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 148

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 148

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

(IV) HENRY S. DIETRICH was born in Greenwich town- ship, Aug. 17, 1859, was educated in the public schools. and worked at home until he was of age. For four years after he attained his majority he had charge of the home farm, and in the spring of 1886 he began for himself on the homestead. near Albany postoffice. This farm consists of 162 acres of excellent potato land, and he plants from twenty-five to thirty acres every year. He has excellent crops. and besides this farm he owns sixty-four acres of woodland at the Blue Mountains. He has his farm well stocked. and is very justly proud of his horses. their equal being hard to find in the township. He has from fifteen to twenty-five head of cattle all the time.

In politics Mr. Dietrich is a Democrat, and he and of the best wood-workers of his day. He built the his family are Lutheran members of the New Bethel (Corner) Church, in Albany township.

Mr. Dietrich married Caroline Sechler, daughter of Joel Sechler. late of Albany township. Five sons and five daughters have blessed this union: Addie m. Fred Fetherolf: George; Joel; Albert, a graduate of the township schools, is now attending the Nor- mal at Kutztown: May is a graduate of the township schools; William: Maud; Ina; Frank and Helen. Mr. Dietrich is a believer in the cause of education, and is giving his children good school advantages.

ALFRED K. DIETRICH, late of Albany township. was born Feb 7, 1854, and died Aug. 5. 1907, aged fifty-three years, five months, twenty-eight days. He was a son of Reuben A. and Catharine (Kunkel) Diet- rich. and a direct descendant of Johannes Dietrich. the first of this numerous Berks county family to come to America.

(I) Johannes Dietrich was a native of the German Palatinate, and emigrated to the New World on the good ship "Phoenix," landing (qualifying) at Phila- delphia Sept 25, 1751. It appears that soon after his arrival in this country he settled in Berks county, Pa., where he married Barbara Braucher, of Albany township. Johannes Dietrich died in 1785, and his widow. Barbara, was administratrix of the estate; she had as her sureties Christ. Brancher and Jacob Mer- kel. Johannes and Barbara Dietrich had three children, all sons, as follows: Johannes. Jacob (who is said to have settled in Schuylkill county) and John Adam.

One Johannes Dietrich, probably son of Johannes. born Nov. 7, 1760. in Maiden-creek township. Berks county, located in East Buffalo township, Union Co., Pa. From there he enlisted in Colonel Servant's reg- iment, Wayne's brigade, Pennsylvania Line, when eighteen years old. and returned at the expiration of his service, in 1781. One of the sons of Reuben Diet- rich, now living in Greenwich township. recalls that his father visited his uncle (Johannes) in Union coun- ty, making the journey on horseback. and that the visits were returned.

Johannes Dietrich, the emigrant. had brothers Adam (1740-1817) and Casper, both of whom came to Ameri- ca, the latter, with a man named Bollinger, settling

In 1803 John Adam Dietrich married Susanna Ar- nold, born Feb. 5. 1783. died Oct. 6, 1869, and both are buried immediately back of the Lenhartsville Church, of which they were prominent members. They were pious people, good though strict parents. and "Mother" Dietrich was an excellent housekeeper, noted especially for her old-fashioned bread. She had few equals as a breadmaker, and her rye bread was the best that could be made. Visitors were always treated to butter-bread and honey. Most farmers in those days had from five to twenty-five beehives, and there was always plenty of honey. "Father" Dietrich was equally noted in his way. He began farming near Dreibelbis Station, and owned the tract now owned by a Stettler, from there moving to the farm which his youngest son. Reuben A., came to own after his death. It is now the property of Reuben's son, Thomas K., who is the fourth generation to own and live upon this land. This Dietrich homestead originally belonged to the Brobst family.

