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 74

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 74

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Gen. George de Benneville Keim, second son of John Keim, was born at Reading Dec. 16, 1778, and received his education in the school held in the old Friends' meet- ing house. He was then sent by his father to Phila- delphia, entering the large hardware establishment of the Chancellors, in order to familiarize himself with the bus- iness. When he returned to Reading, in his twentieth year, he was taken into partnership by his father. who carried on the business established at what was known as the "old white store." This building was the first business place at Reading. In addition to merchandising George de Benneville Keim also engaged in the manu-

facture of iron, being interested in the Reading Furnace and various forges. From 1809 to 1814 he did business in Philadelphia in connection with the export of bread stuffs. Many of his business interests were of direct benefit to this region, not only in the way of furnishing profitable employment to a large number, but also in introducing new industries, thus, increasing the resources of the section materially. He was one of the first to attempt the cultivation of the grape and the manufacture of wine; he used his means and influence in raising the quality of the live stock in Berks county; and was active in promoting agricultural interests generally, owning sev- eral farms in Exeter township and vicinity. Mr. Keim served as president of the Branch Bank of Pennsylvania for over thirty years; he was one of the promoters of the Reading Water Company and its first president, fill- ing that position for a long period.

Mr. Keim was the chief burgess of Reading, served as president of the town council for many years, and was prominent in the development of the county and of Read- ing, not only in business affairs and as a factor in the local civil government, but also in the promotion of edu- cation and other matters affecting the broader develop- ment of the community. He took an earnest interest in the establishment of the Reading Academy and the Reading Female Seminary, both of which held an im- portant place in the literary training of the young peo- ple of that day. The matter of local public improve- ments always received his hearty support, and he was active in the erection of bridges and the building of good roads, being for many years one of the managers of both the Perkiomen and Reading & Sunbury turnpikes. He was a zealous worker in Christ Church, and took an active part in the building of same, the lot for which was donated by a member of the Price family, to which his wife was related. All benevolent objects and worthy charities were encouraged and supported by him.

When the whiskey insurrection broke out, in 1794, Mr. Keim volunteered, serving in the government forces, and he always took the keenest pleasure in military matters. In 1821 he received the appointment of aid on the staff of Governor Hiester, with the rank of colonel; in 1830 he was elected major-general of the 6th Division, Penn- sylvania Militia, succeeding his brother-in-law, Hon. Sam- uel D. Franks, and when he retired, five years later, was succeeded by his son, George M. Keim, who in turn was succeeded by his cousin, Gen. William H. Keim.

On Feb. 4, 1799, Mr. Keim married Miss Mary May, daughter of James May, and to them were born seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: John M., George M., Daniel M., Ann, Susan, Catharine and Rebecca (m. Wirt Robinson, an eminent civil engineer of Richmond, Va.). George de B. Keim passed away Aug. 20, 1852, and his wife died in 1854.

JAMES MAY, father of Mrs. Mary (May) Keim, and maternal grandfather of Gen. George May Keim, was a well-known citizen of Reading. He was born March 20, 1749, in Coventry township, Chester county, Pa., son of Robert and Elizabeth May, and grandson of Robert May, who came to this province before the year 1700, and married a daughter of John Brooke. Mr. May was of Quaker ancestry. Prior to the Revolution he moved to Reading, where he ever afterward made his home, be- coming one of the prominent citizens of that place. In the . Act of 1783, incorporating Reading into a borough, he was named as one of the assistant burgesses, and he was particularly well known as an early advocate of public improvements in this section, being identified prom- inently with such ventures as the Union canal, Centre turnpike, etc. He was a general merchant and also dealt extensively in grain, lumber, etc .. and was connected with various important institutions, being a director of the Branch Bank and a member of the first Board of Trade at Reading. He was one of the two wardens of the Episcopal Church, the other having been Marks John Biddle, Esq. His death occurred at Reading in 1819.

James May married Bridget Douglass. daughter of George Douglass, and by this union lost his birthright in

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the Society of Friends, the Douglass family being Episco- ton, in March of that year, when many men prominent palians. Their children were: Mary (m. George de B. in politics and letters were present to welcome the great Keim), George, Sarah (m. Hon. Samuel D. Franks), author. Thomas and Elizabeth.

