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 179

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 179

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In his native locality Henry R. Eshelman secured his education, and when a lad he learned the trade of cutter, in which' capacity he later served for twenty- two years, four months, eighteen days with the Lein- bach Clothing Company, of Reading. From early youth he showed marked ability as a musician, the organ being his favorite instrument, and for nine years he served as organist in St. John's Reformed Church, later acting in the same capacity at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, where he remained for twelve years. Mr. Eshelman was highly respected by all who knew him, and his acquaintance was large. He was married Sept. 6. 1868, to Miss Emeline B. Gongler, daughter of John and Maria (Bamberger) Gongler, and to them there were born two children: Charles m. Emma Kerner, and lives at Franklin, Venango county, Pa., and has one child, Helen R .; and Paul died at the age of eight years.

DOMINIC MAURER, one of the leading business men of Reading, Pa., who is engaged in cement con- tracting, with office at No. 234 North Eleventh street, and yard at Moss and Green streets, was born in Alsace- Lorraine, Germany, in 1862, son of Anthony Maurer.

Anthony Maurer was a farmer in Germany, and came to America after the death of his wife, in 1882, on the ship "Canada," of a French line of steamers. Bringing a part of his family with him he landed at New York, May 4th, and came at once to Reading, where he worked as a laborer until his death, in May, 190.1. H'e was married in his native country to Anna Schwartzen- teuber, who died at the age of fifty-two years. They had children as follows: Joseph, of Altoona, Pa .; An- thony, a farmer, still residing in Germany, being burgo- master of the town of Albach, where he is very pop- ular; Engene, a carpenter in Reading; Margaret, m. to Peter Swope, of Reading; Dominic; Jacob, of Reading, employed with his brother, Dominic. The two eldest of this family served in the German army.

Dominic Maurer received his education in the public schools of his native country, and when a boy learned the trade of making wooden shoes which he followed until coming to America. Here his first employment was in the Scott works, Reading, where he remained one and one-half years, and then went to learn the cement business with his father-in-law, with whom he continued until July 23, 1902, at which time he em- barked in the business on his own account, and has continued therein to the present time with much suc- cess. He has erected some of the finest homes in and about Reading, including the home of George Deemer of Stony Creek. John Wagner of Reading, and Joseph White of Reading, and also built the Textile Machine Works, and did work at Wernersville and at Mineral Spring Park Hotel. . He is a property owner of the Ninth ward, where he has a fine residence. Mr. Maurer employs from thirty to forty men in his business, which includes cement pavements, vitrified brick pave- ments, cement steps, cement copings, concrete buildings,

In 1884 Mr. Maurer was married to Helen Wagen- blast, a daughter of Engelburg Wagenblast, of Wur- temberg, Germany. She died March 30, 1909. Their children were: Joseph, a clerk, lives in San Francisco, Cal .; John; Anthony and Dominic, twins, deceased; George; Dominic; Mary; Aloysius; Robert, deceased; Helen; Margaret, deceased; Janet, deceased; Janet (2); and Ottiella.

Mr. Maurer is a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and is connected with the Holy Cross Knights of St. George, and St. Boniface's Society.

EMANUEL RICHARDS, one of Reading's substan- tial citizens and old residents, and an honored veteran of the great Civil war, was born in Windsor township, Berks county, April 6, 1843, son of William and Sarah (Smith) Richards, and grandson of John Richards.

John Richards was a native of Scotland, and when a young man came to America, settling in New Jersey where he followed the occupation of furnaceman. Later he went to Chester county, Pa., continuing his vocation there and later in Berks county, being engaged at the Windsor furnace. Mr. Richards' last days were spent in retirement, he passing away in 1847, aged eighty years, in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. Po- litically he was a Democrat. He was married in Scot- land to Abbie Heacock, and their children were: John, William, Eli, Abbie and Sarah.

