Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

ABRAHAM,
AUGUST

p.
1439

Surnames:
ABRAHAM, COLLINS, EHRNST, EINSEL, KLABUNDA, ZICK

August
Abraham, who has lived retired from active business life since
1904, was for many years employed with large business concerns of
Reading. Mr. Abraham was born Sept. 20, 1840, in the Province of
Preussen, Belyard, Germany, son of Christoph Abraham.

Christoph
Abraham was born in 1803, in Grunawald, Preussen, Germany, and died
in 1870, at Warnen. He had two daughters who died young, and five
sons, namely: Carl, Herman and Heinrich of Germany; Augustus of
Reading; and Ludwig of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

August Abrahm
attended the schools of his native locality from six to fourteen
years of age, when he commenced working on farms at various points.
He left Hamburg May 1, 1872, for America, locating at New York June
5th of that year. He then came to Reading and found employment in
the pipe mill, where he worked for thirty-two and one-half years,
but since 1904 has lived retired. In political matters Mr. Abraham
is a Democrat. He and his family are members of St. John’s German
Lutheran Church of Reading, and the children were educated in the
parochial school. Since 1875 Mr. and Mrs. Abraham have resided in
their own home, No. 622 Maple Street, and they also own the
residence at No. 569 South Eleventh Street, where their son,
Augustus lives.

On Nov. 18,
1865, Mr. Abraham was married to Wilhelmina Zick, born Oct. 28,
1839, daughter of Johan and Louisa (Klabunda) Zick, farming people
of Preussen, Germany, and to this union there were born seven
children: Amelia m. John Einsel, of Reading; Bertha m. John Lutz,
of Reading; Joanna m. Frank Collins, of Reading; Augustus m. Helen
Ehrnst; Wilhelm died at the age of fourteen years; Johan died
young; Albert died when three years of age.

ACHENBACH,
HENRY

p.
1414

Surnames:
ACHENBACH, FAUST, HERNER, HOMAN, GASS, MILLER, SHAFFER

Henry
Achenbach, who was for a half century employed as an engineer by
the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad., and who died at his home
in Reading, March 31, 1909, was born Aug. 1, 1831, in Hesse Cassel,
Germany, son of John and Catherine (Herner) Achenbach, farming
people of Germany who never came to this county.

Henry
Achenbach received his education in the schools of Germany, and in
1851 came to America, locating at once in Reading, where he engaged
at the old Eckert furnace remaining three years. On April 1, 1854,
he accepted a position with the Philadelphia & Reading
Railraod, in whose employ he continued until he was retired on a
pension, having been connected with this road for fifty years. In
1856 Mr. Achenbach was married to Catherine Miller, also of
Germany, and two children were born to this union: Christina, who
married David Faust; and Mary who married Francis Homan. In 1878
Mr. Achenbach was married (second) to Louisa C. Gass, born in the
Fatherland, and there were four children born to this union: Harry
C., who married Carrie Shaffer; Charles A.; Theresa L., and one
child deceased. Since 1888 Mr. Achenbach had lived, where his widow
still resides, at No. 634 North Eleventh Street.

In religious
belief Mr. Achenbach was a Lutheran, and in political matters a
Democrat. He was a member of Germania Lodge, No. 158, I. O. O. F.,
of the Philadelphia & Reading Relief Association, and of
several other societies. He is buried in Charles Evans
Cemetery.

ACHENBACH,
JOHN

p.
723

Surnames:
ACHENBACH, REESER, ZIMMERMAN

John
Achenbach, a resident of Reading for the past forty years, was born
in Oberdorf, Hessen, Germany, Nov. 12, 1850, son of Jacob and
Margaret Achenbach, well-to-do people, the former an official and
highly educated man. John Achenbach passed his boyhood in his
native land, and was early in life made accustomed to farm work,
but after coming to America he abandoned agricultural pursuits
entirely and spent his time employed solely at molding. He landed
in New York City in 1866, but came direct to Reading and made that
his permanent home.

