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 185

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 185


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John Schealer, the fourth child of John and Bar- bara Schealer, was born in Exeter township, Oct. 23, 1793, and died there Dec. 16, 1872, aged seventy-nine years, one month, twenty-three days. He was a farm- er and stone-mason by occupation, and during the win- ter months engaged in butchering. On Dec. 20, 1818, he was married to Catherine Gardner, born Nov. 20, 1800, who died Sept. 29, 1878, in her seventy-eighth year. Eleven children were born to this union, of whom one died unnamed at the age of three days. The others were: William, born Sept. 10, 1819, a car- penter and cabinet-maker of Colebrookdale township, died in May, 1894; Harriet, born Sept. 19, 1821, mar- ried Jeremiah Shadler of Seneca county, Ohio, who died before she did, her death occurring while she was out West. in 1904; Elizabeth, born Dec. 13, 1823, mar- ried Abraham Dehart (now deceased), of Fort Wayne, Ind .; Valeria, born Feb. 14, 1825, married James Esh- bach, late of Pike township. this county, whom she sur- vived, her death occurring Dec. 25, 1895; Susanna, born Oct. 14, 1827, is the widow of Henry Wunder, of Read- ing, and makes her home at No. 1028 .Chestnut street, that city; Lovinia, born Sept. 10, 1831, married John Saltzer, of Colebrookdale township, and died Oct. 2, 1893; Catherine, born July 18. 1834, died in infancy; John G., born Oct. 15, 1836, lives at Boyertown; Au- gustus, born March 15, 1839, married Mary Liven- good, and died March 8, 1872; Samuel G., born in Ex- eter township Oct. 5, 1842, lives in his own residence at No. 1145 Chestnut street, Reading. The latter is a stationary engineer by occupation, and a highly esteemed citizen of his community. He was married Dec. 26, 1868, to Adeline Wessner, born in 1848, who died in 1905. They had six children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being William O., Lucretia I. and S. Raymond, the latter of whom is a student at Lehigh University.


The father, Jacob A. Leippe, married Juliana Voll- weiler (daughter of George Vollweiler, of Eppingen, in Baden, Germany, manufacturer of linen), and by her he had twelve children: J. Harry m. Elizabeth Heupel; Charles E .; Mary Elizabeth m. A. C. Hagelgans, of Phil- adelphia; Emma Louisa m. Rev. Israel F. Heisler, of Williamsport; Katie Algeir m. Robert A. Riegel of Phil- adelphia; Julia Vollweiler m. J. Lewis Lengel, of Read- John G. Schealer attended the pay school near his ing; Anna Jane, graduated nurse, is assistant superinten- home when it was taught by an old man named Daniel


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BIOGRAPHICAL


Reider, and later he went to public school. He himself received a license to teach from Prof. William Good, and taught one term in Exeter township, but he early commenced work as a cabinet-maker, having learned the trade in his young manhood. He continued at that work and at carpentry, and in time became estab- lished in business at Boyertown as a contractor in the same line, which he has continued to follow at his present location for the past forty-one years. The class of work which has been intrusted to him is the best evidence of his reliability. Many of the best and largest business buildings and residences in the town are his work, among them the Rhoads Opera House block, the Boyer block, the big D. C. Brumbach build- ing, the Lefeaver building, the greater portion of the Boyertown Casket Company's building, and the build- ing of the Union Manufacturing Company. He has erected a number of churches, viz .: The St. John's Lutheran, Good Shepherd (Reformed), English M. E. and German Evangelical churches of Boyertown, the Lutheran and Reformed Churches at Amityville and the new Lutheran church at Pleasantville, all in Berks county; and he rebuilt St. Joseph's, of Hill Church, Berks county. In December, 1898, he com- pleted the new high school building in Boyertown; and he also erected the Friedensburg (Berks county) Acad- emy, and is now building the Boyertown high school building, which is to be finished by Dec. 26, 1909.


