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 169

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 169

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On Nov. 21, 1895, Rev. Mr. Krick was united in mar- riage with Jennie P. Hain, daughter of Peter L. and Sue L. (Oberholtzer) Hain, of Heidelberg township, and a descendant of George Hain (Hohn), who granted the land upon which is erected the Hains Reformed Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Krick have been born two daughters: Marie H., born July 21, 1898; and Ruth H., born May 12, 1901. Mrs. Krick is an ideal minister's wife and is prominently identified with every phase of church work.

RICHARD B. KRICK, a retired citizen of Sinking Spring. was born Feb. 1, 1835, on the original home- stead of Frantz Crick, in what is now Spring town- ship, son of Jacob Krick (son of Francis (3) ). He be- gan his education in the pay schools which were then in vogue in his district, attending the old pay school held in the eight-cornered school-house which is so

Historical Society, he having supplied the major part of the information for the article mentioned. Later, when the free schools were established, he attended them for two or three months during the winter for a few years. Much of his education, however, has been self- acquired, and he has read and observed with intelli- gence all his long life.

Mr. Krick was reared on the homestead, where he worked until he was thirty years old, and in the spring of 1866 he began farming on his own account in Spring township, where he continued agricultural pur- suits successfully for twenty years. He built the pres- ent house on this farm which he still owns, in about 1874, and had previously put up the barn, in 1868. This place was originally a Rollman tract. It comprises ninety-seven acres, and is one of the best farms in the valley. In 1887 he retired to the small tract at Sinking Spring where he has since made his home.

Mr. Krick is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlist- ed at Reading Oct. 27, 1862, for a period of nine months. He actually served, however, but fifteen days less than a year, being mustered out Aug. 12, 1863, as sergeant of Company E, 167th Pa. V. I. He saw active service at the battle of the Deserted Farm (where his colonel was mortally wounded) and was on picket duty when they fought at Carrsville, Virginia.

Mr. Krick is a Democrat in political opinion and has been somewhat active in local affairs, having served nine consecutive years as school director of Spring township and meantime acted as president of the board; he was also auditor of the district for a num- ber of years. He is much respected in his district. and has always been known as a good citizen. In spite of his advanced age his mind is clear and he is well preserved in every way.

On Oct. 27, 1859, Mr. Krick married Emma Bickel, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Miller) Bickel, of Reading. She died Dec. 17, 1908, aged seventy years, eight days, and rests in the family plot at Sinking Spring. To Mr. and Mrs. Krick were born three children: Albert died when one year old. Lizzie S., born in 1861, married Miller Evans, of Reading, and died in 1902, the mother of six children, Annie (de- ceased), Emma, John, Richard, Fred, and Frank (the last named deceased). Jacob B. is mentioned be- low.

Mr. Krick and his family are members of St. John's Reformed Church at Sinking Spring, of which he served as trustee for three years, deacon for some years, and elder two years. He has always been active in the work and enterprises of the church, and is a director of the Sinking Spring Union Cemetery Com- pany. He is a member of Castle No. 334, K. G. E., of Sinking Spring, and has been treasurer since its organ- ization in 1889. He is also active in the Krick Family Reunion Association. and in 1908 made the welcome ad- dress at the annual gathering. He has a resourceful mind. and was of great assistance to the historian of the Reunion Association, and also of this volume.

JACOB B. KRICK, son of Richard B., was born in Spring township, June 23, 1867, and was educated in the local public schools and Charter Oak Academy, as well as the select school known as Carroll In- stitute on North Fourth street, Reading, then under the care of Prof. Patrick Carroll. Later he entered Lafayette College, but he left that institution to ac- cept a responsible position with the Enterprise Manu- facturing Company, of Philadelphia, in whose service he has been since 1889. The company employs 750 men. Mr. Krick is a member of the Order of Inde- pendent Americans. He is unmarried.

HENRY B. KRICK was born in Spring township, Berks county, Jan. 16, 1839, son of Daniel and Susan (Bohn) Krick, and died Aug. 3, 1906, and is buried at Sinking Spring. He was reared to farm life, and soon after his marriage began farming near Sinking Spring,

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BIOGRAPHICAL

where he lived many years. He later moved to a tract along the pike a half mile above Sinking Spring, where he lived retired until his death. His farm con- sisted of about 150 acres, and belonged to his father. The Henry B. Krick residence is now the property of Robert Lance.

Mr. Krick was a Democrat in politics, and held the office of school director. During the Civil war he served as a soldier and contracted rheumatism, from which he suffered all the rest of his life, and which in fact caused his retirement from active work quite early in life. He was prominent and influential in his community, and was highly esteemed by all.

