Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

BUCK, CHARLES
R.

p. 472

Surnames: BUCK, SCHMECK, ROYER, HILLEGAS, KOONS, BRAUSS, JOHNSON,
GRUBER, BRIEL

Charles R. Buck, proprietor of the Boyertown Steam Laundry and one
of the enterprising business men of that borough, was born at Red
Hill, Montgomery county, Nov. 7, 1850, son of Charles Buck and his
wife Christina, and grandson of Jacob Buck.

(I) Jacob Buck was a native of Berks County, and by trade was a
blacksmith, for some years living and working at Longswamp. He
moved to Hereford, Berks county, and then to Sumneytown, Montgomery
county, and always followed his trade. His wife is a member of the
old Schmeck family of Berks county, and is buried by his side. They
had issue as follows: Charles, Daniel, Henry, Jacob, James,
Camilla, Maria, and Caroline. Jacob Buck had a brother, Joseph, who
lived and died at Hamburg, Berks county, and another brother who
lived at Ashland, Pa. Joseph Buck had a son, Harry P., who lived at
Hamburg, Berks county.

(II) Charles Buck, son of Jacob Buck, and father of Charles R., was
a native of Longswamp township, Berks county, and was born Aug 3,
1820. He died Dec 19, 1902, aged eighty-two years and four months,
and is buried at New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, East Greenville,
Montgomery county. He was also a blacksmith by trade, and followed
that trade a number of years. In April, 1862, he moved from Red
Hill to Green Lane the same county, and engaged in farming, and
nine years thereafter, retired in comfortable circumstances He was
an active man in the church, and he and his family were members of
the Reformed church at New Goshenhoppen where he and his wife rest
from their labors. In politics he was a Democrat, and served very
acceptably as school director in Marlborough township, Montgomery
county. His wife was Christina Royer, a descendant of one of
Pennsylvania’s old and honored settlers, and she was born in 1824,
and died in 1883. They had three children: William H., of Green
Lane, formerly a school teacher, is now a farmer and a prominent
man in his locality, and he has been a justice of the peace for
thirty-three years, serving his seventh continuous term, and has
also served continuously as school director since 1889; Charles R.;
and Ellen R., married Herman Hillegas, a coal, feed and lumber
merchant at Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.

(III) Charles R. Buck as educated in the common schools of
Montgomery county and Mount Pleasant Seminary, Berks county, under
the tutorship of Prof. L. M. Koons. When Mr. Buck was twenty, he
learned the milling trade from John R. Kepler, of Upper Hanover
township, Montgomery county, and followed it for fourteen years in
Berks county. In 1885 he had the misfortune of being burned out,
his mill and contents at Morysville, in Berks county, being
consumed. Having lost his property, Mr. Buck went to work for P.A.
Brauss & Co., in the cigar and box factory, as paying clerk,
and thus continued for three years. In 1888 he embarked in the
huckster business, operating between Boyertown and Philadelphia for
ten years. In this he prospered, and built up a large trade,
shipping as many as 1,000 dozen eggs per weeks as well as all other
kinds of produce in like proportion. In 1898 Mr. Buck organized the
Boyertown Steam Laundry, which he has since operated with marked
success. Employment is given seven people, and he commands the
trade and approval of the very best people of Boyertown. The plant
is conveniently located on Jefferson street, between Rhoades and
Philadelphia avenue, and it is 40 x 24 feet with the annex.

Mr. Buck is a Democrat in politics and served
very creditable as Justice of the peace, from 1898 to 1903. He was
a member of the school board in Colebrookdale township for four
years and has always taken an active interest in local events. He
has been a delegate to the county convention, and was a candidate
for the office of prison inspector of Berks county. Fraternally,
Mr. Buck is a member of Washington Camp, No. 228, K. G. E. of
Boyertown, and is Clerk of exchequer of the Castle, having held
that office since 1902. He and his family are members of the
Reformed Church of the Good Shepherd, of which he is trustee; he
was made an official of the church in 1894, and has continued in
office ever since. He is very liberal in his contributions and can
always be depended upon to do even more than one man’s part towards
the advancement of any measure, either in church or civic life,
tending towards the uplifting of humanity.

On Nov. 6, 1875, Mr. Buck married Sarah Johnson,
daughter of Abraham B. and Catherine (Gruber) Johnson, of
Colebrookdale township. Mrs.. Buck was born July 30, 1854, and died
Dec. 25, 1903. Her many virtues are tenderly cherished by her
husband and children and her loss is still mourned. The children
born to Mr. and Mrs. Buck were: Flora, m. to Milton W. Briel, who
is connected with the Boyertown Casket Company and they have two
children, Kathryn and Lillian; and Charles A., born April 15, 1885,
who is his father’s assistant and a bright, young business man. The
family stands very high in the community, in both a business and a
social way.

BUCK,
NICHOLAS

p. 473

Surnames: BUCK, KOHL, HARTMAN, KRAMER, ECK, HARING, McCARTY,
NUSPICKEL

Nicholas Buck, the emigrant ancestor of many of the name, was
descended from an ancient family long established in the vicinity
of Thionville, Lorraine. The date of his birth is unknown. The
Buckville branch of the family descended from Nicholas Buck, Jr.,
his third son, who was nineteen years old at the time of his
father’s death. Lorraine is within the valley of the Rhine and on
the frontier of Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, and
suffered severely from war during the years between 1670 and 1733.
The calamities occasioned by such long strife induced one Nicholas
Buck, a single man, to embark at Rotterdam, on the ship “St.
Andrew” for America. He arrived in Philadelphia, Sept. 25, 1752.
For a short time he lived near Reading, and then came by way of
Goshenhoppen to Springfield township, Bucks county. There he
settled down and spent the remainder of his life. There is doubt as
to the exact year of the emigration of Nicholas buck. The ship
“Edinburgh” arrived in Philadelphia Sept. 5, 1748, from Rotterdam.
In the list of passengers were mentioned Michael Hartman and “John
Nickel Buck,” the former no doubt the father of Nicholas Buck’s
second wife whom he married in 1766. In 1760 he signed a petition
asking for a road in Springfield township. On this he wrote his
name “Nickly Buck.” On April 21, 1761, he married Mary Abigail,
daughter of George and Barbara Kohl, of Nockamixon. The first
child, Leonard, was born Sept. 1, 1763, and the second son, Joseph,
in 1764. The wife and mother died Jan 7, 1765, at the age of
twenty-two years. On May 12, 1766, Mr. Buck married (second)
Elizabeth, daughter of Michael and Margaret Hartman. The children
of the second union were: Nicholas, Jacob, John, Catharine,
Barbara, Elizabeth, Magdalena, and Mary Ann. In his last marriage
record the father is mentioned as a widower and a farmer. In 1768
he purchased from Ludwig Nuspickel, a tract of land of forty-six
acres. In 1777 he was in the Revolutionary War.

Leonard Buck, son of Nicholas, married Elizabeth
Kramer, born in 1769. He was a farmer. In 1786 he inherited under
conditions half of his father’s estate. He died in 1809, aged
forty-six years. His widow survived some years. Their four children
were: Mary, Catharine, Sarah, and Abigail.

Joseph Buck, son of Nicholas, married Rosina. He
had a son John and other children. He sold to his brother his
holdings in real estate and removed to Whitehall township in Lehigh
county, in 1800.

Capt. Nicholas Buck, third son of the ancestor
Nicholas, in 1789 married Mary Magdalena, daughter of John Eck, of
Upper Salford. In 1792 he bought a tract of sixty-four acres. In
1803 and later he was a collector of taxes in Nockamixon. In 1807
he raised a company and had it fully equipped and prepared for
action the following spring. This company of militia continued to
have him as its captain until a few years before his death. He had
six children: Elizabeth, Nicholas, Sarah, Mary Magdalena, Jacob S.,
and Samuel.

Major Jacob Buck, fourth son of the ancestor
Nicholas, was born in Springfield, May 1, 1770. He was a farmer. In
1798 he married Susanna, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Haring,
of Haycock. He conducted a public house at Nockamixon in 1899. In
1814 or sooner be became owner of the “Bear Tavern” at Red Hill.
About the same time his brother John became the owner of “Sorrel
Horse.” Major Jacob Buck’s children were: John, Jacob, Elizabeth,
Nicholas, Samuel, Catharine and Joseph. His descendants are
numerous and reside chiefly in Bucks county, Philadelphia and New
Jersey.

Major John Buck was the youngest of the
ancestor’s sons. He was born Feb. 19, 1775. In 1795 he married
Salome McCarty. He, too, early in life had a penchant for the
militia. In 1808 he was a captain of a company organized by his
brother Jacob. He served this company as major until the close of
the war with England. In 1808 he purchased his brother Jacob’s
property at Revere. The tract consisted of 136 acres and on it was
the famous “Sorrel Horse” hotel, which was built of logs. After
many years’ service this was town down in 1818. He was the father
of ten children: Elizabeth, John, Joel, Edward, Martha, Reading,
Enoch, Theodore, Rebecca and Nicholas. His descents live in Bucks
county, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Illinois and the West.

BUCKS, CALVIN
W.

p. 1610

Surnames: BUCKS, WINTERS, BOOKS, GRIMM, CHRIST, NOECKER, GRAEFF,
ALTHOUSE, MILLER, LAZARUS, SPATZ, BHAER, BOYER KLEIN, STAUDT,
MEYER/MOYER, KLOPP

NOTE:

Researcher’s note follows this entry.

Calvin W. Bucks, proprietor of the Old Honesty Cigar Box Company,
at Reading, and one of the representative business men of that
city, was born Dec. 18, 1871, in Upper Bern Township. son of Joshua
N. and Valeria (Winters) Bucks, and grandson of John Bucks.

