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 115

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

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part in passing the bill to charter the Reading & Lehigh Railroad, running from Reading to Allentown, and now called the East Pennsylvania Railroad. He served in a number of local offices, was committeeman for Washington township for many years, and was license commissioner for four years. During the Civil war he filled the quota for his township. Like all his family he was a Lutheran in religious belief.

On Jan. 16, 1859, Col. William Heins married Anna Deysher, daughter of Peter Deysher, of Eshbach. She died July 18, 1894. The children born to this union were : Daniel, who succeeded his father to the store; Horace, a baggage master on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad ; Amelia, who died in infancy; Katie, who died at an early age; William, employed in the United States Mint- in Philadelphia; Mary: James and Alvin, both deceased in youth; Emma, wife of Daniel Eshbach, who has charge of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad freight depot at Lancaster, Pa .; and Warren, on the home farm.

MISS MARY HEINS, daughter of Col. William, was educated in the Keystone State Normal School, graduating in the class of 1887. For fourteen consecutive terms she taught school at Barto, and two terms at Heydt's school, in the same township. After her father's death she was obliged to give up teaching to devote herself to the man- agement of her property, personally looking after her farm of fifty-six acres. She also owns the store building at Eshbach. Miss Heins has taken an active part in Sun- day-school work. She is a great reader, and is a thor- oughly educated intelligent woman, highly respected throughout her district.

OBADIAH B. DORWARD, controller of the city of Reading, was born at Hamburg, Nov. 26, 1855, and is a member of a family for several generations conspicuous for good and useful citizenship.

Daniel Dorward, grandfather of Obadiah B., was born in Greenwich township, Jan. 1, 1779. He lived below Krumsville on a small farm, which he cultivated. His earlier life was spent as a shoemaker. He died at his home March 25, 1858, and is buried at Grimville church. His wife, Maria Christina Arnold, born Sept. 26, 1780, died March 13, 1858. Their children were: Ephraim, Joseph, Anna, Eliza, Charles and Daniel. In 1801 when the father, Daniel Dorward, became the owner of the farm on which he died, he purchased it from one Conrad Haffner.

Ephraim Dorward, father of Obadiah B., was born in Greenwich township in 1817, and was a stone mason and

Col. William Heins was born in Germantown July 21, plasterer, also working at the brick layer's trade, and

as a butcher and tanner, and it said he was skilled in every trade he worked at. He died of smallpox June 29, 1872, and was buried at Tamaqua. His wife, Martha Bach- man, was born in Lynn township, Lehigh county, in 1827, and she died at Hamburg in 1869. Their children were: Manasses, who died of lock-jaw in his young manhood; Frank, of Norristown, who served as a soldier in the Rebellion in which he participated in thirty-two engage- ments, and was wounded nine times; Mahala, who married George Miller; Henry, a soldier in the Rebellion, who was killed in front of Petersburg when but sixteen vears of age; Cyrus, of Pottsville; Albert, who died at Roanoke, Va., in 1893, and is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery, Reading ; Obadiah B .; John A., of Reading, manager of Lee's London show, and one of the best animal trainers in the country ; and Elizabeth.

Obadiah B. Dorward passed his boyhood days in Ham- burg, and there in the public schools obtained his early education. He was but fourteen when he left Hamburg and came to Reading, where he lived with his sister, Mrs. George Miller. In 1870 he returned to Hamburg, and began to learn the brick laying trade under his father. In the spring of 1871 the family moved to Mahanoy City, where the father engaged as a contractor, our subject working as an apprentice. On June 14, 1872, they moved to Tamaqua, and on the morning of the 16th, the father

In politics Col. Heins was a Democrat, and he took an active part in party work. In 1856 he was a member of the State Legislature, and was a member of the committee on Military Affairs, and it was while serving as a member of this committee that he acquired his title of Colonel. He was taken with smallpox, and in a house not yet fixed up, was also a member of the Banking committee, and chair- the son cared for him for thirteen days, the father dying man of the committee on Roads. He played a conspicuous June 29, 1872. Young Obadiah B. with three men buried

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

him in the cemetery at Tamaqua. The young man had of Eli T. Schlappich, assistant freight agent at Mohrs- great trouble in getting back in the "American House," ville for the Philadelphia & Reading Company, has two where his father was taken ill, but this was finally accom- plished, and he remained there until August, when he came to Reading and finished his trade. In 1880 he went to Hamburg, where he had charge of the building of the furnaces at the Hamburg Rolling Mills, and he continued there in charge of the mills four years.

