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 136

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 136

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The following resolutions were passed by the Joint Consistory :

"Reading, Pa., May 21, 1901. "WHEREAS, It hath pleased an all-wise Providence to re- move by the hand of death from our midst our beloved pastor and friend, Rev. F. B. Hahn, be it

"Resolved, That we the Joint Consistory of Faith Reformed Church of Reading, and St. James Reformed Church, of West Reading, hereby express our humble submission to divine will. That we acknowledge our debt to him as friend and faithful pastor, who for eight years preached to us the pure and simple gospel of Jesus Christ, and led us in paths of justice, peace, righteousness

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and truth. That we, in behalf of the congregations we represent, do consecrate ourselves anew to the work of the Master whom he loved, with the determination, by the help of this same Master, of making constantly and in- creasingly effective his teaching and labors among us. "Resolved, That we express our heartfelt sympathy for the stricken family, so suddenly bereft of its head and support, and, that we will keep them in remembrance as the widow and orphans of a good man, a dear friend and a faithful pastor.

"Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family and to the Record.

"By order of the Joint Consistory, "G. B. TRECHSEL, Secretary."

Faith Reformed Sunday-school passed the following resolutions :

"WHEREAS, The great and supreme Ruler of the uni- verse has in His infinite wisdom removed our worthy and esteemed pastor, Rev. F. B. Hahn; and

"WHEREAS, The long and intimate relation held with him in the faithful discharge of his duties as pastor of this church and Sunday-school makes it eminently be- fitting that we record our appreciation of him; therefore be it

"Resolved, That his labors in church and Sunday- school will long be held in grateful remembrance.

"Resolved, That the sudden removal of such a life from our midst leaves a vacancy that will be deeply felt by all the members and friends of the Church and Sunday- school, and will prove a serious loss to the community and public.

"Resolved, That with deep sympathy for the be- reaved family and relatives of the deceased, we express our hope that even so great a loss to us all may be over- ruled for good by Him who doeth all things well.

"Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the records of the Sunday-school, a copy printed in the local papers, and a copy forwarded to the be- reaved family.

"HORATIO JONES, "A. L. BUSH, "G. B. TRECHSEL, "Committee."

On June 4, 1878, Mr. Hahn was married to Miss Ella R. Bridenbaugh, sister of Rev. Dr. S. R. Bridenbaugh, of the Second Reformed Church. Six children blessed this union, two of whom preceded their father to eternal life. Those surviving are : Mary, Edith, Ruth and John. Mrs. Hahn has been a tireless worker in the cause of Christ, and was her husband's very able assistant in the up- building of his parishes. Her charity is broad, and she has proved herself a ministering angel in the homes of those sore oppressed; while her own home has ever been open to the poor, the needy and the stranger.

JESSE F. BECHTEL, of Colebrookdale township, Berks county, has long held an honored place in the education- al world as a teacher, his enthusiasm and magnetic per- sonality winning his pupils and carrying them brave- ly forward along the path to knowledge.

The Bechtel family came to America from the Ger- man Palatinate. "On Aug. 24, 1728, eighty Palatines with their families, in all 205 persons, who shortly be- fore, after a seventy days' voyage had arrived in the ship 'Mortonhouse' from Deal, Capt. John Coultas, in the · harbor of Philadelphia, appeared in the halls of Justice in Philadelphia to render the oath of allegiance to the Crown of England, declaring it to be their intention 'to settle themselves in Pennsylvania.' The company consisted of eighty males and sixty-nine females up- ward of sixteen years of age, and fifty-six children. Among the names of the adults belonging to this company of emigrants we find the name of (I) George Bechtel, pre- sumably the father of Isaac and Gerhard Bechtel, head- ing the list." Tradition says he came from Weinheim, Germany

The large German family Bible of George Bechtel is yet in existence. The Bible came into the hands of Ger- hard Bechtel, and is now in the possession of one of his descendants. On the fly-leaf is written this note in German: "Diese Biebel ist gedruckt in Deutschland im Jahr 1720. Im Jahr 1730 ist sie George Bechtel von Sei- nem Vater von Deutschland nach Amerika geschickt wor- den. Zwischen den Jahren 1750 und 1760 bekam sie Ger- hard Bechtel."

