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 77

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 77

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Edu Brooke

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BIOGRAPHICAL

His essays were published in 1881. In the course of his Continental army, during the Revolutionary War. He was labors, he made many wood-cuts to show the size, form, a stanch Democrat in his political views, and his de- and appearance of Indian relics, such as arrow and spear- scendants have been identified with the same party. heads, axes, knives, hammers, plates, pottery, beads, shells, pestles, mortars, ornaments, etc., for which he received much praise. He published an interesting book on this subject in 1881.

Prof. Brunner was a thorough mineralogist. He in- vestigated the entire county in respect to its minerals with great success, and prepared a catalogue of the dif- ferent varieties. The birds of the county also received his earnest attention, and he collected and mounted a number of fine specimens. His collection included 100 of the rarest specimens. He also gave much attention to microscopy, using in his researches a fine, large micro- scope, with lenses magnifying from 10 diameters to 1,200. The intervals in his school teaching were largely devoted to the production of scientific apparatus, and to the addition of natural curiosities; and with the aid of a lapidary's mill, he polished a large variety of the best and most beau- tiful minerals of the county which he mounted upon glass slides for microscopic examinations. His extensive cabinet included a thousand mounted specimens. Two degrees, Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts, were con- ferred upon him by Dickinson College, the former at the time of his graduation, and the latter in 1863. In 1877, he published an elementary work on English grammar, and in 1882 issued a second and revised edition. Many thousand copies were sold and used throughout Berks county and in adjoining counties.

In 1861 Prof. Brunner married Amanda L. Rhoads, daughter of Abraham Rhoads, of Amity township, who was a descendant of one of the earliest settlers in the county. They had five children-Daniel Edwin, Elizabeth (m. Edwin L. Moser), Edgar Alfred, Mary, and Henry Philemon.

ROBERT M. BARR was born at Lancaster, Pa., and was admitted to the Bar of Berks county on Jan. 3, 1831, about which time he moved to Reading. He acquired an extensive practice and was recognized as a superior law- yer. A man of fine appearance, he was possessed of a high order of eloquence. He represented Berks county in the Assembly for the year 1841, and in 1845 received the ap- pointment of State reporter from Governor Shunk, the office having been created in the year named. The pre- scribed term of office was five years. He died whilst filling his appointment, having compiled and published the first ten State reports commonly known as "Barr's Re- ports." His friend, J. Pringle Jones, Esq. (who subse- quently filled the office of president judge of Berks county), completed the compilation of the cases adjudicated during his term and published them in two volumes, commonly known as "Jones' Reports." He died at Reading, Dec. 25, 1849, aged forty-seven years.

Mr. Barr married a daughter of Dr. Holmes, of Lan- caster, Pa., and left a daughter.

Hiram S. Getz, father of James K. Getz, was born at Sunbury, Pa., in 1822, but was reared in Berks county, the family having returned there. He was educated in the schools of Reading. From 1857 to 1870 he was en- gaged in a wholesale grocery business at Reading, and in 1874 he formed a partnership with his son, James K. Getz, and they began the operation of the Steam Marble Works under the firm name of H. S. Getz & Co. This continued until his death in 1886, when his son Hiram K. received by will his half interest. The business is now conducted under the firm name of H. S. Getz's Sons.

From 1854 until 1857 Hiram S. Getz was Recorder of Deeds for Berks county; was Registrar of Wills from 1869 to 1872; and for a number of years was a valued member of the City Council. He died in September, 1886. He was survived by his wife but a few months. Mr. Getz married Sarah B. Kistler, daughter of John S. Kistler, who was the eldest son of Samuel Kistler by his second wife Caroline Brobst-Samuel Kistler was the fourth son of George Kistler, the emigrant ancestor. George Kistler came from Switzerland to this country and moved from Montgomery county to Lehigh county, Pa., in 1735. The children of Hiram S. Getz and wife were: Amelia, James K .; Sarah; John; William; Emma; Charles K .; Hiram K., and Laura.

