History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 159

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

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

About seventy years ago Dr. James May was here as a physician. In 1823 Dr. Michael Ludwig succeeded him and practiced many years. When the latter first became a practi- tioner here, his ride extended over territory which is now occupied by fifteen doctors. Dr. William Jones was also long in practice and was succeeded by Dr. Franklin Gerhart.

Washington Camp, No. 240, P. O. S. of A., was instituted at Douglassville July 15, 1877, with fourteen members. In 1885 twenty were reported. The camp has about two-hundred and fifty dollars in its treasury, and though not strong numerically , is fairly prosperous.

MONOCACY STATION, on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, is a small hamlet, eleven and a half miles below Reading. It derives its name from Monocacy Hill, in that locality. A post-office was established in 1872. It contains a public-house, a store and a half-dozen resi- dences.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EZEKIEL RHOADS .- The ancestors of the Rhoads family arrived in Pennsylvania about 1710. An allusion is made to them in a manu- script history of Oley township, which is now in the Pennsylvania Historical Society, at Philadelphia, to this effect :

" About 1725 three brothers named Rhoads, or Roth, also prospected this section of country for a home. As they threaded their way through Oley, one day, they halted at the beau- tiful spring, where now stands the farm-house of Jacob K. Kaufman, near the Yellow House. . . . They finally took up land on the All Sort range, in Amity, and settled thereon, and many families of that name have descended from them, some of whom are still in possession of the an- cestral estates."

Ezekiel Rhoads was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Rhoads, grandson of Jacob and the great-grandson of Jacob, one of the three broth- ers mentioned. He was born in Amity town- ship January 26, 1810. In his fifteenth year he became an orphan, and, at the same age, he was confirmed and admitted to full membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Amity- ville, then under the ministration of the Rev.

Conrad Miller. Owing to the early death of his parents, the lad attended school but six months in his life. His guardian, David Lud- wig, hired him to John A. Bertolette, of Oley township, at the wages of four dollars per month for services which now would be valued at twelve dollars per month. On October 1, 1825, he was apprenticed for a term of two and a half years to Jacob Coleman, of Amity, to learn the tailoring trade, often working from four o'clock in the morning until eleven at night during the winter season. This period of his life instilled into young Rhoads those habits of industry and steady application which have clung to him and are part of his characteristics, even in his old age. In 1828 he went to Trappe, in Montgomery County, where he followed his trade as a journeyman for a year, and in 1829 removed to Reading where he was em- ployed with Joseph Wanner until 1831, when he removed to Amity township, on a tract of land containing thirty-eight acres, on the Manatawny Creek. This land he inherited at a valuation of one thousand eight hundred and sixty dollars. This, with two hundred dollars in cash which he had saved from his earnings, constituted his start in life. Mr. Rhoads here followed tailoring, then purchased forty-three and a half acres ad- joining the inherited tract. In 1833 he pur- chased twenty acres additional at one hundred dollars per acre, having then in all one hundred and a half acres. Shortly afterward he ac- quired, by purchase, a tract of forty-three acres, and one of thirty-four acres, having then in all one hundred and seventy-eight and a half acres. From 1831 to 1838 he conducted tailoring in addition to farming, employing five hands at the former business. In the year last named he began to devote his eutire energies to farm- ing.

Mr. Rhoads during all this time was a public-spirited citizen, ever favoring and aiding public enterprises. He was one of the original shareholders of the National Union Bank of Reading. He holds stock in the National Bank of Norristown, and in the Yellow House and Douglassville Turnpike Company, and one-fourth scholarship in Franklin and Mar- shall College. From the date of his admission

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

to the church he has been a zealous and devoted member. He has been a church-warden, and was for many years one of the principal aids in furnishing the music for the services of the church at Amityville. Iu 1838 he was elected superintendent of the first Sunday-school be- tween Reading and Pottstown-that connected with his home church. This position he lield with but brief intermission for forty years, with credit to himself and profit to the school.

married to Susanna K. Bertolette, daughter of John A. Bertolette, of Oley township. They have had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. His wife was stricken with paralysis aud died February 28, 1875, in her forty- fourth year.

Calvin B. Rhoads, the oldest son, was mar- ried to Camilla Johnson, of Norristown ; he removed to Wilmington, Del., in 1873, and in 1885 was elected mayor of that city.

