History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 94

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 94

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).

AUGUSTUS S. SASSAMAN was born in Douglass township, Berks County, Febuary 7, 1834. His paternal ancestor, Augustus Sassaman, a native of

Witgenstein, Germany, married a Miss Gernant, emigrated to America and settled in the Maiden- creek district of this county immediately after the Revolution. Judge Sassaman received a pre- paratory educational training in the district schools, and at a classical seminary in Boyertown. In 1853 he was admitted to the junior class in Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pa., was graduated from that institution with the class of 1855 and immediately thereafter entered the profession of teaching at New Berlin, Union County, in an institution which, in 1856, was merged into the Union Seminary. He filled its chair of ancient languages for three years, the chair of natural sciences for four years, and for a time he gave instruction in the German language. While teaching he began the study of the law under the direction of Hons. A. H. Dill and Isaac Slenker. Resigning his position in the Union Seminary in 1862, he spent a year in the office of Isaac Slenker, Esq., and was admitted to the bar at Lewisburgh, Pa., in December, 1863. At the instance of some of the friends of his wife, who was a Miss De Turk, from Berks County, and a descendant of Huguenot ancestry, he returned to his native county and soon acquired a large and lucrative practice. He continued in the active duties of his profession until 1875, when he was elected additional law judge of the courts of Berks County and served one full term of ten years, from January 2, 1876, to January 4, 1886. Upon his retirement from the bench, Judge Sassa- man returned to the practice of the law, in which he is now actively engaged.

JAMES NEVIN ERMENTROUT, the youngest son of William and Justina (Silvis) Ermentrout, was born at Reading, October 25, 1846. After a pre- paratory education in the common schools he was admitted into the High School when eleven years old, at the head of his class. He spent four years in this local institution and graduated June, 1862. Having been first in his class at the time of his graduation, he delivered the valedictory,-the highest honor at the commencement exercises. After teaching a country school in Ruscomb- manor township during the following winter (1862-63), he entered the Tuscarora Academy, in Juniata County, and there continued his studies in the higher branches of education for a year, excepting the winter of 1863-64, when he again

James Namenbrown

St.S. Schwarz

547

BENCH AND BAR.

taught a school in Alsace township. Then he was appointed professor of languages in that institu- tion, and filled this important position very acceptably for a year. In 1865 he resigned this position and returned to Reading. During that year he assisted in organizing the parochial school in the St. John's German Lutheran Church, and conducted it as principal with great satisfaction to the officers and members of that congregation. His brother, Professor John S. Ermentrout, was then fill- ing the office of superintendent of common schools of the county, and owing to the many schools over an extended territory and the great labor in perform- ing the duties of this position, he was appointed deputy superintendent. His qualifications for the work of assisting in perfecting the school system in the county were of a high order. He continued in this educational work for two years, from 1866 to 1868, and distinguished himself by his devotion to it. The increasing number of schools, scholars and teachers indicated the zeal with which he pursued this undertaking, and the success of his efforts.

Whilst deputy superintendent, he selected the law as his profession, and conducted a course of reading and study, under the preceptorship of his brother, Daniel Ermentrout, Esq., a practicing at- torney at Reading and now representative in Congress from this district, till November 27, 1867, when he was admitted to the bar. In 1868, upon discontinuing his labors as deputy superintendent in the educational work of the county, he directed his attention entirely to the legal profession, and, by reason of his extensive acquaintance through- out the county which he had made during his visits in the several school districts, he soon became actively engaged in practice. In 1869 he formed a law partnership with his brother, under the firm- name of Daniel & James N. Ermentrout. Their law business increased rapidly and embraced a general practice, including important litigation and the settlement of numerous valuable estates. In 1874, Daniel Ermentrout, Esq., was elected State Senator from this district, and re-elected for three successive terms till 1880; and then he was chosen a member of Congress, which office he has held from 1881 till now-he being the present incumbent. During this period the extensive practice of the firm was conducted very success- fully and almost entirely by the junior member,

and this constant engagement in legal business gave him a large and valuable experience. His strict integrity won for him the confidence of all who came to know him or transact business with him ; and his uniform courtesy to all the members of the bar was a prominent characteristic of his daily life for which he was highly regarded by them.

