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 167

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 167

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

624

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1874, at No. 116 South Eighth . street, and there he No. 62, F. & A. M .; past high priest of Excelsior Chap- has since resided.

Mr. Esterly married Mary Miller, daughter of Dan- iel Miller, a well known blacksmith, and she died in 1889, the mother of these children: Joseph, a grocer salesman, of Reading, m. Lavina Quimby, and has two children, Daniel and Joseph H .; and Clara A. m. George W. Noecker and has a son Alpheus (m. Caro- lina, daughter of Edward and Kate (Homan) Taenzer).

In politics Mr. Esterly is a Democrat, and is a mem- ber of the board of health. He has been a member of the Reading Board of Trade for many years. He is a member of the Baptist Church, has been a deacon for fifteen years, and treasurer of the Baptist Association for the past fifteen years. Fraternally he is a member of Richmond Lodge No. 230, F. & A. M., of Phila- delphia; the Good Fellows, No. 32, of Philadelphia; and also the Odd Fellows.

GEORGE E. HAAK is widely acquainted in and known around Reading as proprietor of the Sienna Paint, Kaolin & Sand Works, being particularly well known among builders. His reputation in fraternal societies is even more extensive, his services in forming and pro- moting such organizations in this part of Pennsylvania having been particularly valuable.

The Haak family has long been represented among the prosperous agricultural class of Berks county. John Jacob Haak, the first American ancestor of George E., sailed from Deal, England, on the ship "Mortonhouse," John Coulter, master, June 15, 1728, and arrived Aug. 24th of the same year. In that same year he is noted as a member of the Lutheran Church at Tulpehocken, Berks county.

John Haak, the grandfather of George E., was a farmer and large landowner in Alsace township, this county. He married Elizabeth Krause, a native of Berks county, and they had a family of five children, namely: William, Isaac, John, Rebecca (Mrs. Addams) and Michael. They were Lutherans in religious faith, and in politics John Haak supported the Whig party, and later the Repub- lican.

Michael Haak, son of John, was born in 1803 in Berks county, was reared to farming, and continued to follow that calling all his life. Like his father he was a Lutheran in religion and a Republican in politics. He married Sarah Addams, and to them were born the following named children : Annie E. m. William A. Robinson; Mary C. m. Thomas Munce; George E. is mentioned below ; Clara V. m. John H. Rhoads.

George E. Haak was born Oct. 3, 1842, in Leesport, Berks county, Pa .. and received his education in the public schools of Alsace township, Lititz, Lancaster Co., Pa., and Reading. In 1874 he formed a partnership with Francis Keffer, conducting a glass and queensware busi- ness at No. 520 Penn street and continuing thus for three and a half years. After this experience he engaged in business for himself at No. 312 Penn street in the same line, continuing for ten years, and after the death of his father he took charge of the Haak estate, of which he had been appointed executor under the provisions of his father's will. This estate comprises 229 acres in East Reading, which at that time was counted among the most valuable land in Berks county, the finest deposits of kaolin and sienna in the United States being located thereon. It also contains a valuable sand deposit, un- equalled anywhere in the State, the product of which has been approved and adopted by the Reading school board for their buildings, in the construction of which no other sand is used. Mr. Haak furnishes sand and other pro- ducts to many of the principal builders of Reading. He was one of the organizers of the Schuylkill Valley Bank, and served as a director of that institution for five years.

Mr. Haak is a man of note in social organizations, in which he has taken the deepest interest for a number of years. He has a nature which attracts and holds friendship, as is evidenced by his influential standing in a number of fraternities. He is a past master of Lodge

ter, No. 237; past eminent commander of Reading Com- mandery, No. 42, K. T .; and a prominent member of Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading, of which he was the organizer and first potentate. Mr. Haak was the first member at Reading in both the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Royal Arcanum; he was the first captain of a fully equipped company in Philadelphia and first major of the battalion.

