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 119

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 119


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(IV) Peter Gregory, son of John, died in 1852, the father of John, Henry and Anna Margaret.


(IV) Richard Gregory, son of John, was born in Hereford township Berks county, but settled in Chestnuthill town- ship, Monroe county, Pa. He became the father of four sons and two daughters: (1) Thomas. (2) Cornelius resided in Iowa county, Wis., at the time he inherited a legacy from his uncle Samnel Gregory in 1869. (3) John Gregory was living in Chestnuthill township, Monroe county, at the time he inherited from his uncle Samuel in 1869. (4) Samuel lived in Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa, when he received the legacy from his uncle Samuel in 1869. (5) Susanna married Reuben Henry, and died the mother of Mary Jane, Annetta, Alfred, of whom Mary Jane married Emanuel Arnold. All of these resided in Monroe county, Pa., and all received from the estate of Samuel Gregory. (6) Clara died leaving no children.


(IV) Robert Gregory, son of John and Maria Elizabeth, was born March 31, 1795, and he died at 11:00 a. m., April 29, 1877. He married Catharine Wiand, who was born Jan. 6, 1804, and who died Nov. 19, 1887. Their children were: William, who left no issue; Nathaniel; Lydia, Mrs. Seip, who died leaving a son, Edward G., now of Long- swamp township, Berks county; and Sarah, Mrs. John M. Snyder, of Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, whose children were-Allen, Jacob and Katie (Mrs. Yoder).


(V) Nathaniel Gregory, son of Robert, was born in Hereford township, April 1, 1838. He was reared to farm- ing, and followed it for many years. About 1880 he en- gaged in the hotel business at Harlem, and in this he has since continued. His stand was formerly known as "Gery's Hotel," and the village was called Perryville. In politics he was a Democrat, and for many years he served as school director. He was a delegate to many county con- ventions, and he has always been actively interested in his party's success. He is a member of the Reformed congre- gation at Huff's Church, and has been both deacon and elder. Since the institution of Harlem Castle, K. G. E., at Harlem, he has been keeper of the Exchequer. His wife, Matilda Wiegner, was born April 7, 1836, daughter of George Wieg- ner, of Hereford township, who owned the old historic Wiegner's Mill on the Perkiomen. Their children were: (1) George Robert. (2) Eugene Harvey m. Lizzie Gery. No children. (3) Howard William m. Mary Rauch, and has two children, Annie and Elsie. (4) Diana m. Adam Seis- holtz, and had children, Calvin, Herbert, Annie, Mamie, Gertie and Florence.


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


(VI) George Robert Gregory received his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native district, and later attended the Normal School at Kutztown, graduating there- from in 1892. When eighteen years old he began teaching in the public schools of Pike township, his first certificate being granted by Prof. D. S. Keck. He taught in all nine terms, eight of which were in Hereford township. Since he was nineteen Mr. Gregory has taken a great interest in Democratic politics. For four years he served as com- mitteeman from Hereford township, and he has been delegate to a number of county conventions. In 1896 he was made assistant clerk in the county commissioner's office, a position he ably filled three years. He then became a clerk in the office of the Register of Wills, Levi S. Mabry (1899-1901), and at the end of two years was appointed deputy register, serving one year more under Mr. Mabry. He continued to fill that office under the ad- ministrations of William R. Kemmerer (1902-1904) and also under Wilson M. Dumn (1905-1908), when Mr. Greg- ory became Register of Wills himself, having been elected by the remarkable primary vote of 8,011, and general elec- tion vote of 16,024. His long service as deputy fitted him for his position, and he is a very obliging and able official. He resided in the Twelfth ward of Reading from 1902 until the fall of 1908, when he purchased his handsome residence No. 1634 Mineral Spring Road in the Sixteenth ward.


