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 90

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 90

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DR. CHRISTIAN NICHOLAS HOFFMAN, physician at Sinking Spring for forty-five years, was born in North- ampton county, Pa., Aug. 11, 1833. He received his pre- liminary education in the township schools and at Naza- reth Academy. Later he attended the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1862. He immediately located at Sinking Spring and continued in active practice forty-five years, retiring in June, 1906, on account of illness. He died July 6, 1907. He built up a large practice which reached out into the country for ten and even twenty miles, which evidences-

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

his great success and the confidence the people had in him. young; and three died in infancy. Mr. Lefever has long His devotion to his profession was extraordinary, he hardly been a leading citizen of his community, and he has been frequently appointed administrator to settle up estates. ever taking any vacation, and this burden was shared with great fidelity by his devoted wife. He was recognized as an able physician, and was highly respected among his fellow townsmen. In politics he was a Republican, and in religion a member of the Reformed Church in North- ampton county. For some years he took an interest in the Order of American Mechanics. Dr. Hoffman was the last of his family, which had boasted of seven doctors in two generations, including himself and his brother, his uncles and cousins.

In 1870 Dr. Hoffman married Ellen Ann Jones, daugh- ter of John H. and Margaret (Seitzinger) Jones, and they had two daughters: Katherine Jones, who married W. W. Webber, and has two children-Harold Hoffman and Christian Hoffman; and Margaret Adelia.

Paul Hoffman, father of the Doctor, was a farmer of Northampton county and was born in 1802, and died in 1866. He married Catherine Peysher, and they had four sons : Paul J., Christian N., Rev. Philip P. A., and Dr. James.

Michael Hoffman, the grandfather, was also of North- ampton county.

Mrs. Hoffman's grandfather was Samnel Jones, who married Elizabeth Huey, and was the father of four child- ren, John H., Thomas H., Mary (m. Jacob Van Reed) and Margaret (m. Dr. Darrah). Her maternal grand- father was Jacob W. Seitzinger.

LEVI E. LEFEVER, chief burgess of the borough of Boyertown, who, since 1907, has resided in his comfor- table and attractive home at No. 112 Reading avenne, has been long identified with the agricultural and business in- terests of this section of Berks county. He is a representa- tive of one of the old established families, and was born April 5, 1857, in this borough, son of William and Rachel (Eshbach) Lefever.

Anthony Lefever, great-grandfather of Levi E., was born May 12, 1767, and died May 26, 1832, aged sixty-five years, fourteen days. The family records tell that his wife was accidentally burned to death from sparks from the old-fashioned fireplace. Their children were: Anthony, Levi, Mrs. Charles Keller and Mrs. Jonas Schmehl, all of whom reared families of their own.

Levi Lefever, son of Anthony and grandfather of Levi E., was born June 4, 1795, and died an accidental death, Dec. 27, 1832, aged thirty-seven years, six months, twenty- three days, and was buried at Pricetown, Berks Co., Pa. His wife Mary, horn Aug. 6, 1796, died Sept 10, 1839. IIe was a tanner and owned and conducted a business of this kind at Pricetown, where he had other property. He had two sons: William and Levi H.

Levi E. Lefever attended the public schools of Boyer- town and Mount Pleasant Seminary, and when sixteen years of age learned the tinsmith's trade, serving an ap- prenticeship of four years. He worked at this trade at Boyertown until 1878, and then embarked in a business of his own as a tinsmith and handler of stoves, etc., which he continued for twenty-eight years. His whole attention, however, was not claimed by this enterprise for he owns a fine farm of ninety-nine acres, situated in Earl town- ship, three and one-half miles northeast of Boyertown, the work on which he superintends personally. He has it well stocked and it is a remunerative piece of property. In 1905 he erected the present frame house which replaced a log house that had stood since the days of the Revolu- tionary War. Mr. Lefever is treasurer of the Electric Light Company, of which he was one of the organizers and which was chartered in July, 1908. Since 1906 he has been president of the Keystone Fire Insurance Company and to all these important business interests he gives due at- tention.

In 1878, Mr. Lefever was married to Rosa Ann Ritter, daughter of Lewis Ritter, of Colebrookdale township, and to this marriage have been born the following children : Charles resides at Boyertown; Addie M., who perished in the Boyertown fire, Jan. 13, 1908, was the beloved wife of Harry Leinbach, and she left two children, Florence and Paul; Edgar resides at Boyertown; Maggie also per- ished in the Boyertown disaster, aged twenty-one years; Joseph died in 1904, aged twelve years; and Florence re- sides at home. Mr. Lefever and family are members of St. John's Lutheran Church, at Boyertown.

