Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

SCHEALER, JOHN G.

p. 682

Surnames: SCHEALER, GARDNER, SCHUELER, SHEELER, SHULER, SCHUYLER,
SPOHN, WENTZ, SHADLER, DEHART, ESHBACH, WUNDER, SALTZER, LIVENGOOD,
WESSNER, REIDER, GOOD, BRUMBACH, FELTUS, HIMMELREICH, BABB

John G. Schealer, contractor and builder of Boyertown, Berks
county, was born Oct. 15, 1836, in Exeter township. He has followed
his present line of business in Boyertown since the early
seventies, and many substantial structures testify to the quality
of his work. Being a son of John and Catherine (Gardner) Schealer,
his is a great-grandson of the founder of the family in this
country, who, coming to America from his native land, Germany,
settled in Exeter township, Berks Co., Pa., where he was among the
pioneers. He spelled the name Schueler, and there are various other
spellings, the most common forms being Sheeler, Schealer, Shuler
and Schuyler. When this ancestor was born, when he died and where
he was buried are facts unknown by his descendants, who are
numerous. He had a large family.

William Schealer, the grandfather of John G.
Schealer, was engaged all his life as a farmer and stonemason in
Exeter township, operating the farm now owned by Jacob Spohn. He
was a member of the Reformed Church. He and his wife Barbara had a
family of eight children, namely: Jacob and William, who died in
Reading; Samuel, who lived in Robesonia; John, who lived in Exeter;
Benneville, who lived at Robesonia; Ann, who died unmarried; Lydia,
who married Jacob Wentz; and Harry, who lived at various places.

John Schealer, the fourth child of John and
Barbara Schealer, was born in Exeter township, Oct. 23, 1793, and
died there Dec. 16, 1872, aged seventy-nine years, one month,
twenty-three days. He was a farmer and stone-mason by occupation,
and during the winter months engaged in butchering. On Dec. 20,
1818, he was married to Catherine Gardner, born Nov. 20, 1800, who
died Sept. 29, 1878, in her seventy-eighth year. Eleven children
were born to this union, of whom one died unnamed at the age of
three days. The others were: William, born Sept. 10, 1819, a
carpenter and cabinet-maker of Colebrookdale township, died in May,
1894; Harriet, born Sept. 19, 1821, married Jeremiah Shadler of
Seneca county, Ohio, who died before she did, her death occurring
while she was out West in 1904; Elizabeth, born Dec. 13, 1823,
married Abraham Dehart (now deceased), of Fort Wayne, Ind.;
Valeria, born Feb. 14, 1825, married James Eshbach, late of Pike
township, this county, whom she survived, her death occurring Dec.
25, 1895; Susanna, born Oct. 14, 1827, is the widow of Henry
Wunder, of Reading, and makes her home at No. 1028 Chestnut street,
that city; Lovinia, born Sept. 10, 1831, married John Saltzer, of
Colebrookdale township, and died Oct. 2, 1893; Catherine, born July
18, 1834, died in infancy; John G., born Oct. 15, 1836, lives at
Boyertown; Augustus, born March, 15, 1839, married Mary Livengood,
and died March 8, 1872; Samuel G., born in Exeter township Oct. 5,
1842, lives in his own residence at No. 1145 Chestnut street,
Reading. The latter is a stationary engineer by occupation, and a
highly esteemed citizen of his community. He was married Dec. 26,
1868, to Adeline Wessner, born in 1848, who died in 1905. They had
six children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being
William O., Lucretia I. and S. Raymond, the latter of whom is a
student at Lehigh University.

John G. Schealer attended the pay school near
his home when it was taught by an old man named Daniel Reider, and
later he went to public school. He himself received a license to
teach from Prof. William Good, and taught one term in Exeter
township, but he early commenced work as a cabinet-maker, having
learned the trade in his young manhood. He continued at that work
and at carpentry, and in time became established in business at
Boyertown as a contractor in the same line, which he has continued
to follow at his present location for the past forty-one years. The
class of work which has been intrusted to him is the best evidence
of his reliability. Many of the best and largest business buildings
and residences in the town are his work, among them the Rhoads
Opera House block, the Boyer block, the big C. D. Brumbach
building, the Lefeaver building, the greater portion of the
Boyertown Casket Company’s building, and the building of the Union
Manufacturing Company. He has erected a number of churches, viz.:
The St. John’s Lutheran, Good Shepherd (Reformed), English M. E.
and German Evangelical churches of Boyertown, the Lutheran and
Reformed Churches at Amityville and the new Lutheran church at
Pleasantville, all in Berks county; and he rebuilt St. Joseph’s, of
Hill Church, Berks county. In December, 1898, he completed the new
high school building in Boyertown; and he also erected the
Friedensburg (Berks county) Academy, and is now building the
Boyertown high school building, which is to be finished by Dec. 26,
1909.

Though Mr. Schealer’s building operations have
been extensive they have not engrossed his attention entirely, for
he has other business interests. He is president of the Union
Manufacturing Company, which was organized in 1893 for the
manufacture of all kinds of light and heavy castings, one of the
specialties of this concern being the Union Detachable-Handle Sad
Iron, which has the reputation of being superior to any other
article of the kind on the market. Mr. Schealer is also president
of the Boyertown Gas Company, being one of the large stockholders
in that organization, which has a paid-up capital of $30,000. He is
interested in the Franklin Improvement Company, which owns
considerable real estate, and which erected a three-story and
basement brick building in Boyertown, 175×45 feet in dimensions, to
which an “L” has since been added. Among Mr. Schealer’s real estate
holdings is a tract of seventeen acres, on which he raises apples,
pears, peaches, plums and other fruits, and he also owns a large
cider press, and a cold storage plant with a capacity of 3,000
barrels.

Though a Republican in a town which is
Democratic three to one Mr. Schealer has served as burgess and
chief burgess of Boyertown, having been elected burgess in 1894 and
1897 and chief burgess in 1900, holding the latter office until
1903.

On Jan. 23, 1863, Mr. Schealer enlisted in
Company E, 75th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, his captain being
Roswell G. Feltus, and with his company took part in all the
battles of the Army of the Potomac until after Chancellorsville and
Gettysburg, when the regiment was transferred to the Army of the
Southwest. Mr. Schealer was discharged at the close of his term,
Oct. 26, 1863. He is a charter member of General Crooks Post, G. A.
R., of Boyertown, and has been post adjutant ever since the
organization. His other social connections are with Stichter Lodge,
No. 254, F. & A. M., of Pottstown; Reading Chapter, No. 152, R.
A. M.; Nativity Commandery, No. 71, K. T., of Pottstown; Rajah
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Oasis of Reading; Consistory at
Bloomsburg; Oley Lodge, No. 218, I. O. O. F., of Reading; and Camp
No. 104, P. O. S. of A., of Boyertown.

On April 3, 1858, Mr. Schealer married Elizabeth
Himmelreich, daughter of John Himmelreich, of Pike township, and
they have had two children: Sarah, now wife of William Babb, a
farmer of Pike township, Berks county; and Milton, who engaged in
teaching for twelve years while a young man, but is now connected
with the National Bank of Boyertown, as teller.

SCHEARER
FAMILY

p. 1300

Surnames: SCHEARER, BODY, MILLER, HERBEIN, WEAVER, KNABB, RITTER,
FRETZ, LUDWIG, GILHAM, DUNDORE, LASH, GRIESEMER, KANTNER

Schearer. The branch of the Schearer family in Berks county
represented by John M. Schearer, proprietor of the “Yellow House
Hotel” in Amity township, and Weaver H. Schearer, druggist, in
Reading, is of German extraction.

