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 88

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 88

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When Mr. Mohr took hold of the business he at once introduced improved methods, purchased the best up-to- date outfits, and at the time of his death was equipped for the business in a manner fully equal to the best city di- rectors. In addition to undertaking he engaged in the furniture business, conducting the only store of the kind that the town ever boasted. This store he designed and erected himself, adjoining his dwelling, and he always made it a point to keep a stock and assortment equal to city standards. He had a most active career, meeting with un- common success. Besides many other financial interests, he possessed at the time of his death forty houses in Birds- boro, and owned property in other places. His building business was the most extensive of any in the county out- side of Reading; his furniture store controlled a trade almost as great as some of the big Reading houses, and in his work as a funeral director he personally supervised over five thousand funerals. He was one of the oldest undertakers in continuous business in the county and his reputation extended throughout Berks county and beyond.

Mr. Mohr was one of the leading citizens of Birdsboro, identified with many of the public affairs of the place. He served a term in the town council and could have held official position many times had he permitted the use of his name. He was a member of Neversink Lodge, No. 514, I. O. O. F., a director in the Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company of Berks County, a member of the State Funeral Directors' Association, and of Friendship Fire

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Company, No. 1, of Birdsboro. When St. Mark's Lutheran are located, now owned by Jacob B. Bechtel, and con- Church was instituted in Birdsboro he was one of the first taining 103 acres; the second owned by the widow of John Butz; the third owned by William C. Eddinger; and the fourth by John B. Bahr. On the part owned by members, and he continued an attendant and a supporter of the cause until his death. He was ever alert to progress in business, took an eager interest in current events, and Jacob B. Bechtel is a private burying ground where Nicholas Ehst and his wife, as well as in the management of his varied interests displayed an industry and activity comparatively phenomenal.

Mr. Mohr departed this life Feb. 14, 1907, leaving a wife and two children : Mary Louisa, now the wife of Reese E. Beard, of Reading; and Edwin F., residing in Birdsboro, Pa. A son, Louis Raymond, died Dec. 17, 1893, aged twen- ty-one years.

EDWIN F. MOHR, son of Raymond Mohr, of Birdsboro, was born April 29, 1875, in Birdsboro, and received his education in the public schools. He has given all his work- ing years to the business in which he is still engaged, and which he learned thoroughly under paternal instruction, supplemented by his own well-directed efforts. He took a course in the Massachusetts School of Embalming, from which he graduated Nov. 18, 1898, and has spared no pains to make the service from his establishment up to the best standards anywhere. His methods and equipment are first- class in every respect, and he has kept his business up in every line. For some years he was engaged in the furniture business, his stock of furniture and carpets equaling those found at the large business centers. Very recently he relin- quished this department of trade, to give his entire atten- tion to funeral directing. He is progressive and; enterprising, being one of the most active young business men of the borough, and is broad and generous in his deal- ings, whether in business or private life. He is well known in his line, being a prominent member of the Funeral Direc- tors' Association of Pennsylvania.

On June 23, 1897, Mr. Mohr married Miss Sadie Geyer, daughter of Henry A. Geyer, of Birdsboro, and they have had one son, Raymond. Mr. and Mrs. Mohr are members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and in fraternal connec- tions he is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Neversink Lodge, No. 514, of Birdsboro. and Lodge 115, B. P. O. Elks, of Reading. He is also a member of Friendship Fire Com- pany No. 1, of his native town. He is a Republican in political faith, and active in the work of the party, repre- senting it in county and State conventions from time to time.

Since Mr. Mohr has given his sole attention to the under- taking business, he has kept pace with the leaders in that line and is excelled only by directors of the large cities in ability to conduct funerals. His knowledge is ever added to by the investigation and adoption of the latest processes and he is painstaking and assiduous in his efforts to en- hance his skill and be a credit to his associates in the profession, and give satisfaction to his patrons. He con- stantly improves his needed paraphernalia, and never al- lows his equipment to deteriorate or become incongruous with the times. As a consequence he has gained for him- self the respect of his competitors, and drawn to himself a large clientele, in his local town and from a large radius in the surrounding districts.

IRWIN T. EHST, director of the National Bank of Boyertown, director and secretary of the Franklin Improve- ment Company, director and secretary of the Union Manufacturing Company, director of the Manatawny Mu- tual Fire and Storm Insurance Company, secretary, treas- urer and general manager of the Boyertown Gas Company, and interested in many other of the largest and most im- portant industries of Berks county, was born in Oley town- ship, this county, Nov. 19, 1860.