James K. Getz, who occupies a conspicuous place in the business world of Reading, was born in Albany town- ship, and was educated in the public schools of Read- ing. When his father was elected county recorder in 1853, the family moved into Reading, and thus Mr. Getz had more advantages than if he had grown to manhood in the country. It was his intention to enter college, and he spent a season in Philadelphia in preparation, but his ambition was not realized. His father had on his hands a large wholesale grocery business just at a time when he was left almost without clerks on account of their enlist- ing for the Civil war in 1863, and it became necessary for James K. to enter the store. In 1869, on attaining his majority, his father sold the business to him and Jonathan Grim, and they maintained that partnership, trading as Getz & Grim, for five years, when it was dissolved, and Mr. Getz entered into partnership, in 1874, with his father, forming the firm of H. S. Getz & Co., as proprietors of the Reading Steam Marble Works, of which he is still the joint owner with his brother, Hiram K. In 1896 the Reading Shale Brick Company was organized, and Mr. Getz became its president. The business has proved one of great success, the market extending to a number of other States, large sales being realized in New York. The different business concerns which have found favor 'with Mr. Getz have been those of the utmost merit, and their conduct has been along lines of constant expansion but with methods only of the most honorable character.

HON. JAMES K. GETZ, former mayor of the city of Reading, Pa., and an influential citizen and leading busi- ness man, president of the Reading Shale Brick Company for the first ten years of its existence-1896 to 1906- and a member of the firm of H. S. Getz's Sons, pro- prietors of the Reading Steam Marble Works, was born in Berks county, Pa., Jan. 19, 1848, son of Hiram S. and placed for his personal qualities, has been frequently Sarah B. (Kistler) Getz.

Since young manhood Mr. Getz has been more or less interested in politics, and has always been thoroughly informed concerning public issues. Like his father and grandfather, he is an out and out Democrat, believing firmly in the old time principles of this great party. That he is looked upon as a man in whom confidence can be

shown when he has been elected to offices of responsi- bility by the votes of both parties. Such was the case in 1880 when he was elected councilman from the Fifth ward, Reading. He scored a great victory, being returned in a district which had formerly given good majorities to Republican candidates. He continued a member of the council two years and served the second year of that time as its president. In 1885 Mr. Getz was the popular choice for mayor, and he served through the term of two years with complete success, his administration adding to his former laurels.

James K. Getz comes of German ancestry. John Getz, the founder of the family in America, came from Rheinpfalz, Germany, and settled on a grant of land in Lancaster county, Pa., received from King George. His son, Nicholas, who became the great-grandfather of James K., followed farming in Berks county, married and reared his children, one of these being Jacob Getz, our subject's grandfather. The latter was born in Berks county, and followed an agricultural life, becoming one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of the com- munity in which he lived. He married Hannah, youngest In 1868 Mr. Getz was married to Mary Agnes Jones, daughter of John Soder, who served as captain in the daughter of John H. Jones, a prominent farmer, and

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

granddaughter of Samuel Jones. She comes of distin- tery, Allentown. Mr. Eisenbrown was twice married. guished ancestry and Revolutionary valor. Her great- His first wife was Charlotte Barbara Wolf, daughter of great-grandfather, Rev. Thomas Jones, was a Baptist clergyman, a native of Wales, who took up land in Cumru township, in 1735. Thomas Jones, Jr. (father of Samuel Jones), born in Cumru township in 1742, was an organizer of the patriotic society known as the "As- sociators." He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died in Heidelberg township, Berks county, in March, 1800. He was a member of the first Constitutional Con- vention.

Fraternally Mr. Getz is prominent in Masonic organiza- tions. He is a member of Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M .; Reading Chapter No. 152, R. A. M .; Creigh Council No. 16, R. & S. M .; De Molay Commandery, No. 9, K. T .; and the Philadelphia Consistory, 32d degree, A. A. S. R .; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.

On many occasions Mr. Getz has been importuned to accept a directorship in some bank or other large finan- cial body, but such honors and emoluments he has declined, in all cases stating that he preferred to devote his whole time, outside his public and social duties, to the development of the Reading Shale Brick Company and the Reading Steam Marble Works; but in the early part of 1906 he became a member of the directorate of the Pennsylvania Trust Company.

JOHN SPAYD, second President Judge of Berks county, was born in Dauphin county, Pa., in January, 1764. He acquired a classical education, read law and was admitted to the Bar Feb. 14, 1788, and began practising at Reading, where he attained great prominence. He was appointed judge of the courts of Berks county in 1806, and officiated three years. Between the years 1795 and 1810 he was a member of the General Assembly. The remainder of his life was devoted to the practice of law at Reading. In 1822 he went to Philadelphia for surgical relief, undergoing an operation, but his case was beyond human skill, and he died there October 13th, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. His remains were interred in the Lutheran graveyard, and subsequently transferred to the Charles Evans Cemetery. The judges of the court, members of the Bar, and the borough council each passed appropriate resolutions commendatory of his life and character as a lawyer, as a judge, and as a public-spirited citizen. Mem- bers of the Philadelphia Bar held a meeting in the Dis- trict Court-room and also adopted appropriate resolu- tions.

