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 187
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216
After locating at Reading, Mr. Snyder engaged in business on the corner above mentioned, in partner- ship with John Hoffman, the firm being known as Snyder & Hoffman, and he continued there for fourteen years. After selling out to Kline & Wann, Mr. Snyder removed his business to Third and Washington streets and five years later to Bingaman street. He died on a quiet Sunday evening, March 5, 1904, and his burial was at Kutztown. He was a man highly respected by all who knew him and was beloved and looked up to by his family.
Mr. Snyder was united in marriage with Louisa R. Kemp, daughter of the late George G. and Mary (Yoder) Kemp. She was educated at South Bethlehem College. The Kemp family is an old and honorable one, and the name is perpetuated by Kempton, Pa. The cornerstone in the Kemp homestead on the Kutz- town and Allentown road is dated A. D. 1765. In this house was a special room furnished for tramps to sleep in. The Kemps donated the land for Kutztown park, so popular with churches and Sunday-schools, some
times as may as six excursions in a week being run to this park. George Kemp, grandfather of Mrs. Snyder, married Catherine Griesmer. Her father, George G. Kemp, was a life-long farmer of Maxatawny township and owned valuable property in the vicinity of Kutz- town. He died at the age of fifty-three years. and his widow survived to the age of sixty-three. They had these children: Mrs. Jonathan Grim; David, deceased; George. who died at Springfield, Ohio; Martin, a resi- dent of Lyon Station, Berks county; and Louisa R., widow of Mr. Snyder.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were: Howard K., a resident of Reading; Solon K., a machinist; Ir- win K., a tailor; Laura E., m. to Walter B. Koch, of Reading; Estella V., m. to Clyde W. Gray; and Susan L., m. to Harvey I. Reinby. .
FREDERICK A. HINNERSHITZ, for many years a well-known resident of Reading, Pa., died Aug. 24, 1896, at his home in Riverside. Mr. Hinnershitz was born Dec. 4, 1841, in Alsace township, Berks county, son of Isaac and Rebecca (Harbold) Hinnershitz.
Isaac Hinnershitz, who resided in Alsace township, was an agriculturist all of his life, and was a good citizen and much respected by his fellow townsmen. He married Rebecca Harbold, of that township, and to them were born a family of eleven children: Hen- ry, Ann Eliza, Lydia, Mary, Frederick, James, John, Isaac, William, Amos and Rebecca. In religious belief the family were connected with. the Reformed denom- ination. In politics Mr. Hinnershitz was a Demo- crat.
Frederick A. Hinnershitz resided on a farm in Bern township, which was rented of Jacob Bushong by his father, until twenty-one years of age, and in 1861 or 1862 removed to Riverside, where he continued to live up to the time of his death, working at the Reading Hardware Company's works until he entered the employ of the Carpenter Steel Works. He died Aug. 4, 1896, in the faith of the Reformed Church, and was buried at Alsace Church. Mr. Hinnershitz was a man of many sterling qualities of character, and on account of them was respected and esteemed by those who knew him. In his political belief he was a Democrat.
On Sept. 14, 1861, Mr. Hinnershitz was married to Catherine Fox, daughter of George and Maria (Schmeck) Fox, and to this union there was born one son: James, born March 15, 1862, in Muhlenberg township, who married Emma Bahn, and has three children, Mary, Fred and Edith.
LEWIS G. FRITZ, now living at his pleasant res- idence at Mountain View, was for a number of years well known to the people of Cumru township, Berks county, as a leading hotel proprietor.
Martin Fritz, grandfather of Lewis G. Fritz. owned the land around the "Center House" (Grill post-office), in Cumru township, was a blacksmith by trade, and an early resident of the Yocum's Church district, where he was buried. He married Catherine Retchja, and to them were born children as follows: Harry, John and George. of Lancaster county; Jacob, a blacksmith of Brecknock township; Martin and Elias, twins, the latter a blacksmith at Center; Mary, married to Henry Foreman; Catherine; and Harriet (died in March, 1909), married to Cyrus Strohl, of Lancaster county. All of the sons in this family learned the blacksmith's trade, and all are deceased.
