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 171

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 171

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Samuel Mogel, son of Valentine (2), was born Nov. 2, 1805, and died May 4, 1858. He married Sarah Bag- enstose, and they had thirteen children.

Emendou B. Mogel, son of Samuel and father of Dr. Peter S., was born Nov. 11. 1834. in Centre town- ship. Berks county, and he became a well-known man in his district. He was a veterinary surgeon and for many years was located at Bernville, where he died Dec. 17, 1901. He married Louise Schade, daughter of Joseph Schade. and they had two children .: Dr. Peter S .; and Rev. Levi S., born April 26, 1860, and now a Presbyterian minister located at Woodburn, Ore., mar- ried to Maud Mckinney.

Dr. Peter S. Mogel received his preliminary educa- tion in the schools of Bernville, and then entered the Dental Department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1889. He then located at Bernville where for a time he followed his profession, coming to Reading in 1892. He is a mem- her of the Dental Alumni of the State University; of the State Dental Society; of the Lebanon Valley Dis- trict Dental Society; of the Reading Dental Society. Fraternally he belongs to Isaac Hiester Lodge, No. 660, F. & A. M .: Lodge No. 115, B. P. O. E .; and Coun- cil No. 495, Royal Arcanum.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Dr. Mogel married Laura C. Burkhart, and they have two sons: J. Vincent and Paul B.

Henry W. Mogel, son of Valentine (2) and Cath- arine (Meyer) Mochel, was born Jan. 30, 1792, and died Nov. 14, 1867. He was a farmer on the old homestead. He was one of the founders and an official member of Belleman's Reformed Church in Centre township; and he was prominent in public affairs, holding a number of offices.

David W. Mogel, son of Henry W., was born Sept. 17, 1838, and has long been one of the well-known men in the political life of Berks county. In 1887 he was elected county treasurer, and filled that office efficiently for three years. During the Civil war he served in Company D, 167th Pa. V. I. His fraternal connections are with McLean Post No. 16, G. A. R .; Washington Camp, No. 165, P. O. S. of A .; and the Pennsylvania Grange. He married Eliza Fryberger, and they had nine children: Morgan F., born July 20, 1862; Albert F., Nov. 5, 1864; Valentine F., Nov. 28, 1866 (died Jan. 30, 1896); Ellen F., April 20, 1869 (died Sept. 22, 1887) ; Howard F., June 16, 1871; Levi F., Sept. 9, 1873; John F., June 8, 1879; Adam F., March 29, 1881 (died Nov. 17, 1888); and David F., July 28, 1885.

Albert F. Mogel, son of David W., was born Nov. 5, 1864. For some years he was a teacher in the pub- lic schools. In 1902 he was elected sheriff of Berks county on the Democratic ticket, serving three years. He is now, living in Leesport, where he has a general store. He is president of the First National Bank of Leesport. Fraternally he is a member of Vaux Lodge, No. 406, F. & A. M., Hamburg; Reading Lodge of Perfection; Philadelphia Consistory, 32d degree; Oley Lodge, No. 218, I. O. O. F .; Washington Camp, No. 165, P. O. S. of A .; Meade Camp, No. 16, S. of V .; Leesport Castle. No. 503, K. G. E .; Ontelaunee Council, No. 985, O. of I. A .; Leesport Camp, No. 9284, M. W. of A .; Leesport Temple. No. 10, O. U. A .; Munson Council, No. 282, D. of L.

On April 19. 1887, Mr. Mogel married Alice Henrietta Rahn, daughter of William Rahn. Their only daugh- ter, Emma V., is married to Prof. H. C. Snyder. A son, Adam C., died Dec. 11, 1890, aged two years.

GEORGE H. FELIX has been a resident of the city of Reading. Pa., since January, 1874. He was born in Elizabethtown, Lancaster Co., Pa .. Dec. 29, 1853. His father, still living in this city at the age of ninety- five years, is Jacob Felix, son of Henry Felix.

Stephen Felix, his great-grandfather, was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1741, emigrated to this coun- try when a young man and settled near Hummels- town. in Dauphin county, where he engaged in farm- ing and followed it through life. He died .Oct. 21, 1821, aged eighty years. He married Mary Magdelena Eckenroth, of Elizabethtown, who died Feb. 19, 1819. Stephen Felix was prominently identified with the early history of Pennsylvania and was one of the pioneer members of the Catholic Church. worshipping in the then Mission Church in Elizabethtown, which was erected in 1779.

