History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 97

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

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ROBERT M. BARR was born at Lancaster, Pa. He was admitted to the bar of Berks County on January 3, 1831, about which time he moved to Reading. He acquired an extensive practice and was recognized as a superior lawyer. He was a man of fine personal appearance and possessed a high order of eloquence. He represented Berks County in the Assembly for the year 1841, and in 1845 he received the appointment of State reporter from Governor Shunk-the office having been created in the year named. The prescribed term of office was five years. He died whilst filling this appointment, having compiled and published the first ten State reports commonly known as " Barr's Reports." His friend, J. Pringle Jones, Esq.,- (who subsequently filled the office of president judge of Berks County) completed the compilation of the cases adjudicated during his term and pub- lished them in two volumes, commonly known as "Jones' Reports." He died at Reading, December 25, 1849, aged forty-seven years. He was married

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to a daughter of Dr. Holmes of Lancaster, Pa., and left a surviving daughter.

PETER FILBERT was born in Reading in 1793, and was a son of Peter Filbert, sheriff of Berks County, for the years 1785-86-87. He chose the profession of law and was admitted to practice at Reading January 6, 1831. During the year 1840, he represented Berks County in the State Legisla- ture. He filled the position of chief burgess of Read- ing for several years until a city charter was obtain- ed in 1847, then was elected the first mayor, and held the latter office one year. While serving as mayor he was appointed district deputy attorney general for Berks County. He was a notary public for a number of years. He died on the 28th of May, 1864, aged seventy-one years.

JOHN B. MAYER was born at Lancaster ; acquired a good education ; read law and was admitted to the har January 8, 1831. While engaged in his profession with fine prospects of future success, he was stricken down with consump- tion at the early age of twenty-eight years.

FRANCIS AURAND, who was admitted to the bar at Reading November 13, 1833, died of pulmonary disease May 29, 1837, aged twenty-five years.

WILLIAM BETZ was born at Reading in 1812. He was the son of Henry Betz, Esq., sheriff of Berks County for one term (1821-23) and for many years a justice of the peace of Reading. After receiving a general education at home he studied law and was admitted to practice on Janu- ary 10, 1834. He carried on his profession at Reading for upwards of twenty years, and then removed to Philadelphia about 1857, where he died on August 25, 1860, aged forty-eight years. Whilst practicing law at Reading he also held the office of justice of the peace for some years and also chief burgess ; and upon the erection of Read- ing into a city, he was elected alderman of the north ward, for one term, which office he filled acceptably from 1847 to 1851. He was generally recognized as a magistrate of decided ability, and as a man of generous disposition. At Philadel- phia he was one of the principal clerks in the post-office, dying whilst filling this position.

GEORGE G. BARCLAY, son of Andrew C. Bar- clay, a prominent merchant of Philadelphia, was born in that city. After obtaining a preliminary education, he entered Yale College from which

institution he was graduated in 1832. He soon thereafter engaged in the study of the law, and after the necessary preparation was admitted to the bar. In 1835 he came to Reading and here continued his profession with excellent success, for a period of forty years during which time he took great interest in the growth and prosperity of the city of Reading, and in the development of the county. In politics he was an ardent and consistent Whig for many years, but eventually became more conservative in political matters. In 1873 he was chosen one of the Representatives from Berks County to the Conven- tion at Philadelphia which framed the present State Constitution. About 1875 he removed to Philadelphia and there became associated in the practice of law with Judge Wilson. He now lives in retirement in that city. He is the oldest member of the Berks County har now living.

NEWTON D. STRONG was born in Somers, Conn., in the year 1810. He acquired a good academic education and was graduated from Yale College in 1831, with one of the first honors of his class. He was then appointed a tutor at Yale, which position he held two years. At the expiration of this time, he removed to Reading and became a law student in the office of his brother, Hon. William Strong. After his admission to the har he practiced his profession for a few years at Easton, Pa., and then removed to Alton, Ill., where he soon took a leading position among the lawyers of that State. Upon the election of his brother to Congress from Berks County he return- ed to Reading and assumed his brother's practice in this county. A few years later he removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he was engaged in the duties of his profession at the time of his death, August 9, 1866, in the fifty sixth year of his age. His remains were brought to Reading and interred in Charles Evans' Cemetery. He possessed an accomplished education, was a fine lawyer, and brought to the exercise of his profession all the resources of a well cultivated mind.