John Schearer, grandfather of John M. and Weaver
H., was born in Bern township, Jan. 26, 1798, son of Peter
Schearer, and died Oct. 29, 1889, and is buried at Schwartzwald
Church, of which he was a Reformed member. He was a blacksmith, and
followed that occupation at Stonersville. He married Susan Body,
daughter of Henry Body, and their children were: Henry B.; Mary m.
Levi Miller; Benjamin; Solomon; Hannah m. Abraham Herbein; and
Peter.

Henry B. Schearer, son of John, was born in Bern
township, April 23, 1826, and is now living retired at Amityville.
He attended the old pay schools in his district, and was reared
upon the home farm. When sixteen years old he learned the
blacksmith’s trade from his father, John Shearer, and this he
followed nine years. After his marriage he took to farming in
Exeter township, continuing there five years, and then coming to
Spring township and farming ten years. The next two years he passed
in Bern township, and at the end of that time came to the Peter
Weaver farm in Amity township. He farmed there for twenty-two
years, and then retired to Amityville, his present home. He was
poor director of Berks county from 1888 to 1891, and was for some
years supervisor of Amity township, being elected on the Democratic
ticket. On June 1, 1851, he married Esther Herbein, daughter of
Isaac and Susan (Knabb) Herbein, of Oley, and they had eleven
children, namely: Miranda m. Jairus Ritter, of Earl township; Sarah
m. the late John Fretz (1842-1898); Mary Jane m. David V. Ludwig,
of Reading; Henry, died aged three years; John M.; Isaac and
George, born June 1, 1865, live in Amityville; David; Lizzie m.
Samuel Gilham; Weaver H. is of Reading; and Edwin is of Reading.
Mr. Schearer and his family attend the Reformed Church, at
Amityville, and formerly belonged to Schwartzwald Church, having
their burial plot at the latter place.

John M. Schearer, son of Henry B., was born in
Spring township, Oct. 14, 1862, and when six years of age
accompanied his parents to Amity township, there attending the
public schools and working for his father on the farm until
twenty-two years old. He then became a clerk for Mr. A. G. Body,
proprietor of the ‘Yellow House Hotel,” with whom he remained for
eighteen years, or until he bought out the place in the spring of
1906. He has a fine hotel of twenty rooms and his stand is well
known in Berks and adjoining counties, being a favorite resting
place of the traveling public. It is located on the Swamp road
leading from Reading to Boyertown, being ten miles from Reading,
seven from Boyertown and nine from Pottstown.

On June 18, 1887, Mr. Schearer married Elizabeth
Dundore, daughter of William and Rosana (Lash) Dundore, of Reading,
and they have six children, namely: William H., Levin, John, Sarah
and Rebecca (twins) and Annie R. Mr. Schearer is a member of St.
Paul’s Reformed Church, of Amityville, where for three years he
served as deacon. He belongs to Griesemersville Lodge No. 1109, I.
O. O. F., and is a charter member of Wohlink Tribe, No. 179, Red
Men, of Yellowhouse.

Weaver H. Schearer, son of Henry B., was born in
Amity township, June 28, 1872, and he is now one of the energetic
and enterprising young business men of Reading, where he is engaged
in the drug business a the corner of Ninth and Penn streets. He
attended the schools of Amity township and Palatinate College at
Myerstown (now known as Albright College) in Lebanon county,
graduating therefrom in 1890, in September of which year he engaged
in the drug business. He clerked in different stores in Reading,
and later in Philadelphia, graduating from the Philadelphia College
of Pharmacy in 1894. He then returned to Reading to J. C.
Griesemer. In 1898 he bought his present place of business and
through his attention to details and his strict integrity, the
excellence of his stock and the genial courtesy of Mr. Schearer
himself, he has built up what it is safe to say is one of the best
trades – wholesale and retail – in Reading. His store is also the
waiting room for the out-of-town cars, viz.: the Birdsboro,
Boyertown, Wormleysburg, Adamstown and Lancaster.

Mr. Weaver H. Schearer married Miss Emma Marie
Kantner, of Reading, and they have one child, Mary, now in school.
Mr. Schearer is a member of the Elks and Odd Fellows, and also
member of the Berks county Pharmaceutical Association.

SCHEETZ, JOHN DAVID

p
693

Surnames: SCHEETZ, SCHUETZ, SCHUTZ, SCHULTZ, DEPPEN, FISHBACH,
BREIDENBACH, MARSHALL, SELTZER, DEPPEN, SCHALL, LENGEL, McLEAN,
PISAS, RIETH, TITLER, SCHARF, LAAB, LAUER, WALBORN, ZERBE, FISCHER,
PACHT, LESCH, ANSPACH, WEISER

John David Scheetz, who resides on his well-improved farm in
Heidelberg township, is one of the leading farmers of Berks county,
Pa., and has been largely identified through his position as a
prominent citizen with the general progress of this section since
attaining the years of manhood. Mr. Scheetz was born July 15, 1843,
in North Heidelberg township, son of William and Harriet (Deppen)
Scheetz.

Conrad Scheetz (or Schuetz or Schutz), the
great-great-grandfather of John D., was one of the pioneers who
came from the Schoharie, N. Y., in 1723, with thirty-three other
Palatinate families, having emigrated from Germany to England,
where they were provided with passage to the New World by Queen
Anne. On Christmas Day, 1709, 4000 of these emigrants embarked for
New York, and on reaching that port June 14, 1710, 1700 of these
travelers died. The survivors camped in tents on Governor’s Island
until late in autumn, when about 1400 removed to Livingston Manor,
100 miles up the Hudson river. Here they improved land, built log
cabins, and were in a fair way towards success, when Governor
Hunter’s treatment became unendurable and many of these sturdy
settlers fled through the forests on rudely constructed sleds,
which they tugged themselves through the deep snow. Among these
early arrivals at the Tulpehocken were: Johannes Pisas, Sebastian
Pisas, Gorge and Peter Rieth, Gottfried Titler, Conrad Schultz,
Anconeus Scharf, Johannes Rieth, Joseph Laab, Christian Lauer,
Andrew Walborn, Lorentz Zerbe, Sebastian Fischer, Johan Peter
Pacht, Johann Adam Lesch and George Anspach.

John Adam Schutz, son of Conrad Schultz, was one
of the most prominent men of his day and locality, served a term in
the Legislature and held numerous township offices, and owned
considerable land, which is now divided into four fine farms,
having originally consisted of upwards of 400 acres. He spelled his
name Schutz until after he had served in the Legislature. He was
buried at Tulpehocken Church. Mr. Schutz married a daughter of Jost
Fishbach, of Heidelberg township, and four children were born to
this union: Elizabeth m. John Breidenbach; Jacob; John; and Samuel.

John Scheetz, son of John Adam, was born in what
is now Marion township, in 1793, and died Feb. 20, 1869, aged
seventy-six years, and was buried at Union cemetery. In 1832 he
purchased the well known Conrad Weiser farm east of Womelsdorf, and
here he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1855, when he
retired. He was prominent in politics in his day, and in 1836-37
served in the Assembly at Harrisburg, also holding a number of
township offices. He also was the owner of the farm at the St.
Daniel’s (Corner) Church. Mr. Scheetz married (first) Barbara
Schutz, daughter of John Jacob Schutz, and to them were born two
children: William, the father of John David; and John Adam, who
married and had four children, namely, Alice, Kate, (m. John F. P.
Marshall, part owner of the C. Weiser farm), Dr. Laurence J. (of
New Oxford, Adams county), and Franklin (of Albuquerque, New
Mexico). Mr. Scheetz m. (second)Catherine Seltzer, by whom he had
one son: Isaac K., who m. Mary A. Seltzer and had four children,
namely, Horace (died young), J. Albert (of Chicago), Mary Catherine
(m. John David Scheetz) and Amanda (died young).