REV. WILLIAM F. P. DAVIS was born in Paradise township, York county, Pa., a rural district in the south-eastern part of this State, Oct. 1, 1831, son of John and Isabella Davis, the latter a daughter of the late Rev. Frederick William Vandersloot, and grand- daughter of one of the earliest ministers of the Re- formed Church in this country, of the same name-a sister, accordingly, of the Revs. Frederick William and F. Edward Vandersloot, and aunt of the late Rev. J. S. Vandersloot, son of the Rev. F. Edward and a cou- sin of Mr. Davis. She was also a grand-daughter, on her mother's side, of the Rev. Philip Reinhold Pauli, for many years pastor of a Reformed Church in the city of Reading, Pa .- the father of the brethren Revs. Williams and Charles Augustus Pauli-her uncles- who, for many successive years exercised their min- istry in the city of Reading and vicinity-the former as successor to his venerable father. Mr. Davis was accordingly a direct descendant of both the Pauli and the Vandersloot families, so long and so prominently represented in the ministry of the Reformed Church of this country.

Mr. Davis was baptized, in infancy, by his maternal uncle, the Rev. F. Edward Vandersloot, and subse- quently catechised and confirmed by the Rev. Daniel Ziegler, D. D., and received as a communicant member of the Straeher's church, in York county, Pa. In early life already he felt himself powerfully drawn towards the work of the holy ministry, so largely represented by his ancestors, but was prevented from entering the sacred office for want of means to prose- cute the studies necessary to qualify him for the work. He learned the trade of a saddler and spent a number of years in this occupation. In this way he sought to acquire the means necessary for the prosecution of his literary and theological studies. He commenced his preparatory course in the excellent high school or academy kept for many years and successfully pre- sided over by the late Prof. Geo. W. Ruby, Ph. D., in York, Pa. Subsequently he entered Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Pa., where he graduated in 1861, after which he entered the Theological Semin- ary of the Reformed Church, then located at Mercers- burg, Pa., and completed his studies in the same in 1863. During his student life, he was in the habit of working with the farmers, in the vicinity of Lan- caster, many of whom still remember him and speak of him with respect as an industrious and skillful laborer. His excellent character and conduct made a very favorable impression on the minds of these sim- ple-hearted and unsophisticated tillers of the soil. They saw that a student, devoted to science and litera- ture. possessed at the same time both the requisite will and capacity to engage in useful manual labor.

In the spring of 1863 Mr. Davis was licensed by the Zion's Classis, and during the same year ordained and installed as pastor of the Abbottstown or New Oxford charge, in Adams county, Pa. This first charge he served faithfully and with success for a period of about nine years. After the death of his relative, the Rev. Charles Augustus Pauli, in the fall of 1871, Mr. Davis became his successor in the Sink- ing Spring charge, in Berks county, Pa., then com- posed of five congregations, namely, Sinking Spring, Hain's, Yocom's, Kissinger's and St. John's at Ham- burg. Several of these congregations he subsequently resigned and had the charge reconstructed, so that latterly it consisted of four congregations. He served

Je ile .1 .

George &. Haak

625

BIOGRAPHICAL

his people faithfully, and, as a consequence, was high- prived. Here was room for the consoling promises of ly respected and loved by them. In several of the Him who is the "Father of the fatherless," and a congregations he was particularly successful in gath- "judge of the widow." Well is it for us all to remem- ering in members, and thus adding to the numerical ber under such circumstances what is written: "Blessed strength of the charge. His preaching was of a high are the dead who die in the Lord, from henceforth: order-practical and popular. He preached the Gospel Yea, saith the Spirit-that they may rest from their in its purity, excellence and saving power; and his labors, and their works do follow them." efforts were crowned with signal success. He officiated in both the English and German languages, using them JAMES C. BENADE, who for a number of years was well known to the citizens of Reading, Pa., as an artist, was born in Lititz, son of Bishop Andrew and Maria (Henry) Benade, the latter a daughter of Judge Henry of Lancaster. with equal facility, accuracy and effect. Taken alto- gether, Mr. Davis was one of our best and most suc- cessful pastors, sincerely devoted to the spiritual wel- fare of his numerous parishioners, and well deserving of their grateful remembrance.

Mr. Davis was married to Miss Ellen E. Myers, of York, Pa., Oct. 22, 1863. They had ten children, seven of whom-five sons and two daughters-survive their sainted father. Three of the children preceded him to the eternal world.