John Adam Dietrich was a carpenter by trade, and did such excellent work that he was known as one present barn on the place in 1836, and the house in 1844. The house is of stone, and as only the best stones were used. and the masons of that day knew their work well. the walls are very substantially made, as well as workmanlike. The woodwork in the house shows the same care and skill. and was done for the most part by "Father" Dietrich himself. The last will and testament of this worthy man is a model of its kind and shows that the spirit of a pure heart actuated all his deeds. It was made a few years be- fore his death. and is on record in Will Book II, page 333. The old family Bible is well preserved, and is now owned by his grandson, Henry K. Dietrich.

To John Adam Dietrich and his wife were born fourteen children. of whom we have the following record: Maria, Dec. 29, 1803: Rebecca, Oct. 11. 1805; Jacob, June 27. 1807; Isaac, March 30, 1809 (died July 22, 1822); Elizabeth. Oct. 25, 1810; Annie. Oct. 25. 1812; Gideon, March 30, 1814: Adam, Oct. 17. 1815 (died April 16. 1826); Moses. Oct. 22, 1817; Rufena, Nov. 20, 1819 (died Noy. 28, 1848); Catharine. Dec. 15, 1821; Reuben. Oct. 20. 1823. It will be noticed that six members of this family were born in the month of October. Isaac, Adam and Rufena are buried at Dunkel's Church.

(III) Reuben A. Dietrich. youngest son of John Adam and Susanna (Arnold) Dietrich, was born in Greenwich township Oct. 20. 1823, on the John Adam Dietrich homestead near Klinesville, and died July 31. 1889. He was a lifelong farmer, succeeding his father on the home place, which now consists of 155 acres of valuable land. He was prosperous, and added seventy acres to this tract. but this extra land was sold off again after his death. Mr. Dietrich was originally a Lutheran member of the Dunkel Church. but in 1854. when the Lenhartsville Church was or- ganized. he became one of its members, and he was an official of that church until his death. He married Catharine Kunkel. born in 1834. daughter of Daniel and Maria Magdalena (Zimmerman) Kunkel, and eight children were horn to them: Alfred K. is mentioned below; Lewis K. is a prosperous farmer in Kistler's Valley, Lehigh county (he married Alice Howerter. and they have had five children. Valorius, William. Lizzie. Edgar and Norman); Ellen (deceased) was the

563

BIOGRAPHICAL

wife of Alfred Greenwalt, of Bernville; Henry K., born in 1860, a farmer near Lenhartsville, is the vice-president of the Dietrich Family Association (he married in 1883. Mary Seidel, and they have children, Robert, Lizzie; Edgar, Flora, Nora, Harvey and Annie, of whom Lizzie, a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, is engaged in teaching); Florenda married George Kutz; Thomas K. owns and farms the home- stead (he married Ida Komp, who died June 17, 1907, and has a son, Ira); Charles and James both died in childhood. The burial ground of this family is at Lenhartsville. Mrs. Catharine (Kunkel) Dietrich now makes her home with her son Thomas, on the old homestead.

Alfred K. Dietrich was reared to farming, and when twenty-one years old went to learn milling from Sol- omon P. Dietrich, who then operated what has been known for many years as the Dietrich mill. The spring after his marriage Mr. Dietrich engaged in the business for himself at Dietrich's Mill, which he bought about 1889. and which he conducted in all for almost thirty years-from 1877 until .two years before his death. This mill is located in the Stony Run Valley in Albany township. The first mill at this site was built by a Grim, in 1750, and the present stone mill is at least the second, probably the third, mill at this place. On a stone in the wall of the south gable are the dates 1750 and 1795, the latter being probably the date of the building of the second mill or the repairing of the first one. To the mill property belongs a fine farm of ninety-five acres, lying in the potato belt of this section. Mr. Dietrich raised many potatoes, planting twenty acres every year. This property is a valuable one. the buildings being very substantial. The large Swiss barn was erected by Alfred K. Dietrich in 1891. He owned also the old Wiesner homestead in Stony Run Valley, a farm of 122 acres, which he bought in 1898, and which is now tenanted by his son Irwin C., who is an enterprising young farmer. and extensively en- gaged in potato planting. On this farm stands a stone house which was built in 1796, and which originally belonged to one Samuel Miller. On a stone in the west gable of this house is the following:

S B & H M PE & H M 1796

On Jan. 21, 1877, Mr. Dietrich married Louisa Mer- kel, daughter of William D. Merkel. of Windsor, and to them were born five children, as follows: Irwin C., Anson W., Mary V. (married Elton J. Trexler, of Albany, Pa., and has a son, Clinton M.), Howard W. and Agnes C.

