USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 141
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SUSPENDED INSTITUTIONS .- Among the monetary institutions of Reading that have had an existence for a number of years are the fol- lowing :
Berks County Savings Association was in- corporated April 23, 1835. The incorporators were David Hottenstein, M. S. Richards, H. A. Muhlenberg, G. M. Keim, Lloyd Wharton, Frederick A. Shulze, Jos. H. Spayd, Thomas Morris, Elijah Dechert, Geo. Bieber, John Fister, John Beitenman, Daniel Keim, Geo. Fox, John Bailey, Lewis W. Richards, Wm. Arnold, Geo. Malsberger, Peter Filbert, John F. Smith, John Bickle, John Ritter, John Miller, Jacob Long, Wm. Schoener, David Bright, Geo. Zieber, Jacob Goodman, Anthony Bickle, Daniel H. Boas, H. W. Smith, John M. Keim, Jas. L. Dunn, Wm. Darling, W. Hamil-
ton, David Finger, Geo. Leaf, Henry McKin- ley and Henry Flannery.
Capital not to exceed $50,000 ; par value of stock, $25. Interest on deposits allowed.
In operation June, 1835. The charter of this saving-bank was revoked by an act passed in 1836, incorporating the Berks County Bank, which was to succeed to all rights, etc., and authorized to increase stock to $200,000.
Bank went into operation April 25, 1836, with the following officers : President, Lloyd Wharton ; Secretary, J. M. Keim ; Treasurer Samuel S. Jackson ; Notary, Jeremiah Snyder.
Elijah Dechert succeeded as president. It continued in operation several years. Its organ- ization having been effected in doubtful times, little financial strength could be imbibed from the community, which was then supporting two well-established banks. In 1844 the bank fig- ured somewhat conspicuously by an over-issue of relief notes. These notes were redeemed.
Reading Savings-Bank was incorporated by act of Assembly in 1855 for twenty years, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. A share of stock was fifty dollars. The charter was ac- cepted at a meeting of interested citizens on June 16, 1855, and all the stock was taken by subscription. The first directors were Augus- tus F. Boas, William Umbenhower, Hiram C. Ritter, William C. Ermentrout, E. Penn Smith, Jacob Dick, Joseph A. Schneider. Officers elected : A. F. Boas, president ; Adam Leize, cashier. Began business on October 22, 1855, in building now occupied by Second National Bank, on Penn, above Fifth Street. This bank suspended November 16, 1877, after having been in successful operation for over twenty years.
Commercial National Bank was organized in 1880, with a capital of oue hundred and fifty thousand dollars, by William Young' and B. F. Young, of Mifflinburg, Pa., and a num- ber of business men of Reading. Business was begun in the building of I. W. Levan, at No. 748 Penn Street, April 22, 1880. William Young was the first president and B. F. Young the cashier. During the summer of 1882 a handsome brown-stone building was erected at No. 758 Penn Street. Before the
841
READING.
completion of the new bank building an outside business matter alienated nearly all the friends of the institution, who withdrew their support, and soon after organized the Penn National Bank. The Commercial National Bank re- mained in the new building until October, 1883, when the Reading stockholders sold their stock to the Messrs. Young, and took in part pay- ment the bank building from the latter, and the bank went into voluntary liquidation.
PART IX. OFFICIALS.
BURGESSES AND MAYORS .- The principal executive officer of Reading, during its history as a borough, from 1783 to 1847, was a " Chief Burgess." He was elected annually at the reg- ular spring election. His duties were prescribed by law and these he was sworn to execute. They pertained to the peace of the borough, and the regulation of its several affairs pursuant to the rules and ordinances adopted by the " Town Council." He was also ex officio a justice of the peace. The following list comprises the names of those who served from 1815, those who served previously not having been obtain- able. The election was held annually iu May till 1838, when it was changed to March.
In 1847, upon the incorporation of the bor- ough into a city, the chief officer was named mayor. His term of office was one year. In 1861 it was increased to two years, since which time it has remained the same.
The office of treasurer was filled annually till 1861, when the term was increased to two years.
CHIEF BURGESSES.
Name. Term.
John Spayd 1815-23
William Witman. 1823-25
Peter Nagle, Jr ... 1825-31 ; 1832-33; 1837-39
Henry A. Muhlenberg. 1831-32
George M. Keim.
