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 24

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 24

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Martin Hauck*

.1900-05

Allen W. Fritch

. 1901-04

Albert Seiwert .. 1902-05

1896-99

Joel H. Krick 1897-1906

John L. Seiders 1897-1903

Daniel Gross

1898-1907

John Warren

1898-1907

A. M. Lesher

1898-1901

Daniel F. Kramer 1899-1908

I. Heber Witman

1899-1911

Edmund A. Schenck.

1899-1902

Tobias Barto

(3 yrs.) 1873-76

* The first nine named comprised the first hoard elected in 1873. After organization, on the Ist dav of December, lots were cast for the terms of these inspectors. The board organizes annually on the 1st day of December.

Albert Stamm

1889-95

John M. Gift

1889-92

William A. Lindemuth 1890-93

Darius E. Sheidy

1890-91

Augustus B. Forrey

1891-93

John M. Smith 1891-94

David E. Snyder 1891-94

J. Glancy Jones

1864-68

David McKnight

1864-70

Amos Glass 1893-99

Levi S. Reber 1893-96

George H. Nagle

1894-1900

John H. Kintzer

1894-97

Joseph Ganser 1871-73

W. B. Griesemer

1872-73

William Grim 1872-73

Isaac R. Fisher

1872-73

George Clous 1896-99

George B. Wagner

1882-85

John S. Wenrich

1883-86

Samuel H. Mensch

1883-86

Dallas Leinbach

1883-86

John B. Clemmer

1884-87

William H. Seitzinger

1884-87

Name

Term

Jacob Lightfoot .3 yrs.

Milton T. Donmoyer

1880-83

Wm. D. Klopp

1881-84

Wm. W. Lewis 1881-82

Wm. Schweitzer 1882-84

John Obold 1882-85

Henry Rieger 1882-85

Jacob S. Wisler

Henry Rieger 1885-88

J. Bowman Bell 1851-57

Wilson Sweitzer 1886-89

1851-64 1851-54

John Mayer 1888-91

William High .1888-91

* Died April 12, 1905, and Charles P. Saylor appointed to fill unexpired term.

The following persons were the first inspectors under the Act of 1848 :

Appointed by the Court Aug. 7, 1848

GOVERNMENT AND OFFICIALS

Name

Term

Name

Term

Israel H. Wentzel.

1903-09

Cosmos Swoyer 1

David K. Manmiller

1904-10

John B. Snyder S

John Warren

1904-10

William G. Welder

David B. Gross.

1904-07

Daniel Sheirer

1886-88

Charles P. Saylor.

1905-09

Frank R. Wanner

1889-91

Nathan K. Dundore

1906-09

John H. Rhoads.

1907-10

Henry G. Hoyer.

1908-11

Edmund A. Shenk

1908-11

PRISON WARDENS

Name Term

Mahlon Bertolet 1849-53

Dr. Henry Tyson 1853-65

Joseph Ganser.

1865-70

Daniel S. Francis.

1870-73

Thomas Will.

1873-76

Isaac K. Knoll.

1876-79

Adam B. Brossman

1879-82

Dr. R. B. Rhoads

1882-85

Aaron M. Wenrich

1885-88; 1898-99

Isaac D. Lutz. . ..

1888-91

Samuel H. Mensch

1891-92

John M. Smith.

1892-95

Isaac Y. Kintzer

1895-98

William W. Newcomet*

1899-1904

Jeremiah M. DeTurk.

1904-09

JURY COMMISSIONERS .- Before 1867 the jurors for the trial of cases in the several courts of the county were selected from the qualified electors by the county commissioners and the sheriff. On all dealers, and furnish a list of them to the county

April 10, 1867, a general Act was passed. for the treasurer.