Mr. Gregory has been connected with a number of secret societies. At the present time he is Worshipful Master of St. John's Lodge, No. 435, F. & A. M .; member of Reading Lodge of Perfection, 14th degree; Oley Lodge, No. 218, I. O. O. F., in which he is Past Grand; East Greenville Lodge, No. 232, K. of P .; Cashmere Temple, No. 37, D. O. K. of K .; Court Victory, No. 123, Foresters of America; Harlem Castle, No. 335, K. G. E., in which he is past chief; and Mt. Penn Commandery, uniformed rank, K. G. E. In the Eagles he has been District Grand Chief of District No. 2, since 1905, and has also served as Second Grand Guards- man. He is one of the few men in the Order who have committed the entire Ritual, and he has taken an active interest in everything that tended toward increasing the membership and the finances.


Mr. Gregory married June 13, 1901, Sallie A. Rothenberg- er. and they have had three children : Homer L., George W. and Matilda R., the last named dying Dec. 22, 1907.


GARRETT BROCK EVERTS, of the Reading Times, is the grandson of Garrett Everts, who was court crier of the Lancaster county courts for many years, and who died at the age of eighty-three years. Garrett Everts had four children : Garrett H., Strickler R., Jacob R., and Catherine (m. Samuel K. Lichty, of Lancaster, a well known tailor, who met his death while standing at the cutting table). Of these children three are living, Strickler and Mrs. Lichty, who live in Lancaster, and Garrett H., the father of Gar- rett B., a retired tailor who now makes his home with a married daughter in Harrisburg. Garrett B. Everts' moth- er, who was Sarah Brock before marriage, died June 19, 1886, leaving three children : Annie, who died Feb. 6, 1902; Mary, the wife of H. A. Robinson, proprietor of an exten- sive department store in Harrisburg; and Garrett B., of Reading.


Garrett B. Everts was born in Baltimore, Md., Oct. 9, 1855, and was educated in Baltimore and in Lancaster, Pa., buried in the home burial plot. The farm then comprised after which he became an apprentice to the printer's trade in the office of the Lancaster Intelligencer, this being in 1872. On Oct. 25, 1881, Mr. Everts removed to Reading, when he has ever since resided, his first position being with the Spirit of Berks, as a compositor, with which he re- mained one year, then becoming connected with the Read- ing Times in a like capacity. In 1898 Mr. Everts was transferred to the linotype department of this publication, and he now holds a responsible position therein.


Mr. Everts belongs to the Foresters, Typographical Union No. 86, the West End Social Club and the Keystone Hook & Ladder Co. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and he is a constant attendant and liberal supporter of that denomina- tion. In politics Mr. Everts is a Democrat. Garrett B.


Everts's uncle, Strickler R. Everts, was for many years the champion skater of Lancaster county, and, although now advanced in years, can to-day give the younger gener- ation lessons in the art of fast and fancy skating. The Everts family was one of the oldest and best known in Lancaster. Garrett B., its representative in Reading, who has spent twenty-five years of his life in this city, has de- termined to make the "Capital of Old Berks" his permanent abiding place.


AARON R. WARNER, chief burgess of Mohnton, and substantial business man, was born Sept. 14, 1854, near the "Kurtz House" in Cumru township, son of Levi and Mary (Reich) Warner.


Levi Warner spent his entire life in agricultural pur- suits in Cumru township, where he died at the age of sixty- seven years. He married Mary Reich, daughter of Samuel Reich, and to them were born children as follows : Cather- ine m. David Schlichter; Sarah m. (first) Henry Thomp- son, and (second) Henry Myers; Mary m. Samuel Fitter- ling; Rebecca m. William Boyer; Franklin R. m. Agnes Marks, of Mohnton; and Aaron R.


