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 64
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
The building is 84 feet by 170 feet, on Frill ave- nue, together with a dye and finishing house. It is equipped with eighty machines, each of which is 30 feet long and makes eighteen stockings at a time. From 250 to 300 hands are employed, and its product is approximately five hundred dozen per day.
The principal product is lisle and mercerized ladies' hose, which are equal to and sold in direct competition with the finest goods imported from Europe. The machines are built by the Textile Machine Works. This "full-fashioned" hosiery is superior to the seamless hosiery made in this dis- trict, inasmuch as it is of finer texture and so made as to conform to the leg and foot.
Paul K. Leinbach's Planing Mill (1908) employs 10 men (had been operated previously from 1904 by William A. Walters, and was destroyed by fire).
Leinbach's Hosiery Mill (1905), 25 men.
MOHNTON
INCORPORATION .- The borough of Mohnton was established by a decree of the court of Quarter Sessions of Berks county on March 18, 1907, and the boundary lines embraced 291 acres, 116 perches. The petition for the borough, signed by 117 free- holders, was presented to court on Oct. 21, 1904, and shortly afterward an earnest remonstrance was filed against it. Depositions were taken and filed, for and against the granting of the petition, and the matter was before the court at different times until favorable action was finally secured on the day first named. The freeholders of the town number- ed 212.
Benjamin Mohn, from Mohn's Hill in the south- ern section of Cumru township, purchased a farm in 1846 from John Schwartz. This was situated along the Wyomissing creek and embraced the land which afterward came to be known as Mohnsville. He then erected a dwelling-house, and some years afterward this was converted into a tavern by John Griner. It is now owned and carried on by Aug- ustus R. Anderson.
About the same time his cousin, Samuel K. Mohn, opened a general store in a grist-mill along the creek, erected by Benjamin Mohn; and a few years afterward he erected a store building opposite the mill along the public road which was laid out through this section on the way from Reading to New Holland, and at this stand he carried on busi- ness for many years.
The character of the surface here is very hilly, and Benjamin Mohn sold off lots without first mak- ing a regular plan or survey ; but, in spite of these uninviting circumstances, many houses came to be John Fry
Mohnsville. For fifty years it has been recognized as a most flourishing settlement, notwithstanding its distance from the railroad. In this respect, it has been an exceptional community. Its success under adverse circumstances is attributable to the superior character of the men who located there.
Shortly after the beginning of the settlement, a wool-hat factory was erected by Absalom Ruth near the Mohn grist-mill. His successor was John Spatz, who operated the plant for twenty years in a very successful manner until his decease in 1898, when it was purchased by his son, Isaac S. Spatz, who has carried on the business since that time.
Subsequently, other wool-hat factories were es- tablished along the stream higher up, by Cyrus D. Hornberger, Jacob Kessler, and Henry Wer- ley. And about this time, William Pennepacker erected a gun-barrel factory, also along the stream but below the Mohn mill, which he carried on for a number of years. All the plants were operated by water-power, supplied by the Wyomissing creek.
FIRST TAXABLES .- The following list contains the names of the first taxables of the borough when first established, in 1907:
Aug. R. Anderson Adam G. Fox Samuel P. Frankhouser
Daniel Anthony
John K. Binkley Aug. M. Griffith
Henry Bechtel
Hiram M. Griffith
Savilla Blimline
Charles R. Groff
Hiram J. Bigony
Charles W. Gaul
Barton Z. Bealer
Harriet Godshak
Alfred Burley
James I. Gougler
Albert Burley
William R. Glassmoyer
Biram M. Griffith
Amelia Godshalk
Mary Binkley
John T. Beidler
William D. Grill
Henry Blimline
Adam M. Grill
Franklin B. Bickel
William S. Groff
William D. Bickel
Tyson L. Huyett
Reuben K. Bucher
James R. Hoffert
Archibald Boyer
Abraham Hoffert
William R. Blankenbiller
James W. Harting
A. Chas. Harting
John T. Hertzog
Nelson W. Dickenson
Wilson A. Dunkelberger
Nelson H. Dickenson
Samuel De Long
Harry G. Hornberger
Priscilla Hemmig
Henry Haas
Adeline Hoover
John R. Hornberger
Frank T. Eckenroth
Sarah Y. Hill
George S. Hill
Wellington Harting
. William M. Hartman Amilia Hill
Emma B. Hinnershitz
George W. Hatt
Albert O. Fisher
Harrison S. Krick
Calvin S. Krick
Oscar Blankenbiller Adison D. Clark Jacob De Tambel
James Hornberger
A. S. Hornberger Josephus S. Hornberger
Emma D. Hornberger
'Milton G. Hornberger
John R. De Hard James Epler John Epler
John J. Eshelman
Arabella Eshelman
Electric Hose Co.
