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 125

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 125

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REV. FRANKLIN KRICK HUNTZINGER, pastor of St. Luke's Lutheran Church at Reading for forty years, was born in West Cocalico township, Lancaster county, near Reinholdsville, June 18, 1844. He is a son of Jared Huntzinger and Leah Krick his wife, of Lower Heidelberg township, in Berks county.

His great-grandfather, John George Huntzinger, emigrat- ed from Germany in 1749, having taken passage on the ship "Jacob" from Amsterdam and been qualified on Oct. 2d, of that year. He became a resident taxpayer of Brunswick township, beyond the Blue Mountain, then in Berks county, where he carried on farming until his decease in 1802. He had nine children : Six sons-Jacob, George. John, Henry, Michael and Daniel-and three daughters -Rosina, Molly and Catharine. His son Michael located in Heidelberg township, Berks county, and carried on farming near Brownsville until his decease in 1845. He left a widow and seven children : Three sons-Jared, Dan- iel and William-and four daughters-Anna, Harriet, Catharine, and Mary.

The eldest son, Jared (the Rev. Mr. Huntzinger's father), was born March 27, 1815, in Lower Heidelberg township, near Brownsville, and was there reared on his father's farm. In 1843, he removed to West Cocalico township, Lancaster county, and was there engaged as an undertaker and carpenter for three years, when he returned to Berks county, and purchased a farm near Wernersville, which he cultivated very successfully until his decease, Dec. 27, 1892. He was a liberal-minded man and always showed an active interest in education and other public affairs. In 1840, he married Leah Krick, a daughter of Peter Krick and Anna Hill, his wife, of Spring township, and they had twelve children : Eva m. Reuben T. Landis; Eliza- beth m. (first) Richard Brossman, and (second) Jacob Hassler; Amelia; Franklin K .; Benjamin K. (whose sketch and portrait appear in this publication) : Mary m. Daniel Hertzog; William became a merchant in Indiana; Amanda m. Daniel Stuber ; John m. Mary Krick; Adam K. m. Mary Gensemer ; Henry m. Elizabeth Hemminger ; Em- ma m. William S. Fisher. The mother died April 24, 1899, aged eighty-five years. The parents were devoted members of the Lutheran Church at Sinking Spring, in which Mr. Huntzinger filled various offices for a number of years.

The fourth son, the subject of this sketch, was two years old when his father removed from Lancaster county to Berks county. He received his preliminary education in the district school, and at the Reading Classical Acad- emy (which was conducted by Prof. D. B. Brunner) and the preparatory institutions maintained under the auspices of the Lutheran Church for the education of ministers until 1866, when he passed a successful examination and was admitted into the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He pursued the prescribed course of studies with great earnestness for three years, and was graduated on May 19, 1869, and ordained as a minister a week afterward in Trinity Lutheran Church at Reading.

Shortly before this time, the Trinity Lutheran congre- gation had organized a Sunday-school in the northeastern section of Reading ( Ninth and Green streets) with a view of establishing a congregation there, and the people of that vicinity, having come to appreciate the character and ability of this young minister, invited him to organize a congregation. He accepted this call and the result of his endeavors was very successful, for he founded a church which has flourished until the present time, and of which he has continued to be the devoted pastor, a continuous period of forty years. In 1886-87 a large two- story brick edifice was built in the place of the chapel by the congregation, and in this the members have con- tinued their worship until the present time. The member- ship is about seventeen hundred. The attendance at the services has always been uniformly large on account of the pastor's popularity. The church services were con- ducted by him in the German and English languages (Sunday morning in the German, and evenings in the English) until December, 1907, when he began to preach in the German language only every other Sunday morning, on account of the increasing demand for preaching in the English language.

From 1869 to 1881 Rev. Mr. Huntzinger also served as the pastor at Kissingers Church, in Spring township; from 1870 to 1876 at Friedens Church, at Lenhartsville, and at St. Paul's Church, near Hamburg; from 1873 to 1897 at Alsace Church, at the northeastern boundary of Reading; and from 1874 to 1904 at St. Peter's Church (Becker's), in Richmond township. All the congregations of these several churches were served by Rev. Mr. Huntzinger while serving St. Luke's at Reading.

He has baptized over eight thousand children, officiated at nearly four thousand funerals, and . solemnized nearly three thousand marriages. He also took great interest in the establishment of the Lutheran Orphans Home at Top- ton, in October, 1896, and became one of the first trustees, serving since then as such trustee, and also as the president of the board since 1897.

