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 186

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 186

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686

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Lewis N. Lowe graduated from the Reading high Pa., is now proprietor of the Grey Iron Foundry, for- school in the class of 1878, and he started his business merly the Old Ege Foundry, in Reading. Mr. Frame was born in 1864, in Reading, son of Conrad and Catha- rine (Marx) Frame. [For detailed history of the earlier generations of the family, see sketch of Charles N. Frame]. life as a machinist with the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, then becoming chief time keeper for that company, spending twelve or thirteen years in the railroad service. He was appointed clerk to the city treasurer in 1902, a position which he efficiently filled until 1908, when he was appointed assistant city treasurer. Fraternally Mr. Lowe is a member of the P. O. S. of A. He is a member of the Universalist Church. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat. Mr. Lowe is descended from English ancestry on his father's side, and on his mother's from French, this accounting for his name. His father's people were na- tives of North Carolina, our subject's grandfather owning a large plantation and many slaves. The Civil war reversed the family fortune, and four of the sons came North, all of whom are now deceased.

AUGUSTUS BORKERT, who died Dec. 12, 1908, aged seventy years, was one of Reading's leading business men, having been engaged in contracting and building for a number of years. He was a native of. this city, born Feb. 20, 1838, son of Daniel Borkert.

Augustus Borkert's school days were spent at the Franklin street school, in Third ward, and there he at- tended until about fourteen years of age, when he started his business career as an errand boy in a de- partment store. He remained there for about one and one-half years, at the end of which time he went to the hat factory to learn the hat business. His father desired him to learn the binding business, and when nineteen years of age he engaged with his father in business and continued with him until the latter's re- tirement from active life. At this time the six Borkert brothers engaged in business together, and remained connected for some time. but later Augustus Borkert, under the firm name of Augustus Borkert & Bro., en- gaged in contracting and building, with his brother, and they erected a number of large business houses and residences, among the former being the Scott foundry and the Deibert building and part of Mohn's Hat fac- tory. . They also built the Polish school house, and others too numerous to mention. They employed from fifteen to eighteen hands. Mr. Borkert resided at No. 938 A, Penn street, where his death occurred.

Mr. Borkert married Mary Amanda Brown, daugh- ter of John Brown, a Berks county blacksmith, and the following children were born to this union: Katy m. James Bady, and lives at Mt. Penn; George, employed with his father, m. Mary A. Long; Daniel, also em- ployed with his father, m. Ida M. Zell; Clara m. Harry Rapp, of Reading; Howard J., a clerk for the firm of Gatley & Brenner, m. Katie Hill; Ida m. Marshall Huey, who engaged in the coal business on South Tentli street, and they reside on West Oley street; Walter m. Rosa Houck, and they have two sons, Carol and Lester; Walter is employed with his father; Edward was clerking at the tube works, and met his death one day while going home from work at noon time, falling and breaking his neck while running; and Elizabeth is deceased.

Mr. Borkert was a Democrat and served on the com- mon council, representing the Third ward. The family attended Grace Lutheran Church. In April, 1861, at the call for troops, Mr. Borkert enlisted in Company G, 7th Pa. V. I., for three months' service, was mus- tered in at Harrisburg, and went with his regiment to Chambersburg, Greensburg, Williamsport, Millersburg and Charleston, and was there discharged, returning to Harrisburg, where he was mustered out of service and returned to Reading. Mr. Borkert was laid to rest in Aulenbach cemetery. His widow resides at the Penn street home.

A. L. FRAME, who for some years has been promi- nently identified with the iron interests of Berks county,

After completing his education in the public schools of his native city, Mr. Frame entered the employ of Glaser, Frame & Co., formerly the Seneca Cigar Com- pany, as a clerk in the shipping department of the Rochester branch, and later took charge of the sales- men, practically having control of the firm's interests at Rochester during his eighteen months stay. He then returned to Reading and took charge of his father's coal yard, which he conducted from 1888 until 1896, in the latter year removing to Fifth and Willow streets, where he took charge of another yard. In 1903 Mr. Frame located at the Old Ege Foundry, which busi- ness was in such a condition that it needed a firm, strong hand to guide it to success, and this was fur- nished by Mr. Frame, who was able to establish one of the finest businesses of its kind in the county. The firm, which manufactures light hardware specialties, employs eighty-five people in its several departments- foundry, galvanizing, plating, japanning and polishing- and enjoys a large, steady trade throughout the country. In 1904 Mr. Frame also established the Globe Lawn Mower & Manufacturing Company, being made president thereof, and in his new, up-to-date factory, which is equipped with the finest machinery to be ob- tained, he manufactures a high-grade, ball-bearing lawn mower. This utensil is superior in many ways to others, and Mr. Frame has a number of patents on the improved parts. Mr. Frame is enterprising and energetic, and he is favorably known in business and social circles.