(I) Nicholas Ehst (also spelled Ihst and East, and in of James and Elizabeth (Maul) Tea, both natives of Eng- the Pennsylvania archives among the list of emigrants land. Their children were: Irwin T .; Madora; Allen, a butcher at Bechtelsville; Warren, living near Bechtels- ville; William, a school teacher in Washington township; Ammon, of Reading; Annie, m. to Allen Erb, of Bechtels- Ish) was the ancestor of the American branch of the family. He was born in Switzerland in 1711, and he came to the New World on the ship "Pink Plaisance," which qualified at Philadelphia Sept. 21, 1732. He located in ville; and Cora, m. to Elmer Oberholtzer, of Bechtels- Colebrookdale township, Berks county, and became the ville. owner of about 400 acres of land, near Gablesville, on the Popodickon creek. This tract has been divided into four farms, namely : the one on which the original buildings

later generations, are buried. The inscription on the tomb- stone of Nicholas Ehst, who died in 1804, reads: "Hier ruhen die Gebeine von Nicholas Ihst, war alt 93 Jahre"; and on that of his wife: "Hier ruhen die Gebeine von Ver- onica Ihst, war alt 90 Jahre." The Ehst family are mem- bers of the Mennonite Church, and many of them are buried at Boyertown and Bally meeting houses. The children of Nicholas Ehst and his wife were: Daniel (whose children were-John, Daniel, Abraham, Anna and another daughter), Abraham, Molly and Elizabeth.

(II) Abraham Ehst, son of the ancestor, became the father of four children: Samuel; Nicholas; John; and Anna (m. Henry Freed, and lived for some years near Norristown and then moved to Michigan, where both died, the parents of Catharine, Dinah, Anna, Mary, a daughter not named, Abraham, Henry and John).

( III) Samuel Ehst, son of Abraham, met an accidental death in December, 1812, while in Philadelphia with a team. His three sons and six daughters were: Elizabeth, Polly, Dinah (born 1800), Abraham, Anna, Catharine, John L., a son (no name), and Helena, the last named being a posthumous child.

(III) Nicholas Ehst, son of Abraham. married Elizabeth Latshaw, and settled in Chester county, Pa. They had three sons and five daughters, namely: Catharine, Dinah, Elizabeth, Mary, Abraham, Jacob, John and Magdalena.

(III) John ( Johannes) Ehst, son of Abraham, was born April 12, 1782, and owned the farm now the property of Jacob B. Bechtel. In 1806 he married Anna Margaret Weise (born July 28, 1786, died Dec. 10, 1810), and they had two children. He married (second) in 1812, Eliza- beth Schwertley. To this second union were born three sons and five daughters : John, Polly, Abraham, Samuel, Elizabeth, Magdalena, Catharine and Anna. Of these Abra- ham and Samuel are both living (1908). Abraham was born March 28, 1817, on the original Ehst homestead, and he now lives at Barto, spending a part of his time with his son, Rev. John, who lives between Bally and Clayton. He is a most remarkable man, well preserved, bright, humorous, and possessed of a wonderful memory. He has never been obliged to wear glasses. At the age of twenty-one, he weighed 210 pounds, and now in his ninety-second year weighs 240. He married Susanna Moyer, born 1821, daughter of Michael Moyer. She died in 1869, the mother of Elizabeth, Rev. John, Henry, Abraham. Susanna, David and Jacob.

( IV) John L. Ehst, son of Samuel, was born Nov. 5, 1805, and at his death, Dec. 9, 1886, he was buried in Bally Mennonite Cemetery. He was a farmer in Colebrook- dale township, but later he and his son Levi conducted a tannery near the Pike line in Oley township. He mar- ried Magdalena Gabel, born Feb. 22, 1806, died Jan. 1, 1899. They had four sons and one daughter: Leah, who married John H. Funk; Jacob, who conducted a hotel in Reading; William, living in Washington township; Henry G .; and Levi, of New Berlinville.