Mr.
Achenbach’s first work was at molding at Seventh and Chestnut
Streets, and he worked there for a long time. In June, 1875, he
revisited Germany, returning in October of that same year, and
instead of resuming his former position he took a place at the
Scott Works. There he remained till February, 1905, when he retired
from active work.

On July 21,
1891, Mr. Achenbach was married to Emma Elizabeth, daughter of John
S. Zimmerman, and his wife, Margaret Reeser, (who both belonged to
some of the old established families of Berks County) and
granddaughter of Christopher Zimmerman. Three children were born to
this union, but only one survives, a daughter named Martha Esther,
at the present time a student in the school at Fourth and Elm
Streets. The family reside at No. 235 North Sixth Street, and are
members of the German Lutheran Church.

ADAM, CALVIN
H.

p.
1661

Surnames:
ADAM, KLINE, WEIDENHEIMER, SITTLER, HENRY, REINHART, MERTZ,
SCHAPPEL, HEINLEY, DREIBELBIS, SCHAEFFER, HOCH, SCHLEGEL,
DEYSHER

Calvin H.
Adam, of Fleetwood, Berks county, is a prosperous young business
man of that borough. He is a member of the firm of Schlegel, Adam
& Company, dealers in grain, flour, lumber, coal, etc., and is
energetic and enterprising. He was born June 29, 1869, in Greenwich
township, near Virginville.

Jacob Adam,
the great-grandfather of Calvin H., was a farmer, and owned a tract
of land in Richmond township, which afterward he sold to his son,
Jacob. This farm is located a few miles east of Virginville and is
known as the original Adam homestead. He married Susan Kline,
daughter of Benjamin Kline, and they became the parents of these
children: Sally Anne; William; Betsy; Jacob; John; Susan; Philip
and Polly. Of this family John was born in 1812, and died in 1861.
He was a prosperous farmer, owning 150 acres of good land in
Richmond township, near Moselem Church. In addition to farming he
followed the trade of carpenter. At the age of twenty he married
Catherine Weidenheimer, of Richmond township, and they had these
children: Caroline (m. Daniel Sittler, of Oley, PA); John W.,
retired, living in Fleetwood; Annie, deceased (m. George F. Henry,
station agent); Frank W., a farmer near Kutztown; Sarah, (m. V.S.
Reinhart, a grocer of Kutztown); Susanna, who died aged twenty-one
years; Hettie (m. Frank Adam, of Germanville, Lehigh county);
Malinda (m. James Mertz, supervisor 7 years ago in Ruscombmanor
township); Ella, who died aged twenty years; Allen W., who has
resided in St. Louis, Mo., since 1876; William W., station agent at
Virginville; and Louisa, the wife of S. S. Schappel of Windsor
township, a well-known leader of the Democratic ranks in Berks
county.

John W. Adam,
father of Calvin H., followed farming in Richmond township for many
years and now lives retired in his brick residence on Main street,
Fleetwood. In 1871 he began the milling business in Heinley’s Mill
near Virginville, PA., where he continued for fifteen years, when
he engaged in farming in Richmond township, and there spent the
next twenty-one years of his life, retiring in 1902. In 1868 he
married Esther D. Heinley, daughter of the late Samuel and Mary
(Dreibelbis) Heinley, and their children were as follows: Calvin
H., Mary K.,(m. Alfred Schaeffer, of near Fleetwood); Amelia E.,
(m. Titus H. Schaeffer, a stone cutter of Fleetwood); Ida H., (m.
Samuel H. Hoch, a school teacher of Fleetwood) and John S., a
graduate of Franklin and Marshall College. Mr. John W. Adam is a
member of the Reformed Church of Fleetwood, and has served as
deacon, trustee and elder. In politics he is a Democrat and seldom
misses an election.

