History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 116

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

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Upon his return from the Revolutionary War he entered into business relations with his father in conducting a general hardware-store, and, several years afterward, became sole pro- prietor. About the year 1800 he formed a co- partnership with his two sons, Daniel and

1 Autobiography of Charles Biddle, pp. 192-194. On p. 202 a ense is mentioned of a young single woman who murdered her child. The evidence at the trial at Reading showed that she had thrown the child into the Schuylkill, but she was acquitted because the constable, in breaking open her trunk, had found a quantity of clothing for an infant.

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George, and they together conducted the busi- ness under the firm-name of John Keim & Sons for a number of years.

He served one term as a county commissioner, from 1787 to 1790, and filled the office of bur- gess of Reading for a time. He took an active part in the development of Reading through internal improvements and the erection of dwelling-houses. He was prominently identi-

JOHN KEIM, THE YOUNGER, A.D. 1770

fied with the first steps towards erecting the Penn Street Bridge. He built the first three- story brick building in Reading. In 1806 he leased the three-story brick building on South Fifth Street to Charles Evans, Esq., which afterwards became the property of Mr. Evans and was his residence for many years.

By his great success in business affairs and building operations, he came to be one of the most wealthy men of the county in his time. He died February 10, 1819, and left issue four children,-Daniel de B., George de B., Benneville and Esther de B. The following highly com- plimentary obituary notice was published in the Berks and Schuylkill Journal:

" Will be interred in the Episcopal burial-ground, this afternoon at two o'clock, the remains of Mr. John Keim, merchant, who departed this life on Wednes- day morning last, in the seventieth year of his age. He had resided in this borough for sixty-four years,

during which time he amassed a large fortune, which never caused a widow's tear or orphan's execra- tion. . .

" What he has left behind him was justly his own. As a creditor he was ever lenient, and his numerous tenantry can testify to his goodness as a landlord."

JOHN MCKNIGHT was the most prominent banker at Reading during this period, having been the first cashier of a bank established at Reading, and continued active in this business till the borough was incorporated into a city, and for several years afterward. He was a native of East Nantmeal township, in Chester County, where he was born May 31, 1774. His father, Paul McKnight, came to this coun- try in 1752, from the northern part of Ireland, and settled in Chester County. At the age of twenty-three years he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Bank, at Philadel- phia, and continued there for ten years, till 1808. During the latter part of his service he acted as assistant cashier. Then a branch bank was established at Reading and he was sent here to officiate as cashier. He held this re- sponsible position till his death, on March 9, 1856, a period covering forty-seven years. During this time he enjoyed in the highest de- gree the respect and confidence of the commu- nity. As a business man and financier he was scrupulously exact, impartial and honorable. He occupied the bank building (Union Bank) as his residence. He was one of the leaders in establishing the Presbyterian Church at Read- ing, and in the progress of this congregation he manifested an earnest interest. The span of his life at Reading comprehended the first ex- tensive improvements here, and to these he gave active encouragement.

BENNEVILLE KEIM was also very prominent in banking and manufactures, and in the im- provements and municipal government of Read- ing; and though he died many years after 1847 (having reached the age of eighty-two years), he is intimately connected with its his- tory as a borough. He was a son of John Keim, merchant, and was born at Reading No- vember 30, 1790, where he died October 30, 1872. He filled in his native place during a long business life many responsible positions.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

He was president of the Farmers' Bank and of the Reading Water Company for a number of years ; and he was a member of the firm of Keims, Whitaker & Co., which, in 1836, began the first extensive iron-works at Reading. In 1858 he was elected mayor of Reading, and he continued in office for three consecutive terms. Upon the establishment of the Charles Evans Cemetery he was elected by its generous founder as one of the board of trustees, and continued in the board till his decease.

JAMES MAY .- On account of his connection with the early internal improvements of this section of country, James May occupied also a prominent position in the community. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth May. He was born March 20, 1749, in Coventry township, Chester County, and died at Reading in 1819. He was married to Bridget Douglass, daughter of George Douglass, of Amity town- ship, and had issue,-Mary, intermarried with Geo. de B. Keim ; George; Sarah, intermar- ried with Hon. Samuel D. Franks; Thomas ; and Elizabeth.

