History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 151

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

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Cigar-Box Factory .- William W. Wren and Oliver Engel established this factory in 1881,-a two-story frame building, is supplied with first- class machinery, operated by steam-power. Eight hands are employed.

Boyertown Machine-Shop was established in 1878 by Daniel Schlegel, and has since been car- ried on by him. The motive-power is steam and the products are general farm and mining ma- chinery. Four men are employed. .

CHURCHES .- Mennonite Church .- The Mennon- ites were the first to establish a place of worship in what is now Boyertown. In 1790 Henry Stauffer, a member of this sect, granted one acre of ground to Abraham Bechtel and Henry High, in trust for the use of the " Mennonite Congregation of Colebrookdale,' an organization some twenty years old at that time, and worshipping in a meeting-house in the eastern end of the valley. Upon this lot a log church was built the same year and a cemetery opened, which is still kept up, though in the borough. This log meeting- house was used as an auxiliary place of worship by the old Colebrookdale congregation, meetings being held every four weeks, until 1819, when it was re- placed by a more commodious brick church, sus taining the same relation as the old house. For a number of years John Gehman and Christian Clemmer were the ministers, and the congregation had a harmonious existence until May, 1847, when a dissension arose on account of a change in the time-honored dress of the ministry and a modifica -- tion of some of the cardinal doctrines of the sect, causing a division into old and new measure parties. The latter held that Menno Simon, the founder of the sect, did not lay down an impera- tive rule in regard to dress, or one which should for all time be unchangeable, but that the essential required was simplicity, a

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

condition which could be obtained as well by the use of buttons as of hooks and eyes, or by modify- ing the cut to adapt it to the wearer instead of fol- lowing an arbitrary cut. They claimed that a revi- sion of the catechism had also been made necessary, and that the rule forbidding marriages outside of the pale of the church should be amended. They did not think that the use of musical instruments, as a means of worship, was sinful, and advocated the necessity of having a printed or written consti- tution instead of relying entirely upon the tradition- ary customs which so long governed them. They claimed, further, that the times demanded an edu- cated ministry, and that the aids to progress and social and religious advancement should be ac- cepted and used to the honor of the Divine Master. These innovations, introduced and de- manded by John H. Oberholtzer, were too sweep- ing in their nature to be accepted by the Menno- nites generally, and a determined opposition to them was aroused on the plea that they were inimi- cal to the best interests of the church, and that, if entertained, the disruption of the sect would fol- low. The old party held that while the new coat of Oberholtzer, rounded to suit his person and provided with buttons, was not sinful by _ itself considered, it symbolized a rebellion against the usages which had been a distinguishing character- istic of the sect, and brought with it a change of principles which would destroy all the traditions of the church. A vital issue having thus been made, a spirited controversy ensued which caused Oberholtzer to sever his connection with the Fran- conia Conference, in which body the title to the church property was vested, and to whose rul- ings the old Mennonites loyally held. Hence, when the new measure Mennonites demanded an interest in, or possession of, certain church prop- erty, the courts decreed that their claims had been forfeited. At Boyertown and Colebrook- dale Clemmer became a follower of Ober- holtzer, and was seconded by a large num- ber of members, to whom he preached as a separate congregation. They used the old brick meeting-house alternately with the old congregation until 1877, when the latter pro- ceeded to demolish it with the purpose of erect- ing a new house. They gave the new congre- gation notice of their intention and invited it to

co-operate with them in building a new church, the title to which should remain in the Franconia Conference. They declined to do so, and had an injunction served on the old congregation to re- strain the demolition of the old building. A long and costly litigation ensued, and, at the end of six years, the courts finally decreed as above stated. Meantime, the old congregation completed a new brick meeting-house forty-five by fifty feet, which was occupied in the fall of 1879. The building committee was composed of Samuel H. Landis, Jacob Bechtel, Joel B. Bauer and Henry G. Gabel. This building has since been used in con- nection with the old church in Washington town- ship, meetings being held every four weeks. There are about forty members, and John B. Bechtel and Andrew Mack served as ministers.

The courts having decided that the new Men- nonite congregation had no interest in the old church property, a new church edifice was be- gun by it on July 20, 1883. The building com- mittee was composed of J. H. Borneman, Isaac Borneman and George Bleim, and the build- ing was dedicated January 7, 1884, by the Rev. Andrew Schelly. It is a brick edifice, in dimen- sions, forty by sixty-five feet, situated in the southern part of the borough. The trustees, in 1886, were John Bechtel, Samuel Landis and J. H. Borneman. The Rev. Christian Clemmer preached for the congregation until his death, in 1882. The present minister is Bishop Moses God- shall, who is assisted by Abraham Godshall. There are about forty members and services are held semi-monthly.

