Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

WEIGLEY, JONATHAN W.

p.
812

Surnames: WEIGLEY, GABLE, PENN, WALTER, REED, HEDGER, LAUTZ,
BECHTHOLTZ, PHILLABAUM, NOLL, DEBBIE, BROU, KALBAUGH, MILLER,
ZELLER, SCHAEFFER, MELL, ANDERSON, DORNBACH, SMALTZ, LEITNER,
KILMER, HERSHEY, AUCHENBACH, ECK,SMITH, KLOPP, BOYER, HAIN, MERKEL,
MOORE, HOLSTEIN, HARTMAN, WEIK, GRUTTIS, SCHOEDLER, HECKEMAN,
SHEALER, WALTER, REX, BORTHWICK, FORNEY, GRISWOLD, ENGLISH,
FESSLER, MOYER, FISHER, PENNYPACKER, BRUBAKER, KAUFMAN, FRANK,
JONES, MEISER, EMERICH, HAAG, KILMER, BATDORF

Jonathan W. Weigley, in his lifetime an active worker in public
affairs and also a successful farmer, in the early history of the
Weigley family in this country that their direct ancestor came over
with William Penn and settled in Philadelphia county. Whether he
was an actual convert to Quakerism or not is not known, although it
is manifest that the family here owes its origin to that portion of
its German ancestors which came under the influence of Penn when he
visited Holland and Germany in 1671 for the advancement of
Quakerism. Long prior to 1734 John Michael Weigley had settled in
Lower Salford township (Montgomery county, Pa.), at which time he
was a landowner, having a considerable tract. His son George died
Oct. 20, 1760, leaving a widow and five children, viz: Elizabeth
(wife of Frederick Gable), Catharine, George, Margaret and John.
While Adam Weigley, the immediate progenitor of the family in
Lebanon county, was born in 1744 in Lancaster county, where his
father, a brother of John Michael and a contemporary of William
Penn, had settled. The descendants of these brothers are widely
scattered with their numerous progeny through Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Adam Weigley, born at Reamstown, Lancaster Co.,
Pa., in 1744, removed to White Marsh, Montgomery Co., Pa. He
married in 1770 Hannah Eva Walter, who was born in Cocalico
township, Lancaster Co., Pa., and who survived her husband several
years, dying in 1840, near Newmanstown, Lebanon county. Adam was a
farmer by occupation and finally settled near Womelsdorf, Pa.,
where he died in 1798, leaving considerable real estate, as appears
from the proceedings in partition in the Orphan’s court of the
county of Berks commenced in December, 1800, and leaving the
following children: (1) Joseph, born in 1770; married in 1790;
admitted to the Bar of Philadelphia county in 1798; removed to
Westmoreland county, Pa., and died near Greensburg in 1819, leaving
issue, viz.-three sons, Alexander, a physician nor deceased, and
Horatio and Wellington, both lawyers who lived in Chicago, Ill.;
also six daughters, Eliza, Julia, Ann, Hannah, Harriet and Mary.
(2) Samuel, born in 1772, married Maria Reed, and had issue:
Hannah, Rebecca (married to Jacob Heddinger), Lucy (married to
Henry Lautz), Lydia (married to George Bechtholtz), William
(married to Royal Phillabaum) and Mary (married to Emanuel Noll).
(3) David died young. (4) Jacob Adam was born in 1787. (5) Daniel
died young. (6) Elizabeth married Joseph Debbie of Berks County,
Pa. They had issue: Elizabeth and Julia (married to Henry Noll).
(7) Sarah married John Brou, of Newmanstown, Lebanon Co., Pa. (8)
Catharine married Philip Kalbaugh, of Berks county, Pa. (9)
Susannah married Jacob Noll, of West Virginia.

Of the above, Jacob Adam Weigley alone settled
permanently in Lebanon county, where nearly all of his descendants
now reside. Jacob Adam Weigley, born Jan. 22, 1787, in Berks
county, Pa., died Dec. 14, 1880. He married Catharine Miller
(daughter of John Miller) who was born Jan. 7, 1792, and died March
21, 1869, at Millbach. Jacob Weigley was brought up to hard work on
the farm and on reaching manhood began for himself on a farm in
Mill Creek township, Lebanon Co., Pa. He also engaged in milling,
operating the Millbach mill (now known as Illig’s mill) for many
years. He and his wife had children as follows:

(1) Mary born Aug. 22, 1811, died Feb. 12, 1898, and is buried at
Millbach, Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania.

(2) Isaac, born July 11, 1813, married in August, 1836, Elizabeth
Zeller, who was born May 21, 1818. Isaac was a pump-maker and
farmer, and lived at Richland, Lebanon Co., Pa. Both he and his
wife are buried at Millbach.

Their children were: (a) Malinda S., born April
7, 1837, died May 15, 1903, was married to Michael B. Schaeffer, in
October, 1867, and had issue: Miller, born Aug. 6, 1869 and Minnie,
born Oct. 1875, both residing at Richland, Lebanon county. (b)
Catharine E., born Nov. 16, 1838, married Henry Mell, in October,
1857, and had issue: Mary Anderson, born Feb. 28, 1863, who married
Benjamin Dornbach, and had issue, Nora (married to Monroe Smaltz)
and John (residing at Richland); Lizzie, born April 6, 1874,
married to Sherman Leitner and residing at Richland: Dora, born
Dec. 2, 1875, and Ada, born June 11, 1878, both living at home. (c)
Francis W., born Jan. 28, 1840, became a soldier in the Union army
(7th Pennsylvania Cavalry) and was killed in the war of the
Rebellion in 1862. (d.) John J., born Feb. 12, 1842, married Maria
E. Kilmer, on Sept. 13, 1868, and had issue: Ira, born April 18,
1870, who married (first) Elvie Hershey and had issue ? Sarah and
Rachael (mother and daughters deceased), and married (second),
Lillian Auchenbach, Nov. 15, 1898, their issue being Minnie, born
Dec. 26, 1899 and Pearl, born Jan. 11, 1906 (all residing at
Richland): Mary, born April 26, 1872, who was married in 1893 to
Eugene Eck, conductor on the Philadelphia & Reading railroad,
and had issue, Florence, born Feb. 13, 1894, and Lee, born May 11,
1904 (residing at Richland, Lebanon Co., Pa.) ; Harry, born March
26, 1874 who married Ida Smith and had issue, Horace (born Nov. 14,
1896). Grace (born April 1, 1899). John (born Nov. 15, 1900). Louis
(born Sept. 9, 1903) and Mary (born April 19, 1907); Dawson, born
Oct. 20, 1876, who married July 11, 1905, Nora Klopp, and had
issue, Mollie, born Feb. 11, 1907 and Anna, born May 10, 1908;
Robert born Jan. 22, 1880; Ray, born March 8, 1889; and Katie, born
Aug. 11, 1891. (e) Wayne J. was born March 15, 1844. (f) Jacob Z.,
born June 6, 1846, married Harriet Boyer Oct. 30, 1869 and had
issue: Francis, born March 14, 1873, who married Kate Hain and had
issue, Margaret. (g) William W. was born Aug. 1848.