1833-34
Anthony Bickel. 1834-35
Thomas Kepple. 1835-36
William Schoener. 1836-37; 1839-43
William High 1843-44 William Betz 1844-47
73
Name. MAYORS.
Term.
Peter Filbert. 1847-48
William H. Keim 1848-49
George Getz 1
1849-53
Daniel R. Clymer 1853-54
John S. Richards 1854-55
William M. Baird. 1855-56
Joel B. Wanner. 1856-57
A. Jordan Swartz. 1857-58
Benneville Keim 1858-61
Joel B. Wanner 2 1861-63
Joseph S. Hoyer. 1863-65
Nathan M. Eisenhower. 1865-67
William H. Gernand 1867-71
Samuel C. Mayer 1871-73
Charles F. Evans 1873-79
Henry A. Tyson. 1879-81
William G. Rowe. 1881-85
James K. Getz. 1885-87
CITY ELECTION RETURNS FOR MAYOR, AND MAJORITIES.
1847.
Peter Filbert, Dem.
632
Wm. H. Keim, Whig
605
Majority for Filbert
27
(W. A. Wells had a vote of 210.)
1848.
Wm. H. Keim, Whig
936
Daniel R. Clymer, Dem.
926
Majority for Keim.
10
1849.
George Getz, Whig.
956
Andrew M. Sallade, Dem
.746
Majority for Getz.
210
(Peter Filbert had a vote of 262.)
1850.
George Getz, Whig.
1130
Andrew F. Sallade, Dem.
749
Majority for Getz.
381
1851.
George Getz, Whig ..
746
Peter Filbert, Dem
670
Majority for Getz.
76
(Scattering, 203.)
1852.
George Getz, Whig ..
738
Daniel R. Clymer, Dem.
683
Majority for Getz
55
1 Mr. Getz died February 10, 1853, and General Geo. M. Keim was elected to fill the short vacancy.
2.Mr. Wanner enlisted in the Civil War before the expi- ration of his term, and David McKnight was elected to fill the vacancy.
-
842
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
1853.
Daniel R. Clymer, Dem.
975
John S. Richards, Whig.
923
Majority for Clymer
52
1854.
John S. Richards, Ind.
.654
Daniel R. Clymer, Dem.
614
Majority for Richards.
40
(John C. Myers, Ind., had a vote of 562;
William Mason, 71.)
1855.
William M. Baird, Amer
1544
Samuel L. Young, Fusion
840
Majority for Baird
704
1856.
Joel B. Wanner, Dem
1197
Peter Filbert, Amer
1173
. Majority for Wanner
24
1857.
A. Jordan Swartz, Dem
1373
Charles K. Robeson, Fusion
1005
Majority for Swartz.
368
1858.
Benneville Keim, Amer.
1519
Jacob M. Sallade, Dem
1075
Majority for Keim.
444
1859.
Benneville Keim, Amer.
1703
John K. McKurdy, Dem
759
Majority for Keim.
944
1860.
Benneville Keim, People's
.1420
Michael Kraemer, Sr., Dem.
1285
Majority for Keim.
135
1861.
Joel B. Wanner, Dem.
1773
Benneville Keim, Rep
1129
Majority for Wanner
644
1863.
Joseph S. Hoyer, Dem
1512
David McKnight, Rep.
1269
Majority for Hoyer.
243
1865.
Nathan N. Eisenhower, Rep.
1590
Matthias Mengel, Dem.
1448
Majority for Eisenhower.
142
1867.
William H. Gernand, Dem
2101
Henry Van Reed, Rep
1775
Majority for Gernand.
226
1869.
William H. Gernand, Dem
2305
J. Pringle Jones, Ind.
2146
Majority for Gernand.
159
1871.
Samuel C. Mayer, Dem
2972
William Geiger, Rep.
2521
Majority for Mayer.
451
1873.
Charles F. Evans, Rep
3304
William H. Gernand.
3013
Majority for Evans.
281
1875.
Charles F. Evans, Rep.
3677
Henry M. Keim, Dem.
.3303
Majority for Evans.
374
1877.
Charles F. Evans, Rep.
