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 116

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 116

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).

RALPH H. MENGEL, senior member of the firm of Mengel & Mengel, who are extensively engaged in the real estate and insurance business, is a member of the third generation of his family identified with business and public affairs in Reading, and the Mengels have been settled in Berks county for over a century.

Matthias Mengel was born Jan. 13, 1814, on the old Mengel homestead near Morgantown, in Caernarvon town- ship. He received his early education in the subscription schools of the period, and being ambitious to add to his knowledge continued his studies in private, becoming un- usually well informed. His father wanted him to enter the legal profession, but he himself had no leaning toward such work in his early life, and he was past twenty-four when, on Jan. 30, 1838, he entered the office of Elijah Dechert, Esq., as a student-at-law. He was admitted to the Bar of Berks county, April 9, 1840, and commencing praetiee in Reading gained a very large patronage in the city and vicinity, in the active prosecution of which he continued for the remarkably long period of over sixty years, and died Feb. 18, 1905. Mr. Mengel was active for many years in the municipal government, serving as alderman for, altogether, thirty and one-half years. He was first elected to that office in the year 1845, was re- elected for the two succeeding terms, and was chosen again in 1868 and for many terms thereafter. The length of his service is sufficient evidence regarding the value of his ser- vices. He served two years as water commissioner, being appointed to fill the unexpired term of George K. Levan, Esq., deceased, was treasurer of the city school board from 1862 to 1868, and served as a notary public from 1880 until he died. In political sentiment Matthias Mengel was a stanch Democrat, but he voted according to his own views of the fitness of the case when it came to electing local officers. Though always a hard worker Mr. Mengel retained his strength and energy to the last, and was active as many younger men. For many years he was one of the most prominent citizens of Reading, and he was pop- ular with the public and respected by his friends and asso- eiates everywhere.

Matthias Mengel was twice married, first to Mary Ann Phipps, daughter of Jonathan Phipps, of Chester county. To that marriage were born two children, Henry and Jonathan P., both of whom are deceased. The mother of these died Aug. 19, 1860, and Mr. Mengel subsequently married Amelia M. Soder, who survives him. She also became the mother of two children: Matthias, a practising physician of Chester county, Pa .; and Levi W., Professor of Chemistry, in the Boys' high school, Reading.

Jonathan P. Mengel was born in Reading in 1849, and passed away at the early age of thirty, in 1879. He mar- ried Alice V. Hain, and they had three children : Ralph H., J. Hain, and a daughter that died in infancy. Mr. Mengel was a young man of admirable character, and his untimely demise was mourned by many outside of the immediate family circle.

Ralph H. Mengel was born Jan. 8, 1872, in Reading, and received his literary education in the public schools, graduating from high school in 1890. Having passed the preliminary examination for admission to the Bar he read law under the tutorship of Hon. H. Willis Bland, Esq., with whom he continued for one year, until Mr. Bland was appointed judge. He then read in the office of Cyrus G. Derr, and was admitted to the Bar Nov. 6, 1893, sinee which time he has been engaged in legal work in Reading. On Feb. 27, 1899, he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and on Dec.

Nicholas Mengel, the first ancestor of the family in this country, was a native of Germany and came to America with two other young Germans, in the early part of the eigh- teenth century. Following a custom quite common in those days, and having no money to pay their passage, they were bound out upon their arrival here to defray the cost of their transportation, Nicholas Mengel becoming the servant of John Gernant, an agriculturist of Maiden-ereek township, Philadelphia (now Berks) county, Pa. His term expired in three or four years, after which he continued with Mr. Gernant for some time, and being industrious 2, 1902, he was admitted to the Superior court. Mr.

461

BIOGRAPHICAL

Mengel, however, has not confined himself strictly to legal business, having made several successful ventures into other fields, in which he has found his professional know- ledge invaluable.

In 1896, upon the death of their uncle, George P. Zieber, Mr. Mengel and his brother, J. Hain Mengel, purchased the real estate and insurance business formerly conducted by that gentleman at No. 60 South Sixth street. They or- ganized for business under the style of Mengel & Mengel. In 1903 the firm purchased the old Times building, on North Sixth street, which they greatly remodeled, moving their offices to that location, where they have since re- mained. Their rooms are handsomely and conveniently equipped for the accommodation of their large patronage, the firm being one of the best known business concerns in the city. They have the largest business of the kind in Reading, and give employment to a large corps of clerks and assistants. Both members of the firm rank among the most progressive citizens of Reading, are members of the city Board of Trade, and are giving substantial aid toward making the city one of the foremost in the Commonwealth. The firm issue monthly a valuable business publication, Mengel's Real Estate Register, which has a wide distribu- tion and is considered authority on real estate of Reading and Berks county. It is a thirty-two-page pamphlet.

