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 86

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 86

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).

"Then hail the natal day When Heaven's fav'ring ray Shone on thy face. Let joy, in civic pride, Gush forth, on every side, And music's swelling tide Add strength and grace. M. Brayton McKnight attended the local public schools, graduating from the Reading high school in 1872, and entered Amherst College the same year, from which college he was graduated in 1876. He then read law in the office of his brother-in-law, Charles H. Schaeffer, Esq., of Reading, and was admitted to the Bar of Berks county in 1878. Going to Colorado in the fall of 1879, he was admitted to the Bar of that State and took a clerical "Our fathers' God! may we Be ever true to thee Through all our days. Thy Name be glorified, Our hearts be sanctified, As, with exultant pride, We sing thy praise." position in the office of Hon. Robert S. Morrison, a prom- inent attorney of Georgetown, Colo. Returning to Reading the following year, he resumed the practice of law. In 1881 he assisted in the incorporation of the Mt. Penn Stove Works, a company just forming for the manufacture of cooking and heating appliances, and being elected secretary and treasurer of the new corporation, he relinquished his Mr. Zimmerman was also the author of the memorial hymn sung at the dedication of the Mckinley monu- ment in the City Park, in the presence of one of the lar- gest audiences ever assembled in Reading. law practice and devoted his whole time to manufacturing. He retained the office of secretary and treasurer of the Mt. Penn Stove Works for twenty-five years, and in 1907 he was elected president of the company, which office he now holds. During this time this company has grown to be One of the proudest achievements of Mr. Zimmer- one of the prominent manufacturing and business enter- man's journalistic career was the erection of a monu- prises of Reading.

368

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mr. Mcknight was married in 1880 to Ida May Geise, fer has been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in who died in 1882, without any children. On March 31, the vestry of which he served a number of years as elder, and to which his family also adhere. 1898, he married Wilhelmina Hamilton Holmes (daughter of Robert Holmes, of Reading), who died on Nov. 3, 1901. leaving two daughters, Helen, born June 16, 1899, and Katharine, born May 23, 1901.

Mr. McKnight is identified with various business enter- prises of Reading, is on the board of directors of the Mt. Penn Gravity Railroad, the Reading & Temple Railway, the Reading Hospital, the Charles Evans Cemetery Com- pany and the Reading Sanitarium for the Treatment of Tuberculosis, and is a member of the Berks County His- torical Society, the Pennsylvania-German Society and the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.

CHARLES H. SCHAEFFER, one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Reading, is well known in the financial circles of that city as president of the National Union Bank. Mr. Schaeffer was born in Columbus, Ohio, in the year 1840. His father and grandfather were clergymen, distinguished in the Lutheran Church, his father having been for many years professor in the Lnth- eran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, and later hav- ing been the founder, first professor and president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, where he remained until his death in 1879.

Charles H. Schaeffer received his collegiate education at Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, from which he grad- uated with honor in 1860, and thereafter he conducted a classical academy at Reading for several years. During this period he also read law in the office of the late Con- gressman Daniel Ermentrout. In 1863 he enlisted in the service of the United States and was at the front until his regiment disbanded in the fall of that year. On Aug. 9, 1864, he was admitted to the Bar and since that time has been in continuous practice, being concerned in much of the most important litigation that has been before the courts of Berks county, the Supreme court of Pennsyl- vania and the United States conrts, and during his pro- fessional career has been attorney for many of the most important corporate interests of the community.

Mr. Schaeffer has been prominently identified with the Democratic party from the first, and in his earlier years was a prominent speaker and worker in his party, repre- senting it in county, State and national conventions. In 1873 he served a term as a member of the city council, but was never a candidate for any other office. He long served the public as a member of the board of health until his resignation in 1902, nineteen years, during which time the most valuable improvements and reforms in the work of the board were inaugurated and established.

'Mr. Schaeffer has always been prominently identified with the public interests and institutions of the city and county. In 1873 he drew the charter of the first passenger railway built in the city of Reading, organized the com- pany, and has been connected with the city railway in- terests as attorney and director during all the subsequent developments of the system. Since 1869 he has been the counsel for the National Union Bank of Reading, one of the leading financial institutions of the city, became director in 1874, and vice-president in 1898. Since March, 1900, Mr. Schaeffer has been president of this institution.

