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 195

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 195


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In politics Mr. Moyer is a strong Democrat. He has been a delegate to numerous congressional and judicial conventions, and has never known defeat. He has been school director in Marion township for three years and a like period in Heidelberg township, where he has also been supervisor. In the spring of 1907 he was appointed State health officer, No. 226, of Heidel- berg, North Heidelberg and Marion townships. Mr. Moyer is a popular comrade of G. A. R. Post No. 471, Myerstown. He and his family attend St. Daniel's (Corner) Church, of the Lutheran denomination, of which he was a deacon, elder and trustee for five years.


In 1871 Mr. Moyer was married to Amanda Ruth, daughter of Francis Ruth, and to them twelve children have been born: Wilson, Maggie, Minnie, John, Allen, Ind.), Susan, Mae and Sarah.


MAHLON A. MOYER, junior member of the mer- cantile firm of Gerhard & Moyer, of Robesonia. was born Oct. 3, 1856, in Robesonia, was educated in the common schools of Heidelberg township, later attend- ed Womelsdorf Academy with such schoolmates as M. A. Gruber, H. P. Keiser, Dr. H. F. Livingood, John Filbert and Morgan B. Klopp, and subsequently at- tended the Millersville State Normal School for four terms. For the five succeeding terms, Mr. Moyer taught school in Heidelberg township, and for two terms in Lancaster county. He was a transcribing clerk for three years in the office of the recorder of deeds, under Isaac M. Bechtel, and in 1886, during President Cleveland's first administration, he was ap- pointed a storekeeper and ganger for Berks county, an office which he held for four years. Mr. Moyer then removed to Mount Aetna, where he and Mr. Nathaniel Kalbach purchased the Hunsinger farm, on which was an old established distillery, and they conducted both enterprises for two years together, when Mr. Moyer sold his interests to his partner and purchased the stand of H. W. Filbert, of Robesonia, which place he conducted eight years. Because of deaths in the fam- ily, Mr. Moyer sold out, and in 1904 purchased the interest of Henry R. Miller in the firm of Miller & Gerhard, and has since been associated with this com-


JOHN E. MOYER was born April 19, 1845, in Heid- elberg township, where he received limited educational advantages, attending school about two or three months a year, . the length of the school term at that time. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and until seven- teen years of age worked on the home farm. On pany, which has become Gerhard & Moyer. Sept. 6, 1862, Mr. Moyer enlisted in Company H, 55th In politics Mr. Moyer is a Democrat, and has been active in the success of his party in this section. He Pa. V. I., to serve three years; was promoted June 3, 1864, to corporal for gallant conduct at Cold Har- is a charter member of Mt. Penn Castle, No. 51, K. G. bor, and to sergeant Aug. 6, 1864, for rolling a shell E., of Reading, which was organized in 1884. He is a


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


member of St. Daniel's (Corner) Evangelical Lutheran Church, of near Robesonia, as was also his wife.


In 1888, Mr. Moyer married Ella H. Noecker, born May 6, 1868, who died June 30, 1899, daughter of Israel Noecker, a merchant of Millersburg, Pa. The only child of this union, Edgar M., died in infancy.


CAPT. JOHN A. HIESTER, of Reading, enjoys the distinction of being the only boat-builder on the Schuylkill canal. He has been running excursion boats since 1869, at present owning the two pleasure steam- ers "Rosie" and "Carrie." and he has been regularly in the employ of the Schuylkill Navigation Company since 1869. He had previously been engaged on work for that company from 1864, working with his father until the latter's death. The business interests of father and son have been closely associated with the history of the canal and navigation company.


