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 190

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 190

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Henry Price attended the schools of Myerstown until fifteen years of age; and then was taught the carpenter's trade by his father. In the early days the work of a carpenter was anything but easy, and Mr. Price and his father often had to travel long distances to reach their work. On one occasion they walked five miles to work and five miles home at night every day, and at this time were working fifteen hours per day. At the time they built the hotel at Tremont, Pa., they had a distance of twenty-one miles to walk twice a week, carrying their tools on their back. Mr. Price secured work at Pottsville, a dis- tance of thirty-eight miles, and this they also walked. Henry Price went with his father to Illinois in 1863, and there remained three years, or until after his father's death, when his step-mother asked him to accompany her to Myerstown. This Mr. Price did, and from Myerstown came direct to Reading, only expecting, however, to remain a short time. After being employed here for a time, Mr. Price decided to make Reading his home, and here he has continued ever since, engaging in business on his own account in 1888, his first job being four fine residences at Tenth and Franklin streets. Among the many build- ings erected by Mr. Price may be mentioned the fol- lowing: the residences of C. D. Moser and S. H. Fulmer; the Schuylkill Valley Bank; Kissinger's Farm- ers' Market House; Hotel Brighter; the warehouse for the Penn Hardware Company; A. F. Kramer's residence; the James Otto store on Penn street, and the cigar store of Charles Breneiser, at the corner of Seventh and Penn streets, one of the finest in Reading.

In 1871 Mr. Price married Miss Amanda Seidel, daughter of Francis and Catherine (Fisher) Seidel, they have one daughter, Mary, who married Aaron Miller, an employe of the Alexander firm, in the hat business, and has a daughter, Helen, attending school. .

Mr. Price is a Republican in politics. He is a Mason of high standing, being a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 227, Excelsior Chapter, No. 237, Reading Commandery No. 42, and the Mystic Shrine. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias No. 65, the Elks No. 115, and the Royal Arcanum, and is exceedingly popular in all of these societies. Mr. and Mrs. Price are members of the Trinity Lutheran Church, which they attend consistently and support liberally. He is well known in Reading as a man of many sterling qualities, and bears an enviable rep- utation for honesty. and integrity.

JAMES P. KERSHNER, now living retired at No. 121 North Front street, was for many years a well- known public official of Reading. He was born Jan. 25, 1845, in Penn township, Berks county, son of Peter and Catherine (Bodey) Kershner, and grand- son of Philip Kershner.

The Kershner family was founded in this country by Martin Kershner, who settled on a farm in Berks county in 1732, this farm being later the property of his son, Peter, who in turn willed it to his son. Philip. Philip Kershner married a Miss Himmels-

Peter Kershner, who was a prominent man of his day, engaged in agricultural pursuits all of his life on the farm above mentioned, and died in Penn town- ship, Jan. 28, 1868, aged sixty-four years. His wife, Catherine Bodey, died in 1876, when seventy-five years old. They had a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity: Priscilla m. Cyrus Davis; Mary m. Franklin G. Hain; Eliza died in infancy, as did also Alfred; Catherine m. Abraham R. Koenig; Sarah m. Richard Reber; Peter; Rosabella married Harrison K. Hiester; Sidney m. John R. Koenig; Susan m. Richard K. Bohn; Henry J .; Louis P .; George W .; and James P. ' In religious belief the family were Reformed, and were attendants of Bern Reformed Church. In politics Mr. Kershner was a Democrat, and was director of the poor for some years, being appointed to that position first by the court to com- plete an unexpired term, and later was elected to the office by the people.

James P. Kershner received his education in the schools of Penn township, and worked on the farm until twenty-four years of age. At this time he learned the butcher's trade, which he followed for twelve years, being then appointed county detective 'by I. H. Rothermel. He served three years in this office. and was then appointed mercantile appraiser, in which capacity he continued one year. For two years he served as law detective, to which office he had been appointed by the courts of. Berks county, and a like period was spent in the office of deputy sheriff. He was for one term of three years keeper of the Berks county prison, and was again appointed county detective, under A. H. Rothermel, serving three years, and at the end of this time retired. He was always an honest, capable officer, and none has retired with a cleaner record than he.