(3) Charles Weigley, born Oct. 15, 1815, married (first) Sarah
Moore, daughter of Adam Moore and his wife Barbara. He was a
prosperous farmer. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. Though
quiet and unostentatious in manner, he wielded considerable
influence in his township. He and his wife had issue: (a) Emeline
M., born Dec. 22, 1837, died March 1, 1854. (b)

Jonathan W. is mentioned at length below. (c)
Annie C., born April 18, 1844, married John M. Holstein Aug. 3,
1867, and had issue: Thomas, born July 22, 1868; and Elmer, born
June 19, 1870, married to Minnie Hartman, and residing at Millbach.
(d) Wellington, born Oct. 1, 1846, died June 10, 1860. (e) Amanda,
born Dec. 25, 1847, resides with her niece, Miss Lizzie R. Weigley.
(f) Walker, born Dec. 6, 1851, married Mary Weik, and lives at
Stouchsburg. They had issue: Ida, born Nov. 13, 1875 who married
(first) Abraham Gruttis and had issue ? Lulu (born Dec. 3, 1893)
and Charles (born Feb. 10, 1895, and married (second) in 1902
Thomas Schoedler, by whom she has Harry, Born Oct. 10, 1902;
Morris, born July 14, 1878, who married Lillie Heckeman, Dec. 27,
1902, and had Irene E., born March 4, 1908; and Carrie, born Nov.
17, 1887, residing with her parents. (g) Pierce married Adda
Shealer and resides at Lebanon. They had issue: Elmer, Miles (both
married); Charles (deceased), June (residing at home), Charles
Weigley married (second) Hettie Walter, born March 12, 1819, died
Oct. 24, 1894; she is buried at Millbach.

(4) William W. Weigley, born Jan. 1, 1818, at Millbach, Lebanon
county, Pa., married Jan. 18, 1841, Anna Rex, youngest daughter of
Abraham Rex, of Schaefferstown. Their children are: (a) Rex, born
Feb. 12, 1842, married in September, 1865, Mary Borthwick, of
Philadelphia, and they had issue: Sophie B., born Oct. 30, 1866,
who died April 18, 1876; Annie R., born March 18, 1868; William B.,
born May 30, 1869; Rex, born March 23, 1876; Robert B., born Feb.
11, 1879, who died April 17, 1882; and Jessie, born March 13, 1880,
who died April 27, 1882. (b) William Wallace, born at
Schaefferstown, Pa., Aug. 4, 1843; a graduate of Franklin and
Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., class of 1862; admitted to the
Philadelphia Bar in June, 1867; was cashier of the United States
Custom House in 1872-1873; and has been engaged in the practice of
law in Philadelphia, where he now resides. He married, June 15,
1870, Mary S. Forney, eldest daughter of the late Hon. John W.
Forney, of Philadelphia. (c) Anna Isadore, Born at Schaefferstown,
Pa., Sept. 15, 1847, married July 26, 1877, Theodore D. Griswold,
of St. Joseph, Mo., and had issue: Ray, born Sept. 15, 1878, who is
married.

(5) Allen Weigley, born July 24, 1821 at Millbach, Lebanon Co.,
Pa., married Nov. 8, 1857, Ann Elizabeth English, of Jonestown, Pa.
Allen died Jan. 23, 1897. They had children: Robert E., born April
14, 1859, who was admitted to the Lebanon county Bar in 1883; Sue
S., born March 17, 1861; William Wallace, born Nov. 25, 1863, now
deceased; Katharine D., born April 13, 1865; and Richard W., born
July 6, 1867, married to Amanda Fessler and residing at Lebanon.

(6) Caroline, born Oct. 4, 1823, died April 1, 1903. She was
married to David Moyer, of Millbach, Lebanon Co., Pa., and had
issue: Morris M. born in 1850, married to Elizabeth Noll (their
children are Paul, Horace, married to Florence Smaltz, and Frank,
living with his parents at Millbach); Ada D. born in 1863, married
to Sam Fisher, and residing at Reading; and Robert, born in 1865,
who married Annie Miller, and had issue Daniel (he resides at
Millbach).

(7) Lucy Ann, born Oct. 8, 1825, married Daniel Pennypacker, of
Lancaster county, both now deceased. They had issue: Amelia W.,
married to Joseph Brubaker of Lebanon county, Pa., by whom she had
Ella, Charles, Retten and Robert.

(8) Henrietta, born April 2, 1828, married Michael M. Moore, of
Millbach, Lebanon Co, Pa., and died April 21, 1902. Their children
are: Miller, born in 1853, married to Emma R. Smith; Jonathan W.,
born in 1855, married to Mary R. Kaufman (issue, Elsie, residing
with her parents at Sheridan, Lebanon Co., Pa.); and Andrew, born
in 1857, married to Fannie Frank (had issue, Gertrude, married to
Jerome Miller and residing at Reading).

(9) Oliver Weigley, born Oct. 23, 1830, died March 3, 1874. He
married Ella Jones, of Baltimore Md. (who is now deceased). And had
issue, Elizabeth, who is now deceased.

(10) John A. Weigley, born July 22, 1832, married Oct. 19, 1858,
Sabina S. Meiser, who died Friday March 29, 1889. John died Jan. 6,
1892. Their children are: Westa M., born Sept. 11, 1859; Emma S.,
born May 4, 1865; and Wallron W., born March 1, 1868, who married
Amy Emerich and had issue, Early (died Oct. 16, 1900, aged six
years, two months, seven days), Charles (died April 1, 1901, aged
two years, eleven months, one day), Catharine and Helen (residing
with their parents at Richland).

Jonathan W. Weigley, son of Charles, was born
Aug. 27, 1839, at Schaefferstown, Lebanon Co., Pa., and died April
2, 1907. For many years he engaged in farming until 1893, when he
brought his family to the home in which they now reside. His
education was begun in the district schools and completed in a
school at the Trappe, in Montgomery county, Pa., now known as
Ursinus College, at Collegeville. He was a man of intelligence and
was of great influence in his vicinity. He was a firm upholder of
Democratic principles and actively interested in the success of his
party, being honored with a number of local offices while living in
Jackson township, Lebanon county. He owned a valuable farm of 117
acres in that township, formerly his father’s farm on which in 1895
he erected a large barn; Daniel Haag of Millersburg had the
contract. He also put up good shedding and otherwise improved the
property. He was a member of Tulpehocken Reformed Church, and at
his death was buried in the cemetery there.