When fifteen
years of age, Calvin H. Adam went with his parents to Richmond
township, settling on the road leading from Kutztown to Fleetwood.
His educational career began in the public schools of his native
township, and in the spring of 1865 he attended the Keystone State
Normal School. He later attended the spring sessions of 1886, 1887
and in the fall of 1888 began teaching school at Moselem Church, in
Richmond township. He continued teaching in the same township for
seven years at Stone Lane school and in the spring of 1895 again
entered the Normal school, graduating in 1896. He was one of the
intellectually strong members of his class, which numbered 120
pupils, and upon graduation the patrons of the Stone Lane school
district made a request of the school board for Professor Adam’s
reappointment as their teacher.

He again
served them acceptably for two terms after which he was elected to
teach the grammar school of the borough of Fleetwood, continuing
there for five successive terms. After leaving the schoolroom, Mr.
Adam began his business career. The firm of Schlegel, Adam &
Company was formed, which at once received the patronage of the
public. In addition to the selling of grain, lumber, and coal, this
firm does contract work, and in 1905 built six houses in the
borough of Fleetwood for themselves, besides erecting other
buildings for different parties.

Calvin H.
Adam served his borough in the following capacities: auditor for
four years, and councilman since 1904, serving as secretary of that
body; is one of the directors, and was instrumental in getting the
automobile works located in Fleetwood; and also took a leading part
in having Down Tool Works come to this town. He is an active
Democrat and wields influence in his community, being
public-spirited and energetic. He is a regular member of the
Reformed Church of Fleetwood, and is superintendent of the Sunday
school. He belongs to the K. G. E., Castle No. 374, Knights of
Pythias No. 167, and others. He is a member of the Board of Trade.
Mr. Adam lives with his family on Franklin street, Fleetwood, in
his own residence.

On March 6,
1897, Mr. Adam was married to Miss Emily D. Schlegel, daughter of
Abraham and Annie (Deysher) Schlegel, and to this union have been
born: Helen Marguerite, Pauline Marie (who died aged two years),
and Mary.

ADAM, FREDERICK
M.

p.
1168

Surnames:
ADAM, MOSER, KEERLING, BISSEL, PAYNE, PENROSE, McKINLEY,
GASS

Frederick M.
Adam, senior member of the well-known firm of Adam Brothers, at
Temple, Berks Co., Pa., where he is also serving in the capacity of
postmaster, was born in 1879, in Maiden-creek township, Berks
county, son of Michael S. and Mary D. (Moser) Adam.

Michael S.
Adam, the father, was born in 1849 at South Evansville, Maidencreek
township. In 1883 he moved to Temple, where he purchased the store
and stock of Daniel Keerling, conducting the business until his
death, Jan. 21, 1905. He and his wife, Mary D. (Moser) Adam, had a
family of eight children: Alice K., deceased; Charles M., of
Birdsboro; Frederick M.; Howard; Robert; William; Myers, and Cyrus.
In religious belief the parents were of the Reformed faith. Mr.
Adam was a Democrat in politics, and served in various township
offices in Maidencreek, including those of school director and
auditor. On July 11, 1893, during the administration of President
Cleveland he was appointed postmaster by Wilson S. Bissel,
postmaster-general.

Frederick M.
Adam received his education in the schools of Muhlenburg township,
after leaving which he clerked in his father’s store until the
latter’s death, when he took charge of the business, which he has
since conducted with much success. He is a man of more than
ordinary ability, and his straightforward methods of doing business
have won him a large and steadily increasing patronage. On Dec. 3,
1902, he was appointed postmaster by Henry C. Payne, postmaster
general, having being recommended by Senator Penrose during
President McKinley’s administration.

Mr. Adam was
married to Cora Gass, daughter of William Gass, and to this union
twins were born; Brooke, who died when one year and two months old;
and Helen, who died when fifteen days old. Mr. and Mrs. Adam are
members of the Reformed Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and
fraternally is connected with Washington Camp, No. 107, P.O.S. of
A.; Lamoriti Tribe, No. 319, I.O.R.M.; and K.G.E., Castle No.
372.