Mr. Kershner married, in 1868, Melinda Spangler, who died in 1869, leaving one child, Mary, who died in infancy. Mr. Kershner's second marriage was in 1870, to Priscilla H. Wenrich, daughter of Daniel H. Wenrich, three children being born to this union: Thomas, who died aged ten years; Sallie, who died when three years old; and Ellen, m. to Edward W. O'Regan, by whom she has had two children, Stella (deceased) and Marion. Mr. Kershner is a member of Oley Lodge No. 218, I. O. O. F. He has from his early youth been identified with the Democratic party, and has ever been active in the ranks of that organ- ization in this section. Mr. Kershner is a good, useful citizen, and is highly esteemed throughout the com- munity.

WILLIAM G. BORKERT (deceased) was born Dec. 29, 1825, on Penn street, Reading. He received a com- mon school education and then learned the hatter's trade, which he followed in the winter, while he worked at the trade of a brick-layer in the summer months. He spent his time in that manner for a number of years, and then gave up the hatting business, devoting his en- tire time and attention to brick laying and contracting, in which he engaged with five other brothers, the firm being known as the Borkert Brothers, and he remained therein until his death, July 29, 1901, when he was seventy-five years and seven months old. He had been in the business about thirty-one years, and few business men were better known.

Mr. Borkert married Catherine M. Miller, born Feb. 8, 1828, daughter of John and Catherine (Kutz) Miller, the former of Lancaster county and the latter of Read- ing. Mrs. Borkert had two brothers, John W. and Jacob, and one sister, Susan. Mrs. Borkert died Jan. 27, 1906. She and her husband were consistent mem- bers of Grace Lutheran Church, of Reading, and were much esteemed as good, kindly, Christian people. They had these children: John J., a brick-layer of Reading, who married Rosa A. Seiders; Misses Emma A. and

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Kate A., who reside at home; William D. A., a brick- State of the Union. Mr. Hollis established a set price layer at Reading, who married Ellen Stout; Mary E., who married (first) Charles Fisher, and (second) John Pennypacker, of Reading; and Susan and Cora, both deceased.

The Misses Emma A. and Katie A. Borkert reside at No. 1024 Penn street, Reading, in the old home in which their parents lived and died. They are very estimable ladies, refined and cultured, and are well known for their hospitality.

ALBERT F. KRAMER. a member of the Bard Hard- ware Company, of Reading, which is among the largest jobbers of hardware in Pennsylvania, was born in Berks county, Sept. 27, 1843. He is a son of Daniel R. Kramer. who was a prominent contractor in masonry in that county. and whose other children were: Daniel, John, George, Henry, Edward, Louisa (m. Daniel Linder- muth) and Catherine (m. Adam Snyder).

Every advance which Mr. Alfred F. Kramer has made in life, however slight, has been accomplished solely through individual exertion, and like others who have reached a high and substantial foundation, he may justly count as his inexhaustible fortune, his constant stock of patience, perseverance, honesty and industry. He passed his school days in his native county of Berks, gathering what learning he could, and securing an in- valuable training in systematic work and economy as a laborer in the neighboring farms. From the age of seventeen to twenty he was especially engaged among agricultural labors. As it proved. this preliminary train- ing was the requisite preparation for a successful busi- ness career, and in 1866 Mr. Kramer became a resident of Reading and a clerk for Bard & Reber, dealers in hardware. After remaining five years in that capacity, in 1881. he was admitted as a member of the firm, under the style of Bard, Reber & Co. The business was established in 1856. The house now known as the Bard Hardware Company. a full history of which ap- pears elsewhere, deals chiefly in building hardware. ma- chinists' supplies, tin plates and coach goods. Since Mr. Kramer has been a member of the firm he has paid special attention to the coach department, being the sole buyer in that line.

Albert F. Kramer married Anna DeTurk, who died April 4, 1904. leaving the following children: Harvey DeTurk, Edith M. and Esther C. Mr. Kramer is a member of the First Reformed Church, and is not only highly esteemed as a straightforward, successful busi- ness man, but for his admirable qualities as evinced in all the private relations of life.

W. G. HOLLIS. deceased. The W. G. Hollis Choc- olate Manufactory, Nos. 621-625 Franklin street. Read- ing, Pa., was established by the late W. G. Hollis in 1884, and was first located at No. 58 South Seventh street.

