USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 147
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" As soon as the President retired, I then ordered my drummer, and I may add myself (for I assisted), to beat up the long roll ; this done, the men paraded at their posts and formed ranks immediately. Wethen marched down to the lower tavern, in Womellsdorf, kept by Wierech Seltzer, where we enjoyed ourselves in dancing awhile. We dispersed (I suppose) at a late hour, but the orders which I gave, that mirth and sociability should reign throughout the evening, were most happily obeyed. Nothing transpired to (not even the President's wish as regarded a salute; this of itself was not a disappointment, for he was a lover of qniet, and every man yielded spontaneously what he so anx- iously desired) to mar the patriotic pleasure which each member of my company set out determined to enjoy."
And the following German report of this visit is published in Rupp's " History of Berks County," page 194.
880
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
" WOMMELSDORF, DEN 14sen Nov. 1793.
" Gestern Abends hatten die Einwohner dieser Stadt das Vergnuegen den Presidenten George Washing- ton, der Vereinigten Staaten von America zu bewir- then, und ihm bey dieser Gelegenheit folgende Ad- dresse zu ueberreichen.
"Ihro Excellentz !
"Moechten sie unsere aus Dankbarkeit und Gehor- sam entstehende Freudensbezeugungen, in diesem gluecklichen Augenblick da wir die persoenliche Ge- gewart von Ihro Excellentz geinessen, in Dero ange- bornen und gewoehnlichen Guete auzunehinen belie- ben.
" Die kluge und mit gluecklichem Erfolg gekroente Thaten, die Sie unter dem Schutz des Allerhoechten Wesens in dem letzten glorreichen Krieg ausgefueh- ret haben, dan Glueck und Zufriedenheit das wir unter Dero Regierung seithin in Friedenszeit genissen und des letzhin sowohl ueberlegte zum rechten Zeit- punct anempfohlene Neutralitaete System, ermuntert all Menschen anfs Neue zur Hochachtung und Liebe gegen sie. Die Einwohner dieser Gegend werden niewals unterlassen. langes Leben and Gesundheit von Gott fuer sie zu erbeten."
To which General Washington sent the following very appropriate reply :
"Die Aufmerksamkeit die sie mir erzeigen, und der Beifall von meinen Bemuehungen, giebt mir das groeste Vergnuegen."
A company of volunteers assembled, and amidst repeated firing of guns, near the door of the house in which he lodged, exclaimed, --
" Lang lebe George Washington ! Lang lebe George Washington ! ! "
HAMBURG.
The thriving borough of Hamburg is situated on the Schuylkill River, near where it passes through the Blue Mountains. It is favorably located in a good farming country, and having communica- tions with points north and south by means of the canal and two principal lines of railway-the Philadelphia and Reading and Pennsylvania, - as well as being a projected station on other railways under construction, it has become a business point in the county, with varied industries, second in importance to Reading only. In 1885 there were about two thousand five hundred inhabitants, five churches, two school-houses, a bank and other in- terests.
The locality in which Hamburg is situated was known by that name before the town was laid out, the nature of the country and the nationality of the first settlers no doubt suggesting the appella- tion. The records of this section indicate a land- warrant, dated in London, May 12, 1732, for six hundred and twenty six acres, situated east of the Schuylkill and north of the mouth of Maiden- creek, which was divided into three parts by Dep- uty Surveyor James Scull, and one part surveyed November 25, 1772, for Martin Kaercher, Sr. This survey was confirmed to him by a deed, December 23, 1772, in which it is spoken of as "a certain tract of land called Hamburg, and situate in Windsor township, containing two hundred and fifty acres. Seven years later, on the 23d of Jan- uary, 1779, Martin Kaercher, Sr., and Elizabeth, his wife, of Longswamp township, granted this tract of land to their son, Martin Kaercher, Jr., who, at that time, lived on it. The consideration was two thousand five hundred pounds. About this time Martin Kaercher, Jr., laid out the town, for on the 1st of December, 1779, he executed a deed to Michael Lindenmuth for lots Nos. 17, 19, 32, 45, 87 and 110, and out-lots 59, 60, 88, 89, 125 and 126. These lots were subject to a ground- rent, payable on the 27th day of May of each year, at the rate of two pounds five shillings for corner-lots and twenty-two shillings six pence for other lots. This grouud rental has been the source of much vexatious litigation, and many of the lo's of Hamburg are not yet clear of this claim. Its existence has, in a great measure, retarded the growth of the borough In 1780 Martin Kaercher, Jr., deeded back a part of the Hamburg tract to his father, but reserved the lots laid out, and made sales as follows :
July 20, 1781, to John Zone.