Though Mr. Schealer's building operations have been extensive they have not engrossed his attention entirely, for he has other business interests. He is president of the Union Manufacturing Company, which was or- ganized in 1893 for the manufacture of all kinds of light and heavy castings, one of the specialties of this concern being the Union Detachable-Handle Sad Iron, which has the reputation of being superior to any other article of the kind on the market. Mr. Schealer is also president of the Boyertown Gas Company, being one of the large stockholders in that organization, which has a paid-up capital of $30,000. He is interested in the Franklin Improvement Company, which owns considerable real estate, and which erected a three- story and basement brick building in Boyertown, 175x45 feet in dimensions, to which an "L" has since been added. Among Mr. Schealer's real estate holdings is a tract of seventeen acres, on which he raises apples, pears, peaches, plums and other fruits, and he also owns a large cider press, and a cold storage plant with a capacity of 3,000 barrels.


Though a Republican in a town which is Democratic three to one Mr. Schealer has served as burgess and chief burgess of Boyertown, having been elected bur- gess in 1894 and 1897 and chief burgess in 1900, hold- ing the latter office until 1903.


On Jan. 23, 1863, Mr. Schealer enlisted in Company E, 75th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, his captain being Roswell G. Feltus, and with his company took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac until after Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, when the regi- ment was transferred to the Army of the Southwest. Mr. Schealer was discharged at the close of his term, Oct. 26, 1863. He is a charter member of General Crooks Post, G. A. R., of Boyertown, and has been post adjutant ever since the organization. His other social connections are with Stichter Lodge, No. 254, F. & A. M., of Pottstown; Reading Chapter, No. 152, R. A. M .; Nativity Commandery, No. 71, K. T., of Potts- town; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Oasis of Reading; Consistory at Bloomsburg; Oley Lodge, No. 218, I. O. O. F., of Reading; and Camp No. 104, P. O. S. of A., of Boyertown.


On April 3, 1858, Mr. Schealer married Elizabeth Himmelreich, daughter of John Himmelreich, of Pike township, and they have had two children: Sarah, now wife of William Babb, a' farmer of Pike township, Berks county; and Milton, who engaged in teaching for


twelve years while a young man, but is now connected with the National Bank of Boyertown, as teller.


ALFRED W. GLASE, a prominent business man of Reading, was born in Friedensburg, Oley township, Berks county, Pa., May 27, 1841, son of Peter Glase.


Jacob Glase, grandfather of Alfred W., was a shoe- maker by trade, and followed that occupation in Read- ing, Kutztown and Oley township, all his life. He died while residing in the last named section. Their children were: Peter; Jacob; John; Betsey, m. to a Mr. Fisher; and Polly, m. to Jacob Faucht. In re- ligious belief the family were Lutherans.


Peter Glase at first followed his father's calling, that of a shoemaker, but later in life was engaged in other lines, being at one period in the hotel business. For several years he did freighting between Fredericksburg and Philadelphia, and afterward owned ond operated a farm. Twice married, his first wife was a Miss Adams, and they had eight children: William, Matilda, Benewell, Amelia, Mary, Rebecca, James and Levi. He m. (second) Miss Catherine Weisner, like him- self a native of Berks county. She died aged sev- enty-three years, and to this . union five children were born, Caroline, Jacob W., Peter, Alfred W. and An- na. In religious belief the family were Lutherans, and in politics Peter Glase was a Democrat. His death occurred in 1868, when he was aged seventy- four years.


Alfred W. Glase was sent to the common schools of Oley township, but was still too young to have left school when he was compelled to go to work. He was first employed on a farm, and remained in that line of work until he was eighteen. He then learned the tinsmith's trade from his brother, and followed that for fourteen years. Meantime he had become favorably known among his fellow citizens and was constable in the Fourth ward, serving in that capacity very efficiently for fifteen years. Since 1887 he has conducted a livery stable and has been very successful, for his establishment is not only large but of a high class. His location is at Nos. 515-517 Cherry street, Reading.


