Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

REDCAY
FAMILY

p. 667

Surnames: REDCAY, REDCHE/RETGE/RATTGE, WINTERBERGER, HUNTER,
KENDALL, CHRISTIAN, KRAUSS, RAPP, ZIGLER, ESCHELMAN, GEIGER,
UMSTEAD, BEARD, JONES, NEYKIRK, HARNER, STRAUSS, LUDWIG, BARR,
RHOADS, LEWIS, ROMIG, SCHRACK, KINT, KERPER, BROWN, TROSTLE, KINDT,
STEMMEN, LINGLING, SWEIGERT, SWARTZ, BICHER, PENNEBECKER, YOUNG,
FICHTHORN, KEGERISE, BULMAN, MOHN, ALTHOUSE, HINNERSHITZ

Redcay. For the last one hundred and fifty and more years the name
of Redcay (Redche, Retge) has been a familiar one in Lancaster and
Berks counties, Pa., where many of the name have spent upright,
honorable and useful lives following the peaceful pursuit of
agriculture.

(I) Elias Rattge (or Redche), the ancestor of the Redcay family in
question, came to Pennsylvania, Sept. 26, 1737, from Germany, and
was accompanied by Nicholas Rattge, a relative. Both names were
written by a clerk, and that of Elias was spelled Ratgen. Tradition
says he was related to John Jacob Radge, who arrived in
Philadelphia, Dec. 3, 1740, on the ship “Robert and Alice,” Capt.
Goodman, commander. Elias Rattge settled at once in Robeson
township, Lancaster county, and Nicholas in Albany township, Berks
(then Philadelphia) county, and on Nov. 28, 1750, the latter
received a warrant for fifty acres in Philadelphia county. He was a
farmer, but little is known of him. He died in 1760 leaving a
widow, Maria Ann Ursula, and children Elias (died in Greenwich
township, Berks county, in 1773) and Anna Margarete.

In 1750 Elias Rattge (or Redche) secured a
warrant from the proprietaries of Pennsylvania for sixty-five acres
of land in Robeson township, Lancaster county; in 1752 this
township was transferred to Berks county. On Oct. 28, 1765, he
purchased of Henry Winterberger 140 acres at Gibraltar, Robeson
township, adjoining the sixty-five acres previously mentioned, and
there he farmed continuously until 1773. St. John’s Church and
graveyard are situated on this property. On June 12, 1773, he sold
his property at Gibraltar to his only son Elias, Jr., and moved to
Cumru (now Brecknock) township, in what was called “the Forest.”
There he purchased one hundred and thirty-four acres, through which
ran the Allegheny creek, and on the banks of that stream he erected
a sawmill, which he conducted successfully until the time of his
death. He also followed farming on this land. He died in 1786, aged
about seventy years, and is buried in the St. John’s graveyard at
Gibraltar.

Elias Redche was twice married. By his first
wife, Elizabeth, he had the following children. (1) Elias Redcay,
born in 1745, m. Elizabeth Hunter (born in 1752, died Jan. 11,
1816), of Oley, April 6, 1773, and died Jan. 3, 1829. (2) Barbara
m. John Kendall. (3) Mary, born Aug. 5, 1747, m. Gottlieb
Christian, May 28, 1770, and died in 1832. (4) Catharine, born
April 22, 1756, m. Christian Krauss, Sept. 5, 1773, and died Feb.
14, 1809. (5) Elizabeth m. Fredrich Rapp, Sept. 20, 1770, and died
before 1786. Elias Redche m. (second) March 21, 1773, Rosina
Zigler, widow of Adam Zigler. They had no children, and at his
death in 1788 she married Christian Eschelman, a neighbor.

(II) Elias Redcay, Jr., only son of Elias and Elizabeth, lived in
Robeson township, where he carried on farming and conducted a
sawmill. He carried on operations on the two tracts which he had
purchased from his father in 1773, up to 1804, when he decided to
sell out. He was an extensive dealer in land and a large property
owner, owning several good farms and a few timber tracts on which
he operated sawmills. On April 29, 1791, he and his wife deeded to
Valentine Geiger and Herman Umstead in trust for the inhabitants of
this section a tract of land containing one acre, ten perches, it
being part of the land he had purchased from his father. This land
contained the private burying ground of the Redcays, who in later
years allowed the people of their section to bury their dead there.
It was the intention to have a church there, but this was not built
until 1809, and it is known as St. John’s Lutheran and Reformed
Church. It is said that a log church was on the property before the
present church was built. All Christian congregations which
contributed to its support were allowed to worship in the building,
and they were also to maintain and keep the graveyard. Late in life
Elias Redcay lost most of his competency through disastrous
financial investments. He was a member of the General Assembly from
Exeter in 1805-1806, and during the Revolutionary war he served as
a lieutenant of militia from Pennsylvania in Capt. Adam Beard’s
Company, 3d Battalion, Lieut. Col. Jonathan Jones. He was a great
reader and delighted to tell stories of the war. He passed away
Jan. 3, 1829, and is buried in the old Redcay burial ground.

On April 6, 1773, Elias Redcay married Elizabeth
Hunter, who was born in 1752, and died Jan. 11, 1816, and to them
were born the following children: (1) Henry, born Aug. 13, 1775, m.
Mary Catharine Neykirk, of Exeter, who was born Jan. 25, 1779. He
died May 22, 1848, and she Sept. 3, 1842, and both are buried in
the Muddy Creek cemetery in Lancaster county. (2) John is mentioned
below. (3) Elias, born Dec. 28, 1782, m. (first) Jan. 29, 1809,
Sarah Harner, of Exeter. She died and was buried in Muddy Creek
cemetery, and he m. (second) July 16, 1826, Elizabeth Strauss, of
Bern, who was born Feb. 12, 1790. He passed away Jan. 28, 1867, and
she died Aug. 19, 1875, and both are buried at Adamstown, Lancaster
county. (4) Elizabeth m. Samuel Ludwig, of Cumru. They moved to
Missouri in 1832. (5) Maria m. June 9, 1805, Jacob Ludwig.

(III) John Redcay, son of Elias, was born in Robeson township,
Berks county, about 1779. On April 10, 1810, he, with his father,
purchased a farm of John Barr, in Exeter township, which they
farmed until 1823, when they sold out. He then moved to a farm near
Schwartzwald in Exeter, which had a clover mill on it. There he
remained until his death, in 1836, and he is buried in St. John’s
graveyard at Gibraltar. About 1807 he married Esther Rhoads, of
Amity township, and they had children as follows: (1) Mary, born
Oct. 14, 1807, m. Thomas Lewis. (2) Betzy, born April 10, 1809, m.
Pete Romig, and died Oct. 16, 1851. (3) John, born April 25, 1810,
m. Phoebe Schrack, who was born Oct. 31, 1817, and died Feb. 13,
1854. He passed away in July, 1848. (4) Daniel, born Feb. 1, 1812,
m. Abby Kint, (born April 18, 1818, died April 13, 1904), and died
June 1, 1890. (5) Jacob, born June 13, 1816, and died unmarried
Dec. 18, 1898. (6) Catharine m. John Lewis.

(IV) Daniel Redcay, son of John and Esther (Rhoads) Redcay, was
born Feb. 1, 1812, and died June 1, 1890. He married Abby Kint,
daughter of Abraham Kint, and they moved to McEwensville, Pa. They
were the parents of: Angeline, born Dec. 24, 1842, who is living on
the old homestead; Henry, born Feb. 4, 1845, who is at Watsonstown;
Abraham, born Jan. 23, 1847, living at Milton; and Ed., born in
1861, residing in Scranton.