Peter F. Eberly
Charles T. Eckenroth
Charles S. Epler Daniel S. Epler Levi Edwards
James B. Fleisher
Martin D. Grill
John M. Bicher
John Gramer
Amanda Blankenbiller
Frank H. Bitler
Chas. B. Hornberger
285
286
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Monroe C. Killian John J. Klopp Daniel Krick Sallie A. Kleinginna
Samuel Palm
George G. Baker
David Reider
Jacob E. Baker
Charles S. Richwine
S. S. Burkholder
Joseph S. Hornberger
Robert E. Riegner
Christian Burkhart
Frank B. Hartman
Isaac Krick
Austin H. Riegner
Nathaniel Bickel
Frank L. Hartman
Henry E. Remp
Henry K. Ruth
George Bush
John F. Herb Robert B. Hatt Edward Hartman
Frank Kleinginna Clayton Killian
William G. Ruth
John R. Regar
Charles F. Boyer
Harry G. Hill
Adam H. Lutz George H. Leininger James H. Lutz Martin H. Lutz
Samuel Steffey John R. Slote
William Coleman
Lewis Hartranft
John D. Leininger
John N. Steffey
Christian De Binder
Martin D. Kohl
Frank S. Leininger
George Sheaffer
Felix K. De Binder
Howard F. Kindt
Wm. G. Leininger Carolina Leininger Howard S. Leininger Irvin R. Musser B. K. Mayberry
John H. Spatz Est.
Isaac S. Spatz
Wayne Epler
Howard Krick
William H. Seifrit
Pierce S. Strunk
Fred Eckenroth Curtis Eberly
Samuel S. Keyser
Harvey W. Mohn Hiram Matz Est.
John A. Seitzinger
Monroe Ebling
Howard Eckenroth
George S. Epler
Daniel S. Lutz
Westley D. Mohn Mohnton Water Co.
Katie Smith
Reuben Eckenroth
David Longenecker
Maggie Mohn John Musselman Harry W. Miller
Benjamin K. Steffey
William M. Fry
Benjamin H. Lorah
Henry Miller Est. Emma K. Mohn
George Tothero
Isaac Trostel
Charles K. Frymoyer
Dr. J. W. Frankhouser
Harry H. Fritz
Charles J. Mosser
Jonathan H. Miller Richard Marks
William H. Weber
Walter M. Griffith
Edwin F. Miller
Jacob W. Miller
John C. Werner
William Gehman
Matthew F. Miller Henry G. Matz Solomon D. Mohn
Frank W. Matz
James L. Weber
William Groff
Levi H. Miller
Adam L. Matz
William Weber Est.
