USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; genealogy-family history-biography; containing historical sketches of old families and of representative and prominent citizens, past and present, Volume I > Part 4
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PETER K. FILBERT, D. D. S., has been engaged in the practice of dentistry at Pottsville for over forty years, during which time he has also acquired important business interests there. He belongs to a Pennsylvania family which has been established here since Provincial days, and is himself a native of Marion township, Berks county, born June 6, 1850, son of Samuel Filbert. He traces his ancesetry back to Samuel Filbert, the emigrant, and we have the following record of the early generations of this family.
(I) Samuel Filbert, at the age of twenty-seven, came to the New World on the ship "Samuel," Hugh Percy, master, sailing from Rotterdam. Tradi- tion says he came from either Wittenberg or Wurtemberg, Germany. He took the oath of allegiance Aug. 30, 1737. The original signature was Samuel, but
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the clerk who copied the rolls wrote it Daniel, thereby causing some confusion. Samuel Filbert's wife's name was Susanna. He died in 1786, and his second son, Philip, filed papers as administrator of the estate Nov. 2, 1786. His grave is in the center of the old North-Kill cemetery, but the inscription on his white marble tombstone (as are those over the graves of his son Thomas and grandson Samuel) is now illegible. To Samuel and Susanna Filbert were born six children, and the names and births and dates of baptism of the last five are taken from the records of Rev. John Casper Stover, who spells the name "Philbert" and gives the residence as "North-Kill." The children were: John Thomas, the eldest, married Catharine Batteiger ( time and place of his birth unknown) ; Maria Catharina, born Oct. 25, 1739, baptized Dec. 30, 1739, sponsors, Andreas Knaft and wife, married Nov. 10, 1760, John Heinrich Ache; Anna Elizabetha, born Dec. 6, 1741, baptized Dec. 7. 1741, sponsor Anna Elizabeth Knaft, married May 16, 1763, John Henry Webber, a captain in the Revolutionary war; John Philip, born Dec. 7, 1743, was baptized Dec. 27, 1743, sponsors Philip Meeth and wife; John Peter, born Aug. 22, 1746, was baptized Aug. 31, 1749, sponsors, Peter Muench (or Minnich) and wife Christina ; Maria Christina, born May 25, 1749, was baptized May 28, 1749, sponsors Peter Muench (or Minnich) and wife Christina. The three sons having the first name John in common dropped it and became known as Thomas, Philip and Peter.
Samuel Filbert and Godfried Fidler each gave an acre of ground to the old North-Kill Lutheran congregation at Bernville. This congregation was formed in 1730, and services were held in the different homes until 1743, when a log church was built on the part donated by Samuel Filbert. Each acre was in the form of a triangle, so that the two acres formed a square. On Dec. 25, 1745, each signed an agreement to deed to the trustees the acre in question, neither having as yet raised their patents from the proprietaries. Samuel Filbert deeded his in 1771. In 1791 the log church was replaced by a brick building, which Philip Filbert, son of Samuel, was instrumental in building ; in 1897 the present handsome brownstone edifice was erected. Back of the chancel in the new building is a beautiful stained glass window to "Samuel Filbert, Founder, 1743."
(II) Philip Filbert, second son and fourth child of Samuel and Susanna, born Dec. 7. 1743, was a captain in Weaver's battalion, and was mustered into service Dec. 3. 1777, for thirty days. On June 4, 1777, a commission was forwarded to Col. Jacob Morgan, by Timothy Matlack, secretary of the executive council, for the 6th Battalion. Philip Filbert was commissioned captain of the 8th Company. In 1778 he served as captain of the 6th Bat- talion, and in 1780 he held a similar rank in the 2d Battalion. He died Aug. 20, 1817. He married Anna Maria Myers, and his will, probated Oct. 17, 1817, provides for his wife Anna Maria ; devises his farm in Heidelberg to his son John (grandfather of George of Womelsdorf ) ; leaves a bequest to his grandson Peter, son of his deceased son Samuel; and mentions a daughter Catharine. The will also mentioned Maria Magdalena, as a daughter of his wife. He is buried in Bernville.
