Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

FAHRBACH, JOHN A.

p. 1448

Surnames: FAHRBACH, GERBER, BLOCK, HUMMEL

John A. Fahrbach, whose death occurred April 15, 1908, at his
home, No. 32 South Eighth street, Reading, was a man well known,
having been dancing-master in the city for or many years.

John M. Fahrbach, father of John A. Fahrbach, was
born in Germany in the year 1810. There he studied music and
learned the trade of upholstering and coach trimming. He came to
America in 1837, landing at New York City. He then became connected
with a traveling show as leader of the orchestra, and finally
settled in Reading, which at that time was a small town or borough.
He was the organizer and leader of the first band in the city and
also instructed bands in different parts of the country. Few men
were better known in musical circles. At this time he also worked
at his trade at the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company’s
shops, where he was employed for a period of fifteen years; then
engaged in the hotel business, first on North Eighth street,
afterward at Seventh and Franklin streets, in which business he
continued until 1880, at which time he died at the age of seventy
years.

Mr. Fahrbach married Mary E. Gerber, born in
Germany, and they were the parents of ten children, four of whom
lived to maturity as follows: Mary A. Block died June 2, 1908, at
Orange, N. J.; John A. died April 15, 1908; Francis J. died Aug.
18, 1903; Amelia died Aug. 26, 1893.

John A. Fahrbach was born in the city of Reading
Nov. 15, 1844, and lived there all his life. He became interested
in music at the age of six years, and after a course of study at
the Reading common and high schools took up the study of music
under the capable instruction of his father. He learned the
boiler-making trade and followed this for some six years, but gave
it up to give his entire attention to music. The violin was his
chief instrument, and he was a master performer on it. He played in
orchestras for over forty years, gave instructions to many people,
and at the time of his death was a member of the Philharmonic Band.
He organized the Fahrbach orchestra in 1861. In the year 1871 he
began giving instructions in dancing, having studied the art under
Philadelphia instructors. He never kept an account of his pupils,
but it is estimated that he taught upward of fifteen thousand
people. Mr. Fahrbach was known far and wide as an excellent
dancing-master, having taught men and women years ago who are now
grandfathers and grandmothers, and whose children and grandchildren
have also been his pupils. His public class was held at Academy
Hall, and his private class at Sixth and Walnut streets, in the
East Pennsylvania Railroad building.

Mr. Fahrbach had an enviable reputation for his
strict honesty and genial nature. He was a private in the State
militia and was one of the few members of that body who saw active
service. Mr. Fahrbach was a member of the Second Reformed Church.
Fraternally he was connected with the National American Association
of Dancing Masters; American Federation of Musicians, Local No.
135; Keim Post, No. 76, G. A. R.; Mt. Penn Castle, No. 51, Knights
of the Golden Eagle; Camp No. 89, P. O. S. of A.; Lexington
Commandery, No. 2, and the Junior Fire Company.

Mr. Fahrbach married Emma Hummel, who died March
16, 1905. The following children survive: Harry E. is mentioned
below; Annie E. is a fine musician, both vocal and instrumental;
Christian E. has traveled very extensively, and is now located in
Reading, being trap drummer in the Academy Orchestra; he is a
member of Washington Camp, No. 89, P. O. S. of A.; Local No. 135,
A. F. of M.; Reading Hose Fire Company, and Reading Hose Volunteer
Association.

Prof. Harry E. Fahrbach, son of John A., was
born June 8, 1871, and at the age of five years commenced the study
of music under his grandfather, John M. Fahrbach, and finished his
violin studies under Henry Lambert, at the New York College of
Music; pipe-organ under Dr. Austin Pearce; theory of music under
Dr. Austin Pearce and Theodore Kolb; piano under Albert Ritter;
trombone under John W. Row. He is now director of the Academy of
Music Orchestra. He is a member of the examining board of local No.
135, A. F. of M., and has served for the past six years as director
of the Philharmonic Band. Mr. Harry E. Fahrbach conducted the Opera
House Orchestra for seventeen years, Temple Orchestra for one year,
and was organist of St. Paul’s Memorial Reformed Church for
fourteen years. He is a member of Reading Lodge, No. 549, F. &
A. M.; Reading Chapter, No. 152, R. A. M.; DeMolay Commandery, No.
9, K. T.; Reading Hose Fire Company, and Reading Hose Volunteer
Association.

