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 206

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 206

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HARVEY K. WEASNER, one of the thrifty young farmers of Douglass township, Berks county, was born there Aug. 1, 1869.

The name of this family has been variously spelled, and the first to bring his family into Douglass town- ship, Berks county, from the earlier Pennsylvania home in Chester county was John Weisner, who was born there Sept. 14, 1774, and died in Douglass town- ship, on a farm (now the property of Charles Brintzen- `hoff) which he had purchased but four months before, Aug. 1, 1825. He is buried in the old cemetery near the Reformed Church. He was twice married. His first wife died in Chester county. To that union there were six children: Polly m. Samuel Acker, of Cedar Hollow; Catharine (Walter); Betzy (Beidler); John lived in Chester county, as did also Lewis; and Jacob. John Weisner married (second) a woman from Lower Berks county, Catharine Kuetz, daughter of Conrad Kuetz, and to this union were born five children: Israel; Conrad: William, 1825-1848; Susan (Shanely); and Mrs. Weaver. At the side of John Weisner is buried one "Ludwig Weisner, born Feb. 29, 1808, died Oct.

Jacob Weasner, son of John. lived in Douglass town- ship, and there owned the farm of seventy-five acres now owned by a member of the Schmeck family. He was born in Chester county in June, 1801, and accom- panied his father to Berks county. By trade he was a blacksmith and had a smithy above Worman in Earl township, where he worked for seven years. Some time before 1839 he located on his farm, and there He married Mary Romich. daughter of John Romich. She. was born in 1801, and died in 1868, and is buried at Boyertown. They had six children: Sarah, m. to John Davidheiser; Harriet, m. to John Eagle; Jacob, unmarried; John R .; Mary, m. to Isaac Eagle; and Eli, m. to Susan Albright, and a resident of Boyer- town.

John R. Weasner, son of Jacob and Mary, was born in Douglass township, Sept. 14, 1839. on the old Weas- ner homestead. He was a farmer from 1867 until his retirement, when he was succeeded by his son. He built the present frame dwelling on his farm in 1880. Since 1904 he has lived in a nice home at Gilberts- ville, and besides his farm and residence, he owns property in Boyertown. He has always been indus- trious and frugal, and owes his present comfortable circumstances to his good management. He and his

1839, daughter of William Kepner, of Montgomery county. They have one son, Harvey K.

Harvey K. Weasner received the educational advan- tages of the common schools and from his boyhood assisted on the home farm. In the spring of 1896 he began on his father's farm, where he has since He continued. He has an excellent outfit of farm imple- ments and up-to-date machinery-all that he could pos- sibly use in the cultivation of his ninety-five acre tract. His farm is located in the center part of the township, in the Mauger school district. Everything about the place indicates the care and thrift of the owner. Mr. Weasner has taken a keen interest in public affairs as a Democrat, and for three years was supervisor in the development and progress of the public schools. He and his family are members of the Lutheran con- gregation of the Boyertown church.

JOHN W. RAPP. who is engaged in the building and contracting business, resides at No. 170 West Oley street, Reading, Pa. He was born April 5, 1870, at West Leesport, Pa., son of Alonzo and Susan (Drayer) Rapp. and grandson of John Rapp.

John Rapp, grandfather of John W., was an early settler and shoemaker, living in the vicinity of Lees- port. He had four children: Washington, Thomas, Elmira (m. the late Dr. Snyder, of Leesport, and is deceased) and Alonzo.

Alonzo Rapp, son of John, was a railroader, and lived in Reading. He was born about 1849. and died in March, 1877, and is buried at Hinnershitz Church. He married Susan Drayer, and they had two sons and two daughters: Harry G., of Reading; John W .; and Minnie and Mary, who both died in infancy.

