  W.  Curtis  and 
Frederick  S.  Jones  came  to  Reading  and  embarked 
in  the  wholesale  and  retail  shoe  business  in  the  old 
Academy  Building  on  Penn  Square  and  continued 
for  three  years  when  they  sold  out  the  retail  depart- 
ment and  staited  the  manufacture  of  infants'  and 
children's  shoes  at  No.  527  Penn  Square,  occupving 
the  second,  third,  and  fourth  flexors  of  the  building, 
in  connection  with  the  wholesale  business.  They 
remained  there  until  1883,  when  they  removed  their 
plant  to  the  Felix  Building,  northwest  corner  of 
Fifth  street  and  Penn  Square.  Thev  then  employed 
25  hands  and  produced  500  pairs  daily. 

In  the  year  1889  they  erected  a  substantial  four- 
story  brick  factory  at  Fifth  and  Court  streets 
which  they  supplied  \\  ith  the  latest  improved 
niachinery  to  meet  the  demands  of  their  rap- 
idly increasing  business,  and  they  then  cmploved 
175  hands  and  j>roduccd  2,000  pairs  daily.  In  1902, 
upon  the  incorporation  of  the  com];any,  the  plant 
was  removed  to  a  much  larger  and  more  improved 
Imilding    at    Nos.    724-732    North    Eighth    street. 


where  this  great  enterprise  has  continued  until  the 
present  time,  with  increasing  success.  The  employes 
have  come  to  number  7()0  and  the  daily  product  has 
been  increased  to  10,000  pairs  of  infants',  children's 
and  misses'  .  Goodyear-Turn  ■^hoes,  which  are 
shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  The  ofificers 
of  the  company  are:  Frederick  W.  Curtis,  presi- 
dent; Frederick  S.  Jones,  secretary-treasurer;  and 
C'lement  PI.  Ouinn,  manager. 

Penn  Shoe  Company  was  incorporated  in  1902 
for  the  manufacture  of  infants'  shoes.  Its  plant 
is  located  at  Xo.  320  Maple  street,  and  employs 
100  hands.  It  has  been  operated  very  sucessfully, 
and  its  goods  are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 
The  officers  are  Daniel  F.  Printz,  president  and 
manager ;  Samuel  H.  Fulmer,  treasurer. 

In  1906,  Charles  W.  Sharman  and  George  A. 
Raab,  trading  as  the  Crescent  Shoe  Company,  be- 
gan the  manufacture  of  children's  shoes  at  Xo.  222 
Pearl  street,  and  have  continued  until  now,  employ- 
ing about  50  hands. 

There   are   numerous   boot   and   shoe   makers   at 
Reading,   numbering   upward   of    150,   wlio   manu- 
facture  for  customers  in  a  limited  way,  but  their 
attention   is    chiefly   directed   to   repairing. 
Silk  : 

Grimshaio  Mill. — In  the  year  1887  John.  George 
and  David  Grimshaw,  trading  as  Grimshaw  liroth- 
ers,  came  from  Paterson,  X.  J.,  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  silk-mill  at  Reading  ami  operating 
it  in  connection  with  their  large  ])lant  at  that  place, 
if  properly  encouraged  in  their  proposed  enter- 
prise. In  this  behalf,  a  number  of  public-spirited 
citizens  organized  an  association  anrl  secured  sub- 
scriptions, amounting  to  SH5.00<i.  The  building 
committee  comprised  Henry  Eppihimer,  George 
D.  Stitzel,  Lewis  Kremp.  Jerome  L.  Boyer  and 
William  Rosenthal,  who  purchased  a  half-block 
of  ground  at  Eleventh  and  Marion  streets  and 
erected  a  superior  three-story  brick  structure  50 
by  250  feet  and  leased  it  for  a  term  of  years,  with 
an  option  of  purchase,  to  the  Grimshaw  Brothers, 
who  then  equipped  it  with  machincrv  for  the  man- 
ufacture   of    silk,    costing    about    S75.000. 

They  carried  on  the  mill  successfully  until  Jan. 
1,  1908,  producing  large  quantities  of  dress  goods, 
linings,  thrown  siik.  and  yarns,  which  were 
shipped  to  Xew  York.  Then  they  became  an  in- 
corporated body,  trading  under  tlie  name  of  Grim- 
shaw Brothers  Company,  and  the  jilant  was  trans- 
ferred to  this  company  which  has  since  operated  it, 
employing  from  300  to  J 00  hands,  mostlv  girls. 
The  officials  of  the  companv  are:  John  (Grimshaw, 
president;  David  H.  Grimshaw,  treasurer;  and 
George  Grimshaw.  secretary. 

On  Jan.  9,  1889.  the  building  was  blown  down 
by  a  tornado,  the  T7iost  destructive  storm  that  ever 
visited  Readim:.  The  mill  was  in  full  operation 
at  the  time.  Many  of  the  hands  escaped,  but  17 
were  killed  and  over  100  injured.     A  public  meet- 


■■i<\ ;; 


.     '■■/J 


„f)l   ; 


■.^■^(U 


'.■■■I  ■•    ,■'<  ir.  ;.;,      ,'t-t 


182 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


ing  of  citizens  assembled  in  the  Court-House  on 
Jan.  10th  for  supplying  aid  to  the  suffering  fam- 
ilies, and  altogether  S^■.^UOO  was  received  from  the 
people  of  Reading  and  elsewhere,  Avhich  was  judi- 
ciously distributed  bv  a  committee  appointed  for  tliat 
purpose. 

In  1905,  Charles  Stcincr  and  William  H.  Talcott 
associated  together  as  the  Stcincr  &  Talcott  Silk 
CoDipany,  for  the  manufacture  of  broad  silks.  30 
inches  wide,  in  all  colors,  and  have  since  carried  on 
the  business  at  Xos.  234-:210  Zvloss  street,  employ- 
ing 85  hands. 

Si.ATE  Sinks: 

Martin  R.  Hoch  has  manufactured  slate  sinks  for 
dwellings  since  189-1,  and  employs  3  hands.  His 
trade  is  mostly  local. 

Slate  mantels  constituted  a  prominent  industry 
for  thirty  years  until  about  1900;  then  they  became 
too  costly  and  the  business  was  discontinued. 

SOAI' : 

In  1S83,  Franklin  K.  Miller  began  making  fulling, 
laundry,  scouring  and  toilet  soap,  and  also  wash- 
ing powders  for  local  custotriers.  His  factory  was 
established  on  Eighteenth  street,  near  Perkiomen 
avenue,  and  there  it  has  continued  until  the  present 
,time.  He  employs  4  hands  and  produces  anmially 
about  400  tons. 

Si'ECTACL.ES  : 

In  the  year  1871  Thomas  A.  Willsou  erected 
a  three-story  brick  factory  for  the  manufacture 
of  spectacles  and  equipped  it  with  machinery  es- 
pecially designed  by  him.  He  began  operations  in 
1872  and  then  established  the  only  place  in  the 
•  world  at  which  were  made  ail  the  parts  that  consti- 
tuted a  complete  pair  of  spectacles.  The  sand 
for  the  lenses  Avas  ;obtained  at  Berkshire, 
Mass.,  and  the  steel  wire  for  th.e  frame  was 
also  obtained  mostly  in  Massachusetts.  The 
lens  was  tinted.  All  kinds  of  spectacles  were 
made  and  a  large  business  was  developed  that  ex- 
tended throug-hout  the  world.  In  1SS5  employment 
was  given  to  240  persons,  and  the  average  daily 
production  was  o.SnO  piairs.  The  several  machines 
w'Cre  manufacturcil  in  the  factory  under  Mr.  Will- 
son's  direction  and  they  are  perfect  specimens  of 
superior  workmanship.  Owing  to  the  great  compe- 
tition in  trade,  the  manufacture  of  lenses  was  dis- 
continued in  ISSn.  and  these  are  now  imported 
from  Europe  in  great  quantities,  of  which  a  large 
stock  is  kept  constantly  on  hand.  X^ow  the  factory 
is  devoted  entirely  to  the  manufacture  of  low-priced 
and  medium  grades  of  spectacles  and  this  factory 
and  that  of  the  Pennsylvania  Optical  Company, 
also  at  Reading,  are  the  only  ones  in  the  United 
States  which  produce  exclusivclv  the  cheaper 
grades  of  steel  spectacles  and  eye-glasses.  The 
daily  production  is  10.000  pairs,  and  the  average 
number  of  -hands  employed  is  200.  Tiic  proprie- 
tor's   son,    Frederick    Willson,    has    been    manager 


since  1893.  There  are  only  eight  other  factories 
in  the  United  States,  but  their  product  is  mostly 
gold  and  silver  frames. 

In  1S8G  William  W.  Essick  started  making  cheap 
spectacles  and  eye-glasses  at  his  home  on  Third 
street,  near  Franklin,  and  continued  there  until 
1901,  when  he  moved  into  a  large  factory  which 
he  established  at  X'o.  125  South  Fifth  street.  He 
enlarged  this  plant  in  IDOli.  He  now  employs  120 
hands,  manufactures  daily  nearly  1,000  dozen,  in- 
cluding goggles,  and  ships  his  productions  to  all 
parts  of  the  world.  He  has  been  trading  from 
the  beginning  under  the  name  of  Pennsylvania  Op- 
tical Compan}-. 

SriCE  AND  Roasting  3,Iills: 

George  W.  Moyer  came  from  Easton,  and  in  1S72 
associated  with  John  McKnight  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  spices  of  all  kinds.  In  187S  Air.  iNIoyer 
started  for  himself  and  carried  on  the  business  until 
his  decease  in  1889,  when  the  mill  at  Rose  and  Elm 
streets  was  purchased  by  Kurtz  &  Mayers,  whale- 
sale  grocers,  by  whom  it  has  been  operated  since. 
Enipioyees,  4 ;  monthly  product,  30  tons,  which  is 
shipped  to  all  parts  of  Pennsylvania.  Large  quanti- 
ties of  coffee  also  are  roasted  in  the  establishment. 

In  18G1  Francis  X.  Blessing  and  John  Shoemaker 
began  roasting  coffee  on  Carpenter  street  near 
Spruce.  In  1870  they  removed  to  X^o.  311  Chestnut 
street,  and  shortly  afterward  Mr.  Shoemaker  died. 
Air.  Blessing  then  became  the  sole  owner  and  he 
carried  on  the  business  until  his  death  in  1902, 
when  his  son  Henry  succeeded  him,  carrying  on 
business  as  the  Reading  Steam  Coffee  and  Spice 
Mills.  He  employs  3  or  4  hands  and  roasts  1,500 
pounds  of  coft"ee  and  peanuts  weekly,  which  are  dis- 
posed of  in  Reading  and  different  parts  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Augustus  C.  Kleinschmidt  wa-;  engaged  in  this 
business  at  X'o.  27  Peacli  street  for  n:any  years, 
until  his  decease  in  1904,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Charles,  and  the  son  and  son-in-law,  Irvin 
Schick,  have  carried  on  the  establishment  since 
under  the  name  of  Kleinschmidt  &■  Schick. 

George  Becker  has  also  carried  on  the  roasting 
f»f  coft'ee  and  peanuts  for  some  time,  but  in  a  lim- 
ited manner. 

Stained-Glass  WorKs: 

J.  AI.  Kase.  trading  as  /.  M.  Kase  &  Co..  began 
making  stained-glass  work  in  1S85  at  Xo.  -^11 
Washington  street,  and  has  continued  there.  He 
designs  and  manufactures  memorial  windows  for 
churches  and  artistic  work  for  private  residences, 
which  he  puts  up  in  different  parts  of  Pennsylvania, 
lie  emjiloys  20  hands. 

Stove  Lining: 

The  Terra  Cotta  Works  of  F.  S.  Fox  &  Co.  pro- 
duce stove  lining  at  their  plant  in  large  quantities. 

Tekka  Cotta : 

I'o.v  Works. — John  Lotz  carried  on  a  liat  factory 
at  the  foot  of  Franklin  street  from  1800  to  1824; 


-..:i  ;..!r:.*  -.iJiii-:  K-jui!.;    t;; 


READIXG 


183 


then  Riah  Gillson  purchased  the  property  and  con- 
verted the  building-  into  a  general  store  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supplying-  boatmen  with  groceries,  provis- 
ions, etc.  It  was  continued  as  a  store  for  about 
forty  years.  In  1S(J8  Eli  S.  Fox,  Walter  K.  Hagy 
and  William  Keely,  trading  as  Fox,  Hagy  &  Co., 
established  a  terra  cotta  works  on  the  premises. 
In  1S70  Hagy  and  Keely  sold  their  interests  in  the 
business,  and  George  K.  Whitner  became  a  partner, 
the  firm  trading  as  E.  S.  Fox  &  Co.  Eli  S.  Fox 
died  in  1890,  and  his  sons,  William,  Benjamin  F. 
and  Eli  W.,  succeeded  him.  In  ISyG  the  interests 
of  Mr.  Whitner  and  the  son  William  were  pur- 
chased by  Benjamin.  The  firm  manufactures  all 
kinds  of  terra  cotta  ware,  especially  stove  lining, 
sewer  pipe  and  vases,  which  are  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  United  States,  and  they  employ  from 
25  to  30  hands. 

Tobacco : 

The  following  persons  are  engaged  at  Reading 
in  manufacturing  shorts  for  chewing  and  smoking 
tobacco : 

Breneiser  Brothers,  trading  as  the  Atlas  Tobacco 
Ccmpany. 

George  W.  Green,  trading  as  the  Reading  Tobac- 
co Manufacturing  Company. 

Morris  Goldman. 
■  Hantsch  &  Rhcin. 

George   JV.  Lchr. 

George  Maltzbcrgcr. 

Walter  Orth,  trading  as  Lhe  Pompcy  Manufac- 
turing Company. 

Charles  Shirk  &  Company. 

Trunks : 

Joseph  J.  IVcightman  started  making  trunks  at 
Reading  in  ]SS8  and  continued  for  twenty  years. 
His  son  Burt  E.  started  for  himself  on  Jan.  1,  190G. 
Besides  making  trunks  of  various  kinds  to  order,  he 
also  manufactures  suit  cases. 

Umbrellas: 

Leopold  Hirsch  located  at  Reading  about  1847 
and  manufactured  umbrellas  until  ISCO,  when  he 
removed  to  Philadelphia. 

In  18G9,  August  Rolland.  a  Frenchman,  came  to 
Reading  and  embarked  in  the  business  and  it  was 
continued  successfully  by  him,  and  afterward  by  his 
wife  until  her  decease  in  190?,  when  their  sons 
Augustus  and  Charles  carried  it  on  together  until 
1905,  when  they  separated  and  established  places 
of  their  own.  Augustus  I.  Rolland  is  located  at  No. 
722  Penn  street  and  makes  a  speciallv  of  a  "brass- 
tip"  un-ibrella,  employing  several  hand^.  Charles 
L.  Rolland  is  at  No.  631  Penn  street  and  makes  a 
specialty  of  a  "silver-tip"  umbrella,  employing  5 
hands  to  meet  the  dei-nands  of  his  trade. 

W.\LL-PArER: 

In  1905,  a  plant  was  established  at  Reading 
in  one  of  tl-ie  large  buildings  of  the  P.  &  R.  R. 
Co.  at  Seventh  aiul  Chestnut  streets,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  mantifacturing  a  medium  grade  of  wall- 
paper   by    a     number    of    enterprising    gentlemen 


who  organized  a  couipany  which  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  Sun  Wall  Paper  Manufacturing 
Company.  J.  W.  Screven  has  been  the  manager 
of  the  plant.  A  large  and  successful  business  has 
been  developed  which  extends  throughout  the  coun- 
try. 
Washing  !\lAcniNES: 

In  1894,  Jan-ies  PI.  Knoll  and  Nathan  S.  Alt- 
house,  associating  together  as  Knoll  &  Althouse, 
designed  and  patented  an  improved  washing-ma- 
chine which  they  called  the  "Queen",  and  until 
190G  made  large  quantities  of  them,  when  Mr. 
Knoll  became  the  sole  owner  and  he  has  since 
carried  on  the  btisiness.     He  employs  7  hands. 

In  1899,  Augustus  G.  Ch'isti'iian  designed  and 
secured  a  patent  for  the  "Royal"  washing-machine, 
and  large  numbers  of  them  have  been  made  and 
sold  throughout  the  country.  He  died  in  July, 
1908,  and  since  then  his  son  H.  Herbert  Christ- 
man  has  conducted  the  business  for  the  estate. 

The  Reading  Manufacturing  Company  was  in- 
corporated in  1904  for  the  manufacture"  of  wash- 
ing-machines and  since  then  has  manufactured 
them  in  large  quantities,  known  as  the  "Lehigh," 
"Five  Arrow,"  "Big  Five"  and  the  "Reading 
Motor."  The  manager  of  the  plant  is  James  A. 
Kalbach,  and  the  president  of  the  company  Paul 
K.  Leinbach.     The  company  employs  12  hands. 

In  1907,  Daniel  F.  Printz  designed  and  patented 
an  in-iproved  washing-machine  called  the  "Printz," 
which  is  irianufactured  in  large  quantities  at  the 
Reading  W(X>d   Pulley  Works. 

Window  \"entilators  : 

In  the  month  of  Decen-iber,  1908,  Wil- 
liam G.  Plintz,  Willian-i  E.  Althouse,  and  Howard  B. 
Heath  associated  togetlier  under  the  name  of  Hintz 
&  Althouse  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  win- 
dow ventilators  out  of  wood  and  n-ietal,  after  a  spe- 
cial design  of  their  own,  and  since  then  have  manu- 
factured large  quantities  of  them  at  No.  640  Cherry 
street.     They  employ  3  hands. 

Wood  Pull£y  Works: 

In  the  year  1893,  the  Reading  \\'ood  Pulley 
Company  was  incorporated  and  its  factorv  was 
established  at  No.  247  Poplar  street.  In'  1899, 
the  plant  was  removed  to  Eleventh  and  Muh- 
lenberg streets,  where  it  has  continued  until 
tlie  present  time,  n.anufacturing  all  sizes  of  wood 
pulleys,  which  have  been  shipped  throughout  the 
L'nited  States  and  foreign  coimtries.  The  hands 
employed  nuniber  75.  The  officers  of  the  com- 
pany are:  Daniel  F.  Printz.  president;  Samuel  PI. 
Fulmer,  treasurer;  and  Henry  J.  Glaser.  manager. 

Woolen  Goods  : 

Robert  M.  Shouse,  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania, 
came  to  Reading  in  18."')9,  and  began  the  manu- 
facture of  gingham  and  shirting  chcck\  Some 
months  afterward,  his  enterprise  was  de«troved 
by  fire.  He  then  selected  a  lot  on  Fourth  street 
bcvond    Elni   as   a   suitable   location   and   erected   a 


.,,;j'<>v   ^JUiVk  rjj  ■•is '*■•;'%«•! 


n  '■■■n\:.y 


'      Mn:.. 


184 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXNSYLVAXIA 


two-story  stone  factory  with  basement,  where  he 
resumed  tlie  manufacture  of  tlie  articles  mentioned, 
and  continued  the  same  until  ISO,  when  he  con- 
verted it  into  a  woolen-mill  for  manufacturing 
jeans,  plaids,  and  doe-skin  cloths.  Jonathan  G. 
Leinbach  became  the  manager  and  in  ISGT  he  was 
made  a  partner,  the  tirm  trading  under  the  name 
of  R.  AI.  Shouse  iV  Co.  Thev  employed  50  hands, 
and  their  annual  production  amounted  to  $100, OUO, 
which  was  shipped  to  commission  houses  at  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  and  Baltimore.  The  finn  con- 
tinued operations  until  JSTa,  when  JNlr.  Leinbach 
became  the  sole  owner.  Shortly  afterward  he 
formed  a  co-partnership  with  Aaron  S.  Leinbach 
and  William  F.  P.  Davis,  who  traded  as  J.  G.  Lein- 
bach &  Co.  In  16S0  Jolm  Shadel  became  a  part- 
ner. In  18S7  Rev.  Air.  iJavis  died  and  his  interest 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  Leinbach. 

In  ISS^t,  the  senior  member-gave  an  interest  in 
the  business  to  his  three  brothers,  Daniel,  Albert 
and  ]\Iahlon;  and  in  l!S''4,  appreciating  the  long- 
continued  fidelity  of  certain  of  the  older  employes 
who  had  worked  in  the  mill  from  twenty  to  thirty 
years,  he  also  gave  them  an  interest.  In  1896 
Aaron  S.  Leinbach  died,  and  the  surviving  ]>artners 
(Leinbach  and  Shadel)  purchased  his  mterest. 
After  the  firm  had  organized  in  1875,  improve- 
ments were  made  to  the  plant,  additional  ground 
was  purchased,  and  new  machinery  was  introduced 
from  time  to  time.  In  isSO,  the  manufacture  of 
jeans  was  discontinued.  The  volume  of  business 
increased  steadily,  and  with  it  the  number  of  iKmds. 

The  plant  is  equipped  with  the  best  machiuerj', 
including  four  self-acting  spinning  machines  with 
l,[i08  spindles,  and  a  100-horse-power  Corliss  en- 
gine. The  enterprise  has  been  named  the  Reading 
Woolen  JNIill,  and  the  manufactured  cloths  are  so 
known  in  the  market,  having  a  superior  reputation. 
This  is  the  only  enterprise  at  Reading  in  which  the 
older  and  more  experienced  hands  have  been  per- 
mitted to  share  in  the  profits  of  the  business.  The 
generosity  of  the  senior  member  has  been  appreci- 
ated and  it  has  resulted  in  mutual  benefits,  as  well 
to  the  firm  as  to  the  reci])ients. 

In  1904,  the  company  introduced  the  manufacture 
of  pants  and  vests  from  their  owns  cloths,  and  has 
since  been  very  successful.  In  all  the  departments 
of  this  enterprise,  the  empkncs  number  from  LSO 
to  200. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are:  J.  G.  Leinbach, 
president;  A.  Ellsworth  Leinbach,  treasurer;  Samuel 
W.  ReifT,  secretary.     • 

DEP.\RT>rE.N-T  Stores. — The  dry-goods  merchants 
at  Reading  continued  to  handle  distinct  line?  of 
merchandise  in  theif  respective  stores  until  abiut 
the  "Centennial"  year;  then  the  m.ost  entcrprisijig 
proprietors  began  to  add  different  lines  of  gowls 
in  order  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  their  increasing 
trade. 

Kline,  V'.ppihiinrr  &  Co. — ^In  ISC-^,  Amos  K. 
Kline  and  Henry  iLfipihimer  engaged  in  the  general 


dry-goods  business  at  No.  o'fl  Penn  Square.  Jer- 
ome L.  Boyer  was  a  paitner  from  18G5  to  1SG9  and 
Calvin  K.  AVhitner  from  1S(;9  to  1877.  In  18SS 
they  enlarged  their  store,  adding  the  greater  part 
of  the  adjoining  building  on  the  west,  four  stories 
in  height,  and  then  it  became  a  recognized  depart- 
ment store.  In  l.S9-^  they  re-organized  the  firm 
by  admitting  William  W.  Kline  (son  of  the  senior 
partner),  Richard  Lenhart  and  Franklin  Rieser  as 
partners,  and  thence  they  traded  as  Kline,  Eppi- 
himcr  &:  Co. 

In  1905,  they  made  another  enlargement  of  their 
store  by  taking  in  the  adjoining  building  to  the 
west  (excepting  the  first  lioor),  which  gave  them 
superior  accommodations  for  their  rapidly  increas- 
ing trade.  At  first  the  store  employed  5  hands ; 
in  1900,  over  100,  and  in  1909,  upward  of  200; 
which  shows  the  development  of  their  business. 
Their  trade  extends  throughout  Berks  and  the  sur- 
rounding counties. 

C.  K.  Hliitncr  &  Co.- — Calvin  K.  \Vhitner  began 
his  business  career  in  1801,  in  Oley  township, 
Berks  county,  not  far  from  the  place  of  his  birth, 
when  he  entered  the  country  store  of  Jacob  S. 
Spang  &  Son  at  Spangsville.  He  remained  there 
as  a  clerk  until  1805,  wdien  he  went  to  Friedens- 
burg  and  with  Edwin  S.  Bear  as  a  partner,  trad- 
ing as  Whitner  &  Bear,  carried  on  a  store  for  two 
years.  He  then  removed  to  Reading  and  was  em- 
])]oycd  as  bookkeeper  with  Kline,  Eppihimer  &  Co. 
for  a  short  time,  when  he  became  a  partner.  After 
continuing  in  this  firm  until  1877,  he  started  a  dry- 
goods  store  for  himself  at  Xo.  432  Penn  Square, 
with  six  employes.  By  the  year  1883,  his  trade  had 
increased  so  much  that  he  was  obliged  to  obtain 
larger  quarters,  and  in  that  behalf  lie  removed  to 
the  comiTiodious  store  building  at  Nos.  442-444  Pcim 
Square.  In  1S87,  his  son  Tlarry  became  a  partner 
and  the  store  was  enlarged  to  twice  its  previous 
capacity.  The  firm  traded  as  C.  K.  Whitner  & 
Son  until  the  son's  decease  in  December,  1890.  In 
1891,  Mr.  Whitner  added  other  lines  of  goods  and 
he  made  his  place  a  department  store ;  and  bv  way 
of  anticipating  additional  facilities  for  his  growing 
business,  he  purchased  two  properties  on  tlte  west. 
Xos.  438  and  440.  In  1S9G,  a  faithful  employe  for 
many  years.  John  A.  Eritton,  was  admitted  as  a 
partner,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  C.  K. 
Whitner  &•  Co.:  and  Jan.  1.  1907.  Mr.  Whitncr's 
son-in-law.  John  Rick,  became  a  partner.  In  .\pril, 
1S9S.  the  adjoining  buildings,  Xos.  J 38-410,  were 
attached  to  the  store  as  an  anne:-:,  and  an  interior 
direct  connection  was  made,  evidencing  the  con- 
tinuous growth  of  the  firm's  trade.  In  1909  they 
employed  175  hands  and  ujnvard,  and  the  stock 
comprises  many  lines  of  goods  gencrallv  carried  in 
a  large  dc])artirient  store.  Their  patrons  come  from 
all  ]KMnts  in  the  Schuylkill,  Lebanon  and  East- 
Penn  Vallevs. 

/.  Mould  &  Co. — .In  1R72.  Jonathan  Mould  re- 
moved from  X'ewburgh,  X.  Y.,  to  Reading,  and 
opened    a    general    dry-goods    store,    which    came 


.■)Tqi]s  '•'•O'' 


■I      ■>.  J^:;hi'..v:-t  •.  i,  t-.:)'!^ 


->V:f    fir"/' 


READIXG 


185 


to  be  popularly  known  as  the  "Bee  Hive."'  He 
then  employed  ten  hands  and  did  an  annual  business 
of  $40,000.  As  his  trade  increased  he  made  several 
changes  in  location  for  enlarged  accommodations. 
In  1SS7  his  brother-in-Ia\v,  Georgfc  H.  Piell,  became 
a  partner  and  the  bu^iness  was  thence  carried  on 
under  the  name  of  J.  Mould  &  Co.  In  1S!J2  the 
firm  erected  a  large  four-story  brick  building  at 
Xos.  G47-G-ID  Penn  street  and  made  it  a  department 
store  to  supply  all  kinds  of  articles,  such  as  dry 
goods,  notions,  laces,  furnishings,  chinaware,  jewel- 
ry, etc.,  and  placed  each  department  in  charge  of 
a  competent  manager.  Shortly  afterward,  they 
added  a  wholesale  department,  and  set  apart  the 
third  and  fourth  floors  of  the  building  for  this 
"branch  of  their  business.  They  have  several  travel- 
ing salesmen  on  the  road,  supplying  many  orders 
to  merchants  in  Berks  and  the  surrounding  coim- 
ties.  The  employes  number  100  hands  and  up- 
ward. 

Dives,  Pouicroy  &  Stcuart. — Josiah  Dives, 
■George  M.  Pomeroy  and  John  Stewart  came  from 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1ST6  and  began  a  general  dry- 
^oods  business  at  Xo.  533  Penn  Square,  trading  as 
Dives,  Pomeroy  ^t  Stewart.  Their  establishment 
was  known  as  "The  Globe  Store."  In  several 
jears  they  removed  to  Xos.  442-14-1  Penn  Square, 
and  the  store  at  that  place  also  becoming  too  small 
in  a  short  time  they  secured  the  premises  at  Xos. 
60G-G1'?  Penn  street  in  188"?  and  established  a  large 
store  there.  From  tliat  time,  owing  to  increasing 
trade,  they  have  made  enlargements  in  the  various 
departments  of  the  building,  more  especially  in 
1901,  when  they  secured  the  adjoining  premises  to 
1he  corner  at  Sixth  street  and  erected  a  large  seven- 
ston,'-  building  as  an  extension.  They  employ  5^)0 
Tiands. 

Lord  &  Gage. — Charles  Lord  and  R.  B.  Gage  of 
X^.ew  York  City,  irading  as  Lord  &  Gage  ( incor- 
porated), located  at  Reading  in  1908,  for  the  i)ur- 
pose  of  conducting  a  large  and  progressive  depart- 
ment store  in  connection  with  a  syndicate  of  high- 
■grade  stores,  now  numbering  twenty-nine,  which 
€xtend  from  X'ew  York  City  to  Tacoma,  State  of 
Washington,  and  they  established  a  superior  place 
of  business  at  Xos.  422-426  Penn  Square,  in  a 
commodious  four-storv  brick  structure  whose  di- 
mensions are  GO  feet  wide  and  230  feet  deep,  with 
a  superficial  area  of  G.t.OOO  square  feet.  The  store 
was  opened  to  the  pu1)lic  in  Xovembcr  with  a  full 
line  of  goods  in  twenty-four  departments,  and  im- 
mediately attracted  great  public  attention,  and 
though  here  less  than  a  year  has  nevertheless  de- 
veloped a  large  volume  of  business.  Tlic  appur- 
tenances of  the  store  are  of  a  superior  order,  the 
rosewood  show-cases  and  the  mahoganv  shelving 
costing  $50,000.  The  store  empl'ivs  :i."iO  hands  and 
upward.  "Wv.  Gage  (the  president  of  the  corjxira- 
tion)  is  general  nian,-)gcr  of  this  store,  having  moved 
with  his  family  to  Iveading  and  made  the  city  his 
place  of  residence. 


Iron  Industries. — The  industries  at  Reading  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  iron  articles  before 
18oU  consisted  entirely  of  blacksmith,  shops  and  they 
were  limited  in  extent,  like  those  we  see  still  in  the 
country  districts  to-day,  employing  at  most  several 
hands;  but  the  introduction  of  tiie  railroad  stinuilat- 
ed  iron  works  of  various  kinds.  Alorc  and  more  from 
that  tune  every  year  and  for  the  past  fifty  years  they 
have  been  the  most  prominent  in  the  industrial  life 
of  Reading  and  have  exceeded  the  other  establish- 
ments in  furnishing  constant  employment  to  the 
greatest  number  of  working-people."  The  P.  & 
R.  R.  Company  works  and  the  Reading  Iron  Com- 
pany works  started  practically  together  in  the  de- 
velopment of  Reading  and  they  are  properly  placed 
at  the  beginning  of  the  description  of  the  iron  in- 
dustries. 

P.  &  R.  R.  Co.  Works. — The  extensive  works  of 
the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Company  at 
Reading  deserve  special  mention  at  the  head  of 
this  part  of  the  chapter  detailing  the  industrial 
affairs  of  the  city,  on  account  of  their  continued 
existence  here  for  the  past  seventy  years,  the  large 
number  of  men  constantly  em])loyed,  and  the  im- 
mense amount  of  wages  paid.  Tlie  construction 
of  the  railway  in  183G  immediately  stimulated 
enterprises  of  various  kinds,  and  caused  large  sums 
of  money  to  be  invested  in  manufacturing  concerns. 
On  that  account  not  only  capital  but  many  mechan- 
ics concentrated  here,  and  buildings  multi'plicd  rap- 
idly to  answer  the  demands  of  the  increasing  popu- 
lation. 

The  first  large  shoj)  v.-as  erected  in  1838  on  the 
half-block  on  the  west  side  of  Seventh  street  be- 
tween Franklin  and  Chestnut  streets,  where  it  has 
continued  until  now,  and  each  decade  found  the 
company  with  additional  facilities  for  the  manu- 
facture and  repair  of  engines  and  cars,  and  for  the 
handling  of  freight  not  only  in  the  vicinity  of  Sev- 
enth and  Chestnut  streets,  but  on  both  sides  of  the 
railroad,  extending  beyond  Walnut  street  for  nearly 
two  miles.  The  total  income  to  a  large  number  of 
working-people  of  Reading  from  this  source  since 
183G,  exceeds  S(;0,000,006.  and  it  can  be  stated 
that  a  great  proportion  of  the  substantial  growth  of 
Reading  in  buildings,  stores,  factories,  churches  and 
schools  is  directly  attributable  to  the  company's 
disbursements   here. 

The  possessions  of  the  companv  at  Reading  are 
valued  at  an  enormous  sum ;  from  which  it  is  ap- 
j)arent  that  a  considerable  jiart  of  its  receipts  was 
also  expended  here  in  making  large  permanent  im- 
provements of  the  most  substantial  character.  The 
principal  ofiice  of  the  company  at  Reading  is  sit- 
uated in  the  main  railroad  station  at  the  conjunc- 
tion of  its  several  branches  with  the  main  line,  and 
this  has  come  to  be  the  territorial  center  of  the  city. 
The  aggregate  mnnber  of  hands  employed  in  the 
oflices  and  shops  and  on  the  railroads  at  Reading 
in  December,  1908.  was  near  3,000;  and  the  monthly 
wages  exceeded  ,S12.T,00(),  or  a  total  for  the  year 
exceeding  $1,500,000. 


•:    Ulrl 


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ISG 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY.    PEXXSYL\"AXIA 


known  as  the  Somerset  Coal  Department,  which 
supplies  the  various  departments  with  bituminous 
coal. 

Tile  company  owns  a  large  interest  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania  Steel   Company,   one  of  the   larg-est  inde- 


The  present  locomotive  shops  were  built  during 
ir>01  and  I'.tO'i,  and  their  capacity  was  almost  dou- 
bled during  litUJ  and  lUUu. 

At  the  passenger  station  there  were  2,4 o'l  trains 
during  December,  IS'JT,  which  carried  GG,GuO  pas- 
sengers to  and  from  Reading;  at  the  freiglit  depots  pendent  steel  companies  in  the  United  States, 
there  were  -1,193  trains  which  moved  ICT.TOO  cars;  The  many  separate  departments  of  the  companv 
and  the  aggregate  tonnage  directly  affecting  local  enable  the  management  to  control  the  manufacture 
interests  at  the  several  freight  depots  was  127,OOU.  from  the  assemblings  of  the  raw  materials  to  their 
The  following  statistics  arc  supplied  in  this  con-  conversion  into  the  finished  article,  the  laro-est  out- 
nection  for  the  year  It^OT  to  give  the  reader  an  idea  jnit  of  which  is  tubular  goods,  consistin.<^  of 
of  the  wonderful  extent  of  the  bupiness  done  by  the  wrought-iron  pipe,  plain  or  galvanized  for^gas 
company  at  Reading:— Passenger  trains,  2:,0U0;  steam  and  water;  charcoal  iron  and  steel  boiler 
passengers  carried.  800.0(10;  freight  trains  over  tubes  for  locomotive  and  other  uses;  oil  well  cas- 
50,000;  freight  cars  moved,  over  :.^000.000 ;  ton-  ing  and  tubing;  hydraulic  and  line  pipe  etc  ran^-- 
nage,  1.500.0'JO;  excursion  passengers,  80,338.  In  ing  from  1-S  inch  to  20  inches  in  diameter  '  * 
1908,  these  figures  were  exceeded.  The  two  Blast  Furnaces  have  a  total  annual  capa- 

Most  of  Its  mechanics  in  the  several  departments  citv  of  180,000  gross  tons  of  pig-iron  and  foundry- 
have  been  recognized  during  the  last  forty  years,  iron  of  superior  quality,  and  the  live  distinct  roll- 
here  and  elsewhere,  for  their  skill  and  efillciency;  ing-mill  plants  have  an  annual  capacity  of  some 
indeed  so  widespread  has  their  reputation  become  200,000  gross  tons  of  finished  rolled  products  skelp 
that  a  statement  in  applying  for  work  that  they  bar-iron!"  etc.,  in  the  manufacture  of  which  the 
served  their  apprenticeship  with  the  company,  mills  consume  over  170.000  tons  of  their  own  pud- 
worked  m  Its  shops,  operated  an  engine,  or  con-  die-bar.  Cotton  compressors,  sugar-mills  ordnance 
ductetl  a  tram,  has  been  regarded  as  a  sufficient  and  general  machinery  are  made'at  the  Scott  Foun- 
recommendation.  This  can  also  be  said  of  its  dry,  \'ind  heavy  marine,  engine  and  ^e'iieral  for-- 
clerks,   many   of   whom   have   begun   as   messenger     mgs,  up  to  fifty  tons,  are  made  at  the^for^-c  '^ 

boys,  and  risen  to  the  highest  positions  of  difterent  The  Tube  VVorks  was  the  nucleus  froTii  which 
departments.  A  considerable  number  of  its  em-  sprang  this  splendid  aggregation  of  industrial 
ploycs  have  been  m  continuous  service  for  thirty  i)Iants.  In  1836,  Benneville  Keim  George  M 
and  forty,  even  fifty  years.  This  feature  of  t!ie  Kcini.  Simon  Sevfert  and  [ames  Whilaker  tradin- 
history  of  the  company  is  particularly  noteworlliy.  as  Keim,  Whilaker  X:  Co.,  erected  a  rolling-mill  and 
Ri^adiv.g  Iron  Company. — The  Reading  Iron  Com-  nail  factory,  known  as  the  Reading  Iron  &'  Nail 
pany  was  organized  Aug.  12,  18SC-,  and  purcliased  Works,  at  the  foot  of  Seventh  street,  between  the 
from  the  assignee  of  the  Reading  Iron  '\\^orks  its  Schuylkill  canal  and  the  Philadelohia  &:  Readino- 
various  plants,  consisting  of  the  Tube  Works,  railroad  (which  had  just  been  constructed).  It 
Reading  Rolling  Mill.  Scott  I-'oundry,  Sheet  Mill  Vv-as  here  that  the  first  large  stationary  en"-ine  in 
and  Steam  Forge,  nearly  all  of  which  have  since  Berks  county  was  introduced  for  drivi'no-  machin- 
been  rehabilitated,  enlarged  in  scope,  and  vastly  ery.  Bar-iron  was  made  in  large  quantities;  also 
improved  in  equipment.  cut   nails   b\'  twenty-six   nail   machines.     The   em- 

The  Keystone  I'urnacc  was  acquired  in  1S89,  and  ployes  numbered  250.  In  1816,  the  firm  name  was 
the  Crumwold  Furnace  at  Emaus  in  1895.  The  changed  to  Seyfert.  McManus  &  Co.  (Simon  Sey- 
Oley  Street  Rolling  ]\Iil!s  were  built  in  1S9G  fert.  and  his  son  Simon;  John  McManus,  a  rail- 
and  the  Ninth  Street  Railing  Mill  (formerly  the  road  contractor,  v/ho  had  helped  to  build  the  Phila- 
P.  &  R.  Rail  Mill)  was  added  in  1S9G,  and  re-  delphia  «S:  Reading  railroad  in  the  early  forties;  J. 
modeled  in  1899  and  1902.  The  r^Iontour  Rolling  Y.  R.  and  Nicholas  PTunter,  Horatio  S.  Trexler 
Mills  at  Danville  (built  in  1815,  and  where,  in  and  a  few  olliers,  were  at  various  times  m.embers 
October  of  that  year,  the  first  T  rails  in  America  of  the  firm)  and  it  so  remained  up  to  1878,  when 
were  rolled)  were  acquired  in  1895.  and  rebuilt  the  Reading  Iron  Works  was  incorporated.  The 
in  1901.  The  Danville  Puddle  Mill  was  purchased  first  pipe-mill  was  built  in  1848.  Butt-weld  pipe 
and  repaired  in  the  early  part  of  1905.  The  pres-  was  made  by  the  old  tong  process,  drawing  first 
ent  forge  on  North  Ninth  street  was  built  and  one-half,  and  then  the  other,  and  lap-weld  pipe  was 
equipped  with  powerful  machinery  and  electric  made  shortly  after,  the  edges  of  the  skelp  being 
cranes  in  1901-02.  and  took  the  place  of  the  old  then  scarfed  with  sledge  hammers;  but  these  metlv 
Steam  Forge,  built  in  1850.  The  Scott  Foundry  ods  have  since  been  greatly  revolutionized.  Char- 
(originally  built  in  1851,  and  where  guns  were  coal  iron  tubes  were  made  a  few  years  later, 
made  during  the  Civil  war,  as  well  as  several  since.  There  has  arisen  from  this  modest  beginning  not 
including  the  Brown  Segmental  \\'ire  Wound  Gun)  only  one  of  the  largest  independent  tube  works  in 
was  rebuilt  in  190.")-0G  and  equqjped  (as  are  all  the  country,  alone  comprising  nine  mills,  capable 
the  other  plants)  with  modern,  up-to-date  machin-  of  producing  150,fi00  gross  tons  of  tubular  goods 
ery  and  apfiliance';.  The  company  owns  and  opcr-  annually,  but  as  well  (he  manv  otiier  iniport.aiit 
ates  7,538  acres  of  coal  lands  in  Somerset  county,    plants    or   departments   above   mentioned,   some   of 


M'v    .   ^       1. 


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;:■■;!.      /i,.k:     ^    'ui; 
I     ■,>•,,    i  ■ '  ■  ■  '  ■ 


READING 


187 


which  comprise  several  estabhshments  in  them- 
selves. 

The  products  of  the  company  have  an  unrivaled 
reputation  at  home  and  abroad,  and  there  is  a  con- 
stantly increasing  demand  for  theni  in  all  sections 
of  the  world.  The  utmost  care  is  exercised  to  main- 
tain the  highest  standard  of  o.\-cellence  in  the  vari- 
ous lines  of  manufacture.  It  is  the  largest  nidus- 
trial  enterprise  in  Berks  county ;  in  fact,  one  of  the 
most  important  in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  it  em- 
ploys in  the  neighborhood  of  5,000  men. 

The  success  of  the  Reading  Iron  Company  is 
largely  due  to  a  few  men.  George  F.  Eaer,  pres- 
ident from  ltJ89  to  lOOl  (now  president  of  the 
P.  &  R.  Ry.  Co.),  with  the  assistance  of  F.  C. 
Smink,  formerly  treasurer  and  general  naanager, 
now  president,  financed  the  company  in  a  most  con- 
servative manner.  With  a  small  capital  at  their 
command,  by  careful,  judicious  and  economical 
business  management,  judgment  and  acumen,  there 
have  been  created  extensive  plants  and  valuable  as- 
sets with  an  aggregate  value  manifold  in  excess  of 
tlie  nominal  capital  upon  which  the  company  was 
founded.  The  rebuilding  and  reconstruction  of  the 
old  plants  and  erection  and  creation  of  new  ones, 
as  well  as  the  physical  management  of  the  various 
departments,  have  been  and  still  remain  under  the 
personal  and  efficient  direction  of  jMr.  Schuhmann. 

George  F.  P.aer  is  chairman  of  the  hoard ;  V.  C. 
Smink,  president;  George  Schuhm:inn,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager;  Frederick  Butler  treas- 
urer; George  W.  Dclany,  secretary. 

AxiTOMOF.iLFS. — Tlic  first  automobile  as  a  means 
of  improved  locomotion  in  the  United  States  by  the 
use  of  gasoline  was  made  at  Spring-field,  ^Nlass., 
by  Charles  E.  Durxea  in  1S91.  In  February,  lOOQ, 
he  located  at  Reading,  in  Berks  county,  and  es- 
tablished a  plant  on  River  Road  at  the  foot  of  Him 
street,  for  the  purpose  of  building  automobiles 
driven  by  gasoline.  He  organized  a  company  and 
carried  on  the  business  for  about  seven  years,  in 
which  time  the  company  built  300  cars.  They  were 
named  "Duryca"  and  disposed  of  successfully, 
but  the  capitalists  associated  with  him  having  de- 
clined to  advance  the  necessary  money  to  carry 
on  the  plant  more  extensively  in  order  to  meet  in- 
creasing competition,  the  further  operation  of  tins 
new  enterprise  at  Reading  under  the  management 
of  Mr.  Duryea  was  suspended.  Fie  was  then  suc- 
ceeded by  the  ]\Iiddleby  Auto  Company,  which  had 
started  a  similar  enterprise  and  manufactured  an 
automobile  which  was  named  the  "Middleby."  The 
plant  has  Iteen  made  very  successful,  turning  out 
weekly  a  number  of  popular  cars  and  affording 
employment  to  upward  of  70  men. 

About  or  shortly  before  this  time,  James  L.  Eck 
(who  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  knitting  ma- 
chines) began  the  manufacture  of  automobiles 
driveii  by  steam,  in  a  limited  manner,  and  disposed 
of  several  cars. 

Soon  afterward,  James  C.  Rcber  also  engaged 
in  the  enterprise  (having  previously  for  some  years 


been  very  prominently  identified  with  the  manufac- 
ture of  bicycles)  by  organizing  the  Acme  Motor 
Car  Company,  and  he  produced  a  poi)ular  car, 
called  the  "Acme."  He  carried  on  the  plant  until 
3  004;  then  it  passed  through  several  ownerships 
untd  l'J07,  when  it  was  purchased  by  H.  M.  Stern- 
bergh  and  he  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  company 
since,  giving  the  car  great  popularity  throughout 
the  country.  The  plant  employs  from  1?5  to  150 
hands  and  produces  annually  about  one  hundred 
large  and  powerful  cars,  driven  by  gasoline. 

The  Relay  Bicycle  Company  was  also  changed  by 
Henry  C.  England  into  the  Relay  2.Iotor  Company 
for  the  manufacture  of  automobiles,  and  the  plant 
was  carried  on  several  years. 

Arthur  H.  Yocum  and  his  father,  Geoige  Y. 
Yocum,  started  manufacturing  die  ■"Speed-well"  au- 
tomobile and  motor  engines  in  100  i.  Since  then 
they  have  enlarged  their  plant  and  formed  a  com- 
pany with  Isaac  Hollenbach  and  J.  S.  Hornberger 
as  partners,  trading  as  A.  H.  Yocum  &  Co.  They 
employ  upward  of  20  hands. 

The  following  parties  manufacture  parts  relat- 
ing to  the  automobile: 

Parish  Manufacturing  Company,  steel  frames. 

Biehl's  Carriage  ^\'orks,  metal  bodies. 

Keystone's  Wagon  Works,  bodies  (aluminum, 
steel,  and  wood). 

American  Die  &  Tool  Works,  transmission  and 
gear. 

A.  H.  Yocum  &  Co.,  motor  engines. 

AuTOMOTiiLE  Frames. — N.  E.  Parish  organized 
the  Parish  jManufacturing  Company  lor  the  man- 
ufacture c^f  pressed  steel  automobile  frames  and 
chrome  nickel  steel  specialties,  and  established  a 
plant  at  Reading  in  June,  IPOG,  in  the  P.  &  R.  R. 
Co.'s  machine  shops-  at  Seventh  and  Ciiestnut 
streets,  where  the  company  has  since  carried  on 
the  business  verv  successfully,  employing  150  hands. 
Special  cxi)ensive  machinery  is  used  for  the  pur- 
pose. Its  production,  numbering  manv  thousand 
frames,  is  shipped  to  all  the  leading  manufacturers 
of  automobiles  in  the  United  Status.  The  officers  of 
the  company  are:  R.  E.  Jennings,  president;  N. 
E.  Parish  and  J.  E.  Sullivan,  vice-presidents ;  W. 
B.  Kunhardt,  treasurer;  and  E.  J.  Jennings,  secre- 
tary. 

Bicvci.F.s. — The  manufacture  of  bicycles  was  a 
large  and  well-conducted  business  at  Reading  for 
about  ten  years  from  1S90  to  1900.  and  thousands 
of  bicycles  were  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  world, 
which  gave  Reading  a  reputation  in  this  line  of 
business  equal  to  any  other  ])lace ;  then  it  began  to 
decline  gradually  until  now  there  is  only  one  estab- 
lishment actively  engaged  in  the  bnsii\ess,  tlie  Read- 
ing Standard  ^Nlanufacturing  Company,  of  which 
the  active  spirit  since  1S9G  has  been  William  F. 
Remppis.  Several  parties  who  are  engaged  in  re- 
pairing bicvcles  also  manufacture  them  in  limited 
quantities:  Rhode  Brothers,  John  G.  Nucbling,  and 
James  Mayo  (who  had  been  in  the  business  at  Potts- 


I;:,,f 


188 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


town  for  seventeen  years  and  became  the  successor 
of  Charles  T.  Heckler  after  his  decease  in  1908). 

Boii.KK  WokK<. — \\'e>t  Readinc:  Boiler  Works 
was  started  in  l^Tu  by  V.noi  M.  Reazor,  and  he 
was  succeeded  in  l^Ts  b\  Sterling,  W'eidner  &  Co.; 
in  1S94  by  Tliumas  K.  DalzelK  and  in  1901  by 
Jacob  S.  Peipher  (Reading-  Scale  &  Machine  Com- 
pany). In  this  department  of  the  works  25  men 
are  employed. 

Penn  Boiler  Work-^  was  started  in  1883,  and  is 
now  carried  on  by  Hiram  P.  Ycager  with  10  men 
and  upward. 

Orr  &  Sembower,  who  started  in  business  in  188-1 
and  moved  to  ]iIillmonl  in  1891,  are  also  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  boilers  in  connection  with 
engines,  employing  upward  of  100  hands. 

Bolt  .a.nd  Xut  Works.-— J.  H.  Sternbergh  located 
at  Reading  in  1805  and  established  a  large  bolt 
and  nut  works  which  he  carried  on  in  a  very  suc- 
cessful manner  until  1899,  employing  upv/ard  of 
700  men;  then  the  American  Iron  &  Steel  Com- 
pany became  the  owner  and  has  since  operated  the 
plant  in  a  very  successful  manner  with  James  Lord 
as  president  and  J.  L.  Swayze  as  the  local  manager, 
employing  from.  600  to  800  hands.  The  principal 
•office  of  this  company  is  situated  at  Lebanon,  where 
a  similar  large  plant  is  operated. 

Car  Wiiekls.— In  1897,  the  Reading  Car  Wheel 
Company  was  organized  and  incorporated  by  cer- 
tain persons  from  Buffalo,  X.  Y..  for  the  manu- 
facture at  Reading  of  chilled  iron  wheels  for  street 
and  steam  railway  cars,  and  the  plant  has  been  op- 
erated successfully  until  now.  H.  H.  Hewitt  has 
been  the  president  from  the  beginning,  and  the 
plant  entjiloys  from  50  to  75  men,  and  turns  out 
dady  upward  of  200  wheels. 

Chain  Block  W:)Rks. — Herman  P.  Roeper  es- 
lablished  a  hoist  works  at  Reading  in  189(1,  and  in 
1904  sold  the  department  relating  to  the  manu- 
facture of  chain  blocks  to  F.  H.  Howard,  of  X"ew 
York,  who  then  incorporated  a  company  for  this 
special  branch  of  business,  and  it  has  been  carried 
on  since  in  a  successful  manner,  employing  from 
25  to  40  hands. 

J.  G.  Speidel  has  also  bee.n  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  chain  blocks  since  189G.  in  connection 
with  other  specialties,  such  as  cranes,  tramways, 
elevators,  dumb-waiters,  etc.,  and  in  his  establish- 
ment employs  from  20  to  40  hands. 

Co.\L  Buck;ets. — George  Focht  began  the  manu- 
facture of  iron  coal  buckets  or  tubs  tor  the  loading 
and  unloading  of  coal  on  and  from  canal-boats, 
and  be  was  succeeded  bv  Warren  &  Addison  and 
from  1893  to  1008  by  Robert  D.  Seidel,  who  then 
sold  the  factory  to  B.  Franklin  Biehl ;  and  Biehl 
has  operated  it  since,  employing  from  (i  lo  10  hands. 

CoKi;  OvFXS. — The  .American  Coke  and  Gas 
;" Construction   Comi)any   was   incorporated   in    1903 


as  a  branch  of  a  large  Xew  York  enterprise  for 
the  manufacture  of  by-product  coke  ovens,  accord- 
ing to  the  "Cnited-Otto-Coke- System,"  and  has 
since  operated  a  plant  at  Reading  employing  frc-rn 
35  to  40  hands,  on  Court  street,  below  Second. 

Cra.ne  and  Hoist  Works. — In  1888,  John  G. 
Speidel  began  the  manufacture  of  hoisting  machin- 
ery and  has  continued  in  the  business  until  the 
present  lime,  excepting  for  two  years,  from  1894 
to  189C,  when  Herman  P.  Roei)er  w-as  a  partner. 
In  his  iron  works  he  also  manufactures  trainways, 
elevators,  chain-blocks,  etc.,  which  are  sent  to  a!! 
parts  of  the  country.  He  employs  from  20  to  40 
hands. 

Herman  P.  Roeper,  under  the  name  of  Reading 
Crane  &  Hoist  Works,  since  189G  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  overhead  tramways, 
elevators,  hoisting  machinery,  etc.,  which  he  has 
forwarded  to  all  parts  of  this  country  and  foreign 
countries.     He  employs  from  20  to  50  hands. 

Die  Wokk.s. — The  American  Die  &  Tool  Com- 
pany was  organized  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  in  1894,  for 
the  manufacture  of  tools,  dies  and  special  machin- 
ery, and  removed  to  Reading  in  1901;  incorporated 
under  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  in  1906,  with  a 
cajMtal  of  $60,000,  and.  employs  upward  of  80  men. 
C.  S.  Dundore  is  the  secretary,  treasurer  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  company,  and  the  others  as- 
sociated with  him  are  J.  H.  Sternbergh  and  H.  M. 
Sternbergh.  Their  product  is  shii>ped  to  all  parts 
of  the  country.  This  is  an  important  industry  at 
Reading  for  its  e.xceptional  productions. 

F^LEVATORs. — John  G.  Speidel  and  Herman  P. 
Roeper  have  been  engaged  separately  in  the  manu- 
facture of  elevators  since  1896;  also  Adam  W. 
Haag  (under  the  name  of  A.  W.  Haag  &  Co.)  in 
connection  with  the  manufacture  of  milling  machin- 
ery, and  he  employs  15  hands. 

Engine  and  Boiler  Works. — In  1881,  W.  Harry 
Orr  and  Clarence  H.  Sembower,  trading  as  Orr  & 
Sembower,  began  the  manufacture  of  vertical,  hor- 
izontal and  hoisting  engines,  and  vertical  and  hor- 
izontal boilers  at  Second  and  Pine  streets,  but 
their  business  developed  so  rapidly  that  by  the  year 
1891  they  were  obHged  to  remove  into  larger 
quarters,  which  tlicy  established  at  Millmont,  in 
Cumru  township.  Since  then  they  have  been  very 
successful,  their  productions  being  sent  to  all  parts 
of  the  world.  A  corporation  was  formed  in  1890 
with  a  capita]  of  $150,000.  The  employes  number 
250.  W.  Harry  Orr  has  Ijeen  the  treasurer  and 
general  manager  from  the  beginning,  and  Mr. 
Sembower  the  president. 

The  Reading  C)\\  &  Gas  Engine  Comjiany,  A. 
H.  Yocom  &  Company  and  John  G.  Xander  are 
also    engaged    in    manufacturing    engines. 

Expansion  Stea.m  Joints. — William  King  cm- 
barked  in  the  business  of  manufacturing  expansion 
steam  joints  and  has  been  successfully  engaged  un- 
til the  present  time,  employing  40  to  60  hands. 


AlZ/.V  ! 


I.IM"     ,'■"■•.'•1      '■  '     ^'■'■ 


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,,•,,,. I    '.jit    C'.v  •'■     ■''■'  '  '    "''■ 


READING 


189 


Fences. — The  first  to  engage  in  the  business  of 
manufacturing  plain  and  ornamental  iron  fences  at 
Reading  was  Louis  Nendoertter,  who  began  before 
ISGO  and  continued  until  his  decease  in  1884.  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Frederick,  and  Fred- 
erick carried  on  the  business  for  twenty  years. 
W  illiam  L.  Remppis  has  also  carried  on  this  branch 
of  business  in  his  large  establishment  since  1S9G; 
and  William  L.  Kicier,  in  his  works  since  1895. 

P^iRE  Esc.M'ES.— William  F.  Remppis  began  man- 
ufacturing ornamental  iron  work  at  Reading  in 
1885,  in  a  small  frame  building  and  by  the  year 
1892  his  trade  had  developed  to  such  an  extent  that 
he  was  obliged  to  erect  a  large  brick  building  and 
he  has  continued  actively  engaged  in  the  business 
until  the  present  time.  He  employs  from  40  to  70 
hands.  Besides  carrying  on  the  manufacture  of 
fire  escapes  extensively,  he  supplies  plain  and  orna- 
mental iron  work,  stairways,  elevator  inclosures, 
railings,  window  guards,  grill  work,  etc. 

William  L.  Kiefer  has  been  engaged  in  a  similar 
business  in  a  successful  manner  at  Reading  since 
1895,  and  emplojs  from  15  to  30  hands. 

FouxDRtES. — A  number  of  iron  foundries  at 
Reading  are  carried  on  in  connection  with  estab- 
lished works  of  various  kinds,  such  as  the  Reading 
Iron  Company,  the  P.  &  R.  R.  Company,  the  Hard- 
ware Works  and  the  Stove  Works,  but  arc  used  en- 
tirely in  carrying  on  their  own  business.  There  are 
three  foundries  which  take  in  outside  w^ork  as  a 
regular  business :  the  Gray  Iron  Foundry  Company 
(A.  L.  P'rame),  which  employs  15  to  25  metlders 
for  all  kinds  of  small  castings;  the  Reading  Scale 
&  Machine  Company  (Jacob  S.  Peipher).  which  em- 
ploys 15  to  20  moldcrs  for  heavy  and  light  castings 
of  all  kinds;  and  ]\Iohn  &  Kershncr  (W.  H.  Alohn 
&  K.  L.  Kershner),  who  embarked  in  the  general 
foundry  business  in  11)03  (in  the  plant  of  the 
National  Brass  Works),  and  manufacture  all  kinds 
of  small  castings  for  the  trade  here  and  elsewhere, 
eniploying  from  50  to  75  hands. 

Furnaces. — Two  large  iron  furnaces  have  been 
very  prominent  industries  at  Reading  for  many 
years:  the  Flenrv  Clay,  erected  by  the  Eckerts  in 
1844,  and  latterly  owned  and  operated  by  the  Em- 
pire Iron  &'  Steel  Company  (but  not  in  operation 
for  two  years)  ;  and  the  Keystone,  erectecl  bv  the 
Bushongs  in  1SG9,  which  has  become  a  part  of  the 
extensive  works  of  the  Reading  Iron  Company. 

Hardw'are. — Hardware  of  all  kinds,  for  build- 
ing and  other  purposes,  has  been  produced  at  Read- 
ing for  upward  of  fiftv  years.,  and  the  works  have 
been  very  prominently  identified  with  the  welfare 
and  development  of  Reading.  Three  large  plants 
are  carried  on,  the  Reading  Hardware  Company 
(founded  by  the  Harbsters  and  their  brother-in-law, 
William  M.  Griscom),  the  Penn  Hardware  Com- 
pany (founded  by  the  Pleizmaim  Brothers),  and  the 
Chantrell  Tool  Company;  and  thcv  together  emplos- 
about  2,500  hands. 


Readin;;  Hardzcarc  Works. — In  1851,  William 
Harbster  established  a  blacksmith  shop  at  the  foot 
of  Sixth  street  for  general  blacksmith  work,  and 
in  1852  his  brothers  2\latthan  and  John  became  as- 
sociated with  him,  under  the  name  of  Harbster 
Brothers,  for  the  manufacture  of  builders'  hard- 
ware, such  as  locks,  bolts,  fasteners,  latches,  etc., 
when  they  erected  a  foundry.  Shortly  afterward 
their  brother-in-law,  William  ]M.  Griscom.  became 
as.sociatod  with  them  as  a  partner,  and  thev  then 
traded  as  Harbster  Brothers  &  Co.  until'  1872, 
when  the  name  was  changed  to  Reading  Hardware 
Company.  As  their  business  increased  their  plant 
was  gradually  enlarged  until  1895  and  bv  that  time 
the  establishment  covered  five  acres  of  ground,  all 
substantial  buildings,  three  and  four  stories  high, 
with  their  employes  numbering  nearly  1,000  and 
the  annual  wages  paid  exceeding  SIOO.OOO.  Their 
productions  included  all  kinds  and  styles  of  hard- 
ware, both  plain  and  ornamental,  and  these  came 
to  be  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  world.  Their  trade 
was  largely  increased  by  making  a  specialtv  of  fur- 
nishing all  the  necessary  hardware  in  the  construc- 
tion of  large  hotels  and  office  buildings  at  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Boston,  Chicago,  San  Francisco  and 
other  large  cities  in  this  country  and  foreign  coun- 
tries, their  unique  and  artistic  designs  in  fine  bronze 
obtaining  the  preference  with  the  most  prominent 
architects  and  builders,  and  in  this  behalf  they  es- 
tablished branch  offices  in  the  cities  named.  Their 
volume  of  business  for  some  years  has  exceeded 
a  million  dollars,  the  number  of  employes  1.500, 
and  the  annual  wages  $500,000.  which  truly  evi- 
dences the  wonderful  development  of  this  great 
industrial  establishment  from  an  ordinary  black- 
smith shop,  and  its  importance  and  iniluence  in  the 
history  of  Reading  during  the  past  fifty  years.  Its 
productions  have  been  displayed  at  all  the  great 
expositions  in  the  E'nited  States  and  Europe,  and 
their  superiority  was  recognized  by  the  awarding 
of  medals  and  diplomas. 

The  business  was  incorporated  in  1880.  In  188.7, 
the  greater  part  of  the  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
but  it  was  immediately  rebuilt  and  much  improved 
in  arrangement  and  equipment,  making  it  one  of 
the  finest  industrial  plants  in  the  United  States. 

The  officers  of  the  corporation  are:  Matthan 
Harl)ster,  president;  William  .M.  Griscom,  vice- 
president;  S.  Y.  Reigner,  treasurer  (since  1903 
and  also  secretarv  since  1907)  ;  and  John  E.  Harb- 
ster has  been  the  manager  for  upward  of  twenty 
years. 

Pcun  Hardi^'Oi-c  Works. — In  1S77,  C.  Raymond 
Heizmann  and  his  brother  .-\lbert  A.  Heizmann  be- 
gan the  manufacture  of  builders'  hardware  and 
specialties  of  all  kinds,  at  the  foot  of  Spruce  street, 
between  the  canal  and  river  and.  like  the  forego- 
ing, grew  in  size  and  importance  until  their  plant 
came  to  cover  several  acres  of  ground,  their  em- 
ploves  to  number  1,000  and  (heir  annual  wages  to 
exceed  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars.     Their  goods 


f  -:.  [■;• 


■■>■:■;    .'ii 


.  i 


1.  )     .  fi.-;-'    r;  .    ■(,.,    .,,,...,. 


1  'JO 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY.    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


likewise  have  found  a  market  all  over  the   world. 
A  nail  departinein  was  added  in  1*51* C5. 

The  business  was  incorporated  under  the  narne 
of  Penn  Hardware  Company  in  ISDG.  The  ofticers 
of  the  company  are:  C.  Raymond  Heizmann,  presi- 
dent; Theodore  I.  Heizmann,  vice-president;  W. 
A.  Heizmann.  treasurer;  and  I.  S.  Ermcntrout, 
secretary-. 

The  Reading  Saddle  Manufacturing  Cotnpany 
also  manufactures  large  quantities  ("'f  hardware 
specialties,  cast-hammers,  hatchets,  ice-picks,  shears, 
pincers,  pulleys,  can  openers,  glue  pots,  vises, 
clamps,  tongs,  etc.  A  specialty  is  made  of  nickel- 
plating.  The  plant  is  at  Xos.  31G-3"J0  ]Maple  street. 
The  company  employs  GO  hands.  It  was  incor- 
porated in  1900. 

Chantrell  Hardzvarc  and  Tool  Company  (Inc.) 
was  organized  in  ISJitJ  (being  named  after  John 
Chantrell,  an  Englishman,  who  designed  certain 
improved  tools )  and  the  business  was  conducted 
successfully  on  Seventh  street  near  Chestnut  for 
several  years,  when  the  plant  was  removed  to  JMill- 
mont,  where  large  brick  buildings  were  erected  to 
meet  the  demands  of  increasing  trade.  The  company 
manufactures  screw  drivers,  nail  pullers,  and  some 
hardware  specialties,  but  its  principal  line  is  build- 
ers' hardware,  consisting  of  locks  and  design  goods. 
It  has  a  large  domestic  and  foreign  trade.  Hands 
employed,  1(J.").  Harry  C.  Shaaber  has  been  man- 
ager since  l!io;;. 

Knitting  AIxchinery. — Ja)nes  L.  Eck  located  in 
Reading  In  1S91  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
knitting  machines  after  a  pattern  with  improve- 
ments designed  and  patented  Iw  himself,  being  a 
"new  improved  15-lG  automatic  and  plain  seamless 
machine."  and  known  as  the  "Boss"';  and  in  189S 
he  established  a  factory  at  Reed  and  Elm  streets. 
He  has  continued  in  a  successful  manner  imtil  the 
present  time,  employing  from  30  to  50  hands,  and 
turning  out  about  GOO  machines  annually.  In  1S98 
he  built  the  tlrst  steam  automobile  in  Reading  and 
operated   it  successfully. 

Windsor  Knitting  Machine  IVorks. — The  ^^'ind- 
sor  Machine  Company  wtis  incorporated  in  1903 
with  a  capital  of  $100,000  for  the  manufacture  of 
full-automatic  split-foot  knitting  machines  and  full- 
automatic  striping  machines,  as  a  specialty,  and  a 
large  trade  has  been  developed,  the  machines  being 
sent  to  all  parts  of  this  country,  and  from  70  to  80 
hands  are  employed.  John  B.  Plipwell  is  president 
of  the  company;  George  D.  Horst,  secretary-treas- 
urer ;  and  William  ^^^  Hout.  manager. 

L.\WN-M0wr.K.s. — The  manufacture  of  lawn-mow- 
ers i^  included  with  the  hardware  specialties  of  the 
Reading  Hardware  Works. 

The  .-Unerican  Die  &  Tool  Companv  is  also  en- 
gaged in  their  manufacture. 

Machine  SrneiAi.TiK.s.— A  nunibcr  nf  shops 
and  factories  are  carried  on  constantlv  for  the  man- 


King  Mnchiiie  Works 
Samuel  Davis 
\V.  D.  Mohn 


ufacture  of  specialties  in  the  line  of  machinery  and 
they  employ  from  several  to  a  dozen  hands  : 

Jac.-ih  S.  Peiplicr 

A.  \V.  Haag  &  Company 

G.  W.  Francis 

Greth  -Machine  Conipi.ny 

}iIoTOU  Cycles. — In  1896,  William  F.  Remppis 
organized  the  Reading  Standard  ^lanufacturing 
Company  for  the  manufacture  of  the  ''Reading 
Standard"  bicycles,  and  this  company  has  since 
carried  on  the  business  very  extensively,  shipping 
thousands  of  its  bicycles  to  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try and  the  \vorld.  In  1903,  the  company  began 
the  manufacture  of  motor  cycles,  with  the  same 
name,  and  this  branch  has  also  become  very  suc- 
cessful. In  1908,  the  company  produced  2,700  of 
them,  and  for  the  year  1909  has  arranged  to  pro- 
duce from  4.000  to  4,500.  Over  G.OoO  bicycles 
v,ere  manufactured  in  1908.  From  300  to  400 
hands  are  employed.  B.  Frank  Royer,  of  Phila- 
delphia, is  president  of  the  company  and  Mr.  Remp- 
pis is  general  manager. 

3I0TOR  Engines. — Arthur  H.  Yocum  designed  a 
special  engine  for  automobiles  which  has  become 
very  popular,  and  since  1904  he  has  been  manufac- 
turing many  of  them,  having  formed  a  company 
with  his  father,  George  Y.  Yocum,  and  traded  un- 
der the  naiue  of  A.  H.  Yocum  &  Co. 

X.MLS. — The  Pen)i  Harihcare  Co.  m.mufactures 
great  quantities  of  nails  in  connection  with  general 
builders'  hardware.  This  was  one  of  the  iron  pro- 
ducts of  .Seyfert,  McINIanus  &  Co.  and  their  suc- 
cessors, tlie  Reading  Iron  Company,  for  many 
years. 

Pipes  and  Tukes. — ^A  large  and  principal  depart- 
ment of  the  extensive  Reading  iron  Vv'orks  is  the 
manufacture  of  large  quantities  of  wrought-iron 
pipes  and  tubes,  of  various  sizes;  which  is  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  description  of  the 
Reading  Iron  Comjiany. 

Pi.UMr.ERs'  Supplies. —  J.  W.  \'an  Meter  began 
making  plumbers'  supplies  at  Reading  in  1907,  and 
after  a  year  was  succeeded  by  \\'.  S.  Cooper, 
of  Philadelphia,  who  has  carried  it  on  in  connection 
with  similar  works  at  Philadelphia.  He  employs 
from  45  to  50  hands,  his  plant  being  established  in 
the  old  Johnson  Foundry  at  Eighth  and  Chest- 
nut streets. 

Radiator  Works. — In  1883,  Daniel  L.  Adams  be- 
gan the  manufacture  of  steam  and  hot  water  radia- 
tors and  boilers  at  X'o.  212  South  Eighth  street, 
Reading,  and  continued  the  business  at  that  place 
until  1S92.  when  the  j)lanf  was  removed  to  a  larger 
and  much  impre>ved  building  along  the  Lebanon 
\'allcy  lailroad  at  Front  street,  and  tlierc  it  has  con- 
tinued mitil  the  present  time  with  increasing  suc- 
cess. In  189G  h.e  organized  and  incorporated  a  com- 
I^any  under   the   name   of  Reading  Radiator  Com- 


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READ-IXG 


191 


pan>.  Its  radiators  and  boilers  are  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  country.  The  employes  number  110. 
Mr.  Adams  has  been  the  manager  of  the  works 
from  the  beginning,  and  Grant  Nagle  has  been 
the  secretary  and  treasurer  since  IbOT. 

Razors. — Frederick  H.  Arnold  of  Reading  de- 
signied  and  patented  a  fountain-pen  safety-raz- 
or, and  then  organized  a  company  for  its  extensive 
manufacture.  The  company  was  incorporated  in 
lltUT,  and  capitahzcd  at  $200,000;  and  it  has  been 
successful  in  shipping  its  razors  to  all  parts  of  the 
world.  It  employs  25  hands,  and  is  located  at 
Third  and  Buttonwood  streets.  The  officers  arc: 
Edward  C.  Nolan,  president;  John  11.  Keppelman, 
secretary  and  treasurer;  Robert  B.  Lance,  man- 
ager. 

Rotary  Meters. — The  Rotary  Meter  Co.  of  New 
York  City  established  a  plant  at  Reading  in  190G 
for  the  manufacture  of  rotary  meters,  intended 
for  large  gas  consumers  who  wish  to  measure 
their  consumption.  It  is  the  only  industry  of  the 
kind  in  the  United  States,  and  its  product  is  shipped 
to  all  parts  of  North  and  South  Anicrica.  These 
meters  weigh  from  seventy-five  pounds  to  five  tons. 
Hands  employed,  from  6  to  8.  Charles  T.  Mayers 
has  been  the  superintendent  here,  jt  is  located  at 
Seventh  and  Franklin  streets  in  a  portion  of  the 
P.  &  R.  R.  Co.  machine  shop. 

Scat.es. — In  1S4.J,  Levi  K.  Mohr  and  Andrew  Dc- 
hart  began  manufacturing  large  scales,  estaUIishiug 
a  factory  at  the  corner  of  Cherry  and  Carpenter 
streets.  Dehart  retired  in  1850  and  ]\Tohr  carried 
on  the  business  until  1872.  Different  parties  oc- 
cupied the  plant  in  the  production  of  scales  with 
turbine  water-wheels  and  general  machinery  until 
1887,  when  the  Reading  Scale  &  Machine  Company 
was  organized  by  Jacob  S.  Peipher,  Levi  M.  Fran- 
cis and  J.  L.  Balloch,  and  this  company  continued 
their  manufacture  in  connection  with  engines  and 
boilers.  The  plant  was  removed  to  the  foot  of 
Chestnut  street  in  1903  and  Peipher  became  tlie 
sole  proprietor.  He  has  continued  the  manufacture 
of  scales,  engines,  boilers,  etc.,  in  larg'e  quantities 
until  the  present  time,  imder  tlie  same  name,  em- 
ploying from  50  to  75  hands. 

Lei'i  M.  Francis,  who  was  connected  with  this 
company  for  a  number  of  j'cars.  is  also  engaged 
in    the    manufacture    of    large    scales    on    orders. 

Shears. — In  1895,  the  Wilkinson  Shear  Co.  was 
incorporated  for  the  manufacture  of_  shears  of  all 
kinds  for  shearing  sheep,  horses,  grass  and  hedge, 
and  located  a  plant  at  Ninth  and  Bingaman  streets, 
where  the  business  was  continued  in  a  successful 
manner  until  190;l,  when  the  plant  was  removed  to 
a  new  and  improved  building  erected  bv  the  com- 
pany on  Laurel  street,  below  Fifth.  The  trade 
extends  to  all  parts  of  the  coun.try,  and  30  hands 


are  employed.  The  company  also  produces  scythes 
for  cutting  grain,  g^a^s  and  bushes.  The  officers 
are :  John  J.  Kutz,  president ;  Cyrus  G.  Derr,  treas- 
urer;  and   Philip   Bushong,   secretarv. 

The  Reiser  Manufacturing  Company  (^ David  H. 
Keiser)  produces  shears,  besides  metal  fixtures,  he 
having  been  connected  with  the  Wilkinson  Shear 
Company  for  a  number  of  years.  His  plant  is  sit- 
uated in  West  Reading. 

D.  P.  Harris  and  Samuel  Alonroe  of  New  York 
City,  and  W.  AI.  Sillhart  and  Melot  Deam,  of  Read- 
ing, associated  together  and  established  the  Penn 
Shear  Works  at  Reading  in  I'jOl,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  shears  of  all  kinds,  and  since  then  have 
produced  large  quantities  wliicli  have  been  shipped 
to  all  parts  of  the  country.     They  employ  o  hands. 

Sheet  Iron  is  made  in  great  quantities  by  the 
Reading  Iron  Company  in  its  sheet-mill,  which  is 
situated  along  the  Schuylkill  river  between  Chest- 
nut and  Spruce  streets.  This  mill  became  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Reading  Iron  Works  (afterward  the 
Reading  Iron  Co.)  in  lSfi5.  It  had  been  put  up 
several  years  before  by  Lanth.  Herg  &-  Co.  as  an 
individual  enterprise. 

SnxiAL  r^lACHiXERY. — In  tlie  year  1901  !\Iessrs. 
W.D.IMohn,  Austin  Riegner  and  Robert  Riegner,  of 
Mohnton,  located  at  Reading  for  the  manufacture 
of  special  machinery,  established  a  plant  at  Cherry 
and  Carpenter  streets  (where  the  Reading  Scale 
&  Machine  Company  liad  been),  and  have  since 
carried  on  the  business  under  the  name  of  W.  D. 
Mohn  &  Co.     They  employ  10  men. 

Steel  Caiuxets. — This  new-  product  is  man- 
ufactured by  the  Keiser  Maiuifacturing  Company 
in  connection  with  sheep  shears,  in  its  plant  at  the 
west  end  of  the  Penn  street  bridge,  opposite  Read- 
ing; which  is  mentioned  in  the  description  of  the 
Borough  of  West  Reading,  Chapter  XI. 

Steel  Works. — Carpenter  Steel  Company. 
James  H.  Carpenter  located  in  Reading  in  the 
year  1889  and  with  the  aid  of  New  York  cap- 
italists organized  a  steel  company  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  armor-piercing  projectiles  for  the 
L'nited  States  government.  A  large  plant  was  es- 
tablished along  the  Pennsylvania  Schuylkill  \^'dley 
railroad  at  the  fnot  of  Exeter  street  and  in  1890 
the  company  began  to  supply  the  government  with 
large  numbers  of  projectiles  ranging  in  diameter 
from  four  inches  to  thirteen  inches,  and  weighing 
from  a  few  pounds  to  half  a  ton,  and  continued  to 
furnish  them  for  nearly  ten  years,  when  the  plant 
was  gradually  changed  to  the  manufacture  of  com- 
mercial crucible  tool  steel  of  a  superior  character, 
for  which  a  large  trade  has  been  developed.  Tin's 
plant  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  imjiortant  in 
Reading,  and  employs  from  GOO  to  1,000  hands, 
which  evidences  the  importance  and  value  to  the 
community  of  this  local  enterprise.  The  company 
was  reorgani7ed  in  190}  with  a  capit.il  of  SL200,- 
000.     The  oflicers  are   Robert   E.  Jennings,  jjresi- 


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19? 


HISTORY    01'    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLA'AXIA 


dent ;  \\'.  B.  Kunhardt,  secretary  and  trcaiurt-r  and 
general  nianag'er. 

Reading  Steel  Casti)ic;  Coiuf'Hny. — In  lOOG  the 
Reading  Steel  Ca-ting  Company  was  incorporated 
with  a  capital  of  Slvj.OUO  for  the  manufacture  of 
steel  castings  for  the  general  trade  and  then  pur- 
chased the  Brylgon  Steel  Works  at  the  foot  of  La- 
fayette street  for  its  plant,  and  it  has  since  carried 
on  a  very  successful  business,  employing  150  hands. 
Arrangements  are  now  being  made  to  double  the 
capacity  of  the  plant  to  meet  the  increasing  demands 
for  its  product.  The  ofricers  of  the  company  are 
W.  D.  Seargent,  [)re^ident ;  D.  W.  Yecklcy,  secrc- 
tary-trea^.urer ;  and  j .  Turner  Mocre,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager. 

Stoves  axd  Heatek.s  are  made  in  great  quanti- 
ties by  the  Reading  Stove  Works,  the  Mt.  Penn 
Stove  Works,  and  the  Prizer-Painter  Stove  and 
Heater  Works  ( the  last  situated  at  ]\Iillmont  oppo- 
site Reading),  which  are  sold  to  all  parts  of  the 
world. 

Rcattiiig  StocX  Coiiipany.  In  the  year  l^tUi, 
Jesse  Orr,  John  R.  Painter,  Peter  W.  Xagle. 
VVilliam  Grander,  Henry  C.  Posey,  Elijah  Bull, 
William  H.  Schick,  Jasper  Sheeier  and  Charles 
Egolf  associated  together  under  the  name  of 
Orr,  Painter  &  Company  f(^r  the  manufacture 
of  stoves,  furnaces  ami  heaters  of  all  kinds. 
and  located  their  foundrv  on  Canal  street,  be- 
tween Chestnut  and  Spruce  streets,  bcgitming 
with  fourteen  molders.  Tiiey  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness in  a  verv  successful  maimer  with  increasing 
success  for  twenty  years,  when  they  became  incor- 
porated under  the  name  "The  Reading  Stove 
Works,  Orr,  Painter  i^-  Co.."  with  a  capital  of 
$400,000.  The  business  has  been  so  developed  that 
branch  offices  have  been  established  in  ditTerenl 
parts  of  the  United  States,  at  the  large  cities,  Phil- 
adelphia, X'ew  York,  Boston,  Bulfalo  and  Chicago, 
for  the  distribution  of  tlieir  prorluctions.  For  a 
number  of  years  this  company  supplied  the  Postal 
Department  of  the  United  States  with  the  postal 
boxes  for  the  street  collection.  The  employes  num- 
ber from  275  to  300.  Daniel  1-'.  Printz  has  been 
the  president  since  190'^,  and  Edgar  Amole  the 
secretary  and  treasurer  since  ildJO. 

Mt.  I'cnn  Stove  Company. — -Winiam  M.  I^taulTer 
was  coimected  with  Orr.  Painter  &•  Co.  from  1SG9 
to  1881  and  then  retired  frcim  the  firm  for  the  pur- 
pose of  organizing  another  sto\e  comi)anv  in  Read- 
ing and  with  John  McKnight  established  a  plant 
along  the  Lebanon  \''ailcy  railroad  at  Third  street. 
In  1SS2,  a  company  was  incorporated  by  them  un- 
der the  name  of  ^loimt  Penn  Stove  Coiupany  and 
this  company  has  conducted  a  sticcessful  business 
since  then,  enlarging  the  plant  and  increasing  the 
employes  as  the  developing  trade  demanded.  They 
manufacture  sui)erior  .'-toves  and  heaters  and  their 
trade  extends  throughmit  the  coimtrw  They  em- 
ploy from  ino  to  ]'.'.')  hands.  M.  Brayton  Mc- 
Kniglit  was  one  of  the  organizers  with  his  father, 


and  served  the  company  as  secretary  and  treasurer 
from  iNb"..'  to  I'lO".',  when  he  was  succeeded  bv  lii- 
nephews,  John  R.  McKnight,  as  the  treasurer,  and 
\\'illiam  R.  Schaeffer,  as  the  secretary,  and  he  be- 
came the  president. 

Pricer-t'ainter  Stove  &  Heater  Company. — (^rr. 
Painter  &  Co.  established  a  large  stove  works  in 
r^Iillmont  as  an  addition  to  their  plant  at  Reading, 
to  meet  the  demands  of  their  trade,  and  it  was  u<cd 
by  them  until  18!'9,  when  a  new  company  was 
formed  and  incorporated  by  the  name  of  Prizer- 
Painter  Stove  &  Heater  Company,  with  a  capital 
of  $350,000,  for  the  manufacture  of  stoves  and 
heaters  of  all  kinds  and  sizes,  and  this  company 
then  became  the  owner  and  has  carried  it  on  suc- 
cessfully until  the  present  time.  They  employ  150 
hands  and  have  a  large  trade.  The  officers  are 
C.  S.  Prizer.  ])rcsidcnt ;  E.  T.  Painter,  vice-presi- 
dent; R.  L.  McCall,  treasurer,  and  W.  W.  Light, 
secretary. 

Occut'ATioxs.''' — ^The  following  !i>t  is  presented 
to  show  the  number  and  character  of  the  several 
occupations  at  Readirig  in  April,   1001) : 

Directorv  Publi.slicr   ....  1 

Dressmakers    290 

DrugRists   44 

Drv  Goods,   etc 71 

Dyoins    13 

Electrical  Contractors   ..  10 

Iilertroiypers    2 

EniLalriicrs     f> 

i'^mplovinetit  Bureaus  ...  2 

Engraving    3 

"^       Express   Companies    ....  2 

Fish,   Truck,   etc 2\ 

5       Flag   Stones,   etc 12 

7       Florists   20 

1       Flour,  Feed,  etc 2^ 

Fruit    15 

Furniture    22 

Furrier    1 

Gas  Fixtures .3 

Gents'  l-'urnishings,  etc..  20 

Grain  Sliippers 4 

Grocers,  Retail  3*57 

Grocers,  Wholesale 7 

Gunsmiths    2 

Hardware    18 

Hair   \\'orkers    (human)  5 

Harness-makers     10 

Hides    4 

Hotels  and  Saloons 174 

Ice  Dealers    l.l 

Installment    Houses    ....  7 

In'^urance.   Fire    30 

Insurance,    Life    15 

Jewelers     31 

Junk    Dealers    IS 

Layers-out   of  dead 10 

Leather     4 

Liquors     18 

Live    Stock    '?■ 

Local   ICxpress    IS 

Locksmiths    2 

Lumber     1.' 

Machine-s 


20 


Architects    9 

Artists    10 

Attorneys-at-law    1 19 

Auctioneers    7 

jVutomohilts    or   parts...    16 

Barbers  134 

r.atlis    (Turkish)     2 

Bell   Hangers    4 

Bicycles    0 

Billiards  and   Pool 0 

Bill  Posters  2 

Birds,  etc 5 

Blacksmiths     27 

Bleaching   Straw   Gor)ds. 

Boarding   Houses    (i 

Book-sellers,  etc 

r.ootblacks   

Bowling  Alleys    4 

Bricklayers    135 

Brokers    41 

Building  Contractors   ...   37 

Butchers  88 

Carpet  Cleaners  3 

Carpet  Dealers  7 

Caterers    5 

(^hair  Caiiers 2 

Chair  .Makers  2 

Chewing  Gum 1 

Chinaware,  etc 3 

Chiropodists    2 

Cigars  and  Tc)bacco 76 

Civil   Engineers   5 

Clothiers    41 

Coal,   Wood,  etc 4u 

Commission  .Agents   ....     7 

Confectionery     75 

Coopers    4 

Coppersmith    1 

Cough   Drops    2 

r)atH-ing  Masters   4 

Dtnfists    50 

r)electives     2 


ips 


*  For  T.nl.Ic.   .V.-tiir 
States    Census    Dciiart 


In.iiistrics.  imXl.  published  by  the 
t,   sec   I'.iKc   237. 


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PENN     SQUAFfE,    LOOKING    EAST    FROM    FOURTH    STREET 


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READING 


103 


Manicures    5 

Map  Publisher  1 

Marble  Yards  8 

Massage   -4 

Mercantile  Agencies    ...     0 

Milk   Dealers    30 

Milliners    32 

Millwrights   2 

Music  Teachers   89 

Newspaper  Dealers    ....     4 

Newspapers,  etc 27 

Notaries   43 

Notions,  Wholesale   ....     1 

Novelties    3 

Nurses    (Trained")    33 

Oculists    6 

Opticians    12 

Painters,  etc 125 

Patent  Solicitors   2 

Pattern-makers    5 

Pavers    4 

Pawn  Brokers   5 

Pension  Attorneys    6 

Photographers    . .' 9 

Phvsicians    If)? 

Piano  Dealers    ....'.....    15 

Piano  Tuners   14 

Picture  Frames,  etc 5 

Plasterers     '75 

Plumbing,  etc 40 

Printers    30 

Produce  Dealers   7 

Publishers    10 

Rags,  I'aper,  etc 10 

Real   Est?te  Agents 50 

Restaurants  62 


Roofers    (Slate)' 0 

Roofers  (Tin)   10 

Saddlery,  etc.    10 

Sewing    -Machines    4 

ShL.e   Dealers    24 

Siioemakcrs  120 

Shoe  Uppers   1 

Sign-makers    6 

Stables,   Boarding   Zr, 

Stables.    L.iverv.   etc 12 

Stables,  Sale   4 

Stair    Builders    3 

Stamping    2 

Stei^mship  .Agents 4 

Stenographers    S 

Stock    Dealers    4 

Stone  Masons 80 

Stone  Yards   12 

Storage     7 

Tailors    100 

Teachers.   Music    92 

Teachers.  School  331 

Tea  and  Coffee 4 

Telegraphers     48 

Telephoners     100 

Theatres     : 4 

Ticket  Ofificcs   5 

Tinsmiths    40 

Tool  Sharpeners,  etc....     2 

Toys    3 

Typewriter  Dealers    ....     6 

Undertakers    9 

Upholsterers    10 

Veterinary  Surgeons   ...     7 

Wall  Paper  16 

Wax    Workers,    etc 4 

Wheelwrights     7 


MEkc.\N"iii.F.  LiCEXSics  FOR  1909. — The  mercan- 
tile appraiser,  Jolin  G.  Merbine.  reported  the  fol- 
lowing retail  and  wholesale  licenses  for  business 
places  in  the  county  for  the  year  1909  : 


Retail 

Reading 1,546 

Boroughs    491 

Townships    894 

Total 2.931 


iVIwlcsale 

Reading    lOS 

Boroughs  5 

Townships  9 

Total     122 


Pool    and    Billiards. — The    mercantile    appraiser 
reported  for  1909  tlie  following  tables : 

Reading    47 

Boroughs     IS 

Townships     4 


INTERXAL  IMPROVEMENTS 

The  internal  improvements  of  Reading  comprise 
those  buildings  and  constructions  of  a  public  nature, 
whether  paid  for  bv  the  government  or  by  private 
individuals  and  corporations.  The  following  com- 
prise those  that  have  contributed  to  the  general  wel- 
fare, whose  total  cost  to  the  community  and  to  the 
projectors  amounts  to  manv  millions  of  dollars. 

M.NRKEi-IIorsK.s. — In  nOG,  the  Penns  granted  a 
charter  to  the  town  for  holding  semi-weekly  mar- 
kets; also  semi-annual  fairs  on  June  1th,  and  ( 'ct. 
27th  :  and  then  a  market  housi'  ,vas  erected  in  h'ast 
I'enn  Square.  It  was  a  building  about  PiO  feet  long 
13 


and  20  feet  wide,  consisting  of  a  double  row  of 
square  brick  pillars,  covered  by  a  double-pitched 
shingle  roof,  and  contained  32  stalls.  A  similar 
building  was  erected  in  West  Pcnn  Square  in  1799, 
which  contained  38  stalls.  They  were  rebuilt  in 
1S40  with  iron  columns  and  paved  extensions  for 
increased  accommodations  at  a  cost  of  SG.400,  and 
abandoned  in  1S71,  when  they  were  sold  and  re- 
moved. The  semi-annual  fairs  were  discontinued 
in  18.52,  when  the  Berks  County  Agricultural  So- 
ciety was  organized  to  give  annual  exhibitions  m 
their  stead. 

Private  Market-Houses.— In  1871.  three  large 
private  market-houses  were  sub-titnted  in  the 
place  of  the  public  buildings  on  Penn  Square: — 
South  Reading,  West  Readmg,  and  Farmers'.  In 
1874,  two  more  were  erected : — Northeast,  and 
Keystone;  and  in  ls84,  another.  Tenth  and  Chest- 
nut. In  1880,  the  Keystone  maiket-house  was  con- 
verted into  the  Academy  of  Music,  and  the  Fifth 
street  market-house  substituted,  having  been  altered 
from  a  skating-rink,  now  Woodward  and  Church 
streets;  it  was  tli.scontinued  in  P'Ol.  In  1894.  the 
Tenth  and  Windsor  was  erected;  in  1897.  the  West 
Buttonwood,  n(;ar  Sclluylkill  avenue;  and  in  1903. 
the  rear  part  of  the  "Crystal  Palace  Motel"  v.-as 
converted  into  a  market-house.  There  are  now 
nine  in  the  city.  The  Farmers'  has  th.rec  annexes 
and  is  the  largest  in  Reading,  having  altogether  414 
stalls.  The  West  Reading  had  the  Potteiger  An- 
nex froin  189.^  to  1900. 

W.\TERWORK.s. — The  inhalMtant<  were  supplied 
with  water  from  wells  and  cisterns  until  1821.  The 
first  pump  at  Reading  was  erected  in  East  Penn 
Square  in  17.-)()  by  direction  of  the  Penns,  and 
when  the  market-house  was  built  in  T.OO,  this 
pump  occupied  a  position  in  the  center.  The  well 
was  fifty-three  feet  deep,  and  the  water  was  of  a 
limestone  character.  It  was  abandoned  in  1871, 
when   the  market-house  was   removed. 

In  1821.  a  water  company  was  formed  to  supply 
the  inhabitants  with  water,  and  then  a  reservoir 
was  constructed  at  the  liead  of  P.-nn  street  with  a 
storage  capacity  of  10t),000  hogsheads.  In  1805 
the  city  purchased  the  plant  for  $300,000.  The 
sources  of  supply  then  were  Hampden  spring.  Egcl- 
man  spring,  and  Cernhart  creek.  The  supply  was 
largely  increased  bv  inti-oducing  tb.e  water  of  Antie- 
tam  creek  in  1874.  and  of  Maiden  creek  in  1889, 
the  former  flowing  by  gravitv  through  large  iron 
pipes  about  three  miles  to  the  city  line,  and  the 
latter  being  forced  through  similar  pipes  about  six 
and  a  half  miles  to  the  tity  line,  by  three  Worth- 
ington  pumps,  with  a  total"  capacity  of  30,000,000 
gallons.  Total  net  cost  of  water  supply  to  April 
0,  1908.  $3,000,931;  debt.  S280.^oG.  Total  storage 
capacity.  180.000,000  gallons;  rlaily  possible  sup- 
ply. 17.392,000  gallons;  average  daily  consiunption, 
12.242,.")04  gallon^.  Total  iiuantity  consumed  for 
vear  1907-ok  4.  lM>.77^.M-''>  gall'ii-.  Supply  is  from 
six  sources,  which,  with  /rr  centum,  is  as  follows: 


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194 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Antietani,  ";JG..")5 ;  Rernhart,  '•?u.54 ;  Maiden  creek, 
50.35;  Ej,'^clman,  l.T.S;  llanipJen  and  Hampden 
drift,  0.98. 

Filtration. — Sand  filtratiun  of  Egelnian  supply 
was  bcgfun  in  1903,  of  Antietam  in  I'.'Oo,  and  of 
Bernbart  in  1909.  Total  daily  capacity,  7.000,000 
g-a lions ;  estimated  cost.  S"'50,00().  The  Alaiden 
creek  supply  will  be  filtered  in  19] 0;  estimated 
daily  supply,  10,00(),0uu  q-allons.  and  cost,  S4o0,- 
000. 

Public  Ro.\ds. — The  public  roads  figured  prom- 
inently in  connection  with  Reading  from  the  begin- 
ning of  its  history.  The  ford  at  the  Schuylkill  was 
a  central  point  from  which  they  were  extended  in 
various  directions.  When  the  town  was  laid  out, 
there  were  regular  highways :  north  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Maiden  creek,  almost  in  a  straight  line  for 
six  miles :  northeast  through  Alsace ;  southeast 
through  Exeter  to  Philadelphia :  southwest  through 
Cumru  to  Lancaster;  and  west  through  Cumru  and 
Heidelberg,  also  in  a  straight  line,  to  Lebanon. 
And  afterward  others  were  established  to  facilitate 
travel  from  Reading  to  the  different  sections  of  the 
county. 

Strekts. — The  streets  were  established  when  the 
town  was  laid  out;  and  the  personal  and  royal 
names  gdven  to  them  by  the  proprietaries  were  con- 
tinued until  changed  by  the  borough  council  in 
1833.  The  numeral  system  was  then  substituted 
for  the  "Streets  running  north  and  south  ;  and  those 
ninning  east  and  west,  excepting  I'enn,  Washing- 
ton and  Franklin,  were  named  after  trees ;  and 
tho>e  subsequently  laid  out,  after  the  townships 
of  the  county.  They  are  at  right  angles  with  one 
another.  Some  of  them,  however,  run  at  an  ob- 
lique angle,  the  most  prominent  being  Bingaman 
street,  Pcrkiomcn,  Centre  and  Schuvlkill  avenues. 
The  total  number  of  miles  of  projected  streets  is 
135 ;  of  which  8'.'  miles  are  open   for  public  use. 

The  first  grading  of  tlie  streets  was  made  in 
1832.  A  topographical  survey  was  made  from  18^4 
to  1868.  The  plans,  in  eleven  sections,  are  on 
file  in  the  Quarter  Sessions'  ofidce  of  Berks  county. 
In  1863.  the  system  of  numbering  the  houses  along 
the  streets  was  adopted  by  councils,  allowing  100 
for  each  square  from  Front  street  eastward,  and 
also  for  each  square  north  and  south  of  Fenn  street. 
This  was  effected  by  Jacob  Knabb  while  postmas- 
ter, to  facilitate  and  disitatch  the  delivery  of  let- 
ters, having  had  numerous  petitions  signed  by  the 
citizens   recommending  it. 

After  considering  for  a  long  while  the  subject 
of  permanent  street  ini])ro\  cinem-;,  councils  even- 
tually, in  lsS-2.  purchased  a  steam  road-ro!ler. 
weighing  fifteen  tons,  and  began  a  gradual  im- 
provement of  the  streets  in  the  interior  scclions 
of  Reading  by  macadamizing  the  surface,  and  they 
kept  at  it  year  after  year  until  1s9;,  s])ending 
annually  abrmt  ."^"Jo.OtiO.  'jdiis  not  proving  -ntis- 
factr>ry,  they  then  detcrmiuerl  t"  !a\  >lieet  a>]'hal- 
■tum,  and  duriuL^  that  vear  exiionded  over  .S^l'.'O.OiJO 


on  Penn  street  and  Perkiomen  avenue  from  Frcrv, 
street  to  Tliirteenth,  and  on  south  Fifth  street  fr.,n, 
Penn  to  Pine.  During  the  next  five  year--,  othi.r 
streets  were  paved  with  asphaltum  and  vitrifiv.' 
brick,  covering  a  total  length  of  ten  miles,  an.; 
costing  altogether  S35O,OU0.  In  1908  there  ucr.- 
fifty-two  miles  of  macadam  street,  six  mile.s  of  as- 
phaltum, fourteen  miles  of  vitrified  brick,  and  >i\ 
miles  of  rubble  stone. 

Sewers. — In  1893,  the  West  system  of  hou>(.- 
sewers  was  adopted  by  councils.  The  city  was  di- 
vided into  eight  districts,  and  the  first  four  were 
constructed  at  the  expense  of  the  abutting  propertv 
holders,  amounting  to  $'231,000,  of  which  the  citv 
paid  for  the  mains,  about  850,000.  The  pumping 
station  was  erected  at  the  foot  of  Sixth  street  at  a 
cost  of  SGO.OOO ;  and  the  disposal  plant  one  and  one- 
half  miles  below  Reading  along  the  west  bank  of 
the  river  at  a  cost  of  $79, GOO,  which  was  paid  bv 
the  citv  without  increasing  the  tax  rate.  The  sew- 
age is  purified  to  99  per  cent.  The  cost  of  the  three 
districts   was  $'250,000. 

The  first  storm-water  sewer  was  constructed  grad- 
ually in  small  sections  from  the  foot  of  Court  street 
to  Buttonwood,  to  Eighth,  to  A\'alnut,  and  to  Elev- 
enth, the  beginning  having  been  made  forty  years 
ago.  The  Bassett  system  was  adopted  by  councils 
in  1889,  comprising  twenty  districts.  In  1897,  the 
North  Reading  sewer  was  made  out  of  concrete, 
in  ova]  shape,  starting  at  Eleventh  and  Douglass, 
and  ending  at  the  river  near  the  Carpenter  Steel 
Works,  a  distance  of  two  miles.  The  dimension 
at  the  east  end  begins  at  five  feet,  and  ends  at  the 
west  end  at  fourteen  feet.  The  depth  below  tlie 
surface  varies  from  ten  to  twenty-five  feet.  It 
is  now  the  largest  and  longest  concrete  sewer  in 
America.  The  total  cost  was  over  $'200,000,  paid 
mostlv  by  a  loan  granted  by  a  vote  of  the  elec- 
tors. In  1908,  there  were  one  hundred  and  two 
miles  of  house  sewers  ;  and  fourteen  miles  of  storm- 
water  sewers,  with  eleven  additional  miles  pro- 
jected. 

Subway. — The  subject  of  a  "crossing"  over  the 
P.  &  R.  railroad  at  Spring  street  was  agitated  un- 
successfully fur  many  years  until  100  4,  when  the 
city  authorities  and  the  railroad  company  reacheil 
an  tmderstanding  and  the  necessary  steps  were 
instituted  for  its  construction.  The  work  was  giv- 
en to  Hawman  Brothers,  contractors  of  Reading, 
and  they  started  Nov.  18,  1907,  with  an  allowance 
of  three  hundre.l  working  da>  s  for  its  comple- 
tion. It  wa-;  a  difficult  undertaking  on  account  of 
the  verv  heavy  tratVic  on  the  railroad  constantlv 
passing  and  repassing  that  jioint.  but  tliev  succeed- 
ed  in  finishing  the  bridge  within   the  limited  time. 

The  bridge  is  constructed  of  cement  work  and 
when  completed  will  cost  about  $I5".<I00.  A  lar^e 
bronze  t.iblet.  five  feet  high,  i<  '^et  in  the  fare  of 
the  arches  nn  ln'th  sides,  in  the  f^rm  cf  a  key-tone. 
It  \\a-~  i'prneil  to  travel  in  April.  I'.t09.  and  the 
great  convenitiue  of  pa'^-ing  at  all  times  from  the 


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READING 


195 


northeastern  section  of  the  city  to  the  northwest- 
ern, or  in  an  opposite  direction,  without  detention, 
was  immediately  appreciated.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
important  improvements  to  the  city  in  recent  years. 

Ferries  and  Bkidgks. — The  furd  was  used  in 
crossing  tlie  Schuylkill  for  many  years ;  then  a  ferry 
was  introduced  to  facilitate  passage  to  and  fro. 
In  1T'J5,  the  first  steps  were  taken  to  establish  a 
bridge  at  this  point;  and  repeated  and  persistent 
efforts  were  made  by  legislation,  lottery  schemes, 
and  county  appropriations  for  twenty  years  be- 
fore this  great  improvement  was  accomplished. 
A  roofed  wooden  structure  became  passable  in 
1815;  and  it  v.-as  finally  completed  in  181S.  The 
cost  was  $50,000.  It  took  the  name  of  "Harris- 
burg  Bridge"  from  the  public  road  to  Harrisburg. 
There  was  also  a  ferry  at  the  foot  of  Bingaman 
street.  The  first  privilege  was  granted  by  the 
Penns  to  a  man  named  Levan,  and  it  was  contin- 
ued until  a  roofed  wooden  bridge  was  erected  by 
the  county  in  IS.'U.  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  It  took 
the  name  of  "Lancaster  Bridge,"  being  on  the  road 
to  Lancaster. 

Toll  v/as  charged  at  both  bridges  until  1883, 
when  they  were  declared  free.  The  subject  of 
free  bridges  had  been  agitated  as  early  as  1851  ; 
and  in  1848  a  special  effort  was  made  in  this  behalf, 
but  Avithout  success,  because  the  county  commis- 
sioners alleged  that  the  expenses  exceeded  tb.e  in- 
come by  nearly  $30,000.  In  18S2,  the  city  coun- 
cils took  the  macter  in  hand,  and  by  application 
to  court,  the  purpose  was  at  last  accomplished 
March  28,  1883. 

Both  bridges  were  sv/cpt  awav  by  the  great 
freshet  of  1850,  and  immediately  rebuilt.  In  1876, 
the  latter  was  destroyed  by  tire,  and  an  iron  struc- 
ture was  erected  in  its  stead,  which  was  the  iirst 
large  iron  bridge  in  the  county.  And  in  1SS4,  a 
superior  iron  bridge  was  erected  in  place  of  the 
former  at  a  cost  of  $100,000. 

The  first  bridge  across  the  Schuylkill  in  this  vi- 
cinity was  "Kissinger's."  It  was  on  the  road  to 
Sunbury  through  Bern  township.  An  Act  was 
passed  in  1810,  authorizing  L^rich  Kissinger  to 
erect  and  maintain  a  toll  bridge  at  that  point  where 
this  road  crossed  the  river,  and  he  then  put  up  a 
chain  bridge  in  two  spans.  A  covered  wooden 
bridge  was  substituted  in  1830.  This  was  also 
swept  away  by  the  freshet  of  1850,  and  rebuilt.  It 
was  known  for  manv  years  as  "Bushong's,"  and 
last  as  "Ahrens"."  The  Schuylkill  avenue  bridge 
near  by  was  erected  by  the  county  commissioners 
in  1893  to  take  its  place. 

-The  Lebanon  A'allcy  railroad  bridge  was  erect- 
ed in  1857,  and  it  was  then  regarded  as  one  of 
the  finest  structures  in  the  Stale.  It  was  destroyed 
by  fire  by  the  rioters  in  July.  IS"  7.  and  rebuilt  by 
the  company.  The  Wilmiui^^ton  tV-  Xorthcrn  rail- 
road bridge  was  erected  in  1871;  the  Pennsylvania 
Schuylkill  X'alley  in  18S1:  and  the  Reading  & 
Southwestern  in  1891.  .'Mtogether  ten  fine  bridges 
^pan  tlie  river  within  a  distance  of  three  miles. 


Schuylkill  Rivlr. — The  river  Schuylkill  is  a 
prominent  feature  of  Reading,  and  has  always  con- 
tributed many  advantages  to  the  place.  In  res- 
pect to  carrying  away  the  surface  drainage  from 
all  the  streets,  its  value  has  been  incalculable.  Its 
improvement  for  navigation  was  a  subject  for  the 
inhabitants  as  early  as  1807,  when  a  society  was 
formed  for  this  purpose.  It  was  forded  until 
about  the  time  when  the  borough  was  erected,  then 
the  ferries  were  introduced,  and  these  were  car- 
ried on  until  the  two  bridges  were  built. 

Freshets. — The  freshets  of  this  water-course 
occupy  a  noteworthy  place  in  local  history  for  over 
one  hundred  years.  The  most  important  of  them 
occurred  in  1757,  178G,  182?,  1839,  1841,  1850, 
1802  and  1809.  The  one  which  caused  the  most 
damage  was  in  1850,  when  the  water  rose  twenty- 
five  feet  above  its  ordinary  level,  nearly  six  feet 
higher  than  the  great  freshet  of  178G. 

I'iRE  Company  BciLniNC.S. — For  many  years, 
the  fire  companies  owned  the  buikhngs  in  which 
they  kept  their  apparatus,  but  when  the  city  began 
to  appropriate  liberal  sums  antmally  for  maintain- 
ing them,  it  became  the  owner  of  all,  excepting 
that  of  the  Liberty  P'ire  Company.  The  buildings 
number  thirteen.  They  are  all  substantial  struc- 
tures, finely   furnished. 

PuDi.ic  P.\RKS. — Pcim  Connnon  was  reserved 
by  the  Penns  for  the  dwellers  of  the  town  when 
the  plan  was  laid  out.  But  it  was  not  improved 
for  park  purposes  until  1878;  then  a  strip  along 
Perkiomen  avenue  was  ornamented  by  private 
subscription.  In  1884,  legal  proceedings  were 
instituted  by  councils  to  recover  possession  of 
the  entire  tract  (fifty  acres)  from  the  county  com- 
missioners, ^^'ayne  Hayman,  Esq.,  city  solicitor, 
Richmond  L.  Jones.  Esq.,  and  George  1'.  Baer, 
Esq.,  appearing  as  counsel  for  the  city.  The  court 
refused  to  av>-ard  a  writ  of  iuanda]Hus  to  compel 
them  to  execute  a  deed  to  the  city  for  the  land, 
but  the  Supreme  court  ordered  it  to  be  done,  and 
the  transfer  was  made  in  18S(>.  Then  councils  es- 
tablished a  park  commission,  and  annual  appropria- 
tions have  been  made  since  that  time  for  its  im- 
provement. L'ntil  1009  about  $?50,000  was  ex- 
pended. Besides  Peim  Common,  the  city  owns 
.Mineral  Spring  park,  sixty-four  acres,  which 
has  also  been  beautified  by  amuia!  appropriations, 
exceeding  $15,000;  Egelman  park,  thirty  acres; 
Jlessian  Camj),  thirty-two  acres;  and  nther  tracts, 
twentv-two  acres — altogether  nearly  twi>  hundred 
acres,   highly  appreciated   by   the   ]icopk'. 

Post-Office. — The  post-office  was  established 
at  Reading  in  1793.  Since  then  there  have  been 
eighteen  postmasters.  The  letters  were  called  for 
until  1835,  when  they  began  to  be  delivered  by  pri- 
vate enterprise  at  a  cent,  and  subseciuently  two  rents, 
a  letter.  This  practice  continued  iUitil  tin-  free 
delivery    system    was    introduced    m    l.^sOl.      Mail 


_   ,         ,.     *>*»'.♦,    jr- !    it.  I    ;.«.'.n:?ii      .;';^i»ii«j 


...    ,  I 


196 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


boxes  wore  put  up  in  1S04  for  dropping  letters  town  ofiicials  until  1870.  A  city  hall  (  threc-.-torv 
to  be  collected  by  carriers,  and  bo.xe--,  and  carriers  brick  building;  was  then  erected  at  Fifth  and  Frank- 
were  increased  as  ilemands  required.  The  money  lin  streets  to  supply  at  one  place  a  "lock-up,"  citv 
order  system  was  introduced  in  isGi;  postal  cards  oflices,  and  council  chambers,  costing  $-.^0,000.'  PrJ- 
in  1873;  two-cent  postage  in  IsSS;  and  the  special  viously  the  councils  had  met' in  the  Court-IIoust- 
delivery  of  letters  in  l^^:).  In  February,  1909,  there  Cemeteries.— From  the  beginning  of  Reading 
were  -.Mo  bo.xcs  and  43  carriers:  8  sub-carriers  and  until  18-1(5,  interments  were  made"  in  burying- 
2  rural  carriers.  The  office  employed  25  clerks,  grounds  which  adjoined  the  several  churches- 
and  3  sub-clerks.  The  total  business  for  1908  was  then  a  cemeterv  was  established  by  Charles  Evans' 
$180,'; 09.  On  Oct.  1,  ]8:»1,  seven  stations  were  He  was  authorized  bv  law  to  organize  a  companv 
established  m  ditYercnt  sections,  of  Reading  for  for  its  perpetual  management,  and  when  this  was 
the  sale  of  stamps,  registering  letters  and  issuing  done  he  transferred  to^the  "Charles  Evans  Ceme- 
money  orders.  tery  Company"  a  tract  of  twentv-five  acres  in  the 

The    post-office    was    located    at    No.    IG    South    northern    section    of    the    city,    with    the    buildings 

thereon  erected,  representing  an  expenditure  of 
$84,000.  The  present  area  embraces  137  acres, 
laid  out  in  lots,  and  those  sold  n.nOO:  and  burials 
to  Jan.  1,  1909,  28,230.  A  fine  bronze  statue  of 
the  founder  stands  inside,  facing  the  entrance. 
Many  costly  monuments  have  been  erected,  the 
most  prominent  being  the  "Soldiers'  IMonument" 
in  granite,  and  "Christ  on  the  Cross"  in  Italian 
marble. 

In  1849,  two  cemeteries  were  laid  out  and  es- 
talilished  on  the  northern  slope  of  Mt.  Neversink. 
the  "Trinity  Lutheran"  by  the  congregation  of 
that  name,  and  the  "Roman 'Catholic"  by  St.  Peter's 
,^  congregation.      .-Vnd   in    1S51,   the   "Anlen- 

viv  1)ach"    was    laid    out    along    the    southeast 

border  of  Reading.  When  these  ceme- 
teries were  established,  burials  in  them  were 
encouraged,  and  the  remains  of  numerous 
persons  in  the  different  burying  grounds 
were  transferred  to  them. 

TuRXi'iKES. — Turnpikes    were    |)rojected 
along  the   prominent   highways    which   ex- 
tenderl  to   the   north,   to  the  southeast  and 
to  the  west  of  Reading  to  enable  business 
men.  farmers  and  travelers  to  carrv  on  in- 
tercourse more  quickly  with  near  and  dis- 
-:^  tant  places.     In  1805,  the  Centre  Turnpike 
^-Company   was   incorporated   to   maintain   a 
turnpike  on  the  road  to  the  norlh,  leading 
to  Sunbury,  and  before   1812   it   was  com- 
pleted.     Tolls    were    collected    until    1885, 
cnv  H.\LL  when  it  was  abandoned  and  the  charter  for- 

Fifth   street    from    171>3   to    ISOl  ;    Xo.    llC    Xorth  feited.     In  ISlo.  another  was  incorporated 

Fifth  street,  ISnl  to  ls29;  Xo.  :>{)[  JViin  Square,  for  a  turnpike  southeast  to  Perkiomen  Mills  and 
1829  to  1841  ;  Xo.  i23  I'enn  S(inare,  IS }]  t..  1845  ;  Philadelphia;  which  was  completed  in  1814.  It 
No.  508  IVnn  S(|uare.  isi.-,  to  1M9:  Xo.  533  Penn  was  conducted  until  1902  when  it  was  declared 
Square,  1849  to  In52:  "State-house"  (Fifth  and  free,  the  county  having  paid  damages  for  appropri- 
Penn).  1852  to  iMiC;  Sixth  and  Court  streets,  ating  it.  And  in  1805."^  a  third  was^ncorporated  for 
18tiG  to  1889;  bederal  building,  l-ifth  and  Wash- 
ington streets,  -ince  1889.  In  ls87  the  Cnited 
States  government  <-'immenced  the  erection  of  a 
fine,    larsre    buildin: 


ilililJf 


a  tnrn]iike  west  to  Harrisburg;  wiiich  was  finished 

in  ISll.  and  has  been  conducted  imiil  now.*    Their 

^  connection  with  and  value  to  Reading  are  not  fullv 
!<'r    a    permanent    post-office.  •   .    i     *   .i       .•         i    .    r       a^-?  r 

„,.     '  •        ,.     ,  '    -     VoV.r^  appreciated  at   this  time,  but   for  filtv  vears,   from 

possession    Sent.    Ifi.    1889.  ,  ,L.  .      ,..„..     ,  •,         .  -.   -,     , 


The  department  ti>.  ik  possession  Sept.  Ifi,  1889. 
The  total  o.)st  was  $180.(100.  In  1908,  Congress 
appro[)riate<l  JCooou  f,-,r  an  ad(lili(jii  to  the  buiUl- 
ing. 

CiTV  Hvi.i.. There  was  no  ^epanite  building  for 


1810  to  ISno.  they  Cdiitributed  a  great  deal  toward 
its  i'rf>sperity.  To  the  .^tage  business  they  were 
indisjiensable. 

•  Part     m,-i.ie     Ucc    frcm     Kca.liMjr    to     Wernir>vilU-. 


:U:,^^-l    ?.{. 


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McKINLEV    MONUMENT    IN    PENN    COMMON 


MONUMENT    TO    FIRST    DEFENDERS     IN    PENN    COMMON 


f 


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FIREMEN'S     MONUMENT    IN    PfNN    COMMON 


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;:"''^#r^.|fc^^-----~— ^ 


G.  A.   R.  MONUMENT    IN    CHARLES    EVANS   CLMt  lEHV 


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READING 


197 


Stage-Coaches. — The  stage-coach  was  intro- 
duced as  tlie  first  public  conveyance  at  Reading 
in  1789  by  Martin  Ilausnian.  It  made  weekly 
trips  to  and  from  Philadelphia,  distance  tifty-one 
miles ;  fare  $2 ;  letters  ;]d.  The  round  trip  was 
made  in  two  days.  William  Coleman  became  the 
owner  of  the  line  in  KDl.  and  from  that  time  for 
seventy  years  the  Coleman  faniilv  was  prominent- 
ly identified   with  the  stage  enterprise  at   Reading 


STAGE-COACII 

and  in  eastern  Pennsylvania.  This  business  was 
active  for  a  long  time,  especially  from  1810  to  1858  ; 
but  it  was  discontinued  as  tlie  railroads  were  ex- 
tended in  different  directions  from  Reading.  Six 
stage  lines  still  carry  jjassengers,  merchandise  and 
mail  as  follows:  northwest  to  Krick's  Mill,  and 
Bernville;  south  to  Angelica  and  Terre  Hill,  and 
also  to  Plowville,  Alleghenyville,  and  Ilummel's 
Store ;  cast  to  Boyertown,  to  Pleasantville,  and  to 
Friedcnsburg. 

Canals. — -The  canal,  as  a  means  of  transporta- 
tion to  and  from  Reading,  was  starte<l  in  1811. 
It  was  constructed  along  the  Tulpehocken  creek 
to  its  source,  and  thence  along  the  Swalara  creek 
to  the  Susquehamia  river,  being  finished  in  1828 
It  was  known  as  the  L'nion  canal.  It  was  very 
prosperous  for  a  time,  and  many  boats  ran  to  and 
fro,  carrying  lumber,  merchandise  and  passengers^, 
but  railroad  competitioti  caused  it  to  be  abandoned. 
The  Schuylkill  canal  was  constructed  along  the- 
Schuylkill  river  from  Pottsville  to  Philadelphia, 
especially  for  transporting  coal.  It  was  begun 
in  1817  and  completed  in  18".'s! ;  and  it  was  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  for  over  fifty  vears.  It  is  now 
controlled  by  the  P.  &  R.  R.  Company  but  little 
xised. 

Stea.m  Railroads. — Railroads  were  extended 
in  directions  to  correspond  with  the  public  roads; 
southeast  to  Philadelphia,  •">8  mile>,  in  IS'^iP'-,  north- 
west to  Pottsville,  ;^r)  miles,  in  1842  ;  west  to  Har- 
risburg,  54  miles,  in  18.")8:  northeast  to  Allentown, 
35  miles,  in  1859;  southwest  to  Lancaster,  12  miles, 
and  to  Columbia,  4fi  miles,  in  18(!4;  south  to  Wil- 
mington, 72  miles,  in  1874  ;  and  north  to  Slating- 
ton,  44  miles,  in  1874.  The  "West-Reading"  was 
constructed  in  18ri;i.  from  the  "Lebanon  Valley" 
via  Third  street  to  and  alnnt,^  Canal  street,  to  ac- 
commodate the  numerou';  enterprises  in  the  west- 
ern section  of  the  city.  It  was  operated  by  the 
company  for  ten  years:  then  transferred  to  the 
Philadelphia  &-  Reading  Railroad  Company. 

The  P.  &  R.  R.Co.  ojierate  all  the  lines  concen- 
trating at  Reading,  excepting  the  Penns\lvania 
Schuylkill  X'allev  railroad.  The  passoiiger  st;t- 
tion   was   located   at   Seventh   and   Chestnut   streets 


from  1838  to  1871,  v\hen  it  was  removed  to  the 
"Junction"  where  the  Lebanon  \alley  railroad  and 
East  Penn  railroad  connect  with  the  P.  &  R.  rail- 
road. The  volume  of  business  is  enormous.  In 
1884,  a  station  was  established  also  at  Franklin 
street. 

The  Schuylkill  \'alley  railroad  was  extended 
along  the  Schuylkill  river  from  Philadelphia  to 
Reading  in  iNcSl.  and  to  lV>ttsviIlc  in  1SS5.  It 
is  under  the  control  of  th.e  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company. 

Street  Railw.ws. — There  was  no  street  rail- 
way in  Philadelphia  until  1857.  but  during  that 
year  the  first  line  was  put  down,  and  cars  began 
to   run   in   January,    Ls.")b;. 

The  first  move  in  this  behalf  at  Reading  was 
in  18(55,  w^hen  an  Act  was  passed  incorporating 
the  "Reading  Passenger  Railway  Company,"  to 
construct  and  operate  street  railways  on  Penn 
street,  from  Front  to  the  Mineral  Spring;  on  Fifth 
and  Centre  avenue,  and  also  on  Sixth  from  Canal 
street  northward  to  IIiester"s  Lane,  beyond  the 
cemetery;  and  ninety-six  of  the  most  prominent 
business  men  and  capitalists  subscribed  for  stock. 
The  construction  was  to  be  begun  within  one  year 
and  to  be  ended  in  five  years,  and  the  fare  was 
to  be  five  cents ;  but  nothing  was  done.  Several 
years  afterward,  an  effort  was  made  to  establish 
an  omnibus  line,  v/hich  was  to  run  from  the  foot 
of  Fifth  street  to  the  cemetery,  but  this  also  failed, 
after  being  operated  for  a  while. 

In  1873,  another  Act  was  passed,  incorporating 
the  Penn  Street  Passenger  Railwav  Company,  to 
construct  and  operate  the  Penn  street  line  from 
Front  street  to  Xinetcenth.  The  construction  was 
commenced  early  in  1874,  working  eastward  and 
westward  from  Sixth  street,  and  by  August  the 
road  was  open  for  travel  with  a  single  track.  The 
cars  were  drawn  by  one  horse,  but  soon  afterward 
by  two  horses. 

In  one  year,  the  road  was  sold  by  the  sheriff 
and  reorganized  under  tlie  name  of  the  Cen- 
tral Passenger  Railwav  Company  of  Reading;  but 
in  1878,  this  was  also  sold  out  by  the  sheriff',  and 
for  a  time  the  road  was  not  operated. 

In  April,  1880,  another  reorganization  was  ef- 
fected under  the  name  of  the  Perkiomen  .\venue 
line.  New  cars  were  placed  on  the  road,  and  its 
operation  proved  so  successful  that  extensions 
were  made  along  Ninth  and  Tenth  streets,  and  then 
to  the  Mineral  Spring,  where  a  barn  was  erected 
for  the  cars  and  horses. 

After  all  these  lines  had  been  laid,  a  consolida- 
tion of  the  two  companies  was  effected  in  1889 
under  the  name  of  the  Reading  City  Passenger 
Railway  Company.  In  1800,  th.e  Penn  street  line 
was  extended  along  Perkiomen  avenue  to  Nine- 
teenth street  from  Thirteenth;  and  in  1891,  a  line 
was  laid  along  Pjingaman  and   Eighth  streets 

.\t  the  same  time  that  the  Act  wa-  ])asscd  in 
1873  fi>r  the  Peini  street  line,  another  .\ct  was 
passed   for  the  Sixth  street   line,  and  the  construe- 


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198 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVANIA 


tion  of  it  was  then  also  started.  Extensions  were 
made  as  follows:  In  ISt^j,  to  the  cemetery  ;  in  l^.:^(;, 
to  East  Reading,  via  Laurel  and  Cotton  streets, 
and  also  alonj^  Third,  Eonrth,  Washington  and 
Walnut  streets ;  and  in  Ib'ST,  along  Fifth  street 
and  Centre  avenue,  and  alung  Xorth  Eleventh 
street. 

In  1893,  electricity  was  substituted  for  horses 
and  a  marked  improvcnunt  in  the  service  was  im- 
mediately appreciated  by  the  jHiblic,  and  the  travel 
was  increased  very  much. 

The  United  Traction  Company  was  organized  in 
1895  for  the  purpose  of  leasing  and  operating  all 
the  lines. 

The  East  Reading  line  from  Xinih  street  to 
the  Black  Bear  Inn  and  to  Stony  Creek  was  con- 
structed in  1890,  the  Reading  Electric  Light  and 
Power  Company  supplying  the  electric  power  to 
propel  the  cars.  This  line  was  the  first  at  Reading 
to  use  electricity  for  street  car  service. 

The  Reading  and  Southwestern  Railway  Com- 
pany was  organized  in  1S9U  to  operate  a  street  rail- 
way from  Third  arul  Penn  streets  to  jMohnsville 
by  way  of  Shillington,  a  distance  of  five  miles,  and 
this  was  constructed  in  IS'JI  with  an  electric  power 
plant  at  the  foot  of  Chestnut  street  to  propel  its 
cars.  In  189-1  a  branch  was  extended  to  Eleventh 
and  Penn  streets,  bv  way  of  Franklin  street,  and 
to  Xineteenth  street  by  way  of  Eleventh.  Spruce 
and  llaak  streets,  for  the  purpi:)se  of  making  con- 
nection with  the  ]Mt.  Penn  Gravity  Railroad.  In 
1804,  a  steam  railroad  was  constructed  from  the 
terminus  at  Mohnsville  to  Adamstown.  In  1901 
the  Mohnsville  line  anfl  its  connections  were  leased 
to  the  United  Traction  Company,  and  since  then 
have  been  operated  by  this  company. 

In  189-1,  a  street  railway  line  was  extended  from 
Reading  west  to  Womelsdorf,  a  distance  of  fifteen 
miles,  and  since  then  has  been  operated  by  the  Unit- 
ed Traction  Company. 

In  1905,  a  line  was  extended  to  Temple,  five  miles 
to  the  north,  1jy  the  Reading  ani.l  Temple  Company. 
and  another  to  Boyertown,  eighteen  miles  to  the 
east  by  way  of  Jack'^onwald.  Friedensburg  and 
Shanesvillc.  by  the  Oley  \'alley  Railway  Com- 
pany, from  a  point  near  the  Slrmy  Creek  terminus 
of  the  East  Reading  line,  both  also  operated  by 
the  United  Traction  Comp.-my.  And  in  1904,  the 
Temple  line  was  extended  lo  Kutztown,  therein- 
opening  coimection  with  the  AUentown  and  Kutz- 
town  line  of  street  railway,  which  had  been  con- 
structed through  Maxatawnv  township  to  Kutz- 
town  in  1898. 

Shortly  before  the  line  wa^  laid  along  Xnrlh 
Ninth  street  in  188(1.  Abraham  F.  Reescr  and  Lewis 
Kremp  projected  a  line  of  herdic  coaches  to  run 
the  entire  length  of  X'inth  street  rmd  these  coaches 
were  run  for  a  while,  but  not  proving  successful 
the  enterprise  was  discontinued. 

MoUNTATx  R.\ir,Ro.\ns. — In  1889,  the  Mt.  Penn 
Gravitv  Railro;(d  Comiianv  w  a ;  organized,  and  in 
1890   it  constructed   a   railroad    from   the   east   end 


c>f  the  street  car  lines  to  the  top  of  Alt.  Peim  anrl 
thence  by  a  circuitous  route  lo  the  point  of  begui- 
ning,  altogether  eight  miles  long.  The  cars  are 
drawn  to  the  top  one  and  a  half  miles  by  a  steam 
engine,  and  also  by  electric  power,  but  they  des- 
cend by  gravity  six  and  two-thirds  miles.  In 
April,  l!S9,s,  an  electrical  equipment  was  supplied  to 
pro])el  the  cars  by  trolley.  A  stone  tower  fifty  ft.'ec 
high  is  at  the  top.  Total  elevation,  twelve  hun- 
dred feet  above  the  sea,  and  one  thousand  feet 
above  Reading.  The  viev>-  from  this  tower  em- 
braces an  area  of  territory  thirty  miles  square. 
Prominent  points  can  be  seen  in  the  six  adjoin- 
ing counties,  Montgomery,  Chester,  Lancaster. 
Lebanon,  Schuylkill  and  Lehigh.  A  large  pavil- 
ion for  dancing  is  connected  with  the  tower;  and 
to  the  north,  near  by,  there  is  another  for  playing 
ten-pins,  shuftle-boards,  and  billiards.  Investment, 
$loO,000. 

The  "Summit  House,"  a  three-story  stone  build- 
ing, was  erected  in  1890,  near  the  tower,  by  Henry 
and  William  Schwartz.  The  railroad  in  descend- 
ing passes  four  other  resorts:  "Kuechler's,"  "Stei- 
geru-ald's,"   "Spuhler's,"   and  "Mineral   Spring." 

The  X'eversink  Moimtain  Railroad  Company  was 
organized  in  1889,  and  in  1890  the  company  laid 
a  track  eight  miles  long  from  X'inth  and  Penn 
streets  around  and  across  the  mountain  to  Kiap- 
perthal.  It  has  an  investment  of  $3.")0,000.  Su- 
perior views  from  different  points  overlook  Read- 
ing and  the  surrounding  coiuitry  for  many  miles. 
A  power-house  was  erected  at  the  Big  Dam  at 
the  same  time  to  propel  the  comjjany's  cars  with 
electricity,  but  it  was  leased  to  the  Metropolitan 
Electric  Company,  which  now  provides  the  neces- 
sary power  for  tlie  cars.  A  fine  pavilion  for  danc- 
ing was  erected  bv  the  company  along  the  road, 
opposite  the  "Highland  House." 

Telt;graph. — Reading  was  reached  by  telegraph 
in  1847  along  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  railroad, 
therebv  opening  communication  with  Philadelphia 
to  the  south  and  Potts ville  to  the  north,  and  inter- 
vening points.  As  tlie  other  railroads  were  es- 
tablished, additional  telegraph  lines  were  extend- 
ed in  the  same  directions  from  Reading.  In  1879, 
this  concentrated  system  was  connected  with  the 
Western  Union  lines,  thereby  opening  direct  com- 
munication with  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 
The  office  at  Reading  has  come  to  do  an  enormous 
business,  the  commercial  messages  alone  (not  in- 
cluding the  railway  business  and  the  extensive 
newspaper  service)  averaging  one  thousand,  eight 
hundred  everv  day.     It  is  open  all  the  year. 

There  are  in  use  in  Reading  by  this  company 
sixty  wires  with  a  total  length  of  two  hundred 
miles  ;  also  the  call  bell  system  for  messenger  and 
cab  service  and  to  deliver  letters  and  packages ; 
and  a  storage  battery  and  motor  generator  have 
been  substituted  in  the  place  of  the  gravity  bat- 
terv.  This  companv  enjoys  the  distinction  of  be- 
ing the  oldest  in  continuous  service  in  the  United 
States. 


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READIXG 


199 


To  accommodate  the  increasing  business,  a  "du- 
plex" of  the  largest  kind  was  introduced  in  1897 
on  the  direct  wire  between  Readii];^'  and  Xew 
York,  by  which  two  messages  can  be  sent  over 
the  same  wire  at  the  same  time  in  o;)posite  direc- 
tions. Another  is  in  daily  use  between  Reading 
and  Philadelphia  for  the  exclusive  accommodation 
of  the  railroad  business. 

The  company  operates  at  this  office  one  hundred 
self-winding  synchronizing  clocks,  distributed  in 
dilTerent  parts  of  Reading,  and  regulated  hourly 
by  observatory  time  from  W'^ashington.  D.  C.  These 
clocks  were  first  introduced  here  in  IMtl. 

In  1880,  the  Lehigh  Telegraph  Company  was 
organized  and  formed  connection  with  Reading. 
The  line  passed  through  several  hands.  Now  it  is 
known  as  the  Postal  Telegraph  Cable  Company. 
It  has  at  Reading  twenty  miles  of  wire,  three  op- 
eratorSj  six  messengers,  transmits  and  receives  100, 
000  messages  amuially,  and  has  connection  with 
29,75G  places. 

Telei'KOXE. — The  first  telephone  company  in 
Pennsylvania  was  organized  at  Philadephia  in  1878, 
and  in  1S79  Henry  W.  Spang  introduced  the  in- 
strument at  Reading.  Obtaining  from  councils  the 
right  to  maintain  overhead  wires,  he  established 
an  exchange  in  the  Eagle  building,  Sixth  and  Penn 
streets,  in  October,  1879.  I  Jo  began  with  ten  in- 
struments and  after  carrying  on  the  business  until 
January,  1881,  he  sold  it  to  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Telephone  Comjiany.  By  that  time  he  had  intro- 
duced one  hundred  and  twenty- four  instruments 
at  Reading,  seventy-four  at  Pott>vi!Ie,  and  twenty- 
three  at  Lebanon. 

In  December.,  18S"2,  the  Pennsylvania  Telephone 
Company  became  the  owner.  By  1895,  the  wires 
overhead  had  become  so  numerous  that  the  com- 
pany prepared  to  put  them  unrlerground  where 
most  numerous  in  the  central  part  of  the  city,  and, 
anticipating  this  undertaking,  purchased  a  prop- 
erty at  Nos.  31-33  North  Eifth  street,  altered  it  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  business  and  equipped  it 
with  the  most  improved  electrical  appliances. 

During  1895,  189(5  and  1897  the  first  conduits 
were  laid  along  Fifth,  Court.  Penn  and  Cherry 
streets,  together  measuring  seventy  thousand  feet 
and  containing  one  thousand  miles  of  copper  wire 
(there  being  eight  cables,  each  CMUij'rising  two  Inm- 
dred  and  two  wires).  Reading  was  tlie  third 
city  in  Pennsylvania  where  wires  were  laid  imdcr- 
ground,  Pittsburg  being  the  first,  and  Philadelphia 
the  second.  The  company  took  possession  of  its  new 
quarters  in  February,  189(1. 

In  1879,  the  service  was  cjuducted  on  a  single 
iron  wire,  and  the  longest  distance  over  which  a 
conversation  could  be  carried  on  successfullv  was 
from  thirty  to  fifty  miles,  but  the  introduction  of 
electricitv  for  propelling  street  cars  and  for  public 
lighting  rendered  the  telephone  service  on  the  sin- 
gle wire  system  practically  useless,  and  the  cnmpanv 
was  obliged,  at  great  expen^^e.  tn  substitute  the  twn- 
^vire    svstem,    whicli    necessitated    a    reconstruction 


of  the  whole  plant  and  the  use  of  hard-drawn  cop- 
per wire  and  of  imported  superior  cedar  poles. 

The  Reading  Exchange  in  February,  1908,  com- 
prised 3.33-J  subscribers  at  Readii:g,  and  44-1  in  the 
surrounding  districts  of  Berks  county.  It  is  open 
da_\-  and  night  throughout  the  \ear;  employs  45 
operators  an.d  answers  from  :;^0,0<'()  to  25,UU0'  calls 
daily;  total  employes  in  the  county,  115.  The  en- 
tire territory  of  the  company  embraces  38  counties 
(3n  in  Pennsylvania  and  'i  in  Xew  Jersey),  and 
about  1,01)0  persons  are  constantly  employed.  The 
company  has  altogether  nearly  3(J,0i(0  subscribers, 
with  communicatiori  in  all  tlie  States  reached  bv  the 
long  distance  telephone,  from  the  lakes  to  the  gulf 
of  Mexico,  and  from  Maine  to  Colorado. 

The  Consolidated  Telephone  Companv  of  Penn- 
sylvania established  an  exchange  at  Reading  in 
1902,  and  since  then  has  introduced  all  the  latest 
improvements. 

[See  Chapter  II,  Ixdustkv  of  Cocntv,  under 
head  of  Telegraph  and  Telephone  lines.] 

Gas  Light. — Tiie  inhabitants  of  Reading  used 
tallow  candles  and  oil  for  producing  light  during 
the  firs't  and  second  periods  of  its  history.  In  1818 
the  Reading  Gas  Company  was  formed  by  a  num- 
ber of  enterprising  citizens  for  introducing  gas, 
and  it  supplied  many  dwellings,  stores,  shops,  the 
Court-House  and  streets  and  the  City  Flail  until 
1885,  when  the  plant  was  leased  to  the  Consumers 
Gas  Company.  Tiie  works  are  situated  at  the  foot 
of  I'ifth  street.  In  18C1  a  telescope  gasometer  was 
erected  at  the  works  wath  a  capacity  of  75,000 
feet;  in  1873,  another  on  Elm  street,  near  Fourth, 
with  a  cai)acity  of  3G0.00(i  feet;  and  in  1901  a 
third,  at  the  foot  of  Fifth  street,  with  a  capacity 
of  500,000  feet.  The  total  capacity  of  the  company 
is  now  over  two  million  feet.  The  total  length 
of  main  pipe  in  use  covers  seventy-eight  miles, 
and  all  the  consumers  number  fifteen  tluiusand. 
David  Fox  was  the  superintendent  from  1857  to 
1887,  and  John  H.  Kei:>i)elman  from  1887  to  the 
present  time. 

Er.ECTRic  Light  and  Power. — In  1883.  the  Read- 
ing Electric  Light  and  Power  Company  was  formed 
to  supply  electric  light  and  power  to  the  local  gov- 
ernment and  to  private  consumers,  and  then  it  es- 
tablished a  plant  at  Eighth  and  Cherry  streets, 
where  it  remained  for  some  vears.  The  company 
afterward  erected  a  superior  power-houvc  on  South 
Seventh  street,  near  Chestnut,  and  in  1>91  leased 
the  plant  to  the  Metropolitan  Electric  Companv, 
which  had  been  organized  shortly  before.  The  lat- 
ter company  largely  increased  the  plant  and  equip- 
ment. It  has  in  use  twent\-  engines  whose  com- 
biner 1  horse-power  is  lO.Ono.  It  supplies  the  city 
with  800  arc  lights  and  3oO  incandescenls :  and 
l)rivate  consumers  with  95o  arc,  and  20,000  incan- 
descents. 

A  storage  system  was  e-~talili=;ho(l  fm  Chestnut 
-trcct.  ea^t  of  .Seventh,  in  JOn.!,  with  capacity  of 
710  amperes. 


I    -, 


n  J  ■- 


''  '    }  ■ 

.7'   i!    ,1 

t-. 

'■I-  i>    ,■ 

•'-.IM. 


200 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLWWIA 


A  new  power  plant  is  being-  erected  at  tlie  out- 
let of  the  Wyoniissirii,^  cnek  opposite  Readiii!:;^ 
which  will  be  coni{.'Iete(l  by  tiie  end  of  lyny,  and 
the  total  cost  of  the  improvement  to  the  traction 
and  lij^diting  systems  is  estimated  at  $"-i,OUU,UUU. 

Steam  11j-;at.— hi  Ins:,  I-aac  .McHose,  William 
Mcllvain,  Levi  Quier,  ]'>\\\\  R.  .Miller,  James  Xolan 
and  others,  org-anizcd  the  Reading  Steam  Heat  and 
Power  Company  for  tiie  purpose  of  snpplying  public 
and  private  buildings  in  Reading  with  steam  heat. 
and  a  large  plant  was  e-tablished  on  Elm  street, 
near  Reed,  comprising  ten  boilers  with  a  capacity 
of  1,S00  horse-power.  .Mains  were  put  down  along 
Fifth,  Sixth,  I<llm,  Walnut,  Washington,  and  Penn 
streets,  with  total  length  e.xceeding  ten  thousand 
feet,  and  three  hundred  patrons  uere  secured.  The 
plant  has  been  improved  and  the  patrons  have  been 
increased  under  the  management  of  Jerome  L. 
Boyer  since  I'Jo.j.  John  R.  ]\Ii!ler  has  been  the 
president  of  the  company  since  its  incorporation, 
and   Lewis   Crater  the   secretary   and   treasurer. 

Hai.i..s. — Before  LSlG,  there  were  no  public  halls 
at  Reading  for  public  meetings  or  amusements.  A 
large  room  on  the  second  floor  of  tlie  .State-House 
at  Fifth  and  Penn  streets  was  used  for  these  pur- 
poses from  171)3  to  ]S40  and  then  the  large  audi- 
torium in  the  Court-House  began  to  be  used. 

In  lS-l(j  the  C)dd  Fellows  (a  beneficial  s(jciety  of 
Reading)  erected  a  four-sloiy  brick  building  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  Fifth  and  Franklin  streets,  to 
provide  a  mee'iiip;  place  for  th.eir  lodges,  on  the 
third  and  fourth  floors,  and  also  a  large  hall  for 
amusement  jjiup'^se^,  on  the  second  floor.  It  was 
a  popular  jjlace  for  receptions,  assemblies,  balls,  and 
public  meetings  for  fifty  years.  In  IStiS  it  became 
the  property  of  the  Reading  Library  Company. 

During  the  succeeding  twenty-five  years,  several 
other  halls  were  erected,  notablv  the  "Keystone,"  at 
Sixth  and  Court,  the  "Anlenljach,"  on  Penn  above 
.Sixth,  and  "P.rcneiser's."  at    fiighth  and   Penn. 

Joseph  Mishler  erected  the  first  modern  hall  at 
Reading  in  1S72.  It  was  at  .\'o.  .j.S-S  Penn  Square 
and  many  high  class  entertainments  were  given 
there  until  ISSi).  It  was  called  the  "Academy  of 
Music,"  and  had  a  seating  capacity  of  1,800. 

There  are  numerous  halls  at  Reading  for  social 
meetings  of  all  kinds,  but  onlv  those  for  amuse- 
ment and  balls  can  be  mentirpiied. 

For  aiinisc))icnt :  Grand  Opera-FIouse,  187.1; 
Academy  of  Music,  ISSG  (  Xorth  Sixth  street)  ;  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  Hall,  ISO.-.;  Masonic  Hall,  1897;  Bijou 
Theatre,  1S04. 

For  balls:  Maennerchor  Hall.  1871;  Deppen's 
Hall.  1881  ;  Rajah  Temple,  1893  ;  Auditorium,  189.".. 

Location  of  City. — The  lines  enclosing  the  plan 
of  Reading  form  an  irregular  figure,  about  tliree 
miles  long  and  two  and  one-half  miles  wide;  and 
the  tract  contains  about  fi^ur  thousand  acres.  The 
eastern  boundary  line  is  alonif  the  base  of  Mount 
Penn.  and  the  western  alon<r  the  west  banic  of  the 
Schuylkill,   the   l.'ittcr   bemg  nearh'   five  miles  long. 


The  greater  part  of  the  area  has  a  gentle  declination 
westward  from  Mount  Penn  to  the  river  and  atlords 
superior  drainage.  The  territi>ry  to  the  northward 
and  southward  comprises  the  Schuylkill  \'alley  and 
that  to  the  westward  the   Lebanon   X'alley. 

ELEV.^TIONS    AliOVL    SKA    LF.VEL 

Mount  Penn i,no  feet 

Mount  -Wvcrsink 800  fctt 

Hgelninn    Reservoir 672   feet 

.Antietani  Lake 510  feet 

tiainp'len  Reservoir 415  f..^.^ 

Charles   Evans   Cemetery 373   {^■^.^ 

Penn  Street   Reservoir   345  fe^t 

Fifth  and  Penn  Streets 239  feet 

Front  and  Penn  Streets 180  feet 

RELIGIOX  AXD  EDUCATIOX 

CHURCHES 

Three  religious  congregations  were  organized  at 
Reading  in  1751,  Friends,  Lutherans  and  Reformed, 
and  they  then  caused  churches  to  be  erected.  The 
last  two  still  maintain  their  churches  in  the  same 
locality  with  a  large  membership.  The  Roman 
Catholics  began  in  1755,  and  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copalians in  170:5.  These  and  other  congregations 
together  contributed  an  influence  in  behalf  of  the 
moral  and  social  welfare  of  the  comnninitv  that  can- 
not be  fully  measured.  The  major  part  of  the  peo- 
])!e  of  Reading,  coimected  with  the  denominations, 
have  always  been  Lutherans  and  Reformed,  these 
two  having  the  largest  proportion  of  congrega- 
tions, and  the  Reformed  denomination  having  the 
greatest  mmibcr  of  members. 

There  are  twenty-three  diflerent  religious  denom- 
inations at  Reading,  which  have  altogether  seventy- 
six  churches.  In  the  statement  which  follows,  they 
are  arranged  in  the  order  of  priority,  and  the  ye.a'r 
mentioned  after  each  congregation  signifies  the  time 
when  it  was  organized,  or  when  the  church  was 
improved.  Sunday-schools  are  conducted  with  the 
several  congregations. 

STATEME.XT  OF  CHURCHES  .AT  READING 
Lntheran 

Name  Foiinili-d                 Pa";  tor                              Members 

Trinity  17.-,1-Ti:n  E.lwarri    T.     Horn  1,(12.5 

Cliaptl  lR7.3-lSin 

St.   Matthew's  1.S44-1M;)0  G     W.    Nicelv  425 

St.  James  l.S.-,((-l.s:i2  M.    L.    Zweizig  080 

St.    Tolin'.s  l.SGlMS'.ii;  T.    T.    Kucndig  1,."20 

Chari-l  TST-l  Pliflip    Kirci.iier    (Timior    Pastor) 

St.    Luke's  lS(!S-l,S.Si;  K.    K.    Ilvmtzingcr  l.ilDil 

Grace  ].S77-Is,ss  W.    H.    .Mvers  1.21X1 

Peace  ISS.-i  I.    r     Snv.'.er  .'lO 

llop"  ]S.sr..lliiit  11.    W.    \Varmke<;scl  07(1 

St.    .Mark's  ISOO-T.MiO  K.     S.     Hrownmiller  -(00 

St.    Paul's  IWO  M.    n      Stettlcr  20', 

St.    Peter's  lOdS  H.    C.    Shin. He  50 

Refoniut! 

Name  Foimded  P.istnr  Members 

First  i7r,.T-ni'.i-is:;-j       I     y    M„v,r  i.:;.';7 

Second  ].viS.1.s.-.:Ms;is  S.     K.     liridrnhauBli  ii'.«i 

St.    Tnhn's  1.S05-1S7M.S7I1  T.     II.     I^inhach  r..Si> 

St.   Paul's  l.S7-_'l'.iii.-,  p..    Pausman  tii.ii 

/.ion's  issi-iss:!  r.    H.    Gramm  OlX) 

St.   Stephen's  ]8,s;',.lsiiil  T.    W.    Dickert  l.ir.2 

Gatvary  IS.Sil  A.   V.   Ca.ssolman  .'■•"■''• 

North    Reading  IWiil  Irvin    M.     P.eaver  112 

St.   Th.was'  l.s:il  I  re    M.    F.rdni.m  -JiU 

St.     Andrew's  ISDl-pHM  11.    IT.    R;in,k  -S.S!) 

St.      NJark's  18;M  1!H.|  G.      F.      SehaelTcr  l.'2;tO 

Faith  1R91  W.    K.    Ilarr  41" 

D.on 


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*-. 


m. 


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g.Witfi»tt:^a3 


NORTH     SIDE    OF     PENN     SQUAF?E.   LOOKING    WEST    FROM    FIFTH    STREET 


^/i 


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NORTH    SIDE    OF    PtNN     SQUARE.   LOOKING    EAST    FROM    FIFTH     STREET 


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READL\G 


201 


Friends 

17Jl-17C5-lt-6 


Name  Foimdi.il 

Chri.st  ITGO-IM.'.",  IsT.i 

Parish    Building'  l.'i.'vt 

St.    liarnabas  IS<iO-ls.s;) 

St.   Luke's   Chapel  ]V)4 

St.   Mar>'s    Chapel  I'Mo 


Protestant  Et^iscopjl 

Pastur 

William     J'.  Orr.L-k 

Fra:iKUii     t.  Llark 
Fvankiin     J.     Claik 

William    !!.  Ilnrk 

lla-vev    P.  Waller 


Name 
St.    Peter's 

St.  Paul's 

.St.    Joseph's 
St.   iVIary's 
Italian 
Slavonic 


Roman   Catlwlic 


Foun<led 

1755-17'.ll  / 

184o-l'.)it4  1 

IStlO 

1.><S7 

ISSS 

1'.I04 
1907 


I'astor 

Thomas  S.   McCarty 

(leorgc    r.ornemaiin 
James    Fl.iiiapan 
.\.     Malu^ccki 
A.    Varolii 


Presbytcriiin 

Name  Founded                 Pastor 

First  1S12-1S-J.;-1S-I7  K.    M.    Klnckhurn 

Washington  St.    ( Colore- 1 1    ISJ::  William    K.    Tcmpletor 

Olivet  ISSK-I.'^cj  K,    H.    Kirk 


Name 
,  Fourtli     Street 

(Pcr.pk-'s) 

St.   Peter's 
Covenant 
Memorial 
Windsor    Street 
Grace 


Methodist  Episcopal 

Foundcil  Pastor 


Name 
First 
Berean 
Zion 
Memorial 
Shiloh    (Colored) 


Jl 

(  ISCS-liinu 

ig48.i.s.s:; 
].'^i'.:i 

IS'.M) 

iwu 

lOfHI 

Baptist 

Founded 

18291S3e-lS4.-.  is;):! 

1S09-1.S7!P 

imr. 


II.    F.    W; 


W.    .\.    I'crguson 
W.    II.    Smith 
.1.    Richards    I'.oyle 
II.     T.     Isenbcrgcr 
Vacant 


1".»0S 


Pastor 

Tames    .\.    Maxwell 

H.   j.    Roberts 

W.    II.    Uabbs 

Henry    P.    Hoskins 

•Moses    lira.Nton 


UniversclisI 

Name  Found. -d  Pastor 

Church  of  Our  F'ather   l.s:n-lss'.>        lUndnck    Vosse 


Name 
Salem 
Immanucl 
Ebcnezer 
St.    Matthew's 
Christ 


Evan; 

ielical 

Foundi-d 

Pastor 

l,H.)r.-I,s77 

.A.    X.    Metzger 

3.':i;L>-l.S.^t 

W.    F.    Klin. 

lS7()lss.-, 

I.    I.    Yotter 

is^i:! 

11.    H.    Harncr 

1901 

W.    L.    liollman 

United  Evaniielical 


Name  Foiiii.l' d 

Itethcl   African    M.    F.    1S:;7-1m;( 
Friendship    Reformed  1S7;! 

Disciples    of    Christ  ]S;i7 

Mcnnonite    Brethren 
Gospel   Tabrrnncli' 
People's    Mission 
Holiness    Christians 
Christian  Missionarv 

Alliance  '  19(>4 

Church    of    God 
Seventh    Day    .\dveiitist 


is:).-,         David    W.    Weaver 
Miscellaneous 

I'ast.ir 
.f.    K.    Reed 
.1.    .\ddison    Kutz 
Horace    (i.    Weaver 
C.    H.    lirunncr 
T.    H.    Von    Xeida 
11.    .M.     I.engel 
.\dam    Sommers 


IS.M 
I'.MIl 


409 
95 


l.L'lNI 

n.iiiii) 
nnu 


Members 
4fiil 


20S 


154 
4fi;! 


55.3 
2J0 


235 
46 


Name 
First 
Grace 
Trinity 
St.    Paul's 
Bethany 

em 
abrith 

Ge, 

Founded                 Pastor 

IS-'it         A.     W      r.rownmillcr 
1S:U         F.    S.    liorkev 
1898        .\.    n.    Fk.ve'r 
19IHI         ticoree   W.    Hansen 
1908        J.    S.    Harper 

United  Brethren 
Founded                 Pastor 
1R47-1MIS         C..    D.    liatdorf 
lS.-,(;-lS79         C.    J.    P.rane 

IS.sC,         W.     B.     Fridingcr 

1.SSJ4         il.    Jones 

Hchreiv 

Founded                 Pastor 
18G4-1SS.-,         Tulius     Frank 

1S.S.<<         F.    .Mayer    Kaplan 

man    Baptist  Brethren 

Founded                 Pastor 

Members 

.•^'.18 
1.S5 
5n(i 
125 

Name 

Zion's 
Otterhein 
Salem 
Memovial 

2,o:itj 

Members 
•ilO 
104 
407 
190 

Name 
Oheb    Shol 
Shomro    11 

Name 

1,107 

Jlembers 
240 

.Members 

76 
85 
115 


H.    Miller    Herr 
l-aa-     He.ki-.- 
I.    H.    Krumni 


Church  Attendance  at  Readi)i<^,  /005. — At  a  meet- 
ing of  the  executive  comniittcc  of  the  Thirteenth 
District  of  the  llerlcs  County  Sunday  School  Asso- 
ciation, in  October,  the  committee  appointed  several 
months  before  to  make  a  house-tohouse  canvass 
of  the  city  for  the  purpose  of  ^-athcring  statistics 
of  persons  attending  or  not  attending  church  or 
Sunday-schools  and  the  tlcnominations  to  wliich 
they  hold,  if  any,  presented  its  report. 

The  canvass  was  made  untkr  the  supervision  of 
sixteen  superintendents,  one  for  cacii  ward,  and 
each  superintendent  had  charge  of  a  corps  of  vol- 
unteer visitors,  the  whole  numl)er  being  2'3l.  Each 
ward  superintendent  laid  out  the  districts  of  visita- 
tion so  as  to  equalize  the  work  of  the  canvassers. 
As  each  visitor  completed  the  task  assigned,  re- 
turns were  made  to  the  superintendents,  who,  in 
turn,  tabulated  the  cards  for  the  different  denom- 
inations, with  the  followiner  result : 


DENOMINATION'S 


-Vdvciit    .37 

Haptist    sf)0 

C:itIiolic,  Roni.iii   0, .-).■,] 

Chri.stian     CDisciplc)     ....  s.j 

Cliri.sliaii   Scitncc    21 

Chiircli  of  God U)l 

Congrc.sjational     r 

Duiikard    so 

Episcopal    (Protestant)    .,  I.08S 

Evaii!^(.lical    .Association...  l.iso 

Friends    (Quaker) 19 

Friendship    Mission fi4 

Gospel    Tabernacle 44 

Hope    Rescue    Mission....  40 

Holiness   Christian 70 

Hebrew   5s  1 

Lutlieran    14.G.');i 

Mcnnonite   105 

Methodist    Episcopal .'i.l^O 

Methodist,   Primitive   U) 

Moravian   .'{ 

Xevcrsink  ^Mission 81 

Xo   preference 849 

-Vot   at   home 7,192 

Frcsbyteri.in    1,47:) 

Reformed    Church i:!,912 

Refused  information 100 

Salvation    .-\rmy 5:i 

Spiritualist    2S 

Uniteil    Brethren 1.577 

United  I-~vanKelieal ."^.Oj^ 

Universalist     300 

Hiimc   Departnuiit 

Cradle  Roll 

57.4:15 


0 

S  c 

y. 

?t 
'rt 

u 

^  u  7^ 

y. 

c  = 

C    il. 

"i  S' 

y 

0 

28 

17 

252 

495 

419 

2.212 

4,130 

1,853 

35 

71 

60 

.i 

17 

3 

4,3 

67 

45 

23 

34 

21 

290 

685 

405 

390 

803 

740 

.-> 

12 

23 

46 

42 

10 

18 

24 

15 

8 

12 

35 

25 

28 

243 

283 

77 

4,917 

8,474 

5,677 

50 

60 

52 

944 

1,900 

1,470 

0 

1 

2 

3 

1 

29 

24 

23 

259 

281 

268 

2.384 

4,040 

3,414 

404 

853 

553 

4,358 

7,389 

5.038 

55 

83 

62 

10 

28 

9 

G 

7 

11 

577 

946 

760 

1.107 

1,820 

1,678 

73 

109 

123 
1.509 
1,416 

18,850        33,011        20,410 


'l-Oll -..>,« 


^.a  ,,.,o-:) 


'.      .V/     ',,, 


203 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY.    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


SCHOOLS 

Ea?i\  Educaiioti. — F.ducation  was  encoura.L,a-tl  at 
Reading  from  tlic  beginning  of  it>  lii>tory.  It  was 
carried  on  mostly  in  connection  with  the  clnirrhes. 
Two  of  the  earliest  teachers  cimnectetl  with  the 
Lutherans,   who  taught   for  many   years,   were  Jo- 


^._1^ 


y" 


X 


ji:ij 


-IV^ 


^^1^ 


iJ-r- 


-Z_-:l_  .__-=-^»  J^ 


,     FIRST    SCHOOL    HOLSC    AT    RE\DING 

seph  Fleischer  and  Paul  Fuegner.  Joint  Philip 
Foesig  was  the  teacher  with  the  Reformed  for  over 
fifty  years,  having  begun  in  TT-'il.  The  Trinity 
Lutheran  school  at  Sixth  and  Washington  streets 
was  used  for  educational  purposes  for  nearly  one 
hundred  years,  1705  to  1855. 

The  Reading  .\cadeniy  was  a  prominent  school 
for  sixty  years.  It  was  incorporated  in  178S  and 
given  aid  by  the  State.  The  building  stood  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  .Seventh  and  Chestnut  streets. 
The  trustees  sold  it  in  1S.3S,  an.d  then  erected  an- 
other at  Fourth  and  Court  streets  (site  of  Girls' 
High  School),  which  was  occupied  as  a  private 
school  until  IS.":!,  and  since  then  as  a  public  high 
school. 


^      E 


-'2:.  i-  ■■ 


^■mi 


!  i^-rl        •' 


*.;1 


FiKST   rcr.Lic  srHooi. 

Co»iiiioii  Scliool  Systciii.--Thc  common  school 
system  of  1S;M  was  adopted  at  Reading  in  18:')i;. 
The  first  directors  had  been,  however,  elected  m 
1835.  Then  there  were  seventeen  schools,  seven- 
teen teachers.  <iiid  1,1:1'.)  scholar-.  The  hist  public 
sclicx)!  buildings  were  erected  m  18.'5s,  four  in  num- 
ber, and  the  illustration  given  rcprestnts  the  build- 
in"-  at   .'-^ixth  and  Walnut   streets. 


The  High  School  was  organized  in  18o?.  and 
the  co-education  of  boys  and  girls  was  carried  on 
from  1>')',  to  1881.  The  Ways'  High  Scho'>l  wa 
erected  in  lisN.'^  at  a  cost  of  ."^GSiOOO;  the  Girls'  (m 
place  of  the  Reading  Academy)  in  1895,  at  a  c-i 
of  .sun. 01)1);  and  the  new  Boys'  High  School  in 
1;hi5,  at  a  cost  of  $375,0n(). 

The  revised  charter  of  iMil  for  the  city,  coiiMili- 
dated  the  five  wards  into  one  district,  under  the 
namc  of  the  Reading  School  District.  The  cilv 
charter  of  1S7'4  made  provision  for  school  affair,-., 
but  it  was  not  accepted.  The  district  is  therefore 
a  separate  organization.  Under  the  provisions  of 
the  Act  of  18(jl,  the  district  is  authorized  to  assess 
and  collect  taxes  for  school  purposes.  The  manage- 
ment of  the  school  affairs  by  the  board  since  then 
has  been  very  successful. 

A   local    normal   school    was   organized   in   1852. 
The  first  city  superintendent  was  elected   in   18GT. 
COMPAR.A.TIVE  T.-VRLE,  l8.-.4-l'J08 


i  . 

Scholars 

Tax   Rate 

Tax  Levied 

.State  Appr. 

]8J4 

38 

1,976 

$  10,764 

$   746 

180.5 

83 

6,449 

.008 

26.238 

1,791 

1875 

IZS 

6,328 

.015 

74,733 

6,750 

1885 

]r,2 

7,1 13 

.001 

98,000 

10,266 

1895 

2Xi 

10,235 

.004 

145.707 

58,04  7 

1908 

:i5:{ 

13,369 

.004 

230,939 

64.156 

The  city  superintendent  rer^orterl  the  foll'^i 
attendance  in  the  schixjls  during  the  nKintli  of 
ruarv,  V.)W  : 

M.ile 

High   School   fnr  Boy?    4S4 

Hig'h  SchocJ  for  Girls   

Eiglitji    grade    •  •  ■  ■     -*5'~ 

Sevcntli  grade  .• 333 

Sixth  grade   •">33 

Fifth   grade    801 

Fourtll  grade   S:!4 

Third  grade   T99 

Second  grade 856 

First  grade  1,072 

Ungraded   schools    34 

Normal  senior  class   0 

Normal  junior  class   0 


l'"i.tnak 


483 
65S 
847 
783 
RU) 
978 
3 
28 


Wing 
I'eb- 

Total 

484 

508 

56V 

709 

1,016 

1.459 

1.681 

1.582 

1,666 

2.050 

37 


Total         

Evening  1  ligh  .... 
Evening  Grammar  . 
Evening  Elementary 

Total      


.6,008 
.  218 
.  Til 
.     1 39 

.     468 


.,806  11,814 

W,  314 

54  165 

36  175 


186 


654 


Grand    Total    6,476  5,0t)2       12,468 

The  annual  expendiliircN  were  reported  at  ,$10n,- 
5()]  ;  of  which  .Sirti';,"?.'!;  were  for  teachers'  s.alaries, 
and  SI  1,1'.' I    for  books  and  .-supplies. 

histihitfs. — The  first  County  Institute  comprising 
the  teachers  of  the  county  was  held  at  Rearling  in 
ISCT.   and  annuallv   thereafter. 

'i"he  fir-t  Citv  Institute,  comprising  rmlv  the 
te.icheis  of  Reading,  was  held  in  18.'s,'>  and  .aiiiiLially 
thereafler. 

The    l'ennsvlvaiii;i   State    lulucatioiial  .Association- 


1. 


<^^' 

av. 


■c^ 


.-y;. 


■<•'.'  / 


'r^'A 


4 


■■■lif'^;: 


GIRLS'     HIGH     SCHOOL,     READING 


"^ 


ill  ^^ 


BOYS'     HIGH     SCHOOL,     RFADING 


(. ., 


,••!•;,»»    n  II,-: 


■sV,      • 


f  :' 


ii*«-  i  •    .   '      .i!;0 


'1 


r-r-;  T  ■ 


f  i 


-r 


k.A&litii^' 


1^^  ^.  ^ 


\ 


\ 


^ie:;;»ss!^-V:. 


fefe.4-1;:::^ 


PUBLIC    SCHOOL     BUILDING,    ELEVENTH    AND    PIKE    STREETS,    READING 


V-,.„ 


"tr^,. 


PUBLIC     SCHOOL     BUILDING,     FIFTH    AND    SPRING    STREETS.    HEADING 


READING 


203 


Ui'ld  three  meetings  or  conventions  at  Reading-,  in 
1Mj;5;  in  ISTS;  and  in  li)U5.  And  to  show  the  won- 
derful increase  in  attendance  of  the  delegates,  in 
l.-^dS  there  were  only  tSO  ;  in  1878,  248;  and  in  1905, 
l.oOG. 

prof.  Sanniel  A.  Baer,  of  Reading,  was  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Association  in  188  I ;  and  Prof.  K.  Mac- 
kev,  of  Reading,  in  1891). 

City  School  Buildings. — In  I'JOS.  the  school  de- 
partment had  forty-six  buildings  wdiich  were  occu- 
pied by  schools,  and  one  (  formcrlv  the  F.oys'  High 
School)  for  administration  purposes.  Their  total 
value,  including  furniture,  was  about  one  and  one- 
half  millions  of  dollars.  Their  si'-uation,  value,  and 
capacity  appear  m  the  following  table : 


BUILDINGS 

bc.- 

"0 

■»! 

rt 

-  u 

'5  c, 

—  "n  3 

S  E 

^ 

c£ 

J;0 

>XUi 

>s. 

Jesse    Orr 

1 

'l'890 

360 

$        20,000' 

s  1,200 

Thomas    Severn 

2 

1880 

360 

15,000 

1,200 

Ninth  &  Spruce 

189G 

3f>0 

20,000 

1.200 

Bingaman  &  Orange. 

2 

1S54 

270 

15,000 

900 

J.   li.    llagennian.  . . . 

3 

1875 

3G0 

16,000 

1,000 

Park    

3 

1898 

270 

24,000 

900 

George   Lerch    

4 

isr.8 

450 

23,000 

1.200 

Chestnut    Street    .... 

5 

1S90 

360 

20,000 

1,000 

Frankhn    Street    .... 

.5 

1808 

3G0 

18.000 

1,000 

Washington  Street  . . 

6 

1886 

540 

27,000 

1,800 

Ricktow  n     

6 

1889 

oGO 

18,000 
23,000 

800 

Buttonwood   &   i^ear. 

6 

1807 

360 

1,200 

Migli  Scliool  for  Girls 

189G 

600 

125,000 

6,000 

Lewis  I'riucr   

7 

1873 

3G0 

19,000 

l,:!Oo 

Elm  &  Madison  A\e. 

7 

1S99 

180 

9,800 

400 

Administration    

8 

18S3 

61.500 

600 

High  ScIiool  for  Ho}s. 

8 

1900 

1,000 

329,01  to 

45,0tW 

Foplar   Street    

8 

1891 

3G0 

16,000 

1,200 

Henry  S.  I'.ckcrt 

S 

1873 

360 

IG-.OOO 

1.20!) 

Elm  and   Mo.-.s 

9 

1901 

500 

35,000 

1,300 

12th  &  Buttonwood.. 

9 

1895 

360 

21.000 

1 ,200 

John  S.  Richards.  .  . . 

10 

1872 

360 

13.000 

1,200 

Maple  &  Cotton 

10 

1904 

180 

16,800 

650 

Mulberry  Street    

11 

1892 

360 

23,000 

1.200 

Tenth  &•  Green 

11 

1904 

540 

40,000 

2,000 

Mount  Penn  

11 

1899 

ISO 

13,600 

600 

Edwin  Zicglei    

12 

1882 

360 

18.000 

1,200 

12th   &   Greenwich... 

12 

1895 

360 

26,000 

1,200 

Ninth    &   Windsor... 

12 

IStOO 

360 

23,000 

1.200 

Spring  &  Moss 

13 

1899 

360 

23,000 

1,000 

Eleventh    &    Pike.... 

13 

1898 

360 

19,100 

1.200 

Marion   

13 

1870 

360 

16,000 

800 

Site   

13 

20,000 

Twelfth   6t   Windsor. 

13 

1889 

360 

16,000 

1,0'jO 

Tenth    &    Union 

13 

1890 

360 

21,200 

1,200 

C.   B.  McKni;4ht 

14 

1880 

180 

6.000 

600 

Spring  &  Chnrcli. . .  . 

14 

1894 

180 

12.000 

600 

Site    

14 

1,200 

Fifth  &•  Spring 

14 

1900 

300 

25.000 

1.200 

2d  &  Olev,  No.  1 

14 

1894 

ISO 

9.000 

600 

2d  &•  Olev,  No.  2... 

14 

1S9S 

360 

18.000 

1. 000 

J.    H.   Jacobs 

15 

1880 

180 

7,000 

400 

Schuvlkill.Nve..  No.  1. 

1.5 

1894 

180 

10,000 

GOO 

Schuylkill  Ave..  .\o.  2. 

1.-. 

1898 

360 

21,300 

1,200 

Douglass  &-  Weiser.. 

1.5 

1903 

360 

23,000 

1,200 

Site    

15 

4,600 

Samuel   Frees    

IG 

is'75 

360 

15,000 

1.000 

ITth  &  Cotton 

If. 

1881 

ISO 

10,000 

GOO 

Si.xtecnth  &-   Ha.ik... 

16 

1898 

360 

20,700 

1,200 

Perkiomen    Ave 

16 

1893 

3C>0 

3S.000 
$1,381,400 
$1 

1.200 

Total    

1 

T6,^236^ 

$n7.-150 
,381,400 

1 

Total   Valuations    . 

$ 

,478.850 

Private  Schools. — Private  schools  have  been  car- 
ried on  at  Reading  since  the  beginning  of  the  town. 
They  were  well  patronized  until  18-10.  when  the 
etTfCt  of  the  common  system  began  to  be  felt.  But 
the  growth  of  the  public  system  did  not  cause  the 
private  schools  to  be  abandoned,  for  patronage  of 
them  has  continued  to  be  more  or  less  active.  Of 
the  non--ecular  class,  there  are  the  Renade  school 
for  children,  started  in  1870;  and  .Mrs.  Adele 
Ruenzler's.  in  187:  ;  Stewart  Academy,  founded  by 
J.  A.  Stewart  in  1881,  and  conducted  successfully 
by  his  daughter  Anna  since  his  decease,  in  1890; 
Inter-State  Commercial  College,  founded  by  Rev. 
Henry  Y.  Stoner  in  188.j:  Schools  of  Stenography 
by  Elmer  W.  Deck  in  1890.  by  J.  T.  Kerst  in  1898 
and  Rev.  J.  \'.  George  in  1900;  and  L.  C.  -McCann. 
The  last  named  has  been  at  Reading  since  March. 
1908;  pupils,  thirty-six;  came  from  Mahaiuiy  Cilv. 
where  he  had  conducted  a  school  lor  thirteen  vears. 
His  place  was  former  School  of  Commerce  (con- 
ducted by  Strickler  &  Shoop)  and  George  F.  Klcin- 
ginna's  Business  College,  carried  oji  altogether  tip- 
ward  of  ten  years. 

The  sectarian  schools  are  Academy  of  Immacu- 
late Heart,  founded  in  18-59;  St.  Peter's  Roman 
Catholic,  in  1859;  St.  John's  German  Lutheran,  in 
18G5;  St.  Paul's  Roman  Catholic,  in  1SG9;  St. 
Mary's  Polish  Roman  Cntholir,  in  1895 — all  of 
which  are  largely  attended  and  succes.sfully  con- 
ducted. 

Schuylkill  Seminary. — The  institution  was  foimd- 
ed  by  the  East  Pennsylvania  Conference,  in  tlie  city 
of  Reading,  A.ugust  19,  1881.  and  removed  to  I'rcd- 
ericksburg.  Pa.,  in  September,  188G.  The  l<>cation 
of  the  institution  there  was  due  to  the  liberality 
of  Col.  John  H.  Lick,  a  native  of  the  place,  by 
whose  munilicence,  tr.grther  with  tiie  contribu- 
tions of  the  Conference  and  of  the  cunmiunity. 
a  large  and  beautiful  structure  was  erected,  fur- 
nished with  apparatus,  supplies  and  furniture,  and 
made  attractive  by  the  beautifying  of  the  grounds. 
The  in^titution  remained  at  I'redericksburg  un- 
til the  close  of  the  academic  vear.  June  19,  1902. 

A  few  weeks  piior  to  this,  the  propertv  known 
as  the  Selwyn  Hall  School,  comijrising  over  seven 
acres  of  land  at  Thiitecnth  and  Exeter  streets, 
Reading,  Pa.,  was  taken  tnider  con^idcratinn  by 
the  trustees  of  Schuylkill  ."Seminary  as  a  profit- 
able investment  and  a  providential  opportunitv  for 
removing  the  school  to  Reading.  The  trustees  and 
the  entire  Conference  had  thought  for  some  time 
that  the  school  would  have  a  larger  -jihere  and 
greater  patronage  in  the  vicinity  of  a  city,  made 
easily  accessible  by  good  railroad  facilities.  They 
accordingly  'secured  an  option  on  the  property, 
and  at  a  meeting  of  the  voting  nieml)crs  of  the 
East  Penn^yhania  Conference.  In  Id  Julv  1.  19"2. 
on  the  proposed  site,  it  was  imanimously  decided 
to    purchase    the   property.      Tiie   members    at    the 


''■■■>  Iff' 


'ij     •>:■•;/.,    /i     ,.  V 


:fV;  !  i-f  ',    ,1- 


.:i    :.     ■.■■,;.r;' 


i''.-    ■,.■!    ,,,;■    '";■,) 


<ji.      ,  t;;   r    (. 


■(•//■:     ,       .  (/- 


'    •"■i..(^,    1 7. 


-204: 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY.    PEXXSYLX'AXIA 


same  time  requc^te^I  tlio  city  of  Rcailingf  to  raise 
a  certain  sum  of  money  needed  to  purchase  the 
property  and  make  the  necessary  repairs.  An  ac- 
tive canvass  had  been  instituted  presumptive  of 
favorable  action  hv  the  member-  of  the  Confer- 
ence for  the  removal  of  the  school.  A  large  por- 
tion of  the  sum  had  already  been  subscribed.  It 
was  decided  that  the  canvass  should  be  continued, 
the  assurance  being-  given  that  the  city  would  meet 
every  expectation,  thus  retlecting  great  credit  up- 
on its  liberal  citizens  and  thereby  showing  an  in- 
tense zeal  in  the  cause  of  education  and  the  wel- 
fare of  its  promising  vouth. 

Schuylkill  Seminarv  i->  uniquely  located  at  the 
.base  of  Mt.  Penn,  near  Thirteenth  and  Exeter 
streets,  Reading.  The  campus,  consisting  of  nearly 
eight  acres,  is  admirably  adapted  for  school  pur- 
poses. The  excellent  tennis  courts,  the  baseball 
diamond,  and  the  croquet  plot,  furnish  ample  op- 
portunity for  the  necessary  outdoor  exercise  of  the 
student.  On  the  grounds  is  a  spring  of  the  purest 
water.  That,  in  itself,  is  an  invaluable  aid  to  the 
institution. 

The  buildings  are  three  in  number,  consisting 
of  the  main  building,  the  chapel  and  the  gymna- 
sium. In  the  main  building  are  the  ofifice.  the  li- 
brary, class-rooms,  the  dining-room,  dormitories 
for  ladies,  etc.  The  second  floors  of  both  the 
chapel  and  the  gynul;l^inm  are  used  as  dormitor- 
ies for  men.  :\11  the  Iniildings  are  lighted  with 
electricity,  heated  with  steam  anrl  provided  with 
"hot  and  cold  water.  Thc-e  well-ecjuipped  Ijuild- 
ings,  together  whh  the  beautiful  grounds,  malce 
'tlie  Seminary  a  very  attractive  institution.  Ii  has 
an   endowment   of  $(;.">, nilo. 

The  purpose  of  Schuylkill  Seminary  is  to  pre- 
pare young  men  and  women  for  college  and  for 
life.  For  those  who  do  not  intend  to  enter  col- 
lege, the  courses  offer  special  advantages  to  those 
preparing  to  enter  theological  or  other  professional 
schools.  Though  originally  opened  as  a  Seminary 
of  a  higher  grade,  which  nature  it  still  retains,  it 
was  the  desire  of  its  founders  that  it  should  grad- 
ually mature  into  a  college,  by  raising  the  standard 
■of  scholarship  for  aflmission,  extending  its  courses 
of  study,  and  completing  its  equipment  in  the  way 
•of  increased  apparatus  and  facilities  for  instruc- 
tion. This  plan  ha>  met  with  a  marked  degree 
of  public  favor,  and  is  now  in  progress  of  ful- 
fillment. 

The  Seminary  i.>  under  the  patronage  of  the 
East  Pennsylvania  CMuforence  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Association,  i'lishu])  S.  C.  P.revfogel,  D."  D., 
is  president  of  the  truster  board.  '  Rev.'  W.  F.' 
Teel,  Ph.  M.,  is  princijial. 

XEWSIWPFRS 
From  the  beginning  of  ilir  town  until  ISfiO.  some 
inhabitants  received  the  /\iiiis\iraiila  iia-cttc,  pub- 


lished at  Philadelphia,  which  gave  them  forei^M. 
news,  and  events  of  surrounding  places  which  d-- 
curred  weeks  before.  Local  news  was  not  repurti-  ! 
.\n  occasional  letter  from  Reading  was  publi.-,]K-,l  ■ 
but  the  important  happening.s,  such  as  we  are  n^nv 
accustomed  to  read  daily,  were  not  noticed,  f  ,r 
they  were  communicated  by  social  intercourse  at 
stores  and  taverns. 

The  tir<t  neuspai)er  at  Reatling  was  issued  in 
ITSn,  but  did  not  continue  long.  It  was  printei! 
in  the  Gemian  language  and  was  called  Dcr  Xcuc 
Unpartciischc  Rcadingcr  Zcitung  (The  Nczv  Impar- 
tial Reading  Nezvspaper).  The  next  appeared  in 
ITDi;.  In  that  year  several  were  begun  and  one  of 
them  has  been  published  until  now,  the  ReoHiiij 
Adlcr.  Another,  the  Weekly  Advertiser,  was  pub- 
lished until  ISlfi,  when  the  Berks  and  Schuxlkij! 
Journal  took  its  place.  Afterward,  for  forty  vears, 
many  were  issued,  but  with  few  exceptions  they 
were  not  published  many  years.  They  were  all 
vv-eekly  publications,  issued  on  different  clays  of  the 
week,  but  mostly  on  Saturday.  I'ntil  1847,  the 
daily  newspaper  was  not  issued,  not  even  suggested. 
The  first  English  daily  was  established  in"  18"i8, 
and  the  first  Gemian  daily  in  ISGS.  [For  list  of 
X'ewspapers  of  County,  see  Chapter  III.] 

ASSOCIATIOXS 
Assodations  have  occui)ied  a  prominent  place  in 
the  social  life  of  Read.ing  for  over  a  hundred  vears. 
At  first  they  were  few  in  number,  but  as  the  popu- 
lation increased  a  desire  to  organize  bodies  of  vari- 
ous kinds  and  for  diHerent  purposes  manifested 
itself  more  and  more,  particularly  after  the  incor- 
poration of  Reading  as  a  city.  Then  the  secret  so- 
ciety became  very  active,  and  this  activity  has  been 
kept  up  until  the  present  time.  'Hiey  are  classified 
and  treated  in  the   following  order  :' 


Military 
Protective 
Secret 
Financial 


Indusirial 
Literary 
Patriotic 
Professional 


Musical 

Charitable 

Religious 


MILIT.\RY 
The  first  association  at  Reading  was  organized 
in  17-51  for  purposes  of  defense  against  the  Indians. 
It  was  during  the  French  and  Indian  war,  which 
affected  this  section  of  Pennsylvania  from  that  time 
until  IT';.).  Conrad  Weiser  was  the  most  promi- 
nent military  officer.     Small  companies  of  men  were 


iK-iiL  luniLaiy  uiiiLL-i.  .^man  companies  ot  men  were 
constantly  quartered  here,  and  the  spirit  of  co-op- 
eration was  shown  mitil  peace  was  declared  and  the 
Indians  departed. 

Associations  of  this  character  were  again  organ- 
ized in  1"  I.  and  they  [n-epared  the  wav  for  a  long 
and  costly  i)articipati(.u  in  the  Revolution.  They 
became  comjndsory  in  IT 7.")  by  legislation.  The 
system,  which  was  establishe(l  during  that  trving 
jicriod  for  eight  years,  wa,  ])reserved  and  therein- 
a   militaty   spirit   became   a   noteworthy   feature   (,)f 


:(:M'i'    r.' 


■  i:       •  ;    ■  IV 


•     -,01',     ;:;!>;• 


'.:;!       ;:     |i''.V     J'Jii'     •■  ■ 


,■,..;■!■.;.■,■,!    ?t    ,.'■ 


READING 


205- 


the  social  life  of  the  people.  W'lienever  a  call  for 
troops  was  made,  they  responded  with  such  alac- 
litv  as  to  be  among-  the  very  tirst  of  the  Nation's 
defenders. 

From  the  close  of  the  Revolution  until  the  Civil 
war  of  18t)l-n.j,  the  "Militia  S\siem"  was  very 
active  both  in  the  city  and  county.  In  1B5G  the 
militia  comprised  a'.tojjether  twenty-four  companies 
with  a  total  enrollment  of  l.Ki:'.  men,  of  which 
six  companies  were  from  Reading-  with  a  total  en- 
rollment of  53',l  men.  At  the  close  of  the  Civil  war, 
the  militarv  spirit  was  g-reatly  reduced,  but  the 
system  was  nevcrtlieless  continued  by  virtue  of  an 
Act  passed  in  lSt34  under  the  name  of  the  "National 
Guard  of  Pennsylvania,"  with  a  limited  representa- 
tion from  the  city  and  the  county. 

Since  ISGo,  there  have  been  three  companies, 
which  were  enga,gcd  in  the  Spanish  war  of  ISdS, 
two  from  Reading,  and  one  from  Hamburg.  [See 
Chapter  VIII.] 

Armory. — Capt.  II.  Mclvin  Allen.,  of  Company 
A,  4th  Regiment,  N.  G.  P.,  revived  the  subject  of 
providing  an  .Armory  for  the  National  (niard  at 
Reading.  He  raised  $1'^,00()  bv  soliciting  subscrip- 
tions from  the  business  people  of  Reading  and  pur- 
chased a  lot  (17  feet  by  1").")  feet)  at'the  northeast 
corner  of  Walnut  and  Rose  streets,  and,  with  tlie 
encouragement  of  the  State  authorities,  a  superior 
and  commodious  building  was  erected  in  1908  and 
1909,  costing  $50,001). 

PKori;cTiVE 
Before  1773,  the  inliabitants  of  Reading  were 
in  a  primitive  stale  with  resj)ect  to  tiieir  ability  to 
e.xtinguish  fires,  but  the  town  was  small,  the  build- 
ings were  limited  and  comparatively  scattered  and 
the    investments    in    property    were    inconsiderable. 


FIRE    E.VGIXE 

A  fire,  therefore,  seldom,  if  ever,  occasioned  great 
loss  to  the  community.  Leathern  buckets  were 
commonly  used  in  which  to  carry  water  from  the 
nearest  piniiiis  for  the  purpose  of  extinguishing 
fires;  and  they  suffi.ced  for  a  score  of  years.  But 
tlie  progress  and  increasing  conifiaotness  of  the 
town  required  an  im]iroved  method.  The  demand 
was  satisfied  by  tlie  introdnctinn  of  a  forcing  en- 
gine, operated  by  manual  lalmr,  in  117:5,  when  the 
Rainbow  Fire  Companv  was  organized,  and  it  was 
used  until  ISiiO.  Buckets  were  then  not  entirely 
dispensed  with  :  thev  were  useful  still  in  filling  tiie 


body  of  the  engine  with  water,  from  which  it  was 
pumped  upon  the  fire.  Water  was  thus  carried  until 
IS'll,  when  the  Reading  Water  Con-ipany  laid  pipes, 
through  the  streets  for  the  purpose  of  supplying 
water  by  gravity.  Then  the  hand  engine  was  placed 
at  the  plug  nearest  the  fire,  and  water  was  con- 
veyed into  it  by  a  short  hose.  .A  long  hose  ex- 
tended from  the  engine  to  a  point  near  the  burn- 
ing building,  and  the  water  wa>  forced  through 
it  tipon  the  fire. 

The  steam  fire-engine  was  introduced  here  in 
18()0  by  the  Reading  Hose  Company,  and  within 
the  next  few  years  four  additi(nial  engines  were 
added  to  the  Fire  Department.  The  following  table 
shows  the  organization  of  the  several  companies- 
and   their  membership: 

FIRE  COMP.WTES 

Company  Instituted  Members 

Rainljow     l~T;i  587 

Junior    1S13  C90- 

Reading   Hose    1819         ,     .     .     433 

Xtversink lS-'9  "     "      261 

Friendship   1S48  .    620- 

Lihcrtv    l^^i  875 

Washington  Hook  X:  Ladder 18.55  38f> 

Kcvstone  Hook  cS:  Ladder 185G  187 

Hampden  1807  220 

^L-irion    1881  175 

Riverside    181(0  205 

Schuvlkill     1892  350 

Union    1898  350 

.Soon  after  the  introduction  of  the  steam  fire- 
engine,  the  companies  considered  the  propriety  of 
forming  an  association  for  more  readily  accotn- 
pHshing  the  object  of  their  existence.  Representa- 
tives from  eight  companies  assembled  on  .March 
IS,  18(;i,  and  formed  a  "Firemen's  L'nion."  This 
was  an  ordinarv  association  for  four  years,  com- 
posed of  five  delegates  from  each  company ;  but 
finding  its  powers  inadequate,  it  was  incorporated 
on  j\Iarch  15,  1S(),5,  under  the  name  of  "Firemen's 
Union  of  the  City  of  Reading,'"  and  the  Union  has" 
since  acted  under  this  charter.  The  management 
is  vested  in  a  board  of  trustees,  elected  by  the 
Union  annually,  composed  of  one  member  from 
each  companv  represented  in  the  l'nion. 

In  1873,  the  electric  fire-alarm  was  introduced 
into  the  city.  Previously,  the  alarm  was  sounded 
on  the  bells  of  the  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  for 
many  years,  till  L'^IO;  then  upon  the  bell  of  the 
Court-ilouse  for  a  period  of  thirty-three  years. 
The  locality  of  the  fire  was  indicated  by  a  number 
of  strokes  on  the  bell  to  correspond  with  the  num- 
ber of  the  ward  v.here  the  fire  was.  Now.  the 
alarm  is  given  publi<-lv  in  different  sections  of 
Reading.  Alarms  are  also  struck  in  the  buildings 
of  the  respective  fire  conipanies. 

During  1871  and  1872.  there  were  numerous 
false  alarms  of  fire,  r.nd  these  became  so  annoying 
that  a  remedv  lia<l  to  be  provided.  1  lenry  W. 
S]>ang  advocated  ihc  Gamewell  fire-alarm  •^_\^tem. 
and  thr.  High  lii->  etV(-.rts  coiuicds  adnj,icd  it  in  1^73. 
The  halterv.  nvchanical  apparatus  and  switchboard 
are  located  in  the  Citv  Hal'.     Thi.  system  embraces 


;  0'. 


>:;■■'  \'\r\: 


I  I      Hi', 


If...        ■  >:'  .('■!'    .17  >;,'r'>, !       .  .■  > 


206 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COL'XTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


SO  boxes,  (iistrilnited  in  seven  circuits,  connected 
with  -111  miles  uf  cr)pper  wi^re.  The  circuits  are  as 
follows : 

Xo.  1  lire-iilnnn  circuit  i^  7.0:2:.'  niiK's  long-  and  has 
eighteen  alaiin  Luxes,  two  en',:iuc  houses  and  one  tower 
striker  connected  with  it. 

Xo.  2  hre-alarm  circuit  is  .".73  miles  long  and  has  on  it 
seventeen  tire-alann  Iik.xcs.  live  house  gongs,  two  engine 
houses  and  two  tower  strikers. 

Xo.  3  lire-nlarni  circuit  is  :>.r,i\  miles  long  and  has  on  it 
ten  tirc-alarni  boxes,  two  engine  liouses  and  one  tower 
striker. 

Xo.  4  lire-alarm  circuit  is  4.4S  inUes  long  and  has  ou  it 
eleven  tire-alarm  bo.xes,  iw(j  engine  houses  and  one  tower 
striUvcr. 

Xo.  5  fire-alarm  circuit  is  1.'.02  miles  lon.g  and  has  on  it 
seven  fire  alarm  bo.xes,  one  office  gong,  one  engine  house 
and  two  tower  strikers. 

Xo.  6  fire-alarm  circuit  is  17.19  miles  long  and  has  on 
it  sixteen  fire-alarm  boxes,  one  engine  house  and  one 
tower  striker. 

No.  7  fire-alarm  circuit  is  3.41  miles  long  and  has  on  it 
ten  fire-alarm  boxes,  one  engine  house  and  one  tower 
striker. 

Tlie  first  State  convention  uf  the  Firemen's  As.so- 
ciation  of  i'ennsylvania,  held  at  Reading;,  was  in 
Septeinber,  ISSl,  and  the  second  in  October,  180.3. 
On  both  occasions  there  were  great  parades,  the 
latter  having  been  particularly  distinguished  for 
the  great  number  of  companies  and  men  in  hne. 

Growing  out  of  tiie  Firemen's  I'nion,  two  asso- 
ciations of  great  utility  were  organized,  the  Vol- 
unteer F'iremen's  Association,  and  the  Reading 
Firemen's  Relief  Association,  which  hold  niontlily 
meetings. 

The  X'etcran  Firemen  of  Reading  have  also 
formed  an  association  which  meets  regularly  every 
month.  The  membership  is  at  present  440;  presi- 
dent, Charles  F.  Brissel. 

The  Firemen's  Union  caused  a  fine  granite  mon- 
ument to  be  erected  on  Penn  Common.,  at  the  Penn 
street  entrance;  it  was  dedicated  Sept.  2,  1901.  It 
occupies  a  prominent  position  and  rei)rcsents  a  \-<il- 
unteer  fireman  on  a  shaft. 

The  fire  department  in  1900  had  the  following 
equipment,  valued  at  $138,000 : 

Fire   Engines    11  .Ambulances 2 

H.  &  L.  Trucks 2  I-eet   of    Hose 20,000 

Chemical  Engines  2  Hose  Wagons 4 

Chemical  Comb'n  1  lose  Cart  1 

Wagons   11  Patrol  Wagon   1 

Fire  Extinguishers   ^Ci  -Smoke  Protectors  GO 

Horses    ivz  Life  Saving  Xets    7 

Chief  En^i^inccrs. — The  fojldwing  jiersons  liavc 
officiated  as  cliicf  engineers  : 

David  A.  Stout isor-isfis 

John  A.   P.uch lS(i<.) 

John  F.  Wcitzel 1 870 

Henry  .\.   .Mbriglit 1S70-IS71 

Lewis  L.   Mover 1872 

Howard  F.  P)Oyer 187;!-1SS.-, 

George  W.  Miller 18.S.')-1900 

si:cKr.T 
The  secret   society   v.-as   started  ns  a  distinct   or- 
ganized   body   by    the    Imci    and    Accepted    Ma-oiis 
at  Reading  in  1780,  but  it  was  not  maintained.     It 


was  started  a  second  time  in  ITO  1  and  has  cnntin. 
ued  until  the  present  time.  The  Independent  ( Jrdvr 
of  C)dd  Fellows  was  started  here  in  1838,  The-vr 
two  were  the  only  secret  orders  carried  on  at  Read- 
ing when  it  became  a  city  in  1817.  Since  then  luiin- 
erous  other  societies  have  been  organized  and  car- 
ried on  with  each  succeeding  decade  and  each  onier 
has  come  to  include  various  bodies  with  a  larL;^- 
total  membership.  A  brief  description  of  all  nf 
them  cannot  be  a.ttempted  in  this  compilation. 

F.  and  A.  M.-~ln  1804,  Lodge  Xo.  G2,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  celebrated  the  centennial  of  its 
institution,  and  caused  a  souvenir  hi.story  to  be 
published.  The  order  has  six  lodges  at  Reading. 
These  lodges,  two  Royal  .Vrch  Chapters,  and  two 
Knight  Templar  Commanderies.  erected  a  superb 
four-story  granite  front  ^lasonic  Temple  on  Xorth 
F'ifth  street  beyond  Washington,  at  a  cost  exceed- 
ing $150,000.  The  first  Knight  Templar  State 
Conclave  at  Reading  convened  in  1872,  and  the 
second  in  1895.  On  both  occasions,  the  event  was 
signalized  by  a  superb  parade. 

Shrine  Reccptio>i. — The  Xobles  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  Xo.  50,  at  Reading,  gave  a  public  recep- 
tion in  Penn  Square  to  a  number  of  distinguished 
Xobles  on  Wednesday,  May  19,  1909,  including 
Rear  Admiral  Winfield  Scott  Schley  (member  of 
Alma  Tem])lc  of  Washington,  D.  C.),  Maj.  Gen. 
I.  P.  S.  Gobin  (meiuber  of  Zembo  Temple  of 
Ilarrisburg,  Pa.),  and  Rt.  Rev.  Ethelbert  Talbot 
( member  of  Irene  Temi)le  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.), 
whilst  on  a  fraternal  visitation.  The  pupiis  of  the 
[)ublic  schools,  of  the  .-everal  grades,  numbering 
about  9,000,  particijmted  in  the  parade.  Their 
behavior  during  the  public  recention  was  highly 
creditable,  and  their  singing  of  the  "Star  Spangled 
Banner,"  "America,"  and  "Onward,  Christian 
Soldiers,"  with  the  accompaniment  of  the  Ring- 
gold, Philharmonic  and  Allentown  bands  of  music, 
was  truly  inspiring,  more  especially  during  the  re- 
peated waving  of  small  American  Hags  by  the  thou- 
sands of  pupils  in  the  center  of  the  Square.  A 
larger  public  assemblage  was  never  before  witness- 
ed in  Reading.  The  weather  was  ideal  and  the 
orderliness  of  the  great  throngs  of  people  whilst 
moving  into  and  out  of  the  Square  was  remarkable. 

At  Rajah  Teni])le,  in  the  evening,  a  regular 
meeting  of  the  .^hrinc  was  held  at  which  a  large 
number  of  ap]ilicant>  for  membership  were  ini- 
tiated, and  afterward  tiie  di-linguishetl  gtiests  and 
members  were  entcrt;iinC'd  at  a  banquet,  nearly 
a  thousand  having  ]wrticii.iated. 

/.  O.  O.  /•".—  The  first  lodge  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  h'ellows  was  instituted  at  Reading  in 
18;)8.  .An  association  was  incorjiorated  in  1845 
for  erecting  a  hall  for  use  of  the  (  )dd  l*"el!ows  and 
all  otiier  benevolent  societies  of  the  place;  a  I'V't  was 
])urchased  at  h'ifth  and  I'Vanklin  streets,  and  a  four- 
<torv  brick  building  was  erected  thereon.  .\t  the 
dedication  on  Oct.  OC,  18  17,  flignil.iries  of  the  Su- 
preme Lodge,  and  of  the  Grand  Lodges,  of  the 
order  of  this  and  otltcr  States  were  in  attendance. 


■1  irt^^.r 


■iJ-Tdi.'! 


READING 


207 


In  ISGS,  this  hall  was  purchased  by  the  Reading- 
I.ihrarv  Company.  In  l!?8i),  the  Grand  Lodge  met 
at  Reading,  and  again  in  ISM;"!.  .\t  the  latter  con- 
vention, John  W'unch,  a  re5i<lent  of  Reacnng,  was 
elected  Grand  Master,  and  in  that  year  he  laid  the 
corner-stone  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Temple  at  Phila- 
iKIphia.  Since  18-iT,  only  one  grand  parade  has 
been  given  by  the  order  at  Reading,  and  this  was 
in  ]S82. 

A'.  G.  E. — The  first  castle  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Eagle  was  instituted  at  Reading  in  ISN^o. 
The  Grand  Castle  convened  at  Reading  in  188G, 
and  the  Supreme  Castle  in   1897. 

G.  A.  R.—The  following  bodies  have  been  organ- 
ized at  Reading  by  men  who  were  enlisted  in  the 
Civil  war,  or  by  members  of  their  families : 

McLean  Post,  Xo.  16,  instituted  lS6fi;  and  Womans  Re- 
lief Corps. 

Keini  Post.  Xo.  TC,  instituted  1878. 

Meade  Camp,  Xo.  16,  Sons  of  Veterans,  instituted  1S81; 
^nd  Ladies'  Aid  Society,   Xo.  0. 

Union  Veteran  Le.c;ion  Encampment,  Xo.  43,  instituted 
18S9;  and   Ladies'  .-\u.xil;ar)-. 

Ladies  of  tlie  G.  A.   R..  instituted  1833. 

Ringgold  Light  .Vrtillcry,  First  Deferders,  organized  at 
Reading  in  18<J2  with  the  four  other  companies  which  were 
the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for 
troops  in  18G1.  They  caused  a  granite  monument  to  be 
erected  on  Penn  Common  wliich  was  dedicated  on  July 
4,  1001. 

Through  the  efforts  of  the  members  of  the  two 
posts  an  imposing  granite  soldiers'  momimcnt  was 
erected  in  Charles  Evans  Cemetery,  and  dedicated 
with  interesting  ceremonies  in  1887. 

F.  O.  S.  of  A.— -The  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  Amer- 
ica was  instituted  at  Reading  in  ISGO,  and  has  come 
to  be  the  strongest  secret  beneficial  society  here,  com- 
prising fourteen  camps,  with  a  toral  membership  ex- 
ceeding 3,835.  In  June,  1888.  the  National  and 
State  Camps  held  their  conventions  at  Reading,  and 
to  signalize  the  extraordinary  occasion,  the  C')rder 
gave  a  monster  parade,  which,  in  respect  to  the 
great  number  in  line,  and  to  llie  public  decorations, 
exceeded  all  demonstrations  of  every  kind  thereto- 
fore given.  In  the  latter  part  of  August,  1897.  the 
National  convention  wa.s  held  at  Reading,  and  the 
semi-centennial  of  the  order  was  celebrated.  The 
first  camp  had  been  instituted  at  Philadelphia  in  ISII . 
but  it  was  obliged  to  suspend  on  acc<iunt  of  the 
members  enlisting  in  the  Civil  war.  Camp  X'o.  f!l, 
at  Reading,  maintained  its  organization,  notwith- 
standing many  of  its  members  had  enlisted  also, 
and  kept  the  order  in  existence,  for  v.^hich  reason 
Reading  was  selected  by  the  State  Camp,  and  al>o 
by  the  X'ational  Camp,  as  the  proper  place  for  the 
celebration. 

To  signalize  the  extraordinarv  occasion,  a  mon- 
ster parade  of  the  Order  was  given  on  Aug.  ?Gth. 
in  which  over  nine  thousand  meuibers  i)articipated. 
The  local  camps  of  Reading  and  the  countr\-  dis- 
tricts manifested  nuich  enthusiasm  and  \^eri^  im- 
tiring  in  their  combined  efforts  to  luake  the  dem- 
onstration a  grand  success.     The  streets  along  the 


route  of  the  parade,  more  especially  Penn  street, 
were  profusely  decorated. 

/.  O.  R.  M. — This  society  was  established  at  Read- 
ing in  1S.34  by  tr.e  name  of  Ancient  Order  of  Red 
]Vlcn,  but  this  was  changed  to  Improved  Order  in 
lS(;r. 

/;-.  O.  U.  A.  .1/.— The  Junior  Order  United 
American  Mechanics  was  in?tituted  at  R.eading  in 
ISGT.  For  some  years  it  v,-as  noted  for  presenting 
the  national  flag  to  the  school  authorities  for  dis- 
play over  the  public  school  buildings. 

Bciicz'olait  Profccth-c  Order  of  Elks  was  insti- 
tuted at  Reading  ?\ larch  10.  LSS'9.  It  established 
superior  quarters  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Fifth 
and  Franklin  .streets  in  1901.  costing  S30,0(uj;  and 
in  19U8  erected  a  large  and  costlv  addition.  "Elks' 
Hall"  is  a  complete  establishment  in  all  its  depart- 
ments :  the  total  cost  is  S9O.i"U0.  The  membership 
in  February,  1909,  was  -iO'i ;  of  which  fifty  were 
not  resident  in  Berks  county.  It  is  the  only  society 
of  the  kind  now  in  th.e  county. 

Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.— This  beneficial  so- 
ciety was  organized  at  Reading  in  I'.iOO,  as  Aerie 
No.  6G,  and  .since  then  has  been  very  successful, 
having  in  May,  1909,  1,07.")  members.  In  1903. 
the  Order  established  a  superior  place  in  Lower 
Alsace  township,  a  short  distance  beyond  the  ]Min- 
eral  Spring  Hotel,  as  a  resort  for  the  members, 
costing  $-30,000.  It  comprises  a  substantial  build- 
ing- and  six  acres  of  land.  The  Aerie  also  secured 
a  fine  property  on  Penn  street.  No.  1040,  for  the 
lucmbers,  which  has  been  much  improved,  at  a 
total  cost  of  $30,000.  The  president  of  the  .Aerie 
is  William  J.  Moore,  and  the  -ecretary  William 
H.   Croessant. 

Other  Societies. — Other  secret  .societies,  worthy 
of  mention,  with  the  time  when  first  instituted  at 
Reading,  are  the  following:  Order  United '.Aintri- 
can  ^lechanics.  1847:  German  Order  of  Ilarugari, 
]849;  American  Protestant  Association.  1857;  In- 
dependent Carder  of  Good  Templars.  185S:  Brother- 
hood of  the  Union.  180^;  Knights  of  Pythias.  18(17: 
Knights  of  Friendship,  1871  :  Knights  of  l\!y.-tic 
Chain.  1871;  Royal  Arcanum.  1880. 

SOCIETY  .ST.\TISTICS 

In  the  following  table  the  various  bodies  of 
these  orders  are  enumerated,  showing  meiubership, 
date  of  institution,  assets,  etc.: 

Free  axd  .Xcceptki)  ^L\son"s 

Members 

Lodge  Xo.  r,:2   1704  31S 

Lodge  Xo.  227,  Chandler 1818  410 

Lodge  Xo.  ,".67.  Teuti.nia ISC.r,  100 

Lodge  Xo.  455.  St.  Jolm's.   1860  230 

Lodge  Xo.  r,49,  Reading 1S76  266 

Lodge  Xo.  or.O.  Isaac  Hiester.- .. lOOS         -'     123 

Reading  Chapter,  R.  .V 1S27 

F.xcelsior  Chapter.   R.   A. 

l)e  .Molay  Commandory.  Xo.  0.  K.  T ls.-,4 

Rcadin.g  Comniander\.   Xo.  42,   K.  T 1871 

Xol.lesof  Mystic  Shrine.  Xo.  r.O 1802 

Cni.OKKIl    I.ODCKS.    l".    .t    A.    .M. 

Liidgc  Xo.  73,  Victor,  isoo 
Mt.  Olive  Chapter,  R.  .\  .   .\'o    2:^.   1801 
Kin.g  David  Commandery.  K.  T..  Xo.   l">,  1*03 


::,viusr.>,)ii     fA      (•';     ,J.:'ri":i;./';; 

1: 


■il     .>   ■!<.      !l     .  II. 


,i,.  I ;;..,(;       •..   JV:.iI    •!■    ' 


M  -i     '■■■;ii;'i  ji;  -■,.j^ 


'   [     ''  '■;    .i!'';^ilrj'j    l/i.i:     'TJiii/i'ivi)    ;>; 
,;,    '  (       ■)  ili;'!!-;)'  ".'I   -••     !  '^  .'if     :■  - 

:    ■■      .-(I,    ;  ■■!;: ";■ 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


PATKlonc    OKDEk     SoNS     OF     AMERICA 

ilenibeis  Assetf 

Camp  Xo.  61  188  $  2,0fi0. 

Camp  No.  89  400  45,915 

Camp  Xo.  103  1,112  20.514 

Camp  Xo.  212  347  11,939 

Camp  Xo.  329  314  6,380 

Camp  Xo.  330  177  4,411 

Camp  Xo.  509  206  3,280 

Camp  Xo.  552  90  448 

Camp  Xo.  500  287  8,395 

Camp  Xo.  f.63  209  3,032 

Camp  Xo.  676  44  784 

Camp  No.  678  145  995 

Camp  Xo.  689  242  3,398 

Camp  Xo.  691  74  1,847 

3,835  $113.3<18 

Boroughs,   11   camps  2,115  81,454 

Townships,   2S  camps  3,411'  148,152 

Total  9.369  $343,004 

Pairritic  Orhek  of  .^mekican.s 
Camps  Xo.  17,  Xo.  117,  and  X'o.  131. 

Independent  Order  oe  Odd  Fellows 

Members        -Vssets 

Germania    Lodge.    Xo.    158 1846  30  $1,800 

Emblematic   Lodge,    Xo.    100 1840  190  9,200 

Vigilance    Lodge.    Xo.    194 1S84  258  21,000 

Oley   Lodge.   Xo.   218 IS  16  211  12,852 

Progressive  Lodge.   X'o.  470 188'J  204  12,840 

Mt.   Penn  Lodge,  Xo.  518   1^74  250  9,200 

Muhlenberg  Lodge.   Xo.    1085 1S05  198  6,300 

Reading  Encampment.    Xo.   43....  1840 

Mt.    Penn   ICncampment,   Xo.   152 

Esther  Lodge,   Xo.  4,  Daughters  of   Kebekah,  ISSO,  400 

Improved  Order  of  Red  Men 

Members 

Juniata   Tribe,    Xo.    74 1807  855 

Opekasset    Tribe.     Xo.    522 1870  210 

O.galala   Tribe.    Xo.    isO 345 

Wyanet  Tribe.   No.  301 365 

Manangy   Tribe.    .\'o.    310 223 

Uiiamis    Tribe.    .\"o.    330 257 

Xevcrsink    Tribe,    Xo.    351 242 

Mctacomet  Tribe,    Xo.  410 335 

Xarragansett   Council.   No.  07,  Degree  of  Pocahontas 
Indianola  Council,   No.  70,  Degree  of   Pocahontas 
Opitsah  Council,  No.   117,  Degree  of  Pocahontas 

Knights  of  Friendship 

Fidelia  Chamber.  No.  5,  1880 
Charity  Chamber,    No.  23,   1880 
Reading  Chamber.  No.  20,  1S88. 
Friendsjii])   Chamber.    No.   28.   1889. 
Lincoln   Chamber.    No.   .36,   1S92. 
Prosperity   Chamber,   No.  48.   1899. 

Knights  of  Golden  Eagle 

Members 

Reading    Castle.    Xo.    49 1885  323 

Mt.    Penn    Castle,    No.    51 1885  244 

Sirius   Castle,    No.    0.1 1885  255 

Fraternity  Castle.    Xo.   302 1889  172 

Muhlenberg    Castle.    .\o.    372 1890  203 

Victory    Castle.    .Vi\    433 1 893  90 

Prosperity  Castle.    Xo.   4><1 1894  77 

West  Reading  Castle,   Xo    487 1895  116 

Columl)ian  Temple    (I.adie--).   .\o.   17 
St.   Hernard  Temple   (Ladies),  Xo.  21 
Lady  Bayard  Temple  (Ladies).  Xo.  78...  1805 
.Mt.  Penn  Conimandcry.  Xo.  51,  Company  H. 
St.  P.crnard  Commandery,  Xo.  0,  Company  C. 


Knights  of  Pythias 

Friendship  Lodge,   Xo.  5 1867 

Mt.  Penn  Lodge,  No.  65 1808 

Endowment  Rank,  No.  9 1877 

Cashmere    Temple,    Xo.    37 

United  .American  Mech.\nics 

Reading  Council.  No.  46. 
.Seminole  Council,  No.  88. 
Reading  Council,  No.  122   (Daughters  of  Liberty). 

Independent  .Americans 

Perseverance  Council,  No.  19. 

Resolute.  Council,    No.    27. 

Thaddeus    Council,    No.    252. 

Xeversink   Council.   No.   371. 

Randall    Council,    No.   448.  j 

Laing  Council,   No.  995. 

United  Americans 

Leona  Evelvn  Smith  Temple,   No.  78. 
Old  Glory  Temple,   No.  SO. 
Riverside   Temple,    Na   81. 

Protestant  Societies 

Charity  Lodge,   No.  .34. 
Lady    Ruth,     No.    30. 
.Aaron  Lodge,   No.  95. 
Neversink  Lodge,   No.   104. 
Aaron  Juvenile   Lodge,    Xo.   13. 

Brotherhood  of  the  Union 

Freedom  Circle,   X'o.   7,   1804. 

Lady  Jefferson  Home  Communion,   No.  5,  1807. 

I*"0RESTERS    OF    .AMERICA 

Members. 

Court    Progress.    Xo.    110 1895  205 

Court    Wvomissing.    X(X    KU) 1897  192 

Court  Conrad  Weiser.  No.  199 1899  193 

Court  Victory,  No.  123 

Germa.n  Order  or  Haklgaki 

Members 

Goethe   Lodge,    .No.   00,   D.   O.   H 1857  12 

Improved  Order  of   Heptasopiis 

Reading   Conclave,    No.  07. 
Berks    Conclave,    No.    13:;. 

Modern  Woodme.n  of  .Americ.\ 

Neversink  Camp.  No.  7634. 
Reading  Camp,   No.   9289. 

Ro.MA.V    C.\THOLIC    SOCIETIES 

Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  No.  1  and  Xo.  2. 

Bonifacius  Brotherhood,  1800. 

Holy  Cross.   18GS. 

lunerald  B.  .A.  of  St    Peter's  Church.  1S09. 

.American  Catholic  Union,  Reading  .Assembly,   Xo.  28. 

Reading  Kjiights  of  St.  John. 

Knights   of   St.    Casimir,    1898. 

Knights  of  St.  John. 

Knights  of  Columbus. 

St.    Peter's    T.    A.    B.    Society,    1883. 

St.   Stanislaus   Beneficial   Society. 

ROVAL   .\rcanum 

Memhfrs 

Mt.  Penn  Council.  No.  495 1880  440 

Reading  Council,  No.   1U)4 1889  136 

Wyomissing  Coiuicil,    Xo.   1584 1S94  507 


fv'ijj;.:  i. 


•j/      .:  ■■.•' )   «;--.l> 


,l..v„i:  - 


\L 


X.I.'A.'i     Z,)<iw.,"> 


READING 


209 


Club  Houses'. — Five  club  houses  have  hccn  estah 
ii-hed  at  Reading:  Wyomi.-sinQ'.  J.'^'.ki;  Ivy  Leaf, 
l-'.il;  Independent  Gun  Club.  IsiH  ;  Cunibine,  1891; 
Nursery,   ISH^;   Elks.   ID'iS:  and   i:ai;les.   1909. 

FIXAXCIAL 

Banks. — The  first  bank  at  Reading-  was  estab- 
!i-hed  in  1808.  It  was  a  branch  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Hank  and  continued  until  18.J7,  when  it  sus- 
pended. Its  place  of  business  was  in  the  buildinj^ 
now  occupied  by  the  Xatioiia!  L'nion  Bank. 

The  next  was  the  Farmers,  organized  in  1S14, 
which  has  been  continued  in  the  same  building' 
where  it  started.  The  Eckert  family  was  promin- 
ently identified  with  it  from  1836  to  lOOS. 

The  following-  list  embraces  the  banks  and  trust 
companies  at  Reading,  showing  the  time  of  organ- 
ization, capital  stock,  resources,  deposits,  etc.,  in 
November,  1908.  The  banks  are  all  national  banks, 
excepting  the  last  two,  which  are  State  banks : 


and  it  has  been  kept  up  over  sixty  years.  But  it 
has  not  been  so  successful  fur  the  past  ten  years. 
Previous  to  187G,  the  associations  received  moneys 
onlv  and  made  them  profiiable  oh  mortgage  securi- 
ties; then  they  began  not  only  to  erect  dwellings, 
but  also  market-houses  and  l)u>iness  places.  In 
189T,  there  were  o'3  associatiuns  at  Reading,  but 
in  190.J,  only  8,  and  in  19uS.  ■>. 

Insurance  Companies. — The  first  fire  insurance 
company  in  Berks  county  was  organized  in  18-14; 
and  the  first  at  Reading  was  in  ISCiT.  The  Read- 
ing Fire  Insurance  and  Trust  Com])any  was  incor- 
porated in  1SG8;  the  Trust  coi-npany  was  incorpor- 
ated as  a  separate  institution  in  1880.  The  Insur- 
ance company  carried  policies  on  properties  through- 
out the  United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
with  risks  exceeding  forty  million  dollars.  It  was 
discon.tinucd  in  1^H)2,  having  transferred  its  risks 
to  the  Hartford   Fire   Insurance  Conipany. 

The  ]^Iutual  Fire  Insurance  Comyjany  of  Reading 
was  organized  in  1870,  and  since  then  it  has  not 


Trust  Comp.\nif.s  at  Reading 


Pennsylvania   Trust   Company I18S6 

Readintr   Trust    Company    il8S6 

Berks   Comity  Trust   Company J1900 

Colonial  Trurt  Company   11900 

ComniiTcial   Trust   Conipany    i  I'.Ki  I 

*  :fl2;>,000  paid  in. 


$250,000 
500,000 
S50,000 

*250.0()0 
125,000 


$-1.01  1,464 

1,872,749 

l,.'iK0,931 

1,144,979 

34G.282 


$2,831,169 

1,0:55,427 

982,240 

097,575 

204.900 


527,224 
■335,209 
147.1 45 
197,405 
16,382 


$5,751,311 


$l,223,:sG5 


$2,820,175 

4,207,644 

337.822 

151,505 

2,542 


$7,519,fi88 


Banks  at  Reading 


Farmers    |1814|$400,020;$3.229,1151$1,513,347;$S56,275 

Union     |1S57|   200,000!    2,49S,801|    1,341,147!    796.064 

First  National   ..11863]   500,000j    1.491.6G4i      693,378]     97,266 

Keystone     ;IS71(   100,000|      975,472|      605,568|   193.646 

Second     Xat'l. .  .  jlSSl!   300,000i   1,898,6521      785,3731   541.966 

Penn     11883,    lOO.OuO:    1,800,881!   1,356,917|  248,944 

Reading:     i  1893|   200,000i    1.580,8401      830.6611   331,352 

Schuylkill     Val..|lS90i    lOO.OOOj      684,537!       411,79lj    172,740 

N'eversink     |1901i      50.000!       201,378,       11 3.809 ,      22,494 

77)51,991  3,200,7.5"3 

Channing  Bingham  was  the  bank  exaiuiner  of 
the  national  banks  of  the  city  and  county  for  up- 
ward of  ten  years,  until  Novei/iiber.  19ii8,  when, 
owing  to  illness,  he  was  succeerled  by  Lloyd  M. 
Tillman,  who  for  thirteen  years  had  been  connect- 
ed with  the  Treasurv  Department  at  Washington, 
D.  C. 

B.  &  S.  A. — The  building  and  savings  associa- 
tion as  an  institution  for  the  acquisition  of  prop- 
erty or  accumulation  of  money  out  of  savings  by 
working  people  was  organizcfl  at  Reading  in  18J8, 
14 


levied  a  single  assessment.  Its  insurance  extends 
throughout  Pennsylvania,  and  amounts  to  ?3,900,- 
000;  the  policies  number  3,000. 

INDUSTRIAL 

Board  of  Trade. — The  first  Board  of  Trade  at 
Reading  was  formed  in  1807,  for  the  purpose  of 
considering  the  possible  navigation  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill, a  number  of  prominent  men  having  at  that  time 
founded  an  association  under  the  name  of  The  So- 
ciety for  Promoting  and  Cleaning  the  River 
Schuylkill.  The  same  men  were  interested  in  other 
local  improvements,  such  as  turnpikes,  canals, 
bridges,  and  railroads;  and  they  accomplished  .great 
good  in  the  development  of  Reading. 

A  second  board  was  started  in  lN7i),  but  it  had 
a  short  existence.  The  third,  which  is  the  present 
board,  was  organized  in  18S1,  and  it  has  kept  up 
a  successful  existence  until  now.  It  was  incorpor- 
ated in  1889.  The  membership  in  March,  1909, 
was  350. 

Unions. — All  classes  of  working--people  have 
formed  unions  for  maintenance  in  sickness  and  co- 
operation in  reference  to  emplovment.  wages,  etc., 
and  thev  have  had  an  active  existence  at  Reading 


■I   '  '        .[  : 


M     ;,^ph(--..'     yi''- 


210 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLWVXIA 


for  manv  years.      Over  thirty   societies   have  been 
organized. 

LITERARY 

Libraries. — Tlie  Reading  Libmry  was  organized 
in  1808.  It  contained  1,(K)0  volumes  in  1842,  and 
1,500  vohimes  in  1S50.  A  reorganization  was 
effected  in  ISGS,  wlien  it  purcliased  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows' Hall.  It  was  made  free  Jan.  1,  1S9S,  through 
the  liberality  of  twenty-three  men  who  each  con- 
tributed $500  toward  extinguishing  the  dvbt  on  the 
hall.  The  present  number  of  volumes  is  over 
27,000.  Dr.  A.  R.  Durham  was  a  most  efficient 
librarian  from  1S98  until  his  decease  in  March, 
1907,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  E.  A.  Howell  as 
the  librarian. 

Reading  German  Library  was  organized  in  ISOS, 
and  began  with  CSS  volumes.  Subsequent  addi- 
tions were  made  until  it  had  1,500.  The  society 
disbanded  in  1847,  and  the  books  were  distributed 
amongst  its  members. 

Berks  Coitnt\'  Lazv  Library  v.as  organized  in  ISl.T 
and  kept  up  by  appropriating  certain  fines  allowed 
by  law.  The  books  are  on  the  third  floor  of  the 
Court-House.  The  collection  of  reports,  text  and 
miscellaneous  bc>oks  numbers   6,500. 

Harmonie  Maoincrclwr  Library  was  started  when 
the  Reading  ]\Iriennerchor  was  organized  in  1847. 
The  nucleus  -vvas  the  collection  of  books  of  the 
German  Library,  which  disbanded  about  that  time. 
An  addition  of  1,20()  volumes  was  made  in  1877  by 
the  disbanding  of  the  Schiller  Vcrein. 

Historical. — A  liislorical  society  was  formed  in 
1840,  but  no  record  of  its  transactions  was  pre- 
served. In  1869,  a  second  society  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  Historical  Society  of  Berks 
County,  but  only  several  meetings  were  held.  In 
February,  ISUS.  a  reorganization  was  effected  with 
A.  G.  Green,  Esq.,  as  president,  and  George  M. 
Jones,  Esq.,  as  secretary,  and  quarters  were  secured 
in  the  Court-Housc,  third  floor,  for  its  meetings 
and  for  storing  its  papers.  In  1904,  a  building  was 
purchased  at  Xo.  519  Court  street  and  a  collection 
of  historical  publications  was  then  begun.  Z\lr. 
Green  continued  as  president  until  his  decease  m 
1902.  He  was  succeeded  by  Louis  Richards,  Esq., 
who  has  served  since.  The  librarv  contains  about 
1,500  volumes,  and  the  collection  now  includes 
many  curios. 

P.XTRIOTIC 

Daughters  who  were  descendants  of  soldiers  en- 
listed in  the  Revolutionary  war  organized  a  societv 
at  Reading  in  1S9-?.  which  they  called  the  lierks 
County  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  American 
Revolution.  A  national  societv  was  organized  at 
Washington  in  lS9i);  :\n(\  in  1807  a  State  Associa- 
tion. 

The  members  of  the  local  societv  in  190!)  num- 
bered ninety-seven.  Tlic  jnincipal  nftlcers  then  were 
as  follow  s :  . 


Mrs.  dc  B.   Ran(li>!p!i   Kciin.  Regent, 

^irs.  John    C.    Jllig.    Sc-creiary. 

Mrs.  Joiin   B.   Daiiipman,  Historian. 

Miss  Addie  Owen,   Registrai. 

A  children's  branch  of  the  D.  A.  R.,  called  tho 
Conrad  Weiser  Branch,  was  organized  in  1895.  and 
in  1900  it  had  forty  members. 

In  October,  1905,  the  Eighth  Annual  Pennsyl- 
vania Slate  Conference  of  the  D.  A.  R.  met  at 
Reading-  and  was  largely  attended. 

PROFESSION  .\L 

Medical. — A  medical-  society  was  organized  al 
Reading  in  IS'24.  It  was  the  second  societv  of 
this  nature  formed  in  Pennsylvania,  the  first  hav- 
ing been  at  Philadelphia.  Dr.  Isaac  Hiester  was 
the  first  president  and  he  continued  to  fill  this  po- 
sition for  twenty-five  years.  In  1849,  the  second 
annual  convention  of  the  State  Medical  Societv 
was  held  at  Reading,  and  in  1891  another  was  held 
here.  In  1866,  the  name  was  changed  to  Berks 
County  Medical  Society,  which  it  has  held  until 
now.  The  transactions  began  to  be  published  in 
189G. 

The  Reading  IMedical  Association  was  organized 
by  physicians  of  Reading  in  1850.  It  was  chiefl\ 
instrumental  in  establishing  the  Reading  Dispen- 
'-arv.  and  the  Reading  Hospital.  For  some  years, 
the  meetings  of  both  societies  have  been  held  in 
the  Raser  Drug  Store  at  Sixth  and  Walnut  streets. 

A  Homoeojiathic  Practitioners  As.sociation  was 
organized  and  it  vvas  instrumental  in  establishing 
the  Llomoeopathic  Hospital  in  1887.  It  was  re- 
organized' in  1896,  and  in  1908  the  name  was 
changed  to  Berks  County  Homoeopathic  Medical 
Society. 

Legal. — Men  learned  in  the  law  have  been  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  the  several  courts  of  Berks 
county  since  1752.  but  no  society  was  organized 
until  1867;  then  the  Legal  Association  of  Berks 
County  was  established.  X'early  all  of  the  members 
of  the  Bar  have  resided  and  continue  to  reside  at 
Reading,  some  of  them  having  their  residences  and 
ofiiccs  in  the  more  jirominent  boroughs. 

VOC.\L  MUSIC 

Beeflioven  Society.— The  first  singing  society  at 
Reading  was  organized  about  1832.  It  as  called 
the  Beethoven  Society.  The  first  concert  was  given 
in  the  "State-House"  which  was  a  great  success. 
Concerts  were  given  by  the  society  for  a  number 
of  years  afterward. 

Harijwnie  .\[ae>inere!ior. — The  second  society 
was  the  Reading  ^laenncrchor.  organized  in  1847. 
This  has  maintained  an  active  existence  ever  since, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  singing  societies  in 
Uie  L'nited  States.  The  first  X^ational  .^acngerfest 
was  held  at  Philadelphia  in  1850.  and  William  Ros- 
enthal (then  living  at  Philadeli^hia,  but  at  Reading 
since  1860)   was  tb.e  presiding  officer.     There  were 


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READING 


211 


oiilv  four  societies  in  atteiulaiice.  tlie  Reading-  Ma;n- 
nerchor  being  one  of  them.  The  hrst  Saenyerfest 
at  Reading-  was  given  under  the  iiuspices  of  the 
society  in  1868.  It  was  attended  by  seventeen 
German  singing  societies.  In  lr<T4,  the  Harmonic 
Maennerchor  (which  was  organized  in  186d)  con- 
soHdated  with  the  Reading  Maennerchor,  and  the 
former  name  was  adopted.  In  1878,  the  society 
secured  quarters  in  the  large  structure  on  Sixth 
street  near  Walnut,  on  v.liich  account  the  building 
was  named  Muennerclior  ll;il!,  .md  there  the  so- 
ciety has  remained  until  now.  in  1881,  the  second 
Saengerfest  v;as  given  at  Reading  and  it  was  at- 
tended by  several  thousand  Germans  from  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  country.  The  National  Saenger- 
fests  at  Newark  in  1891,  at  New  York  in  1894, 
and  at  Piiiladeiphia  in  ISOT,  were  attended  by  the 
society  and  the  members  acquitted  themselves  most 
creditably.  The  third  Saengerfest  at  Reading  was 
in  1S9"3,  known  as  the  "First  Pennsylvania  .Saen- 
gerfest," because  only  societies  from  the  State 
were  allowed  to  participate.  On  Aug.  5,  1897, 
the  societv  celebrated  its  fiftieth  anniversary,  there 
being  present  many  delegates  from  German  sing- 
ing societies  from  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States, 
besides  delegations  from  all  the  German  societies 
at  Reading. 

Rcadiit(^  Musical  Society. — The  third  society  was 
formed  in  1855  by  H.  D.  Torrey,  an  artist,  and 
named  the  Reading  ^lusical  Society.  Annual  con- 
certs were  given  and  the  Oi-gan.ization  was  main- 
tained untiflSGO. 

Mozart  Musical  Uuio)i.— The  fourth  society  was 
formed  in  186i?,  and  called  the  Mozart  ]\Iusical 
Union.  Concerts  were  given  annuallv  here  and 
elsewhere  until   1S7-3. 

Reading  Choral  Society. — In  1875.  Prof.  Edward 
A.  Berg  organized  the  fifth,  by  the  name  of  Read- 
ing Choral  Society.  It  participated  in  the  May 
Musical  Festival  at  New  York  City  in  lSS-2,  which 
was  given  under  the  leadership  of  Theodore  Thom- 
as. The  grand  chorus  comprised  .'3.500  voices,  and 
in  rendering  one  of  the  pieces  on  the  program, 
the  tenor  part  was  sustained  by  the  Reading  Choral 
members  so  effectually  as  to  win  the  special  com- 
mendation of  Thomas  himself.  The  society  was 
represented  on  that  occasion  by' 103  members.  Num- 
erous concerts  were  given  by  the  society  at  great 
expense,  at  which  nearly  all  the  renowned  oratorios 
were  rendered.  The  members  reorganized  in  Octo- 
ber, 1897,  and  participated  in  the  Eisteddfod  at 
Allcntown,  Pa.,  on  Thanksgiving  Dav,  where  they 
won  four  cash  prizes. 

Reading  Church  Choral  Societv  was  organized 
from  the  Reading  Choral  Societv  shortly  after  E. 
A.  Berg's  decease  in  1897.  and  Eilward  H.  Knerr 
has  been  the  director  until  the  present  time.  It 
numbers  100  members  and  gives  three  concerts  each 
year,  whicli  are  largely  patronized.  Its  rehearsal 
meetings  are  given  in  the  First  Baptist  Church. 

Reading  Liedcrkranz  was  organiz.'d  in  1S85.  Its 
first  festival  was  held  in  Dcppcn's  Hall  in  1890;  on 


whicli  occasion  German  societies  were  in  attendance 
from  Reading,  Pottsville,  Allentown  and  Wilming- 
ton. In  1891  its  quarters  were  e^tablished  in  Li- 
brary Hall.  In  1891  the  society  participated  in  the 
singing  contest  at  Allento-\vn  and  won  the  first  prize, 
scoring  the  highest  number  of  points.  The  quar- 
ters of  the  society  were  continued  in  Library  Hall 
until  1901,  when  it  purchased  a  property  at  No.  831 
Chestnut  street  and  remodeled  the  building  to  suit 
its  purjioses,  where  it  has  continued  in  very  active 
and  successful  existence  until  the  present  time. 
It  has  given  annual  concerts  here  and  elsewhere 
which  were  largely  patronized  and  heartily  appre- 
ciated. The  membership  in  19n9  was  forty-five 
active  members,  and  250  passive. 

The  society  attended  the  State  Saengerfest  at  Al- 
lentown in  1905,  and  at  Wilkcs-Barre  in  1907, 
winning  at  the  latter  place  the  second  prize  in  the 
first  class. 

During  the  "German  Week"  in  1908  at  Pendora 
Park,  the  society  gave  three  concerts  on  alternate 
days,  assisted  by  the  Germania  Orchestra,  and  the 
attendance  at  the  second  concert  was  estimated  at 
15,000,  evidencing  the  great  popularity  of  the  so- 
ciety and  its  superiority  as  a  musical  organization. 
Prof.  George  D.  Haage  has  filled  the  position  of 
director  m  a  .s'uperior  manner  since  February,  1903. 
Previous  prominent  directors  wore  John  Dersch  and 
Jacob  Schmidt.  The  officers  for  1909  were:  Presi- 
dent, William  Alsdorf;  secretar-y,  Henry  Schorn ; 
treasurer,  Levi  Weitzenkorn. 

INSTRUMIvXTAL   MUSIC 

The  first  brass  band  at  Reading  was  organized 
in  1814.  From  that  time  until  1S52,  several  bands 
flourished  for  a  while,  the  Reading  ^klilitary  Band, 
and  afterward  the  IMcchanics'  Brass  Band,  having 
been  quite  prominent. 

Ringgold  Band. — In  185-?,  eighteen  men  of  Read- 
ing, mostly  mechanics  but  fond  of  instrumental 
music,  associated  together  and  organized  a  band, 
which  they  named  the  Ringgold  Brass  Band,  after 
the  Ringgold  Ligl-it  Artillery,  of  which  the  nien 
were  members.  John  A.  Hook  was  the  leader. 
When  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  its  services  were 
tendered  to  the  government.  It  was  connected  with 
the  25th  Regiment.  P.  \'..  and,  served  the  term 
of  its  enlistment,  three  months.  Joseph  \Mnter 
became  the  musical  director  in  1868.  and  filled  this 
j)osition  for  thirty  years,  and  brought  it  to  a  high 
state  of  efficiency.  It  accompanied  the  State  Fen- 
cibles  of  Philadelphia  to  the  centennial  celebration 
of  Bunker  Hill:  and  in  sjiecial  reque>t_  of  the  com- 
missioners, it  participated  in  the  opening  ceremon- 
ies of  the  Centennial  at  Philadelphia  in  1876.  In 
1878,  it  took  part  in  the  centennial  celebration  at 
Valley  Forge.  In  1881,  it  was  attached  to  the  1st 
Brigade,  N.  G.  P.,  with  35  nicmbers  :  and  in  that 
vear  it  was  detailed  to  accompany  a  provisional 
bri.i:a<le  as  an  e-C(M-t  to  the  Governor  and  n-icmbers 
of  th.e  Legislature  at  the  centennial  celebration  at 


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213 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLA'AXIA 


Yorktown,  \'a.  In  "J8SS,  it  participated  in  the  one 
hundredth  anniversary  of  constitutional  f;overn- 
ment  at  Xew  York  City  ;  in  IS'JU.  in  tiie  centennial 
celebration  at  Mantinc:don,  Pa.;  and  in  IS!'?,  in  the 
centennial  celebration  at  \\'aynesboro,  I'a.  Besides 
these  great  occasions,  it  led  political  clubs  in  parades 
at  nearly  all  the  inaugurations  of  the  I'residents 
of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  Governors  of  Penn- 
sylvania, since  IS.j"^.  It^  annual  concerts  are 
superb  and  v/ell  patronized.  It  furnished  the  nuisic 
at  the  Princeton  College  reunions  in  190M  and  IDOG. 

Gcr)iiauia  Band  was  organized  in  1S87  with  ^Ion- 
roe  A.  Althouse  as  leader  and  had  a  very  success- 
ful existence  for  fourteen  years  under  his  leader- 
ship, when  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Ringgold. 
Prof.  Althouse  has  been  the  leader  since  then. 

Other  bands  organized  within  the  past  ten  years: 

Cadet,  1898,  4ii  members:  Arthur  Y(x:um,  leader 
since  1907. 

IV lute  Eagle  (Polish),  1899. 

Colonial,  1901,  Archie  Boyer,  leader. 

Fhilhannoiiic,  19(13,   Harry  E.  Falirbach.  leader. 

Italian,  1905,  Ignatius  Sparagana,  leader,  30 
members. 

Municipal. 

Prof.  0.  H.  Unger  has  been  teaching  and  or- 
ganizing bands  since  1S(!5.  In  18TG  he  had  on  hand 
thirty-two  bands  in  l!erks  and  surrounding  coun- 
ties. He  directed  the  Liberty  Band  from  1877  to 
1889;  and  the  Piiilharnn^nic  (formerly  Athletic) 
for  seven  years.  lie  also  orgam'zed  a  Svmphony 
Orchestra  in  1901  with  15  members.  It  has  been 
gradually  enlarged  to  50  members,  and  its  concerts 
have  been  very  popular. 

DriDn  Corps. — The  fife  and  drum  corps  was  a 
musical  institution  at  Reading  from  the  time  of 
the  Revolution  aiid  its  identitv  has  been  preserved 
until  the  present.  It  constituted  three  pieces:  fife, 
small  drum  and  large  drum.  When  the  Civil  war 
was  carried  on  from  ISCl  to  ISGo,  several  fifes  and 
small  drums  were  included  in  the  corps,  which  made 
the  "martial  music"  more  demonstrative  and  effec- 
tive. Since  then  the  pieces  have  been  gradually  in- 
creased until  they  number  twentv  and  more,  in- 
cluding cornets  and  slide-trombones. 

The  "Big-Six"  Drum  Corps  are  old  soldiers  who 
were  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war  and  tliev  have  main- 
tained their  musical  organization  until  the  present 
time.     The  leader  is  William  Klineyoung. 

There  are  now  three  other  corps  at  Reading: 

Military,  organized  in  1898,  embracing  20  pieces; 
leader,   Daniel   Raudenbush. 
•     Schuylkill,  ?1    pieces:  leader.   Ilarrv  Rickenbach. 

Liberty,  IG  pieces  ;  leader,  William  Weidman.     ^ 

cir.\KiTAi;Li-: 
Soup  Society. — The  first  ptiblic  association  for 
indigent  persons  of  Reading  was  formed  in  18"23. 
Owing  to  the  construction  of  the  Schuylkill  canal, 
much  sickness  and  distress  arose  in  numerous  fam- 
ilies at  Reading,  and  also  along  the  canal  to  the 
county   line  beyond  Birdsboro.     The   organization 


was  called  a  "soup  society."  and  nuich  relief  wa- 
afforded.  After  tlie  prevailing  epidemic  sub?i.k-d, 
the  society  disbanded. 

Benevolent  Society. — In  1835,  tlie  Reading  Be- 
nevolent Society  was  established.  The  first  annual 
meeting  was  held  on  Jan.  1,  183G,  and  annual  meet- 
ings have  been  held  regidarly  ever  since.  The  reg- 
ular meetings  of  the  managers  were  held  in  private 
houses  until  1874;  since  then  the  building  of  the 
Relief  Society  has  been  occupied. 

Relief  Society.— In  18GG,  the  Reading  Relief  So- 
cictv  was  organized  for  distributing  soup  to  the 
poor.  It  co-operates  with  the  Benevolent  Society. 
In  18" -1,  a  fine  building  ai  Franklin  and  Plum  streets 
was  erected  for  the  society.  It  cjperates  two  build- 
ings during  the  winter  months,  the  other  being  on 
Spring  street  at  }^Ioss. 

Bureau-  of  Employment. — The  Bureau  of  Employ- 
ment was  formed  in  1815  by  a  number  of  v.omen 
who  were  connected  with  the  Benevolent  Society, 
for  employing  deserving  and  self-respecting  women 
at  sewing  and  paying  them  fair  prices  for  their 
work,  either  in  money  or  clothing.  Quarters  were 
established  in  the  Relief  Society  building.  Dur- 
ing the  first  winter,  over  two  hundred  women  were 
supjjlied  with  work. 

This  society  has  had  a  successful  existence  until 
th.e  present  time.  William  ^I.  Stauffer,  a  generous 
and  public-spirited  man,  has  served  as  president 
since  its  organization,  and  the  society  has  had  its 
quarters  in  his  budding  at  Sixth  and  Franklin 
streets  since  its  erection  in  1898.  The  society  an- 
nually secures  employment  at  household  work  for 
upA-ard  of  five  hundred  women,  which  evidences 
the  extent  of  its  usefuhieas  to  the  community.  Mrs. 
James  B.  Bnisstar  has  l.ieen  its  secretary  since  1900; 
and  its  superintendent,  since  1907,  Miss  Sarah 
Wentzel.  The  previous  superintendent  for  seven 
years  was  ^Mrs.  Anna  ]•'..  Weissflog. 

Readitig  Hospital. — A  society  was  organized  in 
1SG8  to  provide  medical  aid  to  the  indigent  sick  and 
wounded  people  of  Reading,  and  in  1SG9  it  was  in- 
corporated under  the  name  of  Reading  Dispensary. 
In  1883,  this  name  was  changed  to  the  Reading 
Flospital.  Then  the  directors  raised  .S"35,000.  and 
the  State  appropriated  ^^O.OOO  toward  a  building 
which  was  erected  ill  1884  at  l-T'ont  and  Spring 
streets,  which  was  opened  in  18SG.  An  addition 
was  made  to  it  in  1890,  called  the  Wootten  Wing 
(John  E.  Wootten)  at  a  cost  of  $20,000,  and  a 
Training  School  was  erected  on  the  lot  for  student 
nurses  in  18MG,  by  the  efforts  of  the  Ladies'  Aux- 
iliarv.  Annual  contributions  have  been  received 
from  the  State  since  its  erection.  The  medical 
staff  is  selected  from  the  Reading  Me'lical  .Associa- 
tion and  consists  of  six  surgeons,  six  physicians 
and  a  resident  physician,  who  are  elected  annu- 
allv.  Total  cost.  $75,000.  Annual  re])i)rts  have 
been  issued  showing  its  superb  management.  The 
board  of  manager.s  comj^ri^e  some  of  the  most  in- 
fluential men  of  Reading. 


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READIXG 


213 


A  training  school  Avas  established  in  1890  fur 
professional  nurses  and  since  1891  there  have  been 
graduates  annually,  numbering  altogetlier  eighty- 
three.  The  number  of  beds  in  the  hospital  is 
sixty-five. 

Patients  treated  during  1908  numbered  880,  the 
largest  since  the  opening  of  the  hospital  in  1869. 
The  next  largest  number  was  ?(jy,  in  1^98. 

The  number  of  patients  treated  have  been  as 
follows : 

In-patients    previously    reported    ll,or>S 

During    1908     SS6 

11,024 

Out-patients   previously   reported    27,41S 

During   190S    ' 1,405 

28,823 

Total   treated    40,747 

OfTicers  of  the  Hospital : 
President,  Charles  Kessler,  ]S('.7-72:  Dr.  Joseph  Coblentz, 

1872-81;  \V.   K.  C.  Coxe,  1881-01;   William  D. 

Smith,   since   1891. 
Treasurer.  U.  U.  Muhlenberg,  1807-69;  A.  F.  Boas,  1870- 

72;  Dr.  \V.  .M.  WciJman,  1873-74;  Dr.  P.  M. 

Ziegler,    187.-.-8S ;     P.    R.    Stetson,    1889-1905; 

Frank   S.  Livingood,  since  1905. 
Sccretarv,  Dr.  P.  M.  Ziegler,    1807-72:  Dr.  T.  P..  Brooke, 

1872-81;    Dr.    William    F.    .Muhlenberg,    1SS2; 

Dr.  Israel  Cleaver,  since  iss;!. 

.S7.  Joseph's  Hospital.— In  1873,  the  Vollmer 
property  at  Twelfth  and  Walnut  streets  was  pur- 
chased for  hosi)ital  ])urposcs  by  "Rev.  George  Borne- 
niann,  and  a  small  brick  dwelling  thererm  was 
placed  under  the  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Fran- 
cis. In  lS8o,  a  suj^erior  large  brick  building  was 
erected  costing  $00,000,  and  in  189.5,  an  addition 
was  made  to  it  costing  $85,000,  all  paid  bv  contribu- 
tions from  the  community,  solicited  by  the  Sisters. 
A  large,  superior  and  attractive  annex  was  built  in 
1904.  The  medical  attendance  is  supplied  from  the 
physicians  at  Reading. 

The  total  number  of  patients  treated  has  been 
14,512   (in  1908  being  992,  and  in   1907,  97  5). 

Sister  Anastasia  was  the  Mother  Superior  from 
1885  to  1887:  Sister  Julianna,  from  1887  to  1907; 
and  Sister  Fulgentia,  from  1907  to  the  present 
time. 

A  training  sclnxil  for  graduating  nurses  was 
established  in  1905;  three  nurses  Avcre  graduated 
in  190G,  two  m  1907,  and  three  in  1908.  ' 

James  Xolan  has  officiated  as  president  of  the 
board  of  managers  since  1908,  and  Frederick  Steph- 
an  as  secretarv  since  1901. 

Homoeopathic  Hospital. — In  .\ugust,  1887,  sev- 
enteen womf^n  started  the  IIouKTopathic  Hospital 
and  Dispensary  .Association,  and  for  its  maintenance 
funds  were  obtained  from  parlor  entertainments, 
donations  and  membership  dues.  The  demands 
for  treatment  increasing,  a  board  of  trustees  was 
organized  two  years  afterward,  and  j)remise>;  Xu. 
12(;  Xorth  Si.xth  street  were  purchased  for  S21,- 
000.  The  building  was  completely  furnished  by 
the  Ladies'  Auxiliary,  and  the  hospital  was  formally 


opened  July  1,  1891.  A  fine,  large  and  substan- 
tial aime.x  was  built  in  1905. 

Total  number  of  beds  in  the  hospital  is  seventy- 
five.  There  are  four  public  wards ;  two  private 
wards ;  and  thirteen  private  rooms ;  also  a  con- 
tagious ward. 

It  is  equipped  with  all  the  most  recent  medical 
and  surgical  appliances.  Cost  of  institution,  S75, 
000. 

The  following  statistics  arc  presented  to  show 
the  extent  of  its  services  to  the  community: 

In-patic  nts,   1905   to   1903    1,241 

Out-patients,    1905    to   1908    8,048. 

Prescriptions,   etc.,   1905   to   1903    10,548 

.•\ccident  cases,   1900  to  1908    8,140 

A  training  school  for  nurses  was  established  at 
the  Hospital  in  1895,  and  since  then  annually,  ex- 
cepting 189G,  190:5  and  1907,  nurses  have  been 
graduated,  numbering  altogt-ther  twenty-si.x. 

Officers  of  the  Hospital : 

President,  Isaac  McPIose,  1590-94:  C.  H.  Ruhl,  since  1894. 
Treasurer,  James   L.   Douglas,    ISjO-O'?;   Jerome   L.   Buyer, 

1892-1890;    Charles    M    Lcippe.   since   1896. 
Secretary,  C.  H.  Ruhl,  1890-94  ;  W.  W.  Light,  since  1894. 

Dr.  Lewis  A.  Shollenberger  has  been  the  super- 
intendent of  the  hospital  since  1897;  and  he  has 
been  serving  on  the  medical  stalf  since  1887. 

Jl''idoZi.'s'  floiiie. — The  Society  of  the  Home  for 
Widows  and  Single  Women  was  establi.shed  in 
1874,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  humane  and 
charitable  relief,  assistance  and  support  to  widows 
and  single  women  of  Reading,  and  incorporated 
Jan.  11,  1875.  A  building  was  rented  for  a  time ; 
then  a  property  on  Eighth  street  near  Chestnut 
street  in  which  a  "Home"'  was  established,  and  there 
it  continued  until  July  7,  1S8().  wlien  it  was  re- 
moved to  the  present  place  at  Sixteenth  and  Haak 
streets.  The  superior  building  tb.en  erected  was 
occupied  until  Feb.  5,  1905,  when  it  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  It  was  immediately  rebuilt  at  a  cost  of 
$15,000.  It  has  been  managed  in  a  most  success- 
ful manner,  many  people  of  the  city  contributing 
annually  toward  its  support,  and  the  spirit  con- 
stantly dis])laved  is  truly  admirable.  The  officials 
from  1875,  who  have  carried  on  this  charitable 
institution,  are  the   following: 

First    Directress.    Mrs.    M.    A.    DeWolte    Howe,    1875-94; 

Mrs.  H.  H.   Muhlenberg,  1805-1901  ;   Susan  E. 

Benson.    1902-09. 
Treasurer,   Susan    K.    Benson,    1875-1900;    Mrs.   Jerome   L. 

Bover,   1901-07;    Mrs.   G.   A.   Schlechtcr,   1908- 

09." 
Secretarv,  Rachel  D.  Grisconi.  1875-89;  Mrs.  P.  M.  Ziegler, 

1890-1900. 
Matron,  Eli/abcfh   R.  Lea,  1377-78;    Mrs.   Eliz.-ibcth  Knox. 

1878-80;      M-rs.--Emma-     Siliaoinicr,      1880-81; 

Pamelia    P.    Draper.    1881-84;    :Mrs.    Mary    .\. 

Filbert,   1884-87:    Miss   Sarah   R.   ]--ilhert,   1887 

(Junc-Xov.)  ;  Fmily  T.  llnnilin,  1887-98:  Mrs. 
--     Margaret   Xevin.   1899-100:; ;    Mrs.   Belle  Wor- 
rell,  1904-09. 

From  1875  to  1908,  the  society  had  secured  forty- 
three  life  members.  The  inmates  wjio  died  in  tiiis 
time  were  5t'i ;  and  the  inmates  during  the  year 
1908  were  'M. 


.(  '   ,,  .J. 


y;H     .  ■    ! 


->      .,!.,M.- 


>14 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


Home  for  Friendless  Chiidren. — The  Home  for 
Friendlefs  Ohiklren  beL;an  a;  a  day  nursery  in  May, 
1S81,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Bureau  of  Employ- 
ment at  Xo.  23U  Franklin  street,- and  a  widow  as 
matron,  and  five  children  were  then  placed  there. 
The  Home  becoming  too  small,  a  lot  was  purchased 
on  Centre  avenue  near  Spring  street,  and  a  hue 
double  two-story  building  erected,  which  was  ded- 
icated on  Thanksgiving  Dav,  1SS8.  The  number 
of  children  averages  from  '65  to  40.  The  society 
endeavors  tu  secure  private  homes  for  these  chil- 
dren, and  there  they  are  kept  until  eighteen  years 
of  age.  Two  additions  were  built  to  it,  the  north 
wing  in  1903,  "the  gift  of  that  staunch  friend  of 
the  Home,  ^Ir.  William  D.  Smith,"'  and  the  south 
wing  in  190G,  also  the  gift  of  Mr.  Smith,  who,  at 
the  same  time,  presented  a  kindergarten  oultit  and 
swings  for  outdoor  anuisernent. 

The  incorporators  in  ISSS  were  Margaretta  C. 
Ermentroul,  Elizabeth  S.  Richards,  Emma  A.  End- 
lich,  Amelia  D.  Leaf  and  Hannah  Cotterel. 

The  first  named  served  as  president  from  1S8S 
to  1894,  and  the  second  from  1894  to  1898.  Mrs. 
Rev.  B.  Bausman  has  served  this  position  since 
1898.  ]\Iiss  Cotterel  has  served  as  treasurer  since 
1888;  and  Aliss  Endlich  served  as  the  secretary 
from  1888  to  1908,  when  she  was  succeeded  by  Miss 
Addie  C.  Owen. 

The  matrons  of  this  most  commendable  insti- 
tution have  been:  Airs.  Lucy  F'ranknm.  18S8-9G; 
Miss  Kate  Williams,  189G-98:  Miss  S.  R.  Ilem- 
pcrly,  1898-1904;  Mrs.  Flora  C.  Bricker,  1904-OG: 
Miss  Margaret  J.  Durr,  190G-10. 

St.  Catlnirinc's  rcnialc  Orplmns'  .■Isyluni  was 
founded  by  Mrs.  Catharine  [Madary.  who,  in  1871, 
devised  her  property  at  Franklin  and  }>Iap!c  streets 
to  Archbishop  Wood  in  trust  for  the  rulers  of 
the  ^Mother  Houie  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity  at  Em- 
mittsburg,  Md.  Three  sisters  came  from  Emmitis- 
burg,  and  took  possession  in  April,  1873.  In  1873, 
a  superior  larg'e  brick  editlce  was  erected,  and  in 
1887,  a  large  addition  was  built  to  it.  The  pres- 
ent number  of  girls  in  the  asylum  is  90;  total 
number  cared  for  is  410.  Eight  sisters  are  in 
the  institution. 

House  of  Good  Shepherd  was  established  at 
Fourth  and  Pine  streets  in  1889  by  the  Roman 
Catholics  at  Reading,  and  a  colony  of  sisters  from 
the  Provincial  House  at  Philadelphia  came  to 
Reading  to  take  charge  of  it.  It  continued  there 
until  January,  1900,  when  it  was  removed  to  (ilen- 
side,  where  a  superb  institution  was  established  on 
eight  acres  of  ground  at  a  cost  of  $180,000.  The 
object  is  to  reclaim  fallen  girls  and  women,  and 
teach  them  sewing  and  laundry  work,  so  that  when 
they  leave  the  place  they  can  earn  a  living.  They 
are  allowed  to  remain  if  they  wish  to  do  so.  and 
then  they  become  Magdalens.  There  are  25 
cloistered  sisters.  3  outdoor  sisters  and  13  Mag- 
dalens connected  with  tlie  in-^titution.  Total  num- 
ber of  girls  caicd  for  is  v*"28:  present  lunnber.  JGO. 

St.  Paul's  Orphan  Asxhnu  for  Boys  was  estab- 
lished at   Xo.   137   X^'orth   Xinth   street   in   1889  bv 


the  St.  Paul's  Roman  Catholic  congregati(jn,  and 
IG  boys  becaTue  its  first  inmates.  Xow  it  harhori 
7u  boys;  total  number  cared  fur,  :.'n(i.  In  l.^'.iT, 
the  institution  was  enlarged.  It  is  supervised  bv 
the  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church  and  supported  bv 
voluntary   contributions;    10   sisters  are   in   charge. 

