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 197

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 197

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In 1882 Mr. Glase was married to Alice M. Weidler, daughter of Emanuel Weidler, and his wife Mary (Blickenderfer) Weidler, and to this union have been born two sons, Paul E. and Claude H., both of whom are graduates of the Reading high school and work in their father's establishment.

HENRY CHRISTIAN HIRNER. Among the self- made men of this section of Pennsylvania, who won a prominent position for themselves in the business world, was Henry Christian Hirner, who died Sept. 30, 1898, at Reading, in which city he had lived retired from 1880. Mr. Hirner was born in April, 1833, at Stuttgart, Germany.

In his native country he learned the trade of stone cutter, and on coming to America in 1855 he located at Wilkes-Barre, where he soon became an extensive marble and granite monument and tombstone manufac- turer, employing on an average of fifteen men. He all that he undertook, but he always found time to take a keen and active interest in the welfare of the Democratic party. For six years he was school direct- or, for nine years township auditor, and a number of times delegate to county conventions. He was honest and upright, and has held ever the esteem of the good people in the community.

made some of the finest monuments in the eastern part of the State, including the Dr. Sterl monument, which he erected at Wilkes-Barre, and which cost $3,000. Owing to ill health Mr. Hirner was compelled to retire from business in 1879, and during that and the following year he sold his valuable real estate hold- ings, and went on a trip for his health to California, which, however, did not benefit him much. He returned to Pennsylvania, and located at Reading, where he built a large brick residence at the corner of Seven- teenth and Haak streets, and this was his home at the time of his death. His widow resided here until her own death. Mr. Hirner was a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows at Wilkes-Barre, and was buried at that place, where a large monument marks his last resting place.

Mr. Hirner was twice married. his first wife dying young. In 1877 he m. (second) Christiana Goelz, who was born Sept. 26, 1842, daughter of Philip and Dora (Scheiffly) Goelz, natives of Weilheim, near Stuttgart, Germany, who came to America in 1851. They located in Reading, where Philip Goelz kept a hotel at the cor- ner of Fourth and Bingaman streets, and later one at Chestnut, below Third street, where his death occurred. He and his family were members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hirner had no children. Mrs. Hirner died Feb. 24, 1909, aged sixty-eight years. She was survived by her sister. Mrs. William Heberle, No. 309 North Second street, Reading.

EZRA H. HERBINE, now residing in Amity town- ship, Berks county, is a native of Oley township, the early home of the Herbeins (Herbine) in Pennsylvan- ia, the family having been planted here by Peter Herbein.

Levi Herbine, father of Ezra H., was born in Oley township April 5, 1812, and died there Oct. 14, 1891. In his earlier years he worked for neighboring farm- ers, and later for his brother Daniel for a number of years. He then bought a farm of ninety-six acres in the southwestern part of Oley, and there he made his home from 1851 or 1852 until 1885. He then retired from active work, and purchased a homestead in the same township-formerly the John Hunter home- and there he resided until his death. He was prominent in public affairs as a Democrat, and was at one time auditor of the township. He and his family are buried at Oley Churches. He married Sarah Herbine, daugh- ter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Endy) Herbine. She was born Ang. 20, 1815, and died May 22, 1891. Eleven children were born of this union: Susan m. James Brumbach, of Pleasantville; Levi lives on the home- stead in Oley; Emma is unmarried and lives with her brother Levi; Sarah is the widow of Henry Hertzog; Mary is the widow of Abraham Deeter; Daniel lives at Birdsboro; Abraham died young; Ezra H .; Hannah died young; Albert lives at Friedensburg; and one was still-born.

Ezra H. Herbine was born Jan. 23, 1853, and attend- ed the common schools and later Freeland Academy, now Ursinus College, at Collegeville. He later took a course in Farr's Business College at Reading. For several years he was bookkeeper for J. L. Repplier, a wholesale and retail coal merchant at Reading, and then worked for his father on the farm in Oley from 1875 to 1881. In the spring of 1881 he began farming on one of his father's farms in Amity, on the Mana- tawny, between Yellowhouse and Earlville, and that was his home for twenty-eight years. From 1881 to 1891 he was a tenant, and then his father dying, he purchased the farm, which was known as the Jacob Boyer tract, and consisted originally of 160 acres, but when Mr. Herbine purchased it it contained sixty- seven acres, forty-seven perches. He sold this in the winter of 1909 to Augustus M. High, postmaster at Reading. Mr. Herbine is now living retired about one mile south of Amityville. He was very successful in