In 1869 Rev. Mr. Huntzinger married Mary M. Hassin- ger, daughter of John Hassinger and Catharine Birch, his wife, of Reading, and they became the parents of two chil- dren : Ida Catharine, who died at the age of twelve years, and Charles Henry, who died at the age of fifteen years. In all Mr. Huntzinger's labors as a clergyman, Mrs. Hunt- zinger has given him her warmest sympathy and most effective co-operation. to which he attributes a considerable share of his ministerial success. Mrs. Huntzinger's father died in 1876, aged seventy-two years; and her mother (daughter of Charles Birch) died in 1890, aged seventy- nine years.

In 1887, Mr. Huntzinger's health having become im- paired, his congregation granted him leave of absence, and he made an extended trip to Europe for recreation and recuperation during a period of three months. He was accompanied by a personal friend, George Eltz, and they together visited Ireland, Wales, England, Holland, Bel- gium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France. In 1897, he made a second foreign tour, visiting the northern and central portions of Germany, the land of his forefathers. In 1902, in company with Mr. Edwin Boone (cashier and vice-president of the National Union Bank of Reading), he spent a month visiting Jamaica, one of the West Indian Islands. In 1905, with Mr. Boone again as a companion, he made a third journey to Europe, cov- ering five weeks, they having visited France, England. Hol- land and the Rhine country, and they again in 1907, during July and August, traveled abroad, visiting Norway, Swed- en, Denmark and Germany. On the fifth day of the trip going (which was a Sunday) Rev. Mr. Huntzinger was invited to conduct religious services, and in appreciation of his most interesting sermon a large audience raised a sum of money which, at his suggestion, was presented to the South Holland Life Saving Association.

Rev. Mr. Huntzinger took a sixth trip abroad by visiting, from Jan. 22d to Feb. 23d, 1909, a number of the West Indian Islands (St. Thomas, Porto Rico, Haiti, Santo Domingo, Grenada, Dominica, the Bahamas, Martinique,

Eng by E G noLymE S Br: MY

J. K. Huntzinger.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Cuba, Jamaica), Venezuela and Panama, where the con- the board the greater portion of the time. He is chief struction of the canal was going on and in two hours burgess of Bechtelsville and is interested in the best enter- prises of the town. Fraternally he is a member of Landis- ville Council, No. 1007, O. of I. A. He and his family are consistent members of the Lutheran denomination of Hill church, where many of the Dierolfs are buried. passed from the waters of the Atlantic ocean to the waters of the Pacific. While inspecting the canal he met the distinguished party of President-elect Taft. On his way home he had the extraordinary pleasure of wit- nessing the Presidential reception of the battle-ship fleet On July 14, 1877, Mr. Dierolf was married to Mary Ann Fry, daughter of the late Isaac and Maria (Dotterer) Fry, of District township. Their children are: Harvey is a farmer in Washington township; Annie married Charles Moyer, and lives at Bechtelsville; Gertrude mar- ried Rev. Aaron L. Brumbach, of Spring Grove, Pa .; Clara died in infancy; and John is an operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The family are well and favorably known throughout Berks county, and Mr. Dierolf can well be proud of what he has accomplished in his long and useful life. from its cruise around the world at Hampton Roads, the fleet passing his ship, the "Oceana," on both sides within speaking distance. During the homeward journey on the vessel, Mr. Huntzinger was invited to hold religious ser- vices on Sunday, Feb. 21st, and on that occasion the aud- ience, comprising over three hundred passengers (who had come to know that he had been pastor of St. Luke's Lutheran Church at Reading for forty years), openly said that they could well understand how a pastor of such ability and pleasing address should continue his ministra- tion to a single congregation for so long a period of time. .

JEREMIAH DIEROLF, burgess and one of the leading citizens of Bechtelsville, Pa., was born in Pike township, Berks county, Sept. 23, 1851, son of George, grandson of Adam and great-grandson of Andraes.

(I) Andraes Dierolf, the ancestor of the family in Amer- ica, is found in 1782 already settled in Earl township, Berks county, where he probably located during the Revolu- tion. His will, which he made Jan. 10, 1803, is on record in Will Book 4, page 262, in the Berks county court-house. Andraes Dierolf died in December, 1804. His children were as follows: Peter; Henry; Adam; John; Abraham; Abraham; Elizabeth, wife of Philip Endi; Catherine, wife of John Faver ; and Christina, who died before her father, her child, Elizabeth, being mentioned in Andraes Dierolf's will. The executors of the will were Peter Dierolf and John Faver.