Samuel K. Mohn
Martin L. Matz
Wesley M. Worley
Elmer D. Miller
Jonathan K. Miller
Alice M. Worley
J. B. Gougler
David D. Mell
Albert G. Miller Luke H. Marks Charles S. Mohn Reese Muckel
Charles M. Worley
Charles E. Mohn
Charles G. Werner Frank M. White
Harry Gehman
Thomas Mohr
Harry L. Musser
Henry H. Wise
Frank R. Good
David F. Mohn
Chas. F. Madeira
Aaron K. Warner
Annie S. Warner
James M. Hartz
George Muckel Nicholas H. Mosser
Henry Hoster Samuel Hoster
William R. Mosser
Harry W. Hughes
John B. Pawling
Jeremiah Werner
John H. Hartman
Harry L. Hill
Harry C. Peters Frank Peters
Rudy Hoffert
Howard Remp
Henry Hoffert
Henry S. Riegel
William Hoffert
Frank A. S. Riegel
Harry High
Edward Rudy
Freeland J. Houghton
David Hoffert William S. Hower
John F. Reber John C. Reber Henry Reitz Frank D. Ruth
John A. Auchenbach Wirn. R. Auchenbach James G. Boate Edward Blankenbiller
Edward Bennetts Homer Blimline
Harry Blimline
Harvey Boone Cyrus Brendel
James Blankenbiller
John A. Blankenbiller Jerome Boyer
Jonathan B. Hatt Daniel B. Hill Samuel B. Hill Wm. E. Huyett
Joseph Ressler
Jacob S. Riegel William E. Riegel Charles Staudt
Daniel M. Kindt C. D. B. Kindt Walter S. Kleinginne Sarah Karterman
Hiram W. Reigner James G. Ruth
William H. Bicher
Harry S. Bicher Edwin Binkley
Walter G. Hill
Irvin L. Shonour
Chester W. Baer
Pierce B. Hatt
D. S. Sensenig
Harvey J. Clay
J. R. Hensyl
Michael D. Kegerise
William E. Shirk
David S. Edwards
Miles Keller
Dr. A. A. Stamm
Harry M. Embich
Frank F. Kline
John G. Mosser John S. Mohn
Frank W. Slichter
George W. Strunk Levi Strunk
Harry H. Eckenroth H. T. Epler
Adam Long
William P. Stoner
Frank Sweigard
John J. Frankhouser
John H. Fichthorn
Robert L. Miller
William C. Miller
William S. Trostel George Vogel Bessie Werner
Walter S. Werner
Richard Gehman
William H. Muckel
Walter Weber
Henry R. Groff
Adam S. Miller
Adeline Wenrich
John W. Glass
Benjamin Griffith
Harry H. Gring
Harry G. Mohn
Isabella Worley
John S. Gring
John P. Marks
Albert A. Griffith
Abraham Godshalk
Wayne L. Musser
Charles W. Miller
Harry D. Godshalk
Raymond W. Musselman
William J. Marks
Frank K. Walfinger
Charles S. Holtry
Caroline Musser H. Irvin Mohn Susanna Mohn Aug. S. Mosser Samuel K. Miller Samuel H. Musser
E. J. Werner H. H. Worley
William G. Werner
William E. Hughes
Thomas Palmn
Mohnton K. of P. Hall
John G. Werner Samuel F. Westley
Ellen R. White
John Y. Weidner
Frank R. Warner
Daniel W. Young
John S. Zeller
Tenants
Herbert Hornberger George L. Happ C. C. Houck Peter F. Hartman
William H. Ruth
Augustus C. Rohland
Wallace Resh
Harry N. Noll James O'Neal Jacob Palmı Jacob Peters Daniel N. Peifer George K. Pawling
Worley Brothers
Elmer E. Fox
William M. Leininger Samuel Longenecker Leon Miller
William R. Musser Adam B. Mayer
Dr. B. H. Miller
William F. Gaul
Nicholas Mosser
Howard W. Sheaffer
David Long
William I. Lebo
Israel Longenecker
Dr. M. L. Miller
John R. Dehart
Webster G. Hertzog.
