Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

CHRISTIAN, DANIEL H.

p.
574

Surnames: CHRISTIAN, HOFFMASTER, DEEM, SETTLY, BRIGHT, BIRKENBINE,
LEWIS, KEIM, ESTERLY, HOUCK, GILBERT, TEMPLIN, HARDY

One of the best known of Reading’s citizens, who was for many years
identified with the construction work of the Philadelphia &
Reading Railroad, was Daniel H. Christian, who died December 22,
1903. Mr. Christian was born Oct. 17, 1849, on the old Christian
homestead in Exeter township, Berks county, son of Edward and
Catherine (Hoffmaster) Christian.

Henry Christian, the great-grandfather of Daniel
H., was a carpenter in Switzerland, and died in that country in his
fortieth year, his death being caused by a fall from a ladder, when
he broke his back in two places. His wife, Frenna, was a seamstress
and midwife, and died in her eighty ninth year, much beloved in the
village where she had lived so long. She and her husband had three
children: one son who settled in Virginia; John, the grandfather of
Daniel H.; and a daughter who remained in Switzerland.

John Christian was born in the village of
Frenkendorf, Basel Landschaft, Switzerland, Jan. 20, 1786, and was
baptized and confirmed in the Reformed Church in Frenkendorf. He
attended the village school during the winter, this school being
attended most of the time by over 100 children. Later be went to a
school at Liestell for three months, but his schooling came to an
abrupt end when Napoleon marched into the town with his army of
200,000. Until sixteen years of age young Christian was engaged in
agricultural pursuits and wine culture. The Napoleonic army having
brought hardship upon the Basel Landschaft, there was no money with
which to pay the heavy taxes, and times became very hard, this
causing nearly 400 families to depart from the wharves of the city,
Mr. Christian being one and the youngest of four single men. He
started from the Rhine waters April 10, 1804, and seventeen days
later the Swiss emigrants arrived at Amsterdam, whence they took
passage on the ship “Rebecca,” bound for Philadelphia, the contract
price being sixty-five dollars per person over seventeen years of
age, and one meal per day. After some difficulty the ship glided
into the English Channel from the Texel Sea, and then to the ocean,
and after a very stormy voyage, during which sea-sickness, hunger
and thirst caused the death of sixty-four of the 374 passengers,
the ship landed on a Sunday morning, Aug. 17, 1804, at the
Lazaretto, below Philadelphia. After suffering from fever for some
time, Mr. Christian escaped from the overcrowded hospital and
through the friendly services of acquaintances was directed to
Philadelphia. Three young friends, and many others who had escaped
the terrible journey went to Ohio, and Mr. Christian finally
settled at Reading in 1807, where he was married Oct. 11, 1808, to
Margarete Deem, daughter of Christopher Deem, and wife (whose
maiden name was Settly), of Reading, the former of whose parents
had come to America from Germany. After living near Lancaster for
one and one-half years with his wife and her sister Elizabeth, Mr.
Christian returned to Reading and built a still house on a lot he
had bought before his marriage from one David Bright. Then Mr.
Christian formed a partnership with Michael Bright, this connection
however being of short duration, he taking into partnership John
Birkenbine, whose share Mr. Christian bought later. In 1822 Mr.
Christian sold his interests for $2,450, $1,600 in cash and the
residue in two equal payments, and in the spring of 1823 he bought
thirty two acres of land in Exeter township, along the Schuylkill,
where he moved his family in the fall of that year. His children
were: John, born in 1810, a railroader, who lived in Lebanon, Pa.,
and died Oct. 12, 1875; Edward, born March 13, 1817; Frenna, born
1821, who died of a prevailing fever when she was nearly two years
old; and a son, born Feb. 12, 1824. John Christian was a man of
more than ordinary education, and in 1865 wrote a forty-eight page
booklet, which he named “An Autobiography of John Christian,” in
which he gave a graphic account of his journey from the land of his
nativity to the land of his adoption, his trials and hardships, and
his subsequent prosperity. One of these booklets is now in the
possession of Edward Christian’s family, of Reading.

Edward Christian, father of Daniel H., was born
March 13, 1817, at the corner of Front and Franklin streets,
Reading, where his father, John Christian, carried on distilling
until 1822, when he removed his household effects on a boat which
was propelled by six hand oars, and landed near the locks of the
Big Dam. Here they built a house at a point now called Neversink
Station, and young Christian helped his father to cultivate five or
six acres of land, cut down trees and stack the wood in cords in
different parts of Exeter. Later he attended school about two miles
below the Black Bear, where he learned his first lessons, and
subsequently a pay school was started by Gustavus Lewis, where
young Christian attended. This school was fitted up in a single
room in a private house and there were but eight pupils. Many years
later a large schoolhouse was built at the Black Bear, which he
also attended. In 1830 he assisted his father to join shingles for
the barn of George de B. Keim, about half a mile below the
Neversink Station, and later in squaring logs for Seyfert &
McManus’ furnace. In 1838 he went at his trade, that of milling,
with Amos Esterly, at Hertzog’s mill, on the Perkiomen turnpike,
and he remained here three years, polling his first vote in 1839 at
Stonersville, when he voted the Democratic ticket, which was his
custom to the time of his death, missing but one election; he voted
at fifteen Presidential elections. In 1839 he and his father built
the old Sunday schoolhouse situated on the road leading from Black
Bear to the Schuylkill river, and the building is still standing in
a good state of preservation, being called “All Sorts” school
house, on account of the different kinds of stones used in its
construction. Mr. Christian was superintendent of the Sunday-school
for ten years, and taught a class of young men.