ADAM, HARRY
B.

p.
1170

Surnames:
ADAM, BERG, BIEHL, GROMMIS, SCHLEGEL, ALTENDERFER, SCHUCHER,
FORNEY, TROXELL, SCHMEHL, HOCH, HIGH, WILLIAMS, WANSHOP

Harry B.
Adam, who is engaged in the manufacture of wagons at Leesport,
Ontelaunee township, Berks County, Pa., is one of the section’s
enterprising young business men, and belongs to an old and honored
Berks County family. He was born April 4, 1883, in Richmond
township, Berks County, Pa., son of George G. and Emma (Berg)
Adam.

George G.
Adam, the father, was reared on his father, Peter Adam’s farm in
Richmond township, and there learned the trade of stone mason,
which he has followed to a large extent throughout his life. He
married Emma Berg, and to this union there were born thirteen
children as follows: Sallie m. Howard Biehl; Charles B. m. Nora
Grommis; Kate R. m. Cyrenius Schlegel; Oscar B. m. Hannah
Altenderfer; William B. m. (first) Ella V. Schucher, and (second)
Clara Forney; Mary m. Lee Troxell; Nora m. William Schmehl; Peter
G. m. Annie Hoch; Edwin B. m. Emma High; Robert B; Ella May,
single; Elizabeth died at the age of five years; and Harry
B.

Harry B. Adam
was reared and educated in his native township and his early life
was spent on the farm, but later he learned the trade of
blacksmith, which he has followed to the present time. On Nov 2,
1903, he embarked in the wagon manufacturing business at Leesport,
this county, and has grown to such proportions that in spite of
employing a number of hands, Mr. Adam is unable to satisfy the
demand for his product. He is a skilled mechanic and good business
man, and his honest methods have made friends of all those who have
had business transactions with him.

On April 9,
1903, Mr. Adam married Kate R. Williams, daughter of David and
Emeline (Wanshop) Williams of Exeter Township.

ADAM, HERMAN

p.
1614

Surnames:
ADAM, HOUSEKNECHT, SNYDER, MERKEL, SHAPPELL, GARDNER, SMITH,
MENGEL, SCHAEFFER, ROTHERMEL, SCHAPPELL, BAER, GEORGE

Herman Adam,
who is extensively engaged in cultivating the soil about one mile
west of Virginville, Perry township, was born Sept. 3, 1852, in
Windsor township, son of Benjamin Adam, and grandson of Jacob
Adam.

Anthony Adam,
the great-great-grandfather of Herman of Perry township, was
probably the progenitor of the family in America, but Isaac Adam
(1906), nearly eighty-six years old, a grandson of Anthony, thinks
that there was one before him. Anthony Adam had three sons, of whom
Isaac Adam, whose body and mind are remarkably well preserved, has
a vivid recollection. They were: Abraham and Anthony, who settled
in Schuylkill county; and Peter, who owned and settled on the Adams
homestead, now owned by Herman of Perry township.

Peter Adam,
the great-grandfather, was a resident of Windsor township, but died
in Perry township, his remains being buried at the Zion Church of
that place. He married Catherine Houseknecht, and they had children
as follows: Jacob; Anthony; Peter; Abraham; John; William; Gero;
Betty, m. to Abraham Snyder; Hannah m. to Benjamin Merkel; and
Polly, m. to Daniel Shappell.

Jacob Adam,
son of Peter, was born in 1779 and died in 1866. He was a carpenter
by trade as well as a farmer, and owned 450 acres of land,
including that now occupied by Herman Adam. He married Maria
Gardner, and they had issue, namely: Hannah, William, Heinrich,
Jacob, Peter, Benjamin, Isaac, Betz, Polly, Lazarus, Simon,
Catherine, and Lydia. The only member of this family living is
Isaac, a farmer of Windsor township, who was born Nov. 12,
1820.

