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 83

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

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was recognized as an able judge, and thoroughly conscien- in 1814 in Exeter township, where his father became tious in the performance of his judicial duties. Upon re- the owner of a woolen mill in 1830, and while still a boy tiring from the Bench, he resumed his legal practice at Reading. He died Dec. 27, 1859.

Mr. Brumbach's father, William Brumbach, was born

was put in the mill to learn the business. In 1842, he and his brother Jacob became the owners of the plant, and they carried on the business as partners for three years when Jacob withdrew. William then operated the plant himself in a successful manner until 1853, when he pur- chased the Housum grist mill (which was situated along the Antietam creek near by), and from that time he car- ried on the two mills until they were destroyed by fire in 1863. He then went to Union county, Pa., and became a partner of Marr, Griffey & Co., who owned and operated the White Deer Woolen Mills. A few years afterward the senior partner died, and the firm name became Griffey & Brumbach, and this firm carried on the plant until Mr. Brumbach's decease in 1868. He was married twice. His first wife was Sarah Spats, daughter of Jacob Spats, who carried on farming and butchering in Exeter, in the

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

vicinity of the woolen mills. To this union were born four children: Emma m. Jacob A. Strohecker; Albert J .; Sarah m. William K. Leithiser; and Elizabeth m. J. B. Stauffer. His second wife was Rachel Schneider, daugh- ter of David, of Oley, and by her he had four sons, David, George W., Aaron and Thomas, who learned the business of manufacturing woolen cloth with Albert J., and they have been operating a plant of their own at St. Lawrence under the name of Brumbach Brothers; and one daughter, Mary, m. C. O. Snyder. He died in 1868; his first wife died in 1847, aged twenty-eight years; his second wife Rachel Schneider is still living at age of eighty-two years.

Mr. Brumbach's grandfather was Jacob Brumbach, who had learned the fulling business at the De Turck mill in Exeter, near Monocacy, and in 1830 purchased a small plant established along the Antietam creek near where the St. Lawrence Mills are located, which he operated until 1842 when he sold the property and business to his two oldest sons, William and Jacob. He died in 1873, aged ninety-four years. He was married twice: first to Dorothy Bar (born 1788, died 1822), and second to Susanna Gumbert (born 1795, died 1836), and had eight children, viz .. Lydia m. John Wagner; William; Jacob m. Sarah Kline; Lewis m. Elizabeth Ann Tea; Catharine m. William Levan; Louisa m. Moore John; Rebecca m. William Levan; and Daniel m. Lydia DeGour, living at Covington, Kentucky.

Mr. Brumbach's wife's father, Solomon Dunkel, was a farmer of Exeter. He married Elizabeth Althouse, of Bern township, and they had children : Sarah Ann; Amel- ia m. Amos Dick: Mary m. John Hoyer; Caroline m. Henry Egolf: Miss Elizabeth; Morgan died 1858; Kilian m. Mary Messinger; David, and James.

ADAM B. DUNDOR, M. D., a retired physician and surgeon of Reading, Pa., was born in North Heidelberg, Berks county, May 17, 1838, son of Isaac Dundor, and a member of the fifth generation from the emigrant ancestor who came from Alsace-Lorraine to Philadelphia in 1741. The family is of French Huguenot stock, and the name was originally spelled Dundeur.

Jacob Dundor, founder of the Dundor family in Am- erica, was born July 25, 1720, son of Miguel Dundeur, who never came to America. Jacob Dundor made the voyage to America in 1741, sailing on the ship "Friendship." He located in Bern township, Berks Co., Pa., where he died May 20, 1789, leaving a widow, Anna Maria ( Brecht) Dundor, and children as follows: Maria C., Susannah, John, Michael, John Jacob and Catherine E.

John Jacob Dundor, son of Jacob, and great-great- grandfather of Dr. Adam B., married Marguerite Brown, by whom the following children were born: Jacob, John A., Christian, John (2) and Margaret.

Jacob Dundor, son of John J., died Dec. 12, 1828, leaving a son, Jacob, Jr.

Jacob Dundor, Jr., married Elizabeth Klopp, born Nov. 28, 1788, died Dec. 19, 1842. They were the parents of these children: Isaac, born March 10, 1809, and died Jan. 25, 1873; Jacob; Samuel K .; Catherine; Eliza; Caroline; Sarah, and Lydia. Jacob Dundor, Jr., and his wife are both interred in North Heidelberg cemetery. They were devoted members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Dundor was a Democrat. He was a prosperous farmer and owned valuable lands in North Heidelberg township, continuing to follow agricultural pursuits during his long and useful life.

