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 188

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 188

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George W. Snyder received his literary education in the public schools, after leaving which he taught school for five years, then engaging as a brakeman on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, with which road he continued for three years. He then became a United States railway postal clerk, his run being between Allentown and Harrisburg. but after twelve years he resigned, and took up the profession of piano tuning. At the age of twelve years he received his first instruction in music from Prof. L. A. Drum- heller, of Harrisburg, and later he graduated from the G. H. Munroe School of Piano Tuning. Boston, hav- ing done practical work in the Cornish Piano factory. He is a member of the I. O. O. F .. the P. O. S. of Clerks. In political matters he is a Democrat.

In 1881 Mr. Heffner married Mary Ann Dietrich, daughter of Jonathan and Catherine (Keim) Dietrich, of Greenwich township, and to this union there have been born children as follows: Joel W., Mary C., Daniel E., Katie C., Jonas F .. Hannah A .. A. Howard, Alice A. and the National Association of Railway Postal J., Ada L., Franklin J. and Florence E.

Professor Snyder married A. 'Blanche Deck, and to them have been born four children; Percy A .; Robert E. and Maysie A., deceased; and George D. The family attend the Reformed Church.

CYRUS Q. GULDIN, one of the leading business men of Reading, Pa., who is president of the Read- ing Cold Storage & Ice Company, was born in Cole- brookdale township, Berks county, May 25. 1860, son of Horace N. and Elizabeth M. (Eshbach) Guldin. and grandson of John and Maria (Grim) Guldin.

John Guldin, also a native of Berks county, was a farmer and ran a saw mill in his native locality. He was a member of no church, although he favored the Reformed denomination, and was a good Christian and excellent neighbor. He and his wife had these children: Edward, Henry, James, Cyrus, Mary and Horace N.

Johann Christian Dietrich, son of Adam, was born in 1783, and died in 1874. He married Elizabeth Georg (1786-1846), and to them were born children as fol- lows: Benjamin, 1806-1877; Solomon, 1807-1874; Beckie m. Jacob Heinly; Jonathan was the grandfather of Mrs. Heffner; George, 1811-1887; Samuel, 1817-1893; Horace N. Guldin was educated in the schools of Anna m. Daniel Spohn; Hettie m. John Moyer; Dan- Boyertown, and in early life engaged in school teaching.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

later, however, becoming an agriculturist. He is now union: Elizabeth m. John Breidenbach; Jacob; John; living retired at New Berlinville, where he has many and Samuel. friends. His wife, Elizabeth M. Eshbach, who died John Scheetz, son of John Adam, was born in what in 1898, aged sixty-two years, bore him these child- is now Marion township, in 1793, and died Feb. 20, ren: James; Cyrus Q .; Delilah (m. Reuben Brown); and Laura (m. Levi Miller). 1869, aged seventy-six years, and was buried at Union cemetery. In 1832 he purchased the well known Conrad Weiser farm. east of Womelsdorf, and here he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1855, when he re- tired. He was prominent in politics in his day, and in 1836-37 served in the Assembly at Harrisburg, also holding a number of township offices. He also was the owner of the farm at the St. Daniel's (Corner) Church. Mr. Scheetz married (first) Barbara Schütz, daughter of John Jacob Schütz, and to them were born two children: William, the father of John David; and John Adam, who married and had four children, name- ly, Alice, Kate (m. John F. P. Marshell, part owner of the C. Weiser farm), Dr. Laurence J. (of New Ox- ford, Adams county), and Franklin (of Albuquerque. New Mexico). Mr. Scheetz m. (second) Catherine Selt- zer, by whom he had one son: Isaac K., who m. Mary A. Seltzer and had four children, namely, Hor- ace (died young), J. Albert (of Chicago), Mary Catha- rine (m. John David Scheetz) and Amanda (died young).