John W. Rapp secured his education in the schools of Reading, whither his parents had moved when he was a boy. At the age of fifteen years he learned the paper hanging and painting trade, and after following that occupation for some time engaged in the grocery and meat business at No. 704 North Sixth street, which business he followed there and at other places in Reading for six years. In 1905 Mr. Rapp engaged in the building business, and in this he has continued

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

to the present time, erecting three modern stone residences on Weiser street.

Mr. Rapp was married to Miss Jennie Shadle, dangh- ter of John and Mary Ann (Houpt) 'shadle. Mr. and Mrs. Rapp have two children: Lloyd E. S., at school; and Marguerite S. Mrs. Rapp is a member of the Windsor Street M. E. Church. Mr. Rapp is connected with the P. O. S. of A., and the Sons of Veterans, his father having been a soldier in the Civil war.

JUDGE GEORGE W. BRUCKMAN (deceased), one of the last two associate judges of Berks county, which office was abolished during his term of service, in 1873, was one of the most prominent citizens of Reading in his day. He was born there, son of Carl A. Bruckman, who emigrated from Amsterdam, Holland, and located in the city in early life, here learning the printer's trade. For ten years (1816-1826) he published a German news- paper known as the Readinger Postbote. In 1800 he be- came a partner of Gottlob Youngman in the publication of the Weekly Advertiser.

George W. Bruckman resided in Reading throughout his life. After receiving his education in the public schools he served an apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade, and followed that business for ten years, until he became clerk to the county commissioner. He served in that position for the following ten years, acted as deputy pro- thonotary for three years (1851-1854) under Dr. Charles H. Hunter, and served as city treasurer during the years 1857-1858. Later he acted as teller in the Bushong Bank for a time, in 1867 re-entering official life as jury com- missioner of Berks county, and continuing as such until 1870. He was one of the first to serve in that office in the county. In 1871 he was elected associate judge of Berks county for the full term of five years, but during 1873 this office was done away with. From 1880 until 1883 the Judge was a member of the select council from the Eighth ward, and this office he filled with the highest credit. At the time of the failure of the well-known Bushong Bank he was appointed assignee and that all who knew him had equal confidence in his high sense of honor and executive ability is demonstrated by the fact that he was chosen to settle many estates. In the dis- charge of such duties he became well known all over Berks county, of which he was one of the most respected citizens. His friends were numerous, and he was a prominent figure on the streets of Reading for many years. His death, which was widely mourned, occurred May 19, 1897, at his residence, No. 925 Penn street, and was caused by paralysis, from which he had been a suf- ferer for several years. He came from old Lutheran stock.

Judge Bruckman married May 22, 1896, Miss Caroline H. Heilman, daughter of John B. Heilman, and she sur- vives him, residing at the Penn street home.

John B. Heilman, father of Mrs. Bruckman, died in Reading, May 10, 1903, at the age of eighty-five years. He was a native of Germany, where he followed the calling of a shepherd. He remained in that country for a long time after his marriage, coming to America in 1852. As he was unacquainted here and had no plans for settling, he went from New York to Reading with a Mr. Haak, whom he had met on the boat. Soon after his arrival he found employment in the Philadelphia & Reading shops. He remained with the company for the unusually long period of forty years, a fact which speaks well for the record he made. Before his death he made a visit to his native land.

Mr. Heilman married C. Frederika Sturgzboch, who died Feb. 16, 1888, and they are buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. They had children as follows: William F., a retired cigar manufacturer, who resides with his sister, Mrs. Bruckman; Charles F., a resident of Reading; Mark G., who is engaged in the cigar business in Potts- town; John B., Jr., late of Hot Springs, Ark., who died Aug. 3, 1908, leaving two sons, William J. and Harvey M .; George; and Caroline H., who married Judge Bruckman.

GEORGE M. ZELLER, the popular proprietor of the well-known "American House," at Stouchsburg, Marion township, is a representative of one of Berks county's oldest and most honored families. Mr. Zeller. was born Sept. 30, 1863, in Marion township, son of Reily W. and Rebecca (Troutman) Zeller.

