Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

MECK, JACOB
R.

p. 817

Surnames: MECK, RUTH, HIMMELBERGER, HAAS, STRAUSS, WERNER, BECKER,
KLAHR, KLINE, PIFFER, BENSING, BALTZ

Jacob R. Meck, has many business interests at Meckville, Berks
county, where he is also postmaster. He was born in Bethel
township, this county, May 4, 1859, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth
(Ruth) Meck.

Benjamin Meck was born July 28, 1804 in
Longswamp township, Berks county. When he was eight years old he
lost his father in the war of 1812, and from that time was hired
among strangers until he was grown to manhood. In 1825 he married
to Elizabeth Ruth, daughter of Jacob Ruth, who was born Feb. 6,
1808, in Spring township, Berks county. This couple resided in
Spring and Lower Heidelberg townships until 1843, during which time
he followed the trade of shoemaker, but having a longing for the
fields he bought a farm of 175 acres in Bethel township, where he
resided until his death, Jan. 19, 1889. His wife Elizabeth preceded
him to the grave, dying June 15, 1885. He left an estate of $36,000
to his heirs. To Mr. and Mrs. Meck were born fourteen children,
eleven of whom survived childhood. Richard and Reuben, the eldest
two, died when quite young, Sophie also passing away in childhood;
Daniel followed farming on the homestead until his death, in 1874;
Charles followed the store business for thirty years in SchuyIkill
Haven, and then engaged in the lumber business until his death, in
the fall of 1901; Catherine married Jonathan Himmelberger, a miller
and farmer of Hanover, and died in 1893; Benjamin engaged first in
farming, later went into the store business at Mr. joy, and they
removed to Muncy, Lycoming county, where he resided for thirty
years, in 1904 buying the old homestead, where he died in 1907;
Rebecca married Edward Haas, a school teacher and farmer, who died
Feb. 21, 1900, and she now resides at Hamlin, Pa.; Elizabeth
married Joel Strauss, a farmer and died in 1874; Mary married
William Werner, a farmer, and died in 1873; Jonathan met his death
accidentally, being struck on the head by a piece of flying stone
at the Miller stone quarry at Annville, in 1902; James is in the
insurance business at Harrisburg; Franklin clerked in stores at
Lebanon and SchuyIkill Haven until reaching his majority, when
failing health caused him to go to Colorado, and there he died
April 30, 1872; Jacob R. is our subject.

Jacob R. Meck received his early education in a
country school and during 1875-76 attended Palatinate College,
Myerstown, pa. His help being needed at home, he was called from
school and assisted his father on the farm until 1879, when he took
up the store business for his life work, and has followed that line
ever since, at the same place. In the fall of 1879, D. M. Key
appointed Mr. Meck postmaster at Meckville, which was named in his
honor, and in 1884 he began the manufacture of cigars, which he
continued until 1907, when other matters demanded so much of his
time that he was obliged to abandon it. In the spring of 1891 ,
seeing that his store room was entirely too small to enable him to
render efficient service to his patrons, he built a three-story
mansard building 50×50 feet on the opposite side of the street,
which he occupied in the fall of that year. In 1894 urged by many
of his customers he established a liquor store, and in that year he
was granted a license, his application having an overwhelming
number of signers. He is a wholesale liquor dealer. In the summer
of 1902 he built a creamery and shirt factory and in 1905 he bought
the establishment of the Eagle Canning Company, at Fredericksburg,
where he established a creamery and feed store in 1906. Mr. Mecca
is a very busy man and has been ever since his start in 1879, his
business increasing every year, through his own efforts. Though he
has been very busy, Mr. Meck has found time to visit the
exhibitions of his government and of other countries. In 1876 he
visited the Centennial at Philadelphia, in 1893 attended the
World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago, in 1901 the Pan-American
Exposition at Buffalo, and in 1904 the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition at St. Louis. In politics Mr. Meck is a Democrat, and
since his twenty-first year has been a staunch supporter of his
party. In religious belief he adheres to the Reformed faith, and
has been a member of St. Paul’s Church, Hamlin, since his
thirteenth year, being secretary of the church since 1880.
Fraternally he is connected with Washington Camp No. 214, P. O. S.
of A., which he joined Feb. 11, 1887.