The original Bucks homestead in Bern township
was granted by the Penns to Jacob Grimm in 1744, and he retained it
until 1770 when it was sold to Hans Books. The name Bucks on the
old parchment deeds was spelled Books, these deeds now being in the
possession of Calvin W. Bucks, of Reading. In 1814 Abraham Bucks,
son of Hans Books (or John Bucks) sold this tract to his son Daniel
Bucks. It was owned in the family for more than one hundred years.

In 1759 John Bucks was a taxable in Bern
township, paying a tax of In 1770 he purchased property from
Jacob Grimm as above stated, and in 1785 he sold this to his son
Abraham. In 1790 according to the Federal census, he was a resident
farmer of Bern township, and had two sons under sixteen years of
age, and one daughter. He died in 1816, leaving a son John, Jr.,
who was the executor of his father’s estate as recorded in Will
Book C, page 112. His children were: John Jr.; Abraham; Anna Mary
(m. to Conrad Christ). It is evident from the census report that
there was at least a daughter whose name is not recorded.

Abraham Bucks (probably a brother of John) was a
farmer in Bern township. In 1790 two of his sons were under sixteen
years of age. His last will and testament was made April 24, 1811,
and he died the same year. His will is on record in Will Book A,
page 587. His children were: John, Abraham, Daniel, Susanna, Sarah,
Margaret, Magdalena, Catharine, and Anna Maria. The sons were given
the lands in Bern and were to pay their sisters 0 for their share
of the large estate. Daniel, the youngest son, was given the four
horses and their harnesses and the other farm implements.

John Bucks, grandfather of Calvin W,. was born
in Centre township, Berks County, where at one time he was the
owner of considerable property. He married Susanna Noecker, and
their children were: Emanuel; Sarah m. (first) a Graeff, (second)
Samuel Althouse; Matilda and Caroline, both died unmarried;
Catherine m. Monroe Miller; Frank resides at Reading; Mary m. Henry
Lazarus; and Joshua N. Of this family there are yet living Emanuel,
Sarah, Frank and Joshua N.

Joshua N. Bucks was born in Centre township, and
was reared to agricultural pursuits. He continued to farm until
1904, when he removed to Reading. He owned two adjoining farms, one
of nearly 100 acres and the other of 58 acres, both in Centre
township, and these he sold before taking up his residence at No.
226 West Oley street, Reading. He is engaged in the box
manufacturing industry. In politics he is a Democrat and he served
as auditor of Centre township. He married Valeria Winters, daughter
of John R. and Amanda (Spatz) Winters of Bern township.

Calvin Bucks, only son of his parents, was
reared on the home farm. He attended the public schools of his
native township and of Centreport, and later the Keystone State
Normal School, where he was graduated in 1900. He had taught
school, however, three years prior to his graduation. For two years
more he engaged in teaching and was then granted his master’s
diploma, teaching in all five years. In 1902 he took a commercial
course in the Reading Business College, and later taught one year
at that institution. In 1903 he became bookkeeper for the firm of
A. Thalheimer & Son, being employed there for about two years,
when it was incorporated under the name of A. Thalheimer
Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of cigar boxes. For two years
Mr. Bucks served as secretary and treasurer of this company. He
then withdrew his interests and embarked in a similar business,
Jan, 15, 1907, in association with his father, Joshua N. Bucks,
under the firm name of Old Honesty Cigar Box Company. The business
is prospering. It is located at No. 634 Washington street, and
employment is given to fifteen workers.

On June 13, 1896, Mr. Bucks was married to
Maggie Bhaer, daughter of Levi and Rebecca (Boyer) Bhaer of
Mohrsville, and a granddaughter of Isaac and Anna Bhaer of Bern
Township. Mr. and Mrs. Bucks have one daughter, Consuelo Beatrice.

In 1894, Mr. Bucks learned telegraphy at
Shoemakersville, and subsequently filled positions in New Jersey,
also at West Falls and Philadelphia. Both he and his wife belong to
the First Reformed Church at Reading. He is a member of Washington
Camp, No. 446, P. O. S. of A., Centreport; and Reading Lodge, no
549, F. & A. M., Reading.

(1) Abraham Bucks, son of John Bucks/Hans Books (d. 1785) and
brother of John Bucks (d. 1816), died in 1811. Abraham Bucks (d.
1811) had three sons, John, Abraham, and Daniel. In 1814, after
Daniel reached his majority, the lands of Abraham Bucks (d. 1811),
as decreed by his will, were divided between his three sons. “It is
my will, that when my youngest son Daniel has arrived to his age,
then shall the three mentioned John, Abraham, and Daniel divide the
land as well as they can, and impower my Brothers Son John Bucks,
that he shall sign Deeds for the mentioned three sons to whom I
have bequeathed them my Land. which shall be as good as if I had
made them myself.” I believe this is the land transaction
Montgomery is referring to, and that John Bucks, son of John Bucks
d. 1816, is not selling the land to Abraham, but simply dividing
the land of his Uncle Abraham (d. 1811) between the three sons of
Abraham – and that son Abraham’s portion was the original land
under the Warrant from the Penns and purchased from Jacob Grimm.

(2) John Bucks/Hans Books (d. intestate probably 1785, as land
records indicate), was the father of John Jr.; Abraham; and Anna
Mary (m. to Conrad Christ). This information was found in land
records.

John Bucks Jr., who died in 1816, had the following children with
his wife, Elisabeth, according to his will: Catherine Bucks, b. 9
Feb 1777, m. Johannes Klein 18 Oct 1796; John Bucks, b. (1 Aug?)
1779, m. Catherina Staudt? m. Elisabeth Reigel?; Elizabeth Bucks,
b. 22 Oct 1781, d. 30 Mar 1852, m. Martin Meyer/Moyer; Sarah Bucks,
b. 1783, m. John Klopp.

(3) Levi “Bhaer” never spelled his name that way. In records, he is
found as Levi Baer, Levi Bear, and Levi Barr. The spelling “Bhaer”
was adopted by Levi’s wife, Rebecca Boyer, in about 1900, and by
some of his children (Maggie, Theodore, Ida, Irvin). Levi Baer is
buried in the cemetery of Gernant’s Church. Rebecca Boyer Bhaer is
buried in Charles Evans Cemetery.

(4) The father of Levi Baer is John Barr (1814-1875), son of
Abraham Barr, and John Barr was married to Anna Williams. Isaac
Baer, also a son of Abraham Barr, is the uncle of Levi Baer, not
his father.

NOTE:

The contributor of this footnote is the
great-granddaughter of Calvin Bucks, and the great-great
granddaughter of Levi Baer.

Abraham Bucks, son of John Bucks/Hans Books (d. 1785) and brother
of John Bucks (d. 1816), died in 1811. Abraham Bucks (d. 1811) had
three sons, John, Abraham, and Daniel. In 1814, after Daniel
reached his majority, the lands of Abraham Bucks (d. 1811), as
decreed by his will, were divided between his three sons. “It is my
will, that when my youngest son Daniel has arrived to his age, then
shall the three mentioned John, Abraham, and Daniel divide the land
as well as they can, and impower my Brothers Son John Bucks, that
he shall sign Deeds for the mentioned three sons to whom I have
bequeathed them my Land. which shall be as good as if I had made
them myself.” I believe this is the land transaction Montgomery is
referring to, and that John Bucks, son of John Bucks d. 1816, is
not selling the land to Abraham, but simply dividing the land of
his Uncle Abraham (d. 1811) between the three sons of Abraham – and
that son Abraham’s portion was the original land under the Warrant
from the Penns and purchased from Jacob Grimm.”

BUCKS,
WILLIAM R.

p. 764

Surnames: BUCKS, RIEGEL, DUNDORE, RIESER, REED, CRUM, MILLER, KRUM,
HERBINE, FRITZ, PARVIN, ZACHARIAS

William R. Bucks, of Reading, now living retired in his comfortable
home at No. 1135 North Eleventh street, was born on the old Bucks
homestead near Bernville, in Bern, now Penn, township, Berks
county, Jan. 10, 1834.

John Bucks emigrated to America from Berne,
Switzerland. He had been engaged in the dairy business in his
native land, where the mountains and the meadows in the valleys
supplied the people with good pasture and water. On coming to
America Mr. Bucks began prospecting for just such an ideal
location, finding it at what is now Scull’s Hill, where the hills
were adorned with a rich growth of trees and shrubbery, the valleys
fertile, and where many of his countrymen had already located, He
selected a tract of four hundred acres, the hills covered with wood
and shrubbery, and two meadows with fine streams of water running
the entire length. Between the meadows on a slight elevation, he
erected the buildings and commenced clearing the land for
cultivation. There is an old record that shows that in the year
1759, when the first tax was levied in Bern township, John Bucks
paid a tax of nine pounds, a considerable amount in those days.

John Bucks, grandfather of William B., was born
on the homestead in 1779, and later on became the owner of it. He
was a farmer and with the exception of the last years, passed all
his life in his native locality. he married Elisabeth Riegel, born
in 1780, and they had four children: John; Catharine m. Daniel
Dundore; Elizabeth m. Isaac Dundore; and Mary, m. Jacob Rieser.
They both died in Marion township, and were buried in the
Tulpehocken cemetery, he in 1845, aged sixty-six years, and she in
1851, aged seventy years.

John Bucks, son of John and father of William
R., came into possession of the old homestead, and was engaged in
its cultivation until 1840, when he sold it and purchased the Jacob
Reed farm of 125 acres in Marion township, one-half mile northeast
of Stouchsburg, and removed there, carrying on farming very
successfully for many years. In 1853 he tore down the old stone
mansion built a century before with strong, thick walls. It was
provided with a dark room on the second floor, at the head of the
stairs, where shelter could be found against the Indians then
numerous in that section. On the site of this old house he erected
a large brick dwelling. In 1864 Mr. Bucks’ son Aaron took charge of
the farming, and Mr. Bucks lived with him in retirement until his
death in 1889, in his eighty-second year. He married Catherine
Rieser, born April 10, 1810, died 1884. They were buried in the
cemetery adjoining Tulpehocken Church of which they were devoted
members. Their children were: William R.; Mary R. m. Dr. George
Crum, deceased; Aaron R., who first engaged in farming, and then
moved to Reading and engaged in the coal business. died in 1894;
Emma m. Jacob Miller, deceased; John R. resides in Myerstown; Sarah
E. m. Henry Krum, deceased; Frank S. resides in Stouchsburg; and
Allen died in Reading in 1900.

