History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 104

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

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CHARLES A. DEININGER was the son of Constantine J. Deininger, and was born at Reading in the year 1834. After obtaining a preliminary education he studied medicine and surgery under the direction of Dr. John P. Hiester, and attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. He was graduated from that institution in April, 1855, and immediately be-

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gan the practice of his profession in Reading with bright prospects. The Crimean War was then waging, and he, showing a preference for surgery, decided to enter the service of the Russian government as a surgeon. His appli- cation was accepted and he left Reading in June to remain for a term of two years. He sailed from Boston July 4th, 1855, and arrived at Simpheropol, in Russia, about the 1st of Sep- tember, where he entered the hospital and began the duties of a practical surgeon. Within two months his companion, Dr. Jones, of Baltimore, was prostrated with a sudden and violent attack of cholera, which caused his death. Through devotion, Dr. Deininger contracted the same disease, and in spite of all the efforts of his brother-surgeons he died also, after an illness of only eleven hours. This sad event transpired on October 25, 1855, in the twenty-first year of his age. His body was buried with that of his companion in that foreign land, but it was after- wards brought to Reading and buried in the Evans Cemetery. Dr. Deininger was a young man of fine intellect and possessed many ster- ling virtnes, which endeared him to a large circle of relatives and acquaintances by whom his un- timely death was sadly lamented. Nature asks no nobler sacrifice than those who yield up their own lives for the comfort of their fellowmen.

WILLIAM N. DAVIS was born January 24, 1838, at Port Carbon, Schuylkill County ; was graduated from the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, in 1856 and from the Jefferson Med- ical College in 1860, and began practicing med- icine at Reading in 1861. In 1871 he mar- ried Amelia, daughter of John Yerger; he had a large and lucrative practice and was esteemed as one of the most promising physicians of the city. He died October 4, 1885.

THOMAS J. KEELY, son of Frederick Keely, died January 29, 1876, at New Berlin, Bucks County, Pa. He practiced medicine in Berks County for several years and during the Civil War was surgeon of the One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Regiment.

LIVING MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION.

JACOB TRYON, son of Dr. Michael Tryon, one of the pioneer physicians of Berks County,

was born in the town of Rehrersburg, where he now resides, January 22, 1800. His opportunities of obtaining a rudimentary education were very limited; acquired his knowledge of medicine and surgery in the office of his father, who was then attending to a large practice ; commenced the practice of medicine at the age of twenty, and has continued it without intermission to the present time (1886). Like his father, he excelled in surgery, which he made his special study. His practice extends over a large area of terri- tory, and for thirty years he visited his patients on horseback. He kept three or four horses and made it a point to meet all his engagements promptly. He performed a successful surgical operation at the age of eighty-three years, un- assisted by any other surgeon. His has become. a household name in many families in this and adjoining counties. He has always taken a deep interest in educational matters and schools in the district in which he resides. His oldest son, Dr. Percival J. Tryon, deceased, was born May 31, 1828. He received a liberal education and was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1850. Soon after his gradua- tion he settled at Hamburg, Berks County, where he acquired a large practice, which he held up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 30th day of July, A.D. 1881.

WM. FREDERICK HOFFMAN, brother of the late Dr. C. E. Hoffman, before mentioned, was born in Northampton County February 18, 1810; studied medicine with his brother; was graduated from Jefferson Medical College; practiced in Lehigh County from 1838 to 1853, and in 1854 located in Reading, where he has practiced his profession to this date. His son, Walter James Hoffman, now in the employ of the United States government, is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in the class of 1866. In 1870 he entered the service of the Prussian government as a surgeon for a short time. In May, 1871, he accompanied Lieutenant Wheeler in his expedition through Arizona and New Mexico, both as a surgeon and naturalist. He afterwards became a surgeon of General Custer's regiment of the regular army, and accompanied him in an expedition up the Yellowstone River. He has since been under Lieutenant Powell, of

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the United States Geological Survey and Burcau of Ethnology. Dr. Hoffman has familiarized himself with the language of several Indian tribes and has prepared different government papers on the Indian race and on natural history. He re- cently prepared a list of the birds of the State of Nevada. He is also an artist. Many of the sketches of views in Powell's recent surveys published by the United States government, were sketched by him and are well done.