He removed to Reading before the Revolu- tionary War and remained here till his decease. He identified himself prominently with the sev- eral early internal improvements of our county, the Union Canal, Centre turnpike, etc. He was a director of the Branch Bank and a member of the first Board of Trade at Reading. He was one of the two wardens of the Episcopal Church, the other having been Marks John Biddle, Esq. His business was general mer- chandise, having dealt extensively in grain, lumber, etc.

WILLIAM HENRY, a prominent and success- ful master-builder during this period, was born at Reading in 1801. Many of the finest public buildings and private dwellings which were erected between 1830 and 1860 were planned by him and bear testimony to his skill as a carpenter and to his taste as an architect. The graceful spire of the Trinity Lutheran Church, generally recognized as one of the most perfect specimens of architecture of its kind in the State, is one of the ornaments of Reading, which has transmitted his name to the present genera- tion. Strictly speaking, this spire was designed

and constructed under the supervision of his father, Conrad Henry, but he gave valuable assistance in the work in respect to its durability and symmetry. He died on January 8, 1865, aged sixty-three years, and left six surviving children,-Mrs. H. R. Hawman, Mrs. Joseph Wilson, Albert C., John B., William A. and Joseph E.

Besides Mr. Henry, there were also as promi- ment builders, Joseph Henry (brother of Wil- liam, who together built the present court- house), Jacques V. Craig, George Foos, Fred- erick Printz, John Printz, Nathan Eisenhower, George Call, Jacob Fritz, Nicholas Lott, James Quinter, Samuel Yarger and Solomon Spohn. And the following men can also be men- tioned in this connection, on account of having erected many dwelling-houses in Read- ing: Philip Zieber, Daniel H. Boas, Chris- topher Shearer and Benjamin Fink.

PART III.

CITY FROM 1847 TO 1886.

REVIEW OF READING IN 1847.1-Reading was incorporated by the Legislature of Penu- sylvania into a city on the 16th day of March, 1847. It was then in a flourishing state in every department of life, and well prepared to enter a new, larger and more responsible period of existence. This state was superinduced by diversified industry and manufactures. Naturally, this feature of the place stood out above every other with great prominence. Shops and factories and stores were numerous. These gave it activity and thrift, and attracted in- creasing trade and wealth. The population numbered about twelve thousand. The ten- dency of local development in these particulars was to the south of Penn Street and to the west of Ninth. Necessarily the erection of churches followed this development. At that time there were thirteen churches : seven north of Penn,- Friends, Lutheran, Reformed, Episcopal, Pres- byterian (colored), African Methodist Episcopal (colored) and Evangelical (Salem's) ; and six

1 Prepared by the author of this history and published in Reading Times, January 10, 1885.

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READING.

south of Penn,-Catholic, Presbyterian, Metho- dist, Baptist, Universalist and Lutheran.

The railroad deserves especial mention for its great and valuable influences in all the local affairs of the community. A decade had not fully elapsed since its introduction, yet it had demonstrated to a remarkable degree its power in accelerating the growth of everything. As a stimulating agent it was inestimable, not simply for its direct action upon manufactures and traffic, but also for its indirect action upon the people and their various business enterprises. Lands and buildings increased in value. Inter- communication was as much facilitated thereby on the one hand as it was encouraged on the other. It brought villages and towns to the north and to the southeast nearer to Reading, not in respect to distance but to time ; and this was certainly a wonderful accomplishment in the onward march of our development. And what a teacher it was in quickening the intel- lect! Who can comprehend its power in this direction ? It would seem to have been the forerunner of increased general education-to have prepared the way for the grand system which was then gradually working its way into the affections of the people. This railroad ex- tended in a southeasterly direction to Phila- delphia, and in a northerly direction to Potts- ville. Another railroad had been projected, to extend westwardly from Reading through Le- banon Valley to Harrisburg, but it was not as yet begun. The canals and stages must be mentioned in this connection, for they, too, occu- pied still a prominent position. The former consisted of two lines, the "Schuylkill" and "Union;" and the latter of three lines,-to the northeast to Easton, to the west to Harrisburg, and to the southwest to Lancaster.

