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 158

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 158

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Jacob Leader, grandfather of Adam H., was born Bern township, Berks county, and later to Reading, where he died.

Jacob Leader, son of Jacob, was born in Bern town- ship in 1838, and in 1850 located in Reading, where the rest of his life was spent at the molder's trade. He was a stanch Republican, but never cared for pub- lic office. His religious belief was that of the Cov-

On July 6, 1894, Adam Latshaw was married to Christina (or Christie). F. Bower, daughter of John and Christina Fredericka (Bower) Bower, both na- tives of Wittenberg. Germany. who emigrated to America, landing at Castle Garden July 4, 1881. Mr. enant Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was a trustee. Mr. Leader married Sarah Herb, born in 1840, and four children were born to this union, namely: Adam H .; Sadie M .. m. to Irwin B. Homan. of Reading; and J. Elmer and Harry R., machinists of Reading.

and Mrs. Bower have five children; Maria Catharine, Christina Fredericka. Wilhelm Frederick, Rosanna Barbara and Martin Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Latshaw have one daughter, Rosiena Helen, an accomplished musician who began playing the piano when only seven years of age, and who is now attending the public schools.

Adam H. Leader received his education in the pub- lic and high schools of Reading, graduating in 1884 from the latter at the age of seventeen years. He learned surveying, and was engaged therein for about seven years, at the end of which time he entered the real estate field, in which he has been eminently suc- cessful. In 1889 Mr. Leader formed a partnership with Mr. H. H. Roland, and continued this business for a period of twelve years.

HOWARD LATSHAW, son of John (3) and brother of Adam, was born in Spring township Sept. 15, 1870, and was educated in the township schools. He was but thirteen years of age when he learned the hatting trade with G. W. Alexander & Co., with whom he served a full apprenticeship of three and one-half years. He continued in the employ of this firm until March 1, 1890, when he engaged in the grocery busi- Mr. Leader's political affiliations are with the Re- publican party, in the ranks of which he has been a stanch and steady standard bearer. In 1893 he was elected to the office of city assessor for a term of three years, and he was subsequently placed in charge of the finances of the city, being elected to the posi- tion of comptroller, for also one term of three years. ness at the corner of Chestnut street and Second av- enue, West Reading, where he owns a brick dwelling 15x43 feet, with additions. He carries a full line of general merchandise. and he possesses the full confi- dence of the community in which his business is located, his goods being of the best quality and his prices moderate. In addition to his home and busi- In 1899 he was elected mayor of the city of Reading, and served a full term, until April, 1902, after which he entered the contracting field. his principal business being municipal work such as street paving and the ness property Mr. Latshaw owns much other valu- able building property in the borough, and is consid- ered one of the most substantial business men in West Reading. In politics he is a Democrat. He construction of sewers and filtration plants, and he is was baptized and confirmed by the Rev. William H. now building a water filtering plant (known as the

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Burkhart plant) for the city of Reading. Fraternally having come to Reading from Chester county. He was Mr. Leader is connected with Reading Lodge No. 549, a grocer by occupation and was so engaged at the F. & A. M., and Progressive Lodge, I. O. O. F.

time of his death, May 30, 1900, when aged sixty-two On June 23, 1898, Mr. Leader married Mary K. years. He married Sarah Margaret Smith, who died Fisher, daughter of Wellington H. and Caroline Fisher, about six months before her husband, the mother of of Reading.

JOHN SAUER, who passed many years in Reading engaged in shoemaking and in the retail shoe business, died suddenly Feb. 2, 1908. He was a native of Bavaria, born in 1844, son of John Sauer, Sr., and his wife, Anna Eva (Georg) Sauer.

John Sauer, Sr., was born in Hahnbach, Bavaria, Germany, in 1811. In August, 1854, he came to Amer- ica with his wife and children, and located in Reading, Pa., where he found work as a roof-tile and brickmaker. In Germany he had married Anna Eva Georg, daughter of Nicholas Georg, and their children were: Abolonia, m. to Christoph Sauer, of Germany (he died in Read- ing); Barbara, m. to Joseph Waltman, a boiler maker, and living at No. 109 North Ninth street, Reading; John; and Anna, m. to Adam Leithan, deceased. The mother died in January following their arrival in Amer- ica. Mr. Sauer married a second time, and this wife also preceded him in death. He died in 1894, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery at Reading. He was a member of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, and was always interested in its work.