George May Keim received his early education at home and at Bentley Hall, the school conducted by Joshua Hoopes, at Downington, Chester Co., Pa. In 1823 he was graduated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. He studied law under Charles Chauncey, Esq., at Philadelphia, where he was admitted to the bar June 5, 1826, being admitted to the Bar in Berks county on Aug. 11th fol- lowing. As a leader in important public affairs, in var- ious business enterprises of note, and in the government of his country, he found this preparation of immense value. In fact he used his legal knowledge more in such ways than in direct professional labors. At the early age of twenty-two, in 1827, he was elected cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Reading, of which his uncle, Benneville Keim, was the president, and held that position until 1836. He held a substantial interest in many projects tending toward the commercial development of Reading, and en- couraged the establishment of others. He aided in the erection of the first rolling-mill and nail works, owned by Keims, Whittaker & Co., and was a member of the firm of Jones, Keim & Co., who carried on the Wind- sor Furnace, in Windsor township. This firm had a re- putation for its fine castings, made directly from the iron ore, notable among which was "The Last Supper," after Leonardo da Vinci. He understood thoroughly the val- ue of agriculture in the economy of the county, and used his influence and means in raising the standards in var- ious branches of farming. He introduced imported thor- oughbred cattle into the county, and was one of the or- ganizers of the Berks County Agricultural Society, de- livering the address at its first annual meeting, Oct. 28, 1852. He was the second president of the society, serving as such for several years, and it was during his administration that the county commissioners leased to the society for ninety-nine years the "Commons" for the annual exhibitions. He made agricultural addresses in various parts of the State by request. Another source of revenue which he considered valuable in the State led him to an early investigation of her mineral resour- ces, and he made a thorough study of the geology and mineralogy of the State, in the course which he acquired a comprehensive collection of minerals, including valuable specimens from all parts of the world. In this connec- tion might be mentioned his Indian relics, which were principally from central Pennsylvania, and which after his decease were presented to the Smithsonian Institute. The minerals were given to Lehigh University. In 1829 General Keim was commissioner, and later for some years manager, of the Mill Creek and Mine Hill Navigation and Railroad Company.

General Keim early became identified with public af- fairs. He represented Berks county at the convention called to amend the State Constitution held during 1837- 38, and his speech on banking attracted considerable and most favorable notice. His name appears among such distinguished ones as John Sergeant, Charles Chauncey, Thaddeus Stevens and George W. Woodward as a mem- ber of the committee of nine who issued a stirring ad- dress concerning the ways and means of providing for common school education and the general diffusion of useful knowledge, as well as the industry and pecuniary prosperity of the State. In 1838, when a vacancy oc- curred in Congress because of the resignation of Hon. H. A. Muhlenberg, who accepted the mission to Aus- tria, General Keim was elected to fill out the term, and he was subsequently re-elected for two terms, remain- ing in Congress until March, 1843. At the election for Speaker of the House in the XXVIth Congress he re- ceived a complimentary vote. During the XXVIIth Con- gress he distinguished himself in a patriotic speech against a petition praying for the dissolution of the Union. He declined renomination for a fourth term. In 1842, toward the close of his Congressional career, he pre- sided at a dinner given to Charles Dickens in Washing-

Upon his retirement from Congress the General was offered his choice of three positions by President Ty- ler, and he selected that of United States marshal for the Eastern district of Pennsylvania in order to remain at home. In 1844 he was re-appointed by Polk. Mean- time he found his popularity throughout the State in- creasing steadily, and such was the confidence in his ability and integrity that he could have had the Dem- ocratic nomination for governor in 1848, but he would not consider the proposal. In 1852, upon the death of Mayor Getz, he was elected to fill the unexpired term, entirely without solicitation. In 1860, at the Democrat- ic convention in Reading, he was elected a Presidential elector at large.

