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 19

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 19

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In 1869, when Prof. D. B. Brunner became county superintendent, he inaugurated the system of local institutes, and during that year he held eight institutes in different sections of the county which proved very successful. This enabled the teachers in remote districts to attend an institute and become familiar with its proceedings, and also to take a part in its discussions, an opportunity being afforded and an inclination to do so being encouraged. This latter feature was particularly

EDUCATION IN COUNTY

appreciable, for in a local institute the teachers were borough grew into a city, with its territory en- thoroughly acquainted with one another, and, not larged, the inhabitants more widely scattered and being so numerous, they were enabled to partici- pate practically in its discussions. Each succeed- ing year till now has shown an ever-increasing in- terest in them.

The Pennsylvania State Educational Association was first organized in 1856. Three of its conven- tions were held at Reading; in 1863, in 1878, and in 1905.

PAY SCHOOLS .- Various pay schools were con- ducted in the county, out of the limits of Reading, before the establishment of the compulsory system and afterward for many years, more especially in Union and Oley townships, and at Boyertown, Kutztown and Womelsdorf. But they have all been discontinued excepting the Keystone State Normal School which is described in connection, in financial support, and wanting in mental vigor with Kutztown.

NEWSPAPERS

There was no newspaper published in the county before 1789. News was communicated by persons to one another mostly at inns and stores, of which the number was large in proportion to the popula- tion, more especially at Reading. The latest acci- dent, death, transaction or crookedness of any kind was communicated from one to the other, or to small groups of persons; and so it was carried from building to building and from place to place, not in the English language (for English was little spoken then by those who assembled at inns) but German, which was used almost entirely through- out the county in the daily affairs of life, both secu- lar and religious.

During this early period, the Pennsylvania Gazette, published at Philadelphia, had a lim- ited circulation in Reading and in the county. It was an interesting messenger to the peo- ple; and its weekly arrival must have been an event of more than ordinary importance. A copy was doubtless busy in passing amongst persons who could read English-not for the personal mat- ters which it contained, but for foreign affairs, market reports, letters published, etc. Christopher Sauer's Journal, a newspaper printed in German, and published at Germantown, had a more extended circulation in this vicinity, and it exercised a large influence over the residents.

Forty years in the history of Reading elapsed before the newspaper became a local institution. The entire period of its local life as a town, with all its many important events, passed away without having it introduced. This would seem to be a long while for such a factor to obtain a foothold in a community otherwise energetic and progressive; but this delay is capable of explanation. The peo- ple were interested in home rather than in foreign affairs, and strove to give them successful develop- ment. Local matters required no printed publica- tion, for, the town being small and the population limited, they were easily communicated. But as the town grew into a borough, and especially as the

the population largely increased, the natural way became more and more incapable of satisfying the inquisitiveness of the people and an artificial way had to be introduced-and this was supplied by the newspaper.

After the lapse of a century, general progress came to be so wonderful, the people so numerous and scattered, and their relations so intermingled, that, just as the natural way had to yield to the artificial, so did the old and slow process of print- ing on a hand-press, with its limited capacity, have to make way for the new and spirited process, by a steam-press, with its unlimited capacity. In the beginning, the newspaper was weak in every res- pect, small in size, limited in circulation, uncertain and originality; but afterward it became strong, rich, energetic and inventive.

The newspapers of the county comprise two classes, weekly and daily. Some of them were printed in the German language, but most of them in the English. The following statement shows the names of the several newspapers instituted at Reading and in the county; also the names of the founders, the time when instituted, and the dur- ation of the publication. Though published almost entirely at Reading, they have been placed in this chapter on account of their general circulation throughout the county and elsewhere.

WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS AT READING

Name Founder Year

Neue Unpartheyische l Readinger Zeitung & Jungmann

Johnson, Barton 1789-1793

Weekly Advertiser.

. Gottlob Jungmann. .1796-1816

Reading Herald

George Gerrish

Jacob Schneider and } .1796-1909

Welt Bothe. Henry B. Sage 1810

Berks and Schuylkill ** Journal.

George Getz. 1816-1909 Readinger Post Bote .. . Charles A. Bruckman. .. 1816-1826 Samuel Myers and l

Chronicle of the Times ..

