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 150

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 150

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Mr. Knabb's mature life was devoted to the interests of Reading, and he was particularly prominent in all public movements which contributed to the spread of education. The Reading Library received his assistance for many years, and for many years he was its president, up to the time of his death. During the Civil war he re- sponded to the call for emergency militia in 1863, and after the battle of Gettysburg he served in Maryland as a member of Company C, 42d P. V. I.

Mr. Knabb cast his first vote in support of the Whig party, and when the Republican party was formed he be- came one of its active supporters, acting for some years as chairman of the county Republican committee. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Chicago Convention from the Berks district, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for Pres- ident. He was postmaster of Reading under that admin- istration, and in 1876 he was Presidential elector from this Congressional district and cast his ballot for President Hayes. He was prominent and influential in party politics for a quarter of a century.

In 1878 Mr. Knabb, with a friend as a companion, made an extended tour through Europe, and his letters, pub- lished from time to time in his paper, were so full of interest that he was urged to publish them in book form, but with his natural modesty he declined. In 1856 he published the first directory of Reading.

Mr. Knabh was twice married. In 1846 he married Ellen C. Andrews, daughter of Machiavel Andrews. Dur- ing the Civil war she was active in caring for soldiers in the local hospital, and was in charge of one of the de- partments of the Sanitary Fair, at Philadelphia. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, and was a great friend of the poor and needy. Her death in 1875 was universally regretted. In 1879 Mr. Knabb married (sec- ond) Ellen M. Jameson, daughter of James and Mary (Worman) Jameson, the former a well-known and suc- cessful merchant at Reading. Mr. Knabb early became a communicant of the Episcopal Church, and served as ves- trymen many years. He held the confidence and good- will of all.

BRUNNER. The Brunner family is an old and honorable one in Berks county, and its representatives in each generation have borne it worthily, among its more prominent members being the late Hon. David B. Brunner, a representative from the Ninth Congress- ional District of Pennsylvania, and his brother William B. Brunner. now of Amity township, and both prom- inent in the educational world.

Peter Brunner, a Palatinate from Erbach, a town noted for its vineyards, in the vicinity of Coblentz, on the Rhine, came to America on the ship "Albany" with 284 other passengers, landing at Philadelphia. Sept. 2, 1749. There were two men on board by the name of Peter Brunner and at the arrival in Philadelphia. one signed his name, and the other's name was written by a clerk. It is not likely that they were related, as they separated after landing. The one who signed his name went, soon after, to New Hanover, Montgom-

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ery Co., Pa., and settled there. He was unmarried when he came over, but must have married shortly after. About 1765 he moved to Douglass township, Berks county, and bought a farm along Iron Stone Creek. The deed was not recorded and the tax lists are missing prior to 1770, at which time his name ap- pears on the tax list. By occupation he was a farmer and weaver, carrying on both for a number of years. He acquired considerable property. He sold his son William, Aug. 4, 1800, thirty-eight acres, sixty-three perches. In 1787 he served as a tax collector in Douglass township. It was customary in those days for families or neighbors to get together and set apart ground for burial purposes. In accordance with this custom, those residing in Douglass township set apart 85} perches about one and one-half miles west of Little Oley for the burial place of Lutherans and Cal- vinists, and the road leading thereto was deeded by John Keely, to Henry Yorgey, Sr., Jacob Keely, Sr., Peter Brunner and John Nagle for the consideration of six pence Dec. 17, 1790. Peter Brunner was a Lutheran, and joined the church at New Hanover, continuing his membership there after his removal to Berks county. The first record of the family is the birth of his first child, Nov. 1, 1752. He was evidently married at New Hanover, but the records are so badly worn it is im- possible to trace his full connection with the church. but New Hanover was a Lutheran center. Peter Brun- ner had three sons and four daughters: Philip, born Nov. 1, 1752, was always a delicate child; William, born Dec. 5, 1753; George, born April 7, 1755; Christina Nagle; Elizabeth Wentzel; Maria Eagle; and Margaret Heilig. On Aug. 4, 1804, Peter Brunner made his will and gave all his property to his wife except sixteen bonds, amounting to 800 pounds. The wife died before was rather corpulent and while assisting in gathering "second crop" was stricken with apoplexy. He was eighty-four years of age when he died in 1812, and he was buried in the Fritz Burying Ground which he had helped to provide.