William Richards was born in the State of New Jersey, and there received his education. When a young man he learned the furnace business, and locating in Chester County, Pa., was employed for some years at the old Potts furnace. Later he went to Rockland, and was there engaged at what was known as the old Sally Ann furnace, which was then owned by the Yeag- ers, whose name was later changed to Hunter, and the furnace was known as the Hunter furnace. He subse- quently removed to Windsor township, Berks county, working at the old Windsor furnace. After its discon- tinuation he engaged at work in a foundry at Hamburg for nearly forty years, and was here employed at the time of his death, which occurred after an illness of but two days. in 1870, in his sixty-seventh year. His wife, Mary Smith, died in 1894, aged eighty-four years, the mother of fourteen children, nine of whom still survive. With the exception of the parents there has not been a death in this family for over fifty years. The children are: Jacob, of Luzerne county; Sarah, m. to Jared Heckman, deceased, and living in Hamburg; William,of Chester county; Susan, m. to Joseph Schol- lenberger, of Hamburg; Emanuel, of Reading; Rebecca, m. to Samuel Bergy, of Reading; Charles, of Schuyl- kill county; Amanda, twin of Charles, m. to James Wes- ner, of Reading; and Matilda, m. to John Xanders. The parents of these children were members of the Reformed Church. The father was a stanch Democrat in politics.

Emanuel Richards received his education in the schools of Windsor township, Berks county, attending the first free school established in that township. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, 3rd Reserves, being with the Army of the Potomac, and the first three- year men to leave Reading. He remained with the command until the expiration of his term of service, being wounded at the battle of Gaines' Hill by a shot which passed through his right lung, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. At the same time he was captured, and was first taken to Libby Prison, later being removed to Belle Isle, where he was exchanged. In July. 1864, Mr. Richards veter- anized in Company A, 195th Pa. V. I., remaining with this regiment until the close of the war. Upon his return to Reading Mr. Richards apprenticed himself to the shoemaker's trade with Isaac Bird of this city,

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and he has followed this trade with success ever since, member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of a num- having been at his present location for thirty-four ber of other organizations. years.

On Feb. 19, 1868, Mr. Richards was married to Mary Wunder, daughter of Henry Wunder, and of their family of children, five are living: Reynolds, a sheet- iron worker employed by the Philadelphia and Read- ing Railway; William, in charge of the credit depart- ment of Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, of Reading; Alice, a saleslady at G. M. Britton's store; Ida, at home; and Harry, a clerk at the Reading Iron Works. Political- ly Mr. Richards is a Democrat. He is connected with McLean Post No. 16, G. A. R., and is fraternally a member of the P. O. S. of A. He and his wife attend St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.

GEORGE P. GANGER, a prominent builder and contractor of Reading, bears a reputation which is the fruit of years of earnest, conscientious and con- servative work.

From the form of the name it is thought that the Ganger family originated in Germany, or France, but since settling in Pennsylvania, mainly in Chester coun- ty, it has been very closely allied to the Scotch and Irish, and practically nothing is known of the earlier generations. Mr. George P. Ganger and Mr. J. Ben- ton Ganger are, with one exception, the only persons of this line living who bear the name. The grandfather was a prosperous farmer of Chester county, but little is known of him save that he married a Miss Evans and had two sons, Levi and David. He died young. The family were members of the Reformed Church, and it is supposed that the grandfather was a Whig in his political views. The maternal grandparents were German.

David Ganger was born in 1809 and grew up in Chester county, receiving his education in the public and pay schools of that region. After leaving school he learned stone masonry, but as he did not like the work he soon turned his attention to farming instead, and spent the rest of his life in that occupation. He married Miss Eliza Nyse and they became the parents of a family, three of whom lived to maturity. The daughter, Sarah, died, however, in early womanhood. The surviving sons were George P. and Levi.

George P. Ganger was born in Chester county, Sept. 10, 1843. He was brought up to farm work, in the meantime attending the public schools also, until he was nineteen, when he entered upon a four years' ap- prenticeship to the stone mason's trade. Having mas- tered thoroughly his business he went at the age of twenty-three to Reading, and settled there permanent- ly as a mason and builder. He has steadily increased the scope of his operations, and is now one of the foremost builders in the city. He has done a great deal to make Reading one of the desirable residence cities in the State. He has on his own account built over 200 houses, ranging in value from $2500 to 3000, besides a large number under contract for friends and patrons. His work is always first class and done in the most conscientious manner. During his first fifteen years in Reading Mr. Ganger was employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, and helped to construct many of the bridges and depots along that well known line. A number of the handsomest struc- tures in the city are Mr. Ganger's work, among the most notable being the city hall, St. Peter's Methodist Church. the Evangelical Church, Mr. Eckert's home, and a great number of other residences.