Old Union Church. - The members of the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations of the Swamp Church, living in Colebrookdale township, erected a house of worship in 1811, upon a lot of ground donated by Henry Stauffer, ad- joining that of the Mennonites. It was a plain edifice, forty by fifty feet, and contained galleries on three sides. It was arranged similar to the churches of that period. In 1851 a small steeple was added to the building, which was consecrated on April 26th. A bell was introduced at the same time, this having formerly been on the court house at Reading. The bell was cast in England in 1764, and weighed three hundred pounds. The congregation paid fifty dollars for it, which was a

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low price for a bell of such a quality. After the old house was demolished, as the property of the Reformed congregation, the bell was stored away for future use on a chapel or lecture-room. In 1853 the stone wall inclosing the cemetery was built by the united congregations, Dr. Charles Keeley having bequeathed two hundred dollars for that purpose. In 1854 lamps and chandeliers were supplied, and these were lit for the first time January 28th of that year. In 1873 the Re- formed congregation became the owner of the property, and the old church building was taken down and the present Reformed Church of the Good Shepherd erected in its place, the meetings of the congregation having, in the mean time, been held in the Mennonite Church. The corner-stone was laid April 30, 1874, by the Rev. A. S. Lein- bach, of Reading, and contained, among other things, a leaden plate, upon which were engraven the names of the building committee,-Jacob Kuser, L. M. Koons, Jeremiah Sweinhart, Joseph Young, J. H. Funk and Henry Leh, Sr .; the consistory, Jacob Kuser, Daniel Leidy, F. H. Stauffer, Daniel Borneman, W. Schealer, H. Will, Charles Hagy and John K Stauffer, and the pastor, Rev. L. J. Mayer.

It is a two story edifice, with a front of Phila- delphia pressed brick. The building is fifty-two by eighty feet, with the rear wall recessed nine feet more to afford pupil space. In front is a tower, one hundred and forty feet high, the upper part presenting an octagonal appearance. The building contains a number of fine memorial win- dows, presented by the friends of the church. The auditorium is finely finished, and has a seating capacity for six hundred persons. It was dedicated on December 25, 1876. The cost was thirty-five thousand dollars.

The following pastors of the Reformed congre- gation officiated : Revs. Frederick Herman, Henry S. Bassler, Samuel Siebert, N. S. Strassburger, Augustus S. Dechert, R. A. Van Court and L. J. Moyer, the last being the present pastor. Rev. Mr. Dechert introduced English preaching every four weeks. The congregation has four hundred members, and a consistory of which L. P. G. Fegley is the secretary, and L. H. Lefever the treasurer.

St. John's Lutheran Church .- The Lutheran 78

congregation, organized about the time the Union Church was built, had as its first pastor the Rev. Jacob Miller, who served it eighteen years. He was succeeded by Conrad Miller, whose pastor- ate extended through twenty-four years. Revs. Nathan Yeager and A. H. Groh officiated for a short time. Since December 9, 1865, the Rev. L. Groh has been the pastor, and during his ministry the history of the church has been the most event- ful. Soon after his accession the question of building a new church was agitated, to accommo- date the growing congregation ; but it was not until 1870 that definite action was taken. On the last day of that year a meeting was held, at which it was decided that a charter should be procured and a new church built. It was then reported that ten thousand dollars had been pledged for a new church, one-fourth of the amount having been tendered by Samuel Shaner. The charter was procured the following January, and in it the congregation was designated by the present name, having been known up till then by the locality only. Dr. Thomas J. B. Rhoads, Jeremiah Romig, William Binder and Aaron Mory com- posed the building committee. The corner-stone was laid September 2, 1871, and the church was formally dedicated August 18, 1872. It is a well- proportioned, two-story brick edifice, fifty-five by ninety feet, with a high auditorium, having galleries on three sides, and affording seating capacity for one thousand persons. The church is finely finished and contains a pipe-organ of twenty-four stops. A steeple one hundred and sixty-nine feet high is attached to the building, and includes a fine bell, weighing two thousand six hundred pounds. The total church improvement cost about thirty five thousand dollars.