Mr. Lefever has been active for many years in fraternal organizations, and on varions occasions has been elevated to offices of trust and responsibility in the same. He is a member of Salah Castle, No. 78, Knights of the Mystic Chain, in which he has held all the offices. Since 1900 he has been chaplain of Popodickon Tribe, No. 388, Order of Red Men, is district deputy, and has held all the offices in the organization. He is the degree master of the staff, is past grand and also degree master of Boyertown Lodge, No. 708, I. O. O. F .; and belongs also to the order of Eagles, at Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

In his political affiliations Mr. Lefever is frankly and unequivocally a Republican, and has frequently served as a delegate to county and State conventions and for twelve years served as inspector of elections and committeeman at Boyertown. For three years he served as a school director and has always been interested in public education. When only twenty-three years old, Mr. Lefever was elected a member of the borough council and served through one year, which was the length of term at that time. In 1901 he was again elected to the council and served his term of three years, and in February, 1909, was elected chief burgess for a term of three years. He stands as a repre- sentative of the best citizenship of his community.

William Lefever, father of Levi E., was born Oct. 26, 1830, at Pricetown, Pa., and resides at Sassamansville, in Douglass township, Montgomery Co., Pa., a well pre- served man. In his early years he worked as a stone mason, later coming to Boyertown, where he conducted a HARRISON LANDIS, successful manufacturer of lum- ber and boxes at Philadelphia, was born in Washington township, Berks county, near Bally, Dec. 23, 1852. He re- ceived his preliminary education in the township school, and at Boyertown (in Mt. Pleasant Seminary and Hankey's Academy ), and then attended the Mennonite Educational Institute at Wadsworth, Ohio, for two years. Upon his return home he taught public school at Niantic near by for one term, and then assisted in clerking in the country store of his uncle, Jacob Oberholtzer (which was situated on the premises adjoining his father's), for two years. He then took a regular course in the business college of Bryant & Stratton at Philadelphia, and entered the office of the paint works of Ziegler & Smith, where he was en- gaged as a clerk for five years; and was next in the well- known steam-shipping office of Peter Wright & Sons for three years. farm for his father-in-law, Joseph Eshbach, for a time. He afterward entered into partnership with his brother, Levi H. Lefever, and they conducted a general store at Sassamansville for a number of years, after which they sold out, Levi H. coming to Boyertown, where he con- ducts a general store, but William remained at the old place and continued storekeeping for a time, and then began cigar manufacturing together with farming. He did a large business and continued active in it until 1905, when he retired. He married Rachel Eshbach, and to them were born twelve children, as follows: Minerva m. John Reaminger, of Boyertown; Levi E .; Mary m. Harry Hoffman, of Reading; Irwin, deceased, m. Maria Gerhart, and they had three children, Eaton, John and Lottie; Amandus resides at East Greenville, Pa .; Amanda m. Rev. Harrison Moyer, a minister in Carbon county; Kate m. Rev. Amandus Herbst, of York county, Pa .; Dr. Rufus E. With this preparation for a business life, Mr. Henry is engaged in medical practice in Reading; Emma died H. Sheip (his brother-in-law, manufacturer of cigar-boxes

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BIOGRAPHICAL

since 1876) formed a partnership with him in 1881, and Merkel, bore him eleven children as follows: James; Joel; under the firm. name of Henry H. Sheip & Co. they de- A. M .; Jacob; Solomon; Daniel; Samuel; Charles; and Wilson, Emma and Mary, all three deceased.

veloped a constantly increasing trade until 1899, when they organized a corporation entitled "Henry H. Sheip Manufacturing Co." Since then, the corporation has been carried on successfully, with Mr. Landis as secretary and treasurer. They started with twenty hands, but now have over 800, notwithstanding the introduction of many costly labor-saving machines. Their annual volume of business exceeds a million and a half of dollars; and their trading relations have been developed to extend throughout the United States and into many foreign countries; and from the manufacture of cigar-boxes they have gradually branched out until their product includes small wooden boxes of every variety, veneered boxing lumber, and cas- ing for electric wiring of buildings; they also deal in all kinds of lumber for manufacturing and building purposes. It is the only large plant of the kind at Philadelphia, and has been kept running constantly from 1881 until the present time.