William R. Bucks attended Stouchsburg Academy
during the winter months, and assisted his father on the farm the
remainder of the year. In 1853 he taught one term of school in
Tulpehocken township — the year before the county had a
superintendent of public instruction. He then attended a boarding
school at the Trappe, in Montgomery county, for a term, and taught
the following year in Marion township. He next taught five terms at
Jefferson township. In 1861 he was employed in Bern township where
he taught eight terms, one at Epler and seven at White Oak Hills
(so named because of the many stately trees of that species
adorning a hillside nearby). In 1867 Mr. Bucks turned his attention
to a feed, grain and grocery business along the Schuylkill canal,
below Leesport, where he was located for thirty-nine years. he also
cultivated a small farm, which he owned, and his place was one of
the busiest to be found along the canal. In 1906 He retired and
went to Reading, purchasing his present property.

On Oct. 5, 1865, Mr. Bucks married Amelia Z.
Herbine, daughter of William and Catharine (Zacharias) Herbine, of
Bern township. She was a consistent member of Epler’s Church, and
later of Trinity Reformed Church. at Leesport. She died Dec. 18,
1904, and is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery, Reading. Two
children were born of this union: John W., who is engaged in the
grocery business, m. Emma Irene Fritz, and resides at the corner of
Twelfth and Green streets, Reading; and Deborah A., who resides
with her father, taught school for a number of terms, and later on
gave private lessons in elocution. Mr. Bucks was a member of
Trinity Reformed Church at Leesport, where he served as deacon and
elder. After locating in Reading, he transferred his membership to
St. Thomas Reformed Church, this city. In politics he is a
democrat, as were both his father and grandfather. He served
eighteen years as school director, ten of which he was secretary of
the board, and at different times, president. He also served on the
election board. Mr. Bucks, together with James Rieser and Jeremiah
Parvin, owns a large tract of woodland in Bern township. It is on
the highest point in the township and bears the name Seidels’ Hill.
The Buckses as a family have always been people of substance and
respectability.

BULL, ELIJAH

p. 350

Surnames: BULL, PAINTER, BUCKWALTER, GRAFF, CRYLEY, RISHEL, AMOLE,
KEAST, EUSTICE, KLINE

Elijah Bull was for about thirty years one of the important figures
in the commercial world of Reading. He was probably best known in
his connection with the Reading Stove Works, Orr, Painter &
Co., of which firm he was a member for over thirty years before his
retirement, thereafter continuing to serve as director until his
death. Other business interests which made him prominent in the
city were his association with the National Union Bank, the
Building and Loan Association and the Reading Hospital. Mr. Bull
was regarded with particular esteem as the architect of his own
fortunes, for he rose to a position of distinction from ordinary
circumstances. Mr. Bull was born Jan. 20, 1835, at Springfield,
Chester Co., Pa., son of Thomas and Sarah A. (Painter) Bull, and
grandson of Elijah Bull, the latter a native of Chester county,
where he spent all his life. He owned and operated large tracts of
farm land. He was mustered into the volunteer service of the war of
1812, but before the detachment of which he was a member reached
the front the war had been brought to a close.

Thomas Bull, father of Elijah, was born in
Springfield, Chester county, May 23, 1802, and there received his
education. He was reared to farming which he followed in his native
county until the spring of 1846, when he moved to Pottsville, Pa.
There he took up the vocation of a blacksmith, but he died within a
short time thereafter June 13, 1847. He married Sarah A. Painter,
and they had five children: Margaret m. Levi Buckwalter, of Spring
City, Chester Co., Pa.; Charles, late of Reading, was a stove
mounter, engaged in the works of Orr, Painter & Co.; Elizabeth
died in childhood; Elijah; and Mary m. the late B. F. Graff. Mr.
Bull m. (second) Maria Cryley, and to them were born two children,
namely; Susan, m. to Reuben Rishel; and Thomas, who resides in St.
Louis, Missouri.

Elijah Bull received a good education in the
public schools of Chester county. Going to Philadelphia, he learned
the trade of a stove molder, and there followed that occupation
until he was thrown out of employment by the closing of the works
on account of the panic of 1857. Thereafter until 1864 he worked
part of the year at his trade, teaching school in Chester county
during the winter months. In 1864 he began teaching in Mahanoy
City, where he continued three years, during which time he became
superintendent of the schools. On Jan. 1, 1867, he became a member
of the firm of Orr, Painter & Co., manufacturers of stoves,
hollowware and fine castings. In February, 1886, the firm was
incorporated as the Reading Stove Works, Orr, Painter & Co.
Soon after becoming a member of the firm Mr. Bull assumed charge of
the shipping department, and discharged the duties of that position
with fidelity until the death of Mr. Orr, in June, 1892, when he
was made treasurer of the company. The latter position he retained
until 1898, when he retired from active participation in the
affairs of the company, though he continued to hold stock and serve
as a member of the board of directors.

The extent of the business done by this concern
may be judged from the fact that over four hundred workmen were
employed in the various departments, engaged in molding, casting,
grinding, cleaning, grinding and polishing, nickelplating,
finishing and mounting. Four branches are conducted ? in Chicago,
Boston, Buffalo, and Philadelphia, representing thousands upon
thousands of stoves made and sold annually. Mr. Bull was a director
of the National Union Bank of Reading, and a member of the Building
& Loan Association. He never took any active part in public
matters, his business duties having occupied all his time and
attention.

He was a member of the board of managers of the
Reading Hospital, and liberal and generous along lines of true
philanthropy. Mr. Bull was a member of the Memorial M. E. Church of
Reading, and was at one time president of its board of trustees. He
joined the Odd Fellows in 185-, affiliating with Welcome Lodge, No.
229, of Philadelphia, and was also a member of Mt. Penn Lodge,
Knights of Pythias. He enlisted for emergency service during the
Civil war in the 42d regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.

On Dec. 31, 1867, Mr. Bull married Mary A.
Amole, whose father, George Amole, of Chester county, Pa., was born
Oct. 12, 1802, and died Feb. 20, 1876. He was a farmer by vocation,
and always resided in Chester county. Mr. Bull died Jan. 18, 1900,
and his wife survived until Sept. 18, 1903. Their only child, Edna
Marguerite, was married May 13, 1905, to Henry C. Keast, a native
of Michigan, born Sept. 24, 1882, son of Charles and Anna E.
(Eustice) Keast, both of whom were born in Cornwall, England. Mr.
and Mrs. Keast have one child, Kenneth E., born Aug. 7, 1906.

Mr. Keast came to Reading in childhood and
received his education in the public schools and the Interstate
Commercial College. For some time he was chief packer for C. K.
Whitner & Co., leaving them in 1902 to enter the employ of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with which he has since remained. He
is chief clerk to Mr. A. H. Kline, the Chief Inspector of Lumber of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. He is a Republican in politics.

BULLES,
AUGUSTUS

p. 1092

Surnames: BULLES, NOAH, WEIDEL, KOEHLE, REIS, MACK

Augustus Bulles, one of the well-known hotel men of Reading, who is
conducting the popular “Hampden Park Hotel,” situated at the corner
of Thirteenth and Spring streets, was born Aug. 18, 1858, at
Philadelphia, Pa., son of Tabold and Catherine (Noah) Bulles.

Tabold Bulles, who emigrated from Germany as a
young man, settled at Philadelphia, and there engaged in the shoe
business until 1861, at which time he came with his family to
Reading, being for many years employed in the Scott foundry at the
latter place. He died in 1871, and was buried at Alsace Church, his
wife being interred in the Charles Evans cemetery. They had these
children: Katie, Beulah, Theodore, Augustus, Julius, Edward, Ida
and Albert.

Augustus Bulles attended the public schools of
Reading, and as a boy worked in the brick yard near his home for
twelve years, after which he learned the shoemaking trade, an
occupation which he followed for about fifteen years at Milwaukee,
Wis. In 1886 he returned to Reading, and for seven years was
employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, also serving
on the Reading police force during 1896-1897-1898, under Mayor
Weidel. In 1906 he became the proprietor of the “Hampden Park
Hotel,” which he has conducted to the present time with success,
having a large and steady patronage. Mr. Bulles is a charter member
of Camp No. 329, P. 0. S. of A., and also belongs to the K. G. E.
No. 53, the F. 0. E. No. 66, and the Philadelphia & Reading
Relief Association. He and his family are members of St. Thomas
Reformed Church.

Mr. Bulles was married to Elizabeth Koehle, and
to this union the following children were born: Albert, William,
Joseph, Raymond, Frank, Arthur and Caroline.

Mrs. Bulles is a daughter of Alvis and Elizabeth
(Reis) Koehle, of Milwaukee, Wis., who were the parents of these
children: Elizabeth; Josephine, m. to Charles Mack; and Albert and
Joseph of Milwaukee, Wis. Carl Reis, grandfather of Mrs. Bulles,
was born along the Rhine in the Fatherland, and came to America
many years ago, being buried at Milwaukee. He was a ship-builder by
trade, but later became a liquor dealer and left an estate of forty
acres. By his first wife, who died three months after coming to
this country, he had two children: Elizabeth and Josephine.