State requiring the election of two jury commis-

sioners in October following, for the term of three furnished under oath a list of the foreign dealers to the clerk of the Quarter Sessions, and the as- sociate judges and county commissioners classitied them and delivered a list to the county treasurer. Before 1830, the foreign dealers were returned by the constables to the clerk of the court of Quarter Sessions; the clerk certified the returns to the State treasurer, who forwarded a list to the county treasurer for the collection of the license fees.

In Berks county, the constables still made their returns for the years 1846 and 1847. The county commissioners made the first appointment for 1848.

MERCANTILE APPRAISERS

Name

Term

Mahlon Bertolet . 1848

William Karns 1849-51

Adam Leiss. 1852

Solomon Klohs. 1853

J. H. Kelly. 1854

Isaac S. Hottenstein. 1855

Ephraim Fritz. 1856

Daniel S. Kutz.

George K. Lorah 1858

Albert C. Henry 1859

Henry Reider. 1860

1861

Henry R. Hawman.

1862

Israel R. Laucks

Samuel U. Hollenbach S 1873-76

David Lord .. 1864

Caspar Reifsnyder .1865

William H. Kelly

1866

Andrew S. Strassburger. .1867

Joseph Harvey 1868

John C. Reed. 1869

Alfred Dreibelbis. .1870

Charles Hill 1871

Aaron Snyder 1872

Charles Hottenstein

.1873

J. Henry Burkhard

Elias W. Seidel 1904-06

Isaac Barr. 1907-10

William F. Renno 1907-10

MERCANTILE APPRAISERS .- Previous to 1846.

only dealers in foreign merchandise were required to take out a county license to enable them to make sale thereof. But on April 22, 1846, an Act was passed requiring all dealers in goods, wares, and merchandise to take out a county license, and there- by the county commissioners of each county were empowered to appoint annually a mercantile ap- praiser, who was directed to assess and classify

From 1830 till this Act was passed, the constables of the townships, etc., of the county

years, and every third year thereafter, for the pur-, pose of selecting jurors from the qualified electors. The Act provides that each elector shall vote for one person for this office, and the two persons hav- ing the highest vote shall be the commissioners. They are to select a number designated by the court, and place the names in a jury wheel in the presence of a Judge of the court; and they and the sheriff are to draw panels of jurors as grand, petit, and traverse jurors of the county as there- tofore. The number generally designated for the jury wheel previous to 1875 was a thousand names; then, upon the introduction of an additional law judge, the number was increased to twelve hun- dred. Since 1867 the jurors for the quarterly terms of the several courts of the county were selected and drawn as mentioned, by the following commissioners, who were elected for that purpose :

Name

Term

.George W. Bruckman

Charles J. Faber 1867-70

Zacharias H. Maurer {

1870-73

Joseph Brelsford

Michael K. Boyer Į 1877-79

Reuben Rhoads

Henry Graul

Edward H. Harnert

1880-82

Jacob K. Sterrett

* Died in office June 27, 1904, and Jeremiah H. DeTurk, the deputy-warden, was appointed July 5th to fill the vacancy. Edward H. Harner removed from the county, and J. K. Sterrett "was appointed Feb. 26, 1881, for unexpired term.

Constantine Jones John S. Wenrich S 1895-97

Constantine Jones

1898-1900

Kauffman C. Kurtz

Constantine Jones { Adam S. Klee

1901-03

Jacob S. Kelchner 1905-08

Ephraim R. Wagner

Jacob A. Spangler

1892-94

David Brown

1883-85

Elias Filbert. 1863

1857

Franklin S. Ludwig

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Name

Term

Abraham Schaeffer .1874

Henry F. Bush.

1875

Jonathan L. Rhoads 1876

Michael Seltzer 1877

Benjamin Klahr 1878

Morris Guldin. 1879

1880

William A. Young. 1881

Levi J. Fisher.

1882

George M. Fryermuth 1883

1884

John Stangier

1885

J. M. S. Stertzler.

1886

Edwin Umbenhauer 1887

James P. Kershner

1888

Daniel P. Rothermel. 1889

Cyrus E. Bollinger 1890

John S. Dunkle 1891

Elias R. Kemmerer

1892

| Harry D. Wagner 1893

William D. Reeser.