D. LLEWELLYN BEAVER, now one of the oldest physicians in Berks County, is a native of Chester County, born in Great Valley in 1814. He attended the Bolmar Academy at West Chester ; studied medicine and took his degree at Pennsylvania Medical College, in Philadelphia, in 1841. He began the practice of his profession at Temple, in Berks County, remaining two years, and then moved to Bern township. In 1849 he came to Reading and has since been actively engaged in the duties of his profession in the city.

JAMES M. MATHEWS was born in Bucks County, Pa., on the 22d of February, 1817, his parents being Benjamin and Letitia Mathews, and his grandparents Benjamin Mathews and James Meredith respectively. The doctor re- ceived an academic education and began the study of medicine with Dr. Charles H. Mathews, of Doylestown, Pa. He was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1840, and began the practice of his profession at Fleetwood, where he remained until 1860. In April, 1860, he located at Temple, this county, and continued there in active practice until June, 1873, when he was superseded by his son, Dr. Franklin Mathews. The doctor was married in 1843 to Mary Ann Stitzel. The children of this marriage are eight sons, six of whom are living, two being physicians and a third pursuing his medical studies prepar- atory to graduation. Dr. Mathews, since his retirement from practice, has spent his leisure in agricultural pursuits; occasionally he is em- ployed as a surveyor and scrivener. Prior to the Rebellion he was in politics a Democrat, but has since voted the Republican ticket. He has not been an aspirant to any office other than that of school director.

JOSEPH COBLENTZ is a native of Maryland, born January 24, 1820 ; worked on a farm and attended common schools until twenty-one years old ; graduated from Marshall College, at Lan- caster, in 1848, and the next year took his medical degree at the University of Virginia, aud also completed the medical course at the University of Pennsylvania, in 1850 ; remained two years in Philadelphia, during which time he was connected with the Pennsylvania Hospi- tal; took a special course at Dr. Warrington's Obstetric Institute ; attended special course of clinics at University of Pennsylvania, and in practical pharmacy under Professor Parrish ; practiced in Baltimore four years, in York County Pa., eight years ; came to Reading in 1863 and was engaged in his profession in the city twenty-one years ; located in Baltimore a second time in 1884, and the next year he relin- quished his practice and moved to the State of Kansas, where he now resides.

DILLER LUTHER is a descendant from a family of physicians, and is the great-grandson of Christian Luther, who emigrated to America in the ship " Edinburgh," landing in New York, September 16, 1751, and located in the Peqnea Valley, Lancaster County, but soon after migrated to the Shenandoah Valley, Vir- ginia, where he married Christiana Kelp. On account of Indian troubles he returned to Penn- sylvania, and settled at Ephrata, where he died. His son John, born in 1755, became a promi- nent physician and died at Harrisburg in 1811, leaving several children, among them John, who was a physician of note and practiced medicine in New Holland, Lancaster County, where he died in 1828. Three of his sons-Diller, John W. and Martin-have studied and prac- ticed the profession of their worthy ancestors. John W. practiced for more than a third of a century in New Holland, where he died in 1870. Dr. Diller Luther was born in New Holland, November 18, 1808 ; attended Todd's Academy, in Harrisburg; was graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1829, and soon after located in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County, remaining there one year ; he came to Reading and practiced in that city from 1832 to 1838. During the latter year he

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relinquished his profession and began the min- ing and shipping of coal in Schuylkill County, which business he followed for about twenty- five years. In 1863 he was appointed internal revenue collector of the Eighth District of Pennsylvania, and served in that position until 1867. In 1873 he was appointed general agent and secretary of the State Board of Public Char- ities and filled that position until September, 1883, when he resigned. Dr. Diller Luther has been prominently identified with the banking interests of Reading, was several years president of the Anthracite Insurance Company of Phila- delphia, and since 1873 has been president of the Charles Evans Cemetery Company. He was married, in 1834, to Amelia H., daughter of Judge John Spayd, of Reading. She died in 1872.