BURD, EDWARD

p. 351

Surnames: BURD, YEATES

Edward Burd was a practicing attorney at Reading, having been
admitted to practice in the courts of Berks county in 1772. He
removed to Reading from Lancaster. When the company of Capt. George
Nagel marched to Cambridge, in Massachusetts, during July and
August, 1775, Burd was one of a number of devoted and patriotic
sons who went along at their own expense; and when the “Flying
Camp” was raised he was chosen major of Haller’s regiment. In the
Battle of Long Island, in August, 1776, he was taken prisoner, and
while imprisoned addressed a letter to Hon. Jasper Yeates, at
Lancaster. On August 12, 1778, he was appointed prothonotary of the
Supreme court, and he continued to officiate in this position by
re-appointment until Jan. 2, 1800. His autograph is reproduced
herewith: (Autograph at bottom of biography).

BURGERT,
BENNEVILLE

p. 1698

Surnames: BURGERT, HOFFMAN, KLINE, PRICE, ZINK, MILLER, ROTHERMEL,
REESER, NOLL, SCHWEITZER, OHLINGER

Benneville Burgert, now residing on his valuable farm in
Maidencreek township, was born in Richmond township, Berks Co.,
Pa., March 24, 1841, a son of Solomon and Rachel (Hoffman) Burgert.

The grandfather was Samuel Burgert, who was a
shoemaker by trade and followed it at Walnuttown. In early manhood
he married and he had the following children born to him: Gideon;
Benjamin; Solomon; Samuel, residing on the old homestead;
Catherine, m. to John Kline; and Mary, m. to Rudy Price.

Solomon Burgert was born on the old farm in
Richmond township, where he carried on farming through life. He
married Rachel Hoffman, and they had children as follows: Ester, m.
to (first) George Zink, and (second) Fred Miller, Catherine, who
died unmarried; Solomon; Benneville; Samuel; Elijah, and James.

Benneville Burgert has spent his life in Berks
country and during all his active years he devoted himself to
agricultural pursuits. For some years he has lived retired. In 1870
he married Sarah Rothermel, daughter of Paul and Elizabeth (Reeser)
Rothermel, and they had seven children. (1) Anna, the eldest was
born June 11, 1870 and died Sept. 2, 1871. (2) William was born
March 22, 1872, reside on the old homestead, and manages it. He
married Kate Noll and they have six children, namely, David,
William, Sarah, Hettie, Benneville and Paul. (3) Sarah was born
Sept. 23, 1873, married Henry Schweitzer and they have one child,
Bentley. (4) Elizabeth was born Dec. 22, 1874, and died Sept. 28,
1875. (5) Solomon was born March 13, 1876, and died June 3, 1876
(6) Paul was born July 28, 1877, and died Sept 22, 1877. (7) Mary
Eva was born Aug. 5, 1880, married Clarence Ohlinger and they have
six children, namely; Anna, Mabel, Virgia, Elizabeth, Lillian, and
Esther. Mr. And Mrs. Burgert are well-known and highly esteemed
residents of their neighborhood. They are members of the Blandon
Church, Mr. Burgert being of the Lutheran faith and Mrs. Burgert of
the Reformed.

BURKEY,
WILLIAM F.

p. 1080

Surnames: BURKEY, HARVER, NEWKIRK, CHRIST, STUMP, SCHOWYER,
RICHARDS, BURKY, MILLER, DEWALD, SWOYER, GEISSLER, FAUST, STOUDT,
KETTERY, SCHLAPPING, BLATT, BAUTSCH, KASPER, KETNER, HEIM, BECKER,
YERGER, DUNKELBERGER, DEYSHER, VAN DORAN, ZIEGLER, UNGER, JACOBS,
SCHOLLENBERGER, HARRIS, FINK, CONFER, MILLER, DERR, HILL, STITZEL,
HOPKINS, ALTENDERFER, DIVES, POMEROY, STEWART, SEIBERT

William F. Burkey, in his lifetime one of the leading citizens of
Hamburg, Berks Co., Pa., prominently connected with the business,
political and fraternal circles of Berks county, was born in
Hamburg April 5, 1851, and he died at his home Nov. 24, 1907. An
emigrant by the name of Burky came to America from Hesse-Cassel,
and located at Bally, in the Goshenhoppen Valley, in Pennsylvania,
where he helped to build the Roman Catholic Church of the Most
Blessed Sacrament in 1743. He was a member of that church, and his
remains are buried in the consecrated ground there. He was a
relative of that Jacob Burkey who emigrated in 1733, and located in
Bern township, Berks county. Traditions says they were brothers.
The name also spelled Burcky and Borcky. Children of the Bally
emigrant visited the family of the same name in Bern township.
Jacob Burky of Bally, grandson of the emigrant, settled in Windsor
township, Berks county, in his young manhood and there married
Barbara Harver, a Protestant woman, who died about 1873, aged
seventy-nine years. He was born about 1790, and died aged
eighty-four years, and is buried in Charles Evans cemetery. He was
a wheelwright and a farmer. His children were: (1) Joseph was
drowned. (2) Mary married a Newkirk. (3) Benjamin was a charcoal
burner in Greenwich and Albany townships. He had a large family,
among whom was a son, William, who is a contractor and now lives in
Reading. (4) Anna married a Christ. (5) Sarah married a Stump. (6)
Henry W., born 1835, was a cigar-maker and later a railroad
watchman for many years, making his home in Reading. His son, E. L.
Burky, lives in Philadelphia. (7) Reuben H. lived in Windsor
township, where he married Lucinda Schwoyer, and then lived at
Hamburg, Port Clinton and Schuylkill Haven, respectively, dying in
the last named place. He had a large family, and some of his
posterity live about Tamaqua. (8) Samuel lived in Windsor township
until his marriage with Rebecca Richards, when he moved to Mahanoy
City, where he resided some years, and he died in Reading, and is
buried in Aulenbach cemetery. His children were: William, Charles,
Irwin, Sallie, and Laura. Jacob Burky, father of these children and
grandson of the emigrant, had brothers and sisters as follows:
John, Philip, Dianah (who married first a Miller and second a
Dewald), and Mrs. Swoyer. The children of the emigrant ancestor
were, like their parents, Roman Catholics, but some of their
children located in communities where there was no Catholic Church,
and married into Protestant families, some of them becoming
Protestant and some being members of no church at all. The majority
of the family are farmers.

(I) Jacob Burkey, the emigrant ancestor of William F. Burkey, late
of Hamburg, and of John A. Burkey, of Reading, crossed the ocean on
the ship “Hope” and arrived at Philadelphia Aug. 28, 1733. In 1759,
when the first tax of Bern township (part of which is now Upper
Bern) was levied, he was a taxable of the township, paying a tax of
~9. He was the original owner of the Burkey homestead, on which he
died in January, 1764, and there he was buried, rough sandstones
marking the last resting-place of this pioneer settler and his
wife, and, according to tradition, of a son.

(II) Jacob Burkey (2), son of the emigrant, was born in Upper Bern
township. He owned the small Burkey homestead on which he died in
1819. His wife bore the maiden name of Geissler. To them were born
children as follows; John, who lived in Upper Bern, m. a Miss
Faust; Heinrich, who lived at Irish Creek in Tilden township, m. a
Miss Stoudt; Wilhelm, who settled in Upper Bern, m. a Miss Kettery;
Jacob, went west; Daniel is mentioned below; David, who lived in
Bernville, m. a Miss Schlappig, and had a son Joshua whose son
Joshua is now deputy sheriff of Berks county; Betsy m. Jacob Blatt.

(III) Daniel Burkey, son of Jacob (2), was born Nov. 30, 178, in
Upper Bern township, and died there in 1866. He was a shoemaker by
trade, but later in life became a weaver, which occupation he
followed in addition to conducting his small farm in Upper Bern
township, situated one mile southwest of St. Michael’s church. This
tract has been in the possession of the Burkey family since it was
deeded to them by the Penns. Daniel Burkey married Susanna Bautsch,
daughter of Frederick Bautsch, and to them were born the following
named children: Daniel m. Polly Blatt; Sallie (1812-1881) m. Jacob
Kasper (1792-1698), a native of Reichenbach, Baden, Germany: Ca
theine m. Isaac Ketner; Hannah m. Peter Heim; William m. Mary
Becker; Peter is mentioned below; Elizabeth m. John Yerger;
Benjamin m. Sarah Dunkelberger; Joseph died when fourteen years of
age; two died in infancy.

(IV) Peter Burkey, son of
Daniel and father of William F., was born March 7, 1826, in Upper
Bern township, Berks county, and he died at Hamburg, May 27, 1903.
He was reared upon his father’s farm, and in early youth learned
the trade of carpenter and afterward that of cabinet-maker. In 1849
he started in for himself in a small way, at the latter occupation,
on the property at present occupied by the large Burkey furniture
establishment. At first he worked alone, but soon the growth of the
business demanded help, and he engaged workmen, whom he educated to
the business, thus building up the large enterprise that passed to
his sons at the time of his death. Always enterprising and
progressive, it is said that in the early days of his business he
walked twice a day twelve miles to look after his lumber. He was
one of the founders of the Hamburg Savings Bank, and for a number
of years its honored president: and a stockholder and director of
the Windsor Water company. He was a consistent member of the First
Reformed Church of Hamburg, and was chairman of the building
committee which erected the handsome new edifice, being also the
largest contributor toward the erection fund. He was an elder of
the church at the time of his death. In 1850 Mr. Burkey married
Hannah Deysher, daughter of John Deysher, who was county
commissioner from 1834 to 1837. Of this union came three children,
namely: William F. is mentioned below; Daniel A. m. Minerva Van
Doran, and had a son who died young; Mary B. m. Dr. George W.
Ziegler, of Philadelphia. The mother lived in Philadelphia until
her death there May 15, 1909, at the home of her daughter, when she
was aged eighty-one years. Her remains were interred in the family
plot in Hamburg.