Isaac Dundor, son of Jacob, Jr., and father of Dr. Adam B., was educated in the schools of his native town- ship. and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He retired from active life and located in Reading several years be- fore his death, which occurred Jan. 25, 1873. Mr. Dundor married Elizabeth Bucks, daughter of John Bucks, and she died in 1890, aged seventy-nine years, the mother of

Adam B. Dundor received the rudiments of his educa- tion in the schools of North Heidelberg township, and later took an advanced course at Fremont Academy, Chester county, still later entering Freeland Academy

(now Ursinus College), subsequently taking a classical course at Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, graduating therefrom in 1862. While there he registered as medical student under the preceptorship of Dr. William Moone, of Womelsdorf, and remained with him two years, during which time he qualified to enter Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. Taking one course here Dr. Dundor then took a special course at Long Island Col- lege Hospital, at Brooklyn, N. Y., and received the degree of M. D. in the summer of 1863. Later Dr. Dundor re- turned to Jefferson Medical College, and received the degree of M. D. there in the spring of 1864. The year following in regular course he received the degree of A. M. from Franklin and Marshall College. The Doctor located in Robesonia in 1864, remaining there until 1867, when he decided to make the city of Reading his field of practice, where he has continued to reside since. He first opened an office on Franklin street where he remained three years, and then removed to his present fine home, in which he maintained an office until he retired from practice in 1896. There never has been any doubt as to his ability or stand- ing in the profession, as from the very beginning of his active career he has been successful in diagnosis and in treatment, and he has had the unbounded admiration and esteem of his fellow practitioners. From 1870 to 1873 he was physician to the Berks County Almshouse and Hospital, and from 1873 to 1877 prison physician. In 1883 he became a member of the board of health, from which on account of failing health he was compelled to resign in 1902, after serving nine years as its president. Dr. Dundor has made a careful study of hygiene and sanitation, and he has had the ideal physician's sense of duty in looking after the health of the people. As a mem- ber of the board of health his work has, indeed, been colossal, and more than that, it has been of such a nature as to bear good fruit. The nearly perfect system of vac- cination was the result of his labors. As a member of the committee on Preventable Diseases and School Hy- giene, he personally looked after this work, visited and thoroughly inspected every room in every school building in the city, together with the heating, ventilation and plumbing of the buildings, the furniture of the rooms, location of black-boards, in fact every thing in any way affecting the health of the pupils. In most complete tabulated form the records of his work were presented to the board, while his report suggesting needed changes, etc., was one of the most practical and sensible ever handed in by a city official anywhere. When he retired from the presidency of the Berks County Medical Society, Jan. 8. 1895, his address was on the subject of School Hygiene, and so complete was it in detail, so perfect in its entire conception, that it should be carefully studied by the build- ing committees of school boards all over the country. This address is a plea for the health and happiness of future generations, an appeal to common sense, and is of so high a standard of excellence-the outcome of the scientific investigations of a conscientious scientist, looking for the greatest good of all the people, which in itself is the loftiest type of patriotic endeavor-that it is worthy the dignity of a State document to be printed and spread broadcast among all people. He has been a great friend of education and no man in the State of Pennsylvania has worked harder in the cause of the child and the student than has Dr. Adam B. Dundor.

Dr. Dundor was married in 1864 to Emma R. Kalbach, daughter of Isaac Kalbach, and five children were born of this union, two of whom died in infancy. The children surviving childhood were: Henry I., who died in 1876; Lizzie R., who died in 1876; and Eleanora R. In religious belief the family are members of the Reformed Church. The Doctor is a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 227, two children: Jonathan, born March 8, 1833, died April F. & A. M .; Excelsior Chapter, No. 237, R. A. M .; Read- 22, 1866; and Adam B.

ing Commandery. No. 42, K. T .; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and Friendship Lodge, K. P., of Reading. His profession connects him with the Berks County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Association, the Ameri- can Medical Association, and the American Academy of

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Medicine. He was also a member of the American Acad- emy of Political and Social Science.

Dr. Dundor is a very talented writer, and his works are well read and widely known. Among his works may be found : "A Plea for Old Standard Remedies"; "Sanita- tion and Sanitarians"; "Rheumatism; Epilepsy and Treat- ment by Bromide of Potash"; "Cocaine Intoxication and Its Dangers, Moral Pollution and Sanitation"; and the "Old and New Obstetrician."

