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 58
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lumber, and furnishing materials. A large branch on account of their exceptional size, weight and establishment is maintained at Philadelphia. The strength.
manager of the plant is M. R. Strunk, and he has
Orchards .- Dr. John H. Funk started the cul- filled the position most satisfactorily since its in- tivation of fruit at Boyertown about 1881 and corporation.
Union Foundry .- The Union Manufacturing Company was organized in 1894 with a capital of $50,000 for manufacturing all kinds of castings, but more especially sad-irons. It has been op- erated since in a successful manner, employing from fifty to sixty hands. John G. Schealer (ex- burgess, an enterprising builder of the place), has rels of cider. been its president since 1897. Sixty . hands are employed.
Knitting Mills .- In 1895 George W. Unger re- moved from Shoemakersville to Boyertown and erected a knitting-mill for manufacturing ladies' underwear. He has carried it on since, and em- ploys from fifty to sixty hands. In 1900 Dr. L. K. Francis & Son erected a similar plant and they employ. from forty to fifty hands.
establishment in December, 1908, to the Boyer- town Paper Box Company, which was then ,or- ganized by a number of business men from Potts- town. J. A. Parker became the general man- ager and Mr. Hartman the foreman. The plant was much enlarged. Twenty hands are employed.
Marble Yard .- William Shollenberger carried on a marble yard for some years until he was killed in the Boyertown fire; then he was succeed- ed by his brother Franklin.
Butcher Shop .- Ham Y. Lechner has conduct- ed a butchering establishment and general meat shop since 1890.
Horse Market .- Boyertown has been a prom- inent horse market for fifty years. William Bind- er was the first dealer to develop an extensive trade and he was succeeded by his sons Henry M. and Franklin, who followed the business for twenty years.
Jacob Wallach started as a dealer in horses at Eshbach in 1866. He located at Boyertown in 1870 and since then has been very active and suc- cessful in the business, more especially. in supply- ing heavy draught horses, weighing upward of 1,800 and 2,000 pounds, to New York parties. In 1904 he and his sons-in-law, Mark Rosenberg and Moses Deegan, established a large stock stable several miles from Boyertown near Grim's Mill, where they have on hand from fifty to two hun- dred heavy horses, which command large prices
continued until 1892, when John G. Schealer be- came his successor and he has operated the or- chard, containing about eighteen acres, until the present time. His crops are almost entirely apples and pears, though he cultivates large quantities of strawberries. He also manufactures annually in the fall of the year about twenty-five hundred bar-
In 1894, Dr. Funk started a large peach and apple orchard on the Jacob K. Stauffer farm, con- taining sixty acres, and since then has produced great quantities of peaches and apples. His son is engaged in the truck business; also in the cul- tivation of flowers.
Hotels .- The first public house was opened here in 1805 by Michael Boyer and it occupied the site of the Union House. The present large brick building (three stories) was erected in its stead by William Binder. Daniel B. Boyer purchased it in 1861, and owned it until he died in 1890, when it became the property of his two sons, James and Horace. The Keystone House was erected by Henry Boyer in 1850; and the William Penn (afterward called the Mansion House) by Charles Fegley in 1870. Subsequently other places were
Paper Box Factory .- Mahlon J. Dellicker start- ed making paper boxes in 1896 in the Rhoads building. After operating the enterprise in a lim- ited way for several years he sold out to Amos Hartman and the industry was removed to the old school building opposite the railroad station, which was leased for that purpose. In 1904, Mr. Hartman's son Augustus became the owner. The factory was finely equipped and provided em- licensed and for a time the borough had six; but ployment for ten to fifteen hands. He sold the for several years it has had only four. .
256
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
NATIONAL BANKS .- The National Bank of Boy- reached in efforts to extend the line to Potts- ertown was chartered in 1874 with a capital of town, through the borough by way of Ringing $100,000. In November, 1908, the resources of Rocks Park and Gilbertsville, this line being opened for travel Oct. 1, 1906; and the line from Reading to the borough boundary was extended: to the railroad crossing on Philadelphia street in. 1908 while the vitrified brick pavement was be- ing laid, and the transfer of passengers was start- ed June 1, 1908, affording through travel from Reading to Pottstown. the bank were $1,118,378. The individual depos- its then were $255,525, and the time deposits $434,- 403, with undivided profits of $21,713. The par value of the stock is $100, but the market value was then over $300, evidencing the superior man- agement of this banking institution. E. K. Schultz is president, and M. H. Schealer cashier. Daniel L. Rhoads was the first president, until his death in 1896; the second was Jacob Wallach, who served until 1904.