He married, Aug. 21, 1842, Catherine Hoffman,
daughter of Christian and Ellen Hoffman, of Stony Creek, the former
of whom was the proprietor of a grist mill and the first owner of a
wool factory in that district. In the spring of 1842 Mr. Christian
moved back to the old homestead at Neversink, where he engaged in
farming. When the Civil war broke out he was very active in
securing recruits. He was well preserved to the time of his demise.
He was five feet, eleven inches tall, and very erect, but during
the last few years of his life his eyesight failed very rapidly. He
was a school director for six years, aiding in the establishment of
many schools, and was appointed by the court to appraise damages
and lay out new roads in Berks, and in various ways he was a very
useful citizen. He was the last of his family, and at the time of
his death had sixteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
His own children were: Mrs. George Esterly; Jacob H., of Reading;
Daniel H.; Edward H., of Mt. Penn., Pa.; and Solomon H., of
Reading. Mr. Christian lived in retirement from 1883, at No. 1216
Chestnut street. In religious belief he was a Lutheran, and
attended Grace Church of that denomination, in the faith of which
his estimable wife died Feb. 19, 1907, aged eighty three years.
Fraternally Mr. Christian was connected with Salome Lodge No. 105,
I. O. O. F., in which he was very popular.

Daniel H. Christian attended the schools of his
township and was reared on his father’s farm, assisting in its
cultivation until 1862. He then secured employment with the
repairing gang of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, where he
worked for some years, and in 1874 was sent to Lancaster to
superintend the laying of tracks on a new branch of the
Philadelphia & Reading, extending from Lancaster to
Quarryville, about fourteen and one-half miles. In the spring of
1876 he returned to Reading and took charge of the West Reading
branch, remaining until 1878, when he was sent to Shamokin as
superintendent of track repairs of the Mahanoy division. In 1883 he
was appointed general supervisor of the Division, with headquarters
at Mahanoy Plane, but in 1888 he resigned to become coal and iron
policeman of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Nescopeck and
Wilkes Barre. After a short time he resigned this position and
returned to the Reading, in whose employ he was, all told, twenty
one years. He was superintendent of the work of changing the tracks
in the Manayunk tunnel and was an expert at finishing and laying
rails for large curves, being in later years frequently consulted
as to how tracks should be laid to insure safety and easy riding.
After the completion of the tunnel Mr. Christian came back to
Reading and took charge of the erection of the electric power plant
at the Big Dam, for the Neversink Mountain Railroad Company, and
later he was appointed superintendent of the road, which was built
around the mountain under his supervision. He rendered valuable
service to the company, and while thus employed made a number of
important inventions, among which are a brake shoe and fender, the
former being used on all Neversink cars. His car fender was adopted
by the Philadelphia Traction Company. One of his most important
inventions was the automatic block signal, which is used on the
Neversink and other lines, and he also invented an automatic
switch, catch and lock, which is used on many portions of the
Philadelphia & Reading road at present. For the last few years
of his life lie was employed as electrician by the United Traction
Company of Reading, and was an expert in this line. He had charge
of all of the electric work on the Neversink road, including
overhead work, wires, motors and repairs and rewinding of
armatures. While working around the controllers of summer cars at
the North Tenth street barn, removing an incandescent lamp from its
socket, being in the act of replacing it with a search light, Mr.
Christian received a shock, and soon afterward he expired in the
arms of a fellow workman, where he had fallen. Mr. Christian was
held in high esteem by his employers, and was a great favorite
among the employes, the general declaration among whom was: “I
never worked for a better man.” Mr. Christian died Dec. 22, 1903,
aged fifty-four years.

Daniel H. Christian married Aug. 8, 1868, to
Mary Catherine Houck, born Aug. 8, 1849, daughter of Henry G. and
Hannah (Gilbert) Houck, and granddaughter of John Houck, of Chester
County. To Mr. and Mrs. Christian were born these children: Oliver
W., an electrician who took his father’s place with the Reading
Traction Company, m. Bertie Templin; Permilla m. Robert Hardy, a
draughtsman at the Acme Motor Works, Reading; Harry is an
electrician and car inspector at the Wilson avenue car barn,
Cleveland, O.; and Daniel resides at home with his mother at No.
230 South Thirteenth street, Reading.

p. 889

Surnames: CHRISTIAN, HOFFMASTER, DEEM, ESTERLY, GOODHART, HAAS,
HOUCK, ALTHOUSE, EISENBROWN, HOLPP, MARTZ, SMITH

Edward H. Christian, a substantial citizen of Mount Penn,
superintendent of erection for the monument manufacturing firm of
P. F. Eisenbrown Sons & Co., was born March 12, 1859, near
Neversink Station, Exeter township, Berks county, son of Edward D.
and Catherine (Hoffmaster) Christian. John Christian, his
grandfather, was born in 1786 in Switzerland, and came to this
country when seventeen years of age, first locating in Reading,
where he married a Miss Deem. He was a distiller by trade, and this
vocation he followed for some years in Reading, but later purchased
a farm in Exeter township, where he died at the age of eighty five
years. He was a member of the Lutheran Church of Schwartzwald. He
was the father of three children: Henry, a contractor on the
erection of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, and later
superintendent of the company’s wharves at Port Richmond,
Philadelphia, married Mary Esterly, and died in the company’s
service; Edward D. is mentioned below; John, a railroad contractor
in the erection of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, and
later appointed roadmaster of the Lebanon Valley division, married
Mary Ann Goodhart.