(III) John Filbert, son of Philip, was born on the Filbert farm at North- Kill. He was a carpenter by trade, and became a very wealthy man, owning considerable land, and was widely known and prominent in public affairs. His genial disposition gathered him many friends, young and old, and he heartily enjoyed a good smoke and cheerful company. He married Anna
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Maria Leiss, daughter of Henrich Leiss. Their children were: John married and had children, Amelia, John Franklin and Hiester W .; Samuel is men- tioned below ; Anna Maria married John Groff, a farmer of Bernville; Eliza- beth married Daniel Sohl, of Heidelberg, steward of the county home for twelve years (no issue) ; Gabriel married Elizabeth Kintzer, and among their children were Adam, John, Michael, Frank, Emma, Isaac, Maria and George; Elias married Leah Kintzer, and had a daughter Isabella (married to Dr. L. A. Livingood, and died in 1899) ; and Matilda married Augustus Leiss, and had children, Amelia, Emma and Maria.
(IV) Samuel Filbert, son of John and father of Dr. Peter K. Filbert, was born in 1810, in Heidelberg township, now North Heidelberg, but formerly called North-Kill, on the farm owned by the county controller, Dr. H. F. Livingood, and farmed for forty years by Nathaniel Blatt. He died Dec. 9. : 1872, aged sixty-two years, six months. He devoted himself to farming and was very successful. At the time of his death he was the owner of two farms, both now the property of his son George. His political support was given to the Democratic party, and he was frequently the choice of the people for public office, holding at different times all the various township offices. From 1859 to 1862 he was a director of the poor for Berks county. He and his family were Lutherans, and attended the Union Church at Womelsdorf, in which he was very active, at one time serving as trustee, and also holding the offices of deacon, elder and treasurer. His remains rest in the family' plot in the cemetery there. He had an untarnished reputation for honesty and integrity, and he practiced in his daily life the high principles of morality of the faith he professed. He married Catharine Kalbach, daughter of John Kalbach and wife (whose maiden name was Ruth), of North Heidelberg township. To this marriage were born children as follows: John died aged sixty-seven years, leaving two sons, William and Samuel; William S., of Womelsdorf, had four children, John E., William D., Kate and Harry (de- ceased) ; Rebecca married Edward Killmer, of Stouchsburg, and had two children, Emma and John; George has been twice married, having four chil- dren by his first wife and two by his second: Sarah died in 1844; Maria mar- ried Jonathan Dundore, and had two children, Charles and Kate; Amelia married Albert Faust and had a son, William; Adam M., of Lebanon, had one son : Dr. Peter K. is a resident of Pottsville.
(V) Peter K. Filbert attended public school in Marion township. When he began to support himself he clerked in a general store at Womelsdorf, in his native county, for a short time, and then, in 1871, entered the Pennsyl- vania Dental College at Philadelphia, graduating from that institution in March, 1873. Immediately afterwards he established himself at Pottsville, where he has been successfully engaged in practice ever since. The large patronage he commands is sufficient evidence of the strong place he holds in the confidence of his patients. His standing with his professional brethren is equally good, and he is an honored member of the Lebanon Valley Dental Association, Schuylkill County Dental Society, Lackawanna Dental Society and the Pennsylvania State Dental Society (of which he has been president ), having held office in all these organizations except the Lackawanna Society. His home and dental offices are at No. 206 West Market street, Pottsville. When the Schuylkill Trust Company was established he was one of the organ- izers, and he has maintained his connection with that concern ever since, being now the second vice president. Other business interests have also claimed
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his attention. He is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, being a member of Pulaski Lodge, No. 216, F. & A. M., of which he has been master; Mountain City Chapter, No. 196, R. A. M., of which he is a past high priest; Constantine Commandery, No. 41, K. T., which he served as captain general; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; Miners' Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand, and Franklin Encampment, No 4. Though independent in politics his principles are those of the Democratic party. His religious con- nection is with the Episcopal Church, and he is one of the vestrymen.
Dr. Filbert was married Feb. 25, 1875, to Julia M. Sell, daughter of John H. Sell, of Berks county, and they had a family of five children : Bertha A., Edward S., J. Catherine, Emily Elizabeth and Mary M. The son received his literary education in Pottsville high school, later taking a course in the dental department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1907, since when he has practiced in association with his father.
JAMES B. REILLY, of Pottsville, has a record of professional success and public service equaled by few of his fellow members at the Schuylkill county bar. His legal patronage is not confined to his own county, but drawn from a wide territory, and he practices in all the State courts and the United States Supreme court.