On Nov. 15, 1877, Mr. Herbine married Sarah Baum. of Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Zacharias) Baum. Mr. Baum was a native of Berks county, but in 1865 moved to Wooster, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming until his death, on a farm of 160 acres. Both he and Mrs. Baum are buried at Wooster. They had ten children, as follows: Wil- liam, of Kansas City, Mo .; Daniel, of Sedalia, Mo .; Mandilla, m. to Robert Beard, of Toledo, Ohio; Charles, who is buried at Wooster; Ammon, who died in 1909, at Indianapolis, Ind., and is buried at Wooster; Henry, of Jersey City, N. J .; Sarah, Mrs. Herbine; Maberry, deceased, and buried at Wooster; Emma, m. to Joseph Felix, of Toledo, Ohio; Kate, twin to Emma, unmarried, of Toledo. To Mr. and Mrs. Herbine have been born three children: (1) Ed- winna graduated from the Keystone State Normal School in 1901, and taught school five terms, four at Locust Dale, in Amity township, and one at Royers- ford. She married Dr. J. H. Ludwig, of Boyertown, and they have one daughter, Miriam. (2) Estella B. graduated from the Keystone State Normal School in the class of 1902, and is engaged in teaching. She taught her first term in Douglass township, at Mauger's school, three terms at Monocacy, and in the spring of 1905 went to Spring City where she still is. (3) Henry L. is a farmer in Amity township. He m. Mamie Mar- quett. No children.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

JOHN PETER EPLER was born in Bern township,

JOHN ACHENBACH, a resident of Reading for Berks county, Jan. 22, 1836, and died at Reading Dec. the past forty years, was born in Oberdorf, Hessen, Germany, Nov. 12, 1850, son of Jacob and Margaret

29, 1905, aged sixty-nine years, eleven months and seven days. During the earlier part of his life he was a Achenbach, well-to-do people, the former an official farmer, but in 1865 he removed to Reading and worked and highly educated man. John Achenbach passed his for the Schuylkill Navigation Company as a member boyhood in his native land, and was early in life made accustomed to farm work, but after coming to America he abandoned agricultural pursuits entirely and spent his time employed solely at molding. He landed in New York City in 1866, but came direct to Reading and made that his permanent home.

of the repair gang, and continued with them for three years. He then was employed at Bushong's furnace for more than a quarter of a century. Later he became watchman for the Excelsior Brass Company, but in less than a year he was burned to death while at the post of duty. He is interred in the Charles Evans cemetery.

On Aug. 30, 1861, Mr. Epler was married to Rebecca Strubble, daughter of Jacob and Annie (Moyer) Strub- ble, and they had one son, George B. The late Mr. Ep- ler was a consistent member of St. John's Lutheran church, to which congregation his family belong.

Mrs. Epler resides at No. 474 Schuylkill avenue, where she conducts a small stationery, confectionery, ci- gar and tobacco store, and she is well respected in the community.

George B. Epler, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Peter Epler, was born Dec. 28, 1861, in Muhlenberg township, where he resides with his mother. He is a stationary engineer, and is employed at the Tragle Cordage Com- pany's works. He married Kate Mahla, daughter of Frederick Mahla, of Germany, who married Louisa Hoffner. Mr. and Mrs. Epler have two children; Stella M., m. to John J. Bidden, now of Providence, R. I .; and George L., living in Reading.

The late John Peter Epler was a grandson of Jacob Epler who married an Epler, but nothing definite is known of him further than that, and that among his children was John Peter Epler, Sr., father of the late John Peter Epler. The father was born in Bern town- ship, in September, 1804, and died Sept. 2, 1877, being buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. He was a farm- er, and later a shoemaker, and worked at this trade until his death which occurred on Jefferson street in Reading. His wife was Mary Koch, who died in 1847. Their children were: Annie and Catherine died young; Mary m. Michael Wonderle; Louisa m. Irwin Moyer; Aaron was killed in the Civil war; John Peter.

MARTIN M. WITHERS (deceased), who was for many years a prominent citizen of Reading, Berks county, was born in Lancaster county in 1839, son of John G. and Catherine (Moyer) Withers, and grandson of George Withers, a native of Virginia, who removed to Lancaster county when a young man, following agri- cultural pursuits until his death.

John G. Withers, father of Martin, was born in Lan- caster county, Nov. 26, 1798, and was a life-long farmer. He married Catherine Moyer, born Feb. 3, 1806, who died Feb. 6, 1863. He died June 16, 1867. They had children as follows: Franklin; Elizabeth; George; John; Rebecca; Martin M .; Samuel; Elias, who is still living and resides in Spring township, Berks county; and Catherine.