(IV) John Redcay, son of John and Esther (Rhoads) Redcay, lived at
the old clover mill with his parents until 1835, when on Sept. 11th
of which year he married Phoebe Schrack. He was a farmer in Amity
township until 1840, when he sold out and moved to Pottsville,
Schuylkill county. He died in July, 1848, and his wife passed away
Feb. 13, 1854, and both are buried at Pottsville. They had
children: Caroline R., born April 6, 1837, m. Adam Kerper; John R.,
born Jan. 24, 1831, died in the army during the Civil war; Isaac,
born Feb. 21, 1841, died Aug. 17, 1886 (his wife’s name was
Rebecca); Emma Maria was born May 16, 1847.

(III) Henry Redcay, son of Elias, was born in Robeson township,
Aug. 13, 1775, and died in Lancaster county, May 22, 1848. He is
buried in the Muddy Creek cemetery. On Sept. 10, 1804, he bought
from his father ninety-one acres of the old homestead in Robeson
township, and on this he lived and worked until March 30, 1811. The
place is now owned by the Elisha Brown estate. He then purchased
137 acres on Lancaster pike, between the “Five Mile House” and
Gouglersville, in Cumru township, but this being poor and swampy
land he sold it a year after, April 1, 1812, and moved to Stone
Hill, Brecknock township, Lancaster county. There he purchased a
farm and there he lived until his death in 1848. He married Mary
Catharine Neykirk, and they had children as follows: Esther, born
Dec. 18, 1797, was baptized Sept. 3, 1798. Mary, born Nov, 3, 1801,
died July 8, 1810; she was drowned in the mill dam and is buried in
the cemetery at Gibraltar. Nelly, born April 2, 1803, died Aug. 20,
1853; she m. Abraham Trostle, born in 1809, who died Nov. 23, 1886.
Jacob, born Sept. 11, 1804, died Dec. 22, 1812. Heinrich, born Feb.
12, 1809, died unmarried April 14, 1834. Mary Catharine, born Sept.
19, 1810, died aged thirteen days. John, born May 14, 1813, died
Oct. 8, 1863; his wife, Mary Ann, was born Feb. 16, 1816. Mary,
born May 7, 1817, m. Simon Kindt, who was born May 3, 1822, and
died Aug. 15, 1870. Sarah, born May 23, 1819, m. Joseph Stemmen.
Susannah, born Dec. 8, 1820, m. William Redcay, a cousin, and is
still living. Catharine m. Henry Lingling. Elizabeth m. Mr.
Sweigert, and they moved to Cumberland county. Joseph and Rachel
are given no record.

(III) Elias Redcay, son of Elias, was born Dec. 28, 1782, in
Robeson township, Berks county, and died at Adamstown, Jan. 28,
1867. He assisted his father with the farm work until his marriage.
On Jan. 29, 1809, he married Sarah Harner, a daughter of Heinrich
and Catharine Harner of Exeter. The year after his marriage he
farmed for himself, and in 1810 he moved to Exeter, where he
carried on farming operations until 1821. On March 31st of the last
named year he bought the hotel stand of Jacob Swartz in Adamstown,
Lancaster county, on the Lancaster pike, between Reading and
Lancaster. The Lancaster pike was a much used highway and of all
the old hostelries in the town “Redcay’s” was the most patronized
by the travelers between the two points. This hotel was operated by
Mr. Redcay until 1846, in which year he sold out and purchased a
tract of land in the lower end of the town, where he erected a
hotel which he owned until the time of his death. Mr. Redcay was
twice married. He m. (first) Sarah Harner, by whom he had the
following children: (1) Henry, born Aug. 9, 1809, died June 9,
1890. He m. Lidia Bicher, who was born Feb. 22, 1811, and died Aug.
6, 1898. (2) Charles, born Jan. 1, 1811, and died Nov. 29, 1887. He
m. Mary Pennebecker, who died Feb. 8, 1888. (3) Lidia, born Dec.
13, 1812, m. John Young. (4) Harriet, born Dec. 21, 1814, died
March 19, 1875. She m. Isaac Fichthorn. (5) A daughter, born Oct.
21, 1816, died young. (6) Nicholas, born Aug. 21, 1818, died May
25, 1895. He m. Ann Kegerise, born Dec. 19, 1824, and died March
21, 1891. (7) Benneville, born —– 29, 1820, died Feb. 3, 1873.
He m. Polly Bulman, born April 5, 1820, died —– —– —–. (8)
William, born Oct. 15, 1822, is still living; he m. his cousin,
Susan Redcay, who is also living. On July 16, 1826, Mr. Redcay m.
(second) Elizabeth Strauss, and by her he became the father of
Elias Redcay, who is mentioned in full below.

(IV) Elias Redcay, son of Elias and Elizabeth (Strauss) Redcay, was
born at the “Upper Hotel” which was kept by his father, at
Adamstown, Lancaster county, Nov. 18, 1827. He attended the
district schools, after leaving which he entered the butcher
business with his brothers, Henry, Nicholas and William. He
attended the Penn Square Market House in Reading, and his stand was
located in front of what is now the “United States Hotel.” He was a
property owner, owning lots two, three and four in Adamstown, and a
large tract of land in Iowa, also fifty acres near Bowmansville. A
lover of good horses, he was the owner of several speedy ones,
which he delighted to drive. While attending market, in the winter
of 1859-60 he contracted a cold, which settled in his throat and
eventually caused his death April 28, 1860, when in his
thirty-third year.

In 1858, Mr. Redcay married Susan Mohn, daughter
of William and sister of Jeremiah G. Mohn, the hat manufacturer.
She passed away July 27, 1886, the mother of one child, James Elias
Redcay.

(V) James Elias Redcay, son of Elias and Susan (Mohn) Redcay, was
born Nov. 2, 1859, in Adamstown, Lancaster county. His father dying
before he was a year old, he was brought up by his mother, who sent
him to the district schools until he was sixteen years old, and
then he was sent to the West Chester Normal. Returning to Adamstown
he learned the hat trade with his uncles Jeremiah G. Mohn &
Bros., who were then doing business under the name of Mohn &
Prutzman. On Oct. 28, 1877, he left Adamstown for Reading, and in
that city he entered the employ of his uncles. In 1880 he was made
foreman of their shop, and this position he is still holding.

On July 3, 1884, Mr. Redcay married Anna B.
Althouse, daughter of Franklin and Amelia (Hinnershitz) Althouse,
and they were the parents of the following children: Harry B.,
William F., John R. and Susan A. The family reside at No. 1250
Perkiomen avenue, Reading. 38-1472 Redcay, William D.

REDCAY, WILLIAM D.

p. 1472

Surnames: REDCAY

William D. Redcay, of Cumru township, proprietor of the “Five Mile
House,” was born July 30, 1866, in Exeter township, Berks county,
son of Charles Redcay.

Charles Redcay was born and reared in Exeter
township, this county, and in his time was a well known horse
jockey. He entered the Union army during the Civil war, and was
discharged with an honorable war record, and became affiliated with
Post No. 58, G. A. R., at Harrisburg. For many years he made his
home in Philadelphia, but a few months before his death he came to
the home of his son, William D., and there he died May 2, 1907. He
is survived by his son, and by three brothers-Reuben, of Lorane;
George, of Birdsboro; and John, of Reading.

William D. Redcay was educated in the common
schools of his native township, which he attended until sixteen
years of age, then becoming an employe of the Philadelphia &
Reading R. R. Co., with which company he continued for six years.
He next embarked in the diary and farming business in Exeter
township, being thus engaged for sixteen years, and in 1905 bought
a farm of 100 acres in Stonersville, in Exeter township, which he
still owns, although it is worked by a tenant. Mr. Redcay took
charge of the “Five-Mile House” in April, 1906, and here he has
built up a large business.