Mr. Glase is a veteran of the Civil war, having en- listed in the 3d Regiment of Pennsylvania Artillery, afterward attached to Battery A, 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, in which he served until the end of the war.


In 1880 Alfred W. Glase married Miss Mary Har- rison, daughter of John Harrison. Two children have been born to them, Maud E. and Floyd H. In re- ligious faith they are Lutherans. Mr. Glase is a Re- publican in his political affiliations, and has been ac- tive in local affairs. He is a member of the G. A. R., belonging to Post No. 16.


LEVI WORLEY (deceased), for many years one of Reading's prominent business men, and a pioneer in the coal tar pavement bu iness, was born in Saeg- ersville, a small town near Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pa .. only child of Jacob Worley, a well known farmer of Lehigh county, where he died.


Levi Worley learned the trade of shoemaking at Allentown, but when a young man was employed on Dunkle's farm in Berks county. He then went to Pottsville, Columbia and Lancaster, following shoe making, and later to Lewistown, where he married Elizabeth Heinsling, by whom two sons were born, of whom the survivor is Dilman, messenger at the First National Bank, Reading. Mrs. Elizabeth (Heinsling) Worley died at Lewistown. Mr. Worley then came to Reading and worked at his trade for a number of years, finally engaging in the coal tar pavement busi- ness with David Witman as partner. They were among the pioneers in this business, and operated extensively throughout the city. For about twenty- five years prior to his death, Mr. Worley lived re- tired, dying in May, 1902, aged eighty-six years, in the


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


faith of the Lutheran church of which he had been a member of the Vestry. In politics a Republican, Mr. Worley served as school director from the Eighth ward for a number of years.


Mr. Worley married (second) Mary M. Rush, born Jan. 6, 1822, a few doors from where she now resides, No. 729 Washington street, Reading, daughter of Phil- ip and Barbara (Spohn) Rush, and these children were born to the union: Barbara; John P. R .; Annie; Elea- nor; Mary V., and one child which died in infancy.


Mrs. Worley's first husband was Conrad Feger, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Mellon) Feger, and three children were born to them: William; Barbara; and Sarah Jane (Jennie), widow of George S. Yeager, who was connected with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, located at Ninth and Green streets, Phila- delphia. During 1876 Mr. Yeager was assistant master mechanic, and was later transferred to Newton, Bucks county, where he died in 1887, being buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. Mrs. Yeager resides with her mother, in Reading. Mrs. Worley is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was christened by Dr. J. Miller.


ELMER E. WANNER, senior member of the firm of Wanner & Stief, hatters, at Reading, was born in 1861 in Kutztown, Berks county, son of Peter C. and Sarah (Moyer) Wanner.


Peter C. Wanner was born in Kutztown, and as a boy worked on a farm. Later he owned a farm and tannery one-half mile from Kutztown, which he ope- rated until his retirement some years before his death, in 1899, in his seventy-sixth year. His wife died in 1894, aged sixty-one year's. Their four children were: John; Elmer E .; Ellen, m. to J. C. Ziegler; and Ida, m. to P. A. Metzgar. In religious belief the family were connected with the Reformed Church. Mr. Wanner was a Democrat in political faith.


Elmer E. Wanner was educated in the schools of Maxatawny township and the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, after leaving which he clerked in W. W. Sheridan's boot and shoe store for two years. He then went to Goshen, Ind., to accept a position in his brother John's leather establishment, where he re- mained four years. He then returned to his native county, and in 1883 secured a position in J. B. Schaef- fer's wholesale hat house as traveling representative, covering the entire State of Pennsylvania, and continued with that firm for seventeen years. On Dec. 1, 1900, Mr. Wanner formed a partnership with A. J. Stief, and since that time they have carried on a prosperous hat business at No. 605 Penn street. The firm's first class line of goods finds a ready sale in the retail houses of Pennsylvania. and Mr. Wanner is considered one of the good, substantial citizens of Reading. He is fraternally connected with Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M .; the B. P. O. E., No. 115, Reading; and the Americus Club.