Benjamin
Adam, father of Herman, was born 1819 in Windsor township, where he
owned a farm of ninety-two acres of land. In 1870 he purchased the
farm now owned by his son, our subject, and that year moved upon
it, continuing there engaged in agricultural pursuits until within
a few years of his death. For six years he was a school director in
Windsor township, and was also trustee and elder of Zion’s Church
in Perry township, of which he and his family were members. He died
in 1890 in his seventy-second year. He married Jan. 29, 1848,
Hettie Smith, daughter of Michael Smith, and in the eight years of
their union they had two children, Susannah and Herman. Mr. Adam’s
second marriage was to Katie Mengel, daughter of Jesse Mengel, and
to this union were born fourteen children, four sons and ten
daughters.

Herman Adam
attended the schools of his native township till seventeen years
old, and was reared to the work of the farm. He has spent his
entire life in agricultural pursuits and has won well merited
success. His farm of 223 acres is a fertile, well-cultivated one,
and he employs seven horses in his operations, there being also
thirty head of cattle. He and his wife attend Zion’s Church of
Perry township, which the Adam family have been members for over
100 years. March 25, 1876, Mr. Adam married Sarah L Schaeffer, and
to this union have been born six children: Nevada A. m. Alfred Adam
and died in 1902; Solon D. m. Sallie Schappell; Cora A. m. Eugene
Baer; Neda H. M. Elmer B. George of Klinesville, Pa.; Katie M. died
in infancy; and Maude F. is at home.

ADAM, JACOB
S.

p.
1446

Surnames:
ADAM, SMITH, GERHART, NEYFONG, HOWELL, HAUSEKNECHT, SCHAPPELL,
SNYDER, MERKEL, GORDNER, BAUSHER, KRAMER, FOCHT, SMTH, LENGEL,
HOTTENSTEIN, GERHART, STRASSER, KERSHNER, BOYER, ROTHERMEL, KOHLER,
DREIBELBIS, MENGEL

Jacob S.
Adam, of Perry township, was born in Windsor (now Perry) township,
July 25, 1844, son of Jacob and Lovina (Smith) Adam. Anthony Adam
was the ancestor of the Adam family of upper Berks county. He was a
French Huguenot and came to American on the ship “Snow Molly,”
which landed at Philadelphia Oct. 26, 1741, Mr. Adam being at this
time twenty-five years of age. On this same ship came to the New
World progenitors of other old families of Albany and Greenwich
townships, whose descendants, in many instances still reside on the
land cleared from the wild bush by their forefathers. It is not
known to whom Anthony Adam was married, but we have record of these
sons; Abraham, Anthony, and Bernhard, who settled in Schuylkill
county; and Peter, who settled on a farm in Windsor township, now
owned by Herman Adam, one of his descendants. In 1752, when the
county was established, Anthony Adam was a taxable resident of
Albany township. Without a doubt he suffered during the French and
Indian wars, and it is supposed that he witnessed such terrible
depredations as the awful massacre of Jacob Gerhart’s family, the
killing of the wife of Balsar Neyfong and the shooting of David
Howell. These must have been trying times. Surely this pioneer
settler was often in communion with his God, praying for protection
for himself and family from the cruel scalping knife and
tomahawk.

Peter Adam,
the great-grandfather of Jacob S., was born Oct. 1, 1765, and died
July 1, 1849, aged eighty-three years, nine months. He was married
March 11, 1788, to Catherine Hauseknecht, and to them were born ten
children: Jacob; Anthony m. Miss Schappell; Peter; Abraham; John;
William; George; Betsy m. Abraham Snyder; Hannah m. Benjamin
Merkel; and Polly m. Daniel Schappell.