In 1865 Jonathan W. Weigley was married to Emma
E. Kilmer, daughter of Israel and Lovina (Batdorf) Kilmer. The only
child of this union was Miss Lizzie R., who is a graduate of the
Bloomsburg State Normal School, class of 1901. She has taught five
terms in the public schools in Marion township and is most
successful, her own love of learning inspiring her pupils to steady
effort. The Weigley home contains a number of relics, a
grandfather’s clock which belonged to the great-great-grandmother
of Miss Lizzie, also a chair that belonged to the family that owned
the clock.

WEIL,
MORRIS

p. 1654

Surnames: WEIL, LEVY, WEITZENKORN, FEIN, HORNBERGER

Morris Weil born in the city of Reading, Pa., June 9, 1862, son of
Solomon and Rosa (Levy) Weil.

Solomon Weil, the father of Morris, was a
merchant in the city of Reading. He was an orthodox Hebrew, and
took great pride in his race and in the affairs of Temple Oheb
Sholem, of which he was one of the principal founders and
supporters. He was born in 1830, at Oberlust, Bavaria, and died in
the city of Reading, Pa., Dec. 9, 1900, aged seventy years. Being
ambitious and courageous, and perceiving the great opportunities
offered by this country, he immigrated to America when but twenty
years of age. From the beginning of his career until the time of
his death he was actively identified with the business of this
city. He was at different times engaged in various lines of
business, but the greater portion of his life was spent in the
clothing business on Penn Square, between Fifth and Sixth streets,
in the city of Reading. He was married to Rosa Levy, born at
Bozebach, near Kaiserslautern, on the Rhine. From this union sprang
these children, namely; Jacob, died in 1896, aged thirty-eight
years; Abraham, died in 1892, aged twenty-four years, two that died
in early infancy; Benjamin, a jeweler located in Philadelphia;
Joseph, a pharmacist, formerly located at No. 67 Wall street, New
York City, now engaged in brokerage and general promotion;
Henrietta, wife of Levi Weitzenkorn, merchant, residing at No. 534
Centre avenue, Reading; Ella, wife of Henry Fein, wholesale
jeweler, No. 49 Maiden Lane, New York City; and Morris, the subject
of this biography.

Morris Weil was educated in the public schools.
He began his business life under the eye of his father, learning
the art of cutting, in the clothing store of Mr. Weil, Sr. Having
mastered this trade, he sought a location in which to start in
business for himself, but after being a salesman in Greenville,
Mich., Shenandoah, Shamokin and Harrisburg, Pa., he returned to
Reading. He next spent five years as a traveling salesman of
trousers, covering Pennsylvania, for his brother Jacob. Quitting
the road, he established himself in the retail clothing business,
in the year 1889, at No. 642 Penn street, Reading. This business
proved profitable from the start, and at the end of thirteen years
he retired, selling his business to J. S. Hornberger on Feb. 11,
1902.

Being of an observing turn of mind, he had for
years been familiarizing himself with the values of real estate in
this city. Upon retiring from business, finding himself without any
regular occupation, he began the buying of real estate for
speculative purposes. He rapidly increased his holdings, and he is
now, while living at his ease in a semi-retired manner, in constant
touch with the men and conditions that affect the real estate
market. His judgment is valued, and his foresight and ability are
recognized by all the men in this branch of business.

Mr. Weil is unmarried, a member of Temple Oheb
Sholem, a charter member of Reading Aerie, No. 66, of the Fraternal
Order of Eagles, one of the founders of the Eagles’ Mountain Home,
and a member of numerous other social and charitable organizations.
In politics he is an independent voter.

WEILER,
JOHN

p. 519

Surnames: WEILER, ROSENTHAL, HANSEN

John Weiler, publisher of the Reading Post, the Deutsche Eiche’ and
Die Biene, is one of the best-known men in newspaper circles in
Reading. He was born April 17, 1852, in Essingen, Oberamt Aalen,
Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, and was educated in the common and
high schools of his native land. After several years employment in
the post-office at Stuttgart, he came to America in 1872, and in
the same year entered the service of William Rosenthal, at that
time the owner of the Reading Post, as collector. He then, after a
short time, became a reporter, then editor, then manager, and
finally for the past fifteen years he has had general supervision
of the establishment. In June, 1908, he purchased the Reading Post
printing establishment from Mr. Rosenthal, and in less than one
year, after making great improvements, the business had been more
than doubled. The Post had been published for forty years when it
came into the possession of Mr. Weiler. It is the oldest German
daily paper in the State of Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh, and its readers include all classes of the German
speaking population, by whom it is regarded as the best public
medium of communication.

Mr. Weiler also publishes two other papers-Die
Biene is a weekly containing entertaining and instructive matter
for the numerous subscribers; and the Deutsche Eiche is the organ
of the German Order of Harugari, and is an eight-page weekly edited
personally by Mr. Weiler.

Notwithstanding the vast and responsible work
entailed by the publication of three papers, Mr. Weiler has always
had some time to spare for matters of public interest, and he has
taken great pride in the development of his adopted town, and he
has given much time to furthering the interests of the city. He is
an active member of the Reading Press Club, and has officiated as
its president for several terms, and he is also connected with all
the German organizations in the city, and is a member of Teutonia
Lodge, No. 367, F. & A. M., which he has served as master.

Over thirty years ago Mr. Weiler was married to
Miss Louise Hansen, who died in 1907. He has three sons: Philip A.,
owner of the Keystone Electric Company; George Fred, an electrical
engineer; and Harry H., associated with his father and thoroughly
interested in newspaper work.

WEIS, SAMUEL
S.

p. 602

Surnames: WEIS, LANDIS, EHST, LONGACRE, SHELLY, WISE, MOYER,
HAUSMAN, JOHNSON, STAUFER, BEER, UPDEGROFF, WORSTLER, BROOKER

Samuel S. Weis, a farmer on the Weis homestead in Earl township,
Berks county, near the Colebrookdale township line, was born Sept.
15, 1836, on the farm on which he now resides.

Killian Weis, Sr., his grandfather, was born
Dec. 15, 1751, and died Feb. 16, 1840, and was buried in the old
cemetery at the Hereford Mennonite Church at Bally of which he and
his wife were members. In the Federal census of 1790 he was
recorded as a taxable resident of Upper Milford township,
Northampton county (a district now embraced in Lehigh county) and
as the head of a family consisting of himself, his wife Catharine
(nee Landis) and six sons, Jacob, John, George, Henry, Killian
(father of Samuel S.) and Samuel (three of whom were under sixteen
years of age), and three daughters, Anna (m. John Ehst), Kate (m.
Henry Shelly), and Hannah (m. Isaac Longacre).

In Upper Milford township, in what is now Lehigh
county, there also lived Jacob Weis, brother of Killin, Sr., who
was the owner and proprietor of the old Weis’s mill, now known as
Kreibel’s mill, in Lower Milford township. In 1790 he had two sons
and three daughters.