(II) Adam Dierolf lived in Pike township, back of the Hill Church, where he is buried. He was a Lutheran member of that church. He was born Nov. 1, 1770, and died Jan. 13, 1847. His wife, Margaret, was born in 1771, and died in 1841, in her seventieth year. They had these children: Rebecca m. George Fraunheiser; Maricha m. John Moyer; Betzy m. Adam Shenkel; Adam; George; Andrew had children as follows-John, Levi, William, Abraham and Caroline; and Charles had children as fol- lows-James, Adam, Charles, Lizzie, Mary and another daughter.

(III) George Dierolf, son of Adam and father of Jere- miah, was born Dec. 1, 1803, lived near Hill Church in Pike township, and was a shoemaker by trade, also culti- vating his own small tract of land. He died Sept. 23, 1884, and is buried in the cemetery at Hill Church. His wife was Elizabeth Fraunheiser, daughter of John Fraunheiser. She was born in 1812 and died in 1890. They had these children : John F .; Polly, widow. of Wendel Bassinger, a native of Germany; Elizabeth, widow of Percival Heydt; Jeremiah; Jacob; Samuel; Adam and Catharine.

(III) Adam Dierolf, son of Adam and brother of George, married Polly Moyer, of Pike township, and they had the following children : Adam, John, Jacob, Mary, Kate and Sally. Shortly after his marriage Adam Dierolf moved to Clarion county, Pennsylvania.

(IV) Jeremiah Dierolf son of George, was reared in the township in which he was born, and attended the district schools, until twenty. He early became acquainted with farm life, and learned all its details. About 1887 he em- barked in a tailoring business at Bechtelsville, and followed it twenty years. He employed as many as thirty people, having a pay roll larger than that of any other man in Bechtelsville. He manufactured trousers, his goods being cut by houses in Philadelphia and made up in Bechtels- ville, but returned to Philadelphia. Mr. Dierolf was very successful in this business. He has a fine peach orchard covering seven acres in Colebrookdale township, and one of nine acres in Washington township. The family resi- dence is on Spring street in Bechtelsville borough, of which he is the leading citizen, and most influential man. In politics he is a Democrat, and served the borough as school director for a number of years, being treasurer of

(IV) John F. Dierolf, son of George and brother of Jere- miah, was born April 29, 1832, at Kummers Mill in Wash- ington township, and now resides in Colebrookdale town- ship. He was reared to farm life, and is a laborer. He makes his home with his son John H., in Colebrookdale township. He and his family are all members of Hill Church. He married Leah Heydt, daughter of Jacob Heydt, of Washington township. She died in 1906, aged seventy-four years, four months and fifteen days, and is buried at Hill church. Their children were: John H .; Amanda m. Henry Meitzler; Jacob resides at Reading; Dianah m. Addion Muther, of Boyertown; and Mary Ann, Elizabeth and George are all three deceased.

DR. ALBERT RIGGS DURHAM, a well-known drug- gist at Reading, Pa., holding especially close relations with the citizens of that place by his untiring efforts on behalf of the Reading Library, in which he was serving as librarian, as well as secretary and treasurer of the board of the original company, devoting to that cause a whole-hearted zeal to which was largely due the flourishing condition of the institution, died at his home, March 21, 1907.

Albert R. Durham was born in the village of Tunk- hannock, Wyoming Co., Pa., in 1842. His father, a mer- chant, was seized with the gold fever and in 1850 went to California. He died on his way home three years later, worn out by the exposure and hardships he had under- gone. Left an orphan at this early age, the boy's youth was passed in various places, and he lived in Northern New Jersey, Schuylkill county, Pa., the Wyoming Valley and at Davenport, Iowa. In the latter place he saw real frontier life, for at that time the only railroad to the West stopped at what is now Rock Island, Ill., and on the opposite shore of the Mississippi river . Indians were camped.

In 1857 Dr. Durham, then fifteen years of age, settled in Reading for what proved to be a permanent residence. He was admitted to the high school on a special examina- tion, and three years later was graduated at the head of the class of 1860. During this period he began writing for the Reading newspapers, and finally drifted into the office of the Gazette, and later of the Schuylkill Journal. During the Lincoln campaign he also did a great deal of re- porting for the Leader. His first experience in library work was also gained at this period and aroused the deep interest in the subject from which later Reading was to profit so much. In the latter part of his high school course he was librarian of the library there, and his work was so satisfactory that shortly after his graduation he was chosen to take charge of the Reading Library. This institution had up to this time passed through various fluctuations, but it was then flourishing and occupied quart- ers in the building on North Sixth street, where the Daily Times office is now. His connection with it, however, was not destined to be very lengthy.