(V) William F. Burkey, son of Peter, attended the schools of
Hamburg, and when but nine years of age was a student in high
school, which was then in charge of Prof. R. S. Unger and J. Howard
Jacobs, Esq. At the age of seventeen he completed his education,
and learned the trade of cabinet-maker with his father, with whom
he continued to work until the latter’s death. At that time the two
sons, William F. and Daniel A., took up the business and became
joint managers of the estate-relations which were sustained until
the death of William F. The estate consisted of a large
manufacturing plant and retail business, the store on South Fourth
street-a four-story brick building, 26 x 90 feet, and the product a
complete line of furniture and carpets, the firm doing a large
business in the county outside of Reading, covering the trade of
the entire upper part of Berks county and the coal region district.
William F. Burkey was also a licensed undertaker and embalmer, and
had a large business in that line. He was a director in the Hamburg
Savings Bank, succeeding his father, and had been treasurer of the
Board of Trade of the Union Fire Company for a number of years, and
was a stockholder of the Windsor Water Company. In politics he was
a Republican, and had been a member of the school board and a
delegate to various county conventions.

In his religious connection Mr. Burkey was a
member of the First Reformed Church, to which his family belong. He
played the cornet in the Sunday school for a period of ten years,
and in all this time missed but two Sundays. Mr. Burkey was a
member of Vaux Lodge F. & A. M., No. 406 (was twice master of
his lodge, and secretary at the time of his death); of Reading
Chapter, R. A. M.; De Molay Commandery, No. 9, K. T.; Reading Lodge
of Perfection; Philadelphia Consistory; and Rajah Temple, Mystic
Shrine. He was also a member of Ontelaunee Tribe, I. O. R. M., of
which he was treasurer; and of the P. O. S. of A., being on the
degree team for a number of years. Mr. Burkey was an accomplished
musician and had been prominently identified with musical
organizations in the borough from 1869. He belonged to the Hamburg
Cornet Band, under M. H. Schollenberger, and the Hamburg Band,
under Dr. William Harris, being the cornet solo player of these
companies. He was the organizer and leader of Burkey’s Band of
Hamburg, which was established in 1883, and which at a recent
engagement at Pottsville, on the occasion of “Old Home” week,
numbered thirty-five pieces. For twelve years he, he was a member
of the First Brigade Band of Reading. All of Mr. Burkey’s sons are
members of the Burkey’s Band, and are skilled musicians. In 1900
Mr. Burkey, Mr. Allen J. Fink, Mr. N. A. Confer and Mr. Amos S.
Miller, of Hamburg, took a pleasure trip to Europe, visiting
Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland, Germany, England, Ireland
and Scotland, seeing many points of interest. On Oct. 6, 1873, Mr.
Burkey married Miss Elgiva A. Derr, daughter of Benneville and Mary
(Hill) Derr, and granddaughter of Israel Derr (whose wife was a
Stitzel). To this union were born four sons: (1) Charles D., who
was educated in the public schools, graduating from the Hamburg
high school at the head of his class, is assistant cashier in the
Hamburg Savings Bank. He married Bessie Confer, and resides on
North Fourth street. (2) Peter H., who was also educated in the
public schools and was graduated from the high school at the head
of his class, learned the cabinet-maker’s trade from his father,
and then took a course in Eastman’s Business College, Poughkeepsie,
N. Y. He is now paying teller of the Seaboard National Bank of New
York, a position he obtained through merit, having first served the
bank as clerk. He married Laura Hopkins, and resides at his home in
Brooklyn. (3) William D., who attended the public and high schools
of Hamburg (graduating from the latter in the class of 1898), and
Dickinson College (from which he was graduated in the class of
1902), is the proprietor of the Eagle Knitting Mills, at Leesport,
Pa.

He married Sally Altenderfer. (4) Edward B. was
educated in the public schools and high school at Hamburg,
graduating from the high school in the class of 1903, and later
entered Dickinson College, graduating with the class of 1908. Mr.
William F. Burkey was a thoroughly representative citizen and
successful man. His quiet demeanor, gentlemanly habits, uprightness
of character, and kindness of heart, endeared him to the people of
his town and vicinity and his sudden call from the stage of
activity was as great a public loss as his life had been a useful
one.

His funeral, held in the First Reformed Church,
was one of the largest ever held in the borough, and was attended
by delegations from the various fraternal organizations to which he
belonged. Many beautiful floral tributes gave their mute
testimonial of the regard in which the deceased was held. The Rev.
Mr. Gerhard said in part: “He was a man of fine temperament and
noble impulses. Delicate was his sense of honor and justice.
Sensitive in a high degree, reserved and yet self-assertive-but
self-assertive with quiet dignity, we believe that he was
thoroughly upright and reliable in his dealings with his
fellow-men….The sorrow and misfortune with which he came in
contact moved him to deeds of kindness and charity. He could read
human nature well. He could adapt himself to every class of people.
He had good judgment and, above all, good sense. He was
broad-minded. He had culture, refined manners and was of good
address. These were not the fruit of uncommon and rare mental
ability, but acquired by his sense of good judgment, keen
observation and an earnest desire to improve……a keen sense of
the beautiful in nature, music and poetry. He loved to regale
himself in the beautiful, and he was quick to respond to its
touch.” His remains were interred in St. John’s cemetery, where
besides the usual services the Masonic ritual was used.

(IV) William Burkey, son of Daniel, was born in Upper Bern
township, and died at Leesport, at the early age of twenty-eight
years; he is buried at St. Michael’s Church, of which he was a
Reformed member. By trade he was a cabinet-maker, and he was in
business at Leesport. He married Mary Becker, of Tilden township,
who died Dec. 26, 1904. age seventy-four years. They had an only
son, John A.

(V) John A. Burkey, son of William, is a well-known citizen of the
Fourteenth ward, Reading. He was born in Upper Bern (now Tilden)
township Dec. 9, 1853. His education was acquired in the country
schools and in Annville College, near Lebanon, Pa. When about
fifteen years of age he learned the cabinet-maker’s trade in
Hamburg, from his uncle, Peter Burkey, and this he followed for
five years in Hamburg, Reading and Tamaqua. He then attended
Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and graduated
therefrom in 1873. In 1875 he engaged in the dry-goods business at
Landingville, Schuylkill county, and the next year (1876) located
in Pottsville, where for three years he was engaged in a similar
line. For a short time he was located in Hamburg, and then came to
Reading, where he connected himself as clerk with the firm of
Dives, Pomeroy, & Stewart, and has continued in their employ
from that time (1880) to the present, now being the buyer of the
upholstery department. He resides in his own comfortable home at
No. 525 Douglass street. Mr. Burkey has been quite prominent in
fraternal work. He is past worshipful master of Vaux Lodge, No.
406, F. & A. M., of Hamburg; past high priest of Excelsior
Chapter No. 37, R. A. M., of Reading; member of Reading Commandery,
No. 42, K. T., and of Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and also of
Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection and of the Consistory. He also
belongs to Camp No. 78, P. O. S. of A., of Hamburg. He has greatly
endeared himself to his fellow members in the lodges by his
reliable work in whatever position placed, and by his active work
on the committees appointed to look after the sick.

On Dec. 1, 1875, Mr. Burkey married Clara,
daughter of Henry Seibert, of Hamburg.

BURKHART
FAMILY

p. 1292

Surnames: BAILER, BARTLING, BOAS, BORDNER, BROSSMAN, BURKHART,
BURGHART, BURCKHART, CLAY, CLAYTON, CLEMENS, CONRAD, DAVID, DEPPEN,
EISENBEIS, FILBERT, FRITZ, FUCHS, GEISS, GRUBER, GUNDY,
HEFFENFINGER, HETRICK, HIETER, HOFFMAN, HUBER, JENNINGS, KERSHNER,
KLINE, KUTZ, LAMM, LAUT, LINS, LUDWIG, MATTIS, MIESE, MILLER,
MOGEL, PORST, REIFSNYDER, RENTSCHLER, SCHELL, SCHOCK, SCHNADER,
SMITH, SNELL, ULRICH, WENRICH, WITMAN

Burkhart was originally a German name, some of the ancestors of the
Berks County family spelling it Burghart and some Burckhardt,
Burkhart being a somewhat Anglicized form.

Joseph Burkhart, grandfather of Elmore A.
Burkhart, was born March 19, 1800, in a log house which stood in
the orchard belonging to Mrs. Miese’s farm, then in Bern township,
now in Penn township. The house has been removed to Bernville; and
is now owned by Levi Ludwig. His father’s name was John, and his
mother’s maiden name was Jennings. She died when Joseph was only a
few days old, and he was adopted by Mr. And Mrs. John Brossman,
with whom he remained until he was of age. When he had arrived at a
proper age he was sent to learn the trade of chairmaker with Philip
Kline, on the farm now owned by Miss L. Deppen, of Washington D. C.

On June 20, 1822, Joseph Burkhart was married to
Catharine Fuchs, daughter of Christian and Catharine (Clemens)
Fuchs, the latter supposedly of English descent. Catharine (Fuchs)
Burkhart was born March 11, 1803, in Reading and was baptized by
the Rev. Mr. Boas – sponsors were Matthias Eisenbeis and Catharine
Kutz (both single). When she was nine years of age her father died,
and her mother put her older children with her relatives, Harry
going to Jacob Conrad, at Conrad’s mill. While he was there Mr.
Conrad came to Reading and took Catharine home with him, to visit
her brother. Mr. Conrad offered her to John Geiss, one of his
neighbors, who brought his wife over to see her, and they took her
home. She was there six months before her mother, supposing she was
still at Conrad’s knew about it, John Geiss going to Mrs. Fuchs at
the end of that time to come to some understanding about the length
of time Catharine was to remain at his home, and what she should
receive at the expiration of her time. It was agreed, among other
things, that they must send her to school, and in due time to
catechetical lectures for confirmation, and they complied with all
these terms, Catherine being confirmed at Northkill Church, by Rev.
Daniel Ulrich in the fall of 1820. She lived twelve years at the
home of John Geiss.

