History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 124

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

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WILLIAM H. WETHERHOLD possesses an ex- tensive carriage manufactory on Poplar Street, which was originated by him in 1862. The departments are wheelwright-shop, blacksmith- shop, trimming, paint and storage-rooms, which together cover a large area. Many kinds of carriages and wagons are made at this factory by forty workmen. The annual business done is about cighteen thousand dollars. The car- riages of this factory are known over a large territory.

THE BARD SPOKE-WORKS, owned by Harry S. Bard, were established in 1864 by Roland & Smith, who made tool-handles and spokes until 1875, when Mr. Bard purchased the works. He has since erected three additional buildings, and manufactures banded hub wheels, spokes, felloes and handles. Fifteen men are em- ployed.

THE PIPE-ORGAN FACTORY at No. 824 Court Street was established in Reading, dur- ing the year 1856, by the present proprietor, Samuel Bohler, who for thirty years has built pipe-organs for churches. Mr. Bohler is a native of Switzerland, learned the business of organ-making under his father, who also was a builder of organs. Sixty-seven large pipe or- gans, for various churches in the Eastern and Middle States, whose prices ranged from three hundred to six thousand dollars, were made by the Reading factory. The three-manual-pipe organ, with forty stops, now owned by the St. John's Lutheran Church at Allentown, is the largest one constructed here. First ten-stop

FP Heller

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READING.

organ made in Reading, by Messrs. Bohler & Son, July, 1850.

THE LUMBER-YARD of F. P. Heller, at No. 205 Penn Street, was first opened by Solomon F. Snyder in 1850, and purchased by the present owner in 1867. His yard on Penn Street is one hundred and twenty by two hundred and seventy feet. He has another yard on the cor- ner of Second and Walnut Streets, three hun- dred by two hundred and thirty feet, used for storing lumber. Forty thousand dollars are invested, and a business of one hundred thou- sand dollars per year is transacted.

FREDRIC P. HELLER is the great-grand- son of William Ludwig Heller, who died in Reading, July 7, 1765. His son, Frederick Heller, was born July 19, 1763, and died October, 1837. He was married to Catherine Bright, and had two daughters and twelve sons, of whom George Heller was the sixth child. The latter was born January 22, 1800, in Reading, which has been his life-time residence, his business for more than sixty years having been that of a jeweler. He married Catherine, daughter of Peter Smith, of Reading, and had three sons,-Fredric P., Joseph F. and James A., of whom the subject of this biography is the only survivor. Mr. Heller's second marriage was with Caroline, daughter of Jacob Kern, of Reading. Their children are Francis K. (once a student at Yale College, and whose death was the result of a wound received at the battle of Fair Oaks, during the Civil War), Charles H. (deceased), Philip K. (of Philadelphia), Mary C., Emily C. and Rosa A.

Fredric P. Heller was born on July 28, 1834, in Reading, where his life has been spent in active business pursuits. His education was acquired in the common schools, after which he learned the trade of watch-maker, under his father and in Philadelphia. In 1857 he opened a store in Reading, at the corner of Fourth and Penn Streets, from whence, in 1860, he removed to 625 Penn Street, and conducted the business until 1867, when it was relinquished for his present interest as a lumber dealer. He was, February 8, 1859, married to Rose E., daughter of S. L. Snyder, of Reading. Their children are two daughters,-Kate E., married

to William A. Huff, of Greensburg, Pa .; and Carrie S., married to William H. Kesler, of Reading. Mr. Heller is in politics a Republi- can, and prominent in the various political movements connected with his ward. In 1858 he was elected a member of the School Board, and held the office for two years. He served during the years 1873 and 1874 in the Common Council of the city, and was in the latter year elected to the Select Council, in which body he officiated until 1877. He was again elected in 1883, aud still fills the office. Mr. Heller was the projector of the Reading Board of Trade and until recently one of its officers. He was also the originator, and has since its organization been the president, of the Washington Library. He is Treasurer and Past Master of Lodge No. 62, of Free and Accepted Masons, Past High Priest of Reading Chapter, No. 152, and the projector and among the earliest officers of Reading Commandery, No. 42, as also Division Commander of the Tenth Division. Mr. Heller has been a leading spirit in various building associations in which he is at present an officer. He has been active in military matters, and for several years previous to the war held a commission in the volunteer service, which, owing to dissension in the company, he resigned before the outbreak of the late war. He is a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Reading.

