Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

MACHEMER, HENRY L.

p. 1624

Surnames: REBER, HETTIGER, RHOADS, LAMBERT, TOBIAS, HARTMAN, REEDY,
SMITH, SAVAGE, KOLLER

Henry L. Machemer of Bern township, a successful merchant and
farmer, was born in Lower Heidelberg township, June 13, 1852, and
is a son of David Machemer. Jacob Machemer, the grandfather, lived
in Lower Heidelberg township, about a mile northeast of
Brownsville. He was born Jan. 18, 1783, and died Sept. 27, 1863,
aged eighty years, seven months and nine days. He owned a small
farm, now known as the Jonathan Reber estate, in Lower Heidelberg
township, but he died at Tuckerton in Muhlenberg township, and is
buried at Bern Church. He was twice married, and among his children
were: Michael, who died in Heidelberg township; Ephraim. who died
at Sinking Spring in 1907; Jacob, who died young; Elizabeth, who
married Barnhart Hettinger ; David; and Caroline (Rhoads), who died
at Tuckerton in 1907. David Machemer was born in Lower Heidelberg
township. All of his life he followed farming, owning a small farm
which he cultivated. He died in June, 1875, aged fifty-four years.
He is buried at Bern Church, of which he was a member. He married
Mary Lambert (died in September, 1879, aged fifty-one years),
daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Tobias) Lambert. Their children
were: John, who has traveled through all the States in the Union
and has spent considerable time among the Indians, manufactures and
sells patent medicines, and is now in the West (he enlisted when
sixteen years of age and served three years in the Civil war) ;
Sarah (deceased, married Henry Hartman) ; Henry L.; James, who
lives in West Reading; Mary Ann; David; Charles; Reuben and George
who died young of diphtheria less than two years apart; Clara (who
died in 1909. married William Reedy of Reading); Rosa E. (widow of
Charles Smith, and resides in Reading) and Joseph who was killed in
a boiler explosion in 1888. Henry L. Machemer attended the public
schools of Lower Heidelberg township, working among the farmers
until he attained his majority. After this he worked by the day
until 1886 when he bought the old John Savage home, which at one
time was operated as a hotel, and for the building of which when a
boy of sixteen he helped to haul lumber. Connected with this
pleasant home Mr. Machemer owns twenty acres of good land, and once
a week he carries his produce to the Reading market. He also
operates a mercantile business which he established in 1902, and
has built up to its present proportions. Mr. Machemer married Mary
Savage, daughter of John and Ellen (Koller) Savage of Bern
township, and one son, Howard, was born to them, but he died when
five years old. Mr. Machemer is a member of Bern Reformed Church.
In politics he is a Democrat. Among his other interests he has made
considerable research in the matter of Indian relics, and has a
fine collection of 500 arrow heads which he has gathered in Bern
township, and he is regarded as an authority in all kindred lines.
Successful, genial and a hard worker, Mr. Machemer holds the
position of honor which he has fairly won in his community.

MACHEMER, HENRY S.

p. 1636

Surnames: MACHEMER, BEALER, GASS, HENDRICKS, JONES, RAHN, SNYDER,
STAMM, STEACH, SUNDAY, TILDEN

Henry S. Machemer, a prominent citizen of Reading and Berks county,
is a native of Perry township, born Feb. 3, 1856. He is the
youngest son of the late John and Sarah (Snyder) Machemer.

John Machemer was born in Upper Bern (now
Tilden) township, Berks county, about 1816, and died in 1867, in
his fifty-second year. He and his wife are buried at Gernands
Church, of which they were members, belonging to the Reformed
congregation. He was a blacksmith, and followed his trade near
Mohrsville for many years, in addition to cultivating his farm of
about fifty acres. He was a Democrat, and influential in his
district, serving as supervisor for some years. When twenty-two
years of age he married Sarah Snyder, whose parents lived on a farm
adjoining the Machemer homestead. Mrs. Machemer died in August,
1881, aged sixty-three years. They had eight children as follows:
Frank, who lived near Hamburg, died May 26, 1909, in his
seventy-eighth year: Isaac S., who has been station agent at Bern
Station for many years, was formerly the merchant at Berne. John,
of Reading, was a policeman of Reading for many years and is now in
the restaurant business. Peter, of Mohrsville, is a lock-tender on
the Schuylkill Canal. Henry S. is mentioned below. Mary married
John Bealer, and both are deceased. There were two daughters,
between Isaac and John, who died a year apart, one when eleven
years old.

