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 212

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 212


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ALLEN H. DUNKLE, who for many years was one of the best known hotel men and distillers in Berks coun- ty, and now is residing retired in his beautiful home at Temple, Pa., was born Feb. 24, 1837, in Berkley, Berks Co., Pa., son of James and Eliza (Herbine) Dunkle.


William Dunkle, his grandfather, was the owner of the hotel at Berkley later owned by his grandson, and was operating it as early as 1812, also conducting a farm of sixty acres adjoining. He married Anna Grim, a native of Maxatawny township, and they had but one child, James. In religious belief they were Lutherans, and in political matters Mr. Dunkle was a Democrat.


James Dunkle was born in Ontelaunee township, Berks county, where he acquired his education, and after leav- ing school he engaged in working on his father's farm until he took charge of the hotel, which he conducted until his death, in 1860, when he was aged sixty years. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church, and became the parents of four children: Alfred, who died at the age of six months; Rufus, deceased, who married Kate Rahn and had three children, Webster, Lil- lian and Francis; Annie C., who married E. Andrews and had one son, William, a physician; and Allen H. James Dunkle was one of the prominent Democrats of his locality, and during his long and useful life filled a number of im- portant township offices.


Allen H. Dunkle was educated in the common schools of his native township, and as a boy worked on the home farm, later learning the miller's trade, which he followed as a journeyman for four years. At the end of this time he learned telegraphy, and for about three years was employed on the Berks & Schuylkill branch of the Phila- delphia & Reading railroad, then resigning to engage in the hotel business. He also built a distillery, which he operated until its destruction by fire, in 1899, after which he devoted his entire attention to the hotel busi- ness, conducting the hotel until 1905, in which year he purchased the Samuel High property in Temple, where he has since lived retired. During his residence here Mr. Dunkle has made many friends, and he and his estimable wife have the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Dunkle is a member of the Lutheran Church, while his wife is of the Reformed faith. In political matters he upholds the principles of the Demo- cratic party.


In 1877 Mr. Dunkle was married to Mary Rahn, daugh- ter of William and Susan (Merkel) Rahn, natives of


Ontelaunee township, and three children have been born to this union: Robin, a telegraph operator on the Penn- sylvania Railroad, who married Sadie Shearer; Lloyd, an electrical engineer, of Chicago, Ill., who married Millie Snyder; and Wayne.


WAYNE DUNKLE received his early education in the common schools and the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown,, after leaving which he attended State College. The next twelve months he spent in travel through Kansas, Colorado, Nevada and California, most of this time being spent in San Francisco, where he was


East and engaged in the bakery business, in which he has been very successful. At the start the capacity of his bakery was 500 loaves of bread weekly, but he now readily disposes of from 3,500 to 4,000 loaves weekly, requiring the services of two teams and three assistants. His oven was especially designed and built by Reading's expert oven maker, Jeremiah Seider. Mr. Dunkle operates a stall at the Tenth and Windsor street market house, and occupies stall No. 108 in the market at Ninth and Button- wood streets. He is enterprising and progressive, and his honest dealings in business matters have given him an enviable reputation for integrity. Mr. Dunkle is un- married, and makes his home with his parents.


WESLEY HORNING, who died Oct. 26, 1901, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., Feb. 12, 1837, son of John and Mary Horning.


Possessed of a good mind and a keen desire for edu- cation, Mr. Horning was not satisfied with the work he could do in the common schools in his day, and in 1860 he began what proved to be a four years' course in Freeland Seminary. He then came to Reading and entered . upon his apprenticeship as a carpenter, but before he had completed his term he enlisted in the army . for a period of nine months. He served as a private in Company B, 128th Pa. V. I., under Capt. McNoll, was in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam and Chancel- lorsville, and was honorably discharged May 29, 1863. On his return to Reading Mr. Horning completed his apprenticeship, and then worked at carpentry for twenty- three years. He next became connected with the Read- ing Car-wheel Works, and was there employed at the time of his death.