1894

Frederick Roland.

1895

Peter H. Knabb 1896

J. Howard Eshelman. .1897

John E. Stangier.

1898

Jacob H. Sassaman

1899

Frederick Stephan, Jr

.1900

Nathan Rothermel.

1901

Jamies Schlaesman.

1902

John Z. Rieser

1903

Jacob Bordner.

1904

Abraham B. Johnson

1905

William Sanders

1906

George Reider. 1907

Charles Brintzeghoff. 1908

Jolın G. Herbein

1909

LICENSE COMMISSIONERS .- In 1676, the Duke of Yorke's laws required a license for the sale of liquors in the province of Pennsylvania. This was granted by two justices of the peace in the Quarter Sessions, for the term of one year, upon the ap- plicant furnishing "a certificate of his good be- havior from the constable and two overseers of the parish" wherein he dwelt. In 1710, the law re- quired the application to be recommended by the justices of the county courts to the Governor, who issued the license. The number was unlimited. But in 1794, the law required the judges of the Quarter Sessions at the first session of every year thereafter to limit and declare the number of tav- erns and public houses to be licensed for the year following ; and the judges were to have "regard to the particular neighborhoods and situations the most suitable for the accommodation of the inhabitants and travelers." The Governor still granted the licenses upon the proper recommen- dation; and he continued to grant them till the passage of the Act of March 8, 1815, when the judges of the Quarter Sessions issued them upon the recommendation of the applicant by twelve rep- utable citizens of the district in which the tavern was to be kept.

On April 23, 1869, an Act was specially passed for Berks county, whereby a board of license com- missioners was created to issue licenses. The first board was composed of three members : the dis- trict attorney in office cr officio; one member ap- pointed by the judges of the Quarter Sessions for

a term ending February, 1871; and the third by the county commissioners for a term ending Feb- ruary, 1873. And every two years after 1869, the court or commissioners were authorized to appoint a person for a term of four years. Licenses in the county were accordingly issued annually by this board till the law was repealed May 5, 1876.

In the year previous, on April 12, 1875, a gen- eral law to restrain and regulate the sale of liquors was passed by the Legislature for the State, ex- cepting in those counties for which special provis- ion was made. After the repeal of the Act of 1869, the court of Quarter Sessions issued licenses pur- suant to the Act of 1875. And this is the law under which the licenses are still issued.

In respect to licenses a general Act was passed March 27, 1872, "to permit the voters of this State to vote every three years on the question of grant- ing licenses to sell intoxicating liquors." The time for the first general election on the question in every city and county was fixed for the third Friday in March, 1873, and every third year thereafter on the day for the annual municipal elections. It will

be observed that the time was set in the spring of the year, in order to obtain the expression of poli- tical sentiment uninfluenced by the general tide of opinion of the fall elections. One election was held, but before the first three years had expired the Act was repealed, on April 12, 1875.

The board, during the seven years in which the Act prevailed, comprised the following members :

Ex officio, being the District Attorneys

Name

Term

Edward H. Shearer 1869-71

Peter D. Wanner 1871-74

Henry C. G. Reber 1874-76

Appointees

Name

Term

Richard Ludwig 1869-75

John H. Snyder 1869-73

William Hines .1873-76

Elias Ohold 1875-76

OIL INSPECTORS .- The office of oil inspector was created by the Act of May 15, 1874, "to provide for the better security of life and property from the dangers of coal and petroleum oils." By this Act the standard or fire test of all burning fluids was fixed at 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The inspec- tor is appointed by the court of Common Pleas of the county for the term of three years; and he is required to furnish security in $10,000 for the faithful discharge of his duties. The first appoint- ment was made in August, 1877.

Charles A. Z. Griesemer was the first inspector. He was re-appointed in 1880, and again in 1883.