.Douglass W. Hyde S. 1822-1836

Jackson Democrat Charles J. Jack. 1826-1826

Readinger Democrat

Jeremiah Schneider { 'and Samuel Myers 1826-1835

Berks County Press . Samuel Myers 1835-1865

Jefferson Democrat. Robert W. Albright .1838-1848

Liberale Beobachter .Arnold Puwelle .1839-1865

Reading Gazette and Democrat

Jacob Knabb and }

J. Lawrence Getz S .1840-1878

Alt Berks. William B. Schoener . . . 1840-1845 Sonne von Alt Berks. . . Charles W. Guenther. . . 1845-1848 Reading Herald. Abraham S. Whitman . . 1846-1850

People's Advocate A. S. Whitman and }

.1850-1852 Joseph E. Berret Samuel L. Young and }

Berks County Democrat

Andrew M. Sallade

James Millholland and }

1858-1858

School Album. . Albert R. Durham 1858-1859

* . Ritter family connected with publication since 1802.

** Owned by publishers of Reading Times since 1866.

Jacob Schneider and .1796-1796

Readinger Adler*

George Gerrish

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Weekly Leader .. . J. Robley Dunglison .... 1860-1861

Reformirter Hausfreund Daniel Miller. .1867-1904

Banner von Berks.

William Rosenthal* 1864-1909

Die Biene .. William Rosenthal* 1867-1909 Die Deutsche Eiche .... William Rosenthal* 1869-1909

Republikaner von Berks

Daniel Miller. 1869-1899

Spirit of Berks . . .

.Daniel S. Francis .1876-1881

Reading Weekly Eagle . Jesse G. Hawley 1878-1909 Reading Weckly Herald John B. Dampman. .1881-1896

Reading Weekly News. . William S. Ritter 1881-1909

Reformed Church Rec'd B. Bausman ..

. W. Oscar Miller 1888-1905

Reading Democrat

1894-1899 Harry F. De Gour 1900-1909

Labor Advocate

Union Sentinel.

Federated Trades

Council.

1901-1909

MONTHLY NEWSPAPERS

Name

Founder

Year

Litteratur Blatt . August Bendel. 1883-1900

Illustrirte Jugendblätter.August Bendel 1884-1909

Pennsylvania Philatelist

Clifford N. Kissinger .. .1891-1903

Greater Reading. Walter S. Hamaker. .. 1897-1898

"Greater America .. . Walter S. Hamaker. . .1898-1903

Preacher's Assistant .. . Frank J. Boyer 1889-1909

Mengel & Mengel have issued a Real Estate Reg- ister monthly since January, 1895, relating to the "conditions of real estate at Reading and vicinity.

WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS AT BOROUGHS

KUTZTOWN

Name

Founder

Year

Neutralist ..

William Harmony 1833-1841

· Geist der Zeit

Hawrecht & Wink. .1841-1863

Der Hirt ..

J. S. Herman 1854-1856

Kutztown Journal.

Isaac F. Christ. 1870-1909

National Educator Isaac F. Christ. 1872

American Patriot Isaac F. Christ. 1874-1909

HAMBURG

Name

Founder

Year

Hamburg Schnellpost

William Shubert 5 1841-1905

Hamburg Advertiser M. H. Shollenberger .1865-1868

Rural Press. J. K. & J. G. Smith. . . . 1872-1875

'Hamburger Berichter. . . William F. Tyson. . .1872-1874

: Hamburg Weekly Item . Samuel A. Focht. 1875-1909

BOYERTOWN

Name

Founder

Year

Boyertown Bauer.

.O. P. Zink.

1858-1868

Boyertown Democrat .. . George Sassaman

1868-1909

WOMELSDORF

Name

Founder Year

Womelsdorf Gazette. Samuel Mowry 1847-1848

. Womelsdorf Herald.

Michael K. Boyer .. . .1879-1880

Womelsdorf News. Joel Weidman 1882-1885

BIRDSBORO

Name

Founder Year

Birdsboro Pioncer B. F. Fries 1873-1876

Birdsboro Dispatch Rapp & Ryan. 1885-1909

Birdsboro Review . Harry E. Hart .. 1893-1908

DAILY NEWSPAPERS .- Weekly newspaper publi- cations were carried on at Reading for over sixty years before a daily was thought of, at least before a public proposition to this end was made. Many weeklies had been instituted in that time; but they all suspended excepting two, and these two are

worthy of especial mention for their energy, success and longevity-the Adler and the Journal-the for- mer a German publication founded in 1796, and the latter an English publication founded in 1816, which is strictly a continuation of the Weekly Advertiser, started also in 1796. The population was certainly here to support a daily newspaper. The rapid in- crease of the people would seem to have warranted -if it did not inspire-such an enterprise in that period of time. Education was quite general, though stimulated with marked public energy after 1834; and the English language was growing grad- ually into favor. The railroad was constructed, various shops and factories, especially for the man- ufacture of iron goods, were erected ; even English churches were founded.