From early manhood General Keim manifested his in- terest in military matters. In 1830 he was elected cap- tain of the Reading Artillerists, to succeed his uncle, Capt. Daniel de B. Keim, and not long afterward he became colonel of the 53d Regiment, Pennsylvania Mili- tia. In 1835 he became major-general of the 6th Divis- ion, Pennsylvania Militia, which included the compan- ies of Berks, Schuylkill, Dauphin and Lebanon coun- ties, succeeding his father in that position. When the Civil war broke out he immediately identified himself with the Union cause, and he labored faithfully and zcalously to hold the Democratic party in his county together in the trying period immediately preceding the war. In the spring of 1861 he raised a company of volunteers for home defense, and he was active and enthusiastic in drilling and preparing them for actual duties. One of the last acts he performed was to head a paper with his name, offering the services of this company to the government. It was undoubtedly the un- usual exertion of this undertaking that brought on the stroke of paralysis from which his death soon ensued, on June 10, 1861, when he was fifty-six years old. He was buried at sunset on the 12th, in the Charles Evans cemetery, with military and Masonic honors. His fun- eral was one of the largest ever seen in Reading up to that time, his death being sincerely mourned through- out the State. The numerous enterprises he encouraged and supported won him friends in every walk of life, and his genial disposition, open-hearted and companion- able nature, retained them forever.

General Keim married in 1827 Julia C. Mayer, youngest daughter of Hon. Christopher Mayer, of Lancaster, and six children survived them: George de Benneville. Charles Wetherill, Henry May, Julia Mayer (Mrs. Gustavus Au- gustus Behne), Susan Douglass and Mary May .. Mrs. Keim died May 12, 1857. The sons have attained an eminence in the public life of the State worthy of the name and family traditions.

CONRAD WEISER was the most prominent historical character in the county of Berks previous to 1760. His great prominence arose from his intimate connection with the provincial government of Pennsylvania for thirty years. He was the principal judge of Berks county from 1752 to 1760. He was born Nov. 2, 1696, at Afstaedt, a small village in the County of Herrenberg, in Wurtem- berg, Germany, and there he acquired a general education, which included the principles of the Christian religion according to the catechism of Martin Luther. Whilst in his fourteenth year he emigrated with his father and fam- ily (which included himself and seven other children) to New York, landing June 17, 1710. At that time several thousand Germans were sent to America by Queen Anne. Shortly after their arrival they were removed to Livings- ton Manor by the Governor of New York, to burn tar and cultivate hemp to defray the expenses incurred by Queen Anne in conveying them from Holland to England and from England to America. They labored till 1713 in this employment under the direction of commissioners ; then, finding that they were existing under a form of bondage, they protested against the treatment and this

GRAVE OF CONRAD WEISER IN HEIDELBERG TOWNSHIP

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BIOGRAPHICAL

effected their release. About 150 families of them, in- acres as granted to John Page in 1735, and having then been erected into a manor, called the "Manor of Plum- ton." At Reading one of his properties was a business stand, and it has continued to be a prominent business 150.years. cluding the Weiser family, removed to Schoharie, forty miles west of Albany. Whilst spending the winter of 1713-14 at Schenectady, the elder Weiser was frequently visited by an Indian chief of the Mohawk tribe, and dur- location from that time till now, a period embracing over ing one of these visits the chief proposed to Conrad to visit the Mohawk country and learn the language of that tribe. This proposition was agreed to.

Conrad Weiser was in . his eighteenth year when he went to live with the Indians. He was a strong young man, but all of his strength was necessary to endure the sufferings which he was compelled to undergo whilst living with them. He had scarcely clothing sufficient to cover his body during the winter of that trying year. Besides much suffering, he was frequently threatened with death by the Indians during a state of intoxication. In July, 1714, he returned to his father's home at Schoharie. In this time he had acquired a considerable knowledge of the Mohawk language, and while at home he increased this knowledge by acting as interpreter between the German settlers of that vicinity and the Mohawk Indians. The settlers having been disturbed in their possessions, Conrad Weiser's father and a number of others migrated to Penn- sylvania. They located in Tulpehocken in the spring of 1723,. in the midst of the Indians; and there they also commenced the improvement of the land without permis- sion from the land commissioners. The Indians com- plained but the settlers were not disturbed. Subsequently the Indians released their rights and about 1733 they re- moved beyond the Blue Mountains.

