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 56
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The people of the community, notably the Hottensteins, the Biebers, Dr. Charles A. Gerasch, Solomon Christ, and David Schaeffer, by liberal contributions, made the under- taking a success. For the Normal there was subscribed $18,300; which with the $6,500 given for the seminary previously, made a total of $24,800.
The first board of trustees was composed of the fol- lowing gentlemen : Henry Bushong, Egidius Butz, Daniel Deatrich, Rev. J. S. Ermentrout, David Fister, John H. Fogel, Jonas Hoch, Edward Hottenstein, M. D., J. Glancy Jones, Rev. B. E. Kramlich, Diller Luther, M. D., Jonas Miller, Ullrich Miller, Rev. H. R. Nicks, H. H. Schwartz, Esq., David Schaeffer, Adam Stein, Lesher Trexler, M. D., and J. D. Wanner, Esq. Lewis K. Hottenstein was president of the board of trustees, David H. Hottenstein its secretary; Lesher Trexler, M. D., was president of the board of stockholders and Jonas Hoch secretary. Charles Gerasch, M. D., was treasurer of the be little need).
new school.
At a meeting of the board of trustees, held Ang. 4, 1866, formal application was made to the Hon. Charles R. Co- burn, State superintendent of common schools, for the recognition of the school as the State Normal School for the Third District. On Thursday, Sept. 13, 1866, W. Worthington, George Landon, S. Elliott, Thaddeus Banks, J. S. Ermentrout (superintendent of Berks county). Jesse Newlin (superintendent of Schuylkill), and E. J. Young ( superintendent of Lehigh), inspectors appointed by the State superintendent, inspected the school and rec- ommended its recognition, and on Sept. 15th, two days later. Superintendent Coburn issued a proclamation recog- nizing the school by the name of the Keystone State Normal School, the corporate name borne by it to the present time.
The officers of instruction, as given by the first catalog, were: Rev. J. S. Ermentrout. A. M., Principal, and Pro- fessor of Mental and Moral Science, and of Theory and Practice of Teaching; Rev. H. R. Nicks, A. M., Associate Principal, and Professor of Mathematics and Physics; Albert N. Raub, A. M., Professor of English Language and Literature. and of Vocal Music; Rev. Samuel Tran- seau, A. M., Professor of Ancient Languages and His- tory; Edward T. Burgan, M. E., Superintendent of the Model School and Professor of Penmanship and Book- keeping; Rev. G. F. Spieker, Professor of German Lan- guage and Literature; Lesher Trexler, M. D., Lecturer on Anatomy. Physiology, and Hygiene; Miss Julia E. Bullard, M. L., Teacher of Instrumental Music, French. Painting and Drawing; Miss Mary Morrison, Teacher of Reading and Geography ; (not filled). Teacher of Elocution ; Peter S. Umbenhauer. Pupil Assistant. The
The growth of the school has been steady and substan- tial. For more than twenty years past, building opera- tions have been almost continuous. The earlier struc- tures were soon outgrown and larger edifices, one by one. have taken their place until now, with the exception of a single three-storied brick building, known as "The Steward's Building." overshadowed by massive piles around it, not one of the first erections remains. In 1890 the "Ladies' Building" or Girls' Dormitory was put up ; in 1887 the "Chapel Building" was erected; in 1891 the extensive northeast wing or "Boys' Dormitory" followed ; in 1893 the old "Main Building" was demolished to give place for the great six-story "Center Building," costing $75,000; in 1896, the necessities of the school produced a fine kitchen and laundry with a superb equipment: in 1898 a powerful electric light plant made coal-oil illumina- tion an incident of history: in 1900 the foundations were laid for a new "Model School Building" with an annex containing physical, chemical and biological laboratories, and an ample auditorium (the two costing $100,000) ; in 1908 a splendidly equipped gymnasium, ornately designed. and erected at a cost of $50,000, was opened for use : while the early months of 1909 witness the completion of a fine two-story brick hospital or infirmary, for the isolation and treatment of pupils who may fall ill while at school (a provision for which it is hoped there may
Besides this, there is a great boiler house, which has been enlarged from time to time in order to furnish steam heat to recitation rooms and dormitories and power to run the machinery of the hydraulic passenger elevator. the apparatus of the laundry, the electric dynamos, and the pumping engine at the artesian well and water tower.