Captain Hiester was born in Berks county in 1844, and he has lived in Reading since he was six months old, his parents, William and Elizabeth (Adams) Hiester, having moved hither at this time. His moth- er was a daughter of Isaac Adams, who owned an oil mill on the Tulpehocken creek. William Hiester was engaged as a boat-builder in the early days of the Schuylkill canal and did work for the Schuylkill Navi- gation Company for many years, carrying on an in- dependent business. He built craft for boatmen as far north as Troy, N. Y., and was considered one of the most reliable boatbuilders in this part of the coun- try. One of his masterpieces was the famous "Regu- lator," which he, built for the Philadelphia & Reading Company, and he constructed a number of pleasure boats which gave him a reputation along the Schuyl- kill. He was the first owner of a steamboat on that river, the "J. L. Stichter," which plied between Read- ing and High's Woods. Mr. Hiester was killed in 1878, and was survived by his wife and two children. Three children were born to them: John A .; Julia, who died aged thirteen years; and Sarah, unmarried, who makes her home with her brother. The father was a member of the Reformed Church, a Republican in politics, and a Mason and Odd Fellow in fraternal connection.


John A. Hiester was educated in the common schools of Reading, and early began to learn boatbuilding under his father, who trained him thoroughly in his life work. In 1864 he began work for the Schuylkill Navigation Company, and regularly entered the em- ploy of that Company in 1869, and he has built and repaired many canal boats during his long career in this line, often handling as many as five hundred boats in one season. The first boat owned by the Captain was the "J. L. Stichter," formerly owned by his father, which he rebuilt and renamed the "Escort;" her length was 55 feet, beam 14 feet, 4 inches; his next boat, the "Gazelle," also built by his father, was 65 feet long, 14 feet, 4 inches across the beam; later he owned the "Pearl," 62 feet long, beam 14 feet, 4 inches; all these boats drew 3} feet of water. Captain Hiester built the "Valley Forge" (for a Mr. Shaw of Valley Forge), length 65 feet, beam 13 feet, draw 3} feet; the "Atlantic," length 65 feet, beam 14 feet, 4 inches, draw 3} feet; the "Martha. Washington" (for Caleb, Ruth and Robert Hanna, of Conshohocken), length 65 feet, beam 14 feet, 4 inches, draw 3} feet; the "Go'den Eagle," length 73 feet. beam 16 feet, 10 inches, draw 3} feet; the "Mayflower," length 26 feet, beam 7 feet, draw 24 feet; and the "Iowa," length 47 feet, beam 10 feet, draw 4 feet. Since 1903 the Captain has limited his operations to the repairing of canal boats for the Schuylkill Navigation Company. Captain Hiester has a reputation on the river and canal which for many years has insured him steady and remunera- tive patronage. Having followed his work from boy- hood he is familiar with all its phases, ready for any emergency, and always the capable and reliable work-


man, able to do any of the varied tasks which are in the course of his work. He is well known in Reading, where he affiliates with the Masons and Odd Fellows, belonging to Chandler Lodge, No. 227; Excelsior Chap- ter, R. A. M .; Reading Commandery, No. 42, K. T .; and Vigilance Lodge, No. 194, I. O. O. F. He is a Republican in political opinion.


In 1863 Captain Hiester married Elizabeth Wagner, daughter of Valentine and Rebecca (Mckinney) Wag- ner, and to them have been born ten children, seven sons and three daughters: William Henry Wagner, who is a boatbuilder and framer, working with his father; Charles Franklin, a boatbuilder in the employ of the Schuylkill Navigation Company; George Washington and Jonathan G. G., both of whom are boatbuilders; Julia M., who' married Philip Tumney (both are. de- ceased); John Harrison, a boatbuilder; Carrie, wife of Irvin Peacock; James A. Garfield; Albert Arthur; and Rosa, married to Harry Markley. All of this family are members of the Reformed Church.


MAHLON KLINE, of Reading, residing in the Roll- ing Mill mansion on the Kutztown road, has for many years been prominently identified with the business and public interests of this city. Mr. Kline was born June 10, 1836, in Reading, son of John R. and Caroline (Homan) Kline.