3735
J. George Seltzer, Dem
.3351
Majority for Evans.
384
1879.
Henry A. Tyson, Dem
4114
Charles F. Evans.
2933
Majority for Tyson.
1181
1881.
William G. Rowe, Rep
.3868
Henry A. Tyson, Dem
3831
Majority for Rowe.
1883.
37
William G. Rowe, Rep.
4405
George S. McFarlan, Dem.
4154
Majority for Rowe.
251
1885.
James K. Getz, Dem
4629
William G. Rowe, Rep ..
4106
Majority for Getz.
.523
CITY VOTE COMPARED .- The total vote of the city in 1847 for mayor was 1237. This was in the spring of that year. The total vote for Governor in the fall of that year was 2273, a difference of 1036 ; and in 1848, for President, it was 2945.
In 1883 the total vote for mayor was 8659; in 1882, for Governor, 9110; and in 1880, for President, 9047.
The taxables of the city and the total vote for President for two periods are compared to show the proportion of taxables who voted,-
Taxables.
Per Cent.
1856
4,775
Vote.
3287
69
1880
10,679
9047 85
843
READING.
The proportion of taxables in the whole county who voted in 1880 was eighty-six per cent.
ALDERMEN.1-In 1847 the city was divided
1 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE .- The following list of justices of the peace of the borough was copied from the record at Harrisburg.
Valentine Eckert 1784
Henry Christ ..
1784
John Otto.
1785
James Diemer.
.1788
Peter Nagle August 3, 1791 James May (does not act). August 31, 1791 John Christ. .October 3, 1799
Peter Frailey
Matthias Richards
Henry Hahn.
April 1, 1806
Frederick Heller January 1, 1807
Jacob Miller
November 13, 1811
John M. Hyneman.
September 3, 1813
Christopher Scherrer
September 17, 1813
John Addams
. May 18, 1816
Wm. Schoener
March 24, 1818
John Frantz
March 24, 1818
(Vacated by accepting office under U. S. Gov- ernment ; recommissioned October 17, 1820.)
Frederick Fritz .June 28, 1821
John Spayd ..
June 28, 1821
Matthias Richards .. November 8, 1823
Edward B. Hubley December 3, 1823
Joseph Tyson
December 8, 1823
Curtis Lewis December 8, 1823
Peter Aurand. December 12, 1823
John Miller
December 12, 1823
Henry Betz.
December 12, 1823
Matthias Richards ...
April 4, 1827
Jonathan D. Hiester
June 5, 1827
(Removed out of town.)
Peter Nagle, Jr. August 1, 1828
Jacob Sallade March 5, 1830
David Rightmyer .July 25, 1831
Lloyd Wharton .October 19, 1831
Lewis Rees
April 2, 1832
Thomas Morris
January 4, 1836
Jacob Fritz. February 12, 1838
Henry Tothers.
September 22, 1838
Henry Bowman ..
March 26, 1839
In 1840 Reading was divided into two wards for justices, Penn Street having been the dividing line.
North Ward.
Wm. Schoener April 14, 1840
Henry Betz. .. April 14, 1840
Wm. Betz .April 13, 1841
Wm. Schoener April 15, 1845
Wm. Betz.
April 14, 1846
Charles Troxell
South Ward.
April 14, 1840
Resigned.)
Wm. A. Wells. April 14, 1840 (Resigned March 15, 1844.)
Marks B. Eckert. April 12, 1842 David Medary .April 9, 1844 Matthias Mengel .April 15, 1845
On December 5, 1803, pursuant to the act of April 4, 1803, the county commissioners divided the county of Berks into fifteen districts for justices of the peace. Reading was made one district, called First, and given four justices. Their names were Peter Nagle, James May, John Christ and Peter Frailey.
into two districts for aldermen, that portion north of Penn Street comprising the Northern District, and that portion south, the Southern ; and each district was given two aldermen with a term of five years. An additional alderman was given to the Northern District by a special act of Assembly, passed January 31, 1873, by reason of its extent and large population. In 1874 the new charter created nine wards in the city and gave each ward an alderman. Two wards were erected in 1876 and two more in 1885 ; and thence the electors of each ward also elected an alderman.
FROM 1847-75. Northern District.
Name.
Term.