William Scheetz, son of John and father of John
David, was born Nov. 8, 1818, in Heidelberg township, and died
March 6, 1885, being buried at the Corner Church. He was a farmer
and property owner, being the possessor of three fine farms. Until
the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Scheetz was a Democrat but after
that time he became a Republican, and for twenty-five years served
as a school director in Heidelberg township. He was a man of more
than ordinary intelligence, and lived much in advance of his day.
He married Harriet Deppen, who died in 1880, at the age of
fifty-seven years, daughter of David and Elizabeth C. (Schall)
Deppen. Of their six children, two died in infancy. Those who
survived were: John David; William Henry, born June 21, 1846, who
for some years was a lumber merchant in North Heidelberg township,
was accidentally killed in a trolley accident, July 25, 1907;
Alinda m. Nathaniel Lengel, a farmer of North Heidelberg township;
and Mary Agnes m. William F. McLean, who resides on one of the
Scheetz farms.

John David Scheetz was reared to agricultural
pursuits, and with the exception of some school teaching in his
younger days, this he has followed all his life, working for his
parents until his thirtieth year, since which time he has resided
on the Conrad Weiser farm, which he purchased in 1892. Until 1904
he carried on home trade, but in that year retired from active
work. Mr. Scheetz is a well-read man and a great student. He has
made many friends in his community and he and his wife are highly
esteemed in the locality in which they have resided for so long.
During the Civil war he was appointed by Gen. Thomas D. James as a
clerk in the hospital quartermaster’s department, serving in 1864
and 1865.

In 1874 Mr. Scheetz married Catherine Scheetz,
daughter of Isaac K. and Mary A. (Seltzer) Scheetz. They have no
children.

SCHEIFLEY,
JOHN

p. 1427

Surnames: SCHEIFLEY, SEIGEL, BLESSING, WHITNER, STETSON, BOBST,
WILL, CHUBB, KNERR, THUDEROH

John Scheifley, well known to the residents of Reading, Pa., as a
faithful employe of the U. S. post-office, and an honored veteran
of the great Civil war, was born in 1836, in Wurtemberg, Germany,
son of Jacob and Mary (Seigel) Scheifley.

The parents of Mr. Scheifley emigrated to
America in 1848, landing at New York, whence they came to Reading.
In the Fatherland Jacob Scheifley had been a weaver, but in this
country was engaged in work at the Reading Iron Company’s plant
until 1861. In 1862 he enlisted in the 59th Pa. V. I., with which
regiment he was serving in an engagement before Petersburg, where
he lost his left leg. He was taken to New York, but died at the
military hospital at Davids Island, aged forty-five years. His wife
survived him until 1890, when she died, aged seventy-three years,
in the faith of the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Scheifley had
also been a member. Two children were born to this good couple:
John; and Mary, who married George Blessing, now deceased, and had
five children – Mary, Annie, Dorothy, George and John.

John Scheifley received his education in the
schools of Reading, and worked in Brumbach’s woolen mill until the
outbreak of the Civil war. The following is an account, written by
Mr. Scheifley to a minister of Philadelphia at the latter’s
request, of Mr. Scheifley’s war record.

“Dear Sir – Not knowing you personally, but
seeing that we are one in the Lord, may God bless you and make you
a blessing in saving souls. I see in your letter that you want to
have an account of my past life and army record. I will give it to
you cheerfully and briefly as far as I am able. When President
Lincoln called for 300,000 men to enlist for three years or during
the war, I enlisted in Co. D, 3rd Reg., Pa. Reserves, and left a
family of wife and two children. One of these children is the
pastor of an U E. Church of your city.

“I was engaged in the following battles, viz.:
Drainsville, second battle of Bull Run, the Seven Days Fight in
front of Richmond, Antietam and Fredericksburg. The battle of
Fredericksburg occurred on the 13th day of December, 1862. It was
in this battle that I received my wound which resulted in the loss
of my right leg. And right here, four brave men out of my company
took their muskets in one hand and their lives in the other and
tried to carry me off the battle-field. They held on to me, and the
Rebels commanded them to surrender. One of the men was captured and
another wounded. I told them to drop me, and to write home what had
become of me, and here is where my suffering commenced. I was lying
on that field of battle for five days and five nights, with snow on
the ground at the same time, and captured. By the aid of the Rebel
friend of whom you have already heard and who interceded for me
with Stonewall Jackson, I was taken back into a rifle-pit, out of
the reach of the bullets, and from there I was taken to Libby
Prison. I was there six weeks, and after being paroled I was
brought back to Annapolis, Md., a skeleton. After seeing me, the
doctors gave me but three days to live, but by the grace of God I
am here to tell the tale of my sufferings.

“Up to Dec. 13, 1862, I saw thousands of men
sacrificed on the altar of their country, but through all that,
‘there was peace in my soul that passeth all understanding.’ No
wonder General Sherman expressed himself correctly when he said:
‘War is Hell.’ In the battle of Fredericksburg, forty-two men were
shot down out of the three Reading companies, and only two
survived, another Reading man and I.

“Before closing, I must tell you of an incident
that happened while I was lying on the battle-field. A man from
your city died right aside of me. He professed to be an infidel and
lived like one, but the first night while lying on the
battle-field, when he saw there was no hope for him, he commenced
to pray until his tongue was stiff in death. From this you can
plainly see what infidelity is. When I look back over my past life
I must call out with the poet, ‘Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves
me.'”

After the war Mr. Scheifley returned to Reading,
and for some time was employed at various occupations, until 1863
when he was appointed clerk by Postmaster George Whitner, brother
of C. K. Whitner, and he remained in that position for four years.
A Democratic administration at this time compelled him to resign,
but he was later appointed under Postmaster Casper Stetson, and he
has continued faithfully in the service since that time, a period
of twenty-one years, six months. Courteous and obliging, cheerful
and affable, Mr. Scheifley is one of the most popular employes that
the service has ever had. He has charge of the stamp department.

Mr. Scheifley was married, in 1859, to Miss
Catherine Bobst, daughter of Charles Bobst, and to this union there
were born the following named children: Rev. J. William, of
Philadelphia, Pa., was educated in the Reading schools, and is a
minister of the United Evangelical faith; Annie m. Fred Will, who
is in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad;
Catherine m. Charles Chubb, a resident of Reading; Carrie,
deceased, m. Rev. George Knerr; one died in infancy; John; and
Naomi. The mother of these children passed away Sept. 18, 1886, and
Mr. Scheifley was married (second) March 7, 1889, to Mrs. Helena H.
Thuderoh, the widow of Jacob Thuderoh, who was a well known artist
of Reading. There have been no children born to this second union.

In his religious belief, Mr. Scheifley is
identified with the Evangelical Church, of which he has ever been a
consistent attendant. In his political views he is a stanch
Republican. As a veteran of the Civil war, he is one of the popular
members of McLean Post No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic.

SCHELL,
GEORGE P.

p. 1463

Surnames: SCHELL, MOUNTS, REDER, LEISS, REICH, MCCALISTER, FIDLER,
WILHELM, OLIVER, MOYER, LUTZ, GRUBER, FISHER, KLOPP, KINTZER,
PFLUEGER, FILBERT, KUTZ, BLATT, BRECHT, DREIBELBIS

George P. Schell, who owns and operates a fine farm of 190 acres in
North Heidelberg township, is secretary of the township school
board, and a member of one of Berks county’s old and honored
families. Mr. Schell was born June 23, 1862, in North Heidelberg
township, son of Isaac and Sarah (Mounts) Schell.

