History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 102

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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JOHN A. OTTO, son of Dr. Bodo Otto, Sr., was born in Hanover, Germany, on July 30, 1751 ; arrived with his father at Philadelphia in 1755. In addition to attending the best schools of that day, he received instructions from his father, under whom he served as as- sistant surgeon through the Revolutionary War. It was upon his recommendation, after the cap- ture of the Hessians at Trenton, that some of them were brought to Reading and there encamped on Penn Mount. He was one of the escort.

Dr. Otto settled in Reading with his father, in 1773, and three years later was married to Catharine Hitner, of Marble Hall, Montgomery County, Pa. Like his father, he showed a patriotic devotion to his country by refusing to accept a pension for his services, as a surgeon at Valley Forge. He soon acquired a lucrative practice in Reading, and became one of the leading physicians of his time in the State, and maintained that honorable position until his death, December 14, 1834, aged eighty-three years. His wife died of grief a few days later. He was one of the court justices under the State Constitution of 1776, and was appointed prothonotary of Berks County in 1790.

The children of Dr. John A. and Catharine Otto, who arrived at maturity, were Margaret, married to Benjamin Whitman ; Mary, married to Gabriel Hiester, who served as one of the court justices, and afterwards, under the Consti- tution of 1790, was an associate judge of Berks Connty from 1819 to 1823; Sarah, married to Jonathan Hiester, a member of the Berks County bar ; Elizabeth, married to Henry Richards ; Maria, married to Joseph Wood ; and Daniel H. married to Sarah Whitman; and Dr. John B. Otto.

JOHN B. OTTO, who is well remembered by many citizens of Reading, was a son of Dr. John A. Otto, and, at the time of his death, was the oldest physician in the city, in which place he was born December 20, 1785. He was graduated from Princeton College, read medi- cine under Dr. Wistar, of Philadelphia, and was graduated from the University of Penn- sylvania in 1808, when such men . as Rush, Physick, Wistar, Shippen, Barton and Wood- house were professors. He began the practice of medicine in his native town, where for half a century he enjoyed a large and varied profes- sional experience. He was a man of more than ordinary energy and activity, and possessed re- markable powers of endurance, both physical and mental.

For a short time during the last war with Great Britain he acted as surgeon in the army, and was with the troops at York when General Ross was marching on Baltimore. He devoted himself to his profession so assiduously and absorbingly that he scarcely had a leisure hour, even for the repose so necessary to the human system ; and yet he was never weary of his work, but always ready to answer the calls of his patients with cheerfulness and alacrity. He was a gentleman of the old school. He would rather have suffered any wrong than in- flict an injury. Singularly inoffensive and peaceful in disposition and life, unostentatious in manners and unambitions in aim, year after year he pursued the rounds of visitation to the sick and dying, doing whatever skill and assid- uous attention could accomplish to relieve suf- fering and heal disease.

"Perhaps no man ever lived and died in

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Reading," remarks the Journal, " who conferred more substantial good on so great a number, or who received less in return for the good be- stowed. It is speaking in moderation to say that the services rendered gratuitously to the poor, if they had been repaid in money, would of themselves have constituted an estate; but he had a richer reward,-the blessings of them that were ready to perish fell upon him."

He died August 2, 1858, aged seventy-three years. The remains were conveyed to the Charles Evans Cemetery. The houses in the square where the deceased resided and on North Fifth Street were closed during the passage of the funeral cortege as a mark of respect to the mem- ory of one who had been so long identified witlı Reading that his death was regarded as a public loss

Dr. Otto was married, in 1810, to Esther G. Witman, daughter of Judge William Wit- man. She was a graduate of the Moravian Seminary at Bethlehem, Pa., and a lady of many accomplishments and excellent Christian virtues. She was enthusiastially devoted to the interests of the Lutheran Church, which was annually the recipient of her bounty, and the poor always found in her a friend. She died July 10, 1880, aged eighty-four years.

The children of Dr. John B. and Esther Otto are John Augustus, Bodo, Emma (married to S. Filbert) and Henry M., all of whom reside in Williamsport, Pa. ; Maria (married to Jacob Geise, of Reading) and Matilda (married to Geo. W. Miller, of Reading).