In 1888 Mr. Frame was married to Lillie Edwards, daughter of John Edwards, and to this union there have been born two children: Edith and Clarence L. Mr. Frame is a member of Chandler Lodge No. 227; Ex- celsior Chapter; Lodge of Perfection; Reading Com- mandery, K. T .; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. In politics he is a Republican.

W. E. MILLS, a leading citizen of Reading, Pa., serv- ing as a member of the common council from the Sixth ward of the city, was born in Reading, Sept. 26, 1852, son of Allen and Mary Ann (Swartz) Mills, the former of Wilmington, Del., and the latter of Cumru town- ship, Berks county. Pennsylvania.

The grandfather of W. E. Mills was born in Eng- land, and came to America in early life, locating at Wilmington, Del., where he engaged in the manu- facture of paper. He and his wife were the parents of children as follows: Thomas, deceased, was a manufac- turer of Philadelphia; John; May J. m. Thomas Ander- son; Elizabeth m. Samuel Lengel; and Allen. In re- ligions belief the family were connected with the Episcopal Church. It is believed that Mr. Mills was a Whig in politics.

Allen Mills, father of W. E., was educated in the schools of Delaware, whence he came to Reading, and here for twenty-two years was engaged as an employe of the Mellert Foundry and Machine shop. His next employment was with the Scott works, and he also engaged in pattern-making. Mr. Mills died in 1888, and his wife, Mary Ann Swartz, died in 1900, aged about seventy-three years. Allen Mills was a member of Continental Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of the Pilgrim's Circle. He was well known in Reading, and highly esteemed by all who had business dealings with him.

W. E. Mills was educated in the schools of Reading, and as a youth learned the machinist's trade at Mellerts and McKurseys foundries. On completing his appren- ticeship he went to Kansas and settled upon a claim of 160 acres in Solomon Valley, but returned in 1875 after two years in the country. Upon his return he found

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employment with the Rolland & Francis machine shop

toiled early and late, as did his brothers also. But on Cherry and Carpenter streets, continuing there until this hard toil brought its just reward, and as the fath- the following winter, when he engaged at the Mellert er's business interests enlarged the son prospered with him. Magnus remained in association with his father until the latter shut down his factory in 1873, and then' opened up a machine shop of his own. His business grew steadily, and he was one of Reading's substan- tial men of affairs at the time of his death, in 1890. foundry, continuing there for a short time. Mr. Mills then entered the employ of the J. H. Sternbergh Com- pany, continuing there for twenty-two years, eight years of that time being foreman machinist, and the last three years master mechanic. He then went to In 1854 Magnus Mellert married Ludema, daughter of John and Catherine (Close) Philipi, and granddaugh- ter of Jacob Close. To this union were born three children, namely: John, deceased; Emma, deceased; and Addie, m. to Thomas Moore, a prosperous cigar and tobacco merchant of Reading. There are three grandchildren, namely: Lillie, the wife of Robert Heil- man, a shoe merchant on Penn street; Robert; and Ludema. While Mrs. Mellert was a devout member of St. James Lutheran Church, her husband adhered to the faith of his fathers, and remained in the Catho- lic Church, where he served for many years as chori- ster. Lebanon, where he served in the same capacity for the American Steel & Iron Company, but in September, 1900 went to work at the Johnson foundry, where he was employed a short time as foreman, and he is now with the American Iron & Steel Company, Reading. On April 26, 1882, Mr. Mills was married to Miss Esther B. Robinson, born in Reading of Scotch parents, and to this union there were born three children: Willie R., who died aged seven weeks; Jennie M., and Esther A. Miss Jennie M. Mills is a graduate of the Girls' high school, where she took the alumni medal for her essay on Literature. Mrs. Mills is a Baptist. Mr. Mills is connected with the Improved Order of Americans, and was formerly connected with the I. O. O. F. In ABRAHAM S. RAUDENBUSH, M. D., of Reading, Pa., was born July 24, 1841, in Montgomery county, son of Abraham and Mary (Scholl) Raudenbush, and a grandson of George and Mary (Gearhart) Raudenbush. his political belief he is a stanch Republican, and on that party's ticket he was elected, in April, 1906, a member of the common council from the Sixth ward. He has always taken a great interest in ward politics, and is therefore thoroughly acquainted with the needs of his community. He is thoroughly capable and de- serving of a seat in the executive body, where he at- tempts to serve his city and his constituents in a faithful manner.