BOAT-BUILDERS .- The building of canal- boats was an important industry in Reading in days of the past. The last factories in opera- tion were owned by John A. Hiester and Krick & Co., both located at the foot of South Fifth Street. A number of boats and barges now in use on the Schuylkill Navigation and Erie Canal and other inland water- routes, have been made at the yards of the above-mentioned firms. A large dry-dock is attached to the yard owned by Mr. Hiester. No boats have been built since 1884.

BRUSH-MAKERS .- Peter Stinell, in 1847, be- gan making brushes in Reading, at 945 Penn Street. He had a large trade for many years, employing twenty-seven workmen. Three teams were constantly traveling to dispose of his brushes. In 1861 he selected the eligible

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

site at 837 Walnut Street, and fitted up a new factory and salesroom. By his death, in 1870, his son, John E. Stinell, succeeded, and has continued the business.

Amos Drenkel, in 1863, commenced to make brushes at his present place, No. 15 North Eighth Street. In 1873 he erected a three- story brick building. The first floor is used as a salesroom. The other brush-makers of the city are J. O. Flatt & Co., Adam Nickalans, Michael Nickalaus and George Regenfnse.

present owner, on Cherry Street, above Second. The present bakery was built by Mr. Lichten- thaeler in 1872.

BENJAMIN LICHTENTHALER was born at Lititz, in Lancaster County, on March 17, 1817, where his father, Adolph Lichtenthaler, settled shortly after the Revolutionary War, having emigrated from Germany. When a boy he at- tended the Moravian school at that place for some years, and then learned the trade of cabi- net-making, under his elder brother. After

B. Lichtenthaler

Jacob B., Walter B. and William F. Shana- man commenced the manufacture of brooms in 1872, at No. 309 North Fifth Street, under the firm-name of Shanaman Bros. In 1878 they removed to the manufactory No. 236 North Sixth Street, where they carry on a large and increasing trade. They employ thirteen men.

THE PRETZEL BAKERY is a manufactory worthy of special mention. It is owned by Benjamin Lichtenthaler ; is located at No. 37 Apple Street, and was started in 1860, by the

carrying on this business himself for about twelve years at Lititz he removed to Reading. This was in the spring of 1860.

Finding that there could be a trade estab- lished in the sale of a steam pretzel, he then em- barked in that business. During the first year he had one workman employed beside himself, one team upon the road and disposed of about two hundred thousand pretzels. This successful beginning was very encouraging to him, and he continued in the business from year to year till

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the present time, developing his trade and iu- creasing the quantity manufactured. He now employs four hands beside himself, has two teams upon the road (one delivering in the city aud the other throughout the county, extending his trips into the adjoining counties). Last year he manufactured and disposed of one million two hundred thousand pretzels-an evidence of his success in this undertaking. He was the first one to engage in this particular business as a specialty at Reading. Since he introduced it others have engaged in it, including nearly all the bakers; but the sale of his article has not been affected, indicating the thorough manner with which he has established his trade.

During his residence here Mr. Lichtenthaler has devoted his attention entirely to his busi- ness, excepting for a period of three years, from 1877 to 1880, when he served as a member of the Select Council from the Fifth Ward, he hav- ing been elected to this position without any solicitation on his part. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1848 he was married to Lucinda E. Smith, a native of Bethlehem, and they have two children, Edward and Sarah (intermarried with William Conwell).

FARMING IMPLEMENTS .- Farming imple- ments were made at Reading from an early period. Before 1840 this branch of industry was carried on extensively by different individ- uals, among them, Adam Waid, Jacob Ahrens, Matthias Raser and M. Kirkpatrick. Samuel Lessig began in 1849. He has continued till now. In 1858 Raser invented the first lever horse-rake. It was patented. Samuel Lessig obtained a half interest in the invention ; and, in 1859 he improved it. For about ten years he manufactured and sold large numbers of them.

The first power in threshing was the rotary lever power pulling at the centre ; then the treading-power. Mr. Lessig, in 1869, improved the lever-power by introducing an iron circular framne, and applying the power at a point in this frame about twenty inches from the centre. This was the first application of this principle. It increased the power and reduced the exertion.

He also invented an improved "Threshing-

Machine " in 1871, for which he obtained a patent. He has been conspicuously indentified with this industry for over thirty years in Read- ing.