With his family Mr. Dietrich belonged to the Wess- nersville Friedens Church, all being members of the Lutheran congregation there, of which Mr. Dietrich served as deacon. He was the third person buried in the new cemetery of that church. In politics Mr. Dietrich was a Democrat. He was a man much esteemed for his devotion to his family and his duty.

DIETRICH (Line of Conrad). This branch of the Dietrichs, so far as is known in no way related to Adam Dietrich and his descendants, has its origin in Conrad Dietrich, who was born in Baltimore, Md., Jan. 11, 1763. In his young manhood he came to Berks county, Pa .. and located in Hereford township. He was married there, and in 1790 the Federal Census Report records him the head of a family consisting of four persons, himself and wife and two daughters. Their seven other children were born after 1790. About 1795 he and his fam- ily came to Reading, and there he passed the remainder of his life. He owned considerable property, and was regarded as a fairly well-to-do man. His wife was Elizabeth Seisholtz of Longswamp township. Berks county, born March 3, 1769, died Sept. 22, 1837, aged sixty-eight years, six months and nineteen days. Con-

rad Dietrich died Dec. 18, 1841, aged seventy-eight years, eleven months, seven days. They are both buried in the western part of the Aulenbach cemetery. The tomb- stone inscription states that they were the parents of nine children-four sons and five daughters. The names of four children only could be ascertained as follows: (1) George settled in the vicinity of Scranton, Catawis- sa or Tamaqua, Pa., where he manufactured bricks. He was born Aug. 4, 1813, was married, and had a number of children. (2) Jacob is mentioned below. (3) Susan married Henry Fry of Reading. (4) Conrad is mention- ed below.

(II) Jacob Dietrich, son of Conrad, was born in Reading, and he made his home on Tenth street, south of Cherry. He was a laborer, and for many years was the grave digger for Trinity Lutheran Church, at Sixth and Washington streets, and there he, too, was laid to rest, but later his body with others was removed to the Lutheran cemetery. He married Abbey Dieter, and to this union were born three sons and five daughters, namely: (1) Savannah m. Amos Giley, of Reading. (2) Conrad m. Hannah Geeze of Allentown. (3) Jacob m. in Schuylkill county, where he had settled and reared a family. He had a son, Al. Dietrich. (4) Catharine m. Fred Ulrich Hains. (5) Susan (born in Reading Dec. 5, 1835) resides in Reading. She m. Charles Houck, a native of Germany. who was a saddler in Reading. They had children: Hattie, Mary (deceased), Rosa and Katie (who are both deaf mutes), and Elizabeth. (6) Isaac (born at Reading in 1837) settled when about twenty-five years old in Drehersville, Schuylkill county, where he married Deborah Hollenbach. Their son, William H .. born Sept. 18, 1853, at Temple, Berks county, died March 9, 1909, at Reading, and is buried at Alsace Lutheran Church. He was a laborer. He was twice married, first, April 27, 1875, to. Emma Kissinger, who bore him four children-Irwin W., George A., Katie D. and Sallie M .; and (second) to Hannah D. Sell, by whom he had children-Bertha E., Edward H .. Carrie L., Gertie E., Deborah A., William H. and Christ- ian R. (7) Mary died young. (8) Abbey m. in Phil- adelphia where she lived and died.