Between 1733 and 1751 there landed (qualified) at Philadelphia three emigrants of the name of Zoller, and between 1740 and 1767 a number of Zellers and Zollers are there recorded. But the Tulpehocken Zellers have for their ancestor John Henry Zeller (sometimes Zoeller), who came from Schoharie, N. Y., as the fol- lowing account from the Rev. Mr. Stapleton's "Memo- rials of the Huguenots in America" shows:

"Among the Huguenot exiles were several branches of the ancient Sellaire or Cellier family of France. The name is met with among the refugees to England and America prior to the Revocation (1685), and even in far- away Cape Colony, where a descendant, General Cellier, became famous as a Boer leader in the Transvaal war. One branch retired to the Palatinate about the period of the Revocation. Of this family was Jean Henri Sel- laire, who, with his family, followed the great exodus of Palatinates to London in 1708. In 1709 he came to New York with the Palatinates, where his name and that of his son John as 'Zeller' appears among the settlers of Livingston Manor in 1710. About 1727 he came overland through the trackless wilderness to Tul- pehocken, locating near the present town of Sheridan, where he established a considerable estate and where he died at a very advanced age in 1756. His house, a massive stone edifice, erected with a view to protect the family and neighbors in case of an attack from the Indians, is still standing." This house, now an his- torical relic of the section, and known as "Zeller's Indian Fort," was erected in 1745, on the banks of the mill creek, and, as stated, was used for a fort. But the author of the paragraph quoted was not quite ac- curate when he called it a "massive stone edifice." The walls are massive enough, but the building could hardly be called an edifice. He also erected the first meeting- place of these early Schoharie settlers for worship, de- fense and mutual conference. He died in January, 1756, and his will, made Ang. 3, 1754, was probated Jan. 20, 1756. This will shows a wife, Anna Maria. and children: John George (who obtained the homestead), John Henry, John David, Hartman (The Rev. Mr. Stapleton gives this name as Martin), John, Anna Maria Sa'tz- geber, Barbara (or Barbaralis) Lerew, Catharine Pon- tius and Anna Elizabeth Battorf. The executors are shown as his son John and son-in-law Leonard An- spach,-accordingly there must have been another daughter.

It appears that some of the descendants of John Henry Zeller removed to Heidelberg in Lancaster (now Lebanon) county, where the proprietary and State tax lists of Lancaster county for 1779 show David Zeller (110 acres), Henry Zeller (100 acres), Peter Zeller (100 acres) and Michael Zeller (40' acres). The first three of these are also shown for 1771. In case of the old townships it must not be forgotten that where men- tioned by the Rev. Mr. Stoever and other early preach- ers they did not always have definite boundaries. Heid- elberg, for instance, extended rather indefinitely west- ward and perhaps through what is now Lebanon county. - Tulpehocken and Heidelberg seem also to have over- lapped in some places.

The following memoranda undoubtedly refer to some of the children of John Henry Zeller, the emigrant:

John G. Zoeller and Hartman Zoeller are shown by Rupp as members between 1735 and 1755, of the Tulpe- hocken Reformed Church, formerly known locally as Leinbach's Church, situated in the pike between Stouchsburg and Myerstown. Hans Heinrich Zeller and Johannes Zeller are mentioned by Rupp as among those, above twenty-one years of age, who passed the winter of 1710 and the summer of 1711 in Livingston

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Manor, N. Y., and who appear to have settled in Scho- Jacob Wilhelm. (This Peter Zellers was probably the harie, N. Y., and from that place to have removed to son of John Zeller.) Tulpehocken in 1723 or later.

From the Rev. John Casper Stoever's record of Bap- tisms and Marriages is obtained the following informa- tion:

Marriages: Jan. 14, 1743, John Pontius and Anna Cath- arine Zoeller, of Tulpehocken; Dec. 28, 1743, John Zoel- ler and Maria Becker, of Tulpehocken; Oct. 5, 1772, Michael Zoeller and Cathrine Dillman, of Heidelberg.

