USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. III > Part 51
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Dr. William Herbst, son of Dr. Frederick William Herbst, was born in 1833, and died in 1880. He was reared in Berks county, Pennsylvania, attended the schools in the neighborhood of his home, and later attend- ed Williston Seminary in East Hampton,
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Massachusetts, remaining two years. At the age of eighteen years he began reading medicine with his father in Berks county, and later took a course at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1855. He located at Trexlertown in the spring of 1855, and there built up a large and lucrative practice, being a foremost phy- sician of the county until his death. He served for thirteen years as physician at the almshouse, filled the chair of botany at Muhlenberg College for upwards of seven years, and was connected with the various local medical societies, serving as secretary of the Lehigh County Medical Society for a number of years. He was a Lutheran in religion, a Democrat in politics, and a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity. He married Elenora Schall, daughter of David and Mary (Rupp) Schall, representatives of families the members of which were promi- nent in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars of this country. Children : Henry Herbert, of whom further ; Caroline E.
Dr. Henry Herbert Herbst, son of Dr. William Herbst, was born in Trexlertown, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1858, died September 23, 1911. He pursued his collegiate preparations at Williston Semi- nary, and was a student at Muhlenberg Col- lege, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the class of 1878, receiving the degree of Master of Arts in due course. He then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, was president of his class during the first year and class secretary the last year, and at his graduation in 1881 received honorable mention for a thesis upon the subject of "Alimentation." He was also one of the founders and first president of the H. C. Wood Medical Soci- ety of the University. For a year after his graduation he was examining surgeon for the Pennsylvania railroad at Wilmington, then returned to Allentown, where he was engaged in active practice until his death. In addition to his practice, which was both extensive and remunerative, he served as E. Worman, Hon. H. E. Crilly and H. B.
physician to the coroner ; was city physician for the Poor Directors; president of the Board of Health from 1890 to 1895, and served on the United States Board of Pen- sion Examiners from 1888 to 1807. He took an active interest in the Tuberculosis Convention held in Allentown, and was largely responsible for the success of the project. He served at the Allentown Hos- pital, and was Professor of Physical Edu- cation at Muhlenberg College for fourteen years. He was the author of "Etiology of Diphtheria," "Physical Education," and "School Hygiene." He was a member of the American Academy of Medicine, presi- dent of the medical section of the Pennsyl- vania State Medical Society, and a first vice- president of the society when they met at Allentown, president of the Muhlenberg College Alumni Association.
Dr. Herbst was a member of the Board of Control from the Ninth Ward for twenty years, and served as its president for nine years, and when he was elected first the board was Republican by two majority. He devoted considerable time to the interests of the public schools, and it can be truthfully said that he took a great pride in the up- building of the public schools in the city of Allentown. He was the father of medical inspection in schools, having worked for it for five years before it was instituted. He was twice a Democratic candidate for the office of mayor of Allentown. In 1893 he was defeated by Hon. H. W. Allison, and in the primary election for the same office, June 23, 1908, he won out over Colonel S. D. Lehr, receiving 2,402 votes and his op- ponent 1,498. In the general election fol- lowing he was unfortunate again, going down to defeat, Mayor Hunsicker winning by 4,863 votes to 4,578. When Mayor Harry G. Stiles died in office, November 8, 1908, the Democrats in city councils turned to Dr. Herbst as their man for mayor and he was named at a caucus on the fourth ballot by twelve votes to ten for Colonel Lehr, N.
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Schall had received one, two and one vote respectively on earlier ballots. At a meet- ing of city councils, November 17, 1908, Dr. Herbst was elected mayor over E. M. Young, the Republican nominee, by a vote of twenty-two to fourteen. He adminis- tered the affairs of office with signal ability and credit, winning the approbation of his colleagues and constituents. He resigned from the Board of Control, of which he was president, to assume the duties of this office, and was later returned to that body. Dr. Herbst stood high in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-third degree. He was also a charter member and one of the first board of governors of the Livingston Club, and a member of the Clover Club.
Dr. Herbst married, in 1881, Annie A. Frill, of Reading, Pennsylvania, who sur- vives him. Children: I. Dr. William Fred- erick, graduated from Allentown high school, 1903, then entered Williston Semi- nary, from which he graduated in 1905, then entered the University of Pennsylvania, graduating from the medical department in 1910, now a successful practitioner, assum- ing charge of his father's practice. 2. Henry, who was killed in 1908 by an automobile at Jefferson and Hamilton streets, Allentown.