ANTHONY F. MILLER was born February 25, 1805, in Reading ; was educated in the schools of his native town ; read law in the office of Hon. John Banks, and was admitted to the bar August 15, 1836 ; practiced in Reading for several years, and died August 16, 1863.

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FRANKLIN B. SHOENER was born at Reading and educated in the Lancasterian school of his native town then under the management of Major Medara. He read law under the instruction of Elijah Deckert, Esq., and was admitted a member of the Reading bar January 3, 1837. He prac- ticed law for several years, but died at the age of twenty-seven. He was an officer in the Washing- ton Greys, a volunteer military company com- manded by Daniel M. Keim.

JOHN S. RICHARDS was born February 5, 1815, in Robeson township, Berks County, near Joanna Furnace, and was the eldest son of James Richards, · a merchant. He early developed a taste for liter- ature, and read the books of his father's library with the assiduity of a mature student. Upon the death of his father in 1827, he moved to Reading to live with his uncle, Judge William Darling, and attended the Reading Academy, where he acquired

JOHN S. RICHARDS.

a good preparatory education. In 1830 Judge Darling removed to Joanna Furnace and young Richards became a clerk in his store at that place.

In 1832 Mr. Richards organized the Young Men's Temperance Society at Morgantown and also established a public library for the citizens of Robeson township. At the age of sixteen he began to write for the newspapers and con- tinued the same until his death,-on political, edu- cational, social, scientific, moral and religious topics. He acquired a considerable knowledge of the Latin, German and French languages. In 1834 he began the study of the law in the office

of Elijah Deckert, Esq., and was admitted to the bar April 4, 1837, and the next year he became associated with Henry Rhoads in the publication of the Berks and Schuylkill Journal. He continued to edit it until 1845 and finally sold it in 1860. He took an active part in politics and wrote many vigorous editorials on that subject. He was a devoted Whig and a great admirer of Henry Clay, and made many speeches in support of the Ken- tucky statesman for President of the United States.

While engaged in the active duties of his pro- fession he took a devoted interest in the cause of education, served nearly thirty years as a member of the Board of School Controllers of Reading and assisted in establishing the City High School. Mr. Richards possessed great versatility of powers. His intellectual and professional acquirements were very extensive, and as a member of the Reading bar he maintained a very high standing. For the years 1849 and 1850 he served as district attorney for Berks County and was for a time attorney for the Philadelphia and Reading Rail- road Company. After an industrious and useful career he died in the year 1872 universally honored and respected. He was a prominent member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

DENNIS W. O'BRIEN was born in Reading and obtained a preliminary education in the schools of his native town. When yet a young man he made a tour of Europe in company with his uncle, Joseph O'Brien After returning home he acquired a classical education at college and then entered upon the study of law under the direction of Charles Evans, Esq., of the Reading bar, and was admitted to practice August 7, 1838, and was en- gaged in his profession at Reading until 1844, about which time he removed to the city of Phila- delphia, where he was elected judge of one of the courts. He died a few years ago.

JEREMIAH D. BITTING was admitted to the bar August 8, 1838. For a time he took an active interest in politics and from 1859 to 1862 he was sheriff of Berks County. He removed to Philadelphia, engaged in mercantile business and now resides in that city.

ANDREW SALLADE was a native of Womels- dorf. He was admitted to the bar August 11, 1838, practiced law at Reading successfully and

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then moved to Philadelphia and practiced before the Court of Claims. He was a member of the Legislature from Berks County in the year 1855. During the Civil War, through the influence of Hon. Simon Cameron, he was appointed a pay- master in the Union army. He died in the far West, while on a visit to his son Madison, who is now an officer in the Regular Army.

JACKSON H. SHERMAN, a native of New Eng- land, studied law in the office of Judge William Darling, and soon after removed to the West.