After their marriage on June 20, 1822, Joseph
and Catharine (Fuchs) Burkhart made their first home in a house
owned by Henry Filbert, on land now owned by Morris F. Rentschler.
During his residence there Joseph Burkhart continued to work at the
chair-making trade for Phillip Kline. This house was torn down many
years ago, a few cherry trees marking the spot, which naturally is
very interesting to all the family. After a few years’ residence at
that place Joseph Burkhart and his wife removed with the two sons
born to them in their first home to the house formerly owned by
Benjamin Miller, now the property of Isaac H. Wenrich, and thence a
little later (1826) removed to the upper end of town (Bernville)
where he bought a one-story log house from Michael Porst, standing
on the ground now occupied by the double brick house of Dr. George
Hetrick. Mr. Burkhart added a story to his log house, and there
lived with his family for about twenty-five years, at the end of
that period removing to the lower end of town and buying a lot upon
which he built a new home. There he passed the remainder of his
life, making chairs and carrying on a confectionery store. He died
April 23, 1874, aged seventy-four years, one month four days, and
his wife passed away July 16, 1876, aged seventy-three years, four
months, five days. They are buried side by side in the Northkill
church cemetery. This worthy couple had a family of six sons and
four daughters, viz: John F., Daniel F. (deceased), Rebecca (Mrs.
William E. Huber, living in Reading), Enoch (of Lykens) and Henry
F. (twins, the latter dying at Shartlesville), Matilda (Mrs. John
Fritz, who died at Birdsboro), William F. (died at
Shoemakersville), Sarah (Mrs. Benjamin Lins, who died in Reading),
Sybilla (Mrs. Harry Laut, who died in Germantown) and Cyrus F. (of
Philadelphia). Four of the sons volunteered for service during the
Civil war, Daniel F., Henry F., William F. and Cyrus F., all
returning home safely.

John F. Burkhart, eldest of the family of Joseph
and Catharine (Fuchs) Burkhart, was born Nov. 23, 1823, and in 1838
commenced his apprenticeship to the trade of tinsmith with George
Kershner, of Friedensburg, Oley township, walking home and back
every three or four weeks. After his trade was learned he worked
for Samuel Schell and Henry Witman as a journeyman in Bernville, in
1848 starting in business for himself at that place, where he has
ever since remained. He retired from active business in April,
1908, having given sixty years of his life to work. He is now the
oldest resident in Bernville, and though eighty-five years of age
enjoys good health. He has prospered by steady industry, and no
citizen of the place is more highly respected or honored than he.
He is the oldest surviving member of this branch of the family, and
one of its most creditable representatives in any generation.

In the Philadelphia Record, Feb. 16, 1908,
appeared the following: “To be known as the “Grand Old Man” of
Bernville, Pa., is not the only honor John F. Burkhart is entitled
to. He is the town’s oldest business man, and the oldest tinsmith
in the Blue Mountain region. Mr. Burkhart has been highly esteemed
in his native town ever since he was a boy. In youth he was a
bright scholar, a regular Sunday-school attendant of the Lutheran
Sunday-school, which was held in the early period in the Union
Church, known as the Northkill. Later he became Sunday-school
superintendent and labored most faithfully for more than thirty
years.

“In the early life the citizens of his township,
before the town was a borough, elected him to numerous offices, and
as school director he worked hard for the advancement of the public
schools. When the village grew and became a borough, his neighbors
called him to council and later he was elected their burgess. He
ruled over the town in a non-partisan way, though he was a
Republican, and his fellow citizens of all parties always gave him
a rousing majority at election time.

“Nearly sixty years ago Burkhart became a
tinsmith, and it is said that there is no tin roof within eight
miles of Bernville that he did not sit upon with solder in his hand
welding together the seams.

“When he began his apprenticeship everything was
made by the tinsmith in shop or store. Factory goods were unknown,
and Mr. Burkhart well recalls how he made the first ‘fat lamp’ …
the lamp used by all citizens sixty years ago … Another
masterpiece of his youthful days as tinsmith was the ‘mam’, the
nursing bottle of every child in Bernville.

“Sixty-seven years ago this town had meager
facilities and newspapers were scarce in Berks county. The leading
one in the Schuylkill Valley was The Reading Adler, which catered
to the Pennsylvania German people, and arrived every week in the
Burkhart home, opposite the town pump. He being a German scholar,
his neighbors often gathered around this pump on a warm summer day,
and heard him read the news of the outside world.”

On April 25, 1847, Mr. Burkhart was married to
Anna Margaret Wenrich, whose mother was Anna Maria Lamm. They
celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding on April 25,
1897, surrounded by a large family of descendants – children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their children were: J.
Henry; Orlando J. m. Elizabeth Gundy, has two children -Edgar and
William F. – and lives in Reading; James M., a jeweler in Reading.
M. (first) Agnes Clay, and (second) Bessie Bartling, and has
children – Edna May, J. Arthur, Joseph Clayton, George and
Bartling; Mary C. m. John A. Schock, of Mt. Zion, Lebanon county,
and has had children – Ida L. (deceased), Ella M. (deceased),
Walter E., Margaret C. and James B.; Daniel A. and Elmore A. are
mentioned below; Paul F., a tinsmith at Bernville, m. Alice Hieter
(deceased), and had children – Chester D., Leroy H., John A.,
Margaret E., Catharine L. and Lydia R.; Annie M. m Samuel T.
Bordner, of Bernville, for thirty years a prominent educator and at
present clerk of the Quarter Sessions of Berks county, and has had
children – Thomas B., Margaret M. (deceased) and Catherine A.; and
Sarah M. m. John I. Mattis, of Philadelphia, and has a son, Clayton
I.

J. Henry Burkhart, son of John F., was born Nov.
1, 1847. He taught school for twenty-two years, but was a tinsmith
by trade. For many years he was organist at St. Paul’s Church, near
Schaefferstown, Pa. And was choir leader in his own church at
Bernville. He died April 22, 1907, and is buried in Haag cemetery,
Bernville. In politics he was a Republican. He married Amanda
Reifsnyder, daughter of Charles Reifsnyder, and she makes her home
in Bernville. Their children were: Laura C., m. to Dr. P. S. Mogel,
of Bernville, has two children, J. Vincent and Paul B., and lives
at Reading; Sallie A., m. to W. D. Heffelfinger, of Bernville, has
had children – Warren (deceased), Annie (deceased), Arthur, Amelia
and Rachel; Martin L. died aged three years; Mary, m. to Dr. C. D.
Gruber of Bernville, has had children – May, Anna and Flora
(deceased); Henry W., a tinsmith in Philadelphia, m. to Millie
Bailer, has sons, George H. and J. Warren; and J. Paul is of
Bernville.

Daniel A. Burkhart, son of John F. and Anna
Margaret (Wenrich) Burkhart, was born in Bernville in 1859, and is
now a manufacturer (of tin and sheet iron ware, spouting, tin
roofing) and jobber at No. 150 South Twelfth Street, Reading. He
was educated in the schools of Bernville until thirteen years of
age, when he was thought old enough to learn a trade, his father
taking him into his tin shop. He remained with his father until
March 31, 1879, when he went to Birdsboro, and there he was
employed by Albert Fritz for two years and for a like period by
John K. Snell at No. 605 Penn Street, Reading. He then was employed
by D. C. Schnader until July 5, 1890, when he embarked in business
for himself, establishing his present concern at No. 150 South
Twelfth Street. Mr. Burkhart is doing a very large business,
employing skilled help and turning out work that makes a market for
itself. His manufactured good include, in addition to those above
mentioned, heaters, ranges, furnaces, cooking utensils.

Mr. Burkhart married Rosa Davis, daughter of
Cyrus Davis, of Penn township, and they have one daughter, Mabel
R., who is attending the Reading high school. The family belong to
the Lutheran Church. The pleasant family home is located at No.
1256 Spruce Street. Mr. Burkhart is a member of Sirius Castle, No.
63, Knights of the Golden Eagle.

Elmore A. Burkhart, son of John F. and Anna
Margaret (Wenrich) Burkhart, was born in Bernville, Sept. 22, 1862.
He acquired his education in the schools of his native locality and
for three years taught school in North Heidelberg township. In 1881
he came to Reading and accepted a position with the Reading
Hardware Company, beginning as order clerk, from which capacity he
has been promoted from time to time until he is now assistant
purchasing agent for the company. He is known to be an able
executive, and his services are held in high esteem while he is
very popular with his fellow employees. Mr. Burkhart is fraternally
connected with Camp No. 113, P. O. S. of A., at Bernville. He is a
member of Grace Lutheran Church of South Eleventh Street, where he
has always been active, holding the offices of deacon and
secretary. In political matters he is a Republican.

On June 23, 1886, Mr. Burkhart was united in
marriage with Grace B. Hoffman, daughter of Michael and Mary J.
(Smith) Hoffman, and to this union there has been born one child,
Carrie E., a graduate of the Girls’ High School, class of 1905. The
family home is located at No. 522 Douglass Street.