Edward D. Christian was born March 12, 1817, in
Reading, Pa., and there spent his boyhood, receiving his education
in the public schools, which he left at the age of sixteen years.
He then went to the Hertzog mill, and after serving his
apprenticeship to the business went to the mill at Antietam Lake,
in Alsace township, operating there several years. Mr. Christian
then turned his attention to farming, and for the next forty one
years carried on operations on the old homestead in Exeter
township, which he purchased of the estate after his father’s
death, the property consisting of forty acres. He was a Democrat in
politics, and was very active in the ranks of his party holding
numerous positions of honor and trust, among them those of school
director and supervisor of his township. He was also a director in
the Allenbaugh Cemetery Association. Being a man of keen judgment
and knowledge of law, he was as a consequence entrusted with the
settlement of many estates. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and
of the Encampment at Reading. Mr. Christian lived for the last
twenty or twenty one years of his life at No. 1216 Chestnut street,
Reading, where he died Oct. 6, 1901. He was married to Catherine
Hoffmaster, born Feb. 12, 1824, who died Feb. 19, 1907, and to them
were born these children: Ellen, the widow of George Esterly, lives
at Reading; Jacob H., a machinist with the Philadelphia &
Reading Company, Reading, married Emma Haas; Daniel, superintendent
of the Neversink Mountain railroad, who was killed by an electric
shock, married Catherine Houck; Edward H. is mentioned below;
Solomon, a hardware merchant of Reading, married Ella Althouse.

Edward H. Christian was educated in the public
schools of Exeter township, Berks county, and at the age of fifteen
years went to Shamokin, Pa., and engaged in railroad work as a
section hand. He continued thus until nineteen years old, when he
was promoted to section foreman on the Philadelphia & Reading
line, and was employed in that capacity for four or five years. He
was then given charge of a gang of twenty five men on construction
work during the summer months and in the winter seasons returned to
the section, continuing at this line of work until 1890, when he
returned to Berks county and took charge of a section in Reading
for some eighteen months. He then retired from railroad work, and
entered the employ of P. F. Eisenbrown Sons & Co., the monument
manufacturers, as an all round man. During recent years he has been
superintendent of erection for this company, a line of work which
necessitates his traveling over the entire United States, in the
setting of valuable shafts. Fraternally Mr. Christian is connected
with the P. O. S. of A., in which order he is very popular. He and
Mrs. Christian are consistent members of the Lutheran Church. In
1906 they erected a fine residence on Twenty third street, in Mount
Penn, which has been their home ever since, and in which community
they have a large social circle.

On June 16, 1881, Mr. Christian was married to
Miss Catherine Holpp, of Shamokin (born at Minersville), daughter
of Daniel and Mary Holpp, natives of Baden, Germany. She died Feb.
6, 1885, leaving two children, one of whom, the infant son George
L., followed her to the grave a few days later. The eldest, Willard
Arthur, born Aug. 23, 1883, is residing with his uncle, William E.
Martz, of Shamokin, Pa., and is paymaster for the Penn Coal
Company. The second marriage of Mr. Edward H. Christian, on Oct. 8,
1889, was to Miss Alice C. Eisenbrown, daughter of Penrose F. and
Sarah S. (Smith) Eisenbrown, of Reading. Six children have been
born to this union Sarah May and Anna, deceased; George Edward;
Penrose Frederick; John Franklin; and one who died in infancy.

p. 1429

Surnames: CHRISTMAN, CHRIST, ALTHOUSE,
EISENBISE, BRISTOL

A. G. Christman, of Reading, who was engaged in dealing in laundry
supplies at No. 347 Penn street, was born in 1836, in Richmond
township, Berks county, son of Michael and Kate (Christ) Christman,
and died July 3, 1908, aged seventy-one years and eleven months.

Michael Christman, father of A. G., was a tailor
by trade, but in middle life engaged in farming in Jefferson
township, where his death occurred in 1865, at the age of
sixty-five years, His wife, Kate Christ, died in 1878, when
sixty-seven years of age, the mother of ten children, all of whom
grew to maturity, namely: Esther M., Elizabeth, B. Franklin, A. G.,
James M., Catherine, Daniel, Sarah, Charles and Aquilla. In
religious belief Mr. Christman was Reformed, while his wife
belonged to the Lutheran denomination. He was a Democrat in
politics.

A. G. Christman was educated in the schools of
Richmond and Jefferson townships, and the Millersville Normal
school, after which he taught school for eight terms, and then
spent some time on the home farm. He first engaged in the general
merchandise business as a clerk, but later operated a store at New
Shaefferstown, where he continued in business for four years. His
next venture was in the lumber business at Powell’s Creek, where he
remained for four years, after which he removed to Sheridan,
Lebanon county, and carried on the coal and lumber business for
another four years. Subsequently Mr. Christman removed to Lititz,
Lancaster county, and spent four years in superintending his
inventions in an agricultural implement factory. In 1884 he located
in Reading and entered upon the manufacture of agricultural
implements, which he continued to engage in until 1892. In that
year he invented the “Star” washing machine, which with others
associated with him, he started to manufacture. Shortly thereafter
he invented the “Daisy” washer, and in 1895, the “Royal” washing
machine, the premier machine on the market today, all others being
offshoots from the original “Star” and “Daisy” machines. Mr.
Christman was very successful in the sale of his “Royal” and
“Success” machines, and there are more than 25,000 of them in use
at this time. In 1901 his son, H. Herbert Christman, became manager
of this large business.