On Oct. 27, 1877, Mr. Meck was married to Hettie
Esther Becker, daughter of Samuel Becker, and to this union there
were born seven children: (1) Walter, born in 1878, attended the
Millersville State Normal School in 1895-96, assisted his father in
the store until 1900, and then became a member of the underwear
manufacturing firm of Meck & Co., at SchuyIkill Haven. In the
fall of 1904 he married Miss Klahr. (2) Cora, born in 1880, learned
dressmaking in Lebanon. She is married to Calvin A. Kline, who
since 1899 has clerked in his fathers-in-law’s store. (3) Gertrude,
born in 1882, married Galam Piffer, and lives at home. (4) Howard,
born in 1883, graduated from the Keystone State Normal School in
the class of 1902, taught school for three years, graduated with
honors from the bookkeeping department of the Eastman Business
College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1906, and from the dairy
department of the State College in 1907, and now manages his
father’s creamery. In the spring of 1906 he married Annie Bensing.
(5) Mary, born in 1885, married Harry Baltz, a clerk at the
American Iron and Steel Works, Lebanon. (6) Allan, born in 1886,
graduated in 1902 from public school with first honors, in 1905
from the Keystone State Normal School with honors, and in the fall
of that year entered the sophomore class of Franklin and Marshall
College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1908 with
honors. During the summer of 1908 he was a student in the Divinity
Department of Chicago University and is now a student at the
Eastern Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church. (7) Mabel,
born in 1891, is assisting her parents at home and at the same time
taking a course in music.

MECK,
RANDOLPH L.

p. 641

Surnames: MECK, RUTH, COHO, FROST

Randolph L. Meck, assistant cashier of the Farmers’ National Bank
of Reading since 1903, was born at Schuylkill Haven, Pa., Oct. 3,
1873. He acquired his education at Refton, Lancaster county, and at
Reading, Pa., and upon completing a special course in civil
engineering secured a position with the Philadelphia & Reading
Railway Company as a civil engineer. He continued with the company
five years, resigning in 1893 to accept a position as messenger and
clerk with the Farmers’ National Bank of Reading. On account of his
proficiency and reliability he was rapidly promoted until he became
the assistant cashier of the bank in 1903, and he has filled this
position in a most satisfactory manner until the present time. He
is a past president of the Reading Council of the American Life and
Annuity Society of Pittsburg, Pa. and he is prominently identified
with the Masonic order in Reading.

In 1896, Mr. Meck was married to Clara A. Ruth,
daughter of John A. Ruth, who has been connected with the Reading
Eagle as solicitor and collector for many years. They are active
members of Calvary Reformed Church, both taking great interest in
the work of the Sunday-school as well as of the church. He is a
member of the Consistory, and treasurer of the church. Mrs. Meck is
also actively interested in the work of the Y. W. C. A. at Reading
having been one of the directors for many years.

Mr. Meck’s father is James A. Meck. He was born
in 1848, in Bethel township, Berks county, while his father was
cultivating a farm there. When a young man he was employed by the
Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company at Schuylkill Haven, and
he continued there until 1878, when he removed to Refton, Lancaster
county, and engaged in the coal and lumber business until 1885. He
then sold his business and accepted the position of assistant
superintendent of the Baltimore Mutual Aid Association at Reading.
He filled this position and later the position of superintendent
until 1904, when he located at Harrisburg. and became the
superintendent of the Commonwealth Title Insurance & Trust
Company, which responsible position he has since been filling. He
was married to Susanna Coho (daughter of John L. Coho, of
Schuylkill Haven), and they have three sons: Harry C. (cashier of
the Reading Brewing Company, m. Mary Ruth); Edgar (manager of a
department in the large store of Brown Shoe Company, St. Louis,
Mo., m. Fannie Frost); and Randolph.

Mr. Meck’s grandfather was Benjamin Meck, born
in 1804 in Longswamp township, Berks county, where he learned the
trade of a shoe-maker, following it until 1845. He then bought a
large farm in Bethel township which he cultivated until his death
in 1889. He was married to Elizabeth Ruth (daughter of Jacob Ruth,
farmer of Spring township), and they had fourteen children: nine
sons and five daughters.