When the term of the additional law judge of the county was about to expire, the members of the bar naturally directed their attention towards Mr. Ermentrout as an attorney worthy of their con- sideration in connection with this office. In April, 1885, a letter was addressed to him, subscribed by eighty attorneys, without regard to political party, comprising almost the entire number at the bar, requesting him to permit the presentation of his name to the people and the suggestion of himself as a proper person to fill this office. He consented, because he felt it a duty incumbent upon him to do so, inasmuch as the request came with such unusual unanimity and in such a non-partisan form. This proceeding on the part of the attorneys created a strong public sentiment in his behalf, and when the Democratic Convention assembled at Reading, on August 31st following, he was nominated by acclamation, and afterward elected at the ensuing county election. He was sworn into office for ten years on January 4, 1886. His call to the bench by the almost unanimous voice of the Berks County bar is the highest possible tribute to his legal learning and personal integrity.

HIRAM H. SCHWARTZ is of German extraction. His grandfather, Isaac Schwartz, was married to Miss Margaret Rathmacher; and he resided in Upper Macungie township, Lehigh County, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Their children were Jacob, John, Isaac, Elizabeth, Har- riet, Kate, Mary and Esther. John was born on the 13th of March, 1804, at Schwartz's Spring, in Upper Macungie, and he was married to Han- nah Keck, daughter of Conrad and Catherine Moyer Keck, of the same township. Their issue was six children,-Hiram H., John W., Alfred P. (deceased), Eli G., Catherine (married to E. L. Breinig) and Katurah (married to - Fulmer).

Hiram H. Schwartz was born on a farm in Maxatawny township, now owned by Jacob Kutz, and in April, 1834, removed to a farm in North

548

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Whitehall township, Lehigh County, where his youthful days were spent. He first became a pupil of the subscription schools of the neighbor- hood, subsequently of the free school and finally, at the age of sixteen, continued his studies under the direction of Rev. Dr. Van Derveer, remaining for several years at the boarding-school of the latter. He then entered Franklin and Marshall College, from which institution he was graduated in June, 1855. Subsequently he engaged in teach- ing, pursning at the same time a course of study in the law. He was elected school superintendent of Lehigh County in 1857, which office he filled very acceptably for three years. On the 12th of May, 1858, he was admitted to the bar, having pursued his studies under Hon. Samuel A. Bridges, of Allentown. In 1860 Judge Schwartz began the practice of his profession at Kutztown, Berks County. In the fall of 1869 he was elected as a Democrat to the State Legislature, and re- elected in 1870-71, meanwhile continuing in active practice. On the 29th of June, 1883, he was appointed judge of the Orphans' Court of Berks County, an office created under the act of 1883 expressly for this county, and at the suc- ceeding election he was elected for this position for the term of ten years. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity as a member of Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, of Kutztown. He has been for many years an earnest friend of the cause of edu- cation, being now a trustee of the Kutztown State Normal School. He is a member of the Reformed Church at Kutztown.

ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

JAMES DIEMER was an educated physician and one of the prominent citizens of Reading at the time of the erection of Berks County. He was an Englishman and the first physician of the town who conversed in the English language. As early as 1765 he served as one of the wardens of Christ's Episcopal Church, and, in 1815, he deeded the lot upon which Christ Cathedral stands to Marks John Biddle, James May and George Douglass. He filled the office of justice of the peace under the provincial government ; and under the provis- ions of the State Constitution of 1776 he served for several years as one of the judges of the County Courts, acting as president judge for a time. When

the Constitution of 1790 was adopted, he received the appointment as one of the four associate judges of Berks County, and served continuously from 1791 to 1819. From the length of time that he filled these responsible official positions, it is evident that he was a man of ability and integrity, and tradi- tion gives him the credit of having been able to administer the duties of his office with the precis- ion and accuracy of a judge learned in the law. Altogether he served in this capacity for about thirty years, much longer than any other official on the bench in the history of the county. After a long and useful life as a judge, physician and public-spirited citizen of the town, he died June 21, 1821, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. His remains were interred beside those of his wife and still lie within the inclosure of Christ Church, Reading, of which, for more than sixty-five years, he was a leading member.