W. G. Hollis was born at Psara, a small island in Greece. and secured a good education in his native country. Seeing better possibilities in America, he sailed in 1878 from that country, and landed at Charles- town, S. C., where he embarked in the candy business. There he remained but a short time, however. removing to Alabama, and still later to Canada, whence on ac- count of the climate he came back to the United States, locating in Baltimore. The same year he removed to Lancaster, and in 1884 settled in Reading, Pa. His ability as a candy manufacturer was soon recognized, and from a humble beginning he arose to be one of the largest manufacturers of the section. In 1893 he removed to the company's present quarters, on Frank- lin street, the building being three stories and base- ment, 623 x 60, and equipped with all the modern choc- olate candy-making machinery, much of which was made and shipped from Paris. The plant is one of the most complete of its size in the state of Pennsylvania, and the reputation of the product is recognized in every

on his goods. and both price and goods continued uniform thereafter. He was the first in this section of the State to manufacture chocolates from the bean, he importing the bean himself, and roasting and pre- paring it for the finished product. A force of 110 em- ployes are given work by the plant in the various departments, and the firm's policy towards its em- ployes has always been one of consideration and kind- ness. Many who have been in the employ of the com- pany were started up in business on their own account by Mr. Hollis.

Mr. Hollis died Oct. 12, 1905, but the firm will con- tinue to do business under the same name, W. G. Hollis, it being carried on by his mother. Mr. Hollis' brother, Milton G., having been appointed Attorney in fact.

On Jan. 18, 1909, the plant was totally destroyed by fire and a fine modern building of four stories and basement. equipped with the newest machinery was erected at the old site where the business will te con- tinued as heretofore.

MARCUS LONG. At the age of twenty-seven, Jacob Long, great-grandfather of Marcus Long. with Johan Nicholas Long, arrived in America, Aug. 30, 1737, in the ship "Samuel," of London, Hugh Percy, captain, from Rotterdam, last from Cowes. They were from the Rhine country, Germany. (I) Jacob Long settled on a portion of land now owned by Marcus, his great- grandson. He was one of the founders of the Reformed church of Longswamp in 1748, and one of the leading citizens of the community. As late as 1786. Jacob Long was appointed collector of his district by the Berks courts and held the office for a number of years. Jacob Long married a Miss Burger, and they had a number of children, among them being Daniel Long, the grandfather of Marcus Long; Frederick; Abraham; Elizabeth, m. to Jacob Groh; Julia. m. to Jacob Geist, and buried in that portion of the old homestead now owned by William Long.

(II) Daniel Long was born in 1780; on the old home- stead, where he carried on farming. He married Ra- chael Snyder, and they had eleven children: Aaron; Jacob; Fayette m. Sarah Warmkissel; Sarah m. Levi Fritch; Samuel m. Sallie Zwoyer; Elizabeth m. Thomas Acker; David m. Florenda Figley; Catherine m. Reuben Haas; Dr. M. S. m. Mary Schwartz; Dr. Aug. Long was of St. Joseph, Mo .; and Daniel died young. Daniel Long died in 1840, a man who was universally respected, and who had always been prominent as a farmer.

(III) Aaron Long, father of Marcus Long, was born on the old homestead. Aug. 10, 1815, and by trade was a tinsmith, but also followed farming, his farm being a portion of the original Long estate. He died there Oct. 30, 1883, aged sixty-eight years. married Esther Fritch, born Jan. 30. 1816, daughter of He George and Nancy (Schwartz) Fritch. They had three children: Marcus; Jonas F., born Sept. 28, 1837. m. Eliza Wagonhorst, and he resides in Napa county, Cal .; Daniel George is a physician at Reading. Jonas F. Long enlisted and was made captain of the 7th Pa. V. C. at the beginning of the Civil war. and served all through that struggle, and was wounded in the left arm. Mrs. Esther ( Fritch) Long died Jan. 20, 1884.

(IV) Marcus Long was born on the old homestead May 11, 1836, and was educated in the local schools. At the age of seventeen he was employed as clerk in the general store of Col. William Trexler. and later by Benjamin Helferich, who also conducted a general store. Having accumulated a little money, Mr. Long attended the select school at Reading conducted by Prof. Lee, and from there he went to Friedensburg (Oley) and attended the Oley Academy under Prof. Hankey. In addition to assisting his father with the farm work, he taught school for eight consecutive terms in the public schools of his native township. He sub- sequently moved to Mertztown, where for five years

