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 156
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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the vicinity of Regentsburg. while following up the and at the age of fourteen, the Allentown Seminary, enemy and rashly crossing the Danube at a dangerous now Muhlenberg College. Against his own inclination, place, he was drowned in the year 1145. His four sons followed the footsteps of their father and three remained in the many violent battles they fought. The fourth and youngest, named Ferdinand Koser, joined the Crusades and returning he found most of his prop- erty at Saltzburg, destroyed. He sold the rest at a small price and moved to Augsburg and from there to Donauworth, where he married Dorethe Meininger, and on his death, A. D. 1203, he left one son Karl Koser. He married Elenora Schippen of Innsbruck, and left several sons, whose descendants were decim- ated by famine, pestilence and the sword during the Thirty Years' war, so that (according to the genealogi- cial tables at Vienna. Vol. III, Page 202). in the year 1654. only two remained. These two were distantly related and the one, Albert Koser, was a magistrate or judge (Schultheiss Zu Soflingen) at Ulm, and his descend- ants were scattered in Upper Swabia and Switzerland. The other one was John George Koser, who was primus or principal (Kloisterfocht) of a monastery at Frankfurt-on-the-Main. In the middle of the eighteenth century his descendants are found at Frankfurt and also in other places on the Main, and the Rhine. and in various circumstances.
Flora Anna Koser had one brother, Daniel, who died March 18, 1821, in his ninth year. She was born March 2, 1822, on the original Koser homestead, in Greenwich township. She had one sister, Hannah, born July 12. 1824, married to Joseph Dry, of Drysville. She raised a family of ten children. and is now living at Reading, Pa., in her eighty-fifth year.
Isaac K. Strasser and his wife, Flora Anna. were the parents of eleven children as follows: (1) Charles Koser, born July 19, 1843, died in infancy. (2) Dr. Thomas Augustus was born Dec. 24, 1845. (3) Anna Familia Caroline, born Sept. 23, 1847, is the de- ceased wife of William Weaver, a traveling salesman (left no issue). (4) Sarah Sabina C., born Oct. 27. 1849. (first) m. Eugene D. Bieber, of Kutztown (had chil- dren: Rev. Herbert Walter, a Presbyterian minister at Bradford, Pa., and Stella Louisa, m. to Mr. Robert Alsover, of Big Stone Gap, Va.), and (second) Charles Messersmith, deceased (children: George Strasser Messersmith and Lieutenant Robert Eugene Messer- smith of the U. S. Marine service). (5) Horace Wil- liam, born March 23, 1852, a railroad engineer and former clerk in a mercantile house. died in Reading in October, 1885. He m. Mary Scheidy, and left no chil- dren. (6) Leander Gustave, born Feb. 27, 1854, died in infancy. (7) Ellen Esther, born Feb. 10. 1855, died at Kutztown in July, 1876, aged over twenty-one years. (8) Clara Louisa, born March 28, 1857, m. Levi S. Mabry, of Mertztown, at one time a justice of the peace and deputy treasurer and later Register of Wills of Berks county. They have one son Roy, a graduate of Keystone State Normal School. and of Ursinus Col- lege. (9) Annie Lydia, born Nov. 8, 1858, m. Nathan S. Schaeffer, a merchant of Fleetwood, and they have one daughter Helen. (10) Elizabeth Alice, born Sept. 10. 1861, m. Josiah Koch. a contractor and builder of Reading, and died the mother of Harry, Elsie. Floyd and Evelyn. (11) Avila Maria, born April 22, 1864, died in infancy. Isaac K. Strasser, father of above, died at Fleetwood. June, 1897, aged seventy-nine years and ten months. His wife Flora Anna died in August, 1896, aged seventy-four years. Both are resting in Hope Cemetery, at Kutztown.