John R. Kline, father of Mahlon, was born Jan. 17, 1809, in Exeter township, Berks county, and died Dec. 14, 1870. For a number of years he was a boat builder in Reading. and the foreman of a large num- ber of men, but in his later years carried on a success- ful grocery business at Seventh and Bingaman streets. He also engaged in the manufacture of bricks on North Ninth street and also where Rick's foundry is now lo- cated, and furnished the brick for the building of the Reading Cotton Mills. Mr. Kline was a member of the First Reformed Church, and is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. He was twice married, his first wife being Caroline Homan, by whom he had two children: Mahlon and Amos, the latter of whom died when four months old. His second marriage was to Hester Lutz, and by this union had one son, William, a cabinet maker of Reading, who has two sons, William and Harry, both of whom are successful business men of Reading.


Mahlon Kline attended the public schools of his native city, Captain Bacheler's military school and the city night school, afterward learning draughting under Lewis' Kirk. He served his apprenticeship under James Noble & Sons, now of Alabama. During the 'fifties, James Noble & Sons removed to Rome, Ga., where they built the first locomotive for the State Road, south of the Mason and Dixon line. This en- gine was on exhibition at the Atlanta, Ga., Fair, where J. Glancy Jones delivered the address for the occasion. Mr. Kline learned the general machine business from James Noble & Sons, and was in that firm's employ for six years, three of which he spent in the South. During the Civil war Mr. Kline was employed at the Scott works in Reading. working on army and navy guns, shot and shell, this work all being done for the Government. He was in the service of the Reading Iron Company long before the establishment of the present company, which was sold by the sheriff many times. Since the Centennial this company has been under the direction of F. C. Smink, the present presi- dent, who has kept the enterprise on a paying basis. Mr. Kline's principal work all of his life has been that of a machinist, and for fifteen years he was in charge of the old forge. a part of the Reading Iron Company. He has lived retired since 1901, and lives in the Rolling Mill mansion of the Reading Iron Com- pany, on the Kutztown road, still in the city limits.


Mr. Kline has been a life-long Democrat, and on October 11, 1870, he was elected a select councilman from the Ninth ward, an office in which he served for six years. He has been very influential in public mat-


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BIOGRAPHICAL


ters, and has held various ward offices. He is a mem- ever since. For two years he was engaged as a mill- ber of the First Reformed Church of Reading, and wright in Reading, to which city he came in the fall of has a certificate stating that he was a member of the 1871. In 1875 he began working for the Reading Rail- First German Reformed Sunday-School of the borough way Company, and continued there until 1879, when of Reading, signed by his Sunday-school teacher, J. Ermentraut and the Sunday-school superintendent, C. Steiner. This was presented to him when he was but eight years old, and he prizes it very highly. Mr. Kline was a deacon of the church.


In 1858, Mahlon Kline married Emma Kunsman, born Aug. 23, 1841, daughter of Jacob and Rosa (Homan) Kunsman, and to this union were born nine children, of whom seven survive, as follows: Carrie, m. to Frank Mayer, of Temple, Pa .; John, a skilled machin- ist of Philadelphia; Martha, who is single and lives at home, making life pleasant for her parents; Annie, m. to Samuel J. Geissler, of Reading; Emma, m. to Ralph Kat- erman, a resident of Birdsboro, Pa .; Daniel, who lives in Reading; and Howard, a machinist, who resides at Alliance, Ohio.


ZERBE-ZERBY (also Zerve, Zerwe and Zerben). The Zerbe family of Berks was very early settled in America. The original home of the family was in France, but owing to their steadfast loyalty to their religious' faith they were obliged to find homes else- where, that they might worship as they thought right. On their first coming to the New World they settled in New York State, in the Schoharie Valley and a little farther south at Livingston Manor, from which places they followed the migratory tide into the fer- tile valley of the Tulpehocken. Rupp in his "30,000 Names of Immigrants," shows a Lorenz Zerbe who came from Schoharie to Tulpehocken in 1723, and in addition to Lorenz mentions a John Philip Zerbe and a Martin Zerbe among those above twenty-one years of age, who passed the winter of 1710 and summer of 1711 in Livingston Manor, N. Y., and who may have come to Tulpehocken at a later period. The name of John or Johan has been a favorite one in the family, as appears from the tax lists and vital statistics.