SEALERS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES .- In 1834, a law was enacted which required the Governor to furnish the county commissioners of each county with standards of weights and measures, which were to be used for the purpose of adjusting weights and measures; and these standards were to be examined, and, if necessary, corrected at least once in every ten years. The standards as required

Edward Schmeltzer

Peter Spang, Jr

GOVERNMENT AND OFFICIALS

were furnished to the county commissioners, and be levied, directors to be elected, etc., and to see deposited in the Court-House for the purpose in- that the branches of a common education were tended. But there was no provision for an officer properly taught, teaching directed, established grad- ed schools maintained, and uniformity in course of studies preserved; a county superintendent was to be elected for a term of three years by all the direc- tors of the county. Since 1854 the system of edu- cation provided by the State has been carried on successfully in the county by school directors and a county superintendent, and the superintendents have been : whose duty it was to test all weights and measures. In 1845, this discrepancy was supplied by an Act passed on April 15th. It authorized the Governor to appoint a sealer of weights and measures for such respective counties as should apply for and obtain copies of the standards, as provided in this Act, for the term of three years. And it was made the duty of the sealer "at least once in every year to go to stores, houses, stalls, and offices of the makers, venders, or proprietors of beams, scales, William Good Name Term . 1854-60 weights, and measures within the county, and try John S. Ermentrout 1860-69 and adjust all beams, scales, weights, and measures, David B. Brunner 1869-75 and seal the same with the initials of his last or David . S. Keck Samuel A. Baer 1875-81 William M. Zechman 1891-96 1881-90 surname, and the current year." Under this law the first appointment was made on June 16, Eli M. Rapp 1896-1911 1853. This office, however, became burdensome COUNTY BUILDINGS and offensive to the people of the county, and accordingly they, with the people of seven The county buildings comprise the Court-House, Prison, and Poorhouse. other counties of the State-Bucks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Franklin, and Westmoreland-who felt similarly burdened and offended, effected the passage of a Special Act on March 22, 1859, whereby the office within the coun-

ties named was abolished. After the lapse of eighteen years thereafter, it would seem that the weights and measures of this county, as well as other counties of the State, needed the test of the standards. So they were brought to the notice of the people again by the passage of a general law on April 4, 1877. By it the Governor was author- ized to appoint one person as sealer, in the several counties where no such office existed, for the term of three years. The first appointment under this law was made April 30, 1877.

And strangely enough, as previously, the office only survived six years, and was again abolished, by an Act passed on March 8, 1883. The standards are, therefore, not carried around throughout the whole county to remind the dealers and storekeepers that they must at least give true measure, if not good, pressed down, and running over. The mar- ket commissioner of Reading, who visits the mar- kets under the city ordinance, is the only tester now with the standards. The sealers were :

Name

Term

Michael S. Thirwechter 1853-54

Solomon Spohn 1855-57

George K. Boyer

.1858-

William Geiger

1877-78

Matthew Rhoda 1879-81

James D. Long

1882-83

SUPERINTENDENTS OF COMMON SCHOOLS .- Num- erous legislative attempts were made to popularize and thoroughly introduce public education. Fifty years were spent in endeavors to educate the poor- er classes of children by proposed taxation, with comparatively little progress. Finally an Act was

Paet.

PREISS BROS,

READING PA

OLD COURT HOUSE

passed May 8, 1854, which made proceedings in this COURT-HOUSES .- The first Court-House of the behalf compulsory, and authorized a school tax tocounty was erected in 1762, at the intersection of