During the Civil war Mr. Durham was enlisted in times of special stress, first in Company E, 11th P. V. I., and his regiment was one which took part in the battle of An- tietam. He enlisted a second time when Lee invaded Pennsylvania, joining Company C, 42d P. V. I. In both cases he received honorable discharges.

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Returning to Reading in 1868, he began studying phar- macy under Dr. J. K. McCurdy, and he was ever afterward engaged in that business, his career covering about thirty- eight years. For the greater part of that time he was alone, but for nearly eleven years he had been in partner- ship with Dr. McCurdy, at No. 16 South Fifth street. Dr. Durham belonged to the Berks County Pharmaceutical Association, and also to the State Association, having been a member of the latter organization from its in- ception. He was one of the few druggists who by law are entitled to use the prefix "Dr." to their names.

When the Reading Savings Bank closed its doors in 1877, the Reading Library was involved in its failure, be- cause the president of the bank was also president of the Library Company, and held all its property in his own name as trustee. Dr. Durham promptly began a can- vass among the stockholders of the Company, enlisting its friends in an attempt to save it, and came to a meeting called for the purpose of reorganization, with proxies enough to elect a board of directors, whose plans and patient labors have since culminated in the great achieve- ment of establishing the library firmly upon its own feet. From that time on until his death Dr. Durham was a director, while in December, 1891, he was not only chosen secretary and treasurer of the board, but was made librar- ian. From the date of his installation there was no halting in the progress of the Free Library movement. The time was ripe, and there were many friends able and willing to assist in the work. The result is more than gratifying; within the last two years the number of per- sons drawing books has risen to over 13,000 while there are now over 19,000 books in the library, in addition to about 6,000 government publications, a collection gathered in a special room on the third floor. Dr. Durham was well read and conversant with a number of languages, and was familiar with the best in the literature of all coun- tries. He was often called the "Father of the Public Library of Reading."

Dr. Durham was married Feb. 9, 1869, to Miss Sarah Ann McCurdy, daughter of his late partner. In the years after their marriage eight children were born to them, five of them now deceased-Annie Blythe, John Mc- Curdy, Elizabeth Riggs, Caroline Rose and Sallie McCurdy. The three who survive are: Helen, Mrs. Frederic C. Heckman; Marian; and Donald Blythe, an instructor in Mt. Tamalpais Military Academy, San Raphael, Cal. Dr. Durham was a consistent member of the First Presby- terian Church, a member of the choir, and for some time choir master. He belonged to the Reading Choral Society, Reading High School Alumni, Keim Post, No. 76, G. A. R., Pennsylvania Library Club, and the Keystone State Library Association.

JOHN S. SCHAPPELL, a resident of New Berlinville, Berks county, was born July 23, 1858, in Greenwich town- ship, son of Jesse Schappell. He is a member of a family long and numerously represented in the county, and ac- counts of its early history and origin will be found elsewhere. Here we give only the direct line of John S. Schappell.

(I) According to the tombstone inscription at Zion's Church, in Perry (formerly Windsor) township, Jere- mias Schappelle was born in 1715, and he died Oct. 15, 1804. His wife Catharine, born in 1724, passed away June 8, 1801. The will of Jeremiah Shappel is on record in Berks county court-house in Will Book A, p. 505. It was made Feb. 11, 1803, and probated Jan. 7, 1805. At the time the will was made he was a resident of Windsor township. The following children are mentioned in the will : Jacob (who was made executor of his father's estate), Matthias, Jeremiah, Magdalena and Catharine. In the cemetery at Zion's Church is a tombstone bearing the following inscription: "Elizabeth Schappelle, wife of Jeremias, formerly of Deitschland, born Feb. 16, 1771, died July 9, 1817, aged forty-six years, five months, twenty- three days." This probably refers to the wife of Jeremias or Jeremiah, son of (I) Jeremias.

Earlier forms of this name were Schappelle, Choppelle, Schobbel and Shobel, but it is now more commonly found Shappell, Schappell and Schappel.

(II) Jacob Schappell, son of Jeremias, was better known as "Jockey," a nickname evidently taken from the German pronunciation of his name. He was born in Wittenberg, Germany, Feb. 2, 1744, and he died Sept. 11, 1826. As stated above he was the executor of his father's will in 1805. His wife Susanna was born Feb. 2, 1751, and she died July 24, 1828. They are both buried at Zion's Church. Jeremias, Eberhart and Jockey Schappell were founders of the original Zion's Church. Tradition says Jacob and Susanna reared a large family, some of their children, however, dying in infancy and childhood. Of those of whom there is record may be mentioned : Peter, born April 19, 1770; Col. Jeremiah, born March 20, 1774; Daniel, who was a taxable resident in Manheim township, Schuylkill county, in 1790, where he reared a family and where his descendants still live; and Hannah, who mar- ried Georg Hoffman, a farmer of Perry township.