Harry S. Krick
George W. Delong
Martin B. Hill
William G. Beam
Edwin M. Hatt Aaron Hagy
Carroll A. Miller
BOROUGHS
287
James G. Vierling
George W. Vogel
William Vogel
Charles L. Vogel
Charles T. Valentine
Aaron M. White
Harry Wise Paul S. Warner Elmer Werley
John S. Wenger
Harry H. Witmer
David W. Weiler
L. Tyson Warner
James E. Werley M. H. Werner
J. B. Werner
Jeff P. Wolfskill
Pierce Wenrich
Charles Steffey
Joseph M. Wenrich
Frank Sweigart
William F. Werner
Edward Smith
George D. Wolfskill
M. K. Sponagle
Francis S. Wolf
Charles Trostel
George L. Wolfskill
Frank Trostel
Charles S. Wenrich
OFFICIALS .- The following persons served the offices named for the year 1909:
Chief Burgess, Aaron R. Wanner
Town Council, William Leininger, President
Charles Miller, Treasurer
Frank Kleinginna
Irwin Shonour
John Mosser John Beidler
A. S. Hornberger, Secretary
School Board, Dr. A. A. Stamm, President
Allen Fisher, Secretary
Dr. M. L. Miller, Treasurer
Harry Noll
Charles T. Eckenroth
Charles Werner
Justices of the Peace, D. N. Peifer
Frank W. Matz
Constable, John L. Seitzinger Auditors, Albert Miller
Charles Madeira John Eshelman
Assessor, John B. Werner
Collector, Joseph S. Hornberger
Board of Health, Dr. B. H. Miller
Reuben Bucher John Zeller William Miller Ellis Werley
POST-OFFICE .- A post-office was established in the store of Samuel K. Mohn in 1857 by the name of Mohn's Store and this name was continued until the erection of the borough, when it was changed to Mohnton. Mr. Mohn was the postmaster for fif- teen years. John Yocom Weidner has filled the position since 1897. He has been engaged in the general store business at this place for forty years. He started the business of cutting, storing and sup- plying ice in this section of the county and has been engaged in it for thirty years.
INDUSTRIES .- The following varied industries were carried on at Mohnton in 1909:
Bakeries, by Augustus Griffith (established 1892), with 4 hands ; Groff & Ressler (1898), with 4 hands.
Cigar Factory, by J. J. Eshelman (1886), with 40 hands.
Cotton Lap Factory, by Werley Brothers (1908), with 4 hands.
Grist Mill, by John Spatz Estate (1888), with 2 hands.
Hosiery Mills, by George Leininger (1898), with 75 hands; Wm. G. Leininger (1898), with 130 hands; Isaac S. Spatz (1903), with 35 hands ; Wer- ley Brothers (1904), with 25 hands.
Paper Box Factory, by E. G. Werner & Sons (1894), with 35 hands.
Planing Mills, by Frank Wanner (now son Ty- son) (1880), with 8 hands; Isaac S. Spatz (1901), with 6 hands.
Saw Mill, by John Y. Weidner (1903), with 3 hands.
Shirt Factories, by William Werner (1897), with 30 hands; Biram Griffith (1908), with 18 hands; Dr. A. A. Stamm * (1900), with 30 hands.
Underwear Mill, by Hornberger & Killian (1908), with 25 hands.
Wool-hat Factories, by Jacob Kessler (1878), with 40 hands ; Isaac S. Spatz (1898), with 50 hands. Wheelwright Shops, by Henry Knoll (1880), with 4 hands; Henry Wise (1895), with 3 hands.
Besides the industries named, the borough con- tained then five stores, two hotels, three doctors, two barbers and an undertaker.
These industries demonstrate the importance and great value of the stream to the community by affording constant employment to several hundred hands. Besides the water-power, coal is also used for steam-power and heating ; it is hauled by teams from Reading.
Local Express .- Howard H. Leininger started a local express business at Mohnton in 1902 for haul- ing manufactured goods, merchandise, coal, etc., for the local industries to and from Reading, and since then has required the constant use of twenty-five to thirty horses to fill the orders of his patrons.
The manufacturers also do much hauling to and from Reading in their business, and employ upward of seventy horses. Their nearest shipping point on the railroad is at Reading.