Mr. Dorward is an active Republican, and has taken an interest in politics ever since he attained his majority. His first presidential vote was cast for Rutherford B. Hayes. In 1907 he became a candidate for city controller, and in February, 1908, was elected by a flattering majority over his competitor. He took the oath of office on April 13th, and then announced the appointment of his deputy, William W. Britton, of the Thirteenth ward (whose house numbers also count thirteen). Mr. Dorward is a controller who believes in the application of honest business methods to the conduct of his office and he has the confidence of the citizens.

Fraternally Mr. Dorward is a member of the Brick- layers' Union, which he joined in 1883, and of which he was president until 1907, when having been elected to his present office he resigned. He was a member of the Arbi- tration committee for years, and vice-president of the State Conference from 1904 to 1906, rendering this body most valuable services. In 1885 he became a member of Fidelia Chamber, No. 5, O. K. of F., and in 1887 he joined the Consultory of the Order, and has ever since taken an active part in it. He is a past grand officer of both bodies, and when he passed through the Grand Chamber he received an honor higher than that previously bestowed on any officer in that body, being presented with a jewel that is the only one of the kind in existence. Mr. Dorward and his family are members of St. Stephen's Reformed Church, Reading.

In 1880 Mr. Dorward married Alice Kline, eldest daugh- ter of Alexander and Mary Ann (Goodman) Kline, of Hamburg. They have no children of their own, but adopted a younger sister of Mrs. Dorward, Mame Kline, who is now Mrs. William G. Batzel, of Reading, and the mother of one son, Carrol.

JAMES H. WAGNER, proprietor of the Crown Knit- ting Mills, at Mohrsville, Berks county, was born March 16, 1861, in Centre township, and is a member of the fourth generation of his family in this country.

John Wagner, his great-grandfather, was a native of Germany, and came to America with his wife when a young man, settling in Berks county, Pa., at what is now Bern Station. He engaged in butchering, in which business he was very successful. He died at that place, and is buried at St. Michael's church.

John Wagner, the grandfather of James H. Wagner, was born Feb. 8, 1801, in Upper Bern township, Berks county, but moved to Lebanon county where he died, and is buried at Newmanstown. He was a butcher and fol- lowed that business in Lebanon county. On Feb. 10, 1821, he married Maria Schilling, daughter of John Schilling, and they had the following children: Jesse, deceased at Hamburg, Pa., whose children are Frank, Jacob, Dr. John, Elias, Catherine and Mary (Mrs. Tobias) ; Valentine, who died in Lebanon; John S .; and two daughters and one son who died young.

John S. Wagner was born Sept. 24, 1826, in Heidelberg township, Lebanon Co., Pa., and lived in that county until twelve years old, when he came to Centre township, Berks county. He did farm work, and when twenty-two years old began farming on his own account, near Leesport. When he gave up farming he went to work for the Phil- adelphia & Reading Railroad Company, and he was later in the employ of an iron company until his retirement, in 1902. Mr. Wagner is now living at Mohrsville, in ex- cellent health, and if necessary he can still do a good day's work. but he is enjoying the results of his former industry. On Sept. 28, 1850, Mr. Wagner married Mary Haag, daughter of Jacob and Juliana (Hafer) Haag, and eight children were born to them. namely: Isabella, wife

children, Mary and Benjamin; Eli H. died aged twenty- seven years ; John H. is living at Odebolt, Iowa; Frank is a resident of Philadelphia; James H. is mentioned farther on ; Jacob H. lives in Reading; Mary died unmarried; Ben- jamin died young. The mother of this family died April 26, 1883, aged fifty-four years, one month, sixteen days. Mr. Wagner's second marriage was to Fiaetta Snyder, daughter of John Snyder. No children have been born to this union.

James H. Wagner received his education in the public schools, and when his school days were over learned the tailor's trade at Leesport, following that line of work for about eleven years. He then became a general mer- chant, at Mohrsville, continuing in that business for five years, after which he engaged in the creamery business, also for a period of five years. In 1892 he entered the line in which he has since engaged, at Mohrsville. He began the knitting business with but three machines, con- ducting what was then known as the Mohrsville Knitting Mills, and his father-in-law, Isaac Fraunfelter, was in partnership with him for four years, until the older man died. Mr. Wagner then started his present establishment, which is known as the Crown Knitting Mills, conducted by J. H. Wagner & Co. The factory is 70 x 35 feet in dimensions, and employment is given to between sixty-five and seventy hands. The equipment includes twenty-six body frame machines, fourteen sleeve machines and forty- two finishing machines, and a fine line of ladies' ribbed underwear is turned out. Mr. Wagner has been very successful, as the steady growth of his business would indicate, and he is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of Mohrsville, where his plant is one of the indus- tries which add to the prosperity of the place very ma- terially.