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he was in the flour, feed, coal and lumber business under the style of M. & S. Long, and at the same time he served as postmaster and ticket agent for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company. Later he took charge of part of the old homestead, which he has since purchased. Upon this property there is a grist-mill and he now operates it in addition to farming. In 1863 Mr. Long married Miss Eliza Trexler, a daughter of Benjamin and Susanna (Leinmerger) Trexler, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Long had six children: Jennie m. Dr. I. J. Weida of Emaus, Lehigh county; Emma H. m. Charles Long, a farmer near the old home; Lilly E., unmarried, resides at home, and was educated at the Keystone State Normal School, and taught school one term; Carrie S., a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School, who taught eight consecutive terms, m. Dr. William L. Long; Sarah E. m. Charles B. Folk, a farmer of Longswamp; Morris A. B., a- student at Jefferson Medical College was there stricken with typhoid fever and died March 5, 1899. Mrs. Long died April 25, 1899, a member of the Luth- eran church, although the rest of the family are mem- bers of the Reformed faith. Mr. Long has always been active in church work, having held nearly all of the offices, and he is one of the founders of the Longswamp Sunday-school, which was started in 1856. He has re- tained in it his membership, has been its superintendent and for thirty-five years has been the teacher of the Bible class, during which period he has gone through the entire Bible with his pupils more than five times. Naturally he has always taken a deep interest in educa- tional matters, and served as school director for eigh- teen years during which time fifteen new schools were built. Mr. Long is very proud of this record. In poli- tics he is a Republican and devoted to his party al- though not an office seeker. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge at Trexlertown; of the K. of P. No. 358 at Mertztown and Longswamp Grange No. 1069. All of his forbears mentioned in this article as deceased are buried in Longswamp cemetery.

HENRY CROUSE, who was a prominent business man in Reading for many years, was born April 25, 1823. at York, York Co., Pa., and died Sept. 18, 1902.

At a tender age Mr. Crouse was thrown entirely upon his own resources, and his success proved his fine char- acter and many sterling qualities. The greater part of his schooling was obtained at night schools, his days being employed with farmers. At the age of nine- teen years, he learned the combmaking trade of an uncle, at Selinsgrove, and worked at this trade as long as it was profitable, selling his combs to the stores in dozen lots. Gradually he added other articles and thus began to handle a few notions. He accepted a position as traveling salesman with William Sagee, a brush- maker, with the understanding that he should also sell combs on his trips. He later traveled independently, selling notions through Berks and adjoining counties. He packed his goods in a one-horse wagon and went all through the anthracite coal regions. In 1848 he purchased his first large bill of goods, receiving credit at Philadelphia. His wife and mother did not feel that this move was a prudent one, but he had better fore- sight than they, and by 1853 this and other bills had all been settled and he was ready to go into business on Penn street above Seventh, in Reading. Afterward Mr. Crouse secured quarters on Penn street, then the Key- stone House, at the corner of Sixth and Penn, for his notion store and he continued in the business until 1869, when with an ample fortune he retired. In 1870, during the German war, with his son Harry W., who had just graduated from Dickinson College at Carlisle, he made a trip around the world, consuming one year and two weeks, and during this time they visited all the principal cities and great show places of the world.

After his return Mr. Crouse felt like getting into business harness again, and soon was interested in a

real estate and building business. Later he embarked in a lumbering business at Garland, Warren Co., Pa., which he continued until 1884, when he definitely re- tired. He was a lifelong member of the M. E. Church- and was always active in this body, cheerfully filling many official positions. In 1869 he built the chapel at Ninth and Elm streets, and when the Covenant Mem- orial M. E. Church was erected, the property and church buildings costing $50,000, he paid all except a debt of $10,000.

Before making his trip around the world, and about 1863, Mr. Crouse had engaged in business at No. 436 Penn street, where the Bon Ton Store is now located. He rented from John S. Pearson and remained there ten years, when he built the four-story iron structure at No. 508 Penn street, the second building of its kind in the city. This property is now owned by Mr. Heim. Mr. Crouse afterward sold out his business to Haas, Loriamy & Dunkle, which firm took possession of his new building, renting it from him.

In 1848 Mr. Crouse married Mary E. Sanders, daugh- ter of William and Mary (Rhoads) Sanders, and they had two children, Clara E. and Henry W. The former married Samuel W. Loveland, an employe of the Penn- sylvania Railroad, of forty years' standing, and now chief accountant at Broad street, Philadelphia, and they have two children, Marie and Emily. Henry W. was a graduate of Dickinson College, and at the time of his death, Jan. 7, 1900, was an extensive importer of notions, at No. 345 Broadway, New York City; he married (first) Jennie Thornton, had four children-Elizabeth (an authoress), Clara M. (died aged fourteen months), Lillian J. and Herbert T .- and m. (second) Anna B. Mc- Guire, and had one child, Donald.