Martin M. Withers received his education in the schools of Lancaster and Berks counties and his early life was spent in agricultural pursuits. After locating in Reading he worked on the old Union Canal until 1869, but the latter part of his life was spent in retire- ment. He was married April 13, 1867, to Miss Emeline Klohs, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kerst) Klohs, and two children were born to this union: Mary Cath- erine, who died aged five months; and William, who is employed in the U. S. postal service as a city letter carrier in Reading, and who married Rebecca J. Schnable, and has two children-C. William S. and Stuart S. In religious belief Mr. Withers was a mem- ber of St. John's Reformed Church. His political views made him a Democrat.

Mr. Achenbach's first work was at molding at Sev- enth and Chestnut streets, and he worked there for a long time. In June, 1875, he revisited Germany, re- turning in October of that same year, and instead of resuming his. former position he took a place at the Scott Works. There he remained till February, 1905, when he retired from active work.

On July 21, 1891, Mr. Achenbach was married to Em- ma Elizabeth, daughter of John S. Zimmerman, and his wife, Margaret Reeser, (who both belonged to some of the old established families of Berks county) and granddaughter of Christopher Zimmerman. Three chil- dren were born to this union, but only one survives, a daughter named Martha Esther, at the present time a student in the school at Fourth and Elm streets. The family reside at No. 235 North Sixth street, and are members of the German Lutheran Church.

DR. A. ESENWEIN, the well-known druggist and pharmacist of Reading, and proprietor and manufac- turer of Kura-Derma, was born in the city of Phila- delphia, in 1834, son of Frederick and Mary (Babb) Esenwein, whose other three children are deceased.

Dr. Esenwein was educated in the schools of Read- ing and Philadelphia, and as a boy found employment as clerk in a dry goods store. He followed this line of business until sixteen years of age and then appren- ticed himself to the drug business with Augney & Dixon, remaining with that firm four years. During his stay with that firm he attended lectures at the Philadelphia College of Medicine, and was later grad- uated therefrom with the degree of M. D. Dr. Esen- wein then engaged in the practice of his profession, but later opened a drug store at Ninth and Poplar streets, Philadelphia, where he carried on business for several years. He was appointed assistant paymaster in the United States Navy in 1861, and served as such for three years, nine months, at the end of which time he removed to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and continued there until 1869. He then came to Read- ing as a clerk in S. S. Stevens' drug store and continued with that gentleman for several years, then opening a drug store on his own account which business he has continued to the present time. Dr. Esenwein has been a manufacturing pharmacist for some years, among his remedies being: Kura-Derma, the great scalp and skin remedy, Esenwein's Pectoral and Aromatic Balsam, and numerous others.

In 1859 the Doctor was married to Louisa Leibrandt, and to them were born three children, two of whom are deceased, the other being Richard C., a manufac- turer of Philadelphia. Mr. Esenwein was married (second) in 1864 to Kate A. Daniels, and one child was born to this union, J. Berg, who is with "Lippincott's Magazine." Dr. Esenwein is a member of the Sixth and Elm Street United Evangelical Church, Reading. His politics are independent.

JOSEPH G. KLAPP (deceased), for a number of years connected with the hardware interests of Read- ing, was born in that city Dec. 30, 1845, son of Daniel and Eliza (Ganand) Klapp.

Mr. Klapp received as good an education as the Read- ing schools offered, and then when nearing manhood commenced his work in the world by taking a place in a grocery. A few years later he accepted a position

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

with the Bard Hardware Company, and remained with

LEVI S. LANDIS, a prosperous business man of them some years before he left them for Stichter's Reading, Pa., who is engaged in shoe manufacturing, Hardware Company. He had worked there sixteen was born in 1848, in Washington township, Berks county, son of Jacob O. and Catherine (Stauffer) Lan- dis, and a grandson of Henry Landis. years and was filling the responsible position of super- intendent at the time of his death. He had in an em- inent degree the force and executive ability needed for such a position, and enjoyed the entire confidence of his employers. He died March 27, 1893. His death was not only an irreparable loss to the family, but a blow to the entire community, for Mr. Klapp was gifted with the rare power to win and to keep friends.

Henry- Landis, who was a grocer and tanner by oc- cupation was very successful in life, and at his death left a comfortable property. He married a Miss Over- holzer, and to them were born the following children: Jacob, George, David, Aaron, Susan and Esther. The family were members of the Mennonite Church. In political matters Mr. Landis was a Republican.

