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 118

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 118

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HENNE. The Henne family was settled in Bucks county, Pa., in 1771 by Samuel and Daniel Henne. In Berks county it dates back to Samuel Henne, who was born in Tulpehocken, now Jefferson township. He is buried at Blue Mountain church in Upper Bern township. By occupation he was a farmer and carpenter, and owned a small farm of fifteen acres, which he operated in addition to working at his trade. A Democrat in politics, he served a period of two terms as supervisor of the township, and was a member of the State militia. He married Barbara Noll, daughter of Peter Noll, of Lebanon county. Their children were: Samuel, a carpenter of Stransstown; Will- oughby, of Schuylkill Haven, a contractor and builder ; Ma- linda (m. Josiah Boltz, and died in 1907); Barbara (m. Albert Leminger, a veteran of the Civil war who died in 1898 in Lebanon) ; John of Williamsport, a carpenter; Ephraim; Adam, a carpenter of Schaefferstown; Levi, a contracting plasterer of Hamburg.

Ephraim Henne, son of Samuel and father of Oscar, was born in Jefferson township, July 8, 1853. He attended the public school of his district, and when fifteen years old went to Pittston, Pa., to learn the carpenter's trade. Ir 1881 he and his family moved to Schuylkill Haven, and there he followed his trade until 1901 when he came to Reading, and now resides at No. 361 Schuylkill avenne, busily engaged in contracting and building. He has been identified with many building operations in Reading and throughout Berks county, being recognized as an excellent workman.

On May 23, 1873, Mr. Henne married Miss Kate Zerby, a daughter of John Zerby (whose wife was a Hiester), of Upper Tulpehocken township. Their children are: Oscar D .; James I. died in infancy; Minerva m. Calvin Fitler : Sadie m. Dr. Harry Rentschler; Charles E. died at the age of six; Beulah; Mary died in childhood; Elsie ; Herman : Martin. Mr. Henne is an independent voter, cast- ing his ballot for the man he believes best fitted for the place without regard to party lines. He is a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran church, and he is a man widely known and universally respected.

OSCAR D. HENNE, building inspector of Reading and a man of high standing in the community, was born in Upper Bern, Berks Co., Pa., March 9, 1874. When only eight years of age his parents moved to Schuylkill Haven, and there he attended excellent schools, although he left school when quite young to learn the carpenter's trade under his father. In 1893 he went to Wilkes Barre, where he was in the employ of M. B. Houpt & Son in their planing mill. After a year, in 1894 he removed to Phila- delphia, and worked for D. Dougherty, a large contractor. In 1896 he left his employ and traveled in Indiana and Minnesota, working at his trade until 1898, and seeing much of the country. In the last named year, he returned home and enlisted in Company F, of Pottsville, Pa., 4th Reg. Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served throughout the

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entire Porto Rico campaign. In Porto Rico he was pro- moted to the rank of artificer, and when he was mustered out Nov. 17, 1898, he was so recorded. In 1899 he came to Reading and engaged in contracting and building, fol- lowing these lines successfully until May 1, 1908, when he was appointed by Hon. William Rick building inspector of the city of Reading, which responsible position he now holds, his practical knowledge of contracting and building making him an excellent city official.

Mr. Henne resides in his own home at No. 134 West Greenwich street, Fifteenth ward, of Reading. He is a Republican in politics, and is very prominent in the ranks of his party. He belongs to the Lutheran church, while his wife is a member of the Reformed church.

On Nov. 21, 1903, Mr. Henne married Emily Tyson, daughter of Irwin and Ellen (Becker) Tyson, of Schuylkill Haven, and they have one son, Allen T. Naturally Mr. Henne is regarded as one of the leading young men of Reading, whose business and political future is very bright. He comes of good, solid stock, originally German, but now thoroughly Americanized, and is a fair example of vigorous, sturdy American manhood.

DR. JACOB S. RITTENHOUSE, one of Reading's lead- ing medical practitioners, has been in constant practice in that city for the past twenty-four years, during which time he has won the confidence and esteem of the entire com- munity and has occupied positions of honor and trust .. He was born June 3, 1861, son of Dr. Samuel R. and Anna M. (Shaffer) Rittenhouse.

Union cause, and contributed numerous articles to local papers intended to stimulate patriotism in the people and to continue the support of the Union. He was a consistent Republican, and in 1863 was the popular candidate of his party for the State Legislature, but was defeated at the election. At the time of his demise he was acting as consulting physician of the Medical Staff of the Homeo- pathic Hospital, and was also the first president of the Hahnemann Medical Society of Reading. By his marriage to Anna M. Shaffer, he became the father of two sons and two daughters: Jacob S .; Anna; Hannah; and a son who died in infancy.