Mr. Recay’s wife, whose first name is Sallie, is
from Exeter township. One son has been born to this union: Gordon
R., who attends school and assists his father in the management of
the hotel. Mr. Redcay is a Democrat in political matters, and is
active in the ranks of his party. He and Mrs. Redcay attend the
Lutheran church. For the past twenty years Mr. Redcay has been
engaged in the horse and cattle business, and in this he has met
with the same success that has attended his efforts in the hotel
business.

REED, EDWARD
F. (CAPT.)

p. 660

Surnames: REED, RITH, ADAMS, FEGLEY, GRAVER, HAFF, HUNSICKER,
KIEFFER, KLINE, KOLLER, NEYER, SHARADIN

Capt. Edward F. Reed, a popular and progressive citizen of Lyons,
Pa., was born in Manheim, Pa., near the Schuylkill county
almshouse, Nov. 11, 1838, son of George W. Reed, and grandson of
Daniel Reed.

The Reed family was early known in Schuylkill
county. In 1771, when Pine Grove township, that county, was
established, Philip Rith (Reed) was a taxable. He was a native of
Berks county, however, a member of the Tulpehocken family. In 1791
Jeremiah Reed, Michael Reed (both married) and Thomas Reed (single)
were taxables for Manheim township, Schuylkill county. In 1802,
Theodore Reed, John Reed, John (Morris) Reed, Thomas Reed Sr., and
Isaac Reed, were tax-payers in Norwegian township, and John and
Philip Reed in Mahantango township, that county.

Christoph, George and Conrad Reed, brothers,
were born in Brunswick township, Schuylkill county. Of these,
Christoph passed all his life in his native township, and there
reared his four sons, Obediah, George, Charles and Emanuel. George
was for many years engaging in the hotel business at Orwigsburg.
Conrad, born about 1788, died in his native township about 1830. He
was a farmer. His wife, Elizabeth Neyer, bore him six children: (1)
David, born near Orwigsburg, Jan. 5, 1819, and was a skilled
blacksmith for many years, retiring about a quarter of a century
ago. For nearly a decade he has lived in Reading with his daughter,
Mrs. Hunsicker, at No. 430 North Tenth street. He m. Lucy Ann Haff
and had nine children (seven still living), Emeline, Mary, Harriet,
Sarah, Louisa, Elizabeth, Katie, _____ ______ and David Frank (of
Summit Hill). (2) Catharine m. John Graver, and went to Wisconsin.
(3) Hannah m. a Mr. Adams and settled in Wisconsin. (4) Elizabeth
m. Daniel Fegley. (5) Lewis settled in Michigan. (6) Henry makes
his home in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania.

Daniel Reed, grandfather of Capt. Edward F.,
resided in Pottsville where he was an early hotel keeper, his hotel
being located at the corner of Main and Mahantango streets. He died
at a ripe old age, and is buried either at Pottsville or
Orwigsburg. Among others he had children: Jacob, who lived at
Pottsville; Thomas; George W.; Hannah; and Daniel, who after a long
residence in Schuylkill county, moved to Mercer county, and whose
son, George W., was a member of the General Assembly, 1875-76, and
the latter’s son, William F., from the same county, 1893-94.

George W. Reed, son of Daniel and father of
Capt., was born in Pottsville in 1805, and died at Philadelphia
March 4, 1890, aged eighty-five years. He lived in his native
county, and there married Catharine Kline, of Rockland township,
Berks county, daughter of David Kline. They had thirteen children:
Thomas; Jacob; Susanna; Mary; Sarah; Edward F.; Kate; Daniel, who
was killed in the fight at White House Landing in the Civil war;
Lizzie; Malinda; David; Reuben; and Amanda, all now deceased,
except Mary, Sarah and Edward F.

Capt. Edward F. Reed was brought up familiar
with the duties of a farmer, but at the age of seventeen he learned
cabinet making trade, and in 1862 he engaged in business for
himself at Stony Point, carrying on cabinet making and undertaking
there with great success for twelve years. In 1874-75 he gave up
his business to devote himself to his father-in-law’s farm. The
next year he moved to Lyons and there erected his present
residence. He resumed his former business of cabinet making and
undertaking and continued it until 1887. He then lived retired for
two years, his son Daniel conducting the business, but in 1889 the
latter moved to Rockland township, and Capt. Reed resumed the
undertaking, carrying it on until 1904. In 1888 he began conducting
a steam double press cider mill, and during the season does a good
business in that line. In 1908 he attached to his mill a
forty-horse-power boiler, for making apple butter.

On April 20, 1861, Capt. Reed enlisted as a
private in Company D, 7th Pa. V. I. for the three months service.
In 1862 he was drafted, and became captain of Company K, 167th Pa.
V. I., a nine months regiment, and was mustered out at Reading Aug.
12, 1863.

In 1860 Capt. Reed was married to Elizabeth
Sharadin, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Kieffer) Sharadin, and
they have been blessed with five children, namely: James M.;
Charles A.; George E.; Daniel P.; and Emma E., married to Percival
Koller, of Fleetwood, Pa. In his political affiliations the Captain
is an unswerving Republican, and is always interested in the public
affairs of his town. In 1908 he was elected supervisor of his
township, by over one hundred majority. He is well known and is
very popular with all classes.

REED, ELMER
F.

p. 590

Surnames: REED, ECHERT, HOFFA, KLINGER, KURTZ, POSEY, SCHOENER,
SHOLL,WENRICH

Elmer F. Reed, senior member of the firm of Reed and Kurtz,
restaurant proprietors at No. 433 Penn street, Reading, was born on
the old Reed homestead in Montgomery township, Berks county,
February 8, 1876, son of Franklin B. Reed, and grandson of Daniel
Reed.

Franklin B. Reed was born one mile north of
Stouchsburg, December 23, 1839 and died January 16, 1905. He was
reared to farming, and he followed that occupation all of his life
on the Marion township homestead. He owned a tract of forty-five
acres there, and this tract was crossed by the old Union canal and
Tulpehocken creek. He was a man of progressive spirit, and for
eleven years was a school director in his township. He was a
prominent member of Reed Church, at Stouchsburg, which had been
founded by earlier members of the family and several of thier
pioneer neighbors in the Tulpehocken settlement in 1723. He served
as a deacon and elder, and also a treasurer of the church. He was
always active in public affairs, and was one of the useful men in
his community. He was an antiquarian, and he had a large collection
of Indian relics, including arrow heads, tomahawks, hatchets,
skinners, giggers, etc.; all now in the possession of his son, John
A. Mr. Reed married Rebecca Reed, born August 25, 1841, daughter of
John S. and Rebecca (Eckert) Reed. She now lives among her
children. Three children were born of this union, namely: William,
born in 1864, was drowned in the Union canal at the age of seven
years; John A., born October 3, 1871, married Annie Sholl; and
Elmer F.

Elmer F. Reed received his education in the
district schools, and later attended Stouchsburg Academy, then
under the direction of Rev. John Klinger and Professor Harry Posey.
He was brought up on the old home farm, working there until he was
nineteen years of age. In 1895 he came to Reading and entered the
employ of Ezra Wenrich, proprietor of Wenrich’s restaurant below
Sixth street on Penn, now at Penn and Seventh streets. There Mr.
Reed worked for about four years, gaining a very thorough and
practical knowledge of the business. In 1899 he began for himself
at No. 545 Penn street, and for three years carried on the
restaurant there with great success. In 1902 he formed a
partnership with Adam Kurtz, under the firm name of Reed &
Kurtz, and they have since conducted the restaurant at No. 433 Penn
street. They are well known all over the county, and have a very
large trade, paying particular attention to working men. They
employ seven waiters, and the partners personally look after the
business.