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Penn Square and Callowhill street, now Fifth. It zthe voters. The poll for the electors of Reading was built of stone, plastered, and marked off in was at the eastern window on the side facing south. imitation of cut stone, and it was surrounded by a This building was used for the purposes of hearing brick pavement about thirteen feet wide. The first and determining criminal and civil matters until floor was arranged in one large room for the 1840, the last term of court having been the April term. During the follow- ing three months, the coun- ty records were transferred from the "State-House" to the new Court-House. It was sold to Joseph Kendall at public sale and he re- moved it in May, 1841. "courts," and the second floor in three rooms-the eastern half having been in one room, and the western in two rooms. An entry separated the former from the latter. The stairway was con- structed in the southeast corner of the court-room. The "bench" was arranged along the northern side of the room, and the "bar" was inclosed by a semi- circular railing, the ends of which extended to the wall on both sides of the "bench." The "jury box" was situated in the northwest corner of the room1. The court-room was entered by two door-ways, one on the south side and the other on the west. The latter was little used. A large stove was lo- cated near by and wood was generally piled up against the door, on the inside, during cold weather.

The crier's seat was situated a few feet west of the center of the room, adjoining the "bar," and the "prisoner's dock" was next to it on the east. The crier was a prominent figure in the room by reason of the elevation of his seat.

The floor was laid with brick. Benches were arranged on inclined platforms along the southern and eastern walls. The seating capacity was rather limited for a public place. The dimensions of the building were about forty by fifty feet. A marble tablet was built in the eastern wall near the centre, which con- tained the following inscription :

J. L., C. W., S. H., 1762.

These initial letters represented the names of the officiating county commis- sioners, Jacob Lightfoot, Christopher Witman and Samuel High.

The steeple contained a bell and town-clock. The bell was cast in Eng- land in 1763, especially for the county ; and the clock was a thirty-hour clock, imported from London about 1755.

Previously, for ten years, the judges of the courts held their sessions of court in an inn of the town. There were no rooms in the building for the county officials, but many were not necessary, for five offices were vested in one individual for upward of twenty years, these having been prothonotary, recorder, register, clerk of the Orphans' court and clerk of the Quarter Sessions, and the person was James Read, a lawyer.

By a letter addressed to the Pennsylvania Gasette, dated the 20th of February, 1766, it would ap- pear that "public offices were opened on Monday previous at Reading." It is not known in which building they were opened, if not in the Court- House.

NEW COURT-HOUSE

The smallness of the old building had been felt for many years and the increasing inconvenience had become so objectionable by the year 1837 that the taxpayers and officials determined to remedy the difficulty by securing a new building, and in that behalf a petition was presented to the judges at the August Sessions, setting forth-"That, in consequence of the rapid increase of the population and public business of the county of Berks, the pres- ent Court-House has become too small and incon- venient for the transaction of business, and also for

Election polls were held at the several windows the accommodation of those persons who are obliged on the first floor, which were properly marked for to attend court," and praying the court "to recom-

GOVERNMENT AND OFFICIALS

mend to the county commissioners the erection of The first floor was arranged in four compartments, the necessary buildings for the accommodation of the Court and the Public."

This petition was referred to the grand jury, and they recommended a new building, selecting the northeast corner of Fifth and Penn streets as the place for its erection. This return was approved by the court on Aug. 11, 1837, but the site was changed to the northeast corner of Sixth and Court streets, in order to obtain a larger lot for the pro- posed building. The county commissioners then purchased two adjoining lots (120 by 230 feet) and during the years 1838, 1839 and 1840 erected on the site the western half of the present three- story brick building which fronts on Sixth street, the dimensions being 62 feet wide, 118 feet long and 60 feet high. The total cost was $63,000. A substantial fire-proof two-story extension was added at the rear in 1869; and this was subsequently en- larged, when numerous important improvements were introduced. The first session of court was held in it at August Term, 1840.

Gas was introduced for lighting purposes in May, 1849, shortly after the Reading Gas Co. had estab- lished its plant. Previously oil in lamps was used.

