USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the Revolution, from 1774 to 1783 > Part 16
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Federal Inn, Penn Square, Reading.
He died November 28, 1807, and left to survive him eight children : seven sons, Philip, Nicholas,
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Jacob, John, Henry, Michael and William, and a daughter, Rosa (married to Jolın Yeager). His re- mains were buried in the graveyard of the Reformed Church, and from thence removed to the Charles Evans Cemetery.
CHRISTIAN LOWER.
Christian Lower was of German descent. In that language the name was spelled Lauer, but in writing it himself he spelled it Lower.
The name of his father, Christian Lauer, appears in the list of families that migrated from Schoharie in New York to Tulpehocken in 1723, and his grand- father, Michael Lauer, followed in 1728.
He was born in Tulpehocken township and brought up to the trade of a blacksmith. He took Christian Lowere an active part in the Revolution and was prominent in the po- litical affairs of the county for many years. In August, 1775, he was selected as one of the Colonels of the As- sociated Battalions and attended the Convention at Philadelphia. He officiated as a County Commis- sioner during the years 1777, 1778 and 1779, served as a Sub-Lieutenant in supplying the quota of troops from 1780 to the close of the war, and represented the county in the General Assembly for the years 1779, 1782 to 1785, 1793, 1794 and 1796.
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Before the Revolution, his father was the owner of the Moseleni Forge. He was a man of social promi- nence and died possessed of a large estate in September, 1786, leaving to survive him two sons, Christian and John, and three daughters, Elizabeth (married to George Holston), Magdalena (married to Michael Ley), and Catharine (married to Benjamin Spyker).
The son Christian, the subject of this sketch, died in January, 1807, and left a widow and seven children: three of age, Elizabeth (married to John Battorf ), Catharine (married to Jacob Kohr), and Magdelena (married to Jolin Dieffenbach); and four under age, John, George, Margaret and Mary. The remains of both father and son were interred in the burying ground of Tulpehocken Church.
JOHN LUDWIG.
John Ludwigs John Lud- wig was a son of Dan'l Lud- wig, the eld- er, of Heidel- berg township, where he was born, and raised at farm- ing. At the opening of the Revolution, he was a man of prominence in the central section of the county. He raised a company of men, which formed part of the "Flying Camp" in Lotz's Battalion, and it appears that he and his company were subsequently engaged in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. He also
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commanded a company which comprised part of Hies- ter's Battalion in 1780, that was with Reed's Army in New Jersey.
He was commissioned a justice of the peace in 1777, and recommissioned in 1784. He was a delegate to the Pennsylvania Convention to ratify the Federal Consti- tution in 1787, but, with his colleagues, did not sign the ratification. He served in the General Assembly in 1782-83, and again in 1788-90 ; and he also served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Represen- tatives from 1790 to 1793. In 1795, Gov. Mifflin ap- pointed him a justice of the peace, and he was still in commission at the time of his death in July, 1802.
JACOB MORGAN.
Jacob Morgan was the most prominent Revolutionary character of Berks County from 1777 to 1780, and as such brought great credit to the county and great honor to himself.
He was born in the district or shire of Carnarvon, in the northern part of Wales, in 1716, and emigrated with his father, Thomas Morgan, to Pennsylvania some time previous to 1730. About that time a colony of Welsh people, including Thomas Morgan and his family, migrated up the Schuylkill Valley from Phila- delphia to the mouth of the French Creek, and thence along and beyond the headwaters of that creek until they reached the headwaters of the Conestoga Creek, in Carnarvon township. There they settled and took
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up large tracts of land. That section of territory was then a part of Lancaster County, but since 1752 a part of Berks County. The tract taken up by his father was in the vicinity of Morgantown. It in- cluded the town plan which he subsequently came to lay out in 1770, and which he named after the family, a custom quite common in that day throughout the county.
When the French and Indian War came to affect Pennsylvania in 1755, Jacob Morgan was 39 years old, and until that time had been engaged at farming. In December of that year, he was commissioned as a captain under the Provincial Government, and he con- tinued actively engaged in this military service until
Jacob Morgens
1760, when he returned home and resumed farming. For his services, he became entitled to 3000 acres of land by proclamation of the King of Great Britain in 1763, but it would seein that he did not take up the land, for in his last will he devised his right to the grant to four of his children.