HEIZMANN. The Heizmanns are of distinguished German ancestry, the earliest of whom anything definite is known being one who was knighted by King Otto for distinguished services in the battle of Lechfeld, in 955, between Germany and Hungary. The family name, indicative of valor, was bestowed upon him and also the castle and lands of Schadeck. From him descend- ed those gallant knights and brave warriors who, in res- ponse to the appeal of Peter the Hermit, at the close of the eleventh century, formed a part of the first cru- sade of the Christians who, with the cry "Deus vult" (God wills it), marched victoriously to Palestine and res- cued the Holy Sepulchre. In the vicissitudes of for- tune, the family has at times attained the highest distinc- tion, while again it has met with adversity, only to rise again to its previous height. One of the family was Hofmarschall to Kaiser Albrecht I, another became Arch- bishop of Mayence, and another Stadt Syndicus of Co- logne. During the Thirty Years' war, in which Germany was assailed by foreign foes and greatly torn by do- mestic dissensions, one branch of the family sought re- fuge in the famous Black Forest.

Charles Lawrence Heizmann, the founder of the fam- ily in America, was descended from this branch of Heiz- manns. He was born in Lenzkirch, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Aug. 6, 1802. He was educated at Neufchatel, Switzerland. At the age of thirty years he came to America on the ship "Marcus," sailing from Rotterdam March 12. 1832, with the intention of making a business trip. After touching at the island of Fayal, one of the Azores, on June 13th, the ship arrived in July off Long Island, where it was learned that cholera was raging in New York City. The passengers were land- ed at Sag Harbor, L. I., on July 12th, and thence Mr. Heizmann proceeded to Philadelphia, where he remain- ed for some time. Being favorably impressed with the country, its people and its form of government, he con- cluded not to return to Europe, and therefore located in Reading, Pa., where many Germans had previously settled, and where he established himself in business as an importer and dealer in musical instruments and mus- ical merchandise. Like most educated Germans he was an accomplished musician and linguist, speaking, besides his native tongue, English, French and Italian. He be- came interested in the industrial development of his adopt- ed city, and with characteristic German foresight was in- strumental in the formation of the Reading German Building and Savings Fund Association, the first build- ing society in Reading, of which he was chosen pres- ident. The charter was granted Sept. 18, 1848. He was Roman Catholic in religious faith, holding membership in the church on South Fifth street, of which he served as trustee. Mr. Heizmann died in Reading July 3, 1859.

On April 22, 1834, Mr. Heizmann was united in mar- riage with Mary Cecilia Eichhorn, daughter of John Francis Eichhorn and Eva Siegfried, whose ancestors settled in Berks county in 1755. All of their children were born in the old family home, on the southeast cor- ner of Sixth and Penn streets, Reading. Mrs. Heiz- mann was one of a family of five children, namely: Anna, who married a New England schoolmaster, Jon- athan Dwight; John Francis, who was married to Ma- tilda Miller (both died at an early age, leaving two daughters, Alice and Ann) ; Ellen, who married Charles Troxell, postmaster of Reading under the Harrison- Tyler administration, and a collector of the Port of Philadelphia under the Taylor-Fillmore administration; Mary Cecilia; and Theresa, who married Dr. Adolphus Lippe, a son of the Count of Lippe-Weissenfeldt, Ger- many, and a member of the Lippe-Detmold family. Six sons and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Heiz- mann and this family has been influential and active in both professional and industrial circles in Berks coun- ty for many years. Charles Raymond and Theodore

Mr. Ganger married, in 1871, Miss Christie Low, daughter of James Low, of Lebanon county, and four children have been born to them, namely: David, who died in infancy; Sarah, m. to Albert Folk; Mary, m. (first) to Charles Spangler. had one daughter, Ma- bel, and (second) to John Newil; and Lulu, m. to H. M. Eldridge. Mr. Ganger and his family are members of the M. E. Church. In politics a Republican, he takes, however, no active part in public affairs. He is a Ignatius are mentioned below. Francis Joseph, born

la Re Heizmano

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Aug. 14, 1841, died Oct. 22, 1849. Cecilia Eve was born president, which position he has occupied since the com- June 2, 1844. Dr. Charles Lawrence and Albert Aloysi- us are mentioned below. Mary Ann, born Nov. 4, 1853, became the wife of James A. O'Reily, Esq., a prominent attorney of Reading. Aloysius Adolphus, born Sept. 27, 1858, died Feb. 17, 1859.

