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 96

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 96

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Prof. Dengler has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in January, 1860, was Catherine Schlotman, daughter of John and Lydia ( Shade) Schlot- man. She was born in Oley in 1839, and died May 5, 1875, aged thirty-five years, the mother of children as follows : Annie m. Harvey Wisner, deceased, has four children, and lives at Philadelphia; Millie m. Benjamin Snavely, de- ceased, and lives at Friedensburg; Lilla, deceased, m. Abra-

insurance man of Allentown, and superintendent of the Allentown district of the Baltimore Mutual Life Insurance Company, is married, but has no children; and Calvin and Clara died in infancy. In 1878 Prof. Dengler m. (second) Kate L. (Ritter) Yoder, widow of Thomas Yoder, and they had three children : William. who has a R. F. D. mail route at Oley. is married and his children are, Blanche, Harvey, John and Ella ; John was drowned when fourteen; Sallie is a school teacher in Oley and has been teaching since 1906.

It is only fitting to close this too brief biography of so distinguished an educator by an account of a delightful ceremony at the teachers' institute in 1907, held at Read- ing. Prof. Dengler in recognition of his long and faithful services as a public instructor was presented a silver loving cup, fifty dollars in gold, and seventy carnations, the last named representing the number of years he had lived, and celebrating his birthday. Those having the matter in charge very fittingly selected his birthday for the presentation day, and the speech which accompanied the gifts as well as his reply will never be forgotten by those present. Many men sacrificed much for their country. There are thousands of teachers in the country today, but there are few who have been both instructor and soldier in one as has Prof. Dengler. When he served upon the battlefield he was an excellent soldier. After his military life was over, he came home and once more entering the schoolroom resumed his peaceful vocation, only giving a little more of himself to his beloved pupils, for he had learned much in those three and one-half years spent on bloody battlefields and before besieged cities. His war experience gave him a breadth of vision, a fairness in dealing with others, and has enabled him better to fit his pupils for the great battle of life where each one must keep in the ranks and not fly at the first sound of war. In every relation of life Prof. Dengler has proved himself ready and willing to bear his part, and in his wisdom he realizes that he has reached the very best part of his wonderfully useful life, where he can enjoy the fruits of his labors and rest happy in the confidence and love of those whom he has so benefited.

I. A. DEISHER, a well-known business man of Read- ing, Pa., who is engaged in the jewelry business at No. 514 Penn street, Reading, was born in Hamburg. Pa., Aug. 13. 1866, son of Henry and Valarya (Fink) Deisher. David Deisher, grandfather of I. A., was a mill owner and farmer, following these occupations throughout a long and useful life in Kutztown and later at Hamburg. He was a very energetic business man and accumulated a considerable fortune, retiring shortly prior to his death. He and his wife were the parents of a large family of children, several of whom died young, those who lived to maturity being : Gereon, William, Henry and Catherine (married William D. Shomo). The family were members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics Mr. Deisher was a Democrat, holding for some years the office of director of the poor. His son, Henry Deisher, received a common school education, and later supplemented this with a course at a seminary at Collegeville, after leaving which he worked on the home farm until reaching manhood, when he purchased the old Lintz foundry at Hamburg. operating this for many years. He is now living retired with his son. To Mr. Deisher and his wife, who died in 1888, were born three children, two of whom died in infancy, I. A. being the only survivor. Henry Deisher is a Lutheran in religious matters. In his political views he is a stanch Democrat.

I. A. Deisher was educated in the high school at Ham- burg, Pa .. and when a boy entered the drug store of Adam Bodenhorn, with whom he worked four years. At the end of that time he apprenticed himself to the jeweler's trade with W. W. Apple, with whom he served his time, going thence to Harrisburg, where he worked for six years with Philip Theilheimer. After the latter's death Mr. Deisher purchased his employer's interest in the business. carrying it on for four years. In 1897 he came to Read-

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ing, purchasing the Burkhart store at Nos. 424-426 Penn Association. He was one of the original members of the street, and in April, 1908, he moved to the larger and board of trustees of the Reading Hospital, and has served more centrally located store at No. 514 Penn street. He upon its staff since its organization. He is a member of the board of health, and is examiner for a number of life insurance companies. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, being a member of Phoenix Lodge, F. & A. M., and past master. He belongs to Keim Post, G. A. R., and to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U. S., Commandery of Pennsylvania.

handles a first-class line of jewelry, silverware, cut glass and novelties, and makes a specialty of repairs, especially optical, being a skilled mechanic and optician. Mr. Deisher is a graduate from several well-known institutions, among them Bucklin's School of Optics, the Spencer Op- tical Institute, the McCormick Optical College and the McCormick Neurological College, the first two colleges has been very successful in this branch of the business.