driving a lively team. When he lived on his farm in Amity, he purchased his groceries and other household supplies in Pottstown, and in winter when nearly seventy years old he would drive to Pottstown in his sleigh, standing up, and always at a good speed. His wife, Christina Witz, whom' he married probably early in 1774, was born Dec. 7, 1755, and died Oct. 12, 1821, and is buried at Pottstown, in the western part of the cemetery adjoining Immanuel Lutheran Church. At this time their only son, George, was living with him. After his wife's death Mr. Brunner desired to sell his farm and move to Catawissa, but he soon abandoned that notion and remained on his farm until his death. About this time an epidemic called "fever" (malaria) and a drought began, extending over the whole Schuyl- kill Valley, and lasting three years, known as "fever years." Many persons died of the disease, others were too sick to work, and on account of the drought the farms scarcely afforded a living. In one of these years William Brunner raised only fifteen bushels of corn. Land became valueless. He had paid one-third of the purchase money. and still owed about $4,400, but the property had depreciated so much that it was worth hardly one-half of the balance of the debt. On March 24, 1823, he sold his farm to John S. Hiester, a lawyer of Reading, for $4,500. Mr. Hiester undoubtedly had a mortgage on the property for that amount, and Mr. Brunner surrendered the farm as it was worth far less than he owed, the transfer being made in settlement of the mortgage. The son George, then rented the farm, and William remained there until he died, Dec. 13, 1823, when he was buried in Pottstown.

George Brunner, only child of William, was born March 6, 1775, in Douglass township. Hle passed his boyhood and youth on his father's farms on Iron Stone Creek. He worked on the farm and in the meantime 1808, and Peter's will was probated Oct. 16, 1812. He' learned the weaver's trade. At the age of twenty-four he drifted into Pottstown (then Pottsgrove), a little country village. He was utterly unlike his father. The latter with his restless disposition was always full of life and energy, but George was quiet, with little energy and ambition, and could be easy and contented in any surroundings. His father endeavored in vain to arouse him. While in Pottstown he met and married about 1804, Rebecca Knauer (for whose grandfather, Knauer- town, Chester county, was named). This was a most singular match. He was very slender while she was inclined to corpulency; he was quiet and slow, while she was positive, quick to discern and was a most success- ful manager of her own affairs. His business ability can be inferred from the story of one of their changes

William Brunner, son of Peter, was born Dec. 5, 1753. in New Hanover, and accompanied his father to Doug- lass township in 1765. Like his father he became a farmer in summer and a weaver in winter. The tax lists are missing for some years previous to 1778, when his name appears. In August, 1808, as stated above, he bought 38 A. 63 P. from his father. In 1805 he was assessed on 128 acres, in 1808 on 26 acres, and in 1811 on 176 acres. He lived in Douglass township, Berks county, until the death of his father in 1812, when he of abode in Pottstown. Houses were scarce, and they sold his farm and moved to Pottsgrove (now Potts- were obliged to move on a certain day. No house had been secured. but after the furniture was loaded on the wagons, he heard of an empty house, and went and rented it. In 1819 he moved from Pottstown with his father to Amity, and when the latter sold the home to Mr. Hiester, George and his wife rented it. They pros- pered slowly, but times brightened and they debated the advisability of repurchasing the farm. Their four children were about grown, and Rebecca planned that the boys were to attend to farming, and sow flax, that she and her daughter would do the house work and spin, and George would do the weaving. This succeeded so well that in 1827 the farm was bought back for $2,300, about one-third of the original price. Thus they con- tinued to thrive slowly. In spite of George's quiet ac- ceptance of conditions there were some points on which he was adamant. When Rebecca's relations, who lived in Chester county and spoke nothing but English, came to visit he stayed away from the house. While he never expressed any displeasure at the visitors he was exceedingly shy of English-speaking people, never venturing so much as "yes" and "no" in that language, and as soon as the "besuch" were gone, he was natural again and much relieved. His wife was a woman who enjoyed company, and was a good talker and very pleasant to meet. town), where he continued to farm and weave. He was not satisfied with his place and surroundings at Pottsgrove, and one' of his causes of discontent was that he thought his farm was not in the range in which the rains generally moved. He discovered that the people north of Monocacy Hill had more rain than in his locality, and he also noticed that on some occa- sions the rain clouds came from a northwesterly direc- tion, and seemed to strike against Monocacy Hill, and separate, bringing showers to the people east and west of the Hill. He determined to sell and move north of Monocacy Hill where the people were blessed with a greater rain supply. Accordingly he sold his farm, and bought two tracts of John Kinze, about one and one- half miles north of Monocacy Hill for 2,500 pounds $6,666 2-3), Pennsylvania currency, June 29, 1819. The larger tract, owned by Mrs. Henrietta Hess in 1895. contains 92 A. 83 P., while the other was a tract of woodland a mile south of the one just mentioned. Wil- liam Brunner was a man of restless nature. Taking a fancy to a farm, he thought that place the only place he could be happy, and as soon as he found himself the owner he saw another place still more desirable. As a result he made no less than eleven sales and purchases. He was fond of good horses, and took great pride in

