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 166

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 166

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The wolves in Oley were a great injury to the sheep and hogs of the settlers. It was customary to make pitfalls and thus trap them. Many stories are told of Yost Yoder's efforts at their extermination. He sometimes disposed of five in a single night. He was a man of remarkable strength and powers of endurance, and possessed famous courage. He made customary hunting trips every fall into the Blue Mountains with his trusty rifle and faithful dog. On his trail at dif- ferent stages of his journeys he had places of de- posit for supplies in hollow trees.

The Yoder Bible, dated 1530, was printed during the lifetime of Martin Luther. It was held continuously by the family until as late as 1860, and is now the property of Mary B. Yoder, daughter of David, son of Daniel. It is well preserved, though unfortunately the lid and date are torn away. This priceless treasure of their faith from the Fatherland was "as a lamp unto their feet" in their flight to America. The Yoders of Berks extended into New York and the West. In the list of representatives in the Fiftieth United States Congress was S. S. Yoder, of Lima, Ohio.

(I) Hans (or Hance) Yoder, the emigrant brother of Yost, was the builder and owner of what is now known as Griesemer's Mills (burned in 1847, and re- built the same year). This property in the early days was the homestead of the Yoders of Oley. The sur-

YODER. The first of the Yoder (sometimes spelled Yodder and Yotter in the German) name in America were Yost anad Hans (or Hance), brothers, who vey of the plantation under proprietary warrant to

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Hance Yoder was returned March 25, 1714. At that Solomon Peter; Samuel, born Nov. 23, 1793; David, time Oley township was the haunt of Indians, wolves, born Feb. 8, 1795, is mentioned below. bear and other wild game. The wives of the German settlers also bore their part in the subjugation of the wilderness. One day while at work, extending their clearing in the forest, they having shut their children in the cabin as a protection from the beasts which roamed over their land, they were suddenly aroused by the report of a rifle in the direction of their cabin. As it was not unusual for predatory bands of blood- thirsty Iroquois from the North to roam over the country they hastened in the direction of the shot to see their cabin surrounded by a party of drunken savages, who having been refused admittance by the terrified children within retaliated by firing through the closed door. Mr. Yoder at once made an attack with a singletree, and soon put them to flight with threats of revenge. Returning with increased num- bers they demanded satisfaction, but Mr. Yoder's, cool- ness won him friends among them who forced the others to desist. Hans (Hance) Yoder was the father of four sons: Hans (2); Samuel; Peter; and Daniel, born in 1718, who died Aug. 21, 1749, aged thirty-one years, eight months, and was buried in the cemetery at Pleasantville.

(II) Hans Yoder (2), son of the emigrant, married in November, 1746, in Oley, Sarah Shingle (or Schen- kel or Shankle). She died at Reading in 1789, and was buried during Whitsuntide in Peter de Turck's plot at Oley. They had sons: (1) Daniel, born 1748, died 1820, married 1773, Margaret Oyster, born 1753, died 1833, and both are buried at Pleasantville. (2) Martin was a lieutenant of the 4th Company, 5th Bat- talion, Berks county, May 10, 1780. (3) Jacob, born in Reading Aug. 11, 1758, was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war in 1777 and 1778. In 1780 he moved to western Pennsylvania, and in May, 1782, descended the Monon- gahela, Ohio and Mississippi rivers from Fort Red Stone, Brownsville, Pa., in the first flat-boat (built by himself) that ever descended the Mississippi river, (V) Martin Yoder, son of Martin and Susanna, wa's landing at New Orleans with a cargo of flour. He born at Pleasantville May 24, 1819, and died Feb. 7, 1888,

traded with Havana, Cuba, and also in the sugar mar- ket in Philadelphia. He was a man of national reputa- tion at the time when Louisiana still belonged to France. His grave at his home in Kentucky was marked 1834, by an iron tablet. He died in Spencer county, Ky., April 7, 1832 (?). (4) Samuel, a Revolu- tionary soldier, died from a fall off a horse near Oley Church.