Mr. Davis was a heavy-built man, of robust consti- tution and general good health. He was, however, predisposed to apoplexy. As far back as the 12th of March, 1881, he had an attack of this kind, from which, however, he soon recovered sufficiently to enable him to attend to the duties of his calling. On the 21st of February, 1883, he had a second attack, from which he never fully recovered. Still, although partially disabled, he continued to attend to his pastoral duties, but not without considerable effort and inconvenience. At

he needed at least three months' rest, and, as advised by his physicians, entire freedom from clerical duties. By that time he hoped to be able to see whether he could further serve his congregations or not. He was advised to take a voyage to Europe, and, on the day preceding his death he completed his arrangements for the proposed trip. Shortly before midnight, on the 10th of June, he had a third attack of the fatal disease. He lay in an unconscious state until the next morning, Monday, June 11, 1883. when between five and six o'clock, in the bosom of his family. at Reading, Pa., Brother Davis gently fell asleep in Jesus, aged 51 years, 8 months and 10 days. His funeral took place on Thursday following, at one o'clock p. m. The services were held in St. Paul's Reformed Church, at Reading, of which the family were members. A large number of the members of the several churches which Brother Davis served were present to testify their love and attachment to their esteemed pastor. Some forty or fifty ministers of different denominations were also present at these solemnities. many of whom took part in the same. The services at the house were conducted by the Rev. Dr. McCauley. The assembled multitude then went to St. Paul's Church. Dr. Miller, of York, Pa., read the Scripture lesson and offered a prayer in English. He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Kremer in a German prayer. Rev. A. S. Leinbach preached a German discourse from Rev. 2: 10: "Be thou faith- ful unto death, etc." Rev. Dr. Bausman preached an English sermon from 2. Tim. 4: 5-8. The Rev. L. K. Evans conducted the services at the grave. The breth- ren, Revs. H. Mosser, D. B. Albright, T. C. Leinbach, A. J. Bachman, John H. Leinbach, and L. D. Steckel, acted as pall-bearers.

Beautiful and affecting was the presence of so large a number of the members of the pastoral charge of Brother Davis to testify their extreme sorrow, and bear testimony to the zeal and fidelity of their beloved pastor. Beautiful and appropriate. also, was it that so large a number of his clerical brethren should be pres- ent and participate in the solemnities attending the final disposal of his mortal remains. It was, at the same time,, hard to see the stricken wife and mother with her seven sorrowing children sitting beside the open coffin of a beloved husband and a kind father, of whom they had been suddenly and unexpectedly de-

Bishop Andrew Benade was of the Moravian denomi- nation, and was a very prominent man in his day. His death occurred in 1859, at the age of ninety-two years, his wife having passed away several years prior to this. They were the parents of: William, deceased, who was bishop at Philadelphia; Charles, an inventor; James C. Bishop Benade had two daughters, Lucia and Mary, by a former marriage.

James C. Benade was taken to Salem, N. C., when a child, but when ten years of age was brought back to Lititz by his parents, and received his education at Nazareth Hall, Nazareth, Pa. Even at this early age he showed remarkable talent, and when a youth took up oil and water color painting, becoming a noted artist. He settled in Reading in 1837. His death oc- curred in 1853, at the age of thirty-two years, and he length he was so much debilitated that he could scarce- ly conduct the services of the sanctuary. A few weeks was interred in the Charles Evans cemetery. In 1845 he married Miss Sarah Moers, daughter of Daniel and prior to his decease. he told his congregations that Henrietta (Nagle) Moers. To this union there were born children as follows: James A., deceased; Patrick H., of Jefferson county, Pa .; Esther H., who conducts a private preparatory school, and Sarah M., both of Reading. In religious belief Mr. Benade was a Mo- ravian.

DANIEL G. LEINBACH, an aged citizen of Read- ing now living retired at No. 639 Pine street, was born in Exeter township, Berks county, Dec. 13, 1829, son of Frederick and Maria (Guldin) Leinbach.

Frederick Leinbach, father of Daniel G., was a black- smith by trade, but owned a farm near Leesport and gave a considerable part of his time to managing that property. Later in life his farming interests were in Exeter township. He died at that second home- stead aged fifty-seven years, leaving' a widow and children. His wife, whose maiden name was Maria Guldin, lived to the age of sixty. Only five of their family still survive, namely: Daniel and Albert, re- tired; Mahlon; Jonathan G .; and Mary, widow of James Levan, a resident of Reading.