Judge Spayd married Catharine Hiester, eldest daughter of Governor Joseph Hiester. Their children were: Eliza- beth (m. Edward B. Hubley, member of Congress from Schuylkill county) ; John (graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania) ; Catha- rine B. (m. John B. Brooke, merchant of Reading, and father of Dr. John B. Brooke) ; Joseph H. (member of the Berks County Bar) ; George W. (burgess of Read- ing) ; Henry (graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania and died soon after graduation) ; Amelia (m. Dr. Diller Luther, of Reading). At the time of his death, Judge Spayd resided in Penn Square, next house west of the Farmers' Bank.

PENROSE F. EISENBROWN, who died suddenly at his home in Allentown, July 4, 1898, was one of the oldest business men of Berks county, and a man whose life had been so ordered as to merit the high esteem and affection of all who knew him. He was horn near Allentown April 3, 1831, son of John Daniel and Charlotte Barbara (Wolf) Eisenbrown.

John Daniel Eisenbrown was born in Adelberg, Ger- many. He came to this country when sixteen years of age, landing at Philadelphia. He was an organist and also followed tombstone cutting, and taught in a parochial school. He moved to Allentown in the fifties and lived there until March, 1874, when he died suddenly of apo- plexy, just as he was preparing to move to Greenbrier, Northumberland county. His remains rest in Union ceme-

John George and Anna Maria ( Bauer) Wolf. She died in 1833, the mother of eight children, and is buried in a graveyard at Egypt Church in Northampton county. The children born to John Daniel and Charlotte Barbara (Wolf) Eisenbrown were: (1) Frances m. (first) a Mr. Kuhl, a lithographer in Philadelphia, and had two chil- dren, George and Mary. She m. (second) Peter Hauck, of Philadelphia, who owned a large confectionery estab- lishment and considerable property in Allentown. There were no children born to the second marriage. (2) Edward Constantine m. the only daughter of a well- to-do farmer named Keiffer, near Milton, and they had one child who died just ten days before his father. The latter's death was the result of an accident. He had sold some cattle and was on his way home when he was caught by a train on a bridge and was killed. (3) Mary Ann m., lived and died in Whitehall, Pa. (4) Charlotte, deceased, m. Joseph Beitel, who lives in Allentown. (5) Wilhelmina m. Charles H. Eggert, and lived in Bethlehem. She died and is buried in the Moravian cemetery there. Her husband died in 1907. Two children survive. (6) Matilda, Mrs. Steinbach, lived at Limestoneville, Mon- tour county, where she is buried. Her husband was a shoemaker by trade. He enlisted in the Civil war. They were the parents of six children. (7) Penrose Frederick was born April 3, 1831. (8) William, born in 1833, was but two weeks old when his mother died and he was adopted at Egypt by a family named Troxel, who after- ward moved to Carroll county, Md. He became a painter by trade. He m. Mary Fuhrman and they now live on her father's homestead, which they own. They have no children. John George Wolf, father of Mrs. John Daniel Eisenbrown, was born in January, 1774, and died June 27, 1842; his wife, Anna Maria Bauer, was born July 17, 1775, and died in 1843. Their family consisted of two sons - Fred and George - and four daughters - Mrs. Christiana Grossholz, Mrs. Souders, Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Eisenbrown. John George Wolf was a wood turner, making a specialty of spinning wheels.

John Daniel Eisenbrown, for his second wife, m. Mary Troxel. They were members of St. Paul's New School Lutheran Church, at Allentown, and both are buried in the cemetery there. Of the children of this marriage, Emma m. James Myers, a shoemaker, and they live at the corner of Jordan and Liberty streets, opposite the thread mill in Allentown; Pauline m. a Mr. Knaus, a cabinet-maker of Philadelphia; Theresa died when eighteen years old; Christine became Mrs. Scheffer, and died a year after her marriage; Alfred was a drummer boy in the Union army, and died in the service ; Otto m. Amanda Scheffer, and is deceased.