Bernard Reilly, father of James B. Reilly, was a native of County Meath, Ireland, born in 1821, and spent his early life in that country. Coming to America in 1842, he was a resident of Schuylkill county, Pa., the remainder. of his life, in 1850 making his home permanently in Pottsville, where he died in 1889. He had a successful business career as a railroad contractor, doing responsible work for the Canada & Atlantic, Schuylkill & Susquehanna and Philadelphia & Reading Railway Companies. A family of eleven children was born to him and his wife Margaret, nine daughters and two sons, James B. and Frank P. The latter, a telegraph operator, also made his home at Pottsville.
James B. Reilly was born Aug. 12, 1845, in West Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, and removing to Pottsville shortly before he became of school age, received his early education there. He attended high school, and though he was not permitted to take a college course, did not give up study, which indeed he has found very necessary to him all through life. His legal training was obtained under Hon. Francis Wade Hughes, association with whom would be a liberal education for any young man, and he was admitted to the Schuylkill county bar Jan. 11, 1869. In the forty-six years which have elapsed since he has combined professional work with public service most hap- pily, in fact his legal experience has never been used to better purpose than in the discharge of his official duties. From the start he made so good an impres- sion upon his fellow citizens in the county that in 1871 he was the successful candidate for district attorney, in which position he served three years. His election to Congress followed immediately, in 1874, from the Thirteenth dis- trict, and at the close of the term he had additional proof of the approval of his supporters in his reelection. With a record which bore favorable com- parison with that of his colleagues he returned to Pottsville to devote all his time to practice, which came to him from' many quarters, and the character of his clients was sufficient indication of the reputation he had established. After about ten years of private practice he was returned to Washington, being elected a member of the Fifty-first Congress in 1888 and retained for three
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successive terms, until March 4, 1895. A pronounced Democrat, in a district where contests made on party lines are always close, his reelections were a frank tribute to the ability with which he was handling issues of importance to his locality as well as to his stand on national questions. There was never anything equivocal in his position on measures directly affecting his home county. He was absolutely loyal to the people who chose him to represent them, and in the larger affairs of government also expressed their wishes to their satisfaction, as an exponent of the most liberal progress of the day. His Congressional associates thought so highly of his talents that he was appointed to membership on a number of important committees, including the Pacific Railroad committee, the select committee on the Columbian Exposition and that on Mines and Mining. As a lawyer his services were invaluable in the framing of legislation. He was one of the authors of the law making it possible to grant a pension to a soldier's widow immediately upon his death, and sole author of that portion of the bankrupt law which relates to the preferred claims of workingmen for their wages; it was incorporated into the law upon his amendment. In 1890 he advocated the enforcement of the eight- hour-day rule for manual laborers. He was one of the fourteen representa- tives who voted for the measure to afford government aid to bona fide settlers on the public lands under the homestead law, which at the time was considered a most effective means of developing and promoting the general prosperity and welfare of the country. The enumeration testifies abundantly to the fact that he has been ranged on the side of the most progressive legislation agitated in Congress during his terms, and moreover, that he was fearless in advocating a revolutionary course when it seemed necessary. At one time Mr. Reilly was in a fair way to become Democratic floor leader in the House, which circum- stance alone stamped him as one of the strongest Congressmen of his party, who regarded his defeat in 1894 as a distinct loss. But he had held his seat long enough to complete a number of important undertakings he began, and made a name which reflected credit upon his district as well as himself. His work will stand with the best of its day. During Cleveland's second term Mr. Reilly was appointed United States marshal for the eastern district of Pennsylvania and had offices in the Federal building in Philadelphia, but continued to carry on practice at Pottsville.
As a Democrat Mr. Reilly has done notable work for his party from young manhood. While in the public service he was always true to the principles of Democracy, and he has given freely of his time and counsel to the manage- ment of the party organizations, in which his participation has been welcomed. He has served as permanent chairman of various State conventions, and was a delegate to the National convention of 1880, when Hancock was nominated for the presidency.