November 27, 1782, to Frederick Pouch.
October 28, 1782, to Christopher Tin.
May 2, 1783, to John Moyer and Frank Levenberg.
April 3, 1783, to Peter Fornwalt.
July 19, 1784, to George Benzeman.
April 19, 1784, to Andrew Helwig.
January 27, 1785, to George Miller, Jr., for corn- mill and tract of forty acres.
January 8, 1785, the tract called the "Shoup," fourteen acres (which had been patented to Kaercher the previous year).
March 1, 1785, to John Moyer (tavern-keeper and trader).
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BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.
September 1, 1785, to Martin Kaercher, Sr. May 25, 1786, to Andrew Lytle.
May 6, 1786, to John Myer and Philip Shatz, lots for school and church purposes, they being trustees of Lutheran and Reformed congregations.
October 20, 1786, to Daniel Rothermel (paper- maker).
1792, to Andrew Forsyth.
March 16, 1793, to William Kaercher.
March 17, 1793, to George Kaercher.
January 1, 1794, to Daniel Kaercher.
March 20, 1794, to Samuel Winters.
Martin Kaercher, Jr., lived on a farm on Kaercher's Run. He also owned the mill on that stream, which is now the mill-site on Main Street. He conveyed this property to George Miller in 1785. He appears to have been financially embarrassed, and some of his property was sold by the sheriff in 1787. The elder members of the family died at Hamburg, and others removed to other parts. The village grew very slowly, and, after the custom of that time (naming towns for their founders), was called, in the common vernacular, " Kaerchertown," which some people earnestly suppose to have been the original name of the borough ; and some people, to give the place an English name, called it Church town. The first buildings were built of logs. Some of them, weather-boarded or rough- cast, may still be found in the older parts of the town. The first brick house was built by John Miller, on the upper part of Main Street, which is still standing as the residence of E. M. Miller. It is a one-story building. After the manufacture of bricks was begun at this place the larger portion of the buildings were put up of that material. One of the oldest large houses was built of stone, in 1811, by Abraham Bailey, and even now has the appearance of a mansion. The masonry and the wood-work indicate skill and care of no mean order on the part of the workmen engaged in its con- struction.
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After the first meeting-house was built, in 1790, the population increased more than in former years, and, in 1800, the place had three hundred and twenty-nine inhabitants.
Among the citizens of Hamburg from 1800 to 1820 were the following :
John Meyer, broker. Henry Heinly, tailor. John De Wald, hatter.
John Shomo, Jr., teacher.
David Newhert, tobacconiet.
John Moyer, tobacconist.
John Shomo, Sr., inn-keeper. Andrew Smith, blackemith. John Derr, tanner.
Robert Scott, etore-keeper.
George Miller, millor.
Charlee Gues, mason. William Feather, tanner. Moses Levy, store-kooper. Daniel Levan, tavern-keeper. Jacob Snell, butcher. Joseph Sbemo, Sr., tinsmith. Abraham Wolff, saddler. Henry Groh, yeoman. Adolphue Hatzfield, justice. Dr. Klein, physician. Philip Sousley, cordwainer. Andrew Helwig, yeoman. Henry Schoener, chair-maker. William Coulter, chair-maker. Henry Lewere, tinemith. Henry Fister, Latter. Jolın Schenk, tailor. John Beidemen, clock-maker. Mrs. Peter Schatz, cake-baker. Henry Lindenmnth, shoemaker. Abraham Bailey, tavern-keeper. William Schau, tailor. Abraham De Wald, ciger-maker. Dr. Benj. Becker, physician. Philip Hummel, farmer. Frederick Felix, ehoemaker. Michael Reese, cooper. John Eberhard, carpenter. William Machemer, dyer.