There is a valley in Perry township known to the resi- dents there as Schappells Dale, because of the many Schappells living there.

(III) Peter Schappell, son of Jacob and Susanna, born April 19, 1770, died Nov. 18, 1851. He was a farmer in Wind- sor township, and he and his family all belonged to Zion's Church, and are buried in the cemetery there. He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Lenhart (1768-1790), and his second Annie Kosch (1778-1841). His children were: Jacob located in Schuylkill county ; Benjamin died young; Daniel settled in Schuylkill county ; Samuel settled in Windsor township; John settled in Rich- mond township, Berks county; Mary m. William Miller ; Kate m. Martin Eisenhaur; Elizabeth m. Jacob Boyer ; a daughter m. Anthony Adam; and Solomon.

(IV) John Schappell, son of Peter and Annie (Kosch), was born in 1801 and died aged forty-eight years. By trade he was a weaver, but he also worked on farms in Windsor township. He married Sarah Heffner, daughter of Jacob and Beckie (Dietrich) Heffner, and they had is- sue as follows : John; Betsey m. Moses Miller; Benjamin died young; John (2) ; Simon died aged seventeen years; Jesse became a farmer of Perry township; Mary m. Jacob Levan; Ann m. Isaac Hardinger; Kate m. (first) Henry Kemmerling and (second) Samuel Trautman; and Samuel settled in Albany township.

(V) Jesse Schappell, son of John and Sarah (Heffner), was born in Windsor township July 17, 1829. When quite young his father sold his services to a farmer for seven years, one of the stipulations of the contract being that young Jesse should be sent to school for a period of nine months, but when reckoning was made it was found that he had secured less than eight months' schooling. During this time he learned to read and write German fairly well, which was the only education he ever re- ceived. Mr. Schappell and his wife are devoted Chris- tians and regular attendants at the U. B. Church in Shoe- makersville. On Dec. 14, 1850, Mr. Schappell married Elizabeth Shiffert, born Jan. 18, 1832, daughter of Renben and Susanna (Angey) Shiffert. To them have been born the following children : P. Sassaman; William H. died in infancy; Josiah W. lives at Danville, Ill .; Alfred H. is of Virginville, Pa .; John S .; Sarah died unmarried, aged forty-three years; George Washington resides at Allen- town; Samuel D. settled in Arkansas; Charles R. lives at Danville, Ill .; Oscar D. is of Centreport, Pa .; and Sevena Andora died in infancy.

(VI) John S. Schappell attended the public schools of Windsor township until his parents moved to Perry town- ship, where he went to school until he was fifteen years old. He was reared to farming, and when twenty-one years old commenced to learn stone-cutting, with D. H. Leeser, then of Boyertown, now of Wernersville. He remained in Mr. Leeser's employ for six years, after that in 1884 engaging in business on his own account at Boyer- town. After continuing the business very successfully for seventeen years he sold out to W. S. Shollenberger, and subsequently lived retired for a brief period, owing to

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poor health. He then entered the employ of H. L. Minter, their, service for a year purchased the business and con- of. Pottstown, working for him five years. In 1905 he ducted it himself until 1898, when he bought the store property. Forming a partnership with his son, Harvey, they have traded since under the name of Michael Keith & Son. bought the fine residence at New Berlinville where he now lives, though he is engaged at the establishment of Horace Storb, in Pottstown, as marble and stone cutter. He is in comfortable circumstances and one of the substantial citizens of his locality.

On Nov. 1, 1884, Mr. Schappell was married to Clara L. Stauffer, daughter of Jacob B. Stauffer. No children have been born to them, but they have an adopted daugh- ter, Ida M. Schappell, daughter of Charles R. and Alice Schappell, of Shoemakersville, who has been with them since she was five months old. She is at present a student in the Myerstown College, at Myerstown, Pa., taking the full college course, and is especially talented as a musi- cian.

Mr. Schappell and his family are consistent and active members of the United Evangelical Church at Boyertown, Pa., and he was formerly a working member of the church at Pottstown, serving as steward and trustee dur- ing his residence at that place. He is liberal in his sup- port of the church and religious movements generally.

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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 125

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