On May 25, 1870, Mr. Horning married Miss Clara Whitman, daughter of Benjamin and Catherine (Wight) Whitman. No children were born to them, but they took into their home and hearts a niece of Mrs. Horning, Anna Whitman, and also another child, Stella Garman. The last named became Mrs. James Miller, while Anna Whitman married Philip Ganter. In religious belief the family were Evangelical, and Mr. Horning was an ac- tive worker in the church to which he belonged, at differ- ent times having held almost all the offices in it. He was universally held in high esteem for his well known honesty, and his genial disposition and kindly nature made him many warm friends. His wife was a worthy helpmate, and their thirty years of happy wedded life were filled with acts of charity and helpfulness to the needy or unhappy. Their motto was always the old Bibli- cal command "Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth," and in its spirit they lived and worked.


In Masonic circles Mr. Horning was prominent. He joined Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M., Dec. 19, 1865, and serv- ed as Worshipful Master in 1866. He joined Excelsior Chapter, R. A. M., Oct. 12, 1883, and was High Priest in 1888. On April 27, 1887, he was knighted in Reading Commandery, K. T., and was a member of Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. His interest was largely absorbed by his lodge work, and he never took an active part in poli- tics, although he was always a good Republican.


JOSEPH S. DE LONG, in his life time a highly es- teemed and successful farmer near Topton, in Maxatawny township, Berks county, was born there Feb. 11, 1837, and died Feb. 25, 1896, aged fifty-nine years, fourteen days.


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Joseph De Long, his grandfather, was a farmer. Ac- cording to the tombstone in De Long's Bowers church- yard, his wife, Susanna De Long, nee Butz, was "born March 20, 1782, died Jan. 24, 1874, aged ninety-one years, ten months, four days."


Jacob De Long, son of Joseph, was born on his father's farm near Bowers, March 27, 1803, and died Oct. 23, 1851, his remains being interred at De Long's Church. He was a life-long farmer, and his home is now the prop- erty of the De Long estate. In his time the East Penn railroad had not been built, and in order to build his horse power shed, he was obliged to haul his lumber from Allentown. While on one of these trips, on going down Griesemer's Hill, he accidentally fell from the wagon, which passed over him, killing him instantly. His death caused great sorrow in the community, where he was universally esteemed. On May 1, 1836, he mar- ried Sallie Schaeffer, who was born Oct. 4, 1803, daugh- ter of Jonas Schaeffer, of Fleetwood. She died June 22, 1906, aged ninety-two years, eight months, and eighteen days. Their children were: Joseph S .; Philip, living re- tired at Hamburg, who has children-Annie, Dr. Percy and Elsie; Alfred, a farmer at Monterey, who had ten children, six now deceased, the survivors being-Sallie, James, Luther and Ruth; and Elizabeth, who married Dan- iel Merkel, of Fleetwood, and has children-Ella, Lewis, Sallie and Daniel.


Joseph S. De Long passed his entire life as a farmer. In 1868 he came into possession of his father's farm, a fine tract consisting of 125 acres of land. He was also the owner of a valuable farm of 160 acres located near Zion's Church, in Maxatawny township, property that is now tenanted. In all his undertakings Mr. De Long prospered, and his investments were marked by sound judgment. In politics he was a Republican, and in religion a member of the Reformed Church, and he is buried at De Long's Church.


On Dec. 25, 1869, Mr. De Long married Mary H. Yoder, a daughter of Martin and Catharine (High) Yoder, and granddaughter of Martin and Susanna (Peter) Yoder, of Oley township. Seven children blessed this union : (1) Katie, born in 1871, died in 1878. (2) Sallie born in 1872, died in 1877. (3) Harvey J., born in 1874, died in 1878. (4) Rev. Calvin Martin, born July 7, 1876, was educated in the public schools, the Keystone State Normal school (from which he graduated in 1894), Frank- lin and Marshall College, Lancaster ( from which he grad- uated with first honors in 1900) Chicago University, and the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church of America, Lancaster (graduating in 1903). He was sta- tioned at the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church at East Greenville, Pa., where he is still the honored pastor. He is a brilliant and interesting speaker, and an earnest worker. On May 5, 1906, he m. Bessie Mae Bauscher, and has one child, Emma Mary. (5) Lizzie m. Rev. John Stondt. (6) Frederick H., born Sept. 23, 1879, attended the local schools, the Keystone State Normal School, and is now the farmer on the home farm. (7) S. Molly m. Marion Hertzog, a clerk at the Kutztown foundry, Kutz- town, and they have a daughter, Erma De Long.