Ezekiel Rhoads

In 1885 he accepted the superintendency of the Locustdale Sunday-school, between Yellow House and Earlville. He has never faltered in the diligent study of the Scriptures.

In politics Mr. Rhoads has always been a Democrat. In 1860 he supported Stephen A. Douglas for President of the United States. He has remained a firm Democrat, and has always been an advocate of sound political principles.

On November 27, 1831, Mr. Rhoads was

Franklin B. Rhoads, the second son, married Rebecca Lorah, daughter of John Lorah, of Amity township. He now resides at Yellow House, where he is known as a man of quick intelligence and marked business capacity.

Amos W. B. Rhoads, the third son, removed to Dayton, Ohio, in 1868, and was married to Annie Willard, of that city ; he became secre- tary and treasurer of the Farmers' Friend Manufacturing Company, but died in Novem- ber, 1872.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The eldest dangliter, Louisa, married Levi A. Bertolette, of Oley township, who removed to Wilmington, Del., in 1871, and was appointed a justice of the peace in 1878, which office he holds at this date.

Catherine E., the second daughter, was mar- ried to Daniel L. Rhoads, who resides at Yellow House, Amity township, and is presi- dent of the National Bank of Boyertown.

The youngest daughter, Harriet A., married

ance of religious, private and social duties, and has come to be affectionately called grandfather by all the people of his neighborhood. He is yet in the full vigor of health and possesses a genial and happy disposition.

Ezekiel Rhoads is a man of marked traits of character, of irreproachable honesty and the strictest integrity. He is dignified in his bear- ing, affable in his manners and highly revered by the community in which he lives.

William Bocom

Henry K. Bechtel, of Exeter township, and now resides in Reading. By these six children Mr. Rhoads has sixteen grandchildren living.

After his wife's death Mr. Rhoads ceased farming and lived with his son Franklin, who succeeded him. He resides with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Rhoads, at Yellow-House, where he lives at the pres- eut time, surrounded by all the bright and cheerful influences of a charming domestic circle. He confines his energies to the perform-

WILLIAM YOCOM was born on the old Yocom homestead, in Amity township, January 23, 1817. His father was Moses Yocom, born at the same place October 11, 1786, and died August 30, 1850. William Yocom's mother was Susanna Weaver, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Weaver, who were the parents of Peter Weaver, who was the father of Colonel Jeremiah Weaver. Susanna Yocom, mother of William Yocom, was born Angust 18, 1791, and died May 19, 1872. William Yocom's grandfather was John Yocom and

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

was also born ou the old homestead (now the Casselbury farm), in the year 1749, and died October 14, 1823.

Jonas Yocom, the great-grandfather of William Yocom, was a Swede, and came with the Swedes to this country late in the seven- teenth century, and settled with the colony at the Wissahickon, near Philadelphia, with two other brothers. Later some of the Swedes settled on the left bank of the Schuylkill River, at what is now Douglassville, but two miles south from Mr. Yocom's residence, where the old stone house, built in 1716, still stands. The name was first spelled "Jocom," then "Yo- comb" and now " Yocom." Moses Yocom had three farms in Amity township.

William Yocom obtained a common-school education ; worked on farm with his father. In January, 1834, he was apprenticed to John Bunn at cabinet-making and served three years, and pursued it two years. He became highly respected and still is held in high esteem by all who know him. He was elected to nu- merous township offices ; was a school director when Jesse G. Hawley, Esq., editor of the Reading Daily Eagle, first taught school, and served three terms.

In 1867-68 the Douglassville and Yellow House turnpike road was constructed and Mr. Yocom elected its first superintendant, and also ever since its construction its treasurer; is pres- ident of the Berks County Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company for the last ten years, and since 1870 a director of the National Bank of Pottstown; is trustee, guardian, assignee, execu- tor and administrator of estates. His farm, which he still cultivates, contains two hundred acres ; it lies between Amityville and Douglass- ville, and was formerly known as the "Jones homestead." His son's name is William B. Yocom. He has his second wife, who was Miss Mary B. Kline, daughter of George Kline, and was in later years a prominent merchant at Earlville, Berks county, Pa., and has one son, William B. Yocom.