MARTIN LUTHER was born March 16, 1826, at New Holland, Lancaster County, Pa. He is a brother of Dr. Diller Luther, of Reading, and a son of Dr. John Luther, of New Hol- land, for many years a very prominent phys- ician, an active politician and an influential member of the Masonic fraternity. His grand- father and his father, both physicians, had three sons each, who were engaged in the same pro- fession. Dr. Martin Luther was educated in the best academies of West Chester and of Berks County, and subsequently studied under a private instructor. He began the study of medicine in the office of his brother, in New Holland, entered the Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, and was gradnated from that institution in the spring of 1848, with the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine. For two years succeeding his graduation he practiced with his brother. In 1850 he came to Reading, and soon after his location here became one of the leading physicians of the city. He served as physician to the Berks County Almshouse from 1853 to 1855, and the two succeeding years was physician to the county prison. In 1862 he was appointed surgeon in charge of the United States Army Hospital at Reading, and remained in that position until the hospital was discontinued. In the same year he was ap- pointed surgeon to the State, in making the necessary examination of those who had been

drafted into the military service. In 1864 he served as a surgeon to the board of enrollment of the Eighth Congressional District, and re- mained in that position until the close of the war. He took a prominent part in establishing the Reading Dispensary in 1868. He was an influential member of the Berks County Medi- cal Society, was several years its efficient presi- dent, and a number of times its representative delegate to the meetings of the State and Na- tional Medical Associations. Dr. Luther is a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He has a very extensive prac- tice in the city of Reading, and is a surgeon of excellent ability.

L. DE BARTH KUHN, a successful practitioner in the city of Reading for a number of years, moved to Brooklyn, N. Y. While residing in Reading, he was physician to the county alms- house, and during the Civil War was appointed to the position of surgeon in the Union army.

L. H. THOMPSON was born August 20, 1823, in Hereford township, Berks County; was a pupil in the district schools, and afterwards entered the Strasburg Academy, in Lancaster County ; studied medicine with Dr. Samnel C. Thompson, at Zieglersville, Montgomery County, and graduated in medicine from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia with the class of 1853; practiced at New Jerusalem, Fleetwood and Lyons, in Berks County, for twenty-six years, and in 1875 came to Reading, where he is now engaged in his profession.

JOHN B. BROOKE, who for many years has been one of the leading physicians of Reading, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, but he re- moved with his parents to Reading when quite young, and here acquired his education. He was graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1858, and has since practiced medicine in Reading with great success. He takes an active interest in the city and county medical societies. Dr. Brooke is a great-grandson of Governor Hiester, and a grandson of Judge Spayd.

JEREMIAH S. TREXLER is the son of James Trexler, who was born in Trexlertown, Lehiglı County, Pa., and died in Hamburg, Berks County. He was for some years a merchant,

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and on his removal to Allentown, became one of the popular landlords of the city. He mar- ried Jenette Dankel, of Lehigh County, and had children,-Lavina, Nelson H. and Jeremiah S. The last-named of this number was born at Trexlertown, in Lehigh County, and lived during his youth both in his native county and in Berks County. He obtained his education at the Moravian schools in Emaus and Bethle- hem, Pa .; began the study of medicine with Dr. Charles Gerasch, of Kutztown, and was graduated from the University of Pennsyl- vania in 1854. Locating at Kutztown, he became associated with his preceptor, Dr. Ger- asch, and speedily secured an extensive practice. He remained associated with Dr. Gerasch until the death of the latter. As advancing years in- fluenced Dr. Gerasch to relinquish his profession, Dr. Trexler succeeded to the practice, which was continued for several years. Ill health com- pelled him, however, to abandon his large field and limit his attentions to such patients and families as, from long association, found it difficult to call in the professional services of another. The doctor is actively associated with the business interests of both county and bor- ough. He was formerly a director of the Key- stone National Bank of Reading, and is also interested in the shoe factory and jobbing house of Levan, Stein & Co., of Kutztown. He is a member of the board of direction of the Keystone State Normal School. In politics he was an early Republican, and now affiliates with the Independent party. He has been chief burgess of the borough of Kutztown. He has taken high rank in the Masonic frater- nity,-is a member of Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, of F. and A. M. ; of Allen Chapter, No. 20, and of Allen Commandery, both of Allentown, Pa., and of the Consistory of Bloomsburg, Pa. Dr. Trexler during the late war in 1863, en- tered the ariny as surgeon of the Seventy-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He par- ticipated in the engagement at Chancellorsville, was made prisoner and escaped, after which he joined the Army of the Cumberland and ac- companied General Sherman in his march to the sea.