With regard to the descendants of John Pontius and wife Anna Catharine Zoeller, Rev. Mr. Stapleton in his "Memorials of the Huguenots" has the following ac- count: "In 1738 John Pontius arrived and located .in Tulpehocken. He was born in Alsace (France), in 1718. In 1743 he married Anna Catharine, a daughter of John Zeller (should be John Henry Zeller as he correctly states in an article in Notes and Queries by Dr. William H. Egle, Annual Volume, 1898). He had a considerable family and his sons were great pioneers. They were John Henry, born in 1744; John Peter, born in 1747; John, born in 1751; Andrew; Nicholas; George; and Frederick. Several were among the first settlers in Buffalo Valley in (now) Union county, and many of the next generation were of the first in Ohio and Illinois."

Baptismal Records: John Henry Zeller, Jr., tailor, of Tulpehocken-John Henry, born March 5, 1745; spon- sors, John Henry Zeller, Sr. and wife on March 26, 1745; John Zoeller, Jr., of Tulpehocken, Frantz Paul, born April 8, 1751.

There are shown as having acted as sponsors: In 1730, Henry Zeller and wife in family of Michael Schauer (now Shower), of Heidelberg; in 1744, John Henry Zoeller and wife in family of John Pontius, of Swatara; in 1745, John Henry Zeller, Sr. and wife in family of John Henry Zeller, Jr., of Tulpehocken; in 1746, John Nicholas Zeller and wife in family of John Peter Wissenandt, of "Moden Creek" (supposed to be Muddy Creek in Lancaster county).

From the Proprietary and State Tax lists of Berks county for the years 1767, 1768, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1784 and 1785 is obtained Zeller information as follows: As of Tulpehocken-Hans Zoller for 1767 and 1768, with 100 acres; John Zeller for 1779 and 1780, no land; George Zeller (also Zoller) for all years, with 100 to 375 acres; Peter Zoller (single) for 1768; Andrew Zeller for 1779 and subsequent years, with 133 to 140 acres; Francis (or France) Zeller for 1779 and subsequent years with 167 acres; Peter Zeller (Albert's estate of 150 acres) for 1784. In 1784 the number of persons for George Zeller is given as nine, for Francis, ten and for Andrew, six. None are shown for Peter. As of Reading, Nich's Zeller, laborer, for 1779. As of Cumru, Nich's Zeller for 1780 and 1781.

Johannes Zeller, of Tulpehocken township, evidently son of John Henry, the emigrant settler, made his will May 13, 1795, and it was probated Dec. 23, 1805, the wit- nesses being Christian Lower and Johan Dieffenbach, and the executors Francis (Frantz) Paul Zeller and Val- entine Sailes. Johannes Zeller's children were: Francis, mentioned below; Peter; Elizabeth, who married John Beitenour; Catharine, who married Philip Zehring; Margaret, who married Valentine Seiler; and Mary, Mrs. Lefever, who had four children, John, Henry, George and Catherine. Johannes Zeller, the father of this family, built the house now on the Weaver farm in Marion township, which is in a substantial condition' and likely to last many years. On the east gable the following inscription appears: "Wan Ich einmahl starb- en Musta," and another inscription reads: "Hannes Zel- ler, Kattarina Zellerin, 1772."