Jacob Adam,
son of Peter, was born in Windsor township, Oct. 18, 1789, and died
Dec. 22, 1866, aged seventy-seven years. His wife, Anna Maria
Gordner, was born July 16, 1793, and died Aug. 7, 1874, aged
eighty-one years. To them were born the following children: Hannah
m. Daniel Bausher; William m. Betz Kramer; Heinrich m. Harriet
Focht; Jacob, father of Jacob S.; Peter died single, aged
twenty-one years; Benjamin m. (first) Esther Smith, and (second)
Catherine Lengel; Isaac, born Nov. 12, 1820 (who in spite of his
years is still hale and hearty and able to dance a lively hoe-down,
which he does occasionally, to the great delight of his friends) m.
(first) Louisa Hottenstein, and (second) Esther Adam, who also
survives; Betsy m. John Gerhart; Polly m. Reuben Strasser; Lazarus
died at the age of fifty-nine years; Simon died in 1867, when
thirty-two years old; Catherine m. Samuel Schappell; and Lydia m.
Jacob Kershner.

Jacob Adam,
father of Jacob S., was born in Windsor township, Jan. 21, 1816,
and died Aug. 10, 1894, in his seventy-ninth year. He obtained a
good education in the pay schools of his day, and when a young man
learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed the greater part
of his life. In 1852 he removed to Perry township, locating upon
his farm of 137 acres, which he conducted with his children while
still working at his trade. He was a school director, official of
Zion’s Union Church, of Perry township, and was a highly esteemed
citizen. He married Lovina Smith, daughter of Michael Smith. She
was born Sept. 29, 1822, and died Dec. 27, 1905. Their children
were: Alfred S., a successful farmer of Perryville, whose land
adjoins that of our subject; Jacob S.; Samuel, who died aged
twenty-seven years; Michael, who died Jan. 24, 1905, aged
fifty-five years, four months, nine days; and Mary S., deceased, m.
to John Boyer.

Jacob S. Adam
has spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits with the
exception of five years when he was engaged at his trade of
carpentering. He now owns a fine farm of 108 acres in the southern
end of the township, near the Ontelaunee line, which is in the very
best possible condition and one of the most valuable in Perry
township. Excellent buildings adorn the property, a large well-kept
lawn surrounds the house, good, fresh water is easily obtained from
the troughs at the house and barn, and modern improvements are
noticed throughout. Adjacent to this Mr. Adam owns a valuable
little tract of fifteen acres, of very fertile land and with good
buildings upon it, and this he has tenanted. He is also the owner
of a store building at Molltown and has large industrial interests
in the county. Mr. Adam is a prominent man. He is a stanch Democrat
and a leader in the ranks of his party in this section, having been
a delegate to many county conventions. He was auditor of his
district and has likewise served for nine years as school director.
He is a prominent member of the St. Peter’s Reformed Church of
Richmond township, in which he has held every office, is president
of the building committee, and has recently been again elected
elder, a position he has held for many years. He gives to the
church with a liberal hand, helping members of the congregation in
many ways as well, and when any movement whether for charitable,
religious or educational purposes, is started, he is invariably
chosen to be the one to lead the project. He is known as a man of
honor and integrity in the community in which he has lived for so
many years, and many positions of honor and trust have been given
him by his fellow-citizens who recognize and appreciate his
sterling worth of character.

On Oct. 31,
1868, Mr. Jacob S. Adam was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth
K. Rothermel, daughter of Daniel and Hettie (Kohler) Rothermel, and
to this union there were born the following children: Lillie, who
died in infancy; Mamie, m. to William Dreibelbis, Maurice R., the
well known dentist at No. 639 Penn street, Reading, who is a
graduate of the Keystone State Normal School of Kutztown, class of
1898, taught school, clerked in a prothonotary’s office, court
house, graduated from the dental department of the University of
Pennsylvania in the class of 1903, and now has a large and
lucrative practice; Laura, m. to Wilson Mengel; Edith, who died in
her second year; Robert R., who is a student at the Keystone State
Normal School; and Jacob D., who died aged thirteen
days.