The first of this family to locate in Berks
county was Michael Schell, who settled in Hereford township at an
early date, and died there between Oct. 18 and Nov 10, 1783, the
respective dates of making and of probating of his will, which is
on record in Will Book B, page 84. The executor of the will was
John Reder, probably a son-in-law. The ancestor and his wife
Catherine had three sons and two daughters. One of the sons,
Michael, settled in North Heidelberg township, where he died in
middle age, his widow, Susanna Margaret, dying there in 1827. She
made a will, which is recorded in Will Book 6, page 119, her
grandson Henry being the executor of her estate. Items of the will
were that her grandchildren Barbara, Peter and Henry were to have
the bulk of the estate, and her children Adam, Henry and Maria
(intermarried with Peter Leiss), should have nothing beyond five
shillings each. Peter Schell, grandson of Michael of North
Heidelberg, was the grandfather of George P.

Peter Schell was a farmer in North Heidelberg
township, where he died when forty-three years of age, and was
buried at Little Tulpehocken Church, of which he was a Lutheran
member. His wife was Esther Reich, and their children were as
follows: John; William; Isaac; Samuel; Amelia, m. to James
McCalister; Rebecca, m. to Levi Fidler; Elias; Adam; Edward;
Joshua; Alfred; Reuben; Levi; and Sarah, who went with James
Wilhelm, her uncle, to Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa, and there married a
Mr. Oliver.

Isaac Schell, father of George P., was born in
North Heidelberg township in 1834, and died in 1899, aged
sixty-five years. He was a shoemaker and farmer in North Heidelberg
township, and lived and died on the old Schell homestead, near
Klopp’s store, a tract of forty acres. He was buried at Little
Tulpehocken Church, of which he was a member. He married Sarah
Mounts, daughter of George and Mary (Moyer) Mounts, who now lives
with her son, J. Franklin Schell. Mr. and Mrs. Schell had these
children: George P.; Samuel H.; J. Franklin, of North Heidelberg
township; Sallie M., m. to William Lutz, a farmer of North
Heidelberg township; Walter J., a successful farmer of Perry,
Dallas Co., Iowa; and Clyde A., who is in the employ of his brother
George P.

George P. Schell obtained his early education in
the township schools, and later attended the Bernville Academy,
taught by Prof. M. A. Gruber, and until twenty-one years of age
worked for his parents. After his marriage he commenced farming on
the John W. Fisher farm in North Heidelberg township, where he
remained eight years, and at the end of that time removed to his
present place, formerly the William D. Klopp homestead. This
property, which is finely cultivated, consists of 190 acres, and is
operated by Mr. Schell as a general farm. He is up-to-date in his
methods, using the most modern machinery. He has thirteen horses,
twenty-three head of cattle and fifty hogs. Mr. Schell is a
Democrat in politics, and in 1886 was elected constable, an office
which he held for twelve consecutive years. He was elected a school
director in 1903, and re-elected to that office in 1904, now
serving as secretary of the board. Fraternally he is connected with
Bernville Lodge No. 113, P. O. S. of A. With his family he attends
Christ (Little Tulpehocken) Lutheran Church, in which he has been
deacon and elder.

On Nov. 13, 1886, Mr. Schell was married to
Agnes Kintzer, daughter of Levi Kintzer, and they had one daughter,
Miriam, who is attending school.

Samuel H. Schell is a brother of George P.
Schell and is a highly esteemed citizen and progressive
agriculturalist of North Heidelberg township, where he was born May
22, 1864. Until twenty-one years of age he worked for his parents,
and then engaged in laboring until his thirty-second year, when he
commenced operating the George Pflueger farm in North Heidelberg
township. He continued there for four years and spent a like period
on the John Filbert farm. In the spring of 1905 he removed to the
John M. Kutz farm near Klopp’s store, where he now resides. He has
twelve horses, twenty-one head of cattle and thirty-five hogs, and
his farm is conducted along modern lines. In politics Mr. Schell is
a Democrat, and he succeeded his brother as constable, an office
which he held for six years. He was elected a member of the board
of school directors in the spring of 1905.

On Sept. 27, 1884, Mr. Schell was married to
Celesta Blatt, daughter of Jacob Blatt, and they have three
children, as follows: Thomas m. Alice Brecht, and has a daughter,
Helen. Annie m. Calvin Dreibelbis, of Bernville, and has two
daughters, Pearl and Mabel; and Willis assists his father on the
home farm.

SCHELLHAMMER, HENRY W.

p. 1712

Surnames: SCHELLHAMMER, LEYMASTER, KLAHR, SELLERS, HOLTZMAN,
KAUFFMAN, STRAUSS, WOODWARD

Henry W. Schellhammer, a prominent teacher of public schools in
Berks county for many years, was born Jan. 7, 1844, in Upper Bern
township, Berks county. His grandfather, Simon Schellhammer, was
born at Shartlesville, but subsequently removed to Orwigsburg where
he died. His father, Benneville Schellhammer, born May 1, 1823,
also at Shartlesville, accompanied his parents to Orwigsburg where
he engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of years, when he
removed to Pine Grove where he died. He married Elvina Leymaster,
and their only child was Henry W.

Mr. Schellhammer attended the public schools of
Upper Bern township until he was fourteen years old, and then
attended an advanced school at White Hall. He became a public
teacher when he was only fifteen years old, and the school which he
first taught was situated in Lower Heidelberg township, near
Wernersville. In 1860 he attended an advanced school at the Trappe,
and in 1861 entered the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie,
N. Y., where he continued his studies for two years, graduating in
1863. While thus preparing himself with a thorough education, he
learned the trade of a carpenter and millwright, and was in the
employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company for
thirteen years. Subsequently he served as a clerk for three years
in a foundry at Bernville, and for two years under J. Klahr &
Son, who were prominent manufacturers at that place; while for a
time he carried on the manufacture of cigars for himself.

Mr. Schellhammer, with this experience in the
business world, directed his attention to teaching public school in
Berks, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties, and in this profession he
was very successful and very highly appreciated. He taught a school
in Longswamp township, Berks county, for seven terms, and the
Mertztown grammar school for fifteen terms; and while teaching the
Central high school of that place was stricken with paralysis from
which he died June 4, 1895. At the time of his death, he was the
second oldest teacher in Berks county, having taught public school
for thirty-two terms. He held a permanent certificate from May 13,
1881. He taught his pupils not only in the English language, but
also in the German language, in which he was proficient. He was
very highly esteemed for his excellent characters.

In 1865 Mr. Schellhammer married Isabella J.
Sellers, daughter of Leonard Sellers and Elizabeth Holtzman, his
wife, of Upper Bern township, and they had the following children:
Minnie (who died in infancy), Emma J. (m. Albert W. Kauffman, whose
sketch appears just above), William F. (who died at the age of
twenty-seven years), Charles E., Bessie D., and Cora J. (who all
three reside at Reading), Lutie (m. B. S. Strauss, of
Philadelphia), and Estella E. (m. Elmer Woodward). Mr. Schellhammer
was an esteemed member of the Reformed Church, and of the I. O. O.
F., at Strausstown.

SCHITLER, HIRAM W.

p. 1491

Surnames: SCHITLER, HARTMAN, HARE, BRUNNER, HOOVER

Hiram W. Schitler, a well known citizen of Reading, to which city
he came in 1839, was born in Frederick township, Montgomery county,
April 27, 1831, son of Lewis Schitler. He died Oct. 2, 1892, at his
home, No. 42 North Eighth street, Reading.