Dr. Jacob S. Rittenhouse was but seven years of age when his father removed the family to Reading, and there he obtained his elementary education in the public schools, later taking a course in languages and the natural sciences at the Scientific Academy under the preceptorship of the' Hon. D. B. Brunner, after which he matriculated in the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1882. On April 3, 1885, he was graduated, and the degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him. During the last year in college he was elected by the class to "quiz" them on the subject of pathology and the practice of medicine. After his graduation he became associated in practice with his father in Reading, and during the winter of 1887-8 he at- tended the New York Polyclinic and other well-known hospitals, devoting particular attention to the diseases of the ear, nose and throat. He has since made a specialty of these subjects, and is at present the Special United States Pension Examiner for the district of Berks county on ailments of the ear and eye. He was one of the first surgeons on the staff of the Reading Homeopathic Hospital. He has been successful in practice beyond his fondest expectations, and numbers among his patients many of the leading citizens of the county. For twelve years Dr. Rittenhouse has had his home at Lorane, Pa., although actively continuing his medical work at his office in Read- ing.

The Rittenhouses originally came from Holland, the fam- ily being established in America in 1690, in which year the progenitor established the first paper mill in America at Germantown, Pa. Dr. Samuel R. Rittenhouse, father of Dr. Jacob S., was born near the Trappe, Montgomery Co., Pa., Jan. 16, 1832, son of Jacob D. Rittenhouse, one of the substantial agriculturists of that section, who died of apo- plexy aged sixty-one years, April 17, 1843. Samuel R. Rittenhouse attended the public schools of his native town Professionally Dr. Rittenhouse is a member of the Read- ing and the State Homeopathic Societies, and is an ex- president of the Hahnemann Medical Society of Reading. His fraternal connections are with Vigilant Lodge, I. O. O. F .; the Encampment, I. O. O. F .; and the A. O. U. W. For many years he has been extensively interested in horticulture and fruit growing, and he is one of the judges of apples at the fairs of the Berks County Agricultural Society. He belongs to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and to the American Pomological Society. Dr. Rittenhouse is a man of high character and is greatly re- spected by his fellow-citizens and practitioners. during his younger years, and then took a medical course in the University of Pennsylvania from which he was graduated in 1853. He immediately entered upon practice as an allopathic physician near The Trappe, but not being satisfied until he had received the best education possible, he returned to the University the following fall and at- tended another course of lectures, also taking advantage of the Clinics at the University Hospital. During the following year he formed a partnership with Dr. Lesher Trexler at Longswamp, Berks county, and they acquired a large and remunerative practice which they held until 1855. At the time he had no faith in the Homeopathic On June 12, 1888, Dr. Rittenhouse was married to Emma K. Griesemer, daughter of Benneville D. and Hannah K. Griesemer, and four children were born to them, namely: Roger G., who died at the age of eleven months, after a severe illness of a few weeks; Mary Esther, born Jan. 18, 1892; Samuel B., born Oct. 14, 1893; and Ruth Helen, born Dec. 14, 1897. School of Medicine, having been led to believe that it was nothing more than a delusion; but the wonderful accom- plishments of that year opened his eyes, as it did those of every other man who was deeply interested in the ad- vances of medical science. He decided, therefore, to make a careful investigation, and at once read the Or- ganon and studied the Homeopathic Materia Medica. With the coming of faith in the new school, faith in the CHARLES M. PLANK, a lawyer of Reading, who has been somewhat prominent in Republican politics for a number of years, is descended from French-Huguenot stock. His grandfather, Jacob Plank, resided in Cam- bridge, Lancaster county. old school began to wane and finally made its departure, when upon testing the medicines in active practice he be- came thoroughly satisfied with the principle of Hahnemann -Similia similibus curantur. In 1857 he removed to Mil- lerstown, now Macungie, Lehigh county, where for Adam Plank, father of Charles, was a farmer in Lan- caster county in the early part of his career, but later moved to Reading, where he was in business until his death, in 1880, at the age of seventy-two years. He mar- ried Joanna Moll, daughter of John and Elizabeth Moll, of Salisbury township, Lancaster county. . Of their eight children, five are deceased, as follows: Winfield Scott, who died when four years old; Margaret; Elizabeth, who died at the age of twenty-one; Catharine, who died aged fifty; and Mary. The survivors are: Jennie P., wife of James A. Lanning, of Camden, N. J .; Ida M., wife of Henry M. Phillippi, of Reading; and Charles M. years he had charge of a large practice. Indeed, it grew to such an extent that it required his entire attention, his health became greatly impaired, and, fearing that it would be necessary to relinquish his practice entirely, he removed to Reading in October, 1868,' where he hoped to better the condition of his health. He soon after took up practice again, and continued with much success until his death, June 26, 1895. Dr. Rittenhouse was a member of the Homeopathic Medical Societies of Berks and Schuylkill counties, the Homeopathic Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, and the Reading Society of Natural Sciences. He frequently contributed papers to medical Charles M. Plank was born Sept. 23, 1860, and was reared journals of both schools, and was a writer of merit. Dur- in Reading, where he received good school advantages. ing the Civil war he was an enthusiastic advocate of the He graduated from the high school in the class of 1876,