The buildings are in some respects unique as heing, with the exception of hoiler house, electric plant, gymnas- ium. infirmary, and steward's house, practically under one roof, being connected by covered bridges, supported on beams of steel. The dormitories and recitation halls are large and abundantly lighted.
The equipment of the school in the way of scientific apparatus is select and complete, and each year large ex- penditures are made for the physical, chemical, biological, and psychological laboratories, as well as for the other departments of the institution; by which means the edu- cational facilities afforded by the school are kept abreast of the demands of the times.
There are three principal libraries, each containing sev- eral thousand volumes. One is the general reference li- brary, the other two are the property of the two literary societies maintained by the students. These societies are the Philomathean Literary Society, organized early in the year 1865, and the Keystone Literary Society, originally named the Kalliomathean Society, which, in September of the same year, was organized by students dismissed, for the purpose of starting a rival society, by the elder organ- ization. Besides these collections of books, several de- partmental or working libraries, housed in various recita- tion rooms, are maintained by several of the departments of the school. All these collections are generously aug- mented from time to time.
247
BOROUGHS
The course of study is that prescribed by the State of Pennsylvania, but in some matters this school leads its compeers. At the instigation of Dr. Nathan C. Schaef- fer (who was principal at the time and had been a mem- ber of the Pennsylvania Industrial Commission), a man- ual training department, directed by Dr. W. W. Dea- trick, was established in 1891, the first in Pennsylvania Normal Schools. Instruction in this department is given on pedagogic lines but, nevertheless, the course is eminent- ly practical, having obtained marked recognition in the reports of the United States commissioner of education. Specimens of work done in accordance with this course; exhibited with other work of the school, won medals and diplomas at two great world's fairs. Among other exercises in this department, there may be mentioned plain sewing ( for female pupils), construction of apparatus, clay-modeling, and mechanical drawing. The fine arts are not neglected : drawing, crayoning, and painting in water and oils and on china, are thoroughly taught.
But brains are better than bricks and the mainstay of a great school must ever be the excellence of its teaching force. In this particular the Keystone State Normal School has been especially fortunate: it has always had forceful instructors, and never more of them than now. The roster of teachers in the last catalog contains thirty- four names; and among them a considerable proportion is of names of college and university trained instructors. In this way the desired breadth and accuracy in instruc- tion are secured.
The school is crowded with pupils to the point of tax- ing the capacity of the present ample buildings. The last catalog contained the names of 929 pupils. The list of alumni of the institution now totals 2,564 names, among which are men and women prominent in every sphere of wholesome and serviceable human activity. A recent report of the trustees made to the Department of Public Instruc- tion shows that, at present, there are about 10,000 volumes in the combined libraries and that the value of the build- ings and equipment approximates half a million dollars.
The first public enterprise affecting this place was the construction of the Centre Turnpike from DEISHER INDIAN RELICS .- The collection of In- dian relics owned by Henry K. Deisher, manufac- turer, is worthy of special mention in connection with the history of Kutztown. He began collect- ing arrow-heads in the vicinity of the borough when only a boy six years old, at the suggestion of his teacher, and as he grew older he gradually extended his excursions into the surrounding terri- tory in search of relics. When plowing operations Reading to Pottsville. It was completed in 1812, and operated until 1885, when it was abandoned. Stages ran to and fro on this turnpike until 1842. A canal was constructed along the eastern bank of the Schuylkill from 1815 to 1822, which was opened for traffic in 1824. Active operations were carried on until about 1895, with a large annual tonnage, but then they almost entirely ceased be- cause the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Com- on the farms were going on, he was particularly pany (which had become its lessee) diverted the coal and merchandise traffic to the railroad. Boat-
zealous, and his industry and perseverance were rewarded by the acquisition of all kinds of speci- building at Hamburg was a prominent industry for forty years.
mens. In this way his collection grew larger and larger and with it the development of his knowl- edge on the subject, until he came to possess su- perior specimens from all parts of Berks county and from the counties in the eastern and interior parts of the State of Pennsylvania, and also num- erous publications relating to Indian affairs, which together comprise a considerable library of much value on the subject. Then he began to purchase specimens from different States, and so he con- of the river. The company established a station tinued his accumulations until he now has upward at the crossing on State street, where a superior of 22,000, consisting of arrow-heads, spear-heads, and attractive building was erected to accommodate knives, scrapers, axes, celts, pestles, and ceremonial the patrons of the road. or banner stones. Much skill has been displayed in Telegraph communication was opened in 1847; their arrangement in cases specially prepared. Since and telephone, in 1881.