"In the course of time the early history of the family has been so obscured in the mists of the past that a clear conception and an unerring presentation of the facts are well-nigh impossible. Among the lists of emi- grants who came over in the same ship with George Bech- tel are found the names of Noll, Baer, Roth, Stauffer, Latshaw, Dotterer, Huber, Heller, Brunner, many of whose descendants still reside in eastern Pennsylvania."

(II) Isaac Bechtel became a farmer and miller, and had his home in and near Bechtelsville, now in Wash- ington township, Pa. Bechtelsville was laid out by his son, John S. Bechtel. Isaac Bechtel and both of his wives are buried in the old Hereford Mennonite grave- yard near Bally, Washington township, Berks county, Penn- sylvania. His tombstone bears the following inscription :

Hier ruhen die gebeine des verstorbenen Isaac Bechtel's er wurde geboren den 23ten tag Juny A. D. 1751,- und ist gestorben den 3ten tag April. im Jahr 1820, er brachte sein alter auf 68 Jahre, 9 monat und 10 tage. Selig sind die toden die im Herren sterben.

Isaac Bechtel married (first) Esther Stauffer (1757- 1805), and to this marriage were born fourteen children : Jacob S., born Oct. 9, 1774, m. Anna W. Bechtel; Mary S., born Sept. 22, 1776, m. Abraham Eschbach; Elizabeth S., born Nov. 14, 1778, m. Peter Eschbach; Nancy . S., born Nov. 2, 1780, m. Joseph Reif; Susan S., born Oct. 6, 1782, m. William Johnson; Catherine S., born Oct. 15, 1784, m. John Bahr; John S., born Feb. 21, 1786, m. Maria Hoch; George S., born Feb. 22, 1788, m. (first) Miss Barto, and (second) ; Sally S., born Dec. 25, 1789, m. Henry Sassaman; Isaac S., born Oct. 18, 1791, m. (first) Polly Sassaman, and (second) Betzy Kehl; Polly S., born Aug. 30, 1793, m. Henry Oberholtz- er; Abraham S., born July 20, 1795, m. (first) Nancy Bechtel, and (second) Hettie Springer; Gerhard S., born May 3, 1797, m. (first) Maria Erdman, (second) Mary H. Fronheiser, and (third) Christina Gruber; and David S., born Sept, 14, 1799, died Feb. 28, 1800. Isaac Bechtel m. (second) Barbara Bitz. To this union no children were born.

(III) Gerhard S. Bechtel, son of Isaac, born May 3, 1797, died Oct. 8, 1881. By occupation he was a car- penter, undertaker and farmer. As undertaker he had charge of hundreds of funerals in his time in the lower end of the county. He and his assistants made the cof- fins by hand as needed. For many years he was land- lord of the "Washington Hotel" at Eschbachs. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and wor- shipped at St. Joseph's Church, commonly known as Hill Church, Pike township, Berks county, and he is buried in the family lot in the cemetery near the church. He married Maria Erdman, and they had four children, as follows: (1) Lydia E., born April 2, 1818, died Aug. 2, 1852, m. John M. Stauffer, sheriff of Montgomery county from 1859-62, and their children were: Elvina, Jacob B. (a soldier in the Civil war and now a clerk in the Adjutant General's office, Harrisburg, Pa.), Mary and Wesley B. (2) Mary E., born Oct. 23, 1821. died Feb. 19, 1878, m. Jesse B. Pennepacker, and they had one child, Amos B. (3) Elizabeth E., born Aug. 4, 1826, died March 15, 1871, m. George M. Eschbach, and had children :

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mary, Henry, Amanda, Emma, Peter, Jeremiah, Diana, house there was built in 1755, and its quaint appearance George, Lovina, Jesse and Kate B. (4) Levi E., born Dec. 23, 1823, died Dec. 25, 1905, m. Catharine Cleav- er, and became the father of Hiram, Amos, Lovina, Aman- da, Mary, Catharine, Sarah, Lizzie, Olivia, Frank and Edwin C. Gerhard S. Bechtel m. (second) Mary H. Fronheiser, and the only child of this union is Jesse F. Bechtel, born Sept. 16, 1852. Gerhard S. Bechtel 111. (third) Christina Gruber, and their three children, Abra- ham, Amanda and Catharine G., are all deceased.