.(III) Daniel Yoder, son of Hans, born in 1748, died in 1820. In 1773 he married Margaret Oyster, who was born May 5, 1753, and died Dec. 23, 1833, and both are buried at Pleasantville. He was a farmer, and he made frequent trips to Philadelphia, taking down grain and bringing back merchandise. The early set- tlers had but few crops at first. Finally they intro- duced apple trees and Mr. Yoder built a distillery and a flax oil mill, and in time, as the land became more cultivated, he made weekly trips to Philadelphia to dispose of his product. He cut down trees, cleared land, and made many pitfalls for the wolves. Some . of these holes or traps are still visible in the pastures and woods. Daniel Yoder loved the free life of the woods, and was on friendly terms with the Indians, often tak- ing hunting trips with them. He was a very powerful man physically. Before 1800 he built his home, which is well preserved and still in use. He had nine child- ren: Hannah, born April 17, 1775, married Jacob Knabb, and died Aug. 23, 1825; Daniel, born Dec. 7, 1777, died Nov. (or Dec.) 27, 1826; Martin, born Oct. 19, 1780, died Jan. 10, 1837; Catharine, born Oct. 12, 1783, mar- ried William William, and died Aug. 20. 1882, aged ninety-eight years, ten months, eight days; Maria, born in Bern township April 22, 1786, married Philip De Turck, and died Jan. 19, 1864; John, born April 22 or 23, 1788, died unmarried May 3, 1868, and is buried at Pleasantville; Margaret, born Aug. 4, 1790, married

(IV) Martin Yoder, son of Daniel, was born in Oley Oct. 19, 1780, and died upon his own fine farm Jan. 10, 1837, aged fifty-six years, two months, twenty-one days. He was a tanner at Pleasantville, and also had a store and hotel on his farm, employing a number of people. He was one of the prosperous men of lower Berks county. The merchandise and general freight in the early history of the country were car- ried in big Conestoga wagons between Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and the road between these two points passed by the homestead of Mr. Yoder, through the woodland, thus making his hotel a popular stopping place. This roadway is still plainly to be seen, but no longer in use. Frequently so many guests appeared the same night that all the beds were filled, compelling the later comers to sleep on the floor, rolled up in blankets. In 1830 he built the barn, and in 1831 the house that now stands on the farm, the latter now the property of his grandson, Henry H. He married Susanna Peter, born Nov. 29, 1783, died March 13, 1844, aged sixty years, three months, fourteen days, and they both are buried in the Yoder lot at Friedensburg. Their children were; (1) David. who died in Union county, Pa., first married Persoda Yoder, born Dec. 16, 1816, died July 23, 1844, who is buried at Pleasant- ville. His daughter Priscilla, born May 7, 1838, at Pleasantville, died there Dec. 17, 1857. (2) Solomon, who died in 1905, at West Point, Nebr., first married Mary B. Yoder, born in Oley, June 24, 1818, died May 10, 1845, who is buried at Pleasantville. They had two sons and two daughters. Her mother, Char- lotte (Bertolet) Yoder, was born in Oley, Feb. 10, 1778, died Sept. 8, 1868, and is buried at Pleasantville (she may have been the wife of Jacob Yoder, born Jan. 2, 1778, who died Aug. 18, 1826). (3) Maria (Polly) married George Kemp, of Lyons, Pa. (4) Martin.

aged sixty-eight years, eight months, thirteen days. He was a farmer and implement dealer, and owned the farm mentioned above as the home of his parents. In politics he was a Democrat, and for many years was interested in the schools of his district, serving efficiently as school director. He was a candidate for Congress, but was defeated by a small majority by Daniel S. Ermentrout. He was a man of affairs, and popular and influential in his district. He married Catharine Hoch, born June 20, 1821, who died June 1, 1879, aged fifty-seven years, eleven months, eleven days. They had four children: Mary, who married Joseph De Long, of Topton, Pa. (her children, Rev. Calvin De Long. his brother and two sisters, are the only living grandchildren of Martin Yoder; there is one great-grandchild, Erma De Long Hertzog); Ezra, born Sept. 7, 1848, who died Sept. 16, 1868; Henry H .; and Susanna, born Oct. 24, 1860, who married Oliver Landenslayer, born April 13, 1870, of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.

(VI) HENRY H. YODER, son of Martin and Catha- rine, was born on his grandfather's farm Jan. 5. 1850. . His early intellectual training was obtained in the common schools, and later Mr. Yoder attended the Oley Academy. He was licensed to teach in the public schools by Prof. D. B. Brunner, but he never cared for the profession. He was reared upon the home farm and this vocation he has, off and on, followed ever since, beginning for himself in 1874. This was his chief occupation until 1900. In connection with farming Mr. Yoder and his father were engaged in the implement business, and this he has continued, mak- ing a specialty of iron and wire fences. He owns the old homestead farm of 236 acres of valuable land, well located and very fertile. It contains valuable magnesia iron ore, and is considered one of the most desirable

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

pieces of property in Oley Valley. On a board in the he sold throughout Berks county, especially in Bern front of the barn below the cornice is the following:

Martin Yoder Susana Yoder 1830.