The Farmers' National Bank of Boyertown was chartered in 1883 with a capital of $50,000. In November, 190S, the resources were $267,005; in- dividual deposits, $113,742; and certificates of de- posits, $49,013. Dr. Thomas J. B. Rhoads has been the president since 1883; and Dr. Edwin M. Herbst the cashier since 1907.
INSURANCE COMPANY .- The Boyertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated Jan. 2, 1886, and has been successfully maintained until now, levying only twenty assessments in twenty-four years. The total insurance in force amounts to four millions of dollars. L. P. G. Feg- ley was the organizer and has been the secretary from the beginning; and Dr. T. J. B. Rhoads the treasurer. William K. Grim officiated as the president until he died in August, 1905, and he was succeeded by William D. Kehl, who has serv- ed since.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
Water Company .- A water company was or- ganized and incorporated in 1856 to supply Boy- ertown with water, and it established a res- ervoir on the hill west of the town. The plant was carried on by the company until 1902, when it was transferred to the borough, and enlarged.
Light .- The streets were lighted for many years by oil lamps on posts along the sidewalks, until Dr. Reuben B. Rhoads became the burgess in 1903, and in his term gasoline lamps were sub- stituted, which made a great improvement. In 1906 a gas company was organized to introduce illuminating gas for lighting the streets and build- ings, and the pipe-mains were put down just be- fore the streets were paved with vitrified brick.
In 1908 an electric company was incorporated and the streets began to be lighted by electricity on April 1, 1909, under contract with the borough.
Fire Companies .- In 1865, a volunteer fire com- pany was organized for protection from fire, and? a small hand-engine was secured by a popular subscription, but in a few years the borough pur- chased the apparatus. In 1873, a second company was formed by the name of Keystone Fire Com- pany, and it was supplied with a Silsby steam fire- engine, hose carriage and truck, with 600 feet of leather hose. A leased property was used un- til 1878, when the borough purchased a lot and. erected thereon a two-story frame building for the apparatus, and this has been occupied until the present time. The upper story was set apart as a town-hall, and it has been used since by the council.
In 1882, a hook and ladder company was or- ganized, which was named "Friendship"; and this has been maintained since. In 1902 this com- pany erected a fine two-story brick building for its apparatus. The second story has been used as an amusement hall, and for fairs, lectures, etc.
NEWSPAPERS .- In 1858, O. P. Wink started the. publication of a German newspaper called the Boyertown Bauer (Farmer.). It was continued until 1868, when George Sassaman purchased the publication and changed the name to Boyertown Democrat. In 1860, Charles Spatz became the proprietor. Some years afterward, he added an English department. He continued the publica- tion in a successful manner until his decease in 1884, when his son Charles became the proprie- tor, and the son has issued it with increasing suc- cess until the present time. The use of the Ger- man language was discontinued in 1889. It has been a consistent advocate of Democratic princi- ples from the beginning. In 1906 a linotype ma- chine was introduced to facilitate the printing of the newspaper. A job printing office is connect- ed with the establishment. He also published the Boyertown Bauer in the German language from 1889 until 1907, when it was discontinued.
Trollcy Linc .- The Oley Valley railway was CHURCHES .- The first church was erected here in 1790 by the Mennonites on land donated by constructed from Reading to Boyertown, by way of Friedensburg, Pleasantville and Shanesville, Henry Stauffer. In 1819 a brick building was and opened for travel by means of electric pro- erected in its stead. In 1847 a dissension . arose pulsion in 1902. The subject of this railway line in the congregation on account of dress and some had been agitated unsuccessfully for many years. of the fundamental doctrines of this denomina- The eastern terminus was fixed at a point in the tion, which resulted in the formation of two con- southerly end of the borough on account of cer- gregations, called the old church and the new. same church on alternate Sundays until 1877, when the old body determined to tear down the tain conditions exacted by the council for reach- The two congregations, however, occupied the ing the center of the borough which the company could not accept, but in 1906 an agreement was
.