Daniel G. Leinbach received his education in the schools of his native township and between the terms worked at farming. When he reached the age of sev- enteen he turned his attention toward blacksmith work and under the instruction of his father became an adept at that trade, following it for six years. He then learned boiler making and after mastering that trade, secured a position in the works of the Phila- delphia & Reading Railway Company. The fact that he remained there for thirty-one years, sufficiently at- tests his efficiency as a worker. On Oct. 13, 1887, he retired from their employ, and for the next eleven years was employed by his brother J. G. Leinbach in the latter's mill. Since 1900, he has given up all active work, owing to advancing years and now lives retired at his home on Pine street. Mr. Leinbach has accumu- lated a comfortable property and owns considerable real estate, being the possessor of two houses in the First ward, two in the Second and one each in the Tenth and Sixteenth wards. '

On Oct. 14, 1849, Mr. Leinbach married Catherine, daughter of John and Catherine (Heckler) Levan, and the following children have been born to them: Mary, m. to Frank Mallon; Ellen, m. to Charles Evans; Martha, m. to Samuel Rolland; Anna

626

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

E., unmarried, who is her father's housekeeper. Mrs. izations, many friends, and attached fellow citizens, Leinbach died Nov. 4, 1894, aged sixty-eight years and to mourn his loss. He belonged to the First Reformed Church, having united with the society in 1883. In politics he was a Republican, and a faithful worker in the ranks of that party. He was always a loyal citizen, upholding American institutions. His fra- ternal connections were with the Masons, he being a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 227, F. & A. M., of Reading. nine months, and was interred in Aulenbach's ceme- tery. Mr. Leinbach belongs to several fraternal orders, being a member of Mt. Penn Lodge, I. O. O. F .; of Freedom Circle, Brotherhood of the Union; and of the Rebekah Lodge, I. O. O. F. Religiously he is a mem- ber of the German Reformed Church of Reading. In his earlier days, during the war, Mr. Leinbach saw some military service, enlisting in 1862 for three months. His has been an industrious useful life, and he has well earned the freedom from care he now enjoys and the respect of the community which is so freely accorded him.

WILLIAM M. FULTON, deceased, was identified with the building interests of Reading, Pa., for many years. He was a descendant of a family whose mem- bers were men of influence, highly respected and valuable citizens.

His great-grandfather, Samuel Fulton, a captain in the Revolutionary war for six years, was in the battles of Long Island and Brandywine, in one of these battles receiving a body wound, but he stood with his men nevertheless. He was in the battle of Staten Island, and marched from thence to White Plains. He was in the Indian wars, and in the battle of Shamokin was wounded in the knee. He captured large quantities of furs and booty from the British and Indians.

Samuel Fulton, grandfather of William M., was a color bearer in the war of 1812. He married Jenny McClain, daughter of Andrew McClain, who was a son of Lord Steel McClain. a Scotchman. He came over from Scotland with Lord Baltimore. He, too, was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and for his great bravery at the battle, or the storming of, Stony Point, forty miles above New York, on the Hudson river. was awarded by Congress a gold medal. He ordered the medal given to his namesake, Andrew McClain Fulton, at his death.

Andrew McClain Fulton, father of William M., was a native of Ohio, where he was liberally educated and became an attorney-at-law. In 1873 he moved to Read- ing and practiced his profession until incapacitated by failing health. He retired from professional work and engaged in farming in Cumru township, removing later to Muhlenberg township, where he died in 1902, aged eighty years. His first wife, Hattie (Wasson) Fulton, died in 1863, leaving two children, William M. and Jennie, the latter of whom is principal of the Lewistown, Mont., central school. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton were both members of the Presbyterian Church. An- drew McC. Fulton married (second) Mary Schwartz, daughter of Hon. John Schwartz, M. C. Four children were born to this union, namely: Elizabeth; John S., of New York; Margaret, who married Horad Wolleth; and Elmer O., of Muhlenberg township, Berks Co., Pa. The father was a Republican in his political belief.

William M. Fulton was born Nov. 2, 1858, in Ash- land, Ohio, and was educated in the schools there, completing his training at a commercial college in Read- ing, after his father settled there. He then accepted a position as clerk in the Philadelphia & Reading freight depot, where he worked for five years and then took up general contracting. This business he followed for the rest of his life, accumulating a large amount of property. He owned a quarry at the west end of the Penn street bridge.

Mr. Fulton was married in 1883, to Catharine R. Kline, a daughter of Simon and Catharine (Noll) Kline, and to this marriage two children were born, namely: S. McClain, who died aged five months and eighteen days; and Jennie M., who is a graduate of the class of 1907, girls' high school, Reading, and she is now a student at the Teachers College, New York City.