1900, he has added two rare collections of all kinds of relics from the Pacific coast, carefully packed and weighing two tons, which embraced all kinds of stone, bone and horn implements, and many strings
of beads and wampum. The collection includes 17,000 specimens of various kinds from different parts of Berks county.
Mr. Deisher has also collected many baskets of all kinds, shapes and sizes, made by the Indians of California, Arizona and Alaska, varying in di- ameter from one-quarter of an inch to two and a half feet, and showing unique designs of perfect regularity, in different colors.
The collection is worth many thousands of dol- lars, and Mr. Deisher's enterprise, devotion, and determination in this behalf since 1873, a period covering thirty-six years, are truly commendable.
HAMBURG
Hamburg is a prosperous borough in the north- ern section of the county, near the eastern bank of the Schuylkill river, sixteen miles north of Read- ing. The land embraced in the limits of the bor- ough was taken up by warrant as early as 1732, immediately after the territory was re- leased by the Indians, and a patent was is- sued in 1772 to Martin Kaercher for 250 acres, the tract having been named "Ham- burg" at that time. In 1779, Kaercher conveyed the tract to his son, Martin, and the son then laid . out a town. It came to be publicly known by the name of Kaerchertown, which it held for many . years.
Railroad communication with Reading and Phil -. adelphia to the south, and Pottsville to the north, was opened in 1842 by the extension of the Phila- delphia & Reading railroad along the western bank of the Schuylkill. In December, 1885, additional railroad facilities were afforded to Reading and to Pottsville by the completion of the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley railroad along the eastern bank
INCORPORATION .- The borough was erected by a special Act of Assembly, passed April 3, 1837. Several previous attempts had been made in this behalf (the first having been in 1830), but they
248
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
were not successful. This movement was encour- Benjamin Harman aged by the operation and increasing importance Widow Humel of the canal.
The borough was divided into two wards in 1886: North and South.
EARLY INHABITANTS .- Among the early inhabi- tants of Hamburg, whilst a town, from 1800 to 1820, were the following, whose employments are indicated in the statement :
John Meyer, broker John Derr, tanner Henry Heinly, tailor Robert Scott, store-keeper Jacob Glatt, laborer
John De Wald, hatter
John Shomo, Jr., teacher
David Newhart, tobacconist
George Miller, miller
Charles Guss, mason William Feather, tanner Capt. Leitheiser, Revolu-
tionist
Sebastian Leonard, blaek- smith
Daniel Kern, store-keeper
David Davidheiser, tavern- keeper
Andrew Hummel, laborer Jacob Hains, carpenter
Christian Lochman, weaver
John Miller, cooper
Peter Dile, laborer
Henry Roi, watchmaker
Wmn. Lochman (Hessian), laborer
John Scharff (Hessian), hostler
Abraham Shollenberger, potter
John Shollenberger, black- smith - Hetrich, cooper Silliman, ferryman Fred'k Shollenberger, butcher
Abraham Keiser, butcher
Kennedy, mason
Michael Reese
John Williams
John Roth
Benjamin Williams
John Roth, Jr.
Joseph Weidman
Single Freemen
Samuel Burns
John P. Miller
Frederick Beitenman
William Mengel
Samuel Bauch
Martin Pauter
Daniel Cremer
Jacob Roth
Jacob A. Dietrich John Ring
Peter Feather Daniel Stambach
Daniel Feather
William Smith (of Michl.)
Alexander Gross
Thomas Smith (of Andw.)
Henry Kern
Charles Shollenberger
Peter Longalow
Joseph Yeager
Nathan Levi
PROPERTY IN 1906 .- The amount of the assessed property of Hamburg in 1906, and the number of taxables, were as follows :
Property
Money at interest
Taxables
North ward
$334,403
$121,138
458
South ward .
