USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. III > Part 32
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A principal object of his benevolence was the institution which bears his name --- the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades. His purpose was to afford to poor
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and deserving boys a good education, to train them to habits of morality, economy and industry, and to teach them useful trades. The school was founded December 1, 1888, but it was not until 1891 that all was in readiness for the admission of pupils. The school property comprises forty dif- ferent buildings, located on two hundred and thirty acres of land in the beautiful hill section of Delaware county, near Media, sixteen miles from Philadelphia, on the Central division of the Philadelphia, Balti- more and Washington railroad, and is also reached by trolley from Philadelphia via Media. To this praiseworthy institution Mr. Williamson gave the princely sum of $1,596,000, par value, having an appraised value at the time of $2,119,250. In found- ing this school Mr. Williamson profited by the failure of other philanthropists to have their wishes carried out, and provided for an entire avoidance of hostile litigation by perfecting the establishment of the institu- tion within his own lifetime. The trustees selected by himself in the foundation deed selected the site, and but a few days before his last illness the venerable benefactor visited it, and in warm terms expressed not only his satisfaction but his pleasure, with reference to the matter, this approval being the last business act of his life. He died March 7, 1889, in his eighty-sixth year.
In his provisions for the government of the school Mr. Williamson gave eloquent affirmation of cardinal principles of prac- tical benevolence. Himself a poor boy, and the architect of his own fortune, he pro- vided to smooth the way of lads of to-day unfavored by fortune. Candidates must pass scholastic, moral and physical examina- tions ; other things being equal admission is given in the following order : To those born in Philadelphia; to those born in Bucks county ; to those born in Montgomery and Delaware counties; to those born elsewhere . in Pennsylvania; to those born in New Jersey. Only native-born Americans are received, and none are admitted except such
as intend to follow for a livelihood the trades taught them. If there were any doubt as to the efficacy and practicality of the Williamson Free School methods a visit would dispel the illusion. To see the air of interest, industry and activity that prevails ; the well disciplined and orderly groups of boys eagerly absorbing information from an expert mechanic or a professor would assure the most skeptical that the William- son School fills a place occupied by none other. The most desirable result obtained is not that the school sends forth mechanics superior to those taught by the old methods but that it is graduating young men who are well equipped for their chosen callings ; that tastes in literature and culture have been developed that will not be content with daily labor and mere drudgery but will reach outward and upward for the better things of life; and that its graduates are men who in the coming days will make less plain the line of demarcation between the man of trade and the man of business or a profession and will raise the one to the level which it should occupy upon the same plane as the other.
DERY, D. George,
Leading Silk Manufacturer.
A little more than a quarter of a century ago Mr. Dery, a college graduate, and de- veloped in the best weaving schools of the Eastern World, began his business career in the United States. He had acquired a thorough knowledge of silk weaving and all the attendant details of silk manufacture in Europe, and with this as his chief capital at the beginning he has risen to a height in the silk manufacturing world that he then little dreamed of. His career furnishes another and one of the most striking illustrations of the success that can be attained by a right- minded, clean-living, ambitious young man, with a definite view in life. Beginning as a superintendent Mr. Dery in a few years be- came a manufacturer, added mill after mill
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in different localities, until to-day he is the largest individual silk manufacturer in the entire world. This result has not been attained by any lucky turn of fortune's wheel, but by a thorough knowledge of his business, untiring energy and a sagacity that has never led him astray in the choice of a field of operations. With fifteen mills in operation in Pennsylvania and Massachu- setts his immense capacity for work can be estimated in some degree, but not fully understood until one realizes the responsi- bility this imposes on one man, the directing head of all. For this is not a corporation business, as Mr. Dery not only owns but directs the many silk mills that bear his name.
The demands of his business would seem to be sufficient to fully occupy his every moment, but so well has he systematized his business and so well has he surrounded himself with men of capacity that he has had time to cultivate the finer side of his nature and surround himself with the choicest in art and literature. His library of standard authors of the Old and New World is one of the greatest pleasures of his life, while his private art gallery is filled with the best from the old and modern mas- ters. His knowledge of books, art and artists is profound, and his art collection the finest in the Lehigh Valley, and is a source of deep enjoyment to the owner.