J. GEORGE SCHAEFER, who was for many years engaged in tailoring in the city of Reading, Pa., was born in the Province of Hesse, Germany, Feb. 19, 1826, son of J. George and Elizabeth (Herbst) Schaefer.


Mr. Schaefer was the youngest of his father's family, and he received his education in his native country, there learning the tailor trade from his father. He came to America in May, 1847, , and finished his trade with his brother, Peter C., at Reading. Mr. Schaefer came direct to Reading, where he spent the remainder of his life engaged in tailoring, thirty years being spent with Wil- liam Hackey, who had a place of business at Seventh and Penn streets. A short period before his death Mr. Schaefer lived retired, and he died Dec. 3, 1889, and Is buried at St. Paul's Catholic cemetery, which is located at the foot of Neversink Mountain.


Mr. Schaefer was married to Fredericka Vogel, born July 17, 1834, six miles from Mr. Schaefer's birthplace in Germany, daughter of Frederick and Ottillia (Neiland) Vogel, and to this union there have been born children as follows: Mary A. resides with her mother; Clara is known in the church as Sister Marcus, and a teacher in a parochial school; Father Joseph A., born in Reading, attended the St. Paul's parochial school of Reading until his thirteenth year, Vincent College (Latrobe), Beatty P. O., Westmoreland county, and St. Charles Seminary at Overbrook, Montgomery county, was located at Potts- . ville, and for five years has been at Manayunk; Theresa, born Oct. 10, 1860, died June 23, 1867; John F., born Feb. 1, 1865, died Feb. 28, 1870; Mary E., born July 30, 1868, died Jan. 18, 1869; and George A., born Aug. 12, 1870, met his death while at the Philadelphia & Reading shops in the cyclone of Jan. 9,- 1889.


Mr. J. George Schaefer was a faithful member of St. Paul's Catholic Church. He was a Democrat in his po- litical views, but never took an active part in public mat- ters. His widow, who survives him, still lives at the old home, No. 224 North Ninth street.


CHARLES H. MACHMER, who, as assistant super- intendent of the Reading branch of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, is well and favorably known to a large body of his fellow-citizens, was born Oct. 21, 1878, at Bernville, Berks Co., Pa., son of Henry S., a veteran school teacher of Berks county.


The Machmer family is one of the old-established ones of Berks county that has a history that is interesting to preserve. The founder was Philip Machmer, who was born in Switzerland and came to America in 1753, set- tling in the rich agricultural domains of Berks county, Pa. . He prospered, as in 1759, he paid a Federal tax of £4, in Bern township. He lived at least twenty years after settling here, as his last will and testament, dated Nov. 7, 1773, was registered Dec. 14, 1773. He and his wife Elizabeth had five children, and they were mentioned in the will as follows: Nicholas, who was under twenty-one years of age when the father died, obtained the home- stead, and he was to pay £500 to his brothers and sisters; Mary m. Bastian Bartlet; Philip and George were ordered by the will to learn a trade when they should become sixteen years of age; and Margaret.


Nicholas Machmer, yeoman of Bern township, died in 1823. He and his wife, Eva, had a daughter, Elizabeth, and two sons, John and Peter.


George Machmer, son of Philip Machmer, died in 1840. He bequeathed John Machmer, son of Nicholas, $500, and John Machmer, son of Philip, $200, and also made bequests to David and Daniel Machmer, whose relation- ship he does not specify. He had no issue.