In 1867 Mr. Christman married Ellen R. Althouse,
daughter of Adam Althouse, and three children have been born to
this union: H. Herbert (who has a son, H. Stanley, by his first
marriage, and by his marriage with Anna Eisenbise, has had two
children–Irwin Adam, deceased at three months; and John Kenneth);
one that died in infancy; and G. Linton, an electrician of
Pittsburg (m. to Mary Bristol, and father of one child).

In religious belief Mr. Christman is Reformed.
Politically he holds the views of the Democratic party.

CHRISTMAN, CHARLES H.

p. 1461

Surnames: CHRISTMAN, BARTO, DIETRICH, DETWEILER, DEISHER, GEARY,
GLASSER, SCHEIRER, MERTZ, GRUBER, MAYER, SCHOLLENBERGER, KNODERER,
ECK, KOCH, CLAUSER, DOTTERY, NEWBOLD, FRY

Among the old and highly honored families of Maxatawny township is
that bearing the name of Christman. (I) Peter Christman was the
first of the family to locate there, making his home southeast of
Kutztown. He owned a large and valuable farm and became a very rich
man of his day. He made his will Dec. 30, 1811, and it was entered
for probate May 26, 1812. In it he mentions his wife Elizabeth
Christman, stating that she is to have the cattle and sheep, and
800 pounds of lawful money of Pennsylvania. His son Peter obtained
his share during the father’s lifetime. The amounts bequeathed the
others are as follows: Elizabeth, 300 pounds; Marie 500 pounds;
Leah, 500 pounds; Jonas, 1200 pounds; Jonathan 500 pounds; and
Rachel, 500 pounds. Maria, Leah and Jonas were not of age when
their father died, and Jonathan and Rachel (the will says) were
“non compos mentis.”

(II) Peter Christman was a farmer, located along the Sacony,
between Bowers and Kutztown. He was buried in a private cemetery
upon the homestead in Maxatawny. His wife was a member of the Barto
family, and they had these children: Isaac; John B.; Elizabeth;
Anna m. Daniel Dietrich; and Kate m. Charles Detweiler.

(III) Isaac Christman, who was born in 1817 and died in 1894, was a
native of Maxatawny, and became a farmer, residing near “Kemps
Hotel” in that township. He is buried in Fairview cemetery,
Kutztown. His wife was Esther, a daughter of Peter Deisher, and she
was born in 1822, and died in 1880. They had children as follows:
William; Deisher, born Aug. 25, 1844; Tobias; Peter; Jerome;
Louisa; Helena; Wilhemina; Esther and Caroline.

(III) John B. Christman, also a son of Peter Christ man, was born
on the homestead in Maxatawny town ship. He was a successful farmer
and owned a good farm of 100 acres. During his last years he lived
retired in Kutztown, and for six years served as school director.
For many years he was an official member of St. John’s Reformed
church. He married Susanna Geary, a daughter of John and Catherine
(Glasser) Geary, and their children were: Fianna; Jemima; Mary;
John; Charles I. G., born Feb. 19, 1866, a merchant of Kutztown. In
1896 he married Lucy Scheirer, of Lehigh county, a daughter of
David Scheirer. Their children are: Marion, John and Carl.

Michael Christman, grandfather of Charles H.
Christman, belongs to one branch of this early family. He resided
in Rockland township, and is buried at New Jerusalem church, of
which he was a member. He was a farmer and at one time kept an inn.
Among his children are these: Daniel; John; Philip; and Susanna, m.
to Benjamin Mertz.

Daniel Christman, son of Michael and father of
Charles H. Christman, was born in Falkner Swamp in 1815, and he
died in the spring of 1883, aged sixty-six years, eleven months and
twenty two days. He is buried at New Jerusalem Church, of which he
was a member and elder. By trade he was a stone mason. His wife was
Elizabeth Gruber, daughter of Michael Gruber, of Maxatawny. She
died Feb. 1, 1853, aged thirty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel
Christman had these children: Charles H.; Sarah m. Daniel Mayer;
Cassie m. Willoughby Eck; Daniel S. died aged seven years; and
Frank resides in Kutztown. Charles H. Cristman, residing at Topton,
Pa., was born in Maxatawny, July 5, 1841. He was reared on the farm
and when only nine years of age was hired out among the farmers in
Maxatawny and Greenwich townships. This continued for fifteen
years. He married in 1864 and one year later commenced farming for
himself in Upper Macungie township, Lehigh county, on a fifty-acre
farm. Here he lived three years, and then removed to a farm of one
hundred acres in the same township. For two years he worked hard
upon his land and then removed to Maxatawny township, where be
lived another two years. His next farm was in the upper part of
Macungie township and consisted of 130 acres. This he cultivated
for eight years, when he bought another farm in Maxatawny township,
consisting of one hundred acres. After improving it, he located at
Longswamp, near Hancock, and for four years lived retired. However,
at the end of that time he once more engaged in farming in
Longswamp and continued there for eleven years. In 1899 he removed
to Topton where he has since made his home, employing himself by
doing a little contracting and looking after his lot of seven or
eight acres. In addition to other interests, Mr. Christman owns
real estate in Topton and is a man of substance, highly respected
by a wide circle of friends and associates.

During the late Civil war Mr. Christman enlisted
in October 1862, as a private in Co. I, 167th P. V. I., Capt. J. M.
Schollenberger commanding, under Col. Knoderer. The latter was shot
Jan. 30, 1863, at Deserted Farm. Mr. Christman served nearly ten
months, and was honorably discharged Aug. 12, 1863. In March 1864,
Mr. Christman again went to the front, this time as a citizen
teamster for three months service.