Martin Fritz, the father of Lewis G., was born Aug. 11, 1806. in Cumru township, and died at Shillington, just four days before his eighty-fourth birthday. For many years he was a farmer in Cumru township, where he owned considerable land, but several years were spent at Wernersville and Sinking Spring. He was an official member of Yocum's Church. Mr. Fritz married Susan Gring, daughter of Henry Gring, and to them were born these children: Lewis G .; John, living at No. 216 West Douglass Street, Reading; Susan, m. to Jeremiah Gehret; Amos; Samuel, who died at the age of twenty years; Henry G., m. to Susanna Hinnershitz; Joseph, who died when twenty years old; and Sarah, m. to John M. Grill.
Lewis G. Fritz was reared on the home farm in Cumru township, and obtained most of his education in the public schools of his native locality, later spending six months in a school at Churchtown, Lancaster coun- ty. In 1871 he became the proprietor of the "Green Tree Hotel," in Cumru township, which he conducted
44
690
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
for fourteen successive years, then . removing upon which is conducted by Mr. Henry F. Fritz, a hotel the Boyer farm, at the Lancaster bridge, where he keeper of many years experience. Mr. Fritz was born farmed for seven years. In 1893 he removed to his Nov. 18, 1861, in Cumru township, son of Lewis G. and Sarah Ann (Focht) Fritz. private residence near the "Green Tree Hotel," and during the summer and winter of 1896 built the "Moun- Henry F. Fritz received his education in the schools of his native township, and was reared on his father's farm, which he continued to operate for ten years after his marriage .. He then engaged in the hotel business at Jacksonwald, Berks county, where he continued for seven years, his next venture being in the ice business in Reading, which he conducted very successfully for five years. On April 1, 1907, Mr. Fritz succeeded his father in the management of the "Mountain View Hotel," which has twenty-four finely furnished rooms with all modern conveniences. Mr. Fritz makes a cour- teous and genial host, and his hostelry is becoming very popular as a pleasure and health resort. tain View Hotel," which he occupied from April 29, 1897, until April 1, 1907, when his son, Henry F., suc- ceeded him in the management. Mr. Fritz then erect- ed two nice frame dwellings at Mountain View, in one of which he is now living retired. He rebuilt two brick houses below his residence in 1907, and these he has rented. He was at one time part owner of the famous Fritz Island, located one and one-half miles south of Reading, in the Schuylkill river, his interests in which he sold to the city of Reading in 1906. He recalls very well the historic flood of 1853. and the following incident concerning it is ever fresh in' his memory: The Bushong distillery was located On Nov. 29, 1885, Mr. Fritz was married to Miss Clara Berg, daughter of Isaac and Maria (Noll) Berg, and to them two children have been born: Augusta M. and Carrie C. Mr. Fritz is a Republican in politics, and while a resident of Jacksonwald, served as post- master for a period of seven years. In 1908 he was. elected treasurer of his township, and re-elected in 1909. He has been prominent in fraternal circles, and is a popular member of Wyomissing Council, Royal Arca- num, and Camp No. 230, P. O. S. of A.,'of St. Lawrence, Berks county. at the foot of Penn street, Reading, on the banks of the Schuylkill, and when the river rose the rushing tor- rents tore the large pig sty from its foundations and dumped over a hundred hogs into the river. They swam one and one-half miles down the river and thir- ty-three were washed ashore on Fritz Island and saved. This island is quite large, at its highest point being twenty-one and one-half feet above low water mark, and of the island six acres have never been under water to the knowledge of the oldest residents here. In politics Mr. Fritz is a Republican, and for four years he was supervisor of the township. He and his family are Lutheran members of Christ's (Yocum's) Church.