At Mifflinburg, Union Co., Pa., in the old part of the cemetery just south of the town, lie buried Peter Zel- lers, born in 1745, in Tulpehocken township, Berks county who died in 1817; and Catharine Zellers. (wife of Peter), born in 1742, who died in 1808, daughter of

Frantz Paul (Francis) Zeller, son of Johannes, and great-great-grandfather of George M., was born April 8, 1751, and died Oct. 5, 1821, aged seventy years, five months, twenty-seven days, and his wife, Elizabeth, who was born Dec. 16, 1762, died April 23, 1819 aged fifty-six years, four months, six days. Both were buried in the old graveyard at the Reformed Church in Tulpe- hocken, across the line of Berks in Lebanon county. Frantz Paul Zeller was a sergeant on the roll of John Lesher's company during the Revolutionary war, and in the same company was one Andrew Zeller, a fifer, who it is believed was Frantz Paul's brother. Michael Zeller, a private of Capt. Peter Dechert's company in 1776, was also a brother. [N. B. Neither Andrew nor Michael are mentioned above in list of Frantz Paul Zellers brothers and sisters.] Frantz Paul Zeller owned the old house built by his father in 1772, a stone, pebble-dashed, weatherboarded structure, with a wall two feet thick and plaster between the stones as hard as steel. The farm during his generation consisted of 154 acres, and he it was who erected the present barn. In his will, which he made June 12, 1820, he said that he was old and weak in body. It is signed "Frantz Zeller," was witnessed by Adam Sheetz and Jacob Becker, and was probated Oct. 24, 1821. His children were: Jacob (was bequested the plantation), Catherine, John, Benjamin, Peter, Elizabeth (m. Christian Hantz), Daniel, Valentine, Anna Maria (m. Frederick Kuster), Jonathan, Henry and David.

Jacob Zeller, grandfather of Reily W., and great- grandfather of George M., was born June 8, 1790, and died April 4, 1872, aged eighty-one years, nine months, twenty-six days, and was buried at the Tulpehocken, Reformed Church. He owned the original homestead, and was a farmer all of his life. Mr. Zeller married Susanna Trautman, who was born March 23, 1791, and died Dec. 12, 1842, in her fifty-second year. The chil- dren born to them were: Lydia, m. to Peter Walborn; Elizabeth, m. to Isaac Weigly; Jonathan; Catherine, m. to Eli Gehret; Lavina, m. to David Dundore; Jacob, m. to Caroline Kilmer; and John, born in 1833, who died in 1888, m. to Beckie Schell.

Jonathan Zeller, grandfather of George M., was born July 10, 1815, 'and died Jan. 12, 1894, in his seventy- ninth year. He was a farmer by occupation, owned the homestead in Marion township, which he cultivated for many years, and was well-known in the community for his public spirit. He was buried at the Tulpehocken Reformed Church, of which he was a member. Mr. Zeller was married to Catherine Wilhelm, born Feb. 27, 1817, died Feb. 12, 1901, aged near eighty-four years. Their children were as follows: Reily W .; Elizabeth m. (first) Henry Kachel, deceased, and (second) George Foos, deceased, and whose son is Dr. Charles S. Foos, superintendent of Reading public schools; and Mary m. Dr. Frank J. Kantner, of Reading.

Reily W. Zeller, father of George M., was born Feb. 17, 1843, in Marion township, and from his youth until 1893 was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In that year he removed to his dwelling at Stouchsburg, where he lived retired. In 1897, however, he returned to the farm, which he operated for a period of three years. Again disposing of his farming property, Mr. Zeller returned to Stouchsburg, and since that time has lived retired from active pursuits. He was the owner of sixty-five acres of land, a part of the original home- stead, which he sold to Lewis Webber in 1903, Mr. Webber also owning the old Zeller stand. Mr. Zeller is a Democrat in politics, was school director for six years, four years of which were spent in the capacity of treasurer of the board, and has been a delegate to numerous county conventions. With his family he at- tends the Tulpehocken Church, of which he is a deacon. In 1864 Mr. Zeller was married to Rebecca Troutman, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Leiss) Troutman,

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and three children were born to this marriage: George M .; Wilson B., of Reading; and Mary, m. to Charles H. Spangler.