John Sauer, whose name heads this sketch, was six- teen years old when he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, and he worked at it until a year before his death when failing eyesight caused him to give it up. He still, however, continued his retail shoe business, at No. 350 North Ninth street, a place he had occupied for thirty-five years, and which building he owned. For some years he conducted a cigar shop in connec- tion with his shoe shop, and he made shoes for Martin Streng, whose store was at No. 715 Penn street. When the latter died Mr. Sauer gave up his cigar business, and opened a shoe store, making and repairing boots and shoes. He was a fine workman and by steady in- dustry and good business sagacity he amassed a com- fortable fortune. Not all of his time was given to the shoe business, as he became interested in the Hamp- den Knitting Mills Company, and was one of its direc- tors at the time of his death. In public affairs he was more than an interested on-looker-he was an active participant, and as a Democrat represented the Ninth ward in the common council one term, and in the select council two terms.

Mr. Sauer 'was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, and a charter member of the Catholic Literary Union of the Bonifacius Brotherhood. In the latter society, organized forty-two years ago, he had been president twelve successive years, and previous to that time had served as vice-president and in other posi- tions. He also belonged to the Holy Cross Beneficial Society of the Catholic Church.

Mr. Sauer married Nov. 26, 1869, Margaret Knapp, daughter of George Knapp, and she with six children survives him, the children being: John E .; Catharine. m. to George Born; George C .; Francis S .; Rose, m. to Jacob Ashenbrenner; and Adam.

GEORGE KNAPP, father of Mrs. Sauer, was a native of Germany, who came to America in his young man- hood. and settled in Reading. He was a stone cutter by trade, and helped to build the entrance to the Charles Evans cemetery, Reading. He married Margaret Moss, a native of the same German town as he, though their marriage took place in this country. Their chil- dren were: Margaret, Catharine, Barbara and Rosa.

ALVIN DUNLAP, superintendent of the United Emanuel Spannuth, son of George, was born in Jackson township, Lebanon county, Feb. 2, 1828, and Traction Company, of. Reading, is a self-made man who by sheer force of ability has risen from the died Feb. 13, 1896. In his young manhood he came ranks to his present responsible position.

The Dunlap family have lived in Berks county for about forty-five years, Mr. Dunlap's father, Thomas,

ten children, five of whom she outlived. ' Those who are still living are: William, a street railway con- ductor; Sarah Ellen, m. to Lewis Schott, a grocer in Reading; Howard F., a farmer in Lancaster county; and Alvin.

Alvin Dunlap was born Sept. 20, 1862, in Reading. Until he was thirteen he attended the public schools, but was then obliged to start working., He began in 1875 as a driver of a horse car and has been con- nected with the street car service ever since. Not many months after his appearance as a driver, he at- tracted the attention of some one on the staff of the Eagle, and in the issue of Jan. 21, 1876, he was given a big write-up, and a successful future was prophe- sied for him. His rise was both steady and rapid, and as early as 1891 he reached the position of despatcher. In 1900 he became assistant superintend- ent, and four years later was promoted to his present office of superintendent, and he has about three hun- dred men under his personal control. His rise has been due to merit alone, for he possesses the qualities specially requisite for success in a traction business;

Mr. Dunlap has been twice married. His first wife, who died about seventeen years ago, was Miss Mar- garet Snell, daughter of 'a veteran of the Civil war, who died from a wound received during that struggle. There were three children by this union: Thomas Alvin, a railway conductor; Anna Margaret, m. to Harry F. Hertzog, a conductor; and Ellen, at home. The present Mrs. Dunlap was Miss Sallie Endy, daughter of Jediah Endy, of Reading. Mr. Dunlap is a member of St. James Lutheran Church. In poli- tics he is a good Republican, but has too little time to spare from his duties as superintendent to be active in politics. Fraternally he belongs to Vigilance Lodge, No. 194, I. O. O. F .; Castle No. 63, Knights of the Golden Eagle; and Juniata Tribe, No. 74, I. O. R. M. He has long been connected with the United Traction Company's Employees Benefit Association, in which at present he holds the office of treasurer.

HARVEY A. SPANNUTH, proprietor of the Kemp- ton Creamery, was born at Crosskill Mills, Bethel township, Berks Co., Pa., Sept. 14, 1877, son of Eman- uel and Lydia (Trautman) Spannuth.

On the memorable Christmas night of 1776, when General Washington crossed the Delaware and sur- prised and captured the German contingent of the British army, one Henty Spannuth was made a pris- oner. He was a native of Brussels and had been hired as a British soldier, but after he had met his Ameri- can captors and was released by them, like many others he not only refused to take up arms against them. but on the other hand cast his lot in with the struggling patriots and assisted them in their battle for justice. After the close of the Revolution, he set- tled in Lebanon county, Pa., on land now owned by Jonathan Yeiser. Here he reared his family, and died. His children were: Jacob and George (twins), Mol- lie, Elizabeth, Catherine, Christian, Eva and Sarah, long since deceased.

