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 38
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217. Hans Geo. Back (baker)
10. Christopher Witman
221. Paul Durst
23. Isaac Weidner (yeoman,
231. Andrew Steger
234. Everhard Martin (soap-
maker)
235. Martin Moll
260. Geo. Mich'l Kreter
267. Christopher Witman
272. Casper Zin
273. Jacob Zin
60. Philip Erpf
67. Mark Starr
68. James Starr (brewer)
73. John Smith (shopkeeper)
78. George Douglass
83. Peter Weiser (Heidelberg) 84: Peter Weiser
86. Henry Sheirer
93. Frederick Weiser
104. Jost H. Sassamanhousen
109. James Biddle (lawyer)
116. James Biddle
121. Henry Sheirer
126. Simon Sherker
134. Isaac Levan
138. Abraham Levan
143. John Steel
156. Peter Weiser
171. Wendell Hains
172. George Saurbrey
174. Adam Schlegell (tailor)
179. Hans Martin Garich
183. George Hätner
189. Michael Rosch
195. Lawrence Spats
197. Michael Fichthorn
198. William Cluse
413. Henry Schneider
433. George Kappus (Mason)
438. George Kappus
490, 491. Francis Creek
493. Francis Wenrich 498. Elizabeth Godschalk
For the year 1754
Lot Patentee
Lot
Patentee
88. Christian Bussy
305. Jacob Morgan
123. Philip Breitenbach
308. Francis Morgan
173. Nicholas Keim
265. Christopher Godschalk
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406, 407. Lutheran Church
421, 424. Calvinist Church (Re-
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509, 512. Peter Haws
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388. Nicholas Seitzinger
(inn-
266. Abraham Brosius
268. Simon Scherker
271. Henry Graul
275. Joseph Wilkinson
278. Isaac Levan
Lot. Patentee
281. Philip Jacob Moyer 282. Henry Feeder
288. Conrad Bower
296. Christian Bentzer (Lanc.
county )
116. Peter Bingaman (Alsace, yeoman)
117. Mary Bishop
118. Henry Boyle
119. Kraft Hüner (baker)
122. Peter Trumbour (yeoman)
124. Jacob Bucher
130. Charles Fricker
131. Paul Derst (Exeter, inn- keeper)
132. Andreas Shack
133. Peter Feder (inn-keeper)
135. John Early (Lanc., joiner)
136. Henry Boyle
137. Baltzer Schwenk (Alsace, yeoman)
139. John Wilson (Lanc., mil- ler)
146. Peter Muma
147. Henry Hahn (blacksmith)
148. Henry Lick
149. Evan Popkins (cooper)
151. George Mich. Kreter (slaughterer)
(Heidel-
152. Ulrich Richard berg, yeoman)
153. Paul Parlet (carpenter)
154. William Miller (carpenter)
155. Sebastian Grauser (carpen- ter)
159. Henry Graul (Green tavn) 160. Philip Ziegler (Tulpehoc- ken, yeoman)
161. Henry Goodhart
163. John Kissinger
164. Peter Rapp (butcher)
165. George Crumlanf
166. Jacob Conrad (Virg., smith ) 167. Peter Baum (turner)
168. Fred'k Goodhart (Alsace, yeoman) 175. Peter Baum 180. John Kissinger 190. Henry Gerritt (Alsace,
204. Alexander Klinger
208. Martin Moll
209. Andrew Engel
381. Martin E. Kraft 384. Adam Reifell
387. Nicholas Sauter
392, 397. Adam Reifell
402. Court-house and Prison
409. Christopher Spengler
201. Paul Durst
203. John Philip Klinger
270. Frederick Fernsler
285. Maria Barbara Bishoff
290. John Hartman (tailor)
293. Jacob Rappoit (tiler)
297. William Marck
300. William Bird
310. Geo. Mich'1 Kreter
312. Jacob Morgan
314. Michael Schrack
318. Conrad Stichter (weaver)
319. Valentine Stichter
329. Isaac Weidner 331. William Marck
333. Jacob Hetler 341. Joseph Brendlinger
349. Peter Klinger
350. Jacob Morgan
356, 357. Frederick Volant
274. Fredericka Waggoner 280. Philip Jacob Erpi (mason)
284. Andrew Fuchs
291. Francis Morgan
294, 295. Conrad Bower
Alsace)
31. Jonas Seely (justice)
47. Jonas Seely
50. William Thomas county ) (Chester
53. Nicholas Werner
59. Christopher Camerer
yeoman) 196. John Nicholas Yost (Cum- ru, inn-keeper) 199. George Chris. Spengler
253. Francis Fisher
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15. Daniel Hiester (Montgom- ery Co., tanner) 18. Francis Parvin (Maiden- cr., tanner) 19. Conrad Weiser 20. John Lepoe (Tulp., yeo- man) 107. Eleanor Waggoner 108. George Hitner (Philadel- Weidner (Cumru, 21. Peter yeoman) phia, merchant) 111. Adam Gerhart (Alsace, yeo- man) 113. Henry Renthmyer (wheel- wright) 115. Ernest Kurtz (Phila., to- bacconist)
155
READING
GROUND-RENT .- When the lots were laid out, leases of ground-rent were executed by the attor- provision was made that each lot should be subject ney, and these were placed on record. In 1822, he notified the public that he would not settle any further claims for ground-rent, and his agency hav- ing been discontinued, the matter was dropped. to a ground-rent of seven shillings, payable an- nually on the first day of May ; but notwithstanding this provision, numerous lots were sold without the charge.