On March 3, 1907, Mr. Reed married Hermie Hoffa,
daughter of Jacob and Mary (Schoener) Hoffa, of Marion township.
Two children have been born to them, namely: Earl Valentine and
Theodore Roosevelt.

REED, JOHN
H. (DR.)

p. 847

Surnames: REED, BALLARD, BERGERHEISER, BRYAN, DIDLAKE, HALL, IKE,
SCHOLL, BROWN, NAFTSZINGER, MOYER, GUTHERY, MILLER, LEIS, LIBECAP,
KUHN, RUMBARGER, SWARTZEL, TITTLE, TYNER, PAYTON, JOHNSON, GIFFIN,
WHALON, HYNES

Dr. John H Reed, a successful physician and surgeon at Logansport,
Ind., and a lineal descendant of the Reed line of Berks county,
Pa., was born May 30, 1860, in Clinton township, Cass County, Ind.,
five miles southwest of Logansport, on a farm which his father had
secured in 1845, while yet in the wild and dense forest. The
father, being a skilled stone and brick mason, improved the place
in 1851 by the erection with his own hands and skill of a superior
two-story stone mansion, which is still standing and occupied by
the Doctor, the place having been purchased by him from his mother,
in 1900. He attended school in what was known as the “Stone School
House,” three-fourths of a mile away, also built by his father,
during a period of about three months in each year until he was
fifteen years old, and then he entered the schools of Logansport,
which he attended for four years. With this preparation he next
entered Wittenberg College, an English Lutheran institution at
Springfield, Ohio, for the purpose of taking the regular scientific
course of instruction, preparatory to entering the Theological
seminary, but after attending three years he was obliged to suspend
his studies on account of a weakened condition of his eyes.
Returning home and engaging in the management of his father’s farm
for a year, his eyes improved so much that he felt able to resume
his studies. Selecting the medical profession for his vocation, in
the early spring of 1883 he entered the office of Dr. J. W.
Ballard, of Logansport, Ind., in which office he read medicine as
best he could for three months, under adverse circumstances, and on
Oct. 10, 1883, unassisted by any preceptor, was admitted into the
Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio. Upon completing a term
there he entered the office of Dr. C. E. Scholl, of Rockfield,
Ind., in April, 1884, and after pursuing his studies with him for
four months, secured, through his influence, an internship in the
University of Maryland Hospital at Baltimore. He graduated in
medicine from the University of Maryland, March 17, 1885, finishing
his internship at the hospital at the same time. Then he took a
post-graduate course in diseases of the throat and chest, after
which he returned to his father’s farm and assisted in the farming
operations until August, 1885.

Deciding to locate at Idaville, White county,
Ind., for the practice of his profession, he opened an office there
which he carried on until 1894, when he removed to Burnettsville,
three miles east of Idaville, because of religious and domestic
conditions, but continued his drug business at Idaville,
established in 1889, until the year 1899, when he sold it to W. A.
Bryan, his former faithful hostler, beloved student and clerk. He
however, remained there but four years (they being the most
serviceable years of his professional life), when after another
course taken at Chicago, he removed to Monticello, the county-seat,
where he formed a partnership with Dr. M. T. Didlake, a well
established and much honored and respected medical practitioner at
that place, and assisted in carrying on an active practice under
the name of Didlake & Reed until March, 1904. Having become the
owner of the homestead farm in 1900, and because of aforesaid
causes, he retired from the partnership and removed to Logansport.
After taking another course of six weeks in the Post-Graduate
Medical College of New York, Dr. Reed resumed his practice at
Logansport, which he has pursued energetically and creditably until
the present time. In connection with his practice he carried on
farming operations on the homestead “Galadale” farm with much
pleasure and recreation. During the years 1888, 1889 and part of
1890 while practicing at Idaville, Dr. Reed served with honor to
himself, and satisfaction to his party, as trustee of the township
(Jackson), in which he lived.

In April, 1890, Dr. Reed married Laura Bell
Hall, daughter of William and Rebecca Jane (Ike) Hall, of Idaville.
She was educated, and afterward taught for a number of years in the
public schools of White and adjoining counties. They have three
children, Hazel Lucile, Gerald Greelee and Velda Dolorous.

Jacob Reed, great grandfather of the Doctor, was
of Tulpehocken township, Berks county, Pa. He married Christina
Bergerheiser, of Germany, and by her he had six children, Eva,
Barbara, John, George, Henry and Jacob.

Jacob Reed, the grandfather, was a farmer of
Tulpehocken township, near Stouchsburg, where he was born Nov. 25,
1780. He died in 1849, in Montgomery county, Ohio, whither he had
removed in 1835. He was married in 1810 to Elizabeth Brown, of
Stouchsburg, and by her he had twelve children: John m. Elizabeth
Naftzinger; Jacob m. a Moyer; Michael, the Doctor’s father, is
mentioned below; David m. Agnes Guthery; William m. Elizabeth Ann
Miller; Anna Margaret m. John Leis; Martha m. John Libecap;
Elizabeth m. Henry Kuhn; Miss Katherine is still living, now aged
ninety-two; Lydia m. (first) John Rumbarger, and (second) John A.
Swartzel; Mary m. Michael Libecap; and Harriet never married.

Michael Reed, father of the doctor, was a native
of Berks county, Pa., and was born near Stouchsburg, Nov. 10, 1819.
When but fourteen years of age he accompanied his father and the
family to Montgomery county, Ohio, where they settled on a farm
near Farmersville, having traveled all the way in wagons. Michael
Reed continued with his father until the summer of 1844, helping
him on the farm, and following his trade of stone and brick mason,
when he removed to Clinton township, Cass County, Ind., locating on
a farm five miles southwest of Logansport, Ind. Just before leaving
Ohio he had married Sarah Tittle, daughter of Jacob Tittle, of
Farmersville. By her they had eight children: Sarah Elizabeth m.
John Oliver Tyner; Rachel Ann m. Dr. William Bruce Payton; Miss
Clara Minerva; Benjamin Franklin m. Ann Frances Johnson; William m.
Harriet Lucinda Giffin; Oliver m. Mary Jane Whalon; John Henry; and
Jacob Ausrow m. Effie Alice Hynes. The father died on the farm in
1895, aged seventy-six years; and his wife died at Logansport, in
1904, aged seventy-eight years.

Dr. Reed organized the “Reed Family Reunion,”
the first meeting of which was held on the homestead farm on his
mother’s seventy-eighth birthday, Oct. 12, 1903, she being present;
the second at the same place, Sept. 1, 1904; the third at the
Soldier’s Home at Dayton, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1905; the fourth at
Logansport, Aug. 16, 1906; and the fifth at Logansport Oct. 3,
1908. He has been secretary of the organization since the
beginning, there being an average attendance of about seventy-five.
The Doctor has in preparation a more detailed history of the Reed
Family, beginning with their earliest origin in Heidelberg,
Germany, following then through Berks Province, England, Berks
county, Pa., thence into Ohio, Indiana and other States.

REED, THOMAS
W.

p. 906

Surnames: REED, KLOPP, RITT, REITH, RITH, LINDENMUTH, KATTERMAN,
ANSPACH, EMERICH, HAFFNER, DRIES, SCHWENGEL, ARTZ, WEISER, MILLER,
WAGNER, BURKHOLDER, PEIFFER, FISHER, POTTEIGER, RICHARDSON, DEPPEN.

Thomas W. Reed, who is cultivating one of the Reed homesteads near
Stouchsburg, Marion township, was born in Marion township. Berks
county. Feb. 14, 1856, son of Daniel B. and Jermina (Klopp) Reed.