Mr. Krick married Catharine Smith, daughter of Daniel and Annie (Funk) Smith, of near Denver, Lan- caster county. She died Dec. 5, 1901, in the sixty- first year of her age. Five children blessed this un- ion: Daniel, who died in infancy; Anna S., residing at West Reading; Stephen, who died in infancy; Daisy, who resides at No. 521 Weiser street, Reading; and Laura, who died in infancy.

JOHN L. SCHARFF, a resident of Reading since 1887, was born March 27, 1837, at Host, in Tulpehocken township, Berks county. He is a descendant in the fifth generation from Conrad Scharff, the ancestor of a family which became numerous in western Berks county, a few of whose descendants still reside in the Stouchsburg) and Emma M. vicinity of Stouchsburg.

(I) Conrad Scharff (also spelled Sharff and Scharf, though Scharff is the correct form) was born March 22, 1697, in Germany, and in 1709 landed at New York with his parents. They located at Livingstone Manor, in New York, but later with many other German fam- ilies, settled at Schoharie, where they lived in peace and contentment until about 1719. In 1723 thirty-three fam- ilies moved to Pennsylvania, settling in Tulpehocken, some fifteen miles west of the Schuylkill river. Among these settlers were George and Peter Reith, Gottfried Fitler, Conrad Schuetz, Antonius Scharff, Christian Lauer, Andraes Walborn, Lorentz Zerbe, Sebastian Fischer. Johan Peter Pacht, Johann Adam Lerch and George Ansbach. In 1728 fifteen other families left the Schoharie and settled in the same vicinity, among this colony being Conrad Scharff. He was a farmer by oc- cupation. It is not known what relationship existed between Antonius and Conrad Scharff, but it is likely that they were brothers. Conrad Scharff died May 15, 1776. His wife, Maria Margaret, born July 28, 1721, died April 20, 1781. These pioneers are buried in the graveyard of the Little Tulpehocken Church. On Oct. 10, 1772, Conrad Scharff lived in Heidelberg township. His will, on record in Will Book A, page 17, men- tions the following children: George, who was to have £5 for his birthright; John, who was to have a plan- tation; Esther (Riegner); Catharine Margaret, and Mary Catharine.

(II) Georg (George) Scharff, the eldest son of Con- rad, lived in Heidelberg township, Berks county, where he died some time in the year 1826. He was a farmer, and left his farm by will to his son John. His last will and testament, made in 1825, was witnessed by John and Paul Wenrich. It is in the old style of German script, written in very fine letters, and is ex- ceedingly hard to interpret and almost impossible of translation. It mentions a daughter Elizabeth, who it appears was twice married, one of her husbands being John Riessar, by whom she had John, Samuel and Maria Riessar.

Susanna (born July 8, 1788, died March 6, 1857, m. Leonard Zerbe).

(III) Johan Georg Scharff, son of John, born April 6, 1790, died Mây 25, 1861, in his seventy-second year. He lived and died on his farm near Stouchsburg, which consisted of 121 acres, and which after his death be- longed to his son Willoughby, after the latter's death coming into the possession of Morris W. Scharff, the present owner. On Dec. 31, 1817, he married Catha- rine Walborn (1794-1872), and they are buried side by side in the graveyard of Christ's Lutheran Church, in Marion township. They had a family of six child- ren: Harriet died unmarried; Eliza married Benjamin Miller; Rebecca married Isaac H. Wenrich; Willough- by is mentioned below; Jonathan never married; Ed- ward died when young.

(IV) Willoughby Scharff, son of Johan Georg, was born in Mill Creek township, Lebanon Co., Pa., Oct. 10, 1825, and died Jan. 5, 1907, in his eighty-second year. When he was two years old he was brought by his parents to a farm near Stouchsburg, and there he spent the remainder of his life, following farming throughout his active years. He was a Democrat, and served as school director of Marion township. He and his family were members of Christ Lutheran Church. His wife, Mary (Wilhelm), was a daughter of Jacob and Barbara Wilhelm. They had four child- ren: Amanda, Morris W., John W. (a cigar-maker at

(V) Morris W. Scharff, born near Stouchsburg June 15, 1857, came into possession of his father's farm in 1879, and still cultivates that place. The bed of the Union canal passes through his property. The barn, 43 by 105 feet in dimensions, was built by his father in 1870, and the stone house, a residence of colonial architecture, was built by his grandfather, Johan Georg Scharff, in 1837. Mr. Scharff is active in local affairs, has served as school director of Marion township, and in 1907 was elected a justice of the peace, which office he is at present filling. He is a Democrat in politics.