Jacob Glatt, laborer.
John Miller, cabinet-maker. Andrew Forsyth, merchant. Jacob Fisher, coffee-mill maker. Capt. Leitheleer, Revolutionist. Sebastian Leonard, blacksmith. Daniel Kern, etore-keeper. David Davidheleer, tavern-keeper. Andrew Hummel, laborer. Jacob Heine, carpenter. Christian Lochman, weaver. John Miller, cooper. Peter Dile, laborer. Henry Roi, watchmaker. Wm. Lochmen (Hessian), laborer. John Scharff (Hessian), hostler. Abraham Shollenberger, potter. John Sbollenberger, blacksmith.
- Hetrich, cooper.
- Silliman, ferryman. Fred'k Shollenberger, butcher. Abraham Keleer, butcher. - Kennedy, mason. Killian May, cooper. Joseph Miller, farmer. Wm. Williamson, wheelwright. Casper Diehl, tavern-keeper. Jeremiah Sheppell, farmer. Ab'm Williameon, spinning-wheel maker.
The building of the turnpike and the canal, and later of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail- way, through this place, each promoted the growth of the borough-each event forming a period of prosperity in its history. But more especially was a building boom inaugurated when it was sup- posed that Hamburg would become the entrepot for the shipment of the vast quantities of coal now loaded on the boats at Port Clinton and Schuylkill Haven- a belief which was strengthened when the railroad company bought up all the property available along the canal, with a view of erecting immense warehouses thereon for shipment pur- poses. It was about this time that the fine Heinly Block, on Main Street, was erected, and a little later, in 1871, the massive four-story building, on the corner of Main and State Streets, now known as the Fenstermacher Block. This inaugurated the era of better buildings in Hamburg. The last event, which quickened the business life of the borough, was the building of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in 1885, and the erection of the attrac- tive depot building on State Street, near the canal. It is of brick, elegantly finished, and has few superiors anywhere. Its architecture has been the means of causing other buildings in the town to assume shapes practical and pleasing, though much at variance with the styles prevailing for sixty years. The depot building was opened in December, 1885.
882
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
To this new order of buildings belongs the busi- ness house of N. A. Confer, erected in 1885-86, on the southwest corner of White Oak and State Streets. It is a high, one-story building of brick, sixty by one hundred and twenty feet, forming one room, to be devoted to general mercantile pur- poses. The building is ornate, and having a high roof with raised skylights, is not unattractive in appearance. Mr. Confer has been in trade at Hamburg since 1868, and ranks as one of the foremost merchants of the county. Robert Scott, on the corner of Main and Pine Streets, had one of the first good stores; and soon after came John Beitenman. At the upper end of the town John Miller had a good trade. Later, Joseph Shomo and Samuel Shollenberger carried on a large busi- ness in what is now the Item office. After some years George and Joseph Shollenberger were associated and opened a store on the corner where is now the Nathan Bear stand, where had been David Nice and Daniel Wolff. Shomo opened the stand on Main and Pine Streets, now known as the D. A. Heffner store; William D. Shomo also conducted business very successfully in the same place. Among the earlier stores was that of Daniel Kern, on Main Street, next-door to the " Swan " Hotel, which he also kept. Joseph Filbert and others were in the same locality. Charles Shomo was in trade in the Item build- ing, and Joseph Seidel in the building now occu- pied by Fister's drug-store. Charles A. Seidel was on the opposite side of the street. David Heinly put up the building where is now the gen- eral store of James L. Merkel. James Fenster- macher has been in trade at Hamburg since 1862, occupying his present building since 1871; and next-door is the notion-store of James L. Baum. John Beitenman was an early dealer in hardware. Peter C. Baum had the first store wholly devoted to that line of trade, his place being on White Oak Street. David Heinly opened the next store, on Main Street, which is now occupied by Walter Raubenhold.