And his great-grandfather was Dewald Meck,
farmer of Longswamp township, who was a son of Jacob Meck, a farmer
of Oley township.

MECK, SAMUEL
H.

p. 841

Surnames: MECK, HOSSLER, MOYER, SPAYD, SHOCK, HARTZEL, SEAMAN,
SAVAGE

Samuel H. Meck, farmer of Tilden township, was born July 7, 1841,
in that part of Upper Bern township, Berks county, now known as
Tilden. His father and grandfather were both named Samuel.

Samuel Meck, the grandfather, lived in Longswamp
township, Berks county, and died there in old age, he is buried at
Hoff’s Church. He was engaged as a farmer and furnace keeper. His
children were; David, Charles, John, Samuel, Isaiah, Harietta and
Catharine.

Samuel Meck, son of Samuel, was born on the
paternal homestead, and like his father was a farmer and furnace
keeper. When a young man he moved to Upper Bern township, where he
bought the Hossler farm of 130 acres, upon which he lived until his
death, which occurred when he was eighty-eight years old. He
carried on farming throughout his active years, but retired from
that occupation about thirty years before his demise. Mr. Meck
married Salome Hossler, daughter of John Hossler, and they had
children as follows: Sarah m. Jacob Moyer, who is now deceased;
Samuel H. is mentioned further on; Henry and John live in Tilden
township; Frank died when eight years old; Priscilla m. Jonathan
Spayd, of Sinking Spring; Matilda died when eleven years old.

Samuel H. Meck attended the public schools
during his boyhood, learned farming at home with his father, and
remained with him, in 1875 buying sixty-eight acres of land from
his father, Samuel Meck, to which he later added a tact of twenty
acres. Subsequently he bought the homestead, then consisting of 100
acres, making this purchase Sept. 6, 1902, and selling the property
to his son Thomas A. in 1908. In 1893 he bought the Shock’s farm
and later sold it to his son Franklin C. Both sons are farmers. He
has been a prosperous farmer for many years.

Mr. Meck married Emeline Hartzel, daughter of
Isaac Hartzel, and they are the parents of two sons: Franklin C.,
born Nov. 30, 1868, a resident of Tilden township, married Lizzie
Seaman; Thomas A., born Aug. 14, 1872, married Sallie Savage, and
they have had two children, Charles (who died when seven days old)
and Alvin (who is at school).

In 1862 Mr. Meck enlisted for service during the
Civil war, becoming a member of Company B, 167th Regiment,
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months. He is a Democrat
in politics and in religious connection a Lutheran, belonging to
St. Michael’s Church.

MECKSTROTH FAMILY

page
808

Surnames: MECKSTROTH, QUILLER, SNETHKAMP, LUTTERBACK, SUNDERMANN,
BIERBAUM, FELDWISH, HABERKAMP, FLEDDERJOHANN, PETERS, LAMMERT,
HOWE, KUCKERMANN, MATHERS, GUEST, DERR, ESHELMAN

The Meckstroth family dates back to William and Elizabeth (Quiller)
Meckstroth who came from Landbergen, a province of Northern
Germany, near Hanover, prior to their marriage. After coming to
America, Elizabeth Quiller married (first) William Snethkamp, who
was killed by a falling tree, and by this union she had two
children: William H., who was one of the first graduates of
Heidelberg University at Tiffin, Ohio, and who for many years was a
justice of the peace, notary, school teacher and merchant, besides
being the first agent of his section for farm implements, but is
now living retired at St. Mary’s, Ohio; and Elizabeth, who became
the wife of Henry Lutterbeck, and had three children, all now
married. About 1847 Elizabeth (Quiller) Snethkamp married (second)
William Meckstroth, and they located in New Knoxville, Auglaize
Co., Ohio, which at that time was all forest, and they had to fell
and burn the trees to get a sufficient clearing to raise the
necessities of life. To William and Elizabeth Meckstroth were born
seven children: Mary m. Henry Sundermann, who died in August, 1907;
Herman Henry m. Mary Bierbaum; Ernest L. m. Lizzie Feldwisch; Annie
m. William Haberkamp; Sophia m. W. H. Fledderjohann; George m.
Fredericka Peters; and Charles A. m. Annie Lammert.