(V) Henry G. Ehst, son of John L., was born in Cole- brookdale township, July 7, 1835, and he died on his farm in Washington township in 1890, and is buried at the Mennonite Meeting House at Bally, formerly called Churchville. He was a good quiet citizen, true to the teachings of his faith. He married Rachel Tea, daughter

(VI) Irwin T. Ehst, son of Henry G., was born in Oley township Nov. 19, 1860, and was reared upon his father's farm, attending the public schools in the vicinity of his

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BIOGRAPHICAL

home, and later Prof. D. B. Brunner's Scientific Academy, death. He met his death by drowning in the canal, about Reading. In 1879 he was licensed to teach school, and he two miles above Birdsboro, Oct. 14, 1871. Daniel Focht taught one term in Washington township. He then came married Catherine Hemmig, daughter of David Hemmig, to Boyertown and learned the printer's trade in the office and she died June 6, 1863, at the age of fifty-four. To their union were born nine children, eight of whom lived to maturity, viz. : Mary Ann, born May 21, 1834, m. Ray- mond Mohr (deceased) ; Sarah, born Nov. 21, 1835, m. Lewis Fritz; one died in infancy in 1837; Catherine, born Sept. 19, 1839, m. David Mock; David, born Oct. 30, 1841, died Nov. 7, 1874, leaving a widow, Mrs. Martha (Lincoln) Focht, who still resides in Reading; Leah, born Oct. 24, 1843, m. Jeremiah Deeter; Elizabeth, born March 21, 1845, m. Jeremiah Weidner; Hannah, born April 17, 1846, m. John Lacey; Levi H. was born Aug. 3, 1850. The father of this family was a Lutheran in religious connection, the mother a member of the Reformed Church. He was a Democrat in political sentiment. of the Boyertown Messenger. For about four years the firm was Ehst & Emes, the partner being Calvin F. Emes, and they carried on a stationery and printing establish- ment, but Mr. Ehst, since April, 1889, has been alone. Mr. Ehst is a progressive and public-spirited man, and he has taken an active interest in many of the leading enterprises of his town and county. He is a director and stockholder in the National Bank of Boyertown, Burial Casket Com- pany (employing 350 people ), the Union Manufacturing Com- pany (employing sixty people, and making all kinds of castings), and a director of the Franklin Improvement Co., builders. He is the principal owner of the Boyertown Gas Company, of which he is secretary, treasurer and general manager, and he is the business manager of Ehst & Co., largest real estate dealers in and about Boyertown. He is a director of the Manatawny Mutual Fire and Storm Insurance Company.

Mr. Ehst has been prominent in the public life of Boyer- town. In politics he is a Republican, and for five years he was justice of the peace, and since 1896 he has been a notary public. He has been the adjudicator of a number of estates. At the time of the Opera House fire, Jan. 13, 1908, he was appointed by the Burgess as chairman of the Relief committee, with the privilege of choosing his own committee. This committee had charge of the identifica- tion and burial of the 171 dead, caring for orphans and relief, and the distributing of the $23,000 popular sub- scription.

Fraternally Mr. Ehst is a Mason, belonging to Stichter Lodge, No. 254, F. & A. M., Pottstown; Bloomsburg Lodge of Perfection, 14th degree; Bloomsburg Consistory, 32d degree ; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Reading. He also belongs to Washington Camp, No. 104, P. O. S. of A., of Boyertown. He is unmarried.

LEVI H. FOCHT, head of the firm of L. H. Focht & Son, general contractors and builders, is one of the leading men in his line in Berks county. He maintains his busi- ness headquarters in Reading and his home in the borough of Birdsboro, and is actively identified with the most progressive interests of both places. The business in which he finds his chief interest was established in 1870, and evidences of his work abound in and around Reading, though his operations are by no means confined to this locality.

Mr. Focht was born Aug. 3, 1850, in Robeson township, Berks county, where his family has long been located. He is of German descent. His grandfather, George Focht, was born Feb. 1, 1773, and followed farming in Robeson township. But he was also an undertaker and cabinet- maker, and in the pursuit of those callings settled in Birds- boro, where he carried on business for a number of years. A clock which he made in 1832 is now one of the cherished possessions of his grandson, Levi H. Focht. George Focht died March 1, 1839. He married Catherine Huyett, and they had the following named children: John, born June 14, 1804; Samuel, born Aug. 8, 1805, who was engaged in business as a carpenter in Reading, as such building the McIlvaine rolling-mill and also the first house erected by E. & G. Brooke in Birdsboro; Daniel, born April 20, 1807, who was the father of Levi H. Focht; Mary, born Jan. 18, 1809, who married a Hiester; Charles, born Jan. 5, 1812, who also followed carpentering; George, born Jan. 1, 1814 ; and Jacob, born July 18, 1815, a carpenter of Read- ing, who was the last survivor of the family, dying Dec. 26, 1886. This family were all Lutherans in religious belief.