The second period of Reading was unusually prolific in producing great things for the common progress of its citizens. In 1840 the population was 8,410, and in 1847 it was about 12,000; and in the respective years named the entire county had about 65,000 and 70,000. The railroad extended through the entire Schuylkill Valley to the north and to the south, and the stages ran daily in every direction. These means facilitated the distribution of newspapers, and encouraged the spirit of pub- lication; and the borough was advanced into a city. Still there was no daily newspaper.

When the third period was begun there were seven weekly newspapers carried on successfully, Adler, Journal, Berks County Press, Liberale Bco- bachter, Alt Berks, Jefferson Democrat and Reading Gasette. They were issued upon different days in the week, but mostly on Saturday. Naturally, this number was sufficient to discourage the thought of a daily publication. But the spirit of enterprise was working its way through the people in different channels; buildings were multiplying, trade was growing, population was increasing, and many strangers were locating here permanently. The daily events necessarily grew with the general growth, and the disposition to know them at once was preparing the way for a step beyond the weekly publication, and just as the stage-coach and canal- boat, through the energy of trading, came to be slow and had to make way for the steam-car, so the weekly newspaper was coming to be late in com- municating news, the feeling against the delay was growing stronger and stronger, public eagerness clamoring for an improvement.

Three months after Reading was incorporated as a city, Abraham S. Whitman-a practical young printer of Reading-took the first step beyond a weekly publication by instituting and carrying on a tri-weekly newspaper, which he entitled The Reading Herald, and within two months he en- larged its size and improved its appearance. But he soon found that he had stepped beyond his time, and was therefore compelled to issue the publica- tion as a weekly newspaper.

*John Weiler, an employer and manager for many years, became i the proprietor June 20, 1908.

John Scheifly and }

EDUCATION IN COUNTY

About the same time, J. Lawrence Getz, publisher sor, the Reading Times Publishing Company, have of the Reading Gazette (weekly), made the edi- published it ever since. torial announcement that he would undertake the publication of a daily newspaper, if supported; but the support was so limited that he was forced to discontinue after an earnest trial of nine days.

These first efforts were in 1847. Ten years elapsed. In that time two new railroads were ex- tended from this business center, one to the west through Lebanon Valley, the other to the north- east through East Penn Valley. From 12,000 the population of the city had increased to 20,000, and from 70,000 the population of the county had in- creased to 90,000. The post-offices round about in the county. had multiplied from forty-one to seventy-a wonderful increase in this department of the public service. The added wealth to the community from all sources was estimated not by the thousands of dollars, but by the millions, and the hand-press for newspapers had become sup- planted by the steam-press. Mr. Getz doubtless reasoned in this manner in 1857, and, satisfying himself that the prospects were favorable, he started in this enterprise a second time. He continued the publication successfully, though under discour- aging patronage, until Feb. 3, 1858, when he changed the time of its issue to the evening, and reduced the price from ten cents a week to six cents.

His second experiment was, however, carried on for only three weeks, and he was again compelled to suspend publication. The Berks and Schuylkill Journal complimented his spirit and enterprise, but expressed the opinion that the suspension was by no means creditable either to the intelligence or to the public spirit of a city with 20,000 inhabitants. Its list of patrons embraced four hundred and fifty regular subscribers; but only sixteen out of two hundred and forty business men of Reading took sufficient interest in its success to give it advertis- ing patronage.

The Evening Dispatch was issued as an evening daily paper from Feb. 10, 1866, until April 4, 1870,. when it was purchased by J. Knabb & Co. and merged with the Reading Times, and Alfred S. Jones had started the Daily Reporter on April 26, 1864, and issued it for nearly a year.

The Daily Eagle was founded by William S. Rit- ter and Jesse G. Hawley (publishers of the Reading Adler), on Jan. 28, 1868. In 1874, Hawley pur- chased the entire interest, and published the paper until his decease in 1903. By his great enterprise he enlarged its circulation very much and distrib- uted its issue not only into every town and town- ship of the county, but into neighboring and distant counties in the Schuylkill, East Penn and Lebanon Valleys. Since his decease, its publication has been continued with equal and deserved success by his estate.