Henry Felix, son of Stephen, was born and resided all his life on a farm in Dauphin county, Pa., near Elizabethtown, Pa., where his son Jacob was born. His wife was Rosanna Lawrence, born in Goshenhop- pen, now Bally, Pa., who died Nov. 9, 1857.

.Jacob Felix, son of Henry, married Mary Elizabeth Gross, who was born near Middletown, Dauphin county, and died in Reading, Pa., in July, 1883, at the age of sixty-three years. She was the daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Mackey) Gross. The former, Adam Gross, was a son of Andrew Gross, who died Sept. 19, 1829, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife, Anna Maria Gross, who died March 25, 1819. aged sixty- six years. The Gross family in their earlier years were engaged principally in mercantile pursuits, and were also among the early Catholic settlers in this State.

The ancestors on both sides of the family of George H. Felix were honorable and progressive citizens, some of whom took prominent part in public affairs in the first half of the nineteenth century.

Mr. George H. Felix passed his early years in Eliza- . bethtown, where he received but a common school education until sixteen years of age, when he began an apprenticeship at the cabinet-making trade with his father, who was then engaged in the furniture manu- facturing business in that place. He completed his trade when nineteen years of age, after which he was employed as a cabinet-maker in a furniture factory in Middletown, Pa. In 1872 he secured employment in the cabinet department in the Pennsylvania Railway shops in Philadelphia, which continued for about one and one-half years. During his stay in Philadelphia he secured a business training in the night school of the Bryant Stratton Business College, which latter served him well. when, with his father, in 1874 he en- gaged in the retail furniture and undertaking business in Reading. In 1876 the furniture part of the business was discontinued, and their sole attention was given to the undertaking business. This partnership was continued until January, 1897. when the father retired, and the son continued the business until May, 1906. From July, 1889, to January, 1897, he was also engaged in the manufacture of bank and office fixtures, hotel bars, and interior house finishings.

Soon after locating in Reading, and when still a young man Mr. Felix became associated with some of the leaders of the Democratic party, and winning their favor soon became popular in the party. In April, 1880, he was chosen clerk of common council of the city, which position he held for three one-year terms. Declining a renomination to this office in 1883, he be- came a candidate for clerk of select council and ex- officio city clerk, and received the caucus nomination over his opponent. Factional differences among coun- cilmen prevented an election. In April, 1884, Mr. Felix was again the caucus nominee and was elected, and re-elected for four succeeding terms, thus serving with great credit five years as city clerk. The clerk of select council was also ex-officio secretary of the board of water commissioners. The business of the Water Department attracted Mr. Felix's attention more particularly, and he made a close study of its affairs. In February, 1891, Mr. Felix was elected by city coun- cils a member of the board of water commissioners for the Fourth district for a term of four years, an honorary position to which he was re-elected for three additional successive terms. In March, 1892, he was chosen by his colleagues president of the board, and continued the directing head of the Department for a period of ten years, during which time he took the initiative in making and executing plans for the future development and growth of the water works system, so as to meet the demands of a rapidly growing city population. In the board one of his special desires was to preserve harmonious relations with his col- leagues, thus securing united action in his. recommenda- tions for the betterment of the system.

His progressive spirit, indomitable energy, and care- ful judgment, together with the prestige he obtained among the city councilmen, were influences which induced the city fathers to support him and the water board in almost any legislation recommended for the extension, maintenance and financial benefit of the Water Department. The one improvement to the water works system which Mr. Felix most persistently urged for many years, and the one most stubbornly resisted by the people of the city, was the purification of the whole water supply by some system of filtration, a work thoroughly practical, economical and necessary to the health and happiness of the citizens. His agitation of this question began in 1895, and securing the concurrence of his colleagues in his views, was con- tinued for years until in 1902 he secured authority for a sample filter plant for the Egelman supply. The

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

success of this plant proved a strong recommendation Brotherhood of the Holy Cross, of which he has been for authority, granted later, to build at Twentieth street and treasurer for the past sixteen years. He has a large acquaintance in the business and social circles of the city. Perkiomen avenue a plant of the same type for the Antietam supply, the most objectionable drinking · water in summer furnished to the citizens. So success- CHARLES N. FRAME, an enterprising business man of Reading, manager and city circulator of the Reading Eagle, with which paper he has been identi- fied since 1875, was born Dec. 21, 1848, at Reading, son of Conrad and Catherine (Marx) Frame, and grandson of George Ulrich Fremd, as the name was originally spelled. ful and satisfactory have been the results attained by this improvement, that the citizens generally withdrew their antagonism to the filtration of the water supply, and conceded that Mr. Felix together with. the other members of the board had really done a great work, and deserved the commendation of every citizen. That this was true is proved by the fact that a few years later a loan of $500,000 was voted by the people for the purification of the remaining sources of supply, viz .: the Maiden Creek and the Bernhart Creek, by the same system of filtration.