Mr. Christman was married July 24, 1864, to
Sarah A. Koch, a daughter of Charles and Maria (Clauser) Koch, and
granddaughter of Carl Koch, who married a Miss Dottery. Mr. and
Mrs. Christman have had these children: Mary E. m. Moses Newbold,
of Topton; Daniel S. lives at Allentown; Henry E. who died at the
age of six years; William A. resides in Maxatawny; Sallie E.,
deceased, m. Wallace Fry; Oscar E. died at the age of four years;
and Charles H. resides in Topton.

Mr. Christman is a member of the Reformed Church
of Maxatawny, while Mrs. Christman is a member of the Lutheran
Church of the same place, the two congregations holding service in
the Zion’s Union Church. There two of their children are buried.

p.
1017

Surnames: CHRISTMAN, RADLER, KERCHNER, GEIGER, GARMAN, HUBER,
ERDMAN, HARTZEL, HERBEIN, HOCH, MERTZ, BUSH, DEAGLER

Nathan G. Christman, one of the prosperous residents of Oley
township, was born in Frederick township, Montgomery county, Pa.,
Sept. 11, 1841, a son of Nathan and grandson of Henry Christman.
(I) Henry Christman was one of four brothers, the others being,
John, Daniel and Jacob. He lived in Macungie township on the
homestead property. A heavy land owner, he possessed three farms of
large extent, a gristmill conducted by his son Jacob, and was a man
of prominence in his community. His wife was a member of the Radler
family. Their children were: Jonas; Ephraim; Jacob; Samuel; Nathan;
Mrs. John Kerchner; Mrs. George Geiger, and Mrs. William Geiger,
the last two marrying brothers.

(II) Nathan Christman, son of Henry, was born in Macungie township,
Lehigh county, in 1815, and died at Zieglersville, Montgomery
county, in 1887, aged over seventy two years. He was reared on the
home property, but after his marriage he went to Frederick, where
he purchased a good farm of 124 acres. Later he retired, bought a
small farm of fifteen acres, and there lived until within six years
of his death, when he purchased a pleasant modern house. At the
time of his death he was a very wealthy man. Mr. Christman was
married twice. His first wife was Esther Garman, who died in 1863,
the mother of: Matilda (died young); Lucinda; Nathan G.; James;
Wilson; Jonathan and Henry. His second wife was Elizabeth Huber of
Falkner Swamp, Montgomery county, who died in 1892, the mother of
three children: Lizzie (m. Edwin Erdman); Civilla (m. Hiram
Hartzel) and Augustus.

(III) Nathan G. Christman spent his early days upon the homestead,
and when twenty years of age learned the milling trade which he
followed five years, In 1866 he removed to Oley township, and
resided upon the farm of his father in law until 1891, when he sold
his farm stock and located in Friedensburg, and there, in 1867, he
embarked in his present lumber business. He now owns sixteen acres
in Oley, on the main street, south of Friedensburg, on which there
is a tenant’s house; and he also owns thirty acres in Exeter
township, of woodland, and four acres in Earl township. Mr.
Christman conducts the old Herbein’s sawmill, and owns the old
Herbein homestead of 125 acres of excellent farm land which came
into his possession through his wife. The house upon it was built
by Peter Herbein, and the barn was standing when Jonas Herbein came
into possession. The original set of buildings stood north of the
present ones in one of the meadows. Mr. Christman is a large
stockholder in the First National Bank of Oley, and is a man of
large interests and much public spirit. His present commodious home
was built by him in 1894, and is on Main street near Friedensburg.
In politics he is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the
Reformed Church of Friedensburg, although they were formerly
connected with the Schwartzwald Church. Mr. Christman is an elder
and has been since 1895. His daughter sang in the choir for many
years in both churches. On Oct. 28, 1866, Mr. Christman married
Rachel Herbein, daughter of Jonas and Lydia (Herbein) Herbein, of
Oley township, and their children were: Lydia H., born in 1869,
died in 1901, m. Gideon A. D. Hoch, and had children, Gideon, Maud,
Thermuthis, Webster, Edna and Elwood; Olivia m. Sylvanius Mertz, of
Exeter township, and has children, Carrie, Nathan, Jacob, Maggie,
Helen, Mabel and Sue; Jonas, born Aug. 18, 1871 (lives in Oley
township, he assisting his father at the sawmill), m. Mary Bush,
and has children, Harvey, Florence, Nathan, William, Edna and Cora;
Ella L. m. William Deagler, of Friedensburg (where he has a R. F.
D. route) and has had children, Blanche, Harvey, John, Ella and
Sara, living, and Catherine and James, deceased; Edwin M., born in
1879, died in 1880; Stella M. is unmarried and at home, keeping
house for her father.

Mrs. Christman was born April 4, 1843, and died
Feb. 8, 1907, aged sixty three years, ten months and four days. Mr.
Christman is a fair example of the representative men of Berks
county, who have helped so materially to develop the resources and
maintain the prestige of the commonwealth. Although no longer a
young man he is active and deeply interested in his many affairs,
while in his church he is a power.

p. 1153

Surnames: CHURCH, PHILLIPS, GARST, ARTZ

Robert B. Church, one of the best known passenger locomotive
engineers on the Schuylkill Valley branch of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, was born in August 1851, across the river from
Harrisburg, in the vicinity of Wormleysburg, Cumberland county, son
of Robert R. and Louisa (Phillips) Church. Mr. Church received his
education at White Hill Seminary and in Wormleysburg, and came to
Reading in 1868, apprenticing himself to the carpenter’s trade with
George W. Garst, a well known contractor and builder, with whom he
remained until 1871. In the following year he removed to
Reynoldsville, Pa., and after a short period there went to
Harrisburg and thence to Baltimore, Md., engaging in work for the
Northern Central Railroad, as firemen, Aug. 20, 1872. In 1875 he
resigned his position and resumed carpentering, returning to
Reading, where he worked for his former employer, Mr. Garst. Mr.
Church followed carpentering until 1879, and in this year
re-engaged in firing, and continued in the service of the Northern
Central Railroad until Oct. 27, 1886, when he was transferred to
the Schuylkill division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and in October
1889, was given a passenger run, which he has continued to hold to
the present time.