A prominent social movement was also then perceptible. This was the secret society. Though not practically in its infancy, it had, neverthe- less, not begun to make a marked impression till towards the close of the second period of Read- ing. The Independent Order of Odd-Fellows was particularly active. The beginning of the third period was its dawn. As a beneficial or- ganization it extended its branches in various directions with remarkable activity. People of

all trades, all classes and all denominations fairly ran to it, for the friendship that it en- gendered, and especially for the charity that it dispensed amongst its members in sickness and distress.

The Building and Saving Association had not yet arrived as a great financial institution in this growing community. The idea of saving money in small sums by numerous members of a common society, and erecting dwellings from the total accumulations by and for the working people was simply formulating. It was a public conception which was extending itself favorably amongst the laborers and mid- dle classes and obtaining a permanent hold upon them. It was a grand project for providing homes through economy in the daily affairs of life, just as the "Secret Beneficial Society " was also a similar project for providing relief to its members and their families. Both were akin.

The fire company was in an active, if not in a flourishing, state. Four volunteer organiza- tions were being conducted successfully (Rain- bow, Junior, Reading and Neversink), partly through pecuniary assistance from the municipal government, but mainly from the spontaneous efforts of their members. It was a useful body, but its usefulness was sacrificed to a considerable degree, in the estimation of many property- holders by the boisterous, if not the riotous, conduct of some of its members about that time. It had not yet come to possess friendly unity in a common cause, and especially to realize its possible importance as a political factor. It was still without a head. Each organization acted for itself. And all the organizations responded to alarms from impulse towards accomplishing the object of their existence, in which they re- spectively always displayed an earnest and a commendable pride in reaching the fire first. This performance provided them with amuse- ment in a certain sense, but they obtained it at the expense of labor and risk of life, if not suffering. They still pulled their apparatus by hand, and after somewhat, if not entirely, exhansting them- selves in this manner on their way to the fire, they were there compelled to further exert their physical powers towards extinguishing the flames. When we consider that these four

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

companies were composed of men generally in ordinary circumstances, with a limited common education, and continued their organizations successfully year after year, in spite of gratuitous labor and of monthly dues, we cannot help but feel a high respect for their disinterested, per- sistent devotion in behalf of the common wel- fare, and especially so upon comparing them with literary societies, which were then in a feeble existence and struggling unsuccessfully to continue for a little while longer, though composed of professional gentlemen who are presumed to have possessed a high order of in- tellect and to have been in good circumstances.

The system of common-school education was actively conducted in the two school wards of the city. There were seventeen schools, thirty- one teachers and two thousand and sixty-four scholars. The system of 1834 liad been ac- cepted by the citizens of the borough immedi- ately after its enactment, and shortly afterward four brick school buildings erected. The fol- lowing ten districts in the county besides Reading had also accepted the system previous to 1847 : Caernarvon, Colebrookdale, Hamburg, Hereford, Kutztown, Marion, Robeson, Rus- comb-manor, Union aud Womelsdorf. Its pro- gress was perceptible, but public energy was necessary to maintain its increasing hold upon the citizens. In the beginning it had encoun- tered a strong opposition, so strong, indeed, as to have been a prominent factor in politics. This was especially the case in the country dis- tricts. About this time the power of the County Court was directed, upon petition, towards the enforcement of the system in certain districts in which directors had been elected, but who failed to perform their duties. Such a spirited agitation of the subject naturally increased the general movement in its behalf.