Mr. Wagner's first marriage was to Rebecca Fraunfelter, daughter of Isaac and Caroline (Smith) Fraunfelter, and six children were born to this union, viz .: Edgar (who is associated with his father in the knitting business), Laura, Carrie, Mamie and Minnie (twins, who died when three months old) and Rebecca. For his second wife Mr. Wag- ner married Miss Mamie Yoder, daughter of Jacob S. Yoder, of Centre township, and they have had five children : Arthur, who is deceased; Wayne, deceased; Ira and Irene, twins; and Ray.

Mr. Wagner is a Lutheran in religious faith. He is independent in political matters, voting as he sees fit, and his support of or opposition to a cause is regarded as an important element in the success or defeat of any move- ment. He is a desirable and highly respected citizen, and Mohrsville owes much of its progress to his activity.

REV. GEORGE WASHINGTON GERHARD is by descent, as well as by education and choice, a lifelong mem- ber of the Reformed Church. His great-great-grandfather, Frederick Gerhard, who emigrated from Langenselbold, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, to America in 1737, and settled in Berks county, Pa., was a stanch upholder of the Re- formed faith. The same is true of the father, grand- father and great-grandfather.

His parents were Elias Gerhard and his wife Sarah (daughter of Daniel and Judith Kauffman). He was born at Bernville. Berks Co., Pa., and was thirteen years old when his father was accidentally killed by a runaway horse. His mother had died six months prior to his father's acci- dental death. After the father's death the young boy made his home with Aaron R. Bucks, at Stouchsburg, Berks Co., Pa., where he spent his youth on the farm. He worked on the farm during the summer and attended the Whitehall Academy of Stouchsburg during the winter months. At the age of sixteen years he taught one term of public school in Alsace township (Hartman's school), close to Spies's Reformed and Lutheran church. At the close of the school term, April, 1876, he entered Palatinate College, Myerstown, Pa., where he remained one year. In the fall of 1877 he entered the Sophomore Class of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., and graduated from that

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BIOGRAPHICAL

institution in June, 1880. In September, 1880, he entered tor enjoyed. the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at Lan- caster, Pa., and graduated in May, 1883. After his grad- uation he traveled four months through the West. On Sept. 1, 1883, he received a call from a Mission at Lock Haven, Pa., which he accepted, and entered upon the active duties of the pastorate the same month. In this congre- gation he labored faithfully and energetically for nine years. During these nine years the membership increased rapidly, the indebtedness was wiped out, the church prop- erty improved, and the congregation brought to self-sup- port, paying the pastor a living salary. During his pastor- ate at Lock Haven, the Rev. Mr. Gerhard was elected in the spring of 1887 Chaplain of the 12th Regiment of the National Guards, of Pennsylvania, which office he ac- cepted, receiving his commission from Gen. James A. Beaver, then Governor of the State. , He served six years as Chaplain, and spent three weeks with his regiment at Homestead during the memorable labor strike of 1891.

In 1890 Rev. Mr. Gerhard was elected Colonel of the Sons of Veterans of the State of Pennsylvania, at the Annual Encampment at Wilkes-Barre. At the expiration of his term of office it was a source of great pleasure to him to find that the division under his command had made commendable progress. Like his father, he is very patri- otic. His father served his country during the Rebellion, being mustered in Nov. 10, 1862, in the 167th Regmient, commanded by Col. Charles A. Knoderer. The regiment passed through some rough experiences, and at the expir- ation of his term of enlistment he was mustered out, Aug. 12, 1863, and returned to his home without a single injury.

On Oct. 14, 1890, the Rev. Mr. Gerhard was married to Miss Lillie Rebecca Klopp, of Stouchsburg, Pa. William A. Klopp, father of Mrs. Gerhard, was a successful busi- ness man and highly respected citizen of Stouchsburg, his native town, where he spent the whole of his busy life, excepting the last few years which were passed at Wer- nersville, Pa., where he died June 1, 1900, and he was buried at Tulpehocken Reformed Church, near Myerstown, Pennsylvania.