#
BOROUGHS
257
church and erect a larger building in its stead. the leader for several years, until 1906, when he was succeeded by John Heydt.
The new body tried to restrain them by proceed- ing at law, but failed, and then they also erected a building which was dedicated in 1884. The two bodies still maintain separate organizations with a small membership.
Members of the Lutheran and Reformed denom- inations united in erecting a "Union Church" in 1811 on land donated by Henry Stauffer, adjoin- ing the Mennonites. It was occupied by them jointly until 1873, when the Reformed became the sole owner and they proceeded to erect a new building in 1874, which was dedicated in 1876, the total cost reaching $35,000. The Lutherans had determined in 1870 to erect a new building. They started in 1871 and the church was formal- ly dedicated in 1872, the cost being also $35,- 000.
Adherents of the Methodist Episcopal denom- ination organized a congregation at Boyertown and erected a church in 1876.
The United Evangelical Association erected a small one-story brick church in 1895 in the east- ern section of the town, and the congregation has maintained its organization until now.
OPERA HOUSE FIRE .- An exhibition was being held in the Rhoads Opera House of Boyertown for the benefit of the Sunday-school attached to St. John's Lutheran Church, on Monday evening, Jan. 13, 1908, and the performance, relating to "The Scottish Reformation," was being produced The under the direction of Mrs. H. E. Monroe, of Washington, D. C. The auditorium on the second story was crowded with an interested audience. A large calcium light was being used for the pur-
SCHOOLS .- Education was encouraged by the people from the beginning of the town. township accepted the free school system in 1838. A township school was in the borough when es- tablished in 1866, which was enlarged in 1876, and in 1887 a second building was erected, on the pose of showing the tableaux effectively and sud- denly a cap on one of the tanks exploded which startled the audience. Immediately there were shooting flames and instantaneous shrieks and cries, when a sudden movement of the audience was made for the front door. The calamity that followed is indescribable, for 171 persons lost their
rear of the lot, which was used for high school purposes. These two buildings were used until the new and commodious two-story brick build- ing was erected by the borough in 1898, when all the schools excepting the high school, were transferred to this building. The property is still owned by the borough, the front building being lives by the fire, 123 from Boyertown, 48 from rented. The schools were graded in 1878. In other places. 1906, there were ten schools, with 428 scholars. Victims of Fire .- The following lists show the By a special election in February, 1909, it was names and residences of the victims.
decided to erect a new school building in the western section of the borough to accommodate the children in that vicinity.
Several select schools were carried on here in a very successful manner for about forty years. The Mount Pleasant Seminary was founded by John Stauffer in 1842. Jacob Whitman was the first principal. The Hankeys were prominent ed- ucators here for thirty years. The building af- forded accommodations for fifty resident schol- ars. Day scholars were also in attendance. It was a popular institution for both sexes, and had a wide and excellent reputation.
When Prof. Isaac B. Hankey severed his con- nection, in 1866, he opened another and similar academy which he named "Kallynean," and car- ried it on for nearly twenty years.
KEYSTONE CORNET BAND was organized in 1875 and has been kept up until the present time, the performers numbering twenty and upward. Charles O. Megerly was a recent instructor and 17
Boyertown-123 Edwin C. Emrick
James Anderson
Mrs. James Anderson
Marigold Anderson
Morris M. Anderson*
Mrs. Morris M. Anderson
Norman Anderson
Sophia Foreman Nellie Foreman
Annie Bauman
Irene Foreman
Walter Bauman
Mrs. L. K. Francis
Lottie Bauman
Layanna Francis
Edna Bauman*
John S. Fritz*
Mrs. John Becker
Ida Fritz*
Alma Becker
Abraham Gabel
Mary Becker
Daniel Gabel
H. M. Binder
Mrs. Daniel Gabel
Mrs. Layanna Bortz
May Geyer
Edna Boyer
Herbert Gottshall
J. Keely Boyer* Clara Brendlinger
Ellen Gottshall Mabel Graeff
Mrs. Katie Christman
Irvin Clemmer Mrs. Esther Cullen*
Rosie Diamond
Lillie Grim
Florence Eddinger
Emma Engle
Esther Erb*
Lulu Fegley
Harry Foreman
Mrs. Harry Foreman
Mrs. Herbert Gottshall
John Gravert
Lottie Gravert
Ruth Guard
PHYSICIANS .- The active and prominent phy- sicians at Boyertown since 1840 have been Dr. Henry W. Johnston, Dr. William Keely, Dr. Eras- tus R. Scholl, Dr. Thomas J. B. Rhoads, Dr. John Todd, and Dr. John S. Bornemann.