CW
750
CONRAD WEISER STORE
By an Act of Assembly, passed Nov. 27, 1779, the estates of the Proprietaries in Pennsylvania became vested in the State and were placed at the disposal of the Legislature, the quit-rents were abolished, and a donation of £130,000 was made to their devisees and legatees.
FEDERAL INN
After the Revolution, this ground-rent on the lots in Reading was disregarded until about 1815, when it became a subject which agitated the lot-holders for a number of years. In that year, and again in 1818, the local attorney of the Penns required the delinquents to pay the rents due, otherwise he would cause their lots to be sold. In 1820, numerous re-
COUNTY-SEAT .- By a petition presented to the Assembly at Philadelphia on Feb. 4, 1752, in behalf of the erection of a new county (Berks), it ap- pears that Reading then contained 130 dwelling- houses, besides 41 stables and other out-houses ; and 160 families, which consisted of 378 persons. It is believed that there were three small churches in the town at that time, Lutheran, Reformed, and Friends; all erected in 1751.
TOWN DISTRICT ESTABLISHED .- In 1760, the town and part of the township adjoining (Alsace) were erected into a district, called the "Township and District of Reading." The boundary lines were fixed by the court in 1761. They inclosed about 950 acres.
FIRST STORE .- The first business place was the store of Conrad Weiser on Penn Square above Fifth street. He purchased the lot (No. 3) in 1749, and obtained a patent in 1751. Under the conditions of sale, he doubtless erected a two-story stone building on it in 1750 and started a general store. He carried on business intercourse there with the Indians, and on this account the stand was given particular prominence. In 1769, Nicholas Keim became the owner. The Keims occupied it as a general hardware store for seventy years. Then the Stichters began, and they have been there since, now seventy years.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS .- A Court-House was erected in 1762; a market-house in 1766; and a county jail in 1770 ; and in 1773, a fire company was organized, called the "Rainbow," which has maintained a suc- cessful existence until now.
OLDEST BUILDINGS .- Three old buildings, which were erected in this period of Reading, are still standing: two stories of the large hotel on the northwest corner of Fifth and Washington streets, erected by Michael Bright for a tavern in 1760; two-story stone building on the northwest corner of Penn Square, below Fifth street, erected in 1763 by Adam Witman for a tavern ("Federal Inn") and occupied by the Farmers' Bank since 1814; and two-story stone building on the northeast cor- ner of Fifth and Washington streets, erected by county commissioners in 1770, occupied as a county jail until 1848, and since then for store purposes.
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS .- Three churches were established during this period: Friends, Lutheran and Reformed. The Protestant Episcopal and Roman Catholic denominations had no churches, but held religious services in the homes of certain members. Secular education was carried on in schools which were connected with the churches,
156
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and also in several private schools. The pupils companies were raised in response to repeated calls paid their teachers several cents a day. The for troops. And great quantities of supplies were Friends' school at Washington and Wood (Madi- forwarded to the government, amounting to sev- son) streets was conducted for English education, eral hundred thousand dollars. the other schools were mostly for German education. There were no newspapers published at Reading then. The Pennsylvania Gazette and Sauer's Jour- .nal had a limited circulation.
NATIONALITY OF INHABITANTS .- The first inhab- itants of Reading were mostly Germans. There were some English, and men of this nationality served in county offices through the influence and direction of the Penns until the Revolution; then men of the German nationality came to fill them and they have almost entirely continued to do so until now. This change was brought about by the determined action of the Germans in behalf of inde- pendence and representative government, the. Eng- lish having favored the British government, and discouraged the Revolution, on which account they were called "Tories."