(II) Herman Henry Meckstroth was born in New Knoxville, Ohio, July
10, 1850, and remained at home until the age of twenty years. He
was then married to Mary Bierbaum, a daughter of William and
Elizabeth Bierbaum, who also came from Germany and located near New
Knoxville. This union was blessed with children as follows; George,
who died when ten months old; Annie, who died when quite young;
Benjamin (twin to the Rev. William L.), who died when a few weeks
old; Henry Lewis, who graduated from the Jefferson Medical College
at Philadelphia in June, 1908, and was then appointed resident
physician of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lancaster, but after July 1,
1909, will locate in New Knoxville, Ohio; Edward Charles, who
taught school for five years, but now is preparing himself for the
medical profession, and who married Martha Howe. The mother died
July 19, 1907, after an illness of two days.

(III) William Lewis Meckstroth, pastor of Ziegel Reformed Church,
an eloquent and brilliant young divine of the Reformed faith, was
born near New Knoxville, Ohio, Feb. 24, 1878. He was baptized by
Rev. F. H. W. Kuckhermann in infancy and from then seemed set apart
for his sacred calling. At the age of fifteen he was confirmed by
Rev. F. Mathers, a Lutheran clergyman. He attended the schools of
his neighborhood until 1894, when he entered St. Mary’s high
school, completing a three years’ course in two years. He then
entered Mission House College at Franklin, Wis., the German college
of the Reformed church in the United States, in the fall of 1896,
and completed a classical course in the sprig of 1900. He then
entered Ursinus School of Theology, Philadelphia, in the fall of
the same year. At the close of the theological course he left at
once for Swanton, Ohio, where he began his active ministry in
charge of four congregations. He was examined and licensed to
preach by a committee of Heidelberg Classics, Central Synod, on
Friday, June 5, 1903, and ordained and installed as pastor of
Zion’s charge until Oct. 1, 1904, a period of seventeen months.
During this pastorate a $1,000 parsonage was bought and nearly paid
for. On Oct. 1, 1904, he took charge of the First Reformed Mission
congregation in Bay City, Mich., where in two and one-half years
the congregation was raised from 85 to 125, the debt reduced from
$900 to $330, and a number of improvements inaugurated. He supplied
Covenant Presbyterian church from Oct. 1, 1904, to Oct. 1, 1905, at
a time when there were only thirty-four communicant members and a
church property, valued at $1,200, about to be sold for taxes.
Within one year all indebtedness was wiped out, and the Sunday
school enlarged from 45 to 125 with the able assistance of Mr.
William A. Guest, the efficient superintendent. Mr. Meckstroth was
elected secretary and treasurer of the Bay City Ministerial
Association Jan. 9, 1905, and twice re-elected. This association
has twenty-seven members. The Rev. Mr. Meckstroth was asked in
February, 1908, by several members of Saginaw Presbytery of the
Presbyterian church if he would not consider entering that church,
but he declined the cordial invitation with thanks. In the spring
of 1903, prior to graduation and during the illness of Rev. Dr. L.
K. Derr, the venerable pastor of Zion’s Reformed church, Reading,
Pa., he assisted for three months. He was elected pastor of the
Ziegel church, consisting of Longswamp and Ziegel congregations, on
April 28, 1907, and began his labors on Sunday, July 7, 1907.

On May 5, 1904, the Rev. Mr. Meckstroth married
Miss Katharine F. Eshelman, of Reading, the ceremony being
performed by the late Rev. L. K. Derr, D. D., of Reading. Mrs.
Meckstroth for many years has been an active member o Zion’s
Reformed church. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin
Eshelman, now residing at Shillington. Mr. and Mrs. Meckstroth have
one son Herman Franklin, two years old.