The newspaper was iu a flourishing condition at that time. When the borough began, in 1783, there was no publication of any kind at Reading. Shortly afterward, however, the newspaper was instituted, and, before 1800, it was being conducted with energy in both lan- guages-English and German. Each decade thereafter saw the beginning and ending of different enterprises of this kind. They all

were more or less important for a time, and moulded public opinion, especially of a political nature, to a large degree. Advertising was a conspicuous feature. When the city began there were five strong and well-conducted news- papers, viz. : Readinger Adler, Berks and Schuylkill Journal, Berks County Press, Liberale Beobachter and Reading Gazette and Democrat. The political sentiment of the inhabitants was favorable to the Whigs in relation to the local government, but to the Democrats in relation to State and national government.

The markets were being conducted success- fully in Penn Square. The " market-people " came to Reading regularly twice a week- Wednesdays and Saturdays-with their produce and sold it during the early hours of the moru- ing. They stood in the market-houses and round-about them through all the seasons of the year, without regard to the condition of the weather. Convenience to them and to the pur- chaser was not as yet a subject of consideration. The Town Council proposed no improvement beyond the public advantages first afforded four-score years before; and they still levied and collected rents ; and about that time they even rebuilt the market-houses, apparently indicating thereby that the " old style " should prevail for a score of years more, notwithstand- ing the wonderful development of the place in respect to internal affairs and population, and the increase of its influence as a centre of trade and wealth.

The semi-annual "Fairs" were still kept up; but they were without profit or advantage of any kind. They were useless; indeed, injurious to public morals. Hence, they were not only discouraged, but denounced by the press and by the people generally. Under such pressure their influence was weakened naturally. Amongst the customs of the inhabitants its hold was almost entirely gone. Dancing, drinking and fighting were conspicuous features, these having been indulged in by the lower classes of the people. Military affairs, however, maintained their activity. "Exercise" was carried on an- nually in May ; aud it was known as " battalion day."

The great majority of the people were still

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READING.

very domestic in their daily life. Gardening was commonly carried on either in the lots upon which the dwellings stood, or in out-lots. Fruit-trees were numerons in every quarter. Plums, peaches, cherries and apples were plen- tiful. The first three were " preserved," not canned, as now. And nearly every family boiled apple-hntter in an open fire-place in the fall of the year. And "butchering " was ob- served by all. Home-made sausage, pudding, scrapple, hams and mince were common in every household. About Christmas all the cellars of housekeepers were well stocked. Wood was still mostly used for fuel, and sawing upon the highway was a common occupation. It was commonly called " cord-wood," because it was delivered by the cord on a wagon with ladders. It consisted of pieces of hickory, oak and chestnut (mostly the first), cut four feet in length. These pieces were sawed into two or more parts and then split and piled away ready for use. The "ten-plate " stove was almost wholly used for cooking and heating purposes. Coal had been known to the community for nearly forty years, hut it had not yet come to be gen- erally utilized, especially for domestic purposes. Its consumption was principally in public places, and shops, factories, etc.

The light was produced from fluid, oil and tallow, even common fat, the first two having been used almost wholly in stores, and the last two in dwellings, especially of the poorer classes of inhabitants. Gas was not yet introduced. The streets were not lighted up in the evening ; and those people whose business or pleasure called them away from their homes during the night, had to go-if not grope-in darkness. Lanterns were frequently carried to shed light upon the roadway. And then this was no easy matter, for pavements were comparatively few and irregular, and did not facilitate the way of pedestrians. There were no " street-crossings " at the intersections of streets. The customs of the residents had not yet come to convert night into day for amusements of various kinds ; in- deed, their morals would not have tolerated such a practice, especially on the part of the young people. Dramatic entertainments were just starting out in earnest, and the demands for

an improved light were gradually growing larger. The town was not large -- the principal portion lying between Walnut Street on the north and Chestnut on the south, Ninth Street on the east and Third on the west. Business of all kinds was almost entirely done during the day-time, and merchants derived their chief support from the farmers. The streets were, therefore, quiet after sunset. Two constables were watchmen of the night, and for several hours before and after midnight called out the hour and the condition of the weather in a. monotonous, low tone of voice.

