Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 108

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018

USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 108

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Henry F. Printzenhoff was educated in the schools of Kutztown, and learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed until 1869, when he went to Philadelphia, en- gaging in bridge-building in the employ of the Philadelphia Bridge Company until 1890. He then entered into part- nership with William J. Armstrong, and did business under the name of Armstrong & Printzenhoff, for the con- struction of bridges and other contract work. His firm put up bridges on numerous railroads, including the Jersey Southern & Pine Creek, the Wilmington & Northern, and the Shenandoah Valley; and immediately after the Johns- town flood this firm had the first construction party there, with 372 men, for the purpose of re-constructing bridges, large buildings, etc. They also constructed the wharves at Philadelphia, along the Delaware avenue front, from Race street to South street, for which they received high praise. During his work in the vicinity of Hamburg Mr. Printzen- hoff was attracted by the beauty of the village and de -. cided to make it his home. He erected a superior dwell- ing-house and purchased several farms near-by, aggregat- ing over 200 acres, and these farms he is operating suc- cessfully, making a specialty of poultry. When the citizens of Hamburg were discussing the question of introducing improved lighting for the public streets and private dwell- ings he encouraged the matter greatly, and assisted mater- ially in establishing the Hamburg Gas Company, of which he has officiated as president since its organization, in 1904.

RICHARD RICHARDS, formerly chief burgess of Boy- ertown and superintendent at present of the Boyertown Ore Company, an important enterprise of this place, was born Jan. 24, 1832, in Cornwall, England, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Tremyn) Richards, both natives of Corn- wall.

Richard Richards, the father, was born in 1800, and died aged seventy years. He followed mining as his business. His wife died when his son Richard was eight years old. Their children were: Margaret, Elizabeth, Thomas, Frances, Richard, William, Benjamin and Mary Jane. The name of Richards is not an unusual one in England, and on the same vessel crossing the Atlantic Ocean, which brought the present Richard Richards to America, was another passenger, named Simon Richards, also of Cornwall. The two men of the same name became . acquainted and discussed their possible relationship, but did not establish their kinship. Simon Richards settled in Cumrn township, Berks county, where he acquired a small farm, but for many years he has been at rest in the graveyard at Yocom's Church. He reared a family and his son James became supervisor of Cumru township, and his numerous children still reside there or in Reading.

Richard Richards, of Boyertown, is a man of large ex- perience in mining and he was only eight years old when he began work in the tin mines of Cornwall. He was only sixteen when he went down into some of the deepest mines, even to the depth of 600 feet. In the spring of 1853, hoping to better his fortunes, he started to America, land- ing at old Castle Garden, New York. During the first year he lived at Phoenixville, Pa., but in 1854 he came to

436

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Berks county and secured employment in the Moselem iron engaged in the manufacture of acetylene gas machines, and ore mine, where he continued until April, 1855, when he is secretary and treasurer of the Langer & Gerber En- graving Company of Reading. His more active duties are as business manager of the Reading Telegram. He has ever been much interested in public charities, and is now a member of the local board acting with the State Board of Charities. went to Tamaqua and found work in the coal mines in Schuylkill, and later in Luzerne county. In the fall of that year he came to Boyertown and here he has remained ever since, as time passed becoming closer and closer identified with the interests of this borough, and each year adding to his material possessions and advancing in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Richards worked first for the Phoenix Iron Com- pany, and was continuously in their employ for forty-seven years, beginning as an ordinary miner and being advanced rapidly. Since 1861 he has been superintendent of that great corporation. He has a complete and comprehensive knowledge of the mining industry and has lived to see wonderful changes in his day in methods and results. The Boyertown Ore Company, a consolidation of the different ore companies at this place, closed mining in March, 1907, and since then Mr. Richards looks after the properties and cares for the buildings. Despite his long life of hard work, both physical and mental, Mr. Richards retains his strength and healthful appearance. He is known for his kindness of heart, and this quality is revealed in his countenance.