DR. THOMAS AUGUSTUS STRASSER was born at Kutz- town, Berks Co., Pa., on Dec. 24. 1845. From boyhood he loved books and Nature, and evinced a desire for study. preferring the field of Science. His ambition was to obtain a classical or higher university education but circumstances were not favorable as he was the oldest of a large family. He felt it incumbent to assist his parents rather than impose a burden. He regularly attended the public and private schools at Kutztown
but to comply with his father's wishes, he served as a clerk in the store of G. Y. Kemp and Jacob Sunday from the Spring of 1861 to the Fall of 1862. At this time a business life being distasteful and not conducive to study, he resolved to enter upon teaching as a step- ping-stone to a learned profession. He secured the Lockridge school. Longswamp township, and in the spring of 1863 returning home he continued his studies at Maxatawny and Fairview Seminary (now Keystone State Normal School), until fall. when he taught two successive terms in the Kutztown public schools, in the meantime continuing his studies at Fairview Seminary during the summer and private tutoring while teaching. In the spring of 1865 he entered the office of Drs. Ger- asche and Trexler as a medical student and in the fol- lowing October matriculated in and attended the Med- ical Deparment of the University of Pennsylvania, session 1865-66. Returning to Kutztown in the Spring of this year he opened a private school having 75 to 85 pupils on the roll, continuing the same time his medical studies with his preceptors. In October, 1866, he re-en- tered the University and took his degree in Medicine 011 March 14, 1867. The following May he located at Pleasant Corner, Lehigh county; the field being con- tracted and isolated and not adapted for a permanent home he returned to his native place to await the op- portunity of a more promising field. On Oct. 21, 1868, he located at Millerstown, Lehigh county (now Macun- gie), where by January, 1869, he had succeeded in establishing himself in an extensive and lucrative practice. and here he remained for a period of seventeen years, having a career of continued success. This success he ascribes in a large measure to the advice of his mother: Remember the poor, be kind and considerate, the Lord is their paymaster. During this time he succeeded Dr. William Herbst, of Trexlertown, as physician and sur- geon to the Lehigh County Almshouse and hospital, serving nine years. In 1870 he became a member of Lehigh Lodge, No. 326, F. & A. M., Trexlertown, and other organizations. He served fourteen years as a school director of Macungie. The most important events here were his marriage and the birth of his three children. On May 17. 1870, Dr. Strasser united himself in hymeneal bonds with Alawilda Catharine Elizabeth Greasemer, only daughter of Dr. Abraham Greasemer, a dentist of Allentown and his wife Sarah (Stettler) and sister of their only son, Asher B., a physician and dentist. Dr. Greasemer was born in Hereford town- ship, Nov. 4. 1822, and is still living. His wife Sarah was born December. 1826, near Ziegels church, Weis- enburg. Lehigh county, and died Aug. 7, 1907.
The children of Dr. and Mrs. Strasser are: (1) Charles William Thomas, born March 22. 1871. is a graduate of Allentown high school, Muhlenberg Col- lege, attended Mt. Airy Lutheran Theological Seminary and graduated from Divinity Department, Yale Univ- sity. He has served over ten years the Hamilton charge, Monroe county. He was married to Minnie Har- man, of the same place. (2) Robert Eugene. born June 5. 1873, a successful physician at Reading, is mentioned farther on. (3) Ellen Esther. born Aug. 8, 1876, a graduate of the Reading high school, is the wife of H. M. Albright, a manufacturer and wholesale shoe merchant, at No. 335 Penn street, Reading. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Strasser Albright.
A Reading medical practitioner expressing an urgent desire to retire from practice, induced Dr. Strasser to buy the house at No. 210 North Sixth street. on condi- tion that they enter into partnership for a short time until he introduced him into the practice, when he was to relinquish in his favor. Accordingly Dr. Strasser moved from Macungie to the above place on Oct. 5. 1885, but the latter part of the above contract never having been fulfilled. this move proved neither agree- able nor profitable, but entailed a great financial sac- rifice on the part of Dr. Strasser. In October. 1888,
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he moved to No. 31 South Ninth street, and attended special courses on eye, ear, nose and throat diseases at the Philadelphia and New York Polyclinic and post- graduate schools. His practice steadily increased and in April, 1891, he located at No. 914 Penn street, and in May, 1899, he moved to No. 931 Penn street, where hav- ing relinquished general practice he still continues the treatment of eye, ear, nose and throat and chronic diseases.
Dr. Strasser is now past sixty-three years and is still a lover of books and nature and although his youthful aspirations for a higher university training were not realized he has more than compensated for it by his studious life and a library of standard authors. As a relaxation from his professional duties, he has engaged in original research in signalling through space, direct conversions of the energy of coal (crystallized sunlight) into electricity, local and long-distance electric steth- oscopy for diagnosis of diseases of heart and lungs, transportation of electric power, navigation of space, heating and lighting, aids of hearing for the deaf, means of a literature for the blind, the phonograph and other fascinating and interesting subjects. In 1899 he dis- covered the principle of long-distance telegraphy and telephony, by means of loading the lines thereby nen- tralizing the electrostatic capacity with the electro-mag- netic induction and sending along the wires distortion- less waves suffering equal attenuation. He was antic- ipated by Prof. Pupin, of Columbia University, who realized over one million dollars from the idea. In the spring of 1900 he designed a self-restoring or auto- matic eye or ear for the detection of wireless tele- graphic and telephonic waves, and later found it was used in the Italian navy and was the coherer used by Signor Marconi to receive the first wireless signal across the Atlantic on Dec. 12. 1901. He has since con- tinued the work and his experiments, and invented transmitters, repeaters and receivers embodying an en- tire new and broad principle for telephony, with and without wires, and foresees the possibility at a day not far distant of talking across the Atlantic and the Con- tinent as easily as we talk to New York or Chicago.