Penrose F. Eisenbrown was but a year and a half old when his mother died, and he was taken to the home of his grandfather Wolf. Mr. Wolf was a wood carver by trade, and he early trained his grandson in that line, at the same time cultivating in him habits of industry and thrift. Mr. Eisenbrown was ambitious, and determined to enter business for himself. He began at Minersville, with a small establishment and a few hands, and there he was very successful. Thence he went to Pottsville, where he met with equal success, but his health failed, and he sold out in 1870, to engage in farming. About three years later he came to Reading, and he entered the marble business, building up a trade and reputation second to none. Monuments public and private, the work of his establishment, have been distributed all over the State. His taste was excellent and his workmanship the best. About 1896 he gave up active workmanship in the firm, which of late years was known as P. F. Eisenbrown, Sons & Co., and moved to Allentown, where his death occurred.

Mr. Eisenbrown wa's a great lover of literature, and his library was large and well chosen. He possessed no little poetical talent, and produced many German and English poems, some of which were published in the Allentown and other papers, while many remained unprinted, only

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BIOGRAPHICAL

to be found among his papers at his death. He was an earnest Christian. In 1848 he organized a Sunday-school at Lehigh Church and superintended it many years. This school was very successful, and only a very short time before his death Mr. Eisenbrown participated in the ex- ercises celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. He was a kind and sympathetic man, and as an instance of this, while he was teaching in the Lehigh Church and still a young man, an epidemic broke out, and the people were being swept before it in great numbers. He saw the need of assistance, and at once entered upon the task of nursing and tending those afflicted, and remained steadfast at this until the scourge abated. For his fidelity and kind- ness he was ever after held in grateful remembrance by those people. When he was a little boy some five years of age, and living with his grandfather, an uncle Frederick Wolf donated the land for the church and cemetery since known as Zion's Hill, Bucks Co., Pa., and Mr. Eisenbrown had the great pleasure of lifting the first shovelful of earth at the excavating for the erection of the first church there. It was his delight all through life to labor for and assist any and all matters for the Church and Sunday-school.

On July 3, 1859, at Greenbrier, Northumberland coun- ty. by the Rev. Jared Fritzinger, Mr. Eisenbrown was married to Sarah S. Smith, born Oct. 25, 1839, only daughter of Jonathan and Sally (Snyder) Smith. The following children were born of this union: Harvey Jonathan, born Sept. 22, 1860, at Greenbrier, baptized Nov. 22, 1860, died July 22, 1861, aged ten months ;. Alice Charlotte, born Aug. 26, 1862, at Minersville, m. Edward Christian, who is connected with the marble busi- ness; Harry Wolf, born in Minersville, Sept. 16, 1864, bap- tized Nov. 14, 1864, is deceased; Charles Smith, born in Pottsville, Oct. 19, 1866, baptized June 28, 1867, m. Alice Kauffman, and is the senior member of the firm; Annie, born in Pottsville, Sept. 18, 1868, died Dec. 29, 1870; George Franklin, born in Pottsville, Oct. 31, 1870, baptized Feb. 27, 1871, m. Rosa Fix, and is a member of the firm; Wilson Henry, born Aug. 24, 1872, baptized April 29, 1873, m. Annie Faust, daughter of J. B. Faust (superintendent of the lettering department in the plant) and is in the Biehl Carriage and Wagon Works; Edward Penrose, born in Reading, April 15, 1875, baptized July 4, 1875, m. Sarah Reeser, and is superintendent of the Granite Department at the North Reading Granite Works;

Mary Henrietta, born May 8, 1877, in Reading, baptized . modious buildings and a force of 1,500 men find em-

Oct. 1, 1877, died Dec. 4, 1879; Samuel Frederic, born in Reading, Sept. 16, 1879, baptized Jan. 4, 1880, m. Rosa Wentzel, widow of Harry Eisenbrown, and is a sales- man for the firm; Martha Sarah, born in Reading, March 4, 1882, baptized July 2, 1882, m. Dr. Samuel B. Geise, of Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., Pa .; and John Daniel, born June 12, 1886, baptized Oct. 3, 1886, is unmarried and is engaged in the firm as bookkeeper.

Mrs. Eisenbrown resides at No. 522 Elm street, Read- ing. She owns the old homestead of 125 acres in Green- brier-a farm once the property of her grandfather. Her sons have continued the marble and granite business so substantially successful under the father's manage- ment, and they are meeting with that prosperity that attends well-directed effort and honorable dealings.

Valley, where they became large agriculturists. William Sternbergh, father of James Hervey, died at the age of eighty-six years; the forefathers for several generations had reached advanced age.