Cyrus Q. Gulden was educated in the schools of his native township and also in Montgomery county. In 1891, with A. J. Brumbach, J. G. Leinbach, George O. Runyeon, J. A. Strohecker and John H. Printz, deceased, he formed the Realing Cold Storage Com- pany, and was elected president thereof, a position which he has held continously to the present time. The plant was consolidated in 1900, it being at Read and Elm streets. It has a capacity of sixty tons, and the storage house has 200,000 cubic feet of space. The plant at South Ninth street has a capacity of 130 tons daily, with 250,000 cubic feet of space. Mr. Guldin 'is also superintendent of the Glenside Land Company, and the Glenside Water Company; director of the Bramcote Land Company; president of the Exchange Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Philadelphia, and superintendent of the Angelica Water & Ice Com- pany. He is also prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of Stichtler Lodge, No. 254, F. & A. M., of which he is past master, and a member of the chap- ter; Nativity Commandery of Pottstown, Pa., and the Rajah Temple. A. A. O. N. M. S. Since 1900 he has made his home in Reading.

In 1882 Mr. Guldin married Lillie Butz, daughter of George W. Butz, of Pottstown, and to them there has been born one child: Elizabeth, who is now en- gaged in the study of music and art.

JOHN DAVID SCHEETZ, who resides on his well- improved farm in Heidelberg township, is one of the leading farmers of Berks county, Pa., and has been largely identified through his position as a prominent citizen with the general progress of this section since attaining the years of manhood. Mr. Scheetz was born July 15, 1843, in North Heidelberg township, son of William and Harriet (Deppen) Scheetz.

Conrad Scheetz (or Schuetz or Schütz), the great- great-grandfather of John D., was one of the pioneers who came from the Schoharie, N. Y., in 1723, with thirty-three other Palatinate families, having emigrat- ed from Germany to England, where they were pro- vided with passage to the New World by Queen Anne. On Christmas Day, 1709, 4000 of these emigrants em- barked for New York, and on reaching that port June 14. 1710, 1700 of these travelers died. The sur- vivors camped in tents on Governor's Island until late in autumn, when about 1400 removed to Liv- ingston Manor, 100 miles up the Hudson river. Here they improved land, built log cabins, and were in a fair way towards success, when Governor Hunter's treatment became unendurable and many of these sturdy settlers fled through the forests on rudely con- structed sleds, which they tugged themselves through the deep snow. Among these early arrivals at the Tulpehocken were: Johannes Pisas, Sebastian Pisas. George and Peter Rieth, Gottfried Titler, Conrad Schuetz, Antonius Scharf, Johannes Rieth, Joseph Laab, have no children.

Christian Lauer, Andrew Walborn. Lorentz Zerbe, Sebastian Fischer. Johan Peter Pacht, Johann Adam Lesch and George Anspach.

John Adam Schutz, son of Conrad Schuetz, was one of the most prominent men of his day and locality, served a term in the Legislature and held numerous township offices. and owned considerable land, which is now divided into four fine farms, having originally consisted of upwards of 400 acres. He spelled his

William Scheetz, son of John and father of John David, was born Nov. 8, 1818, in Heidelberg town- ship, and died March 6, 1885, being buried at the Corner Church. He was a farmer and property own- er, being the possessor of three fine farms. Until the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Scheetz was a Demo- crat but after that time he became a Republican, and for twenty-five years served as a school director in Heidelberg township. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence. and lived much in advance of his day. He married Harriet Deppen, who died in 1880, at the age of fifty-seven years, daughter of Dav- id and Elizabeth C. (Schall) Deppen. Of their six children, two died in infancy. Those who survived were: John David; William Henry, born . June 21, 1846, who for some years was a lumber merchant in North Heidelberg township, was accidentally killed in a trolley accident, July 25, 1907; Alinda m. Nathaniel Lengel, a farmer of North Heidelberg township; and Mary Agnes m. William F. McLean, who resides on one of the Scheetz farms.