Killian Weis, son of Killian, Sr., was born Jan.
21, 1788, and died Dec. 23, 1874. He was a life-long farmer, and in
1819 bought the Ehst farm now occupied by his son Samuel S. This
farm consists of 100 acres of fertile hilly land, on which is found
a high grade of magnetic ore. The Berks Development Company has
sunk a number of shafts and has found a good grade of ore. Killian
Weis also owned the farm now owned by his grandson, Frank Weis. His
name has been spelled Weis and Wise. He married Barbara Shelly,
born Jan. 31, 1796, and died June 20, 1886. Their children, seven
sons and two daughters were: Jacob, born Feb. 9, 1825, died Aug.
10, 1899; Catharine and Franklin, twins, born March 2, 1826, of
whom Catharine died Oct. 12, 1849, and Franklin Jan. 19, 1888;
Henry, born 1827, died June 24, 1908; Killian, born 1828, died
April 29, 1904; Joel, born 1830, died young; John, born 1852, died
Feb. 28, 1899; Elizabeth, born 1834, died Sept. 26, 1908; and
Samuel S. is the only survivor.

Of these children only two married, Jacob and
Killian. John, Henry, Frank, Elizabeth and Samuel S. spent their
lives on the old homestead. In politics they were all Democrats.
They were steadfast believers in the Mennonite faith, and belong to
the Mennonite Church at Boyertown, where the parents are buried.
The earlier generations lie in the Hereford burial ground at Bally.

Jacob Weis, son of Killian and brother Samuel
S., born in 1825, died Aug. 10, 1899. He was a farmer in
Colebrookdale township. He married Elizabeth Moyer, daughter of
Michael Moyer, and she died in 1900, aged eight-three years. They
had two children: Elizabeth, born April 8, 1857, m. Jan. 28, 1882
Oscar K. Hausman, of Colebrookdale, and has three sons and one
daughter—Morris W. (born Aug. 12, 1882), Edward (Jan. 3, 1890),
Jacob (Aug. 12, 1893) and Lizzie (June 22, 1896); and Kate, born
May 21, 1859, has since 1906 been the home maker for her uncle
Samuel S. (she is an active worker in the Mennonite Church). Morris
W. Hausman married Sept. 6, 1902, Catharine Johnson, and has two
sons, Monroe and Elmer.

Killian Weis, son of Killian and brother of
Samuel S., born 1828, died April 29, 1904, married Sarah Staufer,
daughter of William Staufer, and they have had two sons and one
daughter: Lizzie, born July, 1858, m. Samuel Beer, and died in
April, 1892; Frank, born Dec. 1859, m. Marry Updegroff, and had one
son Samuel, Jr. (born Sept. 11, 1886, m. Jan. 19, 1907, Lillie
Worstler and has two children, Samuel and Mary); and William, born
October, 1874, died in Feb., 1887.

Samuel S. Weis has passed all his life on the
farm that is now his home, never having been absent from it more
than one week at a time. In politics he is a Democrat, and has
twice been delegate from Earl township to the county conventions.
He adheres to the Mennonite faith, belonging to the church at
Boyertown. Mr. Weis, though seventy-three years old is a very
active man, and is an excellent farmer. He has an old grandfather’s
clock, made by John Brooker, of Germantown in 1789, which still
keeps good time, and is in fine condition. Mr. Weis has never
married. As stated above his niece, Kate, daughter of his brother
Jacob, has kept house for him since 1906.

WEISER,
ALVIN

p. 911

Surnames: WEISER, FENSTERMACHER, SMITH, SCHWOYER, HILBERT, GRIM,
SEIBERT, STOUT, KUTZ, HAAS, FISTER

Alvin Weiser, general farmer, residing on his excellent farm of
seventy-five acres, which is situated in Maxatawny township, was
born on the farm on which he lives in Berks county, Pa., April 12,
1863, son of William and Sallie N. (Feinstermacher) Weiser.

William Weiser was born April 12, 1825, on the
farm above mentioned, and died here June 24, 1900. He was a
prominent farmer, owning 115 acres of valuable land and he made
many excellent improvements, building the comfortable residence in
which his last years were spent after he retired from active
pursuits. For a considerable time he was a partner in the firm of
Schweyer & Leiss, in the marble business. For many years he was
an elder in the Christ Reformed Church at Bowers. In politics he
was a strong Democrat, and on many occasions he served on the
township school board. He married a daughter of David and Rebecca
(Smith) Fenstermacher, who died June 27, 1906, aged eight-four
years, seven months and eight days. The children born to William
Weiser and wife were as follows: (1) Leanda, born March 19, 1847,
died Nov. 27, 1908. She married Francis J. Schwoyer, and they had
children: Eliza, William, Eugene, Cyraneus, Endora, Astor and Neda.
(2) Alfred, born July 24, 1849, married Amanda Hilbert, and died
leaving two children, Edwin and Elizabeth. (3) David A., born March
12, 1852, was accidentally killed in a stone quarry, at Bowers,
March 12, 1873. He was unmarried. (4) Cyraneus B., born Feb. 19,
1854, was accidentally killed in a mine explosion in Colorado, Jan.
7, 1892. He was not married. (5) Hannah R., born June 22, 1856,
married Reuben L. Smith and resides in Rockland township. They had
three children, Harry, Helen, and Harvey. (6) Oliver W., born July
26, 1858, resides with his sister Mrs. John D. Grim, at Bowers
Station. He is foreman for the firm of Schweyer & Leiss. (7)
Allen, born Jan. 28, 1861, died Dec. 13, 1863. (8) Alvin. (9) Ellen
S. A., born March 19, 1865, died July 17, 1866. (10) Amanda P.,
born Sept. 9, 1867, married John D. Grim, residing at Bowers
Station, and they have three children, William E., Sallie M. and
George A.

Alvin Weiser attended the township schools
through boyhood and always remained assisting his father on the
home farm. In 1901 he bought seventy-five acres of the farm, made
an addition to the house and made improvements all over the place.
The substantial barn was built by his father in 1877. Mr. Weiser
has an excellent location, being but a short distance from Bowers
Station, making the transportation of his products and commodities
a comparatively easy matter. This farm was known as the old Jacob
Seibert farm and it became the property of Hannah Stout,
grandmother of Alvin Weiser. A barn built in 1814 was rebuilt in
1877 by Mr. Weiser, and a house built in 1813 still stands, having
been improved by Mr. Weiser.

In 1889, Alvin Weiser married Evella Kutz,
daughter of David F. and Caroline (Haas) Kutz, and a granddaughter
of Daniel and Catherine Fister. Mr. and Mrs. Weiser have the
following children: Edgar D., Minnie E., George W., Paul A., Mary
E., Annie E., and Lillian C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weiser are members
of Christ Reformed Church at Bowers, in which he has served as
deacon. In politics he is a Democrat, and on that ticket served on
the township election board, and in 1904 was elected a member of
the school board of which he was made president and treasurer. He
belongs to Lodge No. 634, I. O. O. F., at Lyon.