LOCAL AUTHOR .- Dr. Thomas J. B. Rhoads, notwithstanding a very active medical practice cov- ering the surrounding country for many miles, and an enterprising disposition in forwarding the industrial and financial affairs of Boyertown, for forty years, devoted some of his time to reminis- cence and authorship, which resulted in the pub- lication of two very interesting octavo volumes, entitled "Onkel Jeff's Reminiscences of Youth and Other Poems," the first having been issued in 1904, and the second in 1906. They display keen observation, much humor and pleasing original- ity.
258
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mrs. Amos Hartman
Carrie Hartman Vernia Hartman Charles Hartman Charles Hess Mrs. Wallace Hoffman Lottie Hoffman* John Hoffman Russell Houck Ephraim Johnson*
Florence Wien Elizabeth Yoder Carrie Yerger
Amityville Mrs. Rebecca Francis Eshbach Dr. Frank F. Brunner Carrie Leaver*
Gabelsville Mrs. Henry Johnson Gilbertsville
Jacob Johnson #
Mrs. Reuben Hoffman*
Alice Hoffman* Austin Mensch
Sallie Romig Robert Taggert*
Stella Krause
Mrs. Robert Taggert*
Daniel Krause
Robert LaPish*
Marie La Pish*
Maggie Lefever
Hiram Leidy* Laura Leidy Horace Leidy
Jacob Weller Mrs. Jacob Weller Ida Weller
Landis Store
Mrs. Horace Leidy
Franklin Leidy
Nora Herbst
Howard Leidy
Lobachsville
Mrs. Harry Leinbach
Edwin Fry
Morysville
Mary Fisher
Charles W. H. Maurer
Charles E. Mayer
Sallie Hartman
Guendolyn Mayer
Bertha Reinhart
Mamie Toms
"We recommend the enactment of laws as follows :
"1-Creating Departments of Public Safety and Build- ings whose province shall be to provide for means and appliances to insure public safety in the Boroughs of this Commonwealth.
"2-Requiring that all operators of lights used in stere- opticon and moving picture machines be obliged to under- go an examination, and if found competent certificates be issued to them by the Department of Factory Inspector."
Relief Committee .- The next day after the fire, the citizens held a meeting at Boyertown, and the following Relief Committee was appointed to look after the suffering families and provide the neces- sary relief :
Irwin T. Ehst, Chairman Samuel I. Henry
O. A. H. Jacobs, Secretary James S. Fryer
Mrs. F. Shollenberger
Wm. D. Schealer, Treas. Ephraim S. Gehris
Mrs. George Schoenly*
Milton R. Strunk Daniel Fritz
Daniel B. Bower Benjamin F. Nice
The total relief forwarded to the Relief Commit- tee was as follows :
From Reading $6.375 From Philadelphia 2.708
From Kutztown 333
From Allentown 370
From Fleetwood 230
From Ashland 100
From Hamburg 200
From Pottstown 2,868 Total $13,184
From Eisenlohr Brothers. $1,000
From Burial Casket Company. 600
From sundry persons, including Boyertown 7,291
$8,891
Venia Weand .
Martha Weber
Mrs. Henry Wien*
Carrie Wien
* Unidentified.
ยก Run over by a fire engine the evening of the fire and died from injuries received.
