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 203

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 203


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Samuel Adams, son of Anthony Adam and Cathe- rine Glass of Briar Creek township, Columbia county, Pa., was born there in 1795, and remained in the same township. He married June 27, 1819, Esther Hill, who was born March 21, 1802 and died March 9, 1826, daughter of Captain Frederick Hill, proprietor of the old "Fort Jenkins Inn," and his wife, Catherine Con- ner. Captain Frederick Hill was born March 8, 1772, and died Aug. 21, 1823. He was commissioned Captain of the Sixth Company of the 112th Regiment of the Militia of Pennsylvania, by Governor Thomas Mc- Kean, Aug. 3, 1807, as appears by the original com- mission in the possession of Charles F. Hill, Esq., of Hazleton. Captain Frederick Hill was the son of Fred-' erick Hill of Berks county, by his wife Maria, daughter of Judge Jacob Levan, Colonial Judge of the Courts of Berks County. Frederick Hill, Berks County, father of Captain Frederick Hill, served during the Revolu- tionary war in the Continental Line. He enlisted May 1, 1776, as a private in Captain Lewis Farmer's Company in the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, com- manded by Colonel Samuel Miles. After the capture of Colonel Miles and the greater portion of the com- mand at the Battle of Long Island, Frederick Hill, with other survivors of the Rifle Regiment, enlisted in


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


The State Regiment of Foot. He served in this regi- ment in 1777 as a private in Captain John Nice's Com- pany, participating in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. (Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol- ume II.)


Samuel Adams and Esther Hill of Briar Creek township. Columbia County, Pennsylvania, had the fol- lowing children: Anthony, born Feb. 26, 1821, died in infancy; Mary Ann, born Jan. 31, 1822, died March 1, 1877, m. (first) Louis Traugh, of Berwick (died Nov. 5, 1850) and (second) Warren Vanderhoven; Enos L. is mentioned next.


Enos L. Adams, of Briar Creek townhsip, Columbia county, Pa., son of Samuel Adams and Esther Hill, of the same place, was born July 28, 1824. He married March 13, 1847, Margaret Kisner, who was born April 21. 1827, and died May 19, 1872, daughter of John Kisner and Lydia Kinney. Lydia Kinney was born Nov. 10, 1805, and died Sept. 5, 1851, daughter of John Kinney and granddaughter of Major John Kinney, a Revolutionary officer of New Jersey.


Mr. Enos L. Adams owned the old Adams home- stead in Briar Creek township, several properties in the neighboring town of Berwick, and some lands in the State of Kansas. From 1872 to 1880, he was the senior member of the firm of Adams & Son, merchants, of Berwick. He died Aug. 17, 1887. The children of Enos L. Adams and Margaret Kisner were: (1) Alice Lydia, born Feb. 11, 1848, married Jan. 7, 1869, James Knox Polk Freas, of Berwick, who died Oct. 16, 1898. (2) John Kisner, born April 8, 1850, died March 15, 1880, unmarried. (3) Samuel Warren, born Feb. 2, 1853, was of Berwick. (4) Enos Kinney, born July 8, 1855, died Nov. 30, 1889, m. Clara Miles. (5) Anna Mary, born Nov. 4, 1857, m. Joseph H. Turnbach, a hardware merchant of Philipsburg, Pa. She died Dec. 30, 1903. (6) William L., born May 27, 1860, is men- tioned below. (7) Charles Elliott, born Jan. 26, 1863, of Berwick, m. Mary E. Albertson. (8) Margaret Ida, born Oct. 11, 1866, married Oct. 9, 1891, Leoni H. Cryder, of Berwick. (9) Francis Laura, born Oct. 14, 1869, m. June 2, 1904, James L. Evans, attorney- at-law, of Berwick. (10) Edwin Orison, born March 12, 1872, died Aug. 6, 1872.