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR .- The French and Indian war affected Reading more or less from 1755 to 1760. The inhabitants were excited and fre- quently alarmed for their safety during 1755, 1756 :and 1757. But the Indians in their incursions never reached Reading. They confined their stealthy, at- tacks and barbarous cruelties to the settlements along the Blue mountains.
The prominent men from Reading who were ac- tively engaged in defensive operations were Conrad Weiser, Edward Biddle and George Nagel. In 1756, a company of grenadiers was stationed here for a time; also a company commanded by Conrad Weiser, consisting of two sergeants and twenty- eight privates. A number of interesting letters were sent from Reading during these years, de- scribing the dangerous situation of affairs. No person from Reading was killed.
REVOLUTION .- The first public action at Read- ing in behalf of the Revolution was taken with much spirit on July 2, 1774, and from that time until the declaration of peace, in 1783, the resi- ·dents displayed remarkable zeal for political inde- pendence and representative government. On the day named, a public meeting was held in the Court- House and appropriate resolutions were adopted, expressing sympathy with Boston and urging such measures as would settle with precision the rights and liberties of America. Delegates were appointed to attend the different conferences and earnest co- operation was manifested at all times for carrying on the war successfully.
In April, 1775, the people of the town raised two companies of infantry, and one of them, com- manded by Cap. George Nagel, several months afterward marched to Cambridge and participated in the campaign at that place. Numerous other
Reading was a prominent inland place for storing supplies of all kinds during that period, having been selected by the Board of War for its admirable sit- uation; and prisoners of war were sent here in large numbers. The locality where they were quar- tered was called "Hessian Camp," after the Hes- sians taken at Trenton in December, 1776. It was situated to the east of the town, along the Hill road. In 1777, when the British entered Philadelphia, many residents of that city fled to Reading for safety.
Reading furnished many men who became very active in the service. Edward Biddle was one of the representatives from Pennsylvania in the First Continental Congress; Bodo Otto and Jonathan Potts were prominent surgeons ; Mark Bird, Henry Haller, Nicholas Lotz, Joseph Hiester and Daniel Brodhead were colonels; and George Nagel, John Spohn, Peter Decker, Henry Christ, John Diehl, John Rightmyer and Peter Scull were captains. Edward Scull was secretary of the Board of War; James Read was an Executive Councillor, and reg- ister of the court of Admiralty; and Edward Burd was prothonotary of the Supreme court.
BOROUGH, 1783 TO 1847
BOROUGH ERECTED .- The town of Reading was incorporated into a borough on Sept. 12, 1783. It contained over four hundred taxables, and about twenty-one hundred inhabitants; and it was gen- erally recognized then as the largest and most pro- gressive inland town in the United States. Nine- tenths of the inhabitants were German. The principal officers were the chief burgess and asso- ciate, four assistant burgesses, two justices of the peace, high constable, treasurer, clerk, two super- visors and two assessors.
SURROUNDING TOWNS .- The county of Berks contained about twenty-five thousand population, and the surrounding towns in the county were Womelsdorf, fourteen miles west; Hamburg, sev- enteen miles north; Kutztown, seventeen miles northeast; Birdsboro, nine miles southeast; and Morgantown, fifteen miles south.
POST-OFFICE .- A post-office was established in 1793. A daily mail by stage was started in 1793, which continued until 1838, when the railroad was introduced, and increased facilities for transporta- tion were afforded.
STAGE-COACH .- The stage-coach was introduced at Reading in 1789, and ran from Reading to Phila- delphia. Afterward, lines were extended in differ- ent directions, and they were carried on until the railroads were constructed. The business was very brisk from 1826 to 1838.
.
15%
READING
BRIDGES .- A ferry was carried on at the "Ford" from 1783 to 1815, when a covered wooden bridge was constructed by the county commissioners. An- other covered wooden bridge was constructed by the commissioners at Levan's Ferry, at the foot of Bingaman street, in 1831. The first bridge across the river near Reading was on the road to Sunbury through Bern township, erected in 1810.
TURNPIKES .- While the subject of bridges was discussed by the people, another received their at- tention. It was that of turnpikes. These were ex- tended over prominent highways, one to the north in 1805 called the "Centre," the second to the south- east in 1810 called the "Perkiomen," and the third to the west in 1817, called the "Berks and Dauphin."