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

When his son David was married and purchased a managed the carpentering business. At the age of sev- property south of the home farm, the late owner claimed enty Mr. Brunner had a severe attack of dropsy, but recovered and for four years enjoyed fairly good health. He began to fail then, however, and died two years later, Jan. 2, 1884. One after another the child- ren had married and left home, except Amos, who stayed with his parents, and after they were gone bought the homestead. In 1833 Mr. Brunner married Elizabeth Bachman, who was born March 26, 1814. and died Jan. 21, 1896, daughter of Daniel Bachman (born 1786) of Ruscombmanor township. Mrs. Brunner was a kind-hearted, industrious woman, who did everything to keep her home bright and pleasant. The evening with the family was the happy time of the day, and was devoted to reading, study and the good times that a jolly congenial family thoroughly enjoys. There were seven children in the family: Mary; David B .; John B. taught ten terms of school, and is now a carpenter and builder in Reading; Frederick B., taught five terms of school. and died at Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, a Senior, in 1862; William B .; Amos B .; and George B. taught twelve terms of school and is the carpenter at the Boyertown Burial Casket Factory. a quantity of hay that had evidently been included in the sale. threatening to haul it away. To do this he would have been obliged to go through Mr. George Brunner's farm. Mr. Brunner had a shot-gun, though he never had the courage to fire it off. He resolved that if any person attempted to drive through his yard with a hay wagon he would arm himself with a pitchfork, guard his gate. The hay was not molested. Mr. Brun- ner was a strict and attentive Lutheran, belonging at Amityville, but though he owned a good carriage he would never ride in it. walking all the way to church, and usually was passed by the family at Weaverstown, and as regularly refused the invitation to ride. In politics he was a Democrat, and was often an enthus- iastic worker at the polls on election day. Though not a strong man he enjoyed good health, and died of the infirmities of old age June 20, 1855. His widow lived with her daughter Mrs, Moyer at Baumstown, where she died of dropsy Nov. 12, 1859. Both are buried at Amityville. They had four children: (1) Mary married John Moyer and lived at Baumstown. (2) John is mentioned in full below. (3) Samuel was a stone mason and worked on his father's farm; he cared little for books, and made all his calculations mentally. He married Rebecca Yorgey and they had a son, George, who now lives at Pottstown. (4) David Brunner, third son of George and Rebecca, was left in Samuel's care as a child, but wandered off, fell in a ditch, and but for the prompt action of his mother would have been drowned. He later owned property south of his father, but selling this moved to Fox Hill, where his barn burned. This he rebuilt, sold the property and settled in Amityville. He had great powers of endurance. He was of kindly disposition, and rarely was angered. His wife, Caroline Yorgey, had no education, but was a great talker. They had no children.

John Brunner, eldest son of George and Rebecca, was born Aug. 23, 1807, at Pottsgrove. In 1819 the family moved to Amity, where he worked on the farm. He was well educated for the times. From a Mr. Goodman in Oley he learned the carpenter's trade, and also the wheelwright's and millwright's trades, working as a journeyman until 1833. In the spring he moved to Greshville, and began his trade on his own account. After living there two years he purchased his farm of George Dry for $700 (1837). There in 1840 he built the house, and in 1848 the barn. He was a strong and vigorous man, and was industrious and progressive. The handling of heavy timbers and fitting together the frame work of a large barn was tedious and laborious, and he decided all this could be avoided if the fram- ing was done on scientific principles. The braces and oblique pieces were the difficulties, so he took his arith- metic and looked up square root, and in a short time he learned to frame the short and long braces. He was the most scientific carpenter in the country, and his reputation spread far and wide. He was not only skilled in carpentry, but could do fine and artistic work, though this was tedious and did not appeal to his more energetic nature. In his younger days he made a cymbal which in form, finish and ornamentation compared very favorably with those made by skillful manufacturers. He was a man of good judgment, and his opinions were formed after mature deliberation. In his family he was a strict disciplinarian and he was himself knew the value of an education, and he gave his children all that could be obtained in the common schools, the term then being but four months in the winter. and later he sent them to Freeland Academy, now Ursinus College, and two went to College, the father helping them all he could financially and other- wise. In religion he was a Lutheran and he was a regular church goer, and in politics he was a staunch Democrat. When sixty years old he abandoned farm- ing, his son Amos taking care of that, and William

