History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 105

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

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JACOB S. AMMON was born in 1836 in Berks County ; was educated in the schools of his na- tive place, the Womelsdorf Academy and Philomathean Institute, at Birdsboro', Pa .; studied medicine with Dr. Newcomet, of Stouchs- burg, Berks County, and Dr. P. M. Schweinhard, of Palmyra, Lebanon County, and Dr. D. D. Richardson, of Philadelphia; graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, in 1868 ; removed to Reading soon after, where he is now engaged in the prac- tice of his profession.

CHARLES E. SHOEMAKER' is a native of Montgomery County, Pa., and was born March 1, 1836, at Skippackville, a pleasant village on the Skippack, Flourtown and Philadelphia turnpike, about seventeen miles northwest of Philadelphia. His birth occurred on the old Shoemaker homestead, where his father, Jacob, and his grandfather, Isaac, were born, and which his great grandfather, George Shoemaker, purchased, the title being held continuously by this family for nearly one hundred years. The Shoemaker family is one of the oldest in the State, three brothers having emigrated to this country with William Penn, in 1683, and settled at Germantown (now Philadelphia), where still a number of their descendants may be found. Isaac Shoemaker, the grandfather of the doctor, had two sons, the elder George and the younger Jacob. The grandfather, who was au enterprising man, engaged in merchant mill- ing, sawing and lumber, brick-making, farm- ing and other businesses all at the same time. Although widely and favorably known as one of the most successful business men of his time in the county, he was by no means a worldly man, as the term implies. He was scrupulously just and honorable in all his deal- ings and of positive religious convictions, a consistent and active church member until his death, at the age of seventy-six. He gave the principal part of his real estate and business to his two sons. The agricultural part and old homestead went to his son Jacob, the father of the doctor, who here grew up midst pleasant surroundings, carefully trained and disciplined by his parents. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy and four of whom are still living. The subject of this biography is the second son. His mother (nee Everhart) was born, raised and educated in Philadelphia. She died at the age of seventy, at Bethlehem, where she is buried and now rests in her son's lot on Niskey Hill, in that beautiful cemetery on the Lehigh River.

As above stated, Dr. Charles E. Shoemaker was the second son. The elder, now Dr. I. N. E. Shoemaker, of Reading, while quite young,

1 Contributed.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

chose medicine as a profession, and after re- ceiving his preliminary education entered the office of Dr. Charles Shoemaker, of Montgom- ery County. His brother remained at his home and attended the village school until he entered Freeland Seminary (now Ursinus Col- lege), at Collegeville, Montgomery County, Pa., where he continued his studies during 1855-57, and then engaged as teacher of the borough school at Millerstown, Lehigh County, Pa., at

Marietta Wertz, second daughter of Richard and Sophia Wertz, of Longswamp, Berks County, Pa., sister of Drs. Jas. F. and P. Wertz, well-known physicians of the same place, the former a fellow-student in the office of Dr. I. N. E. Shoemaker. Dr. Charles E. Shoemaker first located at Orefield, Lehigh County, Pa., a pleasant country town on the Jaurdan Creek, six miles west of Allentown, and surrounded by rich agricultural and iron-

C. E Showader M.D

the same time entering upon the study of medi- ore lands, where mining was extensively carried on. The country was thickly populated, and the extensive mining machinery was the cause of many accidents and much surgical practice. Here Dr. Shoemaker cast his lot and entered upon the practice of his profession on the 26th day of March, 1860, at which time and place there was a most fatal epidemic of malignant scarlet fever. He treated the disease with great success and was soon a very busy cine under Dr. Jenkin Evans, of that borough. After completing his term of teaching he dis- continued his studies under Dr. Evans and entered the office of his brother, Dr. I. N. E. Shoemaker, in compliance with the latter's wish, until the fall of 1858, when he became a student of the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College, Philadelphia, from which college he was graduated March 3, 1860. On the 22d day of the same month he was married to man, making three hundred and thirty-five