George M. Zeller was reared upon his father's farm, and worked for his parents until he was twenty years .old, at which time he went to learn cigar making under James Zerbe, at Stouchsburg, where in 1893 he engaged in the manufacture of cigars. He continued in this busi- ness until 1897, also conducting. a cigar store, disposing of his product to local houses. Mr. Zeller then en- gaged in packing cigars for George Druber, a cigar man- ufacturer at Stouchsburg, until the fall of 1900, when at public sale, he purchased the property of the "Amer- ican House," at Stouchsburg, from the Isaac L. Moyer estate, and this he has conducted with much success to the present time. This famous hostelry which was established many years ago by Mr. Moyer, has been greatly remodeled by Mr. Zeller, who now has one of the finest stands in the county. The hotel contains twenty rooms, has one of the best tables to be found in Berks, and has the liberal patronage of the traveling trade between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Mr. Zeller is one of the best-known and most popular men in his township, and also has a large acquaintance in the southern and western portions of Berks county. In ad- dition to his hotel and store building he owned a com- fortable residence at Stouchsburg, and he has been prominently identified with the progress and develop- ment of his section. He keeps a fine span of horses, is a great fisherman, is one of the crack shots of the Keystone Gun Club, of Lebanon, Pa .. where he won medals for marksmanship for five consecutive years, having a record of fifteen straight birds. He has a very valuable bird dog. Mr. Zeller was the pitcher of the star Marion base ball club that held the amateur cham- pionship of the county in the early nineties. In politics

On Sept. 26, 1885, Mr. Zeller was married to Lizzie J. Bright, daughter of Aaron Bright (see sketch else- where). To this union has been born one son, Harry Bright Zeller, born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1886, at Stouchsburg. He graduated from the township schools, and later attended the Lebanon Business Col- lege and the Elmer Deck School of Shorthand and Typewriting, at Reading.

WILSON B. ZELLER, son of Reily W. and brother of George M., was born in Marion township Oct. 1, 1865. His education was obtained in the public schools, in Palatinate College, Myerstown, and in the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown. He taught three terms at the Zeller school in Marion, and two terms in the Moyer school in the same township. He learned the duties pertaining to a farmer's life at home, and he gave his assistance to his father until he was twenty- one years old. He then entered the general store of his father-in-law, Isaac L. Moyer, a merchant at Stouchsburg. There he continued for nine years. In January, 1898, he was appointed a clerk in the Record- er's office at Reading, and there he gave satisfactory service under Recorders Reeser and Bressler. In 1904 he became traveling salesman for S. M. Hess & Bros., manufacturers of fertilizers at Philadelphia, and he now represents that firm in twenty-four counties in Penn- sylvania. He possesses the happy faculty of making friends.

In 1885 Mr. Zeller was married to Ada A. Moyer, eldest daughter of the late Isaac L. Moyer, of Marion township. They resided in Stouchsburg until their re- moval to Reading in April, 1901. Three children have

been born to them: (1) Robert M., born May 27, 1887, graduated from the Reading high school in 1905, with highest distinction. He taught the same school in Mar- ion township in 1905-06 that his father had taught, and is now on the editorial staff of the Reading Eagle. (2) Edna M. (3) Sarah R., born March 20, 1893, died July 12, 1902. Mr. Zeller and his family are members of St. Mark's Reformed Church, Reading. During the residence in Stouchsburg Mr. Zeller was connected with the Union Sunday-school for ten years, being super- intendent for seven. Socially he is a member of Golden Rule Lodge, No. 159, I. O. O. F., of Womelsdorf; Wash- ington Camp, No. 237, P. O. S. of A., Stouchsburg, of which he is a past officer, and was district president of District No. 3, for one term. He also belongs to the T. P. A. In his political faith he is a strong Democrat, and of great influence in his party. For eleven years he filled the office of school director in Marion town- ship, for nine years being secretary of the board. He was a frequent delegate to county conventions under the old system. In June, 1909, he received the nomina- tion for the office of recorder of deeds of Berks county, after a hard fight.

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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 206

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