John Zerbe, born in North Heidelberg township June 20, 1799, died in Reading in 1874, and is buried at Little Tulpehocken church. He was a tailor by trade, working at that occupation in different parts of the county, and for some years he also engaged in farming. In politics he was a Democrat. He was a member of St. Daniel's Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Keller, died in Penn township in 1871, aged sixty-three years. She was a daughter of John Keller. Their children were: Elias, born Aug. 4, 1822, died March 25, 1906; Rebecca m. John Wagner, and both are deceased; Catharine m. Jeremiah Oaks, and both are deceased; Urias is mentioned below; William K., born Nov. 12, 1837, in North Heidelberg, enlisted Sept. 2, 1862, in Company G, 151st Pa. V. I., served ten months, and now resides in Reading, unmarried; Sarah m. Jonathan Frymoyer, deceased, and she resides in Reading; Jonathan m. Clara Moll, and died in Reading leaving no children; and six children died young.


Elias Zerbe, son of John, born Aug 4, 1822, was a resident of North Heidelberg for a number of years, and in 1870 came to Reading where he followed the carpenter's trade until within a few years of his death, March 25, 1906. Both he and his wife are buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. On Nov. 7, 1846, he married .Mary Ann Moyer, daughter of George Moyer and his wife Catharine Gerber (1799-1860). To this union were born children as follows: Emma, born Sept. 16, 1847, died at the age of eleven years; Anna, born March 3, 1852, died March 5, 1852; Levi M., born Dec. 3, 1853; James M., born Sept. 27, 1855, lives in Reading; Harrison, born Jan. 9, 1859; George McClel- him. lan, born Jan. 25, 1864.


LEVI M. ZERBE, son of Elias, was born in Marion township Dec. 3, 1853. He learned the carpenter's trade when he was eighteen and this he has followed


he was appointed on the police force by Mayor Henry Tyson, but at the change of administration two years later he resigned and went back to the car shops, following his trade there until 1885. The next two years found his working as a millwright with Elias Schmehl, of Reading, but in the latter part of 1887 he again returned to the Railway Company, and has since continued there. On March 16, 1897, he was made foreman of the planing mill department, having some eighty-seven men in his employ. He is a member of the Relief Association, and also belongs to the American Mechanics, No. 27, of Reading; the


Royal Arcanum, No. 495; and the Schuylkill Fire Com- pany. He is a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, and is connected with the Trinity Lutheran Brother- hood of Reading. In political affairs he is a Democrat.


On May 15, 1875, Mr. Zerbe was married to Amelia A. Werner, daughter of Frederick Werner, of Reading. Three children have been born to them, namely: Lillie M., who died in infancy; Anna M., at home; and Emma N. (1878-1900), deceased wife of Isaac Mengel, of Read- ing.


Urias Zerby, son of John and brother of Elias, was born Feb. 16, 1834, and died Jan. 6, 1907, and is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. For several years he followed farming in Exeter township, and then moved to Muhlenberg township, where he lived. until his removal to Reading April 1, 1875. He farmed the John Epler farm now all built up and improved as a part of the city along Schuylkill avenue. He married Lovina Snyder, who bore him the following children: William A., John, James, Missouri, Irwin, Frank, Mamie and Amanda.


WILLIAM A. ZERBY, son of Urias, and now well known citizen of Reading engaged in the milk business, was born in Muhlenberg township May 25, 1865. He attended the township schools, and was ten years old when the father removed of Reading. Here in the city he attended the public schools, in the meantime assisting his father on the farm. He was a letter carrier for three years, at the end of that time engaging in the dairy business at No. 639 Schuyl- kill avenue, where he has built up a large trade. In his political principle Mr. Zerby is a Democrat, and has served as a member of the county committee. He was elected collector for the Fifteenth ward in 1908. In his religious faith, like all his family, he is a Lutheran and belongs to Hope Church.


On Oct. 8, 1887, Mr. Zerby was united in marriage with Miss Missouri De Long, daughter, of Jacob De Long, of Lehigh county. Their children are: Arthur, Martha, William, Harry, Lester, Hilda and Esther. Mr. Zerby is highly respected wherever he is known.