In 1897 Mr. Wanner was married to Mary Frey. They attend the Reformed Church. In political matters he is a Democrat.


SAMUEL HOLL, who died in Reading, Pa., in 1886, in his sixty-ninth year, was for many years a well- known business man and honored resident of the city. He was born in 1817, in Cumru township, Berks county, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Setley) Holl, residents of that section.


Samuel Holl received a common school education, and for a number of years was engaged in the wheel- wright business on Walnut street, Reading, where the Junior Fire Engine House now stands. He was later employed by Seyfert, McManus & Co., manufacturers of Reading, remaining with that firm for several years, but finally resumed his business in the rear of his residence, No. 342 North Sixth street. Mr. Holl mar- ried Miss Louisa Orie, who died in 1882, daughter of


John Orie, a native of France, who was a member of the army of Napoleon, being one of that great general's body-guards. Mr. Orie came to America about 1821, locating at New Holland, Lancaster county, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Holl are both buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. In politics, a Democrat, Mr. Holl served on the election board of Reading. He was a member of the First Reformed Church, being an elder and trustee thereof. The children of Samuel and Louisa (Orie) Holl were: Julia, the widow of Reuben Sha- dell, living at No. 531 Buttonwood street, Reading; Jacob, who was educated in the public schools of Reading and a private school, and who began business life clerking in some of the leading houses in Reading, for several years being head clerk for the Reading Hardware Company, resigning this position to become the first cashier of the Keystone National Bank, Jan. 8, 1884, a position which he held until his death in May, 1890; Anna M .; William O., a molder of Reading; Elizabeth, a teacher in the Reading high school; and Louisa, who was also engaged in teaching for some time. Anna M., Louisa, and Elizabeth reside at the old home of their father, No. 342 North Sixth street, Reading.


JAMES H. RAMER, senior member of the contract- ing and building firm of Ramer & George, at Reading, Pa., was born Dec. 9, 1864, at Richmond township, Berks Co., Pa., son of John and Sallie S. Ramer, and grandson of Jacob Ramer, a farmer of Richmond town- ship.


John Ramer was born in Richmond township, where his education was secured in the public schools, after leaving which he engaged in bricklaying and later in stone mason work. He died in Reading at the age of sixty-nine years, his wife having passed away in her thirty-eighth year, and their children were: Catherine, James H., Samuel, Jacob, Ellen, John, Annie, William (who died young), Lydia and Sallie.


James H. Ramer attended the schools of Richmond township, obtaining a good education, and in 1893 came to Reading, where he worked at bricklaying until 1903, in this year entering into a partnership with Samuel George. They have been very successful in their building business, and to the present time have erected forty-three houses in the northeastern section of Reading. In political matters Mr. Ramer is inde- pendent, and he is fraternally connected with Vigil- ance Lodge, No. 194, I. O. O. F .; Camp No. 278, P. O. S. of A., Virginville, of which he is a charter member; and the Maccabees. He is as popular in fraternal cir- cles as he is well-known in the business field, and is considered a representative citizen.


Mr. Ramer married Fannie Schucker. daughter of Adam Schucker, and to this union there were born two children: Harry Warren, who died at the age of seven months, eight days; and Eva Elizabeth, who died when nine years, three months old.