GEORGE K. LORAH was born on a farm in Amity township January 14, 1823. John Lorah, his great-grandfather, emigrated from France during the time of the persecution of

the Huguenots, about 1710. The deed for a tract of two hundred and sixty-seven and one- half acres of land he purchased in Amity town- ship is dated June 1, 1740. John Lorah died in 1868 (?) leaving two sons, George and John, and three daughters. George Lorah was born in 1745. He held the office of county commissioner of Berks County for three years ; was also appointed a justice of the peace for Amity township and held the office until he died, August 1, 1823, leaving three sons-John, George and Daniel-and three daughters. John, the eldest, moved to Ohio, and died there about 1845. George, the second son, lived in Cumru township, Berks County, and died there in 1840. Daniel, the third son, was born February 20, 1779, in Amity township. He was very prom- inent in the church and in political matters, and filled various offices.

He owned the farm previously owned by his father and grandfather; it is now owned by John Lorah, brother of George K. Lorah. He died September 8, 1853, leaving four sons -William, John, George and Augustus-and seven daughters. The sons reside in Amity township, except Augustus, who lives in Potts- town. The mother, Hannah Knabb, was a descendant of a prominent family of Oley town- ship.

George K. Lorah obtained his education in a subscription school in Amityville, until he was eighteen years old, taught by Samuel Boyer, an efficient teacher. He worked on the farm of his father until 1843, when he engaged in teaching a subscription school in Colebrook- dale township; then taught one year in Amity township and was a clerk in the mercantile business for eighteen months. In 1847 he en- gaged in farming land which he afterwards inherited from his father, and by purchases since has now in all one hundred and sixty- nine acres. September 23, 1847, he married Wilhelmina De Turk, daughter of Jacob De Turk, also a descendant of the Huguenots. She was prominent in church-work, in which she always took great interest. She was born Oc- tober 16, 1825, and died September 21, 1880. Mr. Lorah has always taken a prominent part in the church and in political matters; held the

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

office of deacon and elder in the Reformed Church at Amityville; was also one of the building committee for the erection of the pres- ent church there.

Mr. Lorah was at various times elected school director, and served as a mercantile appraiser for the year 1858. In 1861 he was elected county commissioner. During the time of the Civil War, by reason of which it was often diffi- cult to act upon subjects brought before the

He held the office of justice of the peace from 1865 to 1880. He then resigned the office in order to accept the office of Representative in the Legis- lature of Pennsylvania, to which position he was elected in November, 1880, for the term of two years, and served during the session of 1881 faithfully and with credit to himself and his constituents. In the fall of 1882 he was re-elected, and served in the extra session of 1883 to the entire credit of himself and those he

Geo K Lorah

board, asking for relicf for the families of soldiers during their absence at the seat of war, and for the payment of bounties to men willing to enlist, to fill the different quotas of the county, and which required appropriations of large sums of money, upon the propriety or the right of which people greatly differed, the commissioners took the responsibility to act in accordance with their best judgment, and were abundantly sustained by the people, and the county debt thereby created has since all been cheerfully paid by the tax-payers of the county ..

represented. At the expiration of his term, in December, 1884, he was appointed a notary public. In 1886 the citizens of his township again elected him justice of the peace.

He is the secretary of the Mutual Fire In- surance Company of Berks County, which po- sition he has held since December, 1864. Through his excellent and careful management the company has been very successful, increasing their insurance from two million five hundred thousand dollars to eight million dollars. He is also president of the Douglassville and Yellow

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

House Turnpike Company, and a director of the Oley Valley and Lehigh Railroad Com- pany ; also a director of the Penn National Bank of Reading, and secretary and treasurer of the Monocacy Bridge Company ; also presi- dent of the Monocacy Valley Creamery Asso- ciation. He has had the settlement of a large number of estates as executor, administrator or assignee, and held many positions as trustee and guardian of minor children, enjoying the geu- eral confidence and esteem of all who know him.

young woman named Bechtel, by whom he had children, among them being two sons,-Michael (who was married to a Miss Lutz) and Philip. Philip Ludwig was born in Amity township, March 10, 1759, and carried on farming. He was actively interested in the building of the first substantial Amity Church, having been one of the prominent members of that congre- gation. He was married to Anna Dehart, born Angust 16, 1769, and died December 25, 1825. He died February 5, 1827, and left seven chil-

ElammSven Auchwig

ELAM M. LUDWIG, a prominent and success- ful breeder of fine blooded horses, is a descend- ant of Michael Ludwig, who emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania, having sailed in the ship called "Pennsylvania Merchant " and landed at the port of Philadelphia in 1733, whence he proceeded to Amity township and settled on the farm now occupied by William Davidheiser, of which he then became the owner. Michael Ludwig was married to a

dren,-Abraham, Thomas (married to Mary A. Schaeffer), Jacob (married to Sarah Spang), Benjamin, Mary (married to George Moser), Ellen (married first to a Nein, and afterward to Wesley Stern), and Rachel (married Daniel Deeter and moved West).