In addition to the interests already mentioned, Mr. Men- gel serves as a director of the Commercial Trust Company, which he helped to establish, and is also its legal adviser. As may be judged from the important affairs entrusted to him, Mr. Mengel is one of the best known young busi- ness men of Reading, and he has won his way to the front rank of successful citizens by the exercise of a rare degree of tact and ability.

Mr. Mengel has numerous social connections, being a member of the Reading Alumni Association ; the Americus Club; the Temple Club; Vigilance Lodge, No. 194, I. O .O. F .; Friendship Commandery, No. 247, A. and I. O. Knights of Malta; Washington Camp No. 417, P. O. S. of A .; Lodge No. 62 F. & A. M .; Reading Royal Arch Chap- ter, No. 152; De Molay Commandery. No. 9, K. T .; Philadelphia Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32°; Reading Lodge of Perfection, 14°; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.

On Oct. 6, 1904, Mr. Mengel married Miss Deborah D. De Turck, a daughter of Lewis P. and Sarah P. (De- Turck) De Turck, and they reside at No. 532 Walnut street, Reading.

J. ISAAC BICKEL. In the death of J. Isaac Bickel, Bern township lost one of her best and most respected citizens. He was born Nov. 2, 1838, in North Heidelberg township, Berks Co., Pa., son of Jonathan and Magdalena (Wenrich) Bickel.

The Bickel family has long been one of importance in upper Berks county. Anthony Bickel, son of the ancestor, was a farmer in North Heidelberg township, where he owned a farm of 160 acres, which is now the property of Peter Ruth. A barn that he built is yet standing. He was a member of Herrnhooder (now North Heidel- berg) Union Church, where his remains were laid to rest. After his death his oldest son, Joseph, obtained the farm and after Joseph's death, his oldest son, Elias, became its owner. Elias Bickel sold it to Peter Ruth and moved to Reading, where he was in a hotel business on the site where the post-office now stands. Anthony Bickel married a Miss Romick, and they had six children, namely : Joseph (had children-Elias, John, Jesse, Moses, Joseph, Jared, Leah, Matilda, Mauline and Catherine); Anthony, who lived in North Heidelberg township, a blacksmith (had children-William, Benjamin-residing at Mt. Pleasant, John, Sallie and Eliza) ; Jonathan; Daniel; Mrs. Mor- decai Lengel, who lived beyond Bernville; and Mrs. Hen- ry Troutman, of Mount Etna.

Jonathan Bickel, born April 18, 1800, died July 21, 1874, aged seventy-four years, three months, three days, and was buried in the North Heidelberg Church graveyard. He was a farmer in North Heidelberg township, where he owned eighty acres of land. His wife was Magdalena Wenrich, daughter of Johannes Wenrich. They had the church, 368 vehicles being in the funeral procession.

following children: (1) Daniel. (2) Jonathan, a farmer, who lived in Iowa, later in Ohio, was buried by the side of his wife in Iowa. His children were: Elias, Isaac and a daughter. (3) Frank resides at Mohnton. (4) James resides in Reading. (5) Molly married John Faust (de- ceased) and moved to Nebraska, but later lived at Milton, Pa., where she died. (6) J. Isaac.

Daniel Bickel, son of Jonathan, was born in North Heidelberg township, Feb. 20, 1823, and owned the home- stead farm in North Heidelberg township, which he con- ducted until 1882. He resides with his son, Gasson Bickel, in Lower Heidelberg, near Wernersville. His physical health is remarkably good notwithstanding his years and he hauls the milk from the farm to the neighboring cream- ery. Formerly he served as school director in Lower Heid- elberg township. He and family are members of the North Heidelberg Church, where the family have their burying plot. He has identified himself with the religious bodies where he has lived, and during a residence of eleven years in Cumru township was an elder in the Gouglers- ville Church. He is also a contributing member of Hain's Reformed Church. His wife, Rebecca Gruber, died in Cumru township, April 7, 1873, aged forty-six years. They had sixteen children all of whom are dead except Cor- nelius, residing in Reading, and Gasson, who is a farmer in Lower Heidelberg township and has one son, James.

Daniel Bickel, son of Anthony, moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, and settled two miles from Basil, where he followed farming and blacksmithing. Of his two sons, Ephraim and William, the latter still survives.