(IV) Jesse F. Bechtel, son of Gerhard S. and Mary H. (Fronheiser), born Sept. 16, 1852, at Eschbachs, in Washington township, married, Sept. 23, 1876, Mary A. W. Pennepacker, born June 19, 1856, daughter of Eli and Sarah (Wieand) Pennepacker, a distant relative of ex-Gov. Samuel Pennypacker. Four children have bless- ed this union: (1) Marie Cordelia P., born July 8, 1877, is at home. (2) Jesse Luther P., born Dec. 30, 1878, graduated from the Philadelphia Business College and College of Commerce, and is now employed by the Boy- ertown Casket Company, in their store at Philadelphia. He married Anna C. Gansz. (3) Grace Agnes P., born Dec. 17, 1880, married Harry B. Renninger, and has one child, Mae B. Renninger. (4) Abram Grant P., born March 2, 1887, is a graduate of the Pottstown Business College, and is now at home.

Jesse F. Bechtel has resided at Gabelsville, in Cole- brookdale township, since 1880, in which year he built his present home. At about the age of seven years he came to Colebrookdale township to live with his uncle Jesse B. Pennepacker, with whom he made his home for ten or twelve years,' working on the farm in sum- mer and attending the public schools in winter. During the fall of 1870 he attended the Kallynean Academy at Boyertown, Prof. I. B. Hankey, principal. The same year he was licensed to teach, receiving his first certificate from the late D. B. Brunner, the Superintendent of Pub- lic Schools of Berks county. He taught his first term 1870-71 in Pike township. near Hill Church. During the summer of 1871 he again attended the Academy. He has taught in all thirty-six terms, all with the exception of the first term, in Colebrookdale township, having been engaged at the Cleaver's, Gabelsville and Weisstown schools, and in several families he has taught three gen- erations. He has taught under the following county superintendents : Brunner, Baer, Keck, Zechman and Rapp. Since 1887 he has held a Permanent Certificate, and since 1893 he has been a member of the Berks county Teachers' Reading Union. For three years, 1872-75, he was a clerk in a general store-one year at Pikeville and two years at Gabelsville.

Mr. Bechtel is a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Boyertown, where for more than ten years he has served as elder, and since 1897 as sec- retary of the Church council. He has represented his church as lay delegate to the meetings of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and adjacent States at Lancaster in 1897, Easton. 1902, Philadelphia, 1903, and Allentown, 1908. For nineteen years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school (Union) at Gahelsville. In politics he is a Republican, and he has been a delegate to a number of County conventions, twice a State delegate, and for twenty-four years committeeman for Colebrookdale town- ship. From 1894 to 1899 he served as justice of the peace, and in 1880, 1890 and 1900 he was census enumerator. Mr. Bechtel has a fine collection of Indian relics, num- bering some 1,600 specimens, and most of these were found in the immediate vicinity of his home in what is known as the Popodickon Valley (named for the Indian chief who once lived there). He also possesses a unique Wash- ington button, made many years ago. It bears the motto "Long live the President"; along the outside are the in- itials of the thirteen colonies. In the inner circle are the initials G. W. He finds great pleasure in his well chosen library, and takes a great interest in local history.