Mr. Richards has been married twice. On Sept. 10, 1857, he married (first) Lavina Boyer, daughter of Daniel Boyer, who, with his brother Henry, founded Boyertown. Mrs. Richards was born in 1825 and died in 1881, and was buried in Fairview Cemetery. They had one daughter, Mary (m. Thomas Clark, a native of Cornwall, England, who is connected with the Walter Sanitarium at Werners- ville, Berks county). Mr. Richards m. (second), Dec. 24, 1890, Sallie B. Shuler, born July 5, 1857, died Dec. 28, 1890. He is a member of the M. E. Church and was one of its organizers at Boyertown, one of the first trustees and a steward for nearly a half century. In his fraternal relations, he belongs to the Brotherhood of the Union; Knights of the Mystic Chain; Madison Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Pottstown ; Stichter Lodge, No. 254, F. & A. M., Potts- town; Phoenix Chapter, No. 198, R. A. M., Phoenixville; and Palestine Council, No. 8, R. & S. M., Phoenixville.

In his political views Mr. Richards has always been a Republican, and has been honored by election to office in a normally Democratic town, for years serving as a mem- ber of the town council, and in the eighties as chief bur- gess. On many occasions he has attended conventions of his party as a delegate. Above all he is a good citizen and has many times shown that he has the best interests of the place at heart.

EDWIN R. GERBER is a son of Levi R. and Chesta (Hartman) Gerber, and his early ancestors were some of the first inhabitants of Reading. He was born at Reading Nov. 30, 1856, and was educated there in the common schools and the Keystone State Normal at Kutztown. Upon quitting school he learned printing and turned his attention to reporting on the Reading Daily News. In 1887 he became prominently connected with the Reading Telegram as one of the founders, and he continued with this daily newspaper until 1905, when he was obliged to discontinue his active services on account of having be- come mayor of the city, to which position he had been elected at the spring election of that year on the Demo- cratic ticket. His activity, ability and sterling qualities for a number of years in the city had won the respect and confidence of his political associates, and his advocacy of municipal improvements had been so earnest and suc- cessful that his elevation to the office of mayor was quite natural.

Mr. Gerber served very efficiently as secretary of the Board of Trade for five years from 1900 to 1905, and as president of the Board of Public Works for four years from 1901 to 1905. He was re-elected for another term in both positions, but he was obliged to resign on account of his duties as mayor so as to devote all his attention to the office. He has been a very active member of the Americus Club, the Elks, and the Press Club. Mr. Gerber is president of the General Light Company of New Jersey,

Mr. Gerber was married June 7, 1881, to Lizzie J. Drase, daughter of Jacob H. Drase, of Reading. They have two children : Viola, and Howard, the latter a chemist in the city laboratory. They are members of the Trinity Luth- eran Church.

D. W. STEHMAN, formerly a prominent business man of Reading, particularly identified with banking in- terests, was born in 1837, at Middletown, Dauphin Co., Pa., where he was reared and liberally educated.

From 1869 to 1887 Mr. Stehman was cashier of the Middletown National Bank. For many years he was treasurer of the borough, was a member of the Middletown Market Company, and of the cemetery association, served on the town council and held many positions of trust and responsibility at that place. In 1887 Mr. Stehman came to Reading and accepted the position of secretary of the Pennsylvania Trust Company, which was unanimously ten- dered by the board of directors, to which position he was re-elected in 1888, and made also assistant to the treas- urer, H. T. Kendall. In 1892 he succeeded Mr. Kendall as treasurer, and held this position until his death. He was a man of acknowledged business ability and of the highest integrity. His loss was deeply felt by the company with which he had been identified for so many years, and at a meeting of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Trust Company, held Feb. 9, 1904, the following resolu- tions were adopted : RESOLVED, That we make this record of the feelings of the board of directors upon the deeply regretted death of our late trust officer and treasurer, D. W. Stehman, and this is followed by a statement which showed the great trust and confidence reposed in him by his fellow officials, as well as testimonials to the personal esteem in which he was held by them.

Mr. Stehman was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he had been treasurer for a number of years. He was notably charitable, liberally contributing to benevolent enterprises. His death was a distinct loss to Reading.

In 1874 Mr. Stehman married Mary Van Reed, daughter of John and Amelia ( Addams) Van Reed. Two children survive, John V. R. and Edith A.

CHARLES S. FOOS. The city of Reading takes justi- fiable pride in the high status of its public school system, and the prestige gained along this important educational line has been to a large degree due to the able and un- tiring efforts of the present superintendent, Charles S. Foos, whose popularity is of the most unequivocal order. He is prominent in educational circles in the State and nation, and is thoroughly en rapport with his work.