When the Revolution began, he was nearly 60 years of age. In June, 1776, he was selected to represent the county as a delegate to the Provincial Con- ference, and in July following as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention ; and in 1777, upon the creation of the office of Lieutenant of the several counties for the purpose of aiding the Executive
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Council in effectively prosecuting the war, he was selected by the Council to fill this very important position. This evidences his distinguished character, for at that time Berks County possessed a number of prominent and influential men. In the prompt and faithful performance of his duties, he was very suc- cessful, the Executive Council in their letters to him frequently complimenting his energy in having the county to promptly fill the numerous orders for troops. He resigned in December, 1780. While filling this office, he was always recognized as a colonel, and was addressed as such by the Executive Council.
He officiated as a judge of the county for the years 1768, 1769, 1772, and from 1774 to 1777 ; and as a justice of the peace for the southern district of Berks County, which included Carnarvon township, from 1777 to 1791, by appointment for two consecutive terms of seven years each.
A story, illustrating his courage and self-possession at an advanced age, is told of him after his retire- ment to Morgantown. About the year 1784, one evening, while seated in his sleeping room on the first floor, three masked men entered and demanded his money or his life. He refused in a positive manner, and one of them struck him on the head with a club, which caused him to fall and roll under the bed. In falling, the table (at which he sat) was upset and the light extinguished. Just then an indentured girl, "Patty Barefoot," who was in the room, hid from fear behind the bed, took his sword (which lay on a projecting ledge of the partition several feet from the floor) and handed it to him, when he arose sud-
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denly, struck out violently in the darkness to the right and left upon the heads and across the backs of the intruders, and thus drove them away.
He died at Morgantown on November 11, 1792, at the age of 76 years, and was buried in the graveyard of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church at that place. He left a last will, by which it appears that lie died possessed of a large estate, including over 700 acres of farming and wood land in Berks County, and the right to over 7000 acres of land by virtue of grants from the Government.
He had two sons, Jacob and Benjamin; and three daughters, Sarah (married to - Jenkins), Mary (married to Nicholas Hudson), and Rebecca (married to John Price, an attorney at Reading). Rachel, a daughter of John Price, was married to Samuel Weth- erill in 1788.
JACOB MORGAN, JR.
Jacob Morgan, a son of Jacob Morgan, and com- monly known as Jacob Morgan, Jr., was born in Cær- narvon township, Berks County, in 1742. At the age of 16 years, he was appointed an ensign, and served in the French and Indian War at Fort Augusta, then on the extreme northern frontiers of Berks County. He also accompanied the second expedition against Fort Duquesne ; and in 1760, he was a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion of Associators, acting as an adjutant under the command of Col. Hugh Mercer.
At an early age he went to Philadelphia, and, after clerking for a while, became a successful merchant.
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When the Revolution began, he was a man of promi- nence. On December 4, 1776, the Executive Coun-
Jacob Morgan jos
cil of Pennsylvania appointed him Colonel of the Ist Battalion of Associators of the City of Philadelphia and Northern Liberties. He and his battalion were
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engaged in the Battle of Princeton, and there on the field, he received the sword of his friend, Gen'1 Mercer, while attending him in his dying moments ; and shortly afterward they also participated in the Battle of Monmouth.
The Executive Council selected him for the posi- tion of Lieutenant of the City of Philadelphia, but he declined this appointment, doubtless, because he con- templated changing his residence to Reading, for I find that, in September, 1777, he became the repre- sentative froin Berks County in the Board of Execu- tive Council. This election would indicate that he had moved there some time in April or May. He continued to serve as a Councillor until April 14, 1778, when he was selected to be the Quartermaster- General of the county, and then, thinking that by ac- cepting this appointment he could render more service to his country, he resigned. In 1780, he was also appointed Superintendent of the Commissioners of purchases for the army, and of the Wagon-Masters of the State; and he served these three highly respon- sible positions in a mnost faithful and satisfactory manner until the close of the Revolution.
Certain deeds, conveying real estate in Berks County to and from him in 1779, describe his residence as of Reading. The letters to him from the Executive Council, which are published in the Colonial Records, were addressed to him at Reading, and those from him to the Council were dated at Reading, the dates of both extending from 1777 to 1782.