GEORGE EGE was born March 9, 1748, and died December 14, 1829, aged eighty one years and nine months. During his long and active business career he was extensively known as the largest land-owner of his time in Berks County, and prom- inently identified with the iron interests of the county for a period of half a century. In 1774 he purchased an interest in Charming Forge for eight hundred and thirty-eight pounds; nine months later bought the remaining interest for one thou- sand six hundred and sixty-three pounds, and he- came its sole owner and manager. In 1804 he built and operated Schuylkill County Forge, near Port Clinton, then in Berks, now in Schuylkill County. At that time he was possessed of the following landed estates : Charming Forge, with four thousand acres ; Reading Furnace, with six thousand acres ; Schuylkill Forge, with six thou- sand acres ; and four large farms in Tulpehocken and Heidelberg townships, embracing one thon- sand acres. The names of these farms were "Spring," "Sheaff," " Leiss " and " Richards." In 1824 the assessed value of his personal and real estate was three hundred and eighty thousand dol- lars. During the Revolutionary War he was an ardent patriot, and in 1783 was a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. In 1791 he was appointed one of the first associate judges of Berks County under the Constitution of 1790, and served continuously with marked ability until

549

BENCH AND BAR.

1818, a period of twenty-eight years, when he re- signed the position to devote himself exclusively to his extensive business interests. He died at his home at Charming Forge, in Marion township, this county, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Womelsdorf.

Judge Ege was married to Elizabeth Oberfeldt, of Amboy, N. J., by whom he had three children, -George, Rebecca and Michael. There are no descendants of George now living ; Rebecca was married to Joseph Old and died without issue; Michael was married to Maria Margaretta Shulze, daughter of Rev. Shulze, pastor of Tulpehocken Church. One of the grandchildren of Michael and Margaretta Ege, Harriet Ege, widow of the late John Ermentrout, resides at Reading, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. The great-grand- children of Judge Ege and descendants of Michael Ege now living are Charles M. Ege and William Ege, of Dakota, Richard Brown Ege, of Sioux City, Iowa, and Mrs. David McCulloch, of Wis- consin.

MATTHIAS REICHERT, an associate judge from 1791 to 1797. (For sketch see biographies of Congressmen. )

JOSEPH HIESTER. an associate judge from 1791 to 1794. (See sketch as a State Official.)

NICHOLAS LOTZ was born February 20, 1740, and emigrated to Pennsylvania when a young man. He first settled in the western section of the county, and there married a young woman by the name of Meyer. Some time previous to the Revo- lution he located at Reading and became the owner of the two mills at the month of the Wyo- missing Creek, which he conducted very success- fully. When the struggle for independence be- gan, he was prominently identified with the pa- triotic movement at Reading. He served as one of the ten delegates from Berks County to the Provincial Conference, which assembled at Phila- delphia in June, 1776, and upon his return home he took an active part in the enlistment of men. He was commissioned a lieutenant-colonel 1 and participated in the movement of the "Flying Camp" from Philadelphia to New York, where

he was engaged in the battle of Long Island and taken prisoner.2 He was admitted to parole with- in certain bounds on April 16, 1777, and ex- changed on September 10, 1779. In 1780 he was appointed commissioner of forage, and whilst serving this appointment he purchased a large amount of supplies for the army, consisting of flour, oats, cattle, sheep, etc.

Colonel Lotz represented Berks County in the General Assembly from 1784 to 1786, and again from 1790 to 1794 ; and he filled the appointment of associate-judge of the county from 1795 to 1806, having succeeded Colonel .Joseph Hiester in that office. He died November 28, 1807, and left to survive him eight children : seven sons-Philip, Nicholas, Jacob, John, Henry, Michael and Wil- liam-and a daughter, Rosa, married to John Yeager. His remains were buried in the grave- yard of the First Reformed Church at Reading and from thence removed to the Charles Evans' Cemetery.

BENJAMIN MORRIS, a brother of Cadwalader Morris, became interested in the iron business at Birdsboro' in 1790, and then moved to that town, In 1797 he was a resident of Reading. In the next year, 1798, he received the appointment of associate judge of Berks County and occupied that position till 1809.

CHARLES SHOEMAKER was born at German- town in 1757, and was about eight years of age when his father settled in Windsor township, Berks County. He was an associate judge of the county from 1820 to 1822, dying whilst filling this posi- tion, November, 1822. He was a highly-esteemed citizen. His opinion in various matters was fre- quently consulted by the people residing in his section of the county.