Henry S. Machemer spent his boyhood on his
father’s farm, and received his early education in the public
schools subsequently attending select schools. At the age of
eighteen years he secured a position with I. H. Rahn and his
brother, Isaac S. Machemer, who were then in the mercantile
business at Leesport under the firm name of Rahn & Machemer,
and with them he remained five years, was employed by Samuel
Sunday, their successor, and afterward by Willitts Bros., at the
same place. He finally became a partner in the firm of Willitts,
Dauber & Company, and when it was dissolved became a salesman
with Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, Reading, in the cloth and
cassimere department. Subsequently he connected himself as salesman
with the firm of Hall, Shenk & Company, which has since become
Glase, Hall & Company, wholesale dealers in foreign and
domestic dry goods, Philadelphia, and later he was employed as
traveling salesman by William C. Hendricks & Company, of
Trenton, N. J., manufacturers and importers of queensware. In 1886
he became a traveling salesman for Lippincott & Company,
wholesale grocers and tea dealers, Philadelphia, by which firm he
has been employed up to this time, living at Leesport, Ontelaunee
and West Leesport, and locating in Reading in 1899. He resides at
No. 438 North Ninth street. He has visited nearly every district in
Berks and adjoining counties twice a month for the past twenty-five
years, and enjoys a large personal acquaintance.

Mr. Machemer has always taken an active interest
in Democratic politics, casting his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden
for President, and has never missed a primary or general election
since. He has been elected delegate to county conventions a number
of times; was committeeman of Ontelaunee for a number of years, and
served as school director of that township until he moved to West
Leesport. His home has been in the Eleventh ward since his removal
to Reading, and he has taken the same interest in politics here as
in his former home. In 1907, as candidate for the office of county
controller, he received a large vote. Mr. Machemer is a charter
member of Camp No. 165, P. O. S. of A., of Leesport; a charter
member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle Castle at the same place;
and is a member of the Northeastern Democratic Association of
Reading. On Aug. 4, 1877, Mr. Machemer married Ida Stamm, daughter
of James T. and Henrietta (Steach) Stamm, of Womelsdorf, Berks
county, and granddaughter of John Stamm, who lived near Bern
Church. James T. Stamm was a school teacher in Berks county for
forty-five successive years. He and his wife are buried at
Womelsdorf, where they last resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Machemer have
been born three children: Claude J., who for many years was
employed by the Philadelphia & Reading Company as a clerk, died
April 20, 1908, in his thirtieth year (he married Clara Gass, and
they had two children, Henrietta and Grace); Harry L. is employed
in the shipping department of the W. H. Luden Candy Manufacturing
Company, at Reading; Clarence S. is employed as a cutter at the
Curtis E. Jones Company’s factory, Reading.

MACHEMER, JOSEPH B.

p.
1654

Surnames: MACHEMER, REBER, HITTINGER, HUNTZINGER, BOLTZ, RUTH,
FIANT, BLIMLINE, HAIN, GRILL

Joseph B. Machemer, blacksmith and carriage builder of Sinking
Spring, Berks county, was born May 20, 1868. at the place where he
still resides, son of Ephraim Machemer.

Joseph Machemer, his grandfather, was born Jan.
18, 1783, in Lower Heidelberg township, about a mile northeast of
Brownsville, and died Sept. 27, 1863, aged eighty years, eight
months, nine days. He owned a small farm, now the Jonathan Reber
estate, in Lower Heidelberg township, but he died at Tuckerton, in
Muhlenberg township, and is buried at Bern Church. Among his
children were: Michael, who died in Heidelberg township; Ephraim;
Jacob, who died young; Elizabeth, who married Barnhart Hittinger;
and David. Ephraim Machemer, father of Joseph B., born Oct. 1,
1823, died at Sinking Spring Dec. 3, 1906, aged eighty-three years,
two months, two days. He was a carpenter, and during the many years
he followed that trade he built the old Penn street bridge. He
lived at Sinking Spring, where he died, and is buried at St. John’s
Church. He was a Reformed member of that church. In politics he was
a Democrat. He was twice married, first to Mary Huntzinger, and
they had children as follows: Edward, Adam, James (deceased),
Catharine (deceased), Leanda (deceased) and Sarah. For his second
wife Mr. Machemer married Rebecca S. Boltz by whom he had these
children: George (deceased). Ephraim (deceased). Henry (deceased),
Joseph B., Jacob B., Lizzie (deceased) and Rebecca.

Joseph B. Machemer was only twelve years old
when he commenced to earn his own living. He worked in the ore
mines for over three years, and then learned the blacksmith’s trade
from M. D. Ruth, of Sinking Spring, in whose employ he remained
three and a quarter years. After that he spent two years at
Wernersville, the second in the employ of H. L. Fiant, and then
went to Brownsville, in Heidelberg township, working for S.
Blimline exclusively as a coach blacksmith. In 1892 he engaged in
partnership with George M. Hain, under the firm name of Hain &
Machemer, which continued for three years, doing business at
Sinking Spring. On Dec. 9, 1895, Mr. Machemer purchased his
partner’s interest in the coach and blacksmith business, and he has
since carried it on alone. He is a successful business man, honest
and upright, and held in the highest esteem by his fellow-townsmen.
His product consists of fine carriages of all kinds, business
wagons, market wagons, etc., and his work is reliable in every
respect. His establishment is large and up-to-date, and he also has
a Fine residence in the borough.