JAMES H. GULDIN. The Guldins were Pietists of Switzerland. The Hochs were Moravians from the same place. Rev. Samuel K. Guldin and Rev. Chris- topher, Lutz were classmates at Old University of Berne, Switzerland, from 1679 to 1689. In 1692 Gul- din was appointed pastor at Stettlen, three miles east of Berne. Shortly after entering the university, Gul- din passed through a great spiritual experience and. became a pietist. Prof. Hadorn says that Guldin, Schumacher, Lutz and Dochs were the fathers of Swiss pietism. These church fathers became so bitterly pros- ecuted that Guldin emigrated to Philadelphia in 1710, and all of the Guldins of America are descended from


The Guldins were originally of St. Gall, Switzerland. Melchior Guldin was born at St. Gall in 1529; was made guildmaster in 1550; senator in 1583, and died in 1596. Melchior Guldin, Jr., was born in 1571 and


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


died in 1645. He was a town clerk in 1604. Paul Gul- in 1828 by Leibelsberger. The farm is well stocked din was born of Evangelical parents in 1577. In 1597 he joined the Jesuits, became professor of mathematics at Gratz and Vienna, and died at Gratz, Nov. 3, 1643. He was the author of five Latin books.


(I) Hans Joachim Guldin was born at St. Gall, Switzerland, and became a citizen of Berne in 1633. The maiden name of his wife was Susanna Tribolet, and their children were: Hans, born Feb. 4, 1635; Anna, born Sept. 22, 1636; Samuel, born Sept. 22, 1638.


(II) Hans Joachim T. Guldin, born at Berne, Feb. 4, 1635, married Anna Maria Koch, and their children were Maria, born Ang. 24, 1660, died in infancy; An- na Maria, born March 19, 1662, died in infancy; Sam- uel K., born June 8, 1664, died Dec. 31, 1745; Anna Magdalena, born June 18, 1667.


(III) Rev. Samuel K. Guldin, born at Berne, June 8, 1664, married Mary Magdalena Malacrida, and came to Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 24, 1710, and died at Rox- boro, Dec. 31, 1745. His children were: Samuel M., born Nov. 8, 1693, at Stettlen, Switzerland; Maria Catherine, born at Stettlen, Jan. 8, 1696; Christoffel, born at Berne, July 17, 1697; Emanuel Fred, born at Berne, March 13, 1699.


(IV) Samuel M. Guldin settled in Oley township, Berks county, in 1718, and on May 22, 1722, he married Elizabeth Hilsaweck. By occupation he was a black- smith and farmer. His children were: Samuel; Sus- anna; John; Mary Magdalena m. Frederick Leinbach; Frederick; Daniel H .; Joanna Esther; and Clara Eliza- beth.


(V) Daniel H. Guldin was born in Oley, April 20, 1735, and married Catherine Elizabeth Geltbach. He acquired a farm of 260 acres, adjoining the Yellow House property on the north. His children were: Samuel died in infancy; Daniel; John; Jacob; Samuel (2) died in infancy; John G .; Elizabeth; George; Abraham; Samuel (3); Frederick; Peter; David.


(VI) John G. Guldin, born Oct. 18, 1770, married Mary Cronrath, and died June 13, 1852. His children were: Daniel; Samuel C. m. Catharine DeHart Ludwig; Rev. John C., D. D .; David; Charles; Abraham C .; and Isaac.


(VII) Abraham C. Guldin, born Aug. 10, 1811, mar- ried Susanna Y. Weaver, and died April 8, 1884. His wife was born Aug. 23, 1812, and died May 14, 1876. Their children were: Isaac W .; Jeremiah; Albert; Han- nah and George.