WILLIAM WITMAN was born February, 1772, at Reading, on the east side of North Fifth Street, near Walnut, where he resided all his life. His vocation was surveyor and conveyancer, which he pursued at Reading for many years. He served as an associate judge of Berks County from 1823 to 1828, dying whilst occupying this position, June 16, 1828. He was married to Mary Green, a Quakeress (born in 1770, died in 1835), with whom he had eight children,-Charles, Alexander

1 Col. Lotz was a tall, finely proportioned man ; meas- ured about six feet three inches, and weighed about three hundred pounds.

2 See Chapter 1X., Revolution, pp. 155-156.

550

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Hamilton, Esther (who was married to Dr. John B. Otto), Sarah, Maria, Collins, Catharine and Matilda.

JACOB SCHNEIDER was born in Exeter town- ship, and when a young man came to Reading, learned the trade of printer and was one of the publishers who founded the Reading Adler in 1796, of which he remained part owner until 1802. He was a member of the Legislature in 1809 and was register and recorder of Berks County from 1809 to 1817. He was appointed associate judge in 1804 and served until 1829, shortly after which he died.

MATTHIAS S. RICHARDS was born February 7, 1787, in Colebrookdale township. He first entered upon a business career as a merchant. From 1812 to 1845 he was a successful surveyor and scrivener ; was deputy surveyor of Berks County from 1823 to 1834; appointed justice of the peace in 1827 ; and associate judge of the courts of Berks County in 1829, serving until 1846. He was a member of the Reading Water Company for several years after his election in 1820. In 1823 he served as clerk of the Orphan's Court. He was one of the commissioners to organize the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Co., and one of its board of mana- gers for many years. For upwards of twenty-five years he was librarian, secretary or treasurer of the Reading Library. He acted frequently as a commissioner in proceedings to erect new town- ships in the county. Judge Richards filled a very prominent and useful position in the history of the county during the greater part of his life. He died at Reading in 1862, aged seventy-five years.

WILLIAM DARLING was a native of the State of Maine, born in Bucksport, November 10, 1797. When a young man, he came to Berks County and became prominently identified with the manufacture of iron at Joanna Furnace, which at one time be owned and managed exclusively. In 1830 he was appointed associate judge of Berks County and served with ability in that office till 1838. He was connected with various local enter- prises and for a time had a large interest in the Reading Foundry. In all his business relations he was recognized as a man of tact and ability. He was commissioner of the United States to the First World's Fair, which was held at London, in 1851, and was vice-president of the American

Sunday School Union from the time of organiza- tion to his death, September 20, 1871. In January, 1820, Judge Darling was married to Margaretta Vaughan, daughter of John Smith, proprietor of Joanna Furnace. The names of the children still living are Mrs. Mary S. Wilcox, Philadelphia ; Henry Darling, D.D., now presi- dent of Hamilton College, New York ; Mrs. Wil- liam A. Drown, of Fern Hill, Abington, Pa .; Miss Margaretta Vaughan Darling, of the same place ; Edward P. Darling, Esq., of Wilkesbarre; and J. Vaughan Darling, Esq., also of Wilkes- barre.

WILLIAM ADDAMS, an associate judge from 1839 to 1842 (see sketch as Congressman).

JOHN STAUFFER, eldest son of Jacob Stauffer and Susanna, his wife, late of Colebrookdale town- ship, Berks County, was born on the 4th day of July, A.D. 1792. On the 1st day of December, 1816, he was married to Elizabeth Keely, eldest daughter of Henry and Catharine Keely, of Doug- lass township, Berks County, and shortly thereafter moved to Boyertown, in said county, where he fol- lowed farming and conveyancing. They had ten children, to wit : Mary Ann, William, Frederick, Esther, John, Franklin, Elizabeth, Amanda, Ab- ner K. and Minerva. The oldest and youngest died in infancy. Franklin died in 1880, his wife surviving him only four days, and leaving four children. All the rest of the children are still living. In 1829 the subject of this sketch was elected to the State Legislature from the Berks district and held said position for three successive terms. In 1843 he was chosen one of the associate judges of Berks County and filled that office for eight years, when his declining health compelled him to withdraw from further participation in public or political affairs. In 1850 he founded Mount Pleasant Seminary at Boyertown, an institution which he intended should have for its object a higher education for the children of the neighborhood of both sexes than could be obtained through the public schools. He took a great in- terest in the education of the young and had the proud satisfaction of seeing his institution in a flourishing condition before his death. He died on the 28th day of November, 1854. His wife died about three years later. Both are buried in Fairview Cemetery, at Boyertown.