FAHRENBACH, GEORGE
DELL

p. 580

Surnames: FAHRENBACH, DELL, COLLINS, BOHRINGER, STROUSE, BUCCIERI,
ZIEBACH, WERNER, HAAG, BENDER, MERTZ

George Dell Fahrenbach, who makes his home in Penn township, Berks
county, was born Aug. 15, 1846, in Hesse.Cassel, Germany, but has
lived in this country from boyhood.

Charles William Fahrenbach, his father, was also
born in Hesse.Cassel, where he learned the trade of wheelwright,
but he was best known as a musician.

He taught music, being a master of many
instruments, and was also engaged as orchestra leader in opera
houses in his native land. He was a bugler in the German cavalry,
and after coming to this country served in the same capacity in the
Pennsylvania State militia.

In 1851 Mr. Fahrenbach came to this country,
bringing his wife and family, which then consisted of five
children, and locating on a farm in Penn township, Berks Co., Pa.,
he followed farming and wagon-making, finding his trade very useful
in the new world. He became a member of the Reformed Church in Penn
township, in which both he and his wife were active workers, and he
was known as a devoted student of the Scriptures, concerning which
he was very well informed. Mr. Fahrenbach married Christiana Dell,
a native of Rhein-Sachsen, Germany, and they became the parents of
six children, five born in the old country and the youngest born in
America, viz.: John, who is deceased; George Dell; Adam, who has
been blacksmith at the Berks County Almshouse for twenty seven
years, being elected each year by the board of directors; Hannah,
deceased, who was the wife of Dr. O. C. Collins; Maria, married to
Christian Bohringer, of St. Louis, Mo.; and Caroline, wife of
Monroe Strouse, of Clearfield county, Pa. The mother of this family
died in 1891, at the age of seventy-five years, and the father
preceded her to the grave in March 1883, at the age of seventy-four
years. George Dell Fahrenbach grew to manhood upon a farm in Penn
township. He had few educational advantages, and began work early,
when only nine years old, earning seventy-five cents a month in
addition to his board and clothing. After the second year his wages
were three dollars a month, and later he was paid seven dollars a
month. Though little more than a boy when the Civil war broke out
he enlisted in the Union service, entering Company G, 151st
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for nine months, serving two
months overtime on that enlistment. Re-enlisting, he became a
member of Company B, 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for
three years, and after his discharge from that command, in February
1864, he again enlisted, serving to the end of the war. The list of
important engagements in which he participated with his regiment is
a long one: Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862; Gettysburg, July 1.3,
1863; Oldtown Creek, May 9, 1864; Proctor’s Creek, May 13, 1864;
Drury’s Bluff, May 12.16, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 1.3, 1864;
Petersburg, June 15.18, 1864; Cemetery Hill, July 30, 1864;
Chapin’s Farm, Sept. 29, 1864; Signal Hill, Dec. 10, 1864;
Hatcher’s Run, March 30, 1865; Petersburg and Richmond, April 2.9,
1865; Rice’s Station, April 6, 1865; and Rappahannock Court House,
April 9, 1865. On April 15, 1865, for meritorious conduct, Mr.
Fahrenbach was promoted to corporal. He had many thrilling
experiences during his service. At the battle of Chancellorsville
he was taken prisoner while out sharpshooting, but fortunately
escaped soon afterward. At the battle of Gettysburg be was wounded
three times the first day, in the arm, the abdomen and the head,
his skull being severely fractured. But he continued in active
service through the three days of the engagement. He was sent on a
dangerous mission within the Rebel lines, and in the Confederate
uniform made his way into the enemy’s camp between Petersburg and
Richmond, at Bermuda Hundred, finding out their numbers, plan of
campaign and other things of importance, which be reported to
Generals Butler, Gilmore and Smith, upon his return, three days
later. He subsequently made a similar trip, at Petersburg, and
obtained the desired information without going into the enemy’s
lines.