There was born to the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard one son, Earl, a bright and interesting boy who in all prob- ability will follow in the footsteps of his father and enter the holy ministry of the Reformed Church.

On March 18, 1893, Rev. Mr. Gerhard received and accepted a call from the First Reformed Church, Ham- burg, Pa. As in his first field of labor he was eminently successful. On April 4, 1898, St. John's Reformed and Lutheran Church building was destroyed by fire. These two denominations had worshipped jointly in the same church building for a period of 125 years, but when the church was destroyed by fire Rev. Mr. Gerhard took a firm stand for a division, and after three months' dis- cussion and labor, the two congregations by a majority vote decided to divide the property and each congregation erected its own building. The Rev. Mr. Gerhard was un- tiring in his labors during the erection of the new church, and specially confined himself to securing funds. When the church was dedicated and all bills turned in it was found that there remained only $4,500 of a debt on the beautiful granite structure. The pastor's efforts in se- curing funds were uncommonly successful. Some time prior to the building of the church he erected a handsome parsonage costing $4,000. In four years he was instru- mental in raising nearly $40,000 for building purposes only. When he came to Hamburg the charge consisted of three congregations, Hamburg, Shoemakersville and Port Clin- ton. Shoemakersville congregation was at once detached from the Hamburg charge and added to the Leesport charge. After the erection of the new church Port Clinton congregation was detached and added to the Auburn charge. Hamburg was now the first congregation of the Reformed Church in Berks county, outside of the City of Reading, to support its own pastor, and what is more it paid the pastor more salary than did the three congrega- tions, in addition to the handsome parsonage which the pas-

The liberality of the Hamburg people greatly increased under his ministry.

On October 16, 1908, Rev. Mr. Gerhard accepted a call from the West Reading charge, comprising St. James' Re- formed Church, West Reading, Epler's in Bern. township and Hinnershitz in Muhlenburg township. He entered up- on his present pastorate Nov. 22, 1908. With his former energy he at once began to lay plans to gather funds for the erection of a fine brown stone church edifice costing from $25,000 to $30,000 when completed. Success has at- tended his efforts from the very beginning, and the pros- pects for the growth of St. James Church are brighter than at any time in the past.

JOHN G. GLAES, a venerable citizen of Washington township, Berks county, was born there Dec. 13, 1828, son of Sebastian and Sarah (Gehry) Glaes.

Abraham Kles, his great-grandfather, was a taxable resi- dent in Greenwich township, this county, in 1756. He had three sons : Frederick, who is mentioned below; Jacob, who located in Oley township; and Christian, who located in Amity township.

Frederick Glösz, as he spelled the name, son of Abra- ham, was born in Greenwich township, Berks county, in 1756. When twenty years old he entered the Patriot army for services in the Revolutionary war, in which he served as a teamster, being so engaged at Valley Forge. In his later years he drew a pension. He was a tanner by trade, and followed that occupation in Pike township for many years, also engaging in farming in that township, where he owned a tract of 105 acres, near Lobachsville. The close of his long life was spent in retirement at the home of his son, Sebastian. He died in 1841, at the age of eighty-five, and is buried at Huber's Church, at Niantic, Montgomery county. He was a Lutheran in religious faith. By his first wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, daughter of Se- bastian Zimmerman, of Maxatawny township, he had the following children: Daniel; Abraham; Jacob; Sebastian; Henry; Solomon; Sarah, Mrs. Frey; Elizabeth, Mrs. Trout; and Rebecca, Mrs. Gregory. His second marriage was to a Miss Potts.

Sebastian Glaes, son of Frederick, was born in 1796 in Pike township, Berks county, where he resided until his removal to Washington township in 1828. There he bought the farm and pottery now owned by his son John, the seventy-five acre tract being especially valuable for the fine bed of pottery clay located near by. He died on this place in 1869, a member of the Reformed Church, in which he had served for a number of years as deacon, treasurer and elder. In politics he was a Democrat. Se- bastian Glaes married Sarah Gehry, daughter of John Gehry, of Upper Hanover, Montgomery county, and eight children were born to them, namely: Sophia, deceased, was the wife of Daniel Heidt, of Washington township; John G. is mentioned below; George died at the age of twenty- seven years; Frederick, of Pottstown, is a millwright; Charles died in childhood; Samuel died young; Matilda married George Gilbert, a farmer of Washington town- ship; Charles died young.