551

BENCH AND BAR.

WILLIAM HIGH was born January 14, 1786, and died March 29, 1851. At the time of his death his commission as an associate judge had just expired, having served five years. He was elected county commissioner and served from 1816 to 1819. He was a member of the State Legisla- ture from Berks County for the year 1832; and he was one of the five delegates from Borks County to the Constitutional Convention of Penn- sylvania in 1838. He was prominently connected with the old militia system and held the office of brigadier-general by election for fifteen years. He was elected captain of the Reading Cavalry Com- pany in 1816, having become a member of the company in 1809.

" He was a man remarkable for the possession of honesty and courage in the highest degree. What he knew to be right he dared to do. These qualities he showed forth from the bench with the brightest lustre."

SAMUEL BELL was a native of Reading, born in the year 1797. During the early part of his life he was engaged in the mercantile business at the corner of Third and Penn Streets, and subse- quently was extensively engaged in the coal trade of Schuylkill County. He took an active interest in the welfare of Reading and contributed liber- ally toward the establishment of various industrial enterprises. He served as associate judge of the courts of Berks County by appointment during the years 1850-51 and held other positions of trust at different times. He moved to Philadel- phia in the spring of 1861 and died in that city September 15, 1863, aged sixty-six years. He was esteemed as a kind-hearted and generous man, and was possessed of an exemplary character.

DANIEL YOUNG was a native of Montgomery County, born in 1793 in Upper Salford township. From there his parents moved to Lehigh County, and thence to Berks. After his education at Pottstown he engaged in the iron business, first with his father and then with General Daniel Udree as manager of the Rockland Forges, in this county, holding this position for twenty years. He next managed the iron interest at the Windsor Furnace for Jones, Keim & Co. until 1843. In 1842 he was elected prothonotary of Berks County and served one term. In 1851 he was elected an associate judge and served very creditably one full

term of five years. In 1857 he was appointed one of the prison inspectors and continued in that board until 1866, and was its president from 1860. He published a little mathematical work called the " Ready Calculator," which was much used in cal- culating lumber by owners of saw-mills, for which purpose it was intended. During the Civil War he was an ardent friend of the Union. He was a member of the Reformed Church and officiated for many years as organist. He was married, in 1815, to Miss Lessig, who died in 1852. His mother died at the advanced age of ninety-six years, and he died July 27, 1873, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. He was a man of excel- lent moral character and highly esteemed by all who knew him.

WILLIAM HEIDENREICH was born in Catawissa, Columbia County, September 4, 1800; he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker; lived for a time in Northumberland County and thence moved to Kutztown, Berks County, where he engaged in the mercantile business with David B. Kutz for many years, until 1857. In October, 1851, he and Hon. Daniel Young were elected the first associate judges of the courts of Berks County under the amendment to the State Constitution ratified in 1850, making that office elective. He served one full term of five years. He officiated as treasurer of Reading from 1863 to 1871. Judge Heidenreich was married, July 2, 1820, to Louisa daughter of Dewalt and Elizabeth Bieber, of Kutztown. He died February 9, 1877, leaving no children. His widow resides at Reading. He was a tall and handsome man of commanding appearance and recognized for his high moral principles.

DAVID SCHALL was born in Oley (now Pike) township May 25, 1801, and was the son of Hon. George Schall, who represented Berks County in the Senate of Pennsylvania 1825 to 1828. He attended the district schools and an educational institution in Philadelphia. He was largely engaged in the iron interests and managed the Dale Iron-Works from 1825 to 1868. In 1825 he was instrumental in establishing Dale post-office and served as postmaster from that date until 1857. In May, 1830, he was appointed by Gover- nor Wolf major of the Second Independent Battalion of Berks County militia. He was

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 94

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