From the time he was a little lad of eight
years, Mr. Schitler was a lover of horses, and at that age had his
first lessons in riding. While still a boy he was sent by his
parents on horseback to drive a cow to their farm in Montgomery
county, but on the way the boy forgot the name of his destination,
and when found was roaming about the country. Schools were few in
those days, and what education he acquired was gained by his own
pluck and perseverance. When he was eighteen he began a railroad
life as fireman on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. At the
end of a year he was deemed competent to fill the position of
engineer, and for eight years he held that responsible position. He
seemed to bear a charmed life, for, although he was in a number of
wrecks, he always escaped uninjured. He next engaged in the hauling
business, but this did not prove a success, and he lost
considerable money. To retrieve his finances he followed boating on
the Schuylkill canal for two seasons, having charge of the “Blue
Bird,” a boat of about 190 tons, and this business he found quite
profitable. His next venture was the purchase of a livery stable,
and this laid the foundation for his later success. There were but
eight horses available for the business, but Mr. Schitler
persevered and succeeded. From this he developed the Reading Horse
Exchange, with a large building at Poplar and Court streets. After
the Civil war the Reading Hose Market developed rapidly, and was
visited frequently by the leading dealers of the country, from
thirty to fifty horses changing

hands in a week. Mr. Schitler was exceedingly
fortunate in his horses, but he gave them his personal supervision,
and in cases of illness saw that they had prompt attention. One of
his greatest successes was “Lydia S.,” a horse he purchased for
$135, trained to a first-class trotter, and sold for $5,000. The
highest price he ever paid was $5,000, for “Little Mary,” and she
maintained her trotting record of 2:25, winning every race entered.
Mr. Schitler traded her for two trotters, but after this did not
stay much longer in the sporting business. Only once did he lose a
horse through theft. He looked after his business himself and did
his own bookkeeping to the last. During the Civil war he enlisted
for service and was assigned to the 149th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry, and for ninety days was on active duty.

In 1848 Mr. Schitler married Lydia Hartman,
daughter of “Blind” Hartman, who for many years conducted the hotel
on the Kutztown road known as “Blind Hartman’s Hotel.” Two children
were born to them: Clara L. married Michael R. Hare, who was born
at Reading July 7, 1853, and died July 19, 1897, and who was
associated with his brother-in-law in the livery business: they had
four children, George, Elsie, Gertrude, and Hiram. William J., born
April 7, 1852, was educated in the public schools and Prof. D. B.
Brunner’s Academy, and is an excellent penman. He was associated
with his father in the livery business, and after the latter’s
death, with his brother-in-law, Michael R. Hare, who, however, died
nine months later. William J. Schitler then sold out the business
and has since lived retired. He married Clara Hoover, daughter of
Simon Hoover, of Mianisburg, Montgomery country, Ohio, and they
have a son, Richard H.

SCHITLER, MILTON J. H.

p. 1402

Surnames: SCHITLER, SCHILLER, HEEBNER, HEILIG, MOORE, HOUCK, BOYER,
HEEBNER, STETTLER, GOOD, HAINES, DAVIS, KNODERER, BUCK, DIEHL,
BERTOLET, KELLER

Milton J. H. Schitler, former huckster, sawmill operator, in
Pricetown, Ruscombmanor township, Berks county, was born Oct. 1,
1839, in Montgomery county, Pa., son of Daniel H. and Alamanda
(Heebner) Schitler.

Ludwig Schiller, the ancestor of the family of
this name, is said to have been a redemptioner. He had an only son
Hezekiah, whose son Hezekiah as the grandfather of Milton J. H. In
the Federal census of 1790 Ludwig Schiller is recorded as the head
of a family made up of himself and wife, one son Hezekiah over
sixteen years of age, and two daughters.

Hezekiah Schitler, the grandfather, was born in
Frederick township, Montgomery county, Pa., and was almost ninety
years old when he died. He is buried at Keeler’s Church, of which
he was a Lutheran member. He was a foremost man of his district,
and owned much land. His wife, Barbara Heilig, is buried at Swamp
Church. Their children were: Jacob, unmarried who lived at home;
John, who m. and lived at Perkasie, Pa.; Lewis, who lived in
Reading; George, of Reading; Barbara, m. to George Moore;
Elizabeth, m. to Harry Houck; Sarah, m. to Mr. Boyer; and Daniel
H., who was three years of age when his mother died.

Daniel H. Schitler, son of Hezekiah and father
of Milton J. H. was born in Frederick township, Montgomery county,
in 1812, and died at Pricetown, in 1882, in the seventieth year of
his age. In 1840 or 1841 he and his family came to Reading where
they lived until 1857, when he moved to Ruscombmanor township, and
operated a farm and grist mill. In his earlier life Mr. Schitler
had been one of the first employes of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railway, and was on the road as an engineer twenty-seven years,
first running a coal and later a freight train between Pottsville
and Philadelphia. He married Alamanda Heebner, and both are buried
at Keeler’s Church in Montgomery county. They had eight children,
four of whom are deceased. The living are: Milton J. H.; Nathaniel,
of Holton, Kans.; Barbara Anna, m. to Rev. Daniel Stettler, of
Trevortown, Pa.; Daniel A., of Missouri, having his home but sixty
miles from his brother Nathaniel.

Milton J. H. Schitler was educated in the public
schools of Reading, to which city his parents came when he was
little over one year old. He began clerking in his father’s feed,
grocery and queensware store, located at Ninth and Franklin
streets, and he continued clerking in different stores in Reading
until he was nearly seventeen years old, when he became a salesman
in Philadelphia for Birch & Weldy-wholesale notion dealers,
remaining a short time. Later he was salesman for Philip Ford, in
his boot and shoe store, remaining in Philadelphia a little over
one year. Returning to Reading, he learned the blacksmith’s trade,
and in 1857, when his father moved to Wanner’s Mill, in
Ruscombmanor township, he accompanied him and by assisting his
father learned the milling trade. He was licensed to teach in the
public schools by Prof. William Good, and taught six years in
Ruscombmanor and two years in Pike township.

On May 22, 1860, Mr. Schitler was married to
Sarah M. Heebner, daughter of William Heebner, of Friedensburg,
Berks county, and they began house-keeping at the homestead of
William D. Haines, where they have lived ever since. Mr. Schitler
is one of the foremost men of his township, and is a large real
estate owner. He operates a saw mill and cidermill on what was the
old Buck estate. An old glue factory, once operated by Michael
Buck, a native of Germany, was located on this tract, and the old
stone building, a land mark of the district was erected about 1830,
and is located along the Pricetown Road, east of Pricetown. Mr.
Schitler is also engaged in huckstering, attending the wholesale
and retail street markets in Reading. In 1862 he enlisted for
service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company C, 167th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Col. Knoderer, and came home under
Colonel Davis, the former colonel having died on the field of
battle. Mr. Schitler was in the army nine months, and participated
among others, in the fight at Deserted Farm. He is active in Church
life, and has been interested in Sunday-school work from his youth
up. He is connected with both Pricetown Zion and Pricetown Salem
Sunday-schools, being honorary Sunday-school superintendent of
Zion, and Bible Class teacher of adult scholars in both schools. He
was Sunday-school superintendent of both schools for many years,
and he is a leader in all religious and moral movements.

The following children were born to Mr.
Schitler’s marriage with Sarah M. Heebner. William H., deceased;
Miss Eva, of Philadelphia; Charles, of Pricetown; Mary, m. to
William Diehl, of Pricetown; and Harry H., of Ruscombmanor. Mr.
Schitler was m. (second) to Emma K. Bertolet, daughter of John K.
Bertolett, of Friedensburg, and their son, John Bertolett Schitler
lives in Pricetown. He m. (third) Sarah Keller, widow of Levi Fry,
son of Charles. No children have been born of this union.