William Betz. 1847-51
William Schoener2 1847-51
Frank B. Miller.
1851-65
William B. Schoener.
1851-75
Washington Richards.
1865-73
Lewis Kremp.
1873-75
Israel C. Becker
1874-75
Southern District.
David Medary
1847-55
Matthias Mengle
1847-60; 1868-73
George Printz.
1855-75
John Quimby
1860-63
Peter Cleaver
1863-68
Ezekiel Jones
1873-75
UNDER CHARTER OF 1874. First ward.
Name.
Term.
Enos Morris 1875-78
John B. Maxton 1878-84
John W. Ringler.
1884-
Second ward.
Joseph R. Pawling.
1875-80
Christopher M. Deem
1880-85
George Ritner
1885-90
Third ward.
Ezekiel Jones.
1875-83
John Hipple
1883-88
Fourth ward.
Matthias Mengel.
1875-85
Edmund Sheetz.
1885-90
Fifth ward.
Daniel Potteiger.
1875-85
Robert L. Keith
1885-90
2 William Schoener died whilst serving the office. He officiated as an alderman for thirty-three continuous years, -from 1818 to 1851-and enjoyed the entire confidence of the community. He was seventy years old at the time of his death.
844
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Sixth ward.
Jonathan L. Reber.
1875-77
George M. Ermentrout. 1877-87
Seventh ward.
William B. Schoener 1875-81
Israel C. Becker. 1875-78
John G. L. Brownwell 1881-86
(Re-elected, 1886.) Eighth ward.
Lewis Kremp. 1875-78
William L. Graul 1878-83
John Denhard. 1883-88
Ninth ward.
Isaac R. Fisher.
1875-85
(Re-elected, 1.885.)
Tenth ward.
Henry H. Holl.
1876-86
(Re-elected, 1886.)
Eleventh ward.
Israel M. Bertolet. 1876-80
David Rink 1880-81
George H. Long. 1881-86
(Re-elected, 1886.) Twelfth ward.
John K. Howden 1 1886-
Thirteenth ward.
Peter T. Phillippi 1 1886-
PRESIDENTS OF SELECT COUNCIL.
Name.
Term.
Henry Nagle 1847-50; 1854-55
Joel Ritter. 1850-52
Peter F. Nagle.
1852-54
Samuel Frees
1855-58
Hiram C. Ritter 858-59
John D. Morris 1859-60; 1861-62
Frederick S. Boas 1860-61
Jacob C. Hoff. 1862-64
Jacob Bushong. 1864-65
Levi J. Smith 1865-66
George W. Garst. 1866-67; 1868-70
Frederick Lauer.
.1867-68
Geo. W. Morgan. .1870-71; 1872-73
Frederick W. Lauer 1871-72
Henry S. Eckert. 1873-75
James L. Douglas. 1875-76
Frederick P. Heller .1876-77
Jesse Orr. 1877-79
Joseph Ganser. 1879-80
William H. Kelly .1880-82
F. S. Jacobs .1882
Levi J. R. Krick 1882-83
John L. Lawrence. 1883-84
Michael McCullough. 1884-86
Henry H. Heckman 1886-87
1 Elected for five years.
CLERKS OF SELECT COUNCIL.
Name.
Term.
John L. Rightmyer. 1847-51
James L. Rightmyer. 1851-52
Nathan M. Eisenhower.
1852-61
A. Lucius Hennershotz.
1861-62
Adam Waid.
1862-64
B. Frank Haas.
1864-73
Edward A. Howell.
1873-79
John H. Keppelman
1879-84
George H. Felix. 1884-87
PRESIDENTS OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Name.
Term.
Lewis Briner. 1847-49
Samuel Frees. 1849-50
William A. Wells. 1850-51
Augustus C. Hoff .. 1851-53
Adam Waid.
1853-54; 1859-60
Hiram C. Ritter. 1854-55
Joseph A. McLean .1855-56
John Fink. 1856-57
Henry A. M. Filbert. 1857-59
J. Timothy Jackson 1860-61
Samuel M. Fillman. 1861-62
William B. Hertzel .1862-63
James Donagan
1863-64
William S. Ritter 1864-65
George B. Conuard 1865-66
Levi Wunder.