(II) Conrad Dietrich, son of Conrad, was born at the big dam at Reading, July 26, 1798, and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He was a paper manufacturer in Snyder county for many years, but his plant was destroyed by fire in 1840. In later life he moved back to Reading, where he died Feb. 12, 1861, aged sixty- two years, six months, sixteen days, and was buried in Aulenbach cemetery, by the side of his father. He was twice married, and by his first marriage had three children: (1) Henry left the parental home when twen- ty-two years of age, while the father lived in Snyder county. and his whereabouts were unknown for twenty years, when one afternoon, to the surprise of all, he came home only to remain one night and to leave with- out telling any one where he had lived or where he was going. It was afterward learned that he was comfort- ably situated in, Wilmington, Del., and in later years he paid annual visits to his brother, William H., in Reading. By his first wife he had a son, Reuben, who lived at Mechanicsburg, in Cumberland county. Pa. (2) Mary m. Hon. Reuben Keller, a State senator from 1859 to 1862. (3) Adam.

Conrad Dietrich was married (second) Oct. 9, 1836, to Martha (Moyer) Spohn, widow of Jacob Spohn, of Spring township. She was born Jan. 13, 1805, and died in 1889, aged eighty-four years, daughter of Jonathan Moyer. In the old Spohn Bible the following children are credited to the marriage of Conrad and Martha Dietrich: Amelia, born Dec. 17, 1837; Conrad, born Feb. 9, 1839; William H., born Oct. 29. 1840; Rebecca, born May 4, 1847, died Nov. 14, 1870 (m. John L. Homan).

(III) WILLIAM H. DIETRICH, SR., son of Conrad, was born in Snyder county, Pa., Oct. 29, 1840. When a young man he came to Reading with his parents, and here he learned the art of photography with S. B. How- ard. who after the business had been thoroughly mas-

564

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

tered, admitted him as a partner, under the firm name of Howard & Dietrich. Some years afterward Mr. Howard retired from business, and Mr. Dietrich formed a partnership with Mr. Patton, under the firm name of Dietrich & Patton, and for twenty years they conducted a successful business at the corner of Seventh and Penn. streets, where Rosenbaum's hall now stands. Later Mr. Dietrich conducted a grocery store at the corner of Ninth and Robeson streets. Since 1895 he has been the proprietor of the "Veteran Hotel" of Reading, located at the northeast corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets. In 1860 he married Hannah Brobst, of Read- ing, who died Oct. 17, 1900, after a married life of more than forty years. She is buried in the Dietrich family lot in Aulenbach's cemetery. Seven children were born to this union: (1) Martha m. George Snyder, of Reading, and has children-Howard, Chester, George, Bert, Mar- tha, Clara and Hannah. (2) Emma died in infancy. (3) Emma (2) m. Elmer Stott, of Reading, and their child- ren are Eugene, Bessie, Harry, Frank and Wallace. (4) William H., Jr., is mentioned below. (5) Annie died unmarried aged twenty-one years. (6) George P. (born at Reading, Dec. 6, 1869) is associated with his father in the management of the "Veteran Hotel." In 1907 he was the Republican nominee for the office of high sheriff, and received the highest vote ever given a Republican candidate for that office. He m. Annie Jenkins of Pottsville. (7) Clara married James Yost. a farmer of Spring township, whose record appears in these volumes.

(IV) William H. Dietrich. Jr., son of William H. Sr., and proprietor of the "Muhlenberg Mansion" at No. 1057 North Ninth street. Reading, was born at No. 145 Mulberry street, Reading. His early education was ob- tained in the public schools of the city, and after leav- ing school he was employed at Mohn's hat factory for two years. He then worked for Augustus Hassler in the restaurant at No. 503 Penn street, where he re- mained a number of years. He was next manager for William H. Reist's cafe, Mr. Reist being proprietor of the "Hotel Penn." There he continued until 1893, when he assumed the proprietorship of the "Hyde Park" Hotel, in Muhlenberg township, which he con- ducted with great success for two and one-half years. In October. 1895, he took charge of the Reading "Fair Ground Hotel," which he carried on until April 1, 1899, when he assumed control of his present stand, where he enjoys a large patronage. He is a successful hotel man, genial and popular with his guests, and has many warm friends in Reading.