After the close of his military service Mr.
Fahrenbach returned to Penn township, Berks county, where he worked
upon a farm for a year before moving to Luzerne county. There he
operated a sawmill for three years, in 1869 returning to Penn
township, where he began farming on his own account, renting two
farms, comprising 200 acres, of Daniel Strouse. These he cultivated
until 1892, and in the meantime he had accumulated considerable
property, having bought a farm of 167 acres in 1887. Later he
purchased others, one of 231 acres and another of 114 acres all in
Penn township, cultivating the two larger tracts and renting the
smaller one. He has continued to add to his possessions, being at
present one of the largest landowners in his end of Berks county,
his holdings now including 630 acres of valuable land. In 1893 he
moved to Reading, though he did not give up his farming operations,
and in 1905 he put up a fine brick residence on the place where he
now lives in Penn township, and which is also improved with
up-to-date farm buildings. Mr. Fahrenbach has very valuable
limestone quarries on his land, and burns as many as 30,000 to
35,000 bushels of lime a year.

As an active member of the Democratic party Mr.
Fahrenbach has been prominent in the local councils, frequently
serving as a delegate to county conventions, and he has also held
various public offices. For eleven years he was a member of the
Penn township school board and for six years served as president of
the board. He was president of the Bernville Cemetery Association
for nine years. In 1893 he was elected sheriff of Berks county, and
served one term of three years, during which time the Italian
murderer, Pietro Buccieri, was hung, in 1893.

Mr. Fahrenbach has taken especial interest in
old home week at Bernville, and was one of the leaders in that
movement, to which he has given much of his time and attention. In
1907 and 1908 he acted as chief marshal. He is a prominent member
of the Reformed Church at Bernville, and served as chairman of the
building committee that built the present St. Thomas Union
(Reformed and Lutheran) Church at Bernville in 1897, though he was
still living in Reading at that time. Sunday-school work has always
received his particular attention, and he served as superintendent
of the Penn Valley Sunday.school for a period of twenty-five years.
In fraternal societies he is also very well known, belonging to
Williamson Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M., of Womelsdorf; Excelsior
Chapter, No. 237, R. A. M.; Reading Commandery, No. 42, and Rajah
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.–being a thirty-second-degree Mason; he
also belongs to the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Odd Fellows,
the Grange, the Grand Army of the Republic and Star of Welcome
Lodge, No. 60, Shepherds of Bethlehem. In spite of his many
interests and activities Mr. Fahrenbach has found time to do
considerable traveling, having visited every State in the Union.

In 1866 Mr. Fahrenbach married Mary Ziebach, of
Bernville, and seven children were born to them, five of whom
survive, namely: Sallie, who taught school ten years, married Rev.
W. B. Werner, a minister of the Reformed Church, of Schwenkville,
Montgomery county, and they have two children, Helen and Emily;
Frank, who attended Stoner’s Business College, taught eight terms
of school, and is now a pure food inspector for the Government at
Cleveland, Ohio (he is married to Cora Haag, of Williamsport, and
has one son Frank); George W. is mentioned below; Mary taught
school before her marriage to Charles Bender, and is now living in
Penn township (she has one child, George Frank); John H. received
his early education in Reading, and is a member of the class of
1909 at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster.

George W. Fahrenbach, M. D., son of George D.,
was born in Penn township April 16, 1873, and received his early
education in the public schools and Bernville high school. Before
taking his professional course he taught school for six terms, in
Robeson, Lower Alsace and Spring townships, Berks county, and West
Cocalico township, Lancaster county. He then entered the Baltimore
Medical College, graduating from that institution in 1900, magna
cum laude. Immediately afterward he located at Bernville, which he
has since made his field of practice, having a large clientele in
and around the borough. He is a member of the Berks County Medical
Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and the American
Medical Association. Socially he is connected with the Sons of
Veterans and the I. O. O. F., and he is a member of St. Thomas
Church at Bernville, belonging to the Reformed congregation.

Dr. Fahrenbach married Miss Maggie B. Mertz,
daughter of Jacob Mertz, of Reading, and two children have been
born to this union, Margaret and Charles.

FARR,
BERTRAND H.

p. 547

Surnames: FARR, FASKET, HARRIS, MILLER, PIERCE, ESTABROOK,
HITCHCOCK, STOWELL, STONE, HOLTON, EDWARDS, GERHARDT, WILLIS

Bertrand H. Farr, of Farr’s Music House, No. 809 Penn street,
Reading, is a member of a very old family in America, the early New
World home being in Stowe, Mass., where the family was established
for over one hundred years, having come over from England in the
early part of the Puritan movement. Abraham Farr died at Stowe in
1689.

Abraham Farr, the second of the name of whom we
have definite record, was a resident of Stowe, Mass. He married
Rachel Fasket, and they became the parents of a son, Abraham.