John David Scheetz was reared to agricultural pur- suits, and with the exception of some school teaching in his younger days, this he has followed all his life. working for his parents until his thirtieth year, since which time he has resided on the Conrad Weiser farm, which he purchased in 1892. Until 1904 he carried on practical farming, disposing of his product to the home trade, but in that year retired from active work. Mr. Scheetz is a well-read man and a great student. He has made many friends in his community and he and his wife are highly esteemed in the locality in which they have resided for so long. During the Civil war he was appointed by Gen. Thomas D. James as a clerk in the hospital quartermaster's department, serving in 1864 and 1865.

In 1874 Mr. Scheetz married Catherine Sheetz, daugh- ter of Isaac K. and Mary A. (Seltzer) Sheetz. They

WILLIAM HAGY, a venerable resident of the city of Reading, who is now spending the autumn of life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his earlier years of toil, was born in West Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pa., Dec. 12, 1825, and represents a family long identified with that part of the country.

Henry Hagy, his paternal grandfather, is supposed to have been a native of Lancaster county, and certain- name Schütz until after he had served in the Legisla- ly all his active life was passed there, operating a ture. He was buried at Tulpehocken Church. Mr. farm which he owned near Schoeneck. He was also Schütz married a daughter of Jost Fishbach, of Heid- elberg township, and four children were born to this

an expert weaver, and according to the custom of those Revolutionary days, spent much time during the

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

winter months in weaving into cloth the flax that had been raised on his own farm and then spun. He married Miss Catherine Stover, and both lived to ad- vanced age, his death occurring in 1844, and hers in 1837. They were members of the Lutheran Church. Their nine children were: Henry, John, George, Samuel, David, Catherine, Elizabeth, Jacob and Eve.

Jacob Hagy, father of William, was born in 1795, and lived only to the age of thirty-five. He owned a small farm, which he had operated, and his family were left in straightened circumstances. His wife was Miss Catherine Trich, and they had three children, namely: William; Lydia m. George Sindel; and Eliza- beth, who lives at Reamstown, is the widow of the late Joseph Bechtel. Mrs. Hagy survived her hus- band until Nov. 4, 1867, when she died aged sixty- nine years, one month and eighteen days. In her latter years she was a member of the Mennonite church.

William Hagy was sent to the schools of Lancaster county, but his father's untimely death compelled him to shift for himself at. an early age; and he was hardly more than a boy when he became an appren- tice to a tailor to learn the trade. After four years" service he was released in 1844, and the following year came to Reading, where he has ever since re- sided. He found employment at first with James Jameson, and worked with him till 1853, when he started in business with William Donahower, the part- nership lasting eighteen months. He then went to Eighth and Penn streets, but at the end of three months moved to North Fifth street, remaining one year. In the spring of 1867, he located at No. 701 Penn street, where he remained till his retirement in 1892. Mr. Hagy still owns the property and retains an office on the premises, spending some time there each day looking after his affairs. He was always industrious, upright in his dealings and wide awake to every opportunity, so that his success was justly due. On May 10, 1849, Mr. Hagy married Miss Sarah Ann Bitler, daughter of Elisha Bitler, of Robeson town- ship, Berks county. A family of nine children were born to them, of whom seven lived to mature years, viz .: William D .; Harry B. is treasurer of the Penn- sylvania Trust Company, of Reading; Irwin A. resides at Philadelphia; Mary E. m. (first) Henry A. Het- rick, son of John Hetrick, of Reading, and (second) Matthan Harbster, of Reading; Emma C. m. Thomas Shaneman, of Lebanon; Anna E. m. Park John, of Reading; and Sarah J. m. A. J. Geiger, a shoe mer- chant of Reading. The wife and mother died Jan. 16, 1907, aged eighty years and eleven months. Mr. Hagy has been for years a Methodist in his religious faith, having united with that denomination when a young man, and he now holds membership in St. Peter's M. E. Church. In politics he is a Republican.