Conrad Weiser was married to a young woman of Schoharie in 1720. He continued at that place till 1729, when with his wife and five children he removed to the Tulpehocken settlement, locating on a tract of land near the present borough of Womelsdorf. Shortly after his arrival, his ability and success as an Indian interpreter became known to the Provincial government, and the Governor employed him in negotiation with the Indians. His first services in this capacity were performed in 1731, and from that time for nearly thirty years he was almost constantly engaged in this important work. He assisted at numerous treaties, and in the published proceedings of these treaties his name appears prominently. His in- tegrity was particularly recognized and publicly compli- mented.

He was one of the most prominent men in the French and Indian War. His numerous letters indicate his zeal, courage and patriotism. He served in the war as a colonel, and his services were of great value to the government and to the people of Berks county.

The first proceedings for the erection of Berks county were instituted in 1738. In this behalf Mr. Weiser was very active, and he continued active till the county was established in 1752. The town of Reading was laid out by the Penns in 1748, and in the sale of the town lots Mr. Weiser acted as one of the commissioners, He was prominently identified with the first movements in building up the town, and in developing the business interests of the place.

The Governor of the Province, in 1741, appointed him as a justice of the peace, and he filled this office for a number of years. When the county was erected in 1752, he was appointed one of the first judges. He acted as president judge of the courts till his decease in 1760. He lived at Reading mostly during the latter part of his life.

Conrad Weiser died on his Heidelberg farm July 13, 1760, and his remains were buried in a private burying- ground on the place, where they have remained since. He left a widow and seven children: five sons, Philip, Frederick, Peter, Samuel and Benjamin; and two daugh- ters, Maria (m. Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg) and Margaret (m. a Finker). He was possessed of a large estate, consisting of properties at Reading, and lands in Heidelberg township and in the region of country beyond the Blue Mountains. In Heidelberg he owned a tract which included the privilege of a "Court-Baron," granted to him in 1743, the tract having originally contained 5,165

For upward of fifty years, various unsuccessful efforts were made in behalf of erecting a suitable memorial to Conrad Weiser. In 1892 and 1893, the compiler of this history delivered a lecture before local teachers' institutes in different parts of the county entitled "Life and Times of Conrad Weiser" for the purpose of securing a memo- rial, and the Reading Board of Trade led the school authorities of the county to set aside November 2, 1893, for observance by the teachers and scholars as "Weiser Day," and to facilitate this observance 3500 copies of the lecture were distributed gratuitously to all the schools of the city and county. It was not until October 30, 1907, - that a modest tablet was placed in the west wall of the Stichter Hardware Store on Penn Square by the Historical Society of Berks County, which reads as fol- lows :

POSTERITY WILL NOT FORGET HIS SERVICES .- WASHINGTON. In Memory of COL. CONRAD WEISER,

PIONEER, SOLDIER, DIPLOMAT, JUDGE. AS INTERPRETER AND INDIAN AGENT HE NEGOTIATED EVERY TREATY FROM 1732 UNTIL NEAR THE CLOSE OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

THE WEISER BUILDING, WHERE HE OFTEN MET THE INDIANS

IN CONFERENCE, WAS ERECTED BY HIM ON THIS SITE IN 1751.

BORN IN GERMANY IN 1696, ARRIVED IN BERKS IN 1729, DIED IN 1760, NEAR WOMELSDORF, WHERE HIS REMAINS ARE BURIED.

HIS UNSWERVING HONESTY SET A SHINING EXAMPLE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS .- UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF BERKS COUNTY THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED IN 1907 BY THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE COUNTY.

We append the autograph of this noted pioneer :

Conrad Weiser

WILLIAM MUHLENBERG HIESTER, son of the celebrated physician, Dr. Isaac Hiester, was born in Read- ing, May 15, 1818. His maternal grandfather was Gen. Peter Muhlenberg, of Revolutionary fame. His mother, Hetty Muhlenberg, died in 1872, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He received a preparatory training at the West Nottingham Academy in Maryland, and sub- sequently entered .Bristol College in Pennsylvania, gradu- ating in 1837, in the second and last class of graduates from that institution. He read law in the office of Judge Banks, attended a course of lectures in the Law Depart- ment of Harvard College, and was admitted to the Bar at Reading, Jan. 7, 1840. The honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon him in 1843 by Harvard College. He practised his profession four years in Erie, Pa., in 1845 returning to Reading,' and associating himself with the Hon. Henry A. Muhlenberg, and soon acquired a large practice. In 1852 he was elected by the Democratic party as a member of the State Senate, and served until 1855, taking foremost rank among the Democratic members. At the opening of the session of 1855, after an exciting