Abraham Farr, son of Abraham and Rachel, was
born in Stowe, March 22, 1761. He moved to Chesterfield, N. H., and
there died April 29, 1840. He married Polly Harris, who died in her
one hundredth year while sitting at her spinning wheel. Their
children were: Rufus, born March 23, 1783, died May 7, 1858; Amy,
born June 15, 1785, m. a Mr. Miller, and died in Vermont; Jerusha,
born Dec. 7, 1787, m. a Mr. Miller of Putney, Vt.; Polly, born July
7, 1790, m. Ezra Pierce, of South Windham, Vt., and died Oct. 13,
1856; Clarissa, born Jan. 21, 1793, m. a Mr. Estabrook, settled in
Dummerston, Vt., and died May 11, 1839; Sally, born Aug. 8, 1796,
m. Eli Hitchcock; Ira, born Dec. 1, 1797, m. Florinda Stowell, and
died March 6, 1870.

Rufus Farr, son of Abraham, was born March 23,
1783, in Chesterfield. N. H., and he died at Windham, Vt., May 7,
1858. On Oct. 21, 1810, he married Susan Stone, who was born Nov.
21, 1789, in Groton, Mass., daughter of Asa and Polly Stone, and
died at Rochester, Wis., Nov. 16, 1872. To Rufus and Susan Farr
were born children as follows: Lurency, born Nov. 11, 1811; Eli,
born July 15, 1814, died Oct. 8, 1890; Aurilla, born April 11,
1817; Philesta, born June 9, 1820, died aged eighteen years; Rufus,
born Aug. 16, 1823; Merrill H., born April 16, 1827; and Orlando.

Orlando Farr, son of Rufus, was born Dec. 9,
1832, at Windham, Vt., at the homestead where his father settled on
the Glebe Mountain, succeeding him in the business of sheep
raising, and maple sugaring. In 1868 he went to Illinois, and
located at Shannon, where he was engaged in the grain and lumber
business until 1871, when he moved to Kamrar, Iowa, where he is the
owner of a large amount of land and is now living retired. He
married Pauline C. Holton, a native of North Walcott, Vt., and they
had a family of seven children: Frank died aged four years;
Bertrand H.; Nellie; Stella died in Iowa in 1903; Florence and
Leslie died young; and Edward M. is in Iowa with his father.

Bertrand H. Farr was born Oct. 14, 1863, at
Windham, Vt., and was six years old when he accompanied his parents
to Illinois. He attended the public schools in that State, and at
Webster City, Iowa. At the age of seventeen he began teaching
school, and followed that calling three years. In the fall of 1883
he went to Boston, and entered the New England Conservatory of
Music, studying piano and vocal music and also the tuning of
pianos. Returning to Webster City, he spent three years in the
music business, and then sold out with the intention of finishing
his education at Boston, but upon his arrival at the “Hub,” he
received a flattering offer to go to Philadelphia, to a Chestnut
street music house. This offer he accepted, and he remained in
Philadelphia five years, at the end of that time coming to Reading
(1891) as a piano tuner. He had his office in the store of C. W.
Edwards for fourteen years. He opened a store in Lancaster, in
1900, in the new Y. M. C. A. building, but later sold this to the
Weaver Organ Company. In 1904 he formed a partnership with H. E.
Gerhardt, in Reading, and under the firm name of Farr &
Gerhardt carried on an extensive business in pianos, organs,
talking machines, musical merchandise, etc. In March, 1909, Mr.
Farr purchased Mr. Gerhardt’s interest in the firm, and is now
carrying on the business alone.

. Farr is active in the ranks of the Republican
party, and is very public spirited. He was one of those
instrumental in organizing the borough of Wyomissing, and in
September 1906, he was elected its first chief burgess and shortly
after his term of office expired he was appointed a member of
Council to fill a vacancy in that body. He built the first house in
the borough. Besides his music business he has devoted considerable
time to floriculture making a specialty of hardy plants, such as
irises, peonies, phloxes, devoting about fifteen acres to his
nursery, and he issued his first catalogue in 1908. It is said to
be the most complete catalogue of peonies and irises ever published
in this country. He was elected president of the American Peony
Society, at the last meeting, at Queens, L. I.

Mr. Farr married Annie Willis, of Farmington,
Maine, a member of a very old New England family.