Canstatter  Voiks-Fcst  J\'rci:i  was  organized  in 
1882,  for  celebrating  annually  the  "Canstatter 
\'olks-F"cst,"  and  for  fourteen  years  was  very  suc- 
cessful, the  celebrations  attracting  many  people, 
contributing  much  pleasure,  and  developing  great 
sociability.  The  members  were  almost  entirclv 
Germans  and  at  one  time  numbered  275.  It  was 
discontinued   in   1903. 

5".  P.  C.  A. — The  Society  for  the  Prevention  of 
Cruelty  to  Animals  was  organized  in  1891.  It  has 
been  maintained  success ftiUy  until  now.  Thereto- 
fore cruelty  to  animals  was  a  common  occurrence  in 
Reading,  but  after  a  number  of  inhuman  persons 
had  been  prosecuted  and  fined  for  their  cruelty 
to  horses  and  cattle  (about  one  hundred,  mostly 
persons  from  the  country  districts.)  a  much  im- 
proved public  sentiment  followed.  As  a  consequence, 
cruelty  to  animals  is  seldom  seen  upon  the  streets 
and  complaints  on  that  account  are  rare.  This 
was  succeeded  by  the  "Humane  Society  of  Berks 
County."'  incorporated  in  1900  to  protect  children,  as 
well  as  animals,  from  cruel  treatment;  it  has  since 
exerted  much  influence.  Hon.  H.  Willis  Bland 
was  president  until  1903,  and  Cieorge  J.  Gross  has 
filled  this  office  since  then.  The  society  established 
comfortable  quarters  at  No.  114  South  Sixth  street; 
its  membership  is  250. 

Beiilah  .luchorao^e. — This  noble  institution  was 
founded  at  Reading  in  1907  by  ]\Irs.  AI.  L.  Lan- 
dis.  Its  purpose  is  to  rescue  wayward  and  erring 
girls  and  women,  and  help  them  to  secure  positions 
of  honorable  self-support.  .The  building  is  situated 
on  Fifth  street  below  Binganian,  having  been 
secured  at  a  cost  of  $G.O0O.  'Mrs.  Kate  L.  Schultz 
is  the  matron.  It  has  upv.ard  of  six  hundred  con- 
tributing members  and  is  generously  assisted  by 
donations.  Through  its  influence,  many  .girls  and 
women  have  been  rcfonned  and  found  comfortable 
homes. 

RELIGIOUS 

V.  M.  C.  A. — -The  Young  r^Ien's  Christian  As- 
sociation began  at  Reading  in  ISGO,  but  it  did  not 
continue  long  in  existence.  A  second  attempt  was 
made  in  18G9,  and  the  organization  then  effected 
has  continued  until  the  present  time.  From  1879 
to  1895,  it  was  situated  in  the  Iheneiser  building 
at  Fj'ghth  and  Penn  streets.  Its  quarters  were  es- 
tablished at  X'o.  G2G  Penn  street  in  1895,  at  a  total 
cost  of  $75,000.  The  exterior  appearance  is  im- 
posing and  tlie  interior  compartments  for  reading, 
lecturing,  ctlucational.  athletic  and  entertainment 
l)urposes  are  complete.  F.  .S.  Livingcxxl,  Esq..  has 
Ijeen  president  since  188G ;  James  II.  Edward-, 
secretary  since  1889.  Special  efforts  were  made  ti> 
increase   membership  in   1909,   with   great   succe-^. 

U\  C.  r.  U.—Jn  1884,  Frances  E'.  Willard  vis- 
ited ReafliniJ'  in  b.chalf  of  the  Women"s  Christian 


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215 


Temperance  Union  and  tlironj^'h  lier  inllaence  a 
societv  was  formed  which  has  been  kejit  up  since. 
The  members  number  iJGO.  In  IDUi  a  granite  drink- 
ing fountain  was  erected  on  tlie  north  side  of  Penn 
Square  in  memory  of  Miss  W'iliard. 

The  Boys'  Brigcnic  was  originallv  started  in  Scot- 
land in  iyS3.  The  first  company  in  the  United 
States  was  organized  in  Cahiornia  in  1.^89,  and 
the  first  at  Reading  in  ]sM").  The  object  of  tlie 
brigade  is  to  advance  Christianity  amongst  boys 
through  military  organization.  All  religious  de- 
nominations are  represented  in  it.  Some  years 
ago,  there  were  at  Reading  eighteen  companies, 
which  constituted  the  ;)th  Regiment  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  total  membership  was  800  boys 
over  eleven  years  of  age.  Each  church  supplied 
the  equipment  for  its  respective  companies.  Re- 
cently, however,  the  enthusiasm  has  subsided  and 
the  regiment  has  dwinilled  to  two  companies  con- 
nected with  the  First  Baptist  Church,  numbering 
about  125  members. 

P.  &  R.  Y.  M.  C.  ^J.— On  March  15,  189(3,  ten 
men  met  at  the  home  of  Samuel  ^lonasmith  in 
response  to  a  call  from  Edward  A.  Ploman  to 
discuss  the  question  of  engaging  in  religious  work 
among  their  fellow  employees  of  the  I\  &  R.  Rait- 
way  Company,  and  of  providing  a  place  wdiere 
influences  and  surroundings  would  prove  morally 
and  ph)  sically  beneficial. 

Through  the  kindness  of  George  F.  Bacr,  Esq., 
then  president  of  the  Reading  Iron  Company,  the 
building  and  grounds  fainiliarly  known  as  "Green- 
Willow  Park"  (on  1'Mghth  street,  just  beyond 
Green)  were  set  aside  for  the  use  of  the  new  or- 
ganization, which  became  the  P.  &  R.  Railway 
Department,  Young  ]\Icn"s  Christian  Association. 

The  purpose  of  the  Association  was  to  provide 
an  attractive  place  for  the  intellectual,  social,  physi- 
cal and  spiritual  welfare  of  the  employees  and  it 
has  been  productive  of  beneficent  results  to  all 
such  individuals  who  have  come  under  its  influ- 
ence. The  Association  is  controlled  by  a  Com- 
mittee of  JManagement,  elected  annually  bv  the 
members. 

Any  male  employee,  or  male  member  of  his  fam- 
ily, in  the  service  of  the  Reading  Railway,  Read- 
ing Iron  Company,  or  affiliated  lines  of  service, 
resident  in  or  near,  or  running  into  Reading,  not 
less  than  sixteen  years  of  ag^e,  may  become  a  mem- 
ber. On  March  1,  1909.  there  were  521  members, 
including  men  of  all  creeds. 

E.  J.  Dunlap  became  the  first  sccretarv  in  March. 
1898.  He  was  succeeded  b\-  James  W.  Leach  in 
September,  190?;  by  Henry  E.  W.  Simon  in  Jan- 
uary, 1905;  and  by  Edwin  R.  Gobrecht  on  Oct. 
1,  1908.  who  served  efficiently  until  March  'M. 
1009,  when  he  resigned  to  become  the  general  sec- 
retary of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  at  Empire.  Panama 
Canal  Zone,  under  the  au'iiiices  of  the  Panama 
Canal  Commission. 

VARir.TY  OF  Associations. — In  order  to  show 
the   great   variety   of   the   associalii~>ns    at    Rc;idiiii'-, 


Golf 

Gunning 
Gymnastic 
Quoiting 
Tennis 


Humane 

Reading    Benevolent 

Reading  Relief 

W.  C.   T.  U. 

Woman's  Employment 

Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Y.  W.  C.  A. 


Trust   Companies 


they  have  been  presented  in  the  following  class- 
ification. Tliey  are  indeed  numerous  and  it  is 
apparent  from  the  extent  of  the  variety  that  very 
few  of  the  citizens  are  not  connected  with  any  of 
them.  Xo  attempt  has  been  made  to  give  the 
membership ;  and  the  compiler  can  not  even  pre- 
tend to  have  given  the  names  of  all  the  associa- 
tions. 
Agricultuyal 

Athletic  anil  Sl>orting 
■  Baseball 
Basket-ball 
Bicycle 
Boating 
Bowling 
Foot-ball 

Chaj-i  table 
Associated  Charities 
Home  for  Friendless  Chil- 
dren 
Home    for    Widows    and 

Single  Women 
Hope  Rescue  Mission 
Hospitals,  Reading,  Hom- 
eopathic, St.  Joseph's 
Financial 

Banks    9 

B.  &;  S.  Associations  ...  .2 

Historical 

Historical  Society  of 
Berks  County 

Medical 

Berks    Comity    Medical 
Reading    Medical 

Militarx 

Baptist  Boys'  Brigade 
Reading  Artillerists  (Com- 
panv  A,  4th  Regt.,  N. 
G.  P.) 
ilisccllaiieniis   50 

Musical — InstrunKHtal 
Amphion's    Musical    Club 
Big    Six    Drum   Corps 
Cadet   Band 
Colonial   Band 
Drexel's   Orchestra 
Fahrbach's   Orchestra 
Gcrmania   Orchestra 
Italian    Band 

Ladies'  Symphony  Or- 
chestra 

Musical — I'ocal 

Hannonie  Maemierihnr 
Reading    Ciioral    Society 

Patriotic 

Daughters  of  American 
Revolution 

Valiticol 

.\mericns   Club 

I^levcnth  Ward  Democra- 
tic Club 

Fifth  ^Ya^d  Democratic 
Club 

Jackson  Democratic  C!ul) 

Lincnln   Rcptiblicaiii 

.McKinKy  Club 

Protecliz-c 

Reading    Underwriters 


Berks     County     Homoeo- 
pathic 
Reading   Dental 

Reading  Rifles  (Company 
I,  -ith  Regt.,  \.  G.  P.) 


Liberty    Drum   Corps 
Military  Drum  Corps 
Philharmonic    Band 
Polish   Band 
Ringgold   Band 
Schinlkill    Drum    Corps 
White  Eagle  Band 


Reading    Licderkranz 


Conrad  Weiser  Branch  of 
D.  A.  R. 

Northeast  Democratic  As- 
sociation 

Xortheast  Republican 
League 

Sixth  Ward  Democratic 
Club 

Southeast  Republican 
League 

\'olunteer  Fire  Coinpaiiies 


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216 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PKXXSYLWIXIA 


All  the  difYcrent  dciioniiiiations  liave  societies  of  a 
literary,  si^cialilc  >.ir  ciiariiablt-  iiauirc,  numberiiig  about 
one   hundred. 

Secret  and  Bcncf.cial 

American    Protectiuii   As- 
sociation      tj 

American  Meclianics.  . .  lu 

Elks 

F.  and  A.  M 11 

F.  O.  E. 
Foresters  of  America 

G.  A.   R 2 

German    Order    of     Hr.r- 

ugari   2 

Heptasophs 

Knights  of  Friendihip..  7 

Knights  of  Golden   Eagle 

Iti 


Knights  of  Labor   3;; 

Knights  of  the  Maccabees 

Knights  of  Malta   3 

Knights  of  Mystic  Ch.iin 
Knights  of  Pythias  ...  5 
Mixlern  Woodmen   ....   2 

Odd   Fellows    7 

P.  O.  S.  of  A 17 

P.   O  ■  of  Americans...   4 

Red   Men   11 

Roman   Catholic    2;" 

Royal    Arcanum    3 

Temperance     4 

Temple  Club 


Social 
Alumni 

Berkshire;  Coui'.try  Club 
Combine  Club 
Elm  Leaf  Club 
Ivy  Leaf  Club 
Letter    Carriers' 


Nursery  Literary  .Associa- 
tion 
Reading  Reading  Club 
West  End  Club" 
Woman"?   Club 
Wyoniissing  Club 


GOVERNMENT  AND  OFFICL\ES 

ST  ATI-:    REPKE.sENTATIVES 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  Act  of  ]May  19, 
1874,  the  State  was  apportioned  into  senatorial  and 
representative  district.-..  ];y  thi;,  apportionment,  the 
city  of  ReacHng-  w.ts  made  a  separate  district  for 
representatives,  and  autliorized  to  elect  two  mem- 
bers. Previoiisiy  the  county,  inchiding-  the  coimty- 
scat,  was  one  district  and  the  Assemblymen  chosen 
from  the  city  are  therefore  included  with  the  coun- 
ty officials.  The  following^  persons  were  repre- 
sentatives  from   Reading: 

Name  Term 

Amos  B.  Wninirr    1875-76 

Jacob    Miller    187,=.-78 

Jeremiah    Boone    1877-80 

George   McFarlan    1879-8-? 

John   S.   Wagner    1881-82 

Asa    G.    W.    Smith     18S3-86 

Henry  D.  Green    1SS3-8G 

Spencer  H.  Smith    1887-88 

James   L.   Douglas    1887-S8 

Allen   S.   Beck    1SS9-92 

Samuel   D.   Mis?imer    1889-92 

Jolm  R.  Laucks   1803-04 

John   B.   Goodhart    1893-94 

Edward    H.    Luden     189.5-98 

David  West    lS9.i-98 

Daniel   K.   Hoch    1899-1902 

Harry    E.    Drase     1899-1902 

W.    Frank    M.-hr    190n-0(3 

James   B.   Gabriel    1903-Or, 

W.  Wayne   Weber    1907-08 

John    \V.    Morrison     19i)T-0S 

Richard   W.    F.    Rcuther    1909-U) 

Robert  G.   Bushong    1909-10 

KE.\l)IXr.    OEI-ICI.\I.S 

Towv. — The  local  cfovernmen;  at  Readinc:  from 
174S  to  17S:l  was  that  conimonlv  incident  to  a 
township  for  the  ret^ulation  of  road  affair-.  I'n- 
til  1T(!0,  it  was  included  in  .Msacc  tinvnship;  then 
it  was  established  into  a  sepai.ite  <listrict. 


EoROUGH.— C")n  Sept.  \2,  17"^;;.  the  town  was 
incorporated  into  a  borough,  and  the  peopk-  wer.- 
invested  with  enlarged  jiowers  for  local  affair-, 
which  related  chiefly  to  the  streets  and  the  public 
lieace.  Provision  wa^  made  for  the  annual  elec- 
tion of  two  burgesses,  four  assistants  (who  witli 
the  chief  burgess  constituted  the  council),  l-,i-!| 
constable,  town  clerk,  two  supervisors  and  two 
assessors.  The  charter  continued  the  same,  ex- 
cepting  several    modilkations   about   elections. 

City. — The  borough  was  incorporated  into  a 
city  on  ^.larch  IG,  1817.  The  Act  preserved  the 
wards  previously  created :  Northeast.  Northwest, 
Southeast,  Southwest  and  Spruce,  ami  it  provided 
for  the  election  of  one  select  and  one  common 
councilman  from  each  ward  by  the  electors,  the 
former  for  three  years  and  the  latter  for  one  year; 
for  the  annua!  election  of  a  mayor,  treasurer,  and 
three  auditors;  for  the  election  of  select  and  com- 
mon councilmen  from  the  sever;!  wards,  the  fur- 
mer  for  three  years  and  the  latter  for  one  vcar; 
and  it  provided  further  for  the  ammal  appoint- 
ment by  couricils  of  a  solicitor,  street  regulator, 
surveyor,  two  street  commissioners,  market  com- 
missioner, high  constable,  and  scavenger,  and  pres- 
idents and  clerks  of  councils.  It  created  two  dis- 
tricts for  aldermen  (Perm  street  being  the  divid- 
ing line).  Avith  two  aldermen  for  each  district, 
having  similar  term  of  (.►ftice  and  ]Kiwers  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace;  and  the  <lay  of  election  was 
fi.xed  for  the  third  h'riday  of  March. 

The  Act  was  modified  :'.farcli  lo.  18G1,  and  among 
other  things  provided  by  this  second  charter  the 
tenns  of  mayor  and  treasurer  were  extended  to 
two  years,  and  of  auditor  to  three  years;  and  it  was 
again  modified  April  2G,  18G4,  when  a  third  char- 
ter was  provided,  clianging  the  day  of  election  to 
the  second  Friday  of  February,  and  increasing  the 
term  of  common  councilmen  to  two  vears.  one-half 
of  the  number  to  be  chosen  every  two  vears  alter- 
nately. 

The  general  Act  of  IMay  •?:!.  1874,  accepted  by 
the  people  as  a  fourth  charter,  made  a  nutn- 
her  of  changes  in  the  local  government  of  Read- 
ing. The  day  of  election  was  changed  to  the  third 
Tuesday  of  F'ebruary.  Each  ward  became  en- 
titled to  an  alderman  for  five  years,  and  a  consta- 
ble and  assessor  for  three  years.  It  substituted 
a  controller  in  the  place  of  the  aurlitors.  with  a 
term  of  two  year,'^. ;  and  increased  the  term  of  en- 
gineer and  solicitor  to  two  years.  All  the  com- 
mon councilmen  were  to  be  elected  everv  two 
years. 

.A.  general  Act  was  jiasscd  Mav  23.  1881"),  for 
cities  of  the  third  cla-s  (which  included  Reading), 
and  the  terms  were  made  as  follows:  Mavor,  treas- 
urer, controller,  three  assessors  and  engineer,  three 
years;  solicitor,  two  years;  select  coimcilmen.  four 
\ears,  and  comninn  councilmen.  twn  ye.irs.  The 
Act  of  May  !•;.  lIHil.  increased  the  term  of  solici- 
tor to  three  vear^. 


<;:■/      i^.-y-ih.  ;     ,  <  :}.-:k'/:. 


J/'f  ;.!'■'' ,v > 


I J  't    ill'     ;::' 


'-''. -i;'- 


■ft      '  .'      .  •  » 


READIXG 


^17 


U'lirds. — The  first  sub-division  of  Reading  was 
made  in  ISIT  for  election  purposes.  The  divisions 
were  two,  North  ward  and  South  ward,  with  Penn 
street  as  the  dividing-  lino.  In  lo40,  it  was  sub- 
divided into  four  wards,  Xartheast,  Southeast, 
Xorthwest  and  Southwest,  willi  IVnn  street  and 
Sixth  street  as  the  dividing  lines.  And  in  l^i-l, 
a  fifth  ward  was  establislied  called  Spruce,  com- 
prising that  part  of  Reading  which  lav  lietween 
the  Schuylkill  and  the  rinladcli)hia  &  Rcaiiing  rail- 
road south  of  Spruce  street. 

In  ISGl,  the  names  of  the  wards  were  changed 
to  numerals :  Sjiruce  ward  to  First ;  Soutiiwest  to 
Second;  Southeast  lo  Third:  Northeast  to  Fourth; 
and  Northwest  to  Fifth.  In  1S'j4,  the  city  was  di- 
vided into  nine  wards.  In  ISTG,  two  wards  were 
added,  the  Tenth  ward  having-  been  taken  from'  the 
Second  (constituting  that  portion  lying  east  of 
Tenth  street)  and  the  Eleventh  from  the  Ninth, 
constituting-  that  portion  lying  north  of  Button- 
wood  street.  In  November,  1885,  two  additional 
wards  were  created  out  of  parts  of  the  Eleventh 
ward,  the  Twelfth  constituting  the  portion  between 
Greenwich  and  Windsor  streets,  and  the  Thirteenth 
constituting  the  portion  north  of  Windsor.  In 
November,  1S;)"<?,  two  additional  wards  were  created 
out  of  parts  of  the  Si:<th  and  the  Seventh  wards, 
the  Fourteenth  constituting  that  portion  of  the 
Seventh  north  of  the  Lebanon  \'allev  railroad,  and 
also  that  portion  of  the  Si.xth  north  of  the  Lebanon 
\'alley  railroad  and  east  of  .Second  street  and 
Centre  avenue;  and  the  Fifteenth  constituting  the 
remaining  portion  of  the  Sixth,  north  of  the  Leb- 
anon Valley  railroad.  And  ii)  November,  1894.  the 
Sixteenth,  was  created  out  of  that  portion  of  the 
Eighth  which  lay  cast  of  Eleventh  street,  and  that 
portion  of  the  Tenth  east  of  Thirteenth  street. 

The  Act  of  ^larch  23,  1889,  provided  for  repre- 
sentation from  the  wards  in  councils  as  follows : 
In  select,  one  metnber  for  four  years;  in  common, 
two  members  for  two  years  until  the  city  came  to 
comprise  fifteen  wards,  when  the  representation  in 
common  should  become  one  meml)er. 

Elective  Officials. — The  following  ofilicials  are 
elected  by  the  electors  of  the  entire  citv  everv  three 
years  at  the  municipal  election  on  the  third  Tues- 
day in  Februar}-:  Mayor,  controller,  treasurer,  and 
three  assessors ;  and  the  following  by  the  electors 
of  the  sixteen  respective  wards :  select  councilmen 
for  four  years  and  common  councilmen  for  two 
years. 

Appoiiiti-re  Officials. — The  following  are  ap- 
pointed : 

By  the  mayor:  Chief  of  police,  four  sergeants, 
sixty-five  patrolmen,  two  operators  of  the  police 
telegraph,  two  turnkeys,  two  patrol  drivers,  elec- 
trician, police  clerk,  commissioner  of  markets  and 
city  [>roperty.  and  scavenger,  all  sulncct  to  approval 
of  councils. 

By  council:  City  clerk  (four  vears)  ;  four  water 
commissioners  ffour  vears");  ciiv  engineer  (three 
years)  ;  citv  solicitor    (three   vears)  ;  five  members 


lioard  of  health,  who  select  two  physicians  (indefin- 
ite period);  four  common  commissioners  (four 
years);  four  commissioners  of  public  works  (four 
years)  ;  superintendents,  clerks,  assistants,  etc.,  for 
the  several  departments.  2^Iatron  appointed  since 
-March,   lt<98. 

Officials  for  li'ards. — r)tficials  are  elected  at  the 
municipal  election  in  February  by  the  voters  of 
each  ward:  Alderman  (term  five  years)  ;  constable 
(three  years)  ;  and  assessor  (three  years)  ;  besides 
the  representatives  in  the  select  and  common  coun- 
cils, and  in  the  school  board. 

Officials  for  Precincts. — .Ml  the  wards  of  Read- 
ing, excepting  the  Fourth,  are  divided  into  precincts, 
numbering  altogether  fifty.  Each  of  these  pre- 
cincts is  an  election  district,  and  annually,  on  the 
third  Tuesday  in  February,  the  voters  elect  a 
judge,  two  inspectors  and  a  registry  assessor.  The 
Fourth  ward  con.stitutes  an  election  district  by 
itself;  as  to  this  district,  there  is  no  registrv  as- 
sessor, the  ward  assessor  perfonning  the  duties  of 
that  office  also. 

BURGESSES 

The  Act  of  Sept.  12,  1783,  provided  for  the  an- 
nual election  in  May  of  two  burgesses  and  four  as- 
sistants, the  first  appointees  until  May  1,  1781,  hav- 
ing been :  burgesses,  Daniel  Levan  and  William 
Scull ;  assistants,  Peter  Nagle,  John  Spohn,  Benja- 
min .S])yker,  Jr.,  and  Janies  May. 

A  complete  list  of  the  burgesses  irOni  1783  to 
1H47  was  not  obtainable.  After  diligent  search  the 
names  of  the  following  persons  who  ofirciated  were 
discovered  (no  minutes  between  178G-89,  1791-92, 
1795-9(;-97-98)  : 

N.nme  Term 

Danitl  Levari  and  William  Scull    1783 

Charles  Biddie  and  John  Mears 17S1 

James  Diemer  and  Jacob  \\'incy    1785 

James    May   and    William   Green    1790 

Christian  IJarrenstine  and  John  Otlo   179,'5-94 

Jacob    Bright    1T99-1S00 

Henry   Hahn  and   Peter  Stichtcr    1S03 

Jacob  Bright  (Rrecht)  and  John  Strohecker    1804 

Fred'k    Fritz     1807-08 ' 

Nicholas    Dick    1810 

John     Spayd     1815-22 

William    Witman     1822-25 

IVtor  \aglc.  Jr ifl2.)-3i.  is32.-:i:i.  is;iT-:;9 

Henry    .-\.    Mnhlonborg     1831-32 

George    M.    Keirn     1833-34 

Anthony    Bickel     1834-35 

Thomas    Keppel    lS35-.';fi 

William     Schoener     18.'jO-37,     1S39-43 

William    High     1843-44 

William     Betz     1814-47 

M.WORS 
Name  Term 

Peter    Filbert    1847-48 

William  H.  Kcim    1848-49 

George    Getz    1S49-53 

D.iniel    R.    Clymer    18^3-54 

Jr>hn    S.    Richards    lS,"i4-55 

WUliam    M.    Baird    ' lS.->5-5r. 

Tod    B.    Wanner    ., 18.10-57 

/\.    Jt>rdan    Swartz    18'i7-5S 

r.inne\  ille   Keini    IS.-iS-iil 

Joel    B.    W,-inner    ISlil  63 


■  ( ■  I  ■       .  :  !  1., 


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l:.   ,1,':  ■•!■  --rii-   '.■■      ,,'t    (f;.;;;- 


\hh\\\y 


■    •'-•'^'>i''i     }.       -T,,;,-v. 


•-'IS  niSTuRY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSVLVAXIA 

Jf.stph    S.    Hover    18C.3-C5  I'cttr  Cleaver   lSj5-;<; 

XaitKiii     .M.    iiisenhoucr     18G5-C7  William    GciRCr    lSj->->'. 

William    II.    Gernand    18G7-71  John    A.    Banks    lasj-;,' 

Sanuicl    C.    Majer    1871-73  .Matthias     I'.abb     1S:g-5-^ 

Charles    ILvans    1!P"I?  William    llenrv     185G-S- 

henry    A.     1  vsun    187'J-S1  AiKp^r    (•     Pr^m  A?--, 

\\"ir         f    I.  ,001  o-  -vioert   u.    urccn    lSotJ-57 

\\  ilham   G    Ro'.ve    ISM-So  ^villiam   Umbenhower    1857-5S 

t""'"*    ^"    v'"'^    ^^~"oA  ^Vharton    Morris    1S57-5S;    I8GI-0- 

James    K.    Kenney    185,-90  j..^^^^   y^^„    ji^^„    .lS58-:y 

wT^'    r    cl"""    ^'."^"a'  -^"lO'    B.    Wanner    1858-. 

)^'":^'T',/V   Shanaman    1893-96  j^.j^,  q    Schoencr   1858-59 

Jacob    Weidel    1890-99  Oprf-     TTiin  ii-,w 

Adam  H  Leader 1899^-100.  EzU'iZi  ■:::::::::: :::::\v::: :: I ::::: ::::'SSXl 

Edward    \  eager    1902-0,  Henry   Eppihimer    1800-6 

,t-^l.;y.""   R-^<:'f  ^^•■- 130^-OS  James    A.    Fasig    1S6O-0 

^^'"'3ni    Ra-k 1908-11  i^.  p,,,,^  Haas ISOl-o! 

fiiiEFS   OF   POLICE  Charlcs    F.   Smith    1801-04 

Name  Term  Lewis    Brincr     1802-05 

John   L.  Morris    1847-49;    1858-59  Henry    Kerper    1803-00 

Henry  Seitzin^cr    1849-51  l^^'-'^   R-  ,^''fher    1804-07 

John    }L    Xa<?ie    1851-54  J-^!'"   S.  Aulciihach   1865,-e8 

Reuben  Goodhart   1854-55  i^  '"''"}}    ^^-    Goodman    1806-09 

W  illiam  Y.   Lvon    1855-57  :    18G0-61  /?>"   L.  Arthur   1867-71 

Samuel    Folk' 1857-58  fjl^^^f  ^^-   ^''M^,    1803-71 

Henry    Wundcr    1859-60  )^  •  .^^"/'ay   \\  eidman    i  .  .  .  1809-72 

Howard    L.    Miiler    1361-63  LeviH.    Liess    ....1871-74 

Jacob   P..   Mast    1863-05  J"'"',    R/-PP<--l<"'in     1872-73 

Joseph    Dejsher    1805,-67  Jaob    Lcnhart     1872-75 

William  McXall   1807-71  l^'^^^'   ^:    James    1873-75 

Peter    Cullen     1871-79;    1893-90  H^nry^LKeim    1874-75 

Daniel   Housum    1879-81  corrrROLLERS 

Raymond  R.  Lewis   1881-85  Xame  Term 

Frederick    H     Fleck    1885-87  ^villiam   Briner    

M  ahlon    Shaaber     188.-90 

Richard  M.  W'hitman   1890-93  ;   1902-OS 

lohn    F.   Albrecht    1890-98 


Chester    X.    Fnrr,   Jr 1875-76 

Henry    A.Tyson    1876-79 

T      .,    ,-,     ,  iorw^  no     Vv'llli.im    .\.    Ruiikel    1879-81 

SK.Vi^^'^r:-,,;.: ;;'f^^!^     J-'^cph    Hou.nm     1881-88 


Millon   J.   Miller    1899-1902 

Charles   E.  Auman    1908-11 


J.   Lawrence   Getz    1888-92 

Samuel    R.    Keri)er    1892-93 

TKE.^SUKEKS  Walter    B.    Koch    1893-96 

Nsiiif  Term         Adam   H.    Leader    1890-99 

George  Feather   • 1847-55     Charles    L.    Moll    1899-1908 

Gcorpt    R.    Frill    185.5-56     Obadiah    B.    Dorward    1908-11 

Danid   S^^  Ilnll     1850  57  \\-ater  Board.— The  citv  was  divided  into  four 

George   \v .   Bruckinan    18o7-o8  i-   <.   •   .      r        .1          ,      ,•            y               ■      ■ 

Michael    Kraemer    1858-59  <^''^tricts  lor  the  election  of  commissioners  of  water 

Feier  Cleaver 1859-61  ^Y  an   Act  passed   ^[arch   21,   18(35.      Sixth   street 

}'etcr  Shaneman    1861-03 

William    Heidenreich    1863-71 

Jolin  E.  Arthur 1871-85  r                   1       i-  ,    •   .        ,-^  -     1        ^          ,       -   , 

Huratio  Jones    1885-87  °"*^    "°"''    ^^^"    district.      Ot   the    first   board,    two 

John   Obold    1887-93  were  to  hold  ofifice  for  two  years  and  the  remaining 

John  M.  Bertolet   1893-90  two   for   four  vcars.     Thereafter  every  two  years, 

J't"'''v^TT^ff""'^  if^.in  councils  have  elected  two  members  for  four  vcars. 

lohn   \.   Hofrman    1898-1903  t,           cc         •          -.i        .                         .■             t-i        1          j 

"Walter  M.  Tvson  1002-08  '^    omce   is    Without    compensation.       The    board 

Edward  H.  Filbert  1908-11  is  authorized  to  employ  a  superintendent  and  work- 

AUDiTORs  P^^'"  ^"-'^  carryinq-  on  th::  department.     The  follow- 


and  Penn  street  were  made  the  dividing  lines;  and 
city  councils   were   required   to  elect   four  persons. 


Name  Teim       '"rt  ^-'^^'"'^  been  the  commissioners : 

Lewis  J.  Hanold    1847-48 

Xalhan    Ei>enhower    1817-49-    ]S5,9-61  rr-     ,   t-.-  .   •  , 

John    L.    Reifsnvder .1847-49  .,.„.  ^"'"  ^""''" 

Frank    R.    Miller    1S4S-40 


COMMISSION'EKS 


Name  Term 


Jacob    b!    Smith     '. '. '. '.  '. '. '. ". ". '. '. '. '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.".""  1849-50     l?''y"'   "^^   ^'^^^    1865-73 

Z.   H.  :\Iaurer 1849-51  ■    1SJ4-55      Solomon    L.    Snyder     1873-77 

Jeremiah    Bittine    '  1849-50     George   K.   Levan    1877-80 

John   Darrah   1850-53     ^Intthias    Mengel    1880-81 

George    Hcckman    1850-51     Charles   K.   Hdlegas    1881-83 

Tames  L.  Kightinyer IS-.l-j"     Jacol.    Hell    1883-90 

John   F.  Evans   1851-54     ^^''-''nk   A.   Tyson    1891-98 

lohn    1\    Moers    T^y^-%:i      ^-    S-    ^""-^    1898-1901 

A.  W.  Xaglc  1852-53  :   1854-55     f-'l^^'-ird    Elbert 1901* 

T"ln;    I'ile.iger    .• 1853-51  .S.-,,.);,/   District 

William    Brincr     18.5.3-.54     I.dm   Mal^bcrger    186.5-67 

John  J.    Tvson   1854-55     Tlu.mas   L.  .\ddisi.ii    1807-73"   1877-85 


•:-:(■>■ :    . .    .  . 
'»--s(.;rr 


":f 


READING 


219 


Autr.   C.  Grcth    l?73-77 

Charles   Mtlcher    1877-77 

Mbcrt  A.   Heizinann    lsS5-92 

jc>sc   Orr 1S92-02 

\bncr  S.  Deysher   1S92-93 

iridcric    P.    flcUrr    18'JJ* 

Third  District 

lacob    DiishoiiK    1SG5-67 

Jacob  C.   >Ioff   1807-71 

William  R.  -Mcllvaiii 1871-83 

]=aac    -McHose    18S3-S7 

lames   Rick    1887-91 

'Mntthan    Harbstcr    lSOl-1907 

A.  Ellsworth  Leinbach   ' 1907  

Fourth   District 

Joseph    Mishler    1865-67 

Levi  J.   Smith    1807-7o ;   1S79-S3 

Addv   Gehry    1875-79 

F.   S.  Jacobs    1883-91 

Georpe  H.  Felix    1891-1904 

Soloiuon    H.    Close    : 1901* 

SUPFRuNIEXliENTS 
Name  Term 

Marks   B.    Scull    18G5-8-:! 

William   P..   Harder    1S8-J-92 

William  ]>..  Albri^^'ht   189;2-95 

Emil    L.    Nuebliii;^    1895-1909 

Pa«k  Commissioners. — The  board  of  common 
commissioners  was  established  by  an  ordinance 
passed  Sept.  28,  1S87,  and  the  councils  in  joint 
convention  were  authorized  to  elect  four  commis- 
sioners, for  four  years,  one  from  eacli  section,  with 
Sixth  and  Penn  streets  as  the  dividinq^  lines.  At 
the  first  election,  the  two  having-  the  highest  num- 
ber of  votes,  and  the  two  having  the  lowest,  were 
to  be  declared  as  elected,  and  one  of  cacli  was  to 
be  elected  for  four  years,  and  one  of  each  for  two 
years ;  and  thereafter  'every  two  years  two  commis- 
sioners were  to  be  elected  for  four  years.  The  elec- 
tion was  to  take  place  on  the  first  Monday  of  Sep- 
tember. The  following  persons  have  been  mem- 
bers of  tiie  board;  and  the  board  was  empowered 
to  appoint  a  superintendent  and   employ   laborers. 

Name  Term 

George    F".    Haer    1888-3  910 

Walter   S.   Davis    1883-1910 

Thomas   P.   Merritt    : 1S8S-92 

David  F.   Lot/'    1888-92 

David    E.    Bcnsnn 1892-1902 

Philip    Bis^^in'ier    1892-98 

Jacob  A.   Strohccker    1898-19007 

James   L.   Douglas    1902-10 

P.'^RK     SUPERlN'TENnENTS 
Name  Term 

William   H.    Burke    18S7-190G 

William  I.  Hoch   1906  10 

ASSESSOR.S 

From  1S7-1  lo  18S9,  the  voters  of  each  ward 
elected  an  assessor  for  three  vears  to  assess  real 
and  personal  property  for  purposes  of  taxation. 
Then,  under  the  Act  of  May  2.3.  1889,  cities  of  the 
third  class  were  authorized  to  elect  three  persons 
as  a  board  of  city  assessors  to  serve  from  the  first 

*  CntitiniKil  bv  reclcclii'H. 

•!■  Died  Feb.  i'7,  V.VO,  am!  William  K.  Lciihiscr  apiiointcd  suc- 
cessor. 


Monday  in  April  for  three  years.  This  board  has 
accordingly  from  that  time  assessed  the  property 
in  Reading  for  city  purposes,  and  citv  councils  have 
fixed  the  rate  of  taxation  according  to  the  deinands 
for  revenue.  Ward  assessors  are  still  elected,  how- 
ever, at  the  municipal  election  every  three  years, 
for  county  purposes.  The  following  have  been  the 
assessors : 

Name  Term 

Frederick   Stc|)han    1890  93 

William   W.   Werner    1890-93 

Henry  A.   RuLh    1890-93 

Christian   C.   Framz    1893-96 

Daniel    Beidler     1893-99 

Adam  M.  Leader   1893-96 

Abraham    H.    Rtescr     1890-99 

.•\aron    H.    Dunkle    1890-99 

Charles    F.    Yeity    1899-1902 

Henry  S.  Young   1899-1902 

^Lihlon   Fies    1899-1908 

Howard  O.  Sharman    1902-05 

J.  Peter  Koch  1902-03 

W^illiam    Luppold    1905-1 1 

Charles   J.    Iloff    1907-10 

Charles  M.   Brissel    1909-12 

EL'TLDING    INSrCCTOKS 

The  office  of  building  inspector  was  established 
by  ordinance  passed  on  Jan.  5,  1SS9,  and  the  mayor 
was  authorized  ro  appoint  a  suitable  person  for  a 
term  of  three  years.  The  following  persons  have 
officiated : 

Name  Term 

Joseph   A.   Heine    1891-92 

Monroe  A.  Closer   1892-93 

Abraham   Sciverd    1893-96 

John    S.    Wagner    1896-1902 

Harry  A.   Heckman    1902-08 

Oscar   D.   Henne    1908-11 

BO.V^ni    OF    PUliLTC    WORKS 

A  board  of  public  works  v.as  established  by  city 
councils  Nov.  3U,  189.").  for  the  purpose  of  super- 
vising the  grading,  paving,  repairing  and  regulat- 
ing of  the  streets,  and  of  controlling  the  house 
sewerage,  pumping  and  disposal  system  ;  v.-hicii  was 
to  comprise  four  commissioners,  who  were  to  be 
appointed  by  city  councils,  the  appointees  to  be  se- 
lected from  the  electors  of  the  four  districts  of 
Reading,  and  the  dividing  lines  of  the  districts  to 
be  Chestnut,  Walnut  and  Douglass  streets.  This 
l)oard  has  officiated  since  that  time,  having  directed 
its  attention  more  particularly  toward  the  establish- 
ment of  sewers  for  surface  and  house  drainage, 
and  of  paved  streets.  The  following  have  been 
members  of  this  board: 

First    District 
Name  Term 

ITenrv    Eppihimer    1896-98 

James    L.    Douglas    1898-1900 

Charles    E.    Leippe    1900-02 

John    M.    Archer    1902-0-1 

Andrew  J.  Fink,  Jr 1904-in 

Second   District 

Jerome   L.   Boyer   1c9r.-98 

Ciiarles   W^    I'ottei^-er    1898-1906 

Walter'  Essiek    1906-1O 


cr: 


J    •:;.') 


220  HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYLX'AXIA 

Third    District  Third    Ward 

Geori?e    Eltz    189C-1906  Adam   Kutz    Tsnv,: 

Frank  A.   Schofor    lOOG-10  John   S.   Scliroedcr    is. -,7. 7,', 

Fourth   District  Calvin    Goodman    lSVO-7  ; 

Ferdinand   Goetz    1800-1901  Charles   S     }!erh !S7:;-7.. 

Ed-A-in    R.   Gorljor    190) -O.i  ^ViHiam   G.   McGowan   lS7.,-7j 

Charles    H.    Hunter    1905-10  Jacob  Goodman    1S7•J-^J 

Richard   S.   Dunkel    18S>-v, 

SELECT  cuL-NCii  MKN  Jeremiah  G.   Mohn   1R*,Vs- 

UNDER   CHAKTKKS    OF    1^47    AND    1S61  ^^^^^.^     p^      ^^.^„^     ,,^,^- 

Xortlii'cist   ll'iird  Samuel    G.    Heinly     ISSO-d.i 

Name  Terra  Henry  C.  Schroeder   1800-04 

John    Y.    Oinnius    1847-51  J'^^ob  B.  Stout   1894-1000 

Peter   F.    Xa^le    1851-54  John  R.  Mast   1900-ii 

Joseph    Henry    1854-57  Fourth    IVard 

Joseph   Ritter    .' 1857-00  Peter    Ploch     ]8fi5-r,7 

George    Foos    1860-63  J.  Timothy  Jackson    ISin-To 

Levi   J.    Smith    1863-65  George    W.    Morgan    1870-7:; 

Xorfhtirst   Ward  James  L.  Douglas   187.';-7(; 

Hiester    H.    :\Iu!ik-nl)eig    1847-49  William    S.    Monver    1870-7<.) 

Joel  Ritter   1849-52  James    Lord     1879-8,' 

Tobias    Barto    1852-55  Albert   A.   Tieizmann    188'J-85 

Ivens   Benson    1855-58  John    A.    Rigg    188.vn4 

Francis    Bright    1858-61  Dr.    H.    L.Johnson    1894-1902 

Jacob    C.    Hoff    .1801-04  Dr.    F.   W.   Frankhouscr    190:^-06 

Jacob     Bushong     1864-65  E.   B.  Slichter    1906-10 

Southeast   IVard  pifth    Ward  ~~ 

Henry  Xagle    1847-50;   1854-56  Frederick    Lauer    1865-71 

Frederick   Prmtz    1850-53  William    Call' r 1871-74 

Joshua    Keely    1853-54  p     p     Heller    1874-77;    1883-86 

Hiram   C.    Ritter    1856-59  p„„:.>,„;.,     t  ;^v,t.,„.i,oi..,  ,o^-ca 


Benjamin    Lichtcnthaler     1S77-S0 

Harrison  Harner   1880-83 

Frederic   P.   Heller    18S3-SG 

John    R.    Miller    1886-88 

Richard    Boone    1847-49     WiUiam   H.    Bitting    18S8-1912 


Robert    Caldwell    1859-62 

David  Levan   1862-65 

So:ithzi.'cst   Jl'ard 


Charles  H.  Hunter   1849- 


Sixth    IVard 


Augustus   Pioas    1852-^..  „  -,^     _ 

Samuel    Frees    1855-58  George  W.   Garst    1865-70 

Frederick  S.  Boas   1858-61  f-^eorgc   W.    Bushong    1870-76 

Lsaac   McHosc    1861-64  George    Radcr    1876-82 

Peter    Hoch     ; 1864-65  Levi   J.    R.    Krick    1SS2-S7 

Spruce    Ward  Edward    Yeager    1887-88 

John  Darrah   1847-49  ^'^}'/'''   ^l:   "^""in^    1S8S-89 

Thomas  Hill    1849-53  )^ '"'^71   ^:.  Shanaman    1889-90 

Henry   W.    Raudenhush    1853-56  l^}.\'^.    '^^ J>ePV^^'"}''"     1890-98 

John    D.    Morris     1856-62  ^^  •'''•'""'   ^^  •    ^^  ""''"-'"    •  • 1898-1910 

Samuel   Robinson    1862-65  Seventh    Ward 

UNDER  CHARTERS   OF   1861   AND   1874  ^-^^i    J"    Smith     1865-66 

George   J.    Eckert    1866-69 

First    Ward  Frederick  \V.  Lauer  1869-71' 

Name  Term  Henry    R.    Hawmaii    1872-75 

Amos  H.  Deysher   1865-68  George    Foos    1875-77 

John  D.  Morris   1868-71  John  H.  Maltzberger   1877-80 

Matthan    Harbster    1871-74  E.  Snyder  Jacobs   1880-83 

Jesse    Orr    1874-80  J.    G.    Leinbach    1883-90 

Glauser    Miller     18.S0-8S  F.    F.    Bresslcr    1890-92 

Matthew    Rhoda    1888-1908  E)r.  G.  Benton   Beaver   1892-96 

Frederick    H.    Robitzer    1908-12  Howard  L.  Boas    1896-19i: 


Second    ll'ard 


Ira   \V.    Stratton    1906-10 


Zeno    Tloffmaster    1865-69  Ei(:hth    Hard 

Henry    C.    Hain    l'^69-72  Joseph    TIcnry     1865-66 

Henry   Seiders    1872-75  Eli    S.    Fo.x    1866-67 

Levi    Richards     1875-77  Franklin   S.  Bernliart    1867-69 

Simeon    S.    Sand*    1877-80  Charles    Brenei>er     1809-72 

Samuel    Robinson     1880-83  Henry    S.    Eckert     1872-75 

Michael    McCullough    1883-87  Joseph    Ganscr    1875-80 

Israel   S.    Fry    1887-88  George    \V.    Bruckman    1880-83 

Daniel    .Auchcnbach    ' 18SS-90  J.    .A.    Stroheckcr    188.1-86 

John   II.  Thanim    1890  04  Solomon    S.    Kind    1886-90 

William  R.   Madden    1804-1002  William    B.    Laiiv-k>    1890-04 

Joseph    McCullough    1902-06  William    H.    Wtthcrhold     1891-98 

James  M.  Cummings   1906-10  John   11.   Close    1898-1910 


!..^-U 


Vu.M     U:-..'U.< 


>i      ,  11.  .  '  i  n'-)7 


',>.^.V,    V:iv>o 


lit   ■^ 

r  i!  /  !■  1 

J',  ; 

READING 


2?1 


Ninth    Ward 

I'f'.'.I'-Tick   Priiitz    Isa.'-uS 

i-:i;ic   R.    Fisher    lSGS-71 

•  l.ihioii    Kline    ISTl-TT 

lacob   B.    Mast    .' 1877 

|,,!iii   Stark    1ST7-S0 

iHaiiinic    Krt-mp    1S80-S6 

|,,h!i   Sauer    ISSti-SS 

Cl'.arlcs    F.    Fink    lSSS-90 

|,.scph   Goldsmith    ISOO-Oi;    1000-04 

(icorge   W.    Romi),'^    1892-1900;    1904-12 

Tcntlt    Ward 

Ouon  S.   Swartz    1S7C-82 

Iiihn   L.   Lawrence    1SS2-S9 

'iVtcr  S.   Iloll    ■ 1889-98 

John   A.    Rauen    1898-1902 

1  -duard  Tacnzcr    1902-05 

Harry    C.    Wcbcr    •. WO.VIO 

Eleventh   Ward 

William    Geiffcr     1S76-79 

\\  illiam   H.    Kelly    3S79-S2 

Hayward     H.    Heckman     18S2-87 

George   B.   McC.   Hess    1887-96 

Harry  J.   W'cntzcl    lS9t)-1900 

Elmer    E.    Hess    1900-04 

Jacob   F.   Hollenbachtr    1904-06 

John    H.    Stoner 190G-12 

Twelfth    Ward 

Harrison   S.   Ilartnian    18SC-8S 

Samuel    ^Hllmore    1888-90 

Amos    H.    Beard    1S90-1910 

Thirteenth.   Ward 

M.   Leroy  Wenger    1886-90 

John   S.   Was^ner    1890-92 

Charles  II.   Ramsey    1892-95 

W.   Abbott    Whitman    1895-1900;    1904-08 

Edwin   K.   Mersinger 1900-04 

Irwin    S.    Ricgel    1904-12 

Fourteenth   Ward 

Isaac   W.    Hull    189:^-1906 

John   B.    Raser    1906-10 

Fifteenth    Ward 

Henry    S.    Young 1893-96 

P.   Monroe   Krick .' 1896-1904 

A.    E.    Keeport    1904-08 

William  ^I.  Smeck      1908-12 

Sixteenth    Ward 

Paul    D.    Mi'ihoIIand    1895-97 

George   B.   Clouser    1897-1902 

Lyman    H.   Ruth    1902-06 

Richard    Hull    1906-10 

rKEsiur.XTS    of    self.ct   corxriL 

Name  Term 

Henry    Nagic    1847-50;    1854-55 

Joel    Ritter     1850-52 

"Peter  F.  Nagle   1852-5  1 

Samuel   Frees    1855-58 

Hiram    C.    Ritter     1858-59 

John  D.  Morris    lS59-i;0:   1861-62 

Frederick   S.    Boas    1860-01 

Jacob   C.    Hoff    1862-64 

Jacob    Bushong    1864-65 

Le\-i    J.    Smith    1865-66 

George  W.   Garst   1866-67;  1868-70 

Frederick  Lauer 1867-68 

George  W.  Morgan   1S70-71;  1872-7:^ 

Frederick    W.    Lauer    1871-72 

Henry  S.  Eckert    1873-7:. 

James    L.    Dongl.is    1875-76 

Frederic    P.    Heller     1876-77 

Jesse    Orr    1877-79 

Joseph   Ganser    1879-80 

W'illiani     H.    Ktlly     1SS0-S2 

F.    Snyder    Jact.b-,     ISs-i 

Levi   J.    R.    Krick      18S2-S3 


John    L.    Lawrence    • 1883-84 

Michael   McCuUough    1884-85 

Hayward    H.    Heckman    ' 1885-86 

John    A.    Rigg    1886-89 

George    B.    McC.    Hess    1SS9-92 

George   \\' .   Romig    1892-94 

Peter   S.    Holl    1894-95 

Amos  H.   Beard   1895-96 

Isaac  W.  Hull 1896-97 

Jacob  B.  Stout   1897-98 

George  B.  tHouser   1898-99 

^Litthcw  Rhoda   1899-1900 

William  H.  Bitting   ,1900-01 

Howard  L.   Boas    1901-03 

John  ?L  Close  l9n:!-09 

Ira  W.  Stratton   1909-10 

CLF.RKS     OF     SKL.i-X'T     ( llf  Nl.ll. 
Name  Term 

John  L.  Rightmyer   1847-51 

James    L.    Rightmyer    1851-52 

Nathan  M.  Eisenhower   1852-61 

A.  Lucius  Hcnncrshotz   1801-62 

Adam  Waid   1862-64 

B.  Frank  Haas   1864-73 

Edward  A.  Howell    1873-79 

Joim   H.  Kei)pelman    1879-84 

George  H.  Feli.x 1884-88 

Cyrus  T.  Fox 1888-89 

I.  Cornley  Fetter   1889-95 

Edwin  L.   Lindcnuuh    1895-98 

John    H.    Thamm    1898-1901 

Lincoln   S.   Ramsey   1901-04;   1908-10 

James  J.   Bums    1904-08 

Harry  R.  Zimmerman   1909-10 

CO.MMOX     COU.VCILMKN 

'    UNIiER   CH.MniR;-    OF   I847   ..\.\i.    1861 

Xortheast     Ward 
N.ime  Term 

Jacob    Malsbcrger    1847-51  ;    1853-55 

Datiiel   Spang    1847-49 

Henry     Hcrbold     1849-50 

Christian    Filer    1850-51 

William    Fricker    1851-52 

Joseph    Henry    1851-53 

Joseph    Ritter     1852-53 

Morris    Rambo    1853  55;    1859-00 

Francis    Roland    1853-55;    1856-.=.? 

George  Cutler '. 1855-56 

David    Gross    1855-56;    1860-61 

Henry  Halin    1855-56 

Henry   Heckman    1856-57 

Geortre    A.    Strubcn     1856-57 

Henry  .A.  M.   Filbert    1857-59 

Jacob    B.    Mast 1857-59 

Christian  Schultz  1857-58 

Isaac   R.   Fisher    1858-59 

Henry    Crouse     185.9-60 

George  Foos   1859-60 

Daniel    Kline     1859-61 

Henry  P.  Herb   1860-62 

Jacob  Donahower    1801-62 

Ferd.  S.  Ritter   1860-62;  1863-64 

William    Umbenhower    186  l-o.s 

William    I-leideiireich     18ti2-f.:; 

Joseph   S    Hoyer    1862-63 

Levi  J.   Smith    1862-63 

Peter  Tinsman   1863-64 

lames   Donagan   1863-64 

James    T.    Reber    1863-64 

Frederick   R.   Fritz    '. 1864-65 

Henrv    Miller    1864-65 

George    K.   Levan    18(;  t-65 

Amos    B.   Wuinu  r 1864-6!. 


.■^? 


■  )     V 


,.•.;! 


22-i  HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    P1-:.\.\SYL\-AXIA 

Xortliz.-cst    ll'iirj  Nathan  M.  Eisenliower  ISJO  Ji 

Lewis     r.iincr     1847-49  William  i'eacock   Is'iu-M 

Herman    Beard    1847-49  Jolin    Maliberger    1850-51;   lS5-i  :,-, 

William    Henry    1S49-50  -M.    il.    Xunncmachcr    1851-;  ■ 

Peres   Hain    . .' 1849-50  Augustus    C.    Hoft    1S51..^- 

Charles   F.   S.   Fisher    1850-51  \.   V.   R.  Hunter    1851-.^.' 

Levi   Malsberger    1850-51  Daniel  Housum   lSj2  r.4 

Adam  Mover 1851-54  Peter  D.  Getz   1852-55;   1857-5, 

William   Ycich    1851-53  Howard    L,    .Miller    lS5:i-54 

M.  A.  Bertolet   1853-51;  185G-58  Adam  Waid    1853-54;   1850i;! 

Charles    Sciders    1854-55  George    ileckm^an     1854-5., 

D.    Bright    Verger    1854-56  Cyni.,   J.    iliuiter    1851--,,-. 

Jacob   C    Hoft' 1855-56  John    Fink    1855-57 

Henry    Ricgel     1850-57  Peter   R.    Lotz    lS55-5i; 

Jacob    Bushong    1857-53  Peter  Hoch 1S56-57;  1858-60;  lfii;!-'-,4 

William    Rhoads,   Sr 1857-58  Philip    Lotz    lS5f.-57 

Jacob   Boyer    1858-59  Isaac    Bertolet    t^j~-:j^ 

Franklir.   S.   Bicklcv    1858-59  Reuben   Goodhart    1857-5m 

William     Kriek     .  .' 1858-59;     1SG2-63;    1804-65  J.  Frederick  IVIoers   1858-5'.i 

D.   Llewellyn   Beaver    1859-60  David  Rhein    lS5S-5;» 

George     de     B.    Keini     1859-60  Henry  Eppihimcr    1859-6:) 

Adam     Plank     ...    1859-61  William    Call    1SC0-C2 

George   I'rees 1860-61  J.   Timothy   Jackson    1860-61 

Samuel  U.  Hollenbach 1860-61  Frederick   S.   Hunter    1861-62 

Frank   M.    Cooley    1861-02  Arnold    Mellert     1861-62;  1863-04 

Amos  W.  Potleiger  1861-02;  1863-64  William    B.    Hertzel     1802-63 

Benjamin     Weis     1S61-62  John    H.    Kelly    1802-03 

Charles    Seiders 1802-03  James    L.   Douglas    1863-G5 

Augustus    S.    Thompson     1862-03  William  L   Clous   1804-05 

Jacob  Bn^liong .  .  .1803-64  Hiram    S.    Getz     1864-05 

Casper    Reifsnyder    18C.3-65  Spruce    Ward 

Jacob    Mishler    1364-05  George   W.    Bruckman    1847-48 

Sontlieast    Ward  Jacob    H.    Boyer    1848-49 

John    Goodman    1847-49  Abraham   S.    Whitman    1849-50 

Jacob  Young 1847-50  William    Veager    1849-50 

Thomas     B.irret     1849-50  William  A.  Wells   1850-51 

Daniel  Burkevt 1S50-51;  1864-05  Edmund    Morris    1850-52 

AL'itthia-    Bab!)   1850-51  George   Xewkirk    185.1-53 

D.   M.   Eisenliower    1851-52  Samuel    Spatts     1852-53 

Frederick  IL  Miller   1S51-52  David    E.    Evans    1853-54 

Matthias    F.isenheis    1852-53  William  Call   1853-55 

Jacob     Geiger 1852-53  John    D.    Morris    1854-50 

Hiram   C.    Ritttr    1853-55  Joseph  A.  McLean    1855-50 

Robert    Caldwell 1853-54  Jacob   H.    Deysher    1S56-57 

Joseph    Raml>o    1854-5S  William   L.   Lotz    1856-57 

John  Shaaber    1855-56  Wm.  E.  Albright 1857-59;  1801-02 

Solomon  L.  Snyder 1855-50;  1862-03  Lewis    Hagenman     1857-58 

Aaron   Stcinbach    1855-50  Zcno  Hoffmaster 1857-58;  1S60-62 

Jacob  Geiger 1850-57  Wile    Bright    1858-59 

Adam    Kutz     1856-57  Martin    Dcy-her    1858-00 

William  S.  Young    1850-58;   1861-02  Samuel    Craig    1859-60;    1802-03 

Michael     Rightmyer     1857-58  Smith    P.    Ubil    .1859-61 

David  A.  Stout   1857-58  Sanmel    ^L    Fillman     1800-02 

Nicholas    A.    Felix    1858-59  Philip  Albright  1802-03 

Isaiah    Jennings     1858-59  John     Fletrich     1862-05 

William    Harden    1858-59  Amos    Deysher    1863-65 

James   M.   Roland 1859-00  Redmond    Mc^innu5    1863-04 

Amos    Scidel     1859-60  Henrv  Seiders    1864-05 


UNIiF.K    CH.\RTERS    OF    1861    AND    1874 


John  Yerger    1859-00 

Daniel     Bcverle     1860-01  _•    .   j,.      , 

Joseph     Shearer 1800-61  y^^^  tirstUard 

George   W.   Ubil    1800-01  Cha'rfcTRinael    ISOS^O 

W 1  ham    Liscnbise    1801-02  .M^^ks   DrumhcUer    1805-07 

)-\'"?"'   T?-    ^'""    l^f'\-r>'2  En„s  M.  Reazor 1800-08 

Charles    Bren.iser     1802-03  n,,,,,;,.!    B.    Rhnads    1807-09 

.Andrew    Dav.s    1802-03  Solomon   Brul.aker    1S6S  -70 

Jacob  Goodman    1803-04  Matthan    Harbster    1809-71 

Henry    Scidel     1803-04  William    T.    Frame    1870-72 

John   Tigh 1803-64  D.   young   Jones    1871-73 

Sebastian    Liebcr    1801-65  John    F.   Weit.el    1872-74;   lS7S-<^0 

Jacob   Ringgold    1864-65  Wilbam   A.   C.    Oaks    1873-75 

SouthiMst    Ward  Henrv    W.    Corbit     1874-70 

Isaac  T.  James   1847-48  John    Sticff     lS75-Sn 

Samuel    Frees     1847-50  Louis     Richard;     1S75-7S 

Philip    K.    Miller    1847-50  George   J.    Kilmer    1875-76 

Reuben   Haiis    1848-50  AmOs    H.    Devsher    1876-78 


..■>:  ■//     .,.-  '  i/^f 


READIXG  223 

Gearge    H.    Corbit    1S76-7S     Reuben  D.   Boas    1902-06 

Henry  S.  G.iul   18TS-S0     James    J.    Flcmminjj    1900-08 

Glauser    Miller     1S7S-80     jrvin    Cramp     190S-10 


G.    ^^.    D.    Albertson    1S80-S2 


Third    ll'iird 


William    ^lorris        ; 18S0-82     j  Levan 1SG5-Gfi 

\V.lham  J.    Lob.t    .      S80-SG     ^  ^   ,j^., ^g^-.g, 

Charles    Lrosclikowsky    18S0-S1  .   ci     i,                                                                           isrrdi 

Amos   Huyett    JSSl-84;    ]ss5-SG     M'chael  Suiltz    1SG6-6* 

B.  Frank  Knpp 18S2-84     Ja<^o'^    -^I'"'^''    l(>b.-<  1 

James    E.    Voder     1882-S4     Calvin   Goo.lman    1868-70 

.Matthew    Rhoda    1884-87     John    H.    Printz     1SG9-71 

Albert    Moore     1884-86     Charles  B.  Wells   1S70-7G 

D.   Elmer   Dampman    1887-95     Frederick    K.    l-ntz    1871-.J 

Theodore    Dickinson    i SSG-S7     Charles   S.   Herb    1871-73 

Aaron    E.    Killmer    1887-89      William     Lett     1873-75 

Daniel  A.  Kreisher   1S87-89      Daniel     Beyerle     1873-75 

Charles    N.    Frame    1889-89     William    S.    Ritter    1S74-7G 

W.  Harry  Orr    1889-90     John    G.    Molm    1S75-7G 

Morris   E.   Barber    1889-90     David  F.  Lolz   1375-76;   1878-82 

James  B.  Gabriel   1890-91     Charles    Henninger    1S75-7G 

Wellington   G.    Woods    1891-93     Amos  Miller   1876-78 

William  Templin  1895-1905     Geortre    Mast    18.G-73 

James    A.    Clark    1905-07      William     Deasc     1876-73 

George    J.    Butter     1907-11     Albert     Babb     18.G-,8 

<:^r„,^    U'nrH  Abraham   B.    Bechtc!    1878-82 

^ttcoiia     Haiti  <-             1    T-     T-        1                                                                              lOTo  an 

Mailory    Geiger     1865-06     Conrad   FKessler    18<8-80 

Henry    Schroeder     18G5-GG     ^'^^l  ^^-n^'''^"    ]VJ>Ji 

Michael   McCuUough    1865-69     Jj>f^'b  HiHcRas   ..    880-8 

Valentine   Wilk    1866-68      Edward   O.Immel    1880-S- 

William    Eisenbeis    1S66-6S     '^^^^.\^   C.    Borgert    188-8. 

William     Dcnhard     18G8-70     ?,=^,V^  /v^';';*,'!     Itt'll 

Jacob  Harner,  Jr 1868-70     M^  f;^.,^,,^'""    ^ «^o1^ 


William   Fix    1869-71 


Frederick  W.   Lehman    1882-83. 


George w.'GranV !;;!;:':;':; ;;;:;;;;::;;;;:; :;i809-7i  ^^'^n  s.  Boas isss-ss 

Henry  Seiders    1870-72  A-.J;    F^'^fer    SS5-SC 

Geor^-e    Field  .  ..  1870-7-^  Wihiam    High     188d-80 

Fidel  Weber  1871-73  LeviW.    Collcr     1885-86 

Michael    Hasson    1871-73  'f  1"'"^/    Lembach    Itlr'l^ 

Gregory  Heine   . 1872-76  JpH.i  H    P'n'tz   18S6-S, 

James  J.  Driscoll  1872-74  Cyrus  G    Sduiltz   1S8G-8. 

Philip   Y.    Gilham    1873-75;- 1832-84;  1885-86  Samuel   M     Hnrtman    J^^rf^ 

George  D.  Boyer 1873-75  Charles  B.  Wells 1886-8. 

Edward  A.  Howell   1873-75  Samuel   D^  Missimer 88.-S9 

Wesley   C.    Hall    1874-78  Richard   H.    Pawling    !!?-lif 

Georee   G    Hoffmaster  1875-76  t-ecrge    W.    Flaf.singer    lSb.-b8 

Won  S    Sands  1875-76  Samuel  G.  Hcinly   1888-89;   1902-07 

H.  A.   M.-Obold    1876-78  Richard  H.  Savage 1?^^?'?^ 

Samuel   D.   Missimer    1876-78  Henry   M.    Ahrens    ;«oo  on 

Daniel  Whitman    1870-78  ^u'Tt      aF'  ^    'i f^^Ho 

Isaac  B.  Greenleaf    1876-7S  Alfred   L    Weitzel    !f^o"n? 

William  C.  Becker 1878-80  Ja"^es    Hangen     8SJ-91 

Philip     Leisz     1878-80  Henry  M.  Heller 1889-90 

Joseph    B.    Reinhart     1878-80  Henry  Dick     .    1>00-J1 

Peter  Ml  Snyder    1878-80  Charles    H    Fisher    891-9. 

Paul    Young     1878-80  Oliver  SGe.ger    189-93 

John  P.  Miller   1880-82  ^etcr  J    L    McKinney    llll' 

Ellis  L.  Castor   1880-85,  J?mes   M     Morgan    J.^n I'n^o 

Marks     Bover     1880-82  FredH     Witman ^^?^„1^°^ 

Rutus  Wfdf skill    1880-82;   1898-99;   1900-02  F'^vard    Fritz    . ,„*'', 

William  A.  Thompson    1880-82  C.    P.    Pfaffman     1909-1 ) 

William     Troop     1880-85  Fourth    Ward 

Isaac     D.    Whitman     1882-85  Henry  Frv   1865-66 

Thomas    T.    Dott    1882-85  Daniel   Spohn 1865-67;    1868-72 

Israel  S.  Fry 18S5-S(i;  1890-94;  1S96-9S  Edwin    C.    Hiestcr    1866-G8 

H.   A.    Harner    1885-88  Harrison    Maltzberger    ^^*'''"Ii 

James  M.  Roland  1885-87  George    L.    leukins    1871-73 

F.    X.    Wolf    1885-87  Adam    Bard    1872-74 

John    Smith     1887-88  Abner  K.  StaufFer    1873-76;   18'^2-85 

George    Beyerle     1887-88  Thomas    D.    Stichtcr    1874-76 

Oiarles  W.  Kieffer   1887-88  William    S.    Monvcr    1875-76 

Frank    A.    Tyson     1888-90  Am^n     L.    B.oyer     1875-71") 

Richard    M.  Whitman    1888-80  William     H.     IBnick     1876-7>< 

Henry    Whitman    18'<8-S9  Henry  D.  High   1870-77 

William   R.    Henninger    18=<8-90  l()>eph     Sliirev     1876-77 

John  H.  Thamm    ISSO-On  Dais  P.   Ilnrden   1S76-7S 

Aaron  P.  Arnold   1890-94  William   11.   Clcus    ;  1877-78 

Griffith  W.  Jones   1894-96  John    Joms     1S77-78 


()i'.8r>'t 


'(,-.;    -It:  !)u/j 


'.'       ■  (»  T?,-^! 


•i-n  HISTuRY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    rEXXSYLW-WIA 

Bcniieville  H.  Bruwn   1S7S-S0     Adair.    I'rees    ISGS-TO 

Alber:  A.   H  eizmann    ISTS-.^O     Edward    Frill    .    ...    1870-7:: 

Henry  Kocli    1878-80     John    .MtKiiight     1872-7-1 

Prince    R.    Sti.t>on    1878-80     Cornelius  Stamm   1873-7.% 

Horatio  R.  Trexler,  Jr lSSO-8,;     Levi  J.  K.   Krick    lS74-7i; 

Wellington    .M.    Savlnr     1880-S-.3     Jo^iph   S.    Ricgel lS75-7<; 

Edwin  A.   Wilkinson    18S0-SL'     )>,'"';""  ^';  l^"""-^  1S73-7* 

John    H.    Printz    1880-82     ^,";""le>   Kick.  Jr 1875-70 

Joshua   K.   Riiiliter    18S2-85     \V^-';.^''     ,-:  Y^    187t;-7S 

Calvin  K.  Whitner   1882-8.5     )>/"':""  ^l-,,        '      ' 1S76-7S 

William    Brandt     1882-8o     Ir'^-'rlcs   Miller    ...      1870-7S 

James   A.   O'Reilly    188,5-87     Jf^'"'^.''    ^  •    ^echtel    1878-SO 

William  A.   Fink    188.-,-8S;    1SS9-<J2;   1900-02       t^.V,»^-^'"e     Hcmmiff     187S-S0 

Isaac  Geifjer   1885-86     ,V\'     ,'""  .^.^P^''^'^"     1878-SO 

Samuel    Hant^ch    1885-86  ^.1'''^'''-;::   -^''^:^    ^""^-^i 

Harrison  T.  Witman    1S8G-87  )^  "^-   G    Robinson   1880-82;  1SS3-84 

Jeremiah  S.  Benncr 1880-87  ji^"'"    V^^'^.'    l^^^O-^C 

.Milton   H.  Schnadcr    1887-88;   1880-90     F>-r<  :".:>"cl    ^V^l^ter    1R80-84 

Charles    W.    HenUel    1887-8S     ^l-cdcnck  B.  Roe  1S82-S4 

George  W.   Raudcnbu^h    1888-89  ^'^"'^^f  \   Sl""'^    ^^^""'^ 

Henry  A.  Zieher   1888-89  ^-  ^V  c'^V    ''l!"      ' ^^^''"^'"' 

Amos   H.   Phillippi    1880-90  J",  "•  c    c"*!"    "'^ 1885-86 

Dr.   H.  L.  John^^,n    1890-92  -;^'''"  S.  Schroeder   1S85-SG 

Frank   W.Ehcn    1892-94  "L" "'    H.   Keppelman    1886-90 

William    F.   Reeser    1892-94  E^^^^^d    \  eager    188G-87 

Otto  Mellert 1894-97  ^V"?       w     n     w'l    ■'^-""^' 

John  M.  Archer • 1897-1900  .S'-'l,''.'"    >,>•    l^^chtel    I886-.97 

Harvey  C.  Johnson   1902-06  ^V'"/;"^    ^  '  ,^W-u'   "■•••    fo;1^ 

Charles  H.  Krouse   1900-10  ]l:,,^''''-^jA  ,^^^"^    1887-88 

Wnham    r.    Shanaman    1887-89 

'''ft''    li  <^i'd  Wellington  M.  Hiester   1888-90 

Jacob  Lehijiaii    1865-66  ^ounrd    O.    Sharman    1889-90-    ISOl-O"-^ 

Levi   \Vjnder    1865-67;    1869-71  Israel    L     Groman    1880-90 

Peter  Brown    1866-68  John   S.  Thompson    1892-94 

te!'   Srhwenk    ; 1867-69  p,    Franklin    Fink     1892-9:! 

William  I    Clous    1863-70  Mijchael     Q^Iler     1894-96 

John    F.    Orth    1870-72;    1873-75  R.   p,   Harris    1896-1900 

George  W.  Meager   1871-73  Theodore    F.    Havman     lOOO-O^ 

Frederic  P    Holler    1872-74  Adohih    Fichner  " ." lOO'-'-OG 

Harrison    Harncr     1873-7S  \v     K     Mills  1906  07 

J.    Henry   Chcetham 1874-76  j.    WiUJam    Roo     '.'.....'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'..'.  1907-10 

Jcrennah   !L  Ij.-.ono 1S75-76  "  c-  ,,     ,,.      , 

Charles  Spangler   1875-76  ,,,.„•  p.  Sereufh    II  ard 

William    Call     1875-76  William    Brison    1S6.5-68 

William    Grander     1S76-SO  |f  "'^  Schmucker   1865-67 

William    P.   Rcid    1876-80  "<-'"^>',K^  Hawman   1867-69 

J:;t:  rss^,  ::::::::::::::;::::::::;:;:;::5^;t?^  Ii"'v'?^^ 
K;:],^£"f-:::::::::;:;:::::::::::::::::;^;S1?^iis«^^^^^^ 

Thomas    Seiders     1880-82  ^t^^^^  •\'^"^'"    ■, ^f'^'P 

James  K.  Getz   1880-82  g^'^''^^-  ^it"   ""■   ]^'lt 

August  C.  Wertz   1880-82  ^i::i^^^''^u^c^:., ^I^"! 

John   R.   Miller    1882-85  V.  -^"^ ,       ""  ^P' V^'""^    :.]8/.V... 

William   S.    Monver    .    .    .1882-86  £""''    Si   ^"''l^    'f"*''' 

Thomas   O.   Yarington.    Tr .      .1882-80  Henry   Bennethnm    1875-76 

Frederick  Shunk      .....    ..  882-85  ^''^'"""^^  t    r   i      .   "'r'o 

C.    A.    Golding    1885-86  George   T^Eckert    876-78 

{TfT'l 1SS6-87: 180,-93  t  ^^iJ^^k^^e" :;:::::::::: ^  ^  i! ^  i! ^  ^ ^;:;^ 

Alfred    Franks    ]SsT,-87  ^yuUr^v.^    Reiff   1876-7S 

"^"O'    Vt    V;;- ^^'''"^''     l^'-''':'''"'  B.   Frank   Dettra    1878-^1) 

William    H.    Bitting    .  .    .  .    ] 887-88  t-v      ■   1   u  -,  - 

r-  T-    T^i     I  „„!  „„  i'aniel    Hou.-um    1878-79 

Geo ige  E.   Haak    887-88  j^^      ,,    ^v_    Richard.    .  .  .1878-^0 

Luther  Schick  1888-89  Gcoi^ge   P.   Zieher    1878-«0 

Edward    C.    Fhen    1888-00;    1897-90  Jonathan  G.  Leinbach    1879-82 

Augustus     Potteiger      1888-90  '^^  l.    Kestncr     ...      880-^2 

Edward    ^eager    1880-90  Casner   H.   Lot.   ...880-8  1 

James  Loltercl i.S90-9l  Wellington  S.  Lcvan 18S0-«2 

Marion   Lrirkm      1890-03  Amos   P..   Wanner    ..  1882-M 

iT'^'l  ■\.-^"':?^'''  i '^'"'-^''  Tames   P.   Sellers .  882-84 

Edward  W   Ale.xander    1895-97  "john   C.   Heplcr    1882-84:  ]8<<0-88;   1888-90 

Harrison    Po^cv    1901-05  i^,„^„    p.,,,',,    _j<„,. 


John  S.  Matthias   1905-11 


E.    S.    Miller    lS8fi-8s 


Sixth    ]Tar,i  Harrv     Whiteside     18.' 

George  B.  Connard  1865-G6  J.   C."  Dehart    1886-87 

Daniel    Miller     1865-73  W.  B.  Moscr ..."      1886-87 

Aaron  Gelz    lSGG-68  John    H.    Ruth    1886-88 


M  M;!iij'^ 


Ivr, 


READING  2-25 

Th,,ma5   D.    Baushor    1SSG-8S     David    llcnry    1876-78 

Iht.nias   B.  O'Brien    lSSS-90     Isaac   Rohrbach    1870-78 

(iiiirt,^-  B.  Clou.-cr    18S8-S'J     Leonard    Ikrbst    1870-78 

I.,lin  Luigard    lSS^-91     Ed\var<l   .M.   Castor    1870-78 

'Maurice  A.  Arnold    1SS8-1)0;  1891-93    John  C.  K.   Heine   1378-79 

Isaac    W.    Keim    1890-01     Henry   P.   Herb    : 1878-80 

Adam  B.  Waid   1S91-93     Daniel  L.  Strnnk   ' 1878-82 

Wellington   W.    Liglu    1S93-95     Lewis    L.    Mover    1879-80 

Charles   G.    Willson    1893-97     John    I'.al.st    1880-82 

folni   H.    ]Millhollanu    1897-98     Henry  Scliofer    1880-82 

Robert  D.  Millholland    1898-99     Obadiah   Romi-   1880-82 

Evan  L.  Shomo  1899-190:;     John    E.  Steinel      1882-8.^ 

George   W.  Sassaman    1903-09     William    Loyd 1882-85 

L.    Howard    Gehris    1909-11     'J'homas   D.    Castor    18S2-s.'i 


E,--h!h    IVard 


John    Saner     1SS4-S5 


c.rtT,.    r,'}„u;n     Tr       ' '^  '  ii?r>-,  (in  John   }L    Kline    1881-80 

ijei  >r£^e    vjeiiinan,    i  r im>. >-»>'>  ,-^  ,    j-,  1 1 ^  i  or. 

Charles    Hil!    180o-r.7  ^,<^"'/»  .  .■o^^'^-'"    •  •  •  ■. ^^]-°J 

Eranklin  S.  Bernliart    1866-08  ^r  ^>;  ^l'"/:  '  ' ;  '  •.•.•  •  •■;, 1^7 


Christian    Schick    18i;7-0'.);    1882-80 


A.    H.    Kretz    (resitcned)     1884- 

GeorKc    T.   Hain    1«S1- 


Henry    Hiller    1808-70     Vi      c:^  t  t     i       V     lssi\  ^8 

T       ID    T..;,»„  tornT,     ^^  ■    S.    Umbenliauer    1880-88 

J?.^f  ,K-  ^;"" ]lfl-l]     John   P.   Martin    188G-87 

Nicholas  Heckman    809-71     ^     ^^^^^,        p^^^^^    IS^g.gO 

D^"'^'    f  ^^^'    1^,0-73     ^  ,     G^Dldsniith    1886-90;   1893-95 

P5.  Prank  Boyer     871-73     -f,     ji    Hunsieker    1887-88 

Andrew   J     Encker    18,2-_,4     ^ngustns    Resch     1888-89 

D-avid   C.    Keller    18<3-75     yV^'^M     Smith  1888-80 

Charles   E.   Wannamaclier    1873-75     ^^y^]^^:^    j.     Crai-  1889-90 

Solomon   S.   Kmdt    1874-76     Jefferson    Ouinter 1889-90 

Francis  Roland   1875-78;   1884-80     ]j,,rrv   i)nii'"an  1889-90 

George    Rei>-nger    1875-76     p '  p,'  Win^^ert  1890-91 

Christian   Geissler    1875-70;    1878-80     George  L   '"xia'-'t  .'  .1891-93 

Maybcrry    M'osor     1870-78      Howard    Thompson     1891-93 

Ciiarles    Orth    1876-78     Joseph   Witnian    1895-99 

William    Gnescnier    1870-78     WiHiani   F.   Ritter        1899-1900 

Daniel  S.   Francis    1878-80     j^.h^   p    Larkin 1900-03 

William    K.    Leiih.iser    ; 1878-80     Joseph   .V.  Vogel    1903-05 

Hicsier   M.    Xagle    1878-80     j.-|col,    Du'er.    Tr 1905-09 

John  .P.  Dauth    1880-82     ]|erinan  T.  Croossani   1909  11 


Peter   Kelfrich    1880-84 


Tenth    Ward 


Henry  Reiger      1880-82     „;,.,„„    ^r.    jrout    .' ' 1876-78 

Jcrvice    W     Edes    1880-82     charlcs    W.    llnlshizer    1870-78 


Lewis   Heilman    1S82-8C 


Thomas    I.iilis     1876-78 


John    R   Rote. 188.2-84-    p,],,,;.,,]    w.    DeHaven     1878-80 

John    Moj'er  •.  .  1.8S4-SS     j^^,;,,,    p,^^,^^    1878-80 

hrank   Au  cnbach     1884-86     George    E.'  Wisner    187S-79 

I'rank    P.    Estcrl>     18S0-S9      ,.,,,,,,-    p,    j  ^j        • 1879-80 

William  R.  Laiichs    1886-90     pHvV    Fox      .    1880-84 

W.   A.   Witman    1SS6-S8     William   F.  Weber    1880-81 

Adam   D.   Fasi.^    1S8S-S9     j.^^eph   K.   Bauman   1880-82 

Abraham    Briel    1889-90     f,,],,,    ]^     Lawrence    1881-82 

Thomas  C.  Ancona    1889-90     wiHiam   H.   Sproesser    1882-84 

Adam  K.   Drexel    1889-92     '[honias  West   1882-83 

George   R.   Clonscr    1890-94     Liithcr  Scidcrs   1883-84 

William  F.  Re--ler   1892-94     William  H.  Bellman   1884-80 

John    M.    Fritch    lS94-9r,     William    Kensil    1884-80 

John   TL   Close    1896-9S     James    Matz    1884-8S 

Kilbcrn    IL    Cleaver    1898-1900     }•,.    p     Shecder    1884-86 

Willi.Tm    F.    Rempiiis    ' 1900-02     Daniel    .Anchenbach     18Sf!-87 

William    A.    Smitli     1902-07     Robert   Smith    18S6-87 

Harry  G.  Davi^    1907-10     Zaeharias    D.    Savior    1887-96 

Ninth    Ward  Harry  Hines    . .  .' 1887-88 

Henrv     Miller     1865-66     C"harles   F.   Veity    1888-90 

John    Barth    1805-67     Jacob    Hunsberger    188S-S9 

Theodore   Homan    1866-68     John    M.    W^^ber    1889-94 

.■\ddv    Gehrv     1867-71;    1873-75      lohnB.    Honp    1,889-90 

Harrison    Smith     1s07-6',)     John    A.    Rauen    1896-98 

John   Stark    1868-72;    187r!-7r,      Richard    L.    Lawrence 1898-1910 

D.    S.    FH'meireich     1869-71;   1873-75  Eleventh   Ward 

Daniel    Rifter    1870-72     Daniel  K.  Zwover    1870-79;   1SS3-S0 

John   S.   Wagner    1871-73     Charles   R<.hrba'ch    1876-78 

John   H.   Clay    1871-73      David    Rauenz.ihn    1876-78 

Joseph   A.    Frees    1872-74      Sanitiel    P.    Mavs    '. 1876-77 

\\'illiam   J.   Woo.Ihmd    1872-74      William    H.    Kl'ineyonng 1877-78 

Christ.   Ratikneeht    1874-70;    1.-78-S0,    1882-85      h'redcriek    M.    Fisher    1878-79 

Tames   Y.    TTartm.ni    1sr.i-76      John    K.    Ilowden    1S78-80 

Thomas  McGovern    187576     John     S.    Wagner     1878-SO 

15 


::     '■'      '    '■   i     ''       •''"' 


'.>r,;ti     .W- 


'>2C, 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


Christian    Stulz     1870-80 

Tlioinas    Cr. man    1S:9-S0 

Daniel   Dillon    1S80-S2 

Havwnrd  JJ.  Hecknian 18S0-82 

Enelebert    L.    Missimer    lSSO-83 

Ernst   Xuebling   ...    1SS0-S2 

James  Y.  Hartnian   18S2-84 

Charles   H.   Koch    1S^2-S  I 

Charles   Eck    18S2-S4 

Reuben   Matz    1882-83 

Charles   M.   Clouse    1SS1-S.3 

H.   S.   I  [artman    lSS-1-80 

Leo  Rehr   ISS-I-SC 

Lavinus    Rhoads    1881-8G 

Henry   Seibcrt    1SS4-SG 

George   M.  Hess    1SS6-87 

Lender  Triekel 1S8C-88 

Paul   Kerscliner   1886-88 

William   F.  Weber    1887-88 

Alfred   Gunkel    1SS8-91 

William  H.  Ilippler    1888-90 

John  R.  Laucks   1889-90 

Charles    Gorkes    1890-91 

H.   G.  Johnson    1891-93 

John    Rock    1891-93 

Samuel   E.   Cunimings 1893-99 

Jacob  F.  HoUenbacher    1899-1903 

John  M.  Alt    1903-07 

John    Gallagher    1907-09 

Isaac   HalleV    1909-11 

Twelfth   Ward 

Samuel    Millmore    1S8G-8S 

Spencer  H.  Smith    1886-88 

Eugene   C.   Flcmming    1887-9-1 

George    W.    Kinsey    18SS-89 

Adam   H.   Fies    1889-9-2 

Adam    H.    Beard    1SS9-90 

J.nmes    P.    Yorgy    ....1892-1900 

Charles  J.   Kestner    lOOO-O.' 

Daniel   Smith    1902-06 

Michael   Kestner    1906-08 

Joseph    W.    Kellar    190S-10 

Thirteenth   Ward 

Henry   Seidel    : 188G-SS 

Benncville    Rohrbach    18S6-S8;  1903-05 

Joseph  Borky   1888-90 

Jacob   Bower,  Jr.    1888-90;  1891-93 

John  B.  Weidner 1890-93 

Charles  H.   Ramsey    1690-91 

Mayberry  K.   Spatz    1893-97 

J.  Ashton   Parker    1897-1903 

Levi  F.  Teniplin    1905-08 

B.  Frank  Bott   1908-11 

Fourteenth   Ward 

Morris    Arnold    1893-94 

William   R.   Dunn    1894-96 

John  U.  Mast   1890-1902 

?iL   M.   Lenhart    1902-04 

Earnest   V.   Bechtel    1904-00 

George  A.  Rick   1906-10 

Fifteenth    Ward 

George  W.  Shaffer   1893-1901 

Isaac   llollcnbach    1901-03 

Heber  Ermentrout    1903-08 

George  A.  Ritter  1908-11 

Sixteenth   Ward 

Alfred  Will    1895-96 

John    II.    Bach    lSOG-1900 

James  M.   Hutchison    1900-02 

Howard    R.    Brown 1902-04 

William    G.    Hintz    lOOj-OG 

Charles    M.    Sineck    19()G-08 

John  A.  L.  Flemming   1908-10 


PRESIDENTS    OF    COM.MON    COCXCIL 
Name  Term 

Lewis    Briner    1847-40 

Samuel   Frees    1849-50 

William   .V.  Wells    1850-51 

Augustus  C.  HofT   1851-33 

Adam  Waid    1S53-54 :   1859-00 

Hiram    C.    Ritter    1854-55 

Joseph    A.    McLean    1855-50 

John    Fink    1856-57 

Henry  A.  M.   Filbert    1857-39 

T.  Timothy  Jackson    1860-01 

Samuel  M.  Fillman 1861-62 

William   B.    Hertzcl    1862-03 

James   Donagan   1863-04 

William   S.   Ritter    1864-65 

George  B.  Connard 1865-66 

Levi   Wunder    . ., 1866-67 

Michael   McCullough    1867-69 

Addy  Gehrv 1869-71;   1874-75 

Lew.    Wanner    1871-73 

Ahner   K.    Stauffer    1873-74 

Charles  B.  Wells  1 875-76 

Wesley  C.   Hall   1876-77 

William   G.   Rowe    1877-78 

Hiester  M.  Xagle    1878-79 

Christian  W.   Geissler    1879-80 

Iidward   O.    Immcl    1880-81 

James  K.  Getz   1881-82 

Amos  B.  Wanner 1882-83 

Ellis   L.    Castor    1883-84 

Lewis    Heilman    1884-85 

James  A.  O'Reilly 1885-87 

I,    Comley    Fetter    1887-88 

Samuel   D.   Missimer    1888-89 

Alfred    Gunkel    1889-90 

Israel  S.  Fry   1890-92 

George   B.   Clouser    1892-94 

D.   Elmer   Dampman    1894-95 

Griffith    W.    Jones    ..1895-96 

James   P.   Yorgy    1896-98 

Samuel   E.   Cunimings    1898-99 

John   H.   Bach 1899-1900 

Rufus   W.   Wolfskin    • 1900-01 

Charles  J.  Kestner   1901-02 

Jacob    F.    HoUenbacher    1902-03 

Richard   L.   Lawrence    1903-08 

George    A.    Rick    1908-10 

CLERKS    OF    COM.MON    COU.N'CIL 
Name  Term 

John  W.  Tvson 1847-52 

A.  L.  Hennershotz 18.52-58;   1850-61 

Michael    P.    Boyer    1858-59 

B.  Frank  Haas   1861-G2 

Nathan    M.   Eisenhower    1802-63 

John    Ralston    1863-72 

Solomon  A.  Stout   1872-73 

Charles   S.   Butler    1873-74;   1875-76 

John  C.  K.   Heine   1874-75 

Jonathan   Holt    1870-78 

Henrv   H.   Holl    • 1878-79 

Luther    Seiders    1879-80 

George  H.  h'elix    lSSO-83  ;   ]8s9-9() 

Charles   J.    Tyson    1883-86 

John    II.    Focht 1886-89 

William    F.   Weber    1890-91 

Alfred    Gunkel    1891-94 

Edward  C.  Eben   1894-95 

Howard   \.  Goodman    1895-98;  1902-04 

Luther  Seiders    1898-90 

Lincoln  S.  Ramsev   1899-1901 

Ruius    W.    Wolf.skiil    1901-02 

Edward  McCann   1904-09 


READING 


227 


CITY     CLERKS 
Name  Term 

George   H.    Felix   18S4-S9 

Cyrus  T.  Fox   1 889-90 

I.    Comley   Fetter    1890-9G 

}[orace    H.    Haxiimer    1896-99 

Kdwin    L.   Linclennith    1S99-1902 

("harks  C.  Weltnicr   1902-08 

Caleb    Weidner    1908-09 

SOLICITORS 
Name  Teim 

James  Donagan   1817-48 

George    G.    Barclay 1848-50 

J.   Bright   Smith    1850-52 

Willirm   F.   Filbert    1852-53 

F.dmund  L.  Smith   1853-55 

Charles  K.  Robeson   1 855-57 

Albert  G.  Green  1857-59 

A    I-ucius    Hennershotz    1859-Cl 

Wharton   Morris    1861-62 

George  J.   Eckert    1862-63 

James   B.   Bechtei    1SG3-64 

Edward    11.    Shearer    1861-65 

J.  Glancy  Jones   1 865-67 

Daniel  Ernientrout   1867-70 

Edwin    Shaker    1870-73 

J.    Howard   Jacobs    1873-74 

William  M.  Rightmyer   1  874-75 

Harrison   Maltzberger   1875-77 

Daniel  H.  Wingerd  1877-79 

Christian  H.  Ruhl   1879-81 

Benjamin    F.    Dettra    1881-S3 

Wayne    Havnian    • 1S83-85 

William  J.  Rourke    1885-96;   1897-1903;   1904-08 

VV.   Kerper   Stevens    1 896-97 

Walter    S.    Young    1903-04 

Henry  P.  Keiser   1908-11 

tNGINEKRS 
Name  Term 

Matthias  S.  Richards   I.S47-4S 

Aaron    Albright    1848-57;   ISr/J-Gl;   l,Si;2-63 

William     Davis     lo57-5S 

Christian    Stolz lSr>8-59 

D.  S.  Zacharias' 1861-62;  1863-68;  1874-76 

Samuel    M.    Rca    1868-74 

Henry    T.    Kendall     1876-79 

Levi    Wundcr    .    1879-81 

A.    Harvey    Tyson    1881-85 

Daniel    Housum     1SS5-88 

J.  Gerhart  Yoinig  1888-89 

Samuel    S.    HoiT    1889-94 ;   1897-99 

Edv.-in   C.    Chamberlain    1894-97 

Alexander    Murdocii     1899-1902 

Elmer    H.    Beard    1902-00 

Edmund   B.  Ulrich    1909-12 

MARKET    COMMISSIONERS 
Name  Term 

John   Bo>er    1847-49 

William    Keen    1849-50 

J.    H.    Griesemer    1850-51 

John    Moyer    1851-52 

William    E.    Wilson    1S52-55 

Daniel   M.  Weand    1855-56 

John  F..  Ycager   1S56-57 

Isaac    Heckman    1857-59;   1861-62 

I^aniel    Setlcy     1S59-60 

B.^  F.    Ermcntrout    1800-61;    1862-63 

William  S.  Young  1863-66 

Jacob    Goodhart    1866-68 

Jacob  Goodhart.  Jr 1868-70 

Henry  J.   Smith.    1S70-73 

Bcnj.  Weiss  1873-74 

John    Denhard    18V4-75 

I'cter  1  exter    1875-76 

James   W.    Longaore    1876-77 

William    Clark    '"      1X77-78 


Lawrence    P.    Ressler    1878-79 

Levi   T.   R.   Krick   :• 1879-80 

P.ertolet   Grant    1880-84 

Jacob   Rapp   1884-86 

Daniel    Baus ]  H80-89 

Charles   M.   Clous    1889-93 

Adrian    S.    Loewcn     1893-90 

Albert    Merz    1896-1900 

Peter   Texter.   Jr 1900-02 

Martin    Hauck    1902-05 

Frank  Menges    [,  1905-08 

Howard   S.   Weaver    1908-11 

Bo.xRD  OF  Hi:.\LTH.— An  Act  of  Assemblv  was 
passed  on  April  22,  1873,  specially  authorizing-  tlie 
establishment  of  a  board  of  health  for  Reading, 
with  powers  for  the  preservation  of  the  public 
health.  The  board  was  made  to  consist  of  seven 
members,  with  an  indefinite  term  of  ser^'ice  and 
without  compensation,  who  were  to  be  appointed 
by  the  presidents  of  the  city  councils.  The  city 
was  divided  into  four  districts,  with  Sixth  and 
Penn  streets  as  the  dividing  lines.  One  member 
was  to  be  appointed  from  each  district  and  one 
from  the  city  at  large  ;  and  tliese  five  were  to  select 
two  physicians.  And  provision  was  made  for  the 
annual  appointment  of  a  health  commissioner  by  the 
board,  with  a  compensation  to  be  fixed  by  councils. 

The  board  of  health  effected  a  permanent  organ- 
ization on  March  10,  1871.  The  following  persons 
iiave  been  members : 

first    District 
Name  Term 

Charles   Breneiser    1S74-SO 

Dr.   Wm.    F.    Marks    ISSO 

Second   District 

David    Ermcntrout     1874-83 

Garrett  B.  Stevens    1882-83 

Charles    H.    Schaeffer    1883-1902 

D.   \.  Schaeffer   1902-05 

H.   F.  Dettra 1905 — 

Third   District 

Dr.  \V.  Murray  Weidman    1874-82 

Thomas    P.    Mcrritt 1882 

Fourth  District 

Dr.  S.  S.  Stevens    1874-82 

David    P.    Schlott    1882-1902 

Daniel   S.    Esterly    1903 

At  Large 

Dr.    ^Lirtin    Luther    1874-94 

Dr.   John    X.    Becker    1894 

PHVSICL\NS 
Name  Term 

Dr.    Israel    Cleaver    1874-79 

Dr.   Frank   Rieser    1874-80 

Dr.  M.  Albert   Rhoads   1879-94 

Dr.  William   F.   Muhlenberg   1880-83 

Dr.  Adam   B.   Dundor    1883-1902 

Dr.   S.    L.    Kurtz    ] §94 

Dr.   Charles   Roland    1002 

HKALTII     COM.MISSIONKRs 
Name  Term 

Charles   F.   Frick   1874 

Howard   L.   Miller    1874-82 

Roland  Laing   jsgo 

NoiE. — The   dash    altt.r   the   year  indicates     continuance     in     uflice. 
ri.Li.MlirNG    IXSPKCTORS 

At  the  request  of  tlie  Ixiard  of  health,  the  office  of 
plumbing  inspeclor  was  created  by  an  onlmance 
passed   Nov.   9,   LSO.j,   wliich   was   modified   by   an- 


i«<-vj','.?.r . 
(><  .■■•»•: 


•2?S 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 
The   ap 


Term 
.189^,-90 


Other   ordinance    pa?.~ed    Jan.    11,    1S'J6 
pointees  have  been : 

Name 

Thomas  E.  Weber    

John    E.    Drexel    iS'iO  190-?;   1003-Ob 

T.    Edward    Delner    1902-05 

John   D.   Corbit   190S-11 

TRUSTEKS    OF    PLT-LIC   LIBRARY 

By  ordinance,  apjjroved  Feb.  23,  iSd'J,  whereby 
the  city  of  Reading-  accepted  the  donation  of  the 
Reading  Library  (inchidinof  the  real  estate  and  all 
books  and  manuscripts),  situated  on  the  southwest 

cornei  of  Fifth  and  Franklin  streets,  a  board  of  4/^1303.  it  was  entitled  to  four  incumbents.  In 
sixteen  trustees  for  the  management  thereof  was  iS-iO,  Reading  was  divided  into  two  wards  for  just- 
established,  to  be  constituted  as  follows:  The  jces,  with  Penn  street  as  the  dividing  line. 
JMayor  to  be  an  cx-officio  member:  ten  members  to  Jhe  names  of  the  following  officials  and  time  of 
be  appointed  by  the  city  councils  in  joint  convert-  appointment  were  secured  from  the  record^  at  Ilar- 
tion ;  and  five  members  to  be  appointed  by  the  risburg: 
"Reading:   Library."      The   first   board   was   consti 


Oinccrs  since  Organization  of  Library 
Richmond  L.  Jones,  president;  Charles  H.  Hun- 
ter, secretary  and  treasurer. 

Number  of  volumes  in  library,  July  1.  19')!), 
•^T.oOft.  Books  loaned  during  l!)Os,  i'io.Ob'^.  l'.or- 
rowcrs  registered,  18,.J.")3.  This  shows  the  suc- 
cessful management  of  the  library. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE    1>E.\CE 

I'nder  the  .-\ct  of  l'?83  Reading  became  entitled 
to  elect  two  justices  of  the  peace  as  a  separate  dis- 
trict.    In  1803,  the  County  Commissioners  divided 
the  countv  into  tifteen  districts.     They  made  Read- 
the  First  District,  and  under  tiie  Act  of  April 


tuted  as  follows : 

Adam  R    Leader.  Mayor,  c.r-officio. 

At'fobHed   by   Councils 

Georcc   M.   Erinentrout 
Peter"  S.  Holl 
Charles  S.   Hunter 
John   II.  Keppelnian 
Frank  S.  Livingood 
Janice  A.   O'Reilly 
John  A.  Rigg 
William  Rosenthal 
Reuben   G.   Shalter 
W.  Kerper  Steven.s 

Appointed   by   Reading   Libiayy 
George   P.    Baer 
Nathaniel  Ferguson 
Richmond  L.  Jones 
John  R.  Kauchcr 
.^bner    K.    StaufTer 


1T84 

1784 

17S5 

1788 

.Aug.  3,  1791 
.\ucr.  31.  1791 
.Oct.   3,   1799 


The  following 
since  1899: 


a  complete  list  of  the  trustees 


Valentine  Eckert   

Henry  Christ    

John    Otto    

James   Diemer    

Peter   Xagle    

James  May  (did  not  act). 

John  Christ    

Peter   Frailey    

Matthias   Richards    

Henry  llahn April  1.  1806 

Frederick   Heller    Jan.   1,   1^07 

Jacob  Miller   Nov.  IH,  1811 

John  M.  Hyneman    Sept.  :i.  1813 

Christopher  Scherrer    Sept.    17,  1 813 

John  Addams    ^lay  13,   1810 

William   Schoener    .March  24,  1818 

John  Frantz March  24,  1S18 

Frederick  Fritz Jn'ie  2S,  1S21 

John  Spayd   J"ri<-^  -■''•  1S21 

Matthias   Richards    Nov.  S.  1823 

Edward  P..   Hubley   . .-. I^'ec.  3,  1823 

Toseph  Tyson   l^cc.  8.  1823 

Curtis  Lewis   !>=■  «•  ^823 

Peter  .Vurand    T5<-^c-    1~-   1^23 

John    Miller    P'cc.    12.  IS-JS 

Henry   I'.etz    l^cc.   12,   1823 

Matthias  Richards    Vpnl  4,  1627 

Tonathan   D.   Hiester    Ju'ie   :>,  1S27 

'Peter  Xa-le.  Jr \ug.  1,  1828 

Jacob  Sailade    Match   5,  1830 

David     Rightniver     July    25.1831 

Lloyd   Wharti  u    Oct.    19,  1831 

Lewis    Rces    April  2,   1832 

Thomas  Morris   Jan.  4,  1S3G 

Tacr.b    Fritz     Feb.    12,1838 

Henry    Tothers     Sept.    22,1838 

Henry    Bowman    .March    211,   1S39 

Xorlh     Ward 

Wm.    Schoener    April    14.    1840 

Abner  K.  Stantter    1809-1907     Henry    I'.etz    .-\pril    14.   1840 

William  Kerper  Ste\ens    1899-1002 

Adam  R.  Leader.  .Mayor  1890-1902 

Isaac    Hiester    1901 — 

Albert  S.  Ibach 1003 

Thomas   P.   Merritt    lOO.'! — 

Henry  W.   Snyder    1003 — 

Edward  Ycager.  .Mayur    1002-05 

Thomas  C.  Ziminerm.i'i    1004 — 

Edward  R.   Gerber.   Mavor    100.-.-08 


Name  Term 

George    F.    Baer     1S99 — 

George   M.   ErmeiUrotu    1S99 — 

Nathaniel  Ferguson    1899 — 

Peter  S.   HoII    1899 — 

Charles   S.   Hunter    1890 — 

Richmond    L.   Jones    1809 — 

Joliu    R.    Kauclur    ISOO— 

John     H.     Keppelman     ISOO — 

Frank    S.    Livingnod    1890 — 

James    A.    O'Reilly     1809-1002 

John    A.    Rigg    1S99 — 

Wdliain    Rosenthal     1899-1900 

Reuljcn  G.  Shalter 1809-1002 


William    Retz    April  1.!.  1S41 

William  Schoener April  15.  1S45 

William  Bctz   Aprd  14.  1S4G 

Sculh    Ward 

Charles    Troxcll     Apiil  14.  ISiO 

William    A.   Wells    \prd  14.  1.^40 

Marks  1!.  Eckert Aprd  12.  1S42 

David    .\redary    \pr'!  9.  1S44 


William  Rick.  Mayor   .  .' lOOS-ll    ^Latthias   Mengel    April   15 


1«45 


■,      h^■.<\ 


READING 


229 


ALDERMEN 
In  1S17  the  city  was  divided  into  two  districts  for 
aldermen,  that  portion  north  of  Penn  street  com- 
prising the  Northern  District,  and  that  portion 
south,  the  Southern ;  and  each  (hstrict  was  given 
two  aldermen  with  a  term  of  five  years.  An  addi- 
tional alderman  was  given  to  the  Northern  District 
by  a  special  Act  of  Assembly,  passed  Jan.  31,  1873, 
bv  reason  of  its  extent  and  large  jKipulation.  In 
1S74  the  new  charter  gave  each  of  the  nine  wards 
an  alderman.  Two  wards  were  erected  in  1S7G; 
two  in  1885;  two  in  1S92  ;  and  one  in  1891;  and 
thence  the  electors  of  those  wards  also  elected  an 
alderman. 

FROM   1847-7.5 

Northern  District 
Name  Term 

William   Betz    1847-51 

William  Sclioeiier   1847-51 

Frank  B.  ^riiIer   ..1851-65 

William    B.    Schotner    1851-75 

Washinpton    Richards    18G5-73 

Lewis   Kremp    1873-75 

Israel   C.   Becker 1874-75 

Southern  District 

David    Mcdary    1847-55 

Matthias    Meiigel    1847-GO;  1808-73 

George     Printz     .' 1855-75 

John   Qiiimby    1860-63 

Peter  Clenvcr   1863-6S 

EzekicI  Jones   1873-75 

UNDER     CHARTER     OF     1874 

First   Ward 
Name  Term 

Enos  Morris   1875-78 

John    B.    ^Taxton    187S-84 

John    W.    Ringler     1884-89 

George    W.    .Manncrback    1889-94 

Charles    E!    Stout     1894-1902 

Charles    E.    Stout    (Jr.) 1002-13 

Second    Ward 

Joseph    R.    Pawling    1875-80 

Christian  M',  Deem   1880-85 

George  W.  Ritncr 1SS5-00 

Henrv   II.   Wcntzel    1890-95;  1897-1902 

Georee  II.  McFatridge   1805-97 

John   Undhcini    ; 1903-12 

Third   Ward 

Ezekiel  Jones   1875-83 

John    Hippie    1883-88 

Frederick    If     Printz    1888-93 

Monroe    S.    Eby     1893-98 

Howard    Koch    lSOS-1913 

Fourth    Ward 

Matthias    Meng.-l     1875-85 

Edmund    Shcetz     1885-95 

Llewellyn   S.   Levan    1895-97 

William    H.    Houck 1807-1902 

Milton  C.  Kreidcr   1902-12 

Fifth    Ward 

Daniel   Pottcigcr    1875-86 

C.  A.  Griesemcr   1886-97 

Lyman   H.   Wilson    1897-98 

C.    W.    Yarnrll     1898-1913 

Sixth  Ward 

Jonathan   L.  Kcbcr    1875-77 

George    M.    Ernuntroui     1877-93 


Francis  C.  Clcmson   1893-1903:   1908-09* 

John    A.    Hiester    1903-08 

Sei-cnth    Ward 

William   B.  Sclioener   1875-81 

Israel    C.    Becker    1875-78 

John   G.   L.   BrownwcU 1881-1901 

George  M.  Miller   1901-11 

Eiglith    Ward 

Lewis    Kremp     1875-78 

William   L.   Graul    1378-83 

John   Denhart    1883-90 

Henry   O.   Schradcr    1800-95 

.Mbert  H.  Feglcv 1895-1900 

Eugene    I.    Sandt    1900-08 

William  H.  Thornburg   1008-09 

Clarence    C.    Dumn    1909-14 

•      XiiUh   Jl'ard 

Isaac    R.    Fisher    1875-90 

Edward   C.    Kirschman    1890-1905 

George  L.  Mast   1905-10 

Tenth    Ward 

Henry  H.   Holl    1876-94 

John  A.   Mtrkel   1894-1909 

Herman    Hermann    1909-14 

Eleventh    Ward 

Israel  M.  Bcrtolet   1876-80 

David  Rink   1880-81 

George  H.  Long   1881-90 

George    Kreamer   ' 1890-01 

William   F.   Weber    1891-1912 

Tzvelfth    Ward 

John    K.   Hcwdcn    1880-90 

Henry    S.    Vncun\    1896-1901 

Henry    L.    Wickel    1901-il 

Thirteenth   Ward 

Peter  T.  Phillippi    1880-92 

n-dvlcl   C.    lioyer    1892-1902 

Jacob    FI.    Scheifele     1902-07 

George  W.  Millmore   1907-12 

Fourteenth   Ward 

Edwin    P.    Van    Reed    1893-1>J03 

Joseph   E.   Bruce    1903-13 

Fifteenth    Ward 

George  M.  Ermentrout    1893-94 

William  T.  Snyder   1894-1914 

Sixteentli   Ward 

George   W.    Brown    .1895-1902 

\.   Robert  Tr.miiiison    . 1902-07 

George   B.   Clouscr    1907-12 

CONSTABLES 

Two  constables  were  elected  annually  for  the 
city  from  lS-17  to  1.875.  The  new  charter  of  1871 
required  the  election  of  one  constable  for  each  ward 
for  three  years.  Since  1875  constables  for  the  city 
have  been  elected  accordingly. 

FRO.M     1847-75 
Name  Term 

I'eter  J.  II.  Griesemcr  1847-51 

Reuben    Goo.lhart    1847-51;   1860-72 

William   B.   Yahn    1S4S-50;   1851-55 

Christian     Snvdc-r     1850-54:1860-62 

William    Keen 1851-54:    1857-60 

William   Y.    Lyon    1854-55 

Jeri  iniah     Griesemcr     1855-56 

William    Fasig    1835-57 

John   W.    Lash    1856-60 

•  Resigned    May,    1009,   and   Irvin    H.   Tobi.is  appointed. 


K    ih\r 


o.'iO  HISTORY    OF   BERKS    COUXTY,    TEXXSYLVAXIA 

Joseph    Deyshcr    1802-63  Ninth  Ward 

Bcnj.    F.    KiT.u'ntrout 18iJL'-G3  George   Kreaiiior    1ST5-S7 

Wood    M.    Schwartz 1SC3-05;  lBGf.-73  George    Miller    ISST-'jr, 

James    Shci<ly    1803-05;   lSo7-6S  Harry  T.    Beck    1890-i0o:, 

John   H.   Printz    1SG5-C0  jolm  J.  Sparely  l'J05-ll 

John    Guiles    . .    JSG5-0G  ^^^^^^^    j^.^^,^ 

Charles  Frederick   ]bGG-o.  ,,.  ,       .^^      ,  ,0-.- 

W.   W.   Diehl    • 1808-74  Michael   Doyle    1&.G-,'J 

W.   L.   Graul 1873-75  Jf™"    Malson      8<U-82 

Alfred   W.    Glase    1874-75     ^I';»''-'h^- A  ''    ]3'^Z 

John    H.    Bobst    1S87-SS 

UXDER   CHAUTi.u   OF   1874  Jacob   Matz 188S-'59 

George  H.   Goodwin    . .  .  .' 1889-00;   ]S9:;-00 

Augustus    Luebka    18'jo-o:: 

Name  Term         H arry    Wise    189G-1'.,03 

George    Harner    1875-Sl     George  J.    Brown    1902-11 


first    Ward 


Elczcnth    Ward 


George    Mannrrback     18S1-87 

William  C    Graul        1SS7-00 

Lewis  M    Rho.-d^   1890-l90o     "f^^^c.'^  ^'-  Hollenbacher   1870-79 

Harry  M.   Ould    1905-11     i^""^'^  -'-   ^i^litold    1879-80 

Jacob    B.    Rcitsnydtr    1893-1905 

Second    Ward  J.    Edward    Reifsnyder    1905 

Zacharias  Oswald    1875-78     George   S.   Straub    1905-11 


Michael    M'-Grann     1878-82 


Tijclfth    IVard 


John    Ehrgood    1SS2-S5     s,,„^,i   j^,,„^,    1^80-87 

Henry   W^tman      8S5-S9     ^,,_,.,,^    f.^,hj,,    Ig,,.,^, 

George   AlcFatridge    18.VJ-90     f^,,,.   p,^^rrell    1890-1911 

Jacob  S.   Wcntzel        1S9G-99 

George   M.   Gehrct    1899-1905  Thuiccnth  Ward 

Francis  W.  Canter    1905-11     Sanuul  P.echtold    1S8C-94 

„,  .    ,    ,,.      ,  Oscar    Detwiler    1894-90 

^''"'^   "  "'■'^  Isaiah    J.    Beck    1890-99;   1902-]  1 

Aaron    R.)lnnd    1875-78     Franklin    E.    Kreider    1899-1902 


Fourteenth   IVard 


William    P.    Graul    1878-81 

Richard   b.  Adams    lSSl-84 

Bennrvillo    Ehrgood    1884-90  H.V,'-  '"'Vfr'''\'l.  ■;  ; 1893-99 

S.-.inucI   Shircy  " 1890-93  William   W    Hinkle    1899  lOo;' 

Charles   H.   Derr    1893-99  I'-'^'l^'-'^-k  J.    Fcgley    .  .• 1902-11 

Charles  H.  Dietrich    1899-1905  Fifteenth    Ward 

William    Miles    1905-11  Edward    O'Connor    1893  1902 


Fourth    Ward 


(ohn    F.    Fisher    1902-11 


Alfred  W.   GKiso    1875-89  Sixteenth   Jl'ai  d 

Henry  A.  Maurcr    1890-93  Samuel    Focht    '. 1895-90 

William   Y.    I,yoii    1S93-9G;1902  Irwin    S.    Close    1800-99 

IVEilton    C.    Kreidtr    189G-1902  Robert   Graul    1899-1907 

Jacob   Roval    1903-05  Floward   Brown    1907-08 

Franklin    E.   Kreider    1905-11  John   W.   Smith    1908-11 

Fifth    Ward  SCHOOL  COXTKOLI.KkS 

Thomas    Shunk    1875-77  -r-.  ^i       i_       •       •  r  ,i  ,       ,  -      -.  r,.-.  ^ 

Joseph   Heifer    1877-83         ^^^m  the  besiiiniiig-  of  the  school  system  in  183 1 

Lyman  H.  \\'ils<.n .' '. .  18S3-87  to  1854,  the  several  wards  of  Reading  were  separ- 

Charles  H.  ]M-;lier  18S7-9G  ate   org-anizations    for   carryinq-   on    school   affairs; 

Charles  M.  Deem   189G-99  b^t  there  were  so  many  inconveniences  in  the  svsteni 

Jf;."  r-  {:'^s^r   ^^?L^/'??  that  in  the  latter  vear  anoth.er  was  provided  bv  law, 

William   F.   Stchman    lOO.o-ii  i  •   i     ^,       .     '         ,  ,--■,,  -,         ■ 

,  .  ny  which  the  boroughs  and  cities  ni   Pennsylvania 

St.xth  ,   aid  ^^  ^  were   constituted    single   school   districts.      Reading 

.  .       T    ^  ■  Ic-rtn  having  then  been  a  citv.  the  scIk.hiI  controllers  of 

Augustus   Lessig    lSr8-bO  ,       .'^  ,,,,        •-•  ■  -,r        ^.^^-. 

John  M.  Sharp   isso-isoo  the  hve  wards  held  a  joint  meeting.  May  1().  irv)4. 

Harry  J.  F">>clit   1899-1908  and  effected  an  organizati(ni  bv  electing  John  Banks 

Heber  F.  Buckwaltcr   1908-1 1  as   president,   John    S.    Richards   as   secretary,   and 

Seiciith  ]l'ard  Samuel  P'rees  as  treasurer. 

Wood  M.  Schwartz   1875-78         The    first    school    board,    after   this   organization, 

Raymond  B.  Lcwi.s   1878-80  ^vas  composed   of  the   following  controllers: 

Henry   W.    Lash    1880-S3  '  '^ 

Leslie  Strnbell    18S:;-1911  Xorthu'cst  JVard  Southca.';!    Ward 

^•f:''"'    "■""'  T.   S.   Richards  John   Bai.ks 

V/iliiam   L.   Graul    1875-78  W.   H.   Strickland  Ezekiel  Jones 

John    Deiihard    187S  8'!  Ephraim   Armstrong  Isaac   P.retilioltz 

Lawrence  P.   Resshr    1883-87  William    F.rmentront  George   Printz 

George    P.    Warner JSS7-19(iS  Ivens    Benson  Frederick    Printz 

Scneor  A.    Phillippi    190S-11  Charles   Fritz  George  W.   Graul 


Lewis    Neuland    1875-78 


t(    '.-,-, 


■  '  ■  ■  I . 


';    .v^<njv? 


■:i    .•A,. A 


READIXG 


231 


Northeast   l\'aid  Sonlhzccst    ll'ard 

G''i'rge   Foos  Samuol  Frees 

I'.  W.  Sluiltz  A.  G.  Green 

Samiic!  L.  Young  William   B.   liertzel 

J.   liowman  James  Van  Hurn 

Jacob  Mast  David   McKniglit 

Daniel  Zacharias  Benjamin   M.   lloag 

S/'niii:    Wurii 

Amos  Hooker  Fvan   B.  McCord 

A.  S.  Whitman  John   Miles 

Jacob  H.  Dcysher  Thomas   Bariiet 

On  April  'JG,  lSt.'>4,  the  charU-r  of  Reading-  ^vas 
revised,  and  in  this  revision  the  consolidation  of 
the  five  wards  into  one  school  district  was  pre- 
served. Each  ward  became  entitled  to  four  con- 
trollers, with  a  term  of  four  vcars ;  and  two  of 
them  were  to  be  elected  alternately  evcrv  two  years. 
The  voters  at  the  biennial  elections  after  1S(55  were 
to  vote  for  one  person,  and  the  two  persons  hav- 
\ng  the  largest  number  of  votes  were  to  be  declared 
elected.  This  provision  was  made  to  preserve  the 
political  equipoise  of  the  board.  The  fust  control- 
lers were  elected  in  February,  1SG5,  and  the  school 
affairs  of  Readin^^  have  been  carried  on  ever  since 
under  the  Act  of  1SG4.  The  board  was  authorized 
to  assess  and  collect  taxes  for  school  pttrposes. 

A  revision  of  the  city  charter  was  again  made 
by  the  general  Act  of  1871,  including  a  provision 
for  school  affairs,  but  it  was  not  accepted  l)v  Read- 
ing. Therefore,  the  school  affairs  of  Reading  are 
carried  on  separately  frum  the  city  affairs. 

Tlie  names  of  the  controllers  of  the  several  wards 
are  given  in  the  following  statement,  from  1ST3  to 
the  present  time — the  names  for  tiie  years  from 
18(!5  until  1ST3  not  having  been  obtainable,  because 
the  reports  are  missing: 

First    Ward 
Natnp  .  Term 

Jesse   G.   Hawley    1873-75 

John    B.    ;\Lixton    lS7:!-75 

Solomon    Sprccher    ]S7:t-77 

Hen;y    T.    Fink    1873-77;   JSS3-S7 

William    B.   Albright    187o-7'.i 

James   E.   Yoder    1875-79 

H.   A.    Corbit    1877-7'.) 

A.  J.   Darlington    1877-79 

J.    Henry    Hoffniaster    1S79-81 

Matthan    Harbster    1879-81 

.'\lbcrt    D.    Boas    1879-81 

Josiah    1 1.    Hiltebeitel    1S79-S3 

Joseph    R.    Robison    1881-8:! 

Jc-se    Orr     1881-9:! 

William  S.   Humbert lSSl-8.5 

Isaac  W.  Hull   LSS.-f-SG 

George   B.  Albright    1SS5-89 

Frank   W.    Eben    1 88r,-,sr 

William    D.   Wolhnger    1887-91 

Franklin    Heifer    .  .  . '. 1887-9:! 

John    M.    Adams    ...1889-97 

Frank    K.    Flood    1891-9.') 

Harry  W.  Orr   1893-98 

John  E.   Harbster   1893-97 

George   E.  Tyson    189.5-1910 

William   A.    Barbc  r    1897-19().> 

Geiirge  F.  Magennian    1897-1907 

Henry   T.    Melchcr    1898-1910 

Frank   G.   Wilson    190,">-10 

Jeremiah   G.   Hag<  nnian    1907  10 


Second    ll'ard 

Henry  W.   Mover    1873-75 

Daniel    Shaaber    1873-79 

Redmond  .Mc.Manus    1873-74 

Henry   C.   Ilain    1873-77;  1879-83;  1S87-91 

Samuel   HoU    1874-77 

Jame.s  J.   Driscoll 1875-82 

.\.   J.    Fink    1877-85 

Peter   X.   Snvder    1877-81 

Griffith   W.   Jones    1SS1-S9 

Tohn    Morris    1882-1907 

John  1'.   Miller 1883-87 

Ellis    L.    Castor    lbS.j-93 

Edward  .A.  Howell   1889-97 

Eilward   H.   Kreamcr    1891-95 

Henry  A.   JIarner    1893-1901 

Elmer  A.  German   1895-1 903 

F'rank   Kissinger    1897-1905 

Peter    Schlarb,   Jr 1901-10 

George   W.   Uhil    1903-07 

Edward  C.   Price    1905-10 

Henry  E.  Keeler   1907-10 

Edward  S.   High    1907-10 

Third    JVard 

Henry   Johnston 1873-75 

William  Ci.   McGowan    1873-75 

E.    J.    Rauch    1873-74 

Jolm  Wise 1873-77 

Henry   11.    Hoi!    1874-76 

James    M.    Lyons    1875-79 

Levi   H.    Liess    1875-7& 

Charles    Scull    1876-77 

John   G.  IMohn    1877-89 

Henry   D.    Schoedler    1877-79 

Frank  Sehaefi'er   1879-81 

Joshua    Ciouser    1879-3.'^ 

Jacob  Holl   1879-87 

William    Kerper    1881-89 

James    R.   Kenney    1S83-S7 

William     High     1887-91 

Alfred  Suavely    1887-91 

Chester    B     Jennings     1889-1901 

B.   Frank   Ruth    1889-1901;  1903-10 

Fred  H.  Witman   1891-95 

Thomas    G.    Printz    1891-99 

Henry  W.   Schick   1895-1910 

0>cnr   B.   Wetherhidd    1899-1903 

William    B.    Har;ier     1901-04 

John   W.   Morrison    1901-07 

Ira  G.  .Shoemaker   1904-10 

John    G.    Rhoads    1907-10 

Fourth    Jl'ard 

Jeremiah    Hageninan    1873-83 

William   M.    Rigiitmyer    1873-77 

Charles    McKnight    1873-79 

Flarrison    .Maltzberger    1873-83;   1SS9-93 

William   H.   Kellcy   1877-81 

Levi    Quier    .1879-89 

Jefterson    Al.    Keller    1881-1900 

Henry   G.    Young    1SS3-S7 

Henry  D.   High   1883-91 

John    H.   Obold    1887-1910 

William   J.    Bobst    1891-99 

Edward   \\'.   James    ....    1893-1908 

Walter  A.  Rigg   1899-1907 

Charles   J.    Hritl    1900-05 

John    H     Rotherniel    1903-00 

Henry  H.   Herman   ..1907  08 

Thomas    H.    Morgan    1908-10 

Henry  S.   Fichthorn 1909-10 

William   S.   Dickinson    1909-10 

Fifth    IFard 

James    Mulli.gan    1873-79 

.[I'lni  F.  Muers   1S73-75 

.'^.iniuel    l-'iecs    1873-8t 

George   W.   Phelps    1873-78 


n,.»).'! 


W<:    •!     o.iivv 


■I     ' 


•?-T?  HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYIA'AXIA 

Henry  D.  Schoedlcr   IbT'.-Ti;     A.  T.  C.  Keffer    I873-f  i 

Welluigluii  Van  Rccd   18TG-r.U0     IKnry  S.   Eckcrt . .  . !  38T:;--', 

Ephraiin   Ariii?ircmg    18Ti)-,Sl     Henry   \V.    BurWey    lS74-~- 

John   F.   Onli    1870-S2     Harriion  Shiiltz  1873--'! 

William  H.  W'ilr.elni   1881-80     S.   K.  Ancona   1877-8:i ;' iss7-'.-, 

Charles  A.  Z.   Grit  seiner    1881-80     James  1\I.   Lyons lS79-^i; 

Edgar  W.   Alexander    188;.'-8:5:   ]SS7-0()     Jacub   PI.    Gooflnian    ISSi-S'i 

Peter  W.  Xagle   lS8j-S7     Christian   \\  .   C-ei.-.^Ier    lt.S:;->: 

John  E.  Goodhart   1880-93     Adam    W.    Schwartz    18-<c,->.: 

Peter  A.   Fritch    1889-03     George    Foo>        ]8S7-;i-, 

Frederic   P.    Heller    1800-95     Eufrene   I.   Sandt    18S0-'j:; 

John    R.    Miller    1803-97     Hieitcr  M.  Xaple    1880-0:; 

John   C.  Wullison    1893-07     Thaddcus  A.  Hover   •...1803-07 

Harry  F.  Hahn    1805-1003;  1004-10     Edwin   B.   Gcttis    1803-10iii 

Alvin    X.    Boyer    , 1897-1001    James   R.   Mercer    lS05-0'i 

Lloyd  yi.  Xiinnemaeher   1807-1005     Charles   S.   Prizer    1805-0'.) 

George   Y.    Yncuni    1003-OG     Cyrus    Wertz     1897-100] 

Emanuel  Loel)   1005-10     -Abram   Herr    1890-1010 

John    B.    Krehs    1007-10     Seymour  T.  Sclnnehi    1800-1910 

Howard  F.  Hawk   1900-10     J.   Wilmer   Fisher    1901-08 

<r,r/;,    u;,rH  Eugene    Rhein    1901-08 

^iMl,    Hard  Thomas  K.   Leidv    1909-10 

George  W.   Bu^hong    1873-7  5     George   E.   Dillon' 1909-10 

Alexander   lacolis    1873-75 

Daniel    1'.   ShenfeKlcr 1873-77;   1870-83  A;)!///    II  ard 

Lewis    Brincr    1873-77     William    Geiger    1873-76 

Wharton   .Morris    1875-79     Levi   H.    Liess    1873-74 

John   McKniglu    1875-83     Jacob    Bissikunier    1873-77 

John    M.   Sharp    1877-81     William    lieards worth    1873-70 

Jacob    Snell    1877-81;  1883-91     David  Rhein    1874-76 

George  W.   Boas   1881-87     Edwin   Zicgler    1876-81 

Jones  O.  Thotnas    1881-80     Xathan   Rohrbach    1876-79 

Stephen    ^L   Meredith    1883-84     J.   W'illiam   Landis    1870-81 

Joseph  S.  Ricgel ..1884-91     Ferdinand   Goetz    1877-81 

Daniel    E.    Schroeder    1887-93     Joseph    T.    Smith    1870-83 

Daniel   Beidler    1889-93     Abram    Herr     1881-83 

John  S.  Thompson    1891-95     Piermann  C.  Reus   1881-01 

Walter   Prutzmnn    1801-99     John   B.  Snyder   1881-89 

Charles   X.   Scitzin-cr    1803-1901     August    H.     Barlels     1883-87 

William    Hutchinson     1893  07     William   Weis 1883-92 

John   G.   Beck    1805-1902     Augustus    .M.   High    1887-91 

Charles  H.   Frederick    1897-1001;   1903-05     Henry  S.   Bnrd    1889-93 

Daniel  P.  Kramer  1890-1003     Harrv  A.   Hcckman    1891-1900 

John   A.    Britton    1901-03     Eli    D.    Emerich    1801-90 

Charles   O.   Ream    1901-00     John    M.    Becker    1802-95 

John   IT.   Riegel    1902-10     Jonathan   S.   Ebling    1893-07 

Jacob    Diener    1903-07     Elias    H.    Frantz    1895-1904 

William   Prutzman    1905-10     Benjamin    F.    Hunsicker 1897-1905 

Harry  P.  Yost    1907-10     George   Scheirer    1899-1910 

Edward    S.    Wertz    1907-10     William   H.   Luppold    1900-04 


Sc-c'cnth    Jl'ard 


John    M.    Smith    1904-10 

„,     .      ^,     ,  Robert   Strasscr    1904-05 

Edwm    Shalter    1873-79  William    Bauknecht    1905-00 

Daniel  Ermentrout   1873-77  Peter    Evrich    1905-10 

•Joseph  T.  Valentine   1873-77  Robert  B.  Machemer   1909-10 

J.    Howard  Jacobs    1873-75;   1877-85;  1SS7-91 

Charles  A.  Saylor    1875-83  '  ''""'    ''  "''^ 

Daniel   D.  Lerch    1877-80  Fidel  Weber   1876-78 

W.   Benton   Stoltz    1879-82  Samuel  B.  Ruth    1876-77 

Frank   C.   Smink    1882-86  John   A.   Xeidert 1876  79 

J.    C.    A.    Hofifeditz 1883-87;   1891-95  George   W,  Johns    1876-80 

Henry   B.    Hendel    3885-89  Jnmes    Vanstavoren     1877-78 

William  M.   Goodman    1886-90  Wellington     Boycr     1879-83 

Stephen    M.    Meredith    1880-97  Hiram   M.   Trout    1878-82 

John  H.  Maltzberger   1889-1001  J^f'hn    D.    Witman    1878-82 

J.  Harvey  Tyson   1890-94  Charles   Y.   Levan    1880-82 

J.    Edward   Wanner    1804-1910  James   D.   Long    1882-84 

Ellsworth  A.  Lcinl)acli    1805-99  Herman    Hermann    1832-86 

Howard  Kcppelman    1897-1906  Edward   W.   De    Haven    1882-90 

Harry  T.   Shick    1890-1903  I'^aac  J.   Halo    1883-88 

Reulien    H.    Sf. angler    1001-10  Richard    Mohn    ; 1884-92 

Charles  H.   R.   Lcinbach    1903-06  Michael   A.    Buckley    1S86-9S;  1900-04 

James   F.   Mohn    1907-10  Luther  Sciders    1888-96 

J.   Xewton    Rhoads    1907-10  J"^cpli   A.    Bycrs    1890-02 

r-    ;,;     If      .  James   E.   Howe    1892-94 

^,.  ,    ,       ,,     ,  ^'"'•"    "  '"■'^  Benjamin    F.    Shceder !  :{s92-95 

Nicholas   Heckman    1873-77  William    II.    Lmi^acre    1894-99 

Mahlon    K.   Taylor    1873-74  Daniel    W.    Levan    !  1895-99 


READIXG  233 

Henry   H.   Weit^el    1S9G-1900     George  W.  Millmore   1904-08 

,  h.-.rlc»  F.  Brissel   1893-1910     liuyiiiiLra    Uouchat    1900-10 

I    hn  J.   Phillipsoii    1899-1904     Harrv  C.  \\'amier    1908-10 

WiHiam   L.   Moser    1899-1900     David  J.  .Mover   1908-10 

1   l-.vard  Tacnzer    1900-02  ' 

Walter  D.   Fichthorn 190:M0  huurtccnth   II  ard 

!.~cph   L.    Gehris 1904-10     Hunry   S.    Kctter    1893-95 

'\ll)crt  F.  East    1904-10     ^\■i■liam  \\ .  Fetter   1893-99 

Daniel    E.   Schroeder    1893-97 


Elcvcith    Ward 


William   P.   Keim    1893-97 


\V.  H    Chapman HV-'H  Samuel  J.   Waid '.  . .  1895-1910 

'.'■."■"t-    n   ,^'""    i^7fi  ^  B-   r^rank  Fink   1897-99 

,,,hn   r.   Bellerncre    1876-,S  ^  ^    j^^^^^,^^.    ,897-1901 

"l-Vcderick  Setley 1877-78  Morns    Arnold     1899-1903 

I-,m.-s   -Mendenhall    1878-80  J«hn   L.  Harbster    1S99-1901 

'William   H.   Kelley   1878-80  Frank  Bcndel    1901-03 

j.-hn    G.    Kalhach    1878-82  Charles   S.    Shakers    1901-03 

,\lired  S.  Jones    1878-82  Tames  F.  Mohn    1903-07 

Frank  Menges    1880-86  Joseph  E.  Hess    1903-05 

Ifoniy  H.   Kartman    1880-84  Walter    B.   Koch 1903-05 

Henry   M.   Spuhler    1882-83  Henrv    M.    Obold    1905-09 

Jeremiah  Seiders    1882-86  John  'M.   Frame    1905-09 

Daniel   Dillon    1883-84  q  Clarence  Lon^   1900-10 

.Adam   Hlberl    18S4-94  j^^^^^  ^^    Kalhach    1909-10 

Henry  H.  Jackson    1884-86  i,       i    -ti    t-i  mnn  m 

!^.ac   M.    Bechtel    1886-89  ^^^"^^  ^^-  Doremus   1909-10 

Calvin  S.  Gerhard   1886-88  Fiitccnth    Ward 

I'eres  S.   Fisher    1886-94  George  W.  Wagner    1893-99 

Thomas  G    Harper  1888-95  y)s.^.-^^\   K.   Kaufnian    1893-99 

\w''^    r      l!T'    i.of fo?n  Charles    H.    Kiesling    1893-1910 

Altred    Giinkcl    1894-1900  t,  i    t?      \  u  i«OTionj 

Milton  J.  MiUer  1894-98  Howard    FAhrens    sS"  ??J 

Charles   K.   Haman    1895-96  ^zra  Schmehl     ^aoloin 

Charles  A.   Hawk    1896-1910  (;""«   ^\-   ^'"'"i    '^lon.  no 

Urias  A.  Fisher   1898-1904  Robert .  L.W  ilson    1904-09 

Howard  G.  Becker    1898-1910  ^^  •    I^vin    Rennin-er    1909-10 

Charles  P.  Saylor    1900-01  Sixteenth    Ward 

Harry   ^I.   I  aiicks    1901-10  j^^^^j^.j    p    pri„t-^    1895-1901 

^r'°^   C    Straub 1904-08  j    j       y.     Houp    1895-1900 

Ihomas   M.   Richardson    1908-10  i  i   rJ     it   1„  iso^qq 

Samuel  H.   I'ulmer    l89o-y9 

Tivelfth    Ward  S.   E.  Ancona    1895-99 

Henry   H.   Jackson    1880-88  Andrew    J.    Fink.    Jr 1899-1904 

George   W.    Reisingcr    1886-91  Frederick    C.    Printz    1899-1907 

Franklin  -Menges   .' 1880-98  John    H.    Giles 1900-10 

Jeremiah  Seiders   1886-94  ^-^   Robert  Tomlinsnn    1901-04 

George   W.  Ketner    1888-92  Jc'hn   E.    Clouser    1904-10 

Henry  Stine    1891-92  David   C.   Lotz    1904-10 

William  R.  Kirn    1892-96  Xevin   M.  Davis*    1907-09 

Jenkin    Hill    1892-96  

t^n'l- l^ders ■::::::::::::::::::::::;::::: \lV,-fZ    The  following  persons  have  been  officers  of  the 

Daniel  K.  Biehl  1896-1904  hoard  from  1865  to  the  present  time: 

Albert   G.   Bauinan    1898-1902  presidents 

Thomas  A.   Shoemaker    1902-10  Name  Term 

Eph.  S.   Brownmiller    1904-10  J     K.    McCiirdy    1865-67 

Thirteenth   Ward  Jc'hn    S.    Richards    1867-72 

George    C.    Snender    1886-90  "T^    S.    Eckert     1872-88 

William  B.   Hi^^h   1880-87  J"   Ho^^^rd   Jacobs    888-90 

Franklin    S.   Shimer    1S8G-S8  S-    E.    Ancona    1800-9. 

Henry    Seibcrt    1886-88  ^-   ^^-   ^\°7^'  - If.^'V^ 

William  A.    Mengel    1887-90  ^'"'f''  ^);•  ^VaK"^-r    ;«oV  ao' '  ia  J1n 

H.    Bouehat    ....    1888-95  I    Fdsvard   \\  anner    1898-99;   190^-10 

Abr.  Whitman    1888-1908  ^'-   ^' '   """sicker    lS99-190o 

I-rcderick   W.    Cranston    1890-92  .  seorktaries 

Llewellyn    Gehret    1890-94  Name  Term 

•Mbert   J.    Frezcman    1892-94  Lewis    Briner    1865-67 

•Mhcrt   S.    Hiach    1804-98  John   L.    Barnes    1867-70 

Reuben   G.   Shalters    1894-98  Charles   Scull    1870-72 

Wesley  B.   Marcks   1895-98  Thomas   Severn    1872-73 

Evan   C.   Wentzel    1898-99  William    .M.    RiglUmver    1873-77 

Hiram  M.  Trout    1898-1902  A.  J.   Darlington    1877 

George  J.   Trievel    1898-1010  Harrison    Shultz 1877-79 

>yilliam  W.   Britton    1S9:i-l')00  James    M.    Lyon    1879-02 

Uiarles   H.   Ramsay    1900-01  Iraneis    Roland.  Jr lS!i2-i910 

\">  illiam    R.    Eaches    1902-06  •  Did    .\i.nl    U,    IHUO.   una    Hohlke    I.uers-on   ai'pninlcl   sucrtssor. 


!)■  .     ») 


M    ...    ..      ■' 


534 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PFA'.VSYL\'AXIA 


TRF-ASUKKRS 

Janics  liell   1 

-Matthias  .Mciigcl   1 

Peter  Jones   1 

William    Ernicmrnut    1 

Levi   H.    Liess    1 

Ephraini    Armstrong    1 

Janics   M.  Lyons   1 

Albert   R.    1  i'oover    IS!) 

John    B.    Renninger 1 


Terra 

Sti,j-iJC 

8t;i;-*i8 

80S-6') 
SOO-VT 
S77-S0 
SS0-'J2 
S02-91 
4-1000 
1)00-10 


CITY  ^l•l'ERl^"n.^■^'E^■TS 
In  18G7  the  scliool  directors  of  cities  containing 
a  population  cxceedinq-  10,U"0  '.\cre  authorized  to 
elect  a  city  superintendent  of  the  common  schools 
for  the  term  of  three  years.  The  directors  ol 
Reading  elected  the  first  su[>crintendent  in  ISGT. 
Thence,  till  now,  the  sujierintendents  have  been:. 

Name  Terra 

Tohn   L.   Karnes    ieC7-G0 

Thomas  Severn    1800-78 

Robert  K.   P.nchrle    1878-80 

David  R.  Bninner    1880-81 

Samuel   A.   Baer. 1881-84;    1880-OC. 

Joseph    T.    Valentine    18S4-85 

Thomas  M.  Balliei   lS8.'j-88 

Z.    X.   Snvder    1S8S-89 

Ebenczer   Mackey    18y(;-l902 

Charles    S.    Foo^,' 100:3-10 

Mi:.\T    AND   >:iLK    IXSPFCTOR 

A  new  office  was  established  by  councils  on  Feb. 
4,  1909,  for  the  inspection  of  meat  and  milk,  and 
the  mayor  selected  as  tin.-  first  appointee  Dr.  (icorge 
R.  Fetherolf.  a  resident  veierinarv  surgKin  for 
ten  years  and  a  graduate  of  the  Ontario  \'euTinary 
College.  His  legal  authority  extends  througliotn 
the  city  and  inti->  thi-  surruunding  district  for  twenty 
miles  for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  all  butcher-shops 
and  dairy  farms  which  furnish  meat  or  milk  to 
consumers  iti  Reading. 

cf:nsl's 

The  first  correct  enumeration  of  the  population 
of  Reading  wa-^  made  l)y  the  national  government 
in  1790;  and  sul)-e(]uenlly  everv  ten  years.  The 
numbers  at  the  several  period;,  whilst  Reading  was 
a  borot'ch    were  a>  ffillows: 


1790 
1800 
1810 


2.2?.^       1820  4,032 

2,386   1S30  0,856 

o.AK        1840  8,410 

CF.XSUS    i:XU.\iLR.\T!OX— 1850-1000 


W; 

1st 

2d 

3d 

4th 

5th 

6th 

7th 

8th 

9th 

10th 

11th 

12th 

13th 

14th 

i.ith 

16th 


8.">0 

1m;o  7 

18-; 0  I' 

1880  •" 

1800   1 

looo 

i.or,:.' 

4,(»10 

2.8341 

3,0141 

3.604 ' 

3,993 

:!.774 

4, ISO 

i      5..530! 

5,5531 

5,047| 

6,656 

:;,i(;.-. 

1.005' 

3  73" 

4,455 1 

4,065, 

4,717 

3.2(14 

5.7CiO 

2,r,iil 

2.S20I 

2,758| 

2,621 

2,r.3S 

4. 2  so; 

3,205 

3..399I 

3,467 

3,423 

1 

2.763  i 

3,702i 

5,0771 

8,011 

1 

3.541  i 

4.1.301 

5,185' 

3.861 

1 

3,6901 

3,S74| 

4,403  i 

3,789 

1 

6,024 1 

4.2061 

4,800 

5,454 

i 

2.8341 

6,1561 

4,750 

i 
! 

i 

1 

1 

5,195' 

3,800 1 
4,110l 

3,000 ; 

5.460 
6.617 
6,811 
4.005 
3.874 

1 

1 

4.911 

5.743 

23,102 

33.9.301 

43.278! 

58.66 1 1 

78.062 

Skxf.s  ok  PopfLATiox. — Tile  population  of  Read- 
ing by  sexes  was  as   follows  : 

Male  1-V:.,a\. 

1S3I)      2,785  _>,S4.; 

1841)      4,008  4,837 

1850      7,760  7.9s3 

ls6it      11,183  11/.):.., 

1 S70   10,525  17,405 

18^0   21,099  22,170 

180O  20,126  :j0.5:;j 

1000   30,128  3oi833 

POi'ULATlOX       XORTII       AXD       SoL'TlI       Or       I'kXN 

Street. — By  the  following  table  it  ap[icars  ihut 
the  major  part  of  the  population  of  Reading  was 
south  of  Penn  street  from  ls40  to  ISSO;  and  bv 
averaging  the  increase  from  1880  to  Is'.io.  it  i< 
evident  that  the  major  part  had  shifted  north  of 
Penn   street  in  the  year   18S2. 

I  1840   I  1850   I     1860   |     1870   1  1S80   1     1890   I     lOoIT 

South    I  4,9911  9^oTri3,l  13 ] "17,01 2|  22.11  r|^0^6S7[  31.U!,0 

Xorth   '  3,419|  5.842.    10,040;   16,018]  21,167|   31,974]   47,881 

'  1,57^  4,059 1      3^0(34  [      l.SoT]         944 1                ^| 

Colored  Popula'itox. — The  colored  population 
at  Reading  since  ]S30.  by  the  United  States  census 
enumeration,  has  been  as  follows:  1830 — 193;  1840 
—22];  1850—357;  ISGO— 285  :  1870—311;  1S80— 
350;   1890—390;  1900—531. 

Gctc  limtnicration. — In  1817,  J.  Lawrence  Getz, 
publisher  of  the  Rcadin;y  (iojctlc  and  Dcuwcvat, 
made  an  enumeration  of  the  jjoj-zalation  at  Read- 
ing, witli  tlie  following  result,  Afales,  G,'lll:  fe- 
males, (;,-M)3;  total,  l.'J.nM;  hr.uses,  2,138;  families, 
2,398.  There  were  then  nearly  twice  as  many  per- 
sons south  of  Penn  street  a-,  lliere  were  north. 

Lcz'cm  Enuiucrafion. — In  1877,  Edgar  a1.  Levan. 
an  attorney  at  Reading,  publisiied  a  dir'.clory  of 
the  city.  While  registering  the  names  nf  the  in- 
habitants, he  collected  interesting  facts,  showing 
the  number  and  sex  of  the  populatioti,  stores, 
dwellings,  etc..  with  the  following  result: 

]\[ales  over  21  years,  9,705;  under  21  years.  9,- 
7.S7  ;  females  over  21  vears.  10,781;  under  21  vtars, 
9,773;  total.  40.1(19;  ^tivres.  1.0  11;  dwellings  8.18(J ; 
manufactories.  117.  X umber  of  jiersons  to  each 
inhabited   dwelling.   5.19. 

Comtakative  Statistics. — The  following  statis- 
tics are  submitted -to  show  tb.e  relative  gri)Alh  of 
Reading  as  compared  with  the  cmmtry  di.^tricts 
of  IjCiks  county  at  tiiree  different  periods. 

Reading  I         1^856       |        1S85  ~        10"8^ _ 

taxabfes  |  4.0941  13,2791     '     35,414 

Properte  assessed  I   $4.011, 763i$23,7S0:222;$52, 724,600 

Money  "at  interest |       380,8^5^ 5^049^821  J3.434.847 

CounTn."  Districts !  """l85))      j.       1885      l'       1'.)08 

TaxaT)i~s  '  13.4So!  20,879'  31.337 

Prnjiertv   assessed  ,$i0.601,126'$4O.8O6,570^40.5  15.102 

Money   at    nuorcst  i      2.020.5751      8.741.821  '   _S_.077^0O2 

,Vssi:ss.\[EXt  eor  1898. — The  city  asses^oIs  o/ 
Re;idiiig  m;i<Ie  an  a:--es,iiieiit  of  pnijicrty  in  the 
several  ward-  frcim  September  ti>  Derembrr,  ls97, 
which  was  revised  by  cilv  cduncil-,  from  j.inu.iry 
U^  March,  ]8!i8,  with  the  folluwing  rcMilt : 


j;     :r(i- 


■n'    ;        I); 


READING 


235 


Total 


250.400 

30,000 

357,700 

238.500 

42,000 

88,000 

,101.000 

•10II.500 

342,800 

76,800 

192.400 

443,S00 

244.300 

187,050 

149,600 

451,700 

09l),ti50 


The  property  exempted  from  local  taxation  em- 
braces all  churches,  parsonag-es.  school-houses,  pub- 
lic building's,  charitable  institutions,  and  corpora- 
tion buildings  not  including-  establishments  that  pro- 
duce revenue. 

PRESIDENTIAL  VOTE,    XOV.   3.   1908 

Taft  Bryan 

Rep.  Dcm. 

1st  Ward.  1st   Precinct 154  75 

2d   Precinct 135  75 

3d   Precinct 130  60 

2d    Ward,  1st  Pnclnct 57  79 

2d  Precinct 75  104 

3d  Precinct 64  69 

4th    I'rccinnt 128  140 

3d    Ward,  1st   Precinct 143  140 

2d    Precinct 188  205 

3d   Precinct 129  84 

4th  Ward,    295  156 


5th  Ward,  1  st    Precinct 163  127 

2(1    Precinct 127  50 

6th  Ward,  1st     Precinct 128  71 

2d    Precinct 204  141 

3d   Precinct ISl  244 

4th    Precinct 97  61 

5th    Precinct 73  86 

7th  Ward,  1st    Precinct 174  112 

2d   Precinct 299  126 

Sth   Ward.   1st     Precinct 176  133 

2(1    Precinct 217  182 

9th  Ward,  1st     Precinct 78  122 

2d   Precinct 93  123 

3d   Precinct 79  133 

4th    Precinct 80  240 

10th  Ward,  1st    Precinct 138  195 

2d  Precinct 198  209 

1 1  th  Ward,  1st    Precinct 149  161 

L'd    Precinct 110  225 

3d   Precinct 122  151 

12th  Ward,  1st    rVecmct 118  93 

2d  Precinct '. . .  133  169 

3d    Precinct •. 203  264 

4th    Precinct 132  134 

13th  Ward,  1st    Precinct 143  140 

2d  Precinct 200  175 

3d   Precinct 323  309 

4th    Precinct 170  197 

14th  Ward,  ]st     Precinct 160  67 

2d  Precinct 135  75 

3d  Precinct 51  40 

4th    Precinct 225  113 

15th  Ward,  1st     Precinct 149  156^ 

2d   Precinct 43  44* 

3d   Precinct 285  136 

4th    Precinct 269  215 

5th    Precinct 121  92 

IGth  Ward.  1st     Precinct 150  131 

2d   Precinct 2,50  1 10 

3d   Precinct 172  176 

Totals 7,825  6,950 

Taft's  plurality     866 

Roosevelt's    plurality    over    Parker    in    J90t     3,309 


TABLE  OF  STATISTICS^ 


READING  Taxables 

1st  Ward    1,426 

2d    Ward    2,235 

3d    Ward    1,826 

4th    Ward    966 

5th    Ward     1,101      - 

'•Ih    Ward     3,373 

7th    Ward    1,714 

&ih    Ward     1,567 

'nh    Ward     1,945 

Unli    Ward    1,827 

Hth    Ward    1,921 

12th    Ward    2,698 

13th    Ward    4.761 

Ulh    Ward     2.476 

15th    Ward    3,315 

l''th    Ward    2.203 

Total   for   City    35.414 

*-"i"ity     ' 31.337 

T  "tal    for   County    66,751 

Horses,  2.266;  assessed  at  $15(1.010. 
*  Asscsstnent   reported   by   Cinnit\ 


Property 

Real  Estate 

Re.-d  Estate 

Taxable 

Tax 

Monev 

Exempt 

Taxed 

bv  Countv 

Levied 

at  Interest 

$      295,500 

$  1,855,550 

$1,982,650 

$  5,048 

$    754,338 

44,800 

2,292.500 

2.497,475 

7,492 

126,085 

2.799,201) 

3,256.400 

3,486,100 

10,458 

816.515 

423,000 

3,621,050 

3,757,600 

11,273 

1,731.995 

20,000 

1,763.325. 

1.883,465 

5.650 

600,422 

93,700 

3,660,000 

3,903.520 

ll.OSl 

384,732 

1,200.000 

5,403.825 

5,727,250 

17,182 

4,626,012 

697,400 

2,702.435 

2,963.875 

S.S92 

573,006 

390,000 

2,078.275 

2,269,080 

6.S07 

187.845 

97,000 

1.230,820 

1.389,055 

4.167 

91.115 

172.700 

1,817,305 

1,992,440 

5,077 

95,032 

104.000 

2.392,850 

2,t;45,375 

7.936 

170.432 

328.450 

4,004,490 

4.409,180 

13,228 

170,600 

348.500 

4,170,440 

4.445,990 

13,338 

2,142,325 

264,000 

3.823.650 

4,160,500 

12,481 

300.012 

507,400 

2,660,145 

2,884,445 
$50,488,000 

8.053 

613,751 

$  7.8-;5,6:,o 

$46,913,750 

$151,463 

$13,434,847 

2,835.840 

37,709,346 
$84,622,490 

41.807,680 

125,476 

8,077,902 

$10,681,496 

$92,295,680 

$270,939 

$22.412,7!0 

Cous.  32  ;  ;iss'" 

s-ed    at  $1,200. 

Commissioners 

to   State.  August 

1908. 

/  M ' 


■.■■)   i\ 


33  G 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLWVXIA 
C()MP.\R.\T1V1-:   .STATEMENT— 1S9S 


P.jpula- 
titiii 

Taxa- 

Lies 

Property 

As-c-^mei.t 

Total 
Debt 

Ta 

X  Rate  in  Mill- 

City 

School 

Cour}Iy 

.■\lleiitn\vn    

35,000 
20.000 
40,000 
16,000 
60.000 
73,000 
106,000 
55.000 
33,000 

9,000 

4,738 
12,750 
24,439 
38,789 
11,200 

7.000     ■ 

$19,500,000 

11,000.000 

15.416,046 

8,6^^0,000 

24,000.000 

*42,085.533 

23,452.916 

**7,000,000 

9,150.000 

$     423,200 
.305,900 
644,500 
267,600 
1.000,000 
1,352,500 
579,533 
464,500 
729.500 

3i 
9 

6 
12,8 
23 
15 

6 
6 

.4 
3i 
6 

4 

4 

18 

2  >i 

Eastoii    

2.3 
3 

Lancaster    

Harrislnirt:    

4 

Readiiig    

Scrantoii    

2  ^ 

Vvilkos^-Darre   

Williamsport    

7 
5 

*  Not  including  excnu 

)tcd  real   e 

state,  $4,6'. 

6.050. 

**  Onc-lifth  valuat 

ion. 

NUMBER  OE  BUILDINGS 

Statement    showiii.L^    nunilicr    of    buildings    in     Reading 
Dec.  01,  1908: 

Brick  buildings  18,993 

Stone  builduigs 1.552 

Iron   and    frame 2,195 

Iron    402 

Cement    37 

Grand  tutal 23,179 

•    Tlie  following  statement  gives  a  compa.rative  li^t  of  the 
buildings  erected  during  1907  and   ISOS  : 


WARDS                                             ~  .,    S  S  "^.ES 

°      'u      p  So  o  c'-~-- 

t/)     pq    J:  u    t-i  f-H  ;^ 

Ist  fi       6       1  13  7  1.014 

2d    .- 2        4  6  10  1,510 

3d    1       2       1  4  8  1,213 

4th     1       2  3  13  1,009 

5th     4  4  4  .  1,003 

6th     ..9     13       9  31  50  2,526 

"til     7       7       2  1      17  3  1,171 

Sth     4       4  1       9  5  9:^4 

9th     2       4  6  37  1,350 

lOth     10        4  M  20  1,169 

11th     17       2  2     21  46  1.370 

12th     2        4  6  37  1,642 

13th  2   8  11  1  22  139  2.326 

l-Uh  2   1   2  5  102  ],50S 

15th     > 19        2        5  1     27  153  1.881 

Ifith     2      ]4        4  1      25  156  1,546 

Total    4S     95     59  7  209  790  23,179 

BUILDINGS,  1908 

Statement  showing  the  amount  of  mone\   invested  in  the 

construction  of  IniiMiiie.;  in  the  several  wards  in  tlie  eitv 
during  1908  : 

1st  Ward     $  20,400 

2d    Ward    8,775 


3d    Ward  

4th  Ward  

5th   Ward  

6th  Ward  i 

7th  Ward  

Sth  Ward  

9th  Ward  

loth  Ward  

nth  Ward  

12th  Ward  

l.;th  Ward 

14tli   Ward  

15tli   Ward  

lOih  Ward  


12,900 
30,151) 
17,500 
14,85(1 
04, TOO 
10.650 

2, son 

20,925 
27,500 

6,7.-.0 
19,450 

7,550 
58,750 
36,300 


Grand  Total $459,950 


LIQUOR  LICI:NSES  for  1^00 


1st  'Ward  5 

2d   Ward  17 

3d   Ward  10 

4tii  Ward  11 

5th  \\'ard  10 

6th  Ward M 

7th  Ward  25 

Sth  Ward  13 

9th  Ward  15 


10th  Ward  4 

Uti.  Wa-d 9 

I2;h  Ward  7 

]3th  Ward  13 

14th  Ward  3 

15th  Vv'ard- 4 

16th  Ward 5 

174 


In     llorou.ghs     49 

In    Townships .  . .    91 

Total     314 

\ AKIKTY    AXU    Wm.L'I-:    OF    IXUCSTRIES    I\     IDOO. 

The  .qreat  extent,  variety  anr]  value  of  the  indus- 
trial affairs  at  Readint,^  in  1900  are  exhibited  in  the 
accompaiiyinc;',  comprehensive  table.  The  informa- 
tion was  secured  and  published  bv  the  Census 
Department  of  the  I'nited  States  Government,  and 
it  is  the  first  time  that  this  important  subject  re- 
ceived so  much  attention  at  Reading^,  showinf:^  the 
exact  situation  a?  it  then  existed.  It  is  extremely 
valuable   for  reference. 


(i-n '" 


;, .  -■// 


■1!'  ',  ,:^:'/  U' 


READIXG 


237 


i;icycles 

Bicycle  Repairs 

blacksmiths  and  Wheelwrights 

i'.ook-binding 

I'.oot  and  Shoe  Repairs 

notiiiii 

Boxes — Cigar 
Paper 
r.rass  Castings 
r.akeries 
I'.reweries 
Brick  and  Tile 
Hrooms  and  Brushes 
Carpenter   Shops 
Carpet  Works 
Carriages  and  Wagons 
Car  Shops 

Cigar  F'actories  and  Tobacco 
Clothing  Factories — Men's 

\\  omen's 
Clothing,  Custom — Men's 

Women's 
CotTee  and  Spice  Roastin 
Confectionery 
r)yeing 

F.lectrical   Constructioi 
Foundry    and    Machui 
Furniture, 
Hati— Fur 

Wool 
Hardware 
H 


Iron  and   Steel. 

Ironwork — Architectural 

Jewelry 

Linie  and  Cement. 

Marble   Works 

Masonry — Brick  and   Sioni: 

Millinery 

Xewspapers 

Optical  Works 

Painters  and   Paper   Hangers. 

Paint  Works  

Paper  F"actories    

Pattern-makers     

Picture   Frames    

Paving  Materials   

Pb.otographv    

Planing  Mills   

Plastering     

Plumbing,    etc 

Pottery  and  Terra   Cotta 

Printing     

Roofmg    .- 

Saddleries     

Shirts     

Tin  and  Copper  Smiths 

Other  Industries  

Reading.  I'JOO  


■ir, 
5 

4 
4 
9 
0 


3 

17 

8 

7 

5 

38 

67 

843 


St 
147 

14 
107 

21 

90 


nr, 

40 
12^ 
84 
.^4 
43 
15 
3 
82 


1,056 
124.442 


64.547 

01.72:: 


12,805 

i32,iyo 

l.'JlO 

83,115 

1,045,675 

421.775 

52,583 

12,013 

11  J. 504 

15,1U<1 

1.728  I 

71.076 

9,OoO 

6,S05 

681,574 

9,272 

283.000 

120.558 

600.863 

390,857 

1,612.011 

21,299 

i:,735 

1.6U5 

55.788 

129.945 

20.136 

SS.999  i 


73,604 

782.571 

13,529 

307,859 

0,315.128 

1,683,460 

359,771 

55,341 

407,149 

30,869 

24,761 

420,169 

32,942 

61,163 

2,437,355 

37.010 

1,133,688 

328.150 

1,611,208 

1,326,397 

9,530.286 

113,267 

46,327 

6,100 

148,217 

314,184 

163,102 

309,206 


126     1         4 

268.090 

34.610     1 

184.770 

! 

99.273 

7.X671     1 

208.78ii 

154,776 

9.4  84     1 

16h,St6 

39    ! 

549.913 

52.021     ] 

429.205 

1 

7.517 

1.728 

7.61V 

9,675 

2.778 

11.19.'5 

11,911 

19.353     1 

57,837 

17 

49,287 

16.254     1 

52.110 

178,949 

69,467     i 

302.339 

12.17  ) 

18.179     ! 

43,966 

1         2 

125.5S3 

58, SOS     i 

249.ir,3 

1 

248.815 

27,011     1 

105.128 

1         9 

121,007 

27.4S5     1 

99,447 

1 

24.945 

19.995 

73,725 

i 

6.116 

■28,261 

71     1 

41.456 

li;,905    1 

70.155 

1         1 

158,281 

37.5S5    1 

290,740 

675     i     197 

4.154.734 

585.200     1 

3.682.006 

Reading,  1890  |  433 


$27,975,628  I  $7..544.9.50 
14.083.374  :   4~780.470 


$36.902.5 1 1 
20.855.165 


f  ^ 


■  ■■.!.'! 


■'■'"■■. i'  !      * 


!     t 


'  ■■:«    .^ 


7,ii 


.i:n<  ..    .  -r-T 


j.iii'  j; 


238 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    REXXSYLVAXIA 


Other   iiHliiitrie: 
the  U.   S.  Ccnsiis. 


Artificial      I'ratlii.r^      anil 

Flowers    1 

E?gs — Paper   " 

Basket?  and  Willow  Ware  ^ 
Boots  &  Shoes— Faote.rv.  1 
Roxcs— Wood     racking'..    1 

Rrassvvare    1 

Carriage  and   Wa:;on 

Material   1 

Cars — Street    Ry.,   etc....   ~ 

Cheese  &  Riitter :J 

Condensed  Milk 1 

Cordage  &  Twine 1 


Other  Indtist)-cs 
of   Reading  in   1900,  as  enumerated   ny 
,vrre   as    follows  ; 

Cotton  Goods  1 

Cotton   Small  Wares 1 

Cutlery  &  Edge  Tools   ...  1 

Dveing   and    Cleaning....  1 

l-lleciroplating 1 

Fancy  Articles   1 

Mour-mil!    1 

Food   Preparations   1 

l-\irnishing   Goods   for 

Men   1 

Gas    Illuminating    1 

Glass   1 

Glass,  Ornamental,  etc...  1 


Grease  and  Tallow   1 

Hairwork  1 

lland  Stamps   1 

Hats  atid  Caps 2 

House  Furnishing  Goods.  2 

Ice    1 

Iron  Bolts  and  Xut-- f 

Iron  and  Steel  Forgings..  1 

Lainps  and  ReP.ectors.  .  .  .  1 

Leather  Curried,  etc.  .,.. .  1 

Lock  and  Gun  Smith....  1 

Malt  1 

Mattress  1 

Mirrors  1 

Patent  Medicines 1 

PhotoLthographing,  etc.   .  1 


Regalia  and  Society 
Banners  

Sewing  Machine  Repairs. 

Silk  Mill 

Slaughtering  and  Meat 
Packing 

Soap    

Stereotyping,    etc 

Tobacco,   Chewing,  etc... 

Toys   and    Games 

Trunks    and    Valises 

L'mbrellas     

Washing    Machines    

\\'indow  Shades    

Wire-rone,   Cable,   etc.... 

Wood    Carving    

Woolen    Goods    


CHAPTER  XI -BOROUGHS 


ERECTION 

The  county  of  Berks  was  erected  in  1752.  All 
the  di.stricts  in  the  count v  at  that  time  were  town- 
ships, the  simplest  form  of  local  government,  and 
it  was  not  until  lT8o  that  the  first  borough  was 
estahli^hctl.  This  was  Reading,  the  county-seat, 
and  it  was  erected  by  a  special  Act  of  Assembly. 
The  next  was  Kutztown,  in  LSI 5,  >ituated  six- 
teen miles  northeast  from  Reading,  ;md  the  third 
was  \\'omel>dorf.  in  l^'X).  fourteen  miles  west 
from  Reading:  which  were  also  established  by  Act 
of  Assembly. 

In  18o4,  the  State  Legislature  em];o\vered  the 
courts  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  several  coun- 
ties, with  the  concurrence  of  a  grand  jury,  to  es- 
tablish boroughs,  but  the  territory  to  be  set  apart 
was  to  include  tliree  hundred  itih.abitants ;  tins 
was  modified  by  the  Act  of  1851,  since  when  appli- 
cation and  decree  have  been  made  without  regard 
to  population.  From  that  time,  the  boroughs  in 
the  county  have  been  established,  in  this  maimer, 
and  until  I'.MiO,  fifteen  additional  boroughs  have 
been  created. 

Reading  was  advanced  to  a  city  in  184T,  but 
no  other  borough  in  the  county  has  been  similarly 
advanced. 

The  borough>  are  seventeen  in  number.  The 
following  table  >hows  tlieir  names,  when  estab- 
lished, the  taxables,  the  voters  and  as.>essment  of 
property.  ( >ther  tacts  might  be  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  several  boroughs,  especially  of 
an  industrial  nature,  but  thev  have  been  omitted 
to  avoid  rejietition,  because  they  are  mentioned 
in   the   sketches   of   resident   ])atnjii-   of  this   work. 

General  statistical  information  relating  to  the 
boroughs  will  bo  fuund  in  the  laliLs  whicli  include 
the  whole   count},   in   Chapter   IX. 


COM  PARATIVE   TABLE- 1908 


Boroughs  i    7; 

Eastern   Division 

Kutztowti     

Hamburg    

Boyertown    

Fleetwood  *     

Topton     

Lenhartsville 

Bechtelsville     

Mount    Penn  '•'*    

Wcxtcrn  Division 


Womclsdorf     

Bernville     ........ 

Birdsboro     

Centreport    

West   Leesport    . .  . 

Wyomissing     

West  Reading 

]Mohnton     

Sliillingtonf 

*  Fntnitrly  Coxtnu 
**  Formerly    Denijle 

t  May,    3  909. 


INDUSTRIES 

CiG.\RS. — -The  manufacture  of  cigars  is  a  large 
industry  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  X'early  one 
hundred  establishments  are  carried  on  in  the  coun- 
try districts,  almost  wholly  in  the  boroughs.  The 
largest  plants,  producing  over  500,000  amiually, 
are : 

Christian   Brother.s,   in  Womelsdorf. 

John  J.  Eshelman,  in  Alohnton. 

(  )tto   I-jscn!()iir  &:  I'ro..  in  Bovertown. 

II.  I'.  ]-idk-r,  in  WonieLdorf.  ' 

Ceorge  (iruber,  in  Stouchsburg. 

W.  II.  (jooduian,  in  .Millcrsburg. 


M^y  ' ' 


„;rA  ^r^VrlAH'^ 


■J-1'  " 


BOROUGHS 


239 


Henry    Hackinan.    in    Womelsdurf. 

Kramer  Druthcrj;,  in  Sl)illinjj:t(>n 

C.   S.   Peiffcr,  in   Stouch^burL,^ 

Pioneer   Union    Cigar   Company,   in   Sliillington. 

John  J.  Seiz.  in  Stony  Creek. 

A.  S.  \'alentine  &  Son,  in  ^\'omel^(lorf. 

C.  M.  Yetter,  in  Shillington. 


S'lWTEMHXT  OF  RANKS 
The    following    statement    exhibits    the    financial    condi- 
ion  of  the  banks  in  the  boroughs  in  Xovetnber,  1908. 


Borough 

1 

Capital 

Resources 

Deposits 

Surplus  and 
Und.    Profits 

Bcrnville    . . . 

1907 

$  2.5,000 

$    122,462 

S  81,405 

S     2,973 

Birdsboro    . . 

18SS 

50,000 

358.S96 

177,844 

81,852 

Bovertovvn     . 

National   . . 

1S7-J 

100,000 

1,118,378 

090.700 

190,713 

Farmers    . . 

1833 

oO.OfKi 

2G7.()OG 

102,756 

4,739 

Fleetwood    .  . 

1907 

25,000 

143,075 

90,479 

3,290 

Hamburg    ... 

■ 

Savings 

1S7;3 

50,000 

642.710 

495,232 

97,300 

First  Nat'l. 

1903 

25,000 

129,813 

78,170 

1,509 

Kutztown     .. 

1897  1 

50.000  1 

44S.262  f 

250.404 

80,187 

Mohnton     . . .  ] 

1907 

25.000 

137,702 

91,422 

1,270 

Topton    

190ti 

25.000 

137,484 

82,750 

3,875 

Woinelsdorf 

1903 

50,000 

405.9S5 

310.352 

35.1,59 

MERC.\NTJLF,  LICENSES 

The  mercantile  appraiser,  John  G.  Flcrbine,  appointed 
by  the  county  commissioners  for  the  year  1909,  reported 
the  business  places  in  the  several  boroughs  of  Berks  county, 
liable  to  county  tax,  their  number  being  as  follows: 

Bcchtelsville    14 

Bernville    19 

Birdsboro     19 

Bovcrt own     •. . .  70 


Centreport 0 

Fleetwood    32 

llanilnirg     0] 

Kutztown     05 

Lenhartsville    12 

.\[ohrton    12 

Mount  Penn   11 


Shillington     20 

Topton    20 

West    I.cesport    10 

West   Reading    30 

Womelsdorf    29 

Wyomissing    18 


491 

Reading     1,546 

Townships     894 


Total     2,931 


Pcrnvillc    2 

Birdsboro     3 

Hoyertown     4 

Hechtelsville    2 

Centreport   0 

Fleetwood    4 

Hamburg   8 

Kutztown     C 

Lenhartsville  2 


LIQUOR  LICENSES 
2       Mohnton 


Bi-rnvilU': 

.Vamc 

Frie.lens     (L.).       173!).17nM8!r 

.St.   Tliomas   (U.), 

Birdsboro: 

Si.    I'aiil's    (K). 

St.    Mark'i    (L.), 

Ch.ipcl 

BoycrtO'n.'u: 

St.  John's    (L.).  ISll 

(Union,    ISll    to    1871) 
r,o,Hl    Shepherd    (R.),  ]ST1 

f-lcrl'.i-ood: 

St.    VauVi    (U.),  1841 

Chapel    (U.),  1884 

Hainhurg: 

St.  Toltn-5    (L.),  17S0-lS11--r.7-'!iS 
(Union       from       17>i',i      to 
]S>S.    when    destroyc'i    liy 
fire    and    rebuilt    by    Luth- 
eran?. ) 

First     (R.),  ISl'S 

Kiitzto'i'n : 

St.     rani's     (R.), 

St.    Johns    (U.),    175.317;iU-].'.TG 

Trinity     (L.).  1ST4-1S04 

LcnlhiriszUlc 

Friedens    (U.),  18,50  18!l2 


del 

Pastor 

Members 

18!  17 
1S1I7 

(Vacant) 

T.    C.    I.cinharh    (K.), 

450 

1.<<S1 
1H77 
IS'.l'.l 

T.    V.    George, 
Z.    H.    Gable, 

30 
230 

Mohnton: 

St.   John's    (L.). 

.l/(.   Pcnn: 

Faith     (L). 
Trinity     tR.), 

ShiUington: 

i:ninnue!     (R.), 
Gr.K-e     (L.), 


10t)O 

18S5 


1874-1908 
1902 


Topion: 

St.     I'elLr' 


(U.), 


West  Reading: 

St.     lames    (R.), 
I^cthany    il..). 

Woinelsdorf : 

Zion's    (V.), 

U'yoiiiissiiig: 

Rcfoni>ed 


l.Sfl3 
]80li 


179:-(-1807-lS'.)o 


10(39 

Othek  C 


A.    M.    Weber,  1.040 

G.    G.    Greenvvald,  429 


M.     II.     llren-^inger     (R.),       840 
J.    O.    Henry    (L.),  375 


H.    C.    Kline, 


(Vacant), 


G.    H.    Smith. 
K.    H.   Leii-b.nch    (R.\ 
J.    J.    Cressman    (L.), 
R.    I!.    I.ynch. 


R      S.    .\ppel    (R.), 
D.    I").    Trexler    (L.), 


M.    II     Stetlcr. 


T.    F.    Snvder. 
M.    I..    Herbein, 


W.    J.    Ker-hncr, 
F.    F.   I'.iiennyer, 


G.    r.      SnMth     (R.), 
J.    O.    Henry    (I  .), 


Gei.rce     \V.     Gerhard. 
\V.    O.-   Laub, 


L.     T).     S-.anib^n,:h     fR  ), 
O.    E.    Fflucyer,    (!..), 


H.H.    Rupp 
[lUkCilE? 


Mt.  Penn   2 

Shillington     1 

Topton    3 

Womelsdorf    4 

West   Reading    2 

West  Leesport   2 

Wvomissing    2 


MtN'N'OXITE 

Boyertou'n:   Old.    1790-1 819- 1870 
New,  18,8.3 

Pkoii;st.\nt  Eptscoi'.xl 

Birdsboro  1S521S.S.-, 

METnobiST  Episcof.\l 


f  .\nJrew   Mack 
,  Jchn    Eh.t 
.\.    S.    Shelly, 


Francis    Varnall, 


49 


CHURCH I'LS  OF  BOROUGHS 

Ll'THER.VX    .\ND    ReFOKMEP 


'I...    indieatinp    t.nthrran  :    )i., 
u«mg    the   ehureh,    alter  tMt.-|y.) 

^>A-/l/.-.'i7-.'//f.- 

.    >--'->ic  Foundid 

Irinity    (U.),  I.S.St; 


Ri-fcmied ;    and    (/.,    L'nion,    both 


Pa'itur  Members 

Georre    W     R..,h    (R.t.  Oo 

T.    T.    Kline    .1..). 


1,120 
4.51 
315 
296 


110 
110 


93 
112. 


238 
245 


Dirdshnrn 

IKiO-lSOO 

A. 

F.    Collom, 

185 

Bo  vcrtouii 

1S70 

K 

Herson, 

54 

Hamhurg 

\KA 

E, 

F.   Hotlmair, 

113 
3.52 

l-;v.\\(-,ELIC.\L 

BirdsUoro     (Trim 

tv-) 

mot 

It 

W.    Luckcnbrll, 

150 

MohutoH    (Salem 

), 

1810  1^72 

F. 

Solver, 

145 

U.VITED    EvAN'f.ELlC.NL 

Birdsboro 

1S74 -!«■.-> 

Ge 

nrce    S.     KaufVroth, 

155 

Bo\crtown 

IS— 1805 

(■ 

\V.     Heffner, 

t<5 

Fleetwood 

1.SC,IMS'.»5 

C. 

E.    He,-,. 

It'l 

Ihunhurs 

1872-1805 

(  I.     r.    Reitz 
'(  .-v.    S.    M-ngcl 

Ki,:ctozvn 

lS.50-1885  1S!i:, 

IT 

T.    Kline, 

123 

Mohnlon 

IS'.  15 

1 

R.    Her.svl. 

3(':5 

Sln!lii:i;lv>: 

l:«U 

(' 

n.    llarnan. 

125 

loltOH 

js;'.". 

J. 

R.    llen-vl. 

ao3 

li'i-sf    l.ccsfort 

]ST:MKli5 

f  I.    J.     Reirz 
)  A.    S.    Mri;;cl 

'.t'oiiiclsdorf 

1  «.'{.- 

-;.«(;7-l-<i5 

F. 

P.    Yocimi 

240 

HISTORY 

United   Brethren 

Name 
Birdsboro 

F...iiule.l 

Chl-rch  of  God 

Fleetwood    (UiiiteJ), 

1SC..8 

OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


SCHOOL  AFFAIRS— luos 


Boroiit'h 


X 


Bechtelsville    I  2 

Bernvillc     I  2 

Birdsboro   I  11 

Boyertown    I  9 

Centreport    |  1 

Fleetwood     |  5 

Hamburg    j  12 

Kutztown    I  4 

Lenhartsvillc    1  1 

Molintoii   I  7 

Mount   Penn    i  3 

Shillmgton  »      | 

Topton    . .  i  3 

West  Leesporl    1  3 

West    Reading    )  7 

Womelsdorf    i  6 

Wyomissint,'    |  3 

*  Esta!.'libl'.i:(i    after    report    pulili 


U 


131  I  129 
22  I  24 


236 

185 
14 

103 

240 
97 
11 

148 
73 


30 
161 

89 


222  i 
217  I 

19 
120  I 
226  I 
106  1 

12  I 
151  j 

62  I 

1 
G5  I 
43  I 

144  I 

124 
65 


$  1,176 

1,300 

10,206 

7,605 

429 

4,808 

16,110 

5.220 

517 

4,361 

2,774 

2,773 
1,549 
4,323 
5,195 
30.486 


$  320 

337 

1,988 

1,561 

120 

707 

1,806 

1,041 

137 

1,909 

495 

513 

424 

2,022 

981 

850 


ihed  and  appropriations  made 


ODD  FELLOWS 


d 

o 
to 

Piorou.ii'.i 

1 
Members! 

Value  of 
Property 

122 
51-; 
70S 
103 
159 

1       65 
1     295 

i    lis 

!      260 
1      160 

S  4.001) 

7,000 

1,.500 

12,000 

Womelsdorf    

2,000 

ReadiiiK.  seviii  lodges    .... 
Townships,    eleven    lodges. 


-.00 
73.702 
30.400 


$136,692 


P.  O.  S.  OF  A.  CAMPS 


67 

78 
103 
104 
113 
172 
211 
324 
417 
446 

i^JL 

Cam 
Cam 


Borough 


Womelsdorf    

namlmri;     

Fleetwood     

BoyertiHvn     

i5crnvillc     

Topton     

Molinton     

Bechtelsville     

Birdsboro     

Cent  report     

Lenbarlsville     

ps   at    Reading    <  11) 
ps  in   townships    (  2*^ ) 


136 
321 
ISO 
224 
207 
211 
233 
130 
293 
116 
64 


2,115 
3.835 
3,420 
9,369 


?      7,440 

11.901 

6.994 

8,668 

10,270 

6.262 

7,791 

.      5,931 

11,134 

3,393 

1.670 

^$'81. 4.-,  4 

U:i,3'.i8 

148.152 

?343.O04 


KUTZTOWN 

Incorporation. — ^I'Cr.tztown  was  the  second  bor- 
ough erected  in  Berks  county,  Reading  having 
been  the  first.  It  was  incorporated  by  a  special 
Act  of  Assembly  in  1S15,  the  Act  having  been 
framed  after  tlic  Act  of  1783,  by  which  Reading 
was  incorporated.  It  is  situated  in  the  ncirthea-t- 
ern  section  of  the  county  along  the  Sacony  creek, 
and  the  territory  within  tlie  boundary  lines  was 
taken  from  ^Maxatawny  township. 

The  lands  in  this  vicinity,  embracing  one  thou- 
sand acres,  were  patented  to  Peter  Wentz  in  17'iS; 
and  he,  in  1755,  conveyed  130  acres  to  George 
Kutz.  In  1779,  Kutz  laid  out  a  town  and  named 
it  Kutztown,  and  soon  afterward  the  first  dwell- 
ings were  erected.  In  1817,  there  were  106  tax- 
ables,  with  a  total  valuation  of  S5G,4o5.  The  tax- 
rate  was  IJ,  mills.  In  1S35.  there  were  159  tax- 
ables;  105 'dwellings ;  800  population.  In  1908, 
there  were  622  resident  taxablcs,  with  a  total  val- 
uation of  $670,500. 

Proceedings  were  instituted  in  the  council  to 
add  to.  the  borough  the  improved  and  coimected 
portions  of  IVIaxatav.ny  tov.nship  which  adjoin  it 
on  the  east,  north  and  west,  comprising  5G7  acres 
and  making  the  total  area  of  the  borough  7-12 
acres ;  and  these  proceedings  were  filed  in  court 
on  March  1,  1909,  for  legai  action. 

T.^XAiu.ES  OF  1817.— The  first  hst  of  taxable  m- 
habitants  of  the  borough  was  prepare!  in  1817. 
and  the  following  list  comprises  their  r.ames.  with 
their  rating,  niimbeiing  altogether  106: 

Angstadt,   Joseph,    gun.^mith S     20 

Baltv,  Jacob.  Sr..  blatk-nnith "•>'■''- 

Biehl,    Daniel,    tmman ^^-^ 

Baity,  Jacob,  Jr.,  blacksmith ...    -^"^ 

Bryfogel,   George.   Sr..    larnicr 9-^- 

Bu'sby,    Samuel,    shoemaker 20 

Bieber.    Dewald.   mercliaiil L^l' 

Bast,   Dewald,    farmer 2,904 

Becker,    ICphraim,    drjctor "0.. 

Earner,    Michael    300 

Benjamin,  John,  halter '-(i 

Cup!!,    Conrad,    lowii-cricr 600 

Cupp.   Andrew    ^;''' 

Cupp,    Christian,    cabinet-maker _20 

Dennis,  John,  shoemaker '^~ 

Dum,    Thomas    ^'^~ 

Deishcr,  John    ^50 

Dennis,    Jacob    ^ 

F.rnst,   Nicholas,    farmer t.lL.. 

Essert,    Jacob,    cabinet-maker l,^^-* 

Esserl,     Daniel,    cabinet-maker 20 

Essert,   George,   cabinet-maker _2|^ 

Fister,  George,  inn-keepc  r l->'- 

Fistcr,   John,   saddler ^2'J 

Fritz,    Pi-ter,  cabinet-m.akcr ^■^~ 

Gross,   Jo-,eph    " 

Geehr.   Philip.   li^sq..  jtisiice -^2 

Gifft   Peter,  clock-maker    ^^2 

Geehr.    Benjamin,    saddler 20 

GraetT,   Jacob,  blacksmith    'f'" 

Grube.   (Thristina    •'''f 

Glasser.    Dr,niel.    hatter ''2" 

GeS(  hwind.   lohn   

Ckebr,  Samu.  1,  and  Levar,.  Jacob ^'^^^ 

Grim,    Jonth.ir.    2.8.>- 


/.r 


1  ■■  f  ' 


BOROUGHS 


241 


Geisweit,   Peter,   laborer 32 

Herbine,    Samuel,   cooper 934 

Humberd,   Jacob,   carpenter 32 

Hottenstine,    Catharine    682 

Heist,    tlenry    962 

}Ieist,   Hannah,    widow    SOO 

Ileninger,    John,    shoemaker 832 

Harmony,   Benjamin,  tailor 32 

Jung.   John,   laborer 20 

Kutz,   Peter,   tmnian 1,272 

Kutz.   Adam,   cai  pcnter 1,762 

Kutz.   Jacob,   m;iSon 32 

Knoske,  John,  minister 772 

KeafTer.   Joseph    302 

Kutz,  John,  tailor 1,077 

Keiser,  Joseph    1,037 

Kutz,  Peter,  Revolutionary  soldier 1,209 

Kutz.  Daniel    402 

Kemp,  George,  Jr 900 

Kohler.  Henrv,  proprietor  of  Kutztown  Hotel 1,600 

Klein,  Philip  " 500 

Kaup,   Andrew,   whceiw  right 20 

Klein,  Jacob,  tailor 20 

Klein,  Isaac  430 

Keller,  Israel,  shoemaktM- 20 

Kutz,    Solomon,   butcher 722 

Kister,  George,  tailor 820 

Keiser,  Jacob,   weaver 432 

Levan,    Jaeob,    Esq 1,107 

Levan,   Daniel,    inn-ketper 1,602 

Levan,   Jacob,   inn-keeper 1,923 

Lehman,  Jrxob,  tinman 20 

Levari,   Charles,    in!i-kecper 95 

Levan,    Isaac,    inn-keener 44 

McCandless,  Rob',  rt    

NefT,   John,    niasun 1,404 

Nevel,  Jacob,  laborer 

Neit,  H<:nrv.  mason 6'J2 

Ncf/.    Peter    1,404 

Neudori,   Susanna,  widow 420 

Owerbcck,  Jacob,   tobacconist 140 

Old,  Gabriel,  carpenter 32 

Palsgrove,   J ohn,   \vea\ er    S')4 

Rudenauer,  Samuel 52 

Rcifsnyder,  Abram   20 

Rever,    Adam    "60 

Sharodin,   John,    hatter 3,072 

Sander,   Henry   820 

Strasser,   Michael,   carpenter 70 

Seigfried,   John,    Sr 400 

Scigfried,  John,  Jr 50 

Selfridge,    Mathias,   merchant 32 

Schofield,   Ebeiiezer,   shoemaker 232 

Smith,  Catharine  U'st'if^  of) 300 

Till.  Jacob,  teache.- 40 

Wolff,   Peter,  laborer 20 

Wickert,   Jacob,  tailor 20 

Wilson,    Motheral    2,110 

Winck,   DewaM,   hatter 744 

Wanner,  Abram.  hatter 1,052 

Rate  of   taxation,    IJ   mills  on   the  dollar. 

Single   Freemen,   each   7.t   cents 

Bast.    Jacob  Mehrman,  William 

Becker,  Samuel  Owerback,     Henry 

Becker,  Benjamin  O'Neal,   David 

Essert,  Jacol)  Odcnhcimer,   George 

Glafser,  Jonathan  Smith,   James 

Hannony,   Jonathan 

Total   valuation    $56,405 

Houses,  Ct> ;  horses,  47;  cows,  63. 

Gf.ofck  PiPEYFoi'.Lh",  Assessur. 
16 


List  of  Offici.\ls. — The  name-,  of  the  chief 
burges-^es,  town  clerks  and  ju-ticos  of  the  peace 
from  the  beginning  of  the  boroiigli  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  and  the  time  when  tlie  incumbents  filled 
their  respective- positions,  are  as    follows: 

CHIEF  BURGESSES 

Dewalt  Bieber    181G-17 

Daniel  Levan   181S 

George   Breyfogle   1819-21 

Hcnrv  Heist 1S22 

John  Kutz   1823 

Jonathan    Prime    1824 

John    Palsgrove    182.5-26  ;  1831 

Jacob  Esser    1827 

Geo.   A.   Odenheimcr 1823 

John  Fister 1329;  1832;  1834-35;  IS.U 

Daniel  Bieber   1830  ;  1840  ;  1843 

Peter   Gifft    1833 ;  1837 

William   Heidenreich 1836  ;  18 12-43  ,  1847 

George   Bieber    1838-39;   1845 

John  V.  Houck 1840 

Dr.  William  Bieber 18tl 

Jacob  Gracff 1S44  ;  1852 

David  Fister 1849;  1865-07;  1871 

Daniel  B.  Kutz 1850;   1855 

David  Levan  1*^^! 

Reuben  Sharadin  l^-^3 

Favette  Schaedler  ^^oCi 

Hiram  F.  Bickcl 1857-58 

J.   S.  Trcxier 18^^ 

B.    H     Kutz    1«'"'0 

William    Helfrich    1861 

Jacob  Sunday ^^0- 

C    ?I.   Wanner 1803-04 

Paul  Hilbert   1868-09 

John  Hmnbert   ^870 

Lewis   Hdttenstein    1872 

J.  D.  Wanner 1873-74 

David   Hinterleiter    18''-'' 

S.   S.   Schmehl 1870 

John  M.  GraefT ^877 

R    Dewalt    18,8 

Walter   B.   Bieher : 1879-80 

D.  W.  Sharadin 1881-82 

D.  F.  Bieber 1883-86 

J.  D.  Sharadin 18S7 

J.acob  B.  Esser 1833 

Dewalt  F.   Bieber 18!^9 

Reuben   Dewalt    IS^^J 

Conrad  Gehring 1391-97 

John  R.  Gouser 1897-1900 

Charles  D.  Herman 1900-03 

Charles  J.  G.  Christian 190.3-0o 

Jeremiah.  T.Frttch ^00-09 

II.    \V.    Saul 1009-1" 

TOWN  CLERKS 

James  Scull   1816-17 

John  Fister   1818-19 

Tames    Don.agan    1820-23;    1825-32;    18.,. 

Llovd  Wharton   18-"* 

Henry  11  eist  18-" 

George    Bieber    183..-3i, 

Wm.F.Sellers 1837-40 

David  Neff ^^"^llf-, 

Geurge    Hartzell    18'^ 

Wm.  S.  Bieber 1844-51 ;  1853 

Henrv  C.  Kutz l^^" 

James  M.  Gehr 1854;   18„9 

H.   B.  Van   Scheetz   ^'^■'■' 

J.  David  Wanner 18.50-53;  ISOOOO;  1871;  1879;  KS^l-90 


'm 


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.-\ 


242 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY.    rEXXSYL\'AXIA 


A.  C.  Bcidelman 1S6T 

H.  H.  Schwartz 1SC3-70;  1873-74 

Jonas    Hoch    1872 

E.  D.  Bicber lS7o 

J    U.   ^farx iS7fi-7S:    18S0:    1899-1901 

Oliver  H.  Sander 1897 

Dr.  Henry  W.  Saul 1898 

Charles  U.  Wanner 1902 

Albert  S.  lleftntr 1903-10 

JUSTICES   OF  THE  PEACE 

Jacob  Levan    1S14-23 

Benjamin  Gehr    1818 

James    Dunaaan 1820 

John  Wanner   1820-23 

Lloyd  Wharton   1823 

Henry  Vlcist   1840-45 

Jacob  GraelT   1840-44 

Charles   Weirnian    1344-47 

Williatn  S.  Bieber lS4o-55 

John   B.   Scheutz 1S47-52 

H.  B.  Von  Schentz 1852-56 

James  .M.  Gchr 1855-00 

J.  Daniel  Warner 1856-67 

Charles  W.  Esser 1S60-G4 

Hiram  H.  Schwartz 1804-83 

Allen  K.  Hottenstein 1867-71 

John  }Iumbert 1871-70  ;  1SS3-94 

John  H.   Marx 1S7G-1900 

A.    S.    Hetlncr    1891-1904 

H.   S.   Sharadin    1900-11 

A.  J.  Rhode 1904-09 

George  H.  Smith 1905-14 

POST.\L-\STERS 
The  i>ostniasltrs  for  the  past  thirl;.-  years  have  been: 
Jonathan  Bieber 
Christian   Bieber 

William  Sandvr 1885-89;   1893-97 

Michael    T.    Doiinioyer 3889-93 

John  P.  S.  Fensttrniacher Since  1897 

BOROUGH   OFFICIALS— 1909 
Chief  Bur^iwx,     Dr.   H.  W.   Saui 
To-u-n   Council,     L.   A.   Stein.   President 
James   S.   Hefner 
Xichulas   M.   Rahn 
William  F.  Stimniel 
Stephen  W.  Keincri 
William  B.   Schacfter 
Pierce   Schell 
A.  S.  HcfTner,  Gerk 
School  Board,     Walter  B.   Bieber,   President 
George  C.  Bordner,  Secretary 
A.  W.  Fritcli.  Treasurer 
George  Glasser 
Dr.  X.  Z.  Dunkelberger 
John   H.   Barto 
Auditors,    C.  L.  Griiber 
J.  H.  Marx 
A.  F.  DcLong 
Assessor,    Llewellyn   Anc;stadt 
Collector,    Charles  A.  I'rey 
Treasurer,    X.   S.   Schmelil 
Justices  of  the  Peace.    Howard  S.  Sharadin 

Geor2;e   H.   Smith 
Constable.    Charles  GLT-^er 
Board  of  Health,    Dr.  E.  K.  Stcckel.  President 
Solon  A.  Stein.  Secretary 
George    H.    Siniih,   Treasurer 
Fred  T.   Williainson 
David  James.  Ffealth  Ofi'icer 

Industkif.s. — Tlie  T)]acf  bcinq-  inland,  for  nearly 
one  lunulred  years  it.s  devclcipmcnt  was  slow.    \'ar- 


lou^  trades  incident  to  every  commtinitv  were  car- 
ried on  with  more  or  less  activity,  Imt  without  anv 
marked  improvement.  Some  establishments  were 
operated  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  discon- 
tinued. The  introduction  of  the  steam  railwav 
in  1810  was  a  great  assistance.  The  East  Penn 
railroad  was  opened  for  travel  from  Readincj  to 
Allentown  in  Is.")!!,  and  in  1^70  a  branch  was  con- 
structed fro!n  Topton  to  Kutztown.  This  facilitv 
for  the  shipment  of  goods  stimulated  manufactures 
and  the  erection  of  different  kinds  of  shops  and 
factories.  This  industrial  activity  has  been  kept 
lip  with  increasing  success  until  the  present  time. 
In  1009  all  the  places  employed  about  four  hun- 
dred hands,  and  their  productions  were  sent  to  all 
parts  of  the  United  States. 

Establisliiiirnts 

Sharadin  Shirt  Factory  (ISPG).  ofj  to  35  hands; 
carried  on  by  Howard  Sharadin  from  18!'G  to  1902; 
by  hi?  brotlier  Francis  from  UHV?  to  1007;  and 
by  S.  Liebowitz  since  IT'O^. 

H.  K.  Dcishcr  Knitting;  Mill  (ISDO).  4.j  to  50 
hands. 

Kutctoz,'}!  Creamery  Company  (18S1-1907)  ; 
milk  depot  established  near  railroad  station  in  1907 
by   Charles   M.   Richardson    (Bernvillc). 

]Vcntz  Marble  Works,  15  to  yo  hands;  carried 
on  by  father.  I'hiiip,  until  1895.  and  since  by  his 
son  William  as  Wentz  &  Co. 

Keystone  Shoe  Factory  (188.'/).  ](H)  hands;  car- 
ried on  by  Dr.  J.  S.  Tre.xler,  William  Siinimel  and 
Charles  Miller  until  19i'-2,  and  since  bv  Lewis 
Stein. 

Sacony  Shoe  Factory.  Inc.    (1897).  40  liands. 

James  S.  Heitner  Roller  Flour  Mill  (1887)  ;  al- 
so lumber,  coal  and  grain. 

Kiit::tozi'n  Foundrv  and  Machine  JJ'orks.  Inc. 
(lS9(i),  W  to  IKt  ha'nds. 

U.  B.  Kctner  Paper  Box  Factory  (190G),  lu  to 
12  hands;  carried  on  bv  Charles  Ahn  frotn  19(M)  to 
1907. 

R.  Miller's  Son  Carria^^e  Factory.  10  to  12  hands  ; 
Richard  Miller  started  before  1850,  and  succeeded 
by  son  Charles. 

Bicber's  Brick  }'ard.  in  to  15  hands;  started  by 
Jonathan  Bieber  before  ISGO.  and  succeeded  by 
son  Williatn. 

Stiinmcl  Brick-Yard  (lOOfl).  20  to  30  hands; 
brick  niachinerv  driven   bv   steam. 

Kutctown    Silk    Mill    (I'.iin)),    70    to    80    hands; 

started    by    Hartley    Brothers    and    operated    until 

1907,  and  since  by  the  Mercliatits'  Silk  Company. 

And   then   there  were  at    Kutztown.   licside-  tlic 

industries  named,  the  following: 

Cigar  factories 2       Hat  and  shoe  stores 4 

Blacksmith  shops    2       General  .stores .■> 

Whcehvnsiit   shops    3       n.panment  store 1 

Carpet  weavini;  shop  1       n  ■     ■  n; 

Bnok-makin^    factories    .  .  .2        ^  ''"''"^  "^^'^    ' 

Millinery  shops   5       Hotels   7 

Hardware  stores  2       Law  office   1 


T'.   m  .I'i 


•[,,"t      .; 


>■,      ti    r-  u:- 


BOROUGHS 


243 


Physicinns 
IXntists    .. 


Drii'j:  store  

AinusciiKiit  Malls 


r.AXK.— A  national  bank  \\•a^  ort^anized  at  Kutz- 
tuwn  in  l.sTl  and  carried  on  twelve  years,  \vhen 
it  was  removed  to  Reading  and  there  re-organ- 
ized as  the  Keystone  National  Bank.  In  181)7, 
another  national  bank  was  organizctl  in  the  bor- 
ough under  the  name  of  Kutztown  National  Bank, 
with  a  capital  of  SoO.OuO,  and  it  has  been  carried 
on  in  a  very  successful  manner.  In  June.  Ill0(i, 
the  total  resources  v.ere  S1-jS.480;  par  value  of 
shares  of  stock.  $100.  market  value.  S21S;  loans 
and  discounts.  $"369.onS;  de])Osits,  S2T().T4r);  sur- 
plus and  profits,  SG-J.i'OG.  John  R.  Gonser  has 
lieen  the  president  since  its  organization  ;  and  O. 
P.  Grimley  the  cashitr.  In  l*His  the  bank  erected 
a  superior  building  with  an  attractive  sandstone 
front  and  all  the  latest  improvements  for  protec- 
tion against  fire  and  burglary,  at  a  cost  of  ^^O,- 
000.  The  directors  took  possession  in  February, 
19O0,  and  its  financial  status  then  was  as  follows: 
Resources,  $1G4,3S8;  deposits,  ?"27S.4:)4;  surplus 
and  undivided   profits,  Ssf),000. 

A  new  State  bank  is  about  being  established  in 
the  borough  by  the  name  of  the  Farmers'  Plank 
of  Kutztown,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000. 


PtfUMC    ImI'ROVE.MKXTS 

Water  Supf^ly. — In  1880,  tlie  Kutztown  Water 
Company  was  organized  and  incorpor;itcd  by  Dr. 
I.  S.  Trexler,  Sell  D.  Kutz,  J.  Daniel  Sharadin  and 
Peter  D.  W'anner  for  supplying  the  town  with  wat- 
er. They  established  a  reservoir  on  Kutz's  Hill. 
a  mile  west  of  the  to\vn,  with  a  capacity  of  1,000,- 

000  g-allons,  and  put  down  mains  to  and  through 
the  borough.  The  water  was  secured  from  springs, 
F\em])'s  run,  and  an  artesian  well.  800  feet  deep. 
with  a  flowing  daily  cai)acitv  of  100. ono  gallons. 
Dr.  Trexler  was  president  of  the  company  until 
his  death  in  1002;  and  Mr.  \\'anner  has  officiated 
since.  Theretofore,  wells  had  been  used  by  the 
residents  from  the  beginning  of  the  place. 

Liglit. — In  1005,  the  council  established  a  muni- 
cipal electric  light  plan.t  to  supplv  the  borough 
with  light  along  the  public  highways.  Previously, 
coal-oil  lamps  had  been  used.  ?.lany  persons  have 
adopted  its  .use  in  their  dwellings  and  business 
places. 

Railroad. — Railroad  communicatio!i  was  opened 
with  Kutztown  from  Topton  in  187ii.  From  1850 
to  that  tin.ie  the  nearest  railroad  station  was  Ly- 
ons, on  the  East  Penn  railroad,  to  which  place 
the  residents  went  bv  conve\ance  for  the  y)ur[)ose 
of  visiting  Reading  {o  tiie  westward  bv  train,  and 
Allentown   to  the  eastward. 

A  railroad  had  been  proiected  from  Allentown, 
by    way   of    Kutztown    to   Hamburg    and    .\uburn, 

01  1S51,  and  sulise<|urntlv  tlie  road-bed  was  par- 
tially constructed  between  Kutztown  and  Ham- 
I'urg.  but  never  com|)letc(l.     Tl^.e  embank!nent<  and 


excavations  are  still  visible  at  numerous  [)laces 
along  the  route,  evidencing  the  fruitle?5  expen- 
diture of  large  sums  of  money  in  behalf  of  an  at- 
tempted e>tablishment  of  this  much  needed  enter- 
prise. 

t're\ious  to  1857  the  mode  of  public  travel  to 
and  from  this  place  was  by  stage-coach,  and  its 
dailv  arrival  and  departure  were  a  matter  of  much 
interest  to  the  community. 

Streets. — Th.e  princijial  streets  have  been  macad- 
amized, but  no  modern  paving  with  vitrified  brick 
or  asphaltum  has  been  introduced  as  yet.  The 
Act  of  1815,  establishing  this  borough,  was  found 
defective  in  respect  to  the  improvement  of  streets, 
and  therefore  nothing-  was  done  in  this  behalf  for 
forty  years.  In  1851.  by  petition  to  court,  the 
provisions  of  the  amended  Act  of  1851,  relating 
to  boroughs,  were  accepted;  and  in  1855  an  ordi- 
nance was  passed  bv  the  council  to  effect  tliis  local 
improvement,  but  it  was  enforced  more  esjiecially 
for  securing  better  sidewalks. 

Trollev  Lines. — A  street  railway  line  was  o[)cned 
for  travel  from  Kutztown  to  .-Mlentown  in  1002, 
and  from  that  time  dwellings  began  to  be  erected 
in  Maxatawny  township,  east  of  the  Sacony  creek, 
forming  until  1000  a  larg-e  and  valuable  addition 
to  the  borough,  though  beyond  its  boundary  line. 
In  190;],  a  trollev  line  was  extended  to  the  bor- 
ough from  Reading,  thereby  opening  through  trav- 
el from  Reading  to  Allentown,  Bethlehem  and 
Faston.   via    Kutztown. 

Similar  building  operations  have  been  carried 
on  beyond  the  western  limits  of  the  liorough.  op- 
posite the  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  mak- 
ing that  section  also  verv  attractive.  As  else- 
wdiere,  the  influence  of  this  railway  has  been  felt 
in  the  general  development  of  the  place.  A  power- 
house was  established  at  Kutztown  in  1003,  and 
this  has  supplied  the  power  to  and  from  Tre.xler- 
town.  and  to  and  front  Temple  since  the  exten- 
sion from  Reading. 

Fire  Protection. — An  association  was  incorpor- 
ated in  184-1  for  the  y>urpose  of  aiifording  protec- 
tion to  the  inhabitants  of  the  borough  ag^ainst 
fire,  and  the  necessary  apparatus  was  procured. 
In  1871,  the  borough  council  erected  a  buildin.g 
for  the  apparatus.  The  association  was  not  reg- 
ularly kept  up  until  recently;  tlien  a  reorganiza- 
tion was  eft'ected  and  a  new  building  is  being  put 
up,  costing  $7,000.  When  an  alarm  of  fire  is 
given,  the  communitv  respond  in  general  and  all 
able-bodied  men  are  expected  to  lend  their  aid  in 
extinguishing  the  fire.  I'ortunately  no  costly  fires 
have  arisen  to  re(|uire  organized  effort  under  ex- 
pert direction.  The  pressure  of  water  fom  the 
reservoir  is  strong  owing  to  the  elevation  of  the 
waler-su[iply.  The  fire  apparatus  consists  of  two 
hand-engines,  hose-carriage,  aiul  hook  and  lad- 
der truck. 

luiir-Groiind. — .\  local  fair-ground,  situated  on 
the  south  side  of  the  I^nHough.  was  carried  on  by 
a   societv    for   upward   of   thirty   years    from   1S70. 


•..,;  f 


br   Vi.,  1 


VII.,'.    v<l     ■ 


•^44 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Tliun  tlic  •society  was  oblij^cd  to  vacate  the  pre- 
mises, and  it  piircliased  a  superior  site  on  the  north. 
In  i;»i»j,  it  erected  tlie  necessary  buiUhng^s  and 
constructed  a  tine  half-mile  track;  and  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  the  tir-t  exhibition  was  given  on  the  new 
groimd. 

Park.— A  lar^e  i>ark-,  comprising  ten  acres,  was 
established  in  1!mi:;  by  a  ])nvale  corporation.  It 
is  situated  in  the  eastern  ad<!ition  to  the  borough, 
along  the  main  tlioroughfare  to  Allentown,  and 
since  then  it  has  attracted  much  public  attention. 
It  has  been  improved  by  the  planting  of  selected 
shade  trees  and  shrubbery  under  the  supervision 
of  H.  K.  Dei-her,  who  served  as  a  director  for  a 
time  and  continues  an  active  interest  in  the  w-el- 
fare  of  tlie  park.  A  ball-field  is  included  in  the 
park  improvement. 

The  small  monument,  which  had  been  erected  be- 
fore the  Keystone  State  Normal  School  in  ISTd, 
was  removed  to  the  park  in  1900. 

Aiiditoriidii. — An  improved  and  modern  amuse- 
ment hall  was  provided  by  the  Kutztown  Audi- 
torium Company  in  1907,  and  a  superior  brick- 
building  was  erected  and  equipped  at  a  cost  of 
$30,000,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  one  thousand 
persons,  which  has  been  well  patronized  b}'  the  coni- 
mimity. 

A  frame  music  ball,  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
five  hundred,  was  established  in  iS'.tO,  and  various 
entertainments   there  have  been   much   encouraged. 

Band  of  Music. — A  band  of  nnisic  has  been  main- 
tained at  Kutztov.-n  for  manv  years,  which  devel- 
oped a  great  reimtation  for  tJie  rendition  of  classi- 
cal nnisic  in  a  superior  manner.  The  instructors 
and  leaders  luive  been  James  Sander,  Henry  Druck- 
enmiller.  Theophilus  Wagonhorst  and  Preston 
W'agonhorst. 

B.\TTALioxs. — Kutztown  v,-as  a  prominent  center 
for  seventy  years  after  the  Revolution  in  the  mat- 
ter of  assembling  of  the  local  militia  companies 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  up  familiarity  with 
military  exercise,  anrl  the  dav  was  commonly 
known  as  "Battalion  Dav."  ^Multitudes  of  people 
went  from  the  surrotni(hng  district^  for  ten  miles 
to  witness  the  exhibition  and  the  dav  came  to  be 
recocnized  as  a  holiday  for  amusement  and  .hilar- 
ity. The  following  announcement  made  in  1S:',1  will 
.give  a  correct  idea  of  its  character  at  that  time, 
over  seventy-five  years  ago  : 

"The  yearly  f.-iir  will  he  ht-Id  Aiisiist  12tli  and  13th, 
1831.  Persons  foncl  of  milil.Trv  i)ar,ncle  will  see  Capt. 
Grim's  company  of  Horse,  and  Cant.  Rieber's  company  of 
Infantry,  and  the  Kut/'town  Band  of  Music  parade  on 
tliese  days.  Shows  and  pastimes  of  all  kinds  will  be  ex- 
hibited. Hucksters  will  be  well  provided  with  beer,  mead, 
sweet-meats,  and  all  the  fruits  in  season.  The  youth  are 
informed  that  there  will  be  an  abundance  of  (^ood  music. 
and   plenty  of  pretty  pirls  to  dance  to  it." 

For  some  years  after  the  Revolution,  these  an- 
nual meetings  in  ".May  and  September  were  rec- 
ognized as  of  a  serious  nature  in  order  to  main- 
tain a  preparation  for  war  in  time  of  peace,  but 
tlien   tlicv   gradually   drifted   awav    from    its   bene- 


ficent put  pose.  By  1810,  more  especially  by  1850, 
they  had  come  to  be  particular  occasions  for  rev- 
elry and  dissipation ;  and  this  peculiar  character 
was  observable  all  over  the  county.  They  were 
discontinued  before  the  Civil  war. 

Cui.Tiv.xTiox  OF  GiNSKN'G. — The  cultivation  of 
gin>eng  at  Kutztown  was  begun  by  Henry  K. 
Deisher  in  19(i4  and  he  has  been  very  successful. 
The  beds  cover  several  acres  of  ground  situated 
at  the  rear  of  the  premises,  where  he  resides  on 
Noble  street,  and  they  contain  upward  of  fifty  thou- 
sand roots.  He  is  also  cultivating  beds  several 
miles  from  Kutztown  which  contain  upward  of 
fifteen  thousand  roots. 

Newspapers. — The  Kut::tOi-cii  Journal,  a  Ger- 
man newspaper,  was  begun  in  1S70  by  Isaac  F. 
Chri.>t  and  published  by  him  until  1875,  when 
Conrad  Gehring  and  A.  B.  Urich  became  the  pur- 
chasers. In  1877,  Mr.  Gehring  bcu,ght  the  interest 
of  ;\Ir.  Urich  and  continued  publishing  the  paper 
until  1887,  when  he  sold  the  plant,  including  a  book 
and  wall-paper  store,  to  Jacob  B.  Esser,  who  had 
learned  the  printing  business  there ;  and  Mr.  Esser 
has  contimied   its  successful  publication  until  now. 

The  American  Patriot,  an  En,glish-German  news- 
paper, was  also  started  by  Mr.  Christ  in  187-i.  He 
sold  it  to  Gehring  and  Urich  in  18;."),  and  Urich 
sold  his  interest  to  Gehring  in  l-Si;.  In  18S7  Geh- 
ring sold  it  to  Esser,  who  has  published  it  sifice.  In 
1 888  the  use  of  the  German  department  in  the  news- 
paper was  discontinued.  It  lias  been  issued  con- 
tinuously from  the  Journal  office.  In  190.5,  IMr. 
Esser  intnjduced  the  linotype  machine,  with  mat- 
rices for  English  and  German  composition;  and  he 
enlarged  the  Patriot  to  ei,ght  pa.ges.  Both  newspap- 
ers have  a  large  circulation,  but  that  of  the  Patriot 
has  been  the  larger  of  the  two  since  1895. 

Thr  A'ational  n.dncator  was  published  at  Kutz- 
town as  an  English  educational  journal  by  Rev. 
Dr.  .-\.  R.  Home  from  1872  to  1877,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  Allenldwii.  He  had  removed  to 
that  place  in  1.S77.  The  new-.-pp-jier  was  printed 
in  the  Journal  office. 

TJic  Normal  J'idcitc  was  first  issued  in  March, 
1894;  and  has  been  publi'sbcd  quarterly  in  Octo- 
ber, January,  April  -ind  July.  It  is  mailed  to  the 
majority  of  the  .graduates  and  farmer  students 
of  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  to  school 
teachers,  to  school  superintendents,  and  to  school 
directors  ;  and  sent  as  an  exchange  to  a  great  many 
colleges,  normal  schools,  academies,  and  high 
schools  of  Pennsylvania  as  well  as  to  other  States. 

Its  staff  con>ists  of  Prof.  Ilarrv  T.  .^tein.  man- 
ager; Prof.  James  S.  Grim,  editor;  IVof.  George 
C.  Br/rdner,  alumni  editor;  Caroline  \'.  llov.  editor 
of  school  news;  and  Prof.  H.  W.  Sharadin,  art- 
ist. Professor  Stein  has  been  connectetl  with  it 
almost  from  its  very  inception.  It  ha^  proved  a 
strong--  medium  in  bringing  .-ilunnu  in  rldser  touch 
with  their  alma  mater.  It  has  been  ]>rinted  and 
issued  by  the  publi.sher  of  the  Journal. 


Sfi.fj-r 


BOROUGTIS 


245 


Sf.cret  Societies. — The  followin;:,'-  Secret  So- 
cieties have  been  instituted  and  carried  en  at  Kutz- 
town : 

F.  &  A.  M.,  Hu'^iiCHot  Lod^c.  Xo.  ,?-7.  l.s(;(i ;  141 
niembers. 

A'.  G.  E.,  Adonai  Castle,  Xo.  JJ,  ls8ii ;  ii.jO  mem- 
bers. 

}r.  O.  U.  Ai.  .1/.,  Charlrs  A.  Grrasch  Council, 
Xo.  1004,  l^f).'") :  o'lo  members. 

Ladies  Golden  Eagle.  Purity  Temple,  liioo;  SO 
members. 

Royal  Arcanujn,  Ma.vataze)ix  Couiieil.  1000. 

Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles.  Kut::to7cn  Acric, 
190o;  200  members. 

Churches. — In  1T90.  a  uniori  chnrcli  was  erect- 
ed of  frame  material  by  member.-,  of  tlie  Luther- 
an and  Reformed  denominations  of  the  vicinity, 
and  this  was  maintained  until  1891,  when  a  su- 
perior stone  church  was  substituted.  But  mem- 
bers of  these  respective  denominations  have  since 
erected  beautiful  denominational  churches,  known 
as  the  Trinity  LittJieran  (1S9:?),  and  the  St.  Paul's 
Reformed  (1SS5).  In  the  old  church,  a  Sunday- 
school  was  organized  in  18"3G,  and  this  has  been 
carried  on  successfully  until  now. 

The  Ez-angelical  Association  erected  a  church  in 
1850,  and  organized  a  Sunday-school  in  18.".1 ;  and 
the  niembers  have  maintained  bcitii  unld  now. 
They  erected  a  fine  new  building  in  18S."i. 

Cemeteries. — Besides  the  burying-grinmd  con- 
nected with  the  old  Union  Church,  Hope  cemetery 
was  established  near  by  in  ls71  ;  and  tlic  Fair- 
view  cemetery  along  the  road  to  Reading,  a  short 
distance  west  of  the  Xormal  School,  in  18G1.  The 
latter  was  enlarged  in  1905  by  the  purchase  of 
twelve  acres  as  an  annex,  situated  on  the  west  side 
of  the  public  road.  There  are  a  number  of  costly 
monuments  in  these  cemeteries. 

Schools. — The  subject  of  educati(jn  received 
the  earnest  attention  of  the  inhabitants  from  the 
beginning  of  the  town.  While  a  union  church 
was  being  erected  by  the  Luth.eran  and  Reformed 
denominations,  rules  were  framed  for  the  govern- 
ment of  a  school,  and  it  was  carried  on  under  the 
supervision  of  the  church  council  until  the  intro- 
duction of  the  common  school  system  in  1S3S. 

In  1S92  the  borough  erected  a  large  and  superior 
school  building  with  eight  rooms  at  a  co^l  of  $"J.">.- 
000.  It  embraces  five  schools.  The  total  annual 
expenditures  are  S-">,000. 

Keystone  State  'Xormal  School. — This  institu- 
tion, though  not  situated  within  the  cor])orate  lim- 
its of  Kutztown,  is  nevertheless  so  thoroughly  iden- 
tified with  tlie  borough  as  to  justify  a  descri]jtion 
of  it  in  connection  with  the  historical  narrative  of 
the  borough.  Proceedings  are  now  pending  in 
court  relating  to  the  annexation  to  the  bMnnigh  nf 
adjoining  propcrtv.  which  include^'  the  Xormal 
Scliool.  Tlie  article  which  follows  was  jjrepared 
by  the  Rev.  W".  W.  Deatrick,  A,  AI.,  Sc.  D. 


The  buildings  of  the  Keystone  State  Xormal  School  are 
adniiralily  located  on  elevated  ground  along  the  "Easton 
Road"  in  the  bouthvvestcrr.  part  of  Kutztown,  midway 
between  Reading  and  .Allentuwn.  The  landed  proiicrt'y 
of  tlie  institution,  now  embracing  some  titty  acres,  ex- 
tends on  both  sitles  of  this  noted  highway  for  quite  a  dis- 
tance. 

This  norma!  school  is  the  direct  outgrowth  of  two  ear- 
lier schools,  Fairview  Seminary  and  its  predecessor,  the 
old  Franklin  .\cademy.  This  earliest  school  was  hou>ed 
lirst  in  the  old  stone  parochial  school-house  and  later  in 
the  small  wooden  building  still  standing  at  the  intersec- 
tion of  Walnut  and  W'h.iteoak  streets,  in  the  heart  of  the 
town.  It  was  founded  in  1836;  and  in  18.i8,  in  order  to 
secure  an  annual  appropriation  of  $4ao  which  the  State 
then  ofTered  to  an  academy  having  on  its  roll  twenty- 
five  students,  it  was  inco:  porated.  The  first  trustees  were 
Daniel  B.  Kutz,  Daniel  Biebc-.  Col.  John  Wanner,  David 
Kutz,  Dr.  C.  L.  Schlemm.  David  Deisher  and  Henry  HetT- 
ner.  The  number  of  pupils  was  limited  to  thirty-three 
and  no  one  was  received  tor  a  shorter  period  than  six 
months,  for  vvhich  time  the  tuition  charges  were  $10.00. 
The  school  had  quite  an  extensive  library  for  the  time. 
Hon.  .Alexander  Ramse}-  ( in  later  years  a  prominent  states- 
man of  Minnesota)  was  at  one  time  a  teacher  in  this 
academy.  After  rendering  ex.rellent  service  to  the  com- 
munity Franklin  .Academy  closed  its  doors. 

In  18C'0,  another  attempt  was  made  to  provide  oppor- 
tunities for  advanced  instruction.  In  that  year,  mainly 
through  the  elTorts  of  the  Rev.  J.  Sassarnan  Herman, 
a  clergyman  of  the  Reformed  Church,  Fairview  Seminary 
was  established.  This  school  was  opened,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  conducted  in  the  building  now  known  as 
"Fairview  Mansion."  the  i)resent  residence  of  Col.  Thom- 
as D.  I'ister,  at  the  extreme  western  end  of  the  towji. 
Prof.  H.  R.  Nicks.  .A.  M..  was  the  first  teacher.  He 
opened  the  school  with  five  pupils;  Erastus  Hast,  O.  C. 
Herman,  Jetlerson  C.  Hoch,  Xath.in  C.  SchaetYer  (later 
for  sixteen  years  principal  of  the  Keystone  State  Nor- 
mal School  and,  since  ISOH,  superintendent  of  public  in- 
structi(m  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania),  aiulMiss  Clara 
Wanner.  The  school  prospered  under  Professor  Nicks. 
By  .April,  I8'51,  he  had  forty-one  pupils  On  the  roll,  and 
in  tlie  si)ring  of  18r>3  there  were  eighty-five,  of  whom 
a  large  number  were  boardincr  student,'^.  Thi<;  number 
taxed  the  capacity  of  the  liuilding.  and.  in  18f53,  through 
the  influence  of  Professor  Nicks,  five  acres  of  land 
were  purchased,  where  part  of  the  Normal  buiblings 
now  stand,  and  on  that  tract  was  begun  the  erectii->n 
of  a  larger  brick  building.  This  structure  cost  ;;('!. 500, 
and  later  became  the  old  northeastern  wing  of  the  Key- 
stone State  Normal  School,  making  way  in  time  for 
the  present  Boys'  Dormitories.  In  the  fall  of  ISri4.  Fair- 
view  Seminary  was  mo\ed  into  this  building  and  there 
conducted  under  the  new  name  of  Maxatawny  Seminary. 
Professor  Nicks  continued  as  principal,  associating  with 
himself,  in  lSf),">,  as  .assistant,  the  r<cv.  Samuel  Transeau, 
who  remained  with  the  school  till  18G7.  and  in  1873  re- 
moved to  Williamsport;  where  for  a  numtjcr  of  years 
he  served  as  city  superintendent  of  public  schools. 

.As  early  as  1S.')7  the  location  of  the  State  Normal  school 
for  the  Thir<l  district,  composed  of  the  counties  of  Berks, 
Lehiirh  and  Schuylkill,  was  discussed.  In  th.at  year,  in 
an  address  delivered  at  Rending,  the  Hon.  H.  H.  Schwartz, 
then  superintendent  of  schools  of  Lehigh,  advocated  the 
cbiims  of  Kuiztowii  as  the  site  for  the  proposed  iiistitntion. 
In  1S02,  tlie  Rev.  B.  E.  Kranilich  suggested  that  I'rofessor 
Nicks's  "Fairview  Seminary"  be  converted  into  a  State  Nor- 
mal. The  Rev.  John  S.  F.rmentrout,  superintendent  of  tin- 
Berks  C'lunty  public  schools,  favored  Hamburg,  as  a  better 
K'cality.  Professor  Nick>;.  however,  was  the  individual  who 
worked  liardest  and  did  most,  accomplishing  what  otlu-rs 
merely  talkid  about.  In  ISfi.!  he  entered  inir)  crres- 
pondeiice  with  the  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Burroughs.  State  su^)- 
ei  intenileiit,  in  order  to  ascertain  what  ste|)S  were  to  be 
taken  to  secure  recognition  of  liis  school  as  a  State  Normal 


■,  u     \ 


t     !    ;  ffl/= 


eiG 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    l'EXXSYL\'AXIA 


school.  In  ihe  spring  of  ISO.")  a  nunilier  of  public  school 
te;iohtr.-i  were  gathcrcil  into  Ma.xatawny  Seminary,  where 
they  were  given  fcrmal  pedasiogieal  instruction  by  County 
Superintendent  Ernientruut.  When  liie  success  of  Ma.xa- 
tawny Seminary  had  been  assured,  Professor  Nicks  pro- 
ceeded to  interest  the  community  in  the  greater  project. 
As  the  direct  result  of  his  advocacy  of  the  measure  and 
of  his  persistent  eneri;),  an  organization  was  ettected  in 
tlie  summer  of  l!?r..'i  and  funds  were  speedily  subscribed 
for  the  erection  of  two  additional  buildings,  a  central 
building  and  a  wing  on  the  northwest  similar  to  the  Ma.x- 
atawny Seminary  building,  which,  after  the  erection  of  the 
two  new  edil'ices.  formed  the  northeast  wing  of  the  com- 
pleted structure,  the  whole  then  presenting  a  frontage  of 
210  feet,  "with  boarding  accommodations  for  300  and  school 
acconnnodations  for  400  students."  The  corner-stone  of 
this  structure  was  laid  Sept.  IT,  ISG-j,  by  Superintendent 
Ermentrout.  In  the  corner-stone  "were  deposited,  among 
other  things,  the  Bible  and  the  .Vpostles'  Creed.''  .Addresses 
o;i  this  occasion  were  deiivered  by  Hon.  J.  Lawrence  Getz. 
William  Rosenthal,  Esq.,  Daniel  Ernlentrout,  Esci.,  Llewel- 
lyn Wanner.  Escj.,  and  Frof.  .Albert  X.  Raub.  The  building. 
erected  by  Messrs.  Garst  and  Mast,  of  the  city  of  Read- 
ing, was  completed  within  a  year  at  a  cost  of  about 
$40,000. 

The  people  of  the  community,  notably  the  Hottensteins. 
the  Biebers,  Dr.  Cliarks  A.  Gerasch,  Solomon  Christ,  and 
David  Schaeffer,  b_\-  liberal  contributions,  made  the  under- 
taking a  success.  Eor  the  Normal  there  was  subscribed 
?18,H00;  which  v.  itii  the  $ii,500  given  for  the  seminary 
previously,  made  a  total  of  $21,800. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  was  compoied  of  the  fol- 
lowing gentlein'.-n  :  Henry  Bushong,  Egidins  Butz.  Daniel 
Deatrich,  Rev.  J.  S.  Ermentrout,  David  Fister,  John 
H.  Fogej,  Jonas  Hoch,  Edward  Hottenstein,  ^I.  D.. 
J.  Glancy  Jones.  Rev.  B.  E.  Kramlich,  Diller  Luther,  M. 
D.,  Jonas  Miller,  Ullrich  Miller,  Rev.  H.  R.  Nicks.  H. 
H.  Schwartz,  Esq..  David  Schaeffer,  Adam  Stein.  Leshcr 
Trexler,  M.  D.,  and  J.  D.  Wanner,  Esq.  Levvis  K. 
Hottenstein  was  president  of  tlie  board  of  trustees,  David 
H.  Hottenstein  its  secretary;  Lesher  Tre.xler,  M.  D.,  was 
president  of  the  board  of  stockholders  and  Jonas  Hoch 
secretary.  Charles  Gerasch.  'M.  D.,  was  treasurer  of  the 
new  school. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees,  held  Aug.  4.  ISGO. 
formal  application  was  made  to  the  Hon.  Charles  R.  Co- 
burn,  Stale  superintendent  of  common  schools,  for  the 
recognition  of  the  school  as  the  State  Normal  School  for 
the  Thiid  District.  On  Thursday.  Sept.  13.  ISGG.  W. 
W'orthington.  George  Landon.  S.  Eilioit,  Thaddcus  Banks. 
J.  S.  Ermentrout  (superintendent  of  Berks  county). 
Jesse  Nev,'lin  (superintendent  of  Schuylkill),  and  !•".  j. 
Young  (superintendent  of  Lehigh),  inspectors  appointed 
by  the  State  st-.perintendent,  inspected  the  school  and  rec- 
ommended its  recognition,  and  on  Sept.  l.'Jth,  two  days 
later.  Superintendent  Cfiburn  issued  a  proclamation  recog- 
nizing the  school  by  the  name  of  the  Keystone  Stale 
Normal  School,  the  corporate  naine  borne  by  it  to  the 
present  time. 

The  officers  of  instruction,  as  given  by  the  first  catalog, 
were:  Rev.  J.  S.  Ermentrout.  A.  M..  Principal,  and  Pro- 
fessor of  Mental  and  Moral  Science,  and  of  Theory  and 
Practice  of  Teaching;  Rev.  H.  R.  Nicks,  A.  'SI..  Associate 
Principal,  and  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Physics ; 
Albert  N.  Raub,  A.  ^L.  Professor  of  Englisli  Language 
and  Literature,  and  of  Vocal  Music;  Rev.  Samuel  Tran- 
seau,  A.  M..  Profc'^sor  of  .-\ncient  Languages  and  flis- 
tory;  Edward  T.  Burgan.  M.  E..  Superintendent  of  the 
Model  School  and  Professor  of  Penmanship  and  Book- 
keeping; Rev.  G.  F.  Spieker.  Professor  of  German  Lan- 
guage and  Literature:  Lesher  Trexler.  M.  D..  Lecturer 
on  .Nnatomy.  Phvsiology,  and  Hygiene:  Mi>s  Julia  E. 
Bullard.  M.  L.,  Teacher  of  In-;trinnenta!  Mu'-ic.  Frenrh. 
Painting  and    Drawing;    Miss   Mary   Morrison,  Teacher  of 

Re.nling  and   C.e"gr:i[iln- ;     U'ot   lllled).   Teacher  of 

Elocution;    Peter    S.    L'mbenhauer.    Pupil    .Assistant.      The 


first  catalog,  lStJt3-1807,  contains  the  names  of  318  pupils; 
2G3  of  them  male.  55   female. 

Rev.  John  S.  Ermentrout  served  as  principal  until  l.^Ti 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  R.  Home,  A.  M. 
After  an  absence  of  three  years.  Professor  Ermentrout 
returned  in  1874  and  served  as  Professor  of  Mental  Science 
and  English  Literature  (or  "Belles  Lettres,"  as  it  was 
called  at  first)  until  1S81.  In  ISTT  Dr.  A.  R.  Hcrne  was 
succeeded  in  the  principalship  by  the  Rev.  Nathan  C. 
Schaeffer,  A.  M.,  who.  after  winning  unusual  distinction 
and  receiving  honorary  degrees  from  eminent  institutions 
of  learning,  severed  his  connection  with  the  school  in  ISOJ 
to  bocome  State  superintendent  of  public  instruction  of 
Pennsylvania.  Rev.  George  B.  Hancher,  Ph.  D.,  became 
principal  in  l.?03  and  served  till  1S99;  since  that  time  to 
the  present,  the  Rev.  A.  C.  Rothermel,  Pd.  D.,  has  been 
the  efficient  head  of  the  institution. 

The  growth  of  the  school  has  been  steady  and  substan- 
tial. For  more  than  twenty  ytars  past,  building  opera- 
tions have  been  almost  continuous.  The  earlier  struc- 
tures were  soon  outgrown  and  larger  ediliccs  one  by  one. 
have  taken  their  place  until  now.  with  the  exceptioii  of 
a  single  three-storied  brick  building,  known  as  "The 
Steward's  Building."  overshadowed  by  massive  piles 
around  it,  not  one  of  the  first  erections  remains.  In  ISSi) 
the  "Ladies'  Building"  or  Girls'  Dormitory  was  put  uv ; 
in  188T  the  "Cliapel  Building''  wa.>  erected;  in  1801  tlie 
extensive  northea-t  wing  or  "Boys'  Dormitory"  followed; 
in  1803  the  old  "Main  Building"  was  demolished  to  cive 
place  for  the  great  six-story  "Center  Building,"  costing 
$75,000;  in  189G,  the  necessities  of  the  school  produced  a 
fine  kitchen  and  laundry  with  a  superb  equipment;  in 
1898  a  powerful  electric  light  plant  made  coal-oil  illumina- 
tion an  incident  of  history;  in  1900  the  foundations  were 
laid  for  a  new  "Model  School  Building"  with  an  annex 
containing  physical,  chemical  and  biological  laboratories, 
and  an  ample  auditorium  (the  two  costing  SlOO.OOO)  ;  in 
1908  a  splendidly  equipped  gymnasium,  ornately  designed, 
and  erected  at  a  cost  of  $50,000,  was  opened  for  use ; 
while  the  early  months  of  1909  witness  the  completion 
of  a  fine  two-story  brick  hospital  or  infirmary,  for  the 
isolation  and  treatment  of  pupils  who  may  f.iil  ill  while 
at  school  (a  provision  for  which  it  is  hoped  there  may 
be  little  need). 

Besides  this,  there  is  a  great  boiler  house,  which  has 
been  enlarged  from  time  to  time  in  order  to  furnish 
steam  heat  to  recitation  rooms  jnd  dormitories  and  power 
to  run  the  machinery  of  the  hydraulic  passenger  elevator, 
the  apparatus  of  the  laundry,  the  electric  dynamos,  and 
the  pumping  engine  at  the  artesian  well   and   water  tower. 

The  buildings  are  in  some  respects  unique  as  being, 
with  the  exception  of  lioiler  house,  electric  plant,  gymnas- 
ium, infirmary,  and  steward's  house,  practically  iincler  one 
roof,  being  connected  by  covered  bridges,  supported  on 
beams  of  steel.  The  dormitories  and  recitation  halls  are 
laree   and   abundantly   lighted. 

The  equipment  of  the  school  in  the  way  of  scientific 
apparatus  is  select  and  complete,  and  each  vear  large  ex- 
penditures are  mafle  for  the  physical,  rheniical.  biological, 
and  psychological  laboratories',  as  well  as  for  the  other 
departments  of  the  institution;  by  which  means  the  edu- 
cational facilities  afforded  by  the  school  are  kept  abreast 
of  the   demands   of   tlic   times. 

There  are  three  principal  libraries,  each  containing  sev- 
eral thousand  volumes.  One  is  the  general  reference  li- 
brary, the  other  two  are  the  property  of  the  two  literary 
societies  maint;iinc(l  by  the  students.  These  societies  are 
the  Philomathean  Literary  Society,  organized  early  in  tlie 
year  ISfi."..  and  the  Keystone  Literary  Society,  oritrinaliy 
named  the  Kalliomathcan  Society,  which,  in  September  of 
the  same  year,  wa*;  organized  by  students  dismissed,  for 
the  purpose  of  starting  a  rival  society,  by  the  elder  org.in- 
ization.  Besides  these  collections  of  book';,  several  ile- 
partmcntal  or  working  libraries,  housed  in  various  recita- 
tion rooms,  are  ni;ii:it:iinc:i  bv  several  of  the  dipartments 
of  the  school.  .Ml  these  collections  are  generously  aug- 
mented from  time  to  time. 


.■■'     '',n      '  -n    ■..,  KlJ 


BOROUGHS 


347 


The  course  of  study  is  that  prescribed  by  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  but  in  some  matters  this  school  leads 
1:5  compeers.  At  the  instigation  of  Dr.  Nathan  C.  Schaef- 
fer  (.who  was  principal  at  the  time  and  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Pennsylvania  Industrial  Commissirm).  a  man- 
ual training  department,  directed  by  Dr.  W.  W.  Dea- 
trii-k,  was  e^tabli^hcd  in  ISi'l.  the  I'lr^t  in  Pennsylvania 
Xormal  Schools.  Instruction  in  this  department  is  given 
un  pedagogic  lines  but.  nevertheless,  the  course  is  eminent- 
ly practical,  having  obtained  marked  recognition  in  the 
reports  of  the  United  States  commissioner  of  education. 
Specimens  of  work  done  in  accordance  with  this  course, 
exhibited  with  other  work  of  the  school,  won  medals 
and  diplomas  at  two  great  world's  fairs.  Among  other 
exercises  in  this  department,  there  may  be  mentioned  plain 
sewing  (for  female  pupils),  construction  of  apparatus, 
clay-modelin.g,  and  mechanical  drawing.  The  fine  arts 
are  not  neglected:  drawing,  crayoning,  and  painting  in 
water  and  oils  and  on  china,  arc  thoroughly  taught. 

But  brains  are  better  than  bricks  and  the  mainstay  of 
a  great  school  nuist  ever  be  the  excellence  of  its  teaching 
force.  In  this  particular  the  Keystone  State  Xormal 
School  has  been  especially  fortunate :  it  has  always  had 
forceful  instructors,  and  never  more  of  them  than  now. 
The  roster  of  teachers  in  the  last  catalog  contains  thirly- 
four  names;  and  among  them  a  considerable  proportion 
is  of  names  of  college  and  university  trained  instructors. 
In  this  way  the  desired  breadth  and  accuracy  in  instruc- 
tion are  secured. 

The  school  is  crow-ded  with  pupils  to  the  point  of  tax- 
ing the  capacity  of  the  present  ample  buildings.  Tlie  last 
catalog  contained  the  names  of  9u'9  pupils.  The  list  of 
alumni  of  the  institution  now  totals  ~',.5iU  names,  among 
which  are  men  and  women  prominent  in  every  sphere  of 
wholesome  and  serviceable  human  acti\  ity.  A  recent  report 
of  the  trustees  made  to  the  Department  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion shows  that,  at  present,  there  arc  about  1(),000  vohinus 
in  the  combined  libraries  and  that  the  value  of  tb.e  build- 
ings and  equipment  approxiniaus  half  a  million  dollar^. 

DF.isirEu  Indian'  Relics.-  -The  collection  of  In- 
dian lelic-;  owned  by  Henry  K.  Deislier,  niainifac- 
turer,  i.s  worthy  of  special  mention  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  Kutztown.  He  bcqan  collect- 
ing arrow-head.^  in  tlie  vicinity  of  the  borough 
when  only  a  bov  .six  year.s  old,  at  the  sug;s;"estion 
of  his  teacher,  and  as  he  grew  older  he  gradually 
extended  his  excursions  into  the  surrounding  terri- 
tory in  search  of  relics.  When  jjlowing  ojierations 
on  the  farms  were  going  on,  he  was  particularly 
zealous,  and  his  industry  and  perseverance  were 
rewarded  by  the  acquisition  of  all  kinds  of  s[)eci- 
mens.  In  this  way  his  collection  grew  larger  and 
larger  and  with  it  the  development  of  his  knowl- 
edge on  the  subject,  until  he  came  to  po'=sess  su- 
perior specimens  froin  all  parts  of  I'erks  county 
and  from  the  counties  in  tlie  eastern  and  interior 
parts  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  also  num- 
erous publications  relating  to  Indian  affairs,  which 
together  comprise  a  considerable  library  of  much 
value  on  the  subject.  Then  he  began  to  purchase 
si^ecimens  from  ditterent  States,  and  so  he  con- 
tinued his  accumulations  until  he  now  has  upward 
of  22,000,  consisting  of  arrow-heads,  spcar-lteads, 
knives,  scrapers,  axes,  celts,  pestks,  and  ceremonial 
or  banner  stone<.  Much  skill  has  been  displayed  in 
their  arrangement  in  cases  specially  ijreiiared.  ."^ince 
liHif),  he  has  added  two  rare  collections  of  all  kinds 
of  relics  from  the  Pacify-  cnast.  carefully  packed  and 
weighing  two  tons,  which  embraced  all  kind---  of 
stone,  bone  and  iiorn  implements,  and  many  string.-. 


of  beads  and  wampum.  The  collection  includes 
IT.OOO  specimens  of  various  kinds  from  different 
parts  uf  Berks  county. 

^Ir.  Deisher  has  also  collected  many  baskets  of 
all  kinds,  shapes  and  sizes,  made  by  the  Indians 
of  California,  Arizona  and  Alaska,  varying  in  di- 
ameter from  one-quarter  of  an  inch  to  two  and  a 
half  feet,  and  showing  unique  designs  of  perfect 
regularity,  in  different  colors. 

The  collection  is  worth  many  thousands  of  dol- 
lars, and  'Sir.  Deishei's  enterprise,  devotion,  and 
determination  in  this  behalf  since  18T0,  a  period 
covering  thirtv-six  vears,  are  truly  commendable. 


HAMBURG 

Hamburg  is  a  prosperous  borough  in  the  north- 
ern section  of  the  county,  near  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  Schuylkill  river,  sixteen  miles  north  of  Read- 
ing. The  land  embraced  in  the  limits  of  the  bor- 
ough was  taken  up  by  warrant  as  early  as 
1732,  immediately  after  the  territory  was  re- 
leased by  the  Indians,  and  a  patent  was  is- 
sued in  17T2  to  Martin  Kaercher  for  250 
acres,  the  tract  having  been  named  "Ham- 
burg"' at  that  time.  In  1T79,  Kaercher  conveyed 
tlie  tract  to  his  son,  Martin,  and  the  son  then  laid 
out  a  town.  It  came  to  be  publicly  known  by  the 
name  of  Kaerchertown,  which  it  held  for  many 
years. 

The  first  public  enterprise  affecting  this  place 
was  the  construction  of  the  Centre  Turnpike  from 
Reading  to  Pottsville.  It  was  completed  in  1812, 
and  operated  until  1885,  when  it  was  abandoned. 
Stages  rail  to  and  fro  on  this  turnpike  until  1812. 

A  canal  w^as  constructed  along  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  Schuylkill  from  1815  to  1822.  which  was 
opened  for  traffic  in  1824.  Active  operations  were 
carried  on  until  about  1895,  with  a  large  annual 
tonnage,  but  then  they  almost  entirel}-  ceased  be- 
cause the  Philadeljibia  &  Reading  Railroad  Coin- 
pany  (which  had  become  its  lessee)  diverted  the 
coal  and  merchandise  traffic  to  the  railroad.  Boat- 
building at  Hamburg  was  a  prominent  industry  for 
forty  years. 

Railroad  crmnnunication  with  Reading  and  Phil- 
adelphia to  the  south,  and  Pottsville  to  the  north, 
was  opened  in  1812  by  the  extension  of  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  railroad  along  the  western  bank 
of  the  Schuylkill.  In  December,  1S85,  additional 
railroad  facilities  were  afforded  to  Reading  and  to 
Pottsville  by  the  completion  of  the  Pennsylvam'a 
Schuylkill  \'allev  railroad  along  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  river.  The  company  established  a  station 
at  the  crossing  on  State  street,  where  a  superior 
and  attractive  building  was  erected  to  acconmiodatc 
the  patrons  of  the  road. 

Telegraph  commtmication  was  opened  in  1817; 
and  telephone,  in  ISSI. 

I.vcoRi'ORATiON. — The  borough  was  erected  bv  a 
-pecial  .-\ct  of  Assembly,  passed  April  .3,  1S37. 
Several  previnus  attemitls  had  been  made  in  this 
behalf    (the   fu'st   having  been   in    1S30),   but   tl'.ey 


/.)( 


';;Tiv,fj/- 


>  ■■■-,  r-   fu     e»(: 


.     'm! 


.■.:m,:    :       i;r,Mii'  1      :  .)        ,;H  .!.,■. 
•    '>■<     I  ■:    I'.;;!     v'lNi-rii.r  'ri  ,     J, 


't!l 


■'•■■       .'^      '!  -1     ^.'Ki       Hi. 


..-■  ^-■ 


,i;(:.  .'     ! 


24S 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLX'AXIA 


were  not  successful.  This  movement  was  encour- 
aged by  tlic  operation  and  incrcabinj:;;  importance 
of  the  canal. 

The  boroui;h  wa.-  divided  into  tv/o  wards  in 
1S8G:  North  and  South. 

Early  Ixii.\i;ita.nts. — Amont,'  the  early  inhabi- 
tants of  namburcj,  whilst  a  town,  from  l^OU  to 
1S20,  were  the  following-,  whose  employments  are 
mdicatcd  in  the  statement : 


John  Meyer,  broker 
Henry   Hcir.ly.   tail(;r 
John  De  Walcl  hatter 
John  Shonio,  Jr.,  teacher 
David   Xcv.hart.  tobacconist 
George  Miller,  miller 
Charles  diss,  mason 
William    Feather,    tanner 
Moses  Levy,  store-keeper 
Daniel  Levari,  tavern-keeper 
Jacob    Snell,   butcher 
Joseph  Sliomo,  Sr.,  tinsmith 
Abraham   Wolff,  saddler 
Henry    Groh,    yeoman 
Adolphus   Hatzlielil,   justice 
Dr.    Klein,    physician 
Philip  Sousley,  cordwainer 
Andrew    Hel\vi;.j,   yeoman 
Henry     Schc'Cncr,     chair- 

maker 
\Vm.    Coulter,   chair-maker 
Henry  Lewers.  tinsmith 
Henry  T'ister,  hatter 
John    Scherik,    tailor 
John  Beideman.  clock-maker 
Mrs.      Peter     Schatz,     cake 

baker 
Henry     Lindeinuml;.    shoe- 
maker 
Abraham      Hailey,      tavern- 
keeper 
^^'i^lia^l   Schau.  tailor 
Abraham    De    Wald,    cigar- 
maker 
Dr.   Heiij.   Pieckei-,  physician 
Philip   Ihiinu'el,   farmer 
Frederick   Felix.   shoL-n;aker 
Michael    Rce'-e,   cooper 
John  Eberhard,  carpenter 
William    Machenier.    dyer 
John  Moyer,  lob.icconist 
John  Shomo,  Sr.,  inn-keeper 


John  Derr,  tanner 
Robert  Scott,  store-keeper 
Jacob   Glatt,   laborer 
John  Miller,  cabinet-maker 
Andrew  Forsyth,  merchant 
Jacob     Fisher,      cofi'ee-mill- 

maker 
Capt.      Leitheiser,      Revolu- 
tionist 
Sebastian     Leonard,     black- 
smith 
Daniel  Kern,  store-keeper 
David    Davidheiser,    tavern- 
keeper 
Andrew  Hummel,  laborer 
Jacob    Hains,   carpenter 
Christian  Lochman,  weaver 
John  Miller,  cooper 
Peter   Dile,  laborer 
Henry  Roi,  watchmaker 
Wm.     Lochman     (Hessian), 

laborer 
John     Scharff     (fiessian), 

hostler 
A  b  r  a  h  a  m     Shollenberger, 

potter 
JC'hn    Sholletiberger,    black- 
sniilli 

Hetrich.  cooper 

Silhman.    ferrymaii 

Fred'k   Shcllenberger, 

l)Utcher 
Abraliam   Keiser,   butcher 

Keimcdy.    mason 

Killian  Mav.  cooper 
Joseph    Miller,    farmer 

\\  m.      \\  illiamson.      wheel- 

wriiifht 
Casper  Diehl,  tavern-keeper 
Jeremiah  Shappell,  farmer 
Ab'm   XVilliamson.  spinning- 
wheel -tnaker 


-Andrew  Smith,  blacksmith 

FiR.sT  T\.\  Ar.Li:s. — The  resident  taxables  of  Hatn- 
burt;-,  at  tin-  time  of  its  erection  into  a  borough, 
were  as  follows : 


Frederick   .Albright 
William    Ames 
John    Baily 
William  I'lcrgcr 
Augustus   Piailer 
Peter  C.   P.aum 
Peter    Haucher,    Jr. 
John    Beiteman 
John  Btiyer   Est. 
Jacob  Ruck 
Widow  IVnseman 
Jacob  Billman 
Solomon    Mi/rrel 
Jacob  Cr.amji 
David    Dewald 
Israel   Derr,   Fsq. 
Jesse  Dewalt 


I'aac    Dewalt 
William   I'^ans 
Casper    Fhman 
Jacob    Fisher 
\\'illiam    Feather 
Hcnrv    }<"ister 
SinK'U    Filter 
Joseph    Filbert 
.Arthur   Fesig 
Reuben  I'reed 
Henry  Groh  F~t. 
Joseph    (iroh 
Willinrn    GitTt 
Joseph   (leiger 
lacol)  Geiger 
T'elix   Hartm.an 
Adolph    Hatzlield 


Benjamin  Harman 
Widow    liumel 
Henry  Heinly  Est. 
Jacob    lieins 
John   Hartzel 
Henrv    iIotTman 
Charles    Ilartline 
William  Hensher 
Enoch   Jones 
Conrad    Kolp 
Benjamin  Kline 
Peter  Kern  Est. 
Daniel   Kern 
William  Keiser 
.\braliain  Keiser  Est. 
Samuel    Kline 
Charles    Keller 
Solomon    Klein 
John  Leise 
Christian   Lochman 
Sebastian   Lenhart 
Henry  Lindemmh 
William  Loch.man 
Jacob  Lindemuth 
Henry  Lewars.  Esq. 
Jacob  Laub 
Charles  Loy 
Daniel   Laub 
Samuel  Lilly 
Widow  Leitheiser 
Frederick  Miller 
John   .Miller 
tieorge    .Miller 
John  Mover  Est. 
Peter   .Mi'ller 
James  G.  Moyer 
William  Xeyer 
John  X'aragang.  Sr. 
I^avid   Xice  Est. 
Benjamin  R.   Xice,   M.  D. 
Lewis  J.   P;iuli 
Josiah  H.  Rcichelderfcr 
John  F.   Reeser 
Benjamin    Keescr 
Solomon  Reese 
Michael  liecse 
lohn    Roth 
John   Roth.  Jr.  " 


Siiii 


Samuel    Burns 
Frederick  Beitenman 
Sanniel   Bauch 
Daniel    Crenier 
Jacob    .\.    Dietrich 
Peter   Feather 
iJaniel   Feather 
.Mexander  Gross 
Henry    Kern 
Peter   Longalow 
Xathan  Levi 


Charles    Roth 
Henry  Rapp 
William  Kuthenberger 
Lewis  Rhubear 
Barbara    Sa\age 
Johrf  W.   Scott 
Israel  Smith 
Boas   Smith 
Egedius  'Smith 
.Andrew  Smith  Est. 
William  Shomo 
Joseph  Shomo 
Jacob   Snell 
John   Schwoyer 
Godfrey   Seiilel 
Samuel  Shollenberger 
John  Sheiik 
Joseph  Smith 
Jacob    Siegfried 
Jonathan  Sweitzig  (of  Jacob) 
Jacob  Scholleiiberger 
John  Shollenberger 
John  Shollenberger  (bl.sm.) 
Dewald   Shollenberger  Est. 
I'Vcd'k  Shollenberger 
Peter    Shiillenbcrger 
Augustus  Shultz,  ^L  D. 
Joseph  Shollenberger 
Philip    Shatz 
John   Sunilay 
William   Smith 
Benjamin  Stitzcl 
Jacob  Smith 
Joseph   Seidel 
Jacob    Shaeffer 
Thomas    Smith 
Casper   Snell 
John  Tolbert 
Isaac  Thompson 
Jonathan   Waidinan 
Christian   W'ild 
.Abraharn  Williamson 
Daijiel   Wolf 
John   Wehren 
George  Wagner.  Jr. 
John   Williaiiis 
Benjamin  Williams 
Joseph   Weidman 

frct'iiirit 

John    P.    .Miller 

William    Mengcl 

Martin  Pamer 

Jacob   Roth 

Jijhn   Ring 

Daniel   Stambach 

William   Smith    (ofMichl.) 

Ttiomas  Snn'th    (ot.Andw.) 

Charles  Shollenberger 

Joseph   Yeager 


Propkrtv  i.v  1[)0(;. — The  amount  of  the  assessed 
property  of  Hamburg  in  lIKu;,  and  the  number  of 
taxables.  were  as  follows : 


North  ward  . 
South  ward  , 


Property 
ri.'^o.o.-).'! 


Money 
at  interest 

^121.1.3Sr 
204.826 


Ta.xablcs 


45S 
45G 


$914.4r)r.      I $335.9f)4      I  914 

List  oi-    Officials. — The  earlv   minutes   of  the 
town  council  have  been  lost.     Tlie  natncs  of  the 


BOROUGHS 


249 


chief  hurges<=.es,   town    clerk?    and   ju-ticcs    of   the  Sliolk-nljcrcrer,  who  traded  a^  Loose,  Seaman  &  Co., 
j)eace  since  1SG7  are  as   fulkiws:  and    they   clian,gcd    tlie   name   of   the   plant    to   the 
CHIFF   BURGESSES  Hamburg   J^low    Works.      They   manufactured   ex- 
John  Sunday   ^ ." 1807-68;   1874-75  Pensively  the  '•Champion"  plow,  and   the  '-Bower" 

James    Prutzman    lSO'J-71  *l|p-pomt  plowsliare,  wliich  they  shipped  to  all  parts 

Ktuben    Stidel    1S72-73 ;    1880  of  this  country  and  foreign  countries  includinq;  South. 

Jacob  Gcipcr   1876  America  and  Spain.     Louse  became  sole  owner  in 

Fred.  Gordrieck  1877-78  j^j,..   _^„j  j^j,  ^^,„  ^^..^^  admitted  as  a  partner  in  1903. 

lohn   A.    lobias    18i9  ^p,       ,-        ^           -r-          ,               .-,^          ' 

Dr.  William  Harris  1S81-82  ^'-^  Keystone  Foundry  on  btate  street  was  erec- 

Solomon  K.  Drcibelbis   1S83;   1883-80  ted    in    3  811    by    Reuben    Lins    for   manufacturing 

Alton  F.  Luburg 1834;  1SS7;  iS'jT-iOitu;  1903-00  farming     implements,     rolling-mill     castings,     and 

Dr.  Jonathan  B.  Pottciecr  1888  stoves.     He  and  others  in  succession  carried  it  on 

FnS  R  n^er  ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;i8oS?  ^^tensiveu-  tmtii  issi,  when  Henry  seivert  became 

J.  Albert  Sunday  1892  ^^^^   owner,    and    he   operated   it   successfully   until 

"Thomas  M.  Raubenhold    1S93;   1903-00;   1'.)09-12  i:"i5,    when   he  sok!   the   plant  to  William   Xeiman 

William  K.  Miller   1894-97  and   Llewellvn   K.   Saul,   who  have  since  manufac- 

John  R.  Wagner   1900-03  ^red  all  kinds  of  engine  and  elevator  castings,  em- 

Dr.  Frank  xM.   .\icc    1900-09  ^  i^    •         *.          .      c        i         i 

ploying  twenty-five  hands. 

TOWX  CLERkS  The  manufacturing  of  building  brick  was  started 

George  A.  Xander 1807-73  at    ILimburg    about '  184.5    bv    John    Tobias.      The 

B.  S.™ dner ''. .' .' '.  '.  '.  '.  '.  '.  '.  '.  '. .' .' .' .' .' .' .' ' ." .' .' .' ' .' .'  "1878 -SO  ' 'i882  ^'"''"^  ^'"^  ''''"  .'''^''^  operated  by  him  and  his  brother, 

R.  J.  m'.  MiHcr  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   . . . . . . . '.  issi :  1884-90  '^"''  '^'^*-'"  ^Y  ^^^^  s^'"  Charles  and  son-in-law  William 

B.  F.  Bean   1833  G.    Sheradhi   until    l'.»ii'J,   when   thev   were   removed 

Monroe  M    Dreibelbis    1890-93  to    Tiklen    tov/nship    on    the    farm   of  Jeremiah    A. 