John Robinson, father of Mrs. Mills, was born in Scotland. and came to America when a young man, first settling in New York City. Before the Civil war, how- ever, he had come to Reading, and here he enlisted in . Company B, 50th Pa. V. I., and was killed while in active service in the battle of Spottsylvania, and was buried in North Carolina. He married Miss Esther Douglas, also a native of Scotland. She died in Read- ing, Pa., in November, 1894, and is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson had children as follows: James, who served as a corporal in the Civil war, and died in New York City; Mary died unmarried; Matilda m. Henry Eyrich; William lives in Reading; Annie m. James Werts, of Reading; and Esther B., the youngest, now Mrs. W. E. Mills, never saw her father.

MAGNUS MELLERT, for many years a well-known foundryman in Reading, was a native of Germany, born in Schwartzwald, Baden, and his death occurred in this city in 1890.

John Mellert, father of Magnus, left Germany in 1832, and coming to America established himself in Reading, where his wife and family joined him seven years later. He was a locksmith by trade, an expert workman, and is said upon good authority to have made all . the locks for the old Berks county courthouse. As time went on he accumulated sufficient means to go into the sheet iron and stove business, as one of the firm of Mellert & Sheeler, and the enterprise proved so successful that they launched out in other lines. They established a foundry and machine shop which they conducted with most satisfactory results until 1873, when the panic of that year compelled them to cease operations. John Mellert married Miss Mary Henderskarich, also of German birth and ancestry, and they had children as follows: Arnold; Charles; Magnus; Constantina, who became the wife of John Sheeler, of Philadelphia, graduating with the class of 1863, with now deceased, and who resides in Baltimore, Md .; and Otto. The family were devout Catholics.

Magnus Mellert was only a boy when his mother brought him to America, and as his father was in those earlier years in limited circumstances, the son received only a meager education. While still very young for such work he was placed in his father's shop, and there

George Raudenbush, great-grandfather of Dr. A. S., came to America from Germany, and settled in Bucks county, near Sellersville. He was a farmer and shoe- maker by occupation, and there spent the remainder of his life. He had two sons, Peter and George.

George Raudenbush, son of the emigrant George, was educated in the schools of Bucks county and early took to agricultural pursuits. following these successfully throughout his life. After his death his wife resided with a daughter, Mrs. Harriet Althouse. He was the father of ten children, as follows: Jacob, George, Abra- ham, Samuel, Jesse, Enos, Sallie (m. Jacob Cressman, of Bucks county), Harriet (m. Thomas Althouse), Matilda (m. John Clymer), and Elizabeth (m. a Mr. Leida). In religious belief the family were members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Raudenbush was a Democrat. He died in 1848, aged about eighty years, and his wife in 1852, when seventy-seven years old.

Abraham Raudenbush received but a meagre educa- tion in the schools of Bucks county. He was reared to farming pursuits, and carried on farming near Sel- lersville, later removing to the edge of Montgomery county, and there remained for several years. He later went to Sellersville, and there purchased the old Abra- ham Schull farm. on which he continued to live until 1863, when he sold the farm, retired and in 1882 moved to Reading .to reside with his son. He died in 1892, aged eighty-eight years. His wife died in 1882, aged seventy-six years, the mother of six children: One daughter died in infancy; James is deceased; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Enos Rosenberger, of Kutz- town; Mary married Jacob Trucksess, and lives in Montgomery county; Abraham S .; and Louisa died in infancy. Mr. Raudenbush was a member of the Reformed Church, in which he was deacon and elder. In politics he was a Democrat.