Dr. Kurtz married, in 1854, Miss Sarah Morgan, and located in New York, and the last two in Chicago. He to this union three children have been born: Dr. J. Ellis,

In 1895 Mr. Deisher married Miss Lizzie A. Diener, a native of Topton, Berks county, and two children were born to this union: Esther and Clarence. Mr. Deisher is a member of the Elks, the Royal Arcanum and the Hep- tasophs. In both religious and political views he is broad and liberal, believing that every man should use his own in St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. judgment in these matters.

a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, is a physician and surgeon at Reading; Georgeine married Nicholas H. Muhlenberg; and Clarence M., also a graduate of the Jef- ferson Medical College of Philadelphia, practising at Reading. Dr. Kurtz is a Republican in politics, and was one of the Harrison electors in 1888. He is a vestryman

SAMUEL L. KURTZ, M. D., is well known through Berks county, both as a physician and surgeon of skill, and as a survivor of the great Civil war. He was born Sept. 27, 1832, son of Samuel and Mary (Longackre) Kurtz.

Joseph Kurtz, paternal grandfather of the Doctor, was born in Chester county, Pa. On Oct. 19, 1787, he married Fannie Miller, and their children were: John, born Sept. 23, 1788; Abraham, Nov. 27, 1789; Joseph, Jan. 10, 1791; Henry, July 10, 1792; Barbara, Aug. 5, 1793; Leah, Sept. 19, 1794; Samuel, Nov. 12, 1795; Elizabeth, Nov. 25, 1796 ; David, Jan. 30, 1798; Isaac, Feb. 22, 1799; Frances, May 4, 1800; Christian, Nov. 8, 1801; Jacob, Oct. 1, 1802; Daniel, Jan. 22, 1804; Anna, March 20, 1805; Jacob, Oct. 25, 1806; Susannah, May 25, 1808; Daniel (2), Aug. 1, 1809; and Susannah (2), July 1, 1812. The family were members of the Mennonite Church. Joseph Kurtz died March 18, 1815.

Samuel Kurtz, father of the Doctor, was born in Chester . Elizabeth Wilhelmina m. Harry Parker; and two died county, Nov. 12, 1795, and his education was obtained in young. the common schools. Upon reaching his majority he turned his attention to farming, a vocation which he followed for many years in Pikeland township. In 1834 he removed to Juniata county, where he operated a farm for six or seven years at East Salem, and there he died April 23, 1883. His first wife, who was a daughter of Jacob Long- ackre, died in the prime of life. She was the mother of: Joseph, born Aug. 22, 1819; Jacob, born Aug. 1, 1822; Annie, born Dec. 18, 1825, married William Cross; Samuel (1), born Oct. 24, 1829; Dr. Samuel L., born Sept. 27, 1832; Mary, born March 14, 1836, married George D. Taylor. This branch of the family were Methodists. After the death of his first wife Mr. Kurtz married Mary Miller, by whom one child was born, Fannie, who became the wife of George D. Taylor, the father of Dr. Taylor, of Reading. Samuel Kurtz's third wife was Mary Jacobs. No children were born to the last marriage.

Samuel L. Kurtz was educated in the schools of Juniata county, and in old Trappe Seminary, now Ursinus College. Later he read medicine with Dr. Henry Geiger, of Mont- gomery county, and in 1851 entered Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1854. His first field of practice was at Phoenixville, Pa., where after the short time of three months they promoted him

he remained two years, and then removed to Oakland Mills, Juniata county, remaining there until the fall of 1861, when he was appointed assistant surgeon of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. He continued to fill that position until June, 1862, when he was promoted to sur- geon of the 85th Pa. V. I., with which regiment he re- mained until Nov. 22, 1864, when, at the expiration of the term of service of the regiment, he was honorably dis- charged. He settled in Reading, locating at No. 340 South Fifth street, and his present office is at No. 412 South Fifth street.