REUBEN B. RHOADS was born at Boyertown,

October 29, 1831, and educated at Mount Pleasant Seminary, in his native town ; studied medicine under the direction of Dr. Henry W. Johnson; was gradnated from Jefferson Medical College in April, 1857; located at Zieglerville, in Montgomery County, and practiced till Au- gust, 1862, when he raised a company of vol- unteers, and, as captain, took it to Harrisburg, applied for and received a surgeon's commis- sion. He was employed for a time at Pitts- burgh as examining surgeon, and then accom- panied the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Militia. He had charge of a brigade hospital, under command of Briga- dier-General Tyndale, at Yorktown. He was mustered out with regiment at Harrisburg in July, 1863, and returned to Zieglerville, where he resumed the practice of bis profession. He continued at this place for a year and removed to Amityville, Berks County, continuing in ac- tive practice till his election to the office of prison warden of Berks County in 1882, when he removed to Reading. He was twice re- elected and held this position till April, 1885.

During his residence at Amityville he became interested in the cultivation of fruit-trees, and for sixteen years carried on an extensive nursery. He still owns this nursery.

He was married, May 10, 1859, to Kate W. Gilbert, daughter of Adam R. Gilbert.

DECATUR G. SCHOENER was born August 28, 1832, at Rehrersburg, and is a son of the late Dr. Adam Schoener ; was educated in the schools of his native town and at Myerstown Academy : was graduated from the Pennsylva- nia Medical College, in Philadelphia, with the class of 1853 ; practiced with his father until 1856, when he removed to Reading, and has since practiced in the city.

JAMES A. FISHER was born July 25, 1832, in Stouchsburg ; acquired his education in pub- lic schools of his native town and the Stouchs- burg Academy ; studied medicine with Dr. Adam Shoener for three years, and was gradu- ated in medicine from the Pennsylvania Medi- cal College in 1853; practiced in Stouchsburg until 1880, when he removed to Reading and has since been practicing in the city.

SAMUEL L. KURTZ was born September 27,

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,

1832, in Chester County ; attended the Freeland Seminary ; studied medicine with Dr. Geiger, of Harleysville, Montgomery County, Pa. ; was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College in 1854 ; practiced first at Phoenixville. In 1856 he removed to Juniata County, where he prac- ticed until the opening of the war. In No- vember, 1861, was appointed assistant surgeon at Camp Curtin; in March, 1862, he was chosen assistant surgeon of the

HIESTER M. NAGLE is the great-grandson of Peter Nagle, who, on his emigration from Germany, settled in Berks County. His son Peter, who also resided in the same conuty, was in Berks County July 11, 1782, and died May 2, 1846. He married Susan Filbert, born April 23, 1785, who died May 26, 1854. They had children,-John F., Augustus W., Peter F., Henry and one daughter.

Peter F. Nagle was born in Berks County,

Ja. m. nagle mo

Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves. In June, | and died March 25, 1869, in his sixty-first of same year, was promoted to surgeon and transferred to the Eighty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, which was assigned to the Eighteenth Army Corps, under General Butler, and participated in the several engage- ments before Petersburg and Richmond, Va. On the 22d of November, 1864, the regiment was mustered out of the service. He then joined his family in Reading, to which place they removed while he was in the army, and has since practiced in the city.

year. He selected medicine as a profession ; first practiced in Williamsport, Pa., and from there removed to Milton, Pa. He subsequently removed to Reading, and from thence to St. Louis. He married Catherine E. Dauphin, of Philadelphia, and had children,-Peter (de- ceased), Hiester M., Catherine (deceased), Joseph (deceased) and two who died in childhood. Dr. Nagle ultimately made Reading his home, where his death occurred. His son, Hiester M. Nagle, was born December 23, 1834, at Wil-

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liamsport ; obtained a rudimentary education in the schools of Reading, and continued his studies at Marshall College, Mercersburg, and at Kessler's Academy, Allentown. In 1855 he entered his father's office as a medical student, and continued with Dr. Frank Rieser, of Read- ing. He spent one year in the Medical De- partment of the University of Pennsylvania and two years at the Jefferson Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1857. The same year he began practice in Exeter township, Berks County, and remained there until 1859, the date of his removal to Fleet- wood, in the same county. There he practiced until his connection with the army, August 4, 1862, as assistant surgeon of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. He was, on the 17th of December, 1864, promoted to the office of surgeon of the regiment, and served in that capacity until his discharge, August 13, 1865, participating meanwhile in the following en- gagements : Siege of Suffolk, Va., April 14 and March 4, 1863; Petersburg, June 9-16, 1864; Ream's Station, June 29, 1864; Deep Bottom, July 9, 1864; Richmond, September 29 and October 1, 1864; Darbytown Road, October 7, 1864; Seven Pines, October 27, 1864 ; New Market Heights, October 10, 1864 ; Five Forks, April 1, 1865 ; Deep Creek, April 4, 1865 ; Amelia Court-House, April 5, 1865, and Appomatox Court-House, April 9, 1865. On his return he settled in Reading and secured a lucrative practice. He is a member of the Medical Society of the County of Berks and of the Pathological Medical Society. As a Free and Accepted Mason, he is a member of Lodge No. 62, of Reading, of Chapter 152 and of Reading Commandery, No. 42.