WILLIAM H. JONES, a well-known citizen of Douglassville, Amity township, belongs to the oldest family in Berks county. Before William Penn was born Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, sent out colonists to the New World, and in 1643 under Capt. John Printz, three ships came over and established a settlement on Tinicum Island. The Rev. John Cam- panius Holm was pastor for the Colony, and the first church was built by the government of the mother country. This was a block house, and it stood on the present site of Old Swedes Church (erected in 1700) at Swanson and Christian streets, Philadelphia. Samuel Jones, son of Peter, was born at Douglass- ville, Jan. 3, 1782, and died on his farm above Doug- lassville in 1864. He was a blacksmith by trade, and also conducted a thirty-five acre farm. He was very well known, and was greatly interested in educational Originally the ministers of this church were Lutheran in faith, but as time passed on and the Swedish lan- guage died out, the congregation elected a minister of the Church of England, and of that denomination the church has continued. On the flats west of the matters. In appearance he was tall and stout, of dark Schuylkill, at Philadelphia, is still standing a house built by Jonas Nielson (tradition says in 1650). Though consisting of but two tiny rooms and a garret, many

traditions are extant concerning the importance of this place in early days, and in front of the fireplace George Washington once sat as a guest. Court was also held there. Jonas Nielson is buried at Old Swedes Church. By the custom of the Swedes to change their name to the baptismal name of the father, the progeny of Jonas Nielson became known as Jonasson, which in the next generation was anglicized to Jones. An old deed of partition on record at the City Hall, Phila- delphia, mentions William Jones as "a grandson of Jonas Nealson, yeoman, late of Kingsessing, the said William Jones having agreeable to Swedish custom, changed his surname from Nealson to Jones."

Maunce Jones, a Swede, came from the Wissahickon to Douglassville, in Berks county, with a colony of Swedes in 1701. He located on the east bank of the Schuylkill river where he built a stone house in 1716, where the Douglassville county "covered" bridge spans the river. This house has a very thick wall, and is very substantially built, having in its earlier days been a place of refuge for the pioneer settlers during In- dian outbreaks. It is now owned by the Leaf es- tate. Maunce Jones was a farmer and owned consid- erable land. He was married to Ongabo, daughter of J. Jonas Yocom and was executor of his father- in-law's will in 1760.

Among the Joneses who are buried in the Episcopal cemetery at Douglassville are the following: Peter Jones, who died Aug. 20, 1758, aged fourteen years; Sarah Jones, who died June 20, 1762, aged thirty years; Jonas Jones, Sr., who died Jan. 27, 1777, aged seventy- seven; Mary, wife of Jonas Jones, who died Sept. 11, 1772, aged sixty-eight years; Jonas Jones, Jr., who died April 23, 1799, aged sixty-five years; Mary, daugh- ter of Jonas Jones, who died Sept. 30, 1805, aged seventy-eight years; Nicholas Jones, who died Oct. 15, 1826, aged ninety years; Rachel, wife of Nicholas Jones, who died March 5, 1792, aged forty-one years; Nicholas Jones, who died March 28, 1820 (or 1829), aged forty-one years; Mary, wife of Nicholas Jones, who died July 20, 1862, aged sixty-nine years; Samnel Jones, son of Nicholas, who died April 28, 1786, aged five years; David Jones, born March 1, 1786, and died Nov. 4, 1822; George Jones, born Sept. 28, 1814, and died Dec. 27, 1882; Hannah Jones, born Nov. 5, 1818, and died April 3, 1884; and Richard Jones, born Jan. 14, 1816, and died Sept. 25, 1875.