Peter Machmer, probably a son of Nicholas, was a farmer in Upper Bern township. He made his will Jan. 12, 1852, which was probated May 22, 1854. He and wife Magdalena had sons, John and Benneville.


Michael Machmer made his will Nov. 5, 1851, and it was probated in 1872, the year of his death. His wife, Sophia, was named executrix. The names of his daugh- ters are not mentioned in the will, and, when it was made, his sons, Michael, Franklin and Meckley, were all under age.


William Machmer, born in Maryland in 1777, died in Upper Bern (now Tilden) township, Berks county, in. 1865. Among his children were John F., Jonathan and Abraham.


John F. Machmer, son of William, died in 1882, in Upper Bern (or Tilden) township, and both he and his father are buried at St. Michael's Church.


Henry S. Machmer, son of John F., was born in Tilden township in 1847, and was educated in the common schools .of his native township and in Hamburg, and later at- tended the Millersville State Normal School. At the age of seventeen he began teaching, and taught in Upper Bern, Centre, Penn and Bernville. For seven terms he was principal of the Penn grammar school, and taught twenty-four terms in Lower Heidelberg. He is one of


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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA


the veteran teachers of Berks county, and is a well known While employed at the car shops he was connected with


1 figure at teachers' institutes. He served as justice of the the Philadelphia & Reading Relief Society. peace in Bernville five years, and is now serving his fourth term in that position in Lower Heidelberg. He married Susanna Himmelberger, daughter of John Him- melberger, of Centre township. They had nine children, four of whom are deceased. The survivors are: Anson, of Wernersville; Annie, m. to William McGreth, of Al- liance, Ohio; Edward H., a painter at Reading; Charles H .; and Willis J., of East Liverpool, Ohio.


Charles H. Machmer was reared at State Hill, in Lower Heidelberg township, and there attended the public schools, later entering the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, and still later took a commercial course, in 1899 graduating from the Lebanon Valley Business Col- lege. He also attended the Interstate Commercial Col- lege at Reading, where he was a student of merit. Prior to identifying himself with life insurance, he taught school in Lower Heidelberg township and one term at Robe- sonia. In May, 1901, he connected himself with the Prudential Insurance Company, at the Reading agency, and Dec. 23, 1903, he was promoted to the position of assistant superintendent. He is a most successful insur- ance man and ably performs the many responsible duties of his position. Since 1902 he has occupied a home of his own, at No. 364 Schuylkill avenue.


In 1897, Mr. Machmer was married to Themson E. Speicher, a daughter of Jacob K. and Themson (Roeder ) Speicher, of Robesonia, and they have had three children, namely: Elliott D., born May 22, 1898, died Jan. 4, 1899; Stanley E., born May 27, 1900, died Nov. 8, 1900; and Russell S., born June 19, 1906.


FRANCIS H., MEE, of Reading, Pa., who has been living retired since Sept. 30, 1904, was for many years a trusted employe in the Philadelphia & Reading rail- road shops. Mr. Mee was born in Maiden Creek (now Berkley), Sept. 20, 1834, son of George and Julianna (Hafer) Mee, and a member of an old English Quaker family which came to Pennsylvania at an early date *in the country's history, locating in Chester county.


Jonathan Mee came to Berks county from Chester coun- ty, and located in the Quaker settlement in Maiden- creek township, where he engaged in farming, owning a part of the farm now the property of Charles Dunkel. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed that voca- tion in addition to farming. He had been reared a Quak- formed faith. Both he and his wife are buried at Ger- nand's Church in Ontelaunee township. He had three sons and four daughters, namely : George, John, Charles, Hettie, Sallie, Annie and Mary ( Polly).


er, but on reaching manhood, married a woman of the Re- . ters. One of the daughters was named Sabila.