Mr. Felix continued as a water commissioner until September, 1904, when he resigned and was chosen by the board general manager of the Water Department, pursuant to an ordinance unanimously passed by councils creating that office and prescribing duties. He served in this capacity for a period of seventeen months, when the legality of the ordinance creating the position was raised by a few citizens, and a suit in court begun to decide it. Not desiring to hold an office of doubtful legality he resigned it Feb. 1, 1906, before the case was tried, thus ending an honorable career in public life of about twenty-two years, thirteen of which were served gratuitously. Mr. Felix enjoys the confidence of the best people in the city, many of whom regard his efforts in behalf of the city Water Department as laying the foundation for the present excellent water works system. He continues his interest in the water works and takes pleasure in seeing that many of the improvements now being made are along the lines he favored in years gone by. He retains his membership in the American Water Works Association, which connection has now covered a period of sixteen years, served five years on its executive committee, and was chosen its president in 1907, and pre- sided in the City of Washington in 1908 at the largest convention it ever held. He is also a member of the New England Water Works Association, and was chosen a member of the Pennsylvania Water Works Association in 1908, and was immediately chosen its second vice-president. He was director of the Second National Bank, and president of the Reading Suburban Water Company for several years. He is at present engaged in real estate operations, the build- ing and development of real estate on his own ac- count and for others, and is the manager of the West Reading Realty Company.

Mr. Felix has enjoyed twenty-five years of married life. On Feb. 6. 1884, he wedded Katharine V., daugh- . ter of Francis J. and Catharine P. Obert, of Reading. Mr. Obert, who was proprietor of the Union Boiler Works of Reading, was born in Baden, Germany, but came to this country when still in his minority. Mrs. Obert, whose maiden name was Winter, was born in Reading of German parentage. Her father was Joseph Winter who for many years was proprietor of a tan- nery at Second and Chestnut streets, Reading. Mrs. Felix has two sisters, Mary and Anna, residing in Reading with the father. To Mr. and Mrs. Felix have been born two daughters, Gertrude Loyola and Mary Katharine. Gertrude L. graduated from the Reading high school in 1904, and took a post-graduate course of two years in preparation for a course in Wellesley Col- lege which, unfortunately, ill health compelled her to relinquish after a short stay at the college. M. Katha- rine after leaving the city grammar school completed her education by a three years' course at Mt. Aloysius Academy, Cresson. Pa., and two years at Eden Hall, Academy of the Sacred Heart, Torresdale. Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Felix and his family are' consistent mem- bers of St. Peter's Catholic Church. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Beneficial

George Ulrich Fremd was born June 2, 1773, in Vaihingen, Germany, where he married, Feb. 11, 1798, Christina Dorothea Alsesser. born in the same place, June 10, 1774. Prior to coming to America Mr. Fremd had worked as a tanner and currier, but after coming to this country probably engaged in farming, settling in the vicinity of Reading. His death was caused by an accident while fording the Schuylkill river in 1823, when he was aged fifty years. Mr. Fremd and his wife had the following children: Johann Christian, born Jan. 24, 1799, settled in Mifflin county; Johannes, born May 13, 1803, moved to Philadelphia; Anna Maria, born May 28, 1805, settled in Philadelphia; Christina Doro- thea, born Sept. 13, 1811, m. George Ulrich, born Nov. 21, 1814, and they lived in Philadelphia; Eliza, born in Berks county, m. Risden Nichols; and Conrad, born Jan. 27, 1816.

