History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 141

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


USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 141


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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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 The charter of this saving-bank was revoked by an act passed in 1836, incorporating the Berks County Bank, which was to succeed to all rights, etc., and authorized to increase stock to $200,000.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.


-


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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