Aaron R. Warner attended the schools of Cumru town- ship, and at the age of eighteen years learned the hatting trade with George Hendel, being later employed with John H. Spatz, his father-in-law, with whom he continued for about fifteen years, and when the company of John H. Spatz & Co. was formed he became a partner. At the death of John H. Spatz, Mr. Warner and Isaac S. Spatz continued the company until 1901, when Mr. Warner with- drew from the firm. He has a farm in Cumru township, adjoining Mohnton, of 154 acres of land, which he pur- chased in 1898. In the same year he erected his handsome residence in Mohnton, one of the finest on Wyomissing avenue. In 1900 he erected the Mohnton Electric Light Plant, a brick structure of one story, and this is the means of lighting many factories and private residences of Mohn- ton, as well as lighting the public streets. Mr. Warner was elected chief burgess of Mohnton borough on the Republican ticket, Feb. 16, 1909, receiving 212 of the 261 votes cast.


Mr. Warner married Annie S. Spatz, daughter of John H. and Mary (Snader) Spatz, and to them have been born : Maysie; Paul S., who has Rural Free Delivery route No. 2, from Mohnton; Clayton, attending the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy; Warren, attending school; Aaron, Jr., also attending school; and Edwin. Mr. Warner is a member of Zion's U. E. Church, being trustee and treasurer thereof, and for the past fifteen years has been a teacher in the Sunday-school.


NAFTZINGER. The Naftzinger family now well rep- resented in upper Berks county was founded here by (I) Matthew Naftzinger, who came to this country from Switz- erland and settled in an early day in Bern (now Upper Bern) township. He took up land, and passed the re- mainder of his life on the property, being buried at the gable end of the barn now owned by James M. Hix, in Upper Bern township, about one mile due west of St. Michael's Church, at the place where he made his settle- ment.


(II) Jacob Naftzinger, son of Matthew, took the farm of his father and lived and died there, and he, too, was 110 acres.


(III) Peter Naftzinger, son of Jacob, is buried at St. Michael's Church. He also owned the old homestead, where he passed his life. He married Magdalena Haines, of Schuylkill county, Pa .. and to them were born the fol- lowing children: Rebecca lives in Williamsport, Pa .; Jacob died aged sixty-two years; Sarah is living in Centre township; Isaac H. is mentioned below; Joseph died at the age of twenty-seven years; Polly lives at Centreport, Berks county ; Fiaetta is deceased; Hon. Frank, of Tilden township, Berks county, served in the State Assembly ; Peter died young.


(IV) Isaac H. Naftzinger was born on the old home- stead in 1845, and passed his active ycars in farming, now


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BIOGRAPHICAL


living retired on a place adjoining the homestead taken up by his great-grandfather. He owns fifty-two acres of valuable land, and was engaged in its cultivation until 1904, since when he has lived retired. Mr. Naftzinger married Mary A. Epting, daughter of Henry G. Epting, .of Tilden township, and ten children have been born to this union, namely : Harry E .; Lillie, wife of Frank S. Reber; Peter E .; Katie A., who died when sixteen years old; Jacob E .; Mary, wife of Joseph Seyfert; Sarah, who died when two years old; Fayetta, wife of William Tobias; Polly, who married Jerome Bagenstose; and Rebecca, who married Milton Klopp and resides on the old homestead.


(V) HARRY E. NAFTZINGER, son of Isaac H., was born in Upper Bern township Aug. 12, 1866, and attended the local schools. He is now successfully engaged as a huck- ster. In politics he is a Republican, and has held a num- ber of township offices. He married Lillie R. Epler, daugh- ter of J. K. Epler, of Tilden, and they have two sons, Isaac N. and William J. Mr. Naftzinger is a Reformed member of St. Michael's Church.