George Mee, son of Jonathan and father of Francis H., was born in Maiden-creek township, where he fol- lowed the trade of a miller all of his life. He died in 1871, in his sixtieth year. He married Julianna Hafer, who died in 1858, aged forty-five years, and she, like her husband, was a member of the Reformed Church. In political matters Mr. Mee was an old-line Whig. To him and his wife were born childern as follows: Francis H., Charles, Mary (m. Alvin Luckenbill, deceased), Hettie (m. Henry Loy, of Hamburg, Pa.), and five children who died young.


Francis H. Mee received his education in the schools of Spring township, where his parents lived for a num- ber of years, and for some time after leaving school worked at farm labor He then served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and in 1865 entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, with which com- pany he continued until his retirement, a period of thirty- nine and one-half years, since which time he has lived a quiet life at his home, No. 1710 Centre avenue, Reading.


In 1858 Mr. Mee married Susan Kissinger, daughter of Abraham and Abby (Hill) Kissinger, and to them have been born seven children, all of whom are now living, namely : Sallie, George, Daniel, Annie, William, Alice and . Ida. In religious belief Mr. Mee is a Lutheran, and his political sentiments are those of the Democratic party.


FRANKLIN R. HIMMELBERGER, the well known carriage and wagon builder of the borough of West Reading, was born near Garfield, in Centre township, Berks county, Feb. 5, 1861, son of Daniel P. and Rebecca (Richard) Himmelberger.


The home of the Himmelberger family is in Upper Berks county. This is an old family and at one time quite a. numerous one. The Pennsylvania archives record that (I) Valentine Himmelberger emigrated to this country on the "Bilander Townshead," which landed at Philadelphia Oct. 5, 1737. George Himmelberger, a brother of Valentine, came over in the ship "Patience," which qualified at Philadelphia Sept. 19, 1749. They both located in Bern township, Berks county. Valentine died on his farm in 1788. He made his will Feb. 28, 1787, and this was recorded Aug. 2, 1788. His wife had. died some time before. Their eight children were: Philip, Jacob, Elizabeth, Catharine, Clara, George, Susanna and Eve.


In the Federal Census of 1790 George Himmelberger is recorded as the head of a Bern township family of ten persons, as follows: the father and mother, two sons under sixteen years of age, and six daughters. George Himmelberger died in the fall of 1821. His will made April 19, 1821, was probated Oct. 15th of the same year, and is recorded in Will Book C, page 248. The testator at the time of his death lived in Bern township. The executors of his will were John Backenstose and others. Elizabeth, his wife, survived him. The will mentions the following eleven children: George, Jonathan, Valentine, Philip, Magdalena, Catharine, Elizabeth (Fisher), Sarah, Sybilla, Susanna and David (deceased, who had a son, Georg).


(II) In the Federal Census of 1790, Philip Himmel- berger (son of Valentine the emigrant) is recorded as a resident of Tulpehocken township and the head of a. family consisting . of ten members, father and mother, five sons and three daughters. Two sons were then above sixteen years of age. The will of Philip Himmelberger is on record in Will Book A, page 360. He died in 1797. The executors of his will were his sons Valentine and John, and Adam Riegel. He left a large estate, and his many carpenter tools were given his sons. At this time of the making of his will he had two unmarried daugh-


(II) The same Federal Census (1790) shows Jacob Himmelberger (son of Valentine) a resident of Bern township. His family consisted of ten members-father, mother, five daughters and three sons then under sixteen years of age. He died in 1824, and his will is on record in Will Book C, page 315. Among the children were Johannes, Elizabeth and Susanna.


(III) Valentine Himmelberger, son of Philip and grand- son of Valentine, died in Upper Tulpehocken township in 1853. In his will on record in Will Book 10, p. 129, are mentioned sons Daniel and Johannes. The former was the executor of his father's will.


(IV) Daniel Himmelberger, son of Valentine, was a farmer in what is now Centre township. He had a forty- acre farm at Centreville (now Garfield) on which he lived and died. He is buried at Belleman's Church as is also his wife. They were members of the Reformed congre- gation. The maiden name of his wife was Philips. Their three sons were: Isaac, Moses and Daniel P.