The first daily German newspaper at Reading was founded by William Rosenthal on June 1, 1868, under the title of Die Readinge Post, and he issued it successfully until 1908, when he sold it. to John Weiler.

The Daily News was issued by William S. Ritter (proprietor of the Adler) from May, 1880, until. May, 1886.

The Daily Spirit of Berks was started by Daniel S. Francis on Aug. 6, 1881, and published by him- until November following, when he sold the daily and the weekly issue of this paper to John B. Dampman and A. C. Buckwalter, who then changed" the names to the Daily Herald and Weekly Herald .. William McCormick became the purchaser in the fall of 1896 and discontinued the Weekly paper, but has issued the Daily since. During the Spanish war in 1898 he published a morning and evening issue of the daily, but discontinued the morning issue at the close of this war.

The Reading Telegram, a daily, owned by the Reading Telegram Publishing Company, has been issued since 1887.

Immediately after the suspension of the Gazette, a stronger feeling for a daily newspaper manifested Other daily newspapers were started at Reading and issued for various periods, but not beyond sev- eral years, such as the Daily Leader, Evening Star, Evening Record, Daily People, Daily Graphic, Eve- ning Review, and Evening World. itself by the citizens and so a third attempt was made. This was by J. Robley Dunglison, a young man from Philadelphia, who had settled at Read- ing about that time. He issued the first number of his paper on July 19, 1858, which was entitled Reading Daily Times. It was a folio, printed in LANGUAGE, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS the English language, 16 by 24 inches, with five LANGUAGE .- The great majority of the early set- them their language, manners and customs be- came predominant. Most of them remained here, and, to a great degree, where the several families columns to the page, and issued in the morning. tlers of Berks county were Germans, and through He published it until Dec. 9, 1859, when he sold it to Henry Lantz. Lantz published it until September, 1861, when (owing to his enlistment in the Civil war) he sold the paper to A. S. Whitman and first settled and prospered. Their number inflit- Charles F. Hause, who published it very success- enced the early erection of the county in 1752. Their industry, perseverance and economy built up and enriched its valleys and hills with substantial improvements. Nearly two hundred years have fully during the Civil war. In 1865, F. B. Shalters became interested, and in 1868 the sole owner and editor. In 1869, the paper was purchased by J. Knabb & Co., the publishers of the Berks and elapsed since, but the general features of the whole Schuylkill Journal, and this firm and its succes- community bear, their impression. Their manners

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Their language is composed of words princi- pally from German dialects, such as the Alleman- nisch, the Pfalzisch, and the Schwabisch, and some from the German proper. Its preservation to such a marked degree is due mostly to their German Bible. Martin Luther performed a great service to one of the strongest and most prolific nations of the earth in translating the Latin Bible into the Ger- man, for through it he made the use of the German language here persistent and continuous. Their German hymn-books and prayer-books, and Arndt's Wahren Christenthum (True Christianity) assisted greatly in this behalf.

The use of the English language in courts of jus- tice, and in legal documents of all kinds, did not, and apparently could not, interfere with its preser- vation. Even English teaching, through a general system of school education, has not disturbed it very much, though two generations have passed away since its introduction. This system has caused the introduction of numerous English, mixed and contracted words, and doubtless induced the lan- guage to be called "Pennsylvania German"-or "Pennsylvania Dutch." These remarks are particu- larly applicable to the country districts, for the teachers are mostly young people, who, in many in- stances, are not qualified to use the English lan- guage accurately. Through them many peculiar and incorrect expressions have been engrafted upon the language of our locality ; and the German people themselves have occasioned the introduction of a considerable number, through an earnest desire to succeed in their business relations with the citizens of Reading. The sounds, expressions and intona- tions are peculiar and cannot be communicated in a published narrative.

The Pennsylvania-German language has been presented admirably in a number of poems which Thomas C. Zimmerman translated from the Eng- lish, he having selected a variety of styles of com- position in order to show the capabilities of the dialect for metrical expression. This variety com- preliends subjects both grave and gay, as well as humorous and pathetic. His first translation was the Christmas poem by Clement C. Moore entitled, "'Twas the Night before Christmas."