A Lutheran Sunday-school has been conducted since September, 1872. In 1885 it had five hundred members, with David S. Erb as the superintendent. The congregation has about eight hundred members. The services are conducted in the German and English languages.

Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church .- The cor- ner-stone of this church was laid August 10, 1875, and the church was completed for consecration the following year. It is a brick edifice, with a seating capacity for four hundred persons. The building committee were composed of James Wren, Joseph

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Tyrrell and Richard Richards, the latter serving as treasurer. When the congregation was organ- ized there were fifty members, but owing to re- movals only thirty-eight were reported in 1882. During Rev. Martin's ministry there was an in- crease of membership, so that at the close of 1884 the entire number was seventy-two. On March 1, 1886, there were one hundred full and thirty-five probationary members.

There is a flourishing Sunday-school of twenty- one teachers and officers and one hundred and eighty-one scholars, supported by the church, Wil- liam W. Wren being the superintendent.

EDUCATIONAL - Public School. - The first schools at Boyertown were taught by German teachers in the school-house standing on the Union Church lot. When the free-school system was ac- cepted, in 1838, English instruction began to be imparted in the octagonal school building, which was used until 1860, when the board of directors -composed of Amos K. Strunk, Daniel K. Ritter, Isaac Ritter, John Murkel, Jesse Peunypacker and William Ritter-purchased a lot in another part of the town and erected a two-story brick building to accommodate two schools. This build. ing was enlarged and remodeled in 1876 by the directors of the borough, who had controlled the school since 1866. It contains four rooms, neatly furnished. The schools were graded in 1878 and have achieved a good reputation. The four de- partments had an average attendance of one hun- dred and forty-one in 1885, and the schools were under the principalship of Henry B. Yorgey. At the same time the directors were J. H. Funk, pres- ident; William H. Fox, secretary ; O. P. Grim- ley, treasurer ; L. M. Wootman, D. B. Bauer and Daniel H. Fox.

Mount Pleasant Seminary had its origin in a se- lect school, established in 1842 by Hon. John Stauffer. Its success encouraged him to erect a building for a school on a more extensive scale, and in 1849 the present seminary building was put up. Prof. Jacob Whitman was the first prin- cipal, in 1850, he having been a very able teacher and especially skillful as a botanist. The course of instruction he provided embraced the common English branches, the classics and higher mathe- matics. After occupying a professor's chair at the State Agricultural College he removed to Kansas,

where he now resides. Henry Dechert and Charles Albert were later teachers. In 1854 Prof. P. D. W. Hankey took charge of the seminary and ably conducted it for thirteen years, and was assisted, part of the time, by his brother, Isaac B. Hankey. In 1855 the building was enlarged and its facili- ties much increased, so that it afforded accommo- datious for fifty resident scholars, besides having a number of day scholars. In 1867 Prof. L. M. Koons became principal and continued until the school was closed, in 1880. He was an able teach- er, but his failing health caused him to relinquish a work which had become a part of his nature. The school afforded instruction for both sexes and supported a literary society, which had a library of several hundred volumes. The building has a fine location on spacious grounds, and is at present the property of Fred. H. Stauffer. Since the school was closed it has been used as a residence.

Kallynean Academy was established in 1866 by Prof. Isaac B. Hankey. He erected a large brick building, which had accommodations for seventy- five scholars. and had a corps of four teachers. The library contained about one thousand volumes. For a number of years the academy was highly prosperous. This school has also been recently discontinued and the property is now occupied as a private residence.

TAVERNS .- A public-house was opened about 1805 in a long, log building, which stood upon the site of the present " Union House," and of which Michael Boyer was the landlord. Prominent among the early landlords was Samuel Hartranft, the father of the ex-Governor. The present build- iug was erected in 1855 by William Binder, and has been owned by D. D. Boyer since 1861. The recent landlords have been Frederick Graeff, Charles Grant, Nathaniel Erb and the present, M. K. Grant. In the days of stage travel this house was the headquarters at Boyertown for several lines.

In the lower part of the town Jacob Neidig had a small beer-shop, which afterwards became a pub- lic-house. The building has been torn down.

The present " Keystone House" was the second hotel of any size. It was built in 1850 by Henry Boyer, and has been enlarged several times, the last time by George K. Ritter. It is now au at- tractive, four-story building, kept by Jacob Schaeffer.

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The third public-house of note was built as a residence by William Shaner and changed to a hotel by Charles Fegley in 1870. It was then known as the " William Penn Hotel," but after having been enlarged by the present owner, Sam- uel Sperry, in 1884, it was called the " Mansion House."