WILLIAM L. ADAMS, son of Enos L. and Margaret (Kisner), was born at the Adams homestead in Briar Creek township, Columbia Co., Pa., May 27, 1860. He was educated at Mt. Union College, Alliance, Ohio, graduating with the Class of 1881. On Aug. 15, 1888, he was married at Fort Worth, Texas, to Lizzie A. Davis, only daughter of Willis G. Davis and Adelia Anderson, of Colon, Mich., and a graduate of the Michigan Seminary, Kalamazoo, Mich. Since March of 1890, Mr. and Mrs. William L. Adams have re- sided at Hoquiam, Washington. They have four child- ren living, viz: Gaylord, born Ang. 8, 1890; Gwenivere Sept. 12, 1893; Elizabeth, Jan. 30, 1898, and William L., Jr., May 27, 1907. William L. Adams is president of The First National Bank of Hoquiam, and president of the Keystone Timber Company of Hoquiam.


ANDREW N. BODEY, the efficient and capable manager of Luden's Candy Factory, Reading, Pa., is one of that city's prominent and enterprising business men. He is a son of Nelson P. Bodey, a dealer in fruits and provisions, who died in February, 1905, aged fifty-nine years. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, in Company E, 151st Pa. V. I., serving nine months, and was wounded during the second days' fighting at Gettysburg. being shot in both legs. He suffered greatly from these wounds all the rest of his life. Andrew N. Bodey's mother, Isabella (Mengel) Bodey, died when he was three years old, he having been the only child born to this union. Nelson P. Bodey's second wife, Clara, bore him five children, two of whom are now living: Norman, and Addie, the wife of Harry McGrath.


Andrew Nelson Bodey was born Nov. 30, 1866, and was educated in the public schools of Reading. His first business was as a cabinet finisher, and he con- tinued at this for about ten months, after which he en- gaged with W. H. Luden, the manufacturing confec- tioner. He learned the business, and, step by step, worked himself up, until he now holds the responsible position of manager, being at the head of 450 people.


Mr. Bodey was married. Jan. 11, 1890, to Sallie Trumbore, daughter of Andrew and Diana Trumbore, of Reading. Four children have been born to this union: Harry, who died when one and one-half years old; and Norman, Walter and Carl, all at school. Mr. Bodey belongs to the Sons of Veterans, the P. O. S. of A., and the Knights of Friendship. He is a member of Zion's German Reformed Church. Mr. Bodey is independent in politics. He makes his home at No. 126 Windsor street.


GEORGE WERT, late a prosperous farmer in the employ of E. &' G. Brooke, and a man of many firm friends, was a native son of Pennsylvania, born near Churchtown, in Lancaster county, Jan. 7, 1827, son of Samuel and Catharine (Ridge) Wert.


Mr. Wert received his education in the common schools of his native county, and in his young man- hood came to Berks county, where he entered the em- ploy of Levi Smith, and later of Col. Heber Smith at Joanna Furnace. There he continued for the next fourteen years, proving himself a faithful and con- scientious workman. On Nov. 1, 1864, he came to Birdsboro, and from that time until his death he was employed by E. & G. Brooke in the operation of their farm and dairy. He thoroughly understood his work, and took great pride in doing it well, winning thereby the high esteem and confidence of his employers. He was honest and upright in all his dealings, and attended very strictly to his own business. It has been said of him that his word was as good as another's bond. He died Ang. 29, 1895, mourned by all who knew him.


On Jan. 14, 1850, Mr. Wert married Amelia Hoffman, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Mock) Hoffman, and of the nine children that blessed their union, seven are still living. These were: Margaret m. William Seig- fried, and has three children, George E., Hannah A. and Lula I .; Kate m. Harry Roberts, and has six children, Emma, Millie, Morris, William, Carrie and Albert; Samuel m. Emma Buchter, and has six chil- dren, Anna, Elmer, Maggie, Millie, Katie and Harvey; Elizabeth m. Morris Jones (no issue); Peter, of East Chatham, N. Y., has two children, Carroll and Amelia; George m. Edith Hoffman, and has two sons, G. How- ard and Warren; Nettie m. A. Watson Keagy, and has five children, Edith, Alma, Harold, Alice and Marie; and Emma and Amelia died in infancy.