Dr. Strasser, having considered through life that the acquisition of knowledge for the betterment of society or race and the conscientious discharge of the duties of his self-sacrificing profession are paramount, found no time for the acquisition of wealth.
was elected the following fall, being his first candidacy and the winner over five competitors. It was his lot to officiate at the Boyertown fire which occurred Jan. 13, 1908, and where 171 lives perished. The Doctor is a close student and has associated himself with the var- ious medical organizations of his county and State, in- cluding the Lehigh County Medical Society, the Read- ing Medical Society and the Pennsylvania State Med- ical Association. The Doctor's offices are located at No. 1024 Elm Street, where he also has his home. In politics he is a Democrat.
Dr. Strasser married Miss Laura E. Dreibelbis, daugh- ter of Dr. Samuel L. Dreibelbis, and one child has been born to this union, a daughter, Hazel.
DAVID MERKEL. One of the well-known names in Berks county is that of Merkel. The family has been connected with the history of this section of the State for many years, a worthy representative being the subject of this review. David Merkel was born in Longswamp township, Berks county, May 3, 1837. He was the son of Peter Merkel, and the grandson of Peter Merkel.
Peter Merkel, the grandfather, is supposed to have been a native of Germany, leaving that country with his parents when quite young. He married Christiana Weiss, and together they made their home in the vicinity of Fogelsville, in Macungie township, where they lived for many years. They both lie in the old cemetery at Zeigler's church in Lehigh county. Their family numbered five children: Peter (2); John, who lived in Weisenburg township, and whose only son was named Charles; Jacob, who also had a son Charles, and whose home was near Kline's Corner, in Maxataw- ny township; Jonas, of Longswamp township, whose children were-John, Willoughby and Mary; Daniel, also of Longswamp township, who had three children -Nathan, Eliza and Hannah.
Peter Merkel (2), son of Peter, and father of David, was born in Macungie, Lehigh county, Sept. 23. 1796. His occupation was that of farming, which he followed all of his life. A fine tract of seventy acres of land lying on the line between Maxatawny and Longswamp townships was kept under . cultivation. Besides his farm work he took great interest in the affairs of the community, and was also active in the work of Zeig- ler's Church, being deacon and elder of that organiza- tion. Peter Merkel's wife was Catharine Walbert, daughter of John Walbert. . She was born Sept. 14, 1801, and died March 27, 1865, aged sixty-three years, six months, thirteen days. Her husband died two years later, on May 30th at the age of seventy years, eight months, seven days. Both are buried at Zeig- ler's Church in Lehigh county. To Mr. and Mrs. Mer- kel seven children were born, four daughters and three sons: Hettie died unmarried; Caroline m. David Zeig- ler; Eliza m. Isaac Mayer; Jolin, a resident of Maxa- tawny township, had children-Albert, William, Har- vey, Cassie, Peter, and four who died in childhood; Mary, born Dec. 24, 1834, m. Thomas Warmkessel; David is referred to later; Henry, living near Cedar- ville, has six children living-Frank, Harry, Peter, Ed- win, Eliza and Hettie.