In 1878 Mr. Scharff married Amanda E. Peiffer, daughter of Philip and Maria (Zerbe) Peiffer, and they have had two children, Mary E. and Horace P. The daughter married John J. Swalm and lives in Read- ing. Mr. Scharff is a member and officer of Christ Lutheran Church.

(III) Daniel Scharff, son of John, born Sept. 4, 1793, in Tulpehocken township, died June 17, 1866, in his seventy-third year. He was a farmer, and also con- ducted the "Cross Keys hotel" and ware house for grains, salt, and coal, on the Union Canal, for many years. On June 30, 1813, he married Eva Elizabeth Forrer, born May 7, 1789, died Aug. 9, 1847, and to them were born two children, Isaac and Mary, the latter the wife of Jonathan Klopp, a hotel proprietor in Stouchsburg, Berks Co., and later a miller at Selins- grove, Pa. Mr. Scharff, when his daughter moved to Selinsgrove, became a resident of Womelsdorf, and lived in the family of his granddaughter, Mrs. George Filbert, but died while at the home of his daughter, on a visit, and he is buried at Host, Berks county.

(IV) Isaac Scharff, son of Daniel, was born Aug. 22, 1814, in the vicinity of Cross Keys. and died Aug. 26, 1845, aged thirty-one years, four days, and is buried at Tulpehocken Church. In his youth he at- tended the Harrisburg Academy for several winters, while he assisted his father on the farm during the summer days. He married Rebecca Leiss (1813-1847), daughter of John Leiss. In 1837 he moved his family to his farm about a mile east of Myerstown, Lebanon Co., Pa., and became the farmer thereof. He was inclined to music, and more than ordinarily skilled in mechanics. He organized the Washington Band of Myerstown, and conducted the same until his death. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. To him

(II) John (Johan) Scharff, younger son of Conrad, was a farmer in Tulpehocken township. He died some time during 1838, his will having been entered on Dec. 20th of that year. It is written in German, was made April 20, 1829, and is on record in Will Book VIII, page 93. His wife, Rosina, must have died prior to the making of this document. The following children are mentioned: Johannes, Johan Georg, Daniel, and and his wife were born children as follows: John L .;

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Maria, who died young; Emma (deceased), m. to the piano by her uncle, and was a teacher on the George Filbert, after she had finished her education at Linden Hall, Lititz, Pa .; and William.

(V) William Scharff, son of Isaac and Rebecca, at- tended the common schools, and Academy in Myers- town and finished his education at the Jonestown In- stitute of Lebanon county. Being musically inclined, he spent several years at the Boston Conservatory of music, and later, two years in Stuttgart, Germany, as student on the piano, after which he became a teacher of music, and made it his life profession. He con- ducted the Brass Band at Womelsdorf for many years, playing clarionet. In 1876 he married Miss Mary C. Leinbach, daughter of Joseph Leinbach, merchant, in Reading. To this union was born, one daughter, Elsie, who studied drama in New York and the old country, and toured the States with the Louis James Company. Mr. Scharff was the professor of music at the Jones- town Institute for some time, and had many stu- dents in Womelsdorf and vicinity. In the spring of 1888 he moved his family to Kansas City, Mo., where he still continues his profession. During the Civil War, he enlisted with the band, of Womelsdorf, and did camp service in Camp Cameron at Harrisburg for about three months, when he was transferred to Phila- delphia, Pa., and mustered into Company E, of the 90th Pa. V. I., as private musician Nov. 26, 1861. He left with the regiment the following spring, for the seat of war, but was taken sick, and placed in the hospital at Washington, where he was discharged and taken home. He recovered after many days, and fol- lowed his profession again.

(V) John L. Scharff was born March 27, 1837, at Host, Berks county, on the farm of his grandfather John Leiss. In April following, he was taken to his father's farm in Jackson township, Lebanon county, about one mile east of Myerstown, where he spent his youth, and attended the Myerstown Academy of which his father was a stock-holder. About the age of seventeen he became a teacher in the public schools under Prof. Henry Houck, then Superintendent of schools in Lebanon county, now the honored Secretary of internal affairs in Pennsylvania. In 1857 and 1858, he was a student of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster .. Pa., after which he lived with his widowed aunt in Host (Mrs. John S. Leiss), where he again spent his time in teaching school. In 1860 he be- came a resident of Womelsdorf living in his sister's (Mrs. Geo. Filbert's) family. He cast his first vote for the great Lincoln, and has been a warm Republican ever since. He was a charter member of the Minnehaha Cornet Band of Womelsdorf, in which he took a deep interest, and in September, 1861, went with the same to Harrisburg, and enlisted as Regimental Band, doing Camp duties in Camp Cameron until some time in No- vember, when the Band was transferred to Philadel- phia, and on the 26th of that month, were mustered as private musicians for three years in the 90th Pa. V. I. He became a member of Company H of that regiment. and spent the winter in Camp on Nicetown Lane in Philadelphia. In the early spring of 1862, he left with the Regiment for the seat of war, and participated in the battle at White Mountain, and on the 18th day of the following September, was discharged with the band by an order of the Adjutant General at Washing- ton, D. C. On July 2, 1863, he re-enlisted as sergeant of Company K, 42nd Pa. V. I. for ninety days, and was again discharged on August 11th, following.