During all his legal and business career Mr. Schaeffer has at various times contributed articles to the educational and legal magazines, and other publications of the city, county and State, which gave him reputation as a writer, and in the years when the Reading Eagle was laying the foundations of its future prosperity his contributions to its columns were highly appreciated. In connection with his banking interests, Mr. Schaeffer is also a director of the Reading Trust Company, the Reading Gas Com- pany, the Reading City Passenger Railway Company, and also of many other corporations. He is also president of the West Reading Water Company. He is an active member of the well-known Berks County Historical So- ciety, while his war record entitles him to his connection with Keim Post, No. 76, G. A. R. Since 1860 Mr. Schaef-

In 1867 Charles H. Schaeffer and Amelia M. McKnight were united in marriage. Mrs. Schaeffer is a member of one of the old and prominent families of the county. Four sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer, all of whom are engaged in business in Reading and Philadel- phia, the youngest, E. Carroll, being a member of the Berks county Bar.

In every walk of life, indeed, Mr. Schaeffer has made an impress for good. Of profound legal mind, scholarly and liberal-minded, his influence has been felt not only in the material upbuilding of Reading, but in the develop- ment of the moral, religions and educational movements in the community in which he has for so long been so prominent a figure.

JACOB B. FRICKER. It is most consonant that in this work be incorporated a sketch of the career of this well- known and honored citizen and prominent business man of Reading, for not only is he a native of the city which is now his home, but he is also a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of the county in which his entire life has been passed. Mr. Fricker was born in the old family homestead at No. 807 Penn street, Dec. 19, 1839, son of Jacob and Catherine (Allgaier) Fricker, both like- wise natives of the old Keystone State.

Jacob Fricker was born in Huntingdon county, where he was reared and educated, and where he remained .until he was about twenty-two years of age, when he came to Read- ing and secured a position as foreman and manager in the hat factory of Jacob Sauerbier. He retained this incum- bency about twelve years, and then engaged in the same branch of enterprise on his own responsibility, forming a partnership with Harry Brown and establishing their factory at No. 807 Penn street, in 1835. On that site, 30 x 270 feet in dimensions, Mr. Fricker erected his dwell- ing, which is still standing, and in an excellent state of preservation. In the rear of this building the firm estab- lished their fur-hat manufactory, utilizing a log house. At the same time they established a wholesale and retail store at the corner of Fifth and Court streets, where Tragle Bros.' large cordage building now stands. Mr. Fricker continued to be actively identified with this business until his death. The business demanded considerable traveling on his part, as the custom in those days was for the man- ufacturers to go about from one locality to another, selling their products or exchanging them for new fur-pelts. On one of these trips he contracted a severe cold, the ultimate result of which was his death, in March. 1847. In 1828 Jacob Fricker married Catherine Allgaier, who survived him many years, continuing to reside in the old Penn street homestead for sixty years. She died in 1888. Five children were born to Jacob Fricker and wife: Peter H., who was engaged in the manufacture of fur hats in Reading, and who was a prominent member of the old Ringgold Band, died in 1860; Andrew J., a printer and box manufacturer, also identified with the Reading Lumber Company, and the representative of the Tenth ward in the city coun- cil, died in 1895; Sarah E. died in 1886; Jacob B .: George W., who was engaged in printing and manufacturing, died in 1902. As per family arrangement the estate was not settled until 1905, a period of fifty-eight years, when Jacob B., the sole survivor, became the owner of the old home- stead.

Jacob B. Fricker was reared to manhood in his native town, and after completing the course of the Reading schools, he found employment as a clerk in a local mercan- tile establishment. He followed this vocation for a num- ber of years, with different firms. and during the Civil war was employed as a clerk in the post-office, and later was clerk and teller in the First National and the Read- ing Savings Banks. In 1871 he became associated with the De Long Brothers, tanners and curriers, who for many years occupied the southeast corner of Ninth and Muhlen- berg streets, and with them in 1875 he established a whole- sale leather house in Philadelphia, and at this writing

GHSchaffen

369

BIOGRAPHICAL

still remains a partner of this firm. In 1884 he formed Anthony W. Heller, and one child was born to this union, a partnership with Lambert A. Rehr, and under the firm Amos W., who is now attending school. Mr. Huyett is a member of Vigilance Lodge, I. O. O. F., and the B. P. O. Elks, Lodge No. 115. Like the rest of the family he is a member of the Lutheran Church.

name of Rehr & Fricker, they engaged as contractors and builders. The firm is still in existence, with offices at No. 124 Cedar street, and they control a large and important business, having erected more than 1,000 houses in Reading. This fact in itself offers the most effective voucher for the correct business methods and technical ability of the firm, whose reputation has ever been of the highest, and whose splendid success has been richly deserved.