Bennc ville    Derr    1 893-98  Jjausher 

Frank  I.  Tobias 189S-1010  ^  %^-,,^  industrial  affairs  at  Hamburg  in  1909  were 

JUSTICT-.S  OF  THE  PE.\CE*  in    a    flourishing   condition.      Twenty-seven    plants 

Ephraiin  DrcilHlbis  1873-78  were  in  Operation.     The  following  statement  shows 

5?'k:o,/Lev^l''.V.V.V.V.-.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.  187.^887  !S:S  ^!'=  -^^-^  -^  the  several  plaiits  ;uul  the  names  of 

Solomon   K.   Dreibelbis    1888-93  ^"^    proprietors,    the    year    when    started,    and    the 

M.  M.  Dreibelbis   lsos-1903  number  of  employees  : 

Solomon  K.  Hoffman   1888-1913  W.    Irving   WiJhelm    estabiislied    a    laiLre    bicvcle 

W.  A.  B.  Ketner 1903-13  ^orks   at    I  lamburg   in    the   year    1  S'.)->   and   carried 

it  on  with  great  success  several  vears  until  it  was 

Pcst-Ofi-ice.— A   ]H)st-ofrice    was    established    at  (k-stroved  by  fire  in   189S.     The  V'^mt:  was  rebuilt 

Hamburg  in  1798.     The  po.stmaster  since  1897  has  and  afterward   converted   into  a   silk-mill, 

been  Abel  H.  Beyers.     Previous  pastmastcrs  back  Blcachcrv    IVorks:    Allen    ].    Kummerer    (1897- 

l'^     r.''Mr'''"'^iV  ^■•-     "^r      ^:'''"'   "^    '"   ^^-  n ''•""'''  T^"' >  ^^'''li"  ^  bands  ;  W.  Scott'  I'isher  &  Son  11899- 

Dr.   Wilham  Harns._  Ehas  Snomo.   liemy  Rothen-  ^,,(.8)  with  <i  hands  ;  Solon  D.  Rausher  (1901),  with 

berger.  1  eter  b.  liamtz.                    ■      ,    .     ,             .  8   to   10   hands;   Hamburg   Knitting   Mills    (1909). 

]NnusTKii£S.-lhe   o.dest   recogmze.l   nulu^try   in  ^^,-^^.,.    jj.^,.^,.      y_f^,^^;;    Seider;^  (1901)  ;    20    to 

the   town   was   the   gnstmill   e^tatdisheil   about   tne  3,-,  ),ands 

beginning  of  the  town  bv  Martin  Kaercher.  fr.,  and  r, ',.;•        ,,-     ,        ,,-     r  r     ,,,,,,,        x     „ 

the   site  7s  still   occupied  as  a  mill  bv  the   Savage  ^   ^f'"/   '^"['^'^^   ^^  ■    ^  •    l'-'"'^';"'.^^''^    .'\^'''')-   ^ 

Brothers.     It  has  been  operated  for  upward  of  one  J^^^jJ'^    ^1°™?''''   °1'^'''^^"'  ^'y  ^-   ^^' ■   I^^'"'>-   ^^°"i 

hundred  and  twenty  vears  bv  dit'fcrcnt  parties.  *''"       '^  l'--o). 

Numerous  industries,  such' as  for  the  distillation  Broom-handle    Factory:     William     E.     Schmick 

of  whiskcv,  the  brewing  of   beer,   tin    building  of  carried   on   the   manufacture   of  broom   handles   at 

boats,    the'  manufacture    of   leather,    brick-,    chains,  Hamburg  in    19ii,-,    and      r.MKi,    when      he   and   five 

nails,   wool   hats,   etc.,   were   carried   <>n    for   manv  '^''ler  persons  of  the  place  organized  the   Sch.mick 

years  in  the  early   historv  of  the  i)!ace  as  a  town  J'laiHlle   &  Lumber   Co.   v.-ith   a   capital   of  $2.5,000 

and  afterward  as  a  boro'ugh,  but  these  have  been  f'-"'   tlie   purpose   of   inanufacturing   broom-handles 

abandoned  for  many  years.  and  chair  stock  and  transferred  the  industry  to  a 

One  of  the  most   prominent   plant.-  i-  the   Ham-  town  called  William,  in  West  Virginia,  where  they 

burg  Plow  Works  on   Main  strcci.  operated  by  S.  'lave  since  carried  on  the  Imsiness  in  aii  extensive 

A.  Loose  &  Son.     It  v,-as  first  started  as  a  tannerv  and    successful   manner,   employing   from    forty   to 

"by  Israel  Derr  and  operated  till  near  18:>(i.     Then  fifty    hands,    and    producing    dailv    2.5,000    h.'indles, 

it  was  converted  into  a  foundrv  bv  his  -du  Benne-  which  are  .shii)ped  to  all  I'arts  of  the  country.     The 

ville  for  the  manufacture  of  .stoves  and  the  "Derr  parlies   from  Hamburg,  interested  in  this  industry, 

Plows."     Ho  employed  from  ten  to  fifteen  men.     It  ^^'^   ^ff.   Schmick    (pre-ident).   Charles   D.   I'.urkey 

was   carried   on   bv' Iiiin   until    18M,    wlun    he    v.-as  Cvice-i>re=i(knt).  J-   Jerome   Miller    (treasurer).   J. 

•succeeded  bv  S.  A'.  Loose,  C.  P.  Seamaii  and  P.  M.  Ldward  Miller   (secretary),  J.  .'\.  Bausher  and  his 

*  RccorJ   pre\Unis  to   ls;3   not  on  file.  -'^OH    SolOH,    wllO    COHStitUte    tllC    board    of    difCCtOrS. 


:  '     '-VI.   1  r. 


250 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY.    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


Brouin  Factovu-s:  W .  H.  Scliniick  (lS"-2),  -10  to 
60  hands;  [ohn  11.  .MUKt  1. 1  •■<'.•'-') ,  10  !iaiul> ;  A.  JJ. 
Heller  _(i;tnit|.   \-t  l-n„l..^ 

Carriage  I'ucturii.':,:  Sanuiel  Scott  and  James 
Kemmcrer,  trading  as  Scutt  &  Keminerer   (I'JOl], 

5  hands  (I)r(.'vio^.^ly  carried  un  by  W.  A.  Scott, 
from  18(;.j  to  lO"-.',  when  he  died).  William  (J. 
Hahn  (  IbOs)  ;  his  brother  Adam  became  a  partner 
in  1902,  and  they  have  carried  on  the  business  since 
as  \V.  G.  Hahn  t\:  liro.,  with  15  hand^. 

Chain  }Ioists:  The  Hamburg,  Manufacturing' 
Comjian}-  was  organized  in  J 'J''*,  by  Henry  J. 
Schmick  and  (Others  of  Hamburg  (^who  had  se- 
cured several  valuable  patents)  for  th.e  manufac- 
ture of  chain  hoi-t-,  with  a  capital  of  $jO,OOi>. 
The  company  e>tablishcd  a  plant  and  since  then 
has  been  very  <ucces>ful  in  producing  a  hoi'^t 
which  has  become  very  popular.  The  L'nitetl 
States  government  ha-  placed  a  number  of  them 
on  some  of  the  battle-ships  and  also  in  the  con- 
struction work  of  the  r.-uiama  canal,  which  evi- 
dences the  sU]>crior  character  of  this  particular 
hoist. 

Cigar  Factory:  John  W.  Wertley  (ISGl)  ;  son, 
John  H.,  was  a  partner  from  190.5  to  1907,  and 
then  became  sole  proprietor ;  G  hands. 

Creamery:  Xathan  A.  Confer  (1S9-M90G),  3 
hands  (converted  into  nickel-plating  works j  ;  Al- 
fred P.  Wertley  (1899),  10  hands. 

Electric  Light  aiul  Foz>.\-r  Company:  Incorpor- 
ated in  ]-S9--2;  '-.'T  arc  lights  for  borough  use,  and 
1,000  incandescents;  Jolm  Sncll,  piesidi.nt;  (Jcorge 
F.  Meharg,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Engi)ic  Worhs:  John  Snell  and  George  F.  Me- 
harg, trading  as  Snell  &  Meharg  ( IS.sl) )';  40  hands 
(formerly  at  Reading  from  ISSO  to  1S,S9). 

Flour 'Mills:  George  Walter  (188-1),  C  hands, 
50  barrels  daily;  Ilau^her  it  Seaman'-'  (j'^99).  5 
hands,  50  barrels  daily;  Savage  l\:  Bro.  (1901),  5 
hands;  18  barrels  dailv. 

Foundries:  S.  A.  Loose  ^:  Son  (190:3),  ;'>0  hands; 
Wm.  Xciman  and  L.   K.   Saul,  trading  as  Xeinian 

6  Saul  (1905).  -i-!  hands;  Xatlian  '  Confer.  Jr.. 
Thomas  L.  Smith  and  X.  .\.  Confer,  trading  as 
Confer,  Smith  iv  Co.  (190;3),  40  hands. 

Gas  Jl'orks:  Incor])orated  in  190:3;  holder, 
20,000  cubic  feet;  0(i(t  consumers;  H.  F.  Printzen- 
hoff,  president  of  the  company  to  p.ms,  th.eti  suc- 
ceeded by  William  (  >.   1  leinly. 

Greenhouse :   Stephen   Souslcv,   ]'J'>4. 

Hosiery  Mi!!:  Jame>  L.  'Merkel  (190:3),  25 
hands. 

Ice  Cream  Factories:  Alfred  P.  Wcrtlev  (1SS8; 
started  by  father  in  ^>-*^A)  ;  D.  M.   I'aer   ('lS9-3). 

Ktiitting  Mills:  Dr.  Allen  J.  I^'ink,  Solomon  K. 
Hoffman,  Es([..  and  Thomas  M.  Raubenhold.  trad- 
ing as  Hamburg  Knitting  Mills  (LSOii),  4u  hanils; 
Solon  D.  Baus'her  (lS'.i5).  9ii  hand-;  W.  Scott 
Fi.sher  &  Son   (19i»:3  to  l!i"^).  :ii)  hand-. 

Shoe  Factory:  Bigney.  Sweenv  &  Geiger  (1905 
and  19(ir;).     The  iiianl  was  .-tarled  bv  Curtis,  ]ones 


Undcrtrikers    2 

Milliners    3 

Butchers     2 

Builders    2 


trod'ictd     the     III  St 
of   the   county. 


mm     1--.-.    I,,    l-'i1i.    h.-iMir.:    iii- 
nachinery     iu     iionhtrii     section 


&  Co.  of  Reading  in  1902  and  operated  until  1905, 
when  di-cc)ntinuetl.  A  previous  industry  had  been 
carried  on  in  this  building  by  the  Byers  Hat  Co. 
(Inc.),  for  the  manufacture  of  hats,  from  1S91 
to  1902. 

,S~i7/v'  Mi!l:  Incorporated  in  19o2,  with  capital  of 
$25,000,  by  Irwin  A.  Hiener  and  Henry  J.  Dicner 
of  Hamburg,  Lee  D.  .Mafleira  of  Fleetwood,  and 
four  non-residents.  The  Dieners  sold  their  inter- 
est in  September,  1906,  to  Xew  York  dealers  who 
have  carried  it  on  since;  70  hands. 

In  19ti9,  besides  the  plants  named,  tliere  were  two 
lumber  yards,  five  general  stores,  two  furniture 
stores,  four  hotels,  four  saloons,  and  one  liquor 
store. 

\'0CATI0NS  IX  1909. — The  miscellaneous  employ- 
ments at  Hamburg  in  1909  were  as  follows: 

Pl'.ysicians    5 

Dentists    2 

Blackstniths 3 

TinsTniths    3 

V.4ieel\vright  1 

B.vXKS.^The  Hamburg  Savings  Bank  ( .*^tate) 
was  chartered  in  1872  with  a  capital  of  $50,000. 
'J  he  par  value  of  the  stock  was  hxed  at  $20,  but 
it  gradually  increased  until  Xovember,  1908,  wdien 
the  market  value  was  nearly  SGO,  which  evidences 
the  superior  management  of  this  financial  institu- 
tion. Then  the  resources  were  $G42,7H',  with  de- 
posits at  $495,2:32,  and  the  surplus  and  undivided 
profits  at  $97,:3iiO.  It  occupies  a  superior  btiilding 
on  Main  street,  which  is  worth  about  $15,(iMii.  J. 
Jerome  Miller  has  been  the  cashier  since  1.S77 — a 
continuous  period  covering  thirty-two  years — the 
previous  cashier  having  been  Charles  Shomo.  It 
has  been  placed  on  the  State  Bank  Roll  of  Honor, 
being  the  twenty-sixth  in   Pemisxivania. 

A  second  bank  was  instituted  Feb.  1:3.  1908, 
called  the  First  Xational  Bank  of  Hamburg,  with 
a  capital  of  $25, ttOO.  In  Xovember,  1908,  tiie  re- 
sources were  $129. SIS.  with  deposits  $78,17G  and 
undivided  profits  $1,501).  It  secured  a  property  on 
]\Iaiti  street,  near  State  (where  tlie  post-office  had 
been  located  fi^r  ten  years),  and  erected  a  bank 
building  with  an  attractive  front,  worth  $12,000. 
Joseiih  S.  TlefMier  has  been  the  pre-ident,  and  II. 
Raymond   Slu»llenberger  the  cashier. 

Bo.\Ri)  OF  Tk.\dk. — In  188!)  a  Board  of  Trade 
was  organized  at  Hamburg  by  the  merchants  and 
business  pcojile,  and  James  L.  Me/4<el.  a  ])rotiiinent 
and  successful  merchant,  was  selected  as  its  presi- 
dent. It  carried  on  an  active  existetice  for  sciue 
time  antl  was  quite  successful  in  stimulating  local 
etUerprises  of  various  kinds.  It  was  re-organized 
in  19m;  with  Mr.  Merkel  as  ])resident  and  he  has 
filled  the  po-itioii  >;ince.  The  meeting-  are  held 
in  the  town  hall;  the  members  number  about   150. 

Pll'.I.IC"    Im  rKOVIiME.VTS 

(/'(//.-)-  Coml^any. — In  1889.  the  Windsor  \\'ater 
Coni]ianv  was  organised  and  incorporate'l  bv  Peter 
1).  Wanner  of  Reading.  J.  Jer  nite  Mii!i.r  and 
Charle.-  F.  Seaman  of  Hamburg,  and  sever.d  other 


/  ; .:/. .'  ''(■   '■  •'■  •■''^   • 


, ;:: :  I 


BOROUGPIS 


251 


<  ersons,  witli  a  capital  of  $50,000.  for  the  purpose 
i,f  supplying  Hamburg  with  water.  They  estab- 
•!-Iied  a  reservoir  with  a  capacity  of  1,OUU,UOO  gal- 
\,.ui  at  the  base  of  the  Blue  Muuniain,  three  miles 
iiL.rtheast  of  IJauiburg  on  Mill  creek,  a  short  dis- 
tance below  the  old  \Viiidsor  iron  furnace ;  also  an 
auxiliarv  artesian  well,  IJUU  feet  deep,  with  a  daily 
capacity  of  10U,1)(H.)  gallons  by  means  of  a  coni- 
prcs>ed-air  pumping  engine.  Peter  D.  Wanner  was 
president  of  the  company  until  I'JUl,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  George  I".  Aleharg. 

Fire  Coiiipaiiy. — In  18.SS,  shortly  after  the  in- 
corporation of  the  borough,  a  fire  company  was 
uiganizcd  to  afford  the  iTihabitants  protection 
against  fire.  It  was  a  private  association  and  it 
was  not  until  ISGG  that  the  borough  authorities 
supplied  a  building  for  its  apparatus.  The  second 
story  of  the  building  was  set  apart  as  a  town  hall 
for  the  meetings  of  the  town  council.  In  It'OG, 
the  company  had  19"2  members;  a  Silsby  steam 
fire-engine ;  hook  and  ladder  truck ;  and  three  liose 
carriages,  with  1,000  feet  of  the  best  cotton  hose 
(one  carriage  being  located  in  the  North  ward,  and 
two  in  the  South  ward  where  tlie  building  is  situ- 
ated). 

Newspapers. — A  number  of  newspapers  have 
been  issued  at  Hamburg.  The  SchiitHf^ost  was 
started  in  1841  and  continued  until  IMJT;  the 
Advertiser,  in  lS(!."^i.  and  continued  until  ISCS,  when 
it  was  removed  to  TLnt-trnvn;  the  Rural  Press. jn 
1872,  and  continuetl  until  IS]."),  when  it  was  re- 
moved to  Ohio;  the  Beriehter.  in  IST?,  and  contin- 
ueil  until   ISTl,  vJien  it  was  removed   to   Rcidiug. 

The  I-Iaiiibiir^^  H'eekly  Item  was  -tartcd  ?iy  Sam- 
uel A.  Focht  in  is;.".,  in  the  coiiutrv  three  miles 
east  01  Hamburg,  but  in  ISTG  the  publication  office 
was  removed  to  the  borough  and  here  it  has  con- 
tinued until  now.  Foclit  continued  its  ])uh!ication 
imtil  his  death  in  18ST  ;  then  (Jan.  1,  isSS)  Wil- 
liam O.  Heinly  purchased  the  plant  and  he  lias 
since  issued  the  newspaper  with  increasing  succes-,. 
A  printing  office  is  carried  on  in  connection  with 
the  newspaper. 

Hamburg  Motor  Ci-fn. — In  IHiiS,  the  automo- 
bilists  of  Hambtirg  and  the  surrounding  tcDwns 
within  a  radius  of  seventeen  miles  organized  an 
association,  called  the  Hamburg  Motor  Club.  In 
May,  llMiO,  there  were  u]iward  of  thirty  automo- 
biles at  Hamburg;  and  then  the  club  had  eighty- 
two  members.  Hamburg  is  generally  recognized 
as  having  more  automobiles  in  proportion  to  pop- 
ulation than  any  other  town  in   Pennsylvania. 

CiifKciircs. — There  are  four  churches  at  Ham- 
burg. The  fir<t  was  erected  \n  IVM'.)  as  a  "union"' 
church,  comprising  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed 
denominations.  The  land  for  the  |)uri)risc  had  been 
<lonated  and  set  ajiart  bv  K.-utcIkt  in  1'^,'^.  The 
building  was  of  logs,  two  stories,  the  lower  story 
being  used  for  .-chooi  purpo^cs  and  the  upi>er  for 
religious  services.  \\'ithin  tweiU\-  vears,  it  became 
too  small  to  accomni'^date  the  iricreasing  attend- 
ance, and  arrangements   were  made  to  erect  in  its 


stead  a  larger  building;  but,  not  being  able  to 
collect  the  necessary  amount  by  personal  solicita- 
tion, a  lottery  scheme  to  raise  $3.U00  was  granted 
by  an  Act  of  Assembly  passed  in  1807.  The  cor- 
ner-stone was  laid  in  1811;  the  final  drawings  in 
the  lottery  were  made  in  l8lo;  and  the  church 
was  consecrated  in  lsl5.  In  1857,  the  building 
was  remodeled.  In  18!i^  it  v.-as  destroyed  by  fire, 
a  large  burning  ember  from  the  Wilhelm  Bicycle 
Works  I  then  on  fire)  having  been  blown  several 
squares  and  fallen  on  the  roof  of  the  church.  Many 
devoted  members  ran  to  the  rescue,  but  their  ef- 
forts were  futile,  because  water  was  not  then  avail- 
able. 

St.  John's  Lutheran  Church. — Immediately  after 
the  fire,  the  members  of  the  Lutheran  congrega- 
tion purchased  the  interest  of  the  Reformed  con- 
gregation in  the  premises  and  erected  a  magnifi- 
cent church  on  the  old  site,  costing  upward  of 
$40,000.  In  this  great  and  successful  undertaking 
the  pastor.  Rev.  Harry  C.  Kline,  was  particularly 
active  and  ]iersevering,  for  which  he  has  been  high- 
ly complimented. 

Trinity  Reformed  CJnireh. — The  members  of  the 
Reformed  congregation,  having  separated  from  the 
Lutheran  congregation,  on  account  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  church  as  mentioned,  they  also  exerted 
themselves  in  erecting  a  modern  structure,  and  in 
this  they  were  e([ua!ly  successful.  They  secured 
a  lot  on  Third  street  at  the  corner  of  Pine,  and 
thereon  erected  a  superior  buii'iing,  costing  up- 
ward of  sno.ooo. 

Rniiioi!  Catholic  Chnrcli. — A  Roman  Catholic 
church  was  erected  in  1853  and  services  were  held 
in  it  for  nearly  fifty  years,  without  a  resident 
priest.  The  congregation  was  at  no  time  large. 
The  members  of  this  church  who  contiime  to  re- 
side at  Haniburg  attend  services  at  Port  Clinton, 
several  miles  to  the  north. 

.\fethodist  F.l^iscopal  Chitreh.—\n  1850.  Rev.  H. 
H.  Davis  began  to  preach  in  belialf  of  cstabli-^h- 
mg  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Hamburg. 
About  a  year  afterward,  a  lot  was  secured  and  a 
brick  building  was  erected  on  it,  which  was  dedi- 
cated on  Nov.  39.  Lsi;n.  It  has  been  improved 
several  times  since.  The  congregation  maintains  a 
successful  organization. 

United  Ezani_eiie  il  Church. — The  Evnugelical 
Association  establislied  a  cluirch  at  Hamburg  in 
187"2  and  a  congregati''n  was  maintained  for  up- 
ward of  twentv  year^.  Then  the  factional  distur- 
bance in  the  national  association  sl>owed  itself 
here  and  in  the  seulrment  of  the  legal  contro- 
versy in  isOl  this  cluirch  became  the  ]>roperty  of 
the  L'nited  Evangelical  Association,  and  as  such  it 
has  been  occupied  for  religious  purposes  until  now. 

Schools. — When  the  L'uion  Church  was  built 
in  HMl.  j)rov!-~iou  v.as  made  for  tin-  education  of 
the  children  at  Hanilniig  in  the  building ;  and  af- 
ter a  new  church  wa-^  erectetl  in  181.")  to  take  its 
place,  the  first  tloor  was  \.\-^i\  for  school  purposes. 
The   public    school    system    w  as   accepted    in    1S38. 


!  ■•,(!, ■■> 


,;,  ■    !'■■    I  11', •    ii<  I 


TIISTORY    OF    r.ERKS    COl'XTY,    T'EXXSYLVAXIA 


In  ISoi,  there  were  o  -cliooU  and  2'.>C>  scholars;  in 
lSS-1,  8  schools  and  Inn  scholars;  and  in  llMi.j. 
10  schools  and  l-3>  scholars.  In  ISSD,  the  bor- 
ou<^h  erected  a  superior  three-story  brick  school 
builclinc:  in  the  center  of  a  large  lot  of  i:^ronnd  at 
the  corner  of  Third  and  Island  streets. 

Pri!Lic  LiiiRAKv. — A  iniblic  libiary  buildinq-  was 
erected  in  llMi;;  hv  a  comnnttee  of  prominent  men 
of  Hamburg-,  by  r-.'a-on  of  a  donation  of  $10,000 
from  Andrew  Carncuii- ;  and  tliis  building  was 
named  after  the  tl;>n..r.  It  is  one-story,  built  of 
brick,  and  presents  a  fine  appearance.  It  is  sit- 
uated on  Third  street,  north  of  State.  A  collec- 
tion of  miscellaneous  books  was  then  made  by  pur- 
chase and  donation.  In  April,  1909,  it  embraced 
over  twenty-five  hundred  volumes.  J.  Edward 
Miller,  Esq.,  has  been  president  of  the  Library 
Commission  since  1!hi;].  and  he  has  taken  much 
interest  in  its  success. 

Sf.cret  SocitiTiKS. — The  secret  societies  which 
have  carried  on  an  active  organization  at  Ham- 
burg  for   a   number   of   years   are   the    following: 

Odd  Fellows 

P.  O.  Sons  of  .America 

Knight?   of  the  Golcit'n   F.rtgle 

Kniehts  of  Friendship 

Rcd\Men 

American  McclianiL-s 

Vaux  Lodge,  F.  and  A.   M 

Tklaccaboes 

Royal  Arcanuiii 

MiUT.\RV  Co.vr.NNV.— .\  military  company  was 
organized  at  Hamburg  in  1875  with  100  men  and 
E.  F.  Smith  as  captain,  and  it  became  a  part  of 
the  National  Guaril  of  Pennsylvania  as  Coinpany 
E,  4th  Regiment.  In  ISTT,  the  company  was 
called  out  to  render  =(.rvice  in  assisting  to  quell 
the  riot  at  Reading  in  the  month  of  July,  occas- 
ioned by  the  strike  of  the  locomotive  engineers. 
While  there  it  icd  tin-  march  through  the  cut 
along  SeveiUli  strict.  frrv,n  Walnut  to  I'cnn ;  and 
in  its  movement  d"wn  I'cnn  street,  the  captain 
was  knocked  down  three  times,  and  one  of  the 
privates  wa-  serinf.-ly  injured.  It  was  engaged 
in  the  Spanish  war  oi  IMJN;  and  re-ponded  to 
the  several  calU  of  the  C.overnor  of  Pennsylvania 
in  assisting  to  (|iull  the  riots  in  the  coal  regions. 
[Sec   Chapter  .\  III.] 

The  company  wa^  a  continuation  of  a  distin- 
guished com])any  called  the  "Clue  .Miiuntain  Le- 
gion," which  liad  kept  up  its  organization  in  a 
successful  manner  fur  upward  of  fifty  years.  It 
was  originally  an  artillery  com])anv  and  then 
changed  to  inl'antr\-.  Whilst  the  former,  it  parti- 
cipated in  a  jKirade  at  Poitsville  aiul  won  the 
first  prize   for  its  I'erfcct   maneuvers. 

Arjiiorx  Hall  wa<  encte-d  on  Third  street,  nortli 
of  State,  in  Iss!'.  bv  the  inilitar\  conipanv  called 
tlie  P.lue  Moinitain  Le-i"n.  and  the  title  to  the 
premises  was  taken  in  the  name  of  the  Hamburg 
Athletic  and  .Miluary  .N^-ociation.  which  became 
an  incorporated  b  <y\\  in  I'.'ii,'!.  The  members  were 
connected    with    tl-.e    miiit.iry    company    (Company 


E,  -1th  Regiment.  X.  G.  P.)  and  those  mo-t  ac- 
tive in  the  matter  were  Monroe  M.  Dreibelbis 
(Captain),  Wilson  PI.  Lewars  (First  Lieutenant), 
Wilson  I.  Lesher  (Second  Lieutenant).  Mandi>n 
L.  Machemer  (Sergeant),  William  ]{.  Yeagcr 
(Sergeant),  William  Railey  and  Franklin  Sterner. 
Company  E  has  had  its  meetings  and  drilling 
e.xercises  there  since  its  erection.  The  cost  is  about 
ST/HKi.      It   adjoin,-   the   Carnegie   Free   Librarv. 

B.\XD  OK  ^lusic— .-\  band  of  mu-ic  has  been 
maintained  for  upward  of  thirty  years.  For  a 
time  it  was  called  tl.e  Citizens'  Cornet  Band,  and 
afterward  it  took  the  name  of  Purkey's  Cornet 
Land.  The  director.-  and  instructors  of  the  band 
have  been  Perry  Shollenberger,  Dr.  \\'illiam  Har- 
ris, William  Burkey  and  Wellington  J.  Confer, 
the  last  being  the  leader  since  1907.  It  has  up- 
ward of  twenty  members. 

Destructive  Flood. — There  was  a  severe  rain- 
storm of  short  duration  at  Haniburg  and  vicinity 
on  F'riday  afternoon,  Aug.  li,  19(iG,  which  shock- 
ed the  communitv  and  caused  losses  which  amount- 
ed to  about  $30,(100,  one-third  to  the  borough, 
and  two-thirds  to  property  holders.  The  down- 
pour of  rain  to  the  north  and  east  of  the  borough 
collected  in  a  depression  of  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  which  extends  from  the  eastern  portion  of 
the  borough  in  a  northeasterly  direction  for  sev- 
eral miles,  forming  tlic  bed  of  a  creek,  but  the 
chamiel  through  t'U'  bi  trough,  by  way  of  the  Sho- 
mn  mill-dam,  was  too  narrow  to  allow  the  unus- 
ual quantitv  of  water  to  How  away  and  as  a  nat- 
ural consequence  it  washed  away  the  dam  and 
demolished  altogether  a  dozen  dwellings,  and  in- 
jured fifty  others.  The  most  serious  damage  was 
m  the  vicinitv  of  the  Savings  Bank,  where  the 
street  was  flooded  to  the  dcjnh  of  three  feet.  One 
man,  Allen  J.  Romicli.  in  attempting  to  escape, 
was  drowned.  l"he  water  and  gas  mains  were 
broken,  which  deiirived  tlie  inhabitants  of  the 
use  of  drinking  water,  and  gas  for  lighting  pur- 
poses. Manv  persons  had  nariow  escapes,  the 
most  prominent  being  the  bank  directors  who  were 
holding  their  regular  meeting  at  the  time  of  the 
'=udde-n  visitation.  A  ch.an.ge  in  the  drinking  wat- 
er caused  a  typhoid  epidemic  and  ten  persons 
died    from   the   aflliction. 

BOYERT()WX 

The  first  settlement  at  I'-oyertown  wa^  one  of  th.e 
oldest  in  the  county.  r)avid  Powell  '-ecured  two 
hundred  acres  by  ]iatent  in  ITIS.  and  this  land 
i-;  now  embraced  in  the-  ncjrthern  and  western  sec- 
tions of  the  borough.  .About  that  time,  iron  ore 
wa-  discovered  on  this  land  and  shortly  after- 
ward, about  1T50,  a  ftirnace  was  erected  near  by. 
As  a  consequence,  tliis  land  came  to  be  known  as 
the  furnace  tract.  The  furnace  wa-  called  Cole- 
brookdale.  named  after  a  town  in  I'ngland,  and 
it  wa-  the  fir-l  \\\<u  f in  tiace  erected  in  Pennsyl- 
vania.     Upon    the    creation    of    the    township,    in 


r  '  '    ."''," 


'M  t 


BOROUGHS 


253 


ITil.   it   was   namej   after  the    furnace.      This   in- 
dustry was  carried  on  for  about  tifty  years. 

I.N'CORPoRATiox. — Doyertown  is  situated  along  the 
Colebrookdale  railroad,  eit^ht  miles  northwest  from 
Fottstown.  By  public  road  it  is  about  seventeen 
miles  east  of  Reading,  not  far  from  the  Mont- 
gomery county  line.  Henry  Beyer  was  among 
the  early  settlers,  lie  having  secured  a  tract  of 
land  from  Henry  Stauti'er,  who  in  KGU  had  pur- 
chased a  large  farm  which  embraced  this  section 
of  country.  Boyer  established  a  tavern  and  gen- 
eral store  and  in  time  a  settlement  was  formed, 
which  took  the  name  of  Boyertown.  His  descend- 
ants have  occupied  great  prominence  in  the  business, 
financial  and  social  affairs  of  the  place  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  In  lyS.j  the  place  was  regularly  laid 
out  in  town  lots ;  and  in  ISGG  it  became  an  incor- 
porated borough. 

In  18-51,  an  effort  had  been  maile  to  establish 
a  borough,  but  it  was  unsuccesslu!.  A  second  at- 
tempt was  made  in  A])Til,  ISIKI.  which  received 
the  favorable  consideration  of  the  grand  jury 
and  the  court,  and  in  October  of  that  year  the 
decree  of  incorporation  was  made.  The  first  town 
council  was  composed  of  W'iili.'.m  Fegley.  Sam- 
uel Shaner,  Dr.  John  Todd,  Samuel  Lefevre.  and 
William  Bind'^r. 

In  ISGO  the  Colebrookdale  railroad  was  con- 
structed from  Fottstown  through  the  borough  to 
Barto  and  this  stimulated  enter])rises  of  various 
kinds,  the  increase  of  buildings  and  population. 

In  1895  the  limits  of  the  borough  were  ex- 
tended by  the  addition  of  forty-three  acres,  forty 
perches. 

In  190!)  the  borough  contained  : 

Dry  goods  stores    3       Fire    companies     2 

Large  general  store   1       Halls   3 

Grocery    stores     10        Newspaper    ot'tice     1 

Clothing   store    1        Photographer     ^.  1 

•>  and   10   cent   store    ....   1       Local    Insurance   Co 1 

Hotels     4,      Tinsmith   shops    3 

Liquor  store    1       Carpet    weaver     1 

Drug   stores    2       Barbers     5 

Printing  offices 2       Churches     6 

Livery    stables     2       Banks    2 

^!illinery    stores    2 

FiKST  Tax.\L'.les. — The  names  of  the  first  tax- 
ables  of  the  borough  were  as  follows: 

John   .\ddams  William  F"cgely 

Mrs.    Bechtel    -  Jacob  Freed 

Sophia   Lafayette    Blevler  David    H.   Fox 

Henry   H.   Eorneman  l\'}}y'"\^J"'' 

Daniel  E.  Bover  ^'•'';i'  .^'/''''f-    r-     ^ 

Ti     •  ,    r>        '     c  Frederick   \\ .  Graft 

Dan.el    Boyer,    Sr.  p^^^,^,    j^^„^,^ 

George   1  hem  j    g    ^j.^,,,^.^.^, 

John  H.  Lorneman  Harrison    Tlouck 

Wilham   Bender  Jonathan  Kepler 

i)aiiii.l  Bornenian  Mrs.  Koch 

Joseph   H.   Borneman  William  A.   Kchl 

J'ranklin   Biiehert  Samuel   Leaver 

J-hn  Deysher  David  H.  Leaser 

I'iMc'    K.    Fast  George  Mull 

Uiiliam    Fegley  Anna  Xeidig 


Catharine  Rhoads  Guard   Shaner 

Peter  Rcidenauer  Jacob  K.  Stauft'er 

Henry  B.  Rhoads  Frank    Siauffer 

Sarah  Reidenauer  Henry   StautTer 

Klam  C.  Rhoads  Jeremiah   Staffer 

Jeremiah  Schweinhart  Henry  Schwartz 

William  K.   Stautifer  John 'Todd.  M.  D. 

Guard    Stauffer  Zepheniah  L'ndercefler 

Levi  P..  Stauffer  Stover  Worman 

Christian   Stauft'er  Lewis  Worman 

F-rederick    Stauffer  Jacob  L.   Weidner 

Frederick  Schweinhart  George  Yalm 

Samuel    Shaner  Conrad  Ycrger 

John    K.    Stauffer  Joseph  Young 
Thomas   Shaner 

Tenants 

Maybury  Brumbach  Henry   Nice 

Josiah  Bear  Benneville  Prutzman 

Samuel  Connard  Albert    Pennypacker 

George    Endy  Franklin  I'ennypacker 

Henry  FL  Eshbach  Samuel  Pennypacker 

Jonathan    Engel  Richard   Richards 

Alfred  Fritz  J.    T.    Rhoads 

Aaron  Fisher  Jonas  Keifsnyder 

George  F"egely  Jionas   Reitenaucr 

John  II.   Funk  Benjamin  Riegner 

John   F'egely  James   Sands 

Charles  Grant  Frederick  Steltz 
Joel  Grim                              ^    '-     Ephraim  Sands 

Isaac  Geliris  '  Edivin   Schuler 

Gabriel   Ganser  John   Steinneck 
Mahlon   Grant                               .  Jacob  R.  Shaner 

Henry   Huffman  ,  William   Shaner 

Frederick  M.  Heller  Jacob  Shaeffer 

Henry  M.  Heller  Flenry   Siesholtz 

Abner  M.  Heller  Henry  Slianer 

Mrs.    ilollenbach  Jonathan  Siesholtz 

Charles   Kline  .  Joseph   Turner 

Daniel  Moyer  Joseph    Terrill 
Moses  Moses                            .       Augustus   Wcntzel 

Joseph  Moses      ""'  Samuel  Wentzel 

Aaron    .Mory  William  Weller 

Susan    Neidig  Ephraim   Yorgey 

Single  Men 
Joel   B.  Racier  .      Ephraim  Ganser 

Franklin  Breiidlinger  Adam   R.  Gilbert 

Joseph   Case  Thomas   Heniich 

Henry  Eshbach  I.   C.    Hankey 

Jonathan    East  Andrew   Krobgewicht 
David  Erb                               '         Samuel  Moses 

Charles   Frcy  John   S.issaman 

Orlando  Fegely  Jacob  B.   Stauffer 
Alfred   Ludy                          ,         Leonard    Shilling 

Urius  Ludy  John  Siesholtz 

Jeremiah  Gehri;  Frederick  Weaver 

List  of  Okfici.\i..s. — The  following  list  embrac- 
es the  names  of  the  ch.ief  burgesses  and  the  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  who  have  served  the  borough : 

CHIEF  BURGESSES 

Jonathan   Kepler    iSfiG-CS 

Samuel    Shaner     1869 

Dr.  Thomas  J.   B.  Rhoads   1S70-75 

William  K.  Grim   1876-81 ;   1SS4-S5 

John  StaulTer   1882 

John  Deysher   1S83 ;   18t)0-94 

Franklin   Hartman    1836 

Richard  Richards   1887 

John  SchaefTer  1SS8-89 

John  G.  Schcaler 1894-97;   1900-03 

George  G.   Hartman    1897-1900 

Dr.   Reuben    II.   Rhoads    I'.io:!  06 

Dr.  D.  R.  Kohler 1906-09 

Levi   E.   Lcfeaver    1909-12 


>u 


IIISTC)RY    OF    BERKS    COL'XTV,    rEXXSVLAAXIA 


JL'STICHS   OF  THF.   PEACE  •  operator,   and   i'lentifidl   with   thi>   plant    for   many 

William  K.  Stauffcr  lSo7-T2  years    became    the    purcha-'jr    for    a    syndicate    of 

Jeremiah   K.  Grant   1370-7:;  capitalists.    The  property  was  then  pnt  in  conditii-in 

I«aac   B.   Haiikcy   1373-81  for  operating"  the  works  and  >incc  then  over  1 1'jKii) 

h""''   '^'b^Pi""'!- ISSI-S  t^'"^  'i''^'*^  b^^"  ^^^"^'^  ""^-  ^^  '"  climated  that  over 

William  PI.  'fox  \  ^y.'^'.'^y/^'^'^  ^^^y.  ■'■'■' ;  issii-ion  cigrht  hundred  thousand  tons  of  ore  have  been  re- 
Calvin    F.    Eaniei    1883-02  moved    from    this    depo.-it.      Xext    to    Ci>nn\al!,    ii 

V.  B.  Emery  1S92-93  j^  the  larg-est  mine  opened  in   Pennsylvania. 

Irvin  T.  Ehst  1S03-9S        Q-,,^;,.  Factories.— V.    S.   Erb   started   the   manu- 

£S^^^^.;nr:::::::::::::::;::::::::::"'iS28  factu;e  of  d^ars  in  i.ru  and  he  has  continued 

Oswin  A.  H.  Jacobs  1908-13  with  increasing  success  untU  the  present  time.    1-  or 

RDROUGH   OFFIClALS-ii.oo  some  years  past  he  has  traded  under  the  name  of 

,-, .  ,  p  -.,.-,  D.  S.  Erb  &  Co.  with  his  sons  as  partners.     He 

C/nt'/  /?i(r;n'5j,  Levi  F..  Lef caver  '"  ,  ,  i    •  i     i     ;i,i;„„    f^,-    u;^ 

To-Jn  CouncU.  George  K.  Moore.  President  erected    a    fine    three-story    brick    building    for    his 

John  G.  Schwenk  business  in  1S83.     He  employs  about  one  hundred 

Jacob  H.  Sassaman  \i2.nd^  and  produces  400,000  cigars  monthly. 

^Ti^ce    """  Otto  Eisenlohr  &  Bros.,  of  Philadelphia,  located 

RavuiOTd  Schaeffer  at  Bovertown  in  1902,  erecting  a  large  three-story 

Dr.  Charles  B.  Dotterrer  ^^.j^j.  'factory    40  bv  175  feet.     In  1900  they  erect- 

Srhool  Bjard,  ^^J^^f^^^^  ed  an  addition  40  by  80  feet.     They  employ  from 

Wallace  Y.Reigner  425  to  450  hands  and  produce  annually  over  20.- 

William  W.  W  ren        '  000  000  cigars.    Alfred  P.  Graver  is  their  manager. 

William  L.  Rhoads  ^j  '     ^^    "^^^1   ^t   Philadelphia   in   1S50.     This   firm 

John  L    Bauer*  -i  i>«.;y     -  r      ^  „..  r>„^,i;,,,r 

Justices  of  the  Peace,  William  H.  Fox  also  operates  a  large  factory  at  Reading. 

O.  A.  H.  Jacobs  Ci^ar-box  Factory.— ^n  1S7G,  William  W  .  Wren 

Constable    Ch:irksF    Kline  ctarted  the  manufacture  of  cigar  boxes  at  Boyer- 

Auditors,  George  P.  Rrdm  Started  tie  rnc.iu  u,,,:,;„^^  „„til  1897,  when 

Thomas  R.  Flonck  town  and  carried  on  the  business  until  i   .  ., 

William  D.  Schocney  t7     c;     Koons   became    associated    with    him    un<ier 

.4ssesso,;  Lewis  M.  Wartman  !i*    "nnn  nime  of  Wren  &  Koons.     They '  operated 

Collector.  Richard  B.  Rhoads  the  ^^^^^'J^^l^''\    -successful    manner,    employing 

J-'osT  Office. — The  post-oifice  at  Bovertown  was  .  _^'  't\ven'tv-five  to  thirty  hand<  and  pmilucing 
established  in  lS2i.  It  has  daily  twenty  mails.  .  ,  ,  .  fj-^^j^  12,0i»0  to  15.nn()  boxes,  until  Ecb- 
There    are    two   rural    free    delivery    routes    from  ,'  -,<^)r)    ^vhen   Mr.   Wren   was   obliged   to  le- 

this    office — one   to    Englesville,    and    the    other    to  ^.^'^  -^^'^  account  of  the  condition  of  his  health  and 
Greshville  and  Gablesville;  and  three  "Star"  routes       .  ,  •     p^jj^ion  as  postmaster,  and  he  sold  his  in- 

by    stage — to    Reading,    to    Limerick    Square,    and  ^^^.^^^  jn  ^l^e  business  to  his  partner, 
to  New  Hanover.     I'ostmasters  since  1885:     Wil-         iL^/,;,,'    C/,o^.f —Daniel    Schlegel   has   operated 
ham   K.   Grim.   1885  to  188!);   William   W.   Wren.        ^^^^^^  ^hop  since   1875,  and  also  dealt  in  en- 

18S9  to  189;!:  P,eniamin   I.  Rlioads,  18i»3  to  1897;  -^ '"^^'""^  snop^    „,^Hnnerv   sunolies 

,   ',rn-        \a-    AX'  •         -I en-  crmes,   pumps   and   niacliiner\    suppnts. 

an.l    \\ilham   \\.  Wren,  since  189..  ^  Charles  O.  Megerly.  after  learning  the  trade  ot 

I.Niu-.STRiKS  •  machinist  under  Mr.' Schlegel  and  remaining  with 

Iron    Ore   Mines. — Iron   ore   has   been   mined   in  him   several   years,   started   a   shop   for   him-elf   in 

the    Boyertown    mines    for   upward   of    15u   years.  l!S07. 

The    deposit    is    a    high-grafle    Bc.-semer    magnetic        Bakeries. — Albert  S.  Leidy  embarked  in  the  bak- 

ore,  pronounced  b\    exjieris  as  suiierior  in  ciuality  jng  liusiness  at  Boyertown  about  twenty-five  years 

and   yielding   5.>   per   cent   of   metallic   iron.      Four  ago   and   carried   on   the  bakery   until   lOnH,   when 

shafts  have  been  sunk  in  the  ojK'rations  and  their  he    was    succeeded   by    his    son   Albert.    Six    hands 

depth   is   respectivelv   5nii,   .-,].-;^   (il.5   and    720   feet,  are  employed  and  two  delivery  teams. 
Large  engines  were'used  to  raise  the  ore  and  jnimp        George  'W.  Carver  started  a  bakery  in  1898,  and 

out     the  \vater.       Horse-power    applied     to     large  has    carried    it   on    since.      He   employs   ten   lland^ 

drums  was  used  until   18.-,.3.     The  mines  were  op-  and  four  delivery  teams.  ,       •  , 

erated  extensivelv  bv  rliflerent  parties  :  ainong  them        ^'e-'^Kles  supplying  the  borough  with  bread    pie  ■ 

Gabcl,  Tones  &  Gab'el,  and  the  Phoenix  Iron  Com-  and  cakes,  a  large  quantitv  is  distributed  daih    m 

panv.    "In   1901  the  Bovertown  Ore  Companv  wa<  ^he  >unounding  country  districts, 
organized    to   carry   on'  the   mines,. with    a   capital        /w/nn/,nr.-l  he     D.     C.     Brmnbach     Furniture 

of\<;:U.().000.   and  'it   wa.    in   active   operation    until  C.Mn,.anv    was   organized   m    Isso    for   the   purpo-c 

Januarv.  r.K.2,  when  Wm.  (i.  Rowe.  a  practiral  nun.  '^^    dealing    in    furniture,    carpet.,    rug.,    0.1-clotl  . 

etc.,  and  has  since  carncfl  on  a  large  and  suiic.-s- 

*  Dr.    Charles    .\.     Smith    resiirnel    as    a    school    flirect":     in     Feb-       r     ,    i  ;»1      T      T      r*,-^,,.-.,    ^  -    it^    /ifti^i<Mit    nnil- 

runry,   and   I..h..   L.    Eau.r   «as  ekcred  to  fill  the  vacanc>.  tul    buSinCSS    With   J.    J.    brOW  n    as    Its    CttlCICIlt    Uiau 


"A    ,;.    .  r.iti?,id 


(!,•  .  ,1-  Ji    /  . 


f  ,r      , 


,0r  I  •!         '1 


..     .■ ;  ■  i 


BOROUGHS 


aaT.  'It  carries  a  larcre  and  valiial)!c  stock  on 
iiaiid.  An  undertaking  department  ha-  been  con- 
r.ected  with  the  enterprise. 

X\cc  Plaiiiii;^-Mill  was  establislied  bv  Denjamin 
1".  Xvce  in  188U  and  he  has  carried  it  on  since, 
lie  e'liploys   from  ten  to  fifteen  hands. 

luirtiitan  Cairiagc  Factory. — Frank  llartman 
and  M.  R-  Strnnk  started  the  manufacture  of  car- 
riages and  business  wagons  in  ISST.  but  after  o])- 
crating  the  wt'rks  for  a  year,  Mr.  Strunk  retired, 
to  become  manager  of  the  Eoyertown  Uurial  Cas- 
ket Company.  Mr.  Hartman  has  been  carrying 
on  the  plant  in  a  successful  manner  until  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  employs  from  twenty  to  thirty  hands 
and  disposes  of  liis  product  in  P.erks  and  the  sur- 
rounding counties. 

Burial  Casket  Works. — The  largest  industrial 
plant  at  Boyertown  is  that  of  the  Burial  Casket 
Company.  This  was  organized  and  incorporated 
in  1893  with  a  capital  of  $-20.000-  Since  then  the 
management  of  this  great  enterprise  has  been  a 
continuous  and  increasing  success.  The  capital 
was  increased  to  $100,000  and  four  large  four- 
story  brick  structures  have  been  put  up  to  answer 
the  demands  of  its  trade.  Now  it  is  next  to  the 
largest  concern  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States, 
with  a  complete  equipment  in  every  department. 
The  company  employs  over  three  hundred  hands. 
snips  daily  about  (inc  hundred  caskets  and  con- 
sumes annually  over  three  million  feet  of  lumber. 
It  has  always  on  hand  a  large  stock  of  caskets. 
lumber,  and  furnishing  materials.  A  large  branch 
establishment  is  maintaine*!  at  ]^hiladcli)hia.  The 
manager  of  the  plant  is  M.  R.  Strunk,  and  he  has 
filled  the  position  most  satisfactorily  since  its  in- 
corporation. 

Union  Foundry. — The  Union  Manufacturing 
Company  was  organized  in  1S94  with  a  capital  of 
$-*)0.000  for  manufacturing  all  kinds  of  castings, 
but  more  especially  sad-irons.  It  has  been  op- 
erated since  in  a  successful  manner,  emjiloying 
from  fifty  to  si.xty  hands.  Jolm  G.  Schealer  (ex- 
burgess,  an  enterprising  builder  of  the  place),  has 
been  its  president  since  IS'-K.  Sixty  hands  are 
employed. 

Knitting  Mills. — In  ISO/i  George  W.  I'^nger  re- 
moved from  Slioemakersville  to  Boyertown  and 
erected  a  knitting-nnll  for  manufacturing  ladies" 
underwear.  He  has  carried  it  on  since,  and  em- 
ploys from  fifty  to  sixty  hands.  In  I'jni)  Dr.  L. 
K.  Francis  &  Son  erected  a  similar  plant  and  they 
employ   from   forty  to  fifty  hands. 

Paper  Bo.v  Factory. — Mahlon  J.  Dellicker  start- 
ed making  paper  boxes  in  ISOC  in  the  Rhoads 
building.  After  operating  the  enterprise  in  a  lim- 
ited way  for  several  years  he  sold  out  to  Amos 
Hartman  and  the  inclustrv  was  removed  to  the 
old  school  building  opposite  the  railroad  station, 
which  was  leased  for  that  purpose.  In  1901,  Mr. 
ITartman's  son  .\ugn--tus  became  the  owner.  The 
factory  was  finely  equipped  and  proyided  em- 
ployment  for  ten  to   fifteen   hands.     He  sold   the 


establishment  in  December,  19uS,  to  the  B(~>yer- 
town  I'aper  Box  Company,  which  wa>  then  or- 
ganized by  a  munber  of  busin.ess  men  from  Potts- 
town.  J.  A.  Parker  became  the  general  man- 
ager aiui  -Mr.  Hartman  the  foreman.  The  plant 
was  much  enlarged.     Twenty  bands  are  employed. 

Marble  ]'ard. — William  ShoUenberger  carried 
on  a  marble  yard  for  some  years  until  he  was 
killed  in  the  Boyertown  fire  ;  then  he  was  succeed- 
ed by  his  iirother   Franklin. 

Butcher  Shop. — Ham  Y.  Lccbner  has  conduct- 
ed a  butchering  establisliment  and  general  meat 
>hop  since   ]8ltO. 

Horse  Market. — Boyertown  lias  been  a  prom- 
inent horse  market  for  fifty  years.  William  Bind- 
er was  the  first  dealer  to  develop  an  extensive 
trade  and  he  was  succeeded  by  his  sons  Henry  M. 
and  Franklin,  who  followed  the  business  for 
twent}'  years. 

Jacob  Wallach  started  as  a  dealer  in  horses  at 
Eshbach  in  IblSG.  He  located  at  Boyertown  in 
1870  and  since  then  has  been  very  active  and  suc- 
cessful in  the  business,  more  especially  in  supply- 
ing heavy  draught  horses,  weighing  upward  of 
1,800  and  2,t»0u  pounds,  to  Xew  York  parties. 
In  1904  he  and  his  sons-in-law,  Alark  Rosenberg 
and  2vIoses  Deegan.  established  a  large  stock  stable 
several  miles  froni  lioyertown  near  Grim's  Mill, 
wdiere  they  have  on  hand  from  fifty  to  two  hun- 
dred heavy  horses,  which  command  large  y)rices 
on  account  of  their  excepti(.nal  size,  weight  and- 
strength. 

Orchards. — Dr.  John  II.  Funk  started  the  cul- 
tivation of  fruit  at  Boyertown  about  issl  and 
continued  until  1892,  when  John  G.  Schealer  be- 
came his  ■successor  and  he  has  operated  the  or- 
chard, containing  about  eighteen  acres,  until  the 
present  time.  Flis  crops  arc  almost  entirely  apples 
and  pears,  though  lie  cultivates  large  ([uanlities  of 
strawberries.  Pie  also  manufactures  annually  in 
the  fall  of  the  year  alxnit  twenty -five  iumdred  bar- 
rels of  cider. 

In  1891,  Dr.  Funk  started  a  large  peach  and 
apple  orchard  on  the  Jacob  K.  Stautter  farm,  con- 
taining sixty  acres,  and  since  then  has  produced 
great  quantities  of  peaciies  and  apples.  His  son 
is  engaged  in  the  trrck  business:  aNo  in  tlie  cul- 
tivation of  flowers. 

Hotels. — The  first  public  house  was  openerl  here 
in  1805  by  ]\Iichael  Boyer  and  it  occupied  the  site 
of  the  Union  House.  The  pre.-ent  large  brick 
building  (three  stories)  was  erected  in  its  stead 
by  William  Binder.  Daniel  B.  Boyer  purchased  it 
in  18(51.  and  owned  it  until  he  died  in  1890,  when 
it  became  the  property  of  his  two  sons,  James 
and  Horace.  The  Keystone  House  was  erected 
by  Henry  Boyer  in  IboO;  and  the  William  Penn 
(afterward  called  the  Mansion  House)  by  Charles 
Feglev  in  1870.  Subsequently  other  places  were 
licenced  and  for  a  time  the  borough  had  ;ix;  but 
for  several  years  it  has  had  only  four. 


'•,:-!     ul 


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. '  ■    V ' ' ' :  J 


■  . ;  .."■■'  I 


256 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    FEXXSYLVAXIA 


NATiONAL  BaNK;. — The  Xational  Bank  of  Boy- 
ertown  was  cliartcred  in  1ST 4  uith  a  capital  of 
?.100,000.  In  Xovenibcr,  19((S,  tlie  resources  of 
the  bank  were  31,11S,;JT.S.  Tlie  individual  depos- 
its then  were  S ■-?•")•").•") -2 5,  and  the  time  deposits  S434,- 
403,  with  undivided  profits  of  S21,T13.  The  par 
value  of  the  stock  is  $10iX  hut  the  market  value 
was  then  over  $3n<),  evidencing-  the  superior  man- 
agement of  this  bankinc:  institution.  E.  K. 
Schultz  is  president,  and  ^I.  IT.  Schealer  cashier. 
Daniel  L.  Rhoads  v.-as  the  first  president,  until  his 
death  in  ISOG;  the  second  was  Jacob  Wallach,  who 
served   until    l!Ki4. 

The  Farmers'  Xational  Bank  of  Boyertown  was 
chartered  in  1SS3  with  a  capital  of  S-jO.OOO.  In 
November,  T.iOS,  the  resources  were  S2G7',005;  in- 
dividual deposits.  ?]13.':42;  and  certificates  of  de- 
posits, S4i1,nl3.  Dr.  Thomas  J.  B.  Rhoads  has 
been  the  presiflent  since  1883;  and  Dr.  Edwin 
M.   Herbst  the  cashier  since   1907. 

IxsuRAVc:  CoirpAXY. — The  Boyertown  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company  v.-as  incorporated  Jan. 
2,  ISS'i,  and  has  been  successfully  maintained 
until  noNv,  levying-  only  twenty  assessments  in 
twenty-four  years.  The  total  insurance  in  force 
amounts  to  four  millions  of  dollars.  L.  P.  G.  Feg- 
ley  was  the  organizer  and  has  been  the  secretary 
from  the  begiiming;  and  Dr.  T.  J.  B.  Rhoads 
tlie  treasurer.  William  K.  Grim  officiated  as  the 
president  until  he  died  in  AugU'^t,  1905,  and  he 
was  succeeded  by  William  D.  Kchl.  who  has  serv- 
ed since. 

PuiiLic  Improvements 

Water  Conipaitx. — A  water  company  was  or- 
ganized and  incorporated  in  IS'jC,  to  supply  Boy- 
ertown with  water,  and  it  established  a  res- 
ervoir on  the  hill  west  of  the  town.  Tlie  plant 
was  carried  on  by  the  company  until  1902,  when 
it  was  transferred  to  the  borough,  and  enlarged. 

Light. — The  .-<treets  were  lighted  for  many 
years  by  oil  lamps  on  posts  along  the  sidewalks, 
until  Dr.  Reuben  B.  Rhoads  became  the  burgess 
in  1903,  and  in  his  term  gasoline  lamps  were  sub- 
stituted, which  made  a  great  improvement.  In 
190G  a  gas  company  was  organized  to  introduce 
illuminating  gas  for  lighting  the  streets  and  build- 
ings, and  the  pipe-mains  were  put  down  just  be- 
fore the  streets  were  paved  with  vitrified  brick. 

In  190S  an  electric  company  was  incorporated 
and  the  streets  began  to  be  lighted  by  electricity 
on  April  1.  1909,  under  contract  with  the  borough. 

Trollcx  Line. — The  Oley  Valley  railway  was 
constructed  from  Reading  to  Boyertown.  by  way 
of  Friedensbnrg.  Pleasantville  and  Shanesville, 
and  opened,  for  travel  by  means  of  electric  pro- 
pulsion in  1902.  The  subject  of  this  railway  line 
had  been  agitated  un-^ucces.-fully  for  many  years. 
The  eastern  terminus  was  fi.xed  at  a  jwint  in  the 
southerly  end  of  the  borough  on  account  of  cer- 
tain conditions  exacted  by  the  council  for  reach- 
ing the  center  of  the  borough  which  the  company 
could   not   accept,   but   in    I'JOo   an   agreement   was 


reached  in  efforts  to  extend  the  line  to  Potts- 
town,  through  the  borough  by  way  of  Ringing 
Rocks  Park  and  Gilbertsville,  this  line  being 
opened  for  travel  Oct.  1,  190G ;  and  the  line  from 
Reading  to  the  borough  boundary  was  extended 
to  the  railroad  crossing  on  Philadelphia  street  in 
1908  while  the  vitrified  brick  pavement  was  be- 
ing laid,  and  the  transfer  of  passengers  was  start- 
ed June  1,  19(lS,  affording  through  travel  from 
Reading  to  Pottstown. 

Fire  Companies. — In  1805,  a  volunteer  fire  com- 
pany was  organized  for  protection  from  fire,  and 
a  small  hand-engine  was  secured  by  a  popular 
subscripti(jn,  but  in  a  few  years  the  borough  pur- 
chased the  aj^paratus.  In  1873,  a  second  company 
was  formed  by  the  name  of  Keystone  Fire  Com- 
pany, and  it  was  supplied  with  a  .Silsby  steam  fire- 
eni^dne,  hose  carriage  and  truck,  with  GOO  feet  of 
leather  hose.  A  leased  property  was  used  un- 
til 1878,  when  the  borough  purcliased  a  lot  and 
erected  thereon  a  two-stcry  frame  building  for 
the  apparatus,  and  this  .  has  been  occupied  until 
the  present  time.  The  upper  story  was  set  apart 
a-  a  town-hall,  and  it  has  been  used  since  by  the 
council. 

In  1882,  a  hook  and  ladder  company  was  or- 
ganized, which  was  named  "Friendship";  and  this 
has  been  maintained  since.  In  1902  this  com- 
panv  erectetl  a  fine  two-story  brick  building  for 
its  apparatus.  The  second  story  has  been  used  as 
an    amusement    hall,    and    for    fairs,    lectures,    etc. 

Newspapers.— In  1S58,  O.  P.  Wink  started  the 
publication  of  a  German  newspaper  called  the 
Boycrtoun  Bauer  {Farmer).  It  was  continued 
until  1SG8,  when  George  Sassaman  purchased  the 
publication  and  changed  the  name  to  Boyertozvn 
Democrat.  In  18G0,  Charles  Spatz  became  the 
proprietor.  Some  years  afterward,  he  added  an 
English  department.  He  continued  the  publica- 
tion in  a  .successful  manner  until  his  decease  in 
1884,  when  his  son  Charles  became  the  proprie- 
tor, and  the  son  has  issued  it  with  increasing  suc- 
cess until  the  present  tinie.  The  use  of  the  Ger- 
man language  was  discontinued  in  1889.  It  has 
been  a  consistent  advocate  of  Democratic  i)rinci- 
jiles  from  the  beginning.  In  190G  a  linotype  ma- 
chine was  introduced  to  facilitate  the  printing  of 
the  newspaper.  A  job  printing  office  is  connect- 
ed with  the  establishment.  He  also  published  the 
Boyerto7<ni  Bauer  in  the  German  language  from 
1889  until   1907,  when  it  was  discontinued. 

Chu'RCiiks. — The  first  church  was  erected  here 
in  1790  In-  the  Mennonite>  on  land  donated  by 
Henrv  Stauffer.  In  1819  a  brick  building  w-as 
erected  in  its  stead.  In  1847  a  dissension  arose 
in  the  congregation  on  account  of  dress  and  sonie 
of  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  this  denomina- 
tion, wdiich  resulted  in  the  formation  of  two  con- 
gregations, called  tlie  old  church  antl  the  new. 
The  two  congregations,  however.  occu]iied  the 
same  church  on  alternate  Sundays  until  \'61t, 
when   the  old  body  determined   to  tear  down  the 


iu    r  i; . 


1   /I    .r 


'\'  Vi:  .■.•■■w 


,1,,      ■::;!;;•!    '.Mr.    ,,'        ,;        ■■'.'. 


■  "i 


:i'.|-',/,:"i    -^f'l      '''.'■•■     ' 


r,\  :    -  .'"■■•".  -^  i'< 


.'/■        'C/'i-i'-f 


■,i-i 


.?;l    Vi'.',,i.'I.I     .-jri: 


BOROUGHS 


257 


cliurch  and  erect  a  larger  buildiiic;:  in  its  stead. 
The  new  body  tried  to  restrain  them  by  proceed- 
inrr  at  law,  but  failed,  and  then  they  also  erected 
a  building-  which  was  dedicated  in  IsSl.  Tlie 
two  bodies  still  maintain  separate  orgamzations 
with  a  small  membership. 

Members  of  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  denom- 
inations united  in  erecting  a  "L'nion  Church"  in 
1811  on  land  donated  by  Henrv  Siauflfer,  adjoin- 
ing the  Mennonites.  It  was  occupied  by  them 
jointly  until  187;3,  when  the  Reformed  became 
the  sole  owner  and  they  proceeded  to  erect  a  new 
building  in  1874,  which  was  dedicated  in  187(3, 
the  total  cost  reaching  $35,000.  The  Lutherans 
had  determined  in  1870  to  erect  a  new  building. 
They  started  in  1871  and  the  church  was  formal- 
ly   dedicated    in    1872,    the    cost   being   also  $35,- 

o'oo. 

Adherents  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denom- 
ination organized  a  congregation  at  Boyertown 
and  erected  a  church  in   187G. 

The  L^nited  Evangelical  Association  erected  a 
small  one-storv  brick  church  in  1895  in  the  east- 
ern section  of  the  town,  and  the  congregation 
has  maintained  its  organization  until  now^ 

Schools. — Education  was  encouraged  by  the 
people  from  ihe  beginning-  of  the  town.  The 
township  accepted  the  free  school  system  in  1838. 
A  townshij)  schtxil  was  in  the  borough  when  es- 
tablished in  lS(iO,  which  was  enlarg-ed  in  lS7fi, 
and  in  1887  a  second  building  was  erected,  on  the 
rear  ot  tlie  lot,  which  w^as  used  for  high  school 
purposes.  These  two  buildings  were  used  until 
the  new  and  commodious  tw^o-story  brick  build- 
ing was  erected  by  the  borough  in  1898.  when 
ail  the  schools  excepting  the  high  school,  were 
transferred  to  this  building.  The  property  is  still 
owned  by  the  borough,  the  front  building  being 
rented.  The  schools  were  graded  in  1S78.  In 
190fi,  there  were  ten  schools,  with  128  scholars. 
By  a  special  election  in  February,  1909,  it  was 
decided  to  erect  a  new  school  building-  in  (the 
western  section  of  the  borough  tu  accommodate 
the  children   in   that  vicinity. 

Several  select  schools  were  carried  on  here  in 
a  very  'successful  manner  for  about  forty  years. 
The  Blount  J'lcasant  Seminary  was  founded  by 
John  StautTer  in  181-2.  Jacob  Whitman  was  the 
first  principal.  The  Ilankeys  weie  prominent  ed- 
ucators here  for  thirty  years.  The  building  af- 
forded accoinniodations  for  fifty  resident  schol- 
ars. Day  scholars  were  also  in  attendance.  It 
was  a  popular  institution  for  both  sexes,  and  had 
a  wide  and  excellent  reputation. 

When  Prof.  Isaac  B.  Hankey  severed  his  con- 
nection, in  180(;.  he  opened  ajiother  and  similar 
academy  which  he  named  "Kallynean."  and  car- 
ried it  on   for  nearly  twenty  years. 

KicvsTOXic  CoKxirr  B.\xr)  was  organized  in  1875 

and  has  been   kept   up  until  the  presenr   time,  the 

performers      numbering"      twenty      and      upward. 

Charles   Q.   [Mcgerlv   v.as   a    recent    instructor   and 

17 


the  leader   for   several  years,   until   190G.   when  he 
was   succeeded   by   John    tleydt. 

rnvsici.\xs.— 'Tlie  active  and  prominent  phy- 
sicians at  Boyertown  since  181<>  have  been  Dr. 
Henry  W.  Johnston,  Dr.  William  Keely,  Dr.  Eras- 
tus  R.  Scholl,  Dr.  Thomas  J.  B.  Rhoads.  Dr. 
John  Todd,  and  Dr.  John  S.  Bornemann. 

LocAi.  Author. — Dr.  Thomas  J.  B.  Rhoads, 
notwithstanding  a  very  active  medical  practice  cov- 
ering the  surrounding  country  for  many  miles, 
and  an  enterprising;  disposition  in  forwarding  the 
industrial  and  financial  affairs  of  Boyertow-n,  for 
forty  years,  devoted  some  of  hi->  time  to  reminis- 
cence and  authorship,  which  resulted  in  the  pub- 
lication of  two  very  interesting  octavo  volumes, 
entitled  "Onkel  Jeff's  Reminiscences  of  Vouth  and 
Other  Poems,"  the  first  having  been  issued  in 
1904,  and  the  second  in  190i3.  They  display  keen 
observation,  much  humor  and  pleasing  original- 
ity. 

Opf.r.\  House  Fire. — An  exhibition  was  being 
held  in  the  Rhoads  Opera  House  of  Boyertown 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Sunday-school  attached  to 
St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  on  Monday  evening-, 
Jan.  13,  190S,  and  the  performance,  relating  to 
"The  Scottish  Reformation."  was  being  produced 
under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  H.  E.  ]\Ionroe.  of 
Washington,  D.  C.  The  auditorium  on  the  second 
storv  was  crowded  with  an  interested  audience. 
A  large  calcium  light  was  being  use<I  for  the  pur- 
pose of  showing  the  tableaux  effectively  and  sLid- 
denlv  a  cap  on  one  of  the  tanks  exploded  which 
startled  the  audience.  Immediately  there  were 
shooting  flames  and  instantaneous  shrieks  and 
cries,  when  a  sudden  movement  of  the  audience 
was  made  for  the  front  door.  1  he  calamity  that 
followed  is  indescribable,  for  171  persons  lost  their 
lives  bv  the  fire,  123  from  Boyertown,  48  from 
other  places. 

Victims  of  Fire. — The   following-  lists   show  the 
names  and   residences  of  the  victims. 
Bo\'crtozvn — /_'_? 


James    Anderson 

Mrs.  James   Anderson 

Marigold    Andcr.son 

^^orris   M.   Andcrsoir-^ 

Mrs.  Morris  M.  .A".dcrson 

Xoniian   Anderson 

Annie   Bauman 

Walter  Uauman 

Lottie   Bauman 

Edna  Bauuian* 

Mrs.  John   Becker 

.\lma    Becker 

Mary    Becker 

W.   M.   Binder 

^[^s.    I-ayanna    Bortz 

F.dna   Boyer 

J.  Keely  Boyer* 

Clara     Brendliiifrer 

Mrs.   Katie  C!iribtni;in 

Irvin    Cicmmer 

Mrs.  I'.stlier  Culliii* 

Kosie   Diamond 

Florence  Eddinv^cr 


Edwin    C.    Emrick 
Emma  Encle 
Esther   Erb* 
Lulu   ?>gley  . 
Harry  Foreman 
Mrs.  Harry  Foreman 
Sopliia   Foreman 
Xcllie   Foreman 
Irene   Foreman 
Mrs.   L.   K.   Francis 
Layanna  Francis 
John    S.    I'rit/* 
Ida  Fritz* 
Abraham   Gabel 
Daniel  G<abel 
Mrs.  Danio!  Gabcl 
May  Gcver 
Herbert  Gnftshall 
Mrs.   Herbert  Gottshall 
Ellen    Goti^ball 
Mabel  GraclY 
John   Giavcrt 
Lottie  GravirJ 
Lillic    Grim 
Ru'h  Guard 


.' 


258 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEX\SYL\-AXIA 


Mrs.  Amos  Hartinan 

Carrie   Hartman 

Vernia   Ilartman 

Charles    Hartman 

Charles  Hess 

.Mrs    \Vallace  HotTnian 

Louie  llottrnan*' 

John   Hoffman 

Russell   Houck 

Ephraim   Johnson' 

Mrs.   Ephraim  Johnson 

Jacob  Jolinson  .t 

Mrs.  Charles  Kline,  Jr.i 

Mabel    Kochel 

Blanche  Koche! 

Stella  Kolb 

Mrs.  William  Krause 

Stella  Krause 

Daniel   Krause 

Robert  La  Pish* 

Marie  LaPish* 

Maggie  Lefever 

Hiram  Ltidy* 

Laura  Leidy 

Horace  Leidy 

Mrs.    Horace   Leidy 

Eranklin  Leidy 

Howard  Leidy 

Mrs.    Harry   Leinbach 

Mrs.   Isaac   Lichtel* 

Xewton   LichtcT* 

Mary  Ludwig 

Charles  W.  IL  M_aurer 

Charles    E.    Mayer 

Guendolyn   Mayer 

Mrs.   George   ^toc^re 

Mrs.   Harry  ?,Ioyer 

George    Moyet 

Charles  N'uss 

Mrs.   Charles   Nnss 

Harold  Kuss 

Aaron  Ochsenferd 

Mrs.   Aaron   Ochscniord 

George   Parsons 

Mrs.  George   Parsons 

Stella   Peters 

Laura  Rhoads 

Edith   Rhoads 

Annie  Ritter 

Mrs,  George  Romig 

Mrs.    Addison    Schmoyer 

William   S.    Schollenberger 

Mrs.  W.  Shollenberger 

Mrs.  F.  Shollenberger 

Mrs.  George   Schoenly* 

Mrs.  Henry  Shantr 

Charles    SIi;incr 

I'aul  Shaiier 

Ira  Shober 

Mrs.  Ira  Shober 

Mrs.  George  J.  Smith 

Edwin    B.    Stauffer 

Emma    Stauffer 

Lulu  Stauffer 

Mrs.  Isabella  Tabor 

Mrs.   Amo.s    Thompson 

Mrs.   R.   Turner,  Jr. 

J.  Warren  Van  Reed 

Venia    Weand 

Martha  Weber 

Mrs.   Henry  Wicn* 

Carrie    Wien 

*  Unidontified. 

t  Kun  uvi-r  by   i   f.re  engine   ti 
injuries   received. 

t  l>ied   after  the   fire. 


Florence  Wien 
Elizabeth  Voder 
Carrie   Yerger 

Mrs.    Rebecca   Francis 

Eshbacli 
Dr.  Frank  F.  Erunner 
Carrie  Leaver* 

Gabelsvillc 
Mr?.  Henry  Johnson 

Gilberisvule 
Mrs.  Rciibcn  Hoffmait* 
Alice   Hoffman* 
Austin   Mcnsch 
Sallie  Roniig 
Robert  Taggert* 
Mrs.  Robert  Taggert* 
Rose  Taggert* 
Lizzie  Ziegler 

Hill  Church 
Jacob    Weller 
Mrs.   Tacob  WcUer 
Ida  Weller 

Landis  Store 
N'ora  Ileibst 

Lohachsz'ille 
Edwin   Fry 

Morys'jiUc 
Marv  Fisher 
:\Tati'lda  Grabert 
Sallie    Hartman 
Bertha   Reinhart 
Mai:ii<!  Toms 
Mrs.  William  TomsJ 
Ni'iv  Bcrliiii'illc 
"Mrs.  Martin  Bauman 
Mrs.  Oswin  Rauman* 
Carrie  Rauman* 
Mrs.  Hiram  Clouscr* 
Annie   Derr 

Mrs.  Willoughby  Engel 
Hannah  Haring 
Mrs.  C.  Ephraim  Johnson 
Mrs.  Herbert  Johnson 
Alice  Moyer 
Edna  Moyer 
Florence   Mover 
Frances  Moyer 
Stella  Moyer 

Neiv  Hatwrer 
Catharine  Knipe 
TJz.Tie  Knipe 
Emily  Knipe 
Jeremiah  Rhcads 

Passviorc 
Mrs.   John   Glasc 

Reading 
Clarence  Miller 

Sassaniausz'illc 
Stella  Hcinbach 
Mamie  Jones 

Sliiiiicsz'ille 
Willoughby  Bucher 

n'«,?/!i»,C'f ".  I^-  C. 
Mrs.  Delia  F.  Mayers 

ll'or»ian 
Wayne  Romi^; 

,e  c\'cning  of  liie  fire  and  died  from 


Coroner's  Inquest. — The  coroner  of  the  countv, 
Dr.  Robert  E.  Strasser,  impaneled  the  following' 
jury  of  inque?t :  W'ilHain  11.  Fox,  Levi  S.  Delleck- 
er,  Edwin  K.  Shultz,  Irvin  T.  Ehst,  Daniel  K. 
Hoch.  and  William  Y.  Levan  (the  first  four  from 
Boyertown,  and  the  last  two  from  Readincr).  to 
inquire  into  the  cause  of  the  deaths  of  the  victims 
of  the  fire.  The  jury  held  six  sittings,  viewed  the 
remains  of  170  victims  (which  were'  not  named'i, 
examined  48  witnesses,  and  on  Jan.  30.  19fi8, 
agreed  to  the  following  report,  which  was  filed 
in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  the  court  of  Quarter 
Sessions  on  ]\Iarch  Hltli: 

"That  they  (the  IVO  persons)  came  to  their  death  on 
Jan.  1.3,  lS»rtS,  at  about  "J  ;r!0  p.  m..  during  a  rendition 
[performancej  under  the  auspices  of  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Church,  Boyertown,  in  which  a  stereopticon  picture-ma- 
chine was  used  in  Rlioads's  Opera  Flouse,  by  stupefaction, 
suffocation,   and   fire. 

"We  find  the  primary  cause  thereof  to  have  been  the 
employment,  by  Mrs.  Harriet  E.  Monroe,  of  an  inex- 
perienced and  incompetent  operator  of  the  calcium  light 
in  the  person  of  Henry  Fisher,  and  the  laxity  of  the 
Department  Factory  Inspector  of  this  District,  and  the 
Department  of  Factory  Inspector  of  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  the  failure  to  enforce  proper  and  adequate  fire 
escapes  and  fire  appliances,  as  well  as  its  failure  to  en- 
force existing  laws  insuring  public  safety. 

"We'  request  the  prosecuting  attorney  of  Berks  county 
to  arrest,  and,  if  possible,  convict  Mrs.  Harriet  K.  Mon- 
roe, and  Harry  McBechtcl,  the  Deputy  Factory  Inspector 
of  this  District,  on  the  charge  of  criminal  negligence. 

"We   recommend  the   enactment  of  laws   as   follows  : 

"1 — Creating  Departments  of  Public  Safety  and  Build- 
ings whose  province  shall  be  to  provide  for  njcans  and 
appliances  to  insure  public  safety  in  the  Boroughs  of  this 
Commonwealth. 

"2 — Requiring  that  all  operators  of  light';  used  in  stere- 
opticon and  moving  picture  machines  be  obliged  to  under- 
go an  examination,  and  if  found  competent  certiiicates 
be  issued  to  them  by  the  Department  of  Factory  Inspector." 

Relief  Coiiiiniftee.'-Thc  next  day  after  the  fire, 
the  citizens  held  a  meeting  at  Boyertown,  and  the 
following  Relief  Committee  was  appointed  to  look 
after  the  sufTering  fatiiilics  and  provide  the  neces- 
sary relief: 

Irwin    T.    Ehst,    Chairman  Samuel    I.    Henry 

O.  A.  H.  Jacobs,  Secrct.iry  James   S.   Fryer 

Wm.  D.   Schealer,  Treas.  Ephraim  S.  Gchris 

Milton    R.    Strunk  Daniel   Fritz 

Daniel    B.    Bower  Benjamin  F.  Nice 

The  total  relief  forwarded  to  the  Relief  Commit- 
tee was  as  follows : 

From   Reading    $r>.r;T.">       From    Pliiladelphia    ..   2,708 

From  Kutztown   ?,Zo       From    Allentown     . .  .      .TTO 

From   Fleetwood    ....      2:^0       I'rom   Ashland    100 

From   Hamburg   200  

From    Pottstown     ...   2.sr,8  Total    $1.3.184 

From    Eisenlohr    Brothers $1,000 

From   Burial    Casket   Company 600 

Front  simdry  persons,  including  Boyertown  7,201         $3,591 

Total    relief    forwarded     $22,075 

Part  of  this  money  was  expended  for  the  burial 
of  the  victims  and  the  i)aymetit  of  various  expenses  : 
and  certiiicates  were  i->ucd  hv  the  Xatinti.tl  Hank 
of  Bnycrlnwn  (which  was  tlic  depositary)  in  trust 
for  liie  following  orphatis : 


jV'i.-j  •    r 


•  ^Vu■•.^tl•^  ,'V...'. 


BOROUGHS 


259 


Wayne    Bauer    $200 

Leonard    Piowtiian    ....   ::00 

Paul   Bowman    200 

KniiTia  Buchcr   275 

Irene    Bncher    17.5 

VAua.    Bucher    l.">0 

George    Eucher     100 

.\iary    Buclier    100 

Helen    May   Bucher :'.00 

Hstlicr    Culleu    :;oo 

Gcorye    Cnilcn     17o 

]iA\n    Culleu     100 

Francis    Cullen    100 

Floronce    Cullen    100 

Annie   Foreman    100 

Frederick  Foreman    ...   12j 
Florence   Forerarui    ....    lOU 

Jolni    Graver    275 

William    Graver    230 

Rebecca  FIofTman  17.') 

Ernest    Johnson    150 

Mary  Johnson    100 

Ella    Kranse     100 

William    Leidv    100 


Florence  Leinbach 
Royden    Mayer    .  . . 

Leon    Mayer    

Henrietta     M^oore 


173 
L'50 
100 
125 


Ruth    Mover    250 

Paul    Moyer     200 

Leonard    Moyer    150 

Grace    Moyer    125 

Gladvs    .Mover     100 

Edna    Moyer     100 

Mabel    Xcster    125 

Ethel    Peters    :J00 

Xorman    Sclioenly    ....  125 

Lawrence   Schoenlv    . . .  100 

Russell    Tabor     . ." 250 

Llo\d    Tabor    250 

Eeiilah    Tabor     200 

Mabel   Tabor    200 

Anna    Thompson    250 

Alfred    Thompson    ....  123 

Helen    Wien     100 

Stuart    Wien 100 

Total  $7,950 


Paul    Leinbach    200 

Public  Syiiipaihy. — Public  .sympatliy  v\-as  express- 
ed by  people  everywhere  in  a  truly  Christian  man- 
ner, and  thousands  of  persons  from  the  surround- 
ing' districts  and  places  for  mariy  miles  went  to  Boy- 
ertown  in  appreciation  of  the  awful  visitation.  The 
display  of  mourning  on  all  the  streets,  the  funerals 
day  after  day  for  a  week,  and  the  solemnity  of  the 
whole  town,  were  most  affecting- ;  but  the  order,  dig- 
nity and  composure  of  the  people  under  these  extra- 
ordinary circumstances  displayed  in  a  remarkable 
degree  the  Christian  character  of  the  community. 

Indian  Confuct. — In  1738.  the  early  bcttlcrs  of 
this  section  of  the  county  had  a  conllict  with  the 
Indians  and  therefore  a  petition  was  subscribed  by 
a  number  of  the  inhabitants  who  presented  it  to  the 
Governor,  havii'g  referred  particularly  to  their  suf- 
ferings and  prayed  for  relief.  The  Governor  visited 
the  pl.'.ce  and  reported  to  the  Executive  Council  that 
the  Indians  liad  been  there  for  a  number  of  days, 
and  were  well  armed  under  the  command  of  a  cap- 
tain. Some  shots  were  fired,  several  were  wounded 
and  then  the  Indians  left. 

FIJLETWOOD 

The  borough  of  Fleetwood  is  situated  along  the 
East  Penn  railroad,  in  Richmond  township,  twelve 
miles  northeast  from  Reading.  The  seltlement  was 
first  known  as  Coxtown,  having  been  so  called  from 
a  time  anterior  to  1800  until  the  establishment  of 
the  railroad  in  1859,  when  the  increasing  seltle- 
ment took  the  name  of  Fleetwood,  after  a  promi- 
nent English  capitalist  who  encouraged  the  con- 
struction of  the  railroad.  The  first  considerable 
town  plan  was  laid  out  and  acknowledged  by 
Thomas  Mellon  on  May  11.  18GS,  the  lots  lying 
wholly  to  the  east   of  the  railroad. 

The  growth  of  the  town  was  very  slow,  the  total 
number  of  buildir.gs  erected  there  until  the  con- 
'^Iruction  of  the  railroad  not  having  been  thirty: 
then  there  was  a  perceptible  increase  on  account  of 
tiic   concentration   of  trade   at   that   point,   farmers 


coming  for  many  miles  from  the  southeast  and  the 
northwest  for  the  shipment  of  their  freight  and  the 
purchase  of  their  coal  and  lumber,  and  this  increase 
has  been  kept  up  by  the  enterprising  spirit  of  the 
place  until  the  present  time.  During  the  past  ten 
years  there  was  a  marked  improvement  in  the  erec- 
tion of  dwelling-houses,  which  included  a  number  of 
costly  and  attractive  houses. 

Incorporation  and  First  Taxaeles. — The  town 
was  incorporated  into  a  borough  on  Oct.  4,  IBTS. 
The  names  of  the  first  taxables  were  as  follows : 

W^illiam   Adam 
John    Angstadt 
Gideon   Bridegam 
Franklin  Barto 
William   Bernhart 
Leinbach    Bernhart 
.Augustus    Bierman 
Levi    Boyer 
Bushong  &  Co.  Manf. 
Becker  &  Keller 
George  Cox  &  Co. 
Adam  Dclp 
Jainis   Dcishcr 
George  Dewees 
Samuel  Dumn 
Jacob   Dengler 
Moses   F'olk 
Da  nip]   E'ocht 
Peter   Gehris 
Solomon  Hoch 
Conrad    H'll 
Bcnjdmin  HUbert 
George  Heydt 
W'illiam  Kline 
Isaac   Koch 
Jacob   Kelclnier 
Samuel    Kelchner 
Elias   Kline 
George   Knoll 
George    Kline 
Jonathan   Kiitz 
Joel    Kelchner 
Kline,  Wanner  &  Co. 
Amandiis    Kerns 
Thomas    Kreidler 
Daniel   Koch 
Koch   Mill 
Samuel  KiefTer 
George    Keller 
Israel  Kline  Est. 
Charles    Leise 
Christian    Laudenslager 
Dr.   L.   R.  LentE 
Lentz  &  Maurer 
John   W.    Leise 
Abby    Leaman 
Thomas    Leinbach 
Mary   Messersmith 
IMcsscrsmith    &    Shafcr 
Charles   A.   Messersmith 
John  Maurer 
John    Madeira 
.Atuos    Melot 
Dani.;l    Melot 
Levi    Madeira 
Madeira  Shop 
William  Madeira 
Melot    &    Hilbert 
^loloi,  Kline  &  Co. 


Daniel    Barnet 


Nicodemus  Noll 
Maria   Peter 
Reuben  Rauenrahn 
Betty   Rothermd 
Elizabeth    Reifsnyder 
Peter    Rothermel 
Samuel   Rothermel 
Cyrus    Reifsnyder 
Joshua  Reber 
W'illiam   Reifsnyder 
Reifsnyder  &  Snyder 
Widow  Resler 
Isaac  Reiser 
Amos   Rider 
Jacob  Rothermel 
Edwin   Shollcnberger 
William    Scholl 
Leonard   Sweitzer 
George    Scholl 
Solomon    Schlegel 
Henry  Schaeft'er 
H.   W.   Schaeffcr 
William    S.   Scnaeffer 
James  Schaetfer 
John    Swcirtz 
Daniel   Scha'Tfcr,   Sr. 
Widow    Schlcgcl 
George   B.    Schaeffcr 
Samuel    Schaeffer 
Joseph    Slegcl 
Lewis    Schaeft'er 
George  D.  Schacfifer 
Moses    Sayer 
George   Sanders 
Henrv   Sanders 
Shacffer,  Merkei  &  Co. 
Cyrus    Standi 
.   Widow  Schugar 
D.  K.   Snyder 
Samuel    Schlegel 
Widow  Strolim 
Henrv  Schlegel 
William   Schlegel 
John    Sciiollenberger 
William    Schaeffer 
Levi  Templin 
Templin    Shop 
Melot    Templin 
John   Weiandt 
Lucy  W'eston 
Jonas   Weaver 
Weaver    Shop 
Peter   Wentzel 
Kelchner   Wanner 
Widow  Wanner 
!•:.    C.    Weston 
Lewis   Wanner 
Joel  Wartzenluft 
John  Yodcr 
Tenants 

P.  T.  Brumbach 


' ': '. .1  .'•]   '  -i  r.? 


,1  ,  ;; 


;.;,  •'    :-j: 


2fiO 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLWXXIA 


Geori^L-   Krick 
I^'ttcr   Koch 
Kline    &    Bros. 
Jacob   Littz 
Peter    Leise 
John  ^K■rk•cl 
E.  ^r.   -Mill 
Jonathan   Mertz 
Lucian   Miller 
Jacob    Noll 
Kphraiin    Peter 
John   Rothernicl 
James  Rcaclinger 
Amos    Rothcrmel 
William    Rciff 
Jacob   Reaser 
Jacob    Rightenour 
Hcnrv   Keifsnydcr 
John   Shadier 
r.    P.   Schaeffer 
Joshua   Schlegel 
James    Teniplin 
Monroe    Weaver 
Davis    Weidner 
Peter  Yocier 
E.  I).  G.  Yorgey 
Jacob  Zern 

Single  Men 

Wilson   Leiby 
Amos    Madeira 
Peter    Mertz 
William    Melot 
Samuel   Madeira 
Daniel   K.   Rothernicl 
Pftcr   Kotlierniel 
Tarob    Scliie-el 
Hepr\     Schlegel 
Daniel    Schaetler 
Edwin    Strjhni 
Zacharias  Schugar 
Lovi    Wanzi-nlult 
Henry  Vv'artzeiduft 
Peter  Wanner 


John    Boyer 
Benneville    Piuskirk 
Martin   Boyer 
William    D.    l>ecker 
Jacob    Becker 
Benneville    Brown 
Solomor.    Bilhnan 
Levi  Dumn 
Benneville  Dewees 
Davis   DietTenderfer 
William   F.hring 
Clinton    l-'ly 
Samuel    Fislier 
William  Folk 
Henry  Geliris 
Jacob   Gift 
Samuel   Griiber 
Hiram    Gamier 
Daniel   Heydt 
Abraham    Heck 
Xathaniel  Heck 
Isaac  Heydt 
Mandon   Hawk 
John    Kline 
Adam    Klitie 
Alfred   Kamp 
Jacob  Ko.-h 
Jacob   Kline 

Aber  Adam 
John    Boyle 
Joel  Piushev 
William    Becker 
William  R.  Becker 
Daniel    Coller 
Levan    Chaunccy 
James  Dunm 
Gideon   Deisher 
Daniel    Kramer 
Obediah    Ivelier 
Jacob    Kcin-. 
Isaac    Kline 
John  B.  Keller 
Daniel  Kelchner 
Cosmus  Leise 

In  190G  the  tax: 
property  v,  a.s  asse 
terest  was  $198,?;)- 
the   followint,^: 

Industries    12 

General    Stores    4 

Hardware   Store    1 

Drug    Store    1 

Coal  and  Lumher  '^'ards.   2 

List  of  Oi-kicials. — The  nrnios  of  the  cliicf 
burgesses,  tuwn  clerks  and  iu>tices  of  the  peace 
from  the  beginning  i>f  the  burongh  to  the  present 
time,  and  the  time  wiien  tlie  incumbents  filled  their 
respective  positions,  are  as  follows : 
CiilEF    BURGESSES 

Levi    Tcmplin     ISTt 

John    E.    Maurer    18T.")-Tr, 

Lewis     Schaetfer     1S77 

William   H.    Madeira    .  .  .< 1S7S 

William  S.  Merkci   ISTO-sn 

Cosmus    SchwoyLT    1^81 

A.  C.   Kcn)|t   18S':! 

E.    M.    Shoiknbcrger    1 SS.". 

John    Herb.in     ISSi 

J.    P.  ?Ioch    t  ss.vsr, 

Isaac    R.    Merkel    1S87-SS 


ibles  numbered  2'y'\  ;  the  taxable 
-sed  at  S-J.j2,9i~iO ;  mone_\  at  in- 
!  •  and  the  borougli  then  included 


Phvsicians    2 

Church.s    4 

School    Buildings    2 

Restaurants   3 


George  D.   Schaeffer    . 

John   E.   Maurer    

Isaac   Mertz     

John  B.  Bcrtolette  .  . . 
Nathan  Henry  Gehris 
Cvranus  F'.  Bover  . . 
Charles    F.    Hilf   


t;   1903-(ir, 

18'.»i) 

.  ..l8>Ji-'j:i 
,  lS'.)4-li)i)0 
.  .  .  190i)-nj 
.  .  .lOOG-O'J 
, . .1900-12 


JUSTICES   OF   THE    PEACE 

Samuel    Dumn    

George  D.  Schaeffer   1873  79 

James    I-".    Dumn 

William    Bernhart     

Dr.    A.    X.    Freiz    

John    H.    Reifsnydcr    

Harry    D.    Schaeffer    

David  K.  Kline    


1873-7r> 
1904-0.-, 
. .187G-90 
. .1879-87 
1887-1912 
1899-1900 
. .1900-04 
.  .19O.J-10 


BOROUGH  OFFICIALS— 1909 

Chkf  Burgess,  Charles  ¥.   Hill 
7"oic';i   Council,  Ambrose   Hoffman,   President 
M.    H.    Brensinger,   Treasurer 
Titus    H.    Schaeffer 
Uriah   Eisenhart 
John   W.   Lease 
William  R.  Down 
Calvin    H.    .^dams,    Secretary 
School  Board,  D.   M.  Herbine,   President 
O.   M.    Kollcr,   Secretary 
¥..    D.    Dengler,   Treasurer 
Simon   B.   Stoudt 
John   Brown 
N.    S.    Schaeffer 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  Dr.  A.  X.  Fretz 
F.  W.  Bait  baser 
Constable.   George    Herring 
Auditors,  George  Sclikgei 
Howard    Herbine 
.■Isscssor.   F'lias    Dries 
Collector,     Elias   Dries 

Posr-OFFiCE. — The  post-office  was  established  in 
KSot?.  and  was  naTiiCfl  after  the  place,  Coxtown ; 
which  name  was  contimieti  until  Fleetwood  was  in- 
corporated. 

Inocstriks. — The  first'  imi)ortant  indu'^try  at 
Fleetwood  was  the  large  foundrv  erected  Ijy  the 
Schaeffer  Brothers  (Lewis,  Cieorgc  D.,  Daniel,  and 
Jonathan)  in  LSiM  for  the  manufacture  of  farm- 
ing implements  and  mining  machinery,  and  they 
carried  on  the  plant  successfullv  until  Hs^"?.  Tiie 
firm  name  was  then  changed  to  SchaelTer,  Merkci 
&  Co.,  and  they  carried  on  the  business  for  thirty 
years,  employing  from  l'2o  to  150  hands.  In  I'JO'j 
the  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  industrial  establishments  now  at  Fleetwood 
are  the  following,  the  number  of  hands  employed  in- 
dicating the  large  extent  of  the  business: 

Rcadiir^  Metal  B:>dY  Vi'/irks.  17-j  hands. 

York  Sill-  Mill.  Bin'to  150  hands. 

Ilosicrx  Mills:  O.  F.  Kelchner.  T".  haiKb  :  Wan- 
ner eV-  Madeira.  *in  haml-^ :  K'utz  Hosiery  Mill.  ■'>'} 
hands. 

Cluuics  /•".   //('//  Granite  Ji'orks.  oi)  hands. 

..'^(•aiiiaii  &■  Mrrkcl  I inplc}iu~nts  ll'orks.  V2  hancL. 

liai^lc  Roller  Mill.<  (carried  on  l>y  Webster  D.  iuid 
Llewellyn  D.  Schaeffer,  trading  as  Schaeffer.  W  an- 
ner  &•  Co.,  whosc  bu-incss  inchnles  a  large  co.-;.,| 
an<l  Inu'ber  yard)  ;  S  hand-.  ,■ 

Jaceb  C.  Gottshall  Bakery.  :5  hand>.  ? 


:/  (•■"  ;  ;i 


,V-'     .iV  \toA 


'  .."     ..,") 


■.1/1  •      .'I 


BOROUGHS 


2C1 


D.  F.  Kclclincr  Creamery. 

li'illiaDi  Dozen  Tool  Works,  3  hands. 

Wesley  Kent  Pick  IVorks,  2  hands. 

Schlcgcl,  Adam  &■  Co.,  coal  and  hiinbor,  4  hands. 

Flcctzi'ood  Metal  Body  Company. 

National  Bank. — The  First  National  Bank  of 
Fleetwood  was  chartered  on  June  "^O,  I'JOT,  witli  a 
capital  of  $"35,000  and  the  business  was  sfarted  Dec. 
7,  lOoT.  In  November,  1908,  tlie  resources  of  the 
bank  were  Sl4.'?,(iT5 ;  and  the  loans  and  discounts, 
$6?,y''-i;  individual  deposits,  S-5tJ,4'ii);  and  the  sav- 
ings deposits,  $34,050.  The  president  from  the  be- 
ginning has  been  Daniel  F.  Kelchncr  (a  prominent 
manufacturer  at  Fleetwood)  ;  and  the  cashier,  War- 
ren G.  Hartman. 

Public  LMrROVEMENxs 

Water  JJ' orks. — In  1SS9  water  works  were  estab- 
lished, for  supplying-  the  inhabitants  of  the  borough 
with  water,  by  George  B.  Schaeffer,  Dr.  Levi  R. 
Lentz  and  Peter  D.  Wanner,  who  organized  and  in- 
corporated a  company  for  tliat  purpose  with  a  capital 
of  $;i;j,000.  The  reservoir  was  located  a  mile  east 
of  the  town  in  an  elevated  position,  with  a  capacity 
of  300,000  gallons,  and  since  then  the  town  has  been 
supplied  with  an'  abundance  of  pure  spring  water. 
Steps  have  been  instituted  by  the  borough  authorities 
for  the  purchase  of  the  works. 

Trollev  Line.-— The  tndley  line  was  extended 
from  Temple  to  Kutztown,  passing  through  Fleet- 
wood, in  190  1. 

Churches. — There  are  four  churches  at  Fleet- 
wood : 

St.  Faul's  Union  Church  (Lutheran  aiul  Reform- 
ed) is  .situated  a  short  distance  west  of  tlie  borougdi 
on  the  road  to  Blandon.  It  is  a  two-story  stone 
building,  plastered,  which  was  erected  in  1841.  Ser- 
vices have  been  held  regularly  in  it  until  the  present 
time.     It  has  a  large  membership. 

7 he  Evaui^clical  Association  erected  a  two-story 
brick  church  on  Franklin  street  in  18(3G  and  worship- 
ed there  until  1S90,  vidien  thev  sold  it  and  erected 
another  on  Washington  street.  In  this  the  members 
continued  until  the  separation  occurred  in  1894, 
when  the  United  Evangelical  Association  became  the 
owner,  and  the  latter  organization  has  since  main- 
tained a  congregation  in  it. 

The  United  Mcnnonite  Cliurch  was  erected  in 
18(58  by  a  small  number  of  zealous  Christians  of 
that  faith  and  they  h.ave  shown  much  devotion  un- 
til the  present  time. 

A  fourtli  church  was  erected  in  the  borough  by 
a  number  of  members  of  the  St.  Paur<  Union 
Ciuirch,  for  the  puri)ose  of  carrying  on  worship  as 
an  organized  Christian  body  not  connected  with 
any  synod.  The  movement  was  started  in  1883  and 
cuhninated  in  the  erection  of  a  fine  brick  building 
on  Franklin  street,  which  was  formally  dedicated 
in  1SS4.  The  premises  cost  uinvard  of  $7,000.  It 
H-a>  named  St.  Paul's  Chapel.  The  organization, 
under  tlie  direction  of  a  board  of  trustees,  has  been 
carried    on    successfully    until     t'l"    present     time. 


Church  services  are  held  regularly.  A  flourishing 
Sunday-J'rhool  is  also  maint.'iincd  and  heartily  en- 
couraged by  the  members. 

Ce.metekv. — In  1807  a  large  cemetery  was  laid 
out  in  the  place  on  a  lot  231  feet  by  709  feet,  situat- 
ed on  the  main  th.oroughfarc,  and  it  has  been  made 
very  attractive. 

.Schools. — In  1877,  the  borough  erected  a  fine 
two-story  brick  school  building  on  a  large  lot  of 
ground  at  a  cost  exceeding  $G,ti00.  A  superior  ad- 
dition was  built  to  it  in  1908-09,  costing  $10,000, 
with  all  the  modern  improvements.  Tlie  scliools 
are  graded,  well  managed,  and  the  scholars  number 
over  oOO. 

TOPTON 

Topton  is  situated  along  the  East  Penn  railroad, 
in  Longswamp  township,  near  the  line  of  Alaxa- 
tawny.  It  was  started  with  the  construction  of  the 
railre^ad  in  ISf/J  and  derived  its  name  from  its  lo- 
cation at  the  highest  point  on  the  railroad  between 
Reading  and  Allentown.  A  branch  railroad  to 
Kutztown  was  opened  for  travel  in  1870,  the  length 
being  five  miles. 

\\  hen  the  railroad  was  con.pleted  in  ISoO,  Top- 
ton  became  a  prominent  shipping  point,  more  es- 
pecially for  great  quantities  of  iron  ore  mined  in 
that  vicinity,  and  this  induced  the  immediate  erec- 
tion of  a  hotel  and  .several  business  stands.  The 
coal  and  lumber  yards  are  patronized  extensively 
and  have  developed  a  large  trade. 

Incorporation  and  Fir.st  Tax-xbles.- — -The  town 
was  incorporated  into  a  borough  in  1877,  and  the 
following  list  shows  the  names  of  the  first  taxables: 


Bear   &   Miller 

Charles   F.tar 

Benjamin  C.  F>ear 

James    Butz 

Henry  But/r 

Henry    G.    Bear 

John'Bobsl 

Bear   &    Gierke!    Co. 

!Manoah   Carl 

Peter  L.  Diener 

Tilglinian  DeLong 

Philip  Dclonpr 

William    Fenslermacher 

Frank    FeiT^termacher 

Heiiry  ^I.  Frccrl 

Peter  W.  Fisher 

Fenstcnnacher,  Trexle*-  &  Cc 

James   George 

William   M.   HofTinan 

.\hraham    Flilbert 

John  llemmig 

Daniel    D.    Flinterleiter 

Flilbert    Hinterlciter 

Hannah    Hiiitcrleiter 

Nathan   Ilcffner 

Levi   Klines 

Keul>cn   S.   Leibelspcrgcr 


Adam  J.  Liglitv 
Michael    H.    Miller 
Lewis    Moll 
David  Meikcl 
John   H.    Miller 
James    Madarcv 
Michael    IF    Miller 
Bcnjanin   Raul 
Henry   C.    Raut 
Joshua    Smith 
J.   D.   Sander 
Casper   Scyebartyn 
Abraham   Siegfried 
P'eter   Sterner 
Eugene  Sholl 
Llewellyn   Shabbel 
Joshua  Smith 
Sallie    Siegfried 
Charles    D.    Trexler 
Daniel    Trump 
Tonas  Tre.xlvr 
William  Trexler,   M. 
Charles  D.  Trexler 
Trexler  &  Moll 
Benjamin  Wisscr 
Esther  Zanglcy 


William   Baus 

Bear,  Dicroft  S:  Miller 

Samuel    B.uis 

Jacob   liechtel 

Be.ir  &  DcLong 

Peter   C.    O.nr.id 

John    Drollinger 


Tenants 

^fatthias  Deckcrt 
Henry   Diener 
Stephen    Dankle 
Diener  it   Carl 
John    ]">elp 
Thomas   Ixk 
Josiah  I'lsher 


.)  I  '•!'_:)  I 


■;>v;,i] 


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A'-} 


V.\     .,.■     ri.;i: 


■  I''  '""I ;../:»;,  tb  'jn 


,..    J.,.,,,,. 


K  ■■!      "•■■   r-^ii''.':      ',i._.'.i: 


262 


HISTORY   OF   BERKS    COUNTY,    rEXXSYL\'AXIA 


Kermaii  Fetterman  William  F.  Kerchner 

W'ilhelm  Frt-derick  James  .Miller 

Isaac  Fegley  John  J.  Reader 

John   Gamier  W  illiam  Rcinhard 

Charles  A.  K.  Grime  Thomas  Reichelderfer 

David   Gerhart  William   Scheerer 

Joshua  Hinterkiter  Henry   Sox 

Jonathan   Herring  Amentes  Sterner 

William  Halnian  Trexler  &   Moll 

William  F,   Heener  William  Weaver 

E.  J.  S.  Hoch  Miiiial  Wics 

William  Hilhert  J.  S.  Ward 

Si'tgle  Men 

Charles  Butz  Solon  H.  Fisher 

Benjamin  Carl  Jonathan  Sterner 

Henry  Ebett  Henry  Wiser 

List  of  Officials. — The  following  lists  show 
the  names,  of  the  chief  burgesses,  town  clerks  and 
justices  of  the  peace  since  the  incorporation  of  the 
borough : 

CHIEF  BURGESSES 

Peter  W.  Fisher   187V ;  1891 

John    Henning     1878-82 

S.    H.   Fisher    1883-86 

A.  C.   S.  Herman   18S7-88 

B.  F.    Lichtie    1S89 

Tilghman   DeLone    1890 

Charles    H.    Wiiler 1892 

Daniel    B.    Heist    1893-96 

Cvri'.s   Lessig    1897-1900 

Martin    Croll     1900-03 

W.    E.    Ebert     1903-06 

Benjamin    K.    Richer    1900-09 

James  McKecver   1909-12 

TOWN  CLERKS 

E.  J.  S.  Hoch  1878 

(Record  lost  from  1S70  to  1SS8) 

C.  D.    Trexler    188S 

F.  H.   Moyer    1889-02 

A.   S.  HefYner    1893 

M.  H.   Brendlingcr    1S94-1905 

Charles  H.  Schlcnker    1905-1910 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE 

L.    F.    Knhns     1877-85 

E.  J.  S.   Hoch    1877-82 

Dr.    W.    D.    Trexler    1882-89 

John    H.    Miller    1885-90 

Daniel    H.    HelTncr 1889-1901 

Cyras   Lessig    1890-94 

D.  D.  Hinterleiter    3894-99 

Harvey  A.  Miller   1899-1014 

Eldridge    Zimmerman* 1901  -00 

George  E.  Moll 1907-12 

BOROUGH  OFFICIALS  FOR  1909 
Chief  Burgess,  James   McKeever 
Town  Council,  Jacob   M.   Gtry,   President 

Tilghman  De  Long 

Adam  H.  Folk 

Jeremiah  Titlow 

C.  H.  Schwartz 

Irwin    Madeira 

William  H.   Smith 

Charles   H.    Schlcnker.   Clerk 
School  Board,  Dr.  C.  D.  Werlcy 

Levi    Walbcrt 

Frank   Moyer 

Jacob  Gnlhnoyer 

Michael   Miller 

Elmer  Croll 

*  Rfsigncd    upon    takinc    ofHce    of    Prothonotarv.    to    whicli    lie    was 
elected  in  November,  1906. 


Assessor,   Lewis    Keller 

Collector,  Charles  H.  Wisler 

Auditors,    1.    ?.    Madeira,    Elwood    F.    DeLong,    Frank    J. 

Fister 
Justices  of  the  Peace,   Harvey  A.   Miller,  George   E.   Moll 
Constable.  Jacob  H.  Wisler 
Road  Co)iiiiiissioucr,  Frank  Fensterm:iker 
Water  Coiiuiiissioner,  John  G.  Miller 

Post-Office. — A  post-office  was  established  at 
Topton  in  ISGl.  Daniel  D.  Hinterleiter  became  the 
postmaster  in  1897  and  he  served  until  his  decease, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  widow,  and  then  by 
his  daughter  Hannah,  evidencing  the  satisfactory 
service  to  the  community  rendered  by  his  family. 

IxDUSTRiFS. — After  the  Kutztown  branch  of  rail- 
road was  opened,  steps  were  taken  to  establish  an 
iron  furnace  along  the  main  line,  a  short  distance 
east  of  the  junction,  and  this  was  put  in  operation 
in  ISTl  by  a  company,  of  which  Isaac  ^^IcHose,  of 
Reading,  was  the  president.  It  was  operated  sev- 
eral years  but  then,  owing  to  the  panic,  suspended. 
The  Flckert  Brothers  at  Reading  carried  it  on  suc- 
cessfully for  about  ten  years  until  the  decease  of 
Henry  S.  Eckert ;  then  it  was  purchased  by  the  Em- 
pire Steel  &  Iron  Company,  which  since  1S94  has 
operated  it  successfully.  This  was  the  only  prom- 
inent industry  at  the  place  for  upward  of  twenty 
years.  Then  the  DcLong  Furniture  Factory  was 
started  in  1S80,  anfl  the  Rohrbach' Roller  Flour  ]^Iill 
in  ISS.j,  both  of  which  have  been  kept  in  active 
operation  ever  since,  with  their  trade  extending 
many  miles  into  the  surrounding  counties.  The 
store,  office  and  bar  fixtures  of  the  former  have  be- 
coine  very  popular  for  tlieir  neatness  and  durabil- 
ity. 

Since  19U0,  great  improvements  have  been  made 
here  in  the  erection  of  industrial  establishments  and 
fine  dwellings.  Besides  the  industries  named,  the 
borougli  includes  the  following: 

Undcrzvcar  Factory,  carried  on  by  O.  C.  Rohr- 
bach;  5"///.'  Mill,  by  the  Hartley  Manufacturing 
Company;  Hosiery  Mill,  by  the  Crown  Knitting 
Company;  Creamery,  by  A.  S.  Heffner;  Bakery, 
by  F.  A.  Trexler  :rc)/>/o;;  Ihvindry  and  Machine 
Works  (Inc.)  (transferred  from  Bernville)  ;  two 
lumber  and  coal  yards ;  three  general  stores ;  three 
hotels. 

The  number  of  employees  in  the  several  industries 
will  indicate  the  extent  of  the  business  affairs  in  the 
borough  in  190!i :  Furnace,  100  hands  ;  DeLong  fac- 
tory, GO;  silk  mill,  100;  hosiery  mill.  100;  under- 
wear mill.  30;  Topton  foinidrv,  2~). 

In  1907,  twenty  new  dwelling  houses  were  erec- 
ted; in  1908,  six:  and  arrangements  have  been  made 
for  erecting  twenty  in  1909. 

William  J.  Fritz  has  been  operating  a  large  and 
successful  saddlery  for  several  years,  which  is 
equipped  with  the  latest  machinery  for  the  manu- 
facture of  harness,  affording  constant  cm])loyment 
for   six   hands. 

Business  in  mining  and  shipping  iron  ore  here 
is  gradually  restinn'ng  in  1909  after  having  been 
suspended   for  about  fifteen  years. 


'•  '   '      .    ■';!     ft. 


■i  .;  •  ,  ;.i  ;;r>T 


•..'* 


BOROUGHS 


263 


Josiah  Fislior  carried  on  the  manufacture  of 
building-  brick  for  upwaril  ot  ihiiiy  years  until  in 
the  spring-  of  1I''HI,  when  the  plant  was  sold  to 
(icorge  Keiser. 

Practising  physicians  at  Topton  arc  Dr.  C.  D. 
W'erley  and  Dr.  George  Pflucgcr,  the  former  hav- 
ing been  here  upward  of  twenty  years. 

The  following  persons  prominent  in  business  at 
Reading-  reside  at  Topton: 

^[a^tin  S.  Croll  and  William  H.  Smith,  extensive 
wholesale  dealers  in  hats  since  1900.  Mr.  Croll  had 
been  the  deputy  Internal  Revenue  collector  of  the 
district  comprising  Berks  county  from  1893  to  1899. 

James  Trexler  has  been  filling  the  office  of  stamp 
clerk  in  the  Internal  Revenue  office  at  Reading  siu.ce 
1900. 

Eldridge  Zimmerman  has  been  officiating  as  pro- 
thonotary  of  the  county  since  January,  1907. 

National  Baxk. — A  national  bank  was  estab- 
lished in  the  borough  in  1885  with  a  capital  of 
$50,000,  and  carried  on  for  several  years.  A  sec- 
ond was  organized  in  1906  with  a  capital  of  $25,- 
000,  and  since  then  Alartin  S.  Croll  has  been  its 
president,  and  Albert  H.  Smith,  cashier.  In  Nov- 
ember, 190S,  the  total  resources  were  $137,484;  the 
individual  deposits,  5G,023  ;  and  time  deposits,  $25,- 
4-37. 

PuiiLIC    iMrROVEMENTS 

IVatcr-lVorks. — In  1S93,  the  borough  established 
water-works,  embracing  two  reservoirs  with  a  total 
capacity  of  350,000  gallons,  in  an  elevated  situation 
one  mile  south  of  the  place,  having  secured  a  large 
supply  of  superior  spring  water. 

The  streets  are  lighted  by  oil  lamps.  A  fire  com- 
pany was  organized  by  citizens  of  the  town  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1909,  and  named  the  Topton  Hose  Company. 
It  has  secured  a  hose  carriage  with  several  hundred 
feet  of  hose  and  over  fifty  taxpayers  have  been  en- 
rolled as  members. 

Trolley  Line. — A  trolley  line  of  railway  is  about 
being  constructed  from  Lyons  to  Allentown  by  way 
of  Topton  and  Alburtis. 

Auditoriiiiii. — In  1905,  M.  T.  Butz  erected  a 
frame  auditorium  for  entertainments.  It  has  a 
seating  capacity  of  several  hundred,  and  is  well 
patronized  by  church  festivals,  fairs,  lectures  and 
local  institutes. 

Churches. — 'In  1872,  members  of  the  Lutheran 
and  Reformcfl  denominations  residing  at  Topton 
united  in  erecting  a  brick  church,  and  the  congrega- 
tions have  been  carried  on  successfully  since  then, 
over  ISO  of  the  former  having  taken  conimunion  on 
Easter  Day,  1909,  and  over  IfiO  of  the  latter.  Ar- 
rangements are  being  made  for  the  erection  of  a 
larger  building;.  The  members  formerlv  attended  re- 
ligious services  in  churches  at  P.ower's,  Mertztown 
and  Longswamp. 

The  Evangelical  Association  organized  a  congre- 
gation in  1885  and  caused  t-hc  erection  of  a  church 
ni  1S8G,  which  has  been  maintained  until  now. 


Schools. — Th.e  borough  supports  three  schools 
in  a  superior  two-story  brick  building.  The  scholars 
number  more  than  one  hundred  and  the  annual  ex- 
penditures exceed  $1,200. 

ORPii.vNs'  Home. — In  1897,  the  Lutheran  Church 
established  a  fine  home  for  orphans  in  an  elevated 
position  a  short  distance  south  of  Topton,  which 
has  been  managed  in  a  very  successful  manner.  It 
was  started  with  three  inmates;  now  it  has  ninety 
(49  boys,  41  girls).  Annual  excursions  in  the  fall 
of  the  year  for  the  benefit  of  this  worthy  institution 
are  verv  largely  patronized.  A  similar  home  is 
maintained  by  the  Reformer  Church  at  Womelsdorf . 
[Mentioned  in  Ontelaunee  Section,  Chapter  XII.] 

LENHARTSYILLE 

IxcoRPOR.VTiON. — Lenhartsvillc  "is  the  second 
smallest  borough  in  the  county.  It  is  situated  along 
the  Ontelaunee  creek  in  the  western  end  of  Green- 
wich township,  from  which  it  was  taken  at  the 
time  of  its  incorporation  in  1887.  It  embraces  48 
dwellings,  2  hotels,  3  stores  and  a  blacksmith  shop, 
with  a  population  of  140,  the  number  having  grad- 
ually decreased  for  the  last  twenty  years.  The  ho- 
tels are  supplied  with  superior  running  spring 
water. 

The  place  was  named  after  tlie  Lcnhart  family 
which  settled  in  the  township  at  this  point  before 
the  erection  of  the  county.  It  ha.,  been  known  by 
this  name  for  over  a  hundred  years.  The  opera- 
tion of  several  large  grist-mills  in  the  vicinity  gave 
it  prominence ;  and  its  situation  on  the  "State  Road" 
f which  extends  across  the  northern  section  of  the 
countv  parallel  with  the  P>luc  Alountains)  contrib- 
uted toward     its  importance  as  a  business  center. 

First  Taxables  of  Borough. — The  taxable  res- 
idents of  the  borough  at  t!ie  time  of  its  incorpora- 
tion were  as  follows : 


John  I>.  Levan 
Mrs.  Geoige  Leiby 
Mrs.  Jnnics  Leiby 
John   Miller,  Sr. 
Joseph    Mattern 
J    William  .X.  Mattern 
John    Pfeifly 
Benjaniin    Riegelman 
John   K.   Seaman 
Moses    Stein 
William    Waxwood 
Renjaniin    Weiss 
Wilson  M.  Werley 
Mrs.    Seth    Zicgler 

Totants 

Jacob    Rhoads 
Daniel  Rcidcnaur 
Daniel   R.    Seip 
O.    G.    Ycnser 
Lafayette  ZeUelnioyer 
.-\Ileii    Zettelmoyer 
Charles   D.    Zicgler 


Daniel   x'Xdam 
Daniel   Fenstemaker 
James  S.   Focht 
^Trs.    Peter   Fister 
^L'ilinda   Greenawalt 
Samuel    Gchrct 
George   F.   Tiny 
Henry  Hardinger 
Jonathan  G.  Hinkle 
Frank   Kramer 
Charles    A.    Leiby 
Allen  E.  Levan 
Francis   P>.   Levan 
William  E.  Levan 
Jacob   B.   Levan 

WilliaiTi   .\dam 
Glancy  Drv 
William    Fberly 
Tames   Gravliam 
Frank    Hill 
p.cnjamin   Leihv 
John    Miller.    Jr. 
John    W.    Rebcr 

Clayton  .\dams  Irwin   W.   Leiby 

George  De  Long  George    W.    Zieglcr 

List  of  Oifici.\i..s. — The  following  li-ts  comprise 
the     names    of    the    principal    otTicials    who   have 


^>■l^{ 


liti-.-        I.uivr 


,-fv;  ;.  -    ,,•   .;.  :|  , 


.;;,-;-. t    h'Mii 


.V  \  .;  p  .'.•(*..' 


■.'G4 


JIISTOm"    UI-     r.RRKS    COUX'TV,    PEXXSVLWWIA 


serve,.!  since  the  incorporation  of  tlie  Uoroui^li.  On- 
Iv  one  justice  of  tiie  peace  ha^  been  elected  (  though 
entitled  to  two  as  a  di-lricti,  owing'  to  tiie  sniall- 
ness  of  the  place : 

CHIKF   I;URGF..SS!-:S 

George  F.   Huv 18S7-91 

Charles   D.  Zicgler 1891-02 

James  S.  Focht lS'J2-95 

Charles  A.  Lcibv 180.-)-0S  :  1002-05 ;  ismo-io 

Dniiicl   J.    Seip.! 1S9S-1902 

William    V.    Herring ]'J0:)-09 

Towx  cli:rks 

Oliver   G.    Vciiser ISST-SO 

Wilson  M.   Werlev 1889-01 

George   F.    Huy 1891-94 

J.   Wm.  A.   M;iuen, 1894-190.-) ;    19UT-0'9 

Dr.  O.  F.   Kuiikcl 1905-07 

Dr.  L.  R.  Rothennel 19O'j-i0 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE 

James   S.  Focht 1887-95 

J.  Wm.  A.  -Matiern 1895-1910 

BOROUGH  OFFICIALS— 1909 

Chief    fliiri^css.     Charles    .\.    Leiby 

Toz>.'n   Coiiiuil,     William  F.  Peters,  President 

Albert  Hein,  Treasurer 

William  Waxwcod 

P>ciijamin   Leiby 

Alfred   Balthastr 

F.    B.   Levan 

Dr.  L.  R.  Rothennel.  Sccreta.^ 
SchL<o!  Board.     Dr.  L.  R.  Rothermel,  Piesiuent 

J.  William  A.   Mattern,  Sccret'Tv 

Jacob  Levan.  Treasmer 

Glar.cy  L.  Dry 
'  Harvey  A.   Sariir 

Alfred   F.   Hei.r 
Justice  of  the   Pence.     J.   William   A.   Mattern 
Coiist'iblc.     C    Clayttin   C.   .Adams 
.-iuditoi'S,     George    F.    Huy 
Jacob    Rhoad 
G.   F'rank   F.berly 
Assessor,     Robert  j.  Peters 
Collector,     (\'acantj 

PosT-(.)FMCi:.^The  jiost-office  was  estahli-hed 
in  1854,  at  the  furnace  store,  east  of  the  creek. 
When  the  borough  was  erected,  it  was  removed  to 
this  place,  and  since  then  Glancy  L.  Dry  and  John 
W.  Reber  have  been  the  postmasters. 

BusiXE.s.s. — F.  B.  Levan  has  been  successfully 
and  extensivclv  engaged  in  the  general  store  busi- 
ness for  u{)ward  of  twenty  years.  He  is  also  oper- 
ating a  creamery  and  butcher  shoi\ 

A.  F.  Hein  lor  several  years  has  carried  on  a 
wheelwright  shop  and  blacksmith  shop.  Pie  is  also 
engaged  as  a  dealer  in  farming  implements. 

Stage  lines  were  operated  from  Lenhartsville  to 
Strausstown  to  the  west  and  to  Alleniown  to  the 
northeast,  for  upward  of  twenty  year^  until  1001. 
when,  on  account  of  the  Rural  Free  Deliverv,  the 
former  line  was  di>continued,  and  the  latter  was 
limited  to  W'eiscnburg. 

The  Maiden-creek  charcoal  furnace  was  erected 
in  1S54  by  George  Merkel  a  short  distance  cast  of 
the  village,  and  successfully  operated  for  thirty 
}cars,  the  last  proprietor  having  been  Jacob  K. 
Spang-  of  Reading.     When  the  IJerk;  Countv  rail- 


road was  constructed  along  the  creek  in  ls■^4.  the 
Lenhart-^villc  station  became  a  busy  shipping  ])oini. 

[Statistic^  relating  to  the  borough  will  be  found 
in  Chapter  IX.] 

F.Dt;(.'.\Tio.\. — 'A  school  building  was  established 
upon  the  erection  of  the  borough,  and  this  has  been 
occupied  since  for  school  jmriJoses.  But  the  num- 
ber of  pupils  iias  been  small,  being  now  o3.  There 
is  no  church  in  the  place  aurl  no  factory,  the  spirit 
of  manufacturing  enterprise  never  having  been  en- 
couraged by  the  property  holders. 

The  "Sons  of  America"'  (Camp  Xo.  ^>'M)  organ- 
ized here  in  If^Oo,  and  they  erected  a  tine  hall  for 
their  meetings,  costing  SI  .400 

"Blui;  Rocks"  is  a  point  of  mterest  within  two 
miles  northwest  of  the  town.  It  comprises  a  depos- 
it of  large  rocks,  blue  in  appearance  from  exposure, 
which  cover  an  area  of  thirty  acres.  The  rum- 
bling of  hidden  waters  underneath  is  distinctiv  aud- 
ible. The  formation  has  the  appearance  of  having 
been  caused  bv  a  washout  on  the  iiillside  many 
years  ago.  and  is  situated  several  hundred  yards 
below  the  top  of  the  hill. 


BECHTELSVILLE 

Incorpor.xtio.v. — The  borough  of  Bechtelsville 
was  incorporated  on  Sept.  11,  1890.  the  boun- 
dary lines  including  191  acres.  The  territory  was 
taken  frcnn  Washington  townsliip.  It  wa^  named 
after  the  John  .S.  Bechtel  faniilv  wliicli  ha^  been 
prominent  in  that  immediate  vicinity  from  the  time 
of  the  first  settlements  before  the  erection  of  the 
county.  It  is  situated  alon.g  the  Colebrookdale  rail- 
road, three  miles  beyond  Bo\ertown.  The  construc- 
tion of  this  railroad  in  1SG9  was  the  direct  cause  of 
the  formation  of  a  considerable  settlement  at  thi- 
point:  and  the  erection  of  a  large  iron  furnace  here 
in  1875  also  encouraged  building  operations. 

FiR.ST  T.w.M'.r.F.s. — The  first  ta.xables  of  the  bi.ir- 
oucfh  were  a^   fcillows : 


Flam  P.eclUel  Est. 
Mary  Bechtel  Est. 
Eli    Bechtel 
David    H.    Bechtel 
Oliver  Brunner 
James    Bechtel 
Sarah    Bechtel 
Jacob    Bowman 
William    Conrad 
John    Conrad 
Allen   F.  Ijcy>her 
Jeremiah     Dierulf 
Xaihaniel   Deni;lcr 
Mathias    Dotterer 
Sarah  Dcvsher 
Horace  Fisher 
Walter  Fisher 
I'zra    Frey 
Elizabeth    F'rehn 
Henrv   Geist 
William   Groft" 
1  lenry  S.  GeisI 
Henry    S.    Gilbert 
Joseph    Heydt 
John    Hoffman 
Jacob  F".  Hcvdt 


Orlando   Haas 
William  Haas.  Sr. 
ThoiT,.is   Hoffma!! 
Willi;im   V.    Knerr 
F"raiik    Minner 
Thomas  R.  Milk-r 
Tobias   Moyer 
Joseph   H.   Moyer 
Jeremiah    Moyer 
Charles    Mover 
Henrv  W.   Slilb- 
David    Miller 
Jacob   Moyer 
.\melia    Moyer 
.Amanda  Morey 
Jacol)    B.    Oberholtzer 
Amos  Oberholtzer 
Lizzie  Oberholtzer 
Henry    F.    Shciry 
Henry  H.  Stauffer 
Charles  F.  Stanijier 
Harrison    Sehocnlv 
Daniel  Slu.llenb,  rv;er 
John  S.  Stall  iTer 
Henry  ^'oiin;,' 


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:  ..«  // 


BOROUGHS 


2G5 


Tenants 

Ambrose   Ackermnii  llciirv    Kehl 

David    O.    Bcchtcl  Daniel   Keller 

I'Vuiionl  Borneiiuiii  George    Moser 

William  Bcclitel  Heniy   .Miikr 

Amos   Conrad  Uornce  Miller 

Nathaniel  Erb  Samuel    Mest 

Allen  Fretz  Jostpli    Morey 

Horace  Fisher  Jacob    L.    Rcif 

James  Fronheiser  John  Reitenaiier 

Jacob  Gottschalk  Augustus  Rcinliart 

Keiiben   Glaes  Jo?i[)h  Reitenauer 

Oliver  I-lnlTnian  'Wilham   Speclit 

Henry   R.    Herb  Frank  Sjieclu 

Henry  Honck  Anthony  Sharp 

Jacob  Haas  Reuben   Stver 

J.   K.   Hinkel  Lewis  Wcller 

Josiah    Hunsberger  Irwin    Voder 

Single  Men 

John    Kehl  David   Slangier 

Samuel   Kehl  Samuel  Stauttcr 
Menno  v^berliolt;:er 

In  li)0().  tliere  were  SS'dwcllings  in  the  plncc.  and 
14?  taxaliles.  The  total  assessed  prapert\-  amomned 
to  $13'2,700;  and  the  money  at  interest,  $2(!..')Gj. 

List  of  Offjcials. — The  following;  persons  filled 
the  positions  of  chief  Imrgcss  and  justice  nf  the 
peace : 

CHIEF  BURGESSES 

Orlando    Haas    1S91-9V 

Irvin  ^'oder 1S07-1900 

Jacob    B.    Oberholtzer 1900-0:! 

Guldin    G.    Voder 1903-0r> 

Jeremiah    Dicrolf    lOOC-OU 

Amos   B.   Oberholtzer tOOO-i:.* 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE 

Vi.  H.   Dottorer 1891-1007 

H.   C.    Schoenly 1S91-9:J 

Frank  H    Minnrr 1893-96 

Franklin   M.   Glacs 189G-190:i 

William  A.   Henry   1903-13 

Bernard  L.  Kutz 1907-12 

BOROUGH  OFFICIALS— 1909 
Chief  fiurgrss.     Amos    B.    (Jberiioltzer 
Tozi'n  Council.     Henrv  W.   ?>!il!er,   President 

George   Bartholomew.  Trea>urer 

Orlando    Haas 

Adam    Hess 

Reuben    Kramer 

Henry   H.    StaulTer 

Henry    Shirey 

Peter    Brumbach 

Irwin  B.  Kehs,  Secretary 
School  Hoard,     Jacob    F.    Mover,    President 

Allen    Erb,    Secretarv 

James    Fronheiser,    Treasurer 

William   A.    Henrv 

Isaac   Mover 

George    P.artholomow 
Justices  of  thr  Peace,     William  A.   Henry 

Bernard  Kutz 
Constable.  William   M.  C.  Grote 
Auditors,     Abraham  Heydl 
Charles    Hirsch 
Assessor.     Jacob    F.    Mover    , 
Collector,     Horace    B.    Fisher 

PoST-Oi'i-Jcr.. — The  post-othce  was  e-'tal)li-~lK\l  in 
IS.j',?  by  the  name  of  r>echte!svi!le.  evidencinij^  that 
th.c  place  wa--  so  knuwn  at  tiiat  time.  David  Lat- 
shaw  has  been  ]io>tmaster  since  lOo:?.  lie  'succeeded 
lacob  L.  Rei ff. 


BfSiN'ESS. — In  .\pril.  rjiH).  the  borough  contained 
the  following-: 

Hotels   2  Tinsmith    shop 

Stor.'S    2  Shoemaker    shop 

Hardware  store  Cord   yard 

Liveries     2  i'lour  and   feed  store 

Millinery  store  Blacksmith  sh'ips 2 

Saddlery  Painters  &  paper  hangers.. 2 

Barber  shop  Tailor 

Printing  office  Restaurant 

Butcher    shop  Physician 

The  estimated  population  tiien  was  TAX) ;  dwelling- 
houses,  100. 

Since  the  erection  of  the  borough,  the  streets  have 
been  lighted  at  niglu  by  oil  lamps  set  on  posts. 

Pumps  are  still  used  for  water  supply. 

IxDUbTRiEs. — The  oldest  industrial  plant  at  llech- 
telsville  is  the  three-story  stone  grist  mill  which  was 
operated  as  such  for  upward  of  seventy  years,  hav- 
ing been  started  by  Alfred  Siesholtz.  It  is  equi])- 
pcd  with  roller  prcKess  machinery  for  the  manu- 
facture of  flour.  But  for  the  last  several  years 
it  has  been  engaged  in  chopping  feed  for  the  farm- 
ers of  the  vicinity.  Previou^iy  it  had  been  a  prom- 
inent oil-mill  for  many  year-.  It  is  now  operated 
by  Abraha)n  Ilcydt   (since  I'M/.')),  with  tv>-o  hands. 

Another  chopping-mill  is  run.  at  the  southern 
end  of  the  town  by  Maliloii  J'^^idcuaiicr  (since 
liiOl);  wdiich  had  previously  been  a  grist-mill 
for  many  years.  In  coimection  with  this  mill.  Mr. 
Reidenauer  established  a  plan'ng-mill  in  r.i'i.s, 
which  he  has  been  operating-  witii  four  hands. 

Xear  this  mill,  Henry  Young  started  a  cream- 
ery about  ISS.j  and  carried  on  business  extensive- 
ly •for  a  number  of  years.  It  has  been  operated 
by  H.   H.  Staiiffcr  for  about  fifteen  years. 

W'illiatii  Conrad  engaged  in.  the  undertaking  bus- 
iness about  1875,  and  several  years  afterward  es- 
tablished a  large  cabinet-making  siiop.  which  he 
carried  on  extensively  in  the  iTiannfactme  of  fur- 
niture. He  is  still  in  the  business,  and  also  deals 
in  furniture  and  household  goods. 

Fisher  Brotiicrs  (Walter  and  Horace)  have  been 
engaged  in  manufacturing  carriages  at  Bechtels- 
ville  since  1S8T.  They  employ  five  hands.  A 
wheelwright  shop  is  also  carried  on  at  this  plant 
for  heavy  wagons  and  repairs 

NatluDiicl  G.  liru  started  a  bakery  here  in  1880 
and  since  then  has  developed  a  large  trade  wdiich 
extends  into  the  surrounding  country  for  many 
miles.  He  manufactures  and  distributes  daily 
about  a  thou.-^and  loaves  of  bread  :  also  large  quan- 
tities of  cakes  and  i)retzels.  1  le  employs  nine 
hands  and  requires  three  delivery  teams.  During 
the  summer  season  he  "maiiufacturc>  many"  terns 
of  ice-cream  and  candy  for  picnics. 

Otctj;  H  off  man  has  carrie<l  on  a  marble  yard  for 
upward  of  twenty  years.  He  located  at  Bcchtels- 
ville  in  1877. 

llffijis^cr  F.ib  started  a  cigar  factorv  in  190,s  and 
emplovs  two  hands.  He  also  mainifactures  chew- 
ing tobacco. 


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2GG 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXNSYIA'AXIA 


Kiit::  Knitting  Mi'!.— In  1905  S.  Jairus  Kutz  of 
Rcailiiig-  located  at  Bechlclsvillc  and  started  tlie 
nianufacLurt  of  men's  and  ladies'  hosiery  on  the 
second  floor  of  the  tinsmith  shop,  bnt  his  busi- 
ness grew  so  rapidly  that  he  was  obliged  to  put 
up  a  building-.  In  19U7  he  erected  a  tine  three- 
story  cement  block  factory  and  equipped  it  with 
machinery.  Hi^  tuo  sons  Calvin  J.  and  Bernard 
L.  are  associated  with  him,  anrl  they  are  trading 
under  the  name  of  l^'iitz  Knitting  Mill.  They  cm- 
ploy   from   forty  to  fifty  hands. 

Dicrolf  Orchard. — Jeremiah  Dicrolf  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  pants  at  Bechtclsville  for 
upward  of  fifteen  years  until  19<)r>,  when  his  liands 
left  and  entered  tlic  hosiery  mill  He  then  direct- 
ed his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit  and  ber- 
ries on  a  tract  of  land  adjoining  the  borough  and 
he  has  been  very  successful.  He  planted  upward 
of   "^,500   trees — apple,  peach  and   plum. 

Crusher. — la  16'^ih,  a  large  blast  furnace  was 
erected  here  at  a  cost  exceeding  $150,000,  and  it 
was  operated  for  ten  years  by  the  Pottstown  Iron 
Company  and  the  Gabel  Brothers  from  Pottstown. 
Some  years  aftcrw:ird  it  was  dismantled  and  torn 
down  by  the  P.  i^  R  R.  Co.  The  large  and  val- 
uable cinder  bank  induced  the  erection  of  a  crush- 
er plant  by  Jacob  \'.  R.  Hunter  and  William  Kline, 
who  operated  it  until  ^'^'M,  when  ]\Ir.  Kline  be- 
came the  sole  owner,  and  in  1907  he  sold  it  ti)  the 
I'lhret  Slag  Company.  'J  he  estimated  deposit  of 
cinder  tliere  is  100,000  tons,  superior  for  concrete 
work. 

Cmukcii  axi)  Sciroot.s. — A  fine,  large,  two- 
story  brick  church  was  erected  iti  JSSG  by  mem- 
bers of  tlie  Lutheran  and  Reformed  denominatid'ns, 
and  services  have  been  conducted  since.  The  mem- 
bers support  a  flourishing  Sunday-school.  The 
Lutheran  members  number  150;  the  Reformed, 
75. 

Two  schools  are  maintained  in  tlie  b'^rough. 
The  scholars  number  72.  .\  one-story  brick  build- 
ing was  erected  by  the  borough  in  1S90. 

Hall. — The  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  .America, 
Camp  No.  ?>'li,  erected  a  fine  tiirec-story  cement- 
block  building.  The  first  and  second  floors  are 
occupied  for  dwelling  purposes  ;  and  the  third  floor 
is  set  apart  as  the  Canip's  Hall.  .-Vn  auxiliary  cam>p 
meets  there  also — the  Patriotic  Order  of  Ameri- 
cans, No.  40.  composed  of  women  ;  it  has  upward 
of  fifty  members.  The  cost  of  the  building  was 
$G,000.  

MOUNT   PENN 

iNCORroRATiox. — Mount  Penn  was  established 
as  a  borough  out  of  a  small  portion  nf  Lower  Al- 
sace townshij)  on  Nov.  7,  1902.  The  boundary 
lines  inclose  242  acres,  IIG  perches.  It  adjoins 
Reading  on  tlie  -;niUhcast. 

The  place  was  known  as  "Dengler's''  from  1841 
to  1902.  Jiaving  been  named  after  fieorge  Den- 
gler,  Esq.,  the  fir.-l  piominent  eiti/iu  of  that  vicin- 
ity;   who,    in    L-^iO,    purchased    'ihe    Keehn    tavern 


and  tifty-si.x  acres  of  land  there  and  took  posses- 
sion in  1841.  He  conducted  tiie  tavern  several 
times  himself,  altogether  about  ten  years,  but  the 
premises  were  mostly  rented  until  his  decease  in 
18(;u.  lie  served  in  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  from  1855  to  1SG5,  and  was  highly  respect- 
ed in  the  community.  The  tavern  was  an  old- 
established  stand  in  1840,  and  had  been  a  popular 
stopping  place  for  teamsters  on  their  way  from 
upper  sections  of  the  county  to  Philadelphia  with 
grain,  etc.,  before  the  opening  of  the  railroad  in 
1838. 

After  the  East  Reading  Street  Railway  line  was 
extended  to  Black  Bear  and  to  Stony  Creek  in 
1890,  more  especially  after  the  opening  of  Car- 
sonia  Park,  dwelling-houses  at  this  place  began 
to  increase  rapidly.  When  the  trolley  line  to  Black 
Bear  was  extended  to  Birdsboro,  the  street  cars 
to  that  place  from  Reading  proceeded  by  way  of 
]\Iount  Penn. 

In  1909,  the  borough  included  140  dwellings; 
about  400  inhabitants;  two  churches  (Lutheran  and 
Reformed),  two-story  brick  school  building,  two 
carriage  factories,  organ  factory,  paper-sack  fac- 
tory, coal  yard,  two  hotels,  four  stores,  and  a  res- 
taurant ;  there  were  three  painters,  a  large  con- 
tractor, and  a  physician.  Many  of  the  houses 
are  attracti\e,  and  one  is  particidarly  worthy  of 
notice,  John  ( r.  Spcidel's,  formerly  r)r.  D.  B.  D. 
Beaver's,  erected  by  lulward  S.  Kremj),  Esq. 

The  Aulenbach  cemetery  is  situated  in  the  west- 
ern section;  also  the  Antictam  filtering  beds  of 
the  Reading  Waaler  Works,  The  former  was  es- 
tablished in"^  1851;  the  latter  in  1905. 

In  1884,  A.  F.  Reeser  and  Kendall  Brothers 
laid  out  a  town,  including  Dengltr's,  and  named 
it  "Woodvale."  Many  lots  were  sold,  and  a  mmi- 
ber  of  dwellings  were  erected,  but  the  name  W'as 
not  adopted  by  the  public. 

A  post-office,  by  the  tiame  of  "Dengler's,"  w^as 
established  in  1884,  and  this  was  continued  imtil 
the  borough  was  erected  in  1902, 

The  streets  are  lighted  by  arc  electric  lights  un- 
der contract  with  the  ^letropolitan  Electric  Com- 
pany. 

A  hose  company,  with  hook  and  ladder  truck, 
chemical  engine,  and  modern  appliances,  was  or- 
ganized in  1903,  and  it  has  eighty  members.  A 
town  hall  was  erected  in  190G. 

U'atcr  Company. — In  1903,  the  IMt.  Penn  Sub- 
urban Water  Comjiany  was  organized  and  incor- 
porated with  a  capital  of  $12,000,  for  the  purpose 
of  supplying  the  citizens  of  Mt.  Penn  and  vicinity 
with  water  for  domestic  u~e^  and  for  ]_ir(">tection 
against  fire.  The  Adams  farm,  a  mile  east  of  Den- 
gler's, was  secured  and  there  the  c<~>mpany  estab- 
lished a  reservoir  with  a  ca|iacitv  of  (iOO.OoO  q-al- 
lons,  and  a  large  dam  with  a  capacity  of  3.O00,- 
nuo  gallons.  Mains  were  then  put  down,  in  length 
about  six  miles.  The  patrons  number  210,  The 
organizers  were  Dr,  M,  L.  Bertoletle,  Mnrlin  D. 
Hunter,   Louis    Kraemer,    !•".,    D.    Nein,   and    H.    S. 


'-.;    r 


,    .•■   • f/--> 


BOROUGHS 


267 


Hinncrshitz — the  first  having  been  the  president 
of  the  company,  and  the  second  the  secretary  and 
treasurer,  since  its  organization.  Pipe  Hnes  are 
extended  to  Stony  Creek  and  Black  Bear.  The 
sanitary  conditions  are  superior  and  highly  com- 
mended by  the  State  authorities. 

First  Taxaeles. — The  names  of  tlie  first  taxa- 
bles  of  the  borough  \vere  as  follows : 


Charles  W.  HiniuTshitz 
■William  P.  Hilbert 
Jacob  L.  KetteriT 
Charles   O.   Lfvan 
Bhisiiis   Leightliaiii 
Charles  H.  Longacre 
Howard   Longacre 


George   Irvin   Longacre 
Samuel  Xein 
Wilson    Xein 
John    Schlegel 
Albert  Schkgel 
Morris  Troiit 
Samuel  Texter 


Daniel   N.  Albright 
Marguerite    Albright 
William   11.   Albright 
John    D.    Rarth 
A.ndrevv  Bornhart  Est. 
Henry  E.  Barth 
Elizabeth   AL    Brown 
James   D.    Bad'- 
Catharine    Bcrtolet 
Dr.  M.  L.  Bertolette 
Julia   L.   Brown 
Dr.    Beaver 
Tohn  H.  Clark 
David  D.   Dundore 
Howard    Deyshcr 
Emma  A.  Endlich 
Henry    C.    Estcrly 
John  S.  E-^terly 
John   R.   I'olk 
Herman    P'isher 
Annie  Griesemer 
Elizabeth   Giasscr 
H.    S.    Hinnershilz 
Gregory  Heine 
George  B.   ITartman 
Christian   Ilartman 
George  C.  Hartline 
L.    W.    Hinnershitz 


Ixiyal  Burkholder 
Charles   Rroodman 
Wesley    iM.    Burd 
A.   Mason   Bright 
George   T.   Brown- 
Amos   Boyer 
John  W.  Barth 
Christian  Conz 
Sarah   A.   Canfel 
Joseph  Davis 
Jacob  Esterlv 
J.   W.   Eyricii 
Michael  Eyrich 
George   Fox 
Jacob    Folk 
William  O.  Fry 
Daniel   D.   Gehras 
Peter  Glasser 
Valentine  Graeff 
Howard  E.  Gerhard 
Edward    Howard 
Thomas  Hartman 
William  Homan 
Jacob    Hilbert 
William  nassen 
James  H.  Harncr 
J.   F.  U.  Koch 
Charles    A.    Kcehn 
Charles  KefTer 

Louis    Bernhart 
Harry    Barth 
Harry  Bit/er 
Charles  Barth 
Harvey  Bernhart 


Daniel   B.   Keehn 
Peter    B.    Keehn 
John    B.   Keehn 
Emily   D.   W.    Kline 
William  O.  Leinbach 
Percival  Leinbach 
George  A.   Lcvan 
Henry    S.    Lutz 
Philip    Louman 
Tames    Longacre 
John  T.  Miller 
Irvin    Manwiller 
J.    H.    Mohn 
David  Xein 
Jonathan   Xein 
Elmer  K.  Palm 
-A-dam   Palm  . 

Daniel    Q.    Reider 
Samuel    .Steiger 
Charles  R.  Seyfert 
Mrs.    .Solomon    Stoner 
Adam    Schlegel 
Charles   Schlegel 
.\nios   Schlegel 
Mrs.   Ellen   Tiout 
James   Texter 
John   Zechman 
Joseph   Zuber 

Tenants 

Charles    M'   Kline 
Frank  E.  Kauffman 
Edward  Kiebach 
Harry    Kemp 
Harvey   Keehn 
John  Lindcmuth 
Levi    Lesfig 
Reuben   Mo\er 
Charles  Miller 
James    J.    Madeira 
Samuel    Xein 
Milfprd    .Xein 
Daniel    R.   Quinter 
Charles    B.    Prutzman 
Francis    B.    Palm 
Charles  H.  Ruppert 
George  W.   Russel 
John   Rudy 
Benjamin  E.  Rake 
Mrs.  Sarah  S.  Reider 
Ira  J.  J.  Reber 
John  J.   Scarlet 
John   Sutlers 
.Mvah  O.  .Schaeffer 
Bovd   W.   Von    Xeida 
G.   W.   Wagner 
Thomas  Weidner 
Edward  Ycrgcy 
Charles    Youse 
Single  Men 

Frank   Clark- 
Jacob   R.   Estcrly 
Harry   S.    Estcrly 
George  S.   Esterlv 
James    Finerfrock 


First  Officials. — The  first  officials  were  elect- 
ed in  February,  11K")3,  and  their  names  were  as 
follows : 

Chief  Burgess,  George  C.  Hartline 
Tozi'ii  Council,     John    Clark,    (3    years) 
D.  D.   Xein    (3  years') 
Dr.  M.  L.  Bertolette  (3  years) 
W.  O.   Leinbach    (2  years) 
G.   A.    Levan    (2   years) 
David  D.  Dundore    (I  vear) 
J.  L\   Brady   (.1  year) 
Auditor,     I.    N'.    Manwiller 
Tax  Collector,     John   K.   Folk 
School  Director,     E.  W.  Hinnershitz   (3  years) 
Elmer  E.   Palm   (3  years) 
John  G.  Eslerly   (2  years) 
George  C.  Hartline  (2  years) 
■  Samuel   Reifsnyder   (I  year) 
David  D.  Dundore  (1  year) 
Judge  of  Election,     Milford   Xein 
Inspectors,     Samuel    XVin,    Sr. 
Peter  B.  Kcehn 

In  1900,  H.  S.  Hinnershitz  was  elected  as  the  sec- 
ond chief  burgess   for  a  term  of  three  years. 

BOROl^GH   OFFICIALS— 1909 
Chief   Burgess,     George    L.    Dengler 
Town  Council,     Irvin   N.   Manwiller 
George    Hartman 
Henry   Barth 
Henry    Estcrly 
Ira  Reber 

William    Albright  '  '      "' 

William    Leinbach 
To-ivn  Clerk,     George   C.   Hartline 
School  Directors,     H.    S.    Bciteinan,    President 
George  C.  Hartline,  Secretary 
John  Keeim 
Mason   A.   Bright 
Edward  G.  Christian 
Albert    R.    Schlegel 
Auditors,    Joseph    B.    Gauter 
W.   Hinnershitz 
R.    Tomlinsen 
Assessor,     John    Lecdom 
Tax  Collector,    John  Folk 
Justice  of  the  Peace,     George  C.  Hartline 
Constable,     Harry    Xeff 

Industries 

Carriage  Factory. — The  first  industry  at  this 
place  was  the  carriage  factory  of  Joseph  Albright. 
He  had  been  engaged  in  carriage-making  at  Kutz- 
town  and  rottsville  for  some  years  and  removed  to 
Dengler's  about  ISCT,  where  he  continued  in  the 
business  imtil  ISSG,  when  his  sons  William  and 
Daniel  succeeded  him.  After  being  together  for 
a  year,  William  retired  and  he  then  worked  at 
different  places  as  a  journeyman  coach-maker  for 
several  years,  when  he  returned  to  Dengler's.  His 
father  dying  then.  Willian\  became  the  owner  of 
tlie  property,  and  he  has  since  carried  on  the  busi- 


'I:,'' 


.'■/,''  ;>v 


•.'(;>^ 


HISTORY    OF    P.EKKS    COl'XTV,    PKXXSYI AAXIA 


nc-s.  nianu fact u ring  carria,c;os  and  light  Inisiiic^-s 
wagons  and  making  a  >])cciaUy  of  ruljljcr  tiring. 
W'licn  ho  took  llic  old  place,  hi-,  hrothrr  iJaniel 
cstabli-^liL-d  a  carriage  lactorv  on  the  ojipo-ite  ^ide 
of  the  .street,  and  he  too  lias  iijcn  engaged  in  the 
business  until  the  present  time. 

OrgLtii  Factory. — Sannud  I'.oh.ler  \\a-.  engaged 
in  manufacturing  pipe-organs  at  Reading  from 
185U  to  IS'.M.I.  Elmer  Palm  learned  organ-building 
under  Rohler  and  continued  with  liim  until  his 
death  when  he  established  a  factory  at  Dengler's, 
and  here  he  has  been,  engaged  in  tlie  business  un- 
til the  present  time,  manufacturing  organs  accord- 
ing to  orders  received,  for  private  dwellings  and 
for  churclies.  His  trade  is  c<jr,hned  almo^t  en- 
tirely to  Pennsylvania.  He  employs  from  six  to 
ten  hands. 

Paper  Bag  Factory. — Wellington  Hinncrshitz 
started  the  manufacture  of  paper  iluur-sack^  at 
iMt.  Penn  in  l'JU4  and  has  continued  until  the 
present  time. 

Nci)i  Coal  Yard. — In  ISST,  Augustus  H.  Wcnt- 
zel  and  D.  D.  Nein  established  a  large  coa!  yard 
and  a  nonr,  feed  and  grain  business.  After  con- 
ducting them  for  t\\C)  vears  \\'entzel  retired  and 
Mr.  Xein's  brother  Joseph  D.  took  hi^  place.  Since 
then  the  business  lias  been  canieil  on  by  them  in 
a  successful  manner  under  the  name  of  Xein 
Brothers. 

General  Store. — Irvin  X.  Manwiller  established 
a  general  store  at  the  place  in  l.'--'.i:!  and  has  con- 
tinned   in  business   there   until    the   jiresent   time. 

Building  Contractor. — Charles  Schlegel  located 
here  in  1903,  in  the  business  of  erecting  houses, 
and  has  been  successfully  engaged  imlil  now.  em- 
ploying upward  of  thirty  hands. 

CfiUKCHES. — In  18So,  the  Trinity  Lutheran  Con- 
gregation of  Reading  erected  n  one-story  frame 
chapel  at  Dengler's,  which  was  called  "Faitli," 
and  church  and  Sunday-scliool  services  have  been 
conducted  in  it  until  now. 

In  18!iT,  many  adherents  of  the  Reformed  de- 
nomination (about  thirtv  in  number),  who  resid- 
ed at  and  near  Dengler's,  organized  a  congrega- 
tion and  erected  a  fine  one-story  brick  church ;  and 
since  then  thev  have  held   regular   services. 

School. — The  school  board  of  Lower  .Vlsace 
township  erected  a  fine,  two-story  brick  school 
building  at  Dengler's  in  18!'8.  and  when  the  bor- 
ough was  established  in  PHiv;  it  became  the  prop- 
erty of  the  borough.  In  lOOn  an  addition  was 
made  to  the  building.  It  has  three  graded  schools 
and   130   scholars. 

Stoxv  Crkkt-:  is  a  flourishing  village  which  ad- 
joins Mount  Penn  on  the  east.  It  took  its  name 
from  the  Stony  Crock  Mills,  which  were  estab- 
lished there  in  ISfit.  In  April.  IImiI),  it  contained 
fifty  single  houses  and  fifteen  double  lunises,  three 
stores,  wheelwright  slio]),  blacksmith  shop,  cider- 
mill,  grist-mill,  bn^nm  factory,  liarber  shop,  and 
the  Kraemer  Woolen  Mills;  also  a  superior  two- 
story    brick    .school    building     (erected    in   1905), 


hotel,  bowling-allc}-,  and  a  hose  company  for  pro- 
tection against  tire.  A  beautiful  stone  chapel  has 
been  maintained  since  lUuO  for  Sunday-school  pur- 
]ioses.  The  place  is  supplied  with  water  by  the 
Alt.  Penn  Suburban  Water  Company,  the  pipe 
having  been  laid  in  190S.  It  is  the  eastern  termi- 
nus of  the  East  Reading-  street  railway,  situated 
a  short  distance  from  Carsonia  Park.  Many  years 
ago.  the  Burkhart  Forge  was  carried  on  along  the 
creek  near-by ;  and  afterward,  the  Feger  Paper 
Mill.  The  Antietam  Lake,  of  the  Reading  Water- 
works, whose  capacity  exceeds  100,00O,(J00  gal- 
Ions,  is  situated  half  a  mile  to  the  north.  The 
growth  and  imi>rovement  of  the  place  are  attribut- 
able to  the' influence  of  the  woolen  mills.  The 
estimated  population   is  400. 


WOMELSDORF 

The  borough  of  Womelsdorf  is  situated  in  the 
western  section  of  the  county,  about  a  mile  from 
the  line  of  Lebanon  county.  The  town  was  laid  out 
bv  Jolui  Womelsdorf  in  17C>2  and  from  him  it  takes 
its  name.  In  that  year  the  first  house  was  erected 
by  Jacob  Seltzer;  which  afterwaid  came  to  be  oc- 
cupied as  a  tavern  and  it  has  continued  as  such  until 
the  present  time.  It  is  the  oldest  tavern  in  the 
county.  Whilst  President  Washington  was  on  his 
way  through  Perks  county  to  Carlisle,  in  1701,  he 
stayed  over  night  at  this  tavern.  The  town-plan 
comprised  seventy-five  lots.  The  place  w'as  then 
called  Middletown.  because  it  was  situated  midway 
between  Reading  and  Lebanon,  and  it  was  known 
by  this  name  for  upward  of  fifty  }  ears. 

The  following  list  comprises  the  taxable  inhabi- 
tants in  1790: 

Wm.    Bergenhoff  Jacob    Pleini 

Christian    P.ricken  George  Rapp 

Inihoff    Benedict  John    Rose 

Jcihn    Bonawitz  George   Scidle 

George    Bodle  Cotirad    Stouch 

Jacob    Egle  Jolin    Smith 

Tohn    FIcishcr  Jacob    Seltzer 

John   German  ,  Weyrich    Seltzer 

Daniel   GiaeiT  INIaria  Sherman 

Henry    Hersh  Nichola  Saladin 

John    Henry  Andrew   Saladin 

Christian  Miller  Michael  Wolford 
Elizabeth  Xevvman 

I.N'coRpoRATioN. — Tlic  town  was  incorporated  in- 
to a  borough  in  1833,  by  an  Act  of  Assembly,  and 
the  taxables  assessed  that  year  were  as  follows: 
Adam  .\nspach  Geo.   Brownwell    (of  John) 

George  Anspacli  Daniel   Clans 

\\  illiam  Arnold  Kst.  Conrad   Claits 

John  .\rnold  Hannah   Clark 

Jacob  Arnold  Est.  George  Coniad 

Abraham   Arnold  Henry  Cornuell 

George    Brownwell  Thomas  Cox 

Lot     Benson  Elizabeth  Deppen 

Benjamin    Bressler  lunanucl   Deiiiiiiger 

Joscpii   D.   Biles  Isaac   Deppen 

Magdaieiia    lirowiiweli  Daniel  Diehl 

John    I'.eniiethuni  Samuel  Deeliert 

r»avid  B.eimetli'.mi  Eli/alxtb   Di  con   (Tiyon) 

Michael    Bciiiicthum  Peter    Eckert 

Jaiucs    Bryan  lolin  Ernieiitroiit 


.-,-.:,  ..r i 


ii;[i.>i     /ft     - )(!';  /  '      i  !    .:/'■  -n     *' 


;i:(   ./V    ;i: 


.i,,-    !.,i. 


!,'.f!i/.C 


'!      ii:       l.ir,    -,  .', 


BOROUGHS  .  •                       ,,y 

Snnn.el   Ermentrout  George    Parson                            John    Vanderslice    ,c,,,o 

Mrs.  George    :.ge  (widow)  Will.an,    Price                              Peter  Wonielsdorf    \^l,l 

Abrahani  iMsher  Lews   Richard  Henrv    Kendall     ....                ■" : ]tf't^ 

{^\"'-'  x.-J^''"'  ^^'""^^'    Ke.fsnyder                    John    .Miller    ■.■.•■  \o\i^t^, 

:^''f"^   ^"^1"     ,^    ^  lolin   Rees                                     James   Moore    ! !  i ." "  '  '   is^,   v      ;s?4 

\\  ilham  Grus    M.  D.  George   Redman  WHliani    Bennethum    '^"^  ^'~  '   Hit 

Abraham  Guld.n  Casoer    Reed                               Joseph  Smith !^'^ 

John   Goodman  Henry    Reed                                 Henry   Brinklev    ;.■.■.■.■.■■. l855-'lSfin 

John   German  John    Reber  J.  A.  Glaus ....'...                               ^^^^  '    J^?" 

henjanim  German  Frederick    Shi.lzc      '          [        W.lliam  AtKler.on    " '. }«-^ 

\\  ilham  liendel  \V dham  Scivert                    ■        Henry    H.    Manderbach '^^jf? 

r  I?"™      u  ffl  P*^'^""  S'^'''                                 ^^''"i^"'   Smith    Jfifi- 

Cath.arme  Heffly  Catharine  Seltzer                         E.   Penn   Smith 1804  0-;  • 'Sq 

\\.dow  Ihrsh  John    Sallade               -              William  G.   Moore '^^\±'.  HH 

John  Horn  Christian    Seiverd                        Isaac    Y.    Kmt.er ^^'^'  J^'! 

Thomas  Horn  PhiHp  Swalm                                B.  Frank  Shortell ISto  -, ". '  ]l% 

Frederick  Herman  John   Smith,  Jr.  John  A.  Matthew. . .              I'^.O-.l ,   18.9 

l^*""^     'f    ,  VValker  Steven  Charles  B.  Fisher.  ...      !«;: 

Conrad  lauch  Daniel    Smith  Michael  Kolbach   ...'...: HH 

Leonara  Ilhck  George  Sallade  Jacob  A.  Wolf. ...               ]lll 

George    Reiser  Andrew    Stuuch  Samuel  Mowry i s^^ 

.\dam    kalbach  Isaac    Stouch  George  K.  Valentine ...";::;:: gig 

Adam  KanS  {f "  ^s"",  f  "f  "'\  '\  ^^^'^'^ •. V.V.VlSS^-SlV  188 

Aoam  ivaiuncr  Daniel    Snvder  Frederick    A.    Fidler                                                                  ,o«., 

\  alentine  Kantner  John    Smith.    Sr.  Simon  P.  Moyer.  ...          ssa 

Es  her    Knst  Jacob    Sallade  Samuel  Kurtz ss!^ 

r eter   Lousdorf  George    Seltzer                            John  F.   Petree |co- 

Jonathan  Loas  Leonard  Seltzer  John  W.   Petree,  Jr...;;;;;; V.it 

Peter   Lcminger  George  Sea                               .    Henry   Eberl  v '^'fo.^n 

W'.  '.am   Laucks  Samuel    Shuize                    '        Thonias  L.  Reed ' ' \  on\f, 

P'"'!'P  f 'Prcl  John   Schooner  John   M.   Smith S!"^^ 

Darnel  I.eimnger  Teter  Sholl  C.   Lewis   Kmtzer ,8  r  100  . 

John  T  evengood  Henry    Shaner  Franklin  Kreitzer 9oS 

Peter  Levengood  John    Swalm                                Daniel   Bobb \nr,\^°^^ 

Jacob  Leshcr  jo,,n   Sell  Charles  J.   G, H,d .  .  .  .    'J.  ""^ 

Henry  Moyer  jo,,n    Smi.h.    Est.  Harry  D    Noll. .'oVSS 

George  Miller,  Jr.  |,,h„   Schoener  "                190.)-1„ 

Jacob    Miller  '              Solomon  Sea  TOWN  CLI'RKS 

Jacob  Mover   (Inkpr)  John    H.    Smith  Francis   Wcssels    •                i8-!4  t"^ 

George   Martin  Jacob   Shartel  David   Steach    ;    1844;G5 

Jacob _  McC. ally  George    \^on    Xeida  1-Vanklin   Zerby '"  j^C^ 

Francis    Moore  j,^h„  Von  Xeida  Est.  Wm.  M.  Sallade ISOT'-O-J-'lST' 

Tn    \l       "a"?'  J'^'"'  Vanderslice.  V.sq.  ^^^  V.  Kintzer 1870-71  ;  1873-30  •   lSSS-80 

Jonathan   Mover  Peter  Womelsdorf                      John  M.   Smith is"^ 

John    Moyer  Godfrey  Wieocnman  Thomas   E.   Haak ; i8')o'l')Oi 

Michael  Ximemacher  William  Witmver                        William  W.   Lengel lOO'Vi,, 

Wd%cS^^""  Solomoi,  Weiser  JUSTICES    OF    THEPeXcE ' 

o.nuuti    rctr\  George  Wiegenman  U-,li;-.„,   i?    t^ 

W      "m    Peti-v    -  n      •  1  nr         i    i      r  William  b.   Diincan mon 

>Mi  i..m    i  et>\  Daniel  Womelsdorf  Fre.l.^rirL-  I.'  .it ,                     

Michael    Petry  Adam   Weber  D.v  H    Q,       ,        ^^-^ 

Samuel   Parson  Tuhn   Yost  P'''  "^  ,?>''^';   ;  '  '  : l«-(6-7] 

William    Poff  "                                           -  J^«''"=    Womelsdorf    18.50-76 

e-  ,     r-  Jsanc    Y.    Kintzer •               l,S7l-S0 

,   ,         ,                           ^"'-'7'<'  Frcrmrn                                             ja^cs   Moore    It-r  «, 

John     Aulenbach  John   Price                                      John    .M.    Smith SSl  so 

Darnel    Brady  Isaac  Reber                                     Charles  B.   Kintzer ;.;;;;;;;;;;;;;  1880;90  •' 1890-1004 

\\  ilham   Fisher  Samuel  Stahl                                John  H.   Kintzer i  sso  '  , 

Daniel  Fidler  Benjamin   Seltzer                        Thomas  E.  Haak ;;;;;;;;;;;;'  '  i894;oo''  loooiu 

John  Fuller                     _  Samncl    Seltzer                            John    J.    Sallade I'snoi-n, 

Henry   Ken.lall      .  Hamilton  Stouch                         Jacob   H.    Mavs ,,,;, V  ,i 

Adam  Kantner  Henrv    Vanderslice  BOROUGH    OFKirV  u'^"  inno 

Adam  Kantner  (of  Val.)  William    Vanderslice  ciu-f  Rur^-         n      U             i    fCIALS-,909 

Reuben    Long  \aron    Weiser  -t-      '    '""■^<*-''     !•>'"■   Horace   ]• .   Livine;ood 

Michael  Xunemachcr  Jabetz    Weiser  Toi.;i  C  ouucil.     Samuel   H.   lilig.  President 

Isaac    Petree  '  Howard   .M.  Hal'er                         '             .        ■     . 

^PI7T/-T^rc        Tl,«  r   n        ■                               ■              ^..     .  Stephen    Kintzer 

UFFici.M.s.— lie  /..Ilowincr    persons    !,nve    filled  Wil.son  Dnndore 

tlic  positions  of  clnet  biir.t:;e>s,  town  clerk  and   ins-  '-          Jefferson  'J\  Good 

tice  of  the  peace  from  tiie  iiicorpotation  of  tlie  hor-  f-  C.  Christman 

oiit;h  until  now.  Samuel  Huifa 

CHfTK  PiTR.-r^^rc  ,                               ^^'    ^"^'^   I'C".^^'.   Clerk 

Lewis    Richards  '^  .'^^-^.•.«ar,  ,  Adam  Lengel                                                        .       . 

''"^■''"''    1833     ColU-ctor,     George   Bright 


I-; 


'•!/'      'I    ■'.'\..( 


21:0 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\-A.\'L\ 


Justices  of  the  Peace,  John  J.  Sallade 

Thomas  E.  Haak 
Constable,     Jacob  Kint^'LT 
School  Board,  Charles  P.  Kreitzer 

Calvin  Ciui.-)tnian,   Secretary 

Rev.  Kduiii  Leinbach,  Treasurer 

John   I.  Filler 

Thomas    W'ilhelm 

William   Moore 

PosT-OrFiCE. — A  poit-office  wa*  established  here 
in  18UT.  The  postmaster  since  1S97  has  been  Wal- 
lace \V.  Oberly.  Previous  postmasters  were  Charles 
Petree,  Cyrus  Oberly,  George  Aliller,  Isaac  2\Iiller 
and  William  W.  Petree. 

Industry. — Be?ides  the  usual  vocations  incident 
to  a  country  town,  some  of  the  inhabitants  were  en- 
gaged in  the  making-  of  wool  hats  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  place  for  nearly  an  hundred  years.  A 
tannery  was  operated  fcr  a  longer  time,  and  a  gun 
factory  was  a  successful  enterprise  for  many  years. 
The  product  was  shipped  by  teams  to  Reading  and 
Philadelphia.  About  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the 
Lebanon  \'al!ey  railroad  in  ISoT,  the  manufacture 
of  these  articles  was  gradually  discontinued  and  the 
extensive  manufacture  of  cigars  was  begun,  though 
these  had  also  been  made  here  and  in  the  vicinity 
for  a  while  in  limited  quantities.  Unfortunately  for 
the  borough,  the  route  of  the  railroad  was  selected 
a  mile  to  the  soutli  because  of  an  alleged  indifference 
of  certain  capitalists  at  Womelsdorf  to  encourage 
the  enterprise  by  subscribing  f  oi  the  stock ;  hence 
industrial  shops  were  not  developed  from  that  time 
for  about  fortv  years.  The  articles  now  produced 
which  are  worthy  of  special  mention  are  cigars,  ci- 
gar-boxes and  hosiery. 

Cigars. — '-A.  S.  Valentine  began  tlie  manufacture 
of  cigars  in  a  modest  way  in  18."i'3,  and  within  thirty 
years  he  had  become  one  of  the  largest  manufac- 
turers in  tlie  county  with  trading  relations  extend- 
ing throughout  the  Middle  and  Western  States. 
He  died  in  1809.  His  son,  George,  succeeded  him; 
and  lie  has  kept  up  the  business  m  a  very  success- 
ful manner  until  the  present  time.  He  also  operates 
a  large  plant  at  Philadelphia.  In  1900,  a  grandson, 
Rov  Valentine,  became  associated  in  the  business 
with  his  father,  retaining  the  okl  name  of  A.  S. 
\"alentine  (S:.  .Son  :  hands  emploved,  from  125  to  150. 

Henry  F.  Fidler  started  in  18S0  and  continued 
until  1902,  when  he  retired  from  the  business,  then 
transferring  it  to  his  sons,  Flarrv  I.  and  Edgar  G.. 
and  his  nephew,  John  I.,  who  have  been  trading 
since  under  the  name  of  H.  F.  Fidlcr  &  Co.  They 
employ  75  hands  and  manufacture  annually  three 
million  cigars. 

In  ]89i  Henry  D.  TIackman  began  making  cigars 
in  limited  quantities.  In  1900  he  employed  from 
40  to  50  hands  and  produced  over  1.500,000  cigars, 
all  hand-made.  Ilavana  filled  :  which  were  disposed 
of  at  retail  in  Pennsylvania,  Xew  York  and  New 
Jersey.     His  several  brands  are  verv  popular. 

Other  mamifacturers  wlio  liave  <=lartcd  business 
mote  rcccntlv  are  George  Moyor,  Chri'^tman  P.rfitli- 
ers,  E.  A.  Schenk,  Claude  Taylor,  and  Charles  M. 
Petree. 


Cigar-boxes. — In  1^590,  j\I.  S.  Weidman  started 
a  cigar-box  factory  with  -1  hands  and  produced  500 
boxes  weekly.  In  1892,  S.  P.  }>Ioyer  became  a  part- 
ner and  he  continued  in  the  firm  until  1905,  when 
Mr.  Weidman's  brother  took  his  place  and  they  have 
since  been  trading  as  Weidman  Brothers.  In  190(j 
they  employed  30  hands  and  produced  weekly  10,- 
000  bo.Kes.  In  1905,  they  established  an  additional 
factory  at  Sinking  Spring,  with  15  hands,  and  a 
weekly  capacity  of  5,000  boxes. 

Hosiery. — In  1900  Darius  H.  Hiester  and  John 
D.  Horst  began  the  manufacture  of  hosiery.  In 
190G,  they  employed  25  hands  and  produced  daily 
115  dozen,  which  they  shipped  directly  from  the 
factory  to  all  parts  of  the  country  upon  orders 
received  through  their  oflice  in  New  York  City. 
In  1907,  Wilson  Dundore  and  William  Dimdorc 
became  the  owners  and  have  since  carried  on  the 
business  under  the  name  of  Dundore  &  Dundore. 

J.  J.  J.  Moyer  carried  on  this  business  for  up- 
ward of  twenty  years  until  his  death,  in  ^larch, 
1909,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son-in-law, 
Howard  V.  Fitler. 

Creamery. — Frank  N.  Moyer,  of  New  Berlin- 
ville,  established  a  creamery  in  the  eastern  part  of 
Womelsdorf  about  1890,  and  it  has  been  carried 
on  since  by  different  owners;  since  1902  by  Wilson 
Dcgler.     Three  hands  are  employed. 

General  Business. — In  x-\pril,  1909,  the  following 
business   places    were   carried   on   at    Womelsdorf: 

General   stores   4 

Hardware   store    1 

Flour  arid   feed  store 1 

Leather    store    1 

.'Vgncultural    implement 

store    I 

Liquor    stores     2 

Wheehvright   shops    .3 

Bank. — In  1903,  a  bank  was  established  in  the 
place  with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  under  the  name 
of  Womelsdorf  Union  Bank  (State).  The  presi- 
dent from  the  start  has  been  John  IM.  Schonour. 
A  superior  and  attractive  building  was  erected 
as  the  place  for  the  transaction  oi  its  business,  in- 
cluding a  fire-proof  and  burglar-proof  vault.  In 
November.  1908.  tlie  resources  were  $105,985;  the 
deposits,   $316,598;   the   surplus,   $35,159. 

Public  Enterprises 

Turnpike. — -The  first  public  enterprise  here  was 
the  construction  of  the  Berks  and  Dauphin  turn- 
pike througli  the  town  in  1817;  and  this  has  been 
maintained  until  now. 

Canal.— The  next  was  the  extension  of  the  Un- 
ion canal  along  the  Tulpehocken  creek  about  a  mile 
north  of  the  town  in  1828  :  and  this  was  carried 
on  successfully  for  forty  years,  when  its  traffic  be- 
gan to  decline  on  account  of  the  Lebanon  A'^alley 
railroad,  which  was  constructed  in  1857  through 
Heidelberg  township  a  mile  south  of  the  town. 

Trolley  Line. — .\  trolley  line  of  street  railway 
w.-is  supplied  in  1891.  having  been  constructed  along 
the  turnpike   from  Reading.     Upon  its  completion 


Blacksmith  shops    3 

Printing  oliice 1 

Ice  houses   ~ 

Hotels     4 

Restaurant     i 

Printing  office    1 

Barber  shops    3 


<:jn-'j:r  (^  -■>■:■'!' 


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n    r.    j'-ij 


;-!^  n; 


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■.,>n)^Kiu  i;  -v"'^  ;;f.'(r.i'i)'.:' 


BOROUGHS 


2:1 


tlic  passenger  traffic  was  almost  wholly  transferred 
to  it  from  the  railroad  on  account  of  the  inconven- 
ience in  reaching  the  railroad  station.  A  car-barn 
was  established  at  the  western  end  of  the  bor- 
ough. 

Water  Supply. — -A  water  company  was  organized 
and  incorporated  in  1895.  The  water  was  at  tirst 
secured  from  the  Manderbach  spring,  near  the 
Orphans'  Home,  and  pumped  into  a  reservoir  in 
the  northern  section  of  the  town  near  the  Union 
church.  This  supply  was  used  several  VL-ars.  then 
a  larger  reservoir  was  established  in  the  "gorge" 
of  the  South  Mountain,  east  of  Xewmanstown ; 
whence  the  town  has  since  been  supplied  by  grav- 
ity with  flowing  water  taken  from  springs  and  runs 
on  the  mountain.  Peter  D.  Wanner  was  president 
of  the  company  until  10UI>,  and  he  was  succeeded 
by  Martin  D.  Filbert. 

This  company  began  to  supply  the  residents  of 
Robesonia  with  water  in  1904,  and  of  Sheridan 
in  1908,  mains  having  been  extended  to  these  plac- 
es. On  account  of  the  elevation  of  the  reservoir, 
the  pressure  is  very  strong. 

Tozcii-Hall. — In  1S97  the  borough  erected  a  two- 
story  brick  town  hall  on  the  square,  costing  SC- 
500.  It  was  established  mostly  to  accommodate 
the  Volunteer  Fire  Company  with  a  convenient 
building  for  its  fire  apparatus. 

Fire  Company, — A  fire  company  was  incorpor- 
ated in  1S97  and  supplied  with  hose  carriage,  hook 
and  ladder  truck,  and  chemical  engine.  It  has  up- 
ward of  fifty  members.  H.  II.  Ilafcr  has  since 
been  the  chief  of  the  fire  department.  It  is  sup- 
ported by  A'oluntary  contribution. 

Electric  Pla)it. — The  borough  established  a  su- 
perior electric  plant  in  1907  at  an  expense  of 
$30,000.  It  has  been  located  on  the  old  and  his- 
toric Charming  Forge  property  wh.icli  is  situated 
along  the  Tulpehocken  creek,  three  miles  north- 
east of  the  borough.  It  supplies  the  light  for- 
the  streets,  hotels,  and  many  of  the  stores  and 
dv.ellings.  Its  management  by  the  town  council 
is   highly   praiseworthy. 

Churches. — In  1792,  members  of  the  Lutlieran 
and  Reformed  denominations  united  in  erecting 
a  stone  church  in  tlie  town.  It  was  improved  in 
1805  by  means  of  a  lottery  authorized  by  an  Act 
of  the  Legislature;  and  it  was  rebuilt  in  1SG7. 
It  is  still  maintained  as  a  union  church,  with  a 
large  regular  attendance. 

In  183-1,  members  of  the  Presbyterian  denomin- 
ation established  a  church  in  the  town,  and  the 
congregation    was    maintained    for    twenty    years. 

About  the  same  time,  certain  Universalists  erect- 
ed a  small  church  and  encouraged  services  for  a 
number  of  years,  but  the  society  was  disbanded 
and  the  buihling  was  sold  to  the  school  board  for 
educational   purposes. 

Some  years  before,  adherents  of  the  Fvangclical 
denomination  bad  elTertcd  an  organization  ami 
creeled    a    meeting-house.      Thev    conducted    their 


meetings  in  a  successful  manner  until  1SG7,  when 
they  erected  a  more  pretentious  church  and  in  this 
they  have  carried  on  services  until  the  present 
time. 

A  Young  ?\Ien's  Christian  Association  was  or- 
ganized in  May,  1907,  and  since  then  has  held  its 
meetings  in  the  old  Presbyterian  Church  building 
and  been  managed  in  a  successful  maimer  with  an 
increasing  meiiihcrship.  Henry  D.  Ilackman  has 
been  its  president  and  most  active  and  influential 
member. 

Cemeteries. — In  1858,  an  association  was  formed 
for  establishing  a  Union  cemetery,  a  tract  of  three 
acres  of  land  having  been  purchased,  adjoining 
the  Union  church,  and  laid  off  in  burial  lots. 

In  1883,  a  tract  of  three  acres  was  purchased 
by  the  Zion's  Reformed  church  and  laid  off  into 
lots  for  burial  purposes.  Several  costly  monu- 
ments have  been  erected,  including  those  to  David 
Laucks  and  Dr.  James  C.  Livingood.  The  re- 
mains of  Hon.  George  Ege  (a  pronjinent  iron  man- 
ufacturer and  county  oft-icial  for  many  years)  were 
buried  in  this  cemetery,  and  his  grave  is  marked 
by  a  marble  shaft. 

Schools. — Education  was  encouraged  from  the 
begmning  of  the  town.  The  first  teacher  was  Bar- 
on Stiegel,  the  earliest  manufacturer  of  iron  in 
the  v.-estern  section  of  the  county,  he  having  di- 
rected his  attention  to  teaching  after  his  failure  in 
business.  Walker  Stephen  was  the  most  promi- 
nent teacher  and  the  longe^^t  in  continuous  service, 
having  taught  the  children  of  the  town  for  over  sixty 
years,  from  1800.  Pligher  education  was  encour- 
aged as  early  as  1S2S  by  establishing  an  academy 
in  the  town.  The  institution  became  incorporated 
in  1S34,  and  it  was  conducted  successfully  for  thir- 
ty years. 

In  1880,  the  borough  erected  a  superior  two-story 
brick  high  school  on  the  site  of  the  academy,  at  a 
cost  of  ?4.o00.  In  190G  there  were  six  graded 
schools  in  the  place,  with  over  tn-o  hundred  schol- 
ars. 

Band  of  Mu.stc. — In  1906,  Calvin  Reiidiold  or- 
ganized a  band  of  music  which  was  called  the  Min- 
nehaha Cornet  Band  and  he  has  since  been  the 
leader,  with  upward  of  twenty  members  whom  he 
has  instructed. 

W.XSHIXGTOX'?  \'isiT.— In  179J.  President  Wash- 
ington, while  on  his  way  to  Carlisle,  in  reference  to 
the  Whiskey  Insurrection,  staved  over  night  at 
\\'omelsdorf,  and  the  extraordinary  occasion  v>'as 
celebrated  in  a  proper  manner  bv  tlie  inhabitants. 
In  the  proceedings,  Capt.  Samuel  Dewees  took  a 
ptominent  part  on  account  of  his  personal  acquain- 
tance with  the  President,  which  he  had  made  dur- 
ing his  services  in  the  Revolution.  In  a  published 
biography  of  Captain  Dewees  (18  in  this  event 
and  his  comiection  with  it  are  mentioned  quite 
exten'^ively. 

BERNVIT.LE 
I'ernville   was    laid   out   as    a    t'^wn    in    1819   by 
Thomas    Umbeahaucr,    on    land    which    he   owned. 


.iV;    .  ..rr-;n    ;•     /  ? 


.i^:.■  vr,^ 


■Ov:     S'ij     1. 


0    '■'■■  ■■■  .  -  n->j 


:T'>Jit',,i       M!     t. 


i.''v/    ,   .  •iIj,;--    !>(■ 


:!nO       (!  VO'     ■;;[)     ;;;  ■  )'->-;(j;f-)     ^: 


,!t   rv! 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


It  was  situated  in  Ecru  township  on  a  pulilic  road 
from  Readini::,  by  way  of  the  I!ern  Church,  to  the 
Bkie  Mountains.  The  projection  of  the  Union  can- 
al near  by,  alone^  the  Tulj)chocken  creek,  led  to  the 
selection  of  this  locality  as  a  convenient  place  for 
a  town.  It  was  named  in  ISC'O  after  one  of  the 
principal  towns  of  Switzerland,  the  native  place 
of  the  founder's  father. 

In  1SV8,  the  canal  was  opened  for  traffic,  and  it 
was  operated  success  full  v  for  thirty  years  until  the 
establishment  of  the  Lebanon  X'alley  railroad,  and 
then  its  business  began  to  decline  rapidly.  During- 
this  time,  Bernville  was  a  great  sliipping  point  and 
business  of  all  kinds  was  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion; but  the  final  abandonment  of  the  canal  caused 
a  great  change  to  take  place,  ending  in  deprecia- 
tion of  properlv  and  values,  and  the  discontinu- 
ance of  various  successful  enterprises. 

The  nearest  rai'road  station  is  Robesonia.  on 
the  Lebanon  \'a!lev  railroad,  seven  miles  to  the 
south. 

A  branch  of  tiie  South  Mountain  railroad  was 
projected  from  Strausstowii  to  Reading  by  way 
of  Bernville.  and  it  was  partly  constructed  along 
the  X'^orth-kill  through  the  western  secticm  of 
the  borough,  but  it  was  not  finished.  Mar.y  ]Kr- 
sons  of  this  vicinitv  responded  liberally  in  sub- 
scriptions and  credits,  which  became  a  total  loss 
to  them.     The  projected  roadwav  is  still  visible. 

PuRCHASF.K.s  OF  FiRST  LoTS. — The  following  per- 
sons purchased  lots  of  the  town  whicli  were  sold 
on  March  T.  I.s20: 

Philip   Fill.crt  Xichohis  Haas 

John  Unibcnliaiicr  Samuel   FiI!)ort 

Matthias   Stnudt  John  Heck.  Jr. 

Meiiry  Waters  John    .Miesse 

Peter  Filhnrt  Jacob  Wagner 

Philip  .\.  Good  John  Wauiier 

.Saniuel  Unilieiibaucr  Dani.^'l  S'rause 

Catharine  Stordt  Johti  Aulcnhach.  Jr. 

Joseph    Scybcn  John   Keck,    Sr. 
Samuel   Seybert 

0CCII'.\XTS    OF     7~IRST     DwEI.LIXr,-I10USF..S. — The 

first  houses  were  occupied  by  : 

I-Ienry   Witman    tinsmith 

William    Rurildc    merchant 

Abraham  Reber   merchant 

Andrew  Greth   blacksmith 

John    Haag    wiieelwrisht 

Joseph    Burkhart    chair-maker 

Jacob   Allcnbach    liatter 

Rev.   Bo\  er    minister 

Peter  Bcnnethum    tanner 

Michael   Parst    paper-bo.x:  maker 

Benj.   L.   Kerschner coach-maker 

Jacob  Wai^ncr   butcher 

Joseph    Kanftman hatter 

Catharine   Stou'h    cake-baker 

Lewis    Porr     tailor 

Jolm  Umlienhauer   weaver 

William    Umbenliau>.r    tavern-keeper 

Daniel   Klopp    tavern-keeper 

John    Daniel    tin-mith 

Incor]'OR.\tion. — The  t(vwn  was  ad\anced  in- 
to a  borough  in  IsM.  The  taxables  at  that  lime 
were  as  follows : 


.Xbrahaui    Andrews  Samuel  W.   Miller 

lohn   Boyer  John     Miller 

Henry    I'lycrle  Jonathan   .Miller 

Daniel    Bentz  '  Dr.  .\.  .\.  McDonough 

Enoch  Burkhart  Rev.  George  Minnig 

Adam  Bohn  Est.  Samuel  Madden 

Maria    Brossman  Catharine  !Mohn 

Rebecca    Brossman  Ludwig    Porr 

Enoch  Bricker  Est.  John   Rmkle 

John    Burkhart  Elijah  Richardson 

Joseph  B.  Conrad  Joseph    Reniio 

Elizabeth    Conrad  Runkle  S:  Son. 

Daniel   Deppen  William   Runkle 

Samuel    K.    Dundore  George    Rick 

Valentine  Epier  Est.  Jacob  Stroiise 

Edward  B.  Filbert  Catharine  Stoudt 

Daniel   R.   Faust  Benjamin   Seyfert 

Solomon   Faust  William  Shcidy 

William   Greim  Rev.  John   C.   Smith 

Tolni   Heck  .Adam   Snyder 

William   Huber  Daniel  Umbcnhower 

Jonas   Hetrich  Thomas  Umbenhower  Est. 

John    Haag  John  Umbenhower 

Sanniel    Hicks  Henry  Witman 

Joseph   Hertzler  John  Wenrich 

Henry   Kleim  John  Yeager 

William   Kalbach  Rev.  Jacob  Zehring 

Benjamin   Kershner  Lenhart   Zerbe 
Abraham  Koeiiig 

Tenants 

Jacob  .Adam  Jacob  Ricgel 

lohn  Daniel  J"hn  Kick 

Lewis  Fair  Jacob  Rieser 

John    Greincr  J^^"  |^«h 

Andrew  Heilnian  J?'^"  ^^"J/. 

,,      .       .     jT  „  Henry    Stetler 

Benjannn  Ihmmelberger  B„,j:,„,i„  Speicher 

John  Harbach  j^^^j,  ^^-^^^^^^ 

Washington   Hem  Zadock  Weber 

Albert    Hoin  Joseph  Wolfmger 

John  HefYeltinger  y„hn  Witman     ■ 

John  Kintzel  John    VValtcr 

William  Noll  Joshua  Yeager 

Single  Men 

.Adam  Bohn  Jonathan  invder 
.Alfred   Kershner                         '  Matthias  Trompatcr 

Jonathan   Spengler  Jacob  Werner 

In   IDOfi,   the   taxables   numbered   J  34;   and   then 
the  taxable  property  was  assessed  at  $1  •2;^,()'.>(). 

Officials. — The    following    lists    cumjirise    the 
names    of    the    chief    burgesses,    town    clerks    and 
justices  of  the  peace  from  1S.51  to  liJOD: 
CHIEF  BURGESSES 

E.  B.   Filbert 1851 

A.  R.  Koenig is.'i2 

William    Runkle    1853 

Henry   Witman I8."4 

Abr.-iliam  .Andrews    1  $',r, 

Joseph  B.  Conrad ISoG  ;   18T:J ;   1SS7-88 

11.    Harner    1S,")7 

-Adam  Stoudt    1  S.'jS 

Paul   Wenrich    iSj9 

Levi    AI.    Gerhard I8i;0-Gl 

D.  D.  Deppen 186:.' ;  18GS  ;  18s;)-M 

John  I'.   Burkhart 1863;   ISSG 

A.  M.  Bright IS,-,  I 

David  R.   Koenig isfij 

.\dam    M.   FJundore iSOG  ;    1  >71 

JetTerson   Ha.ig   ]sc,7 

.\br;iliam  Witman   iHtV.t 

F.  M.    1  [arbaugh !  .  .  isro 

ICphraim  Witman    i  S7.« 

Jacob  S.  Werner 1874 


•-' ).'     •    .       ■  ,'llil'-     ;v'i  ,■  V/',     ,)'i»(y 


I  ,     \  -lO.     r-.:v\ 


1    ■'    -..r 


BOROUGHS 


273 


Charles  F.  Rentchler ls75  ty  years,  but  it  finally  passed  awav  in  lOUl.i.     Sev- 

John  A.  Hiester IS"*;  ^^al    foumlrics    were    operated    for    a    number    of 

K:-\^.J;:^":^'"".";;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;i.T8-8:f;'';JS?  >—  '^^e  la^t  was  removed  in  mm,  having 

Lfvi  Bergcr   ....ISsi  ''Cdi   taken    to   T  opton. 

lohn  S.  Wcnrich iS8:i-8:>         Crcajitcry     Business. — ■Charles     ~Sl.     Richardson 

Edwin  Umbcnhauer  lS'Jl-93  (the  buri^ess  of  JJernville )    has  ])een  vcrv  success- 
Jonathan  B   Miller ^t^^-^''f  fullv   enq^ajrcd  in  conductinc^  creameries  'in   differ- 

Levi  S.  Bridit 1S07-9S  .-        ,'^      ;   o     i  .7  i 

Levi  I).  KaFbach 1003-00  fnt  parts  ot   Berks  county  for  a  number  ot  years, 

Ephraim  Miller  1906-09  havmg   directed   their   atlairs   from    Cernville   as   a 

Charles  M.  Richardson   1909-1.:  central    ofifice    under    two    firms    with    whicli    lie    is 

■rri'\rv  (~r  r->i.-c  coiinectcd,   Alircns   &   Ricliardson   and    Ricliardson 

1U»V,\   l^LhixKb  T>       1  I        -  .1-  •    . 

brothers,   the   tormer  controlling-   ei.^dit   creameries 

'}\^-  |^°f,"'f '-.o'-o^-!  and  the  latter  six.     Those  in  the  countv  are  situated 

John   b.   Kick 18y2-o4  ,,  ...        <-,  ,,  ,   -  ,,. 

Harrison  Harntr ls.v,-56;  1808-03  at    l.cruville.    Strausstown,   Mount    Pleasant,    A\  er- 

\\m.  II.  Kintzle 1S57  nersvillc,    Berne,    Mertztown,    Longswamp,    Maxa- 

C.  W.  Hetrich 1804 ;  1S06  ;  1SG8-70 ;  i874-7u ;  If 81-0(5  tawny.    Topton.    Schofer.    Kntztown.    Bowers,    Ly- 

Pcter  Saiuls  1865  cms  and  Drvville.       He  is  also  connected  with  the 

^^'^^'tI^Tj^-^'''^ Vs-f-^  Harford  Dairy   Company,  al   Harford,   Pa.,   which 

lohn   H.   Rieticl    IS/l-i.J  ,        .    ,     -  '    .    -  ' 

H.  S.  .Machemer  1877-80  controls  eight  creameries, 

Charles  .M.  Harbach 1807        A  creamery  was  erected  by  Jonathan  B.   Miller 

Charles  P.  Kalb.ich ■ 1808-1000  at  Bernyille  in  18S9  and  operated  bv  different  par- 

]}■  C-  Kej-^'-'''"^'^ ^'J'"'-0''  ties.     It  has  been  carried  on  success fn'.lv  since  ISOl ' 

Geo.  C.  Kline 1903-08  i        ,  ,  e    n  •   i        i 

P.  F.  Burkhart 1008-10  ^y  -"^^^^'^"^  &  Richardson. 

TTISTirF<;  OF  THF  PF  \rv  Electric  Li-ht  Plant.— An  electric  light  plant  was 

JUbllLLb  Ui    IHL  PL.\LL  established    by    Harrison    Kalbrich    of    Lebanon    in 

John  H.  Riegel 1860-74  190-i   for  sup])lving  the  borouL,di  with  an  im[iroyed 

Simon  Riegcl   ; 1872-77  hcrht.      It  is  manacled   In-   Dr.\diarles   P.   Kalbach. 

Charles  WHeuieh 1874-00  j,^^.  j:    ],t,  ^^ppijed  miinber  .".00. 

Hcnrv  S.    .Macheiner 1877-82  '  '  ' 

Bcnjmnin  Klahr 1882-97;  1808-1013         Bakeries. —  Two   liakenes    have   been    established, 

James  F.  Talicy 1807-98  one  by   J.  I>.  T^liller  in    IS'.M,  carried  on  bv   llarrv 

Snmnel  T.   IV.rdner 1800-1003  Sheets  ;  and  the  other  in  1  .sOC  by   [.  I).  Kee'-,er,  who 

S.  P.  U  ilhclm 1908  ^fj^,,.  operating  it  ten   years  was  "succeeded  by  his 

BOROUGH   OFFICIALS— 1000  brother  Charles   C.   Reescr,   who  has  carried   it   on 

Chief  Burgess,    Charles  M.  Richardson  since  1900  with  increasing  success. 

Toii.n  Council ,    George  Moll,  President  ^  Recently  two  additional  industries  were  started: 

S.  P.  Wilhelm.  Treasurer  a  shirt  factory  bv  HotTman  Brothers,  and  a  lio->ierv 

T°h"  fi'.'^'lr''^  """  ^>'  High^^-  Son. 

Jo  n       j.A'^  Stores. — .Several    stores   in   the   place   have   been 

rrank    atatnni  .  .  '         ., 

Willis  Bright  continued   m   a  successful   manner  until   now,   not- 

Paul  F.  Burkhart.  Secretary  withstanding    advcr'^e    circumstances.      The    Miller 

Sclwol  Board,  William  Hefteltingcr  Store   was    started   in    ]Sl7   bv   Samuel   W.    Miller. 

Dr.  C.  E   Schloppig  jjig  gon  Jonathan  B.  succeeded  In'm  in  isTs,  after 

1  homas  kalbach  ,    •  '       ^  c        i        ^  ^,  ti,„ 

James  Burns  being   a  partner   for   fourteen   years.      It   w;is   then 

Joeah  Shcidv  much  enlarged  and  improved  by  the  son  and  came 

Howard  Dietrich  to  be    recognized   as   one   of   the   largest   and   best 

Justices  of  the  Peocc.    Benjamin  Klalir  Stocked    country    stores    in    Pennsylvania.       lames 

^      ,  ,,       ,  ,      ^,   .S-   !'•   ^Vilhelm  p_  Tallcy  became  the  purchaser  in 'l90;3  and  he  has 
Constable.     John   Christ  •     i    •.  • 

.-ludifors,    WMis  ]^,ri..,^ht  carried  it  on  since. 

.-\ltrcd   Reiitschler  Albert   V.   .Schock  beL;an  the  store  business  here 

J.  Paul  P.urkh.irt  •  in    lf>T2.      He    established    a    larger    stand    on    the 

Assessor.    James   Groff  _  opposite    corner   in    ISSJ.    with   a    costlv   stock,   and 

Collector,    Lev.  Ludwiy  continued    until    a    few   years   before   liis    death,    in 

IxDUSTRiK.s. — Previi'ii-  to  ISID.  thi>  locality  wns  190:?. 
entirely  a  farming  communilv.  Indu.-trial  e-tab-  J'^'im  F.  Burkhart  began  tlie  stove  and  tinsmith 
li.^hmcnts  could  not  be  encouraged  because  there  business  in  IS-IS,  and  he  and  his  sons  have  kept 
were  no  facilities  for  shipping  manufactured  ar-  it  np  successfully  until  now.  Their_  trade  extends 
tides.  The  i)rospect>  of  a  canal  stimulated  en-  throughout  the  surrounding  townships. 
tcrprise,  and  then  dilTerent  industries  were  ^tail-  There  are  three  practicing  phv.sicians  in  the  bor- 
ed, which  were  operated  successfully  for  about  ough  :  three  hotels :  a  drug  store :  and  a  saddlery, 
forty  years.  Some  were  continued  longer,  but  l^iTvsiri.\xs. — .A  number  of  medical  praclition- 
they  too  b.ad  to  >ucciimli.  Tanning  was  intro-  ers  lived  al  Bernville  who  ^vcre  very  successful 
duced  in  In'JO.  and  was  actively  carried  on  lor  six-  and    won    the    respect   and   confidence   of   the   sur- 

18 


■i'i    .:lif  f 


,1,.-     ■."■■.■■  >">(^ 


274 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


rounding  conimunitv   for  manv  miles:  Dr.  George  liani  H.  Keim.     The  grand  review  of  all  the  com- 
panies in  drcjs  parade  was  witnessed  by  Gov.  David 
R.  Porter.     Many  persons  were  in  attendance,    i'lif 
encampment  was  a  great  success. 

CoK.xET  Band  ix  Civil  W.\p..— The  Eernvilk 
Cornet  Band,  with  Henry  Grime  as  leader  and  thir- 
teen musicians,  was  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war  for 
nearlv  a  vear.     It  was  mustered  into  the  service 


Beycrle,  Dr.  Enoch  Brickcr,  Dr  Daniel  Deppen, 
Dr.  A.  A.  McDonough,  Dr.  Philip  R.  Palm,  Dr. 
George  W.  Ditzler.  Dr.  Wellington  G.  Beyerle, 
Dr.  Darius  D.  iK-ppen.  and  Dr.  John  A.   Brobst. 

N.\TioN\\L  Baxk. — A  national  bank  was  organ- 
ized at  Bernville  in  October,  1907,  with  a  capital 

of  $25,000,  with  James  F.  Tallcy  as  president  t;^,pj;  o,]^  "igcj^  y^-ith  the  2Gth  Regiment,  Pcnnsyl- 
and  Augustus  ]\1.  Brown  as  cashier.  In  Novem-  y^nia  \'olunteers,  as  the  regimental  band,  and  con- 
ber,  1908,  the  total  resources  were  $lC2,iG?. ;  in-  tinned  with  the  regiment  until  it  was  mustered 
dividual  deposits,  So7.r)90;  time  deposits,  .^20,007;  o^t  Aug.  8,  lSu2.  by  reason  of  an  Act  of  Congress 
loans  and  discounts.  S77,5S5.  which    was   passed   to    dispense      with    regiinental 

Stage  Lixes. — 'Two   daily  stage   lines  maintain    bands. 
business  intercourse  with  other  places:  From  Read- 


ing by  way  of  Bernville  to  ^liliersburg;  and  from 
Robesonia  to  Bernville   (twice  daily). 

Two  rural  free  deliveries  have  been  established 
from  Bernville. 

Churches.- -The  first  church  was  established 
here  by  the  Lutherans  in  ]74j,  and  worship  was 
continued  by  them  alone  until  1834,  when  the 
Reformed  members  were  permitted  to  unite  with 
them.  The  union  character  of  the  church  was 
maintained  until  1897,  when  they  separated.  The 
Lutherans  erected  a  superior  church  at  a  cost  of 
$1G,000 :  and  the  Reformed,  with  the  co-operation 
of  the  New  School  Lutherans,  also  erected  a  sim- 
ilar churcli,  in  the  same  vicinity,  on  tlie  Of)posite 
side  of  the  public  highwa}-.  at  a  cost  of  SIS, 000. 

The  Evangelical  Association  also  established  a 
church  here  in  ]&52  and  the  limited  meinbersliip 
was  active  for  a  number  of  years. 

Schools. — Education  received  early  encourage- 
ment. In  1878,  a  large  two-story  brick  building 
was  erected  to  take  the  place  of  two  sinall  buil'l- 
ings,  and  this  is  still  used.  Three  schoC)ls  are 
graded,  with  over  seventy  scholars. 

Secret  Societies. — The  first  secret  socictv  es- 
tablished at  Bernville  was  a  lodge  of  C)dd  Fel- 
lows, No.  122,  instituted  Sept.  G,  184."),  and  the 
members  have  maintained  the  organization  un- 
til the  present  time,  the  membership  being  Go.  This 
was  one  of  the  first  lodges  of  the  order  established 


BIRDSBORO 

Birdsboro  is  a  flourishing  borough  in  the  county 
through  the  influence,  encouragement  and  great 
success  of  the  Brooke  iron  works.  Wifliam  Bird 
established  at  this  place  one  of  the  first  iron  in- 
dustries in  the  State.  This  was  in  1740.  It  Vv-as 
a  forge.  He  erected  additional  forges  here;  also 
a  grist-mill  and  saw-mill.  He  took  up  several  thou- 
sand acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity  south  of  the 
Schuylkill,  stretching  along  Hay  creek.  Upon  his 
decease,  in  17G2,  r.e  was  succeeded  by  liis  son, 
j\Iark.  Within  twenty  years,  the  son  became  one 
of  the  largest  producers  of  iron  ifi  the  counti^y 
at  that  time.  He  was  particularly  prominent  in 
the  Revolution. 

The  developmeu-t  of  the  Bird  industries  caused 
the  formation  of  a  considerable  settlement  on  both 
sides  of  the  creek  near  its  outlet  into  the  river, 
and  it  naturally  took  the  name  of  Birdsboro.  At 
the  tiine  of  the  erection  of  the  county  in  1752, 
besides  the  township  names  for  local  districts,  there 
were  only  two  named  towns.  Reading  and  Birds- 
boro. After  17G2,  this  town  became  uiore  prom- 
inentlv  known  through  the  industrial  energy  of 
Mark  Bird,  and  it  has  continued  to  be  the  most 
prominent  center  in  the  county  next  to  Reading 
in  re^^pect  to  population  and  wealth  from  that  time 
until  now. 

The   Brooke    fainilv   came   to  be   identified   with 


in  Berks  county.     Thev  dedicated   a  hall  in   18.jl.    the  place  before  ISOO,  and  its  greatest  development 
The  assets  of  this  body  are  .$4,000.  is  owing  to  the  enterprise  of  Edward  Brooke  and 

Another  society  here  which  has  been  quite  sue-  George  Brooke  (sons  of  Mattliew  Brooke)^  be- 
cessful  and  whose  members  have  exerted  consid-  tween  1837  and  1878.  \vhcn  the  former  died.  Since 
erable  social  and  political  influence  in  the  comnnmi-  1878.  George  Brooke  has  been  at  the  head  of  the 
ty  is  Camp  No.  113.  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  .Amer-  works  and"  as  a  matter  of  course,  of  the  entire 
ica,  which  was  instituted  in  1SG9,  with  12  charter 
members.  On  I'^ec.  3],  1908,  the  members  num- 
bered 208,  and  the  total  assets  of  the  camp  were 
reported  as  $10,270. 

Military  Excamtmext. — A  large  military  en- 
campment was  held  at  P.ernville  on  Aug.  27,  1841, 
comprising  seventeen  companies  of  militia,  almost 
entirely    from    Berks    county.      Several    companies 


conimumty. 

IxcoRroRATiox. — The  town  was  incorporated  as 
a  borough  in  November,  1872,  the  limits  includ- 
ing territorv  one  mile  =;quare,  with  the  northerly 
litre  along  the  Schuylkill  river.  It  embraces  sec- 
tions which  are  knov.-n  locally  as  Lincoln-town. 
Bronklvn.  Texas,  and  :Mexico.  The  streets  were 
regularlv  surveved   and  graded   in   1883.      A   wat- 


were  from  Lebanon  and  .<chuv!kill  counties.  At  er  department  was  then  established,  the  water  be- 
that  time,  Berks  counlv  had 'altogether  twentv-  ing  supplied  by  the  Brooke  Iron  Company  from 
three  coinpanie-;.  in<licaiimr  that  the  maioritv  "i  a  large  reservoir  o.utammg  37.000  iHiO  g.-illon- 
the  local  companies;  were  present  upon  that  occasion,  constructed  on  Lilian  run  two  nu'es  south  ot 
The  principal   ofticer   in   commnn<l   was   Gen.   Wil-  Bird-boro.      In    19'>':'    the    r,ird<l-.oro   Water    C-ni- 


ri-'fl 


'.  1  ■  ;nr 


•1      .   '.,c;ny.   I    'ril     ,.-i/l 


BOROUGHS 


275 


pany  ^vas  incorporated  by  the  Brookes,  which  pur- 
chased the  plant  for  the  purpose  of  supplying-  the 
growing-  town  with  water.  In  1006  the  company 
enlarged  the  main  pipe  to  sixteen  inches.  The 
small  mains  were  also  enlarged,  thereby  increas- 
ing the  daily  supply  and  improving  the  service  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  community. 

In  1885  the  streets  were  lirst  lighted  by  naph- 
tha gas  lamps ;  and  in  1896  by  electric  lights,  the 
plant  being  run  by  water  po-vver  from  the  canal. 
A  fire  company  was  organized  .in  18S3.  A  build- 
ing for  the  apparatus  was  supplied  by  the  bor- 
ough in  188J,  and  enlarged  in  1005.  The  upper 
story  is  occupied  as  a  town  h;dl.  Two  wards 
(East  and  West)   were  erected  in  1889. 

In  190G,  the  taxables  numbered  9']9 ;  the  total 
assessed  property  amounted  to  SI, "323, 264;  and 
the  money  at  interest,  S172,.531.  The  buildings 
numbered   -150 ;   East   ward,   2S0.   and   West   ward, 

i;o. 

First  Taxahles. — The  following  list  embraces 
the  first  taxable  inhabitants  of  the  borough : 


Enoch  Alderman 
James  Brusstar 
Dr.  B.  F.  Bunii 
George   Brinly 
Jercmip.])  Board 
John.  R.  Bechtei 
Edward  Brooke 
Geoi^^e  BiO(jke 
Zacharias  Bishop 
Augustus  Brit'on 
Henry    Biedcncup 
Richard   Bull 
Reuben  Bcidlcr 
Sanruel  Bland 
Lewis  R.  Bland 
Daniel   Bower 
Tohn  Bechtcl 
James  Bradley 
John    Britton 
F.ffenger  Dciit'lcr 
William   DeW'itt 
Ferdinand    Fgelman 
Henry  A.  Esterly 
Reese   Evans 
Benjamin  Grubb 
Samuel    Gohecn 
Charles  Glass 
Jacob  Gciger 
Joseph   Hal'- 
Michael   Hoffman 
Jacob  R.  Hunter 
Henry  Houck 
Elisha  B.  Houck 
Hannah  Huyett 
G.   W.   Harrison 
Dr.  Isaac  B.  Hallnian 
Caleb    Harrison 
Jacob  E.  Hook 
Susan  Hale 
Adam    Hoyer      v 


Robert   .'\rnold 
Daniel  AldendcriVr 
Anmion    A11>ii'.;Iit 
Henry  Albright 
Albert    Borden 


William  Hart 
John   E.  Hook 
Levi   E.   Hook 
Henry    E.    Hook 
Henr>'   M.    Houck 
George   W.    Hains 
William    Hayflicker 
.'\nna    Kline 
John   Keinard 
Joseph   R.   Kerst 
George  W.   Knabb 
James  Liggttt 
David  J.  Lincoln 
Michael    Lacv 
Ellen   Luft 
Peter    Moll 
Raymond   Molir  . 
D.-.niel   R.    Miller 
John   T.    Miller 
Enos  Morris 
James   Price 
Cyrus    Painter 
Edward   Parlaman 
Isaac   L.    Pauling 
Andrew   Painter 
John  Rork 
Cyrus    Rhoads 
Samuel  Rho.-jds 
Augustus  Rodcay 
Moses  Stuliblebine 
Hannali   .Stcinmetz 
Elijah    Shircy 
Augustus  Schlichter 
Daniel    Spencer 
David  \'anneman 
George  Wert 
Elizabeth    Wood 
George  Yocum 
Henry    Ycager 
John  Yeager 


Tenants 


Reuben  Bieidcgam 
John    Bailcv 
John  H.  Brinley 
Jcremiali    Babb 
William  Bortz 


.•\ndrew   Bivens 

Joseph   Bigley 
John   Boyer 
John    Brown 
William  Bishop 
Thomas   Conner 
Edward  Conner 
Jacob  Cramp 
Charles  Coughlen 
Uriah    Carson 
Peter   Detemple 
William    Davis 
James  Doaty 
Jeremiah  Dieter 
John  Deeds 
John    Davis 
James   Davis 
Wdliam  Davis,  Jr. 
Henry    Davis 
Tames    Daub 
David  DielTenderfer 
.Aaron  Ellis 
Lacy  Epstein 
Joseph  K.  Fisher 
David    Focht 
John    Fillman 
Samuel   Fair 
T«aac  Fair 
Peter  Frvmoyer 
William  Fosnacht 
Jacob  Fry 
John   Geary 
George  Grubb 
Samuel   Goheen 
John    Goheen 
Frederick  Garrick 
William   Ha^'gins 
Rudolph    Hayfli'-ker 
William    Harbeson 
Thomas  Hesser 
Owen   Hamilton 
John   Hoffman,   Sr. 
John    Floffman,   Jr. 
Charles    Hoyer 
James   Henry 
Henry    Henry 
Daniel   Hoyer 
Amos  Harner 
Henry    Haws 
William   D.    Homan 
James  Homan 
Charles  Floffman 
Levi    Hartman 
Isaac    Hahn 
Charles    Hoyer 
Joseph   I\I.   Hale 
Henry    Hoffman 
William    Ives 
John    Incheliff 
George   Irey 
David   Johnson 
Perry   Jones 
Samuel  Kachel 
Henry   Kline 
David    Kline 
Samuel    Kring 
John   Kutz 
Charles   Lacy 

Edward  F.  .Mdertnan 
James    Bicdencup 
Samuel   Blanri 
Edward  Bland 
Charles  Bland 
Henry  Eechtel 


Single 


John  Lacy 
Jacob  Lichty 
Henry  Lichty 
Joel  Moore 
Benjamin  McCord 
Edward  Mohr 
David  }>IcCord 
Joseph    McKim 
William  Morris 
Adarn  McMuIlen 
James    H.    Minker 
Isaac   Minker 
Augustus  Minker 
Levi   ilover 
John  Mock 
John  Mills 
Caleb  W.  Mann 
William  March 
John   Nichols 
William   Nagel 
George   Painter 
Lewis    Phillips 
Henry  Quimby 
Colbert  Ream.stein 
David   Rhoads 
B.   F.  Rorke 
Franklin   Reed 
Caleb  R.  Rhoads 
Augustus  Hedge 
Benjamin    Roberts 
George    Rotz 
Robert   Rhoads 
John   Rhoads 
Peter   Roikc 
Henry  Reimerl 
George  Siegfried 
William   Seldel 
Daniel  Spencer 
Jacob  Steimnetz 
Aaron   Sloyer 
James  Schule 
Henderson  Sample 
William  Stanley 
John    Siegfried 
Edward  Siegfried 
William   Siegfried 
George   :5chirey 
Ezra    Smith 
Isaac   Steinruck 
Samuel   Shcaler 
J.  S.  Scheffey 
Samuel   Troop 
James   Tolbert 
William  Thompson 
Charles   Vanderslicc 
Hugh  Vanenian 
Owen  WoliT 
David  Watts 
Daniel  Witman 
John    White 
Jonathan  Woomer 
Oliver  C.  Wilson 
Benjamin  Weidner 
George   Wert 
Francis  M.  Weaver 
.\.   B.   Young 
John  H.  Yeager 
Peter    Zeller" 
Men 
William  Britton 
George  I'rittnn 
William   DmLjlcr 
Lewis    D'.  hi  van 
George   3i!iigelnian 
Edward    B.    Evans 


v">   ,  /■••'T 


'.'I    II ■ 


•376 


HISTORY    OF    I-IFRKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYIA'AXIA 


Levi  I'ocht  William   .March  CoiislabU-s,     Sniuuel   Kirby 

Aaron  Francis  Anl.J^    .Miller  .MalilMU    i;)Mnior 

Lut   1!.   I-'urcnian  Gc'.irge    .Molir  .-luilltors,     I),    llarviy   Whi'iniaii 

Saiiuu-l   Green  Jobii    Phillips  Daniel   Meinder 

Jo^eiih    llendeTiiju  Benjamin  V.  Rork  George  !•".   15iernian 

lldward  Hes.-.er  Enucii    Rlioads  Assessors,     John    II.    lieidler 

Calel)  Harrison.  Jr.  John   Shiner  Geor<,'e   W.  Keescr 

Samuel   M.  Harrison  'acob    Steinmetz  Collrctrr,     Charles   11.   .Milhr 

William    H.   llarri>on  .Andrew  Steinnietz  Board  of  lh\ilt'n,     l-'rank   P.   Lytic.   M.   D.,   President 

John   Haus  Albert   Shirev  l->ank  Arters.  Secretary 

Joseph  Lacy  Sannicl    Westley  Charles    11.  Miller 

Peter    Lnit  David  Waltz  Henry  II.   Davis 

George    C.    Mohr  Thomas  \\'hite  Harry   Henderson 

Orrici.\LS.— The  folhwiiir,'  chief  buro-esscs.  tuwn  J^*""  -Murray 

clerks  and  iustice-.-  of  llie  peace  liave  officiated  from        I.vdustries. — The  indiutries  at  Birdsboro  are  nii- 

thc  beginning  uf  the  horcmgh  to  the  present  time:  mcrous  and  togcllier  make  tlic  place  the  most  pros- 

ClllPF  BL'RGRSSFS  perous  town  in  the  ccjunty  ne.xt  to  Reading.     The 

r  ^,^r    Ti  ■  io—  large  and  flouri-hing  works  of  the  E.  eS:  G.  lirooke 

George    U.    Ham 18-.)  ,.   ^  .         '^  ,  .  .     ,  

James  Li'.;<,-ct    • lS74-Trj  Company  constitute  the  conspicuous  industrial  lite 

George   Begird    ISTG  of  the  place  and  it?  chief  sui)port. 

D.  K.  Miller  isTT        William  Bird  established  the  first  iron  works  here 

George  \V.  Hook ISTS  j,,  j-j^  and  u])on  his  decease  in   J  TG".'  thev  passed 

c  B  B^r'i'  .™'.''!'!'.::::::::::;:::::::::::::::;!ssi-S  ^^  ^"*  ^'^"  ^^^■;'^-  ^^'"^  operaie<i  them  untirhi.  faii- 

Cyriis  Painter   iss:;  "re  in    1T<S8.     'Hiey  embraced  several   forges,  roll- 

-Michael    Hoffman    iss4  ing-mill,  slitting-niill.  nail-mill,  grist  and  saw-mill, 

Abncr   S.    East iss-,-8'.i  and  about  eight  tin  ai^and  acre>  of  land,  which  lav 

V"""^  XV    mm".""""" 1^m'!";I^  to  the  east,  somh  and  west  of  the  works   for  sev- 

Isaac    \\ .    Miller 1S',):J-'J.!  ,       .,  ,    ,       ,..  ,,     ,       ,,     ,       ..        .       _. 

David  Kliii"  ■.  i:-:i:;-04  erai  miles.  Jolm  .\i.\on,  Cadwallader  ylorri'i,  James 

Julius  R.  LantMier'^  180-1-07  Old,  and  James  Vv'ilson  then  became  owners.    John 

James   .A.    HoiVman isor-jooo  J^oiiis     Bardc     (the    grandfather    of    Edward    and 

J''':'^'''  ^l,T'',-,-, ioon-o:i  G.-orge  Brooke)    had  located  here  in  ITss  and  run 

Oliver    W .    l-.ck lon.i-Oii  ,,,,      '-  ,  •,     ,-,,,.         ;  r  v  \  -i  i  i 

John  W.   Davis lOor.-uo  ^Y  '^^^    ''■'^'}    ^■'      '    ''"'■"    ■'""'■'    ^^ ''^''"    "'''' 

I':hr,er    E.    S(|nibb lOoo-iL'  tbcni  to  him,  including  •.'.■.'nil  acres  ol  land,  and  upon 

'  i-irst  ciecini  fur  three  ycurs  un.1. r  Aet  of  ]sy3.  jiis   dcccasc  in    WX),   .Matilicw    Brookc    (tile    father 

TOW.X    CLERKS  of  Edward  and  George)    became  the  eiwner. 

Caleb  K.   Rhoads 1S73-190:;         Brookc    Works.— \\\    Fs:;;.   the    two   sons    namcfl 

Albert  Fritz    I00:i-Oti  purchased  the  l^lant,  and  thev  and  their  sons  have 

Howard    Deam     lOOG-lO  ,.•         ■  ,-    ,,-  ., 

^ been  operating  it   snccesstullv  until  now,  covering 

JUoT  ICl-S  OI-   THE   PE.-\CE  a  period  of  more  than  seventy  contimonis  vears  and 

Joseph  M.  Kersi 1S7:;-S8  altogether  in  the   familv   for  more  than  a  lumdred 

James_  S.  Brussiar ts7:i-90  years.      In  IS  lij  a  charcoal  furnace  wa>  erect,/d  bv 

£r"ma!/:::;::: ::::::::::::::::::::::: :i8iSn  ^^f"  fi°"^  ^'^^  "-'<  ^^'--'^  ^^  -''^.^^'  the  south,  to 

Oscar  S.  rlertzog t80:i-0S  t^^ke  tlie  place  of  the  "  Hampton   lorge    ;  m   ISIS, 

Zacharias   Bishop    iS'js-iOd,'!  an  enlarged  rolling  mill  and  nail   factory:  in   1S.j2, 

Harry  E.  Hart* ]0o:;  an  anthracite  furnace  ( known  as  Xo.  1  and  operated 

^''r"^\w-,,^"'"'^'"''"* \^»^-m  until   recenllv   when   it   was   dismantle )  ;   in    1870, 

-'°'"'  ^^ '-•"^^-  '^'' .^..touo-14  ^,^^j,^^^  anthracite   furnace.   Xo.   -,  and  m   ls7.1  a 

BOROUGH  OFFICIALS— Tooo  third,    Xo.    3,    both    of    which    are    still    in    active 

Chief  Buriicss.    bllmer  E.  Squibb  Operation.      Xo.   •?   arfor('s   const;int  emplo_\nient   to 

Toien  Council.     Howard  L.  Honk,  President  lOii  liands,  and  X'o.  :'.,  to  ".'H!!  hands. 

Enos   Rhe.ads  Treasurer  In   1S7S,  Edward   Brookc  died,  and  the  E.  &  G. 

Samuel   C   Ward  Brooke   Iron   Companv   was   organized,   which   be- 
Gcorge   Brooke,  Jr.  ,,  ,'       -  -     -^    ,  ^., 

John  W.  Slipp  came  the  owner  ot  the  extensive  plant.      I  he  capac- 

\V.  Oliver  Gciger  .  't>'   bas    been   gradually    enlarged    until   the   present 

Horace  bVy  time.     Xow  the  works  i^roduce  annualh'  S(i,(hhi  ton- 

c,      ,    »       ,     ',t"^^-""''  t"-.l^'-i'"-  V'^'''^  of  i)ig  iron,  and  •.'.-.(i.nfHi  kegs  of  nails  i  and  furnish 
^cliool    Jioard,    Robert   b.     Irooke.  Pre-.idert  i'  4.   .       ^--  'it  t-i 

Harrv  A.  Beard.  Secretary  employment  t<i    .,.,   men   an<l  boys.     The  company 

Jacol)   Shaner,   Treasurer  o^^'"  altogether  ■<:.")n  dwelling-houses,  which  are  nc- 

Lyman    B,   Umstead  cupicd  by  its  enqijoyees;  and  l-M)  are  o\\ned  b\'  eni- 

Wilham   K.  Young  plovees,  which  evidences  their  indu-trv  runl  tliri  ft. 

;     ,  ,  ,,      .pi"''!'  I-r-wii  j„   j,m;^_  .^   j,,i,ii,lrv  conipanv   was' or-ani7:ed   for 

JustuTS  o)   til:-  fi-aec.   laeob   .M.   I'rmzman  r      ^      ■  ,         '  '     t  •  •  i     . 

'janirs  lloffmin  manufacturing    stove-     and    macliiiii-    castiur^-:.    bu! 

•  Ti-,r»  .n^„,.,.\    1,    ,1     ,f.  -  •      .■  ,-,  r-  it  was  operated  (Mil\- several  vear'    when  the  I'.rookes 

was   a;.i..Kr.iea    iii   liia   Mead   and    elected    in    I'Jol.  purcliascd    the      argC    bui   (  lllg.        lli     l.^S.)    tie     i   Cim- 


.■;i      -,['.,.::[ 


BOROUGHS 


277 


sylvania  Diamond  Drill  Company  removed  their 
plant  from  Pottsvillc  to  this  buildin:^^  and  enL;a^"cd 
in  the  manufacture  of  diamond-drilhnL,'^  machinery, 
mining  tools,  and  hig-h-speed  electric  liglit  engines. 
Owing  to  the  increasing  business  a  new  stone  Iniild- 
ing  was  erected  in  l^tS8,  and  equiiiped  with  tlie 
finest  machinery  for  manufacturing  macliinery  for 
roUing  mills,  blast  furnaces  and  steel  i)!ants ;  and 
subsequently  the  old  building  was  enlarged  and 
changed  to  a  cast-iron  foundry  for  producing  all 
kinds   of  grey-iron   castings. 

In  lf)02,  the  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire;  but  it 
was  immediately  rebuilt,  wMth  a  modern  equipment 
to  produce  the  largest  and  most  difticult  castings. 
In  1903,  a  steel-casting  branch  was  ailded.  The 
total  cost  of  this  great  industry  exceeds  Sl.i'OO,- 
000,  and  over  four  hundred  hands  are  atlorded 
constant  employment.  The  Brcokes  became  the 
owners,  and  they  operated  the  plant  under  the  name 
of  the  Birdsboro  Steel  Foundry  ^;  Machine  Com- 
pany. 

It  is  estimated  that  I.'jO  men  from  Reading  are 
employed  in  the  different  works  at  Birdsboro,  who 
travel  bv  train  to  and  fr(>  daily. 

Bird  Mill. — Xext  to  the  iron  works,  the  oldest 
industry  in  long-continued  operation  is  the  large 
stone  grist-mill  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Mill 
streets,  along  Hay  creek.  It  was  first  erected  by 
William  Bird  about  the  time  he  >tartcil  in  tlie 
iron  business,  for  tlie  ])urposc  of  supplying  flour 
and  feed  to  his  working-people  and  live  stock. 
In  ISI-l,  the  third  building  was  put  there.  In 
1S7SI,  this  was  remodeled  with  rollcr-jiroecss  ma- 
chinery, and  flour  was  manufactured  until  1S!)!S ; 
since  then  it  has  been  used  as  a  chopping-mill, 
operated  by  George  C.  Riegner. 

Stwc  Factorics.~-]n  ISSl,  H.  M.  WiHits  started 
the  manufacture  of  infants'  shoes  and  has  con- 
tinued until  the  present  time,  employing  upward 
of  sixty  hands;  and  in  1890  Albert  H.  Iluyett 
and  Charles  S.  Rhoads.  trading  as  Iluyett  & 
Rhoads,  started  in  the  same  business  and  have 
since  employed  from  si.xty  to  seventy-tlve  hands. 

Hosiery  Mill. — William  B.  Byers  and  son  Charles 
have  been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  hosiery 
since  1!)04,  employing  twenty  to  thirty  hands. 
They  succeeded  William  Cavana'gh,  who  had  car- 
ried on  the  factory  for  about  te:i  years. 

Creamery. — A  creamerv  was  started  at  Birds- 
boro about  189.5  by  Herbine  &  Kline  and  they  ojier- 
ated  it  until  March,  inO'.l,  when  they  -^old  it  to 
Harrv  Koch,  who  has  been  operating  it  since, 
with  his  brother   Roy   Koch  a.^  manager. 

Gloi-e  Factory. — A  new  enteri-)ri>e  for  the  manu- 
facture of  canvas  gloves  has  been  recently  -start- 
ed by  James  Sponagle  and  his  son. 

Besides  the  industries  named  the  borougli  con- 
tained in  April,  IDOil,  two  bakeiics,  two  tin-^nn'tli 
shops,  eight  grocery  stores,  one  ilrug  store,  one 
bottling  works,  and   four  phy>ici:ins. 

P..\N-K. — A  national  bank  was  organized  and 
chartered  in  18S.S  with  a  capital  of  $:.(),0()0.  which 


has  been  managed  very  successfullv.  In  1001,  a 
new  and  attractive  building  was  erected  for  the 
transaction  of  its  business.  In  Xovember,  1008, 
the  resources  of  the  bank  were  .S3.J8,tsOG,  with  in- 
diyidtial  deposits  $l'iT,8U.  Edward  Brooke  has 
been  the  president  since  its  organization. 

Railroads. — The  ]'hiladeli)hia  tv  Reading  rail- 
road was  constructed  along  the  northerly  bank 
of  the  Schuylkill  river  opposite  Birdsboro  in  1838; 
the  Wilmington  &  Xorthern.  through  the  central 
section  of  the  town  and  thence  southward  along 
Hay  creek,  in  1871:  the  Bennsylvania  Schuylkill 
\'allcy,  also  through  the  central  section,  extend- 
ing east  and  west,  in  l.'s81 ;  and  a  trolley  line  of 
electric  railway  was  extended  from  the  Black  Bear 
Inn.  via  .Seyfert  and  Gibraltar  to  Birdsboro,  in 
lOnl.  They,  are  all  of  .great  impoitance  to  the  place, 
not  only  in  respect  to  its  industries  but  also  to  the 
convenience  and  encouragement  of  its  inhabitants 
in  visiting  the  county-seat  for  business,  political, 
social  and  amusement  purposes. 

FiKi-:  CoMPAXY. — -In  1883,  a  fire  company  was 
organized  at  Birdsboro  to  afford  the  place  protec- 
tion against  fire,  named  Friendship  Fire  Company 
Xo.  1.  In  1884  the  company  erected  a  fine  two- 
story  engine-house,  on  a  lot  donated  by  George 
Brooke,  in  which  to  place  its  apparattis.  It  was 
enlarged  in  lOO.";.  The  equipment  comiiriscs  two 
hose  carriages  \vith  1,000  feet  of  hose;  and  tiie 
membership  numbers  120.  The  building  includes 
all  modern  improvements,  with  four  bath-rooms  and 
jjool-room  for  the  convenience  and  entertainment 
of  the  members. 

Xewspapeus. — Tlie  Birdshom  Pioneer  was  the 
first  newspaper  published  at  Birdsboro.  It  was  an 
English  weekly  started  by  B.  F.  Fries  on  April 
27,  1873,  and  he  continued  its  publication  until  Jan- 
uary, 1S7G,  wdien  he  moved  to  Reading,  changed 
the  title  to  Industrial  Pioneer,  and  continued  its 
publication  for  several  months. 

The  Birdsboro  Dispatch  was  started  by  Rapp  S: 
Ryan  in  1884  as  an  English  weekly  and  they  carried 
on  its  publication  until  Jan.  1,  1804,  when  Luther 
S.  Mohr  became  the  purchaser  and  he  continued 
its  publication  until  July  1,  ]0()8,  when  he  sold  it 
to  Harry  E.  Hart,  who  has  issued  it  since  in  con- 
nection with  The  Birdsboro  Rei-icic.  which  he  had 
founded  in  1803  and  publisherl  successfully  until 
the  consolidation. 

Ciu.'KCiiES. —  The  first  church  in  this  locality  was 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  erected  in  1830 
near  Mt.  .\iry,  several  miles  to  the  east.  The  ad- 
herents of  this  denomination  at  Birdsboro  attend- 
ed services  there  and  continued  to  do  so  until  1S>C)9. 
wdicn  a  church  was  established  in  the  town ;  and 
this  has  been  maintained  until  nf)w. 

Members  of  the  Protestant  Ep'scojial  Church  at- 
tendeil  services  at  nougla^>villc  untd  l.s-'>:!.  when 
they  secured  a  church  at  P.irdsi-riro.  which  was 
nameil  "St.  .Michaers."  The  building  was  remod- 
eled  in   ISS.-)  and  made  one  of  the  most  attractive 


/i.t 


'^.■^  ■;•'   i.. 


ii'.'  !     ■•:  ''1!^ 


:,iiV. 


■■     /.    V     .    •     ,  )  !    7i',    (.(! 


278 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


churches  in  the  county.  A  fine  rectory  was  added 
to  the  property  in  l^in  ;  and  also  a  library  hall  in 
188-i.  The  members  of  this  denomination  were 
mostly  instrumental  in  laying  out  a  cemetery  a  mile 
east  of  the  town  in  1870.  A  soldiers'  monument 
was  erected  there  in  IDOo,  and  dedicated  with  im- 
posing ceremonies  t-n  July  -ith. 

The  Evangelical  Association  erected  a  small 
church  in  lST-1;  the  Eutherans,  in  18',  7  (after  main- 
taining an  organization  since  IST^i)  ;  and  the  Re- 
form.ed,  in  liibO.  Members  of  the  last  two  denom- 
inations until  then  had  generally  attended  church 
services  either  at  ihc  "Pl-iw  Church"  to  the  south; 
or  at  the  " Schwartz wald"  to  the  north,  or  at  the 
"St.  John's"  to  the  west. 

In  South  Birdsboro,  there  are  two  brick  cliurch 
buildings,  one  erected  by  Grace  United  Brethren 
Association  in  IbSfi,  and  the  other  by  Trinity  Evan- 
gelical Association  in  1!)01. 

SciiooL.s. — The  citizens  of  the  community  adopt- 
ed the  free  school  system  in  183G.  Previously  there 
were  pay  schools,  as  elsewhere  in  the  county. 

An  academy  for  higher  education  was  established 
in  1855  by  Prof.  B.  F.  Boyer,  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College,  who  afterward  practised  law  at  Reading. 
The  site  is  now  included  in  the  cemetery.  It  v.-as 
carried  on  for  about  twenty  years,  and  commonly 
knov/n  as  the  "Philom.athean  Academy."  Educa- 
tional matters  have  been  much  encouraged,  as  evi- 
denced bv  the  superior  and  costly  school  buildings 
in  the  town.  A  fine  modern  structure  was  erected 
in  1896.  In  190G,  there  were  eleven  graded  schools, 
with  459  scholars. 

Band.s. — There  are  three  ])opular  bands  of  nT.'>ic 
at  Birdsboro:  The  JGth  Regiment  Band  (organized 
before  the  Civil  ^\'ar)  :  the  Birdsboro  Band,  with 
twenty  performers;  and  the  Orpheus  Band,  with 
twenty  pcrfonviers.  The  Birdsboro  Drum  Corps, 
vvith  fifteen  rncmliers.  has  al^-o  lieen  a  popular  or- 
ganization for  a  number  of  years. 

Cornet  Band  in  Civil  W  ar  .—^Thi:  Birdsboro 
Cornet  Band  was  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war,  and  the 
musicians  were  R.  J.  Stanley,  leader.  Augustus 
Dewitt,  John  "W.  Deeds,  Benncville  Evans,  Dan- 
iel Fix,  Isaac  IToyer,  George  W.  Horner.  John 
H.  Karch,  WiIIian\  A'.  Light,  Joseph  Laoey,  .\u- 
gustus  Minkcr,  James  II.  ?\Iinkev.  It  was  mus- 
tered into  service  Aug.  27,  ISGl,  for  three  years, 
as  the  regimental  band  of  the  -IGth  Regiment. 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers.  It  accompanied  the  reij- 
iment  in  its  movements  but  was  mustered  out  of 
ser\-ice  Aug.  IG,  1SG2,  in  pursuance  of  an  order 
dispensing  with  regimental  bands.  It  was  rec- 
ognized as  a  superior  band.  It-  has  kejit  up  an 
active  organization  until  the  present  time,  known 
as  the  'iGth  Regimental  Band.  The  members  num- 
ber forty,  all  expert  players  on  their  respective 
instruments.  Samuel  Nagle  has  been  the  leader 
fc>r  the  past  twenty  years.  It  is  popular  and  parti- 
cipates in  manv  jMiblic  demon.-trations. 

Ix)DGE  H.\i-i'.— In  100^,  the  Knights  of  the  Gold- 
en  Eagle   and   the   Odd   Fellows   iointly   erected   a 


fine,  large,  three-story  brick  buildint,  to  provide 
a  hall  for  their  meetings,  and  a!i  the  secret  socie- 
ties (including  Sons  of  America,  Mechanics.  Mac- 
cabees and  Red  ]\[en)  meet  there,  excepting  the 
I'reemasons,  which  meet  in  Brooke  Hall.  The 
Auditorium  for  public  meetings  and  amusements 
wa.i  erected  in  18'.i".?,  and  has  been  patronized  lib- 
erally. 

HoTi-xs. — There  are  three  licensed  hotels  in  the 
borough,  Washington,  Mansion,  and  St.  Elmo. 
The  first  was  rebuilt  in  1904  bv  John  Barbey  c>i 
Reading  to  suiiply  a  modern  hotel ;  the  Reading 
lirewing  Compan\-  secured  the  second  also  in  190 i, 
and  made  costly  improvements. 

Homes. — Birdsboro  is  remarkable  for  beautiful 
homes,  more  especially  in  the  sections  known  lo- 
cally as  Lincoln-town  and  Brcnoklyn.  The  Brooke 
homes  are  palatial. 

FiKST  Bridge. — In  17TS,  a  ford  was  reported  at 
Jacob  Huyett's  farm  along  the  .Schuylkill  river 
which  was  above  the  mouth  of  Hay  creek,  and  then 
the  water  was  eight  inches  in  depth.  This  ford 
was  used  until  1815,  when  a  covered  wooden  bridge 
was  erected  by  a  stock  company  and  it  was  main- 
tained as  a  toll-bridge  until  1SS7,  wdien  it  became 
a  free  county  bridge.  In  1850,  it  was  swept  away 
by  the  great  freshet.  It  was  immediately  rebuilt 
and  is  still  in  dailv  use. 

Flood  of  1902. — In  February,  1902,  there  was 
a  considerable  fall  of  rain  and  on  account  of  the 
ru.shing  swollen  waters  in  Flay  creek  the  dam  above 
th.e  Brooke  nad-mill  was  swept  away  and  the  lower 
section  of  Birdsboro  along  Main  street  was  flood- 
ed to  the  depth  of  seven  feet.  After  the  waters 
had  passed  away,  there  was  a  deposit  of  fourteen 
inches  of  mud  on  the  street  and  six  inches  in  the 
dwellings. 

CENTREPORT 

Incorpor.^tiox. — Centreport  was  incorporated  as 
a  borough  in  188!,  having  been  taken  from  Centre 
township,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  better  school 
facilities.  The  borough,  which  is  the  smallest  in 
the  county,  includes  one  ^^ch^ool  building,  with  25 
scholars ;  38  dwellings  :  and  a  population  of  150. 

First   TAXAr.LF..s. — ^The   taxable   residents   at   the 
time  of  incorporation  were  as  follows  : 
William    B.    Borkcv  George  P.  Rentschlcr 

^rary    Blatt  '  David    Stopp 

William  W.  Haatr  John   H.    Stepp 

Gcorcre   W.    B.    KanlTmaii  Menry    Stover 

Daniel    IT.    Kline  Benjamin  Sclilappig 

William  R.  Kline  Esther   Stoudt 

.•\llrcd    A.    Lesher 

Tenants 
Joshua    Bucks  David    Mvers 

Elias    Foltz  James  H.'  Moll 

James  Dunkclbercjer  '  Daniel   IT.   Xoccker 

William  Dcwcese  John    F,.    Pautsch 

Samuel  TTcflfner  Eli.is  S.  Tventschlcr 

Tames  .\.  TToffman,  M.  D.         Moriis   Reeser 
Sanuiel  B.  Kantner  John    IT.    Suatz.    M.   D. 

William    T\n;iucr  Pli/.-i'iith     .Seriman 

Jaint-s    \V.    Klapp  Adam   S.  Williams 

Jatnes   T.    Kline  Charks   S.   Yodcr 

Fphraim  C.   Mover 


BOROUGHS 


279 


OrnciALS. The  following  liave  scrvcrl  as  chief  makiiur  ladies'  and  children's  underwep.r.     In  1901, 

buri^esses  and  justices  of  thiT  peace  since  the  incor-  Mr.  Pautscli  became  the  sole  owner,  and  he  oper- 
poration  of  the  borough:  ated  the  plant  for  five  years  in  a  successful  man- 
'  ner,  employing:  from  eighteen  to  twenty-live  hands, 
LHibA-  bLKOiibbbb  ^^_.^j^  ^^^  investment  of  S10,000 ;  then  it  was  des- 
Morris  Rteser  1884-85  j-roved  by  fire,  and  Mr.  Pautsch  died  shortly  after- 
James    Kauffmati    1836  '  i 

Darius  E.   Sheidi 1SS7;   1890-91  ^^^;"-     „,_      „      ,,      ,,.,,  ,  ,  i  .^ 

WillKtm  Knauer  1888        In    189^,    C.    K.    Miller   opened   a   marble   yard 

M.  G.  Rentschler 1889  for   supplying  gravestones   and   marble  w^ork,   and 

James  Lengel  q^^'q'in  ^^"^  continued  it  since.     In  that  year  ]M.  D.  Win- 

Jam«  fr^Moll ■.■.'.■■.■.:■.:■.■.■.:■. ; ; ; ;  V.V. '. '. '. '.  ^^900-03  ter    began    the    making   of    ice-cream    and    confec- 

Franlc  H.'  Borkey 1903-00  tioncry,  enlarging  his  busmess  in  lOO'-i  by  the  addi- 

P.  S.  LudwicT   .' 1906-00  ^jq,^   pf  ^  gasoline   engine.     His  trade   extentls  in- 

James   S.   Miller 1909-12  ^^  ^j^^  surrounding  townships. 

JUSTICES  OE  THE  PEACE  In   1!JOO,  Joseph   D.   Naftzinger   engaged   in   the 

,  TM  ^aKA  «!Q  manufacture   of   kitchen   furniture,   continuing   un- 

James    Klapp    I8b4-sy  .,       ,  ,        ,         -r-i       ^         n  -    u- 

George  W.  B.  Kauffman   1SS4-S8  tU  now   With  three  hands.     The  top  floor  oi   his 

Darius  E.  Sheid y 1888-92  factory  building  is  used   for  lodge  purposes.      He 

Michael   S.   Rentschler ^^^c'^^T  also   deals   in    furniture   and     carpets.      He    is    the 

T    Ai     1  crcer  loy^-yo  ,         ,  .        ... 

M    D    Winter  1894-1909  undertaker  tor  this  vicuiity. 

In  190:^,  William  Boyer,  began  a  small  saddlery 

BOROUGH  OFFICIALS-1900  j^j.    ^j^^    manufacture   and    repair    of   harness.      A 

Chief   Burgess,    James   S.   IMiller  sunilar  shop  had  been  at  the  place  for  many  years. 

ToiL-n  Council,  PL  E.  F.  Dcitz,  President  M.    D.    Winter    started    a    shirt    faciory   in    1908 

David  Poller  .^^.jtjj  eighteen  hands ;  and   f.  S.  Balthaser  an  iniple- 

Wmiv?  Reher''  "^^nt  Store  in  19U7  with  fu'C  hands. 

Levi   ilant;  '^  M.  D.  Wiiuer  has  been  the  postmaster  for  six- 

M.   S.   Rentschler,   Secrctaiy  teen   years.     The  [jrevious  postmasters  were  J.   E. 

Schonl  Board,    James  S.   Miller,  President  Pautsch  and  William  B.   Borkey. 

M    D.  ^^'i'lK^^r    SecrHary  -^^^j,^  enterprise  of  the  place  is  commendable,  con- 

Wmirun  Rirk   '•'"'  ^'''''"'"  sidering  its  smallness  and  situation  from  thc_  rail- 

M.  S   K.ntschler  way.      [Statistics   relating   to   the   borough   will   be 

H.'  i:.   E.  Dcitz  found  in  Chapter  IX.] 

Assessor,    M.  D.  Winter  About  1S18,  a  public  hmise,  including  a  general 

Collector,    H.  E.  F.  Dcitz  ^^^^^    ^^,^^  opened  at  this  point  bv  John  Ilaag,  and 

Auditors,  D.^  K  Jent^^chler  ^^^^^  ^,^.^  ^.^^^^  .^^,,^^,^^^^  j,  gradually"became  a  center 

William  Reber  for  the  transaction  of  business.     The  store  was  sep- 

Justicc  of  the  Pea.c,    M.  S.   Rentschler  arated  from  the  tavern  in  1857,  and  William  Bor- 

Constable,    T.  D.  Moyer  ]^^.y   ^^,^^    t|-,^.   fj.j-gt      store-keeper.      M.    S.    Rentsch- 

INDUSTRIES.— Before   1890  there  were  no  indus-  '"'s   father  carried  on  this   store  for  many  years 

tries  at  the  place.     The  first  was   a   creamerv  es-  The  son  succeeded  h.m  m  1880,  and  has  operated 

taWishcd  by   M.   S.   Rentschler,   Esq.,   in   ]891.     It  \  large  general  store  m  a  successful  manner  ever 

has  been  operated  since  1900  bv  H.  S.  Fraucnfel-  since,                 •          r  .i      i            i     .-      < 

1          £  AT  1        Ml      •                  I-           •<!    ,1,  „       fu  ^  In  the  erection  of  the  borough,  tne  tavern  was 

der,  of  Alohrsville,  in  connection  with  three  other  ,    ,      ,         ,     .,                •            i-   •      i    .i,^    i,„« 

'         .                    '  excluded,   though    the   premises   adjoined   the    line. 

creameries.  ^    -n  ,         .     .    ^   .^  A  post-ofSce  w^as  established  there  in  18G8.    Curb- 

In   1S91>,  Jonathan   G.   Reber   started   the  manu-    ^^^^^  ^^,^.^..  ^^.^  ^^^^^^  ^j^^.  ^^^^^^^^  -^  -^f,^^.  g,^^  ^^^^ 

facturc   of   light   and   heavy    larni   wagons   at   this  ^^^^^^^  came  to  be  lighted  in  the  night-time  bv  large 

place  and  he  has  continued  until  the  present  time,  ^jj  \^^^^^^  ^gt  on  posts.     The  nearest  railroad  point 

employing  from  ten  to  fifteen  hands,  with  a  capi-  j^  ^^  Shoemakersville  about  two  miles  to  the  east, 

tal  of  ^S.OOO.     Ili^  wagons  are  sent  to  all  parts  of  i^^).  ^i^^  station  generally  taken  is  Mohrsville,  though 

the   county,   being    appreciated    for    their   strengtii  farther  distant!^  on  account  of  the  shorter  distance 

and  durability.  to  Reading. 

The  same  year  F.  R.  Hiester  began  the  manu-  Physicians.— The  medical   practitioners  at  this 

facture  of  cigars,  moving  here  from  Shartlesville,  place  have  been  Dr.  William  Palm,  Dr.  J.  H.  Spatz, 

wliere  he  had  been  in  the  business  from  1885.     He  Y)r.  C.  G.  Loose,  Dr.  James  A.  HolTman.  and  Dr. 

and  his  son  produced  annually  about  200,000,  which  J.   G.    Matternes. 

were  sold  mostly  in   the  coal   regions   of   I'cnnsyl-  Bami  of  Music— .\  band  of  music  was  organ- 

vania.     They  discon(inu<d  in   190('..  i;,^.,!   j,,    the  Ixirnugli    in   lOOC).  with   upward   of  fif- 

In    ]89.j,   a   knitting-mill    was    e>tHbli>hed   by   J.  teen  niemhcrs,  who  are  instrr.cted  by  Byron  Miller, 

E.  Pautsch,  M,  M.  Kline  and  D.  E.  Noccker  for  of  Bcrnville. 


i    a:   -:.    .;;  -• 

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HISTORY  OF  i;erks  couxty,  pexxsyl\-axia 


WEST  LEESPORT 

When  llic  riiilaclcljihia  v\;  Rcmlint^  railroad  was 
being  extended  t'runi  Reatling  northward,  Sanmel 
Lee  laid  out  a  tuwn  along  the  Centre  Turnjiike  in 
Maiden -creek  town-hip  (now  Ontelaunee )  a  short 
distance  east  of  the  SchnvIkiU  river,  nnic  miles 
from  Reading,  and  named  it  ■■Lee>j)ort."  But  the 
railroad  wa-  cun.-tructed  on  tlie  western  side  of 
the  river,  and  the  -lation  was  lociiteil  at  the  point 
wdiere  the  jmblic  road  from  Lcesport  into  Jjcrn 
township  cro--ed  tlie  railrirad.  Tin.-  <tati(H5  wa- 
named  Eee.-port  hv  the  railroad  LXimijanv  in  ISI'J; 
and  the  name  ha-  been  cuntinued  until  the  present 
time. 

The  business  at  the  >tation  encouraged  the  for- 
mation of  a  settlement  at  this  place  and  in  time 
it  developed  i;ito  an  imi)ortaiit  and  popular  trading 
center.  .Sanmel  11.  Lenliart  v/as  actively  and  -nc- 
cessfully  engaged  in  the  general  store  busine-- 
here  for  fifty  years,  taking  great  interest  in  tlie  wel- 
fare and  enrichment  of  the  community :  Leonard 
]•".  Scliock  was  the  railroad  station  agent  from  JN^O 
until  his  decea.-e  in  1;M)S;  and  1-aac  tL  Rahn  the 
justice  of  the  peace  fri:)m  1.S()8  imiil  his  decease  in 
1907. 

The  Lenhart  store  was  establi'^hed  by  .\braham 
Herbein  about  lt>.")0.  and  in  18.j8  he  sold  it  to  Air. 
Lenliart.  In  ISltO  Harry  Lenhart  became  associat- 
ed with  his  father,  and  they  have  .since  traded 
under  the  n.anie  i>f  S.  11.  Lenhart  &  Son.  .Sam- 
uel Bell  ha-  b"en  here  as  a  linsmith  and  stove 
dealer  since   18G'?.  having   removed   from    Reading. 

iN'COKrOR.VTiox. — In  May,  I'-'nL  an  ajiphcation 
was  made  to  the  court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for  the 
incorporation  of  the  settlement  west  of  the  river 
into  a  borough,  and  the  decree  v.-as  made  on  Dec. 
30,  1901,  with  the  name  West  Leesport.  because  the 
place  was  situated  west  of  the  river.  Immediately 
after  a  mmiicipal  organization  was  eft'ccted  in 
March,  lUOV,  local  impnwements  began  t'>  be  made 
in  the  streets  ami  sidewalks  and  also  in  the  aj)- 
pearance  of  the  dwellings,  showing  tlie  beneficial 
influence  of  an  elevated  political  status. 

In  190(1,  there  were  in  the  boi-ough  100  dwell- 
ings :  1S5  taxables :  '■'>  stores ;  2  hotels ;  a  church : 
a  school  (4  rc>nms')  ;  a  wdieelwnght  and  a  black- 
smith shop:  a  kniiting-mill ;  a  physician;  and  a 
veterinarv  surgenn.  The  taxable  ]ir<-'pertv  v.as  as- 
sessed at  ?i;^S.;')S.") ;  money  at  mterest.  $7"? ,<•■")•") : 
estimated  population.  HoO. 

FiR.sT  T.\x.\r.i.Fs. — Xames  of  resident  taxables  of 
West  Leesport,  when  first  established  as  a  borough 
in  1902; 


Charles  .Vdnrns 
Snmuel   P.agonstoc- 
Baccnstocs  &  Loose 
bnnics   G.   Bear 
Sannul    RlU 
William    P.cll 
Wallace-   P.laU 
Frank    p.rown 
F.ilward  Probst 
Jacolt  P.a;.;en?tosc 
.Mary  PaKcnstosc 


Thoin.is  R.  Chri.'st 
Franklin  Dundore 
Samuel  Z.  Deck 
William  Eplcr  H-it. 
Chark";   l-'islur 
Mary   I'isber 
I'.dward    (Iromis 
Rcuhon    ITuff 
Samson    II oyer 
John    Hans 
GeorRC  C.  Hartmaii 


Giorgc  B.   Hover 
Samuel    Hainos 
-Abraham    Kaufman 
Charles   Ketiicr 
Isa;;.;    Kt-tticr 
I'Vancis   Kaufman 
S.    i  1.    Lenliart 
Benjamin    Leinbach 
-Mrs.    Lsther    Lenyel 
Reuben    Loose 
George  B.   Moser 
William    Men.eel 
Charles    E.    !Mengel 
Mrs.  John  Riley  Est. 
Mrs.  Lovine   Ruth 
Levi    Reeser 
Isaac    Rahn 
D.    M.    Reeser 
James  Rentchlcr 
MoTis  Riescr 
William    F.    Radey 
William  Z.  Rahn 


Esther  Richard 
Tacob    Rickenbacli 
K;ite   Seaman 
Charles    Schock 
L.    F.    Schock 
Reuben    Schock 
Mrs.  Levi  Snytkr  Est. 
Mrs.  Samuel  Si)ayd,  E-t. 
EinaiuKl   Straus 
William  Spa\d 
.\arou   Schrack 
.Mandus    Schloppig 
Gideon    Stouflt 
Samuel   Spayd.  Jr. 
Edward  C.  Spayd 
Mrs.   Leah   Spatz 
Elias   Spatz 
Beniie\illc  K.  .Seidel 
.Mrs.  Angelina  Strauser 
Wilson  Strauser 
Jacob  11.  Wangee 

Totaiits 

Franklin    Meii.gel 
Morris   .Miller 
Rufus  C.   Marks 
Wilson    Mens 
Frank  P.  Xocker 
James   Xaragan 
Ephrann   .Vetlinger 
Charles  L.  Reeser 
John  Z.  Reeser 
Samuel    Roth 
Levi   R.    Roth 
Sallie  Reeser 
Sarah  Reeser 
Georec  A.. Rahn 
Owen    Reeser 
Alfred   11.  Strause 
Rev.  D.  E.  Schaffer 
Israel   Strause 
James    Shade 
.Alvin   Snyder 
Girtie    Strause 
Wash   Shell 
Austin  Smith 
John    Shell 
Joseph  Spaiigli.T 
Elias  Spat7. 
Charles  B.  Snyder 
Eilenie   Schrack 
Rufus   P.   Ulrich 
James   Unger 
William   P.  Unger 


I'raiik   AV.   Adam 
lln\\;:rd    S.   Blatt 
i_liarles  S.  Becker 
Harrv  Balthaser 
O.scar  Clav 
Charles  O.  Collins 
Thomas  R.  Dunkel 
Benneville   K.    l^undore 
Charles  R.  Deisher 
Jacob  Duiikelberger 
SanuK-i   M.  Deck 
James    B.    k'leeniaii 
Isaai'    l-'riTni:ui,    Sr.  . 
Robert    II.   Freid 
Silas  Gass 
Millon   G.  Grater 
.A.iron  L.  GratT 
James  11.  Gauker 
Jacol)  H.  llullenbach 
William  C.   Hafer 
lohn   J.   Keim 
Charles  E.  Keller 
Charles   L.   Ketncr 
John  G.   Kramer 
Adam  W.   Kendcll 
Harry   G.   Lenhart 
George    Lerch 
P'rancis  B.  London 
William    L.    Loose 
Solomon  E.  Moser 
Lewis  D.  Mervinc 

FiR.'^T   Offici.\ls. — .At   the   February   election   of 
1902.   the   first   l.iorongh   official-   were   elected,   and 
the  following  list  compri.-es  the  names  of  the  per- 
sons chosen  to  fill  the  several  positions ; 
Chief  Biii\::css,     .Morris  Reeser 
Jozkii   Council,     Gideon   Stoudt 
D.   H.   Reeser 
Silas    Reeser 
Samuel    H.    Lenhart 
Charles  I-'isher 
F.   P.  Dundore 
Auditor,  Oscar  Menge! 
Assessor,     Samuel   Spayd 
School  Directors,     J.  J.  Kiem 

Wallace   Blatt 
Samuel    Roth 
Wil-on  Strauser 
Charles   D.   Snyder 
CFarles    Reeser 


■v-f.    u- 


,1  i      ! 