Levi H. Focht was educated in the public schools of Birdsboro, and began work at the early age of thirteen, in the employ of the Schuylkill Navigation Company. He was engaged in repair work on the canal for two years, after which he commenced to serve his apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, under his brother-in-law, Raymond Mohr, of Birdsboro. He also learned undertaking. For a time he found employment on the Perkiomen railroad, later working for Berton & McDonald, bridge builders, of Philadelphia, on a number of bridges in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. When only eighteen years old he was given charge of the construction of the large wooden bridge across the Pompton river on the line of the Midland railroad of New Jersey-conclusive evidence of his remarkable ability in the building line. In 1870 he began to take contracts on his own account, and he was successful from the beginning, for his youth seemed to make no difference in the confidence which his patrons had in his integrity and capability. In 1873 he established him- self in Birdsboro, and many of the most important build- ings in that borough, including structures in both the busi- ness and residence parts, are of his construction. He de- serves the greatest share of the credit for the beautiful section of Birdsboro now included in the east ward, for- merly known as Lincoln-town, most of the attractive and substantial residences which have made that locality fam- ous having been erected according to his plans and under his supervision. Since 1874 Mr. Focht has had his business headquarters in the city of Reading, as more accessible to the extensive territory from which he draws his patron- age. In the spring of 1906 he admitted his son, George Walter Focht, to a partnership, under the firm name of L. H. Focht & Son, and their offices are located in the Baer Building, in Reading, where they enjoy all the modern facilities for the conduct of their widespread interests.

Mr. Focht has had numerous contracts from the Phila- delphia & Reading Railway Company, having erected most of the stations along their line, besides many elegant and commodious residences along the line of the Pennsylvania road. He also put up the stock farm buildings on the estate of Mr. A. J. Cassatt; an addition to the Haver- ford (Pa.) College buildings ; the Wood Memorial Chapel, adjoining Christ Cathedral, in Reading; and various other structures which display his artistic and architectural ability, as well as his thorough workmanship in the merely mechanical part of the work. He has always depended upon the excellence of his work to gain him new customers and retain the old, and he has had no reason to regret the course he has pursued throughout a career filled with unusual activity. The firm has a reputation second to none for work of high quality, reliability and irreproachable stan- dards, and few business houses in any line enjoy such un- limited confidence either among patrons or business as- sociates.

Daniel Focht was born April 20, 1807, on the homestead Mr. Focht has always been vitally interested in the wel- fare of his home borough, Birdsboro, and he has found time to advance its interests in numerous ways. He has served twenty-four consecutive years as member of the council of that borough, and has been a member of the in Robeson township. Practically all of his active years were spent in the service of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, whose employ he entered in early manhood, and he was so reliable a workman that at one time he had charge of construction and repairs on the Schuylkill canal. Birdsboro Fire Company since its organization, acting as He also cultivated the homestead farm after his father's treasurer of the company for twenty-one years. He has

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been a stockholder in and director of the First National Bank of Birdsboro since its organization, and in this con- Episcopalian. nection it may also be stated that he has been a director of the Reading National Bank since its organization. He is a stanch Republican in political faith.

In the fraternal circles of Reading and Berks county generally Mr. Focht is a familiar and popular figure. He is a high Mason, holding membership in Chandler Lodge, No. 227, Excelsior Chapter, No. 237, Commandery No. 42, K. T., and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., all of Read- ing; and Philadelphia Consistory, thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Never- sink Lodge, No. 514, of Birdsboro; to the I. O. R. M., at Birdsboro; the Fraternal Order of Eagles; Reading Lodge, No. 115, B. P. O. Elks, and Mount Pleasant Council, No. 37, O. U. A. M.

On May 23, 1874, Mr. Focht married Alice Beard, daugh- ter of Jeremiah Beard, of Birdsboro, and to them were born two sons, George Walter and Levi Roy, the last named dying March 12, 1880. As previously stated, George Walter Focht is now in partnership with his father in the contracting and building business. He married Miss Alice Huyett, daughter of Isaac Huyett.

WILLIAM ENGLE, a prominent and well-to-do business man of Reading, who is the owner and operator of a paper box manufactory, was born in this city Dec. 5, 1843, son of Daniel and Mary (Crisher) Engle, grandson of John En- gle, and great-grandson of Jacob Engle, who was an officer in the Continental army. and fought under General Warren at the battle of Bunker Hill. Jacob Engle was one of those who came from Germany to drill troops prior to the great struggle for freedom, and on peace being declared he re- ceived a large tract of land from the Government for ser- vices rendered. He settled upon a portion of this tract, which was located in Montgomery county, Pa., and there resided the balance of his life.