The Rev. Mr. Meckstroth is a man of exceptional
executive ability who thoroughly understands how to conduct his
church upon a business basis and develop its possibilities into
certain success. He is a young man of remarkable talents, and as a
preacher is well known. He is very earnest and sincere, and seems
to have an unsatisfied appetite for hard work. Each charge has
parted with him with regret, and he will find ample opportunity to
add to his honors in eastern Berks.

MEE, FRANCIS
H.

p. 772

Surnames: MEE, HAFER, DUNKEL, LUCKENBILL, LOY, KISSINGER, HILL

Francis H. Mee, of Reading, Pa., who has been living retired since
Sept. 30, 1904, was for many years a trusted employe in the
Philadelphia & Reading railroad shops. Mr. Mee was born in
Maiden Creek (now Berkley), Sept. 20, 1834, son of George and
Julianna (Hafer) Mee, and a member of an old English Quaker family
which came to Pennsylvania at an early date in the country’s
history, locating in Chester county.

Jonathan Mee came to Berks county from Chester
county, and located in the Quaker settlement in Maiden-creek
township, where he engaged in farming, owning a part of the farm
now the property of Charles Dunkel. He was a carpenter by trade,
and followed that vocation in addition to farming. He had been
reared a Quaker, but on reaching manhood, married a woman of the
Reformed faith. Both he and his wife are buried at Gernand’s Church
in Ontelaunee township. He had three sons and four daughters,
namely: George, John, Charles, Hettie, Sallie, Annie and Mary
(Polly).

George Mee, son of Jonathan and father of
Francis H., was born in Maiden-creek township, where he followed
the trade of a miller all of his life. He died in 1871, in his
sixtieth year. He married Julianna Hafer, who died in 1858, aged
forty-five years; and she, like her husband , was a member of the
Reformed Church. In political matters Mr. Mee was an old-line Whig.
To him and his wife were born children as follows: Francis H.,
Charles, Mary (m. Alvin Luckenbill, deceased), Hettie (m. Henry
Loy, of Hamburg, Pa.), and five children who died young.

Francis H. Mee received his education in the
schools of Spring township, where his parents lived for a number of
years, and for some time after leaving school worked at farm labor
He then served an apprenticeship to the carpenter’s trade, and in
1865 entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad,
with which company he continued until his retirement, a period of
thirty-nine and one-half years, since which time he has lived a
quiet life at his home, No. 1710 Centre avenue, Reading.

In 1858 Mr. Mee married Susan Kissinger,
daughter of Abraham and Abby (Hill) Kissinger, and to them have
been born seven children, all of whom are now living, namely:
Sallie, George, Daniel, Annie, William, Alice, and Ida. In
religious belief Mr. Mee is a Lutheran, and his political
sentiments are those of the Democratic party. While employed at the
car shops he was connected with the Philadelphia & Reading
Relief Society.

MEGERLY, CHARLES O.

page
1479

Surnames: MEGERLY, OFNER, SCHLEGEL, TROUT

Charles O. Megerly, a machinist and plumber at Boyertown, is a
native of Wittenberg, Germany, born Sept. 14, 1854, son of Jacob
and Ellenora (Ofner) Megerly.

Jacob Megerly, the father, was a farmer in
Wittenberg, Germany, where he died about 1883. He was a man of
honesty and industry, and was greatly respected in the community in
which he spent his entire life. He married Ellenora Ofner, who died
about 1900. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the
five eldest came to America, namely: Jacob, who is a blacksmith at
Boyertown; Charles O.; John, of Philadelphia; Caroline, who is
married and living at Rock Island, Ill.; Kate, married and living
in Brooklyn, N. Y.; and Godleib, August, Louis and Louisa, who
remained in their native land. John Ofner, brother of Mrs. Megerly,
came to America and first located at Limerick Square, but later
took to farming near Greenlane, Montgomery Co., Pa., where his
children now live.