BURKHOLDER, ALBERT N.

p. 798

Surnames: BURKHOLDER, HAWLEY, BURGHALTER, BURKHALTER

Albert N. Berkholder, managing editor of the Reading Eagle, enjoys
the distinction of presiding over the destinies of the paper in
whose office he once served as printer’s apprentice. He was born in
Millcreek, Lebanon county, on Feb. 1, 1861, and came to Reading at
an early age. Here he entered the public schools and when thirteen
years old was admitted to the high school. A year afterward he was
the publisher of the first high school paper, whose object was the
dissemination of news respecting the teachers and pupils of the
institution. At the age of sixteen he became an apprentice to the
printer’s trade in the composing room of the Eagle, and served a
term of four years. His recollections of those early days are of
the most interesting character, and he has never regretted the
period of his life that he spent at “the case.” Like many others,
he found it but a stepping-stone to something higher. Col. Jesse G.
Hawley, the founder, proprietor and editor of the Eagle, now
deceased, took an interest in the young printer, and soon after
completing his apprenticeship we find him on the reportorial staff
of the paper. He distinguished himself as a ready writer, an
indefatigable and energetic news gatherer, and was devoted to an
unusual degree to the advancement of the Eagle. His promotion to
the position of city editor followed, in due course of time, and
this he filled to the satisfaction of his superiors for a period of
nearly fifteen years. The Eagle was primarily founded upon the idea
that its local news should be the prominent feature, and while it
has been enlarged and improved in every way, it still continues to
have this end in view. To be the head of such a department in a
newspaper for such a long time is no mean accomplishment. In this
position he showed the same traits of enterprise and energy which
marked his earlier career a “nose for news,” habits of industry and
the journalistic passion more strongly developed than ever. Three
years ago he succeeded as editor the late John D. Missimer, one of
the best newspaper men that Reading has ever produced, and since
then the Eagle has set a new and higher standard than ever in the
presentation of those news features which have made the paper a
household word in a large section of eastern Pennsylvania. It
prints four editions every weekday, a Sunday paper and a weekly.
When the present editor was an apprentice it was a six-column,
four-page paper. Today it is never less than ten pages of eight
columns each and very often as high as sixteen and more pages are
printed. Mr. Burkholder is a member of the Reading Press Club, the
Berks County Historical Society and the Pennsylvania German
Society. He has devoted a great deal of time to local history; has
written many articles on this subject, and has a large collection
of books and manuscripts bearing on the early settlement of eastern
Pennsylvania. He is greatly devoted to everything that will advance
the best interests of the people of Reading and Berks county, and
has a wide acquaintance in city and county. He is thoroughly versed
in everything pertaining to their needs; is in sympathy with all
their aspirations, and is unusually well posted in all branches of
local history. The first member of the family in America was Hans
Burghalter, a Mennonite preacher, who was the leader of a
successful movement which resulted in the emigration in 1717 of a
large number of his people from Switzerland, where they had
undergone merciless persecution. The entire party settled in the
Conestoga valley in Lancaster county, the second large company of
Mennonites to found new homes in that region. They were preceded in
1709 by a large colony of Mennonites, the most distinguished of
whom was Hans Herr, whose memory is justly venerated as the pioneer
settler of his people in that section, and whose descendants are
found in many States of the Union. Hans Burghalter, whose family
was allied with the Mennonites almost since the foundation of the
sect by Menno Simons nearly four hundred years ago, became
prominent in the early history of Colonial Pennsylvania, and today
members of the family are found in many Commonwealths, as well as
in Canada. In Virginia two became bishops of their church, and the
family is numerous in many Western States. Though belonging to the
so called noncombatants or peace sect, the descendants of this
pioneer preacher have participated in every war in which this
country was ever engaged. Capt. Peter Burkhalter was an officer in
the Revolutionary war and was a member of the first Constitutional
Convention of Pennsylvania; and others figure in the early Colonial
annals with equal prominence.

BURKHOLDER, SAMUEL G. (M.D.)

p. 525

Surnames: BURKHOLDER, GOCKLEY, SMITH

Samuel G. Berkholder, a rising young physician of Reading, was born
in Brickerville, Lancaster Co., Pa., March 12, 1871. He is a son of
the late George and Elizabeth (Gockley) Burkholder, who followed
farming in the above named county until 1891, when they retired and
moved to Denver, Pa., where the mother, Elizabeth Burkholder, still
resides. George Burkholder died April 8, 1906.

Dr. Burkholder attended the public schools at
Brickerville and at Denver, Pa., during his boyhood days, and later
completed his preliminary education at the Millersville State
Normal School. In early youth he decided to prepare for the medical
profession. This was strenuously opposed by his father who finally
persuaded him to take up veterinary medicine instead. Accordingly
he entered the Ontario Veterinary College in the fall of 1889, from
which institution he graduated with honors in the spring of 1891.
He was awarded a medal and other prizes by the above named
institution as evidences of proficiency. His Alma Mater offered him
the chair of veterinary anatomy on the faculty before he was
twenty-one years of age. This he declined and started to practice
his profession in the summer of 1891 at Denver Pa. Shortly after
locating at Denver he became joint owner and editor of the Denver
Press, in partnership with E. B. Wolf. In 1896 he sold his interest
in the Denver Press to his partner, E. B. Wolf, and in the fall of
same year he took a civil service examination for the position of
federal meat inspector. He had the highest average made at the fall
examination in 1896, and was promptly appointed assistant meat
inspector by the Bureau of Animal Industry, and ordered to Chicago,
Ill., to assist in the work in that city. Shortly after he reached
Chicago, he matriculated as a student in the Harvey Medical
College, a night school in good standing. From this institution he
graduated in June 1898, with the highest average ever made by any
student up to this time. (The college is now extinct). He continued
in the meat inspection service at Chicago until Dec. 1, 1898, when
he was transferred to Nashville, Tenn., to inaugurate inspection
there. In the fall of 1898, before leaving Chicago, he was
appointed by the management of the McKillip Veterinary College of
Chicago to inaugurate a course in meat and milk inspection to
prepare the students for federal positions in this line of work. He
was also lecturer on comparative anatomy at his alma mater. His
sudden departure from Chicago for Nashville, Tenn., terminated his
connections with the above named schools, but only temporarily. He
resigned his position as meat inspector at Nashville, Tenn., Jan.
15, 1899, and immediately returned to Chicago, resumed his work at
the schools and started to practice his profession, locating on
West Congress street, that city. In the fall of 1899 he
matriculated as a senior student in the Northwestern University
Medical College, Chicago, from which institution he graduated in
June 1900. In March 1900, he received the honorary degree D. V. M.
from the Mckillip Veterinary College. Shortly after graduating from
the Northwestern University Medical College, he returned to his
native State of Pennsylvania, and in August of the same year, he
located at Rothsville, Pa., where he practiced his chosen
profession until February 1905, when he sold out his practice
there, and returned to Chicago to take up post-graduate work.
Besides taking a general review in internal medicine be took a
special course at the Illinois School of Electro-therapeutics. In
April 1905, he returned east and located at No. 613 Walnut street,
Reading, Pa., where he is enjoying a large practice. Besides doing
general practice Dr. Burkholder is Medical Director of the Reading
Mutual Life Insurance Company, and also secretary of the
Corporation Funding and Finance Company. Both of these companies
are rapidly forging to the front in their chosen lines.

In October 1900, Dr. Burkholder married Miss
Rheba G. Smith, of Blainesport, Pa. The union was blessed with two
children both of whom died in infancy. Dr. Burkbolder holds
membership in various fraternal organizations, principal among them
being the Knights of Malta and the Masons. The latter order he
joined while in Chicago, being a member of Mizpah Lodge, No. 768,
of that city. He is also a member of the City, County, State, and
American Medical Associations.

BUSH, EMANUEL
L.

p. 1038

Surnames: BUSH, BOHN, BURKERT, BUSH, CHAMBERLAIN, FEGLEY, HINKLE,
KISSINGER, LEVENGOOD, MARKS, STRAUB, YERGER,

Emanuel L. Bush, who holds the position of night
foreman of the Oley street mills of the Reading Iron Company, and
deputy for Berks county of the Brotherhood of America, resides at
No. 812 Gordon street, Reading. He was born June 27, 1850, at
Amityville, Pa., son of Jacob and Lucetta (Levengood) Bush.

George Bush, grandfather of Emanuel L., married
a Miss Yerger, and they had these children: Peter; Sarah; Matthias;
Mary, who died in her ninety-second year in June, 1905, the widow
of George Straub; Catherine, who married a Mr. Chamberlain; George;
Zacharias; Jacob; and Rachel, who married Samuel Fegley.

Jacob Bush, father of Emanuel L., was a laborer
in Amity township, and later came with his family to Reading, where
he met his death in a railroad freight yard in 1864, when
forty-three years old. He married Mrs. Lucetta (Levengood) Bohn, of
Pottstown, who by her former marriage had six children, three of
whom are living: John L., Adam L. and James L.; Mrs. Bush died at
the age of forty-four years, and both she and Mr. Bush were buried
at Oley Church. They had these children: Emanuel L., Zacharias, and
Sarah (m. Richard Marks).

Emanuel L. Bush spent nine years on the farm,
and then came to Reading, where he lost his father at the age of
thirteen years and his mother two years later. He engaged in the
draying business, which he followed for five years, and he then
secured employment at the old Keystone Rolling Mill, later being
advanced to puddler, and for twenty-five years worked at that
trade. He is now night foreman for the Reading Iron Company. At the
age of eighteen years he joined the Junior Mechanics, and was a
member a few years, when he dropped out, at the same time uniting
with Freedom Circle No. 7, Brotherhood of America. He then became a
member of Reading Lodge No. 348, I. O. O. F., which is now extinct.
In the Brotherhood he held the office of Scroll Keeper for two
years, after which he was appointed District Deputy of Berks county
by the Grand Circle, the term of office being one year.

On April 22, 1869, Mr. Bush married Clara C. J.
Burkert, daughter of Nicholas and Caroline (Kissinger) Burkert, of
Reading, the former a well-known boatman on the canal. Two children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bush: Samuel died at the age of
three years; and Elmira L. married George Hinkel. Mr. Bush is a
member of St. Mark’s Reformed Church.

BUTZ FAMILY

p.
710

Surnames: BUTZ, BERTOLET, ROMIG, BIEBER, BUTZ, CARL, CHRISTMAN, DE
TURCK, GARRETT, GERNERT, HOCH, HOOVER, KEMP, KIEFFER, KOHLER,
LEVAN, MARQUETTE, ROMIG, ROTH, SEBERT, SHERADIN, SHIREY, SMITH,
YAEGER

Among relics owned by this old and honored family of Berks county,
is a Bible, in excellent condition, now in the possession of Mrs.
Fianna (Butz) Bertolet, who has willed it to her son, Dr. M. L.
Bertolet of Mt. Penn, Pa. This Bible was brought to America by (I)
John Butz, who in 1737, landed at Philadelphia with his two
children, Peter and Catharine. John Butz came to this country from
Hertzogberg near Kromanenberg in the lower part of Bavaria. John
Butz died Feb. 23, 1750, in Philadelphia.