In 1872 Mr. Church was married to Sophia A.
Artz. He joined King David Lodge, F. & A. M., of Baltimore,
Md., and was transferred therefrom, in 1895, to Reading Lodge No.
549, F. & A. M. He also belongs to the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, being a delegate to the conventions held in
Chicago in 1887 and at Atlanta, Ga., in 1892, representing
divisions No. 90 of Pottsville, and No. 75 of Reading. Mr. Church
has hosts of friends in Reading, where he is well and favorably
known.

p.
973

Surnames: CLAUSER, KLAUSER, BABB, MOSER, LEVENGOOD, LEH, YERGER,
BOYER, MOYER, HIGH, MILLER, BRUMBACH, KOCH, BAHR, ACKER, UPDEGROVE,
WEIDNER, CLEAVER, SNYDER, KAUFFMAN, RHOADS, HERBST, MATHIAS, MOATZ,
RUPPERT, ROTHENBERGER, FROHNEISER, KEENE, KIEFER, DeTURCK

The Clauser or Klauser family of Berks county is descended from
four brothers of the name — Heinrich, George, Peter and John. The
branch represented by Simon B. Clauser of Earl township, and Mahlon
B. Clauser of Oley township, claim George as their ancestor. The
family records are, however, quite complete, and a brief outline of
the other branches is also given herewith: Heinrich Clauser, one of
the four brothers, died in 1808, in Earl township. His will is on
record in Will Book 5, p. 56, and his wife Ottillia (Babb), and son
George were his executors. The children of Heinrich were: George,
Abraham and Heinrich.

George Clauser, son of Heinrich and Ottillia,
lived and died in Earl township, where he carried on farming. He
died in 1884, when over eighty years old, and is buried at Oley
churches. He was twice married. By his first wife he had an only
son, Charles, born in 1826, who now lives near Shanesville, in Earl
township. George Clauser’s second wife, Maria Moser, bore him six
children, namely: Henry, Hannah, Maria, Caroline, William and
Catharine.

Abraham Clauser, son of Heinrich and Ottillia,
passed the greater part of his life in Earl township, but his last
years were spent in Reading, where he died aged eighty-four years.
His trade was that of a linen weaver. He married Kate Levengood, of
Douglass township, and their children were: John; Elijah; Enoch;
Mary; Aaron; Matthias; Henry L., born April 10, 1826 (m. in 1850,
Lavinah Leh, and had children — Franklin, Henry L., Jr., and
Jacob); Elizabeth; Daniel; and Sarah. Of these Henry L., Daniel,
and Sarah are still living, and Henry L.’s son, Henry L., Jr., is
supervisor of Earl township.

Heinrich Clauser, son of Heinrich and Ottillia,
was a shoemaker and hatter, and lived at Reading. He married
Elizabeth Yerger, and their children were: Augustus, Henry,
Catharine and Mrs. Frank Boyer.

John Clauser, one of the four brothers, lived in
Robeson township, Berks county, where in 1836 he made his last will
and testament. By occupation he was a farmer. He died in 1837, and
was survived by his wife, Catharine. His children were: Lydia,
Sarah (m. Henry Moyer), Daniel, John, Benjamin and Samuel.

George Clauser, brother of Heinrich, John and
Peter, lived in Earl township. In 1782 when Earl township was
erected his name and that of his son, George, Jr., appear on the
tax list. In 1788 and also in 1806 the names of George, Peter and
David Clauser appear on the tax list. Tradition says the Clausers
of eastern and western Berks county were of the Same branch. George
Clauser’s will was made Sept. 14, 1812, and probated May 14, 1814,
and is recorded in Will Book D, p. 94. His children were: David,
Jacob, Edward, George, Henry, Hannah (m. Samuel High), Peter and
Mary (m. George Miller).

Peter Clauser, grandfather of Simon B. and
Mahlon B., lived at Shanesville, where he died on his son’s farm in
February 1857, in his eighty-sixth year. In his earlier life he
worked as a blacksmith in Friedensburg, where in 1832 he built the
stone house now owned and occupied by his grandson, Simon B. He
kept a hotel for a number of years. He built the first barn at Hill
Church, and in this church he was an active member and official of
the Lutheran congregation. He was tall and strong, and had an
abundance of dark hair. He married Anna Maria Moyer, who died aged
thirty-five years. Their children were: Tobias, born April 17,
1802, died Feb. 9, 1868, was a drover and a justice of the peace at
Leesport, Pa.; Samuel, born Oct. 9, 1807, died April 19, 1864, was
a splader, farmer and fall butcher, and lived near Shanesville and
later at Friedensburg; Daniel is mentioned below; Esther m. John
Brumbach, of Earl township; Polly m. David Koch, of Earl township;
Sally m. Samuel Bahr, of Oley township; Mrs. Daniel Acker moved to
Ohio before 1848; and Hannah m. Samuel Brumbach.