WEISER,
CONRAD

p. 330

Surnames: WEISER, MUHLENBERG, FINKER

Conrad Weiser was the most prominent historical character in the
county of Berks previous to 1760. His great prominence arose from
his intimate connection with the provincial government of
Pennsylvania for thirty years. He was the principal judge of Berks
county from 1752 to 1760. He was born Nov. 2, 1696, at Afstaedt, a
small village in the County of Herrenberg, in Wurtemberg, Germany,
and there he acquired a general education, which included the
principles of the Christian religion according to the catechism of
Martin Luther. Whilst in his fourteenth year he immigrated with his
father and family (which included himself and seven other children)
to New York, landing June 17, 1710. At that time several thousand
Germans were sent to America by Queen Anne. Shortly after their
arrival they were removed to Livingston Manor by the Governor of
New York, to burn tar and cultivate hemp to defray the expenses
incurred by Queen Anne in conveying them from Holland to England
and from England to America. They labored till 1713 in this
employment under the direction of commissioners; then, finding that
they were existing under a form of bondage, they protested against
the treatment and this affected their release. About 150 families
of them, including the Weiser family, removed to Schoharie, forty
miles west of Albany. Whilst spending the winter of 1713-14 at
Schenectady, the elder Weiser was frequently visited by an Indian
chief of the Mohawk tribe, and during one of these visits the chief
proposed to Conrad to visit the Mohawk country and learn the
language of that tribe. This proposition was agreed to. Conrad
Weiser was in his eighteenth year when he went to live with the
Indians. He was a strong young man, but all of his strength was
necessary to endure the sufferings which he was compelled to
undergo whilst living with them. He had scarcely clothing
sufficient to cover his body during the winter of that trying year.
Besides much suffering, he was frequently threatened with death by
the Indians during a state of intoxication. In July 1714, he
returned to his father’s home at Schoharie. In this time he had
acquired a considerable knowledge of the Mohawk language, and while
at home he increased this knowledge by acting as interpreter
between the German settlers of that vicinity and the Mohawk
Indians. The settlers having been disturbed in their possessions,
Conrad Weiser’s father and a number of others migrated to
Pennsylvania. They located in Tulpehocken in the spring of 1723, in
the midst of the Indians; and there they also commenced the
improvements of the land without permission from the land
commissioners. The Indians complained but the settlers were not
disturbed. Subsequently the Indians released their rights and about
1733 they removed beyond the Blue Mountains.

Conrad Weiser was married to a young woman of
Schoharie in 1720. He continued at that place till 1729, when with
his wife and five children he removed to the Tulpehocken
settlement, locating on a tract of land near the present borough of
Womelsdorf. Shortly after his arrival, his ability and success as
an Indian interpreter became known to the Provincial government,
and the Governor employed him in negotiation with the Indians. His
first services in this capacity were performed in 1731, and from
that time for nearly thirty years he was almost constantly engaged
in this important work. He assisted at numerous treaties, and in
the published proceedings of these treaties his name appears
prominently. His integrity was particularly recognized and publicly
complimented.

He was one of the most prominent men in the
French and Indian War. His numerous letters indicate his zeal,
courage and patriotism. He served in the war as a colonel, and his
services were of great value to the government and to the people of
Berks county.

The first proceedings for the erection of Berks
county were instituted in 1738. In this behalf Mr. Weiser was very
active, and he continued active till the county was established in
1752. The town of Reading was laid out by the Penn’s in 1748, and
in the sale of the town lots Mr. Weiser acted as one of the
commissioners. He was prominently identified with the first
movements in building up the town, and in developing the business
interests of the place.

The Governor of the Province, in 1741, appointed
him as a justice of the peace, and he filled this office for a
number of years. When the county was erected in 1752, he was
appointed one of the first judges. He acted as president judge of
the courts till his decease in 1760. He lived at Reading mostly
during the latter part of his life.

Conrad Weiser died on his Heidelberg farm July
13, 1760, and his remains were buried in a private burying ground
on the place, where they have remained since. He left a widow and
seven children: five sons, Philip, Frederick, Peter, Samuel, and
Benjamin: and two daughters, Maria (m. Rev. Henry Melchoir
Muhlenberg), and Margaret (m. a Finker). He was possessed of a
large estate, consisting of properties at Reading, and lands in
Heidelberg township and in the region of country beyond the Blue
Mountains. In Heidelberg he owned a tract which included the
privilege of a “Court-Baron,” granted to him in 1743, the tract
having originally contained 5,165 acres as granted to John Page in
1735, and having then been erected into a manor, called the ‘Manor
of Plumton.” At Reading one of his properties was a business stand,
and it has continued to be a prominent business location from that
time till now, a period embracing over 150 years.

For upward of fifth years, various unsuccessful
efforts were made in behalf of erecting a suitable memorial to
Conrad Weiser. In 1892 and 1893, the compiler of this history
delivered a lecture before local teachers’ institutes in different
parts of the county entitled “Life and Times of Conrad Weiser” for
the purpose of securing a memorial, and the Reading Board of Trade
led the school authorities of the county to set aside November 2,
1893, for an observance by the teachers and scholars as “Weiser
Day”, and to facilitate this observance 3500 copies of the lecture
were distributed gratuitously to all the schools of the city and
county. It was not until October 30, 1907, that a modest tablet was
placed in the west wall of the Stichter Hardware Store on Penn
Square by the Historical Society of Berks County, which reads as
follows:

WEISNER, JONATHAN A.

p.
1691

Surnames: WEISNER, ZIMMERMAN, MCCLELLAND, YERGER, LAUB, REICHARD,
YERGY, WAGONHORST, DIETRICH, SMITH, WANNER, HEFFNER, SCHAEFFER,
OLDT, MOYER, ADAM, FAUST

Jonathan A. Weisner, a farmer and implement dealer at Kempton,
Albany township, Berks county, was born in that township May 1,
1870, son of Nathan and Mary A. (Zimmerman) Weisner.

The Weisner family has long been settled in
Pennsylvania. John Weisner was a Ranger of the Frontier from
Northampton county, Pa., between 1778-83, in John McClelland’s
Company. One Godfrey Weisner in 1829, lived in Lehigh county, and
was seventy-four years old; he was a pensioned soldier of the
Revolutionary War. In 1744, in Philadelphia county, lived David
Weisner who owned 100 acres of land, and is said to be a pioneer of
the family now located about Pottstown, Pennsylvania. In 1769, in
Philadelphia county, lived George Weisner who owned 160 acres of
land; and one Leonard Weisner who paid a Proprietary Tax on 100
acres of land. In 1783 the Thomas Weisner Estate was assessed in
Falls township, Berks county, Pa. In 1786, one Matthias Weisner was
assessed from Lower Makefield township, Berks county, Pa. Jacob
Weisner in 1758 paid a tax on 100 acres of land.