D. George Dery was born in 1867. After acquiring an education he began his life- long connection with silk manufacture. He gained a wide knowledge of all the details connected therewith and before coming to the United States was in charge of impor- tant plants. In 1887 he came to the United States, locating in the principal silk manu- facturing city of this country, Paterson, New Jersey. There he became superintend- ent of one of the mills, continuing as such for five years, and started in 1892 a silk mill in Paterson. This mill he conducted until 1898, when he moved his plant to Cata-
sauqua, Pennsylvania, making that place his home and the base of his subsequent operations. The original plant at Cata- sauqua, which he built in 1897, was equipped with all the latest type of silk weaving machinery, was devoted to the manufacture of broad and staple silks, its capacity was doubled in 1899, and fully occupied Mr. Dery's energy until 1900, when he estab- lished his second plant on a more extensive scale, locating at East Mauch Chunk, Penn- sylvania. His reputation was now estab- lished in the silk trade as a manufacturer and the demand for goods bearing his name outran the supply. He met this demand by the erection of a third plant in 1902, choos- ing Allentown as a location. From that time until the present expansion has been constant, until he now has a chain of fifteen silk mills, all in Pennsylvania except one in Taunton, Massachusetts. His fourth plant was located at Emaus, Pennsylvania, fol- lowed by mills B and C at Allentown. He next erected a mill at Taunton, Massachu- setts, followed in rapid succession by mills in Pennsylvania, at Kutztown, Northamp- ton, Windgap, South Bethlehem, Scranton, Olyphant, Forest City, Marietta, and mill B at South Bethlehem. As an employer of labor Mr. Dery is extremely practical, hold- ing the view that on the prosperity of his workers depends the success of the various business ventures. To this end hie con- tributes by fair treatment and good wages, the best mechanical equipment, and a due regard for the welfare of all concerned. Short time is unknown in his mills and full wages are the rule even in times when busi- ness conditions would justify closing down or shortening hours. He is not an idealist, but takes the broad sensible business man's view that contented workmen are the best workmen. To the wealth and prosperity of the Lehigh Valley and other sections of Pennsylvania his operations have materially added, while the money distributed weekly to his employees is enormous in its volume.
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Mr. Dery maintains general offices in the National Bank building, Allentown, and New York offices at No. 383 Fourth avenue.
Cultured and refined in his tastes, social and agreeable in his nature as he is, Mr. Dery's greatest enjoyment and recreation is in his books and study. Chemistry and physics especially appeal to him and to these he devotes much time and research. He is broad-minded and generous, aiding in the establishment and maintenance of institu- tions, charitable, philanthropic and humani- tarian. He enjoys the society of his fellow- men and belongs to social organizations in different cities-the Lehigh Country Club, the Northampton, Bethlehem, Livingston and Catasauqua clubs in Pennsylvania ; the Hamilton of Paterson, New Jersey; the Manufacturers' of Philadelphia, and the Manhattan and Republican clubs of New York City. He is a well known and influ- ential member of the National Association of Manufacturers of the United States, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Zoological Society of New York, Society for Advance- ment of Science, and of other societies, scientific and educational. He is also a director of the National Bank of Allentown and the National Bank of Catasauqua. In political faith Mr. Dery is a Republican and in religious connection a member of the English Lutheran church.
He married at an early age, and with his wife Helen and family has since 1898 main- tained his residence in Catasauqua, Penn- sylvania. Children : George M., a graduate of Lafayette College, now a student at Har- vard Law School ; Charles F .; Helen.
A remarkable man from whatever angle reviewed Mr. Dery from the top-most round of commercial success can review his career with the greatest satisfaction. As the larg- est individual silk manufacturer in the world he occupies that position through his own efforts, has wronged no man and can claim it as fairly earned. Neither has he wronged himself by pursuing the golden goddess at the expense of those qualities of
mind and heart that constitute man's finer nature. His fortune fairly earned is used not ostentatiously but in the enrichment of his mind, the adornment of his home with all that is best and most elevating, and in the advancement of those who rely upon him for employment and in charity. He is, in addition to all, a good citizen, a kind friend and loyal to every obligation.