(V) Daniel P. Himmelberger, son of Daniel, was born 1834-35, near Garfield, in Centre township, and there still makes his home. He is an excellent mechanic, being a carpenter, blacksmith and shoemaker. He followed carp- entering many years, and built many dwellings in his and surrounding townships. His shop was a boon to farmers for many miles around, who went there to have shoes repaired, carpenter work done or blacksmithing. He married Rebecca Richard, and they had nine children : Adam, Daniel, Franklin R., Levi, John, Morris, Joel, George and Sarah (m. Milton Speicher).


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BIOGRAPHICAL


(VI) Franklin R. Himmelebrger was reared on his ing with the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, and has father's farm, where he worked until he was nine years since continued with this corporation. old, after which he was hired out and worked for dif- On Aug. 7, 1880, Mr. Coleman married Elmira R. Feg- ley, daughter of John F. and Elizabeth (Royer) Fegley. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have one daughter, Elizabeth, m. to William F. Dentzer, Jr., of Reading. Mr. and Mrs. Dentzer have two children, Clayton C. and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have in their family a little girl of twelve, Esther Hartline, whose mother died when she was an infant and her kind foster parents have taken care of her since she was fourteen months of age. ferent farmers until he was nineteen years old, when he learned carriage blacksmithing from Daniel Rapp, the well-known carriage builder at Reading. He remained in Mr. Rapp's employ for six years, and in 1885 he opened a small blacksmith shop at the west end of the Penn street bridge, where he followed his trade two years. In 1887 he associated himself with George H. Smith under the firm name of Himmelberger & Smith, and this firm existed for a period of thirteen years, engaged in car- The pleasant Coleman home is at No. 531 North Tenth street, Reading. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are members of St. Paul's United Evangelical Church of Reading. riage building and general wheelwrighting, being very successful from the start. When the Belt Line was built through West Reading, it passed through this firm's property, and the firm was mutually dissolved. Mr. Him- GEORGE KNAPP, who died May 20, 1904, was for many years' a highly esteemed resident of Reading, Pa., and for a long period an employe of the Philadelphia & Reading car shops in that city. He was born in Reading in 1847, son of George Knapp, Sr., a resident of Reading, and a native of Germany. melberger built a large plant at the corner of Second and Cherry streets, West Reading, to which he has been adding ever since. The first buildings were erected in April, 1901, but the constantly increasing business has demanded much larger quarters. The main building is 40x100 feet in dimensions, four stories high, with cement George Knapp, Sr., was a stone cutter by trade and a skilled mechanic. He died at his home, No. 913 Button- wood street, leaving these children : Margaret, m. to John Sauer, who is engaged in the shoe business on North Ninth street, Reading; Barbara, m. to William Klump; John ; Rosa, m. to Frederick Merkel, a boss in the polish- ing department of the shops of the Philadelphia & Read- ing railroad; Katie, m. to Henry Spooer; and George. basement. There is also a four-story repository 48x60 feet, and several other annexes making the total amount of floor space about 36,000 square feet. He employs from twenty-five to thirty-five skilled mechanics, and he makes a specialty of market and delivery wagons, heavy wagons and light pleasure rigs. His establishment is equipped with all the latest improved machinery, drying oven, ware houses, shedding, etc. Besides handling all kinds of ve- George Knapp received his educational training in the schools of Reading, and when a young man learned the shoemaking trade with John Herman, at Ninth and Penn streets. After following that trade for a period of four- teen years he entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading shops, and was working in the bolt drilling department when he became paralyzed in his right leg, dur- ing the cyclone which destroyed the shops in 1889. From that time until his death Mr. Knapp lived retired. hicles Mr. Himmelberger carries a complete line of har- nesses, blankets, whips, etc. He does work for a number of prominent business men, such as Kline, Eppihimer & Co., Leinbach & Bro., Sternbergh & Son, Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, W. H. Ludens, Whitners, Mould's, undertakers Seidel & Henninger, George F. Baer, A. L. Rhoads and many others. He is a thorough business man, and is the largest individual carriage builder in the county.




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