FAUST, ALLEN
E.

p. 1228

Surnames: FAUST, TETER, BROWN, HAAS

Allen E. Faust, one of Muhlenberg township’s enterprising citizens,
who is engaged in a grain and feed business at Temple, was born
Aug. 17, 1864, in Schuylkill county, Pa., son of Charles W. and
Emeline (Teter) Faust.

Daniel Faust, the grandfather of Allen E.,
settled in Schuylkill county, where he engaged in his trade of
miller for the rest of his active period, owning a mill near
Orwigsburg, Pa. His son, Charles W., who was born in Schuylkill
county, followed in his father’s footsteps and also became a
miller, owning what was known as Faust’s Mill, on Maiden creek, at
Berkley, Muhlenberg township, and in addition to this carried on
farming. He is now living retired at Temple, with his son, his wife
having died in 1886. They were members of the Reformed Church, and
the parents of these children: Elizabeth; Allen E.; Ambrose; Frank,
m. to Lizzie Brown; and Carrie, deceased. Mr. Faust is a member of
the Washington Camp, P. O. S. of A. of Leesport. He has served
efficiently in several township offices.

Allen E. Faust was educated in the schools of
Berks county, after which he worked in his father’s flouring mill,
and for one term taught school. The next sixteen years he operated
the mill on his own account, and in 1904 he located in Temple,
where he established its first feed and grain store, which he has
been successfully operating to the present time.

Mr. Faust married Rebecca Haas, daughter of
Augustus Haas and three children were born to this union: Mabel,
Warren and Leon, the latter two of whom met their death in a
railroad accident.

Mr. Faust is a member of the Reformed Church, of
which he has been a deacon and elder, while his wife is a Lutheran.
In politics he is a Democrat, and he has held the offices of school
director, tax collector and delegate to numerous county
conventions. Fraternally Mr. Faust is connected with Washington
Camp, No. 169, P. O. S. of A.; Leesport Lodge, I. O. O. F., and K.
G. E., of the same place.

FAUST, JOHN
K.

p. 1118

Surnames: FAUST, KLINE, LEHR, HINCKEL, SHADE, REBER, HOLLENBACH,
REHN, HASSLER, MOYER, BROSSMAN, KISSLING

John K. Faust, a representative citizen and well
known business man of Reading, engaged extensively in paving
contracting, was born in Lower Heidelberg township, Berks Co., Pa.,
Jan. 16, 1859, son of Jacob and Lydia (Kline) Faust.

Philip Faust, grandfather of J. K., settled in
Upper Bern township, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits
all of his active period. He died about 1850, aged about sixty-five
years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name, of Christiana
Lehr, died in 1870, aged eighty-three years. They had these
children: Daniel, deceased; Mary, m. to William Hinckel; and Jacob,
father of J. K. Philip Faust was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and he
and his wife were attendants of the Reformed Church.

Jacob Faust, son of Philip, was a carpenter by
trade, also owning and operating a farm, first in Lower Heidelberg
township, and later in Jefferson township, and being a very thrifty
man was considered very well-to-do at the time of his death, in
1892, when in his seventy-fourth year. His wife, Lydia Kline, died
in 1888, aged sixty-five years, in the faith of the Lutheran
Church, while he was connected with the Reformed denomination. In
politics he was a Democrat. Eleven children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Faust, ten of whom lived to maturity: Samuel, of Penn
township; Sarah, m. to Daniel Shade; Amelia, m. to Levi Reber;
Daniel; Kate; Catherine, m. to Frank Hollenbach; John K.; Franklin;
Matilda, m. to Alvin Rehn; and Allen K., a missionary of the
Reformed Church in Japan. In religious belief Mr. Faust was
Reformed.

Philip Faust, grandfather of J. K., settled in
Upper Bern township, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits
all of his active period. He died about 1850, aged about sixty-five
years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name, of Christiana
Lehr, died in 1870, aged eighty-three years. They had these
children: Daniel, deceased; Mary, m. to William Hinckel; and Jacob,
father of J. K. Philip Faust was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and he
and his wife were attendants of the Reformed Church.

John K. Faust was educated in the district
schools of Lower Heidelberg township, and followed farming until
his twenty-ninth year, when he came to Reading and engaged in the
paving and cement business. He enlarged his operations from time to
time, and is now one of the largest contractors in cement and flag
stone paving in the city of Reading. Since 1902 he has done
considerable building in the northwestern section of the city of
Reading, these houses being for sale, and like in his other
business he has been very successful in this new venture.