Mr. Fricker is a man of progressive spirit and has iden- tified himself with various other enterprises which have contributed to the material advancement and prestige of his home city. He is one of the organizers, and remains an interested principal in the Reading Lumber Company. Mr. Fricker was a director in the Reading Hardware Com- pany many years, but recently severed his connection with the company. For the past ten years he has been the man- ager and treasurer of the Reading Abattoir Company, which he organized and now has incorporated by the State of Pennsylvania. He is not only treasurer but also one of the largest stockholders. He is president and stock- holder of the Crescent Brass Foundry Company, and takes a lively interest in the management of the same. In poli- tics Mr. Fricker is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, 'and his religious faith is that of the Reformed Church. He and his wife are prominent members of St. Paul's Reformed Church, with which he has been identified since its organization, and of whose choir he has been a member for thirty years, also taking an active part in the work of the Sunday- school. He has served on the building committee of six different churches of the Reformed denomination, those of St. Thomas, St. John, St. Andrew and Zion, on the first church buildings of St. Stephen and St. Mark, on the Sun- day-school building of St. Paul's, and on the Seminary building of the Reformed Church of Lancaster, Pa., and in each instance he gave most valuable assistance by reason of his fine technical knowledge as a contractor and builder.

In 1868 Mr. Fricker married Miss Annie E. Getz, daugh- ter of the late Peter D. Getz, an honored pioneer of Read- ing, and to this union have been born three daughters : Mary F. m. Thomas G. Mull, and has one daughter, Helen ; Martha A .; and Annie F., the two last named remaining under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Fricker were members of the Mozart Musical Union, being original mem- bers, and they continued interested in same as long as it was in existence. Mr. Fricker is a loyal and public-spirited citi- zen and has an abiding interest in all that concerns his native city, which is endeared to him by the gracious mem- ories and associations of the past as well as of the present.

I. S. AND D. H. HUYETT, proprietors of the Standard Paper Box Manufacturing Company, which is located at Nos. 441 to 445 Pearl street, Reading, are well known in their community as honest, straight-forward business men. Their success is due to their push and energy, and to their native business ability, and they are considered representa- tive citizens of their native city. They are sons of Amos and Henrietta (Smith) Huyett, the former of whom was for many years a prominent contractor and builder, and also operated a planing mill, doing much to advance the material growth of Reading. During the Civil war he was one of the first to enlist and he served throughout that struggle. He died in 1891, aged fifty-four years.

Amos Huyett was twice married. He married (first) Henrietta Smith, who died in 1870 at the age of thirty- three years. They were the parents of five children as fol- lows : I. S. and D. H., who are mentioned below; Ella R., Lucy A. and Henrietta. Mr. Huyett married (second) Lydia Rick, who passed away in 1908, at the age of seventy. In religion the family were Lutherans. Fraternally the father was a member of the I. O. O. F. and in politics was a Republican.

I. S. Huyett, senior member of the firm of the Standard Paper Box Manufacturing Company, was born in 1861. On May 12, 1887, he married Jennie L. Heller, daughter of 24

D. H. Huyett, junior member of the firm, was born in 1862, and on March 4, 1898, he married Catharine Hull, daughter of Henry Hull. They are the parents of Daniel, Dorothy and Catharine. Mr. Huyett is prominent in frater- nal circles, being connected with St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 435; Reading Chapter, R. A. M., No. 152; De Molay Commandery, No. 9, K. T .; Reading Lodge of Per- fection ; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; Williamsport Consistory; and Lodge No. 115, B. P. O. Elks, of Reading.

The Standard Paper Box Manufacturing Company was organized in 1895. They manufacture a high grade of paper boxes, cartons and candy boxes and supply shoe, millinery, candy and hardware concerns with their product. The plant, three stories in height and 60x 100 feet in dimensions, is equipped with a one hundred horse-power boiler, and gives employment to an average of seventy hands. From a small beginning the business has grown rap- idly and now controls a well defined trade throughout this section of the State.