580,053
204,826
456
$914,456
$325,964
914
David Dewald
Israel Derr, Esq.
Jesse Dewalt
Adolph Hatzfield
Charles Roth Henry Rapp
Henry Heinly Est.
William Rothenberger
Jacob Heins
John Hartzel
Barbara Savage
Henry Hoffman
John W. Scott
Charles Hartline
William Hensher
Enoch Jones
Egedius Smith
Conrad Kolp
Benjamin Kline
William Shomo
Peter Kern Est.
Daniel Kern
William Keiser Abraham Keiser Est.
John Schwoyer Godfrey Seidel
Samuel Kline
Samuel Shollenberger
Charles Keller
John Shenk
Solomon Klein
John Leise
Christian Lochman
Jonathan Sweitzig (of Jacob)
Sebastian Lenhart
Jacob Schollenberger
Henry Lindemuth
John Shollenberger
William Lochman
John Shollenberger (bl. sm.)
Jacob Lindemuth
Henry Lewars, Esq.
Jacob Laub
Peter Shollenberger Augustus Shultz, M. D.
Joseph Shollenberger Philip Shatz
Frederick Miller
John Miller
George Miller
John Moyer Est.
Joseph Seidel
Peter Miller
Jacob Shaeffer
James G. Moyer
Thomas Smith
Casper Snell
John Naragang, Sr.
David Nice Est.
Benjamin R. Nice, M. D. Lewis J. Pauli
Josiah H. Reichelderfer
Abraham Williamson
John F. Reeser
Daniel Wolf
Benjamin Reeser
John Wehren
Solomon Reese
George Wagner. Jr.
Killian May, cooper
Joseph Miller, farmer
Wm. Williamson, wheel- wright
Casper Diehl, tavern-keeper Jeremiah Shappell, farmer Ab'm Williamson, spinning- wheel-maker
FIRST TAXABLES .- The resident taxables of Ham- burg, at the time of its erection into a borough, were as follows:
Frederick Albright William Ames John Baily William Berger
Isaac Dewalt
William Evans
Casper Ehman
Jacob Fisher
Augustus Bailer
Henry Fister
Peter C. Baum
Simon Fister
Peter Baticher, Jr.
Joseph Filbert
John Beiteman
Arthur Fesig
John Boyer Est.
Reuben Freed
Jacob Buek
Widow Benseman Jacob Billman
Henry Groh Est. Joseph Groh William Gifft
Solomon Borrel
Jaeob Cramp
Joseph Geiger Tacob Geiger Felix Hartman
LIST OF OFFICIALS .- The early minutes of the town council have been lost. The names of the
Moses Levy, store-keeper Daniel Levan, tavern-keeper Jacob Snell, butcher Joseph Shomo, Sr., tinsmith Abraham Wolff, saddler Henry Groh, yeoman Adolphus Hatzfield, justice Dr. Klein, physician Philip Sousley, cordwainer Andrew Helwig, yeoman Henry Schoener, chair - maker Wm. Coulter, chair-maker Henry Lewers, tinsmith
Henry Fister, hatter John Schenk, tailor John Beideman. clock-maker Mrs. Peter Schatz, cake baker
Henry Lindenmuth. shoe- maker
Abraham Bailey, tavern- keeper
William Schau, tailor
Abraham De Wald, cigar- maker
Dr. Benj. Becker, physician Philip Hummel, farmer Frederick Felix, shoemaker Michael Reese, cooper John Eberhard, carpenter William Machemer, dyer John Moyer, tobacconist John Shomo, Sr., inn-keeper Andrew Smith, blacksmith
William Neyer
Jolın Tolbert Isaac Thompson
Jonathan Waidman
Christian Wild
Dewald Shollenberger . Est. Fred'k Shollenberger
Charles Loy Daniel Laub
Samnel Lilly
Widow Leitheiser
John Sunday William Smith Benjamin Stitzel Jacob Smith
Joseph Smith Jacob Siegfried
Israel Smith Boas Smith
Andrew Smith Est.