same, and connected with Church Choirs and the Choral Societies of the able Prof. Ed. Berg, and Mrs. Dr. Howel of Reading. She was domestically inclined, and remained unmarried with her parents. William be- came a clarinetist and played with the Franklin Band of Philadelphia, a number of years. He was a cigar packer by trade, and died June 25, 1897. Emma was a milliner by trade, and a proficient performer on the guitar. She conducted a ladies Mandolin and Guitar Club for several years. She died July 25, 1901. Ella and Annie died at the age of five years. Mr. Scharff moved his family to Reading, Pa., in March, 1887. He connected himself with the Reading Hardware Co., with which he is still employed. For a number of years he was a member of the Ringgold Band. He is a mem- ber of McLean Post No. 16, G. A. R .; and a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Reading. His home is at No. 349 South Third Street.

WELLINGTON I. ADDAMS, youngest son of Isaac Addams, was born on the old farm about two miles from the Sinking Springs, in Berks county, Pa., and received . his early education at the Van Reed private school near his home. After that he attended the Freeland Seminary, in Chester county, Pa., and finished at Bellefonte College, in Centre county, Pa. He then went to Philadelphia and took a course at Crittenden's Commercial College, and at once entered the foreign and domestic woolen commission business with the firm of E. Kirberg & Co., and continued this for several years. He then took a four months' trip to Europe, visiting England, France, Germany, Switzer- land and Italy, and on his return went into business for himself as "W. I. Addams & Co., foreign and domestic woolens on commission," at No. 611 Chestnut street, Pbil- adelphia.

Mr. Addams now married the youngest daughter, Sarah N., of Mr. Robert K. Neff, in 1873, and built a home in Germantown. where they lived for more than twenty-five years. His son Robert N. Addams, better known as "Bob Addams," the caricature artist for "Life," "Judge" and "Puck," made his home in New York, and is well known both here and abroad. His son Clifford I. Addams won the first scholarship prize, $800, at the Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia in 1899, and then started for Paris, entered the art school of Mr. James McNeill Whist- ler, and continued his studies there until the death of the famous painter, after which he went to London, and married Miss Inez Bate, an English lady, who had also studied art under Mr. Whistler, at the same time; Mr. Clifford I. Addams is now living in London, and has painted many important people during the last eight years. Miss Florence Biddle Addams, the only daughter of Mr. Wellington I. Addams, a few years ago married Mr. Robert G. Fell, and lives at their place, "Roslyn," Chest- nut Hill, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Addams retired from business during the fall of 1902 and with his family traveled extensively abroad. He is fond of traveling and now contemplates a tour of the world for 1910. The family spent several winters in the south of France, sojourning at Menton, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Nice, etc., and made many delightful acquaintances with fellow. travelers from London, Paris, Berlin, etc.

ADDAMS. The Addams family are of English an- cestry and tradition says they came from Leeds. In their early religious belief they were members of the Church of England, but in later life they became identified with the Reformed Church. They were prominent in the war of the Revolution. Many of their descendants have continued to be residents of Pennsylvania. During the life of the Whig party they took an active interest in its support and success. The progenitor of those descendants who have been in Berks county was the father of Robert Addams, of Ledwell. in Oxfordshire, England. Robert is supposed

On May 18, 1866, Mr. Scharff married Miss Otilla Moyer, daughter of Henry and Anna (Hain) Moyer, of Womelsdorf, Pa. Mr. Scharff then taught the gram- mar school in Womelsdorf for a number of years, be- ing at the same time organist and superintendent of the Sunday school of Zion's Church of the same place, and Secretary of Williamson Lodge No. 307, F. & A. M., of which he is still a member. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Scharff: Eva, William, Emma. to have emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1681, and then pur- Ella and Annie. Eva was given a liberal education on chased from William Penn 500 acres in Philadelphia coun-