# Died after the fire.
Coroner's Inquest .- The coroner of the county, Dr. Robert E. Strasser, impaneled the following jury of inquest : William H. Fox, Levi S. Delleck- er, Edwin K. Shultz, Irvin T. Ehst, Daniel K. Hoch, and William Y. Levan (the first four from Boyertown, and the last two from Reading), to inquire into the cause of the deaths of the victims of the fire. The jury held six sittings, viewed the remains of 170 victims ( which were not named), examined 48 witnesses, and on Jan. 30, 1908, agreed to the following report, which was filed in the office of the clerk of the court of Quarter Sessions on March 10th :
"That they (the 170 persons) came to their death on Jan. 13, 1908, at about 9:30 p. m., during a rendition [performance] under the auspices of St. John's Lutheran Church, Boyertown, in which a stereopticon picture-ma- chine was used in Rhoads's Opera House, by stupefaction, suffocation, and fire.
"We find the primary cause thereof to have been the employment, by Mrs. Harriet E. Monroe, of an inex- perienced and incompetent operator of the calcium light in the person of Henry Fisher, and the laxity of the Department Factory Inspector of this District, and the Department of Factory Inspector of the State of Pennsyl- vania, in the failure to enforce proper and adequate fire escapes and fire appliances, as well as its failure to en- force existing laws insuring public safety.
"We request the prosecuting attorney of Berks county to arrest, and, if possible, convict Mrs. Harriet E. Mon- roe, and Harry McBechtel, the Deputy Factory Inspector of this District, on the charge of criminal negligence.
Mrs. George Moore Mrs. Harry Moyer George Moyer Charles Nuss
Mrs. William Tomst New Berlinville
Mrs. Martin Bauman
Mrs. Oswin Bauman*
Carrie Bauman*
Mrs. Hiram Clouser*
Mrs. Aaron Ochsenford George Parsons
Annie Derr
Mrs. Willoughby Engel
Mrs. George Parsons
Hannah Haring
Stella Peters
Mrs. C. Ephraim Johnson
Laura Rhoads
Mrs. Herbert Johnson
Edith Rhoads
Annie Ritter Mrs. George Romig
Mrs. Addison Schmoyer William S. Schollenberger
Frances Moyer Stella Moyer New Hanover
Catharine Knipe
Lizzie Knipe
Emily Knipe
Jeremiah Rhoads
Passmorc
Mrs. Ira Shober
Mrs. John Glase
Mrs. George J. Smith
Reading
Edwin B. Stauffer
Clarence Miller
Emma Stauffer
Sassamansville
Lulu Stauffer
Stella Heinbach
Mamie Jones
Mrs. Amos Thompson
Shancsville
Mrs. R. Turner, Jr.
J. Warren Van Reed
Willoughby Bucher Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Della E. Mayers Il'orman Wayne Romig
Total relief forwarded $22,075
Part of this money was expended for the burial of the victims and the payment of various expenses ; and certificates were issued by the National Bank of Boyertown (which was the depositary) in trust for the following orphans :
Mrs. Ephraim Johnson
Mrs. Charles Kline, Jr.# Mabel Kochel Blanche Kochel Stella Kolb Mrs. William Krause
Rose Taggert*
Lizzie Ziegler Hill Church
Mrs. Isaac Lichtel* Newton Lichtel* Mary Ludwig
Matilda Grabert
Mrs. Charles Nuss Harold Nuss Aaron Ochsenford
Alice Moyer Edna Moyer Florence Moyer
Mrs. W. Shollenberger
Mrs. Henry Shaner Charles Shaner Patil Shaner Ira Shober
Mrs. Isabella Tabor
259
BOROUGHS
Wayne Bauer $200
Florence Leinbach 175
Leonard Bowman 300
Royden Mayer
250
Paul Bowman 200
Leon Mayer 100
Emma Bucher 275 Henrietta Moore 125
Irene Bucher
175
Ruth Moyer 250
Edna Bucher
150
Paul Moyer 200
George Bucher 100
Leonard Moyer 150
Mary Bucher 100
Grace Moyer 125
Helen May Bucher 300
Gladys Moyer 100
Esther Cullen
300
Edna Moyer 100
George Cullen
175
Mabel Nester 125
John Cullen 100
Francis Cullen 100
100
Lawrence Schoenly 100
Annie Foreman
100
Russell Tabor 250
Frederick Foreman
125
Lloyd Tabor 250
Florence Foreman 100
Beulah Tabor
200
Gideon Bridegam
Reuben Rauenzahn
Betty Rothermel
Elizabeth Reifsnyder
Rebecca Hoffman 175
Alfred Thompson
125
Ernest Johnson
150
Helen Wien 100
Mary Johnson
100
Stuart Wien 100
Ella Krause
100
William Leidy
100
Total
$7,950
Paul Leinbach 200
Public Sympathy .- Public sympathy was express- ed by people everywhere in a truly Christian man- ner, and thousands of persons from the surround- ing districts and places for many miles went to Boy- ertown in appreciation of the awful visitation. The display of mourning on all the streets, the funerals day after day for a week, and the solemnity of the whole town, were most affecting ; but the order, dig- nity and composure of the people under these extra- ordinary circumstances displayed in a remarkable degree the Christian character of the community.