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

visits the first month he practiced and losing but one case. Dr. Shoemaker was speedily known and recognized as a successful doctor. He attended an extraordinary case of attempted snicide by arsenic of a prominent young man, to whose assistance Dr. Shoemaker was hastily summoned, and fortunately saved from all harm after a great effort, as the case was a desperate one. This was reported and published in the Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter, vol. v. p. 462. He was soon under the neces- sity of securing an assistant, whom he associated as partner in the business, which continued to increase so rapidly that with all his help he found country practice making inroads upon his health, and fearing a physical breakdown, con- cluded to relinquish his practice and remove to Bethlehem, Pa., in the spring of 1864, selling meanwhile to his partner, Dr. Henry K. Hart- zell, and his brother, Dr. I. N. E. Shoemaker. Success attended him in his new field of labor, where he soon established a lucrative practice and took in Dr. John H. Wilson as partner, who became his successor. In the spring of 1874 he moved to the city of Reading, Pa. Having written his "Thesis on the Ear" when he graduated at Pennsylvania Medical College, Philadelphia, and devoted some study to aural surgery, he improved every opportunity to qualify himself for the treatment of such cases. Being encouraged by his success, he finally con- cluded to master this subject, and thereupon abandoned general practice, repaired to New York City and entered Bellevue Hospital Medi- cal College, where in connection with the hos- pitals, clinics and ear dispensaries and institutes of that city, he had superior opportunities for becoming, under Prof. Noyes as instructor, master of this special department of medical and surgical science.

After completing his post-graduate course in New York City he opened an office at Reading, and began practice as aural surgeon. He con- fines his attention strictly to his specialty, namely, " The Ear, its Diseases and their Treatment." This seemingly limits his prac- tice to but few ailments, though it in reality em- braces all acute and chronic diseases of the head, ears, nose, throat, etc., including nervous

and other ailments that may, through sympathy or otherwise, directly or indirectly affect the hearing, and especially such as affect the mu- cous membrane, as catarrh. In this new field of labor Dr. Shoemaker found an abundant harvest. The afflicted with these ailments, hear- ing of his success, soon noised it abroad, and his office was daily crowded and the doctor was obliged to again secure an assistant. Dr. Charles E. Shoemaker as aural surgeon stands at the head of the profession in the State of Penusyl- vania. His reputation is not local, but extends beyond the limits of his own State and country. He is not only known as a skillful and success- ful aural surgeon, but as an able writer on aural diseases, having published a volume of three hundred and seventy-five pages octavo, on "The Ear, its Diseases and Injuries and their Treatment," which has been favorably received and commented upon by the press.

J. B. POTTEIGER was born at Stransstown ; attended the schools of Reading and Freeland Seminary ; completed the medical course and took his degree at the Jefferson Medical College with the class of 1859 ; practiced at Lenharts- ville, Berks County until 1862, where he en- tered the army as assistant surgeon of the 128th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the nine months' service. In 1864 he re-entered the army as surgeon by contract at the Lincoln Hospital for three months and was then sent to Point Lookout Hospital, until the spring of 1865. He then resumed practice first in Berks County and in 1867 located at Hamburg, where he has since resided. He was assistant surgeon of the Fourth Regiment, N. G. P., for several years, and in 1884 was chosen surgeon of the regiment with the rauk of major. He has been a notary public for thirteen years.

F. K. SPANG was born in Oley township, Berks County, in 1839. He was educated at Norristown, Penna., and at East Hampton, Mass., and graduated in medicine from the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, in the class of 1860. He engaged in a large practice for a number of years in Oley town- ship and at Lyons Station, in Berks County ; removed to Reading in 1884, where he has since met with great success in his profession.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

CHARLES G. LOOSE was born November 15, is a charter member of Lodge No. 398, A. Y. M., located at Marietta. 1840, in Centre township, Berks County; he attended the State Normal School at Millersville D. HEBER PLANK, of Morgantown, is a great- great grandson of Dr. Jacob Plank, a sketch of whom is given at the beginning of this chapter. Dr. Jacob Plank had four sons, viz .: Michael, John, Peter and Jacob. Michael migrated to Ohio, where he was one of the pioneers. John and Kutztown, and the Reading Classical Academy. He was graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1868. Prac- ticed medicine in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pa., for seven years, also at Centreport, in Berks County, for the same time ; came to land Jacob moved to Lancaster County, the

Reading in 1882, and is now engaged in his profession in the city.