PUBLIC BUILDINGS .- The Court-House continued in Penn Square until 1840; and the prison at Fifth and Washington streets until 1848. The "State House" for the county officers was erected on the northeast corner of Fifth street and Penn Square in 1791 and was used for this public purpose until 1840. A second market-house was erected in West Penn Square in 1799. Both market-houses were rebuilt in 1846. They had seventy stalls and 116 stands.
CANALS .- Two canals, leading from Reading, were constructed: The Schuylkill, extending along the river north to Pottsville and southeast to Phila- delphia, in 1822; and the Union, extending west to Lebanon and Middletown, in 1828. Large quan- tities of goods, especially coal and lumber, were shipped over these canals. The enterprise was suc- cessful through this period, and contributed much toward the development of the borough.
RAILROAD .- The Philadelphia & Reading railroad was projected along the Schuylkill through Reading from Philadelphia to Pottsville in 1833. It was completed to Reading in 1838, and to Pottsville in 1842; and then it became an additional factor with the turnpikes and canals for great local pro- gress.
sums, which were called by the people "Shinplas- ters," "Rag Barons" and "Hickory Leaves." And. the borough council, to relieve the community in. this behalf, issued loan certificates in denomina- tions of five, ten, twenty-five and fifty cents, and one, two and three dollars, redeemable Aug. 1, 1838. The whole issue amounted to $25,000. They were loaned to business men on approved security and subsequently redeemed.
NEWSPAPERS .- A number of newspapers were: started in this period. The first was in 1789. In 1796, there were three others, the Reading Herald (English) ; the Reading Adler (German), published. until now; and the Weekly Advertiser (English), published until 1816, when the Berks and Schuylkill Journal (English) took its place, which is still is- sued. The Reading Courier (German) was issued. from 1816 to 1826; the Chronicle of the Times (English), from 1826 to 1835; Berks County Press (English), from 1835 to 1865; Liberal Observer (German), from 1839 to 1864; Reading Gazette and Democrat (English), from 1840 to 1878, when the Reading Weekly Eagle was substituted in its place, and this has been published until now; Old Berks (German), from 1840 to 1848, when it was transferred to Pottsville and the name changed to Pottsville Adler. Several others were started but they had a short existence. The spirit for writing and publishing during this period was very strong. The editors exhibited much courage in ventilating their opinions on political and social topics.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS .- Besides the three de- nominations mentioned in the first period, the Roman Catholics and Protestant Episcopalians came to erect churches in the second period, and also the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Uni- versalists and English Lutherans. Schools were carried on successfully, as before until 1835, when the public system was introduced; and in 1838 the first public school buildings were erected.
BANKS .- A "Branch" of the Bank of Pennsyl- INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS .- During this period, indus- vania was established at Reading in 1808 (in the trial affairs became the prominent feature of Read- building occupied by the Union Bank), and carried ing. The small shops were developed into large on successfully until its suspension in 1857. The factories and mills, and the capital invested in such Farmers Bank was organized in 1814, and it has establishments increased from several hundred dol- been maintained successfully ever since, now over lars to many thousands. The energy of certain in- ninety years, and in the same building. The Eck- fluential men was directed chiefly toward the manu- erts were prominently identified with it from 1838 facture of iron, and this stimulated various other to 1908. A third bank was organized in 1836, but enterprises, particularly in the line of building oper- it continued only eight years. It was called the ations. The discovery of coal and the application "Berks County Bank."
of steam to motive power for operating machinery
PANIC OF 1837 .- A money panic arose in the were the direct causes of this marked improvement, borough in 1837, owing to a suspension of prom- and the canal and railroad were natural results inent banks in the large cities, but the local busi- from their introduction and increasing use. The ness men published a notice in which they expressed large increase in population must be attributed to entire confidence in the Reading banks and a will- them, the growth from 1830 to 1840 having been ingness to accept their notes in payment of debts over 43 per cent. and from 1840 to 1850 over 87 and merchandise. But the scarcity of money com- per cent. The country districts of Berks county pelled certain merchants to resort to an expedient increased only 21 per cent. during the former de- for a circulating medium by issuing notes for small cade, and only 19 per cent. during the latter.
158
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
WATER COMPANY .- In 1821, a water company was organized to supply the people of the borough with water. A reservoir was constructed at the head of Penn street, and the water from "Hamp- den Spring" was conveyed into it by means of wooden pipes, and thence distributed through the place. In 1833, the investment was estimated at $25,000, and two hundred and fifty families were supplied. The spring had a daily flow of one hundred thousand gallons, and the reservoir had a capacity of one thousand hogsheads. Pumps continued to be used in all parts of the borough.