Joseph Shomo Jacob Snell
John Miller, cabinet-maker
Andrew Forsyth, merchant Jacob Fisher, coffee-mill- maker
Lewis Rhubear
William Feather
249
BOROUGHS
chief burgesses, town clerks and justices of the Shollenberger, who traded as Loose, Seaman & Co., peace since 1867 are as follows:
CHIEF BURGESSES
John Sunday 1867-68; 1874-75
James Prutzman .1869-71
Reuben Seidel 1872-73; 1880
Jacob Geiger 1876
Fred. Gordfleck 1877-78
John A. Tobias . 1879
Dr. William Harris 1881-82
Solomon K. Dreibelbis 1883; 1885-86
Alton F. Luburg 1884; 1887; 1897-1900; 1903-06
Dr. Jonathan B. Potteiger .1888
Christian Baum 1889
Frank R. Wagner 1890-91
J. Albert Sunday 1892
Thomas M. Raubenhold .1893; 1903-06; 1909-12
William K. Miller
1894-97
John R. Wagner 1900-03
Dr. Frank M. Nice
1906-09
TOWN CLERKS
George A. Xander 1867-73'
J. Jerome Miller 1874-77
B. S. Gardner 1878-80; 1882
R. J. M. Miller 1881; 1884-90
B. F. Bean
.1883
Monroe M. Dreibelbis 1890-93
Benneville Derr 1893-98
Frank I. Tobias 1898-1910
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE*
Ephraim Dreibelbis 1873-78
Oliver J. Wolff
1875-88
Jackson .Levan .1878-88; 1893-98
Solomon K. Dreibelbis
1888-93
M. M. Dreibelbis
1898-1903
Solomon K. Hoffman 1888-1913
W. A. B. Ketner
1903-13
POST-OFFICE .- A post-office was established at Hamburg in 1798. The postmaster since 1897 has been Abel H. Beyers. Previous postmasters back to 1870 were: B. Frank Bean, Allen L. Shomo, Dr. William Harris, Elias Shomo, Henry Rothen- berger, Peter S. Haintz.
INDUSTRIES .- The oldest recognized industry in the town was the gristmill established about the beginning of the town by Martin Kaercher, Jr., and the site is still occupied as a mill by the Savage Brothers. It has been operated for upward of one hundred and twenty years by different parties.
Numerous industries, such as for the 'distillation - of whiskey, the brewing of beer, the building of boats, the manufacture of leather, bricks, chains, nails, wool hats, etc., were carried on for many years in the early history of the place as a town and afterward as a borough, but these have been abandoned for many years.
One of the most prominent plants is the Ham- burg .Plow Works on Main street, operated by S. A. Loose & Son. It was first started as a tannery by Israel Derr and operated till near 1850. Then it was converted into a foundry by his son Benne- ville for the manufacture of stoves and the "Derr Plows." He employed from ten to fifteen men. It are Mr. Schmick (president), Charles D. Burkey was carried on by him until 1881, when he was : succeeded by S. A. Loose, C. F. Seaman and P. M.
* Record previous to 1873 not on file.
and they changed the name of the plant to the Hamburg Plow Works. They manufactured ex- tensively the "Champion" plow, and the "Bower" slip-point plowshare, which they shipped to all parts of this country and foreign countries including South America and Spain. Loose became sole owner in 1893, and his son was admitted as a partner in 1903.
The Keystone Foundry on State street was erec- ted in 1841 by Reuben Lins for manufacturing farming implements, rolling-mill castings, and stoves. He and others in succession carried it on extensively until 1881, when Henry Seivert became the owner, and he operated it successfully until 1905, when he sold the plant to William Neiman and Llewellyn K. Saul, who have since manufac- tured all kinds of engine and elevator castings, em- ploying twenty-five hands.
The manufacturing of building brick was started at Hamburg about 1845 by John Tobias. The yard and kiln were operated by him and his brother, and then by his son Charles and son-in-law William G. Sheradin until 1902, when they were removed to Tilden township on the farm of Jeremiah A. Bausher.
The industrial affairs at Hamburg in 1909 were in a flourishing condition. Twenty-seven plants were in operation. The following statement shows the nature of the several plants and the names of the proprietors, the year when started, and the number of employees:
W. Irving Wilhelm established a large bicycle works at Hamburg in the year 1892 and carried it on with great success several years until it was destroyed by fire in 1898. The plant was rebuilt and afterward converted into a silk-mill.