The late Henry Crouse was a Republican in politics, and was a member of the council of Reading although he never sought political honors. He belonged to Chandler Lodge, No. 227, F. & A. M. and to Salome . Lodge, I. O. O. F. He was a man who loved his own fireside and took pleasure in providing for the welfare of his family. He is buried in the Charles Evans cem- etery, where he had erected a fine monument ten years before his death.

JOHN H. BICKLEY, JR., chief draughtsman at the Scott foundry (Reading Iron Company), and one of the city's substantial citizens, was born in October, 1864, at Pottsville, Pa., son of, John H. and Maria (Stine) Bickley.

John H. Bickley was born in Boonton, N. J., and early in life was a rolling mill engineer. At one time he was superintendent of the Haywood Rolling mill at Palo Alto, a suburb of Pottsville, and he built, and was one of the proprietors of, the Hamburg rolling mill, and also built a rolling mill at Schuylkill Haven and constructed the machinery for the Sternbergh Mill, now a part of the American Steel & Iron Company, at Reading. He retired in 1905, just prior to this having been superintendent of the Ulster Iron Works. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Bickley had three children: Alice m. A. E. Brown; Minnie m. Conrad Mann; and John H. Mr. Bickley was formerly connected with the I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.

John H. Bickley, Jr., was educated in the schools of Milldale, after leaving which his father had intended that he should take a law course. This plan did not suit the young man, however, who had decided on be- coming a mechanic, and seeing that he was set in his intentions, his father gave him a trial in his shops. He proved to be a good mechanic, and his next em- ployment was with the Phoenix Iron Company, as assistant master mechanic, later with Jones & Lauch- lin, proprietors of the American Iron & Steel Com- pany, as assistant to the chief draughtsman with the Pennsylvania Steel Company, at Steelton, Pa .. then be- ing made superintendent of the mechanical department

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at the Sparrow Point Mill. In 1901 he accepted a posi- in the vicinity of Shoemakersville, Berks county, tion with the Reading Iron Company, as draughtsman, and during the same year was made chief of his de- partment, a position in which he has continued to the present time, having seven men in his employ. In 1903 he had charge of the designing of the brown seg- mental wire wound gun, which proved such a success to its inventors, and he has also had charge of the re- construction of the Scott Foundry Department, Read- ing Iron Company. Mr. Bickley is a skilled mechanic, and a man of much ability. His ancestors were con- sidered the most prominent rolling mill engineers in the early nineteenth century, and the first T rail made was made in 1845 by his uncles in Danville, Pa., at what is now the Montour Rolling Mill Department of the Reading Iron Company, but which mill was designed and then managed by one of Mr. Bickley's uncles.

Mr. Bickley is a member of Acacia Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M. of Dover, N. J .; Harrisburg Consistory, and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is inde- pendent in political matters, and he and Mrs. Bickley attend the Presbyterian Church ..

Mr. Bickley married Ida M. Miller, and to them has been born one son, John H.

AUGUST GRANZ, superintedent of the Reading Glove & Mitten Company, has been a resident of this country since 1888, when he came hither from his native Germany.

Born in Kaufungen, Saxony, Jan. 31, 1856, Mr. Granz was there given the solid education bestowed on all his countrymen and later served his time in the German army, holding the rank of corporal at the time of his release. While still hardly more than a boy he learned the trade of a baker and followed it, except for the time in the army, until 1878. He then gave it up to learn glovemaking, served a thorough apprenticeship and acquired a further knowledge and experience of every detail of the business by continued work in that line in Germany. In 1888 he set his face toward America, landing at Castle Garden, September 1st, and worked first in New York and New Jersey. In the. beginning he found it easier to secure employment at his original trade of baker, but before long he was able to get work at glove making again, and has ever since been engaged in that line. His wide experience of the business and his ability attracted attention, and he was offered the place of Superintendent of the Reading Glove & Mitten Company in 1904. He entered upon his duties Dec. 17th of that year, and has since that time established himself thoroughly in the com- pany's confidence. He does all the buying for the firm and in every act has demonstrated his fitness for the responsibilities of his position.

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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 190

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