BOROUGHS 


281 


Justice  of  the  Pence*  R.  F.  Leinhach 
Co^istiiblc,     Geoige    B.    .Mostr 
Judge  of  Election,     Gi.orgc  A.  kahn 
Inspectors,     C.  E.  Keller 

Frank  A.  Adam 

The  second  chief  burg-ess  was  elected  in  1905 
for  three  years,  Samuel  H.  Lenh.art  (  Rei)ublican). 
Political  status  of  council :  fuur  Republicans  and 
three  Democrats.  The  third  burgess  elccied,  in 
l!i(»8,  was  Gideon   St'judt. 

BOROUGH    Ol'FICl  \LS— V.I09 
Clref  Bnriicss.  Gideon  Stoudt 
To:i.'u   Council,    James    B.    Rentschler,    President 
Samuel   H.  Lenhart 
John  Z.  Riescr 
M.  T.  Sclilappig 
Wilson  Strauser 
George   C.   Jlartman 
Dr.  C.  O.  Collins,  Secretary 
School    Board,  Samuel  Roth,   President 
D.    E.    Shaffer.    Secretary 
Charles   L.    Kelner,   Treasurer 
Edward   Gromis 
Jacob  Bngeiistiisc 
Jacob    Rickenbach 
Auditors,     Owen    Reeser 

John    Rickenbach 
Wirt  R.  Ralin 
Assessor,     Morris  Rieser 
Collector,     Samuel  Z.  Deck 
Justice  of  the  Peace.     B.  F.  Leinbach 

Constable,     George  B.  Moser  / 

Boaid  of  Health,     S.  M.  Deck,  President 
Rufus  Marks,  .'secretary 
George  B.  Hover 
Sanuiel   Bell 
Dr.  F.  P.  Dundore 

Industry. — Before  18i)0,  there  was  no  manufac- 
turing establishment  at  West  Lecsport ;  but  in  that 
year  the  subject  was  discussed  in  the  stores  and 
taverns,  and  the  discussion  resulted  in  a  public  meet- 
ing in  February,  1891,  which  was  addressed  by  Mor- 
ton L.  Montgomery.  Esq.,  at  the  request  of  S.  H. 
Lenhart,  R.  Wanner  &:  Son,  Isaac  H.  Rahu,  L.  F. 
Schock  and  others  for  the  purpose  of  stinuilating 
enterprise.  Some  time  afterward,  a  company  was 
organized  by  the  citizens  named  for  manufacturing 
hosiery,  and  the  factory  was  located  in  the  ware- 
house of  S.  H.  Lenhart.  It  was  operated  several 
years,  then  abandoned  on  account  of  competition 
and  scarcity  of  hands.  In  1S9D  the  machinery  was 
sold  to  Samuel  L.  Miller  and  Charles  Balthaser. 
who  then  revived  the  industry  as  a  knitting-mill  and 
after  c>perating  it  for  a  year  removed  the  plant  to 
the  Evangelical  Church  building  which  they  had 
purchased.  Here  they  have  been  mantifacturing 
ladies'  underwear  and  misses'  hosiery  until  now. 
They  employ  forty  hands. 

Franklin  Baer  is  engaged  as  a  wheelwright  and 
blacksmith:  and  John  Xarragang  as  a  pum{)-maker. 

The  Ivaglc  Knitting  Mill  (carried  on  by  parties 
from  Hamburg  in  the  manufacture  of  underwear) 
is  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  opposite  the 
borough,   and   employs    from    forty   to   fifty   hands. 

The  post-oflice  was  established  in   I87-.'. 

'  The  othfr  official  w.i"!  Is.t:ic  H.  Kahn.  clectnt  as  of  tlic  boroujrh 
in  ]<in4.  ^ft>T  h.ivin(!  scrvcl  ?s  (■(  llcru  lownship  coiitiiiiiciiisly 
since   ISfiS.      He  died    March    1.').    !9li7. 


Water  and  Light. — Waterworks  have  not  yet 
been  established  and  the  community  still  adheres 
to  the  use  of  wells  and  pumps.  The  streets  are  not 
lighted  at  night. 

Secret  Societies. — A  lodge  hall  has  been  main- 
tained on  the  third  twor  of  the  Lenhart  store  since 
IbaS.  I'our  beneticial  organizations  hold  their  meet- 
ings in  it:  American  Mechanics  (  Xo.  l-H)  ;  Odd 
Fellows  (Xu.  IH):  Daughters  of  Rebekah ;  and 
Daughters  of  Liberty.  Tlie  first  society  has  $10,000 
at  interest ;  and  the  second,  $G,00n. 

Church.— A  brick  church  was  erected  on  the 
main  street  in  IST'3  by  Salem's  Evangelical  Asso- 
ciation which  was  dedicated  in  1813.  The  congre- 
gation continued  to  worship  in  harmony  for  about 
twenty  years,  but  then  the  religious  disturbance  of 
the  national  body  reached  this  congregation  also 
and  in  the  final  adjustment  this  church  was  retain- 
ed by  the  original  association.  Its  membership, 
however,  was  too  weak  to  survive  and  in  1900  the 
building  was  sold  to  Aliller  iS:  Balthaser,  who  con- 
verted it  into  a  factory.  The  other  faction,  Bethany 
United  Evangelical,  maintained  their  organiz;iti(>n, 
erected  a  church  in  189(j  and  have  supported  it  until 
now  ;  membership,  3o. 

The  members  of  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  de- 
nominations attend  religious  services  at  F.])ler's 
Church  in  ]3crn  township  or  at  Belleman's,  in  Cen- 
tre, or  at  Trinity,  in  Leesport. 

Sciioor,. — The  school  in  the  borough  was  erected 
by  the  township  and  became  the  property  of  the 
borough  in  its  establishment.  It  is  a  two-story  brick 
building,  with  four  rooms,  and  a  graded  system  of 
education.     The  scholars  number  about  ninety. 

WYOMISSIXG 

Incori'Okation. — The  borough  of  Wyomissing 
was  erected  on  Jtd_\-  22,  190(i.  It  takes  its  name  from 
the  stream  which  tlows  near  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween Cumru  and  Spring  townships  for  several 
miles.  It  is  situated  along  the  main  thoroughfare 
which  cxtenfls  wcstwardly  from  Reading,  two  miles 
from  the  city.  The  area  embraced  510  acres,  92 
perches  of  land  (taken  from  Spring  township), 
when  incorporated,  and  included  sixty-one  resident 
taxablcs   and   eleven   non-residents. 

Ten  years  before  its  erection,  Thomas  P.  Merritt, 
an  enterprising  lumber  dealer  and  capitalist  of 
Reading,  purchased  several  farms  exceeding  six 
htindred  acres,  organized  tiic  Reading  Suburban 
Real  Estate  Company  with  a  number  of  other  per- 
sons, jirincipally  from  Reading  (among  them  Albert 
Thalhcimer,  David  Reiser,  David  H.  Reiser,  Mat- 
thias Mengel  and  Levi  W.  Mengel.  who  were  the 
largest  subscribers  of  stock),  laid  off  the  land  into 
a  large  number  of  lots  with  boulevards  and  side- 
walks, planted  25,000  shade  trees,  and  called  the 
place  "Wyomissing."'  They  advertised  the  subur- 
ban place  e.-ctensively  anrl  sold  many  lots.  Some  of 
the  purchasers  erected  dwelling-housC'^  fur  them- 
seives  immcdiatelv  and  located  there  with  their 
families,   which   popularized   the  place  very  much. 


rj- ',.■■>;      .1  :•-. 


'i,.\i      ■''■>'      '■ 


28? 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYLVAXIA 


In  this  way  it  soon  came  to  be  the  most  attractive 
suburban  town  in  the  vicinity  of  Reading. 

The  first  real  impetus  in  the  development  of  the 
place  was  given  by  Ferdinand  Thun  and  Henry 
Janssen  in  1S9G.  "who  selected  a  site  alonp;'  the 
railroad  for  establishinj-  a  new  enterprise  in  the 
manufacture  of  textile  machinery,  and  erected  a 
large  building  45  feet  wide  and  225  feet  long,  with 
an  office  building  adjoining,  capable  of  employing 
over  one  hundred  hands,  and  shortly  afterward 
dwelling-houses  came  to  be  put  up  for  the  accom- 
modation of  some  of  the  employees.  The  dwelling 
of  I\Ir.  Thun  near  the  main  thoroughfare  wa.s  made 
particularly  attractive  which  showed  his  strong  faith 
in  the  future  development  of  the  place  as  well  as 
of  his  ov\m  industrial  enterprise.  Since  then,  the 
growth  of  the  town  has  been  truly  remarkable,  both 
in  manufacturing  establislmients  and  dwellings  of 
a  superior  character. 

Several  years  afterward,  the  subject  of  establish- 
ing a  borough  began  to  be  agitated  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  the  regulation  of  the  streets  and  the  ad- 
vantages of  municipal  government,  and  public  sen- 
timent in  its  behalf  was  developed  gradually  in 
spite  of  much  opposition.  Several  petitions  were 
presented  to  the  court  in  rJ04  and  19U5,  and  the 
decree  was  made  on  July  2'2,  1906.  The  boundary 
lines  embrace  territory  about  one  mile  square,  ex- 
tending from  the  Lebanon  Valley  railroad  on  the 
north  to  the  Wyomissing  road  on  the  south,  and 
from  Smith  street  on  the  ea.st  (now  tlie  western 
boundary  line  ot  \Vest  Reading)  U>  a  public  road 
on  the  west  commonlv  known  as  "Mengels'  Mill 
Road." 

A  reservoir  with  a  capacity  of  1,000,000  gallons 
was  constructed  on  the  top  of  "laeger  Hill."  north 
of  the  railroad,  elevated  about  three  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  above  the  level  of  the  borough,  and  sjjring 
water  was  forced  into  this  reservoir  from  a  large 
spring,  situated  near  the  W3'omissing  road,  which 
was  provided  as  the  water  supply  for  the  inhabi- 
tants; but  the  v>ater  having  been  condemned  after- 
ward by  the  State  authorities,  it  has  been  set  apart 
for  fire  purposes  only,  and  the  borough  has  made 
arrangements  whh  the  Sinking  Spring  Water  Com- 
pany for  its  water  supply,  the  water  mains  having 
been  recently  (lOOS)  extended  along  the  public 
road  to  the  borough. 

Since  the  establishment  of  the  borough,  great 
improvements  have  been  made  in  the  grade  and  aj)- 
pearance  of  the  streets  and  in  the  sidewalks. 

A  large,  superior  and.  very  attractive  two-story 
brick  school  building  was  erected  by  the  borough 
in  1907-08,  costing  525,000.  It  occupies  a  promi- 
nent position.  .\nd  an  attractive  "Town  Hall" 
is  now  in  course  of  erection  along  the  main 
thoroughfare. 

Post-Office  was  established  May  2?.  1S99;  and 
tlie  postmasters  have  been :  William  Romberger, 
.Aaron  S.  Hicter,  Allen  I'.  liaer  (1901-03),  George 


W.  Heffelfinger  (190:3-0G),  Alfred  B.  Yorgev 
(since  .May  1,  190G). 

In  April,  1909,  the  borough  contained  the  follow- 
ing improvements:  Textile  Machine  Works,  Nar- 
row ]-'abric  ^lill,  Berkshire  Knitting  ^Nlills,  Leia- 
l>ach's  Hosiery  I\Iill,  Paul  K.  Leinbach's  Planing 
Mill,  Ruth's  Coal  Yard,  Stetler's  Apartment  House, 
four  green-houses  (Farr"s.  Hoskin's,  Shearer's,  and 
Heck  Brothers'),  two  hotels,  and  two  stores. 

The  Reading  Shale  Brick  W'orlcs  and  the  Mon- 
tello  Brick  \\"orks  are  situated  outside  of  the  bor- 
ough limit,  along  the  northern  boundary  line. 

I'lKST  Taxahles. — Names  of  resident  taxables  of 
Wyomissing,  when  first  established  as  a  borough 
in  "l 900: 


Charles  Breliner 
XapoIec>n    Bickclman 
John  Bitler 
Nelson  J.   Boltz 
Alvin  -Becker 
James   X.   Brannan 
Clarence   H.   Dittes 
ll.  D.  Dunkelherger 
Adam  G.  Eyrich 
Henry  Faust 
Bertram   H.  Farr 
H.    M.   Fry 
Jacob    Graeff 
Clinton   Grimes 
Henry  Ganter 
Robert    Ganter 
Ernst  L.  Hahn 
Harry  H.  Huyett 
George  W.   HetTclfinger 
Adam    D.    Hcffclfmc;er 
Mrs.  Aaron   Hciter 
Caleb  Harrison 
Edward  L.  Hart 
Charles  Hart  Est. 
Charles  A.   Henning 
J.  Fred  Hartgen 
Henry   K.   Janssen 
Har\ey   P.   Kline 
William   E.  Kevte 
v..    L).    Kains 
Frank   D.   Leinbach 
Harvey  D.  Leinbach 
Richard    A.    Leinbach 
Mrs.   George  F.   Lance 
Henry    Lorah 
Edwin   Lichtcnthaler 
Charles   H.  Mathias 
Henry    A.    Miller 
Charles    H.    Moyer 
Joim    Miner 
Harvey  L.  Xoeckcr 


Thomas   II.   Becker 
Monroe    Balmer 
Rudolph  Binckcy 
William  Bewley 
Edward    Beam 
Charles  Brannan 
Cluster  I'aer 
Elijah   B^o^sman 
Gcorjie  Brossman 
W'illiam  Buchman 
riiHilcs  M.  Culver 
Elmer   Carlson 
Amnion  Dearolf 


Daniel   Noecker 
Mrs.    .A.nna    Nyce 
Joseph  Ohlinger 
Christopher    Prill 
Samuel    B.    Palm 
A.    B.    Pott 
Charles   Reiisnyder 
Calvin    Ruth 
Robert  Carl  Rahm 
James   P.   Ruth 
Marx   Reimef 
John    Ren'.z 
Adam  H.  Scliroeder 
John    Stroup 
William   E.   Sheidy 
Mrs.  Joel  Steffy 
Daniel  Sjiatz 
Howard  L.   Scidel 
Mrs.  Ida  Siumions 
Henry    Y.    Storcr 
R.   R.  Snyder 
Charles  C.  Steller,  Sr. 
Henry   M.    Stctler 
Obadiah   F.   Sander 
Jacob    B.    Sweitzcr 
Frank  D.   Schcarer 
Jacob  R.   Sonon 
Robert    Starke 
Samuel    Shaub 
Lender   Trickel 
Andrew   L   Torbcrt 
Charles    M.   Tiehel 
Ferdinand   Thun 
Allen  Van  Stclty 
Paul  L.  Waller 
Thomas  V.  Willson 
John  A.  Watson 
Evelvn   WillianT-- 
William  A.   Walter 
A.   B.   Yorgev 
James  R.  Yost 


Tenants 


Albert  Dunkelbcrger 
George  W.   Daniels 
William  Diamond 
Felix   Degner 
Xorbcrt  Dornliccker 
Edward   Eschbach 
Robert   Eschbach 
Josiah  Eschbach 
George    W.    luidv 
Paul   Eifert 
James  A.  Eyrich 
Alexander  l-'.iuler 
Mrs.  Daniel  Ermenlrout 


.,;!;,,///     :^j:t 


.'■.  :.,-,..'      .■',     U' 


:r-\,'       ■■;■'"    m! 


BOROUGHS 


2S3 


Cyrus    Ferker 
Otto  Florcn 
Edwin   Gougler 
Allen  Gaul 
Adam  Z.  Goiss 
William  Grohs 
William  Grim 
Thomas  E.  Hornberger 
William  J.   Hornberger 
Lester  R.  HelTelhnger 
Ernest   Hoffman 
Lewis   C.   HulshiiTcr 
Charles  M.  Htiber 
Fritz    Hoover 
James  Hill 
Frederick    Heath 
George  H.   Hoffman 
Elias   Y.   Johnson 
Robert  F.  Kinzer 
Albert   Kutz 
Ernst  Kolditz 
Joseph   Koontz 
Howard   Ki-encr 
Herman   Kottcrnbach 
William  Loch  rig 
August    L'ppke 
William  Long 
Isaac   Lesiley 
Daniel  Lorah 
Joseph  C.  Lance 
August   LTimberl 
Robert  Lance 
Harvey   Master 
William  McGuire 
John    Mc?\'abb 
William    Mover 
AmbroFc  Madeira 
Ircnacus   Miller 
William   I^iohn 
Alvin  Moycr 
tloward   Aloyer 
Edward  Moj-cr 


S.  D.  Mullinux 
Chailes   Molly 
Robeit    Molly 
Monroe   Xaftzinger 
Guslav  Oberlaender 
Wilson  C.   Price 
Carl  Peterson 
Daniel  Pleam 
Jacob   Ruth 
Adam  Ruth 
Richard   Rtjcse 
Jesse  Ritter 
Julius  Rcttberg 
Albeit  H.  Rcntz 
Otto  Riese 
Augustus    Rill 
John  G.  Rcigncr 
Henrv  A.   Stct'er 
Allen'  V.    Steffy 
Cleaven   Stetty 
George  A.  Stely 
John    N.    Stillinger 
William    B.    Sheidy 
Steward   Smith 
Harry    Smith 
George   Schmidt 
Frank  Shappol 
George  Shaub 
Charles    C.    Stctkr,    Jr. 
Charles    Sheidy 
Charlie  Thus 
Francis   Tiehel 
Ezra  Triest 
William  Vanreed 
Peter  Wanner 
Thomas   Weichard 
George    Wilson 
Robert   WoUer 
riiomas   K.   Watson 
Irlarry  Wcik 
Charles  Wieand 
Melchoir  Zwickv 


First  Officials. — In  the  decree  of  incorporation, 
the  court  fixed  Aug.  2S,  1906.  for  the  election  of 
borough  oftjcials,  and  the  following  persons  were 
elected : 

Chief  Burgess,  Eertrand  H.  Farr 
Town  Coxmcil,  Ferdinand  Thun   (3  years) 
Henry  Y.  Stoncr  (3  years) 
James    H.    Pirennan    (3   years) 
George  W.  Endy  (3  years) 
Henry   M.    Stettler    (2  years) 
Henry   K.   Janssen    (T  vear) 
R.  R."  Snyder  (1  year)  ' 
Assessor,  Henrv  A.  Stetlci 
Auditor.  Allen  V.  Steffy 
Constable,  Jacob  K.   Graeff 
School  Directors,  H.  M.  ]'"ry   ^3  years) 

A.  H.  Schroeder   (3  years) 
Max  Reimer   (2  years) 
Frank  Lcinbach   ('2  years") 
Robert   C.  Rahn    (1  year) 
JoliTi   Strcin()   (\  vear) 
Judge  of  Election.  CharKs  M.  Huber 
Inspectors,  Eugene  Rowers 
George  Brossman 
At  this  election,  the   electors  voted   in   favor  of  making 
a  debt  for  local  improvements   (95  having  voted   for  it  and 
10  against  it). 

Tn  the  organizatiuii  >ii  the  ti'wn  coiutcil.  Ferdi- 
nand Thun  was  chosen  president,  and  lie  filled  thi.s 
position  until  his  re-election  to  council  in  l!ii>9,  and 


then  continued  as  tlie  president.  Charles  M.  Ru- 
ber has  served  as  clerk  of  tlie  council   since  I'JUG. 

The  jitstices  of  the  peace  for  the  borough  were 
elected  in  February,  1907,  for  five  years :  Charles 
M.  Huber  and  A.  B.  Madeira. 

Thomas  \'.  W'illson  officiated  as  treasurer  from 
lOOU  to  1909;  and  Prof.  Henry  Y.  Stoner  was  elect- 
ed to  succeed  him. 

The  second  chief  burgess  was  elected  in  1909, 
Horace  G.  Riegner.  to  serve  three  yoflrs. 

■     BOROUGH   OFFICLVLS— 1009 

Chief  Burgess,  Horace  Riegner 
Toum  Council,  Ferdinand  Tlnui,  President 
H.  Y.  Stoner.  Treasurer 
Henry  K.  Janssen 
Henry   ]\L   Stetler 
R.  R.  Snyder 
George   Endy 
Henry  A.   Aliller 
Thomas  Watson 
Charles   ^L   Huber.   Secretary 
School  Board,   Robert   Carl   Rahn,    President 
John  McXabb 
John    Stroup 
Norman  B.  Wamsher 
Harry  Weik 
Harvey   Noecker 
Auditors,  Allen  V.  Steffy 
W.  C.  Loehrig 
Paul  Moycr 
Assessor,  Henry  A.  Stetler 
Collector,  A.   L  Torbcrt 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  Charles  M.  Hul)er 

A.  B.  Madeira 
Constable,  Jacob  R.   Graeff'  ' 

Board  of  llealih,  Guslav  Obcrl:undcr,  President 
Thomas   V.  Willson,  Secretary 
Dr.  C.  E.  Lerch 
John  Stroup 
Norman  Wamsher 
Lender  Trickcl,  Hcailh  Officer 

Industries 

Textile  Machine  ircrks.— -The  most  impoitant  in- 
dustry in  Vv'yomissing  is  the  large  plant  of  the  Tex- 
tile Machine  Works,  operating  a  pattern  shop,  foun- 
dry, and  machine  shop,  and  employing  over  three 
hundred  hands.  In  189?,  J-'crdinand  Tiiun  and  Hen- 
ry K.  Janssen,  after  having  been  employed  in  Xew 
York  City  for  several  years,  located  at  Reading  and 
established  a  small  machine  shop  iti  a  rented  build- 
ing at  Nos.  2-20  and  '222  Cedar  street,  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  braiding  machines.  They  started  with 
about  a  dozen  hands,  but  in  a  few  years  increased 
their  business  to  sticli  an  extent  that  they  employed 
from  forty  to  fifty  hands  and  their  quarters  in  town 
becoming  too  small  another  location  with  greater 
facilities  was  necessary.  They  selected  a  site  at 
Wyomissing  along  the  Lebanon  \'allev  railroad  and 
secured  a  tract  of  several  acres  of  lan<l  where  the 
Van  Reed  road  crosses  the  railroad  and  tliere  they 
erected  a  large,  substantial  building,  1.")  feet  wirlc  bv 
225  feet  long,  anrl  a  two-story  office-building  ad- 
jfiiniiig.  which  enabled  tlicm  to  enipli-)\-  dxcv  one 
hiindied    hands. 

When  llie  business  was  organized  in  is:t'?,  the 
braid    industry   in   this   country   was   CeMnparatively 


i'.>:i  ,. 


?Si 


HISTORY    r.F    r.RRKS    COUXTV,    PEXXSYL\"AXIA 


unimportaiit.  !Mr.  Tluin  had  for  four  years  prior 
to  IsMv'  licen  the  >upcriiitcnclent  of  the  Sutro  Broth- 
ers I'.raid  Company  factor}  in  \e\\  \'ork  Lil_\',  anil 
had  become  tlioroui^dily  familiar  with  the  manufac- 
ture of  hig;h-yratle  braid-  and  dress  trimmin.ci's.  Mr. 
Janssen  had  been  in  the  em[)loy  of  the  Castle  Eraid 
Company  of  ilroL'klyn.  X.  \'.,  a^  the  foreman  of 
their  machine  >hop,  ami  had  been  the  lirst  builder 
of  braiding-  machincrx  nf  the  (ierman  >ystcm  in 
the  United  Statr,-.  When  the  ])artnership  of  Thun 
&  Janssen  \va>  formed,  it  \va>  flone  with  the  i'lea 
of  supplying-  the  demands  for  high-graile  machin- 
ery for  mannfacturinLT  braids  and  dress  trimmings 
in  this  country  t"  a  L;r"\\ing  lni-^ines>.  Previously. 
this  class  of  machines  had  always  been  imported 
from  Barmen,  (iermany,  from  whicli  i)lace  both  Mr. 
Thun  and  Mr.  Jans-en  came  originally. 

During  the  hrst  fifteen  _\ears,  a  great  many  new 
factories  for  braids,  dress  trimmings,  millinery 
trimmings,  laces,  etc.,  were  established  in  tlie  L'ni- 
tcd  States,  and  all  of  them,  without  exceinion,  were 
supjjlied  with  machinerv  from  their  plant,  known 
as  the  Textile  ^lachine  Works  (Inc.).  A  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  n.eeds  of  the  business  en- 
abled this  company  to  make  important  improve- 
ments in  the  construction  of  the  machines  and  to 
produce  a  great  variety  of  new  patented  machines 
upon  which  new  lines  of  business  were  built  u];.  The 
millinery  braid  business,  for  instance,  is  only  twelve 
years  old  and  today  nearly  all  the  hat-  worn  by  lad- 
ies are  manufactured  on  braiding  machines,  i^r 
rather,  are  made  out  of  braids  pro<luced  almo^^t 
exclusively  on  machines  built  by  this  establish- 
ment. 'Jdie  concern  owns  over  twenty  patents  ct^v- 
ering  new  machines  or  elements  thereof,  and  it 
is  tiie  recognized  headquarters  for  braiding  ma- 
cliines  and  auxiliaries  u^ci]  in  the  manufacture  of 
dress  and  millinery  trimming-. 

In  IfiOU,  a  large  addition  to  the  original  plant 
was  built,  extending  the  main  building  to  a  width 
of  105  feet,  so  as  to  embrace  a  main  erecting  floor, 
and  basement  used  for  storage.  A  foundry  w'as 
also  erected  in  which  an  average  of  five  thousand 
pounds  of  castings  were  made  daily  i'or  the  construc- 
tion of  textile  machinery.  At  that  time,  the 
manufacture  of  "full-fashioned"  knitting-machines 
was  commenced,  an  industry  also  entirelv  new  in 
the  United  States.  On  this  machine,  the  highest 
grade  of  hosiery  is  manufactured.  It  is  the  ma- 
chine invented  about  sixty  years  ago  in  fjigland, 
and  afterward  sent  to  Chemnitz,  Germany,  and  up- 
on it  the  entire  British  and  (Jerman  ho-icrv  trade 
has  been  founded.  The  production  of  thi-  depart- 
ment is  about  equal  to  that  o\  the  braiding  ma- 
chines. 

In  1!)0;].  a  large  factory  building,  .'.O  feet  bv  'JOO 
feet,  four  stories  high.  \\a-  erecteil,  of  re-inforced 
concrete  construction.  Tlii-  building  is  partiall}-  u-ed 
by  some  of  the  departmeni-  of  the  Textile  Ma- 
chine Works,  but  the  other  (locirs  aie  occui'ied  by 
the  Xarrow  Fabric  Conipanw  which  is  the  large-t 
manufacturer  of  high-grade  slun    laces  in  the  L'ni- 


ted  States.  It  makes  a  specialty  of  silk  shoe  autl 
corset  laces,  using  exclusively  machines  built  by  iIk- 
IT'xtile   -Machine  Works. 

.-\cross  the  i)ublic  road,  on  Frill  avenue,  there  i-, 
situated  one  of  the  finest  factory  buildings  in  Berk- 
county.  It  was  built  for  the  Berkshire  Knittiu" 
Mills,  being  constructed  of  dark  red-faced  diak- 
bricks  with  elaborate  terra-cotta  ornamentations. 
It  is  three  stories  high,  with  a  basement  for  \arn 
storage.  The  dimensions  of  the  building  are  .-^  1 
feet  wide  by  isn  feet  long.  In  addition  to  the  main 
building,  there  is  a  one-story  building  8U  feet  bv 
1"»0  feet,  used  for  dyeing,  boarding-  and  pressing. 

These  three  industries  at  Wyoinissing  together 
employ  nearly  eight  hundred  hands  and  their  com- 
bined pay  rolls  amciunt  to  over  SSoO.OUO  annually. 

Another  important  product  of  the  Textile  ^Ma- 
chine  Works  is  machinery  for  insulating  electrical 
wires.  The  principal  machines  used  for  this  pur- 
pose are  braiding  machines,  similar  to  machines  used 
by  trimming  industries,  but  specially  adapted  for 
handling  wires  and  covering  the  same  with  insu- 
lating materials.  The  Textile  Machine  Works  have 
succeeded  in  introducing  their  machines  into  all  the 
ini])ortant  plants  which  make  insulating  wires  in  the 
United  States  and  they  have  won  the  reputation  of 
making  the  best  grade  of  machinery  of  this  kind. 
They  also  manufacture  cabling  machinery,  rubber 
covering  inachines  for  electrical  wires,  telephone 
cord  machines,  and  a  great  varietv  of  special  ma- 
chinery for  in-ulating  cop])er  wires  and.  cables 
which  are  used  by  the  electrical  industries. 

Xarrniif  J-'abn'c  Coiiipany. — This  company  was  in- 
C(jrporaied  under  the  law-  of  Pennsylvania  hi  llKiO, 
by  F^erdinand  Tlnm,  Henry  K.  Janssen  and  Ilarry 
Feeler  of  New  York  Cit\-,  and  was  started  in  Read- 
ing in  the  building  formerly  occupied  by  the  Acme 
Bicycle  Works  at  Xo.  Ir.'d'  Court  street.  In  l!}0-I 
the  plant  was  removed  to  Wyomissing,  in  order  to 
secure  more  room,  the  plant  having  outgrown  the 
limited  dimensions  of  the  Court  street  factory. 

The  main  product  consists  of  shoe  laces,  and  only 
the  highest  grade  is  made.  A  large  portion  of  its 
jiroduct  consists  of  silk  laces  which  are  used  for 
low  shoes,  but  a  great  many  skirt  braids  arc  made, 
which  can  be  found  on  sale  in  nearly  every  retail 
store  in  the  countr\ .  The  factory  is  a  model  plant, 
inasmuch  as  the  machinery  is  driven  electricallv  h\ 
direct-connected  motors.  There  is  not  a  belt  in 
the  building,  and   everything  is  scrupulouslv  clean. 

The  company  employs  much  female  help,  drawn 
largely  from  the  -urrounding  countrv  (West  Read- 
ing. Sinking  Sjiring  and  Weruers\-iile) .  Commodi- 
ous wash-rooms  rmd  diniiig-n  onis  arc  jirovidetl  for 
the  comfort  of  the  employees,  the  management  de- 
siring to  have  the  equipment  of  the  factorv  un-ur- 
l^assed  b\-  any  of  the  textile  plants  in  this  part  of 
the  ."-tate.  How.ird  M.  ]'"ry  i-  the  superintendent 
iif  the  f;utorv.  I'erdinand  Thun  is  treasurer  of 
the  company,  .'uid    Harry   1'"eder  is  ])resident. 

luTLwIiirr  /\  niltin^-M iHs.-  '\'h\^  compam'  was  in- 
corporated under  the  laws  ^^i  I'ennsylvania  in   I'.'Oi;. 


I -.MP) 


,:    :-,'(    ,:-  ^/l^      V 


!,.■ 


./,:,   ■•,.•:■    ,...!•    ,:!'    !'■     ■  ')   "' 


,!  .;r, 


BOROUGHS 


285 


i',:>r  the  purpose  of  manufactnriiiq-  the  higliest  class 
oi  ■■fu!l-fa>!iioin.-(r'  liLisiory  (ladies'  and  !ii'cn".-~  liali- 
iio.-c)  and  it  met  with  marked  success  innnediatcly. 
In  April,  lOUM,  Gustav  Oberlaendcr  (of  Indian- 
ajiolis,  Ind. )  became  a  stockholder  and  tlirector  and 
lie  has  since  been  servin;^  as  secretary,  treasurer 
and  g^eneral  mariager. 

The  buildiny-  is  S!  feet  by  I'.d  feet,  on  I'rili  ave- 
nue, together  with  a  dye  and  tinishing-  liouse.  It 
is  equipjjcd  with  eighty  machines,  each  of  which  is 
:'•{)  feet  long  and  makes  eighteen  stockings  at  a 
tune.  From  :i50  to  LlOO  hands  are  employed,  and  it^ 
product  is  approximately  live  liundred  dozen  per 
day. 

'Jhe  principal  product  is  lisle  and  mercerized 
ladies'  hose,  whicli  arc  equal  to  and  sold  in  direct 
coiupetition  witli  the  finest  goods  imported  from 
Europe.  The  machines  are  built  by  The  Textile 
^lachine  Works.  This  "full-fashioned"  hosiery  is 
superior  to  t!ie  seamless  hosiery  made  in  thi^  dis- 
trict, inasmuch  as  it  is  of  finer  texture  and  >o  mad'^ 
as  to  conform  to  the  leg  and  foot. 

rail!  K.  Lcinbacli's  Planing  Mill  (1908)  employs 
ll>  men  (had  been  operated  previou.>ly  from  l!)Ul 
by  William  A.  Walters,  and  was  destroyed  iiy  iire). 

Lcinbacli's  Ilosic^-y  Mill  ( iyi).")j. '2.")  men. 

MOHXTOX 

LvcoRroR.\'Mox. —  The  borough  of  Alohnton  was 
established  by  a  decree  of  the  comt  of  Quarter 
Sessions  of  iie.-ks  county  on  March  IS.  1!M)T,  and 
the  boundary  line-  embraced  291  acre-,  lit;  perches. 
The  petition  ff^r  the  borough.,  signeii  bv  ITT  free- 
holders, was  presented  to  court  on  (  )ct.  't\.  ll'04, 
and  shortly  afterward  an  earnest  remon>t ranee  was 
filed  against  it.  Depositions  were  taken  and  tiled. 
for  and  against  tliC  granting  ot  the  petition,  and 
the  matter  was  before  the  court  at  different  times 
until  favorable  action  was  finally  secured  on  the  day 
first  named.  I'he  freeholders  of  tlie  town  number- 
ed 212. 

Benjamin  Mohn,  froiri  Mohn's  Ilill  in  the  south- 
ern section  of  Omiru  township,  purcha-ed  a  farm 
in  1S4G  from  John  Schwartz.  This  v,-as  situated 
along  the  \\'yomis^ing  creek  and  cmljraced  the  land 
which  afterward,  came  to  be  known  a-  Mohn-ville. 
Me  then  erectetl  a  dwelling-hou^e,  and  -ome  years 
afterward  this  was  converted  into  a  taverii  \r:  jolm 
Gritier.  It  is  now  (jwncd  and  carried  on  bv  Aug- 
ustus R.  Anderson. 

About  the  same  time  hi^  cousin.  Sanuiel  K.  Mohn. 
opened  a  general  si  ore  in  a  grist-mill  ali.mg  the 
creek,  erected  by  r.enjamin  ,Mohn  :  and  a  few 
j'ears  afterward  he  erected  a  store  building  opposite 
the  mill  along  the  public  road  which  wa<  laid  out 
through  this  section  on  the  way  from  Reading  to 
Now  Holland,  nnd  at  this  =tand  he  carried  on  llu^i- 
ncs.s  for  many  yiars. 

The  character  of  the  snrface  here  i-  vcrv  hillv. 
and  Benjamin  ^dHhn  -old  off  lot^  with"nt  fir-t  mak- 
ing a  regular  i)l;in  or  survey;  bui.  in  -i)ite  of  these 
tuiinviting  circumstances,  nianv  hou.-es  came  to  be 


erected  for  the  convenience  of  the  people  who  were 
empiloyed  in  the  factories  established  along  the  creek, 
and  the  thriving  settlement  came  to  be  known  as 
Mohnsville.  For  lifty  years  it  has  been  rece^gnized 
as  a  most  flourishing  settlement,  notwithstanding 
its  distance  from  the  railrc»ad.  \\\  thi^  respect,  it 
has  been  an  exceptional  comnnmity.  Its  success 
under  adverse  circumstances  is  attributable  to  the 
>uperior  character  of  tlic  men  who  located  there. 

Shortly  after  the  beginning  of  the  settlement,  a 
wool-hat  factory  vva-  erected  by  .Vbsalom  Ruth 
near  the  Mohn  grist-mill.  His  successor  was  John 
.^patz,  who  operated  the  plant  for  twenty  years  in  a 
ver\-  successful  manner  until  his  decea-e  in  1698, 
when  it  was  purchased  by  his  son,  Isaac  S.  .'^patz, 
\vho  has  carried  on  the  business  since  that  time. 

Subseciuently,  other  wool-hat  factories  were  es- 
tablished along  the  stream  higher  up.  by  Cyrus 
D.  I-Iornbcrger.  Jacob  Kessler,  aufl  llenry  \\'er- 
ley.  And  about  this  time.  William  Pennepacker 
erected  a  gim-barrel  factory,  also  along  the  r^tream 
but  below  the  Mf>hn  mill,  which  he  carried  on  for 
a  number  of  vcars.  All  the  [ihmts  were  operated 
by  water-power,  su])i)!ied  bv  the  Wyomissing  creek. 

First  TAX.\i;r.i;.s. — The  following  li-t  contains  the 
names  of  the  first  t.'ixable^  of  tlie  fjorougdi  when 
first  established,   in   VJ'i;  ; 


Aug.   R.    Anderson 
rJaiiiti  Anthony 
John  K.  Binkicy 
Henry   Bechtcl 
Savilhi   lilinilinc 
nir.iin   J.   r-ii^ony 
Ilarton  Z.  P.ealer 
Jolm  M.  Richer 
Alfred    Buricy 
.Vlbcrt    Buricy 
.\manda   Blankcnhiilcr 
Frank  PI.  Bitler 
^larv    Binklev 
John    T.    Beidlcr 
llcnrv    Blinilinr 
I'ranklin    B.    Bickcl 
William   D.    Bicki-1 
Reuben  K.  Bncher 
Arcliib.ald  Boycr 
William   R.    BlankLiibiiler 
0--car    Blankenbillcr 
Adison  I).  Clark 
Jac.I)   L)e   Tambcl 
Wlson  W.  Dickenson 
W;Is..n  A.  L:)unkrlbcrgcr 
.\\ls(.in   11.   Uicki.nson 
Saniue!   Dc   Loni,' 
John  R.   Dc   Mard 
James  Epicr 
John   Eplcr 
John   J.    ICshehnan 
.\rabclla    IC.shclnian 
I'ilcctric  rio.si-  Co. 
I'rank  T.   F.okenrmh 
Peter  F.    Fbcrlv 
Ch.irh  s   T.    I'.ekVnr..ili 
Charles    S.    Fpler 
T)anicl  S.   Fi'ler 
Levi    l-M-.\:.rds 
I.iirrs    B.    1-Ki-hrr 
Albert    (J.    Fisher 
J.il.n   Fry 


.\dam  G.  Fox 
Sanmol    P.   Frankhouser 
.Aug.    M.    (Irittith 
Hiram   V,.   Cirifliih 
Charles  R.  (Irott 
Martin   D.   Grill 
Charles  W.  G.au! 
Harriet  Godshak 
James  I.  Gouglcr 
John   Granicr 
William   R.  •Glas.smoyer 
Biram  .\1.  Grifiith 
Amelia    Godshalk 
William  D.  Grill 
.Adam   M.  Grill 
William  S.  GrolT 
Tvson  L.  Huyett 
James  R.  llotfert 
Abraham   Hoffert 
lames   W.   Ilarting 
A.  Chas.  Ilarting 
John  T.  Flertzog 
Chas.  B.  Hornborgcr 
James    Hornbergcr 
A.  S.  Honiherjrer 
Josephu-   S.   Hornbcrger 
Enuna   Y).    llornberger 
Milton   G.   Hornbcrger 
Harry  G.    Hornbergcr 
Priscilla    Hemmig 
Henry    Ilaa- 
.Adeline  1  loover 
John  R.  Hornbcrger 
Sarah   V.    Hill 
George    S.    Hill 
Wellington     Harting 
William   .^^.   Hartman 
Amilia   Hill 
r'.mma  I>.  Hiiuiershit/ 
Go-ire'c  W.   Hatt 
Harrison    S     Krick 
Calvin   S.  Krick 


"     .■■:''l    .  ■:  '■    -ii 


2S(3 


HISTORY    OF    r.ERK'S    COUNTY.    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


Monroe   C.   Killiaii 
John  J.   Kli-'pi) 
Daniel    Kriclc 
Sallie   A.    KleinginiKi 
Isaac  KricV: 
Daniel  M.  Kindt 
C.    D.    B.    Kindt 
Walter  S.  Klciiigmne 
Sarah  Kartermau 
Frank   Kleincrinna 
Claj-ton   Kiilian 
Adam  H.  Lutz 
George   H.  Lciningcr 
James  H.  Liiu 
Alartin  H.  Lut/C 
John   D.   Leiningcr 
Frank    S.    Leining-or 
\Vm.  G.  Leininiccr 
Carolina  Leinii:ger 
Howard  S.  Leiningcr 
Irvin  R.  Musscr 
B.  K.  Alavbcrrv 
Harvey  W.  Mohn 
Hiram  Mats  Est. 
John  G.  Mo.-.str 
John   S.   Mohn 
Wcsiley  D.   Mohn 
Mohnton  \Vatcr  Co. 
Maggie  Molni 
John  Miissehnan 
Harr>    W.   Miller 
Henry  Miller  Est. 
Eninia  K.  ^Molir, 
Dr.  M.  L.   -Miller 
Robert  L.   Miller 
VViiiiant  C.   Miller 
Dr.    B.   n.    Aliiir 
Jonathan   IT.  Mdl...r 
Richard    Marks 
Jacob  W.  Miller 
William  il.   Muekel 
Frank  W.  r^l.-.t:-. 
Adam  S.  Miller 
Adam  L.   Matz     • 
Martin  L.   Matr, 
Jonath.m   K.  Miller 
Albert  G.  Miller 
Luke  PL  Marks 
Charles   S.    Mohn 
Reese    Muckel 
Charles    W.    Miller 
Harry  L.   Mtisser 
William  J.  .Marks 
Chas.   F.    Madeira 
Caroline  ]\Iusser 
H.   Irvin   Mohn 
Susanna  Mohn 
Aug.  S.  Mos.er 
Samuel  K.  Miller 
Samuel   H.   ^lusser 
IVIohnton  K.  of  P.  Hall 
Harry    N.    Noll 
James  O'Xea! 
Jacob  Palm 
Jacob  Peters 
Daniel   N.   Peifer 
George  K.   Pawling 


John  A.   Auchcnbach 
Wm.    R.   Auchcnbach 
James  G.  P.Date 
Edward   Bhiikcnbiller 
EdwariJ  Binnetts 
Homer  Blitaline 


Samuel   Pahii 
David   Reidcr 
Charles    S.    Riehwine 
Robert   E.   Rie,i;ner 
.Austin   H.   Rieuncr 
Henry   E.   Remp 
Henry    K.    Ruth 
Hiram  W.  Reigner 
James   G.   Ruth 
William   G.  Ruth 
John  R.   Regar 
Irvin  L.    Shononr 
D.    S.    Scnscnig 
S.-i.muel  Stcffev 
John  R.   Slote 
John  X.  SlcfTey 
George  Sheaffer 
John  U.  Spat^  Est. 
Isaac   S.   Spa;z 
William   E.   Shirk 
William  H.  Scifril 
Pierce    S.    Strunk 
I3r.  A.  A.  Stamni 
Tohn    A.    Scit^inger 
Howard   W.   Sheaffer 
F"rank  W.  Slichter 
Katie   Smith 
George   W.    Strunk 
Levi   Strunk 
Iienjamin   K.  StctTey 
William    P.   Stoner 
Frank    Sweigard 
George   Tothero 
Isaac    Trobte! 
William   S.  Trostel 
Gcortre    Vogel 
i'.i'S^ii-   Werner 
William  H.  WelHT 
Walter  S.  Werner 
Tohn  C.   Werner 
Walt.r  Weber 
James   L.  Weber 
Adeline  Wenrich 
Wiliiant  Wcher  Est. 
Weslev  M.  Worlev 
.Alice    M.    Worley 
Worlev    Brother.^ 
Isabella    Worlev 
Charles   M.  Worley 
Ch.irlfs   (t.   Wf-rncr 
Frank   M.   Whife 
Henrv   H.   W;se 
Frank  K.  Wal finger 
.\aron    K.    Warner 
Annie  S.  Warner 
F..    I.   Werner 
H.  "H.  Wnrley 
AN'illiam    G.    Werner 
Jeremiah    Werner 
John  G.  Werner 
Samuel  F".  Westlcv 
Ellen  R.  White 
John  Y.  Weidner 
Frank  R.   Warner 
Daniel  W.  Young 
John   S.  Zeller 


Tenants 


Harry  P.Iimlinc 
Harvey    I'.oone 
Cyrus    Brendel 
James   Blanki  p.hillcr 
J..iai   A.    ni.uikenbillei 
Ji-ronie   Boyer 


George   G.    Baker 
Jacob  E.   Baker 
S.    S.    Burkholder 
Christian  Burkhart 
X'athaniel   Bickel 
William  G.  Beam 
George  Bush 
William  H.  Bicher 
Flarry  S.  Bicher 
Edwin   Binkley 
Charles  F.  Boyer 
Chester  W.  Bacr 
Harvey  J.  Clay 
William   Coleman 
John  R.   Dehart 
Christian  Do  Binder 
Feli.x   K.  De  Binder 
George   W.   Delong 
Wavne  Epier 
David  S.   Edwards 
Fred  Eckenroth 
Curtis    Eberly 
Harry   M.    Embich 
Monroe  Ebling 
Howard   Eckenroth 
George  S.  Epler 
Reuben    Eckenroth 
Harry  H.  Eckenroth 
H.  T.  Epler 
William   M.   Fry 
Elmer  E.  Fox 
John  J.  Frankhoiiser 
John  H.  Fichthorn 
Ciiarles  K.   Frymoyer 
Dr.  J.  W.  Frankhoiiser 
Harry  H.   Fritz 
William    F.    Gaul 
Walter  M.  Grillith 
Richard   Gchnian 
William  Geliman 
Henrv  R.   Groff 
William   Groff 
John  W.  Glass 
Benjamin  Griffith 
J.  B.  Gougler 
Harry  H.  Gring 
lohn    S.    Gring 
Albert  A.  Griffith 
Abraham  Godshalk 
Harrv    Gehman 
Harry  D.  Godshalk 
Frank  R.  Good 
Charles   S.   Holtry 
James  M.  Llartz 
Henry  Hoster 
Samuel  Hoster 
Harry  W.   Hughes 
W'iHiam   E.   Hughes 
John  11.  Hartman 
Harry  L.  Hill 
Rudy  Hoffcrt 
Henrv  Hoffert 
William    Hoffert 

.Harrv   Fligh 

Freeland  J.  Houghton 
David  Hoffert 
William  S.  Hower 
Herbert   Hornbcrger 
Georcre  L.  Happ 
C.  C.  Houck 
Peter   F.    Hartman 
lonathan  B    Hatt 
Daniel   R.  Hill 
Samuel  B.  Hill 

A\'m.  E.  Huyelt 


Edwin  M.  Hatt 
Aaion   Hagy 
Joseph  S.  Hornbcrger 
Frank   B.   Hartman 
Frank  L.  Hartman 
John  F.  Herb 
Robert  B.   Hatt 
Edward   Hartman 
Martin  B.  Hill 
Walter  G.   Hill 
Harry  G.  Hill 
Pierce  B.  Hatt 
J.  R.  Hens\l 
Lewis   Hartranft 
Webster  G.  Hert/.og 
Martin  D.  Kohl 
Howard  F.   Kindt 
Michael    D.   Kegerise 
Howard   Krick 
Miles    Keller 
Samuel  S.  Keyser 
Harry  S.  Krick 
F'rank  F.  Kline 
David  Long 
William  I.  Lebo 
Daniel   S.  Lutz 
David  Longenceker 
Israel   Longenecker 
.Adam   Long 
Benjamin  H.  Lorah 
William  M.  Leininger 
Samuel   Longenecker 
Leon  Miller 
William  R.  Alusser 
.Adam    B.   Mayer 
Charles   J.   Mosser 
Nicholas   Mosser 
Edwin   F.    Miller 
Matthew   F.   Miller 
Henry   G.    Matz 
Solomon  D.  Mohn     ■ 
Levi    H.    :\iiiler 
Samuel    K.    Mohn 
Elmer  D.  Miller 
David  D.  Mcll 
Harry    G.    IMohn 
John   P.  Marks 
Charles  E.   Mohn 
Wa\nc    L.    Musser 
Thomas    ^.Tohr 
Ravmond  W .  ^ilusselnian 
David  F.  Mohn 
George   Muckel 
Nicholas  H.   Mosser 
William  R.  Mosser 
Carroll   A.    Miller 
lohn  B.  Pawling 
Thomas   Palm 
Harry  C.   Peters 
Frank  Peters 
Howard   Renip 
Henrv  S.  I^ietrel 
Frank   A.    S.   Riegel 
Edward  Rudy 
John   F.   Reber 
lolm  C.  Reber 
Henrv    Reitz 
Frank   \').    Ruth 
William  II.  Ruth 
.Aiicfusius  C.  Rohland 
Wallace    Kcsh 
Iciseph   Ressler 
Jacob  S.  Rieive! 
William   E.   Riegel 
Charles    Staudt 


■:     l..^l 


■jvi'f! 
-('.■■!l  i-  /; 


'd'cioT 


:  ;»i.m;-    ■I'd; 


BOROUGMS 


28" 


James    G.    Vicrling 
Geor^'c    W.    Vogcl 
William    Vogcl 
Charles    L.    V'ogel 
Charles   T.  Valentine 
Aaron   M.   White 
Harrv    Wise 
Paul's.    Warner 
Elmer  Werley 
John   S.   Wcvigi'r 
Harrv   H.    Witnur 
David    W.    Wcilcr 
L.    Tyson    Warner 
James  E.  Werle^- 
-M.    H.    Werner  '      " 
J.    B.    Werner 
Jeff    P.   Wolf  skill 
Pierce  Wenrich 
Joseph   M.   Wenrich 
William    F.    Werner 
George   D.    Wolfskill 
Francis    S.    Wolf 
George    L.    Wolfskill 
Charles    S.    Wenrich 


Israel    Savior 
W'ajne   Steffey 
George  W.   Smith 
\lired   H.    Stuber      ' 
Willis  Stirk 
Adam   F.   Showalter 
Elmer  G.  Spatz 
William  E.  Showalter 
Jeremiah  V.  Shonour 
Zenas  M.  Shonour 
George    Shutter 
Daniel  F.   Spatz 
Elwood  Sensenig 
Edward    H.    Smith 
Edward    Strnnk 
Claude    Strauss 
Benton   E.    Shonour 
F.   W.    Solver 
Charles    StetTey 
Frank    Svveigart 
Edward    Smith 
M.  K.  Spon;igle 
Charles    Trostel 
Frank   Trostel 

Officials. — The  foUowin;^  persons  served  the 
offices  named  for  the  year  11^0',): 

Chief    Burgess,    Aaron    R.    Wanner 
Tozvn  Council,  William  Leininger,   President 
Cliarles    Miller,    Treasurer 
Frank   Kleingiriiia 
Irwin    Shonour 
John   Mosscr 
John   Kcidler 

A.   S.   Horiibcrger,   Secretary 
School  Board,  Dr.  A.  A.  Stamin.  President 
Alien  Fisher,  Secretarv 
Dr.  M.  L.   Miller,  Treasurer 
Karry  Noll 
Charles   T.    Eckenroth 
Charles  Werner 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  D.  N.  Peifer 

Frank    W.    Matz 
Constable,  John  L.   Scilzinger 
Auditors,  Albeit  Miller 

Charles   Ma.hirj 
John   Eshelnnn 
Assessor,  John  B.  Werner 
Collector,  Joseph.  S.  Ilornlieryer 
Board  of  Health,  Dr.   B.  11.  'Miller 
Reuben  Bucher 
John   Zeller 
William    Miller 
Ellis  Werley 

Post-Office. — A  post-office  was  estabhshed  in 
the  store  of  Samnel  K.  ]\Iohn  in  18-j7  by  tlie  name  of 
Mohn's  Store  and  tin's  name  v.'as  continued  until  the 
erection  of  the  borough,  when  it  was  changed  to 
Mohnton.  ^Ir.  i\Tolin  was  the  p<3Stmaster  for  fif- 
teen years.  John  Yocom  Weiclner  has  filled  the 
position  since  ]8'.)7.  He  has  been  engag'ed  in  the 
general  store  business  at  this  place  for  forty  years. 
He  started  the  business  of  cutting,  storing  and  sup- 
plying ice  in  this  section  of  the  county  and  has  been 
engaged  in  it  for  thirty  years. 

Industries. — The  following  varied  industries 
were  carried  on  at  McihiUon  in  I'.ion  : 

/?fl/cfnV,?.  bv  Augustus  Grifilth  restabh.h.-d  ISO"}), 
with  1  hands:  Groff  &-  ]-Je«ler  (1S9S).  v.ith   t  hands. 

Ci^cir  Factory,  by  J.  J.  T-'-iielman  (  issi;),  with  Ut 
hands. 


Cotton  Lap  Factory,  by  Werley  Urothers  (lS;lO'Sj, 
with  4  hands. 

Grist  Mill,  by  John  Spatz  Estate  O^SS),  with  2 
hands. 

Hosiery  Mills,  by  George  Leininger  (1898),  with 
Tj  hands;  Win.  G.  Leininger  (18'J«j,  with  I'JO 
hands;  Isaac  S.  Spatz  (l'J03),  with  oo  hands;  Wer- 
ley Brothers  (^lUU-Ij,  with  2b  hands. 

Paper  Box  Factory,  by  E.  G.  Werner  &  Sons 
(I8'.)i),  with  .35  hands. 

Planing  Mills,  by  l'"rank  Wanner  (  now  son  Ty- 
son) (1880),  u-ith  8  hands;  Isaac  S.  Spatz  (19U1;, 
with  G  hands. 

Saz^.'  Mill,  by  John  Y.  Weidner  (I'JO:',),  with  3 
hands. 

Shirt  Factories,  by  Wilham  Werner  (1S97),  with 
oO  hands;  Biram  Griffith  (1908),  with  18  hands; 
Dr.  A.  A.  Stamm  '■=   (J900),  with  30  hands. 

L'ndcrt^'car  Mill,  by  Hornberger  &  Killian 
(1908),  with  25  hands. 

Wool-liat  Factories,  by  Jacob  Kessler  (1878), 
with  40  hands;  Isaac  S.  Spatz  (1898), with oOhands. 

Wheckin-ight  Shops,  by  Henry  Knol!  (1880),  with 
4  hands;  Henry  Wise  (1895),  with  3  hands. 

Besides  the  industries  named,  the  borough  con- 
tained then  five  stores,  two  hotels,  three  doctors,  t\\o 
barbers  and  an  undertaker. 

Tliese  industries  demonstrate  the  imjjortance  and 
great  value  of  the  stream  to  the  community  by 
affording  constant  employment  -to  several  hundred 
hand.s.  Besides  the  water-power,  coal  is  also  used 
for  steam-power  and  heating;  it  is  hauled  by  reams 
from  Reading. 

Local  ILvpress. — Howard  H.  Leininger  started  a 
local  express  business  at  Mohnton  in  1902  for  haul- 
ing manufactured  goods,  merchandise,  coal,  etc.,  for 
the  local  industries  to  and  from  Reading,  and  since 
then  has  required  the  constant  use  of  twenty-five  to 
thirty  horses  to  fill  the  orders  of  his  patrons. 

The  manufacturers  also,  do  much  hauiing  to  and 
from  Reading  in  their  business,  and  employ  upward 
of  seventy  horses.  Their  nearest  shipping  point  on 
the  railroad  is  at  Reading. 

B.\NK. — The  Alohnton  National  Bank  was  char- 
tered Dec.  7,  1907,  with  a  capital  of  825,000,  and  it 
was  opened  for  business  Jan.  21,  1908,  with  the 
following  directors:  George  H.  Leininger,  L.  G. 
Hain,  John  Von  Keida,  M.  C.  KaulTmai\  Jeremiah 
Horning,  Augustus  R,  Anderson,  Charles  M.  Yct- 
ter,  Jacob  G.  Kessler,  l'..  G.  Werner,  William  G. 
Leininger,  Henry  H,  Werley,  Harry  Dumn,  S,  K. 
Remp  and  Aaron  A.  Hornberger;  of  whom  George 
1 1.  Leininger  was  elected  president. 

Punr.iC    IjtPROVEMEXlS 

.1////  Dams.— The  Wyomissing  creek,  which  flows 
through  the  southern  section  of  the  borough.,  has 
been  a  valuable  water-power  to  the  residents  of 
this  vicinity  from  the  time  of  the  earliest  settle- 
ments dating  liack  to  about  1735.  Within  the  dis- 
lanre  of  two  miles  at  and  above  the  borough,  seven 
dams  have  been  constructed,  which  have  been  very 

*  Sold   to   Mary   Strouse   in    February,    lliOU. 


K    r: 
■]■" 


,  ■ '  ^(><r   -jr-^    .ifi.'rj    ,•;..- 


':   'l!':!-'-,  'n.i  i     f 


,i       ■■■     .'i-it: 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    TEXXSYLXAXIA 


u-eful  in  -upplyiiiL:  walcr-iimvcr  to  the  industries 
LTLCtLcl  ah'ii-  till:  liank-  i.>f  the  creek,  'iliese  dams 
are  operated  ijy  tlie  loilowinL;-:  Ju^ephiis  liorn- 
herg-er  ( cuvering-  several  acres  of  gromid  anil  used 
for  suimnnng  and  pleasure  purposes  iii  the  sum- 
mer time  and  skating-  in  the  winter  time)  ;  .Mohn- 
ton  Knitting  Mill;  1-aac  S.  Spatz  Planing  r^Iill  and 
Hat  Factory;  Werley  Hosiery  .Mill;  Kessler  Hat 
F'actory. 

Electric  Plant. —  In  ]^'.)1.  Isaac  S.  Spatz  cstalili^h- 
ed  a  plant  at  Mohnton  for  supi)lying  electric  light 
in  the  residences  and  along  tlie  streets.  He  oper- 
ated tile  [jlant  until  lIMil  wlien  he  sold  it  to  Aaron 
R.  Wanner,  who  increased  its  cajiacity  anrl  has 
operated  it  since.  Besides  supplying  electric  light, 
it  is  used  also  for  pumping  water  into  the  local 
reservoirs  which  furnish  the  town  with  drinking- 
water. 

JVatcrici^rks. — Samuel  K.  ^Mohn  started  water- 
works at  this  i)lace  in  ]882  for  supplying  the  town 
with  water,  and  he  carried  on  the  plant  until  I'.tOl, 
when  he  sold  it  tu  Howard  Ahrens  and  W.  D. 
Mohn,  who  enlarged  the  plant  and  have  carried  it 
on  since.  They  put  down  an  S-inch  main'  The 
inhahilnnts  of  Shillington  receive  their  water  from 
this  plant.  The  water  is  obtained  from  Klein- 
ginne's  creek.  The  draft  of  the  water  piues  ot  the 
Mtihns\-ille  Water  Conipau}'  was  acku' nvledgcd  and 
filed  Jul_\-  1.  ISSi;;  Charles  S.  Moliii,  president; 
John  A.  I'.ohler.  secretary. 

Additional  reservoirs  were  estai)li-hed.  mi  the 
PiCtzler  projjerty,  south  of  the  borough,  and  on  the 
Binkley  propcrtv  to  tlie  north,  each  holding  about 
300.000  g-allons.  They'  occupv  elevated  positions 
above  the  borough  and  afford  a  sufficient  supply 
at  all  times.  At  the  latter  place,  an  artesian  well, 
about  l-")0  feet  deep,  has  been  provided  for  an  ex- 
tra si-ipply  of  pure   water. 

Trolley  Liuc. — The  Iveading  &  Southwestern 
Street  Railway  was  coiisln-cted  from  Reading  to 
MobiisvilL"  in  Is'.Mi,  and  since  then  has  been  oper- 
ated successfully.  In  ISfM.  a  steam  railroad  was 
constructed  fn:)ni  ^Moliii'^ville  to  Adamstown.  A 
small  engine  was  used  for  several  years  :  then  elec- 
tric power  was  substituted. 

Pexnwix. — In  l:Mi4.  William  High  purchased  a 
tract  of  farming  land  mar  the  eastern  border  of 
the  borough  from  Jesse  Ma*z,  laid  it  off  in  lots  and 
named  the  jilace  I'ennwin.  He  sold  son-ie  of  the 
lots,  on  which  a  numlier  of  dwellings  have  been 
erected ;  aBc)  a  tine,  two-story  brick  school  build- 
ing. 

CiiUKCiii.s. — Tliere  are  three  churches  at  Mohn- 
ton: .'>aleni's  1-AangeIical  Refiirn-ied.  established  in 
]!>T?.  and  rebuilt  of  sandstone  in  Is'.iT;  Zion's 
United  Evangelical  in  ISOO.  built  of  brick,  with 
a  sand.-tone  base;  and  St.  Joliu's  Eutlieran  in  l'.>0(\ 
built  of  sandstone. 

Sciioor.s. — The  tir^t  school-liou^e  in  tlie  viciniiy 
of  ^[ohnton  was  on  "Cedar  Top."  a  <!-,ort  di-taiue 
ea-t  of  tlie  village  The  first  to-iViisbi])  .-chonl  in 
the    village    (one-slorv    stfMie)    wa^    erecleil    ,d)orl 


1s.")ii.  where  the  church  stands,  opposite  the  post- 
office,  and  continued  there  until  18!H»,  when  it  wa- 
reniiwed  to  the  place  where  it  now  stands.  Several 
additions  were  made  to  it.  It  has  six  rooms.  Twm 
additional  rooms  have  recently  beeri  supplied  in 
another  building  to  accommodate  the  increa.-ing 
number  of  children.  Some  of  the  teachers  during 
the  I'ast  fortv  \ears  have  been  X'aleiitine  Ciuldiii 
Leo  Hes<,  A.'  F.  E.  Grill.  Mrs.  E.  H.  ^liller.  .Mi,-,' 
Kate  Lewis,  Hirani  J.  Bigony  and  William  ]■".  Bi;;- 
on\.  In  l!ti),S,  there  were  seven  schools  and  '.V\u 
scholars ;  antl  the  total  expenditures  for  school 
pur[)oses  were  ?i,:!Oi). 

Skcrkt  Sociktiics. — -Diffei'ent  secret  societies 
have  been  instituted  here,  prominent  aniong  them 
being  the  .\merican  Mechanics.  Knights  of  I-'riend- 
ship.  Knights  of  l''vthias.  r^Iodern  Woodmen,  and 
P.  O.  S.  of  .\. 

At'DiTORiUM. — In  1110';,  .\ugustus  R.  .Anderson 
erected  a  fine  large  two-story  frame  atiditorium  op- 
posite the  trolley  station  with  d  seating  capacity  I'f 
soil,  in  which  various  entertainments  h.ave  been 
held. 

WEST    READIXG 

Towx  I'lax. — In  l&tJ4.  I'rederick  R.  Frill  pur- 
chased from  William  Leinbach  a  farm  of  IK!  acres, 
which  now  comprise-  the  eastern  section  of  West 
Reading.  Jn  PsT:'.  he  laid  this  land  off  jnto  lots, 
and  niost  of  the  lots  in  the  blocks  south  of  Penn 
street  (Wot  Penn  avenue)  w(M-e  mimbcred  con- 
secuti\el\-  from  1  to  '.'on.  Tlie  sur\-e}'or  was  Dan- 
iel S.  Zacharias,  who  prepared  the  draft,  dating  it 
(  )ct.  -'A,  Ls:3. 

.Mr.  Frill  sold  many  of  these  lots  during  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year,  and  delivered  the  deeds  in  Oct- 
ober. The  first  purchaser  was  James  F.  Matz.  car- 
l)enter  (now  superintendent  of  the  West  Reading 
Water  Compan\  ).  He  erected  the  large  three-story 
brick  building  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Second 
and  Penn  streets,  whicli  became  the  F'armers'  Hijtel. 
l"he  first  row  of  dw-elling--houses  was  erected  in 
IsTo  on  Franklin  street,  between  Third  and  F'ourth 
streets,  by  .Abraham  F.  Ree.ser  and  William  Geiger. 
of  Reading. 

In  ISSo,  George  F.  Baer.  Charles  V.  Smith  and 
Reuben  E.  l^emmon  laid  oft'  into  lots  a  con.-ider- 
able  part  of  the  Jacob  \\.  .Seitzinger  farm  v.-hich 
they  had  purchased,  and  the  first  blricks  oi  lots 
llien  -old  lay  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  streets, 
south  of  West  Penn  avenue  to  .Spruce  -treet.  the 
-ale-  liavingr  been  effected  llir(-)ug-h  the  Pennsyl- 
vania   Tru-t    Company. 

luiildcrs. — The  first  builders  of  the  town  who 
erected   the   dwelling-hon-es   were: 

Rcc>;er   &   Gciircr  H.'irry   Aiimaii 

Tame-    V.    M.itz  Tlenrv    Trostcl 

Jareil    ('■.    ^"aniell  T.\iiics    '\\ .    liaiil 

Sinmii    Kline  I'rarkliii    Leiiiliaeli 

L\t-ok-i'oK.\Tio\. — .\fler  the  tmvn  o\  West  Read- 
ing had  come,  through  the  rotir-e  of  thirty  years, 
to  be  a  llduri-liiug  communit}'.  with  a  mimbei 
of   important    industries    and    an    e-timated    pMj)ula- 


BOROUGHS 


289 


tion  of  ',W,  steps  wore  taken  in  ?\Iarch.  1!h^:>, 
to  establish  a  boroug-li,  but  the  rcnionsi ranee  of 
many  property  holders  was  so  vigorous  during 
a  course  of  six  months  that  the  proceedinj^-s  were 
dropped.  A  second  effort  was  made  in  Xovern- 
bor,  190G,  with  the  conditions  greatlv  improved, 
and  though  earnest  objections  were  again  present- 
ed the  court  made  the  decree  of  incori)oration 
March  IS,  1907.  The  boundary  lines  inclosed 
:r,'3  acres,  extending  from  the  Wyomissing  creek 
on  the  soutli  to  the  Lebanon  X'alley  railroad  on 
the  north,  and  from  the  western  bank  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill river  on  the  east  to  the  eastern  boundarv  line 
of  the  borough  of  Wyornising  on  the  west. 

The  first  public  election  was  held  May  T,  l'>07, 
when  the  first  borough  officials  were  elected.  F.  R. 
Himmclberger,  a  prominent  carriage  manufactur- 
er of  the  town  for  upward  of  twenty  years,  was 
chosen  the  first  burgess,  and  this  election  started 
the  community  in  its  political  career  as  a  separ- 
ate district. 

P'iRST  T.\x.\nLES. — Xamcs  of  resident  taxables 
of  West  Reading,  when  first  established  as  a  bor- 
ough in  1907: 


Gustav   Albrecht 
Milton    A.    Albright 
William  Alvine 
.•\aron   1''.   Adams 
Aaron   Adams,    Sr. 
William    I".  A(lam.s 
David   V.   Tlrown 
Michael   M.   Baker 
Ihomas  J.  Lrnssm.-iii 
Simon    lilankciiMller 
Walter  A.  Uiciler 
Valentine   I'ehringer 
John    l'!an':'--iilMlkr 
.-\dain   R.    Isl'itt 
Harrv   P..    niankenljillf-r 
Daniel    IJ.    Dl, uikenl.il kr 
William    i'..   BlankLnlnller 
P.    W.    Bnj'onker 
Charles    II.    Bovcr 
William  V.  Brobst 
Charles   Clark 
Benjamin   Cohn 
Theodore   M.    Deck 
Lloyd   V.   Dunkelberger 
J.  Adam   Dieftenbach 
Wellin.'jton   Diniki'lberger 
Michael    I'.ekenrotli 
Therese    Engels 
D.  L.  George  Ellis  Est. 
John  Eyricli  Est. 
Clara    Esterlinc 
William   M.   Edris 
Robert  C.   F.tchbergcr 
Mrs.  George  F.ckcrt 
J.  W.  Forry  tS,-  Son 
John  Fisher 
Sarah   Freeman 
John   F\tx 
rii.f.rgf  ]•'.  F'rilz 
William   F'.ircniar. 
George  W.  Fislier 
Claudius  J.   F.   Grnhcr 
Joscf.li  .A.   K.  Ganster 
I>aniel  K.  Graelt 
iVir.icl  S.  Good 
It) 


John   J.    Geigcr 
.Augustus    Glaser 
John  Gerhart 
Milton  A.  Gring 
William    S.    Gruber 
William    FI.    Gring 
Morris  J.   Geiss 
John  P.  Grofl 
F'ced   K.   Graeff 
Jolm    H.    C.    Ileirner 
JelTer.son   B.  TliiinjiLllierger 
jjenjaniin   F^.    Holl 
John   f.  Haederle 
Jacob"  S.    Hill 
Thomas   A.   Hechler 
James  F.   iioU 
Jacob  D.   Fiitbert 
Albert  B.   ilcist 
John  Flolzinger 
Oscar  P.  FIoU 
Charles  M.  Hain 
Geoi'g'.'  ^L  Flain 
John    H.    Hinnershitz 
Francis  Y.   Flcmmig 
\\'il!iam   E.  S.   Iliniurshitz 
Peter   Homrich 
F'rank  R.  1  linnnelFerger 
James  M.  Hain 
.Vbraliam   W.    llain 
Cornelius    1  linuuelbiTger 
John  Flolknbaeh 
Augustus    Hiisliowcr 
FZlizabeth    Ilechler 
Hilbert   &   Lanmi 
William   F.    FlechKr 
William  A.   Hechkr 
Levi   Jones 
Thomas  Kocher 
John  J.  Kocher 
Alartiii  Kussler 
George    W.    Kauchei 
Annie   S.   Krick 
Mary   11.   Kilt/ 
J.    Frank    Kline 
John   Keener 


William  Latsluuv  Est. 
Otto  Liiid 
Jacob  D.  Leinbach 
Howard  Leinbach 
Charles  G.  Labc 
Walter   Larkin 
J.  Calvin  Leinbach 
J.    P.   Lee  ^ 
William  W.  Liiiibach 
Charles  PL  Lot/, 
Charles  J.   Link 
Jacob  A.  Leighthciser 
Calvin  A.  Leinbach 
George  F.  Alcrtz 
Elizabeth  Mat/ 
William    W.   -Matz 
Nathan  H.  Miller 
William   H.    Mover 
John  Mish 
Thomas    .Mogel 
William  A.   Miller 
John  Miller 
George   Manning 
Ezra   O.    Miller 
FVank   J.   Moycr 
Wilson  E.  F.  Miller 
Daniel    M.    Miller 
Peter    F.    Mogel 
McQuade   Bros. 
Henrv  F.  Milkr 
Frank   P.  :Mat/ 
William   W.   }ilachemer 
Lizzie   E.    Alarkley 
Charles   -Mcc 
Daniel  A.   .Mosser 
Christian    Ortmiller 
Patrick  M.  Odjar 
Jacob  D.   J'otts 
Irvin  W.   Potti  iger 
William   FI.   Quiincr 
Charles  R.   Quititer 
FIc>\vard    ,\.    Kishel 
Tames  M.  Reiisnyder 
John  H.  Reiiieri 
J.    S.    Reber 
Mary    Ringkr 
Solomon  Ringlcr 
.\rus  Rhtide 
William   H.    Ricgel 
Ralph  L.   Kil/maii 
James    T.    Rishel 
C.   Milton   Rintz 


Frank    .Anderson 
William   J.    .\llgaier 
Harry   Anderson 
Dr.    Silas    I'.unis 
Claude  R.   Bright 
Raymond   C.    Bright 
luhvin    J.    P.ixler 
Edgar  J.  Becker 
Irvin   M.    B.cker 
Charles   D.    I'.aikv 
Charles  L.    Becker 
Adam  E.   B.aer 
Herbert   S.    r.r\son 
.\.    H.    Bright  ■ 
Levi    V.    Clav 
Charles   R.   Clay 
.S.    Irvin    Cbrislmau 
F'rcd  Cnissl.iiul 
Harrv  E.   Cla'k 
David   Care 


Reuben    Roth 

Clarence   L.    R;'.hn 

Thomas    P.    Rahn 

Martin    L.   Ruth 

David  Roth 

Conrad    S.    Reber 

Edwin   G.   Ruth 

I'red    V.   Shearer 

Elijah   B.    Smith 

Jacob    P.    Struble 

Henry   Schiegel 

Joseph   K.    Strausc 

James  C.  Seltzer 

Henry  J.   Smith 

.Angline   Jane    Shunk 

Paul    Schnabei 

William    J.   Stamm 

Mary  M.  Shanaman 

Cletus  Setley 

Victor   Setlev 

Reuben  W.   D.   Schell 

Lando   Seitzinger 

Charles   H.   Scidcrs 

George   H.    Schwartz 

George    W.    Swartz 

Jacob   Snyder 

Monroe    .StaufFer 

Ed.  Spat/  &  John  E.  Hain 

Benjamin   H.   Seidel 

Josepli  W.  Shanamau 

Tamos  G.   Spatz 

Isaiah   B.    Scibert 

Mary  A.  Seibert 

Alary  A.  Tobias 

Hcn'rv   F.   Trostle 

William  1'.  Te.xter 

John    .A.    Ulrich 

F^zra  Von  Xeida  &-  Bro. 

Charles  Voelker.  Sr. 

William    F.    Welder 

losejih   \\''ounderIv 

Eva  F.  Weil 

John    H.    Wise 

Ernst   Wolschendorf 

Stephen   S.   Wisser 

Wisscr   &   Lesher 

Frank    Wanner 

John   B.  Wiihers 

Florence  I'ny  Weidner 

Jonas   Wca\er 

Jacob   C.    Wolf 

Homer  S.  Yost 

I.   G.   Yarnell 


Tom  n  Is 


II.  Walter  Care 
John   F.   Crouse 
Thomas  J.  Crimmins 
Henry   I.   Clay 
Lewis  L.  Conrad 
John  R.  Dellickcr 
Harry  D.   Dean 
Walter  Y.  Dauber 
Howard  R.    Deishcr 
William   G.    Dierolf 
J.    F'rank    Dohner 
Frank   L')av 
Albert  H. 'Deeds 
George   Dundorc 
Harvey  A'.   Dauber 
Thomas  Fxkciiroth 
J-.hn    H.   KUh 
John    II.  Eyrich 
Stewart  Fsterliiie 
Charl.s    H.    Ellis 


.(     ..;  ^  ,-f  J 


,fi  ,'    J    ■■'• 


290 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


Ezra    P.    Etchliorger 
Charles  A.   Kyrich 
Harry   East 
R.  Resley  Eckert 
John  J.  Freyberyer 
William  I.  l-'ritz 
Harrv  J.    Fisher 
Charie?    Folk 
E.   M.  Feltenbergor 
Alfred   B.   Fies 
George  K.   Fox 
Charles  J.  Feather 
Alilton    Fisher 
Newton  W.  Fry 
W.    Calvin    Fisher 
Nathan  F.  Fisher 
Irvin   P.  Fessler 
Frank  S.  Forry 
Harry  Good 
George  \V.  Geiger 
Jacob   A.   Geiger 
Joseph    Gnhtiler 
John  II.  Gerhart 
James  A.  Gerrett 
John   Grady 
William  A.   Gring 
Howard    Gro'T 
R.  H.  Gibson. 
Elmer  L.  Hcnne 
William  C.  E.  Herman 
John    E.    Kain 
Oliver    S.    Heck 
Jacob  Oscar  Hill 
Herbert  W.  Hechlcr 
Henrv    Hover 
John'H.  H'oyer 
Wellington  R.  Hiester 
Walter  W.  Heist 
Charles  Himmelbcrger 
Stephen  Holzinger 
Jacob  S.  Heft 
James  ^].  Huhcr 
Bert    HelYelhiigc: 
George  Hu'Tnairle 
George   R.   Himmeiberger 
Irvin  D.   tietlieger 
Irvin  D.  Hiiniershitz 
Charley  A.    Hinnevjliitz 
William  J.   Ilenimig 
Frank   M.   Ha  in 
John  Himmciberger 
George   W.   Hechlcr 
Jacob  A.   Hechler 
William   C.   Hcciiler 
Curtis   M.   Hertz 
Frank  K.  Hertz 
Harry   \\'.    llinnershitz 
George    Haldeman 
Henry  W.    Haupt 
George  Jones 
Henry   A.    Kemp 
Simon   S.  Kline 
Walter  S.   Kline 
Elias    Knnkelman  i 

Charles   Kalbach 
Evan   F.   Kalbach 
William  G.  Klopp 
Granville  M.   Keim 
Samuel   Kummerer 
Harry   J.    Kramer 
Charles   W.    Koch 
H.    Urias    Klii.ni 
John    H.    KI<>iM> 
Charles  A.  Keller 
William   Kiilinger 


Lewis   O.    Kantner 
John   A.   Kintzer 
Irvin  D.   Klopp 
Thomas    C    Lott 
Joseph    Livinghouse 
Frank    S.    Lebo 
Jeremiah  H.  Lebo 
John    Lind 
Thomas  Latshaw 
Charles  C.  Lam.ni 
Jonathan  Lcsher 
John  E.  Lcibenslierger 
Henry   E.   Leader 
Robert  W.  Latsbaw 
William    C.  Lewars 
Edward   Law- 
Marion    Larkin 
George   E.   Leisey 
Nathaniel   W.  Lieb 
George  R.  Lieb 
T.   Edwin   Lieb 
Richard    Leinbach 
Milton    Lanmi 
Harry  S.  Lobach 
Nelson    J.    Leinbach 
George  W.   Magargle 
SamiUcl  A.  Machmer 
William  Madeira 
James  F.  Matz 
Robert  B.  Mover 
Isaac    Meyer 
George  E.  Moyer     ^ 
Tohn  F.  Morgan 
William    H.   'Martin 
I.  Lawrence  Moyer 
Harvey  W.  Moyer 
Jacob   E.   !Murry 
Charles   F.    Mover 
Cliarles   B.   Miller 
Edwin    Malev 
Edward    M.  'Miller 
Howard  G.  Mercer 
Franklin    S.    Miller 
William    J.    Mays 
Isaac   K.    Miller 
David    Miller 
David   T.   Miller 
Charles    ^ililler 
Oscar  E.  Miller 
George   C.    Miller 
George   >.Iountz 
William  McAdoo 
V/illiam  H.  Mays 
Harry  W.  Moser 
John   L.   Moser 
Frederick  G.  Nunnemacher 
Thomas   G.    Noll 
Charles    Noecker 
John   W.    Noll 
David    Oswald 
Patrick    Odear 
Charles   E.    Painter 
Frank   PeifFer 
Charles   !•'.   Reichcrt 
Howard    H.    Ritter 
Wellington   Rcber 
Edwin   W.    Ritz 
Harvcv   C.    Ritz. 
WilliaTn  J.  Riiz 
Howard   H.   Reifsnydor 
Henry    RuiTner 
Howard  S,  Rentz 
.Albert   Rciltnian 
Christian   .\.   Reese 
Charles    P.    Ricgcl 


S.    W.    Rhoads 
Samuel    Rhoads 
Henry  H.   Reber 
Webb    T.    C.   Rightmver 
John   M^   Shitfer 
Harry    SiuIilt 
Thomas    Stables 
Walter  C.   Snyder 
Howard  J.  Siegfried 
William    Stadelmyer 
Benjamin    V.    St.amm 
Reginald  E.  Smith 
Franklin    H.    Stoudt 
John   A.    Stoudt 
Martin    Sweigert 
Benjamin  F.  Spatz 
Harvey   E.    Swisher 
Eugen.e    Sterner 
John   L.    Shuler 
Charles   Y.    Shaner 
Alvin    S.   Schlegel 
David   H.   Shunk 
r)avid   F.    Shunk 
John   Sluink 
George  A.    Spavd 
Frank   H.   Strublc 
John  L.   Steckler 
Wilson   K.    Strauss 
Charles    Schacffer 
Oscar    C.    Schaeffer 
Richard    J.    Stein 
J.   David   Schaeffer 
John  Jacob  Shanaman 
Albert    Stoudt 
Irvin    Stoudt 
Charles    H.    Stoudt 
I'rederick  S.  Scidel 
Frank   P..    Stcigerwald 
T.  William   Stamm 
Levi   S.   Stainrn 
Edward    Sohl 
Paul   P.  Spahn 
Arthur  G.  Smith 

Officials  for  1909. — The  following  Ibt  com- 
prises the  officials  of  tiie  ■  borouqh  for  the  year 
1909: 

Chief  Bii>\::;css,  Anis  Rhode 
Toun    Council,    Benjamin    Seidel,    President 

Thomas   Brossman,   Treasurer 

William    Machmer 

Walter   Fleist 

Morris   Geiss 

William   Hechler 

Wilson   Miller 

Charles  Voelker 

Charles    Millr.    Secretary 
School  Doaid.  Milton   A.    Gring.   President 

Thomas  Hechler,  Secretary     • 

R.  W.  D.  Schell.  Treasurer 

James  1.  Rishel 

Wm.  E.  S.  Hinnershitz 

John  Hctterlv 
Justiccs  of  Ihc  Peace,  Frank  Dohner 

Ezra  Etchberger 
Constable,  Hamiltnn  Brown 
Assesso".  Claude  Gndier 
Collector.  William   H.   Ricgel 
Auditors,   Frederick    Nunnemacher 
Richard  J.  Stein 
Irvin   P.  Fessler 
P(  iST-On- UK. — Tlie    post-office 
Tiiiie  0:].  1S!)-J.     Tlie  [lostmastors 
Wisser.    \\illiain    Ty.-on.    Charles    Scliaeffcr, 
Blaiikeiihiilcr  T!r..thor>  (flic  last  named  since  1901). 


Harry  A.   Schneider 
Charles   A.    Strunk 
William   H.   Spatz 
Howard  S.  SchaeMer 
Oscar    S.    SchaelTer 
Charles  M.   Schaeffer 
William  S.  Schaetter 
William    H.   Tvson 
Edward   F.   Thiele 
Samuel   A.   Trupp 
\\'illiam   B.   Thomas 
Frank   P.    tJlrich 
Lewis   Z.  Voelker 
Charles  T.  Voelker 
John  M.  Wilson 
Isaac  Wolfinger- 
Harvey   C.   Wayne 
Wellington   B.    Wayne 
Joseph   Weit^el 
John    Weitzel 
Adam    Weitzel 
Cyrus    W.    Weller 
Oscar  W.   Weil 
Charles  V..  Wiedinmycr 
William    E.    Wounderly 
FI.    William    Wagi;er 
Clarence   Wennell 
Cbarles    Waesncr 
John   A.    Wails 
John    T.    Wails 
Jacob    Wenrich 
John    Woundly 
Charles  A.  Weidner 
Howard   W.   Whitmoyer 
Samuel   Weaver 
Oscar    Weiblc 
William    Weathers 
Amcl    Ernst   Wolf 
Joel    Ziemer 
John    Ziemer 
John  Zicglcr 
William   Zechman 


was 
have 


estahhshed 
l)een:  S.  .'^. 


BOROUGHS 


291 


Industries 

Brick  Yards. — About  184?,  Drexel  Brotliers 
(_Jolin,  Reuben  and  Jacob)  started  the  manufac- 
ture of  common  clay  brick  on  a  tract  of  land  along 
the  Tulpehocken  road  several  hundred  feet  north 
of  West  Penn  avenue  and  carried  on  the  yard 
for  many  years.  George  \V.  Drexel  (a  brother 
of  those  named)  \vas  the  last  of  this  family  to  en- 
gage in  the  business  and  he  ceased  in  1904. 

Aloyer  &  Co.,  of  Reading,  engaged  in  the  mami- 
facture  of  clay  brick  in  West  Reading  in  1SS5,  and 
have  continued  until  the  present  time.  They  start- 
ed with  a  limited  annual  production,  but  gradually 
developed  their  business  until  tlicy  came  lo  em- 
ploy from  seventy  to  one  hundred  hands  and  to 
produce  annually  5,000,000;  which  are  sold  almost 
entirely  to  local  trade  for  building  and  paving 
purposes  at  Reading  and  West  Reafhiig. 

Conrad  Kaltcnbach  started  in  1804  and  estab- 
lished a  large  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  brick 
b}'  machinery  and  carried  on  the  business  exten- 
sively until  l!)<t(i,  when  he  sold  it  to  Simon  Kline; 
and  Mr.  Kline  has  continuedi'  until  the  present 
time.  His  trade  is  local.  He  employs  twenty- 
five  to  thirty  hands,  operates  the  plant  the  whole 
year,  and  produces  about  0,000,000  aniuially.  He 
owns  in  a  corinccted  tract  about  twenty-five  acres 
of  land,  which  lie  bctwen  Third  and  Sixth  streets, 
south  of  Chestnut. 

CnisJicr  Flouts. — About  1870.  while  the  project- 
ed South  Mountain  railroad  was  being  extended 
from  Stransstown  by  way  of  Rernville  to  a  point 
opposite  Reading,  a  quarry  was  opened  at  "Lcin- 
bach's  Hill,"  adjoining  the  west  end  of  the  Penn 
street  bridge.  Different  parties  operated  the  quarry 
and  a  crusher  to  supply  crushed  st'  me  with  more 
or  less  success  for  upward  of  thirty  years,  when 
the  property  was  leased  from  tlic  owner.  l\.cv. 
Gcorg'c  r>ornei;iann.  by  the  IMcOuade  Pruthcr- 
(James  P.  and  }dichael),  of  Pottstown,  in  I'JiMi. 
when  they  substituted  a  larger  and  more  improved 
cruslier  with  a  daily  capacity  of  six  hundred  tons 
and  have  since  oi)erated  it  verv  successfully.  Ar- 
rangements are  now  being  made  (April,  lOOIt)  to 
enlarge  the  daih^  capacitv  to  nine  hundred  tons, 
to  meet  the  demands  of  their  business.  ^lost  of 
their  product  i^  supplied  to  the  city  of  Readiiv.;. 
They  employ  fifty  hands  and  ten  tt-ams. 

In  190G,  Simon  Kline  e'<tablishcd  a  crusher  on 
his  premises  and  has  since  carried  it  on  in  con- 
nection with  his  brick  works.  He  employs  ten 
men  and  produces  about  an  hundred  tons  dail\. 

Hat  Factory. — Tn  ISSO  George  W.  .Mexander 
erected  a  large  three-story  brick  factory  for  the 
manufacture  of  wool  hats  and  equipped  it  with 
tlie  necessarv  machinery,  and  after  carrying  on 
business  in  a  very  successful  ni;inner  for  ten  vears 
the  plant  was  dc-troyed  by  tire.  He  immediately 
rebuilt  the  factory  and  equipp-cd  it  with  tlie  mo^t 
improved  machinery  for  tin-  mann  fycture  o\  =ofi 
fur  hats.  His  ';i)n  Edgar  then  became  n  partnei' 
and   thev   traded    under   the   name   of    Georsre   W. 


Alexander  &  Son.  In  1903  the  father  died  and 
since  then  the  son  has  continued  the  business  in 
the  same  firm  name.  This  enterprise  provides 
employment   for  about   three   hundred   hands. 

Kciscr  Maniifacturijig  Company. — David  K. 
Keiscr,  after  having  been  connected  with  the 
Wilkinson  Shear  Company  at  I'i^^ading  for  upward 
of  ten  years,  embarked  in  the  business  of  manu- 
facturing sheep  and  grass  .shears  at  West  Reading 
in  1903.  He  established  a  plant  and  has  since  de- 
veloped a  large  trade  wdiich  extends  to  all  parts 
of  the   world.     He  employs  twenty-five  hands. 

Hiintnelbergcr  Carriage  Works. — F.  R.  Himmel- 
berger  started  making  buggies  and  wagons  at 
Reading  in  1883,  and  carried  on  business  two 
years,  when  he  located  in  W"^est  Reading,  a  short 
distance  beyond  the  Penn  street  bridge,  and  oper- 
ated a  plant  there  with  George  H.  Smith  as  a 
partner,  trading  as  Himmelberger  &  Smith,  for 
thirteen  years.  Then  Smith  withdrew,  to  engage 
in  the  same  business  at  Reading,  and  Himmel- 
berger established  a  larger  plant  on  Second  street, 
which  he  has  conducted  in  a  very  successful  ir.an- 
ner  until  the  present  time,  manufacturing  all  kinds 
of  buggies,  light  wagons  and  lieavy  wagons,  which 
are  forwarded  to  all  parts  of  this  and  the  sur- 
rounding counties.  In  1907,  he  erected  another 
large  building  to  meet  the  demands  of  hiis  trade. 
His  plant  is  equipped  with  the  latest  imi)roved 
m.achinery.  He  has  superior  drying  lumber  sheds, 
with  upward  of  75,000  feet  of  lumber  (hard  and 
soft)  on  hand,  lie  employs  upward  of  thirty 
mechanics  and  laborers.  It  is  the  largest  works 
of  the  kind  in  the  county  outside  of  Reading. 
Mr.  Himmelberger  is  interested  in  the  local  gov- 
ernment, having  served  as  the  first  chief  burgess. 

George  AL  Haiii  started  a  wagon  works  at  Sink- 
ing Spring  in  1894,  and  after  carrying  on  busi- 
ness for  five  years  located  at  West  Reading,  where 
he  has  been  engaged  until  the  present  time,  mak- 
ing carriages  and  wagons  to  order.  He  employs 
five  hands. 

Bonnet  Factory  was  established  in  1907  by 
Charles  Voelker  and  his  son  Charles,  trading  as 
the  P.erks  Manufacturing  Company.  They  erected 
a  three-story  brick  building  and  equipped  it  with 
machinerv  adajited  to  the  making  of  sunbonnets, 
children's  plain  suits,  aprons,  and  dry-goods  speci- 
alties; with  a  complete  laundry  in  the  basement. 
They  employ  from  thirty  to  thirty-five  hands,  most- 
ly females.  Previously  they  had  been  engaged  in 
this  business  at  Reading  for  several  years. 

Flonr-niill. — In  1884,  the  large  l)rick  fiour-mill 
of  Irving  Shaneman  at  the  foot  of  Penn  street, 
adjoining  the  bridge  on  the  south,  was  removed  in 
the  construction  of  the  Pennsylvania  Schuylkill 
Valley  railroad,  and  he  then  purcha-ed  a  lot  of 
ground  from  Frederick  R.  Frill  at  the  intersec- 
tion of  the  river  road  with  the  turnpike  and  erect- 
ed a  large  --tone  gri'^t-niill  to  take  its  i^lace  for 
carrying  r>ii  hi-,  establi^lied  trade.  In  1^'.»I  Dan- 
iel Y.  Dietricji  became  the  owner  and  he  equipped 


■■/.I 


rr- 


;■■'    P  •■.;/■ 


292 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\'AX1A 


the  buildini:;-  witli  the  latest  improved  roller-process 
machinery,  lie  carried  on  the  bu^ine^s  extensive- 
ly witli  his  son  \\'e]lington  as  a  partner  until  1S98, 
when  he  sold  the  plant.  It  was  afterward  owned 
and  operated  by  different  parties  until  1905,  when 
Benjamin  Cohen  became  the  purchaser  and  since 
then  the  mill  lias  been  carried  on  by  him.  Five 
hands  are  employed.     He  lives   at  Altoona. 

Sausage  Foctorv. — Tn  1800  Thomas  Rahn  estab- 
lished a  sausage  factory  at  West  Readinq-  and  has 
since  manufactured  many  tons  of  "summer"'  sau- 
sage annually,  v.'hich  lie  disposes  of  at  wholesale. 
He  started  in  the  business  at  Shoemakersville  and 
was  engaged  there  one  year  and  in  ]\Iuhlenberg 
township  several  miles  north  of  Reading  four 
years,  when  he  located  at  West  Reading. 

Eagle  Soap  ]Vorks  has  been  carried  on  since 
190G  by  Theodore  ^I.  Deck,  manufacturing  hard 
and  soft  soaps,  with  several  hands. 

Holl  Bakery  has  been  carried  on  since  1894  by 
Oscar  P.  Holl,  employing  several  hands  and  de- 
livery teams.  He  produces  from  two  hundred 
to  five  hundred  loaves  of  bread  daily  and  serves 
many  families.  He  also  bakes  pastry  and  cakes 
of  all  kinds. 

Brass  Works  was  established  at  the  west  end  of 
the  Pcnn  street  bridge  in  190G  by  John  Fasig  and 
it  has  been  occupied  by  several  parties.  It  is  a  two- 
story  brick  building. 

Creti'-Lcvick  Company  established  an  oil  station 
at  Wyomissmg  in  19u0  and  removed  it  to  West 
Reading,  adjoining  the  I'.elt  Line  railroad,  in  1902. 

Heck  Coal  Chutes.— In  lOul,  H.  J.  Heck,  of 
Reading,  estahlished  large  coal  cliutcs  along  the 
"Belt  Line"  v/hicli  he  has  since  enlarged,  develop- 
ing their  total  capacity  to  20,000  tons.  He  sup- 
plies a  large  trade  at  Reading  as  well  as  his  patron- 
age in  West  Reading. 

First  Store. — William  E.  S.  Ilinnershitz  estab- 
lished the  first  grocery  store  here  in  1880.  and  has 
carried  it  on  since,  though  latterly  in  a  limited  way. 
He  has  served  as  a  school  director  of  Spring  town- 
ship and  the  borough  for  twentv  years  and  was 
chiefly  instrumental  in  securing  a  large  and  modern 
school  building  for  tlio  eastern  end  of  the  township, 
to  answer  the  demand  of  the  rapidlv  increasing  p':)n- 
ulation.  [See  biographical  sketch  in  this  publi- 
cation.] 

JVisser  Store. — S.  S.  Wisser,  after  being  in  busi- 
ness at  Reading  for  several  years,  located  in  West 
Reading  in  1883  and  established  a  grocery  store 
which  he  developed  into  a  large  and  successful 
stand.  In  1003  he  added  a  furniture  department. 
[See  biographical  sketch  in  this  publication.] 

In  April,  lliDli,  there  were  in  the  borough,  beside- 
the  industries  and  improvements  detailed,  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Giociry    stores    8        Tlntcls     2 

Druj?  <;tore    1       Rt^t.-mranl     1 

Rt'tail  iiitat  shops  3       llnrtier    shops    2 


Blacksmith    shops     2  Shocniaking    shop    i 

W  liLfhyriyhi    shops    2  Painltr  and  paper-hanger  1 

Carpet   weaving  shop    ....  1  Physicians     •.; 

Saddler  and  harness  shop  1  Minister    j 

Pl:rlic  Improvements 

Water  Company. — George  R.  Frill  and  Charles 
H.  Schaeffer  established  the  West  Reading  Water 
Company  in  188G,  locating  a  pumping  station  and 
filtration  plant  at  the  foot  of  Chestnut  street,  and  the 
reservoir  (consisting  of  two  cedar  tanks)  with  a 
total  capacity  of  50,000  gallons,  where  the  large  iron 
stand-pipe  was  substituted  in  1902,  CO  feet  high  and 
20  feet  in  diameter,  with  a  capacity  of  150,000  gal- 
lons. ]\Ir.  Frill  was  president  until  his  decease  in 
1894  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Air.  Schaeffer  (who 
had  served  as  secretary)  and  Air.  Schaeffer  has  of- 
ficiated since.  Air.  Schaeffer's  son,  E.  Carroll 
SchaelTer,  Esq.,  is  the  secretary  and  James  F.  Alatz, 
superintendent. 

The  compatiy  has  about  four  hundred  patrons. 
It  a'so  supplies  the  inhabitants  of  the  borough  of 
Wyomissing  whose  residences  arc  situated  east  of 
the  Bernville  road.  ' 

Fire  Company.-— T\\i^  West  Reading  Fire  Com- 
pany was  organized  in  1901,  secured  a  chemical  en- 
gine and  erected  a  frame  building  with  a  bell  tower. 
It  has  one  hundred  members. 

Belt  Line. — A  line  of  railroad  was  constructed 
through  the  eastern  section  of  West  Reading  and 
opened  for  trafiic  in  1902  for  the  purjjose  of  running 
coal  and  freight  trains  around  Reading,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  congestion  of  trains  at  the  depot  and  limit 
I  he  interruption  to  business  at  the  Penn  street  cross- 
ing. 

Halls. — The  third  floor  of  the  West  Reading  Ho- 
tel has  been  set  apart  fi')r  amusement  purposes. 

The  old  one-story  bi  ick  school  building  \\'\i\\  its 
extension,  situated  on  Franklin  street  between  Sec- 
ond and  Third  streets,  was  purchased  by  William  F. 
Behringer,  retail  butcher,  u[)on  its  abandotmient  by 
the  school  directors  when  they  took  possession  of 
the  new  school  building",  and  he  converted  it  into  a 
hall  for  entertainiuents  of  all  kinds.  It  is  convenient 
of  access  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  several  hun- 
dred. 

CinJKriiES  AND  Schools. — Alcmbers  of  the  Re- 
formed denoiuination  residing  in  West  Reading  or- 
ganized a  congregation  in  1891  and  erected  a  one- 
story  brick  church  btiilding  where  they  have  held 
services  until  the  ])resent  time.  A.rrangement3  are 
being  made  to  erect  a  superior  new  church  in  a 
more  prominent  locality. 

Aletubers  of  the  Lutheran  denomination  also 
formed  an  organization  and  erected  a  one-story 
brick  church  building  in  189G,  where  they  have 
held    services   siiK-e. 

In  1898  a  large  double  two-story  brick  school 
building  was  erected  by  the  school  district  of  Spring 
townshij),  which  dis])!ayed  the  enterprise  of  the 
directors  and  their  appreciation  of  the  future  prom- 
ise of  West  Readinci",  and  when  the  borough  was 


■  nr  .' 


1     '.•111  u/- 


;(     .-I 


BOROUGHS 


293 


established   this    school   building;-  became    its    prop- 
erty.    The  total  co.-^t  wns  near  $v'0,UUU. 

EcKEKT  Ri:sinr;.\CE.— Georc:e  J.  Eckcrt  (tire 
brick  manulaclurcr  of  ]\cading)  wa^  one  of  the 
hr>t  purchascrb  oi  lots  in  West  Reading;,  having 
ill  l!S7-l  purcliascd  a  block  of  lots  alony  Penn  ave- 
mie  extending  from  Second  to  Third  streets,  and 
several  years  afterward  erected  on  a  knuU  a  tine 
two-stor}-  mansion  for  his  residence  which  has  oc- 
cupied much  prominence  in  the  town  until  the 
present  time. 

SHILLIXGTOX 

Inxokpokatiox. — The  borough  of  Shillinglon, 
embracing  an  area  of  284  acres  of  land,  was 
erected  by  the  court  of  Quarter  .Sessions  of 
Berks  county  on  Aug.  18,  1908.  The  application 
was  presented  on  Sept.  9,  li)G7,  and  signed  by  IGO 
citizens  of  Cumru  township,  who  resided  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  "Three-Mile  House,"  a  long-es- 
tablishe<l  public  place  at  the  intersection  of  the 
Lancaster  road  with  the  thoroughfare  commonly 
known  as  the  "Pliiladelphia  road,"  three  miles 
southwest  from  Reading.  Many  property  hoKlers 
had  entered  a  determined  protest,  but  without 
avail. 

In  1844,  John  Beifller  secured  the  farming  land 
there  from  the  Valentine  Stroup  estate,  upon  which 
the  "Three-Mile  House"  came  to  be  established  as 
a  hotel,  and  the  Beidlers  have  continued  to  own 
it  until  the  present  time.  In  1848,  Samuel  Shil- 
ling purchased  128  acres,  part  of  the  same  farm. 
In  18G0,  he  laid  ofT  part  of  the  land  into  lots,  and 
soon  afterward  the  place  came  to  be  kui'^vn  as 
Shillington.  James  G.  Lash  purchased  part  of 
the  farm  and  in  1891  laid  it  off  into  lots;  after 
which  time  the  place  grew  rapidly  by  the  erection 
of  dwellings.  The  post-office  was  establislicd  in 
1884. 

In  1893,  the  heirs  of  Jonathan  Miller,  deceased, 
sold  sqventy-two  acres,  107  perches  of  land  to  the 
west  of  Shillington  to  Henry  Ahrens,  George  Eltz 
and  J.  B.  Sterley,  of  Reading,  and  they  laid  it 
ofT  into  lots,  which  they  called  Edison,  and  then 
that  section  came  to  be  improved  rapidly. 

The  liotel  was  a  popular  resort  for  many  years, 
more  especially  after  a  racing  track  had  hocn  es- 
tablished there  in  18()8.  Previously  the  higliway 
from  that  point  toward  Reading  was  occasionally 
used  in  spirited  running  races  by  ambitious  own- 
ers of  speedy  horses,  which  attracted  much  public 
attention. 

This  section  of  road  from  the  hotel  to  tlic  bridge 
(crossing  the  Schuylkill  river)  was  the  first  in  the 
county  to  be  improved  by  the  State  Iligliway  de- 
partment. The  improvement  was  made  in  19it4-07, 
at  a  cost  of  $18..T2r,. 

Shillington  became  connected  with  Reading  by 
trolley  line  in  1890;  and  tiie  same  year  the  line 
was   extended    to   Mohnsville    (now    Mohnton). 

First  OrKiCiAr.s.— The  first  election  of  borough 


ot^kials    v.'as    held    on    Sept.    ].    19i)8,    resulting   in 
the  election   of  the    following  t^fticiaN : 

Chief  JlitrLiC:,s,  Adam  Rulhiiaii 
Coinici!,    .Martin  I'ritz   (3  years) 

Gcii.  E.  Schupp   (3  3'cars) 
A.  Harry  Rover   (,3  years) 
James  h'ry  (:i  years) 
Julin  T.  Strunk  (2  years) 
Oswin  F.  Kroyer  (]  year) 
Albert  Tobias   (1  ytar) 
Scliool  Directors.  William  A.  Miller  (3  years) 
Chas.  M.  Yettcr   (3  years) 
Levi  Lausch   ( :i  years ) 
W.   H.   Dankle  'C2  years) 
F'rank  Miller   (l  year) 
Harry  G.  Hain   ( I  y  ear) 
Auditors,  Calvin  Wise    (3  years) 

linos    Messncr    (2   years) 
Judge  of  Election,  I'Yatik  .M.  Grill 
Inspectors,    Charles    Welders 
Oscar  H.  White 

On  Feb.  Ki,  190'J,  the  regular  spring  election 
was  held  and  the  following  ofiiciaUf.  Vvcre  elected 
to  complete  the  local  government  established  the 
previous   Scptemlier : 

Chief  Burp,ess,  11.  L.  Hartman 
Tuivn  Council,  Orwiii  F.  Kroynr 

Irwin   Bitting 
School  Directors,  William  Fichthorn 

Harry  G.   Hain 
Collector,   Henry   G.    Fritz 
Auditor,  John  W.  Wertz 
Justices  of  the  I'cace,  Cyrus  rirtiulle 
Cyrus  Hcmmia; 
Constable,   Charles    I'ossk-r 

I'iRST  T.AXAiiLiis. — The  following  list  embraces 
the  names  of  the  first  taxables  of  the  borough: 

Josrpli  F.  Ariz  Samuel    Curley 

Cyrus   D.   Althouse  F.lias   H.  Coldren 

Howard  W.  Althouse  William  V,.  Conrad 

Caroline    Artz  Addison  F.  Dietrich 

David   U.   T'.orf^  Henry  P.  Deeds 

A.  Harry  T'.oyer  Mary  Deeds 

James  Ueckcv  '  William  H.  Danhlc 

David  B.   Becker  Edward  Dehart 

Harry  .A.  Beyler  Christian  W.  F.rh 

Frank  W.  Bittiny  George  B.  Erb 

David   n.   Becker  Frank  R.  Eshelniaii 

Lillie  M.  Baer  Lizzie  Frees 

Emeline  Ijody  John  L.  Fritz 

Annie  M.  Bitting  Annie  F.  Fartnacht 

Cornelius  P.cechcrt  Cyrus  W.   Faslnacht  ■ 

Esther  J.  Bickcl  Hannah  Fry 

Aaron   E.  Baer  James  H.  Fry 

Sophia  Burkhart  Charles  H.   Fisher 

Samuel  G.  Burkhart  Annie  Fromm 

Lydia   Bickcl  Ntatilda  Fritz 

Irwin  W.  Bitting  William  H.  Fichthorn 

Monroe  Rlankenbillcr  Catharine  Foreman 

Wellington    P.ickel  Harry  T.  Fritz 

James   ^L  P.artron  Catharine  Fritz 

I)avid   A.    Brcnsinger  Mary  Flickinger 

.Andrew  G.    Burkhart  Henry   Fritz 

Adam   Brov.-n  Henry  G.  Fritz 

William  H.  liohn  Martin  IE  Fritz 

.Augustus  G.   B<iidy  Harrison  D.  Foreman 

William  S.   B.achuian  L.  W.  Frankhnu'^cr 

Orville   V.   Becker  Ella  C.   Goodman 

Frank  V.  Rover  George  H.  Gaul 

Charles    Bassler  Franklin  P.  Gaul 

Henry  L.  elnuser  Bcnneville  M^.  fi.uil 

Rosa  Coldrei!  Frank    M.    Grill 


:  r     ''<r 


'•  H      .''■■'      -  ■.■'.!■ 


.  ,  r  ,• 


'.    n 


294 


HISTORY   Ol'    I'.ERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\AXI.\ 


Adam  F.  E.  Grill 
John  M.  Grill 
Howard  G.  Gettis 
Daniel  1).  Goll 
Annie  M.  Hartninn 
Nelson    HotTert 
Benton  L.  llcmmig 
Abner   M.   Harding 
Harvey  T.  Hu,xtt 
Cyrus  H.  llenunig 
Annie  Houscr 
Xicliolas  J.  HoiTert 
Grace  T.   HolTcrt 
Jacob  C.  Hoshnuer 
Dr.  M.  Luther  Huyett 
Henry  T.   HotTert 
Martin   H.  Ilertzog 
Ella  R.  Hornber?er 
Benneville   II.   >lermiiig 
Mary  M.  Hill 
Harry   G.   Ilain 
Dr.  L.  G.  Hain 
William  P    liiRh 
Sallie  A.  Hish      , 
Amelia  Hill 
Sallie  Knaiicr 
Os'.vin  ]•'.  Kroyer 
Susan  K.ring 
Ilarvcv  Krinci 
William  S.  Krick 
Wellington  S-  Krick 
Amos   Kurt?. 
Levi  W.  Kaeliel 
George  S.  Kleinginna 
Henry  K.  Kictur 
Elizabeth   Ktuiz 
Wellington  Rachel 
Johii  Keller 
Pierce  Kiilian 
S.  1>.  Kiopp 
Friuik  J.   Klnpp 
Chai  les  \V.  Lorah 
I^;aac  G.  Leininger 
Mrs.    Gordon   Lnt'/: 
James  G.  Lash  Estate 
Charles  jVIarks 
Priscilla    ^L^rks 
Ella  A.  Matz 
Rachel  Mover 
F.  P.  Matz  Estate 
Charles  G.  Moser 
David    Matz 
Henry  V.  Mohn 
William    V.    Mohn 
Frank   IE    Miller 
John  Y.  :Matz 
Louisa  Matz 
Tacob  H.  Matz 
^lary   H.   Mohn 
S.  EL  Miller  Estate 
James   K.  Miller 
Lillie  W.  Miller 
Amanda   Moore 
Rhein   P..   Messner 
William  W.   Milter 
Harrv  O.  'Mover  .  ' 

William  A,  M'atz 
William  A.  Martin 
Henry  B.   Matz 
George  H.  ^fatz 
Ida  R.   Miller 


Eugene  H.  G.  Arnold 
Jacob  B.  Artz 


Joseph   R.   Xaugle 
A.  Frank   Xaugle 
Elizabeth  Oberholtzer 
Mary  Ott 

James  H.  Pennapacker 
lames  F.  Pennapacker 
"William  H.  Palm 
John    H.    Price 
Katharyne  J.  Porter 
diaries   Rintz 
Cvrus   Reber 
Eil.c  Reber 
Rebecca  Reber 
I'Vancis  Ruffner 
Adam  Rolhnan 
Henrv   R.   Ruth 
Howard  I'.  Ruth 
Amos  E.  Ruth 
John  H.  Romig 
Mary  X.  Savage 
John    Strcitbcrger 
George  Sluipp 
Amanda  Schnader 
Catherine  Schnable 
Wilson  Sweitzer 
James  A.  Stat'ford 
Maria  Schaeffcr 
Charles  T.   Scott 
]\Laria  Schweitzer 
Anna  Schweitzer 
Jacob  Schadle 
L.  W.  Spires 
Samuel  B.  Schweitzer 
Herman  G.  Sowa 
Amelia  Spears 
George  E.  Schaeffer 
Jacob    S.    Steininger 
Levi    D.   Sletier 
Clinton  E.  Shilling 
Frederick  E.  E.  ShilliuL 
Howard  M.  ShilliiiL' 
William   M.    Stetler 
John  T.   Strunk 
David   L.   Stoner 
Edvin   E.    Smith 
George  H.  Truut 
Albert  H.  Tobias 
Jacob  S.  1'othero 
Lsaac  Tothern 
Lucy  X.  Tothero 
James    R.    Tnsut 
Michael   Thiry 
Elmer  E.  Trostel 
William  Trostel 
James  Von  Xeida 
Ezra  G.  Von   Xeida 
William  A.  Wentzel 
John  ^L  Wertz 
Carolina  Wenz 
Jemathan  Wanper 
Oscar  B.  White 
Mary   H.  WTite 
Sarah    1).    Wilson 
John  Wolfkill 
J.  Calvin   Weiss 
Peter   White 
Charles  "SI.  Ycttcr 
Emma  B.  Yetter 
EL-irrv   W.   Zwallv 
Matilda  B,  Zellers 


Tenants 


Edwin  L.  Artz 
Irvin    \rtz 


Xathan  .Althouse 
William  H.  Arnold 
Jacob  R.  Artz 
Frank   .\lthousc 
William  H.  Bitting 
Marvin  C.   Beck 
Alvin  Binkly 
Daniel  D.  Brendel 
D\son  S.  Bradley 
Ir\-in    Briglit 
Howard  If.  Bitting 
John  H.   Bchm 
William  K.  Brendel 
Jesse  'SI.  Bander 
George  W.  Bushman 
Samuel  '\l.  Bitting; 
David  C.   Rohn 
John  G.  Body 
Harvey  C.  l'.oonc 
John   T.   Behler 
Hiram  W.  M.  Bickel 
Cyrus  U.  Reusing 
Richard  S.  Bitter 
Cyrus  K.  Brendel 
Jacob   M.   Bickel 
Adam  S.  Body 
Raymond  E.  Becker 
John   Bittirjg 
Augustus  M.  Brown 
Champion  B.  ]5artr(in 
Christian  ¥..  Coller 
Benjamin   !•".  Coller 
Clair  B.  Cooper 
Lemon    Conrad 
P'rank  P..  Conrad 
John    K.    Coldren 
Walter  F.  Lurley 
Tames    Coleman 
Owen   P.   E)eeds 
Dr.  L.  V.  Dillon 
Charles  M.   Eiiglert 
John   Eckert 
William   Eyrich 
Frank   H.   Eshelman 
Tohn  D.   F.rb 
Daniel  J.  Erh  . 
Isaac  H.  Eshelman 
John   H.   Evans 
"William  P.   Flcisher 
X'athan  T.  Fritz 
Abraham  S.   Foltz 
Bcntley  G.  Foreman 
Elmer  E.  Fair 
Abraham    Foltz 
Christ    S.   Flickinger 
Clinton  F.  Flickinger 
Wallace  C.   Fritz 
Daniel   Fry 
1  larry  Fitterling 
Daniel  S.  Fri^eman 
Thomas  PL  Fromm 
David  T.  Field 
John  S.  Farrcll 
Howard  F.  Folk 
Henry  B.  Frecse 
John   Fisher 
.•\lvin  J.   Griflith 
Fred   A.    Gchret 
Tlionias  J.  (lOodman 
Charles  A.  Goodman 
Gottlieb  CiOtise 
Harry  G.  Gouse 
Tolm   A.  G.inl 
Walter  M:  Geiger 
Samuel  J.  Gerhard 


Levi   ^L  Grill 
Howard  F.  Goodman 
Daniel   Hummel 
Elmer  J.   lleinly 
Carolina   Hatt 
Charles  Himmelberger  . 
William  B.  Hendel 
Jesse   Herntisen 
George  W.  Hartman 
I-zra  Homan 
Lester  A.   Hcmmig 
Jacob   HotTert 
Howard  L.   Hartman 
Zacharias  H.   Hornberger 
William  .v.  HotTman 
Pierce   B.    Hatt 
Rev.  C.  S.  Hani'an 
William  A.  iluyett 
John  J.   HotTert 
Irvin   B.  Huyett 
Charles  Haag 
William  T.  Kill 
Walter   G.   Hill 
PLarry  G.  Hill 
Adolph  Jahn 
John  L.  Knauer 
William  T.  Keffer 
Jacob   T.   Kline 
Frank  G.  Keltcr 
Charles  A.  Klopp 
James  I'.  Kleinginni 
Milton  Kachel 
Lewis  A.  Lehman 
Jacob  A.  Lesher 
John  T.  Lotz 
Lester  A.  Lutz 
Gordein  Li;tz 
Washington  Leinbach 
George   F.  Lot 
Almah    S.    Lutz 
Le\i   H.   Lausch 
John  Lessley 
Harry    Laus':h 
Walter  H.  Lantz 
Vallie   A.    Matz 
Evan   Mover 
John   H.  'r^Iarks 
Bentlcv  .Moore 
John  S.   Miller 
John  M.  Miller 
Robert  W.  Moyer       ■ 
Frank   Mover 
Daniel   H. 'Miller 
Charles   G.   Miller 
William  H.  Miller 
Harvev  C.  Miller 
Samuel    S.    Miller 
Adam    Miller 
Frank  P.   Mohn 
Charles  S.  Mohn 
W"illiam  M.  Mohn 
Chester    A.    Mohn 
William  H.  Mohn 
Katie  Matz 
Frank  R.  Myers 
Chester   A.    ^lartin 
Edwin    P.    Mover 
John    Mahley 
Harry  R.  Mahlschnec 
Charles    Matz 
James  \M.  Messner 
William  Manabeck 
Reuben    H.    Xye 
George    Wwkiik 
^L^rtin   Ott 


BOROUGHS 


2dl 


Joseph  W.  Oberholtzer 
Benjamin   Putt 
Thomas  Putt 
Harry   Putt 
Charles  Putt 
Daniel  Plcam 
Claude    W.    Palm 
Richard  II.  Porter 
Franklin  E.  Phillips 
Herbert    V.    Ruth 
W'illiam  H.  Rolhnan 
Harry  Rcber 
Aldus  K.  Rover 
Samuel  A.  Ricliard 
John  Rupp 
Charles    Ritzman 
Wallace  Reddig 
Mary  Rolhnan 
Warren  Reifsnyder 
Hiester  Rhime 
Harry  Rliime 
Augusta  C.  Rohland 
Howard  C.  Remp 
Edwin    C.   Rolhnan 
John    Reiner 
]:lmlein  K.  Royer 
Wesley  Rolhnan 
Elbina   Swcitzer 
Albert  C.  Savage- 
Francis  Savacre 
Alvin   J.    Savage 
John   R.   Schnahel 
Adolph  Seluvelzke 
Harry  C.  Schaeffcr 
Howard  D.  Sitlcr 
Levi  H.  Snyder 


Isaac  Schaeffer 
Charles  J.  Strause 
Edward  Swcitzer 
John  .\.  Spears 
Hcrton   Schonour 
Pearson  Schaeffer 
Morris  S.  Schaeffer 
Zenas   W.   Schonour 
Martin  L.  StetTy 
Irvin   Savage 
John    G.    Stutznian 
Oliver  Tilton 
Fri.d  J.  Thnrrr'W 
B.    F.    S.   White 
Thomas  White 
CTiarles  F.  Vi^ieder 

Frank  Wieder  

Tliornas  Wieder 
AVilliam    S.   Willis 
Daniel  I.  Wentzel 
John    G.   Wentzel 
Evan  J.  Wentzel 
Charles  W.  Wentzel 
Harry  W.  Wertz 
John  W.  Wertz 
John  Wertz,  Sr. 
John    Weiss 
Jeremiah  E.  Wanner 
Milton  Wanner 
Fra!icis  S.  Wolf 
William  H.  Watt 
J.'uncs  Wieder 
John    White 
Elmer  E.  Yorlcr 
Charles  Yoh 
William   .M.  Zellers 


Property-holders     223 

Tenants     2:\o 

Total   valuation    $12 1,700 

PiUSiNKSS  5 NT   Bdro'JGII. — Tlic  horoug-ii  roiUaiiu'd 
in  April,  \UW,  tlu-  followiiii.;- : 

Stores    8       IJot.l  I 

Flower   Houses    3       Machine  Shop    ] 


Cigar  F'actories   2 

Churches    3 

Hat    F'actory    1 

Grist-mill   1 

P>ntclicr  Shops   3 

Blacksmith    Shops    3 

Wheelwright  Shop   1 

Tinsmith  Shop  1 


Veterinarians    2 

Shoemaker  Shops   3 

Cemeteries   3 

Race  Course   1 

P.aibcrs   3 

Drug  Store   1 

School    Building    1 

Doctors 2 


Industries 

Grist-Mill. — A  grist-mill  was  eslablisbcd  along 
the  Lancaster  road,  near  the  Wyomissing  creek, 
many  years  ago.  It  was  converted  into'  a  plan- 
ing-mill  by  John  Waren.  and  then  destroyed  by 
fire.  Jacob  Shadel  became  the  owner  of  the  prem- 
ises, including  the  water  right,  and  he  restored 
the  building  as  a  grist-mill. 

Flowcr-iloKscs. — ■Howard  JNI.  Shilling  established 
a  hothouse  for  the  raising  of  all  kinds  of  flowers 
in  1880,  and  he  has  carried  cm  tlie  plant  tmtil 
now,  excepting  whilst  enlisted  in  the  Spanish  War. 
when  his  wife  attended  to  the  business.  He  en- 
larged his  plant  and  has  now  17,000  feet  under 
glass. 

Harry  A.  Jteylor  started  in  1898  and  lia.s  live 
liouses  in  use. 


Luke  Deeds  started  in  1905  and  after  carrying 
on  the  plant  a  year  died,  when  his  wife,  Aaron 
Stein  and  A.  J.  Fink  incorporated  the  business. 
They  have  seven  houses. 

C/^ar,y.— C;harles  M.  Yetter  started  manufactur- 
ing cigars  at  .Mohnsville  in  1889.  After  carrying 
on  the  business  eight  years  he  located  at  Shillino-- 
ton,  where  he  erected  a  large  three-story  brick 
factory,  and  has  carried  on  tlie  business  quite  ex- 
tensively since  then,  employing  from  eighty  to 
ninety  hands,  maiuifacturing  about  100,000  cigars 
weekly.     The  business  was  incorporated  in  1905. 

The  members  of  the  Cumru  Cornet  Band  start- 
ed manufacturing  cigars  at  Shillington  about  1890, 
and  after  carrying  on  the  business  several  years 
the  Kramer  Brothers  of  Lancaster  county  (who 
were  engaged  in  the  leaf  tobacco  business)  be- 
came their  successors  and  have  since  carried  on 
the  business,   employing   fiom  eight  to  ten  hands. 

Howard  Gettis  and  Irvin  Bright  have  been  en- 
gaged sejiarately  for  some  years  manufacturing 
cigars  in  a  limited  way. 

Planing  .U ;"//.— David  Becker  established  a  small 
planing-mill  at  Edison  in  1898  and  has  since  done 
various  kinds  of  planing-mill  work  b}-  himself. 

Bakery. — Charles  Strauss  began  a  bakery  busi- 
ness in  1901  and  has  since  carried  on  an  increas- 
ing business  with  several  hands  to  assist  him. 
^  Scenic  I'a'uiUr. — Dyson  Bradley  and  Clinton 
Shilling  erected  a  large  frame  building  in  1897 
on  the  premises  of  Cieorgc  \Y.  Shilling  for  the 
purpose  of  painting  theatrical  scenery  and  have 
since  carried  on  the  business  successfully.  Mr. 
Shilling  has  also  shown  considerable  skill  as  a  car- 
toonist on  political  and  other  subjects. 

Hosiery. — Martin  Fritz  began  the  manufactur- 
ing of  hosiery  at  Shillington  in  19U]  and  has  since 
carried  on  the  business  sucessfully,  making  men's 
half-hose,  emjjloying  fifty  hands. 

Telephone. — The  Ephrata  Telephone  Company 
established  a  telephone  exchani^e  at  Shillington  in 
1908. 

CuuR(:nL:.s. — 'Members  of  the  Reformed  and  Lu- 
theran denominations  associated  together  in  1874 
and  erected  a  brick-  church,  but  after  remaining^ 
together  three  years,  occupying  the  building  alter- 
nately, the  Lutherans  withdrew.  The  Reformed 
congregation,  under  the  name  of  Immanucl,  have 
continued  there  until  the  present  time.  The  edifice 
was  rebuilt  in  1908.  Rev.  W.  J.  Kershner  has 
been  the  pastor  since  18SG. 

Grace  Lutheran  congregation  erected  a  brick 
church  in  1902  and  have  kept  up  the  organization 
until  now. 

Members  of  the  Unitcil  Evangelical  faith,  undei 
the  name  of  .St.  Luke's,  erected  a  fine  sandstone 
church  in  1901  and  have  since  been  worshipping 
there.  , 


.-..A-  W 


'■^•iWr 


■  ! 


■■•■v  >..  ■•! 


•'ir  i'     ' ;  I ;  1 


.j:  ■// 


•'iW> 


HISTORY    UV    BERKS    COL'XTV,    rKXXSVL\'AXIA 


Cemeti:uii;<. — 'J'hrce  cemeleries  Imvc  liccii  es- 
tablished along-  the  snuthern  border  of  Slidliiii,'-- 
ton :  The  Fairvicw.  in  ]^'i'>,  lor  mendx'rs  of  the 
Protestant  denominations  in  the  \icinit_\';  Mt.  Si- 
nai, in  lSf)T,  lor  the  Ret'ornieil  Jews  at  Readins' 
who  had  maintained  a  small  cemetery  alonir  S'luth 
street  for  npward  nf  lii'tv  year.-:  and  the  Russian 
and  other  Orthoilox  Jews  .several  years  alterwarrl, 
having  secured  the  land  from  Jacob  Lash. 

Gr.\di:d  School. — The  Cumru  school  board  erect- 
ed a  fine  two-story  brick  building-  in  li'ii],  anil  ujxtn 
the  erection  of  the  borough  it  became  the  property 
of  Shilling-ton. 

PooRHOi'Sii. — The  Poorhouse  of  the  county  ad- 
joins   the   borough.      It    was    established    there    by 


the  couiUy  antlMritiL-s  in  IS'-I^^,  and  has  been  main- 
tained since  then  at  the  jjublic  expense. 

MiLLKK  Mo.M-.MKXT. —  in  the  center  r.f  the  street 
leading-  to  Mohnton,  near  the  southerly  line  of 
the  borough,  a  unique  monument  -was  erected  in 
llino  hy  the  grandchildren  of  Christian  Miller,  who 
had  for  many  years  owned  the  farming-  land  in 
that  vicinity,  and  when  he  died  liis  remains 
were  interrerl  in  a  private  burymg-ground  on 
the  farm  adjoining  the  public  road.  It  is 
a  large  dark  granite  stone  about  six  feet  high 
ami  is  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall  inclosing  a  lot 
about  twenty  feet  square.  The  inscription  on  the 
stone  reads  thus:  "In  Memory  of  Christian  Alil- 
ler,   Familv  and   b^-iends." 


CHAPTER  XII -TOWNSHIPS 


The  Schuylkill  river  divides  the  county  of  l^.crks 
into  two  nearly  equal  divisions  of  territory,  the 
eastern  containiiig  about  280,000  acres  and  the 
western  about  •^Ki.^iOO  acres,  together  :i-i(;,Oiii) 
acres,  or  S'J2  square  miles. 

Four  Si-xtions. — The  eastern  division  can  b; 
divided  into  two  sections  by  an  irregular  line  ex- 
tended eastv>-ardlv  from  tli(.-  Great  Rend  of  tht? 
river,  along  the  upper  boundary  lines  of  Aluhk-n- 
berg.  Ruscon-.bmanor,  liocklainl,  Distiict  and  Here- 
ford townships,  to  Lehigh  county.  The  southern 
-section  embraces  about  R!",000  acres,  and  the  north- 
ern al)out  147,000  acres.  Each  section  was  ideri- 
tified  from  the  earliest  settlements  bv  conspicuous 
streams  of  water,  the  southern  section  having  come 
to  be  generally  known  by  the  nanie  of  Mouitazcny, 
and  tlie  northern  section  bv  Ontclaiiiu-r.  Both  these 
w-ords  are  of  Indian  origin.  The  Indians  having 
first  possessed  the  entire  territory,  their  names 
naturally  became  attached  to  it.  Tlicse  streams 
extend  northwardly  through  the  respective  sections 
and  drain  the  greater  part  of  the  territory. 

The  western  division  can  be  similarlv  divided, 
for  a  natural  boundary  line  divides  it  also  into  two 
sections.  It  extends  from  the  outlet  of  the  Tulpe- 
bocken  at  the  Schuylkill  river  along  th.e  northern 
and  western  boundary  lines  of  Spring  township 
to  Lancaster  county,  and  is  formed  by  the  creelc 
named  and  its  first  tributary,  the  Cacoosing.  The 
upper  section  was  called  Tiilpchflckcii  by  the  first 
settlers,  a  word  also  of  Indian  origin.  This  creek 
extends  westwardly  and  northwardly,  then  again 
westwardly  and  drains  the  section  almost  entirely. 
And  the  lower  section  was  called  ScJniylkill.  from 
its  connection  with  a  large  district  of  territory  in 
Chester  county  which  wa>  known  by  this  name. 
This  latter  section  ha-  two  [imminent  creeks  which 
are  known  by  Indian  names,  Wvoniissing  and 
Alleglieny,  but  neitlKr  of  them  was  large  enough 
to  give   identity   to  the  einire   seetion.    The   upper 


section  embraces  about  130,000  acres,  and  tiie  low-er 
about   11G,000  acres. 

Ekixtion  of  Tovvnsiiii-s. — The  townships  estab- 
lished in  the  county  number  altogether  forty-three. 
In  the  descriptions  of  the  respective  Sections  in  this 
chapter  they  have  been  arranged  to  show  the  origi- 
nal townships  at  the  erection  of  the  county  and 
the  time  when  settled  and  established ;  and  the  ad- 
ditional  townshi])s  established  since  1752,  and  from 
which  districts  they  were  taken.  1  his  arrangement 
has  i)een  ado|:)ted  for  convenience  of  reference,  as 
well  as  to  a\'oid  much  repetition  in  descrii-)tion. 

The  name.^  (if  the  lir^t  tax  paver.-,  have  been  given 
in  Chapter  I,  relating  to  the  erection  of  the  county; 
but  the  names  of  the  taxpayers  of  the  townships 
subsequently  established,  before  ISOO,  have  also 
been  included  in  this  Chapter,  in  connection  with 
the  Section  where  situated. 

Developmu:xt. — When  the  county  was  erected  in 
1152,  there  were  twenty-three  townsliips — eighteen 
regularly  estaldished  and  five  commonlv  recognized  ; 
and  one  town,  Reading,  the  only  place  where  a 
considerable  number  of  dwellings  had  collected. 
Pron-iinent  highways  extended  from  Reading 
through  the  several  sections  to  the  extreme  limits 
of  the  county  in  eight  different  directions,  to  enable 
the  taxpayers  to  visit  the  county-seat  conveniently 
for  the  transaction  of  business  relating  to 
their  own  personal  affairs  and  to  affairs  con- 
nected with  the  government  of  the  county.  As 
time  advanced,  tlecade  after  decade,  intersecting 
highways  were  laid  out :  new  townships  and  bor- 
oug-hs  organized:  post-ofhccs  cstalilished :  newspa- 
pers issued:  turnpikes,  canals  and  railroads  con- 
structed :  manufactures  of  ail  kinds  encouraged  :  and 
nunurous  schools  and  churches  erected.  Xow, 
after  the  lapse  of  one  baindred  and  fifty-seven  years, 
there  are  sixty-one  political  divisions,  comprising 
one  city,  seventeen  borough's  and  forty-three  town- 
ships, with  a  j^opulatiou  nf  nbout  175.000,  aiid  a 
total  valuation  of  property  exceeding  SIOO.OOO.OOO. 


;U'..::-i     .-i 


\]?y/rf('''y'-  nz  /.H') 


'..-■r    ■■'     ■■•!. 


Tow'x  SHIPS 


297 


And  fifty  towns  arc  scattered  throuj^liout  the  coun- 
tv,  t-ach  of  whose  population  exceeds  one  hun- 
dred. 

GovERXMEXT. — The  townships  are  lUHlcr  the  q-cn- 
cra!  government  of  the  county.  For  local  affairs, 
they  have  a  government  of  their  own,  the 
elected  officers  being  two  justices  of  the  peace, 
a  constable,  six  school  directors,  an  a->essor.  three 
supervisors  of  roads,  and  three  auditors.  Their 
government  is  government  in  tlie  simplest  form 
arid  it  is  practica!!}-  the  imit  of  government. 
U  is  thoroughly  democratic.  There  are  only  two 
purposes  which  it  serves,  the  maintenance  of  roads 
and  schools,  and  williout  these  there  would  be  no 
necessity  for  its  existence.  Being  so  simple,  it  is 
not  seen  or  felt  until  the  paynient  of  taxes  for  road 
and  school  purposes  is  demanded.  The  taxpayers 
tluis  take  a  direct  interest  in  their  local  government 
and  are  closely  connected  with  it.  But  the  higher 
the  government  advances,  as  into  a  borough,  city, 
count).  State,  or  nation,  the  farther  they  become 
removed  from  it,  and  their  connection  is  necessarily 
only  by  representation.  It  is  a]:ipar(nt  that  the 
township  is  the  beginning  of  our  system  of  free 
government,  just  as  the  nation  is  tlie  end  of  it.  The 
aggregation  of  townships  compose  oiir  county; 
of  counties  our  State ;  and  of  States  our  nation. - 

R.MLWAY  Axn  l"Er.ECR.\Pii. — Bcsidcs  the  public 
thoroughfares  for  teams,  llu:  county  is  also  well 
supplied  with  prominent  railways  which  run  gener- 
ally parallel  with  them  ;  the  Philadelphia  i\:  Read.ing, 
and  the  Pennsylvania  Schuylkill  \  alley,  along  either 
side  of  tlie  river  SchuylkiU,  from  the  southern  ex- 
tremity to  the  northern ;  the  Lebanon  X'alley  to  the 
west,  the  East  Penn  to  the  northeast,  the  Schuylkill 
and  Lehigh  to  the  north,  the  Reading  cc  Columbia 
to  the  southwest,  and  the  Wilmington  &  Xorthern 
to  the  south — all  of  these  five  from^  Reading;  and 
the  Colebrookdale,  to  the  north,  from  Pottstown  to 
Barto,  through  the  eastern  portion.  The  eight 
railroads  cover  a  total  length  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles. 

The  street-car  lines  were  confined  to  Reading 
from  1874  to  18U0.  Then  electricity  was  introduced 
for  propelling  the  cars,  and  trolley  lines  began 
to  extend  from  Reading  into  the  surrounding  coun- 
try ;  first,  southeast  to  Exeter  to\yn:-.hip.  and  south- 
west to  ^Mohnsville  (now  ]\[ohntO!i)  ;  then  west 
to  Womelsdorf.  and  east  to  Boyertown,  and  north 
to  Temple ;  and  then  the  line  to  Mohnsville  was 
•  extended  to  Adamstown  and  Lancaster;  the  line 
to  Temple,  to  Kutztown  and  Alkntown  ;  and  the 
line  to  Exeter,  to  Birdshoro ;  thus  reaching  out  in 
every  direction,  excelling  to  the  north  to  Ham- 
burg and  to  the  northwest  to  Bernville  and  Mil- 
lersburg,  and  covering  a  total  distance  of  seventy- 
five  miles  in  the  county. 

Tlie  introduction  of  electricity  as  ihe  motive 
power  was  the  direct  cause  of  thc.-e  extensions. 
ITorses  were  the  nioliyc  ]>o\ver  Uiv  sixteen  \cars 
from  the  time  that  street  railways  \\ere  introduced 


at  Reading.  Before  L'^i'O,  the  extensions  of  the  sys- 
tem into  the  rural  districts  for  ten  and  twenty 
miles  were  not  encouraged  because  of  the  cost  and 
impracticability  of  running  them;  but  by  that  time 
the  feasibility  of  introducing  electricity  became 
more  apparent  and  thvn  the  extensions  began  to 
reach  out  in  the  several  directions  from  Read- 
ing as  mentioned. 

And  just  as  connections  were  made  for  travel 
bv  railways,  communication  was  opened  to  all  parts 
of  the  county  by  telegraph  and  telephone,  the 
former  having  started  in  1848  and  the  latter  in 
1879.  Through  these  channels,  the  energy  of  steam 
and  electricity  is  dis[)iayed  in  a  wonderful  manner ; 
and  when  we  come  to  compare  the  methods  and 
customs  of  the  first  settlers  in  respect  to  transpor- 
tation and  commAinication  with  the  facilities  and 
conveniences  which  we  now  have,  v/e  cannot  help 
but  be  amazed  at  our  social  progress  as  a  com- 
munity. But  another  feature  of  this  social  progress, 
equally  surprising,  is  the  fact  that  so  few  per- 
sons were  actually  engaged  in  devising  and  creat- 
ing the  agencies  by  which  this  progress  was  ac- 
complished. 

The  roads  and  radrriads,  and  aiso  the  telegraph 
and  telephone,  have  Ijeen  referred  to  more  fully  in 
Chaijter  II. 

Ln'oustri.aE  Sni-.\TTox. — In  res[iect  to  the  farm- 
ing operations,  there  has  been  a  gradual  diminution 
in  the  past  twenty  years,  and  tlie  condition  of  the 
farmers  ha?  been  generally  more  or  less  depressed. 
All  the  numerous  furnaces  and  forges,  syith  a  few 
notable  exceptions,  have  been  abandoned.  The  num- 
ber of  grist-mills  in  all  the  sections  has  been  greatly 
reduced,  and  most  of  them  have  been  converted 
into  chopping-mills,  if  not  altogether  discontinued. 
In  many  places,  creameries  have  been  substituted : 
and  where  heretofore  great  quantities  of  flour  were 
ground  from  wheat  and  rye  raised  in  the  vicinity, 
now  great  quantities  of  fine  butter  are  being  manu- 
factured and  shipped  to  farge  centers  of  population; 
or  many  thousands  of  gallons  of  milk  are  delivered 
at  railroad  stations  and  forwarded  to  Philadel- 
phia and  other  places. 

Reetgiox  AXn  P'ducation. — The  religious  senti- 
ment of  the  people  has  remained  about  the  same. 
At  a  number  of  jilace.--  tliroughout  the  county,  fine 
new  churches  or  ehapel.->  were  erected,  rellecting 
the  earnest  sjnrii  of  the  scyeral  denominations, 
and  the  two  mo-^t  prominent  denominations. 
Lutheran  ami  Refonned,  have  been  particularly  ac- 
tive and  successful.  As  to  the  common  sch.oolsy-tem, 
fine,  graded  schools  were  established,  but  the  ten- 
dency has  been  to  lessen  the  number  of  buildings 
in  some  of  the  townships  on  account  of  the  decrease 
of  population  ;  and  where  certain  children  became 
too  far  removed  from  school-houses  in  conse(|uerice 
of  the  abandonment  of  some  of  the  buildings,  the 
local  directors  made  provision  for  conveying  tlieni 
to  and  from  schc>o],  if  not  able  to  get  there  by 
theinselv<"s. 


•.'98 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSYIA'AXIA 


Tow.NS. — In  the  county  tiiere  are  one  hundrei! 
and  tliree  towns  and  villaLres,  and  the  names  oT  the 
greater  number  have  been  i^iven  after  individuals. 
They  are  distributed  in  the  several  sections  as  fol- 
lows : 


.Washington     7 

\\  indsor     1 


In   Borouglis   yj 

In  City  of  Reading 174 


Total 


-Manatawny 
Oiitclnunee 


Tulpchockcn    18 

SchuvlkiU     10 


Their  names  are  given  in  connection  witii  the 
sections.  Tlie  figui  es  opi)Osite  the  names  indicate 
the  number  of  d\vel!in,<rs,  and  the  population  can  be 
estimated  by  multiplying-  these  iigures  by  four.  The 
figures  adjoining  the  names  indicate  the  year  when 
the  town  was  started.  Fifty  of  the  towns  have 
over  one  hundred  inhabitants. 

Statistics. — Statistic^  relating  to  population, 
property,  taxablcs,  voters,  etc.,  of  tlie  several  town- 
ships v/ill  be  found  in  the  tables  wliich  embrace 
the  entire  county,  in  Chapter  IX,  Census. 

A'Iercantile  Licenses. — The  m.ercantile  ap- 
praiser reported  the  number  of  licensed  retail  busi- 
ness places  in  the  several  townships  of  the  county 
for  the  year  liJOn  as  follows  : 


Albany    24 

Alsace     4 

.Msace,  Lower 14 

Amity     29 

Bern    IS 

Bern,  Upper   IS 

Bethel     27 

Brecknock     10 

Criernarvon    19 

C'-i.tte     24 

Co'ebrookdalc    lo 

Cumru    ^3 

District 8 

Douglass lo 

Earl     2 

Exeter    34 

Greenwich     2G 

Heidelberg    20 

Heidelberg,  Lower   40 

Heidclbcig.   North    S 

Hcrefoid    25 

Jef'erson    9 

Longswairip     31 

Maiden-creek    32 


Marion     10 

Maxatawiiy     27 

^luhleniterg     32 

Olcy    '. 37 

Oiitelauiiee    13 

Penn     17 

Perrv     24 

Pike'   16 

Riciimond    17 

Robeson     28 

Rockland    14 

Rusconibnianor    13 

Spring     if) 

Tilden     9 

1'ulpchocken    28 

Tulpeliockcn,    Upper    .  .  .    1.") 

Union    1*3 

VV.Tshington    32 

Windsor     6 


894 

Boroughs   491 

Reading     l,54f> 


Total     2,931 


LIQUOR    LICE.VSES    I.V    TOWNSHIPS    FOR    1909 


Albany    4 

Alsace     3 

Alsace,  Lower   7 

Aniitv     5 

Bern' 4 

Bern,  Upper   2 

Brecknock     1 

Bethel    7 

Caernarvon     2 

Cumrn     0 

Centre     2 

Colebrookdale    2 

District 2 

Douglass    3 

Earl    2 

Exeter    11 

Greenwich    4 

Hei'!cll)erg     '. .  4 

Heidelberg,    North    1 

HeidelbvTg.    Lower     ....  10 

Hticford     4 


Jefferson    2 

LoMgswamp     9 

.Maiden-creek     4 

Maxatawny     10 

^^a^ion    3 

Muhlenberg     9 

Oley    4 

C'ntelaunee 5 

Penn    4 

Perrv     | 3 

Pike     ; 3 

Rockland     2 

Richmond    7 

Robeson     6 

Ruscombmanor    3 

Spring     7 

Tilden     2 

Tnlpehocken     7 

Tulpehocken,   Upper    ...  3 

L'ninii     1 


P.  O.  S.  OF  A.  Camps. — The  Patriotic  Order 
Sons  of  AtBcrica  has  e=;tablished  camps  at  the  fol- 
lowing places  in  the  county,  outside  of  the  city  and 
the  boroucrlis : 


.\o. 

cs 
r.o 

90 

]or 

128 

]:;.'! 

141 
1C5 
213 
214 
221 

2:;o 

240 
250 
278 
282 
347 
375 
3S8 
399 
427 
470 
480 
592 
597 
(iG4 
GTO 


I"'^>.''^  Members 

Hyde  Park   316     $ 

Mt.  .\eUia  77 

\\'ernersville 18G 

Temple  no 

Griiiu i!le    35 

Shartlesville   '161 

Maxatawn}-     5-, 

Lcesport     242 

.\i7iityville     71 

^liller.^burg  1,30 

Lime    Kiln    2C2 

St.   Lawrence 249 

Stuuchsburg   206 

I'ouglasbvillc    00 

HIandon    &s 

Virgiiiville    95 

Sinking  Spring   19s 

Plcnningsville     65 

Robesonia    115 

Geigertown     72 

Bagenstosc    56 

Molltown     30 

Siesholtzville 52 

I'leasantville     117 

Gibrahar   140 

Relirersburg    .52 

Slrausstown    913 

Morgantown     71 


Av^cs 
9,172 
4,309 
7,818 

831 

915 
8,075 
1.1G3 
8,150 
5,275 
6,592 
12,053 
28,319 
8,277 
2,015 
7,r.)G 
2,998 
9,750 

821 
3,50S 
2,503 
1,471 

762 
1,504 
2441 
6,905 
1,905 
1,503 
1,046 


3,419     $148,152 


Reading    3,5.35       113,398 

Rurougb.s     2,115         Sl,4.->4 

Total    9,3G9       343,004 

P.  O.  S.  of  A.  Halls. — Camps  in  the  county  which 
own  their  respective  halls  where  the  rneetiup-s  are 
held:  ^ 


Bechlelsville 
Oley    Line 
St.    Lawrence 
Hyde  Park 


Lenhartsvillc 
Shartlesville 
Gibraltar 


MAX ATAWX Y  S ECT JON 

Th,e  Manatawny  Section  comprises  fifteen  town- 
ships, and  the  time  of  tlieir  settlement  and  erection 
is  set  forth  in  the  followino-  table. 


.Msace     

.-\mity   

Colebrookdale 

Douglass    

Exeter    

>Iereford    

Oley     

Ruscombmanor 


Settled 
1735 
1701 
1720 
1720 
1718 
1732 
IV]  2 
1719 


Ercctc.l 
174  t 
1719 
1741 
1730 
174J 
ITiJ.'t 
1740 
1752 


:'5(i 


■ .  .f  A      '- 


TOWNSHIPS 


Zd9 


ADDITIO.VAL 
Taken    from  Erected 

Rockland  Oley    175S 

District  Olev    1~59 

Earl  Oley    1781 

Pike  Oley    1812 

Washinston  Colcbrookc'ale     

and    Hereford    1830 

Muhlenberg  Alsace     1851 

Alsace,  Lower  Alsace     1888 

Dekivatiox  of  Names. — The  derivation  of  the 
names  was  as  follows : 

Alsace,  from  ihe  name  of  the  principality  in  Ger- 
many whence  the  first  settlers  had  emigrated  on 
account  of  long  continued  religious  intolerance  and 
persecution. 

Amity,  from  the  friendliness  of  the  Indians  with 
the  Swedes,  the  first  settlers  who  had  been  in- 
duced to  locate  here  by  tlie  persuasion  of  William 
Penn. 

Colcbiookdalc,  from  a  district  of  territory  in  Eng- 
land, called  Colebrook.  whence  some  of  the  first 
settlers  had  emigrated.  They  were  Englishmen, 
familiar  with  the  manufacture  of  iron,  and  the 
early  discover)'  of  iron  ore  in  this  region  led  to 
the  taking  up  of  grants  of  land  here  and  tf)  its 
settlement  and  improvement  by  them.  Tlie  first 
iron  fumr>ce  w;is  established  iiere  about  i".  17  along 
the  Ironstone  creek,  a  tributar\  of  the  Alanalawny 
(the  locality  being  now  within  the  southern  por- 
tion of  Boycrtown )  ;  and  the  first  forge  was  estab- 
lished several  miles  to  the  southwest  along  the 
Manatawny  at  the  same  time,  the  selection  of  the 
place  having  been  made  on  account  of  the  strong 
flow  of  water  for  power  to  carry  on  the  process 
of  forging. 


t  i-. 


,[U' 


ffl 


,2i3'^ 


,        '  .'  "O^- 


DANIIX  BOOXt's  r.IRTnPL.\CE 

Doit^f^Iass,  from  a  distinguished  name  in  the  an- 
nals of  Scotland,  and  supposed  to  have  been  sug- 
gested to  the  court  at  Philadelphia  by  the  petition- 
ers. 

Exeter,  from  the  name  of  a  district  in  England, 
whence  the  first  settlers  emigvatctl.  They  were  in- 
fluential I'riends.  named  Boone,  Ellis,  Hu.ghes, 
Lincoln  and  Webb. 

Hereford,  from  the  name  of  a  district  also  in 
England.      The   first   sett!("r^    v.cre   almost   entirelv 


German,  but  the  name  was  doubtless  suggested  by 
English  "ironmasters  who  were  interested  in  the 
territory. 

OJcy,  comuionly  supposed  to  have  originated  from 
an  Indian  word,  Olink,  meaning  a  hollow,  the  prin- 
cipal portion  of  land  being  rich  and  productive,  al- 
most surrounded  by  hills ;  but  it  may  have  been 
taken  from  Oleye,  the  name  of  a  community  in 
Waremme.  a  province  in  Belgium,  and  some  of 
the  early  settlers  may  have  emigrated  from  that 
vicinity. 

Rusconbinoior,  from  the  name  of  a  district,  Rus- 
comb,  in  Wales.  The  Penns,  in  1739,  had  directed 
10,000  acres  in  this  vicinity  to  be  set  apart  for 
their  use,  and  thi_^  havirig  been  done,  the  land  was 
called  '"Manor  of  Ruscomb." 


i.v;..-u;  ^^s*^ 


Rockiand,  from  the  characier  of  the  land,  many 
large  rocks  having  been  found  here ;  whicii  are 
still  standing  like  great  monuments  undisturbed. 
They  are  very  hard  granite,  and  therefore  capable 
of  resisting  the  '"tooth  of  time." 

District,  from  the  locality  of  the  land  as  lying 
between  Oley  and  Colebrookdale,  by  way  of  de- 
scription. 

Earl,  from  a  title  of  nobility.  For  a  number  of 
years  before  1781,  District  was  called  ''East  Dis- 
trict," and  Earl  "West  District,"  designated  by  the 
county  commissioners  to  facilitate  the  assessment 
of  real  property. 

Pike,  from  the  name  of  a  species  of  fish  which 
abounded  in  the  local  streams  before  1S1"3. 

IVasliinr/ton,  from  the  name  of  General  George 
Washington,  out  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the 
first  President  of  the  United  States. 

Muhlc)iber_^,  from  the  name  of  the  familv  which 
owned  a  large  area  of  land  in  the  proposed  town- 
ship at  the  time  of  its  erection. 

Alsace,  Loii'cr,  from  the  locality,  as  distinguish- 
able from  the  reinaining  or  upper  portion  of  the 
original  township. 

Boroughs. — The   following  boroughs  have  l>een 
established  in  this  section : 
Pnvortnwn.   in    IS.tI. 
L'.cchtolsviilc,  in  IS'JO. 
-Ml.  I'cnn,  in  1902. 


■    (V       .' 


;jno 


HISTORY    OF    r.ERKS    COLXTY,    TEXXSYLA'AXJA 


Waterworks  niiil  t!cctric  IiL;"htiii!j;  have  1,'Cen  -u|)- 
f)Iicd  at  the  lir-i  and  last ;  but  jiuinps  and  sprini,^< 
and  oil  laniii^  aic  >u\\  u-M-d  at  the  second. 


Towxs. — The    ti>IIinviiu 
this  section : 


toN^ns    are    Mtnateil    m 


Name 

Amitvvillcl     (1TS2)     . 

Ballv^     (ISOo)      

E:in'o     (lSt;9;     

Baiimstown  (1790)  . 
Black  Bear  (r>V>)  . 
DouKla5Svillc  (1-29) 
DryvlUc  (1*33)  .... 
Encel^ville    (l-.">';)    .. 

Eshbach    (ISJS")     

Frieilenfbiirii  (IS-Sl) 
Fru.';h  Valley  (ISO.S) 
Gabiesvillc    aSJiil     .. 

Glendalc    (ISri )     

Greshville  (1».0:;>  ., 
IlOTfforaville  (l.-:i' 
Huff's  Church  (IS 
Hvde  Park  (liTio 
Tack,on\valJ  (ISTii, 
Tuiictioi\=  (l.STO)  . 
l,ittle  Olev  (1-71) 
Lobachsvifle    (1S3.')) 


Xamc 

Loraiie-i     (Jhl'-S)      

Monocacv   btatum    (IsT 

.Morvsvilie    (l^jUl     

New  Bc-rlinvillc  (  l!-.3.".J 
Xt-w    TtTusalein   '1S2S) 

<)U-v  'Line    (ISTOj     

I'ikcvilk-     (l.S:;4-i     

rien.^aiitvine  (H-JO)  .. 
rricrtown  (17S0)  .  .  .  . 
^)chultzville  vI^30)  ... 
Shanesville  (l.=  OT)  ... 
Sieshciltzville  (1^4'))  .. 
Sf.  Lawrence  U.--">3)  . 
Stonetown         


4) 


Stonor^viilc      'IS  +  T)      ... 
Stony    Creek    Mills     (ISii 

Temple    (!.''.'•' )    

Trcicliicrsvilk     (ISSO)      . 

Tuck-rton     (IS4;.')      

\Vea\  erto-.vn     (17'!."))      ... 
Ydiow    House    ilS.ifi)     . 


y '  -  f    o  '. .      ■     ■■- 
k-'t  '  ■   ^S  ^      ^^  ■        J  '     ^'-  ^'  m, 

ROCKS   cF  rockla:;!! 

First  Shttltiks. — T!ie  first  settlement  in  this  ?ec- 
tion  was  made  by  o  small  colonv  of  Swedes  in 
liOl  alonj'  the  Schuylkin  river,  four  miles  above 
tl'.e  outlet  of  the  Manatawny  creek.  In  the  vicinity 
of  where  Doug"la?sville  is  now  situated.  They  took 
up  larr^e  tracts  of  land,  wliich  extended  from  the 
river  northward  for  five  miles.  Some  of  their 
descendants  are  still  there,  notably  the  Joneses.  Lud- 
wigs.  and  Yocoins. 

The  second  settlement  was  made  in  the  central 
portion  by  Hug^uenots,  Enq^lish,  and  German';,  from 
ITl"?  to  17.10.  who  also  took  up  lar^'-e  tracts  and  then 
extended  their  movements  to  the  north,  even  to 
the  nine  .Mountain,  and  to  the  vest  toward  Read- 
ing^. Many  of  their  descendants  are  still  in  the 
vicinity;  and  in  several  in-^tances  (Bertolets.  Boones. 
Deturcks  and  Lees)  the  land  has  been  transmitted 
in  a  direct  line  of  descendants  of  the  first  settlers. 
from  generation  to  gcnerati(^n,  from  the  beginning 
until  now,  a  period  covering  one  hundred  and  eighty 
years. 

And  the  third  settlement  was  made  in  the  portion 
along  what  is  now  the  eastern  line  of  the  county 
and  within  several  mile.-  of  it,  by  F.nglisl'.  and  Ger- 
mans, for  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles;  and  here,  too. 

'r..:n.erly     New     Store,  iUf.       -Tliiin  hvilic.        -  rowerviHe.       "Kxctri 


there  are  many  of  the  lirst  settlers,  notablv  the 
r.aiiers.  llechtels.  Livingoods,  Rlioadses,  Stauffers 
and  Schidtzcs. 

The  hilly  country  of  Earl  townslii];  is  the  habita- 
tion of  more  old  residents  th:.in  a'lv  other  district 
in  the  county.  I'o  the  pure  fresh  air  and  most 
excellent  water  tlie  oM  residents  attribute  their 
longevity.  Thi?  town-hip  was  the  birthplace  an>l 
home  of  Betzy  Trout,  who  lived  to  be  lol  years 
old.  In  the  spring  of  VMVd  the  following  were 
among  the  oldest  residents  in  the  township :  Matil- 
da (Weller)  :\[otz,  aged  .ST:  Aaron  Weller,  8G ; 
Henry  Clauser,  86 ;  Philip  Haring,  8.j ;  Joseph 
Heckman.  85;  Ezra  Luftline,  S4 ;  Isaac  lleydt.  Hi:. 
Charles  Clauser,  S.'J ;  Hilary  Mathias,  S3;  Jonathan 
Swavely,  S2,.  and  wife.  luiimelinc  ^Shollenborger) 
Swavely,  77;  \\"illiam  Uilliplane,  .yo.  and  wife,  Sarah 
(Clauser)  Dilliplane,  ?;-' ;  Catharine  (Swavely) 
]\Iathias,  SO;  ALary  i  Focht)  Clauser,  78;  Samuel 
Rboads,  78;  Jacob  Rlioads,  7G,  and  wife,  73;  David 
M.  ^Mathias,  7C  ;  Simon  Clauser,  73;  William  Rei- 
chart,  73;  HanuTh  (Maihias)  Clauser,  73;  Ephraim 
Weidner,  73. 

Among  the  old  residents  inmicdiatelv  outside  of 
Earl  township  in  the  county  are:  A.dam  Levengood, 
95  ;  Abraham  Ehst,  93  ;  Jacob  Bechtel,8S  ;  Levi  I  less, 
8(5;  Godlieb  Falkenstein.  s2. 

LxDU.STRiAL  Promixlxle. — Tliis  section  was  jiar- 
ticularjy  active  for  (>\er  an  hunched  years  in  the 
successful  operation  of  numerous  large  industi'ics 
for  the  manufacture  of  u'on.  everv  towiisliip  hav- 
ing had  one  or  more  furnaces  or  fiirges ;  but  shortly 
after  the  close  of  the  Civii  war,  and  more  especially 
1>efore  1880,  they  passed  away  like  the  dying  *.\\\- 
hght  of  evening.  It  may  well  be  asked,  ''What  was 
the  cause,  or  what  were  the  cause;,  of  this  great 
change?"  Iron  industries  at  comparatively  few  pop- 
idous  centers  have,  since  1880-.  developed  extraordi- 
nary capacities  whose  annual  production  runs  into 
thousands  of  tons,  whereas  the  earliest  industries 
together  produced  only  limited  quantities;  and  the 
general  prosperity  of  the  State  and  nation  t'inii9), 
as  evidenced  by  congested  railroads  and  overflow- 
ing banks,  surpasses  everything  heretofore  known 
or  experienced  in  industrial  aft'alrs.  And  yet  these 
great  centers,  with  all  their  success,  wealth  and 
power,  are  ajjparcntly  as  helpless  in  directing  and 
controlling  political  p/olicies  'and  municipal  matters 
as  the  depopulating  centers  in  the  townships,  with 
exterminated  plant.-  of  various  kinds  (furnaces, 
forges  and  grist-mills),  .are  in  imjiroving  their  en- 
vironment, sixlal  as  well  as  tinancial  I 

\'arious  and  opposing  causes  are  assigned  for  the 
peculiar  and  inexplicable,  if  not  inextricable,  condi- 
tion ;  but  the  one  great  overshadowing  cause  is  the 
manipulation  of  the  ramifying  railway  systems  in 
the  interest  of  stock  speculation  for  the  enrichment 
of  managing  financiers. 

The  three  other  sections  were  similarly  situated 
as  to  iron  industries  and  grist-mills,  tliongh  the  nnni- 
ber-  were  not  so  large;  ;uid  they,  too,  became  sim- 
iiarlv  affected. 


■.,-,,! 


4>i. 


;)f: ;       ■  :      .li    '»!  .(;c.-    •■     /'     fir 


.  .:i    -..:  .r 


TOWNSHIPS 


301 


Iron  Ore  Mines. — In  Colehrookdale  township 
(now  williin  the  hmit  uf  Boyvrtown ) ,  the  ininiuL;-  of 
iron  ore  was  started  at  the  very  beginning  of  the 
settlements  in  connection  with  the  manufacture  of 
iron,  and  operations  have  been  carried  on  tln^re  until 
now.  Tlie  main  siiaft  of  the  mine  has  been  .-^unk 
to  a  depth  of  seven  hundred  feet.  The  deposit  is 
inexhaustible  notwithstanding  the  removal  of  many 
hundred  thousand  tons. 

Operations  were  carried  on  also  at  Barlo  for  tifty 
years,  and  for  half  of  this  period  quite  extensively. 
The  shaft  was  sunk  to  ri  depth  of  five  hundred  feet. 
The  mine  was  abandoned  about  1000.  The  ore  was 
rich  in  character  and  many  thousands  of  tons  were 
removed. 

Highways. — Numerous  roads  have  been  laid  out 
in  this  section  and  consequently  each  township  is 
well  supplied.  The  most  prominent  are  the  follow- 
ing: r'our  from  Reading,  to  Boyertown.  seventeen 
miles;  to  Friedensburg,  nine  miles;  to  I'ricetown, 
nine  miles;  and  to  Kutztovvn  via  Temple,  seventeen 
miles.  _Onc  from  Dout;Iassville,  via  Amilyville  and 
Pleasantville,  to  Kutztov>n.  with  a  branch  at  Yellow 
House,  via  Friedensburg  to  P'-irctown  and  Blandou. 
And  one  from  Boyertown  via  Earto  to  Alburtis  in 
Lehigh  county. 

Four  turnpikes  were  constructed  in  the  -section: 
the  Perklomen,  froTn  the  southern  countv  line,  via 
Douglassville  and  Baumstown,  to  Reading;  the 
Dougiassville,  fr.im  I  )(iugk'.^s\ilit.-,  via  .\niii}'\iile,  to 
Yellow  House,  the  Oley,  from  Pikeville,  via  Pleas- 
antville and  Oley  Line,  to  Black  I'lar;  and  the  Cen- 
tre, from  Readitig  to  Tuckerton,  \vlii;li  extended 
northwardly  through  Ontelaunee  Section,  via  Lees- 
port  and  Hamburg,  beyond  ihe  county  line  to  Potts- 
ville  and  Sunbury.  The  Centre  turnpike  v.-as  aban- 
doned as  a  toll-road  in  ISS.'i ;  the  Dougias'-ville  in 
1!S9S;  and  the  Perkiomcn  in  lOO->. 

AnniTioxAL  T.\.XAr.r.ES. — The  names  of  the  first 
taxables  of  the  several  townships  at  the  ercclion  of 
the  county  are  given  in  Chapter  I;  but  the  names  of 
those  in  Douglass,  Rockland  and  District  are  given 
in  this  connection  because  the  township^  we^e  sub- 
sequently established.  Previously,  tlie  taxables 
within  their  limits  had  been  included  with  .\niity 
and  Oley.  Tliev  are  given  to  siinw  the  jilace  in  the 
section  where  the  earhest  settleis  were  located. 

DOUGL.ASS 

First    list    of    taxables, 

Christian   Bender 
James   Burns 
Samuel  P.uzzard 
Derick    Clever 
John   Clous 
Michael    Coupler 
Christian   Conrad 
Jacob  Davidhel^er 
Valentine  I'"nght 
Gcorj'c   Frh7 
Gcort;c   rieariiit;er 
Gonrc;o   1  lansihnan 
Philip   Bapelhakci 
Leonard    !ler  =  ,L'er 
Michael    TioiTiiiati 


.'\ndro\v   Ringberry 

Simo!i  Ringborry 
George   Shadier 
Oirifiian  .Siiceler 
Peter    Shei-ner 
Henry  Shombcrger 
John   Slice 


prepared    in     1  ?.'»'' 

.Andrew   Hnling 
Cliri.-iian    Kasil>cer. 
Michael    Ka.^ixil?. 
Valenlinc    Keely 
William   T\ee|iers 
John  Keffer 
Peter  Levengood 
.\daui   Miller 
Andr(vv    Miller 
Jacob  .Vagle 
^'oak,Mn    .V.aglc 
Martin   \'aiir 
I'liiiip    P.-.rflii-.cr 
T<.bn    Potf<;.   Jr. 
-Vichola.s  Recin 


Sr. 


First     list     of     tJ 

John   Albrecht 
George  -Angstadt 
John  Angstadt 
Peter  Aiistat 
Conrad    Bair 
^^athias    Beck 
Xicholas    Benningcr 
Lorcntz  Bcrig 
Philip    Bcrmingcr 
Charles  Birnhard 
Casper   Bicking 
Peter   Ercifogcl 
l-udwig    Bitting 
Nicholas   P.latner 
Jacob  Boger 
Jacob    Boral 
John  Bot 
William    Bot 
Ludwig  Brem 
Xicliolas    Clemcntz 
William    Dabitsch 
Nich.olas   Debb 
Henry    D.-Long 
Mckhoir    Donner 
Michael    Drersler 
Jacob  Drog 
Deobald   Dn.mheller 
John  E.:k 
Jacob    Kllinger 
Herman    Emrich 
Peter  Ernst 
George   Fleck 
Peter   Folck 
William    Folck 
George   Hefner 
Jacob    Hefner 
Christian     llenr}- 
Frederick    Hersch 
George    Hoffman 
Jacob    HotTinan 
Michael  Jacobi 
Xicholas    jacobi 


Hieronimus   Spies 
Philip  Walter,  Sr. 
h'rederick  Wanibacii 
Christian    Wiglo 
Daniel    Wills,    Sr. 
i'eter    Yoakam 


ROCKLAXD 

tables,  prep.'ired    in    1758 

Jacob  Keim 
Michael    Keim 
Michael   Kerber 
Simon    Ker''cr 
Peter   Kietler 
Peter   Klasfinoyer 
Michael    Klein 
Christian  Kobb 
Jacob  Kvebs 
.Andreas   Krett 
Pf-tcr    Lobacn 
Henry   Long  ■ 

Ln-Jwig    Long- 
Micliael    Long 
Nicliolas    Long 
Peter  Ludcr 
Henry   Alertz 
Henry    Alcrtz 
John    Moil 
Xic!iC>las    .Mover 
George   Oberd.i.rff 
Casjior    Rap 
George-    Reii 
Frederick   Reish 
Peter   Riincr 
Conrad   Roth 
Ludwig    Rouzanncr 
Peter    Ruff,    )r. 
Peter    Rnff,    Sr. 
Casper   Rubbert 
Frederick    .Sc'iacklcr 
George     Scheffer 
Alichael   Seheffev 
John    Sclicueror 
Christian    Schumacher 
George   Schumacher 
George    Scih._rt     (Seuwert) 
Henry    Showash 
.    Fredcrich    Ubrick 
Adam  Wagner 
.Adam  Wccht 
Tacob   Ziegeinfliss 


DISTRICT 


First    Ii~t    of    ta.N.ib!c5 
Conrr.d    Arnold 
leremiah    Baccm 
Thomas    Bantleld 
John    Barns 
Jacob   Bernhard 
Christian    Brensinger 
George    Brown 
Israel    Burget 
Jacob    Bnsli 
John    Colron 
Joshua    De    La    Plain 
Henry   Dencr 
George   Dotterer 
Xicholas    h^ast 
Daniel    Eyst 
John    Fare 
Jacob   Frev 

Jacob    Fiid-e     (Fretts") 
Bernhard    GemMirg 
Jacob   Grns 
Andreas    Hacker 
George   Hrdtzslioe 


rcpareil    in    IT.jG 

Jacob   Hard 
Peter  Hardman 
George    Harilein 
Micliael    Hartman 
Paul   Hartman 
Lorcntz  Hauck 
Stephen    Hauck 
Jacob    Herb 
Jacob  Hill 
Michael  Hoffman 
Jtihn   Kabroii 
Conrad    Keim 
.Adam    Kildan 
George  Kbuser 
George    Knutz 
Michael  Klein 
Xicholas    K'Uitz 
George   Lanlz 
Henry    Machaii't 
William    Maekiy 
Tobias   Mnuck 
Frederick    Martin 


iii<.  /j'ii 


.•30? 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    I'EXXSYLVAXIA 


Xicliolas    Sclilister 
Christopher    Schock 
Henry    Sohocrham 
Michael   Schnhmacher 
Jacob    Schweitzer 
Laurence    Sheeler,    Jr. 
Laurence   Sheekr.    Sr. 
Jacob   Steinbrenritr 
(lenrse   Stevenson 
William   Stork 
George    Trust         ^ 
Ad.'ini  Uhich 
Jacob  Walter 
George  Adam  \\'eidncr 
Charles   Weis 
Pliilip    Wcisniiller 
Cajper  Wcisner 
Peter  Wcller 


Dietrich    Mathias 
Jacob    .Matlii:is 
S.   Mayborr\ 
Frederick    ^tayer 
John    Miller 
Peter    Miller 
William    Miller 
John    Moat;^er 
Frant/-.    !Mo^er 
Andreas    Xotgang 
George    Oyster 
Samuel    O.v^tcr 
Frederick   Pons 
^fichac!   Radecher 
John    Reidenaucr 
Jacob   Roth 
Valentine    SchacfYer 
George.    Schall 

XOTEWORTUV    HXTERPRISES 

Frieih".x.?i"lkg  Bank. — The  First  X'ational  Bank 
of  Olev  was  chartered  April  27,  1907,  wiili  a  cajii- 
tal  of  ?•?-■), 000,  and  Iccatcd  at  Friedcnsbur.2;.  Israel 
M.  Berlolet  was  selected  as  president  and  Sydney 
J.  Ilartman  as  cashier.  In  X'ovcmber,  1908,  the 
total  rc^C'urces  were  Sl-^-l.v';7. 

Re.\dixg  W'.vtek  St."fPrjKS. — The  Egelman  sup- 
ply, appropriated  in  1S."S.  and  the  Antietam  supply, 
in  1S74,  both  from  Lower  Alsace ;  and  the  Bernhart 
supply,  in  IS.jS,  from  Miililenbcrg.  Tl'.e  first  filtra- 
tion plant  was  estalilished  at  the  Eg'clman  reservoir 
in  1904,  with  a  cai^acity  of  500,000  gallons  daily; 
the  second  ]-)lant  in  East  Reading,  in  190-"),  with  a 
capacity  cf  3,-")00,000  gallons  dai!}- :  and  the  third 
I)lant  at  tlie  Bernliart  reserv(>ir  in  10(i!),  willi  a  ca- 
pacity of  3,000, OO'i  gallon^  daily. 

MouxT.MX  R.Mi.KOAD.s.—  Alt.  rciin  Gravity  rail- 
road vvas  constructed  on  Penn  Alountain  in  1890, 
length  eight  miles ;  and  the  X^eversink,  in  1890, 
length  eiglit  miles  ;  both  in  Lower  Alsace.  Tliey 
have  had  increasing  success  for  the  past  ten  years, 
thereby  popniarizing  Rending  very  nnicli. 

Carsoxia  r.\KK,  established  by  tlie  United  Trac- 
tion Company  in  Lower  AUacc  in  189G,  embracing 
150  acres.  It  has  become  a  popular  resort,  there 
having  been  ^-"iO.OOO  visitors  during  the  season  of 
1908.' 

Brumbacii  Miles,  established  in  1853  in  Exeter 
by  William  Brumbach  for  manufacture  of  woolen 
goods,  and  operated,  since  18fi2.  bv  his  son  Albert 
J.,  who  rebuilt  and  enlarged  tlie  ])lant. 

Stoxv  Creek  AIiet.s.  estal)li-!u'd  in  lS(i4  in 
Lower  Alsace  by  Lotiis  Kraemer  &  Co.,  for  manu- 
facture of  woolen  goods,  and  operated  successfully 
since  then. 

Te.mi'ee  Furxace,  established  in  Aluhlenberg  in 
18()7  by  Ci}mer  &  C".  In  IS';  3.  the  company  se- 
cured a  special  charter.  In  1900  it  was  re-organized 
with  a  capital  of  $30,000,000  for  the  purpose  of  op- 
erating anthracite  c'lal  mines.  r)n  account  of  its 
extraordinary  j)0\vers  it  occupies  great  proininence 
in  financial  and  industrial  circles,  lb,-  furnnce  pio- 
duce.->  -10.000  tons  of  pig  metal  annually. 

SEiDEt.  yMiuia-.  es1ablidie<l  in  I^x<-1er  in  1870  by 
John  Hennon.     In  l.^Tv',  Harry  Seifiel  purchased  the 


plant  an.d  has  carried  on  oijcrations  since  then.  It 
produces  forged  iron  for  locomctive  engines. 

Brooke  Furxace,  Xo.  3,  established  in  Exeter 
along  the  P,  &  R.  R.  by  the  E.  &  G.  Brooke  Iron 
Company  in  1S7"2.  Annual  product,  21,000  tons. 
Carried  on  with  the  Bird.sboro  works. 

Xeveksixk  Destillerv,  established  by  John  H. 
Close  and  A.  11.  Kretz  at  Exeter  Station  ( Lorane) 
in  18!i2.  Plant  was  enlarged  in  1S99  by  X'eversink 
Distilling  Company.   IMashing  capacity,  434  bushels. 

The  AIuiiLExr.ERG  Brew  ixg  Compaxy  was  or- 
ganized in  1895  and  a  large  plant  was  erected  along 
tlie  K'utztown  road  in  the  southern  end  of  Hyde 
Park,  with  annua!  production  exceeding  10.000  bar- 
rels. Simson  Becker  served  as  president  of  the 
company  for  fourteen  years. 

CoLr.RROOKDALE  Irox  Works,  established  in 
Douglass  bv  Brendlinger  &  Co.,  in  18G7.  Thirty 
years  before,  W.  W.  Weaver  had  started  a  foundry 
and  tilt-hammer  for  the  inannfacture  of  wood-burn- 
ing stoves.  The  works  were  enlarged  several  times. 
They  produced  sad-irons,  kettles,  fi.xtures,  etc. 

Railroads. — Tlie  Readitur  Raihvay  was  con- 
structed in  this  section  in  1837-38  from  Reading  to 
the  ^Montgomery  county  line  along  the  Schuylkill 
river,  a  distance  of  fourteen  miles  ;  and  the  Colc- 
brookdalc  Railroad  in  18G9  from  the  county  line  via 
Boycrtown  northwardly  to  Barto,  a  distance  of 
eleven  miles. 

Street  Raikvay. —  Tiic  trolley  line  to  Stony  Creek 
was  constructed  in  1890,  and  extended  to  Boyer- 
tC'wn,  via  CMev  Line,  Friedensburg  and  Shanesviile, 
in  19(12. 

State  Roads. — ^A  section  of  .State  I'ioad  was  put 
down  from  Barto  to  Bally,  two  miles,  and  tb.enee 
to  Schultz's  Mill,  two  miles,  in  1f»07  and  1908,  being 
the  second  in  Berks  cotmty  and  the  first  in  this  sec- 
tion. And  another  section  was  ptit  down  from 
a  point  near  the  Exeter  meeting-house  to  Amitv- 
ville.  four  miles  in  length,  in  1908,  which  was  the 
third  iin  the  county. 

CoLEnROOKDALE  INliXES. — Iron  ore  was  discov- 
ered in  Colebrookdalc,  now  within  the  southern 
jKinion  of  Boycrtown,  as  early  as  172'"*.  but  it  was 
not  worked  extensively  until  about  18  15.  In  1851 
the  first  engine  was  put  diere  bv  the  l^lnx'uix  Iron 
Company  to  lift  the  ore.  and  froin  tliat  time  until 
now  the  mines  have  been  in  almo;t  continuous  oper- 
ation. During  this  period  of  fifty  years,  it  is  believed 
that  fully  800.000  tons  were  removed.  It  is  one  nf 
the  best  equipped  underground  plants  in  the  coun- 
try :  and  next  to  the  great  "Cornwall."  near  Leban- 
on, it  is  the  largest  nn'ne  opened  in  Pennsylvania. 
There  arc  four  fire-proof  shafts  in  ojieration :  Pho.'- 
nix  slope,  500  feet  deep ;  Warwick  fr>ur-compart- 
ment  shaft,  720  feet ;  Gable  Xo.  2,  four-compart- 
ment shaft,  r>r,n  feet:  and  Cable  Xo.  1.  thrcc-coin- 
partmcnt  shaft.  515  feet.  The  character  of  the  ore 
is  "Bessemer  'Magnetic,"  yielding  55  to  ~\C,  per  cent 
of  metallic  irnti.  On  account  of  t!ie  groat  depth  ot 
the  shafts,   enormous  quantities  of  water  mu-t  be 


V.lr,  :,ii,. 


TCAVXSIIIPS 


303 


numpcd  out;  for  wliich  purpose  four  largt.-  pumps 
were  put  there  at  great  expense. 

Prospecting  for  Ore. — In  I'JuT  certain  persons 
iroin  Philadelphia  organized  the  llerks  Develop- 
ment Company  for  prospecting  for  iron  ore  in  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  county.  They  secured  niin- 
eral  rights  on  different  tracts  c>f  land  in  Earl  town- 
ship in  the  vicinity  of  Slianesvillc,  aggregating  fif- 
teen hundred  acres,  and  liave  di.-covered  cr>n^ider- 
able  quantities  of  ore.  Tlvjy  .^ank  a  numlu^r  of 
shafts  and  found  tlie  best  grade  of  niag-netic  ore. 
The  general  superintendent  of  the  companv  is  Jacob 
Schupp.  of  Reading.  They  employ  twenty-four 
men.  Aside  from  agriculture  this  is  tlie  only  indus- 
try in  the  townsliip.  The  company  has  its  office 
in  Philadelphia.  Similar  companies  are  being  or- 
ganized to  secure  such  rights  in  District,  Herefoid 
and  Longswamp  townships,  where  large  quantities 
of  iron  ore  are  also  supposed  to  exist. 

Oil  Pu:^ipixr,  Station-,  e'-tablished  at  Barto  in 
October,  1908,  on  tract  of  land  covering  twenty 
acres,  for  propelling  oil  along-  pipe-line. 

M.\.\ATAWNV  Ikon-  Works,  established  al-mg 
the  Colebrookdale  railroad  in  188'?  to  take  the  plac!^' 
of  the  Pine  Iron  Works  on  the  Alanatawny  creek, 
where  the  Bailey  family  had  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  iron  business  for  nearly  forty  years. 
The  site  of  the  "Pool  F"orges."  started  about  ITviO, 
was  near  the  latter. 

St.  MiniAKF.'s  Si:min.\];v  was  founded  by  direc- 
tion of  the  last  will  of  Henry  F.  Felix  at  Idyile 
Park,  in  Muhlenberg  tnwnship,  in  18!)4,  f.ir  the 
education  of  young  ladies  by  the  Sisters  of  the 
Immaculate  Heart  of  West  Chester,  Pn.,  they  hav- 
ing secured  fifty  acres  of  grotmd  and  erected  a 
superior  buildnig  for  that  purpose. 

Telephone  Excitaxgc. — The  long  distance  tel- 
ephone exchatige  f>f  the  Pennsylvania  Telephone 
Company,  is  situated  at  the  cross-roads  on  the  Kutj- 
town  road,  at  the  up[)er  end  of  Hyde  Park  in  ?\Iuh- 
lenbcrg  township,  about  three  miles  north  of  Read- 
ing. It  was  established  in  the  "'Centre  Hotel"  in 
December,  1880;  the  first  building  was  erected  Aug- 
ust, 1896:  and  a  brick  fire-proof  two-ston'  building 
\vas  substituted  Jan.  1,  190.^,  with  latest  switcl;- 
l)oard  improvements.  Annual  mes'^ages  dutv.-ard 
from  Reading,  about  HO.OOO ;  inward  to  Readiiii;;-, 
35,000. 

F.-\IR  Ground,  established  in  Muhlenberg  town- 
ship along  northern  city  line  in  18SS,  with  area  f>f 
twenty-four  acres,  at  an  expense  of  S  10,000;  for 
annual  exhibitions  of  the  .Agricultural  Society,  in 
place  of  tlie  Fair  Ground  at  the  head  of  Penti 
•street,  Reading,  where  they  had  been  held  for  thirty 
years.  , 

SuRURr.AX  Towxs. — Edward  .\.  Larter  and  Sig- 
numd  Morris  purclia-ed  120  acres  of  land  in  Muh- 
lenberg township,  alirng  the  Kutztown  \\>zu\.  bey.uid 
Tl>do  Park,  and  laid  off  eighty  arre^  in  lOon.' .md 
forty  acres  in  1!)07.  comprising  altoe^;ther  l.-?ni) 
lots,  which  they  named   [■(ose  Dale.     Tlie  jjlan  ex- 


tends from  the  road  eastward  beyond  the  East 
Penn  railroad.  Up  to  June,  1909,  1,]00  lots  were 
sold,  forty  dwellings  erected,  and  also  a  public 
school-house  and  Union  Chapel. 

They  also  laid  off  forty-two  acres  of  land  in  Low- 
er Alsace,  east  of  Carsonia  Park,  into  lots  (400), 
which  they  named  Melrose.  Tliev  had  sold  oy 
June,  1909,  upward  of  300  of  them.  Several  dwell- 
ings have  been  erected  there. 

CitAPEL  Rock,  a  remarkable  collection  of  rocks, 
in  Alsace  township,  two  miles  north  of  Antietam 
Reservoir,  exceeding  any  other  natural  wonder  in 
the  county;  visited  by  many  pede.-trians  from  Read-_ 
ing  in  all  season:-,  of  the  year. 

Oldest  Buildtxcs. — The  oldest  buildings  in  the 
county  are  in  this  section.  The  Mounce  Jones  build- 
ing was  erected  in  1710,  in  Amity,  near  Douglass- 
ville,  along  the  Schuylkill,  and  it  is  still  .standing, 
though  somewhat  altered. 

A  Aloravian  church  was  erected  in  O'ey  in  1712 
and  this  also  is  still  standing.  The  walls  and  win- 
dows are  as  they  were  then  ;  but  the  roof  h.is  been 
removed  and  the  interior  altered. 

Dwellingdion-e  on  the  eastern  half  of  the  Ber- 
tolet  farm  in  '"'ley,  erected  in  ]7.>1. 

ONTELAU'XEE   SECTIOX 
The   Ontelaunee   Section   comprises    nine    town- 
ships, and  the  time  of  their  settlement  and  erection 
is  set  forth  in  tiic  following  table: 

ORlr.lNAL 

SettleJ  Erected 

-\Il.;i!iy     1740  17.=.-2 

J.ongswnnip     17o4  1761 

.Maidcii-crtek     17.T2  17-JO 

Maxatawiiy     17:32  11 '>Z 

Richmond     1732  1752 

Windsor     1740  1752 

AnniTIOXAL 

T.ikeii    from  Erectti 

Greenwich                      .Mbatiy    175.5 

Perry                                 Windsor   1821 

Ontelaunee                     Maiiltn-creck    1S49 

Derivatton  of  Names. — The  derivation  <>f  the 
names  was  as  follows : 

Albany,  from  the  name  of  a  place  in  England. 

Longszuainp,  from  the  peculiar  condition  of  tlie 
soil  of  a  large  portior.  of  the  township. 

Maidcn-Crcck,  fnnn  the  stream  which  flows 
through  the  tov.iiship. 

Maxatazi'ny,  from  an  Indian  word.  Machk^i- 
thantie,  wdiich  means  a  bear's-path  creek. 

Richnioiid.  from  the  name  of  a  place  in  Engl.'ind. 

Windsor,  from  the  name  of  a  place  in  Englan  I. 

GrccnziHcli.  from  the  name  of  a  place  in  Engdand. 
These  English  names  were  suggested  by  the  Friend^. 
who  exerted  a  controlling  influence  in  the  local 
.government. 

Prrrv,  from  the  name  of  a  distinguished  naval 
officer  in  the  United  States  Xayy.  Commodore  Oli- 
ver Perry,  who  said,  after  the  successful  battli'  on 
Lake  Erie,  Se|.t.  10,  1813,  "\Yc  have  met  the  eneinv 
and  they  arc  ours."  One  of  the  conifvinies  in  the 
English  w.ir  of   isr2-15  was  commanded  bv  Capt. 


304 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\"AXIA 


John  May  from  Windsor  township,  -which  included 
tlnrty-tive  men  ah-u  from  this  town-liip:  and  the 
pohtical  inlhicncc  of  these  men  led  to  the  selection 
of  the  name  for  the  new  tuwnship. 

Ontrlaiiiicc,  from  an  Indian  word,  Ontelamiee, 
\\  hich  means  a  little  maiden ;  ami  from  this  transla- 
tion Maiden  creek  was  derived. 

Boroughs. — The  following-  boroughs  have  been 
established  in  this  section : 

Kutztowii,  in   ISI.',. 
Ham!)urg,  in  ISoT. 
Fleetwood,  in   1S7U. 
Topton,   in   1S7.">. 
•  Lciihartivillc.  in  iss'7. 

Waterworks  have  been  supplied  at  the  fust  four, 
and  electric  lighting-  at  the  first  three. 

Towns, — The  following  towns  are  in  tliis  section  : 


Name  .      Houses 

Blandon     (1S59'^ 13.'> 

BoM-ers     (ISiir) 20 

Buena  ,  Vista ■    »■ 

\  Eiiglc     Point     10 

Ea.>.t      Borilcy     (1S20)      7 

Famiinfrton      3  3 

Hancock     (J  870 1      !« 

Ualfv/av     Ilou.>-c      (ISOO)      ..    ]2 

Kenipton      (]8T4)      22 

KliiiesviUe     (1825)      10 

Krumsvilk^      (18S5)      18 

Lec^port      (1?4U)      131 

Lycyiis     USGO;      i>r> 

Maple    Grove     12 


Xamc  Houses 

Mertztown     (ISoTI      54 

.Mohrsville     (1S30)      20 

.Molltown      (183flJ      IC 

Monterey     (1830)      12 

Moseicm      (ISiG)      10 

Kothrocksville      (IS.SO)      23 

S.hanirotk     (1S59)      2C 

Shoeiuakersville      (1S33)      .  .    140 

\-nyinvil)c    (IS74)     3:! 

Waimit-to-.vn      5 

Weilersville      (1612)      2S 

WesDiiersville      (1658)      24 

Windsor   Castle    (lo5d)    5 


First  Settlers. — The  territory  embraced  in  this 
section  waf-.  not  released  by  the  Indians  to  the  heirs 
of  William  I'enn  until  Ku"J,  and  on  thai  account 
tliere  -was  no  general  inllux  of  immigrants  b"fore 
that  time.  Immediately  afterward,  a  nnml>er  of 
Friends  entered  and  took  up  lai-ge  tract-,  of  land 
in  localities  now  included  in  'Ontelaunee  and  Maid- 
en-creek townships.  About  17 -3 "2,  nearly  the  entire 
area  of  these  two  townships  was  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  bricnds.  The  names  of  the  more  promi- 
nent families  were  Meredith,  Parvin,  Penro.^e, 
Lightfoot,  .Starr,  Wily  and  Vv  ilHts ;  and  some  of 
the  descendants  are  still  in  this  vicinit\.  These 
settlers  went  there  by  way  of  the  Schuylkill  ^'alley. 

About  the  same  time,  a  considerable  number  of 
immig-rants  of  different  nationalities,  but  mostly 
Germans,  entered  the  section  by  way  of  the  ]\Iana- 
tawny  creek  and  the  Oley  hills,  and  also  by  way 
of  the  West  Branch  of  the  Pcrkiomcn  creek 
and  the  Hereford  Iiills,  and  they  tO'^k  up 
great  ((uantities  of  land  w-hich  reacJK-d  from 
one  end  of  the  section  to  the  other;  indeed, 
they  were  so  numerous  and  energetic  that  by  1".40, 
within  the  short  period  of  eight  years,  thev  had  es- 
tablished six  townships,  embracing  the  entire  sec- 
tion. There  are  numerous  descendants  of  the  first 
settlers  in  the  several  townships,  notablv  the  ^ler- 
kels,  Rothermels.  Greenawalds,  Dunkels.  Idefhiers, 
Kutzes,  Delongs,  Hotten^tein-;.  Le\-;ms,  Wanner.s, 
Kemps,  Steins.  Sells.  Winks,  Sharadin^.  Schaeffers, 
Zimmermans.  Fenstermachers,  Long'=,  Mertzes, 
Luckenbills,  Mayberrys.  .Shappels.  Grim^,  Smitlis. 
Wessners,  Pietricli'^  and  Kistlers,  as  will  be  readily 
seen  by  cc>mparing  tlie  1.-;xaliK's  r,f  lOii!)  with  the 
li-its  of  the  taxable^  publi-hi^l  in  Chapier  I. 

Tormerlv    Sn-.itli^vilk- 


Ixui.xN  Atrocities. — Along  the  Blue  Mountain 
in  .Albany,  in  l',o5  and  IT-jlJ,  India:!  crueltie-  were 
iiiflicted  upon  the  settlers  during  the  progress  oi 
the  French    and  Indian  war.     [See  Chapter  \TII.] 

Blue  Rocks. — There  is  a  natural  curiosity  lo- 
cated in  Albany  township,  near  the  Greenwich  town- 
ship line,  about  three  miles  nortlnvest  from  Len- 
hartsville,  which  has  attracted  much  local  attention 
from  the  time  of  the  first  settlements  in  the  county 
in  that  vicinity.  It  consists  of  a  large  collection 
of  rocks  tumbled  together  irregularly,  covering  an 
area  of  thirty  acres,  which  have  a  bluish  appear- 
ance. They  are  surrounded  by  trees  and  vegeta- 
tion, and  visitors  can  distinctly  hear  the  roll- 
ing and  splashing  of  waters  underneath,  though 
invisible.  The  rocks  can  be  seen  from  the  State 
road,  and  the  origin  of  the  peculiar  formatie^n  has 
excited  much  comment. 

Irox  Ore  was  discovered  in  Richmond.  !Maxa- 
tawny  and  Longswamp  townships  before  the  erec- 
tion of  the  county  in  175;;?.  Active  and  successful 
operations  in  mining  ore  and  manufacturing  iron 
were  carried  on  here  for  over  an  hundred  years ; 
but  the  industries  were  not  so  numerous  as  in  the 
Manatawny  Section.  The  ^Moselem  Purge  was  one 
of  the  early  iron  industries. 

PIiGHWAVS. — This  section  is  intersected  by  many 
roads  in  all  the  townships.  Three  prominent  high- 
ways are  worthy  of  particular  mention :  Centre 
Turnpike,  from  Reading  via  Lecsport  to  Hamburg 
and  beyond  the  county  line,  which  was  abandoned 
as  a  toll-road  in  18S."),  after  having  been  maintained 
for  over  seventy  years  ;  the  Kutztown  Road,  from 
the  Centre  Turnpike  at  Berkley,  via  the  Halfway 
House  and  K'utzte>wn  to  Allentown  ;  and  the  '"State 
Road."  across  the  upper  section,  from  Hamburg 
via  Lenhartsville  to  the  Lehigh  county  line,  being 
a  continuation  of  the  highway  from  Harrisburg  and 
Jonestown,  in  Lebanon  county,  to  Millersburg  and 
Hamburg,  in  Berks  county. 

C.A.x.\L. — The  Schuylkill  canal  was  constructed 
in  182:2  along  the  river  from  Leesport  to  the  county 
line,  twelve  miles  in  length,  and  operated  success- 
fully for  fifty  vears  with  numerous  boats  owned 
by  private  individuals. 

RAiLR0.\n. — Five  railroads  have  been  constructed 
in  this  section : 

The  Iiasf  Print,  in  1S.")7,  from  Temple  northea-^t- 
wardly  to  the  Lehigh  county  line,  a  distance  of 
twentv  miles. 

The  Kutcfozcii  Brancli.  in  1S70,  from  Topton, 
about  five  miles  in  Icngih,  on  the  bed  of  the  pro- 
posed line  from  Allcntrnvn  to  Auburn,  by  way  of 
\'irginville,  Windscu"  Ca'^tle,  and  Hamburcr,  partly 
constructed  about  that  time. 

The  Red  Lion  Brunch  of  tlie  Catasauqua  &  T-"og- 
elsville  railroad,  about  IS.Sii.  two  miles  in  length,  in 
Longswam]-),   for  sliijiping  iron  ore. 

The  SclntylkiH  a)id  [.chii^h  RoihuuTd  (formerly 
Berks  coiuUv).  in  1^7  1.  from  near  Tuclrerton  to 
the  Lehigh  count\  line  along  the  Ontel.'umee  creek, 
a  di.-tnnce  of  ei'ditoeii  miles. 


■>.  t 


TOWNSHIPS 


305 


TIic  Pciiiisyh'aiiia  SchiiylkUi  J'aHry  Railroad  m 
188."),  from  near  'J'uckertoii  lo  l[ambur,^^  alrip.cr  tlie 
Schuylkill  river,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles. 

Early  Iron  Works. — The  Moscleni  r\>rqe,  in 
Richmond,  the  Brobst  Forge,  in  Albany,  the  Dela- 
plank  (l.'nion)  Furnace,  in  Windsor,  and  the 
Mary  Ann  Furnace  in  Longswamp,  were  operated 
for  nearlv  a  hundred  years  from  the  time  of  the 
Revolution. 

NOTEWORTilY    EXTERIORISES 

Leesport  Furnace,  established  in  Ontelaunee  at 
Leesport  in  1853.  and  carried  on  for  about  forty 
years.  The  plant  was  sold  in  181)9  and  it  has  been 
carried  on  since  by  the  Leesport  Furnace  Com- 
pany. 

Blandon  Rolling  JNIill  was  built  in  Maiden- 
creek  along  the  East  Penn  railroad  in  ls»iT.  It 
has  been  successfully  operated  since  189"3  by  Simon 
Seyfert.  Aimual  product,  :<!-J,000  tons;  hands  em- 
ployed, 22  D. 

TorTON  Furnace,  erected  at  Topton  in  1871, 
and  in  operation  since  then,  excepting  several  inter- 
vals. The  Empire  Iron  &  Steel  Company  has 
owned  and  operated  it  since  1000.  Pruductic>n,  500 
tons  of  iron  weekly. 

Shoemakersville  Clay  Works,  established  in 
Perry,  near  Shoemakersville,  in  ]8!)T,  for  m.anufac- 
turing  glazed  sewer-pipe,  and  the  Schuylkill  X'alley 
Clay  ixlanufacturing  Comjiany  conducted  ojicra- 
tions  there  for  ten  years. 

Brick  Company. — The  Clay  Works  were  jmr- 
chased  in  IDM.s  Ijy  A.  A.  Ciery  and  W.  A.  ( iery, 
who  organized  the  Glen-dery  iJrick  iV'  Cement 
Company,  for  the  manufacture  of  vitrified  brick 
for  building  and  paving  purposes,  and  established 
a  plant  with  a  daily  capacity  of  60,000. 

Inlaid  Tit.i:  Comp.xny. — In  PJOT,  the  ]\eading 
Cement  Inlaid  Tile  Company  was  mcoqiorated  by 
a  Greek  from  Patras,  in  (.irecce.  named  Constan- 
tinn  IT.  Geannako]iou!os,  and  he  established  a  small 
plant  in  Reading  at  the  soutliwest  corner  of  Seventh 
and  Chestnut  streets.  In  June,  lOOS.  it  was  trans- 
ferred to  Shoemakersville,  where  a  place  was  se- 
cured with  a  capacity  of  ■2(tO  square  yar^ls.  The 
C(>m])anv  uTanufaclurcs  all  styles,  colors  and  designs, 
and  emjiloys  six  hands.  The  machinery  wa--  im- 
ported. It  is  the  only  enterprise  of  the  kind  in  the 
L'nited  States. 

Cement  Works. — A  large  cement  works  was 
established  in  Richmond  township  in  ]S!)l)  by  the 
Reading  Cement  Company  {c(jmposed  of  Reading 
capitalists),  at  a  cost  of  So50.n()0.  The  iiroi>ert\- 
comprised  100  acres,  in  which  there  is  a  large  de- 
posit of  superior  limestone,  and  the  plant  was 
*'<inip|)ed  with  machinery.  It  continued  in  opera- 
tion for  several  years  and  employed  from  eighty- 
five  to  r.ne  lumdred  and  tiiirtv  men  and  produced 
•'ail\  l."^ift  barre!;  of  ienKii"i.  It  was  succeeded  bv 
tile  \'nvle\  Portland  Ce-nent  Company,  which  im- 
prove.l  \be  plant  and  carried  on  operations  several 


\ear>  with  a  daily  capacity  of  i">00  barrels.  In  li»OS 
the  plant  was  leased  to  the  \  index  Corporation, 
under  the  control  of  Ch.arles  Matcham,  of  Allen- 
town,  an  experienced  manufacturer  of  cement. 

Mr.  Matcham  also  organized  the  Allentown  Port- 
land Cement  Company  and  secr.red  a  large  adjoin- 
ing tract  to  the  north  and  wet  with  intention  of 
establishing  a  costly,  modern  plant  with  a  daily 
capacity  of  2,i')00  barrels. 

Pu.viPiNc;  Station,  e.stabl'shed  near  the  moutli  of 
the  Alaiden  creek  in  Ontelaiuieo.  .-.even  miles  from 
Reading,  in  1889,  for  increasing  the  water  supply 
of  Reading.  Daily  capacity,  :30,000,0()()  gallons.  A 
large  and  costly  filtration  ])l:vnt  is  being  established 
at  East  Berkley  by  the  Reading  Water  Board  to 
be  operated  in  coiniection  with  ihe  Pumping  .Sta- 
tion. 

Keystone  State  Normal  Sc/iool,  established 
in  18<;(),  in  .Maxatawny,  adjoining  Kutztown.  The 
buildings  are  large  and  commorlious  and  the  man- 
agement has  been  very  successful.  [See  Kutztown, 
Chapter  XL] 

Clav  WoRivS. — A  number  of  clay  works  have 
been  operated  in  Longswamp  at  and  near  }dcrtz- 
town,  fluring  the  past  thirty  years.  Ochre  has  been 
produced  in  large  quantities  since  1882 ;  and  gra- 
phite since  1880. 

Iron  Ore  ;Mines. — Twenty-five  years  ago  over 
one  hundred  iron  ore  mines  were  carried  on  in 
Longswamp,  Maxatawny  aiul  Richmond  town 
ships,  yielding  very  large  quantities  of  ore.  but_ 
nearly  all  have  been  shut  down.  (_)nly  live  are  nov. 
in  operation,  with  100  hands  and  a  jiroduclion  of 
■J  ,000  tons  of  hematite  ore  monthtly. 

Gerv  Country  Homk.— In  1004,  .\.  A.  Gery,  of 
Reading,  erected  a  cosll\-  cinmtry  home  in  C)nte- 
launee,"  along  the  ^'laiden  creek,  on  the  old  Wily 
Mill  property,  which  has  become  known  as  Glen- 
Gery. 

TOPTO.N  C)rpiiaxs'  IloMi:,  established  in  I.SOT  by 
the  Reading  Conference  of  tlie  Lutneran  ?\[inister- 
ium  of  Pennsylvania,  on  a  coiumandin.g  site  in 
Longswamp,  near  Topton.  The  property  comprises 
]  15  acres.  The  Home  is  a  three-story  brick,  com- 
modious structure,  with  modern  improvements. 
Inmates,  bi'vs  and  girls.  00  ;  all  denominations. 

Kutztown  Fair  Grouno.  estabri.-.hcd  in  ]S70, 
in  Maxatawnv.  adjoining  Kutztown.  on  the  south, 
and  the  local' Agricultural  Society  held  exhibitions 
there  for  about  thirty  years.  In  1005  a  new  place 
was  established  on  the  north  side  of  Kutztown, 
with  a  superior  half-mile  track,  and  the  first  ex- 
hil)itioii  was  held  there  in  October. 

Lr.Esi'OKT  ['..\NK. — A  number  of  enteriM-i-^ing 
business  men  of  Leesport  an.l  vicinity  organized 
a  bank  with  a  capital  of  S--'5,oiiii,  f,>r  the  .ircom- 
modation  of  the  neighborhood,  and  named  it  the 
First  Xalional  I'.ank  of  Leesport.  The  following 
directors  weie  elected  as  llu.  InM  board  and  ilie 
bank  was  oi-ened  for  bu>iiie>.-.   in   July,   1000:     A. 


fv;    -v^rjv'     >r.    ;■:.' 


..' ;  ■    fJ 


'l\W. 


■)•'     ■  .1:    tt 


30G 


HISTORY    OF    EERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXSYL\"AXTA 


F.  Mogx-l,  president;  S.  31.  Deck,  cashier;  Charles 
DLUikel,  D.  II.  Reiser,  J;icob  L;:ir;er.5tose.  Charles 
O.  Collins,  J:ui\oi  A.  Reiser.  O.  A.  Iveiin,  James 
H.  W'agiier'  Jancs  R.  Keini,  iNl.  S.  Renti-chler, 
Joseph  Xaftzin.i^vr.  Sa^^anian  SchappcH,  Lloyd 
Miller,  James  R.  W'eisner. 

Elfctkic  Plaxt. — William  F.  Krick  established 
an  electric  plant  at  Sinkin;:::  Spring-  in  1903  for  sup- 
plying light  to  the  ro-idents  of  that  town  and  also 
at  Wyomi.'^sing  and  Shillington  and  extended  wires 
in  and  to  the  places  named,  (ieorgv  V.  Werlz,  of 
Wernersville,  established  a  similar  plant  at  that 
place  in  1901. 


TULPEHOCKEX   SECTION 

The  Tulpehocken  Section  comprises  thirteen 
townships.  The  time  of  their  settlement  and  erec- 
tion is  set  forth  in  the  following  table : 

ORIGINAL 

Settled  Erected 

Bern     173/!  1733 

Rolhcl    1733  1739 

Heidclbire    1733  1734 

TulnehccLen   1723  1 720 

ADDIT.'ON.\L 

Taken    from  Erected 

Be-rn,    Upper                   Bern     1789 

Tulpehocken,    t-^pper    Tulpel'.ockcn     1820 

Pcnn                                Bern  mid   Bpr;i,  Upper   ...  1S-!1 

Hcideibcrp.    Low  er      ntidelberg     1812 

Centre                             Bt.rn  and  Bern,  Uppjr   ...  1843 

Marion                            Tulpehocken     1813 

Hcidclbcrf;.  North       Heidclberf;    ISi" 

JeiTerson                         Tiilpehnckcn     Js.il 

Tildeii                                Bern,    Upf^er     iSS7 

r)r.i:iv,vnox  e:r  X'a.vies. — The  derivation  of  the 
names  \vas  as  follows: 

Ber)i,  from  the  name  of  a  ca'Uon  in  Swit/:erland, 
wdicnce  some  of  the  early  settlors  emigrated. 

Bctlicl,  f:o:n  the  narae  of  a  IMoraviai!  meeting- 
house in  this  vici'iiiy.  showiri;';  thi^  religions  nature 
and  influence  of  the  inhabitants. 

Heidelberg,  from  the  name  of  a  distinguished 
place  in  the  southern  portion  of  Germany,  whence 
a  large  number  of  the  earliest  settlers  emigrated. 

Tvlpchockcn,  from  an  Indian  word.  Tnljiewihaki. 
which  means  a  land  of  turtles. 

Bern.  Upper,  fn.'m  its  l^'catior..  being  tiic  upper 
portion  c-f  tiie  townsiiip  from  which  ii  was  taken. 

Tulpehocken,  Upper,  named  for  the  same  reason. 

Pcnn,  from  the  name  of  \ViHiatn  Penn.  who  had 
been  the  prtiprictor  of  all  the  land  in  Berks  county. 

Hcidelben^,  Lozcer.  from  its  location,  being  the 
lower,  or  eastern  portion  of  the  township  in  its 
division  ;   and 

Heidelberg,  Xprth.  from  its  location. 

Centre,  from  its  location. 

Marion,  from  the  i^ame  of  a  distinguished  gen- 
eral, Francis  ?^Iarion,  in  the  United  States  Army. 

Jefferson,  from  the  nattic  of  tlie  hr-'t  Democratic 
President  ox  the  U!i;tcd  .Slates.  'i'h'..n-i'-  Jefferson, 
indicating  the  political  v~.plnion  of  (he  petitioners. 

Tilden,  from  th.o  name  of  tlie  i.in>iir-cessful  candi- 
date for  Piesidcnt  e.'f  the  L'nited  State-  on  tiiC  Den.i- 


Xan:e 

OboKjs     (is:ij)     .• 

Keiuer'^'..urg     (ISIS)      .. 

Kobcsonia     (18'.5)      

.Scli.nerfiTStown  iTSoii) 
Shartle5^-ilie  (18(Ui)  .. 
Slouchsburg  0*32)  .  . 
Strru?stoi>-n  ;i84i))  . 
AVernersviiie  (tSi-'i) 
West    Hnniburg    (1S6C). 


ocratic  ticket  in  18TG,  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  who  wa^ 
supposed  b}-  the  Democrats  to  have  been  elected, 
but  counied  out.  This  was  a  firm  conviction  of 
the  Democrats  in  this  township. 

jjORofGiis. — The  follovving  boroughs  were  esta!>- 
lished  in  this  section : 

Wonielsdorf,   in    1833. 
Bernvii'.e,    in    IS)]. 
Centreport,  in   1SS4. 
West  Leesport,  in  1901. 

Towxs. — The  following  towns  are  situate  1  in 
this  section : 

Name  Houses        X'anie  Houses 

Bern     (ISSd)     IS        ObolcS    (is:ij)     .• 50 

Blue     Marsh     HTT.^o 1» 

Brownsville    (1SC4)     .=> 

Frit/town    (ISll'';     oii 

Frev^tcnn     ( l.-::;o  i     13 

Lor:;hi     (1??4)      lO 

Millersburg     (1S14)      76 

Mohr,sville     Station     (ISf^O)..    45 
Mt.     Aetna=     (ISIO)      55 

First  Sktti.ers. — The  first  settlers  in  this  sec- 
tion were  Germans  from  tne  Pabitinate,  wdio  en- 
tered by  way  nf  the  western  boimdary  m  17V3,  nine 
years  before  tlie  territory  was  released  by  the  In- 
dians. They  had  landed  at  X'ew  Yodv  in  1712,  and 
gone  up  the  Hudson  river  about  an  hundred  miles, 
but  having  been  grossly  deceived  and  imposed  upon 
there,  they  mign-ated  by  way  of  the  Susquehanna 
river  and  the  Swatara  creek  to  the  headwaters  of 
the  Tulpehocken  creek  and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 
what  is  now  Vv'onielsdorf  and  Stoi;clisburg.  Tl:e 
co'onv  coniijrised  thirty-three  families,  and  among 
ihcrn  were  the  Rieth-,  Fitlcrs.  Scharf;-,  WalViorn-, 
SchaetTers,  Zcrl^es.  Fischers,  Lashes  and.  An- 
spachs.  And  live  year-'  later,  there  were  other 
German  families  v.^ho  migrated  from  Xew  \'ork,  by 
the  same  course,  to  the  Tuipehocken  settlement; 
among  them  being  the  Hains.  Schneiders.  Ui'>ev.cn- 
gnlh.s,  X^occkers,  Werners,'  Schmidts,  and  Kalter- 
mans.  X'umerous  descendants  of  the.ic  fa'iiilicf  are 
still  in  this  section. 

In  1729  Conrad  \\'eiscr  and  his  family  als.i  mi- 
grated from  X'cu  York  to  Ihe  Tulpehoehon  settlc- 
riient  an.i  his  piesencc  was  a  great  h.elp  to  the 
Penns  in  pacify'iig  the  Indians  and  preventing  thcn-i 
from  slaughtering  the  settlers.  He  was  an  accom- 
plished interpreter  and  a  very  ti^cful  man  in  var- 
ious, wavs.  He  took  an  active  part  in  all  local  af- 
fairs, and  he  was  chicth  instrumjutal  in  securing 
the  erection  of  Berks  county  in  17.")2  out  of  the 
townships  which  had  been  previously  established 
to  the  east  and  west  of  the  Schuylkill  river. 

The  pressure  of  immigrating  German  familie- 
was  so  great  thai  thev  entered  the  territory  in  s[iite 
of  the  protest  of  the  Indians.  The  Proprietaries 
apologized  and  made  various  oxu'^es  and  flnallv  in 
1732  secured  a  release  from  them.  By  that  time, 
numerous  settlers  were  in  evcrv  [■art  of  the  section  : 
and  before  1710.  four  township-  had  been  e^tab- 
lished'by  the  court  at  Lancaster,  which  endiraced  the 
entire  section. 

Hini'WAVS. — Thi--  s.  .tlon  i-  inter;-e''ted  by  num- 
ec-iu?,  r.iads.  thr(>'  of  tliem  lieing  e-pecinhy  pninn  ■ 

'r.irn;Tiv    State    111:1,      -V.'oIiItl.Tst.'.vn.      'il.-,ricii>t.>wn. 


I'fieT- 


f.i'  s . 


©oiir.ib<^.-:»«:. 


J   \ 


E  5, 


# 


t»- 


\  ^^^_^,^iE^-^-| ' 


J/ 


K'^^ig^^i^d 


p:   r 


';/' 


TOWNSHIPS 


3or 


nent:  the  Berks  and  Dauphin  Turnpike,  from 
Reading-,  \ia  Sinking-  Spring  and  \\"unic!sdorf,  to 
Lebanon  (occupying  tlie  ohj  '"Tulpi.-hocken  Road" 
to  W'omelsdorf,  which  had  been  laid  out  in  1T'2T, 
and  subsequently  extended  northwestwardly,  via 
Rehrersburg,  to  Pine  Grove)  ;  the  State  Road, 
across  the  upper  portion  from  Lebanon,  via  Miller'^- 
burg,  Rehrcrsburg,  Strausstown  and  Shartiesville. 
to  Hamburg;  and  the  P.ernville  Road,  from  Read- 
ing, via  State  Hill  and  P.ernville,  to  >dil!ersburg. 

Canal. — -The  Union  canal  was  constructed  in 
1S'3S  along  the  Tnlpehocken  creek  in  this  section, 
via  Bernville  and  Womelsdorf,  to  the  Lebanon 
county  line,  a  distance  of  about  twenty-five  miles, 
and  operated  very  successfully  for  thirtv  years. 
with  prominent  stc>re-houses  at  the  two  places  men- 
tioned. 

Railroads.— -77! t-  Lebanon  J"a!Ic\  Railroad  was 
constructed  in  1S5T  in  tins  section  from  .^inking 
Spring  v.estward  to  tlie  Lebanon  county  line  at 
NewmaiKstown,  a  distance  of  ton  miles. 

The  Rcadin^^  Raihi'ay,  from  the  .'^chuylkill  bridge 
above  Tuckerton,  to  the  Schuylkill  county  line, 
along  the  river,  a  distance  of  thirteen  miles. 

Trolley  Line. — ,V  trolley  line  of  street  railway 
was  coi'.structed  in  1S9-1  from  Sinking  Spring  to 
Womelsdorf  on  the  turnpike,  a  distance  of  nine 
miles. 

NOTEWORTHY    ENTERPRISES 

Charming  Forge,  established  in  17-39,  in  Tnlpe- 
hocken (afterward  ^fariou)  tovv-nslii]),  alf'r,g  ihc 
Tulpeliocken  creek,  three  miles  north  of  WomeN- 
dorf;  operated  by  George  l£ge  from  IT'71  to  1S?J  ; 
and  by  Andrew  Taylor  and  his  sons  William  and 
}^>.  Franklin  from  iSD5  to  ISS.").  A  part  of  the 
forge  site.  incUiding  the  water-pouer.  was  pur- 
chased by  the  borough  of  Womelsdorf  in  1!)0<1.  .-lud 
an  electrix;  plant  Avas  established  for  supplying  tlie 
inhabitants  with  electric  ligl'it  on  llie  streets  anrl  in 
their  dwellings. 

RoBEsoNiA  Furnace,  established  in  Heidelberg 
on  Spring  creek  m  170  f  by  George  Ege  and  Icnown 
for  fifty  years  as  the  "Reading  Furnace."  during 
which  time  charcoal  iron  was  manufactured.  The 
first  anthracite  furnace  was  erected  in  l^A't.  Since 
then  it  has  been  much  enlarged  and  imptovcd  by 
the  Robesonia  Iron  Company.  Daily  capacity.  Pl  ' 
tons ;  men  employed,  200. 

Hamburg  \'itrified  Brick  Company,  established 
in  Tilden,  above  West  Plamburg.  near  the  Reading 
railway,  in  1S',)1,  as  a  common  brick  plant  and  car- 
ried on  as  such  until  ISOG,  when  the  Mack  Broth- 
ers of  Philadelphia  purchased  it  and  began  the 
manufacture  of  vitrified  brick.  They  have  oper- 
ated it  since  then,  running  nine  kilns,  producing 
10.000,000  bricks  annually,  and  employing  7-")  men. 

PArrR-MiLLS. — Henry  \'an  Reed  started  a  pa- 
[>er-nTin  near  the  mouth  of  thf  Cacoosing  creek, 
alxmv  ISl'."),  and  it  continued,  in  the  familv  in  a  direct 
line  from  him.  tr.roush  his  son,  (.'barlLS.  and  his 
.grandson.      Hen:\      7...      to      hi.-.      vreat-tTand'-on, 


Charles  L.,  for  a  period  of  over  seventy  years.  The 
plant  was  then  sold,  remodeled,  and  operated  since 
by  ditYerent  parties. 

The  Tnlpehocken  Paper  Mill  is  a  branch  of  the 
Reading  Paper  Mills,  started  by  Jacob  Bushong,  in 
18  ■>'.!,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Kissing-er  grist-mill  at 
the  month  of  the  Tulpehocken  creek,  and  operated 
by  him  for  twenty  years, 

Daubervjlle  Ice  Plant, — Henry  Ahrens  and 
John  R,  Gonser  establi.shed  a  large  ice  plant  in  1SS8 
in  the  lower  eastern  portion  of  Centre  town-^hip  on 
the  Irish  creek  near  its  outlet  into  the  Schuylkill, 
The  dam  covers  thirty  acres  and  the  storage-house 
has  a  capacity  of  •25,000  tons.  It  was  destroyed 
by  fire  in  1^9;.'  and  immediately  rebuilt. 

Health  Resorts. — Lower  Heidelberg  township 
has  become  famous  for  its  costly  and  successful 
resorts,  establish.ed  on  the  South  Alountain  for  the 
restoration  and  preservation  of  health.  In  the  or- 
der oi  priority  thev  arc  as  follows : 

ll'etirich's  Grand  Viezi-,  first  established  by  Dr. 
Charles  F.  Leiscnring,  in  1819.  Greatly  improved 
and  operated  by  Dr.  R.  D.  Wenrich  since  1897. 

Tl'ie  Walter  Sanitarium,  esiablished  bv  Dr.  Rob- 
ert Walter  in  1877.  and  enlarged  several  times,  and 
become  within  thirty  years,  under  his  management, 
oric  of  the  greatest  resorts  of  the  kind  in  tlie  coun- 
try. 

Preston's  Snn)iyside.  established  by  Dr.  James  S. 
Preston,  in  1880.  and  operated  by  his  son  James 
since  18S-J, 

G resell' s  Sunset  } louse,  by  Francis  Grosch,  in 
187G,  and  sulisequenily  enlarged.  His  .son-in-law, 
Dr.  J.  E).  r\]oycr,  has  conducted  the  place  since  1892, 

hasslcr's  Highland  Ilonse.  started  in  1890  by 
James  .Scliaeffer,  and  after  he  operated  il  for  some 
years,  purchased  by  Richard  Ilassler.  wh.o  has  car- 
ried it  oi:  since, 

Bethany  Orphans'  Ho.me.  establi.shed  in  18G7 
in  Heidelberg,  one  mile  south  of  Womelsdorf,  by 
tlie  German  Reformed  Church,  It  was  destrojed 
by  fire  in  1881,  and  immediately  rebuilt.  The  man- 
agement by  the  Board  of  Trustees  has  been  very 
successful.  In  1909  there  were  155  orphans  in  the 
Home ;  thirteen  from  Berks  county. 

Wernersville  St.-vTe  Asylum,  established  in 
1891.  in  Lower  Pleidelberg,  west  of  Werncrsvilie. 
This  is  a  very  large  and  successful  instiiiuion,  [See 
Chapter  VIL] 

House  of  Goon  Shepherd,  first  established  at 
Fourth  and  Pine  streets.  Reading,  in  18S9,  by  the 
Ronian  Catholic  Church,  for  the  care  of  young 
girls ;  and  transferred  to  Glenside  in  Bern  town- 
ship, where  a  superior  structure  was  erected,  in 
1900,  on  a  commanding  site  along-  the  river  opposite 
North  Reading.  Inmates  in  1909  were  180  girls; 
47  Magdalens,  and  50  Sisters,  The  property  in- 
cludes four  acres  of  ground, 

111  RKSiiiK!-.  Cnr.xrKv  Ci.i'P..-- The  Berkshire 
CouPitry  Chib  owe^  ii^^  inception  to  .Me.Kander 
F,    .'-^luitli.    Ti^bn    ].    KtU,:   and   a    fe-.\    othei'   gentle- 


'/.,T-;;:','s   ::!_<:, 


""•I    .i'l    ■■ 


.V*      ■     .K      (i 


308  IIISTCRV    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PEXXSVLXAXIA 

men,   who   in   Iti'JT   ohtaintd   suuie   golf   clubs   and  Ilarron  and  in  JUOG  and  1;JU8  by  T.  lacfjer  Snvd-T 

balls,  and  essayed  to  play  '•the  royal  game  of  golf"  J\\\'.  Xicolls  won  the  Tennis  Cii'ampionsliip  in  ilt.i:;" 

on  a   six-lK>le   couisc   which   John   Reid,   a  profes-  and   Robert   E.   Brooke  in   I'JOi.     The  Silver  Cup 

sional    golfer     from    Atlantic    City,    laid    out    on  presented  by  George  F.  Baer.  Esq.,  for  the  Tenni-! 

grounds    at    Carsonia,    where    the   present   park   is  Championship,  Avas   won   by   Robert   E.   Brooke   in 

located.     The   Club  v.as   formally  incorporated  on  190."),  and  bv  Randolph  Staufter  in  190G,  190?.  and 

May  10,  18'J'J.  by  Wilson  Ferguson,  Williani  Kcr-  1908.     In  the  Handicap  Sliooting  Match,  Mrs.'wil- 

per    Stevens,    Ilerbeit    R.    Green.    F.    C.    Smmk,  Ham   Sevfert   won   the   190.5   Silver  Cup,  presented 

George  F.   Baer,   G.   Hoa-ard   Bright,   M.    Brayton  by   E.    £.   Stetson,   Hunter   Eckert   and   Samuel   R 

McKmght,  J.  Lancaster  Repplier,  John  M.  Archer,  Seyfert. 

William  Seyfert  and  E.  L.  Parvin.  The  officers  of  the  Club  are:  F.  C.  Smink,  prcsi- 

Owing  to  numerous  streams  and  marshes,  it  was  dent:  William  Seyfert.  vice-president;  FrcderVk  W 

found  that  the  grounds  at  Carsonia  were  ill  adapted  Nicolls,  treasurer;  George  W.  Delany  secretary 

for  the  purposes  of  a  country  club,  and  in  1809  ar-  GLEXsiur:.— In  1902,  George  O    Runveon    c"  O 

rangements  v.cre  made  with  the  Reading  Suburban  Q^,,ji„   ^^^    ^     ^     Brumbach   laid   oft   seventv-f^ve 

Real   Estate   Company  to  occupy   vacant_  land  sur-  ^^res  into  about  1,700  building  lots  alor-  th"  Bcr-i- 

roundingthesuburbantovvnofWyoraissing,  where  ,.i,]„   ,.^^^,i   ;„   j.^,„   township,   near   the"  Schuvlkill 

a  nniedicle  o.urse,  2,1.39  yards  m  length,  was  laid  ^..^nue    bridge,    and    called    the    place    '-Glens'ide." 

T''Vf'uJ'"^''"f'/-     ,"\'   '  ^""i    i^^uS'^n     7  About    sixty    dwelling-houses    have    been    erected 

the  Club  flourished  until  the  end  of  1902.     The  house  ,:^^^_     gome  vears  before,  a  previous  attempt  had 

built  by  John  h.  Mull  along  the  Wyomi^sing  boule-  i,^^„  „^^^^  to 'establish  a  suburban  town  heie. 

vard  was  occupied  as  a  cluDhouse.  Wr-,  ^-..^ r.  t-i       nr  -.i 

T     A.        -.nm   .1     r-i   t           I         1/         r-            T-  \V  F.kXER.sviLLi-,    B,\XK. — The    \\  ernersvi He    Xa- 

In  May,  1902,  the  Club  purchased  irom  George  F.  ,-   „^,  t>     ,               i      .        i  ir       i  ^/^    ,;            •', 

T,          -   •''                 c  r        •'       1      1      ■*     .    1   •    ^.  tional  I.ank  was  chartered  March  10,  1901  ,  with  a 

Baer  sixty  acres  of  fanning  land,  situated  in   liern  -,  ,     ,  ip-n  n,>A      r-            t»-    n-                      , 

1-                 T)      1-         V   *             *u      <-•  .      ,1  -11  capital  of  S.)0,0U0.    Georije  \\  .  Wcrtz  was  selected 

township,    near    Reading,    betv/een    the    .?chuylk!ll  '         •  i    \.         i  t            '^  -v,    V,     ,         »<i.-5  . tic<.i.cu 

/■    \        ,1      rii    •   •    I      I    -        1  .1     TD         •!!  3s  president,  and  Leonard  M.  Ruth  as  cashier.     In 

river  (lust  north  of  Ham  s  Locks)  and  the  Bernville  >,.  '       ,        ^„r.o    n      ^  .  ,                               XJ^Z.-^  ~^l 

,     \      ■       ,1          ,f                  -nun          1     1  Xovember,  1908,  the  tota    resources  were  $273, .579. 

road.      -\  nine-hole  golf  course,   .),090  yards   iong,  ,_  i>^ij,j,j. 

abounding  in  interesting  features,  was  laid  out  by  ^ 

John  Roid,  as  well  as  five  tenuis  court.s.     In  adtli-  '         SCHL;\LKILL   SECTIOX 

tion,  there  is  a  swimming  pavilion,  with  balhiiouses.  The  Schuylkill   Section  comprises  six  townships 

and  shooting  grounds  and  traj)'^,  also  a  fine  base-ball  and  the  time  of  their  •icttleiriciit  and  erection  is  set 

diamond  and  grounds.    A  spacious  clubhouse,  equip-  forth  in  the  following  table: 

ped  with  all  the  essential  comforts  and  conveniences,  „o„.,v  ,, 

11                      1                    I         <                                •        1       •■                --11  OKU.INAL 

lockers,     =hov  cr-b;iths,     etc.,     including     turnished  c.    ,  j      -r^ 

-                      ,                              .                            "         ,.              .,  Settled        Erected 

rooms   for   members,   occupies   a   commanding   site  Urecknorl.-                                                        l7->9           1741 

(110 '"'et  above  the  river  level)    within  2,500  feet    Caernarvon   '. !...!.  !i700  IT'JO 

of  the  Schuylkill.  It  is  surrounded  by  broad  porches,    Cumru      1732  i7r!7 

and  affords  an  extended  \itw  of  the  grounds  and    J\o'."sc"i   1720  1729 

ol  the  charming  scenery  ol  the  surrounding  country. 

It  is  located  upon  an  ideal  spot.     The  reception  hall,  '                    audition.vl 

1                 ,      1-     •                                        ,                       t          1         1"  11  Taken    from                                               Erecled 

parlor  and  dmmg  rooms  are  large  and  splendidly  c     •                             r- 
furnished,  and  well  adapted  for  luncheons,  teas,  din- 
ners, dances  and  all  social  purposes.    There  is  also  a  Derivation   of   Xamics.— The   derivation  of  the 
first-class  cafe  in  charge  of  an  experienced  steward,  ii^'^^es  was  as  follows: 

Ample  stable  and  shed  accommodations  are  provided  Brecknock,     from    the    name    of    a    distr -zt    in 

for   horses,   veliiclcs   and   automobiles.      A   private  "^^  ales ;  but  the  name  had  been  given  to  a  township 

road  has  been  construcle.l  from  the  Berinille  road  '"  Lancaster  county,  of  which  the  portion  cut  .-ff 

direct  to  the  clubhouse.     The  club  automobile  con-  '"  ^h^  erection  of  Berks  county  was  a  part, 

veys  members  from  the  clubhouse  to  the  Schuylkill  Cacruanvit.    for    the    same    reasons,    as    above 

avenue  cars  at  Windsor  street.     Many  members  are  stated. 

conveyed  by  launch  or  boat  from  Hain's  Locks.  The  Cumru.   from   the  name  of  a  district   in   Wales, 

grounds  and  clubhouse  were  formallv  opened  to  the  whence  the  first  settlers  had  emigrated, 

members  on  June  I.'-.,  T9o:5,  and  instantly  met  with  Robeson,   from   the   name   of   Andrew    Robeson, 

approval.    In  r^Iay,  1909,  there  were  lifiO  members.  the  first  settler  of  tliis  vicinity,  who  had  taken  up 

The   Silver  Cup,  presented  by   George   F.   Baer,  a  large  area  of  land. 

Esq.,  for  the  Women's  Golf  Championship,  w-as  won  Union,  from  the  circumstance  of  unilirg  tw"  por- 

in  1902.  190.3,  Ltiil.  IfMir,.  and  190G  b\    .Miss  Eliza-  tions  of  territory  in  nirniing  the  township,  oiu-  frnm 

bcth  Smink;  in  19i)7  bv  Mi^s  Margaret  Moss,  and  Lancaster  county,  enihracing  about  .").(iOO  acri-s.  and 

in  1908  by  Mr.«.  Caroline  I  )err  .Arciicr  ;  ;iiu!  the  Sil-  '^''<'   other    from    Chesu-r   county,    embracing   ali'U-.t 

ver  Cup  presented  bv   V.   C.   Smink,    for  tnc   Men's  7.')<)0  acrc'^. 

Golf  Chamj)inuship.  w.i-  won  in  1902,  1!Mt.5  and  1907  Spriiii;.  from  the  circumstance  of  a  large  spring 

by  Alexander  1".  Si.iidi ;  in  190:;  and  190-i  by  .\.  Ellis  of  water,  situated  near   the  central   portion  of  ttie 


,  >',;.tT       ;'vj  ,}:: 


■f.VH    .H    .■-■::■•'. '.U^ 


■  ^ ,  .  i  ^  ii'iJ 


■T         .[     ■      -;,.,<:  ^ 


TOWNSHIPS 


309 


township,  which  frequently  disappeared  or  sank 
away  in  dry  weather,  on  account  of  the  hme-tone 
fissure. 

This  formatiun  v.  as  the  only  new  township  estah- 
hshed  in  this  section.  A  previous  effort  had  been 
made  in  18i-j  for  the  division  of  Robeson  townsliip, 
and  though  >uceessiul  by  petilion  to  the  court,  the 
proceedings  were  set  aside  by  a  pubhc  election,  which 
was  held  on  March  7,  ISKI.  Tlie  establishment  of 
the  new  township,  named  llay-creek  bv  the  court, 
after  the  strong  stream  of  water  in  this  vicinity, 
developed  so  much  opposition  that  the  objectors, 
headed  by  I^evi  B.  Smith,  of  Joanna  Furnace,  se- 
cured the  i)assag'e  of  an  Act  i>f  As.^embly  by  the 
State  Legislature  which  directed  the  submission  of 
the  question  to  public  vote,  and  the  vote  was  unan- 
imous against  the  division  of  the  tov/nship. 

Boroughs. — The  following  boroughs  were  es- 
tablished in  this  section : 

Birdsboro,   in   1872. 
Wyomissing,  in  tHOG. 
West    Rc-acling,    m    1907. 
Mohnton.  in   1907. 
Shillington,    in    IOCS. 

Waterworks  liave  been  established  at  the  bor- 
oughs named,  excepting  the  last,  which  is  supplied 
from  Mohnton. 

Towns. — The  following  towns  are  situated  in 
thi.^'   section  : 

Name 

Alleglienyvillc     Cl*iO) 


Beckersville  Cl.>:,->) 
Browerville  (ISjn)  . 
GciBcrtovn  (lb2S) 
Gibr.iUar  (l'3.j)  .. 
GouKlersvilk-  (]SC.i) 
Hendelton  USSO)  . 
MillmoiiL    (ISSo)     ... 


ises  Name  Houses 

20  .Monocacv     (18.32)      44 

s  Jtontiilo"    (isih;,     ]S 

8  Jlcrgan'.own      1)770)      48 

.■;2  Oakbi-onki      flSS.^)      11'. 

7.-)  Scyfert     (ISM)      40 

2ii  Sinkintr    .Spring    (lS:il)     ....2:;0 

24  Snrinemont     (ISn.'O      23 

65  Weit^cK-tlle     IS 

First  Settlkks. — The  firsi  settlers  in  this  sec- 
tion were  Welsh,  and  it  is  believed  that  they  took 
up  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Morgantown  before  ITOO, 
having  migrated  up  the  Schuylkill  \'ailey  from  the 
Welsh  settlements  in  Chester  county.  Its  earliest 
settlers  along  the  western  bank  of  the  river  were 
S.wedes,  they  having-  entered  the  section  opposite 
the  Molatton  settlement  in  Amity  township  sliortly 
after  ITOO.  The  Welsh  settlers  were  numerous  and 
took  up  large  quantities  of  land  before  1T40.  The 
townsliip  of  ("aernarvon  was  erected  in  1T29  :  Cuni- 
ru,  in  17o7  :  and  Brecknock,  in  1711.  the  nnmcs 
evidencing  the  nationality  of  the  settlers.  A  num- 
ber of  English  settlers  also  found  tiieir  way  to  the 
central  portion  of  Robeson  before  1740. 

Highways. — This  section  is  intersected  by  many 
roads,  the  following  being  the  most  prominent : 
Schuylkill  road,  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill, from  the  mouth  of  the  Tuipehockcn  creek, 
via  Flying  Hill  and  Birdsboro  to  the  Chester 
county  line ;  the  Morgantown  road,  via  Green  Tree 
Tavern  and  the  Plow  Tavern,  to  .Morgantown  ;  New 
Holland  road,  from  Reading,  via  .Angelica  and 
Knaucr's,  to  New  Holland;  an!  t'n  Lancaster  ri^ad. 
frOH)  Read.ing  via  .Shilhngton,  hive-mile  !r(>u--e  and 
Gouglersviile  to  .Adamstown. 

1     Laid    out    a5    C*a!<ir.n  I. 


R.vii.R0.\us. — The  Rcadiiii:;  &■  Coliiinbia  Railroad 
was  constructed  in  l.stii,  extending  from  Reading 
westwardly  through  Spring  township  to  Sinking 
Spring,  and  southwardly  to  the  Lancaster  county 
line,  a  distance  of  eight  miles. 

The  Lebanon  I'aUcy  Railroad  was  extenfled 
through  Spring  township  in  IS.jT; 

The  ]\'ihuingto)i  &  Xorthcni  Railroad,  in  1870. 
extending  from  Birdsboro  southwardly  to  Chester 
county  line,  a  distance  of  ten  mile-;  and  in  1871 
to  'T'oplar  Xeck"'  on  the  High  farm  northwest- 
wardly,_a  distance  of  six  miles. 

Trolley  Lines. — The  Reading  and  Southwestern 
Street  Railwa)-  wa^  constructed  in  181)0,  in  Cumru 
tiAvnship,  from  Reading  to  Mohmon,  a  distance 
of  five  miles;  and  in  1804  extended  to  Adamstown, 
a  tii^tance  of  five  miles. 

The  Black  Bear  line  extended  in  I'JOi  to  Birds- 
boro, via  Seyfert,  in  Robeson  township,  a  distance 
of  four  miles. 

C.\x.-\L. — The  Schuylkill  canal  was  constructed 
in  1828,  in  Robeson  and  Union  townships  along 
the  river  to  the  Chester  county  line,  a  distance  of 
nine  miles ;  one  level  of  six  miles  from  the  Big 
Dam  to  i'lirdsbou) ;  and  another  level  of  eight  miles 
to  Laurel  Hill,  some  distance  bevond  the  county 
line. 

F^.\Ki.Y  Tn'dustuiks. — Three  iron  works  were  es- 
tablished in  Robeson,  and  one  in  l.'nion,  before 
1800,  as  follows:  B.ird's  Forge,  1740;  Gibraltar 
Forge.  1770;  Joanna  Furnace,  1700;  Hopewell  Fur- 
nace, 170."). 

Establishments  at  the  first  tv.o  places  have  con- 
tinued in  operation  uniil  the  piesent  time,  but  the 
furnaces  were  abandoned  and  dismantle^',  many 
years  ago. 

Numerous  grist-mills  were  put  in  operation  by 
the  early  settlers  along  the  \Vyomis.^ing  creek  for  a 
distance  of  seven  miles,  which  evidoices  their  ap- 
preciation of  the  stream  for  its  valuable  water- 
power. 

.Sui!URF..\x  Towns. — 'The  first  attempt  at  estab- 
lishing suburban  towns  in  this  section  wa«  made 
by  George  Frill,  about  1870,  he  having  purchased 
the  Leinbacli  (formerly  Bell)  farm,  situated  along 
the  Schuylkill  river,  to  the  west  of  Reading,  which 
came  to  be  caded  Wc^-t  Reading,  and  as  such  it 
was  established  as  a  borough  in  1907. 

Shortly  aftenvard  (1874)  a  number  of  cap- 
italists at  Reading  purchased  the  Muhlenberg 
farm  along  the  Schuylkill  river,  to  the  south  of 
Reading,  which  they  laid  otT  into  building  lots 
(about  50(1)  and  called  Millmont  (translation 
of  the  name  Muhlenberg,  mill-at-the-moun- 
tain).  Some  lots  were  sold,  bin  the  county 
aulhoriiies  then  refusing  to  erect  a  brid.cre  across 
the  river  at  the  foot  of  South  Sixth  street,  the 
e-^talilishmenl  of  a  town  there  was  n<it  a  success, 
auff  their  continued  refusal  has  kept  the  place  back- 
ward. The  construction  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Schuvlkill    \'allev    railroad    through    the    proposed 


i  .::■■:■.( 


(   71    h  /:  /.).:.■>: 


.,:■.'(: 


310 


HISTORY   OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PENNSYLVANIA 


town  in  ISSl  encouraged  the  erectic-n  of  industries 
and  a  large  natural  ice  plant  Lhere.  The  rail- 
road company  named  the  station  '"Orrton"  after 
Tesse  Orr,  one  of  the  founders  of  Orr.  Painter  & 
Co.  The  city  "Disposal  Plant"  is  near  by  along 
the  liver. 

While  this  was  going  on  at  Millmont,  Henry 
T.  Kendall  and  George  Brooke  laid  off  about 
seventy  acres  along  the  Lancaster  road,  two  miles 
from  Reading,  into  lots,  which  they  named  Brook- 
side;  the  George  Bechtel  E.^tate  laid  oft'  about  forty 
acres,  and  named  it  Oakbrook,  where  a  post-office 
was  established  in  1S07  but  discontinued  in 
190G  on  account  of  the  rural  route ;  and 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Boycr  laid  off  about  fifty-five 
acres  (234  lots)  which  came  to  be  called  "Boyer 
Heights."  Along  the  river,  George  A.  Boycr  es- 
tablished in  ISOS'a  bathing  place  with  100  booths 
for  bathers,  which  came  to  be  very  popular.  It  was 
washed  away  by  a  freshet  in  190^,  and  rebuilt.  For 
several  years  past  efforts  have  been  made  to  annex 
the  land  embracing  tliese  suburban  improvements 
to  Reading. 

Springmont,  in  Spring  township,  along  the  turn- 
pike near  Sinking  Spring,  was  laid  out  by  Benja- 
min Knowles  in  1S05,  and  embraced  950  lots. 

Arlington  Place  was  laid  out  in  Union  township, 
along  Schuylkdl  road,  near  Monocacy,  in  1S95. 

West  Lawn,  in  Spring  township,  along  the  turn- 
pike beyond  Wyomissing,  was  laid  out  by  Irwin  B. 
Dill,  Warren  li.  and  Frank  H.  Fenstermacher  in 
October,  1907,  and  embraced  5G7  lots. 

NOTKWORTHY   ENTKRPJUSES 

Henuf.l  H.\t  Factoey  was  established  in 
Cumru  ncai  Alohnsviile,  in  1878,  and  has  been 
operated  by  George  Hendei  and  sons  since  then. 
Hands  employed,  250. 

Mii.LMONT  Works. —  Orr  &  ScmboTX'cr  erected 
a  plant  in  Cumru  in  ISSl,  for  the  manufacture  of 
engines,  and  have  been  very  successful.  The  firm 
was  incorporated  in  1890.  They  employ  from  220 
to  250  hands. 

The  Prizcr-Paintcr  Stove  Company  started  the 
manufacture  of  stoves,  ranges  and  heaters  at  Mill- 
mont in  1S99  in  a  large  building  previously  occu- 
pied by  Orr,  Painter  &  Co.,  in  the  same  business. 
They  emplov  300  hands. 

The  Chaiitrell  Tool  CompaJix  was  tirst  started  in 
1888,  at  Reading,  and  after  carrying  on  business 
there  for  four  years,  removed  to  Millmont.  They 
manufacture  household  specialties,  and  builders' 
hardware.     Hands    employed,  KIO. 

Belt  Link,  extended  through  Spring  and  Cumru 
townships,  along  and  crossing  the  Schuylkill,  in 
1901,  and  opened  for  traffic  in  1902,  for  the  purpose 
of  relieving  the  great  congestion  of  traffic  on  the 
main  line  of  the  P.  i^  R.  R.  The  length  through 
this  section  is  tive  milt  s. 

Icr.  Pl.'-nts. — The  .liii^cHca  Ice  Conipanv  was 
orga!iizcd  in  18SG  and  then  established  its  first 
plant   at    Millmont   for   storing   natiiral   ice.      Sub- 


sequently it  secured  additional  plants  along  the  An- 
gelica creek;  total  storage  capacity.  CO,00U  tons. 

Mt.  Penn  Ice  CoDipany  established  a  plant 
on  the  farm  of  William  J.  Shalter  in  Cumru,  on 
Flying  Hill  creek,  in  19U2,  and  enlarged  it  in  1904. 
Total  storage  capacity,  7,000  tons. 

GiL'.R.^LTAR  Iron  Works,  established  about  1770 
in  Robeson  and  maintained  ever  since.  The  Sey- 
fert  family  became  connected  with  the  plant  in 
1S35,  and  has  operated  it  with  the  rolling-mill  at 
Seyfert  on  the  W.  &  N.  railroad  since  18S2. 

Trap  Rock. — A  large  quarry  was  opened  a  mile 
south  of  Birdsboro  in  ]S93  by  Dyer  &  Company,  of 
Norristown,  on  property  of  tl:e  E.  &  G.  Brooke 
Iron  Company,  and  has  been  carried  on  verv  exten- 
sively ever  since.  They  operate  four  crusher  plants 
and  produce  daily  from.  2,000  to  2,500  tons 
of  crushed  material,  of  various  siv;es,  which  is 
shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  count: y.  They  emplov 
from  120  to  150  hands. 

The  Schuylkill  f'^alley  Stone  Company  was  or- 
ganized in  1907,  by  capitalists  of  Birdsboro,  Nor- 
ristown and  Philadelphia,  who  established  a  large 
crusher  plant  in  I'nion  township,  one  mile  south  of 
Monocacy,  with  a  complete  equipment  for  supply- 
ing crushed  stone  and  Belgian  blocks  in  great  quan- 
tities. A  railroad  siding  has  been  extended  from 
the  Pennsyhania  railroad  to  the  plant.  Over  half 
a  million  dollars  has  been  expended  thus  far  in 
this  enterprise. 

MoNTELLO  Brick  Works  was  started  by  A.  A. 
Gery  in  1891  at  Montello,  i.i  Spring  township,  a 
mile  south  of  Sinking  Spring,  for  the  manufactuie 
of  vitrified  brick.  In  1899,  a  second  plant  was  es- 
tablished at  Wyomissing;  and  in  1905  the  adjoin- 
ing plant  of  the  Reading  Shale  Brick  Company 
was  purchased. 

Garbage  Peant. — In  1902,  a  plant  was  estab- 
lished in  Cumru,  a  mile  south  of  Grill  village,  to 
dispose  of  the  garbage  collected  at  Reading,  which 
is  delivered  there  by  teams. 

Electric  Plant. — .The  iNIetropolitan  Electric 
Company  has  secured  property  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Wyomissing  creek  and  has  arranged  to  establish  a 
large  and  powerful  plant  on  this  side,  opposite 
Reading  in  this  section,  for  supplving  power  and 
light. 

PooRiiorsE.  established  in  Cumru  in  182."'i,  by 
the  county  of  Berks,  for  the  poor  pec>ple  of  the 
county.  Various  improvements  were  marie  until 
187-1.  The  farm  contains  over  400  acres.  It  has 
been  maintained  there  ever  since  by  county  appro- 
priations. 

IvEAinxr.  Disposal  Plant,  established  in  Cumru 
along  the  river  bclow^  the  city,  in  189-1.  at  a  cost  of 
$130,000,  for  the  purpose  of  disposing  of  the  sew- 
age by  a  process  of  tiltiation.  }>um;K'd  there  froir 
the  foot  of  Sixth  street. 

Fektilizer  Works,  erected  in  Cumru  tou-n^hip 
near  the  "r.ig  Dam"'  in  190.-).  .\  phosphate  works  IkhI 
been  carried  on  prc\  in;i'ily  for  several  y<.ars  at  N^  y- 


'   ■  -  -v;;  >f'      ■     ''''^    ■■■' 


rcr 


qfiT"'>     .  !i    ' xti-.u.      .'.ufj'-.v,  ;    y.-.-'Yt 


r   hv-lf: 


FAMILY  REUNIONS 


311 


oniissing,  which  was  discontinued  on  account  of  ad- 
verse litigation. 

Globe  Rkxdekix(1  Compaxv. — In  January,  1909, 
Dr.  M.  R.  Adam,  Dr.  G.  S.  Rothcrmel,  John  G. 
Rhoads  and  Wilson  Rothermel  organized  this  com- 
pany for  manufacturing  various  oils,  fertilizer  pro- 
ducts and  poultry  foi'>d  out  of  slaughter-house  offals 
and  the  carcasses  of  dead  animals.  They  estab- 
lished their  plant  in  the  Angelica  barn  at  ^lillmont, 
adjoining  the  "Disposal  Plant,"  one  mile  south  of 
Reading.  They  employ  four  hands  and  ship  their 
productions  to  all  parts  of  the  country. 

Country  Homes.- — Costly  country  homes  of  Jo- 
siah  Dives,  -Richmond  L.  Jo'ies,  Mrs.  Catherine 
Archer,  Herbert  M.  Sternbergh,  George  Horst  and 
Jacob  Nolde,  in  Cumru  township,  are  worthy  of 
special  jTiention. 

Polish  Convent. — A  large  institution  w-as 
founded  in  Cumru  township,  beyond  ]\Iillniont.  by 
the  "Bernardine  Sisters  of  The  Third  Order  of  St. 
Francis,  of  Reading,  Pa.,"  in  1905,  for  the  purpose 
of  educating  teachers  for  Polish  parochial  schools, 
in  difterent  parts  of  the  United  otates,  being  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  Convent  which  had  been  carried  on 
several  years  on  "Flying'-  Hill."  An  orphanage  is 
included,  which  had  fifty  girls  in  1909.  Sixty-five 
teachers  are  connected  with  this  Vvorthy  institution, 
who  are  sent  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States  where 
needed  to  carry  on  Polish  schools.  This  is  the 
"Mother  House"  of  the  Order  in  the  United  States. 


The  property  embraces  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  the 
value  is  about  $<lo,UOU. 

Stock  Farms.- — The  Hillside  Stock  Farm  of 
W.  Harry  Orr,  of  Reading,  was  established  in 
Spring--  township  in  1S93,  for  the  purpose  of  rais- 
ing high-bred  horses,  breeding  from  the  Ashland- 
Wilkes  stallion  particularly,  whose  colts  have  de- 
veloped remarkable  speed  on  the  track.  The  farm 
embraces  160  acres,  situated  along  the  Cacoosing 
creek,  two  miles  sc>uth  of  Sinking  Spring. 

The  Spring  Valley  Stock  Farm  of  Abner  S.  Dey- 
shcr,  of  Reading,  was  established  in  1902,  in  the 
southern  portion  of  Spring  township,  a  mile  west 
of  Gouglersville,  along  the  head  waters  of  the  Little 
]\Iuddy  creek.    The  farm  comprises  nearly  '.200  acres. 

State  Police. — A  "Barracks"  was  established  in 
Cumru  in  1905  by  the  State  Police  for  Troop  C,  but 
was  removed  to  Pottsviile  May  oJ.  lUOO. 

State  Road. — A  section  of  State  Road,  three 
miles  in  length,  was  constructed,  in  IIrio,  in  Cumr-.i 
on  the  road  from  Reading  to  Shillington.  It  was 
the  first  piublic  improvement  of  this  kind  in  Berks 
county.     [See  Chapter  II.] 

.Milk  Station. — H.  Dolfinger,  of  Philadelphia, 
established  a  superior  milk  station  at  Joaimaon  the 
W.  &  N.  railroad,  in  July.  190!).  It  Is  a  large  two 
story  brick  building,  equipped  with  the  latest  im- 
provements for  cooling  the  milk.  A  large  ware- 
house and  ice-house  are  connected  with  the  plant ; 
also  a  dam.  John  W.  Jacobs  (who  had  been  in  the 
coal  and  ice  business  there  for  many  years)  is  the 
manacer. 


CHAPTER  XIII -FAMILY  REUNIONS 


FIRST  FAMILIES 

The  following  article,  prejiared  by  the  compiler 
of  this  history  and  published  in  the  "Historical 
Register  of  Interior  Pennsylvania,"  January,  1883. 
is  regarded  as  applicable  to  this  important  chapter: 

You  have,  no  doubt,  been  already  in  a  forest.  There, 
in  looking  over  the  vast  collection  of  trees,  you  saw,  at 
■different  places,  grqat  oaks  standing  like  hoary  sentinels 
tluit  witnessed,  as  it  were,  the  coming  in  and  going  r.ut 
of  years  until  they  luimbered  a  cjntury.  Their  wonder- 
ful arnis  overshr.dowed  the  earth  below  for  a  hundred 
feet,  and  their  magniticent  tops  stood  high  above  the  many 
trees  surrounding.  Have  you  not  compared  with  one  of 
these  a  great  family,  whose  progenitor,  by  his  powerful 
manhood,  gave  to  society  vigorous  sons  and  daughters, 
who,  like  the  branches  of  the  mighty  oak,  scattered  their 
seed  and  their  strength  all  over  the  land? 

In  every  forest  there  are  such  trees.  In  every  county 
there  are  such  families.  The  giant  oaks  are  conspicuou.s 
^or  their  strength  and  breadth  and  height.  So  are  the 
fann'Iics  conspicuous  in  similar  respects — strength  of  phy- 
sical character,  breadth  of  mind  in  the  various  affairs  of 
life,  height  of  moral  grandeur.  The  former  are  tlu 
pridc_;md  glory  of  the  forest:  so  arc  the  latter  of  the 
counties  which  comprise  our  gre;it  Commonwealth.  Nature 
and  time  have  been  from  the  beeiiming  creating  and  de- 
stroying botii.  but  both  are  still  living  and  ik.ui  i--hing. 
-■\nd  nsthe  one  is  neces;-arv  for  tile  moimt.tins  and  the 
vajltys  in  respect  to  water  and  air  and  the  intercourse  of 


niankind,  so  is  the  other  necessary  for  the  counties  in  re- 
spect to  government,  growth,  dignit}-,  wealth  and  pow-cr. 

Pennsylvania  is  a  great  State.  She  comprises  a  vast 
area  of  territory,  rich  in  forests,  fields  and  mines,  and 
especially  rich  in  internal  improvenienls :  ard  she  is  pos- 
sessed by  a  magnificent  people.  She  is  pioud  of  al!  these; 
and  she  can  well  be  p.roud,  for  her  possessions  are  well 
possessed.  At  the  beginning  of  her  history,  her  soil  at- 
tracted energy  and  industry.  Through  tlicse  siie  has  been 
developed  to  her  present  greatness,  and  these  are  still  im- 
proving her  by  an  e\  er-increasing  greatness.  It  was  a 
fortunate  circumstance  for  her  that  such  characteristics 
first  found  lod^.ment  on  her  territory;  and  fortunate,  tco, 
that  they  transmitted  their  virtues,  without  wandering  a-.vay. 
from  generation  to  generation.  She  still  holds  to  herself 
the  blood  of  the  fir.--t  settlers.  She  is  therefore  distinctive- 
ly I'ennsylvanian  in  settlement,  in  growth,  in  wealth,  and 
in  government.  Her  sons,  to  a  very  great  degree,  possess 
all,  control  all.  The.--e  constitute  her  great  families.  They 
are  all  distinctive  as  they  are  conspicuous.  They  appear 
in  manufactures  and  trade  as  well  as  in  agriculture;  and 
they  are  as  distinguished  in  jurisprudence  as  in  legisla- 
tion. 

Pennsylvania  was  formed  and  named  in  1GS2.  Then 
three  counties  were  set.  ajiart — Bucks.  Chester  and  Phila- 
delphia. Within  a  score  of  years  afterward  a  great  feeling 
in  her  behalf  was  developed,  attribut.dile  mainly  to  th': 
wisdom  and  excellence  of  the  i>o!icy  of  William  Penn.  It 
induced  limidrcds,  even  thousands,  to  immigrate  hiliici. 
Uiioii  landing,  niaiiv  proceeded  nor!!r.\  ardly  and  north- 
westwardly.     Settlements    succeeded    each    other    rapidly. 