Michael Ritt (Reith, Reed), one of the pioneers
from the Livingstone Manor, and later from the Schoharie, N. Y.,
came to the Tulpehocken settlement in Berks county in 1723. and
there took up land lying adjacent to the land of John Leonard Rith
and George Reith. The relationship of Michael, John Leonard and
George Reith is not known, but there is no doubt that they were
related, probably being cousins. The map of the Tulpehocken
settlement, made by Mr. Charles Lindenmuth, a very accurate work
made with much difficulty, shows the location of the Reith
settlements. This map was published in the “Pennsylvania German,”
Volume V, in October, 1904, and appears also in this work.
Michael’s will was made March 15, 1754, and it was entered Oct.
11th of that year, consequently his death must have occurred
between these dates. In the will he bequeathed to his wife Barbara
all the estate during her widowhood; to his eldest son, John
Casper. that tract of land at the Swatara consisting of 150 acres,
valued at 100; to his sons John Michael and Daniel the plantation
he then lived on, with 202 acres therewith belonging, at 600 pounds
valuation; to daughter Anna Catrina Katterman even share with the
rest of the children, except seventy pounds for the land signed to
her husband Jacob Katterman, they helping the children she had by
her first husband, George Anspach; the children of his deceased
daughter Margaret, wife of Jacob Emerich, – – Andreas, Catrina and
Elizabetha, to have their mother’s equal share of the estate, and
the remainder of the estate to all children viz: John Casper, John
Michael, Daniel, Catrina Katterman, deceased daughter Margaret’s
children, Anna Maria, Rosina, Anna Magdalena Haffner, Elizabeth
Dries and Maria Barbara Schwengel. The executors of the will were
Michael’s wife Maria Barbara, and his son-in-law, Niolus Schwengel,
and it was witnessed by Jacob Artz, Peter Ritt and Samuel Weiser.

Daniel Reed, son of Michael, and
great-grandfather of Thomas W., was born Feb. 25, 1735, and died
June 14, 1797. He made his will March 20, 1797, and this was
probated July 1, 1797, extracts therefrom being as follows: “To
oldest son, Christian, fifty pounds; to son Benjamin, my plantation
whereon I now dwell in Tulpehocken containing 101 acres for 1,350
pounds; to the other children. viz. Christian, Daniel, John,
Catherine, Christina, Elizabett, Barbara and Maria Lydia, 150
pounds each.” He also provided amply for his wife. The executors of
the will were his sons John and Benjamin, and it was witnessed by
Jacob Reith and Jacob Miller. Eva Maria Wagner, daughter of Jacob
and Catherine Wagner, who was born March 18, 1776, and died May 9,
1847. On the tombstone of Benjamin Reed is an inscription stating
that he had two sons and four daughters, but it is probable that
one son died in youth, as no trace is obtainable of him. The other
children were : Catherine (born June 13, 1805, died Aug. 9, 1834)
m. John Reed (born in 1806, died in 1835); Sarah m. Daniel
Burkholder; Maria (Polly) m. George Peter Peiffer; a daughter died
aged seventeen years; and Daniel B.

Daniel B. Reed was born Jan. 8, 1812, and died
at Stouchsburg, June 26, 1891, in his eightieth year. He was a
farmer by occupation, and owned one of the old Reed homesteads of
104 acres, on which in 1855 he built a barn, and several years
later a brick house. He was a Republican in political matters, and
his religious connection was with the Lutheran Church, where he
held an official position, and where lie was buried. He married
Jermina Klopp, and their children were: Franklin B., who died on
one of the Reed farms in 1903 ; Clarissa, who died aged seventeen
years; Fianna. who died young; John A., who died in infancy; Almon,
who died on Thanksgiving Day, 1905, aged fifty-nine years;. Mary,
deceased wife of Edmond Fisher, and Thomas W.

Thomas W. Reed remained on the home farm with
his parents until seventeen years of age, at which time he learned
the trade of cigar making, an occupation which he followed for
sixteen years at Stouchsburg. In 1892 he engaged in farming a
fifty-four acre tract, which he had purchased during that year from
the John Potteiger estate, and here he has since made many
improvements, including the erection of a number of substantial
buildings. His farm is supplied with modern machinery, and he keeps
nine head of cattle and four horses. In addition to this property,
Mr. Reed owns eight acres and an excellent residence at
Stouchsburg, where a son-in-law, Clayton Potteiger, now resides.
Mr. Reed is a Republican in politics. He belongs to Reed’s Lutheran
Church, of which he was a deacon, elder and trustee for more than
seventeen years.

In 1888 Mr. Reed married Kate Richardson,
daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Deppen) Richardson, and they had
three children, namely: Mary J.; Maggie S. (m. Clayton Potteiger,
of Stouchsburg) ; and Charles T. (at home assisting his father).

REED, WAYNE
A.

p. 898

Surnames: REED, ANSPACH, BRAUN, DRIES, ECKERT, EMERICH, ENGEL,
FIDLER, FILBERT, FORRY, GROH, HAFFEUR, ILLIG, KATTERMAN, KNOLL,
LEHMAN, LIETZ, LUTZ, MAYER, MINNICH, MOYER, PHILIPPI, POTTEIGER,
REITH, RIETH, RITH, RUTH, RUTTER, SCHAEFFER, SCHENGEL, SEIBERT,
SELSER, WENRICH, ZELLER, ZIEGLER

Wayne A. Reed, a well known business man of Robesonia, Pa., where
he is engaged in the manufacture of ice cream and as proprietor of
a popular restaurant, is an honored veteran of the Civil war, and
was born Sept. 3, 1846, at Stouchsburg, Pa., son of Samuel and Lea
(Rutter) Reed.

Johan Leonhard Rith, who was born in 1691 and
died in 1747, was the ancestor of this numerous family, was a
German by birth, and was one of the many of that nationality who
suffered under the terrible oppression of Governor Hunter of
Schoharie, N. Y. His was one of the twenty-three German families
who in 1723 fled through the wilderness in the deep snow, to the
land of the Tulpehocken valley in Penn’s province. That these early
pioneers suffered terribly is well known. The awful cold, the
primitive conditions, hunger and the savage Indians made the
journey nearly unbearable, but their undying faith in their Maker,
and the comforting solace of the Bible inspired them to super human
efforts, and they finally reached their destination, where peace
was found beyond the power of the tyrant. Johan Leonhard Rith
married Analisa Catrina, and their union was blessed by the birth
of these children: (1) Johan Nicolaus (born June 4, 1715, died Jan.
7, 1788) m. Maria Barbara Seibert (born May 18, 1722, died Oct. 14,
1807), and had children, – Jacob, Mrs. Jacob Schaeffer and Mrs.
Jacob Anspach. (2) Johan George (born in 1717, died in 1791) m.
Catrina Elsa, and they had children, – John Leonhard, Catherine (m.
Henry Minnich, who removed to Virginia), Jonas, Peter and
Frederick. (3) Johannes Frederick (born March 15, 1718, died Dec.
24, 1794) m. Maria Engle, and they had a son, – Jacob, whose son
was John Jacob (m. Eva Maria Seibert). John Jacob Rith was born
April 10, 1770, and died Nov. 1, 1835, and George and Edward Reed,
living at Ottawa, Ill, are of his descendants. (4) A daughter,
Margaretha or Wilhelmina, m. Henrich Zeller. (5) Leonhard Jr. (born
Sept. 10, 1723, died April 28, 1801 or 1803). (6) Peter m. Maria
Catarina Ziegler, and they had three children, – John, Barbara (m.
Jacob Moyer), and Catarine (m. Adam Lehman). (7) Jacob (born in
June, 1746, died March 28, 1821) m. Margaret, and their children
were: John Jacob, John and several daughters. John Jacob married
Margarid Emerich, and among other children they had a son, John.
John Jacob in 1840 sold his farm and went West, and some of his
descendants now live in the vicinity of Dayton and Martinsburg,
Ohio.