The first Bechtel Reunion was held Sept. 33, 1897, in the old Hereford Mennonite Meeting-house (since then replaced by a new structure). The original meeting-

indicated its great age. It was a low wooden building a little larger than an ordinary school house. The joists upon which the roof rested extended far over the sides of the building. This venerable building was occupied by the Old Mennonites, who held services there over 140 years. Many of the descendants of the first Bechtels worshipped there. Among the ministers who served this congregation are a number named Bechtel; in fact, the family has supplied a minister from almost every genera- tion.

CHESTER B. CLEAVER, a well-to-do business man of Reading, Pa., who has served as county commissioner of Berks county, was born in Pleasantville, Oley town- ship, Berks county, Nov. 21, 1855, son of Hiram K. and Catherine (Bertolet) Cleaver.

Samuel Cleaver, grandfather of Chester B., was a farmer and blacksmith all of his life in Oley township, where he had settled at an early day. He was first a Whig in politics and later a Republican, and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of six children: Albert, Samuel, Hiram K., Sarah, Angeline and Hanna.

Hiram K. Cleaver was born in Pike township. and while engaged in farming, also worked at the trade of blacksmith, which he had learned from his father. He owned property in Oley township, which he conducted until his death in 1877, at the age of forty-six years. His first wife died in 1857. They were the parents of three children : Chester B., Annie and Amanda. Mr. Cleaver was married (second) to Esther Greisemer, and there were three children born to this marriage also: Rosella, Catherine and Mary Ann.

Chester B. Cleaver was educated in Oley township, and when twelve years of age entered his uncle's store at Girardville, Schuylkill county. where he remained three years. Then after five months' attendance at the State Normal School at Kutztown, he entered his father's store at Pleasantville. Three years later he engaged in the store business at Spangsville, and after a few years returned to farming. In 1879 he purchased seventy-one acres in Oley township, his present home, and here he carried on operations until 1906. He purchased three more tracts. having in all 174 acres. In 1906 he was clected county commissioner on the Republican ticket, an office he filled with efficiency and to the satisfaction of all concerned. For the past twenty-three years Mr. Cleaver has been engaged in a horse and cattle business, and in 1900 he opened a sale, exchange and livery stable in Reading, in which new enterprise he has been very successful. He is known throughout the county as an able and honorable business man, and his reputation is above reproach.

Mr. Cleaver married Ellen B. Weidner, and to this union there were born four children: Howard. Webster, Warden and Mabel. Mr. Cleaver is liberal in his re- ligious belief. Fraternally he is connected with Chandler Lodge, No. 227, of Masons.

FRANK ALFRED TOWNSEND, until Oct. 8. 1907, one of the valued employes of the Reading Water Depart- ment, holding the position of draughtsman in the office of the Superintendent and Engineer, Emil L. Nuebling, is a product of Reading institutions, though not a native son. He was born in Vincennes, Ind., May 18, 1876.

Townsend is an English name which has been prom- inent in the life of America for many generations. It is not well authenticated just when the first of the name landed on our shores, but it was very early. Of this branch of the family, John Townsend, grandfather of Frank A., lived and died a Lancaster county farmer, and his son Robert A., the father of our subject, was a school teacher in the same county for some thirty-five years. He died Oct. 4, 1902, at the age of fifty-nine years. as the result of an explosion. He married Elizabeth Matil- da Conroy, daughter of John Conroy, of Lancaster, who now survives him. She became the mother of eight chil-

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dren, of whom four are now deceased, as follows : Rob- ert, William, Edward and Laura. Those living are: Roberta Ella, wife of Herbert A. Brown, chief train dispatcher of the Texas & Pacific railroad at Marshall, Texas; Thomas Walter, assistant baggage master of the same road, at the same point; Sara Elizabeth, principal of the public school at Tenth and Union streets, Read- ing; and Frank Alfred.