Nathaniel J. Hatzfield was one of the first dealers in cabinet-ware, and Jacob Laub had an early furniture-store on Main Street. Sheradin. Men- gel and others were also in this business. It is now successfully carried on by Peter Burkey, who operates a small furniture-factory in connection
with a store. Other stores devoted to specialties were opened lately, among them being the grocery business of R. T. Lenhart and the fine jewelry- store of W. W. Appel. On State Street and the canal is the fine grain warehouse of J. A. Baus- cher, erected in 1876; and farther down the canal, at the old Loose & Shollenberger place, Lenhart & Co. have been coal and lumber dealers since 1882. Near this point the river was first crossed by ferries, one of them being operated many years by a man named Silliman. The first bridge across the stream was swept away by a freshet in July, 1850, and broken to pieces. The present wood-covered bridge is over two hundred feet long. After being a toll-bridge for many years, it was recently declared free.
Among the chief public-houses, the John Bailey stand, on Main Street, lately demolished, is one of the best remembered. It was partly log and partly brick, and in its time was a good house. Daniel Kern's inn, on the opposite side of the street, was the headquarters for stages. At the head of the street John Shomo, Jr., had a public- house, which has since been demolished. The present house was built by John Confer, but kept by him as an inn only a short time. Joseph Shomo had an old-time hotel on the site of Rau- benhold's store, which was kept at a later day by Daniel Levan. The present " Washington House " is on the site of an inn formerly kept by John Shomo. The frame house was removed, and in the house now standing Charles Keller, Jacob Boyer and Joseph N. Shomo have entertained the public,-the latter since 1870. The present three- story brick American House was built by Isaac Thompson, and has been kept by him and the landlord now in possession, David H. Fink.
HAMBURG INCORPORATED .- In order to secure better streets and to promote the general welfare of the village, an effort was made to incorporate Hamburg more than fifty years ago. To this end a number of special acts were passed, the first bear- ing date April 5, 1830. In accordance with one of the provisions of the act, a survey and plat of the town was made September 8, 1830, by Mathias S. Richards, Philip A, Good and George Heisler. But, owing to a non-compliance with some of the terms of the act, no organization was effected, and it was not until after the passage of the act of April
883
BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.
3, 1837, that Hamburg became possessed of cor porate powers and privileges, which were extended and enlarged by the following special acts : April 16, 1838; January 12, 1840; March 18, 1852 ; August 24, 1864; March 22, 1865; June 2, 1875; and by the general act of May 5, 1876' The bounds of the borough were changed in Feb- ruary, 1876, and further modified, in 1877, by regular surveys.
The first borough election was held in 1837, and resulted in the choice of Daniel Sheiffley as presi- dent of the Council, and P. C. Baum clerk. The loss of the records for the first thirty years of the corporate history renders the task of compiling a complete list of officials impossible.
P. C. Baum served as clerk for a number of years, and others who filled the same office were George Shenk, B. E. Shollenberger, Charles Ben- zeman, Bennewell Derr, Mahlon F. Wolf and George A. Xander.
Some of the presidents for the same period were Augustus Shultz, E. M. Smith, Edward H. Mil- ler, Charles Faust, Rufus D. Wolff and Benjamin Goodman.
Since 1867 the principal officers have been :
1867-68 .- John Sunday, burgess; Jacob Geiger, president of the Council; George A. Xander, clerk.
1869-71 .- James Prutzman, burgess; Benjamin Goodman, president of the Council; Geo. A. Xander, clerk.
1872-73 .- R. Seidel, burgess ; Benjamin Goodman, president of the Council; Geo. A. Xander, clerk.
1874-75 .- John Sunday, burgess; William K. Mil- ler, president of the Council; J. Jerome Miller, clerk.
1876 .- Jacob Geiger, burgess; Levi Williamson, president of the Council ; J. Jerome Miller, clerk.
1877 .- Fred. Gordfleck, burgess; James Prutzman, president of the Council ; J. Jerome Miller, clerk.