WELLINGTON I. ADDAMS

ISAAC ADDAMS AND HIS WIFE REBECCA

Snack Adelan

Tifus Addams

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BIOGRAPHICAL

ty. He was not married, and had a number of nephews and Isaac and Rebecca (Haak) Addams. His early training nieces, including William. was all along agricultural lines, and he devoted himself

caster Co., Pa., early in the eighteenth century. In 1761 he laid out the town which is now the borough of Adamstown. He married Ann Lane, of Philadelphia, and they had five sons, Isaac, Abraham, Samuel, Richard and William, and one daughter. Two of these sons, William and Isaac, removed to Berks county, and settled in Heidelberg (now Spring) township. William married Barbara Ruth, and after his death his brother Isaac mar- ried the widow.

(II) Isaac Addams, above named, was a prominent man of his day. He was born where Adamstown is now sit- uated, in 1747, and died at Reading in April, 1809. He was a farmer for some years and then a leading merchant of Reading. In 1776 he was captain of a company of Light Infantry attached to Maj. Peter Grubb's Battalion of Associators in Lancaster county. He was a commis- sioner of Berks county from 1797 to 1800, and a member of the Assembly from Berks county in 1804 and 1805. He had six sons : William, Samuel, Isaac, Peter, Abraham and John.

(III) William Addams, son of Isaac, was born in Lan- caster county March 9, 1777. Early in life he went to Berks county, settling on Cacoosing creek, at the Addams Mill, where his exemplary habits of life, "his sterling in- tegrity, good sense and unostentatious sincerity of purpose" won for him a high place in the esteem of the people, and he was frequently called upon to fill positions of honor and trust. In 1813 and 1814 he was county auditor; 1814 and 1817, county commissioner; 1882 and 1824, member of the State Legislature; 1839-42, associate judge of the county ; 1825-29, a representative in Congress from Berks county ; and twice a Presidential elector. He served as captain of the Reading Troop for many years. He died at his home in Spring township March 31, 1858, aged eighty-one years. He married (first) Eva Van Reed, and they had five children : Kittie, wife of Rufus Davenport; Richard; Rebecca; Josiah; and Amelia, wife of John H. Van Reed. He married (second) Catharine Hney Van Reed, widow of John Van Reed, and by her had three children : William, John and Valeria (m. John Knapp).

(III) Isaac Addams (2), son of Isaac and brother of William, was born in Adamstown in 1779, and died there in 1844. His earlier years were devoted to farming, but in later life he was a hotel-keeper at Leesport. He married Catharine Eckert, and by her had seven children among them being: Sarah (married to Dr. Charles Zoller), Reub- en, Anna (married to John Runkel), John E. and Isaac. In politics he was a Whig.

(IV) Isaac Addams, son of Isaac (2), was born Jan. 3, 1801, at Adamstown, but his parents left that place and settled on a farm along the Cacoosing creek in Berks county when he was but three years of age. He was educated in the old pay' schools of the county, and remained at home helping his father on the farm until he attained his majority. He then followed farming on his own account, until his forty-ninth year, when he re- tired from active labor. In 1859 he moved to Reading, residing on Penn street until 1865, when he took up his residence at No. 52 North Fifth street, where he died in 1876. He, too, was a Whig. In his early life he took much interest in the State militia. He married Rebecca Haak (daughter of John and Elizabeth (Krause) Haak), born in 1789, died in 1866. The remains of both were buried in the family lot in the Charles Evans cemetery. They had four children : Henrietta C. died unmarried Oct. 15, 1908; Rufus, who died in 1894, married Rebecca Van Reed. and they had four children, John V. R. (unmarried), Annie V. R. (who died unmarried in 1909), Mary (who died unmarried) and Charles; Rebecca J. died unmarried in 1899; Wellington I. is mentioned above.

RUFUS ADDAMS (deceased), a well-known farmer along the Cacoosing creek, in Spring township, Berks county, was born in that township Sept. 30, 1825, son of

(I) William Addams settled in Cocalico township, Lan- all his life to the cultivation of farms in lower Berks county. His comfortable brick residence was erected by Jacob Haak in 1734, but was remodeled by Mr. Addams in 1892. He also built an addition which made it a very comfortable house, and as well the Swiss barn, 85 x 35 feet. Mr. Addams also owned a farm of 116 acres in Heidelberg township, and this is now the property of his daughter. He retired from active work about ten years before his death, Aug. 12, 1894. He and his family were members of St. John's Reformed Church at Sink- ing Spring, and there in the cemetery connected with that church is the family burial lot.

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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 169

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