RIEGEL, Henry H., M. D., Eminent Physician, Man of Affairs.
For one hundred and fifty years the Riegel family has been prominently identi- fied with Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, although the founder of the family in America first settled in Bucks county. Dr. Henry H. Riegel, the leading repre- sentative of the family in Catasauqua, Penn- sylvania, is the oldest living practitioner in that city and although now aged seventy- eight years the good doctor and his buggy are familiar sights upon the streets and country roads. Since 1869 he has been con- stantly in practice in Catasauqua, having previously spent eleven years in practice in other Lehigh county towns. Thus for con- siderably over half a century his life has been spent in alleviating pain and suffering, and to-day he is yet the trusted physician in families in which as a young doctor he first ministered. He is a fine type of the "old country doctor," who not only was the family physician but the trusted friend, adviser and confident, close to the hearts of his people, rejoicing in their prosperity and sympathiz- ing with them in their sorrows. Although he has surrendered most of his professional business to his son, who is associated with him, there are many families where the "old doctor" cannot be supplanted in their prac- tice nor in their affections. Children whom he has assisted into the world, whose child- ish ills he treated, and whose offspring he also succored are his firmest friends and to these he still ministers. In his long career he has accumulated large business interests
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and in each of these he yet retains his con- trol. In the financial institutions in which he holds directorships he is faithful in his service and each week his seat at the direc- tors' table is always filled. Success, pro- fessional and financial, has crowned his efforts, but above these he places the posi- tion he holds in his community as an lionor- able man and trusted friend.
Dr. Henry H. Riegel was born in Allen- town, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1836, son of Daniel Riegel, and grandson of Mat- thias Riegel, both of Hellertown, Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania, and great-grand- son of Benjamin Riegel, a soldier of the War of 1812, a resident of Lower Saucon township, who on his return from the war was killed near Hellertown, only half a mile from his home. Matthias Riegel, born in Lower Saucon township, passed all his years on his farm in that township, was a Whig in politics and a member of the German Reformed church until his death at the age of sixty-nine years. He married Mary Kram, who bore him eleven children, Daniel being the fifth son.
Daniel Riegel, son of Matthias and Mary (Kram) Riegel, was born in Lower Saucon township, Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, died at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, aged sixty-eight years. He located when a young man in Allentown, where he worked at his trade of tanner, and later conducted a meat market. In 1837 he began a long career as an innkeeper, first conducting a hotel at Bath, Northampton county. Three years later he removed to Nazareth, where for fourteen years he conducted the well known Nazareth Hotel. He then retired from the hotel business, living in Bath until 1855, when he was elected sheriff of Northamp- ton county. He served with efficiency one term, living in Nazareth, where he con- tinued his residence until death. He was a very popular man, a Democrat in politics, and a devoted member of the Moravian church. He married Hannah Weaver, born in Weaversville, Pennsylvania, daughter of
Michael Weaver, and granddaughter of John Weaver, of German parentage, and a soldier of the Revolution. Michael Weaver was a soldier of the War of 1812, a farmer, tanner and merchant, born in Weaversville, where he died at the age of sixty-four years.