WILLIAM WOODS, for many years the lead- ing medical practitioner in Womelsdorf, located in that town before the period of the Revolu- tionary War. He is still remembered by some of the oldest citizens of the town and vicinity as a gentleman of high moral worth and super- ior professional qualifications.

ISAAC HIESTER, for many years one of the most distinguished physicians in the State and one of the leading citizens of Reading, was a son of William and Anne Maria Hiester and was born in Bern township, Berks County, June 22, 1785. He obtained his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania, and suhse- quently spent five years as physician to the

Pennsylvania Hospital. After entering upon the practice of his profession in Reading he soon attained prominence and acquired great proficiency in the art of medicine. He was the first president of the Berks County Medical Society, organized in 1824. His speech on that occasion was a learned production, and appears in Rupp's "History of Berks County."

Dr. Hiester was endowed with more than ordinary mental ability ; he did not rest with the knowledge acquired in the uni- versity, but, by attention and industry, kept pace with the advances and improvements of the day. Communications from his pen upon subjects whichi came under his observation as a practitioner were frequently published in the medical journals, which gave him both promi- nence and distinction among those who occupied the highest rank as physicians and surgeons.

A dignified presence, the address and manner of a gentleman, united with qualities which adorn human character, could not fail to make him a man of note in the community in which he spent his whole life.

To the distinguishing traits referred to was added a progressive spirit which placed him in the front of every movement having in view the growth and improvement of the city of which he was a resident. From a very early period he was an earnest advocate of higher methods of education than were then in use. The es- tablishment of a new academy on a plan of class-rooms, lecture-room, library, with the in- troduction of a higher grade of educational training, is mainly due to his courageous and persistent efforts. He was also largely instru- mental in procuring the necessary improve- ments for an adequate supply of water and gas for the city ; and encouraged with his aid and support the numerous individual industrial en- terprises which have insured such prosperity and growth as were scarcely believed possible. Nor was the spirit of enterprise characteristic of him by any means local. He was among the first to engage in the project to establish a line of railway communication from the anthra- cite coal-field to tide-water at Philadelphia. These efforts on the part of himself and those with whom he was associated resulted in effect-

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ing the construction of the railroad from Tam- aqua to Port Clinton, the point where the Schuylkill Canal was reached, and to which for a time the coal from the mines was transferred. This arrangement was not of long continuance, but led to a desire to have the benefits of more rapid transporation by means of a continnous railroad line. Extensions with that view were commenced in 1837 and 1838. The road from Reading to Philadelphia was first completed. The one from Reading to Pottsville was built several years thereafter. These railroads, built as branches by the Philadelphia and Reading Company and others which have been con- structed since, were chartered as separate com- panies and eventually merged in the Philadel- phia and Reading Railroad.

Dr. Hiester was selected as the president of the first-named and discharged the duties of the position until it was completed. He was also elected president of the road from Reading to Philadelphia, and served in that capacity in the early period of its organization.

Dr. Hiester was the first president of the Reading Gas Company, a member of the ves- try of Christ Episcopal Church and one of the original members of the Charles Evans Cemetery Company, of which he was president at the time of his death.

On April 10, 1810, he was married to Esther Muhlenberg, a daughter of General Peter Muhlenberg. He died September 12, 1855.

FRANK M. HIESTER, son of Dr. Isaac Hiester, was born in 1828. He received a preparatory educational training in the schools of his native town and then entered the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1849. After spend- ing the succeeding two years in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, he was graduated in 1852 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He next visited Europe and spent eighteen months in the medical hospitals of Paris, France. Upon returning home he followed his profession with his father in Reading. Soon after the latter's death, in 1855, he relinquished the practice of medicine, and engaged in the mercantile bus- iness until 1861, when he was appointed as-

sistant surgeon of the Fifty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers and in the autumn of 1861, was appointed brigade surgeon in the volunteer service of the United States, with the rank of major. His last government position was that of medical director of the Departinent of Ohio, with headquarters at Cincinnati. He died April 9, 1864, at his home in Reading, at the early age of thirty-six years. His death was much regretted, as he was a young man of brillant promise.