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and for three years thereafter taught school. Having Levan, who was born Jan. 13, 1819, and died April 30, decided upon the law as his life work, he began its study in 1884, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. They had eight daughters and three sons : William H .; Sarah Ann; Hannah M .; Eliza; Louisa; Dr. James W., of Auburn. Pa .; Lydia Ann; Telera; Abraham G .; Amanda, who married John W. Gilbert; and Ida, wife of John Rush (who now lives at Pottstown), who died six miles below Norfolk, Virginia. the office of the late Daniel H. Wingerd, passed the ex- amination in 1881, and at once began practice. In the ensuing years he has acquired a very comfortable clientele and been admitted to the Superior, Supreme, United States District and United States Circuit courts. He has con- fined himself principally to private practice, yet at various times he has been engaged in legal work in the public service, for four years acting as assistant city solicitor, for three years as solicitor for the school board and for three years as deputy collector of Internal Revenue.

Mr. Plank has given considerable attention to public affairs. He is a good "mixer," and a valuable man in Re- publican councils. He has been chairman of the Republican county committee for ten years and his face is a familiar one in all the local conventions of his party, and in State and national conventions as well, he having been delegate to State conventions nineteen times. He was a delegate in 1896 to the national convention in St. Louis which nomi- nated Mckinley. Mr. Plank's name has given strength to the local Republican ticket in several elections, and in 1896 he was the candidate of his party for State senator. He was leading a known forlorn hope, however, so that his de- feat was not a disappointment. He came out of the con- test with the rather startling record of having carried the city of Reading by a plurality of 2,380 votes, and he came within 1,382 votes of carrying the district. Mr. Plank is a communicant of the Episcopal Church, with membership at Christ Cathedral in Reading.

Mr. Plank married Sept. 29, 1897, Helen A. Althouse, daughter of the late Franklin A. Althouse, of Reading, who for forty-one years was in the railroad service.

SALLADE. The Sallade family is of French Hugue- not origin. At the time of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the head of the family fled to Zwei-Brücken, Rheinpfalz, whence five of his sons came to America. These five were : Jacob, who came over in 1749, and located in Tohickon, Bucks Co., Pa .; Peter, who came in 1750; Frederick, in 1751; Nicholas, in 1752 (died in 1770) ; and Thomas, in 1764. One of the sons went to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

Nicholas Sallade, who came to Pennsylvania in 1752, located in Dauphin county, where he died in 1770. He had a son John.

John Sallade, son of Nicholas, became a man of promi- nence in the State, and served as an officer in the Revolu- tion. He married a daughter of George Eberhart, of Berks county. In 1755 when but eight years old she was carried into captivity by the Indians and taken to Miami county, Ohio, but after many years was rescued by the expedition under Col. Henry Banquet. Among the children of John Sallade were two sons: George, mentioned below; and Col. Simon (1785-1854), who served several terms in the State Legislature.

George Sallade, son of John, was born Feb. 4, 1766, and died April 1, 1852, He moved from his native town of Womelsdorf to Royersford, and then to Hereford. From Hereford he went to Alburtis, but after a short stay there returned to Hereford, and that place was his home from that time on. By occupation he was a blacksmith. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Huff's Church. He married Eve Kintner, who died April 22, 1837, aged sixty-six years. She was born in Womelsdorf. Their children were: William, who lived at Millerstown, Lehigh county ; Charles, Abraham, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Sarah and Anna.