1866-67
Michael McCullough 1867-69
Addy Gehry 1869-71; 1874-75
Lew. Wanner 1871-73
Abner K. Stauffer 1873-74
Charles B. Wells 1875-76
Wesley C. Hall.
1876-77
William G. Rowe 1877-78
Hiester M. Nagle 1878-79
Christian W. Geissler.
1879-80
Edward O. Immel 1880-81
James K. Getz.
1881-82
Amos B. Wanner. 1882-83
Ellis L. Castor.
1883-84
Lewis Heilman.
1884-85
James A. O'Reilly 1885-87
CLERKS OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Name. Term.
John W. Tyson 1847-52
A. L. Hennershotz.
1852-58; 1859-61
Michael P. Boyer. 1858-59
B. Frank Haas.
1861-62
Nathan M. Eisenhower.
1862-63
John Ralston
1863-72
Solomon A. Stout. 1872-73
Charles S. Butler 1873-74; 1875-76
John C. K. Heine 1874-75
Jonathan Holt.
.1876-78
Henry H. Holl.
1878-79
Luther Seiders
1879-80
George H. Felix
1880-83
845
READING.
Charles J. Tyson. 1883-86
Johu H. Focht. 1886-87
TREASURERS.
Name.
Term.
Peter Nagle. 1815-28
John Hahn
1828-36
William Ermentrout.
1836-43
George Feather
1843-47; 1847-55
George R. Frill
1855-56
Daniel S. Holl.
1856-57
George W. Bruckman
1857-58
Michael Kraemer
1858-59
Peter Cleaver
1859-61
Peter Shaneman
1861-63
William Heidenreich
1863-71
John E. Arthur.
1871-85
Horatio Jones.
1885-87
AUDITORS.
Name.
Term.
Lewis J. Hanold
1847-48
Nathan M. Eisenhower.
.1847-49 ; 1859-61
John L. Reifsnyder 1847-49
Frank B. Miller.
1848-49
Jacob B. Smith
.1849-50
Z. H. Maurer.
1849-51; 1854-55
Jeremiah Bitting.
1849-50
John Darrah
1850-52
George Heckman
1850-51
James L. Rightmyer.
1851-52
John F. Evans
1851-54
John F. Moers
1852-53
A. W. Nagle.
1852-53 ; 1854-55
John Pfleager
1853-54
William Briner
1853-54
John J. Tyson
1854-55
Peter Cleaver.
1855-56
William Geiger
1855-56
John A. Banks.
1855-56
Matthias Babb.
1856-57
William Henry
1856-57
Albert G. Green
1856-57
William Umbenhower.
1857-58
Wharton Morris.
1857-58 ; 1861-62
James Van Horn
1858-59
Amos B. Wanner.
.1858-59
John O. Schoener. 1858-59
Peres Hain
1859-60
Charles Scull. 1859-60
Henry Eppihimer 1860-61
James A. Fasig. 1860-61
B. Frank Haas.
1861-63
Charles F. Smith.
1861-64
Lewis Briner.
1862-65
Henry Kerper
1863-66
Isaac R. Fisher
1864-67
John S. Aulenbach 1865-68
William M. Goodman
1866-69
John E. Arthur 1867-71
Hiester M. Nagle 1868-71
W. Murray Weidmar 1869-72
Levi H. Liess
1871-74
John Keppelman
1872-73
Jacob Lenhart.
1872-75
Isaac T. James.
1873-75
Henry M. Keim 1874-75
CONTROLLERS.
Name.
Term.
William Briner 1
Chester N. Farr, Jr. 1875-76
Henry A. Tyson
1876-79
William A. Runkel
1879-81
Joseph Housum
1881-87
SOLICITORS.
Name.
Term.
James Donagan .. 1847-48
George G. Barclay
1848-50
J. Bright Smith.
1850-52
William F. Filbert.
1852-53
Edmund L. Smith
1853-55
Charles K. Robeson
1855-57
Albert G. Green. 1857-59
A. Lucius Hennershotz.
1859-61
Wharton Morris
1861-62
George J. Eckert.
1862-63
James B. Bechtel.
1863-64
Edward H. Shearer.
1864-65
J. Glancy Jones.
1865-67
Daniel Ermentrout. 1867-70
Edwin Shalter.