JOHN P. HIESTER, brother of Dr. Isaac Hiester, was one of the most scholarly men that Berks County has produced. He was born July 3, 1803, and died September 15, 1854, not having quite passed his fiftieth year. When but a youth he evinced a great interest in study, and eagerly perused the books that came within his reach. This thirst for knowledge was encouraged and he afterward acquired a liberal education in school and college. This he greatly enlarged by study and travel. After receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine he became a very prominent and influential practitioner in his chosen profession in the town of Reading. In order to recuperate his failing health, he decided to take a trip through Europe, and on April 16, 1841, he set sail from New York City and traveled through England, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and France. While on his journey he regularly contributed to the Reading Gazette very ably- written descriptive articles of the scenes and in- cidents on the way, and of the interesting local- ities which he visited. These letters were received with so much interest that he was in- duced to publish them in book-form in 1844, under the name of "Notes of Travel." He returned to Reading in 1842 and resumed the practice of his profession. Dr. Hiester enjoyed for many years an extensive practice in Reading and vicinity. In the sick-chamber his sterling qualities of mind and heart were well known and appreciated. Tenderly solicit- ous for the welfare of his patients, unremit- ting in his attendance upon them, and ever wakeful to do for them all that the healing art afforded to alleviate their pains and sufferings, he endeared himself to them with the strongest

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ties of friendship. Although devoted almost to enthusiasm to the practice of medicine, he also found time to cultivate the kindred sciences, and nothing afforded him more pleasure than to use the treasures of his well-stored mind, im- proved by foreign travel and years of close study, in stimulating the intellectual advancement of the youth of his native town. He delivered many lectures of a literary and scientific nature, to lyceums and institutions of learning, and was very highly appreciated. He possessed an enlightened spirit, a correct judgment and a benevolent heart, and was always ready to assist and encourage by his counsel all enterprises having for their object the moral, intellectual or social advance- ment of the inhabitants of Reading. He was affable and engaging in his manners, and sincere in his friendships. His industry and love of intellectual labor were illustrated in the large number of addresses written and delivered by him before various literary and scientific associations.

CHRISTIAN LUDWIG SCHLEMM, who for many years was one of the most prominent physicians of Berks County, was a native of Heckelheim, in the Kingdom of Hanover ; born February 4, 1776. He was the son of John Frederick and Dorothea Catharine Schlemm. After obtaining a good preparatory education he entered the Literary Department of the University of Göttingen, and was gradu- ated from that institution in the year 1798. Soon thereafter he came to America and was engaged as a teacher for about two years in Germantown, Pa. With the design of studying medicine, he returned to his native country and became a student in the Medical Department of Göttingen University, and there received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1803, after pursuing his studies under the celebrated scientists, Richter and Blumenbach. He began the practice of his profession in his native country, continuing until 1807, when he again came to America and located as a physician in Union County, where he was naturalized in the year 1815. He moved to Kutztown, Berks County, in the year 1818, and there rapidly acquired a large and lucrative practice, which he held until he retired from the active duties of

his profession, and moved to Richmond town- ship, where he died February 6, 1850.

Dr. Schlemm was a man of fine intellectual attainments, and possessed superior professional ability. In 1824 he was one of the organizers, and was chosen vice-president of the Berks County Medical Society, and one of the founders of the Reading Academy. He was a member of Lodge No. 62, Ancient York Mason's. In 1816 he was married to Jessie Freeman, of Union County, by whom he had five chil- dren,-Frederick E., Edmund C., Charles W. G., William E. and a daughter. Charles W. G. Schlemm, the second son, was grad- uated from the Medical Department of Penn- sylvania College in 1848, and is now practicing medicine in Reading and conducting a drug- store together with his son, Horace E. Schlemm, who was graduated from Jefferson Medical College in March, 1886. William C. Schlemm, the third son of Dr. Schlemm, is a graduate of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and is now practic- ing in Reading.