.1  .   •  '^L       .  ,      ■  '  ■  i . 


-  5  i 


(ir;  ■  ^l   '  ,.;;ii::«.  ■:,;i(i:r,  i 


M    ' 


'M-2 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUNTY,    PEXXS^'LVAXIA 


and.  for  conveniens:  in  l.ical  govcrr.nit-n;.  township  or- 
ganisations followcil.  I"'ir  a  p.-rioJ  of  forty-.-^cvcii  years, 
no  additional  conntit-  ii;id  been  f. irined.  'I'hen  >ett!ers 
began  to  fornnilate  tlicni.  In  ITJi).  Lanca>ter  was  erected; 
in  lT-1'.',  York:  in  IT'-n.  Cunilierland ;  in  IT.".-.',  lierks  and 
Xortb.anipton  :  in  ITTl.  Hedfnrd  ;  in  177:.'.  Xi.nluiinberland : 
and  in  177:j.  WestniorL-land.  The^e  were  greeted  ni  her 
history  as  a  colony  mI  (Jrc:it  Kritain.  .\s  an  indeiiendcnt 
State,  tliey  niuhi[,ln.-d  in  rapid  snccession,  numbering  to 
tiiL-  proenl  time  ^iit\-^i\.  ur  axeraging  nearly  one  every 
other  vcar.  Altoyetiier.  tlic  cmmiie.s  innnber  si.\ty-seven. 
In  t.:i.-ii  i..f  tliese  eoniitic-.  local  hi-iory  is  dependent  np>;in 
i:uniiies.  [isp^cially  in  the  Pnixincial  counties,  pr'.miinent 
historical  facts  are  inM-paraine  from  their  respective  lirst 
fEtnilies.  Thi;  leaturL-  !-■■  a.^  [ilainly  perceptible  a>  the 
nu'untain  ridges  uhicii   extend   th.rongh  their  territory. 

In  the  several  respects  mentioned.  Uerks  comity  is  con- 
spicuous. Her  lir.-t  settlers  bee:'n  to  establish  themselves 
aloiisj  the  Schuylkill  river,  several  miles  westward  from  the 
Manatriwny  creek,  between  l7i.O  ar.d  170.'i.  This  district  of 
territory  did  not  then  have  a  name.  It  was  identilied  bv 
being  near  the  .Manatawny.  Xow  it  i.>  called  Amity.  U 
hi'.s  been  so  called  since  il'M.  In  171-',  settlers  began  to 
locate  in  Oley.  Then  this  district  was  so  called.  It  in- 
cluded a  large  area  of  territory,  at  least  sixt>-  tliou>and 
acres.  In  Caernarvi.n,  along  the  bead-waters  of  the  t'oii- 
estoga.  tliey  began  as  early  as  i7Ja;  aloiTZ  th':  Tnlpehocken 
in  1723,  and  along  the  }daitien  creek  ir  17J.;.  The>-  took 
up  tilt  lands,  tir.st  by  warrant  and  surety,  then  followed 
by  paient.  Tliey  possessed  and  improved  tliem  by  cultixa- 
tion,  and  they  gcner.aily  remained  upon  them  until  their 
decease,  wdien  the\'  were  transmitted  by  devise  or  con- 
veyance to  their  cbiidren.  In  many  instances  they  have 
been  handed  down  to  the  tl-.ird.  and  fcurth.  even  fifth 
generalion. 

In  the  Several  fjunrterr.  mentioned,  east,  south,  west,  and 
ni:)rth.  the  descendants  oi  many  of  tlii"  first  scttiers  ar'-- 
still  tlourisbing  in  number,  in  imlnstry,  in  ivtallli.  and  in 
social,  religious,  and  political  iinluence.  In  taking  a 
hasty  glance  over  its  broad  territor\.  I  can  mention  in  the 
eastern  district,  along  the  Maii.itaw  n\  and  its  tvilnitaries. 
the  P.aums,  nertolet-,  iJoonc.--,  IK'Turks,  Egles,  Grie.^emers. 
Cnidii:;,  llartmans,  lb,  rbeins.  ^lochs.  Hunters,  Kauffmans, 
Keiir.s,  Kn;d.>bs,  Lees.  L.einhach<;,  Leshers.  l.ev.uis,  Lin- 
colns,  Lobachs,  Li.dwigs,  Peters.  Foitses,  Reilts,  ivlioinlsci, 
Ritttrs,  Sciine;ders,  Sp.ings.  \'an Reeds.  Yocums,  Voders, 
Weavers,  and  Witmans :  and,  on  the  borckr  along  the 
headwaters  of  the  Perkiomen,  the  I'auers,  Bcchlels,  Ren- 
helds,  fioyers,  Clenmiers.  Khsrs.  Funcks,  G.-;bels,  Gerys.  Greg- 
orys, Reidenaurs.  Rohrbaciis,  Rushes.  Sassamans.  Schtills, 
Schiilt^es,  Stanffers.W'agoners,  Waiters  and  Wellers ;  in 
the  southern  district  along  the  Allc.gheny,  H;iy  creek. 
Little  Conestoga  and  Wyoniissing,  the  Blaiuls,  Clytners. 
E^chclmans,  Evanses.  Ganls.  Geigers.  Grinds.  Harrisons, 
Iluyetts,  Joneses.  Kurtzcs,  Morgans,  Ptnnepackers,  Planks, 
Redcays,  Robesons,  Scarlets.  Smiths  and  Ziemers;  in  the 
western  district,  along  tb.e  'I'uipehocken  and  its  tributaries, 
and  the  Little  Swatara.  the  .Adamses.  .Mthouses.  Hatdorts, 
P'crgers,  Hoeshores.  Bordners.  Hrechts,  Conrads.  Eckerts, 
b'plers,  Deppcns,  Ihmdores.  Enncntrout-.  hisher'^.  Fillers. 
Frantzes,  Grofts.  ilaiiis.  Hicsters,  Keysers.  Kissingers. 
Klingers.  Kricks,  Kurrs,  Livingoods.  Millers.  Xewconiets, 
Obolds,  Polteigcrs.  Ivebers.  Reeds,  Rthrers,  Riegels.  Scharfs. 
Seiberts,  Seltzers,  ShaetTers,  Speichers,  St>oliiis,  Tryons.  I'm- 
benhauers.  Walborns,  Weisers.  Wenrichs.  Wilbelms. 
Womelsdorfs.  and  Zerbes:  aiitl.  in  the  norlhern  district, 
along  the  Maiden  creek  and  its  tributaries,  the  Brobsts, 
Davises,  Dietrichs.  Delongs.  Dreibelbises,  DunkeK,  Ger- 
nants.  Greenawalds,  Grims,  Malms,  HefTners,  lieinlys, 
Ilottensteins,  KautTmans,  Kaerchers,  Kellers,  Kemps,  Kief- 
fers,  Kirbys,  Kutzes.  Leibys.  Lenharts,  Lcvans.  Merkels, 
Mertzes.  P'arvins.  Penroscs,  Piersons,  Prices,  Kotheiiberg- 
crs,  Rothennels.  Sajlors,  Sch.aetYers,  Shnlters.  Sh.appels. 
Shoinos,  Starrs,  Trexler.^,  Wanners.  Wcilers.  iiul  /:ich- 
ariases  Oiticrs  could  bo  nu-tntoneil,  but  tlirsr,  howevei. 
stand  out  proininentiy  in  I'tie  eieveioiir.ieiit  ox  ;be  comity 
frc>in  the  first  setlUnients  .'f  the  .-.ev.Tal  district.-  to  the 
present  time. 


The  great  majoritv  of  the  descendants  have  contiiuuil 
persistently  engageil  in  agriculture  upon  or  in  the  vicinite 
of  the  eiriginal  settlements.  Si.>iiie  moved  ti>  other  di-- 
tricts  of  the  county:  others  to  R' adiiig.  .Many  sons  :ind 
daugliter-  migrated  to  the  West  and  settled,  particularly  in 
(Jl'.io.  Indi.-'.na,  b'w:,.  Wisconsin,  Kansas  and  Colorado. 
Some  of  the  sons  turned  to  the  professions — divini:.y, 
law.  and  medicine,  in  which  they  shone  with  more  or  k-s-: 
distinction:  others  to  trades  and  maniifaciures,  in  wh.ich 
they  realized  rich  rew;irds  for  their  industry  and  v.eli- 
directcd  energ_\'.  In  tracing  down  all  the  pursuits  of  life 
carried  un  in  ihe  c^nniiy.  it  is  only  occasionally  th:it  ;i 
ciimplcte  stranger  appears  and  identities  liimself  with  her 
onward  movements  for  any  consider;ible  period  oi  time. 
This  is  especially  the  case  in  our  politics.  The  names  of 
the  old  families  are  continually  on  the  surface.  .\'ot  par- 
ticularl_\  deiiKjn-trative,  they  are  lik'-  expert  swimmers  in 
lieep  water.  They  float  onward  niajeSiicalK'  in  the  great 
stream  of  time:  tlieir  heads  are  alwa\s  visible;  their 
endurance  prevails. 

In  the  developHKiit  of  the  county  through  internal  im- 
provements, the  ttirnjiikes,  cana's,  anfl  railways,  they  are 
likewise  conspicuous.  They  began  earl> ,  if  not  aiiead  of 
time,  not  behind  it.  Their  corresjjoiideiice  in  reference  to 
the  improvement  of  the  Schuylkill  rivei  for  navigation 
bej:in  be. ''ore  1770,  and  their  enterprise  brought  ''oal  to 
licln  during  i!ir  perir.d  <if  tile  I-;e\ olution.  Transportation 
and  its  tacilitation  were  alwa3'S  encouraged  by  them.  Some 
opposition  was  developed  in  the  general  endeavors  to  es- 
tablish new  motive  power,  as  there  is  in  most  enterprises 
everywhere ;  but  they  were  successful.  In  layi:i,g  them 
down,  they  actually  walked  in  the  footsteps  of  their  fath- 
ers: for  the  eaily  settlers,  m  fidlowing  the  streams  to 
locate  their  settlements,  marked  out.  a.^  it  were,  tiie 
course;  for  turnpike-;,  canal-,  and  railways,  which  we're 
••-1  come  after  tiiini.  to  facilitate  the  business  intercourse 
of  their  '■hiklreii.  In  some  respects,  these  improvements 
v.ere  slow;  but  a  consideratif'ii  of  all  things  leads  us  to 
the  coinic'-ioii  that  thev  came  \o  us  iust  when  thev  were 
needed. 

In  a  political  sense  they  have  e.-chibitccl  a  persistent  at- 
tachment to  one  leading  principle.  .\t  lirst  they  were 
anti-i^ederal  bv  a  large  m;ijority.  They  opposed  the  great 
political  mo\ement  whose  object  was  the  establishment  of 
a  Federal  government  and  constitution.  They  preferred 
the  right  of  States,  as  States  uniteil  by  a  confederation,  and 
of  local  self-gGvernment.  Of  these  riglits  they  were  firm 
advocates,  and  though  their  political  sentiments  have  fieen 
transmitted  th.rough  three  geiierati(.:ns  of  government  of, 
by.  and  for  the  people,  and  I'loiigh  party  names  have  to  a 
great  extent  been  transposed,  they  have  preserved  this 
principle.  Through  this  period,  and  through  all  the  ex- 
citern.'-nt  oi  party  strife  for  power  and  policy,  tliey  have 
been  thoroughly  patriotic.  Xow  the  great  majority  are 
"Democrats,"'  a  political  name  created  by  party  leaflers, 
and  by  it  the\-  are  known.  But,  in  reality,  with  them  it  is 
not  name;  it  is  p'-inciple — it  is  self-governnunt.  Ttiis  has 
tiieir  devotion,  their  love,  ihcir  :idniiration.  If,  in  a  hun- 
dred years  to  come,  party  niimes  should  Ix-  re-transposed 
to  what  they  were  a  hundred  years  ago.  the  succeeding 
generations  will  nevertlieless  be  found  on  the  side  of  this 
principle  which  was  advocated  and  unstained  by  their  an- 
cestors. 

This  ide.a  of  local  self-government  won  the  first  familic-, 
and  induced  them  to  locate  here.  It  was  simple.  Tliey 
soon  understood  it.  and  they  carried  it  on  successfully  in 
their  v.arious  local  affairs.  Their  chddren  took  to  it  natur- 
ally, and  naturally  retained  it.  .Alter  the  lapse  of  a  cen- 
tury, it  is  now  a  iLxcd  idea  with  them.  E<lucation  has 
not  changed  it.  The  education,  as  dicttited  by  the  State, 
h.is  not  even  changed  it.  But  this  educational  policy  is,  how- 
ex  er,  iiiaking  app;irent  one  consequence — a  m'liera!  ten- 
dencv  in  ii'..iny  men  for  political  preferment.  It  is  ()r"<luc- 
ine  m.iii_\  i''-o:'t  svii.n.,;  men  iit  xarious  kinds.  .Ml  of  tlum 
iii;mifesi  a  desire  :u  some  period  '^r  other  to  set  ve  the 
St. lie  ii;  one  capacity  or  another,  (')f  course,  this  is  coin- 
niendaMc;    the    St;itc    expects    it — she    eiicoutages    it.      But 


1  ■/' 


FAMILY  REL'XIOXS 


313 


arc  they  seckini?  prct'criiicnt  for  (.•inoluniciu.  i<r  ili^tinction 
through  eainesi  labor  tor  the  public  weal?  Thry  obtain 
the  one  with  ease,  because  it  is  eoiiiinon,  becnusc  the  State 
is  generous.  But  they  seldom  obtain  the  other,  because  it 
is  not  common— because  it  is  v.oi  the  fjitt  of  the  State;  it  is 
rather  the  gift  of  nature,  improved  \>y  time  and  well- 
directed  etTorts.  As  yet  thi?  prir.c'iile  "f  i^overunicnt  in 
them  has  not  been  affected,  lis  \inue  .^ti!l  pjcvails.  In 
politics,  therefore,  as  in  agriculture  a:id  reli,c;ion.  the  great 
majority  of  these  first  families  have  preserved  their 
strength  and  greatness.  Thi^  idea  is  not  the  notion  of 
"State  Rights."  which  the  late  Civil  war  settled.  That 
fallacious  doctrine  had  not,  in  fact,  their  ad\ocacy,  though 
they  had  been  identitied  with  the  party  that  was  Kil  on  by 
certain  leaders  who  claimed  it  as  a  most  material  part 
of  their  political  creed.  They  pronijitl}-  denounced  seces- 
sion, and  admir.;hly  sustained  th.e  Xational  Governnieiit 
in  her  gigantic  efforts  to  preserve  the  union  of  all  the 
States.  Their  patriotism  was  then  conspicuous  as  it  had 
theretofore  been  in  all  the  military  periods. 

For  upward  of  ten  ycar.'^  the  descendants  of  some 
of  tiie  "First  Families"  above  mentioned  have 
formed  and  held  "Reunions"'  at  dift'erent  places  in 
the  cotmty,  which  have  deveiojjed  not  only  j;rcat 
■interest  in  genealogy  and  genealogical  research.  l)ut 
also  much  sociability  and  ac(|uaintancesli!]j  amongst 
members  of  the  res])ective  families  from  all  parts 
of  the  county,  indeed,  from  all  parts  of  the  United 
States.  The  following  fatiiilies  are  among  the  more 
prominent  which  have  kept  up  tlieir  reunions  with 
much  sticccss  and  are  therefore  worth}  of  ^pcciai 
mention : 

I5.\Ki<. — The  l'>aer  family  of  I'crks  anil  --urround- 
iiig  counties  is  one  of  tiie  very  large  families,  which 
has  had  large  aimual  gatherings  since  its  reunion 
was  first  organised,  in  ]S!>:).  The  place  of  meeting 
has  been  Kut/.town  Fa.rk,  ai;tl  ihe  histfirian  is  Dr. 
Samuel  A.  Baer,  .V.  M.,  I'h.  D.,  who  with  the  aid 
of  assistants  and  secretaries  has  collected  many 
valuable   records. 

John,  .Melch.ior  and  Christophel  (or  Stoiifcl) 
Baer  came  across  the  ocean  on  the  sl-ip  "I'hoenix" 
in  17  43.  Thev  settled  in  eastern  Penn^ylvanul,  and 
their  descendants  number  today  sever;d  thousand. 
The  exact  relationshi])  between  these  three  immi- 
grants is  uncertain,  but  the  fact  is  established  that 
thev  came  to  America  on  one  ship,  settled  in  the 
same  section  of  the  State,  stroke  tlie  same  language, 
aufl  adhered  to  the  sanie  religious  faith.  .So;iie 
tli'iik  they  were  brothers,  or  at  lea^t  close  relatives. 

Most  of  the  Ikurs  i^f  I'.erks  and  Lehigh  counties 
claim  John  (or  Mans)  I'aer  as  their  ancestor.  De- 
fore  ITott,  he  settled  in  Weisenburg,  which  is  now 
in  Lehigh  county.  He  had  four  children:  John. 
Adam,  Jacob,  and  T.arbara  (who  married  Henry 
Fetter).  John  moved  to  Windsor  township. 
Berks  county,  and  his  descendants  live  in  I  lamburg, 
and  Windsor.  Perrv  anrl  liern  townshijis. 

IMelchior  T'.aer.  the  sect^nd  of  this  trio  of  immi- 
grants, settled  at  Macungie.  Lehigh  county,  and  iiad 
several  large  farms,  fie  had  eight  children,  and 
made  special  Invjuest^  to  Melchior  and  jacolj. 

Of  thc-e,  Mekln'or  I'.aer  married  C  atharine  De-;ch, 
and    thev    had    ten    ciiildren  :    Davi.i,     'acob.    Poll\ , 


1-dizabeth.  Charles,  (jeorge,  Samuel.  Ilenr}-,  Su>an 
and  Catharine. 

Jacob  llaer  (  scm  of  Melchior,  .Sr. )  likewi-e  had 
a  numcrou-,  citTspring.  lie  had  eleven  children: 
Rachel,  (leorge,  josepl;,  Melchior.  Samuel,  Susan. 
Judith,  Ephraim,  Elizabeth,  .Manasses  and    Picnjamin. 

The  third  of  the  group  of  iiumigrani  P.aers  was 
Christo]jhel  Paer.  wlio  prior  in  hi^  ci.uning  ti>  .\nier- 
ica  patented  jti<i  acre^  of  land  in  what  i>  now  White- 
hall, i^ehigh  Co..  Pa.  lii.s  history  is  complete.  The 
records  at  P!astou  show  that  lie  was  a  systematic 
business  man  and  possessed  of  great  force  of  char- 
acter. He  was  the  great-grandfather  of  (leorge  F. 
P.aer,  tlie  distinguished  lav/yer  and  railroad  presi- 
dent. His  family  consisted  of  six  chilthx-n  :  Ilein- 
rich,  Melchior,  J(.>lm,  Salome,  .\pol!onia  and  I  acob. 

The  P>aer  family  traces  it.-,  ancestors  to  Zwei- 
briicken,  Germany,  where  a  place  known  for  gener- 
ations as  "Baren  Hittte'"  ("Bruin's  Rest")  is  still 
pointed  out.  Tradition  in  connection  with  tlie  home- 
steatl  at  Zweibriickeji  has  it  that  one  Peter  von  Paer. 
in  the  (rr-tant  jiast,  married  tlie  danghter  ,_)t  a  c-ount 
jialatine,  thus  establishing  rank.  T'he  iainily  coat 
Of  tirms  is  in  the  possession  of  .American  tlescend- 
ants. 

The  Baers  have  large  reunions  and  render  inter- 
esting programs.  They  expect  to  have  their  reunion 
incorporated  and  to  publish  a  family  hi.-torv.  The 
following  are  their  permanent  officer.-  : 

Picsidriit,    tlenry    C.    I'.aer,    Reading.    P.i. 

ru-c~rrcsidc7its.  R'.'c.  John  ?•.  Stotid.t,  >.l:ea'n:,fie.  Pa., 
George  K.  I5aer,  Schwnikville.  i^a., 
John   P.    I>aer,   .Mlentiiwn.    Pa. 

Secretary.  Fred    X.    i-iaer.    KutKtown,    Pa. 

Treasurer,  J.   W.    Fiaer,    Phrienixville,    Pa. 

Historian,  Dr.   Samuel  A.  Baer,  Graham.  Va. 

Bkktolet. — The  Bertolct  family  of  Peim-^ylvania 
was  founded  in  Oley  township.  Pe-ks  eotmly,  by 
two  brothers.  Peter  (I'ierre)  and  John  (Jean) 
I'ertolet.  The  family  in  PVance  has  been  lor  cen- 
turies one  of  the  highest  and  most  honoraljlc  m 
that  country,  many  of  the  name  having  been  dis- 
tinguished personages.  The)'  are  of  noble  rani:, 
and  the  family  seat  was  originally  in  f'ic;irily.  Dur- 
ing the  Reformation  the  P>erlolets  nere  stronglx' 
Protestant,  and  many,  owing  to  Pa]Mst  ])ersecution, 
took  rcfttge  in  otiier  lands.  Some  time  during  the 
Revocation  ]ie:"iod  a  family  of  this  name  tied  from 
Picardy  to  Chateau  d'(  >cx,  in  Switzerland,  and  to 
it  belonged  the  Peter  and  John  who  came  to 
Pennsylvania,  the  former  in  1710.  and  the  latter 
in  ]'7-..'ii.  Both  settled  in  Oley.  The  large  old  fam- 
ily Bible  brought  to  the  Xew  \\'orld  was  s(  I,!  in 
inon  or  1P07.  at  public  ven<lue,  to  Sarah  Ber'ohn,  a 
maiden  lady  of  Oley.  for  $18:P  This  valuable  book 
contains  the  family  genealogy  fop  several  centuries 
The  family  is  traced  back  to  1  ITti. 

In  ITl'ri  Peter  T5ertolet  signed  the  petition  for 
the  erection  of  Olev  town-;hip.  He  died  about  17 -.'i, 
as  is  recited  in  an  apj^lication  for  a  patent  of  his 
kind  ill  I7:'l.  His  wife  Fli/abeth  and  several  ciiil- 
dren survived  him. 


■  M,        11      . 

•I      ■  f.! 


or,,,- 


•  M,       i.-;;.7:     >;■:; 


I , !  ,    I  < 


314 


HIST(.)RV    OF    BERKS    COUXTY,    PENXSYL A'AXIA 


In  ITll  Joan  Bertolet  married  Susanna,  daughter 
of  Duke  Henri  Dc  Harcourt  (l(Jo3-1703),  a  gen- 
eral and  marshal  of  France.  Jean  Bertolet,  owing 
to  political  unrest  and  religious  persecution,  fled  to 
Selz,  in  Alsace,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
for  fourteen  years,  during  which  time  five  of  his 
children  were  born.  Tlience  he  came  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, locating  in  Oley,  near  the  Exeter  line.  Here 
in  1754  he  built  a  large  stone  house  which  is  still 
standing  and  occupied  by  a  descendant.  David  Ber- 
tolet. On  this  original  farm  is  a  private  Bertolet 
burial-ground  where  many  generations  are  buried. 

Jean  Bertolet  was  a  man  of  great  piet\-  and  bencv- 
ole'nce.  lie  prayed  v.-ith  the  Indians  and  performed 
missionary  work  in  liis  section  among  all  classes 
of  men  that  lived  there.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
Moravians  of  Oley,  and  was  on  terms  of  close  in- 
timacy with  leading  men  of  the  church,  especially 
Count  Zinzendorf,  who  j)reached  in  his  house  in 
1741  and  ]74-.\  This  noble  man  and  pioneer  died 
in  17->1.  He  foimdcd  a  numerous  and  honorable 
posterity  and  many  of  his  descendants  have  been 
eminent  m  various  walks  of  life.  Bishop  X.  Bertolet 
Grnbb  and  Jacob  Bertolet  (deceased)  being  notable 
examples. 

The  familv  of  Jean  Bertolet  was  as  follows : 
Abraham  (1712-1 7  iti)  married  Esther  De  Turk; 
Alaria  (1715-1802)  married  Stephen  Barnett ;  John 
("1717-1781))  married  a  daughter  of  Peter  Pallio; 
Esther  (1720- 1790)  married  Dr.  George  I^e  Benne- 
ville ;  Susanna  ( 175'2-l'--'00)  married  Jacob  h'ry ; 
Frederick  (1727-1779)  married  Esth.er,  danghter  of 
Abraham  Lcvan. 

The  Bertolet  fnnn'lv  was  one  of  the  very  first  to 
hold  a  rctmion  in  the  county,  hs  nrst  gathering 
was  held  in  1807  on  ancestral  grourids  in  Oley, 
and  atmuaily  since  tien  at  different  popular  places. 
The  eighth  reunion  was  held  at  (."arsonia  Paik  in 
1905.  The  oflTicers  of  the  Bertolet  Fanidy  Associa- 
tion arc :  , 

President,  Levi  .-\.   Bcrtolcttc. 
Vice -Presidents.  Israel  M.  lU-rtolijt, 
Benjamin   Rertok't. 
Recording   Secretary,   Samncl    V..    I'crtolct.   Esq. 
Corresponding  Secretary.   Daniel   H.    Bertolet. 
Treasurer,   Dr.  Is.iac  11  Ycakel. 

BoYER. — The  Boycr  Fatnih  Reunion  of  Berks 
county  was  founded  by  Dr.  Charl'^s  C.  Boyer.  A.  )>1., 
Ph.  D.,  of  Kutztown,  in  1907,  having  then  held  its 
first  reunion  in  Kutztown  and  the  second  at  the 
Black  Bear  Inn  (near  Reading)  in  1908.  Both 
reunions  were  very  largely  attended  and  proved  a 
success  in  every  way. 

The  historian.  Dr.  Boyer,  of  Kutztown,  is  a  man 
of  cultured  mind,  energetic  and  indefatigable,  and 
his  researches  will  nndinibtedly  result  in  the  produc- 
tion of  a  concise  history  of  the  "Boyer  Family  in 
America."  Its  hi-tury  rlates  back  to  ancient  times, 
and  is  traced  to  many  countries.  The  name  is 
variously  spelt.  T'u-  I;i-torian  \v.\-  ]irrj)nrcd  fam- 
ily charts  and  trees  nf  tin-  different  I)ranchcs  whicli 
were  on  exhibition  at  the-  reunion  in  1!KiS. 


Dr.  Boyer's  historical  address  at  the  last  meeting 
was  a  feature  and  gave  evidence  of  careful  research. 
He  has  a  deserved  reputation  for  always  doing 
things  well. 

The  officers  of  the  reunion  are  as  follows : 

President,   CliarUs    Boxer,   Tataniy,    Pa. 
Secretary,   Jaco!)   L.    Drunihellcr,    Reading.    Pa. 
Treasurer,  .\braham   P.o\er.   Schofer,    Fa. 
Historian,  Dr.   C.   C.   Boycr,   Kutztown,    Pa. 

Croi.l. — The  descendants  of  John  Croll  held  their 
fifth  biennial  reunion  in  Idancock  Park  in  1908.  At 
this  reimion  Martin  S.  Croll,  of  Toplon  (father  of 
William  A.  Croll,  the  present  treasurer  of  Berks 
county ) ,  read  a  paper  on  the  previous  Croll  re- 
unions, the  first  of  which  was  held  in  1395,  being 
one  of  the  very  first  meetings  of  this  charact<.r  in 
this  comity. 

The  Crolls  are  descended  from.  Philip  and  Ulrich 
Croll,  who  came  to  this  country  on  the  same  ship, 
in  17:.-*8,  on  which  Egidius  Grim  (the  forebear  of  a 
large   family)    also  emigrated. 

John  Croll,  whose  posterity  held  the  reunions, 
was  a  descendant  of  Philip  Croll.  He  was  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Schlenker)  Croll  and  was 
born  in  Greenwich  in  181  1,  being-  of  the  third  gen- 
eration of  American  Crolls.  The  Grimville  Church, 
in  Greenwich  township,  is  mentioned  in  old  docu- 
ments as  the  '"Crolle  Kirchc,"  so  named  after  this 
family. 

Rev.  P.  C.  Croll,  A.  M.,  in  1887,  publishcl  "The 
Croll  Family,"  a  volume  of  10(1  pages,  as  a  souvenir 
of  the  fiftieth  anniversarv  of  the  marriage  e>i  John 
and  Catharine  Croll. 

DKi.,0NG. — The  DcLong  familv  of  Berks  county 
was  founded  here  by  Peter  Del.ong,  who  was  a 
pioneer  of  the  county  and  a  settler  in  Maxatawny 
township,  near  Bowers  Station.  He  was  a  free- 
lioldcr  of  Maxatawny  prior  to  1745  and  his 
neighbor  was  Henry  Luckcnbili.  Peter  l^eLong 
lived  near  the  present  Christ  Reformed  (i^ePong's) 
churcli,  at  the  jilace  later  owned  by  Reuben 
Grim.  He  died  about  17G0,  and  his  remains 
rest  at  the  church  named  after  his  descemiants.  He 
reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely:  John, 
Henry,  Jacob,  Michael,  .-Xbraham,  Barbara  and 
Frederick. 

The  DcLong-  family  is  most  numerous  in  Maxa- 
tawny township.  It  is  thrifty  and  thoroughly  rep- 
resentative of  the  pioneer  stock  of  this  region.  Its 
members  have  been  holding  reimions  since  1900, 
with  interesting  iiroceedings.  The  sixth  meeting 
was  held  at  Kutztown  Park  in  lOiK!,  and  the  his- 
torical address  rin  this  occa.■^il^n  was  delivered  by 
Rev.  Prest(in  .A.  Del.ong,  of  Chamhcrsburg.  Ad- 
dresses were  also  (Ulivered  by  Rev.  William  V. 
DeLoug.  of  .\nnvilK\  and  l^ichard  j.  DcLinig.  of 
Philadelphia. 

.At  the  third  reunion  Rev.  John  V.  DeLong  de- 
livered an  able  ;idd'-e-;^  (in  the  pirmic'-.  who  came 
lo  Berks  comity  from  I'l'^ter  county,  Xew  York. 

The  officers  of  tlie  reunion  are; 


:,d    ,!o.i:j.' 


o    ''':  ir 


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FAMILY  REUNIONS 


315 


President,  Joseph   DcLong,  Topton,   Pa. 

Secretary,   Irwin   DeLong,   Tcpum,    Pci. 

Treasurer,  A.  F.  DeLong,  Km/.town,  Pa. 

Executive    Committee,    Dr.    W.    D.    DeLong-. 
James   DcI.on.14, 
Rev.  Calvin   .\1.   DeLong, 
Solomon    DeLong, 
Martin    S.    Crnll, 
Rev.    William    F.    DeLong. 

DiF.ROLF. — The  fourth  annual  reunion  of  this 
family  was  held  at  Bechtcl's  Park,  Ticar  Gabelsville, 
July  21.  1909,  and  over  three  hundred  descendants 
were  present  from  Boyertown,  Readintr,  and  other 
places  in  Berks  county,  also  from  Pennsburg,  East 
Greenville,  Harrisbury  and  other  places  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  followiufj  officers  were  elected : 
President,  John  H.  Dierolf,  Barto.  Pri. 
Vice-Presidents,    John    Strunk,    Gilbertsvillc.    Pa., 

Samuel   ]')icrolf.  East  Greenville,  Pa. 
Secretaries,    Mrs.    Henry    Mertzler, 

Benjamin  dinger,   Pottstown,   Pa., 
.Ammon    Dierolf,    \V3C'mii.sing.    Pa., 
Francis    Sallzcr,    I'ottstov.n,    Pa., 
Williant   Deroif,   Gilbertsville,    Pa. 
Corresponding    Secretary,   Levan   Dierolf. 
Treasurer,   William   L)iero!f. 

Dietrich.- — The  Dietrich  family  held  its  first  re- 
union at  Lonhartsville,  Pa..  Sept.  "iij,  1903.  This 
meeting-  was  well  attentlt'd  and  nuich  interest  was 
nianifc;.tcd.  A  permanent  organization  wa^  effected, 
and  ai  the  instance  of  the  founder.  William  j.  Diet- 
rich, the  na^ne  "Dietrich  Family  Association"  was 
adopted.  T'le  second  reunion  was  held  in  Kutztown 
Park  in  1901,  more  than  two  thousand  five  hundred 
people  being  j>resent — reputed  to  have  been  the 
largest  famih-  gatliering  ever  held  in  Pennsylvania. 
Eight  States  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada  were 
represented.  At  the  third  reunion,  held  in  Kutz- 
town Park  in  1906^  over  three  thousand  people  were 
in  attendance.  Seventeen  States,  as  well  as  Canada 
and  Mexico,  were  represented.  "The  Dietnchs  in 
Europe  and  America,"'  an  address  by  Rev.  \V.  W. 
Deatrick,  A.  ?d.,  Sc.  D.,  was  a  feature  at  this 
gathering.  This  Family  Association  is  not  merely 
a  local  organization,  but  it  has  members  in  most  of 
the  States  of  the  Union.  It  has  been  the  means  of 
arousing  much  enthusiasm  in  the  matter  of  re- 
-  tinions  of  other  families  and  of  stimulating  research 
into  family  genealogy. 

The  Dietrichs  trace  their  origin  to  Dietrich  A'on 
Bern,  454-r).?6,  the  Champion  of  Civilization,  and 
King  of  the  Ostrogoths  in  southern  Europe,  ^[em- 
bers of  the  family  were  leaders  in  the  Crusades,  in 
peace  and  in  war,  and  in  the  Reformation  they 
helped  to  make  history.  The  Dietrichs  are  promi- 
nently mentioned  in  the  annals  of  Germany,  and  six 
distinct  families  in  the  German  Emjiire  have  coats 
of  arms. 

The  asscxriation.  having  collected  considerable 
data,  has  nearly  complete  records  of  the  following 
immigrant  forebears:  Johannes,  .-\dam,  John  Lud- 
vvig.   Ellas  and  John  Jacob  Dietrich, 

1  he  Dii'trichs .  f>f  Berks  county  arc  descendants 
of  lohanne--.  Adam  and  Conrad  Dietrich. 

Johann-:'".  Diotricli  came  to  America  on  the  ship 
"Phoenix"  in  ];.M.  and  about  17(iO  bcttied  in  (ireen 


wich  township,  where  he  died  in  1785,  in  which 
year  his  widow,  Barbara,  took  out  letters  of  admin- 
istration. They  had  three  sons:  Johannes,  Jacob 
and  John  Adam.  The  first  two  located  in  the  upper 
end  of  this  State,  and  John  Adam  lived  and  died 
in  Greenwich  township,  where  he  was  a  farmer.  His 
wife  Susanna  Arnold  bore  him  twelve  children,  as 
follows:  Maria,  Rebecca.  Jacob,  Isaac.  Elizabeth. 
Annie.  Gideon,  Adam.  :\Ioses,  Rufcna,  Catharine 
and  Reuben. 

Adam  Dietrich  (1740-1817),  a  brother  of  [ohan- 
nes,  crossed  the  ocean  on  the  -'Britannia,"  landing 
ai  Philadelphia,  Oct.  S(3,  17G7.  He  was  accompanied 
by  his  brother.  Casper  Dietrich,  v/lio  first  located  in 
Northampton  county.  Pa.,  and  some  time  after  the 
Revolutionary  war  settled  in  \'irginia.  Adam  Diet- 
rich was  a  sergeant  in  Capt.  Jacob  Baldv's  Companv 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  located  in  :\Iaxa- 
tawny  first,  but  later  because  of  good  water  settled 
in  Greenwich  township.  He  was  a  farmer.  His 
v.-ife,  .Maria  Barbara  Steinbruch,  bore  him  the  fol- 
lowing twelve  children:  .Adam,  Georg.  r^Iaria  Bar- 
bara (married  Johannes  Zimmerman),  Catharine 
n-iarned  Rev.  Johann  Michael  Schmidt),  lacob, 
Michael,  Heinrich.  Johan,  a  daughter  that  d'ied  in 
infancy,  Christian,  l^oliy  (Maria  Alagdalcna)  (mar- 
ried a  Becker),  and  Beckie  (Anna  .Margaret)  (mar- 
ried Jacob  Heft:'ner). 

Conrad  Dietrich  (1763-1841)  was  born  in  Balti- 
more. Md.,  and  came  to  Berks  county,  locating  in 
IJcreford  township.  Here  he  married  Elizabeth 
Seisholtz.  from  r^ongswamp  township.  About  179") 
he  and  his  family  came  to  Reading,  where  he  died 
and  is  buried.  The  following  are  four  of  their  nine 
cliildren:  George.  Jacob,  Susan  (married  Henrv 
Fry),  and  Conrad  (born  1798.  died  ISGl,  who  had 
sons  Conrad  and  William  H.,  the  latter  now  living 
in  Reading). 

The  J^ietrich  Family  Association  is  a  fiourishinir 
organization.     Its  success  in  large  measure  is  due 
to  the  efforts  of  the  founder.     The  officers  are : 
President.  Lavvson   G.   Dietrich,    Esq.,   Kut/toun.    Pa 
i-ice-Prcsidcnt.  Henry  O.  K.  Dietrich,  LeniiartsviU-    Pa 
Secretary,  William   T.   Dietrich,  Keadin"    Pn 
Treasurer,    Daniel    F.    Dietrich,    Readinq,    I>a 
E.vecutne  Connrnttec,  Mahlon  C.  Dietrich,  Kempton,  Pa., 
Rev.   W.   W.    Deatrick.    Kutztown' 

Pa,. 
C,  H,  Dietrich.  Hopkinsville,  Kv.. 
*  Jonathan    P.   Dietrich,   Klinesvilie 

Pa., 
C.  Joseph  Dietrich,  La  Grange.  HI., 
Charles    H.    Dietrich,    KLitztown. 
Pa., 
'     ■    '  '  A.    M.    Dederick,    .Alb.-my,    X.    Y., 

Samuel    Drtrick.    Snnhurv.    P.-i., 
.•    „  Harry  A,  Dietrich,   South   Bethle- 

hem.   I'a., 
Joel   D,   Dietrich.  Virginvilie.   Pa., 
Dr.   Charles  J.   Dietrich,   Reading. 
Pa. 

The  Association  has  also  ten  active  Assi  -tant  Sec- 
retaries. An  illustrated  pamphlet,  reallv  a  finely 
gotten  up  souvenir  program,  coT.fains  a  history  o'f 
the  Ass<x-Iatinn.  names  of  its  officers,  and  the  n.-imes 
and    dates    of    emigration    of    t|-.e    sixtv-two    iinnn'- 


(,     -.:]■■>'-■ 


'ilj     ;•.  ir 


'f  *     '■    .  (    ■;••',),  !iiM.  ,i..Vf 


;iu 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTV,    PEXXSYIA'AXIA 


j;raiits;  ;il>o  a  fnpy  oi  the  coal  of  a^inr^  with  an  tx- 
jjlanation  of  !;aine. 

Dries.— The  Dries  lamiiv  held  its  first  reunion 
in  i;iiii;.  in  Kntztoun  Park.  It  iiail,-  from  the 
upper  end  vi  tlie  oounty.  'l"hc  ar.cesl(>r  i.>  .-^aid 
to  have  settled  in  .-\lbany  to\vn^hip.  The  second 
reunion  was  held  in  1!'hs.  also  at  Kutztown.  De- 
sicles  a  large  number  vi  \ice-i)residents  and  assist- 
ant secretaries,  the  followint:;  are  officers: 

President,  V.  nrtlii    \.    I")ries.    l\i;t/tn\v?i.    Pp.. 
V'iec-Fres'uient.  Janus   C.   Dricss,  Oley,   P.i. 
Secretary,  Charlt-s   .\.   Dries,   Mairleii-rrcek,    Pa. 
3/:n(.,'e''"'".  \'v".   .\.    Dric.-..   Rcadint;-.    Pa. 
Histoiliin,   J.    )1l1ht    Dries,    .MoUtou-ii,    Pa. 

Fisiir.R-l  [.\in..rAN. — The  Fisher-llartman  fami- 
lies hokl  joint  reunions  liecause  of  the  intcr-mar- 
riag'es  of  their  members.  They  hold  annual  nieetini;s 
at  Boyertown,  I'a.  They  ha.e  succeeded  in  collect- 
)ng  man}'  record.-.  Their  first  meeting;-  was  held  in 
HiOT,  and  the  r-econd  on  Labor  Day,  lUiis.  The 
officers  of  the  Association  are: 

Presidrrt,   GVur;.;.'   W.    llartmaii. 
!'iee-FresiJeiit/C\.:irki    '1.    Davics. 
Treas-urey .   rn.-nr.t;e    }i.    rlariman. 
Secre'.jvy,  I'.   l-le!ir\-   l-'isiier. 
Historidii,  William 'Ke!il. 

FuuKv. — John  I'nrry,  a  native  of  Europe,  came  to 
America  v.x  17'?7.  In  IT M  i:e  located  in  Tnljte- 
hocken  lownship,  I'.erks  coimly.  of.  a  tract  of  '.'>\Ci 
acres  of  land.  He  had  tuo  son.-,  and  two  uaui^hler.-, 
narnelv  ;  ^.Iichael,  John,  Rosina  I  wife  of  Henry 
Berger)  and  Calharine  (wife  of  Leonard  Emetich). 

Jolin  Furry.  .=on  of  the  forebear,  -settled  or.  the 
west  side  of  the  Sus(;uehatma  river,  i'our  sons 
and  two  daughiters  were  born  lo  him,  tlie  sons  yxins: 
as  follows:  John,  Jonas,  Lawrence  a:id  FJenry.  'j'he 
first  three  upon  their  return  from  a  grist-mil!  ar 
Sunbur} ,  la.,  found  to  their  horror  that  the  Oneida 
Indians  had  killed  anil  scalped  their  parent.s  and 
two  sisters,  and  al.-o  h.urned  dov.  n  the  house  and 
takcTi  a  horse  v.Jtk.  tlx-m.  Tlie  .oungest  son, 
Henry,  they  took  with  them  to  Cana'la,  where  he 
was  afterward  found.  The  three  brothers  buried 
their  parents  and  si.-lers  under  an  aj^ple  tree  and 
came  to  Reading-  where  some  of  the  jK'Sterity  now 
live. 

The  family  held  the  fir>t  reunion  in  1:^0!  and  the 
fourth  at  Carsonia  I'ark  in  lIMi.'s.     Tlie  officers  are. 

President,  Heniy   S.   Fiutv.  nl    l^t.-ulin.u'.   Pa.. 
Vice-President,  John   C.    I'urry.   \e\v   Cuinlierlaiicl.    Pa. 
Secretary,  G.  H.  Furry,  Coopersbtirg,  Pa. 
Treasurer,    Ulysses    I'tirry,    Hethleheiii,    Pa. 
Executive  Co)nmitter.   Tliomns    Furry.   Lionville.    Pa.. 

Harry  and  William  I'"iirry.  Leban- 
on, Pa., 
D.  C.  Furry.  .Vcwnian.Ntown.  Pa.. 
Mrs.  Charles  Furr\.  Lebanon,  Pa.. 
Mrs.  .-\ilani   Furry,   Riehland.   Pa.. 
Mrs.    Sallie    Steijl'icn^.    .Mlentown, 

Pa.. 
Mrs.    Tennie    Shunk.    Phoenixville, 
P'. 

Gkrv. — The  Gery  family,  numerous  in  Hereforil 
town>hip,  Berks  coimt_\,  aiid  in  Montgomery  county, 


wliere  the  forebear  settled  before  the  middle  half 
(•f  the  eighteenth  cenuiry.  ha-  ])een  hohling  aiinu;il 
meetings  since  I'.Hi.-..  The  la.-t  reunion  of  the  faniilv 
\\a<  held  at  Siesholtzville.  The  family  trace.-  us 
lii-tory  to  (Mie  Jacob  Geary  (Gery),  wdio  was  a 
redemptioner,  and  came  into  the  Griesemer  familv 
LO  work  out  his  passage.  Later  he  married  his 
ma-ter's  daughter,  and  they  reared  a  family  who-e 
descendants  are  now  many,  scattered  over  Berks. 
Montgomery  and  Lehigh  counties.    The  officers  are: 

President.  Irvin  C.  Gcry,  Sicsholt/xille.  Pa. 
I'iec-Presidcnt,   William   H.    Sallada,   Hereford,    Pa. 
Seeretiirv,  Jacob  M.  Gerv,  Topton,   Pa. 
AssisliUi't  Seere/arv,  Charles  O.  F.  Treiehler.   Ca-r  rircen- 
ville.  Pa. 

Corresponding  Secretary,  .Milton  ^L  Gery,  Zionsvilie,  Pa, 
r'tnancial  Secretary,  William  B.  iloU,  Seisholt.'.ville,  Pa. 
Treasurer,   Michael    X.   Ger\,    Hereford,    Pa. 

Grim. — The  Grim  family  of  ea.-tein  Penn-ylvania 
was  founded  by  three  brothers,  natives  of  Wurtem- 
berg.  Germany,  (jideon  Grim,  also  kn■,■^vn  and 
name  written  as  Gitti  and  Fgidius  Grimm,  was  the 
first  to  emigrate,  landing  in  Pennsvlvania  in  17"2S. 
His  brothers  Henry  and  Jacolj  followed  in   il'.W. 

Gideon  Grim  located  in  Alacungie  townshi]\  Le- 
hi.gh  county,  at  a  point  where  .Macimgie  and  W'eis- 
enbnrg  townships,  in  Lehigh  countv,  meet  .Ma.xa- 
tawny  townsiiip  in  lU-rks  county.  Flert  he  ovi'iied 
l.dou  acres  of  laud,  which  was  situated  in  the  three 
to\\ii-hip^  mentioned.  It  i-  supposed  that  he  sold 
part  of  this  land  to  hi.-  brijtliers,  wdio  reared  large 
u'unilie>.  t  iideon  Grim  cro.-sed  the  ocean  on  tlie 
srune  vessel  in  whieli  tlie  nrjted  ]Moneer  minidcr  of 
the  Lutheiar,  Chmeh,  J\.ev.  John  Casper  Stover, 
came  to  this  conntrv. 

1  he  (irim  family  i.-  of  patrician  e'rigin  and  long 
seated  in  .Xormandy.  One  branch  established  itself 
m  j\'sace.  whence  "l'"gidus  Grimm"  came  because 
of  religious  persecution  and  as  the  result  of  reading 
an  English  hook  containing  fabulous  accounts  of 
the  Xew  \\'orld.  .\n  interesting  circumstance  at- 
taches to  tlii.-  family  fmni  the  fact  that  an  ancient 
l^edigree,  tracing  the  family  back  to  a  Xorman  baron 
who  hved  in  the  da\s  of  William  the  CoiK[ueror, 
was  brought  by  the  emigrant  to  America. 

The  first  Grim  family  reunion  was  held  at  Han- 
cock, this  county,  in  180T,  at  which  time  the  connec- 
tion numbered  over  one.  thousand  souls.  The  reg- 
ular annual  reunions  in  ii)i)T  and  m  l!)i)8  were  held 
at  Kutrtown  Park,  both  well  patronized.  Prof.  Geo. 
A.  Grim,  superintendent  of  -chools  in  Xorthampton 
county.  Pa.,  delivered  an  historical  address  at  the 
last  gathering.  The  organization  has  succeeded  in 
di-co\ering  a  considerable  number  oi  records. 
.Mi>s  .\nna  'M.  Grim,  of  .Mlentown.  Pa.,  as  secre- 
tary, de-erves  commendation  for  her  eft'orts  in 
establi.-hing  a  family  tree. 

Most  of  the  Grims  in  T^.erks  county  live  in  Alaxa- 
tawny  and  Greenwich  townships  and  in  Kntzte)wn. 
Grimville,  a  village  in  Greenwich  township,  jierpel- 
uales  the  familv  nani'-.  It  contains  a  store,  hotel, 
tannery,  church  and  sclu;ol.  The  vi!':i';e  v,-as 
founded  by   "Col.""   Dar.iel   Grim,  locallv  known  as 


Ii    ,■,!  \yj\ 


'*)>' :    ,  /i;»j 


il  .  ■■•■::j' 


■ni    'P     '4\ll 


':->.   ifv. 


FAMILY  RFX'XIOXS 


317 


•'Der  HclhvecKlcr  (Tirim."  He  was  colonel  ot  the  mil- 
itia of  his  district. 

The  officers  of  the  (jrim  reunion  aie: 

President,  J.  Peter  Grim,  Aikriti>\vn.  Pa. 

First   J'icf-FrcsiJi-itt.  A.   S.   Grim.   .Mleiitoun,   Pa 

^ccoiu!   I'icc-l'rcsidciU.  A.    R.   Grim,   Allcntowii,    Pa. 

Sccrctiiry,  Anna    M.   Grim.    .Vllentuwn.    P;i. 

Treasurer,  C.  R.  Grim.   .MMnierey,    Pa. 

Executive  Committee,  Stanley  Grim, 

Oscar  S.  Grim. 

Dr.   Charles    K.    Grim, 

William  II.  Grim. 

Charles  A.  Grim, 

Jacob  L.  Grim, 

Harry  E.  Grim, 

Walter   J.   Griai,  -   ■'■ 

William  A.  Grim. 

H.aFER. — The  Hafer  family  held  its  first  re- 
union at  Carsonia  I'ark.  Reading,  in  1908.  Much 
interest  was  manifested.  It  traces  its  history 
to  Matliias  Hafer,  or  Hoefer.  Pie  was  a  German, 
and  emigrated  in  171:3  to  Pennsylvania,  locating  in 
what  is  nov\  Rnscomhinanor  townsliip,  Berks  county. 
He  tlrst  settled  in  Alsace  township,  and  was  married 
to  Julia  Schnn'd.  They  had  eight  chiMren,  viz.: 
John,  Matthias,  George,  Rcnjamin,  Isaac,  Daniel, 
Henry  and  Maria.  This  is  a  long-lived  family.  The 
early  Hafers  were  strong,  robust  people.  The  fam- 
ily is  inostly  settled  in  Reatling,  and  the  townships 
to  the  east  of  Reading,  including  Alsace,  Exeter 
and  Oley. 

Mr.  E.  P..  Haftr,"  photographer.  Reading,  is  the 
president  of  the  jicrmanent  reunion  committee,  and 
much  credit  is  due  him  for  the  interest  taken  in 
tracing  tlie  earK  lu.^t"ry.  T!ie  list  of  officers,  all 
from  Reading,  is  as  follovs: 

President,   K.   V..    H.ifcr. 
First  Vice-President.  Adam  E.  Hafer. 
Second   rier-FresiderJ.  George  M.  Hafer. 
Corrcsl'onding  Secretary.   Snnniel    ti    Fiaier. 
Rccordin'^  Secretary,   William   ^f.   Hafer. 
Treasurer,  Samuel  L.  Hafer. 

Heff-Nick. — Descendants  of  Heinrich  HaefTner 
(Heffner)  in  IHOl  celebrated  ihe  l"'"?d  aimiversary 
of  his  landing  in  America  at  Moselem  Church  in 
Berks  county.  Heinrich  Haeffner  was  a  son  c>t  .\n- 
draes  Haeffner.  of  Eberstadt,  Germany.  His  wife, 
Maria  Eva  Kelchner,  bore  him  six  children,  namely: 
John  Henry,  Hans  Cieorg,  Eva  Catharine,  lilizaheth. 
Eva  Magdalene  and  Catharine. 

James  S.  Heffner.  E-q.,  of  Kutzfuvn,  was  the 
president  of  the  anniversarv  ceremonies 

Prof.  George  H.  Heft'ner.  son  of  George,  son  of 
Jacob,  son  of  Hans  Georg,  in  ISRfi  v.Tote  a  complete 
genealogy  entitled  "Heffner  Records."  This  was 
the  first  lii.stc)ry  comi)iled  of  an  upjier  I'.erks  comity 
family,  and  ii<  intluence  uj'xin  other  families,  to 
trace  their  forebears,  was  most  valuable.  Prrifessor 
Heffner  rendered  a  scr\-ice  to  ]iosterity.  His  un- 
selfish life  h.'i>  endeared  him  to  the  iicujile  of  Berk-s 
comity,  among  whom  he  Ii\ed  rmd  lalmred  as 
teaclier. 

The  ):i'nieci  TlclTner  cam-.'  to  .Nnierica  in  1710. 
The  family  i-^  mostK  --cat'ered  in  the  'ipier  part  of 
Berks  coimiv,  and  about  Kutztown  and  X'irginville. 


Hei.vlv. — The  Heinly  Faniilv  Association  was 
organized  in  .August.  ls;if<.  h-,  members  are  the 
descendants  of  David  Heinly.  who  emigrated  from 
the  Duchy  of  Wurtemberg.  ( iennany.  >ailing  in  the 
ship  "Patience."  Hugh  Steel.  Captain,  and  landing 
in  Philadelphia  Sept.  lit.  174!i.  Un  Julv  21,  1774. 
he  received  from  Thomas  and  John  Penn.  sons  of 
William  Penn,  a  patent  for  about  3i)0  acres,  now 
ir  Greenwich  town-^hip,  Berks  county,  a  portion  of 
which  land  is  stil!  owned  by  his  descendants. 

The  original  ancestor  lies  buried  in  Dunkel's 
Church  cemetery,  about  three  miles  from  X'irgin- 
ville,  and  the  orig-inal  tombstone  of  sandstone  still 
remains,  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation.  C)n  the 
obverse  side  the  following  appears,  in  German  with 
English  letters:  "Hir  ligd  Dafid  Heinle,  1st  ge- 
boren  17SS  den  17  Ockdober  und  gestorben  den 
3rd  Ockdober,  17.si."  On  the  reverse  side  appears 
the  following  from  an  old  Germ.an  hymn  published 
in  the  "Leipsiger  Gesangbiich."  written  in  163S: 

■'Die  Krone  des  GerechJigkeid 
1st    mein    schtntK  k    und    ehrenkleid, 
Damid   will    icli    for   G'.'t   besteliei., 
Wan    ieh    werd    in    liimmel    eiiigeheii." 

On  Aug.  15.  19u.'s  the  descendants  erected  a  mem- 
orial to  their  first  ancestor,  adjacent  to  the  old  tomb- 
stone. It  consists  of  a  granite  base  rough  hewn 
and  a  granite  top  in  the  shajjc  of  a  large  book 
with  old-fasliioned  clasps,  on  the  open  pages  of 
which  appear  the  following  ins<:riptiii!is  : 

C)n  the  left-hand  page — 

"Jn    nuniury   oi 

David    Heinly, 

Born   October   17.    IT'-'S. 

Died    October    T;.    1784. 

Emigrated    from   Germany    in    17-19." 

On  the  right-liand  page — 

"Erected  by  his  descendants.   tc>   their 

First  American  .Ancestor, 

.'\ugust    15,    l9o:;, 

;..t   the 

Fifth    .\miual    Heinly    FamiK    P'eunion." 

The  I-"amib,'  Ivennion  was  first  liekl  along  the 
banks  of  the  .Maiden  c!xek  on  the  m-iginal  home- 
stead, but  latterly  at  Kutztown  P;;rk,  Kutztown. 
Pa.  It  is  held  annually  in  Augu>t.  ami  attended 
by  from  400  to  '>"ii  descendants.  The  A--:ocialion 
was  oiganized.  nainl\-  thnmgh  the  efi'orts  o-f 
David  Heinly.  Inrnierl}'  o!  .Albany  township,  lat- 
tcrlv  of  Kutztown,  who  was  its  treasin"er  until  his 
death  in  T.'o;.  A  conrplete  Family  Record  has 
been  compiled. 

The  pre-cnt  f4hci'rs  of  the  .-\s-ociatioii  arc  as  fol- 
lows : 

President.  David  L.   Heinlv.  Reading,   Pa. 

First    i'lce-Presidenl.    Ci.     Ilenrv    Heinlv,     l^.landon.     Pa. 

Second   rice-President.  Cha>.   H.  Heinley.  F.ast  Texas,  Pa. 

TliiiJ   I'iic-Fresidcnt.   Henry   Heinly.   Sclmecksville.    Pa. 

Srcelary.   Harvt\    1'.   Heinly.   Reading.   Pa. 

.Issi.stant  Secrctiiries.  Calvin    H.   .\dam.   Fleetwood,   T'a., 
Charles  H.  Heinly.  Kllne-.\ille.  Pa.. 
Tirus  Heinlv.  Reailinc;  Pa, 
Phares    S.    Hell.T,    AllentuAii.    I'a. 

Treasurer,   Prof.   Charles   B.   Heinlv,   York,   Pa. 


r. : ! 


rf,  ■■"■") 


31S 


HISTORY    OF    r.ERKS    COUXTY,    PEXNSYIA'AXIA 


Exi-cutize  Committee,  William  Heiiily,  Maiiatawny.   Pa., 
Enoch   Heinly,   Virgiiuille,   Pa,. 
Sanuie!    D.    IKinly,    Kfading.    Pa., 
Joim   W.  Adain,   f-K-ctwood,   Pa.. 
Jariiis    IlcttncT.    Kutztcnvn,    Pa. 
Histo'-idii,   Sanuiol   G.   Heinly.   Reading.    Pa. 
Director    of    .-liiMisemeiits,    William    O.    ilcinly.    Ham- 
burg,  Pa. 

KiSTLEK. — The  Ki>tlcr  faiiiily  i?  numerous  in 
Albany  and  Grct-nwich  to\vn>hips,  Bcrk.s  county, 
and  especially  in  ilie  upper  end  of  Lehie^li  county. 
The  fannly  traces  its  ancc^try  to  George  Kistler. 
called  J6r<^  or  Hanjorg  i  tliat  is,  Hans  Jorg) — ^John 
Geori^e  Kistler.  lie  was  from  the  Palatinate.  In 
173T  ho  came  to  the  Xev,-  \Vf)rld,  and  located  in  the 
P'alkncr  .Swamp,  or  (.lo'^henhfippen.  ^Montgomery 
Co.,  Pa.  Xo  (l..)ul)t  he  brought  his  wife,  Anna 
Dorothy,  and  his  oldest  cliiklren  with  him  from 
Germany.  J  a  IT  11  lie  settled  m  Albany  townsiiip, 
Berks  cour.ty.  lie  died  in  KCT  and  is  buried  at  the 
X'ew  Jeru^aleui  Church,  in  .\lbany  township, 
where  many  of  hi.>  descendants  are  buried.  He 
left  nine  chiMren.  as  follows:  Jacob,  John,  Samuel, 
George,  F^hihp.  Micliael,  Barbara,  Dorotha  and  Eliz- 
alvelii.  Xeariv  all  of  these  moved  to  Lynn  township, 
Lehigh  county.  Like  the  seetl  of  Abraiiani  of  old, 
they  mukiplicl.  and  soon  populared  the  fine  vaiky 
extending  from  Kem].>ton.  in  Berks,  to  Lyiinville,  in 
Lehigh  county,  a  distance  of  six  miic:-.  Tii's  valley 
is  called  Kistlers  \'alley. 

John  l\istler.  son  of  the  pioneer,  in  TTGS.  lived  in 
Allian}-,  and  it  ajnicars  remained  on  the  homestead. 
He  had  soiis.  John  William,  born  ]  T-'w .  and  Abra- 
ham, born  Kt'l.  'I'hc  Kistlers  li.'.ve  intermarried 
with  the  Dietrich-.  1  eiherolfs.  P.robsts,  and  other 
old  faniiiies  of  tl-at  .-eel ion. 

The  faniilv  ha--  i)een  holding  successful  reunions 
since  lsni>.  It  hi.ld  tiic  nfdi  annual  meetmg  at 
Ncffsville.  Pa.,  in  I'Mii.  The  officers  of  the  associa- 
tion, besides  an  cxecuiivc  committee  of  eleven  mem- 
bers, are: 


President.  ITuiry  D. 
Vice-rrrsideu i,  Edw 
Corrcsf^oinlii:.-  Sec'-e 
Recording  Secretary, 
Assistant  Secretary,, 
Treasurer,  C.  K.'  Ki; 


Kistler. 
in   1).   Kistler. 
,'<;'-v.  Dv.  W.   P.  Ki.-stler. 

liiiner  C.  Ki-'Jor. 
P.   W.  Kistk-r. 
Ukr. 


K LINK.— Til-   i-:i 

was  formed  at  Rea 
pose  of  raising  fuui 
honor  of  the  ances 
was  named,  and  to 
lected  private  grave 
with  others,  is  bur 
held  in  lOor.,  at  W 
the  association  are: 

Presideiil.  Ilavid  U. 
Secretary,  \\  illi.un    I 
.'Issistaiit  .Seeretai  Y. 
Treasurer.    >.e\\  li'H 
E.vecutiz  e   Co}iioiii:t<-i 


der  '.ic'.v.-g  Klein  Association 
ding,  Pa.,  m  P.nit.  for  the  pur- 
is  to  '"rect  a  lining  memorial  in 
tor  after  u  hom  the  association 
l)roperly  care  for  a  much  neg- 
yard  where  hdder  Georg  Klein, 
ic'l.  The  second  meeting  was 
e-t   Hamburg.     The  officers  of 


Kline.  .MKntown,   Pa. 

;.   k:i!u-.   iU'rks.  I'a. 

.\.    S.   i\!inc.  Upiir;-  Uirn,   Pa. 

Klii'e,    T'<in?to\vn,    Pa. 

■    C.    1-v.   WiiitiuT,    Readin.j.    Pa. 

I'.  V.   Kliuf,    ki-.Tdnn.'.   Pl. 

.\.   K.  Klino.   Kr.uli,-,-    J>:,.. 

i>i-     Jol'.ii    K.    Sranuin.    Kd-g.,    I'a, 

i 'r.    Wan  en    Klin.-,   l.thnnon.    Pa. 


h):proieiiieut  Cummittee,  Jerome  L   Kline,  Readinjj,  Pa., 
C.    K.    Whitner,    Reading,    Pa.. 
A.  K.  Kline,  Reading,  Pa., 
A.   S.    Kline,   Upper   Bern,   Pa. 

Elder  Georg  Klein  was  born  at  Zweibriickcn, 
South  Germany,  Oct.  9, 1715.  immigrated  to  America 
in  1738.  and  located  at  Amwell,  X.  J.  Becoming 
acquainted  with  the  Brethren  of  the  Dunkard 
Church,  in  1T3'..>  he  was  baptized  in  that  faith  at 
Aniv,ell.  and  soon  after  was  chosen  an  assistant  in 
the  ministry.  In  1750  he  moved  to  Xorth-kill  on 
the  Tulpeliocken.  in  Berks  couniv,  and  there  took 
charge  of  "Xorth-kill  Meeting  House."'  He  is  buried 
•;i  upper  Berks.  He  left  a  number  of  children, 
wlio,-.e  descenrlanti  are  very  numerous. 

Krick. — The  descendants  of  Frantz  Krick  and 
his  wife  Cntharinc  were  organized  into  a  reunion  by 
Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick,  in  1907,  when  the  first  meet- 
ing was  held  a:  Sinking  Spring;  the  second  was 
al:.o  held  there,  m  August,  liius.  This  is  one  of 
the  earliest  and  largest  families  of  the  Tulpehocken 
\  alley,  Berks  county.  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick, 
a  minister  of  the  Reformerl  C'hurch,  now  sta- 
tioned at  Coplay,  P'a.,  spent  considerable  time 
and  money  in  ascertainiiig  the  true  history  cff  the 
progenitor,  Frantz  Krick,  who  came  to  Ameiica 
from  Germany  in  IT  31,  and  about  that  time  located 
in  Spring,  then  a  part  of  Cunn-u  townsiiip.  He 
rearefl  a  large  family,  thirteen  children,  and  his 
descendants  are  numerous  in  Berks  county.  The 
ancestral  homestead  has  remained  in  the  family 
name  to  this  date.  Tradition  slates  that  PTantz 
Krick  obtained  his  land  from  the  Indians. 

The  Krick  family  is  exceedingly  patriotic  and  it 
has  had  members  serving  in  every  war  fought 
in  this  country.  John,  Frantz,  .\dam.  Peter  and 
Jacob  Krick.  sons  of  the  pioneer,  fought  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  In  the  War  of  1812  were  Fran- 
cis and  Peter  Krick.  In  the  Civil  war  seventeen 
inembers  of  the  family  participated.  In  the  Spanish 
war  there  were  four  members  of  the  family. 

The  officers  of  tlie  Krick  I'aniily  Association  are: 

President,  Daniel  Krick,  Robesonia,   Pa. 
Vice-Presidents,  William  F.  Kri.k.  Sinking  .Spring,  Pa., 

Daniel    B.    Kiick.    Sinking    Spring,    Pa.. 

Benjamin    K.    Hnnsickcr,    Wcrncrsvii'.e, 
Pr,. 

Isaac   krick.   Sinking   Si>ring,   P;i.. 

Daniel    II.    Krick,    l-iphrata.    Pa.. 

George  Krick,  Hamburg,   I'a. 
Secretary,  Rev.  Thcmias  \\.  Krick,  Ccplay,  Pa. 
Treasurer,   William    F.   Hi.gb.   Re;iding,    Pa. 
Historian,   Rev.    Thomas    11.    Krick,   Coplay,    Pa. 

Levexgood  (Livexgooi).  LiviXGOoo).  The  fir-t 
reunion  of  the  Levengoc>d  family  was  held  in  the 
fall  of  190(j  to  celebrate  the  ninety-third  birthday 
aimiversarv  of  its  oldest  living  memi)er,  Adam 
LevengfMxl,  and  the  gathering  took  place  at  the 
home  of  his  son.  Jacob  S.  Lcvengood.  in  Oley.  near 
Priedensburg.  The  second  and  third  meetings  were 
i.eld  at  the  -;an;e  place,  the  lliird  ou  September  7. 
I'.Mis.  .nml  the  fourth  is  to  he  held  in  h'rieden.sbtirg 
Paik  Mil  Labor  Da\-.  19(V.t.     ■]  |.e  venerable  man  in 


:i,   r   i)i;'   »■ 


FAMILY  REUXIOXS 


319 


whose  honor  the  first  meeting;-  was  hekl  was  present 
at  the  second  and  tliird  meetings  also,  well  preserved 
and  hearty.  The  organization  was  decided  upon,  at 
the  first  gatliering.  In  1908  the  following-  officers 
were  elected  : 

President,   David   D.   Livinsrooi!,   Pott-^towii,   Pa. 
Vice-Presidenis,  William  L.ivii!i;ood.   roUstown,  Pa., 
John  Stitzcr,  l<.eading,  Pa.. 
Casper  Liviiigood,  Birdsboro,  Pa., 
James   Eck,  Readirl.l.^   Pa., 
.-\bner    Livingfood,    Millersvillc,    Pa., 
Jacob  Liviiigood,  Elverson,   Pa. 
Secretary,   Howard    M.    Liveii.i.;()od,    Birdsboro,    Pa. 
Assisfaut  Secretary,  Oscar  Lcvciif^ood,   Giibcrtsville,   Pa. 
Treasurer,  Jacob  S.   Levcngood,  Olcy,   Pa. 
Historian^  Monard    M.   Eivengood,   Pird.sboro,   Pa. 
Assistant   Historia)ts,   John   Stitzer.   koading,    Pa.. 

Irwin  Living-Qod.  Pottitown,  Fa. 
Executive  Committee,  .\dani  Liviiigood,  Birdsboro,  Pa., 
Jacob  S.  Lcneiigood.   Oley,   Pa., 
Elsworlh    Spohn.    Olcy,    Pa.. 
Monroe    Sb.i\'e,    Reading,    Pa. 

After  the  business  meeting  the  assembly,  which 
included  about  two  hundred  and  lifty  representatives 
of  the  family,  v,'as  addressed  hy  e.x-Representativc 
Jacob  R.  Herzog  and  by  Mr.  Howard  AL  Liven- 
good. 

The  Levcngood  famih  traces  its  ancestry  back 
to  Ulrich  and  Susanna  Liebenguth,  who  came  to 
America  from  the  Palatinate  about  173:?,  in  the  shij) 
"Charming  Betsy,"  landing  at  Philadelphia.  Oct. 
12,  1733.  -At  that  time  he  was  fortv-five  years  old. 
his  wife  thirty-six.  lie  was  a  luan  of  sterling  quali- 
ties, and  his  descendants  belou'.,'-  \^^  th..'  best  of  the 
sturdy  Penn^'vivania  German  clement  in  their  sec- 
tion. Many  of  those  who  bear  the  name  have  made 
a  reputation  in  the  learned  professions,  and  they  are 
generally  known  for  the  substantial  qualities  tiiat 
distinguished  tlie  early  representatives  oi  the  family. 

ITlrich  and  Susanna  Liebenguth  brought  i^.ve  chil- 
dren with  them:  Peter,  aged  sixteen;  Adam,  aged 
thirteen;  Jacob,  aged  ten;  Maria,  aged  eight:  and 
Anna,  aged  five.  From  Philadelphia  tl;c  family 
proceeded  to  New  Hanover  towiishii),  where  they 
settled. 

Jacob,  third  son  of  the  emigrant  ancestors,  was 
born  in  Alsace.  Germany,  and  was  the  progenitor 
of  the  Levengo.xl  family  of  vvliich  this  article  treats. 
He  died  April  1,  1801,  and  Iiis  remains  are  interred 
in  the  cemetery  adjoining  the  Swamp  Reformed 
Church.  He  had  one  son.  Aratlhia^  v.lui  mnrricfl 
Catliarine  Shuster,  and  they  had  live  children. 

Adam  Levcngood  is  the  father  of  four  sons : 
Jacob  S.,  at  whose  home  the  first  three  reunions 
were  held;  James,  of  Elverson,  I'a. :  SolouK-n,  of 
Joanna  Heights,  Pa.;  and  Ad:nn.  of  Friedensburg. 

Ltdwig. — The  Ludwig  family  traces  its  origin 
to  Michael  Ludwig,  who  came  from  the  Rhenish 
Palatinate  to  Olcy  towmship  in  lT:i3.  He  was  a 
Pietist.  The  early  generations  in  St.  Gaul.  Switzer- 
land, were  i)rofouud  scholar--  and  a  inunber  were 
niinisters. 

Ti!c  Ludvigs  in  Perks  c;.un(v  aie  nurneroir^. 
'Ihcy  h.eln  Mieir  first  reuniL.n  in  P.iiV.',  and  the  seventh 
in   PtOS.  at  Ivi.densburg.     Thev  h.ave  lieen  a  cor- 


porate bod\-  since  lOOS.  The  historian  of  the  family, 
the  late  Isaac  W.  Guldin  (  183-1-1907),  traced  the 
family  to  Bohemia,  in  152G.  The  forerunners  of  the 
Oley  township  branch  in  1700  were  seated,at  Dres- 
den, Germany.  Mr.  Guldin  worked  faithfully  for 
years  to  e:^tablish  the  ancestral  history.  He  wa-s 
eminently  successful.  In  190.3  he  collected  his  rec- 
ords, in  type-written  form,  in  a  book.  The  officers 
of  the  organization  are: 

President,  David  V.  K.  Ludwig. 
Vice-Presidents,  Jacob  D.  Liuhvig, 

Wilson  P.  Ludwig. 
Secretary,  Dr.  J.  Harry  Li.idwig. 
Treasurer,  Eli  V.  R.  Ludwig. 
Board  of  Directors,  Jerome  Ludwig. 

George    S.   Liulwig. 

Mrs.  Edwin  Rboads, 

Mrs.   Alex.   B.    Earhart, 

Cyrus    D.    Moser. 

LuTZ. — In  Albany  township  is  an  old  family  by 
the  name  of  Lutz  whose  ancestors  were  Frederick 
and  Jacob  Lutz.  The  latter  was  a  resident  in  the 
district  as  early  as  17-")1.  His  descendants,  who 
are  quite  numerotis  about  Kemp-ton  and  Steinsvilie, 
hold  annual  gatherings.  The  elaborate  dinners  and 
suppers  are  a  feature  at  those  reunions.  The  last 
retmion  was  held  at  Kempton  in  1908.  The  officer.? 
are : 

President,   John   C.   Lnt7. 
i' ice-President,  James   S.  Lutz. 
Secretary,   Eraiik   E.   Lutz. 
Treasurer,  .Mien  Lutz. 

RicFDV. — The  first  reunir>ii  of  the  Reedy  family  of 
P)erks  and  Lebanon  counties  wa.--  held  in  1908,  near 
Millbach,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa.  Jonathan  B.  Reedy, 
aged  seventy-three  years,  is  one  of  the  leailing  spir- 
its in  the  movement  to  have  regular  aimual  gather- 
in:Ts.  No  regular  officers  have  been  elected  thus 
far. 

William  Reedy,  father  of  Jonathan  il,  married 
?\laria  Eensmg  and  they  had  five  children,  namely: 
George,  Anriie  (m.  Plenry  Kng-elhart),  Catharine 
(m.  Jonathan  Strauss),  Samuel  and  jc^nathan  IL, 
the  last  named  only  surviving. 

RiTTER. — The  Ritier  family,  which  is  numerous 
in  Berks  county  and  also  in  the  adjoining  county 
of  Lehigh,  where  the  town  Rittcrsville  perpetuate-^ 
the  name,  dates  back  to  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
centiu\v.  This  family  has  been  liolding  annual  re- 
unions since  1898.  The  last  was  held  in  Dorney's 
Park.  Allentown.  in  190S.  The  meetings  are  well 
attended.  ,\  history  of  the  fanuly  is  expected  in 
book  form  for  distribution  at  the  eleventh  reunion, 
in  1909.  The  ancestry  is  traced  to  Casi)er,  ?ilariin 
and  Philip  Ritter.  who  were  German  Palatinates. 
Their  descendants  are  numerous  and  scattered  o\er 
eastern   Peiuisylvania. 

Exeter  township,  in  Herks  county,  was  ihf^  home 
of  the  Ritters  of  this  section.  There,  in  1751,  lived 
Geoige  Ritter,  and  in  1759  Francis  (also  luentioned 
in  dortnnents  as  Ferdinand)  Ritter  w;is  one  of  the 
largest  t.i.Kpavers  in  the  towu'^hiji.  lb'  i<\\ned 
much   land  i)e!ow    [ack^onwald,  when'  the  old    Kit- 


■■T'  >-^ 


.n:il 


-lin     d' 


■tfn. 


•.H 


>.o 


IlIS'RjKV    UV    r.ERKS    COUXTV,    PKXXSVLX'AXIA 


KT  Lrravfvard  i>  located  along  the  (Jlcy  \'allcy  trol- 
ley line. 

I"ranci<  or  j-'enlinanil  Ritter,  born  in  17-11.  dicij  in 
l;^'.'-").  U\>  cliildren  were  Daniel,  John,  Jacob  and 
Samnel.  John  was  a  representative  in  Congress 
from  llerks  county,  refusing  a  third  nomination  to 
that  oftice. 

Tradition  savs  the  ])ioneer  Kittcr  obtained  his  land 
originally  from  the  Indian^-.  Some  of  this  tract  is 
still  is  the  family.  The  ancestor  Ritter,  the  father 
of  George  and  I'erJanand,  tradition  says  was  mar- 
ried to  an  Indian  woman,  wlio  was  buried  on  the 
farm  owned  by  Daniel  Ritter,  later  by  Benjamin 
Ritter  and  now  bv  Charles  i'.reneiser.  of  Read- 
ing.    The  oflicers  in  I'.HiS  of  the  Ritter  Family  were: 

President,   H.   S.   Ritter.   Allcntown.   Pa. 
ricc-Prcsldi-iil.  J.   R.   Riucr,   Reading.    Pa. 
Recording  Secretary,  I.  J.  Ritter,  Allen; own,   Pa. 
Sccrettiry,   M.   T.   Rilltr.   .Wirthamptoii,   Pa. 
Treasurer,   .Mrs.    lu'u,    Dieienderfer,    Caiasauqu.i.    Pa. 
Ccnnr.itlees,  Hislorical, 

Program, 

\Va\s    ard    Means, 

Exccuiivc. 

RoiiKi'..\Cfi. — The  descendants  of  John  RohrI)ach, 
who  emigrated  to  America  about  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and  settled  in  Berks  county,  in 
the  lerritorv  now  embraced  in  District  township, 
held  a  reunion  at  Hancock  Park  in  I'JOIS.  A 
committee  of  ;irrangements,  a  histor}-  committee, 
and  a  committee  on  program  were  appomted  and 
the  following  officers  were  elected  : 

^President,  D.  R.   R.ibibach.   Willianistown.   X.  J. 
I'icc-Prcsidiiil.  i'lederiek  Rulirbncli.  Allentowii.   Pa. 
Secretary.   W .    1!.    R(.)lirhaeli,    Macnngie.    Pa. 

The  ancestor  had  .-ons  Lawrence  and  John.  Jr. 
The  family  i.-  quite  numerous  in  the  eastern  end 
of  the  county,  where  the  hr>t  of  the  name  seltletl. 
I'hc  ance-tral  iioine-^lead  is  stii!  in  the  family. 

S.M'L. — Samuel  Saul,  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1'.  l<i,  wa^  a  nati\e  of  Alsace-Lorraine.  After 
some  years  in  Aiuerica  he  returned  to  his  nati\e 
l?nd  and  remained  about  one  \ear  with  his  lamil} . 
He  came  li)  .\merica  a  second  time,  expecting  to 
prepare  a  home  fi>r  tlic  family,  wh.o  were  to  follow. 
He  died,  and  his  wife,  noi  hearing  from  him.  de- 
cided to  folli>w  him  ti)  th.o  Xew  World,  making  the 
journey  willi  her  tliree  children,  Johan!i  Xicholas. 
Leonard  and  L'hri.-^tian.  in  1  ".■.;'.  l"hey  located  at 
or  near  Pottstown,  I'a.,  and  Johann  Xicholas  Saul 
there  made  his  permanent  home.  Leonard  moved 
to  ^laxatawny  town^hii\  l'>erk>  county:  and  Chris- 
tian settled  in  Lanca-ter  ciiuiit\-  at  Vvdiat  i-^  now  Lin- 
glestown.  Dauiihin  couiUy.  l-'ach  oi  the  sons  reared 
a  large  family,  and  owned  his  own  hrime. 

Johann  Xicholas  Saul,  born  Dec.  1(1.  Ti"-0. 
died  -Aug.  J  I.  IP.'-"),  and  is  buried  a!  the  .Swamp 
Church.  In  IPlil  a  son,  Xicliola>,  wa->  born  to  hiiU. 
In  1  ?!••.?  the  latter  married  R'>>ina  Ilartman.  of  Dis- 
trict township.  P.erks  coniitw  .Xi'liolas  S;mi!  w.-.s 
fi'^l  i;ixed  in  L)ouL;ia-<  iown^hip,  i'.crk.s  couniv. 
In  17P.I  he  moved,  to  \\e,-<t  Di^triet  townshii).  I'.erk- 


county.  He  was  a  rake-maker.  He  and  his  \\\u: 
had  the<e  six  children:  Salome,  Samuel.  Job.n, 
Jacob.  Hannah  and  Lsther.  Xicholas  Saul  die.j  in 
lN"i;J,  aged  fifty-six  years.  His  wif-e,  Rosina,  died 
in  1n4;j,  aged  eightv  year>.  .\fter  their  death  their 
->on.  Jacob,  built  a  house,  in  isd-l,  upon  the  Iv.imc- 
slead  where  \w.  lived  and  tlied,  his  death  occurring 
in  ^>\''0,  when  he  was  aged  eig;hty-eighl  ycar<. 
His  children  were:  Alary.  Xichol.'s,  Daniel. 
Catharine,  Jacob,  Franklin,  Sarah,  L\(lia.  Theresa 
and  Thomas.  John  Saul,  son  of  Xicholas,  died  on 
the  homestead  in  lS(i7,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  He 
had:  William,  Daniel,  John,  Jacob,  ]\!iz-?.beth.  Si- 
mon. Flias,  Sarah  Ann  and  Kphraim. 

Salome,  daughter  of  Xicholas,  married  Jacob 
Rothermel  and  had  ten  children  Hannah,  daugliter 
of  Xicholas,  married  Jolm  Rubright:  no  is^^u;-. 
Esther,  daughter  of  Xicholas,  married  Peter  Roth- 
ermel and  had  eight  children.  Samuel,  the  eldest 
child  of  Xicholas,  was  in  the  L'nited  States  navy, 
and  was  never  married. 

The  Saul  family  held  its  first  reunion  in  i:)n-> 
aufl  the  sixth  in  1908.  at  Pendorr.  Park.  Reading. 
Ir  has  successful  reunions,  and  lias  collected 
considerable  data,  to  be  published  in  a  private  his- 
torv.     The  officers  of  this  reunion  are : 

President.   Rev.  J.    Elmer   Saul,    Xorristown.    Pa. 
rice-Presidents,    .Samuel    II.    Feglcv.    Rcadinc.    Pa., 

Dr.   Charles   R.   Saul.   Steeltuii,   Pa.. 

F.    K.    .Miller.    Reading,    Pa. 
Secretary.  Jaeob  I.  Saul.  Pultsville.  Pa. 
Treasurer,  b'.lias  G.  Saul. 

Scii.\i:ii  r.K.— -^(  ieorge  ScbaelTer.  the  pioneer  of 
the  Schaeffers,  came  to  this  ci>untry  from  the  Ger- 
man Palatinate,  in  .August.  H.")n,  and  sett1e<l  in 
RiclinK.md  tfiWiiship,  this  county,  soon  after  his 
landing.  His  wife  was  Catharine  Reib.  They  had 
the  following  five  children  :'  Elizabeth,  tlie  eUlest, 
married  John  T'ieber :  Alargaret,  the  next  eUIest. 
married  l')'"•.^■al<l  P.iebcr:  .Maria  married  Alichael 
Cliri.-tmau :  Peter  wa^  t'le  next  and  I'iiiii]).  niio 
married  Elizabeth  l^etherclf,  was  the  youngest  ot 
the  family  and  remained  upon  the  homestead  near 
I-'leetwoofl.  He  had  eight  ^ons  and  four  daughters, 
all  r.f  whom  were  well-formed,  large  and  strong. 
Father  ScbaelTer  die-i  in  17!>-.'  and  is  buried  in  a 
]>rivate  burial-ground  on  the  farm  where  he  lived 
.■md  died. 

'file  familv  held  its  first  reunion  in  RMi;!.  and  the 
.-econd  in  ]'.'()(;,  both  in  Kutztown  Park.  The}' 
v.ere  well  attended.  At  both  meetings  D.  Xichohis 
Schaeffer,  INi|..  of  Reading,  delivered  an  historical 
address  on  the  pioneer  Schaeffer.  The  second  ad- 
drev-,  was  published  in  the  December.  T.ini;.  number 
of  "The  Penns_\lvania  German."  .\t  the  first  re- 
uni(^n  ]\ev.  Dr.  X.  C.  Schaeffer.  suiierintendent  or 
jjublic  iu-^tniclion  ..f  Pennsylvania,  delivered  an  aii- 
(Ire-^s.  -AV  hen-  Did  the  Penn.-ylvania  Germans  Come 
From  and  \\  by  Did  'fbe\-  Leave  'fheir  F;itherlaiid  .'■" 
.\i  the  -eccnd  lenuioii  ibinv  I).  Si'haetTer.  \'.i(\..  ol 
Jseading.  delivered  an  addre-.  "Some  (Jiaracter- 
i^lic.■^  ol    the  Sch;ielYer   Family,"  and   R.'v.   William 


i\   (r/5'if:  / 


FA^riLY  RErXIOXS 


321 


C.  Scbaeffcr.  a  i)rofe---jr  of  the  Thoologicai  Scnu:i- 
arv  at  Lancaster,  iklivcrcl  an  adtlro-.-  tiuit'cil, 
"My. Recent  "J'rip  Throii,y;h  Germany";  Rev.  David 
I.  ScliaetTer  delivered  an  address  entitled,  "ilis'.'jn- 
cal  Side  Lights." 

The  Schaetter  family  iiulds  its  reimii.>ns  Iriennial- 
Iv.  it  is  enie  of  the  largest,  most  lionured  and  intel- 
lectnal  families  of  the  county.  The  c>ft"icers  of  lUOS 
were : 

President,   Gcuryc   U.    SchaclTer,   Fleetwood,    Pa. 

Secretary  and  Historian.  Rev.  David  1.  Scluu'lYcr. 

Executive  Committee,  Rev.  C.  11.  .'^chaefter. 
James  D.  Se-hactTcr, 
Joel    -M.    Schaetfer,  .    - 

]3arijel   I'.   Si-haetier, 
James    Schaeher. 

Se.vm.vx.— 'J'he  Association  of  Descendaiits  of 
Johan  Ludwig-  Seaman  was  formed  in  VMj'S.  and 
held  its  first  reunion  on  ancestral  grouiuls  in  Tilden 
township. 

Johan  Liidwig  Seaman,  the  progenitor,  was  a 
native  of  Alsace,  France.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  enlisted  in  tb.e  service  i.'f  I'Tederick  the  Greai, 
of  Prussia,  as  Ixjdy-gnard.  After  eight  years  b.e 
married,  an  !  in  171:8  cmig'-ratc'!  to  Pennsylvania, 
locating  in  Lern  townshiijt,  in  that  ]iart  of  the 
district  now  embraced  in  Tilden  tciwn-liip.  He  was 
a  large  land  owner  and  owned  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  township,  which  liis  descendants  colon- 
ized in  large  measure.  His  remains  are  inieired  at 
St.  ^Jicbael's  C'hurcli.  His  wife,  Catharine,  bore 
liim  three  sons,  namely:  b^l)erb,ari,  John  and  Lud- 
wig, each  of  Avhom  reared  families,  fohn  located  in 
western  l'enns\h-ania.  where  hi.^  de.-.ceuM;uUs  are 
ver\^  prosperous  people,  while  Lberbart  and  Lud- 
wig remained  on  ancestral  homesteads.  1  he  Sea- 
mans  are  \erv  numerous  in  ujijier  iJcrks  county 
and  are  a  very  representative  iind  eiiterprising  fam- 
ily. The  sec«.)nd  reimioii  was  held  at  West  Mam- 
burg  in  190  1,  arid  was  largelv  attended.  The  family 
expects  to  jaiblish  a  genealogical  listory.  Tlie  [)cr- 
manent  officers  of  the  Association  are: 

President,  Maj.   Charles   F.   Sc,in!a;i,    1  lambing.    P.i. 

Secretary  and  Historian,   A.   S.   Klein.   L'ppcr   Bern,   Pa. 

Treasurer,   Williaiii    Seaman.   l-"!eeuvood.   Pa. 

Executive  Coinuiittee,  Dr.  J.  K.  Seaman,  Readin;:;.   Pa., 
Levi    F!.    Seaman,    IJerks,    Vn., 
A.   S.   Seaman.   Frackville,  Pa., 
Joseph  S.  Seam.-ii-,   Pi'.i>buru;,   Pa., 
A.    S.    Ikckcr,   P.erks,    Pa.  ' 

SciiNEiDF.R  (S-WDEK). — Reunion  of  descendants 
of  Hans  (Johaim)   Schneider. 

The  .Sn)'der  famiK'  reimions  were  begun  b\  the 
descendants  of  David  Snyder,  a  greal-gr,ui(bon  of 
the  first  settler  of  the  Snyders,  Hans  ijoh.uin) 
Schneider.  The  tirst  reunion  was  held  on  the  oid 
l^avid  -Snyder  estate,  n'Wv  owned  and  (.iceuined  by 
Jackson  Snyder,  one  mile  northeast  of  ( ^Ie_v  Line, 
in  September,  I'.Mij.  In  I'.toi;,  -•_  the  annual  reunion, 
a  historian  was  elected,  Rev.  l"!lam  j.  .Snyder  being- 
chosen,  'file  first  history  of  llic  ,Sn\ders  was  re:id 
iti  C(inn<clion  with  the  reunion  in  PtnL  .\t  i!ie 
same  lini.;  il  was  decided  to  embrace  in  the  reumion 


n.ii  only  the  descendants  of  David  Snyder,  but  all 
Sn\der,-,  v.iio  trace  their  ancestrv  to  iJans  Schnei- 
der. 

fbe  oUl  family  burial  plot  near  t 'lev  Line,  in 
which  are  buiried  tb.e  first  generation  >  of  the  Sny- 
ders, was  recently  improved.  It  is  tiie  purpose  of 
the  organi/aiion  to  keep  it  in  excellent  order. 

The  officers  at  present  arc: 

President,  Harrison   Voder. 
i-'icc-Presideut.  D.  S.  Brumhach. 
Secretary,  Samuel  KeitT. 
Treasurer,  George  W.   Brumbach. 
Historian,  Rev.   Hlam  J.   Snyder. 

.Stk.vuss. — The  reunion  of  the  descendants  of 
Albrecht  and  Philip  Strau.ss,  who  emigrated  from 
Wurtemberg-  in  17'6'i,  was  founded  by  B.  Morris 
Strauss,  Esq.,  of  Reading.  The  organization  com- 
mittee met  on  Thanksgiving-  Day,  l!»ir?,  at  the  home 
of  Joseph  Strause.  near  P.ernville.  In  September, 
19u3,  on  the  Albrecht  Straus?  homestead,  now  em- 
braced in  Penn  township,  the  ftrst  Strauss  reunion 
was  held  on  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-lirst  an- 
niversarv  of  the  landing  at  Philadeljjhia  of  Albrecht 
and  Philip  StrausS,  who  located  in  P>.erii  township, 
in  Perks  county,  soon  after  their  coming'-  to  Amer- 
ica, They  were  farmers,  and  reared  large  and 
honorable  families,  record  of  whose  progeny  is 
found  in  these  volumes.  The  reunions  of  1905, 
iy07  and  PJOi)  were  held  at  Stransslown,  in  Upj'cr 
Tulpchocken  township.  This  town  perpetuates  the 
family  nanie  in  tb.e  county. 

The  historian  has  found  practicalh-  complete  re- 
cords of  these  tw(j  pioneers,  which  will  finally  Vje 
published  in  book  form.  The  officer.-  of  the  reunion 
a  re : 

President,  James  W.  S.  Strause,  Reading,  Pa. 
Secretary,  Cameron   E.   Strauss,   Reading,   Pa. 
Treasurer,  .\darii   \V.   Strause,   ii'.ern\i'le,  P.a. 
Historian,    \\.   .Mcrns   Strauss,   .P'sq.,   Reading.   Pa. 
Executive    Committee,    Hciiry    X.    ilaas.    Bernvillc,    Pa., 
Milton      M.      Strauss,      Strauss- 
town,   Pa., 
P'rank     H.     S.iul.     R  -luiag,     Pa., 
J.   ]\Iorri.'-.   Strai'.ie.  Auburn.   Pa,, 
Charles    -\'ev,    Schuvikill    Maveri, 

Pa., 
Josiah   K.    Strause,   Strausstown, 
Pa. 

Trf.xi.kk.--  The  first  reimion  of  the  Trexler  fam- 
ilv  was  lield  at  Kutztown  I'ark,  Porks  county.  Pa., 
on  Aug.  2^.  P.Hi:.  It  was  laigely  atieniled.  The 
officers  of  this  reunion  are: 

President.  Jaiues  P>.  Tre.xler,  Lcwisrown,   Pa. 

I'lce-Prcsidenis,     L^r.  J;icob   Trexier.   L.-mcasicr,   Pa., 
B.    I''.    Trexler,    Allentown,    Pp., 
J.  Allen  Trexler,  .\llentown,  Pa. 

Secretary,    Claude    Trexler   Reno.   Allentown,    Pa. 

Treasurer,   Morris    IX  Trexler,  'Popton,   Pa. 

Historian,    Hon.    ITank    M.    Trexler,   .Ailentown.    Pa. 

This  meeiing  was  called  to  order  bv  Claude  Trex- 
ler Reno,  P,s(|.,  and  the  hi-lory  vi  the  family  was 
then  read  b\  Judge  Trexler,  the  historian.  His 
pajn-r  showed  c<insiderable  reseai"cli  and  g;\es  to 
iJos'critN  ;i  11  111-  rerord  <>i  ihe  'frexler  fariii!)-,  w'lii-li 
is  an  lionored  famib-  of  the  State,  a  number  of  no- 


;   ,--!3-.v4< 


HISTORY    OF    BERKS    COUXTV,    PEXXSVIA  AXIA 


table  personages  beinj;-  fi^^und  anir.ni^-  its  niemliers. 

I'cter  Trcxler,  the  forebear,  came  to  America 
prior  to  17;-30,  and  located  in  (^ley  township.  P-erlcs 
county.  Ilis  name,  among  other.s.  appears  upon 
the  petition  for  the  erection  of  Oley  to\vnshi[)  in. 
1T20.  Shortly  afterward  he  removed  to  what  is 
now  Upper  ^Macungic  township,  Lehigh  county. 
In  3729  he  obtained,  througl":  Casper  W'ister,  land 
agent,  a  patent,  for  land  ufirin  v  hieh  he  lived.  He 
died  in  175S.  His  last  will  bears  date  ITU.  He 
disposes  of  In's  estate  to  his  wiflow.  Catharine,  and 
his  three  SC'US  and  three  dangliters,  named,  respec- 
tively: J'^remiali,  John,  Peter.  Anna,  Catharine  and 
Margaret. 

Jeremiah  Trcxler  fson  of  Peter "i  a^  early  as  1T"2 
had  a  public  house  at  Trexlertown.  He  and  wife, 
Catharine,  had  sons  John  and  Peter. 

Peler  Trexler,  the  second  son  of  the  first  Peter, 
occupied  a  tract  near  Pjreinig.-^ville.  He  was  justice 
of  the  peace  from  1T.")2  to  17TG,  and  in  the  Colonial 
system  sat  at  the  courts  at  Pastiai.  His  son,  Peter, 
the  third  Prter  in  line  of  descent  from  the  first  set- 
tler, was  known  as  the  Mert7.town  Peter.  In  ]  TSH 
he  was  lieutc'ianl-colonel  of  the  militia.  He  had 
eleven  children,  and  his  posteritv  is  known  as  the 
Berks   county   branch   of   the   family.      The   names 


of  his  children  as  they  appear  in  the  family  Pil/n- 
i.in  th.e  possession  of  jitlwm  H.  Trcxler,  of  .\kr;x- 
town)  are  as  follows:  .Maria,  John  Peter,  lac!.. 
Reuben,  P.enjamin,  Catharine,  Jonas,  .Anna,  Xaihan. 
Daniel,  Judith. 

The  minutes  and  proceedings  of  the  first  re- 
union of  the  Trexler  family  are  published  in  pamph- 
let fe.rm.  Thev  were  compiled  by  Claude  Trexler 
Reno,  of  Allen'town,  Pa.,  and  are  vahiable. 

W'amshki^ — The  W'amsher  family  has  been 
holding  atuiual  re\iiiii)ns  or  picnics  since  ]!lO(i.  p 
held  its  last  meeting  at  Monocacy,  in  IHos.  .\n 
effort  is  to  be  made  to  trace  the  family  to  the  an- 
cestor, and  ultimately  to  publish  a  boolc.  The  of- 
ticers  of  the  reun.ion  are: 

President,  Jasper   WAnisher,   Monocacy,    Pa. 
Secretary,   Norman    E.   Wamsher. 
Treasurer,  Frank   McDermotid. 
Executive  Cotninittce,    llarr}-  .V.   Pic^rcl, 

Howard  Seidcl, 

Ellf;C]ie    .MaiiL'or. 

Rov.    Ruddy    Mill.ird. 

Yeich. — The  "S'eich  family  held  a  reunion  at 
]\Iiner.al  Spring  in  the  snnnner  of  I'JOs.  h'tnir  gen- 
erations of  the  family  were  represented  in  Mrs. 
William  A'eich.  Mrs.  \\'illiam  Manger,  }Jrs.  Mor- 
ence  Miller  and  Miss  Evelyn  Miller. 


h. 


/ 


/ 


/  f 


/^ 


I 

JLj 


J.  CLW'CY  JOXHS  ua<:  hern  Oct.  7,  ISU,  in  Ciicn;ar- 
von  township,  iJcrks  couiuy.  His  .iiiccstors  were  of 
Welsh  oriL;iii.  His  grcat-graiidi'atlier,  David  Joiies,  set- 
tled in  V,'.?}  Lipeai  the  Cwiiestog.-i  creek,  near  }Jorgan- 
town,  and  tiiere  he  erected  anil  caTied  uu  one  of  the 
lirst  forges  in  liiat  section  o;  the  State.  His  ;.;rand- 
father,  Jonathan  Jones,  \v,\.-,  captain  oi  ,i  eo'.iip.-uiy  of 
troops  belonging  to  the  Ci.)nt!nental  Line,  eniisti-d  by 
authority  of  Congress,  and  rendered  distinguished  ser- 
vices in  the  expedition  a';ai:i:.t  Canada  in  i;'70.  .-Viter- 
ward  he  was  lieiitenant-coionei.  His  dtath  was  occas- 
ioned by  t'.ie  hardships  of  that  campaign.  Jeltu  Jones, 
son  of  Jonathan  and  lather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  for  many  >-ears  engased  in  the  profession  of  teach- 
er, for  which  he  was  qiialiiied  bv  a  cia--sieal  edncation. 
He  died   in    iS04,  at  an   advanced   age. 

J.  Clancy  Jones  was  educated  at  Kcpyon  Collrge.  Ohio, 
and  iu  ]S;i3  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  tl-.e  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Clmrch,  to  wliich  bis  family  had  for 
generations  belonged.  His  inclinations,  however,  kd  him 
to  prefer  (he  profession  of  the  law:  and  ha\ing  under- 
gone the  ntce-^iary  cour.se  of  prcp.iration  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  i);ir.  He  commenced  practice  in  iSi::,  at 
Easton.  Pa.  The  judicial  .listrict  was  composctl  at  th.at 
time  of  the  counties  of  Berks.  Lehigh  ;ind  Xonluimp- 
ton,  and  was  presided  over  by  ILm.  John  F.ank-s.  .-Xfter 
a  residence  of  three  years  at  Eastoii  he  removed  to  Read- 
ing, and  was  admitted  to  the  P.a:-  of  pjcrks  county  Jan. 
7,  lS\'t.  He  was  appointed  district  attorney  for  Perks 
county,  under  the  administration  c>f  Goveriior  Slumk, 
in  ALt-c1i,  1?47.  am!  served  in  that  capacity  until  Janu- 
ary, 18-19.  iHiring  that  period  be  was  tendered  b:.-  the 
Executive  the  president  judgeship  oi  the  Ciu-sier  and 
Delaware   District. 

Though  successful  in  tlie  practice  of  his  profession,  he 
very  early  inclined  to  politics.  Being  a  decided  Demo- 
crat, he  became  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  dominant 
p.irty  in  bis  native  county,  as  well  as  in  the  State  at 
large.  He  w^s  tlie  war)n  personal  friend  and  jioliticril 
supporter  of  Morris  Longstreth,  the  unsuccessful  com- 
petitor of  Governor  Johnston  in  1S4S,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  State  Com- 
mittee. In  IS.JO  be  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the 
Berks  District.  l-faving  declined  a  renoniinaiion.  the 
Hon.  Henry  A.  Muhlenberg,  tlie  younger,  was  cliosi  ti 
as  bis  successor  for  the  term  beginning  in  Deccinber, 
1S.53.  Mr.  Muhlenberg  having  died  shonly  after  tak- 
ing his  seat,  a  special  election  was  held  in  February. 
1854,  to  fdl  the  vacancy,  when  Mr.  Jones  was  chosen 
for  the  unexpired  term.  He  was  reelected  for  two  suc- 
ceeding regular  terms,  in  1Sj+  and  IS.'i').  thus  holding 
tlie  position  of  representative,  with  Init  a  brief  inter- 
mission, for  the  period  of  eicht  years.  .As  a  memlier 
of  the  committee  on  Claims,  he  was  author  of  tiie  bill 
establishing  the  L'nited  States  Court  of  Claims.  Tn  IS.i? 
he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Ways  and  .Nteans, 
a  position  of  leadership  which  ncceS'sa.rily  secured  for  its 
tncnmbent  a  national  reputation. 

After  the  election  of  Mr.  Hncbanan  tii  the  Pre<:idency, 
in  1.<!.".il,  Mr.  J<-)nes  was  selected  as  a  memlier  oi  bis 
cabinet.  This  si  lection  v  as  ratiOeil  by  the  Democratic 
press  and  pari\-  thr^ej-h.e.it  ;iie  country  with  i^reat  uii- 
animily.  but  \U\  Jn^),-^  div.linefl  the  appr.iniinent,  Tn 
^■rbrn.;rv.  I^'r,  be  tendered  to  Mr  J.nes  'he  mis-ion 
to    I'.erlin.      "fi     !■;    my    jiuriiose."    he    wrot<\    "to    present 


your  nanie  to  the  Senate  for  that  higldy  respectable 
and  iinportaiu  mission  inini'Miiately  after  my  cabinet  shall 
have  been  cotilirmed.  .\nd  permit  me  here  to  add  that 
I  thii'.k  your  mind  and  qualities  are  admirably  adapted 
to  that  branch  of  the  public  service.'"  This  pooition  Mr. 
Jones  declined.  He  continncd  his  service  in  Congress 
as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Ways  and  Means, 
and  was  the  zealous  advocate  and  supporter  of  President 
Buchanan's  administration  on  the   floor  of  the   House. 

In  the  year  1838  be  was  unanimously  renominated  for 
Congress,  bis  opponent  being  ilaj.  John  Schwartz,  the 
candidate  of  the  anti-Lecotnptor.  Democracy,  wdiich  unit- 
ed with  it  the  strength  of  the  Republica'-'^  party.  Mr. 
Jones  being  the  special  representative  of  tiie  policy  of 
the  Federal  administration,  the  contest  iu  Berks,  as  else- 
where, was  conducted  largely  upon  natiotial  issues.  One 
of  the  most  exciting  campaigns  in  the  h'Story  of  the 
county  ensued,  which  resulted  in  ihe  election  of  Maj. 
Jtibn  Schwartz  by  a  majority  of  nineteen  votes.  Tlie 
total  vote  in  the  district  was  upward  of  fourteen  thou- 
sand. Immediately  after  tlie  result  of  the  contest  was 
kr,.)wii.  President  Buchanan  tendered  to  Mr.  Jones  the 
.Xusttiaii  nii-sion,  ■.■•hicli  he  accepted.  L'pon  bis  con- 
lirmation  b_v  the  .Senate,  lie  resigned  hi;  seat  in  Oii- 
gress.  and  left,  vitli  his  family,  loi  bis  post  in  Janu- 
ary. lS."i9.  Upon  the  accession  of  the  Rej, ubhcan  n.\rty 
to  power,  in  ISGI,  Mr.  Purb'ne.anie  was  appointed  bv 
President  Lincoln  to  succeed  Mr.  Jones  at  the  court  of 
Vienna;  but,  having  been  almost  immediately  recalled, 
Mr.  Jones,  at  the  request  of  the  administration,  rem. lin- 
ed in  tlie  embassy  nnti!  the  arrival  of  his  successor,  Hon. 
John  Lotlirop  .Motl.y.  in  the  moiuii  of  December.  At 
the  period  of  the  outbieak  of  the  Civil  war  in  the  Unit- 
ed States  the  subject  of  the  belligerent  relations  of  the 
two  contending  sections  devolved  duties  of  a  peculiarly 
delicate  and  responsiide  ratui;  nrioii  our  diplomatic  re- 
presentatives abroad,  and,  so  f.ar  as  .Mr.  Jones's  sphere 
of  service  was  concerned,  lie  su-t'ined  hi^  of'icial  trust 
in  a  manner  highly  sati.-factory  to  the  adininislration  and 
the   government   of   the   country. 

Upon  his  return  home,  where  he  arrived  iti  Jannary, 
1SC2.  the  period  of  Mr.  Jones's  public  life  practically 
terminated,  though  he  did  not  cease  to  narticipate  in 
the  councils  of  hi?  party  for  m.-my  jears  afterward. 
He  resumed  the  practice  of  tlie  law,  and  carried  it  on 
for  about  ten  years,'  v.ben  declining  bciltli  compelled 
liim  to  retire  froni  all  employments  of  a  pnbHc  nat- 
ure. 

Mr.  Jones  was,  for  a  long  period,  prominent  in  tiic 
councils  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  haviiuT  been 
frequently  a  delegate  to  diocesan  conventions,  and  lia\- 
ing  taken  a  leading  part  in  the  measures  which  led  to 
the  cstabli-^hnieiit  of  the  new  diocese  of  Ci>ntrn1  Pcnn- 
svlvania  in  1?71.  During  his  entire  politicrd  and  pro- 
fessional career  he  preserved  a  character  of  unliKni- 
ishcd  integrity,  and  in  his  private  relations  to  his  fellow- 
jucn  was  equally  above  reproach.  He  had  many  warm 
and  zealous  friends;  and  succeeded,  as  few  public  men 
succeerl,  in  preserving  the  personal  esteem  of  his  polili- 
c;d  otiponcnts,  against  whom  he  never  cbcrisheil  ani- 
niositv  or  resentment.  ^Ic  was  well  fitted  to  be  a  le.ider 
of  men.  .iiid  tli'-se  u  ho  diiTered  mo-l  radi  alle  fi'in  him 
in  p<dilic;d  opinion  did  not  hesitate  to  pi-knowkdee  th-- 
wimiin:'  power  of  bis  p',  rson.a!  intluenre.  lie  \\as  a 
verv    social    man       His    domestic    life    w;is    especialh     bat>- 


L.l  Xi.  '..J 


A   a.    .SL 


'-t  .f'  II 


•o'      ,ll' 


t 


HIS'J'ORY  (_ 


iU'iavS  COl.'XTY.  PEXXSVLX'ANIA 


py  aiul  aliractivc.  His  v.-ifi:,  Anna  Rodman,  a.  daii.^hti.r 
of  til;:  Hon.  Willi. 111'.  RodiiK'H,  of  Bucks  county,  for- 
merly a  rcprcsL-ntalive  of  that  district  in  CotiijrLSS,  was 
a  lady  of  superior  rciiiicment  and  niusi  estimable  Christ- 
ian character,  and  her  decease,  in  1S71,  severed  the  ties 
of  a  peculiarly   united  and  att'?clionate   liousehoUl. 

Mr.  Jones  died  at  Reading',  March  24,  l!>73,  in  his  sixty- 
sevcnih  yt^ar,  and  upon  that  occasion  the  Bar  of  the 
county  united  in  a  testimonial  of  marked  respect  to  his 
memory    and    appreciation    of    his    public    services.- 

Two  of  his  sons,  Charles  Henry  and  Richmond  L. 
Jones,  were  admitted  to  the  Berks  count)  Ear  in  ldO:j, 
having  studied  law  in  their  father's  otrice.  The  latter 
was  a  representati\'e  from  the  county  m  the  Legisla- 
ture from  iSG7  to  ISCi'J.  and  the  forn;er  became  a  resi- 
Ocnt  and  practitioner  at  the  Bar  of  Philadelphia.  J^.Ir. 
Jones's  eldest  daughter.  .\nna  Rodman,  married  Far- 
relly  Alden.  of  riti3iiurL;h,  and  died  tiiere  in  December, 
1885.  His  yount;es;  daugliter,  Katharine,  married  Wil- 
liam   Tliomas    Wallace,    of  •  Pittsburgh,    Pennsylvania. 

BERKS  COUNTY  ANCE.^TRY  OF  ABRAHAM 
LINCOLN.  Concerning  the  historical  fact  that  the  pa- 
ternal ancestors  of  President  Abraham  Lincoln  were  resi- 
dents in  the  Eighteemh  Century  of  Beiks  county,  whence 
they  migrated  to  Viryiiiia.  Louis  Richards,  Esq.,  president 
of  the  County  Hislnrical  Society,  in  a  recent  paper  read 
before  it,  wrote  in  part  as  follows: 

Among  the  early  immigrants  to  the  Colony  of  Massa- 
rl;'i£ctts — or  iMassachusetls  Bay,  as  it  was  called  in  colonial 
times — were  the  Lincolns  from  old  Eiigb.nd.  Ibe  first  of 
t!K'  name  from  whom  tiie  President's  descent  can  be  traced 
was  Mordecai  Lincoln,  who  is  said  to  have  been  born 
at  llingham,  near  Boston,  in  ir),">7.  The  tradition  that  he 
was  an  "ironmonger"  is  strengtheneil  I>y  ilie  fact  that  h.is 
son  IMordecai  followed  tlrU  occupation.  The  hitter,  who 
was  by  the  first  wife,  w  ris  l-n.^rn  in  luSG.  :'.nd  h.'.d  two 
brothers,  Abraham,  born  insu.  .-mil  l.-aac,  born  tf'.OI.  The 
preference  for  Scripiuv.-.l  Christian  luimfs  aas  followed 
in  the  fainih'  throueli  many  Micceeding  gi^nerations.  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  writing  a  lirief  autobiography  in  ISflO,  said, 
tint  an  effort  to  identify  his  Quaker  ancestors  in  Pennsyl- 
vania with  the  New  England  family  of  the  satiie  name 
ended  in  nothing  more  dermite  ihan  a  similarity  of 
Christian  liamcs  in  both  families,  such  as  Enoch.  Levi. 
Mordecai  and  Solomon.  Since  tli.".!  date  the  connection 
of  the  families  has  been  veliaL'y  estaljlished.  By  a  second 
ntarnaL'e,  i\Iordccni.  >r.,  had  other  chi'ilien,  sonu-  of  whose 
d-.-cenua:its  remain  in  ^Massachusetts  at  tin.-,  day.  The  son 
Mordecai,  Jr.,  removed  wilii  his  brother  .-\br;diam  to  East 
Jf^rsey  about  1717,  acrniring  lands  in  .Monmciuth  county. 
He  resided  there  until  probably  1720.  at  which  date,  and 
dov,  n  to  ]7;7fi,  he  is  found  assessed  as  a  ta.xablc  in  Nant- 
rncal  and  Co\cnny  lown-hips,  Chestei-  Cn.,  Pa.  That  he 
was  possessed  of  considerable  c^tatc.  ;ind  was  an  iron- 
n'aster,  appears  from  record  evidence  of  his  association 
wirl,  Branson  and  Nutt,  pioneers  of  the  irun  industry  in 
tlu't  State,  in  the  erection  of  a  forge  at  Cov.ntry,  on  French 
creek.  His  one-third  interest  in  that  estaMisiimont,  and  the 
laiids  appv.rtenant,  he  sdd  to  Branson  for  .^.1.100.  in  De- 
cember, 17L'5.  In  172r)  he  is  desii^nated.  as  a  resident  of 
Chester  county  in  a  convc_\anee  to  him  in  that  year  of 
certain  lands  in  New  Jersey.  On  May  10,  17.12.  he  obt.aincd 
from  Thomas  Millard,  of  Coventr\-,  a  cotiveyance  of  one 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  thtit  pari  of  .\miiy  township, 
Philadelphia  county,  now  included  in  IC.xeter  township. 
Berks  county:  the  tract  being  a  portion  of  jjxleen  hundred 
acres  formerly  belonging  to  .\ndrew  Robeson.  The  date 
of  this  deed  is  conjectnr.iP.y  that  of  his  lirst  residence 
in  what  is  now  Berks  county,  lliough  it  is  possible  that  he 
may  have  come  there  earlier.  In  17:;2-..:i  he  is_  found  in 
conmiis>iion  as  one  of  His  M;i]e;-,tv's  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

His  will  dated  lA-b.  Ci!,  17:!r,  fO.  S  \  was  proved  June 
T,,  '7.)'".  inriicp.ling  \ cry  nearly  the  dalj  of  his  death.  Bv 
:t  he  divided  his  lainl  in  .Nmiiv  towioliip  efpi;illy  lutweeii 
Ins  soi.s.  .Mi.rd-. c.ii  .md  'ilMinas.  nKiklng  provision  con- 
'.ingently    for    an    cxpcrud    child,    sviiich,    if    a   son,    was   to 


share  the  inheritance  »vitli  his  two  brother;,  each  to  take  a 
tiiird  part.  .\.  cert.'iin  fuc'  of  tliree  hundred  acres  oi  l:i:i.; 
in  ihe  Jerseys  he  devised  to  his  son  John,  and  other  k.i-:,!. 
in  the  same  Province  to  his  daugiiters  Ann  and  S:ir:d; 
leaving  bequests  to  his  remaining  daughters,  Il.-iiiiiah  an  i 
Mary.  ]:lis  wife  Mary  received  the  residue  of  his  pergonal 
estate,  and  the  use  of  his  plantation  for  life,  being  aU.. 
constituted  executrix.  Llis  friends  Jonathan  Robeson  an  ; 
George  Boone  were  designated  as  her  assistants  in  liiai 
office,  according  to  a  custom  then  prevalent. 

The  son  John,  who  was  by  a  former  wife,  was  the  lineal 
ance:3ior  of  President  Liticoln.  He  subsequently  sold  his 
land  in  Nev.  Jersey,  and  emigrated  to  Rockingh.ini  county. 
Va.,  in  17G.J.  This  date  is  established  from  the  tax  lists 
of  Berks  county  and  the  local  records  in  Virginia  in  cor- 
respondence therewith.  John  had  a  son  .'Vbraham  wi';o 
went  to  Kentucky  in  17S:i,  and  two  years  later  was  killed 
there  by  the  Indians.  Abraham  left  three  sons,  Mordecai, 
Josiah  and  Thomas.  The  president  was  the  son  of  the  last 
named,  by  his  lirst  wife,  Nancy  Hanks. 

The  posthumous  son  of  Mordecai  of  Exeter,  named 
.\braham,  half-brother  of  John,  was  born  Oct.  20,  173G. 
He  became  the  most  prominent  memb.'^r  of  the  Berks  county 
family  in  public  life.  From  1773  to  177,o  he  w.as 
a  County  Commissioner;  served  as  sub-lieutenant 
of  the  county  in  1777,  was  a  member  of  the 
Pcnnsyivania  General  Assembly  from  1772  to  J78G; 
delegate  to  the  Pennsylvania  Convention  of  17.S7  to 
ratify  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  a  member  of  the 
convention  wliich  devised  the  State  Constitution  of  17'Ji). 
He  died  at  his  residence  in  Exeter  townsiiip  Jan.  31,  ISOG,  in 
his  seventieth  jear.  He  n'.arried  in  17iU  .\nne  Boone, 
daui;lUer  of  James  Poone.  and  his  wife  Mary  h'ouike.  Her 
father's  brother,  .Squire  Boone,  was  the  father  of  Daniel 
Boone,  the  pioneer  of  I'vcnlucky.  and  a  nati"c  of  Berks 
county,  to  whom  slie  vts  thus  first  cousin.  Thomas  Lincoln. 
brother  of  .\br;iiiam  w.is  a  thrifty  landhold'u-,  and  v/as 
,-heriiT  of  the  cou:i;\  in  1778  and  1759.  Mordecai  Lincoln, 
tile  .li'ter  brother,  remained  a  resident  of  Berk,  county  up 
to  about  i7S0.  removing  to  Dauphin  and  r-ubsequently  to 
r'ayclte  county,   I'ennsylvtinia. 

President  Lincoln  referred  to  his  Pcnnsyivania  ancestors 
as  Qti.ikers.  Th^e  is  no  evidence  of  the  connection  of 
the  New  England  L.'nrolns  wi'h  the  Friends.  Some  of  the 
members  of  the  branch  wh-ch  crine  to  Peiinsylvnnia  became 
ai.'diatcd  wiih  that  donomin.-ition  through  intermarriage. 
Anne  Puoite,  wife  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  county  com- 
niis'^ioner,  \vas  brought  under  mild  censure  for  marrying 
out  of  meeting.  The  Booties  were  of  Englisl;  descent,  and 
staunch  Qutikers.  George  iioone,  a  native  of  iJevonshire. 
who  emigrated  to  the  Province  in  1717,  belonged  for  ;i  time 
to  the  Gwynedd  Monthly  Mectin.g.  in  Philadelphia  count}-. 
•Having  acquired  lands  in  wh:it  is  now  Exeter  foivnship. 
Berks  county,  in  171S,  tind  settled  there,  he  w.is  appointed 
in  1723  by  the  Gwynedd  .Meeting  to  keep  tlie  accouttts  of 
births  and  marriages  of  Friends  in  his  vicinity.  He  do- 
nated the  ground  f'-.r  the  meeting-house  and  burial-place  of 
the  Oley  Monthly  Meeting,  since  called  the  Exeter  Monthly 
?\[eeting.  constituted  in  17^7.  The  Boones  were  a  prolific 
race.  and.  together  with  tiie  l.irxolns,  left  numerous  de- 
scendants, who  were  .nniong  the  most  intelligent  and  re- 
spectable of  the  county  stock.  The  twu  f.imilics  were  close- 
ly associated,  and  in  the  Exeter  ^Meeting  Ground  the  earlier 
'.generations  of  both   lie  buried.- 

Squire  Boone,  father  of  Daniel,  removed  in  V.''<0  with 
his  family  to  North  Ctirolina.  on  tlie  Yadkin  river.  Thence 
after  he  had  grown  to  manh'iod,  Daniel  wein  to  Kentucky, 
and  entered  upon  hi-^  famous  career  as  pioneer  of  that 
rcmritc  border  land  of  civili7aiioti.  From  the  confection  of 
the  Bdones  and  Lincolns  in  Berks  county,  the  inference  is 
reasonably  certain  that  the  Southern  migration  of  John, 
the  Presiilent's  ancestor,  in  17(15,  was  the  direct  result  >,f 
that  of  the   Boones,   fiflecti  years  previously. 

.A  theory  regarding  the  inntcrnal  ancestry  of  Pri  sident 
Lntcnhi  i*;  that  hi'^  iiti'iher.  Nanc-  il.-inlc^.  was  iU--i:eii  1 -.1 
from  a  familv  of  tiiat  name  tr;iie.ible  in  P..  rks  coimly  at 
the   period    when    the   earlier   generations   of   tlic    Lincolns 


BIOGRArillCAL 


3-25 


were  seated  there.  Xancy  Harks  was  a  i!au:;hter  nf  J.iseph 
Hanks,  of  Xeisoii  ciuuity,  Ky.,  and  one  of  her  aunts  on 
ilie  maternal  side  married  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  X'irtrii'.in, 
the  grandfather  of  the  President  and  son  of  John.  All 
that  is  positively  known  upon  this  head  is  that  a  family 
by  the  name  of  Hanks  appears  in  the  records  of  the  Gwy- 
nedd  Monthly  Meeting  of  an  early  date,  and  that  the  name 
of  one  Joseph  Hanek  is  found  upon  the  list  of  taxables  of 
the  town  of  Reading  between  IT.'iS  and  ITiJ:;.  Whether  the 
latter  was  identical  with  the  Joseph  Hanks  of  Kentucky, 
father  of  Xriiicy,  is  a  m.'ittcr  of  conjecture.  In  the  absence 
of  ]iiore  definite  facts,  either  for  or  ai^ainst  the  supposition, 
no  positive  conclusion  can  l-.e  reached  upon  the  subject. 

[On  page  "90  may  be  seen  a  cut  of  tlie  building  where 
the  children  of  Mordecai  LIticoIii.  Sr.,  were  born.  It  is 
situated  about  a  mile  below  Lorane  Station,  several  Inin- 
dred  feet  north  from  the  Philadelphia  K'  Reading-  railroad. 
rear  a  sniall  stream.  An  extension  was  built  to  the  west 
end.] 

HOX.  THOMAS  WHARTOX.  Jk.,  the  first  Governor 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  under  the  consti- 
tution of  ITTC),  was  born  in  lTr..j,  in  Chester  county,  Pa., 
a  son  of  Jolm  and  Mary  (Dobbins)  Wharton,  grandson 
of  Thomas  and  great-grandson  of  Richard  Wharton. 

Richard  Wharton,  who  eraigrated  to  Pennsylvania  from 
KcUworth,  in  th.e  parish  of  Overton,  Westniorelandshire, 
England,  at  an  early  date,  was  the  emigrant  ancestor  of 
the  Wharton  family  in  America. 

Thomas  Wharton,  wlio  Liter  achieved  so  great  a  distinc- 
tion in  his  native  State,  spent  his  boyhood  attending 
school  in  the  priinitive  mstitulions  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
his  home,  and  assisting  on  the  paternal  farm,  and  he  be- 
came a  young  man  of  sterling  character.  In  ^7'>^  he 
moved  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  apprenticed  hin'.self  to  an 
employer  by  the  nanii-  of  Reese  .Mendith  and  later  was 
associated  witli  Anthiiny  Stocker.  With  the  latter  he 
formed  a  partnership,  under  the  firm  naniu  of  Stocker  & 
Whaiton,  in  the  inerc.inlile  line.  This  llrni  became  \ery 
strong,  and  according  to  the  custom-house  bontis  of  ITOL', 
was   one  of  the   heaviest   importers   in   the  city. 

Governor  Wharton,  then  but  a  prosperous  merchant, 
was  married  Nov.  4,  lTii2,  at  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia, 
to  Susannah  Lloyd,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Susannah 
(Kearney)  Lloyd,  and  they  had  the  following  children : 
Lloyd,  Kearney,  William  M.,  Sarah  N.  and  Sus.annah. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  Oct.  24,  1772.  On  L>ec. 
7,  1774,  Thomas  Wharton  married  (second)  Kb/.abeth 
Fishboiirne.  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Talhnan) 
Fishbourne,  and  they  had  three  children,  viz.:  Mary, 
Thomas  F.  and  William  Fishbourne.  Governor  Wharton 
was  an  Orthodox  Friend. 

It  is  passirig  strange  that  the  historv  of  Thomas  Wharton, 
Jr.,  a  man  whose  life  was  so  closely  linked  with  that  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  whose  affairs  he  ad- 
ministered during  the  darkest  struggle  in  which  she  and 
her  sister  colonies  ever  engaged,  is  npt  more  widely  and 
more  intimately  known.  One  most  obvious  reason  for 
this  is  to  be  found  in  the  circumstance  of  his  early  death, 
which  abruptly  terminated  a  useful  and  honorable  career: 
for,  considerable  as  were  the  services  wdiich  he  had  already 
rendered  his  country,  the  potentialities  of  the  future  were 
even  greater,  and  without  doubt  he.  who  had  acquitted 
hiinself  so  creditably,  would,  h:\d  he  lived  to  see  the  new 
government  permanently  established,  have  continued  to 
hold  positions  of  h;inor  anil  trust  in  his  native  State.  To 
quote;  "Full  justice  has  never  been  done  to  the  magna- 
nimity and  ability  of  Pennsylvania's  statesmen  and  war- 
riors during  the  Revolutionary  contest.  The  quiet  and 
unassuming  character  of  her  pnpulatiun  has  caused  the 
historians,  in  a  mensure.  to  overlook  their  merit  in  the 
council  and  in  the  held." 

By  reading  the  history  of  Pennsylvania  during  those 
in.wientous  years  from  1774-177.")  and  uj)  to  177S,  we  recog- 
ni;'e  th.e  worth  of  Go\ernor  Wharton,  from  the  pages  of 
lier  records  and  archives,  fidl  of  inij)ortaiil  orders  emauiU- 
ing  from  him  at  trying  crises;  or.  in  glaricing  over  tiie 
journals   of   the   day,    wdiicli   abound    in    procl.inintions   th.it 


even  now  stir  us  by  their  tone  of  deep  and  earnest  pa- 
triotism. Througli  rinyiiig  calls  to  arms  and  eloquent 
appeals  to  the  nobler  impulses  of  mankind,  we  gain  some 
insight  into  the  character  of  the  man  of  whom  few 
written  expressions  are  left  us.  He  was  a  man.  howe\er. 
who  had  impressed  his  personality  in  such  a  way  that 
we  know  he  was  universall\-  beloved. 

Thomas  Wharton  had  been  called  to  numerous  posi- 
tions of  trust,  had  served  with  honor  and  capacity  on  the 
committee  of  Safety,  and  in  1770,  wdien  the  Commonwealth 
of  Pennyslvania  called  together  a  convention  to  frame  a 
new  Constitution,  for  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
accordance  with  the  Resolve  of  Congress  (on  M;'.y  lOth  of 
that  ytarj,  on  July  ;i-ith  a  Council  of  Safety  was  estab- 
lished, in  which  the  convention  vested  the  executive  author- 
ity of  the  government  until  the  new  Constitution  should 
be  put  in  operation.  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr..  who  had  given 
abundant  proof  of  his  zeal  and  ability  when  a  member  of 
the  late  committee  of  Safety,  was  now  chosen  president 
of  the  newdy  formed  council  and  again  distinguished  him- 
self in  a  most  creditable  manner.  In  February,  1777,  an 
election  was  he'd  for  the  choice  of  assemblyman,  in  place 
of  several  who  had  declined  to  act.  Thomas  Wharton, 
Jr.,  was  elected  councilman  from  Philadelphia  and  later, 
as  such,  assisted  to  organize  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council  and  thus  complete  the  new  government.  This 
was  done  and  the  General  .-\ssendjly  and  Council  united 
and  elected  Mr.  Wharton  president  of  the  latter  body.  As 
president  of  the  Council  of  Safety,  Mr.  Wharton  had 
Idled  with  honor  a  position  of  trust,  hence,  it  is  n;it 
strange  that  he  should  have  been  offered  one  of  greater 
responsibility  under  die  new  governtnent.  It  Seemed, 
indeed,  as  if  by  nmtual  attraction,  the  best  minds  of 
the  country  were  drawn  together,  ;uid  that,  wiih  an  insight 
born  of  the  necessities  of  the  hour,  men  recognized  each 
other's  worth  and  discerned  in  wdiat  field  their  talents 
would  be  best  developed  for  the  good  of  the  common 
cause. 

Thus  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr.'s  talents  were-  pre-eminently 
administrative,  and  from  one  important  [losition  ir.  his 
State  he  was  raised  to  another  until  linaily  called  upon, 
amid  the  bitter  political  dispute  of  1777,  to  fill  the  most 
elevated  position  his  proud  State  could  ofier  him,  that 
of  president  of  t!ie  the  newly  formed  Supreme  Executive 
Council.  On  March  .''),  1777,  the  new  president  was 
duly  inaugurated  as  presidenT  of  the  .Supreme  Execunvc 
Council  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  captain- 
general  and  commander-in-chief,  and  served  as  such  until 
."Vlay  23,  1778,  when  his  death  occurred  in  the  city  of 
Lancaster.  His  funeral  was  solemnized  with  civil  and 
military  honors  aiul  his  remains  were  interred  .-'t  the 
Evangelical  Trinity  Lutheran  Church  at  Lancaster.  His 
fame   rests   with  posterity. 

William  Fishbourne  Wharton,  the  third  child  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  (Fishliourne)  Wharton,  was  born  Aug.  10, 
177S,  .and  was  married  i  first)  M.ay  10,  lSn4.  to  S'tv-.n 
Shoemaker,  wdio  died  Xov.  ;?,  1S2].  She  was  the  motiier 
of  nine  childreM  as  follows;  Thomas.  George  M.,  Fish- 
bourne, Henry,  Joseph,  Deborah.  William.  Edward  and 
Elizabeth.  He  married  (second)  Mary  Ann  Shoemaker, 
a  sister  of  his  first  wife  by  wdiom  he  had  two  children, 
namely:  Susan  F.  and  Philip  Fishbourne.  Two  o^'  these 
children,  George  M.  and  Philip  F.,  attained  distinction 
in   legal   and    artistic   circles. 

I'.esides  Miss  Su--.in  F.  Wharton,  who  is  the  only  living 
grandchild  of  Governor  Wharton,  several  of  his  gre.-it- 
grandchildren  have  resided  in  Berks  county,  namely: 
Wharton  Morris,  grandson  of  Ke.arney,  who  was  ;i 
son  of  the  Governor  by  his  first  marriage;  Maria  Wharton 
P.rookc,  widow  of  Dr.  Brooke  and  a  granddaughter  of 
Kearney  Wharton ;  and  Robert  Wharton  Bickb'y,  also  a 
grandson  of  Kearney  Wharton.  Mrs.  Brooke  and  Mrs, 
P.ickley  arc  living  in  Re.idmg  at  the  present  time,  both 
widows.  -Miss  .Susan  F.  A\'harton.  who  until  l.itely  re- 
siilcd  at  .\'o.  138  Xorlh  Foiirlh  .street,  Reading,  is  now- 
living  at  "The  Poplars,"  Wyomissing.  esteemed  for  her 
.incest ry  and  also   for  her  ju  rsonal  characteristics. 


/lli;.!')!); 


S2G 


HISTORY  OF  r.KRKS  COl'XTY.  ri'.XXSYLVANiA 


EDWARD  BIDL'LE.  reprtsentative  from  Berks  county 
in  tiic  First  Coiiyrijss.  was  born  in  lT3;i.  He  was  the 
fourth  son  of  Williim  Bi*!dle,  a  native  of  New  Jersey', 
whose  grandfather  was  one  of  the  orii^inal  proprietors 
of  that  State,  having  left  Enghuid  witii  his  father  in 
1081.  His  nu-.th.cr  was  Mary  Scull,  the  daughter  of  Nich- 
olas Scull,  Sur\eyor-Geiieral  of  Pennsylvania  from  1748 
to  1701,  James,  Xicholas,  and  Charles  Diddle  were  three 
of  his  brothiT^. 

Ill  17od,  Edward  Riddle  was  commissioned  an  ensign 
in  the  Provincial  Army  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  present 
at  the  taking  of  Fort  Niagara  in  the  French  and  Indian 
War.  In  170'J  he  was  promoted  to  lieutenant,  and  in 
17('iO  conmii?5ioned  as  a  captain,  after  which  he  resigned 
from  the  army  and  ri.ccived  O.UOO  acres  of  land  for  his 
set  vices.  He  then  selected  the  law  as  his  profession,  and 
after  the  usual  course  of  study  at  Philadelphia  in  the 
olhce  of  his  eldest  brother,  he  located  at  kcading,  where 
he  soon  established  himself  as  a  lawyer.  In  17o7,  he 
represented  Berks  couiity  in  the  Provincial  Assembly,  and 
he  was  annually  re-elected  until  1775,  and  again  elected 
in  1778.  In  1771  and  177.'i,  he  officiated  rs  speaker,  having 
previously  been  placed  upon  the  most  important  com- 
mittee?, anil  ha\  ing  taken  an  active  part  in  all  the  current 
business. 

When  the  citizens  of  Reading  held  a  public  meeting 
Oil  July  2,  177J,  to  take  initiatory  steps  in  behalf  of  the 
Revolution,  they  selected  him  to  preside  over  their  delib- 
erations, and  the  resolutions  adopted  by  them  were  doubt- 
less drafted  by  him.  His  patriotic  utterar.ces  won  their 
admiration,  and  they  unanimously  gave  him  a  vote  of 
thank--,  and  appreciation  of  his  efforts  in  ihe  cause  of 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  America.  On  the  same  daj', 
while  presiding  at  this  meeting,  the  Assembly  of  Penn- 
sylvania was  in  scssi:)!!  and  elected  eight  delegates  as 
representatives  to  the  First  ContineiKal  Congress,  and 
among  them  was  Edward  Biddle  of  Reading.  He  was 
again  elected  as  one  oi  the  delegates  to  the  new  Congress, 
which  V.  as  held  in  May,  177.i;  and  he  was  elected  tiie 
third  time.  The  lirst  two  terms  extended  from  Sept.  5, 
177-},  to  13ec.  l:.',  177'>,  and  the  last  from  1773  to  1779. 
The  public  records  in  the  county  ofiices,  especially  in 
the  prothonotnry's  oriice,  disclo.=;c  a  largp  and  lucrative 
practice  by  him  as  an  attorney-:it-law,  and  this  extended 
from  1700  to  the  time  of  his  decease  in  177'J.  It  seems 
to  have  been  as  nnich  as,  if  not  more  than,  that  of  all  the 
other   attorneys   taken    together. 

He  died  Sept.  5.  !771i,  at  Baltimore,  Md..  Avhitlv^r  he 
had  gone  for  medi."al  treatment.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Ross,  daughter  of  Rev.  George  Ross,  of  Xew  Castle,  Del., 
by  whom  he  had  two  daughters,  Catharine  (m.  George 
Lux.  Esti-,  of  Baltimore;  ;  and  Abigail  (m.  Capt.  Peter 
Scull  of  Reading).  We  conclude  this  article  whh  Mr. 
Riddle's   autograph. 


In  the  pi.pular  demonstrations  at  Reading  for  the 
Revolution,  be  took  an  active  part.  At  the  meeting  Dec.  3, 
1774,  he  was  selected  as, one  of  the  committee  on  Obser- 
vation, recommended  by  Congress,  and  Jan.  ",  1775,  he  was 
chosen  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  Provincial  Conference, 
and  placed  on  the  com.mittee  of  Ccrrespondnce.  He 
was  also  prominently  identiiied  with  the  military  move- 
ments, having  in  l';75  and  17 70  served  as  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  2d  Battalion  of  the  county  militia,  which 
was  formed  out  of  companies  in  the  vicinity  of  Birds- 
boro.  In  August,  1770,  as  a  colonel,  he  f.tted  out  .000 
men  of  his  battalion  with  uniform,  tents,  and  provisions 
at  his  own  expense.  They  were  in  service  at,  or  near. 
South  Amboy  in  the  fall  of  1770,  and  may  have  constituted 
a  part  of  the  "Flying  Camp."  In  1775  and  1770  he  oflici- 
ated  as  one  of  the  judges  of  the  County  court.s.  In  1785 
hii  landed  possessions  in  Berks  county  included  eight 
thousand  acres,  upon  which  were  tlie  extensive  iron  works 
at  Birdsboro,  and  also  tne  Hopewell  l-'urnace  on  Six- 
penny creek,  v.hich  he  had  erected  about  1705.  And 
it  is  said  that  he  ovcned  large  property  interests  in  Xew 
Jersey  and  -Maryland,  -\bout  1788,  he  removed  to  North 
Carolina,  wdiere  he  died  some  years  afterward.  He  mar- 
ried -Mary  Ross,  daughter  o!  Rev.  George  Ross.  He 
was  a  brother-in-law  of  Edward  Biddle;  and  also  of 
George  Ross,  of  Lancaster,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.     Hl^  own  signature  is  herewith  reproduced. 


S/u9t 


u. 


MARK  BIRD.  di,-tlii--,'ui--l-.cd  ir.mmaster  and  patriot  of 
Berks  county,  was  a  s<mi  nf  William  Bird,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  iron  men  of  Berks  county  from  1740  to  1702, 
whose  works  were  situated  near  the  mouth  of  Hay  creek, 
in  Union  township.  He  was  born  at  that  place  in  Jan- 
uary, 17o0,  and  le.irned  to  c  irry  on  the  iron  business. 
After  his  father's  death  in  ]7('.2.  he  took  charge  of  the 
estate,  and  by  partition  proceedings  in  the  Orphans'  court 
came  to  own  the  properties,  which  cnn-^isted  of  rs.iidO  acres 
of  land,  three  forges,  a  grist  mill,  and  a  saw  mill,  .\bout 
that  time  he  laid  out  a  town  there  and  named  it  B.inls- 
boro.  By  the  time  the  Revolution  broke  out  he  had 
enlarged  his  possessions  \-ery  much.,  and  come  to 
be  otic  of  the  richest  and  most  enterprising  men  in  this 
section  of  th.e  State  The  recorder's  oifice  shi)ws  that 
he  aho  owned  at  different  times  \arioiis  properties  at 
Reading. 


•p 


G-\BRIEL  HIESTER  (son  uf  Hoi,.  Gabriel  Hiester,  a, 
prominent  re[ireseiitative  m.aii  of  Berks  county)  was  born 
in  Bern  to\Miship  Jan.  5,  ";77'.".  He  v.'as  giver,  a  good 
English  and  German  education,  and  his  youth  was  spent 
on  his  father's  farm.  His  father  ha\ing  taken  an  ,'ictive 
and  successful  part  in  local  politics,  be  naturally  exhib- 
ited the  same  spirit  at  an  earlj-  age.  I'y  appointment 
from  tito  Governor,  he  was  prothonotary  of  liie  county 
from  ■  ISO'.)  to  1817;  clerk  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  from 
ISO'.)  to  1>;J2,  and  1311  to  1817;  and  associate  judge  from 
ISIO  to  182.3.  During  the  War  of  1812-1,=.  he  served  as 
brigade-major  .in  the  campaign  at  Washington  and  Balti- 
more, lie  served  as  a  Presidential  elector  in  1817  and 
in  1t21,  casting  his  ballot  upon  both  occasions  for  James 
Monroe.  Governor  Sbuize  appointed  him  surveyor-gen- 
eral of  the  State  in  1824,  when  he  reniuved  to  Flarris- 
burg,  and  he  officiated  in  that  position  for  six  years. 
While  at  Harrisburg  he  became  interested  in  th.:;  iron  bus- 
iness, and  he  erected  the  lirst  rolling-mill  in  that  vicinity, 
continuing  actively  engaged  in  it  till  his  decease  there  in 
18n!.  Lie  married  Mary  Otto  Glaughter  of  Dr.  John  Otto, 
of  Reading),  and  she  died  in  1S53.  They  h.ad  the  following 
children;  Louisa,  Hairict  (in.  C.  B.  Bioren),  Augustus 
O.,    Gabriel    and    Catharine. 

JOSEPH  HH;STER,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
tie.rn  n;  Bern  township,  Ber'Ks  county,  Nov.  18,  1753. 
His  father,  John  Hiester,  emigrated  to  this  country  in 
17:;2.  from  ihc  village  of  Elsoff,  in  the  province  of  West- 
ph.ilia.  Germ.-in\.  Some  years  afterward,  he  settled  in 
I'.i  111  towii>hip,  where  he  was  married  to  Mary  Barbara 
l-!liler.  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  lirst  settlers  in  that 
Section  of  the  county.  He  and  his  two  brothers.  Joseph 
ar.d  Daniel  (who  had  emigrated  in  17.')S),  toe>k  up  large 
tracts  of  land  comprising  several  thousand  acres,  which  ex- 
tendeil  fri'in  the  Bern  church  to  the  Tulpehocken  creek. 
He  die<l  in  1757,  aged  fifty  years.  His  wife  was  born  in 
17::2;  and  >hc  died  in  iso'j.  " 

Toseph  Hiester  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm.  In  the 
int'ervaU  of  farm  l.ib"r,  b.  attended  the  school  \\\\v\\  was 
conducterl  at  the  Heri;  clnirch.  and  there  he  acquired  the 
rudnnents  cf  ,in  I^l!cJi^b  and  German  education.  The 
homestead     was    situ.iied     abenit    :i    n.ile    nnrth     from     the 


->*'^ 


,:M    ->-' 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


3:^7 


church.  He  re!iio\ed  to  Reading  before  he  was  of  apc, 
and  entered  the  general  store  of  Adam  Witman.  While 
there  he  becniiie  acqiuiinted  with  W'itnian's  daughter,  Eliz- 
abeth, and  he  was  married  to  her  in  1771.  He  continued 
with  his  father-in-law  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rev- 
olution; then  he  raised  a  company  of  eighty  men  in  July, 
1770,  which  became  a  part  of  the  "Fl}ing  Camp,"  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Long  Island.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  in  the  engagement,  and  he  and  the  other  prisoners 
endured  many  hard-ships  for  .^e\eral  months  before  they 
were  exchanged.  He  then  remahied  at  home  only  a  short 
time,  suUicient  to  regain  his  health  and  strength,  when 
he  again  joined  the  army,  near  Phikulelphia,  returning 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  battle  of  Germantown.  He 
continued  in  active  service  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Upon 
his  return  from  the  Revolution,  he  entered  into  part- 
nership with  his  father-in-law,  and  some  years  afterward 
became  sole  proprietor  of  the  s'.ore.  He  conducted  his 
business  operations  very  successfully  for  a  number  of 
years.  Public  affairs  also  received  much  of  his  attention, 
not  only  relating  to  political  government,  but  also  to  the 
development  of  Reading  and  the  county  by  internal  im- 
provements. He  served  in  the  General  Assembly  from 
1787  to  1790,  being  there  when  that  body  ratified  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States.  He  was  one  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  Pennsylvania 
in  17S'J,  atid  assisted  in  framing  the  Constitution  of  1790. 
He  was  the  first  State  Senator  from  Berks  county  from 
1790  10  J 794.  In  1797  he  was  elected  to  represent  the 
county  in  Congress,  and  he  was  coiuinued  as  the  repre- 
sentative from  1797  to  3^07.  After  an  intermission  of 
eight  years,  which  he  devoted  entirely  to  business  at 
Reading,  he  was  again  sent  to  Congress  in  1815,  and  re- 
elected twice.  While  holding  this  oflice  he  was  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  political  alfairs  of  Pennsylvania, 
so  much  so  tliat  in  jsn  he  became  th.e  noininee  of  the 
Federal  party  for  Governor,  tlujugii  not  elected  then. 
The  party  selected  him  ir:  1S;^'0  as  the  most  available  can- 
didate, and  .he  waf.  elected.  Tliis  was  a  great  victory  for 
him,  but  especially  for  his  party,  inasmuch  as  he  was  the 
the  lirsi  successful  candidate  which  the  I'ederalists  had 
placed  in  the  ileld  against  the  Democrats. 

The  admiTiistr;ition  of  Governor  lliester  was  charac- 
terized by  great  activity  in  pidmoting  the  growth  of  the 
Coiivmonvveaith,  especiall\'  through  internal  improvements. 
He  suggested  that  th'j  se>sions  of  tiie  Legislature  might  be 
shortened  witliout  detriment  to  the  public  good,  that  pub- 
lic iinproveir.ents  could  be  made  advantageously  and  do- 
mestic manufactures  encouraged  with  success,  and  that 
there  existed  an  imperative  duty  to  introduce  and  support 
a  liberal  system  of  education  connected  with  general  relig- 
ious instruction.  While  he  occupied  the  gubernatorial  chair, 
the  State  capital  was  removed  from  Lancaster  to  Harris- 
burg.  The  building  was  begun  in  1819  and  finished  in  1821, 
and  the  General  Assembly  convened  in  it  for  the  first  time 
on  Jan.  3,  1S~2.  The  capital  had  been  at  Lancaster  since 
1799,  and  previously  at  Piiiladelphia.  Upon  the  expiration 
of  his  term  as  governor  he  lived  in  retirement  at  Reading. 
His  residence  was  siinated  on  the  northern,  side  of  I'cnn 
street  (No.  -i'M)  midway  between  I'ounh  and  Fifth  streets. 
He  owned  a  number  of  farms  in  .Msace  tnow  Muhlenberg), 
Cumru  and  Bern  townships,  tracts  of  woodland  on  Mount 
Penn  (altogether  numbering  nearly  two  thousand  acres), 
seven  prominent  business  stands  and  dwellings  in  Reading, 
and  also  out-lots.  He  occupied  and  fanned  the  out-lots 
for  his  own  use — a  custom  then  earned  on  by  the 
more  prominent  inhabitants  in  order  to  supply  their  fami- 
lies with  vegetables — and  kept  horses  and  cows. 

Governor  Hiestcr  was  a  man  of  commanding  presence 
and  pleading  address.  He  was  about  six  feet  tall  and 
wciglied  about  -00  pounds.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
RAormed  Church.  His  wife  died  in  IS?"),  aged  seventy- 
hve  years,  lie  died  in  JS:;;'.  ageil  seventy-nine  years.  His 
surviving  children  ,ind  grandeliildren  wire:  a  sim,  John  S. 
Hiestcr;  two  daughters,  C^aiharnu  (uidnw  of  Hon.  John 
Spayd),  and  Rebecca  (married  to  Rev.  iiinry  .X.  Muhkn- 
f^'Tc;)  ;  a  granddanghler,  Mary  I'..  Muhleiibcrg' tdaughter  of 


Mary  Hiester,  who  had  married  Rev.  Henry  A.  Muhlen- 
berg), and  the  childrcii  of  Elizabeth  Hiester  (who  married 
Levi  Pauling),  Joseph,  Henry,  Elizabeth  (married  Thomas 
I\Oss),  James,  Reliecca,  Ellen  and  Mary.  Governor  Hies- 
ter's    autograph    is   shown    herewith. 


JOHX  PRINGLE  JOXFS,  hrst  Pre^ident  Judge  of 
Berks  county  under  the  amended  Constitution  of  Pennsyl- 
\ania,  from  1851  to  IStil,  was  born  near  Xewiown,  Bucks 
county,  in  ISi:.'.  His  father  died  when  he  was  young.  His 
mother  was  of  an  English  family  in  Philadelphia.  His  ed- 
ucation was  acquired  at  the  Partridge  Military  Academy  in 
2sIiddietown,  Conn.,  at  the  University  of  F'ennsylvania.  and 
the  College  of  New  Jersey  at  Princeton,  from  which  last  he 
was  graduated  in  J 831.  He  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
Charles  Cliauncey,  Esq.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Philadei- 
))hia  P)ar  in  1S;34.  While  in  Berks  county,  in  1S35,  he  de- 
termined to  locate  at  Reading.  In  1830  he  was  appointed 
deputy  attorney  general  of  Berks  ccunty  and  served  in 
that  office  until  1S47.  louring  this  time  he  was  associated 
in  the  practice  of  law-  with  Robert  il.  Barr,  Esq.,  who  in 
1845,  was  appointed  reporter  of  the  decisions  of  the 
Supreme  Court.  .'\t  the  expiration  of  the  oflicial  term  of 
the  Hon.  John  Banks  in  ]847,  he  was  appointed  to  fill 
this  position.  P.y  an  Act  of  the  Legislature,  passi-d  in 
1S49,  Berks  county  was  erected  into  a  separate  judicial 
district,  of  which  I^avid  F.  Gordon,  Esq.,  was  appointed 
president  judge,  and  Judge  Jones  continued  to  preside  in 
Lehigh  and   Northampton  counties  until   1851. 

In  18-)9,  Mr.  Barr,  the  State  reporter,  died  and  Judge 
Jones  completed  two  of  the  State  Reports,  known  as  the 
"Jones  reports."  In  1851  he  was  electeil  president  judge 
of  Berks  county  for  ten  years.  Aixr^r  the  expiration  of 
his  term  he  devoted  himself  to  liteiai\  pur.-uits  and  to 
the  management  of  the  Charles  I'.vans  Cemetery  Company, 
of  whieli    he   was  elected   president. 

In  3807,  Judge  M.aynard  (of  the  3rd  Judicial  District, 
then  composed  of  Lehigh  .and  Northampton  counties),  died, 
and  Judge  Jones  was  aitpointed  his  successor  for  the  un- 
expired term.  This  was  the  last  otificial  position  he  occu- 
pied, in  1S72,  he  sailed  for  F-urope,  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  and  traveled  through  France,  Italy,  Germany  and  a 
part  of  Russia.  He  was  taken  sick  ancl  died  in  London 
on  March  IG.  1S74.  His  remains  were  brought  to  Reading 
and  buried  in  the  Charles  Evans  Cemetery.  He  married 
(hrst)  in  1840,  Annie  Hiester,  daughter'  of  Dr.  Isaac 
Hiester,  of  Reading.  After  her  death,  lie  married,  in  1851, 
Catharine  E.  Hiester,  daughter  of  John  S.  Hiester. 

GEN.  WILLIAM  H.  KF.IM  was  born  at  Reading  June 
13,  1813,  eldest  son  of  Benneville  Keim  (president  of  the 
F'armers  Bank  for  a  number  of  years,  .M.ayor  of  Reading 
for  three  terms,  and  enteriirising  business  man  of  the 
county),  and  his  .wife,  Mary  High  (daughter  of  Gen.  Wil- 
liam High,  wealthy  farmer  at  "Poplar  Neck."  of  Cuiuru 
township,  and  prominent  in  the  military  affairs  of  the 
county). 

At  the  age  of  twelve  years  William  H.  Keim  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  Mount  .Airy,  near  Philadelphia, 
then  one  of  the  foremost  educational  institutions  in  the 
United  States,  and  was  graduated  with  honor  in  TSi^'J. 
Upon  returning  home,  he  entered  the  store  of  his  father, 
one  of  the  largest  general  hardware  stores  in  Reading,  and 
continued  actively  engaged  in  this  pursuit  for  nearly  tiiirty 
years.  The  greater  part  of  the  time  he  was  a  proprietor 
of  a  large  store,  in  co-partnership  with  his  brothir,  John 
H.  Keim.  Besides  the  store  business,  he  encouraged  en- 
terprises generally  for  the  development  of  Reading.  His 
early  iniiiiary  training  gave  him  a  natural  taste  fvT  mili- 
tary affairs  and  he  found  much  gratification  in  tlie  volun- 
teer service  of  the  State  militia.  Before  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years  he  was  an  orderly  sergeant  of  the  "Wa.shington 
Grays,"   and    in    1837    he    became    captain    (succeeding    his 


3 


.'S 


HISTORY  OF   BERKS  COUNTY,   IM- XNSYL\'AX1A 


cousin,  Capt.  l^anii  1  ^[.  Kfiin),  He  was  promoted  rapidly 
till  1S42  when  lie  was  elected  major-general  of  the  jtli  Iji- 
vision  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  composed  of  Berks, 
Lebanon,  Dauphin  and  Schujlkill  counties.  In  that  year 
he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  military  encampment  lield 
at  Readms,  which  w.is  an  eventful  occasion  in  the  history 
of  military  affairs  in  Berks  county.  In  1844,  during  the 
religious  riot  at  Philadelphia,  he  was  ordered  to  assist  in 
quelling  the  disturbances.  Mis  serxices  in  organizintj  the  local 
militia  and  in  bringing  them  under  proper  discipline  were 
both  untiring  and  successful,  and  they  were  placed  in  the 
front  rank  of  the  volunteer  soldiers  of  the  State.  In  1S4S 
he  was  elected  to  the  oftice  of  ^fayor  of  Reading 
for  one  term,  becoming  the  second  Mayor  of  the  city. 
Several  years  afterward,  he  took  great,  if  not  the  principal, 
interest  in  establishing  at  Reading  the  Pennsylvania  .Mili- 
tary Institute,  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  young  men 
to  obtain  education  in  military  matters.  In  Noveiuber, 
1S5S,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  to  till  the  vacancy  till 
March  following,  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Hon.  J. 
Glancy  Jones — being  the  first  and  only  Republican  elected 
to  represent  Ijerks  county  in  Congress.  In  18.59,  he  was 
elected  Surveyor-General  of  the  State  for  the  term  of 
three  years,  at  that  time  holding  the  olVice  of  jNIajor-Gen- 
eral  of  militia,  and  while  at  Harrisburg,  in  1860,  he  sug- 
gested to  Governor  Curtin  that  the  Coniimonwealth  should 
be  put  in  a  condition  of  defense,  inasmuch  as  the  signs  of 
political  disrontent  o\cr  the  election  oi  Lincoln  indicated 
civil  strife;  and  he  recommended  in  that  behalf  a  general 
encampment  of  the  militia  o>f  the  State.  Governor  Curtin 
accepted  this  timely  suggestion,  and  an  encampment  was 
held  at  York  in  September,  1860,  with  General  Keim  as 
the  chief  in  command.  In  January  following,  upon  \-isiting 
his  home  at  Readirig,  he  called  upon  Capt.  James  iMeKniglu 
(who  commanded  the  Ringgold  Light  .Artillery,  a  company 
of  volunteers  in  his  brigade),  and  a.sked  him  to  keep  his 
company  in  readiness  so  as  to  be  able  to  respond  promptly 
to  any  order  that  might  be  given.  Through  thi.->  notice, 
the  Ringguld  Light  Artillery  canie  to  be  the  fir<;t  com- 
pany that  responded  to  the  I'resident's  call  for  troops  in 
the  Civil  war  atid  re)iorted  for  duty  at  Harrisburg  in 
April,  ISGl.  General  Keim  oftered  his  service  when  the 
crisis  arose,  and  ("lovernor  Curtin  aiipciinted  him  to  a 
conuriand  of  the  State  troops  under  the  first  requisition 
of  the  President.  .After  the  campaign  on  the  vtpper  Po- 
tomac, he  received  from  the  President  the  appointment 
of  Hrigailier  General  of  National  troops.  Resigning  the 
office  of  Surveyor-General,  he  obeyed  the  order  to  join 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  .At  the  battle  of  Williamsburg, 
one  of  the  most  severe  contests  of  the  war,  he 
distinguisheil  himself.  .Although  too  sick  to  be  on  duty, 
he  could  not  be  prevented  from  leaving  the  hospital,  and 
having  mounted  his  horse  he  led  his  brigade  on  the  t'leld. 
His  coolness,  judgment  and  great  bravery  during  the  action 
were  conspicuous.  Though  under  fire  nearly  the  whole 
time,  he  was  perfectly  calm,  .A  bomb  fell  almost  under  Ins 
horse.  Every  one  about  him  turned  pale  with  fear.  The 
explosion  covered  him  witli  inud.  .After  the  battle.  General 
McClellaii  crdled  on  him.  complimented  him  for  the  great 
service  which  he  had  rendered,  and  ordered  him  to  the 
post  of  honor  in  advance  of  the  army.  But  the  excite- 
ment incident  to  this  battle  aggravated  his  illness,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  ask  for  a  furlough.  This  was  granted 
and  he  returned  to  Harrisburg.  where  his  family  had 
taken  up  a  temporary  residence.  Unfortunately  his 
health  was  too  far  gone,  and  he  died  ALiy  IS,  18152,  in  the 
very  prime  of  life  and  usefulness,  aped  forty-eight  years. 
The  news  of  his  de.ith  proiluced  a  profound  sensation  of 
regret  throughout  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  General 
McClellan  was  deeply  affected  by  the  loss  of  this  faithful 
commander,  and  he.  on  May  'JCith  following,  issued  gcn- 
eril  orders  announcing  his  ileath  and  com[)limenting  his 
faithful,  patriotic  services  to  his  comitry.  and  these  were 
reail  to  every  regiment  in  the  arm\-.  llis  reiiiains  were 
brought  to  Reading,  and  buried  with  military  honors  in 
the  Charles  Evans  cemetery. 


J.\C()r.  RL'SIl,  the  lirst  President  Judee  of  Herk<  cun- 
ty.  was  biiru  ne.ir  Philadelphia  iii  174(1.  and  w;;v  ,t  bri.t!:-r 
of  the  celebrated  artist  and  physician,  l)r.  Benjamin  Rush. 
He  recei\ed  an  excellent  preparatory  education  and  tlKii 
entered  the  College  of  New  Ji  rscy,  at  Princeton,  fro:n 
which  hg  was  graduated  in  17(i.'..  Innuediately  after  ti;.- 
State  Constitution  of  1T90  was  adopted,  he  was  ap()rjinted 
to  preside  over  the  Courts  of  the  Third  Judicial  District. 
which  includeil  the  county  of  I'.erks.  He  afterward  jjc- 
canie  president  judge  of  the  Eirst  District  (of  wdiich  Phila- 
delphia formed  a  part),  and  held  thai  position  for  ma!-.\ 
years  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  patriot  of 
the  Revolution,  and  in  its  darkest  days  stood  firm  to  its 
principles.  While  president  judge  of  the  county  he  re- 
sided in  Reading,  on  the  west  side  of  South  I'"if'th  street, 
between  Cherry  and  Franklin  streets.  He  d'cd  at  I'hil.i- 
delphia  Jan.  0,  iS20. 

GEN.  GEORGE  MAY  KEIM  w:is  actively  engaged  in 
the  financial,  industrial,  political,  military  and  social  life 
of  Reading  for  miward  of  thirty  years,  dying  suddenly  in 
ISGl,  vvhile  co-operating  in  the  organization  of  troops  at 
Reading  for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  He  was  born  at 
Reading,  March  23.  1805,  and  was  a  member  of  a  family 
which  has  been  settled  in  FSerks  (.oimly  for  over  two  cen- 
turies, being  a  lineal  descendant  of  Ji^ihn  Keim.  wiio 
emigrated  to  America  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  anri  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Oley  township, 
this  county.  He  took  up  land  before  1718,  and  located 
in  the  upper  section  of  the  township,  near  what  is  now 
the  village  of  Lobachsville,  carrying  on  farming  there 
until  his  death  in  1732.  In  religion  he  was  a  Friend,  a 
follower    of    Pastorius. 

Nicholas  Keim,  son  of  John,  was  one  of  tlie  earliest 
successful  merchants  of  Reading.  He  was  born  in  Oley 
township  April  2,  1710,  and  engaged  in  farming  until 
1755,  when  lie  moved  with  his  wife  and  only  son  to  Read- 
ing, where  he  opened  a  general  iiardware  store  and  also 
engaged  in  grain  dealing,  etc.  In  1700  he  purchased  fn-m 
Mark  Bird  the  \Veiser  store  st;iiid,  familiarly  known  as 
ihe  "Old  White  Store,"  on  Peiin  street,  ne.ir  Fifth,  where 
he  continued  to  do  business  successfully  for,  a  number  of 
years.  During  that  time  he  was  one  of  the  principal  mer- 
chants of  the  place,  and  he  had  extensive  transactions  witli 
the  leading  merchants  of  Philadelphia  and  Germantown. 
many  prominent  names  appearing  on  his  receipt  books. 
In  about  1785  he  transferred  -the  business  to  his  only  son. 
John,  and  retired  from  active  life.  He  died  .Aug.  3.  1802, 
after  a  lingering  illness.  Mr.  Keim  was  a  progressive  man, 
not  only  in  the  conduct  of  his  own  .iffairs,  but  also  in  the 
promotion  of  every  cause  affecting  the  development  of  Ihe 
community  in  wdiich  he  lived,  lie  married  I'>arbara  Sny- 
der, and  they  had  one  son.  John.  They  lived  in  a  large 
two-story  stone  dwelling  located  on  the  Northwest  corner 
of    Penn   and   Ninth   streets. 

John  Keim  continued  in  his  fathei's  footsteps  as  a  suc- 
cessful merchant,  but  surpassed  him  greatly  in  the  accum- 
ulation of  property.  He  was  born  in  Oley  township  July 
r>,  17-tO,  and  was  six  yc;irs  old  when  tiic  family  removed 
to  Reading,  in  whose  development  and  conimerciai  life  he 
^v3s  flestined  to  play  so  prominent  a  part.  In  the  fall  of 
1777  he  marched  with  the  battalion  of  Lieut. -Col.  Nicholas 
Lotz  to  reinforce  the  army  under  Wtishington,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  in  1782,  after  five  years'  service. 
.After  his  return  from  the  w,ir  he  joined  his  father  in 
the  conduct  of  the  gener.al  hardware  store,  of  which 
he  became  sole  proprietor  in  1785,  as  previously  rel.itcd. 
.Ahout  the  year  J 800.  he  took  into  partnership  his  two 
sons,  Daniel  and  George,  under  the  firm  name  of  Keim 
&•  Sons,  and  they  carried  on  the  business  for  a  number 
of  vears.  Meantime  John  Keim  was  acquiring  new  and 
varied  interests,  and  became  prominently  identified  in 
flifferent  ways  with  the  life  of  his  adopted  city.  In  1787  90 
he  served  a  term  as  countv  commis<;ioner.  and  he  was 
nls(i  burgess  for  a  time.  He  bcc.iim  a  large  propel  tv 
owner.-  .and  in  the  improvemepi  of  his  own  holdiiMt; 
•^.-iw  thi'  value  "f  iTitirn.al  impro\  c:iiMits  in  [he  city.  i'( 
which   he  was  an  enthusiastic  ailvocale      He  biii't  a  mim- 


/^ 


■^>^^'^. 


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.V-.  ■■„ •■>■../.> 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


3-39 


Icr  of  dwclliiig-hiiusfs  and  put  up  the  lirsi  thrcc-story 
brick  bviildin.t;  iii  Rcadin,;;,  and  In.  v:ih  aci  ■uuiI'.mI  one  of  the 
wfalt!:y  men  ot  Berks  cciuiuy  in  lii.^  v!a\.  In  iSoii  he 
leased  to  Charles  ]'"\ans,  I'lsq.,  the  three-story  brick 
building  on  South  Fifth  street  which  afterward  became 
tlie  property  of  Jilr.  ]-'\ans,  who  resided  there  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Keini  was  prominently  idenlitied  with  the 
first  steps  taken  toward  the  buildin;^  of  tlie  Penn  street 
bridge,  lending  all  his  iniUience  to  the  project.  He  was 
a  man  highly  respected  and  well  ihou.Lrb.t  of,  for  though 
strict  in  -business  and  oi  the  highest  integrity  he  was 
never  stern  or  unreasonable  in  his  transactions.  In  an 
obituary  notice  which  appeared  in  the  IScrks  aud  Schuy!- 
kill  Journal  it  was  said:  "He  hail  resiiled  in  this  bor::ugh 
for , sixty-four  years,  during  v.hicli  time  he  amassed  a 
large  fortune,  which  never  caused  a  widow's  tear  nor 
an  orphan's  execration  .  .  .  What  he  has  left  behind 
him  was  justly  his  own.  As  a  creditor  he  was  cs'cr  lenient 
and  his  numerous  tenantry  can  testify  to  his  goodness  as 
a  landlord."  He  died  FcIh  10,  1S19,  in  his  seventieth 
year,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Episcopal  burial  ground. 

On  Oct.  13,  1771,  John  Keim  married  Susanna  de  Bmne- 
villc,  through  whom  General  Keim  is  of  French-Hugue- 
not extraction,  she  having  been  a  daughter  of  Hr.  George 
de  Bcnneville.  Th.ey  had  four  children:  Daniel  de  B., 
born  Sept.  8,  1772,  who  died  in  isn:! ;  George  de  B.,  who 
is  mentioned  further  on:  Benneville,  born  at  Reading, 
Nov.  30,  1700,  who  died  there  Oct.  .30,  1872;  and  Ksther 
de  B. 

Dr.  George  he  Bexxevili-E  was  one  of  the  eaily  prac- 
titioners of  medicine  in  Oley  township,  where  he  was 
located  before  1750.  He  was  born  in  London  July  2fi. 
1703,  a  descendant  of  (leorge  de  Benneville.  a  r'renchman 
of  Xormandy,  born  in  the  city  of  Rouen.  The  Doctor's 
father  who  bore  the  same  name,  was  a  "French  refugee, 
who.  being  persecuted  for  his  religion,  retired  with  his 
family  and  connections  into  England  upon  invitation  of 
His  ATajesty  King  William,  who  took  a  tender  care  of 
them  and  employed  them  at  his  court."  After  a  varied 
career,  in  his  thirty-eighth  year  (17-!]),  with  the  aid 
of  Queen  Anne,  of  I'Zngland,  Dr.  de  Benneville  came  to 
Philadelphia.  He  was  in  failing  health  a;  the  time  of 
his  arrival,  but  the  changed  cnvironmcni  was  to  bring 
renewed  strength.  Benneville  was  met  at  the  wharf 
by  Christopher  Saner,  th.e  printer  of  the  oldest  Bible  in 
this  country,  who  did  not  know  him  but  was  led  to  meet 
him  by  the  iniluence  of  a  dreani.  He  to.ik  the  .stranger 
home  witli  him  anil  there  Benneville  met  Jean  Bertolct. 
of  Oley.  l^erks  county,  where  a  coionv  of  Huguenots 
had  settled.  The  Bertolets  had  locat''i!  there  as  early 
as  1720.  Bertolet  persuaded  the  Doctor  to  settle  ne;ir  him 
in  the  forest,  and  in  174.">  he  married  ICsiher  de  Biertolet, 
daughter  ')f  Jean.  While  in  Oley  he  tatight  school,  prac- 
tised medicine  and  p: '.ached  the  go^[)el.  becoming  the 
founder  of  the  Universalist  Church  in  America.  He  held 
the  first  meetings  in  the  home  which  he  h;id  imilt  i  on 
the  farm  at  one  time  owned  by  Daniel  Ixnalib)  near 
the  "Oley  line,"  for  tenciiing  the  doctrines  atul  beliefs 
of  that  religious  tlenonn'nation.  The  walls  of  this  historic 
old  de  Benneville  lioiive  in  Oley  township  arc  still  stand- 
ing, although  it  was  erected  in  174.".  He  was  there  until 
1755,  when  he  nioverl  to  firancbtown.  on  the  old  York 
road,  Philadel|ihi;i  county,  where  he  ,'ic(|uired  an  ex- 
tensive medical  practice.  He  died  there  in  17'.t:l.  aecd 
ninety  years,  and  his  wife  died  in  17(1,".,  atred  seventy-tive 
years. 

Gen.  George  de  B:inie\'ille  Keim.  second  siin  of  John 
Keim.  was  born  at  Reading  Dec.  Ifi.  177*?.  and  received 
his  education  in  the  school  hekl  in  the  old  I'rii'iuls"  ineet- 
inir  house.  He  was  then  sent  bv  his  f.-ither  to  P^hila- 
delphia.  entering  the  large  hardware  cstahlishiTienr  of  the 
Chancellors,  in  order  to  familiari7e  himself  u  ith  the  bus- 
iness. When  he  returned  to  Rendincr.  in  his  twentieth 
year,  he  was  taken  into  partnershiji  by  lii>;  father,  who 
carried  on  the  biisin.-ss  establi'^hefl  nl  what  was  kriown 
as  the  "old  white  store."  Thi'-  Iniildint;  was  the  first 
^l!sine^s  place  at  Readirfr  Tn  .irldiiion  t"  merchaiuiisintr 
George    dc    Benneville    Keim    ,i!-o    engaged    in    the    manu- 


faetnre  of  iron,  being  interested  in  the  Reading  Furnace 
and  various  forges,  l-'ruiii  IsilJ'J  \<.>  1S14  lie  did  business 
in  riiiladelphia  ui  eonneclitiii  witii  the  e-vport  of  bread 
sturls.  Many  of  his  business  interests  were  of  direct 
beiielit  to  tliis  reiiion,  not  only  in. the  wa\  vi  furnishing 
proiitable  employment  to  a  large  number,  but  also  in 
intreiducing  new  industries,  tlius  increasing  the  resources 
of  the  Section  materially.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to 
attempt  the  cultivation  of  the  grape  and  the  manufacture 
of  wine;  he  used  his  means  and  iniluence  in  raising  the 
cjuality  of  the  live  stock  in  Berks  county;  and  was  active 
in  promoting  agricultural  interests  generally,  owning  sev- 
eral farms  in  Exeter  township  and  vicinity.  Mr.  Keim 
siTved  as  president  of  the  Branch  Bank  of  Pennsylvania 
for  over  thirty  years;  he  was  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  Reading  Water  Companj-  and  its  first  pre^ldent,  till- 
ing that  position  for  a  long  period. 

Mr.  Keim  was  the  chief  burgess  of  Reatling.  served  as 
president  of  the  tov.n  council  for  many  ye:r.-s,  and  was 
prominent  in  the  development  of  the  county  and  of  Read- 
ing, not  only  in  businesb  affairs  and  as  a  factor  in  the 
local  civil  government,  but  also  in  the  promotion  of  edu- 
cation and  other  matters  a^Tecting  the  broader  develop- 
ment of  the  conimunitN'.  He  iciok  an  earnest  interest 
in  the  establisliment  of  the  Reading  .Actidcniy  and  the 
Reading  Female  Seminaiy,  both  of  which  held  an  im- 
portant place  in  tl".c  literary  training  of  tlie  young  peo- 
ple of  that  day.  The  matter  of  local  public  improve- 
ments always  received  his  hearty  support,  and  he  was 
active  in  the  erection  of  bridges  and  the  building  of  good 
rrtads,  being  for  many  years  one  of  the  managers  of 
both  the  Perkiomcn  and  Iveadin.g  &  Sunhury  turnpikes. 
He  was  a  zealous  worker  in  C"hrist  Church,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  buildi;i;;  of  same,  the  lot  for  which  was 
donated  by  a  member  of  the  Price  family,  to  wliich  his 
wife  was  related.  All  benevolent  objects  and  worthy 
ch.arities    were   encouraged   ami    supported   by   him. 

Wlien  'he  whiskey  insurrection  lireikc  out.  in  1794.  Mr. 
Keim  volunteered,  serving  in  the  government  forces,  and 
he  always  took  the  keenest  pleasure  in  i.iiliiary  matters. 
In  1S21  he  received  the  appointment  of  aid  on  the  staff 
of  GovrriKr  Hiester,  wiih  the  rank  of  rr.lone!:  in  1830 
he  was  elected  major-general  of  the  Oih  Division,  Penn- 
sylvania Miiiiia,  succeeding  his  brother-in-law,  Hon.  Sam- 
uel D.  Frraiks.  :ind  when  he  retired,  live  years  later,  was 
succeeded  by  his  son,  George;  M.  Keim,  w'l;)  in  turn  was 
succeeded   by  his  cousin.   Gen.   William   H.   Keim. 

On  Feb.  4.  17'Ji).  Mr.  Keim  married  ^fiss  Mary  May. 
daughter  of  James  May  and  '^o  them  were  horn  seven 
children,  three  sons  and  four  dr,ii^.'h*ers.  namely:  John 
M..  George  M.,  D.uiiel  M.,  .Ann,  Sus:(n.  Catharine  and 
Rebecca  i  m.  Wirt  Robinson,  an  eminenr  civil  engineer 
of  Richmond,  Va.l.  George  de  B.  Keim  passed  away 
Aug.    20,    1852.    and    Ids    wife    died    in    1S54. 

J.\.\iEs  M.w.  father  of  Mrs.  Mary  (  May")  Keim.  and 
maternal  grandfather  of  Gen.  Geort;e  May  Keim.  was  a 
well-knov,n  citizen  of  Rerding.  He  was  born  Marcli  20. 
174'J,  in  Coventry  townsiiip,  Chester  county.  Pa.,  son  of 
Rol)ert  and  Fillizabeth  M.iv,  and  grandson  of  Robert  May. 
who  came  to  thi-  province  before  the  year  1700,  and 
married  a  daughter  of  Jolm  Brooke.  Mr.  May  was  of 
Quaker  ancestry.  Prior  to  the  Revolution  he  moved  to 
Reading.  v,here  he  ever  afterward  made  his  home,  be- 
comine  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  that  place.  In 
th.e  .\ct  of  MS?,,  incorporating  Readin.g  into  ;i  Iionm.ah.  he 
was  named  as  one  of  the  assistant  burgesses,  and  he 
was  particularly  well  known  as  an  early  advocate  of 
Iiublic  imprii\  ements  in  thi-  seelioii.  beiim  identified  i.r.im- 
inentlv  witii  such  ventures  as  the  Unir>n  canal.  Centre 
turnpike,  etc.  He  was  a  general  merchant  and  also  dealt 
extensively  in  t;raiii.  lumber,  etc..  an<l  was  connected  with 
various  import.uit  institutions,  hein.ir  a  director  of  the 
Branch  Bank  .ancl  ;i  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Trade 
nt  Reading.  lie  was  one  of  the  two  wardens  of  the 
Episcopal  CbiTcli.  the  other  havin.t'  been  M.irks  John 
Biddle.   ICsd       ills  death   iHCurred  nt    Readmg   In    l!<19. 

James  Mav  married  Bridget  Donplass.  daughter  of 
George   Doiu;lass,   and  by  this   union   lost  \\\~  birthricl;t   in 


S30 


HISTORY  OV   i'JlKKS  COLXTV,   TEXXSYLWYNIA 


tl-.c  Society  of  r'rivnil?,  tlu-  Uoug!a-s  l;iiiiil\  U-iiii;  l~|.i>c')- 
palians.  'i'h(?ir  chiiilrcu  ucrc:  .Mary  U"i.  George  ik-  B. 
Kciinj,  Geurgc,  i^arah  (in.  Ih'ii,  Samuel  U.  i-'rar.ki), 
Thomas  and  i-Jizabeih. 

George  -May  Keiin  received  his  early  education  at  homo 
and  at  IVntley  Hall,  the  school  conducted  by  Joshua 
Hoopes,  at  Downington,  Chester  Co.,  I'a.  In  lS2o  lie 
was  graduated  at  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa.  Ik- 
studied  law  under  Charles  Chauncey,  Esq.,  at  Philadcljihia, 
where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  Junr;  .j,  18:-'o,  being 
admitted  to  the  Bar  in  Br.-rks  county  on  Aug.  11th  fol- 
lowing. A^  a  leader  ni  iinijortanl  public  an'airs,  in  var- 
ious business  enterprises  of  note,  and  m  the  government 
of  his  C(jU!itry,  lie  found  tins  preparation  of  immense 
value.  In  fact  he  u?.ed  his  legal  kr.owledge  more  in  such 
ways  tlian  in  direct  professional  labors.  At  the  early  age 
of  twenty-two,  in  lS:iT,  he  was  elected  ca=hicr  of  the 
Farmers'  Bank  of  Reading,  of  which  his  uncle,  Benneville 
Keim,  was  the  president,  and  held  that  position  until  ISIiO. 
He  held  a  substantial  iiUerest  in  many  projects  tending 
toward  tlie  connncrcial  developi;ient  of  Reading,  and  en- 
couraged the  establishment  of  others.  He  aided  in  the 
erection  of  the  first  rolling-mill  arid  nail  works,  owned 
by  Keinis,  W'hittaker  &  Co.,  and  was  s  moniher  of  the 
linn  of  Jones,  Keim  &  Co.,  who  carried  on  the  Wind- 
sor Furnace,  in  Windsor  townsliip.  This  iirm  had  a  re- 
putation foi  its  fine  castings,  made  directly  from  the  iron 
ore,  notable  among  which  was  "The  Last  Supper,"  after 
Leonardo  da  \'inci.  He  understood  thoroughly  the  val- 
ue of  agricullure  in  the  economy  of  tlie.  county,  and  used 
his  influence  and  means  in  raising  the  standards  in  var- 
ious branches  of  farming.  He  introduced  imported  thor- 
oughbred cattle  into  the  couiuy,  ard  was  or.c  of  the  or- 
ganizers vi  \he  Berks  County  Agricidtural  Socir'y.  de- 
livering the  address  at  its  first  annual  meeting,  Oct. 
28,  1852.  He  w.as  the  second  president  of  the  societ\, 
serving  as  such  for  se.  oral  years,  ;ind  it  v\-as  during  his 
administration  that  the  comity  commi.-.sioners  leased  to  the 
society  for  ninety-nine  years  the  "Commons"  for  the 
amiuai  c.xliibitions.  He  made  agricultural  addresses  in 
various  pa.ts  of  the  ."^tate  by  request.  Another  sotirce 
of  revenue  which  he  cor..--idered  valuable  in  the  i-^laie 
led  him  to  an  early  investig.ition  of  her  mineral  res'.ur- 
ces,  and  he  made  a  thorough  study  of  the  geology  and 
mineralogy  of  the  Suite,  in  the  course  which  he  acquired 
a  comprehensive  colKciion  of  minerals,  including  valuable 
spccirnens  from  ail  p.^rts  of  the  world.  In  this  connec- 
tion might  be  mentioned  his  Indian  relics,  which  were 
principally  froiii  central  Penpsylvania,  and  which  after 
his  decease  were  prennted  to  the  Su'.ithsonian  Institute. 
Tlie  minerals  were  given  to  Lehigh  University.  In  1829 
General  Keim  was  commissioner,  and  later  for  some  years 
manager,  of  the  Mill  Creek  and  .Mine  Hill  Navigation 
and  Railroad  Conipmy 

General  Keim  early  became  identified  witii  public  af- 
fairs. Tie  represented  Berks  county  at  the  convention 
called  to  amend  the  Slate  Constitution  held  during  TS:?- 
38,  and  his  .-i>eech  on  bankirig  attracted  considerable  and 
most  favorable  notice.  liis  name  appears  among  such 
distinguished  ones  as  John  .'^err'cant,  C  liarlcs  Chauncey. 
Thaddeus  Stevens  and  George  W.  Woi'dward  as  a  iiiein- 
bcr  of  the  committee  of  nine  who  issued  a  stirring  ad- 
dress concerning  the  wa>s  .and  means  of  providing  for 
common  scliool  education  and  tlie  general  diffusion  of 
useful  knowledge,  as  well  as  the  industry  and  pecuniary 
prosperity  of  the  State.  In  ISoS,  when  a  vacancy  oc- 
curred in  Congress  becaii.=-e  of  the  rcsign.alion  of  Hon. 
H.  A.  Muhlenberg,  who  accepted  the  mission  to  .\us- 
tria.  General  Keim  wa-:  elected  to  fill  out  tb.e  term,  and 
he  was  subsequently  re-elected  for  two  terms,  remain- 
ing in  Congress  until  March,  1S4:;.  At  the  election  for 
Speaker  of  the  House  in  the  XXVlih  Congress  he  re- 
ceived a  coinphnientary  vote.  During  the  XXVIIth  Con- 
gress lie  distinguished  hiniself  in  a  patriotic  speech  against 
a  petition  pr.iying  for  the  dissihiticm  uf  the  V'ni'tn. 
He  declined  Teiiomiii.ilion  for  a  fourth  term.  In  1842. 
tO'.vaid  the  cluse  of  his  v'-iTigressional  career,  he  [ire- 
sidcd    at   a   dinner   givrii    to    Charles    Dickens   in    W.-ishing- 


toii,  in  .March  of  that  year,  when  many  nvn  pr'.ini:ne:i! 
in  politics  ,ind  letters  were  present  to  welcome  the  i^re.-.t 
author. 

UpLiii  his  retirement  from  Congress  the  (ieiieral  v.-;,^ 
offered  his  choice  of  tlirce  posiliims  by  President  1  > - 
ler,  and  he  selected  that  of  United  States  marjhal  i,;r 
the  Eastern  district  of  Pennsylvania  in  order  to  n  mum 
at  home.  In  lSl-1  he  was  re-appointed  by  Polk.  .Mean- 
time he  found  his  popularity  throughout  tlie  State  in- 
creasing steadily,  and  such  was  the  coniidence  in  his 
ability  and  integrity  that  he  could  have  had  the  Dvni- 
ocratic  nomin;ition  for  governor  in  18-iS.  but  he  would 
not  consider  the  proposal.  In  18.")2.  upon  the  deatii  ..f 
Mayor  Getz,  he  was  elected  to  lill  the  ■  unexpired  lerm. 
entirely  without  solicitation.  In  IS'.Jii.  at  the  Democrat- 
ic convention  in  Reading,  he  was  electeii  a  Presidential 
elector   at    large. 

I'min  early  nianhood  General  Keim  manifested  I;is  in- 
terest in  niilitary  matters.  In  IS.'iO  he  was  elected  c;ip- 
tain  of  the  Reading  ,\rti!lerists,  to  succeed  his  nnclc, 
Capt.  Daniel  de  B.  Keim,  and  not  loiig  afterward  he 
became  colonel  of  the  5.'ld  Regiment,  Pennsyhania  ^.lili- 
tia.  h\  IS.'J.j  ho  became  ma.icir-gener;il  of  the  Oih  Divis- 
ion. Pennsylvania  Militia,  which  included  tlie  conip.ni- 
its  of  Berks,  Schuylkill,  Daupliin  and  Leliiinon  coun- 
ties, succeeding  his  father  in  tli;a  position.  Wh<n  tlie 
Civil  war  bro!:e  out  he  immediately  identified  hinisoli 
v.'ith  the  L'nion  cause,  and  he  Labored  faithfully  and 
zealously  to  hold  the  Dcmocraiic  parly  in  his  county 
together  in  the  Irving  period  immediately'  preceding  the 
war.  In  the  sjiring  of  ISOl  he  riiised  a  company  of 
volunteers  for  home  defense,  and  he  was  active  and 
enthusiastic  in  drilling  and  preparing  them  for  actual 
duties.  (.)ne  of  the  last  :icts  he  performed  w;is  to  head 
a  paper  v;ith  his  name,  oli\  ring  the  services  of  this 
comiiany  to  the  government.  It  was  undoubtedly  tiie  un- 
usual e.Kcrtitjn  of  this  undertaking'  that  l)rought  on  the 
stroke  of  paralysis  from  which  his  death  soon  ensued, 
on  June  10,  ]8(il,  when  he  was  fifty-six  years  old.  He 
was  buried  at  sunset  on  tiie  12l]i,  in  the  Charles  Evans 
cemetery,  with  military  and  Masniiic  honors.  Mis  fun- 
eral was  one  of  the  largest  ever  seen  in  Reading  iip 
to  that  time,  bis  death  being  sincerely  mourned  through- 
out the  State.  The  numerous  enterprises  he  encouraged 
and  supported  won  him  friends  in  every  walk  of  life, 
and  his  genial  disposition,  open-hearted  and  conipiinioii- 
able  n.'ituri'.  rct.'iined  them  for-cver. 

General  Keim  married  in  1S27  Julia  C.  Mayer,  youngest 
daughter  of  Hon.  Christopher  Mayer,  of  Lancaster,  and 
ix  children  survived  them:  George  de  Benneville.  Charles 
Wetherill,  Henry  ]May,  Julia  M;iyer  (Airs.  Gustavus  .Au- 
gustus Behne),  Susan  Douglass  ritul  Mary  May.  Mrs. 
Keim  died  May  12,  l.S.")7.  The  sons  have  attained  an 
eminence  in  the  public  life  of  the  State  worthy  of  the 
name  and   fiuiiih    traditions. 

COXR.\D  WEISER  was  the  most  prominent  historical 
character  in  the  county  of  Berks  previous  to  ITiiO.  His 
great  prominence  arose  from  his  intimate  connection  with 
ti;e  provincial  government  cif  Pennsylvania  for  thirty 
\tars.  He  was  the  principal  judge  of  IJerks  county  from 
IT.'.J  to  17G0.  He  was  born  Xov.  .2,  MWW,  at  Afstaedt,  a 
small  village  in  the  County  of  Herrenberg,  in  Wurteni- 
berg.  CJermany,  an.l  there  he  acqtiired  a  general  educuion. 
which  included  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion 
according  to  the  catechism  of  Martin  Luther.  Whilst  in 
his  fourteenth  year  he  emigrated  with  his  father  atid  fam- 
ily I  which  included  hini-elf  ,ind  -even  otlier  children) 
tn  Xew  "\'ork,  landing  June  17.  I7in.  .\t  that  time  s-veral 
tluni'^and  Germans  were  sent  tn  .America  bv  Queen  .\nnc. 
ShiTily  after  their  arrival  they  were  removed  to  Livings- 
tun  M;iii'ir  by  the  Cn.veriinr  uf  Xew  York,  t'^  hniii  l.ir 
roul  cnitivate  hemp  to  defray  the  expi'iises  incurred  by 
Qiueii  .Anne  in  conveying  them  frum  lloll.ind  to  I'ln.i'.land 
;ind  friini  I'ngland  tn  Xnurici.  They  l.ibori  d  till  171:.  in 
iliis  cnipfiymeni  under  the  <l'recii.in  of  coinniis-ioners : 
llien,  finding  tli.it  they  were  t-xisnng  under  a  f'lrm  of 
liond.iee,    ihey    jirotested    against     if.e     treatment    and    this 


'V^"'— ^<1 


'X   r,-i       y': 


•\ 


GRAVE    OF     CONRAD    WEISER     IN     HEIDELBERG    TOWNSHIP 


BIOGRArHICAL 


331 


eiTectcd  their  release.  .About  150  families  of  them,  in- 
cliuliPig  the  Weiser  laiuily,  removed  to  Schoharie,  forty 
miles  west  of  Albany.  \\'hiist  spending  the  winter  of 
1713-14  at  Schenectady,  the  elder  Weiser  was  frequently 
visited  by  an  Indian  chief  of  the  Mohawk  tribe,  and  dur- 
ing one  of  these  visits  the  chief  proposed  to  Conrad  to 
visit  the  Moh.aU'k  country  and  learn  the  lan^niage  of 
that  tribe.     This  proposition   was  agreed   to. 

Conrad  Weiser  was  in  his  eigliteenth  year  when  he 
went  to  live  with  the  Indians,  lie  was  a  strong  young 
man,  but  all  of  his  strength  was  necessary  to  endure  the 
sufferings  which  he  was  compeiled  to  tiiulergo  whilst  living 
with  tliem.  He  had  scarcely  clothing  stilVicient  to  cover 
his  body  during  the  winter  of  that  trying  year.  Besides 
much  sufi'eriiig,  he  was  frequently  threatened  with  death 
by  the  Indians  during  a  state  of  intoxication.  In  July, 
1714,  he  returned  to  his  father's  Ivjine  at  Schoharie.  In 
this  time  he  had  acquired  a  considerable  knowledge  of  the 
!Mohawk  language,  and  while  at  home  he  increased  this 
knowledge  by  acting  as  interprtter  between  the  German 
settlers  of  that  vicinity  and  the  MolKiwk  Indians.  The 
settlers  having  been  disturbed  in  their  possessions,  Conrad 
Weiser's  father  and  a  number  of  others  migrated  to  Penn- 
sylvania. Ihey  located  in  Tulpehocken  in  the  spring  of 
1723,  in  tl'.e  midst  of  the  Indians;  and  there  they  also 
commenced  the  improvement  of  the  land  without  permis- 
sion from  the  land  commissioners.  The  Indians  com- 
plained but  the  settlers  were  not  disturbed.  Subsequently 
the  Indians  released  tiieir  rights  and  aljuut  17:;:j  tluy  re- 
moved beyond  the  Blue  Mountains. 

Conrad  Weiser  was  married  to  a  young  woman  of 
Schoharie  in  172(1.  He  cominued  at  that  place  till  17'J'.), 
when  with  his  wife  and  ti\e  children  he  removed  to  tiie 
Tulpehocken  settlement,  locating  on  a  tract  of  land  near 
the  present  borougli  of  W'omclsdorf.  Shortly  after  his 
arrival,  his  ability  and  success  as  an  Indian  intei-preter 
became  known  t(.>  the  Provincial  i;ii\ernment,  and  the 
Governor  employed  him  in  negotiation  with  the  Indians. 
His  first  services  in  this  capacity  were  performed  in  17ol, 
and  from  that  time  for  nearly  thirty  years  ho  wa'-  almost 
constantly  engag'id  in  this  important  work.  He  assisted 
at  numerous  treaties,  and  in  the  publi'^hed  proceedings 
of  these  treaties  his  name  appears  proininentlv.  His  in- 
tegrity was  particularly  recogri.-:ed  and  pt'bl'cly  compli- 
mented ' 

He  was  one  f)f  the  most  prominent  men 'in  the  French 
and  Imiian  War.  His  mimerous  letters  indicate  his  7eal. 
courage  and  patricitisin.  He  served  in  the  war  as  a  colonel, 
and  his  services  were  of  great  \rilue  to  tl;e  goveniir.ent 
and  to  the  people  of  Berks  county. 

The  first  proceedings  for  the  erection  of  Berks  county 
were  instituted  in  17;i8.  In  this  behalf  Mr.  Weiser  was 
very  active,  and  he  continued  active  till  the  county  was 
established  in  17."i2.  The  town  of  Reading  was  laid  out  by 
the  Pcnns  in  17-18,  and  in  the  sale  of  the  town  lots  Mr. 
Weiser  acted  as  one  of  the  commissioners.  He  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  first  movements  in  building 
up  the  town,  and  in  developing  tiie  business  interests  of 
the  place. 

I'he  Governor  of  the  Province,  in  1741,  appointed  him 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  he  filled  this  ofiice  for  a 
number  of  years.  When  the  county  was  erected  in 
17C)2,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  lirst  judges.  He  acted 
as  president  judge  of  the  court?  till  his  decease  in  ]7iiO. 
He  lived  at  Reading  niosilv  during  the  latter  part  o!  his 
life. 

Conrad  Weiser  died  on  his  Heidelberg  farm  July  1.3, 
ITtiO,  and  hTs'  remains  were  buried  in  a  private  burying- 
ground  on  the  place,  where  they  have  remained  since. 
He  left  a  widow  and  seven  children:  five  sons,  Philip, 
iTedcricl:,  Peter,  Samuel  and  Benjamin;  and  two  daugh- 
ters. Miiria  (m.  Rev.  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg')  and 
•Margaret  ( n>.  a  Pinker").  He  was  po-^ses.-ed  of  a  lart;c 
("■late,  consisting  of  properties  at  Reading,  and  lands  in 
Heidelberg  towii'^liip  .itul  in  the  region  of  country  beyond 
the  P.hie  Moiiut.nns.  Tn  Heidelberg  he  owned  a  tract 
which  includvd  the  pri\ihge  if  ,i  •■'~oiirt-r.:irMn."'  .u'ranted 
to  him   in   )7i:!,  the  tr,iv-t   h.ivinfr  originally  co'ilaineil  .'i.iii.") 


acres  as  granted  to  John  Page  in  17:,.-.,  .ind  Iiavinp  iiien 
been^  erected  into  a  manor,  called  the  '".Manor  of  Plum- 
ton."  At  Reading  one  of  his  properties  was  a  business 
stand,  and  it  has  continued  to  be  a  prominent  business 
location  from  that  time  till  now,  a  period  embracing  over 
150  years. 

For  upward  of  I'lfty  years,  various  u-.isuccessful  efforts 
were  made  in  belialf  of  erecting  a  suitable  memorial  to 
Conrad  Weiser.  In  1802  and  18'J3,  the  compiler  of  this 
history  delivered  a  lecture  before  local  teachers'  institutes 
in  difterent  parts  of  the  county  entitled  "Life  and  Times 
of  Conrad  Weiser"  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  memo- 
rial, and  the  Reading  Board  of  Trade  led  the  school 
authorities  of  the  county  to  set  aside  Xovemher  2,  1S9J, 
for  observance  by  the  teachers  and  scholars  as  "Weiser 
Da.v."  and  to  facilitate  this  observance  Or.nu  copies  of  the 
lecture  were  distributed  gratuitouslv  to  ail  ti;e  schools  of 
the  city  and  county.  It  was  not  until  (  )elober  :'.(),  1907, 
that  a_  modest  tablet  was  placed  in  the  west  wall  o.^ 
the  Stichter  Haidware  Store  on  Penn  Square  bv  the 
Historical  Society  of  Berks  County,  v.hicli  reads  as  fol- 
lows : 

Posterity  Will  Not  Forc.et  Hi.s  Sfr-'ices.— Washin'cto.v. 

In  !VIemor\-  of 
COL.   COXRAl)  'WFrSFR. 

F'ionf.i;r.    soldier,    diplomat,    jn.CL.     as    ixtekpretiV    and 

IN'DIAN      AGENT     HE     NLCOT  I.VTl-.lJ     EVEKV     TKEATV 

FROM     1732    ITNTIL    ^•K.^l;    THE    CLOSE    OF 

THE   FRENCH    AM/    INMAN    WAR. 

TIIE    WEISLR    j-iCII.IlINC,    V,Hi;kE    HE    Ol-TLN     MET 

THE    INIII.VNS 

IN    CONFKKKNlT.,     WA.S    tRLCTED    l!Y    HI.M 

ON    THIS    SlTi;    I.\    1751. 

CORN    IN   GEKMANV    iN    Kk.'O,    AKRIVEI) 

IN   r.KKKS    IX    J7'J'.).   Ml.!) 

IN    1700,    NEAK    WUMI  l.-!HJLt,    WIII^RE 

HIS    KE.MAI-VS    ARE    RL'RIEII. 

HIS   UNSWERVING   HOXESTV   SET   A   SHINING 

EXAMPLE  TO 

FUTURE   GENERATIONS. — UNUiiR    riu;   AUSFTCES    OF   THE 

HI.SiOKICAL    SOCIETY    OF   l;i:UICS    COUNTY   THIS 

TABLET  WAS  ERECTED  IN    1907  IJV  THE 

SCHOOL  CHILDREN  OK  THE  COUNTY. 

We  append  the  autograph  ot  this  noted  pioneer: 


\yiLLI.\M  MUHLENBERG  IIIESTER,  son  of  the 
celebrated  physician,  Dr.  Isaac  Hiester,  was  born  in  Read- 
ing, May  15,  ISIS.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  Gen. 
Peter  I\Iuhlcnberg,  of  Revolutionary  fame.  His  mother, 
Hetty  Muhlenberg,  died  in  1872,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eight\ -eight  years.  He  received  a  prep:iratory  training 
at  the  West  Nottingham  Academy  in  Maryland,  and  sub- 
seqiKiitly  entered  Briste^l  Ci'llege  in  Pennsylvania,  grathi- 
ating  in  1S:!7,  in  the  second  and  last  class  of  graduates 
from  that  institution.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
P.anks,  attended  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  Law  Depart- 
nient  r-i  Harvard  College,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar 
at  Reading,  Jan.  7,  ISIO.  The  honorary  degree  of  .\.  M. 
was  conferred  upon  him  in  ISK!  by  Harv.iril  College.  He 
practised  his  profession  four  years  in  ICrie,  P\i.,  in  1S45 
returning  to  Re;iiling,  and  associating  himself  with  the 
Hon.  Henry  .\.  Muhlenberg,  and  soon  actju'red  a  laree 
pr;ictice.  In  1S52  he  was  elecicd  by  the  I  )euu'cr:ilii  parly 
,is  a  nicmher  of  tlic  Slate  Senate,  and  seived  uniil  l,S55, 
taking  foremost  rani:  among  the  I)emi>craiic  nuniber.s. 
At    the   opening   oi    t'ic  session   of    t.S55,   aftir   .m   e\eiting 


'Hi    \[:      .. 


333 


HISTORY   ol-"    r.Kl'IKS  CUl'X'VY.    PILXXSYLWW'JA 


contot.  he  \v:i^  cUctcd  siicakir  di  the  Senate  on  the 
t\vc'iit\ -seventh  hiiUot.  His  career  as  speaker  was  dig- 
nilk'd,  lirni  and  impartial.  In  January,  JSJS,  he  \vas 
appointed  secretary  i>f  the  Coniinionwealth  b\-  Gov.  Wil- 
liam F.  Packer,  and  continued  in  that  office  during  the 
administration  of  three  years.  He  supported  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  for  President  of  the  United  States  in  tlie 
campaign  of  isoo,  but  suli.-equently  earnestly  advocated 
the  administration  of  .\bra!i.'im  Lincoln  and  was  a  warm 
friend  of  the  Union.  In  tiie  summer  of  180:!,  when  Penn- 
sylvania was  being  invaded  by  General  Lee,  Mr.  Kiester 
was  appointed  by  Go\-.  ('urtin  one  of  the  mustering  ofa- 
ccrs,  witli  the  rank  of  major,  to  muster  in  troops  that 
volunteered  for  ninety  days'  service,  in  response  to  the 
Governor's  proclamation  of  June  ^f>,  18iJ3,  calling  for  sixty 
thousand  men.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  at  tlie  tem- 
porary rende7\ous  on  the  Agricultural  Fair  Grounds  at 
Reading,  which,  in  compliment  to  him,  was  designated 
Camp  Hiester.  In  the  execution  of  his  military  com- 
mission he  mustered  into  the  State  service  eight  full 
regiments  of  volunteers,  comprising  an  aggregate  force 
cf  eight  thousand  men.  After  the  war  he  supported  the 
Republican  party,  and  in  I'^iU  was  the  Republican  candi- 
date for  Congress  in  the  Berks  county  District.  .-Vlter 
this  event,  he  retired  from  participation  in  public  affairs, 
and  devoted  his  ntten.tion  to  the  benevolent  and  business 
interests  of  his  native  city.  He  was  a  director  in  the 
Reading  Library  Company,  in  the  Charles  Evans  Cem- 
etery Companv  and  the  Reading  Gas  Company,  and  a 
liberal  supporter  of  the  public  and  private  charities  of 
the  city,  ile  died  in  Reading  Aug.  l(i,  1S78,  leaving  a 
widow  and  a  son  Isaac,  who  is  a  practising  attorney 
at   Reatiing. 

JACOB  SALLADE,  son  of  Andreas  and  E\  a  (Schmidt) 
Ballade,  was  borii  a;  Womcisdorf  (Miilillctown)  July 
13,  17K9,  and  there  educated.  He  was  employed  for  a 
time  as  clerk  in  a  general  stcire  of  a  brother  of  Gover- 
nor Shulzc,  at  that  place,  and  also  ofticiatcd  as  justice 
of  th.e  peace.  Li  3S:M  he  received  from  Governor  Slnilzc 
(with  whcni  lie  was  upon,  intimate  terms,  they  having 
been  brought  up  together  in  the  same  town)  the  appoint- 
ment of  clerk  of  the  Orphans'  Court  and  clerk  of  the 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  and  then  he  removed  to  Read- 
ing. He  held  these  offices  for  three  years,  after  which  he 
filled  the  ohice  of  prothonotary  for  three  _vears — from 
lS2fi  to  IS'-l^) — by  appoin'ment  also  from  Governor  Shulze. 
During  the  ne.xt  ten  years  he  was  engageil  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  at  Reading,  and  he  also  served  as  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  a  time. 

In  1S09  Gov.  Joseph  Rifner  appointed  him  surveyor- 
general,  and  he  continued  to  serve  in  this  position  for 
six  years.  During  that  time  he  resided  at  Harrisburg, 
and  he  died  there  shortly  after  his  term  expired.  His  re- 
mains were  brought  to  Reading  and  buried  in  the  Charles 
Evans  cemetery.  He  was  a  man  of  line  personal  appear- 
ance and  enjoyed  much  popularity  during  his  ofiicial  career. 

Mr.  Sallade  married  Sus.amia  flayer  and  they  had 
seven  children,  Maria  Catharine,  Andrew  M.  (an  attorney 
at  Reading),  Charles  'SI.,  .Sarah.  Susanna,  Rebecca  and 
Jacob  M.   (an  attorne>    at  Reading). 

GOV.  JOHX  ANDREW  SHULZE  was  not  a  resi- 
dent of  Berks  county  when  elected  Governor,  but  his  birth 
and  earlier  life  in  the  county  entitle  him  to  a  place  in  this 
work.  He  was  born  in  Tulpehocken  township.  I'.crks 
county.  July  19,  ITT."),  son  of  Rev.  Christian  Shulze.  a 
Lutheran  cicr.gynian.  Hi.--  mother  was  -Jilve  Elizabeth 
Muhlenberg,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry  Melchior 
Muhleniierg.  He  w.is  liberally  educated  in  the  ministry, 
and  regularly  or^lained  as  a  minister  in  IT'.Ml,  and  he  as- 
sisted his  father  for  eight  years  in-  the  discharge  of  pas- 
toral duties  to  sexeral  congregations  in  l?erks.  Lebanon 
and  Lancaster  countie--.  Owing  Im  a  rheumatic  aftectinn. 
he  was  f>bliged  to  relini|\ii-h  preaching  in  isot.  He  then 
moved  to  Myerstown,  then  in  Da\iiihin  county,  and  pur- 
sued the  business  of  nierchnn!.  In  ISOO  he  was  elected 
a  nuiuber  of  tiii'  State  Legislature,  and  afterward  twice  re- 


elected, serving  his  constituents  witli  distinction  for  th.rec 
terms.  In  ISlo,  upon  the  erection  of  Lebanon  county, 
he  was  appointed  to  till  the  ot'fice  of  prothonotary,  in 
which  he  continued  for  eight  years.  .  In  1S:U  he  was 
again  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  in  ISL'2  he  was 
chosen  senator,  to  represent  the  Senatorial  district  com- 
posed of  Dauphin  and  Lebanon  counties.  Whilst  serving 
as  a  senator  he  received  the  Democratic  nominarion  for 
Governor,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  2j,Tur)  over 
Andrew  Gregg,  the  Federal  candidate;  and  in  1S20  he 
was  re-elected  governor  with  little  opposition.  In  1829 
he  was  again  brought  out  as  a  candidate,  but  for  the  >;ik> 
of  harmony  in  tiic  party  he  witlulrew,  and  George  Wolf 
was  nominated  and  elected.  Whilst  acting  as  (Governor 
he  had  the  honor  of  tendering  the  courtesies  of  the  State 
to  General  LaFayitte.  who  was  then  upon  his  celebrated 
tour  through  the  country.  His  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  government  during  his  official  career 
was  distinguished  for  integrity,  wisdom  and  statesman- 
ship. 

During  President  Jackson's  opposition  against  the  Bank 
of  the  United  States,  Governor  Shulze  left  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  But  he  was  not  active  in  political  life  after 
his  retirement  from  the  oilice  of  governor  excepting  on 
one  occasion,  in  1840,  when  he  was  a  n:ember  of  the  Har- 
risburg Whig  convention,  which  nominated  General  Har- 
rison for  President.  In  this  connection  he  ran  as  a 
Senatorial  elector  upon  the  Harrison  ticket,  and  was 
elected,  and  afterward  officiated  as  president  of  the  State 
Electoral  College. 

Upon  retiring  from  office  he  removed  to  Lycoming 
county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  184G.  During 
that  period  he  was  engaged  in  certain  extensive  specu- 
lations in  this  great  and  enterprising  county,  but  he  was 
not  successful  in  them.  Then  he  moved  to  Lancaster, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  till  his  de.ith.  Ndv.  18,  1S.")2. 
tie  was  a  superior  man,  and  he  enjoyed  the  high  esteem 
of  his  fellow-citizens  for  his  many  excellent  personal 
and  social  characteristics.  He  was  one  of  the  few  really 
prominent  men  whom  this  county  has  produced.  His  pre- 
decessor in  the  gubernatorial  chair  of  this  State  was 
Joseph  Hiester,  who  was  clectetl  to  this  high  office  from 
Berks  county. 

GEORGE  EGE  was  l-orn  March  9,  174S.  and  died 
Dec.  14,  1S29,  aged  eighty-one  years,  nine  momh.s.  During 
his  1  mg  and  active  business  career  he  was  extensively 
known  as  the  largest  landowner  of  his  time  in  Berks 
county,  and  promincnily  identified  with  the  iron  interests 
of  the  county  for  a  period  of  half  a  century.  In  1TT4 
he  purchased  an  interest  in  Charming  l-"orge  for  eight 
Inuidred  and  thirty-eight  pounds.  Nine  months  later  he 
bought  the  remaining  interest  for  one  thousand  six  hundred 
and  sixty-three  pounds,  and  became  its  sole  owner  and  man- 
ager, in  1804  he  built  and  operated  Schu.vlkill  County 
Forge,  near  Port  Clinton,  then  in  Berks,  now  in  Schuyl- 
kill county.  At  that  time  he  was  possessed  of  the  fol- 
lowing lauded  estates ;  Charming  Forge,  with  four  thous- 
and acres;  Reading  Furnace,  with  si.x  thousand  acres: 
Schuylkill  Forge,  with  six  thousand  acres;  and  four  large 
farms  in  Tuliiehockcn  and  Heidelberg  townships,  embrac- 
ing one  thousand  acres.  The  names  of  these  farms  were 
"Spring."  "Sheaff."  ■'Lciss"  and  "■Richards."  In  1S24  the 
assessed  value  of  his  personal  and  real  estate  was  tiiree 
hundred  and  eighty  thous.ind  dollars.  During  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  he  was  an  ardent  patriot,  and  in  1T83  was 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
179]  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  first  associate  judges 
of  Berks  county  under  the  Constitution  of  1790.  and 
scrvefl  continuously  with  marked  ability  until  1818,  a  pe- 
riod of  twenty-eight  years,  when  he  resigned  the  jjo-ition 
to  devote  himself  exclusively  to  his  extensive  business 
interests.  He  died  at  his  home  at  Charming  Forge,  in 
Marion  township,  Berks  county,  and  his  remains  were 
interred   in   the   cemetery   f>f   \\  nmclsdorf. 

Judge  I'lge  married  Eliz.duth  Olicrfeldt,  of  Amboy.  N. 
J.,  hy  whom  he  had  three  chililren.  George,  Rebecca  and 
.Micliael.     There   are   no   ilesceiidants   of   (ieorge   now    hv- 


;■■:/.  'l. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


333 


ing;  Rebecca  married  Joseph  Old  and  died  without  issue; 
Michael  married  Maria  Margaretta  Shulzc,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Shulzc,  pastor  of  Tuipchocl-xn  church.  One  of 
the  grandchildren  of  Michael  ruid  .Margaretta  Ege,  Har- 
riet, married  John  Ermentrout,  and  lived  at  Reading  to 
an  advanced  age. 

CH.ARLl'lS  j-'VAXS,  founder  of  the  superb  cemetery  at 
Reading  which  bears  liis  name,  was  born  in  Philadelidiia 
Marcii  .'iO.  1VC8.  His  parents  were  David  E\ans,  of 
Philadelpiiia,  and  Letitia  Thomas,  of  Radnor,  both  inem.- 
bers  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  received  a  good  edu- 
cation, and  when  twenty  years  of  age,  entered  the  ofrice 
of  Benjamin  Chew,  Esq.,  a  distinguished  lawyer  at  Pb.ila- 
delphia,  fc>r  the  purpose  of  reading  law.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in  June,  1791,  and  two  months  afterwaicl  went 
to  Reading  to  practice  law.  In  his  profession  he  was 
faithful,  capable  and  diligent.  He  continued  in  active 
business  till  1828,  and  then  retired  with  an  ample  for- 
tune. In  1546  he  founded  the  Charles  Evans  Cemetery, 
situated  in  Reading,  and  established  it  iirmly  by  large 
donations  of  money  and  grants  of  property.  He  died 
Sept.  5,  1S47,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  his  en- 
dowment. He  married  Mary  Kecne,  daughter  of  Reynold 
Keene  and  Christiana  Stille,  his  wife,  both  of  Philadelpiiia. 
He  was  the  first  philartrophist  at  Reading.  Strange  to 
say,  notwithstanding  this  incentive  to  others  who  have 
been  engaged  in  business  at  Reading  and  ;iccunniIaiod 
fortunes,  not  a  single  indi\idual  sirce  then  has  been  moved 
to  make  a  similar  gift,  donation  or  gram  for  a  public 
cyuse. 

GEX.  J.-\COR  BOWER,  prominent  Revolutionary  hero 
and  counly  oi^kial  of  Berks  count}-,  was  born  at  Reading 
in  September,  17J7.  When  eighteen  years  old,  he  enlisted 
in  the  stirring  cause  of  the  Rcvolutiim,  beconnng  sergeant 
in  the  company  of  Capt.  George  Nagel  (the  first  com- 
pany raised  at  Reading).  He  marched  with  this  eC'iupany 
to  Cambridge,  Mass,  in  July,  17.'j,  and  participated  in  the 
first  battles  for  freedom  in  that  vicinity.  In  July,  I'TC,, 
he  became  captain  of  a  company  of  the  "E!}  ing  Camp"  in 
the  Pennsylvania  line;  and  lie  afterward  served  as  captain 
of  differcTit  companies  in  the  Continental  line,  until  the 
close  of  the  war  for  independence,  in  17?j.  He  was  one 
of  the  American  otticers  who  organized  the  General  So 
cifty  of  the  Cincinnati,  May  Id,  17S3.  in  the  Cantonmeni 
of  the  Hudson  river;  and  he  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers in  the  formation  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  Society 
of  the  C!incinnali,  which  convened  at  Phdadelpliia.  Oct. 
4,   1783. 

When  the  war  was  over.  Captain  Bower  returned  to 
Reading.  After  serving  for  some  years  as  a  clerk  in  the 
county  oltices,  the  Governor  selected  him  to  fill  various 
local  positions,  in  which  he  was  active  fur  some  ten  years, 
serving  as  sherit'f  from  1783  to  17yO;  as  count\-  com- 
missioner, 1790-1793;  as  recorder,  registrar  and  clerk  of 
the  Orphans'  Court,  1793-1798 ;  and  as  coumy  auditor 
from  ]799  to  ISOO.  He  was  also  delegated  by  the  Cio\ernor 
in  17'.i.'5  to  act  as  one  of  the  commissioners  in  the  eslabiiih- 
ing  of  a  branch  bank  of  Pennsylvar.ia  at   Reading. 

Immediately  after  the  Revolution,  a  complete  system 
of  militia  was  organized  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Captain 
Bower,  on  account  of  his  former  services,  was  selected 
as  major  of  the  1st  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Militia,  in 
Berks  county.  He  kept  tip  an  active  interest  in  the  nn'li- 
tary  affairs  of  the  country  until  his  decease.  He  partici- 
pated also  in  the  war  of  lSl'i-15,  serving  as  britiadier- 
gcneral  of  the  1st  Brigade,  (ith  Division,  Pennsylvania 
Militia,  by  appointment  of  Governor  Snx'dcr.  blnring  the 
trying  winter  of  1777-78  at  Valley  Forge.  Gcner.al  Bower 
was  stationed  there  and  his  "TJrderly  Book,"  in  uhicli 
he  kept  a  record  of  the  transactions  of  tb.e  oincers  tiorn 
Aprd  9,  1773,  to  June  17.  IT^s.  js  an  inlvtesting  lelic,  con- 
sisting of  tuo  sm.ill  vo!ume^.  and  is  still  in  the  posses- 
sion of   the   faniil>. 

(icnera!  Bower  resided  at  Readiii'.,'  until  after  t^riO.  when 
he    rem.oved    to    \\  onielsdorf.    aiid    he    died    at    the    latter 


place.  Aug.  3,  ISIS.  The  following  obituary  appeared  in 
the  Berks  ami  SLiiuylkill  Jonnuil,  published  at  Reading, 
Aug.  S.   1818: 

"Died  at  W'e.nielsdorf,  in  this  county,  on  Monday  last, 
after  a  tedious  and  severe  illness,  aged  sixty-one  years. 
Gen.  Jacob  Bower.  The  deceased  was  a  faithful  and 
active  olhcer  during  the  whole  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Tie  sacrificed  at  the  shrine  of  Liberty  a  large  patrimony, 
but,  like  many  other  veterans  of  the  Re\-olution,  was 
dounied  to   feel  the  stings  of  adversity  in  his  old  age." 

Cien.  Bower  married  Rebecca  Wo(>d,  daughter  of  Col. 
Joseph  and  Mary  (Scull)  Wood,  the  latter  of  Plula- 
de'phia.  Colonel  Wood  died  from  wtiunds  received  at 
Fort  Ticonderoga,  in  the  Revolution.  To  this  union  weri.- 
bor:i  six  children.  Among  the  many  descenJants  still 
living  are:  Mr.  Robert  Scott  Bower,  of  I'hiladelphia;  Dr. 
William  Bower  and  Mr.  .Vddison  Bf)wer. -of  .Mycrsiown. 
Pa.;  Col.  Thomas  Potter,  Jr.,  QiiartenViaster-General  of 
Pennsylvania;  Hon.  William  Potter,  President  of  Jeffer- 
son Medical  College  of  Philadelphia  and  ex-United  Si  ate. s 
Minister  to  Italy;  Tvlr.  Cliarles  A.  Potter,  oi  Philadelphia; 
and  Col.  Henry  A.  Potter  and  Mrs.  Stephen  Jones  Meeker, 
of  Orange,  X.  J.  We  present  General  Bower's  autograph 
herewith. 


The  father  of  Ger.cral  Bower  and  the  ancestor  of  this 
prdtiiirient  family  of  Penusyb.  ;mia  was  Ct>;irad.  Bower,  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Reading,  who  became  one  of  the  city  ^ 
largest  property  holders.  He  married  Catherine  Hoover, 
and  they  liad  the  following  children:  Jacob;  George: 
Catherine,  m.  J'tIhi  Spnhu;  Barbara,  w.  Henrj-  Milh.r: 
Susanna,  m.  John  Truekenmillcr ;  and  E\e,  m.  Michael 
Harvey,  .\fter  the  death  of  Conrad  Bower  in  ]Ti;'>.  in 
the  following  year,  his  widow  became  tlic  second  \\i:e  of 
.Michael  J'.right,  a  man  of  sulxstance,  and  she  died  in 
1814. 

JEREMIAH  HAGEWATAX.  third  elected  President 
Judge  of  Berks  county,  frcra  187,")  to  1SS9,  was  borPi  at 
Phoenixvilk.  Pa.,  ]'"eb.  6,  ]&::ii.  He  obtained  a  p/eparatory 
education  in  the  schoeils  of  th.at  town,  and  when  sixteen 
years  of  age  eng.iged  in  teaching;  then  lie  removed  to 
Reading,  where  he  entered  the  public  scho.-ils  and  prose- 
cuted higher  branches  of  study  till  he  was  I'ineiccn  years 
old.  He  then  began  the  study  cf  law  unde.-  Peter  I'ilbert. 
Esq..  teacliing  occasionally  while  pursuing  hi.-  legal 
studies,  and  was  admitted  tn  the  Bar  .\pril  7,  1S4-J.  He 
oi!cned  an  oflire,',  and  soon  entered  upon  an  activ."  pr.ac- 
tice.  which  he  conducted  siiccessfnliy  for  seventeen  years, 
when  he  was  elected  aflditional  law  judge  of  Berks 
county.  In  l'^7.").  upon  the  ele\,iti'in  of  ilie  Hon.  Warren 
J.  Woodward  to  the  Supreme  I'.eneh  of  the  State,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  otliee  nt  president  judge,  and  in  38V9 
he  was  re-elected  for  another  term  of  ten  years.  The 
attorneys  always  appreciated  his  courtesy  on  the  Bench, 
and  the  younger  attorneys  found  him  possessed  of  a  l:indly 
sjiirit  and  great  induli;ence.  lie  became  interested  in 
politics  soon  after  liis  adniissicrn  to  the  ]'>nr.  ,ii;d  was 
prominently  idc:  titied  with  the  iiMvemcnts  of  the  Demn- 
eratic  party  fpmi  1>^.'>0  till  18i;9.  He  attended  many  State 
Cimventie.ns  a';  a  delegate;  and  in  ISIJ'^  was  a  r!e!<--;a!e  ti 
the  I-)emi'cr;.;i!-  Xntii>nal  Coiiventinn.  In  1-^."0  hi-  '.eas 
elected  the  iirst  tlistriet  attorney  (under  the  a<t  then 
pas-' (1  cre.iling  the  i'::eiA.  and  afiei'  serving  thr  e  veais 
was  eUcted  inv  .i  -.ei-nd  term.  The  pniibc  school  alVairs 
"f   Re.idiiig   neeived   ins  earnest  ;itlention   lor  nearly   forty 


">.V,^ 


34 


HISTORY   ;)]■"   r.F.UKS  COUXTV.   I'KXXSVIAWXIA 


ye;irs,  lie  iun  iiicr  iir.^t  Ijcc.imo  ;i  director  about  1S4C.  ITc 
;ui\ocated  llic  erectimi  of  more  coinmoilicpiis  and  aitrac- 
tivc  school  buiktiii;-;5 :  ami  in  ISi".:.  lie  lirst  sue.otested  the 
practicability  ot  hcatiniji-  the  buildini^'^  by  heaters  in  the 
cellars.  He  served  the  cin'.nty  comniis^inners  as  solicitor 
for  a  number  of  years.  .Vbout  JSf.ti  he  was  instrumental 
in  having  them  to  allow  liaif  of  the  court  tines  to  be 
appropriated  toward  establi--iiin2;  a  Law  Library  for  the 
.  P.ench  and  P.ar  in  the  court-house.  John  S.  Richards, 
Esq..  an  attorney  at  tlie  Bar,  suLri,'ested  the  idea.  Sub- 
sequently legislation  was  obtained  allowing  this  to  be  done, 
and    a    Law    Library   .Association    became    incorporated. 

In  1S.")0  Judge  Haqenman  married  Louisa  .\.  Royer, 
daughter  of  George  lloycr,  who  was  a  descendant  of  one 
of  the  first  families  in  the  county  and  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  Trinity  Lutheran  congregation,  liaving  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  erection  of  its  church  building  in  1701. 
They  had  one  son.  ruorge  F.  I  lagenman.  a  practisii^g 
attorney  at  the  Reading  Bar,  who  was  killed  in  tiir 
Horida  wreck,  in  California,  May  11,  1907.  Judge  Hagen- 
man  died  March  0.  19U!,  and  his  wife  in  100—. 

EDWARD  B.  IIUBLEV  w.as  l,oni  at  Reading  in  irwi. 
son  of  Josejili  Ilubky,  a  practising  attorney  of  the  Berks 
county  Bar.  He  studied  law  with  his  father  ami  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  April  C,  1S20.  After  practi-ing  at 
Readiiig  fc'r  a  while  he  movid  to  Orwigsliurg,  then  the 
county-seat  of  Schuvikill  county,  and  there  continued 
his  profession  for  a  numlier  of  years.  J-le  represented 
that  district  in  Congress  for  twr,  ternis,  from  ]SP..i  to 
ISV).  He  belli  the  appointnicnl:  oi  canal  commissioner  of 
this  State  for  se.erai  years,  under  Gov.  I'.'avid  R.  Fortcr. 
and  acted  r:s  ,i  couimissioner  of  Indian  aff.-iirs  under 
Pre>ident  i'olk.  In  all  these  positions  he  discharged  his 
dtuie.s  with  ability  and  f'ldclity.  ,\liout  isiR  he  returned 
to  Reading  and  continued  to  reside  here  fi-ir  eigl.t  years: 
he  then  removed  to  Pliiladelphia,  and  dicrl  there  sliortly 
aftciw.'ird.  r\b.  2.'.,  t.S.Ji").  a.!;rd  si.vty-foiir  verTs.  He  mar- 
j-ied  CathariTie  Sp.-iyd,  eidest  (laughter  of  Judge  Spa<(l. 

GKX.  DAVID  McMTIRTRTE  GREGG,  one  of  the  most 
di.>tuiL;uisiied  and  •.>.  id.ly  l;r.own  resichnts  ;jf  the  ci'y  of 
Reading,  occupies  an  enviable  place  iri  the  esteem  of  the 
people  of  the  county  ai.d  St.ite  as  one  of  the  best  and 
most  efiicient  officer^  fr(>m  Perinsylvai-.ia  in  tlio  Civil  \\'ar. 
Educat'i'd  at  West  Point  and  trained  by  actual  experience 
in  the  Irited  S'rtes  regular  army  for  a  nimihc-r  of  \ears. 
he  w.TS  fully  prcp.-:rcd  to  perform  his  part  in  preserving 
the  I'nion.  And  in  tliu-;  acting  the  part  of  a  patriotic 
son  (.f  the  nation,  he  rose  to  a  iiigli  rank,  credit.ihle 
alike  to  his  early  tnaining  and  his  na.tnral  ability  as  a 
director  and  leader  of  men.  Genera!  Gregg  served  during 
the  entire  war,  anil  \\rm  firomotion  .after  promotion,  be- 
ing finallv  breveted  Major  General  \J.  S.  Vohmtccrs,  Aug. 
t.   l,'!(3.i. 

General  Gregg  was  born  in  Huntingdon,  P,t.,  April  10, 
^SXi.  son  of  Matthew  Dnn.can  and  hillen  (IVIcMurtrie) 
Gregg.  On  both  sides  of  the  house  he  comes  of  an- 
cestors of  whose  rec-^rds  in  civil  and  military  bfc  he 
may  well  be  proud.  The  Gregg.  Potter.  Mc^iiirtrie  and 
EUi.itt  families,  from  whom  (General  Gregg  is  directly 
descended,  all  settled  in  the  colony  of  Pemi-ylvania  at  a 
very  early  date,  and  had  much  to  do  with  the  develop- 
ment and  improvcnient  of  the  Keystone  State.  The  first 
Grcg.g  ancestor  of  whom  there  is  any  sure  knowdedge 
was  David  Gregg,  wlio  was  born  at  .\yrshire.  Scotland, 
about  li'iSO.  He  was  a  Captain  in  CromweH's  army  in 
10.5.1.  and  was  within  the  walk  of  Londonderry  during 
the  great  siege  of  tr.>;-<-so  as  a  faithful  supporter  of  the 
Prince  of  Orange.  William  HI.,  against  the  exiled  King 
of  England.  Jau'cs  H  Both  David  and  his  son  John, 
who  w.as  born  near  Londonderry  in  1C.iV,.  were  killed  bv 
a  party  of  Roman  Catholics  in  one  of  the  conllicts  that 
w:ere  constantly  occurring  between  the  Ciranijeinen  and 
the   Romanists  in   t'le   \orth   of   Ireland. 

John  Grck'tr's  tw,>  sons.  David  and  .Xndrev.-.  and  their 
sister  Pachei,  Mrs.  So!on<o;)  Walker,  ,ai,d  lu-r  hn.^hatul, 
came   to    .America    in    3  7:.T).    first    Settling   in    New    Hamp- 


shire, where  David  remained.  .Andrew  and  Mr.  Walker, 
becoming  dissatistied,  left  there  and  landing  at  Xewca-tk-. 
Del..  .Gnally  k)cated  on  a  tract  at  Chestnut  Level,  Lancaster 
comity.  Pa.  In  17-tS.  he  purchased  and  moved  to  a 
plantation  near  Carlisle,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  that  event  occurring  in  17S0.  His  first  wife  having 
died  at  Chestnut  Level,  leaving  six  children,  he  married 
Jean  Scott  (17:.'i;-17S:'. ).  To  the  second  union  were  born 
.Andrew   and   Alatthew. 

.Andrew  Gregg,  grandfather  of  General  Gresr^j  was 
born  June  H),  17.1.5,  near  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  died  May  liO, 
1S3.5.  at  Bellefonte.  Pa.  He  received  his  carv  training  at 
Rev.  John  Steel's  Latin  school  in  Ca'-hsle.  and  completed 
his  education  at  X^ewark.  Del.  While  a  resident  of  that 
place  he  served  a  considerable  period  in  the  militia  of  the 
Revolution.  In  1779,  he  accepted  a  tutorship  in  a  col- 
!e£ie.  now  the  University  of  Pennsvlvania.  In  1787  he 
niarntd  Martha  Potter,  daughter  of'  General  James  fVn- 
ler,  and  in  17S0  removed  to  Penn's  Valley,  Center  county. 
In  1791,  he  was  elected  to  the  Lower '  House  of  Con- 
gress, and  remained  a  member  until  1S07,  when  he  was 
chosen  United  States  Senator,  his  term  of  oftice  ending 
in  ISl.'!.  In  lSr?(),  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  St.itc 
of  Peimsylvania  by  Gov.  Joseph  Hicstcr.  and  in  1S23 
w:is  nominated  for  Governor  on  the  Federal  ticket  in 
opposition  to  John  Andrew  Shukc,  but  was  defeated  in 
the  ensuing  election.  There  were  born 'to  Andrew  Gregg 
and  wife,  .Martha  Potter,  ten  children,  as  follows : 'Mary 
married  W'illiam  ?iIcLanahan;  Jean  m.  Roland  Curtiu  <of 
their  children,  Andrew  Curtin  was  the  war  Governor  of 
Pennsylvania')  :  Alartha  m.  Dr.  Constans  Curtin,  broth.er 
of  Roland:  Eliza  m.  David  Mitchell;  Juliana  m.  General 
James  Irvin;  .Andrew  m.  Margaret  Irvin,  sister  of  Gen- 
eral Irvin;  Jan;cs  P.  nr  KUzii  Wilson:  Matthew  Duncan, 
Gen.  Gregg's  father,  m.  Ellen  McMnrtrie:  Sarah  in.  Il'iiry 
Kinney;  and  Margery  m.  Rev.  Charles  Tucker.  The 
mother  of  this  large  ;,nd  illustrious  family.  iJartha 
(I*otter)  Gregg,  was  born  .April  10,  1701>,  and  died  .Aug. 
20.    1815. 

John  Potter,  grandfather  of  Marth.i  (  Potter)  Gregg, 
emigrated  from  County  Tvronc.  Ireland,  in  1741.  being 
accompanied  by  his  si.-ter  Isabella,  and  her  husband  John 
Hamilton.  They  landed  in  Xewcastle,  De!.,  in  September, 
1711.  In  171G,  Mr.  Potter  settled  in  .Antrim  township, 
Franklin  county.  Pa.,  near  the  village  of  Greencastle.  He 
was  the  first  sheiitT  of  Cumberland  county.  In  September. 
17.5(;,  !ie  became  a  captain  in  Lietnenaut  Colonel  Ann- 
strong's  expedition  acrainst  Kittanning.  The  date  of  his 
death  is  unknown.  Hi-;  wife  died  in  1778.  Of  their  eight 
children,  James  was  born  on  the  bank  of  the  T^ovle,  Tyrone. 
Ireland,  in  1720,  and  came  to  .\inerica  with  his  father  in 
1741.  On  Feb.  17,  17."ir'i.  he  was  commissioned  ensign  in 
his  father's  company.  Lieut.  Armstrong's  Battalion,  and 
served  in  the  Kittanning  expedition,  in  which  campaign 
he  was  wounded.  He  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
Captain  Feb.  17.  1759.  and  cotnmanded  three  companies  on 
the  northern  frontiers.  Captain  Potter  removed  to  Sun- 
bury  in  17CS.  In  1775  occurred  the  stirring  events  cf 
Lexington,  Concord  and  Bunker  Hill,  which  .aroused  every 
patriotic  son  of  Pennsylvania.,  and  hurried  their,  into  a 
conflict  which  finally  resulteil  in  the  recognition  of 
.American  Independence.  Captain  Potter  was  among  the 
first  to  otTer  his  services  for  the  strug.urle  then  so  doubtful, 
and  on  Jan.  24.  177r>,  he  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  Upper 
Battalion,  and  in  July  of  that  year  he  became  a  member  of 
the  Constitutional  comcntion.  He  was  in  comm.'ind  of  a 
Battalion  of  Xortbnmlierland  County  militia  in  the  battle 
of  Trenton.  Dee.  2i'>.  1770,  and  at  Princeton  Jan.  :^,  1777; 
and  on  .April  .5.  1777.  was  appointed  third  Brig.idier  Gen- 
eral oi  the  militia  of  fhe  State,  commanded  a  brigade 
at  Brandvwine  and  Gcrmantown.  and  served  in  the  out- 
posts at  Valley  I'orge.  In  1780.  when  residing  at  Middle 
Creek.  Snyfler  connls.  he  became  a  member  of  the  Sti'te 
council,  and  on  .\ov.  14.  1~^\.  was  elected  Vice-President 
oi'  Penu'iylvania.  He  was  n:iaiiimoi!>ly  ikcted  .Mrijor  Gen- 
eral ?>I.;y  2:;.  17.'?2,  and  in  17S4  was  el;:ted  a  member  of 
the  council  of  Censors. 


-..'/■    '•■ 


■I    1',.    .1  ^  > 


BIOGRAPinCAL 


33.: 


General  James  Potter  first  married  Elizabeth  Calhcart. 
His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Mary  ChaIIlbcr^,  daiiglUer  of 
James  and  Mary  Patterson.  Mary  Patler.^on,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Stewart,  was  a  granddaughter  of  George  Stew- 
art, who  settled  in  Coiiestoga  township,  Chester  county, 
in  1717.  To  General  Potter  and  his  wife  M.iry  were 
born  three  daughters  and  one  son;  of  this  family  Martha 
became  the  wife  of  Andrew  Gregg,  and  was  the  grand- 
mother of  Geiieral  David  McM.  Gregg.  At  his  death 
Genera!  Potter  possessed  an  immense  landed  estate  in 
Pemi's   Valley,   C;.nter   county. 

Matthew  Duncan  Gregg  was  born  April  5,  1S04,  in 
Penn's  Valley,  Center  county,  and  fitted  himself  tor  the 
legal  profession,  being  adniiiicd  to  the  Bar  at  Idnntingdon 
in  1S:J5.  In  1S2S.  h."  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ellen 
McMr.rtrie,  daughter  of  David  and  .Martha  (Elliott) 
MeMurtrie,  of  1-Iuniingdoii.  From  that  place  he  moved 
hr>t  ti:>  Pine  Grove  Mills.  Center  county,  and  in  is:;s 
took  up  his  residence  in  Piellefonte,  wh.erc  he  engaged 
in  t\v:  iron  business.  In  184.">,  in  connection  with  his 
brother  James  P.,  ami  his  brother-in-law  David  Mitchell, 
he  purchased  the  Potomac  Furnace,  in  Loudoun  county, 
Va.  Nine  children  w.:;re  born  to  the  imion  of  !\Iatthew 
D.  Gregg  and  EUen  MeMurtrie,  as  follows:  Martha,  born 
May  2S,  1S".20,  in.  Richard  K.  13ry;in ;  .A.ndrew.  born  May 
US, 'iS.Tl;  Gen.  David;  Mary,  born  Aug.  20,  18:M,  m.  G. 
Dorsrv  Green;  Ellen,  born  Dec.  24,  1S36;  George,  born 
Feb.  io,  l,s:;>:.;  IJenry  H.,  born  March  19.  IS  10,  m.  Rose 
Mitchell;  Thomas  I.,  bom  Oct.  8.  1S42,  m.  Bessie  D. 
McKnight;  and  OHtipa,  born  Aug.  10,  lS-11,  died  Dec. 
23,  1S18.  On  July  25,  1845,  Matthew  Duncan  Gregg  died, 
and  in  .-\ugiist  of  the  sai^ie  year  occurred  the  death  of 
his  brother,  James  P.,  both  being  buried  in  a  churchyard 
between  Leesburg  and  Point  cf  Rocks.  V,i.  Ellen  Gregg, 
the  motlicr,  died  at  Bedford,  Aug.  li,  1847,  and  is  bur- 
ied at  Huntingdon,   Pennsylvania. 

David  Mc.Muitrie.  Ellen  McM.  Gregg's  grandfather, 
was  born  at  .\yr,  Scothmd,  about  1709,  and  came  to 
America  in  ]  r.'.'i.  scUling  in  I^hiladclpln'a,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  selling  merchandise.  On  March  IS,  t7.")4.  he  niar- 
ricfl  A(:ir;>ery  Fisher  at  Cooper's  Ferry,  now  a  part  of 
Philadelphia,  and  his  children  were  as  follows:  William, 
born  Jilay  15,  1757;  David.  Jan.  14.  17i;4 ;  Charles,  July 
21,  170(1;  and  James,  Dec.  JO.  17r)S.  Just  before  the 
Revolution  David  MeMurtrie  moved  to  Bedford,  now 
Pluntingdon  county,  and  began  the  improvement  of  large 
tracts  of  land,  owned  by  him  on  Shaver's  creek  and  in  the 
town  of  Huntingdon.     He  died  in  17S-.'. 

David  ^MeMurtrie,  the  son  of  the  above-meniioned 
pioneer,  was  born  in  Philadelphia  and  went  to  Hunting- 
don with  his  father,  where  he  became  a  merchant,  car- 
rying on  l:is  business  first  in  Huntingdon,  then  in  Peters- 
burg, and  again  in  Huntingdon.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
General  .Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  in  1Sii2.  He  married 
Martha  Elliott,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Carpen- 
ter) Elliott,  and  they  had  the  following  children:  James 
E. ;  Anna  m.  (first)  Ed.  Patton,  (second)  Thomas  Jack- 
son; Mary  ni.  James  Gwin ;  Ellen,  born  Jan.  3.  l.sd?,  m. 
Matthew  D.  Gregg,  and  died  Aug.  17,  1S47;  David  m. 
Martha  McConnell ;  I'l-njamin  I'".,  (t'lrst)  m.  Sarali  H. 
Orbison,  and  (second)  Mrs.  Ellen  Patton  Dorsey;  Mar- 
gery; Robert  .-Mlison  m.  (first)  Sarah  I'.riscoc,  (second) 
Mrs.  Maria  Dennison;  Martha  m.  James  ^McCahen;  and 
William  m.  Margaret  Whitt.iker. 

Robert  Elliott,  great-grandfather  of  ("lencral  D.  McM. 
Gregg's  mother,  through  ^Martha  Elliott  .MeMurtrie.  was 
born  prior  to  1730.  but  it  is  uncertain  whether  his  birth- 
place was  in  America  or  Ireland.  His  home  was  in 
Peters  township.  Cumberland  (formerly  Lancaster)  county. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  issue  of  his  first  marriage  be- 
ing two  sons — Benjamin  and  George— and  his  two  daugh- 
ters— Barbara  and  Jane.  Benjamin  l-llliott  wa*;  born  in 
1752.  in  Peters  township.  Cumberland  (now  h'ranklin) 
county,  and  became  a  resident  of  Huntingilon  in  1775. 
When  but  twenty-fnur  iiears  of  age,  he  was  eluted  one 
of  the  d;-legates  from  Bedfcrd  county,  Hnntingdon  being 
then  in  th.at  county,  to  the  convention,  which  met  July 
!.'>,    177ti,    at    Carpenters    Hall.    Pliiladeli)l)ia,    for   the    pur- 


pose of  framing  the  first  constitution  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  sherilT  of  fledford 
county  in  1784-^^5,  and  became  the  lirst  sheritT  of  Hunting- 
don county  in  1737.  In  that  year  he  was  also  elected 
a  delegate  from  Huntingdon  county  to  the  Pennsylvania 
convention  which  ratified  the  Federal  constitution.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Coun- 
cil from  Huntingdon  county,  Oct.  :'>1.  175=9,  and  served 
until  Dec.  20,  17"jO.  when  the  Council's  term  of  office  e.K- 
pircd  by  reason  of  the  election  of  Governor  Miftlin.  He 
held  several  county  offices  in  Huntingdon  county,  in- 
cluding that  of  Associate  Judge.  He  died  in  Huntingdon, 
March  15,  ]So5,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Fairview  cemetery. 
He  was  thrice  married.  His  fii^t  wife  was  Mary  Carpen- 
ter, daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabetli  (Herr)  Carpenter, 
and  a  granddaughter  of  Heinrich  Zimmerman,  wdio  was 
born  in  Switzerland,  in  l(i75,  and  who  made  his  I'rst  trip 
to  .America-  in  1(50S,  returning  to  his  native  place  in  1700. 
This  gentleman  married  Salo:ne  Ruifner.  Being  a  phy- 
sician, he  practised  hi>  profes.-ion  until  170ri.  when  hav- 
ing engaged  in  a  conspiracy  against  the  government  he  was 
compelled  to  flee  the  country  for  safety,  rie  according- 
1\-  came  to  America,  where  he  settled  in  Germaiitown. 
In  1710,  he  began  to  acquire  lands  in  Lancaster  county, 
■  and  in  3  717,  he  moved  there.  He  died  about  17,50,  leaving; 
a  large  estate  to  his  heirs.  Benjamin  Elliott  and  his  wife 
Mary  had  tiiree  children,  namely:  Martha,  born  in  1779,  m. 
David  ^MeMurtrie.  and  dii-d  in  1S41:  Mary,  born  in  1731, 
m.  Robert  Allison,  and  Jam.^s  prepared  for  the  legal 
profession,  hut  died  yoiivg  and  unmarried.  Benjamin 
Elliott's  second  wife  was  Sarah  Ashman,  and  his  third 
Susan   Haines. 

General  Gregg  Sficnt  his  earlier  bovhood  with  his 
father's  family  in  i'.eilefonte.  Harrisburg  and  Hollidays- 
burg.  In  April,  1845,  the  family  removed  to  Potomac 
Furnace,  Loudoun  county,  V^a.  When,  in  the  following  Ju- 
ly, the  f;ither  died,  the  widowed  mother,  with  her  nine  chil- 
firen  reuirnod  to  Holiidaysburg;  her  death  occurred  at  Bed- 
ford in  -Vugust,  L^t7.  David  then  became  a  member  of 
the  family  c:f  his  uncle,  David  M'-.Murtrie,  living  in 
Huntingdon,  and  for  tvvo  \cars  attended  the  school  of 
ih.it  excellent  teacher.  .Mr.  John  .\.  Hall.  From  this 
schoiil  be  went  to  .Miiinvo(,d  .\eadeiny,  in  the  lower  end 
of  Himfingflon  count\,  ai.d  a  year  later  joined  his  elder 
brother.  Andrew  at  the  University  at  Lew  isburg.  While 
.at  the  Ll^niversity  he  received  an  appointment  as  cadet 
at  the  L'nited  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point. 
which  he  entered  July  1,  lS5t.  He  graduated  in  June. 
1>55.  standing  eighth  in  :i  class  of  thirty-four  members: 
among  his  classmates  being  (icnerals  .\verill.  Webb,  Kug- 
gles  :ind  Comstock.  all  pnimirient  officers  in  the  L^nion 
.Army  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  am!  General  Xichols. 
of  the  Confederate  army.  He  became  Second  Lieutenant 
of  Dragoons,  July  1,  1855,  and  served  in  garrison  at  Jef- 
ferson liarracks.  Mo.,  in  1855-50,  being  commissioned 
Second  Lieutenant  of  First  Dra.goons,  Sept.  4.  1855. 
In  1850.  he  was  assigned  to  frontier  duty  in  Ihe  \V'est 
ami  (111  the  Pacific  coast,  and  remained  there  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  recalled  him  to  the  E;ist.  He 
was  stationed  at  Fort  I'nioii.  Xew  Mexico,  in  1850,  took 
pari  in  the  march  to  Calif<  ■rni.i  in  the  same  year;  wa^  at 
i'urt  'feion.  Cnlo.,  in  1S50  57;  [-"ort  Vancouver.  Wash., 
in  1S57-5S;  and  at  Fort  WalLi  Walla,  Wash.,  in  1858.  He 
took  part  in  the  Spok;inc  ex;iedition  of  1858.  being  en- 
gaged in  a  desperate  combat  with  the  Indians  at  To-hols- 
nimme.  Wash..  May  17.  JS5S:  was  present  at  the  combat  of 
I'our  Lakes.  Wash..  Sept.  1,  1858;  and  skirmish  on  Spo- 
kane river  .'^ept.  8,  1858.  He  was  on  frontier  duty  at  Fort 
Walla  Walla,  in  18.59;  at  Fort  Dallas.  Oregon.  18.59- 
RO ;  was  scouting  against  the  Snake  Indians  in  1800,  being 
engaged  in  a  skirmish  near  Hamoy  Lake,  Oregon.  May 
24,  1800.  The  winter  of  1800-01  was  spent  in  iluty  on  tiie 
Warm    Spring   reservation. 

Gencr.al  Gregg  became  fir^t  Lieutenant  of  the  First 
Dragoons  on  March  21,  I8(;i.  and  was  made  C:iptain  in  the 
Sixth  Cavalry  on  .Ma\  14.  1801.  During  the  lirst  month.s 
of  the  war  he  sa^v  duty  in  the  di  fensi  s  of  Wa^himitcn. 
D.  C,  antl  throughout  the  remainder  of  tlu-  war  was  con- 


:,.L'-'f  . 


330 


HISTORY   ()[•    r.KRKS   COL'X'l'Y,    ri'.XXSYL\'AXIA 


iKCtcil  with  the  \rn\y  Mt  the  I'litotii.ic.  I'rom  Oct.  1:^, 
JMJI,  till  Jamiar\,  ]^i>-.',  he  ua>  on  sick  lea\  c.  He  be- 
came Color.cl  ui  the  JuLihth  !<■ '^inseiit,  I'a.  Vol.  (.'avahy, 
Jan.  ~4,  18G:.',  and  to. .k  i^art  in  the  \'irgiiiia  f'eiiiiisular 
cainpaigii.  He  was  ciigagi.'d  in  the  battles  of  Seven  Pines 
and  I'"air  Oaks,  ;M;iy  :;i  ;ind  June  1,  ISO:.',  skirmishes  at 
Xew  Kent  Courthouse,  Savage  Station,  Bottom's  Jjridge, 
and  Wliite  Oak  Swamp.  Juiie.  isii:.,  hattle  of  Glendale. 
June  30,  ISO:.',  r^lalveni  Hil!.  July  1,  ISG:.',  and  covering 
the  movement  from  Harris"n's  l.anding  to  Yorktown, 
August,  isr.:,'.  He  w;.^  in  the  .Maryland  campaign  of  the 
Army  of  the  PL'tomac.  which  extended  from  September 
to  Xovember,  ISti:.',  being  engaged  in  several  skirmishes 
on  the  march  to  Ftdtuouth,  Va.,  in  October  and  Novem- 
ber. On  Xov.  2;i,  l^(i:.',  Ceneral  Gregg  was  comiiiissioned 
Brigadier  Gcjieral  L'.  S.  \'ulunteers.  I'roin  December, 
ISGri,  to  June,  isijj,  he  commanded  a  Division  of  Cavalry, 
being  engaged  in  the  skirmi?h  at  Rappahannock  bridge, 
April  4,  18UL;,  and  ".Stoneman's  Raid"  toward  Richmond, 
April  13  to  May  2,  iSii:!.  The  Pennsylvania  cainpaign 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  participated  in  by 
General  Gregg  still  as  a  division  ca\alry  commander;  he 
was  engager!  in  the  combat  of  Brandy  Station,  June  9, 
1SG3,  skirmish  at  Aldie,  June  J~,  Middleburg,  June  10, 
Upperville,  June  21,  and  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  1, 
2  and  3.  He  was  in  the  skirmish  at  .Shepherdsiown,  July 
If),  and  took  part  in  the  pursuit  of  the  Confederates  to 
W'arrcnton,  \'a.,  closing  the  campaign  in  the  latter  days 
of  that  busy  month. 

Central  Virginia  then  became  the  scene  of  op-rations  for 
the  .Vrmy  of  the  Potomac,  an<l  General  Gregg  there  par- 
ticipated in  the  action  at  Rapidan  Station,  Sept.  14,  Bever- 
ly Ford,  Oct.  12,  Auburn,  Oct.  14,  and  Xew  Hope  Church. 
Nov.  27,  18r)3.  Prom  ^Inrch  2i;  to  Aj^ril  0,  1SG4,  General 
Gregg  w;is  in  commanil  of  tlie  Cavalr>  Corps  of  the  Army 
of  the  J'oiomae,  and  in  the  Richmond  cainpaign  from 
.April  G,  .I8G1,  to  h'eb.  3,  ISG.j,  was  in  command  of  the 
Second  Cavalry  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  be- 
ing engaged  in  the  skir'nislic.5  at  Todd's  Tavern  Alay 
5-7,  1SG4,  where  lie  was  in  conmiand,  Grotind  Stinirrel 
Church  Mas'  ]],  combat  at:  Me;id.>-w  Bridge  Mtiy  12,  hat- 
tle of  Haws  Shop  May  28,  skirmish  of  Gaines  House  June 
2,  battle  of  Trevillian  Station  June  11,  action  of  St.  Mary's 
Church  June  24.  wliere  he  was  in  conimand,  skirmish  at 
Warwick  Swamp  July  12.  combat  of  Darhytown  July  2S, 
skirmish  at  .Lee's  Mills  July  30,  1SG4.  Oii  Aug.  1,  18G4, 
General  Gregg  came  into  command  of  the  cavalr>  of  the 
.■\nny  of  the  Potomac,  being  brcvcttcd  on  that  date  ,\'lajor 
General  U.  S.  'Volunteers,  for  "highly  meritorious  and 
disti.iguished  conduct  throughout  the  campaign,  par- 
ticularly in  the  Reconnaissance  on  the  Charles  City  road." 
On  Aug.  17,  ISiil,  he  was  in  the  action  at  Deep  Bottom, 
skirmishes  and  battle  of  Ream's  Station  Aug.  23-2.'>.  combat 
of  Peebles'  Farm  Sept.  2!)  and  30,  of  the  Vaughan 
Road  Oct.  1,  where  he  was  in  command,  the  battle  of 
Bo.vdton  Plank  Road  Oct.  27,  destruction  of  Stony 
Creek  Station  Dec.  1,  and  skirmish  at  Bellelield  Dec. 
9,  1SG4,  which  terminated  General  Gregg's  active  work 
in  the  arir,_\-.     He  lesigned  front  the  service  l-"eb.  3,  ISG.j. 

General  Gregg's  brothers,  Henry  H.  and  I'ituira-,  I..  \\i  re 
both  in  the  Union  army  and  >erved  ti;ree  yeai.-,  the  form- 
er ;is  Captain  in  xhv  12."ilh  P.  V.  L,  and  as  Major  in  the 
13th  P.  V.  C,  the  hitter  as  Lieutenant  in  the  Gih  1'^  \'.  C, 
and  as  Aide-de-camp  on  his  brother's  staff. 

In  Fehru.ir\-,  1871,  Pre-ident  Grtipt  tippoitUed  General 
Gregg  U.  S.  Con^ul  at  Pr;iL;ue.  nohemitt,  which  pujition 
he  resigned  anil  returned  to  l\eading  in  the  fulbiwiiig 
August,  wdiere  he  has  since  mtide  his  honn-.  In  Islil,  he 
was  nominated  by  the  Repuliliean  ]i:irty  as  its  candidate 
for  Auditor  Gener.al  of  Pennsylvtmia,  was  elected.  ;ind 
made  a  splendid  record  in  his  three  yetirs  'H  ser\ice.  Ik- 
was  cleclei!  Commander  of  the  Pennsylvania  Connnandiry 
of  the  Milinry  Orchr  of  the  Loyal  Legion  of  the  United 
Stales  in  IS^ii,  and  was  eoiuinui-d  in  office  by  ^iu-L-<-M\e 
elections  e\e;y  year  initil  lonl.  when  he  w;is  ijicled 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  C^nler.  He  is  President  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Chiules   Lvrms  Ceiiicterv  Com- 


pany i>i  Retiding,  ;md  is  a  meniljcr  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  the  State  Luiialie  Hospital  at  llarrisburg.  Lieiicra! 
(iregg  litis  the  i  igiit  to  append  l.L.  D.  to  his  nam..  ;;,a'. 
honor  having  been  conferred  on  him  h\-  the  Pennsylvania 
Military   College,   at   Chester.    Pennsylvania. 

On  Oct.  G.  1.^02,  General  Greug  married  Ellen  F.  Sheaff 
of  Reading,  a  great-granddaughter  of  l'"rederick  A.  MuliLn- 
berg,  as  also  of  Gov.  Joseph  Hiester.  They  have  tu.i 
sons,  namely:   (jei:)rge  SheatY  and   David   Mc.\lurtrie. 