Mr. Wert was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church. In his political faith he was a Democrat, and cast his ballot in support of the men and measures of that party. He was an active member of the Junior O. U. A. M., to which, at the time of his death, he had belonged for more than thirty years. Mrs. Wert still makes her home in Birdsboro, where she is highly re- spected by all who know her.


MARTIN R. MENGEL, proprietor of the "Kemp- ton House," Kempton, Pa .. is a native of Perry town- ship, Berks county, born Nov. 23, 1852, son of Martin and Susan (Reber) Mengel.


Nicholas Mengel. the first of the family to come to America. was born in Germany, and in the middle of the eighteenth century in company with three other young men of his country came to America. He was a redemptioner, and was bound out until the cost of his passage was paid by a Mr. Gernand, a farmer in Maiden-creek township, Berks Co., Pa. After his freedom was obtained, he remained with his employer for three or more years. By frugality, industry and economy he earned sufficient means to purchase a tract of 300 acres of land in Maiden-creek township,


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BIOGRAPHICAL


and from that time until his death he engaged in its


She is a member of Christ Church and has always cultivation. He had a number of children, among been active in the various departments of church work. whom were: Frederick, Peter and Jacob.


Jacob Mengel, grandfather of Martin R., born in 1777, lived in Perry township on the farm now owned by his grandson, David G. He was a farmer and owned a large tract of land. He died in his eighty-eighth year and is buried at Zion's Churrch, in Perry township, of which he was a Lutheran member. He married Elizabeth Reichert, and their children were :. Solomon, Jacob, Jeremiah, Elizabeth (m. Benjamin Gruber), Mar- tin, Ann (m. Solomon Schappell), Susanna (m. John de Turck), Thomas, Jonas and John.


Martin Mengel, son of Jacob and Elizabeth, was born in Perry township about 1813, and died in 1884, and is buried at Zion's Church. By trade he was a stone mason, and he built many houses and barns through Maiden-creek township. He also owned a farm in Perry township, adjoining Zion's Church. This consisted of 160 acres of good land. He was very prosperous and left a goodly estate. In politics he was a Democrat, and held the office of school director. In religious belief he was a Lutheran and held a num- ber of offices in the church. He married Susan Reber, daughter of Jacob Reber and wife, whose maiden name was Baer. To this union were born children as fol- lows: Benjamin, Simon, Martin R., Franklin, Esther (m. Jeremiah Kerschner), Elizabeth (died young), Margaret (died young), Diana (m. Charles Moyer), Susan (m. (first) James Williams and (second) Frank Miller), Lovina (m. Heber Dries), Emma (died unmar- ried) and Mary (m. Adam Starr). Martin Mengel m. (second) Mary Frey, widow of a Mr. Smith of Al- bany."They lived at Hamburg, where Mrs. Mengel still resides, now past eighty years of age.


Martin R. Mengel, son of Martin, attended the common schools in his youth, and lived on the home farm until he was twenty-one. He then learned the ployer, Christian Eben, and with the sons who suc- blacksmith's trade from Daniel Smith, of Windsor ceeded him. Finally, in 1903, after his long period of faithful and efficient labor, Mr. Huber gave up his place and left home to revisit the scenes of his youth. He spent nearly four months abroad, and then, on re- turning to America, went into business on his own account, getting out stone for building purposes, mainly sand stone. Mr. Huber is in partnership with Andrew Honeker, and the firm is located on Locust street, be- tween Elm and Buttonwood, where they do a large business, and bid fair to become one of the leading industrial concerns of the city. Castle, and this he followed for three years in Iowa and South Dakota, living in the West from 1876 to 1896. He engaged in threshing out West, first with horse power and later with steam, carrying on that business for sixteen years. He has threshed as much as 3,000 bushels of wheat in one day. He was very successful in his work, and carried on farming in ad- dition to his threshing. In 1896, after his return to Berks county, he engaged in the hotel business at Windsor Castle, for two years, and then for two years conducted the "Half-Way House." In 1902 he pur- chased the "Kempton House," of which he took pos- session in November of that year, and he now has one of the best and most popular stands in the county. The hotel has twenty-two large rooms, with spacious halls, and is well patronized. .