Dr. Herbst died September 23, 1911, and his funeral was attended by many of the noted citizens of Allentown, also by noted physicians from Philadelphia and other cities of the eastern part of Pennsylvania. The school board met in special session on Friday evening, September 23, 1911, and adopted the following resolutions :
Whereas, Death has removed from our midst Dr. H. H. Herbst, who was a member of this board since 1891, with a slight interim, and served as president of the body for a number of years, and was intimately known by this body as a progressive school man, ever ready to give his time and attention to the interests of the schools. He was a man of conviction and principle, but ready to concede, when led to see that some other course was preferable. Before medical inspection of pupils was made compulsory, he was instrumental in having it introduced in the
schools of this city, and gave his time and attention together with statistics showing the necessity of such a step.
To his friends he was known as eminently loyal, ever ready to espouse their cause, if just, and they only can appreciate the loss sustained in the death of Dr. H. H. Herbst. Therefore, as a mark of respect, be it
Resolved, That the members of the Board of Control attend the funeral in a body, and that the teachers of the city and friends of education be requested to meet at the Administration building and accompany them.
Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon the minutes of the board and published in our city papers and an engrossed copy of the same be presented to the family of the de- ceased:
TOWNSEND, David Cooper Ogden,
Leading Dealer in Precious Stones.
David Cooper Ogden Townsend, who was for many years a leading dealer in precious stones in the City of New York, traces his descent to the eleventh century, in England, and to the early part of the seventeenth cen- tury in this country. The first ancestor of whom we have record is Sir Lodovic de Townshend, a Norman nobleman who came to England soon after the Conquest, and married Elizabeth de Hauteville, heiress of Raynham, a portion of the de Hauteville property coming to the Townsend family. The arms are: A chevron between three cscallop shells.
Roger Townsend, of the fifth generation, in a direct line, was a prominent lawyer, and held many public offices. Sir Roger Town- send, son of the preceding, also a noted lawyer and public official, was knighted in 1545. Sir Robert Townsend, his son, had an equally honorable career, was also a lawyer of note, knighted by Henry VIII., and made lord chief justice of Chester.
Thomas Townsend, of the tenth English generation, was the founder of the family in this country, to which he came in 1637 with his three sons, and took the freeman's oath at Lynn, Massachusetts, March 14, 1639. His first wife had died in England,
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and he married (second) Mary, a sister of Ann, wife of John Neazati, a merchant and selectman of Boston.
Richard Townsend, third son of Thomas Townsend by his first marriage, resided in Warwick, Rhode Island, 1655-58; was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in 1658, and Oyster Bay records show that he purchased lands at Lusum in the same year. He died in Jericho, Long Island, about 1671. He married (first) Deliverance, daughter of Robert and Mary Coles, (second) Elizabeth, daughter of John Wicks, one of the original settlers of Warwick, Rhode Island. With his own family and the brothers and sisters of both his wives, he settled at Rusdorp, Queens county, New York, subsequently known as Jamaica.
John Townsend, eldest son of Richard and Elizabeth (Wicks) Townsend, was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and re- moved with his parents to Queens county, Long Island, New York, his father becom- ing an original patentee of Rusdorp, now Jamaica. They were members of the So- ciety of Friends, and greatly persecuted by both the English and Dutch in New York and notably on Long Island, and John Townsend migrated further south and stop- ped for a time at Leeds Point, on Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey. He next located at Somer's Point, temporarily leaving his fam- ily there, and after cruising the Great Egg Harbor river, he followed down the sea coast about ten miles, where he found a stream of water suitable to use as water power for a mill, and he concluded to locate his future residence there. He purchased the land about three miles each way above and below the grist mill, a sea front of six miles. He returned to Somer's Point, where he purchased a team of oxen and a yoke, and he swam the oxen across the river, carrying the yoke on his own back and driving the oxen ahead of him. Once across he yoked the oxen and followed an old Indian trail to the place of his intended new home. This was the extreme upper part of Cape May,
and there were no other white settlers there. He built a rude house or "cabbin," cleared the best land of timber, and built a grist mill upon the stream. In 1841 this mill was still standing and in use. This mill was built between 1660 and 1680, and was therefore more than one hundred and sixty years in use as a grist mill. His death oc- curred at Cape May, New Jersey, March 5, 1721, "of quinsy while sitting in a chair." He married (first) Phoebe -, who died at Cape May in 1705, daughter of Robert Williams, (second ) Mercy -, who probably survived him.