DR. ROBERT EUGENE STRASSER began his education at the common schools of Macungie and Reading, to which city he had come with his father when a boy, and later attended the high school. He took up the reading of medicine with his father, following with courses in the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, and the Baltimore Medical University, from which latter he graduated in 1894. After that he did post-graduate work at the University of Vermont, graduating therefrom in 1895. and Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, grad- uating from the latter in 1896. While there he was on the hospital staff as clinical assistant in the eye and surgical department of Jefferson College Hospital. He commenced practice in Lehigh county in July, 1896, re- maining at his father's old location in Macungie until Sept. 28, 1898, when he came to Reading, becoming a David Merkel spent the first eighteen vears of his life on the farm, where he became proficient in all work pertaining to an agricultural life. Here was ac- quired the strength of mind and muscle that was to become such a factor in his future life work of rail- roading. He also learned the trade of saddler which he followed for four years, when he resided near Farm- ington, Lehigh county. At the age of twenty-two he became an employe of the East Catasauqua & Fogels- ville Railroad, and four years later he was given the place of section foreman, retaining this position for member of the staff of Reading Hospital. where he served for a period of five years. Meantime he had entered upon general practice as assistant to his suc- cessful father; and his increasing practice made it ne- cessary for him to resign from his hospital duties at the end of that time. Dr. Strasser is a general prac- titioner, and has been very successful in his treatment of many complicated cases, giving most careful atten- tion to his patients, sparing himself in no way when life or health are in the balance. Thus he has won the confidence and affection of the community. and he more than forty years, or until two years before his enjoys as much practice as he is able to handle. He death. The long service to the railroad entitled him was nominated as candidate for Coroner of Berks to the well-earned pension which he was receiving at county on June 5, 1906, his thirty-third birthday, and the time of his death. Aug. 31, 1906. at his home one
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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
- mile south of Rothrocksville, in Maxatawny township, where he had made his residence since 1868. Here on a fine tract of nine acres with a substantial brick resi- dence he lived all of the time that could be spared from the exacting duties required by such an important public utility as a railroad. He was a Reformed mem- ber of the Maxatawny Zion Church, in the adjoining graveyard of which he is buried.
On Oct. 5, 1861. Mr. Merkel married Sarah Ma- tilda, daughter of Peter Schwoyer, of Fritztown, Spring township. They became the parents of eight children: Catharine, born Oct. 2, 1862, m. Frank Moyer, of Hoffmansville, Pa .; George M., born Feb. 3, 1864, is a farmer in Richmond township; Louisa R., born Oct. 20, 1865, m. Charles Levan, of Maxa- tawny; Anna Esther, born Nov. 2, 1867, m. Martin Good, of New York City; Laura E., born Aug. 31. 1870. m. James Guldin, a farmer of Maxatawny town- ship; Robert W., born 1874, died 1889; Lillie A., born June 28, 1877, m. John Kemp; Caroline, born 1883, died 1886.,
ELMER F. REED, senior member of the firm of Reed & Kurtz, restaurant proprietors at No. 433 Penn street, Reading, was born on the old Reed homestead in Marion township. Berks county, Feb. 8, 1876, son of Franklin B. Reed, and grandson of Daniel Reed.
Franklin B. Reed was born one mile north of Stouchsburg, Dec. 23, 1839, and died Jan. 16, 1905. He was reared to farming, and he followed that occupation all of his life on the Marion township homestead. He owned a tract of forty-five acres there, and this tract was crossed by the old Union canal and Tulpehocken creek. He was a man of progressive spirit, and for eleven years was a school director in his township. He was a prominent member of Reed church, at Stouchsburg. which had been founded by earlier mem- bers of the family and several of their pioneer neighbors in the Tulpehocken settlement in 1723. He served as a deacon and elder, and also as treasurer of the church. He was always active in public affairs, and was one of the useful men in his community. He was an antiquar- ian, and he had a large collection of Indian relics, in- cluding arrow heads, tomahawks, hatchets, skinners, giggers, etc., all now in the possession of his son, John A. Mr. Reed married Rebecca E. Reed, born Aug. 25, 1841, daughter of John S. and Rebecca (Eckert) Reed. She now lives among her children. Three children were born of this union, namely: William, born in 1864, was drowned in the Union canal at the age of seven years; John A., born Oct. 3, 1871. married Annie Sholl; and Elmer F.
Elmer F. Reed received his education in the district schools, and later attended Stouchsburg Academy, then under the direction of Rev. John Klingler and Prof. Harry Posey. He was brought up on the home farm, working there until he was nineteen years of age. In 1895 he came to Reading and entered the em- ploy of Ezra Wenrich, proprietor of Wienrich's restau- rant below Sixth street on Penn. now at Penn and Seventh streets. There Mr. Reed worked for about four years, gaining a very thorough and practical knowledge of the business. In 1899 he began for him- self at No. 545 Penn street. and for three years car- ried on the restaurant there with great success. In 1902 he formed a partnership with Adam Kurtz. under the firm name of Reed & Kurtz. and they have since con- ducted the restaurant at No. 433 Penn street. They are well known all over the county, and have a very. large trade, paying particular attention to working men. They employ seven waiters, and the partners personally look after the business.
Mr. Reed is a member of Camp No. 560, P. O. S. of A., at Reading: and the Liberty Fire Company. He is executive ability in his management of the two hun- a member of Reed's Lutheran Church at Stouchsburg. In politics he is a Republican.