HENRY VAN REED, first additional law judge of Berks county in 1869, was born Aug. 31, 1821, in Cumru (now Spring) township. His grandfather, John Van Reed, settled there about the time of the Revolution, and his father was born there in 1786. He was educated at Read- ing, Lititz, Lafayette College and Dickinson College, graduating from the last named institution in 1843. Upon returning home he selected the law as his profession, and pursued a regular course of legal study in the office of David F. Gordon, Esq., afterward president judge of this judicial district. On April 5, 1844, he was admitted to the Bar, and soon established a large and lucrative practice, which he continued for twenty years.

In 1851 he made a trip to California, visiting his brothers, who had gone thither some years previously. In April, 1869, the State Legislature authorized the qualified electors of Berks county to elect an additional law judge. At that time the Governor was a Republican in politics, and hav- ing been authorized to appoint a suitable person to act as such judge till one should be elected, he appointed Mr. Van Reed to this position on July 13, 1869. The appointment was given to him without any solicitation on his part. He occupied his seat on the Bench and discharged his duties in a superior manner till Dec. 6, 1869, when his successor was qualified. Subsequently, from Jan. 12, 1875, till Jan. 2, 1876, he again filled the same office by appointment from the Governor to supply a vacancy caused by the promotion of the then incumbent to the office of- president judge. Judge Van Reed represented this district as one of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention which was held in 1872 and 1873.

During the progress of the Civil War, he was an ardent supporter of the national administration in every way, and his strong patriotic feelings impelled him to express him- self in the most positive manner in favor of prosecuting the war. When the State of Pennsylvania was threatened with an invasion by the Rebels, in September, 1862, he enlisted with a large number of the most prominent men of Reading, in Company G, of the 2d Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded by Captain F. S. Bickley. This company was marched to and beyond the State line and performed military service for eleven days when it was discharged. During the excitement through- out the State, owing to the battle of Gettysburg, in the beginning of July, 1863, he enlisted again in Company C, 42nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, and acted as a sergeant. This regiment was composed entirely of Berks county companies. It was under the command of Col. Charles H. Hunter and continued in service from July 6th to August 12th.

Judge Van Reed died June 30, 1885, after an illness of several years. He married Catharine Gernant, daughter of George Gernant. She died Jan. 13, 1883. They had two children : George and Anna. 1

SAMUEL F. MILLER, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, was born at Richmond, Ky., in 1816. He was appointed by President Lincoln in 1862, and came to be an authority on constitutional law next to Marshall. His father was born at Reading, Pa., and had removed to Kentucky shortly before 1816, where he engaged in farming.

GEORGE DE BENNEVILLE KEIM, a prominent mer- chant, politician and official of Philadelphia, was born at Reading, Berks Co., Pa., Jan. 18, 1831, a son of John May and Harriet (de Benneville) Keim.

John May Keim was a prominent hardware merchant at Reading for many years. He married Harriet de Benne- ville, and they had six children, namely : Ellen, who mar- ried John Wickersham; Mary, who married Isaac Lathrop; Esther, who married Leonard Myers; George de Benne- ville; Anna, who married Amos Michener; and John May. [For other data see the publication entitled "Keim and Allied Families" which was compiled by de B. Randolph Keim.]

After receiving a thorough education at Reading and at "China Hall," in Bucks county, Mr. Keim engaged in a general hardware business at Reading until 1862, when he went to Philadelphia and entered the hardware store of Rufus Smith, on Commerce street, east of Fourth. After continuing with him for seven years he started in the sad- dlery hardware business for himself, at Third and Race streets, which he carried on until 1872; then he organized the firm of Keim, Kennedy & Co., which did business successfully until 1876, when the name was changed to Geo. de B. Keim, Ltd., & Co. and so continued for nearly twenty years. In 1871 Mr. Keim became the owner of the Coleman Bolt Works, and operated the plant for a number of years. He was also identified for some years with the Union Banking Company, as a director, and with the Citizens' Bank as president.

Immediately after locating in Philadelphia Mr. Keim identified himself with the Republican organization in that city and for thirty years took an active part in local politics. In 1880 he was chosen one of the Presidential electors for Pennsylvania, and he cast his vote for James A. Garfield. In 1882 he was placed on the Republican ticket for sheriff and was elected, notwithstanding opposi- tion led by the powerful combination of the "committee of 100," which had been organized for the reform of local politics. He served the regular term of three years, from 1883 to 1886. In 1887 he was nominated on the Independent ticket for mayor, against Edwin H. Fitler on the Republican ticket, and although his numerous friends throughout the city conducted a hard campaign in his be- half, he was defeated.