(VIII) Isaac W. Guldin, born in Amity township, min Fisher, of Greenwich. Two children have been


Berks county, Dec. 4, 1834, died in the fall of 1907. He was a well-known and highly respected citizen of his locality, for many years having been a music teacher of Reading. He was twice married. On Dec. 31, 1857, he m. Amelia Van Buskirk. On April 24, 1884, he' m. (second) Amanda Hoch Custer. Both of his wives were granddaughters of Eva Rosina Lutz Ludwig.


(IX) James H. Guldin, a farmer of Maxatawny town- ship, was born in this township, on the old Guldin farm, March 25, 1867. Reared to farm life, he has continued in this line of work all his life. At first he worked for his father, but upon coming of age he started to farm for himself on the old Charles Miller farm near Monterey. His education was a limited one because of the many demands made upon him in his boyhood, but he has added to his knowledge by obser- vation and experience and is now a very well informed man. In 1892 Mr. Guldin moved to Longswamp town- ship where he lived some time, and then went to Litz- enberg, in Lehigh county, but in 1896 he settled in Maxatawny township, and has purchased the old home- stead from the other heirs. This consists of 123 acres of excellent land upon which he made his home until 1901, when he sold the property to Phaon Heffner, and bought the old Stephen Leibelsberger farm near Maxatawny Zion Church, consisting of 92 acres of valuable land. The barn on this property was built


with eleven head of cattle and ten head of horses. Fra- ternally Mr. Guldin is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. of New Smithville, Pa. He has been active in public affairs, and is serving his third year as school director; and he has also been delegate to various county con- ventions, and been judge of elections, etc. He and his family are members of Zion Union Church of Maxatawny township, of which he has served as deacon.


On Sept. 4, 1885, Mr. Guldin married Nellie C. Kershner, a daughter of George W. and Ellen (Shomo) Kershner, of Hamburg. Eight children have been born to them: Charles J .; Solon R .; Mamie M .; Grov- er J .; Eva S .; James S .; Lawson W. and Florence M. Mr. Guldin comes of an old family whose repre- sentatives are well known throughout Pennsylvania and he himself is much respected in his community.


Mahlon Guldin, son of Reuben W., of Maxatawny township, was born on his father's homestead, Jan. 25, 1862, and was there reared and received his early education. Later he attended the Keystone State Nor- mal School, from which he was graduated in 1879, and subsequently he took a post-graduate course at the same institution. He commenced teaching in his na- tive township when but seventeen years of age, and he has since taught twenty-two terms in his home district, in addition to one term in Lehigh county, a rather remarkable record. 'Mr. Guldin is one of the active teachers of Berks county. During the summer months he is engaged in various lines. Since 1896, he has been engaged in the poultry business, and is much interested in it, he making a specialty of fancy poultry, especially buff and partridge cochins.


Mr. Guldin is a Democrat, and takes an active part in public affairs, serving as register and assessor of the district and he has been sent as delegate to num- erous county conventions. He is a member of Camp 141, P. O. S. of A., of Rothrocksville, of which he is past president, and he was district president of Dis- trict No. 6. During his incumbency a new district was instituted at Longswamp. Mr. Gulden is a member of the Reformed Church, and his wife is a member of the Lutheran denomination of Maxatawny Zion Church.


On Nov. 18, 1893, Mr. Guldin was married to Miss Stella M. Fisher, a daughter of Charles S. and Emma (Grim) Fisher of Krumsville, granddaughter of Benja- born of this marriage, Ira C. R. and Homer F.


Reuben W. Guldin, the father of Mahlon Guldin was born in Exeter township, Berks county, Feb. 18, 1818. and was reared in this district, coming later to Maxatawny township, and settling on the State road near Monterey, upon a farm consisting of 123 acres of valuable land. He farmed all his life and lived retired. from active labor six years prior to his death, which occurred in June, 1894, when he was seventy-six years old. He was a member of Maxatawny Zion Church, Reformed, where he is buried. For many years he was a church official and was a good man, held in great respect. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Geschwindt, and they had fifteen children: Sarah, Garion; Matilda; Valentine; Jeremiah; David (died aged seven years); Elias; Ellen: Kate; Amanda; Alice; Reuben; Mahlon; Senora and James.




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