HENRY LANDIS was born in East Lampeter township, Lancaster County ; was educated in the common schools and at the Millersville State Normal School ; studied medicine under the instruction of Dr. J. Aug. Ehler, of Lan- caster, and took his degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1861. He then practiced medicine at Wrightsville, in York County, and Marietta, Lancaster County. In 1870 he re- moved to Reading, and in 1873 was placed on the medical staff of St. Joseph's Hospital. He

former having settled in Pequea Valley, and the latter near Ephrata.

Peter Plank, the third son, was born in Oley, in the year 1748. He moved to the head- waters of the Conestoga, in Caernarvon township, some years before the Revolution, and there purchased a large tract of farming land and fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer. He was mar- ried to Frances (Franey) a daughter of Jacob Kauffman, who was a prominent farmer in the upper section of Chester County. He died in 1831, aged eighty-three years ; and she died in 1837, aged seventy-six years. They had nine

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

children,-Maria, born 1783; Jacob, born 1785; John, born 1787; Christopher, born 1789; Christian, born 1791; Elizabeth, born 1793; Anna, born 1798; Samuel, born 1801 and David, born 1804. He was, by religious faith, an Amish Mennonite, and during the last fifty years of his life filled very successfully the office of bishop, having had charge of all the congregations in Berks, Chester and Lancaster Counties. He was the second bishop of this denomination in this section of the State. The Amish to this day speak of him with the highest feelings of respect and affection, for his earnest efforts in their behalf.

David Plank, the youngest son, was born in Caernarvon township, on May 21, 1804, and, after receiving a good general education, turned his attention to farming. He married Rebecca, a daughter of Daniel Buckwalter, of same town- ship, and a granddaughter of Francis Buck- walter, of Chester County ; and afterward pur- chased the Plank homestead and the adjoining farm, upon which he carried on farming oper- ations very successfully. In connection with this pursuit he burned and disposed of great quantities of lime upon his property. He re- tired some years ago from active business, and lived a quiet life in the old home in good health till recently. After a short illness, he died April 11, 1886, nearly eighty-two years old. For a number of years he took an active part in the political affairs of the county. He held the office of county treasurer for one term, 1859 and 1860; and the County Agricultural So- ciety also received his earnest assistance, he hav- ing shown great interest in its success. He ex- ercised a large influence in his community for upwards of forty years. The system of common- school education found in him a friend and advocate. He connected himself at an early date with the St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, at Mor- gantown, and acted as a vestryman for many years. He had eleven children, of whom the following six are still living : John, Daniel K., Margaret Elizabeth, Martin B., D. Heber and Rebecca Frances. His wife died in 1870, in the sixty-eighth year of her age.

D. Heber Plank, the subject of this biograph- ical sketch, was born in Caernarvon township

on November 12, 1842. After receiving a thorough common-school education, he attended the Pennsylvania State College and the Millers- ville Normal School ; and then selecting medi- cine as his profession, he finished his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania, under the supervision of B. F. Bunn, M.D., at Birdsboro', and H. Lenox Hodge, M.D., at Philadelphia ; from which he was graduated on March 14, 1867. For a year afterward he traveled extensively through the Western States and the Dominion of Canada, and then settled at Morgantown, in this county, where he has since been successfully engaged in a general practice of his profession. He is a member of the Pathological Society of Berks County. He owns and occupies a fine home in the centre of Morgantown ; and, on the lot connected with the property, he has been quite successful in the cultivation of different varieties of pears. Several years ago he purchased a tract of forty acres of hill-land and planted it with black walnuts for the purpose of cultivating a walnut grove. These are practical evidences of his enterprise outside of his profession. In politics he is a Democrat. By his upright demeanor, and careful attention to business, he has won the confidence of the entire community. He is a member and now also a vestryman of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, at Morgantown. He was married, in 1877, to Ida, eldest daughter of Horace Bertolet, deceased, and they have three sons,-David Horace, Walter Frederick and Heber Eugene.

ADAM B. DUNDOR was born May 16, 1838, in North Heidelberg township, Berks County ; his preliminary education was obtained at the Fremont Academy, Chester County, and Free- land Seminary, at Collegeville, Pa. In 1857 he entered Franklin and Marshall College, and was graduated from that institution in 1862; studied medicine with Dr. William Moore, of Womelsdorf, Pa., and was graduated in medi- cine from the Long Island College Hospital in 1863, and from the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, with the class of 1864; prac- ticed medicine in Robesonia, Berks County, for three years, and removed to Reading in 1867; served as physician to the Berks County Alms-

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

house and Hospital from 1870 to 1873, and prison physician from 1873 to 1877. He is at present (1886) a member of the Board of Health, of Reading.