CLOCK-MAKING. - Clocks were made at Reading from 1760 for about seventy years. The metal parts of the clock were mostly im- ported, and then set together by clock-makers. Some of the brass wheels were cast at Reading, by brass-founders ; which were filed and pre- pared for clock-works. Eight-day corner clocks only were made at Reading. The cost was from sixty to seventy dollars, and with a fine high walnut case added, it would frequently amount to one hundred dollars. Evidently, only a few clocks in proportion to population, were in use. The making of a clock required from six weeks to two months. This interesting branch of industry was forced out of this com- munity by the introduction of Yankee clocks, which were much cheaper. There were shops also for making repairs to watches, clocks, etc., in which, however, no clocks were made.

Among the early clock-makers were Daniel Rose, Daniel Oyster, John Keim, Henry Hahn. Some of these clocks indicated the changes of the moon ; others had moving figures, which appeared and disappeared. A musical depart- ment was even included in the more valuable clocks, which produced pleasing tunes. Their delicate construction displayed wonderful work- manship. Many of them were destroyed be- tween 1840 and 1870. Comparatively few families now have them.

ROPE-MAKING .- The manufacture of ropes in Reading was one of the first industries of the town; and it has continued regularly from the beginning. The rope-walk of Thomas Jackson, at the foot of Sixth Street, for many years was the most prominent establishment of its kind. During the freshet of 1850 it was washed away. Mr. Jackson then purchased land in North Reading, on " Hockley Lane," near the "Kutztown Road" (now Eighth Street), and erected a new factory. The " rope- walk " was made over fourteen hundred feet long. It has been continued in this locality since, and in the same name, having at the proprietor's death passed to his son. It has

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

been very successfully managed. Ropes of many sizes are manufactured and shipped to many points. The firm of Thomas Jackson & Son now manufacture Manilla, Sisal and jute rope, cordage, twines and packing yarn.

MARBLE-WORKS .- The marble-works of John Frederick Moers were established in 1790 by the grandfather of the present owner, who bore the same name. The father of Mr. Moers, whose name was also John Frederick Moers, owned them for a number of years. They are located at 212 and 214 Penn Street.

The Reading Steam Marble-Mill, H. S. Getz & Co., proprietors, began business in 1873, at Spruce and Canal Streets. In 1881 they erected the large buildings on Canal, foot of Second Street. This is the only general supply marble-mill in Reading, doing strictly a whole- sale trade with about sixty thousand dollars invested in the business ; with seven workmen employed.

The Eagle Marble-Works, at the northwest corner of Sixth and Elm Strects, were estab- lished in 1875 by Penrose F. Eisenbrown. In 1877 he opened a granite yard in connec- tion with his business ; also a mantel depart- ment, with slate and marble mantels, marbleized slates for vestibule, flooring, etc. He has twen- ty-five thousand dollars invested in the busi- ness and employs from twenty-five to thirty workmen ; business extends to several of the surrounding States. His works are the largest and have the finest collection of tombstones, monuments and fine sculpture in the city of Reading.

The Reading Marble and Granite-Works were established in 1881 by F. F. Bressler and Amos S. Esterly, at Nos. 418 to 435 North Sixth Street, Reading. This firm has invested ten thousand dollars in the business, and em- ploy ten workmen. Many fine monuments are executed.

THE UMBRELLA MANUFACTORY, No 639 Penn Street, is conducted by August Rolland, who began the business in 1869 at 26 South Seventh Street, removing to the present loca- tion in 1879.

COLLAR MANUFACTURERS .-- Christian Grun- der is the successor of Nathaniel Gery, who be-

gan the manufacture of horse-collars in 1854 at Ninth and Washington Streets, and in 1856 removed his shops to No. 844 Penn Street. At his death, in 1868, the business was purchased by Mr. Grunder and run successfully until 1881, when he removed to No. 8 North Ninth Street. He manufactures and keeps in stock Scotch, Irish and short straw collars.

The collar manufactory at 903 Penn Street was commenced by John M. Kantner in 1878. He manufactures all kinds of short straw col- lars. The business demands a large aud varied stock to be kept on hand.

BASKET-MAKING .- John Cook began the manufacture of willow baskets at 219 North Tenth Street in 1872 ; in 1883 he removed to his manufactory, corner Tenth and Walnut Streets. This branch of industry has rapidly declined in Reading by reason of large shipments of manufactured willow-ware from Philadelphia. Jacob Cook commenced basket- making in 1870 at Eighth and Cherry Streets. In 1875 he removed to 114 North Eleventh Street.