In 1873 Mr. Keim represented the United States as a commissioner to the World's Fair at Vienna. At its close he traveled for a year over many parts of Europe and brought home with him many rare and costly paintings and works of art. This collection he continued to add to, and by many persons his collection is considered the finest owned by a private individual in Pennsylvania. For many years he resided at No. 1122 Spruce street, and he had a summer home at Edgewater Park, N. J., occupying a charming site on the eastern bank of the Delaware river; he also owned a farm and "shooting-box" in Maryland. While enjoying sport at the latter place he contracted a heavy cold, which developed into pneumonia, and he died after a short illness, March 10, 1893. He had a large circle of friends who appreciated him very highly for his genial, frank and straightforward nature.

In 1850 Mr. Keim was married to Miss Sarah Childs, of Milestown, Pa., by whom he had six children : Harriet de Benneville, Mary L., Ellen W., Walter M., John M. and Fanny Granville. In 1883, Mr. Keim was married (second) to Miss Elizabeth Archer Thomas, daughter of Joseph Tuley and Belinda Jane (Mitchell) Thomas, the former of whom was a distinguished lawyer of Philadelphia. They had two children: George de Benneville and Elizabeth Thomas.

JOHN W. GILBERT, of the firm of Heffner, Gilbert & Croll, leading clothiers and men's furnishers at Reading, Pa., was born Sept. 5, 1856, near Gilbertsville, New Han- over township, Montgomery Co., Pa., son of Elias Y. and Rebecca, (Wartman) Gilbert, and grandson of John and Sarah (Yerger) Gilbert.

John Gilbert was born near Gilbertsville, Pa., a little borough named in honor of the early residents of that name, and he and his wife were the parents of two chil- dren, Elias Y. and a daughter who died in infancy. After Mrs. Gilbert's death, John Gilbert married (second) Esther Bickel. By this union there were children as fol-

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

lows : Jesse, Lydia, Henry, John, Milton, Emma, Percival Reading Railway. This was in 1862, and he continued and Angustus. In religious belief the grandparents were members of the Lutheran Church. He was a blacksmith by trade, and this occupation he followed for many years, dying aged sixty years.

Elias Y. Gilbert was born on the old Gilbert homestead near Gilbertsville. He received a good common school education, and during his vacations worked in his father's blacksmith shop, learning the trade. This he followed for a short time, and then engaged in the hotel business, first in Berks county, and later, after a short time spent in the butcher business, returned thereto, continuing in that oc- cupation for about forty years, sixteen years of this time being in Pottstown. He died Dec. 1, 1898, and his wife followed him to the grave April 3, 1901. The children born to this union were: Mahlon W., born Aug. 16, 1850, in New Hanover, Montgomery county, is deceased; Elizabeth W., born Dec. 21, 1853, in New Hanover, died unmarried; Sar- ah A. W., born Oct. 18, 1854, in New Hanover, married C. W. B. Todd, Feb. 21, 1901; John W., born Sept. 5, 1856; Ellen W., born Sept. 11, 1859, in Boyertown, Berks county, married Nevin Gery, now of Philadelphia; Elias H., born Feb. 10, 1861, at Colebrookdale; Emma W., born Oct. 29, 1865, in Colebrookdale, Berks county, married W. M. Staufer, and they reside in Lancaster county; Howard W., born Sept. 27, 1869, at that place, married Anna Ratz, and they live in Pottstown; and Eli married a Miss Ida Moll, of Alburtis, Lehigh county.

John W. Gilbert attended public school in Berks and Montgomery counties and Perkiomen Seminary. At the age of nine years he engaged as a tender in a brick yard, and this he followed during the summer months for three seasons. When twelve years of age he engaged at clerk- ing in a general store at Forgedale and at Landis Store. He then clerked in his father's hotel for four years, during this time attending the Seminary. Later he taught school for two years, afterward engaging in the butchering busi- ness at East Greenville and Alburtis, still later going to Philadelphia, where he was employed eleven years by W. L. Graver as traveling salesman. In 1890 Mr. Gilbert came to Reading. He was appointed steward at the Berks County Alms House, where he remained about five years, and at the end of this time engaged in the men's furnishing goods business on Fifth street. In 1897 the firm of Heffner, Gilbert & Croll was established, commencing operations at No. 528 Penn street, which store they conducted until 1904, when, on account of their steadily increasing business and lack of room they removed to their present fine store, formerly the J. C. Illig stand, and here carry one of the finest stocks of men's furnishings and clothing in Penn- sylvania. They also have a custom tailoring department, where the finest domestic and imported snitings are con- stantly kept on hand. A corps of cutters and first-class tailors are kept busy turning out some of the finest cloth- ing in this section. The company employs ten clerks, and the building, which is 34 x 230 feet, is equipped with all modern improvements and appliances.