Johan Leonhard Rith was not the only one of that
name, however, who had settled in Schoharie, N. Y., later to come
to the province of Pennsylvania before 1740, as it is thought that
the following were all relatives, they coming from one place and
settling permanently in the Tulpehocken Valley: Michael, Casper,
Adam, George and Peter. Michael Reith’s will was entered in the
Berks county court-house in 1754, and in it these children are
named: John Casper, John Michael, Daniel, Catrina Katterman (whose
first husband was George Anspach), Margared Emerich, Anna Maria
Rosina, Anna Madlena Haffeur, Elisabett Dries and Maria Barbara
Schengel. Daniel Reith, son of Michael, in his will, which was
entered in the court-house in 1797, mentions these children:
Christian, Benjamin, Daniel, John, Catherine, Christina, Elizabeth,
Barbara and Maria Lydia. Benjamin, above mentioned, was the father
of Daniel, grandfather of Franklin B. and great grandfather of
Elmer Reed of Reading, Pennsylvania.

Leonhard Rieth, son of Johan Leonhard and
Analisa Catrina, and great-great-grandfather of Wayne A. Reed, of
Robesonia, was born Sept. 10, 1723, at Schoharie, N. Y., and died
April 28, 1801 or 1803. The year of his birth or in the following
spring, he was brought by his father into what is now the
Tulpehocken section of Berks county, and here in the new,
unexplored forest was reared by pious parents to sturdy youth and
useful manhood. It is but natural to assume that he tilled the
soil, and it is a matter of record that he acquired a tract of land
and erected a house. He was married to Elizabeth Knoll, born June
10, 1729, who died Aug. 11, 1797, and they became the parents of
these children: (1) Valentine (born Sept. 18, 1749, died May 6,
1825) was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, he m. Eva Catherine
Selser (1759-1828), and they had issue – Christopher, Eva and
Margaretha. (2) Jacob J. (3) Johan Adam (born July 17, 1756, died
in 1815) m. Juliana Braun (1766-1826) and they had these children,
– Elizabeth, Barbara, Sarah, Eva, Adam, Johannes, Rebecca,
Katherine and Mary. (4) John (born Dec. 17, 1758, died Sept. 17,
1801) had four children. (5) Elisabeth (born April 15, 1766, died
Sept. 22, 1830). (6) Catherine. Christopher, the son of Valentine
of the above family, born Nov. 6, 1783, died Nov. 2, 1865, m.
Margret Illig (1744-1842), and had two children, John and a
daughter.

Jacob J. Rieth, great grandfather of Wayne A.,
died in 1824, but his place of death and burial are uncertain. He
married Rosina Schaeffer, and they had these children: Christian;
Michael; Jacob; John; Magdalena (m. Jacob Philippi); Barbara (m.
Christian Philippi); and Katherine (m. William Lutz).

Christian Reed, grandfather of Wayne A., born
April 17, 1777, was a stone mason and built the farm house below
Robesonia now owned by James Ruth. He also assisted building the
historic Reed Church, which is named after Leonhard Rieth, one of
the founders of this old family, and here he was buried. Mr. Reed
owned the property above Womelsdorf, now owned by William Fidler.
He died April 22, 1847, while his wife, Eva Magdalena Mayer, born
Sept. 16, 1777, died March 25, 1864. The tombstone states that they
were the parents of nine sons and one daughter, but by consulting
records and relatives, only the following eight sons and one
daughter are found: William, John C., Jonathan, David, Daniel,
Michael, Samuel, George and Poly.

Samuel Reed, the father of Wayne A., was born in
Marion township, April 13, 1822, and died May 27, 1885, being
buried at Reed’s Church. Mr. Reed was a tailor by trade, and
resided at Stouchsburg, where he owned a home now the property of
his son Frank. He was married to Leah Rutter, born at Newmanstown,
Aug. 6, 1824, who died Nov. 15, 1906. They had ten children, as
follows: Frank G.; Wayne A.; Edmond; Samuel C.; William (died in
infancy); Alice (died aged twenty-two years); Mary (m. Dr. Frank J.
Eckert of Ephrata, Pa.); Ida (unmarried); Emma (m. Martin Wenrich);
and a daughter (died in infancy).

Wayne A. Reed was reared in the village of
Stouchsburg, and at the age of fourteen years left school and
learned the trade of tailor with his father, an occupation which he
followed at various places, on and off, for a period of thirty
years. When the Civil war broke out, young Reed was a mere lad, and
until his eighteenth year could not enlist in his country’s
service. On July 18, 1864, however, he became a member of Company
D, 1st Battalion, Pa. V. I., enlisting at Harrisburg for 100 days
and was honorably discharged Nov. 11, 1864, having done brave
service during his time of enlistment and participating in the
retreat from Chambersburg, when that town was destroyed by fire.
After the war Mr. Reed took a trip to Fremont, Ohio, but about one
year later returned to Pennsylvania and spent the succeeding years
in various occupations, including those of railroad employe,
tailor, butcher and bar-tender. Since 1892 Mr. Reed has conducted a
restaurant, confectionary, ice cream parlor and tobacco store on
Main street, Robesonia, and in this business has been very
successful. He takes much interest in the growth of the borough.

On March 15, 1873, Mr. Reed married Amelia
Filbert, born Aug. 12, 1852, daughter of J. Frank and Maria (Forry)
Filbert, and granddaughter of John and Sally (Potteiger) Filbert.
To Mr. and Mrs. Reed there was born one child: Ella A., now the
widow of William C. S. Groh, a merchant of Halfway, Lebanon county,
who died Dec. 14, 1896, aged twenty-four years, four months, eleven
days.

Since 1894 Mr. Reed has resided in his own home
at Robesonia, where he is fraternally connected with G. A. R. Post,
No. 471. He and his family are members of St. Daniel’s Lutheran
Church. Mr. Reed is the possessor of a very valuable collection of
Civil war relics and coins, included in which is a powder horn made
by David Reed, in 1837.

REED,
WILLIAM M.

p. 1450

Surnames: REED, BEHNEY, HECK, HEPLER, KIMMEL, MATTERN, NOECKER,
RICKENBACH, ROEDER, YOH

William A. Reed, of Reading, Pa., proprietor of the “East Reading
Hotel,” was born in Frackville, Schuylkill county, Pa., Jan. 2,
1880, son of Adam and Caroline (Roeder) Reed.

John William Reed, grandfather of William A.,
was born April 26, 1812, probably in Wayne township, where he died
Jan. 24, 1878, aged sixty-six years. His wife was Mary Yoh, and
they had a family of nine children, as follows: Adam, Jonathan,
Levi, Solomon, John, Sallie, Esther, Marie and Katie. Of this
family Adam, the father of William A., was born near Schuylkill
Haven, Wayne township, Schuylkill county, Pa., after 1850. He was a
farmer and thresher in early life, but later became a carpenter at
the Philadelphia and Reading shops at Mahanoy Plane, where he
worked for about twenty years. In June, 1901, he removed with his
family to Camden, N. J., where he is engaged as a ship carpenter in
the employ of Heck, Rickenbach and Noecker. Adam Reed was married
to Caroline Roeder, and to them have been born children as follows:
Ella, Harvey, Dora, William A., Elmer, Emma, Sallie, Charles,
Harry, Eva, Alva and Pearl.

William A. Reed spent his youth in Frackville,
where he attended the common schools until ten years of age, at
which time he commenced work as a breaker boy, picking slate, an
occupation he followed for four years. He then spent several years
driving mules on the rock banks at the coal mines, but subsequently
entered employ of Reading Railway Company, with which he continued
until August, 1905, when he bought out the interest of Simon
Behney, the proprietor of the “East Reading Hotel,” located at No.
1830 Perkiomen avenue. This hotel Mr. Reed has since conducted with
much success, the ten rooms being almost continuously occupied by
tenants. He is courteous and agreeable to all patrons, and has
become one of the popular young men of the community. Fraternally
he is connected with Washington Camp., No. 66, P. O. S. of A., of
Frackville, and the Twentieth Century Quakers of Reading.