Thus  is  presented  in  measurably  full  detail  the  career 
of  one  of  the  most  noted  of  Reading's  citizens,  belonging 
to  Retiding  first,  but  in  a  larger  and  better  sense  to  tlie 
Sttite  and  nation.  With  a  glorious  record  of  duty  faitl;- 
fully  done,  General  Gregg  is  serenely  passing  tlie  evening 
of  life  amid  the  scenes  of  its  former  tictivities,  and  is 
showered  on  every  side  with  the  plaudits  of  a  gr:iteful 
people. 

GEORGE  BROOKE  bears  a  name  so  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  development  of  Birdsboro  that  a  iiistory 
of  the  recent  generations  of  the  Brooke  family  would 
be  a  nearly  complete  history  of  that  borough.  .And  no 
account  of  that  borough,  in  the  last  hundred  ami  more 
years,  could  be  written  without  frequent  reference  to  the 
achievements  and  efforts  of  the  Brookes  in  every  phase 
of  its  evolution  f"rom  a  settlement  of  a  few  houses  to 
one  of  the  thiest  boroughs  in  lierks  county.  The 
Brookes  have  exer  been  noted  for  intelligence  and  general 
excellence  of  ch.aracter,  proved  in  the  wise  administration 
of  large  interests,  whose  prosperity  h;is  had  a  direct 
iiraring  niion  the  public  moral  and  material  welfare  as 
well  as  upon  th;.ir  own  fortunes.  They  have  tilso  been 
noted  for  their  unsellish  public  si)irit.  their  means  and 
inilueiice  having'  always  been  given  liberall}-  to  the  pro- 
motion of  all  projects  tending  toward  progress,  enlight- 
enment and  the  genertd  improvement  of  the  conditions 
alfecti:i>;  the  d.'iily  lil:-,  c.inifort  and  happiness  of  the 
mass  of  humanity.  To  tlie  br(>thers,  Edward  tmd 
George  Brooke,  especiall_\,  is.  the  borough  indebted  for 
many   of    its   best   advantages. 

The  l^rookes  are  of  lui.glish  descent,  the  ff. tinders  of  the 
family  in  this  country  having  come  hither  from  York- 
shire, En.gland,  in  1C08.  John  and  Frances  Brooke,  with 
their  two  sons,  James  and  Matthew,  arrived  in  the  Del- 
aware river  that  year,  but  because  of  a  contagious 
disetise  aboard  their  xessel  the  passengers  were  not 
.lilowcd  to  come  to  Philadelphia,  disembarking  low'er 
down  the  river.  The  parents  'died  there  si.ion  afterward, 
and  were  buried  in  the  gravc\-ard  at  Haddonfield,  X".  J. 
They  hclomied  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  before 
leaving  England  John  Brooke  had  purchased  of  William 
Penn  2. .500  acres  of  land,  to  be  taken  up  an\-where  where 
vacant  land  might  lie  found  between  the  Dehr.vare  and 
Snsquehtmna  ri\'ers.  .Accordingly  the  sons  Janus  and 
Alatthew  took  up  the  land  in  what  is  now  Limerick 
township,    Montgomery    county,    Pa.,    where    they    settled. 

Mntthew  I'.roc.kc,  gr.andson  of  the  Matthew  who  came 
over  with  his  father  in  IGliS,  was  the  third  in  'lirect 
line  to  bear  the  name.  He  was  th.e  father  of  Edward 
.-ind  Geor.gc  Brooke,  and  was  reared  near  Limerick.  In 
]7'.h;  he  purchased  a  farm  at  Birdsboro,  Berks  county. 
:t!id  in  1800,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Thomas 
Brooke,  and  their  brother-in-law.  Daniel  Buckley,  pur- 
chased the  Hopewell  Furnace.  From  that  time  to  the 
present-  the  family  lias  been  prominently  identitied  with 
the  locality.  M.'itthew  Brooke  occui')ied  the  old  man- 
sion house  built  by  William  Bird,  the  original  pro- 
prietor iif  this  property,  in  17.".1,  a  beautifully  located 
resiijerce  f.-iciiv.;  the  Schuylkill  rner.  t.;)  whose  banks  the 
lawn  SI  retched.  On  the  side  of  the  estate  which  lay 
.•ilong  the  shores  of  H;iy  creek,  just  wdiere  it  emiitieil 
into  tlu-  Schuylkill,  was  a  ;;ro\e  u\  b.'aiitilul  old  tries, 
which  one  of  the  I'irds  fenced  in  :ind  used  ;is  ;i  deer 
|i;irk.  When  the  canal  w;is  bnilt  in  f''.iiit  .if  the  hon-'e 
the  pi.ice  wa-,  no  l.mg.r  de.-.irable  for  re^idenli.d  pur- 
poses, .and  the  f.'iinily  iro\e<i  to  a  house  dou  n  ne.ir  t;i. 
lower  for^e.  wliich  was  torn  down  in  187t»  to  make  room 
for  the  enlargement  of  the  rolling-mill.     Matthew   Bnn>ke 


\  \ 


./ 


/  !v  ^    i 


/ 


'\ 


V. 


V 


A'-i'y-- 


i^^;yj(///Jy/y./'/  /U-yy--/^^^^ 


■^  --<yA.^(^c 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


337 


continued    to    operate     the     iron     industries     successfully    pig-iron  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  kegs  of  nails, 


^ntil  his  death,  in  adv:inced  a;re.  He  had  led  an  active 
life  in  many  ways,  having  served  the  Colonial  forces  dur- 
ing the  Revolution  when  a  mere  boy,  and  while  in  the 
army  was  captured  and  held  prisoner,  but  linally  ex- 
tliangcd.  His  business  energies,  while  devoted^  chicdy 
:o  the  iron  works,  were  not  confined  to  any  one  channel, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  first  stockholders  of  the  Farmers 
National  Bank  of  Reading,  one  of  the  most  important 
financial  institutions'  of  that  city  at  the  present  d.iy. 
Hf  was  an  Kpiscopalian  in  religious  roiinecti'^n.  He 
married  Eli/abetli  Barde,  like  himself  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, daughter  of  Captain  John  Louis  Barde,  who 
r'aine  to  Birdsboro  in  17SS,  and  for  several  years  ran 
the  old  forges  under  a  lease,  in  179C  purchasing  them 
with  two  thousand  acres  of  land  from  Tames  Wilson  (a 
;wn-in-law  of  Mark  Bird),  one  of  the  sigiKTS  of  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence.  This  land  formed  a  p.irt  of 
the  original  Bird  properties  of  Birdsboro,  and  Captain 
Harde  lived  on  it  until  his  death  in  1709.  Caiitain  Barde 
had  an  interesting  career.  Eorii  in  Geneva,  Switzerland, 
he  was  educated  in  the  Royal  Military  Academy  at  Wool- 
wich, lingland,  entered  the  English  army,  and  accom- 
panied the  expedition  to  America  to  operate  agauist  tlie 
Spaniards  in  tlieir  attack  on  Pensacola  in  about  1770.  He 
married  the  daughter  of  ^laj.  I'tobert  Farmar,  the  English 
governor  of  W'est  Florida,  came  north  in  17S2,  and 
selling  his  commission  became  a  citizen  of  the  United 
Slates.  His  prriperty  came  into  the  hand  of  hi?  son- 
in-lav.-,  Matthew  Brooke.  Matthew  and  Elizabeth 
("Barde)  Brooke  had  a  family  of  five  cliildren,  two 
daughters  dying  young.  The  others  were;  Elizabeth, 
who  became  the  wife  of  the  Hon.  Hiester  Clymer  of 
Reading;   I'Mward.   deceasefl;   and   George 

George  Brooke  was  born  July  "'5,  3SiS.  at  Birdsboro, 
and  l;as  passed  all  his  life  in  that  place.  Hq  also  has  a 
residence    in     Phi'adelphia,    where    ho    sometimes    passes 

>chools  of 


besides  muck-bar  and  skelp  iron.  In  the  latter  eighties 
a  steel  plant  was  erected  at  Xo.  2  Blast  I-'urnace,  to  con- 
vert the  molten  iron  directly  into  steel  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  nails.  .'V  new  train  of  rojls  was  also  put  into 
the  rolling-mill,  as  well  as  other  de^'ices  for  the  working 
of   steel. 

In  alliance  with  their  furnaces  tlie  lirni  of  E.  &  G. 
Brooke  actjuired  a  half  interest  in  t'.ie  French  Creek, 
Warwick  and  Jones  mines,  which  he  between  ten  and 
fifteen  miles  south  of  Birdsboro,  and  wheiice  the  great- 
er part  of  the  raw  product  comes,  the  Wilmington  & 
Northern  road  connecting  the  two  properties.  In  1S64 
E.  &  G.  Brooke,  associated  with  Scyfert,  McManus  & 
Co.  and  Samuel  E.  Griscom,  opened  the  William  Penn 
Colliery,  near  Shenandoah,  in  Schuylkill  county.  K.  &  G. 
Brooke  subscquemly  becoming  sole  owners  of  the  col- 
liery, which  was  and  still  is  one  of  the  best  mines  in  the 
coal  region.  In  1887  they  sold  the  colliery  to  interests 
identified  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  These  iron  ' 
works  and  mines  form  one  of  tht^  most  valuable  indus- 
trial factors  in  this  section  of  Pennsylvania,  attording 
profitable  employment  to  thousands  of  hands.  Many 
of  the  houses  occupied  by  the  employees  are  owned  by 
them,  and  about  twe)  hundred  and  fifty  houses  occupied 
by  the  men  ure  owned  by  the  company.  After  the  death 
of  Edward  Brooke  the  concern  was  organized  into  two 
companies,  the  E.  &  G.  Brooke  Iron  Company  aiid  the 
E.  &  G.  Brooke  I^nd  Company,  none  of  the  property, 
however,  changing  liands.  George  Brooke  became  pres- 
ident of  both  CKinpaiiieb,  with  George  W.  Harrison  as 
treasurer  and  Richard  T.  Leaf  as  secretary. 

Mr.  Brooke  has-  been  identified  with  numerous  other 
interests  in  Berks  county  and  also  in  other  localities,  his 
business  affairs  covering  a  wide  range,  and  he  has  like- 
wise found  \.ftnc  for  active  participation  in  the  public 
and   social   life  of   his   section.     He   anrl   his  brother  were 


a  few  winter  months.     He  was  educated  in  ,ue  >viiuuia  wi  ,  ■   •     ,  •     ,  .-  , .      r--     ^   >.-  ,.•        i  u     i 

Readin.g,    Lititz    and    West    Chester,    Pa.,    and    afterward    ^-tmo^ng  the  ori.pial  projectors  ot  the  First   National  Bank 
attended   at    ?!urlington,    N.   J.,    finishing   his   education    at 


a  private  scIkjoI  in  Philadelphia.  He  ranked  well  in 
English,  Latin  and  French,  Init  showed  a  marked  profi- 
ciency in  math.ematics,  drawing,  mineralogy  and  mechan- 
ics. The  close  of  his  school  da\s  marked  his  return  to 
Birdsboro,  and  he  at  once  plunged  into  the  iron  business, 
learning  every  detail  of  the  immense  concern  ruled  over 
by  his  father.  On  April  1,  18,')7,  he  and  h:^  brother 
Edward  succeeded  to  their  fallier's  interests  in  the  iron 
industry  at  that  point,  the  works  at  that  time  comcirising 
two  forges — one  the  '■'refinery."  \vherc  the  pig-iron  was 
converted  into  "anchovies"  ( blooms  hammered  down  into 
a  bar  at  one  end  for  convenience  in  handling') .  and  the 
"chafery."  where  they  were  heated  and  -hammered  into 
various  kinds  of  bar-iron.  At  that  time  the  entire  out- 
put aniounted  to  only  two  hundred  tons  annuallx-.     Under 

the  firm  name  of  E.  &  G.  Bronke,  the  brothers  developed  .  .  . 

the  propertv,  continuing  to  do  business  together  until  the     sylvania,    cnmpnsin 
death    of    F.dward    Brooke.    Dec.    2.5,    1S7S.      They    built     foundries.     The   sfe. 
the  Eciward   Brooke   residence  and   a  large   fiour  mill,  the 
latter  begun    in   1S41  and   completed   in   l"^!."!.     In  the   fall 
of  1844.  while  it  was   in  coiirse  of  ci'iistruction,  a   Henry 
Clay   meeting   was    held   in   the   mill,    there   being  no   hall 
here  at  the  time  large  enough   for  the  purpose.     In   1S70 
and  again  in  1SS2  the  mill  was  remodeled,  being  supplied 
with    modern    machinery    and    steam-power,    and    mean- 
time   had    been    greatly    enlarged,    the    present    structure 
being  the   third   to   occupy   ihc   site.      Following  the   erec- 
tion   of    the    mill    the    brothers    extended    the    iron    husi- 
ne>s.   in    1^40   putting   up   a   clmrcoal    furnace    on    the   site 
of  the   old    Hampton    force    in    order   to   use   their   wood 
in   the   manufacture   of   pig-iron    instead   of   operating   the 
forges.     Ill   ]<'4S  tliev  commenced  to  build  the  rolling-mill 
and  nail  factory,  which  were  completed  and  put  in  opera- 
tion  the   foll.)wiiig  vear.     In   lS."i2    No.   1    .\iithracite   F 
nacc   was   liuilt 
1S70  and   l'?7:;. 


of  Reading,  of  w-hich.  he  has  l)cen  president  these  many 
years;  he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Tru~t  Company,  another  substantial  financial  institution 
of  Reading,  of  which  he  is  president;  is  a  director  of  the 
Wilmington  &  Northern  Railway  Company  and  the  Scb.uyl- 
ki!l  Navigation  Company,  treasurer  of  the  Keystone  Coal 
Company  of  West  Virginia,  and  president  of  the  Birds- 
boro Steel  Foundry  &  Machine  Company.  The  last  named 
company  in  ISSS — then  known  as  the  Diamond  Drill  and 
Machine  Compan}- — was  moved  to  Birdsbrro  from  Potts- 
ville,  being  located  in  the  old  plant  of  the  Birdsboro 
Iron  Foundry  Company,  wdiose  buildings  were  sold  to 
E.  &  G.  Brooke  in  1871,  standing  idle  from  that  time  un- 
til their  occupation  by  the  pres-.-nt  company.  From  a 
small  concern  whose  business  was  the  manufacture  of 
diamond  drills  it  has  grown  to  its  present  size.  It  is 
now  one  of  the  largest  machine  shops  in  eastern  Penn- 
machine  shops  and  iron  and  steel 
foundry  was  added  in  1003  and  is 
one  of  the  largest  and  most  modern  of  steel  casting 
plants.  .Ml  mar?ner  of  steel  casting,  for  both  private 
and  government  work,  is  turned  out.  The  company 
manufacture  all  kinds  of  machinery,  taking  contracts  for 
the  building  of  rollin_g-mills  of  the  largest  sizes,  besides 
building  a  number  of  special  machines.  They  also  still 
make  the  celebrated  diamond  drills,  wdiich  are  sold  in 
all  parts  of  the  world.  When  these  works  are  running 
full  they  employ  about  eight  hundred  men. 

Mr.  Brooke  also  was  the  oriirinator  of  the  borougli 
water  supply.  Through  the  E.  &  G.  Brooke  Iron  Com- 
pany large  reservoirs  were  built  about  two  miles  south 
of  the  town  up  in  the  hills  and  an  abundant  water  sup- 
ply of  the  purest  kind  was  obtained  from  the  mounl.iin 
streams   and   broueht   to  the   borough   in   two   larae   water 


mains.  l"or  the  better  conducting  of  its  business  this 
and  two  more  furnaces  were  erected  in  water  department  of  the  Iron  Company  was  in  1000  tiirn- 
especlively,   the   cnpacity   of   the    pl;int   be-     e.l    into    a    separate    Cf>mpany.    known     as    the    Birdsboro 


ing     increased 
ainonnts    to    n 


idily     until     the     annli.-d     product     r 
than    one    hundrfd    thousand    tons 


oi 


Water  Company.     The  town  of   Birdsboro  is  sure! 
fortunate    in    having    such    a    pure    and    abundant 


most 
.ippiy 


338 


HISTORY  OF  r.EKKS  COUNTY,  PEXNSYIA'AXIA 


of  water.  The  pressure  is  so  great  tb.at  a  stream  of 
water   can   be    thrown   o\-er   the   tallest   buildings. 

Thus  i:  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Brooke's  interests,  though 
covering  so  wide  a  range,  are  ail  more  or  less  closely 
allied,  his  connection  and  faniiliariiy  with  the  various 
side  industries  concerned  in  the  successful  operation  of 
his  main   business    facilitating  its   conduct   greatly. 

In  1S3~  the  Urookes  opened  a  store  in  the  old  mansion, 
soon  afterward  ren)oving  to  a  regular  store-room  which 
they  erected  at  the  canal  lock,  and  in  1S75  they  erected 
a  fine  store  property,  which  was  burned  out  when  Tiear- 
ly  ready  for  business.  Tt  was  immediately  rebuilt,  and 
rot  only  affords  spacious  store  room  but  also  contains 
the  large  auditorium  knnwn  as  Brooke  Hall,  located  in 
the  third  story  of  tlie  building^  George  Brooke  was  also 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Birds- 
boro,  of  which  he  served  as  president  for  a  time,  be- 
ing succeeded  by  hi?  sou  F.dward.  Mr.  I'.rooke  is  a 
member  of  the  Manufacturers  Club,  and  also  of  the 
Union  League,  the  Sons  of  the  Kevoliuion  and  the  So- 
ciety of  Colonial  W'ars.  He  is  also  atiiliated  with  the 
Masonic   fraternity. 

When  the  borough  of  Eird=boro  was  incorporated  Ed- 
ward Brooke  was  elected  burgess,  and  George  Brooke 
has  scr\ed  repeatedly  in  the  town  council,  of  which 
he  was  president  for  m;my  years.  He  has  also  given 
efficient  service  on  the  borough  school  board,  taking 
especial  iiiterest  in  the  cjucstion  of  public  education,  and 
in  this  connection  may  also  be  mentioned  his  services 
on  the  board  of  directors  of  the  lijjrary  opened  and 
conducted  under  the  auspices  of  St.  Michael's  Episco- 
pal Church.  He  was  intluential  in  the  estaljlishment 
of  that  churci's,  wiiich  grev/  out  of  a  mission  estab- 
lished at  Birdsboro  by  St.  Gabriel's  Church,  Douglass- 
ville,  -and  was  one  of  its  first  vestrymen,  still  serving 
as  such.     In  politics  he  is  an  ardent   Republican. 

Mr.  Brooke  is  a  courteous.  atT;ible  .gentleman,  a  type 
of  the  highest  ."American  citizenship,  active  and  useful 
in  every  enterprise  v.'iih  which  he  has  been  connected, 
and  serving  liis  fellow-men  while  forwarding  his  own 
interests.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  I'Airope.  and 
has  visited  every  Staio  in  the  I'liiovi.  He  h.is  always 
been  fond  of  outdoor  life,  and  in  his  early  days  was  pro- 
ficient in  all  kinds  of  sport.  Though  over  ninety  .years 
of  age  he  "virtually  oversees  all  of  his  vast  business  in- 
terests, finds  time  to  .i.'Jsist  in  the  advising  of  other  op- 
erations and  maintains  comr)lcte  control  of  the  details 
incident  to  the  management  of  his  large  private  for- 
tune." 

In  1802  'y.h.  Brooke  married  ^lary  B.dilwin  Irwin, 
daughter  of  lohn  H.  Irwin,  and  granddaughter  of  Capl. 
Stephen  Baldwin,  a  ship  owner  and  merchant  of  Phil- 
adelphia. Mrs.  Brooke's  father  was  a  grandson  of  Fred- 
erick Augustus  Muhlenberg,  first  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives.  Two  sons  were  bnrn  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Brooke,  Edward  and  Gcoree.  The  family  arc 
all  identified  'with  the  Episcopal  Church.  They  occupy 
one  of  the  most  magnificent  homes  in  this  beautiful 
section  of  Berks  county,  Mr.  Brooke  having  erected  suit- 
able residences  for  himself  and  the  member^  of  his  fam- 
ily at  a  spot  overlooking  Birdsboro  .->nd  the  surround- 
ing country,  which  has  been  beautified  as  well  as  devel- 
oped principally  through  his  enterprise  and  that  of  other 
members  of  the  Brooke  family.  ^Fr.  P.rooke'>  ninetv- 
years  "have  been  fdled  with  varying  experiences,  but  with- 
al have  been  fa\r)red  with  a  due  measure  of  sunshine, 
the  brightesr  ray  of  which  to  him  must  be  the  rever- 
ence and  affection  of  his  townspeople,  which  is  almost 
filial." 

EDW.ARn  BROOKh:  wa-.  until  his  death  the  senior  part- 
ner of  the  firm  of  IL  iS:  G.  Brooke  mentioned  at  length 
in  the  sketch  of  George  Brooke.  He  was  born  Feb. 
28,  ISIf).,  at  Birdsboro.  son  of  Matthew  Brooke,  and  like 
Other  members  of  his  family  was  all  hi.;  lifi-  identified 
with    the   advancement    of    its    best    inttresls. 

Highly  i-durateil.  his  scientific  attainment:;  played  a 
large  part   in  the   success  of  the  various  enlerprisci   with 


which  he  was  connected,  and  his  ability  and  ambiti-.ri 
rounded  out  a  nature  unusually  complete  in  intellecf.:jl 
force  and  practical  knowludge.  Industry,  perscverai..-!- 
and  faith  m  his  ventures  made  his  energetic  course  .,;ic 
of  remarkable  success.  His  progressive  mind  arid  !:.r- 
seeing  judgment  enabled  him  to  enter  conridently  iut', 
many  fields  where  men  of  less  strength  would  liave  hc-.- 
itate'd  to  venture,  yet  his  prudence  in  management  ai;d 
care  in  looking  after  details  kept  his  unilcrtakii;:..;5  al- 
ways within  conservative  bounds  and  made  him  trusted 
among  all  his  business  associates. 

Incidental  to  his  own  imeresls,  and  beyond  them,  Mr. 
Brooke  v.-as  always  active  in  promoting  the  welfar,:  Cif 
his  home  town,  and  rnany  of  the  most  efficient  measures 
for  its  prosperity  in  his  day  were  originated  or  support- 
ed by  hmi.  The  Wilmington  S:  Reading  railroad,  whicli 
passes  through  Birdsboro,  was  constructed  throu.eh  hi^ 
etTorts,  and  he  was  the  lirst  president  of  that  road,  lb; 
was  one  of  the  original  projectors  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Reading,  and  served  as  a  director  until  his 
death.  By  nature  kindly  and  genial,  honorable  and  up- 
right in  all  his  dealings,  he  was  a  man  not  only  res- 
pected but  beloved  by  all  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact. His  death,  at  Birdsboro,  Dec.  2'<.  1ST8,  v.-as  the 
occasion  for  general  mourning  throughout  the  commu- 
nity in   which   his   entire   life   had   been   spent. 

^I^.  Brooke  married  Annie  M.  C'lymer,  daughter  of 
Daniel  R.  Clymer.  of  Reading,  and  four  children  sur- 
vived him:  Annie  Clymer  (who  married  Blair  Lee, 
of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  died  in  ^'.li'^,?,),  Robert  Ed- 
ward,   George    Clymer   and    Frederick    lliester. 

DAVID  B.  BRUNNER,  prominent  educator  and  con- 
gressman of  Berks  county,  was  born  March  7,  18.35,  in 
.'\tnity  township.  His  father  was  John  Brunner,  a  car- 
penter in  that  township,  and  a  descendant  of  Peter  Brun- 
ner, a  native  of  the  Palatinate.  v>!iri  emigrnted  to  this 
country  before  lT;!r),  settling  in  Douglass  townsli'p,  Berks 
county,  about  1T0.">.  During  his  boyjiond  he  attendi-tl  the 
common  schotds  in  the  township  till  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  when  he  learned  the  trade  <if  carpenter  under  his 
father.  .At  this  occupation  he  continued  until  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  attending  school  during  the  winter,  study- 
ing higher  branches  for  a  time,  and  from  is.",-j  to  18.").">.  he 
taught  public  schools.  During  that  time  he  prepared  him- 
self for  college  at  the  Freeland  Seminary.  In  IS.jG  he  en- 
tered Dickinson  College  and  took  a  complete  classical 
course,  graduating  in  J800.  He  then  opened  a  private 
school  at  Amityville,  and  coriducted  it  successfully  in  ISfiO 
and  18f)].  W'ith  this  prep-aration  he  liKaied  at  Reading  in 
IS'32,  having  purchased  the  Reading  Classical  .Academy, 
which  had  been  founded  by  the  Rev.  William  A.  Good  in 
1S.';4.  He  conducted  th.is  institution  with  increasing  suc- 
cess year  after  year  till  1800,  when  he  was  elected  county 
superintendent  of  common  schools  of  Berks  county,  and 
at  the  end  of  his  term  of  three  years  was  re-elected  with- 
out opposition.  These  circumstances  indicate  the  deep 
and  favorable  impression  which  he  had  made  uf>on  the 
people.  Upon  hi";  first  election,  he  continued  the  classical 
academy  with  the  aid  of  assistants:  but  upon  his  re- 
election he  closed  it  so  as  to  be  able  to  devote  his  entire 
attention  to  the  schools  of  the  county.  At  the  end  of  his 
second  term  as  county  superintendent,  he  re-opened  the 
institution  under  the  name  of  Reading  Scientific  .\cademy. 
This  change  was  made  to  sigm'fy  that  the  study  of  the 
sciences  was  an  important  part  of  the  course  of  education 
under  him.  Besides  the  daily  stiuly  of  scientific  branches, 
frequent  lectures  were  delivered  by  him  to  the  scholars, 
his  subjects  illustrated  by  philosophic.-il  experiments,  etc., 
with  the  aid  of  instruments  manufactured  by  himself. 

In  1"5T."i  and  1S7C>.  he  conducted  a  business  college  at 
Reading:  and  iti  IS'^O  and  1881  he  acted  as  citv  superin- 
tendent of  the  common  schools  in  Readincr.  From  18^9 
to  180:!  he  reprcsent<-d  Berks  county  in  Congress.  For 
a  mnnher  of  years  Prof.  ]!runner  manifested  a  slror.g 
interest  in  the  history  of  the  Indians  of  Berks  county. 
He  collected  ti:;iny  relics,  arici  narrated  the  results  of  his 
investigations  for  the  Iveading  Society  of  Natural  Science. 


I.    ■       •  )     !i:..H 


il»>-.      j\ 


:j    l>;,,: 


v-jieWPj;^"^ , 


\ 


i<^' 


^^^'     / 


J^J 


V"/ 


I 


\i 


% 


c^ 


xlx. 


\ 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


339 


His  essays  were  published  in  I'^Sl.  In  the  course  of  his 
labors,  he  made  many  wood-cuis  to  show  the  size,  form, 
and  appearance  of  Indian  relic?,  snch  as  arrow  and  spear- 
htaub,  axes,  knives,  hammers,  plates,  pottery,  beads,  shells, 
pestles,  mortars,  ornaments,  etc.,  for  which  he  received 
mucli  praise.  He  published  an  interesting  book  on  this 
subject  in  1S81. 

Prof.  Brunner  was  a  thorough  mineralogist.  He  in- 
vestigated the  entire  county  in  respect  to  its  minerals 
with  great  succe.--s.  and  prepiircd  a  catalogue  of  the  dif- 
ferent varieties.  The  birds  of  the  county  also  received 
his  earnest  attention,  and  he  coUecied  and  mounted  a 
number  of  fine  specimens.  His  colKction  included  100  of 
the  rarest  specimens.  He  also  gave  much  attention  to 
microscopy,  using  in  his  researches  a  tine,  large  micro- 
scope, with  lenses  magnifying  from  10  diameters  to  1,200. 
The  intervals  in  his  school  teaching  were  largely  devoted 
to  the  production  of  scientific  apparatus,  and  to  iIk  addition 
of  natural  curiosities ;  and  with  the  aid  of  a  lapidary's 
mill,  he  polished  a  large  variety  of  the  best  and  most  beau- 
tiful minerals  of  the  count}-  which  he  uiounted  upon 
glass  slides  for  microscopic  examinations.  His  extensive 
cabinet  included  a  thousand  mounted  specimens.  Two 
degrees,  LJachclor  of  Arts  and  M.istev  nf  Arls.  were  con- 
ferred upon  him  by  Dickinson  College,  the  former  at  the 
time  of  his  graduation,  and'  the  latter  in  ISO.';.  In  1877. 
he  published  an  elementary  work  on  English  grammar. 
and  in  1SS2  issued  a  second  and  revised  edition.  Many 
thousand  copies  were  sold  aiul  used  throughout  Berks 
county  and   in   adjoinir.g  countii's. 

In  isci  Prof.  Brunner  married  .-Vmanda  L,  Rhoads, 
daughter  of  Abraham  Rhoads,  of  Amity  township,  who 
v/as  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the 
county.  They  had  five  children— Daniel  Edwin.  Elizabeth 
(m.  Edwin  L.  Moser),  Edgar  Alfred,  Mary,  and  Henry 
Philemon. 

ROBERT  M.  BARR  was  born  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Berks  county  on  Jan.  '■',.  1831, 
about  which  time  he  moved  to  Reading.  He  acquired  an 
extensive  practice  and  was  rc-rognized  as  a  superior  law- 
yer. A  man  of  fine  appearance,  he  was  possessed  of  a  high 
order  of  eloqnenc:.  He  represented  Berks  county  in  the 
Assembly  for  tlip  year  1S!1,  and  in  1S4"'  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  State  rcijorter  from  Governor  Shunk,  the 
oflice  having  been  created  in  the  year  named.  The  pre- 
scribed term  of  oflice  was  five  years.  He  died  whilst 
filling  his  rppointnient,  having  compiled  and  published  the 
first  ten  State  reports  commonly  known  as  "Barr's  Re- 
ports." His  friend.  J.  I'ringle  Jones,  Esq.  (who  subse- 
quently filled  the  office  of  president  judge  of  Berks  county), 
completed  the  compilation  of  the  cases  adjudicated  during 
bis  term  and  published  them  in  two  volumes,  commonly 
known  as  ''Jones'  Reports."  He  died  at  Reading,  Dec. 
25,  1849.  aged   forty-seven  years, 

Mr.  Barr  married  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Holmes,  of  Lan- 
caster,  Pa.,  and  left  a  daughter. 

HOX.  T.-VMES  K.  GETZ,  former  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Reading,  Fa  .  and  an  intluential  citizen  and  leading  busi- 
ness man,  president  of  the  Reailing  Shale  Brick  Company 
for  the  first  ten  ye;irs  of  its  existence — 1S9G  to  190G — 
and  a  member  of  the  firm  of  H.  S.  Getz's  Sons,  pro- 
prietors of  the  Reading  Steam  Marble  Works,  was  born 
in  Berks  county.  Pa.,  Jan.  19,  1S4S,  son  of  Ilirain  S.  and 
Sarah    R.    (Kistler)    Getz. 

James  K.  Getz  comes  of  German  ancestry.  John  Getz, 
tlie  founder  of  the  family  in  .America,  came  from 
Rheinpfalz,  Germany,  and  settled  on  a  grant  of  land 
in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  received  from  King  George. 
His  son.  Nicholas,  who  became  the  great-grandfather  of 
James  K..  follov.-eil  farming  in  Berk's  county,  married  and 
reared  his  children  oiic  of  these  being  Jacob  Getz,  our 
Subject's  grand  f.itlKT.  The  latter  v:i^  born  in  Berks 
county,  and  followed  an  agriciilmral  life,  becoming  one 
of  the  prosperous  and  substantial  citizens  of  tlie  com- 
munity in  which  !u-  lived.  He  married  Haniiah.  youngest 
daughter    of    John    Soder,    who    served    as    cajitain    in    the 


Continental  army,  daring  tlie  Revolutionary  War.  He  was 
a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and  his  de- 
scendants have  been  i<lcntified  with  the  same  party. 

Hiram  S.  Getz,  father  of  James  K.  Getz,  was  born  at 
Sunbury,  Pa.,  in  1323,  but  was  reared  in  Berks  county, 
the  family  having  returned  there.  He  v.-as  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Reading.  From  18J7  to  1870  he  was  enr 
gaged  in  a  wholesale  grocery  business  at  Reading,  and 
in  1S74  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  son.  James  K. 
Getz.  and  they  began  the  operation  of  the  Steam  Marble 
Works  under  the  lirm  name  of  H.  S.  Getz  &  Co.  This 
continued  until  his  death  in  188G,  when  his  son  Hiram  K. 
received  by  will  his  half  interest.  The  business  ib  now 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  S.  Getz's  Sons. 

From  1804  until  18.57  Hiram  S.  Getz  was  Recorder  of 
Deeds  for  Berks  county;  was  Registrar  of  Wills  from 
18G9  to  1872;  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  valued 
member  of  the  City  Council.  He  died  in  September, 
1886.  He  was  survived  by  his  wife  but  a  few  months. 
Mr.  Getz  married  Sarah  B.  Kistler,  daughter  of  John  S. 
Kistler,  who  was  the  eldest  son  of  Samuel  Kistler  by  his 
second  wife  Caroline  Brobst— Samuel  Kistler  was  the 
fourth  son  of  George  Kistler,  the  emigrant  ancestor. 
George  Kistler  came  from  Switzerland  to  this  country 
and  moved  from  Montgomery  county  to  Leliigh  county. 
Pa.,  in  1735.  The  children  of  Hiram  S.  Getz  and  wife 
were:  Amelia,  James  K. ;  Sarah;  John;  William;  Emma; 
Charles  K. ;  Hiram  K.,  ;md  Laura. 

James  K.  Getz,  wdio  occupies  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 
business  world  of  Reading,  was  born  in  Albany  town 
ship,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Read- 
ing. When  his  father  was  elected  county  recorder  in 
lS5,'i,  the  family  n.oved  into  Reading,  and  thus  Mr.  Getz 
had  more  ad\antages  than  if  he  had  grown  to  manhood  in 
the  country.  It  was  his  intention  to  enter  college,  and 
he  spent  a  season  in  Philadelphia  in  prcoaration,  but  his 
ambition  was  net  realized.  His  father  had  on  his  hands 
a  large  wholesale  g»-ocery  business  just  at  a  time  when  he 
was  left  almost  without  clerks  on  account  of  their  enlist- 
ing for  the  Civil  war  in  18G?.,  and  it  became  necessary 
for  James  K.  to  enter  the  store.  In  18G9,  on  attaining 
his  majority,  his  father  sold  the  business  to  him  and 
Jonathan  Grim,  and  they  maintained  that  partnership, 
trading  as  Getz  &  Grim,  for  five  >ears,  when  it  was 
dissolved,  and  Mr.  Getz  entered  into  partnership,  in 
1874,  -with  his  father,  forming  the  firm  of  H.  S.  Getz  & 
Co.,  as  proprietors  of  the  Reading  Steam  Marble  Works, 
of  which  he  is  still  the  joint  owner  with  his  brother, 
Hiram  K.  In  189G  the  Reading  Shale  Brick  Company 
was  organized,  and  .Mr.  Getz  became  its  president.  The 
business  has  proved  one  of  great  success,  the  market 
e.<tending  to  a  number  of  other  States,  large  sales  being 
realized  in  New  York.  The  different  business  concerns 
which  have  found  favor  with  Mr.  Getz  have  been  those 
of  the  utmost  merit,  and  their  conduct  has  been  along 
lines  of  constant  expansion  but  with  methods  only  of  the 
most   honorable  chrractcr. 

.Since  young  manhood  Mr.  Getz  has  been  more  or 
less  interested  in  politics,  and  has  always  been  thoroughly 
informed  concerning  public  issues.  Like  his  father  and 
grandfather,  he  is  an  out  and  out  Democrat,  believing 
tirmly  in  the  old  time  principles  of  this  great  party.  That 
he  is  looked  upon  as  a  man  in  whom  contidencc  can  be 
placed  for  his  personal  qualities,  has  been  frequently 
shown  when  he  has  been  elected  to  offices  of  responsi- 
bility by  the  votes  of  both  parties.  Such  was  the  case 
in  IRSO  when  he  was  elected  councilman  from  the  Fifth 
ward.  Reailing.  1  le  scored  a  great  victory,  being  returned 
in  a  district  which  had  formerly  given  good  majorities 
to  Republican  candidates.  He  continued  a  member  of 
the  council  two  years  and  served  the  second  year  of  that 
time  as  its  president.  In  1885  Mr.  Getz  was  the  popular 
choice  for  mayor,  and  he  served  through  the  term  of  two 
years  with  complete  succc^s,  his  administration  adding  to 
his  former  I.Turil,-. 

In  1SG8  Mr.  GlIz  was  married  to  M.iry  .-Xgnes  Jone'=. 
daughter    of    John    H.    Junes,    a    promi;;i.-nt    farmer,    and 


tt       ■■■     ff!- 


310 


HISTORY  Ol'    J'.KUkS  COL'XTY,  PEXXSYL\'AXIA 


granddaughter  of  SainutI  Jones.  She  comes  of  distin- 
guished ancestry  and  Revolutionary  valor.  Her  great- 
great-grandfatlK-r,  Rev.  Tliomas  Jones,  was  a  Baptist 
clergyman,  a  native  of  Walci,  who  took  up  land  in 
Cumru  townshii),  in  ITj.'j.  Thomas  Jc'iies,  Jr.  (father  of 
Samuel  Jones),  born  in  Cumni  township  in  IT-;:?,  was  an 
.organiser  of  the  patriotic  society  known  as  the  "As- 
sociators."  Ht  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  died  in  Heidelberg  townsiiip,  Berks  county,  in  March, 
1800.  lie  was  a  member  of  the  tirst  Constitutional  Con- 
vention. 

Fraternally  .Mr.  C;^^.tz  is  prominent  in  Masonic  or£;ani/a- 
tions.  He  is  a  member  of  Lodpe  Xo.  62,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 
Reading  Chapter  Xo.  162,  R.  A.  M. ;  Creigh  Council  No. 
16,  R.  &  S.  M.;  De  Molay  Commandery,  Xo.  9.  K.  T. ;  and 
the  Fhiladelphia  Consistorv,  32d  degree,  A.  A.  S.  R.;  and 
Rajah  Temple,  .\.  A.  O.  X.   M.  S. 

On  many  occasions  Mr.  Getz  has  buen  importuned  to 
accept  a  directorship  in  some  bank  or  other  large  finan- 
cial body,  but  such  honors  and  emoluments  he  has 
declined,  in  all  cases  stating  that  he  preferred  to 
devote  his  wholv  time,  outside  iiis  public  and  social  duties, 
to  the  devek'i^'nent  of  the  Rending  .Shale  Brick  Company 
and  the  Reading  Steam  Marlile  W'urks;  bni  in  the  tarly 
part  of  ]90<i  he  became  a  member  of  the  directorate  of 
the   Pennsylvania  Trust  Company. 

JOHN'  .SP.Wl).  second  Frejident  Judge  of  Berks  county, 
was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Fa.,  in  January,  1T64.  He 
acquired  a  classical  uducation,  read  law  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  Feb.  It,  17SS,  and  began  practisirg  at  Reading, 
where  he  attained  great  prominence.  He  was  appointed 
judge  of  the  courts  of  Berks  county  in  1806,  and  oftlciated 
three  years.  Between  the  years  l'"j.')  and  ISIO  he  was  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  rcmauider  of  his 
life  was  devoted  to  tlie  practice  of  law  a)  Reading.  In 
1S22  he  went  ti>  Fhiladtlpbia  for  ?urgical  relief,  undergoing 
an  oper.ition,  but  iiis  case  was  beyond  human  skill,  and 
he  died  there  October  l-'ith.  in  tlic  tifty-ninth  year  of 
his  age.  His  remains  were  interred  in  tlir-  Lutheran 
graveyard,  and  subsequently  transferred  to  tlie  Charles 
Evans  Cemetery.  The  judges  of  the  court,  members  of 
the  Bar,  and  the  borough  council  each  passed  appropriate 
resolutions  com.niendatory  of  Iiis  life  and  character  as  a 
lawyer,  as  a  judge,  and  as  a  public-spirited  citi.-'.ei:.  Mem- 
bers of  the  Philadelpliia  Bar  held  a  mectin.g  in.  tlie  Dis- 
trict Court-room  and  also  adopted  appropriate  resolu- 
tions. 

Judge  Spayd  ninrrit'l  Catharine  Hiester,  eldest  daughter 
of  Governor  Joseph  Hiester.  Tiieir  children  were:  Eliza- 
beth (ni.  Edward  B.  Hubley.  member  of  Congress  from 
Schuylkill  county)  ;  John  (graduated  from  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania)  :  Catha- 
rine B.  (m.  John  B.  Brooke. 'merchant  of  Reading,  and 
father  of  Dr.  John  B.  Brooke)  ;  Joseph  H.  (member  of 
the  Berks  County  Bar)  ;  George  ^V.  (burgess  of  Read- 
ing) :  Hei'.ry  (graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of 
the  Univi.rsit\  of  Fenn.- >  1\' mia  and  died  soon  after 
graduation);  .Amelia  (  m.  Dr.  DiHer  Luther,  of  Reading). 
At  the  time  of  his  death.  Jud^'e  Spayd  resided  in  Penu 
Square,  next  house  west  of  tlie  I'armcrs'   Bank. 

PEXROSE  F.  EISEXBROWX,  who  died  suddenly  at 
his  honu-  in  .\llcntown,  July  4,  IS'.iS.  was  one  of  the  oldest 
business  men  of  Berks  county,  and  a  man  whose  life  had 
been  so  C)rdered  as  to  uicrit  the  high  esteem  and  tiitection 
of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  born  near  .-Mlentown  .April 
3,  1S31,  son  of  John  Daniel  and  Charlotte  Barbara 
(Wolf)    Fisenbrown. 

John  Daniel  Eiscnbrown  was  born  in  .\delberg,  Ger- 
many. He  came  to  this  country  when  si.vteen  years  of 
age,  landing  at  Philadclphiti.  He  was  an  organist  and  also 
followed  tombstone  cutiin-,'.  and  taught  in  a  jiarochial 
school.  ]'e  moveii  to  .Mknt'nxn  in  the  fntii-s  aiid  lived 
tlierc  until  .\f.irch,  ISVl,  w  lu  n  liv  dud  s;iddinly  of  apo- 
plexy, just  as  he  was  preparing  io  move  lei  'in  enbrier, 
Northumberland  couutv.     His  remains  rest  in  L^nion  ccnie- 


tery.  .-Mlentown.  Mr.  Eisenbrown  was  twice  inarricj. 
His  Inst  wife  was  Charlotte  Barbara  Wolf,  daughter  oi 
John  George  and  Anna  ^Laria  C Bauer)  Wolf.  She  died  in 
1S33,  the  mother  of  eight  children,  and  is  buried  in  a 
graveyard  at  Egypt  Church  in  Xorthampton  county.  The 
children  born  to  John  Daniel  and  -Charlotte  Barbara 
(Wolf)  Eisenbrown  were:  (1)  Frances  m.  (t'irst)  a  ilr. 
KuliI,  a  lithographer  in  Fhiladelphia,  and  had  two  chil- 
dren, George  and  Mary.  She  m.  (second)  Peter  Hauck, 
of  Fhiladelphia,  who  owned  a  large  confectionery  estab- 
lishment and  considerable  property  in  .Alkntown.  There 
were  no  children  born  to  tlie  second  marriage.  (2) 
Edward  Coiistantine  m.  the  only  dtiugluer  of  a  well- 
to-do  farmer  named  Keiffer,  near  Milton,  and  they  had 
one  child  who  died  just  ten  days  before  his  father.  The 
latter's  death  was  the  result  of  an  accident.  He  had  sold 
Some  cattle  and  was  on  his  way  home  when  he  w.ts 
caught  by  a  train  on  a  bridge  and  was  killed.  (_3)  Mary 
Ann  m..  lived  and  died  in  Whitehall,  Fa.  (4)  Charlotte, 
deceased,  m.  Joseph  Bcitcl,  who  lives  in  Allento-vn.  (5) 
Wilhelinina  ni.  Charles  Yl.  Eggert,  and  lived  in  Bethlehem. 
She  died  and  is  buried  in  the  Moravian  cemetery  there. 
Her  husband  died  in  1S07.  Two  children  survive.  (6) 
Matilda.  Mrs.  Sieinbach,  lived  at  Linicstcncville,  Mon- 
tour county,  where  she  is  buried.  Her  husband  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade.  He  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war.  They 
were  the  parents  of  six  children.  (7)  Penrose  Frederick 
was  born  April  3,  IS.'il.  (^?)  William,  born  in  1S33,  was 
but  two  weeks  old  when  hi,";  mother  died  and  he  was 
adopted  at  Egypt  by  a  family  named  Troxel.  v/ho  after- 
ward moved  to  Carroll  county,  Md.  He  became  a  painter 
bj-  trade.  Fie  m.  Mary  Fuhrman  and  they  now  live  on 
her  father's  homestead,  which  they  own.  They  have  no 
children.  John  George  Wolf,  father  of  Mrs.  John  Daniel 
Eisenbrown,  was  born  in  January,  1774,  and  died  June  27, 
1S42:  his  wife,  Anna  Maria  Bauer,  was  born  July  17, 
1775,  and  died  in  1843.  Their  family  consisted  of  two 
sons  —  Fred  and  George  — -  and  foir.'  daughters  —  ]\irs. 
Christiana  Grossholz.  Mis.  Souders,  Mrs.  iloifinan  and 
Mrs.  Fisenbrown.  John  G'orge  Wolf  was  a  wood  turner, 
m.-iking    a    specialty    of    spinning    wheels. 

John  Daniel  Fisenbrown,  for  his  second  wife,  m.  Mary 
Troxel.  They  were  members  of  St.  Paul's  Xcw  .School 
Lutheran  Church,  at  Allentown,  and  both  are  buried  in 
the  cemetery  there.  Of  the  children  of  this  marriage, 
Emma  ni.  James  .M\ers.  a  shoemaker,  and  they  live  at 
the  corner  of  Jordan  and  Liberty  streets,  opposite  the 
thread  mill  in  Allentown;  Pauline  m.  a  Mr.  Knaus,  a 
cabinet-maker  of  Philadelphia:  Theresa  died  when  eighteen 
years  oid;  Christine  became  Airs.  Schetter,  and  died  a 
year  after  her  marriage;  Alfred  was  a  drummer  boy  in 
the  Union  army,  and  died  in  the  service :  Otto  m.  .\manda 
Schcffer,   and   is   deceased. 

Penrose  F.  Eisenbrown  was  hut  a  year  and  a  half  old 
when  his  mother  died,  and  he  was  taken  to  the  home  of 
his  grandfather  Wolf.  Mr.  Wolf  was  a  wood  carver  by 
trade,  and  he  early  trained  his  grandson  in  that  line,  at 
the  same  time  cultivating  in  him  habits  of  industry  and 
thrift.  Mr.  Eisenbrown  was  ambitious.  :ind  determined 
to  enter  business  for  himself.  He  began  at  Mincrsville, 
with  a  small  establishment  and  a  few  hands,  and  tlierc  he 
was  very  successful.  Thence  he  went  to  Fottsville,  where  he 
met  with  equal  succc-ss.  but  his  health  failed,  and  he 
sold  out  in  1^70,  to  engage  in  farming.  About  three 
years  later  he  came  to  Reading,  and  he  entered  the  marble 
business,  building  up  a  trade  and  reputation  second  to 
none.  Monuments  public  and  private,  the  work  of  his 
establishment,  have  been  distributed  all  over  the  State. 
His  taste  was  excellent  and  liis  workmanship  the  best. 
.-\bout  l'~00  he  gave  up  active  workmanship  in  the  I'lrin. 
which  of  late  years  was  known  as  P.  Iv  Eisenbrown,  Sons 
&  Co.,  and  moved  to  Allentown,  where  his  death  occurred. 

Mr.  Eisenbrown  was  ;i  great  lover  of  literature,  and  liis 
library  was  large  and  well  chosen.  He  possesscfl  no  little 
poetical  talent,  and  produced  many  German  and  Er.giisli 
poems,  some  of  which  were  published  in  the  .-Mle-itown 
and    other   papers,    while    many    remtiined    uiiprinted,    only 


I    ■.       "-Wl 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


341 


to  be  found  among  his  papers  at  his  death.  He  was  an 
earnest  Cb.ristian.  Jn  184S  he  oiyani/red  a  Sundaj'-school 
a:  Lehigh  Church  and  superintended  it  many  years.  This 
school  was  very  successful,  and  only  a  very  short  time 
before  his  death  Mr.  Eisenbrown  participated  in  the  ex- 
ercises celebrating  its  fiftieth  anniversary.  He  was  a 
kind  and  sympathetic  man.  and  as  an  in>tance  oi  this. 
while  he  was  teaching  in  the  Lehigh  Churcli  and  still  a 
young  man,  an  epidemic  broke  out,  and  the  people  were 
being  swept  before  it  in  great  numbers.  He  saw  the 
need  of  assistance,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  task  of 
nursing  and  tending  those  aftlicted,  and  remained  steadfast 
at  this  until  the  scourge  abated.  F'or  his  fidelity  and  kind- 
ness he  was  ever  aiK-r  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by 
those  people.  When  he  was  a  little  boy  some  live 
years  of  age,  and  living  with  his  grandfather,  an  uncle 
Frederick  Wolf  donated  the  land  tor  the  church  and 
cemetery  since  known  as  Zion's  Hill,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
Mr.  Eisenbrown  had  the  great  pleasure  of  lifting  the  first 
shovelful  of  earth  at  the  e.xcavati'i^'  for  the  erection  oi 
the  first  church  tnere.  It  was  his  delight  all  through  life 
to  labor  for  and  assist  anj-  and  all  matters  for  the 
Church   and    Sunday-school. 

On  July  3,  ISj'J,  at  Greenbrier,  Northumberland  coun- 
ty, by  the  Rev.  Jared  Fritzinger,  Mr.  Eisenbrown  was 
married  to  Sarah  S.  Smith,  born  Oct.  2b,  1839,  only 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Sally  (Snyder)  Smith.  The 
following  children  were  born  of  tliis  union:  Harvey 
Jonathan,  born  Sept.  22,  ISGO,  at  Greenbrier,  baptized 
Nov.  22,  13G0,  died  July  22,  1861,  aged  ten  months; 
Alice  Charlotte,  born  Aug.  26,  1862,  at  IViinersville,  m, 
Edward  Christian,  who  is  connected  with  the  marble  busi- 
ness; HarryAVolf,  born  in  Minersville,  Sept.  16,  1864,  ba;j- 
tized  Nov.  14,  1S64,  is  deceased;  Charles  Smith,  born 
in  Pottsviilc,  Oct.  lit,  1866,  baptized  June  28,  1S67,  m 
Alice  Kaufi'man,  and  is  the  senior  member  of  the  iirm ; 
Annie,  born  in  Pottsviilc,  Sept.  18,  1868,  died  Dec.  29, 
1870;  George  Franklin,  born  in  Poltsville,  Oct.  :;i,  ISTO, 
baptized  Feb.  27,  1871,  m.  Kosa  Fi.v:,  and  is  a  niend)cr  of 
the  t'lrm;  Wilson  Henry,  born  Aug.  24,  1872,  baptized 
April  29,  1873,  m.  Annie  Faust,  daughter  of  J.  B.  h^aust 
(superintendent  of  the  lettering  de[iartnicnt  in  the  plant) 
and  is  in  the  Biehl  Carriage  and  Wagon  Works;  Edward 
Penrose,  born  in  Reading,  .April  1"),  1875,  baptized  July 
4,  1875,  m.  Sarah  Reeser,  and  is  sutierintendL-nt  of  the 
Granite  Department  at  the  Nortli  l\eailing  Granite  Works; 
Mary  Henrietta,  born  May  8,  1877,  in  Reading,  baptized 
Oct.  1,  1S77,  died  Dec.  4,  1870;  Samuel  F'rederic,  born  in 
Reading,  Sept.  16,  1879,  baptized  Jan.  4,  1880,  m.  Rosa 
Wentzel,  widow  of  Harry  Eisenbrown,  and  is  a  sales- 
man for  the  firm;  Martha  Sarah,  born  in  Reading,  March 
4,  1882,  baptized  July  2,  1S82,  m.  Dr.  Samuel  B-  Grist. 
of  Jersey  Shore,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.;  and  John  Daniel, 
born  June  12,  1886,  baptized  Oct.  3.  1S86,  is  unmarried 
and  is  engaged  in  the  firm  as  bookkeeper. 

Mrs.  Eisenbrown  resides  at  Xo.  522  Film  street.  Read- 
ing. She  owns  the  old  homestead  of  125  acres  in  Green- 
brier— a  farm  once  the  property  of  her  .grandfather.  Wcr 
sons  have  continued  tiic  marble  arid  granite  business 
so  substantially  successful  under  the  father's  manage- 
ment, and  they  are  meeting  with  that  prosperity  that 
attends    well-directed    effort    and    honoral)le    dealings. 

JAMES  HERVEY  STERNBERGH.  of  Reading.  Pa., 
former  president  of  the  .\merican  .Steel  &  Iron  Mamifac- 
turing  Company,  of  Lebanon  and  Reading,  pioneer  in  the 
manufacture  of  nuts  and  bolt^  in  .Xmerica,  is  one  of 
the  most  notable  figures  in  the  steel  and  ir'-n  trmle  in 
Pennsylvania,  if  not,  indeed,  in  the  United  States.  Mr. 
Sternbergh  was  born  in  Henrietta,  Monroe  Co.,  X.  Y., 
May  20.  1834.  His  father,  a  Genesee  Valley  fanner, 
was  descended  from  German  ancestry,  who  settled  in 
America  in  170:!;  in  that  year  four  unmarried  brotjicrs 
came  over,  David.  Adam.  Xichnl.-is  and  Lambeit.  v,ho 
were  driven  out  of  t!ie  Rhine  Valley  at  the  time  of  the 
religious  troubles  in  the  Pal.UiiKiie.  They  weif>  lite  first 
to    raise    wheat     in     Schoharie     county,     in     tin;     Muliauk 


Valley,  where  they  became  larce  agriculturists.  William 
Sternbergh,  father  of  James  Herve>-,  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-si.\  years;  the  forefathers  for  ?e\eral  generations 
had  reached  advanced  age. 

The  Sternbergh  family  removed  to  Saratoga  Springs 
and  lived  there  until  James  H.  was  thirty-one  years 
old.  He  spent  a  number  of  these  years  as  g.etieral  pas- 
senger agent  of  the  railroad  running  through  Saratoga. 
His  choice  had  been  to  become  a  professional  man.  but 
study  affected  his  sight,  and  in  1865,  he  removed  to  Read- 
ing, Pa.,  where  he  became  interested  in  the  manufacture 
of  bolts,  nuts.  ri\eis,  etc.  In  is. ,7  Mr.  Sternbergh  in- 
vented and  patented  a  machine  for  making  hot-pressed 
nuts,  and  this  machine  has  been  in  use  ever  since,  its 
inventor  and  maker  even  havin.g  demands  for  it  from 
competitors  m  business  at  home  and  abroad.  This  is  only 
one  of  many  important  and  useful  inventions  of  ^Ir. 
Sternbergh.  He  invented  a  superior  grinding  machine 
for  grinding  hard  metals,  d'>ing  the  work  niuch  more 
effectively  than  before,  and  at  nmch  le.'-'s  cost.  There 
were  cniy  two  or  three  other  establishments  of  the  kind 
in  the  United  States,  and  Mr.  Sternbergh  may  be  justly 
called   the   pioneer   in   the  business   of  nut  manufacturing. 

In  1886,  when  his  son  Philip  attained  his  majority, 
Mr.  Sternbergh  took  him  into  ijartnership,  and  the  latter 
subsequently  became  the  manager  of  the  branch  works 
in  Kansas  Cit.v,  Mo.  There  he  died  April  2.  1903,  in  the 
thirtv-eighth  year  of  his  age,  just  in  tiie  prime  of  man- 
hood,   witli   e\ery   promise   bright    for   a   great   future. 

On  Feb.  6,  1S91.  during  Mr.  Steinbcrgh's  absence  in 
New  York,  his  works  caught  fire  and  were  totally  de- 
stroyed, save  the  rolling  mill  buildings  and  part  of  the 
large  machinery.  It  was  a  heavy  financial  blow,  but  with 
characteristic  eiicrgy  he  went  about  immediately  getting 
things  in  shape,  and  within  ten  days  after  the  fire  tiie 
works  were  again  in  operation,  and  in  the  May  following 
were  turning  out  more  goods  than  ever  before.  The 
Reading  Bolt  and  Nut  Works  is  a  plant  extending  over 
some  eight  acres  of  land,  lying  between  Third  and 
Fourth  streets,  and  between  the  Lebanon  Valley  Railroad 
and  liuttonwood  street.  This  large  and  important  in- 
dustry had  its  inception  in  1S65,  when  Mr.  Sternbergh 
established  it.  I'rom  mo<lest  beginnings,  in  temporary 
buildings  at  the  foot  of  Pine  street  and  the  leasing  of 
necessary  power  from  an  adjoining  concern,  and  the 
employment  of  from  eight  to  ten  men.  to  the  present 
day.  when  a  large  tract  of  land  is  covered  with  the  com- 
niodi(nts  buildings  and  a  force  of  1,500  men  find  em- 
ployment, is  a  story  of  commercial  sitcress  and  indus- 
trial progress  which  holds  mtich  matter  of  interest. 

The  present  substantial  buildings  are  Ir.iated  on  North 
Third  street,  above  Buttonvvood,  and  were  first  occu- 
pied in  January,  1R69.  Since  the  fire  above  mentioned 
cver\  new  building  has  been  made  larger  and  more 
con\-enient  than  the  old  ones  and  the  machinery  and 
equipments  are  those  of  a  first-class,  modern  plant.  One 
building.  456  .s  110  feet  in  dimensions,  supplied  with  all 
kinds  iif  improved  machinery,  is  used  for  the  manufacture 
of  nuts,  bolts,  washers,  riveis  and  rods  for  bridges,  build- 
ings, etc.  Another.  325  x  90  feet  in  dimensions,  is  used 
as  a  rolling  null  building  and  contains  three  train';  of 
rolls,  four  heating  furnaces,  three  upright  steam  engines, 
in  addition  to  steam  shears,  lathes,  ptimps.  etc.  Another. 
the  new  rolling  mi'I  building.  200x80  feet,  contains  two 
trains  of  rolls,  two  heating  furnaces  and  other  machinery. 
The  capacity  of  these  mill-;  is  about  40.000  tons  of  rolled 
iron  annually,  embracing  all  sizes  of  merchant  bar  iron 
in   common  use'. 

Mr.  Sternbergh's  own  articles  of  manufacture  are  dis- 
posed of  to  merchants  and  consumers  of  refined  bar  and 
band  iron.  \t  all  times  it  is  necessary  to  carry  a  large 
stock  in  ordiT  to  meet  the  demands,  and  this  need  was 
recognized  by  the  crcctinn  in  1S80  of  a  larp-e  warehouse 
150  X  40  feet,  four  stories  high.  The  railroad  facilities 
are  of  the  best,  three  tracks  nnming  into  the  works. 
the  first  f'lr  the  delivery  of  coal,  the  -iecond  for  the 
delivery  of  crude  iron,  and  the  third  for  shiiimenl';.  Mr. 
Sternbergh's  giiods  were  awarded   medals  at  the   Centcn- 


-*rsrr;*^«»-»*7r 


/.        ■■  r 


343 


HISTORY  OF   r.ERKS  COUNTY,   lTiXXSYL\'AXIA 


nial  Exposition  at  Philadeli>hia  in  1870;  at  the  Chicago 
Exposition  in  1SS3;  at  thi-  Xcw  Orleans  Exposition  in 
1885;  at  the  Paris  [Cxpusition  in  Is^sO;  and  at  the  Cohim- 
bian  Exposition  in  l^'.);;,  where  they  had  three  exhibits. 

On  Sept.  1,  1S9'J,  J.  H.  Sternbergh  &  Son  consolidated 
their  norks  with  the  Pennsylvania  Xut  &  Bolt  Company, 
of  Lebanon,  the  Lebanon  Iron  Company,  the  East  Leb- 
anon Iron  Company,  of  Lebanon,  and  tlie  National  Nut, 
Bolt  &  Rivet  Vv'orks,  of  Readini:,  thus  forming  v.-hat 
is  known  as  the  .\nierican  Iron  «S:  Sicel  Manufacturmg 
Company,  of  which  .Mi.  Sternbergh  was  president  during 
the  six  years  ending  February,  li)U7,  when  he  retired. 
It  is  capitalized  at  $.'),.".3n.i)0(),  S:.!.()0(i.00i)  being  full 
paid  preferred  stock,  and  :?-',. 'j.'.0,Ouei  full  paid  common 
stock.      The  works  now  give  employment  to  4.000  men. 

J.  H.  Sternbergh,  in  addition  to  being  the  head  of  this 
vast  concern,  in  a  director  in  the  Second  National  Bank 
of  Reading;  a  director  in  the  Reading  Trust  Company; 
and  president  of  the  Kansas  City  licit  &  Nut  Company, 
which  was  founded  by  him  in  iSS7.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Reading  Board  of  Trade,  and  its  presi- 
dent for  the  lirst  three  years,  and  he  was  also  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association, 
and  served  as  its  president  niuiiy  years. 

Mr;  Sternbergh  has  lieen  twice  married.  In  18ii:i  he  was 
married  (first.)  to  Harriet  M.  May,  of  Sonthbridge,  Mass., 
who  bore  him  five  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  Her- 
bert M.  and  Hattie  May.  He  married  (second)  Mary 
Candace  Dodds,  of  North  Hero,  Vt.,  and  they  had  six 
children  born  to  them,  namely:  James  Hervey.  born 
May  2G.  1S90;  Helen,  Aug.  IS,  ISOl  (.who  died  Nov.  11. 
180'0  ;  I'avid.  Dec.  :.'9,  1892;  Lambert,  March  2'.",  1895; 
Margaret.  May  20.   1897;  and   Gertrude,   May  8,   1899. 

Mr.  Sternbergli  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  .Aeailemy 
of  Inventors  and  Manufacturers  of  Paris,  and  the  Ivuro- 
pean  Society  of  Bnissels,  Belgium.  He  ii  a  rulin.g  elder 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Reading,  and  for 
eighteen  years  with  all  his  many  and  onerous  d.utie.-  frund 
time  to  >erve  a?  Sunday-school  superintendent.  .\  re- 
markable fact  ..bout  Mt.  .Sternbergh  is  that  his  years  of 
strenuous  weirk  have  been  endured  wiihciul  a  ray's  ill-.iess. 
and  he  stands  today  as  an  example  of  maidy  strength  and 
mental  superiority. 

JA^H'S  NEVIN  ERMENTROUT,  fourth  elected 
President  Judge  of  pjcrks  county,  from  l.«S9  to  1908, 
youngest  son  of  William  and  Justina  (Silvis)  Ermentrout, 
was  born  at  Reading,  Oct.  2.5,  1840.  After  a  preparatory 
education  in  the  common  schools  he  was  graduated  fror.i 
the  high  school  in  ]S(>2,  iirst  in  his  cl.iss.  Pic  then  taught 
school  for  several  terms,  and  assisted  his  brother  (Prof. 
J.  S.  Ermentrout.  County  Superintendent  of  public  >-cliools) 
until  18(;8.  While  deputy  superintendent.  l;e  conducted  a 
course  of  reading  and  study,  under  his  brother,  Daniel 
Ermentrout.  Esq..  a  practicing  attorney  at  Reading  till 
Nov.  27,  1807,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  He 
then  directed  his  earnest  attention  to  the  legal  profession 
and  S0'"'n  became  actively  engaged  in  practice.  In  1S('0  he 
formed  a  law  partnership  vvith  his  brothc.  under  tie 
fu  in  name  of  Daniel  &  James  N.  Ermentrout.  Their  law 
business  increased  rapidly  and  embraced  a  general  prac- 
tice, including  important  litigation  and  the  settlement  of 
numerous  valuable  est.atcs.  In  1874  his  brother  was  elected 
State  .Senator  from  this  district,  and  re-elected  for  three 
successive  terms  till  isso;  and  then  he  was  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress.  During  this  period  the  practice  of  the 
firm  was  conducted  almost  entirely  by  the  junior  partner; 
and  this  constant  engagement  in  legal  business  gave  him  a 
large  and  valuable  experience.  When  the  term  of  the 
additional  law  judge  of  the  county  was  about  to  expire, 
the  members  of  the  Bar  directed  their  attention  toward 
Mr.  Ermentrout,  and  in  .April,  lS,s,-).  a  letter  was  addressed 
t(i  him  subscribed  by  eighty  attorneys,  without  regard  to 
political  party,  renuoiing  hiin  to  permit  the  u-e  uf  hi.^ 
name  as  a  proper  person  to  nil  tliis  otSce,  This  pr'-'cced- 
ing  createil  a  striMii;  piiMic  sentiment  in  his  behalf,  and 
wlun  the  Deinorraiiv:  conventie.n  assi  n-iWcd  he  w,is  nom- 
inated  by   acclamation,    and    afterward    e!'C!ed    at   the   en-    1 


suing  county  election.  He  was  re-elected  in  1805,  and  in 
1905.  He  died  .Aug.  19,  1908,  after  having  served  as  a 
judge   of   the   courts   of    the   county   twenty-two  years. 

JAMES  W.  YOCUM,  late  of  Reading,  was  one  of  the 
most  successful  business  men  of  that  city  for  a  number 
of  years  before  his  death,  iie  was  a  member  of  the  iirin 
of  Vocum  Brothers,  the  largest  manufacturers  of  cigars 
in  Berks  county,  and  the  business  is  still  conducted  unJi-r 
that  name  and  ranks  among  the  leading  industries  of  this 
pro>per()us  section  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Yocum  was  born  May  24.  1854,  in  Spring  town- 
ship. Berks  county,  and  was  descended  on  both  paternal 
and  niatern;il  sides  from  old  Berks  county  stock,  being  a 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Potteiger)  Yocum.  George 
Yocum,  his  grandfather,  was  born  at  Yocum's  Forge,  thi.s 
county,  and  there  p;issed  all  his  life,  dying  af  the  age  of 
S'-veiity-eiglit.  He  was  an  iron  manufacturer,  and  a  man 
of  substance  and  standing,  highly  respected  in  his  com- 
niunit}.  His  family  consisted  of  six  children,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters. 

William  Yocum,  son  of  George,  was  also  born  at 
Yii.:um's  Forge,  and  was  reared  at  his  native  place.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  local  public  schools,  and 
learned  the  milling  business,  but  he  soon  went  to  farming, 
in  which  he  found  a  congenial  and  profitable  field  for  his 
energies  throughout  his  active  career.  He  died  in  1905  at 
Stouchsburg,  this  county.  Mr.  Yocum  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  had  held 
all  the  (iiT'icial  position.-.  In  political  matters,  he  was,  like 
his  father,  a  strong  Republican.  He  married  Mary  Pot- 
teiger, and  to  them  were  born  tive  children  :  Clara ;  Jan.es 
\\. ;  William  H.,  who.  was  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
James  for  many  years  ;   Velaria ;   and  George  J. 

James  W.  Yocum  was  reared  in  the  locality  of  his  Iiirth 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  that 
sectidii.  He  was  an  ambitious  student,  and  succeeded 
so  well  that  he  was  able  to  teach,  being  thus  eng.igetl  for 
six  terms  during  his  young  manhood.  His  t'lrst  business 
venture  was  as  a  general  merchant,  in  partnership  with  .S. 
]•'.  I'ish.er,  with  whom  he  did  business  at  Stouchsburg 
uiulcr  the  firm  name  of  Fisher  &  Yocum,  for  two  and  a 
half  years.  On  Jan.  1,  1885.  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  brother,  William  H.  Yocum,  under  the  name  of 
Yocum  Brothers,  and  they  continued  together  in  the  manu- 
facture of  cigars  until  the  death  of  Mr.  James  \V.  Yocum, 
building  up  their  business  until-  it  became  the  most  e.x- 
tensi\e  of  the  kind  in  Berks  county.  Five  hundred  skilled 
workers  found  employment  in  the  immense  factory  at  the 
corner  of  Walnut  aiui  Seventh  streets,  the  yearly  product 
amounting  to  as  much  as  20,000,000  cigars,  disi)osed  of  in 
various   markets   throu.ghout   the   United   States. 

M  the  time  of  his  death  no  business  man  in  Reading 
enjoyed  better  standing  than  James  W.  Yocum.  Plis 
integrity  had  stoo<l  the  test  of  many  years  of  business 
success,  and  his  ability  was  unquestioned.  He  had  the  true 
business  instinct,  understanding  the  art  of  making  business, 
and  he  had  the  basic  honesty  which  always  provi.d  sutficient 
to  hr.ld  trade  after  it  had  been  won,  his  product  being  ■ 
e\.-ctly  as  represented.  He  was  reliable,  conservative,  con- 
sickrate  of  all  his  associates,  and  a  man  of  earnest  public 
spirit,  and  he  won  the  unfailing  respect  of  all  wdio  knew 
him.  whether  in  bu'-incss  or  personal  relations.  His  rise 
in  the  manufacturing  woi-ld  was  due  solely  to  merit,  and  he 
enjoved  universal  good-will.  His  death,  which  occurred 
at  his  home-  in  Reading,  Dec.  22,  I'JOO,  was  widely  mourned 
throughout   the  cit}-. 

On  Oct.  14,  1.875,  Mr.  Yocum  married  .Agnes  G.  SchafTer, 
and  six  children  were  born  to  them:  Charles;  John,  who 
married  .Alice  N.  Weand :  Fr;mk,  who  married  Nettie 
Xewmark  and  has  a  d;uigliter  Frances  E. ;  I'aul;  Ralph; 
ami  Sadie.  The  family  reside  at  No.  lUO  North  I-'ifth 
street.  .Mrs.  ^'oclIln  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Gnslana 
(  Schlasem.in)  SchalTer.  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsyi- 
v:inia.  where  he  c;irried  on  agricultural  pur-nil,;.  In  later 
lite,  however,  he  rtniovod  to  lndi:ina.  wliere  he  ilied.  lie 
u.iS  twice  married,  first  to  Gust.ma  Schlaseinaii,  by  whom 
lie   had   two  children:  James,  of   Brook,   Ind..;   :iiid   .Vgr.s 


ffK-; ->.:»*  <  *r-s  swvt*»*3ii 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


543 


G.,  wlio  bccarnc  Mrs.  Vocurr..  Hi.5  second  niarri:it',e  was 
to  Sarah  Schlaseniaii,  sistci  of  hi.s  nrst  wife,  and  there 
wcr-."  two  chil'ircn  hf-rii  t;i  ^!.i^  nniun  iHsn,  Molirida  aiui 
W'ihoi!,  both  rcsic'eiits  of  li'diana,  Mr.  Sc'.  ;!fc'r  was  an 
industrious,  hard-working  nan  ail  m'  liis  lire,  mid  died  in 
1831,  aped  about  seventy  years. 

Mr.  Yocuiii  was  a  3-d-degroe  Mason,  bplor.ghi;.'  to  Wil- 
liamson Lodfte,  No.  307,  F.  S:  A.  M.,  and  he  was  also  a 
member  of  Camp  Xo.  i.:.'.T,  p.  O.  5  of  A.  His  rt.h!-:,'ious 
nieinb'-Tship  w.-'s  in  tlic  l,uilier:;n  Church,  and  in  political 
faith  he  was  a  Repjblican. 

WILLIAM  li.  LIVIXGOOD,  long  an  eminent  mciiber 
of  the  R.'ir  in  Rcrks  county,  where  he  practised  for  a 
period  of  forty  years,  pass-jd-  away  Oct.  ~2.  1900,  in  his 
seventieth  year.  From  KSGO  tnilil  his  death  !ie  maintained 
a  higli  standing  in  the  leeal  fraternity  and  had  a  repmation 
not  only  in  hi--<  own  county  but  ai:^o  in  Philadelphia,  where 
he  was  located  for  six  years. 

?\lr.  Liviiigood  was  born  April  .'>,  1*37,  .at  W'oinelstlorf, 
this  county,  son  of  Dr.  Joiin  K.  Livingood,  a  distinguished 
physician  of  that  place,  and  grandson  of  John  I.ivhigood. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  his  native  place,  at- 
tending the  Union  Acadeniv  at  Womelsdorf,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  IS.^l.  He  continued  his  literary  studies  at 
the  PhillifiS  Ac;:<!eniy,  Aiulcver,  .Mass.,  where  ho  completed 
the  course  in  IS.")."),  af'er  whirli  he  took  his  special  prepara- 
tion foi  his  profession,  at  the  Lav,'  School  of  Harvard 
.Universiiy.  He  was  accordingly  admitted  to  the  Bar  at 
Lowell,  Mass.,  and  returning  home  v.-ns  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  Berks  county  on  Jan.  10,  18(iO.  With  the  exception 
of  the  six  years  he  spent  in  Pliradi'iphia,  he  was  from  that 
time  imtil  hi;  death  engaged  in  general  legal  practice  in 
Reading  For  the  liist  three  years  he  was  in  partnersliip 
with  his  brother,  and  tl'.en  for  about  ten  years  he  liad  an 
office  of  h'S  own  in  Reading,  v.here  he  built  v.\>  a  jiraclice 
which  v.'as  a  decided  tribute  to  his  abilit\,  fidelity  and 
intelligent  attertiun  tu  the  interests  of  his  clients.  In  l!^7;i 
he  moved  to  Phi'ad.'Ipbia,  where  his  expectations  v.ere 
fully  I'ealiz'.'d,  his  patronage  being  all  that  could  he  de- 
sired. During  his  residence  tb.ere,  in  1H74,  he  was  admitted 
to  tlie  United  5nales  Supreme  Couit,  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
the  motion  for  which  action  w;'S  made  by  Hon.  Jeremiah 
S.   Black,  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  IST'J  ^ii.  Li\ingood,  fee-ling  that  hi;  "original  field  was 
more  congenial  in  many  v.-ays,  returned  to  Reading,  where 
he  ever  after  remained.  Except  for  a  comparatively  brief 
connection  with  the  Sratcr.  Island  Terra  Cotta  C'ompany, 
which  he  formed  upon  ins  return  to  Reading,  he  devoted 
himself  wholly  to  his  profession.  He  was  for  a  few  years 
treasurer  of  tlie  company,  whicli  carried  on  the  manufac- 
ture of  fire  brick  at  Staten  Island,  X.  Y.,  but  disposed  of 
his  interest  in  order  to  give  all  his  time  to  legal  work. 
As  a  pleader  Mr.  Livingood  had  no  superior  at  the  Berks 
county  Bar.  His  learning,  his  accuracy,  his  thorough 
comprehension  commanded  the  attention  of  his  fellow 
practitioners  whenever  iie  gave  utterance  to  an  opinion, 
and  these,  ronibincd  with  rt  a.dy  elor|ueiice  and  unrtvalled 
ca.se  C'f  delivery,  won  him  an  interested  and  sympathetic 
audience  in  the  courtroo:n.  no  matter  wdiich  side  retained 
him.  He  was  a  man  wliose-  personal  character  and  habits 
were  above  reproach,  winning  him  the  esteem  and  ad- 
miration of  ;dl  his  associates,  his  co-workers  as  well  as 
his  clients.  His  private  affairs  demanded  all  his  attention. 
and  he  neither  sought  nor  held  public  eilhce,  his  only 
services  of  such  nature  being  gi\en  as  5o!icit'''r  for  the 
almshouse,  wdiich  position  he  held  three  years.  Me  was. 
however,  both  interested  and  active  in  politics,  as  an  ardent 
member  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  was  president 
of  the  Ke.vstone  Club  during  tlie  .McClellan  campaign.  His 
church  connection  was  with  the  Presbyterians,  and  he  held 
membership  in  a  Masonic  lodye  at  Reading,  being  past 
master  of  the  same.  His  death  carried  mourning  into 
manv  circles  outside  his  home,  for  he  wis  iiniversaliv 
liked. 

On  .Nng.  L'O,  T<(;:;.  !■>  tlu-  l-lev.  F.  I.  Richard-,  pastor 
of  the'  Presb)  t.-ri.in  1  i.iiici',  Mr.  I.ivingor-.d  niarrie  !  .\nna 
H.  Jam, -Sun,  of  lieading,  and  to  theni  were  iHirn  four  sons. 


namely:  U)  James  J.  is  manager  of  the  Spa  .Spring  Clay 
and  Bride  Works,  and  makes  his  home  in  Xcw  York  City. 
He  m.  Miss  Elizabeth  Potter,  of  Woodbridge,  X.  J.,  and 
they  have  one  son,  James  J.  (2)  .-\lbert  J.  m.  Irene 
Rhoads,  and  tlied  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-seven  years, 
leaving  one  son,  James  S.,  who  is  in  Philadelpliia.  (S) 
Paul,  a  druggist,  ivas  previously  in  business  in  Allen- 
town,  Pa.,  but  is  now  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  with  the 
Owl  r)rug  Company.  He  ni.  L..ur;i  Smith,  who  died  in 
I'Jti.j,  the  mother  of  two  children,  John  and  Ruth.  (4) 
William  W.,  M.  D..  received  his  medical  education  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  aivi  is  now  located  in  prac- 
tice at  Re.iding.  He  ni.  Stella  Ziegler,  daughter  of  Dr.  P. 
I\I.  Ziegler,  of  Reading. 

WILLIAM  STROXG,  associate  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States  from  1870  to  1878,  was  born 
at  Soniers,  Conn.,  May  G,  ISO'^.  When  sixteen  years  of  age 
he  entered  Yale  College,  and  was  graduated  in  IS:'.S.  He 
subsequently  taught  a  classical  and  mathematical  school, 
occupying  his  leisure  hours  in  the  study  of  the  law.  and 
so  continued  until  February,  1S3';2,  when  he  entered  the 
Law  Department  of  Yale  College.  In  October,  1832,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Con- 
necticut; and  in  Xoveinber  of  the  some  year  he  opened 
a  law  olhee  at  Reading,  and  inr.de  that  place  his  resi- 
dence. In  political  faith  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  a^  such 
served  several  teriiis  as  a  member  of  the  citj'  councils 
and  as  one  of  th.e  controllers  of  the  public  schools.  In 
1840  he  was  electerl  as  the  representative  to  Congress  from 
the  Berks  county  district  <uid  rc-clerted  in  1818.  In 
IS.'iO,  lie  declined  a  re-election  and  returned  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  In  1S?.")7,  he  was  elected  a  judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvani.a  for  the  term  of 
fifteen  years,  but  he  resigned  this  position  Oct.  1,  18G.S, 
to  resume  the  practice  of  his  professiiin  at  Philadelphia. 
On  Feb.  13.  1870,  he  was  apponited  by  President  Grant 
an  associate  justice  of  the  Suprem.j  Court  of  the  United 
Slates,  wdiich  high  position  he  held  till  1878,  wdien  he  was 
retired  under  the  Act  of  Ciingress.  While  a  resident 
of  Reading  he  w.is  for  m;iny  ye-ars  a  director  ol  the 
I'^.rmers  Bank.  He  was  comi^ei  tor  the  Pliiladelphh. 
&  Reading  Railway  Company  until  he  was  elevated  to 
the  Supreme  Bench.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a 
Presbyterian,  and  for  many  years  a  ruling  cldei.  For 
several  years  he  was  one  of  the  vice  presidents  of  the 
American  Bible  Society  and  also  of  the  American  Sunday- 
school  LInion  ;  and  in  1873  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
.\merican  Tract  Society.  He  received  in  1867  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Lafayette  College, 
at  Easton.  and  in  1870  the  s;imc  honorary  diploma  was 
granted  him  liy  Xassau  Hall.  Prir.ccton,  X.  J.,  and 
•tlso  by  his  .-\lma  .Mater,  Yale  College.  His  remains  were 
brought  to  Reading  and  buried  in  the  Charles  Evans 
Cemetery. 

JA:\n':S  T.  REBFR,  President  of  the  Reading  Xational 
Bank,  and  one  of  the  city's  men  of  capital,  business  and 
social  importance,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  very  old 
families  of  Berks  county,  Pa.  On  account  of  its  promi- 
nence and  its  numliers  and  wide  distribution,  some  oil  its 
members  lia\e  taken  a  justifiable  pride  in  looking  up  its 
early  records  .-V  well  known  citizen  of  Reading  and  a 
member  of  this  family,  Morris  B.  Reber,  has  with  c.ircfu! 
research  compiled  a  volume  which  bears  the  title 
"Genealogy  of  the  Reber  Family,  descended  from  Ji'hau 
Bernhard  lieber,  1738."  From  this  interc.sting  work  wc 
quote   as   follows  : 

"The  idea  of  preparing  a  genealogy  of  the  Reber  family 
was  probably  suggested  by  the  finding  of  the  original 
p.assport  of  Johannes  Reber  still  preserved,  who  was,  for 
a  long  time,  believed  to  be  tlic  first  one  of  the  h'.rge 
family  of  Rcbers  who  emigrated  to  litis  counlrv  This 
passjiort  shows  that  he  came  from  Langcnselbolv!.  Ger- 
m.iny,  which  is  situated  in  Kni,:  Haiiau.  Regieran;;d!e;irk 
C'a-sei,  Kunigreicli  (h  ii^si.i.  While  visiting  in  tiiat  part  i.f 
the  couiUrv.  in  l'^*:?.  Mr.  J:!mes  T.  Reber  found  re- 
corded  in   the  ohl   eliiuch   bock    .>f   the   F.vanue'iic.'d   I  hur'h 


I,  >i     r  :  ■'        ./I      '.I    ,'ll-:i'':'''i 


344 


llLS'l'DRV  ',ii'   i;l£l<iv:s  COLXTY,   r'L.XXS\LA'AXIA 


(Kc\-.  Frcilerick  !1ui'ii'il;1c.  Partur),  the  iin;i;cs  oi  four 
brothers,  Joh.-iii  DcrnlianI,  ll:u.<,  J(>h;in  Ci.uirad  -dud  .Mi- 
chad   Robcr. 

"This  church  l.wuk  liau  s  ii;H-k  to  t!;o  year  .l.'.ijJ,  so  that  it 
mi),'ln  be  possible  to  cbtain  the  ai)costors  cf  these  four 
brothers  since  tlie  sixteenth  ccnt.iry.  fjowcver,  \vc  have 
been  satistied  to  make  a  reeurc!  on!\-  ironi  the  earliest 
emigrant  to   this   country. 

"Jolian  Hernliard  Re'ier.  tiie  lirst  of  these  broliiers,  is 
recorded  in  this  same  book  as  having  one  son,  Joliarnes. 
mentioned  below.  The  Pennsylvania  archives,  containing 
the  natnes  of  Uu.OOO  early  emii'rant:.,  mention  the  arrival 
of  John  Bernhard  Keber,  from  Rotterdam,  Holland,  on 
the  'Snow  Tv.-o  Sisters',  landing  in  Philadelfihia  and 
qualifying  Sept.  V,  lT:;s,  by  sweaniig  allegiance  to  Great 
Britain.  Wo  can  learn  of  nothing  pertaining  to  his  where- 
abouts or  life  after  hi>  ani\al  in  this  coimtry.  Thi-  [la.-s- 
port,  however,  of  the  son  who  came  to  this  country  in  lT4;i 
is  still  intact. 

"Johannes  Reber.  v. hose  date  t.f  birth  is  unknown,  son 
cf  Johan  Bernhard,  I'.as  married  Feb.  8,  1730.  to  Jcjhanna 
Magdalena  llahn.  ilaui;hter  of  Conrad  Halm.  They  had 
two  sons  born  in  G  rmany,  Johannes,  Dec.  10,  17;!i5,  and 
Ludvvig  Friedrich  August,  Sept.  11,  1740.  According  to 
his  passpori,  he  left  his  native  country  for  .America,  April 
:iH,  1742,  bringing  hi.s  fa.mily  with  him,  although  it  is  known 
that- the  second  S(jn.  Liidwig,  died  on  board  the  ship.  He-' 
ing  a  member  of  William  Penn's  colony,  his  lirsi  object 
was  to  lind  a  desirable  location.  Having  selected  .^ome 
acres  of  la;:d  about  six  miles  west  of  Readin;,',  in  Lov,-cr 
Heidelberg  t'^unship,  at  tlic  big  bend  of  the  Tnlriehocken, 
in  a  beautiful  th,)Ugh  desolate  valley  known  afterwaid  as 
the  'Hlue  Mar.^h",  he  moved  thither  with  his  wife  ;u:d 
son,  built  himself  a  home  which  served  the  double  pur- 
pose of  shelter  and  protection  agaiiist  the  IiKli.ins  and 
wild  animals,  his  only  neighbors.  This  quaint  okl  build- 
ing, with  lis  large,  sqr.are  lire-place  in  the  center  i-  .still 
standing  on  the  far;n  former'y  occupied  by  Mr.  Mciry 
Shofei,  of  Reading. 

"We  find  lecorde'I  in  the  Pennsylvani;:  archives,  that 
John  iiebcr  was  naturalized  M.'iv  13.  17(>S.  anri  also  that  he, 
like  many  others  of  the  early  settlers,  was  concerned  in 
numerous  disputes  legardin.g  the  ri.glits  of  ownership  of 
their  land.  During  the  time  th.at  he  reiided  in  this  locality, 
lie  was  blessed  v.-ith  an  increase  to  his  family  of  three 
sons   \vhi_>   were   named   Thomas.   Valentine   and    I'cier." 

James  T.  Reber  is  a  desec-ndant  of  John,  or  Johannes 
Rcber  !nei:tioned  abrve.  who  was  the  eldest  son  of  jihrn 
who  eiiiigi;';'.(_l  in  17-1:2.  and  wiiii  continued  to  iivi:  in 
Pennsylvania  after  h.is  father's  deatli.  Johan  Reber  was 
twice  married  and  had  six  children.  Two  of  the  brothers, 
Peter  and  Valentine,  settled  in  the  west  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  ].,aneaster,  Ohio,  where  numbers  of  their  de- 
scendants may  be  found.  The  remaining  brother,  Thomas 
Reber,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1740.  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Kersclner,  born  Xov.  1,  1747,  died  Dec.  22, 
1S23,  and  he    left  te„  diildien. 

James  T.  Reber,  the  imt.iediale  subject  of  thi?  sketch, 
was  born  April  :"t,  1S34,  at  Sinking  .Spring,  Berks  Co., 
Pa.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schorils  and  after- 
ward engaged  in  the  hardware  business  for  forly  ^ears, 
from  18r>3  until  IS'):!,  tradin.g  as  Piard.  Rcbcr  &  Company. 

James  T.  lieber  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  \X.  Potteigcr, 
Oct.  3,  18,">1.  They  ha'.c  had  seven  children  born  to  them, 
of  whom  Iienjaniin  died  aged  nine  years,  the  survivors 
being:  C.  Alice,  wife  of  Joseph  F.  Tcniplin.  of  l^hiladel- 
phia.  Pa.:  V;ileria  E.,  wife  of  Isaac  L.  Dceter.  in  the  Read- 
ing railroad  service  at  Rearling  ;  Morris  R.,  for  a  lime  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business  branch  house,  represent- 
ing a  large  Xew  York  concern:  Clara  R.;  and  James  C.  a 
manufacturer  of  Reading.  The  jnother  of  ihese  children 
died   Jan    31.   1903,  aged   sixty-seven   years. 

In  addition  to  tlie  bu--ini's  intere.sfs  already  mentioned, 
Mr.  Reber  h.-i*;  been  iire^idenl  of  the  Rcadin.g  Xational 
Bank  since  March  J-1,  IS'.i.').  the  date  of  its  orgnnixaiion. 
As  one  of  the  city's  mor.i,  rrjpon'i'-.In  cilizens  lie  has  lu-en 
chosiii    for    olVice^    of    respoiK-ibiliiy    as    bis    lei.-^uro    time 


permitted,  serving  f r  r  three  years  in  the  common  council 
and  lor  ihiee  years  an  unexpired  teini  as  prison  iii,>pector. 
Me  i-:  ;i  Knight  Templar  Mason  and  an  Odd  Fellow' 
-Mr.  Reber  is  prominent  in  the  Relornieu  Church,  in  whicli 
he  lias  been  an  elder  for  mai'y  years,  and  for  six  years 
he  h;is  been  treasurer  of  the  board  of  Home  Missions. 
For  more  than  twenty  years  he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the 
JJethany  Urph:ms'  Home:  was  treasurer  of  tlie  board  of 
publication  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  the  United  States 
for  over  twenty  years;  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  for 
many  year-.  In  ]'J07  he  was  elected  trustee  of  i'ranklin  & 
Marshall  College,  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania. 

Gl'ORGF  FREDERICK  EAER,  President  of  the  Phila- 
delphia iS:  Reading  Railway  Company  since  lUOl.  and  the 
leading  attorney  at  Reading  for  the  thirty  years  preceding, 
was  born  Sept.  rJii,  1S4'3.  in  Somerset  county.  Pa.  When 
six  years  old,  his  parent.-  rcnujved  to  the  countv-seat 
from  a  farm  situated  three  miles  distant.  Fie  received 
his  preliminary  education  at  the  Somerset  Institute.  When 
thirteen  years  old,  he  manifested  an  interest  in  the  print- 
ing business,  and  entering  the  oR'icc  of  the  Soinrrsct 
Democrat  worked  at  setting  type  for  upward  of  two 
years.  Appreciating  then  the  imiiort;ince  of  a  better 
education,  he  resumed  his  studies  in  an  earnest  m;in- 
nci-  .at  the  Somerset  .\cademy;  but  he  continued  there 
only  a  year  when  he  accepted  the  position  of  chief  clerk 
and  bookkeeper  of  the  Ashtola  Mills,  a  large  lumber' 
manufacturing  establishment  located  ten  miles  from  Johns- 
town, aposition  lie  lilled  for  about  a  year,  ivhcn  his  am- 
bition for  a  more  thorougli  education  a,gain  as,5crted 
Itself,  and  he  eniered  the  Sophomore  class  of  h'rank- 
lin  and  Marshall  College  at  l.ancaster.  Pa.  T'nis  was 
111  the  fall  of  1800,  but  his  course  there  was  terminated 
by  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war.  He  and  his  hi  oth- 
er H.irry  then  pin-chased  i^  newipaper  nun|ir.n,;d  and 
they  condneted  the  |.ublic:ilT(in  in  a  successful  inanmr 
until  the  following  September,  when  Harry  enlisted  in 
the  Union  army,  becoming  an  ollicer  of  Company  B, 
.-j4th  Regt  ,  P.  V.  I.,  and  he  \\;is  left  in  sole' charge  of 
the  nev.sp.iper.  He  worked  assiduously  at  the  cise  dur- 
ing the  daytime,  and  edited  the  paper  at  nig.ht,  h.iving 
been  frequently  so  pressed  for  time  as  to  be  co.ii]ie!le(l 
to  compose  the  editorials  ;iiid  set  them  up  in  type  uhiie 
standing  before  the  case.  During  this  interesting  per- 
iod of  his  life,  he  continued. a  ptivate  course  of  studies 
with  I  he  expectation  of  returning  to  the  college  which 
he  had  left  so  abruptly,  and  it  was  this  course,  with  the 
earnest  and  persistent  exercise  of  his  concenlrative  pow- 
ers before  the  printer's  cise,  which  unwittingly  pre- 
pared him  so  thoronglily  for  the  arduous  labors  of  pro- 
fessional" and  business  life.  He  edited  and  publi-hcd 
the  Pciiionat  until  .-Xugust.  ISC,;^,  when  his  patriotic  si)ir- 
it  aFo  asserted  itself  for  suppressing  the  Rebellion,  with 
the  enemy  approaching  the  border  of  his  own  county, 
and  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  from  Somerset 
and  vicinity,  which  was  mustered  into  the  national  ser- 
vice as  C(/mpaiiy  E.  133d  Regt.,  P.  V.  I.,  and  of  iiii.-  :om- 
p;iny  he  w;is  commisfioned  captain,  though  not  >et  twen- 
ty ycars_  old.  He  scrvcil  for  the  period  of  his  enlist- 
ment (nine  months),  and  was  mustered  out  of  service 
with  his  compans-  on  .Ma.\-  '?.»,  1803.  b'or  p:iri  of  the 
tiine.  he  act-^d  by  deta.il  a-  .Xdjutant-Gciieral  of  th.-  2d 
Brigade,  in  Humphrey's  Division.  His  regiment  joined 
the  .Army  of  the  Pottmiac  ;'.t  the  second  battle  of  I'.uU 
Run,  andjiis  company  participated  in  the  battles  of  .\n- 
tiet.im.  I"redericksburg  and  Chanccllorsville.  Its  most 
distinguished  .service  was  in  forming  the  advance  line 
of  the  armv  in  the  famous  charce  on  I"rcdericksburg 
Ileights.    Dec.    13,    1802. 

Upon  returning  home  from  the  ;iriny.  Air.  P.aer  s.dect- 
cd  the  l;iw  as  his  profession,  and  after  pursuing  a  rei".i!rir 
course  of  legal  studies  in  the  oltice  of  his  brolhers  Wil 
li.cm  and  Herman  (both  attorneys  at  the  Somer.-e'  P..iit. 
be  wa;  admitted  to  practice  .it  the  .\pril  term.  If^OJ.  1  o.- 
betran  iuimedi.itcly  the  pr^u'lici.  nf  hi^  profe.-,si'-n.  and 
ui;der    the    guidance    of    his    brothers    f:)r    Ihe    following 


i;       ;       ■'.IV'.'. 


■IMIJ"-  '.I  ■■ -■" 


.^   ■ 


^^Y^-.iiL,J:.^--.^-^\iiif'^is^i:.-^iI.-^:ii^^^^^^^^^ 


J 


'^    O    . 


,1 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


345 


four  years  was  made  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  in- 
tricacies of  the  profession  in  all  its  branches,  more  es- 
pecially m  the  department  which,  related  to  pleading 
and  the  trial  of  cases.  He  then  removed  to  Reading 
for  the  purpose  of  locating  there,  having  visited  the 
place  several  months  belurc,  and  on  Jan.  -2,  isoS,  was 
admitted  to  the  Uerks  county  Bar.  In  a  few  years  af- 
ter his  location  at  Reading,  his  practice  began  to  in- 
crease rapidly,  and  each  succeeding  year  found  him 
more  ."^ucce-ssful.  The  trial  of  case:;  gradually  became 
the  prominent  part  of  his  practice,  and  within  a  de- 
cade his  services  were  engaged  in  every  important  case 
in  the  local  courts.  This  is  shown  on  the  records  in 
the  prothonotary's  office,  and  in  the  published  reports 
of  cases  taken  to  the  Supreme  court  of  Pennsylvania. 
This  e.Ktcnsive  and  highly  renninerati\e  practice  before 
the  courts,  local  and  Supreme,  both  State  and  national, 
continued  for  thirt\  years  when  his  important  services 
as  solicitor  to  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  Com- 
pany during  this  period  eventually  resulted  in  his  selec- 
tion as  president  of  the  re-organi^ed  corporation,  and 
he  has  been  re-elected  annually  for  the  past  eight  years, 
evidencing  the  highly  satisfactory  character  of  his  ser- 
vices in  its  management.  During  the  same  time  (since 
1901)  he  has  officiated  as  president  of  the  Central  Rail- 
road   of    New    Jersey. 

On  account  of  his  prominent  connection  with  the  Phil- 
adelphia I*.:  Reading  Railway  Company,  -\lr.  Bacr  quite 
naturally  became  an  important  factor  in  the  management 
of  the  Reading  Iron  Company,  the  largest  industrial 
enterprise  at  Reading  ne.xt  to  tlie  shops  of  the  railway 
company,  and  after  having  advised  this  great  corporation 
(whose  costly  establishments  are  situated  in  different 
parts  of  PeniifVlvania,  and  give  employment  to  thousands 
of  men)  during  the  same  period  of  time  while  acting  as 
solicitor  of  the  railway  company,  he  became  h-i  president 
and  directed  its  e.xtensive  business  atT.iirs  in  :i  must  suc- 
cessful manner  for  twelve  years.  On  account  of  his 
labors  in  connection  with  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
and  other  railr<_iads.  he  retired  as  president.  Init  he  has 
been  officiating  since  as  the  chairman  of  its  hor.rd  of 
directors,  His  management  resulted  in  m,d;iiig  ihe  cor- 
poration one  of  the  largest  producers  of  wrousht-iron 
pipe  of  all  sizes,  bar-iron,  sheet-iron,  etc.,  in  i^ennsyl- 
vania,  with  large  trading  relations  extending  ail  over 
the  world.  He  has  also  been  prominently  identi''ied  with 
the  managensent  of  the  Temple  Iron  Company,  the  Penn- 
sylvania Steel  Company,  and  the  Cam.bria  Steel  Com- 
pany, for  a  number  of  years  as  a  director,  acting  as 
president  of  the  first  named  since  Jan.   1.   lOni. 

In  1?86,  Mr.  Baer  organized  and  established  the  Read- 
ing Paper  .Mills,  and  since  then  has  operated  them  in  a 
most  successful  manner.  The  corporation  ci''mprises  three 
plants  (one  at  the  foot  of  RingaTiian  str.ev.  or.e  at  the 
foot  of  Court  street,  Reading,  and  the  third  opposite 
Reading  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tulpehocken  creek),  all 
equipped  with  the  best  machinery  for  the  production 
of  the  finest  book  and  nianilh;  papers,  whii-Ii  are  in  con- 
stant demand.  They  employ  three  iiuiulred  hands  and 
constitute    one    of    Reading's    important    industries. 

Mr.  Bacr  co-oiiernted  v.ith  other  punlir-spirircd  men 
of  Reading  in  establishing  the  Penn  National  Bank  in 
1SS:{;  the  Reading  Hospital  in  1884:  the  Reading  Trust 
Company  in  ISSO;  the  Penn  Common  in  l*"^?:  the  Wy- 
omissing  Club  in  1800;  the  Reading  Free  Library  in 
1898:  tiie  Berkshire  Club  in  1S09;  and  he  h:is  continued 
to  take  an  active  part  in  the  nianagcnient  iif  all  of 
tliem  excepting  the  Peim  Bank.  His  services  were  par- 
ticularly important  in  securing  Penn  Common  as  the 
property  of  Reading  from  the  possession  of  the  County 
of  Berks,  and  he  has  dftlci.atcd  as  president  of  the  Board 
of  Park  Commissioners  since  its  creation  bv  the  Cit\ 
Council.  Since  189.').  he  has  served  as  one  ni  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  Charles  Evans  Cemetery. 

In  1'>(Hi.  Mr.  Baer  erected  tlie  first  InrL'e  mo  lern  fire- 
proof office-building  in  Reading,  situated  at  the  corner  of 
Court  and  Church  .-.Ireets.  seven  stories  high,  ami  em- 
br.'.cinc:    ei.ghty    rooms,    adjoining    the    rear    of    his    office 


building  on  Washington  street.  The  tirst  tu-o  lloors 
are  occui)ied  by  the  business  offices  of  the  Reading  Iron 
Company. 

During  this  long  period  of  time,  the  services  of  Mr. 
Baer  as  a  public  speaker  were  in  constant  demand.  Many 
of  his  mi)rc  important  addresses  have  been  published  in 
I>amphlet  form.  They  display  the  great  scope  of  iiis  learn- 
ing, the  forcible  and  precise  character  of  his  rhetoric, 
and  the  boldness  of  his  convictions.  His  diction  is  clear; 
his  manner  of  speaking  straightforward,  always  extem- 
poraneous, void  of  dramatic  riourish.  and  it  commands 
the  close  attention  of  his  audience  from  start  to  finish; 
and  his  logic  leads  to  an  ineviuible  conclusion  which  wins 
admiration  if  not  approval.  His  numerous  paper-books 
in  carrying  on  litigation  before  the  higher  courts,  both 
State  and  national,  show  great  care,  thorough  prepara- 
tion, and  complete  knowledge  of  the  respective  cases ; 
and  they  evidence  in  a  high  degree  his  superior  literary 
culture  as  well  as  his  comprehensive  legal  attainments. 
.Among  the  numerous  addresses  and  lectures  delivered 
by  him,  tlie  following  may  be  mentioned: 

L.\XD  Tk.n'Uke — Before  the  Law  Department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of   Pennsylvania,  Oct.    25,   1S87. 

Rf.l.\tton'  of  Tariff  to  Wages — Before  Single  Tax  So- 
ciety'  of    Reading.   Jan.    19,    1891. 

.-V'ddkess  of  WtLCO.Mt: — Formation  of  Pennsylvania  Ger- 
man Society  at  Lancaster  (of  which  he  was  elected  the 
first   president),   .\iiril   1.".,   ]S91. 

Influe.nce  of  Refor.mkii  CniRcii  o.x  Cnii.  Government 
— .Vt  dedication  of  new  Theological  Seminary  of  Frank- 
lin and   Marshall   College   at  Lancaster.   May   10,   1S94. 

GEK.^[A^•s  IN  Pennsylvania— Before  Teachers'  Insti- 
tute of  Berks  county^  at  Reading  on  Sept.  2G,  lS9ri. 

Bechstein  Gek.manic  Liurakv — At  opening  of  it  for 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  March  21.  JSOi'i  (being  first 
of   four   addresses   on   that   occasion  i. 

.Appeal  to  De.mocrats— Issued  in  sunmier  of  1890.  which 
resulted  in  organization  of  the  "liold  Democr.its"  and 
aided  mat'-riallv  in  the  defeat  of  the  '"Silver  Democrats" 
who  controlled  the  National  Convention  and  nominated 
P.ry:iii   for   President  of   tiie   L'liited   States. 

Okatio.v — Unveiling  of  Soldiers"  ;ind  Sailors'  Monu- 
ment at  .Mlentown  Oct.  19,  1S99. 

Work  is  Worship — Before  the  Y.  M.  C.  .A.,  of  Read- 
ing, on  Jan.  1,  1900,  and  amplified  and  deli\ered  before 
'Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  on  Jan.  Hi.  1902  (Mr. 
Baer  having  been  then,  and  is  still,  president  of  the 
Board    of   Trustees). 

-•\DriRE.ss — Laying  of  corner-stone  for  new  Science  build- 
ing of   FVanklin   and   Marshall   College.   June   i:^,    1900. 

Pennsylvania  Tiikokiics  of  Govek.v.ment — Before  Penn- 
sylvania Society  of  New  York  Dec.  12,  1902. 
'  .Argument   before   the   Anthracite   Co.al    Strike   Commis- 
sion— made      at    Philadelphia   .\pril   8,   1904. 

Mining  of  Co.-\l — Last  lecture  of  a  popular  course  of 
eighteen  lectures  delivered  at  different  places  in  .Schuyl- 
kill  county,  at   Pottsville,  .-\pril  8.   190."). 

Dewcation  of  Boys'  High  School — Reading.  Thanks- 
giving Day,  1906. 

RAiLkOAP  Legislation — Open  letter  to  Pennsylvania 
Legislature,  issued  Feb.  7,  1907. 

Mr.  Baer  has  been  prominently  identified  with  Franklin 
and  ?vlarshall  College  since  1S72,  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  officiating  as  president  of  the_  board 
since  1894.  Dftring  this  time  he  has  labored  efficiently 
for  the  advancement  of  the  institution  and  contributed 
liberally  toward  its  financial  support.  In  188'".,  the  Col- 
lege C'inferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws, 
and  tlie  Alumni  .Association,  at  its  annual  meeting  in 
1S9.'..   elected   him   as    its   vice-president. 

Mr.  Baer  was  brought  up  as  a  firm  believer  in  the  ster- 
ling principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  he  has  shown 
him-elf  to  be  their  fearless  advocate.  Upon  loeating  at 
Reading,  he  interestcil  himself  in  loc:il  polities,  and  gave 
nartv  welfare  much  of  Iiis  time:  but  he  was  never  mi- 
bitio'us  to  till  any  public  ..flicc  b'canse  he  was  loo  busilv 
encraszcd  with  his  large  Uaal  nr.-.ctice  and  biisn.ess  enter- 
prises.    He   has   at  all   times  been  a   generous  contriliutor 


^^ 


^j:.     :■   ,,i 


31G  IlISTOm'   ()[■    BERKS  COL'XTY.  PI'.XXSYLWWIA 

towan]    tliL-    cainpaii:!!    txiiciiscs,    and    he    has    exerted    a  man   in   his  day,   beeoniinj;  a  citizen  of  this   country  after 

powerful    intluti;ce    in    national    puliiics,    as    well    as    in  twenty-one  years'  residence  here.     He  took  a  leading  part 

the    county    and    State.  ,,i  tin.-  Revi>hition  and  the  events  leadintj  up  to  and  foUow- 

Iinmediately    atier    coming    to    ReaduiK^  Mr.    Raer    and  „,j,  t|,.,j  struggle.     In  June,   177G.  he  was  one  of  ten  ^o 

his    wite   identii.ed    themselves    with    the    becond    Reform-  represented    Berks    countv    in    the    Provincial    Confer^-nce. 

ed    thurch     and    th.-y    and   their   children    have    been    de-  '                                       ^^,^-              ^^        delegation    of    eiglu 

voted  members.     \\  !ien  the  churcli   was   rebuilt  thev  were  ,          .           ,,     ,                            i       n       ■     •   i                 * 

renerous   contrilnitors.      On    all    special   occasions,    the   au-  members  troni   berks  county  to  the  Provincial  convention 

ditorium   is   profr.selv   decorated   with   co.tlv   ilowers   from  convoked    for    the    purpose    ut    iranmiK    a    new    torm    ci 

their  ciinservat(jr\,    winch   elicit   nuich  praise   and   admira-  .uoverninent,    founded   on    tlie    authority   of   the    people,    to 

tJQi,  succei.'d  the  old   proprietary   form,     lie  was  a  member  of 

In  18(>G,  Mr.  P-acr  was  married  to  Kmilv  Kimmel,  dauuh-  the    Provincial   Assembly   in  both   ITTG   and    1TT7.     Durin? 

ter  of  John   O.   Knnmc!,  attornev  at   Somerset,   and   Mary  t'l-'  \^;ir  he  commanded  a  cavalry  company,  was  wounded 

Parker,  his  wife.     To  this  union' have  come  five  childien:  "t    the    battle    of    Germantown.    became    sub-hcutenant    of 

Marion   married   William    X.   Appel.   an   attornev   at   Lan-  the   county  Tn    1777.   and   served   as   such   unfi!   he   became 

caster;    Helen    married    William    Grisconi    Co.xe,    of    Wil-  lieutenant  of  the  county,  m  the  year  ]  7.«l.     In   17S4  he  was 

niington.   Del.;    Marv   manied   Isaac   Hiesttr,   an   attorney  appointed  a  jud.;,'e  of  tlie  court  of  Common  Picas,  holduifr 

at  Readinc?:  ICmilv  married  I'rank  L.  Connard.  at  Reading-  that    oilice    for    seven   years,   until   by    the    Constitution    of 

(he  dying  Jan.  L'l,  H'OS);  Xellie  married  Heher  L.  Smith,  1~'J0    ;'-    president    judge    took    the    places    of    the    various 

of   Philadelphia.  judges.      In    ISIO,    though    then   very   advanced    in   age,   he 

Mrs.   Baer   La's   takui   a  verv  active  part   in   local   cliari-  removed  to  the  State  of  Virginia,  where  he  died,  at  Win- 
ties,  more  cspeciallv  in   tlie  sn'ccessfid  management  of   the  Chester,   in   December,   1821,   in  his  eighty-eighth  year. 
Widows'    Home,    from    us    foundation    in    lS7(i.      She    has  Peter    Eckert.    son    of   Valentine,    passed    all    his    life    in 
also  taken  much   interest  in  the  Woman's  Club,  the  Book  Berks  county,  and  engaged  in   farming  and  merchandising 
Club,    and    tin-    Xeedie-Work    Guild,    serving    each    society  "ear  Womelsdorl.  the  family  home. 

as  president.     In   social  alTairs  she  lias  been  the  acknowl-  Isaac   Eckert.   son   of   Peter,  was  horn  in   January,   1800, 

edged    leader    lor    maiiv    vears.      Her    receptions    in    their  in  Womclsdorf,  and   there  received  his  eariy  education   in 

costlv     and     beautiful    'home    "flawthorne,"      on     .Mineral  the  public  schools,  later  attending  the  grammar  scliooLs  of 

Spring  road,   have  been  superb;  ami   it  was  there,   during  the     L'inversity     of     Penii-^ylvania.       Before     reaching    his 

the    popular    demonstrations    in    the    historical    celebration  majority   he   became   associated  in  buMn'.-ss  with   his  older 

of   the    "Sesi|U!  Centennial    of    Reading."    June,    l.sos.    that  brother,   William,  the   sons   succeeding  their   father   in  the 

she  and  licr  husband  "displaved  a  renarkablc  spirit  of  lib-  grocery    'husiness,    which    they    continued    at    Woinelsdorf 

erality   in    welcoming   and   einerlaining   distinguished   visi-  until    fs~'8,  in   which   year  they  moved   their   establishment 

tors,   and   alYording   tiiem   unusual   (opportunities   of    seeing  to  Reading.     There  tliey  continued  it   ui.lil.the  year  lS:;r.. 

and   knowing    the  'social,    industrial    and    municipal    affairs  when   Isaac   Eckert   withdrew   from   tlie   hrui   to   enter  the 

of   Reading,"and  of   realizing  its   growth,   wealth   and    i:ii-  iron  m.anufacturing  Inisiness  in  partnership  with  his  young- 

portaiice  as  a  promising  centre  of  populaiion."     When   Mr.  er  brulber,   Hr.  George   X.  Eckert.     In   18(2-4!   they  erected 

Baer    became    president     of    the-     Philidelnliia    &    Re.-hling  the    Henry   Clay   Eurnace,   at   that   time   '  lU'    of   the   largest 

Railway    Company    in    I'.iOl,    hr    seeur.-d    a   home    in    I'bila-  antliraeile    fnni.ices    in    the    country,    and    in    iiie    y.rir    1S.">.-. 

delphia.    and    he    and    his    family    have    occupii  d    it     Muce,  a    secon.l    st.ick    was    completed.      After    Dr.    Eckerl    died, 

during  the   winter  and   --pring  of  each  year.     Their  lu.me  on  June  2S,    isti.",,   Isaac    Eckert  became   sole  iiroprietor  of 

is  embellished   with  a   rare  collection   of  books   and  p.iint-  these   works  until  his  retirement,  in   187:i,  when  he  passed 

ings.  them  over  to  his  scms.  Henry  S.  and  George  B.     This  was 

Mr.    Baer's    father   was    Major    Solomon    P.;ier.      He    was  not    his    nniy    connection    in    the    iion    iriaiiufacluring    line, 

born   in  170),   in    X'Tthainpton    (now   Liliigli  )    county,   ne.cr  for    in    isr,2    he    became    president    of    the    Leesport    Iron 

Unioinille,    and    when    si.K    years    old    he    accomiianied    his  Compan\-.   of   which   he   remained   the   e.xecutivc  head   until 

parents    in    their    removal    to    a    farni    in    Maryland,    near  his   death,   thus   contrijlling   and   managing   e.Ktcnsi\e    iron 

Ciimb'-rland.      They   remained    there     pix;cen    years,    th.en  interests,  in  which  he  was  one  of  the  laigcst  stockholders, 

settled  on  a  farm  in  Somerset  county,   Pa.    about  twenty-  Xaturally   his   indueiice   extended   to  other   business   enter- 

In'c   miles    farther    ivest.      He    died    in    1882.    aged    eighty-  prise>,  and  he   became   espcci;dly  well   known  as  pri^sideiit 

eiglu  years,  ha'diig  lived  at   Soinersei  from  l.s-i,'-';.  of  the    Earmers    Bank,   an   institution   founded   in    1814.   of 

His  grandfather  was  John  J.acolj  I'aer.  of  \'i>rthaniii-  wliich  he  was  chosen  president  in  181(8.  He  ser\  ed  ;is  such 
ton  county,  where  he  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  17t"il.  for  the  uiuisually  long  period  of  thirty-five  years,  and 
He  was  brouglit  up  on  a  farm,  and  followed  farming  upon  his  death,  winch  occurred  Ficc.  l.T.  'SV.T.  w;is  sue- 
there  until  1800.  when  lie  removed  with  his  family  to  cceded  therein  by  his  son  Henry  S.  Eckert. 
Maryland,  and  there  carried  on  farming  until  his  decease  Mr.  Eckert  was  just  as  active  in  matters  affecting  the 
in   182;i.  general    welfare    as    he    was    in    comnirrcial    circles.      He 

His   great-grardf.ither   was   Chrislrjphrl   liner,   who   end-  served    many    years    as    president    of    the    Berks    County 

grated     from     Zvceibruecken     in     174.'!.      ITpon     his    arrival  .Agricilltur.al    and    Ilorticnltnr;d    Society,    of    which    he    was 

in  Phil.-idelfiliia.  Seiitember  llOih.  he  immediately  proceeded  one  of   the    founders,   and   was   interested   deeply   in   eitl'.er 

tc>   Xorthampt' ):i   count}',    where   he   had   purch.ised    several  enterjirises    calculated    to    adv.ancc    the    best    industries    of 

tracts    of    land.      The    original    jiatent    i.^-^iied    to    him    de-  this   section.     Originally   a   Whig  in   politics,  he   became   a 

scribes  one  of  the  tr.icts  ;is  "Bruin's  Choice."  a   free  trans-  Republican    upon    the    org;!ni;:atir]n    of    the    party,    and    in 

lation  of  the   n.anie   of   hi-   ancestral   home.  18i;o  was  a  delegate  to  the  .Republican  X;ition.al  C'jnvention. 

held    at    Chicago,    which    placed    .\braham    Lincoln    at    the 

IS.-\.\C  ECKERT.   initil   l;,tely  president  of  the   F.Trmers  he.id   of   the   ticket:    in    1S()4   he   v.as   a    Presidential   elector 

Xation.al    Bank    nf    Reading,   is   one   of   the   leailing   citizens  from    the    .State    of    i'ennsylvania.      Tliroughont    the    war 

of  that  place,  a  m.-'n  of  distinctive  pronn'nencc  in  its  com-  he  diil  his  ntmi'St  !o  aid  the  l.'nion  cause,  both   by  liberal 

mercial    life,    in    which    he    maintains    a    name    which    has  cciiitribution^  and  by  hi-  intlneree  in  directing  i)ublic  seiiti- 

lon;;-    been    a    synonym    fur    wi')rth    nnd    integrity,    as    well  ment   iti   his   cit\. 

as   marked    bnsiiu  ss    .abiliiy.    in   this   part   of    Pennsylvari.i.  Isa.ic     h'.ekert     married    Judith     H.alm.    d.itiiihler    of    Dr. 

The   E.ckert    family   is   one   of   the   (■Idest   in    Perks   county,  H.ihn.    oi    Montt:oniery    county,    and    he    was    survived    by 

lKi\ing    hi  en    located    here    for    almost    two   cenUiries.      As  his    widow    and    three    children.    lienr\    .S.,    George    P>.   and 

the  name   iniplii,'.^.  the   Eckerls  are  of  Gerni:in   origin.  R<  he  cca.  the  last  named  the  wife  of  P.   1\.  Suls.in.  e)f  Xew 

V.ilentine    Eckert.    biPin    m    I.tinuensalza.    Hanover.   Ger-  Ymk    l'it\-.      .\s    a    memoii;;!.    nf;<-r    Mr.    Eekert's    de;ith 

ni.-mw   in    17.:-'i.   cun,     I"    .\ni..iici   with   Ids   (larent^   in    17i0.  llu      f.wmjy    pieseiiUil    a    full    ehinie>    <.-f    ten    in  lb;    to    Chri.^t 

the   f  imily   ;.etliin;;  in   llie    luliu  bocken  Va.Ilev,  in  the  ue-t-  ['.piscop.il    C  hurch    of    Readiii.".    of    which    .Mi.    I^ekert    ha'l 

em   part   of   P.eiks   county.      He   liecanm  (|ui;e  a   prominent  been  ;i  member. 


M       '!■  •;(,:-         M 


,    :     r.    ■    h-^i 


•1  ■>■,,'.    I 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


347 


Henry  S.  Eckert,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  in  Reading, 
where  he  receivc-il  his  prt-paratory  education  in  the  public 
schools.  He  then  became  a  student  at  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College,  from  which  he  graduated,  after  which 
he  entered  business  life.  Becoming  asbuciated  with  his 
father  in  the  iron  business,  he  soon  qualiiied  so  thor- 
oughly for  its  demands  that  he  was  able  to  take  the 
nianagenient  of  the  works  hiuTieif.  and  on  July  1,  1873,  the 
year  of  their  father's  de;ith,  Imt  shortly  before  that  event, 
he  and  his  brother  George  B.  formed  a  partnership  to 
engage  in  tlie  iron  business,  under  the  I'lrm  name  of 
Eckert  &  Brother.  Before  long  the  Henry  Clay  Furnace 
became  their  property,  but  with  ali  their  new  responsibili- 
ties they  passed  successfully  through  the  finnncial  panic 
of  1873.  They  not  only  carried  on  tlic  manufacturing 
business,  but  also  owned  the  iron  mines  which  supplied 
their  works  with  the  necessary  ore.  employing  aitogetiier, 
in  the  mines  and  works,  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  men. 

Besides  his  important  connection  with  the  I'lrm  of 
Eckert  &•  Brother  ]Mr.  Eckert's  iron  interests  led  him 
into  other  associations  of  even  greater  prominence,  and 
he  served  as  president  of  the  Eastern  Pig  Iron  Association, 
as  president  of  the  Topton  Ftirnace  Company  of  Topton. 
and  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  Bolt  &  Xut  Works  of 
Lebanon.  As  to  local  enterprifes,  it  has  already  been 
stated  lh:it  he  succeeded  hi^  father  in  the  presidency  of 
the  Farmers  Bank  in  187!'.,  and  he  continued  to  hold  that 
position  until  his  own  death,  in  iS93,  when  his  son  Isaac 
succeeded  to  the  incumbency.  He  was  also  a  trustee  of 
the  Union  Trust  Company  and  of  the  Penn  Mutual  Life 
Insur.Tnce  Company,  the  latter  a  Philadeljihia  institution. 
He  vvas  one  of  the  yiromoters  of  the  Penn  Street  Passenger 
Railway,  which  was  put  into  operatimi  in  1874  and  which 
played  so  imjiortant  a  part  in  the  improvement  of  East 
Reading.  He  w.-i.'.  one  of  the  prcjectors  of  the  Berks 
County  railriiaJ,  from  Reading  to  Skitington,  becoming 
a  rricmber  of  the  board  of  directors  upon  the  organization 
of  the  company,  and  he  also  s^^rved  as  a  director  of  the 
Wilmington  S:  Northern  I'Jailroad  Compiiny.  He  was  a 
director  of  (he  Reading  Tlospiial  and  of  the  CharKs  Evans 
cemetery.  For  over  twenty  years  he  .gave  his  services 
as  president  of  the  school  board  of  control,  and  in 
recognition  of  his  valuable  work  the  l-'ckert  schon!,  erected 
in  1S73,  was  named  in  liis  honor. 

As  a  large  !n;inufactuier  Mr.  Eckert  was  naturally  in- 
clined to  p  beli.^f  in  the  principles  of  protection,  and  ac- 
cordingly upheld  the  tenets  of  th.c  Republican  parts',  in 
whose  workings  he  took  an  active  and  eflicienl  p.art.  in 
1866  he  was  t!ie  Republiesn  nominee  for  Congressm.in 
from  his  flistrict,  running  against  J.  Lawrence  Get/,  but 
although  supported  h.andsoniely  by  his  home  city,  which 
gave  him  a  majority,  he  could  not  overcome  the  normal 
Democratic  vote  in  the  district. 

In  1857  Mr.  Eckert  married  Carrie  Hunter,  daughter 
of  Nicholas  Hunter,  an  ironmaster  of  Reading,  and  four 
children  were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Isaac,  Pfelen  (Mrs. 
Hciman  Meigs),  Hur.ier  and  Kate  M.  (Mrs.  Reeves). 
The  mother  passed  away  March  IJS.  l.'^SO.  .Mr.  Eckert 
was  a  member  of  Christ  Episcoprd  Church,  in  which  he 
served  as  vestryman  for  a  number  of  ye;irs  before  his 
death,  and  he  was  a  zealous  worker  in  all  its  enterprises. 

Isaac  Eckert,  at  present  one  of  the  most  notable  t'lgures 
in  the  business  life  of  the  city  of  Reading,  was  born  there 
May  27,  1S,">0.  He  received  his  education  in  the  pulilic 
schools  of  the  city  and  at  Lafayette  College,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  i!'70.  after  which  he  im- 
mediately turned  his  energies  to  tl;e  line  of  business  which 
his  ancestors  have  followed  for  generations.  The  business 
was  sold  to  the  Empire  Iron  &  Steel  Company.  Mr. 
Eckert  served  from  I.so:;  until  lODS,  when  ho  resigned 
owing  to  ill  health,  as  president  of  the  Farmers  Bank, 
now  the  Fanners  .National  Bank,  which  w.is  presided 
over  bv  a  nicmbei  of  this  family  for  almost  seventy 
years,  Isaac  lu-kei  t  bcinu-  oi  the  third  generation  of  the 
family  to  (-ccupy  that  olllce.  The  circumstance  is  remark- 
able, not  nuW  for  the  unusual  length  of  time  tlie  posi- 
tion  wa^'   hj!il    in   the    f-nr,ilv   but  as  indicative   of   contin- 


ued moral  and  mental  strength.  Mr.  Eckert  was 
also  president  of  the  Ucppen  Brcwincr  Company, 
an  important  business  concern  of  the  city,  but 
this,  too.  he  resigned  on  account  of  failing  health; 
he  occupies  a  high  position  among  the  most  substantial 
citizens  of  the  present  day.  However,  he  is  not  active 
in  either  politics  or  outside  matters  to  the  extent  hi.s 
father  and  grandfather  were,  though  he  is  a  man  of  high 
public  spirit  and  ready  to  lend  his  influence  or  financial 
aid  to  worthy  projects  which  have  the  adxancement  of 
the  city  or  the  general  welfare  as  their  object.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  political  sentiment,  and  interested  in  local 
government,   particularly  municipal   attairs. 

In  18711  ilr.  Eckert,  married  liliza  Kaufman,  daughter 
of  William  M.  Kaufm.-m,  and  tliey  have  had  two  children, 
William    K.   and    Carrie. 

WiLU.x.M  K.  EcKKKT,  of  Reading,  is  interested  in 
numerous  enterprises  in  the  city.  He  is  a  native  of  Read- 
ing, born  in  1S70,  son  of  Isaac  and  Eliza  (Kaufman) 
I'xkert.  In  his  youth  he  attended  the  local  grammar  and 
high  schools,  graduating  from  the  latter  in  180S,  Avhen 
he  went  to  Cornell  University.  There  he  spent  two  years. 
at  the  end  of  which  time  he  returned  to  Reading  and'  read 
law  with  Isaac  Hiester.  On  Dec.  12,  1001,  he  took  the 
position  of  secretary  treasurer  and  general  manager  of 
the  Deppen  Brewing  Company,  wh.ich  position  he  resigned 
in  ]!K)S,  to  enter  the  banking  business,  which  is  h.is  present 
occupation.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Fartners  National 
Bank  and  of  the  Colonial  Trust  Company,  two  of  the 
strongest  financial  institutions  of  the  citv,  and  in  lOOO  was 
chosen  second  vice-president  of  the  former  institution,  with 
which  his  family  have  been  so  long  associated.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  successful  young  business  men  of  his  nafi\-e 
city,  where  he  has  a  host  of  friends. 

Air.  Eckert  married,  Dec.  12,  lOO.":.  in  Reading,  Miss 
Mary  L.  Barbey.  whose  family  is  mentioned  else- 
where, the  Barbeys  being  among  the  old  and  pronnnent 
families  of  the  city.  Mr.  and  Airs.  Eckert  reside  at  No. 
812  North  Fifth  street,  Reading,  and  are  wA]  known  and 
much  esteemed  in  that  locality,  '["hey  are  members  of 
the  Episcopal  Church. 

WILLIAM  A.  GOOD,  first  County  Superintendent  of 
Public  Schools  of  Berks  county,  from  18o4  to  1860,  was 
born  in  Philadelpiiiti  in  1810.  He  was  educated  in  the 
Reading  Academy,  studied  theology  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  York.  Pa.,  and  was 
regularly  ordained  and  licensed  to  preach  in  lR.''..'i.  .Soon 
afterward  he  accepted  a  call  from  the  Reformed  Church 
at  Hager'.town,  Md.,  where  he  officiated  as  pastor  for  sev- 
eral ye;.rs.  From  that  congregation  he  went  tt>  Mercers - 
burg.  Pa.,  to  serve  as  rector  c>f  the  Preparatory  Depart- 
ment of  Mars!i;ill  College.  After  remaining  there  six 
ye-ars.  he  returned  to  Hagerstown  ar.d  served  as  principal 
of  the  Hagerstown  Academy  for  Uvt  years.  He  was  then 
called  to  the  pastorate  of  tjie  Reformed  Church  at  York, 
Pa.,  in  which  field  he  labored   earnestly   for  six  years. ' 

He  next  remo\cd  to  Reading  and  assumed  charge  of  a 
Select  school  for  young  Indies.  At  the  expiration  of  the 
fifth  year  he  became  principal  of  the  Reading  Institute 
and  Normal  School,  and  remainod  there  three  years.  In 
the  meantime  he  was  elected  superintendent  of  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Berks  county,  being  the  first  to  llll  that 
office.  Most  of  the  people  of  the  county  were  members 
<ii  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  Churches,  and  averse  to 
the  new  order  of  things.  It  was  feared  that  in  tit.-'  rural 
district.-  the  superintendent  would  encounter  much  ojipo- 
sition.  but  he  understood  the  peculiarities  of  the  pce)p!e. 
and  instead  of  raising-  , a  storm  of  op[)osition  won  their 
confidence  and  support,  and  he  was  re-elected  for  a  seci')nd 
term.  While  thus  engaged  in  the  school  :i(Tairs  of  the 
comity,  he  also  officiated  .-is  pastor  of  the  Bernville.  North 
Heidelberg  and  Princeton  congregations,  serving  these 
churches  .altogether  for  eight  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  zealous  .Sunday  school  workers  in  Ilrrks  county, 
and  while  siiiH-rinteiulent  of  the  common  ^cho.-.l-.  en- 
deavored, in  his  private  interciuirse  with  the  peoide,  to 
interest  tiicm  in  the  cause  of  Stiiidav  schools,  iii  tlii>  man- 


!;>!    >  ,     ■:   ,  •! 


348 


HISTORY  OF   I'.ERKS  COUXTY,  rEXXSYL\'AXIA 


iicr  coining"  to  hi-  iiistruinentai  in  founding  many  of  the 
Sunday  schools  of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  St.  John's  Reformed  Mission  Sunday  school,  and 
this  he  conducted  with  the  aid  of  his  wife  for  nearly  six 
years,  and  it  eventually  becaine  a  self-supporting  and 
flourishing  conpregaticn.    • 

The  Re\-.  .Mr.  Good  married  in  1840,  Susan  B.  IZckert, 
daughter  of  fV-ter  ;ind  Susan  Eckert,  of  Womelsdorf, 
Berks  county  He  died  in  1ST:;.  He  had  two  sons,  Wil- 
liam r.ckert  and  James  Isaac. 

WARREX  J.  WOODW.VRD.  second  President  Judge 
of  Berks  county,  from  IMil  to  1S74,  under  the  amended 
Constitution  of  Penn.^ylvania,  w;is  born  Sept.  ~4,  1S19,  at 
Bethany,  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.  His  father,  John  iC.  Woodward, 
was  a  civil  engineer  and  journalist,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  decease,  in  IS'2'},  was  prothonotary  of  Wayne  county. 
His  grandfather  was  an  associate  judge  of  that  cunty 
for  fifteen  years,   and   sheritf  in   ISnv. 

.Vfter  acquiring  an  academic  education  at  Wilkes  Barre, 
Warren  J.  Woodward  taught  school  for  several  terms  in 
his  native  county.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
directed  his  attention  to  newspaper  puhlications,  and  con- 
tinued his  connection  with  them  till  1840.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Wilkes  Earre,  and  selecting  the  law  as  his 
profession,  entered  the  office  of  hib  uncle,  George  W. 
W'oodward,  a  practisir.g  attorney  at  the  Luzerne  county 
Bar,  for  the  purpose  of  pur-,umg  the  necessary  course  of 
study.  W''hilsc  in  this  office  his  uncle  was  elected  to  the 
Bench  as  president  judge  of  the  41h  Judicial  District  of 
Pcnns\lvania.  Hi.s  preparation  was  completed  imder  the 
preceptorsliip  of  Hon.  Edmund  L.  Dana,  and  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  .\ug.  1,  1842.  He  continued  in  active 
and  successful  practice  for  fourteen  years.  In  April,  ISoG, 
the  Legislature  erected  a  new  judicial  district  out  of  Co- 
lumbia, Sullivan  and  Wyoming  counties — the  2Gth  in  the 
State—and  the  Governor  appointed  him  to  the  position  of 
preside!''!  judge;  and  in  C)etober  following  he  was  elected 
for  the  term  of  ten  years.  His  reputation  spread  rapidly 
into  adjoining  districts.  Half  of  his  term  had  not  ex- 
pired, yet  some  of  the  old  districts  offered  him  the  nomina- 
tion for  the  president  judgeship  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
This  was  a  flattering  recognition  of  his  judicial  character 
and  ability;  but  he  declined -tite  hcinor.  In  ISiU,  the  term 
of  the  president  judge  in  Berks  county  was  about  to  ex- 
pire, and  the  major  part  of  the  attorneys  gave  him  a 
pressing  invitation  to  become  his  successor.  The  Demo- 
cratic convention  held  at  Reading,  Aug.  31,  ISCl,  gave  him 
the  nominaiion  by  acclamation,  and  this  he  accepted.  In 
his  letter  of  acceptance,  besides  expiessing  his  gratitude 
for  the  high  honor  conferred  upon  in'm,  and  his  opinion 
about  the  improprietv  of  law  judges  participating  in 
political  struggles,  he  informed  the  connnittce  that  in  the 
matter  of  the  Civil  War  then  i  aging  h.e  was  most  positive- 
ly for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  of  all  the  States,  and 
for  the  enforcement  of  the  Constitution.  His  sentiments 
were  highly  approved,  and  in  October  following  he  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority  over  a  local  candidate  for  the 
same  position. 

Judge  Woodward  mo\ed  to  Reading  and  took  his  ."cat 
upon  the  Ijeiieh  in  Decemlter,  J8i)l.  Hi:;  judicial  and  social 
deportment  at  once  inspired  the  citizens  with  unqualified 
confidence.  The  Civil  War  caused  much  commotion  in 
the  county.  The  Democrats  were  displeased  with  the  ex- 
treme course  of  the  Republican  administration  in  national 
affairs,  but  he,  notwithstanding  his  election  by  them,  ad- 
vised co-operation  and  the  enforcement  of  law  to  restore 
peace.  His  earnest  public  actions  in  behalf  of  the  war. 
in  conjunction  with  prominent  and  influential  professional 
and  business  men,  contributed  a  powerful  iniluence  toward 
the  creation  of  a  proper  spirit  in  tliat  alarming  pcriorl. 
His  patriotic  conduct  as  a  man  of  Democratic  principles 
and   association    is   worthy   of   special    mention. 

During  his  term  he  was  uiuisually  devoted  to  his  office, 
and  his  administration  of  its  responsible  duties  gave  en- 
tire satisfaction:  ;uid  he  i)Ceame  th(u-<-iugIiIy  idetitiiied  with 
the  inlorc^ts  and  \.eirare  of  the  cninty.  His  rc-elccJion 
was    therefiire    a.^surcd.      Shortly    before   the    CNpiration    of 


his  term,  the  Legislature  had  established  a  District  Court 
for  Luzerne  county,  and  the  Bar  of  that  county  unani- 
mously iirvited  him  to  accept  the  oflice  of  president  jud.'e 
of  the  new  court.  When  the  movement  became  known  ij 
the  attorneys  of  Berks  county  they  held  a  special  meetiu" 
and  passed  resolutions  expressing  the  highest  regard  and 
affection  for  him,  and  inviting  him  to  remain  with  them. 
The  thorough  appreciation  of  his  course  upon  the  Bench 
b\  the  entire  coinminiity,  and  the  earnest  expressions  of 
good  will  by  all  the  attorneys  who  practised  under  him. 
induced  him  to  remain  in  the  county.  He  was  nominated 
by  acclamation  at  the  Democratic  convention  in  June, 
1S71,  and  re-elected  for  a  second  term  of  ten  years  bv  a 
large  majority. 

The  new  Constitution  of  the  State  increased  the  number 
of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  from  .five  to  seven 
members,  and  the  two  new  members  v.'ere  to  be  elected  in 
1^74.  one  by  the  Democratic  party  .md  the  other  by  the 
Republican.  The  superiority  of  Judge  Woodward's  judicial 
qualiiications  and  experience  brought  him  prominently  be- 
fore the  Democrats  of  the  State  as  a  worthy  candidate 
for  this  important  position,  and  h.e  received  the  nomination 
of  their  .State  Convention.  This  honor  was  given  to  him 
without  solicitation  of  any  kind  on  his  part.  The  otTice 
truly  sought  the  man.  Upon  his  nomination  he  received 
numerous  congratulatory  letters,  and  the  people  of  Berks 
county  rejoiced  at  this  honor,  thuugli  by  it  they  would 
suffer  the  loss  of  his  valuable  services. 

Shortly  after  the  election,  the  Hon.  Edward  M.  Paxson, 
the  Reimblican  candidate,  elevated  at  the  same  time  to  the 
Supreme  Bench,  visited  Judge  Woodward  at  Reading. 
While  here  tliey  cast  lots  for  precedence  in  the  order  of 
succession  to  the  position  of  chief  justice,  and  Judge 
Paxson  won  it.  Judge  Woodward  took  his  seat  Jan.  1, 
187.5,  and  filled  the  office  with  honor  and  distinction  till 
his  decease,  Sept.  2.1,  J87<i.  He  was  particularly  regarded 
for  devotion,  ability  and  conscientiousness  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.  His  remains  were  buried  at  Wiikes 
Barre. 

Judge  Woodward  was  elected  president  of  the  Reading 
Benevolent  Society  at  Reading  in  1871.  and  he  tilled  this 
iifj'iee  iMitil  his  decease.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
benevolent  affairs  of  the  community,  and  gave  generou.=ly 
toward  the  relief  of  poor  people.  In  187.')  he  received  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College.  While  upon  the  Bench  in  Berks  county, 
he  adjudicated  ma:iy  cases  and  his  opinions  were  not 
questioned  by  writ  of  error  or  appeal.  These  cases  were 
compiled  by  G.  A.  Endlich,  Esq.,  an  attorney  of  the  Berks 
county  Bar,  and  published  in  two  volumes  in  1885.  They 
are   known   as   "Woodward's    Decisions." 

Judge  Woodward  married  Katharine  Scott,  daughter 
of  Hon._  David  Scott,  ol  W'ilkes  Barre.  and  by  her  had 
three  children  ;  Henry  and  Warren  were  both  admitted  to 
the  Ear.  but  are  now  deceased,  and  Katharine  Scott  m. 
FVank  Perley  Howe,  son  of  Rev.  M.  A.  DeWolfe  Howe, 
D.  D.,  deceased,  and  resides  at  Philadelphia. 

LOUIS  F.  KRAEMER,  son  of  Louis  and  Catherine 
(Pfeil)  Kraemer.  was  born  at  Greencville,  a  suburban 
town  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  July  30,  IS.'^I,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  that  place,  at  Trenton,  N.  ]., 
and  at  Myerstown.  Pa.  Upon  arriving  of  age  in  1875 
his  father  gave  him  air  interest  in  Stony  Creek  Mills, 
which  the  father  had  established  in  Berks  county,  three 
miles  east  of  Reading,  in  18G.';.  lind  was  operating  suc- 
cessfully at  th.il  lime.  There  the  son  began  his  active 
cireer  in  connection  with  this  prominent  manufacturing 
plant,    and    has   continued    with    it   until    now. 

In  1S'.)3  Mr.  Kraemer  assisted  in  organizing  the  Read- 
ing N'.itional  Bank,  and  became  one  of  its  lirst  directors, 
serving  as  such  up  to  the  present  time.  In  1900  he  co- 
operated with  capiiali-ts  in  establisliing  the  third  trust 
company  at  Reading,  aiul  upon  its  organization  under 
the  n.inie  of  the  ('c-.lorii.il  Trust  Com|)anv  he  was  cleel-'-d 
preridcnt.  and  this  responsible  position  he  i;  still  fill- 
ing. .After  nil  existence  of  but  a  few  \ears,  the  com- 
pany  erected   a  niiv-story  office   building  on   I'eiin   Square. 


i;ii  Hiu.M'iiu-  \i. 


34V) 


tiiw.ml  .-.(.' c  mini;  a  i-nin  vMiu-nl  aiul  inonini.ul  jil.ico  li'i  its 
liiiMiio.--,  .iiul  Ui.'  I'luKliiiK  IS  lu.i  ciily  iIk'  liiu  jI  .iiul  1. li- 
test of  its  kiiul  ;\l  ki'.uliiit',,  Inn  alxi  >iiu'  ot"  tlic  liiiest. 
ill  Pciiiis\lvaiua,  tiiilv  a  iiinmniuiil  tc  tin-  ''titiiirisi  ami 
liKiiiancii'iMit  ot  lllis  Imaiu'ial  iiisliimivMi  aiiil  ;M>i\ini;  a 
most   siihstaiitial    iiivi  stiiu'iu, 

Mr.  Kriu'tiu'i-  maiiitil,  in  is;:,  V.Un  Hall,  ot  lluntiiik' 
(Ion,  I'a.  liu'\  arv  .uii\i'  nuinl)i'is  of  St.  I'aiil's  Monior- 
ial  l\«'loriiH'il  C'luiu-li  at  KeailiiiK',  ;»'h1  ,-iiu-c  ihrir  niai 
ri.im'  iia\c  iisiiUd  ai  Stony  Crcik.  Ik-  ha--  ln-eii  scrv- 
itiK  as  ill!  clili  r  111  till-  connroK.iiion  siiu-e  i.uni.irv.  IDOii, 
l'illiii.m  a  [losilion  wliii-ji  Ins  fatlii-c  li;ul  lillnl  tor  in.itn 
yc.ir.s. 

Louis  Kku'uk'I'.  llio  I'.nlu'r,  u.i>  I'nn  .ii  lU'rl.-Ui  i ).;,  in 
tlio  jJioviiu'L'  oi  \\\  sliilialia.  (urinany,  on  J.ui.  :;,  IS'JS, 
ami  was  hrniiL-ht  ni>  nnil  oiIiumIimI  in  that  pl.irc. 
Hi'  loanu'il  tlio  iiailc  o(  iImIiii;  .ii  iKiiiiifn  vn  the  KInnc 
livi'i',  a  pronnn' nt  lr\lilr  ni.nnil.ii-tm  in  •,  town,  I'pon 
complcliiik;  .i  lluu.uii'.h  appi  i'iitiiT--lni>,  In-  cniij-.l  .itnl  to 
IViinsylv.iiii.i  in  I'^IS.  wInK'  still  vnuK'i  a^',  ainl  Ioc.iIihI 
at  Maii.iyunk.  w  hi  1 1-  ho  sicurcil  tlu'  I'osiiioii  of  ilycr  in 
the  inaniil.u'iiirinr,  pi. nit  o\  losi'ph  KipK'.i.  lie  n-iu.iiiu'il 
at  this  phu'c  tliu'i-  y.us,  .nul  tlu-ii  wont  to  N'oruii'li.  loiiii,, 
to  assume  ch;u'>:c  of  two  laii'.c  ilvi'inwt  ostalilish.iiunts,  oiu- 
at  th.it  rily  anil  llu'  ollu'v  ,it  ( li-c<-n.'\-illc.  ;in  ailioimn,;  I'mn, 
Ailri  «.  .inlnniini',  tliii\  luarlv  lilln  n  \r.\\  ,  In-  \is 
ilril  Ki'.ulinr,.  I'.i  ,  .iml  hi-i'Minini,;  ta\Mi.ihl\  itnpi  r^sril' 
Willi  this  v.'owini;  I'ilv  .is  .1  |ir.Minsinj)  cintiT,  lu'  scU'i'lrii 
a  silo  for  a  mill  on  thr  .Antiol.ini  1  rook,  iit  a  point  lliioo 
milos  o.ist  fioni  Ko.ulini'..  In  IMil  tho\'  ooinnioiuoil  in.iU 
ing  woolen  };oo>.I,'.  nmhi  the  ii.nno  of  Ki.irnur,  Soh.irlii 
&•  Co.  In  ISV'.i  till-  luinpaiii  v\,i'.  1 0  Ml  k;.ini.-<  il  lindi  1  (ho 
name  of  I.onis  Ki.-ninor  \  I'o..  .nul  l!i.-  vwrks  li.ivo  hooii 
opoi'.iliil  nnili  I  ll'i.  n.ni'o  oxot  :  iiiio.  This  inilii.stry 
Iias  lioon  voiv  sill  I  I'. ■till  liM  o\or  lnil\  \o,ns,  the  ('.odiIs 
manuf.ii-lni  oil  uhluiuiir,  .1  hioli  ropilt.ition,  and  hoin)\  ship 
poil  to  all  pill  i.f  llir  I'niliil  St.ilis.  Umlo  n.itin.illv 
a  lhii\iii)>,  MilliiiHiil  w.i.  Iinoi'-il  in  llio  \;rlnit\'  nf  the 
plani  hv  its  iinplMi  >■■;,  ,iiii|  lliis  o.mio  to  h.-  Known  as 
.S|Mii\  (loik.  oiiinin  r.mo,  iu';iil\'  tillv  il  .\  .Iliiii"..  ,ini|  a 
pninilaliiin  rscii  .li;i;;  :'lill,  'i'lic  |cMi  liii/,  spiiil  pi  ',ho  onin 
niiniit\  W.I,  thr  fnniuU'i  ,.1  [\v  pi, ml  wliii  h  supports 
'the  ponpK'.  .ill  ,ii  i\  hum  1  rsp.i-lod  Inin  liiiJilv  foi-  his 
btnipio  Iml  iiuhli  n.ilnir  and  liii.-  1  luili.Mi  .hai.iotor 
His  hi\o  I  f  iH'opIi  iMid.'v  .mil  ,ih(>iil  liiiii  .md  llio  uoiptooity 
liotwoin    llu  III    u.is    a-;    .ulniii  .ililr    .is    il     w.r.    .ipprooi.ihlo. 

Ml.  Im.imii.'i,  111,-  i.iiJii'r,  ua,  nianird  111  I.h.v.'  1,,  (.'alli- 
oiino  I'lcil.  d.ii-dili  I  n\  hdin  I'i'il.  mI  \\  >  .1  ;ili:ili,i.  'I'lloy 
wore  the  pail  III  n\  Imir  ohildiiti,  '0  win. in  tlio  sun 
li;iluod  i'  Iho  iiiiK  stiivivnr  riir\  vvno  iiuiiiIm'is  of  .St. 
Palll's  .Moninii.d  U'rf.Miiii.l  (  Inn  oh  "i  l\'..idnii',  hrillii 
amour,  tlio  Inst  inomhoi  s  .at  its  ,ia  jmiii.mImii,  wlnn  tliov 
wilhdiiw  fmiii  III!  I'iisl  Ivof.ninod  (  Imioh,  Tlio  wife 
died   in    |s,-.    and    Mio   hii.h.ind    in    I'.'o.!. 

))ll|■ill^T  tlio  la  ,t  t\\ont\  livo  vo.ir-  id'  Ins  lifo  Mr  Ki.io 
mer  in.ido  so\oi.il  trips  aoioss  iho  mo. in,  '.iivlii;:  'pooi.d 
atU'iilii.n  to  Swil/oilmd  aihl  Ii.  inianv.  f.M  w  liioli  ouiiii 
trios  ho  h.id  a  •linii!'  .iiiorti.in  I'lii  i -tahlislilnv,  of 
"Toxtili."  a  pii.mi  III"  iiidiisiii:il  snliiirl);in  t'n\n  Isiiu.o 
ahsoihod  hv  \\\  nini -^in^ ") ,  ,1  milo  w  rsl  ,<[  Ko;ii|inii  hv 
yoiliit.;  (loiinin  in.mn  l.nliii  ors  from  l",:iniioli  nil  the  Uliino, 
is    diioilly    .illi  ihiil.iMo    Pi    his    r.lo.il    -not  0  .s    aliii    inlliloiiio. 

S.'NMUhl,  llhll,.  oloik  nf  tho  Uililod  Stalls  Ciroiiil 
coiiil  at  riiil.idi  Iphl.i.  i,ii  lhiii\  sovon  vears.  u.r.  hum 
at  Koadiiip,.  P.oik-,  iMiiiiiv,  \piil  :•.■,,  |H'?7,  ilo  was  odn 
rated  in  priv.ito  ;;ohools  and  ,il  >',do  C'i'll.'o.-  iinlil  his 
eii;liti  iiitli  \o;ir.  when  ho  went  to  Pliiladi  l|ilii,i  In  oni'.ij'.o 
in  tho  wlinlc'salo  ilr\'  foods  hnsino>--s.  \\r  .onod  ;is  .1 
salosiiian  until  i-^iM.  .■nul  llun  ho.  .11110  a  paiin.i  i.f  P. 
A.  KniKdil,  tf.adini',  nndor  ih,^  n.iiiic  of  Kiiii;hl  \^  II. ■II.  fur 
a  miinhor   uf   •  ■  ■• 

Wlion  tho  t,'i\il  w.it  liii'Iro  oiil.  Mr  Poll  inliiod  and 
Served  thr.^.-  iioinllu',  .Xfl.iwaid  h.^  nlo.l  .is  ulio  of 
the  rinniin.' l..ni  IS  p.  .■uudiiit  tho  di.ill  .it  nnl.idolphia  : 
and  ho  ',01  Mil  ,r.  p.iMiia  III-  in  ih.  I'mli.!  Slates  Pi  jmi 
l.ir  .■\iniy  hv  tho  .ippi.inlii'.^iil  .it  Pii'a.hni  l.iii.nhi  In 
l''ohrii;o  V,     IHi;-..    he    was    cloolod    ;i    moinh.  1    uf    llio    I'ni.iii 


l.i,o.;ilo,  .111.1  ho  li.is  I. Kill  piuiiiiiioniU  idoiililii.l  uilh  this 
lulhioniial  m '.;aiu/atiuii  until  the  present  lime,  lie  be- 
e.imo  a  inemhor  of  the  Meade  Pusi.  (;.  .\.  R,,  at  Pliil;vdol- 
phi.i,  in  |Mi^.  .ind  ui  iho  l..u.i|  l.oLiion  in  is;  I,  rot, lining 
his  111,  luhorslnp  iiniil  iiuw .  ||o  was  eleoied  as  .1  momher 
of  the  lust  rity  Ti.-.ip  of  Cav.tlry  .it  I'liiladolphia  in 
l.s.M.  ,ind  he  is  n.nv  the  olde.st  siirviv  iii);  nuuihor  uf  this 
p.ipiil.ir  .md   hisiuiie  iiiiliiar>    suoioiv 

In  f^Tt)  Mr.  Hell  was  aiipuinied  hy  JiuIko  Mel\onii,i  .is 
the  eloik  n<i  iho  I'liilod  .^tius  (.lieiiit  toiirl  fur  the 
I'.astoin  l>istiiot  ^'i  Poiinsv  h  aiiia.  ■uid  he  lillcd  tlii.s  im- 
puiiaiit  oliioo  with  e.ro.it  suoooss  for  tliirtysoven  years, 
io,-,i^iiiii^',  Jan.  1.  I'.xir,  on  .looumit  of  his  ,^;o.  l!.-  w,is 
.M'p.nntod  Uiiitod  l^tates  I'unimis.sioiior  ;it  I'liiladolphia 
111  is;  I,  .md  he  is  >itill  servim;  this  iilViee.  noiwitlisi.nid- 
iiio,  his  .iiUaihod  \e.irs.  lie  wa.s  oK-eted  ,i  inomlu'r  of 
Iho  li...iiil  ut  sohuul  ouiitrulhrs,  .in.l  nllod  the  posilioii 
hi  loi-hoii.m  fur  luoiili  sov .  n  \o.iis.  ullioi.il  inj;  .is  pres- 
iilonl   y\i  the   ho. lid    lul    Iwoiilv   two  \o,ns 

111-,  l.iihor  was  tlu-  lion  S.imnel  Pell,  miioli.mt  ;it 
Ki.i.liiu',  .md  assooiato  .iiiili;e  uf  the  eoitn-i  of  I'.oiks  ooim- 
t\.  Ilo  w.is  hum  at  l\i-ailiii«  m  17'.i7.  h'.'i  m.niv  yoais 
iiiiiil  ho.  do, ■ia>e  in  ISiia  he  w.is  ,1  pi.imiiionl  momher 
111  tho  h'iisi  Preshvterinn  t'linii-li,  lie  111.11  li.d  1  .unisa 
Huwiii.iii.  d.iiir.htor  uf  1.1. uh  P.uwin.in.  ui  Hiownsvillo, 
P.I,  .md  llu  11  olnl.inii  w.  10:  ,\l.ii\  (ii.oi.  J.icoh  P., 
Siiinul  (.ih.iMV  Stiiluir.  l,.i...l|,>o  P..  \iilnir  1 1..  James 
l.invrie,    M.n  \     1  oiiis.i    :ind    Willi. nil     \iilini. 

His  |-,raiiilf.itlui  w.is  Willi. mi  Poll,  huri  in  Pol. in. I  in 
i;r.:;.  Ho  onnp.r.ilod  111  H'lt,  ,111,1  s,  Itl.,1  .11  Ko.i.lmo.  P.i.. 
wlu-ii-  ho  w.is  siui  .■■■  sliilK  Olio,,!!',  .1  III  tho  div  j'.oods 
hioiii.'-^.  .md  llu-  111. mil  1. 11  lino  n\  ll.uii  in  ■.o\oi.il  i^rist- 
iinlls  till  111  in\  \o.irs,  miiil  his  doooaso  in  ts.'s,  Ilo  ni.ir 
liod  M.iiv  ilio.-i.  .dsii  hum  in  Irol.ind,  d;nii;hioi  .if  Ai 
tinii    (iioii,   ,111.1    ihov    h.ul   .111   unh    ohild.    ."^aniiu  I 


DK-  CHAKPhS  Mh'CK  ,Sh  1 ,  T/ l-P.  phv -i.i.m  .ii  Plnl 
adolphi.i  UM  Ihiiiv  M.u',,  WIS  l„.in  .n  Phd.i.I,  Iphi.i  M.u.li 
7.  l-^.'i'i.  Ill  lo.ioo.l  lie.  pi .  hinni.ii  \  1  diu  iii..n  m  priv.i'o 
sohoiils  .iiul  in  the  l''.isil.iiin  \o.i.l.i,i\.  wliioh  ho  atl.iul 
III  imiil  t'i,',">,  vvlu-n  ho  li-uk  up  the  ■liulv  uf  iiudi.-nio 
111  iho  niiivor-ilv  iii  P,-niis\lvaih,i.  >.,radiialini'  .nul  1. 
ooi\iiiv,  his  dipluina  in  is',.-;,  Ilo  li.nol.d  .ihru.id  l.n  a 
\oai.  .ill'-ndiiio.  the  li.v:pil,ih.  in  In, -I. nul,  hraiioo,  Paly 
.md  li.uii.mv,  and  iipun  Ills  louirii  w  ,0.  ippuinird  ro>i- 
diiit  phvsu-i.in  III  ih,^  h|ii,u|i,il  ll.rpil.il,  wliioh  position 
ho  lilh-d  sneoossfnlls  tm  \\\n  \o.iis,  .ifterward  ho  at  ■ 
tondod  tho  hiispital  .0;  vi-iliiio  siiii.;iun  from  ISHj  to  1HS7. 
In  his  privat-  inaolioo  ho  w.is  assu.  i.ir.^d  with  Mr  Huraoc 
\  ,  I'A.ins  from  l.s,s:t  |u  i.-'.s ,,  hm  siiieo  I.'  ■•a  has  boon  .ir- 
livoK  oiir.ie.id  in  pi.ulioi  In  hiiiisolf.  I'"ur  liftooM  years 
hi  lioinir,!  nil  \iM|uin\.  Pli\'.iulun\  ,mil  H\i'.i,-iio  in  the 
P.i.lhniii  \.. 1.1,  no  .nul  .Iniiii!-.  the  M-ai  tS'.U  ho  lillod  the 
puMiiMii  ,.i  piul.^s'.ui  uf  H\i:ii'no  in  tho  Modiou  ("hiriir- 
oii  .il  ('.illooo  llniiii^-,  his  jirsl  ton  vi.os  uf  pri\-;ito  pi.io 
li,o  ho  W.I.  visilinir  plusioiaii  and  snii'i-un  to  pimu-nais 
nistiinliuns,  inoliidini;  llu-  ('liiritv  lluspital,  N'orthcni 
Hum.-,  Odd  h'elliiws  Hum.-,  \no.iii.i  lluiilo,  and  '-overal 
.illurs.  Sineo  l>'ti'.  ho  h.o.  h.,n  .loliii"  .-n;  tho  silpoivis- 
ii'.'  modu-.il  I'sainiiur  .-f  iho  Ilo.  hi  ^^  Insnranoe  l"uiii 
pmv  of  II:iilii.i.l.  ai  Phil.iilolphi.i,  uiili  iiiatiy  phvsioians 
iiiuhr  him.  IP  I. Ill  v,.iis  Hi.  S,  Il -,  r  ha--  .r.r.idiiallv  hoi  n 
wilhdrawini'  fi.un  a.iii.^  pi.uluo  nf  •iiodioinr  and  ilo- 
\nlini:  hi,  liino  .m.l  iiuiou  'u  malleis  nf  liv|,:iolio- -e-;- 
p,,  i.iIK  tn  iho  pindiuiinii  uf  pitii^  null,  .iiul  'ioiititio  am'i- 
iiihnio.  al  u  I.,  llu-  d'  i-nal  ul  iho  w.i  n-  uf  l.iri;e  eilios, 
p. 11  Ii, -111. nil  ,i;.iih.i:',o  .Hid  11'.  iiiliulum  In  ■.mil.irv  h\  pro- 
ilnols. 

In  ls-<".  ho  W.IS  niaiiiid  In  I  inip  ^iiiilh,  d.iii.-hl  r  nf 
1...  ph  Siiilh.  nf  Phil, id.  Iphi.i,  .md  Ihoi  hii,'  a  il.iiuditer. 
M.iii  I  uiii-..^  Iln  i.iihor  W.IS  li.ml.lm  IM.r  ^;.•lt/.-r 
(ouiisin  of  Inn. nh. Ill  h  ^.Iiti.  wluio  si,,  i.h  anni-.irs  m 
Ihi'i  pl'l'li'"-''!"" '■  '"""  ''  ^\  """  I  d.Mi  in  I'o'l  \\  hi  n  ho 
w.is  ;i  hov  six  \oai  -  nid  ho-  imlhIs  i.^iiuiMd  \\.'.l.  diiv 
mC  all  III-  wav  a"d  s,  nlnu;  .n  ( 'i  !■■  lliiio.  in  Chiu  wl|err 
ll'iv  won-  aiiiiin"  ''i-  In  si  s,iHoi'.  He  w.i^^  edii.'ato.l  llloio 
.•md  10111. mioil  !■•  Mi.il  \iiiiiiu  .it  luni.iu;  nplil  I>li.  wlu-n 
ho    wont    In    Plnl. Ill, ■Iphi.i   and   1  nlorod    ,1    w  lu'Io^i.do   nioeery 


■«    ■■  -•:    -■  :.:/ 


350 


HISTORY  OF  UERKS  COUNTY,  I'EXXSYLA'AXIA 


store  as  a  clerk,  where  he  continued  until  1S47.  He 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  his  cousin,  Jacob  Shectz, 
for  conducting  a  wholesale  grocery  and  liquor  business, 
and  they  were  partners  for  l"ii:een  years.  Their  store 
was  at  Third  and  Callowhill  streets.  In  1862  he  became 
the  sole  owner  and  he  continued  at  the  same  stand  with 
increasing  sucress  until  1S7.3,  when  he  removed  to  a  larg- 
er and  more  central  property.  No.  1017  Market  street, 
which  he  had  purcliased.  At  this  stand  he  became  still 
more  successful,  with  his  trading  relations  extending 
throughout  Pennfxivaiiia  and  into  tiie  adjoining  States; 
and  he  continued  actively  engaged  imtil  his  decca'ie  in 
ISSG,  having  been  identiiled  with  the  mercantile  life  of 
Philadelphia  for  forty  years.  He  was  largely  interested 
for  twenty  years,  in  the  "Continental  Hotel,"  then  the 
leading  hotel  of  Philadelphia,  and  at  his  decease  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Charles,  who  became  president  of 
the  board  of  managers  and  officiated'  until  1903.  He  was 
married  to  Louisa  Meek,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Meek,  of 
Liverpool,  in  Perry  county.  Pa.,  and  Ihey  had  eleven 
children;  Charles  ^1.;  Anna  Maria,  married  to  Dr.  Hen- 
ry A.  Smith;  Alice  Louise;  Susan  i\iay,  married  to  Joiin 
H.  Zebley:  Henry  Fisrer,  married  to  -Margaret  Moore; 
Ralph  Edgar,  married  to  Helen  Thomas;  Elizabeth 
Maud :  Walter  Hnrold,  who  died  in  lOO."),  aged  twenty- 
six  years;  and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 

Dr.  Seltzer's  grandfather  wa*"'  David  Seltzer,  born  in 
Heitlelberg  township,  IJerks  county,  at  Womelsilorf,  and 
he  assisted  his  father  at  !:irmi;ig  until  38:i!),  when  he  mov- 
ed with  his  family  to  Ohio.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Shtetz.  while  at  hoirie,  and  they  had  five  children,  in- 
cluding a  son  Franklin  Peter.  Upon  hi;  first  wife's  death 
he  married  Margaret  Kutitz,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, and  after  her  decease  he  married  a  tiiird  wife,  who.se 
name  was  Kuhn.  [For  antecedents  see  sketch  of  J.  R. 
Seltzer,  in  this  publication.] 

COL.  NICHOLAS  LOTZ  was  bor„  Feb.  20,  1740,  and 
emigrated  to  Peiiri'^ylvania  when  a  young  man.  He  first 
settled  in  the  western  stction  of  the  county,  and  there 
married  a  young  woman  by  the  name  of  Meyer.  Sonie 
time  previous  to  tlic  Revolution  he  located  at  Reading, 
and  became  the  owner  of  the  two  mills  ,'it  the  mouth  of 
the  Wyomissing  Creek,  which  he  conducted  vciy  success- 
fully. When  the  struggle  for  independence  began,  he  was 
promincp.liy  idcntit'ied  widi  the  jiatriotic  movements  at 
Reading.  He  served  as  one  of  the  ten  delegates  from 
Berks  comity  to  the  Provincial  Conference,  which  asse'.n- 
hlcd  at  Philadelpl'iia  v\  June.  1776,  and  upon  his  return 
home,  he  took  ai;  p.ctive  part  in  the  enlistment  of  men. 
He  was  commissioned  a  Licuten-int-co!oncl,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  niovement  of  the  ''Plying  Camp"  from  Phil- 
adelphia to  New  'S'orlc.  where  lie  n-as  engaced  in  the  brit- 
tle of  Long  island  and  taken  prisoner.  He  was  admit- 
ted to  parole  within  certain  bounds  on  April  16,  1777,  and 
exchanged  on  September  10,  1770.  In  17S0  he  was  ap- 
pointed conimis.sioner  of  Forage,  and  wliilst  serving  this 
appointment  he  purchafed  a  large  amount  of  supplies  for 
the  army,  consisting  of  ilour,  oats,  cattle,  sheep,  etc.  A 
receipt  book  of  his  still  ext:;nt  in  IS'i;?.  shows  receipts 
for  money  paid  out  from  .Aug.  1"?,  17S0.  to  Dec.  5.  1781, 
aggregating  $202. 03!^.  He  advanced  large  sums  of  mon- 
ey frotn  his  own  nurse  for  the  government,  but  unfortu- 
nately was  never  fully  repaid. 

Colonel  Lotz  represented  Berks  county  in  the  General 
.Assembly  from  17S4  to  17S!>.  and  again  from  1700  to  1704; 
and  he  filled  the  appointment  of  associate  judcre  of  the 
county  from  170.')  to  iSnCi.  having  succeeded  Colonel  Jo- 
seph Hiestcr  in  that  o!Tice.  He  died  Nov.  20,  1807.  He 
left  to  survi\-e  him.  eieht  chiUlren,  seven  sons — Philip. 
Nicholas.  Jacob.  John.  Henrv.  Michael,  and  William — and 
one  daucrhter— Rosa  Cm.  John  Ycairer).  His  remains 
were  buried  in  1h^  .gr;ive  yard  of  the  Fir'-t  Reform  il 
Cluirch  at  Readim:.  and  from  thence  removed  to  the 
Charles  Fvai:«'  Cemelerv.  He  w.t  a  man  of  splendid 
plusiqiic.  v.tII  pro;-'(,r!ioned.  ^'x  feet  three  inches  tall, 
and   weighed   about   three   hundreil   pounds. 


In  1794  Gen.  Washington,  then  President  of  the  United 
States,  vi>ited  Readiig  while  on  his  way  to  Carlisle.  Col. 
Lotz  was  at  the  head  of  a  party  of  prominent  men  who 
arrariged  a  military  parade  in  honor  of  Washington. 
The  latter  reviewed  the  parade  from  a  second  story  win- 
dov.'  of  Federal  Inn,  the  building  now  occupied  by  the 
Farmers'  Bank. 

Philip  Lotz  was  tlie  son  of  Col.  Nicholas.  His  fam- 
ily Bible  i.s  in  an  Lxcellent  sl.ite  of  preservatii.in,  and 
the  entries  were  made  by  himself.  We  copy  these 
entries:  My  father,  Nicholas  Lotz,  died  on  Nov.  29,  1S07, 
aged  67  years,  9  months  and  8  days.  My  dearest  wife, 
Catharina  Lotz,  died  March  13.  1321.  aged  41  years  and 
14  days.  His  marriage  record  is  as  follows:  April  16, 
1797,  Philip  Lotz  and  Catharina  Rapp  were  married.  Phil- 
ip Lotz  had  eleven  children.  The  oldest  was  William, 
born  April  4,  1700,  who  re.-ided  man\- \-ears  ar  No.  2i:!  North 
Sixth  street,  Reading,  and  v.dio  aided  largely  iii  erecting 
the  present  St.  John's  Reformed  church  Next  to  the 
youngest  child  was  Mary,  the  late  widow  of  Peres  Hain, 
a  well-known  member  of  St.  Paul's  church.  She  was 
confirmed  by  Rev.  William  Pauli  in  the  First  church  in 
lS'i4,  soon  after  its  erection. 

The  Bible  mentioned  above  is  the  property  of  Daniel 
Miller,  author  of  "History  of  the  Reformed  Church  in 
Reading,"  who  also  is  the  happy  possessor  of  a  large 
volume  in  German,  which  was  the  property  of  Col.  Nich- 
olas Lotz.  It  is  .1  book  of  sermons  v.lvch  explain  the 
.Apostles'  Creed,  the  Lord's  Prayer  and  the  catechism. 
It  was  published  in  Jena  in  16.".S.  Col.  Lotz  gave  this 
book  to  his  son  John.  On  the  tly  leaf  in  the  beginning 
of  the  book  is  this  transfer:  "This  bonk  belongs  to  John 
Lotz  after  my  death.  Witness  my  hand,  wriricn  on  the 
twenty-third  d.iy  of  No\einber.  ISOO.  Nicholas  Lotz." 
On  Jan.  IS.  isos,  John  Lotz  transferred  the.  book  to  his 
brother    Philip  Lotz. 

The  de.<cend.-iiits  of  Col.  Nichr.l.-is  I.otz  are  numer- 
ous in  Rea<ling.  Mrs.  Hoffman,  wife  of  the  late  Rev. 
Henry  Iloffm.ui,  v^^as  a  great-grandchild.  Mr.  Chas.  K. 
Snell.  present  sccret:iry  of  the  First  church  consistory,  is 
a    great-great-grandson. 

GARRICK  MALLERV,  fourth  President  Judge  oi" 
Berks  county,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  .After  ob- 
taining a  preliminary  education,  lie  entered  Yale  College 
and  was  graduated  in  1800.  He  soon  afterward  became 
principal  of  an  academy  at  Wilkes  Barre.  While  occupy- 
ing that  position  he  engaged  in  the  study  of  law,  r.nd  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  about  1812.  Being  well-adapted  by 
nature  to  the  legal  profession,  he  added  to  his  efficiency 
by  diligent  study,  and  soon  acquired  a  practice  which 
extended  over  a  large  portion  of  northern  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  1S2.J  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives,  and  during  his  legislative  career 
was  instrumental  in  securing  the  enactment  of  certain 
bills  which  led  to  the  great  improvement  of  the  North 
Branch  region.  In  1832,  Governor  Wolf  appointed  him 
presi<lent  judge  of  the  Third  Judicial  District,  then  coin- 
posed  of  Berks.  Northampton  and  Lehigh  counties,  and  he 
served  the  appointment  for  three  years.  The  Hon.  William 
Strong,  of  the  Supreme  court  of  the  United  States,  was 
married   to   a   daughter. 

ELIJAH  BULL  was  for  about  thirty  years  one  of  the 
important  figures  in  the  commercial  world  of  Reading. 
He  was  probably  best  known  in  his  connection  with  the 
Reading  Stove  Works.  Orr,  Painter  &  Co.,  of  which  tlrm 
he  was  a  member  for  over  thirty  years  before  his  retire- 
ment, thereafter  continuing  to  serve  as  director  until 
hi?  death.  Other  business  interests  wdiich  made  him 
prominent  in  the  city  were  his  association  with  the  Nation- 
al L^nion  Bank,  the  Building  and  Lo:in  Association  and 
the  Readins:  Hospital.  Mr.  Bull  was  regarded  with 
ravtieular  esteem  as  tlie  architect  of  his  own  fortunes, 
for  he  rose  to  a  position  of  di-^tinrtirm  from  ordinary 
circumsl;inces. 

Mr.  Bull  was  born  T.m.  2".  IS:;.'..  :A  Sprinefuld.  Ches- 
ter   Co..    Pa.,    snu    i>f  'Tlioma=    .ind    Snrrdi    .-\.    (Painter") 


■  ■iit,"i    v^. ■:.-■;      '.I 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


351 


Bull,  and  grandson  of  Elijah  Bull,  the  latter  a  native 
of  Chester  county,  where  he  bpcnt  all  his  life.  IK-  owned 
and  operated  large  tracts  of  farm  land.  He  was  mus- 
tered into  the  volunteer  service  of  the  war  of  1S12,  but 
before  the  detachment  of  which  he  was  a  member  reach- 
ed the  front  the  war  had  i)cen  brought  to  a  close. 

Thomas  Bull,  lather  of  Elijah,  was  born  m  Spring- 
field, Chester  county,  May  L'.S,  1S02,  and  there  received 
his  education,  tie  was  reared  to  farming  which  he  fol- 
lowed in  his  native  county  until  the  spring  of  IS-iG,  when 
he  moved  to  Pottsville,  Pa.  There  he  took  up  the  voca- 
tion of  a  blacksmith,  but  ht  died  within  a  short  time 
thereafter  June  13,  ]S17.  He  married  Sarah  A.  Painter, 
and  they  had  five  children:  Margaret  m.  Levi  Buckv.al- 
ter,  of  Spring  City,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.;  Charles,  late  of 
Reading,  was  a  stove  mounter,  engaged  in  the  works  of 
Oi  r,  P.iinter  &  Co.;  Elizalieth  died  in  childhood;  Elijah; 
and  Mary  m.  the  late  B.  F.  Graff.  Mr.  lUill  m.  (second) 
Maria  Crylej',  and  to  thein  were  born  two  children,  name- 
ly :  Susan,  m.  to  Reuben  Rishcl ;  and  Tlionris,  who  re- 
sides in  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

Elijah  Bull  received  a  good  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Chester  county.  Going  to  Philadelphia,  he 
learned  the  tiadc  of  a  stove  molder,  and  there  follov\'ed 
that  occupation  until  he  was  thrown  out  of  employment 
by  the  closing  of  the  works  en  account  of  the  panic  of 
l'857.  Thereafter  until  1SG4  he  worked  part  of  the  year 
at  his  trade,  teaching  school  in  Chester  county  during 
the  winter  months.  In  ]SG-!  lie  began  teaching  in  Ma- 
hanoy  City,  where  he  continued  three  yea'-s.  during  which 
time  he  became  superintendent  of  the  schools.  On  Jan. 
1,  1867,  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Orr.  Paint- 
er &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  stoves,  hollowware  and  hne 
castings.  In  February,  IS.SO,  the  firm  was  incorporated 
as  the  Reading  Stove  Works,  Orr,  Painter  8i  Co.  Soon 
after  becoming  a  member  of  the  tirm  Mr.  Bull  assumed 
charge  of  the  shipping  dejiartment.  and  discharg'.'d  the 
duties  of  that  position  with  fidelity  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Orr,  in  June,  lr>0:3,  when  he  was  made  tre.irurer 
of  the  company.  The  latter  position  he  retained  until 
189S,  when  he  retired  from  active  participation  in  the  af- 
fairs of  tile  company,  though  he  continued  to  hold  stock 
and  serve  as  a  member  of  the  bo.ird  of  directors.  The 
extent  of  the  business  done  by  this  concern  may  be  judged 
from  the  fact  that  over  four  hundred  workmen  were  em- 
ployed ill  the  various  departments,  engaged  in  molding. 
casting,  grinding,  cleaning,  grinding  and  polishing,  nickel- 
plating,  finishing  and  mounting.  Four  Iiranches  are  con- 
ducted—in Chicago,  Boston.  Buffalo  and  Philadelphii. 
representing  thousands  upon  thousands  of  stoves  made 
and  sold  annually.  'Mr.  Bull  was  a  director  of  the  Nation- 
al Union  l^>ank  of  Reading,  and  a  member  of  the  Build- 
ing &  Loan  .Vssociation.  He  never  took  any  active  part 
in  public  matters,  his  business  duties  having  occupied  all 
his  time  and  attention.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  managers  of  the  Reading  Hospital,  and  liberal  and 
generous  along  lines  of  true  philantlin^py.  Mr.  Bull 
was  a  member  of  the  Memorial  M.  E.  Church  of  Read- 
in,  and  was  ;it  one  time  president  of  its  board  of  trus- 
tees. He  joined  the  Odd  Fellows  in  lS."i-,  atTiliating  with 
Welcome  Lodge.  No.  220,  of  Philadelphia,  and  wns  also 
a  member  of  Mt.  Penn  Lodge.  Knights  of  Pythias.  He 
enlisted  for  emergency  service  during  the  Civil  war  in 
the  42d   regiment.   Pennsylvania  \'oluntccrs. 

On  Dec.  31.  1S6T.  Mr.  Bull  married  Marv  .\.  .-Nmole, 
whose  father,  George  Amole,  of  Chester  county.  Pa.,  was 
born  Oct.  12.  1S02,  and  died  Feb.  20.  ISTO.  lie  was  a 
farmer  by  vocation,  and  always  resided  in  Chester  roun 
ty.  Mr.  Bull  died  Ian.  18,  1900.  and  his  wife  survived 
until  Sept.  l.S.  lOOn.  Their  only  child.  Edna  Marguerite. 
was  married  May  1.^.  190.">.  to  Henrv  C.  Kea-t.  a  native 
of  Michigan,  born  Sept.  24.  1SS2,  son  of  Charles  and  .An- 
na F..  (Eustice)  Keas'.  both  of  whom  were  born  in  Corn- 
wall, Encland.  Mr.  and  Mrs  Reasl  have  one  child.  Ken- 
neth E  .  born  Aug.  7,  I'.ior.. 

Mr.  Keast  came  to  keadinj  in  childly  ml  and  ureived 
his  education  in  the  public  school?  and  t!ie  Interstate 
Commercial   College.     F'or    >ome    time    he   v.'is   cliief   pack- 


er for  C.  K.  Whitner  &  Co.,  leaving  them  in  1902  to  en- 
ter the  employ  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
with  which  he  has  since  remained.  He  is  chief  clerk 
to  Mr.  A.  H.  Kline,  the  Chief  Inspector  of  Lumber  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. 

NATHANIEL  POTTS  HOBART  was  bom  in  Phil- 
adelphia Oct.  3,  1790,  read  Law  in  the  olhce  of  John 
C.  Smith,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  his  native 
city;  removed  to  Pottstown,  where  he  was  appointed 
justice  of  the  peace  by  Gov.  Simon  Snyder;  joined  Capt. 
I)aniel  De  B.  Keim's  company  of  Washington  Blues  in 
August,  181-i;  marched  with  it  to  Camp  Uepont,  and  there 
joined  the  1st  Regiment  of  Pennsylvania  Volunteers 
Oct.  7,  1814,  and  served  as  fourth  sergeant  of  the  com- 
pany until  Dec.  5th  of  the  same  year,  when  they  re- 
turned to  Reading;  admitted  an  att(jrney  of  the  Berks 
County  bar  Jan.  3,  181S:  was  clerk  in  the  prothonotary's 
office,  under  John  .Vdams,  for  several  years;  was  as- 
sistant clerk  in  the  House  of  Representatives  at  Harris- 
burg,  under  chief  clerk  Francis  R.  Shunk.  In  1S27  Gov- 
ernor Shulze  appointed  him  clerk  of  the  Orphans'  court 
and  court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  Berks  county,  which 
positions  he  held  until  1830,  when  he  removed  to  Potts- 
town. In  1820  he  was  appointed  auditor-general  of  Penn- 
svlvania  by  Governor  Ritner.  and  held  the  office  for 
three  vears.  He  resided  at  Pottstown  from  IS.'^.O  until 
his  de.ath  July  3,  1R60.  He  married  April  18,  1813,  Jo- 
anna Holland,  and  their  children  were:  John  Potts  (who 
became  an  attorney  in  Pottsville).  Sarah  P..  Eliza  R.. 
.Anna  Sophia.  Robert  IL,  Nathaniel  B.,  William  R.  and 
Ellen   G,   Hobart. 

EDW.-\RD  BURD  was  a  practising  attorney  at  Read- 
ing, h:iviii,g  been  admitted  to  pr.actice  in  the  courts  of 
Berks  conntv  in  1772.  He  removed  to  Reading  from 
Lancaster.  When  the  company  of  Capt.  George  Nagel 
marched  b>  Cambridge,  in  M:issachnsetts,  during  July 
and  .August,  177.").  lUird  was  one  of  a  ni:ni!ier  of  de- 
voted and  patriotic  sons  who  wen^  along  at  their  own 
expense;  and  when  the  "Flying  Lamp"  \va>  raised  he 
was  chosen  major  of  Mailer's  regiment.  In  the  i^attle 
of  Long  Island;  iif  .August.  1770.  Ive  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  wdiilc  imprisoned  addressed  a  letter  to  Hon.  Jasper 
Ycates,  at  Lancaster.  On  .\ngust  12.  1778,  he  was  ap- 
pointed prothonotary  of  the  Supreme  court,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  officiate  in  this  position  by  re-appointmeiit  until 
Tan.   2,    ISOO.     His   autograph   is   repriulue^d   herewith: 


a^^aJ^core^ 


JOHN  SILVIS  ERMENTROUT,  second  County  Super- 
intendent of  Public  Schools  of  Berks  county  (eldest  son 
of  Willi:;m  and  Justina  Silvis  Ermentrout),  was  born  at 
Woniel-rdorf.  Berks  county,  .Sept.  27,  1S?7.  When  he  was 
two  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  Reading,  and  there  he 
was  reared.  Developing  a  great  aptitude  for  stuily.  he 
was  sent  to  Marshall  College.  Mercersburg,  Pa.,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  184").  the  Ifrst  honor  m;in  of 
his  class,  though  not  yet  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  rc- 
maineil  in  the  college  as  ;i  tutor,  teaching  the  languages 
and  lecturing  rm  history.  .At  the  same  time  he  was  a 
student  of  the  Theological  Seminary  connected  with  the 
institution,  and  from  this  scmiiKiry  he  was  gradu.ited 
in  1S48.  and  then  ordained  as  a  minister  of  the  Reformed 
Church. 

I*"or  a  time  he  was  editor  of  the  Rcjouncd  .Ui'.wc )/.>;(- r. 
In  1S."j2  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church 
at  Xorristown.  I'a.,  where  he  served  for  six  "years.  He 
returned  to  Ri-ading  in  is."i9,  and  opened  a  select  school. 
One  year  afterwjird  he  w:is  elected  siipei  int.-ndent  of  the 
common  scIidoF.  and  he  wn?  twice  le-elerted.  ^.  rving 
fri>ni  isr.o  to  IsiV.).  In  Isil.'.  h.e  w;i>;  acii'.  e  in  f  iiinilin,;  the 
Kevstoile    State    Xorm.al    School    at    Kutztov.n.    became    its 


u    :•/:; 


It'    '.fr\:    :'f? 


353 


ITISTORY  OF   BERKS  COUNTY,  I"EXXSYL\'AXIA 


first  priiiciiial,  aiul  cuiitimu-il  as  such  until  ISTl,  wiicn 
he  resigned,  urciiaratory  to  making  a  public  profession 
of  his  faith  in  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  removed 
to  Ualtiniore,  wiure  he  edited  a  C:i;holie  j'-arnal.  Sub- 
sequently he  taught  in  ihe  St.  Charles  Uorronieo  Seminary 
at  Overbrook,  near  Philadelphia. 

In  1ST3,  by  the  unanimous  action  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  Keystunc  State  Normal  School,  he  \sas  re- 
called to  that  institution,  and  lie  filled  the  chair  of  Mental 
and  Moral  Science  and  l:.nglish  Literature,  until  his  death 
in  1881.  The  vast  iniluence  he  exerted  in  educational 
matters  can  hardly  be  overe.-=tiniated,  and  the  institution 
which  he  pronu  icd  at  Kut7to\vn  will  always  constitute  an 
enduring  monument   to   his   memory. 

JOXATH.W  JOXES  was  a  son  of  David  Jones,  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Caernarvon  township,  Berks 
county.  He  was  born  in  tliat  township  in  Ki'.S.  Upon 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Revoluiion  he  raised  a  com- 
pany of  Associators  in  that  locality,  and  was  appointed 
a  captain  in  the  1st  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  of  the 
regular  Continental  army  Oct.  2.j,  1775.  He  was  ordered 
with  his  company  to  the  "British  Barracks,"  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  acted  as  part  of  the  escort  of  Martha 
Washington  into  Philadelphia.  In  December  he  was 
ordered  mio  Xortliampton  county,  Va.,  to  protect  it 
against  Lord  Dunmore.  The  alarming  state  of  affairs 
in  Canada  led  to  the  revocation  of  this  order,  and.  by 
command  of  Congress,  he  marched  with  his  company 
of  eighty-three  men  for  Quebec,  over  the  snow  and 
"frozen  lakes."  This  terrible  midwinter  march  con- 
sumed two  months.  After  the  precipitate  retreat  from 
Quebec,  he  voluntarily  returned,  at  the  risk  of  capture, 
and  recovered  valuable  papers.  He  v/as  with  .\rnold  in 
his  pursuit  of  the  British,  after  the  battle  of  the  Cedars, 
and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  '"Three  Rivers,"  June  8. 
1776.  He  sharei]  th.e  terrible  and  distressing  sufferings 
of  the  army  in  its  disastrous  retreat  to  Ticonderoga, 
and  underwent  at  that  post  the  severe  and  exacting  r(ju- 
tine  of  military  duty  incidint  to  its  fortiiication  and 
defense  to  resist  the  attack  of  General  Carleton.  He 
was  stationed  there  from  July  9  to  Xov.  ]'>.  1776.  On 
Oct.  27tli  the  time  of  enlistment  of  his  men  ran  out. 
but  through  his  exertions  they  consented  to  remain  as 
long  as  the  encir.y  was  in  their  front.  After  a  year'.s 
active  service  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major, 
Oct.  2.5,  1770,  and  to  licntenant-colonel  of  his  regiment, 
which  had  become  the  2d  under  the  new  arrangement. 
March  1.2,  1777.  Hi.s  con:.tituli<in  was  so  shattered  by 
the  hardships  and  exposure  of  the  cam>i)aign  against 
Canada  that  he  was  obliged  to  return  home  to  recruit 
his  health  in  the  winter  of  177()-77.  Having  partiall)- 
recovered,  lie  rejoined  his  regiment  in  the  spring  of  1777, 
the  command  of  which  devolved  upon  him  after  the  res- 
ignation of  Col.  James  Irvine,  June  1,  1777.  Two  com- 
panies of  the  regiment  were  then  on  duty  in  Philadelphia 
and  the  remainder  were  guarding  the  upper  ferries  of 
the  Delaware.  Increasing  ill  health,  however,  obliged 
him  to  resign  his  commi.--sion  in  the  latter  part  of  July.  In 
December.  177S,  h.c  was  appointed  by  the  Assembl\  a 
commissioner  under  the  test  laws,  and  he  was  a  member 
of  the  General  .Assembly  of  Pcnnsvlvania  frotn  Berks 
county  from  October,  177'),  to  Octolier,  T7S0.  Tlis  health 
continued  steadily  to  decline,  and  he  was  shortly  after- 
ward stricken  with  paralysis,  of  which  he  died,  after  a 
lingering  illness,  on  Sept.  2(>.  17Sl'.  at  the  eaady  age  of 
forty-four.  He  was  buried  at  Banror  Churcli.  Cb.urch- 
towm,  of  v.-hich  members  of  his  family  had  been  wardens 
and  vestrymen  from  its  earliest  foundation. 

HTESTER  FAMILY.  One  of  the  old  and  imoort- 
ant  families  of  Berks  countv  is  that  '-if  Hiester.  and  the 
anccJtry  can  be  rlearlv  traced  to  Johannes  and  Catherine 
Hiester.  who  spelled  tlieir  name  in  German  I  luster.  They 
had  three  son;  who  cante  to  .America.  Joim.  Insi-ph  and 
Daniel  by  name.  John,  burn  in  Kl'T.  in  17.'.0  married 
Mary  Barbara  F.pler.  and  ■lied  in  )7."i7,  lMst(ili.  b^rn 
in    1710,    married     Eli^.ibeth     Strunk,     and     died     in     1777. 


Daniel,  born  m  1713.  in  1712  married  Catherine  Schnltr, 
and  died  in  1705,  They  were  natives  of  the  town  of 
h'.Loff,  in  the  Grafschaft  of  W'itgenstein,  Westphali.-., 
Germany.  These  brothers  settled  in  Pennsylvania  early 
in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  their  descendants  liave 
b.  en  more  or  less  prominent  in  the  various  walks  of 
life  in  the  same  section  ever  since. 

Joseph  Hiester  came  to  America  in  1738  and  lirst  went 
to  live  in  Goshenhoppen,  then  Phikidelpiiia  (.now  Mcnt- 
.goiiiery)  county.  Several  years  afterward  Joseph  and  hii 
brothers,  John  and  Daniel,  united  in  purchasing  from  the 
Proprietary  government  between  two  thousand  and  three 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  Bern  township,  Berks  county. 
Here  Joseph  and  John  settled,  while  Daniel  remained 
at  the  old  homestead  in  Goshenhoppen.  Joseph  and  his 
wife  Elizabeth  had  the  following  children:  John,  born 
in  ]7.')4,  ilied  in  1^20;  John  Christian  married  Susan 
Keber;  Catherine,  born  in  17oS,  died  in  1S13,  married 
Xicholas  Lieb ;  Daniel,  born  in  17C1,  died  in  1S27,  mar- 
ried Magdalena  Albright;  one  son  married  Barbara  Kautl- 
ntan;  another  son  married  Susan  Anman;  Ann  Eliza, 
born  .April  8,  1760,  married  Jacob  Van  Reed ;  Joseph, 
born  in  J7GS,  died  in  1S3U,  married  Elizabeth  Beck;  and 
W  illiam,  born  in  1770,  died  in  18:iS,  married  Anna  Maria 
Bentz. 

Daniel  Hiester  had  several  sons  who  were  distinguished: 
John,  born  in  1741),  was  a  member  of  Congress  in  1807 — 
US,  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Daniel,  who 
served  in  1809-10;  Daniel  of  Montgomery  county, 
born  in  1747,  Avas  a  representative  in  Congress  from 
Pennsylvania  from  1780  to  1797.  and  from  ^ilaryiaiid 
from  isoi  to  1S05;  Gabriel,  of  Berks  county,  served  thirtv 
years  in  the  State  Legislature;  William,  the  youngest  soii, 
for  a  short  time  served  in  the  Continental  army  Uhs 
son  William,  born  in  1791,  of  Lancaster  county,  was  a 
member  of  Congress  in  1833-35,  and  died  Oct  l-'i 
1853). 

T)ie  first  named  John  Hiester  had  a  son  Joseph,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  convention  to  ratify  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States:  was  repeatedly  ek-cted  to  the 
State  Senate  and  House;  was  a  member  of  Congress 
in  1797-1807.  and  from  1815  to  1S21.  resigning  to  assume 
the  governorship  of  Pcnnsvlvania.  He  died  June  10, 
1832. 

John  Hiester,  grandfather  of  John  K.  Hiester  of  Read- 
ing, was  a  son  of  the  Joseph  Hiester  who  was  born 
in  Germany  in  1710.  John  was  born  in  Bern  township, 
Berks  county.  Sept.  25.  1754,  and  died  Sept.  17,  1820. 
He  is  buried  at  Bern  Church,  which  he  helped  to  erect. 
He  owned  a  tract  of  200  acres,  which  was  divided  after 
his  death  into  five  shares.  This  was  all  woodland  when 
he  secured  it.  His  wife  was  Catherine  .Albright,  and 
they  had  the  following  children:  John  died  unmarried: 
.\nn  Eliza  married  Jacob  Gieiling;  William,  died  un- 
married; Daniel  died  unmarrietl;  Catherine  married 
David  Bohn;  Daniel  died  unmarried;  John  Christian 
married  Catlierine  Kramer;  ^'ost  m.-.rried  Rebecca  Reber; 
and   Jacob. 

Jacob  Hiester,  father  of  John  K.  Hiester.  was  bom 
in  r'.ern  township  July  1.  ISO],  and  died  ii*  .March,  187:":. 
He  was  a  lifelong  farmer,  and  dierl  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  was  be-rn  and  on  which  he  had  spent  his  whole 
life.  His  portion  of  the  old  Hiester  farm  was  some  sixty- 
six  acres,  to  which  he'  had  added  twenty  acres.  In  politics 
he  was  a  DMnucriil,  but  he  held  no  oiTice  except  that  of 
school  director,  a  position  he  I'llled  for  si.x  years.  He 
and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Bern  Church,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  leading  elders.  For  many  years 
he  served  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  State  militia,  and  he 
made  a  fine  appearance,  as  he  was  a  man  of  commanding 
presence.  He  married  Susanna  Kramer,  dinghter  of  John 
and  Catherine  (Rnhl)  Kramer,  of  lUrn  township,  and 
they  had  the  following  children:  .\d.un.  a  farmer  on 
the  old  hfimestead,  marrierl  Rebecca  Gring;  Lvdia  mar- 
ried John  M'lver,  :i  farmer  of  I  leidcllierg  township: 
Gabriel  died  young;  John  K.  is  residing  at  Reading:  Cath- 
eiine    died    unmarried. 


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BIOGRAPHICAL 


35J 


John  K.  Hucstkr  was  bom  in  Bern  township,  on 
one  of  tlie  old  Hiester  st;inds,  Nov.  ",  1848.  His  edu- 
cation was  obtained  in  the  township  scliools,  at  a  Reading 
academy,  and  at  tlio  Keystone  State  Nornial  School,  at 
Kutztown.  In  the  fall  of  ISCii;  lu-  began  teaching  at  Hicstcr's 
school  in  Bern  township,  and  during  the  winter  of  lSt)8-(Vj 
he  taught  in  Maiden-crtek  township;  later  taught  one  year 
in  Bern  township;  three  term?  in  Ruscoinbmanor  township; 
three  terms  in  E.xeter  township;  one  term  in  Jeiferson; 
one  term  in  Onteiauiu-c;  two  terms  in  I'lirdsboro;  three 
terms  in  Cumru;  two  terms  in  Robeson,  and  then  thirteen 
terms  in  Bern  township,  in  all  thirty-two  terms,  his  .services 
being  given  all  over  the  county,  with  fifteen  terms  in 
his  native  township.  He  thus  became  widely  known, 
and  ir,  held  in  high  esteem,  and  he  constantly  meets  his 
former  pupils,  many  of  whom  never  received  other  in- 
struction  than   that   lu*  gave   them. 

During  the  cummer  months,  until  1?00,  Mr.  Hiester 
worked  upon  the  farm  in  his  native  township,  but  in 
that  year  he  came  to  Reading  and  in  the  following  year 
he  purchased  his  comfortable  home  at  No.  314  South 
Thirteenth  street,  ivhere  he  has  resided  ever  since.  .After 
establishing  his  pome  at  Reading  he  continued  to  follow 
his  prof(;S5ion  during  the  winter  months  until  1898-1899, 
when  he  taught  for  the  last  time.  I-'or  five  summer 
seasons  he  wps  in  the  emidoy  of  AkK'rman  Gricsemer 
and  subsequently  wcirked  as  l.alior  boss  and  shipping  clerk 
in  the  Johnson  Foundry  &•  .Machine  Company,  where  he 
continued  for  seven  years:  when  that  brm  wer.t  out  of  busi- 
ness he  went  to  the  American  Iron  &•  Steel  Company,  where 
he  has   remained   until   the  present. 

On  Oct.  30,  1890,  Mr.  Hiester  married  Hettie  A.  Deish- 
cr,  born  Oct.  30,  la.lT,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Stayer)  Deisher,  the  former  of  whom  is  ,i  f.armer  and 
business  man  of  Berks  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Tlics- 
ter  have  been  born  three  children,  n,-uiu  ly  :  S.  .\dclla, 
born  I'c'u.  21,  1S02;  Morris  W'..  born  in  August,  ISO.'!,  who 
died  in  October,  1893;  and  William  L.,  horn  June  17, 
180->. 

Mr.  Hiester  has  spent  almost  all  of  lii.s  life  in  Berks 
county,  but  in  January,  1809,  he  went  to  Lee  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm  n]itil  his  return  to 
Berks  county  in  the  following  r)ctober.  Politically  he 
is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of  Bern  Union  Church 
and  of  the  Reformed  denominntion.  His  wife  worships 
in   Grace  Lutheran   Chuich. 

Thoma.s  K.  HiK.=;TEi-t,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of 
Bern  township  and  a  representative  member  of  an  old 
and  leadir:g  family,  was  born  where  he  now  resides.  Dec. 
Ifi,  I>(i!,  He  is  a  son  of  H.arrison  K.  Hiester  and  a 
grandson  of  John  Christian  Hiester  (son  of  Joseph,  born 
in  1710).  The  grandfather  was  a  man  of  ample  fortune, 
owning  two  farms  near  the  well-known  Bern  Church, 
and  he  was  noted  both  for  his  fine  personal  appcar.-mce 
and  for  his  good  judgment  and  foresight.  He  and  his 
wife  lie  buried  at  Bern  Church.  He  married  Catherine 
Kramer,  a  nati\e  of  Bern  township.  Tliev  had  five  ch.il- 
dren :  Benneville:  Jared ;  Harrison  K. ;  Wasiiinstnn,  twin 
of  Harrison,,  now  residing  on  Xorlh  Om  en  street,  Lrin- 
caster,  the  oldest  surviving  member  of  this  family;  and 
^Ta^ia,    who   married   John    Kyrich. 

Harrisoii  K.  Hiester,  father  of  Thomas  K.,  was  born 
in  Bern  township  Aug.  0.  183::;,  and  died  .April  .■:7.  10O4; 
he  was  laid  to  rest  in  Bern  churchyard.  He  was  the 
owner  of  the  old  homestead,  consisting  of  134  acres,  and 
later  he  bought  an  adjoining  farm  of  107  acres  from  his 
brother  Benneville,  the  transaction  taking  place  in  1876. 
He  was  an  enterprising  farmer  and  a  man  of  progress 
in  his  commimity.  .At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
serving  as  school  director.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 
ITe  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  K'efr>rmed  faith  and 
of  the  Bern  Church.  He  married  Rosabella  Kischner, 
born  Sept.  1'"..  1R:;1.  who  diol  hVb.  Qt.  1878.  aged  forty- 
three  years,  five  nK>nths.  eight  da\-s.  Thev  had  issue  as 
follows-  Kate,  willow  of  .Aaron  Bolin.  li\es  at  Mt.  IMeas- 
ant :  Flltn  married  1.  F,  Ye.nger;  'I'liomas  K.  is  men- 
tioned bciinv  :  Marv  married  Ton.itIi:in  (Milint'cr.  of  Bern 
township:  Rosa  married  .Adam  Gridier;  Sallie.  dece.ised, 
23 


married  Cyrus  Eohn;  Annie  married  Henry  Stamm,  of 
Penn  township;  Jemima,  unmarried,  resides  at  Reading; 
Fdw:ird  K.  lives  in  Bern  township;  Harry  lives  in  Penn 
township;  Lizzie,  residing  in  Bern  township,  is  married  to 
Grant  liartman. 

Thomas  K.  Hiester  was  educated  in  the  township 
schools  and  the  Kutztown  State  Normal  School,  and  in 
1879  he  taught  school  in  Bern  lownshii).  Then  he  was  em- 
ployed by  his  father  until  18S8,  when  he  began  to  farm 
the  homestead  for  himself;  he  bought  the  property  in 
190.).  His  farm  contains  134  acres  of  very  v;duable  land, 
which,  under  Mr.  Hiester's  excellent  management,  is  very 
productive.  Like  the  other  members  of  his  family  he  is 
idcntilied  with  the  Democratic  party  and  is  sound  on  all 
its  doctrines.  He  has  served  on  the  township  election 
board  and  in  1890  he  w;is  made  a  me.uber  of  the  school 
board,  of  which  he  has  been  president  ever  since,  having 
twelve  schools  under  his  supervision.  He  is  a  leading 
member  of  the  Bern  Refomied  Church  and  one  of  its 
deacons. 

Thomas  K.  Hiester  married  (first)  Eva  Bohn,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Emanuel  and  Elvina  (.KrickJ  Bohn.  She  died 
Dec.  31,  1891,  aged  twenty-three  years,  seven  monins, 
nine  days,  and  w:is  buried  at  the  Bern  Church.  She  was 
stirvived  by  two  children,  William  and  Edna,  the  for- 
mer of  whom  resides  at  home;  the  latter  married  Daniel 
Gicker,  :i  well-known  young  man  of  this  community.  Mr. 
Hiester  married  (seciv.ul)  Kutli  Fisher,  daughter  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  Fisher,  and  they  have  had  two  children: 
Walter,  who  attends  school;  and  Mabel,  who  died  aged 
ten  months,  June  9.   190L'. 

Edwaki)  K.  Hiesiek,  a  well-known  young  farmer  of 
Bern  township  and  a  member  of  the  old  Hiester  family 
of  this  section,  was  born  on  the  Hiester  homestead  May 
1,  1871,  son  of  Harrison  K.  and  Rosabella  (Kischner) 
Hiester.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
township  and  during  1S88-S9  was  a  student  lor  two  ses- 
sions at  the  Kutztown  St.ite  Normal  School,  after  which 
he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm.  In  1898  he  began 
10  farm  for  himself  and  bought  one  of  the  Hiester  hoiijc- 
steads.  It  is  valuable  land,  and  Mr.  Fliester  has  im- 
proved it  by  erecting  fine  buildings  ;ind  modernizing 
his  rcsidcu.cc  to  a  large  degree,  putting  in  a  system  of 
water  pressure.  His  land  adjoins  the  Iicrn  Church  prop- 
erty. In  1892  he  married  Sallie  Schwoyer,  dat'.ghter  of 
Cornelius  and  Sarah  (Looser)  Schwoyer,  of  Centreport, 
Berks  county,  and  they  have  the  foUovving  children : 
.Abner,   Harry,   Earl,   Bertha,   Edward  J.  and  John. 

Politically  Mr.  Hiester  is  a  Democrat,  anil  he  has  served 
as  township  assessor.  He  is  serving  in  his  third  term  in 
this  otlice  and  is  a  popular  public  official.  For  two  ycors 
he  served  as  a  deacon  of  the  Bern  Reformed  Church. 

COL.  DANIEL  UDREE  was  born  in  Philadelphia 
Aug.  .5,  l"."*!.  Removing  to  Berks  county,  he  settled  in 
Oley  township,  where  he  became  extensively  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  iron.  He  operated  the  Oley  Furnace 
and  Rockland  Forges  v?ry  successfully  for  over  thirty 
years,  owning,  in  connection  with  those  industries,  sev- 
eral thousand  acres  of  l.ind.  He  was  established  in  busi- 
ness bv  his  uncle,  Jacob  Winey,  a  prominent  capitalist 
and  merchant  of   Philadelpliia. 

Colonel  IJdrce  was  enlisted  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
for  several  years-,,  commanding  a  regiment  at  the  battle 
of  Brandywine  where  his  horse  w;is  shot  under  him. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  local  militia  for  many  years, 
and  served  as  major-general  for  one  term  of  seven  years 
about  181.").  He  represented  Berks  county  in  the  Gener;il 
.Asscmblv  from  1799  to  1803,  and  also  for  the  year  1805. 
and  while  there  showed  an  earnest  interest  in  legisl.ilion 
relative  to  public  internal  improvements  in  the  Stale. 
He  was  the  representative  in  Congress  for  the  Berks  Dis- 
trict for  two  terms,  from  1813  to  181.").  and  from  1823 
to  182'!.  It  was  while  he  was  at  Washington,  during  his 
last  term  in  Congress,  that  John  Quiney  .Ad.nrs  was 
elected  President.  He,  however,  was  one  of  Jackson's 
•:iipportcr<;.  He  died  July  15.  181"^.  leaving  a  large  estate, 
lie  was  the  last  really  pniminent  and  representative  man 


354 


HISTORY  OF  r.ERKS  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


who  lived  in  Oley,  and  one  of  the  few  Congressmen  se- 
lected from  the  country  districts  of  the  cpiuity.  lie  was 
a  well-developed  man,  rather  below  the  mediinn  height, 
and  his  conversational  manner  was  quick  and  nervous. 

JOHX  BANKS,  the  inth  President  Judge  of  Berks 
county,  serving  from  18l!0  to  1S47,  was  l.iorn  near  Lewis- 
Inirgh,  Juniata  county.  Pa.,  in  tiie  year  17y3.  His  pa- 
ternal grandfather  emigrated  froni  Scuiland.  Mis  father 
being  a  farmer,  his  youth  was  spent  mostly  on  a  farm, 
but  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education  were  not  denied 
T.im.  He  entered  upon  the  study  of  law,  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  in  181'j,  and  soon  after  removed  to  the  western 
part  of  the  State.  He  located  in  Mercer  county,  and 
there  attained  eminence  at  the  Bar.  Without  any  solicitation 
on  his  part  he  was  nominated  and  elected  a  representative 
in  Congress  and  t\vice  re-elected,  serving  from  1831  to 
1836.  He  v.-on  distinction  in  Congress  by  his  treatment  of 
contested  election  cases.  In  the  spring  of  1S3l1,  he  va- 
cated his  seat  in  Congress  to  accept  the  appointment  of 
president  judge  of  the  Third  Judicial  District  of  the  State, 
comi)Osed  of  the  counties  of  Berks,  L.ehigh  and  North- 
ampton. His  superior  qualities  soon  won  for  him  the 
full  confidence  of  the  people.  No  man  was  ever  more 
obliging  and  condescending  to  his  junior^  th.an  he,  and  no 
man  ever  lived  in  Reading  v.luise  companionship  was 
more  highly  prir.ed  by  so  varied  a  circle  of  friends.  Hav- 
ing spent  eleven  years  as  president  judge  of  the  court, 
he  resigned  the  position  in  1847  and  accepted  the  otTice 
of  State  treasurer  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  he  served 
one  term.  In  1841,  while  judge  of  the  courts,  he  was  nom- 
inated by  the  AVhig  party  for  the  oftice  of  governor  of 
Pennsylvania,  but  was  defeated  liy  David  R.  Porter,  the 
Democratic  nominee.  He  was  subsequently  nominated  by 
the  Whig  members  of  the  State  Legislature,  when  in  the 
minority,  as  their  candidate  for  United  Staie-  senator, 
lliion  his  retirement  from  the  Bench,  Judge  Banks  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  the  law,  and  soon  became  the  ac- 
knou-Iedged  leader  of  the  Berks  cmmty  Bar.  He  contin- 
ued in  his  profession  until  hi;  rlenth,  April  3,  1SG4,  enjoy- 
ing a   very  extenr.ive  and   lncrali\-e   practice. 

DR.  WILLTA:\r  F.  :MUHLENBERG,  physician  at  Read- 
ing since  1S72,  and  a  lineal  descendant  of  Rev.  Henry  Mel- 
chior  .Muhlenberg.  recogni7.cd  as  the  founder  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  America,  was  born  in  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  Nov.  3S, 
IShJ,  while  his  father  was  filling  the  position  of  Pro- 
fessor of  Greek  in  the  Pennsylvania  College  at  that  place. 
His  preliminary  education  was  obtained  at  that  institu- 
tion, and  he  was  graduated  from  Muhlenberg  College 
at  Alleniov,-n,  Pa.,  in  ISGS,  of  which  his  father  had  be- 
come the  president.  Then  he  t_'ntered  the  Medical  De- 
partment of  the  L^nix'ersity  ef  Pennsylvania,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1872.  Selecting  Reading  as  a  promising  tield  for 
practising  his  chosen  profession,  he  located  in  that  city, 
-won  the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  soon  secured  a 
lucrative  practice,  which  he  has  held  until  the  present 
time.  In  1S84  he  was  appointed  surgeon  for  the  Penn- 
sylvania Schuylkill  Valley  Railroad  Company,  for  cases 
arising  at  and  in  the  vicirnty  of  Reading,  and  he  lias  since 
served  this  position  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.  Dur- 
ing this  long  period  he  has  also  served  a?  a  surgeon  at 
the  Reading  Hospital. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  has  been  an  active  member  of  the 
Berks  County  Medical  Societv.  and  also  of  t!ic  Reading 
Medical  Society,  for  many  years,  having  officiated  as 
president  of  these  bodies,  and  he  is  recognized  by  them 
as  a  most  skillful  surgeon,  as  well  as  a  general  practi- 
tioner. P'or  social  diversiiin,  he  has  identified  himself 
with  the  Wyomissing  Chib.  and  the  P.orkshire  Club  at 
Reading:  also  witli  the  University  Club  and  the  Country 
Club  at  Philadelphia:  in  all  of  wjiich  he  has  shown  great 
interest. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  wa:-  married,  in  1SS4,  to  .■\iignsta 
Mnhlenlierg.  daughter  of  Hi'-ster  H.  and  Kathcrine  ("Hun- 
ter") Midilcnberg.  of  Reading,  and  by  her  he  has  three 
chilaren :  Hicstcr  (who  graduated  from  the  Pennsyl- 
vania   University    in    lOOS)  :     Frederick    Augustus     (wiio 


graduated  from  the  Reading  high  school  in  3904,  and 
.Pennsylvania  College  in  I'.'u.s);  and  Augusta.  His  wife 
died  m  tS'.IO.  He  and  his  children  are  members  of  Trinity 
Lutheian  Church.  His  wife's  father  was  prominently 
ideiuitied  v, ith  the  iuianci.'d  interests  and  enterprises  of 
Readmg  for  many  years,  having  tilled  the  ollicc  of  casl'.icr 
of  the  h"a'-merb  Bank  from  1S4:.'  until  his  decease  in  ISS:;. 

Rev.  Dr.  Frederick  Augiisius  Muhlenberg,  father  of  the 
Doct'.M ,  was  born  at  Lancaster  in  3S18.  and  died  in  Re:id- 
ing  in  lyoi.  Pie  was  very  prcminently  connected  v.ith 
higher  education  in  several  colleges  of  Pennsylvania  for 
si.xty  years,  the  last  important  position  being  Ihtit  of 
professor  of  Greek  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  wife  was  Catharine  Muldenberg,  daughter  of  Major 
Peter  Muhlenberg,  ot  Reading.  She  died  in  1804  aged 
si.xtv-seven  vears.  The'-  li:id  four  sons;  Ernest  A.,  Henry 
M., 'l-r.mcis'B..  and  William   F. 

Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Frnest  Miihlonbfrg,  his  great-grand- 
father, -ivas  also  of  Lancaster,  and  his  niatern,-il  great- 
grandfather was  the  distinguished  Revolutionary  hero. 
Gen.    Peter   ^Muhlenberg. 

FRF.DFRICK  SMITH,  Attorney  General  and  Asioci,-ite 
Justice  of  Pennsyh'ania,  and  one  of  ib.e  most  distin- 
guished men  that  Berks  county  produced.  was=  born  at 
Readirig  in  1773.  He  was  a  son  of  the  Rnv.  John  Fred- 
erick Smith,  an  eminent  divine  of  th.e  Lutheran  Church 
in  I'ennsylvania.  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  dcnoi-ii- 
ination  in  America.  He  ,'jbtained  a  superior  classical 
education,  and,  selecting  the  law  as  his  profession,  after 
a  careful  preparation  w-as  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Reading 
.\ug.  7,  J79j.  He  soon  won  prominence  and  distinction, 
both  as  a  counselor  and  as  an  attorney  in  important  liti- 
gation. In  the  meantime  he  became  actively  interested  in 
local  politics,  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
in  ISO:?  and  1803.  He  was  appomted  deputy  attorney- 
general  for  Berks  county  in  ISIS,  and  filled  that  position 
three  years.  He  served  from  1823  to  1328  as  attorney- 
general  of  Pennsylvania,  and  as  an  associate  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  from  1828  until  the  time  of  his  death.  His 
judicial  career,  though  brief,  was  distinguished.  He  died 
at  licading  Oct.  4,  1830.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Roman 
Catliolic  church.  He  married  Catharine  Leaf,  of  Phila- 
delphia. His  two  sons,  Henry  W.  Smith,  Lsq.s  and 
George  Sn-iith,  were  prominent  in  the  local  affairs  of 
Reading  for  fifty  years  anterior  to  1S7S,  when  li-.ey  died. 

JONES.  The  Jones  family  was  founded  in  this  country 
bv  Rev.  Thomas'  Jones,  who  was  born  in  the  year  170-2 
in  Newtonottage,  Glamorgan.iliire,  Wales.  In  17-JO  he  mar- 
ried Martha  Morris,  and  in  1737,  they  came  to  America 
with  several  children,  arriving  at  Philadelphia  on  July 
23d  of  that  year.  Rev.  Thomas  Jones  first  settled  in  the 
Great  Val'ey  of  Chester  county.  Pa.,  w-here  he  took  up 
lands,  and  where  his  neighbors  included  a  number  of 
Baptists,  tnosth-  of  his  own  nationality,  sot-ne  of  w-lioin 
bad  crossed  the  Atlantic  over  thirty-five  years  earlier. 
In  1711  thev  had  organi.-^ed  the  Great  Vallev  Baptist 
Church,  and  in  1719  the  Montgomery  Church.  In  1738 
a  mnnber  of  these  people,  all  of  Welsh  extraction,  mem- 
bers of  the  Great  Valley  and  .Montgomery  Baptist  Churches, 
removed  to  Lancaster 'county.  Pa.,  settling  along  the  Tul- 
pehocken  creek,  near  its  junction  with  the  Schuylkill  river, 
and  also  southwardly  alon;>;  that  river,  opposite  what  is 
now  the  city  of  Reading.  The  adults  of  this  little  com- 
panv  were  as  foUov.-s:  Thomas  Jones  and  wife:  David 
Evans  and  wife:  James  James  and  wife:  Evan  Lloyd  and 
wife:  George  Rees  and  wife:  John  Davis  and  w-ife; 
Thomas  Nicholas  and  v.ifc:  James  Edwards  and  wife; 
Rees  Thomas  and  wife:  Henry  Harry:  David  Lewis  and 
Thomas  I,Io\d.  These  twenty-one  persons,  finding  thcm- 
seK  r^  ti>  li--"  too  far  from  their  respective  churches,  re- 
quested leave  to  be  constituted  into  a  distinct  society, 
which  accordingly  was  done  .\ug.  19.  173S.  and  the  same 
year  the  new  church  joined  the  Philadelphia  .\ssociition 
of  Bajiiisl  Chinches.  In  tiie  year  17  10  Thomas  Jones 
w-as  ordaineil  a  minister  and  became  pastor  of  this  church, 
which   was   called   the  Tulpelioekeii   Baptist  Church,   after 


'.'•' 


-(■..•.    I    ..   , 


i1     .■^''.'■■ 


I.JllilTii..'       .'.,■■         ■ 


BIOGFL-VPIIICAL 


35-5 


the  river  which  runs  through  the  nci.^hboriiood.  For  two 
years  services  were  held  in  a  small  log-  cabin  erected  on 
the  property  of  Hugh  Jones,  but  in  17-10  tlie  congresation 
built  two  meeting  houses  on  lands  presented  to  it — one 
about  six  miles  from  the  Schuylkill  river  at  Sinking  Spring 
and  the  other  several  miles  nearer  the  river.  The  church 
continued  to  prosper  for  a  time,  but  became  extinct  sixty 
years  later,  "ov/ing  to  the  dcparturt  of  Baptist  families  to 
other  parts,  and  the  coming  of  Germans  in  their  stead." 
The  lands  owned  by  the  church  pas^ed  into  the  possession 
of  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  .\sEociaiion.  Those  parts  on 
which  the  ancient  graveyards  are  located  are  stil!  lield  by 
the  Philadelphia  Baptist  .\ssociation,  but  are  at  present 
under  the  care   of  t!ie  First   Baptist   Church  of  Reading. 

Rev.  Tho.mas  Jones  died  March  ;J2,  17SS,  in  his  eighty- 
seventh  year,  and  his  wife  Ma.rtha  (Morris)  died  June  0, 
1799,  in  her  ninety-third  year.  They  are  buried  in  the 
graveyard  of  the  Great  \'aliey  Baptist  Church  in  Chester 
county,  where  their  graves  art-  suitably  marked.  Their 
children  were:  Thomas.  Samuel,  Griffith,  Flizabcth  and 
Sarah.  They  beca'ne  allied  by  niarnage  with  the  Davis, 
Broomheld,  Spicer,  Lloyd  and  Cornog  families,  and  from 
them  sprang  a  hosi  of  descendants,  many  of  whom  still 
live  in  the  vicinity  of  the  homes  of  their  fore-fathers, 
though  the  majoritv  are  widely  scattered  over  the  United 
States. 

Thomas  Jones,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  and  M^artha  (Mor- 
ris) Jones,  was  born  in  Wales  in  1733.  On  Oct.  6,  17G2, 
he  married  Hilary  Broou'tkid,  and  to  them  weie  born  the 
following  named  children  :  ^lartha,  .Susanna,  Sarah,  !Mary 
and  Samuel.  Of  thesi>,  Martha  m.  Llewellyn  Davis;  Sarah 
m.  Roger  Davis;  Mary  m.  Air.  Geiger;  Susanna  m.  Dr. 
Kuiin.  of  Lancaster,  Pa.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a 
large  land  holder  in  Heidelberg  township.  Berks  county, 
and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  "At  the  very  beginning 
of  the  Revolution  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  .'Vssociators 
of  I'.erks  county,  and  was  in  active  service  for  a  time  as 
major  of  one  of  the  battalions  of  this  county."  lie  was 
one  of  the  eight  delegates  from  I-ierks  count)-  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Convention  which  met  at  Philadelphia  July  15,  177G, 
"for  the  express  purpose  of  forming  a  new  government  in 
Ih'S  Province  on  the  authoriiy  of  the  people  only."  The 
convention  appointed  a  coniiniltee  of  Safety,  approved  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  ;)rescribed  for  justices 
of  the  peace,  oaths  of  renunciation  of  the  authority  of 
George  IIL,  and  oaths  of  allegiance  to  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin  was  president  of  the 
convention.  Thomas  Jones  was  commissioner  of  Berks 
county  from  1779  to  1786.  He  died  in  March,  1S00.  and 
is  buried  in  the  Baptist  graveyard  at  Sinking  Spring.  He 
was  the  last  surviving  male  member  of  the  Tulpehocken 
Baptist  Church.  His  wife,  who  survived  him  several 
years,  was  buried  at  his  side,  and  their  graves  were  marked, 
.but  the  stones  were  removed. 

Samuel  Jones,  son  of  Thomas  and  grandson  of  Rev. 
Thomas,  was  born  on  the  homestead  in  Heidelberg  town- 
ship where  his  fall'.er  erected  a  house  in  177."..  This  house 
is  still  standing.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  owned 
a  large  and  valuable  tract  of  land  in  Heidelberg  town- 
ship, and  had  slaves,  whoin,  however,  he  set  free.  The 
most  noted  of  these  slaves  was  Dinah  Clark,  a  well  known 
character  in  Reading  in  her  day.  The  negro  quarters 
occupied  by  the  slaves  on  the  Heidelberg  farm  are  still 
standing.  Samuel  Jtmes  donated  the  land  n|)on  which  the 
eight-cornered  building  at  Sinking  Spring — used  first  as  a 
Baptist  meeting  house,  later  as  a  school  house,  now  as  a 
dwelling — was  erected.  The  original  deed  of  this  property 
is  held  by  tiie  First   Baptist  Church  of  Rending. 

Samuel  Jones  marriid  Elizabeth  llucy,  and  to  them  were 
born  four  children,  Thomas  H.,  John  H..  Margaret  and 
Mary  C. 

(1)  Thontas  H.  Jones  was  engaged  in  the  ir<)n  business  at 
Leespnrt,  this  county,  and  at  the  Windsor  Furnace  at 
Hamburg,  lie  marri- d  I-'iirribcth  Van  Reed  F\aii3,  and 
their  children,  M.-iry  V..  and  Elizabeth  E.  Junes,  are  li\ing 
in   Reafling 

(:i)  Jolin  H.  Jones  m;crrieii  A'arg;iret  ('Scit-:inger")  Van- 
Reed,    v.-idow    of    Joshua    Van    Kced.    and    |o    them    were 


Ixjrii  four  children,  namely:  M.  .-\gnes.  wife  of  Hon.  James 
K.  Getz.  at  one  time  mayor  of  Reading;  Ellen  .-X.,  widow 
of  Dr.  Cliristian  X.  Hottman;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Dr.  S. 
H.  Clemens,  of  .-KUentown,  Pa.;  and  William  W.,  deceased, 
wlio   lived   at   Robeso;iia. 

(3)   Margaret  Jones  m.  Dr.  Darrah. 

14)   r^Iary  C.  Jones  m.  Jacob  Van  Fleed. 

Samuel  Jones,  D.  D.,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Jones,  was 
born  Jan.  11,  1735.  In  his  youth  he  was  baptized  into  the 
membership  of  the  Tulpehoclcen  Baptist  Church.  He  was 
educated  in  the  College  of  Philadelphia,  graduating  in 
17e'.i.  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  176.3.  and  became 
pastor  of  the  Pennepek  Baptist  Church,  which  was  or- 
ganized in  IGSS.  and  is  now  known  as  the  Lower  Dublin 
Church  of  PhiL'idelphia.  He  retained  that  pastorate  for 
fifty  years,  and  he  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  scholarly 
Baptists  of  his  day,  being  the  most  influential  minister 
ci  his  denomination  in  the  Middle  Colonies.  The  Phila- 
delphia Baptist  Association  in  1704  sent  him  to  Rhode 
Island  to  assist  in  founding  Rhode  Island  C(jllege,  now- 
Brown  University.  He  remodeled  the  rough  draft  of  the 
college  charier,  which  then  received  the  sanction  of  the 
Colony  of  Rhode  Island.  Later  he  was  ottered  the  presi- 
dency of  the  college  but  did  not  accept  it.  "He  exerted 
a  vast  and  useful  influence  over  the  rising  Baptist  Churches 
of  our  C'luntry,  and  himself  educated  many  young  men 
for  the  Christian  ministry.  He  was  a  large  and  tlrmly 
built  man,  his  face  was  the  image  of  intelligence,  and 
good  nature,  which,  with  the  air  of  dignity  that  pervaded 
his  movements,  rendered  his  appearance  uncomntonly  at- 
tractive." He  died  Feb.  7,  181-1.  and  is  buried  in  the  Lower 
Dublin   Church. 

J.-\COB  ]\IORGAN  was  the  most  prominent  Revolu- 
tionary character  of  Berks  county  from  1777  to  17S0,  and 
as  such  brought  great  credit  to  the  county  and  great 
honor  to  himself.  He  was  born  in  the  district  of  Caer- 
narvon, in  the  northern  part  of  Wales,  in  171G,  and  emi- 
grated with  his  father,  Thomas  Morgan,  to  Pennsylvania 
some^  time  previous  to  l?3i).  About^  that  time  a  'colony 
of  Welsh  people,  including  Thomas  Morgan  and  his  fam- 
ily, migrated  up  the  Schuylkill  Valley  from  Philadelphia 
to  the  mouth  of  the  French  creek,  and  thence  along  and 
beyond  the  headwaters  of  that  creek  until  they  reached 
the  headwaters  of  the  Conestoga  creek,  in  Caernarvon 
township.  There  they  settled  and  took  up  large  tracts  of 
land.  That  section  of  territory  was  then  a  part  of  Lan- 
caster coimty,  but  since  y7o~  a  part  of  Berks  county.  The 
tract  taken  up  by  his  father  was  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of 
Morg.intown.  It  included  the  town-plan  which  ho  came 
to  lay  out  in  1770,  and  which  he  named  after  the  family,  a 
custom  quite  common  in  that  day  throughout  the  county. 

When  the  French  and  Indian  War  caine  to  atTect  Penn- 
sylvania in  1755,  Jacob  .Morgan  was  thirty-eight  years 
old.  and  until  that  time  had  been  engaged  at  farming.  In 
December  of  that  year,  he  was  commissioned  as  a  cap- 
tain under  the  Provincial  government,  and  he  continued 
actively  engaged  in  this  military  service  until  ]7ti().  when 
he  returned  home  and  resumed  farming.  W'hen  the  Revo- 
liui(jn  began,  he  was  nearly  sixty  years  of  a.ge.  In  June, 
1776,  he  was  selected  to  represent  the  county  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Provincial  Conference,  and  in  July  following 
as  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention.  In  1777, 
upon  the  creation  of  the  office  of  lieutenant  of  tlie  several 
counties  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  I'ixccntive  Council 
in  effectively  prosecutiiig  the  war,  he  was  selected  by  the 
Council  to  fill  this  very  important  position.  This  preference 
evidences  his  distinguished  character,  for  at  that  time 
Berks  county  possessed  a  number  of  prominent  and  in- 
lluential  men.  In  the  prompt  and  faithful  performance 
of  his  duties  he  was  very  successful,  the  Executive  Coun- 
cil in  their  letters  to  him  frequently  compliiiicntinc  his 
energy  in  having  the  count}-  fill  promiuly  the  niimern;is 
orders  fi>r  troops.  He  resi.gned  in  December,  1760.  While 
tilling  this  oflicc  he  was  always  recognized  as  a  colonel, 
and  w.is  aikhesicd  as  such  by  the  Executive  Council.  He 
olHciated  as  a  jiulge  of  the  county  for  the  ye.irs  ITiiS,  17i'.-i. 
177-,  ;in<l    from   5774  to   1777:   and  also  as  a  juuice  of   the 


--J  .»**«»!»  *--1 


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MHS          il    V-Vl      j^                     'l"v.'    .1:,.,kI,..t:,    S:u-,-.h  tnwnshi,.    „.•:..■    Kut..l,.wn.      In    i'.:u    h.    ..  „!    ...    Lvlnuh 

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anrl    MarHliall   C'(>il.^n<\   ami   a'lli.r   tal<ii,u   a    n  «iilar  cuirM- 

wa'.  t'ia<li,al.'.l  in   lM""i.     I'p.'ii  t(liniiin«  hmnc  lie  innai;."J 

/        //  at   icaVlinic  )„ililii:  srli.u.I  fur  Iwu  vearN:  an<l  llan  lie  wai 

^  ^^/rC/y'T^l^OyL''^         il..lc.l   scliiM,!   Mi|,riiiiirn<lciit   of    I.(l,i«li   iniinly.  ;ni  ollicc 

^  ^  |„.  viTV  Micnsvlnllv  lill''l   fioin   l't.".7  lo  l»';i).     iJinnni  lliii 

//  lime  lie  ti>ol<  np  ll,.'  '.Ii,>ly  of  liir  l.,w   al    .Mlcnl.iwn,  in  llic 

^^  ,,lluc  of   llif    Hon.    Sannnl    A.    r.ri'ln<:i,   ami    wa';   aijmitl.'il 

,,,,,,,,,.,.    ,,,,, .•,•,■.  .      .1      ,    ,.      •,  ,     ,  r     '"   IT^n-tiiT    in    1h:.h,      After   in^acliMHi:    al    AIImHowii    two 

KOItl.K  I  lOKII.K  W.I.  il,.'  tl,,,,:  I  ,■■.,. I.  1,1  j,i.l,;<  of  ^,,||.,_  |„.  i,„.;,,,,,i  ;,(  Kntzlown,  iiml  li.  coi,linii<.<l  in  ailivc 
r.tiks  K.nnly.  lie  was  the  <  Id,  .1  •,..,,  .,f  ( ,.  ,,  ,\,ii|icw  ;,||n'|,\-,.  jn  f'.i-iks  iminlv  nnlil  li.  i .  cci  wl  tile  !i|ipointniriit 
I'ortcr,  and  was  born  at  I'liilailclpliia  Jan.  10,  17(tH.  VV'Ikii  of'jmUM'  of  tli.-  ( )i  pi,:,,,-'  ."u,i  m  |,,,ii-,  IHk:i.  from  (i'lvrr- 
onlv  cij^lii  yi,ir.s  old.  tlii'  Ivcvolntion  iiad  lM>;nn  in  raincsl  |„,,.  pattisut,,  wlii.li  oHn.  Ii.i.j  1..  ■  i,  mcaU"!  by  ;i  ^p^l■i,■ll 
.-iikI  his  f.illitr  liad  (  ,ilisli'il  to  .s-rvc  tin:  Unilid  (.■.ilonics.  ;\,  t  nf  .Vi'irinlilv ;  and  at  II,,'  m  xi  clcclioii  in  .N'ovcmliir 
Toward  ihc  tlo'.c  of  iln-  war,  Ills  failur  was  (.-oloncl  nf  ,',f  (|,;,t  yr;ir  hr  war.  ilcilid  for  ll,c  Htm  of  tin  yf.'ir''.  II<- 
tin-  -ttii  riiin  .yhani;i  Kc),;itn"m  of  Arlil!''iy,  ,in.|  JikIkl'  dtliuatrd  iinlil  liii  d.alli  Ami;.  !!•'',  IKl'l,  aflir  a  prolrailvd 
J'ortcr,  vvlicn  nr,iy  tl, it  teen  years  of  a);,.',  was  ciilihlcd  in  iljui  hs.  Afirr  liavini;  jocitcd  :it  Kill/town  in  IMC.n.  lie  t,i; 
uiK-  of  llif  Kiinp.init".  undiT  the  command  of  lii'i  f.itliiT.  cinii,.  iiiicrcsti'.l  in  variotiH  fnl<'ipri'r>i  IIkk'  1I<'  was  jiat- 
At  thf  torn  lii.si.in  of  thr  w;,r,  In-  rcstimcil  liis  .slndii-s  ;it  timilarly  inlir(<.|cd  in  the  ia,,<tcof  id, nation,  and  iil'iililn'l 
I'liil.idripi,,.,,  an. I  sclcclinf;  the  law  a.  Iiin  prof(".^ioll  v,';n»  liiin.clf  with  tin'  cHlatili'linn  nl  "f  the  )\iy'-lom-  .Sl,ili'  .Nor 
admiltrd  to  pr,-.ilii'c  .May  \'>.  IVH'.i.  ;\fl(r  ixiiii;  ini:aK''d  in  „,al  Siliooi,  vvhith  l,c  ";rrvc<l  av  a  tnndcc  inilil  his  liccia^c, 
a  micicssfiii   practice   for   twenty  years  al    riiiladilpl,,.,,   !,<■ 

in  1811)  was  appointed  president  jndi;,-  .)f  the  '11,,, d  In-  ( ,!■.<  )Kf  ;i',  !»  I'i:.\l\(  tl^'  (d.',r;iM<l;  wa';  li.nn  i,i 
flicial  Disliiet,  whieh  eon, priced  the  e -nnli.' .  of  jlerk^,  .Maid,  n  er.ck  lown'.liip,  I'.,  rk'.  <  <..,  l'.'.,  '"ii  .d  rplnaim 
Northampton  and  \Va\  lie,  I  le  Tilled  this  |,o,,oi  ahle  |nl^ilion  and  Lyili.i  Ann  (Smilli)  r.,,ro','.  'I  he  I'liirose  f,ni,ily  i, 
for  twenty  two  ve.'irs,  ai.'l  then,  resii-'.,,in>.;  his  .  um.nis'.io,,,  ;i  very  pioinineni  one  i,i  reMiisvlv.-mia,  of  ImikHsIi  deM-enl 
retired    to    privan-    life       li.-    resided    iit    KeadiiiK,    on    the     ;,nil  ,,(  0,,al.<'i   helief. 

norlhwesi    ecirn.r    .d    lif,h    ;ii,d    i'enn    streets,    dm  inn    his         l'|iliraT,,i     I'eino.e    wa'i    a    lif'    I'tii'    faiiin,    .if    M.ildin 
term  of  ofliee.      He  died   June  ;.'.'(.    l"l;.'.  al    I'.i  .i.il:  i  ilh  .    I'a  ,     ,,,,1.    lowii'.hip.    where   he   owned   ,,iid   op.  i, it'. I   a^   •,  iilii.il.h 
a(;ed  seventy-four  veais.     He  was  ;i  ,i,.,,i  .f  ,m  ..,.ii,,>.|  h.on       |.,iiii       II      .md   hi'    wife   were  niemhen*   id    the   !ioii<'ly   .yf 
in«    and    snperi.ir 'h  i;al    attainment..      M.nu     M      IimIi.  n,     In.  n-h,    h.'   Ii.'I.mh-iiii,;   to  the    ili.jcili'  hr.iiii.h,   and   she   to 
l';sf).,  of    I'iiiladelphi;,,   who'..-  sk-oli  an. I   |,..iii.ii,    a|.|,...i    in     ,),,     (,iih."l..v         11,. 'V    h.nt    one    child.    C.eori'.-'    I' 
this  inihlicalion,  is  ;i   i;rand   ...ii.  ',.  mic.    I,     I'.nro'.e  w.is  edn.ati.l  in  the  (onnn.iii  mIiooI'-. 

of   r.<rl.s  .liinitv,  pas'i"<l   lhrolii;h  til.'  Inidi   •••I '  -il    '<'■"' 

DK.  NA'J'JIAX  C.  SClI'M'd'I-'I'.li,  .>^tale  Snpcriniciideiil     i„r,  .'nid  t..ok  an  a<lvaiieed  conrsr  at   Swaiihinor.'  t.'olle!:e. 
of  Pnlilic  liistr,..:ti.>ii,  w.-.s  l,oi  n  I'eh,  M,  IHpi.  in  .Maxaiawny    the  j^reat  (,»n,,l,,  r  r  d.uatioii.'d  inxiiliiiion  wliieji  rank:,  with 
township,   r.erks  comity,     lit    was  (diicited  in   May;, lawny     Vrde'and   llarvanl.     While  h'-  was  still  a  youth  lie  haiiied 
Semin.irv    Cnow    k'evstoii.'  .Slate   Vortiial   .-^diooO,   l''raiikliii     lidcurapiiy,  and  after  .'ompletiiij;  hin  ediicalion  lie   followed 
ami    Marshall   Colhia   at    l,aiK!,i.lcr,   'i  heolocical    S'lninaiy     it    \\s\    suine    years    a, id    snl.s.ipnutlv    luram.'    an    op.rator 
jil  .\Iercrri.!>ni>',  and  in  'In-  lJni\crisilies  of  J'.'-ilin,  'rnhiii).;eii     fni    the    lierks   K'    l,eliii;li    K.iilwav    ('om|Ktny,      In    IK'^.'!    he 
and  I.ripsic.     lie  then  t;iii«ht  in  Miicershnrn  CoIk'>;c,  and     accepted  a  nimilar  iife.itton   with  the    riiilad.  Iphi.,  ^■  K.  id- 
I'lanklin  and    .Marsli/dl  Colli  i;e,  and   for  si\t.'en   vears  was     in)/   Kailw.iv  ('onii.anv,  and   on   pioinotion   was   '(111   to  the 
Iirinciii.'il    of    the    Kcv.loiic   ,Stat<'    .N'omii.iI    School' at    Knt/       (;ener:il    otli.e    in    l'hil.i.l.l|iliia.      lie    was   a    yonni;    man    of 
town       In    Itio.-.  he   was  <'Iect«d    I'r.  sid.'iit   of   the    .\ati'-nal     inarke.l  .■ihiliiv.  ;in.l  cntii  ii.-.|   t.i  lind  reeo«iiilion  with    ii'. 
Kdii.ational    Associati..n    at    .Nshnrv    I'ark.    .\,    J..   IL-    \^x.    ,„i|,lnser .  ,iii.l  Ihc.iii.'  assi-iaiit  auditor  f..r  the  I'liil.-idelphia 
served  the  f.dlowin;,:  liromiiK-iit  posiiioii>;   President   ..f  th.'    «,    Reading    Railway    Company,      lie    wa-^    hllinij    tins    im- 
]VniisyIv;(nia  Sl.-'te    J  eacliers'  ,\ssoci;ition  ;  secrel.irv  ./I  tin'     portanl  position  at  the  lime  of  hi'    d.;ilh,  which  took   pla.  e 
National   Council  of   l';dmati..ii ;  president   of  the   {depart-     An«.  :.•,  !««!»,  a.x  the  result  of  an  accident,     It  Innl  h.'en  llic 
nienl    of    .Siiperintendcnc.'    oi    the     Naii.inal    ,\"s.,cialion ;     riistom  of  Iiimself  an<l  wife  to  spend  the  smnnier  season* 
president  of  .|ii    iVtmsyhani.i  Cc,  man  Srici'-lv;  Chaii..ell..r    at     \tl,iniii     City,    where    Mr     fdirosc    en^iy.  d    Die    "trl 
of  the   I',  nnvslvania  t  h.iiit.iiupM  at   ,\li,  'ir.tna   fr..m    \'M\     h.ithini;.   and    il    was   dnriiiK   a   season   there   Ilia!    he    was 
to  llM).-,;  meinlMr  -if  ill.;   1'.  iiiit.',lvani,i  Commis.i.m  on   In      drowned.     'I  hi^  cal.imitv  was  a  source  of  iniiver'.;il  rcKfJ 
dustrial   l''.dii.-ation  ;  .uid  edii..r  of  the    I'-'imsvlv.'inia  School     p.  his   family,  his  employeis  and   to  a   v<  rv   laiK>'  cikI'    of 
jrniinal,   since    1h;i:i.      lie   is   e.lilor   (rf   a    \oliiiiie   of    I'.ihle     fii(iid-.                                                                                        ,      , 
Readiiu's  f'.r  Hch....ls;  anll)..r  of  "'riiinkiiui  aiul  Leavniii';  to        On  Od.  If,,  lic^i,  .Mr.l  I'enrow  was  mariiid  to  Cat  i.uiim' 
Think,"'  aiKl   .-(    "Ilistrnv  of    I'.lncaiion   in    1  Vmi' v  Ivania,"     .M.    Varrincion,    danchter    -d    Thomas    f)     and    (  athaiine 
coniain.'d  in  thr,  e  voliiin'.  s  nf  "lli|.,r'.   ..f  th.-  Slat-,"  pnh      S.    (I'.atlicr)    V;,nim:ton,   l...,h    of    l;..iirli»h    descent.      'Hie 
li.lu.l  hv  the  .Mas.Hi  rnhlishini;  Company  al   Svra.ns. ,   .S'      child   was   h.-rn   to   this   inarrneie,    I'.dwin    >.      In   p'.lilK.n 
Y.     II.    was  eomiiiissioncd  SiaH'  Siiiierintendint  o(   I'lihlic     faith   Mr.    I'.'iirosc  wa*  a  R.'piihlR'an      I-ralernally  Iw  w.is 
Instnii  ti.iii  on  Jiiiie    1,    It".'",  aii.l   ie-coninii«hi')ned   in    l^'ir,    an  Odd    l''ellow,                                 ,.      ,       ,         ,      •      .i       i-.i, 
1!)01    ami   llin.v     lie  served  as  hcturer  on  IVdaKoyv  in  the        The   Yairinm-ms  caine   from   l-n^land   early   in  llie   i-m 
(iradiiate    I).  i.;irlinent    of    the    Cniversitv    of    I',  tinsvlvania     c.nliirv.  and   wre  anioni.:  llx-   earli.  .1    •"Hlers   in   Momnir 
dnriiiK  tin    ahseiic'   of    Dr,    I'.rmnhaiU'h!   while   >ervin),;   as    ton,  <  onn.     Al.el   Varrintdon,  J'randf.iih.r  of    llioinas  •'. 
Commi.siomi   of  lidii.  aii..n  in   l'..rto  Rico  (IPnn-l'ini  ).          h  ft  C..iineciicnt  in  1770.  and  .eitled  in  VViIk.s  Larrc.   i  ,i„ 
Dr   Scha.'lfcr  i'i  a  son  ..f  Uavi-I  SchacCfer.  of  Masalawnv     where    he    .stahli-hcd    the    hrsi    fe.rv    a.-ross   the    Siisom- 
township,  and   I'.sllier   Ann   (  ImihI,  his  wife    Klanidder  of    hamia  at  Ih.il   p.. ml      Me  was  a  .oMier  in    he  Revoiiii.on. 
Solomon    Christ    anrl    I'di/ahith    I'.iel.er,    his    wife,    of    the     ( /f  1„<  sniis,  liw  m  numher,  the  l  in  ,1  was  l.ntlier. 
same    i..wi,  hip).      lie    niariied    Annie   Ahlmn,   of   Hnake,-          |.„,h,  r    VairmiMon.   so,,   „f    .M.el.   was  horn   "•'"'•;' 
town,  fa,  a,id  Ihcv  have  seven  children;  Clarah.  lie,  Helen     di,d    at     Will...     Ilarre     m     is'tii        lie     niarind     II. ah 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


Abbot,  a  descciulatn  of  George  Abbot.  The  bttcr.  a 
native  of  V<jrk>!iiic.  Eliijiand,  hoyt)  in  lOlo,  emigrated  to 
America  in  ]t;40.  and  became  one  ol  tlie  fonn<lers  of 
Andovcr,    Massacliusetis. 

Thomas  O.  Varrinijton,  ■-I'li  of  Linher  and  Hannah,  was 
reared  in  Wilkes  Barrc.  He  became  a  civil  engincei,  and 
followed  that  profession  for  many  yeari.  He  died  June 
?,.  l!Hi,').  aR«!  eighty-six  years.  Me  married  Catharine  S. 
PVather,  daiighier  of  Willian'i  ami  Margaret  iStrohecker) 
Feather.  .Mrs.  Varrington  died  Dec.  7,  VJO:l,  the  mother 
of  seven  children:  .Mibot  died  in  infanc>';  William  F.,  of 
Manch  Chtnik,  m.  Hannah  (  Dodson  )  Alsover;  Luther  .-\., 
of  Reading,  ni.  Kniily  AlcCauley,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  C. 
A.  McCaidey,  and  had  two  children — Fdith  (deceased) 
and  Charles  (deceased  in  November,  I'.ujj,  aged  ten  years)  ; 
Amelia  m.  George  \V.  Manning,  of  Xevv  York,  and  lias 
one  daughter,  Grace  Y. ;  Thomas  O.,  of  Reading,  m.  Emma 
Hentherington ;  Catharine  M.  is  Mrs.  Penrose;  and  Mar- 
garet m.  William  H.  Albright,  ;i  job  printer  at  Reading, 
and  has  two  children — William  Y.  and  Frank  Y.  The 
Y'arringtons  are  all  memhcrs  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
Peter  Feather,  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Catharine  S. 
(I'^eather)  Varrington,  appeared  oii  the  list  of  ta.xables  in 
Reading  in  IT.'iO.  Peter  Feather,  Jr.,  son  of  Peter,  was 
born  in  ReaiJing,  and  in  178S  he  married  Margaret  Van 
Kenna,  daughter  of  fialtzer  and  Maria  A.  (Levan)  Van 
Keniia.  and  granddaughter  of  Ca.=per  Van  Kenna.  Maria 
A.  (Levan)  Van  Kenna  wa.s  born  in  Exeter  in  IT.'iO.  daugh- 
ter of  Lsaac  Levan,  one  of  the  first  settlers. 

William  F'eather.  son  of  Peter,  Jr.,  and  Margaret,  was 
born  in  17',il,  and  died  in  lS-1!).  He  owned  and  conducted 
a  tannery  at  Hamburg,  Berks  county,  at  the  time  of  his 
"death,  fte  married  .Margaret  Strohecker,  who  was  born  in 
Reading  in  IT'.ifi.  daughter  of  John  and  Jubanna  Strob.ecker, 
residents  of  Readirig  a  century  ago.  Mrs.  Margaret 
(Stroheckti)  Feather  died  at  Hamburg  in  1S74.  John 
Stroheck(-r,  Sr.,  father  of  John  an.'  granflfatlur  of  Mrs. 
Feather,  served  in  the  Revolution  as  first  lieutenant,  Capt. 
George  Weill's  Company,  Major  Ffiester's  Batfalion  ,c>l 
Mil'tia,  of  Berks  comity.  Pa.,  in  service  at  .Vewtown,  Jan. 

D.WID  F.  GORDON,  seventh  President  Judge  of 
Berks  comity,  from  ]M-lfi  to  ISj],  was  born  at  Philadelphia 
Nov.  20,  1795.  He  received  a  classical  education  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  studied  law  and  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  ISIO.  He  reniaine<l  in  that  city  until  1S24, 
when  iie  removed  to  Readmg  and  v.as  adniiued  to  practice 
in  the  several  courts  of  Berks  county.  He  continued  in 
active  practice  here  for  eight  years,  .ind  then  purchased 
the  Berks  and  Schiiyllall  Juunuil.  a  weekly  English  news- 
paper, published  at  Reading.  He  publislied  this  paper  \ery 
successfully  until  1S:;S,  then  sold  if  ami  resumed  his  law 
practice.  AftiT  practising  for  eleven  years,  he  was  ap- 
pointed 'pre>ident  judge  of  the  county,  which  had  just 
been  erected  into  a  separate  judicial  district.  He  remained 
on  the  Bench  until  December.  IS.Jl,  retiring  then  by  virtue 
of  the  amendment  to  the  Constiinlion,  under  which  the 
office  of  jud,ge  became  elective,  and  the  Hon.  J.  Pringle 
Jones  was  chosen  to  fill  this  position  for  ten  years.  He 
was  recognized  as  an  able  judge,  and  thoroughly  conscien- 
tious in  the  perli.rmance  of  his  judicial  duties.  Upon  re- 
tiring from  the  Bench,  he  resumed  his  legal  practice  at 
Reading.     He  died   Dec.   27,   IS.VJ. 

ALBERT  J.  15RUMBACH,  manufacturer  antl  banker  at 
Reading,  was  born  at  Brumbach"s  Woolen  Mills  in  Exeter 
township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  n,  J  8 10.  He  was  educated 
in  the  township  schools  and  at  Lee's  .\cadcmy  in  Reading 
until  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  when  liis  father  placed 
him  in  the  woolen  mills  which  he  was  operating,  to  learn 
the  manufacturing  business,  and  alter  learning  the  busi- 
ness thoroughly  in  all  its  departments,  he,  upon  arriving 
of  .ige,  purclia,-.i(l  ihe  c.remiM  <.  .Shortly  aflerw.ird  the 
building  w,i-  I.Mirneil  down,  lirl  he  inmiedi:ilelv  rettuilt 
the  mill.  iriifMlueiiv,i  !ln>  Inlest  improvni  macliinery.  This 
was  in  \-<u\,  ard  the  pl:int  was  ij.inied  the  .St.  Lawrence 
Mills,    affi'!    .'i    nU.iin    £;rade   of    woolen    cloth    which    his 


f.ither  had  begun  to  manufacture  there  in  18 JG,  and  sell 
through  a  connnission  house  at  Philadelphia.  The  build- 
ing is  built  of  stone,  two  stories  high,  and  has  at  present 
three  sets  of  machines  which  are  run  by  steam,  as  well 
as  water-power  supplied  by  the  Antietam  creek  flowing 
near  by.  Various  improved  machines  ha\e  been  substituted 
for  old  machines  to  meet  the  demand,  of  the  business. 
Seventy  hands  are  generally  employed,  and  tlie  product 
consists  chietl>-  of  mixed  cassinieres.  The  goods  were 
sold  through  commission  houses  and  merchants  at  Phila- 
delphia until  1870 :  then  until  1S95  by  traveling  .salesmen 
who  developeil  in  this  way  a  large  and  proiitabie  trade 
throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  United  States.  In]SO,j 
Mr.  Brumbacli  established  a  fine  three-story  brick  factory 
at  Reading  (iith  and  .Muhlenberg  streets)  for  the  manu'- 
faciure  Ol  pants  and  vests,  and  since  then  he  has  been 
converting  the  cloths  produced  at  the  St.  Lawrence  Mill; 
into  all  sizes  and  styles  of  the  articles  mentioned.  He 
employs  there  VM  hands,  and  has  a  large  and  constant 
demand  for  his  goods. 

Besides  carrying  ow  his  two  plants  very  successfully, 
Mr.  Brumbach  has  shown  an  enterprising  spirit  in  other 
ai'fairs,  relating  to  internal  improvements  for  the  public 
welfare,  as  well  as  to  manufactures,  fic  took  an  active 
part  in  establishing  the  Oley  Turnpike  ^rom  Black  Bear 
to  Pleasantvilie,  acting  as  a  director  of  the  corporation 
.since  137S,  and  as  secretary  since  1SS8 ;  he  was  prominent 
in  building  the  East  r<.eading  l-'k'ctric  Railway  from  Ninth 
and  Penn  streets,  in  Reading,  to  Black  Bear  in  1.SS8  (which 
was  the  lirst  street  railw:iy  operated  by  electricity  at  Read- 
ing), and  he  has  ofticiateii  as  president  of  the  company 
from  the  beginning  until  the  present  time.  Fie  assisted  in 
establishing  the  Penn  National  Bank  of  Reading  in  1S83, 
serving  as  a  director  since  then,  and  as  president  since 
18'J7:  the  Reading  Cold  Storage  &  Ice  Conipanv  in  J'.hii); 
the  Reading  Cdovc  &  Mitten  Company;  the  Penn  .Sluje 
Company  in  VMVl.  and  the  Priniz  Furniture  an.l  Carpet 
Conipani  in  ]'.ni7  (embracing  large  stores  at  Haziecon. 
Rochester  and  Newark)  ;  all  of  which  he  has  served 
as  a  director,  and  of  the  glove  works  a."  president  '■i:i,-c 
1005.  He  was  prominently  identified  wdth  the  rebuilding 
of  the  Schwartzwald  Church  in  Fxetcr  townsliip  by  acting 
as  chairman  of  the  nteeting.  in  1S7I),  which  took  e.ir.u'sr 
steps  in  behalf  of  the  new  church;  aLo  with  the  exten- 
sion and  improvement  of  the  fine  cemetery  there,  serving  as 
secretary  of  the  company  for  about  twenty  years  until  V.A'}: 
and  for  many  years  he  was  connected  with  the  choir  a- 
one  of  the  singers.  He  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Frec-- 
niasons   at   Reading    ((^handler   Lodge)    >ince    1801. 

In  ISG;.'  Mr.  Brumbach  m.arried  Sarah  .\nn  Dunkel 
(daughter  of  Solomon  Dimkel.  of  Excu-r')  ;  hy  wh'ini  he 
had  si.x  children:  Solomon,  superintenden;-  of  the  St, 
L.'iwrencc  -^'ill';,  in.  Margaret  Isrmer.trout ;  William,  book- 
keeper at  mills,  m.  Edwina  Jack:  .Albert,  superintendent 
of  pants  fact'iry.  m.  Carrie  Esterly ;  Ida  m.  St.-ckton 
Snyder,  and  both  were  killed  in  the  Honda  wreck. 
California,  May  11,  ltu)7;  Kate  m.  Willi.-Lin  J.  Ermentiout; 
and   Emma  m.   Custer   .-\mmon. 