Dr. Henry H. Riegel, the seventh child of a family of twelve children of Daniel and Hannah (Weaver) Riegel, passed most of his early years in Nazareth, and until six- teen years of age was a student at Nazareth Hall, a Moravian academy of learning. At the age of eighteen years he began the study of medicine at Bath, Pennsylvania, under the preceptorship of Dr. W. E. Barnes. In the fall of 1855 he entered the medical de- partment of the University of Pennsylvania, continuing one year. He again studied under Dr. Barnes during the summer of 1856, entering Jefferson Medical College in the fall of that year. He was graduated M. D. in 1857, and on May 5 of that year began practice at Cherryville, Northampton county, continuing until January, 1861. He then spent one year in practice at Saegers- town, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, when at the solicitation of his father he located in Weaversville, the home of his mother's people. He remained in practice there from March, 1862, until the fall of 1868, growing in medical strength and acquiring a good practice. In 1869 he located in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, opening an office on Front street, later moving to No. 27 on the same street. Since his coming in 1869 Dr. Riegel has been continuously in practice in Cata- sauqua, having a large practice in the sur- rounding country as well as in the borough. He is a skillful physician, has ever pos- sessed the confidence of the people and lias ever conducted an honorable and success- ful practice. He admitted his son to prac- tice with him, an association that yet con- tinues. As years overtook him he did not confine himself to the old ways but kept pace with the medical discovery and is fully abreast of the times in treatment and pre- vention of disease. He was for years presi-
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dent of the Lehigh County Medical Society, member of the Lehigh Valley Medical Asso- ciation, the American Medical Associa- tion, and the Pennsylvania State Medical Association, taking active interest in all. He is highly regarded by his professional brethren, while in public esteem no man ever stood higher. Noted and successful as a physician Dr. Riegel has also achieved prominence in the business world.
In 1875 he became one of the organizers of the Slatington National Bank, was elected a director and still serves as such with great- est fidelity. Since 1879 he has been a direc- tor of the Catasauqua National Bank, of which his father was one of the organizers. He was an active worker in the Catasauqua Improvement Company, and first conceived the idea of inducing silk manufacturers to locate there. He also became the owner of the old Weaver homestead near Weavers- ville, an estate of one hundred and five acres of good land, and has since added other acreage, this being in the Weaver family for a century and a half. As land- owners in the valley either became prosper- ous or impoverished and wished to sell their lands, Dr. Riegel was often a willing pur- chaser and thus acquired many farms in the cement rock region and is to-day the owner of many acres of valuable land under- laid with cement rock.
In political faith a Republican, Dr. Riegel has ever been prominent in municipal affairs. He served many years as member of the school board, was president of the board and an ardent advocate of advanced educational advantages for the youth of Catasauqua. He was appointed a member of the board of pension examiners, May 17, 1889, served as president of the board four years, resigning during President Cleve- land's second administration. In 1909 he was elected chief burgess of Catasauqua for a term of three years, and only surrendered that high office, January 5, 1914, at the ex- piration of his term. His connection with the public service has been honorable and
he gave to the duties of each office the best of his ability, regarding naught but the pub- lic good. He gave fully of his energy and enthusiasm in youth, of his experience and wisdom in his latter years and is yet the loyal and public-spirited citizen of the bor- ough where forty-six years of his useful life have been spent.
Dr. Riegel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, has served many years as trustee and is devoted to the interests of his church. He is a valued member of the Masonic order, is a past master of Porter Lodge, No. 284, Free and Accepted Masons ; a companion of Catasauqua Chapter, No. 278, Royal Arch Masons; a cryptic Mason of Allen Council, No. 23, Royal and Select Masters; a sir knight of the Knights Temp- lar, and belongs to the Shrine, Rajah Temple, of Reading. He is one of the oldest members of the fraternity in Catasauqua, is highly esteemed by his brethren, who have honored him with many official posi- tions in the bodies named. He has attended two complimentary dinners to the sir knights, Allen Commandery, in 1912, and January 30, 1914.
Dr. Riegel married, in Cherryville, Penn- sylvania, July 3, 1858, Ellen J. Gish, born in Berlinsville, Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of Abraham Gish, a farmer and merchant. Children: 1. Clifford H., now paying teller of the Catasauqua Na- tional Bank. 2. Emma L., married S. B. Harte. 3. William, graduate of Pennsyl- vania College at Gettysburg, Bachelor of Arts, and of the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, Doctor of Medicine, a practicing physician of Cata- sauqua, associated with his father for many years. 4. Mattie G., now Mrs. Kean, and mother of four sons; resides with Dr. Riegel.