And on the house is the same, only the year is 1831 instead of 1830. Besides the home farm he owned eighty acres of good timberland. Mr. Yoder has the old military bugles which belonged to his father. In politics he is a Democrat, and he was school director of his township for three years, and since 1892 has been auditor, having been re-elected in the spring of 1908 for the fifth time. In 1907 he became one of the or- ganizers of the First National Bank at Oley, of which he is now a director. He belongs to Friedens Luth- eran Church, which for four years he served as deac- on, and since 1902 he has been an elder.

Mr. Yoder resides on Main street, Friedensburg. He has been twice married. In 1883 he wedded Andora Merkel, born Feb. 15, 1857, daughter of Elias Merkel, of Maxatawny. She died Jan. 15, 1903, and is buried in the Yoder lot at Friedensburg. On May 14, 1906, he married (second) Ella L. Hertzog, daughter of Jacob E. Bogh, of Frankfort, Clinton Co., Ind., and widow of Dr. William F. Hertzog, of Oley township, by whom she had two children: Marion S., of Kutztown; and Solis C., of Oley.

From 1833 to 1838 there lived on the Moon farm in Oley, now owned by Benneville Herbein, Jacob Frederic Bogh, or Bock. He was born in Schorndorf, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 4, 1791. At the age of twenty-six, April 17, 1817, he married Barbara Bauer, then aged twenty. He was a general in the army under Napoleon, and won seven medals of honor. While shot nine times and badly scarred he was not crippled, yet the open wounds at times caused him trouble. He claimed he was fireproof. When Napoleon was exiled he refused to serve the new rulers, was arrested and thrown into prison, but friends liberated him and 'secretly placed him on board an American-bound ship, where he found his wife. He landed in Philadelphia Sept. 11, .1818. He was highly educated, and quite a linguist, speaking and writing seven different languages. For a living he engaged in school teaching, while in Berks county teaching at the Spies's church, and at the same time did what legal work he could get, writing deeds, mortgages, etc., and settling disputes. He also did some surveying. He took but little in- terest in his work in this country, being despondent over the downfall of his commander. He was the father of ten children, six of whom lived to honorable old age. He died Nov. 11, 1844, and is buried at Weissport. Carbon Co., Pa. His only descendants now living in Berks county are: Mrs. Louisa Hill, wife of Jenkin Hill, of Reading, and her three sons, Ralph, Layton and Harold Hill; and Mrs. Ella L. Yoder and her two sons, Marion S. Hertzog, of Kutztown, and Solis C. Hertzog, of Oley, and her granddaughter, Erma De Long Hertzog, of Kutztown.

Among the Yoder family relics are zinc dishes made and used before the days of china. Some of the first china in this section found its way to the Yoders. An old sword used in the Revolution, and two bugles made in the old country and bought by Martin Yoder when a boy, are the property of Henry H. Yoder. Martin Yoder was taught to use these bugles by an escaped slave, and was the first man in Berks county to attain that accomplishment. and naturally he was in great demand at the old battalion drills. Old spreads and quilts, four generations old, are preserved in old chests with rare old books.

(IV) David Yoder, son of Daniel, was born Feb. 8, 1795, and died Oct. 26, 1881. aged eighty-six years, eight months, eighteen days. He was a lifelong farmer and was assisted by his brother John who never mar- ried. David Yoder was a millwright by trade, and made many blacksmith's bellows and windmills, which

township, where some of his relatives had settled. He owned the farm in conjunction with his brother John. He was county commissioner in 1846-49. This branch of the family are all buried at Yodersville, now Pleas- antville. David Yoder married Hannah Bitler (daugh- ter of Michael Bitler and his wife Hannah Yocum), born July 13, 1797, died Oct. 15, 1852. Their children were: Margaret, who married George K. Levan, of Maxatawny township; Miss Mary B .; Hannah, born July 27, 1824, who died Jan. 11, 1896, and was buried at Pleasantville; Daniel, born in April, 1827, who lived at Pleasantville; Catharine, born July 16, 1832, who married Nathan Schaeffer, of Fleetwood; and Sarah, born Aug. 5, 1840, who married Abraham Gul- din.

(V) MARY B. YODER, daughter of David, was born Oct. 19, 1821, and now resides on the homestead, which she owns, containing ninety-four acres. She has rented the land. Miss Yoder is liberal in her support of all the churches, but is, herself, affiliated with no particular denomination. She has been edu- cated both in English and German. Among her cher- ished possessions is her grandfather's clock, made by John Keim for Daniel Yoder before the war of the Revolution. Miss Yoder is deeply interested in local history and the history of her family, and she care- fully preserves everything that pertains to the early days. The original house on her farm was the log cabin which stood in the corner of the garden in front of the present house; this was the cabin through which the Indians shot at the children. Of two ancient pear trees standing on this farm, which Miss Yoder says must have been nearly two hundred vears old, the taller one died during the winter of 1907-08, but the other is still alive and bearing fruit.