George Spannuth was born Nov. 17, 1800, in Jack- son township, Lebanon county. In 1823 he married Mary Weber, of Bethel township, and of their seven children six grew to maturity: Andrew, J. Henry, Emanuel, Mary, George and John, of whom the last survivor was J. Henry, who died Feb. 8, 1908.

to Berks county, and he purchased the Newcomet Mill in Bethel township, Berks county. and for thirty- five years conducted it with great success. This he

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

remodeled at great expense and made it thoroughly county, Pa., Mr. Kreider being descended from the up-to-date, being one of the first roller mills between latter. Hamburg and Lebanon. It had a capacity of sev- William Kreider, grandfather of the Alderman, lived enty-five barrels per day (twenty-four hours). It is in Lititz, Lancaster county. He went to Florida and said that altogether the mill cost him $50,000, took part in the Seminole Indian war and was never heard from afterward. Edwin W. Kreider, the Alder- man's father. was then but four years old. He be- came a carriage builder and died in Reading May 17, 1904, aged seventy-four years. He married Ange- lina Missemer, daughter of Samuel Missemer, who was in the cigar business at Catasauqua, and they were the parents of ten children, four of whom are deceased: E. W., who died in 1876, aged fourteen years; George B., who died in 1866, aged two years; Mary Ida, who died in infancy in 1860; and Clarence, a book- keeper, who died in 1902. The surviving children are Milton C .; Franklin S., a constable of the Fourth ward, Reading; Annie, wife of Benjamin Schoenberger, in the clothing business in Reading; Emma, at home; Roland and Henry, carriage painters of Reading. but he had a large local trade and regardless of the amount expended on his mill, he made a good per cent on his investment. This mill and the one hundred acres of land belonging to the mill property had been in the Newcomet name for a century. Mr. Spannuth employed six or seven men all the time, and he was succeeded in this mill by his son Acquillas, who now operates it and owns the property. It was burned Oct. 1, 1891, causing a loss of $12,000. Mr. Spannuth was a Republican and for many years was com- mitteeman of his party, and he was delegate to various county conventions. He and his family were members of the Lutheran congregation of Klopp's Union Church, in which he had held membership for forty years, and was deacon, elder and trustee. In 1882 when the present church was built he was chairman of the building committee. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining. Emanuel Spannuth married Lydia Traut- man, daughter of Jonathan Trautman, and she survived her husband but eleven months. They had thirteen children: Henry, a wholesale milk and ice cream dealer at Pottsville; Elizabeth, who died young; Mad- eline, who died young; Emma, m. to Isaac Bensing; Amelia, unmarried; Lydia, deceased, m. to Benjamin Strause, and had two daughters; Morris, a miller at Fredericksburg, Pa .; Andrew, a miller and farmer at Enders, Dauphin county; Acquillas, successor to his father and owner of the homestead; Alice. m. to Isaac Deck, of Fredericksburg; William, a miller at Fred- ericksburg; Lillie, widow of Jacob Deck, and living at Crosskill Mills; and Harvey A.

Harvey A. Spannuth received a good education in the public schools which he supplemented by a course in the Commercial Department of the Lebanon Busi- ness college, from which he graduated in 1899. At the age of sixteen he learned milling under his father, and this he followed for five years. In 1900 he began in the creamery business at Crosskill Mills, and at the same time took a course in the Dairy De- partment of the Pennsylvania State College. Mr. Spannuth and his brother Acquillas, under the firm name of A. A. Spannuth & Brother, conducted Crosskill Mills Creamery for one year, when the firm dissolved. Mr. Harvey A. Spannuth went to Fredericksburg, and operated the Fredericksburg roller mills for two and one-half years. In the fall of 1904 he came to Read- ing, and for one year was in the employ of the Read- ing Railroad Company. In 1905 he moved to Lyon Valley, and there conducted the Lyon Valley Creamery and farm for Smale Brothers, remaining two and one-half years. From there he came to Kempton in the spring of 1909, and has since successfully operat- ed the Kempton Creamery. He receives about 20,000 pounds of milk per week.

Socially Mr. Spannuth is a member of Fredericks- burg Lodge, No. 353, I. O. O. F .; and Jordan Encamp- ment of this order, at Pleasant Corner, in Lehigh county. He and his wife belong to the old Lutheran church at Rehrersburg.