On Oct. 16, 1859, Mr. Fritz was married to Sarah Ann Focht, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Hem- mig) Focht, of Robeson township, and to them were born these children: Emma Louisa, born July 24, 1860, m. (first) Jacob Adam, deceased, and (second) Frank Boyer; Henry F., born Nov. 18, 1861; Catharine, born June 4, 1865, died June 8, 1876; Sylvester, born Jan. 13, 1868; Margaret. born Oct. 4, 1869, died May 31, 1876; Sarah Ann, born Sept. 23, 1870, died May 27, 1876; Lewis, born Oct. 28, 1872, died May 31, 1876, the same day as his sister Margaret, and both were buried in one grave; George, born May 5, 1875, a carpenter foreman for L. H. Focht, the well-known contractor, nı. Agnes M. Hain; Alice, born May 30, 1879, m. Wil- liam Robinson, and has two children, Catharine May and Ray Sarah; and two boys were still born.
GEORGE F. FRITZ, youngest son of Lewis Fritz, was born in Cumru township, Berks county, May 5, 1875. He attended the common schools of his native district, and later was a pupil at the Reading Academy, then taught by the late Prof. D. B. Brunner. He was reared upon the farm, living there until 1892, at which time he left home to learn his trade, serving his ap- prenticeship under L. H. Focht, with whom he has continued up to the present time. He is now foreman of a gang of carpenters, and the high reputation en- joyed by his employer is sufficient testimony as to his ability, for the position is a very responsible one. He is a man of good habits and is well liked.
Mr. Fritz was married, July 11, 1896, to Miss Agnes M. Hain, daughter of Abraham U. Hain, and five child- ren have been born to them, namely: Mabel H., Paul H., Walter H., James H. and Mary A. H. Since 1898 this family have occupied their own home at West Reading. This place was erected by Mr. Fritz's broth- er-in-law, the late James M. Hain. The Fritz family belong to Bethany Lutheran Church of West Read- ing. In politics Mr. Fritz is a Republican, and in social connection he is a member of Fraternity Castle, No. 302, K. G. E., of Reading.
HENRY F. FRITZ. One of the best known pleasure resorts of the vicinity of the city of Reading, Pa., is
CYRUS LORD, late of Reading, Pa., was born in Union township, Berks Co., Pa., Aug. 18, 1834, son of Absalom and Margaret (Rice) Lord, natives of Berks county, and grandson of Joseph and Mary Lord.
Joseph Lord was a native of America of Scotch parentage, and was a farmer and collier by trade. To him and his wife Mary were born: Absalom; Eman- uel; Maria, m. to a Mr. Green, and Mary, m. to a Mr. Fair, of Lancaster county. In religious belief Joseph Lord and his wife were Episcopalians.
Absalom Lord followed boating on the old Schuyl- kill canal, and was a prominent figure in the early history of canaling. He retired about twenty years prior to his death, which occurred in 1869, and his wife, Margaret Rice, passed away in her seventy-sec- ond year. They had these children: Joseph, Daniel, Charles, one that died in infancy, Cyrus, Emanuel, Harriet, John, Mary, William, Absalom, Henry and Peter. Mr. Lord was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he was first a Whig, and later became a Republican.
Cyrus Lord received his education in the schools of Berks county. In 1855 he married Joanna Becker, who died in 1900, aged sixty-four years. She was the mother of three children: Anna, Jacob and Amelia, the last named being the wife of John N. Tomney, of Reading, Pa. Mr. Lord was a member of the Mason- ic Order, holding membership in St. John's Lodge, No. 435, F. & A. M .; Excelsior Chapter; Reading Com- mandery; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Mr. Lord was one of the trustees in St. John's Lodge for many years, and the standard bearer in Reading Com- mandery for a long time, up to the time of his death.
THOMAS P. ANSPACH, a leading business man of Womelsdorf, Berks Co., Pa., who is extensively engaged in the manufacture of cigars, was born in that town, March 19, 1858, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Walters) Anspach.