(V) DANIEL B. YODER, son of David, and late a resident of Oley, was born near Catawissa, along the Susquehanna river in Columbia county, in April. 1827. He attended a school conducted in a private house be- longing to Jeremiah Lee, a Quaker, and his first teach- er was Sarah Pierson, who like the Lees was a Quaker. In his young manhood he learned the millwright's trade from Levi J. Smith. He was a soldier in the Civil war in Company M, 5th U. S. Artillery, under Capt. James McKnight, for three years and three months, serving as a sergeant. For some years he followed farm- ing in Oley. After the war he built a paper-mill in Oley township, on the Manatawny creek. and he manu- factured paper for a number of years, selling out finally to the Reading Paper Company. He built the house at Pleasantville where he lived retired until his death. being in very comfortable circumstances. For three years he farmed in Pike township, and retained the ownership of his farm there, which consists of some ninety acres; he erected the present house and barn thereon. In politics he was a Republican, and served as school director of Oley township. Practically his entire life was passed in Oley, as he was but a small lad when he accompanied his parents from Columbia county. He married Amelia Yoder (daughter of Jesse Yoder, of Oley township), who died in 1895, leaving no children, and is buried at Hill Church. Mr. Yoder died Oct. 11, 1908, and is also buried at Hill Church.

John Yoder. great-grandfather of Absalom S. Yoder, of Reading, was born in Oley township, Berks county, and there became an extensive farmer. He made his last will and testament Aug. 24, 1804, and it was entered for probate Nov. 7, 1807, being on record in Will Book A, page 528. He left a large estate, and was survived by his wife Anna. Their children were: David, "who shall have my property located in Mifflin county, Pa., on which he now lives"; Johannes and Jacob, who "shall receive my plantation in Oley township, con- sisting of 343 acres"; Freny; Anna, wife of Christian Gerber; Magdalena, who married Abraham Gerber; Elizabeth, who married Stephen Kurtz, of Marion

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BIOGRAPHICAL

township; Sarah, wife of David Kauffman; Catharine; time. He is a faithful member of the United Evan- and Barbara, who died the wife of Jacob Vinegi. gelical Church.

Jacob Yoder, third son of John, settled early in life with others of the family in Bern township, and he is buried on his farm in Centre township, now owned by Garean Y. Christ, his grandson. He married into the Rickenbach family, and his children were: Jacob, Reuben, Elizabeth (who married a_King), Nancy (who lived with her brother Reuben, and later with her nephew David, and died unmarried), and Sarah (who married Daniel Christ).

Renben Yoder, son of Jacob, was born in Centre (then Bern) township, and he died at the age of seventy-eight years. He owned four farms, the one on which he lived consisting of 180 acres, another in the same township of 190 acres, a third in the same district of about ninety acres, while the fourth was located near Schaefferstown. He built the present set of buildings on the farm now owned by his son Jacob in Centre township. He was a man of influence, and was a stanch Republican in politics. For many years he held the office of school director, and was treasurer of the board. In those days teachers were obliged to go to his home to collect their pay. He donated the land on which the German Baptist Church and schoolhouse stand, and he is buried in the Ger- man Baptist graveyard, midway between Centreport and Shoemakersville. He married Susanna Stepp, and their children were: Ellen, who . married Thomas Egolf, of Bernville; David S., of Kutztown; James, of Lititz, Pa .; Emma, who married Harry F. Long, of Lititz; Israel, Tamsen, Harrison and Mabry, all de- ceased; Jacob, of Centre township; and Absalom S. The wife and mother died in 1867, and Mr. Yoder married (second) Elenora Hiester, and the only son of this union is Nathaniel, of Centreport, Pennsylvania. DAVID S. YODER, son of Reuben, was born in Centre township, Oct. 14, 1852. He was reared to farming and remained at home until he was twenty- four years of age, when he began work on his own ac- count on a farm in Centre township, on which he re- mained twenty-six years. On his last place he lived eighteen years-this was the homestead of Johannes Yoder, who had come up from Oley township. Mr. Yoder was a successful farmer and a man of high reputation in his district. He sold out in the spring of 1901, and going to Kutztown built a fine brick home in 1903 on Normal Hill, where he has since resided. He has been employed at the Keystone State Normal School since his removal into Kutztown. He is a consistent member of Grace United Evangelical Church