SCHLAPPICH, CHARLES E.
(M.D.)

p. 1493

Surnames: SCHLAPPICH, WAGNER, SAVAGE, DIETRICH, SIEFERT, MOLL,
SCHWADER

Among the rising young medical practitioners of Berks county, Pa.,
one who is favorably known to the public as well as the profession
is Dr. Charles E. Schlappich, who has chosen for his field of
practice the borough of Bernville. Dr. Schlappich was born Jan. 5,
1882, at Shartlesville, Pa., son of Jefferson F. and Polly (Wagner)
Schlappich.

William H. Schlappich, grandfather of the
Doctor, is very well known at Shartlesville, where he now resides.
He was born in Upper Bern township in 1832, and for many years was
one of the prominent agriculturists of his district, although he
now lives retired. He married Mary A. Savage, who is buried at St.
Michael’s burial ground, and they had three children : William S. ;
Ellen m. Frank Dietrich, of Bern township ; and Jefferson F., born
at Shartlesville in 1864.

Jefferson F. Schlappich now follows farming on a
fine tract of Upper Bern township land. He married Polly Wagner,
daughter of Ephraim Wagner, of Shartlesville, and they have had
these children: Dr. Charles E. ; Calvin L. m. Katie Siefert ;
Sallie N. m. Oliver Moll ; Annie M. ; Cora L. ; H. William ;
Lawrence S. and Clarence M., twins ; and Miranda E.

Charles E. Schlappich’s primary education was
secured in the local schools of Shartlesville, and later he
attended the Bernville Academy. In the fall of 1900 he was
appointed to teach in the Scull Hill school in Penn Valley, Penn
township, where he taught two successive terms, and in the spring
of 1908 he entered the Schissler College of Business, from which he
was graduated in October of the same year. He then entered the
employ of the Webster Coal & Coke Company, at Cresson, Pa., as
clerk and stenographer for the chief engineer. During the winter of
1904 he entered the Keystone State Normal school at Kutztown,
taking up college preparatory work, and entered the Baltimore
Medical College in September, 1904, from which he was graduated May
24, 1903. He was a close and careful student, but was always
popular with his fellows, having the honor of being the president
of the Phi Chi fraternity during his senior year. After leaving
this institution, he took a general course in the Maryland General
Hospital, where he secured valuable experience, and received second
honorable mention out of a class of one hundred and twenty-one
students. The Doctor located on Main street, Bernville, July 17,
1908. He is a member of Washington Camp No. 133, P. O. S. of A. His
religious connection is with the Reformed Church.

Dr. Schlappich married Martha E., daughter of
George J. Schwader, of Cresson, Pennsylvania.

SCHLASMAN, JAMES F.

p.
1072

Surnames: SCHLASMAN, LIVENGOOD, BOMBERGER, HICKS, PEIFFER,
BURKHOLDER, SCHEETZ, KAUFFMAN, SCHMEHL, KURR, BORDNER, WALTERS,
BERGER, NOECKER, LERCH

James F. Schlasman, one of Tulpehocken township’s representative
citizens, who for more than twenty years was engaged in the hotel
business as proprietor of the “Mansion House,” at Mount Aetna, Pa.,
was born Nov. 22, 1862, at Stouchsburg, Berks county, son of Isaac
and Mary (Livengood) Schlasman.

Peter Schlasman, grandfather of James F., was a
farmer of Rehrersburg, where he married Eva Bomberger. Their
children were: Augustus m. Rebecca Hicks, and removed to
Girardville, Schuylkill county, where he carried on painting and
paperhanging until his death; Isaac became the father of James F.;
Mary m. John Peiffer, a farmer of near Myerstown, Lebanon county,
and had five children-James, Emma, Clara, Nora and Clayton; and
Adam left home when quite young and was for many years a resident
of Texas and later of Oklahoma. Mrs. Schlasman survived her husband
many years, and died at the home of her daughter, at the age of
ninety-three.

Isaac Schlasman was at an early age apprenticed
to Samuel Burkholder, of Stouchsburg, with whom he learned cabinet
making, an occupation at which he worked until the outbreak of the
Civil war, when he commenced work for the Government. He was
married to Mary A. Livengood, daughter of James and Elizabeth
(Scheetz) Livengood, for many years residents of Stouchsburg, where
Mr. Livengood was a constable for twenty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs.
Schlasman had children: Kate Elizabeth m. Henry E. Kauffman, and
resides in Reading; Eva m. John Schmehl; Mary Ella m. Erasmus Kurr,
and has four children-Charles, Nettie, Mary and Louis; James F.;
Isora m. Morris C. Bordner, and they reside on his farm near
Millersburg; Harry Augustus, a carpenter in the employ of the
Philadelphia & Reading Railway, resides in Reading and is
married; Anna Margaret m. Walter Walters, of Reading; and Margaret
Anna (twin to Anna Margaret) m. Charles C. Berger, of Reading.

James F. Schlasman was educated in the public
schools of his native district and later at Womelsdorf, whither his
parents had removed in 1873 to take charge of the “Nicholas House.”
In the spring of 1877 they went to Millersburg where they conducted
the “Centre House” for seventeen years, and where Mr. Schlasman
died. Here James F. Schlasman assisted his parents, and in addition
carried the daily mail between Bethel and Myerstown for nine years,
but in 1886 removed to Mount Aetna, where he took charge of the
“Mansion House” and continued to conduct it for twenty-one years,
at the same time dealing largely in horses, poultry and calves. By
thrift and good management he accumulated a competency, and he is
now practically retired and lives in his own home. He is an active
Democrat, and has been mercantile appraiser for one term, as well
as being delegate to various conventions and holding minor township
offices. He is a member of Golden Rule Temple, of which he is
treasurer, and is also connected with Camp N. 69, P. O. S. of A.
With his family he attends the old Lutheran Church at Rehrersburg.

Mr. Schlasman was married to Dora Noecker,
daughter of Israel M. and Rebecca (Lerch) Noecker, and their
children were: Mary, member of the 1909 class at the Keystone State
Normal School, is an accomplished musician; Robert died aged one
year, five days; and Mark James is in school.

SCHLEGEL, ADAM H.

p. 1165

Surnames: SCHLEGEL, KINSEY, HARTMAN, SNYDER

Adam H. Schlegel, a representative citizen of Mount Penn borough,
Berks County, residing in his pleasant home on Perkiomen avenue,
has for some years been employed by the Philadelphia & Reading
Railway Company as a molder. Mr. Schlegel was born Oct. 19, 1871,
in Ruscombmanor township, this county. Until his sixteenth year he
attended the public schools of his native locality, and then
learned the molder’s trade with Schaeffer & Merkel of Fleetwood
serving a full apprenticeship for years. After working for a few
months for the Reading Hardware Company, and has continued in that
company’s employ to the present time. Mr. Schlegel is a skilled
mechanic and a steady workman, and is respected by his employers
and popular with his fellow workmen. In the spring of 1901, he
erected a nice frame residence on Perkiomen avenue, in Mount Penn
borough, and here he has a comfortable home. In political matters
he is a Democrat, and he is fraternally connected with Castle No.
230, K. G. E., of St. Lawrence, Pa. He and his family worship at
Spies’s Union Church, he being a Lutheran member, while his wife
belongs to the Reformed denomination.

On Oct. 28, 1892, Mr. Schlegel was united in
marriage with Sallie H. Kinsey, and to this union have been born
three children: Elsie K., born March 10, 1894; Harry K, born April
28, 1896; and Frederick Marshall, born July 27, 1908.