The Anspach family of Berks county descends from one of the German emigrants that left their native country in the early part of the eighteenth century and came to New York, settling in the Schoharie Valley, where they lived for several years, steadily bringing that part of the country up to a prosperous ernor Hunter inflicted upon them intolerable laws and
the "Mountain View Hotel," situated on the old Mor- condition. It was not long, however, before Gov- gantown road, one and one-half miles from the city,
691
BIOGRAPHICAL
terribly mistreated these sturdy, industrious settlers, Kauffman, of Millerston, Perry Co., Pa .; Frank B. and in the fall of 1723, 150 families fled from the m. Olive Lambertson, of Mapleton, Huntingdon Co., governor's jurisdiction and made their way across Pa., and has had two children, Ida G. (deceased) and Thomas; and John I., unmarried, is a cigar maker by occupation. the forests into Pennsylvania, many of them settling in Bethel, Heidelberg, and Tulpehocken townships, in Berks county. Among these early Penn- FRANKLIN D. HEFFNER, an influential and well- to-do agriculturist of Berks county, Pa., who is now residing on the original Merkel homestead in the eastern end of Richmond township, was born on the old original Heffner homestead, near Virginville, in Richmond township, Feb. 20, 1859, son of Daniel and Lucy (Wink) Heffner. sylvania settlers was George Anspach. Five years later, in 1728, came another large influx of these fam- ilies, and among the latter was Leonard Anspach, who in 1759 was a taxable in Tulpehocken township, paying nine pounds. Also in this year the tax list registered the names of John and Peter Anspach, the former paying eighteen and the latter twenty pounds. One of these was the ancestor of Adam Anspach, grandfather of Thomas P. Adam Anspach and Philip Anspach were sergeants in Capt. Michael Forrer's Company of the Berks County Militia, in the Revolu- tionary War, serving from June, 1780, until July 15, 1781. John Anspach, of Heidelberg township, was second lieutenant in'Capt. John Lesher's Fifth Com- pany of the Battalion of Berks county, May 17, 1777.
Adam Anspach, grandfather of Thomas P., was born on the Anspach homestead in Marion township, and is buried at Host Church. He was a lifelong farmer, owning the old homestead: He and his wife, Mag- dalena (Kintzer) Anspach, had a family of sixteen children, as follows: David, who had Eliza, Dietta, Sarah and Lucy; Jacob, who had three wives, and was the father of nineteen children; John, who had Eliza and Samuel; Samuel, who had Henry, Sue, Samuel. John and Emma; Adam, who had Cyrus, Catherine, Lillie; Jonathan, who was a bachelor; Joseph, who had four children; Isaac, the father of Thomas P .; Mary, who died unmarried; Sallie, m. to Samuel Rieg- el; Elizabeth, m. to Peter Scholl; Molly, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-one years; and four others who died young. Of this family Jonathan and Mary lived together at Womelsdorf, both now being deceased.
Isaac Anspach, son of Adam, was born June 16, 1819. He owned a cozy little farm of thirty acres lying in the borough of Womelsdorf, where he died May 27, 1881. He was a Lutheran in religious belief, and an official member of Zion's Union Church. He married Elizabeth Walters, born Jan. 8, 1824, died Dec. 30, 1899. They had four children, namely: Frank, born in 1846, died in 1852; Jonathan, born in 1850, died in 1852; Lizzie m. George Himmelberger, of Womels- dorf; and Thomas P.
Thomas P. Anspach obtained his education in the borough schools, and was reared upon the home farm, assisting his father. On reaching his fourteenth year he learned the cigar making business, and until 1886 he engaged in that business as a traveling salesman. In the year mentioned Mr. Anspach began to manu- facture cigars, in which business he has continued to the present time with much success. He owns a two-story factory on First street, where he employs half a dozen skilled mechanics, and disposes of his product through jobbers. He erected a fine brick residence at the corner of First and Franklin streets, Womelsdorf, in 1906, and here he and his family make their home. Until Sept. 23, 1905, he had his business on North Third street, when he was burned out, suffering a heavy loss. The two houses on the place had been standing there for upwards of 100 years.
Mr. Anspach is a member of Golden Rule Lodge No. 159, I. O. O. F., and Washington Camp No. 67, P. O. S. of A., both of Womelsdorf, having been connected with the former since 1877, and the latter since 1873. He and his family are attendants of Zion's Lutheran Church.