Dr. Abraham S. Raudenbush was educated primari- ly in the schools of Montgomery county and took ad- vanced studies at Freeland Seminary (now Ursinus College. Early in life he evidenced a desire for the medical profession, and read medicine under Keeler & Groff of Montgomery county and remaining with them two years, when he entered Jefferson Medical College the degree of M. D. His first field of practice was Adamstown, Lancaster county, where he remained eighteen years, and he then located in Reading, open- ing an office at No. 233 South Fourth street. After four years spent at this .office, the Doctor removed to his present location and here he has been actively engaged in practice. The Doctor was for some years

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

a member of the medical staff of the Reading Hos- Elizabeth, Eva Magdalena and Catharine. pital, being one of the first to hold that position after the hospital opened its doors to the public, and he continued in that capacity until 1902, when he retired. He still retains his position, however, on the staff of examiners of students for resident physicians. He is connected with the Reading and Berks county medical societies and the Pennsylvania Medical As- sociation, as well as the American Medical Associa- tion. He was formerly a member of the Lehigh Val- ley Medical Association, which meets but once a year for the benefit of the public, and was a Tri-County Sensorial District for Schuylkill, Berks and Montgom- ery counties. The Doctor is fraternally connected with the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a Democrat, but is broad and liberal in his views.

In 1865 Dr. Raudenbush married Miss Sarah Stauf- fer, daughter of Henry Stauffer, of Lancaster county, and one child was born to this union: Charles H., who is a druggist of Reading, keeping one of the finest pharmacies in the city.

DR. LOT BENSON. The late Dr. Benson was known in the latter part of his life as one of Reading's success- ful business men, but as a young man he had studied and practised medicine. His life covered the greater part of the nineteenth century, and its long record was that of a useful and venerable citizen, who had merited and won the respect and esteem of all who knew him.

Dr. Benson was born in Reading Oct. 1, 1802, and after attending the Reading Academy he began his preparation for the medical profession. He took the course offered in the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and after receiving his degree practised for some years in Reading, meeting with considerable success. He found, however, that his tastes inclined him more to the commercial world than to the professional, and a few years later relinquished the practice of medicine and turned hi's attention to mercantile pursuits. For a number of years he was so engaged at Womelsdorf. In 1845 he came to Reading, and was in the iron business with Eckert & Bro., continuing with them for the remainder of his active life, but his last few years he spent retired from active responsibilities and cares. He died in 1882.

In 1829 Dr. Benson married Miss Eliza Eckert, daughter of Peter Eckert, of Womelsdorf, a member of one of the early families of that district. Four children were born of this union, namely : (1) David E., a well-known ironmaster connected with the Donegal Furnace, at Marietta, Lan- caster county, Pa., died June 17, 1901. He was a man of high standing, and was much interested in all philanthropic work. He gave the ground for the Hope Rescue Mis- sion, and proved his interest in many ways. (2) Susan E. (3) Mary C. died in 1872. (4) Rebecca H. died in 1848. The wife and mother passed away in 1869, at the age of sixty-two years. Both she and the Doctor were members of the Presbyterian Church, in which for forty years he served efficiently as elder. A staunch Republican in prin- ciple, he nevertheless concerned himself with public affairs only as a good citizen, never as a politician. The family was one highly respected in Reading, and active in var- ious fields.

ABRAHAM HEFFNER, a retired resident of Rich- mond township, Berks county, who was for many years engaged in farming in that section, was born on the old Heffner homestead near Virginville, July 20, 1836.

Heinrich Haeffner, great-grandfather of Abraham, and his wife Maria Eva Kelchner, to whom he was married Nov. 28, 1752, were the progenitors of this family in Berks county, Pa. He was probably the Henry Haffner who came in the ship "Patience" from the Palatinate and the Grand Duchy of Wurtemberg with 270 other passengers, sailing from Rotterdam, via Cowes, Sept. 19, 1749. His family of six children were: Johann Heinrich, Hans Georg, Eva Catharine,

Heinrich Haffner was a son of Andreas, of Eberstadt, a town four miles south of Darmstadt, Germany. In 1752, the year of his marriage, he established himself about three- quarters of a mile south of Virginville, on the land now owned by Richard G. Trexler. He brought with him from Germany a box containing many old papers, and was probably a weaver by trade, as he reserved "den Webstuhl und das Geschirr dazu" in an agreement with his son, Heinrich, made April 13, 1784.