Conrad Frame was a small boy when he accompanied his parents to America, and after the death of his fath- er he lived for a few months with his brother Christian, and then started out to make his own way in the world. He found a position as tow boy on the canal, and through his industry and attention to the details of his work he was promoted until the time came when he was made master of the canal boat known as the "Rough and Ready." which was owned by Darrah & Young, of Leesport, Pa. He continued to follow the boating business until 1848, when he engaged in a mercantile business at Jackson's Locks. Here he did an extensive business in supplying and outfitting canal boats and he continued this enterprise until 1861. In 1863' he engaged in a coal business at the Lancaster bridge, at the Haubner stand, which is still in the posses- sion of the family. He remained in that business until his death in 1885. Both he and his wife, Catherine Marx, are buried at the Charles Evans cemetery. He was a Lutheran in religious belief, while she was reared a Methodist. Mr. and Mrs. Frame had seven children: William J., a retired resident of Reading; Charles N .; George C., deceased; Harry C., formerly engaged in the coal business at Reading; Samuel A .. deceased; H. W .; and A. L., who is engaged in a foundry business in this city.

Charles N. Frame was educated in the schools of Reading and attended the old Reading high school, where many of the leading citizens of Reading were educated. When he started to work, his first position was that of clerk and errand boy in a grocery, owned by William J. Rhoads, with whom he remained until the business was bought out by Mr. Markley. with whom Mr. Frame remained until he in turn sold out. For two years following he was a clerk in a general store conducted by David Keiser, whom he left to en- gage in a grocery business with his father, with whom he remained one year and then accepted a position with an uncle in Philadelphia for a short period. Mr. Frame then returned to his native city, and for two years conducted a flour and feed business, which he subsequently sold and went into a men's furnishing business, and this he disposed of in 1875 in order to accept the agency of the Reading Eagle. Mr. Frame has been very successful in this line, and since 1875 has had the sole management of the city circulation, including the hiring of the newsboys and office help, and has in his employ some seventy-five people. It will thus be seen that Mr. Frame is a very necessary factor in the business success of this popular journal.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Mr. Frame was married to Louisa Bertolet, daugh- he was a Democrat. Mr. Gerhart married Sarah Ann ter of Maberry Bertolet, and they have had seven Huber, daughter of Jonas and Maria (Kurtz) Huber, and to this union were born the following children: Clara m. G. W. Rehrer, and has three children, J. Franklin, Robert and Paul; Simon W., a buyer for a dry goods house of Cleveland, Ohio, has these children, Glen, Clyde, Leslie, Gordon and Margaretta; Mary E. m. William Landaw, and resides at home with her mother; Ella m. Charles E. Bodey, who is in the hardware business in Reading, and has had children, Earle (died Sept. 25, 1906), Maria and Allen. Mrs. Ger- hart came to Reading with her family in 1871, and has since resided at her home, No. 928 Elm street. children, as follows: Robert; Katherine; Charles, de- ceased; Bertolet F .; Maria D .; Helen M., and Louisa D. In their religious belief the family are Presby- terians. Fraternally Mr. Frame belongs to St. John's Lodge, No. 435, F. & A. M. He formerly belonged to the I. O. O. F., was a charter member of Perseverance Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a member of Mt. Penn Council, Royal Arcanum. He is a member of the Liberty Fire Company. Mr. Frame has always taken a good citizen's interest in the city's affairs, and has served one year as a member of the council from the First ward. Mr. Frame gives liberal support to schools, churches, chari- ties and benevolent objects, and has never been want- ing in public spirit when measures looking to the wel- fare of his fellow citizens have been brought to his attention. He is probably as well known as any citizen of Reading, who has been a resident here for as many years.

FRANKLIN W. GERHART. Among the prominent and enterprising citizens of Berks county was the late Franklin W. Gerhart, whose death occurred Nov. 11, 1868. He was born in Bedford county, Pa., in 1829, brother of the late Rev. Henry Gerhart.