Mr. Reilly has been honored in his professional capacity on several occa- sions. In 1881 and 1882 he was chosen as candidate for additional law judge, and in the summer of 1913 as candidate for justice of the Superior court. Undoubtedly his association during the years he was preparing for his legal career, and in its early stages, with men whose greatness has reflected glori- ously on Schuylkill county, fostered his ambition and set high standards for his guidance, and the hearty indorsement he has received from his professional associates is conclusive evidence that his knowledge of the law and ripe experience are recognized by the most competent judges. His vigorous mind has made him independent of conventional ideas on most subjects, broad-
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minded and generous towards the opinions of others, yet a safe counselor and level headed thinker whose ability has been proved in many severe tests. In business Mr. Reilly has been interested in the Schuylkill Real Estate, Title, Insurance & Trust Company, serving as member of its board of directors, and he is a member of the Board of Trade.
In 1868 Mr. Reilly married Mary A. M. Hoey, daughter of Owen Hoey, the latter born in Ireland, but a resident of Pottsville throughout his mature years. Frank X. Reilly, the eldest son of this union, has gained prominence as an architect, having his home and office at Pottsville; he drew the plans for the armory. Mr. Reilly is a Catholic in religious faith.
HON. RICHARD HENRY KOCH. The annals of Schuylkill county record the history of no name more prominently associated with the pioneer history of eastern Pennsylvania than that of the Koch family.
Henry Koch, the great-great-grandfather of Richard Henry Koch, took an active part as a soldier in the French and Indian war. He left a family of eight children, one of whom, William Koch, was the great-grandfather of Richard Henry Koch. He was born April 1, 1747, at New Hanover, near Philadelphia, where he spent his childhood and early youth. Later he lived in Oley township, Berks county. It was he who established the family name on the soil of Schuylkill county, by moving into Brunswick township ( then in Berks county) about the year 1780 and locating near the present site of the village of McKeansburg, in East Brunswick township. William Koch was twice married, his second wife, Maria Margaret Neufang, being the mother of Henry Koch, the paternal grandfather of Judge Koch. Maria Neufang's father, Baltzer ( Balthaser) Neufang, was twice married. On the 6th of March, 1756, the Indians murdered his first wife and their son on his plantation, which adjoined the one on a part of which the "Seven Stars Hotel" now stands. Maria sprang from the second marriage, and was born on the 27th of April, 1766. It thus appears that Judge Koch springs from an ancestry that had its abode here more than half a century before the erection of Schuylkill county. William Koch died on his farm in East Brunswick township, May 3, 1832.
Grandfather Henry Koch was born on the old homestead in East Bruns- wick township, Schuylkill county, Oct. 5. 1791, and died at New Ringgold March 19, 1867. He spent his life in the vicinity of his birthplace, and was a prosperous farmer, miller and merchant. He married Susanna Bock, the only daughter of Balthaser Bock, who came to this country from Prussia with his parents when he was a small boy. He was born on March 30, 1746, in Alde Hassen, in the Countship of Hannau. Balthaser Bock served with the Continental army in the Revolutionary war.
Henry Koch had ten children, of whom Daniel, Judge Koch's father, was the eldest. He was born at what is now known as Kunkle's Mill, which was erected by his father, his birth occurring on Dec. 24, 1816. On the 24th of October, 1839, he was united in marriage with Mary Ann Beck, who repre- sented an old family in this section of Pennsylvania. Her grandfather was a gunsmith, by reason of which he was exempted from the performance of military duty during the Revolutionary war. Mary Ann Beck was born on Jan. 24, 1818. and died Aug. 26, 1888. Eleven children were born to the marriage of Daniel and Mary Ann Koch, namely: Harriet, Francis D., Allen. Jeremiah, Albert B., Sarah, Richard Henry, Emanuel, Arenius. Kate and
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Ambrose Ellsworth. Ten of the number lived to maturity, Albert having died in childhood. Francis, the eldest son, served throughout the Civil war, and Allen served more than three years. The father and his third son served together during the emergency call when the State was invaded by the Con- federate army. Daniel Koch, with three of his sons and three of his brothers, volunteered and served in the Union armies in the Civil war.
Excepting about a year spent in a store in Philadelphia, when a boy of sixteen, Daniel Koch lived in the vicinity of his birthplace until 1844, when he removed to Middleport and engaged in the mercantile business. Prior to 1844 he was engaged in farming, milling, huckstering or the mercantile busi- ness. In 1857 he moved to Auburn and resumed farming operations, his earlier life work. In 1866 he purchased a flouring mill at Monocacy, Berks Co., Pa., but sold it soon afterwards, and the next year purchased a similar property at Fleetwood, in the same county, where he established the family home. He continued to operate his milling business until 1882, after which time he lived in retirement until his death, on Jan. 7, 1903. He was an ardent Republican and active in the councils of his party. He was the Whig candi- date for the office of sheriff of Schuylkill county in 1854, but was defeated. He was elected as a representative in the State Legislature in 1860.