INDIAN CONFLICT .- In 1728, the early settlers of this section of the county had a conflict with the Indians and therefore a petition was subscribed by a number of the inhabitants who presented it to the Governor, having referred particularly to their suf- ferings and prayed for relief. The Governor visited the place and reported to the Executive Council that the Indians had been there for a number of days, and were well armed under the command of a cap- tain. Some shots were fired, several were wounded and then the Indians left.
FLEETWOOD
The borough of Fleetwood is situated along the East Penn railroad, in Richmond township, twelve miles northeast from Reading. The settlement was first known as Coxtown, having been so called from a time anterior to 1800 until the establishment of the railroad in 1859, when the increasing settle- ment took the name of Fleetwood, after a promi- nent English capitalist who encouraged the con- struction of the railroad. The first considerable town plan was laid out and acknowledged by Thomas Mellon on May 11, 1868, the lots lying wholly to the east of the railroad.
The growth of the town was very slow, the total number of buildings erected there until the con- struction of the railroad not having been thirty; then there was a perceptible increase on account of the concentration of trade at that point, farmers Daniel Barnet
coming for many miles from the southeast and the northwest for the shipment of their freight and the purchase of their coal and lumber, and this increase has been kept up by the enterprising spirit of the place until the present time. During the past ten years there was a marked improvement in the erec- tion of dwelling-houses, which included a number of costly and attractive houses.
INCORPORATION AND FIRST TAXABLES .- The town was incorporated into a borough on Oct. 4, 1873. The names of the first taxables were as follows:
William Adam
Nicodemus Noll
John Angstadt
Maria Peter
John Graver 275
Mabel Tabor 200
William Graver 250
Anna Thompson 250
William Bernhart
Leinbach Bernhart
Peter Rothermel
Augustus Bierman
Samuel Rothermel
Levi Boyer
Cyrus Reifsnyder
Bushong & Co. Manf.
Joshua Reber
Becker & Keller
William Reifsnyder
George Cox & Co.
Reifsnyder & Snyder
Adam Delp
Widow Resler
Jairus Deisher
Isaac Reiser
Amos Rider
Samuel Dumn
Jacob Rothermel
Jacob Dengler
Edwin Shollenberger
Moses Folk
William Scholl
Daniel Focht
Leonard Sweitzer
Peter Gehris
George Scholl
Solomon Hoch
Solomon Schlegel
Conrad Hill
Henry Schaeffer
Benjamin Hilbert
H. W. Schaeffer
George Heydt
William S. Schaeffer
William Kline
James Schaeffer
Isaac Koch
John Swartz Daniel Schaeffer, Sr.
Jacob Kelchner
Samuel Kelchner
Widow Schlegel
Elias Kline
George B. Schaeffer
George Knoll
Samuel Schaeffer
George Kline
Joseph Slegel
Jonathan Kutz
Lewis Schaeffer
Joel Kelchner
George D. Schaeffer
Kline, Wanner & Co.
Moses Sayer
Amandus Kerns
Thomas Kreidler
Henry Sanders
Daniel Koch
Shaeffer, Merkel & Co.
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