Frank Alfred Townsend was carefully educated in the public schools of the city, graduating from the high school in 1896 in the English Scientific course, adding also three years of Latin. The following year he took a post-graduate course, and then accepted a position with E. E. Davis, assistant superintendent of Motive Power and Rolling Equipment of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. Remaining in this position from July 1, 1897, to May, 1898, he was transferred to Division Superinten- dent Wilson's office at Reading. Until Feb. 12, 1900, he filled the duties of his position acceptably, at which time he was offered the position of draughtsman in the Read- ing Water Department, which he filled with efficiency. On Oct. 8, 1907, he resigned and went to Marshall, Tex- as, to manage a project for Mr. H. A. Brown, but not being well satisfied accepted a position with the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company under Master Car Builder Mr. W. D. Minten. He then left this position to become general storekeeper and chief clerk to Master Mechanic A. C. Miller, of the Texas Midland Railway at Terrell, Tex- as. This position he accepted on Dec. 10, 1908.

Mr. Townsend is as yet an unmarried man. He votes with the party of Lincoln and McKinley and is a com- municant of St. Peter's Catholic church. A young man of worth and energy, his future lies in his own hands.

ROBERT McKITTRICK, a well-known resident of Reading, who is employed by the American Steel & Iron Manufacturing Company, of the city, was born March 4, 1847, in Cumberland, England, son of Robert and Mary (Taggert) McKittrick.

Robert McKittrick, the elder, was also a native of Cumberland, England, and received his education in the common schools there, being later employed around blast furnaces. He became what is known as a furnaceman, and was an expert iron maker, following this occupation for many years. He had been previously employed in a chemical works, but gave this up for the iron work. Mr. McKittrick died in 1890, aged eighty-one years, as a result of injuries received in an accident. He and his wife were Presbyterians in religious belief. They were the parents of six children: James; Agnes; Sarah, who lives in South Africa, the wife of William Davidson; Elizabeth, also of South Africa, the wife of Thomas Harrison; Robert; and Henry, of South Africa.

Robert McKittrick, the younger, was educated in the schools of his native Cumberland, and as a boy learned the molder's trade which he followed for four years, and later acquired a thorough knowledge of the machinist's trade, being employed for eighteen years as superintendent of the blast furnaces at Cleater Moor. In June, 1889, Mr. McKittrick came to America, locating at Talladega, Ala., for about two years, and then located in Pennsyl- vania, accepting a position at Sheridan as foreman of the Sheridan furnace. He remained there for two years and nine months, and then, coming to Reading, he entered the scale works, where he was employed until he entered the employ of J. H. Sternbergh, now the American Steel & Iron Manufacturing Company.

In 1873 Mr. McKittrick was married to Anna Walker, a native of Cumberland, England, and to this union have been born children as follows: Ada, Margaret Ann, Agnes (deceased), Aaron Edward, Robert, Marie, William H. and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. McKittrick are both members of the Episcopal church. In his native country Mr. Mc- Kittrick was a member of Sterling Lodge, F. & A. M.

leverman near Leesport, has been closely identified with the public interests of his township, where he has served as justice of the peace and State legislator. Mr. Shar- man was born Sept. 5, 1862, at the old West Reading toll house in Spring township, Berks county, son of Levi and Emeline (Moyer) Sharman.

John Sharman, grandfather of Irwin M., was for many years proprietor of the old hostelry known as the "Dry Tavern," near State Hill and Cacoosing, in Spring town- ship, and also owned the adjoining farm, but subsequent- ly removed to Reading, where he died aged about eighty years. He married (first) a Miss Graeff, by whom he had all of his children, and after her death he m. Han- nah Graeff, sister to his first wife. The children of John Sharman were: Isaac, John, Daniel, Levi, Reuben and two daughters.

Levi Sharman was born in 1818 at the "Dry Tavern" in Spring township, received the ordinary education of the times and later learned the trade of carpenter, an occupation which he followed at Reading, where his death occurred at the age of seventy-six years. He was mar- ried to Emeline Moyer, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Moyer, and to them were born four children: Howard is an employe at the City Hall, Reading; John married Lizzie Sturtz, and has four children, Ralph, Bir- die, Harry and Howard; Irwin M .; and Edward with his brother John works at locksmithing at Harbster's.