On Feb. 28, 1888, Mr. Mengel married Andora S. Stetzler, daughter of Jacob and Esther (Schappell) Stetzler, of Perry township. Mr. and Mrs. Mengel are members of Zion's Union Church, in Perry township, belonging to the Lutheran congregation. They are highly respected in the community.


MRS. WILLIAM L. CAMPBELL, residing in Read- ing, was born in Douglassville, Pa., and on her mother's side is descended from Scotch ancestry. Her parents were George L. Leaf and Amelia Douglass, the former a merchant of Pottstown.


She is also prominent in the ladies auxiliary of the Reading Hospital, where she has served on the house- keeping committee. The demands upon her time and strength are, however, becoming a little too heavy, and she is gradually retiring from many of her activities, a necessity which is greatly to be regretted. R. T. Leaf, brother of Mrs. W. L. Campbell, is the only other member of the family living.


HENRY HUBER, a resident of Reading since his first coming to this country in 1869, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1841.


Frederick Huber, father of Henry, lived and died in Germany. He was a stone cutter by trade, and brought up several of his sons to the same occupation. He and his wife had a large family of children, fifteen of them reaching maturity, namely: Lizzie; Frederick, of New Jersey; Augustus, of Paris, France; Henry; Mary, de- ceased; Gustave, at the old home in Germany; Her- mann, of Germany; Gottlieb, William and Charles, of St. Louis, Mo., the latter now deceased; Fredericka. at the old home; Minnie, of Leipsic, Saxony; John, of Paris; Ernst, in the stone business at the old home; and Theodore, an engineer in Germany. Three other children died in infancy.


Henry Huber learned stone-cutting from his father, and worked under him until he was twenty-eight years old. He then decided to make a new start in a new country, and in 1869 he landed at New York. He proceeded immediately to Philadelphia and secured work there at his trade, but after only two weeks left that city for Reading and has ever since made his home there. He found employment readily and re- mained for thirty-four years with his original em-


Mr. Huber married Miss Pauline Grouper, and three children have been born to them, as follows: Emma, who married Edward C. Haggerty, a sergeant of the Reading police, appointed by Mayor Gerber; Harry; and William. Politically Mr. Huber is a Democrat, and in religious matters a Lutheran, a member of the Reading Church. During his long period of service under another Mr. Huber fully demonstrated the many sterling qualities. of his character, and he well deserves the success that is so abundantly rewarding his efforts now that he is in business for himself.


DANIEL M. GRILL, a citizen of Reading, Pa., who is retired, resides in his home at No. 112 South Third street in this city. Mr. Grill was born in Cumru town- ship, Berks county, Pa., July 14, 1842, a son of Adam and Catherine M. Grill.


Of the Grill family, at least three generations having


The first Douglass to leave Scotland and settle in been born in Berks county. Philip Grill, grandfather Pennsylvania was George, great-grandfather to Mrs. Campbell, who founded the town of Douglassville. His son George was a farmer and merchant in the same place and it was his daughter Amelia who became Mrs. Leaf. She died aged eighty-three. The original Doug- lass homestead at Douglassville has never passed out of the family. interests being still held by Mrs. Camp- bell. Through a marriage of Miss Mary May, a niece of George Douglass (2), to George De B. Keim, Mrs. Campbell is also connected with another old Pennsyl- vania family.


of Daniel, married a Miss Lesher, and they were early settlers in Cumru township, where he became pos- sessed of an excellent farm. Their children were: John, deceased, formerly an extensive farmer in Ohio; Samuel, deceased, also owned farming land in Ohio; Adam, father of Daniel Grill; Joseph, who died aged eighty-two years at Sinking Spring; Philip, deceased, of Cumru township; Catherine, who m. Jacob Hart, and had children, Samuel, John, Jacob, Levi, Louisa, Catherine, Kate, Polly, Sally and Bessie; Leah, who m. Jacob Brossman; Mrs. Cubbison; and Bessie, who m.