STORES .- Some time after the year 1805 Daniel Boyer opened the first store in the place, occupy- ing a part of the old log tavern; and some years later he built a brick store on the corner opposite, which has ever since been known as the " Boyer Stand." In 1835 Samuel B. Boyer opened another store, on the corner diagonally opposite the hotel, and Daniel B. Boyer engaged in trade the follow- ing year. In 1875-76 D. B. Boyer erected a three-story brick block, seventy by sixty-nine feet, on the site of the old stand, the upper story form- ing two public halls. In this building his sons, James and Horace K. Boyer, are now carrying on business.

Grim's Block, adjoining, was erected in 1873, by William K. Grim. It is sixty by eighty feet, three stories high, with large halls in the upper story.

The buildings on the opposite side of the old Boyer stand were removed and the present fine block built in 1879 by D. B. Boyer, and the ad- joining block was built by him in 1884. Part of it is occupied by Levi E. Lefever, who started the first general hardware-store in the borough. In the lower part of the town L. H. Lefever put up a large business house, in 1868, and he has since been engaged there as a general merchant. Op- posite is the Rhoads Block, erected in 1885, by Dr. Thomas J. B. Rhoads, in dimensions forty- eight by one hundred and fifty-seven feet, and four stories high. An opera-house is in the second- story front, with a seating capacity for five hun- dred persons. It was formally opened December 26, 1885. In the lower story are three fine store- rooms.

D. C. Brumbach's furniture establishment is in the same neighborhood and was erected in 1882. The building is forty by ninety feet, three stories in height, and is entirely occupied by him. H. M. Houck is the pioneer in this branch of trade, having established himself about twenty years ago. His present large warerooms have been oc-

cupied since 1883. Charles A. Mory and Baker & Weller are also general merchants; J. K. Him- melreich and A. E. & H. Leidy, dealers in milli- nery ; D. H. Fox, clothier ; J. S. Case, shoe deal- er; I. J. Renner, harness; B. M. Yost, coal and feed.

Among the early inhabitants of the place were Lewis S. Worman, who established himself as a harness-maker in 1842, which business he still con- tinues ; David K. East, a watchmaker, for the same length of time; Hugh Borneman, a watch- maker, in 1841; Benjamin Riegner and John Deysher, blacksmiths; Abraham Eshbach, John Stauffer, John Steinrook and Israel R. Laucks, tinsmiths ; John Maurer, Daniel Sands and D. H. Fox, tailors; John Fegley, shoemaker; William Whitman, Josiah, Frederick and Jeremiah Swein- hart, wheelwrights; Reuben Prile and John Stauffer, cabinet-makers; and Daniel Cressman, to- bacconist. Aside from a few stores and shops, with the general interests of a country town, the borough had nothing to distinguish it as a business point until the building of the railroad, in 1869. The depot buildings were erected in 1869 and Daniel Spare was appointed the first agent. Since January 1, 1879, the agent has been L. M. Wart- man. The principal shipment is ore, about two hundred tons being moved daily. Cigars follow next as an article of shipment.

KEYSTONE FIRE COMPANY .- Before the incor- poration measures had been taken to secure pro- tection against fire, and a small hand-engine had been bought at Pottstown by means of a popular subscription. This engine was manned by a volnu- teer company whose organization was not kept up very strictly, and, in 1867, it was in debt to such an extent that the borough bought the apparatus and thenceforth appropriated a small sum of money each year to keep the same in order. In 1873 a good No. 2 Silsby steam fire-engine was bought, as well as a hose-carriage and a hose-truck, with six hundred feet of leather hose, which were placed in care of the newly-organized Keystone Fire Company. For a number of years a house was leased to store the apparatus ; but, in 1878, a desir- able lot was purchased, on which a good two-story engine-house was built the following year. In 1884 a part of this building was arranged for a borough lock-up. The upper story has been

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

handsomely fitted up for the use of the fire com- pany.

The company was organized January 27, 1873, and became an incorporated body May 6, 1873. Its first officers were I. B. Hankey, president ; S. N. Bucher. vice-president ; J. K. Grant, secre- tary ; D. G. Gabel, assistant secretary ; William Binder, treasurer ; John Schealer, chief engineer.