Abraham Sallade, son of George, was born at Royers- ford, in Montgomery county, Aug. 16, 1809, and was but a boy when he accompanied his parents to Berks county. He followed his trade of shoemaker near Harlem, on the property now owned by Jacob M. Gery, and he did an extensive business for the time, employing one or two apprentices. For two years he was proprietor of the hotel at Huff's Church. He died Mav 30, 1865, and is buried at Huff's Church, as is also his wife. Five generations of the family sleep here. Abraham Sallade married Julia

WILLIAM H. SALLADE, son of Abraham and Julia, was born at Alburtis, Lehigh county, March 25, 1839, and was but a year old when his parents located in Hereford town- ship, Berks county. He was educated in the common schools and in Reading Academy under the instruction of William A. Good. In 1848 he was licensed to teach school by the first county superintendent, William A. Good, and taught his first term that fall. He also taught under county superintendents John S. Ermentrout and David B. Brunner. After teaching eleven consecutive terms, he spent one year, from April, 1859, to 1860, clerking, and then re-entered the school room, teaching one term in Here- ford, ten in Harlem, and one at Huff's Church. In 1861 he learned the stone-cutting trade during the summer and out of school hours, and has followed it ever since with the exception of five years when in office. He still has a small establishment, and he has made many tombstones in

his time. Prior to entering politics, he employed a number of men and carried on the business very extensively. His son, J. Frank, is now in the business having his yard at Pottsville, opposite the Charles Baber cemetery. In poli- tics Mr. Sallade is a Democrat, and from his youth has been keenly interested in his party. At the age of twenty- two he was inspector of elections, and since then he has helped to hold elections over thirty years in all. He has been school director, auditor and delegate to county con- ventions; was county auditor from 1874 to 1878; clerk of Quarter Sessions Court, 1891-1894; deputy county treasurer 1894-96; justice of the peace 1875-1891, and 1900-1905, and he is one of the best known men in his township. He has a valuable tract of thirteen and one-half acres, and in 1896 built his present home. He and his family are members of Huff's church, belonging to the Lutheran congregation.

On Jan. 16, 1863, Mr. Sallade married Sarah Ann Gery, daughter of Ephraim N. Gery (who is now aged ninety-one years), and they have had five sons and five daughters, namely : James A., J. Frank, Ida L., Mary A., Jerome W., Anna M., J. Henry (killed on the railroad), Sarah J., Ira E. and L. Stella. Fraternally Mr. Sallade belongs to Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, Kutztown; Pennsburg Lodge, I. O. O. F., and also the Encampment; East Greenville Castle, No. 298, K. G. E .; and Washington Camp. No. 470, P. O. S. of A., Siesholtzville, and in 1862 was district president of the southeastern district of Berks county.

DR. JAMES W. SALLADE, veterinarian of Auburn, Pa., was born in Hereford township, Berks county, Aug. 14, 1850, son of Abraham and Julia. He attended the public schools of his native township, and in East Greenville, Montgomery county, and then entered Kallynean Academy at Boyertown. and later the Keystone State Normal School. He taught school six terms in Hereford and Boyertown, and then worked in the iron ore mines and assisted in the building of the Colebrookdale Railroad. During school vacations he also worked in a grist mill and clerked in a country store. He was always ambitious, and whatever his occupation he has always been looking forward to something better and something higher. In 1875 while teaching school he or- ganized the Hereford Debating Club, which became the parent of the Hereford Literary Society, which has had so much to do with the development of literary tastes in that locality. In his young manhood Dr. Sallade became interested in politics, and in 1872 he was appointed clerk and deputy warden of the Berks county jail, after which he was made steward of the Insane Department of the Berks County Poor House, a position he held six years. He then matriculated as a student at the Ontario Veterinary Col- lege, from which he graduated as honor man in 1883. He opened an office in Reading and practised there a short time. after which he was in Topton until 1885. He then moved to Pottsville. Schuylkill county, where he established an extensive practice, being the first graduate veterinarian