Mr.  Brumbach's  father,  William  Brumbach.  was  born 
in  1814  in  Exeter  township,  wdiere  his  father  became 
the  owner  of  a  woolen  mill  in  ]S:!0.  and  while  still  a  boy 
was  put  in  the  uiill  to  learn  the  business.  In  1842,  he  and 
his  brother  Jacoh  became  the  owners  of  the  plani,  anil 
they  carried  on  the  business  as  partners  for  three  years 
wdien  Jacob  withdrew,  William  then  ■  opirated  tiic  plant 
himself  in  a  successful  manner  until  1S.">:';,  when  he  pur- 
chased tlie  Housum  grist  mill  (wliicli  was  situated  along 
the  .Antiet.im  creek  iie:ir  by),  ;ind  from  that  time  he  car- 
ried on  the  tui>  mills  until  they  were  destroyed  by  fire 
in  LSI;:!.  He  then  ^^■e^t  to  Union  county.  P;i.,  and  becr.me 
a  partner  of  Man.  Griffey  &-  ("o.,  who  owned  and  ojierated 
the  White  Deer  Woolen  Mills.  A  few  years  after\\.nd 
the  senior  p:ulner  died,  and  the  firm  name  became  (jiiff'-y 
X-  Brnnib.icli,  and  this  firm  carried  on  the  ]>!;mt  until  .^i^. 
Brninbach's  decease  in  IsiL-^.  He  w:ts  inarnod  iwiei-.  His 
lirst  wife  wa^  .'sa:ali  .^pals,  daughter  of  Jacob  Sjiatf.  v. 'no 
carried    on    farming    anil    butchcrui.g    in     lixetcr,    in    the 


,']■  ;,:•  ■    ;-:i-v\    ,!' 


35S 


HISTORY  OF  BERKS  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVANIA 


vicinity  of  the  wfioUn  iiiills.  To  tliis  iinii  n  were  Imrii 
four  children:  I'.mnia  in.  Jacub  A.  Stroliecker :  Albert 
].:  Sarah  m.  William  K.  Leithiscr;  and  Klizahcth  ni.  J. 
B.  Stautfer.  His  second  wife  was  Rachel  Schneider,  danuh- 
ter  of  David,  of  Uley.  and  by  her  he  had  four  sons.  David. 
George  VV..  .Aaron  and  Thoina.s.  who  learned  the  business 
of  nianufacturinff  woolen  cloth  with  Albert  J.,  and  they 
have  been  operating  a  iilant  of  their  own  at  St.  Lawrence 
under  the  name  of  Brunibach  Brothers:  and  one  daughter. 
-Mary,  m.  C.  O.  Snyder,  lie  died  in  ISOS;  his  first  wife 
died  in  1847,  aged  twenty-eight  years:  his  second  wife 
Rachel  Schneider  is  still  living  at  age  of  eighty-two  years. 

Mr.  Brunibach's  grandfather  was  Jacob  P.runihach.  who 
had  learned  the  fulling  business  at  the  De  Torek  mill  in 
Exeter,  near  Monocacy.  and  in  IS:J()  purchased  a  small 
plant  established  along  the  Antietam  creek  near  where  the 
Si.  Lawrence  Mills  are  located,  which  he  operated  until  184- 
wheii  he  sold  the  property  .•irid  business  to  his  two  oldest 
sons.  William  and  Jacob.  ]  le  died  in  IST.l.  aged  ninety-four 
years.  He  was  married  twice:  first  to  Dorothy  Bar  (born 
1788.  died  18-2).  and  second  to  Susanna  Gumbert  (born 
179.i,  died  1S:;(5).  and  had  eight  cLildren.  ^iz. :  Lydia  m. 
John  Wagner;  William;  Jacob  m.  S.irah  Kline:  Lewis  m. 
Klizabcth  .Ann  T<.a:  Catharine  m.  William  Levan  :  Louisa 
m.  Moore  John ;  Rebecca  m.  \\'illiam  Levan  ;  and  E'anicl  m. 
Lydi;i    DeGour,   living   at    Covington.    Kentucky. 

Mr.  Brumbach's  wife's  father,  Salomon  Duiike],  was  a 
farmer  of  Exeter.  He  married  Elizabeth  .-Mthou^e.  of 
Bern  township,  and  they  had  children:  .Sarah  .\nn  :  .\inei- 
ia  ni.  Amos  ])iek:  Mary  m.  John  Hoyer:  Caroline  m. 
Henry  Egolf:  Miss  Elizabeth;  Mrirgan  died  1S.')S:  Kilian 
m.   ^Lary  Messinger;  David,  and  James. 

.ADAM  B.  DU.VDOR.  ^L  D.,  a  retired  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Reailing.  Pa.,  was  born  in  Xorth  Heidelberg,- 
Berks  county.  ^L■|y  17.  183S.  son  of  Isaac  Dtindor,  and  a 
member  of  the  t'lfth  generation  from  the  e!r.i,grant  ancestor 
who  came  from  Alsace-Lorraine  to  Philadelphia  in  1741. 
The  faniily  is  of  French  Huguenot  stock,  and  the  name 
was  originally  spelled  L^undeur. 

Jacob  Dimdor,  founder  of  the  Dundor  faniily  in  .Am- 
erica, was  Ixyrn  July  l'.i,  17-0,  son  of  Aliguel  Dundeiir,  who 
never  came  to  .America.  Jacob  Dundor  made  the  voya.ge 
to  -America  in  1741.  sailing  on  the  ship  "Friendship."  He 
located  in  Bern  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he  died 
May  20,  1789,  leaving  a  widow,  Anna  Maria  (Brechl) 
Dundor,  and  cliildren  as  follov.-s :  Maria  C,  Susannah, 
John,  Michael.  Jol.n  Jacob  and  Catherine  E. 

John  Jacob  Dundor.  son  of  Jacob,  and  great- great- 
grandfather of  Dr.  .Adam  V...  married  ALargueritc-  I'.ri'wn, 
by  whom  the  fallowing  children  were  born  :  Jacob,  John 
A.,  Christian.  John    (2)    and   Margaret. 

Jacob  Dundor,  son  of  Jcjhn  J.,  died  Dec.  ]2,  1S2S.  leaving 
a  son,  Jacob,  Jr. 

Jacob  Dundor.  Jr..  married  Elizabeth  Klopp,  born  Xov. 
2S.  1788.  died  Dec.  10.  1842.  They  were  the  p.-irents  of 
these  cliildreii :  Isaac,  born  ALarcli  10.  1800.  anri  died  Jan. 
2j.  1873;  Jacob:  Sanuie!  K.:  Catherine;  F'i'ja:  Caroline; 
Sarali.  and  Lydia.  Jacob  DuiubT,  Jr.,  and  his  wile  are 
both  interred  in  N'orth  Heidelberg  cemeti  ry.  They  were 
de\oted  members  of  tlie  Reformed^  Church.  Mr.  Dundor 
was  a  Democrat,  lie  was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  owned 
valuable  lands  in  Xnrtli  Heidelberg  townshiii,  coiilinuiii-^ 
to  follow  agricultural  pursuits  dtiring  his  long  and  useful 
life. 

Isaac  Dundor.  sc>n  of  Jacob,  Jr..  and'  father  of  Dr. 
Adam  B.,  was  educated  in  tiie  scIii'kIs  of  hi>  native  t'^wn- 
ship,  and  was  reared  to  agricnltur.d  pursuits.  He  retired 
from  active  life  and  located  in  Reading  several  years  be- 
fore his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  2.5,  lS7:i.  Mr.  Dundor 
married  Elizabeth  Bucks,  daughter  of  Joim  Bucks,  and 
she  died  in  18',t(i.  aged  seventy-nine  years,  the  motlur  of 
two  children :  Jonathan,  bon;  .March  8,  183,';.  die-l  .April 
2:i,   iSdr,;  and  Ad.ini  B. 

.Adam  B.  Dundor  receiv. d  ihe  ludini'.nts  of  his  cdiici- 
tiiiii  111  the  schools  of  X(>rt!:  Heidelberg  township,  and 
Liter  took  an  advanced  course  at  l''ieniont  Acadi-uiy. 
Cl'.esler    county,     still     later     entering     !-"reeland    .-Xcadeniv 


(now  UrsiiiUS  Coiiege),  subsequently  taking  a  chissical 
course  at  I-'ranklin  and  Marshall  College,  at  Lancaster, 
graduating  therefrom  in  18i)2.  While  there  he  ref'istered' 
as  medical  student  under  the  prcceptorship  of  Dr.  William 
Moore,  of  Womelsdorf,  and  remained  with  him  two  years, 
djiring  which  time  he  qualified  to  enter  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  of  Philadelphia.  Taking  one  course  here  Dr. 
Dundor  then  took 'a  special  course  at  Long  Island  Col- 
lege Hospital,  at  Brooklyn,  X.  Y..  and  received  the  degree 
of  M.  D.  in  the  summer  of  lSC:j.  Later  Dr.  Dundor  re- 
turned to  Jefferson  Medical  College,  and  received  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  there  in  the  spring  of  1804.  The  year 
fidlowing  in  regular  course  he  received  the  degree  of  A'.  M. 
from  Franklin  and  Marshall  College.  The  Doctor  located 
in  Robesonia  in  18f".4.  remaining  there  until  1807.  when 
he  decided  to  make  the  city  of  Reading  his  field  of  practice, 
where-  he  has  continued  to  reside  since.  He  first  opened 
an  ofiice  on  Franklin  street  where  he  remained  three  years, 
and  then  removed  to  his  present  fine  home,  in  which  he 
niaint;iined  an  office  until  he  retired  from  practice  in  1S90. 
There  never  has  been  any  doubt  as  to  his  ability  or  stand- 
ing in  the  profession,  as  from  the  very  beginning  of  his 
active  career  he  has  been  success  fid  in  diagnosis  and  in 
treatment,  and  he  has  had  the  unbounded  admiration  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow  practitioners.  l->om  1870  to  lS7ri 
he  was  physician  to  the  Berks  County  .Almshouse  and 
Hospital,  and  from  1873  to  1S77  prison  physician.  In 
1883  he  became  a  member  of  the  board  of  health,  from 
which  on  account  of  failing  health  he  was  compelled  to 
resign  in  1902.  after  serving  nine  years  as  its  president. 
Dr.  Dundor  has  made  a  careful  study  of  hygiene  and 
sanitation,  and  he  has  had  the  ideal  physician's  sense  of 
duty  in  looking  after  the  health  of  the  people.  .As  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  health  his  work  has,  indeed,  been 
coloss.-d.  and  more  than  th:il.  it  has  been  of  such  a  nature 
as  to  bear  griod  fruit.  The  nearly  perfect  system  of  vac- 
cination was  the  result  of  his  labors.  As  a  rncinbcr  of 
the  committee  on  Pre\-entable  Diseases  and  School  Hy- 
giene, he  personally  looked  after  this  work,  visited  and 
thoroughly  inspected  every  r»ioni  in  every  school  building 
in  the  city,  to.gether  with  the  heating,  ventilation  and 
plumbing  of  the  buildings,  the  furniture  of  the  rooms, 
location  of  black-boards,  in  fact  every  thing  in  any  way 
affecting  the  health  of  the  pupils.  In  most  complete 
tabulated  fonn  the  records  of  his  work  were  presented  to 
the  board,  -while  his  report  suggesting  needed  clianges,  etc., 
was  one  of  the  most  practical  and  sensible  ever  handed 
in  by  a  city  otricia!  anywhere.  When  he  retired  from  the 
presidency  of  the  Berks  County  Medical  Society,  Jan. 
8.  1895.  his  address  was  on  the  subject  of  School  Hygiene, 
and  so  complete  was  it  in  detail,  so  perfect  in  its  entire 
conception,  that  it  should  be  carefully  studied  by  the  build- 
ing committees  of  school  boards  all  over  the  country. 
This  address  is  a  plea  for  the  health  and  happiness  of 
future  generations,  an  appeal  to  common  sense,  and  is  of 
so  high  a  standard  of  excellence — the  outcome  of  the 
scientific  investigations  of  a  conscientious  scientist,  looking 
for  the  greatest  good  of  ail  the  people,  which  in  itself  is 
the  loftiest  type  of  patriotic  endeavor — that  it  is  worthy 
thc  dignity  of  a  State  document  to  be  printed  and  spread 
broadcast  among  all  people.  He  has  been  a  great  friend 
of  education  and  no  man  in  the  St:ite  of  Pennsylvania  has 
worked  harder  in  the  cause  of  the  child  and  the  student 
than  has  Dr.  Adam  B.  Dundor. 

Dr.  Dundor  was  married  in  lS(i4  to  Emma  R.  Kalbach. 
ilaiighter  of  Isa.ic  Kalbach,  :ind  live  children  were  born  of 
this  union,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  children 
-iurviving  childhood  were:  Henry  I.,  who  died  in  1870; 
Lizzie  R..  who  died  in.  1870:  and  Eleanora  R.  In  religious 
belief  the  family  :ire  members  of  tiie  Reformed  Church. 
The  D.icior  is  a  member  of  Chandler  Lodge,  Xo.  227, 
l■^  &  .\.  M.;  i-lxcelsior  Chapter.  Xo.  237.  R.  ,\.  M.;  Read- 
ing Comniandery.  Xo.  42,  K.  T. ;  Rajah  Tetiiplc.  A.  .A.  O. 
.\'.  M.  S..  and  I-'riendship  Lodge,  K  P..  ol  Reading.  His 
profession  connects  him  with  the  Herks  County  .Medical 
SiKiely.  the  Pennsylvania  Medical  .Association,  tlie  .Vnieri- 
can    Mi-.lic,il    .As.-'jciation.    and    tiie   .-Xmerican    .-\cademv   of 


:,!■(>.     .  ■  •'•■  1, 


jtl.i.     ,li-.(    -;.'( 


,       ,,>l     :,-,       ;" 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


359 


Medicine.     He  was  also  a  nieiaber  of  the  American  Acad- 
emy of  Political  and  Social  Science. 

Dr.  Dundor  is  a  very  talented  writer,  and  his  works 
are  well  read  and  widely  known.  Among  his  works  may 
be  found  :  "A  Plea  for  Old  Standard  Remedies" ;  "Sanita- 
tion and  Sanitarians";  "Rheumatism;  Epilepsy  and  Treat- 
ment by  Bromide  of  Potash";  '"Cocaine  Intoxication  and 
Its  Dangers,  floral  Pollution  and  Sanitation"';  and  the 
"Old   and    New   Obstetrician." 

HENRY  VAX  REED,  f.rst  additional  law  judge  of 
Berks  county  in  1860,  was  born  Aug.  >il,  1S~],  in  Cumru 
(now  Spring)  township.  His  grandfather,  John  Van  Reed, 
settled  there  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and  his 
father  was  born  there  in  ITSli.  He  was  educated  at  Read- 
ing, Litit?,  Lafayette  College  and  Dickinson  College, 
graduating  from  the  last  named  institution  in  1813.  Upon 
returning  home  he  selected  the  law  as  his  profession,  and 
pursued  a  regular  course  of  legal  study  in  the  office  of 
David  F.  Gordon,  Esq.,  afterward  president  judge  of  this 
judicial  district.  On  April  C>,  ]S44,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar,  and  soon  establ'shcd  a  large  and  lucrative  practice, 
which  he  continued  for  twenty  yearb. 

In  IS.jl  lie  made  a  trip  to  California,  visiting  his  brothers, 
who  had  gone  thither  some  years  previously.  In  April, 
1869,  the  State  Legislature  authorized  the  qualilied  electors 
of  Berks  county  to  elect  an  additir.na!  law  judge.  At  that 
time  the  Governor  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  hav- 
ing been  authorized  to  appoint  a  suitable  person  [o  act  as 
such  judge  till  o<je  should  be  elected,  he  appointed  Mr.  Van 
Reed  to  this  position  on  July  13,  1809.  The  appointment 
was  gi\-en  to  him  without  any  solicitation  on  his  part.  He 
occupied  his  scat  on  the  Bench  and  discharged  his  duties 
in  a  superior  mnnner  till  Dec.  0,  1S(J9,  when  his  successor 
was  qualified.  Subsequently,  from  Jan.  1'2,  1S75,  till  Jan.  2, 
1876,  he  again  fiiled  the  same  otlice  by  appointment  from 
the  Governor  to  supply  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  promotion 
of  the  then  incumbent  to  the  office  of  president  judge. 
Judge  Van  Reed  represented  this  district  as  one  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Constitiuional  Convention  which  v.'as  held 
in  1S7L'  and  1873. 

During  the  progress  of  the  Civil  War,  he  v^as  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  national  administration  in  every  way,  and 
his  strong  patriotic  feelings  impelled  him  to  express  him- 
self in  the  most  positive  manner  in  favor  cf  prosecuting 
the  war.  V.'hen  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  was  threatened 
with  an  invasion  by  the  Rebels,  in  Septcn.ber.  1802.  he 
enlisted  with  a  b.rge  number  of  the  most  prominent  men 
of  Reading,  in  Company  G,  of  the  2d  Regiment  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  commanded  by  Captain  F.  S. 
Bickley.  This  company  was  marched  to  and  beyond  the 
State  Hue  and  performed  military  service  for  eleven  days 
when  it  was  discharced.  During  the  excitement  through- 
out the  State,  owing  to  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  in  the 
beginning  of  July,  1803,  he  enlisted  again  in  Company  C, 
42nd  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Militia,  and  acted 
as  a  sergeant.  This  regiment  was  composed  entirely  of 
Berks  count}-  companies.  It  was  under  the  co.'nmand  of 
Col.  Charles  H.  Hunter  and  continued  in  se;  vice  fiom  Julv 
6th  to  August   12th. 

Judge  Van  Reed  died  June  30.  18H5.  after  an  illness  of 
several  years.  He  married  Catharine  Gern.int,  daughter 
of  George  Gernant.  She  died  Jan.  13,  1SS3.  They"  had 
two  children  :   George  and  .Anna. 

S.\MLT{L  F.  MILLER,  Associate  Justice  of  'he  Supreme 
Court  of  tile  United  St.ites.  was  born  at  Richmond,  Ky., 
in  ISIO.  He  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  in  18G2, 
and  came  to  be  an  authority  on  constitutional  lav.-  next 
to  Marshall.  His  father  was  born  at  Reading,  Pa.,  and 
harl  lemoved  to  Kentucky  shortly  before  ISIO,  where  he 
eni.'ai'cd  in   farming. 

GEORGE  !•'.:  BEX.\h:VlLLE  KVAM  a  prominent  hrt- 
chant.  [ii.litieian  and  i.fncia!  ni  Phil.ideliihia.  was  born  at 
Re.idlng,  Berks  Co.,  P.i.,  Ian.  1*,  ls31,  a  son  of  lohn  May 
and    Harriet    (de   Beimevilje)    Keim. 


John  May  Keim  was  a  prominent  hardware  merchant 
at  Reading  for  many  years.  He  married  Harriet  de  Benne- 
ville,  and  they  had  si.K  children,  namely;  Ellen,  who  mar- 
ried John  W'ickcrsham  ;  Mary,  who  married  Isaac  Lathrop; 
Esther,  who  married  Leonard  Myers ;  George  de  Benne- 
ville;  Anna,  who  married  Amos  Michener;  and  John  May. 
[For  other  data  see  the  publication  entitled  "Keim  and 
-Mlied  Families"  which  was  compiled  by  de  B.  Randolph 
Keim.] 

--\fter  receiving  a  thorough  education  at  Reading  and 
at  "China  Hall,"  in  Bucks  county,  Mr.  Keim  engaged  in 
a  general  hardware  business  at  Reading  until  1S02,  when 
he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  enteied  the  hardware  store  of 
Rufus  Smith,  on  Commerce  street,  ea.-^t  of  Fourth.  After 
continuing  v.-ith  him  for  seven  ye.irs  he  started  in  the  sad- 
dlery hardware  business  for  himself,  at  Third  and  Race 
streets,  which  he  carried  on  until  1872:  then  he  organized 
the  firm  of  Keim.  Kennedy  &  Co.,  which  did  business 
successfully  until  187C,  when  tlie  name  wp.s  changed  to 
Geo.  de  B.  Keim,  Ltd.,  &  Co.  and  so  ccntinuetl  for  nearly 
twenty  years.  In  1S71  Mr.  Keim  became  the  owner  of  the 
Coleman  Bolt  Works,  and  operated  the  plant  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  was  also  ideiuiiied  for  some  years  with  the 
Union  Banking  Company,  as  a  director,  and  with  the 
Citizens'  Bank  as  president. 

Immediately  after  locating-  in  Philadelphia  Mr.  Keim 
identified  himself  with  the  Ivepublican  organization  in  that 
city  and  for  thirty  years  took  an  active  part  in  local 
politics.  In  ISSO  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Presidential 
electors  for  Pennsylvania,  and  he  cast  his  vote  for  James 
A.  Garfield.  In  1882  he  was  placed  on  the  Republican 
ticket  for  sheriff  and  was  elected,  notwithstanding  opposi- 
tion led  by  the  powerful  combination  of  the  "c/minittee 
of  100,"  which  had  been  organized  for  the  reform  of 
local  politics.  He  served  the  regular  term  of  three  years, 
from  1SS3  to  1S8G.  In  1887  he  was  nominated  on  the 
Inde;)endent  ticket  for  mayor,  against  Edwin  H.  Fitler  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  aUhough  his  numerous  friends 
throughout  the  city  conducted  a  hard  cainijaign  in  his  be- 
half,  he  was  defeated. 

In  1873  Mr.  Keim  represented  the  United  States  as  a 
commissioner  to  the  World's  Fair  at  Vieima.  At  its  close 
he  traveled  for  a  year  over  many  parts  of  Europe  and 
brought  home  with  him  many  rare  and  cosilj'  paintings 
and  works  of  art.  This  collection  he  continued  to  add  to, 
and  by  many  persons  his  collection  is  considered  the  finest 
owncfi  by  a  private  individual  in  Pennsylvania.  For  many 
years  he  resided  at  Xo.  1122  Spruce  street,  and  he  h.Td  a 
summer  home  at  Edgewat.r  Park,  X.  J.,  occupying  a 
charming  site  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Delaware  river; 
he  also  owned  a  farm  and  "shooting-box"  in  ^^aryland. 
While  enjoying  sport  at  the  latter  place  he  contracted 
a_  heavy  cold,  which  developed  into  pneumonia,  and  he 
died  after  a  short  illness,  March  10,  1893.  He  had  a  large 
circle  of  friends  who  appreciated  him  very  highly  for  his 
genial,  frank  and  straightforward  nature. 

Ill  IS.JO  Mr.  Keim  was  married  to  Miss  S.irah  Childs, 
of  Milestown,  Pa.,  bv  whom  he  had  six  children  :  Harriet 
de  Bcnneville,  .Marv  L,  Ellen  W.,  Walter  M.,  John  M.  and 
Fanny  Granville.  In  1883,  Mr.  Keim  was  married  (second) 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Archer  Thomas,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Tuley  and  Belinda  Jane  (Mitchell)  Thomas,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  Philadelphia.  They 
had  two  children :  George  de  Benneville  and  Elizabeth 
Thomas. 

JOHX  W.  GILBERT,  of  the  firm  of  HelTncr,  Gilbert 
&-  Croll,  leatling  clothiers  and  men's  furnishers  at  Reading, 
Pa.,  was  liorn  Sept.  .">.  18:.0,  near  Gilbertsville.  X'ew  Han- 
over township,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  Eli.as  'N'.  ai;d 
Rebecca  (Wariman)  Gilbert,  and  grandson  of  John  and 
Sarah    (  Verger)    Gilbert. 

John  Ciilbert  was  born  near  (."iill)ertsville.  I'.i.,  a  little 
borough  named  in  honor  of  the  e;irly  resideiiis  of  that 
name,  .and  he  ami  his  wife  were  the  jiarents  of  two  chil- 
dren. Eli.is  Y.  and  a  daughter  who  died  in  inl.nu-y.  .\fter 
Mrs.  (iilbert's  death,  Joim  Gilbert  married  (second) 
Esther   Biekel.     I%v  this   union   there   were  ciiilclri.n   as   fol- 


'ST^iBEwv, 


b..  ,vv;    I) 


v:;b 


Iv    I 


3(10 


HISTORY  OF   [lERKS  COUNTY.  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


lows:  Jesse,  Lyilia.  Heiir_\,  John,  Milton.  Ennnn,  Percival 
and  Augustus.  In  religious  belief  llic  grandparents  were 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  and  this  ocenpatinn  he  toliowed  for  many  years, 
dying  aged   sixty   yc;irs. 

Elias  V.  Gilbert  was  born  on  the  "Id  Gilbert  homestead 
near  Gilliertsvillc.  He  received  a  good  common  school 
education,  and  during  his  vacations  worked  in  his  father's 
blacksmith  shop,  learning  the  trade.  This  he  followed  for 
a  short  time,  and  then  engaged  in  the  hotel  business,  tlrst 
in  Berks  county,  and  later,  after  a  short  time  spent  in  the 
_  butcher  l.'usiness.  returned  thereto,  continuing  in  that  oc- 
cupation for  aljout  forty  years,  sixteen  years  of  this  time 
being  in  I'ottsiown.  He  died  Dec.  1,  1S98,  and  his  wife 
followed  him  to  the  grave  April  3,  1901.  The  children  born 
to  this  union  were:  ^lahlon  \\' .,  born  Aug.  10.  ISjO,  in  New  • 
Hanover,  Moni,goniery  county,  is  deceased  ;  Elizabeth  W., 
born  Dec.  21,  IS.'.D.  in  New  Hanover,  died  unmarried:  Sar- 
ah A.  W.,  born  Oct.  is.  1S.JI.  in  Xew  H;inover.  married  C. 
W.  B.  Todd,  Feb.  ::],  V.nn:  John  \V.,  born  Sept.  5.  KS.'jO; 
Eilcn  W.,  born  Sept.  11.  1S5'.),  in  Boyertown,  Berks  coun».>-, 
married  Xeviu  Gery,  nc>w  of  Philadelphia:  Klias  H..  born 
Feb.  10,  1801,  at  Colebrookdale ;  Emma  W.,  born  Oct.  ^9. 
1865,  in  Colcbrookd.ale.  Berks  county,  married  \\ .  M. 
Staufer,  and  they  reside  in  Lancaster  county:  Howard  \V., 
born  Sept.  27.  ISCSi,  at  that  place,  married  Anna  Flatz, 
and  they  live  in  Pottstown ;  and  VM  married  a  Miss  Ida 
Moll,  of  Alburtis,   Lehigh  county. 

John  \V.  Gilbert  attended  public  sciiool  in  Berks  and 
Montgomery  counties  and  Perkiomci  Seminary.  At  the 
age  of  nine  years  he  engaged  as  a  ten.dcr  in  a  brick  yard, 
and  this  he  followed  during  the  summer  months  for  three 
seasons.  When  tv/clve  years  of  ago  he  engaged  at  clerk- 
ing in  a  general  store  at  Eorgcdalc  and  at  Landis  Store. 
He  then  clerked  in  his  father's  hotel  for  four  years,  during 
this  time  attending  the  Seminary.  Later  he  taught  scliool 
for  two  years,  .afterward  cngagin.g  in  the  butchering  busi- 
ness at  East  Green\illc-  and  Alburtis,  still  later  going  to 
Philadelphia,  v.lure  he  was  onipluyed  eleven  years  b\  \V. 
L.  Ciraver  as  tra\eling"  salesman.  In  18".)()  Mr.  Gilbert  came 
to  Reading.  He  was  appointed  steward  at  the  Berks  County 
Alms  House,  where  he  remained  about  live  years,  and  at 
the  end  of  this  time  cn.gagcd  in  Iho  men's  funiishin;^  goods 
business  on  Fifth  street,  fn  1807  the  firm  of  Heltner, 
Gilbert  &  Crol!  was  <'Stoblished,  conur.cncinc  operalioiis  at 
Xo.  alS  Peiiii  street,  which  store  they  conducted  until 
1001.  when,  on  account  of  their  steadily  increasing  business 
and  lack  of  rooni  they  removed  to  tlieir  present  fine  store, 
formerly  the  J.  C.  lllig  stand,  and  here  carry  one  of  the 
finest  stocks  of  men's  furnishings  and  clothing  ut  Penn- 
sylvania. They  also  have  a  custom  tailoring  department, 
where  the  iinest  domestic  and  imported  suitings  are  con- 
stantly kept  on  hand.  A  corps  of  cutters  and  tirst-class 
tailors  are  kept  bu.^y  turning  out  S'lme  of  tlie  finest  cloth- 
ing in  this  section.  The  company  employs  ten  clerks,  and 
the  building,  which  is  .'?1  x  230  feet,  is  equipped  with  all 
r.iudern   improvements  and  appliances. 

Mr.  Gilbert  w,?s  married  in  1S70  to  Miss  .\manda  Sai- 
lade,  daught'  r  of  .\hraham  Sallade,  and  two  childri;n  were 
born  to  this  union:  Bertha  and  lielen,  l)oth  of  whom  re- 
side with  their  parents.  In  his  political  belief  Mr.  Gilbert 
is  a  Democrat.  He  i-^  a  member  of  Vaux  Lodge,  Xo.  406 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  the  K.  G.  E. 

E.  RALPH  ADAMS,  who  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
superintendent  of  the  Philadeltihia  &  Reading  Telcgr:iph 
Company,  was  born  Xov.  5,  ]8"iO,  at  Robesonia.  Berks  Co., 
Pa.,  son  of  Reuben  and  Magd:dena    (Jones)    Ad.inis. 

Reuben  Adams  was  born  also  in  Berks  county.  He 
carried  on  a  blacksmith  and  machine  business  at  Robe- 
sonia, where  he  died  in  Xovember,  ISO."),  aged  scvi^nty-live 
years.  His  widow  died  in  June.  1007.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren, namely:  Kich.ird.  of  Missouri;  Rufus,  who  died  at 
Denver.  Colo.;  E.  Ralph:  T'n'nia.  deceased.  w!io  married 
S:iniuel  Kurt^:  Jolm;  and  Valeri.i.  wife  oi  George  iMshcr. 

E.  Ralph  Adams  was  ;i  pnpd  in  the  public  schools  tsntil 
the  age  of  fourreen  years,  wl.en  lie  took  charge  "f  tli'' 
telegraph    service    at    Ri:)besoniu.    for    tiie    Philad.-lplii.i    iS; 


Reading  Railway.  This  was  in  18()2,  and  he  continued 
to  be  in  the  employ  of  this  corporation  until  his  death,  wit'i 
the  exception  of  1871  to  1874,  when  he  was  with  •]{■: 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Compan\-.  at  Sedalia.  Mo.  Afti-r 
his  return  to  the  former  company  he  was  made  manager 
of  the  Sixth  street  office  at  Reading,  in  187j  beco;aing 
chief  operator,  and  in  1S8G  he  was  sent  to  the  Philadel- 
phia olficc  of  the  company  as  manager.  Xine  months  later 
he  was  promoted  to  be  superintendent  of  the  whole  ser- 
vice, ami  this  responsible  position,  gained  entirely  through 
his  own  merit,  he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  ^NLirch  :!,  180.").  He  was  a  member  of  Loclge  Xo. 
C2,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Excelsior  Chapter ;  Reading  Commandery, 
K.  T. ;  and  Philadelphia  Consistory.  He  belonged  also  to 
Mt.  Penn  Council,  Royal  Arcanum,  and  to  tlie  Philadelpliia 
&  Reading  Relief  Telegraphic  .Association. 

In  1871  Mr.  Adams  was  married  to  Loretta  Loag.  a 
daughter  of  William  K.  and  Eliza  (Strong)  Loag.  They 
settled  at  what  is  now  known  as  Loag's  Corner,  Chester 
county,  where  they  engaged  in  farm.ing.  She  is  the  joung- 
est  of  their  children,  the  others  being:  Margaret,  deceased, 
wife  of  Michael  P.  Boyer,  a  prominent  attorney  at  Read- 
ing; John,  deceased,  who  was  proprietor  of  a  hotel  at 
Scranton,  Pa.;  Emina,  widow  of  James  Thompson,  of 
Hillsboro,  Md. ;  James,  deceased,  a  merchant  in  Phila- 
delphia; Mary  and  Esther,  both  deceased;  George,  de- 
ceased a  dentist  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. ;  Sarah,  wife  of 
Theodore  J.  Bell,  of  Chester,  Pa.;  Frances,  also  of  Chester. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams  had  two  children,  viz. :  Fred  B., 
who  is  supervisor  of  the  Shamokin  Division  of  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Railway  Company,  and  wdio  married 
Lue  G.  P'elix;  and  Morenco  1,..  wife  of  R.  Ray  Helms, 
representative  for  the  Equitable  Life  Assurance  Society,  at 
Reading,   Pennsylvania. 

CLYMER  FAMILY.  In  tracing  this  family,  the  first 
of  whom  we  know  arc  Christopher  Clymer  and  his  wife. 
Catherine,  who  lived  in  Bristol,  England.  They  had  two 
children,  Richard  and  William,  who  came  to  America 
about,  the  year  ]70.">.  lioth  married,  but  only  Richard 
left    issue. 

Richard  Clymer  and  Ins  wife.  Elizabeth,  had  five  chil- 
dren. Three  of  them  died  in  infancy.  Two  sons.  Christo- 
pher and  William,  both  married  and  both  left  descendants, 
Christopher's  son  George  ha\-ing  been  one  of  the  signers 
of   the   Declaration   of   independence. 

William  Clymer,  second  son  of  Richard,  married  Anne 
Judith  Roberdcau  .and  left  but  one  child.  This  was  Daniel 
Cunningham  Cl\iner,  who  was  brought  up  by  his  uncle. 
General  Roberdeau,  Daniel's  father  having  died  wb.en 
Daniel  was  quite  young.  Daniel  Cunningliain  Clymer 
married  Mary  Weidner  and  they  had  three  chiklren: 
.■\nn,  who  died' unmarried ;  William,  who  married  Susan 
Richtmyer  and  had  eight  childien  all  of  whom  died 
childless;   and   Edward  'filghman. 

Edward  Tilghman  Clymer,  son  of  Daniel  C,  married 
Maria  Catherine  Hiester.  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  as  follov.-s :  Daniel  Roberdeau.  born 
March  31,  1810;  William  Hiester,  born  Oct.  9,  1820;  Ed- 
ward ?\Iyers,  born  July  10,  1S:?2;  Weidner.  born  .May  1;.'. 
1824;  Mary  Hiester,  born  July  19.  1825;  Hiester,  born 
Xov.  3,  1827 ;  and  George  Edward,  born  J.an.  8.   1830. 

D.\NiEL  RoBF.RUE.vu  Cly.mek,  cltlcst  SOU  of  Edward 
Tilghman  Clymer  and  Maria  Catherine  Hiester,  was  born 
at  the  Clymer  homestead  in  Caernarvon  township,  Berks 
Co..  Pa.,  March  01,  ISIO.  .After  receiving  his  education 
at  Lilitz.  Lancaster  county,  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  Reading,  Pa.,  which  he  pursued  until  1852. 
In' 1853-54  he  was  mayor  of  Re;iding.  and  some  vears  later 
held  a  position  with  the  ]';a<!t  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, which  he  resigned  in  ISi'.o,  ;ifter  which  time  he 
was  not  in  business.  He  was  rdso  a  Lawyer,  having  been 
admitted  to  the  Bar  .Aug.  20.  1S57.  but  was  never  eii- 
.eaged  in  the  active  practice  of  the  law.  He  married  a; 
Merccr.sburg  March  31.  1840.  Delia  Pierson.  daugl.ter  of 
Silas  .and  S.av.ih  I'icvson,  of  .Morristown.  .V.  J.  .Mrs.  Cly- 
mer was  bora  Jan.  •'.,  1S24.  and  died  June  11.  1801.  Thev 
!ia<i  live  children:   M.iria  Hiester.  b.^rn  June  2,  1847:  Sar.ali 


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BlOGRAriDCAL 


361 


Anna  Moore,  born  June  ~i,  1840;  Delia  Pierson,  born 
May  '^8,  Iti.'il;  Daniel  Roberdeau,  Jr.,  born  Nov.  0,  1S31; 
a:ul   Hiester  George,  born  Oct.  2i,  ISCiJ. 

.Mr.  Clymer  was  well  known  over  the  whole  State  and 
highly  esteemed  by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  lie  was  a 
dtvout  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  looked 
upon  as  a  faithful  and  upright  Christian  gentleman.  His 
(Jcath  occurred  after  a  short  illness  at  his  residence  in 
Reading,   Pa.,   .May  j,   ISS'J. 

WiLLiA.M  HiLSTER  Clvmek,  sccond  .^on  of  Edward 
,  Tilghman  Clymer  and  Maria  Catherine  Hiester,  v.a.-  born 
ai  the  Clymer  homestead  in  Caernarvon  townsh.ip,  near 
Morgantown,  Berks  county,  Pa.,  Oct.  9,  18:20.  His  father 
dying  while  the  children  were  all  small,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  ])laced  in  the  charge  of  his  uncle,  William 
Hiester,  of  Mew  Holland,  Lancaster  county,  where  he 
was  in  his  uncle  \\^illiam"s  store  for  a  short  time,  and 
subsequently  sent  to  Lititz  to  school.  He  ;iflerward  came 
to  Reading  and  he  and  his  brother,  Daniel  R.  Clymer, 
opened  a  dry-goods  store  at  Xo.  51S  Penn  street.  Later 
they  moved  their  store  to  the  building  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  Fifth  and  Penn  streets,  which  property  they 
bought.  Some  years  after  W'ilHaiu  Clymer  sold  out  his 
interest  in  the  store  to  his  brother  Daniel,  and  in  ISIO  he 
and  liis  brother  Edward  .M.  Clymer  purchased  the  charcoal 
furnace  at  Mt.  Laurel.  Berks  county,  where  he— William 
H.  Clymer — resided  until  1S8:?,  with  the  exception  of 
about  two  years,  from  18(54  to  130C.  when  lie  lived  in 
Reading.  In  ISOO  he  and  his  brother  purchased  the  old 
Oley  Charcoal  Furnace  near  Frieduiisburg,  one  of  the 
oldest  charcoal  furnaces  in  the  United  States,  and  com- 
menced mining  iron  ore  extensively.  The  Temple  Fur- 
nace, a  large  and  perfectly  equipped  anthracite  furnace 
situated  at  Temple,  five  miles  north  of  Reading,  was 
built  by  William  H.  Clymer  &  Co.,  and  operated  by  them 
until  1870,  when  the  Temple  Iron  Company  was  organ- 
ized withi  Willi;im  H.  Clymer  as  its  president.,  AIjouI  18>sO 
thf  Clymer  brothers  had  the  Mt.  Laurel  Furnace  changed 
from  a  cliaicoal  to  an  anthracite  furnace,  and  a  railruad, 
one  and  a  half  mile?  in  length,  was  built  from  the  East 
Pennsylvania  railroad  at  Temple  to  the  furnace.  After 
these  improvements  were  made  the  brothers  organized 
the  Clymer  Iron  Company,  a  corporation  wliich  included 
in  its  operations  the  ^!t.  Laurel  Furnace,  Oley  F'urnace, 
extensive  limestone  quarries  at  Rower's  Station,  iron  ore 
mines  near  Pricetown,  and  a  number  of  mines  along  the 
East  Pennsylvania  railroad.  This  corporation,  of  which 
W'llliam  H.  Chmer  was  president,  was  entirely  independ- 
ent of  the  Temple  Iron  Company,  of  which  he  was  also 
the  pres'dent.  .'•\bout  a  \ear  before  his  death  Mr.  Clymer 
resifjned  the  presidency  of  the  Clymer  Iron  Company 
on  account  of  ill  health  and  was  succeeded  by  his  brother, 
Hiester  Clymer.-  He,  however,  retained  the  presidency  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Reading,  which  he  held  from 
1876  until  his  death,  and  the  presidency  of  the  Temple 
Iron  Company.  He  removed  with  his  family  to  Reading. 
Pa.,  in  September,  1S81',  and  died  there  July  2r,.  ]8S3. 
He  had  a  large  acquaintance  and  was  greatly  respected 
for  his  sterling  character:  was  a  man  of  excellent  judg- 
ment, and  his  advice  was  frequently  sought  upon  many 
important  matters.  He  was  brought  up  an  Episcopalian 
and  was  a  member  of  Christ  Churcli.  Reading,  at  the 
time  of  his  death. 

On  June  IC.  ]S.5.">.  Mr.  Clymer  married  Valeria,  eldest 
daughter  of  Levi  B.  Smith.  She  was  born  March  14. 
1828.  and  died  Au.e.  17.  I'.tiil.  Their  fnniily  consisted  of 
six  children:  Emily  Smith,  born  Julv  lii,  T^'iH:  Edward 
Tilghman.  born  Aucr.  S.  1S'>7;  William  Hiester.  bnrn 
March  21.  ISHO;  Levi  Smith,  born  .April  2,  1^03;  Valeria 
Elizalieth.  born  .April  20,  isr>.'):  ,-ind  Frederick  Hiester. 
born   May  2.  I«fi9. 

Epw.Ap.n  MvEKS  Clv.mkr.  third  son  of  Edward  Tilijhman 
Clymer  and  Maria  Catlierinc  Hiester,  was  born  at  the  Cly- 
mer liomeste.id  in  Caernarvon  township.  Birks  Co.,  Pa.. 
July  1f>.  l'^'??.  He  went  to  the  local  schools  in  bis  early  youth 
and  afterward  to  the  .Abbeville  .Xcadcmv.  in  Lancaster 
munty.  and  to  the  acub-my  of  Josluia  Iloopes,  at  West 
Chester.      [Ie  then  selected  the  law  as  bis  profession,  and 


after  pursuing  his  legal  studies  for  a  while  under  William 
Strong,  ]-I.-q.,  he  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1S45.  Upon  his  return  to 
Reading  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  on  Aug.  4,  1S45. 
He  then  opened  a  law  oliice  and  soon  acquired  a  lucrative 
business,  which  he  continued  until  1S57,  at  which  time 
he  became  thoroughly  interested  in  projecting  the  East 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  from  Reading  to  Allcntown.  His 
efforts  in  this  enterprise  were  entirely  successful  and  he 
became  the  tirst  president  of  the  company,  and  continued 
in  this  ofhce  until  the  road  was  leased  to  the  Philadelphia 
&  Reading  Railroad  Company.  In  1ST4  he  was  chosen 
president  of  the  Coal  Company  belonging  to  ihe  New 
York,  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad  Company,  which 
it  owned  and  operated  in  Pennsylvania,  and  he  held  this 
position  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  New  York 
City,  -May  2."),  1883.  He  was  popular  in  social  and  busi- 
ne.ss  circles  and  united  to  a  more  th.an  common  business 
sagacity  an  abundance  of  well-directed  energy,  a  quality 
which  received  marked  development  in  building  the  East 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  and  the  proposed  continuation  of  a 
system  of  underground  railway  under  Broadway,  New 
"^'ork.  He  was  married.  Jan.  27.  18<)4,  to  I-dIa  Maria  Diet;?, 
daughter  of  William  H.  J3ietz,  of  New  York  City.  They 
had  but  one  child,  a  son,  Ed.ward  Myers  Clymer,  born 
May  0,  1SC9,  who  survived  him,  as  did  also  his  widow. 

M-\RY  HiESTKR  Clv.mkr,  only  daughter  of  Edward 
Tilgl.man  and  Maria  Catherine  Hiester,  was  born  at  the 
Clymer  homestead,  Caernarvon  township,  Berks  Co.,  Pa., 
July  19,  182,").  She  was  married  .Aug.  10,  18;'2,  in  Christ 
Church,  Reading.  Pa.,  by  the  Rev.  Milton  Lighlner,  rec- 
tor, to  her  cousin.  William  Bingham  Clymer.  the  eldest 
son  of  Henry  Clymer  and  grandson  of  Ceoige  Clymer, 
one  of  the  si.gners  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
Mr,  Clymer  was  born  at  the  homestead,  near  Tienton. 
Bucks  Co.,  Pa„  his  mother  having  been  Mary  Willin.g  He 
received  a  liberal  education,  graduating  with  credit  at 
Princeton  College,  -and  studied  law  but  never  practised. 
When  quite  young  he  assumefl  the  management  of  the 
Bingham  estate.  In  1842  he  was  appointed  agent  for  the 
northern  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  181')  established 
the  .general  office  of  the  estate  at  Wellsboro.  His  man- 
agement of  the  large  property  was  highly  successful, 
so  that  in  1867  he  was  apiiointed  a  trustee.  He  ever 
carefully  consi<lcred  the  rights  and  interests  of  all,  and 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  trustee^,  while  his  courtesy, 
kindness  and  perfect  inte.grity  commanded  the  respect  of 
the  tenants  and  others  on  the  estate.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clymer  resided  for  a  time  at  Wellsboro,  Tioga  Co..  Pa.. 
where  all  their  children  were  born  with  the  exception 
of  the  third,  who  was  born  in  Philadelphia.  The  chil- 
dren were  all  baptir^ed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Marple.  rector  of 
Christ  Church.  Wellsboro."  In  July,  ISOO,  tiiey  sailed  for 
Europe,  taking  all  their  children  for  the  advantages  of 
education:  and  while  abroad,  on  the  2Sth  of  May,  1873. 
Mr.  Clymer  died  of  apoplexy  in  Florence.  Italy.  The 
family  then  returned  to  Philadelphia  in  the  autuinn.  Mr. 
Clyiner's  remains  were  sent  b.ome  and  are  interred  in 
Charles  Evans  cemetery,  near  Reading.  Pa.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1878.  Mr<;,  Clymer  and  her  children  left  .America 
with  the  intention  of  settling  on  the  Continent,  hut  she 
and  two  of  her  clu'Idren,  Richard  and  Maria,  were 
drowned  in  the  En.glish  Channel  before  they  reached  their 
destination,  the  vessel  in  which  they  took  passage  having 
been  lost  Nov.  20.  1S7S.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  Mary  Hiester  Clymer  and  William  Bingham 
Clvmer:  Henrv.  born  Tune 'in.  18,13;  Marv,  Dec,  13,  18.54; 
Ellen  S.,  Dec. 'o.  18.-..>';  Richard  Willing.  .April  10.  18.18: 
Maria   Hiester.   Feb.   11.   isr>2:  and   Rose   Nicolls,   Sept.  10, 

HirsTER  Ci.VMER,  fifth  son  of  Edward  Tilghman  Clymer 
and  ?\raria  Catherine  Hiester.  was  born  ,it  the  Clymer 
home'-tea<l.  Caertiarvon  township,  l^.erks  Co..  Pa..  Nov. 
3,  1S"7.  He  recei\L(l  a  liberal  education,  ijraduating 
frc'ii  tlic  C.dhi'e  of  New  Jer<ev  in  1817,  and  taking 
up  till'  sti;(i>  of  l,iw  was  :idniitted  to  the  I'.ar  of 
Be:ks    comuy,     \pril   u.    1810,    after    which    he    practised    in 


■'  ■■>'•   '-■■  •■'■■)■,  /    .1 


•r-     ■.^■-■■■:     ..:■ 


.jJ   -in 


3G3 


HISTORY  OF  BERKS  COUNTY,  ^ENNSYL^^ANIA 


Reading  and  Pottsville.  He  married  April  3,  IdJG,  Eliza- 
beth M.  Brooke,  daugliter  of  .Mailhew  Ilrooke,  of  Birds- 
boro,  Fa.  They  resided  in  Reading,  where  their  two  chil- 
dren were  born  and  died,  and  where  Mrs.  Clymer  died 
Oct.  9,  1S7U.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  Con- 
vention at  Charleston,  in  iSOU,  and  in  the  same  year  was 
one  of  the  Revenue  commissioners;  served  as  State  sen- 
ator from  1800  to  IS'JG;  became  the  Democratic  candi- 
date for  governor  in  the  latter  year,  but  was  defeated 
by  Governor  Geary.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  by  the 
governor  a  member  of  the  Hoard  of  Public  Charities, 
then  just  organised.  In  l?7o  he  was  elected  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  XLHIi;  Congress  from  Berks  county,  as 
a  Deoiocrat;  and  served  on  the  committee  on  the  Re- 
vision of  the  Laws,  on  Public  Lands  and  on  the  Library. 
He  was  re-elected,  to  the  XLlVih  Congress,  and  was 
placed  on  the  co'inmiitee  <.m  Expenditures  of  the  War  De- 
pp.rtincni,  and  the  Joint  Standing  Commiitee  on  the  Li- 
brary; also  re-elected  to  Congress  in  1S76  and  1S78.  In 
ISSO  .Mr.  Clymer  was  succeeded  in  Congress  front  the 
Berks  District  by  the  Hon.  Daniel  Ermentrout,  and  from 
that  time  until  his  death  resided  in  Reading.  His  discus- 
sion with  State  Senator  A.  K.  AlcClure,  in  February,  1S61, 
in  the  State  Senate,  on  the  repeal  of  the  tonnage  tax 
on  the  tratnc  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
brought  him  prominently  before  the  public.  Tlie  crowning 
act  of  his  Congressional  life  was  his  presentation  to  Con- 
gress of  the  special  committee  repc)rt  touching  the  ras- 
calities of  William  W.  Belknap,  President  Grant's  Sec- 
retary of  War,  which  created  a  great  sensation  throughout 
the  land.  His  career  in  the  Senate  of  Pennsylvania  was 
distinguished  for  dignity  and  courtesy  of  demeanor,  force 
and  eloquence  in  debate,  and  steadfast  desotion  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  Commonwi-alth.  He  was  interested 
in  the  iron  business,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
president  of  the  Clymer  Iron  Company. 

Mr.  Clymer  married  April  'M,  38S:i.  Mrs.  L  B.  Cl.":mens 
(nee  V'un  Schrader),  of  St.  Louis.  ^Missouri. 

Mr.  Clymer  died  Jane  12,  18:^4,  at  which  tirm.,  lit  was 
vice-president  of  the  Union  Trust  Company,  Philadelphia ; 
president  of  the  Clymer  Iron  Company,  w'icn  operated 
the  Mt.  Laurel  and  Oley  Furnaces;  a  director  of  the 
Reading  Fire  Insurance  and  Trust  Company  from  the  time 
of  ils  organization,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Charles  Evans 
Cemetery. 

Hiester  Cl\niei  and  Eli-^nbfcth  M.  Brooke  had  two  chil- 
dren: Elizabeth  M.,  horn  Jan  20,  lS."i7;  and  Edward 
Brooke,  born    March    IS,   lSr)9. 

GitOKGF.  Edwakd  Clymkr.  youngest  child  of  Edward 
1'ilghtnan  Clymer  and  Mpria  Catherine  Hiester,  was  born 
at  the  Clymer  homestead,  in  Caernarvon  township,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.,  J.'in.  3,  ]S30.  He  was  sent  to  the  Reading  Acad- 
emy and  from  there  to  Princeton  College,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  IS  10.  He  then  became  asso- 
ciated with  his  brothers,  William,  Edward  and  Hiester.  in 
the  iron  business  in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  owning  the  Ml. 
Laurel  and  Olcy  Furnace;  and  other  property  connected 
with  the  iron  business.  In  J8.''8  he  went  to  Mexico  and 
joined  a  party  who  surveyed  the  route  for  a  railr^iad 
from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  City  of  Mexico.  In  the  summer 
of  1801  Mr.  Clymer  raiscil  a  company  of  cavalry  which 
became  attached  to  the  0th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  Col. 
R.  H.  Rush,  of  which  Mr.  Clymer  was  made  major  in 
March,  1SG2.  During  lS(').")-08  he  was  occupied  in  mining 
in  Nevada  and  Chihuahua,  .Mexico.  In  1870  Mr.  Clymer 
severed  his  connectiiin  with  his  hroihcrs  in  the  iron  busi- 
ness and  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  Swift  Iron  &  Steel  Works  of  Newport.  Ky., 
of  which  his  father-in-lnw  was  prcsirlent.  Mr.  Clymer  was 
elected  vice-president  in  1S74  and  removed  with  his  family 
to  Newport.  In  1^84  he  returned  to  Reading  and  again 
became  interested  in  the  iron  business,  and  after  the  death 
of  his  brother  Hi,.~ier  bo;:L'!it  the  Mt.  Laurel  Furnace 
property  and  operated  thr  furnace  until  two  yi:nrs  bcforf 
his  death,  when  he  retirjd  from  active  businc;>s  and 
settled  in  Reading. 

Major  Clymer  married  June  CO.  tsr,s,  .Mice  C-iry  Swift, 
daughter  of  A.lcxander  Swift,  of  Cincinnati.     She  died  in 


Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Feb.  14,  1873,  leaving  two  childr-n 
Mr.  Clymer  died  in  Reading  July  7,  IS'.ij.  He  wa-,  t;.',^ 
worshipful  master  of  Lodge  No.  IJ2,  F.  &  A.  M.,  djrm  - 
the  years  IS.O.")  and  IBoG,  and  was  also  a  member  of  tin: 
Sons  of  the  Revolution  and  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  Tr.r 
children  of  George  Edward  Clymer  and  Alice  Cary  Swif; 
were  as  follows:  Edwin  Swift,  born  June  10,  1871;  and 
George  Alexander,  born  July  25,  1872. 

LEWIS  CRATER,  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  :!,e 
Reading  Steam  Heat  and  Pov,-er  Company,  and  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Wai  ren  County  Traction  Companv, 
is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Reading,  and  he 
is  descended  from  one  of  those  sturdy  emigrants  from  the 
Palatinate,  who  sought  religious  freedom  m  the  New 
World. 

The  name  Crater  wa';  originally  "Greter,"'  as  is  evi- 
denced in  the  original  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King  of 
Great  Britain,  signed  by  the  emigrant  ancestor  wdien  he 
landed  at  Philadelphia.  This  paper  is  on  file  in  Harris- 
burg.  The  ditterent  branches  of  the  family  have  adopted 
various  spellings — Greder.  Grader,  Grater,  Krater  and  Crat- 
er. The  change  from  "G'  to  "C"  was  originally  through 
an  accident.  On  May  28,  1702,  John  Grater  bought  proper- 
ty of  George  Hecbner,  and  the  japers  were  made  out  by  one 
Thomas  Richards  in  the  name  of  John  Craiter.  The  error 
was  not  discovered  until  about  1800,  when  the  property  v/as 
sold,  and  in  order  to  save  trouble,  the  new  papers  were 
signed  '"John  Crater."  The  family  records  show  the  great 
niajorit\  of  its  members  to  have  been  tillers  of  the  soil, 
aiJil  tiiey  have  been  huv-abiding,  hard-working,  honest, 
upright  and  strictly  conscientious. 

Religious  persecution  in  Germany  broke  out  with  re- 
newed frenzy  in  17.'{2,  and  about  ^0,000  Protestants  were 
driven  from  the  country  in  the  middle  of  winter.  Among 
tliete  fugitives  were  (1)  Jacob  (iretcr  and  his  family, 
hroia  Colonial  Records,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  ol'i,  it  is  found  that 
Jacob  Greier  was  one  of  2'.)1  "Palatines"  arriving  at  Phila- 
delphia, P'a.,  in  "tlie  shin  Samuel  of  London,  Hugh  Percy, 
master,  from  Rotterdam,  but  last  from  Deal,  on'  the  17th 
d.ay  of  August,  1703."  P.y  occupation  he  was  a  weaver, 
but  after  coming  to  Pennsylvania,  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  along  the  Perkiomen  river,  at  or  near  what  is  known 
as  Grater's  Ford,  and  there  he  also  carried  on  farming. 
That  he  was  not  among  liiose  who  sold  themselves  for  a 
term  of  years  to  pay  for  his  passage,  but  w^^s  able  at  once 
to  purchase  land,  goes  to  prove  he  was  a  man  of  some 
means.  Later  records  show  his  wealth  increasing,  as  in 
tlu'  census  report  of  Perkiomen  or  Van  Bobbers  township, 
]\loiUgomery  county,  June.  17,"iC.  there  is  this  entry:  '"Jaciib 
Kreter,  weaver,  owner  of  220  acres  of  land.''  Again,  in  the 
history  of  Perkiometi  township,  that  same  year  is 
found  "Jacob  Kreter,  owner  of  220  acres  of  farm  land 
at  Grater's  I-'ord,  also  a  saw  and  grist  mill."  Records  in 
his  own  handwriting  indicate  more  education  than  was 
common  in  those  times.  In  his  religious  faith  he  was  a 
follower  of  Menno  Simons,  and  it  is  not  clear  whetlier  he 
was  a  preacher  at  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Pennsylvania, 
but  from  the  earliest  entry  in  the  minute-book  of  the 
Skippack  Church  it  is  shown  that  he  was  one  of  the  most 
active  members,  and  the  general  opinion  is  that  he  was  a 
bishop.  His  descendants  for  several  generations  clung 
to  the  Meniionite  faith,  but  as  the  country  grew  and  educ;i- 
tion  became  more  general,  the  younger  meinl;>ers  of  th.e 
family  joined  more  progressive  denominations,  and  adopted 
the  dreSs  and  customs  of  the  times.  In  the  old  family 
recorel  of  Jacob  Greter  the  names  of  three  of  his  children 
have  Ineii  Inst  owing  to  a  coni'-r  of  the  leaf  being  torn 
off.  the  date  of  birth  h.iwever  l>e-ing  left.  One  of  these 
tliree  was  undouhtetllv  "Lewis."  J.acob  Gretcr's  children 
were;  Jacob.  Imrn  May  2.").  1720:  .Maria,  .\pril  IS,  17.'51 ; 
Johannes,  April  10.  1734:  Elizabeth,  Feb,  20,  17:!0 :  Paulus. 
July   S,    I7;!S:    Barbara.    Sepi.   21,    1740    (married    hVederick 

lluliler');  Christian,  Jan.  :;o,    I7i:i: .  born  Julv   17. 

]7.(.-,  ;• .   born  June   s,    ];,-,o: ,   Imrn    .M.iy 

2.    17."):i:   and  Michael,   in   17.'S. 

(II)    Johannes    Greter,    son    of    Jacob,    was    born    April 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


SC:? 


10,  1734.  His  children  were:  Maria,  horn  Oct.  I'J,  1760; 
Jacob,  Oct.  1,  1763  (died  May  27,  1704);  Johannes,  July 
13,  1765;  Abraham.  April  I'.i.  .1768;  Ccdarina.  -May  23, 
1771;  Liidwig,  Jan.  J.  177j;  Elizabeth,  April  6,  177<J  (mar- 
ried Henry  Hallnian). 

(HI)  Johannes  Grater  (2),  son  of  Johaiaies  Greter, 
was  born  Jnly  13,  170."'.  He  married  and  became  the  father 
of  a  large  family  (all  of  whom  adopted  the  spelling  of 
the  name.  Crater),  as  follows:  Abralitim,  born  I\Iarch  2, 
1792;    Jacob.    Dec.    28,    1793    (died    single);    Phillip,    Jan. 

21,  179G;  John,  Nov.  26.  1797;  David,  Feb.  1.3,  ISO')  (died 
in  1893);  Catharine,  Oct,  19,  li?()2  (married  John  Young); 
Elizabeih,  Feb.  3,  1S05  (.died  .Ante.  27.  1S05)  ;  Henry,  March 

22,  1808  (died  in  December,  ISir.)  ;  and  Lsrael.  Feb.  IS,  1S12 
(died  single). 

(IV)  Abraham  Crater,  son  of  Johannes  Grater,  was 
born  Alarch  2,  1792.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Rev. 
Henry  Pennypackcr,  great-aunt  of  former  Governor 
Pennypacker,  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  To  their  mar- 
riage were  born  six  children,  namely:  Ephraim.  born 
May  ],  181-1,  is  mentioned  liclow;  Elizabeth,  born  May  20, 
1S17,  died  Dec.  7,  183 1;  Margaret  and  Christianna,  born 
Sept.  10,  1818,  both  died  unmarried;  Jacob,  born  July  1, 
1820,  moved  to  Indiana,  and  divd  Xov.  17,  1S93  ;  and  John, 
born  Feb.  22,  182i:. 

(V)  Ephraim  Crater,  son  of  jVbraham,  was  born  Maj- 
1,  ISll.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  district  schools. 
He  grew  up  on  the  farm,  and  made  farming  his  life  work. 
He  married  Dec.  18,  18H6,  Susan  Eongacre,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents-  of  eight  children :  Henry  L.,  born  Oct. 
7,  1337,  died  Oct.  17,  1872;  Eavina,  born' Aug.  21,  1S39, 
married  Joseph  Lukens;  Anna,  born  Sept.  10,  1841.  mar- 
ried Jacob  Xym-.n;  Lewis,  born  Aug.  9,  1843;  Catharine 
Elizabeth,  born  Jan.  1,  lS4j,  married  Josiah  Xyman  ;  Jacob 
L.,  born  Feb.  10,  1847,  lives  in  Pottstown;  David  E.,  born 
Nov.  23,  18.")0;  and  Abraham  L.,  born  Sept.  18,  IS.'iJ,  died 
Nov.  9,  1873.  Ephraim  Crater,  the  father,  was  a  stanch 
old-line  Whig  iii  politics,  but  at  the  fonnatiun  C'f  the 
Republican  p;irt\-,  joined  its  ranks,  and  ever  afterward 
was  one  of  its  active  workers.  Hu  was  a  strong  Abolition- 
ist, and  was  one  of  the  workers  in  the  old  underground 
railway.  His  good  wife  died  May  3,  1878,  aged  sl\t\-four 
years,  eight  months,  fifteen  days.  Thev  were  believers  in 
the  Mcnnonite  fai»h 

(VI)  Lewis  Crater,  son  ofEphraim,  born  Aug.  9,  1843, 
received  a  good  substantial  education  in  the  common 
school.^  of  Chester  county.  Reared  in  the  atmosphere  of 
patriotism,  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  afrorded  hini  an 
opportunity  to  show  hi.-  loyalty,  and  on  Sept.  10.  1861, 
he  became  a  member  of  Company  H,  oOih  P.  V.  I.,  and 
participatfd  in  thirty-three  eng;igemonts  besides  a  numlier 
of  skirmishes.  He  was  <->nce  slightly  wounded,  had  his 
sword  cut  from  his  side,  and  he  was  promoted  from  ser- 
geant to  first  lieutenant  for  gallant  conduct  in  action,  clos- 
ing his  service  as  adjutant  of  the  regiment.  He  was  hon- 
orably discharged  Jul;,-  31,   lS6.j. 

After  the  v,-ar,  Mr.  Crater  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
entered  Bryant  and  Stratton's  Business  Colkg.?  at  Phila- 
delphia. For  ,=ome  time  lie  taught  penmanship  in  the 
schools  of  Philadelphia,  b;it  failin.g  health  necessitated  a 
change  of  employment.  He  moved  to  Reading,  and  ac- 
cepted a  position  in  Philip  .Albright's  grocery,  later  be- 
coming a  clerk  in  the  dry  goods  establishir.ent  of  H.  A. 
Hoff,  where  he  remained  one  year.  He  tlien  became  an 
accountant  in  Favl's  Banking  House,  and  continued  there 
until  it  closed  its  doors  in  1867.  His  next  position  was 
as  chief  clerk  and  bookkeeper  for  William  Mcllvaine  & 
Sons  in  the  Reading  Rolling  Mill,  until  that  concern  sus- 
pended operations  in  1897.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Crater 
has  been  a  public  accountant,  and  is  con.-idercd  an  expert 
in  that  line.  In  IS^S  he  was  elected  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer of  the  Reading  Steam  Heat  and  X'ower  Company, 
and  lias  since  held  that  office.  He  wa<  a  member  of  the 
Ml.  Penii  Paper  P)Ox  Comp;iny.  Ltd..  in  which  he  held 
tlic  ofiice  of  secretary,  until  I'.iOS,  ulun  tiie  conip.iny  dis- 
solved. 

Mr.  Crater  is  a  writer  of  cr.nsiderablc  ability,  especially 
on  historical  subjects,  tor  wiiich  he  has  a  decided  fondness. 


In  1807  when  Col.  Bates  was  gathering  data  for  the  history 
of  the  troops  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  Mr.  Crater 
furnished  very  much  of  the  data  relating  to  the  50th  regi- 
ment, and  some  years  after  wrote  and  puMfshed  a  history 
of  tlic  50th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry. 
He  wrote  the  "History  of  the  Grater  Family"  and  the 
"History  of  St.  Peter's  M.  E.  Church." 

In  his  fraternal  relations.  Mr.  Crater  is  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  served  as  Post  commander; 
a  companion  of  the  .Milit:iry  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion, 
Commandery  of  Pennsylvania;  and  a  member  of  the  Union 
Veteran  Legion;  the  P.  O.  S.  of  A.;  Vigilance  Lodge.  No. 
194,  I.  O.  6.  F.;  Veteran  Castle,  No  481.  K.  G.  E. :  So- 
ciety Army  of  the  Potomac;  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and 
Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

On  Sept.  20,  1865,  Mr.  Crater  wedded  Miss  Rosie  C. 
Lt>we,  daughter  of  Peter  Lowe,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.  Four 
children  blessed  this  union:  F.mm;i  May,  born  Jan.  9,  1867, 
m.  .Arthur  E.  Suter,  of  Zurich,  .Switzerland:  Mary  Min- 
erva, bcjrn  June  20,  186S  :  Annie  Lulu,  born  Sept.  21,  1870, 
died  Tan.  15,  1875:  and  Morton  Murray,  born  Jan.  14. 
1872.  ' 

THOMAS  C.  ZIMMERMAN,  known  all  over  Berks 
county  as  the  talented  editor  of  The  Reading  Times,  is  an 
enterprising  and  aggressive  nev.spaper  man,  a  clear-headed 
thinker,  and  an  able  and  versatile  writer.  His  best  works, 
by  which  he  has  acliie\td  distinction  as  a  literary  genius, 
have  been  his  tr:inslationb  of  German  poetical  masterpieces 
into  English,  and  his  rendering  of  English  poems  into 
the  Pennsylvania  German  vernacukir.  In  these  two  fields 
of  work  he  is  ackncn\  ledged  by  the  best  authorities  to  be 
without  an  equal.  He  is  a  poet  by  iiatural  instinct,  self- 
training  being  the  means  by  which  he  has  develo;ped  his 
native  powers  of  expression.  In  presenting,  through  the 
columns  of  The  Reeding  Times,  his  translatiims  of  English 
poems  into  Pennsylvania  Gerin;!!!.  he  has  provetl  li'imself 
entitled  to  the  higl',e.-t  regard  r.f  the  class  of  worthx-  citizens 
of  the  Keysluiie  State  allied  with  him  bs'  race,  in  whose 
interests  he  has  ever  lieeA  an  earnest  and  indefatigable 
worker. 

The  only  school  education  ]Mr.  Zimniermtm  ever  enie>yed 
was  the  public  school  training  he  received  during  the 
years  of  his  boyhood  in  Lebanon,  Pa.,  where  his  birth 
occurred  Jan.  23,  1838.  Thus  he  never  had  the  advantages 
of  a  classical  education,  and  therefore  all  the  more  credit 
is  due  him  for  making  such  splendid  use  of  his  talents  and 
opportunities.  When  thirteen  years  of  age  he  was  ap- 
pretiticod  to  the  priming  trade,  in  ilie  newspaper  establish- 
ment of  the  Lebanon  Courier.  Upon  the  completion  of 
his  term  of  service  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  worked  on 
the  Plulinielpliia  Inquirer  a  short  time,  until  Jan.  8,  1S56. 
wlieu  he  entered  the  office  of  The  Berks  and  Sehnyllcill 
Journal,  in  Reading,  as  a  journeyman  printer.  In  1859  Mr. 
Zimmerman  removed  to  Columbia,  S.  C.  where  he  worked 
on  the  State  laws,  in  the  printing  establishment  of  Dr. 
Robert  Gibhs,  wlio  afterward  became  surgeem-general  of 
the  Confederate  Army.  In  .March.  ISiiO,  Air.  Zimmerman 
returned  to  Reading,  as  the  anti-Norllicrn  icntinient  had 
become  so  intense  and  virulent  in  South  Carolina,  the  hot- 
bed of  secession,  that  his  life  was  endangered,  though  he 
never  openly  opposed  lite  course  of  the  Secessionists  while 
in  that  section.  Upon  Lis  return  to  Reading  he  once  more 
entered  the  employ  of  T.'ie  Berks  and  Sehuylkill  Journal. 
L'nder  its  proprietor,  Jacob  Knabb,  who  liecame- postm.'ister 
of  Reading  in  May,  ]Si''0,  he  acted  as  clerk  until  the 
clrise  of  his  superior's  term  of  otTice.  in  July,  1S05.  During 
this  period  Mr.  Zimmernian  contributed  some  strikin.g 
articles  on  post.'d  reform  to  the  United  States  Mail  and 
other  journals,  which  called  out  a  correspondence  with  the 
then  pii^tmaster-.geiieral,  Mr.  Deunison.  and  some  of  the 
suggestions   solicited   were   incorporated   into   that  ofiicial's 

When  he  tmiidied  his  eoniuclion  with  the  post-ot1ice  he 
resumed  his  work  in  tlie  Jvumai  oliice',  and.  in  Jrinuary, 
1^66.  becair.e  ro  prc.iprietor  atul  associ.itc  editor  of  the 
paper.     Up  to  tiic  year   1S69   the   firm  bore  tlie  name   of 


f'.V  >:■!','■ 


/■.!■'■  :-    ■■  ■■   .71 


?t; 


3G4 


HISTORY  OF  BERKS  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


J.  Knalib  &  Co. :  in  that  n  ear  they  also  became  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  IKiUy  Times,  which,  in  1S71.  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  Ei-iHiu^^  Disl'atcli,  vnider  the  title  The  Times 
and  Disf'iitch.  The  Ueadin;4  Times  Publishing'  Company  was 
organized  in  1S97,  with  Mr.  Zimmern;an  as  president  and 
editor.  This  paper  i.-;  one  of  the  forenio.^t  journals  in  the 
State,  and  exerts  the  itronLiest  kind  of  influence  up'jn  the 
moral  and  material  de\  eb'pnient  of  its  city,  standing  in 
high  esteem  with  the  political  leaders  in  the  State  and  at 
Washington.  After  more  than  half  a  century  of  journal- 
istic work  in  Reading,  he  retired  in  Lktolicr,  190S.  In  coni- 
niemorati"in  of  the  e\cnt  a  puliHc  subscription  dinner  was 
given  him  at  the  "Mineral  Sprnig.^  Hotel,"  in  which  up- 
ward of  eighty  leading  citizens  of  Reading  and  adjoining 
cities  participated. 

Mr.  Ziimnernian  was  happy  in  the  choice  of  his  vocation 
and  his  home.  He  is  a  great  Io\er  of  nature,  and  evidently 
believes,  with  a  distinguished  writer  and  fellow-pedestrian, 
that  "the  shining  angels  second  and  accompany  the  man 
who  goes  afoot,  while  all  the  dark  spirits  arc  ever  looking 
out  for  a  chance  to  ride."  It  was  his  habit  for  nearly 
forty  years  to  take  daily  walks  uito  the  country,  accom- 
panied often  only  by  his  favorite  dog,  returning  after  a 
long  e.\cUi"sion  to  his  editorial  desk  by  noon.  Xothing 
turned  him  aside  from  tlic  calling  for  which  h.e  was 
so  eminently  fitted.  He  had  many  flattering  otTers  to 
engage  in  other  fields  of  work,  but  in  all  cases  these 
were  declmed.  In  his  early  manhood  he  had  arranged  to 
enter  the  law  office  of  Hon.  William  Strong,  and  was  also 
importuned  to  study  for  the  ministry;  his  manifest  destiny, 
however,  ni.ade  and  kept  him  a  journalist  and  writer 
of  no  mean  ability.  A  brc'ther  editor  conmicnts  on  the  jnur- 
alistic  abilities  of  Mr.  Zimmerman  in  this  language  :  "Mr. 
Zimmerman  is  a  writer  of  force  and  ability.  His  writings 
are  pure,  easy  and  graceful.  He  is  witty  and  humorous 
when  occasion  demands.  In  controversy  he  is  gentlemanly 
at  all  .times,  .;ind  in  argument  he  is  fair  and  generous  to 
his  opponeiits.  He  has  a  geiniine  taste  for  literature,  pLietry 
and  the  fme  arts,  as  many  of  his  articles  attest.  He  is 
one  of  the  ablest  writers  in  the  old  Commonwealth.  Man>- 
of  his  articles  show  alike  the  eye  of  the  artist,  and  th*^ 
hand  of  the  lillrratcur."  One  of  these  productions,  that 
most  widely  published  and  copied,  was  a  sketch  of  his 
visit  to  the  Luray  Caverns  in  Virginia;  the  merits  of  this 
inspiration  of  the  moment  were  seen  by  the  Hotel  and 
Cave  Company,  who  caused  to  be  published  upward  of 
sixty  thousand  copies  m  illustrated  pamphlet  form  for 
genera!  circulation.  The  newspapers  of  Richmond.  Va., 
copied  this  article,  and  t!ie  favor  it  met  with  railed  out 
the  request  that  Mr.  Ziimnernian  also  write  up  the  unde- 
veloped resources  of  Alabama. 

Mr.  Ziiriinerman  was  united  in  marriage  with  Tamsie  T. 
KautTman  of  Reading,  on  June  11,  ISGT.  Several  years 
previous,  in  1863,  he  enlisted  ni  Company  C,  -irM  Pa.  V.  I., 
but  that  company  did  not  see  active  service.  He  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Pennsylvania  German  Society,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  reorganizers,  in  1S9S,  of  the  Historical 
Society  of  Berks  Count.e.  He  has  been  for  many  years  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  .\sylum  for  the 
Chronic  Insane  of  Pcnnjylvania,  and  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Reading  Free  Public  Library, 
The  degree  of  L.  H.  D.  C  Doctor  of  the  Humanities)  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  Muhlenberg  College  in  I'.KU.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  27th  National  Conference  of 
Charities  and  Corrections — office  at  Chicago;  w.is  also 
elected  President  of  the  Pennsylvania  Association  of  Sup- 
erintendents and  Trustees  of  the  Insane  .\s\luins  and 
Feeble-Minded  of  the  Sl.atc  of  Pennsylvania.  190S-00.  In 
October,  1".)()S.  lie  was  elected  president  of  the  Pennsylvania 
German  Society. 

Mr.  Zinnnerinan  has  delivered  quite  a  number  of  ad- 
dresses on  public  (■cca.-.ions.  He  has  been  selected  lialf  a 
dozen  times  or  more  to  -^pcak  before  the  Pennsvlvani:i  Ger- 
man Society:  Once  in  the  court-hou>e  at  Lancaster,  wb.ere 
the  Siiciety  was  organi/e'l  :  once  in  tlie  court-house  at  Yoik, 
in  response  to  the  addre-s  .if  weloiuue.  and  in  the  evening 
of    the   s;ime   day   at   the    batiipiet   in   the   same   city ;    once 


at  Lebanon;  once  at  Harrisburg;  and  twice  at  .Mlentown 
besides  numerous  occasions  in  Reading.  He  was  sub- 
sequently selected  by  the  Society  as  its  special  represen- 
tative before  the  Chautauqua  Assembly  at  Mt.  Grctn,->, 
at  which  time  he  was  elected  one  of  the  vice-presidents 
of  that  body  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  \\''ithin  the  last 
ten  years  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  niade  upward  of  a  hundred 
public  addresses  in  various  parts  of  the  Commonwealth. 
He  lias  frequently  been  mentioned  as  an  available 
candidate  for  mayor  of  Reading,  and  twice  his  name  was 
presented  for  the  Congressional  nomination  from  the 
Berks  Legislative  district,  both  of  which  honors  he  de- 
clined. He  is  a  well-known  figure  in  Reading,  and  has 
a  host  of  devoted  friends,  who  were  won  by  his  loft;.-, 
manly  spirit,  universal  friendship  of  he.art,  ami  strong 
sense  of  right  and  dut_\- ;  he  is  in  particular  favor  with 
the  Germans,  in  wdiosc  behalf  he  has  written  and  spoken 
inuch. 

Very  early  in  life  Mr.  Zimmerman  began  to  read  poetry 
for  the  intellectual  pleasure  and  prolit  which  its  elevated 
diction  affonled  him.  ami  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  liad 
already  made  considerable  progress  in  a  predetermined  sys- 
tematic perusal  of  the  whole  line  of  Knglish  poets,  or  of  as 
many  of  them  as  lay  within  his  reach.  The  instinct  of 
the  translator  asserted  itself  in  marvelous  maturity,  when 
he  began  to  make  this  one  of  the  prominent  features  of 
The  Reading  Tifncs.  Huinlrcds  of  these  matchless  trans- 
lations from  the  German  classics  into  ICnglish  appeared 
from  time  to  time,  the  S.aturday  issue  of  the  paper  invar- 
iably containing  a  translation  into  English  of  some  German 
poem,  the  original  and  translation  appearing  close  together 
in  parallel  columns;  in  recognition  of  their  merit  he  has 
been  made  the  recipient  of  many  presents,  from  friends 
at  home  and  abroad.  Worthy  of  mention  among  these  are 
seventy-five  volumes  of  German  poetry  from  an  admirer, 
residing  in  Berlin,  Germany;  his  collection  of  tobacco 
pipes  from  Germany,  England,  Ireland,  France,  Denmark, 
l'"iniaiid  and  Holland  is  palpable  evidence  of  the  widespread 
inlluence  his  work  has  had  upon  readers.  Mr.  Zimmerman 
has  shown  remarkable  aptitude  and  poetic  skill  in  all  his 
translations,  preseiving  with  remarkable  tidelity  the  e.xact 
measure  of  the  original  poems,  and  the  rhythmical  beat  of 
each  syllable  with  remarkable  fidelity. 

One  c>f  his  most  noted  translations  from  the  German, 
viz..  The  Prussian  Xational  Battle  Hymn,  appeared  in  the 
Berlin  (Germ:iny)  Times,  with  a  half-tone  portrait  of  the 
author   of  •the   transl.ation. 

Some  very  original  work  has  been  done  by  Mr.  Zimmer- 
man in  his  translations  of  English  classics  into  Pennsyl- 
vania German,  that  curious  mixture  of  German  dialects 
and  English  words  which  continues  to  be  the  chief  spoken 
language  of  over  half  rif  the  inhabitants  of  Berks  county. 
His  first  attempt,  Clement  C.  Moore's  "'Twas  the  Night 
before  Christmas,"  caught  the  fancy  of  the  press  at  once, 
and  its  favorable  mention  brought  him  congratulatory  let- 
ters from  such  inen  as  Prof.  Haldcinan,  the  eminent  phil- 
ologist of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania;  Lion.  Simon 
Cameron;  Gen.  Hartranft;  P.  F.  Rothermcl,  painter  of 
the  "Battle  of  Gettysluirg";  Prof.  Porter  of  Lafayette 
College;  Prof.  Home  of  .Muhlenberg  College,  and  other 
men  of  prominence  in  the  literary  world.  Poems  of  Tom 
Hood,  Oliver  Goldsmith,  Heine  and  Longfellow  followed, 
and  were  received  with  iie.irt.v  interest  by  the  German 
pervple. 

"Lutlier's  Battle  Hymn,"  a  translation  from  the  German 
into  English,  was  a  wonderful  inspiration,  and  lairh-  ran 
up  and  down  the  country,  as  so'in  as  it  was  given  to  the 
imblic  through  The  Reading  Tinies.  In  five  weeks  it 
brought  eighteen  'columns  of  letters  to  the  paper  that 
imblishcd  it,  from  eininct't  divines,  professors,  publicists, 
jiocts.  historians  and  others  in  the  higher  walks  of  society. 
.Votwilhstanding  there  are  some  seventy  or  eightv  transla- 
tions of  this  magnificent  poem,  Mr.  Zimmerman's  effort 
h,is  be(  n  characterized  by  l-Jcv.  Dr.  Pick,  the  publisher  of 
th.ese  translations,  as  "the  newest  and  best  that  has  been 
nnde."  The  new  version  was  especially  favored  by  being 
sung    v,ith   enlarged   choirs    in    dilTereiit   denominations   of 


■^.y.-n   -'h 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


365 


town  mid  city,  and  sermons  here  and  there  were  delivered 
(in  th.c  translation.  Following  i;  Mr.  Zininicrnian's  trans- 
lation  of  the   famous  hymn : 

"A  rock-bound   fortress  is  our  God, 
A  good  defense  and  weapon. 
He   helps   us   out   of   every   need 
That   doth   us    press   or   threaten. 
The   old,    wicked    foe. 
With   zeal    now    doth    glow ; 
Much   craft  and   great   might 
Prepare   hiiii   for  the    light. 
On   earth  there   is   none  like   him. 

"With  our  own   strength  there's  nothing 

done, 
(We're  well  nigli  lost,  dejected  : 
For   us    doth    tight    the   proper    One, 
Whom   God    himself   elected. 
Dost   ask    for    his   name? 
Christ  Jesus — the   same  ! 
The  Lord  of  Sabaoth, 
The   world   no   other   hath; 
This   field   must   He   be   holding. 

"And  were  the  world  with  devils  tilled, 
With  wish   to  quite   devour  us. 
We  need  not  be  so  sore  afraid. 
Since  thev  can   not  o'erpower  us. 
The    Prince    of   this    World, 
In   madness  though   whirled. 
Can  harm  you  nor-  me ; 
Because  adjudged  is   lie.  •" 

A   little   word   can   ft:ll   him. 

"This  Word   shall   they  now  let  remain. 

No  thanks  therefor  attending: 

He  is  with  -I'.s  upon   the  plain. 

His   gift.s   and    syiirit    lending. 

Though  th'   body   be   ta'en. 

Goods,  child,   wife   and   fame ; 

Go — life,    wealth    and   kin  ! 

They  yet  can   nothing  win  : 
For  us  rcmaineth   the  Kingdom.'' 

Mr.  Zimiriernian's  translation  of  Schiller's  "The  Song  of 
the  Bell"  met  with  even  more  favor  frrjin  the  public:  no 
less  than  twenty  columns  of  newspaper  matter  made  up  of 
letters  from  all  over  the  world  came  to  the  translator,  and 
though  twenty  years  have  elapsed  since  its  first  appearance, 
Mr.  Zimmerman  receives  continued  inqivirics  lor  the  trans- 
lation from  far  and  near.  The  Pliiladclphia  Ledger  says: 
"Mr.  Zimmerman's  translations  have  been  highly  com- 
mended by  literary  autlioritics  at  home  and  abroad.  He 
has  shown  a  special  gift  for  making  his  English  readers 
familiar  with  the  spirit  of  the  best  German  poets.  Even 
those  who  are  well  at  home  in  German  will  find  a  special 
interest  in  comparing  the  transhition  with  the  original, 
for  he  ii>  sure  to  find  that  Mr.  Zimmerman  has  not  only 
seized  the  meaning  of  the  author,  but  he  has  so  put  it  into 
an  English  clothing  as  to  show  that  the  real  bone  and  sinev; 
of  the  original  still  lives  in  its  new  drcbs."  Hon.  .Vndrew 
D.  White,  U.  S.  rvliiiister  to  Germany,  in  a  letter  to  iNIr. 
Zimmerman  about  his  translations  writes:  "They  have 
greatly  interested  me,  as  you  seem  to  have  caught  tlieir 
spirit  and  rendered  them  admirably.  I  am  not  sufficiently 
strong  in  literary  criticism  to  compare  them  with  other 
translations,  but  they  seem  to  me  to  be  thoroughly  well 
done.  I  have  also  been  es|iecially  interested  in  your  trans- 
lations into  Pcniisylvani;i  Cierman  of  sonle  of  the  poems. 
Although  not  a  philologist,  the  reading  of  them  has  also 
greatly  interested  me,  and  they,  too,  seem  very  spirited  and 
in  all  respects  interesting.''  Prof.  Marion  D  Learned,  of 
the  Department  of  Philosophv .  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
says:  ".\  masterful  hand  is  visible  in  ;ill  the  translations. 

«  *  V  J"  * 

It  is  pt.rh.ips  safe  to  say  that  Scliii'er's  'Song  of  the  Bell' 
is  the  must  diPicull  lyrical  poem  in  the  German  language 
to  render  into  English  with  the  correspcnciing  meters.   Your 


version  seems  to  me  to  excel  all  other  English  translations 
of  the  poem,  both  in  spirit  and  in  rhythm.  Especially 
striking  in  point  of  movement  is  your  happy  use  of  the 
English  participle  in  reproducing  Schiller's  feminine 
rhymes.  Your  version,  however,  while  closely  adhering 
to  the  form  of  the  original,  maintains  at  the  same  time 
dignity  and  clearness  of  e.xpression,  which  translators 
often  sacrifice  to  meet  the  demands  of  rhythm.  Your  poetic 
instinct  has  furnished  you  the  key  to  tliis  masti.rpiece  of 
German  song."  'I'lie  .Vric  York  ll'orld  s.ays.:  "Mr.  Zim- 
merman's rendering  [Schiller's  'Song  of  the  Bell']  is  a 
triuir.ph  of  the  tr.anslator's  art,  and  recalls  tiie  work  of 
Bayard  Taylor."  Tlic  Xezv  York  Herald  sa\  s  :  "Mr.  Zim- 
merman has  placed  his  name  in  the  category  of  famous 
litterateurs  by  a  very  creditable  translaiion  of  .Schiller's 
'Song  of  the  Bell.'  " 

The  following  ably  v.-ritten  criticism  is  from  the  pen 
of  J.  B.  Kcr,  who,  while  a  resident  of  Scotland,  or.ce  stood 
for  Parliament:  "To  Col.  T.  C.  Zimmerman — Sir:  Having 
read  and  studied  your  noble  translation  of  .'^chiller's  'Song 
of  the  Bell,'  I  have  been  forcibly  impressed  by  the  music 
of  the  language  into  which  you  have  rendered  the  poem. 
This  is  a  merit  of  capital  importance  in  the  translation 
of  this  poem.  In  estimating  the  value  of  translations  of  the 
great  German  poems,  it  is  neccs-Mry  to  bear  in  mind  the 
weight  which  the  literary  and  critical  consciousness  of 
Germany  attached  to  the  ancit-iit  classical  canons  of  poetry. 
There  is  no  question  here  tis  to  whether  the  aneieiits  were 
right.  The  point  for  u.~.  is  that  their  influence  was  loyally 
acknowledged  as  of  high  authority  during  the  Augu<tan 
age  of  German  literature.  Proof  of  this  can  be  found  in 
Goethe  as  distinctly  as  it  super-abundantly  appears  in 
Lessing's  famous  'Dramatic  Notes,'  where  the  poetic  dicta 
of  Aristotle  are  treated  with  profound  respect.  In  the 
study  of  Aristotle's  work  on  the  Poetic,  nothing  is  perhaps 
more  striking  than  his  dictum  -tluit  poetry  is  imitation, 
with  the  explanation  ^t  enlargement  so  aptly  given  by 
Pope  in  the  words : 

""Tis  not  cnotigh  no  harshness  gives  offense, 
The  sound  must  secin  an  echo  to  the  sense.    • 
Soft  is  the  strain  when  zephyr  gently   blows, 
.Vud  the  smooth  strear.i  in  smoother  iiumbLrs  flows; 
But   when  loud  surges   lash  the   sounding  shore. 
The   hoarse,  rough   waves  should  like  the  torrent  roar; 
\^^len  Ajax  stri\es  some  rock's  vast  weight  to  throw, 
The  line,  too.  laliors,  and  the  words  inove  slow. 
Not  so,  when  swift  Camilla  scours  the  nuiin. 
Flies  o'er  the  unbending  corn,  or  skims  along  the  plain.' 

"Not  knowing  the  German  recognition  of  the  law  and 
aeknowleilging  its  reali7;ition  in  the  works  of  the  hading 
Teutr.nic  poets,  one  of  the  crucial  tests  of  a  translation 
of  a  great  German  poet  is,  Does  the  language  into  which 
the  original  is  rendered'  form  an  'echo  to  the  sense'?  It 
seems  to  me  thai  one  of  tlie  strongest  points  in  your  trans- 
lation of  the  'Bell'  is  that  the  words  which  you  have 
selected  and  gathered  have  sounds,  which,  like  the  music 
of  a  skillful  musical  composer,  convey  a  signification  in- 
dependently of  their  litiral  meaning.  Not  to  protract 
tlicSL-  remarks  unduly,  few  words  could  more  appropriately 
refer  to  the  niuiie  of  strong  and  distant  bells  than  your 
rendering — 


'That  from  the  nut;. 
Clear  and  luil  inav 


unmixed  foiniding 
;•  Iiell  be  sounding. 


''Very  slight  poetic  capacity  must  admit  the  music  of 
these  words  as  eminently  happy  in  the  "Song  of  the  Bell.' 
Tlie  echo  to  the  sense  is  ;ilso  striking  in  the  sound  of  the 
word-symbols  in  many  places  throughout  the  rendering 
where  the  poet  describes  the  occurrences  conceived  in  con- 
m-ction  with  the  bell's  imagined  history.  Speaking  of  the 
visions  of   love, 

'O,  that  they  would  be  never-ending. 

These  vernal  days  with   lovelight  blending," 


■jll  ?    <    Iff 


306 


HISTORY  OF  BERKS  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA 


the  v.:iy  in  which  the  penult  of  the  word  'ending'  convcjs 
the  idea  of  tinality,  while  the  ntlix  of  the  present  participle 
vet  proloni,',  the  word  as  thoiig-ti  loth  to  let  it  depart,  is 
a  beautiful  and  tnvial>!e  realization  of  the  Aristotelian  rule, 
a  prolongation  of  the  words  which  expresses  doubly  a 
prolongation  of  desire.     The  four  lines  reading: 

"Blind  ragin?,  like  ilic  thunder's  crashing 
It  bursts  it>   fractured  bed  of  earth 

As  if  from  out  hell's  jaws  I'lcrcc  tlashing, 
It    spewed    its    flaming    ruin    fiirlh,' 

ha\e  a  vehement  strength  and  a  rr.ngh  an.d  even  a  painful 
and  horrid  S(jund  wliieh  apply  with  singular  propriety  to 
the  horrible  images  by  which  the  poet  presents  the  catas- 
trophe to  our  quickened  apprehensions.  The  beautiful 
Jines. 

'Joy  to  me  now  God  hath  given,'  etc., 

in  which  the  bell  founder  exults,  avoiding,  as  they  do,  the 
deeper  vowel  sounds  and  preserving  as  it  were  a  scries  of 
high  musical  notes  save  where  the  gift  descends  from 
heaven  to  earth,  when  the  vowel  sounds  fall  from  high  to 
low,  form  a  delightful  resonance  oi'  the  happy  sentiment 
they  embody.  The  genera!  experience  of  translations  is 
that  they  are  more  prosy  than  sonorous  or  musical.  Few, 
however,  if  any,  will  deny  the  melody  of  your  language 
in  many  places  and  its  remarkable  appropriateness  in 
others,  and  those  who  Iiave  worked  on  similar  translations 
can  best  judge  how  great  is  the  success  you  have  accom- 
plished in  this  valuable  contribution  to  Anglo-.Saxon  liter- 
ature." 

Mr.  Zim.mennan  published  a  collection  of  his  addresses, 
sketches  of  Out-Door  Life,  tr.uislalioiis  and  original  poems 
in  two  volumes,  cnliiled  "Olla  Podrida."  Tlie  volumes, 
which  were  published  in  the  fall  of  l(Hl.^.  were  received 
with  great  favor,  almost  the  entire  edition  Iiaving  been 
sold  in  a  month's  tune,  a  number  of  the  public  libraries 
having  become  purchasers. 

We  present  to  our  readers  a  few  short  selections  from 
Mr.  Ziimiitrniiin's  translation  of  "The  Song  of  the  Bell": 

'"Firmly   walled   in   earth   and   steady, 
Stands  the  meld  of  well-burnt  clay. 
Qiiick,  now,  workmen,  be  ye  ready! 
Forth  must  come  the  bell  today! 
Hot   from  forehead's  glow- 
Must  the  sweat-drops  tlow, 
Should  the  master  praise  be  given ; 
Yet  the  blessing  comes  from  J  leaven. 

"The  w-ork  prepared  with  so  much  ardor 
May  well  an  earnest  word  become; 
When  good  discourse  attends  tiie  labor. 
Then  Hows  employment  briskly  on. 
Observe  with  care,   then,   wliat  arises — • 
Sec  what  from  feeble  strength  escapes ; 
The  man  so  poor,   each   one  despises, 
Who  ne'er  foresees  the  form  he  shapes. 
'Tis  this  that   m.\n   so  well   adc_>rnetb, 
For  mind  hath  he  ti>  understand 
That  in  his  inner  be;irl  he   feeleth 
Whate'er  he  fashion-,  with  his  hand. 


"O  sweetest  hope  !     O  tender  longing  I 
The  earliest   love's   lir?t   golden  time ! 
The  rye,  it  sees  the  heavens  thronging 
With  rajit'rous  sight.-;  and  scenes  sublime; 
C),  that   they  w(.)uld  be  never-ending. 
These  vern.il.  (la\  s  with  luveligii:  blending. 


'Through  the  streets  with  fury  flaring, 
Stalks  the  lire  with  riendish  glaring, 
Rushing  as  if  tlie  whirlwind  sharing! 
Like    the   blast    from    furnace   flashing 
Glows  the  air,  and  beams  arc  crashing. 
Pillars   tumbling,   windows   creaking, 
Mothers  wandering,  children  shrieking, 
Reasls  are  moaning. 
Running,  groaning, 
'Xeath   the   ruins;   all   are   frightened. 
Bright   as   day   the   night    enlightened. 


"From  the  steeple, 
Sad  and  strong, 
Th'  bell  is  tolling 
A   fun'ral   song. 

Sad  and  slow  its  mournful   strokes  attending 
Some  poor  wand'rer  tow'rds  his  last  home  wending. 
Ah!    the  wife  it  is,  the  dear  one; 
Ah!    it  is  the  faithful  mother, 
Whom  the    Prince   of   Shades,   unl.eeding, 
From  the  husband's  arms  is  leading. 
From  the  group  of  children  there, 
WHiom  she  blooming  to  him   bare ; 
On  whose  breast  saw,  maid  and  boy. 
Growing  with  maternal  joy. 
Ah  !  the  household  ties  so  tender 
Sundered  are  forevermore ; 
Cone   into   the   realm    of   shadows 
She  who  ruled  this  household  o'er. 
Now  her  faithful  reign  is  ended. 
She  will  need  to  watch  no  more; 
In  the  orphaned  place  there   ruleth    .'';■ 
A  stranger,  loveless  eveiinore. 


"And  this  henceforth  its  calling  be, 
\\'hereto  the  master  Fet  it  free! 
High  o'er  this  nether  world  of  ours. 
Shall  it,  in  heaven's  a:<nre  tent. 
Dwell  where  the  pealing  thunder  lowers. 
And  border  on  the  firmament. 
It  shall,  too,  be  a  voice  from  heaven, 
Like  yunder  starrj'  hosts,  so  clear. 
Who  in  their  course  extol  their  Maker, 
And  onward  lead  the  wreath-crowned  year. 
To   earnest   things   and   things   eternal 
Devoted  be  its  metal  tongue. 
And,  hourly,  Time,  with  swift-winged  pinions, 
Will  touch  it  as  it  flieth  on. 
Its  tongue  to  dest'ny  'twill  be  lending; 
Xo  heart  itself,   from  pit\'  free 
Its  swinging  ever  be  attending 
Life's  changeful  play,  whate'er  it  be. 
-And  as  the  sound  is  slowly  dying 
That    strikes   with    such   o'erpowering    might. 
So  may  it  teach  that  naught  abidcth. 
That  all  things  carth'y  take  their  flight." 

Following  is  Reading's  Official  Sesqui-Ccniennial  Ilyinn, 
as  written  by  Thomas  C.  Zimmerman,  and  sung  on  Tues- 
day evening,  June  6,  1808,  by  a  chorus  of  GOO  voices,  to 
an  audience  of  20,(100  people,  assembled  on  Penn's  Com- 
mon : 

"All  hail  to  Reading's  name  and  fame ! 
.\nd  let  the  welkin  ring 
Willi  song  and  shout  ;uid  roundelay, 

As  we  together  sing. 
And  may  our  songs,  with  glad  acclaim. 

To  heav'n,  like  incense  rise. 
While  glowing  hearts  in  tones  proclaim 
Her  glory  to  the  skies. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


307 


'"Tis  sev'n  score  years  ago  and  ten 

Since  iliis  fair  town  was  born; 
Its  sweet  yotms  life  must  have  exhaled 

A  breath  hke  rosy  morn. 
So  let   us   sing  till   yonder  hills 

Send  back  the  joyous  song; 
Till  echoing  dales  and  rippling  rills 

The  gladsome  sound  prolong. 

"Let  others  tread  life's  stalely  halls, 

Where  princely  pleasures  flow: 
Give  us  our  homes,  like  jewels  set 

In  evening's  sunset  glow. 
And  may  our  hearts,  in  swelling  pride, 

Forget  not  those  of  old — 
The  men  of  Reading's  pristine  days — 

Whose  hearts  have  long  grown  Cvdd. 

"Let  all,  tiicrefore.  with  mingled  voice, 

Repeat  the  glad  retrain; 
Let  civic  pride,  in  flowing  tide. 

Rejoice  with  might  and  main. 
And  God,  the  Father  of  us  all. 

With  His  protecting  care, 
Will  bless  us  while  we  praise  in  song 

Our  city,  bright  and  fair." 

Mr.  Zimmerman  also  wrote  the  Sesqui-Ccntennial  of 
Berks,  which  was  adopted  by  the  Historical  Society  of 
Berks  as  the  official  hymn.     Following  is  the  translation  :_ 

Air : — ".America." 
"Hail,   beauteous   Berks!   to  thee 
Let    song    and    miii'^trelsy 
Their   tribute   pay! 
Let   joy   in    rapture    brealv 
Till    echoing   hills   awake. 
And    woodland    summits    shake, 
On   this   glad  day. 

"Our  sires,  long  sii^ce  at   ro.st, 
With  men/ries,   sweet   and   blest.  . 

Were  at   thy  birth. 
With    a.Ke    and    tirawii    and    brain, 
They    toiled,    with    might    and    main, 
A   dear   loved   honic   to  gain 
On    this    green    earth. 

".And    now.   with   upturned   eyes. 
Your    children's    glad'-nme    cries 

Their    homage    brmg. 
From    all    our   mines    and   mills. 
From    Manatavi'ny's    bills, 
And    Ontelaunee's   rills, 

Let   praises    ring. 

"Then    hail    the    natal    day 
When    Her.ven's    fa\'ring   ray 

Shone  on   thy   face. 
Let    joy.    in    civic    pride, 
Gush    forth,   on    every   side. 
And    niusic's    swelling    tide 

Add   strength    and   grace. 

"Our    fathers'    Grid !    may    we 
Be    ever   true    to    thee 

Through    all    our    days. 
Thy    Xanie    be   gloritied, 
Our    hearts   be   sanctified. 
As,    with    exultant    pride. 

We    sing    thy    praise." 

Mr.  Zimmerman  was  also  the  author  of  the  memorial 
hymn  sung  at  the  dediciticm  of  the  McKinlcy  nmnu- 
nunt  in  the  City  Park,  in  the  presence  of  one  of  the  lar- 
gest   audiences    ever   assembled    in    Ri^ading. 

One  of  tlie  proudest  achievem.'nts  nf  Mr,  ZiniiU'-r- 
nuin'>    journ.ilistic    career    wa;.    the    ercclnin    uf    a    monu- 


ment to  Stephen  C.  Foster  at  his  home  in  Pittsburg, 
which,  according  to  the  Pittsburg  p.ipers.  had  its  real 
inception  in  an  editorial  prepared  by  Mr.  Zimmerman 
for  the  Reading  Times,  after  a  visit  to  that  city  and 
tlnding  no  memorial  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the 
world's  greatest  writer  of  negro  melodies.  "This  edi- 
torial was  reiiubiished  in  the  Pittsburg  I'rcss  and  in- 
dorsed by  that  paper,  which  also  started  a  fund  to  pro- 
vide a  suitable  memorial  and  called  on  the  public  tor 
popular  subscriptions,  the  ultimate  result  l>eing  the  stat- 
ue which  now  adorns  Highland  Park,  in  that  city.  The 
following-  from  the  Pittsburg  Times,  in  a  personal  no- 
tice of  Mr.  Zinunerm.m's  visit  to  that  Park  several  years 
ago.  said:  "Out  at  Hi.ghland  Park  vesterday  passers- 
by  noticed  a  liandsonte,  military  looking  gentleman  m:ik- 
ing  a  miimte  study  of  the  Stephen  C.  Foster  statue. 
Fvery  feature  of  this  artistic  bit  of  sculpture,  from  Fos- 
ter's splendid  face  to  Uncle  Xed  and  the  broken  string 
of  his  banjo,  was  examined  with  alTectioriate  interest. 
The  man  was  Col.  Thomas  C.  Zimmerman,  editor  of  the 
Reading  (Pa.)  Times,  and  the  statue  was  the  fruition 
of  his  fondest  wish.  Col.  Zimi:ierman  has  been  for 
many  years  one  of  the  staunchest  admirers  of  Foster's 
imperishable  songs  and  melodies.  Sixtee:i  years  ago* 
while  in  Pittsburg  visiting  the  late  Major  E.  A.  Mon- 
tooth,  he  asked  the  latter  to  siiow  him  the  monument 
to  Foster,  and  was  painfully  surprised  to  discover  that 
no  such  memorial  existed.  Shortly  after  his  return  to 
Reading  he  wrote  an  editorial  for  his  paper,  calling" 
the  attention  of  the  w'orld  in  general  and  Pittsburg  in 
.particular    to    the    neglect    of    Foster's    memory." 

MILTOX  BR.-VYTOX  McKXIGHT,  son  of  David  Mc- 
Knight  and  Elizabeth  Hiester,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Read- 
ing. Sept.  :iO.  185.5. 

Paul  McKnight,  his  great-grandfather,  of  Scottish  an- 
cestry, came  to  .\merica  in  175'-.  from  the  Xorlh  of  Ireland, 
and  settled  in  Chester  countv. 

Pauls  son.  John  .McKnight  (born  May  :il,  17T-1— died 
March  9,  ]t'55),  came  to  Reading  in  LSOS.  and  conducted  a 
Branch  nf  the  Bank  of  Pennsylvania  of  Philadelphia^  v.hicli 
Branch  Banlc  was  afterward  iiicorporatLd  as  the  .X'ational 
Union  Bank  of  Reading. 

David  McKnight  (born  May  2.  ISl!— died  Aug.  29, 
1873),  a  son  of  John  .McKnight.  assisted  and  succeeded 
his  father  in  conducting  the  Reading  Branch  of  the 
Bank  of  Pennsylvania,  and  upon  the  incorporation  of  the 
Union  Bank  of  Reading  (afterward  the  Xational  Union 
Bank")  became  its  first  president,  and  held  this  office 
until  his  death. 

On  his  mother's  side.  EU.-'abeth  Beck  Hiester  (born  May 
5.  1 817— died  Oct.  11,  1807)  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Hiester  of  Reading  (born  .Aug.  4,  17C8— died  April  10, 
1830),  and  a  granddaughter  of  Joseph  Hiester  (1710-1772), 
who  came  to  America  from  Westphalia,  Germany,  in  1737. 

M.  Brayton  McKnight  attended  the  local  public  schools, 
graduating  from  the  Reading  high  school  in  1872,  and 
entered  .Amherst  College  the  same  year,  from  vchich 
college  he  was  graduated  in  lS7f..  He  then  read  law  in 
the  office  of  his  brother-in-law,  Charles  H.  Schaeffer.  Esq., 
of  Reading,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Berks  county 
in  1878.  Going  to  Colorado  in  the  fall  of  1879,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  of  that  Stale  :ind  took  a  clerical 
position  in  tin-  office  of  H<-in.  Robert  S.  Morrison,  a  prom- 
inent attorney  of  Georgetown,  Colo.  Returning  to  Reading 
the  following  >ear,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In 
1881  he  assisted  in  the  incorporation  of  the  Mt.  Pcnn  Stove 
Works,  a  company  just  forming  for  the  manufacture  of 
cooking  and  heating  appliances,  and  being  elected  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  tlie  new  corporation,  he  relinquished  his 
law  practice  ;ind  devoted  his  wiiole  time  to  m.iiiufacturing. 
He  ret;iined  the  oflice  of  secretary  and  treasurer  of  tl.e  Mt. 
I'enn  Stove  \Vorks  for  twenty-li\e  ye;irs.  ;ind  in  1907  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  criinp;my,  which  olTice  he  now 
holds.  Duiiiig  this  time  this  conivany  has  grown  to  be 
oiu-  of  the  piouiiiieiU  maiuiliK Hiring  and  business  enter- 
prises  of    R'_.idiiig. 


.A 


•iV/        .  I'.f       I  l.r>i'J 


,,,      ,..'<•'•"      '-I- 


3(;s 


HISTORY  OF  DERlxS  COUNTY,  PHXXSYLVAXIA 


Mr.  McKnii;lil  \v:is  :narrii.d  in  1>S0  to  Ida  }.I  i\-  f!k.isc. 
who  died  in  ]>8:.',  uillioiu  an>-  chiKlr(.-n.  On  March  :;1. 
I'^'.is,  lie  niarrii-d  Wilhchnina  }ianiihon  tlohncs  ulaiii.ducr 
of  Robert  Mohni-s,  of  Kcadinur),  who  died  on  Xov.  ?.. 
19(11.  leavinLT  two  dauchters.  Hikn,  born  June  10,  ISdii, 
and    Kailiurino,    born    May   2:!,    I'.iDl. 

Mr.  ^JcKnii^lit  is  identilied  with  various  busincs.>  cmer- 
prises  of  Reading,  is  on  the  board  of  tlireetors  of  the  Mt. 
Peiin  Gr.-ivity  Railroad,  the  Reading  &  Temple  Railway, 
the  Readin;4  Hospital,  the  Cluirles  Hvans  Cemetery  Com- 
pany and  tile  Reading  Sanitarium  for  the  Treatment  of 
Tulierciilosis,  and  is  :i  member  of  the  Berks  County  His- 
torical Si'cietx,  the  Pennsylvania-German  Society  and  the 
Pennsylvania  l\>restiy  .Association. 

CHARLES  H.  SCHAEFFER.  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  influential  citizens  of  Reading,  is  well  known  in  the 
financial  circles  of  that  city  as  president  of  the  National 
Union  Bank.  Mr.  Schaeifcr  was  born  in  Columbus.  Ohio, 
in  the  year  1S40.  His  father  and  grandfather  w-ere 
clergymen,  distinguished  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  his 
father  having  been  for  many  years  professor  in  the  Luth- 
eran Thcok'gical  Seminary  at  Gettysburg,  and  later  hav- 
ing been  the  founder,  first  professor  and  president  of  tlic 
Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  ;it  Mt.  Airy,  Piiiladelphia, 
where  he  remained   until  his  death  in  1S79. 

Charles  H.  Schaefier  received  his  collegiate  education 
at  Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated with  honor  in  ISOO,  and  thereafter  he  conducted 
a  classical  academy  at  Reading  for  several  years.  During 
this  period  he  also  read  law  in  the  oftice  of  the  late  Con- 
gressman Daniel  Ermentrout.  In  18(33  he  enlisted  in  the 
service  of  tiie  United  States  and  was  at  the  front  until 
his  regimcnl  disbanded  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  On  Aug. 
9,  1SG4.  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  and  since  that  time 
has  been  in  continuous  practice,  being  concerned  in  much 
of  the  most  importan;  litigation  that  has  been  before  the 
courts  of  Berks  coimty,  the  Siiiireme  court  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  L'nitcd  States  rijurts,  and  during  his  pro- 
fessiontd  career  has  been  attorney  for  many  of  the  most 
important    corporate    interests    of    the    comnnniity. 

Mr.  SchaeiTer  has  been  prouiinontly  identified  with  the 
Democratic  party  from  the  nrst,  and  in  his  earlier  years 
was  a  proiiiinei:t  speaker  and  woiker  in  his  party,  repre- 
senting it  in  county,  State  anrl  national  conventions.  In 
18T3  he  served  a  term  as  a  member  of  the  city  council, 
but  was  never  a  candidate  for  any  other  ofiice.  He  long 
served  the  public  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  health 
until  his  resignation  in  1902,  nineteen  years,  during  which 
time  the  most  valuable  improvements  and  reforms  in  the 
work  of  the   board   were   inaugurated   and   established. 

'Mr.  SehaetTer  has  always  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  public  interests  and  institutions  of  the  city  and 
county.  In  ISTii  he  drew  the  charter  of  the  first  passenger 
railway  built  in  the  city  of  Reading,  organized  the  com- 
pany, and  has  been  connected  with  the  city  railway  in- 
terests as  attorney  atid  director  during  all  the  subsequent 
developments  of  the  systein.  Since  1S69  he  has  been  the 
counsel  for  the  National  LTnion  Bank  of  Reading,  one 
of  the  leading  financial  institutions  of  the  city,  became 
a  director  in  ISTl,  and  vice-president  in  IS'JS.  Since 
Marcli,  1900.  ^^r.  SchaefTer  has  been  president  of  this 
institution. 

During  all  bi^  legal  and  business  career  Mr.  SchaefTer 
has  at  various  times  contributed  articles  to  the  educational 
and  legal  mac.i.^incs.  and  other  publications  of  the  city, 
county  and  State,  which  gave  him  reputation  as  a  writer, 
and  in  the  years  when  the  Reading  Eai:!c  was  laying 
the  foundations  of  its  future  prosperity  his  contributions 
to  its  columns  were  highly  appreciated.  In  connection 
with  bis  bankiiiET  interests.  ?vlr.  Scbneffer  is  also  ;i  director 
of  the  Reading  TriHt  Company,  the  Readine  Gas  Com- 
pany, the  ReadincT  City  Passenger  Raihvay  Company,  and 
also  of  iiianv  other  corporations.  He  is  :i\^n  president  of 
the  West  Reading  Water  Compnnv.  TTr  is  an  active 
member  of  the  well-known  Berl'.s  County  Historical  .So- 
ciety, while  bis  war  record  entitles  him  to  his  connection 
with  Kcim  Post,  No.  7i).  G.  A.  R.     Since  ISCO  Mr.  Schaef- 


fer  has  been  a  member  of  Trinit\-  Lutheran  Church,  in 
the  vestry  of  which  he  served  a  number  of  years  as 
eider,  and'  to  which  his  family  also  adhere. 

In  ISiJT  Charles  H.  Schaeffer  and  Amelia  M.  McKnieht 
were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs.  Schaeffer  is  a  member  of 
one  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  of  the  county 
Four  sons  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schaeffer.  all  ut 
whom  are  engaged  in  business  in  Reading  and  Philade!- 
phiti,  the  youngest,  K.  Carroll,  being  a.  member  of  the 
Berks  county   Bar. 

In  every  walk  of  life,  indeed,  Mr.  Schaeffer  has  ma.'.e 
an  impress  for  good.  Of  profound  legal  mind,  scholarly 
and  liberal-minded,  his  intluence  ha^  been  felt  not  only 
in  the  material  upbuilding  of  Reading,  but  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  moral,  religious  and  educational  movements 
in  the  community  in  wliich  he  has  for  so  long  been  so 
prominent  a  tigu'rc. 

l.\COB  B.  FRICKER.  It  is  most  consonant  that  in  this 
work  be  incorporated  a  sketch  of  the  career  of  this  well- 
known  and  honored  citizen  and  prominent  business  man  of 
Reading,  for  not  only  is  he  a  native  of  the  city  which  is 
now  his  home,  but  he  is  also  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  sterling  pioneer  families  of  the  county  in  which  bis 
entire  life  has  been  passed.  Mr.  Fricker  was  born  in  tlie 
old  family  homestead  at  No.  807  Penn  strect._  Dec.  19.  lS.j9, 
son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (.-Vligaier)  Fricker,  both  like- • 
wise  natives  of  the  old  Keystone  State. 

Jacob  Fricker  was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated,  and  where  he  remained  until  he 
was  ab'iut  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Read- 
ing and  secured  a  position  as  foreman  and  manager  in  the 
hat  factory  of  Jacob  Sauerbier.  He  retained  this  incum- 
bency about  twehe  years,  and  then  engaged  in  the  same 
branch  of  enterprise  on  his  own  responsibility,  forming 
a  partnership  with  Harry  Brown  and  establishing  their 
factory  at  No.  SOT  Penn  .--trL-et.  iu  3S.".5.  On  that  site, 
?,0  X  270  feet  in  dimensions,  Mr.  P'ricker  elected  his  dwell- 
in,g,  which  is  still  standing,  and  in  an  excellent  state  of 
preservation.  In  the  rear  of  this  building  the  t;rm  estab- 
lisbefl  their  fur-hat  manufactory,  utilizing  a  log  house.  At 
the  same  time  they  established  a  wholesale  and  retail  store 
at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Court  streets,  where  Tragle 
Bros.'  large  ccirdage  building  now  stands.  Mr.  Fricker 
continued  to  be  actively  identit'ied  with  this  business  until 
his  death.  The  business  demanded  considerable  traveling 
on  his  part,  as  the  custom  in  those  day.-  was  for  the  man- 
ufacturers to  go  about  from  one  locality  to  another,  selling 
their  products  or  exchanging  them  for  new  fui-pe!ts._  On 
one  of  these  trips  he  contr;icted  a  severe  cold,  the  ultimate 
result  of  which  was  his  death,  in  .March.  1S47.  In  IS-S 
Jacob  Fricker  married  Catherine  .\llgaier,  who  survived 
iiim  many  vears,  continuing  to  reside  in  the  old  Penn  street 
homestead  for  sixty  years.  She  died  in  18^8.  Five  children 
were  born  to  Jacob  Fricker  and  wife :  Peter  H.,  who  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  fur  hats  in  Reading,  and 
who  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  old  Ringgold  Band, 
died  in  ISf.O;  .-\ndre\v  J.,  a  printer  and  box  manufacturer, 
also  idemiiicd  with  the  Reading  Lumber  Company,  and 
the  representative  of  the  Tenth  ward  in  the  city  coun- 
cil, died  in  1893 ;  Sarah  E.  died  in  1886  ;  Jacob  B. :  Geoi-ge 
W.,  who  was  engiiged  in  printing  and  manufacturing,  died 
in  1902.  As  per  family  arrangement  the  estate  was  not 
settled  until  190.j.  a  period  6f  .lifty-cigln  years,  when  Jacob 
B..  the  sole  survivor,  became  the  owner  of  the  old  home- 
stead. 

Jacob  B.  I'rickrr  was  reared  to  manhood  in  bis  native 
town,  and  after  completing  the  course  of  the  Reading 
schools,  he  found  employment  as  a  clerk  in  a  local  mercan- 
tile establishment.  He  followed  this  vocation  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  with  ditTeicnt  firms,  and  during  the  Civil 
war  was  emidoyed  as  :i  clerk  in  the  post-oflice.  and  later 
was  clerk  and  teller  in  the  First  National  and  the  Read- 
ing Savings  Banks.  In  1871  lie  became  associated  witii 
the  De  Long  Brothers,  tanners  and  curriers,  who  for  many 
years  occupied  the  southeast  corner  of  Ninth  and  Mulilen- 
bcrg  streets,  and  with  tluni  in  187.')  he  csta.blished  a  whole- 
sale   leather    house    in    Philadelphia,    and    at    this    writing 


."'Vv 


X 


J 


r>i^ 


^A^x-^ 


BIOGRAI'IIICAL 


369 


I'.ill  rcniriins  a  partner  of  'iliij  firm.  In  ISSl  Ik-  formed 
a  jjartiicrship  wiili  Lambert  A.  Kclir,  and  under  the  lirni 
ri;;nic  of  Relir  &  Fricker,  thv.y  engaged  ;is  contractors  and 
builders.  The  rirm  is  still  in  existence,  with  ottices  at  Xu. 
iJl  Cedar  street.  ;ind  they  control  a  large  and  important 
hiisiness,  having  erected  mure  th.an  J,Ouii  houses  in  Keadin:,'. 
This  tact  in  itself  offers  the  most  effective  voucher  for  the 
correct  business  methods  and  technical  ability  of  the  firm, 
whose  repiiiaiion  has  ever  been  of  the  liiijhcst,  and  v.-hose 
splendid  success  has  been  richly  deserved. 

Mr.  Frirker  is  a  man  of  progressive  spirit  and  has  iden- 
ti:led  himself  with  various  oi'icr  enterprises  v.hiel;  .  have 
contributed  to  the  material  advancement  and  prestige  of 
his  home  city.  He  is  one  of  the  organizers,  and  remains 
an  intcre'Sted  principal  in  the  Reading  Lumber  Company. 
Mr.  Fricker  w-as  a  director  in  the  Reading  Hardware  Com- 
pany many  years,  but  recently  severed  his  connection  with 
the  company.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has  Iseen  the  man- 
ager and  treasurer  of  the  Reading  .\battoir  Company, 
■  which  he  organized  and  now  has  incorporated  by  the  State 
of  I'ennsjlvania.  He  is  not  only  treasurer  but  also  one 
of  the  largest  stockholders.  He  is  president  and  stock- 
hoKIer  of  the  Crescent  Brass  Foundry  Company,  and  takes 
a  lively  interest  in  the  management  of  the  same.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  J'Vicker  is  a  stanch  supporter  (if  the  principles 
and  policies  of  the  Republican  iiart\,  and  his  religious 
faith  is  that  of  the  Reformed  Church.  He  and  liis  wife 
are  prominent  members  of  St.  Paul's  Reformed  Church, 
with  which  he  has  been  identified  since  its  organization, 
and  of  whose  choir  he  has  tieen  a  member  for  thirty  years, 
also  taking  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  tlie  Sunday- 
school.  He  has  ser\'ed  on  the  building  committee  of  six 
different  churches  of  th?  Reformed  denoniuiation.  those 
of  St.  Thomas,  St.  .John.  St.  Andrew  and  Zion,  on  the  first 
church  buildings  of  St.  Stephen  and  St.  Mark,  on  the  Sun- 
day-school building  of  -St.  Paul's,  and  on  the  Seminary 
building  of  the  kefi^rmnd  Church  of  L;;ncaster  Pa.,  anrl  in 
each  in^,tancl^  he  gave  most  vabaable  assistance  liv  reason 
of  his  (ine  teciinical  knov.-ledge  as  a  eonlr.ictor  and 
builder. 

In  ISOS  Mr.  Fricker  married  Miss  Aniiii;  E.  Getz,  dau.i-di- 
ter  of  the  late  Peter  D.  Gelz,  an  honored  ptoneet  of  Read- 
ing, and  to  thi'-"  union  h.'ive  been  born  three  dangliters: 
Mary  I",  m.  Thomas  G.  Mull,  asid  has  one  daurditer.  Helen; 
Manha  A.;  and  Annie  I"".,  the  two  last  iiamed  remaining 
under  the  parental  roof.  ^(r.  and  I\lrs.  Fricker  were 
mpmbers  nf  the  .\Io;:arl  ^fusical  Union,  being  original  mem- 
bers, auvl  they  continued  interested  in  same  as  iuns^  as  it  was 
in  existence.  Mr.  Fricker  is  a  lo\al  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zen and  has  an  abidiiig  interest  in  all  that  concerns  his 
native  city,  which  is  endiared  to  him  by  the  gr.'icious  mem- 
ories ami  associations  of  the  past  as  well  as  of  the  present. 

I.  S.  AND  D.  H.  FiUYETT,  proprietors  of  the  Standard 
Paper  Bo.x  Manufacturing  Company,  which  is  located  at 
Xos.  141  to  44.")  Pearl  street,  Reatling,  arc  well  known  in 
their  community  as  honest,  straight-forward  business  men. 
Their  success  is  due  to  their  push  and  energy,  and  to  Iheir 
native  business  ability,  and  the}'  are  considered  representa- 
tive citizens  of  their  nati\'.'  city.  They  are  sons  of  Ainos 
and  Henrietta  (Smith)  Hueett,  the  former  of  whom 
was  for  many  years  a  i)rominent  contractor  and  builder, 
and  also  operated  a  planing  mill,  doing  much  to  advance 
the  material  growth  of  Reading.  During  the  Civil  w.ir 
he  was  one  of  the  llrst  to  enlist  and  he  served  throu:;h(nit 
that  struggle.     He  died  m  iSVil,  aged  titty-four  years. 

Amos  Huyelt  was  twice  married.  He  m.irricd  (first) 
Henrietta  Smith,  who  died  in  ISTO  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
three  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  live  children  as  fol- 
lows :  I.  S.  and  U.  H.,  who  are  mentioned  below;  Flla  R., 
Lucy  .v.  antl  Henrietta.  Mr.  Huyett  married  (si-cond) 
Lydia  Rick,  who  passeil  away  in  lOOS,  at  the  age  of  seventy. 
In  religion  the  family  were  I-utherans.  Fraternally  the 
father  was  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  in  polities 
was   .'i    Ri  pulilicaii. 

I.  S.  lluyett.  finior  member  of  the  firm  of  the  St.nidard 
Pajier  ]',n>:  .M anufacliU  iiig  L'ompany,  was  horn  in  l.S:il. 
C>n  .\I.i\    l;.',  lS'<r,  he  married  Jennie  1...  Helli-r,  daughter  of 


Antl'.ony  \V.  Heller,  and  one  child  was  born  to  this  union, 
Amos  \\'.,  who  is  now  attending  sciiool.  Mr.  Huyett  is  a 
member  of  Vigilance  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  P.  P. 
O.  F.Iks,  Lexlge  Xo.  ll.j.  Like  the  rest  of  the  family  he 
is   a  member  of  the  Lutlieran   Church. 

D.  H.  Huyett,  junior  member  of  the  firm,  was  born  in 
IbtiL",  and  on  March  4,  1S9S,  he  married  Catharine  Hull, 
daughter  of  Henry  Hull.  They  ;ire  the  parents  of  Daniel, 
Dorothy  and  Catharine.  Mr.  Huyet.  is  prominent  in  frater- 
nal circles,  being  connected  with  St.  luhn's  Lodge,  I'.  & 
A.  M.,  Xo.  43.5  ;'^  Reading  Chapter,  R.  A.  .M.,  Xo.  1.52;  Be 
Molay  Commandcry,  Xo.  9,  K.  T. ;  Readin.g  Lodge  of  Per- 
fection ;  Rajah  Temple,  A.  .V  O.  X'.  M.  S.;  WiUiamsport 
Consistory;  and  Lodge  Xo.  IJ),  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  of  Reading. 

The  Standard  Paper  Bo.x:  Manufacturing  Company  was 
organized  in  ISO.i.  They  manufact'ire  a  high  grade  of 
paper  boxes,  cartons  and  candy  boxes  and  supply  shoe, 
millinery,  candy  and  hardware  concerns  witli  their  product. 
The  plant,  three  stories  in  height  raid  CO  x  100  feet  m 
dimensions,  is  equipped  with  a  one  hundred  horbe-power 
boiler,  and  gives  employment  to  an  average  of  seventy 
hands.  From  a  small  beginning  the  business  has  grown  rap- 
idly and  now  controls  a  well  defined  trade  throughout  this 
section  of  the  State. 

ALPHEUS  S.  BEHXEV,  a  director  of  the  Penn  Xa- 
ticinai  P.ank,  of  Reading,  aiul  one  e>i  the  most  substanti.ii 
citi.-ens  cif  Womr-lsrlorf,  Perks  county,  was  born  Xov.  17, 
1843,  at  F'redericksburg,  Lebanon  Co.,'  Pa.,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Sarah  .l;ine  (Bashore)   Behney. 

This  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  Pennyslvania,  and 
th.e  name  has  been  variously  spelled  Beni,  Baiiey,  Behne 
and  I'lchney.  The  founder  of  the  family  in  tlie  Lebanon 
Valley  was  Peler  Hean>,  of  Heidelberg  township,  who 
died  111  January,  17S4,  leavin.g  a  wife,  Catlierine,  and  chil- 
dren: George  Peter,  Jr.,  Jacob,  Melchoir,  Eva,  Elizabeth, 
Christina,  Barbara.  Magdaleiia.  John  and  .Vnna  Elizabeth. 
It  is  also  shown  in  the  Pennsylvania  Archives  that  in  ITIJ.J 
a  f.iniily  of  Beni  emigrated  to  this  country  and  located  in 
Lebanon  county.  Prior  to  iToC  the  ancestor  of  this  num- 
erous family  located  near  Fredericksburg.  Leliaiifiii  county, 
where  he  took  up  about  1.0i;(i  acres  of  land,  .-ind  there 
spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  dying  at  an  advanced  age.  Up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  Peter  Beany  (or  Behney)  wore 
no  garb  other  than  in  Continental  style.  Several  of  his 
sons,  including'  Melchoir,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Melchoir  Behney,  son  of  the  ancestor,  a.nd  great-grand- 
father of  .Mpheus  S.,  was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  and 
s[>eiit  his  life  there,  being  buried  at  F'redericksburg.  He 
was  a  fanner  by  occupation,  and  one  of  the  early  horse 
dealers  of  this  part  of  Pennsylvania,  the  first  of  the  family 
to  follow  that  line,  in  which  >.  man\  of  the  name  have 
become  famous,  in  fact,  one  Jacub  i^ichne.  of  Myerstown, 
was  the  largest  horse  dealer  ut  ihe  United  .Slates  in  his 
day.  He  always  had  on  hand  from  2iw  to  ooo  head,  sold 
liorscs  to  Barnum  &  Bailey,  the  showmen,  to  the  Brewers, 
and  to  horse  dealers  all  over  the  country. 

Melchoir  Behney  \vas  twice  married,  his  Jirst  wife  bear- 
ing him  two  children,  sons,  and  his  sccondj  wile,  a  Miss 
I'ishcr,  bearing  him  one  son  and  two  daughters.  .Mr.  Beh- 
ne\'s  second  wife  was  the  sister  of  the  wives  of  his  sons 
by  his  tirst  marriage.  He  was  a  leading  citizen  of  his 
day,  and  did  nuich  toward  promoting  movements^  for  the 
public   good. 

Martin  Behney,  grandfather  nf  .Mpheus  S..  was  a  farmer, 
and  spent  his  life  in  the  \icinity  of  his  hirtlii'lare,  was  .•■. 
public-sjiirilcd  and  intlucntial  citi/en,  and  died  at  aii  ad- 
vanceil  age.  He  married  a  Miss  Fisher,  a  sister  of  his 
step-mot.iier,  and  she  bore  hii.i  seven  children;  John;  Jacob; 
David  lost  his  lite  in  the  Civil  war;  Samuel  (father  of 
-Mlihcus  S.)  ;  K.-ite  m.  a  Sna\ely;  Sallie  m.  William  ftohr; 
and   Rebekah  died  unmarried. 

.">anmel  Hehney,  father  of  .Mpheus  S..  was  burn  iin  tlie 
old  homeslead  ill  ISOO,  and  died  at  Myerstown,  in  l.-'S"., 
at  the  age  of  se\  tnty-nine  years.  He  learned  di^tillin.g  in 
his  youth  will)  his  iather-iii-!;iw,  an  occupation  which  he 
foll,>wed  l"r  -everal  years.  ;ind  then  enp.iged  in  the  man- 
tif.icture   of  brick,  .at   Fredericksburg  ;ind   l.iler  m   .Myers- 


i , ;  ; 


.•.  3i!;  !• 


,i!    .'.-;    'i;'''     III 


ill    ,(  mm;!*-!. 


370 


HISTORY  OF  BERKS  COUXTY,  PENXSYLVAXIA 


town,  continuing  in  this  lint-  of  business  for  some  fifty 
years,  nnti  furnishing-  the  materia!  for  hundreds  of  houses 
and  buildinics  in  the  vicinity  of  these  places.  He  was  a 
captain  of  tiie  militia  at  Jonestown  in  the  days  of  the  old 
battalions,  and  upon  his  removal  to  Myerstown  was  suc- 
ceeded I)y  a  Mr.  Long.  He  was  one  of  the  public-spirited 
and  progressive  men  of  his  day  and  locality,  and  was  a 
pillar  of  the  Refoniud  Church.  Samuel  Behney  was  mar- 
ried tu  Sarah  Jane  Bashore,  dau.i^htLT  of  John  and  Catha- 
rine (Fauber)  Bashore.  and  to  this  union  there  were  born 
nine  children:  (1)  Edward,  who  died  in  Denver.  Colo.,  in 
the  fall  of  1905.  aged  seventy-lwo  years,  was  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war,  serving  three  years,  during  part  of  wliich 
time  he  was  a  prisoner  at  .Andersonville.  lie  was  a  brick- 
maker  and  builder  by  trade.  (:2)  William,  of  Pittsburg, 
was  also  in  the  three-years'  service  during  the  Civil  war, 
and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  (3)  Milton, 
deceased,  one  oi  the  I'lrst  cigar  makers,  and  later  a  brick 
manufacturer  at  Womtlsdorf.  (4)  Melchoir,  an  extensive 
contractor  an.d  builder  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Kansas  Cny,  was  in  the  three-years'  service,  and 
was  wounded  in  battle.  ("O  Alpheus  S.  (G)  Sarah  J. 
married  Harry  Wise,  fornicrly  ot  Harrisburg,  but  now  of 
Philadelphia.  (7)  Samuel  is  engaged  in  real  estate  deal- 
ings m  W'omelsdorf,  where  he  is  treasurer  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
A.,  and  is  a  man  of  importance.  (8)  Levi  is  deceased. 
(9)   One  died  in  infancy. 

Alpheus  S.  Behney  was  educated  in  the  Myerstown 
public  .schools,  obtaining  a  fair  education,  which  was  supple- 
mented by  years  of  practical  liusiness  experience.  He  be- 
gan working  as  a  yf'Utii  in  the  brick  factory  of  his  father, 
where  he  continued  until  sixteen  years  old,  and  when  but 
seventeen  enlisted  in  Company  1,  Tth  P.  V.  I.,  being  sworn 
in  the  U.  S.  army  July  2],  ISGl,  and  was  in  service  in 
that  regitncnt  for  upward  of  a  year.  He  then  enlisted 
for  a  year  on  the  transports,  assisting  the  sick  and  wounded 
until  the  transnorts  went  out  of  comniissioi!,  when  he  en- 
listed a  tliird  tiuie.  becoming  a  private  in  Company  II. 
18Gth  P.  V^.  1.,  in  which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  in  the  grera  Artny  of  the  Potomac,  participat- 
ing in  some  of  its  licrerM  engagements,  and  was  mustered 
out  of  servii-i-  at  Philadilphia,  in  1t^o5.  After  his  discharge 
Mr.  Piehney  came  to  V.'omelsdorf.  where  he  was  engngcd 
in  tlie  brick  business  until  Ib'.i.".  supplying  all  the  brick 
for  hotises  built  in  u'omelsdorf  during  tb.at  tliirty  years. 
His  brick  was  considered  the  best  in  tiie  market,  and 
he  sliipped  to  Robesonia.  and  into  Lebanon  and  the  sur- 
rounding counties.  Since  i^'.K)  Mr.  Behney  has  lived  a 
semi-retired  life.  In  1!)(ir  he  erected  two  large  double 
brick  dwelling  houses  on  Second  street.  Womelsdorf,  al- 
though his  C'V.-n  home  is  located  on  High  street,  and  was 
erected  in  18G7.  In  politics  Mr.  Behney  is  a  Democrat,  and 
was  a  councilmari  for  nine  consccutivf  \ears,  rendering 
valuable  service  to  his  fellow  citizens  and  receiving  a  re- 
nomination  which  he  refused.  He  has  various  large  businf'ss 
interests,  owning  eight  other  residences  and  a  large  build- 
ing in  v,h;cl!  a  hosiery  factory  is  conducted;  is  a  director 
of  the  Penn  National  Bank,  of  Reading,  being  also  on  the 
auditing  coniinittee;  ant!  he  helped  to  organize  the  Union 
Bank  of  Wonielsdorf  in  irniD,  being  one  nf  its  lir.--t  direc- 
tors. iFraternally  he  is  connected  with  Williamson  Lodge, 
No.  307,  F.  &  A.  M..  of  Womelsilorf ;  Excelsior  Chapter 
No.  237.  R.  .\.  M.,  of  Reading:  Reading  Commanderv, 
No.  -t2,  K.  T..  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  .A'!  O.  N.  M.  .S., 
being  formerly  a  child  of  the  Lu  Lu,  of  Philadelphia,  the 
mother  of  Rajah.  He  made  a  tour  with  the  Knights  Tem- 
plars to  California  in  1?S:!.  .Mr.  Behney  is  also  ;i  member 
of  the  P.  O.  S.  of  .\..  Xo.  070,  Womeisdorf,  having  been 
treasurer  of  this  camp  ever  since  holding  membership, 
more  than  twenty  years.  He  is  a  Lutheran  member  of 
Zion's  L'nion  Church  of  Womeisdorf.  Pa.,  while  his  wife 
adheres  to  the   Reformed  belief. 

Mr.  Behney  was  married  (lirift)  in  18'''."i,  to  Lizzie  \\'en- 
rich,  born  in  1841,  who  died  in  1S7'J.  aged  thirty-eight 
years,  daughter  of  Isaac  Wenrich.  His  second  marriage 
was  to  Permelia  Dondor,  wuiov,-  of  Horace  Hillegass. 

The  seven  Behney  bmthors  clo,-e!y  resembled  each  other 
in   size,   weight   and   height,   could   wear   the   same   size   of 


coat  and  shoes,  and  have  often  been  mistaken  for  one 
another.  They  are  all  reliable  business  men,  and  worthy 
representatives  of  one  of  Berks  county's  oldest  and  mo~t 
honored   families. 

GEORGE  W.  H.\\\'K.  a  well-known  business  man  of 
Reading.  Pa.,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  hosiery,  was 
born  J:m.  IG.  ISGG,  in  that  city,  ^on  of  Nathan  and  Lydia 
(Seidel)    Hawk,  natives  of  this  State. 

Nathan  Hawk  was  a  prominent  manufacturer  of  wool 
hats  for  man\'  years  in  Reading,  on  Soutli  Eleventh  street, 
under  the  style  of  DcHart.  Hawk  &  Co..  and  was  one  of 
the  best  known  business  men  of  his  day,  retiring  in  ISSO 
to  enjo>  the  fruits  of  a  lont^  and  active  business  life.  He 
passed  away  in  190.'.  aged  sevcnt\-si.K  yetirs.  while  his 
v.-ife  still  survives  him.  The  children  born  to  this  worthy 
couple  were:  George  W. ;  Ida  ni.  Sylvester  Frit':,  a  dairy- 
man; .Anna  m.  John  Bauer,  a  barber  of  Reading,  Pa.;  :md 
Miss  Laura.  In  politics  Nathan  Hawk  was  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  one  of  the 
first  to  enlist,  and  he  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  first 
companies  to  lea\e  Reading  for  the  front. 

George  \\'.  Hawk  attended  public  school  at  Read- 
ing, as  well  as  the  pay  schools.  ;ind  his  first  etn- 
ployment  was  in  his  father's  factory.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  dyeing,  which  he  followed  for  thirteen  years,  and 
in  1S<.)7  engaged  in  the  m:mufacture  of  hosiery  on  Court 
street,  with  four  machines.  In  this  industry  Mr.  Hawk  has 
been  immensely  successful,  now  owning  two  factories,  em- 
ploying 400  hands.  Besides,  he  is  a  ijiember  of  the  Unn  of 
the  Hawk  Knitting  Company,  organized  by  him  in  1901, 
which  also  manufactures  hosiery.  Mr.  Havck  manufac- 
tures high  and  medium  grades  of  goods,  which  find  a 
ready  market  in  the  Western  States,  also  having  a  large 
Eastern  trade.  He  employs  two  traveling  salesmen  to 
represent   his   interests   throughout   the   United    States. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Hawk  is  a  Repulilican.  and  he  is 
fraternally  connected  with  the  P.  O.  S.  of  .A.  Mr.  Hawk 
■vas  married,  in  1SS7,  to  Miss  Emma  Weidner,  and  two 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union:  Estella  ri,nd  Warren. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawk  are  members  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
and  are  very  highly  esteemed  in  the  community. 

JOHN  S.  THOMPSON  is  recognired  as  one  of  the 
most  progres'Mve  Ijusiness  men  and  public-spirited  citizens 
of  Reading,  to  whose  material  and  civic  ad\'ancement  he 
has  contributed  through  his  business  associatioi'is  and  ser- 
vice in  otTicial  capacity,  and  he  enjoys  the  most  unequivocal 
popularity  in  the  city  which  has  been  his  home  from  boy- 
ho(jd  days.  He  is  a  scion  of  one  of  the  well-known  fam- 
ilies of  the  State,  and  has  held  positions  of  distinctive  pub- 
lic trust  in  Reading,  including  those  of  postm.'ister  and 
member  of  the  city  council  and  school  board. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  born  in  Jonestown,  Lebanon  county. 
Pa.,  Feb.  l.'i.  18.57.  and  is  a  son  of  Nicliolas  and  Harriet 
(Ingham)  Thompson,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Irelaiul.  and  the  latter  in  Pennsylvania,  being  the  daughter 
of  the  late  Samuel  Ingham,  who  was  a  representative  busi- 
ness man  and  influential  citizen  of  Myerstown  Ltbanon 
county,  where  he  was  a  successful  contractor  and  builder, 
and  where  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  undertaking  business. 
Nicholas  Thompson  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents 
when  an  infant.  For  a  number  of  years  he  held  the 
position  of  superintendent  of  the  L'nion  Canal.  Later  he 
became  superintendent  of  the  sheet-iron  mill  in  this  city, 
having  been  an  ironmaster  by  trade.  He  was  a  man  of 
much  ability  and  was  a  citizen  wdio  ever  conmianded  the 
high  regard  of  his  fellowmen.  Both  he  and  his  wife  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  Reading  until  their  deaths,  and  John 
S.  Thompson  was  their  only  child. 

John  S.  Thompson  secured  his  early  educational  disci- 
pline in  the  public  schools  of  Lebanon  and  Berks  counties, 
and  supplemented  this  by  a  special  course  in  Brunner  & 
Parr's  Business  College,  in  Reading.  He  initiated  liis  busi- 
ness career  by  t.aking  a  position  in  the  olTices  .of  ih.c  Uni^'n 
Can:d  Company,  '^f  which  his  father  was  then  superintend- 
ent, ;ind  he  was  thus  engaged  for  a  period  of  tliree  years. 
He  then   entered   upon   an   apprenticesiiip  at   the  trade   o£ 


•I    v;'iv:-:'i 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


371 


paper  making,  to  which  he  continued  to  devote  his  atten- 
tion for  five  yt-ars,  after  which  he  was  en.c:aa;ed  for  a 
time  in  the  butcliering  business  in  company  with  his  lather- 
in-iaw.  In  ISSS  Mr.  Thompson  was  appointed  assistant 
postmaster  of  Reading  nnder  Calvin  Goodman,  and  he 
retained  this  incumbency  until  T-Ol.  At  the  conclusion  of 
this  service  he  bi-came  a  specird  agent  for  the  Reading  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  with  whom  he  was  identi'ied  for  four 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time,  in  ISO."),  President 
Cleveland  conferred  upon  him  the  appointmciit  of  post- 
master at  Reading,  an  orticc  for  which  he  was  specially  well 
eciuipped,  by  reason  of  his  marked  executive  ability  and 
his  former  service  in  t!ic  postoftice.  He  gave  a  most  ex- 
cellent administration  and  gained  the  unqualified  commend- 
ation of  the  postal  department  and  of  the  local  public. 
He  retired  from  oflice  in  ISO'.'  and  resumed  his  connection 
with  the  Reading  Fire  Insurance  Coniprmy.  One  year 
later,  howei'er,  there  came  a  demand  for  his  services  in 
the  office  which  he  now  holds,  that  of  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Colonial  Trust  Company,  of  Reading.  The 
company  v,-as  organized  in  lOOi)  and  he  has  held  his  present 
oflice  from  the  initiation  of  its  business,  which  has  grown 
to  be  one  of  wide  scope  and  importance.  The  company 
has  erected  a  magnificent  nine-story  office  building,  the 
finest  business  block  in  the  city,  and  in  the  same  are 
located  its  finely  appointed  counting  room  and  offices.  The 
adnunistrative  ability  mid  personal  popularity  of  Mr. 
Thompson  have  been  recognized  factors  in  promoting  the 
up-bin"lding  of  the  business  of  the  company,  which  is  in- 
corporated with  a  capita!  stock  of  ^^.jO.oiiO. 

In  politics  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  stalwart  supporter  of 
the  cause  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  for  fnur  years  he 
represented  the  Sixth  ward  in  the  city  council,  simnltan- 
eouslv  serving  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education.  He 
is  afliliated  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has 
attained  to  the  Knigiu  Ten.plar  degi'ee,  holding  meniber- 
ship  in  the  local  lodge,  cha]ner  and  comniand'-ry.  lie  is 
also  identified  with  the  Inflopcndcnt  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, ,ind  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  First 
Baptist   Church. 

On  ^.farch  9,  1878.  Mr.  Thompson  married  Mi;s  Sarah  A. 
Rader,  daughter  of  the  1  ite  George  Rader,  a  representative 
business  m.an  of  Reading,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
borri  two  sons :  George  X.,  v.-ho  is  teller  in  the  offices  of 
the  Cok'uia!  Trust  Company,  of  Reading;  and  John  P., 
who  is  an  expert  chenn'st,  being  employed  as  such  in  the 
Laboratories  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Ci.impany,  Al- 
toona,  Pennsylvania. 

HKNRY  K.\RL  J.-WSSEX,  manufatlurcr  of  textile  ma- 
chinery at  Wyomissing.  was  born  at  P>arnien,  Germany, 
Feb.  S,  1866,  and  was  educated  in  the  loc.al  schools  there, 
attending  until  ]8S1.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of  a  ma- 
ehiiiist  in  all  its  branches,  serving  the  regular  apprentice- 
ship of  three  years.  Afterward  he  followed  the  customary 
life  of  a  journeyman  mechanic  for  four  years,  working  in 
various  machine  shops  in  the  industrial  centers  of  the 
Rhine  Province,  for  the  purpose  of  becoming  an  expert 
machinist.  With  this  experience  he  determined  to  emigrate 
to  .'Xm.erica,  and  in  188S  he  went  to  Xew  ^'ork  City.  He 
located  in  Brooklyn,  entering  the  employ  of  the  Castle 
Braid  Company,  and  after  working  a  while  as  all-around 
machinist  became,  i>n  account  of  his  proficiency,  the  fore- 
man of  the  place,  and  he  filled  this  position  until  1802.  In 
that  year  he  moved  to  Reading  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  h'erdii^and  Tlum,  a  German  friend  from  P.armen, 
for  manufacturing  textile  machinery.  In  the  organization 
of  the  Textile  Machine  Works  in  lOliO,  Mr.  Jans.=en  became 
its  president,  and  he  has  filled  that  position  to  the  present 
time.  He  also  was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  has  served 
as  vice-president  of  the  Berkshire  Knitting  Mills  anil  the 
Narrow  Fabric  Companv  since  their  Drgani/atiou.  having 
assisted  irj  establishing  all  of  these  industries  at  Wyo- 
missing. 

In  the  building  up  of  Wyomissing.  and  its  erection  a-  a 
borougi;  in  1001,  Mr.  J.mssin  took  a  \ery  active  part,  and 
:a  tlie  first  election  of  the  borough  otTicials  he  was  chosen 
one  of  the  councilmcn.     In  1807  he  erected  a  liome  on  a  lot 


of  ground  adjoining  the  Textile  Works,  and  this  was  one 
of  the  first  dwellings  in  the  borough.  It  is  situated  on 
the  corner  of  Mory  avenue  and  \'an  Reed  road. 

In  ISOO  Mr.  Janssen  married  Minnie  Raeker,  daughter 
of  Henry  Raeker,  of  Lippspringe,  Westphalia,  by  whom  he 
I'.ad  four  children:  Harry,  Minnie,  Helen  and  Elsie  (who 
died  young). 

Alliert  Janssen,  father  of  Henrv  Karl,  was  born  in  lS.'?t, 
along  the  lower  Rhine  on  the  borders  of  H(jiland.  He 
learned  the  business  of  a  book  publisher  and  upon  locating 
in  Barmen  when  he  was  twenty-six  years  old.  carried  on 
that  business,  and  contimied  it  until  his  decease  in  1878.  He 
married  Helen  Benner,  daughter  of  Jacob  Benner,  of  Hesse 
Nassau,  and  by  her  he  had  six  children:  Albert  and  Helen, 
both  of  whom  died  when  thirty  years  old;  Henry  Karl; 
Ernest,  a  dyer  in  Barmen;  Johannes,  a  wholesale  merchant 
at  P.armen,  and  a  member  of  the  city  council ;  and  Paul, 
a  provision  merchant  and  hotel  proprietor  at  Offenbach,  in 
Hesse. 

EDWIX  FOSTER  SMITH,  civil  engineer,  in  the  employ 
of  the  Philadelpliia  &  r\eading  Railway  Company  since  the 
year  1SG2,  was  born  in  Catawissa,  Pa..  Aug.  18,  1841,  son  of 
James  Foster  Smith  and  Ellen  Eliza  Cadwalader,  his  v.'ife. 
Through  his  father  he  comes  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestors. 
and  on  his  mother's  side  is  of  Welsh  descent.  His  earlier 
education  was  acquired  at  Readir.g,  where  he  graduated 
from  the  high  school  with  the  class  of  1858.  He  entered 
Uni(in  College,  at  Schenectady.  X.  Y.,  and  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  A.  B.,  later  receiving  from  Union  University 
the  decree  of  Civil  Engineer. 

In  October,  1802,  Mr.  Smith  entered  the  service  of  the 
Philadelphia  &  Reading  Railway  llompany  in  the  engineer- 
ing department  and  remaitied  in  that  employ  until  the  year 
180.").  engaged  on  construction  work  and  the  locating  and 
building  of  new  branch  lines  of  railroad.  During  this 
period,  also,  he  served  two  short  term  enlistments  in  the 
Civil  war,  one  under  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  in  1802  and 
one  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  in  Company  !•",  2(>th 
Pennsylvania   Emergency  V(.>Iunteers,  in    1803. 

In  tile  fall  cif  IS'i.j  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Schuylkill 
Navigation  Company,  of  which  he  subsequently  became  the 
chief  engineer  and  general  man:iger.  In  1872  there  was 
added  the  .Susquehanna  and  Tidewater  Canal  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and   Maryland. 

In  the  year  180i  Mr.  Smith,  who  had  for  some  years  been 
the  chief  assistant  engineer  of  the  Philadelphia  &  Reading 
Railway  Company,  was  called  to  take  charge  of  the  con- 
struction of  the  Reading  terminal  railway  and  station  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  one  of  the  first  of  the  large  ter- 
min.als  in  this  country,  and  one  that  has  attracted  much 
attention,  not  only  in  itself  and  its  appurtenances,  but  as 
changing  the  business  conditions  of  a  large  surrounding 
district  of  the  city.  He  has  remained  with  the  railway  com- 
pany up  to  the  present  time  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, in  charge  of  hydraulic,  steam  and  electrical  plants, 
and  given  iViUch  of  his  time  as  consulting  engineer  to  the 
development  and  installation  of  electrical  plants  operated 
by  waler-power.  One  of  these  is  at  Sewalls  Falls,  on  the 
?.Ierrimac  river.  New  Hampshire,  where  the  dam  and  struc- 
tures for  creating  the  power  were  designed  by  Mr.  Smith 
as  early  as  the  year  1S92,  and  is  one  of  the  earliest  examples 
of  the  modern  system  of  distribution  of  power  by  elec- 
tricity. In  the  course  of  an  extended  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession Mr.  Smith  has  served  as  consulting  engineer  for 
many  interests  involving  the  solution  of  problems  of  hy- 
draulic engineering,  designing  and  building  a  large  part 
of  the  extensive  water  works  system  of  the  city  of  Reading; 
serving  on  the  board  of  engineers  appointed  by  the  aque- 
duct commissioners  of  the  city  of  New  York  in  1001.  to 
report  on  questions  of  engineering  construction  in  relation 
to  the  new  Croton  dam  ;ind  Jerome  Park  reser\(.ii  ;  in  the 
investigation  of  the  conditions  affecting  the  Castlcv,-ood 
dam,  in  Colorado;  a  general  review  of  the  eubject  of  the 
I'lcation  and  plans  for  the  Nicaragua  ship  canal,  and  many 
others.  He  is  a  niemht  r  of  the  .American  Society  of  Civil 
Engineers,  the  I'rankiin  In-iitnte,  ami  the  Engineers'  Club 
of  Philadelphia. 


ri.'ifljlii;  ■'■fv 


,|l;     (,...-■      V-. 


1 1 ;  .1: 


372 


II[S']"(1RY  OF  r.ERKS  COl'X'rV,  ri-.NXSVL\'AXIA 


In  ISiJV  Mr.  Smith  was  niarriccl  to  Nancy  King  McCiirdy, 
iJa'.isIiti.r  of  Dr.  J.  K.  McCurdy  and  Klizabctli,  liis  wile, 
of  keadiii!,'.  t>y  whom  !ic  lia>  tlirco  children.  _  Mrs.  Smith's 
father  was  a'  pruniinciU  drug.L^ist  in  Keadiiig  for  many 
years,  havinvr  his  store  on  Soutli  I'iivh  street,  near  Penn ; 
iic  took  an  active  interest  in  educational  atYairs  al  Reading, 
olTiciatini;  as  the  first  iiresideiit  nf  the  hoard  of  school 
controllers  from  l»ii.'>  in  J.sr.T:  and  he  and  his  family  were 
devoted  members  of  the  I'lrst  Pre.-byterian  Church  for 
many  years,     lie  died  in   ISTI!. 

Mr. 'Smith's  father,  James  Foster  Smith,  was  born  at 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  on  Christinas  Day,  1S13.  kU-  was  descended 
from  Sciitch-Iiish  p.-irentape,  liis  grandparents  having  emi- 
grated to  Peiinsyhania  abuut  lT^:i  and  settled  at  Pittsburg. 
In  1822  his  parents  removed  to  Pdairsville.  Pa.,  and  there 
he  recei\-ed  his  preliminary  education.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
years  he  was  obliged  to  support  himself,  and  he  devoted 
his  leisure  time  to  study,  inclining  toward  mathematics  and 
civil  engineering.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  Peonage  Railway  Ctimpany  as  rodman. ;  wdien 
twenty-three  he  became  assistant  engineer  of  the  Cata- 
wissa  Railway  Company;  and  when  twenty-four,  the  chief 
engineer  of  the  Morris  Canal  Company,  designing  and 
building  duriiig  the  years  ISST  and  K'*;iS  the  lide-lock  at 
the  outlet  of  ih.e  canal  in  Jersey  City,  which  i^  still  in  use. 
In  l.S:;9  and  1840  he  was  in  the  service  of  the  Catawissa 
Railway  ComiKiiu',  hnxing  designed  the  celebrated  high 
trestle  bridges  cm  its  line;  and  in  ISll  and  1842  in  the 
service  of  the  Xew  York  &  Erie  Railway  Comp.my.  In 
18)3  Mr.  Smith  became  the  superintendent  of  the  lower 
division  of  the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Company  and  served 
as  such  until  IS)."),  when  he  was  appointed  the  resident  en- 
gineer, taking  eh.arge  of  the  reconstruction  of  the  canal 
between  Philadelphi.-i  and  Reading  and  linisliing  il  in  1S4G. 
In  IS.'iO  he  was  elected  the  chief  engineer,  and  removed 
with  his  family  to  Reading.  lie  tilled  this  responsible 
position  until  1ST."),  when  Ik-  relinquislud  the  more  active 
duties  and  acted  as  consulting  engineer  until  his  retirement 
in  1S8.5. 

IHiiing  his  ent^ime'-ing  career  Mr.  Smith  designed  and 
constnu't'.il  mai'.y  import;inl  hydraulic  wc>rks,  inclnding 
many  of  the  dams  on  tlie  Schuylkill  river,  the  Columbia 
dam  across  the  Susquehanna  river,  0,843  feet  long;  the 
coal  shipping  landings  at  Schuylkill  Haven;  and  the  exten- 
sive wharve.s,  with  aummatic  coal-tran.iferring  machinery, 
at  Greenwich   Poiiit,  o;i  the  Delaware  river. 

Mr.  Smith  re-ided  forty-eight  years  at  Reading,  took 
nuirh  interest  in  local  affairs,  anil  was  a  devoted  member 
of  the  First  Presbvteriaii  Church,  having  served  as  deacon, 
elder  and  trnslec  for  many  years.  He  died  Jan.  3J,  IS'JS, 
aged  eighty-foiu   years. 

EDWARD  H.  FlLP.h:RT.  The  successful  government 
of  a  large  city  like  Reading,  Pa.,  requires  the  best  efforts 
of  substantial,  reliable  and  public-spirited  men,  and  one 
of  these  is  fo.md  in  Edward   H.  Filbert.  Cit\   Treasurer. 

The  h'ilbert  family  is  an  old  one  in  P.erks  county. 
Gabriel  Filbert,  grandfather  of  Edward  H.,  was  burn  at 
Womclsdorf,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 

Adam  l'"ilbert,  son  of  Gabriel,  born  in  Wonieisdorf, 
moved  to  Reading,  Pa.,  .April  1.  JsSl).  and  there  died  Jan. 
5.  1902,  aged  sixty-six  Mars.  He  was  a  miller  by  ir.ade. 
He  married  Catherine  Moyer.  a  member  of  one  of  the  old- 
est families  in  Herks  county,  and  dam^hter  of  Henry  Mi^yer. 
a  cabinet-maker  anil  undertaker.  They  had  six  children, 
five  of  whom  survivi,  namely  :  Annie,  wife  of  Lee  L.  H.art- 
zel,  with  the  Vocum  cigar  factory;  Ch.arles  l'".,  a  coal  dealer 
at  Reading:  William  H..  a  druggist  at  Saginaw.  Mich.; 
Ralph,  a  printer;  and  lulward  H..  of  Reading,  .\dani  Filbert, 
the  father,  was  ;i  member  of  Williamson  Lodge.  No.  iioT.  \\ 
&•  .-\.  M.;  Excelsioi  Chapter,  No.  237,  K.  ,\.  .M.,  and  Golden 
Rule  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Edward  H.  Filbert  wa^  born  at  W.MUelsdorf.  Perks 
county,  Jan.  1.),  1871,  on  the  old  homesle.id,  and  .^ft.r  com- 
plding  liis  schooling  in  the  Cit\'  of  Re.-iiling.  he  spent  one 
.icar  in  P.i  i,t;llt'.^  bardw.we  store  as  ;i  vlerk.  lie  n^.Nt  lie- 
cime  connected  with  the  Rea  ling  Hardware  Wurks.  ;ift'r 
which  he  was  clerk  in  tlie  freight  department  of  the  Read- 


ing Railroad  tor  six  years,  going  then  into  the  employ  of 
the  United  St.ates  Express  Company,  as  cashier,  and  re- 
maining about  six  years  in  that  connection.  He  w:ii 
appointed  by  City  Treasurer  Hoffman  .Nov.  Hi.  ISd'.i,  to  t'dl 
out  an  unexpired  term  a?  assistant  treasurer,  and  wh.en 
Treasurer  Tyson  assumed  control.  .April  7,  1902,  he  was  re- 
tained in  a  position  f'.ir  which  he  h;id  shown  eminent  qual- 
ifications. He  was  elected  City  Treasurer  I"eb.  IS,  I'.itiS, 
and   inaugurated  .April   li,   1908. 

Mr.  Filbert  was  married  June  3.  IS'.io.  to  Miss  Clar.i  L. 
Stciger,  datighter  of  John  and  Henrietta'  Steigcr,  of  Read- 
ing. She  died  May  5,  190.'),  survived  by  two  children,  Lee 
Edward  and  Marguerite. 

Mr.  Filbert  is  a  member  of  the  following  organizarions : 
Chandler  Lodge.  No.  ?27.  F.  Ik  .A.  M.;  Reading  Lodge  of 
Perfection,  14",  .A.  .A.  S.  R. ;  Philadelphia  Consistorv 
32°,  A.  A.  S.  K.;  Excelsior  Chapter,  No.  237,  R.  A  .M.'; 
Reading  Commanderv,  No.  42,  K.  T. ;  Rajah  Temple,  .\.  A. 
O.  N.  M.  S. ;  Reading  Lodge.  No.  J1.5,  P..  P.  O.  E. ;  Read.ing 
Aerie,  No.  GO,  F.  O.  E. ;  Washington  Camp,  No.  163,  P.  O. 
S.  of  .\.;  Progressive  Lodge.  No.  470,  I.  O.  O.  P.;  Wyo- 
missing  Council,  No.  l.">84,  R.  .A.;  Liberty  Fire  Company, 
No.  .•■) ;  Schuylkill  Camping  Club;  Ninety-eight  Social 
Union;  Oley  Valley  Rod  &  Gun  Club'  Temple  Chtb;  and 
North  Eastern  Democratic  .Association.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Democrat,  and  he  is  secretary  of  the  l.-Uh  Ward  Demo- 
cratic Club  of  Reading. 

Chaklks  F.  Fii.r.i;ur.  son  of  .Adam  and  Catherine  (Moy- 
er) h'ilbert.  and  briithcr  e>f  Edward  H..  was  born  in 
Wonieisdorf,  Pa.,  in  1S,>8.  He  altendetl  the  public  schools 
there.  In  1880  he  engaged  in  the  coal  business  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Greenwich  and  Moss  streets.  Reading,  and  remained 
there  seventeen  yetirs.  meeting  with  good  success  in  his 
undertaking,  and  building  up  a  good  patron.igc.  The  next 
five  years  were  spent  at  No.  1141  Moss  street,  after  which 
in  1900  he  moved  to  No.  730  Oley,  his  present  location. 
He  sells  all  kinds  of  antliiacite  coal,  and  keeps  two  wagons 
running  all  the  time. 

On  Oct.  22,  1SS.">,  Mr.  I'"iibert  m.'rried  Mnrv  Hans,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  V.  and  M:irtlia  !■"..  (Slinltz)  Hans.  'Ihcy 
have  one  daughter,  Marlh;i,  who  married  Waller  M.  D('em, 
and  h;is  two  children,  .Mary  and  Ricli.'ird.  In  religious  faith 
they  arc  Lutherans.  Mr.  F'ilbcrt  is  a  poiiular  member  of 
the  Patriotic  Order  .Sons  of  America,  the  Knights  of  the 
Golden  E.iglc  and  the   Hampden  Fiie  Company. 

S.AMUFL  H.  GRING.  .Amonj,.  the  renrescntative  busi- 
ness men  of  Reading,  who  have  been  identified  with  the 
large  interests  of  the  city,  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  Samuel 
H.  Gring,  a  prominent  lumberman,  contractor  and  financier. 
-Mr.  Gring  was  born  in  Cunirn  township.  Perks  Co.,  Pa., 
Oct.  7,  1832,  son  of  D.ivid  and  .Mary  (Hill)  Gring.  and 
grandson  of  Da\'id  GriiiK. 

The  great-granrlfatlier,  .'^aiiuie-l,  son  of  Johannes  (who 
emigrated  in  1743.  and  who  fouiuh-d  the  family  in  .Amer- 
ica >,  came  from  Holland,  and  settled  in  Cumru  township, 
where  he  became  an  extensive  land-owner  and  died  a 
wealthy  m,in.  His  son,  David,  was  born  in  Cumru  town- 
ship, hut  in  early  life  located  ;it  Tulpehijcken  creek,  where 
he  took  up  a  tract  of  land,  built  mills,  and  like  his  f.ither 
became  very  prosperous.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years  in  h'ebruary,  1S17.  I'.y  his  first  wife,  a  .Miss 
Walsmith,  he  had  eight  children  as  follows:  John,  who 
was  a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church:  William,  a  miller; 
David,  father  of  Samuel  II.;  Daniel,  a  minister  of 
the  Reformed  Church:  Susan,  who  clied  umnarried  ;  Mary, 
m.  to  a  Mr.  Licht>';  b-lizabetli,  m.  to  a  Mr.  Troxel ;  and 
Kate.  111.  to  a   Mr.   Ringler. 

David  Gring  followed  in  tin-  footsteps  of  his  father 
and  grandfather,  and  at  the  time  of  his  dcith.  Jan.  2i'i, 
1S9I).  aged  eighty-three  years,  ten  months,  seventeen  d:iys, 
he  was  the  owner  of  several  farms  and  a  good  mill.  He 
was  a  Whig,  and  later  became  a  strong  Republie:in,  '.vas 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  his  day,  ami  served  as  cajil:uii 
and  majf)r  in  the  Stale  militia  for  eleven  vears.  He  mar- 
ried .Mary  Hill,  who  died  May  18.  18S,-,.  at  tlie  age  of  eigiity- 
oiu-  years,  seven  months,  twelve  days.  To  this  union  were 
born  twelve  children,  eight  of  wlu)ni  grew  to  maturity,  as 


;':  ',r-  !■■ 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


follows:  I'aviu,  a  miller:  Daniel  (  eni;aj;id  in  farniini;); 
Samuel  li.;  Annie  (u\.  George  Zerr  )  ;  Mary  I  m.  Jo>lnia 
Grill)  ;  John  (a  miller  and  tanner)  ;  Ciiarles  (proprietor  of 
a  hotel);  and  Franklin  (a  tanner),  '['he  family  were  all 
members  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

Sanniel  H.  Gring  was  educated  in  the  sclinols  of  Spring 
township  and  remained  on  the  home  farm  until  twenty-nve 
years  of  age,  working  about  the  home  mill.  dri\ing  a  team, 
and  turning  his  hand  to  any  eniploymenl  tliat  presented  it- 
self. He  then  went  to  East  Cocalico  township,  near  Denver, 
where  he  purchased  a  mill  and  remained  r.niil  1871.  selling 
out  in  this  year  and  remo\ing  to  Xew\  iUe,  Cumberland 
county.  Here  he  engaged  in  a  lumber  bu.-'incss.  buying  a 
tract  of  timber  land  which  he  converted  into  lumber  for 
railroad  purposes,  and  in  1876  he  removed  to  .Muhlenberg, 
locating  in  his  present  home  two  years  later.  This  house 
was  built  abciut  1734,  and  at  the  time  Mr.  Gring  purchased  it 
it  was  the  property  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg.  His  next  lumber 
enterprise  was  back  of  Lcwistown.  where  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  pine  and  oak  tindjer.  He  then  went  to  5lount  Rock, 
Cumberland  county,  and  afterward  in  turn  to  a  tract  near 
Mechanicsburg,  to  near  the  Loop  in  Perry  county,  Pa.,  to 
Bloomfield,  Perry  county  (where  he  operated  two  saw 
mills),  to  Turley  Valley  (where  he  operated  three  mills), 
to  Huntingdon  county.  Pa.  (where  he  carried  on  operations 
for  three  years),  and  to  Bedford  county,  Pa.,  until  ISSO. 
in  which  year  he  purchased  10,000  acres  of  land,  build- 
ing a  railroad  ,'ixteen  miles  long  to  get  lumber  out,  this 
road  being  known  as  the  Diamond  Valley  Railroad.  In 
1890  he  returned  to  Pei  ry  county  and  leased  seventy-one 
tracts  of  timber  land,  surveyed  the  line  to  Xew  German- 
town,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  and  in  September  of  that 
year  grading  was  commenced,  ties  put  do^vn  and  rails  laid. 
By  Jan.  :?6th  of  the  following  year,  sixteen  miles  of  rail- 
road had  been  built,  and  the  following  year  the  road  was 
built  to  Blaine,  and  in  1S'.I2  completed  from  Xewport  to 
New  Germantown.  Mr.  Gring"s  son,  I)avid  (iring,  is  the 
president  of  both  of  these  roads,  including  the  one  from 
])uncannon  to  Bloomlield,  which  is  known  as  the  Perry 
County  Railway,  and  f:ilher  and  son  deal  extensively  in 
lutnber  in  XcTth  Carolina,  Virginia  and  throughout  the 
South,  also  being  the  owners  of  twert\-t'ive  water  com- 
panies. 

On  Dec.  11,  1S56,  Mr.  Sanmel  H.  Gring  married  Cath- 
erine Hoyer,  daughter  of  Simon  Hoyer,  a  bridge- builder. 
She  died  June  8,  190(1,  aged  sixty-three  years.  Xine  chil- 
dren were  born  to  this  union:  David,  of  X'cwport.  m. 
Emma  Caldwell,  and  has  five  childreii — Bruce,  Rodney, 
Herbert.  Wilbcr  and  Eliz;d)etli;  Kate  m.  I'ianiel  i'..  Snyder, 
and  had  nine  children — Sue  S.,  Evan  G..  Lucy  "SL.  Charles 
L.,  Lester  B.  and  four  that  died  young;  Elizabeth  m.  John 
Leitheiser,  and  has  two  children— Hallie  and  Grace;  Sam- 
uel, deceased,  ni.  Annie  EishL-r,  and  ha^-  one  child — }5eriha; 
Charles  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years ;  Susan  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years;  and  three  died  in  infancy.  In  re- 
ligious belief  !Mr.  Gring  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Grace  (Alsace)  Reformed  Cliurch  of  Reading,  lie  being 
a  member  of  the  finance  committee.  In  politics  a  Repub- 
lican, he  was  treasurer  of  the  townsltip  of  I'.ast  Cocalico, 
Lancaster  Co.,   Pa.,  during  the  latter  years  of  ihe  war. 

RAYMOXD  .MOHR.  the  founder  of  the  well  known  firm 
of  Raymond  Mohr  &-  Son,  of  Birdsboro.  thi.s  eoiuny,  w:is 
a  resident  and  business  man  of  that  place  for  the  long 
period  of  half  a  century,  having  settled  there  in  1S.")7. 
He  made  his  early  success  as  a  contractor  and  builder, 
and  later  displaycfl  equal  ability  in  the  undertaking  and 
furniture  line,  having  for  itiany  years  the  only  establish- 
ment of  the  kind  ever  conducted  in  Birdsboro.  His  son, 
lulwin  F.  Mohr,  has  succeeded  to  his  interests,  having  been 
a'^sociated   in  business  with  his   father   since   ISO.'i. 

Mr.  Mohr  was  born  Sept.  .'!0,  isnt,  near  Gibr.dtar,  in 
Robison  township,  this  county,  on  his  father's  farm,  the 
property  at  present  occupied  liy  Mrs.  J.inn  s  Trate.  Samuil 
Mohr,  his  father,  was  a  car[)enter  by  c;dling.  and  had  a 
great  reputation  as  a  builder  of  b.uns.  following  the 
tnetliod  then  in  vogue  of  hewing  the  timlier  from  tl;e  tree. 
and    lr;mung   it    together    wiih    tenon    and    mortise,    iasten- 


ing  each  with  pins  instead  of  by  the  nailing  process  which 
now  prev.iils.  .Although  Samuel  .Mohr  had  acquired  little 
education,  lie  had  a  marvelous  faculty  of  being  able  to 
designate  beforehand  each  stick  and  make  an  accurate  gen- 
eral list  of  the  lumber  that  would  be  retiuired  for  a  build- 
ing. His  son,  Raymond,  g.ive  evidence  of  a  mechanical 
turn,  and  the  father  taught  him  tlie  trade,  making  him 
as  capable  as  himself  in  the  ability  to  specify  requirements 
of  m.iterials  for  a  building.  The  son  became  noted  as  an 
excellent  workman,  rapid,  and  decidedly  industrious.  By  his 
own  etYorts  he  became  a  line  draughtsman,  and  in  nearly 
e\ery  case  designed  and  made  the  general  and  detail  draw- 
ings   for   the   buildings   he   erected. 

.After  receiving  some  etlucation  in  the  township  school, 
Raytnond  .Mohr  caiue  to  Birdsbcjro  in  K-.'i7.  In  IS.'jS  he 
married  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  Daniel  Focht, 
of  Robeson.  Upon  deciding  to  make  Birdsboro  the  scene 
of  his  life's  work  Mr.  .Mohr  purchased  the  lot  where  his 
late  residence  now  stands,  on  Furnace  street,  at  a  time 
when  only  two  houses  were  on  said  street.  Pie  erected  his 
own  house,  putting  on  all  the  weather-boarding  and  the 
finish  with  his  own  hands.  He  then  began  the  contracting 
and  building  business,  in  which  he  soon  developed  a  large 
trade.  In  one  year  he  erected  for  E.  &  G.  Brooke,  of  the 
town,  forty-eight  dwelling  houses.  He  erected  No.  1  and 
Xo.  2  blast  furnaces  for  the  Brookes,  the  nail  factory 
building,  the  mansion  now  occupied  by  George  Brooke,  and 
a  large  addition  to  the  present  Birdsboro  residence  of 
Robert  E.  Brooke.  The  t^vo  mansions  erected  by  th.c  late 
Mrs.  M.  T.  Ciingan,  at  Ciingan  Station,  were  btiilt  by 
Mr.  Mohr,  as  were  also  many  of  the  large  store  buildings 
and  good  class  of  residences  in  the  town.  Tn  his  early 
days  he  erected  the  pipe  mill  and  other  manufacturing 
buildings  for  Seyfert  &  McManus,  at  Reading.  He  was 
espcciall\  capable  in  the  ere.ction  of  heavy  work,  under- 
stood rigging  and  the  use  of  hoisting  apparatus,  and  was 
an  excellent  handler  of  large  forces  of  nten. 

Mr.  .Mohr's  father  was  an  undertaker,  and  taueht  his 
son  the  trade,  and  in  tS'JO  Raymond  Mohr  engaged  in  the 
Imsiness  at  Birdsboro.  When  he  learned  the  tr;tdc  only 
cofilns  were  used  as  the  casements  for  corpses,  aiul  they 
were  made  by  hand.  The  present  handsome  linishings 
were  unknown,  and  they  were  devoid  of  linings,  a  bundle 
of  shavings  serving  for  a  i)illow.  The  lids  were  made  of 
wood  and  put  on  with  ordinary  wood  screws.  The  best 
ones  were  rubbed  with  wax  to  secure  a  polish,  and  a  hot 
fiat  iron  was  used  to  rub  the  melted  wax  to  a  gloss.  There 
were  no  hearses,  the  coffin  being  placed  on  a  spring  wagon, 
and  around  it  sat  as  many  of  the  friends  as  could  get  into 
the  vehicle. 

When  Mr.  Mohr  took  hold  of  the  business  lie  at  once 
introduced  improvctl  meilirids.  purchased  the  best  up-to- 
date  outfits,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  equipped  for 
the  business  in  a  manner  fully  equal  to  the  best  city  di- 
rectors. In  addition  to  undertaking  he  engaged  in  the 
furniture  business,  conducting  the  only  store  of  the  kind 
that  the  town  ever  boasted.  This  store  he  designed  and 
erected  himself,  adjoining  his  dwelling,  and  he  always  made 
it  a  point  to  keep  a  stock  and  assortment  equal  to  city 
standards.  He  had  a  most  active  career,  meeting  with  un- 
common success.  Besides  many  other  financial  interests, 
he  possessed  at  the  time  of  his  death  forty  houses  in  Birtls- 
boro,  and  owned  ;property  in  other  places.  His  building 
business  was  the  most  extensive  of  any  in  the  comity  out- 
side of  Reading:  his  furniture  store  controlled  a  trade 
almost  as  great  as  some  of  the  big  Reading  houses,  and 
in  his  work  as  a-  funeral  director  he  personalis'  supervised 
over  five  thousand  funerals.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest 
undertakers  in  continuous  business  in  the  county  and  his 
reputation  e.-ctendcd  throughout   P.erks  county  and  beyond. 

.Mr.  Mohr  was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Birdsboro, 
identitied  with  many  of  the  public  affairs  of  the  place. 
He  served  a  term  in  the  town  council  anil  could  h.ive 
held  oriiei.il  po-.ilion  niany  times  had  he  permitted  the 
use  of  his  n;nne.  lie  was  a  member  of  X'eversink  Lodge. 
Xo.  .■.II.  1.  O.  O.  v..  a  director  in  the  Mutual  Fire  Insur- 
ance Comi).tny  of  Berks  County,  a  member  of  the  State 
I'lineral    Direclor^'    .As^ociatii.>n,    .ind    of    Frieiid.ship    I'ire 


.•!■   '.,■■ 


'4 


HISTORY  or  BERKS  COUNTY,  PEXXSYLVAXiA 


Company,  Xo.  1.  of  Birdsbori).  When  St.  Mark's  Lntlieran 
Clnirch  wa^  instituted  in  KiriUljnro  he  was  one  of  the  first 
mcuibors.  and  he  continued  an  attendant  and  a  suiiporier 
of  the  cause  until  his  death,  lie  was  ever  alert  to  progress 
in  business,  took  an  eager  interest  in  current  events,  and 
m  the  management  of  his  varied  interests  displayed  an 
industrv  and   activity   comparati\ely   phenomenal. 

.Mr.  -Nlohr  departed  this  life  Feb  14.  T.ioT,  leaving  a  wife 
and  two  children:  .Mary  Louisa,  iiow  the  wife  of  Reese  ]•.. 
Beard,  of  Reading:  and  Julwin  !•'.,  residing  in  Birdsboro, 
Pa.  A  son,  Louis  Raymond,  died  Dec.  IT,  IS'Jli,  aged  twen- 
ty-one years. 

Edwin-  F.  Mohr,  son  of  Raymond  Mohr,  of  Birdsboro, 
was  born  April  ;.';i,  187."i,  in  B)irdsboro,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools.  Me  has  given  all  his  work- 
ing years  to  the  bu>iness  in  which  he  is  still  engaged,  and 
which  he  learned  thoruuglily  under  paternal  instruction, 
supplemented  by  his  own  well-directed  efforts.  lie  took  a 
course  in  the  Massachusetts  School  of  Junbalming,  from 
which  he  graduated  Xov.  18,  IS'.iS.  and  has  spared  no  pains 
to  make  tiie  service  from  his  esialilishment  up  to  the  beft 
standards  anywhere.  His  methods  and  equipment  are  first- 
class  in  every  respect,  and  he  has  kept  his  business  up  in 
every  line.  For  some  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business,  his  slock  of  furniture  and  carpets  equaling  those 
fotmd  at  the  large  busiticss  centers.  Very  recently  he  relin- 
qui>hed  this  department  of  trade,  to  give  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  funeral  directing.  Me  is  progrc'ssive  andf 
enterprising,  being  one  of  the  most  active  young  business 
men  of  the  borough,  and  is  broad  and  generous  in  his  deal- 
ings, whether  in  business  or  private  life.  He  is  well  known 
in  his  line,  being  a  prominent  member  of  the  Funeral  Direc- 
tors' Association  of  Pennsyhania. 

On  June  'S-i,  3S')7,  Mr.  Mohr  m.arried  -Miss  Sadie  Geyer, 
daughter  of  Henrv  .\.  Geyer,  of  Birdsboro,  and  they  have 
had  one  son,  Raymond.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  .Mohr  are  members 
of  St.  Mark's  Lutiicran  Chuich,  and  in  fraternal  connec- 
tions he  is  an  Odd  FelLiw,  belon.ging  to  Xeversink-  Lodge, 
Xo.  51-1,  of  l^irdsboro.  and  Lodge  J 15,  B.  P.  O.  Elks,  of 
Reading.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Friendship  I'iie  Com- 
pany Xo.  1,  of  his  native  town.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
political  faith,  and  acti\e  in  the  w(irk  of  the  party,  repre- 
senting it  in  county  and  State  conventirms  from  time  to 
time. 

Since  Mr.  Moiir  has  given  his  sole  attention  to  the  nnder- 
t;iking  business  he  has  kept  pace  with  the  leaders  in  tliat 
line  and  is  excelled  only  by  directors  of  the  large,  cities 
in  ability  to  conduct  funerals,  llis  knowledge  is  ever  added 
to  by  the  investigation  and  adoption  of  the  latest  piocesses 
and  he  is  painstaking  and  assiduous  in  his  efforts  to  en- 
hance his  skill  and  be  a  credit  to  his  associates  in  ,the 
profession,  and  give  satisfaction  to  his  patrons.  He  con- 
st:mtly  improves  his  needed  paraiihernalia,  and  never  al- 
lows his  equipment  to  deteriorate  or  become  incorigruous 
with  the  times.  As  a  consequence  he  has  .gained  for  him- 
self the  re,>i)ect  of  his  competitors,  and  drawn  to  himself 
a  large  clientele,  in  his  local  tdwn  a;ul  from  a  large 
railins   n;   the   surrounding   districts. 

.  IRWIX  1.  FHST,  director  of  the  Xatioiial  Bank,  of 
Boyertown.  director  and  secretary  of  the  Franklin  Improve- 
ment Company,  director  and  secretary  of  the  Union 
Manufacturing  Compaii\-.  director  of  the  Manatawn^-  Mu- 
tual Fire  and  Storm  Insurance  Company,  secretary,  treas- 
urer and  general  mana.ger  of  the  Boyeitown  Gas  Company, 
and  interested  in  many  other  ni  the  lar.gest  and  most  im- 
portant indu'stries  of  Berks  count.v,  was  born  in  Oley  town- 
ship,  this  county,   Xov.   19,  ISGO. 

(I)  Xicholas'l-;hst  (also  spelled  Ihst  and  Fast.  :!nd.  in 
the  Pennsx'lvania  archives  among  t!ie  list  of  emigrants 
Ish)  was  the  ancestor  of  the  American  branch  of  the 
family.  He  was  liorn  in  Switxerland  in  1711.  and  he  came 
to  the  Xew  World  on  the  ship  "J 'ink  Plaisanre,"  which 
qiiaiilied  rir  Philadeljihia  Sept.  :J!,  ITIiS.  He  located  in 
Colebronlcdale  township.  Purk.-,  county,  and  became  the 
owner  uf  about  ■IHU  acres  of  land,  near  flaliK^ville.  on  tlie 
Popodick  in  creek.  This  tr.act  has  been  divided  iiito  four 
farms,   namely;   the   one   on    which    the   original    buihlings 


are  located,  now  owned  by  Jacob  B.  Bechtel,  and  con- 
taining 10:i  acres:  the  second  owned  by  the  widow  of  John 
Butz ;  the  third  owned  by  William  C.  Eddinger ;  and  the 
fourth  by  John  B.  liahr.  On  the  part  owned  by 
Jaccib  B.  Bechtel  is  a  private  burying  gTi->und 
where  Xicholas  Ehst  and  his  wife,  as  well  as 
later  generations,  are  buried.  The  inscription  on  the  tomb- 
stone of  Xicholas  Ehst,  who  died  in  ISOt,  reads:  "Hier 
ruheii  die  Gebeine  von  Xicliolas  Ihst,  war  alt  03  Jahre": 
and  on  that  of  his  wife:  "Hier  nihen  die  Gebeine  von  Ver- 
onica Ihst,  war  alt  OO  Jahre."  The  Ehst  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Mcnnonite  Church,  and  many  of  them  are 
buried  at  Boyertown  and  Bally  meeting  houses.  The 
children  of  Xicholas  Ehst  and  his  w-ife  were:  Daniel 
(whose  children  were — John,  Daniel,  Abraham,  Anna  and 
another  daughter),  Abraham,  Molly  and   Elizabeth. 

(II)  Abraham  Ehst,  son  of  the  ancestor,  became  the 
fatlier  of  four  children:  Samuel;  .Xicholas;  John;  and 
Anna  (m.  Henry  Freed,  and  lived  for  some  years  near 
Xorristown  and  then  moved  to  Michigan,  where  both  died, 
the  parents  of  Catharine,  Dinah,  Anna,  Mary,  a  daughter 
not   named,    .\braham,    Henry   and   John). 

(III)  Samuel  Ehst,  son  of  .\braham,  met  an  accidental 
death  in  December,  181l',  while  in  Philadelphia  with  a 
team.  His  three  sons  and  si.\  daughters  were:  Elizabeth. 
Polly,  Dinah  (born  1800),  .\ljraham,  .Amia.  Catharine,  John 
L.,  a  son  (no  name),  arid  lielena.  ihe'  last  nametl  being  a 
posthumous   child. 

(Ill)  Xicholas  Ehst.  son  nf  .\braliam,  married  Elizabeth 
Latshaw,  and  settled  In  Chester  county.  Pa.  They  had 
three  sons  and  live  daughters,  namely:  Catharine,  Dinah, 
Elizabeth.  Mary,  Abraham,  Jacob,  JoJm  and  Magdalena. 

(III)  John  (Johannes)  Ehst,  son  of  .\braham.  was  born 
April  12,  17S2.  and  owned  the  farm  now  the  property  of 
Jacob  B,  Bechtel.  In  ISOii  he  married  .\nna  Margaret 
Wcisc  (born  July  28,  17SI1.  died  Dec.  10,  ISIO),  and  they 
had  two  children.  He  married  (second)  in  ISl'J,  Eliza- 
beth .Sclnvertle.N .  To  this  second  union  were  born  three 
sons  and  five  ilaughters :  John.  Polly,  .\brahani.  .Samuel, 
Eliz;ibeth,  Magdalena,  Catharine  and  .-\nna.  Of  thest-  Abra- 
ham and  Samuel  are  both  living  (  r.)(i8').  Abraham  was  born 
March  2S,  1S17,  on  the  original  Ehst  hoineste;id,  and  he 
now  lives  at  Barto,  spending  a  pan  of  his  time  with  his 
son.  Rev.  John,  who  lives  between  Bally  and  Clayton.  He 
is  a  most  remarkable  man,  well  preserved,  bri.ght,  humorous, 
and  possessed  of  a  wonderful  memory.  He  has  never 
been  obliged  to  wear  glasses.  At  the  a.ge  of  twenty-one. 
he  weighed  210  pounds,  and  now  in  his  ninety-second 
year  weighs  2-10.  He  married  Susanna  iloyer,  born  1821, 
daughter  of  Michael  Moyer.     She  died  in  1S09,  the  mother 

-«/  Elizabeth,  Rev.  John,  Henry,  Abraham,  Susanna,  David 
and  Jacob. 

(IV)  John  L.  Ehst,  son  f»f  Samuel,  was  born  X(.\-.  5, 
1805,  and  at  his  death,  Dec.  9.  If^Sii,  he  was  buried  in 
Bally  Mennonite  Cemetery.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Colebrook- 
dale  township,  but  later  he  and  his  son  Levi  conducteil  a 
tannery  near  the  Pike  line  in  Oley  township.  He  mar- 
ried ^lagdalena  Gabel,  born  Feb.  22.  KSOG,  died  Ian  1. 
1899.  They  had  four  sons  anrl  one  daughter:  Leah,  who 
ir.arrietl  John  II.  Funk;  Jacob,  who  conducted  a  hotel  in 
Reading;  William,  livin.g  in  Washington  township;  Henry 
G. :  and  Levi,  of  Xew  Berlinvillc. 

(V)  Ilenrv  G.  Ehst,  son  o»  Julin  L.,  was  born  in  Cole- 
brookdale  township.  July  7.  1S:;5.  .-md  he  died  on  his  farm 
in  Washington  township  in  l^'.U).  ;nid  is  buried  at  the 
Mennonite  Meeting  House  at  Bally,  formerly  called 
Churchville.  He  was  a  good  quiet  citizen,  true  to  the 
teachin.gs  of  his  faith.  He  married  Rachel  Tea,  daughter 
of  James  and  Elizabeth  (.Maul)  Tea,  both  natives  of  ICng- 
land.  Their  cliihlren  were:  Irwin  T. :  Mndnr.i:  .Mien,  a 
butcher  at  Bechielsville :  Warren,  living  near  I'.echtels- 
vilK-;  Willi.im.  ;i  school  teacher  in  Washinmon  tnwnship; 
.Aiiimon,  of  Reading:  .\nnie.  in.  to  .Mien  F.rb.  of  I'.rehtels- 
ville:  and  Cnra,  in.  to  I'hner  Oberholt/er.  of  IV'rhtels- 
vill.-. 

I  Vt)  Irwin  T.  Ehst.  son  of  Heiiiv  (i..  w;is  born  in  Oley 
townsiiip  X'ov.  19.  ]Si;o.  ;iii<l  \v:is  re.ired  upoii  his  f.atlier's 
faun.,  attending    the    public    school,    in    the    vicinity    of   his 


',::■:  h 


ElOGRAPIIICAL 


376 


home,  and  later  Prof.  D.  B.  Bninner's  Scientific  Academy, 
Reading.  In  1S79  he  was  licen-ed  to  teach  schO"l.  and  he 
taufiht  one  term  in  \\'ashin.i;ion  tc>\viisliip.  He  then  came 
to  Boycrtown  and  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  the  ofilce 
of  the  Boyertov.n  .\h'ssi'iii;cr  For  about  four  years  the 
firm  was  I-'Iist  &.  Emes.  tlie  pinner  being  CaUin  F.  Hines, 
and  they  carried  en  a  stationery  and  jirintint,'  esiablish- 
ment,  but  Mr.  Ehst,  since  April,  is.s9,  has  been  alone.  Mr. 
Ehst  is  a  progressive  and  jiublic-spirited  man,  and  he  has 
taken  au  active  interest  in  many  of  the  leading  enterprises 
of  his  town  and  county.  He  is  a  director  and  stockholder 
in  the  National  Bank  of  Boyertown.  Burial  Casket  Com- 
pany (employing  P.JO  people  ),  the  Union  Manuiactnrin'-;  Com- 
pany (employing  sixty  people,  and  making  all  kinds  of 
castings),  and  a  director  of  the  Franklin  InijiroNement  Co., 
builders.  He  is  the  principal  owner  of  the  Boyertown 
Gas  Company^  of  which  he  is  secretary,  treasurer  and 
general  manager,  and  he  is  the  business  manager  of  Ehst 
&  Co.,  largest  real  estate  dealers  in  and  aboiu  ISoyertC'wn. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  Manntawny  Mutual  Fire  and  Storm 
Insurance   Company. 

Mr.  Ehst  has  been  prominent  in  the  public  life  of  Boyer- 
town. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  for  five  years 
he  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and  since  ISOfJ  he  has  been  a 
notary  public.  He  has  been  the  adjudicator  of  a  number  of 
estates.  At  the  time  of  the  Opera  House  fire,  Jan.  13, 
190S,  he  was  appointed  bv  the  Burgess  as  chairman  of  the 
Relief  couimittee,  with  the  privilege  of  choosing  his  own 
committee.  This  committee  hnd  charge  of  the  identifica- 
tion and  burial  of  the  171  de;Kl.  caring  for  orphans  and 
relief,  and  the  distributing  of  the  :S2;i,000  popular  sub- 
scription. 

Fraternally  Mr.  [■!hst  is  a  Mascui,  belonging  to  Sticliter 
Lodge,  No.  L'.")l.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Pdttstown  ;  Bloomsburg  Lodge 
of  Ferfection.  14th  degree;  Blooinsburg  Consistorv.  ii-M 
■degree:  Rajah  Temple,"A.  A.  O.  X.  M.  S.,  Reading.  He 
also  belongs  to  Wasbi-.gton  C:niip,  \o.  l<il.  P.  O.  S.  of 
A.,  of   Boyerlown.     Tie   is   unmarried. 

LEVI  IL  FOCHT,  bead  of  the  firm  of  L.  IL  Focbt  & 
Son,  general  contractors  and  builders,  is  one  of  the  leading 
men  in  his  line  in  Bciks  county.  He  maintains  his  busi- 
ness headquarters  m  Reading  and  his  home  in  the  borough 
of  Birdrboro,  and  is  actively  identified  with  the  inost 
progressive  inierests  of  both  places.  The  business  in 
which  he  finds  his  chief  interest  was  established  in  1S70, 
and  evidences  of  his  work  abound  in  and  around  Reading, 
though  his  operatioris  are  by  no  means  confined  to  this 
locality. 

Mr.Focht  was  born  A.ug.  :i,  IS'iO,  in  Robeson  township, 
Berk-  county,  where  his  family  has  long  been  located.  Ik- 
is  of  German  descent.  His  grp.ndfatlicr.  George  Focht, 
was  born  Veh.  1,  1773,  ruid  followed  farming  in  Robeson 
township.  But  he  was  also  an  undertaker  and_  cabinet- 
maker, and  in  the  pursuit  of  those  callings  settled  in  Birds- 
horo,  where  he  carried  on  business  for  a  number  of  years. 
A  clock  which  he  made  in  1832  is  now  one  of  the  cherished 
posfecsions  of  his  grandson,  Levi  PI.  Focht.  George  Focht 
died  .M.-irch  1,  18:;!).  He  married  Catherine  Huyctt,  and 
tb.ey  had  the  following  named  children:  John,  born  June 
14,'lSOl;  Samuel,  born  Aug.  8,  ISO."),  who  was  eng.-gcd  in 
business  as  a  carpenter  in  Reading,  as  such  building  the 
Mcllvaine  rolling-mill  and  also  the  lirst  house  erected  by  E. 
&  G.  l^rooke  in  Birdsboro:  Daniel,  born  .April  -'ii.  I.s(i7, 
who  was  the  father  of  Levi  H.  Focht ;  ^Lary,  bom  Jan. 
IS.  ISOO,  who  married  a  Fliester:  Charles,  born  Jan.  .'>, 
1S12,  who  also  followed  carpentering:  George,  born  Jan. 
1,  1S14:  and  Jacob,  born  July  IS,  ISi.").  a  carpenter  of  Read- 
ing, who  was  the  last  survi\or  of  the  family,  dying  F)ec. 
20.  18S0.  This  familv  were  all  Lutherans  in  religious 
belief. 

Daniel  Focht  was  born  .\pril  'JO.  isn7.  on  the  honiestead 
in  Robc.-on  townsjiiti.  Practieall>-  all  of  bis  active  years 
were  spent  in  the  service  oi  the  Schuylkill  Navigation 
C<:!iip;iny,  \ebo-;r  ruip!  1'.-  he  nitered  in  early  manhood,  and 
bo  was  so  reliable  a  w^'rkman  ibat  at  one  time  he  had 
ch;>.rge  of  construction  and  reii.airs  on  the  Schuylkill  c:inal. 
He  also  cultivated   the  homestead    farm   after  his   father's 


death.  He  met  his  death  by  drowning  in  the  canal,  about 
two  miles  above  Birdsboro.  Oct.  14,  1871.  Daniel  Focht 
married  Catherine  Hennnig,  daughter  of  David  Heinmig, 
and  she  died  June  0,  lSti:H,  at  the  .ige  of  fifty-four.  To 
their  union  were  born  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  lived 
to  maturity,  viz.:  Mary  Ann,  born  May  21,  1834,  m.  Ray- 
mond Mnhr  (deceased);  Sar;ih,  born'  Nov.  21,  I'-.'iJ,  m. 
Lewis  Fritz:  one  died  in  infancv  in  1837;  Catherine,  born 
Sept.  ly,  1S39,  m.  David  Mock; 'David,  born  Oct.  30,  1811, 
died  N'ov.  7,  1S74,  leaving  a  widow,  Mrs.  Martha  (Lincoln) 
Focht,  who  still  resides  in  Reading :  Leah,  born  Oct.  24, 
1843,  m.  Jeremiah  Deeter;  Elizabeth,  born  March  21,  184.5, 
m.  Jerennah  Weidner;  Hannah,  born  April  17,  1S4G,  m. 
John  Lacey;  Levi  11.  was  born  .\ug.  3,  18.50.  The  father 
of  this  family  was  a  Luther.-m  in  religious  connection,  the 
mother  a  member  of  tlie  Reformed  Church.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  political  seiniineiit. 

Levi  H.  Focht  was  educated  in  the  i-ublic  schools  of 
Birdsboro.  and  be^n  work  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen, 
in  the  employ  of  the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Compatiy.  He 
was  engaged  in  repair  work  on  the  canal  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  commenced  to  serve  his  apprenticeship  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  under  his  brother-in-law,  Raymond 
^lohr.  of  Birdsboro.  He  also  learned  undertaking.  For  a 
time  he  fouiul  employment  on  the  Pcrkiomen  railroad, 
later  working  for  Bcrton  &  McDonald,  bridge  builders,  of 
Philadelphia,  on  a  number  of  bridges  in  New  York,  New- 
Jersey  and  Pennsylvania.  When  only  eighteen  years  old 
he  was  given  ch.irge  of  the  construction  of  the  large 
wooden  bridge  across  the  Pompton  river  on  the  line  of 
the  Midland  railroad  of  New  Jersey — conclusive  evidence 
of  his  remnrk.ablo  ability  in  the  Imiiding  line.  In  1870  he 
began  to  take  contrr,cts  on  his  own  account,  and  he  was 
successful  from  the  beginning,  for  his  youth  seemed  to 
make  no  difference  in  the  conlidence  which  his  patrons  had 
iti  his  integrity  and  capability.  In  ].-u3  he  establishetl  him- 
self in  Biidsboro.  and  many  of  the  most  important  build- 
ings in  that  borough,  including  structures  in  both  the  busi- 
ness and  residence  parts,  are  of  his  construction.  He  d.c- 
serves  the  greatest  share  of  the  credit  for  the  beautiful 
section  of  Birdsboro  now  included  in  the  east  ward,  for- 
merly known  as  Lincoln-town,  nuist  of  tlie  attractive  and 
substantial  residences  which  have  made  that  locality  fam- 
ous having  been  erected  accordin.g  to  liis  [dans  rmti  under 
his  supervision.  Since  1874  Mr.  Focht  has  had  his  busin.ess 
headquarters  in  the  city  of  Reading,  as  more  accessible 
to  the  extensive  territory  from  which  he  draws  his  patron- 
age. In  the  spring  of  lOfiti  he  admitted  his  son.  George 
Waller  Focht,  to  a  partnership,  under  the  firm  name  of  L. 
H.  Focht  &  Son,  and  their  otfices  arc  located  in  the  Baer 
Building,  in  Reading,  where  they  enjoy  all  the  modern 
facilities  for  the  conduct  of  their  widespread  interests. 

Mr.  Focht  has  had  numerous  contracts  frcnn  the  Phila- 
delphia &"  Reading  Railway  Cfimpaiiy,  having  erected  most 
of  the  stations  along  their  line,  besides  many  elegant  and 
commodious  residences  along  the  line  of  the  Pennsylvania 
road.  He  also  put  up  the  stock  farm  buildings  on  the 
estate  of  Mr.  A.  J.  (Tassatt;  an  addition  to  the  Haver- 
ford  (Pa.)  Collo.ge  buildings:  tiie  Wood  Memorial  Chapel, 
adjoining  Christ  Cathedral,  in  Reading;  and  various  other 
structures  which  display  his  artistic  and  architectural 
ability,  as  well  as  his  thorough  workmanship  in  the  merely 
mechanical  part  of  the  work.  He  has  always  def-'cndcd 
upon  the  excellene'e  of  his  work  to  .gain  him  new  customers 
and  ret.ain  the  old,  and  he  has  had  no  reason  to  regret  the 
course  he  has  pursued  throughout  a  career  filled  with 
unusual  activity.  The  firm  has  a  reputation  second  to  none 
for  work  of  high  qu;ility.  relialiility  and  irrepro.aehable  slan- 
d.-irds.  and  few  business  houses  in  any  line  enjoy  such  un- 
limited confidence  either  among  patrons  or  business  as- 
sociates. 

Mr.  1-Vicht  has  always  been  vit.dlv  interestkd  in  the  wel- 
fare of  his  home  borough,  Birdsboro,  and  ho  has  found 
time  to  advance  its  interests  in  numerous  \\avs.  lie  has 
served  twenty-four  consecutive  yc.irs  as'nutnlur  of  the 
council  I'l  th.it  borough,  .-ind  has  been  a  meniber  of  tfie 
Hirdsln.i  1  h'lii'  Company  since  its  organi/ation.  acting  as 
treasunr   of   the  company   for  twenty-one  years.     He   has 


II  ■  ■,    .•     ■( 


:^      /      -■'       ;  V   .-> 


HISTORY  OF  DERKS  COUXTY,  rEXXSYL\-AXIA 


been  a  stockholder  in  and  director  of  the  First  X;itiona! 
Bank  of  Hirdsboro  since  its  organization,  and  in  this  con- 
nection it  may  also  be  stated  that  lie  has  been  a  dirccl^-ir 
of  the  Rcadii!.i;  Xatiosial  Hank  since  its  organization,  lie 
is  a  stanch  Republican  in  political   faith. 

In  the  fraternal  circles  of  Reading  and  Berks  coi.nty 
generally  Mr.  Focl.t  is  a  familiar  and  popular  figure.  He 
is  a  hii^h  Mason,  laildintc  meinbersiiip  in  Chandler  Lodge, 
No.  227.  E.xcelsior  Chapter,  Xo.  -'37.  Conmiandery  Xo.  42, 
K.  T.,  and  Raiah  Temple.  A.  .\.  O.  X.  M.  S.,  all  of  Read- 
ing; and  Philadelphia  Consistory,  thirty-second  degree.  He 
is  also  a  nicniber  of  the  T.  O.  O.  ]•"..  belon^nng  to  Xcvcr- 
sink  Lodge,  Xo.  j\4.  of  Birdsbi-ru;  to  the  I.  U.  R.  M.,  at 
Birdsboro;  the  l'r;iternal  Order  of  Eagles;  Reading  Lodge, 
Xo.  11.-),  B,  P.  O.  i:ik=,  and  Mount  Pleasant  Council,  Xo.  37, 
O.  U.  A.  M. 

On  May  2:!,  1S7-1,  Mr.  I'oclit  married  Alice  Beard,  daugh- 
ter of  Jeremiah  Beard,  of  Hird^boro.  and  to  them  were 
born  two  sons,  George  Walter  and  l.,e\  i  Roy,  the  last 
named  dyiiii^  March  1:.',  18S'J.  As  previously  stated,  George 
Walter  I-'ocht  is  now  in  partnership  AUh  his  father  in  tlie 
contracting  and  building  business.  •  He  married  Miss  Alice 
Huyett,  daughter  of  Lsaac  Huyett. 

WILLIAM  EXGLE.  a  pnimiiu  nt  and  well-to-do  business 
man  of  Reading,  who  is  the  owner  and  operator  of  a  paper 
box  manufactory,  was  born  in  this  city  Dec.  ."),  18:3,  son  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  (.Crisher)  En.gle,  grandson  of  John  En- 
gle,  and  great-grandson  of  Jacob  Engle,  who  was  an  officer 
in  the  Continental  army,  and  fought  under  General  Warren 
at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Mill.  Jacob  Engle  was  one  of  those 
who  came  from  Germany  lo  drill  troops  prior  to  the  great 
struggle  for  freedom,  and  on  peace  being  declared  he  re- 
ceived a  large  tract  of  land  fr<.)rn  the  Goveiimieii!  for  ser- 
vices rendered.  He  settled  upon  a  portion  of  this  tract. 
which  was  located  in  ^rontgoniery  county,  Pa.,  and  there 
resided  the  balance  of  his  life. 

John  Engle,  grandfather  of  W'illiam,  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  oper.ited.  a  pornoii  of  the  land  ileeded 
by  the  Govornment  to  hi.^  father,  also  carrying  on  a  butch- 
ering business  in  connection  tlierev,-i;h  all  of  his  life.  He 
married  and  became  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
Jacob,  John,  Daniel,  .Samuel  and  one  daughter.  As  far 
back  as  is  known  the  f.'mily  were  Lutherans  in  religious 
belief,  and  in  politics  v.-erc  W"hig5.  Daniel  Engle  was  born 
in  1S09,  in  Montgomery  c&inny,  and  when  seventeen  years 
of  age  came  to  Reading,  where  he  learned  the  coopering 
business,  and  for  maity  >earb  manufactured  cedar  hollow 
ware,  becoming  very  successful.  He  retired  several  years 
prior  to  his  death,  which  occurred  July  3,  1S!»4,  and  his 
wife  p;issed  away  in  1SS7,  aged  seventy-six  j^ears.  Eleven 
children  were  born  lo  this  couple,  se^en  of  whom  reached 
maturity:  .inetta  m.  Daniel  I'ishcr,  of  Philadelphia; 
Daniel  is  deceased:  William  H. :  Ge-n-ge  is  assistant  sup- 
erintendent of  the  Merrick  Iron  Company,  of  Philadelphia; 
Rosie  m.  Milton  Palmer,  of  Reading,  Pa.;  Mary  is  de- 
ceased; and  Rich;ird  is  cmplosed  by  his  brother.  William. 
In  religious  belief  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Engle  were  Lutherans. 
In  political  Selief  he  \ea-  lir;t  a_Wliig,  ;ind  later  became  a 
Republican. 

William  Engle  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the 
schools  of  Ivcading.  and  later  attended  the  Reading  high 
school.  When  a  young  man  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
cooper,  which  he  followed  for  some  years,  and  in  ISStl 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  boxes.  Startin.g  in  a 
very  small  and  primitive  wa\-  Mr.  Engle  worked  his  w:iy 
steadily  upward,  now  owning  one  of  the  most  complete 
plants  in  the  State,  and  controlling  some  of  Reading's  best 
trade.  He  employs  on  an  average  twenty-tlve  h.inds  in 
his  plant,  which  is  located  at  Seventh  aiul  Walnut  streets, 
and  his  business  is  steadily  incrcasir.i;.  Mr.  Engle  was 
married  in  1^i;7  in  .\inanda  ^larsh.iH.  daughter  of  Dr. 
Jacob  Marshall,  ,ind  one  .-on  was  Wivw  to  this  \mion.  W.d- 
ter,  who  is  >up''rintendun  nf  liis  failur's  pl:iiit.  .Mr.  Engle 
married   (scconcn    Katie   Ab'Xer.  ot    Re.idiiig. 

In  1S(32  Mr.  E.ngle  cnli>ted  .'iid  went  lo  the  front  witii 
the  Pennsylvariia  .Militi.i.  but  in  lS(i;i  joined  the  Inde- 
pendent Ruiggold  Artillery.     He  is  connected  with  the  G. 


A.    R.      Mr.    Engle    is    a    Lutheran,    while    his    wife   is   an 
PDiscooalian. 

SYDEXHAM     E.     .\XCOX.\,     son     of     Morris     M 
Ancona,    M.    D.,    and    Mary    Ann    (Knapp)    Ancona.    was 
born    in    Warwick    township,    adjoining    Lititz,    Lancaster 
county.    Pa.,    Xov.   20,   1824. 

.y.  M.  Ancona  was  a  native  uf  London.  England,  born 
1-eb.  9,  1791,  and  died  at  P'.)ttsville.  Pa.,  March  2i),  IS.".!. 
His  father  was  .M.  .\ncoii:i,  a  marble  and  statuary  mason, 
who  died  in  Londcin.  of  which  city  his  ancestors,  for 
soiiK-  generations,  had  been  residents.  His  wife  was  a 
Montiliore,  and,  as  were  the  Anconas,  of  Italian  descent. 
They  were  merchants  at  Leghorn  and  arc  presumed  to 
have  come   from  the  city  of  Ancona,  Italy. 

The  family  moved  in  the  spring  of  the  year  182G  from 
Lititz  to  Bern  township.  Berk-  county,  about  t;vo  miles 
from  Bernville,  near  Sculls  Hill;  from  this  place  to 
Lebanon  about  the  1st  of  April.  1S29,  and  in  1330-31  to 
Kelly's  Corner,  near  the  Conewago  creek.  Lebanon 
county;  from  Kelly's  Corner  in  1833  to  Porter's  Store, 
on  the  road  from  Colebrook  Furnace  to  Elizabethtown ; 
in  .April.  1S3G,  to  Caernarvon  township,  near  Churchtown, 
Lancaster  county,  where  they  remained  until  1S40;  froni 
there  to  Alsace  township.  Berks  county,  near  Stony 
Creek.  He  worked  on  a  farm  in  Saucon  township. 
Lehigh  county,  for  four  months.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  then.  ui)on  the  suggestion  of  his  father  and  in 
response  t'>  an  adycrtistinent  in  the  i)a()ers.  applied  for 
a  select  school  in  Upper  Bern  townshi]).  and  was  emploved 
by  the  executors  of  the  estate  of  Valentine  Wagner.  This 
school  at  the  time  was  the  only  English  school  west  of  the 
river,  except  the  public  schools  at  Womelsdorf.  The  com- 
pensation was  ten  dollars  per  month  besides  board.  The 
following  year  the  compensation  was  increased  to  fifteen 
dollars  per  month.  He  spent  the  summers  of  184::  and  1814 
at  home.  In  the  fall,  seeing  an  aniioimccment  in  the  papers 
that  twenty-one  teachers  were  wanted  in  I'.arl  tcuviiship, 
Lancaster  county,  l;e.  among  some  (ift>  ctlier  :ipp!i- 
cants,  was  examined  at  New  Holland.  ]);is:.erl  ami  obtained 
a   -chool. 

In  June,  ISl.'),  iie  made  a  trip  to  Xe\e  I'ork  and  Boston 
by  way  rif  I'rovidence,  returning  to  Reading,  and  leav- 
ing in  July  for  Xiagara  Falls  and  Canad.a.  At  that  tiine 
the  method  of  reaching  Xew  York  was  by  stage  via  .-Mien- 
town,  Easton  to  Morristown.  X.  J.,  and  from  there  to 
Xew  York  by  rail.  After  leaving  Xiagara  he  proceeded 
to  Bufi'alo.  then  a  town  of  from  ten  thousand  to  twelve 
thousand  inhaliitants.  going  from  there  by  steamer  to 
Cleveland  about  the  20tli  of  August,  and  from  the  latter 
place  to  Akrr)n  by  canal  boat.  From  this  point,  with  a 
companion  whom  he  happened  to  meet,  and  who  proposed 
to  him  that  they  walk  to  Lancaster,  he  proceeded  as  far 
as   Chambcrsburg,   Pa.,  where  they  separated. 

After  some  months  at  liome,  given  up  to  farming, 
Mr.  Ancona  accepted  in  184.")  an  English  select  sciiooi  at 
Seyfert's  Mills,  in  L'pper  Tulpehockcn"  townsliip.  Berks 
county,  having  about  twenty  [lujiils  nt  this  school  and 
being  very  successful  in  instructing  them.  He  had  some 
very  bright  boys  there,  notably  Charles  Albright,  who 
afterward  became  a  general  in  the  arm>-  during  the 
Civil  war.  a  prominent  lawyer,  and  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress on  the  ticket  at  large  from  PeiuLsylvania  some  years 
after  the  close  of  the  war. 

Having  decided  in  the 'year  T^ir,  to  discontinue  teaching 
school,  on  the  invitation  of  1  laiiirl  H.  b'egcr.  who  hail 
obtained  a  po>-ition  witli  the  Reading  Railroad  Company. 
Mr.  Ancona  accepted  a  position  in  the  service  in  the 
same  department  with  him  as  an  .assistant  timekeeper, 
devoting  himself  with  all  his  energy  and  giving  his  entire 
time  to  the  requirements  which  tliey  demanded.  He  con- 
tinued with  the  r.aihoad  company  until  l.'^i"if?.  in  the  posi- 
tion of  chief  clerk  and  bookkeeper  from  Decemlier.  IS.Sl. 
having  been  acting  as  assistant  timekeeper  previous 
thereto.  At  the  close  of  December.  l.sM.  he  took. charge 
of  the  gener;d  hooks  of  the  conip'iin-.  \Oiieh  were  then 
out  of  balance  and  in  a  Tieglecled  comlition.  He  succeeded 
at  once  in  the  work,  although  he  had  h.ad  no  previoiis 
experience    in    double   entry    bookkeeping. 


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BIOGrL\PIIlCAL 


377 


When  nominated  for  Congress  in  ISiiO,  without  having 
given  the  company  any  notice  of  his  purpose,  he  was 
warmly  congrntulatcd  by  the  general  manager  of  the 
company  on  his  achievement.  A  lew  days  thereafter  he 
received  the  gratifying  communication  from  the  president 
of  the  road  that  liis  election  to  Congress  would  not  inter- 
fere with  his  position  with  the  company,  and  that  they 
expected  him  to  return  at  the  end  of  the  session. 

During  liis  conned  ion  with  the  railroad  company,  in 
1S49,  together  with  his  brother-in-law,  Daniel  11.  Feger, 
he  organized  a  military  company  known  as  the  RcadiTig 
Riiles,  which  was  composed  largely  of  young  men  cm- 
ployed  by  the  Reading  Railroad  Company,  engineers  and 
machinists.  It  was  a  notable  organization  numbering 
some  two  hundred,  thoroughly  armed  and  equipped  with 
rifles  furnished  by  the  -State.  It  had  a  band  of  music 
made  u[i  of  its  own  memliers,  and  was  ilecideilly  one  of  the 
crack  volunteer  organizations  of  the  country.  It  was 
attached  to  the  1st  Brigade,  "ith  Division,  P.  V".,  under  the 
command  of  William  H.  Keim,  of  Reading.  The  com- 
pany made  several  notable  excursions  to  Philadelphia 
as  the  guests  of  the  celebrated  State  Fenciblcs,  then  under 
the  command  of  Col.  James  Page.  They  were  received 
by  the  State  Fencibles  in  the  grounds  surrounding  In- 
dependence Hall,  and  were  presented  by  Colonel  Page, 
in  behalf  of  the  State  Fencibles,  a  handsome  silver- 
mounted  rifle  and  a  gold  niedaliion  containing  Colonel 
Page's  portrait  with  a  suitatile  inscription.  In  18.')4  the 
company  went  on  an  excursion  to  Washington  and  Mount 
Vernon.  They  passed  through  Phihidelphia  under  the 
escort  of  the  State  Fencibles.  At  Washington  they  were 
received  by  the  "German  Jaeger."'  connnanded  by  Major 
Schwartzmr.n,  together  with  other  volunteer  companies  in 
the  District  of  Columbia  at  the  time.  They  were  re- 
ceived by  the  President  of  ihv  I'niteil  States,  fieneral 
Pierce,  and  his  Secretars  of  War,  Jefiersnn  Davis,  in  the 
East  R'C'Om  of  the  White  House,  having  i;!7  men  in 
line,  all  told.  In  presenting  the  company,  each  man  was 
introduced  by  name  to  the  President  and  .Secretary  of 
War.  The  company  was  comjilimented  by  both  the  Pres- 
ident and  Mr.  Davis.  The  company  was  entertained 
by  Hon.  J.  Clancy  Jimii-s.  the  representative  fn^ni  T.erks 
county,  at  his  home.  The  arsenal  and  na\y  yarrl  were 
visited,  and  Mount  Vernon  reached  under  tiie  escort 
of  Major  Schwartzman  and  his  company.  Returning 
home,  they  stopped  over  in  Baltimore,  tiie  next  day  at 
York,  had  dinner  at  Cclumbia.  and  were  r.-ceived  in 
Lancaster  by  the  Buchanan  Ritles  and  eiiterirjiied  at  a 
banquet  at  Fulton  Hall  in  the  e\emiig.  They  attended 
the  reception  tendered  to  Louis  Kossuth,  the  celebrated 
Hungarian  patriot;  also  the  reception  to  the  t'lrst  Japanese 
legation    that    visited    the    United    States. 

Mr.  Ancona  retir^'d  from  the  Riiles  snon  after  this 
excursion  in  consequence  of  a  political  controversy  with 
men  who  had  left  the  Rifles  and  joined  a  rival  organiza- 
tion. He  was  then  invited  to  take  connnand  of  the  Read- 
ing Trocip,  a  cavalry  com[)any  th.at  dated  its  organization 
from  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  accept i.d.  and  was  sub- 
sequently electcrl  major  of  the  Reading  Battalion  by  a 
very  large  majority.  .Mr.  Hiester  Clymer,  later  hi-;  suc- 
cessor in  Congress,  was  supporteil  by  the  opposition,  but 
Mr.  Ancona  carried  the  companies  by  a  majority  larger 
than  the  total  vote  of  Mr.  Clymer  in  the  Ringgold 
Light  .Artillery,  which  was  the  finest  military  organiza- 
tion  in    the   United    States. 

In  I'ebruary.  1S(31.  Governor  Curtin  sent  Maj.  Gen. 
William  H.  Keim  (jth  Division,  Peniisylvani.i  Volun- 
teers, to  w^iich  tlie  brigade  was  attachecl  )  to  him  and 
Capt.  James  McKnight  to  ascertain  whether  their  com- 
panies could  be  held  in  readiness  to  respond  to  a  call 
in  defense  of  the  govertiment.  They  conferred  with 
their  nien  and  had  tbem  pledged  by  oath  to  go  out  in 
defense  of  the  goveninieiit,  ihm  thriatetied  with  seces- 
sion by  a  number  of  it;  ^^t.it-'S.  The  call  came  fmally. 
but  for  the  Rini^uold  .Xiiilleiv  o,ily.  |u  .April,  after  the 
President's  Procla.r.ation.  and  nn  the  same  d.ay  tlmt 
the   call   came    from    Governor    Curtin,    Mr.    .Ancona    went 


to  Harrisburg  to  ascertain  whether  his  company  was 
also  to  be  sent,  but  was  adviseil  that  for  the  time  being 
no  cavalry  companies  would  be  called. 

On  Jttly  4,  iSiU,  the  XXXA'Ilth  Congress  was  called  in 
special  session,  atid  having  been  elected  as  a  represen- 
tative frotn  Berks  county,  he  took  his  seat  .and  soon 
after  called  upon  Secretary  of  War  Cameron,  with  Cap- 
tain McKnight,  George  Durrell  and  John  B.  Kiefer,  who 
was  a  nephew  of  Cameron  and  had  been  a  member  of 
the  Reailing  Rifles.  He  then  asked  the  General  what  the 
probabilities  were  of  hi->  company  being  called.  The 
General  replied  that  they  "had  more  men  than  they 
wanted."  and  hence  Mr.  Ancona  made  no  further  etTort 
to  obtain  recognition.  A  very  short  time  thereafter  a 
mustering  officer  was  sent  to  Reading  without  his  knowl- 
edge. The  company  was  mustered  in,  divided  into  two 
companies,  the  one  under  George  Clymer  as  captain  and 
the  other  under  J.  C.  .A.  Hoffeditz.  Thus  he  failed 
to  get  into  the  service  owing  to  circumstances  over  wdiich 
he   had  no  control. 

Mr.  Ancona  was  elected  to  the  XXXVHth  Congress  in 
ISGO  and  took  his  seat  on  July  4,  ISGl,  at  a  special  ses- 
sion called  bv  President  Lincoln.  He  was  also  elected  to 
the  X.XXVlilth  and  XXXlXth  Congresses.  He  served 
on  the  committee  on  Convmercial  .Affairs,  which  as  he  says 
had  but  little  opportunity  for  recognition,  as  most  bus- 
iness which  should  have  been  referred  to  it  was  referred 
to  the  committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  which  also  con- 
trolled the  appropriations  during  these  years.  Later, 
however,  he  was  placed  on  the  committee  on  Military 
.Affairs,  which  was  a  very  acti'.e  ami  important  body,  of 
which  Gen.  Rol.iert  C.  Schenck  was  chairman.  Among  the 
members  of  this  committee  was  James  G  Blaine  of 
Maine,  as  well  as  a  number  of  other  equally  prominent 
men.  WTiile  on  this  connnittee  he  frequently  met  Mr. 
Blaine,   who   was   a   very   industrious   and   active   member. 

About  this  time  General  Grant  was  considered  a  fav- 
orite candidate  for  the  Presidency,  and  the  so-called 
ra'lical  representatives  of  the  House,  including  such  men 
as  Thaddcus  Stevens,  W'illiam  D.  Kelly  and  Henry  Vv'in- 
ter  r)avis,  of  Maryland,  did  not  favor  his  nomination. 
Mr.  Blaine  predicted,  however,  that  he  would  be  nominated 
on    the    Republican    ticket.      This    proved    to    be    correct. 

Through  the  influence  of  General  Sch.enck  a  resolution 
was  introduced  in  the  House,  tendering  the  thanks  of 
Congress  to  Genertil  Hancock  for  his  distinguished  ser- 
vices during-  the  war,  and  especially  at  Gettysburg.  1  he 
matter  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  Military  .Affairs, 
who  ordered  Ancona  to  report  favorably  to  the  House. 
This  brought  him  into  direct  communication  with  Gen- 
eral Hancock,  who  wrote  a  very  handsome  letter  of  ac- 
knowledgment. In  consequence  a  close  personal  friend- 
ship sprang  up  between  him  and  General  Hancock ;  fre- 
quent conferences  took  place  between  them  by  reason  of 
the  prominent  position  of  General  Hancock  as  a  favorite 
candidate  of  many  Democrats  for  the  Presidency.  At 
the  request  of  Mr.  Glover,  a  prominent  attorney  of  St. 
Louis.  Hancock  and  .Ancona  met  at  Milwaukee,  the  Gen- 
eral being  at  that  time  at  the  head  of  the  Department 
at  St.  Paul.  Subscqnentl}-,  there  were  meetings  at  Norris- 
town  and  Governor's  Island.  Col.  De  Puy  Davis  and  B. 
Markley  Boyer,  among  others,  being  present. 

He  enjoyed  very;  pleasant  relations  with  Edw.ard  M. 
Stanton,  the  Secretary  of  War,  having  met  Mr.  Stanton 
at  a  p.irtv  given  in  honor  of  J.  Glancy  Jones  at  the  res- 
idence of  Maj.  William  Fliim,  who  was  an  intimate  ac- 
quaintance of  Proident  Buchanan.  On  that  occasion  he 
met  also  Judge  Black,  who  had  been  Buchanan's  .Attorney- 
General  and  afterward  his  Sccretar}  of  State.  He  recalls 
that  during  the  conversation  with  ^lr.  Stanton,  whom  he 
met  that  evening,  he  expressed  his  views  very  freely 
and  criticised  the  policy  of  the  administration  in  the 
conduct  of  the  war.  Mr.  Stanton  did  not  dissent:  Mr. 
.Ancona's  surprise  can  be  imagined  when  hf  "^aw  in  the 
mcvrnii-.g  paiiers  the  next  day  that  .Mr.  StantoTi  h.id 
been  .app'iiiUed  Secretary  of  War  to  succeed  Mr. 
Cameron. 


Ill-'        ■..'J.I     ,,;i      ). 


(     iritii.'t    iTi 


3?8 


HISTORY  OF  BERKS  COUXTY,  TEXXSYLVANIA 


After  his  failure  lo  obtain  the  rciiouiiiiation  for  a 
fourth  tt-rm  to  Congress,  in  ISOO,  his  colleagues  from 
i'eimsylvania  had  President  Johnson  name  him  for  naval 
otticer,  port  of  riiiladclphia.  Strong  and  representative 
Kepiil'!ican>  in  hi?  district  had  recjuested  Senatipr  Cam- 
eron and  others  to  favor  his  contirmation  by  the  Senate, 
tliis  being  done  ivitlitait  his  recjuest  and  knowledtce  until 
one  day  conuiiunicated  to  him  by  Judge  Kelly,  of  Phila- 
delphia, in  the  coniinittec-room  uu  Military  Affair?,  lie 
was  frequently  impiiriunvd  to  again  run  fur  Congress, 
but   peremptorily   declined. 

.Mr.  Anciina  had  been  c<iiinected  with  the  tire  department 
of  the  city  of  Kiading  for  some  ye.irs  when  on  the 
suggestion  of  Gen.  George  M.  Keiin  he  took  the  i>res- 
ideucy  of  the  Reading  llosc  Company.  General  Keim 
headed  a  subscription  with  (me  hundred  dollars  towaril 
tlie  purchase  of  a  steam  fire-engine  in  JlS.'iS.  With  his 
accustomed  energy  and  determination  he  succeeded  in 
getting  the  fir.st  steam  tire-engine  into  Ketiding  at  a  cost  of 
thirty-six  hundred  dollars.  It  was  called  the  "\ovelty," 
and  was  built  at  the  Xovelty  Works  in  New  York,  by 
l.ec  &  Larned.  In  1807  he,  with  a  few  others,  organ- 
ized the  Hampden  Fire  Company,  of  which  he  was  the 
first  president.  He  ha.-  been  re-tlect'-d  and  occupied  this 
office  for  forty-two  years  continuously.  He  is  also  a 
delegate    to    the    Fin-men's    L'nion. 

He  has  held  the  oi'fice  of  treasurer  of  the  Reading  Fire- 
men's Relief  .Association  since  its  organization  and  lias 
always  been  proininently  and  actively  coiinectcd  with 
the  volunteer  fire  department  of  the  city  of  Reading.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Reading  school  b'jard  and  the  pres- 
ident of  that  bixly  for  several  terms.  He  served  for 
many  years  with  Judge  Stitzel  and  Charles  Brenciser,  Sr., 
as  a  member  of  the  local  board  of  charities,  appointed  by 
tlie  Governor.  Gox'crnor  Pattison  appointed  him  a  trustee 
of  the  State  .As>)uni  at  Harrisburg.  He  was  one  of  the 
originators  of  the  Reading  Steam  Forge,  Cotton  Mill,  a 
director  of  the  Reading  Savings  P>arik,  nnd  was  identified 
as  president,  secretary  and  director  with  building  and 
s.ivings   associations    for   over  sixty  years. 

Having  some  relations  wiih  the  officers  oi  the  Fire  .\sso- 
ciation  of  Philadelphia,  he  proposed  to  the  lire  depart- 
ment in  the  city  of  l^cading  the  organization  of  an  insur- 
ance company  for  nifurance  against  loss  by  fire  on  a 
plan  somewhat  similar  to  the  plan  of  the  Fire  .Association 
of  Philadelpliia,  which  had  grown  out  of  the  old  volun- 
teer fire  de[iartment  of  that  city,  and  had  an  accumula- 
tion at  that  tiine  of  some  millions  of  assets.  The 
necessary  legislation  was  obtained,  but  he  could  not  con- 
vliice  the  representati\-es  of  the  various  tire  coinpanies  in 
the  Firemen's  Union  of  the  feasibility  of  his  plan.  He 
then  organized  a  stock  fire  insurance  company  with  a 
capitrd  of  JI'iO.OOO,  of  which  ifr!.").000  was  subscribed  by 
his  friends.  Twenty  per  cent  was  paid  in  .«o  that  he 
had  $7,")00  in  ca^h  when  the  company  organized.  ?Ie 
started  business  July  .S,  1867,  and  was  elected  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.  The  company  had  a  board  of 
directors,  composed  of  some  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  tlie  city.  Judqe  J.  Pringle  Jones  was  elected 
president,  an^l  Maj.  Jame?  McKiiight.  vice-president. 
He  served  as  secretary  and  treasurer  for  o\  er  thirty 
years  and  from  the  small  beginning  of  .$7,500  he  in- 
creased the  paid-up  capital  to  S2.">0.000,  and  net  surplus 
over    and    above   the    capital    to    $non.00n. 

He  also,  during  thi';  period,  succeeded  in  C'rganizing 
the  Reading  Trust  Comp.any.  with  many  of  the  stock- 
holders of  the  Reading  T''ire  Insurance  Compatiy.  and 
witli  the  same  board  of  directors  and  officers,  he  serving 
as    secretary    and    treasurer   nf    this    company. 

With  the  tendency  to  con-nlidation  of  insurance  bus- 
iness by  the  insurance  companies,  by  rc-insurance  ami 
otherwise,  with  strong  conipvtition  by  companies  with 
large  aggregations  of  capital,  and  owing  to  excessive 
lossvs  for  two  years  previous  to  iso.s,  he  w.is  impressed 
with  the  belief  that  the  Re;uiing  Fire  Iii'-urancc  Cnrnpany 
h.id  reached  the  griatest  success  it  could  attain  undur 
the  ;id\frse  pr.'if.p.cct.  and  lie  llurefnie  drieiniintd  to 
elleci   a   re-insurance   oi   the   Reading   Comp-my   with   some 


large  company  to  continue  the  Reading  Company  as 
before,  and  to  have  all  its  policies  and  liabilities  under- 
written by  such  a  company,  taking  all  its  revenues,  and 
paying  all  its  expenses  and  the  rental,  which  would  be 
equivalent  to  a  dividend  of  from  ten  to  twelve  per 
cent  to  the  stockholders  of  the  Reading  I'ire  Insurance 
Company.  After  several  negotiations  with  companies  in 
the  United  States  and  Europe,  where  he  went  in  1S90-97 
with  this  purpose  in  view,  after  he  had  abandoned  all 
hope  of  effecting  such  a  transaction,  he  received  a  coin- 
munication  lo  enter  into  negotiations  with  the  Hartford 
Fire  Insurance  Company.  He  met  Mr.  Chase,  the  pres- 
ident of  the  company,  and  seemed  in  a  fair  way  of  coin- 
ing to  an  agreement,  but  the  methods  proposed  to  accom- 
plish the  purpose  did  not  meet  with  his  approval  and 
Were  promptly  declined.  Mr.  Edward  Clutf,  of  New 
York,  who  had  heard  of  these  negotiations,  had  at  the 
same  time  proposed  an  arrangement  with  the  Scottish 
Alliance,  which  was  declined.  The  president  of  the 
Scottish  Alliance  had  been  cabled  for,  however,  and  a 
meeting  was  arranged  in  New  York  for  this  purpose, 
which  finally  resulted  in  the  sale  of  the  stock  of  the 
Reading  Fire  Insurance  Company,  with  the  consent  of 
a  large  number  of  the  stockholders,  the  Scottish  Alliance 
paying  the  stockholders  twenty  dollars  a  share,  and  from 
which  they  had  received  an  average  dividend  of  eight 
per  cent  per  annum,   for  over  thirty  years. 

During  a  period  of  over  lifty  years  ]\Ir.  Ancona  was 
an  active  member  of  thi-  Masonic  fraternity.  In  1S48, 
wilh  some  associates  and  friends,  he  organiz.<-d  a  lodgt 
known  as  Chandler  Lodge,  Xo.  227,  of  which  he  became 
Worshipful  -Master.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Pennsylvania  and  received  the  degree  of  Knight 
Templar  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  also  appointed  Emi- 
nent Commander,  but  he  did  not  attend  the  meeting  for 
th.e  installation  of  officers  by  reason  of  the  death  of  his 
father.  In  1370,  with  a  few  friends,  he  applied  for  au- 
thority for  another  Conunandery,  K.  T..  which  was 
accomplished  and  became  known  as  Reading  Commandcry, 
No.  42.  He  was  appointed  to  and  accepted  the  position  of 
Eminent  Commanfler,  with  the  understanding  that  he 
would  do  no  more  than  preside  for  the  year  at  their 
meetings.  He  was  appointed  District  Deputy  Grand 
Master  for  the  District  of  Berks,  Lebanon  and  part  of 
Montgomery   counties    in    1861-02-03-04,    and    1S74-75-7G. 

He  was  elected  president  of  the  Penn  Street  Passenger 
Railway,  the  first  road  in  the  city  of  Reading.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  projectors  and  directors  of  the  Mt.  Penn 
Gravity  Railway  Company  in  1S89,  and  has  continued'  as 
director  in  it  ever  since. 

Notwithstanding  a  long  and  busy  life  he  has  found 
time  to  travel  extensively,  not  alone  the  many  trips 
through  evci'y  State  and  Territory  of  the  United  States, 
but  frequent  trips  abroad  and  to  the  Indies.  He  has  de- 
voted his  attention  to  public  inatters  and  the  common 
good,  giving  them  the  advantage  of  his  wide  experience 
and  close  observation.  Philanthropic  and  charitable, 
nnd  intense  in  all  his  undertakings,  he  has  well 
tilled  to  the  fullest  incisure,  and  uiijoyed  the  blessings  of, 
a  life  of  over  fourscore  years,  retaining  full  possession 
of    his    vitality,    energy    and    mental    faculties. 

EDWARD  S.  WERTZ,  who  conducts  the  Wertz  Milling 
Company  at  Reading,  one  o.'  the  best  known  establishments 
of  iis  kind  in  lierks  county,  was  liorn  in  Harrisburg.  Dau- 
phin Co.,  P.a.,  h'eli.  2:!,  IS.'.o.  son  of  Samuel  and  Maria 
( .Sweigert)  Wertz. 

Samuel  Wertz,  his  fatlur,  was  born  March  2,  ISO'.l,  in 
the  Canton  of  .\argau.  .Switzerland,  and  in  his  native 
country  learned  the  trade  of  wfiol  fulling.  In  IS'27  he  came 
to  America,  settling  lirsl  at  hVaiikford.  Philadelphia,  where 
he  m.aiuilaetured  cotton  I.ips  .and  wadding.  He  subsequent- 
ly removed  to  I  iarrisbuTL;.  where  lie  opcr.ated  a  llouring 
;iiul  wo.ilen-iiiill  and  remained  until  l.S.'iO.  at  which,  time 
he  f!ig,ig.-d  in  business  at  the  old  Ritter  Hotel  stand,  in 
l'\t  tt-r  township.  The  follDwing  }ear  he  reniove<l  to 
Spring  tiiwii'^hip.  Itvrks  c  ■untN,  where  he  purchased  the 
old   .Mthoitse    Mill   property,   which   he   n-lmill.  iii.aking  vast 


i! ' 


ii.r'. 


BIOGIL-VnilCAL 


379 


improvement  in  the  cstabHshitKin,  and  he  successfully 
operated  it  as  a  Hour  and  feed  mill  until  1S70.  That  year 
lif  settled  in  Keatlin^  and  opened  the  llour  and  feed  store 
wl-.ich  he  conducted  initil  his  rctiroineiit.  in  18S0.  His 
death  occurred  in  18S4.  when  he  was  seventv-live  years 
old. 

Mr.  Wertz  was  twice  married.  Hi>.  tirst  wife.  Maria 
Sweigert,  a  native  of  Lancaster  county.  Fa.,  died  in  IS.'jL'. 
leaving  six  children,  namely;  Louisa  .M.  m.  .\nios  Price; 
Eli::al>eth,  deceased,  ni.  llerman  Strohecker:  Lkorge  W. ; 
Sanniel ,  Edward  S.,  and  Jacob  Henry.  On  April  -'S,  1S.">3. 
Mr.  Wert/  m.  (second)  Catherine  W'aidcninyer.  daughter  of 
John  W.'ddenmy'T,  and  to  this  union  two  children  were 
lK)rn.  Augustus  am!  l-'rank.  Mr.  Wert/,  was  a  member  of 
the  l\elormed  Church,  while  his  wife  held  to  the  faith  of 
the  Lutheran  iiciiomination.  In  politics  he  w;is  a  stanch 
Demoer.ii. 

lulward  S.  Wert;:  was  quite  young  when  hi.'',  father  came 
to  I'-crks  county,  and  here  he  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  From  boyhood  he  was  employed  around 
his  father's  niillinfr  establishment,  and  when  si.xteen  he  left 
home  to  complete  his  apprenticeship  at  the  nulier's  trade. 
He  went  to  lluyctl's  Mdl  at  Sliillingtoa,  in  Cuniru  town- 
ship, remaining  there  about  a  year,  after  which  he  took  a 
responsible  position  at  Womelsdurf,  having  clKiige  of  a 
tlouriny  mill  owned  by  a  Mr.  Fisher.  There  he  also  spent 
a  year,  ar.d  then  accepted  a  similar  position  at  the  old 
Hiester  Mill,  in  IVtii  township,  later  going  to  Uecd's 
Mill,  in  I'obesoii  township,  (ioing  to  Chicago.  111.,  in  ISTl, 
Mr.  Wertz  spent  one  year  there  in  the  storage  warehouse 
business,  at  the  end  of  that  time  returning  tii  Reading, 
where  he  was  employed  b\'  Heilni.ui  &  l.o.,  hardware  mer- 
chants, who  were  then  located  on  the  present  site  of  the 
Dives,  Pomeroy  &  Stewart  store.  After  two  years'  ser- 
vice with  this  firm  he  went  to  the  old  Wertz  Mill  prop- 
erty in  Spring  ti>wnsliip.  and  for  Iwenty-five  years  carried 
on  the  mill  there.  It  wa.s  cpue  ot  the-  nid-stvle  burr  mills, 
and  was  one  of  the  lir.^t  to  be  adipicd  in  \\n_-  nuxlern  roller 
process,  tlie  necessary  changes  being  made  bv  Mr.  Wert;-, 
who  dming  his  occu|)ancy  of  the  propertv  rebuilt  the 
establislunent  four  times.  He  enlarged  as  well  as  nuuler- 
ni/ed  it,  increasing  the  capacity  as  trade  dem.anded  from 
a  hfteen-barrel  mill  to  a  seventy-live-barrel  mill.  If  was 
there  he  tirst  manufactured  the  now  celebi;ited  Wert/ 
Roller  Cream  Flour,  which  has  gained  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion throughout  th.is  section  of  Pcmsylvania.  Mr.  \\  rrtz 
still  continues  tlie  niamu'aciure  of  this  brand.  wIulIi  has 
lost  none  of  its  popularity,  for  he  has  sust.iined  iis  high 
quality  to  the  present  time. 

In  1898  Mr.  Wertz  removed  to  Reading,  where  he  estab- 
lishod  his  present  plant,  his  mill  and  oltice  being  at  Xos. 
IHj-Ml  P>utlonwood  street  and  conducted  under  the  name 
of  the  Wertz  .Milling  Compaii)-.  His  mill  is  one  of  the 
best  e(]uipped  in  the  .State  of  P..inisylvania,  no  device  of 
approved  pattern  known  to  tlour  manufacturers  having 
been  omitted  in  fitting  it  up,  and  the  conduct  of  the  plant 
and  standard  of  product:,  arc  accordingly  high.  All  the 
product  is  disposed  of  t*.  the  local  trade.  The  brands 
manufactured  by  the  Wertz  Milling  Company  are  Ri:)ller 
Cream,  Gold  Dust,  White  Ri'Se  and  Minneh.iha,  all  of  which 
are  in  popular  u^e  throughout  this  section.  I'.esides  his 
milling  l)usiness  Mr.  Wertz  is  interested  in  other  lines,  be- 
ing an  extensive  dealer  in  farm  products  and  having  the 
largest  hay  storage  plant  in  the  city  of  Reading.  Dur- 
ing the  year  VMKy  he  handled  18,"i  carloads  of  grain,  h.iy, 
etc.,  and  his  business  is  steadily  on  the  increase.  In  this 
line  he  gives  eniplovineiit  to  eight  men.  He  is  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  I'cnnsylv.-inia  State  Millers'  .\ssociation. 

Mr.  Wertz  was  married  Sept.  11.  Ks73,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Kercher,  daughter  of  William  Kerclier,  of  I'ern  township. 
They  have  harl  no  children  of  their  own,  but  have  reared 
two:  I-'nnu.i  Gerhart.  who  is  now  married  and  resides  in 
Schuylkill  county:  ami  Hannah  .Mallmrn.  wife  of  H.irry 
T'ocht.  Mr.  Wertz's  able  a:>sisiant  in  his  milling  operations. 

With    all    his    e.Mcti-sive    business    cari  >    Mr.    Wertz    liiids 
time  to  take  a  fuiblic- spirited  interest   in  local  affairs,  and 
to    devote    to    heiievolent    and    charit;ible    (ibjects.       He    is 
Secretarv    and    treasurer    i-i    Kissinger's    ChiuH'h,    of   which 


he  has  been  a  member  for  m.iny  years,  anJ  in  September, 
r.MiS,  he  was  elected  an  elder.  He  verved  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sumlay  school  for  a  period  of  thirty-eight  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Tuptijn 
Orphans'  Home,  and  a  mcndier  of  the  school  board  of 
Reading.  Fraternally  he  is  a  .Mason,  holding  membership 
in  Lodge  No.  C-J,  F.  ik:  .■\.  M.:  Kxcelsior  Chapter.  R.  A.  M.; 
Reading  Commanderv,  K.  T. ;  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 
X.  M.  S. 

A.  ELLSWORTH  LEIXBACH,  vice-president  of  the  J. 
G.  Leinbach  Company  of  Ke;iding.  was  born  Oct.  LM.  1802, 
in  the  city  with  which  his  whole  business  career  h;is  been 
identified.  His  parents  were  M:ihlon  .\.  aiul  Mary  E. 
(.\dam)   Leinbach. 

-Manion  A.  Leinbach  w.is  born  .Xpril  M,  ISIO,  in  Bern 
township,  Berks  county,  but  while  he  was  a  small  child 
his  father  removed  to  Exeter  township,  and  the  boy  at- 
tended school  there.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  pants  and  woolen  goods,  and  gained  his 
lirst  insight  into  the  det.iils  of  that  work  under  William 
Brumb;ich,  with  wdiom  he  remained  a  number  of  years. 
h'rom  there  he  went  to  the  Reading  Mills,  of  which  his 
brother  J.  G.  was  one  of  the  f)wiiers  and  was  given  an 
interest  in  the  lirm,  being  one  of  the  organizers  of  this 
large  plant.  He  was  active  in  its  management  till  July, 
I'MU.  when  he  retireil  from  the  lirm,  ;ilthougli  he  still  re- 
tains stock  and  is  one  of  the  directors.  He  is  also  .a  direct- 
or of  the  Mt.  I'enn  tiravily  Railroad,  of  the  Reading  Cold 
Storage  Company  and  of  the  Black  Be.ir  Railroad.  .Mr. 
Leinbach  married  Miss  Mary  I'..  Atlam,  of  Berks  county, 
and  they  had  a  family  of  seven  cliibhen,  oidy  two  of 
whom  are  living,  .A.  Ellsworth  ainl  Charles  F.  "The  latter 
resides  at  honi:'  ami  is  forem.-m  of  the  spinning  dcp;irtnicnt 
in  the  Reading  .Mills.  The  famil>-  re.-idince  is  at  Xo. 
Ml  .\"orth  l'\iunh  stieet,  where  Mr.  Leinbach  built  a  iiomi.- 
specially  ad.ipled  tu  hii>  own  needs  and  ideas.  With  !iis 
wife  and  sons  he  is  .i  membt  r  of  the  I'irst  Reforntwd 
Church. 

A.  Ellsworth  Leinbach  diirini;  his  boyhood  attended  the 
R(\'ulin.g  schools,  and  then  iiiiired  the  Reading  .Mills.  He 
;irlvanced  steadily  through  different  positions,  becoming 
f;'.mili:ir  wdtli  the  v;irious  departments  of  the  factory,  and 
is  now  in  charge  of  the  weaving  departments.  His  of- 
licial  position,  since  the  incorporation  of  the  company, 
has  been  vice-president,  and  ho  has  proved  himself  a  most 
cfiicient,  capable  and  wide-awake  business  man.  He  has 
also  been  active  in  politics,  a  strong  supp(>rter  of  Republi- 
can principles,  and  h;is  done  much  service  for  his  iiarty. 
as  dele.gate  to  county  and  State  conventions,  as  secretar>- 
of  the  county  committee,  an<l  as  chairman  of  the  Seventh 
Ward  Re])ublicans,  while  he  has  also  been  a  member  of 
the  school  board  of  Reading  for  several  years. 

In  1SS4  .^.  Ellswi>rth  Leinbach  married  .Miss  M.  .-Mice 
Lotz.  daughter  of  Caspar  and  Rebecca  (  Xagle)  Lotz,  of 
Reading.  Two  children  h:ive  been  born  to  them,  viz.: 
Ada  L.,  who  was  graduated  from  Marshall  Seminary, 
at  Oak  Lane.  Philadelphia,  in  1901,  married  William  .\. 
Hci/mann,  a  young  business  man  of  Re;uling:  ;ind  Caspar 
L.  died  l"cb.  -().  19i)."i.  a.ged  tifteen  vears,  three  months  and 
twenty-two  days.  The  family  residence  is  at  Xo.  ''-H  Oley 
street.  Soci;dly  Mr.  Leinbach  is  a  member  of  Isaac 
Hiester  Lodge' Xo;  fiiK),  F.  &  .\.  M.;  Reading  Lodge  of 
Perfection.  14th  degree:  Harrisburg  Consistory.  :ii.'d  de- 
gree; R:ijah  Temple,  .\.  .\.  O.  X.  M.  S. :  and  Reading- 
Lodge,   Xo.   n.-.,   B.   1'.  O.   I■:lk^. 

DR.  CHRISTIAX  XICHOLAS  HOFF'MAX.  physici:nt 
at  Sinlcing  .Spring  for  forty-tive  years,  was  born  in  Xorth- 
ampton  cotmly.  I'.i..  :\ut^.  11,  is.>;i.  He  received  his  pre- 
lim iiKiry  education  in  the  township  schools  and  at  Xaza- 
reth  .Academy.  Later  he  attended  the  Jerfer.-.on  .Medical 
College,  at  I'liiladelpliia.  from  which  he  was  gradiiaterl 
in  18iV.'.  He  itnmedi.itely  loc.-ited  .it  Sinking  Spring  and 
eonlimied  in  active  iiratliee  fortyliee  years,  retirin.:--  in 
June,  l^iiic,,  f,ii  aecounl  of  illness.  He  died  July  i">,  19()V. 
He  built  up  :i  Large  pr.tetice  which  reached  out  iriio  the 
countrv    for    ten    and    even    t^venty    miles,    which    evidences 


;,',;    ^■■-*\,     ■, 


iy.\f 


',:A    !:-l 


380 


HISTORY  OF  r.ERKS  COL'XTY.  PEXXSYLVAXIA 


his  great  success  and  the  coniulenc^  the  penple  had  in  him. 
His  devotion  to  his  profession  was  extraordinary,  he  hardly 
ever  takini;  any  vacatiuii.  and  tliis  hurden  was  shared  with 
great  tidelity  by  his  devoted  wife.  He  was  recognized 
as  an  able  physician,  and  was  hirhiy  respected  among  his 
fellow  townsmen.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  and  in 
religion  a  nu-niher  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Xorth- 
amptoti  county.  For  some  \ears  he  took  an  interest  in  the 
Order  of  American  .\kchanies.  Ur.  IlotTman  was  the 
last  of  his  family,  which  had  Imasted  of  seven  doctors  in 
two  generations,  inchidiuir  himself  and  his  brother,  his 
uncles  and  cou.^ins. 

In  ISTO  Dr.  Hoffman  married  Ellen  Ann  Jones,  daugh- 
ter of  John  H.  and  Margaret  t^Seitzinger)  Jones,  and  they 
had  two  daughters  :  Katherine  Jones,  who  married  W.  W. 
Webber,  and  lias  two  children — Harold  Hoffman  and 
Christian    Hoffman :    and    Margaret   Adelia. 

Paul  Hoffman,  father  of  the  Doctor,  was  a  farmer  of 
Northampton  county  and  was  born  in  18(W,  and  died  in 
1806.  He  married  Catherine  Peysher,  and  they  had  four 
sons:  Paul  J.,  Christian  X.,  Rev.  Philip  P.  A.,  and  Dr. 
James. 

Michael  Hoffman,  the  grandfather,  was  also  of  Xorth- 
ampton  county. 

Mrs.  Hoftnuui's  grandfather  was  Samuel  Jones,  who 
married  Elizabeth  Huey,  and  w-as  the  falheT  of  four  child- 
ren, John  H.,  Thomas  H.,  Mary  (m.  Jacob  Van  Reed) 
and  Margaret  (m.  Dr.  Darraii;.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father was  Jacob  W.  Seit.dngcr. 

LEVI  E.  LEFKVER,  chief  burge.^s  of  the  borongh  of 
Boycrtown.  who.  since  3i.'0V.  has  resided  in  his  comfor- 
table and  attractive  home  at  Xo.  112  Reading  avenue,  has 
been  long  identil'icd  'viTh  the  agricultural  and  business  in- 
terests of  this  section  of  Berks  county.  He  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  tiie  old  established  families,  and  was  born 
April  r.,  1S57,  in  tliis  borough,  son  of  William  and  Rachel 
(Eshbach)   Le  fever. 

Anthony  Lefcver,  grera  grandfather  of  Levi  E..  was 
born  May  12,  ITi'iT,  and  dicfl  May  :ii.,  }ii'.:~,  aged  si.\ty-five 
years,  fourteen  da\s.  The  family  records  tell  that  his 
wife  was  accidentally  burned  to  death  from  sparks  from 
the  oid-fas]iior:''d  fireplace.  Their  children  were:  Anthony, 
Levi,  Mrs.  Charles  Keller  and  Mrs.  Jonas  Schmehl,  all  of 
\\  horn  reared  families  of  their  own. 

Levi  Lefever,  son  of  .Vnihony  and  grand i.ither  of  Levi 
E.,  was  born  June  4.  17'.'o.  ard  died  an  accidental  death, 
Dec.  27,  lS:i2,  aged  thirtx-sovcn  years,  six  months,  twenty- 
three  days,  and  was  iiuried  at  Pricetown.  Berks  Co.,  Pa. 
His  wife'  Mary,  born  Aug.  G.  IT'.tG,  died  .Sept  10,  1830.  He 
was  a  tatmer  and  owned  and  conducted  a  business  of  this 
kind  at  Pricetown,  where  he  had  other  properly.  He  had 
two  sons:   William  and  Levi  H. 

William  Lefever,  fatb.er  of  Levi  E.,  was  born  Oct.  26, 
1830,  at  Pricetown,  Pa.,  and  resides  at  Sassam.ansville, 
in  Douglass  townsliip,  Montgon:ery  Co.,  Pa.,  a  weli  pre- 
served man.  In  his  earl_\  years  he  worked  as  a  stone 
jiiason.  later  coming  to  l!nyertown.  where  he  condncied  a 
f.irm  for  his  father-in-law.  Joseph  Eshbach,  for  a  lime. 
He  afterward  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother, 
Levi  H.  Lefever,  and  they  conducted  a  general  store  at. 
Sassamansville  for  a  number  of  years,  after  which  they 
sold  out,  Levi  H.  coming  to  Boyertown,  where  he  con- 
ducts a  general  store,  but  Willimn  remained  at  the  old 
place  and  continued  storekceping  for  a  time,  and  then 
began  cigar  m.anufacturing  together  with  farming.  He 
did  a  large  business  and  continued  active  in  it  until  19n5. 
when  he  retired.  Pie  married  Rachel  Eshbach.  and  to 
them  v>  ere  born  twelve  children,  as  follows ;  Minerva  m. 
John  Rcaminger.  of  Boyertown;  Levi  E.  ;  .Mary  ni.  Harry 
Hotfman,  of  Reading;  Irwin,  deceased,  m.  Maria  Gcrhart. 
ami  iluy  had  three  children,  l-'at'ii.  John  and  Lottie: 
Amaiidus  resides  at  East  Gre<;iiville,  fa.;  Atnand;i  m.  Rev. 
H.irrison  Moyer  a  n;iii;ftLr  in  Carbon  county:  Kate  m. 
Rev.  Vmandus  Hcrbst.  of  Y-jtk  county.  Pa,:  Dr.  Rnfus  I"., 
is   engaged   in   medical   practice   in   Reading;    Emma   died 


\ouiig;  and  three  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Lefever  has  I'-ip:^ 
been  a  leading  citizen  of  his  community,  and  he  has  been 
frequently   app'iinted   administrator  to   settle   up   estates. 