PETER SHEARER was born February 3, 1819, in Reading. He acquired a preparatory educa- tion in his native town and became one of the first teachers after the adoption of the public school system ; was admitted to the bar April 7, 1840, after reading in the office of Henry W. Smith, Esq. ; left Reading in 1843 for New Orleans ; was a volunteer in Captain Blanchard's company, of that city, in the Mexican War; was in the battle of Monterey and took part in the siege of Vera Cruz. After the war he located in Mansfield, La., and published a newspaper for a number of years; returned to Reading in 1857 ; in 1862 enlisted in a New York regiment and served under General Hunter ; was wounded in the battle of Piedmont, taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville for six months, and was released just before Sherman's March to the Sea. Since the war he has lived in Berks County.

MATTHIAS MENGEL was born near Morgantown, in Caernarvon township, January 13, 1814. He spent his boyhood days on the farm of his father, until 1838, when he came to Reading, became a student-at-law in the office of Elijah Dechert, Esq., and was admitted to the bar April 9, 1840. In 1845 he was elected a magistrate, became an alderman in 1847, when Reading was incorpor- ated into a city, and served in that office continu- ously until 1860 ; was treasurer of the city School Board from 1866 to 1868, when he was again elected alderman, serving until 1873; was re- elected in 1875 and filled two consecutive terms, ending in 1885. He has recently been appointed a notary public. Mr. Mengel has been a suc- cessful business man. He maintains his jovial spirit, which has been one of the prominent traits of his character all through his life. He is widely known through the county as a man of the highest

integrity, for which he will long be remembered, as well as for his original witticisms.

GEORGE E. LUDWIG was born in Berks County ; he obtained a classical education ; was admitted to the bar at Reading November 3, 1840, where he practiced for about fifteen years and theu re- moved to Philadelphia. He was married to Maria Keim, a sister of General William H. Keim, who died shortly after their marriage, leaving one child, De Benneville Keim Ludwig, now of Phila- delphia.

JAMES DONAGAN was born in Philadelphia in 1793. He came to Berks County at an early age ; studied medicine under Dr. John C. Baum, of Exeter township. After his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania he located at Kutz- town, where he practiced medicine for a number of years. He then abandoned the medical profes- sion, entered upon the study of the law, was ad- mitted to the bar of Berks County December 22, 1841, and continued in active practice until about 1860. He held several important political posi- tions ; was one of the five delegates from Berks County to the Constitutional Convention of 1838, and was the last survivor of the delegation from this county. During the years 1840-41-42 he held the office of clerk of the Orphans' Court of this county. In the spring of 1863 he was chosen to represent the Fourth Ward of Reading in the City Councils, and upon the organization of that body was chosen its president. While occupying that position he died suddenly of heart disease January 20, 1864, aged seventy-one years. His various public duties were performed with ability and fidelity.

SAMUEL SOHL was born in Heidelberg; read law with Hon. William Strong; was admitted to the bar April 5, 1842; practiced law at Reading several years ; retired from practice and died near the place of his birth.

SILAS E. BUZARD was born at Buzzardsville, Monroe County, Pa .; was a graduate of the College of New Jersey, at Princeton; became a member of the Berks County bar April 8, 1845 ; located at Kutztown, where he practiced a few years and died at the age of twenty-seven years.

CHARLES WEIRMAN was born in Lebanon County ; read law ; was admitted May 17, 1842 ; practiced about five years and then became en- gaged in the manufacture of bricks and extensively

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interested in patented brick machines. He died while actively engaged in that business.

GEORGE W. ARMS was born in Douglass town- ship; came to Reading and was admitted to the bar March 8, 1843. He practiced at Reading for some years, and being taken sick, went to his home in the country, where he died.

JOHN K. LONGNECKER was a native of Lehigh County ; was admitted a member of the Reading bar November 6, 1843 ; practiced law in Reading for a few months and then returned to Allentown, where he continued in his profession successfully.