On July 18, 1901, Mr. Reed was married to
Catharine Hepler, daughter of Daniel and Harriet (Mattern) Hepler,
and granddaughter on the maternal side of Silas and Caroline
(Kimmel) Mattern. Mr. Mattern is past his eighty-second year, and
his wife is past eighty years old; she has been blind for the past
forty years. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been born two children: Alma
H. and Claud D. A. 45-900 Reedy, Franklin

REEDY,
FRANKLIN

p. 900

Surnames: REEDY, RIEDY/READY/REDY/RIEDER/REIDI, TRAUTMAN, KLOPP,
GRUBER, LENGEL, FIDLER, BOHN, SPATZ, TROUTMAN, INYUM, KINTZER,
LEBO, MCCORMICK, CAMMERER, STRAW, YODER, LICK, PEIFFER, SMITH,
LUTZ, KLEE, LEISS, HAIN, WALBORN, LINDENMUTH, RUTH, REINHOLD,
LUDWIG

In naming the old and honored families of Berks county, mention is
frequently made of that of Reedy, a worthy representative of which
is found in Franklin Reedy, a prosperous agriculturist residing in
the central part of Marion township, Mr. Reedy was born Dec. 23,
1857, on his father’s farm in Tulpehocken township, son of George
and Sarah (Trautman) Reedy.

The Reedy family, also spelled Riedy, Ready,
Redy, etc., is found mentioned as early as Aug. 27, 1739, when
there appear to have landed at Philadelphia persons evidently of
German origin, having that surname, as follows: Otto Riedy, aged
nineteen years; John Jacob Riedy, aged nineteen; and John Peter,
aged sixteen. The Proprietary and State tax lists of Berks county
for the years 1767-68-79-80-81-84-85, show a John Peter Reedy (also
Riedy, Ready, Redy and Rieder) as of Heidelberg, he being credited
with from 100 to 189 acres. He was the ancestor of this family of
western Berks county. The tombstone inscriptions at the Corner
Church show persons of the name as follows: Catherine Riedi, born
May 16, 1800, died March 4, 1865, second wife of Joseph Klopp.
Maria Riedy, born Sept. 7, 1794, died April 14, 1868, in wedlock
about fifty-three years with John Adam Gruber (Dec. 20, 1798-July
7, 1876). In the graveyard of the North Heidelberg Church is found:
Elizabeth Riedy, born Sept. 19, 1795, died Feb. 26, 1850, wife of
Jacob Lengel (1796-1858). At Womelsdorf is buried: Amelia Reedy,
born April 14, 1815, died Nov. 18, 1898, wife of Daniel M. Fidler
(1806-1848). At Hain’s Church in the old graveyard is buried
Elizabeth Reidi (1794-1854). She was the wife of Philip Bohn
(1781-1861).

Christian Reedy, grandfather of Franklin,
married Marie Spatz, and their children were: Daniel, of
Tulpehocken township, who married Rebecca Troutman; Peter, of
Marion township, who married Hannah Inyum; Jacob, of Bethel
township; John, who was unmarried; George; Amelia, who married
Isaac Kintzer; Gradel, who married a Mr. Lebo; Elizabeth, who
married a Mr. Bohn; Sallie Reedy, married to John McCormick; Molly
Reedy, married to John Cammerer.

Jacob Reedy, son of Christian, married Molly
Straw, and his children were: Jacob obtained the homestead; John;
Leah m. William Yoder; Molly m. Samuel Lick; Polly m. Thomas
Peiffer; and Caroline had a son Cyrus Smith. Jacob Reedy died
between June 1 and June 11, 1872, the dates of the making and
probating of his will.

George Reedy, son of Christian and brother of
Jacob, was born in 1809, and died in 1882, in North Heidelberg
township, and was buried at Host Church. He was a tailor by trade
and in connection therewith carried on agricultural pursuits on his
160-acre farm. Mr. Reedy was active in church affairs, being deacon
and elder for many years. He married Sarah Trautman, born April 14,
1825, daughter of Jacob Trautman. She died April 14, 1888, and
their children were as follows: Henry, who is living retired at
Albany, Whiteside Co., Ill, where until 1904 he cultivated a farm
of 1300 acres, married Lena Lutz, and they have six children, –
Ida, William, Minnie, Bert, Edwin and Bessie; Mary married Adam
Klee, of North Heidelberg township; Miss Amelia; Philip; Emma
married Ezra Leiss, of North Heidelberg township; and Franklin.

Franklin Reedy remained under the parental roof
until twelve years of age, at which time he was hired out among the
farmers of his locality, and worked in this manner until 1877, at
which time with Adam Klee he went to Whiteside county, Ill. In 1884
he returned to his native county, and the following year was
married. Until 1887 he farmed in North Heidelberg township, and in
that year went again to Whiteside county, Ill., with his family,
where he cultivated 360 acres of land, of which he owned 120 acres
and rented 240, for nine years, during which time he had no failing
crops. He had about 160 head of cattle and thirty-eight horses, and
his operations proved very successful. In 1901 he returned to
Marion township, where he purchased the Adam Hain farm of 135 acres
of the best land in the county. This tract was originally settled
by Hermanus Walborn in 1723, and the Reedy farm is the lower part
of this tract, as shown on the Charles Lindenmuth map of early
settlers of the Tulpehocken valley. The farm is supplied with good
water, the buildings are in excellent condition, and the place is
equipped with the latest models of farming implements. Mr. Reedy
has about twenty head of cattle, and has ten fine draft horses. In
politics he is a Democrat, and since 1903 he has served as a member
of the Marion township school board. He was also a school director
while he lived in Illinois. He and his family are members of Host
Reformed Church, of which he has been a deacon and elder.

In 1885 Mr. Reedy married Susan Ruth, daughter
of Jacob and Annie (Reinhold) Ruth, and granddaughter of Christian
and Susan (Ludwig) Ruth, and to this union there have been born
children as follows: Harry is a conductor on the Philadelphia
trolley lines; Gertrude m. Herbert Klopp, of Marion township; and
Mabel, Tillie, George, Pearl and Earl are all at home.

REEDY,
HENRY

p. 877

Surnames: REEDY, WEISS, BENSING, KAHL, STRICKLER, GERHART, SPAYDT,
WENRICH, WILHELM, LEBO, TILBERT, BENNETCH

Henry Reedy, a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Robesonia,
Pa., whose attractive residence is situated beside the United
Evangelical church, on Main street, was born Oct. 10, 1867, in Mill
Creek township, Lebanon Co., Pa., son of Jonathan and Isabella
(Weiss) Reedy.

Wilhelm Reedy, the grandfather, was born at
Sinking Spring in 1800, and died in 1853, and was buried at
Millbach church, in Lebanon county. He was a carpenter by trade,
and was the owner of a small farm which he cultivated and on which
he resided. Mr. Reedy married Maria Bensing, who was born at
Fritztown in 1801, and died in 1864, and to this union there were
born six children: George, Jonathan, Samuel, Annie, Catherine, and
a daughter who died young.