Levi  E.  Lefever  attended  the  public  schools  of  Bovcr- 
town  and  Mount  Pleasant  Seminary,  and  when  sixteen 
years  of  age  learned  the  tinsmith's  trade,  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  four  years.  He  worked  at  this  trade  at 
iioyertowii  until  1ST8,  and  then  embarked  in  a  business  of 
his  own  as  a  tinsmith  and  handler  of  stoves,  etc.,  which  he 
continued  for  twenty-eight  years.  His  whole  attention, 
howe\er.  was  not  claimed  by  this  enterprise  for  he  owns 
a  lino  farm  of  ninet\-nine  acres,  situated  in  Earl  town- 
ship, three  and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Boyertown, 
the  work  on  which  he  superintends  personally.  He  has 
it  well  stocked  and  it  is  a  remunerative  piece  of  property. 
In  lyn.j  he  erected  the  present  frame  house  which  replaced 
a  log  hou'^e  that  had  stood  since  the  days  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  Mr.  Lefever  is  treasurer  of  the  Electric 
Li^ht  Company,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  and 
which  was  chartered  in  July,  1908.  Since  lOOG  he  has  been 
president  of  the  Keystone  Fire  Insurance  Company  and 
to  all  these  important  business  interests  he  gives  due  at- 
tention. 

In  1S7S,  Mr.  Lefever  was  married  to  Rosa  Aim  Ritter, 
daughter  of  Lewis  Ritter,  of  Colebrookdale  township,  and 
to  this  marriage  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
Ch.arles  resides  at  Boyeitown;  Addie  M.,  who  perished 
in  the  Boyertown  fire,  Jan.  13,  1908,  was  the  beloved  wife 
of  Harry  Leinbach,  and  she  left  two  children,  Florence 
and  Paul ;  Edgar  resides  at  Boyertown ;  .Maggie  also  per- 
ished in  the  Bo}'ertowii  disaster,  aged  twenty-one  years; 
Joseph  died  in  19U1,  aged  tv.-elve  years ;  and  Florence  re- 
sides at  home.  Mr.  Lefever  and  family  are  members  of  St. 
John's    Lutheran    Church,   at   Boyertown. 

Mr.  Lefever  has  been  active  for  many  years  in  fraternal 
organizations,  and  on  various  occasions  has  been  elevated 
to  ottices  of  irusi  and  responsibility  in  tiie  same.  He  is  a 
member  of  Salah  Castle.  \'o.  78.  Knights  of  the  Mystic 
Chain,  in  which  he  ha>  held  all  the  oHices.  Since  1900  he 
has  been  chaplain  of  Popodickon  Tribe,  Xo.  338.  Order 
of  Red  Men,  is  district  depulVj  and  has  held  all  the  offices 
in  the  organization.  He  is  the  degree  master  of  the  stafT, 
is  past  grand  and  also  degree  master  of  Boyertown  Lodge, 
Xo.  70S,  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  and  belongs  also  to  the  order  of 
l''.ai,des,  at  Pottstown,   Pennsylvania. 

In  his  political  affiliations  ]Mr.  Lefever  is  frankly  and 
unecjui vocally  a  Republican,  and  has  frequently  served  as 
a  delegate  to  count}-  and  State  conventions  and  for  twelve 
years  served  as  inspector  of  elections  and  committeeman 
at  Boyertown.  For  three  years  he  served  as  a  school 
director  and  has  always  been  interested  in  puldic  education. 
When  only  twenty-three  years  old,  Mr.  Lefever  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  borough  council  and  served  through  one 
year,  which  was  the  length  of  term  at  that  time.  In  1901 
he  was  again  elected  to  the  council  and  served  his  term 
of  three  years,  and  in  February,  1909,  was  elected  chief 
burgess  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  stands  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  best  citizenship  of  his  community. 

HARRISOX  LAXDTS,  successful  manufacturer  of  lum- 
ber and  boxes  at  Philadelphia,  was  born  in  Washington 
township,  Berks  county,  near  Bally,  Dec.  23,  18,')2.  He  re- 
ceived his  preliminary  edu;-ation  in  the  township  school, 
and  at  Boyertown  (in  Ml.  Pleasant  Seminary  and  Hankey's 
.Academy),  and  then  attended  the  Mennonite  Educational 
Institute  at  Wadsworth,  Ohio,  for  two  years.  Upon  his 
return  home  he  taught  public  school  at  Xiantic  near  by  for 
one  term,  and  then  assisted  in  clerking  in  the  country  store 
of  his  uncle,  Jacob  Obtrholtzer  (which  was  situated  on 
the  premises  adjoining  his  father's),  for  two  years.  He 
then  tO'ik  a  regular  course  in  the  business  college  of 
I'.rxant  it  .Stratt(jn  at  Philadelphi.i.  and  entered  the  office 
of  the  paint  works  of  Ziegler  i!t  Smith,  where  he  was  cn- 
;-;aged  as  a  clerk  for  live  years;  an<l  was  next  in  the  .well- 
known  b;ea:n-ship[iing  olTice  of  Peter  Wright  &  Sons  for 
three   \ears. 

With  this  j)rep.ar,ilion  ioT  a  business  life.  Mr.  Henry 
H.  Sh.eip  (.his  brother-in-law,  manufacturer  of  cigar-boxes 


:/,  iw     -(■;. 


!>!.:    ,i:r( 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


381 


■iince  1876)  formed  a  partnership  with  him  in  1S=!1,  and 
un'lc-r  tho  lirn.  name  of  Henry  H.  Slieip  &  C".  tlicy  de- 
\tlupcd  a  constantly  increasing  trade  until  1S'.»9,  when 
they  organized  a  corporation  entitled  "'Henry  H.  Sheip 
Manufacturing  Co."  Since  then,  tlie  corporation  has  been 
carried  on  successfully,  with  Mr.  Landis  as  secretary  and 
treasurer.  They  started  with  twenty  bands,  but  now  have 
over  800,  notwithstanding;  the  introduction  of  many  costly 
labor-saving  inachir.cs.  Their  annual  \olunie  of  business 
exceeds  a  million  and  a  half  r.f  dollars;  and  their  trading 
relations  have  been  developed  to  extend  througliout  the 
United  States  and  into  many  foreign  countries;  and  from 
the  manufacture  of  cigar-bo.xes  they  have  gradually 
branched  out  until  their  product  includes  small  wooden 
boxes  of  every  variety,  veijeered  boxing  lumber,  and  cas- 
ing for  electric  wiring  of  buildings ;  they  al>o  deal  in  all 
kinds  of  lumber  for  manufacturing  an.d  building  purposes. 
It  is  the  only  large  plant  of  the  kind  at  Philadelphia, 
?nd  has  been  kept  running  constantly  from  1S81  until 
the  present  time. 

In  1S76  Mr.  Landis  was  married  to  Emma  Louisa  Shcip. 
daughter  of  Le\  inus  and  Lucy  Ann  (Hangen)  Sheip,  of 
Bucks  county,  and  sister  of  his  partner  in  busine>s.  By 
her  he  had  three  children :  Stanley  Winfield  and  George 
Clarence  (both  of  whom  are  engaged  in  the  financial  de- 
partment of  the  works  mentioned),  and  Mabel  (m.  How- 
ard G.  JMoyer).  His  wife  dying  in  18S3,  he  in  1^0^  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Gygcr,  only  cliilil  of  John  and  Sarah  (  Xighl- 
lingcr)  Gyger  of  riiiladelphia.  by  whom  he  has  two  child- 
ren :  Mary  Estlicr  and  Mildred. 

His  father  was  George  Oberholtzer  Landis,  retired  farm- 
er of  V/ashington  township,  Berks  ciamty,  who  was  mar- 
ried to  Mar>  Mohr,  daughter  of  Andrew  Mohr  of  Mac- 
ungic,  Lehigh  County,  b}-  whom  he  had  seven  children. 
Harrison,  above  mentioned;  Emma;  Henry  m.  Emma 
Stiefler,  and  is  now  in  Japan,  where  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Meiji  Gaknin,  a  Presbyterian  Co]l<;ge; 
Evan  m.  (first)  Emily  Hamcr  aiid  (second)  Mabel  Prouty; 
Sarah  m.  Clem>.nt  Rech-el;  Irv.'in  m.  Sophie  Hammell; 
and  Oliver  m.  Clara  Stoudt.  The  mo'hcr  died  in  1900, 
aged  seventy-six  years.  The  father  died  Oct.  _'.>,  1908, 
aged  eighty-two  years. 

His  grandfather  was  Henry  H.  Landis,  born  in  179S,  died 
in  1860;  ni.  in  18.^3  to  Susanna  Oberholtzer,  daughter  of 
Jacob,  and  after  her  decease  to  Elizabeth  Knet/-  in  tS.'G, 
and. he  had  seven  cliildren  :  George,  above  mentic'ned,  Jacob, 
David,  Aaron,  Susanna,  Esther  and  Amanda. 

The  Landis  family  was  founded  in  .America  by  Hans 
Landis,  a  native  of  Holland,  who  left  his  native  land  dur- 
ing the  early  half  of  the  eighteenth  century,  locafnig  in 
Douglass  Townstiip,  !Montgomer_v  County,  Pa.  He  was  the 
owner  of  a  tract  of  land  located  near  Congo,  which  he  dis- 
posed of  to  members  of  the  Bauer  family  in  177.''.  frir  six 
pounds  and  seven  and  one-h.ilf  bushels  of  wheat  as  par; 
payment  on  the  property,  .\mong  the  descendants  was 
Henry  H.  Landis,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  the 
above  sketch. 

A.  M.  HIGH,  postniaster  of  Reading.  P.-...  and  the  most 
potential  force  in  the  Republican  party  of  that  city,  is  a 
son  of  Joel  and  T^laric  i  Merkelj  High,  and  was  born  in 
Richmond  township,   Berks  county,  Dec.   19,   1S49. 

The  High  family  is  of  German  descent,  but  generations 
ago  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  Solomon  Hi.gh.  grandfather 
of  A.  yi.,  was  born  in  Richmond  township,  v,-here  he  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  a  farmer.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Wln'g,  but  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  belonged 
to  the  Republican  party.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  and  was  a  captain  in  the  old  State  Militia. 
He  was  the  father  of  three  children,  one  soti  and  two 
daughters,  and  pas>ed  aw.iy  in  1S74.  his  wife  surviving  him 
many  years,  and  ilying  in  IS'.'l. 

Joel  High,  r.atl'.er  of  A.  M.  Iligli,  was  also  a  n.ative  of 
Riclinioiid  to\^n^hip.  and  after  obtairiing  an  edi:cation  i;i 
tlic  miblic  schc'olv  of  his  disirict.  turned  his  attention  to 
agrieulluial  [.lii  suits.  He  became  one  of  the  mo-l  sub- 
stantial f.inra  1.'.  ..f  that  section,  and  died  in  1S72.  His  wife 
ditil  n:   isr,*;.     Tiu-  latter,  whose  maiden  name  was  Marie 


Merkel,  bore  him  eleven  children  as  follows:  James;  Joel; 
A.  M. ;  Jacob:  Sohnnon;  iJaniel:  Samuel;  Charles;  and 
Wilson,   iMunia  .and   Mary,  all  three  deceased. 

.\.  M.  High,  who  is  a  man  of  liberal  education  and  wide 
information,  attended  the  common  schooK  in  his  youth, 
and  afterward  took  a  course  in  the  Keystone  State  Xormal 
of  Kutztown.  He  then  taught  scliool  fur  two  terms,  after 
which  he  clerked  in  a  general  store  at  l-'leetwood,  Berks 
county.  After  reniaiiting  there  for  one  year,  in  ISilS  he 
removed  to  Reading,  accepting  a  position  in  the  dry  goods 
store  of  B.  II.  Brown,  continuing  there  for  one  year,  and 
then  holding  a  sinn'lar  position  for  a  year  and  a  half  in 
a  general  store.  He  next  embarked  in  business  for  h'mself, 
establishing  a  tailor  shop  and  general  store  at  Xo.  S.'.'4 
Penn  street,  where  he  was  successfully  engaged  for  nine- 
teen years.  He  was  then  associated  with  }ohv,  Rieger,  in 
the  same  line  of  business,  but  after  a  period  of  three 
years  the  latter  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Higli's  son.  Mr.  High 
and  his  son  conduct  a  high  class  tailoring  business,  having 
a  large  patronage.  Although  giving  the  closest  attention 
to  business  Mr.  High's  eminent  qualifications  for  a  po- 
litical force  and  inlluence  in  his  party,  brought  him  to  the 
fore  many  years  ago,  .muI  for  twenty-three  years  ho  has 
been  the  rectrgnized  leader  of  the  Ropul)lican  party  in 
Berks  county,  the  Philaddfhw  Record,  of  Aug.  30,  1903. 
in  an  exhaustive  article  on  his  political  career,  dubbing  him 
the  "Regent  of  Berks."  Recognizing  his  invaluable  ser- 
vices to  the  party,  he  was  made  postmaster  of  Reading, 
in  ]S9!i,  reappointed  in  1903  and  again  in  1907.  He  has 
been  four  times  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  Xational 
Convention,  having  been  the  first  delegate  chosen  in  the 
United  States  for  the  succes-^ive  conventions  of  18SS,  18;)2, 
1S9G  and  the  .third  one  chosen  for  1904.  His  services  at 
the  head  of  trie  organization  were  invaluable  to  the  cause, 
and  by  his  honest  and  energetic  methods  of  conducting 
campaigns  he  strengthened  the  hold  of  tlie  Republican 
parly  in  Berks  county,  even  gaining  friends  iir  opposing 
factions.  A  man  of  magnetic  presence  and  line  charactei, 
he  has  ;i  large  following,  and  is  a  "tower  of  strength" 
politic.rliy  and   socially. 

Mr.  Ilii;!!  married  Miss  Liz;:ie  r)elp.  and  they  h.ave  had 
three  children:  Harry  S. ;  llouar<l  J.,  dcce;ised;  and 
Wayne  M.  The  family  is  one  of  the  bi-st  known  and  niosl 
popular  in  Reading. 

WARREX  L.  DAVIS,  son  of  James  and  Anna  (Great- 
rake)  Davis,  was  biirn  at  P-inlsboro,  Berk---  county,  C>ct. 
i;4,  1SG8.  After  receiving  'a  common  school  education  in 
the  local  scliools.  he,  while  >et  a  boy,  established  a  mes- 
senger service  between  Birdsboro  atul  Reading,  which  liC 
carried  on  successfulh-  for  a  year  and  a  half.  Then  lie 
located  at  Reading  and  learned  printing,  hut  not  benig 
satisfied '  with  this  occupation  he  entered  the  employ  of 
George  S.  Herbein.  dealer  in  furniture  ai'.d  carpets,  and 
continued  with  him  six  years.  During  this  time  he  qurili- 
fied  himself  thoroughly  for  accounting,  and  entered  the 
hardware  house  of  Bright  &  Lcrch.  Appreciating  hi=  ef- 
ficiency, they  in  lS9.i  selected  him  as  their  cliief  clerk 
and  treasurer,  which  position  he  held  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Lerch  in  IS'.iS,  when  the  firm  changed  to  Bright 
Company.  In  the  new  firm  he  perfnrmcd  the  same  duties  ps 
Mr.  Lerch  and  also  remainerl  their  treasurer  uiuil  July, 
1901,  having  been  in  their  employ   for  thirteen  years. 

In  19(11  he  was  olTcred  the  resjionsible  position  of  gen- 
eral bookkeeper  of  the  Earniers  Xational  Bank,  of  ]\eadiiig, 
the  old^..^t  and  strongest  lank  in  Reailing.  He  accepted 
this  position  and  his  proficiency  was  so  isreat  that  in 
.■\ugust,  190:;.  he  was  promoted  to  be  cashier,  and  this 
position  he  has  held  most  credit.iblv  until  the  present. 

Mr.  Davis  ni;irried.  Dec.  -z:,.  ISO.').  Laura  M.  Dillon, 
daughter  nf  Moses  Tiillon.  of  Reading.  They  have  two 
cliildren,  .Stewart  and  .\niia  Loni-;e.  They  heleiuu  to  St. 
B.irnabas  Protestant  Episcf>p;il  Church. 

WILLIAM  K.  GRIM  wa-  :i  very  pnnnin.  pi  and  in- 
lliu  iili.il  citl/eii  at  I'Myeilown.  and  his  de.i:ii  .\n^  ]4. 
190.'),  was  greatly  dejiloretl.  The  Grim  family  is  one  of 
the   oldest   in   the   county,   and   owes   its  residence  here   to 


1:'!'"' .•(.■■     'irj.     u   '     I    ■'!      ■  /;     •   ,     .     t    U'f    ,3:;;     •,.     ■■  .<::^   I 


3  S3 


HISTOID'  OF  r.ERKS  COUXTY.  rF.XXSVIAWXIA 


the  einigraiiiiii  from  Cii-rnKuu  oi  .luh.-n  Iv!.;i/iii;.-;  Grim. 
The  home  of  the  family  was  ori:.,'iiKili\-  in  N'onnan'ls.  and 
thi-  lii)ca,L;o  is  traced  Ixick  io  a  llaron  there  in  tiie  time  of 
William  the  Conc|iierMr.  ( )ne  br.iiich  uf  ihe  f.niiily  went 
hi  Alsace,  and  to  that  brancii  the  Berks  c.umtv  Grmis  hc- 
loni;. 

(I)  Ji-ilian  ]'.L;idiu->  Grim  came  to  America  in  1T:J^  with 
the  Rev.  John  Cai;)er  Sioever.  and  he  settled  lirst  in  Wtiieii- 
Inirg  townsliiii.  Xorthaiiiptiai  (now  Lehiuh)  comity,  but  it 
appears  he  later  ca:ne  to  Maxatawny  township,  lierks 
county,  ami  secnred  .1  larcje  tract  of  land.  Mis  house  was 
a  most  sulislantia!  oiie.  and  to  it  other  settlers  fled  for  re- 
fuge in  time  i>f  Irdian  disturbances.  Two  of  his  sons 
served  in  the  \\:<y  oi  the  Revolution,  .and  most  of  his  de- 
scendants are  nK.-nibers  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  The  will 
of  "Gitii,  a!ia>  Gideon"  Grim  was  made  Jan.  iJS,  lT()i).  and 
was  probated  Oci.  J,  ITiVl.  when  Jacob  and  Henry  Grim, 
his  sons,  were  n|i|jointeil  as  cxec;itor-  In  this  will  lie  ira\e 
his  land  to  his  sons  Jacob  und  Henry:  hfty  pounds  to  Ins 
daughter  Cattariiia :  iift\-  pounds  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth 
( who  married  Casper  M'erker)  ;  thirty  pounds  to  i'rancis 
Roth  "son  of  my  daughter  Margietli." 

(II)  Henry  Grim,  son  of  GitJ,  was  born  in  .Maxa.tawny 
township  in  173:!.  and  died  in  1804.  He  m:irricd  and  lisd 
three  chilclreii :  Jacob,  Jonathan  and  Gideon. 

(HI)  Gideon  Grim,  son  of  Henry,  was  born  in  ?vlaxa- 
tawny  township,  where  he  became  an  extensive  and  suc- 
cessful farmer.  His  death  occuned  in  1S2:;,  \ehcn  he  was 
aged  sixty-ihree  years.  By  bis  wife,  F.lizalicth  Kirb>'.  an 
Knglishwoman,  he  became  the  father  of  five  sons  and  two 
daughters,  namely:  bavid,  who  died  unmarried;  Xatlian, 
who  settled  a^  farming  in  Coiv.mbia  county.  Pa. ;  Gideon 
and  Benjamin,  millers  at  Weiseiiliurg,  in  Lehigh  county: 
Joshua,  a  farmer  011  the  homestead:  Hannah  (ni.  John 
Scig-fricd)  ;  and  Dinah    (^ni.  John   Dresher). 

(IV)  Gideon  Grim,  son  of  Gideon  and  Eliz-ubciii,  was 
born  (in  the  old  homestead  in  Maxatawny  township  \ug. 
ol,  170:7.  He  carried  -m:  milling  and  farntiiv^  toi  m.aiiN 
years  in  l-lxed'r  tounslii])  at  th.'_  Iionie  of  his  father-in- 
la.w,  Henry  Knouse.  In  ]S:;0  be  purciiascd  in  Coieiironk- 
<laie  tov.'nship  two  farms  of  about  ninety  acres  each,  with 
a  trii  y;!rt!,  a'ld  tliesc  he  opeiao-d  until  his  de;ith  .\i)ri!  l'7, 
lS-!8.  He  -.vas  buried  in  the  Boyerto.vn  cemetery.  He 
hauled  the  product  of  his  I'.arm  and  tannery  t(.  market  in 
I'hiiadelphia  by  team,  and  v.ms  well  kicown  throughout  the 
county.  He  was  an  oflicia!  niemhcr  of  the  Lutheran 
CluirTh.  He  married  F.stlier  Iviiouse.  and  had  two  child- 
ren :  William  K. ;  and  Levi,  wd.o  di-'d  at  the  ag-e  of 
eigliteen. 

(V)  William  K.  Grim  was  n  son  of  Gideon  and  Esther, 
and  was  borii  in  Exeter  towiish'p  May  L'S.  lS2:i.  He  early 
learned  the  tanner's  trade  from  his  father,  and  often  used 
to  accompan\-  ilie  latter  on  his  trips  to  I'hiladelphia,  and 
at  the  age  of  sixtceii  \\"illiam  K.  I.eg;in  making  these  trips 
aIo:ie.  He  operated  the  tan  yard  until  1S74,  when  that 
enterprise  was  abandoned  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  tan 
bark.  A  flour  and  grist  mill  was  then  built  on  the  property, 
and  this  is  still  in  operation.  Two  ye.irs  Ijefore  this  Mr 
Grim  had  moved  10  Boyertown.  and  i:i  t'le  business  life 
of  that  to-.\'u  h.e  at  once  entered,  t;ikir!g  an  active  part 
therein  unti'  bis  death.  He  biiiit  tlu;  l:irge  Grim  block, 
was  instrumenial  in  organizing  the  National  Bank  of  Boy- 
ertown, of  which  he  was  a  director  for  some  years,  and 
later  he  was  niie  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farmers'  Xa- 
tional  I'ank.  in  which  he  was  a  director  and  later  vice 
president.  Ffe  w;is  a  heavy  stockholder  in  the  Colebrook- 
dale  Iron  Comp;iny,  established  in  1S:',.'>,  and  incorporated  in 
ISSti.  and  loc;iteil  at  Poit>towii.  and  after  he  became  its 
president  its  scope  was  largely  increased,  their  goods  being 
shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  worbl.  In  politics  Mr.  Grim  was 
a  Democrat,  and  for  thirteen  years  was  burgess  of  Boyer- 
town, and  during  the  administration  of  President  Cleve- 
land was  its  postm;ister.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran  Church.  ;i!id   in  tb:it    faith   died   .\ug.   M,    1005. 

On  June  11.  l^."<;;.  William  K.  Grim  iiuirried  Lorctta  B. 
Rho.ids,  daui^hter  n\  J.ilni  and  ("uhiniie  Rhornis  She 
was  b'-rn  \i;g.  :'1,  is'.V.,  :,ii'l  die,!  Aug.  -1.  lOih).  Her 
materi;al     t;r;ir,diiarents     wcie     Henry     a:id     Sarah     Boyer. 


Henry  I'loyer  auil  bis  brother  Liani.l  were  the  first  settlers 
of  Boyertown.  ;uid  from  theni  the  fiwii  derived  its  name. 
To  Willi;im  K.  .and  Lorctta  B.  Grim  were  born  four 
clnldren:  .NLalielbi.  S'rali  (in.  I-"rank  W.  Sahold,  manager 
of  the  Xew  ^'ork  TelephiMie  Company,  at  Yonkers,  X.  V., 
who  in  lOO'.'  bec:ime  .associated,  in  an  ofticial  capacity,  witli 
The  Hudson  River  Telephone  Company,  at  Albany,  X.  Y., 
at  which  place  he  died  April  10,  lOOt).  Willi;im  R„  and 
Kate 

(  VT)  William  R.  Grim,  son  of  Willi;;in  K.  and  Lorctta 
li.  (jrim,  was  born  April  :2A,  ISi'iO,  .and  was  given  the  bene- 
fit of  a  good  education,  .\ftcr  studying  in  the  public 
schools,  he  went  to  Mt.  Pleasant  Seminary  and  then  to 
Muhlenberg  College,  gr;u!uating  from  the  latter  in  ISS,'. 
He  read  law  at  Salina,  K:nis.,  and  was  there  admitted  to 
the  B:ir.  Ide  later  went  to  Texas,  and  located  at  Texar- 
kana.  where  he  bicanie  cashier  of  the  Tcxarkar.a  Xational 
Bank,  and  in  I'.iii:,  was  elected  its  president.  This  bank 
is  a  strong  I'mancird  institution,  and  is  a  power  in  its  lo- 
cality. Mr.  Grim  is  also  interested  in  railroads.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Hauberger,  of  Philadelphia,  and  they  have  two 
children,   Enieliiie  anil   Loretta. 

MARTIX  S.  CROLL,  President  of  tlie  Xational  Bank 
at  Topton,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  and  senior  member  of  the  Inin 
of  Croil  &  Smith,  manufacturers  and  jobbers  in  hats,  caps 
and  straw  goods,  is  one  of  the  leading  biu^incs  men  cf 
this  part  of  the  county  and  conies  from  an  old  and  hen- 
orable  family.  ^Martin  S.  Croll  was  born  Aug.  10,  l«-)l, 
in  Maxatawny  tov  nsbip.  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  son  of  John  and 
Catherine  (DeLong)  Crol!.  The  family  is  of  German 
extraction  and  its  founder  in  Pennsylvania  was  one 
I'hilip  Croll,  who  settled  in  Montgomery  county.  Mis  four 
children  bore  the  names  of:  Christian.  Henry,  Michael 
and   Pollv. 

Henry  Croll,  se.n  of  Philip,  and  gre.it-grrmdfatber  of 
Martin  S.,  married  a  inemlier  of  the  Gilleri  f:unily.  and 
then  removed  lo  a  f:irm  in  the  vicinily  or  Pittsburg,  where 
t'le  rest  of  his  life  v.as  spent,  .\miui;;  his  iiume'"ons  child- 
ren, Josepii  v\as  tl'.e  immediate  aiicesii..r  of  the  .suiiject  of 
this  sketch, 

Joseph  Croll  w'lS  born  in  Alleglie;iy  county,  le:'riied 
the  tanning  bnsu:ess  .and  work'ed  at  that  ntuil  IS  13.  when 
he  married  and  renitived  to  Cireenwich  tow-nhsip,  Beiks 
Co.,  Pa.  He  i.Kaned  Llizabeih  Schlonkcr,  djughtcr  of 
John  and  Barbara  (Tressleri  Schltnker,  and  they  re^tred 
a  large  family.  Later  he  settled  at  Krumsville,  'where  he 
died   in   ;s'-iT,   survived   b_v  his  wife  until   1S72. 

John  Cri.ll,  s..n  of  Joesph  and  fathi  r  of  Martin  S..  wa'-' 
born  May  1'.',  IS!  I.  ne.ir  Grimville,  Berks  Co..  Pa.  Me 
learned  the  trade  of  t:iilor.  In  lS;iS  he  removed  t')  a  pl.ice 
near  \\'essnersville.  where  lie  lived  for  one  >ear  and  then 
Settled  at  Kutztown.  where  he  followed  his  trade  for  about 
fourteen  years.  ;ind  then,  in  1S."0),  removed  to  Xortji  White- 
hall township,  Lehigh  county.  He  bought  a  small  f:;rm 
near  Schnecksville.  and  at  his  h.ime  eoiulncted  a  large 
tailoring  business,  giving  cmplo>niein  t>>  a  elozen  workmen. 
He  was  a  good  business  man  and  in  addition  to  coiuUiciing 
this  large  and  prolitable  business,  from  ISOJ  to  i:s7."),  he 
w.is  interested  in  dealing  in  timber  lands.  During  the  last 
years  of  his  life  he  engaged  successfully  in  trucking  :md 
huckstering.  John  Croll  was  an  influential  member  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  wherever  he  lived  wa<"  solicited  to 
hrild  otiicc  on  account  of  tiie  integrity  of  his  character 
and  his  excellent  judgment  on  all  matters  pertaining  to  the 
connnon  goml.  .\s  early  as  ISi'.i)  lie  w;is  conl'irmed  in  the 
Lutherim  Church,  atid  until  his  death  he  rem, lined  a  con- 
sistent member  of  that  religienis  body.  In  IS.:?  he  married 
Catherine  DeLong.  daughter  of  David  and  Catherine  De- 
Long,  of  Maxatawny  township.  \\  iio  was  of  French  Hugue- 
not extraction.  Thoy  had  eight  children,  si.x  sons  and 
two  dauuhters.  namely:  .\ifred.  Hiram.  .Martin  S.,  Sihis, 
Cyrenius  Charles,  I''lmtra,  Philip  Columbus  and  Priscilla 
Su-anna. 

Martin  S.  Croll  vv:is  ;  clneaieil  In  the  lo.  :d  s,-hools  and  at 
the  Oii.ikerti.'wn  .\c.ideni\.  loilcvvnig  v  hicii  b.e  taiigl't 
schoi  1  f'.r  two  sc.isoiis.  but  I'li  .\piil  I.  Ist".:!.  mrned  iiis 
alleiKion  to  a  business  career,  iiecomii.g  .1  clerk  foi  Jc-epii 


r.IOi'.R  \iMIlC\I. 


3Sn 


Miller.  ;>   ini'ii-li.Kit    al    1"o^'K'>\  iH^'.      S^mo   iii'mlliv    1,'Ur   In-  f;.iv;r.l  in  llu'  1",  thli-h.iii   Strcl  Works;  .nid   M.iii.>ii,  liU>ufic 

.'lOCi'plod  .1  Miiiil.ii    I'osui.in    (t    i<i>|hnH'k-.\  illi',  aiul   iriii.iniril  a    iii.u  Intn-.l    al    llu'    ^aiiu'    wniUs 

llnio  n\\\-  llifi'i    jiMlS.     l^n    Mau'li   1,    ISiir,   lu'  iilloiiij   iiil.>  Waiuii    1'    '\\-v\    is   inai'tUMllv    a    •ioliiniuK'   ami   veil  I'llii 

jiartiuM  vliip    with    iiis    brntlu'i-in-k.w.    Slviilun    Suiiili,     iihI  laU'l    man,       lie    li-aiiicil    tin-    niillvi's    iraiU'    wiiji     l.nos 

(lu'\-    li'iiscil    a    Sinn-    ami    Iwifl    -.a    Muiuiiiv.    wluu'    t!u\  \\\i.-i-|  aiiil   tlu-ii    I'ltiui-il   a   |ianiu'V.|ii|i  \\uli  liis   maii'inal 

^•l.nllm■I^•ll  a  MHi\'s>iiil  Imsnus;   t<ir  ii\c  Mai--,     Tlio  kusi-  iim-K',     rtu>nia>    .1,    Mil'all.    ai    I  IuIv-mIIv.    Pa.   an. I    nnlK-.l 

iH-s<  was   tliiMi   it'iiu>\i-il   111   i\olliiMi.-ks\  ilii-.  wliiTi'  tlii'v    oiin-  siU'Oi  ssiull.N    iiii    nini'  \c.ii's      lini   he  u.i>,  amliilimis  lo  tn'ri 

tinm-il   nnti!    IS.s',),  tlio  ii\ii\is|iv.  an>l  willi,  llial  I'nil  in  v  u\\    InsI  nn  o|h>.m  linnu 

111  the  im-.iiilinu-.   .Mr.  l.  |.>11  hail  h.vunii-  iiiui  >  si.  .1  ni  ail  l.'i    iiniUMvin^;    liis   liu-rai\\'   ai'iinirinu'iil>.,      IK'   plll^n^ll    hi^ 

ililion.il   I'liliTpiiM'S,      In      L'-si,   liic   inni   hi'..inir   .iviuiu,.!  i  .'IU'l;i.i1o    imiKf    al    ihc    \i>iiii    W  <'Mtiil    r.>ll,>;i',     N.hum 

wiih  Sil.i-.  (iiilk  ill  a  ciial  aiiij  linnhci   hiisimss  al   h'arnnn;;  \ilh-.    III,   .nul   .iKo  lunk   a  imiiisc  at   the  I '.ilniiilii,!   Si-h.'nl 

i.'ii      ( '111    M.if   latiT.   Sil.is  Ciiill  \Mih.lu«,  hill   ilu-  uuri  ni   Uiai.M\,  Chii-a^^n.     .Snl.svi|iii'ntlv  In-  iliil  ^in'cial  wmk  al 

juia'   iv.is   i.uilnnuil    hv    ilu'   uilui    paitiui;.   nniil    |s;i,;       la  l  nmrll  ami   llaix.inl       Mfaiiinnr  he  hail  ihan'  cunsiili'i  .ihh' 

IS'.r?  .1   iaini  w.is  pni  i-l;a--i''l  .il     I'liiilai,  nn   r.nuli    Mi     I  imII  lu.i.iival   wnk,  I'vin-nalK    in  llir  tiai,|u  i  aiua-  iMii  v.  in  uhii'll 

cu-iiiil  a  Inu'  rcsidi  lu-iv      Tlu'  hini  .u  I'lull  iS,    Minih.  uhn!i  lir   lui'i  lua  n   inii'i  isli  .1    limii  vaiK    in.iiiln'..il.     W  Inli'  .i   siu 

is  liu'atid  .11    \ii.   ll',>  .\iiilli  ^i\lh  slrri'l.  Uo.nliir.;,  iskiiuwii  il.  iii    ai     X.nih    Wi'sirin    lu'    v.ivi'    imlahK'    mi  \  ii-c    mi    llir 

all  o\rr  till-  Sialr  .is  iirniiiiiH  nt   in.iniii.u'luu  i  >  an.l  jnhhcis  K.iini'    plalliMiii    in    ilu-    iiihri'^!    •>!     lIu'    ^^.|lllrt     l'ciipli''s 

ailil    .ils'i    as    IhMMi.ihh'    ili'.iK  IS.       Il     h.is    hriii     In  iui'i.'    llii'  i  hilsli.ui     I'l  inpri  .Hire    rilinii,    iiiiflilU',    with    illinsil.ll    sili- 

piihhi'     I'T    llu'    |i.i-.i     u\fnl\    luii    v.iis.       Till'    ImsiiKvs    is  ia'--s,  .iml  rci'i'U  iiiK  l'.i\  I'l.ihU-  lanniiu'ius  I'ruin  lIu'  pilhlii'  and 

l.iii'.iU     uhol.s.iU.    I  ni|)l.iv  nil  111     |s    i;iwn    In    .1    l.ily'r    iiU\T,  tlu-  picss  as  a   t'lM'i-i'l  III  ami   pliMsill.L;  S|li.'aki'r.      1  lo  ll.'is  llovrl 

an.l    li.iM-liMv.    au  n   ul    i  \|ii  i  iriua-    uimi's.iii    il    in    this   .nul  h.-.t    hi.;    jniofi'si    in    this    Inir    .li    ('hrisli.iu    w.>ik    .ind    I'.n 

other    Stall's,  t.un     nai,    u.i.    pu'-uhnl    ..I    ihi'    N..inu.,    I'l'iiplr's     Mli.im-i' 

.\s   llu-    lir.id   .iiid    Inail    ..I    ihr    liif.;,'    ni'.imi.il    iii'-l  ilnl  i.  m  .i|    llu     l.i-l    I'-nn  ^\  i  v  .iin,i   I '..n  t.  a  .  nrr    I'.i.nuli        \ftii    i..in 

kiuiwii     as     till'     X.itlnil.il      U.iiik     .11      r..pi..ii.     .Ml       rinll's  phliii..    hr.    ii.llriu'    ,..in'.r     Mt       Inl    u.is    li.i-.iiid    .il     I'm 

piiiniiiu'iui'     and     iiiU'i',illi      n.iv.'     l.nii     i  r.-.."iii, .  .1         Tins  \ii.il,     IVi  ,    w  lu  i  .■    hr    h.ul    rli,iii.'.     ul    ihr    r..lli.iii\     1  \  in 

h,ink    was    npi'iu'd    fur    Inisiiu  ■.  ,     liiK     :',     I'll'i.,    villi    llu     I.. I  im1u,i1    I   hiiuli    l..|    i  I'-'.liI    iiunlli-.,   nnlil   r.illnl    In   hr.   p|.   ,riii 

Inwiiii.   I. 111. 11'.        M.iiiin   ^l    l  11.11,   pir'.i.lrnl  ;    |..hii    11. nil.  \,  \\..il,         \l    ih.'    .miiii.il    nu.lni,'    ..1    llu     111     1 'i  nn -v  K  .nn.i 

\ii'i-    i.K-.uli'iil,    ,iml     \      11     ^iiiiih,   i',isliu'i,      till'    I. .11. .u  nil.,  l  ,,iii,a  rni-i-    ,.|     tlu.    |.\  .nii'..lii  .il     \-.  ..  n  i..l  |.  .n,    lui.l    .il     \..| 

capilalisis    iii.iki'    up    llir    h...iid    ..i    .ln.'i'i..i  ■.      M     S     rmll,  i  i-ii.u  ii,   I'.i  ,  in  I'Vhi  n.n  \ ,   p.iiil,  h.'  m  ,i.  ,  h  i  Ir.l  h\    llu    1.... ml 

John   ll.r.lh'\.  (li'nri'.i'  Siliu.nt.  .  Ki  \     J .   1  1 ,   Iv.ik,  a  ,   I  .U\  ,ii  .1  ol     imvin's    ol     .Svhin  Ikill    S.'nnii.iM.    u'n.li    i.    nmlri     liu 

IVi.oii;',,    r.     I'lank     IkuT,     \      1',    .'■.inilli,    ^■■.lllllu■l    ll..ii'...  k,  p,ition.H'r    ol    tlu'    1  on  It  i  .lire     l,>    ilu'    pi  in.  ip.il  .hip    ..I    llu- 

Irwin   (Ic.n.N.    I>i..l.    II,    W.-il.v    ml    W      II.    iKnui         llu'  iirl  it  iil  u  m     llun    lo.-.it.'d    .il     I'l  <  dii  u  k   hin .',     1 '.i        11,     .u 

bank   li;is  in. 'I   with   surer.,    honi   ih.    h.  "iiiiiiiu.'       li    Is  i.ipi  ..'pl,   1     v\illi    llu     i.iin.ii;,'    ol    ,i    drvotril    (  liii.luin     vv..iki'i 

tali/iMl     .'11     s; '.',.111)0,     .rid     h.is     l,o",.      l..i:n.u  .    .nul     i.lwl.l.'  Ii,i\nu',     l,iilli    in    I.u,    .ihilils     l.,    ,,,p.'    sii,  a  i-v,  i  nlU     unli    .1.' 

Ilii'ii    hi'liiml    II        II     pi,.hiiiN     h.r,    liu'    niosl     iii.i.Uiii    IliiiIc  I  iihilK     ini  I  .u  .  .i  ,iM.'    pii..p,',l  llu      '^  niin.ii  \     h.ul     l...n 

lill'IdiliK   ol    .in\    IP    ihr.    -r.  lu.ii   ol    llu-    Sl.ilr,    it-,   npiipnunl  p.inuhd    in    i;    ,iilm,.    m     is'm.    ,m,l    in    llu-    Mil     tssu,    inuhi 

ilU-llldini.;    hnir.l.ii    pi.,.,l    \,iiill'.  llu-    iiiIIiuiut   ..I    (,,1      h.lia    11     1   i,  1, ,    u  .i  ,    iinu.wd    to    I'Vi'd 

On   Jiin.     in.    l-.i.,    M.iilin    -.     (i..!!    iroii.il    Miih.ili     \  ,iuk-,hin.',        \\  lu  ii     ,\li       I'.  .  1    ..„,k    ilro.;.     llu-    ..lli'iid  nu  i' 

(Irim,    d.nii'hliT    ..|     l..n.r.    (  ,i  iiii,    .i    u,llkii,,u.i     Iniii  a     ,.|  liul    Pill.n    I,.     ..mii    'imhiil,        lis    j;i,,uili      nu  ,■    ilun    h.is 

l.elli>.dl   lonntv        1  hi  \    h.,\  •   lu,,   s,,ii  ,,    \\  illi.iin    Miiliii,ini|  h.  ,  n    .|ii,     .lii.ilU     I,,    hr.    rll,.i|.,    ,ni.l    ihr    '.kilinl    in.imu  i 

(■■liaiU-S     .Mlii.l,     ii.,lh     ..I     ulu.iii     ii.ur     pi   nr.l     iIuiumU.'s  mi     '.v  In,  h     lu      li.i       h.iiullr.l     |l  ,    , ill. in.     Ii,r.     v,.|i    liiin     i,.iii 

KiKUl    lill'-iiit..    iiu'ii    .nul    .'iili  I  pi  i.iiu;    iili.aii-^        In    hr.    p..  ilirml.il  u  .ii    1 1  oin   .ill   ipi.illi'ls.      Williin   .i   \i,ii    .nul   .i   h.ill    llu 

jitio.'ll    ariili.ili..n,     Ml      I   I..11    h  ,'.    .iK\.ivs    \>^ai,    .i     I  liiii, ,.  i  .il  .'itlr.iikim't-    li.i.i    nuirasnl    to    M\l\,    .ii,,l    llu'    -...ii     .Him     lu- 

ami.    ;il     \  iMoir.     tini,   .,     h.r.     ..i\ril     in     nu.'l     ol     llir     l...,il  lu'i'.nilr   ihr   hr.,.l    ..|    llir   .Srinill.n  \    il    w  r.   .h.iiu.l     iiKi.,il.l.' 

otlii'i's,    h,is    hri'ii    li, unship    ,,iiililoi    ,niii    ilrpnli    rollnloi    ol  to    s,a  k    nru    .u iioil.ilioii    ,    p.    iiui  i    lli,'    ■uinnul.    ,,l    in 

ilili'll,.il     irMinir.        I',. I      ihli,'     \,'.ll-.     Ill'     -rlMd     i  il  r,l  i  \  rl  \'  rirasril    p.u  i  ,  .i..,,,r    aiul       li'aili     i|,  \  .  1.  .piii,  iil      111    llir    ',pi  111).: 

as    a    imillhri    ol'    llu-    hoiom.li    i-o.nu  11    o,'     l.,pl..ii    and    h,i  .  ..I      I'lO'     ,\li,      1.  rl    ,in,l     I'l,.!      r,,n\in,in    ,  ,nii,-    I,,     U.  .nlnii.'.. 

Jllsn   hei'll    lowii    I  frasiiui',      .M.n'v    .nul    im  i  r.i  .nu.    lur  inrs',  .nul    .\illi   lu,.  oih.i  .  muli    .i   \iii   |,i  ',,lu\ii    11. ill,  1,,  ,,   .  a  i 

fares    li.'ive    pre'.nilrd    his    ai'i'.'pl.iiKr    ol    niinuioii.    lu.iioi  l.nii   il-    d>  ■  n  ..l.ilil  \    ,r,  ..   lu  \'    !.>,iii,,n   !,.i    ihr  '..i .iii        \ 

alile   nriui  s    ,iiid    po   iiioii,   ol    ;in'l    .il    l!i.     Ium.I    ol    v. u,  l.uoi.ihlr   up.il    u  .r    nrui.',   .nul  i  ,  ,n  ,  .puiil  U    .i   nuiliii).,   ol 

()l>',aili/.ili...|s    lo    u  hull    Ins    .idnmiiu;    hll,.i\    .iii-,ii>    u,,iilil  niiin^lri'.    o|    Ihr    I    i-.l     1 ',  nil  .\  1  v  .nn.i    loiiP'uiu,'    u  .i  .   i.ill,,| 

iiave   (..kidlv    I'lrvalrd    liiin,       llr    In  .    , ilu. us    i.iki  n    ,i    In. 'Is  \n    llr,|i,,pS    C    |li  r\  I,  ,„,,  1,  |, ,  .  ,  ,nM  nr  ,.l   Hu'   1  kill  r  i  .iiiiul  ., 

iiilrii-M    ill    I  !i,ii  il,ihlr    ami    pliil.inl  In  ,.pii    nili'i  pi  i  ,,'S,   ,ii.,l    it  loi    ailu,ii    iip,,ii   ih,'    i,iii,.\.il   ,.l    llu     S.-inin.iii    l,i    Ki.idiiu', 

was    l.lli.,il\     illlr    1,1    hr,    i.iilu     l     rll,.i|.     lluil     llir     ||||||.'|,|II  II     \v,is    di  ,  iil.  d    to    .uipnir    llu-    pt.,piiU     |o|     ihr    pri  ill, III,  III 

<)rpliaii    III. nil    was   lor,iir,l   .il     l'.ipt.,n,   in    is'ii',,      p'oi    in.iii\  ipi.'inci-     ol     ihr    -ilu...!.    .nul    ihr    pin aliasr    v\as    iii.idi'    In 

V(  ars  hr  has  l.ri  II  an  ai  1 1\  r  u  Ol  kri   111  ihr  I  nilu  i  ,iii  (  Inn  rli,  Jiih,    IPI),",      \\,,ik    u,is    ,ii    niui     lu'(.;iin.    H'p.niiiit;    and    1 1' 

in   wliiili   111'   h.i-    Inan   li,.lli   .Mil    .nul   ,l,.i,.,ii       Mr   v.   ,i    in. in  iin  idrllni'.,      iiul      Mi        1.  i  1     '.lUindrd     ill     sirnilnr.     $10.0110 

who,    ill    r\ri\     ir.pril,    I,    iniiiliil    |,,    ill,     , il    uill.    Ii     pi  ,  I  lioiii    llir    Ini.nii",.    nun    nl     Kr,iiliiu;    to    rn,  oiii  .n;,'    llu     uolk, 

.mil   llu.ii.iir.h   isl.ini   i,|    hr,    |,ll,,u    iilrin-  'Ihr    .S,  iinn.ii  v    u  .i,   opnud    m    K'l.iiliiir,    S,  pl      I,,    I'm',    ,nid 

h.r.    hrrii     In     a     pii,   p,i,.ii       ,,,ii,liiuin     i\.i        in.  r        Mniinp 

_  kl'A'.    WNKK'l    \     1        II   1   I,.     I'll      M.    piiii.ipil    ol    thr  I ',1111',  or    tin-   slmlini,.   iniinl.,  i ,  ,1    l  'ii.    ih,     ,  l,i  •  .   nl    I'm,'    ,,in 

Seliitylkill    Siniiniis.    K'l  .idiii".,   h.i  ■   .uipniid   .i   Inrli    I'piil.i  '.1.11111;    rl    lurnu     ri.uhiii,  ,        llu     npiipnii  111    .nul    ,11,1.111 

lion   li\    hr,   i  llu  u  nl    sri\iiis   ,11    llu     In, id   ol    llrii    inliliiluiii  nu  .,l,il  1.  .ir.    li.or    hiio    ,iilil,,l    I,,    iiiilil    iluv    ioiiip,iir    l,noi',| 

lliv    iMiiiloi     ,iliilil\     h.is    hirn    isilliil    nil,,    r,  ,n'.|,iiil    11  .r    .1  hl\     uiili    llu-.r    .0    .on       iiml.ii     iii.,liliil 11    I '1  iiiis\  1\  ,1111,1 

wril   .1,   Ills   ipi.ihli.'.   ,is   .111   i'.liu'.il..i,    loi    111     li,i     ihMl..prd  llu      loi,iiu,ii,     ,11     Ihr     11,111,1     ,,|      riinlrinlh     .iml     Is,  in 

the   Seiiliii;ir\    up   in   11      pn  si  111    i lilioii    lioin   .1   iiurl    nii  '.iinls,   ni   lln    11..1  ilu  .1  .|i  1  n   p. ill   ol    kridim;,   r.  p.iiluidnU 

prniiiisjn^;    slali,    .1    ui.il,     ircpinnir,    a    i  iiilil.ni.ilu  ,11    III     hii    I  I. r. mil  Ink    thr   •,;i..liiul'.    kiiir    ,,11    ihr    v\  r    Inn   '.li.p.-   .il     MnllOl 

lU'Ss    fariills    .nul    iilni,itiw     i.drnis    somruhii    i.nr    .nnoiu:  I'mii,  roiiiiii.iiuliiii',  a  liiu'  \  uw  nt   ihr  niv    ,iiiil  siii  roumlinr, 

profession. d   nun  laml'.r.'ipr.      In    the    oiirin.d    linildnu;,    ioinuih    known    .. 

.Ml,       liil      U.IS      h..in       \piil      II.      isr.s.     al      M, mill's  .Srlu^n     II. ill,    a    sparmn  .    •.iniiiiiii'    of    ni.is.ue    (  olnnial 

C.'leek.       ill        \ni  lli,inipl..n       i.innlv,        I'l  iiir.v  1\  ,iin.i,       .nul  ,11 1  Inn  i  1 111  ■  ,    ■in  1  niiiul,  d     Ir,       iihli     liii-.,    ,iir    llu     ,,lliii', 

eoinrs     of     (.iiniiii     .nul      S,  ,  ,1,  li    1 1  1   h     ,111,1. lis,     luinr.      .1  lilu.ii'.,    .  Lr...   1 , 1,  ,ni  ,,    ,|ininr   li.ill     nul    ,l.iiniilnM     l..i     Irli.s 

son  ol     \in,...  ami     \iin.i    iMil.dli     I  i  i  1.   I  hr   l.il  li  a    imu    '\r  I  lu'     ..ilui     luo    hnddnir      ,iir     m     iiii|in  nu'     iluipil,     willi 

ei'.isi'd.       III.'    l.iihri     u,i.     |,.iiniiU     a     liiiiui,    .nul    is    nnu  il.  ,i  mil,  n  u   .    |,ii     llir    mm,    ,m,|    ,1    hiu     nuuhin    CMiinasiiini. 

livnu;   .11    I'.i   l,,ii.    I', I       .M.     .mil    \li.      I, ,1   hid   ilu     |,,ll..iv  i,  In,  |,    ui      rnLond    11 1,      .n     uldit  mini    m,.iv    Iroiiii' 

ini;    Ian, IK       W.nim    I    ;    poiirM.    ulio    is   a    pindllii'    nu'i  Kin    11. .'l.. I        I  lu'    dninniniu  ,    ,ii.'    sp.uu.lls   iiml    loniloi 

ilint   ol    I    I  tnii.    IV,   ;    ll,ii'i'\    ('.,   who  is  with   ilie    MliK  dr  mKL,    u.ll    v  mid, il.'d,  lirhlnl  willi  rln  11  iniN  ami  lu.itid  u  itli 

Slul   Lninpaii^.   nl    rhik.drlpiii.i  ;    [''raiiii:,   a   iii  u'liiiiisl,    ,  11  sii.nn,    .iiu|    all    thr    hiiililniKi    liase    hnii    in.'iilc    .HM;iili\i' 


,\  I..  I 


ns!  nisTiiKM  oi-  r.iRKs  roix-|-v.  im-wsvia  \\i  \ 

witliiti   anvl   witlhMit.   rt-piiis  aiiil   adilitions   hoins   aHciulo>l  llic   capitiil.Uion   oi   L.opc.:,   wliidi   crowned   the   sm'cr<>:   of 

t'l  i>r<>ni|itly  luitlor  i!ii-  i-ihoiMii  !.v-tiiii  wliicli  now  |)i\'\ails,  the    c\ik'(1iIi<>;i.       Altor    a    sojourn    ot    several    vcar-;    v\ 

\x\  ciiiKiwiiiiiit  mI"  j:,Mi,tiiin,  iMthcixnl  ^Ufiii!;  thi    veais   UKUi  llurope,    he    rcluriieil    to    Aitienca    and    ciitcrtil    the    law 

and    I'.inr,    has    hcen    convnieiiii;    [m>'.ii    oI    the   eoinidcnce  ollice   ot   his    lathi-r   as  a  stucU-nt,   and   haviiij:   been   thor- 

plaoed  in    Mr,   Tcel   )>v  the   friends  ot   the   Seminary,  and  ou^;hIy  (luahfud   was  admitted  to  the  bar  o(   Berks  coini- 

iias  >iiahled  him  to  eair\   <>m  some  <«f  liis  most  eherislied  tv,  April    II.    ISii:!.     lie  was   snbseiinently  admitted   to  ihc 

plans  tor  the  eontiuued  wilf.ire  oi  the  sehool.     Us  atl'airs  Supreme  eouii   oi   the  Common .vealth  and   to  the   Bar  ui 

.It   present   are   est, il>li- lied   up'Mi   a   liberal    and   substainial  rhiladelplna  and  other  counties  ot    the  Slate, 

basis.  In    his    iirofession    he    has    attained    marked    distitu-tinn. 

The  special  adv.una;.;es  auorded  b\   liie  Schuxlkill  ,~>emi-  ha\inK    tried    and    won    many    cases    involving    important 

nary   as  a  eolleije  jireparalorv    sclu^ol  .ire  worthy   ot   note,  principles  of  law   which  are  now  widely  tiuoled  as  prece- 

The   courses    in    L.uin     .md     (ireek.    as    well    as  •  in   other  dents,    and    havine,    rceentl)    been    .ippoiiitcd.    by    the    Har 

branches,   nt   students   for  not  only  Ihe   freshman  but  also  .\ssociation  of   remisylvania,  cliainnan  of  a  eommiliee  to 

the  advanced  clas.M-N  of   the  best  collc^ies   in   the  coumry.  revise   the   corporation   laws   of   the    State.     The   Uoadini; 

Ihe   c.Hirses    in    history   ami   Illeiature   are   comi>reliensive  sir^ct    railwav    s\slem.    with    its    suburban    adjuncts,    and 

and  thorou;;h.  the  labor.it.-ry  is  well  e<iuipped.  and  .ill  the  the    electric    "liiiht    and    gas    companies,    and    manv    other 

work  done  is  of  the  mo.st  practical  character,  either  as  a  i,ulustrial    corporations    which    he    represents',    owe    their 

preparation  lor  bniher  stmli.s  or  as  an  aecessi.in  to  Heneral  ,„a,ked  success  larcelv  to  the  treiiins  and  ability  displavcd 

kiio\vled>;e.      Ihe  t.iculty  is  composed  of  eleven  instructors,  ly  ^,[f    jo„es  in  their  or!,Mni.-ati.'n  and  devclopmet  t.     He 

imn  and   women   ot   characier   and   purpose,   who  arc   not  j^  general  counsel  also   for  the  Umled    I'owcr  and    IVaiis- 

only  luted  t.i  teach  the  branches  ot  which  they  have  made  portation  Comi.aiiv  and  ihe  Interstate  Kailwavs  Companv, 

special   study   but   also   to   direct   the   work   and   ambitions  corporations  cMUrollini?  over  live  hundred  miles  of  street 

of   their  inipiN  into  the  most   useful  ehaniiels.      Ihe  vice-  railwavs   in    rcmisvlvania   ami   the  i.djoinin^   States.     His 

president.    Rev.    b.dwm    1).    Mdlose.    I'll.    M.,   is   instructor  services    to    the    public,    aside    from    luisincss.    have    been 

111     science    and    the     higher    malhematics ;     he    makes    a  cq„.-,iiv   i,,. table,   and   the   prosperous   communitv   in    which, 

specialty  ni  bi.t.iny.  and  has   written  articles  on   tins  sub-  he  lives  cheerfuHv  acknowledges  manv  substantial  benetif; 

jeei       Kev.   Charles   H.    Houin-o',   A.   M..   H.   O..  i>reviousI>  i;,r^^.|v    ^\^^^    ,„   his    well-directed   euerv>v   and    the    wisdont 

nieiitioiie.l.  h.is  been  associated  with  Mr.    I  eel  from  tiie  be-  ^f    his   counsel.      It    was    inainlv   through    his    efforts    that 

KinmiiK  of   his   I.ihors   m   the   Semmar\  ;   he  is   a  .er.iduate  ,i„,    ^itv    of    Ueadinir    recovered    the    tr.ict    of    land,    lost 

of  Drew  Seminary  and  is  serviUK  as  prineip.il  of  ihe  iluo  f^,-  nearlv  a  hundred  ve.nrs.  at  the  foot  of   rcnn's  .Mount. 

Iv.i'.ieal  dcpar;meiit   and   pr.>lessor  ol   t.reek   and   thcolo-y.  ,„,vv    beauiifullv    improved    as   the   Citv    Park    and    known 

The  department  v>f   I  ii.ehsh   is   m  chari;e  of    Ida   1  ,    Hal/,  .^j    i\.„„    Cmnton ;    an.l    tliat    the    free    public    library    of 

rii,    M,.  and   the  .lep,>rlment  ol   mu-ic  is  presided   over  by  ,hi,   city,   of   which   he   is   president,   was   rescued    from   ob- 

\my   .M,  ^  ouii.c.  a  >;radiiate  ol   the   rhiladelphia  Ac.idemy  scurily  and   sacrilice.  placed   ii|>on  an  enduriiii;   foiind.ition 

of   Music.  hy    liberal    private    contribution;    he.ided    with    his    name, 

Mr,  Tecl  w.is  ordained  ,i   leuul.ir  'ninister  of  the   I'e.m  ;,,„i  (h^n  atlopted  bv  the  public  as  worthy  ot  maintenance 

Kclical  Church  in  r.in:J.  and  he  is  as  sueccsslul  in  teliv^ous  ^)^^^  ,,(   (he  comnioii  purse. 

work  as  in  editcatioiial  circles.  He  has  freMuenl  pulpit  In  iSi'c,'.  on  the  invasi^in  of  Marvlan.I  bv  the  (.  onfed- 
calls,  from  his  own  and  oilier  denomin.iiions.  and  is  also  ^,,,^(^,  ariin .  Mi,  lones  enlisted,  servini;  as  a  private 
ill  demand  as  a  speaker  at  \'  \l.  (,'  A.  e.itherni.cs.  His  soldier,  and  was  present  nl  the  b.Utle  of  Aniietam.  and  in 
constant  associaiioi,  and  e.M,i,,ci  v\iili  \oun;;  piopic  nives  l^r^^  l,e  wa.  lu.ide  captain  of  a  ciMuptiiv  ot  Peimsx  Ivania 
him  ste.idy  inspiration  for  such  work,  m  wliich  he  is  volunteers.  In  ISiit".  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
particularly  ttroni;.  and  in  wl;icli  his  personal  character  I.euislatuie  from  tiie  countv  of  Berks,  and  was  twice  re- 
has  ^noved  to  be  a  factor  ol  inestimable  value  for  v;ood,  elected,  and  in  ISdS.  his  "second  term,  he  received  his 
His  iniluence  i;,  counted  upon  as  much  as  the  actual  work  ,virtv's  nominntioii  for  the  speakership.  His  speeches  on 
which  he  accomplisbes.  He  Ins  ir„veled  extensi\ely  in  this  the  aniendmenls  in  the  t'onstiiulion  of  the  I'nited  Slates. 
c<<n'itr\.  Iiavim;  visited  'liirty  Stales  oi  the  I'nion.  .md  ihiis  (hen  beiiiv;  coiisi.lered.  were  wi.lelv  re.id.  ami  r.\iike>l  with 
has  wid.ene.l  his  knowledi;e  of  il-c  eotulitious  aliectine.  his  the  best  at.e.iunents  upon  that  subject.  He  h.id  little 
work.  ac.piiriiij>  material  for  new  ihoiij;lu  as  well  as  bro.ul-  taste  for  polides.  however,  and  a  preference  for  the  work 
cmnn  the  ecrix  t'onii<i,itious  of  his  l.il'ors,  niirim;  the  siv  ,^f  his  profession  induced  him  to  retire  from  public  life, 
years  of  his  eomivction  wilh  the  Schuylkill  Seminary  he  He  has  since  hcKI  no  public  ollice  esceptiitK  that  of  Coin- 
has  won  notable  honors  in  every  deparimciit  ot  his  work,  niisMouer  at  .Vailev  I'orj^v,  to  which  he  was  appoiiit>,d  by 
as  an  able  ni.inager,  an  elbeieni  instructor  ,ind  a  ilcvotcd  Covernor  i'emiypaeUer  and  li,is  been  rcippoinlcd  by 
I'hiistian  !il>oier.      His  praelic.d  ideas  h,i\e  won  the  con  Governor   .'^lu,-'rl, 

lidence  and  suiiport  of  the  best  eUmeiif  in  the  commumiy.  He  is  a  vestryman  of  Christ  t  hiircli.  Ivcadinv;.  and  a 
while  his  earnest  labors  to  briiij:  the  Seminary  up  to  the  director  in  many  local  or.eanizations.  He  is  al.so  a  member 
hi,i.;hest  standards  as  an  cducation.d  and  Christian  iii-titu  of  the  Colonial  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  Society  of  Coi- 
tion have  met  with  the  uin\ersa'  apinoeal  of  p.itions  and  ,>rinl  Wars.  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  Society  of' the  War 
the  dein.niiiatioii  under  whose  aus;);ces  it  is  conducled,  cf  isT\  .-ind  tirand  .\riny  of  Ihe  Republic. 
Mr,  Teel  is  ,ii-  .iclive  fotc-  in  the  lAaneclicd  .\ssociuiou.  0„  \,,v.  W.  tsru,  he  t'narried  M,irt;aret  I'llen  MeCarty. 
,111.1  hi-  h  1-^  Ik  en  clecied  d.'h;.',.iic  to  inV  tIeneiMl  t.'oiiferciice  d,iiu:hter  of  J,im<-s  Mc>.'arty.  a  promiutnt  ironmaslei  of 
this  \iar  U'.'ur'l.  ReadiiiR:,  an.l  Rebecct  MaeVe,|.;h.  his  wife,  and  a  niece 
tbi  .\uj;.  I,"..  r.iiV..  Rev,  Mr.  Teel  was  married  to  Mis-  of  Wavne  and  I'ranklin  MacVea'^li  He  had  one  ilauuhter, 
Hessie  J,  Dubs.  ,ii  Rebcrsbur;^.  Pa,,  a  former  iiisiiuct>ir  of  now  deee.iscd,  who  was  the  wife  of  N",ithaniel  I'Vr.uuson. 
music  in  the  Schuylkill  Seminary,  located  at  bV.'dericks-  ,>f  Re.idiug,  His  country  r.  sidenee.  "Merioneth."  over 
bnr^;,  Pa  Mis  I  ,el  was  born  al  I'reep.nt.  Ill,  d.iuuhter  lv.,.ks  the  city  of  Readine"  from  the  siirr.iundiii),:  hills 
oi  Cli.uU-  .>n<l  Helen  i,\lall.uy)  Hiihs,  Mr,  lones  is  d.scended  from  a  lon^'  line  of  distin- 
guished Colonial  and  Reyolutimiarv  ancestors  on  both 
RICHMOVD  Lb:Cill  jOXbS,  I'so,.  the  subject  of  litis  sides  of  his  liouse.  His  father,  .1.  GInnev  Tone:,  was  an 
bi.H-.iapIo,  w.is  born  h'eb,  17.  isin.  .md  aft.i  a  thorou'^h  able  lawyer  and  distincuished  member  of  Conptess  from 
traimiti;  iii  the  best  schools  i.f  lliis  comitr\  coiupK'te.l  his  flctks  cotmlv  from  1S,".(>  to  1S,-.',»,  duriii.v;  his  l.xst  li-rni 
educilion  at  ilu'  L'ni\ersity  of  1  leidelbei  e,  Germany.  He-  havinp  been  ch.iirm.in  of  the  eommiliee  on  Ways  .\nd 
fore  eiiteriii';:  tli.it  world-renown.d  instilmion.  however,  he  Means,  He  UMcncd  liis  seat  in  C'lUieiess  t.»  accept  'he 
Went  ti>  Soiiili  Ameri.M  with  lb.-  Cniled  Sl.itcs  e\|u-.Jitii>n  ai>pointmcut  ol  env.n-  extraordinary  aiul  minister  pleiii 
aeainst  Par.ieuav,  visitini:  Ihe  i -lands  ol  St.  riiom,is  .uid  polei!ti(r\  lo  Viisiin.  which  .iilic-  he  held  dnriiut  the 
ll.iibadoes,  in  the  We^t  Imliis.  and  ih.-  princi|>.il  ciius  oi  trviti!;  times  ol  the  c.immeneeinciit  of  tb.e  t"i\il  w.n. 
the  east  coast  of  Son'h  ,\meiic,»  and.  s.iilinv;  a  thousand  wheti  our  relations  with  forcicn  cmnt'tes  were  e\fremrly 
miles   tip   the    P.irana    river   t.>    ,\siinci.m,   was   present    at  delicate.       .Mr.    Jones's    jircaf -\:r.indlather.    Col.    joiiallini 


/ 


y 


'»----,r^''«*i'^"'-;  "■■■,    „i    •.••■'l—    .>..  ;■     "~'V 


lUOGRArillCAL 


385 


Jones,  was  senior  captain  of  the  first  regiment  raiseii  in 
Feniisyhaiiia  for  the  Continental  army,  October,  IVT.J. 
He  participated  in  the  winter  campai;^"n  for  the  relief  of 
the  army  of  Oucbec,  after  the  death  of  Montgumery, 
and  also  in  many  important  engagements.  For  distin- 
guished services  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major, 
and  later  to  that  of  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Line. 

.Mr.  Jones's  greHt-great-grandfather,  David  Jiine<.  came 
frojn  Merioneth.  Wales,  to  Pennsylvania  in  17l'1  and 
bought  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Cairnarvnn  township, 
where  he  ojiened  and  developed  iron  ore  mines,  which 
Still  bear  his  name. 

Mr.  Jones's  mother  was  the  daughter  of  William  Rod- 
man, of  Rucks  county,  who  was  a  brigade  cjuartermaster 
in  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  and  afterward  a  member 
of  the  Senate  of  renns:.!vania  and  of  the  Twelfth  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States.  The  Rodman  family  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  tlie  Xew  World,  having  settled  in  America 
in  the  early  part  of  ihe  seventeenth  century  and  contrii)- 
uted  to  the  Colonies  many  of  their  most  distinguished 
citizens. 

JOSEPH  P.  0;RE1LLY,  contractor  at  Reading  for  up- 
ward of  tv.xnfy-hve  years,  was  l.>orn  at  that  place  Aug. 
27,  1.SG2.  He  received  his  education  in  the  city  schtiols 
and  at  Villanova  College,  in  Delaware  county.  Pa.,  and 
upon  quitting  school  learned  the  trade  of  stone-cutter  under 
Christiat)  Ehen,  wiio  had  been  engaged  in  the  business  for 
many  years  at  Reading.  Tie  continued  with  .Mr.  T-ben  for 
four  years,  and  then  engaged  in  the  business  for  himself 
for  about  a  year,  when  he  started  contracting  in  the  con- 
struction of  public  works  of  various  kinds.  This  was 
in  18S~',  and  since  then  he  has  been  prominently  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  ni  taking  city  and  county  contracts  for 
roads,  ctdverts,  sewers  and  bridges,  .\mong  the  large  iron 
bridges  spanning  the  Schuylkill  river  which  are  of  his 
construetini)  m.iy  be  mentiiiued  the  "lixeter  Bridge,"  the 
"Reading  and  South  Western  Street  Railway  I'lridge."  the 
'"Schuyllcill  Avenue  I'.rid'-Te."  the  "Cruss  Keys  LIrldge" 
("above  Tuckerton),  and  tlu  "IJerne  P.ridge"  ( ai:io\  e  Shoe- 
makersville). 

Mr,  Ct'ReiiJy  m.irried  Clara  A.  Tea  i  daughter  of  Samuel 
H.  Tea  and  Emily  K.  liyneman,  his  wife,  of  Reading),  and 
they  have  three  ehihlren  :  Ja.mes,  Ger;dd  and  Claire. 

JMr.  O'Reilly's  I'ather  was  Owen  O'Reilly,  also  a  targe 
contractor  in  the  construction  of  public  W'lrks  at  Reading 
for  thirty  years.  In  IS.ii;  he  jnu  up  the  ".\.<kcw  Bridge" 
for  the  Lebanon  \"alley  Railro.id  (crossing  Sixth  at  Wood- 
ward), which  was  then  reg.arded  as  a  remarkable  piece 
in  work,  and  is  still  admired  b\-  engine<'rs  and  contractors. 
He  w.is  born  in  ISLi  at  Patric'kstown.  County  .Meath,  Ire- 
land. .-,nd  emigrated  to  .-\nieriea  in  l.'^iis,  locating  at  Read- 
ing. He  died  in  ]00ii.  He  married  Elizabeth  H.  Felix, 
daughter  of  .Anthony  Felix,  of  Reading,  and  they  had  nine 
children  ;  .Agnes  C.  a  sister  of  charity  for  forty  years,  now 
at  Fnimitsbnrg,  Aid.;  Sallie  15..  a  sister  of  charity  for 
thirty  years,  now  at  Washington.  D.  C. :  Eugene  P..  m. 
to  Helena  Rauen:  .Simon  l-".,  m.  to  Sallir  C.  Rel)ir:  Mary 
B.,  who  dieil  in  I'.X)::.  aged  forty-one  years;  Jriseph  P., 
above;  and  three — J.-imes.  .Ann  and  William — who  died 
in  infancy. 

His  grandfather  was  James  0"Reill\-.  of  County  Meath, 
Ireland,  born  in  1771.  died  in  lS"il.  He  ni.  I'.ridgct  Con- 
athy,  of  tile  same  county,  bnrn  in  177:'.,  died  in  l.si8.  They 
had  fourteen  sons,  among  tluni  (_iwen.  .\iul  his  great- 
grandfather, also  named  J.ames.  had  se\en  Sf.ns.  amon,g 
them  the  said  James.  His  inntlu-r's  father  w.as  .Anthony 
Feli.x,  bf)rn  in  17si.  died  in  l^r,.'. :  m.  to  Catherine  Martin, 
boni  in  17S:"..  died  in  \'^i'<\.  Hi  r  gr.-mdfather  was  Nicholas 
Felix,  born  in  17:;i.  died  in  ISi:!.  He  was  enlisted  in  the 
Revoluti'in,  with  tlie  ci'inpan\  of  Capt.  Charles  (jobin, 
in  Hiestei'.s  ll.itt.diiui.  \\  hieh  v.a^  en^ragi'd  in  tlie  b:ittle  of 
C.smdcn  on  .\u;^  Kl,  U'^n.  1 L-  emigrated  from  Gernianv 
in  17.">1. 

Mr.  O'Reilly's  wife's  father.  Samuel  H.ains  I'ea,  was  a 
lin- ,il  descendant  of  Richard  Tea.  a  ■surveyor  of  Hereford 
lown-hip  before  the   Revilution.  and  ati   ir'nunaster  during 


the  Revolution.  In  177i;  he  was  ikcted  to  oiliciate  as  one 
of  tile  Supreme  l\xecu:ive  Council,  irs  .jf  the  State,  but  he 
declined  to  ser\e.  duubtless  bec.ui^e  he  was  iilentiiied  with 
the  I'riends.  who  oppu>ed  the  war. 

OSCAR  P.  IiERBEI.X,  M.  1)..  physician  at  Strausstown, 
has  taken  his  f.ather's  place  in  th.at  community,  where  the 
name  has  been  identified  witli  the  jiractice  of  medicine  for 
over  forty  years.  The  family  is  one  of  hmg  standing  in 
liern  township,  this  county,  wiiere  it  is  still  well  repre- 
sented. 

One  Peter  Herbein  in  17:'.4  became  the  owner  of  '.'S.'i 
acres  of  tine  land  located  along  the  Schuylkill,  ad.iuining 
the  land.s  of  Henry  Reeser,  another  early  settler.  He  had 
two  sons,  .Abraham  and  Jtihn,  whose  grandsons,  John, 
Thomas  and  William  Hcrbein,  have  represented  the  family 
there  in  recent  yetirs.  .Mon.g  the  SchuylkiH  also  are  the 
old  Hcrbein  eiu.arries,  tirst  opened  by  one  \\  illiam  Herbein 
in  IS'ij,  at  what  is  now  Rickenbach  Station.  Xear  liiat 
station  were  also  located  the  Herbein  mill  and  distillery, 
where  .Abraham  Herbein  erected  a  small  distillery  about 
eighty  years  ago.  Later  the  property  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Reuben  Herbein,  who  built  the  mill  and  distillery  which 
he  operated  successfully  for  some  years.  The  Herbeins 
were  amrmg  the  first  families  associated  with  the  Eplers 
in  the  organization  of  what  has  since  been  known  as  the 
Epler  Church  (Lutheran  and  Reformed)  in  Bern  town- 
ship, one  William  Herbein  being  a  member  of  the  building 
committee. 

John  Herbein,  grandfather  of  Dr.  Oscar  B.  Herbein, 
lived  in  Bern  township,  where  he  followed  farming,  own- 
ing land  there.  He  is  buried  at  Epler  Church.  He  was 
twice  married,  first  to  Alary  ■  Shearer,  by  whom  he  had 
four  sons.  Gideon,  Jonatlian.  Isaac  S.  and  D.ivid  (twins), 
all  now  deceased.  By  his  second  wife  he  had  three  sons, 
William,  .Adam  (now  living  at  East  Greenville,  Pa.)  and 
Daniel,  of  .AUentown. 

Isaac  S.  Herbein,  M.  D.,  father  of  Dr.  (.!)<;car  B.  Hcrbein. 
was  born  in  18:1.5,  aucl  received  hi--  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Ikrn  township.  He  began  to  read  medi- 
cine with  iJr.  James  Y.  Shearer,  of  Sinki.ig  Spring,  Berks 
county,  after  which  he  was  in  tlie  .grocery  business  at 
Philadelphia  ->sith  (je.irge  .A.  Leinbach  for  two  years,  mean- 
time continuing  his  professional  studies  ;it  the  Jefferson 
Medical  College.  He  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
3S()5,  and  in  1SG6  located  in  pr.-iciice  at  Strausstown,  where 
he  remained  to  the  close  of  his  life.  He  built  up  a  large 
practice,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the  duties  of  his  pro- 
fession until  he  died.  Xov.  11.  I'.ifi.'i.  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  Dr.  Herbein  is  buried  at  the  Zion's  (.Blue  Moun- 
tain) Church.  The  Ddct.ir  was  a  man  of  active  mind  and 
progressive  ideas,  and  took  considerable  inierest  in  the  life 
of  the  community  in  which  he  was  an  important  ligure  for 
so  many  years.  He  served  eight  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  for  twelve  years  was  a  school  director.  In 
political  faith  he  was  a  Democrat. 

Dr.  Herbein  married  Catharine  G.  Batteiger,  born  Jan.  i:.'. 
ISIU.  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Charlute  (,(_ioodniau )  Bat- 
teiger, of  Upper  Tulpehcicken  township.  Mrs.  Herbein 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  son.  S!ie  had  two  eliildreu: 
L")eborah.  who  married  tienrge  J.  Ktirr  and  died  .May  S, 
1890;   and   Oscar   B. 

Osctir  P..  Hcrbein  was  born  Feli.  7,  ISOit.  received  his 
early  education  in  the  'township  schools,  and  later  attended 
the  Keystone  State  Xorm.al  School  ;it  Kutztown  and  the 
Brunner  P>nsiness  .Academy.  He  t;iuglu  school  in  ISSti- 
.'i7-8S-S0.  one  term  in  Upper  Tulpehockeu  townsliiii  and 
two  terms  in  Spring  town>hip.  before  entering  the  Jelter- 
son  Aleclical  College,  I'hiladelphia,  where  he  tO'^ik  his  medi- 
cal course.  Gr.iduating  in  I'^tKJ.  he  at  once  commenced  prac- 
tice with  his  father  ;ii  .Strausstown,  wdiere  he  ha.s  remained 
to  the  iireseiit.  He  enj'i\s  high  .-tanding  among  his  brother 
practitioners  as  well  as  with  the  people  of  his  commuivty. 
.md  attends  taiihiully  to  ;i  large  pr.ictice.  Dr.  Herbein  is 
a  member  of  the  I'erks  County  .Medical  .Society. 

t.)n  .May  ^4.  IS'.iu,  Dr.  Herbein  w.is  married  to  ^iiss  Lizzie 
S.  Keim.  daughter  of  .Abraham  and  Sarah  ('Mcngel)  Kcim. 
They  ha\e   no  children,      ihe   Doctor  is   p.irticularly  active 


.1  ,v,( 


•I  ,■,  I 


3J5<5  III^T(^RV  OF  r.ERKS  COUXTY.  PEXXSYLX'AXIA 

in  local  frnttriKil  societios.  hclnnging  to  Williamson  I.O(Ii,'c,        Albrt'clit    Strauss,    tlK    (.'Klor    cif    the    brotiiers,    wns    the 

Xo.   :iOT.    !•■.   i^   A.    M.;    to   Lo(K;i.-    Xo.   T7,   I.   O.   O.    F.,   at  K'ro.ir-t;ri.'at-j;r;m(lfatlur    oi    11,    Morris    Strauss.      \\c    took 

S;raii*sto\vii,  i.i  which  he  lia-;  W-vn  secretary  for  six  years;  up  a  tract  of  :i.")0  acres,  up'Mi  which  he  settled  ;uk1  reared 

to  Camp   Xo.  lit'.-t,    I'.  (,).   S.  of  A.,   which   he  organized  in  :i  large  family,  ele\en  children  in  rdl.  tlieir  mother,  whom 

is<j;i  and  of  which  he  is  .a  past  president;  and  to  Charlotte  he  married  in  IV.;!,  heiny  .\nna  .M,irv'aret  Zerhe.  who  cimc 

Lodye,  Daughters  of  Kelnkah.     lie  was  one  of  the  or.L^an-  with  her  father,  Martin  Zerbc,  from  Schoharie,  Xcw  York, 

izers  and  earl_\-  directors  of  the  lUue  Mountain   Electrical  in  IT:.';;.     The  children  were  as  follows:  (I)  .Maria  Harhara, 

Company,   of    which   he   is   now   serviiii;  as   vice-pre.-ident.  hum    .\ov.    1(1,    IT!!."),    m.   June   ~,    IT.'. t.   John    Klo-s    (now 

lie  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  an  active  worker  in  the  Kluhs'),    liorn    in    llrechkebel,    Hanau.    Clermany,    Dec.    G, 

local  ranks  of  the  p:irty.     In  reli.yious  matters  lie  is  idcn-  ITS',,  son  of  Thomas  and   .Mary;aret   Kloss,  with   whom  he 

tihed    with    the    Refumud    i;ieniliers    of    the    Zion's    (.Blue  cmie  to  .Xmeriea   in    1T:!S.     They  resided   a  little  north  of 

Mount.ain)    Ciunch.  Reading;    and    were    tlie    parents    of    ten    childieii,    s'.\    of 

I.i:VI  v..  IWXSUX.  one  of  the  most  widelv  known  me-  \\'"^"V  ^"rdvcd  .and  Icl't  issue    viz  :  .Maria  I'li/ahelh,  m    to 

chanical  engineer.-  and  loiv^  in  the  service  of 'the  Philadcl-  •.^''^''1';""    ^f^'''^'']};^ '.  -V"^'"'^    l>arharn.    m     to    Joint    Ad.am 

phia  .^-  Readmg   Railwav  Companv,  died  at  his  home,   Xo.  SponKler;  .\  ana  C  hnst.n.i    m    to  Lonr.ul  Scheop  (  Shepp)  ; 

LM8   North  Si.Mh  street."  Reading. 'April  1-',   ItiOO.     He  was  -^'■'""'''  ^.[^.^^''^"'f--  ■"•  '°   ^ '?''',''   1   iiyctt:   Mana   Catharine, 

born    in    Chester   coimtv.    Pa..    March    ;.-,    1S:'T,   of   mixed  '"•   '"   \Vi  ham    Dtehm ;   and   Jacob-all    leaNnvvmmterous 

ICnglish  and  Cormtm  descent.     ]lis  father's  ancestors  were  ''^•■^^•^'V''-'"'';-      '-^^    Jolm  Jacob   Sti;anss,   born   ^  ay   :.,    1,.H7. 

English  Quakers,  while  his  ULuther  was  of  Cierman  origin.  >"•  /-'i^-^l'^tb    l.recht,    Aug.    -I,    U.,'X  hey      ucd    (in     a 

He   was   married   in    l?.",!    to   Miss    .Marv   .\.    E.   Kraft,   of  V'^'^   "     ^''^-   lio'i"-'-^tead   acres   north   of    1  ernvdle   and    be- 

Keading,    Pa.,   and   there   were   s,n   child'ren   bon,   lo   titem.  '^''".'^'  ' '"'  ^'T'T  '"   """i  ^Yl^"^''\''''- ''  -V^l"-'''^'^'  '\^''\"'- 

four    of    who:,.,    three    dau-hler.    and    one    son.    lived    to  J"aiiie(l  on  the  hoiiKvste.a.l:  John,  who  settled  i;ear  Or^vlKS- 

re'ich    idult  a"e  '  ''"•'g.  Schuvikill  county;   David;   Elizabeth;   Philip;  Jacob; 

Mr. 'Pa.Nson   entered   the   service   of   the    Philadelphia   &  -'^■^"'"<-^' ^    ^Micluael ;    and    Catharine.      This   branch   also   I.c- 

Readniv'  Railroad  Companv  as  a  hrakeman  on  a  coal  train  V'""'",  ^V  """'f'^''^     <:.!   ■^''"■'v'   '•-'•'•'j'"'"',  < '^^>"  "^  >'"' 

in  October.  ISIT.     In   Eebrnarv,   ISIS,  he  was  promoted  to  |''^';!.''.^-   l^-^^'-"  /'^O    •^•i'-"-  ni    John   1  .mul    .\ladery.   .May 

he   fireman  on   a  coal   tram  .•n^d.K,  and   after   tiring  about  ',•    '•*'"■.     ^'i,^'''  f.   •^'V.'^^'.'-   ^'^f^'^'   chi hireii    wer..-   born    to 

two  vears   was  (...iven  an   engine  to  run,  and   continued   to  V'''"'-/ '-^^ /^/.^'^  ^.^^■='  ^^7'""-  Jol'"'    1  l-o'iias  and   N  ich;„l. 

.serve' as  a  locomotive  engineer  until  the  summer  of   lS:■iL^  ''^^    -"^""^   Elu.al.ethwas^  horn    .March  LV,,    l,.!y.      <■')      ohn 

when  he  arranged  with  the  Comtxinv  to  go  into  the  Read-  ^--'sper.   born    Aug.   ,..    hll,    died    in    infancy.      ( (i  ^   Maria 

ing    Machine    Shops    as    an    .-ippr.Mitice    to    the    machinist's  t:-''^   V,"-''.\      -n         "'•   ",'    ' '■    ',  "'--.S  ?."?^i-r    •^^^'■'^'^'• 

trade   for  a  term  of   four  ve.r..     A  short  time  before  the  ,^,"^-.  ''•,  ^ '''-■„  1 1'^"  records  ot   the  Old   Red  (  luireh.   near 

expiration  of  thi^  tern,  he'ua.-.  taken   from  the  shops  and  Urwigsburg    I  a..   ■■1'^''-^    "he   b.aptism   ot    live   of  their   rhil- 

given  the  position  of  wreck  m.cter.  and  later  was  assigned  fll'.','-  VV  ^n'r'  ^'r''  V  ^^-^'r'      u  '  I       \'         '  ''• 

the    additional    dutv    of    foreman    of    the    Reading    Round  1  • '•-^  M"   I  i'jlM'.   h-v  <>       ,  .., ;   Ev.a  t^^sina,  .April  4,  177'.., 

House.     In   Eebrna'ry,    iSCI,   he  was  n|,poinied  master   m.v  '-["'^    V'',!'";-.-    "'    ,     '     ■'      '      V^  ^    '    "'''    '-""'•"■'."^■.   ^'"'■" 

chinist  at  Port  Richmond.   Philadelphia.  ;,r.d   in   Decei.iber,  •)';"-'--l'  "'  Z'-'^'  "V  -'"'"1  '"'^"r' ,-^'!^'-  '-'.^l ''■■-'•  .-'ih    their  son, 

.IStii;,  was  made  sup'.Tintendent  of  the   .M:.b,o.,.v  and   l!.o,-ul  ■•''"'  i'^'^'':'''  ^^■'''^  ''?''"„-^"^V   '•''''■'•    /^,      '''"'    ""'ll';  ""l" 

Mountain  Railroad  with  oflice  at  M.dianov   Plane.     In   hVb-  |.''''    •'■     .'■'^-   "'■   :^'~^."'V,  ''■'i'*^'""':  "^    H'.  nedict   and    Maria 

ruare,   1S71,   lu    was   transferred  to   Reading,   wi-h  title  of  .^"'V^   '^^'P"^''".'   •^^'-'■''   ••I-    ';;'■      '"^'-^    ;""y,^-''   ',-'   Jninber- 

master    maelnnlst    m    charge    of    the    sl.op^    of    the    svslein.  1:'>1'1.  ("^^O'n.iat;. )  .  (nimy.  i  ,i     IkIm,  c-  the  kevohnion,  p,,r- 

In  lanuary,  ISTI!.  he  was  appointed  engineer  of  machinery,  ^'''"'''"R    ■""    '"".'V'''    "     .''""'    =''',"'«.   ^''^l   •''.""="='    ''l"-'\\   ""-" 

and"  retained  the  positi.Mi  umil   h-ebruarv  -'!•.  18S0,  at  which  homestea.    re.Mdence  being  at  Mexico  Stati.m  on  the  Penn- 

date  he  left  the  services  of  the  Companv   for  a  lime.      On  f'^']"'-^    Kai  ro.ad._      l_hey    had    eight   children,   yi.. :    John  ; 

July   1.    ISSS.   he    was   appointed   acting   superintendent    of  J:'^;"'^';"'"  [>'\:''  ^ '  ■■>•  ^^l'"  \yalked  out  to  Ohio  in   1T70 

motive   power   and    rolHng   stuck    equipment,   .and    the    fol-  =.'"'/   ^^''.''fV"    ^ '^kaway    countv     and    l.^ft    tmnicrous    and 

lowing  vear  wa.  given  the  full  title,  .ind  he  ret:,ined  that  '"""^Y'''    desceiidanl.s ;    i  oily ;    l.elsey ;   (  atharine ;    David 

position"  until   .\ug.  1.   ISU'.,   >vhe,;  he  assumed  the  position  "'"•'  <'f/vh<3Se  de.sceiidants    Phi  ip,  still  own.s  the  ancc.Ural 

of  consulting  mechanical  enginee.-,  a  place  specialh   cre.ited  ''^'"^/^tC'-'d  •    •^"^,;'""-;'i':, ''"'  '^'''''V'"  ■   ^V    •^'■•""'\^>""^''"-' 

£q^  l,j,„  .-.11.  ^^.^.^   l„,^„   j„]j,  ;j,;_    ,-^       ,11, J    .M.iiia   Susanna,   born   Oct. 

.i,  ]T.'.:i.  111.   P.eiijainin   Kebner,  .\l,i\-  :.'!,   iTTt,  and  they  also 

P..    MORRIS   STRAUSS.     Strauss   is   the   name   of   one  resided    in    the   Juniat.a    Valley,    niar    .Mexico.      (Jl)    John 

of  the  old  and  honored   families  in  the  Coinniiinwealtli  of  Samuel. 

Peimsylvani.a,  whose  members  in  their  ditVerent  gcneratiiins        .\lbreclit    Strans>    was   ;i   prominent    rn.an   of    l!/   locality 

have  been  promineni    in  the   imblic  life  nf  their  loc;il  com-  during  his  tiim  ;   and   his   penm.ansbip  denoted   that    he   was 

munities.  and   several  of   wider   f.ame  throughout  the  State  an    educated    man.      He   was   nalur.alized    by   the    "Supream 

and    nation.      Thrift    se.MUS    to    have    followed    the   history  Court"  of   the    I'ro\ince   on    Sept.    ~M.    IT.').".,    the   certilicate 

of  the    f.amily  since  its   !irst  coming  to   .\merica   from  the  thcieof   now   boiiij.'    in   the   possession   of  our   subject,      lie 

I'"atherl,ahd.   b:icl<   in   the  eighteetitii  century,  and   ni.any   of  died  a   short  time  previous  to  .May  T.   IT.s'T,  that  being  the 

its  membfis  Iruej.een  mi-n  of  o.ealth  and  inllueiice  in  the  d.ate  of  the  f'lling  of   his  ;idministration  p.a|iers.      His  Wife 

financial    world.      Tlii>    n",  i.-w    Iki-    rluttly    to    do    with    the  diecl  about   the  .same  time. 

gentleman    wIiom.'    n:inu-    i>   mentioned    above,   but    it   is   en-  t  lii  )    John    Philip   Strauss,   the   \oimger   of   the   enii,i;r:tnt 

tirely    proper    to    nuniion    lirsi    some    of    the    more    salient  brothers,  took  up  ,iboiil  :-'.".(!  ;icres  of  land,  including   (  I'.ms) 

points  in  the  family  history.  Rev.  Mr.  Trexler's  farm  and'the  tract  of  .\d:im  \\'.  Siran.-. 

On   Sept.   X.    1T:1:.'.  there   hmdel   in   the   cily  of   Piiiladel-  On   l'"eb.  L'8.   ITII.  he  married   Anna    Marearel    Reimer.      lie 

phia    from    W'urtemberg.    Gerinan\',    two    bri. tilers    of    the  died  sliorll>    brjuir   .M;iy  ;.'8.   IT'.i:.'   (tlu-  d;itr  of  the  prob.it.' 

name    of   Strauss,    .\lbrecht    and   John    Philip.      They    were  of   his  will),      lli^   wife  is  menti'iiicd   in   his   uill   .ind   nin-l 

mere  boys,  the   elder.    (O    .\lbrecht.  swearing  in   his  oath  then    h^ve    been    still    living.     Their    nine    cliildr<-n    were: 

of   allegi:ince.   then   iKces>ar\    to   t;ike  on   binding,   that    he  (1)   .Anna   M;igd;deiia.  b.irii   Dee    -jl,   ITIi.  m.  John  deorge 

was   but   twiiily,    uhil,-    I  la)    John    Philip   left   a   record    in  Thomas,  born  July   1.   ITIii.  son  of  John  and   R:irb:ira'  Long. 

his   family   I'.ible  that   he  was  born  on  Sept.   Ki.    ITl.'?.    '1  hey  Their  children   were:   John.   .\nn,i    .Maig.aret,    Mari;i   C.ith.i- 

soon  appeared  in    I'.erks  county.   P;i..  where  in  tile  vicinit)'  rine.    Christian.      .Mtiri.i      Eli/.abeth.     Julm     I'hilip.    J..e'.b. 

of    wh.it    i-   no>v    I'.eriuille   tlu'v    each   toi.k    up   kirge   tracts  Tliom:is  ;ind   D;iniel      She  died   .\pril  ,'..   is-.':', ;  mimI   be'   M.i\ 

c>f    I, Old,    a    p:irl    .if   the    origin, il    ^.crvs    -till    being    helil    liy  :;i).    is:.';:         ( :.■ )      \,|,,;i    P.ji.-abelh.    bom    SepI,     IS.    ITIi;.    in. 

membevs  uf  the  pTi'vent  geiieral!"ii      T1m->    wi-re  b"lli  I.iith-  (ie.ree    Dan, el   Culei.    \(.\,   '.a,,    i;;r,      T!u  \    b.i,|   <  Inldi-eii. 

er.in--,    so    tb.al    tlieir    hater    ni:in  i:i/es.    tlic    birth-    ol    their  I :;  )    .Xl.aiia    C'liri-lin:i,    born    beb.    :.'n.    I7l!i,    in.    on    Jniie     :. 

children,  and  indeed  the  wh^le   Siiaus<    lainil>    history,  be-  ITT:!.  I'lirisii.in  Zerbe.  born   Dec.  :.'.'..    1 :  ■ai.  s.m  of  John   and 

came  a  part  of  the  records  of  that  cliiirch.  Catharine   Zerbe.     They   moved    to    White    Deer   township. 


.)     ).. 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


387 


Xortliumberbnd  (now  Union)  county,  Pa.  Ihoy  had  a 
lainily  of  eleven  children  :  Jolin  George,  Jolin,  Maria  Cath- 
arine, Susanna,  Jacob.  Maria  Christina,  Henry.  Mary  Sa- 
lome, Elizabeth,  Ann.-i  M.iria  and  Samuel.  (4)  Casper, 
born  Jan.  27,  ITJl.  married  Elizabeth  Schreck.  They  left 
issue,  viz.:  John  (Dec.  -'.  lTSi)-.A,pr!l  7,  IJ'Tri},  Lud^vig,  Ben- 
jamin. Matilda.  Susanna,  and  .Anna  Maria.  (o)  Maria 
Catharine  was  born  Dec.  '~2.  1732.  (G)  John  Philip,  born 
Xo\.  9,  17d4,  ni.  Susanna  W'ciirich.  Sept.  2,'!,  17.s:'>.  He  ob- 
tained the  homestead  and  died  there  July  20,  ISHi.  Their 
cliildren  so  far  as  kiiown  were:  John,  Susa.nna,  Joseph, 
Philip  (Feb.  1,  IT'JO-May  12.  is-.j).  Daniel,  Elizabeth,  Sy- 
billa.  Anna  r\larsaret  and  Mary  Ma!,'dalena.  (7)  John 
Jricob.  born  May  ."■.  17.');.  ni.  Barliara  Zerbe.  June  14.  17S5. 
He  died  Oct.  22,  1S22,  his  wife  probably  preceding  him  in 
death  as  she  is  not  mentioned  in  his  will.  They  had  the 
following  children  so  far  as  known:  Catharine,  P)ar- 
bara,  Daniel,  Maydalen.i.  Peter,  Sarah.  Adant  and  Su- 
.sanna.  (S)  Christian,  born  June  IG.  17t)0,  ni.  Aug.  4,  1794, 
Catharine,  daughter  of  Jo.-eph  Schneider.  They  had  as 
far  as  known  two  children.  Elizabeth  and  Catliarinc.  (9) 
John  Matthias,  born  April  16.  17(52,  m.  (first)  Mairdalena 
Schneider,  on  May  2."),  ]79(J.  After  the  death  of  his  wife 
he  m.  (second  ).  Sept.  10.  1~07.  Frederica  Go'tel.  He  died 
March  4.   1819.  and  his  wife  survived   him. 

(H)  John  Samuel  Strauss,  youngest  child  of  .-Mbrccht 
and  great-grandf;ither  of  I'.  Morris,  was  born  May  Li,  17.')tj. 
On  \ov.  10.  1784,  he  married  Catharine  Elizabeth,  i  born  May 
10,  1758"),  daughter  of  Jjalthaser  and  Maria  Appalonia  Um- 
benhauer,  the  owner  of  a  l:;rge  tract  of  land  including  the 
site  of  Rern.ilie,  Pa.  He  became  the  owner  of  the  home- 
stead by  purchase  on  Aug.  5.  17S4.  whereon  they  resided 
all  their  life.  He,  as  also  did  his  cousin,  John  Philij),  son 
of  Philip,  served  actively  in  the  Ke\  olutionary  struggle, 
and  was  an  influential  and  useful  citizen  of  his  locality. 
He  died  March  ~o,  1SH,">.  his  wife  having  preceded  him, 
Dec.  16.  1S21.  They  had  a  family  of  ihiileen  children,  viz.: 
John,  tlie  founder  of  Strausstov.ti ;  r\laria  Magdalena,  m. 
to  Tobias  Henne;  John  Philip  (Sept.  9S).  178-  Feb.  12, 
18C."i);  Samuel;  Johanna,  m.  to  Samuel  (ireini;  Jolm  Jacob 
(Nov.  23,  17SS-Xov.  9.  1877);  Elizabeth  Strauss  (Feb.  12. 
1790-Aug.  19.  1S7,')).  m.  to  Elias  Rcdcay:  Susanna;  Joseph; 
John  Willian-.  (Oct.  26,  179.%-Oct.  irs!  ISS5).;  Catiiarine; 
Benjamin  (,\pril  SO.  ISOO-Dcc.  14.  l,sS6);  and  Jonathan. 
This  family  was  noted  for  their  longevity. 

(HI)  Benjamin  Strauss,  son  of  John  Samuel,  was  born 
on  the  old  honiestcatl  .April  30,  ISOO,  and  at  its  division  by 
John  Saniufl.  his  father,  before  his  deaih,  he  was  allotted 
a  share  thereof.  He  marritd  on  Dec.  12,  1829.  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Juliana  ( Shellhammer )  Long,  born 
April  ,';0,  ISll.  In  his  youth  he  lived  in  Virginia  for 
some  time.  He  returned  to  his  n.itive  place  and  followed 
the  trade  of  a  tailor.  He  afterward  purchased  a  large  farm 
(the  dwelling-house  on  which  place,  a  large,  commodious 
and  substantial  one  and  one-h.alf  story  log  building,  was 
known  in  Colonial  times  as  "Casper  Snavely's  Indian 
Fort."  where  a  pos.-e  of  soldiers  were  regularly  stationed 
to  protect  the  settlers  during  that  perilous  period)  adjoin- 
ing now  Meckville.  Bethel  town-hip.  Pa.,  on  whicli  he  re- 
sided the  rest  of  his  lifetime.  His  wife  died  Dec.  :;.  1861. 
They  had  two  sons.  Percival  Long  and  Jnc!. 

(IV)  Percival  Long  Strauss  was  the  eldest  son  of  Ben- 
jamin, and  is  ni.>w  living  retired  in  Reading  after  an  active 
life  in  the  mercantile,  building  and  lumber  Ijusiness.  His 
wife.  Malirda.  who  died  on  .April  16.  l><96.  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Mary  Ann  (  Ratdorf )  Smitii,  farmers  of 
Bethel  township.  They  were  both  descendants  of  the  ear- 
liest settlers,  his  ancestors  Smith.  Eisenhaiier.  EetterhofT 
and  Heberling  having  been  prominent  at  and  during  the 
making  of  the  first  white  settlements  in  Bethel,  while  her 
ancestors  Batdorf  and  Zeller  came  from  Schoharie.  Xew 
^  ork.  in  172:»,  and  were  f>f  the  leaders  in  the  making  of 
the  first  settlement  at  Tulpehocken.  To  Percival  L.  and 
Malinda  (Smith)  Strauss  were  born  twelve  children: 
Harry,  who  died  :\c:i.'d  ten  years;  Sophia,  who  died  at  thirty- 
'ivc;  J.  Frank'in.  a  L<li.-ini->n  county  buiMer  and  coinracti>r: 
Mary  .\nii  .ind  Emma  Rebecca,  at  home:  John,  of  Kan  ;is 
Cii\.    Mo  :   Janus.   ,-i    hotel-keeper,    Reading;    Lavina.   wife 


oi  Dr.  I'rank  W.  Bucks,  Reading;  William,  a  merchant  .it 
Rehrersburg,  Berks  cour.ty;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George 
Schrciner,  at  the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works  of  Philadel- 
phia ;  Percival  S.,  a  graduate  of  the  West  Chester 
State  Xormal  School  and  the  L'niversity  of  Pennsylvania, 
ami  now  a  teacher  in  the  Phdadelphia  high  school;  and  B. 
Morris.  These  children  are  all  occupying  responsible  posi- 
tions in  life  and  are  all  living  up  to  the  record  made  by 
former  generations. 

(V)  B.  Morris  Strauss  was  born  on  the  fatuily  home- 
stead in  Bethel  township,  Sept.  20,  is.V.'i.  He  passed  the 
early  part  of  his  boyhood  on  the  home  farm,  securing  the 
rudiments  of  his  education  in  the  common  schools.  Later 
he  attended  the  Swatara  Institute  at  Jonestown,  and  after- 
wanl  the  !Millersville  State  Normal  School.  Fie  .'inishcd 
his  literar\  education  at  Pahitinate  College,  ^klycrstown : 
and  taught  school  for  a  while  afterward.  Having 
decided  on  the  law  as  a  profession,  he  now  took  up  its 
study  wiih  John  Benson  as  his  preceptor  and  on  May  2i>, 
\SSo.  was  admitted  to  the  Lebanon  County  Bar.  His  ad- 
mission to  the  Supreme  Court  of  Peimsylvania  followed 
in  l.S.Sj.  and  to  the  Supreme  Cout-t  of  the  United  Slates. 
Oct.  11.  1897.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Berks  County 
Bar  in  18'.»S.  He  is  also  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Super- 
ior Court  of  the  .State.  Mr.  Strauss  lived  and  practised 
his  profession  with  success  at  Lebanon,  where  he  was 
prominent  in  local  affairs,  having  served  a  term  as  clerk 
ot  the  water  board  of  that  city,  and  then  located  at 
Reading,  where  he  has  since  maintained  offices  at  No.  -'O 
XVirth  Sixth  .'-treet. 

Mr.  Strauss  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  the  political  life  of  the  city,  county  ai.d 
State.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hope  Lutheran  Church, 
and  is  interested  in  several  societies  which  have  for  their 
object  the  preservation  of  family,  county  and  national  his- 
tor\ .  He  is  thus  a  member  of  the  Historical  Society  of 
Pemisylvani;!.  the  Berks  Coimty  and  the  Lebanon  Cornty 
Historical  Siiciuties  and  ihe  Peimsylvania  German  Society. 
In  Ai)rii.  1903.  he  with  several  others  started  a  move- 
ment among  the  descendants  of  the  two  original  emigrants, 
.Albreclu  and  John  Philip  Strauss,  to  interest  ail  the  me;n- 
bors  of  the  family  in  a  yearly  reunion.  .All  the  meetings 
have  proved  a  source  of  great  pleasure  to  all  and  are  a.lways 
largely  attended,  the  latest  one  ha\ing  been  hy.d  ;it  Strauss- 
town,  founded  by  John  Strauss,  a  grand-UiicIe  of  our  sub- 
ject. From  the  number  of  the  nivmbers  that  have  been 
gathered  it  is  safe  to  estimate  that  the  descendants  of  these 
two  early  emigrants  munber  from  8.000  to  lO.OQO.  most 
numerously  found  in  Berks  and  Schu}'Ikill  cotmties.  ^-et 
settled  in  almost  every  State  of  the  Union 

I\lr.  Strauss  married  (second)  Miss  Hannah  S.,  daughter 
of  Elwood  S.  and  Sarah  R.  Laytoti.  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  one  daughter.  Anna   Margaret. 

IS-AAC  G.  TREAT,  one  of  the  well-known  citiz-cns  of 
Reading.  Pa.,  who  is  filling  the  responsible  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  Reading  Hardware  Company,  was 
born  in  Lycoming  c':'unty.  Pa..  Sept.  22.  1841.  son  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Ludwig)  Treat. 

Cliristian  Treat,  grandfather  of  Isaac  G.,  was  a  well- 
known  m.-m  of  Berks  county.  Pa.  He  was  of  English  des- 
cent, his  father  coming  from  England  at  an  early  date.  He 
married  Catharine  Glass  (or  Glase),  and  they  had  children 
as  follows  :  John,  wlio  lived  and  died  at  Milton,  Pa.,  m. 
Rebecca  Slough  ;  Chri^tian.  who  lived  and  died  in  Robeson 
township,  m.  Jeslina  Slough,  a  sister  of  Rebecca;  Betsy 
m.  John  Homan:  Polly  m.  John  Moore;  Catharine  m.  Fred 
Foreman,  the  grandfather  of  Harry  Foreman.  w!io  was 
burned  in  the  Boyertowii  fire  in  1903  with  his  wife,  two 
daughters  and  his  sister.  Sophia  Foreman;  Susanna  in. 
Henry  Hahn.  and  died  in  Rolnson  township,  the  mother 
of  John.  Mary.  Catharine.  David.  Hannah.  Henry.  Isaac, 
h^lhanan.  Susanna.  Isaiah  and  Samuel:  Henry  was  father 
of  Isaac  G. ;  Is.iac  died  at  Selinsgrove:  Abraham  ni. 
Lovina  Troslcl.  and  died  in  Keailing;  Joseph  died  in  Pliila- 
delpina;  Peter  dinl  in  Reading.  Chriftiim .  Treat,  the 
father,  died  at  \'>v]<.  Pa.,  and  after  1-is  death  his  wife 
married   (second''    Philip   Hart".     She  dieii  in   Re.idiiig. 


."I     "1 


oSS 


HISTORY   OV    !;L-.KKS   COL'XT^',    ri:\X.sV[.\'.\XIA 


Henry  Treat  was  liorn  in  Kobi-Si'n  low  nsliii).  Berks 
count)-,  and  received  hii  eilucniion  in  the  luiblic  schools. 
Early'  in  lite 'he  was  eniplt  .\  ci.l  aliout  the  iron  furnaces 
and  Karned  tlie  iron-making  hu^incs-;,  which  he  followed 
for  the  hahuice  of  liis  life,  dying  ni  l.S.")l.  Me  is  interred 
in  the  old  Lutheran  cemetery  ;it  the  corner  of  Sixth  and 
W'ashinytoii  street?.  Ileiiry  Treat  married  in  18;!:;,  Eliza- 
beth Ludwig-,  daughter  of  Henry  Ludwig,  and  to  this  union 
were  horn  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity, 
as  follows;  .Mary  m.  Jacoli  Shadle,  deceased;  John  L„ 
deceased,  was  a  prominent  himlierman  of  Willianisport, 
Pa.;  Sarali  m.  Samuel  nrosciu.-,  deceased;  Isaac  G. ; 
Htnry  is  a  farmer  of  Xevv  York:  Elizal.eih  m.  Jame>  K.  P. 
Robbins.  of  Wiiliam.speirt ;  and  Annie  m.  an  .Allen,  of 
Holconib,  X.  ^'.  hi  J6.")4  .Mrs.  Treat  married  (second) 
Peter  Ranch,  of  Clinton  county.  Pa.  She  was  a  member 
of  tlie  .\1.  E.  Church,  and  died  .March  10.  I'.iOi;,  aged  ninety 
years. 

Isaac  G.  Treat  recei\ed  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
Union  county,  the  University  at  Lewisburg  (now  Buck- 
ncll),  and  the  Union  Seminary  at  .Vew  Berlin.  Pie  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Company  .A.  i:;ir,t  Pa.  V.  I.,  Capt. 
J;icob  M.  Meiyer,  Colonel  .Mlahach,  and  ser\  ed  nme  months. 
being  honorably  discharged  in  isi;::.  He  re-enlisted  in 
Company  E,  .")lst  Regiment.  Col.  Jolm  1".  Harlr.mft,  and 
served  gallantly  until  .August.  J^O."),  when  he  was  honor- 
ably discharged  on  General  Orders  from  the  War  depart- 
ment. Mr.  Treat,  after  one  month's  rest,  took  a  course  at 
Clark  &:  Xelsoii's  Commercial  College,  and  then  located 
in  Ke.uling  permanently,  accepting  a  position  with  Philip 
.Albright,  proprietor  of  a  Ioc;d  express  business,  and  he 
remained  with  this  firm  imfil  October.  ISOG.  wlien  he 
engaged  with  tiie  Reaihng  Hardware  Conipanv.  Pieing 
industrious  and  ambitious.  .\!r.  Treat  sotju  becimc  familiar 
with  tlie  W(_)rk  of  ever>  department  of  the  concern,  and  his 
ability  being  recognized  by  his  employers,  he  was  rapidly 
promoted  from  pe>sitio!i  to  ijosiiinn,  ujitil  in  187:;  he  was 
made  superintendent  of  the  c^mjiaiiy.  which  is  one  of  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  the  Un.iled  .'^i;ite>.  A  self-maiie  man 
in  all  that  tlie  word  implies,  .Mr.  Treat  h.is  been  the 
arcliitect  of  his  own  fortmu-,  and  well  deser\■e.^  the  success 
that   h.is   been   his. 

Mr.  Tre.it  w;is  m.irried.  in  18(;si.  lo  Miss  Emma  Heyslier, 
darghter  of  Daniel  Deysher.  of  Olcy  township.  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  and  three  children  have  been  horn  to  this 
union:  FJaniel  G.,  employed  by  the  Reading  Hardware  Com- 
p.'tny ;  Henry  E..  who  died  in  ISOS,  aged  twentv-si.v  years; 
ar.d  Howard,  employed  by  tlie  Reading  Hardware  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Treat  is  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  Alemorial  Re- 
forniid  Cluircii.  and  for  a  mniiber  of  years  has  been  deacon 
and  elder. 

SAMUEL  DAVIES.  proprietor  oi  the  Industrial  Foun- 
dry and  .M.ichine  Works.  lU'  Readinci,  c<imes  of  Welsh  an- 
cestry, and  is  in  the  third  generation  from  the  founder 
of  the  family  in  .America,  one  Samuel  Da\ics. 

Samuel  Davies  was  born  in  Xewdiridge,  Wales,  in  17:17, 
He  changed  his  name  from  L'avis  to  Davies,  holding  that 
Stich  w;is  the  correct  WeLh  spelling,  and  all  of  his  kin 
have  retained  the  added  letter  eeer  since.  .About  17(i4 
Samuel  Da.-.ies  sailed  for  .\nierica.  came  to  Berks  ceiunty 
and  settled  in  Reading,  then  a  ■^niall  village,  where  he 
opened  a  shoe  shop  and  store  conihinetl.  In  177:;  he  mar- 
ried his  wife,  Eli/;dietli.  who  was  nf  German  parentage. 
With  the  e-\ception  of  four  years  in  Br.adford,  Chester 
Co.,  Pa.,  their  ni;irried  life  was  spent  wholly  in  Reading, 
and  there  tlie\-  died,  he  in  IS-'l.  aned  eighty-four,  and  she 
some  \e,-irs  l.ater.  They  were  members  of  the  Quaker 
sect.  Their  children  were:  Ml  .Mary,  burn  in  1771.  m.  a 
Mr.  Miller,  i :.' )  Lydia,  born  Julv  l'c.  177.'..  in.  but  had  no 
family.  ( :i )  Rebecca,  born  Jiu''-  K.'.  1777,  m.  TI:oin:is 
Bor,L;er.  (-1)  b.srph.  born  .I;in.  1.  1779.  in  early  life  w.is 
a  tanner  in  Chester  comity.  He  m.  in  LSn,".,  Aliss  L\  dia 
Kenned),  of  Wes;  Br.adford  township.  Chester  county,  and  a 
i.i;i!!!\  of  eleven  ciiildreii  was  born  lo  ;hem.  Mrs.  Lydi;'.  I  >,iv- 
i' s  ill;  c|  .\o\.  ::(i.  isl'.i.  aged  tony-one  years,  three  months 
and    iweiit)    diiys.      Some   seven   years    later  Joseph    Davies 


decided  to  go  West,  and  in  ilie  summer  of  1<M  he  traveled 
on  foot  to  Parke  count)-,  Ind.,  a  ilist.'ince  of  nearly  one 
thousand  miles.  He  died  July  .">,  Isi.'T,  ( ,j  )  Benjamin  was 
the  father  eif  Simu'.el  Davies.  (G;  Samuel,  born  Jan,  14, 
I7.s:;.  111.  .\ug.  :;i,  isi.").  in  Chester  county,  .Miss  Sarah  Harry. 
He  went  west  to  Indirma,  .-ind  there  died  Dec.  14,  ]Si'.;J. 
His  wife  rlied  Jan.  ~'s.  Is.'o.  le:n-iiig  four  sons,  Jesse.  Sam- 
uel. Lewis  and  Joseph.  (7)  J;icob,  born  June  ;i7,  1TS6,  be- 
came tl-.e  father  of  two  (hmghters.  both  now  deceased. 
IS)  ls,-iac.  born  .April  "-'.'i,  IVS'.i.  was  known  as  the  strongest 
m.iii  of  l^astern  PeiinsyKani.i,  He  left  no  family.  (9) 
Jr.shua  born  .Aug.  17.  K'.il.  b-.-came  a  well  known  teacher 
in  Reatling.  and  died  h'eb.  :.''.'.  isc.i.  His  wife  Deborah  was 
born  Feb.  27,  ]7;i:;,  and  died  Feb.  8.  isrj4.  leaving  an  only 
daughter.  Sarah,  (lu)  l-:iizabeth.  born  Dec.  8,  17'.)J,  left 
n(>  descendants. 

Benjamin  Davies  was  born  March  17,  1781,  and  on 
Jan.  27,  180.J.  was  married  lo  .Miss  Mary  Williams.  Eight 
children  were  bf)rii  to  them,  all  deceased  e.xccpt  the  young- 
est. (  1  )  .Abner,  born  X'ov.  i).  1S08,  in.  and  died,  leaving 
three  children.  William,  Lenora  and  Myers.  (2)  Lydia 
died  in  childhood.  ( :D  E^lizabeth.  (4)  Samuel,  and  (5) 
.Anne  died  in  early  life,  (fil  Mary  W'..  born  Sept.  10, 
181ii,  ni  Charles  Dehart.  an<l  had  children,  William.  Eliz- 
abeth. David.  Mary,  Edward,  Charles  and  Emma.  (7) 
Lydia  W.  was  a  teacher  of  Berks  county,  and  died  unmar- 
ried at  the  age  of  seventy.  (S)  Beiijamiii,  Jr.,  ni.  and  had 
four  children,  Howard,  .\nii.-i.  .M-irv  and  Jessica.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died,  and  on  Feb.  10,  18:.'8,  Mr. 
D;ivies  m.  (second)  ?diss  .Mary  Martin.  By  this  union 
there  were  four  ciiildreii:  .S.-imuel  is  mentioned  below; 
F'lizabeth,  born  Sept.  2t't,  lS4o.  m.  Herman  Dersch,  and  bad 
ten  children,  of  whom  b\e  are  living — John,  Gerlrude, 
George,  Rebecca  and  Helen:  Rebecca,  born  .Aug.  .''.1,  184:^, 
m.  William  Flutchinson.  aiul  had  nine  children,  of  whom 
William,  Ruth,  Elizabeth  and  Rebecca  are  living  (  Mr. 
Hutchinson  enlisted  .Aug,  10.  ISiil,  in  Company  IE  88tli 
1-*.!.  v.  L.  was  wounded  in  the  right  thigh  during  the 
second  battle  of  Bull  Pain.  .')uy.  I'.'.  I.^i'i2,  was  taken  prisoner 
before  Petersburg,  and  held  in  Libiiy  Prison  nnlil  mus- 
tered out  .March  :50,  ISi;:)  !  ;  Joseph.  b..ni  July  :?,  18)0, 
became  a  machinist  by  trade  .-iiid  m.  .Miss  .M.ir'-varet  Hale, 
and  of  tiieir  ten  children  lliere  ;m  e  living.  Mary,  .Anna, 
Katherine.  Rebecca  and  Martha  .\"ora. 

Beniainin  Davies.  father  of  this  large  family,  h'eca.me 
a  prominent  citizen  in  Reading.  Beginning  in  the  shoe 
business,  he  was  for  sonic  time  est:d.ilished  on  Penn  street 
between  F'ourth  and  Fifth.  When  the  Farmers  Xational 
Bank  was  opened,  .Mr.  D,-i\ies  opened  the  books  and  was 
made  its  first  bookkeeper,  and  later  he  served  for  a 
time  as  its  cashier,  maint.iiiMiig  his  coniKction  with  the 
institution  for  a  perioil  of  f(-irl)-  years.  This  fact  alone 
bespeaks  his  jilace  in  the  business  world  of  Reading,  while 
his  personality  made  him  \-ery  popular  socially.  In  religion 
he  was  a  strict  observer  of  the  customs  of  the  Friends. 
He  died  in  1S.")4.  in  his  seventy-fourtii  year,  while  his  wife 
survived  him  until  ISSS,  when  she  died  aged  eighty-eight, 
the  greatest  age  attained  b\-  any  member  of  the  Davies 
f.-imily. 

Samue!  Davies  was  born  in  Re:i(Iing.  ."\lay  4,  is^o.  and 
until  he  was  tilteen  years  old  he  attended  tlie  public 
schools.  He  then  entered  the  Philadelpliia  K'  Fveading  rail- 
road shop,s.  in  order  to  become  a  inaohini-t.  and  he  remained 
there  four  vears.  He  next  s;ieiit  ;ihout  ,-i  )-ear  and  a 
half  in  the  lathe  department  of  the  Scott  foundry,  and 
afterward  was  eiiiployeil  at  \-arious  pl.aces.  including  Leb- 
anon. Pittsburg  and  U'heeling.  Returning  to  Reading,  he 
was  engaged  at  ihe  Jerhnson  fouiulry  and  machine:  shop 
when  the  war  broke  out.  He  enlisted  in  the  State  service 
in  .\pril.  lS:il.  and  on  June  4.  isi;i,  he  enlisted  in  the  United 
St.ates  service  under  Capt.  William  Briner.  Company  D. 
:;d  Pa.  K.  V.  C.  He  served  ;dl  throne;h  the  war  in  the 
.\rm)  of  the  I'o!o:iiac,  w-as  in  ,'i  number  of  hard  fou.Lrht 
battles,  like  the  Seven  Hays  JMe.ht  ,-irom;d  Uiclnii  .nd. 
second  P.ull  Run.  South  Mountain.  .\miet,ani  and  I'rede.r- 
ieksb'.irLT.  ;ird  w.'is  nni--ierid  out  at  Ph.iladelpbi:'  m  tlie 
f.ill  of  ^•'(',^.  rile  ,<.'o\  ernmeiH  g;i\-e  bin  emploMiuiit  in 
Xashville,   ,incl    .Mr.    I). ivies    s|H-nt    some   time   in   th.it   cit.v. 


■;i  '•<{ 


r.IOGRArillCAL  5^9 

bi'fore    goirg    b.icU-    to    Ri-uliiv^.      'i'licro    ho    ;i;j;iin    workid  r.ali   ii.      lie    froiiiu  ntl\-    rcprc<ciUici    tlu'    liniortrh    i"    coii- 

as    a    r.iacl\ini-t.    I'nr    ilio    iai'irM,ul    uiiiil    1S-<I,    Int;    in    tliat  wnii.ms.  ard   m   ilif  cnii!)    cimu  otiiii'iiN  ,,i'    i-;s:;  and    r.uv: 

year  lu'  went   iniii  hu>ir,i  s-.   lor  liinisi.lt.  ho  ol'ticiatcd  as  ctiairnian, 

Tlu'  oMa-oiii  01  wliioli  Mr    Davio^  i>  now  <i>l(   iir.iprioicr  Hr.   l-rctz   was  married   in    isii:;  in    I'nuna   Koln.'r-.ton,  of 

lias  pas-od  tlironivh  \  ;irions  phasi'S  of  t  xistonoc.     i)i  i:;iiiall\ .  riiiladolphia.  daiii;liter  of   Thomas   Rohirt'^on.  and  to  ihis 

in    ISSl,  the   t'.rni   iiamo   \\;'.<   Milk-r.    l'ri.\-  &   C"o..  and   tli.  nnion.  one  son.  'I'lionias.  l;as  hoen  liorn. 

company    did    a    foundry    and    machine    l)nsiiK>>.      .\    lew  Thomas    h'retz    was    horn    in    ISiii!    at    I'hil.idelphi.i.    at- 

years    later    it    heeamc    Miller,     rriiit/.e    \    Co..    and    then  tended    the    schools    uf    I'Jeetwood.    and    after    a    preii.ira- 

Davios,  i'rint/e  &  Co..  ;ind  tlnally  in  \W^  Mi.  Pax  ies  took  tory  course  at   the   Kevstone   St.ite    .Xormal   School,   he  at- 

eiilire    contiol    of    the    plant.      It    is    now    known    as    the  ti  tided    I.nfa.\ette   Collcjie.    from    \\hich   he   was   .i;radnated 

Iiuhistrial    I-\)uiidr\    .iiul    Machine    \\i'rl<.    and    i>    located  in    IS'.ii)       lie   ci^ntinned    the   hii:her   hr;inches   of    study   at 

at    Nos.    'J:.'ii -:.':! I     South    Xintli    .-^ireet.      T~liere    are    al)iint  Princeton    University,    from    wliich    he    was    graduated    in 

twenty    hands    employed,    an. I    the    tra<le,    thoni.;h    l;o>;ely    a  isv:;.      In    I'.inil    he    was    elected    principal    of    tile    i;rammar 

local  one,  is  of  good  volnme.  schools   .%t    Newark,    X.   J.,   and    he    tilled    this    respiMisihlc 

On    Dec.    K!.    JSi'id,    Mr.    Oavies    married    Mi<s    MariTuret  position   in   ihe   most   satisfactory   manner   until    I'.MIT.   when 

Bitch,    d.uvrhier    of    the    l.ite    1  )r.    Sulomoii    Bircii.      Five  tie  wa.s  .appointed  to  .a  similar  position  in   Xew   \'oik  ("ity. 

childieii    wete    horn    to   them,   ;is    toll>ws:    Mary    h'lizaheth  which   he   still   holds,      lie   was   m.arried    to   .M.iry    .\l.uleira. 

died    at    the    .i.ce    of    tw..    _\ears:    llarr\    and    Willi.am    are  danghfer  of  Jiilm   II.   Madeira,  i.f  I'd.-iiulnn.  and  one  d.iU'.;li- 

both   mech.'nics   employed   with   their    father;    Henlah,   who  tor,    luiiily.    was   horn    to   this    union.      Mrs.    hretz   died    in 

was  gr.iduated   from  the  Readini;  high  school  in  the  clais  1893. 
of  IS'.t.'i.  t.aight  in  that  city  a   few  years  anil   ther,  married 

Josei>h    II.   Skilteiii,  :.  resident  of    Phil.idelphia  :   and    Mar-  Xi'A'IX    .M.  1).\\"1S,  .i  civil  engineer  rankitifif  deservedly 

garet,  of   the   class   .if   IDiMl   in  the    Keading   high   school,   is  high  m  his  piofes.-ioii.  e.iine  of  .i   f.imily  long  cstahlished  in 

now    teaching    at    the    Tear    .and    r.iuionwi>'id    school.      Mr.  'N'ork  coni't>,  ami  his  death,  .\pril    I'J.   I'.iiv.i,  was  deeply  de- 

Davies  served  duiing  the  w:ir  in  (.'ompaii)    O.  ;!:.'d   I'a.  V.  I.,  ploied.     lie  w.is  a  son  of  the  Re\.  Willi, mi  1".   1\  and   F.llen 

seeing    nmeh    active    service,    and    is    now    ;i    menilier    of  K.    (  M.\ers  )    D.avis. 

G    A.  R.   Post   No.  ICi,  vi  which  he  is  past  commander,     lie  The    Rev.    William    h'.    P     P.uis    \i,i-i    .a    minister    of    the 

also  belongs  to  the  Union   Veteran   Legion,  and  holds  the  Reformed   Ulmrcli,      lie  li\ail   to   tlu    age  of  onl.\    lift>   two 

iilVicial  I. ink  of  past  colonel.     In  politic^  he  is  :i   lUpiihlicm.  years,  passing   aw.iy  in    l.-^SIi.     .\t  the   time  vi  his  death  he 

liad  a  char;.;!'  in   Herks  county  that  emliraccd  Wernersvilh.' 

DR.  .M'.RAIl.AM    Xh'.STh'R  h" Rh.  T/.  w  ho  for  over  thir-  (  I  laiii'>    Chrrch).    Sinking   S'pring's.    Kissinger's    and    Vo- 

ty-foiir  years  has  heen  engaged  in  tlie  praeiiee  of  medicine  eiim's  t'hnielus.     lie  married  h'.llen  h"..  d.inyhter  of  I'.enja- 

aiid    surgeiy    :it    Fleetwood,    Pierks   coimtv.    w.as   horn    .\ug..  niin    .Myer.-..   a    retired    husiness   man   <if   N'ork   and    founder 

7.  ]S:!<),  in   Hereford  township,  son  of   Oaniel   F'letz.  of    the    l'"armers    Insur.ince    Company,    of    that    place.      The 

Daniel    I'ret/    was    born    in    Hereford    t  'wnshii)    in    ISO...  ^hildl■en  horn  to  this  marri.ige  were  as  follows:  William  S., 

was   reared   lo   agiicidtnt;d   niirsiiils   and    foPnwed    f.iiaiiin:.';  a  gradn.'ite  of  l.ehigli  Uiii\'er>ity,  and  now  ;^eneral  man:ii;er 

in   the   vicinity   of    his    hirtli    until    hi>    dealh,    ai    1nS(1.      He  of    the    Lebanon    'lextile    Woiks;    Loiiis.i    P.ell.    now     Mrs. 

married      l-.Mlier     Xestir,     of      I'ike      townshi|..    iKar     Hill  Charles   Wilson,  of   Glen  Olden,    Pa,;    Paul    P.enj.imin.   aUo 

Church,   and   to   this   miioii   wi  le   horn   si\   i  liiMren  :    .\hr,i-  .i    l.ehig.h   I'liivcsily  man,  as'-ist.im   city  engineer  of   K'ead- 

ham   X.;    Lewis,   in.    to     1  wana    RhiiIhi;    Annie,    who   (.lied  ing   from   I'.'tt:!  to   I'.iOt);  John    Henry,  a  cU  rk  in  t!ie   Second 

young;     Irwin,    in.    to    Ma:\     .M.irch;    and.    I'riscill.i    .md  Xational   Haiik  ;   Martha,  at  home;  .and    Xevin   M. 

Antiic,  who  both  dieil  young.  Xevin  M.  Davis  was  born  .Ait.g.  ~s,  iSilt.  in  Xew-  CKfoid. 

Dr.  .Miiab.'iii   X.    Fret^'s  earl>    edii-ation  was  secured  in  .\dams  cmmty,  where  his  father  h.ad  liis  lirst  charge,    .\fter 

the    public    sciiools,    and    after    a    th'noiieh    piapar.ilion    at  le.ixing  schonl   he   entered    b'r.anklin   and    Marshall   College. 

Mt.     Pltasaiit     Seminar^     r.t     liovertown.    he    eiMcied     the  .and  was  graduated  in   l,"<.s.").     The  lirst  pivsilion  he  secured 

Uiiiver.-ity  of  l'enii.-.ylvania  aiul  i;radii.ited  from  the  .Medic, il  w.is  with  the   Philadelphi.a  vv:  Reading  Railwn_\   C'l.  as  civil 

Ucpartmcnt  in   15^i>;!.    The  country  then  being  in  the  luidl  engineer,  and  he  waVi  with   th.e  Companv    for  seven   years, 

of  the   Civil   w.ir.   he  enlisted  :it   W.ishiiigton.   D.   C,  and,  During  this  time  he  was  as>istant  engineer  in  the  constrnc- 

recciiing     the     apiioinlment     of    .aeliiig     assistant     surgeon,  tion    of    the     Mlenlown    Terminal     .and     the     Phil.idelphia. 

was  detailed  to  iieifotm  ho-piial  >-(  i  \  ic  at    Xev,  i'lort    .X'ews  1  lai  rislmrg     \      Pittsburg    Termin.d     R.iilw  ;i\  .s.        \noiiier 

and    vicinity    until    l.sr.li.      Tliin,    muh-r    the    Reeonsti  iiclion  work   with  which   he  w  .i>  concerned   wa^  the    Port    Reading 

Act,   Gen.   John    II,    Schotiek!   appointed    him   president    of  Uailw.av    from    llonndhrook.    .X.   J.,   to    Port    Reading,      Mr. 

the  board  of   registr.itioii.  will',   headipiarters  ,at   City   Point,  Davis   also   held   the   position   of   assistant    engineer   for   the 

V'a..  and  he  tilled  this  respon-:ihle  position  in  ihe  nio.st  sat-  i,'»ntral    Xew    I'lighind    ,iiid    Western    Railw.iy,    with    head- 

isfactory  manner  until  t!ie  f.all  ni  ISiif).  quarters  at   Hartford,  Conn.,  ,and  had  charge  of  the  main- 

\\'liile  .at  t!ie  kill'  r  pl.i.e  Dr.  IVei:-  ideiitilied  himself  with  ;eiiai,ee   of   the    famous    Poughkeepsie    Hridge.      In    1S'.):;    he 

the   alTairs   of    I'niu-'    ( irorge   eonmv.    anil    ilie   electors    of  ,i;.ave    up    his    position    with    the    r.ailroad    and    opened    an 

that    district    elected     hi'ii     ,i'.     one     I'i    tlie    .Nssemlilymen,  oirice    on    his    own    account,    taking    engineering    conlrjTets. 

There    being    tvvi.    p.irti's    in    ih.ii    .S'..ate.    vi/..    the    R.adic.d  lie    was   at    lirst    associated    with    the   tirm    of    D.ivis    P.ro'^., 

Republicans    loid    the    l.iber.il    Republicans,    he    was    cho'^eii  but   in    IS'.IS   (hat   was  dissolved   and    Mr.   Davis   had   his  of- 

011   the    ticket    of    the    latter,   .and    Seived    in    this    honor.ahle  lice  .done  in  the  Wanner  nnildiiii;.  Reed  and  Court  streets. 

position  duiing  the  \e.iis  ISi'.'.p.   ISTU  and  1STI.     He  then  re-  He  was  extremelv   prolicieiit  in  Ins  profession,  and  hi--  work 

turned   to    Pemisv  Iv  aiiia    and    took    ,iii   .addition. d   course   of  w  ,is  .dw.avs  of  t'le  highest  el.iss,     Mr.  Davis  -.v.as  also  con- 

inctlical   lectures   in   the   I'niversitv    for   .a   year,   .after   which  nected     with     xaiiiits    electric     railw.ivs.     and     direcieil     the 

he  established  himself  in  medic. d  practice  at  l.inrield.  Mont  engineering   work   on   the    Reading   &    WomeFdcirf    i  1,  ciric 

KiMiicry  comity,  and  was  successfully  eng.aged  .at  tli.at  place  Railwav-.      He    was    chief    engineer    of    the    S.ife     Harbor 

until    ins    remov.al,    in     IST.'>,    to    lleetwood,    P.erks    county,  .Ste.nii   R.iilway   in   Lancaster  county, 

where  he  has   been   in   active  (>ractiee  ever  since.  .Mr.    Davi';   was   married   Jan.    It.    IS'.Ki.   to    F'li/abetii    F'ry 

Dr.    FVetz.    upon    locating    .at    bleeiwood,    took    an    active  Stein,  ikangliter  of  J.acob  Stein  and  the  l.ite  I'lllen   I'.li/.dH'tii 

interest  in  educational  .ilTairs  .iimI  i|iiite  naturally  his  fellow  Stem,  of  Albntovvn.  where  Mr.  Stein  was  a  retired   farmer, 

citizens  selected  him  t<'  be  .a  seboi.l  director,  and  he  served  rinae   ehiKln  n    weir  hoi  n   to   them,   but    I'"li.'.ali''th,  tile  sec- 

as  such  fr'.'iii    tSTT  to    tS'S).     In    K'^ST  he  was  elected  as  one  on. I.   ilual   in   inf.iiicv.      Ihe  ollur   two  aia.    FVederick   .Stein 

of    the   justices   .if   the   peace   .>f    this    b.Mivu.uh.   and    he   h.is  .iiid    Robert    Stein,    both    in    scli.-iol       Mr     and    Mi";.    Davis 

been  serv  in;;  in  tlii>  position  by  re-election  until  the  present  belong,   lo  .St,    Paul's   Reformed  Church 

time,   shovvii'a;    t!ie    hie.li    .appreciation   of    the   eomnmnilv    in  .Mr.    D.ivis  li.id    f.M    iii.anv    ve.ir-^  b.l.'ii",ed   I"  lb.'    M.i  ;"nic 

his  jiidieial  ii.leiii  itv .     In  p.litics  he  h.is  been   a    Dem.nr.it,  fi.iteniitv.   .an. I    i^   .'..nn.iod    with    v.irions   other   oruani.'.i- 

nnd   iip.di   settliiii'.   in   the  c.umlv  be   iiK  mined    hinis.lt    with  li.«ii>;,    in   iu..--t    ..f   whi.-h   he    h.i'i   b.-.n   mtv   .lelive   .and    held 

its  political   aff.air-,  .is  well  .,s  with  thi>-e  of  the   .M.ite  .iml  miii.irt.int    .iirici.s.      He    is    Past    M.i-t.'r   of   Re.nling    Lo.lge. 


390 


HISTORY  OF  BERKS  COUNTY.  REXXSYLVAXIA 


No.  540,  F.  &  A.  M.;  Fait  liich  Triost,  and  at  present 
secretary  of  Reading  Chapter.  Xo.  IJ-.  R.  A.  M.;  Past 
Eminent  Commnnder  of  De  .Molay  Comniandcry,  Xo.  9, 
K.  T.;  Pait  Thrice  Illuftrious  Grand  .Master  of  .-\llen 
Coimcil,  Xo.  23,  R.  &  S.  .M.;  niember  of  Harrisburg  Con- 
si.-tory,  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  Masons,  32d  de- 
gree; and  a  charter  member  oi  Rajali  Temple.  A.  A.  O.  X. 
yi.  S.,  in  which  he  served  as  Oriental  Guide  for  nine 
years.  ^Ir.  Davis  also  represented  the  Grand  Comnumdery. 
knights  Templar  of  tlie  .State  of  Louisiana,  to  the  Grand 
Com.mandcry  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  politics  Mr.  Davis  was  an  ardent  Democrat,  serving  a' 
the  time  of  his  death  as  representative  oi  the  Si.xteenth 
ward  ou  tile  school  board.  lie  served  as  coi'.nt\  surveyor 
for  three  years.  He  was  a  niember  of  the  .Americus  Club, 
the  Union  Fire  Company  Xo.  i::  Uince  its  organization) 
and  had  held  most  of  the  offlcts  in  it.  He  was  president 
of  the  Firemen's  Union  in  I'.tOC.  and  19uT.  and  a  niember  of 
the  Firemen's  Relief  .-\ssucic.lion  as  delegate  from  his 
company  to  the  organization  at  large.  In  whatever  capacity, 
he    always    rendered    most    valued    and    efficient    service. 

The  most  important  professional  and  political  position 
held  by  Mr.  Davis  was  that  of  engineer  to  the  county  com- 
missioners of  Berks  county  in  190G-07-0S,  during  which 
time  he  designed  and  introduced  into  Berks  county  bridges 
of  reinforced  concrete.  The  most  noted  of  these  bridges 
is  the  one  across  the  Schuylkill  river  at  Daubereille,  con- 
sisting of  four  seveiit> -hve-foot  spans  of  reinforced  con- 
crete, and  a  tot.al  length  of  four  hundred  feet.  This  is 
considered  one  of  the  Uinsi.  artistic  structures  in  Eastern 
Pennsylvania,  and  ->Ir.  Davir  vas  highly  complimented 
by  his  profession  and  by  the  public  in  general  for  the 
many  handsome  structure?  he  designed  and  erected,  which 
will  ever  be  monuments  to  liis  memory. 

ABXER  KEjELEY  STAUFFER,  for  many  years  one  of 
tli;-  prominent  members  of  the  Berks  County  Bar,  was  a 
descendant  of  Henry  Stnuffer  ta  scion  of  the  imperial 
Hohen-Stauffen  fainily  of  Germany),  who  came  to  .-Xnierica 
from  RhcTiish  Germany  early  in  the  eighteenth  century. 
Mi.  Stauifer  w^as  born  at  lioycrtown,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct. 
11,  1S36,  son  of  John  and  ElizaiK-th   (Keeley)   Stauffer. 

Judge  John  Stauffcr  was  born  Juh  4,  1702,  and  died 
Xov.  28,  1S51.  He  served  as  county  surveyor,  and  was 
later  honored  with  elrction  to  the  State  Legislature,  in 
wiiich  he  served  in  1S20-3O.  From  1840  to  ISTiO  he  served 
as  associate  judge  of  Berks  county,  and  so  popular  was 
he,  and  so  satisfactory  vvre  his  actions,  that  he  was  ten- 
dered the  Democratic  nomination  for  Congress,  which  was 
equivalent  to  an  election  in  j.lerks  county.  But  because 
of  failing  health  he  was  obliged  to  decline  the  honor,  and 
he  died  in  1S.'4.  just  four  years  after  his  term  as  judge 
had  expired.  To  his  home  at  Boyertown  came  all  the  people 
to  have  their  disputes  adjusted,  his  reputation  as  a  wise, 
considerate  judge  having  extended  far  and  wide,  and  his 
fame  as  a  counselor  being  scarcely  equalled  in  the  county. 

Judge  Stauffer  married  Elizabeth  Keeley,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Eliz.Tbeth  Keeley.  th.e  fi)rmer  a  prominent 
farmer  in  Douglass  township.  Mrs.  Stauffer  was  horn 
Oct.  1,  17'js,  and  died  Dec.  ;!i.i,  1S57.  She  was  the  mother 
of  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom 
two  survive,  viz. :  Elizabeth,  widow  of  .\braham  G. 
Schwenk,  of  Schw.?nkville,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  a  settle- 
ment founded  by  the  father  of  Sir.  Schwenk,  who  at  one 
time  owned  nearly  all  the  land  in  that  neighborhood ; 
and  .\inanda.  widow  of  Rev.  Abraham  E.  Dechant,  of 
Pennsburg,  a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church,  who  was 
born  in  Alontgomery  county  Jan.  20,  1823.  graduated  at 
Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  Lancaster,  and  at  the  Re- 
formed Theological  Seminary  of  that  city. 

.Abner  K.  Stauffer  received  his  preparatory  education 
at  Mt.  Pleasant  Semin.iry,  in  his  native  town,  which  in- 
siituiion  w.is  org.inizcd  liy  his  father  in  1S.'>0.  lie  was  grad- 
uated from  Frankhn  and  Mar.sha'!  College,  at  Lancaster, 
in  1S.".S,  and  after  teaching  school  for  one  year  at  Boyer- 
town came  to  Reading  in  l.'^OO,  here  talcing  up  llie  reading 
of  law  with  t!ie  Lite  John  S.  Richards.  He  was  adnntied 
to  pr.actice  .April  1.",  ISi".],  on  ilie  very  day  wiiich  wnnessed 


the  issuance  of  the  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln 
calling  for  7.5,(100  troops,  this  prociamatioii  being  read  in 
court,  all  the  members  of  the  Bar  then  assembled  taking 
the  oath  of  allegiance.  On  June  28,  18G3,  Mr.  Stauffer  en- 
listed, becoming  a  member  of  Company  C.  42d  Penns>  l,  ,ini.i 
Voluiueers,  and  served  with  loyally  and  hdelit\-  until  his 
company  was  mustered  out  because  their  services  were  no 
longer  required,  practically  at  the  end  of  the  war.  He 
returned  to  Reading,  and  in  l''G7  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Republicans  of  Berks  county  for  the  State  Senate, 
and  made  a  gallant  run  on  the  minority  ticket,  carrying 
the  city  of  Reading  by  a  large  majority,  running  far  ahead 
of  his  ticket,  but  being  defeated  in  the  county. 

This  was  but  the  beginning  of  a  most  active  career.  Mr. 
Stauffer  was  always  deeply  interested  in  all  matters  of 
public  moment,  and  did  yeoman  service  for  his  city.  He 
served  three  terms — I.SGO.  1S7;J  ?nd  1S81 — as  a  member  of 
tlu  city  councils  of  Reading,  and  during  one  ycnr  of  this 
time,  1873,  he  was  president  of  same.  During  b'S  member- 
sliip  in  that  body  Mr.  Stauffer,  through  liis  persevering  ef- 
forts, brought  about  many  measures  for  the  public  good 
which  stand  as  lasting  monuments  to  his  iiiielligencc  and 
public  spirit,  his  good  citizenship  and  civic  pride.  But  he 
worked  equally  hard  in  oftice  and  out,  and  among  the  many 
things  he  did  for  the  general  welfare  was  the  promotion 
of  a  measure  which  secured  the  removal  of  the  old  market 
sheds  whicli  stood  in  Penn  Square,  resulting  in  the  erec- 
tion, in  tlieir  stead,  of  the  splendid  market-hou-es  that 
are  now  the  pride  of  the  Reading  householders.  This  was 
accomiilished  in  J 87 1.  .Mr.  Stauffer  also  used  his  ability 
as  a  lawyer  as  well  as  his  courage  as  a  man  in  making 
free  (,in  1883)  the  three  bridges  which  cross  the  Schuylkill 
at  Reading,  the  citizens  formerly  h.aving  been  forced  to  pay 
toll.  Mr.  Stauffer  discovered  tiiat  this  toll  was  collectible 
only  until  the  cost  of  the  bridges  (and  repairs  needed  dur- 
ing the  time  the  original  cost  was  being  made  up)  was 
paid.  He  went  over  the  reci~)rds  for  eighty-eight  years,  a 
tiuly  llerculean  task,  and  found  that  not  only  had  all 
osts  l.ieen  secured  from  the  tolls,  but  also  $7,000  in  excess, 
proving  liy  facts  and  figures  the  injustice  of  th.e  conditions, 
and  when  these  were  properly  brought  before  the  court 
the  bridges  were  made  free.  He  worked  over  this  problem 
for  six  years,  and  for  this  service  the  councils  presented 
him  a  set  of  resolutions  thanking  him  in  behalf  of  tlie 
city.  A  third  very  important  measure  for  whicli  the  city 
is  indebted  to  Mr.  .Stauffer  was  tlie  securing  to  the  city  of 
the  old  parade  ground,  now  Penn  Common,  thirty-nine 
acres  of  ground,  worth  nearly  $1,000,000.  It  had  been 
leased  (but  without  legal  warrant)  by  t!ie  commissioners 
of  Berks  county  to  the  Agricultural  Society  for  a  period  of 
ninety-nine  >cars.  at  an  annual  rental  of  one  dollar.  This 
resulted  in  lengthy  litigation,  the  lower  court  deciding 
against  the  city,  but  the  Supreme  court  reversed  the 
decision  and  gave  the  land  to  the  city.  Hon.  George  F. 
T'acr  was  associated  with  Mr.  Stauffer  in  making  this  tight, 
Mr.  Baer  bringing  the  case  before  the  Supreme  court. 
Both  gentlemen  declined  pay  for  their  services,  and  the 
Board  of  Trade  and  city  councils  spread  upon  tiioir  minutes 
the  must  eulogistic  praise  of  tlie  eminent  and  publi.-:-spirited 
scr\iccs  that  Mr.  Stauffer  and   Mr.  Baer  had  rendered. 

-Mr.  .Staufter  was  married  Sept.  2.5.  18G0,  to  Emma  Ltmisa 
Kanninger.  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  pioneer  bookbinder.^; 
of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  his' bindery  was  a  familiar  land- 
mark. Mrs.  Stauffer  was  born  Feb.  7,  1841,  and  died 
Marcli  20.  18G.).  Two  children  were  born  to  this  union, 
vi.'. :  Ella  Selina,  born  Alarch  11.  1SG2,  died  May  3.  1866,  as 
the  re^iih  of  a  fall.  Edgar  Embery,  born  March  S,  1865, 
died  July  27.   1SG5. 

.Mr.  .Stauffer  married  for  his  second  wife  Mary  High 
Keim,  daugliler  of  Col.  John  Keim,  a  lumber  dealer  of 
Reading,  and  later  a  banker  at  Dubuque,  Iowa.  .\f  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Stauffer.  which  occurred  in  ISO),  the  news- 
paper>  of  Reading  vied  in  llieir  tributes  to  her  rare  gifts 
of  mind  and  heart,  one  of  them  .saying,  in  an  extended 
cbiiu.irv.  ".She  united  the  old  Ki  ini  f.unily  of  Berks  'and 
the  R;indfili)li  stock  of  V'ir^jinia.  She  was  descciulod  iiia- 
terna.Ily  from  the  Tuckalvc  branch  of  the  Kandoi;;!-.;-;  ,':f 
\'irginia.  and  was  a  grandd.iughter  of  Col.  Tli'..:i;ss   Bcv- 


■-J.   M 


BIO(:K.\l'lflC.\L 


391 


erly  Rnndoliili.  o:x>  of  the  tir>t  graihinies  of  \\\-:«t  Point. 
Sho  was  of  ;lu'  !i:n!i  tiC'i^T-'t'i-'H  m  iK-ci-nt  I'roir.  the  Al- 
goiiQiiin  princi-ss,  Pucaht-iiias.  Sin-  bi.>;a;iu'  the  hclovccJ 
mother  of  ivur  i  hililri'ii.  all  oi  whom  survive,  vi^. :  John 
Keim,  Fredrrick  Kaiulolph,  Anna  Keim  and  Mary  \"irginia. 
William  Wirt  Mills,  of  \\\v  York,  a  sou  of  Mrs.  Staiitfcr 
by  her  fuit  hnsband.  Col.  William  W'iit  Mills,  oi  l>ul)Uiiiu', 
Iowa,  also  S'uvivi'.';." 

Of  the  ciiil'lren,  Jolm  K.  Staulfer,  a  j;raduate  of  Vale 
Collctro.  class  .if  18'.i">.  is  cnnnectod  with  the  Tiiius  of 
Washington,  D.  C.  and  is  Wa^hnigton  corresiiondi.ni  for 
the  Xow  York  Ezi-iiiii;:;  Post  and  for  the  I'liihuKlphia  Even- 
ing liiiHi'tiii.  I'redc-ick  Randolph  SiaulYer,  now  a  lawyer  in 
practice  at  Readiu.u.  was  tiradnated  fr.>m  Y"ale,  class  of 
I'Jii.i,  and  then  stndied  law  with  1  (on.  Geor_i;c  F.  Baer  and 
Jefferson  Snyder.  F.sq.  In  June.  I'.iOT,  he  wa.s  nonn'iiated 
for  I^istrirt  .\ttoincy  of  llovks  county  on  the  Republican 
ticket  biit  subsei|iienlly  with.iirew  because  ineliyihle  to  serve, 
a.s  he  had  not  been  m  practice  ilic  rei|uired  length  oi  time. 
The  daughter.?  gradu.ited  fre>m  the  Reading  high  Si'hool  and 
the  Xational  l^nk  Soniin.ary,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Tlicy 
are  socially  prominent  in  Readini>. 

Mr.  Stauffer  was  a  Knii.dit  Icniplar  Mason,  belonging 
to  Reailing  Commnndery.  Xo.  -iS.  lie  was  ;i  memi)er  ot  the 
t!pijcop;iI  Church,  and  a  vestryman  at  Christ  Cliurch, 
Rea('ing,  and  lie  was  one  of  t!ie  founders  and  tieasurer  of 
-St.  Mary's  I'.niseopd  Churcii.  Reading.  In  ISTx'  Mr.  Slant- 
fer  was  iiiade  a  (lirector  and  trustee  of  the  Reading  I'ul)- 
lie  I.ibtary,  continuing  to  ser\e  as  such  to  the  end  of  hi-, 
day.<,  and  he  gave  cons'ilerable  time  lo  furthering  its  inter- 
ests. It  was  through  his  efforts  ihat  the  property  was  .-.aved 
to  tne  conip.any  wiieii  the  failure  of  tlie  Reading  SaNiiit;s 
Rank  threatene<l  to  sweep  it  a\>ay.  ami  it  was  hi  who 
fought  for  so  niaiiy  years  /'■■r  a  cu\  ap|)ropriation.  Prim.ir- 
ily  n  professional  man,  with  h.rge  interests,  Ik-  thus  found 
time  oil  man;-  rire;i'-io!is  to  gi.e  his  best  elYi.rts  lu  the  ad- 
vanc''::Hnt  of  the  ci\ie  welf.ue  aiul  the  promotion  of  enler- 
prise.s  in  which  hiv  cmii-trn  personally  w.is  simpK-  iliat  of 
a  i)iiijlicsp>riti.(l  uti/eii.  ri'nu.rh  past  sevinis,  Mr.  Statf- 
fei  enitiyed  ixcellent  health  untd  a  week  before  hi--  dcalh. 
wl-.en  lie  contrac'.eil  a  cold  vvhieh  eiuleil  in  pneum(>nia,  and 
he  ilied  at  t!ie  familv  resilience.  .\'o.  l.'il.'!  Hill  Ro.id,  Xov. 
4,  I'.iCm-., 

HIRAM  J.  nidOXV.  a  prominent  and  intluenti.d  citizen 
of  Molmli'P,  I'a..  ent;,iged  in  the  manuf.icture  of  hosiery, 
was  b'iru  June  I,  !mi:,'.  at  Sanatoga,  Montgomery  Co..  Pa., 
son  oi  \\'i!liam  W,  and  .Mary  I..  (  Weid.i )   P.igon\. 

The  spelling  of  the  n.ime  P.iiiopy  was  formerly  Bigonet 
or  Pichonet.  :uid  the  se.il  "f  tiie  faniil\  was  in  Langiiedoc, 
France.  The  tirst  of  tl>'  n.ime  lure  w.is  Jean  T'igonet,  a 
native  of  the  city  of  Ximes,  wlio  came  in  iT.'i'J.  t_>ii  May 
i'7,  1T."i;>,  he  was  m.irried  in  tiermamown.  Pa.,  to  Catherine 
Elizabeth,  the  widow  of  Henry  t.>zias.  In  17T;>  arrived 
F'rancois  P.  lligoiut.  who  h'-eated  in  the  I'alkiier  Swamp 
in  MontgouKry  county.  Pa.,  where  he  m.arried  .Maria  Rrant 
in  1770.  The\'  had  children:  Joseph,  gr.mdfather  of  Hiram 
J.;  M.iry.  m.  to  Isaac  Y.wt:  Susan,  in.  to  ("ieorge  Rinehart ; 
and  .1  ihird  daughi^r,  wlio  was  killed  while  still  \otmg 
o-A  her  way  honv-  from   Philadelphia. 

Joseph  iiigony  wa--  liorn  in  .Montgomery  ctunty,  Xov. 
1-1,  17110,  and  died  tV't.  7.  ISii;).  I'or  some  vcars  he  lix'ed 
in  -Vinity  townsliip.  Perks  county,  but  later  he  retttrned 
to  Sanatoga.  Mont'_;o!nery  eouiitv .  where  he  died.  He 
was  a  prosperous  farmer  and  .dso  did  s.ine  driving  and 
auctioneering,  m.iking  occasional  trips  to  Canada  for 
cattle.  On  Dec.  I.'>.  1^11.  he  married  Rachel  Worley, 
born  Sejit.  17.  17".il.  who  died  ;iged  seventy-five  years, 
seven  nu'nths,  twenty  riay«.  daughter  of  Henry  Worley, 
of  Pottstown.  Their  cl-ildren  were:  I'rancis.  born  Julv  -J.'i. 
1814;  John.  I'\b.  LT,.  iSir.:  J.-scph,  M;irch  1,  l-si-*";  Slar\ 
Ann,  March  11.  1S::o:  Heni\.  I'eb.  r,.  IS:.'L':  l.i.di.  Sept. 
17.  1S2I  (residing  :it  .AUK  ii  St:ilion,  Pa.):  Hiram  and 
Fphraim,  twins,  .XLireh  ;>,  is:?><;  h'l.mk.  Sept.  7.  ls.;o;  and 
Reuben  and   W;!li;i.ii.   Iveiii-.    Hee.   LN.    \Ki:. 

Willi. im  W.  Pi;..;  iny.  fallier  ot"  Hir.im  J..  w:is  liom  in 
.\mit\  tovvn-lii).  ami  \\  hen  ;i  youn:;  man  K'ariicd  lli<-  t:in 
niiii.;    trade   of   bis   brolh.er,   Joseph,   of   1-ongswanip    tuwn- 


sliin.  This  he  followed  for  about  twenty-five  years,  and 
in  lStV,)-71  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  at  .Mburtis, 
Lehigh  coui-.ty,  and  Monterey,  Perks  county.  In  1372 
he  remcvved  to  Greenwich  township  on  a  small  farm  near 
Grimville.  and  he  engaged  in  the  droving  business  there 
until  his  retirement  in  Ituiu*.  when  he  renioved  to  Edison, 
Cumru  township,  where  he  died  Xov.  1.'.  I'.'O.-,.  aged  nearly 
seventy-four  years.  He  v\-as  a  well  known  cattle  dealer 
of  his  day,  and  also  was  very  successful  .is  an  auctioneer. 
On  1\'1>.  K'.  IMU).  .Mr.  lligoiiy  married  .Mar\  L.  Weida.  born 
-Max  :S1.  1S:!(),  in  Longsw;iinp  township,  and  still  li\ing, 
daughter  of  Daniel  anil  b^liza  (Weikr)  Weida.  To  this 
union  there  were  born  children  as  follows:  .-Xnnie  died  in 
ISSO,  age(l  nineteen  years:  Hiram  J.:  S.illie,  born  May  '..^0, 
\<i'>i.  is  siiiLiIe;  Hlla  ilied  in  infancy;  Li.:.Me,  born  Jan.  8, 
l&tlii.  is  unuKirried;  Wil!i;im  F.,  born  .March  1,  It-OS,  is  an 
insurance  agent  and  resides  in  Re.iding  :  John  died  in  in- 
f.mcv;  Kmnia,  born  Oct.  20.  1874;  and  Miry,  born  Sept. 
L".),    1877. 

Hiram  J.  Bigony  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  the 
Keystone  State  Xornial  School  and  the  F'asimnn  H>i>iness 
College,  graduating  from  the  Later  in  1S02.  His  boyhbod 
(la\s  were  siK-nt  on  his  father's  farm  near  Grimville,  and 
at  an  early  age  he  began  teaehing  school  in  Greenwich 
township,  where  he  eoniinucd  successfully  for  seven  con- 
secuti\e  terms.  In  ISSO  he  came  to  Cumru  township,  re- 
ceiving an  advanced  sal,ir\,  aiul  t.iueht  in  that  township 
for  thirteen  ye:irs.  meetiiv.;  with  ll.ittering  success.  Pro- 
fessor J^igony  was  the  instructor  of  the  .Mohnlon  srrammar 
school  for  ten  terms,  ami  hoUW  a  St.ite  ie;ieher's  permanent 
certilicate.  While  a  teacher  in  (Tre(-iuvich  and  Cumru 
townships.  Mr.  Bigony  was  iiistrumental  in  organi:'ing 
debating  societies,  which  were  largely  attended,  doing  much 
good  in  their  various  localities.  .Mr.  P.ii^ony  was  himself 
an  excellent  debater,  bi-iiig  (piick  willed,  logical  am] 
forceful   in  tlie  presentation  of  iiis  argimicnts. 

l-'rom  youth  on  Mr.  P.igony  assisted  his  father  in  the 
cattle  busine.-s,  and  m  this  uKiniier  came  into  cont;ut  with 
business  men  throughout  Eastern  Pennsylvania.  In  the 
spring  of  l'."ft:>  he  lormed  a  p.irtnership  with.  John  and 
Charles  Richwein  of  Mohnton.  under  liie  linn  name  of 
l'"lectrie  llosieiy  Company,  manufacturers  of  seamless  h  'S- 
iery.  They  erected  a  plant  24  .\  G8  feet,  two  stories  high, 
and  hert-  employ  forty-l'ive  people,  their  product  bei:ig  :.'00 
dozen  d.iily,  which  lind  a  re.i.ly  market  throughout  the 
ccumtry.  In  Jami.ny,  KKUi.  .Mr.  Bigony  was  elected  a 
director  of  •he  Wyomissin.tj  Hosiery  Mills  of  Mohnton, 
of  wliich  !k"  was  later  inai.!e  treasurer  and  ueneral  super- 
intendent, and  this  well  established  firm  has  two  mills. 
The  pl.Kit  at  .Mohnton  is  :'.0  x  lOO  feet,  thiee  stories  high, 
and  employs  sixty  people,  wliile  the  other  plant,  at  Rhein- 
hi>lds.  Lancaster  county,  is  ;!0  .x  ^O  feet  two  stories  high, 
and  h;is  thirty  hands. 

In  1S0,>  Wr.  P.igony  buih  :i  modern,  two-story  brick 
residence  on  Chestnut  street.  Molmt.m.  where  he  resided 
until  190,"i,  and  in  this  ye.ir  moved  into  his  present  residence 
on  Wvomissini;  avenue,  which  ii.is  a  gr.iy  sandstone  front 
;ind  bay  windows.  In  prilitics  Mr.  Rii;on.\  is  a  non-par- 
tisan, volii,).;  independtr.ily.  He  was  prominently  identilied 
with  the  incorporation  of  Mohnton  into  a  borough  and 
w;is  chairman  at  dilfereiii  meeiines,  doing  imieh  in  behalf 
oi  the  movement.  bValerindly  he  is  comieeted  with  the 
Knights  of  Pvihi.is.  Xo.  4S.'>:  P.  O.  S.  of  .X..  Xo.  211. 
and  Sr.  O.  U.  A.  ;.\l..  all  of  .Mohnton. 

On  Oct.  2.  1S04.  Mr.  Higony  married  I.i.-.-ie  H.  Weidi.er. 
daughter  of  John  \'.  and  C;itherine  iHombirgerl  Weid- 
ner,  ;i  ciimplete  sketch  of  whom  will  In-  found  elsewhire. 
To  this  union  there  were  horn  three  eliildren,  as  lollow>- 
F.  .Madeline,  born  h\b.  1.  ISOC. :  Blanche,  Dec.  12,  Itmi  ; 
aiKl  Warren  W..  .\n:-;.  2:t.  lOl),-  (dievl  .\.w.  2:!,  lOO.M.  Mr. 
P.igony  :uid  his  family  are  members  of  Zion's  United  Evan- 
gelie;il  Chinch,  of  Mohnton.  of  which  he  has  been  a  trustee 
since  l!i(ii"i.  lie  and  his  wife  are  also  members  of  the 
Sin:day-schoi->l,  and  take  a  i;reat  interest  in  tlie  wi>rk 
of  the  organi/;itioi),  being  eluerfu!  ami  libera!  '.^ners  of 
loih  lime  ,iiul  m..ne\,  Mr.  Bijjony  i<  coii^i.Jere.l  one  of  t!u- 
b'Tough's  crood  suhst:inti,il  men,  and  be  enj">s  an  envi.iMe 
reputiition  fur  hoiiestv  and  integrity.   On  .\p:il  ;!u,  I'.mr,  he 


<l■^  t. 


393 


HISTORY  OI"   1;ERKS  COUXTV,  PEXXSYIAAXIA 


was   elected   a   iviei-ibor   ut    tlic   sehoul   board,    and   is    now 
Serving  a.>   ^ecretar\    l'I   '.I  at  lnjard. 

\V]I,L1A.M  .MUKkIS  r.klSCOM.  pi>-5iaent  of  the 
Reading  ilanlware  C'lnijap).  i.iiie  ni  the  leading  business 
enterprises  of  its  kind  i.i  the  cuuntr).  of  wlueh  ho  was 
the  i>rincipal  organizer  in  l,->.jl,  is  now  residing  at  Hryii 
Mawr,  near  Philadelpliia,  in  comfortable  retirement  from 
active  pursuits.  He  wai  born  Uct.  14.  lif.i'.),  at  Oxford, 
Chester  Co.,  I'a.,  ;on  of  Samuel  and  Ann  (  Fowell.l  Gris- 
com. 

Andrew  Griscom.  the  great-groat-L;reat-grandfather  of 
William  yi..  emigrated  to  the  Xew  \Vorld  from  lingland 
in  1681).  and  settled  at  Philadelphia,  residing  on  Second 
street,  opposite  the  home  of  William  Penn.  He  built  the 
first  brick  house  at  Philadelphia,  served  as  one  of  the 
city's  first  grand  jurors,  and  died  in  1C04.  He  married 
Sarah  Dale,  and  by  her  had  f..iur  children  :  Samuel,  David, 
Tobias   and    Sarah. 

Tobias  Griscom,  son  of  .Andrew,  was  a  farmer,  and 
settled  between  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  and  Gloucester.  \'. 
J.  He  married  Dcborai;  G.il'itas.  and  they  had  live  chil- 
dren, namely:  William.  Tobias.  Mar\-,  Andrew  and  Sam- 
uel. 

Of  this  family-  Andrew  Griscom.  born  in  1711.  died 
in  177;i,  w;is  the  great-graiidfaiher  of  William  M.  He 
married  (Tirst)  Susariiia  Hi'.ncock.  by  whom  he  IkuI  three 
children:  Sarah,  Everett  and  William:  and  after  her 
death  married  (second)  Mary  ll;icon.  by  whom  he  aNo 
had   tliree  children:    M,ir\'.   .Andrew   ;ind   Deborah. 

William  Griscom,  the  gr:indfather  nf  William  M.,  a 
farmer  of  Manningion,  Salem  Co.,  X.  J.,  w:is  born  in 
1717  and  tiied  in  ISKi.  He  iiiarried  Rachel  Denn.  born 
in  174J.  who  ilied  in  IS(i8.  and  they  hatl  a  family  of* 
seven  children:  John.  \\'iMiam.  Samuel  (died  in  infan- 
cy),   Everett,    Raciiel,    Saiimel    (2)    ami    Da\id. 

S.\MUEr.  Gri^kkm,  the  falhei  tif  William  M..  was  con- 
nected for  upward  of  twenty -three  ye.irs  with  the  Schuyl- 
kill canal  management.  He  was  born  at  .Salcm,  X.  J., 
in  1787,  and  was  re:iied  on  a  faiin.  L'pon  reaching  man- 
hood he  determined  to  beconie  a  builder,  and  in  this  be- 
half learned  the  trade  of  brickmason.  Developing  an 
aptitude  f"r  building  operations,  he  located  at  Philadel- 
phia, where  lie  w:is  engaged  in  erecting  dwelling-houses 
for  ten  years.  While  so  cnga'jed  he  came  to  know  some 
of  the  directors  of  the  Schuyikill  Xavigation  Company, 
and  they,  appreciating  !-,i-  abilities  and  success  as  a  build- 
er, employed  him  to  fill  tiie  position  of  civil  engineer 
and  ni.ii'ager  of  tbt  cniiai.  to  look  after  the  construc- 
tion drp,Trt;ncnt.  Inmiediately  after  his  apjiointment  to 
this  position,  in  ISSfi.  he  li.xed  his  residence  at  ivcading. 
which  was  the  central  ;>oini  of  the  canal  l)etweeii  Potts- 
ville  and  I'hiladelphia.  In  the  performance  of  his  du- 
ties, he  distinguished  himself  by  the  construction  of 
dams,  locks  and  viaducts,  and  the  maintenance  of  the 
artificial  channel;  whicli  is  evidenced  by  his  retention 
for  twenty-three  years. 

While  filling  this  important  position  he  discovered  a 
bed  of  cement  rock  along  the  c:istern  bank  oi  the  Schuyl- 
kill rear  the  Shepp  D::m.  three  miles  above  Reading, 
and.  building  the  necessaiy  oven,  tnamifactiired  l;irge 
(luantities  of  superior  ceinent.  which  was  profitably  used 
in  construction  work  along  the  can:d.  He  also  devel- 
oped a  large  business  for  the  comp;iny  in  the  transporta- 
tion of  lime  for  agricultur,-i1  purposes,  thereby  becoming 
the  first  person  in  this  section  of  the  country  to  manu- 
facture and  supply  linn-  as  a  fertilizer.  In  isii  it  be- 
came necessary  for  him  to  locate  at  Pottsville  in  the 
management  of  the  canal,  and  he  continued  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  company  until  ISI**.  when  he  resicned  to 
superintend  boating  intere-ls  on  the  canal.  This  po- 
sition he  held  until  his  death,  in  18 in.  when,  in  the  re- 
port  nf   the  company,   his   efticiency   was   recriL;ni/.ed. 

Mr.  Griscom  married  .Ann  Powell,  daughter  of  Tere- 
im'ah  Powell,  a  fanner  (if  SaKin  c. unity.  X.  J.,  and  there 
were  twelve  children  bc.rn  in  tbi=;  union  •  Rachel  I").. 
Tinvid  P..  Sarah  P..  P...vrll.  1- li/abdh.  Samuel  Everett. 
Edwin    .Atlce.    Cha'kh  y.    William    M.,    Horace,     Anna    and 


Emeline.      The    meatier    dieii    in    IStiu,    aged    seveiiiv-v 
year.-,   at   Re;iding,   to   which  place  she  h;id   removed ' a": -".r 
-Mr.   (jriscom's  aicease. 

Willi:im  -M.  Griscom  was  three  years  old  when  hi.-.  •,:,r- 
eiits  removed  to  Reading,  and  there  he  pursued  l,i»  pre- 
paratory eductition  until  he  was  twelve  ^ears  old.  whe:: 
ne  entered  the  Clermont  .\cadeiiiy,  situated  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Erankford.  near  Phil.adelphia ;  he  remained  :ii 
that  in^titutioll  for  two  yeara  Being  inclined  to  uieclian- 
ics,  his  father  secured  an  apprenticeship  for  him  in  ilie 
famous  ".Vorris"  Locomotive  Works"  at  Philadelphia, 
where  J2.")  apprentices  were  at  tliat  time  learning  the 
trade  of  machinist,  but  after  he  had  been  there  less  than 
two  years  the  prevailing  panic  throughout  the  State  caus- 
ed the  works  to  suspend  operations,  and  he  was  obliged 
to   return   home. 

Mr.  Griscom  then  entered  the  hardware  .^tore  of  Keim 
&■  Miller,  at  the  southe.ist  corner  of  Third  and  Penn 
streets,  Reading,  as  a  clerk,  and  by  so  doing  started  a 
career  in  the  hardware  business  which  has  been  contin- 
ued very  successfully  until  the  present  time,  covering 
altogether  a  period  of  seventy  years.  He  served  in  this 
store  for  about  three  years,  but  wishing  to  till  a  similar 
place  with  better  prospects  for  advancement  he  went 
to  Philadelphia,  and  there  obtained  employment  in  the 
large  and  prosperous  hardwrire  store  of  R.  &  W.  C. 
Biddle.  In  three  years  he  succeeded  in  developing  such 
a  large  and  profitable  tr.ide  in  ihe  Sclniylkill  Valley  and 
the  territory  beyond  tlie  liroad  .Mountains,  through  the 
assistance  and  inlluence  of  his  father,  that  he  w^as  in- 
vited to  become  a  member  of  the  firm.  -Vppreciating 
this  honor,  he  secured  an  interest  in  the  business  and 
continued  as  a  member  of  the  tirm  for  tlve  years.  .An 
opportunity  was  then  presented  for  him  to  "engage  in 
the  manufacture  of  charcoal  iron  in  Centre  county,  and 
withdrawing  from  the  tirm  he  directed  all  his  ettorts 
to  the  successful  operation  of  the  furnace  for  the  next 
three  years.  The  plant  was  called  the  Howard  Iron 
Works.  While  operating  this  plant.  .Mr.  firiscom  became 
iiiieri  st-.i!  with  bis  brothers-in-law.  Willi.im  and  Maitban 
Harbster.  whose  sister  Ellen  he  had  married:  in  estab- 
lishing a_  foundry  at  Reading  for  the  manufacture  of  all 
kinds  of  building  hardware  and  he  advancing  the  nec- 
essary caiiital  they  together  put  u[)  a  small  jjlant  and 
then  started  an  enterprise  which  was  the  foundation  of 
the  Reading  Hardware  Works.  This  was  in  1S51.  In 
a  short  time  the  prosjiects  for  a  large  and  proiitable  bus- 
iness became  so  encouraging  ih.it  he  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest in  the  iron  works  mentioned  and  devoted  all  of 
bis  lime  to  the  develoi)mi  lit  of  the  hardware  business. 
His  extended  acquaintance  and  large  experience  in  the 
h.-irdware  tr.ide,  vshicli  he  bad  acquired  by  his  connection 
with  the  Bidille  firm,  gave  him  unusual  advantages  in 
building  up  the  trade  and  intlucnce  of  the  new  enter- 
prise, and  ihereb\  he  was  enabled  to  supply  orders  from 
different  sections  of  the  country,  which  kept  the  plant 
bnsv  and  required  constant  enlargements  year  after  year, 
until  in  a  quarter  century  the  enterprise  so  modestly 
begun  was  one  of  the  largest  and  most  prosperous  in- 
dustries  ill    Pennsylvania. 

In  1*78  ^^^.  Griscom  went  to  Europe  in  behalf  of  the 
works,  and  he  there  succeeded  in  gradually  developing  a 
very  large  trade.  .\  special  exhibit  of  their  articles  was 
made  at  the  Paris  Exposition  of  i.srs,  wjiich  proved  high- 
ly creditable  and  beneficial,"  .-.iit!  for  which  they  received 
a  bronze  medal.  In  the  comitries  of  I-jiropc.  as  well  as 
in  the  United  States,  they  cime  to  supplv  the  building 
hardware  for  the  finest  and  largest  structures,  thereby 
showing  that  their  plant  at  Reailing  w:is  recognized  .a's 
the  equal,  if  not  the  superior,  of  any  similar  plant.  While 
abroad.  Mr.  Griscom  return.-d  annu.allv  to  Riading  to 
niake  neces-ary  arrangements  for  tilling  bis  ovd'.-rs.  and 
in  so  doing  he  traveled  across  the  .Atlantic  ocean  about 
fifty  tinns.  Einall\-.  in  I'.IOI.  on  ;icc-(unU  of  his  age.  be 
was  obliged  to  iliscontinue  bis  residence  abroad,  and  re- 
turning TO  PtnnsvK;mi:i  hi'  pnrch:i.-ed  a  proprrt\-  ;it  llryn 
.Mawr.  near  Pbihidelphia,  wiiicb  he  imnroved  accorflitig 
tii   hi>   ideas  of  ,i   home    for  himself  and    famih'.  .md   be  is 


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SAMUEL   GRISCOM   AND   WIFE   ANN   GRISCOM 


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P.IOGRAPIIICAL 


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now  enjoying  its  well-deserved  comfon*.  In  the  re- 
organiiaiion  of  the  hardware  works,  in  i!ie  spring  of 
I'.HiT,   lu-   was   ekctcd   president   of   the   cc'riioralion. 

On  May  S.;.  1S47.  Mr.  Griscom  married  1-lllvri  lUirb- 
iiter.  who  was  born  at  Hambur.i:.  Pa..  July  .').  IS':.!^.  dau,^h- 
tcr  of  Henry  Harbster,  of  Hamburg,  and  died  April 
2-i.  18(54.  To  this  union  there  was  born  one  daughter, 
Annie.  On  May  10,  ISS-'.  Mr.  Grisconi  ua.-.  married  at 
Zurich.  Switzerland,  liy  U.  S.  (vice.)  Consul  John  Syz. 
to  Annie  Lydia  Miller,  who*  was  born  at  Hamburg.  Pa., 
.\ug.  9,  IS.'j'J,  daughter  of  Girard  Miller,  also  of  Ham- 
burg, and  by  her  he  h;.d  four  sons  au'.l  two  daughters, 
as  follows:  Andrew,  William  .M.,  Jr.,  brederick  G.,  Ed- 
gar DeWare,  Ethel  L  and  Grace  •  Millicent,  all  of  whom 
were  born  in  Germany,  wiule  Mr.  Griscom  was  living 
at   Berlin. 

R.vcH.Ki.  Dk.vx  Griscom  (sister  of  William  M..  a;id 
daughter  of  Samuel  Griscom)  was  the  founder  of  the 
"Widows'  Home"  at  Reading,  and  one  of  the  noblest 
characters  in  P.eiks  county,  having  been  known  for  her 
humane  and  charitable  spirit  in  the  community  for  sev- 
enty-five years — a  period  e.xtending  from  the  ilawn  of 
her  womanhood  until  she  went  to  her  eternal  rest  at  the 
age  of  ninety-two;  and  the  l)oaril  of  managers,  with  which 
she  had  been  intimately  assnei.ited  for  twenty-live  years, 
truly  said  of  her  at  the  end  of  her  remarkable  career: 
"Her  life  is  a  noble  '.x:impie  of  womanly  power  through 
the   life   of    the    highest    leminine   virtue-^." 

Miss  Griscom  was  born  at  Salem.  X.  J.,  Xov.  .">,  1808. 
While  she  w.is  an.  infant,  imt  a  year  old,  her  parents  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  and  there  she  was  brought  up 
and  edi.'cated  under  the  sujiei  ior  intluence  of  the  Socie- 
ty of  Friends  until  she  became  seventeen  years  of  age. 
With  a  natural  inclination  to  carry  on  the  vocation  of  a 
teacher,  she  secured  a  school  at  Hanc(jck  Bridge.  X. 
J.,  near  her  binhphiTe.  for  her  initiatory  experience,  and 
after  teaching  tiiere  for  a  season  was  employed  to  teach 
in  the  "Friends'  .Sche":.!."  at  Pbiladeiphi.i,  in  1S-J{"..  but 
she  was  there  only  a  few  months  when  iier  parents  re- 
moved to   Reading  and   s'he   uent   with   them 

There  was  a  large  settlement  of  Friends  in  Maiden- 
creek  township,  eight  miles  north  of  Reading,  and  learn- 
ing of  Miss  Griscom's  success  as  a  teacher,  they  em- 
ployed her  to  carry  on  their  school.  She  continued 
teaching  this  school  until  the  common  school  system 
was  accepted  by  Reading  in  1S3.J.  and  then  she  started 
as  a  teachiT  in  thi>  public  school  there :  and  from  tliat 
time  for  about  tv>'enty-tive  years  -she  wa>-  engaged  at 
teacliing  either  in  the  public  sehoLds,  or  in  private  iemale 
.seminaries,  or  on  her  own  account.  Soon  after  begin- 
ning at  Reading,  in  1S:!7.  slie  reported  a  school  attend- 
ance of  116  pupils,  fifty-eight  in  the  first  class,  twenty-six 
in  the  second  anfl  thirty-two  in  the  third.  Her  salary 
was  then  oidy  thirteen  dollars  a  month.  Tiie  last  school 
which  she  taught  was  in  the  Exeter  meeting  house  in  I'S'iO. 

Mis';  Griscom  will  be  principally  remembered.  howc\er. 
as  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  "Home  for  Widows  and 
Single  Women  of  Reading.''  indeed  as  the  very  hr>t 
person  to  suggest  tiit  propriety  and  neces.-'ity  of  tstab- 
lishing  a  cliarifahle  institution  of  this  kind  at  Reading. 
She  and  a  inimber  of  other  Christian  ladies  assembled 
repeatedly  in  the  law  oftu-cs  of  the  author  of  this  history, 
at  Xo.  oii'i  Court  street,  during  the  year  1S7.").  and  form- 
ulated the  plans  which  cnlminaied  in  the  iiunrporated 
body  in  January.  IMii.  The  petitioners  signed  the  appli- 
cation for  a  charter  in  this  ottK-c.  .-\s  the  secretary. 
she  was  most  active  and  zealous,  always  liopefu!  and 
determined  and  her  great  perseverance  was  eventually 
rewarded  by  the  rccoenition  of  the  community  and  the 
establishment  of  the  "Home."  Her  indomitable  spirit  in 
the  noble  catise  kept  her  at  the  head  of  all  the  movements 
of  the  socii'ty  umil  hi  r  nhvsical  strength  bec.nne  too  weak 
to  iH  rmit  hi  r  to  continue  any  longer  active  in  il^  man- 
agement .mmI  n.-..  ill  i.^tl,  at  till-  age  of  rii',ht\  three  M-ars. 
after  :i  contimioi-iS  '.'iviii-  nf  fifiien  years  .ts  tlie  secre- 
tary, she  declined  n  re-i  b  ■rti'>n  Upon  tbi'  annouucement 
of  her  purpose.  i!ie  iio-ml  ■.■>{  manager^  p.'tssed  the  follow- 


ing  higld\    appropriate   and   laudatory    resolution,   Jan,    15, 
ISul : 

"Xo  mere  words  of  sorrow  or  resuhitions  of  regret 
can  ciinve\-  an  idea  of  the  loss  the  L!o:ird  of  Managers 
susiained  in  the  resignation  of  Mis>  Griscom  as  secre- 
tary. l'ro:n  her  labors  of  pliilanihropy  this  charity  had 
its  origin;  ti>  her  praisewortiiy  industry  much  of  its  sys-. 
tematic  arrangement  is  due;  to  her  iniTuencc  among  the 
pe-op!e.  who  accepted  wh.at  siie  approved,  much  uf  its 
success  is  due.  Her  faith  in  the  benevolence  of  her 
neighbors  often  enabled  this  l-!oard  to  undertake  work 
that  at  tirst  sight  seemed  impossible.  May  her  example 
of  untiring  iiidustry  and  Christian  philanthropy  have 
a    lasting    intluence   on   the   members    of    this    Btiard." 

The  retiring  secretary  addressed  tbi.--  replv  to  tlie 
Board,    Feb.    12,    IS'Jl  : 

".Accept  my  heartfelt  thanks  for  your  kind  resolution 
in  regard  to  my  past  services  as  secretary.  Tliose  ser- 
vices were  made  and  well  repai'!  by  your  uiivar}-ing  con- 
sideration, indulgence,  aid  and  cheerful,  helpful  gifts.  We 
have  journeyed  togetiier  in  harmimy  antl  prospered.  May 
the  future  bring  to  you,  to  the  Association  and  to  my 
successor  the  same  progress,  prosperity  and  grateful 
consciousness    of    Divine    aid    and    appreciation." 

During  Miss  Griscom's  declining  years,  thi.  author  of 
this  history  called  to  see  her  a  numljer  '>•!  time-;  socially 
at  her  home,  Xo.  2:?7  South  Fourth  street,  and  to  him 
her  noble  spirit  was  always  inexpressibly  beautiful  and 
inspiring.  She  died  at  Re.uling  Jan.  ts.  I'JOl.  at  the  age 
of  ninety-two  years,  two  months,  three  days,  and  all  who 
had  come  to  know  her  and  to  appreciate  her  worth  to 
the  community  mourned  her  departure.  The  m.-magers  of 
the  Widow-s'  Home  felt  their  loss  particularly,  and  on 
the  lOth  of  January  following  passed  an  appropriate  res- 
olution of   regret. 

JOl  1  X  G.  X 1  ETH  A M M  l-'.R  has  been  engaged  in  business 
in  Reailiiig  on  hi-;  own  ai-eoinu  im-  the  past  twenty  ye:irs 
ami  during  hi--  hnnorable  car.  er  h,!";  susl:iir.i-d  the  ingh 
rej-iutation  which  the  name  .Viethammer  has  king  borne 
in  this  cit.\ . 

Balthaser  Xiethammer.  gr:indf:it!ier  uf  Jnlm  G..  w;is  a 
native  of  Gcrniany.  w-beie  he  followed  farming  and  en- 
gaged in  the  cattle  business,  and  where  he  died.  He  and 
his  wife.  .-\nna  Maria  Seayer.  were  the  paicnls  of  tuo 
children:  Elizabeth,  who  married  anii  died  in  Germany; 
and  John  George,  father  of  John  G..  of  Reading. 

John  George  Xiethamme'  w-a>  burn  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  and  there  received  liis  educaiinn.  He  came  to 
.-\merica  July  I'.i.  i'^y^.  landing  in  Xu^v  \'.irk  Cit\ .  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  .-itK-r  ;  pendnig  r-.vo  days  tliere 
came  to  Reading.  His  lirst  lu-cnji  itinn  w-:is  as  sui..-r- 
intendent  of  a  large  sawniill  near  that  city,  Jru-m  which 
mill  cmne  the  tin-ibers  used  to  build  the  bridges  along  the 
Schuylkill  and  Tuipehocken  rivers.  .Mr.  Xiethammer  was 
next  employed  at  the  F.erks  Count\  House  for  sever:'' 
years,  and  then  moved  to  Muhlenberg  T-lall.  X'o.  7."<7  Finn 
street,  and  this  h.e  conducted  successiulh  until  his  death. 
M.-=.rch  30.  1800.  a  neriod  of  thirty-three  years.  He  was 
one  of  the  lirst  importer^  of  Rhine  wine  to  Reading  m;ik- 
ing  a  special  trip  to  iuirr>pe  for  that  purjjose.  He  was 
connected  with  the  Teutonic  Lod'.ie  of  Masons.  .Mr.  Xie- 
thanmier  wa-;  married  in  Readin-,;.  in  March.  l~.').'i.  by  the 
Kev.  Mr.  Ki-ller.  pasti'x  of  Trinii.v  Lmhc-ran  C'r.nrch.  i" 
A.  Mar\  Gessler.  also  a  native  of  Germany,  born  Skpt.  17. 
isri;!.  who  came  to  .\merica  March  IS.  fs.".:;.  .\fter  the 
deatii  of  Iier  husband  Mrs.  Xiethammer  contii-iued  the  bu-i- 
ness  for  eiiiht  vears.  and  in  ISOS  removed  to  Xo.  1-:.'  Xonh 
Eleventh  -treet.  where  sIr-  dinl  June  ;:i,  lOO.i.  Both  .-he 
and  her  hn.sb.-nid  were  bininl  .il  the  Charles  Evans  ceme- 
tery. ()f  their  children:  M;iry  Catherine  m.  .Samuel  P. 
Brow-n.  and  died  in  l-s-^:;;  \nn:i  .M.ni;.-iret  and  l-'ll.'i  l-lli/a- 
bcth.  both  single,  live  at  ihe  l-'.ieventh  stn-i-t  li.ime:  John  G. 
i^  nunlioned  Ix-low  ;  .\miie  M.  died  in  infancy;  T'l  iv  r  P.. 
marri.d  Lnea  .Miller.  :uiil  resides  in  l-'ast  Keadin-^  ;  and 
J:!Cob  r...  ;ni  inxentor.  :ihd  .i  vi  ry  popular  wmug  man  of 
the  citv.  who  to-ik  a  'promimm  pari  in  tlie  \'oik  of  the 
V.  .M.  C.  A.,  died  Jan.   !'.>,    is'.M. 


.U  ill,'., •;.■■>.. 


"U     r  " '  ■■ti, 


394 


HISTDRV  OF  IJKRKS  COL'XTY,  PEXXSYL.VAXIA 


Jolin  G.  Xi'jihanimer  was  burn  in  Reading  in  186_',  and 
ric!.i\c(t  his  fdi'.cation  in  his  native  city,  first  attending 
the  public  schools  and  subs<.i|iK-ntly  E.  K.  Post  ConinitTcial 
College,  wiieic  lu:  was  given  thorough  training  in  busiiKss 
infcthdds.  Then  he  went  to  Lancaster,  Liincaster  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  was  employed  by  a  Mr.  Casper  Kohlcr.  having 
charge  of  the  oiTice  for  about  a  year.  Returning  to  Read- 
ing at  the  end  of  that  time  he  assisted  his  father  as  clerk 
for  a  few  years,  remaining  with  him  until  he  started  in 
business  for  himself.  When  Mr.  Xiethannner  was  about 
twenty-three  he  opened  the  estatilishaient  known  as  Xiet- 
hanmier's  Cafe,  at  Xo.  13  Xorth  Eighth  street,  and  engaged 
in  the  hotel  and  restaurant  bu-iness  very  successfully  for 
nineteen  years.  l)econ-,ing  as  well  and  as  favorably  known 
in  his  line  as  his  father.  }l''  tinally  sold  out  to  a  Mr. 
Harncr  in  order  to  de\ule  hinl^elf  to  another  enter[n'ise. 
the  manufacture  of  cigars.  On  .March  '.'A,  1\)04,  he  ciiin- 
nienced  this  busniess  in  the  old  Rainbow  tire  house,  Xo.  23 
Xorth  Eightii  street,  where  he  conducted  a  thriving  estab- 
lishnient  in  partnership  with  Charles  E.  Xagle  and  Hiester 
C.  Xagic,  the  firm  being  known  as  the  X.  &  X.  Cigar 
Company,  until  Jan.  1.  I'JO'J,  when  he  purchased  his  part- 
ners" interest  and  is  ne.Vv  t!ie  sole  owner  of  the  business. 
Eniplo>i;ient  is  given  to  twenty-.flve  skilled  workmen,  and 
only  high  grade  products  are  inade,  a  few  of  the  brands 
beiTig  tlic  "Triple  X.,"  wliicli  is  in  both  five  and  ten-cent 
varieties,  tlie  "Jerry  Murphy"  and  "Honor  Bound,"  both 
hve-cent  brands,  the  "?vIajor  X.."'  ;i  ten-cent  product,  the 
"X.  R.."  and  the  "J.  G.  X.,"  both  lif teen-cent  cigars,  and 
the  "Hoya-Uneva,"  a  twenl\-live  cent  ci.gar.  The  local 
trade  is  l.argc  and  steady  and  there  is  also  an  extensive 
out-of-town  business.  Besides  his  manufacturing  interests, 
Mr.  Xiethammer  has  a  retail  cigar  store  at  Xo.  IT  Xorth 
Eighth  street,  and  in  connection  therewith  has  six  bowling 
alleys,  three  pool  tables  and  a  billiard  table.  He  put  up 
the  building  in  which  this  establishmeni  is  located,  a  four- 
story  structure,  in  April,  1904.  Mr.  X'icthammcr's  energv 
and  progressive  spirit  ha\  e  won  him  a  standing  among 
the  substantial  business  men  of  the  city,  and  he  enjoys  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  associates  wherever  he  is 
known. 

On  April  IG.  ISS.j,  ^Ir.  Xieth.immer  married  h'.leanora 
Loewcn,  and  their  hume  is  at  Xo.  4.j  Soiuh  I'.ighrh  street. 
Mr.  Xiethammer  devotes  his  time  and  attention  to  busi- 
ness chiefly,  but  he  has  served  fifteen  years  as  treasurer 
of  the  Rainbo'.e  Fire  Comp;uiy.  in  whose  welfare  he  is 
much  interested.  Mr.  Xiethannner  has  been  the  owner  of 
some  vei'y  fine  horses,  ai;d  nt  one  time  owned  the  famous 
"Major  N.,"  widely  kiiown  an.d  a  great  favorite  through- 
out this  circuit. 

CALEB  WEIDXER,  city  cKrk  of  Reading  and  one  of 
the  prominent  workers  in  the  Democratic  party,  was  born 
in  Exeter  township,  Berks  county,  X'ov.  11,  1809,  son  of 
George  D.  and  Susan  (Clark)  \Veidner,  and  member  of 
an  early  settled   family  of  the  county. 

Peter  W^-idner,  great-grandfather  of  Caleb,  v,as  born  in 
C)ley  township,  Berks  county.  April  13,  IT-JO,  and  he  died 
at  the  Falls  of  the  Schnylkdl.  where  he  had  ce'uducted  a 
ferry  for  many  years,  March  30,  1S:?2,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two  years,  eleven  months  and  twelve  days.  His  wife. 
Susan  Levering  in  her  maidenhe.cd,  was  born  Xov.  2ji,  1757, 
and  she  died  Oct.  17,  1S4."),  in  the  eighty-seventh  year  of 
her  age.  Their  children  were:  Henry,  born  Aug.  30.  1781, 
died  Feb.  .5.  ISii; ;  Charles,  burn  Sep't.  11,  1783^  Elizabeth, 
born  .Aug.  6.  17s.i,  died  Aug.  11,  ITR.^):  Peter,  born  Sept. 
4,  17SC.,  died  June  IS,  17SS;  Peter  {2).  born  Feb.  C),  I7S9: 
Jr>hn,  born  June  -2.  1791;  Margaret,  born  Feb.  17,  1794: 
"Elizabeth  (2).  b..rn  July  LT,.  i79i;,  died  April  2."..  1822: 
Susan,  born  Jan.  26,  1799,  died  Dec.  IS.  LSOO;  Susan  (2), 
born  Oct.  ?.:>.   ISOl ;  and   Catharine,  born  Oct.  28,   1S03. 

Peter  Weidner.  son  of  Peter,  b.irn  at  llie  F'alN  of  the 
Schuylkill  I'eb.  i\.  1789,  learned,  the  cooin  r'^  trade  in  his 
>"Uth.  ;ind  fulkiwed  it  all  hi-;  life.  In  ]8:;;l  he  c;unr  with 
iuN  l;niu!>  from  Roxboro  lo  St'inetown.  and  lie  di<  d  ,i; 
tlu-  l.itn  I  1^1, ice  June  21.  18Ts.  m  the  ninelielh  ye.ir  e.f  his 
age.  He  \v,is  twice  married.  By  his  insl  wi'c  he  K.id 
three  sciMS;  Charles,  wl;o  died  at  Bird^boro:   Malc.'lni,  whe. 


died  at  Phil.uleliihia ;  and  John,  wlio  died  at  Stonetown. 
l-'or  his  sece^nd  wife  Peter  Weidner  married  f'.lizabeth 
Cieind.  who  died  in  March,  18S4,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years.  Their  children  were:  Jane,  m.  to  William '  Slu-r- 
man;  Susan,  m.  to  Thomas  Wolf;  ^L^ry,  m.  to  Caleb  B. 
Ruth;  Margaret,  m.  to  George  Hart;  Peter,  who  died 
yoinig:  anil  George  D.,  mentioned  below, 

(Jeorgc  J>.  Weidner.  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth,  was 
b(irn  :it  Sionersviile.  in  Exeter  township,  Sept.  2:;,  1844. 
In  his  young  manhood  he  learned  telegraphy,  and  for 
many  years  he  was  station  agent  at  Exeter,  now  Lorane. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  evinced  his  patriotism  by  enlist- 
ing in  Comjiany  K,  l.ilst  Pa.  V.  L.  and  was  assigned  to 
the  .\rmy  of  the  Potomac.  He  participated  in  the  battles 
of  .\ntiet;im  anil  Gettysburg,  and  was  severely  wounded 
at  the  latter.  He  was  for  some  time  in  the  hospital  at 
Harrisburg,  .ird  after  his  release  and  partial-  recovery  he 
came  to  Re.-iding  and  learned  the  cigar  maker's  trade.  This 
he  was  oldiged  to  abandon  on  account  of  his  health,  and 
he-  then  worked  at  the  Signal  tower  near  Exeter  until  18G5. 
The  next  year  he  timed  the  trains  at  Quinter's  Bridge,  and 
continued  there  imtil  18i;8.  From  18(i3  until  1S72  he  was 
operator  at  E.xeter  station,  and  in  the  latter  year  he  pur- 
chased the  store  and  hotel  property  at  Exeter,  and  these 
he  succe>slully  conducted  until  lS8;'i.  The  next  two  years 
were  spent  in  Wayne  township,  Schuylkill  county  where 
he  owned  a  ealuable  farm  which  he  cultixated.  liis  wife 
and  f.amiiy  then  removed  to  Reading,  and  there  the  family 
home  lias  since  been  maintained.  Since  locating  m  Read- 
mg  Mr.  Weidner  has  worked  at  difi'ercnt  vocations,  for 
several  years  being  in  the  employ  of  the  railroad.  Mr. 
Weidner  married  Miss  Susan  Clark,  who  was  born  April 
1,  1848,  daughti  r  of  William  and  Susan  ('Hiester;  Clark. 
Eight  children — six  sons  and  two  daughters — blessed  this 
union;  Miss  Mary:  Kate,  m.  to  Freiierick  Weidenhanimer, 
of  Reading:  Caleb;  George,  m.  to  Laura  Weitlncr,  daugh- 
ter nf  Henry  We'dner,  of  Reading;  Harry,  of  R.eading: 
William,  m.  to  lilla  .Morris,  and  engaged  as  a  barber  in 
Readiii.g;  Wmheld  .S.,  of  Reading;  and  Walter,  a  well 
kneiwn  sliowman  wdio  has  traveled  all  over  the  United 
States. 

Caleb  Weicii.er.  son  of  Ger'rge  D..  attended  school 
in  the  township  and  later  in  Schuylkul  county.  He 
early  started  out  for  himself,  working  upon  the  farm  in 
Schuyllcill  county.  On  Dec.  2,  1S84,  he  accompanied  his 
mother  to  Reading,  and  this  has  siiice  been  his  home.  He 
has  been  the  main  support  of  his  mother  since,  before  he 
was  eleven  years  of  age.  His  hist  employment  in  this 
city  was  with  the  Reading  Hardware  Company,  with  v.diom 
he  remained  for  two  years.  He  then  learned  the  hatter's 
trade  with  John  H.  Kendel,  and  this  he  followcil  from 
l.-SD  to  190:!.  On  May  1,  1903,  he  became  registry  clerk 
to  Elmer  H.  Beard,  in  the  city  engineer's  office  at  the  city 
hall,  .\frer  four  \ears  of  efficient  service  with  the  city 
engineer  he  was  elected  by  the  council  to  the  office  ;if  city 
clerk  of  Reaelmg,  on  March  11,  1907,  and  in  April  fol- 
lowing  assumed    the  duties   of   that   office. 

Mr.  Weidner  i--.  one  of  the  leadin.g  men  at  the  city 
iia!l.  and  wields  a  pciwerfnl  influence  in  local  politics.  He 
li:is  alu;iys  been  a  I^emocrat,  -.iwl  lia-.  been  a  worker  for 
liis  party  since  he  was  nineteen.  He  ha:;  irequently  been 
a  delegate  to  county  conventions,  and  in  1901;  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  State  Convention.  Jdis  first  political  office  was 
election  inspector  of  the  2cJ  precinct  of  the  Tenth  ward. 
Siix-e  1900  he  ha-;  been  a  member  of  the  City  Democratic 
ixecntive  coir.mittee,  and  is  \-ice  president  of  same.  The 
future  looks  nlo^t  promising  to  him.  He  lias  kept  himself 
uiiriLdit  .ind  lionorrible,  keeping  his  promises  and  fuli'illmg 
his  oblig.-itior.s.  i\\.i\  he  has  won  tlu  respect  of  men  in  all 
partie-. 

Mr.  Weidner  w.i-;  instii;ment:il  in  the  reorg;mi7ation  of 
the  Wo.  i|  ll.nter-'  Cnion  of  Reding,  which  is  a  chartered 
ifstilntioii.  (If  tni<  he  was  presitlent  from  1892  to  1904. 
In  IS'e'.  he  was  elected  naiion:d  vice  pre>ident.  rmd  was  presi- 
dent, for  a  number  of  \ears.  of  the  Internnlic^nal  ILittcrs 
l.'moii  of  .N'ortli  America,  after  having  bctn  twice  sent 
.'IS  (icli  g.ite  io  th;it  conven'ion  by  rh''  lt>c.'d  associ;'.Ti,)n 
which    he    phiccd    on    so    high    .i    st.indarl.      He    is    a    tner;- 


,1'       ■>::     K 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


393 


ber  of  many  organizations,  amonp  them  bcincr :  Lodge  No. 
549,  F.  &  A.  M..  Reading;  Reading  Chapter,  Xo.  lo~  ;  Allen 
Council.  Xo.  23,  R.  &  S.  M..  Alk-nt.nvn;  De  Molay  Com- 
mandery,  Xo.  0;  Rajah  Temple,  Mystic  Slirine;  Reading 
Aerie  Xo.  00,  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles,  of  which  he 
is  treasurer;  Freedom  Circle  Xo.  7,  Brotherhood  of  Am- 
erica ;  and  he  is  an  active  member,  stock  holder  and  vice 
president  of  the  Eagles  Mountain  Home  Association.  He 
also  belongs  to  Washington  Fire  Company  Xo.  2,  of  which 
he  was  trustee  for  six  terms.  He  is  likewise  connected 
with  a  number  of  social  club^.  In  his  religious  faith  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Firs*  Reformed  Church.  He  is  well 
reafl.  progressive  and  intelligent,  and  has  hosts  of  warm 
friends.  He  is  a  great  comfort  to  his  \encrable  mother, 
with  whom  he  re.sides  at  ^^"o.  23:1  South  Tenth  street, 
Reading. 

WEHiXER.  The  ancestor  of  the  Weidner  family  in 
Berks  county  was  (J)  Adam  Weidner,  who  settled  in  Oley 
township  prior  to  17-14,  in  which  year  he  bought  a  con- 
siderable tract  of  land  from  Benjamin  Lee,  a  part  of 
which,  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Plcasantville,  is  now  the 
property  of  Philip  D.  Hnch.  He  had  three  sons,  (U) 
Tychicus,  Lazarus  and  David,  whom,  tradition  says,  were 
born  in  Wurtemberg,  Gernnnv.  They,  too,  came  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Tychicus  Weidner.  who  is  also  called 
"Dietrich"  Weidner.  ai.'l  his  brother  Lazarus  had  settled 
in  Oley  township  before  J  744.  In  17."j0  "'Dehecns''  Weidner 
paid  a  federal  tax  of  17  pounds  in  Oley.  He  died  in  1798, 
the  year  in  which  his  ivill  was  probated.  He  wrfs  a  large 
land  owner,  and  at  his  death  left  a  large  estate,  which  he 
divided  equitably  among  his  children,  who  were  eleven  in 
number  and  named  as  follows :  Jacob,  John.  Hannah, 
Catharine,  Esther,  Susanna.  Mary,  Peter.  Jonathan,  Chris- 
tian and  Daniel.  The  eldest  daughter,  Hannah,  was  never 
married.  She  was  bequested  wiih  a  house,  so  much  flax 
every  year,  and  the  walnut  wash  props. 

In"  1788  (ID  T.^chicus  Weidner  sold  a  tract  of  land 
located  iti  Amity  township,  this  county,  to  his  eldest  son. 
Jacob,  and  to  the  same  son  he  sold  another  tr.ict.  of  200 
acres,  situated  in  Oiej  township  (being  a  part  ni  a  tract  of 
404   acres),   in   the  year   17!il. 

(,111)  Jacob  Weidner,  eldest  son  of  Tychicus.  vvas  first 
married  to  Elizabeth  Price,  and  they  becanie  tlir  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Peter,  who  settled  at  the  Falls 
of  the  Schuylkill,  Daniel,  who  died  aged  twenty  vears; 
Davifl :  Jacob,  in.  to  Hannah  Yoder  I'they  had  Benneville 
and  ^lary)  ;  Hannah,  in.  to  Daniel  Brown,  of  Pricetown. 
Berks  county  (she  lived  to  the  great  age  of  ninety-eight 
years)  ;  a  danghier  ni.  to  David  Yoder,  moving  with  him 
to  X'ew  York  State;  and  William. 

(IV)  William  Weidner,  son  of  Jacob,  married  Susanna 
Yoder.  They  were  farming  people  and  li\ed  in  Oley 
township.  Their  nine  children  were:  Jacob;  Daniel,  who 
moved  to  Xorthumberland  county.  Pa.,  and  later  settled 
in  (Dliio;  William,  ni.  to  Catharine  Beam;  Reuben,  m.  to 
Mary  Beam;  George,  m.  to  Theresa  Bcrndt ;  Raciiel,  m. 
to  William  Dilaijl;;iii;  Amanda,  m.  to  Reuben  Dry;  Leah, 
m.  to  Israel  Keim  (they  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Milton, 
Pa.);  and   Polly,  m.  to  David  Weidner. 

(V)  Jacob  Weidner,  eldest  son  of  William,  was  born 
in  Oley,  and  during  his  earlier  manhood  followed  farniin.tr, 
also  conducting  a  wheelwright  shop  above  Plcasantville 
until  IS.'io,  when  he  moved  to  Reading.  There  he  was  a 
car  builder  for  Johnston  &  Shaaber.  He  ni:irried  Mary  .\nn 
Weidner,  a  daughter  of  David  \\'eidncr.  of  Friedensbnrg, 
Pa.,  and  they  had  the  following  named  children  :  Augustus, 
who  died  young;  Jacob,  who  died  youiig;  James,  who  was 
killed  in  battle  in  the  Civil  war;  Gideon;  Daniel  V\'. ; 
Malinda. 

(VI)  Gideon  Weidner  was  born  in  1842,  son  of  Jacob, 
was  a  slux-maker  in  Reading  all  his  life,  and  he  died 
in  intiC.  His  wife  was  Esther  Graul.  and  to  them  were 
borntwo  e!iildr<n  :  J.-'.nies  L.  and  .Annie,  the  latter  the  wif.- 
of    Samuel    Kridler,    t)l    Lancaster,    Pennsvlvania. 

(VII)  J.anies  L.  Weidner,  son  of  Gideon,  was  born  in 
Reading  Aug.  S,  l^r,.-,.  -ivd  still  m.-ikc^  his  home  in  that 
eity.     He   is  cnyaged   as  a  brick   maker  during  the   warm 


weather  and  as  a  shoemaker  in  the  wintertime.  In  1889  he 
married  Mary  Monroe,  and  to  them  h:ive  been  born  two 
children.    .Annie    and    Charles. 


(  Vi  )  Daniel  W.  Weidner.  brother  of  Gideon,  was  born 
Oct.  12,  1844.  Wlien  seventeen  years  old  he  commenced 
to  learn  shoemaking.  and  has  ever  since  followed  that 
trade,  having  his  shop  and  home  at  Xo.  2:!1  South  Tenth 
street.  Reading.  He  is  active  in  religious  work  and  identi- 
fied with  independent  church  activities- as  a  member  of  the 
Gosjiel  Tabernacle  in  Reading.  In  ISuG  Mr.  Weidner 
m.  Sallie  Price,  by  whom  he  has  two  children:  Harry  J., 
a  slioemaker  of  Reading;  and  Annie,  ni.  to  Jeremiaii  Auge, 
of  Reading. 

CV)  Reuben  Weidner  (son  of  William,  son  of  Jacob, 
son  of  Tychicus)  was  born  in  1832  and  died  in  18S9.  He 
m.  -Mary  Beam,  and  had  a  family  of  tive  children:  Annie 
m.  Alvin  Levan ;  Elias  m.  Amanda  Cleaver;  Helen  m. 
Chester  B.  Cleaver;  William  in.  Hannah  George;  Amanda 
111.  Charles  Holt. 

After  the  death  of  (III)  Jacob  Weidner  (eldest  son  of 
Tychicus)  his  widow  Elizabeth,  nee  Price,  remarried,  her 
Second  husl)and  being  Peter  Weidner,  a  younger  brother  of 
•  )ier  first.  Peter  "\Veidner  was  born  in  1774  and  died  in  is':;8, 
in  his  sixty-tifth  year.  His  widow  survived  a  number  of 
years,  dying  July  4,  1857,  in  the  eighty-eighth  year  of  her 
age.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  owned  a  large  tract  of  land 
m  Pike  township,  this  county.  To  Peter  and  Elizabeth 
Weidner  were  born  two  children,  viz.:  John  P.  and  Mary. 
The  daughter,  who  was  the  youngest,  ni.  Daniel  Weidner, 
and  tiiey  settled  at  Milton,  Pa.,  where  thev  both  died. 

( IV)  John  P.  Weidner  (son  of  Peter,  "son  of  Tvchicus) 
was  born  in  Pike  township.  Berks  countv.  April  13.  1812. 
and  died  March  7,  JSSr>.  in  his  seventy-third  vear.  He  was 
a  weaver  and  farmer  by  occupation,  llv  his  wife.  Eliza- 
beth Reppert,  he  had  a  familv  of  ten  'children,  namely 
W  diiam  R.,  Jonathan,  Sarah,  John  R..  Eh"za,  Kale,  Leand'a, 
Caroline.  .Mary  and   Peter. 

(V)  William  R.  Weidner,  son  of  John  P.,  was  born  in 
Pike  township,  Xov.  27,  18:^7,  and  is  a  fanner  bv  occupa- 
tion. He  has^ lived  successively  in  Oley,  Ruscoinbmanor, 
Alsace  and  Exeter  townships.  ha\ing'  made  his  home 
continuously  on  one  farm  in  Exeter  from  1881  to  the 
present  time.  In  1884  he  married  Emma  Himmclreich.  by 
vyliom  he  had  these  children  :  Seth,  Amanda,  Emma,  Wil- 
liam,  katie.   John   and  Daniel    (,  twins  i    and   Thomas. 

(V)  John  R.  Weidner,  brother  of  William  R..  was  born 
m  Pike  townshii),  Oct.  12,  1S4:.',  and  li\e.l  upon  the  farm  in 
that  townsiiip  until  ISOO,  in  which  year  lie  moved  to  Read- 
ing, where  he  has  lived  ever  sinci-.  lie  is  a  boss  carpenter, 
and  has  for  many  years  been  enga.ged  in  ihe  buildine  and' 
contracting  business.  In  1807  he  was  married  to  Ilaitie 
Brown,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Clara,  and  in  1S80  he 
was  married  to  Elva  F.  Weber.  Xine  children  have  been 
born  to  the  second  union,  namely:  Xora,  Howard.  Flor- 
ence. Bessie.  Almeretta.  John.  Benjamin.  Miiii-rva  and  Edgar. 

(IH)  Jonathan  Weidner,  or.e  of  the  sons  of  Tychicus,  of 
Oley,  was  born  there  in  I'M,  and  died  in  18::8,  in  his 
seventy-third  year.  He  lived  on  a  farm  near  Pricetown, 
in  Ruscombmanor  township.  He  m.  Bevvy  Gambler,  and 
their  family  consisted  of  three  children :  'Abraham,  who 
lived  in  .Alsace  township,  m.  Katie  Beck,  and  they  had  two 
daughters.  Bevvy  :iiid  Amelia;  Bevvy  m.  John  Focht ;  Jon- 
athan was  born  in   1^05  and  died  in  1801. 

( I\  )    Jon.'itliaii   Weidner.  son  of  Jonathan,  was  horn  in 
isn:,.  and  died  in  isoi.     He  had  ti  family  of  three  children: 
.Augustus,  who  is  irentioned  presently  ;Maberrv,  of  Allen 
town.   Pa.;  and   Sar.ih.  m.  to   Elias  Becker. 

(V)  .Augustu>  Weidner.  eldest  son  of  Joii;ith;in.  was 
born  .Aug.  14,  is:;-;,  is  a  huckster  .md  f:irmer  bv  ealling. 
and  liwi  near  I'noelown.  lie  in.  .M.iri.i  Di.ld,  .-.nd  ihev 
l-avi-  hail  ehil(lr<n  as  follow.^:  Kaii,-  m.  i  l.irry  Pvu/: 
llaini;di  iii,  llniv.ir'l  Ihnlmai!:  t>ll\i.i  I  <b  v.  ,i -ec!  I  in. 
O.^ear  Bu-h:  .Ann;i  M.  m.  Howard  lb.ni:in;  l-'dwin  m. 
\or:i  B.dlard:  .\ii:;ti-!tis  m.  Lizzie  Kern;  Irwni  m.  Louis.i 
iuerhar;:   John   diid   in   cbildboud. 


'■1      ■  '  '  V..'; 


"fif! 


HISTORY  OF  r.ERKS  COUNTY,   PEXXSYLVAXIA 


(III  Lri7ariii  W'cidiiLT.  son  of  AiJmu  the  emigrant  an- 
cc'-tcr.  suuii-1.1  in  <_ili\  tll\^ll^hip.  wlicrc  Ik-  and  his  brotiier 
T\chicns  i.uiK-d  ailjoniinx  c-tatcs.  These  lands  were  scp- 
aiattd  by  a  lano  wliich  has  since  become  a  public  road. 
In  1T.J>|  Lazarus  Wridncr  paid  a  federal  lax  of  18  pounds. 

His  will  was  [TMbated  in  ISLKi.  the  executors  beins;  his 
son  Jacoli  and  his  -oiw-in-Uuv  Georije  Voder  and  Jacoli 
Prei^s.  An  item  ni  the  will  was  to  the  ctTect  that  Eliza- 
beth, a  daugliter  of  Joiin  Lobaeh.  was  to  have  Jo  pounds  in 
money.  Tiie  foll..,\  in;.;  children  weie  mentioned  in  the 
will:  Abraliani;  Catharine  Seisholtz :  Idizabtth  ni.  Jacob 
Froiss;  .Mar_\  m.  Geor:^e  Voder;  Jacob;  iianiel  ,  Isaac; 
David,  and  John. 

(Ill)  Jacob  W'cidiier,  son  of  ],azarus.  obtained  the 
homestead  in  01e\-.  and  he  is  buried  there  in  a  private  Cem- 
etery fin  the  farni  His  wife,  V'ercjnica.  died  in  ISGj.  They 
had  three  cliildren :  Catharine',  born  March  ~'.),  1S23.  m. 
Isaac  Keifl':  Caroline  m.  Jacob  Keim;  John  m.  Sarah  Ang- 
stadt,  and  they  iiad  two  children.  Sammd  and  Ceorge. 
The  son,  Jcdrn,  came  into  possession  of  his  fatiier's  home- 
stead,  v/hich   lie  cnkivated. 

Samuel  Wcidiie;-  (who  had  a  brother  Benjamin)  was  a 
farmer  in  I'ike  townsh.ip.  where  he  died  m  ]8T(>.  Mis  wile 
was  Catharine  Caiiger.  aiifl  ihe\  had  the  followint;  chi'- 
dren  :  William  G.  came  into  possession  of  the  homestead  ; 
Samuel  G.  in.  Hannah  Yodcr;  John  G.  obiaine<l  part  of 
the  homestead;  Catharine  m.  Thomas  W'eidner:  Rachel 
m.  Samuel  G.  Kuppert:  Sarah  m.  (lirst)  Henr\-  Adam  and 
(second!  Henry  Miller;  Anna  m.  David  Fry;  Caroline  m. 
Israel  Leinbach.  I'-otli  of  the  parents  diet!  at  South  Bcth- 
leliem.  Pa,,  in  Decenibrr.  10:)(i,  at  about  the  same  time, 
and  they  werv  buried  the  same  day  in  one  gra\'e. 

PA  XXEP.ECKI'R-PliXXYP.VCKHK,  Few  families 
li,'ivo  coniribiited  to  the  State  of  Peiinsyl\-ania  as  many 
men  of  sound  juil>;nient.  wisdom  and  unselli^h  p.irtiotism 
as  that  founded  in  ,\nierica  by  lleiidrick  Panntbecker.  who 
was  born  on  or  about  March  21,  1G74.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica from  I'lomborn,  a  villace  on  the  River  Rhine,  near 
W'orms-  T'liere  i'-'  a  relirenc  to  him  in  an  account  boi.ik 
of  Pa,storious,  on  the  Md  of  1st  month.  170::,  .About  160!i 
he  marrieti  I'-ve  Umsiai.  dausjhtc-r  of  Hans  Peter  Lniistat, 
of  Germantown.  Thev  had  eight  children:  Mrirtha.  170G- 
17fil;  .Xdolph.  1708-1 7f-'<l:  Peter,  1710-1770;  John,  1713-1784 
(was  promini:nt  in  the  early  days  of  the  Revolution); 
Jacob,  171.".-17.'):?;  Heiu-y,  1717-1792;  Parbara  ;  and  one  oth- 
er daii,:^hti_r  who  married,   a  Keyscr. 

l^eter  Prinnebeeker.  son  of  the  cmi.^raiil  Ilcndrick,  mar- 
ried l'!li/'idie!h  Keyscr,  and  they  became  the  part-iits  of  a 
son  \\  illiam, 

\Villi:in',  Pennebecker,  son  of  Peter  ;ind  f'Ti/abeth.  w.as 
born  .\uii.  20.  17-10,  and  he  married  .Mary  Hause.  They 
hail   a   son   Jescc. 

Jesse  Pennebecker.  son  of  William  .oid  Mary,  was  born 
Feb.  1,  17S:!.  He  was  a  farmer  near  Keely's  Church, 
Schwer.kville.  ami  is  buried  in  the  cemetery  there.  He 
married  (tirst)  Salome  Perkey,  and  amon.sj-  their  children 
were:  Jesse  P..  born  in  1S20;  .-Vmos  :  and  two  danvbters. 
His  scci.>nd  wife  was  a  Livengood,  and  to  tliis  marriage 
were  born:  Moses  and  l-'lia  =  , 

Jesse  P.  Paimepackcr.  son  of  Jesse,  was  born  at 
Schwenkville.  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa,.  Sept.  2.T,  1^20; 
he  died  at  his  hi>me  in  Colebrookdale  township.  Perks 
county,  .\pril  2:;.  l,sS,">.  and  his  remains  rest  at  Fairview 
cemetery,  Royertown.  He  \\  as  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
for  ten  years  workeil  in  his  shop  at  Fshbach,  He  then 
spent  eight  years  in  f.arming  at  the  same  place,  after 
which  he  located  in  Ci^debrookdale  township,  where  he 
h:id  a  farm  of  thirty-eight  acres,  and  this  he  cultivated 
from  that  time  on  until  his  retirement.  Me  added  tweiUy- 
eight  acres  to  liis  oiigin;il  tract.  Mis  industry  and  Rood 
managemenl  brought  liim  sncce>^,  and  about  eleven  years 
before  lie  di';d  he  was  able  to  ri'tire  :uid  to  j.  is-  his  La-t 
\e:ivs  in  the  eilj oyuient  nf  ihe  comiiet.nry  bi>  li.id  e.iriied, 
,N-  a  pub!ic-s|)ifiti-'l  citi.aii.  he  was  in  the  front  rank,  ili.s 
political  principles  were  those  of  the  Republican  party, 
and   be  ably   lilied    the  otliccs   nf   school   director   and   tax 


collector.  Like  all  lii.~  family  he  belonged  to  St.  John's 
Lutheran  Church  at  Poycrtown,  and  he  at  various  times 
held  all  the  e>flices  in  tiie  gift  of  the  Church.  He  is  burit-d 
in  the  family  lot  in  I-'air\iew  cemetery.  He  married  (lir-t) 
M;ir>-  Bechtel,  born  Oct.  2;i,  1S21,  daughter  of  Gehart  (  or 
Gerh;irt)  Bechtel  and  wife  (whose  maiden  name  was  Erd- 
man).  Both  Gehart  Bechtel  and  wile  ,ire  buried  in  the 
Mennonite  gravevard  at  Bally.  Mrs.  Mary  (Bechtel) 
Paimepackcr  died  Feb.  11,  1S78.  The  only  child  born  to 
Jesse  B.  and  Mary  (Bechtel)  Pannepacker  was  .Vmos  Li. 
Jesse  P>.  PaniKpacker  married  (second)  Esther  Krause 
(1S1'J-1'.I0.3,) 

Amo.s  p..  P.\N'XKf,\cKru.  Soil  of  Jesse  B.,  was  born  at  Lsh- 
liach  Corner,  in  W;i>hingtiin  township,  Berks  county,  Oct. 
"0,  iSlO,  He  attended  the  old  pay  school  held  in  a  spring- 
houiC  at  Eshbach,  on  the  John  Reidenantr  farm.  The 
teachers  were  a  Mr.  Siegenfnse  and  Mr.  John  Trollinger. 
Later  he  attended  a  public  school.  He  gave  his  services 
to  his  parents  on  the  home  farm  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  and  ce^ntinued  workin,g  for  his  father  after  that 
time  until  he  was  twenty-tight.  After  his  marriage  he 
began  farming  for  himself  in  Colebrookdale  township,  two 
miles  from  Boyertown,  on  one  of  his  father's  farms.  This 
continued  to  be  his  Iiome  until  18S2,  when  he  rented  the 
farm  of  se\enty-tive  acres.  The  farm  on  which  he  now 
lives  he  purchased  in  IS'.M  It  consists  of  110  acres  of 
♦■.■rtile  land,  and  is  imiiro\ed  with  substantial  l-uildiiigs, 
part  of  whicli  .Mr.  I'aiiiiei)acl:er  himself  erected.  He  is 
one  of  the  heavy  t-ixjiayers  of  the  township.  Besides  his 
farm  he  is  interested  in  the  Clayton  Creamery,  and  is 
president  of  the  Clayton  Creamery  Association.  This 
Creamery  averages  about  live  thousand  poun^ls  of  milk 
daily  the  year  round.  He  is  also  interested  in  the  Boyer- 
town Candy  Conipan\,  and  in  a  number  of  different  enter- 
prises, 

Mr.  Pannepacker  has  been  active  in  local  matters  as  a 
strong  Republican,  and  for  twcj  years  he  served  the  town- 
ship as  supervisor.  He  was  township  committeem.in  for  a 
number  of  years  and  was  delegate  to  a  number  of  county 
conventions.  He  is  a  member  uf  Christ  I,utheivin  Church, 
at  Xiantic,  which  he  has  servid  :is  deacon  and  elder,  and 
at  the  present  lime  is  serving  :-ts  tiuUee,  His  wife  belongs 
to  the  Xew  Mennonite  Church  at  Bally, 

On  Dec,  21,  1870,  Mr.  Pannepacker  married  Annie 
Clemnier,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  (,'viuer)  (Temmer, 
of  Washington  township.  To  th.is  union  was  born  a  daugh- 
ter, .Annie,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Ulysses  C.  Aloyer,  the 
farmer  on  Mr.  Pannepackcr's  farm.  They  have  had  two 
cliildren  :  .Amos  H,,  who  dieii  aged  two  and  one-half  years; 
and   Rosa. 

(Jn  C'ct,  4,  1S77,  the  anni\ers:iry  of  the  battle  of  German- 
town,  was  held  a  re-union  of  the  descendant.s  of  Hendrick 
Paiinebecker.  The  site  selected  was  the  camp  ground  oc- 
cupied by  Washington  and  (he  Revolutionary  army  at 
"Pennypacker's  Mills,"  on  the  Perkiomen  creek.  The 
firogram  on  that  occasion  included  an  oration  by  Samuel 
W,  Peiin\-f):icker,  ,since  Co\-ernor  of  the  C'ommonwealth ;  a 
liMim,  written  by  Is:iac  R.  Pennypackcr,  and  adapted  to 
Mennonite  music,  commemorative  of  Leonard  Keyscr,  a 
Mennonite  martyr,  who  was  one  of  the  forefathers  of 
the  family,  to  be  sung  to  illustrate  the  lirst  epoch;  the 
ballad  of  ^Vashington  at  Pennypacker's  ^lills.  written  by 
riieodore  Wintlirop  in  his  novel  "Edwin  Brothertoft"  to 
be  re.id  or  stmg  as  an  illustration  of  '.he  Revolutionary 
epoch;  and  "(ieii.  Pennypackc's  March,"  by  I'ierre  Latotir, 
to  be  pla\ed  for  the  iiiesent  epoch. 

The  story  of  Leonard  Keyscr  as  given  by  \'an  Braght 
is  as  foilciws:  "In  the  year  ];i27  W'as  the  learned  and  good 
l.eonaril  Keyser  taken  ami  condemned  to  be  burned,  .\s 
he  neared  the  tiri-,  b'luiiil  in  a  carl,  be  broke  olT  a  tlo.ver 
that  ,giew  in  the  field  and  saiil  to  the  judges,  for  th.ey 
rode  .ilong  with  him,  'If  \e  can  burn  this  little  flower  and 
rne,  iheii  have  ye  jmL'ed  ;iri';bt  ;  if  ni->t.  t.ike  lu'ed  and  re- 
p<  111,'  I'hrice  tile  gie,.t  lagols  wer.^  lirapid  ar'Umd  liim 
;it  tile  -tak<'  and  knuiied.  Xevertheless  when  they  had 
burned  ,iway,  his  luvly  was  found  unmatkid  save  that  his 
liair   w;is  singed  and  his  nails  were  a  littli'  brown.     Like- 


•  ■'  ...  :T        :    .M' 


i-^  ■:<{'.   .¥■  ^■^_    :.V  >!    .^i.'''    |- 


'M  ^'1      I- 


>      •,>r,>/i,il,,, 


RIOGRAPHICAL 


397 


wije  the  ];tt!c  flo-.vcr  \\-t  b.y  in  bis  IkdkI  uiicliaiiL;'.'.!.  TVu.Te- 
i>. •■.:•,.  t!ic  iiKTiffs  out  his  body  into  pieces  ;;nd  cast  tntin 
ir!io  the  Till'-  But  a  iud--;o  \v;.s  so  ir..n-(.-d  thereat  that  he 
vielucd  Up  hi""  office-.  :;!'.(!  O'lv-  fif  the  siUTiir?  Inciniu  a 
".\itii'ionitc  brother  and  ever  th'.Ti'arK.-r  hvL-d  a  piou-;  hfc," 

HYMX. 

W'h.eii   Loiiii;'.rfl  Ko}  ~c;   licavd  the  cries 

Of  grit  f  for  martyred  dead. 
And  saw    the-  place  of  sjicrif;-.^ 

Whereto  liis  pathway  led, 
He  pitad.ed  rioi,  \^-itli  useless  prayer 

To  scorning  bii;oi?   near. 
Rut  phicked  :i  ilmver  tliat  bloOiiie  J  so  fair 

It  made   the   vaste   more   drear. 

One  tliiwer  th;'.t  had  escaped  the  breath 

That  swcf't   the  withered  land; 
God's  sy:iibi>!  of  a  bite  from  death 

He  h<.  !d  it  in  his  hand. 
"If  ye  b.avc  power,"  he  spai<e,  "(his  hour 

^^'itll   ail   die    fires   yt.   light 
To  burn  r,T\-  bod\',  or  this  tlowcr, 

Then  br.ve  ye  doi'.e  aright." 

rJis  eyes  npraised  saw  net  ibe  Ld;;rc 

Of  toreli  en  hootiiii;  cowd 
Rut  far  above  llic  ftigots'  tlaie 

A   nft  williiii  the  clone! — 
.A    premise    sent    from   God   on    liigh 

liiat  iKite  sbotdd  surely  fail; 
Xo   wealtli   could   tiien    His   po^eer   defy 

Xor  ir  the  end  prevail. 

\\"e  seek  not.  Lord,  to  kn'>w  the  spell 

Tiiat  wreiiltjht  Thy  wdl  divine. 
We  k'lovv    Thou  doesi  all  tliintis  v.ell  ; 

The  tnir.iele  was  Thine 
■   To  c.'ii'.se  the  boink  to  i;dl.  to  take 

I'"r(.'m  death  all  tri'.ce  of  pa'ii 
And  liiarlv  of   tire,  ami  then  i'<  n^ake 

The  tlowcr  to  bkmiii  a^aiii. 

The   fai^'its'  blaze  like  n.oonlido  boitrs 

Ciave  ^igor   tu  •.'■luli's   (jt  rm. 
And  Tears  but  seemed  the  summer  .-lio\v.-"rs 

To  make  its  root  more  tkoi. 
l"pori   the   Inn's  d.irk  eb'oinK  tide 

I'he  in.'.rtyr's  ci^rse  wa;  thrown. 
A   witnesi   of   his   creed    i.e   died, 

A  faiib  iiis  chdilreii  ov>r,. 

Upon  those  wave;  the  good  ships  bore 

Tnttii's    fruitage   to  tlie  s?a 
Whose  surges  broke  upon  this  shore 

Of  peace  and  liberiv. 
And    Th..u,    O,    God:    v^hos.'   hallowed    !.;';id 

UphLlil  the  troubled   se.T 
W'here'ir,     .ur  sires  s.iiled  t"  this  l.i.yi. 

We  lile  or.r  pra;.  ers  ro  Tiiee — 

To  ask   lb, it    for    tliese   kinsfolk   ilere 

Thou   wilt   extend   Th\    ctire 
As  when  d'hou  inail'st  the  rift  .appear 

Abo\c  the   fagots'  flare: 
We  thank  Thee  for  Thy  blessings  given 

To  all  this  gathered  throng. 
And  sing  Thy  praises  unto  Heaven 

In  one  triumphant  song. 

KE\^  ZEXAS  11.  GARLl-:.  a  pron-.ment  clergyman  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  who  v-ame  to  Ke;,'i:'ig  Aug.  17,  1873, 
n  iving  accepted  a  call  \n  six  difieruit  cr  .;r;g;'t!0!i?.  -s 
••n'-  of  the  most  liigiii.\  esi,  emedi  and  beloved  ministers 
•■"f  his  lb  t.Miiiiiiatiov]  in  this  .e.-t;"n  ■)(  the  Stale.  Tho 
I't'.v.  .\h.  tiabk-  wrs  l)orn  Aug.  ;:;.  !«'".  tn  Xortba-npton 
C"nnty.  Pa.,  :.o:i  o:  L\m:'-1  .md  bji/abet'-.  (  i,iv;n:'A.od) 
G  dilv,    an.l    •.•,r.Mnd'-..n    of     ]::.::\,     and     i'li/.'.'ieih     i  Freesp) 


Gallic.  Tile  G-.Me  taniil}  ijngiirited  in  (ierman\,  and  its 
founder  in  .\meric;i  was  Pvter  Gidile.  v.!ui  witit  'tis  wife 
Cbri;t;a!\a  cante  :o    IJucks  cotmty  ir.    JTnj. 

The  child.r,-n  of  Jacob  and  I'.li/abetii  i  Freesc^  Gablj 
were:  l);oiiel.  Mary.  Sophia,  Aaron.  Tribias  tiiid  Lucy  A. 
Jacol>  Gabie  died  Marcli  S.  iSi-_'.  aged  s'.\ty-fhree  years, 
aTul  his  wife  b'e't).  :.'•'.  ]t;."<i;,  ag'-d  se\  (.nty-ti.Ldn  ye.irs 

L'aniel  Gable  was  born  ir.  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  Sepr  l.S, 
I'^V.'i.  and  w.ii  a  farnier  aiul  cari>ei!ter,  which  'vccupations 
lie  followed  all  o^  his  active  period..  d>ing  .\ug.  -C).  ISs.i, 
r.gcd  eighty-one  ^-ctir^.  His  wife  passed  a'v';._i-  July  1.  is;!7, 
when  fishty-sevcn  years  c.Id.  Their  children  \\<:rK-:  ••"dwin, 
Cliarlcs  Lnd  Tames,  tb-etased;  balb-  .\. :  Tb.omas  M..  ami 
Zer.a.^  H. 

Zettas  tl.  (j:dde  was  educated  in  tiic  common  schools  and 
at  Gettysburg  t  Pa.  )  College,  from  whirl-'  be  was  gra.lnated 
in  1S0.5,  subsefij-nily  atlendin.g  the  Mt.  _'Mr>-  Sttninary. 
ar.l  graduatitig  in  Tlicology  in  J5'J¥.  He  was  ord.dned 
June  10.  IsivS,  iiis  first  charge  being  at  Scei;ery  rUlb  where 
be  was  loctited  from  ItJijS  to  LSTIt.  He  came  to  Ue.i.ding 
.Aug.  17.  l?r;-..  aiid  took  charge  of  ibe  following  co-.igre- 
.ik.itions  which:  he  iias  faitii fully  served  to  the  prescjnt  titiH-: 
St.  John's,  Gibndt.'ir:  St.  ?dark's,  of  Birdsboro;  St.  James, 
of  Geigertov.-n  ;  Allegh'.!iy,  of  .VilcglieTiyvilJe :  'A'yomissing, 
of  Goiiglcrsvdie ;  and  Robeson,  '.f  Plowvil.'e.  Xew 
cliurches  have  been  bitilt  \v.  e;:cli  of  !ti.  prridii  s  during  hi?. 
pastorate.  He  aiso  erganized  a  Congreg-irii.in.  r.i  Sliillin.g- 
ton  and  a  churcii  was  buiit  in  t•^Tti.  lie  celeb'-ated  his 
quarto-centennitil  in  t89S.  in  each  of  ids  chnrche.;.  The 
Uev.  .\!r.  fiab'e  i:;  a  m-an  wdiose  earnesiness  a'td  piety  have 
made  him  n  power  it;  tlie  C':m/nunity.  Xot  only  is  he  a 
eicai  and  coiivincijig  i^rtaciier  .-iml  spi-iiutil  teacher,  but 
he  is  alsu  ?n  able  ad.-.imistrtitor,  as  the  rii.iterial  prosptrity 
of  iiis  congregations  shows. 

Rev.  Mr.  Gable  was  man-ied  Doc.  -4,  jscs,  to  limsnelda, 
daugl.f^T  of  Rev.  J.'^.cob  Vc.geiiiach.  of  Philadelphia.  a:.;i 
siv  cM'dren  b!e>.>.'il  ibis  unirn.  as  ioll)'.vs:  .M.it'ld.i 
F  ;  Rev  Ciiarles  Jacob:  Sv,.  .A  :  Rev.  Luther  i  ),  :  l-jimimd 
J.,  a  drn'.-L,ist:  ;tnd  F'r.  braiik  J..  \  ii'  r,:t'iv'  -it  jef- 
f.vs'.,,  Me.:;ic;'I  i^oilege,  of  Pkii.-M.leiphia.  eradnatbig  ir.  the 
cl;;-s  of  i'ioo.  M.-s.  Gable  viied  .\;)rii  ::,  ]90:;.  In  [Kibitical 
iv.aiters  Rev.  Mr.  Gable  is  itKlependeiit.  voting  rntlier  fLvr 
the   mat^   i!i;in   tbf    I'arly. 

Ob'rCv.iLKR.  In  the  year  l,":!7  Jacob  Dengler  eniigrtited 
to  Aitierica.  comino;  frcm  Gernni'iy,  probabh  ,'ro:n  Wittcn- 
bc;g.      His   i,rc,t;ier   .Andreas,   who   soon    fol'owrd.   died    in 


i'.n"...rica    ii:i.iiarriv:Ci. 


lacob    i;>-.;gler    settled 


Arnitv- 


vitle.  iiv'l  -iiierc  built  ,v  forge  and  manafacf-.tred  variot's 
iron  impleT'ients,.  His  reni.-i7is  are  buried  at  Ib.e  S.v.-imp 
churcl'.. 

Henry  Denglcr.  the  pre.je:;ilor  .f  the  rbMi;d'T-.  i;\  '')lcy 
towiiihip.  was  a  grioidson  of  Jacob.  ;;-id  was  be  rn  Oct.  3, 
17'.i:.'-  Ml  Amity  toai.snip  He  r-':ir;'iei!  Sar:ih  Gv.ldin,  .1 
lineal  d'-sccndant  of  the  Rev.  Satiinel  ''■iildin,  w'lo  e-fi- 
crated  to  this  conutry  in  1710.  and  w;is  ti^e  I'lrst  P.efornted 
niinistrr  in  Pennsylvania.  }'c;ir\  Dengler  moved  frC'in 
.Amity  to  F'iedLnsbnrg.  now  Oley.  in  .i*-'9.  and  embarked 
in  a  mercrintile  bn-ine<.~,  in  \Tbi'-b  he  cot^nnued  tii'iil  near 
the  close  of  his  life,  lie  v,:is  -■-!>■  active  in  public  tiffairs, 
and  took  a  deep  -nteresr  in  church  m.trters.  bein!.'  one  cf 
'..'to  chief  promoters  of  the  building  of  the  First  Iteformedi 
church  in  K-r.O.  donating  tb..-  land  au'l  coiitribuimg  liberally 
other\\ise.  I'l.u-  many  years  he  served  a-  :  n  officer  of  the 
Reformed  rinirch.  Tli^  di:.;b  occurred  M.irch  I'b  l¥fiO. 
>vheti  he  w.as  si.vt> -seven  .>ears.  uve  months  and  sixteen 
days  old.  His  wife  Sarali  'bed  Oct.  30,  1-'S:;.  aged  seventv- 
si.K  years,  seven  months  a.nd  iwenty-tive  days.  Tiicir  cb.il- 
dren  were:  Ibnry:  John  G. :  Janies  G. :  blanivt  m.  John  C. 
Xipe.  and  lives  in  Phila.b.  ijilha ;  George  lives  in  Cl.arion 
comity:  Wasbingion.  wLo  enlisted  at  the  age  of  cichteet;, 
se'ved  f  ir  !wo  yrar-.  .in  tbi-  Ci\-d  war,  was  c.tptt'red  Ju'v 
•.,'1,  1sc,:i,  and  w,is  kept  ;i  prisoner  in  Riclnnond  onti!  .MrircJi 
L':!.  {M4.  wie.i  be  wa.--  taken  tn  Andersouville  Ga..  .inv!. 
there  be  di' -1  of  st,ir\  .ation  May  ti,  IviJ;  Jacob  ibi  il  in 
FG'r'i.'iry.  I'-i-.''.  ;.<  lO  s,  •, -pty  <i-ie  \ear^.  le.ani','  a  fve.ilv  ..s 
fo'l  -.^vs.  "ir^.  C;Imi',<  I..;tba>;-i  r,  e.lr.ier,  llourird  l\h;. 
R(i!\,    Ail!::mi     and    Mr^.    \\or;bs    A.    Hn-s,   ..i!   ;i;:a;'. 


308 


HISTORY  OF  BERKS  COUNTY,  PKXXSYLX'AXIA 


Till.'  Rev.  Jnincs  G.  J)cn,i4l'.-r  ha-  been  in  the  ministry  nf 
the  Ref<iruie(l  Church  since  luiie,  1874.  ilc  is  a  graduate 
of  I-'raiiklin  iSi  .M;ir>hall  Ciille,y;c  at  Lancaster,  and  of  tiie 
Theoloi;ical  Seminary  h.cated  there.  For  nearly  a  quarter 
nf  a  rentury  hr  ser\-ed  one  charge  in  Sellcrsville,  Bucks 
Co.,  Pa.  Dr.  Den-lcr  lias  hei-n  a  frequent  contributor  to 
variuu?  publications,  both  rcliLjious  arnl  secular,  and  is  a 
scholarly  niaii  of  marked  attainments  and  as  a  religious 
leader  he  has  few  equ.als  in  devoted  piety  and  earnestness 
of  both  life  and  teachinL;s. 

JoHX  G.  Di;xi'.LKr;.  th'-  re/ered  veteran  .school  ti-aciier  of 
Berks  county,  is  a  rcMckra  nf  I-Viedensburi;,  Oley  township, 
where  lie  was  born  O.t.  :J't,  iJ^^.Jr.  His  caucation  was  ob- 
tained in  the  OIe\  Academy  under  i'rof.  Jacob  H.  Major. 
and  the  I'^reeland  Seiniinry  under  Prof.  Plun.sickcr.  He 
was  licensed  to  teach  in  public  schools  under  the  first 
county  superintendent  ni  I'.crks  comity.  Rev.  William  A. 
Good,  ill  1S,"T,  and  tau.uhi  the  t'lr-i  term  in  Oley  township, 
at  School-house  \o.  '. .  Preif.  P'ontfler  has  since  been 
teaching-  cierv  consecutive  school  term  (except  during  his 
army  service),  .ind  also  htis  conducted  select  schools  each 
spring  term.  He  htis  instructed  thousands  of  boys  and  girls 
of  Berks  county,  forming  tVieir  characters  flirougli  his 
excellent  example,  as  he  shaped  their  minds  with  his  wise 
precepts,  tiud  he  is  held  in  b.igliest  res])ect  by  the  ciiUre 
cuimt\.  Me  is  now  teaching  the  grandciiildreii  of  his  first 
pupils.  Piof.  Dengler  jiossesses  a  kind  and  benevolent 
disposition  which  is  shown  in  hi.-  intelligent  face,  and  he 
is  loved  f(.>r  his  many  excellent  traits  and  his  lofty  ideak  of 
life.  During  the  many  years  that  he  has  labored  in  Berks 
county  he  has  witnessed  many  ch.anges,  especially  in  tiie 
public  school  s\stem.  His  first  salary  was  twenty-four 
dollars  a  intinth.  of  twenty-two  days.  Xiit  only  has  he 
instructed  the  children  placed  uiider  liini  the  text  of  their 
books,  but  he  ha=  given,  them  the  beiii  lit  of  his  wide  ex- 
perience, his  varied  reading  and  exh.TUStive  studies,  and 
has  never  failed  to  hold  iqi  the  higliest  jjossible  staiia- 
ards   lufore    their   young   eyes. 

On  .April  18,  tsof.  Mr.  Dengler  was  trlled  with  p.ariotism 
and  enlisted  iti  Compan_\-  C,  7th  P.i.  V.  I.,  .at  Harris''nrg, 
and  was  in  .-u'tivc  seivice  at  Maitinsburg.  Va.  Hi^  fn>t 
enlistment  was  I'or  Im!  three  months,  but  on  Oct.  '-W.  isfii, 
he  re-enlisted  at  Reading,  Cnpt.  J;'.mes  McKiiight  command- 
ing, foi  three  year:-,  'n  Battery  M.  l;..S.  .\.,  and  s.'.w  some 
very  hard  serMce.  passing  through  the  entire  Peninsular 
campaign,  and  participating  in  tlie  batlle.s  of  the  Wilder- 
ness. When  he  was  niusiered  otit  Oc.  ;;0,  l.SiJ  I,  at  Statei\ 
Island,  \.  Y.,  he  v'as  in  titc  Sixth  Army  Corps. 

Having  thus  devoted  ovei  three  years  of  his  life  to 
his  country.  Prof.  I'lengler  catne  back  to  Readiiig.  \v!iere 
he  arrived  after  midnight  on  Oct.  ;;i,  ISo-t.  but  so  anxiou.i 
was  he  to  see  his  dear  ones  that  he  v. alked  to  h'riedensbur.g, 
a  distance  of  ten  miles.  The  following  day  he  engaged  to 
teach  the  schoi.l  lie  htid  left  t!:ree  and  one-liali  years  be- 
fore at  the  call  of  duty,  and  he  accepted  the  position  at 
the  earnest  solicitation  of  lii>  friends,  who  were  anxious 
to  secure  his  distingui'^hed  services.  Prof.  Dengler  has 
also  been  active  in  clu-rch  work  ever  since  young  manhood, 
and  is  a  member  of  l-riede!i.-.  Reformed  Church,  of  which 
he  has  been  deacon,  eirler  and  trustee.  He  is  a  trustee 
of  the  Friedcns  cemetery  coivip.any:  .a  trustee  of  the  Oley 
.Academy  that  was  founded  in  is."i7.  ;md  has  held  this 
office  since  ]S7."i.  Since  his  youth  Prof.  Dengler  has  been 
a  teacher  in  the  Sundtiy-school.  anil  is  very  efficient.  He  is 
a  member  of  Minneluilia  Lodge  Xo.  ],")4.  K.  of  P..  at  Oley. 
albO  O.  U.  A.  M.  Cnuncii,  Xn.  2:1.  of  the  same  iiktcc.  In 
addition  to  all  his  n'Awr  duties  Prof.  I  fen^der  is  the 
correspondent  of  .-ill  the  Reading  dail_\-  papers  at  Friedens- 
burg. 

Prof.  Dengler  has  been  twice  ni.arried.  His  first  wife, 
to  whom  he  was  niai  ried  in  January,  iSiiO.  v.as  Ctitherine 
Schlotm.in,  daughter  n{  John  and  L\dia  (Shade)  Schl^t- 
m.-ii'.  She  was  bnrn  in  01c\-  in  ^•^^^'.>.  and  died  .May  ,">.  IS7.'), 
aged  thirty-fue  yerirs.  tlie  mi>tlier  of  childr- n  ;is  follows: 
.\nnie  m.  'H,-ir\'\-  W'i-n'-r.  dece;is,  ,1,  has  four  ehd.dren.  and 
lives  at  Philadelpln.i  ;  .Millie  in.  Henjaniin  Snavcly,  de- 
ceased. :ind  lives  at  Friedenslmrg:  Ldi.i.  tUceased,  m,  .Mira- 


ham  l'>ieber,  of  Readini;;  ILirxey,  ;in  enterprising  life 
insurance  m;in  i.if  .\ilentown.  and  >uperinlen(ient  of  th<.- 
.Aileiitown  district  of  the  Baltimore  M;itu;d  Life  In.-.urancc 
CeMiipany,  is  married,  init  h'i>  no  children;  and  Calvin  and 
Clara  died  in  infancy.  In  187^  Prof.  Dengler  ni.  (second) 
Kate  L.  (Ritteri  \'i)der,  widow  of  Thomas  Voder,  and 
they  had  three  children:  Willitini,  v.  iio  has  a  R.  i-".  D. 
tiiail  route  at  01e\'.  is  married  and  his  children  are.  Blanche. 
Harvey,  John  and  F!l;i :  John  w;is  drowned  wdion  fourteen: 
Sallie  is  a  school  teacher  in  Oley  and  has  been  teaching 
sinci-  ]Oni;. 

Tt  is  only  fitting  to  close  this  too  brief  biography  of  so 
distinguished  an  eductitor  by  an  account  of  a  deliglitful 
C'.rem'jny  at  the  teachers'  institute  in  i;v,}7,  held  at  Kearl- 
ing.  Prcif.  Dengler  in  recognition  of  his  long  and  faithful 
services  a>  a  puiilic  insM-uctor  was  presented  a  silver 
loving  cup.  I'lfty  tlollars  in  golil,  and  sev-enty  carnations. 
tl;e  ;ast  named  re])iesenting  the  number  of  years  he  h:id 
lived,  and  celelirating  his  birthday.  Those  haxing  the 
matter  in  charge  very  littingly  selected  his  birthda>'  for 
the  presentation  day.  and  the  speech  wjiich  ttccompanied 
the  gifts  as  well  as  his  reply  will  never  be-  forgotten 
by  those  present.  Many  men  s.icrit"iced  much  for  their 
country.  Tlicre  are  thousands  of  teachers  in  the  country 
totiay,  but  there  arc  few  who  have  been  both  instructor 
and  soklier  in  one  as  has  Prof.  Dcng'.er.  When  he  served 
upon  the  battlelicld  he  was  an  excellent  soklier.  After 
his  military  life  was  over,  he  came  home  and  once  more 
entering  the  schoolroom  resumed  his  peaceful  vocation, 
onle  giving  a  little  more  of  himself  to  his  Ijcloved  pupils, 
lo*-  he  had  leariied  much  in  those  three  and  one-half  _\ears 
spent  on  bloody  battlelieids  and  before  besieged  cities.  His 
war  experience  .gave  him  a  breadth  of  vision,  a  fairness 
ill  dealing  with  others,  and  has  enabled  liiiii  better  to 
fit  his  pupils  for  the  ure.it  battle  of  life  where  each  one 
must  keep  in  the'  ranks  and  not  tly  at  tltc  first  sound  of 
war.  In  every  relation  of  life  Prof.  Dengler  has  proved 
hims(dt  ready  and  willing  to  bear  his  part.  ;ind  in  his 
wiidoin  he  realises  that  he  has  icacned  tlic  very  best  part 
of  his  wonderfully  useful  life,  wiiere  he  can  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  his  labor:;  and  rest  iiapjiy  in  the  coiifi  lence  and 
love   of  those    whom   he   has   so   I.eneiited. 

I.  .\.  DEISHER.  a  well-known  business  man  of  Read- 
ing, Pa.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  jewelry  liiisiness  at  Xo. 
5N  Penn  street,  Rearling,  was  b^.Tti  in  Htimburir,  P?.., 
Aug.  1:3.  ISHC,  son  of  Henry  and  \'alarya   fFink)   Deisher. 

l.'avid  Deisher,  grandfather  of  I.  A.,  was  a  mill  owner 
and  farmer,  following  these  occu!)ations  throu.ghout  a 
long  and  useful  life  in  Kut;:tov.n  and  later  at  Haiiiburg. 
He  was  a  \er\  energetic  business  man  and  accumulated 
a  considerabk:  fortune,  retiring  shortly  prior  lo  his  death. 
He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of  a  larg-?  family  of 
ch'l  Iren,  several  of  whom  died  young,  those  who  lived 
to  maturity  being:  Gereon,  William.  Henry  and  Catherine 
(married  William  D.  Shoiiio).  The  family  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Cliurfh.  and  in  politics  Mr.  Deisher  was  a 
Democrat,  holding  for  some  years  the  office  of  director 
of  the  poor.  His  son.  Henry  I')eishe",  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  later  su;ipkinen.ed  this  v\i:l;  a  course 
at  a  seminar)-  at  Coilegeville.  after  Iea\ing  winch  he 
worked  on  the  home  f;irm  until  renching  ni:inhuod,  when 
he  purchased  the  old  Lint/  foundry  ;;t  Hamburg,  operating 
this  for  many  ye.ars.  He  is  now  lixiiig  retired  with  bi- 
son. To  -Mr.  Deisher  and  his  wife,  who  died  in  18.SS,  were 
born  three  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  T.  A. 
bein.g  the  only  survivor.  Henry  Deisher  is  a  Lutheran  in 
reli'-'i  nis  matters.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  stanch 
Democrat. 

I.  .A.  Deisher  was  c'lu^Mtcd  in  the  high  sclioeil  at  Ham- 
burg, I'.-i..  and  when  a  boy  entered  the  drug  store  of  \d,-^.m 
Boilenhorn,  with  whom  he  workeil  four  ve:;rs.  .\t  the 
end  of  th.at  time  lie  .-ipprcnticed  himself  to  the  iew.-Ier's 
tr;ide  with  W.  W'.  .\ppk\  with  whom  he  served  his  time, 
i;  'iiig  tlu-nee  to  1  larri-burg,  where  he  worked  lor  -ix  vear.-: 
with  Pliilip  Thcilheinur.  .\iter  the  l:itter\  uculi  Mr, 
Def-ber  purchased  his  e,;tployer's  interest  in  ;lie  busii:e-s, 
canning  it   on   f':>r   four  \e:^rs.     in    !''i'.)7   ::i;   came  to    R.-.-!!!- 


6533    1 


HECKMAN 

BINDERY  INC. 

FEB  94 


n^.,„A  To  Pl«s^  N.  MANCHESTER, 
Bound -To -Pl«s«>    INDIANA  46962