George Foos, the father of Charles S., was born in Reading, son of George Foos, Sr., a prominent contractor and an organizer of the first school board of Reading, and for many years also a member of the city councils. George Foos, father of Charles S., attended the public schools and later learned the carpenter's trade as an apprentice to his father. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted and served his term. On his return to Reading he entered into partnership with his father and conducted a large contracting and building business, with offices in the old Foos carpenter shop, on Reed, near Washington, street. The building was in the possession of the Foos family for nearly one hundred years, and has been sold but lately. Mr. Foos was interested in all public affairs and served on the school board from 1887 to 1895, representing the Eighth ward. He was instrumental in the enlargement of the Poplar street building, and also advocated the erection of the Girls' high school, and that the location be at Eleventh and Washington streets. He cast his first vote for Lincoln, in 1860, and never missed an election, being

437

BIOGRAPHICAL

a stanch Republican. He was twice married, his first DR. EDWIN M. HERBST, State senator from the wife being Catherine, a daughter of the late Benjamin Eleventh District and a prominent physician of many Schmeck, a prominent farmer of Muhlenberg, and his sec- years of experience, was born in Pikesville, Berks county, Sept. 10, 1857, son of the late Capt. George S. Herbst, and his wife, Violetta (Maurer) Herbst. ond wife was Lizzie Kochel, who survives him; Beside his widow there survive three children: Charles S., Mrs. A. H. Mellinger and Mrs. S. T. Schmehl, all of the city of Reading. Mr. Foos was a genial, public-spirited man, and had a host of friends. About ten days before his death, after a long walk into the country and seemingly in the best of health, Mr. Foos was stricken with apoplexy, and lingered in a semi-conscious condition until he passed away Nov. 4, 1906, aged 68 years, 9 months and 14 days.

Charles S. Foos was born in Reading Dec. 17, 1863, son of George and Catherine (Schmeck) Foos. He is indebted to the public schools of his native city for his early educational discipline, and was graduated from the Reading high school as a member of the class of 1882. He was Latin salutatorian of his class, and delivered the first address of the sort ever given in the school. In 1883 he was graduated from the Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven, Conn., after which he matriculated at Yale, from which institution he was obliged to withdraw by reason of a disordered condition of his eyes. Later, however, he carried forward his higher educational work, having completed special courses in Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and the University of New York. In 1898 he received the degree of Master of Arts from Lafayette University. Mr. Foos early identified him- self with newspaper work, having been a reporter on the staff of the Reading Eagle and other Reading papers at different times. In 1888 he was appointed an instructor and later principal of Union Academy, Morganfield, Ky .; in 1888-89 he was an instructor in Stewart Academy, Read- ing; in 1889-90 he was principal of the high school at Orwigsburg, Pa .; in 1890 he became instructor in English in the Boys' high school, of Reading, retaining this in- cumbency until 1899, when he became principal of the school, which was at that time reorganized upon its pres- ent amplified basis. In 1902 he withdrew from the princi- palship to assume the duties of his present responsible position of superintendent of the public schools of Read- ing, in which capacity his work has been admirable in every respect. He was re-elected by unanimous vote in 1905 and again in 1908, and in 1905 was also granted an increase in salary without a dissenting vote.

Mr. Foos is a member of the National Federation of State Educational Associations, of which he was elected president in 1909; was elected president of the Pennsyl- vania State Educational Association in 1908 and is a meni- ber of the executive committee of that Association, and is a frequent contributor to leading educational periodicals. His services are much in demand as a public speaker, especially in conventions of educators and as a commencement orator, anniversary and post prandial speaker. In this line of work he is called upon several hundred times each year, and is always timely and felicitous in his utterances. He is a member of the board of managers of the Reading Young Men's Christian Association, is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of whose Sunday school he was superintendent, and he was also a member of the ex- ecutive committee of the Berks County Sabbath School Association. He is prominent also in fraternal societies, especially the Masonic order, and he has been a frequent delegate to national and State bodies of the same. He is past master of Schuylkill Lodge, No. 138, F. & A. M., of Orwigsburg; a member of Excelsior Chapter, No. 237, Royal Arch Masons, of Reading; past commander of Read- ing Commandery, No. 42, Knights Templar. He is past regent of Wyomissing Council, No. 1584, Royal Arcanum, and is affiliated with the Sons of Veterans, and the Patriotic Order Sons of America, besides holding member- ship in the Reading Board of Trade, the local Press Club, and other organizations.

On Nov. 25, 1895, Mr. Foos married Miss Mary Demar- est, of Paterson, N. J., and they have four children : Irvin Demarest, Frances Alice, Charles George and Florence Demarest.