In this necessarily brief review of the life of Dr. Riegel it is to be especially remarked that after an unusually active, busy, useful life he is still "in the harness," carrying his nearly eighty years with a strength and vigor
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surprising. At an age when men regard themselves entitled to all the rest, comfort and luxury obtainable he meets all the de- mands his official position imposes, has just laid down the chief burgesship of Cata- sauqua, and each week sees him boarding the train to attend the bank directors' meeting at Slatington, and each day sees the familiar horse and buggy bearing the "good doctor" and his still more familiar medicine case away on his errands of mercy to the sick and afflicted. Surely this "grand old man" has sown well and will reap abundantly.
SMITH, William D., Man of Affairs, Philanthropist.
In the zeal and energy with which he sup- ported and promoted organized charity and practical benevolence William D. Smith had no superior in his community. As one of Pennsylvania's ironmasters he acquired large business interests, and in municipal affairs advocated a high standard of city government, and warmly supported every movement for civil, moral or social better- ment.
William D. Smith was born at Joanna Furnace, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1835, died in Reading, Pennsylvania, son of Levi B. and Emily H. Smith. He was educated at New London Academy, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, and after completing his studies became associated with his father and brothers in the opera- tion of the iron furnaces which gave name to the village of Joanna Furnace. He con- tinued in the iron business there until 1865, then until 1881, most of this period in part- nership with his brother, Horace V. Smith, owned and operated Isabella Furnace, in Chester county. In 1885 the works there were sold to Colonel Joseph D. Potts, and in 1887, after returning from a tour of Europe, Mr. Smith located in Reading, that city being his home until his death. He was a successful business man and was always
prominent in the public service. In 1861 he was appointed adjuster in the office of Dr. Edward Wallace, naval officer in the United States customs house in Philadel- phia, serving until 1865. In June, 1863, he raised and commanded Company D, Forty- second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, a part of the force called out to resist Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. The regiment was on duty six weeks and during the latter part of that period Company D did provost duty at Hagerstown, Maryland. From 1876 to 1888 he was deputy collector and auditor of the Philadelphia customs house, serving during the terms of Alex- ander P. Tutton and General John P. Hart- ranft, collectors of the port. This position, involving much labor and responsibility, he filled most creditably, as he did all positions he was called upon to occupy. After locat- ing in Reading he became interested in sev- eral important enterprises and at his death was a director of the Reading and Temple Railroad Company, the Reading Trust Company, the Reading Gas Company, and from 1890 was a trustee of the Charles Evans Cemetery Company.
In addition to the care of the private busi- ness interests of himself and members of his family he engaged for more than twenty years in a career of great usefulness along philanthropic lines, being prominently con- nected with the administration of various humane and charitable public institutions, to all of which he gave liberally of his means, his time and his personal service. From 1889 until his death he served as president of the board of trustees of Read- ing Hospital. The Home for Friendless Children was founded in 1886 by a number of charitably disposed citizens of Reading, and in 1888 its main building on Centre avenue, north of Spring street, was erected. As chairman of the building committee Mr. Smith supervised its construction, and later erected at his own expense two wings that more than doubled its capacity. To this charity he devoted a great deal of his time,
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and was ever careful that the comfort of the little inmates was properly safeguarded. He served on the board of trustees of the home, which by its charter was under the administration of a board of woman man- agers. He was also connected, either as a member or official, with the Reading Benev- olent Society, Hope Rescue Mission, the Humane Society, the Associated Charities, and the Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. He was for many years a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, a vestryman of Christ's Protestant Episcopal Church of Reading, one of the founders and a leading benefactor of the newly organized St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, located in the north- western section of Reading. He was a Re- publican in politics, but took no part in Reading local party affairs. He was one of the highly esteemed men of his day, and an honor to the State that gave him birth.
SINNOTT, Joseph Francis, Man of Affairs, Philanthropist.
For more than forty years closely identi- fied with financial affairs in Philadelphia, Mr. Sinnott occupied a prominent position in the business world. As a churchman and as a patron of charitable and philanthropic institutions of Philadelphia he devoted his time, talents, and substance to good works, and by bequests provided means for the continuation of benevolences in which he had been interested during his life.
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