Richard Townsend, eldest child of John and Phoebe (Williams) Townsend, was born in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, in 1681, and died at Cape May, New Jersey, May 30, 1737. Married, in 1704, Millicent Somers.
Isaac Townsend, youngest child of Rich- ard and Millicent (Somers) Townsend, was born in Cape May, July 10, 1715, died at the same place, February 25, 1788. Married Sarah, daughter of John Willits, in 1737.
Isaac Townsend, son of Isaac and Sarah (Willits) Townsend, was born in Cape May, September 27, 1738, died January I, 1780. He married Keturah, daughter of Josiah and Ann Albertson, who lived near Haddonfield, New Jersey.
Isaac Townsend, son of Isaac and Ke- turah (Albertson) Townsend, was born in Cape May, New Jersey, June 12, 1774, and died July 8, 1865. Late in life he removed to Philadelphia, where he lived to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of his wedding, January 2, 1860, surrounded by many of his descendants. He married, January 2, 1800, Hannah Ogden, daughter of Sam- uel and Mary Ann (Austin) Ogden; a direct descendant of David Ogden, the immigrant, who came to this country with William Penn; a great-granddaughter of Francis Austin, of Vale of Evestam, Bur- lington county, New Jersey.
Samuel Townsend, eldest child of Isaac and Hannah (Ogden) Townsend, was born
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in Cape May, New Jersey, October 30, 1800, and died at Philadelphia, May 5, 1887. He removed to Philadelphia in 1822. For a time he was engaged in the importation of Chinese wares, then commenced dealing in carpets, rugs, etc., admitting his son George C. to the firm which operated under the name of Samuel Townsend & Son. He mar- ried (first) Rebecca Craft, (second) Myra Sharpless, (third) Rachel Wilson Moore.
George Craft Townsend, son of Samuel and Rebecca (Craft) Townsend, was born in Philadelphia, April 15, 1824, and died November 6, 1869. As mentioned above he became his father's business partner. He married Beulah Pancoast, daughter of David C. and Beulah (Hancock) Ogden, and a lineal descendant of John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence. She was born December 23, 1826, and died February 5, 1905.
David Cooper Ogden Townsend, eldest son and second child of George Craft and Beulah Pancoast (Ogden) Townsend, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1851. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and being only eighteen years of age when his father died, he en- gaged as a commercial salesman for a jewelry manufacturing house in Philadel- phia, remaining with this concern until 1880, when he removed to New York City, and continued in the same line of enterprise until 1892, in which year he was admitted as a partner of E. August Neresheimer & Com- pany, wholesale dealers and importers of diamonds, and at the end of five years he purchased the interests of E. August Neres- heimer, and with Louis Neresheimer con- tinued the business as Neresheimer & Company, his partner taking charge of the business in London, England, and Mr. Townsend retaining the management of the New York establishment. This part- nership was terminated January 1, 1904, at which time the partnership of David C. Townsend & Company was formed, which became very well known and successful.
Mr. Townsend is independent in politics, and has never aspired to public office. He is a communicant of Old Trinity Protes- tant Episcopal Church, of New York, and a member of various social and business organizations, among them being: The "24 Karat" Club of New York ; the Jewelers' Board of Trade of New York; the Cham- ber of Commerce; the Metropolitan Mu- seum of Art ; the Museum of Natural His- tory; the Pennsylvania Society of New York ; the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania ; the Sons of the Revolution, of New York; and the Automobile Club of America.
Mr. Townsend married (first) April 15, 1871, May Lynde Shipley, born October 2, 1853, died March 22, 1895, and they had one child: David Shipley, born and died March 22, 1895; he married (second) May 2, 1902, Jean, born August 23, 1867, a daughter of Thomas Kirkpatrick, of New York.
YOUNG, Simon Cameron,
Manufacturer, Financier.