CHARLES RAYMOND HEIZMANN was born in Reading Jan. 23, 1835, and received his education in private schools and at St. Mary's College, Wilmington, Del. When only fifteen he entered his father's store to receive a business training. His father allowed the boy to undertake many responsible duties, in the performance of which he not only showed great interest, but also developed self-confi- dence and executive ability. He was often sent to buy goods in Philadelphia, and early displayed the traits which have since brought him into such prominence in the commercial world. When his father died he assum- ed control of the business, which he purchased from the estate in 1865, conducting it alone from that time to 1870, when he received his brother Albert into partnership in the business. The old business was continued success- fully, and in 1877 they made a new departure, establish- ing the Penn Hardware Works. They ran both businesses for two years, at the end of that time finding the new enterprise so promising that they disposed of the store in order to give all their time to the hardware works.

The Penn Hardware Works were first located in a small building on Front street, which the firm leased, and employment was given to ten hands. As the busi- ness grew and more space was required, they purchased four acres of land at the foot of Spruce street, between the canal and the Schuylkill river, erecting thereon a convenient building, which met the demands of the busi- ness at that time. But it continued to expand with un- dreamed-of rapidity, so that the new structure proved inadequate, and additions were needed so much sooner than the proprietors had anticipated. These were made from time to time until all the four acres were covered with substantial brick buildings. Then adjacent prop- erty was secured, and in 1906 a new building 60 x 100 feet in dimensions, and four stories in height, was erect- ed, ready for occupancy Jan. 1, 1907. It is very mod- ern in every respect, and completes a block of buildings which make the Penn Hardware Works one of the lar- gest plants in the United States. The first floor of this new building is used as a store room, the other three floors being used exclusively for plating. The company now manufactures its own gas, for fuel and lighting, a two-story building, 30x80 feet, having been erected for the gas plant. There are six engines in the establishment, two gasoline engines of 60 and 33 horse-power, respective- ly, a steam engine of 150, one of 30 and one of 120 horse- power, and a new gas engine of 150 horse-power. A new warehouse, seven stories in height and 60 x 120 feet in dimensions, is now (1908) under course of construc- tion. Seven hundred and fifty hands constitute the pres- ent working force, which is frequently taxed to the utmost and working overtime. The company is exten- sively engaged in manufacturing a general line of build- ers' hardware, and the product is sold all over the Unit- ed States, Europe and Australia. Ten carloads of frame pulleys were made for the rebuilding of San Francisco. Orders are constantly being received which insure the activity of the plant for months ahead.

Mr. C. Raymond Heizmann is not only a man of ex- cellent talent, but he has mechanical tastes which have developed under the necessities of business, and he has designed much of the machinery and many of the ap- pliances in use at the works, and is a patentee of a num- ber of the articles manufactured by the company. The most successful of these articles was a plug tobacco cut- ter. After sharp competition with the leading mann- facturers of the country Mr. Heizmann secured a con- tract from the Lorillards of New York for twenty thou- sand of these small machines, highly finished in nickel plate and bronze. The Penn Hardware Company was incorporated in April, 1896, with a paid-up capital of $415,000, and with Mr. C. Raymond Heizmann as its

mencement of the enterprise. An establishment of such magnitude confers untold benefits upon the community in which it is located, and the large showing made by the employes* in the industrial parade during the Sesqui-Cen- tennial of Reading, celebrated in June, 1898, gave some indication of the number of people directly benefited by profitable and steady employment at this plant. The number has since been increased about fifty per cent. Mr. Heizmann took great interest in the celebration, and gave his influence and active aid toward making it a success, serving as a member of the executive committee and chair- man of the insignia committee.

On June 9, 1874, Mr. Heizmann was married to Mary M. Miller, daughter of Lewis and Mary A. (Dickson) Miller, and they became the parents of the following chil- dren : Mary A., Mary Cecilia, Raymond L., Lewis J., Flora R., Charles Raymond, Jr., Francis Edward and Theodora. Their home is at No. 318 North Fifth street, Reading.