Peter Jones, great-grandfather of William H., was born at Douglassville, Oct. 10, 1749, and died there on his farm Nov. 24, 1809. He owned all the land including the Huysingne Meschert est. to and including the James Gorrell farm (eighty-eight acres of which was Jones land). Peter Jones had in all three hundred acres, and he engaged in farming all his life. He and his wife were Episcopalians and are buried at Douglassville. He married Catharine Kirlin, born Nov. 9, 1756, died Feb. 25, 1844. They were the parents of fifteen children, namely: John, born July 9. 1773; Ruth and Elizabeth (twins), July 20. 1775; Peter, Ang. 9, 1777; Hannah, Sept. 9, 1779 (died Dec. 29, 1860, married Jonathan Jones (son of Nicholas and Rachel) born March 2, 1778. died April 23, 1840, and their son Samuel died July 2, 1833, aged thirty years, one month and eight days); Samuel, Jan. 3, 1782; William, Jan. 25, 1784; Jacob, Feb. 19, 1786; Nathan, May 22, 1788; Thomas, May 7, 1790; Ezekiel, April 2, 1792; Mary (Polly), Sept. 15, 1793; Caleb, July 8, 1796; Catharine, March 28, 1799; and Rebecca, April 5, 1802.

complexion. Both he and his wife Elizabeth Hoover (Huber) are buried at the Episcopal Church in Doug- lassville. He was a member of the vestry of this

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church, and was always active in its work. To Samuel Jones and wife were born children as follows: Peter; Richard, who kept a store along the canal at Union- ville, now conducted by his grandson, Howard W. Jones; Jacob, who lived at Reading the greater part of his life, but whose children now live in Philadel- phia; Julian, who married Thomas May, and lived at Douglassville; Ezekiel, an alderman of the Third ward Reading, who had Dick and Harry.

Peter Jones, son of Samuel, was born at Douglass- ville April 19, 1819, and was there reared to manhood, early becoming acquainted with the duties on a farm. He owned the farm that is now managed by his es- tate. He died March 15, 1896, and is buried in the Episcopal cemetery. He, too, was a member of the Episcopal church, and served on the vestry. On Feb. 25, 1847, he married Mary Ann Kirlin, daughter of John and Sarah (Brower) Kirlin, of Union township, the former of whom died at Hamburg in 1829. Mrs. Mary Ann (Kirlin) Jones was born Dec. 6, 1820, and is now (1909) residing on the old farm above Douglass- ville. She is remarkably well preserved, and she takes a keen interest in the life around her. She is the mother of nine children: Winfield Scott, born May 23, 1848; Samuel H., May 14, 1849; Sarah Ann, Dec. 13, 1850; Newton, Sept. 27, 1852; Elizabeth C., April 30, 1854; Fannie, April 23, 1856; Hannah M., Sept. 18, 1858; William H., Sept. 17, 1860; and Maggie Y., Nov. 21, 1862.

William H. Jones was born at Douglassville, Sept. 17, 1860, and was educated in the public schools of that district. He was trained to farming, and since 1888 he has been farming the old homestead for him- self. This farm consists of thirty-five acres of ex- cellent land, and Mr. Jones devotes a great deal of at- tention to dairying, having shipped his milk to Phila- delphia many years. In the winter of 1908-09 he estab- lished the first milk route in Douglassville, and this he now serves. In politics Mr. Jones is a Repub- lican, and he and his family are members of the Epis- copal Church at Douglassville, in which he is a member of the vestry.

On Dec. 6, 1888, Mr. Jones married Margaret Gailey, daughter of William and Sarah Jane (Arble) Gailey, and they have two children: Mary Ethel, a member of the Pottstown high school class of 1909; and Her- bert G.

CHARLES H. LEINBACH, a well known and prosperous merchant of Reading, comes of German stock, and his ancestors settled in Pennsylvania in 1723, in the township of Oley, Berks county.

Elias A. Leinbach, father of Charles H., was a son of Christian, who resided in Bern township. Elias A. Leinbach became the postmaster at Leinbach's postoffice, and discharged the duties of that office for a period of nearly fifty years. He married Caro- line, daughter of Solomon Hoch, retired, and they became the parents of a large family. Those still THOMAS W. SWENEY (deceased), a prominent a reputation all over the State, was born in West Chester, Chester county, April 24, 1834, son of James He died Oct. 14, 1905, and is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. living are: Rev. Thomas H., pastor of St. John's jeweler of Reading, whose skill in his line won him Reformed Church at Reading; Rev. Elmer H., pastor of St. John's Church in Kutztown; Sallie H .; Laura, m. to John Z. Rieser; Carrie S., m. to Rev. C. E. Sweney. Schaeffer, of St. Mark's Reformed Church, Reading; and Charles H.