Jonathan Reedy, the father of Henry, was born in
Mill Creek township, Lebanon county, Oct. 15, 1835, and there he
still resides, a retired farmer and highly respected citizen. He
was formerly a cooper and at one time employed ten men, doing much
work all over Lebanon and the surrounding counties. He also engaged
in plastering to quite an extent, but in 1866 purchased a nice
farm, which he still owns. Mr. Reedy is a veteran of the Civil war,
having served in the Union army through the greater portion of that
struggle and participating, bravely and honorably, in some of the
fiercest battles. He was drafted Oct. 15, 1862, became a member of
Company I, 73d Pennsylvania regiment, served as corporal, and was
discharged Aug. 15, 1863. Mr. Reedy is a pillar of Millbach
Reformed church, in Lebanon county, of which he was a deacon for
some years. He was married to Isabella Weiss, born July 10, 1835,
daughter of Ludwig and Carolina (Kahl) Weiss, and to this union
were born seven children: Elizabeth, who married George Strickler,
of Millbach, Lebanon county; Jonathan, who married Hannah Gerhart,
of Millbach, Lebanon county, by whom he has three children,
William, Charles and Frank; Thomas, deceased, who married Tillie
Spaydt, by whom he had four children, Calvin, Emma, Katie and
Thomas, the last named being deceased; William, residing at Spring
Mount, Pa., who married Sarah Wenrich, by whom he has had nine
children, two of whom are deceased; Henry; Catherine, who married
Claude Wilhelm, of Lebanon county; and Agnes, who married Calvin
Lebo, of Millbach, Lebanon county, resides on the old Reedy
homestead, and has one son, Lloyd Henry.

Henry Reedy secured his education in the schools
of Mill Creek township, Lebanon county, which he left at the age of
seventeen years to engage in farming, an occupation which he
followed for eighteen years. He began farming on his own account in
1894 on the old Kinding farm in South Lebanon township, Lebanon
county, where he continued for three years. In the spring of 1897
he came to Robesonia and for a period of four years worked in a
lumber-yard, after leaving which he began clerking in Thomas
Tilbert’s general store at Robesonia, where he has continued to the
present time. Mr. Reedy is an obliging and pleasing employe, and
his popularity is great in the borough, his friends including all
who have met him. In 1905 Mr. Reedy erected a nice cottage on Main
street, Robesonia, next to the Evangelical church. In his political
belief he is a Republican. He and his wife attend St. Paul’s
Reformed church of Robesonia, of which he is a deacon, and toward
the erection of which he contributed in 1904.

On Dec. 13, 1890, Mr. Reedy was married to
Catherine Bennetch, born Dec. 16, 1866, daughter of Henry Bennetch,
who is mentioned elsewhere in this publication. Mr. and Mrs. Reedy
have had one child, Thomas Calvin, who died in infancy.

REEDY, J. THOMAS K.

p. 897

Surnames: REEDY, REDEY/REDIE, KRICK, STROH, YODER, LICK, SMITH,
FISHER, WENRICH, HEFFNER, ZECHMAN, LYATZ, KLINE, DEISHER

J. Thomas K. Reedy, a retired citizen of Sinking Spring, Pa., who
has resided at his own home on Main street since the spring of
1879, has been prominent in the political life of Spring township
for some years. He was born at Sinking Spring, Dec. 27, 1855, son
of John S. and Hannah F. (Krick) Reedy, and is a descendant of
Peter Reedy (Redey, Redie), who settled in Heidelberg township
prior to 1758.

Jacob Reedy, grandfather of J. Thomas K., was an
agriculturist all of his life and owned a farm near “Beshore’s
Hotel,” where he died June 11, 1872. He became one of the
well-known citizens of Bethel township, and ample provision was
made for his wife in his will, which provided that she was to live
in a certain part of the new house on the homestead, and was to be
furnished with food, fuel and sixty pounds annually. He married
Molly Stroh, and their children were: Jacob (who obtained the
homestead); John S.; Leah (m. William Yoder); Molly (m. Samuel
Lick, and died prior to 1872); and Caroline (had a son, Cyrus
Smith, who was a legatee in the will).

John S. Reedy, father of J. Thomas K., was born
in Tulpehocken township, Oct. 22, 1812, and died July 24, 1902.
After leaving Tulpehocken township, he settled in Reading, but for
the last sixty years of his life resided in Sinking Spring, where
he died. He was a stationary engineer in a tannery at Sinking
Spring, where he was sexton of Sinking Spring Union Church for many
years, being a Reformed member thereof. In politics Mr. Reedy was a
Democrat, and for three years was supervisor of Spring township. On
May 8, 1838, Mr. Reedy married Hannah F. Krick (born April 16,
1817, died Sept. 5, 1895), daughter of Adam and Catherine (Fisher)
Krick. They had children: Rebecca K., born Dec. 27, 1838; Catherine
K., Jan. 28, 1840; William K., Dec. 6, 1842; Adam K., April 7,
1849; and J. Thomas K. William K. Reedy was a soldier in the Civil
war, and was shot in the chest in camp near Newcastle, June 4,
1864. He was taken to White House Landing, where the bullet was
taken from his back, and there he died aged twenty-one years, five
months, twenty-four days, and was buried. His name was written on a
board and placed at the head of his grave.

J. Thomas K. Reedy was educated in the public
schools of his district, and was reared in Sinking Spring, where
all of his life has been spent. He drove cattle when a young man
for Samuel G. Wenrich of Sinking Spring, then clerked that
gentleman’s sales, and later purchased cattle for him at Buffalo,
N. Y., and Lancaster, Pa. He continued in Mr. Wenrich’s employ for
thirty-eight years, and it may be said that much of Mr. Wenrich’s
success is due to Mr. Reedy’s long, faithful, able assistance. In
1901 Mr. Reedy was appointed first docket clerk of the
comptroller’s office of Berks county, in which he served
efficiently one year, when he was legislated out of politics. He is
an active Democrat in politics, and was the first elected
committeeman of Spring township to the county standing committee,
an office which he held for four years, served the township as its
last assistant assessor for three years, and assisted many men to
office, being elected several times delegate to the Democratic
county conventions. Since leaving the Court House position, Mr.
Reedy has lived a semi-retired life. Fraternally he is a member of
Lexington Lodge No. 155, K. P., in which for years he held the
office of financial secretary; Washington Camp, No. 282, P. O. S.
of A., in which he long served as financial secretary, finally
resigning; Loyal Chamber, No. 43, K. of F. (which now has 117
members), in which he was elected financial secretary the night the
Chamber was instituted March 7, 1896, an office he has held ever
since, his present term expiring June 30, 1909, and in this
organization he has been representative to the Grand Chamber of the
States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Mr. Reedy is a member of the
Liberty Chemical Fire Engine Company, No. 1, of Sinking Spring, in
which he was elected to serve on the committee on By-Laws, being
one of the organizers of the Company. He is a director of the
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Sinking Spring. Mr. Reedy and his
wife are members of St. John’s Reformed Church of Sinking Spring,
of which he has been deacon and secretary.

On Nov. 16, 1878, Mr. Reedy married Catherine A.
Heffner, daughter of Joel D. and Sarah (Zechman) Heffner, of Penn
township, Berks county. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Reedy, who
died aged three days. Mrs. Reedy is descended from Johann Georg
Heffner, of Germantown, Pa., who had three sons: Jacob; Johann
Georg; and Anthony (Black). Of this family Jacob was born Nov. 11,
1736, and died May 31, 1829, being buried at Mertztown burial
ground. In 1760 he married Elizabeth Lyatz, born in 1736, and died
in 1806, of Hingstadt, Germany, and they had five children: Henry,
born July 8, 1763; Anthony (The Red), born in 1767, died in 1849;
Elizabeth, born July 11, 1769; Johannes, born Jan. 14, 1772; and
Daniel, born Dec. 5, 1773.

Johannes Heffner married Elizabeth Kline, and
they had Elizabeth, born in 1798; and Johann Georg, born Dec. 24,
—–. Johann Georg Heffner married Anna Deisher, of Maxatawny
township, and to them was born Joel D. Heffner father of Mrs.
Reedy.