(II) This same old Bible shows that Peter Butz (son of John) was
married Oct. 22, 1743, to Anna Barbara Carl, who was born in
Hessen-Nassau, Germany, and they had these children: Mary, born in
1744; Caroline, in 1746; John, in 1747; Samuel, in 1750; Peter, in
1754; Elizabeth, in 1758, and Anna, in 1761. Peter Butz died in
1780, aged sixty-one years, eight months and twenty-five days. His
wife died March 6, 1795 aged seventy-six and four months.

(III) Samuel Butz, son of Peter, was born in Longswamp township,
Berks county, Aug. 10, 1750. On Dec. 13, 1774, he married Anna Mary
Romig, born May 31, 1754, died Feb. 21, 1813, and they had
children: Peter, born Oct. 29, 1775; Catharine, March 25, 1777;
John, April 27, 1779; Susanna, March 6, 1781; Esther, Dec. 29,
1783; Elizabeth, Nov. 28, 1788 (died Oct. 31,1791); Mary, April 5,
1793. Samuel Butz died Aug. 17, 1821, aged seventy-one years, seven
days.

(IV) John Butz, son of Samuel, was born April 27, 1779, and died
Aug. 19, 1874 aged ninety-five years, three months and twenty-two
days. The place of his birth was the same as that of his father,
the homestead in Longswamp township. In 1806 he married Anna
Yaeger, of Oley township, who died Aug. 24, 1828 aged forty years,
eight months and fourteen days, and they had eight children, but
only three grew to any age; Nathan, Jacob and Anna Maria. In 1828
the Butz family Bible came into the hands of John Butz, who highly
cherished it. This very valuable volume was printed in 1704, and is
in an excellent state of preservation. It contains the family
records, and is of great value.

(V) Jacob Butz, son of John, was married May 25, 1828, to Elizabeth
Christman, born May 28, 1809, died Nov. 19, 1895, aged eighty-six
years, five months and twenty-one days, daughter of Peter and
Margaret Christman. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Butz
were: Daniel C., born in 1831; John Peter, in 1833 (deceased);
Franklin, in 1835; Fianna, in 1837; Henry A., in 1839 (deceased);
Susanna, in 1841 (deceased); Catharine, in 1848, and Jacob, in 1851
(deceased).

(IV) Daniel C. Butz, an aged resident of Oley township was born in
Longswamp township, Berks county, Aug. 26, 1831 a son of Jacob
Butz. He was reared to farm work, and has always been a farmer. He
began working for himself upon the homestead farm of 134 acres he
now occupies in 1860, and farmed this property until 1897 when he
retired, and during his active life he was very successful. On the
property is a spring of excellent water. The present barn was built
by John Bertolet, as well as the stone residence, the latter being
over one hundred years old. The barn is a very large one being
103×42, and the spring water runs through the structure thus
simplifying the watering of the stock. Mr. Butz lives in a house on
the farm built by his father in 1860. At present Mr. Butz rents the
farm, but lives upon it and enjoys his declining years, surrounded
by the plenty he has himself accumulated. Mr. Butz is a member of
Oley Reformed church, and was a deacon for five years. Mrs. Butz
belongs to the Lutheran church.

On Oct. 18, 1959, Mr. Butz was married to Susan
D. Hoch, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (De Turck) Hoch of Oley
township. Mr. and Mrs. Butz have a daughter, Mary m. William
Marquette, who is now deceased. Mrs. Marquette resides at
Friedensburg. and has these children,– Ida, Nora, Sallie, Samuel,
George and Mabel.

Mr. Butz and his wife dispense a charming
hospitality that makes their home a favorite gathering place for
all their relatives and friends. In addition to other interests Mr.
Butz is a stockholder in the creamery at Yellow House.

(IV) Peter Butz, grandfather of Lewis B. Butz. was born in
Longswamp township, Oct. 29, 1775, son of Samuel and Anna Mary
(Romig), but when still young, removed to Whitehall township,
Lehigh county. He was a very efficient blacksmith, and made gun
barrels and all kinds of cutlery, as well as farming a large farm
he owned. He is buried at Unionville church. He and wife, Susanna
Bieber, had children: Samuel lived in North Whitehall township, and
had children, William (deceased) Peter, Louisa and Katie; Egedius;
Enoch, a farmer, also lived in North Whitehall township, and had a
daughter, Sarah.

(V) Egedius Butz, father of Lewis B. Butz, was born in North
Whitehall township, Sept. 30, 1805, and died in Maxatawny township
May 28, 1890, aged eighty-four years, seven months and twenty-eight
days. The following inscription is found on the tombstone erected
to the memory of Egedius Butz and wife: “Egedius Butz Sept. 30,
1805 May 28, 1890 84-7-28. Elizabeth born Bieber July 10, 1810 Oct
16, 1877 61-3-6.”

Egedius Butz came to Maxatawny township when a
young man, soon after his marriage, he marrying a young lady from
Maxatawny township which perhaps had something to do with his
selection of this township as his place of residence. His wife was
Elizabeth Bieber, and they had these children: Abraham died young;
Mary m. David Kemp; Susanna died young; Fianna died young; Lovina
m. Caston Hoover; Lewis B.; Sarah m. Henry Kohler; Peter died at
the age of twenty-one years; Louisa m. Jerry Levan; Elizabeth m.
William De Turck; Carolina m. Daniel Sheradin; Clara is unmarried,
and Elmira m. Henry Roth.

(VI) Lewis B. Butz, son of Egedius and Elizabeth, was born in
Maxatawny township, Jan. 27, 1837. He was reared a farmer, and made
that his life work until his retirement in 1900, having commenced
farming for himself when twenty-one. He now owns a fine farm of 100
acres, which was once the property of Egedius Butz and earlier
belonged to Abraham Bieber. Mr. Butz made a success of his farming
operations, but now rents his property and lives in retirement near
the Normal School on the Eastern Road which has been his home since
1892. Mr. Butz has taken a deep interest in educational matters,
serving as school director for many years. At present he is trustee
of the Keystone State Normal School, and has held that office since
the organization of the school. He represents the stockholders, and
has the honor of being the oldest living member of the board. He
also was much interested in the erection of the present church of
St. Paul’s Reformed congregation in 1876, serving on the building
committee and contributing generously toward the necessary fund. He
and his family are members of this church, of which he has been
both deacon and elder, and he is regarded as one of the pillars of
the church and among its most liberal contributors. In politics Mr.
Butz is a Democrat, and he has held many of the elective offices of
the township.

On Nov. 17, 1857, Mr. Butz married Catherine
Kieffer daughter of Jonathan and Fannie (Shirey) Kieffer. and
granddaughter of Abraham and Lizzie (Sebert) Kieffer. The children
born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Butz were: Amos A., of Kutztown who
has a son, Herbert; John E., born July 7 1862, and died April 1,
1902, leaving a daughter, Elsie; Ella C., m. to Seldon Gernert, of
Allentown; Alfred, of Philadelphia, m. to Lillian Garrett, and has
a son, John Alfred; Ida, m. to William R. Smith, of Philadelphia.

Such families as this are a credit to Berks
county. Its representatives are men of substance, who have borne
their part in the development and advancement of their several
communities.

BYERS, ABEL H.
P.

p. 861

Surnames: DEHART, PRENTISS, REINOEHL, RITCHEY, SAVAGE

Abel H. Byers, one of the well-known and highly esteemed residents
of Hamburg borough, who is serving in the responsible position of
postmaster, was born at Danbury, Conn., in 1856, son of James
Byers, who with his wife, Jane Ritchey, emigrated from the North of
Ireland in 1846, and located at Danbury. When the Civil War broke
out James Byers enlisted in Company B, 3d Regiment, Conn. V. I.,
and was killed while engaged with his company in the battle of
Cedar Mountain.

Abel H. Byers attended the public schools of his
native place until he was ten years of age, when he accompanied his
mother to Brooklyn, and there worked at gas and steam-fitting for a
time. He then learned the trade of wool hat-making in the large
establishment of James H. Prentiss, following the trade at that
place, and also acting in the capacity of foreman until 1877, when
he removed to Reading, PA. Here for six years he served as foreman
in the wool hat factory of William H. Reinoehl & Co. Mr. Byers
then became a member of the firm of R. H. Savage & Co., and
acted as foreman for four years, when he and his brother Joseph
Byers, under the name of Byers Brothers, engaged in the manufacture
of fur hats, the first of the kind made at Reading. Within a year,
on account of superior inducements, the firm removed their plant to
Hamburg, and there organized the Byers Hat Company, continuing to
manufacture fur hats under this name until 1895, when they were
obliged to suspend further operations on account of the depressed
condition of the hat business. Mr. Byers was then engaged by the
Mohawk Valley Cap Company, at Utica, N. Y., and he continued with
this company for two years, still maintaining his residence at
Hamburg.

Being an earnest Republican from his early
manhood, Mr. Byers naturally identified himself with the
Republicans at Hamburg, and his services to the party were so
highly appreciated that in 1898 he secured the appointment of
postmaster of the place, notwithstanding the great contest for the
office, and his management of its affairs has been so satisfactory
that he has held the appointment to the present time. If Mr. Byers
fills out his present appointment he will have served over twelve
years, evidencing the high appreciation of his services by the
community. The first Rural Free Delivery in Berks County was
started at Hamburg in August, 1900, only a few routes in the whole
State being earlier.

While residing at Reading, Mr. Byers assisted
materially in re-organizing the Reading Artillerists as a military
company of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. He was selected as
second lieutenant, and served one term. In this time the company
attended the Wilkes-Barre encampment, ad the men were accorded the
second best record for neatness and efficiency.

Mr. Byers was married to Bertha Dehart, of
Reading, whose father, Frederick Dehart, died in 1808.