744


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


George Matz. In religious belief the family were mem- months, twenty-six days, at Colebrookdale; Nicholas, born bers of the Reformed Church. Politically Mr. Grill Nov. 28, 1815, died in October, 1873, aged fifty-seven years, was a Democrat.


ten months, six days, in Cumru township; Jacob,, Adam Grill, father of Daniel, followed agricultural born Nov. 24, 1817, died aged eight years, two months, twenty-seven days; Amos L. was born Aug. 10, 1819; Maria DeTurk, born Sept. 10, 1821, died March 7, 1884, aged sixty-two years, five months, twenty-seven days, in Exeter township; Sophia, born in 1823, married James Smeck, and died May 6, 1870, aged forty-six years, seven months, twenty-eight days, at Reading; Jacob L., born Nov. 14, 1824, died Feb. 6, 1904, aged seventy-nine years, two months, twenty-two days, in Indiana; Solomon, born April 1, 1830, died Oct. 9, 1872, aged forty-two years, six months, eight days, in Indiana.


pursuits all of his life, dying in 1857, aged sixty-four years, while his widow survived him until March 31, 1888, being eighty-eight years old at the time of her death, They were the parents of these children: Ben- newell died young, as did also David; Samuel, de- ceased, m. Betsy Venida; Betsy m. Henry Venida; Cath- erine m. Christian Cress; Polly m. Richard Hornber- ger; Levi, who lives on the old homestead, m. Mary Eshelman; Sarah m. Nicholas Moser; Adam m. Sarah Dewees; Lydia m. James Leininger; Daniel; and Henry, of Oakbrook, m. Mary Heister. Mr. and Mrs. Grill and their family were also members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Grill was a Democrat in politics, and served faithfully for a number of years as supervisor of his township.


Daniel Grill, although receiving a good German edu- cation, was but poorly versed in English. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he pur- chased a farm in Cumru township, and this he oper- ated for thirty-two years, operating a dairy in con- junction 'therewith. Mr. Grill sold his interests in 1897 and retired to Mohnsville, but in 1903 located in Reading, where he has since resided, his home being located at No. 112 South Third street.


In 1864, Mr. Grill married Mary Matz, daughter of William and Sarah (Straub) Matz, natives of Berks county, and to this union were born four children: Charles W., m. to Kate Lewis; Frank H., m. to Eliza- beth Shonour, and they had two children, Helen (de- ceased) and Marie; G. Harvey, m. to Alice Holdry and they have two children, Daniel and Mabel; Clara, m. to Edgar Glasser.


Both Mr. Grill and his wife are members of the Re- formed Church, to which he has always given a very liberal support. Politically he has been a life-long Democrat, and since coming to Reading has served in the office of tax collector, while during his residence in Cumru township he was treasurer of that township for a number of years. He is a man who is justly held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.


DICK FAMILY. The city of Reading counts among its most valued citizens descendants of German settlers who came to Pennsylvania direct from the Fatherland, bring- ing with them the solid virtues and thrifty habits which characterize their nationality. The Dick family belongs in this category and it can be traced to one Jacob Dick, who came to America from Germany and is known to have taken part in the Revolutionary war.


This Jacob Dick was the grandfather of the late Amos L. Dick, at the time of his death a venerable retired resident of Reading. After the close of the Revolutionary struggle Jacob Dick settled in what was then the strag- gling village of Reading, where he established himself in business, doing chair-making, spinning wheel manufactur- ing, and also working as a carpenter. The site of the business was where the photograph gallery of Mr. Fritz now stands. Jacob Dick died in 1834; his wife passed away ten years before. They had two children: Susan, who married a Mr. Boas, and died in Reading, and Jacob, father of Amos L.