Mr. Dietrich is connected with a number of social and fraternal organizations, among them being: B. P. O. E. Lodge No. 115, Reading; Reading Aerie, No. 66, F. O. E .; K. G. E. Castle No. 391, of Hyde Park; Neversink Fishing Club; Junior Fire Company; Juniata County Fishing Club; Old Bachelors' Club; Marion Fire Com- pany. In his religious faith he is a believer in the doctrines of the Reformed Church.'

On March 12, 1891. Mr. Dietrich married Miss Annie Leitheiser (born Feb. 5. 1869, died April 11, 1906, aged thirty-seven years, two months, six days), and they had one son Wilson F. (born Sept. 8, 1893).

REV. GEORGE BORNEMANN, the only priest of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church for a continuous period of forty-two years, and most affectionately recognized and spoken of in the community as "Father Bornemann," was born at Lingen, in the province of Hanover, Germany, Oct. 5, 1838. He is the son of William Bornemann, a rope- maker, who died at Reading in 1884, aged eighty-two years, and Louisa Rolfs, his wife, who died while he was still a young boy. He emigrated to the United States when fifteen years of age, his father following some years afterward. He was specially educated for the priesthood in Germany and the United States, graduating from St. Vincent's Col- lege at Latrobe, Pa., in 1862, and then extended his

ecclesiastical studies at St. Charles Seminary, in Phila- delphia. He was regularly ordained as a priest in 1865 by Bishop (afterward Archbishop) Wood. After serving as assistant priest at Philadelphia for a year, and as priest at Newcastle, Del., for the same period, he became pastor at St. Paul's Church in Reading in 1867, and this large and growing parish he has served most devotedly and success- fully for forty-two continuous years, a truly remarkable period. His communicant members have come to number three thousand. During his ministrations the church property at Ninth and Walnut streets, for religious, edu- cational and charitable purposes, has become the largest at Reading, evidencing in a high degree his superior judg- ment and executive ability.

Besides being directly interested in the success of his own parish, Father Bornemann has been very active in the establishment of other institutions immediately connected with the Roman Catholic denomination: St. Joseph's Hospital; House of the Good Shepherd; St. Catharine's Orphan Asylum for Girls; St. Paul's Orphan Asylum for Boys; the Polish, Italian and Slavic Roman Catholic Churches; St. Bernardino's Convent and Asylum, Oak Brook; and Gethsemane Roman Catholic Cemetery; all of which are successfully administered.

GEORGE HENDEL, hat manufacturer at Reading for over thirty-five years, was born in 1835, at Adams- town, Lancaster Co., Pa., where he received his educa- tion in the local public schools and then learned the hatter's trade in his father's factory. He continued in his father's employ until 1860, when the latter formed a co-partnership with him and his brother John, and they traded together under the name of Levi Hendel & Sons for four years. The partnership was then dissolved. and he and his brother John located at St. Lawrence, in Berks county, and there they car- ried on business until January, 1867, when they re- moved to Reading, having erected a plant on Maple street south of Chestnut. Here they traded for three years and then dissolved the partnership. In 1871, he and his brothers. John and Henry B., formed a co- partnership under the name of John Hendel & Bros. and purchased the Wyomissing Woolen Mills, situated on Fifth street below Laurel, which they remodeled and supplied with superior machinery for manufactur- ing wool hats, and he continued in the firm until 1895, when he sold his interest to his brother John.