Charles O. Megerly attended the schools of his
native land until he was fourteen, and then began to learn the
blacksmith’s trade. In the fall of 1869 he came to the United
States, landing at Castle Garden, N. Y., whence he came at once to
Boyertown, and finished his trade with his brother Jacob. for five
years he worked on a farm near Boyertown, and then, having
completed his apprenticeship to the trade of blacksmith, began at
the machinist’s business, and in the spring of 1906 he opened up
business for himself at Boyertown. He has a shop on Washington
street, at the corner of Fourth street, and here he and his son
Thomas have a good trade, doing all kinds of repair work. Mr.
Megerly worked twenty-five years for Daniel Schlegel, a machinist
with an established trade at Boyertown. He has an excellent
reputation for thorough workmanship, and always has more work than
he can do.

In politics Mr. Megerly is a Democrat, and he
has taken an active interest in public affairs, having been a
member of the town council for several years from 1898, and serving
as member of the Lutheran Church.

In 1878 Mr. Megerly was married to Miss Lizzie
Trout, daughter of Lewis Trout, of Washington township, and they
have three children: Flora, Ida and Thomas, the latter his father’s
able assistant.

MEHARG
FAMIILY

p. 886

Surnames: MEHARG, WALLACE, CONNER, DUNN, McILHANEY, REESE, FRITZ,
IRWIN, BAKER, BRYAN, ROGERS, TUCKER, HARRIS, PETTIT, WANNER, SNELL

The Meharg family, for over a century known in Pennsylvania, had
its origin in Londonderry, Ireland, and there in 1773, in
Tobermore, was born William Meharg, son of John and Sarah (Wallace)
Meharg. He emigrated to America in 1791, and settled in Londonderry
township, Chester co., Pa. by trade he was a charcoal burner. On
June 28, 1797, he married Hannah Conner, a native of Ireland, born
in 1778, who came to Pennsylvania in 1795, and died Aug. 4, 1820.
She had three sisters: Sarah, who married James Dunn; Margaret, who
married James McIlhaney; and Martha, who married Adam Reese, all of
Chester county.

To William and Hannah (Conner) Meharg were born
eleven children, all in Chester county: (1) John, born June 1,
1798, died in 1804. (2) Mary, born June 18, 1799, died Aug. 2,
1864. She married July 26, 1821, George Fritz, born July 26, 1792,
died Sept. 1, 1853. (3) Ann, born June 5, 1801, died Feb. 9, 1870.
She married David W. Irwin, born March 17, 1810, died March 10,
1875. (4) Margaret, born June 11, 1803, died April 8, 1890. She
married, April 15, 1830, Levi Baker, born Dec. 22, 1800, died June
3, 1876. (5) Rebecca, born June 11, 1803, twin to Margaret, died
May 2, 1877, unmarried. (6) Sarah, born Oct. 15, 1805, died Aug.
15, 1893. She married Jacob Bryan. (7) James, born March 29, 1807,
married Margaret Rogers (no date of death found). (8) Martha, born
March 22, 1810, died Jan. 31, 1883. She married in May, 1834, Jehu
Baker, born June 18, 1809, died June 18, 1881. (9) Hiram, born
March 13, 1813, died in 1827. (10) Hannah, born July 29, 1815, is
still living. On Oct. 23, 1843, she married Daniel Tucker, born
Dec. 11, 1817, died June 26, 1887.

(11) William, born Dec. 11, 1817, died Nov. 25, 1893. For his
second wife William Meharg, the father of the foregoing children,
married Mary Harris, but by this union he had no children. He and
his two wives are buried in Hepsibah Church cemetery in Chester
county. In religious faith they were Presbyterians.

William Meharg, son of William the emigrant, was
born in Chester county, Pa., Dec. 11, 1817, and died in Reading,
Nov. 25, 1893. He was a drover and dealt extensively in cattle
during the major portion of his active life. In politics he adhered
strictly to the principles of the Republican party. He and his
family were lifelong members of the Methodist Church. On Dec. 23,
1852, Mr. Meharg was married to Hope Pettit, born Oct. 19, 1819,
died May 3, 1875, in the fifty-sixth year of her age. Their
children were: George F.; William A., a druggist at Philadelphia;
and John, deceased, who was connected with the Reading Times.