Heinrich Weisner, great-grandfather of Jonathan
A., lived in Douglass township, Montgomery county. He was an
undertaker and farmer, and died in 1809 aged about thirty-seven
years, and is buried at the Swamp Church, in Montgomery county. He
married Catharine Yerger, who is buried at Huff’s Church. She
married for her second husband John Laub. To Heinrich and Catharine
Weisner were born children as follows: George, located in
Northumberland county, Pa.; Lydia, m. to George Reichard; Rachel,
m. to Ezra Yergy; Rebecca, m. to Charles Wagonhorst; Henry, who
died small; Jonas, m. to Sallie Dietrich; Samuel (died in
Montgomery county, aged fifty-nine years), m. to Sarah Smith of
Montgomery county, and had Catharine (who is blind and lives at
Pottstown), Matthias (of Pottstown) and Mary (m. John Wanner, of
the Trappe).

Jonas Weisner, son of Heinrich, was born in
Douglass township, Montgomery county, Pa., Dec. 15, 1806, and
before his marriage located in Greenwich township, Berks county.
Here he was married to Sallie Dietrich, daughter of Michael
Dietrich. She was born Jan. 6, 1810, and died Jan. 25, 1895. Jonas
Weisner was a life long prosperous farmer, and for many years
operated the Weisner farm at Round Top, which consisted of upward
of 120 acres. He was a shoemaker by trade, and made his own shoes
and those for his own family. He died on Jan. 24, 1892. To him and
his wife were born the following children: Henry (1833-1906); Jonas
(1835-1855); Mary Ann, m. to William Zimmerman; Samuel m. to Mary
Schaeffer; Nathan; Willoughby, m. to Amelia Oldt, and living at
Steins Corner, Pa.; David, m. to Ellen Moyer; Lydia, m. to Alfred
Dietrich.

Nathan Weisner, son of Jonas, is a farmer at the
Round Top, in Albany township. He was born Oct. 3, 1841, and was
reared to farm life, spending his youth on the Weisner farm, on the
North side of Round Top. This farm has been in the Weisner name
since 1835. It formerly was a Miller stand, and later was owned by
Michael Dietrich, who sold it to Jonas Weisner, his son-in-law.
Nathan Weisner attended the old German pay school which was held in
the homes of different families. He worked for his parents until he
was twenty-one years of age and was then hired out four years. When
he was twenty-five years old he began farming where he has ever
since lived. His farm consists of 130 acres of fertile land. This
was the original Anthony Adam homestead, and was one of the first
settled districts. It came in the Weisner name in 1867. Mr. Weisner
built the brick residence in 1879, and the barn in 1881. In
politics he is a Democrat. He and his family are Lutheran members
at Wessnerville (Friedens) Church. He was married in 1867 to Mary
Ann Zimmerman, daughter of Michael Zimmerman, of Albany township.
She was born June 12, 1842, and died Aug. 5, 1899. Their children
were: Emma T., who died small; Jonathan A.; Amundus A., of
Glassboro, N. J.; and Miss Senora, at home.

Jonathan A. Weisner was reared near Round Top,
in Albany township and worked for his parents until he was
twenty-eight years old. He was educated in the common schools, and
in 1894 began dealing in implements which he has kept up ever
since, handling the products of the McCormick and the International
Harvester Company. In 1901 he purchased the Isaac Faust farm, near
Kempton. This farm consists of seventy-five acres of fertile land
located near the mouth of the Manor Brook, and is now known as
Manor Brook Farm. The soil is good potato land, and Mr. Weisner
plants from ten to fifteen acres in that vegetable. Iron pyrites,
cement and limestone are found on this farm. The present stone
house was built in 1829 by Sebastian Faust, and has one of the most
substantial walls in the county. The barn was built by Isaac Faust
on of Sebastian during the sixties. Mr. Weisner has his place in
fine condition, and the surroundings ware very beautiful. He is a
Democrat in his political faith and he and his family are Lutheran
members of Friedens Church at Wessnersville. Fraternally he belongs
to the Order of Independent Americans, No. 544, at Kempton.

In September, 1899, Mr. Weisner was m. to Mary
E. Heffner, of Virginsville, Pa. They have one daughter, Annie E.

WELLER, EMANUEL M.

p.
1402

Surnames: WELLER, MOYER, HEYDT, HOUCK, JOHNSON, HERB, BENFIELD,
MUTHART, GESCHWINDT, ESCHBACH, LESHER, BERKEY, SWAVELY, GREIS,
BECHTEL

Emanuel M. Weller, a farmer near Hill Church, in Pike township,
Berks county, was born in that township, Jan. 24, 1865, son of
Emanuel and Sallie (Moyer) Weller.

Philip Weller, grandfather of Emanuel M., was a
resident in District township, where he was engaged in burning
charcoal and in cultivating a small tract of land. He married
Rebecca Heydt, a sister of Jacob Heydt. Both Philip Weller and his
wife are buried in the graveyard at Hill Church. Their children
were: Julia, who died unmarried; Emanuel; Henry, m. to Mary Houck;
Rebecca, who is unmarried and is in her eighty-third year; Adam,
unmarried; Jonathan, m. to Sallie Johnson; Ishmael, m. to Catharine
Herb; and Polly, m. to George Benfield.

Emanuel Weller, son of Philip and Rebecca, was
born in the vicinity of Landis Store in District township March 25,
1821, and he died Feb. 20, 1897, on his seventy-six acre farm Feb.
20. 1897. He was a life-long farmer. He was a Reformed member of
Hill Church and was regular in his attendance at divine service. In
middle life he cut his left foot with an ax, necessitating the
amputation of the foot above the ankle. He wore a wooden leg. About
1851 Emanuel Weller married Sallie Moyer, daughter of Jacob and
Rebecca (Muthart) Moyer. She was born Sept. 9, 1831, and lives near
Hill Church. They had ten children, namely: Jonathan, m. to Hannah
Moyer; Rebecca, m. to John Eschbach; Malinda, m. to Peter
Geschwindt, who died 1900; Mary, m. to William Eschbach; Sarah, m.
to Willoughby Herb; Nathan N., m. to Ellen Lesher; Adam, an
invalid; Emanuel M.; Joel, m. to Rosa Berkey, and Hettie, m. to
Mahlon Swavely.

Emanuel M. Weller was educated in the township
schools, and early became familiar with farm work. He began farming
for himself in the spring of 1889, in Colebrookdale township and
lived there on a thirty-eight acre farm two years. He then moved to
Montgomery county on a 110-acre farm and farmed it for two years.
From the late place he went to Oley, where he lived but one year,
when he bought one of the old Moyer farms in Pike township near
Hill Church. This consists of 220 acres, and belonged to Jacob
Moyer, his grandfather. Mr. Weller bought it from the estate of
Isaac Moyer, and he has since made a number of improvements to the
buildings, and now has an up-to-date and valuable farm. He is one
of the successful farmers in the township and is one of the largest
milk shippers in the district. He is also an agent for fertilizer
and sells annually several car loads.