THE READING PAINT MANUFACTORY .- This large establishment extends from 220 to 230 Poplar Street. It was originated in 1870 by A. Wilhelm & Co., and has been in successful operation to present time. The company manu- facture and fill large orders for dry, ground in oil, ready-mixed paints. Their trade extends through eight different States, and twenty workmen are employed constantly.

THE PAINT MANUFACTORY, Nos. 229, 231 and 233 South Eighth Street, was built in 1884 by B. Frank Ruth and Edward Scull, known as B. F. Ruth & Co. They manufactured paints for cars, bridges, houses, roofs, etc. The trade requires these dry, ground in oil and ready mixed. They employ five hands. The pro- duct of the manufactory is shipped largely to Northern and Eastern States.

MICHAEL SCHWEITZER began the business of carpet-weaving in 1851 at his present manufac- tory, 139 South Sixth Street. He has two thousand dollars invested in the business; runs four looms, with five hands constantly em- ployed.

BOTTLING ESTABLISHMENT. -- Christian

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Schick and John H. Fett are the proprietors of the oldest and largest bottling establishment in the city of Reading. In 1864 they erected two large buildings on property to the rear of No. 31 North Ninth Street, and, under the firm- name of Schick & Fett, hegan the manufacture of sarsaparilla, soda water, pear cider and birch beer. The bottling of porter, lager beer and · brown stout is also done. In the past year a large patent water-filter was placed in the works. They employ six teams and a force of ten hands, and their trade is extended through Berks, Lan- caster, Chester and Montgomery Counties.

THE READING SOAP AND CANDLE-WORKS were established in 1866 by Frederick Bickel, at No. 128 Washington Street. In 1879 W. K. Leaman, who had been in the works for some years, assumed the entire control, and by the aid of improved machinery lias extended the capacity for manufacturing, and his trade has since increased. The amount of capital invest- ed is ten thousand dollars; number of hands employed, ten.

BOOTS AND SHOES. - Large quantities of boots and shoes were manufactured in the bor- ough previous to 1839. But this industry was also then affected by the introduction of foreign goods. In the year named the borough con- tained seven stores, which sold annually many cases of boots and shoes, mostly made in and shipped from Philadelphia and New England. The production of the factories at Reading was thereby greatly diminished. This result was attributed to " the baneful influence of trades unions imported from England." The first large factory at Reading was carried on by O'Brien & Foster. In 1819 this firm had three thousand pairs of boots and shoes for their wholesale trade, independent of a large stock for retail. About 1846 Henry F. Felix began the extensive manufacture and sale of this class of goods.

WALP & Co., comprised of Oliver J. Walp and Alonzo R. Leavitt, conduct a shoe-fac- tory at 810 Cherry Street. The business was begun in 1883 by Mr. Leavitt. January 1, 1886, Mr. Walp became a partner. At present eighty-five hands are employed. The capital invested is forty-five thousand dollars.

DIVES, POMEROY & STEWART .- This firm has become deservedly popular, prominent and prosperous in the dry-goods and notion business in the city, and its members are an example of what men can accomplish by an active, ener- getic application to business, coupled with a de- sire to learn the wants of the community and to cheerfully supply them. On the 1st of April, 1876, Josiah Dives, George S. Pomeroy and John Stewart associated themselves as partners, and started out in business at Reading, in the "Globe Store," established by John D. Mishler. From the start their business has been remark- ably prosperous and noted for its enterprise and fair dealing. These characteristics and the evi- dent purposes that the young merchants enter- tained, that " they serve the public best who serve it most," secured them a patronage which has made the large establishment they now occupy an easy possibility. Their extended business soon induced them to vacate the " Globe Store " and remove to a place of larger capacity. They entered the double store in the Miller building in 1879, and, after remaining there three years, these also became inadequate. In 1882 they erected their present magnificent mercantile building and took possession on October 12th of that year. Its massive proportions and in- ternal arrangements are exceeded by but few other business houses in the State. The build- ing is of brick, with brown-stone trimmings, 60x155 feet, and four stories high. The base- ment is also finished for business purposes, serv- ing as another story in the building. The main salesroom hasan area of more than nine thousand square feet, and contains more than six hundred lineal feet of counters. It is divided into depart- merits, after the manner of the modern store ; and, since November, 1882, has been supplied with the "cash-ball system," this firm being the first in the city to adopt its use. The room is admirably lighted by sky-lights in the rear, and has the front entrances recessed eleven feet, so as to afford additional light, and large windows for displaying goods. The arrange- ment of goods is repeatedly changed, and attracts much attention. Projecting from the centre of the roof is an observatory seventy-three feet above the sidewalk. The building was designed

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

by Edward Mull, a prominent and successful builder of Reading, and erected under his super- vision.