Shortly after the war, lie returned to Philadelphia. A deed from him for land in Berks County, dated in
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1791, describes him as a merchant at that place. He was then, and continued until the time of his decease, engaged in business with his son-in-law, Andrew Douglass, under the firm name of Douglass & Morgan. It is said that this firm was one of the first to manu- facture refined sugar at Philadelphia.
He died on September 18, 1802, in the 61st year of liis age, and his remains were interred in the burying- ground of Christ Church, at the corner of Fifth and Arch streets, in which were buried the remains of many distinguished men.
Col. Morgan was married to Barbara Jenkins, of Reading, by whom he had six children: Rachel (mar- ried to Andrew Douglass), Elizabeth (married to Wil- liam Sergeant), George, John, Jacob and Hannah- the last three dying, while young, of yellow fever at Philadelphia in 1793.
DAVID MORGAN.
David Morgan was a brother of Col. Jacob Morgan. He was born on the Morgan homestead and raised on the farm. He participated in the Revolution by act-
6 David Morgens
ing on several local committees, being one of the Coin- inittee to seize the property of Tories in the county, and one of the Committee to vest the title to forfeited
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estates. Upon the decease of his brother, the Colonel, he was appointed to the office of justice of the peace of the district, and he continued to fill this position until his decease. He always resided at Morgantown, and died there in July, 1812. Four children survived him, Elizabeth (married to Michael Bower), James, David and John.
GEORGE NAGEL.
Joachim Nagel was born at Eisenberg, a town situ- ated three miles from Coblentz, in the southern dis- trict of the Rhenish Province, on February 21, 1706. He married a young woman of that vicinity, and had by her four sons, George, Frederick, Peter and John ; and two daughters, Margaret (married to Geyer), and Catharine (married to Elias Youngman). How many of the children were born there, I was not able to ascertain. By way of anticipating his emigration, he sent his eldest son, George, to Penn- sylvania in 1748 for the purpose of examining the country. The report was evidently favorable, for he and his wife, and the children still with him, emi- grated in 1751, landing at Philadelphia in the Fall of that year. Thence he went to Berks County, where he settled on a tract of land situated in Douglass township, at the confluence of the Manatawny creek and its lower tributary, the Ironstone, and erected a grist mill, which he carried on until his death, July 26, 1795, in the 90th year of his age.
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George Nagel was born at Eisenberg, about the year 1728. He located at Reading about 1755, and engaged at blacksmithing. He was enlisted in the French and Indian War as an ensign, and for a time was stationed at Fort Augusta. He continued in service Geo: Nagel until the close of the war in 1763, when he returned to Reading and resumed his trade. When the Revo- lution began, he was imbued with a high patriotic spirit, and raised the first company of men in Berks County, which participated in the Massachusetts cam- paign at and about Cambridge. He continued in active service until 1783, rising to the rank of colonel. [See page 77.]
Upon his return to Reading, he engaged in the mercantile business, which he carried on until his death in March, 1789. The inventory in the settle- ment of his estate shows many unpaid book accounts. His remains were buried in the Reformed graveyard. He was married to Rebecca, a daughter of Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter township, by whom he had two children, a son, Jacob, and a daughter, who was mar- ried to Thomas McCartle, of Westminster, Maryland.
PETER NAGEL.
Peter Nagel was one of the four sons of Joachim Nagel. He was born October 31, 1750, at Eisen- berg, and emigrated with his father to Douglass town-
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ship, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in September, 1751. When a young man, he moved to Reading
Deter Nagel
and learned the trade of hatter, serving an appren- ticeship of seven years under Samuel Jackson, the first hat manufacturer at Reading. He carried on
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this occupation for some years as a journeyman, and then as a successful manufacturer until 1804.
He was prominently identified with the County Militia during the Revolution, his name appearing as a captain in the Returns from 1777 to 1783. The company under his command guarded prisoners of war at Reading upon different occasions. He was ap- pointed a justice of the peace in 1793 by Gov. Thomas Mifflin (who was a warm personal friend), and lie con- tinued to serve this position by. reappointment until his decease, a period covering over forty years. In 1803, when the County of Berks was divided into dis- tricts for justices of the peace, Reading was inade the first district, and Peter Nagel was selected as one of the four appointees. He also officiated as coroner of the county from 1781 to 1787, and as treasurer of Reading from 1815 to 1828. His son, Peter Nagel, officiated as county treasurer from 1835 to 1843; his grandson, Henry Nagel, from 1843 to 1845, and his great-grandson, Dr. Hiester M. Nagel, from 1873 to 1875.