WILLIAM M. BAIRD .- The Bairds and the Bid- dles have always been among the most noted people of Pennsylvania. They are of Scotch, English and Irish origin. Samuel Baird, the grandfather of William M. Baird, was an assistant quarter- master in Washington's army when they were quartered at Valley Forge. William Biddle, his ancestor on the maternal side, came to America in 1681, and was the pioneer of the Biddle family noted in Pennsylvania annals. Thomas Potts, of Colebrookdale Furnace, a pioneer in the iron bus- iness in Berks County, and Rev. Elisha Spencer, D.D., (whose loyalty was such during the times that tried men's souls that he was sent by Wash- ington into Georgia to arouse the patriotism of the people of that State, and upon whose head a price was set by the English Tories,) were also collateral relatives of the maternal line.

Samuel Baird, the father of William M. Baird, was a leading attorney at the Berks County bar half a century ago. He was the contempo- rary of Governor Hiester and Judges Spayd, Smith, Franks, Porter and Mallery, and of the elder Keims, Hiesters, Muhlenbergs, Biddles, Darlings, Bells and other leading citizens of the old borough half a century ago. He had a strong taste for the natu- ral sciences, which, by force of example and early training, was imparted to his children. William turned his attention especially to ornithology and mineralogy, and collected many valuable spec- imens now in the Smithsonian Institution at Wash- ington. Spencer F. Baird, the second son, is now and has for many years been the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and as a scientist, espe- cially in the departinent of fishes, is world-re- nowned. Samuel, another son, died about a year ago at Carlisle, Pa.

William M. Baird, son of Samuel and Lydia (Biddle) Baird, was born in Reading August 4, 1817. His early education was obtained at the Reading schools, such as they then were. His father died in 1833, after which he spent a year at Nottingham Academy, Maryland. He entered Lafayette College in 1834, and after remaining there for some time, was transferred to Dickinson College, where his mother resided at the time, and where he graduated in 1837, in the twentieth year of his age. He subsequently attended a law school at Carlisle and was admitted to the bar there in 1840, but soon after removed to Gettysburg to practice his profession. In 1841 he was appointed to a clerkship at Washington under his uncle, Hon. Charles B. Penrose, who was solicitor of the treasury during the Harrison and Tyler adminis- tration. He held this place until 1844, when he came to Reading and was admitted to the Berks County bar, April 12th of that year, and at once took a prominent position in his profession. On the 2d of December, 1847, he was married to Har- riet, daughter of Robert W. Holmes, of Cape May County, N. J. On his entrance into political life he identified himself with the Whig party, and was one of the leading spirits of that organization, and of the Republican party, which succeeded it. In 1855 he was elected mayor of Reading hy a majority of seven hundred and four, one of the largest majorities ever given to any candidate be- fore or since for that office. His administration of the city government was noted for its efficiency ; but after a year's experience of its annoyances he refused to stand as a candidate for re-election. In 1862 he was chosen treasurer of the old Reading Water Company and held that responsible office until the city purchased and took charge of the works. At the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861, and during its continuance, he was earnest in sup- port of the Union and the administration of Pres- ident Lincoln, forming one of the coterie of stanch Republicans and Union Democrats in his native county of Berks who stood by the government in its desperate struggle for supremacy. Though his health prevented him from entering the army, he did all he could by voice and pen to strengthen and uphold the government and flag of his country and was a wise and influential counselor during the war. So prominent and valuable were his

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services in this direction that after the war was over, and by General Grant as President, he was complimented by the important and responsible appointment to the collectorship of internal reve- nue in the Eighth or Berks District of Pennsyl- vania, in which office he served with marked ability and the fidelity and integrity consistent with his high personal character until his death, which occurred October 19, 1872.

Collector Baird inherited from his ancestors the

ity in which he lived, while to his immediate fam- ily he was all that a husband and father could be. His wife still survives, as do a son and daughter -Robert and Mary-who reverence his memory and honor his name.

ISAAC HIGH KEIM, son of De Benneville Keim, was born in Reading ; was graduated from Prince- ton College; was admitted to the bar at Reading, and soon after his admission removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he successfully practiced his profession

Fili-

William In Baird

Presbyterian faith, and was through life a faithful and consistent member of the Calvinistic Church, having filled the positions of the eldership and superintendent of the Sabbath school of the First Church of that denomination in Reading for many years. He was of a tall and commanding presence, possessed of a fine and well-cultured mind, a Chris- tian without bigotry, charitable without ostenta- tion, a wise counselor, a genial companion, a good citizen and patriot and a true friend. His personal character was of the highest order and won for him the respect and esteem of the entire commun-

and attained great prominence, and in which city he died a few years ago.