The Sternbergh family removed to Saratoga Springs and lived there until James H. was thirty-one years old. He spent a number of these years as general pas- senger agent of the railroad running through Saratoga. His choice had been to become a professional man, but study affected his sight, and in 1865, he removed to Read- ing, Pa., where he became interested in the manufacture of bolts, nuts, .rivets, etc. In 1867 Mr. Sternbergh in- vented and patented a machine for making hot-pressed nuts, and this machine has been in use ever since, its inventor and maker even having demands for it from competitors in business at home and abroad. This is only. one of many important and useful inventions of Mr. Sternbergh. He invented a superior grinding machine for grinding hard metals, doing the work much more effectively than before, and at much less cost. There were only two or three other establishments of the kind in the United States, and Mr. Sternbergh may be justly called the pioneer in the business of nut manufacturing.

In 1886, when his son Philip attained his majority, Mr. Sternbergh took him into partnership, and the latter subsequently became the manager of the branch works in Kansas City, Mo. There he died April 2, 1903, in the thirty-eighth year of his age, just in the prime of man- hood, with every promise bright for a great future.

On Feb. 6, 1891, during Mr. Sternbergh's absence in New York, his works caught fire and were totally de- stroyed, save the rolling mill buildings and part of the large machinery. It was a heavy financial blow, but with characteristic energy he went about immediately getting things in shape, and within ten days after the fire the works were again in operation, and in the May following were turning out more goods than ever before. The Reading Bolt and Nut Works is a plant extending over some eight acres of land, lying between Third and Fourth streets, and between the Lebanon Valley Railroad and Buttonwood street. This large and important in- dustry had its inception in 1865, when Mr. Sternbergh established it. From modest beginnings, in temporary buildings at the foot of Pine street and the leasing of necessary power from an adjoining concern, and the employment of from eight to ten men, to the present day, when a large tract of land is covered with the com- ployment, is a story of commercial success and indus- trial progress which holds much matter of interest.

The present substantial buildings are located on North Third street, above Buttonwood, and were first occu- pied in January, 1869. Since the fire above mentioned every new building has been made larger and more convenient than the old ones and the machinery and equipments are those of a first-class, modern plant. One building. 456 x 110 feet in dimensions, supplied with all kinds of improved machinery, is used for the manufacture of nuts, bolts, washers, rivets and rods for bridges, build- ings, etc. Another. 325 x 90 feet in dimensions, is used as a rolling mill building and contains three trains of rolls, four heating furnaces, three upright steam engines, in addition to steam shears, lathes, pumps, etc. Another, the new rolling mill building, 200 x 80 feet, contains two trains of rolls, two heating furnaces and other machinery. The capacity of these mills is about 40,000 tons of rolled iron annually, embracing all sizes of merchant bar iron in common use.

JAMES HERVEY STERNBERGH, of Reading, Pa., former president of the American Steel & Iron Manufac- turing Company, of Lebanon and Reading, pioneer in the manufacture of nuts and bolts in America, is one of the most notable figures in the steel and iron trade in Mr. Sternbergh's own articles of manufacture are dis- posed of to merchants and consumers of refined bar and band iron. At all times it is necessary to carry a large stock in order to meet the demands, and this need was recognized by the erection in 1880 of a large warehouse 150 x 40 feet, four stories high. The railroad facilities are of the best, three tracks running into the works, the first for the delivery of coal, the second for the delivery of crude iron, and the third for shipments. Mr. Pennsylvania, if not, indeed, in the United States. Mr. Sternbergh was born in Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 20, 1834. His father, a Genesee Valley farmer, was descended from German ancestry, who settled in America in 1703; in that year four unmarried brothers came over, David, Adam, Nicholas and Lambert, who were driven out of the Rhine Valley at the time of the religious troubles in the Palatinate. They were the first to raise wheat in Schoharie county. in the Mohawk Sternbergh's goods were awarded medals at the Centen-

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

nial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876; at the Chicago Exposition in 1883; at the New Orleans Exposition. in 1885; at the Paris Exposition in 1889; and at the Colum- bian Exposition in 1893, where they had three exhibits.

On Sept. 1, 1899, J. H. Sternbergh & Son consolidated their works with the Pennsylvania Nut & Bolt Company, of Lebanon, the Lebanon Iron Company, the East Leb- anon Iron Company, of Lebanon, and the National Nut, Bolt & Rivet Works, of Reading, thus forming what is known as the American Iron & Steel Manufacturing Company, of which Mr. Sternbergh was president during the six years ending February, 1907, when he retired. It is capitalized at $5,550,000, $3,000,000 being full paid preferred stock, and $2,550,000 full paid common stock. The works now give employment to 4,000 men.

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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 77

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