George F. Meharg, son of William and Hope, is a
representative citizen of Hamburg, Pa., member of the firm of Snell
and Meharg, well known manufacturers of engines. He was born at
Coatesville, Chester Co., Pa., Oct. 6, 1853, attended the public
schools of his native village, and later studied at the Parkesburg
Academy. He has a good practical education, and is a student of the
times. He learned the machinist’s trade in the Scott Foundry and
Machine Shops, at Reading, where he was employed for a period of
four years and for one year he was in the employ of the Heckdorn
& Wilhelm Machine Shops at Reading. In 1880 Mr. Meharg entered
into partnership with his brother-in-law, John H. Snell, under the
firm name of Snell & Meharg. They commenced business in
Reading, where they operated a machine shop with success until1889,
when their entire plant was moved to Hamburg, at which point they
had previously erected a substantial brick building 200×40 feet.
Here t hey manufacture a superior grade of vertical and horizontal
steam engines that find a ready domestic and foreign market. The
firm suffered a severe loss in 1894, when the plant was destroyed
by fire. The old structure was immediately rebuilt, with two wing
additions, and now the firm of Snell & Meharg have one of the
finest and most complete, as well as best located, plants in the
State of Pennsylvania. They employ about fifty men and manufacture
upward of five hundred engines annually. Mr. Meharg has charge of
the clerical and financial end of the business, while his business
associate attends to the mechanical details.

Mr. Meharg is secretary and treasurer of the
Hamburg Electric Light Company, which he and his brother-in-law Mr.
Snell, were instrumental in organizing in 1892. Since 1904 he has
been vice president of the Hamburg

Savings Bank; and he is president of the Windsor
Water Company, succeeding Peter D. Wanner, of Reading. He is a
member of the Board of Trace of Hamburg, and is interested in every
movement tending to advance the town of his adoption, and the
welfare of its people. He is a successful business man, held in
high esteem by his fellow citizens.

In politics Mr. Meharg is a strong Republican,
taking an active interest in the welfare of his party. He is a
member of the Royal Arcanum at Hamburg, and of Mt. Penn Lodge, I.
O. O. F. Of Reading.

Mr. Meharg was married Feb. 1, 1877 to Sallie A.
Snell, daughter of Jacob Snell, and to this union was born a son,
John S., who was educated in the Hamburg high school and later in
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, and is now associated
with his father in business. Mr. Meharg and his family reside in a
handsome brick residence which he erected in 1904 on the main
street of the beautiful borough of Hamburg.

MEINHOLTZ, CONRAD

page
974

Surnames: MEINHOLTZ, HEILMAN, SMITH, MALTZBERGER, DEMAREST

Conrad Meinholtz, a well known resident of Reading, Pa., who was
for many years extensively engaged in the paper stock business,
died Dec. 7, 1908, and was laid to rest in the Charles Evans
cemetery. He was born in Brunswick, Germany, in 1844, son of John
and Catherine (Heilman) Meinholtz.

John Meinholtz, father of Conrad, came to
America about 1848. In his native country he had been engaged in
weaving, operating four small looms, and on locating in Reading he
embarked in the junk business, an occupation which he followed for
the rest of his life in this city. He died in 1890, aged
seventy-five years. His wife died in 1885, when sixty-seven years
of age. They were the parents of a large family, all of whom are
now deceased with the exception of John and Mary (m. Henry Smith).
John Meinholtz and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. In
political matters he was a Democrat.

Conrad Meinholtz received his education in the
schools of Reading, and when a young man learned the trade of
shoemaking, which he gave up, however, when machinery came into
general use. He next engaged in the junk business, which he
followed for a period of thirty years, but his last years were
lived retired from active work. He owned three large houses. Mr.
Meinholtz’s wife, who was Amanda Maltzberger, died in 1897, aged
fifty-two years, leaving three children: George, a contractor;
Henry, a blacksmith in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading
Company, at Reading; and Elizabeth, m. to Arthur Demarest. Mr.
Meinholtz was formerly a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Knights
of Pythias. In his political opinions he was a Democrat.

MEINIG, E. RICHARD

p. 482

Surnames: MEINIG, VOGT, HORST

E. Richard Meinig, a representative business man of Reading, where
he owns a well-equipped factory and carries on a large silk glove
manufacturing industry, was born near Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany,
May 10, 1874.