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in the county. He employed several assistants, and trained ship). They went to North Carolina, where they were a number of young men for college, fourteen successful living when he received the legacy of his father Richard practitioners in various parts of the country owing their in 1782 (the father's estate apparently was not finally settled until 1782 when the release was filed in the Record- er's office at Reading). He later removed to Green township, Columbiana county, Ohio, and was there living when he in- herited property from his father-in-law Jacob Gehris, in 1822. early training to him. Dr. Sallade graduated in March, 1883, and in August of that year he took an active part in organizing the Pennsylvania State Veterinary Medical As- sociation, of which he was elected the first president, serv- ing as such in all for four years. In 1888 he became a member of the United States Veterinary Medical Associa- (II) John Gregory, eldest son of Richard, died in 1784. He was a Captain in the French and Indian War. His children were: John, Peter, Richard (resided in Long- swamp township, and had a son John), Mary (m. John Swartz), Mrs. Christina Finch, Susannah (died unmarried in 1808, and her brother John administered her estate), Elizabeth and Nancy. tion, and in 1894 issued the call and organized the Schuyl- kill Valley Veterinary Medical Association. In 1895 he was appointed by the Governor of the State a member of the Pennsylvania State Veterinary Medical Examining Board, a position he still holds. In 1906 he successfully passed the Veterinary Civil Service examination and is now employed by the Federal government in scientific work. For three years of his residence in Schuylkill county he has been in charge of the sheriff's office and the same num- ber of years of the County Almshouse. He is a man of remarkable application, and by his power of systematizing his work, is able to accomplish more than most men. He has a high ideal, and is endeavoring to perform his duty as a man and a citizen, giving of his time and his knowledge to the safe guarding of the public.

In 1872 Dr. Sallade married Mary Ann Covely, daugh- ter of David Covely, and granddaughter of the late Michael Gery, former county commissioner of Berks county. To this union have been born three children: Anna Maria, wife of Dr. F. H. McCarthy, a former student of Dr. Sallade's who succeeded to the latter's practice; Katie May, an accomplished young lady at home; and Ira Jason, who was accidentally killed on the railroad in 1893, at the age of thirteen.

ABRAHAM G. SALLADE was born in Hereford township, April 23, 1857, son of Abraham and Julia. He was reared on the farm and obtained his education in the public schools of his native township. He began life for himself by driv- ing ore teams at the Siesholtzville mines, and later was fireman at the same mines, then engineer, and then for. a number of years was underground. His next work was as a mine contractor, and then he became superintendent of the Siesholtzville mines, and also superintended numerous other mines in the same locality. In 1892 owing to fail- ing health he quit the mine business, and engaged in the lumber business, a line he followed for fourteen years. In 1906 he went South, and located at Birmingham, Ala., where he had charge of a coal mine for the Berks Coal Company, and conducted it successfully until they sold out to another company. When Mr. Sallade returned north he was made foreman for Fehr & O'Rourke, at Reading. In January, 1909, he became deputy county treasurer under Treasurer William M. Croll, and this office he is filling at the present time. In politics he is a Democrat, and has long been active in the party ranks. He is the second of his family to hold the office of deputy county treasurer. All three brothers have held County offices, either elective or appointive.

GEORGE ROBERT GREGORY, register of wills of Berks county, Pa., is a representative of the sixth genera- tion of the Gregory family in America. He was born in Hereford township, Dec. 19, 1869, son of Nathaniel and Matilda (Wiegner) Gregory.

(I) As far as can be ascertained, the first of the Greg- ory family to come to America was Richard Gregory, who settled in Hereford township, Berks county, Pa., possibly as early as 1725. He died in 1765. He was the father of fifteen children: John, Richard, David, Andrew, Jacob, George, Christian, Mrs. Mary Jones, Mrs. Elizabeth Mack, Mrs. Judith Rhoads, Mrs. Anna Betty, Mrs. Margretha Foige (who settled in Longswamp township), Mrs. Eliza- beth Kurtz, Sarah and Hannah. In 1759 among the taxables in Hereford township were Richard Gregory, Sr. ( £15), Richard Gregory, Jr. ( £6) and John Gregory ( £12).

(II) Jacob Gregory, son of Richard the pioneer, mar- ried Catharine Gehris, of Hereford township, daughter of Jacob Gehris (the executors of whose will were Peter Hauk of Allentown, and Peter Gehris of Hereford town-

(III) John Gregory, son of John, was born Sept. 16, 1751, and died Dec. 24, 1835. His wife, Maria Elizabeth, was born June 6, 1753, and died Aug. 6, 1837. Their children were: Philip (settled in Erie county, Pa.), Peter, Samuel (born Dec. 26, 1790, died unmarried in Hereford township, Jan. 18, 1866), Richard, Robert (born March 31, 1795, died April 29, 1877, married Catharine Wiand, born Jan. 6, 1804, died Nov. 19, 1887), David (of Monroe county, Pa.), Catharine (Mrs. Conrad Weinman, of Erie county, Pa.), Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Gery), Judith (Mrs. Henry Mester) and Lydia (1801-1851). Letters on the estate of Lydia Gregory, a single woman, late of the township of Hereford, Berks Co., Pa., were granted to her brother Samuel in 1851. In 1790 in Hereford township, there is record of a Jacob and a John Gregory, both heads of families.

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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 118

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