In 1876 Mr. Landis was married to Emma Louisa Sheip, daughter of Levinus and Lucy Ann (Hangen) Sheip, of Bucks county, and sister of his partner in business. By her he had three children: Stanley Winfield and George Clarence (both of whom are engaged in the financial de- partment of the works mentioned), and Mabel (m. How- ard G. Moyer). His wife dying in 1883, he in 1892 mar- ried Mary A. Gyger, only child of John and Sarah (Night- linger) Gyger of Philadelphia, by whom he has two child- ren : Mary Esther and Mildred.

His father was George Oberholtzer Landis, retired farm- er of Washington township, Berks county, who was mar- ried to Mary Mohr, daughter of Andrew Mohr of Mac- ungie, Lehigh County, by whom he had seven children: Harrison, above mentioned; Emma; Henry m. Emma Stiefler, and is now in Japan, where he has been con- nected with the Meiji Gakuin, a Presbyterian College; Evan m. (first) Emily Hamer and (second) Mabel Prouty; Sarah m. Clement Bechtel; Irwin m. Sophie Hammell; and Oliver m. Clara Stoudt. The mother died in 1906, aged seventy-six years. The father died Oct. 29, 1908, aged eighty-two years.

His grandfather was Henry H. Landis, born in 1798, died in 1860; m. in 1823 to Susanna Oberholtzer, daughter of ŁJacob, and after her decease to Elizabeth Knetz in 1856, and he had seven children : George, above mentioned, Jacob, David, Aaron, Susanna, Esther and Amanda.

The Landis family was founded in America by Hans Landis, a native of Holland, who left his native land dur- ing the early half of the eighteenth century, locating in Douglass Township, Montgomery County, Pal . He was the owner of a tract of land located near Congo, which he dis- posed of to members of the Bauer family in 1773 for six pounds and seven and one-half bushels of wheat as part payment on the property. Among the descendants was Henry H. Landis, the grandfather of the subject of the above sketch.

A. M. HIGH, postmaster of Reading, Pa., and the most potential force in the Republican party of that city, is a son of Joel and Marie (Merkel) High, and was born in Richmond township, Berks county, Dec. 19, 1849.

A. M. High, who is a man of liberal education and wide information, attended the common schools in his youth, and afterward took a course in the Keystone State Normal of Kutztown. He then taught school for two terms, after which he clerked in a general store at Fleetwood, Berks county. After remaining there for one year, in 1868 he removed to Reading, accepting a position in the dry goods store of B. H. Brown, continuing there for one year, and then holding a similar position for a year and a half in a general store. He next embarked in business for himself, establishing a tailor shop and general store at No. 824 Penn street, where he was successfully engaged for nine- teen years. He was then associated with John Rieger, in the same line of business, but after a period of three years the latter was succeeded by Mr. High's son. Mr. High and his son conduct a high class tailoring business, having a large patronage. Although giving the closest attention to business Mr. High's eminent qualifications for a po- litical force and influence in his party, brought him to the fore many years ago, and for twenty-three years he has been the recognized leader of the Republican party in Berks county, the Philadelphia Record, of Aug. 30, 1903, in an exhaustive article on his political career, dubbing him the "Regent of Berks." Recognizing his invaluable ser- vices to the party, he was made postmaster of Reading, in 1899, reappointed in 1903 and again in 1907. He has been four times a delegate to the Republican National Convention, having been the first delegate chosen in the United States for the successive conventions of 1888, 1892, 1896 and the third one chosen for 1904. His services at the head of the organization were invaluable to the cause, and by his honest and energetic methods of conducting campaigns he strengthened the hold of the Republican party in Berks county, even gaining friends in opposing factions. A man of magnetic presence and fine character, he has a large following, and is a "tower of strength" politically and socially.

Mr. High married Miss Lizzie Delp, and they have had three children: Harry S .; Howard J., deceased; and Wayne M. The family is one of the best known and most popular in Reading.

WARREN L. DAVIS, son of James and Anna (Great- rake) Davis, was born at Birdsboro, Berks county, Oct. 24, 1868. After receiving a common school education in the local schools, he, while yet a boy, established a mes- senger service between Birdsboro and Reading, which he carried on successfully for a year and a half. Then he located at Reading and learned printing, but not being satisfied with this occupation he entered the employ of George S. Herbein, dealer in furniture and carpets, and continued with him six years. During this time he quali- fied himself thoroughly for accounting, and entered the hardware house of Bright & Lerch. Appreciating his ef- ficiency, they in 1895 selected him as their chief clerk and treasurer, which position he held until the death of Mr. Lerch in 1898, when the firm changed to Bright Company. In the new firm he performed the same duties as Mr. Lerch and also remained their treasurer until July, 1901, having been in their employ for thirteen years.