In 1878, Mr. Hendel erected a wool hat factory along the Wyomissing creek, near Shillington, and he and his brother John carried on business there until 1895 as Hendel Brothers; and in 1886, they erected another wool hat factory along the Cacoosing creek at Mon- tello, which they operated under the name of Hendel Hat Company until 1895; then he purchased the in- terest of his brother in the two plants. The former was converted into a fur hat factory, and it has since been carried on by him and his two sons, trading as George Hendel & Sons, employing about 225 hands. The wool hat business in the Montello factory was continued by him and his two sons as the Hendel Hat Company until 1901, when they dismantled the plant and removed the machinery to a factory at Tenth and Spruce streets, Reading, and here they have continued the manufacture of wool hats under the same name until the present time, employing about one hundred hands.

Mr. Hendel was made a Free Mason in Chandler Lodge, No. 227; and he is a member of DeMolay Com- mandery No. 9, K. T. In politics he has been a Re- publican for fifty years; and in religious matters identified with the Evangelical church since 1864. He was married to Catharine Mohn, daughter of William Mohn and Polly Gerner his wife, by whom he has two sons: John R. and William H. His wife died in 1902. Mr. Hendel's father was Levi Hendel, a hat manufacturer at Adamstown for many years. [See sketch of his older brother John Hendel in this publi- cation.]

Geo. Barnen caron .

565

BIOGRAPHICAL

MAHLON E. WEIDNER, director of the National band are buried at Amityville, where they were Re- Bank of Boyertown, proprietor of the Manatawny formed members of the Amityville Church. Their Flour Mills, in Amity township, and extensive land children were: Mahlon E .; Francis, of Amityville; owner, is a member of an early settled Berks county family. George, who died in 1867; Bertolet, of Pottstown; and John, of Reading. Lewis Weidner was a stanch Repub- lican from the time of the organization of the party.

(I) David Weidner, son of Adam of Oley township, located in Amity township prior to 1752, and settled on a farm now (1909) owned by Matthias Levengood, but which at that time was much more extensive, including the adjoining property now owned by Anthony Al-

(V) Mahlon E. Weidner was born in Amity, Oct. 2, 1844. His schooling was limited, and was all received in the common schools of Amity. From the time he was ten years of age he worked among the neighboring bright. On the Levengood farm was a private burial farmers, and at fifteen he was apprenticed to learn the ground which since 1900 has been under cultivation. Here were buried David Weidner and wife, and some of their children and grandchildren. David Weidner was a farmer by occupation. He married Hannah Moser. In the federal census of 1790 he is recorded as the head of a family consisting of nine persons, as follows: father and mother, one son above sixteen years of age, and two sons below sixteen years of age and four daughters. wheelwright's trade. He had served eighteen months of his time when the Civil war broke out. He enlisted Sept. 30, 1861, at Lebanon, Pa., in Company B, 93d Pa. V. I., under Capt. John E. Arthur (afterward Col. Arthur), and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and served principally in the Sixth Army Corps, While with the regiment (which was one of the fighting regiments from Pennsylvania) he participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Days' Retreat, Malvern Hill, Chantilly, Harper's Ferry, Antietam. Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, Mine Run, and the Wilderness. In the last mentioned battle Mr. Weidner was wounded in the right fore arm (May 5, 1864), and was confined eight months in the Carver General Hospital, Washington, D. C. He was first honorably discharged Dec. 31, 1863, at Halltown, Va., and re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer Jan. 1, 1864, and was promoted for merit to corporal, and was honorably discharged at Carver General Hospital Jan. 27, 1865,. because of wounds received in battle.

(II) Jacob Weidner, son of David, in the federal census report of 1790 is recorded the head of a family consisting of eight persons: the parents, four sons un- der sixteen years of age, and two daughters. Jacob Weidner married Barbara Weidner, and their children were: Peter; Jacob lived in Amity township, where he owned a small farm now the property of a Fry- muth; David m. and lived at Birdsboro (No issue); Susanna m. a Romich, and had a blind daughter, Sus- anna; Elizabeth m. Tobias Fisher; and one whose name is not given. Jacob Weidner owned the farm on the Swamp road in Amity which later became property of John Swavely.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 148

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