1878 .- Fred. Gordfleck, burgess; R. D. Wolff, president of the Council; B. S. Gardner, clerk.
1879 .- J. A. Tobias, burgess; R. D. Wolff, presi- dent of the Council; B. S. Gardner, clerk.
1880 .- Reuben Seidel, burgess; R. D. Wolff, presi- dent of the Council ; B. S. Gardner, clerk.
1881 .- Wm. Harris, burgess; J. L. Merkel, presi- dent of the Council ; R. J. M. Miller, clerk.
1882 .- Wm. Harris, burgess ; J. L. Merkel, presi- dent of the Council; B. S. Gardner, clerk.
1883 .- Solomon K. Dreibelbis, burgess ; J. L. Mer- kel, president of the Council . B. F. Bean, clerk.
1884 .- A. F. Luburg, burgess; J. L. Merkel, presi- dent of the Council; R. J. M. Miller. clerk.
In 1885 the officers were, ---
Solomon K. Dreibelbis, burgess; William K. Mil- ler, assistant burgess ; Members of Council, James L. Merkel (president), D. K. Nies, J. C. Bear, J. J. Mil- ler, C. A. Seidel, John S. Smith, Christian Baum, Wm. H. Grimm, Jacob Hallenbach ; R. J. M. Miller, secretary of Council; O. J. Wolff, treasurer ; O. J. Wolff and Jackson Levan, justices of the peace ; Geo. M. Witters, constable; Charles Williamson and' Franklin N. Fichthorn, policemen.
The office of justice was also held by Israel Derr, Henry Lewars, Benjamin Shollenberger, Jeremiah Wolfinger, Henry K. Burkhalter and Mahlon F. Wolff.
Jackson Levan was the first notary public, re- ceiving his commission in 1870.
Measures for protection against fire were taken before Hamburg became a borough, a number of buckets having been procured and distributed among the citizens.
THE HAMBURG FIRE COMPANY was organized in 1838, and it had, among others, the following members :
Henry Fister.
Joseph Shomo.
Henry Levan. Jacob Shollenberger.
- Shappell. John Miller.
Henry Groh.
Jesse Dewald.
Robert Scott.
William Shomo.
Andrew Smith.
George Miller.
Adam Keiser.
John Shollenberger.
Moses Levy.
William Smith.
Abr. Bailey.
Abraham Williamson.
John Derr. Andrew Smith, Jr.
Peter Miller. John C. Thiell.
B. R. Nyce. Daniel Feather.
H. F. Hold. Daniel Shollenberger.
John Shenk.
Adolph Hatzfield.
William Feather.
A small engine, worked by a crank, was pur- chased, and every member of the company was supplied with a leathern bucket and a sail-cloth bag. In 1866 the borough erected a substantial engine-house, of brick, twenty-two by forty feet, part of which is two stories high. This building also serves as a place for the meetings of Council. About the same time a larger hand-engine was purchased, which was used until 1877, when a Silsby steam fire-engine was purchased and the department again reorganized. Fire-plugs were placed at the upper end of Main Street, and at other places on the canal and creek, where a good
884
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
water supply might be obtained, and from these plugs nearly every point in the borough can be reached with several hundred feet of hose.
THE UNION FIRE COMPANY, No. 1, was formed in January, 1886, with the following organization :
Oliver J. Wolff, president; Wm. G. Sheradin, vice-president; Douglass D. Seidel, recording secre- tary; Dr. John R. Wagner, assistant recording secre- tary ; Abraham J. Seaman, financial secretary ; Hon. Charles A. Seidel, treasurer ; William Heinley, Chas. F. Jones, William F. Burkey, trustees ; Douglass D. Seidel, janitor ; William G. Sheradin, foreman; Albert Seivert, first assistant foreman ; J. W. Heinly, second assistant foreman ; John H. Smith, engineer ; Daniel A. Burkey and B. Frank Bean, assistant engineers ; Charles Williamson, fireman; Franklin M. Seaman and Franklin V. Fichthorn, assistant firemen ; David Fin- ady, William Heinly, Irwin Lenhart and Solomon K. Hoffman, engine directors; Reuben A. Dietrich, Dr. John R. Wagner, John Burkey and Franklin Kauff- man, hose directors ; L. K. Saul, David Beard, Chas. Reinhart and James Kelchner, pipemen; George Spindler, Charles F. Jones, John Spareley, John Williamson, Daniel Tobias, Arthur Fesig, George H. Seaman, Samuel Longlow, Calvin F. Miller, W. Wil- liam Appel, John Shadler, Joel E. Seaman, hook-and ladder-men.