ADAM, SAMUEL

p.
1393

Surnames:
ADAM, RITTER, HOUSEKNECHT, GARDNER, SNYDER, MERKEL, SCHAPPELL,
GERHART, NEYFONG, HOWELL, BAUSHER, KRAMER, FOCHT, SMITH, LENDEL,
HATTENSTEIN, GERHART, STRASSER, ADAM, KRAMER, KERSHNER, MILLER,
FISHER, BALTHASER, DEYSHER, KETNER, BILLMAN

Samuel Adam,
one of the thrifty young agriculturists of Berks county, Pa., who
is engaged in cultivating the fine property in Windsor township,
until 1904 the homestead of his father, was born April 27, 1876, on
this farm, son of Charles Adam and Lydia (Ritter) Adam.

Anthony Adam,
the progenitor of this numerous family in America, who is said to
have been a French Huguenot, came to America on the ship “Snow
Polly,” and landed at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 26, 1741. As he was
then twenty-five years of age he must have been born in 1716. On
the same ship on which he crossed the Atlantic were a number of the
ancestors of old Albany and Greenwich township families, whose
descendants live in the same district, and in a few cases the
original lands and homesteads are still in possession of their
progeny. Who the wife of this pioneer Adam settler was, is not
known. It is probable that he settled in Albany township
immediately after his arrival in the New World, as he was a settler
there as early as 1752, and he witnessed and participated in the
trying times of the French and Indian wars, when such events as the
horrible massacre of Jacob Gerhart’s family, the killing of the
wife of Balser Neyfong and the shooting of David Howell occurred.
It is known that Anthony Adam had these sons: Abraham, Anthony and
Bernhard, who located in Schuylkill county; and Peter.

Peter Adam,
the great-great-grandfather of Samuel, was born Oct. 1, 1765, and
died July 1, 1849, aged eighty-three years, nine months. On March
11, 1788 he was married to Catherine Houseknecht, who bore him ten
children, as follows: Jacob, who married Anna Maria Gardner;
Anthony, who married a Miss Schappell; Peter; Abraham; John;
William; George; Betz; who married Abraham Snyder; Hannah, who
married Benjamin Merkel; and Polly, who married Daniel
Schappell.

Jacob Adam,
son of Peter, was born Oct. 18, 1789, and died Dec., 1866, in his
seventy-eighth year. His wife was Anna Maria Gardner, born July 16,
1793, and died Aug. 7, 1874, in the eighty-second year of her age.
They had these children: Hannah, who married Daniel Bausher;
William, who married Betz Kramer; Heinrich, who married Harriet
Focht; Jacob (1816-1894) who married Lovine Smith (1822-1905);
Peter, who died single, aged twenty-one years; Benjamin, who
married (first) Esther Smith, and (second) Catherine Lengel; Isaac,
born Nov. 12, 1820, who is still hale and hearty, married (first)
Lovina Hattenstein, and (second) Esther Adam; Betzy, who married
John Gerhart; Polly, who married Reuben Strasser; Lazarus, who died
aged fifty-nine years; Simon, who died in 1867, in the thirty-third
year of his age; Catherine, who married Samuel Schappell; and
Lydia, who married Jacob Kershner.

William Adam,
grandfather of Samuel, was born in Windsor township, where he spent
his whole life, and is buried at the Moselem Church. He was an
excellent carpenter and cabinet-maker and was also engaged in the
undertaking business. He was married to Betz Kramer, and to them
were born a number of children, one of whom was Charles, the father
of Samuel.

Charles Adam
was born in Windsor township, July 26, 1836, and died May 3, 1902,
from the effects of Bright’s disease. He was reared in Greenwich
township, where he learned the trade of carpenter when a young man,
and this he followed for six years, the next six years of his life
being spent in threshing among the farmers of his section. He then
purchased a property above Hamburg, at the tunnel, and lived for
several years, at the end of which time he sold out and purchased
the premises now owned by Samuel Adam. Here he spent the remainder
of his life. Mr. Adam was a Democrat, as had been all of the
members of his family before him, and served his district as school
director for six years. He and his family worshiped at Zion’s Union
Church, of which they were Reformed members.