The pump was still an institution through- out the city, notwithstanding the general supply of superior water afforded by the " Reading Water Company." It was convenient in every block, if not on or near every street-corner. At least one hundred were in daily use. Penn Street was especially well supplied. Ice had come to be furnished in small quantities for about ten years, but not for drinking purposes .. Cool water, freshly pumped from the wells, was satisfactory to all.

INCORPORATION .- The borough of Reading was incorporated into a.city by an act of As- sembly passed on March 16, 1847.1 This act, besides investing the corporation with cer- tain powers and privileges common to all muni - cipalities, preserved the division of the territory into five wards,-Northeast, Northwest, South- east, Southwest and Spruce. It provided for the election of Select and Common Councilmen by the people, the former for three years and the latter for one year ; and for the annual ap- pointment of a solicitor, street regulator, street commissioners, market commissioner, high con- stable, scavenger, and president and clerks of Councils by the Councils ; and for the annual election of mayor, treasurer and three auditors by the people. It divided the city into two districts for aldermen-Penn Street having been the dividing line; and each district be- came entitled to two aldermen, with similar term of office and powers of justice of the peace. The day of election was fixed on the third Friday of March.

1 The act of Assembly was prepared by David F. Gordon,

J. Pringle Jones and J. K. Longenecker.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

A second charter was provided for the city by an act passed on the 13th of March, 1861. In it, among other things, the names of the wards were changed, as follows : Spruce to First Ward ; Southwest to Second; Southeast to Third ; Northeast to Fourth ; Northwest to Fifth ; and the terms of office of the mayor and treasurer were increased to two years, and city auditors to three years.

A third charter was provided by an act passed on the 26th of April, 1864. The city was then divided into nine wards, numbered respectively, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The day of election was changed to the second Friday in February. And the term of Common Councilmen was in- creased to two years, one-half of the number to be elected alternately every two years.

And in 1874 the act of May 23, 1874, was accepted by the people as a fourth charter for the city. It introduced additional changes. Each ward became entitled to one alderman. It substituted a " city controller," with a term of office for two years, in the place of the three auditors. It increased the terms of office of engineer and solicitor to two years. And all the Common Councilmen were to be elected every two years. This charter is now the gen- eral law for the administration of the several affairs of the city.

DEVELOPMENT .- From the time of the in- corporation of Reading into a city till now the general development of the place from decade to decade has been remarkable. Its history be- gan whilst the Mexican War was being carried on, and in which there was a company of vol- unteers from Reading, called the " Reading Ar- tillerists."1 During the decade from 1847 to 1857 business affairs grew more active, and continued to do so till towards the close, when a panic ensued. Gas was introduced for light- ing purposes ; and the first large hall was pro- vided for the accommodation of the public in re- spect to entertainments, dramatic performances, etc. The "Charles Evans Cemetery " was founded and other cemeteries were established to which the dead were then removed from the grave-yards in the central portion of the city, and

in which burials were from that time made. Numerous buildings were erected, both dwell- ings and industrial establishments, the latter including prominent enterprises which have been continned in operation almost constantly till now, affording employment to hundreds of men and yielding to the community thousands of dollars which have been invested here in im- provements of a substantial character. Two railroads were constructed,-the East Penn to the northeast, and the Lebanon Valley to the west,-and these stimulated the energy of the people. 2 The militia system was still promi- nent, and battalion days were devoted to general military exercise ; but the "fair-days " at the market-houses passed away without regret from any one, and the Agricultural Society substituted a county fair for an improved annual exhibition of goods, live-stock, etc. About 1850 many citizens became excited upon the subject of mi- grating to California, and several parties pro- ceeded thither, under the hopes of realizing great profits from adventure and speculation in the golden State across the continent; but their dole- ful letters and early return dispelled the charm which had been thrown over the community and the excitement subsided. And political questions also agitated the people. One ques- tion, that of slavery, was brought prominently to their notice, and caused the Presidential campaign of 1856 to be particularly enthusiastic.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 116

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