The company adopted as its motto: " When duty calls, 'tis ours to obey," and selected a full board of hose and engine directors. On the 4th of July, that year, it made the first public exhibi- tion of the engine, the department parading on that occasion. Since its existence the company has demonstrated its usefulness on several occa- sions, subduing fires when general conflagrations were threatened. It has acquired property to the amount of four hundred dollars and receives a yearly appropriation of one hundred dollars from the borough. Its active membership in 1886 was about forty, embracing only about one-third of the persons enrolled. Officers for 1886 : John Leaver, president ; William Wallace, vice-presi- dent ; William H. Sperry, secretary ; Frank Bucher, treasurer; Jacob Sassaman, chief engi- neer; James Anderson and Wilson Geyer, fire- men ; John Schealer, D. H. Fox and F. G. Binder, trustees.

FRIENDSHIP HOOK-AND-LADDER COMPANY was organized May 5, 1882, and had as its first officers George Endy, president ; Franklin Dey- sher, secretary; and John Deysher, treasurer. A membership of thirty was reported in 1886, who manned a good outfit, consisting of hooks, ladders and trucks. Officers for 1886 : Charles Bird, president ; Charles Deysher, secretary ; and Jacob Freed, foreman.

POST-OFFICE .- The Boyertown post-office was established February 14, 1828. The following persons have been the postmasters : Daniel Boyer, 1828-36 ; Daniel B. Boyer, 1836-41 ; Jacob K. Boyer and D. B. Boyer, 1841-65 ; J. H. Funk, 1865-69 ; D. B. Boyer, 1869-85; W. K. Grim, 1885-86. The office is kept in a commodious room in the Grim Block, which has been especially fitted up for it. There are thirty-eight lock and two hundred and sixteen call boxes in addition to the general delivery. The office has twelve mails per day, one being direct from Philadelphia. Since

August 1, 1880, it has been a postal money-order office. For many years the nearest office was Pottstown, and when established but one mail per week was afforded.

PHYSICIANS,-The first practitioners were Wil- liam and Joel Bryant and a Dr. Wagenzeller, after 1830. Dr. Charles Keely is remembered as one of the most prominent of the early physicians, practicing here from 1840 for ten years, when he removed to Reading. Dr. Erastus P. Schull succeeded him, and he by Dr. John Todd, Dr. Samuel Todd, Dr. Addison Schultz and Dr. L. K. Francis, the latter being still in practice. The other resident physicians now are Dr. Thomas J. B. Rhoads, since 1863; Dr. T. H. Leidy, since 1878 ; Dr. Wilbur Hankey since 1881 ; and Dr. John S. Borneman, since 1882. Dr. J. Funk is a resident physician, but not in practice. Dr. Henry Johnston, who died at Boyertown in 1861, had been a successful practitioner for fifteen years.

The first drug-store was established in 1865, by Dr. J. H. Funk, and is now continued by J. Gieger. Another drug-store was opened in 1882 by J. H. Borneman. The latter was the first to practice dentistry at this place, a profession which has also been followed by Dr. Joel B. Bower since 1862.

PRINTING. - Franklin Printing-House was opened, in the fall of 1878, by Clinton S. Miller, who here published the Boyertown Weekly Messen- ger. In the fall of 1880, M G. Oberholtzer pur- chased the office and discontinued the paper, de- voting his attentiou to job work. In the spring of 1884 he sold out to J. H. Stauffer and C. F. Emes, who continued until September, 1885, when I. T. Ehst bought out Stauffer's interest, and the firm became Ehst & Emes.

Boyertown Democrat, a semi-German-English weekly, is published by the Charles Spatz Com- pany. (See chapter on Newspapers.) The office is well equipped to do job printing.

BANKS .- National Bank of Boyertown began business in March, 1874, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, which, in 1875, was increased to one hundred thousand. The business was first conducted in Aaron Mory's building. In 1882 a spacious and substantial banking-house was erected for its exclusive use, at a cost of nine thou-

GhostsRhoads, M.D.

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BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.

sand dollars, which has been occupied since 1883. The bank was organized with a board of stock- holders composed of Thomas J. B. Rhoads, D. B. Boyer, Aaron Mory, Milton A. Mory, William K. Grim, J. W. Hillegas, Daniel L. Rhoads, Thomas Christman, William Weand, Jacob B. Bechtel, Andrew B. Bauer and Jeremiah R. Guldin. The first-named became the president and Milton A. Mory the cashier, the latter serving since. The business of the bank has been very successfully conducted. The total resources March 1, 1886, were $453,690.89, with undivided profits amount- ing to nearly ten thousand dollars.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 151

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