GERHART. Benjamin Gerhart, the grandfather of Peter William Gerhart, Jr., superintendent of the treat- ment department of the "Grand View Sanatorium," and his brother, George W. Gerhart, merchant and prominent citizen of Robesonia, was a farmer of Lower Heidelberg township. He married Catharine Seibert.

John Peter Gerhart, son of Benjamin, was formerly a resident of Lower Heidelberg, near Brownsville, and for the last thirty years of his life was a resident of Werners- ville. His occupation was that of a grafter of trees and gardener. He died in 1903, aged seventy-six years. He was married to Caroline Werner, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Lamm) Werner, and by her had twelve chil- dren : Calvin E. m. Amelia Lambert; Frank P. m. Emma Peiffer ; Ellenora S. m. Alfred Webber, and after his de- cease George F. Knorr; Anna M. m. Gustave Bien; Albert B. m. Sue Reinhold; Agnes Priscilla m. Thomas Furry; Peter W .; George W. m. Anna Fidler; Katharine Louisa;

PETER WILLIAM GERHART, JR., superintendent of the treatment department of the "Grand View Sanatorium," a position he has filled for nearly twenty-five years, was born in Lower Heidelberg, near Brownsville, on April 18, 1862. His mother dying when he was only eight years old, he was placed on a farm, and continued there (except for three years he spent at Reading), helping and going to school, until he was sixteen years old. Then he went to Cumberland county for the purpose of attending school there and acquiring a knowledge of the English language while assisting in farming and stock raising, and he re- mained there for three years. He then returned to Wer- nersville, but remained only six months when he went to Ohio and secured employment on a farm in the vicinity of Lima. He continued on this farm for four years, at the end of which time, his health failing, he found em- ployment as a reporter on a local newspaper, filling this position for three years. In 1886 he returned to Werners- ville and secured a position as stable boss in the large stables of the "Grand View Sanatorium," and he displayed such intelligent interest in his work, and gave such satis- faction to the proprietors, Drs. Wenrich & Deppen, that to the treatment department of the institution. Showing great qualifications and ambition, he continued there until the fall of 1888, when under their advice he took a regular course of instruction in the Philadelphia Polyclinic and College for Graduates in Medicine, for the purpose of learn- ing massage and medical electricity. He graduated in June, 1889, and upon his return to the Sanatorium was placed in charge of the treatment department, where he has re- mained until the present time. Being interested in local educational matters, Mr. Gerhart was elected a school director of the township in February, 1906, for a term of three years, and re-elected in February, 1909. He has

The Doctor is a member of the American Medical Asso- ciation; of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, of served as the school board's secretary for three successive which in 1891 he served as president; and of the Berks years, and also was chosen a representative from Berks County Medical Society, serving his second term as its county for three successive years to the State Directors' president. He is also a member of the Reading Medical Convention, which meets annually at Harrisburg.

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Mr. Gerhart was married to Ida Rebecca Wenrich, the have been born six children, namely : Estella M., Horace only daughter of William H. Wenrich, of Bernville, and they have had three children, Sarah, J. Clarence, and one that died in infancy. Mr. Gerhart was elected an elder of St. John's ( Hain's) Reformed Church in January, 1909, and immediately chosen its treasurer. Socially he is a member of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 835, Wernersville.

William H. Wenrich, Mrs. Gerhart's father, m. Sarah Billman, daughter of John Billman, of Upper Bern (now Tilden), and they had three children: Willis E., Ida Re- becca, and one that died young.

John S. Wenrich, of Bernville, her grandfather, m. Lydia Himmelberger, and had two children, William H. and Rebecca, the last named the wife of A. Morris Kershner. Her great-grandfather was Paul Wenrich.

GEORGE W. GERHART, another son of the late John Peter Gerhart, was born Aug. 4, 1863, in Lower Heidelberg township. He received his early education in the township school and supplemented it with study at the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown. He was first licensed to teach by Prof. D. S. Keck, former superintendent of Berks county, and commenced his work as teacher in the fall of 1882, in Heidelberg township, where he was en- gaged for five terms. He was reared upon the farm, but has never followed farming since he began life on his own account, having continued to teach until he embarked in the mercantile business. In the spring of 1888 he formed a partnership with Mr. Fidler under the firm name of Fidler & Gerhart, this relation lasting for one year. Mr. Gerhart then took Henry Miller into partnership with him, and they did business together for thirteen years under the name of Miller & Gerhart, being located on Robeson street, in Robesonia. At the end of this period Mr. Miller, by mutual consent of the partners, withdrew from the con- cern, John I. Miller becoming a member of the firm, the name of which remained unchanged. This association con- tinued for two years, and in 1904 Mr. Gerhart formed a partnership with M. A. Moyer, under the name of Gerhart & Moyer. They enjoy the confidence and patronage of the community to a gratifying degree, and have a high reputation for enterprise and progress as well as honor- able dealing. They carry a complete line of general mer- chandise, and cater to a trade which extends over a radius of fourteen miles around Robesonia.