LIGHTING .- The light was obtained from tallow candles ; also from oil and camphene used in lamps. The streets were not lighted. Public buildings were seldom occupied in the night for meetings or en- tertainments; and there were no halls.
FIRE COMPANIES .- Three fire companies were organized in addition to the Rainbow: Junior, in 1813; Reading, in 1819; and Neversink, in 1829.
STREET NAMES .- Upon the laying out of the town, the streets were named as follows: East and West-Penn, extending through the center of the town; north of Penn, Thomas and Margaret; and south of Penn, Richard and Hamilton. North and South-King, Queen, Callowhill, Prince, Duke, Earl, Clement, Lord and Vigour.
These names were changed by the borough coun- cil in 1833, and those substituted were as follows, Penn having been retained: North of Penn-Lib- erty, Washington and Walnut; South of Penn- Cherry, Franklin and Chestnut; Across Penn- - Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh; and what had been called for a time Bridge and Treat, were changed to Front and Second.
In 1845, council named the following alleys ex- tending north from Liberty: Pear, Thorn, Rose, Ash, Church, Reed, Poplar, Cedar, Moss, and Black; family. After dinner, he proceeded on his way. and south from Cherry: Oak, Apple, Carpenter, President Washington visited Reading on Oct. Wood, Pear, Plum, Lemon, Peach, Orange, and 1, 1794, while on his way from Philadelphia to Maple. Laurel and Willow streets were also named then. Bingaman street took its name and diagonal direction from the northerly line of the patent to Peter Bingaman ; that part beyond Tenth street hav- ing been vacated by an Act of Assembly, passed May 8, 1850.
In 1832, the streets were graded according to regulation by Enoch Lewis, under the direction of council.
EARLY EXHIBITIONS .- Exhibitions were given at Reading at an early day.
In October, 1791, a camel was exhibited at Jacob died, in 1799, all the people mourned his loss. The Grant's tavern.
In January, 1792, McGrath's Company of comedi- ans from Maryland and Virginia rendered the "Tragedy of Douglass," "Farce of Barnaby Brittle," and great reverence for his name, held funeral and other plays.
of legerdemain performances by himself, tricks by a learned dog, and a display of fire-works. Tickets for adults, 50 cents ; for children, 25 cents.
In June, 1808, an elephant eight years old and seven feet high was exhibited at the public-house of Daniel Feger; advertised as the only elephant then in the country. Admission, 25 cents.
In November, 1813, Purdy, Carley & Bailey ex- hibited a menagerie of thirty living wild animals, in- cluding a lion and lioness, Arabian camels (male and female), llamas (male and female), hyena, kanga- roo, tiger, leopard and panther.
On Aug. 1, 1815, a whale was exhibited at the public house of William Jones ; weight five thousand pounds. Admission, 12} cents; children, half price. This whale was caught in the Delaware river at Trenton, on Nov. 11, 1814.
In December, 1838, William Paulin, accompanied by a lady, ascended from Reading in a balloon named "Comet"; and in the following year he made two successful ascensions.
Circuses gave numerous exhibitions and they were well patronized; and traveling dramatic troupes visited Reading, remaining a week at a time.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS .- John Penn arrived at Reading on April 7, 1788, while on his way from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. He remained two days and expressed himself as much pleased with the town. He stayed at Witman's tavern (southeast corner Fifth and Franklin streets), and he regarded the accommodations as worthy of a respectable country town. He dined heartily on catfish, which were plentiful in the river. The next day, he dined with James Biddle, Esq., and a number of citizens called to pay their respects. He came here to look after his property. On April 9th, he visited Gen. Thomas Mifflin, on the latter's farm (now Alms- House) and took breakfast and dinner with the
Carlisle during the Whiskey Insurrection. His presence caused much social excitement. During his sojourn, he stayed at the "Federal Inn," where many people called to pay their respects. A mili- tary parade was given under the command of Col. Nicholas Lotz (who had taken an active part in the Revolution) to signalize the occasion, and the distinguished visitor reviewed the troops. The "Reading Volunteers" (a company of militia) es- corted him on the way, and at Carlisle they were retained as his body-guard. When Washington newspapers were printed with heavy black borders ; and the people of the borough, to demonstrate in a public manner their great sorrow for his death services in Trinity Lutheran Church on Sunday,
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