The early home of the Herbst family was in Altenburg, Mueselwitz, Saxony, where was born Dr. William Herbst, grandfather of the Senator, Feb. 3, 1804. His literary education was acquired in the Fatherland, and at the age of sixteen he emigrated to America. He located in Phila- delphia, and there under the guidance of a prominent physician he began the study of medicine, continuing with him until he graduated from Jefferson Medical College. Being now equipped to enter upon the practice of his pro- fession, he located in that part of Oley which is now Pike township, and there for forty years devoted himself to his calling. Not only did he become the leading phy- sician, but he became a prominent, public-spirited citizen, taking an active and intelligent interest in the affairs of the community. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and in 1861 was elected county treasurer, an office he held for a term of two years. The last two years of his life were passed in retirement. He died in 1880. He married Catharine Schall, and their children were: George S .; Dr. William; Mary, who married G. A. Hinterleiter; Hannah, who married Edmund W. Gilbert; August, and John S., all deceased.

Capt. George S. Herbst, son of Dr. William, was born in Pikesville in 1830, and was educated in the district schools. His father was the owner of the Rockland Iron Forge, and when the son reached maturity he was placed there as manager, in which capacity he was still serving when the Civil war broke out. He was one of the first to answer President Lincoln's call, and on April 23, 1861, he was mustered into the service of his country, becoming captain of Company D, 7th Pa. V. I., which company was recruited for the three months service at Pleasantville. At the end of his term of enlistment, he returned home with shattered health, and after a lingering illness he passed away Dec. 26, 1865, at the age of thirty-five. In 1854 he married Violetta Maurer, daughter of Henry and Susan- na (Dotterer) Maurer, the former of whom was recorder of deeds of Berks county, 1842-45, and justice of the peace for many years, being a leading citizen of the county for half a century. Capt. and Mrs. Herbst had one son, Dr. Edwin M. In politics Capt. Herbst was a Democrat, and in religious belief a Lutheran. His social connections were with the I. O. F. and O. U. A. M.

Dr. Edwin M. Herbst was prepared for college in the public schools and the Keystone State Normal School. Entering Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg he was graduated therefrom in 1875, with the Latin salutatory. In the fall of that year he entered Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, and in the spring of 1878 received his degree of M. D., with honorable mention for the Henry C. Lea prize. Since 1880 he has been actively engaged in caring for the afflicted at Oley, where he has built up a large and successful practice, and has won a warm place in the affections of the many he has helped, professionally or otherwise. His ability, coupled with a frank genial manner, has inspired the utmost confidence.

Like all his family, Dr. Herbst is a Democrat, and is actively interested in the success of his party and the prosperity and well being of his community. From 1889 to 1892 he served as chairman of the county committee, and for the past twenty years he has been elected Dis- trict or State delegate to the party's councils. In 1901 he became State Senator, but a temporary physical disa- bility impaired his usefulness during the early part of his term. However, he made his presence known and felt be- fore the session closed, and in 1903 he was nominated by his friends for President pro tem., an honor seldom given to a rew member. Early in the session he created a marked and very favorable impression by his eloquent speech in favor of the erection of a monument in the Capitol park to the memory of the Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in the war of the Rebellion. In 1905 he was again elected. to the Senate, and served through the special session in

438

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1906, and in April, 1908, he was again nominated by his party at the primaries, receiving 400 votes more than his two next highest competitors in a very spirited contest. In November he was elected for his third term in the Pennsylvania Senate, being the first senator from Berks County to obtain this honor thrice. During the term of 1901 he served on the following committees : Public Health and Sanitation, Education, Law and Order, Agri- culture, Congressional Apportionment and Judicial Ap- portionment ; in 1903, on Appropriations, Agriculture, Con- gressional Apportionment, Public Health and Sanitation, Pensions and Gratuities and Law and Order; in 1905 on Agriculture, Education, Library, Municipal Affairs, Public Health and Sanitation and Pensions and Gratuities; at the special session of 1906 on Agriculture, Appropriations, Education, Forestry, Library, Military Affairs, Municipal Affairs and Public Health and Sanitation. His great- grandfather, George Schall, was a member of the Senate of Pennsylvania seventy-five years before Dr. Herbst, repre- senting the same district.