Jacob Dick (2) was born in the old Penn street home at Reading in 1783, and when he reached maturity married Susan Lutz. Their children were: Sarah Ruth, born in 1806, died Sept. 5, 1889, at Fritztown, aged eighty-three years, six months, twenty-seven days; a son, born Oct. 12, 1808, died eleven days later: Susan, born Oct. 12, 1808, died in 1828, aged nineteen years, seven months, twenty- six days; Margaret, born Aug. 18, 1810, died July 21, 1885, aged seventy-four vears, eleven months, three days, in Oley township; Catherine Leinbach, born Feb. 15, 1812, died Dec. 16, 1890, aged seventy-eight years, ten months, one day, near Boyertown; Elizabeth Johnson, born Nov. 9, 1813, died July 5, 1876, aged sixty-two years, seven


After their marriage the parents of Amos L. Dick settled in Cumru township, along the Schuylkill river, and the father followed farming from 1806 continuously until 1858, when he retired, dying Dec. 11, 1859. He owned a farm of 135 acres. His wife died March 13, 1870, aged eighty-three years, two months, twenty-one days. They both were interred in the Charles Evans cemetery.


AMOS L. DICK attended the subscription schools in the neighborhood of his home, which were the only available schools during his boyhood, and by the time he was seventeen years of age was a well-informed youth. His practical education had been in no way neglected, either, farm work claiming a large part of his time and atten- tion. In assisting his father he learned how to manage for himself, and in 1848 he married and settled on a farm of 100 acres, which he purchased, in Robeson town- ship. Mr. Dick remained on this farm for twenty years, in 1868 removing'to Reading.


After coming to the city Mr. Dick followed contracting and building for some years, and was very successful. At length increasing years impelled him to retire entirely from business activity. He could recall the time when Reading's population did not exceed 4,000, long before it became the home of so many immense industries and the dwelling place of some of the most intelligent and cultured people of the great State of Pennsylvania. He occupied a very comfortable home at No. 29 North Ninth street, and was probably one of the most venerable, as he was one of the most esteemed, residents of his city. He died May 12, 1907.


In 1848 Mr. Dick married Amelia Dunkle, born Dec. 18, 1828, daughter of Solomon . and Elizabeth (Althouse) Dunkle. The Dunkle family is a very old one in Berks county, having been established here by Jacob Dunkle, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Dick. Her grandparents were George and Charlotte (Engle) Dunkle. Mr. and Mrs. Dick had one daughter, Emma, who married John DeLong, wholesale leather merchant of Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. DeLong have had three children, viz. : Flora, Howard and Oscar, the latter deceased. Mrs. Dick was one of a large family, her brothers and sisters being: Mary Ann, Caroline, Morgan, Sarah A., Elizabeth C., Albert, Killian G., David G., and James.


Mr. Dick was a life-long Democrat. He was the old- est member of the First Reformed Church at Reading, which he joined in 1839, his wife joining in 1846.


NICHOLAS DICK, son of Jacob (2), was born Nov. 28, 1815, and died Oct. 4, 1873. He married Esther DeTurk, who still survives, being now one of the oldest residents of Reading. Her home is at No. 140 South Ninth street. Mr. Dick was a life-long Democrat, and a worthy mem- ber of the Reformed Church. His father built the res- idence which still stands on the old Dick homestead, in Cumru township, in 1811. The barn he built in 1809 and the smoke-house in 1810. They were so substantially constructed .that they have defied the attacks of time up to the present. Nicholas Dick's children were: Marcus D. (of Seyfert Station, Berks county), William, Eli D., Albert, Henry, Susan (wife of A. F. Wenzel, of Baums- town), Annie and Lizzie D.


HENRY DICK, son of Nicholas, was born in Cumru township, Berks county, April 24, 1845. He was educated


Henry D. Dick


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BIOGRAPHICAL


in the district schools and at Brunner's Business College, that city, was born in Cumru township, Berks county, and then engaged in farming, continuing thus until 1885, July 13, 1853, a son of Nicholas Dick and a grandson of when he retired. In 1874 he became interested in the Jacob Dick (2), and a nephew of the late Amos L. Dick Farmers' Market-House Company, having a half interest, of Reading. which he retained until the time of his death, May 21, Mr. Dick attended the public schools of his native township, and one term at Myerstown, Lebanon county, and assisted his father at farming until 1882, in the fall of which year he came to Reading, and accepted a position with the firm with which he is still connected. 1901. Mr. Dick was a man of sterling integrity and was at various times elected by his townsmen to hold office, serving as a member of the common council, from the Third ward, in 1888-89, and declining a renomination.




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