In his native land Mr. Meinig secured an
excellent education and then thoroughly learned the business of
manufacturing fabric gloves, mastering every detail. In 1900 he
came to America and became the foreman of the Reading Glove and
Mitten Company, two years later being made manager of this concern.
After filling that position for three years be embarked in business
for himself, organizing the E. Richard Meinig Company, for the
purpose of manufacturing silk and other fabric gloves. He is
secretary and treasurer of this corporation as well as its general
manager, the president being George Horst, of the hosiery
manufacturing concern of Nolde & Horst, Reading.

In 1907, the E. Richard Meinig Company erected a
factory on McKnight street between Greenwich and Oley streets. It
is of brick construction, four stories and basement, with
dimensions of 210 x 50 feet. There has been erected an addition two
stories high with dimensions of 180 x 30 feet. This glove factory
has the name of being the most complete in its equipment of any
building of its kind in the world. Employment is given to from 700
to 800 employees, and the product is sold in the United States and
in other lands, probably reaching every enlightened country. Mr.
Meinig possesses remarkable business capacity together with high
standards of commercial life and a personal character above
reproach.

In 1903, Mr. Meinig married Maria Vogt, daughter
of Hans and Catrina (Horst) Vogt, also of German birth. They have
four children: Ernst, Louisa, George and Karl.

MEITZLER, FRANK E.

p. 1111
Surnames: MEITZLER, RISHEL, BLEIBER, BRENSINGER, LIEBENSPERGER,
SCHMOYER, LICHTENWALLNER, HELFRICH

Frank E. Meitzler, proprietor of the “Hotel Biery,” at Mertztown,
and the owner of an excellent farm, was born Dec. 20, 1873, on the
old homestead farm in Lower Macungie township, Lehigh Co., Pa., son
of Peter B. and Amanda (Rishel) Meitzler.

It is possible to trace the Meitzler family back
to the great-grandfather, Henry Meitzler, but very little is known
of him except that he served in the Revolutionary war, and was the
father of a large family.

Daniel Meitzler, son of Henry and grandfather of
Frank E., was born in Lower Macungie township, Lehigh county. He
followed the trade of shoemaker until he was fifty years old, in
the meantime acquiring two farms and conducting one until his
death, which took place at the age of eighty-three years, three
months and nine days. He was interred at St. Peter’s Church in
Lehigh county. He married Susanna Bleiber, born near the Berks
county line in Lehigh county, and they had two sons, Peter B. and
Joseph, the latter of whom died unmarried when aged thirty-six
years.

Peter B. Meitzler was born on the old homestead
in Lehigh county, and he also engaged in shoemaking and farming. He
died March 4, 1884, aged thirty-eight years. He married Amanda
Rishel, daughter of Nathan and Sallie Annie (Brensinger) Rishel,
who died Aug. 3, 1884, five months after the death of her husband.
They had three children, namely: Frank E.; Louis N. m. Lizzie
Liebensperger, and has three children, Nevin, Florence and John;
and Alice S. (born Oct. 11, 1877, and died at the Allentown
Hospital, May 16, 1906, where she was a trained nurse).

Frank E. Meitzler was eleven years old when his
parents died and the three orphan children were taken in charge by
Jonas Rishel, an uncle, by whom Frank E. was reared and taught all
kinds of farm work. Although his uncle was very strict, Mr.
Meitzler now realizes that much of his success in life may be
attributed to the compulsory industry of his youth. For the past
ten years he has been operating the “Hotel Biery,” which is the
leading hotel at Mertztown.

On Sept. 5, 1896, Mr. Meitzler married Myra T.
Schmoyer, daughter of James H. And Eliza (Lictenwallner) Schmoyer.
She was born at Jonestown, Lebanon county, Jan. 19, 1872. They have
had two children, George Franklin (born in 1897, who died April 28,
1899) and Marjorie Mary Eliza; she was born at Mertztown, dec. 5,
1901, baptized by Rev. Mr. Brensinger, and now attends the public
school. Mr. Meitzler belongs to the Reformed Church, in which he
was baptized and confirmed by Rev. William K. Helfrich; and Mrs.
Meitzler is a Lutheran.