ALPHEUS S. BEHNEY, a director of the Penn Na- tional Bank, of Reading, and one of the most substantial citizens of Womelsdorf, Berks county, was born Nov. 17, 1843, at Fredericksburg, Lebanon Co., Pa., son of Samuel and Sarah Jane ( Bashore) Behney.

This family is one of the oldest in Pennyslvania, and the name has been variously spelled Beni, Baney, Behne and Behney. The founder of the family in the Lebanon Valley was Peter Beany, of Heidelberg township, who died in January, 1784, leaving a wife, Catherine, and chil- dren : George Peter, Jr., Jacob, Melchoir, Eva, Elizabeth, Christina, Barbara, Magdalena, John and Anna Elizabeth. It is also shown in the Pennsylvania Archives that in 1723 a family of Beni emigrated to this country and located in Lebanon county. Prior to 1750 the ancestor of this num- erous family located near Fredericksburg, Lebanon county, where he took up about 1,000 acres of land, and there spent the rest of his life, dying at an advanced age. Up to the time of his death, Peter Beany (or Behney) wore no garb other than in Continental style. Several of his sons, including Melchoir, served in the Revolutionary war.

Melchoir Behney, son of the ancestor, and great-grand- father of Alpheus S., was born in Lebanon county, and spent his life there, being buried at Fredericksburg. He was a farmer by occupation, and one of the early horse dealers of this part of Pennsylvania, the first of the family to follow that line, in which so many of the name have become famous, in fact, one Jacob Behne, of Myerstown, was the largest horse dealer of the United States in his day. He always had on hand from 200 to 500 head, sold horses to Barnum & Bailey, the showmen, to the Brewers, and to horse dealers all over the country.

Melchoir Behney was twice married, his first wife bear- ing him two children, sons, and his second wife, a Miss Fisher, bearing him one son and two daughters. Mr. Beh- ney's second wife was the sister of the wives of his sons by his first marriage. He was a leading citizen of his day, and did much toward promoting movements for the public good.

Martin Behney, grandfather of Alpheus S., was a farmer, and spent his life in the vicinity of his birthplace, was a public-spirited and influential citizen, and died at an ad- vanced age. He married a Miss Fisher, a sister of his step-mother, and she bore him seven children : John; Jacob; David lost his life in the Civil war; Samuel (father of Alphens S.) ; Kate m. a Snavely; Sallie m. William Bohr; and Rebekah died unmarried.

Samuel Behney, father of Alpheus S., was born on the old homestead in 1806, and died at Myerstown, in 1885, at the age of seventy-nine years. He learned distilling in his youth with his father-in-law, an occupation which he followed for several years, and then engaged in the man- ufacture of brick, at Fredericksburg and later in Myers-

370

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

town, continuing in this line of business for some fifty coat and shoes, and have often been mistaken for one years, and furnishing the material for hundreds of houses another. They are all reliable business men, and worthy representatives of one of Berks county's oldest and most honored families. and buildings in the vicinity of these places. He was a captain of the militia at Jonestown in the days of the old battalions, and upon his removal to Myerstown was suc- ceeded by a Mr. Long. He was one of the public-spirited GEORGE W. HAWK, a well-known business man of Reading, Pa., engaged in the manufacture of hosiery, was born Jan. 16, 1866, in that city, son of Nathan and Lydia (Seidel) Hawk, natives of this State. and progressive men of his day and locality, and was a pillar of the Reformed Church. Samuel Behney was mar- ried to Sarah Jane Bashore, daughter of John and Catha- rine (Fauber) Bashore, and to this union there were born Nathan Hawk was a prominent manufacturer of wool hats for many years in Reading, on South Eleventh street, under the style of DeHart, Hawk & Co., and was one of the best known business men of his day, retiring in 1880 to enjoy the fruits of a long and active business life. He passed away in 1905, aged seventy-six years, while his wife still survives him. The children born to this worthy couple were: George W .; Ida m. Sylvester Fritz, a dairy- man; Anna m. John Bauer, a barber of Reading, Pa .; and Miss Laura. In politics Nathan Hawk was a stanch Re- publican. When the war broke out he was one of the first to enlist, and he was a member of one of the first companies to leave Reading for the front. nine children: (1) Edward, who died in Denver, Colo., in the fall of 1905, aged seventy-two years, was a veteran of the Civil war, serving three years, during part of which time he was a prisoner at Andersonville. He was a brick- maker and builder by trade. (2) William, of Pittsburg, was also in the three-years' service during the Civil war, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. (3) Milton, deceased, one of the first cigar makers, and later a brick manufacturer at Womelsdorf. (4) Melchoir, an extensive contractor and builder and one of the most prominent citi- zens of Kansas City, was in the three-years' service, and was wounded in battle. (5) Alphens S. (6) Sarah J. married Harry Wise, formerly of Harrisburg, but now of Philadelphia. (7) Samuel is engaged in real estate deal- ings in Womelsdorf, where he is treasurer of the Y. M. C. A., and is a man of importance. (8) Levi is deceased. (9) One died in infancy.