Heinrich Haeffner, the great-great-grandfather of Franklin D. Heffner, emigrated from the Palatinate, Wurtemberg, Germany. He was twice married, his second wife being Maria Eva Kelchner, daughter of Matthaus Kelchner, an early settler of Richmond town- ship. She bore him two sturdy sons and four daugh- ters, namely: Johann Heinrich; Hans Georg, born in 1757, married Maria Hummel, and died in 1818; Eva Catharine; Elizabeth; Eva Magdalena, and Catharine. Heinrich Haeffner (Haffner) was a son of Andreas Haeffner of Eberstadt, Darmstadt, Germany. The latter married in 1752, and established himself about one mile south of Virginville, on the land now owned by Richard G. Trexler. He was probably a weaver, as he mentioned "den Webstuhl und das Geschirr dazu" in an agreement with his son Heinrich, made April 13, 1784.
During the Revolutionary War Heinrich Heffner (as the name appears in the record) was a soldier in Capt. Joseph Baldy's company. In the winter of 1777-8 he with others were confined as prisoners in a church in New Jersey. One Christian Merkel, also of Rich- mond township, froze to death in Heinrich Haeffner's arms. The following legal document is on record in the Court House of Berks county: "Berks County, ss: Whereas Heinrich Heffner, of Jacob Baldy's Co., in Col. Philip Gehr's Battalion, has made complaint to us, the Subscribers, Commissioners of said county that he could not attend at Muster and Field days in 1777- 1778 as he was a prisoner of War and not exchanged, and we find his complaint just, do therefore, agree- able to an Act of General Assembly, passed the 27th day of March, 1789, acquit and exhonerate the said Henry Heffner from the fine which he 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 thousand, sev- en hundred and ninety. (Signed) John Keim. Henry Speyker. Jacob Beyer."
Johann Heinrich Haeffner, son of Heinrich, was born Nov. 23, 1754, and died aged seventy years, seven months and four days. He married Anna Catherine Kohler, born in 1759, and their children were: Daniel m. Betsey Graeff; John died young; Henry m. Betsey Rahn; Abraham (grandfather of Franklin D.); Sam- uel, born in 1791, m. Kate Folk, and died in 1872; Solomon m. Rachel Graeff; Jacob, born in 1804, m. Rebecca Rahn, and died in 1877; Polly was a lifelong invalid; Hannah m. Daniel Underkoffler; and Kate m. Lansing Knapp.
Abraham Heffner, son of Johann Heinrich, was born in 1789, and died in 1854. He lived for a number of years at Moselem. To him and his wife, Polly Kerch- ner (1801-1876), were born children as follows: Isaac died young: Elizabeth m. Charles Zettelmoyer, a resi- dent of the old Heffner stand; Polly; Sarah died in childhood; Anna m. Samuel Moyer; Susanna died young; Daniel became the father of Franklin D .; Abraham m. Racy Ann Stoudt; Caroline; and Samuel died young.
Daniel Heffner, son of Abraham, was born on the On Aug. 14, 1880, Mr. Anspach was married to Ida old Heffner homestead in 1834, and died in 1881. He Behney, daughter of Milton and Rebecca (Batdorf) received his education in the schools of his day, and when a young man learned the trade of carpenter, be- Behney, and to this union there were born three sons: Irwin M., a drug clerk of Womelsdorf, m. Annie coming a first-class mechanic. He built many build-
692
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ings in and about the village of Virginville, and taught iel, 1824-1898; Nathan,' 1827-1880; and Henry, 1832- many men the trade. He also owned a small farm 1905. near Virginville, which is now in the possession of Jonathan Dietrich, son of Christian, was born Dec. 2, 1802, and died Jan. 29, 1862. He married Elizabeth Schearer, born Sept. 25, 1810, who died June 7, 1897. and both were buried at Moselem Church. They had the following children: Ephraim, born in 1835, died in 1905; Jonathan, father of Mrs. Heffner; Joel; Wil- liam; Daniel; Henry; Samuel; Edwin and Sarah Ann. his son, Franklin D. In political matters Mr. Heffner was a Democrat, and he was a leader in the ranks of his party in this section of the state, serving as school director of Richmond township for many years. He and his family were strict Lutherans. attending Mose- lem Church, of which he was trustee for a long period. Daniel Heffner married Lucy Wink, daughter of David and Ann (Hill) Wink, farming people of Maxatawny township. She died in 1902, aged sixty-eight years, and both she and her husband are buried at Moselem Church. To them were born four children, as follows: Franklin D .; Mary Ann, who died aged ten years; Amos I., who died in his seventeenth year; and Joel, who passed away when four years old.