(V) PETER E. NAFTZINGER, son of Isaac H., was born Dec. 25, 1870, in Tilden township. There he attended the local schools, and in 1888 began teaching, which profession he has since followed, being well known in this connec- tion. He is now teaching the West Hamburg school in Tilden township for the sixth term. Mr. Naftzinger has also been successful in business, in April, 1906, having been one of the founders of the firm known as the Berne Shirt Company, of which he is the manager. His partners in this business from the beginning have been his brother, Jacob E. Naftzinger, and Mr. John H. Hamm. They are located at Bern Station, where they have a factory 26 x 46 feet in dimensions, and employ from forty to fifty hands in the manufacture of all kinds of men's and boys' shirts. All the latest improved machinery is employed in the pro- duction of their output, which has a ready sale, the com- pany dealing directly with the retailers. The industry is an important one in this section, providing profitable em- ployment for so many, and the owners have high standing in the community both personally and in a business sense. Mr. Naftzinger is assistant postmaster at Berne.


Mr. Naftzinger married Miss Katie A. Hartman, who died July 14, 1906, and is buried at St. Michael's Church, in what is now Tilden township. Two children were born to this union : Florence R. and Esther R. Mr. Naftzinger is a Reformed member of St. Michael's Church and is now serving as deacon, and as a member of the Consistory of that church. In fraternal connection he belongs to Lodge No. 103, I. O. O. F., of Hamburg, Pa .; to the Knights of the Maccabees at Shoemakersville; and to Camp No. 146, P. O. S. of A., at Centreport.


(V) JACOB E. NAFTZINGER, son of Isaac H., merchant and postmaster at Berne, Berks county, was born in Tilden township Nov. 22, 1873. He received his education in the township schools, and was only sixteen when he began teaching school, a profession he followed altogether five terms in Greenwich, Bern, Tilden and Upper Bern town- ships. For the next four years he was engaged in clerk- ing in Hoff & Bros. hardware store, in Reading, after which he went to Milford, Va., where he embarked in business as a store-keeper. He remained there eighteen months, and in 1899 bought out M. H. Zimmerman, at Bern Station, Berks Co., Pa., taking over the general merchandise business, which he has since conducted, being now at the head of the firm of J. E. Naftzinger & Co. In addition to the regular business of the general store they deal in country produce, coal, etc., and ship dressed hogs and hides. On May 19, 1899, Mr. Naftzinger was ap- pointed postmaster, the station being known as Berne, and he has since served in that capacity, giving general satisfaction to the community. He is also a member of the Berne Shirt Company, manufacturers of men's and boys' shirts, and is a prosperous and substantial business man in every way. Some idea of the extent of his produce transactions may be gained from the statement that in 1907 he shipped 18,000 bushels of apples and 15,000 bushels of potatoes. He has been a director of the First National Bank of Hamburg since its organization.


Mr. Naftzinger married Esther N. Seyfert, daughter of Franklin and Caroline (Wagner) Seyfert, and they have a family of four children: Herman, Samuel, Wayne and Ruth. In politics Mr. Naftzinger is a Republican. He belongs to St. Michael's Church, being a member of the Reformed congregation, and socially holds membership in Vaux Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hamburg; Lodge No. 103, I. O. O. F .; and Camp No. 442, P. O. S. of A., of Centre- port.


SHERMAN S. FOUTZ, supervising deputy of the Knights of the Maccabees for eastern Pennsylvania, is a well-known and very popular citizen of the city of Read- ing, Pa. Mr. Foutz was born in Harrison county, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1867, where his parents Jonathan and Rebecca Jane (Caldwell) Foutz, were also born on the old Foutz home- stead. The father died in September, 1900, aged fifty-five years, while the mother still survives.


Sherman S. Foutz was educated in the Harrison county, Ohio, public schools, and the New Hagerstown Academy, and after leaving the latter engaged in the fire insurance business for four years. He was then appointed to a clerk- ship in the United States Treasury Department, at Wash- ington, D. C., under President Cleveland. He remained in this position for two years, at the end of which time he resigned his position to become manager of the Knights of the Maccabees for the District of Columbia and Virginia. On April 11; 1902, Mr. Foutz was appointed supervising deputy of the Maccabees for Eastern Pennsylvania. When Mr. Foutz took this office there were but ninety-two mem- bers in Eastern Pennsylvania, and there are now therein 3,500 members. Mr. Foutz's duties take him all over the Eastern part of the State, and he is a member of the Supreme body, which meets every four years.