J. Isaac Bickel attended the public schools during his boyhood and was trained to farming on the home place. He engaged later in that occupation in Cumru, Muhlenberg and Bern townships, locating in the latter in 1892, when he bought the old Jack Adams farm of 163 acres. This is very valuable land, being also favorably located midway between the Van Reed paper-mill and the Bern church. He was a most worthy member of Hain's Reformed Church, and at the time of his death was valued in that connection. He was a man of excellent business ability, was a director of the school board of Bern, and took a deep interest in educational affairs, and in the welfare of his community. At one time he was the Democratic nominee for Poor director. He had been identified with the Berks County Agricultural Society from its inception, and was keenly interested in its work. During the Berks County Fair in the year prior to his death, he was one of the super- intendents of stock. His judgment on all agricultural matters was considered reliable. He was widely known, visiting the Reading market daily where he served a large milk route for twenty-eight years.

On Nov. 12, 1859, Mr. Bickel married Angeline F. Werner, daughter of Thomas and Kate (Fidler). Werner, and a history of the representative Werner family will be found elsewhere. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bickel were : Henrietta m. William Henning; Thomas Wel- lington resides at Shillington; Ellen lives in Toledo, Ohio; Mary m. Evan P. Christ; Moses A., who farms for his mother and looks after his late father's estate, m. Hannah Boyer, and they have had two sons, Paul I. and Raymond (died aged ten months) ;. Jonathan died aged two years; Eva m. Thomas R. Gring; Charles, a most exemplary young man, met death with his father; and Millie K., Ulysses Werner and Agnes E. reside at home.

On Oct. 8, 1904, Mr. J. Isaac Bickel and his son Charles were driving home from Reading. They occupied a spring wagon, to which two horses were attached. At Leiss' Crossing, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, the north-bound express train struck the team, killing one of the horses, and throwing the occupants out. Charles Bickel was killed instantly, but the father was brought to Reading Hospital, where he was able to give his name before lapsing into the unconsciousness from which he never awoke. Both father and son were laid to rest in the cemetery of Hain's Church. The double funeral was the largest ever held at this

462

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

WILLIAM FRANKLIN WEBER, alderman of the piration of his term, April 16, 1891. he was appointed ald- Eleventh ward, Reading, Pa., has for many years been a erman of the Eleventh ward, by Governor Pattison, to fill popular and useful citizen of that city, and has frequently received the endorsement of her people at the polls.

Anthony Weber, grandfather of William F., was born in

the unexpired term of George Kramer, who had died the previous March. The following year, 1892, Mr. Weber was the aldermanic candidate of his party, and after a hotly con- 1797, and died in 1843. He was the owner of a small farm. tested campaign was elected by a majority of 437, the term in Germany, and he also followed the occupations of butcher and brewer. He married Marie Schneckenberger, and they had children as follows : Fidel; Martin, a brewer; Rosalia, who was married and lived in Germany; Maximil- ian, a shoemaker, who came to America in 1849; Marcus, a wheelwright, who came to America in 1855; and Am- brose, a miller and machinist of Reading, who came to this country in 1866.

being for five years. Again in 1897 and in 1902 he received the indorsement of his constituents, by majorities of 517 and 443, respectively. During the years of his incumbency Mr. Weber has given the most painstaking and careful atten- tion to the needs of his ward, and in matters which affected the weal of the whole city has ever been found on the side of progress.

In March, 1880, Mr. Weber married Miss Kate Egelhoff, daughter of William Egelhoff, a respected resident of Read- ing. To them have come three sons: W. Wayne; Walter W., a machinist; and Edwin C., a member of the class of 1908, Reading high school, who is now taking his college course in Civil Engineering.