A brief review of the American ancestor of Simon Cameron Young, of Middletown, Pennsylvania, begins with Peter Young, who lived near Sinking Springs, Berks county, Pennsylvania, during the Revolu- tionary War. He performed active service during that conflict and received public rec- ognition by Continental authorities On December 14, 1776, he was commissioned by the Council of Safety of Philadelphia second lieutenant of the Third Battalion of Berks County Militia, a commission signed by David Rittenhouse, vice-president of the council ; on May 17, 1777, he was commis- sioned by the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania second lieutenant of a com- pany of foot in the Fourth Battalion of Militia, Berks County; and on May 10, 1780, the same authority made him lieuten- ant of a company in the Sixth Battalion of Militia in that county.
His son, Peter Young, was born in Berks
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county, Pennsylvania, November 13, 1781. For the greater part of his life he was a hotel proprietor, early in life moving to Dauphin county, and from 1820 to 1834 was proprietor of the stage house on Swa- tara Hill. He became host of the Wash- ington House, Middletown, February I, 1835, and was its popular owner and man- ager until his death, September 29, 1844. He married Catharine Sophia Ettla, born in Middletown, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1793, died October 19, 1876, daughter of David and Magdalena (Oldweiler) Ettla, both of her parents natives of Germany. David Ettla immigrated to the American Colonies about 1756 and settled at Middle- town, Pennsylvania, pursuing his trade, that of tailor, for the greater part of his life. He held a conspicuous and important place in the early history of Middletown, and was one of three commissioners ap- pointed by the King of England to raise the necessary funds for the erection of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and at one time, in performance of his duties as a member of this commission, walked from Middle- town to Philadelphia, through a then deso- late and rarely traveled section of the state.
James Young, son of Peter and Catha- rine Sophia (Ettla) Young, was born at Swatara Hill, Dauphin county, Pennsylva- nia, July 25, 1820, died May 4, 1895. He was a student in the common school of the locality and was in boyhood and young man- hood his father's assistant in the hotel busi- ness. During this time he cultivated habits of industry, frugality and economy, it being one of his traits that he was always more concerned with the amount of his remunera- tion for labor than with the kind of work he was to perform. By 1839 he had accum- ulated sufficient capital to purchase a canal boat, which he operated for one year be- tween Hollidaysburg and Philadelphia, the following year establishing a lumber yard at Middletown. To this he subsequently added coal dealing and for twenty-six years engaged in successful trade in these lines,
at the same time fulfilling contracts with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for supplies. He was also in the service of the Northern Central and Pennsylvania Rail- road Company as purchasing agent for a number of years, and during the Civil War laid a portion of the second track of that company under contract. A valuable lime- stone quarry at Leamon Place, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, now managed by his son, Simon C. Young, became the property of Mr. Young by purchase in 1859, and from this deposit large quantities of stone were furnished the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for the building of bridges and abuttments along its lines. Besides holding title to the Washington Hotel, in which his business life was begun, the opera house, and a number of stores and houses in Mid- dletown, Mr. Young was the owner of six- teen hundred acres of land in and about Middletown. To describe the magnificent scale upon which he conducted agricultural and stock-raising operations on this vast tract, to narrate the methods and systems employed by his large force of workmen on his estate, to picture the scene of busy prosperity as it appeared painted upon the country side of Dauphin county, would re- quire time and space far beyond the limits of this chronicle, and it is doubtful if even then an accurate idea of the efficient man- agement of the place would be obtained. It will here suffice to say that it was the show place of the county, that its excellence of cultivation and high-grade of stock excited the wondering admiration of a visiting nobleman, and that, in the opinion of one writer, a similar sized tract of land could not be found in the country that would match it in fertility, wealth of production, fineness of upkeep, practicality of improve- ments, and, last but not least, beauty.
The local institutions and enterprises that sought the services of Mr. Young were many, his pride in the region of his birth and his public spirit, associated with his keen business instincts, giving him double value to
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those organizations with which he was con- nected. He was president of the American Tube and Iron Company, of Middletown ; president of the Cameron Furnace Com- pany, of Middletown ; director of the Com- monwealth Guarantee Trust and Safe De- posit Company, of Harrisburg ; director of the Farmers' Bank, of Middletown, of which he was an organizer ; director of the First National Bank, of Lebanon ; director of the National Bank of Steelton; director of the Lochiel Rolling Mill Company; and director of the Harrisburg, Portsmouth, Mount Joy & Lancaster Railroad Company, in which capacity he served for over twenty years. By appointment of the governor he was a member of the State Board of Agri- culture of Pennsylvania, and also served as vice-president of the State Agricultural So- ciety, his achievements in scientific farming giving him an influential position both upon the State Board and in the Society. An attendant of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, he contributed liberally to its support, and in politics gave allegiance to the Republican party, never entering public life.