BANK .- The Mohnton National Bank was char- tered Dec. 7, 1907, with a capital of $25,000, and it was opened for business Jan. 21, 1908, with the following directors: George H. Leininger, L. G. Hain, John Von Neida, M. C. Kauffman, Jeremiah Horning, Augustus R. Anderson, Charles M. Yet- ter, Jacob C. Kessler, E. G. Werner, William G. Leininger, Henry H. Werley, Harry Dumn, S. K. Remp and Aaron A. Hornberger; of whom George H. Leininger was elected president.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
Mill Dams .- The Wyomissing creek, which flows through the southern section of the borough, has been a valuable water-power to the residents of this vicinity from the time of the earliest settle- ments dating back to about 1735. Within the dis- tance of two miles at and above the borough, seven dams have been constructed, which have been very * Sold to Mary Strouse in February, 1909.
Israel Saylor Wayne Steffey George W. Smith Alfred H. Stuber Willis Stirk Adam F. Showalter Elmer G. Spatz William E. Showalter Jeremiah V. Shonour
Zenas M. Shonour
George Shutter
Daniel F. Spatz Elwood Sensenig Edward H. Smith Edward Strunk
Claude Strauss Benton E. Shonour F. W. Solver
288
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
useful in supplying water-power to the industries 1850, where the church stands, opposite the post- erected along the banks of the creek. These dams
office, and continued there until 1890, when it was are operated by the following: Josephus Horn- removed to the place where it now stands. Several berger (covering several acres of ground and used for swimming and pleasure purposes in the sum- mer time and skating in the winter time) ; Mohn- ton Knitting Mill; Isaac S. Spatz Planing Mill and Hat Factory; Werley Hosiery Mill; Kessler Hat Factory.
Electric Plant .- In 1894, Isaac S. Spatz establish- ed a plant at Mohnton for supplying electric light in the residences and along the streets. He oper- ated the plant until 1901 when he sold it to Aaron R. Wanner, who increased its capacity and has operated it since. Besides supplying electric light, it is used also for pumping water into the local reservoirs which furnish the town with drinking water.
Waterworks .- Samuel K. Mohn started water- works at this place in 1882 for supplying the town with water, and he carried on the plant until 1901, when he sold it to Howard Ahrens and W. D. Mohn, who enlarged the plant and have carried it on since. They put down an 8-inch main. The inhabitants of Shillington receive their water from this plant. The water is obtained from Klein- ginne's creek. The draft of the water pipes of the Mohnsville Water Company was acknowledged and filed July 1, 1886; Charles S. Mohn, president ; John A. Bohler, secretary.
Additional reservoirs were established on the Betzler property, south of the borough, and on the Binkley property to the north, each holding about 500,000 gallons. They occupy elevated positions above the borough and afford a sufficient supply at all times. At the latter place, an artesian well, about 150 feet deep, has been provided for an ex- tra supply of pure water.
Trolley Linc .- The Reading & Southwestern Street Railway was constructed from Reading to Mohnsville in 1890, and since then has been oper- ated successfully. In 1894, a steam railroad was constructed from Mohnsville to Adamstown. A small engine was used for several years; then elec- tric power was substituted.
PENNWIN .- In 1904, William High purchased a tract of farming land near the eastern border of the borough from Jesse Matz, laid it off in lots and named the place Pennwin. He sold some of the lots, on which a number of dwellings have been erected; also a fine, two-story brick school build- ing.
CHURCHES .- There are three churches at Mohn- ton : Salem's Evangelical Reformed, established in 1872, and rebuilt of sandstone in 1897; Zion's United Evangelical in 1892, built of brick, with a sandstone base; and St. John's Lutheran in 1900, built of sandstone.
additions were made to it. It has six rooms. Two additional rooms have recently been supplied in another building to accommodate the increasing number of children. Some of the teachers during the past forty years have been Valentine Guldin, Leo Hess, A. F. E. Grill, Mrs. B. H. Miller, Miss Kate Lewis, Hiram J. Bigony and William F. Big- ony. In 1908, there were seven schools and 300 scholars; and the total expenditures for school purposes were $4,360.
SECRET SOCIETIES .- Different secret societies have been instituted here, prominent among them being the American Mechanics, Knights of Friend- ship, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen, and P. O. S. of A.