Harbaugh's "Harfe," and Fischer's "Pennsylvan- isch-Deutsche Gedichte" and "Kurzweil und Zeit- vertreib," are publications in the Pennsylvania- German which are worthy of especial mention. They contain numerous interesting poems in this dialect, and introduce in a superior style the notions, manners and customs of the German people in Berks county.

The English language, both written and spoken,

and customs have been handed down from genera- tion to generation, with little change; and their has been in use from the time of the earliest settle- language is still in general use in every section. ments by the English in the county, and it is nat- This permanence exhibits inherent strength. The ural to suppose that in all these years through ju- introduction of other peoples, with different lang- uages, but mostly English, have not weakened their hold upon the people.

dicial proceedings, business transactions and general education, it should have made con- siderable progress, especially during the last fifty years; but frequent visits to churches and schools, stores and families throughout the county in this time enable the compiler to say that the German language is still prominent in the country dis- tricts. Another generation will have to pass away before the English language can take its place.

The circulation of English newspapers is increas- ing gradually; but their total circulation is small compared with our population. They are a strong agency in effecting a change from the German to the English; in reality, they are a stronger agency in this respect than the common schools .. This is particularly apparent in Reading. Before the daily English newspaper was established here, the Ger- man language was commonly used by the major part of its inhabitants in their daily affairs ; but now the English has its place, and principally through the gradual introduction of the newspaper. The increasing convenience of distribution facilitates its growth. The national government is contributing much aid by extending and increasing the postal facilities and the delivery of mail matter throughout the county.

WOOL-WHEEL

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS .- The buildings and im- provements throughout the county are mostly the result of German energy and thrift. Profits from labor have been almost entirely appropriated toward increasing the value of land rather than toward en- lightenment. Fine barns, dwellings and fields are prominent in every locality. They are superior to those which existed in the previous century. This

EDUCATION IN COUNTY

is apparent in live stock, in the cultivation of fruit, and woods are cleared when the moon is full. But in the possession of improved implements and ma- the custom is not so general as it was, especially chinery, besides a better class of dwellings and barns. A higher order of taste in the adornment of persons and places has made its way through increasing liberality.

SPINNING-WHEEL

Domestic habits, in respect to home-made articles, have changed. Spinning and weaving have been abandoned. The loom and the factory supply all the materials required. A change began to be made about 1840. Before that time, spinning was com- mon everywhere in the county, for it was one of the necessary accomplishments of mothers and The country inn was also a popular place for daughters. Till then, reels and spinning-wheels many years. Frolics and dances were common ev- were sold at different stores in Reading. Sales then declined gradually, and within twenty years afterward there was no demand at all for these articles.

Gardening is still carried on successfully in the by the place where the military exercise was con- country districts. Besides supplying vegetables for ducted.

family use, it is a source of profit to mothers and daughters, who dispose of a large proportion of garden products in the markets at Reading and the boroughs.

in towns and cities, where building operations are conducted through all seasons; and walls, fences and roofs are placed in position regardless of the face of the moon.

A funeral in the country districts is still largely attended, especially the funeral of a citizen of prominence. The services are generally conducted in the German language in the church of which the deceased was a member, as well as at his home, briefly. Afterward the guests return to the house of mourning and participate in a large dinner. This custom has continued time out of mind. Great sociability is exhibited upon such an occasion. Friends travel miles to attend a funeral in order to show respect for the deceased. And the entire neighborhood is represented. The burials are gen- erally made in the burying-ground adjoining a church. But the first settlers made burials in pri- vate grounds set apart on farms for this purpose. It was instituted as a matter of convenience; and then the funeral service was held at the house. The change of farm ownership caused this custom to be gradually abandoned. Seventy years ago, private grounds were still numerous; afterward church cemeteries began to be more encouraged and bur- ials in them increased.

The country store was a great institution years ago. But its influence, trade and popularity are much reduced. This change was effected through the introduction of competing stage lines and the railway. Variety of goods and cheapness are con- siderations which induce the people to visit the towns and the county-seat for their purchases. It is noticeable that the railway is drawing the pat- ronage of Reading to Philadelphia more and more ; so that as our townships come. to patronize Read- ing, Reading goes to patronize Philadelphia. This is apparent elsewhere-the cities attracting the trade of towns, and the towns that of the country districts. The trolley lines are particularly useful and influential in this behalf.

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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 19

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