Mr. Young married, June 8, 1843, Eliz- abeth Ann, daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Oldweiler) Redsecker, born at Elizabeth- town, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1824, died at Middletown, May 9, 1896, a descendant of an old Swiss family, the American ancestor having fought in the Revolutionary War. Children of James and Elizabeth Ann (Redsecker) Young: I. Redsecker Isaac, born January 7, 1844, mar- ried Sarah C. Lewis. 2. Delanson James, born September 14, 1846, died March 31, 1872. 3. Catharine Sophia, born August 10, 1849, married Harry P. Dunbar, of Harris- burg, who died in 1901. 4. Sarah Hubley, born November 14, 1852, died March 25, 1878. 5. James Samuel, born August 19, 1855, died October 10. 1886. 6. Simon Cameron, of whom further. 7. Harry Peter, born June 17, 1862.
Simon Cameron Young, son of James and Elizabeth Ann (Redsecker) Young, was
born in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 20, 1859. He obtained his preparatory education in the Friends' Central School, of Philadelphia. For his scientific and tech- nical training he is also indebted to an in- stitution of his native State, the Polytech- nic College, whence he was graduated with degree of C. E. in 1880. His entire pro- fessional career was passed in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and immediately after graduation he was placed in charge of the construction of the West Pennsylvania Division, later being assistant supervisor at Blairsville, New Florence and Gallatzin. He was then supervisor at Jamesburg, New Jersey, and Reading, Pennsylvania, retiring from the service of the road on May 15, 1895, he and his mother having been appointed to administer his father's estate. Mr. Young succeeded his father as president of the Cameron Fur- nace Company, holding this position until the corporation gave up its charter, and was vice-president of the American Tube and Iron Company until its purchase by the National Tube Company. At the present time Mr. Young is president of the Farm- ers' Bank, of Middletown, and a director of the Steelton National Bank and the Steel- ton Trust Company. Fraternally, as well as in business and financial circles, Mr. Young holds prominent place, belonging to Prince Edwin Lodge, No. 486, Free and Accepted Masons ; Harrisburg Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Harrisburg Council, Royal and Select Masters; Harrisburg Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret ; also holding membership in Zembo Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His other associations of like nature are with Mount Penn Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Reading; and Middletown Lodge, Royal Arcanum. The Dauphin County Historical Society claims him as a member. He affiliates with the Presby- terian Church, being an elder thereof, while politically he is a Republican sympathizer.
He married (first) in 1881, Mary Alice
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Cleaver, died December 1, 1886; (second) December 4, 1889, Mary Emma Sutton, of Englishtown, New Jersey. By his first wife he is the father of two children, Elizabeth Anne, born at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1881 ; James, born September 9, 1883, married Eleanor Reese, of Balti- more, Maryland, and resides at Ardmore, Pennsylvania, the father of one daughter, Frances.
CLUST, Prosper,
Manufacturing Jeweler.
The usual business success attained by Prosper Clust as a manufacturing jeweler may be credited to the influence of technical training which has been handed down from father to son for generations. His father, Ernest Clust, was born in France, July 26, 1855, learned a trade, and came to America in 1872, where he soon married Addie Hig- gins, a native of Windsor, Canada. He set- tled in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and fol- lowed his trade for some years there.
Prosper Clust, son of Ernest and Addie (Higgins) Clust, was born September 26, 1873, at Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. He attended the local pub- lic schools of his native town, and also took a commercial course at a business col- lege there. He then came to New York, where he secured employment in the man- ufacturing department of a wholesale jew- elry house, and continued there for about three and one-half years. In the year 1898 he formed a partnership with Charles J. Dieges, under the firm name of Dieges & Clust, and they engaged in the manufacture of gold and silver jewelry, making a special feature of badges and medals, also of special order work. The business increased rapidly and to such an extent that it was deemed advisable to incorporate their com- mon interests ; and in 1908 the partnership was transformed into a company with Charles J. Dieges as president and director, and Prosper Clust as secretary-treasurer and
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