ABRAHAM S. RAUDENBUSH was born July 24, 1841, at Salfordville, Montgomery County, Pa. ; was educated in the public schools of that county until 1859, when he entered the Freeland Seminary. In 1862 he studied medicine in the office of Drs. Keelor and Groff, at Harleyville, Montgomery County, and at the close of the same year commenced a course in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadel- phia, graduating with the class of 1864. He then commenced practice at Adamstown, Lan- caster County, continuing there for eighteen years. In 1882 hc removed to Reading.

STANLEY SMITH, son of Levi B. Smith, was born at Joanna Furnace, Berks County. He graduated with honor at Amherst College, Massachusetts, in the class of 1865. He studied medicine with Professor B. Howard Rand, in Philadelphia, and graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1868. He then spent one year at the Leipsic University, Germany. On his return to this country, he was elected lecturer on Physical Diagnosis, in the summer course of the Jefferson Medical Col- lege, in 1875. In the spring of 1877 he resigned this position and removed to Reading, where he has since devoted special attention to the eye.

ISRAEL CLEAVER is of English and Ger- man ancestry, and was born November 26, 1842. His paternal ancestor was a large land- owner, and one of the first members of the Maiden-creek Friends' Meeting. Dr. Cleaver acquired a preliminary education in the schools of Reading, and was graduated from the High School in the class of 1859. He taught school for three years and then entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylva- nia, and was graduated from that institution in 1863. Immediately thereafter he entered the Union army as an assistant surgeon of a ma- rine brigade along the Mississippi River, re- maining two years. After returning to Penn- sylvania, spent one year practicing in Clearfield County, then moved to Philipsburg, Centre County, and followed his profession there five successive years. In the fall of 1871 he located in Reading, and soon became an active practi- tioner in the city. He is a member of the 57}

Reading Medical Association, the Medical So- ciety of the County of Berks, the State Medical Society, the Board of Health of the city, and for two years a member of the board of the United States examining surgeons for pensions. He is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Cleaver is a gentleman of culture and an excellent physician.

SAMUEL C. ERMENTROUT, son of William E. and Justina (Silvis) Ermentrout, was born March 28, 1844. His preparatory education was acquired at the Reading High School and Reading Classical Academy. He then began the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Joseph Coblentz, and continued with Dr. Lennox Hodge, of Philadelphia. He was graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1866. During the Civil War he served as a private in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. Soon after the opening of the Franco-Prussian War, in 1870, he went to Europe and was appointed a surgeon in the Prussian army, with the rank of first lientenant, and was soon promoted to staff-sur- geon, with the rank of captain. For his skill- ful surgery he was decorated with the golden - cross, and made a member of the Order of the Crown. He served in the Prussian army just one year and was located in the hospital at Coblentz. At the close of the war he returned to Reading and has since practiced in his native city. He was physician to the county almshouse ; was four years Commander of Keim Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Reading, and is a member of the medical staff of St. Joseph's Hospital.

W. MURRAY WEIDMAN, born in Lebanon, Pa., is a son of Jacob Barge Weidman and Elizabeth Chambers Murray his wife. His paternal ancestors came to this country about 1700. His grandfather, Major John Weidman, born in Lancaster County in 1756, was a sur- veyor, served in the Revolutionary War, and was retired January 1, 1787. His name is enrolled in the Society of the Cincinnati. His father, born in Philadelphia, was a lawyer of Lebanon County, Pa., and a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1837-38. His maternal ancestors, the Murrays, came to this country in 1730, settling in New Jersey.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Doctor Weidman was educated at Lebanon Academy ; entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, from which he graduated in 1856. Selecting medicine as a profession, he entered the office of Drs. John W. and Cyrus D. Gloninger, of Lebanon ; continued his studies at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and received his diplo- ma, 1860. For nineteen months he was one of the resident physicians in Philadelphia Hospital (Blockley), then he became assistant surgeon in

tioners and brought an extended practice. He devotes much attention to surgery, in which branch of the profession he has won a deservedly high reputation for skill and success.