When Washington was at Reading in 1794, Peter Nagel participated in the review of the military parade in honor of the distinguished visitor. Upon that oc- casion he held a reception at his residence (which was situated on North Fifth street, east side, on the sec- ond lot south of Washington, now constituting the lower half of the Post Office property), to enable the citizens to meet the great hero of the Revolution. Another incident is that he and his eldest daugliter, Elizabeth, attended one of Washington's receptions at Philadelphia.
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Capt. Nagel was a portly man, nearly six feet tall, of fine personal appearance and commanding pres- ence. He died November 30, 1834, and his remains were interred in the Reformed burying-ground, whence they were removed to Charles Evans Ceme- tery. He was married twice, first to Barbara Ann Imler, with whom he had eight children : one who died in infancy ; Elizabeth (married to William Old, who was a grandson of Baron Henry William Stiegel), Sarah (married to Jacob R. Boyer), Mary (married to George Buehler), Rebecca (married to Nicholas Cole- man,) Catharine (married to Isaac Kimmel), Peter Nagel and George Nagel ; and then to the widow of Isaac High (who was the daughter of William Hotten- stein, and the mother of Gen'l William High, a prom- inent man of the Militia of Berks County), with whom he had three children : Harriet (married to Daniel Mears), Susan (married to Jacob Boyer), and John High Nagel.
BODO OTTO.
Next to Washington, Gates, Mifflin, Wayne and other leading generals, Dr. Bodo Otto, of Reading, occupied a prominence and rendered useful services equal to any other man who was engaged in the great cause of the Revolution, not on the field of battle, leading his fellows into danger and death, but amongst the hospitals as a senior surgeon, caring for and ad- ministering to the sick, wounded and dying soldiers. And yet his name is not mentioned in history ! He was born of distinguished parentage in 1709, in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and was especially
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educated as a surgeon under the authority of the Gov- ernment in the University of Goettingen. In 1755,
Boto Otto
he emigrated with his family from Amsterdam, and landed at Philadelphia, where he practiced his pro-
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fession very successfully until 1773, when he re- moved to Reading.
When the Revolution began, Dr. Otto took a prom- inent part in the public demonstrations ; and in the selection of delegates from Berks County to the Pro- vincial Conference in 1776, the people naturally looked to him as a thoroughly qualified man. This was the only representative position that he was en- abled to take, for when the struggle began in earnest, and hospitals had to be established, he was appointed a senior surgeon of the hospitals in the Colonies. This was certainly bearing his share of responsibility in the cause, and all his time was evidently taken up in the proper performance of his duty. During the gloomy and discouraging Winter of 1777-78, while the army lay encamped at Valley Forge, he was in charge of the camp hospital, and was assisted by his two sons, Bodo and John Augustus. Toward the close, the fol- lowing meritorious certificate was issued to him by the Director of Military Hospitals :
"This is to certify that Dr. Bodo Otto served in the capacity of a senior surgeon in the Hospitals of the United States in the year 1776, and when the new arrangement, in April, 1777, took place, he was continued in that station until the subsequent arrange- ment of September, 1780, when he was appointed hospital physi- cian and surgeon, in which capacity he officiated until a reduc- tion of a number of the officers of said department, in January, 1782, was made. During the whole of the time he acted in the above stations he discharged his duty with great faithfulness, care and attention. The humanity, for which he was distinguished, towards the brave American soldiery, claims the thanks of every lover of his country, and the success attending his practice will be a sufficient recommendation of his abilities in his profession. Given under my hand, the 26th day of January, 1782.
"JOHN COCHRAN,
" Director of the Military Hospitals."
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In the beginning of 1782, after serving as senior surgeon for nearly six years, he resumed his practice at Reading, though then 73 years of age, and carried it on until his death in 1787. His remains were interred in the Trinity Lutheran Church lot at the western end of the building. He was married three times, and among the children surviving were Bodo Otto, Jr., and John Augustus Otto, who were brought up in the same profession and became distinguished as medical practitioners. He resided on the north side of Penn Square, midway between Fifth and Sixth streets.
JOHN A. OTTO.