On March 3, 1907, Mr. Reed married Hermie Hoffa. daughter of Jacob and Mary (Schoener) Hoffa, of
Marion township. Two children have been born to them, namely: Earl Valentine and Theodore Roosevelt.
ADAM KURTZ, junior member of the firm of Reed & Kurtz, . proprietors of a popular restaurant at No. 433 Penn street, Reading, Pa .. was born Ang. 21, 1877, in Marion township, Berks Co., Pa., son of William and Seleca (Kintzer) Kurtz.
William Kurtz was born March 22, 1834, in Marion township, where the Kurtz family was established early in the eighteenth century. All of his life has been spent in agricultural pursuits on the fine 100- acre farm on which he now resides, and on which is situated an old two and one-half story stone barn, a part of which was erected by Johann Jacob Losch, in about 1753, in which year he also erected the old his- toric house, which was used as an Indian fort in Col- onial days. William Kurtz was married (first) May 12, 1863, to Amanda Grimes, who died in 1865, in her twenty-first year, leaving two children: Lizzie, m. to David Althouse, of Womelsdorf; and Sallie, m. to William Boyer, of Heidelberg township. Mr. Kurtz's second marriage occurred in 1867, when he was united with Seleca Kintzer, daughter of Isaac and Rebecca Kintzer, and there were two sons born to this marriage: Adam; and Samuel, born March 2, 1881, m. Lottie Trautman, by whom he has had two children, Mildred and George W.
Adam Kurtz received his education in the public schools of his native township, and his youth was spent in agricultural pursuits on the old home farm. Deciding that there was a brighter future offered him in the city, he came to Reading in 1895, and for a time was in the employ of E. S. Wenrich, at No. 545 Penn street, but in June, 1902, with Elmer F. Reed as a partner, he established the present busi- ness. the connection having continued to the present time. The restaurant caters especially to the work- ing man, and is one of the most popular of its kind in the city, gratifying success having attended the partners' efforts. In fraternal circles, Mr. Kurtz is connected with Washington Camp No. 560. P. O. S. of A .: Muhlenberg Lodge. No. 1082. I. O. O. F .. both of Reading; Chandler Lodge. No. 227, F. & A. M .; Reading Lodge of Perfection, 14th degree; Williams- port Consistory. 32d degree. and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of Liberty Fire Company. He and his family belong to First Reformed Church.
On June 1, 1903, Mr. Kurtz was married to Bessie Horn, eldest daughter of Robert and Mary (Reider) Horn, of Reading. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz reside in their comfortable home at No. 513 Weiser street.
ROBERT H. DENNISON, Sr .. now retired, who- was master painter for the Philadelphia & Reading system, with headquarters at Reading. Pa .. is one of the best known men in his line in this city, as well as a highly respected citizen. Although a native of another country he has given his allegiance to his adopted land and proved himself a public-spirited, progressive and intelligent citizen. He was born in 1862, at Kingston, Canada. and was but a child when his parents removed to Albany, N. Y .. and in the pub- lic schools of that city he obtained his education.
His schooling completed. Mr. Dennison apprenticed himself to learn the trade of carriage painter. a call- ing he industriously and successfully followed until 1887, when he was offered a position in the painting department of the New York Central Railroad. This he accepted and held until 1896, when he became mas- ter painter for the Philadelphia & Reading Company. This position he continued to fill until his retirement to the satisfaction of all concerned. He showed great dred men under him, his work covering several di- visions of the system, and he won the regard and respect of his subordinates as well as his superiors, a state of affairs very essential to success.
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In 1887 Mr. Dennison was married to Miss Margaret enlistment of men. He himself was commissioned Acker. of Albany, N. Y., and to this union has been born one son, Robert H., who is employed in the mechanical department of the Philadelphia & Read- ing Company. The pleasant home and comfortable residence of Mr. Dennison is located on the Kutz- town Road, Hyde Park. Mr. Dennison is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to St. John's Lodge, No. 435, F. & A. M., of Reading; Reading Chapter, No. 237, R. A. M .; Reading Commandery, No. 42, K. T .; Philadelphia Consistory, No. 320, of Philadelphia; a charter member of the Lodge of Per- fection, of Reading; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to Reading Lodge of Elks. Mr. and Mrs. Dennison are members of the Episcopal Church.
CHARLES A. SMITH, the well known contractor of Reading, who resides at No. 313 North Ninth street. was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 10, 1856, son of Joseph T., whose father was a farmer of Adams coun- ty.
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