Abraham Ludwig was born in Amity town- ship, on the homestead, March 7, 1788. He was educated at the " Molatton School " and subsequently carried on farming. He was mar-

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ried to Sarah Miller, who was born January 8, 1786. He died January 18, 1863, and left a widow (who survived him fifteen years, having died July 26, 1878) and seven children, -- Harriet (married to William Lorah, a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of the township), Augus- tus (married to Carolina Pott, a daughter of John Pott), Elizabeth (married to Peter Mar- quart, Esq.), Mary Ann (married to Jacob Holloway), Elam, Sarah (married to Jacob Schaeffer) and Lewis (married to Elizabeth Rothermel, a daughter of Peter Rothermel).

Elam Miller Ludwig, the subject of this sketch, was born on the homestead March 7, 1828, and educated in the schools which the township afforded. He assisted his father in farming till he became twenty-three years of age, and then commen ced farming for himself in Union township, on one of the Brooke farms, which he bought in the next year after he be- gan (having been given a generous opportunity by the owners, Edward and George Brooke), and in three years he sold the same at a consid- erable profit ; this profit gave him a substan- tial start in business life. He then moved to Amity township, and bought the Egle farm (eighty acres), known also as the Gerling farm, which was a part of one of the Swedes' tracts ; this he has occupied and conducted contin- uously till now.

Mr. Ludwig has taken a great interest in the Agricultural Society of the county, having at- tended all its exhibitions, excepting the first, and placed superior blooded horses on exhibi- tion. His first exhibition consisted of two heavy Canadian stallions. From that time till now-a period covering over thirty years-he has paid much attention to the raising of fine horses, distinguished for speed, and exhibited them at county fairs. The stallion " Bonaparte " was introduced by Townsend Evans, of which Mr. Ludwig became the owner. Sired by this stallion, he raised a fine, speedy mare, which, at four years old, trotted a mile in two fifty-two. This was remarkable speed for a local horse thirty years ago. He introduced " Ironsides," having bought him as a colt. This superior stallion trotted a mile on an inferior track (circular,

one-third of a mile in length) in two thirty-six. This was a wonderful feat, and the exhibition developed a feeling in the community for speed in horses. In 1865 Mr. Ludwig introduced the "Ethan Allen " stock. He raised "Lady Elgin," a fine, gentle and speedy mare, which trotted a mile in two twenty-seven. This mare he now has upon his plantation for breeding purposes. In 1874 he introduced the "Ham- bletonian " stock, which he has latterly made a specialty, and in which he has been very suc- cessful. His stock now includes two fine bay mares, " Purity " and "Little Thorne " mated, that have trotted together a half a mile in one fifteen and a quarter.

Mr. Ludwig was married to Hannah Grinder, a daughter of Samuel Grinder, by whom he has nine children,-Calvin, Brooke, Barde, Harriet, Mahlon, Amelia, Sarah, Abraham and Lewis.

COLONEL JEREMIAH WEAVER, of Amity township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, was born October 1, 1816, on the farm of his father, and the farm he afterwards owned. He always lived on the same farm on which he died, November 2, 1885, from softening of the brain. His father was Peter Weaver, a wealthy and distinguished farmer, who, during the latter days of his life, was nearly blind. Peter Weaver was born on the same farm, where he resided until his death, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, from palsy. He was buried in the Amity- villechurch-yard. Colonel Weaver was buried at the Oley Churches. Peter Weaver had two child- ren, Jeremiah and Anna Weaver, the latter being married to Cyrus Ludwig, and after his death she married Edward Philipps.

The parents of Peter Weaver and the grand- father of Colonel Weaver were Jacob Weaver and a Miss Van Reed ; they had eleven chil- dren.

Ellen Knabb, of Oley is a sister of Peter Weaver and an aunt of the colonel. She is now in her ninety-second year.