Twice married, the first wife of Mr. Klapp was Miss Sallie Young, by whom he had the following children: Emma m. to William Kline; Daniel Y., of Reading; Katie, deceased, m. to William Miller; and Abraham I., of Reading. The second Mrs. Klapp, who Jacob O. Landis lived in Washington township, Berks county, where he received a common school education, and in early life engaged in farming, carry- ing on his father's tannery in the winter months. He is now living retired at the age of eighty-three years, survives her husband, was Miss Elizabeth Brown. . his wife having passed away in 1901, when seventy-five

She became the mother of three children, namely: Mary A., a graduate of the Girl's high school of Reading and now a teacher in the city grammar schools; Anna E .; and Florence. Mrs. Klapp is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, while her late husband belonged to the First Reformed Church of Reading. In politics Mr. Klapp was a Democrat.

JOHN S. WAGNER, who died at his home in Read- ing, Pa., July 12, 1905, was for a number of years en- gaged in building operations in that city, where for a long period he was prominent in political, military and business circles. Mr. Wagner was born April 10, 1837, in Wildheim, Wurtemberg, Germany, son of Michael Wagner, who died in the Fatherlend.

John S. Wagner left his native country Aug. 8, 1855, and landed at New York City Oct. 5th of the same year, leaving the latter city the same day for Reading. In his own country Mr. Wagner had learned the trade of wood turning, and this he followed for a short time, but later apprenticed, himself to the trade of cabinet maker with Frederick R. Henninger, on Penn street, for three years. In May, 1859, he was employed in William B. Hertzel's planing mill, and in December of the same year he became manager of the Ringgold Band, of which he was president at the time of his death. In April, 1861, he became a member of the Ringgold Light Artillery, and enlisted with that com- pany for three months' service during the Civil war, being assigned to the 25th Regiment under Col. Cake and Gen. Patterson. After the expiration of that term he re-enlisted Aug. 1, 1861, for three years service as a musician in the 23d Pa. V. I., and in Philadelphia, in August, 1862, under General Orders, No. 157, was discharged with all other regimental bands. Dur- ing his service he was in the battles of Williamsport, Fair Oaks and the Seven Days fight, ending at the battle of Malvern Hill. After his discharge he re- turned to Reading, and resumed work for William B. Hertzel. For many years Mr. Wagner carried on build- ing operations with Jeremiah Seiders, and in April, 1896, was appointed building inspector of Reading by Mayor Jacob Weidel, a position to which he was reappointed in 1899 by Mayor Adam H. Leader, although of dif- ferent party views than the latter. In 1871 Mr. Wagner was elected to the city council on the Democratic 1880 he was elected a member of the State Legislature, taking his seat at Harrisburg in January, 1881. In July, 1881, Mr. Wagner became a member of the Penn- sylvania National Guards, with whom he served as a musician for nineteen years.

On Dec. 28, 1862, Mr. Wagner married Catherine M. Duerr, who survives him. Mr. Wagner was a man of much strength of character, a business man of much ability, and a capable public official. Kindly and genial, he made hosts of friends, and in his death many of Reading's citizens felt a personal loss. He is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery.

years old. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs Landis; Levi S .; Elizabeth; Emma m. Enoch Rohr- bach; Susan; Catherine m. James Hartranft; Nathan and Amos are deceased; and Ella.

Levi S. Landis received his education in the schools of Berks county, and until nineteen years of age worked on a farm, at this time apprenticing himself to the shoemaker's trade, to which he served his time with Reuben Eshbach of Schultzville. This he has followed ever since. He settled in Center Valley, where he remained for twenty-five years, and in 1897 came to Reading, locating at his present stand, No. 602 Schnyl- kill avenue, where he is doing an extensive business.

Mr. Landis was married to Mary L. Moyer, and to this union have been born two children: Herbert, a clerk in the employ of the Reading Trust Company, m. Ada Mohn, and has one child, Spencer; and Steward R. is attending the Taylor University. Mr. Landis and his wife are members of the Eighth and Court Street Evangelical Church.

CHRISTOPHER SHEARER. Among the repre- sentative citizens and leading agriculturists of Berks county, none is more worthy of mention in this publi- cation than Mr. Christopher Shearer, whose excellent farm is located in Muhlenberg township. Mr. Shearer was born Nov. 8, 1820, in the city of Reading, son of Jonathan and Polly (Rapp) Shearer.