MICHAEL TRYON, father of Dr. Jacob Tryon, of Rehrersburg, was born at Millbach, Lancaster (now Lebanon) County, on August 19, 1761, and died May 25, 1828, at the age of sixty-six years, nine months and nine days. His remains lie in the cemetery adjoining the Lutheran Church in Rehrersburg, where he resided a number of years before his death. His field of medical practice extended over a large territory of Berks and Lancaster Counties. He was re- garded as an excellent physician and surgeon. He was somewhat eccentric in his manner of dealing with the people, and many interesting stories are related of him by the oldest citizens of the northern and western parts of Berks County.

JONATHAN POUNDER, an intelligent Eng- lishman, born in 1784, and a graduate of one of the medical colleges of his native country, lo- cated near the village of Morgantown, this county, in 1830. Before coming to America he was a surgeon on an English man-of-war, whichi, when once cruising along the Atlantic coast, was shipwrecked. Dr. Pounder and seven members of the crew were the only persons

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whose lives were saved. After floating on the bosom of the ocean several days in a small open boat, they were rescued by an approaching ves- sel. His hair became gray at a very early age, which the doctor claimed was caused by exces- sive fright incident to the shipwreck. After coming to America he practiced medicine first in Philadelphia, then in Chester County and finally settled in this county, where he died January 10, 1871, aged eighty-eight years. He was a large man, six feet in height, had a deep bass voice, wore his hair like Andrew Jackson, whom he somewhat resembled, but with whom he differed in political sentiment. Dr. Pounder was an ardent Methodist and a writer of consid- erable ability. He wrote and had published the books with the following titles : " A Token to Children," " A Choice Drop of Honey from the Rock Christ,""Divine Breathings," "Camp- Meeting Hymn-Book," " The History of Little Jack," " Prayers for Children," " Hymns for Children." He was regarded as a physician of merit and was held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens.

JACOB MARSHALL was born near Lebanon in 1787. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania and soon after located in Reading, opened one of the first drug-stores in the town and also be- gan the practice of medicine. During the sec- ond war with Great Britain, and at the time when Baltimore was threatened by the invading army, he raised a company of eighty-four men, mostly belonging to Reading. This company joined the First Regiment of the Second Bri- gade of Pennsylvania Militia. They marched from Reading to York and rendezvoused there. The invasion of the British was repelled by their defeat at Baltimore, soon after which event Captain Marshall's company, as well as all the other militia, was discharged from the service and they returned home. He then began anew his practice and soon became one of the leading physicians of Reading. In 1823 he was ap- pointed by Governor Shulze clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Berks County. About the same time he became a member of Lodge No. 62, Ancient Order of York Masons. Dr. Marshall lived to the advanced age of eighty-

three years, four months and fourteen days, being the oldest physician in the county at the time of his death, July 11, 1871. His remains were interred in Charles Evans' Cemetery. Michael Reifsnyder, James Norton, Paul Am- mon and Joseph Brelsford, surviving veterans of the War of 1812, acted as pall-bearers. He was married to Mary Bright, of Reading. One of his sons, Dr. John Marshall, a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Medicine, was a skillful physician of Reading, but died early iu life, on February 19, 1861. Another son, Dr. Philip D. Marshall, now practicing in the city, was graduated from Jefferson Medical College. In 1861 he entered the Union army as a sur- geon and was stationed one year in Camp Cur- tin, at Harrisburg. He was next transferred to Washington, and from thence to Benton Bar- racks General Hospital, in St. Louis, where he remained about two years, becoming quite skill- ful as a surgeon. He now resides in Reading.

MICHAEL LUDWIG was a native of Amity township, Berks County, born in 1793, and died at Douglassville on June 1, 1857, aged sixty-four years. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and practiced his chosen profession in Amity and adjoining town- ships for many years with great success. During the last thirteen years of his life he was post- master at Douglassville.