1870-73
J. Howard Jacobs
1873-74
William M. Rightmyer.
1874-75
Daniel H. Wingerd. 1875-79
Christian H. Ruhl. 1879-81
Benjamin F. Dettra 1881-83
Wayne Hayman.
1883-85
William J. Rourke. 1885-87
ENGINEERS.
Name.
Term.
Matthias S. Richards 1847-48
Aaron Albright ... 1848-57; 1859-61; 1862-63
William Davis. 1857-58
Christian Stolz
1858-59
D. S. Zacharias ... 1861-62; 1863-68 ; 1874-76
Samuel M. Rea.
1868-74
Henry T. Kendall. 1876-79
Levi Wunder. 1879-81
A. Harvey Tyson
1881-85
Daniel Housum 1885-87
CHIEFS OF POLICE.
Name.
Term.
John L. Morris.
1847-49 ; 1858-59
Henry Seitzinger 1849-51
.
John H. Nagle.
1851-54
1 Mr. Briner did not accept the office to which he was elected in 1875, and Governor J. F. Hartranft appointed Chester N. Farr, Jr., until the election of a successor.
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846
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Reuben Goodhart. 1854-55
William Y. Lyon. 1855-57; 1860-61
Samuel Folk 1857-58
Henry Wunder. 1859-60
Howard L. Miller 1861-63
Jacob B. Mast 1863-65
Joseph Deysher. 1865-67
William McNall.
1867-71
Peter Cullen
.1871-79
Daniel Housum
1879-81
Raymond B. Lewis
1881-85
Frederick H. Fleck.
1885-87
WATER COMMISSIONERS .- The city was divi- ded into four districts for the election of com- missioners of water by an act passed March 21, 1865. Sixth Street and Penn Street were made the dividing lines; and the City Councils were required to elect four persons, one from each district. Of the first board two were to hold office for two years and the remaining two for four years ; and thereafter every two years Councils were to elect two members for four years. Like the office of City Councilman, this office is without compensation. In pursuance of the act mentioned, the following persons served as commissioners :
Name.
Term.
Jacob Bushong 1865-67
Joseph Mishler. 1865-67
David A. Stout. 1865-73
John Maltzberger.
1865-67
Thomas L. Addison
1867-73; 1877-85
Jacob C. Hoff. 1867-71
Levi J. Smith 1867-83
William R. McIlwain 1871-83
Solomon L. Snyder. 1873-77
Augustus C. Greth
.1873-77
Addy Gehry.
1875-79
George K. Levan 1877-80
Charles Melcher. 1877
Matthias Mengel.
1880-81
Charles K. Hillegass.
1881-83
Jacob Holl 1883-89
F. S. Jacobs 1883-87
Isaac McHose.
1883-87
Albert A. Heizmann. 1885-89
BOARD OF HEALTH.1-Initiatory steps to- ward the formation of a body, whose express duty it was to look after the health of the city, were first taken in July, 1872, but a satisfac- tory organization was not effected till 1874.
An act of Assembly was passed on April 22, 1873, specially authorizing the establishment of a Board of Health for Reading, with powers for the preservation of the public health. The board was made to consist of seven members, with an indefinite term of service and without compensation, who were to be appointed by the presidents of the City Councils. The city was divided into four districts, with Sixth and Penn Streets as the dividing lines. One member was to be appointed from each district and one from the city at large ; and these five were to select two physicians. And provision was made for the annual appointment of a health commis- sioner by the board, with a compensation to be fixed by Councils.
The Board of Health effected the first per- manent organization on March 10, 1874. The following persons were members :
First District.
Name.
Term.
Charles Breneiser
1874-80
Dr. William F. Marks.
1880-
Second District.
David Ermeutrout.
1874-82
Garrett B. Stevens.
.1882-83
Charles H. Schaeffer
1883-
Third District.
Dr. W. Murray Weidman
1874-82
Thomas P. Merritt.
1882-
Fourth District.
Dr. S. S. Stevens
1874-82
David; P. Schlott.
1882-
At Large.
Dr. Martin Luther
1874-
Physicians.
Dr. Israel Cleaver.
1874-79
Dr. Frank Rieser
1874-80
Dr. M. Albert Rhoads.