In his political faith Mr. Weller is a Democrat,
and was a school director for six years, serving the board as
treasurer. He is a member of Knights of Golden Eagle, of Manatawny,
and of Council No. 1007, Order American Mechanics. He and his
family attend Hill Church, belonging to the Reformed congregation.
He is a member of the Church choir.

On Feb. 13, 1886, Mr. Weller was married to
Sallie Greis, daughter of John and Eliza (Lesher) Greis, of
Longswamp township. She was born Feb. 11, 1867, and died April 26,
1907, and is buried in Hill Church cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Weller
had thirteen children, as follows: Warren W. G., Clyde S., Ralph
W., Verna G., Vergie V., Earl P., Emanuel G., Norman N., Herbert H.
and four died young.

Nathan N, Weller, son of Emanuel and Sallie
(Moyer) and brother of Emanuel M., was born Sept. 20, 1860. He is a
farmer in Pike township, near Hill Church, where he has a
ninety-four-acre farm, which was a Moser tract. On Dec. 13, 1885,
he married Ellen Lesher, and they had seven children: Mame, who
died in 1908, aged twenty-one years, was the wife of Elmer Bechtel;
Herbert is deceased; Robert; Elsie; Lloyd; Leon and Russell.

WELLER,
HARVEY H.

p. 1421

Surnames: WELLER, DOTTERER, HEYDT, HOFFMAN, JOHNSON, HOUCK, SNYDER

Harvey H. Weller, who succeeded his father-in-law, John Dotterrer,
as proprietor of the store and hotel stand at Hill Church, in Pike
township, was born in District township, Berks county, April 26,
1881, son of Israel and Mary (Heydt) Weller. His education was
acquired in the common schools of District township, and his
practical training for life’s responsibilities was gained on the
home farm.

In 1902 he came to Hill Church, where he worked
one year for John Dotterrer in the store, hotel and on the farm. He
began farming in the spring of 1904 for himself, on his
father-in-law’s farm east of Hill Church. This was a ninety-acre
tract and he cultivated it for three years. Mr. Dotterrer died at
the end of that time, and Mr. Weller became the proprietor of the
Store and the hotel the following year, 1908. He carries a full
line of general merchandise and is also the postmaster of Hill
Church post-office. He operates the farm of fifty-three acres,
connected with the store and hotel property. The Hill Church store
and hotel building is an old landmark. The house is over 100 years
old, but it was remodeled by Mr. Welter in the summer of 1909.

In political principle, Mr. Weller is a
Republican. He has served as treasurer of the supervisors of the
township. He and his wife are Reformed members of Hill Church.

Mr. Weller was married Feb. 22, 1902, to Hettie
Dotterrer, daughter of John Dotterrer (See sketch elsewhere). To
Mr. and Mrs. Weller have been born two children: Edna and Herbert.

Israel Weller, father of Harvey H., was born in
District township, where he still lives. He is a farmer, in
partnership with his brother Isaac owning three farms, comprising
283 acres. He is connected with Hill Church, being a member of the
Reformed congregation. He married Mary Heydt, daughter of Benjamin
Heydt, of Washington township, and they have two children: Ammon,
who lives on one of Israel Weller’s farms, married Minerva Hoffman,
and has three children, Allen, Cora and Leroy; and Harvey H.

George Weller, father of Israel and grandfather
of Harvey H., was born Jan. 2, 1791, and died May 19. 1867, and is
buried at Hill Church. He was a resident of District township,
where he lived on the Weller homestead, and carried on farming. His
first wife was Elizabeth Johnson, who was born March 20, 1798, and
died Jan. 12, 1875, and is buried in the graveyard at Hill Church.
He m. (second) a Houck. His children were: Israel, Joseph, Isaac,
Adam, David, George and Caroline m. Reuben Snyder and lived in
District township.

WELLER, JOEL
H.

p. 509

Surnames: WELLER, HARTLEIN, WEISER, KEMP, FRONHEISER, STAUFFER,
BAHR, SHAUER, GABEL

Joel H. Weller, merchant and successful business man of Boyertown,
Berks Co., Pa., was born near Hill Church, Pike township, Oct. 29,
1849. The family history of the Wellers is very interesting and is
as follows:

(1) Peter (he spelled the name “Peatter”) Weller came to America in
1749 from his native land, Germany, where he was born in the year
1720, and he located in District township. He died in 1795, aged
seventy-five years, and is buried at the Hill Church, his grave
being marked by a monument erected in 1890 by his descendants. The
monument was dedicated Aug. 24, 1890. Joel H. Weller and his
father, Gideon Weller, were the moving spirits in erecting the
monument to the memory of their honored ancestors, and it was their
earnest desire that the younger generations of the family should
assume the responsibility of the care of ground and monument. Peter
Weller had three sons: Philip, John Adam and Peter, Jr.

(II) Philip Weller had sons as follows: Abraham; John; Peter;
George; Philip, and Jacob. The two brothers of Philip had no issue.

(III) Abraham Weller had sons as follows: John, Samuel, Peter and
Abraham. John, brother of Abraham, and son of Philip, had these
sons: Adam; George; Benjamin; Joseph, and Peter. Peter, brother of
John and Abraham, had these sons: Charles; Jacob; Benjamin and
David.

(III) George Weller, son of Philip, had these sons: Thomas, Gideon
(father of Joel H. Weller), Israel, Joseph, David, Adam, George and
Isaac.

(IV) Gideon Weller was born in District township on the Weller
homestead, Dec. 13, 1821, died Jan. 5, 1909, aged 87 years, 22
days, and was buried at Hill Church. He lived in Pike township near
Hill Church, on his farm of 100 acres, and during his active live
he was a farmer. But he had been confined to his bed for some years
before his death. His first wife was Mary Hartlein, daughter of
George Hartlein, of Earl township. She died in 1872, aged
forty-four. Their children were: Joel H.; Daniel, of Pottstown;
Lewis, of Hill Church; Jessiah, of Hill Church; Mrs. Catherine
Weiser, of Boyertown; Mrs. Amanda Kemp, of Landis Store, Pa. He
married (second) Hettie Fronheiser, who died in 1898. By her he had
five children: Olivia; Lizzie; Alice; Sivilla and James. Since 1899
the Weller family has had re-unions, and the gatherings which take
place at Gideon Weller’s are occasions of much interest and
pleasurable enjoyment. The Weller family has long been identified
with District township, where George Weller, the grandfather of
Joel H. Weller, was born, as well as his son Gideon.

(V) Joel H. Weller attended the schools of his township for three
months each winter, and this constituted a term. During the rest of
the winter months he assisted his father by threshing with the
flail and chopping wood. In 1865 he learned the tailoring trade
from John Stauffer of Bechtelsville, and this he followed for
fifteen years at Boyertown, to which place he came in 1871. In 1888
he engaged in the general merchandise business on Philadelphia
avenue, where he has since continued, now controlling an excellent
trade not only from the people of Boyertown, but the territory
contiguous to it. He carries at all times a full line of general
merchandise, and because of his enormous amount of business and his
superior connections, he is enabled to offer specially attractive
inducements. In addition to his other interests Mr. Weller built
three houses at Boyertown in 1890, which are very handsome
residences.