Mr. Gerhart is a man of active disposition, and takes part in the life of the community in lines outside of his direct business interests. He is a stanch Democrat in political opinion and willing to work for the success of his party, has served as delegate to county and State conven- tions, and has been elected to local offices of trust, having been school director and tax collector of his township. He is also prominent in church work, he and his family being members of St. Paul's Reformed Church of Rob- esonia, of which Mr. Gerhart is at present an elder. He was most active in the erection of the present fine edifice, in 1904, which cost the congregation over $15,000, serving as a member of the building committee, of which he was treasurer. He has been treasurer of the church ever since its organization. It is very prosperous, and Mr. Ger- hart has been one of its most devoted workers. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, holding mem- bership in Lodge No. 119, of Robesonia, of which he is a past chancellor. He owns the Wagner Hall building, a three-story brick block 30 x 60 feet in dimensions, the first and second stories of which are used by the firm of Ger- hart & Moyer, and the third floor as the meeting place of various secret societies. Mr. Gerhart also owns the property adjoining this building on the north. Here he razed the old building and built an addition to the store 30 x 50 feet in the rear and 15 x 60 on the north, making the most up-to-date store in the Lebanon Valley. It is lighted throughout by electricity, and is heated by steam. He purchased both buildings in 1907. He also owns the property across the street which he uses for his residence. In May, 1887, Mr. Gerhart was married to Miss Annie Fidler, daughter of William and Annie (Klopp) Fidler, the former of whom was in business in Robesonia as a manufacturer of cigar boxes. To Mr. and Mrs. Gerhart

(who died in infancy), Robert R., Luke W., Edna A. and Lyman R. Mr. Gerhart is giving all his children good educational advantages, being convinced of the value of proper training. Estella M., a graduate of the township high school, was married in May, 1908, to Walter V. R. High (son of D. K. High), who with his brother Henry V. R. High is engaged in the honey business at Bernville, where they reside. Robert R. is a graduate of the township high school, and the latter is also a graduate of the Interstate Commercial College, of Reading, and now holds the re- sponsible position of teller in the Wernersville National Bank, at Wernersville. Like W. is now attending the Interstate Commercial College.

H. WILLIS BLAND. President Judge of the Orphans' Court of Berks county, was born August 20, 1845, at Blan- don, that county, a village which derives its name from his paternal ancestors. He attended the public schools of Birdsboro until he was thirteen years of age. On August 31, 1861, when he had barely reached the age of six- teen, he enlisted at Philadelphia as a private in Company H. 82nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in the following year was promoted successively to cor- poral and first sergeant. He served throughout the three years' term of his enlistment, being mustered out Septem- ber 16, 1864. The regiment was engaged principally in the campaigns in Virginia, participating in a number of the severest battles of the war, including those of Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill. Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. After his army service, being thrown entirely upon his own resources, he became a clerk in the office of the Phoenix Iron Company at Phoenixville. Pa. He also acquired some training as a machinist, and worked for a time as an appren- tice to that trade in Philadelphia. meanwhile studying in the evenings at a polytechnic school. Feeling himself physically unfitted for hard manual labor, and choosing a professional calling. he came to Reading in February, 1867. and com- menced the study of the law in the office of J. Howard Ja- cobs, Esq., a widely known and extensive practitioner, and after the necessary two years' course was admitted to the Bar on April 12, 1869. Energetic and ambitious, he acquired a substantial practice in both the criminal and civil courts. Before and after his admission he participated actively in politics. at first as a Republican, and subsequently to 1872, when Horace Greeley was the candidate of the Demo- cratic party for President, as a Democrat.