AUDITORIUM .- In 1906, Augustus R. Anderson erected a fine large two-story frame auditorium op- posite the trolley station with a seating capacity of 800, in which various entertainments have been held.
WEST READING
TOWN PLAN .- In 1864, Frederick R. Frill pur- chased from William Leinbach a farm of 116 acres, which now comprises the eastern section of West Reading. In 1873, he laid this land off into lots, and most of the lots in the blocks south of Penn street (West. Penn avenue) were numbered con- secutively from 1 to 200. The surveyor was Dan- iel S. Zacharias, who prepared the draft, dating it Oct. 21, 1873.
Mr. Frill sold many of these lots during the sum- mer of that year, and delivered the deeds in Oct- ober. The first purchaser was James F. Matz, car- penter (now superintendent of the West Reading Water Company). He erected the large three-story brick building at the southeast corner of Second and Penn streets, which became the Farmers' Hotel. The first row of dwelling-houses was erected in 1873 on Franklin street, between Third and Fourth streets, by Abraham F Reeser and William Geiger, of Reading.
In 1883, George F Baer, Charles F Smith and Reuben E. Demmon laid off into lots a consider- able part of the Jacob W. Seitzinger farm which they had purchased, and the first blocks of lots then sold lay between Fifth and Sixth streets, south of West Penn avenue to Spruce street, the sales having been effected through the Pennsyl- vania Trust Company.
Builders .- The first builders of the town who erected the dwelling-houses were:
Reeser & Geiger Harry Auman
James F. Matz Henry Trostel
Jared G. Yarnell James M. Hain
Simon Kline
Franklin Leinbach
SCHOOLS .- The first school-house in the vicinity INCORPORATION .- After the town of West Read- of Mohnton was on "Cedar Top," a short distance ing had come, through the course of thirty years, east of the village. The first township school in to be a flourishing community, with a number the village (one-story stone) was erected about of important industries and an estimated popula-
BOROUGHS
tion of 700, steps were taken in March, 1903, to establish a borough, but the remonstrance of many property holders was so vigorous during a course of six months that the proceedings were dropped. A second effort was made in Novem- ber, 1906, with the conditions greatly improved, and though earnest objections were again present- ed the court made the decree of incorporation March 18, 1907. The boundary lines inclosed 373 acres, extending from the Wyomissing creek on the south to the Lebanon Valley railroad on the north, and from the western bank of the Schuyl- kill river on the east to the eastern boundary line of the borough of Wyomising on the west.
The first public election was held May 7, 1907, when the first borough officials were elected. F. R. Himmelberger, a prominent carriage manufactur- er of the town for upward of twenty years, was chosen the first burgess, and this election started the community in its political career as a separ- ate district.
FIRST TAXABLES .- Names of resident taxables of West Reading, when first established as a bor- ough in 1907:
William Latshaw Est.
Otto Lind
Jacob D. Leinbach Howard Leinbach
Charles G. Labe Walter Larkin J. Calvin Leinbach J. P. Lee William W. Leinbach
Charles H. Lotz
Charles J. Link
Jacob A. Leightheiser
Calvin A. Leinbach
George F. Mertz
Elizabeth Matz
William W. Matz
Nathan H. Miller
William H. Moyer
John Mish
Cletus Setley
Thomas Mogel
William A. Miller
John Miller
Lando Seitzinger
George Manning
Charles H. Seiders
Ezra O. Miller
George H. Schwartz
Frank J. Moyer
Wilson E. F. Miller
Daniel M. Miller
Peter F. Mogel
Ed. Spatz & John E. Hain
McQuade Bros.
Benjamin H. Seidel
Henry F. Miller
Joseph W. Shanaman
Frank P. Matz
James G. Spatz
William W. Machemer
Isaiah B. Seibert
William Alvine
John Gerhart
Aaron F. Adams
Milton A. Gring
Aaron Adams, Sr.
William S. Gruber
Daniel A. Mosser
Henry F. Trostle
William F. Adams
William H. Gring
Christian Ortmiller
William F. Texter
David F. Brown
Morris J. Geiss
Patrick M. Odear
John A. Ulrich
Michael M. Baker
John P. Groff
Jacob D. Potts
Ezra Von Neida & Bro.