FRANKLIN B. MILLER, son of Hon. John Miller, a State Senator from this district, was born in Reading November 12, 1831. After he ac- quired a preparatory education he took up the study of law and was admitted to practice December 14, 1844. In 1851 he was elected alderman of the North Ward of Reading and twice re-elected, and held that office until his death, December 13, 1865. He was an intelligent and capable magistrate.

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JACOB S. LIVINGOOD was born at Womelsdorf, and is a son of the late Dr. John B. Livingood, for many years a prominent physician of that town. He is a descendant of one of the first emi- grants who located in the Tulpehocken settlement. His preliminary education was acquired at Womels- dorf Union Academy and at Franklin Col- lege, Lancaster, Pa. He then entered the office of Charles Davis, Esq., for a time and was graduated from the Yale Law School in 1845. Returning to Berks County, he was admitted a member of the bar January 7, 1845, and soon thereafter began the practice of the law in co-partnership with Robert M. Barr, Esq., who afterwards became State reporter. Mr. Livingood has continued uninterruptedly in the pursuit of his profession at Reading since his admission, and is now one of the oldest active practitioners of the Berks County bar.

WILLIAM B. SCHOENER was born February 29, 1813, in Reading; attended the schools of his native town, under the instruction of Major Madara. He read law in the office of Jeremiah Hagenman, now president judge of the courts of Berks County, and was admitted to the bar August 15, 1846. He continued to practice his profession until his death, July 4, 1882.

J. DE PUY DAVIS, son of Charles Davis, Esq., was born in Allentown in 1826. After a careful preparatory education, he read law in the office of his father ; then attended lectures at the Hoffman Law Institute, in Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar January 4, 1847. Shortly after his admission he went to Mexico as a private in the Third Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers, and re- turned at the conclusion of the Mexican War as second lieutenant of the Eleventh Infantry of the regular army. During the Civil War he entered the Union army as lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Regiment of Pennsyl- vania Volunteers. When the commander of this regiment, Colonel Charles Knoderer, was killed, he was promoted to the position of colonel. After the close of the war Colonel Davis returned to Read- ing, and in 1867 was chosen to represent Berks County in the State Senate, and occupied that office until 1873. In 1874 he went to Marshall, Texas, and was for six years solicitor of the Texas and Pacific Railroad. He now resides in Reading.

JAMES MAY JONES was born in Berks County ; early in life he came to Reading and was engaged witlı Levi Hiester in the manufacture of hoes ; read law and was admitted to the bar January 5, 1847. He practiced for a short time and then went to California during the " gold fever." He died in that State after being there about six months.

SAMUEL L. YOUNG was born in Rockland township, Berks County, September 24, 1822, and is a son of the late associate judge, Daniel Young. He attended the Bolmar Academy, in West Chester, where he received a preparatory education, and then began the study of law under the direc- tion of William Strong, Esq., subsequently judge of the Supreme Court of the United States ; was admitted to the bar in 1847, and soon became a prominent attorney. In 1855 he was appointed com- missioner of the Circuit Court of the United States, and still continues to fill that office. During the Civil War he was appointed chief of staff to Major- General William H. Keim, and remained with him in active service until the command was re- lieved. When General Lee invaded Pennsylvania the first time, Major Young raised an independent cavalry company for the State service, and retained the command of it until after the battle of Antietam, when the company returned home. In 1863 he entered the military service as chief of a recon- noitering party of cavalry, and continued in it for several months. Upon his return to Reading he resumed his legal practice. Mr. Young possesses a fine library ; is an excellent French and German scholar and a gentlemen of fine legal attainments.

A. LUCIUS HENNERSHOTZ was born in Alsace township, now Muhlenberg; came to Reading when young ; entered upon the study of the law and was admitted November 11, 1847. He engaged in the practice of his profession for about ten years, and in the meantime was several years clerk of the Se- lect Council. He then moved to Philadelphia and became a broker and conveyancer, and now resides in that city.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 97

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