Irwin M. Sharman received his education in the schools of Reading, whither his parents had come when he was three years old, and when eighteen years old he learned the trade of tinsmith with William Breidegam of that city. In 1884, in company with his friend Squire Henry Wentz, then of Reading but now of the State of Washington, he made an extensive trip through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Mis- souri, and returned in the fall of the year just in time to cast his vote for Grover Cleveland for President. He then made a trip through the South, finally locating at Bluefield, W. Va., and worked on the New River division of the N. & W. Railroad under Superintendent Hardy, formerly trainmaster of the P. S. V. Railroad at Read- ing, until 1894, when he removed with his family to Leesport, where he is now employed by the P. S. V. road as operator and leverman. Mr. Sharman has always taken a great interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of his township, and in 1896 was elected justice of the peace for a period of five years, receiving the re-election in 1901. In 1906 he was elected to the State Legislature, where he served his term to the complete satisfaction of his constituents, and was re-elected in 1908. He is a mem- ber and past grand of Leesport Lodge No. 141, I. O. O. F., a charter member and past chief of Leesport Castle No. 503, K. G. E .; venerable councilor of Camp No. 9284, Modern Woodmen, since its institution; charter member and R. S. for three years of Ontelaunee Council No. 985, I. O. A .; financial secretary and trustee of Un- ion Fire Company No. 1, Leesport; and a member of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Despatchers, Agents and Signalmen.

On Feb. 13, 1894, Mr. Sharman was married to Annie M. Dack, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Dack. Mr. and Mrs. Sharman are members of the First Reformed Church.

SAMUEL G. BURKHOLDER, M. D., a rising young physician of Reading, was born in Brickerville, Lancaster Co., Pa., March 12, 1871. He is a son of the late George and Elizabeth (Gockley) Burkholder, who followed farm- ing in the above named county until 1891, when they re- tired and moved to Denver, Pa., where the mother, Eliza- beth. Burkholder, still resides. George Burkholder died April 8. 1906.

Dr. Burkholder attended the public schools at Brick- erville ard at Denver, Pa., during his boyhood days, and later completed his preliminary education at the Millers- ville State Normal School. In early youth he decided to prepare for the medical profession. This was strenu-

IRWIN M. SHARMAN, a prominent citizen of Onte- launee township, Berks Co., Pa .. who is now in the em- ploy of the P. S. V. Railroad Company as operator and ously opposed by his father who finally persuaded him