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

contest, he was elected speaker of the Senate on the elected, serving his constituents with distinction for three twenty-seventh ballot. His career as speaker was dig- terms. In 1813, upon the erection of Lebanon county, nified, firm and impartial. In January, 1858, he was he was appointed to fill the office of prothonotary, in which he continued for eight years. In 1821 he was again elected to the Legislature, and in 1822 he was chosen senator, to represent the Senatorial district com- posed of Dauphin and Lebanon counties. Whilst serving as a senator he received the Democratic nomination for Governor, and was elected by a majority of 25,706 over Andrew Gregg, the Federal candidate; and in 1826 he was re-elected governor with little opposition. In 1829 he was again brought out as a candidate, but for the sake of harmony in the party he withdrew, and George Wolf was nominated and elected. Whilst acting as Governor he had the honor of tendering the courtesies of the State to General LaFayette, who was then upon his celebrated tour through the country. His administration of the affairs of the State government during his official career was distinguished for integrity, wisdom and statesman- ship. appointed secretary of the Commonwealth by Gov. Wil- liam F. Packer, and continued in that office during the administration of three years. He supported Stephen A. Douglas for President of the United States in the campaign of 1860, but subsequently earnestly advocated the administration of Abraham Lincoln and was a warm friend of the Union. In the summer of 1863, when Penn- sylvania was being invaded by General Lee, Mr. Hiester was appointed by Gov. Curtin one of the inustering offi- cers, with the rank of major, to muster in troops that volunteered for ninety days' service, in response to the Governor's proclamation of June 26, 1863, calling for sixty thousand men. He was assigned to duty at the tem- porary rendezvous on the Agricultural Fair Grounds at Reading, which, in compliment to him, was designated Camp Hiester. In the execution of his military com- mission he mustered into the State service eight full regiments of volunteers, comprising an aggregate force During President Jackson's opposition against the Bank of the United States, Governor Shulze left the Demo- cratic party. But he was not active in political life after his retirement from the office of governor excepting on one occasion, in 1840, when he was a member of the Har- risburg Whig convention, which nominated General Har- rison for President. In this connection he ran as a Senatorial elector upon the Harrison ticket, and was elected, and afterward officiated as president of the State Electoral College. of eight thousand men. After the war he supported the Republican party, and in 1864 was the Republican candi- date for Congress in the Berks county District. After this event, he retired from participation in public affairs, and devoted his attention to the benevolent and business interests of his native city. He was a director in the Reading Library Company, in the Charles Evans Cem- etery Company and the Reading Gas Company, and a liberal supporter of the public and private charities of the city. He died in Reading Aug. 16, 1878, leaving a widow and a son Isaac, who is a practising attorney at Reading.

JACOB SALLADE, son of Andreas and Eva (Schmidt) Sallade, was born at Womelsdorf (Middletown) July 13, 1789, and there educated. He was employed for a time as clerk in a general store of a brother of Gover- nor Shulze, at that place, and also officiated as justice of the peace. In 1824 he received from Governor Shulze (with whom he was upon intimate terms, they having been brought up together in the same town) the appoint- ment of clerk of the Orphans' Court and clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and then he removed to Read- ing. He held these offices for three years, after which he filled the office of prothonotary for three years-from 1826 to 1829-by appointment also from Governor Shulze. During the next ten years he was engaged in the general merchandise business at Reading, and he also served as a justice of the peace for a time.

In 1839 Gov. Joseph Ritner appointed him surveyor- general, and he continued to serve in this position for six years. During that time he resided at Harrisburg, and he died there shortly after his term expired. His re- mains were brought to Reading and buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. He was a man of fine personal appear- ance and enjoyed much popularity during his official career.

Mr. Sallade married Susanna Mayer and they had seven children, Maria Catharine, Andrew M. (an attorney at Reading), Charles M., Sarah, Susanna, Rebecca and Jacob M. (an attorney at Reading).

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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 74

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

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