Sherman S. Foutz married Aug. 11, 1887, Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of John Wilson, of Harrison county, Ohio. Two children were born to this union : Oscar W., at home; and Grace, attending Irving College, Mechanics- burg, class of 1910. Mr. Foutz, besides the Maccabees belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Malta and the Modern Woodmen. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, and in political principle a Democrat. Mr. Foutz is very popular throughout the Eastern part of the State, where he is well known and highly esteemed for his many sterling traits of character.


WELLINGTON VAN REED, secretary and treasurer of the Sinking Spring Fire Insurance Company, vice-pres- ident of the Auburn Shale Brick Company, and a director in the Schuylkill Valley Bank, is one of Reading's leading business men. Mr. Van Reed was born at Sinking Spring, Berks county, Oct. 15, 1840, son of Thomas and Eliza (Ruth) Van Reed, and grandson of John Van Reed, who descended from an old and honored Holland Dutch family.


John Van Reed was born in Berks county, Pa., and his education was secured in the old fashioned log school- house, where oiled floors and varnished seats were un- known. He became one of Sinking Spring's leading farm- ers and a man of much influence in his locality. He and his wife had a family of children, of whom are recalled : John, Charles and Thomas. In religious belief the family have been members of the Reformed Church for many generations and have done much in its support in this section. In politics the Van Reeds were never office seekers, but they were often sought by offices, and officials both Republican and Democratic have come from the family.


Thomas Van Reed, father of Wellington, was born in Spring township, Berks county, and his education was obtained in the common schools. When a young man he learned the wool fuller's trade, which he followed for many years, also owning and conducting a valuable farm. He died in 1889, at the age of seventy-five years, his wife dying when sixty years of age. They were the parents of the following children: Levi, Henry, Daniel, Wellington, Charles, Thomas, John and Eliza (m. to Adam G. Lerch, and living in Wernersville, Pa.). Thomas Van


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


Reed conducted an old-fashioned inn at Sinking Spring, meantime they secured by purchase the Gazette and Dem- but when the Lebanon Valley Railroad was built he gave it up. He was a man of good principles and was highly esteemed in his community.


Wellington Van Reed received his education in the common schools of Spring township, and also attended the old Reading Academy for three years. When a young man he entered the employ of the mercantile establish- ment of Henry M. Otto, with whom he remained seven years, and then resigned to engage with the old Reading Adler, when Charles Kessler was proprietor and owner. He clerked in this well-known establishment for six years, but in 1865 resigned to engage in business for himself, locating on Penn street, between Third and Fourth. Here he opened a store for the sale of wool suitings, linings, trimmings, etc., and does an extensive business today at the same location, having never changed his place of busi- ness. The greater part of his time, however, is given to insurance and financial ventures. For the past thirty years he has been prominently identified with the Sinking Spring Fire Insurance Company, which was organized in 1843, and is one of the most reliable companies in the State. It insures farm and city property, and the com- pany has gained the reputation of being one of the solid, safe and conservative institutions of the country.


In 1859 Mr. Van Reed married Catherine Kessler, daughter of Charles Kessler, and to this union there were born : Elizabeth m. E. L. Lindenmuth; Annie m. J. E. Leb- kicker ; Mary is single ; and Helen m. James A. Behm.


Politically Mr. Van Reed is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker. He has been a member of the Read- ing school board for the past thirty-four years, being the oldest member. He and his family are members of the Second Reformed Church, in which he has served in many official capacities. Fraternally Mr. Van Reed is a member of Oley Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M .; Excelsior Chapter, No. 237; Reading Commandery No. 42, K. T .; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; Knights of the Golden Eagle; Mt. Penn Council, Royal Arcanum; and the Improved Order of Heptasophs.