Colonel Weaver had no children. He was a firm, yet rational man, courageous and brave. He was elected and commissioned by Governor Francis R. Shunk, April 18, 1845, colonel of

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

the Third Regiment of Militia of Pennsylvania, Second Brigade of the Sixth Division, composed of the militia of the counties of Dauphin, Leba- non, Berks and Schuylkill. September 7, 1850, William F. Johnson, Governor of Pennsylvania, commissioned him captain of the National Ar- tillery of the Uniformed Militia of Pennsylvania, First Brigade of the Fifth Division, comprising Dauphin, Lebanon and Berks Counties. He was again elected and commissioned

stock farms in the country. He had a custom of always keeping six heavy Norman horses on the farm and objected to all small horses. He usually kept about twenty-five milk cows for use on the farm, and made the fattening of oxen a specialty, which were shipped to New York and Philadelphia markets. Much of the bur- den and care of managing the farm was assumed by John Swavely, who had been em- ployed by Colonel Weaver for twenty years,

captain of the National Artillery, First Brigade, October 20, 1854, by William Bigler, then Governor of Pennsylvania. His uniform is care- fully preserved by Mrs. Weaver and is still in excellent condition and much prized.

His two swords were loaned to friends and never returned. In his dress he ever showed good taste, always seeking the best. He was a man who dealt honorably with mankind. During the latter years of his life he dealt ex- tensively in live stock, and had one of the finest

and since the colonel's death still assists Mrs. Weaver in the direction of the farm In 1871 Colonel Weaver had as much as fifty-fivehead of cattle and three hundred sheep. He dealt mostly in "short-horn" Durhams. In 1868 Mr. Swavely brought from Ohio, for Colonel Weaver, an ox that weighed twenty-five hundred pounds, for which hepaid in Ohio two hundred and fifty dol- lars. Other oxen averaged from eighteen hun- dred to two thousand pounds, and for many he gave one hundred dollars per head. He bought

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

nearly all his cattle in Trumbull County, Ohio. He bought Southdown sheep (imported), for which he paid one hundred and five dollars per head, and for Canada sheep he paid as high as forty dollars per head. When lie exhibited stock at the county fairs he always secured first premium. He was given first premium at the State fair when held at Easton, Pennsylvania, for fat and yoke oxen. His farm was one of the finest in Berks County, and has been in the possession of the Weaver family since Jannary 5, 1760. It was patented to Peter Weaver, one of the earliest ancestry of the Weavers in this county, and descended from father to son or brother to brother. In 1718 the first owner, Peter Weaver, sold it to Jacob Weaver. In 1747 Jacob sold it to his son Peter, and in 1783 Peter sold it to his son, Jacob Weaver, Jr. In 1820 Jacob Weaver, Jr., sold it to his son Samuel; when, in 1840, Samuel died single and intestate, Jacob Weaver, a brother of Samuel, took it at the appraisement. Jacob, in 1842, had it sold by the sheriff, when Peter Weaver (the father of our subject) bought it and in 1866 sold it to his son, Colonel Jeremiah Weaver. The latter, owing to sundry losses and misfortunes, became involved and assigned his estate to William Yocom for benefit of creditors, and in 1876 Mrs. Cathar- ine Weaver, wife of Colonel Weaver, bought the property and still retains it. It contains two hundred and two acres and fifty-five perches of good soil, well divided into suitable fields, with the finest spring water facilities on all parts of the farm and never freezes.

The farmn extends from the Reading and Boyertown road to the Douglassville and Yellow House turnpike road, accessible from either. The farm has the finest and best fruit, three apple orchards containing about thirty five acres.

The buildings are in excellent condition, there being two dwelling-houses and twenty- two out-buildings. The farm is tenanted (1886) by William Conrad.

COLEBROOKDALE TOWNSHIP.

ERECTION OF TOWNSHIP .- A petition of sundry inhabitants of "Colebrook-Dale" was

presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions, at Philadelphia, on September 7, 1741, in which they set forth " that your petitioners suffer un- der some disadvantages as touching roads and highways, the poor, etc., as not knowing their boundaries, for which reasons some contentious persons frequently oppose us in our proceedings : wherefore we humbly pray this court to take this affair into their consideration and erect a new township. Beginning at a corner in George McCall's upper line of the manor called John Penn's and Douglass township line, and from thence to run along the said manor line north forty east one thousand six hundred perches; thence north west nine hundred and sixty perches to a corner ; thence south forty west one thou- sand six hundred perches; thence southeast nine hundred and sixty perches by vacant land and Douglass township, to the place of begin- ning, containing about nine thousand six hun- dred acres." The subscribers were,-

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 159

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