It is very creditable alike to the enterprise and progressive spirit of the proprietors, and to the taste and judgment of the builder.

people from all the surrounding districts. This firm have extended their business iuto other counties of the State, where they estab- lished large and flourishing stores. They have in their employ, in their several stores, eighty clerks at Reading, forty-five at Harrisburg,

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DIVES, POMEROY

& STEWART

DIVES, POMEROY & STEWART, DRY GOODS.

The business of the firm has been largely in- creased since they have occupied this estab- lishment. Its patronage comes from all parts of the county, and even from the adjoining couuties. On holidays the store-room is a veritable "bee-hive," almost packed with

thirty at Altoona and fifteen at Pottstown ; altogether, one hundred and seventy.

GEORGE SMITH was the second son of the late Hon. Frederick Smith, once attorney-general of the commonwealth, and at the time of his death

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one of the justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, was married to Catharine Leaf, of Philadelphia. She was of English extrac- tion and a woman of large brain capacity and power of will and of fine physique. George Smith was born at Reading, in the Smith man- sion, which stood on the site now occupied by The First National Bank. He developed at an early age a taste for active, out-door pur- suits, and a corresponding repugnance for books,

still survives and is among the oldest of Read- ing's inhabitants, and loved and revered alike for her goodness and her years. Young Smith, when freed from his indenture of apprenticeship, entered upon a business career for himself. He evinced a sagacity and foresight seldom found in one of his years. Success attended his well- directed efforts and he soon became the owner of the mill at which he had learned his trade. He then extended his operations and sought

Geo Smith

although he acquired a good English education. At the age of sixteen, he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a miller, at what was then known as Governor Hiester's mill, adjacent to Reading, on the west bank of the Schuylkill River, at the mouth of Wyomissing Creek. On the door-frame of the old mill where he began his apprenticeship there can yet be seen, carved with his pocket-knife, the following : "George Smith, 1818." When but eighteen years of age he married Margaret, the youngest daughter of the late Jacob Brecht (since called Bright), who

the markets of Philadelphia and other adjoin- ing counties. This was before the era of rail- roads, and the extent of his enterprise can be judged by the circumstance that in the transpor- tation of his cargoes to the mining regions above and tide-water below, quite a fleet of barges on the Union and Schuylkill Canals were required. Subsequently Mr. Smith associated himself with the late Lewis Reese, and they, together, for many years, operated Rees' (now Krick's) mill on the Schuylkill. Their transactions here were so large that the mill soon was reputed as

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

one of the leading plants of the kind in this section of the State, and it brought the proprie- tors into prominence. It was whilst engaged here that Mr. Smith, in 1839, was commissioned flour inspector by Governor David R. Porter. For this responsible trust he was well prepared by experience and practical knowledge of de- tails.

Writing to Governor Wolf in 1829, one of his friends, in advocating his appointmont as register of the county, epitomizes lis qualifi- cations thus : " Among the applicants for office from Berks County will be George Smith. He is a man of correct morals and excellent habits. He will apply and be warmly recommended for the register's office of this county. He has ex- cellent capacity, strong sense, a clear judgment and most sterling integrity. I believe him in every way well qualified for the office."

He received the appointment, and, in 1830, was commissioned and acceptably filled the office during the six years of Governor Wolf's administration. Prior to this, in 1828, he went as a delegate to the National Convention, at which General Jackson was renominated for President. He represented the county in the State Convention of 1829, where George Wolf was nominated for Governor and was by the same convention made a member of the State Committee of Correspondence.

In 1843 he was appointed by the party in Berks to represent it in the State Convention of that year to nominate a Board of Canal Com- missioners and upon his return, at the ensuing County Convention, received a vote of thanks for the manner in which he had performed his duties. On two subsequent occasions, in 1850 and 1857, he was again a delegate to State Conventions.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 124

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