Mr. Machemer has proved his public spirit in
various ways, took an active part in the incorporation of the
village into a borough, and has served as treasurer of the
township. He is a Democrat in political sentiment. He is widely
known in fraternal circles, holding membership in Williamson Lodge,
No. 307, F. & A.M., of Womelsdorf; Reading Royal Arch Chapter;
Reading Commandery, No. 42, K. T.; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.,
Reading; Sinking Spring Lodge, No. 660, I. O. O. F.; the Knights of
Friendship; P. O. S. of A. at Sinking Spring; and Wyanet Tribe. No.
301, I. O. R. M., Reading. He is a Lutheran member of St. John’s
Church at Sinking Spring. Mr. Machemer married, April 29, 1893,
Annie V. Grill, daughter of Henry Grill, a well-known citizen and
at present tax collector of Sinking Spring. Four children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Machemer, namely: Harry E., Florence M.,
Esther M. and Arthur F.

MACHMER, CHARLES H.

p. 771

Surnames: MACHMER, BARTLET, HIMMELBERGER, McGRETH, ROEDER, SPEICHER

Charles H. Machmer, who, as assistant superintendent of the Reading
branch of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, is well and
favorably known to a large body of his fellow-citizens, was born
Oct. 21, 1878, at Bernville, Berks Co., Pa., son of Henry S., a
veteran school teacher of Berks county.

The Machmer family is one of the old-established
ones of Berks county that has a history that is interesting to
preserve. The founder was Philip Machmer, who was born in
Switzerland and came to America in 1753, settling in the rich
agricultural domains of Berks county, Pa. He prospered, as in 1759,
he paid a Federal tax of 4,. in Bern township. He lived at least
twenty years after settling here, as his last will and testament,
dated Nov. 7, 1773, was registered Dec. 14, 1773. He and his wife
Elizabeth had five children, and they were mentioned in the will as
follows: Nicholas, who was under twenty-one years of age when the
father died, obtained the homestead, and he was to pay 500 to his
brothers and sisters; Mary m. Bastian Bartlet; Philip and George
were ordered by the will to learn a trade when they should become
sixteen years of age; and Margaret. Nicholas Machmer, yeoman of
Bern township, died in 1823. He and his wife, Eva, had a daughter,
Elizabeth, and two sons, John and Peter. George Machmer, son of
Philip Machmer, died in 1840. He bequeathed John Machmer, son of
Nicholas, $500, and John Machmer, son of Philip, $200, and also
made bequests to David and Daniel Machmer, whose relationship he
does not specify. He had no issue.

Peter Machmer, probably a son of Nicholas, was a
farmer in Upper Bern township. He made his will Jan. 12, 1852,
which was probated May 22, 1854. He and wife Magdalena had sons,
John and Benneville. Michael Machmer made his will Nov. 5, 1851,
and it was probated in 1872, the year of his death. His wife,
Sophia, was named executrix. The names of his daughters are not
mentioned in the will, and, when it was made, his sons, Michael,
Franklin and Meckley, were all under age.

William Machmer, born in Maryland in 1777, died
in Upper Bern (now Tilden) township, Berks county, in 1865. Among
his children were John F., Jonathan and Abraham. John F. Machmer,
son of William, died in 1882, in Upper Bern (or Tilden) township,
and both he and his father are buried at St. Michael’s Church.

Henry S. Machmer, son of John F., was born in
Tilden township in 1847, and was educated in the common schools of
his native township and in Hamburg, and later attended the
Millersville State Normal School. At the age of seventeen he began
teaching, and taught in Upper Bern, Centre, Penn and Bernville. For
seven terms he was principal of the Penn grammar school. and taught
twenty-four terms in Lower Heidelberg. He is one of the veteran
teachers of Berks county, and is a well known figure at teachers’
institutes. He served as justice of the peace in Bernville five
years, and is now serving his fourth term in that position in Lower
Heidelberg. He married Susanna Himmelberger, daughter of John
Himmelberger, of Centre township. They had nine children, four of
whom are deceased. The survivors are: Anson, of Wernersville;
Annie, m. to William McGreth, of Alliance, Ohio; Edward H., a
painter at Reading; Charles H.; and Willis J., of East Liverpool,
Ohio. Charles H. Machmer was reared at State Hill, in Lower
Heidelberg township, and there attended the public schools, later
entering the Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, and still
later took a commercial course, in 1899 graduating from the Lebanon
Valley Business College. He also attended the Interstate Commercial
College at Reading, where he was a student of merit. Prior to
identifying himself with life insurance, he taught school in Lower
Heidelberg township and one term at Robesonia. In May, 1901, he
connected himself with the Prudential Insurance Company, at the
Reading agency, and Dec. 23, 1903, he was promoted to the position
of assistant superintendent. He is a most successful insurance man
and ably performs the many responsible duties of his position.
Since 1902 he has occupied a home of his own, at No. 364 Schuylkill
avenue.

In 1897, Mr. Machmer was married to Themson E.
Speicher, a daughter of Jacob K. and Themson (Roeder) Speicher, of
Robesonia, and they have had three children, namely: Elliott D.,
born May 22, 1898, died Jan. 4, 1899; Stanley E., born May 27,
1900, died Nov. 8, 1900; and Russell S., born June 19, 1906.