In 1874 Mr. Weller married Miss Emma Bahr,
daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Shauer) Bahr, of Boyertown, and
they have two children: Mamie (m. Thomas Gabel, of Boyertown) and
Miss Olivia. Mr. Weller and his family are consistent members of
the Reformed Church of the Good Shepherd of Boyertown, where he has
served as deacon and elder. Formerly he was a member of Hill
Church. In 1874 when the church at Boyertown was built, Mr. Weller
collected $3,500 for it’s erection, and rendered the church very
valuable assistance, receiving the heartfelt thanks of the
congregation. He narrowly escaped with his life at the time of the
Boyertown Opera House fire Jan. 13, 1908, being the last to leave
the building alive: he was confined to the house for months with
the burns received, and has never fully regained his health. Mr.
Weller is a large-souled, capable, energetic man, whose capacity
for business and executive force is remarkable, as he demonstrated
when he carried through the erection of the new church home, and
the raising of the monument to the Weller family. Without him
neither would have been accomplished. He is never content with
merely subscribing to any undertaking, but gives largely of his
time and personal attention. In his business relations he is
affable, courteous, prompt in meeting all obligations, and in every
way has proven himself the right man in the right place whenever
his services have been required to carry on anything, whether of
public or private interest.

(V) Daniel Weller, brother of Joel H. , had children: Charles,
Willie, Warren and Paul (deceased)

(VI) Charles Weller, son of Daniel, has a son (VII) Earl– a
representative in the seventh generation of the family in America.

WELLS, LLEWELLYN U.

p.
761

Surnames: WELLS, HOOPES, PHILLIPS, FICHTHORN

Llewellyn U. Wells, who is in the grocery business at Reading, was
born near West Chester, Pa., Oct. 16, 1848, son of Isaac and Sidney
(Hoopes) Wells.

Isaac Wells was born Jan. 9, 1820, in Chester
county, and received his education in the schools of that locality.
When a young man he learned the carpenters trade, making a
specialty of stair building, becoming an expert and following this
occupation for a number of years throughout the eastern section of
the State. During his residence in Williamsport, Mr. Wells health
failed him, and he engaged in farming for a short time, and in 1858
located in Reading. Two years later he went to Lebanon county, and
subsequently settled for five years in Elizabethtown, Lancaster
county, where he remained until locating in Northumberland county,
and there continued to reside until 1869. In this year Mr. Wells
returned to Reading, where he made his home until his death in
1894. His wife was a daughter of Sidney Hoopes, a native of Chester
county, and a descendant of an old and prominent family. She died
in 1889, aged sixty-eight years, the mother of four children:
Olivia W.; Llewellyn U.; Anna, m. to William Phillips, deceased;
and John Westley, who died in infancy. The family were members of
the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Wells was a Republican.

Llewellyn U. Wells was educated in the schools
of Berks, Lebanon and Lancaster counties, and when a young man was
taught the trade of carpenter, which was the trade of his father,
and he followed this occupation for several years. In 1879 he
settled permanently in Reading, and turned his attention to
mercantile pursuits, engaging in business at the corner of Minor
and Laurel streets, where he remained one and a half years. At the
end of that time he located at the corner of Sixth and Laurel
streets, and here he was located until he sold out.

Mr. Wells was married Sept. 9, 1875, to Miss
Ella Fichthorn, daughter of William Fichthorn, and to this union
three children have been born: Irma, a teacher in the Reading
public schools; Aletha, who died aged nine years; and Clarence,
employed at the Dun Mercantile Agency, Reading. Mr. Wells is a
member of Vigilance Lodge No. 394, I. O. O. F., and of Reading
Encampment. In his political views he is a Republican. Mr. Wells
and his family are connected with the St. Peters M. E. Church, of
which he is now serving as steward.

WELLS,
WESLEY H.

p. 834

Surnames: WELLS, SPACKMAN, SWEENEY, GRISSINGER, SELTZER, RUSSELL

Wesley H. Wells (deceased), who for many years was one of Reading’s
well-known business men, a reliable carpenter and builder, was born
in Chester county, Pa., in 1822, son of Isaac and
Elizabeth(Spackman) Wells.

Isaac Wells was born April 13, 1774, and his
wife, Elizabeth Spackman, July 7, 1782, both in Chester county.
Their children were: Sidney, born Dec. 24, 1802, died unmarried,
Aug. 13, 1877; Jane, born Oct. 27, 1804, died unmarried, Sept. 22,
1825; Uriah, born April 6, 1807, died at Petersburg, Va., in 1864,
having been prominent in the iron business in the South during the
Civil War; Lavinia, born Dec. 21,1809, died May 8, 1893, in her
eighty-fourth year, the mother of Thomas W. Sweeney (mentioned
elsewhere); Thomas, born Aug. 5, 1812, was killed at a barn-raising
in Chester county; William, born Oct. 29, 1814, died Jan. 16, 1877;
Obed, born 1817, died in 1825; Isaac, born in 1820, died in 1894;
and Isaiah and Wesley H., twins, born Oct. 30, 1822. Isaac Wells,
the father, died in 1846, aged seventy-two years. In politics he
was a strong Whig. Although not members of the society both he and
his wife regularly attended Quaker meeting.

Wesley H. Wells learned the carpenter’s trade in
early life, and followed it with his brother Isaiah practically all
of his active period. The brothers came to Reading in 1847, and
they built many of the fine dwellings in this city, including
churches and schoolhouses as well as homes and places for business.
Isaiah Wells built St. Peter’s M. E. Church and the Second Reformed
Church. Wesley H. made a specialty of stair building when that
particular work was all done by hand. He later operated a planing
mill on Second street below Penn. In politics Mr. Wells was a
stanch Republican, and for twenty consecutive years he was assessor
of the Fourth ward in Reading. His private life was that of a most
worthy man in every relation. Fraternally he belonged to Mattamora
Lodge, I.O.O.F.

On July 4, 1850, Mr. Wells was married to Miss
Anna S. Grissinger, daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Seltzer)
Grissinger, the former of whom was a native of York county and the
latter of Lebanon county. They had one child, Mary E., born July
20, 1854, who died in 1879. Mrs. Wells is a member of St. Peter’s
M. E. Church. Isaiah Wells, brother of the late Wesley H. Wells,
married Mary Russell, and they had three children, viz: One child
who died in childhood; Charles W., a prominent corporation lawyer
of New York City, who has one son, Harry; and Ella, who resides
with her brother in New York.

It is sad to note that this family, so exemplary
and useful in former days, has almost all passed away. No city can
lose such residents without deep regret.