JOHN JACOB SHILLING (deceased) founded a family in Berks county now well known there. He was born in Chester county, Pa., and came to Berks county when a young man, settling at what is now Shillington. He owned considerable land there, built numerous dwellings, and for many years owned and conducted the "Three Mile House," where he lived with his family. He was a man of prominence in his day, and was of striking appearance, being erect, tall, and weighing over two hundred pounds. He was a member of the Reformed Church. He married Hannah Straub, whose father was Christian (?) Straub, and to them were born children as follows: Levi died unmarried when about seventy years of age; Hettie also died unmarried; Samuel, who laid out Shillington, and gave it its name, married Catharine Whiteman, and they had children-Franklin P. (de- ceased), Oscar J. (deceased), Mary M. W. and George Washington (twins). Howard M., Frederick E. E.,


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BIOGRAPHICAL


Emma L., Ida C. E. and Ella; Ephraim is mentioned below; Jacob, who was killed in the Civil war, married Mary Bechtel and had one child, who died young; Eliza married Isaac Miller, of Illinios, in which State both died; Isabella died unmarried; Louisa married a Forbs, of Minnesota.


Ephraim Shilling, son of John Jacob, was born Nov. 16, 1822, in Shillington, and lived to his seventy-seventh year, dying Jan. 18, 1899. There he spent his entire life. He not only followed farming, but also his trade of pattern-making, and turned out many violins of sweet tone; in later years he also engaged in wheel- wrighting in connection wtih farming, cultivating a tract of forty-two acres. In politics he was a Repub- lican.


In 1848 Ephraim Shilling married Catharine Marks, daughter of George Marks, and a family of eight child- ren was born to them, namely: Clara m. Frank Welde; Catharine m. Julius Wagner; Elizabeth m. John Gauss; John Jacob m. Sarah Steffey, an'd (second) Sallie E. Berstler; Alexander E., unmarried, lives at Shillington; Hannah m. Jerome Tompkins; Jane m. Horace R. Carl; Andrew m. Lizzie Kane. The family were Lutherans in religion.


JULIUS WAGNER, who married Catharine, second daughter of Ephraim Shillington, was born in Germany in 1849, and came to America when eighteen years of age, landing in New York in 1867. After staying for a while in that city he moved to York, Pa., and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for some time, but being dissatisfied with his progress he located at Lancaster and made himself proficient as a baker. When ready to begin for himself in that line he went to Reading, opened a bakery at No. 276 South Ninth street, and was so successful that by the end of thir- teen years he had amassed sufficient capital to retire from that business and enter into building and contract- ing. While thus engaged he put up sixty-two houses in Reading, some of them on property owned by his wife. Mrs. Wagner is quite an extensive property holder, owning ten lots on Thirteenth street, seven on Fairview, five on Kenney, and three residences in the Tenth ward. Mr. Wagner at present gives his entire attention to managing his wife's interests.


Mr. and Mrs. Wagner were married March 18, 1871, and they have five children: Julius, Jr., m. Helen Krum; Lucca K .; Elsie T. m. Harry Adams; Mabel m. George Klopp; and Richard m. Anna Snyder. In re- ligious faith the family are Lutherans. Mr. Wagner is a Democrat in politics.


eastern part of Pennsylvania, being located here be- fore the erection of Berks county, in 1752. Philip Geiger, the great-grandfather of Wellington D. and Ezra D. Geiger, of Amity township, was born Nov. 20, 1765, and died Aug. 13, 1831. His wife, Anna Maria Stichter, was born Jan. 18, 1769, and died Nov. 1, 1791. They are both buried in the east side of the old cemetery at Amityville church. With them is buried Maria Geiger (1793-1823), probably a daughter, and wife of Philip Mathias. Another daughter mar- ried a Moyer. The number of the children of this old pioneer couple cannot be definitely stated. There was a son, Jacob, mentioned below; and tradition tells of another son. Philip Geiger lived in Amity town- ship before 1806, as in that year his name appears on the tax list.


Jacob Geiger, son of Philip, was born August 20, 1795, and died in Amity, Sept. 6, 1868. He was a farmer and owned a tract of 160 acres about three- quarters of a mile south of Amityville. He married Elizabeth Harner, born .Aug. 21, 1798, died Sept. 17, 1870, and their children were: Jacob H .; Mary Ann; John; Mahlon; Elizabeth m. Alfred Fritz; and Leah Ann.