He is a member of the Medical Society of Berks Co., Reading Medical Association, Med- ical Society of Pa., American Medical Associa- tion, and Academy of Medicine. Since 1867 he was one of the active managers and surgeons of the Reading Dispensary (now Reading Hos-

M. Moixay Mussman

the 11th Penna. Cavalry in the Civil War. Sub- sequently he was ordered to the 2d Penna. Cav- alry. Oct. 1, 1862, he was promoted to rank of surgeon of same regiment. He was taken prisoner near Occoquan, Va., Dec. 28, 1863, but was on following day paroled with the wounded, in charge of whom lie was left. When his term expired, Oct. 31, 1864, he was mus- tered out. The same year he located in Reading and soon afterward was appointed surgeon to the P. and R. R. Co., in which capacity he has since served. His professional knowledge and ability soon placed him with the leading practi- I quhar and Helen Murray, having died.

pital). He was one of the original members of the Board of Health (1872), and for nine years, its presiding officer. He also served as city auditor from 1869 to 1872. Feb. 1886, he was appointed on the Pension Board of Examining Surgeons of Berks County. In politics lie is a Democrat. He is a member of Christ Cathedral, of which he is now a vestryman, having served since 1867.

Dr. Weidman was married to Mary May, daughter of Hon. George M. Keim, by whom he has three children,-Julia Keim, Bessie Murray and Marion Douglass ; two, Laura Far-

619

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

THOMAS A. DUNKLE was born October, 1844, in Berks County; was a pupil in the schools of Reading, also in Union Seminary, at New Ber- lin, Union County, Pa .; studied medicine with Dr. D. L. Beaver as preceptor, and was graduat- ed from the Jefferson Medical College, at Phila- delphia, with the class of 1865. During 1862 and 1863 he was contract assistant surgeon in the United States hospital at Fourth and George Streets, Philadelphia. From 1865 to 1870 he practiced medicine in Friedensburg, Berks County, and removed to Reading in 1870, where he has since practiced.

S. B. HECKMAN is a native of Berks, born in Pricetown, February 24, 1846; acquired a preliminary education in the district schools and the Reading High School; studied medicine un- der the instruction of Dr. Decatur B. Shoener, of Reading; attended lectures at Jefferson Med- ical College and was graduated in 1868. Soon after he located in the city of Reading and has since continued in the practice of his profession.

HOWARD S. RIESER is a native of Reading, born May 27, 1846; attended the schools of the city and completed the course of the Reading High School in 1864; spent three years in the study of medicine and was graduated from Jef- ferson Medical College in 1867; practiced in Maxatawny township one year and then moved to Reading, where he has since continued his profession.

MICHAEL W. A. WUELFINCH is a native of Holland, born October 17, 1846; obtained a preparatory eduction in the schools of his native place; attended the Clinic Institute, at Rotter- dam, Holland; spent three years in the Uni- versity of Amsterdam, and was graduated there- from in 1876. Since 1880 he has pursued his profession of medicine in Reading.

HENRY C. MOHR was born January 25, 1847, at Mohrsville, this county ; entered the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and was grad- uated in 1871; practiced at Mount Pleasant, Pa., until 1872, when he removed to Reading, where he continues in his profession.

ELIAS H. FRANTZ was born March 13, 1847, at Frystown, Berks County ; was educated in the schools of that town, at Prof. Brunner's Acad- emy, Reading, and at the State Normal School,

at Mansfield, Pa .; studied medicine with Dr. J. Y. Shearer, of Sinking Springs, and was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, in 1873; practiced in Jones- town, Lebanon County, for two years, and Grantville, Dauphin County, for nine years ; came to Reading in 1884.

M. A. RHOADS was born in Colebrookdale township, Berks County, April 18, 1847; at- tended public schools and Mount Pleasaut Academy, at Boyertown, until 1861, when he went to Philadelphia and entered the public schools of that city; pursued the studies of medicine in the office of Dr. William H. Pan- coast ; was graduated from Jefferson College in 1868, and soon thereafter was appointed assist- ant demonstrator of anatomy in that institution. In June, 1869, he came to Reading, where he bas since been continuously engaged in the practice of his profession. He was president of the Pathological Society of Berks County ; physician to the County Almshouse ; has been president of the Board of Health of Reading since 1882, and in 1886 was appointed a mem- ber of the United States examining board for pensions.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 105

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