Johann Heinrich Heffner, grandfather of Abraham, was born Nov. 23, 1754, and died June 27, 1825. He was the first born of his parents, and was a farmer in Richmond township, living on his father's land, which was acquired by patent from the Commonwealth in 1784. He married Anna Katherine Kohler, daughter of John and Anna Maria Kohler, of Greenwich town- ship. They had ten children, namely: Daniel; John; Henry; Abraham; Samuel; Solomon; Polly, who was lame and died single aged sixty-six years; Kate, m. to Lansing Knapp, of West Penn township, Schuylkill county; Hannah, m. to Daniel Underkoffler, of Mohrs- ville; and Jacob. While Heinrich Heffner was a pris- oner during the Revolutionary war, he was confined in a church in New Jersey, and there a great-uncle of Samuel Heffner, of Moselem Springs, was frozen to death. The following is a copy of a valuable paper now in possession of one of the descendants in Berks county: "Whereas, Heinrich Heffner of Jacob Baldy's company in Col. Philip Gehr's Battalion has made complaint to us, the Subscribers, Commissioners of said county that he could not attend at the Muster and Field days in 1777 and 1778, he being a Prisoner of War and not exchanged, and we find his complaint just, do therefore agreeable to an act of Assembly acquit and exhonerate the said Heinrich Heffner from fine which might have incurred from not attending said Muster and Field days. Given under our Hands, the fourth day of October, in the year of Our Lord, One thous- and, seven hundred and ninety. (Signed) John Keim, Henry Speyker, Jacob Beyer."

Abraham Heffner, father of Abraham, who was a farmer and lifelong resident of Richmond township, was born in 1798, and died in 1854. He was the owner of the original Heffner homestead about three-quar- ters of a mile south of Virginville. He married Polly Kerchner, born in 1801, daughter of Godleib Kerchner, of Greenwich township. She died in the seventy-sixth year of her age. To them were born these children: Isaac, who died single, was a farmer of Richmond . township; Elizabeth m. Charles Zettelmoyer, also a farmer of Greenwich township; Polly died single, aged seventy-three years; Sarah died in infancy; Anna m. Samuel Boyer, a stone mason of Richmond township, later of Denver, Columbia Co., Pa., where they died; Susanna died single, aged fifty-one years; Daniel was a carpenter and farmer of Richmond township; Abra- ham; Carolina never married; and Samuel died when twenty-four years old.

Abraham Heffner, son of Abraham and Polly, was reared on his father's farm, and he followed this vocation until 1900, when he retired from active life. He received a limited education in the free school of his time, but he has since, through observation and study, become a well educated man. At the age of forty-two years Abraham Heffner m. Miss Racy Ann Stoudt, daughter of Benneville and Hettie (Berndt) Stoudt, of Maiden-creek township. The following children were born to this union: Mary, m. to John A. C. Wiesner, a prosperous farmer of Kempton, Pa., and Samuel, Sallie and Susanna, at home. In the spring of 1855, one year after the death of his father, Mr. Heffner began farming for himself on the Heffner home- stead, purchasing the farm at appraisement and con- tinuing thereon until 1880, when he sold this property and purchased the Reeser farm of eighty-six acres in Maiden-creek township, continuing thereon for nineteen

Lof Person

David E. Benson

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BIOGRAPHICAL

years. On this tract he then discovered an inexhaust- ible amount of a fine quality of cement stone, for the handling of which, a number of leading Reading capi- talists formed the Reading Cement Company, to which company Mr. Heffner sold his farm in 1900 for a large figure. At this time he purchased the large brick resi- dence in which he and his family are comfortably situated. Mr. Heffner is considered one of the sub- stantial citizens of Richmond township, and is well known and highly esteemed.

WILLIAM W. SNYDER, who for many years was engaged extensively in mercantile pursuits in Reading and throughout Berks county, was born in Ruscomb- manor township, Berks county, in 1836, son of Jacob and Barbara (Williams) Snyder, prosperous farming people of that section. The corner stone in their house bore the date A. D. 1768.

William W. Snyder attended the public schools of his native township and an academy at Boyertown, in the meantime assisting his father in the duties of the farm. After leaving school he remained at home for a short time, and then went to Evansville, where for a short time he was engaged in clerking, then going to Bower's Station. At the latter place he engaged in a general store business, and continued there for two years, at the end of which time he bought the well- known and well-established foundry at Kutztown of Haack & Kline, operating it for a period of one and one-half years. Mr. Snyder then went to Spangsville, where he purchased the general store business of a Mr. Spang, which he conducted for three years, then coming to Reading. He engaged in the grocery and dry goods business at Eighth and Penn streets in the Breneiser building for a period of two years, after which he engaged in the same business at No. 235 North Eighth street, the present site of the Schaeffer baking establishment. After continuing there for a period of five years, he spent two years in his native township, and then again came to Reading, locating at No. 204 Eighth street, where Mrs. Snyder lived for twenty- eight years. Her home is now at No. 547 the same street, and she owns the valuable property on the cor- ner of Tenth and Elm streets, now occupied by Mr. Bland as a shoe store.

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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 186

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