Fidel Weber, father of William F., was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, Aug. 14, 1826, and came to this country in 1850. Before leaving the old country he had learned lock-smithing, and after settling in Reading, was employed at his trade, at the Reading Railroad shops. By faithful and diligent service he was transferred to the machine de- Alderman Weber was for thirty-three years a member of the Reading Hose Company, during which time he served for eleven years as president, and is now on the Honorary Roll. He is affiliated with the Order of Red Men and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and is a mem- ber of the First Reformed Church. His activity in polit- ical circles makes him a valued member of the Northeast- ern Democratic Club, and in all the varied interests of his home city, he is ever ready to do a full share of the necessary work. As a citizen he is universally esteemed for his loyalty to home institutions, and as a friend and neighbor all unite to do him honor. partment of that company, and was employed there con- tinuously for fifty-one years. In 1902 he was placed on the pension roll. Mr. Weber always took a deep interest in public affairs and was an ardent and earnest advocate of good government and permanent improvements. He was a Democrat in politics and represented the Second ward in the common council in 1871, and the Tenth ward in the school board during the year 1875. While attending to public duties, Mr. Weber never missed a meeting, and could be relied upon as being an honest and faithful public servant. From the time he reached the voting age he never missed an election and took untold interest in his W. WAYNE WEBER, son of William F., is a graduate of the Reading high school, Class of 1897. He served as time- party. Mr. Weber was also interested in building associa- tions, and during his time was president of more than keeper for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company two twenty, of which the most important were the Ringgold, Germania, Columbia, Homestead and Fidelity Associations. He resided in the Second ward forty years, and for the last thirty-one lived at No. 239 South Tenth street. years, and then became associated -with the Reading Cement Company as its clerk and secretary. In 1906 he was engaged with the Interstate Railway Company, with offices in Phila- delphia, and since 1907 he has been salesman for eastern Pennsylvania for the Edison Cement. He was a member of the Democratic Northeastern League, and was chairman one term. In 1906-07 he was a member of the State Legis- lature from the First District of Berks county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Red Men, and is an active member of the First Reformed Church.

On Sept. 12, 1852, Fidel Weber married Amelia Went- zel, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Body) Wentzel, and they became the parents of the following children: Alfred died at the age of four; James and Ida died in infancy ; Edwin Harrison died in October, 1902, aged thirty-six years, leaving a widow, Sarah (Lincoln) and three chil- dren, Harry, Robert and Irene; John M. is a machinist with the Philadelphia & Reading Company; William F .; Emma m. Newton Knerr, of Philadelphia; Henry is foreman in the Scott Foundry; Anna Victoria m. Isaac Quinter, a shoe dealer of Reading; Amelia m. Martin Bright, of this city; and Winona is at home. Mr. Weber was survived by seventeen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, and a sister, Theresa, of Reading; the latter, however, has since died. He was a member of Germania Lodge, I. O. O. F., Reading Relief Association, and in religion of the Reformed Church. Mr. Weber passed away, Sept. 3, 1907, from the effects of catarrh.

William F. Weber was born in Reading, Feb. 2, 1855. He passed his boyhood in the pursuit of an education in the excellent schools of his home town, and at the age of thir- teen began his active business life as a carrier of the Post and Eagle, daily papers of the city. After a short period in this branch of the service, he became appren- ticed to the printing trade in the office of the Daily Times. He finished his trade in this office, and afterward served four years there as a journeyman. Mr. Weber then ac- cepted a position in the Freight Department of the Phila- delphia & Reading railroad. However he did not stay but returned to the printing business, taking "cases" in the Telegram.

Taking quite an interest in politics Mr. Weber was elected to the common council from the Tenth ward, at which time he was the youngest member of that body. In 1889 he was elected a member of the same body from the Eleventh ward, being also at that time president of the famous Eleventh Ward Democratic Club, an organi- zation which was a powerful political factor during the three years he served as its head. Shortly after the ex- below.

FRED B. HOSSLER, justice of the peace, farmer and surveyor of Tilden township, is one of the oldest justices in Berks county, having served continuously since the year 1867.

Mr. Hossler was born April 3, 1839, on the farm in Til- den township where he now resides, and he is a great- grandson of Frederick Hossler, who first settled in the Heidelberg district. Thence he removed to what was then Bern township, settling where the Squire now lives. He took up about 325 acres of land, and lived and died here, and he is buried at St. Michael's Church. He divided the farm into three tracts, giving one to each of his three sons.

John Hossler, son of Frederick, also died in Bern town- ship, and is buried at St. Michael's Church. His wife was Rachel Rickert, and their children were as follows: John (died young) ; Henry, Benjamin (died in Schuylkill county) ; Elizabeth (m. John Conckling) ; Sarah (m. Sam- uel Meck) ; Catharine (m. Peter Fink) ; and Rebecca (mar- ried Henry Fink).