HON. DAVID B. BRUNNER was born in Amity town- ship, March 7, 1835. At the age of twelve after attending the common schools he was apprenticed to learn his father's trade, and at this he worked until he was nineteen. Feeling desirous of a higher educa- tion he prepared himself for college with such as- sistance as he could procure from teachers of the neighborhood, and in the meantime he taught school. After a short course at Freeland Seminary he entered Dickinson College, in 1856, and taking the classical course, graduated in 1860. He then opened a private school in Amityville, which he conducted for two years. In 1862 he purchased the Reading Classical Academy, and conducted the school with the except- ion of short intervals until 1888, under the names of Reading Scientific Academy, and Reading Scientific and Business College. In 1869 he was elected superintend- ent of the common schools of the county, and filled the office with great acceptability for six years, be- coming well known throughout the State as an edu- cator. In 1880-81 he served as superintendent of the schools of Reading. In addition to educational work, Prof. Brunner took great interest in mineralogy, and in Indian relics. In 1881 he published "Indians of Berks County." a reliable account of the aborigines. He collected many relics and at one time had the finest collection in the State. He was a frequent con- tributor to newspapers on subjects in which he was interested, and he lectured in all parts of the city and county on scientific subjects. In 1877 he published an elementary work on English Grammar, which had a wide sale. He was a Lutheran in religious belief.

In 1861 Prof. Brunner married Amanda L. Rhoads, of Amity township. They had five children: Daniel E .. who died in 1888; Elizabeth; Edgar A .; Mary ; and Dr. Henry P., of No. 126 Oley street, Reading.

very exact about sending his children to school. He of quiet and retiring disposition, and was more of a

In politics Prof. Brunner was an ardent Democrat, and on the subject of the tariff held advanced views. On Aug. 29, 1888, he was nominated after a bitter con- test over Daniel Ermentrout for member of Congress from the Ninth Congressional District of Pennsyl- vania. The confidence imposed he kept sacred, and he proved to be a remarkably able and useful repre- sentative and in 1890 was re-elected. He was a man student than a politician. As a speaker he expressed readily what he had to say, but laid no claim to the art ot oratory. He was impressive but had no great amount of personal magnetism. He made friends, however, whom he kept. and whose respect his Christ- ian manhood retained. He was a conscientious official, a true patriot and noble man. He died Nov. 29, 1903, and was buried in the Brunner lot at Amityville.

WILLIAM B. BRUNNER, of Amity township, was born on the Brunner homestead, July 31, 1842. His

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early intellectual training he received at home, and in the common schools of the district which he attended altogether thirty-three months. Later he attended Amity Academy for fifteen days, then taught by his brother, Prof. David B. Brunner, county superintend- ent and congressman. In 1859 when he was seventeen years old he was examined and passed a very credit- able examination for teaching. He taught his first term in Brecknock township, then one in Oley, one in Muhlenberg, one in Ontelaunee and seven in Amity. At the age of fourteen he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has ever since followed during the summer months, in his section, except for two years that he lived in Reading. He employed a number of men regularly and erected nearly all the houses and barns in his neighborhood during that time. He was active and was a master mechanic. Since the spring of 1875 he has lived on his present place, which he bought from the Daniel Lee estate. It consists of thirty- five acres of fertile land, located on the State road in Amity. Mr. Brunner is tall and erect, and of com- manding presence, and he is a fluent, easy speaker.

On March 2, 1869, Mr. Brunner married Amanda Francis, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Koch) Francis, of Amity township. To this union were born four children, namely: William Benton, who in 1896 graduated from the Keystone State Normal School, and taught school in Amity for a number of years, mar- ried Catharine Kline, of Reading, and they live in Harrisburg, where he is engaged in the merchandise business; Anna, the eldest, m. Eli R. Snyder, and died Oct. 12, 1895, aged twenty-five years, ten months, twen- ty-seven days; Martha taught school five terms of school, and m. M. L. Botts, a railway mail clerk and merchant at Harrisburg; and Samuel Anson m. Annie Graeff, and is a grocer at Harrisburg. Mr. Brunner and his family are Lutheran members of the church at Amityville. In politics he is a Democrat, and for six years served as school director.