John G. Glaes was reared on the farm and received his early education in the local public schools, later taking a course in the Pottstown Academy. He studied surveying in the seminaries at Freeland and Mount Pleasant; at- tended Tremont Seminary, at Norristown; the Elmwood Institute, and Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, Ohio. After leaving school he taught school for fifteen consecutive years, teaching in Ruscombmanor township as a fellow in- structor of James N. Ermentrout (who was a great friend .of Mr. Glaes.), and then began surveying and conveyancing, in which line of work he continued for thirty years, becom- ing very well known in that capacity. The latter also learned the pottery business, which he still carries on at the old homestead.

Mr. Glaes has always been considered one of the most valuable citizens of his community, in every phase of local activity which tends to promote the general welfare and advancement. He has been identified with the official life of his township, as well as its educational and indus-

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

trial concerns, and served as county auditor from 1864

and economical he not only paid his way but was enabled to 1867; justice of the peace from 1867 to 1877, and town to accumulate a little. He finally purchased 300 acres of assessor for a number of years. In political sentiment he land in Maiden-creek township. is a Democrat. His opinion on all matters of local in- Peter Mengel, son of Nicholas, was born on the old homestead in Maiden-ereek township. When he started life on his own account he moved to Fritztown, Berks county, where he ran a sawmill for some years, and in 1789 he moved to Caernarvon township, this county, where he purchased 300 acres of land and passed the remainder of his life, continuing to run a sawmill. His family was a numerous one. terest is sought and valued, for his intelligence and clear mind are undisputed, and although now well advanced in years he is active and capable, and holds the esteem of his fellow-citizens in an unusual degree. He has been a constant reader and is remarkably well informed, and his library is large and well selected, showing his scholarly tastes. Among his most cherished books, however, are a large German Bible, published in 1798, and a geometry Henry Mengel, son of Peter, was born in 1784, and was a lifelong farmer. He married Hannah Schoener, who was born in 1788, and they had the following named chil- dren : Matthias, Peter, Christiana, Hannah, Amelia and Eva Ann. The mother died in 1868. which was printed in 1806, and which formerly belonged to Rev. William A. Good, onee county superintendent of schools; later Michael McCullogh used it at Yale. Mr. Glaes has a number of other relics which he prizes highly. He has written several poems which have brought him more than local fame-"Der Siffer, der Schmoker, der Tsehaer un Gämler," in Pennsylvania German (Deutsch) ; "Easter Greetings," and a masterful composition entitled "Sixty Years Ago and Now" (A. D. 1846-1906), which has attracted particular attention.

On June 5, 1877, Mr. Glaes was married to Susan Fran- cis, daughter of John and Susan (Snyder) Franeis and granddaughter of Jacob Francis, a farmer of Amity town- ship and a zealous member of the Lutheran Church. John Francis was born in Amity township, Dec. 17, 1801, and followed farming there. He also engaged in milling there, and was quite an active man in his community, serving as town assessor and as a captain in the old State Militia. He was president of the Berks County Fire Insurance Company. He died in 1890, in the faith of the Lutheran Church. To him and his wife were born ten children, six sons and four daughters: Catherine, wife of Rev. L. D. Leverman, a minister of the Reformed Church, of Philadelphia; Lizzie, who lives with her brother-in-law, John G. Glaes; Daniel, deceased, who was proprietor of the Reading Herald; Solomon, deceased, who was a black- smith at Dayton, Ohio; Amon, a millwright, of Dayton, Ohio; Sarah, deceased; Susan, Mrs. Glaes; John, who died young; Jacob, deceased, who was at one time engaged as bookkeeper for the Reading Railway Company and later carried on farming on the homestead; and Samuel, a car- penter in Philadelphia.

Mrs. Susan (Francis) Glaes was born Feb. 9, 1841, and died Jan. 13, 1908, just a few days before the com- pletion of her sixty-seventh year, being one of the vietims of the Opera-house catastrophe at Boyertown which devas- tated so many homes in this district. She is buried at Amityville. Mrs. Glaes was long one of the most esteemed and widely known residents of her district. She conducted a large millinery and dressmaking establishment for a number of years, giving employment to many hands, and from 1900 until her death was the postmistress at Pass- more, which office was discontinued after her death. She was a devout church member and active church worker, and for many years served as superintendent of the infant class of the Sunday-school at Niantic. Her intelligence and energy made her one of the most beloved women in her neighborhood.

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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 115

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