Henry Hossler, son of John, was born July 17, 1804, on the old homestead, and died there Aug. 27, 1892. He, too, is buried at St. Michael's Church. His property or- iginally comprised 187 acres, part of which he sold, the homestead at present consisting of 130 acres. Henry Hossler engaged in general farming throughout his active years, passing his last years in retirement. He was a captain in the State militia, and was a Democrat in poli- tics. Henry Hossler married Mary Ann Scheidy, and they had a family of six children: Four died young; John died at Auburn, Schuylkill county; Fred B. is mentioned

463

BIOGRAPHICAL

Fred B. Hossler attended the public schools in the local- well pleased. He resides in a large brick residence which ity of his home and later went to Morgantown Academy, hie built in 1890. The well kept lawn adds to the at- and he taught school for one term in Upper Bern town- tractive appearance of this, one of the finest places in the ship, now Tilden township. He then went to Port Clinton, township. where he remained for six months, in 1865 returning to

In politics Mr. Bechtel is a Republican, and from 1876 the home farm, where he has ever since been located. As to 1890 he was postmaster at Huff's Church. He and his previously stated, the farm contains 130 acres, all of which family are Lutheran members of Huff's Church. Mr. is valuable land and in a profitable state of cultivation. Bechtel married Sally Ann Biddenbender, daughter of Squire Hossler is well known, especially in his public Samuel and Catharine (Berkey) Biddenbender, and grand-

capacity, having been first elected justice of the peace in 1867, so that his period of service in that office alone covers over forty years. He had previously served eleven years as township auditor. In addition to farming Mr. Hossler has done considerable surveying, and he is a substantial and much respected 'citizen of his locality. He is also a homeopathic veterinary, of considerable experience, hav- ing practised for over forty years. He is a member of St. Michael's Lutheran Church and of Vaux Lodge, No.

406; F. & A. M., of Hamburg, Pennsylvania. In politics he of the county. His grandfather, Samuel Marx, was a

is a Democrat. 1

Mr. Hossler married Matilda Savage, daughter of Joseph Savage, of Tilden township, and they have two children : Alvin E., who is in the express business at Hamburg, Pa., married Bessie Hadesty, and they have one son, Herbert. Lillie Jane married Milton S. Balthaser, of Kutztown, who died Jan. 11, 1909, and was buried at St. Michael's, leaving to survive his wife, Lillie, and three minor children- Curtis F., Miriam and Wayne.

DANIEL R. BECHTEL, merchant at Huff's Church, in Hereford township, was born at Bechtel's Mill, in District township, the original Bechtel homestead, March 9, 1846.

Peter Bechtel, great-grandfather of Daniel R., was an early settler of East District township, in Berks county. Prior to 1774 he had settled there, and in 1790 he was the owner of much land. He died about 1794, and is buried in the cemetery on the farm now owned by David B. Rauch. This was a private burial ground where many Mennonites were buried. It is now in a dilapidated condition, but some of the tombstones are still standing. The Kaufman, Zim- merman, Noll, and Johan Friederich Huff and wife graves are in good condition. Most of the burials here took place prior to 1812 when Huff's church and its cemetery were established. Peter Bechtel had a number of children.

Jacob Bechtel, son of Peter, was born during the war of the Revolution. He was a man of more than ordinary in- telligence and enterprise, and was the owner of con- siderable land. He and his wife attended the Mennonite church at what is now Bally. They are buried in the cemetery on the Rauch farm. They had four children : Polly m. Abraham Mensch; Sussana m. Henry Moyer; Elizabeth m. Jonas Heistand; and John.

John Bechtel, son of Jacob, was born at the Bechtel Mill homestead in District township, April 29, 1805, and he died May 10, 1876. He became a farmer and miller. The property contains about 200 acres of land. The pres- ent frame mill was built in 1769, and is still in good condi- tion, and used for milling purposes. . The sawmill attached to the property is now operated by Frank Benfield. The present barn was built by John Bechtel in 1860, and the stone house by Jacob Bechtel. John Bechtel was a man very well known in his section, and he was always active for the best interests of the community. He and his family were Lutheran members of Huff's Church. John Bechtel married Maria Rohrbach, born June 17, 1813, daughter of George Rohrbach, and she died April 18, 1865. Their child- ren were: Henry, John, Annie, Betzy, Sarah, Susanna, Maria, Catharine, George and Daniel R.

Daniel R. Bechtel was educated in the township schools and his home training was along agricultural lines. In 1871 he began clerking in the general store of William Gernand, of Breinigsville, Pa., where he remained one year. In 1872 he went to Zionsville, in Lehigh county, where he bought out Frank N. Gery, and he conducted the store four years. In 1876 he located at Huff's Church, in Berks county, where he has built up a fine business, carrying on a general store to the present time, a period of thirty- two years. His stock is good and his customers are always

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 116

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