The grandparents of Mr. Schlegel, who were
farming people of Alsace township, had children as follows: Isaac;
Benjamin, who died while fighting in defense of his country during
the Civil War, when he was less than twenty years old; Sarah, who
married Jacob Snyder and now resides in Reading; and Amos, also a
resident of Reading. Isaac Kinsey, father of Mrs. Schlegel, who
also carries on agricultural pursuits in Alsace township, had the
following family; Benjamin; Sallie H., who became Mrs. Schlegel;
Annie; Judith; Peter; Darius; Lucetta; Rebecca; Edward, and Hettie.
All of these grew to maturity and live in Berks county at this
time.

SCHLEGEL, CHARLES H.

p.
944

Surnames: SCHLEGEL, HAAS, KEIM, YODER, ENGSTADT, SCHOLL, HERBINE,
WANNER, ROTHERMEL, HOCH, KUTZ, RAHN, SHOLLENBERGER, REDDINGER,
ANGSTADT, MERKEL, DIESHER, SCHAEFFER, HOCH, BROWN, HARTMAN, HEBER,
ROHRBACH, ZIEBER, LEOPOLD, FIES, WEIDNER, FOCHT, LUTZ, SCULL,
KILLIAN, CLOUSER, ESHELMAN, LANCE HAFTER, ECKERT, KEEPORT, DENGLER,
KINSEY

Among the well known contractors and builders of Berks county, Pa.,
may be mentioned Charles H. Schlegel, who is carrying on extensive
operations in the borough of Mt. Penn. He was born Jan. 19, 1872,
in Ruscombmanor township, Berks county, son of Amos R. and Mary
(Haas) Schlegel.

John Christian Schlegel, the American ancestor
and progenitor of this family, was a native of Germany, and
undoubtedly was the Johanis Schlegel who emigrated on the ship
“Bilander Townshead,” which landed (qualified) at Philadelphia,
Oct. 5, 1737. On Aug. 16, 1738, and also Nov. 7, 1854, he obtained
proprietary warrants for land situated in Berks county, Pa. In 1759
he paid six pounds tax in Richmond township, where he had lived
since coming to the New World. He was a farmer and owned more than
300 acres of land, and in 1797 built a stone house which is still
standing and in good condition, and is owned and used by his
great-grandson, Abraham, and his children and grandchildren. To
John Christian Schlegel and his wife Esther were born a number of
children, among whom were: Peter; Wilhelm; Christian, born March
25, 1765; Elizabeth, born April 9, 1967; Johannes, born Sept. 7,
1768, and Heinrich, born July 15, 1779. Peter and Wilhelm left this
section, traveling on horseback across the Blue Mountains, and
settled in the Mahantango Valley (in Schuylkill), then a part of
old Berks county. They visited their brother Heinrich at the old
home every two, three or four years, coming on horseback and
remaining for a week or two. One of the sons of John Christian
Schlegel lived with the Indians, liking their manner of life. He
was greatly admired by them, because of his courage, strength and
marksmanship, and when he was quite an aged man, he and some of his
adopted brethren of the forest came to visit his old home near
Fleetwood. Because of the great journey on which they came, and the
effects of his strenuous life with the red men, he became exhausted
at Dreibelbis Spring, and he died soon thereafter, and fills an
unknown grave. This account is based on tradition, and the old
family papers give brief accounts of it.

Heinrich Schlegel, great-grandfather of Charles
H., was born in Richmond township, July 15, 1779, and died March
29, 1860. He was a farmer and bought from his father the “Schlegel
Adventure,” so named by the Provincial Government of Pennsylvania
in a deed dated the twenty-first day of the seventh month, 1752.
The tract consisted of 252 acres, and in 1803 he bought another
patent of forty-six acres near his other land in Richmond township.
He erected the grist mill three-fourths of a mile above Fleetwood,
and was a man of considerable importance in his day. He was
Democrat in politics, which has always been the political faith of
the Schlegel family. Heinrich Schlegel was married, in 1800, to
Esther Keim, born Dec. 28, 1771, who died Dec. 21, 1843. They had
children as follows: Samuel, born in 1801, died in 1892; Magdalena
(1802-1886) m. Reuben Yoder (1802-1838), a farmer; Jacob m. Hattie
Engstadt; Sally m. George Scholl; Abraham (1809-1900); Solomon died
aged forty-five years; John; Daniel died aged ninety-seven years
and is buried at New Jerusalem; Katie m. Jonas Herbine, a farmer of
Richmond; Barbara m. Jacob Wanner, of Richmond township; and
Susannah m. Simon Rothermel, a farmer of Richmond township.
Heinrich Schlegel and his wife are buried in a private burial
ground on his farm near Fleetwood. They were Lutherans, which is
generally the faith of the Schlegel family. He was an official of
New Jerusalem church for many years.

Samuel Schlegel, one of the sons of Heinrich,
married Betzy Hoch, daughter of Solomon Hoch, and to them were born
these children: Henry m. Hettian Kutz, daughter of Joseph, and had
children: Albert, Sarah, Cyrus, Cecelia, Samuel, Cyranius, Tilmus,
Carolina and Mahlon (of Topeka, Kans.); Hannah m. Jacob Rahn;
Heittie m. John Shollenberger; Samuel had a son, Samuel, who had
Ahiah A.; Reuben m. Catherine Kutz, daughter of Joseph; David lives
at Berkley, Pa.; William, deceased, lived at Topeka, Kans.;
Caroline and Maria live at Fleetwood, both being single; Joshua;
Uriah is an undertaker at Reading; Elizabeth died at the age of
twenty-one years; and Lydia died when eighteen years old.

Abraham Schlegel, son of Heinrich and
grandfather of Charles H., was born on the old Schlegel stand near
Fleetwood in Richmond township, Jun e26, 1809, and died Sept. 8,
1900, in his ninety-second year. He was a lifelong farmer on the
place on which he was born, his fine property of 135 acres being
now in the possession of his son, Abraham, who lives upon it. He
also had an eighty-acre farm in Ruscombmanor township. In 1861 he
erected the present large Swiss barn on the homestead. His wife was
Esther Reddinger, daughter of Heinrich Reddinger, (whose wife was
an Angstadt), and they had the following children: Peter; Amelia m.
Peter Merkel; Abraham, born Feb. 4, 1842, a successful farmer on
the homestead and at one time director of the poor of Berks county,
m. Annie Diesher, and they had children-Charity, Mary, William,
Rother, Emily, Oliver, Minerva and Lloyd; Orlando lives at
Fleetwood; Amos resides at Mt. Penn; Amanda m. William Schaeffer;
Joseph makes his home at Spring Valley, Ill.; Augustus is at
Fleetwood; Clara m. Joel Hoch, postmaster of Fleetwood; Nicholas
died young; Annie died at the age of six years; Israel resides at
Topeka, Kans.; and Adeline died in infancy.

Amos R. Schlegel, father of Charles H., was a
farmer in Ruscombmanor township, and there resided on his father”
property for a number of years, later removing to a farm in Exeter
township and in 1902 to Mt. Penn, where he owns a nice home, being
employed with his son, Charles H. He was born in Richmond township,
Jan. 27, 1844, and married, Nov. 23, 1867, Mary Haas, daughter of
John and Katie (Brown) Haas, and to this union there were born the
following children: Katie m. Benjamin Hartman, of Reading; Adam, a
molder of Mt. Penn, m. Sallie Kinsey; Charles H.; Heber, a
carpenter of Mr. Penn, m. Harriet Rohrbach; John, a machinist of
Mt. Penn, m. Annie Zieber; Abraham, a machinist of Mt. Penn, m.
Annie Leopold; Albert H., a painter of Mt. Penn, m. Dora Fies, and
they have a daughter-Frances; and Amos died in 1892 when seven
years of age.