WEST HAMBURG .- The station on the Phila- delphia and Reading Railroad, at Hamburg, is on the west side of the river, about half a mile from the borough. The depot building was first sixty rods north of the present site, and Henry S. Kern became the agent, holding the position eighteen years In 1867 the present location was selected, on the farm of N. S. Schock. S. K. Kramp is the present agent.
The first store in the hamlet, by the depot (sometimes called West Hamburg), was opened at the old station, in 1853, by Moses S. Schock. Since 1867 N. S Schock has been in business at his present stand. He was the first postmaster of the Berks post-office, established there in 1879.
In 1870 John Williams and Solomon Seaman erected a large brick block, which was arranged for hotel and store purposes. There Williams opened what is now the National Hotel, and Solomon Seaman & Sons established a mercantile business, which is now carried on by Seaman & Brother.
The Hamburg Rolling-Mill is situated at the lower part of the hamlet, and comprises spacious buildings with convenient connections with the main
tracks of the railroad. The enterprise was begun in 1865 by an association composed of William D. Shomo, Benjamin H. Lenhart, Gideon Sunday, George Merkel and John Bickley. The following year the business was carried on by Merkel, Spang & Co., and in 1871 by the Hamburg Iron Company, composed of William A. Shoemaker, John Shoemaker, John Raudson and H. C. Beam. Afterward, it was carried on for a time by Richard Dunkel and others. In 1881 the present firm of Nevegold, Scheide & Co., of Bris- tol, Pa., took possession of the works and began operations under a lease for five years. They employ seventy-five men and make a specialty of the manufacture of band and hoop-iron, produc- ing from eighty to one hundred and fifty tons daily. The property belongs to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
INDUSTRIES .- One of the earliest industries at this place was the mill of Martin Kaercher, Jr., on Kaercher's Run, where it crosses Main Street. He sold out to George Miller in 1785, who put up the first substantial mill. The old building was burned down in 1875, and the present fine mill was erected by William D. Shomo, who operates it still.
The next mill was built in the northern part of the borough by Jonas Kern ; but, after it became the property of the Reading Railroad Company, it was allowed to remain idle.
Near State Street, a steam-mill was built by Thomas Sieger, which was supplied with good ma- chinery, but which has had many owners, among them being Daniel Kern, Jacob Geiger, Fink & Co., Motes & Buffington and the present George Walters.
In this locality the boat-yard of Benjamin Meinder was situated. He was the successor of Frederick Albright, the first boat-builder, whose yard was in the southern part of the borough. Meinder was succeeded by Miller & Baltzer, and they by Jacob Wolff, the last boat-builder, to any extent, in the borough.
Among the smaller industries were the hat- shops of Henry Fister, who employed a number of hands, and that of George & Peter Stam- baugh, on the corner of Main and State Streets, both long since discontinued. The chief products were wool hats.
885
BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.
East of the old mill the distillation of liquor was carried on in early times. Jacob and Wil- liam Kalbach put up a large distillery near the canal, in the lower part of the borough, which was in operation about 1850. An extensive business was at one time carried on, but no liquor has been made there within the last twelve years. The building is the property of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, and latterly has been used for warehouse purposes.
On White Oak Street, where the office of J. Levan, Esq., is now situated, Dr. Augustus Shultz had a brewery in operation several years, about 1832. On Main Street, in the southern part of the borough, another brewery had a short existence. It was the property of Benjamin Meinders.
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