John Augustus Otto, a son of Dr. Bodo Otto, was born in Hanover, Germany, on July 30, 1751, and emigrated with his father to Philadelphiia in 1755. While living at the latter place, he was given a thor- ough education and specially prepared to practice medicine and surgery. When his father reinoved to Reading in 1773, he accompanied John a Otto the family. Dur- ing the Revolu- tion, he assisted his father in surgical operations and in attending the military hospitals. After the Revolution, he estab- lished a large practice at Reading and was recognized as an eminent physician. He served as a justice of the peace of Reading from 1785 to 1789, and in 1790 he filled the office of prothonotary.
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He was married to Catharine Hitner, of Montgom- ery County, and died December 14, 1834. His chil- dren were Dr. John B. Otto, Daniel H. Otto, Marga- ret (married to Benjamin Witman), Mary (married to Hon. Gabriel Hiester), Sarah (married to Jonathan Hiester, Esq., an attorney at Reading), Elizabeth (married to Henry Richards), and Maria (married to Joseph Wood).
JOHN PATTON.
In the transfer of real estate in Berks County, John Patton is described as residing at Reading in 1764, and in 1782. In the campaign beginning with the Battle of Long Island, he commanded a regiment, but the only mention of it was found in connection with the march of the company of Capt. John Lesher front Womelsdorf by way of Kutztown and the East Penn Valley, to Perth Amboy in 1776. The regimental officers were from Tulpehocken and Heidelberg town- ships.
In 1774, John Patton was assessed in Heidelberg township. By the amount of the assessment, he was evidently a rich property owner. He was married to the widow of William Bird, and was interested in the manufacture of iron. By the Colonial Records, it ap- pears that he supplied the Continental Army with cannon balls.
He officiated as a Judge of the county courts from 1770 to 1777, excepting 1776, when he was absent in the Long Island campaign ; and he represented the
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county in the General Assembly for the years 1780 and 1782.
I think he came from Philadelphia and was an elderly man at the time, judging from his marriage to the widow of William Bird, but where he went to after 1782, I have not been able to ascertain.
A Col. John Patton is mentioned in the Pennsyl- vania Archives, but from the sketch given there it would seem that he was a different man from the John Patton who lived in Berks County.
JONATHAN POTTS.
Jonathan Potts was born in the lower part of Berks County, April II, 1745. After obtaining a good edu- cation at Ephrata and Philadelphia, he went to Edin- burgh, 1766. He was accompanied by Benjamin Rush. They carried letters of introduction from Ben- jamin Franklin. Potts returned in 1767, and gradu- ated at the Medical Institute of Philadel- Jon ?~ Potts phia, at its first com- mencement in 1768. He delivered the val- edictory oration, and was highly complimented. He began the practice of medicine at Reading and be- came a noted practitioner. He wrote an article on "Utility of Vaccination" in 1771, which was pub- lished in Pennsylvanien Staatsbote. He mentioned the time small-pox visited Reading, and that 106 children died-one in three who had the disease.
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He exhibited great patriotism during the Revolu- tion, and represented Berks County at Philadelphia on several important occasions during 1775 and 1776. In the beginning, he was Secretary of the Committee on Correspondence, and after the movement in behalf of the Revolution was thoroughly started, he became prominently identified with the surgical department of the army. In June, 1776, he was appointed Sur- geon for the Continental Army in Canada and at Lake George. In December, 1776, he was stationed at Philadelphia, and in April, 1777, at Albany. While there, he was Director-General of the hospitals of the Northern Department. Through his zeal in public service, he was prostrated by illness. He died at Reading in October, 1781, and left to survive him a widow and five children : three sons, Benjamin, Fran- cis and Edward ; and two daughters, Mary and Debo- rah. He was a brother of Samuel Potts, Esq., of Pottsgrove, Montgomery County.
COLLINSON READ.
Calinstead Collinson Read was one of the early leading attorneys of the Bar at Reading. He was ad- mitted to practice on August 13, 1772. "He distinguished himself as a profound lawyer, and his publications will be remem- bered in Pennsylvania with high regard, as well by
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the merchant and private gentleman, as by the mem- bers of the Bar. He was of extensive erudition in the Greek, Latin, French and German languages. In this accomplished gentleman, there was a peculiar kindness of heart that disarmed all eninity in his op- ponents, and his exertions of friendship, whether in or out of the profession, were ever judicious and such as made him beloved by all his acquaintances. He died of pleurisy on March 2, 1815, aged 62 years, after an illness of only two days."-(Weekly Advertiser, March 4, 1815.)
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