A. W. FISHER, a prominent wholesale wine and liquor dealer, of Reading, Pa., whose place of business is situated at the corner of Second and Penn streets, was born in West Reading, Spring township, May 27, 1851, son of William L. and Mary (Weitzel) Fisher, and a grandson of John and Barbara (Lichty) Fisher.

John Fisher was born in Windsor township, Berks county, in 1800, and lived near Monterey, where he was engaged in the building and furniture business, and where all his children were born. He also had stone quarries and a lime kiln on the Allentown road east of Monterey church. It is thought that he built the old stone church and school house at Monterey. In 1842 he gave up the building business and moved to Oley township. About a year later a freshet in Monocacy Creek carried away fences and washed out the grain fields, and he moved to Cumru township, and about 1846-47 he located on the farm at the junction of Wyomissing creek and the Schuylkill river, where he died in 1849. In 1821 he married Barbara Lichty, and they had the following children: Charles; Hettie, m. to Joseph Markley; Gideon; William L., the father of A. W .; John; Daniel L., of Philadelphia, Pa .; Sarah; Amelia, m. to Frank Adams, of Reading (they have a daughter, Miss Mary, a supervisor of schools in Read- ing, since 1906); and one child who died in infancy. The family were members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Fisher was a Democrat in politics. His first wife died while yet a young woman, and he m. (second) Polly Leader, by whom one son, Glancey, was born. John Fisher had two brothers and a sister: George; Solomon; and Mary, who married Philip Ziegler, a farmer near Rothrocksville, in Lehigh county, near the Berks county line, and had thirteen children, of whom five, all over seventy years of age, are still living-Daniel (aged ninety-seven years), William (of Allentown), David (on the homestead), Mary (aged seventy-six years, widow of Joseph Miller, of near Topton) and Gideon (of Allentown). The maiden name of Mr. Fisher's mother was Hauer, and her brother, the late George Hauer, was a prominent mer- chant in Windsor township.

William L. Fisher, son of John, was born in Berks county and was educated in the public schools. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and this he followed in connection with trucking, owning a small tract of land near the Cacoosing, where he also conducted a country hotel. It is said that none of this family used malt or spirituous liquors. Mr. Fisher conducted his hotel for several years, but later sold out and removed to Reading, where he opened a cafe on the site of the present Schuylkill Valley Bank. This was in 1876 and he remained in business with his son, A. W., until his death, in 1882, aged fifty-five years. He was considered a very good citizen. Mr. Fisher was a very powerfully built man, his weight being 265 pounds. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, four sons of whom died in infancy, A. W. being the only son to survive. The daughters were: Emma. de- ceased, m. to Ephraim Miller; and Agnes, m. to Jere- miah Eppling. Both Mr. and Mrs. William Fisher were members of the Lutheran Church. He was a Democrat up to the time of Abraham Lincoln's cam- paign, when he cast his lot with the Republican party. Mrs. Fisher died in 1874, aged fifty-three years.

A. W. Fisher was educated in the common schools

The death of Mr. Fulton took place July 10, 1899. He left a devoted family, members of various organ- of West Reading, and until 1876 worked upon a farm,

627

BIOGRAPHICAL

when. with his father, he came to Reading and en- gaged in the cafe business. Like his father, Mr. Fisher is a very large man. At the age of fourteen years his weight was 263 pounds, and today his average weight is 340 pounds. He enjoys the very best of health, and is as supple and active as many a man of half his weight. Since 1895 Mr. Fisher has devoted his time solely to the wholesale business, and built his present place of business in 1901, the structure being three stories high, and 20x98 feet in dimensions. He also owns the store property at No. 114 Penn street, and handles a choice line of domestic and imported liquors, having the reputation of conducting one of the best kept places in the city of Reading. He com- mands the best trade in Reading and the surrounding country. Although giving his business the closest at- tention, Mr. Fisher finds time for recreation, being very fond of fishing, and many of the finny tribe have yielded to his rod and line. Mr. Fisher spends his vacations at Anglesea, New Jersey.

Mr. Fisher has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Emma Quinter, who died in 1895, leaving these children: William, deceased; George L .; Adam S .; Edgar R .; and Helen M. Mr. Fisher's second marriage occurred in 1897, to Agnes Focht, daughter of Solomon Focht. Politically Mr. Fisher is a Re- publican. He is a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 227, F. & A. M., Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the I. O. R. M., being also a member of the Maen- nerchor and the Reading Fishing Club.

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

Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 167

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