John Engle, grandfather of William, was born in Mont- gomery county, and operated a portion of the land deeded by the Government to his father, also carrying on a butch- ering business in connection therewith all of his life. He married and became the father of the following children: Jacob, John, Daniel, Samuel and one daughter. As far back as is known the family were Lutherans in religious belief, and in politics were Whigs. Daniel Engle was born in 1809, in Montgomery county, and when seventeen years of age came to Reading, where he learned the coopering business, and for many years manufactured cedar hollow ware, becoming very successful. He retired several years prior to his death, which occurred July 2, 1894, and his wife passed away in 1887, aged seventy-six years. Eleven children were born to this couple, seven of whom reached maturity : Anetta m. Daniel Fisher, of Philadelphia; Daniel is deceased; William H .; George is assistant sup- erintendent of the Merrick Iron Company, of Philadelphia ; Rosie m. Milton Palmer, of Reading, Pa .; Mary is de- ceased; and Richard is employed by his brother, William. In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Engle were Lutherans. In political belief he was first a Whig, and later became a Republican.

William Engle received his preliminary education in the schools of Reading, and later attended the Reading high school. When a young man he learned the trade of a cooper, which he followed for some years, and in 1886 engaged in the manufacture of paper boxes. Starting in a very small and primitive way Mr. Engle worked his way steadily upward, now owning one of the most complete plants in the State, and controlling some of Reading's best trade. He employs on an average twenty-five hands in his plant, which is located at Seventh and Walnut streets, and his business is steadily increasing. Mr. Engle was married in 1867 to Amanda Marshall, daughter of Dr. Jacob Marshall, and one son was born to this union, Wal- ter, who is superintendent of his father's plant. Mr. Engle married (second) Katie Moyer, of Reading.

In 1862 Mr. Engle enlisted and went to the front with the Pennsylvania Militia, but in 1863 joined the Inde- pendent Ringgold Artillery. He is connected with the G.

A. R. Mr. Engle is a Lutheran, while his wife is an

SYDENHAM E. ANCONA, son of Morris M. Ancona, M. D., and Mary Ann (Knapp) Ancona, was born in Warwick township, adjoining Lititz, Lancaster county, Pa., Nov. 20, 1824.

M. M. Ancona was a native of London, England, born Feb. 9, 1791, and died at Pottsville, Pa., March 20, 1854. His father was M. Ancona, a marble and statuary mason, who died in London, of which city his ancestors, for some generations, had been residents. His wife was a Montifiore, and, as were the Anconas, of Italian descent. They were merchants at Leghorn and are presumed to have come from the city of Ancona, Italy.

The family moved in the spring of the year 1826 from Lititz to Bern township, Berks county, about two miles from Bernville, near Sculls Hill; from this place to Lebanon about the 1st of April, 1829, and in 1830-31 to Kelly's Corner, near the Conewago creek, Lebanon county ; from Kelly's Corner in 1833 to Porter's Store, on the road from Colebrook Furnace to Elizabethtown; in April, 1836, to Caernarvon township, near Churchtown, Lancaster county, where they remained until 1840; from there to Alsace township, Berks county, near Stony Creek. He worked on a farm in Saucon township, Lehigh county, for four months. The subject of this sketch then, upon the suggestion of his father and in response to an advertisement in the papers, applied for a select school in Upper Bern township. and was employed by the executors of the estate of Valentine Wagner. This school at the time was the only English school west of the river, except the public schools at Womelsdorf. The com- pensation was ten dollars per month besides board. The following year the compensation was increased to fifteen dollars per month. He spent the summers of 1843 and 1844 at home. In the fall, seeing an announcement in the papers that twenty-one teachers were wanted in Earl township, Lancaster county, he, among some fifty other appli- cants, was examined at New Holland, passed and obtained a school.

In June, 1845, he made a trip to New York and Boston by way of Providence, returning to Reading, and leav- ing in July for Niagara Falls and Canada. At that time the method of reaching New York was by stage via Allen- town, Easton to Morristown, N. J., and from there to New York by. rail. After leaving Niagara he proceeded to Buffalo, then a town of from ten thousand to twelve thousand inhabitants, going from there by steamer to Cleveland about the 20th of August, and from the latter place to Akron by canal boat. From this point, with a companion whom he happened to meet, and who proposed to him that they walk to Lancaster. he proceeded as far as Chambersburg, Pa., where they separated.

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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 88

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