1879
Dr. William F. Muhlenberg.
1880-83
Dr. Adam B. Dundor.
1883-
NOTE .- The dash after the year indicates contin- uance in office.
HEALTH COMMISSIONERS.
Name.
Term.
Charles F. Frick.
.1874
Howard L. Miller
1874-82
Roland Laing.
1882-87
The following are interesting. statistics of marriages, births and deaths in the city for the years named :
1 The author is indebted to Edward A. Howell, clerk of the Board of Health, for the names of the members.
847
READING.
In 1881 there were 620 marriages, 1283 births and 895 deaths.
In 1882 there were 594 marriages, 1816 births and 890 deaths.
In 1883 there were 634 marriages, 1384 births and 869 deaths.
In 1885 there were 628 marriages, 1447 births and 917 deaths.
The board for the year 1886 is constituted as follows : M. A. Rhoads, M.D., (president), Martin Luther, M.D., William F. Marks, M. D., D. P. Schlott, Thomas P. Merritt, A. B. Dundor, M.D., C. H. Schaeffer, Esq., E. A. Howell (secretary), R. J. Laing, (health com- missioner.)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MAYORS. 1
PETER NAGLE, JR., was born at Reading June 11, 1782. He was well educated, and wrote a fine hand. He was a superior musi- cian, and officiated as organist in the First Reformed Church during his early manhood. His business was hat manufacturing, in which he became both prominent and successful. Sub- sequently he removed to the northern part of Amity township, where he owned several fine farms, including the " Yellow House " proper- ty, and carried on tavern-keeping for some years. He returned to Reading, engaged in the grocery business for a time and then in the dis- tilling business at the northwest corner of Tenth and Chestnut Streets. He was a superior busi- ness man.
He officiated as chief burgess of Reading for nine years,-1825-31, 1832-33 and 1837-39. General Lafayette visited the United States during that time, and he addressed a letter to Burgess Nagle, February 5, 1825, thanking the Council and citizens of Reading for their kind invitation to him to visit Reading.2 His father, Peter Nagle, served as treasurer of the borough from 1815 to 1828. This continuous service indicates his integrity as a man and his prominence as a citizen.
Mr. Nagle was a large man, over six feet in height, and weighed about three hundred and
twenty-five pounds. In disposition he was genial and unpretentious. He was married to Susan E. Filbert December 28, 1802, by whom
PETER NAGLE, JR.
he had one daughter and seven sons, four of the latter surviving him,-Filbert J., Peter F., Augustus W. and Henry.
JOSEPH S. HOYER was born in Robeson township, this county, September 10, 1817. He was educated at Myerstown, Lebanon County, and taught public schools for a number of years in addition to his duties as a farmer. Removing to Reading, he conducted a general store for a time and held various offices of trust. He officiated as mayor of Reading for one term -from 1863 to 1865-and afterwards served for a number of years as a clerk in the prothono- tary's office of this county. He died in Reading June 16, 1880.
NATHAN M. EISENHOWER was born in Reading in 1811, and, after reaching nearly three-score and ten years, died very suddenly on September 2, 1879.
He was well known as a builder, and was the senior member of the firm of Eisenhower, Fink & Co. In his business relations he was a care- ful and conscientious man, and a very highly esteemed citizen of this community. He served some years as clerk of the old Borough Council. He was a member of the Odd-Fellows and also of the Masonic order, in the progress of which he took au earnest interest, and these societies buried him with honors. He officiated as mayor
1 Besides the sketches of the mayors given in this chapter, sketches of all the other mayors appear elsewhere in this history.
- See p. 677.
848
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
for one term-from 1865 to 1867, having been elected to this position by the Republicans.
WILLIAM H. GERNAND was a son of Abra- ham and Catherine Gernand, of Cumrn town- ship, and died at Reading Nov. 22, 1874, aged over fifty-five years. In early life he was a farmer ; he afterwards became a school-teacher, and pursned the profession of teaching for many years.
a time he was the senior member of the firm of Moyer & Hart, on Penn Street, in the dry- goods business. With the exception of a few years spent at Philadelphia, he has resided con- tinuously in Reading since 1841. He officiated as mayor of Reading for one term-from 1871 to 1873.
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