THEODORE IGNATIUS HEIZMANN was born in Reading Dec. 14, 1838. He attended the private schools of the city and - later Mount St. Mary's College, at Emmits- burg, Md., where he remained two years, after which he entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., in 1856. He graduated in 1859, with the degree of civil engineer, and for several months thereafter was engaged as assistant to the topographer of the prelim- inary survey of the Reading & Columbia railroad, and in a similar capacity on the survey of a line between Easton and Nazareth. In March, 1860, he became a member of the engineer corps of the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company, and by his industry and ability won such rapid promotion that in March, 1861, he became assis- tant engineer. In March, 1864, he became principal as- sistant engineer, and in February, 1865, became res- ident engineer of the Middle division, from Harrisburg to Altoona, his office being at the latter place. In Jan- uary, 1868, he became resident engineer of the Phil- adelphia division, between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, with office at Philadelphia. In April, 1870, his office was changed back to Altoona, when he was made en- gineer of maintenance of way of the main line between Philadelphia and Pittsburg. In January, 1872, he was appointed chief engineer of maintenance of way of all lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company between New York City and Pittsburg, and as such had his office at Philadelphia until his retirement in 1874. Mr. Heizmann has not devoted himself particularly to any line of work since, spending much of his time in for- eign travel. He takes keen enjoyment in music and even during his active business career kept up his mus- ical studies for the love of the art. He was vice-chair- man of the music committee during the Sesqui-Cen- tennial celebration in June, 1898, and wrote the music for the hymn sung on that occasion. He has been vice- president and a director of the Penn Hardware Com- pany since its incorporation. In 1892-93 he built the St. Cecilia Memorial Chapel at the northwest corner of Perkiomen avenue and Spruce street, as a memorial to his mother.

DR. CHARLES LAWRENCE HEIZMANN, who spent all of his professional life from the age of twenty-one in the United States army as assistant surgeon, surgeon and as- sistant surgeon general, was born April 15, 1846, in Read- ing, where he obtained his intellectual training in the public schools. After his graduation from the Reading high school he entered the University of Georgetown, which institution conferred on him the degree of Bach- elor of Arts. He was then prepared for the medical profession in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating therefrom in his twenty- first year, after which he applied for admission to the medical corps of the army, being one of the four chosen of several hundred candidates. In the army service his service has been an active and a brilliant one. He first saw service in the Modoc war on the Western fron- tier, and the reminiscences of thrilling adventures which

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

he oftentimes relates are very interesting. He accom- panied the party making the first survey of Yellowstone Park, and during his service has been stationed at the following posts : San Antonio, Texas; Fort Vancouver; Fort Douglass; Salt Lake City, Utah; Fort Niagara; West Point; Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor; Fort Ontario at Oswego; Fort Adams, Newport, R. I .; at the Presidio, San Francisco, Cal., arriving there just after the great earthquake and fire of 1906; and at Manila, in the Philippines, in charge of the Medical Department of those Islands. Some years ago, Colonel Heizmann was honored by the War Department with a semi-official mission to Europe to inspect the military hospitals of the principal nations of the Continent. He made a care- ful study of their systems and upon his return published a book upon the subject which is really a work of mer- it, and has gained him much praise from the physicians of this country. Besides being a work of literary val- ue it has resulted in much benefit to the hospitals of our country, owing to its completeness and exactness of de- tail. He retired from the army in the year 1908 with the rank of Assistant Surgeon General.

ALBERT ALOYSIUS HEIZMANN was born in Reading Sept. 11, 1848, and was educated in the private schools of Reading, St. Mary's College, Wilmington, Del., and at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., grad- uating there in the English and commercial course in 1865. In the same year he entered the store of his broth- er, Charles Raymond, at the corner of Sixth and Penn streets, Reading, and in 1870 he became an equal part- ner in the business. They were jewelers and importers of musical instruments and merchandise. In 1877 the two brothers, as equal partners, established the Penn Hardware Works, for the manufacture of builders' hard- ware, and in 1879 disposed of the store and devoted their whole attention to the new enterprise. In April, 1896, it was incorporated as the Penn Hardware Com- pany with a paid-up capital of $415,000. Albert A. Heiz- mann was elected treasurer of the company. That the business has been a success is evidenced by the fact that the annual statement of Jan. 1, 1908, showed a surplus fund greater than the original capital.

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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 179

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