AUGUSTUS R. ANDERSON, President of the Board of County Commissioners and a representative citizen of Mohnton, was born in Washington town- ship, Berks county, March 21, 1865, son of Peter S. and Catherine (Ritter) Anderson.

The Anderson family to which Augustus R. belongs is of Irish origin, and is descended from James, a native of Ireland, who came to this country before the Revolu- tion. He became a clerk in the Oley furnace and forge and is supposed to have boarded at "Woodchopper City." The little colony known by that name was located in Earl township, and sprang into existence about the middle of the eighteenth century.

James Anderson (2) was born in "Woodchopper City" in 1794, and lived to his ninetieth year, passing away in 1883. By trade, he was a shoemaker, but also farmed and was the owner of a tract of forty-four acres in Washington township. He married Miss Re- becca Spohn, the daughter of Casper and Rebecca Spohn, and to their union children were born as fol- lows: Hettie m. Gideon Hartline, a farmer at Shanes- ville; Matilda m. Daniel Mosser, of Reading; Sophia m. Henry Frunheiser, a farmer in Washington Town- ship; Rebecca m. Jacob Seachrist, who moved to Ful- ton county, Ohio; Catherine m. Augustus Nagel, of Gilbertsville; James, a farmer and shoemaker of Wash- ington Township, was twice married; Jeremiah, of New Berlinville, Pa., m. Miss Catherine Muthart; Peter S .; John, twin brother of Peter, a blacksmith at Shanesville, was twice married; and Jacob died aged twenty-two.

there, except for a period of six years when he lived with his son Augustus at Mohnton. On Oct. 16, 1857, he married Catherine, daughter of Isaac and Anna (Mosser) Ritter, and they became the parents of: James, of Boyertown; a victim of the Boyertown calamity of Jan. 13, 1908, m. Miss Laura Reppert; Henry died aged nineteen; Audora, deceased, m. Harry Levan; Lizzie m. Albert Reifsnyder; Jacob R. m. Miss Sallie Foust, and he conducts a secondhand furniture and auction house at No. 229 North Ninth Street, Reading, Pa .; Augustus R. m. Miss Rosa H. Snyder; Anna L. and Wellington both died during the "spotted tever" epidemic, and were buried in the same coffin; lda died of the same disease two weeks later; Irwin m. Miss Norah Kline, and is a barber in Reading, Pa .; Laura m. Adam Schnabel of Reading, Pa .; Edwin m. Miss Emma Kelley, of Read- ing, Pa .; and Kate m. James Bailey of Reading. 1

Augustus R. Anderson was sent to the public schools during his boyhood, but left at an early age to go to work, and for five years was employed as clerk at the "Union House" in Reading, the beginning of his associa- tion with hotel life. The next four years he was in charge of the "Oley Line Hotel" at Lime Kiln, and in 1888 he engaged for a time as clerk in a hat store, and then was employed by a tea and coffee house. In 1891

he was ready to return to the hotel business and accord- ingly leased the "Mohnsville (now Mohnton) Hotel" from Frank F. Mosser for two years. Results proved entirely satisfactory and April 27, 1893, Mr. Anderson bought the place and at once proceeded to remodel it, adding all the latest improvements. The house has twenty-eight rooms, is well managed and regularly pat- ronized by a large proportion of the traveling public.

Mr. Anderson is essentially a public-spirited man and has done much to add to the convenience and pleasure of his fellow citizens. One of his progressive enter- prises was to purchase the Body estate at Mohnsville (now Mohnton), held at a high figure, and to erect on that site the upper station at Mohnton, a great accommodation. Just opposite this he built in the spring of 1906 the Mohnton Auditorium, standing near the trolley tracks. This building, 50x100 feet, is finished throughout in yellow pine and hard wood lumber, with all modern appointments, and is used for sociables, band rehearsals, basket ball, poultry shows, entertain- ments of all kinds. In 1907 there was added at a con- siderable expense an artistically equipped stage. Polit- ically Mr. Anderson has made himself well known in Berks county, working in the' Democratic ranks. He has served as township committeeman, county and state delegate, acting in the latter capacity at the convention where Hon. Robert E. Pattison was nom- inated for governor. In 1904 he was a candidate for director of the poor, and polled a large vote.

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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 150

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