Charles H. Leinbach was born in Bern township in 1859, and was first sent to the public school of that section. Later he went both to the Millersville State Normal School and to the State Normal School at Kutz- town. Naturally a good student, with these advantages he was well prepared for teaching and followed that profession awhile in his native township, before en- tering upon his business career. At the age of twenty- one he went to Reading as an apprentice under his uncles, who, under the firm name of Leinbach & Brother, conducted a clothing establishment at No. 851 Penn street. The young man showed a decided aptitude for the work, and in 1890 he was taken into

partnership. He has been connected with it con- tinuously from that time, and since the death of his uncles has been the senior member of the firm.

On Feb. 26, 1885, Mr. Leinbach married Miss Ella J. Bitzer, daughter of R. R. Bitzer, a prominent coal and lumber merchant of Ephrata, Lancaster county. To this union, there have been born three sons, Ray- mond, Paul and Clarence, and two daughters, Mary. and Magdalene. The family residence is a pleasant home at No. 10 North Eleventh street.

Mr. Leinbach belongs to a family always deeply interested in religious work, and has devoted much time himself to such labors. He was one of the founders of St. Andrew's Reformed Sunday-school, and has been its superintendent for a period of twenty- two years, with a corps of teachers and officers under him that now numbers nearly one hundred. This Sunday-school was the nucleus from which grew St. Andrew's Reformed Church, and Mr. Leinbach was one of the charter members at its organization in 1890. He was chosen a member of its first consistory and is still a member and officer. He is doing a great deal of Christian work outside of his own church and school. He is president of the Berks County Sabbath School Association, a member of the Reformed Church Publication Board, and also of the Board of Ministerial Relief. In politics he is a Republican.

GEORGE GRAUL, deceased, a contractor and builder in Reading, was born in Berks county, Pa., in 1799. His father was Jacob Graul, who lived many years in Reading and finally passed away there.

George Graul learned the trade of a brick-layer in his youth, but later worked into the contracting and building line, following that successfully for a number of years. During his last years in business he gave up the building line and instead was engaged in trucking.

Mr. Graul married Miss Elizabeth Ege, and their wedded life continued till the death of Mrs. Graul in 1863, at the age of sixty-one .. Her husband sur- vived her till June 2, 1877, when he, too, passed away at the advanced age of seventy-eight. They left a number of children, as follows: Rebecca, widow of William Bingaman, residing in Reading; Sevilla, deceased wife of Michael Sands; Katie, deceased; Rev. Amos, deceased, a minister of the United Brethren Church, located at the time of his death at Pine Grove, Schuylkill county (he m. Sevilla Kern); Mary, born July 29, 1825, residing at No. 315 Moss street, Reading, in which neighborhood she has lived for sixty years; Elizabeth, Mrs. Daniel Graeff, of Reading (she has four children: Emily, Bessie, Mary and George); and Abeline, who died in infancy. The family has always been one held in much respect in the com- munity.

Thomas Sweney, grandfather of Thomas W., was born in Bucks county, Pa., March 4, 1777. For many years he lived, in West Chester, Chester county, where he died. He married Elizabeth Hineman, who was born in Montgomery county, Pa., May 7, 1785, daugh- ter of John and Barbara Hineman, and to them came James and John.

James Sweney. born March 29, 1810, married Lov- ina Wells. He died Oct. 1, 1883, aged seventy-three years, six months and two days, and she died May 8, 1893, aged eighty-three years. four months and seventeen days. Both were natives of Pennsylvania, the father of Irish descent and the mother of Welsh. James Sweney was a shoemaker by trade and 'fol-

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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 188

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