Mr. Gilbert was married in 1879 to Miss Amanda ,Sal- lade, daughter of Abraham Sallade, and two children were born to this union: Bertha and Helen, both of whom re- side with their parents. In his political belief Mr. Gilbert is a Democrat. He is a member of Vaux Lodge, No. 406 F. & A. M., and of the K. G. E.

E. RALPH ADAMS, who at the time of his death was superintendent of the Philadelphia & Reading Telegraph Company, was born Nov. 5, 1850, at Robesonia, Berks Co., Pa., son of Renben and Magdalena (Jones) Adams.

Reuben Adams was born also in Berks county. He carried on a blacksmith and machine business at Robe- sonia, where he died in November, 1895, aged seventy-five years. His widow died in June, 1907. They had six chil- dren, namely: Richard, of Missouri; Rufus, who died at Denver, Colo .; E. Ralph; Emma, deceased, who married Samuel Kurtz; John; and Valeria, wife of George Fisher.

E. Ralph Adams was a pupil in the public schools until the age of fourteen years, when he took charge of the telegraph service at Robesonia, for the Philadelphia &

to be in the employ of this corporation until his death, with the exception of 1871 to 1874, when he was with the Western Union Telegraph Company, at Sedalia, Mo. After his return to the former company he was made manager of the Sixth street office at Reading, in 1875 becoming chief operator, and in 1886 he was sent to the Philadel- phia office of the company as manager. Nine months later he was promoted to be superintendent of the whole ser- vice, and this responsible position, gained entirely through his own merit, he held up to the time of his death, which occurred March 3, 1895. He was a member of Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M .; Excelsior Chapter ; Reading Commandery, K. T .; and Philadelphia Consistory. He belonged also to Mt. Penn Council, Royal Arcanum, and to the Philadelphia & Reading Relief Telegraphic Association.

In 1871 Mr. Adams was married to Loretta Loag, a daughter of William R. and Eliza (Strong) Loag. They settled at what is now known as Loag's Corner, Chester county, where they engaged in farming. She is the young- est of their children, the others being : Margaret, deceased, wife of Michael P. Boyer, a prominent attorney at Read- ing; John, deceased, who was proprietor of a hotel at Scranton, Pa .; Emma, widow of James Thompson, of Hillsboro, Md .; James, deceased, a merchant in Phila- delphia; Mary and Esther, both deceased; George, de- ceased a dentist at Fort Wayne, Ind .; Sarah, wife of Theodore J. Bell, of Chester, Pa .; Frances, also of Chester.

Mr. and Mrs. Adams had two children, viz .: Fred B., who is supervisor of the Shamokin Division of the Phila- delphia & Reading Railway Company, and who married Lue G. Felix; and Florence L., wife of R. Ray Helms, representative for the Equitable Life Assurance Society, at Reading, Pennsylvania.

CLYMER FAMILY. In tracing this family, the first of whom we know are Christopher Clymer and his wife, Catherine, who lived in Bristol, England. They had two children, Richard and William, who came to America about the year 1705. Both married, but only Richard left issue.

Richard Clymer and his wife, Elizabeth, had five chil- dren. Three of them died in infancy. Two sons, Christo- pher and William, both married and both left descendants, Christopher's son George having been one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

William Clymer, second son of Richard, married Anne Judith Roberdeau and left but one child. This was Daniel Cunningham Clymer, who was brought up by his uncle, General Roberdean, Daniel's father having died when Daniel was quite young. Daniel Cunningham Clymer married Mary Weidner and they had three children : Ann, who died unmarried; William, who married Snsan Rightmyer and had eight children, all of whom died childless ; and Edward Tilghman.

Edward Tilghman Clymer, son of Daniel C., married Maria Catherine Hiester, and they were the parents of seven children, as follows: Daniel Roberdeau, born March 31, 1819; William Hiester, born Oct. 9, 1820; Ed- ward Myers, born July 16, 1822; Weidner, born May 12, 1824; Mary Hiester, born July 19, 1825; Hiester, born Nov. 3, 1827; and George Edward, born Jan. 8, 1830.

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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 83

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