Alpheus S. Behney was educated in the Myerstown public schools, obtaining a fair education, which was supple- mented by years of practical business experience. He be- gan working as a youth in the brick factory of his father, where he continued until sixteen years old, and when but seventeen enlisted in Company I, 7th P. V. I., being sworn in the U. S. army July 21, 1861, and was in service in that regiment for upward of a year. He then enlisted for a year on the transports, assisting the sick and wounded until the transports went out of commission, when he en- listed a third time, becoming a private in Company H, 186th P. V. I., in which he served until the close of the war. He was in the great Army of the Potomac, participat- ing in some of its fiercest engagements, and was mustered out of service at Philadelphia, in 1865. After his discharge Mr. Behney came to Womelsdorf, where he was engaged in the brick business until 1895, supplying all the brick for houses built in Womelsdorf during that thirty years. His brick was considered the best in the market, and he shipped to Robesonia, and into Lebanon and the sur- rounding counties. Since 1895 Mr. Behney has lived a semi-retired life. In 1907 he erected two large double brick dwelling houses on Second street, Womelsdorf, al- though his own home is located on High street, and was erected in 1867. In politics Mr. Behney is a Democrat, and was a councilman for nine consecutive years, rendering valuable service to his fellow citizens and receiving a re- nomination which he refused. He has various large business interests, owning eight other residences and a large build- 'ing in which a hosiery factory is conducted; is a director of the Penn National Bank, of Reading, being also on the auditing committee; and he helped to organize the Union Bank of Womelsdorf in 1903, being one of its first direc- tors. Fraternally he is connected with Williamson Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., of Womelsdorf; Excelsior Chapter No. 237, R. A. M., of Reading; Reading Commandery, No. 42, K. T., and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., being formerly a child of the Lu Lu, of Philadelphia, the mother of Rajah. He made a tour with the Knights Tem- plars to California in 1883. Mr. Behney is also a member of the P. O. S. of A., No. 679, Womelsdorf, having been treasurer of this camp ever since holding membership, more than twenty years. He is a Lutheran member of Zion's Union Church of Womelsdorf, Pa., while his wife adheres to the Reformed belief.

Mr. Behney was married (first) in 1865, to Lizzie .Wen- rich, born in 1841, who died in 1879, aged thirty-eight years, daughter of Isaac Wenrich. His second marriage was to Permelia Dondor, widow of Horace Hillegass.

The seven Behney brothers closely resembled each other in size, weight and height, could wear the same size of

George W. Hawk attended public school at Read- ing, as well as the pay schools, and his first em- ployment was in his father's factory. He learned the trade of dyeing, which he followed for thirteen years, and in 1897 engaged in the manufacture of hosiery on Court street, with four machines. In this industry Mr. Hawk has been immensely successful, now owning two factories, em- ploying 400 hands. Besides, he is a member of the firm of the Hawk Knitting Company, organized by him in 1901, which also manufactures hosiery. Mr. Hawk manufac- tures high and medium grades of goods, which find a ready market in the Western States, also having a large Eastern trade. He employs two traveling salesmen to represent his interests throughout the United States.

In political matters Mr. Hawk is a Republican, and he is fraternally connected with the P. O. S. of A. Mr. Hawk was married, in 1887, to Miss Emma Weidner, and two children have been born to this union : Estella and Warren. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are members of the Reformed Church, and are very highly esteemed in the community.

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.

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 86

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