Richard Henry Koch was born at Middleport, Schuylkill Co., Pa., on April 2, 1852. He was educated in the public schools of the locality in which he lived, and prepared for his enrollment as a student at the State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa., in the spring of 1868. He was graduated from that institution in 1871, with the first honors in his class. For two years he engaged in teaching in Schuylkill and Lehigh counties, and then returned to his alma mater, where he taught mathematics and civil government for six years. While thus employed he also turned his attention to institute work, and was engaged as instructor and lecturer at teachers' institute in a number of adjacent counties. In June, 1879, he resigned his chair at the normal school to take up the study of the law, becoming a student under the tutorship of the late Hon. Francis W. Hughes, of Pottsville. Mr. Hughes was then one of the leading lawyers in America. Mr. Koch was admitted to practice in the courts of Schuylkill county on the 2d of May, 1881, and was later admitted to practice in the Supreme court of the State, and, in 1890, to the Supreme court of the United States. He is a thorough lawyer, devoted to his profes- sion, and maintains high standing in social and business circles. He is an active and earnest Republican, a talented and vigorous campaign orator, and a systematic political organizer. He was chairman of the Republican county committee in 1883 and 1884. Mr. Koch served three years as deputy district attorney, from 1887 to 1890, and in the fall of 1889 he was elected to that office. The election was a high compliment to his popularity, in that the county was considered hopelessly Democratic. He was the nominee of his party for the office of judge of the Common Pleas in 1892, but was defeated, Grover Cleveland, candidate for president, carrying the county by a plurality of 2,251 votes. In 1895 the Republican county convention of Berks county unanimously nominated him for judge of the Common Pleas in that county. He was earnestly solicited and urged to accept the nomination, and did so, notwithstanding the fact that the normal Democratic majority was from 9,000 to 10,000 in that Gibraltar of the Democracy. The majority of President Judge Ermentrout, his competitor, was less than 4,800.
He was appointed judge by Governor Hastings, on the death of Judge Weid- Vol. I-2
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man, in September, 1897, and was his party's candidate in 1898, but owing to the great anti-Quay fight that year the election resulted in favor of every Dem- ocratic candidate in Schuylkill county. In 1907 he was nominated for judge by the popular vote of his party in Schuylkill county, and it is widely believed that his defeat in the general election was encompassed by ballot box stuffing, the widespread existence of which was finally unearthed and perpetrators thereof prosecuted a few years later.
During his absence from home in the summer of 1911 certain lawyers cir- culated a petition to have his name placed on the primary ballot for the judicial nomination, and he was once more nominated by the popular vote of the Republicans. In the election that subsequently ensued he was elected by a large majority over his two competitors. And since the first day of January, 1912, when the oath of office was administered to him, he has been discharging the duties of his office in a highly acceptable manner.
Judge Koch was married Sept. 30, 1884, to Annie S. Phillips, whose father, Capt. William Phillips, was fatally wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor dur- ing the Civil war. Judge and Mrs. Koch have four children: Roscoe Richard, who is practicing law at Pottsville; Helen Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. Joel T. Boone, an assistant surgeon in the United States navy; Marshall Mckinley, a mechanical engineer at Denver, Colo .; and Mary Marjorie, at home.
The Judge is associated with a number of fraternal organizations. He has been a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America since 1871, is one of the charter members of the Pottsville lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a Mason of high standing. For more than eighteen years he was a director of the Centennial and Memorial Association of Valley Forge, which was established for the purpose of preserving Washington's headquarters at this historically sacred spot. Upon the acquisition of the headquarters by the State the Association was dissolved. Judge Koch was for years a trustee of the Pottsville Hospital, and for a long time has been a member of the board of trustees of the Keystone State Normal School, located at Kutztown, Pennsylvania. He has been a member of the Pottsville Club since 1892, and was for more than six years its president. During his incum- bency of said office the club acquired its present beautiful quarters on Mahan- tongo street. For more than a generation the famous Third Brigade Band of Pottsville has had its most ardent and persistent supporter in him. For some time he has been president of the board of trustees of the Second Presbyterian Church.
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