WILLIAM GRIES was born December 1, 1796, in Womelsdorf. He received a liberal education, and on reaching manhood went to Philadelphia, and entered into a mercantile life ; continued for some years, during which time he studied medicine. He was graduated from the Medical Departmentof the University of Penu- sylvania in 1822, after which he returned to his native town of Womelsdorf, where he eu- tered into a large practice. In 1824 he mar- ried Maria Priscilla, danghter of Hon. John Myers, of Mycrstown, Lebanon County. In 1840, having met with an accident while at- tending to his professional duties, and broken his thigh, thus laming him for life, a large country practice became too laborious, and he removed to Reading, where he soon took a prominent place in his profession. But his health, which was never strong from the time

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of the accident, finally gave way, and he died April 12, 1857, in the sixty-first year of his age.

Dr. Gries belonged to the old school of phy- sicians, for which Reading was noted in his day and generation. His medical contempo- raries were the Ottos, father and son, and the brothers, Doctors Isaac and John P. Hiester, with whom he at once took rank as a pro- fessional equal. He assisted in the organiza- tion of the Berks County Medical Society, and while he lived was one of its prominent mem- bers. He was for many years a member of the vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, of which he was a devoted member. He also took an ac- tive part in all the religious, moral and pro- gressive movements of the day, and never wearied in well-doing.

His character was beyond reproach, and in his private, professional, social and religious life he was a shining example to all his con- temporaries. It may be said of him with truth, that he was a model man in all the re- lations of life.

Dr. Gries, though his death occurred before the Civil War, left three sons, all of whom gave themselves to the service of their county during that memorable period. The eldest, Rev. William R. Gries, as chaplain of the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, served nobly to the end of the war, and died at Allentown, Pa., Oct. 18, 1872, while rector of Grace Episcopal Church of that city. The second son, John Myers Gries, who was a prominent architect at the opening of the Rebellion, and was chiefly instrumental in raising the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment, served as its major, and was mortally wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va., while saving the colors of the regiment, and died in Philadelphia, June 13, 1862. The youngest son, Lemuel, was a member of the Ringgold Battery, of Reading, the first volun- teer company in the United States to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops to save the capital of the nation, and who marched on the day of the call, reaching Washington on the 18th of April, 1861. He was afterwards elected first lieutenant of the same battery. He died in Reading, April 6, 1876.

Mrs. Priscilla Gries, the mother of this family, survived the doctor and sons. Though an invalid for a long time, her declining years were solaced by the devoted attentions of her daughter, Clara C. Gries, the sole survivor of the family to the end, and she closed her beau- tiful life with Christian resignation on thie 31st day of August, 1882, in the seventy-eighth year of her age.

HENRY TYSON was born in Montgomery County, Pa., May 21, 1815, and was the son of Cornelius and Hannah Smith Tyson. His father, Cornelius Tyson, a much-respected farmer, whose advice was often sought and who was frequently employed in matters of public trust, was also born in Montgomery County, as were also his grandfather, Joseph Tyson, born February 16, 1751, and his great- grandfather, Cornelius Tyson, whose marriage is recorded as having taken place March 30, 1738.

His carly life was spent on a farm, and he learned the trade of a stone-mason, but he was always fond of books and soon became a teacher. He taught successfully, having had flourishing schools in Philadelphia and Read- ing, Pa. While conducting a school in Phila- delphia he studied medicine, and was graduated from the Pennsylvania Medical College in 1843, the professors being Samuel George Mor- ton, George Mcclellan, William Rush, Robert M. Bird, Samuel McClellan, Walter R. John- son. His younger brother, Cornelius Tyson, was a member of the same class. In 1840 he married Gertrude Haviland Caswell, a widow.

Dr. Tyson began to practice medicine in Fried- ensburg, Berks County, in 1843,but soon removed to Reading, whence he returned to his native place, Worcester township, Montgomery County, on the death of his brother Cornelius, who died at the age of twenty-five, and to whose practice he succeeded. He returned to Reading about the year 1850. In 1854, Dr. Taylor was elected warden of the Berks County Prison, a position which he filled very acceptably for twelve years. For this position he was peculiarly adapted. Retiring in his habits, studious and thoughtful, he devoted himself to matters con- nected with prison discipline and the improve-

Charles An. Gerasehr

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 102

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418