Daniel Clauser, son of Peter, was born at
Shanesville, in Earl township, May 10, 1812, and died April 26,
1878, and is buried at Friedensville Church, Northampton county. He
was a foremost farmer in his district, and in his earlier life was
proprietor of the Shanesville hotel, conducting it until 1852. In
1872 he moved to Northampton county, where his death occurred. Here
he conducted a farm, limestone quarry and store, later renting the
store to his son Levi. He was also interested in the furnace
business. He was a stanch Democrat, for several years served as
township auditor, and for more than forty years he was justice of
the peace in Earl township. While in Berks county he attended St.
John’s Lutheran Church at Hill Church, but after going to
Northampton county became connected with Friedensville church. On
Sept. 22, 1833, he married Susanna Brumbach, born in Earl township,
daughter of George Brumbach. She died Sept. 11, 1887, and is buried
at Hill Church. To Daniel and Susanna Clauser were born eight sons
and six daughters, namely: Caroline m. Reuben Updegrove (both
deceased); Simon B.; Peter died aged two years; Levi lives at
Bethlehem, Pa.; Elizabeth m. (first) Hiram Brumbach, and (second)
Ephraim Weidner; Rebecca m. Frank F. Cleaver (both deceased);
Orlando lives in Northampton county; Amelia m. Albert Snyder, of
Oley township; Hannah m. Frank Y. Kauffman, of Oley township;
Mahlon B.; Mary Ann m. Elam Rhoads, of Earl township; Cyrus lives
at Bethlehem, Pa.; Tobias lives in Northampton county; and Daniel
B. makes his home in Reading. Daniel Clauser, the father, was a
major in the old State militia for a number of years. He served as
assignee and administrator many times, and was a man of
considerable prominence in the county.

Simon B. Clauser, son of Daniel and Susanna, was
born July 17, 1837, and for more than a third of a century has
conducted a hotel in Shanesville, Berks county. He was brought up
on his father’s farm, and attended the district school and the
Boyertown and Mt. Pleasant Academies. At the age of nineteen he
began teaching, and taught for four winters, after which he took
the hotel at Shanesville. Later he moved to a farm, and carried on
agricultural pursuits until 1866, when he entered the commercial
world. In 1871 he sold out and purchased the hotel built by his
grandfather, and that he conducted until 1894, when he bought his
present place. Farming and stock raising took up part of his time
and attention. He bought and sold all kinds of cattle, sheep, hogs
and calves, until April 1, 1909, when he sold all his stock to his
son Peter.

In politics Mr. Clauser is a Democrat, and for
many years was auditor of Earl township, finally declining
reelection. He was postmaster at Shanesville from 1866 to 1873, and
was urged to accept the office of justice of the peace, but
steadfastly refused, although he frequently settled up estates and
acted as guardian for many children. In stature he was of medium
size. On April 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, 7th Pa. V. I.,
under Capt. George S. Herbst. He is a member of Glenn Crooks Post,
No. 597, G. A. R., of which he has been chaplain since its
organization.

On Nov. 20, 1858, Mr. Clauser married Hannah
Mathias, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Moatz) Mathias, and
granddaughter of Michael Moatz. On Nov. 20, 1908, they celebrated
their golden wedding. Their children were: Susan m. William Yerger,
a merchant at Friedensburg; Kate m. James Ruppert, a farmer,
thresher and sawyer in Oley township; Miss Alice is a dressmaker at
home; Peter has farmed the homestead since early in 1909; and three
died in infancy.

Mahlon B. Clauser, son of Daniel and Susanna,
was born in the old “Clauser Hotel” at Shanesville, Feb. 24, 1851.
His education was received in the Boyertown and Mt. Pleasant
Academies, and he was but eighteen years old when he began
huckstering, buying and selling produce to Philadelphia. He made
the trip five times by team himself. For seventeen years he
continued this line of work, and then sold out to his brother,
Daniel B. Clauser, of Reading. He then engaged in the store and
tavern business at Griesemersville, in Oley township. This property
he bought in 1890, and until May 1, 1908, he conducted the store
and hotel jointly. He then sold out the store to John C.
Rothenberger, and continued in the hotel business. Since 1902 he
has also conducted a creamery. He disposes of all his butter in
Pottstown and Reading, retailing on an average 900 pounds a week.
Mr. Clauser has twenty-four acres of fertile land, which he
cultivates. The store and hotel building is a large four story
brick, of which the third floor is used as a lodge room, Lodge No.
1109, I. O. O. F., having met there since 1902. Mr. Clauser is a
member of that lodge, and also of Oley Castle, K. G. E., which he
joined in 1876. He and his family are members of Oley Lutheran
Church, in which he is an elder, and since 1902 president. He was
also deacon for some years, and a member of the building committee,
having charge of the erection of the new church in 1908.