Thomas J. Brossman
Fred K. Graeff
Irvin W. Potteiger
Charles Voelker, Sr.
Simon Blankenbiller
John H. C. Heffner
Walter A. Bleiler
Jefferson B. Himmelberger
Valentine Behringer
Benjamin F. Holl
John Blankenbiller
John J. Haederle
John H. Reinert
J. S. Reber
Stephen S. Wisser
Daniel B. Blankenbiller
Jacob D. Hilbert
Arns Rhode
John B. Withers
Charles H. Boyer
John Holzinger
Ralph L. Ritzman
Jonas Weaver
James I. Rishel
Jacob C. Wolf Homer S. Yost
J. G. Yarnell
Tenants
Frank Anderson
William J. Allgaier Harry Anderson
Thomas J. Crimmins
Dr. Silas Burns
Henry I. Clay
Cornelius Himmelberger
Claude R. Bright
Lewis L. Conrad
John Hollenbach
Raymond C. Bright
John R. Dellicker Harry D. Dean Walter Y. Dauber
Robert C. Etchberger
Elizabeth Hechler
Edgar J. Becker
Irvin M. Becker
Howard R. Deisher William G. Dierolf
J. W. Forry & Son John Fisher Sarah Freeman John Fox George F. Fritz William Foreman
William A. Hechler Levi Jones Thomas Kocher
Charles L. Becker Adam E. Baer
J. Frank Dohner Frank Day Albert H. Deeds George Dundore
Herbert S. Bryson A. H. Bright Levi F. Clay Charles R. Clay
Harvey Y. Dauber
George W. Fisher
Annie S. Krick
S. Irvin Christman
John H. Ellis
John H. Eyrich
Fred Crossland Harry E. Clark
David Care
Reuben Roth Clarence L. Rahn
Thomas P. Rahn
Martin L. Ruth David Roth Conrad S. Reber Edwin G. Ruth
Fred V. Shearer
Elijah B. Smith
Jacob P. Struble Henry Schlegel
Joseph K. Strause
James C. Seltzer
Henry J. Smith
Angline Jane Shunk
Paul Schnabel
William J. Stamm
Mary M. Shanaman
George W. Swartz
Jacob Snyder Monroe Stauffer
Gustav Albrecht
Milton A. Albright
John J. Geiger Augustus Glaser
Lizzie E. Markley Charles Mee
Mary A. Seibert
Harry B. Blankenbiller
Thomas A. Hechler
James F. Holl
Solomon Ringler
Frank Wanner
William B. Blankenbiller P. W. Brubaker
Albert B. Heist
William H. Riegel
Florence Frey Weidner
William F. Brobst Charles Clark Benjamin Cohn
Oscar P. Holl
Charles M. Hain
George M. Hain
Theodore M. Deck
Lloyd F. Dunkelberger
J. Adam Dieffenbach
William E. S. Hinnershitz Peter Homrich
Wellington Dunkelberger Michael Eckenroth Therese Engels
Frank R. Himmelberger
James M. Hain
Abraham W. Hain
D. L. George Ellis Est. John Eyrich Est. Clara Esterline William M. Edris
Augustus Hushower
Edwin J. Bixler
Mrs. George Eckert
Hilbert & Lamm
William F. Hechler
Charles D. Bailey
John J. Kocher Martin Kussler George W. Kaucher
Thomas Eckenroth
Claudius J. F. Gruber Joseph A. F. Ganster
Daniel K. Graeff Daniel S. Good 19
Mary H. Kutz J. Frank Kline John Keener
Charles R. Quinter
Joseph Wounderly
Howard N. Rishel
James M. Reifsnyder
Eva F. Weil John H. Wise Ernst Wolschendorf
Adam R. Blatt
Jacob S. Hill
Mary Ringler
Wisser & Lesher
C. Milton Rintz
John H. Hinnershitz
Francis Y. Hemmig
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.