The following is taken from one of the local papers at the time of the death of the Rev. Henry Gerhart: "Rev. Henry Gerhart, an aged gentleman, for many years past a resident of North Wales, died at his home at School street, Tuesday night, Dec. 17, at 11:30 o'clock, of heart disease. He had not been in his usual good health for a week past, but no serious outcome was expected from his indisposition. Deceased was at one time a minister, a school teacher and a soldier, serving in the Rebellion, participating in the battle of Antie- tam. He was born in Bedford, Bedford Co., Pa., Dec. 6, 1821, his father at that time being a missionary to that country, having been sent from Hatfield by the Re- formed Synod of this section of the State. In 1829 the father again became a resident of Hatfield, and Henry attended school in that vicinity. From there he went to Mercersburg College, and after graduating taught school for eight years in Kentucky. Then he went to Franklin and Marshall College at Lancaster to prepare for the ministry. After finishing the pre- scribed courses there he received several calls to various churches, but never accepted any of them. He then enlisted for four years in the Union Army under Gen- eral Sherman and during his army life contracted sev- eral diseases, the most serious of which was asthma, and for which he received a pension. Two years ago he was an inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Erie, Pa. He was an intelligent and well-read gentleman, and during his leisure hours wrote many interesting ac- counts of his war experiences besides articles upon religious and historical subjects. The branch of the Gerhart family of which he was a member is a large one, consisting of ten children, as follows: Fannie, now living in North Wales; Christiana. of Philadelphia; Mrs. Jesse Hendricks, of North Wales; Elizabeth, who died in Bedford; Jacob, of Norristown; Simon, of Lansdale; Samuel who died in Hatfield; Franklin W., who died some years ago while distributing some mail in his store at Limerick Square, and Dr. Alexander Gerhart, who died in Lansdale."

Franklin W. Gerhart attended the public schools and Franklin and Marshall College at Lancaster, and for a time taught school, later engaging in the mercantile business at Limerick Square, Pa., where he remained until his death. He was postmaster at this point, hav- ing the office in his store, and rose early on the morn- ing of his death. While attending to his duties at his office, his death occurred. He was a well-known and highly-esteemed man, and his death occurred when he was thirty-nine years, two months and five days old. He was a member of the Reformed Church; in politics

Jonas Huber, father of Mrs. Gerhart, followed farm- ing at Gilbertsville, and was a very prominent man of his day, serving as deacon and elder of the Re- formed Church. In politics he was a Democrat. He and his wife were the parents of three children: Mil- ton, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Sarah A., who became Mrs. Gerhart; and Rev. S. M. K. Huber, of Philadelphia.

The Rev. S. M. K. Huber, a minister of the Re- formed Church, graduated from Mechanicsburg, Pa., seminary. He married Amanda Fritz, of Limerick, Pa., and they have a family of seven children, namely: Mary B., Martha D., Ella B., Sallie, Nevin, Paul and Bertha.

JOHN S. MATTHIAS, prominently identified with business, political and fraternal circles of Reading. was born in that city, Oct. 23, 1860, son of David and Eliza- beth (Whitman) Matthias.

David Matthias lives retired in Reading. His two sons both reside here also: W. C., Superintendent of Fire Alarm at City Hall; and John S., who is the rep- resentative of the Lauer Brewing Company.

John S. Matthias attended school in Reading and then entered the Keystone State Normal School at Kutz- town, after which he took a commercial course at the Reading business college, where he graduated. He then served as bookkeeper in a brickyard for five years, and spent four years as a clerk in a mercantile estab- lishment at Kutztown. Following this he was con- nected for some eight years with the Reading Eagle, and then became bill clerk with the United States Ex- press Company for about four years. On Feb. 1, 1900, Mr. Matthias became associated with the Lauer Brew- ing Company.

Mr. Matthias was married to Sallie E. Wilson. daugh- ter of Lyman Wilson, a well known citizen of Reading. Politically Mr. Matthias is a Republican. In 1904 he was elected a member of the city council from the Fifth ward, by a majority of 216 votes, the largest vote ever given any candidate for the same office in that ward. He is a valued member of Reading Lodge of Elks, No. 115; and of quite a number of other sec- ret organizations.

WILLIAM F. ANTHONY, a contracting brick- layer of No. 327 North Ninth street, Reading, and one of that city's representative citizens, was born Dec. 7, 1849, in Bern township, Berks county, son of Thomas and Rebecca (Spade) Anthony.

John Anthony, grandfather of William F., was a rail- road employe and worked for the Philadelphia & Read- ing Company many years. He died in Reading at the age of sixty years, he and his wife, Henrietta Schantz, having been the parents of eighteen children, seventeen sons and one daughter, among whom were Thomas, Henry, George, William, Charles, Luther, Cyrus, John C. and Emma (m. John Plaster, of Huntington, Ind.).

Thomas Anthony was in his youth employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Company as fireman, and later promoted to the position of engineer, which he held until the time of his death, in his thirty-seventh year. His widow, Rebecca (Spade) Anthony, who is living at the age of eighty-three years, makes her home with

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

her youngest son, Daniel. Their children were: Wil- Printz included as one of the directors of the company; liam F .; John; Selida, m. George Fick; Daniel; and Rebecca, deceased.

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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 171

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