Mr. Faust was married in 1882 to Harriet
Hassler, daughter of John and Anna (Moyer) Hassler, and two
children were born to this union: Charles Floyd (deceased) and
Howard Calvin, a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College,
Lancaster; the latter married Elenora Brossman, daughter of James
Brossman and wife (nee Kissling, of Reading). Mr. Faust is a member
of the P. O. S. of A., and the Knights of Malta. In politics he is
a Democrat, and has served as a member of the school committee of
the Sixth ward. Mr. Faust owns a beautiful residence at the corner
of West Greenwich and McKnight streets.

FEATHER, M.
S.

p. 1305

Surnames: FEATHER, SCHMIDT, LENGEL, BINKLEY

M. S. Feather, a well-to-do young business man of Reading, Pa., who
is conducting a flourishing drug business on Chestnut street, was
born in the city in 1877, son of Milton G. and Louisa (Schmidt)
Feather.

Mr. Feather’s education was secured in the
schools of Reading, after leaving which he clerked for two years in
Sanderson’s drug store, and then went to Philadelphia and four and
one-half years later to Schuylkill Haven. At the latter place he
clerked for three years, at the end of which time he returned to
Reading, working for Mr. Troop for two years. In 1901 he entered
his present place of business, formerly owned and conducted by R.
D. Lengel, and now carries a full line of drugs, medicines,
perfumes, candies and toilet articles, and manufactures the famous
“E. E. E. E. (Four E’s) Corn Cure,” “Dewey’s Headache Cure” and
several proprietary medicines. He lived at No. 1010 Chestnut street
until 1908, when he purchased the property at No. 1016 Chestnut
street, where he is now located. He has won the confidence of the
people in his community, and his trade, already large, is rapidly
increasing.

Mr. Feather married Miss Nellie Binkley, of
Schuylkill Haven, and to them has been born one child, Lauretta.
Mr. and Mrs. Feather are members of the Lutheran Church. He is
connected fraternally with the F. O. E., the M. W. A., and the B.
P. O. E., in all of which organizations he is very popular.

p. 1035

Surnames: FEATHER, MOYER, LAMM, KLOPP, WOLFENSBERGER

William C. Feather, manufacturer of building materials and
undertaker at Wernersville since 1896, was born in North Heidelberg
township, May 29, 1864, son of Joseph and Isabella (Moyer) Feather.
His grandfather was William Feather, of Bernville, who was
constable for many years of Bernville Borough. Mrs. Isabella
Feather was the daughter of William and Annie (Lamm) Moyer, of
North Heidelberg, but her mother dying when she was but a year and
a half old, she was reared by Mr. and Mrs. John Lamm (nee Klopp),
of North Heidelberg township. Her father served three years and
nine months in the Civil war. Mrs. Feather died in 1901 aged
fifty-seven years.

William C. Feather came to Wernersville when he
was a boy four years old, and received his education in the local
schools. When eighteen years old he entered the cabinet-making shop
of George Wolfensberger, and, learning the trade, continued in his
employ until his decease in 1896. One of his sons, Richard A.
Wolfensberger, and Mr. Feather then formed a co-partnership for the
purpose of continuing the well-established business of
cabinet-making and undertaking, together with running a planing
mill, and under the name of Wolfensberger & Feather they have
carried on the plant in a very successful manner until the present
time. All the mill work for the buildings in the surrounding
community for many miles, both large and small, particularly of
dwellings, has been supplied by them; and they also conduct the
funerals for a considerable distance around Wernersville, the
junior partner, Mr. Feather, attending to this branch of the
business in connection with superintending at the planing mill.
Their supplies give entire satisfaction, and quite naturally their
factory is always busy. Mr. Feather took great interest in
establishing a hose company at Wernersville for protecting the
inhabitants against fire, and in the erection of the building he
was one of the building committee.

In 1884 Mr. Feather married Mary Wolfensberger,
a daughter of his employer. They have no children of their own, but
they adopted a boy four years old by the name of Clarence N. Lamm,
now eighteen years of age; he was educated in the Wernersville
school, after which he took two courses in Stoner’s Business
College, of Reading, and is a bookkeeper for Wolfensberger &
Feather.