'Franklin D. Heffner attended the district schools of his locality, and was reared upon the farm on which he was born. For some years he lived on a small farm near Virginville, which lies adjacent to the old Heffner homestead, but in 1891 he bought the fine farm on which he now resides. This property is valuable. It is one of the best farms in the town- ship. It consists of 110 acres of excellent land; the buildings upon which are large, substantial and in ex- cellent condition. The water facilities are of the best. Mr. Heffner is an up-to-date, practical agri- culturist, using the most modern machinery and im- plements, and his good crops are in a measure due to the manner in which he prepares the soil prior to planting. He has a good herd of live stock, and his horses are known throughout the township as of the best breed. He is one of the substantial citizens of Richmond township, and a heavy tax payer. Person- ally he is quiet and unassuming, and he is known to his neighbors and acquaintances as an honorable and upright citizen.
Mr. Heffner is a strong and uncompromising Demo- crat, but, although he takes an active interest in pol- itics, believing that it is his duty as a citizen to do so, he has never allowed his name to be used as a candidate for public position. He and his family are loyal supporters of the Lutheran faith and consistent members of Moselem Church, of which Mr. Heffner has been deacon for four years and treasurer for over seventeen years. He was a member of the building committee when the new church was built in 1894, and contributed largely in time, money and material towards its erection.
Adam Dietrich, great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Heff- ner, was born in 1740 and died in 1817. He married Maria Barbara Steinbruch (1741-1821), who, like him- self, had come from the Palatinate, Germany, on the good ship "Brittania," which landed at Philadelphia Oct. 26, 1767. They were the parents of the following children: Johann Adam, 1765-1823; Johann Georg, 1767- 1837; Maria Barbara, 1769 -- 1846; Catherine, 1771- Johann Jacob, 1773-1857; Johann Michael, 1775-1862; Johann Heinrich, 1777-about 1857; Johannes, 1779-1830; a daughter born in 1781; Johann Christian, 1783-1874; Maria Magdalena, 1785; and Anna Margareta, 1787- 1838.
Jonathan Dietrich, son of Jonathan, was born Nov. 28, 1835, and died Aug. 6, 1871. He owned and cul- tivated a tract of fifty acres of land in Greenwich township, where his whole life was spent. Mr. Dietrich married Catherine Keim, and to them were born children as follows: Terinta m. Isaac Hess, a farmer of Maiden-creek township; Mary Ann m. Mr. Heffner; George M. m. Katie Fegley, and is a farmer near Evansville, Pa .; and Katie m. Oscar Luckinbill, of Leesport, Pennsylvania.
GEORGE W. SNYDER, who is well known to the people of Reading, Pa., as a professional musician, has been identified with musical organizations since his twelfth year, and is the present director of the Glen Echo Orchestra. Mr. Snyder was born in 1868, in Bethel township, Berks county, son of Franklin and Elizabeth (Lerch) Snyder.
Thomas Snyder, the grandfather of George W., was a prosperous farmer of Bethel township, and owned land deeded to the family by the Penns in 1730. He married a Miss Wagner, and to them were born the following children: Washington, Davilla, Isaac, Frank- lin. Henrietta and Clementina. Of this family Frank- lin Snyder was one of the early farmers of Bethel township, and followed agricultural pursuits all of his life, dying at the age of fifty-four years. His widow still survives. They were the parents of these children: Rebecca; Emma; Sarah, deceased; William F .; George W .; David T. and Ella J., deceased; and Dora M. The family were members of the Lutheran Church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.