Charles H. Schlegel obtained his education at
Fry’s school in Ruscombmanor township, which he left at an early
age to go to work on the farm. When eighteen years of age he
learned the carpenter’s trade with John R. Weidner, of Reading,
with whom he worked four years and then engaged with Levi H. Focht,
who was his employer for ten years, eight years of which he was
foreman. On Nov. 1, 1903, William Lutz, of Lorane, Pa., requested
Mr. Schlegel to build him a house, which he completed in sixty
days, this being his first contract. Liking the business he decided
to continue therein, and this he has been engaged in ever since
with almost phenomenal success. Since engaging in the business he
has erected upward to seventy-five buildings, including William
Scull’s fine summer home at Pleasantville; the fine mansions of
Hiester Killian, Harvey Clouser and Charles Eshelman, at Gibraltar;
the mountain home of Rump & Son, of Philadelphia, located in
the mountains above Gibraltar; the George F. Lance residence at
Wyomissing; the William Hafer home at Neversink; the Lutz furniture
factory at St. Lawrence; the handsome large summer residence of
Isaac Eckert, at Dingman’s Ferry, Pike Co., Pa.; and the Mark A.
Keeport and George Dengler homes and the Mt. Penn City Hall, at Mt.
Penn. Mr. Schlegel is a man of much business ability and
enterprise, and his standing is that of a substantial, far-sighted
citizen of excellent judgment. He employs on an average twenty-five
skilled mechanics. He is a director of the Commercial Trust
Company, of Reading, and a heavy stockholder in the Reading Bone
& Fertilizer Company, whose large plant he built after doing
all of the grading therefor.

In political matters Mr. Schlegel is a Democrat,
like all of the members of this numerous family, but has never
cared to hold public office, preferring to give his entire time and
attention to his growing business. He is popular in fraternal
circles, and is a member of Knights of the Golden Eagle, of St.
Lawrence, and the Patriotic Sons of American, Camp No. 1330, of
that place. L he and his family worship at Spiel’s Union Church, of
which they are consistent Reformed members, and they reside in
their handsome residence situated on Perkiomen avenue, Mt. Penn,
which Schlegle purchased in 1905, and where their many friends are
always welcome.

SCHLEGEL,
DANIEL

p. 846

Surnames: SCHLEGEL, ANGSTADT, ROMICH, GULDEN, VAN REED, HIGH

Daniel Schlegel, manufacturer of and dealer in steam engines and
boilers, steam and water pipes and fittings, and creamery outfits
and supplies, has carried on his present business at Boyertown
since 1875. He was born Nov. 20, 1848, at Fleetwood, in Richmond
township, Berks county, in which neighborhood the family has been
located for over a century. Samuel Schlegel, his grandfather, was
born in Richmond township, where he followed farming all his life,
and he is buried in a private burial ground on a farm now owned by
Abraham Schlegel, near Fleetwood.

Jacob Schlegel, a son of Samuel and father of
Daniel Schlegel, was born in Richmond township in 1800, and died in
1861, after an industrious agricultural career. He owned part of
the original homestead, his farm consisting of sixty-two acres of
good land, which is now cut up into building lots around Fleetwood.
His remains rest in the old Fleetwood burying-ground. He married
Hettie Angstadt, of Rockland township, Berks county, who survived
him a number of years, living to the age of nearly eighty. Fourteen
children were born to this union: John (deceased), Jacob, Henry,
Daniel, Isaac, Sarah (deceased), Susan, Rebecca (deceased),
Hettian, Emma, Kate, and three who died young.

Daniel Schlegel was reared on the old home farm
in his native township, near Fleetwood, and was eighteen years old
when he commenced to learn the machinist’s trade, at Fleetwood. He
served his apprenticeship with Schaeffer, Melchior & Co., with
whom he remained four years. As previously stated, he opened his
business in Boyertown in 1875, locating on Washington street, near
the railroad station, where he has remained to the present day. Mr.
Schlegel has a first-class machine shop, and does all kinds of
repair work as well as manufacturing, always having employment for
several mechanics. He is a master workman himself, and takes pride
in turning out articles of superior quality, making a specialty of
creamery supplies and outfits. He has equipped nearly all the
creameries within a radius of fifteen miles around Boyertown, and
altogether has fitted about twenty-five, his reputation in this
line being founded on satisfactory machinery and its expert
adjustment. The main part of the shop is 20×60 feet in dimensions,
and the additions afford all the room necessary to carry on the
business conveniently. Mr. Schlegel is progressive as well as
industrious, and he holds an interest in nearly all the local
enterprises which have brought Boyertown to the front as an
up-to-date borough.

In 1877 Mr. Schlegel married Miss Ellen Romich,
daughter of John Romich, of Douglass township, Berks county, and
they had one daughter, Katie, who died in 1907, when twenty-six
years old. Mrs. Ellen Schlegel was born in 1854, and died at the
age of twenty-six years. For his second wife Mr. Schlegel married
Mrs. Isabella (Guldin) Van Reed, widow of James Van Reed. No
children have been born to this union. Mr. and Mrs. Schlegel are
members of St. John’s Lutheran Church. They reside at the corner of
Third and Washington streets, Boyertown. Mr. Schlegel has no
inclination for politics or public life, and he has never had any
ambition for office.

Peter Guldin, father of Mrs. Schlegel, was a
farmer near Friedensburg, in Oley township, this county, his
property in that locality comprising 130 acres of fine land, now
owned by Mrs. Schlegel. There is a stone house standing on the
place that was built in 1809, and is still in good condition. There
is considerable limestone in the region thereabout, and under this
old house is a cave which has a uniform temperature of about forty
degrees Fahrenheit, and which is an ideal place for keeping meats
and vegetables, etc. It was made by Mrs. Schlegel’s grandfather,
Daniel Guldin.

Peter Guldin owned another farm, which was a
part of the old Guldin homestead, and which is now the property of
Willoughby High.

SCHLEGEL, GEORGE SOLOMON (D. D.
S.)

p. 537

Surnames: SCHLEGEL, KLINE, STROHECKER

George Solomon Schlegel, D. D. S. Among the prominent young
professional men of Reading, Pa., may be mentioned George Solomon
Schlegel, a successful dental practitioner of that city. Solomon
Schlegel, his paternal grandfather, was a resident of Fleetwood,
Pa., while his maternal grandfather , Simon Kline, was the pioneer
brick manufacturer of Reading. Edmund Schlegel, father of George
S., was a farmer, now living in Reading. He married Mary M. Kline,
and their only child was George Solomon.

George S. Schlegel was born in Cumru township,
Berks county, April 9, 1879, and was educated in the public
schools, graduating from high school in 1897. He then attended the
dental department of the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1900
graduated a doctor of dental surgery. He came at once to Reading,
locating at No. 147 North Eighth street, where he has since enjoyed
a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Schlegel belongs to Delta Sigma
Delta fraternity of the United States, and to the Auxiliary
Chapter, Philadelphia ; to the Reading Dental Society and the
Lebanon Valley Dental Association and the Pennsylvania State Dental
Society. He is a life member of the Alumni Association of the
University of Pennsylvania In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. He
belongs to Trinity Lutheran Church, and is a teacher in its
Sunday-school.

Dr. Schlegel was married, Oct. 29, 1903, to Miss
Emma Brumbach Strohecker, daughter of Augustus J. Strohecker, a
member of the board of park commissioners of Reading. Mrs. Schlegel
is a graduate of Reading high school graduating therefrom in the
same class as did her husband.