In 1889 he was elected director in the Farmers' National Bank of Boyertown, and on May 17. 1907, became its cashier. His connection with the bank has been of great benefit to that financial institution. From 1891 to 1893 he was lazaretto physician of the Port of Philadelphia, and from 1893 to 1898 was pension examiner at Reading. In whatever position Dr. Herbst is placed he proves an able man, capable of managing large affairs with skill and wis- dom.

Dr. Herbst is a member of a number of fraternal or- ganizations, among these being : Minnehaha Lodge, No. 154, K. P .; Oley Castle, No. 119, K. G. E. (of which he is past officer) ; Huguenot Lodge, No. 337, F. & A. M., of Kutztown (of which he is past master); and Reading Chapter, Consistory and Commandery. He also belongs to the Sigma Chi college fraternity. In his religious faith he has not departed from the teaching of his fathers, and is a member of the Lutheran church.

On Oct. 28, 1880, Dr. Herbst was married to Lottie Stettler, of Kutztown.

HENRY MALTZBERGER, lawyer of Reading and United States commissioner, was born in Reading. Oct. 10, 1858, son of Charles C. and Margaret C. ( Haas) Maltz- berger. His grandfather, John Maltzberger, was a to- bacconist of Reading.

Charles C. Maltzberger was also a tobacconist of Read- ing. He died in 1874, at the comparatively early age of forty. His wife was the daughter of Charles F. Haas, a brewer, of Zanesville, Ohio. They became the parents of four children : John died at the age of three years ; Mar- guerite E. m. Robert Job, chemist, formerly chief chemist of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, later member of the leading firm of chemists, Booth, Garrett & Blair, of Philadelphia, Pa .; Henry; and Charles J. was formerly superintendent of the American Iron & Steel Manufacturing Company, but later in the service of the Reading Iron Company.

Henry Maltzberger was reared in Reading and passed through the graded schools, graduating from the high school in 1874. He was prepared for Yale at the Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, Conn., and entering Col- lege in 1875, graduated with honors in 1879. Mr. Maltz- berger then returned to Reading, and entered the law office of his uncle, Harrison Maltzberger, at that time a promi- nent lawyer of the City, but now deceased. After two years of study, he was admitted to the Bar of Berks county in November, 1881, and has since been actively engaged in practice. He has a large and select clientele. On July 3, 1905, he became United States Commissioner for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, at Reading.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Maltzberger has taken an active interest in the councils of his party, and was for some years secretary of the County committee. He was a special agent for the Census Department in 1890. Mr. Maltzberger is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and also belongs to the Washington Library Company, of which he is vice president.

JOHN G. XANDER, of the Xander Machine & Supply Company, is not only a machinist of ability, but an in- ventor whose machines are in use all over the country.

Born in Hamburg, Pa., Aug. 6, 1854, Mr. Xander re- mained there in school up to the age of fourteen, when he entered his father's shop to learn the machinist's trade from his father, George A. Xander, who was a man of considerable ability in that line himself. After mastering his new calling, Mr. Xander went to Reading and secured employment in the Harbster (now the Reading) Hardware Company. He worked there five years, and in the mean- time developed such a marked taste for mechanical pur- suits that he entered the employ of the Reading Iron Com- pany as foreman in the tool room. He remained with them only six months, and was next with W. H. Wilhelm & Co., manufacturers of hat machinery, with whom he remained from 1882 to 1892. In the following year he went into partnership with James T. and James C. Reber as the Acme Manufacturing Company, to continue the manufacture of bicycles which Mr. Xander had patented and made after he left Wilhelm & Company. The new firm continued till 1897 when Mr. Xander sold his interest to the Rebers, and left Reading to locate instead in Lebanon, Pa. There he organized the Keystone M. & M. Company, and for four years was engaged in the manufacture of bicycles on a very extensive scale, but in 1900 he disposed of his interests there, returned to Reading and opened his present establish- ment at Nos. 926-930 Bingaman street. He does an extensive business in general machinery, in the manu- facture and repair of automobiles, and in the manufacture of hat machinery, filling orders for the last all over the United States and Europe. Mr. Xander is also a de- signer and builder of special machinery, besides having on the market a water motor for running washing ma- chines, and the Xander Brazing Compound, for cast iron and other metals, all of which are sold and used over the entire country. Mr. Xander is a man who has proved his claim to a foremost place in his line of work, and who has reaped substantial financial returns for his work. In addi- tion to the above business he is also on the staff of the General Adjustment Bureau of New York, as machinery expert, in appraisement of machinery. His establishment is an official station for the American Motor League.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 108

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1018

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018