On May 20, 1902, Mr. Spannuth married Laura H. Snyder, daughter of Davilla and Catharine (Schneider) Snyder, the former a horse dealer in Bethel township. Two children have been born of this union: Ray S., who died in infancy; and Donald S.

MILTON C. KREIDER, alderman of the Fourth ward, Reading, has been prominently connected with the political affairs of that city for a number of years. He is descended from a family of German origin, the founders of which in this country were three brothers, who came to America many generations ago. One of them settled in Lebanon county, one in Huntingdon county and the other in Lancaster

Milton C. Kreider was born March 23, 1854, and he was educated in the public schools. Leaving home at the age of seventeen years his first occupation was at herding cattle on the plains. He spent eight years on the frontier, and then returning to Reading, went into the carriage business with his father, becoming general superintendent for the latter. He remained in this position until 1886, when he went to Schuyl- kill county, and engaged in carriage building and hotel keeping on his own account, remaining there six years. Returning to Reading he entered his father's carriage shops again in the position of superintend- ent. In 1893 Mr. Kreider was elected superintendent of the Reading Relief Society. In 1896 he was elected constable of the Fourth ward, and in 1899 was elected to succeed himself in that office. In 1902, although running on the Democratic ticket in a Republican ward. he was elected alderman of the Fourth ward. which office he is still filling.

Mr. Kreider was married April 9, 1881, to Valera Geier. He and his wife have adopted two children: Tracey Redcay and Leroy Hoberacker, both of whom are at school. Fraternally Alderman Kreider is a member of the Red Men; the Fraternal Order of Eagles; and "The Commercials." In religion he is a member of the Methodist Church.

JOHN F. REIFSNYDER, in whose death at Reading, Pa .. March 17, 1905, this city lost a citizen who had been identified with the commission business here for many years, was widely known.

John F. Reifsnyder was born in Oley township, April 22. 1848, a son of Joel and Margaret (Jones) Reifsnyder. His father was a blacksmith and followed his business at Unionville, where he died at the age of thirty-three years. His widow died in October, 1908, at Baumstown. They had four children, George, John F., Matilda and Joel, Jr. (who died July 10, 1909).

Mr. Reifsnyder obtained a common school educa- tion and when he was sixteen years of age he se- cured employment in the shipping department of the Brooke Iron Company, of Birdsboro. In 1886 he came to Reading and opened a retail commission house at No. 210 North Ninth street, where he continued for ten years, when, on account of business expansion, he bought the two dwellings at the north-east corner of Ninth and Elm streets. These he converted into appropriate buildings for his business and here con- tinued in the commission line. both wholesale and retail. In 1882 Mr. Reifsnyder leased a portion of the Reading Railway freight house, at Eighth and But- tonwood streets. with an office on the Eighth street side, and this he converted into a storage warehouse. Here he carried on his enormous business for four- teen years and during this time handled hundreds of car loads of commodities. As an example of his vast trade, in a single year he handled seventy-five cars of bananas and sixty cars of oranges.

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Mr. Reifsnyder was married at Reading, in 1870, to Annie G. Lincoln, daughter of the late John D. and Sarah (Gilbert) Lincoln, the former of whom died at the age of eighty-one years and the latter at the age of eighty-five years. They had the following child- ren: Amelia, deceased; Alfred; Harrison, of Reading; Elizabeth; John, deceased; Richard; Martha; Annie G .; Sarah; Mary; and Oscar, who died young. Mr. and Mrs. Reifsnyder had one daughter that died in infancy. Mr. Reifsnyder invested in Reading property to some extent and in 1893 erected Reifsnyder Hall, which is situated on the northeast corner of Ninth and Elm streets, and which is rented for lodge pur- poses.

Mrs. Reifsnyder belongs to the same Lincoln fam- ily that gave the people of the United States the immortal President. Abraham Lincoln. In Exeter township about a mile below Exeter Station there is an old stone house in which lived, up to the time of his death, in 1736, Mordecai Lincoln, who was the great-great-grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln homestead, which embraces sixty-one acres is owned by the brother, Richard G. Lincoln, who was born in Exeter and is the third surviving brother of Mrs. Reifsnyder. He purchased the property some ten years since, and in many ways he is a typical Lincoln, closely resembling the martyred President. The latter was not born in the old stone house, but it ' is so closely associated with the early days of the family that its possession is a source of pleasure to the younger generation.

JOHN H. OBOLD, of John H. Obold & Co., hard- ware dealers, No. 300 Penn street, Reading, Pa., is a representative business man of that city, and was born in Penn township, Berks county, March 8, 1850, son of Elias and Elizabeth (Filbert) Obold. The name was originally spelled Abold, and tradition says that three brothers of the name came to America, one set- tling in Bern township and one in Heidelberg town- ship, Berks county, while the third, it is believed, settled in the southeastern part of the state, although nothing definite is known of him.