A new clock was placed in the steeple in October, 1851. The bell weighed nearly seventeen hundred pounds. From that time on, this has been the "town-clock," and town-bell for indicating "town- time." The clock-dials have been illuminated at night-time by electric light since 1895.

the corner room, facing the streets, having been occupied as an office by the sheriff; and the second floor in four compartments for prisoners. The sheriff and family occupied the remaining rooms of the building; and this practice was continued till the prison system was changed by special legis- lation for Berks county, in 1848. The property was sold on Feb. 5, 1849, to William Rhoads, for $7,460, and by him converted into a store. It has been oc- cupied for store purposes ever since.

A new prison was erected on the "Common," at the head of Penn street, by the county commission- ers in 1847-48, at a cost of $17,000. It is construct- ed of stone from Penn's Mount, and is situated on a lot of ground 170 by 300 feet, which is inclosed on the north, east and west by a high stone wall. The tower is 96 feet high. It is still standing, a fine specimen of superior workmanship.

An addition, or "annex," was erected at the rear in 1869. The total number of cells is 94-in the main part, 44, and in the annex, 50; arranged in two stories.

STATE-HOUSE .- The "State-House" was erected by the county commissioners in 1793 for the accom- modation of the county officers and the public rec- ords. It was situated on the northeast corner of Fifth and Penn streets; built of brick, two stories, 30 by 90 feet, with a narrow alley extending along the eastern wall from the front to the rear. An

OLD JAIL

PRISONS .- The first prison was erected in 1770, entry extended across the building near the center, on the northeast corner of Callowhill and Thomas with its doorway on Fifth street; and a stairway streets (Fifth and Washington). It was construct- ed of stone and plastered, two stories in height, and in dimensions 30 by 70 feet. The lot was 60 by 230 feet. A substantial stone wall, 20 feet high, was erected to inclose the lot to the depth of 130 feet. the central for the recorder, register and clerk of

led from this entry to the second floor. The first floor was divided into three compartments ; the first, adjoining Penn street, having been used for the prothonotary's office and clerk of Quarter Sessions ; .

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the Orphans' court; and the rear for county com- necessary buildings, and seven directors were ap- missioners and county treasurer. The second floor was divided into two compartments, the front room having been occupied mostly for Sunday-school pur- poses and public meetings from 1819 for about twenty years, and the rear room for lodge purposes. The building was sold by the county commissioners upon the removal of the county offices and records to the new Court-House.

The rear room on the first floor was used as the post-office from 1861 to 1865.

pointed to proceed in the establishment of this public institution. They served till the election of three directors in October following, as provided in said Act. In the mean time ( May 30, 1824) they pur- chased the "Brown farm," formerly known as the "Angelica farm," in Cumru township (owned and occupied during the Revolution by General Thomas Mifflin), three miles from Reading, situated on the Lancaster road, and containing 4174 acres, for the consideration of $16,690, and there erected a com-

STATE HOUSE

In January, 1872, a large fire broke out in modious building to accommodate the poor people Stichter's hardware store, near by, which spread of the county. This building was finished in 1825. over the adjoining buildings to the west, and con- It has since been known as the "Main Building." sumed the entire corner, including the "State- Other improvements were subsequently made upon House." The inscription stone was preserved and given a place in the rear wall of the building which was soon afterward erected in its stead.

the premises, prominent among them being the "In- sane Building," erected in 1837 and 1843, and the "Hospital," in 1871-1874. The first poor persons were admitted on Oct. 21, 1825, from Reading. During the first year 130 inmates were admitted. Annually afterward the average number increased until 1878, when they reached 613; but since then

POOR-HOUSE .- The poor people of the county were provided for by "overseers" till the passage of an Act of Assembly on March 29, 1824, especially for this county, whereby the county commissioners were authorized to levy a tax for the purpose of they have gradually decreased until now, being purchasing land and erecting and furnishing the about 250.

CHAPTER V-BENCH AND BAR

By the charter of William Penn and the several from Berks till the adoption of the Constitution of grants thereunder, various laws and ordinances 1790. The term of the first was fixed at two years ; were enacted from time to time "for the good gov- and afterward three years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 24

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