JESSE G. HAWLEY, lawyer, journalist and public- spirited citizen, was for over forty years a leading resident of Reading. He was born at Pughtown, Chester county, Aug. 8, 1839, and died April 19, 1903, aged sixty-three years, eight months, eleven days.


His parents were Jesse and Esther Trimble (Meredith) Hawley, and his ancestors were among the earliest settlers of eastern Pennsylvania. He first attended the South Coventry public schools, of which his uncle, James M. Meredith, was the teacher. Next he was sent to the Greenwood Dell Boarding School, in West Bradford township, taught by Jonathan Gause. Later he went to the Millersville State Normal School, and having chosen law for his profession he entered the National Law School at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His studies there were interrupted for a time, and he engaged in teaching school -a vocation which has been the stepping-stone for so many successful men. After this he taught in Amity township, Berks county, in the meanwhile reading law. In September, 1859, he came to Reading, and completed his legal preparation in the office of the late Major Samuel L. Young. He was admitted to the prac- tice of his profession in September, 1860, and at the Berks Bar took his place as a speaker of force, and he won some notable victories before juries. He practised law about four years, but it was toward journalism that the natural bent of his inclination led him. On April 1, 1864, he, with the late William S. Ritter, purchased of Charles Kessler the Readinger Adler, the oldest German weekly in the United States, and the Democratic organ of the county. 'Mr. Hawley soon sought a wider field for his talents, and on Jan. 28, 1868, Messrs. Ritter and Hawley founded the Reading Daily Eagle. This marked the transition period in Berks county between the day of the German newspaper and the rapidly rising tide of its successor-the English daily. The Eagle was started as a four-page paper of six columns to a page. In the


ocrat, a weekly founded about 1830, changing its name to the Weekly Eagle. Mr. Hawley brought to the field of daily newspaper work a fine physique and mature mind. He was an able writer and possessed the unerring instinct for knowing the needs of the people and supplying them. He had ideas and put them into practice. They were new, but they proved to be the foundation on which the success of the paper was built. Life, energy and enthusiasm were put into the work, and the Eagle soon began to attract attention. Mr. Hawley recognized from the start that there were two sides to every question; that each had a right to a hearing, and he readily granted it upon all occasions. He believed in printing facts and allowing the reader to draw his own conclusions. He was probably the first American newspaper publisher to estab- lish a complete system of rural correspondence, but since then he has had a host of imitators among those who rea- lize that local news is the prime source of a paper's suc- cess. The Eagle was a Democratic paper until 1875, when it became independent. In the meantime Mr. Hawley be- came sole proprietor; and having next launched the Sunday Eagle he imbued the papers as never before with his own personality. He realized at this period that the independent newspaper could perform a higher type of public service by standing aloof from all partisanship. He gave his readers all the information possible on every important subject. He believed that the people were intelligent enough to draw their own conclusions and gradually, except upon important occasions, he abandoned the editorial column. But when the situation called for an expression of opinion from the Eagle he was prompt to respond to this public duty, and he did it with vigor and without fear or favor. His newspaper is published to-day according to the policy laid down by him years ago, and that this has been fully justified is apparent, when it is shown that the Daily Eagle of to-day has a circulation of over twenty thousand, while in size it is eight columns to a page, with ten or twelve pages, accord- ing to the pressure of news and advertisements. Mr. Hawley was a strong friend of the public school system. In his earlier years he was a member of Reading's board of control, and took a prominent part in the proceedings. For years he offered prizes to the Reading high school boys for the best essay in literature, and prizes for mer- itorious work by pupils in the county schools. He realized that the school was the foundation of the true greatness of the State, and he did much to advance the cause of education. He was a contributor to every worthy object, though in many cases his name was not connected with the giving. He was ever enterprising and progressive in his ideas. He devoted his newspaper to building up and advancing the interests of his community and never for the purpose of striking down either an organization or an individual. Though he wielded power, he never used it to advance his own interests but remained until the end a splendid example of the independent editor. He left a lasting impression on the community in which he lived.




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