As a Democrat, he was elected to and filled the office of county treasurer from 1874 to 1876, and was for two years a member of the City Council, the first of which (1878) he filled the chair of its president. He was, in July, 1885, appointed examining surgeon for pensions. Dr. Nagle was, on the 18th of June, 1872, married to Lucretia, daughter of Henry B. and Susan Boyer, of Reading. Their children are Henry B., Howard B., Paul, Charles E. and two who are deceased. The doctor is an esteemed member

of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Reading.

JOHN S. TRYON was born in Rehrersburg May 12, 1835, and is the second son of Dr. Jacob Tryon. 'He obtained his education in the common schools and at Pennsylvania Col- lege, Gettysburg. He studied medicine under the tuition of his father, and was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1857. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in his native town, where he has since resided, and where he has met with suc- cess, especially in surgery. Drs. George F. Brendle (Mahanoy City), Daniel Dechert (Cres- sona), Simon Seyfert (Pinegrove, Schuylkill County) and John Wagner (Hamburg, Berks County) were students under his instruction.

JOHN B. STERLEY was born in 1835 in Montgomery County, Pa., and is a descendant of French ancestry. He attended Freeland Seminary (now Ursinus College) ; read medi- cine in the office of Drs. Keeler and Groff, of Harleysville ; attended lectures at the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, and was graduated M.D. from that institution March 6, 1857; began practicing at Earlville, Lancaster County, Pa., and continued until 1862, when he entered the army as surgeon-first in Camp Curtin, at Har- risburg, for three months, and then became surgeon of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Militia. He was afterward transferred to Reading, as surgeon, to examine drafted men and substi- tutes, and, upon the organization of the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Regiment of Penn- sylvania Volunteers, was chosen its surgeon. He was next appointed examining surgeon in the provost-marshal's office at Pottsville. In 1864 returned to Montgomery County, and in 1865 came to Reading, where he has since practiced his profession, excepting a few years when he was in Western Pennsylvania. Dr. Sterley was for three years a member of the United States board of examining surgeons for pensions.

JOHN A. BROBST, of Bernville, was born October 26, 1835, at Rehrersburg; attended the public and private schools, and, at the age of fourteen, was sent to Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, where he remained until he fin- ished the studies of the sophomore year ; read

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

medicine under the directions of Dr. Adam Shoener, and was graduated from Pennsylvania Medical College, at Philadelphia, in 1857. Im- mediately after graduating he located in Bern- ville, where he has since beeu actively engaged in the practice of his profession.

CHARLES T. REBER was born January 18, 1836, in Berks County. He acquired a pre- liminary education in the schools of his native place, also took an academic course, and taught school for two terms at Brownsville, Berks County. In 1853 he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Livingood, and afterwards in the office of Dr. D. L. Beaver, of Reading. In 1854 he entered the Jefferson Medical College, and was graduated M.D. from that institution in 1856 ; practiced medicine in Reading for two years, and in Berks County until the breaking out of the war, when he was appointed assistant surgeon of the Forty-eighth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers in Feb- ruary, 1862. He was promoted to surgeon of the regiment in 1863, and was assigned as brig- ade surgeon to hospital duty at Beaufort, S. C. Soon after he was appointed executive officer at Hilton Head. Subsequently he filled the fol- lowing positions, in order : Medical purveyor, chief medical officer and health officer of the Port Royal District. His last appointment was on the staff of General Devens as chief medical officer. He was in active service under the United States government for a term of four years and five months, and for efficiency received a brevet- lieutenant's commission. Dr. Reber is the author of a medical work entitled "The Paresis of the Sympathetic Centres ; or, the So-called Malaria," and is now practicing in Reading.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 104

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