MABRY K. YODER, son of David S., was born Sept. 16, 1874, in Centre township, Berks county. He received his early education in the public schools of his native township. Later he attended select school at Centreport. When seventeen years of age he was appointed as one of the teachers of his township. in which he taught eight years. During vacation he completed a business course in the Reading Business College. In the spring of 1896 he registered as a student at the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, from which institution he graduated in 1898. He taught six years in Lehigh county, after which he resigned and accepted a position as teacher of one of the schools in the borough of Northampton, and to this position he has been elected for the third

On July 23, 1908, Mr. Yoder married Laura L., only daughter of Phaon S. and Ida (Walbert) Heffner.

ABSALOM S. YODER, son of Reuben, was born in Centre township, Berks county, Nov. 5, 1866. His early education was obtained at home and in the public schools of his district. Later he attended the select school at Centreport, the Millersville State Normal School, at Millersville, and the Keystone State Nor- mal School, at Kutztown, graduating from the last named institution in the class of 1899. Mr. Yoder be- gan teaching in the fall of 1885, in Centre township, and there he taught two terms. In the spring of 1887 he went to Lancaster county, and for four terms was engaged in teaching in Warwick township. He lived at Lititz, where his wife died, and he returned to his native township, teaching the following term in Centre township, where he was located for eight more terms. Mr. Yoder has been a most successful teacher, and he has continued to study and advance ever since his graduation from Normal, by taking a special course in mathematics and ancient classics in the Reading Classical School under Rev. Dr. J. V. George. On Oct. 6, 1903, under civil service rules, Mr. Yoder was appointed to a clerkship in the post-office at Reading, and he has since continued to hold this position.

Mr. Yoder is a member of the United Brethren denomination. He married Sallie H. Yoder, daugh- ter of Alfred and Mary (Haag) Yoder, of Centre town- ship, and granddaughter of Fred Yoder, of near Belle- man's Church. She died Feb. 12, 1893, the mother of children as follows: Herma R .. a graduate of the Key- stone State Normal School, class of 1907, and now a successful teacher at Centreport; J. Russell, a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, class of 1908; and Daisy E., a student in the Keystone State Normal.

DANIEL S. ESTERLY, a well known business man of Reading, and a member of the Board of Trade, was born in 1831. in Exeter township, Berks Co., Pa., son of Joseph Esterly. and grandson of Daniel Esterly, a blacksmith by trade, who followed that occupation in Exeter township. near the "Black Bear Hotel," where he died at an advanced age.

Joseph Esterly was born in Exeter township, and learned the blacksmith business of his father. He fol- lowed that trade for some time, later devoting his time to farming, and he continued at that occupation until his death, aged sixty-two years, well known and highly respected in his native community. He married Lydia Snyder, who died at the age of eighty-three gustus, a farmer of Exeter township. and Daniel S.

at Kutztown. Mr. Yoder has been twice married. years, and of their family, two children survive: Au- In 1874 he was married to Emma Kline, only daughter of John Kline, of Centreport, where she died and is buried. To this union was born one son, Mabry K., who graduated from the Keystone State Normal School in 1898, and is now teaching at Northampton, Pennsylvania. Mr. Yoder married (second) Feb. 3, 1883, Ida Spatz, daughter of Dr. John Spatz of Centreport, though formerly of Reading. The only son of this union, Clarence H., is a student in the Keystone State Normal School.

Daniel S. Esterly attended the schools of the place of his nativity until fifteen years of age, and then learned the cabinet makers' trade, which he followed a few years on Penn street, Reading. The work not proving congenial, Mr. Esterly engaged with the Read- ing Railroad in the car shops, and remained therein for about two and a half years, when he was trans- ferred to Philadelphia, where he became car inspector. After nine and a half years in that position, Mr. Ester- ly returned to Reading and engaged in the produce business at No. 15 North Sixth street, in 1865, and later in 1868 took his brother Augustus as a partner. They later removed to the corner of Seventh and Penn streets, and continued business together at that stand until the spring of 1876. Their business became so prosperous that they had four private cars built, the first one, a four wheeler, being built at a cost of $400, and the second, an eight wheeler, at a cost of $350. In 1897 Mr. Esterly retired from the produce business and engaged in the wholesale grocery business at No. 818 Penn street, until 1901, when he retired. He was known as one of the largest commission merchants of Reading, his four cars running daily between Philadel- phia and Reading. Mr. Esterly built his fine home in

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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 166

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