The progenitor of this old and honored family was Joseph Obold, who settled in Bern township, Berks county, prior to the erection of the county in 1752, and in 1759 he paid a federal tax of eight pounds. His will is on record in Will Book 2, page 80, and was entered Nov. 30, 1770, from which fact it is deduced that he probably died early in November, 1770. He Mr. Obold has been twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth M. Evans, who died May 3, 1900, was a daughter of John V. R. Evans. Three sons were born of this union: Howard, Calvin and Lester Elias, the latter of whom died Oct. 23, 1905, aged twenty years, five months and twenty-five days. Of the others, How- ard, a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and the Eastern Theological Seminary both of Lancaster, was ordained a minister of the Reformed Church in 1901, and is now located at Alexandria, Pa. Calvin is was survived by his wife Maria Elizabeth. From items in his will it appears that he had children not yet twenty-one years of age. He mentions his son Joseph, who obtained the homestead by paying seventy pounds to the other heirs and twenty pounds annually to his mother. The will was witnessed by Hieronymus Hemmig. Mathias Stoudt and Nicholas Holler. This Joseph Obold is probably the same Joseph who came to America on the ship "Robert and Alice" which landed at Philadelphia, Sept. 3, 1739, and on this same ond) Mrs. Elizabeth (Valentine) Fidler, of Womelsdorf. vessel was one Mathew Onbolt, perhaps a brother. In 'clerking in his father's store. Mr. Obold married (sec- 1759 in Heidelberg township lived Sebastian Obold, who paid a federal tax of ten pounds. There is, how- ever, nothing to indicate his relationship to Joseph, . though it is very likely that they were related, nor is there record of his children.

Joseph Obold, great-grandfather of John H., died during the building of the Union canal, where he con- tracted a fever. He was a farmer by occupation, own- ing upwards of three hundred acres of land in Penn and North Heidelberg townships, this being subse- quently divided among his children, and he was also the owner of the "Mt. Pleasant Hotel." Among his children were: Rebecca, m. to Andreas Greth; Eliza- beth, m. to Benjamin Haas; Mrs. Umbenhauer; Joseph, whose only daughter became the wife of James Christ, of Reading; George; and Philip.

Philip Obold, son of Joseph, was a yeoman of Penn township. He made his will March 27, 1843, and it . was probated June 17, 1843. He married Susanna Hetrick, and among their children were: Elias, who was executor of his father's will; and Sophia and Philip, who were under age at the time of their fath- er's death, and for whom their uncle, George Obold, acted as guardian. Philip Obold was a stanch Democrat in his political belief, but was never an aspirant for political preferment. He and his wife were members of the Reformed Church. The early Obolds were Roman Catholics, and with the Deppens, Kisslings and others donated the land for the Catholic cemetery.

Elias Obold, son of Philip and Susanna, was reared to farm pursuits, but on reaching manhood directed his attention to the mercantile business, carrying on a successful general store at Mt. Pleasant, although he still owned and operated a farm. He was honest and upright, and his word was as good as another's note with those he met in business. He was a member of the Reformed Church, and in that faith died in 1888, at the age of sixty-eight years. He married Elizabeth Filbert, who died Dec. 25, 1904, aged eighty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Obold were the parents of the following children: P. Reiley F .; Elias; Emma; Mary; Katie; John H .; Annie, who died aged twelve years; and several who died in infancy.

John H. Obold received his education in the common schools and in the Keystone State Normal at Kutz- town, Palatinate College at Myerstown and Mt. Pleas- ant Seminary at Boyertown. He taught school for seven terms, and for some time was engaged in farm work. In 1871 he came to Reading where he engaged. as a clerk with the firm of Lerch & Co., hardware mer- chants, in which capacity he remained until 1881, when he came to his present stand, then operated by Jones & Clous, purchasing the stock, and doing business un- der the firm name of J. H. Obold & Co. The firm. handles all kinds of shelf hardware, builders' mater- ials, glass, paints, oils, etc., and all other lines usually carried in a first class store, giving particular atten- tion to shot-guns, rifles, and ammunition. The firm also carries a full line of horse blankets and lap robes, and is the Reading agent for the Oliver Chilled Plows and Blue Rock Targets. Mr. Obold has sustained the reputation of his ancestors for honest and square deal- ing, and his house is known all over this section of Pennsylvania. Sixteen men are employed, including three traveling salesmen who cover eastern Pennsyl- vania.

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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 158

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