Christopher Johan Shearer, grandfather of Chris- topher, was the founder of the family in America. He came from Holland and settled at Reading, Pa., where he followed his trade of shoemaker until the outbreak of the Revolutionary war. With other neighbors he was drafted for service and participated in the battle of Long Island, and the retreat through New Jersey to Philadelphia. Here his regiment's term, with nearly all of the other bodies of militia, under the three months' enlistment period, expired. It is probable the farmers would have all returned to their homes and the trades- men to their trades, had not General Washington made a stirring speech to them in which he demonstrated that all would be lost unless the militia re-enlisted, contract- ing to serve six months longer, giving them a hope that the struggle might then see an end. We are ac- customed in these days to look on all the Revolutionary soldiers as unselfish patriots, but that all of the militia did not belong to this class was shown when in spite to their homes. Among the few who again offered- his life and liberty to the country was Christopher Johan Shearer, and he was one of the soldiers that took part in the historic Crossing of the Delaware and the fight with the Hessians. After the expiration of his six months service, he was drafted again into the militia, and fought in the battle of the Brandywine, on which occasion the militia was placed in the front as reserved troops. The grandfather in after years described this battle as having taken place on a calm, smoky day. The firing was done in platoons, each platoon stepping backward after they had discharged their guns. Sol-

ticket, was re-elected in 1878, and again in 1890. In of the commander's appeal, the larger number returned

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BIOGRAPHICAL

dier Shearer knelt down to get a view of the English duced annually. When the Early Rose potato was first troops under the cloud of smoke, and in this action offered for sale at one dollar a pound by its pro- ducer, Mr. Shearer bought one pound, and planted it to a single eye. He dug them up in July, having developed very early and he planted them again, getting a full harvest of seventeen bushels. These were all planted the following year, and were sold at a high figure, thus introducing the fine potato to this section of the coun- try. When Mr. Bull of Massachusetts advertised three different grapes-Concord, Clinton and a raisin grape- at three dollars per stalk, or nine. dollars, Mr. Shearer sent for one of each kind, and the Concord and Clinton grapes have proved very valuable. The Globe peach was a standard variety, and was produced on the Tuck- erton Fruit Farm, some of the trees yielding thirteen baskets each of & measure. These large peaches were exhibited at county fairs, always drawing premiums. They won the first premium at the State. Fair at Phila- delphia, over Jersey and Delaware peaches, and at the close of the Fair was sold at twenty-five cents each to Jersey and Delaware peach growers. was wounded in the left forearm. The next morning news reached General Washington that the British had made an incursion into the farming country for pro- visions, and the commander said that the Reading mil- itia had done such good service that he would accord them the honor and pleasure of capturing this forag- ing party. In spite of his wounded arm, Mr. Shearer determined to assist in this effort and accompanied the body of soldiers that met the British, who were well prepared for the assault. Just at this time Gen- eral Washington discovered that instead of a foraging party, he had sent his brave Reading militia to attack the entire British army. He immediately sent Gener- al Wayne's division which soon checked the English and caused their retreat and thus saved the militia from complete annihilation. Mr. Shearer's enlistment, or draft, had now expired, and he returned for a rest of several months, but subsequently re-entered the army and did guard duty at Royersford, being then a non-commissioned officer in his company. After be- ing here for some time the Reading militia found a platoon of British cavalry endeavoring to cross and the former wisely took shelter in a small wood near by, and by rapid firing drove the enemy back. One of the British dropped to his saddle after the firing.

Like in our own days political feeling ran high and the German element was largely in sympathy with the British soldiers at that time. Mr. Shearer and wife were members of the German Reformed Church, and while he was absent in the army one of his children died and the church refused burial privileges on account of his serving with Washington, and not having paid the last year's assessment of tax on its members. In her extremity his wife turned to the Lutheran denomination, asking from them a burial lot, which they readily granted, and when Mr. Shearer returned to his home and learned the facts he said: "From this time on we are Lutherans." He again engaged in shoemaking, which he followed until he was appointed justice of the peace, an office which he held until his death in 1827. Mr. Shearer was married to Julia Phillippi, who, ac- cording to family traditions, was the first female child born in Reading. There was a boy child born in Read- ing named Drayer, being the first born, but she was the second child and the first female. To Christopher Johan Shearer and wife were born a number of chil- dren, of whom but four lived: Jonathan, John, Solomon and Benjamin. In political belief Mr. Shearer was a Federalist.

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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 197

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