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

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 58


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216


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.




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.