A separate Orphans' court for the county of Berks was created by the Act of June 13, 1883, and at the gen- eral election in the fall of that year Hiram H. Schwartz. Esq., who had been the temporary appointee, was elected judge for the term of ten years. Judge Schwartz hav- ing died on Angust 25, 1891. Judge Bland was on the 16th of the following month appointed by Governor Pattison to fill the vacancy, and in 1892 was elected for the full term of ten years. beginning on the first Monday of Janu- ary. 1893. At the end of that period he was re-elected for the term expiring in January. 1913.

During his practice at the Bar Judge Bland acquired a reputation as an advocate of unusual eloquence and marked ability. He was a close student, and his success was die not alone to forensic talent. but to thorough legal equipment as well. As a judge he has not disap- pointed the promise of his career as a lawyer. The Orphans' court, though a forum concerned solely with the estates of decedents, and attracting a less degree of public attention and spectacular interest than the co-ordi- nate tribunals attended with trials by jury. is neverthe- less, in the end, of vital importance to every member of the community. The duties and responsibilities of its presiding officer are commensurate with the significance of the trusts committed to his care. The office of chancellor is one of the highest dignity and consequence. In his judicial career Judge Bland endeavors to nieasure up to the high standard set by the historical shining lights of the Bench whom he consistently emulates, and has abundantly justified the confidence which his constituency have reposed in him

Jahrelis Bland

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by repeated elections. As a citizen he is deservedly held in universal public respect and esteem.

Outside of his official position he is connected with various civic organizations for the uplifting of humanity. His oratorical gifts are frequently called into service upon public occasions; and on whatever topic he may be designated to speak, his rhetoric is always scholarly and forceful. In the cause of the surviving soldiers of the Civil war he naturally takes a deep personal interest. and in their most notable gatherings is usually selected as their principal spokesman. He is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of Mc- Lean Post, No. 16, of Reading.

CHARLES VOELKER has since 1905 been principal owner of the Berks Manufacturing Company, of Reading, and he has been long known as a business man of that city, having conducted the "Farmers and Mechanics Ho- tel," in West Reading, for a number of years. Mr. Voel- ker is a native of Germany, born Oct. 12, 1856, in Feld- karl, Bavaria. He was reared in the Fatherland, whence he came to America in 1878, settling at once in Reading, where for the most part he has since had his home. In Germany he had learned the trade of a brewer, at which he immediately found employment on his arrival in Read- ing, in one of the leading breweries of the city. Later be was engaged in the business on his own account, in Pottstown, Montgomery Co., Pa., where he remained sev- eral years, finally selling his interests in that line. Re- turning to Reading in 1893 he entered the hotel business, becoming proprietor of the "Farmers and Mechanics Ho- tel," in West Reading, which he has since kept, finding the venture congenial and profitable. In July, 1905, in company with his eldest son, Charles T. Voelker, Mr. Voelker purchased the plant and business of the Berks Manufacturing Company, Ltd., at No. 154 Court street, under the firm name of Charles Voelker & Son. At that time the product of the factory, which consists of sun- bonnets and aprons, amounted to about five hundred dozen weekly. Under their enterprising management the weekly output has been increased to fifteen thousand dozen, in the manufacture of which steady employment is given to forty hands. These goods are of high grade and excel- lent workmanship, and are marketed through jobbers all over the United States and Canada. The constantly grow- ing trade has necessitated the erection of a new factory, which is now in course of construction, and which will be one of the finest manufacturing plants of its kind in the city when completed. It is a brick building 34 x 100 feet in dimensions, three stories and basement, and will be equipped with the most reliable and up-to-date machinery obtainable, every facility for the most expeditious dis- patch of work compatible with the manufacture of high class articles being included in the appointments. The company are also adding to the working force from time to time, finding considerable difficulty in keeping up with a steady stream of orders. Mr. Charles Voelker, the senior member of the firm, is a hard-working and re- liable business man. He has been remarkably success- ful in his latest venture, which is advancing to a place among the appreciable industrial factors of the city. He is a citizen of sterling merit, and though he takes no active part in public affairs is public-spirited and interest- ed in welfare of the city in which he found a fruitful field for his efforts. He is a Democrat in politics, and a Catholic in religious faith. Mr. Voelker married Caro- line Rothenberger, like himself a native of Germany, and eight children have been born to them: Charles T. (who is in business with his father), Lewis, Edward, Mary, Carrie, Catherine, Anna and Joseph.

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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 96

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