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to take up veterinary medicine instead. Accordingly he 1830 to 1861 he also engaged in farming, and he died in entered the Ontario Veterinary College in the fall of the latter year. He married Sevilla Fasig, a direct des- eendant of Conrad Weiser, and their children were: Charles, Rufus, Mahlon, Frank, Daniel, Sevilla, Elmira, Helen, Adelaide, Walter, Oliver J. and Virginia. 1889, from which institution he graduated with honors in the spring of 1891. He was awarded a medal and other prizes by the above named institution as evidences of proficiency. His Alma Mater offered him the chair of Oliver J. Wolff was born in Hamburg, Pa., Feb. 2, 1849, and received his education in his native locality. In his youth he learned the harness-making business, which he followed with his brother Rufus until 1888, when he came to Reading. The same year he entered the prothono- tary's office as clerk under D. H. Schwoyer, and in 1895 he was elected to the position of prothonotary of Berks county, on the Democratie tieket, serving the full term of three years. From 1898 until 1903, Mr. Wolff clerked in the office, and in the latter year retired, sinee which time he has been living at his home, No. 346 North Fifth street, Reading. In 1873 he had engaged in boat building, making sailing vessels, etc. While in Hamburg, Mr. Wolff served as justice of the peace from 1875 to 1888, served six years on the school board, being secretary thereof, and several years as borough treasurer. Oliver J. Wolff mar- ried Annie M. Miller, daughter of Joel and Catharine Miller, and to this union were born: Laura m. Charles L. Oaks, of Reading; Ada m. I. B. Dubell, of Philadelphia; and Oliver . M. Mr. Wolff is a member of Vaux Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 406, of Hamburg; Washington Camp, No. 74, P. O. S. of A .; Council No. 74, O. U. A. M .; Union Fire Company of Hamburg; and Couneil No. 1104, R. A. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Hamburg, in which he served as deacon and trustee, and while in Hamburg he was superintendent of the St. John's Sunday-school of the Lutheran and Reformed Church. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Reading. veterinary anatomy on the faculty before he was twenty- one years of age. This he declined, and started to prac- tice his profession in the summer of 1891 at Denver, Pa. Shortly after locating at Denver he became joint owner and editor of the Denver Press, in partnership with .E. B. Wolf. In 1896 he sold his interest in the Denver Press to his partner, E. B. Wolf, and in the fall of same year he took a eivil service examination for the position of federal meat inspector. He had the highest average made at the fall examination in 1896, and was promptly appoint- ed assistant meat inspector by the Bureau of Animal Industry, and ordered to Chicago, Ill., to assist in the work in that eitv. Shortly after he reached Chieago, he matriculated as a student in the Harvey Medical College, a night school in good standing. From this institution he graduated in June, 1898, with the highest average ever made by any student up to this time. (The college is now extinet). He continued in the meat inspection serviee at Chicago until Dee. 1, 1898, when he was transferred to Nashville, Tenn., to inaugurate inspee- tion there. In the fall of 1898. before leaving Chieago, he was appointed by the management of the McKillip Veterinary College of Chicago to inaugurate a course in meat and milk inspection to prepare the students for federal positions in this line of work. He was also lee- turer on comparative anatomy at his alma mater. His sudden departure from Chicago for Nashville, Tenn., terminated his connections with the above named schools, but only temporarily. He resigned his position as meat inspector at Nashville. Tenn., Jan. 15, 1899, and immed- Oliver M. Wolff received his preliminary educational training in the public schools of Hamburg, coming to Reading with his parents and here later attending the high school, graduating with the class of 1898. He en- tered the University of Pennsylvania, graduating from the Law Department in 1901. He read law in an office in Philadelphia, and was admitted to practice in the sev- eral courts of Philadelphia June 19, 1901, and to the Berks county Bar Sept. 8. 1902. On Aug. 20, 1905. Mr. Wolff formed a partnership with William A. Shomo, and they have continued together since that time, with offices at No. 522 Washington street, Reading, Pa. Mr. Wolff's profession connects him with the Berks County Bar Asso- ciation. He is also a member of the Supreme. Superior, and several County Courts of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Alumni Association and Kent Law Club of the University of Pennsylvania; of the Alumni Asso- eiation of the Reading High Schools, and in 1907 and 1908 was elected treasurer thereof; and is president of the Penn Wheelmen of Reading, having been re-elected four successive years. He belongs to Trinity Lutheran Church at Reading. iately returned to Chicago. resumed his work at the schools and started to practise his profession, loeating on West Congress street, that eity. In the fall of 1899 he matrici- lated as a senior student in the Northwestern University Medical College, Chicago, from which institution he grad- uated in June, 1900. In March, 1900. he received the hon- orary degree D. V. M. from the MeKillip Veterinary Col- lege. Shortly after graduating from the Northwestern University Medical College, he returned to his native State. Pennsylvania, and in August, of the same year, he located at Rothsville, Pa., where he practised his ehosen profes- sion until February, 1905. when he sold out his practice there, and returned to Chicago to take up post-graduate work. Besides taking a general review in internal medi- eine he took a special course at the Illinois School of Electro-therapeutics. In April, 1905, he returned east and located at No. 613 Walnut street. Reading, Pa., where he is enjoying a large practice. Besides doing general prac- tice Dr. Burkholder is Medical Director of the Reading Mutual Life Insurance Company, and also secretary of the Corporation Funding and Finance Company. Both of these companies are rapidly forging to the front in their chosen lines.

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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 136

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