Jacob H. Geiger, son of Jacob and Elizabeth, was born Nov. 16, 1825, and died on the farm now the property of his son, Ezra D., Sept. 15, 1864. He was a farmer. Although in his youth he learned the tailor's trade he never followed it. He married Mary Ann De Turk, daughter of Jacob and Esther (Goodhart) De Turk, who lived in Exeter township. She was born April 19, 1828, and died April 25, 1908. Their children were: Ezra D .; Wellington D .; Jacob, of Philadelphia, who has children-Lawrence, Mary, Mar- tha, Amy, and Jacob; Lizzie, deceased, m. to William H. Thorpe, of Clayton, N. Y .; and Miss Hettie.


WELLINGTON D. GEIGER, now a farmer in Amity township, was born one mile east of Yellow House, October 4, 1856. He attended the township schools and was reared as a farmer's boy, working for his parents until he attained his majority. In 1866 he began farming as a tenant in Amity and has ever since been a tenant farmer in that township, with the exception of three years-1889, 1890, and 1891-when he lived in Douglass township. He has been quite successful and his farm is kept in good condition, and his stock and farm machinery are of the best.


On Feb. 13, 1885, Mr. Geiger married Amelia Sassa- man, daughter of George M. and Mary (Weyant) Sassaman, now of Pottstown. Their only child, a son, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Geiger are Reformed members of Amityville Church, in which he has served as deacon. Fraternally he is a member of Wohlink Tribe, No. 179, I. O. R. M., at Yellow House.


EZRA D. GEIGER, a farmer at Weaverstown, in Amity township, was born Aug. 6, 1853, in Exeter township, coming to Amity in the second year of his earthly career with his parents. He worked for his mother . until he was of age. He began farming at the age of twenty on his present place. This was the Augustus K. Lorah farm before it became the prop- erty of Jacob H. Geiger. It was originally owned by the Ludwigs, then by Jacob Schaffer, then by the Lo- rahs. Jacob H. Geiger bought it in 1864, and in 1878 it was transferred to the present owner. The farm consists of ninety-five acres, also forty-eight acres of pasture land. The present large stone house was built in 1834. There is a smaller house on the premises, located about thirty feet from the large one, that must be a relic of the days long before the Revolution.


GEIGER. The Geiger family is an old one in the ' Body, and they have two children: Evelyn and Esther.


In 1876 Mr. Geiger married Delilah Rhoades, daugh- ter of Jonas and Rachel Rhoads, and their children are: (1) Chester, graduated from the Keystone State Normal School in the class of 1902, and is now en- gaged in teaching in Amity township. He m. Dora (2) Wayne, graduated from the Keystone State Normal School in 1904, and from Lehigh University in 1908, is an electrician, holding a responsible position at Hackensack, N. J., with the Telephone Company. He m. Elsie Brown, and has a daughter, Alice. (3) Vic- tor is still at home. In politics Mr. Geiger is a Dem- ocrat, and is at present serving as supervisor of Amity. township; for three years he was auditor. He is a member of Wohlink Tribe, I. O. R. M., at Yellow House. Mr. Geiger and his family are members of the Reformed Church at Amityville, in which he has been very active, and has served as deacon. The early Geigers were Lutherans.


LEWIS NAPOLEON LOWE, assistant city treas- urer of the city of Reading, Pa., was born in Phila- delphia, Dec. 9, 1863, one of the eight children born to Louis and Sarah (Berret) Lowe, the others being: Anna E., widow of Charles Snyder, of Philadelphia, (brother of Brigadier-General Snyder, of Reading, and a grandson of Governor Snyder of Pennsylvania); Margaret J., of Philadelphia; Frank S., of Philadelphia; Sallie B., of Atlantic City; and three, Walter, Charles and Edward, who all died in early childhood.




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