On Dec. 17, 1874, Mr. Clauser married Catharine
Frohneiser, daughter of the late Abraham and Catharine (Keene)
Frohneiser, of near Bechtelsville. Their children are: Elizabeth m.
Thomas Kiefer, of Oley township; Charles F., is of Reading; Sallie
m. Charles P. DeTurck, a farmer of Oley township; and Dr. Monroe F.
was formerly resident physician in Easton Hospital, but is now
practising his profession in Oley township. In his political
principles Mahlon B. Clauser is a Democrat, and for many years has
served ably as a school director.

p. 1458

Surnames: CLAUSER, HULL, SNYDER, REINSEL, BERGER, KAUFFMAN, SEAMAN,
HAAG, SAUSER, LINDENMUTH, KLINE, SAVAGE, NUNNEMACHER, LONG

Henry S. Clauser, justice of the peace and public school teacher at
Sinking Spring, was born May 28, 1864, near St. Michael’s Church,
in Upper Bern (now Tilden) township, Berks Co., Pa. He was brought
up on his father’s farm, and educated in the public schools. When
sixteen years old he began teaching school and continued to do so
for three terms. At the end of the school terms he attended the
Keystone State Normal School to acquire greater proficiency in the
profession of teaching, and in 1883, having been appointed as a
teacher in Spring township, he located at Sinking Spring, and from
that time until now he has been teaching in the public schools of
the township, the last eighteen years as teacher of the grammar
school with the exception of one year, at the beginning, when be
taught in Lancaster county. Mr. Clauser has filled various township
offices, and since 1903 has acted as local agent for five different
fire insurance companies. In 1895 he was elected a justice of the
peace, and he was re-elected twice, serving now in his third term;
in 1905 he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Sinking
Spring Water Company, and has been officiating until now. He is
affiliated with several secret and social societies, serving as
secretary of the Sons of America, and of the Odd Fellows, and as
treasurer of the American Mechanics.

‘Squire Clauser married Anna M. Hull, a daughter
of Hiram R. Hull, a prosperous merchant of Sinking Spring for
upwards of thirty years, and they have one child, Robert R.
Clauser.

Harrison K. Clauser, father of the ‘Squire, was
a farmer of Upper Bern township. He died in 1904 at the age of
seventy-eight years. He married Rebecca Snyder, daughter of William
Snyder, of Centre township, near Belleman’s Church, and they had
seven children: Elmira, Mrs. George Reinsel; Mary, Mrs. O. F.
Berger; Harrison S., who married Emmaline Kauffman; Rebecca, Mrs.
M. B. Seaman; Daniel S., who married Mary Haag; Henry; and one who
died in infancy.

Wilhelm Clauser, the grandfather, was a farmer
of Upper Bern township. He married Elizabeth Kauffman, by whom he
had seven children: William, who married a Miss Sauser; Daniel, who
married Catharine Lindenmuth; Simon, who married Mary Kline; Kate,
Mrs. Joseph Savage; Harrison; Adam, who married a Miss Nunnemacher;
and Jacob, who married Sarah Long.

p. 1342

Surnames: CLAUSER, HERTZEL, MOYER, MOORE, FEIGLE, MOYER, NEIDICH;
SCHAEFFER, DICK, KENNEDY, REDCAY, ESHELMAN, RICKEY

John H. Clauser, a representative agriculturist of Berks county,
Pa., who is carrying on operations in Robeson township, was born in
that same township May 10, 1836, son of Samuel and Hannah (Hertzel)
Clauser.

John Clauser, grandfather of John H., came from
Oley township to Robeson many years ago, and bought the old George
Moore farm, now owned by one of his grandsons, Simon Clauser. He
followed farming and lime burning for the remainder of his life,
also owning and operating canal boats on the Schuylkill canal,
which he used to carry his lime to market. Mr. Clauser died about
1841 or 1842, in the faith of the Lutheran Church, of which his
wife, Catherine Feigle, was also a member. Their children were:
Daniel, John, Benjamin, Samuel , Lydia (who married Henry Moyer)
and Sarah (who married Isaac Moore).

Samuel Clauser, son of John and Catherine, was
born in Oley township, but early in life came to Robeson with his
parents, and most of his life was spent working for the Seyfert
forge at Gibraltar. He was active in the work of the Lutheran
Church, where he held numerous positions, and also was much
interested in Sunday school work. His death occurred in his
fifty-third year, and his wife passed away when about sixty-two or
sixty-three years old. Their children were: John H.; Samuel,
deceased; Daniel, a grocer at Seyferts; Albert, a blacksmith of
Philadelphia; Kittie, deceased; Malinda, who married Peter Neidich;
and Hannah and Susan, deceased.

John H. Clauser was educated in the schools of
Robeson township and until fifteen years of age worked on a farm,
at that time beginning to learn the blacksmith’s trade with John
Schaeffer, at Beckersville, Robeson township, and he continued with
him for two and one-half years. He then went to Bucyrus, Crawford
county, Ohio, and thence to Fort Wayne, Ind. Returning to Berks
county by way of Bucyrus, after one winter at school, Mr. Clauser
went to Reading, and there engaged at his trade and after a short
time purchased the blacksmith shop at the Junction in Robeson
township, which he operated three years. He next purchased a shop
in Philadelphia, which he carried on for one year, when he sold
out, married and returned to Robeson township, purchasing the
“Naomi Hotel” at Seyferts. He conducted this hotel for some thirty
years, and then purchased the Hettie Dick farm, which he still owns
a one-hundred acre tract of some of the finest land in the county.
Mr. Clauser has brought this property to a fine state of
cultivation, has improved it with good, substantial buildings, and
in connection therewith operates a dairy of eight cows. In politics
he is a Democrat. He is public-spirited and progressive, and is
always found in the front rank of any movement tending toward the
public welfare.

In 1856 Mr. Clauser was married to Miss Mary
Kennedy, daughter of Thomas Kennedy, and seven children have
blessed this union: William, deceased; Heber, of Reading; John K.,
proprietor of the “Naomi Hotel”; Annie, wife of Reuben Redcay; Ida;
Sallie, wife of Henry Eshelman; and Bessie, who married Walter
Rickey.