The High family is of German descent, but generations ago settled in Pennsylvania. Solomon High, grandfather . In 1901 he was offered the responsible position of gen- of A. M., was born in Richmond township, where he fol- eral bookkeeper of the Farmers National Bank, of Reading, the oldest and strongest bank in Reading. He accepted this position and his proficiency was so great that in August, 1903, he was promoted to be cashier, and this position he has held most creditably until the present. lowed the occupation of a farmer. In politics he was a Whig, but during the latter years of his life he belonged to the Republican party. He was a member of the Re- formed Church, and was a captain in the old State Militia. He was the father of three children, one son and two daughters, and passed away in 1874, his wife surviving him many years, and dying in 1891.

Mr. Davis married, Dec. 25, 1895, Laura M. Dillon, daughter of Moses Dillon, of Reading. They have two children, Stewart and Anna Louise. They belong to St. Barnabas Protestant Episcopal Church.

Joel High, father of A. M. High, was also a native of Richmond township, and after obtaining an education in the public schools of his district, turned his attention to WILLIAM K. GRIM was a very prominent and in- fluential citizen at Boyertown, and his death Ang. 14, agricultural pursuits. He became one of the most sub- stantial farmers of that section, and died in 1872. His wife 1905, was greatly deplored. The Grim family is one of died in 1866. The latter, whose maiden name was Marie the oldest in the county, and owes its residence here to Sandia

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the emigration from Germany of Johan Egidius Grim. Henry Boyer and his brother Daniel were the first settlers The home of the family was originally in Normandy, and of Boyertown, and from them the town derived its name. the lineage is traced back to a Baron there in the time of To William K. and Loretta B. Grim were born four children : Mahella, Sarah (m. Frank W. Sabold, manager to Alsace, and to that branch the Berks county Grims be- of the New York Telephone Company, at Yonkers, N. Y., William the Conqueror. One branch of the family went long.

(I) Johan Egidius Grim came to America in 1728 with the Rev. John Casper Stoever, and he settled first in Weisen- burg township, Northampton (now Lehigh) county, but it appears he later came to Maxatawny township, Berks county, and secured a large tract of land. His house was a most substantial one, and to it other settlers fled for re- fuge in time of Indian disturbances. Two of his sons served in the war of the Revolution, and most of his de- scendants are members of the Lutheran Church. The will of "Gitti, alias Gideon" Grim was made Jan. 28, 1760, and was probated Oct. 1, 1761, when Jacob and Henry Grim, his sons, were appointed as executors. In this will he gave his land to his sons Jacob and Henry; fifty pounds to his daughter Cattarina ; fifty pounds to his daughter Elizabeth (who married Casper Merker) ; thirty pounds to Francis Roth "son of my daughter Margreth."

( II) Henry Grim, son of Gitti, was born in Maxatawny township in 1733, and died in 1804. He married and had three children: Jacob, Jonathan and Gideon.

(III) Gideon Grim, son of Henry, was born in Maxa- tawny township, where he became an extensive and suc- cessful farmer. His death occurred in 1823, when he was aged sixty-three years. By his wife, Elizabeth Kirby, an Englishwoman, he became the father of five sons and two daughters, namely : David, who died unmarried; Nathan, who settled at farming in Columbia county, Pa .; Gideon and Benjamin, millers at Weisenburg, in Lehigh county ; Joshua, a farmer on the homestead; Hannah (m. John Seigfried ) ; and Dinah (m. John Dresher).

(IV) Gideon Grim, son of Gideon and Elizabeth, was born on the old homestead in Maxatawny township Aug. 31, 1792. He carried on milling and farming for many years in Exeter township at the home of his father-in- law, Henry Knouse. In 1830 he purchased in Colebrook- dale township two farms of about ninety acres each, with a tan yard, and these he operated until his death April 27, 1848. He was buried in the Boyertown cemetery. He hauled the product of his farm and tannery to market in Philadelphia by team, and was well known throughout the county. He was an official member of the Lutheran Church. He married Esther Knouse, and had two child- ren : William K .; and Levi, who died at the age of eighteen.