Bleachery Works: Allen J. Kummerer (1897- 1907) with 4 hands; W. Scott Fisher & Son (1899- 1908) with 6 hands ; Solon D. Bausher (1904), with 8 to 10 hands; Hamburg Knitting Mills (1909).
Boiler Works: Henry Seiders (1901) ; 20 to 30 hands.
Bottling Works: W. H. Raubenhold (1899), 3 hands (formerly operated by J. W. Heinly from 1880 to 1898).
Broom-handle Factory: William E. Schmick carried on the manufacture of broom handles at Hamburg in 1905 and 1906, when he and five other persons of the place organized the Schmick Handle & Lumber Co. with a capital of $25,000 for the purpose of manufacturing broom-handles and chair stock and transferred the industry to a town called William, in West Virginia, where they have since carried on the business in an extensive and successful manner, employing from forty to fifty hands, and producing daily 25,000 handles, which are shipped to all parts of the country. The parties from Hamburg, interested in this industry,
(vice-president), J. Jerome Miller (treasurer), J. Edward Miller (secretary), J. A. Bausher and his son Solon, who constitute the board of directors.
250
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Broom Factories: W. E. Schmick (1893), 40 to & Co. of Reading in 1902 and operated until 1905, 60 hands ; John H. Miller ( 1899), 10 hands; A. B. when discontinued. A previous industry had been Heller (1900), 12 hands.
Carriage Factorics: Samuel Scott and James Kemmerer, trading as Scott & Kemmerer (1901), 5 hands (previously carried on by W. A. Scott, from 1865 to 1902, when he died). William G. Hahn (1898) ; his brother Adam became a partner in 1902, and they have carried on the business since as W. G. Hahn & Bro., with 15 hands.
Chain Hoists: The Hamburg Manufacturing Company was organized in 1907 by Henry J. Schmick and others of Hamburg ( who had se- cured several valuable patents) for the manufac- ture of chain hoists, with a capital of $50,000. The company established a plant and since then has been very successful in producing a hoist which has become very popular. The United States government has placed a number of them on some of the battle-ships and also in the con- struction work of the Panama canal, which evi- dences the superior character of this particular hoist.
Cigor Factory: John W. Wertley (1861) ; son, John H., was a partner from 1905 to 1907, and then became sole proprietor ; 6 hands.
Creamery: Nathan A. Confer (1892-1906), 2 hands (converted into nickel-plating works) ; Al- fred P. Wertley (1899), 10 hands.
Electric Light and Power Company: Incorpor- ated in 1892; 27 arc lights for borough use, and 1,000 incandescents; John Snell, president ; George F. Meharg, secretary and treasurer.
Engine Works: John Snell and George F. Me- harg, trading as Snell & Meharg (1889) ; 40 hands (formerly at Reading from 1880 to 1889).
Flour Mills: George Walter (1884), 6 hands, 50 barrels daily; Bausher & Seaman* (1899), 5 lands, 50 barrels daily; Savage & Bro. (1901), 5 hands, 18 barrels daily.
Foundrics: S. A. Loose & Son (1903), 30 hands ; Wm. Neiman and L. K. Saul, trading as Neiman & Saul (1905), 22 hands; Nathan Confer, Jr., Thomas L. Smith and N. A. Confer, trading as Confer, Smith & Co. (1903), 40 hands.
Gas Il'orks: Incorporated in 1903; holder, 20,000 cubic feet ; 200 consumers ; H. F. Printzen- hoff, president of the company to 1908, then suc- ceeded by William (. Heinly.
Greenhouse : Stephen Sousley, 1904.
Hosicry Mill: James L. Merkel (1903), 25 hands.
Ice Cream Factories: Alfred P. Wertley (1888; started by father in 1861) ; D. M. Baer (1892).
Knitting Mills: Dr. Allen J. Fink, Solomon K. Hoffman, Esq., and Thomas M. Raubenhold, trad- ing as Hamburg Knitting Mills (1896), 40 hands; Solon D. Bausher (1895), 90 hands; W. Scott Fisher & Son (1903 to 1908), 30 hands.
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