(V) William K. Grim was a son of Gideon and Esther, and was born in Exeter township May 28, 1825. He early learned the tanner's trade from his father, and often used to accompany the latter on his trips to Philadelphia, and at the age of sixteen William K. began making these trips alone. He operated the tan yard until 1874, when that enterprise was abandoned on account of the scarcity of tan bark. A flour and grist mill was then built on the property, and this is still in operation. Two years before this Mr. Grim had moved to Boyertown, and in the business life of that town he at once entered, taking an active part therein until his death. He built the large Grim block, was instrumental in organizing the National Bank of Boy- ertown, of which he was a director for some years, and later he was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Na- tional Bank, in which he was a director and later vice president. He was a heavy stockholder in the Colebrook- dale Iron Company, established in 1835, and incorporated in 1886, and located at Pottstown, and after he became its president its scope was largely increased, their goods being shipped to all parts of the world. In politics Mr. Grim was a Democrat, and for thirteen years was burgess of Boyer- town, and during the administration of President Cleve- land was its postmaster. He was a member of the Luth- eran Church, and in that faith died Aug. 14, 1905.

On June 11, 1853, William K. Grim married Loretta B. Rhoads, daughter of John and Catharine Rhoads. She was born Aug. 21, 1825, and died Aug. 4, 1906. Her maternal grandparents were Henry and Sarah Boyer.

who in 1902 became associated, in an official capacity, with The Hudson River Telephone Company, at Albany, N. Y., at which place he died April 16, 1904), William R., and Kate.

(VI) William R. Grim, son of William K. and Loretta B. Grim, was born April 24, 1860, and was given the bene- fit of a good education. After studying in the public schools, he went to Mt. Pleasant Seminary and then to Muhlenberg College, graduating from the latter in 1882. He read law at Salina, Kans., and was there admitted to the Bar. He later went to Texas, and located at Texar- kana, where he became cashier of the Texarkana National Bank, and in 1903 was elected its president. This bank is a strong financial institution, and is a power in its lo- cality. Mr. Grim is also interested in railroads. He mar- ried Sarah Hauberger, of Philadelphia, and they have two children, Emeline and Loretta.

MARTIN S. CROLL, President of the National Bank at Topton, Berks Co., Pa., and senior member of the firm of Croll & Smith, manufacturers and jobbers in hats, caps and straw goods, is one of the leading business men of this part of the county and comes from an old and hon- orable family. Martin S. Croll was born Aug. 19, 1844, in Maxatawny township, Berks Co., Pa., son of John and Catherine (DeLong) Croll. The family is of German extraction and its founder in Pennsylvania was one Philip Croll, who settled in Montgomery county. His four children bore the names of: Christian, Henry, Michael and Polly.

Henry Croll, son of Philip, and great-grandfather of Martin S., married a member of the Gilbert family, and then removed to a farm in the vicinity of Pittsburg, where the rest of his life was spent. Among his numerous child- ren, Joseph was the immediate ancestor of the subject of this sketch.

Joseph Croll was born in Allegheny county, learned the tanning business and worked at that until 1813, when he married and removed to Greenwich townhsip, Berks Co., Pa. He married Elizabeth Schlenker, daughter of John and Barbara (Tressler) Schlenker, and they reared a large family. Later he settled at Krumsville, where he died in 1847, survived by his wife until 1872.

John Croll, son of Joesph and father of Martin S., was born May 19, 1814, near Grimville, Berks Co., Pa. He learned the trade of tailor. In 1838 he removed to a place near Wessnersville, where he lived for one year and then settled at Kutztown, where he followed his trade for about fourteen years, and then, in 1853, removed to North White- hall township, Lehigh county. He bought a small farm near Schnecksville, and at his home conducted a large tailoring business, giving employment to a dozen workmen. He was a good business man and in addition to conducting this large and profitable business, from 1865 to 1875, he was interested in dealing in timber lands. During the last years of his life he engaged successfully in trucking and huckstering. John Croll was an influential member of the Democratic party, and wherever he lived was solicited to hold office on account of the integrity of his character and his excellent judgment on all matters pertaining to the common good. As early as 1830 he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church, and until his death he remained a con. sistent member of that religious body. In 1837 he married Catherine DeLong, daughter of David and Catherine De- Long, of Maxatawny township, who was of French Hugue- not extraction. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters, namely : Alfred, Hiram, Martin S., Silas, Cyrenius Charles, Elmira, Philip Columbus and Priscilla Susanna.

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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 90

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