Mr. Adam
married Lydia Ritter, daughter of Frederick and Sallie (Strasser)
Ritter, the former a German immigrant, and a “Swope.” On coming to
this country Mr. Ritter was very poor, but like many of his thrifty
fellow-countrymen, after landing in America worked industriously,
and at the time of his death was in comfortable circumstances. His
children were: George, a farmer of Greenwich township; Dr. Jonas, a
physician of Norristown Hospital; Dr. Nathan, a physician at
Allentown, Pa.; David, a merchant; Rev. John, deceased; Simon, a
farmer of Montgomery county; Anna, who married Joel Miller; Sallie
who married John Fisher, of Berks county; Polly, who married
William Balthaser; and Lydia, who married Mr. Adam. To Charles and
Mrs. Adam there were born the following children: Louisa; Fianna;
B. Franklin; Alvin; Katie; Victoria; Albert; Samuel; Alice, who met
her death by gas suffocation in Reading; Ida Louisa; Thomas; Ella;
Jeremiah P.; Amy and three who died in childhood. Samuel Adam
secured a good common school education in the schools of his native
district, and with the exception of a few years, has spent his
entire life on the farm where he now resides. After his marriage in
1900 he located on the Reading Railroad farm in Tilden township,
where he tenanted for one year, then became a tenant on John
Balthaser’s farm in the same township, where he lived another year,
afterward, until 1904, locating in Charles Deysher’s farm in
Maxatawny township. In the year above mentioned he bought the old
homestead on which he had been born, settling thereon in the spring
of the year. This fine property of ninety-six acres, the work on
which has been conducted by Mr. Adam and his estimable wife, is one
of the best improved in the community, the buildings having been
repaired and remodeled by Mr. Adam. He is considered one of the
good, practical farmers of his community, and his many sterling
characteristics have won him the esteem of his
fellow-townsmen.

On Feb. 25,
1899, Mr. Adam was married to Mary B. Ketner, daughter of Isaac and
Emma (Billman) Ketner, and to them have been born these children:
Sadie May; Amy A., who died March 10, 1901, of paralysis; Clayton
A.; Amandus C.; Hermie A.; and Edith V.

ADAM, WILLIAM
K.

p.
832

Surnames:
ADAM, KLINE, ENDY, FICK, GARRETT, KLINE, KOLLER, ROTHENBERGER,
SCHMEHL, WENTZEL, SEIDEL, HARTMAN, WANNER, BOONE, MILLER, EGELMAN,
LONGENDORFER, SHILDT, WENTZEL, NINE, CRUM, LUTZ, SCHOOR, CUNIUS,
ARMOND

William K.
Adam, a representative agriculturist and highly esteemed citizen of
Lower Alsace township, who owns and operates the old Adam homestead
near Antietam Lake, was born on the old home place May 20, 1844,
son of William and Catherine (Kline) Adam.

William Adam,
grandfather of William K., lived in Alsace township, near Antietam
Lake , and was an agriculturist, and the original owner of the Adam
property. He married a Miss Garrett, and they had the following
children: Catherine m. a Mr. Endy, resided in Heidelberg township,
near Blue Marsh; Rebecca m. Samuel Fick, an agriculturist on
Heidelburg Gap; John, a stone mason and small farmer of Alsace
township, m. a Miss Koller; Jacob, also a stone mason of
Lauderbach’s Springs, m. Maria Koller; Hannah m. Peter
Rothenberger, of Muhlenberg township; William; Hannah m. Jere
Koller, a huckster of Hamburg, Pa.; and Samuel, a forgeman of
Berger’s Forge, m. a Miss Wentzele.

William Adam,
father of William K., was born May 7, 1807, at the old homestead at
Antietam, and was reared and educated in that locality. He later
learned the trade of mason, which he followed in connection with
farming the old homestead until his death. He married Catherine
Kline, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Schmehl) Kline, and they had
the following children: Mary M. married Michael Miller (who died in
Reading many years ago), resides in Reading, and has fourteen
children — Amos, John, Daniel, Irwin, Frank, Aaron, Ada, Harry,
Thomas, Kate, Mayme, and three deceased; Rebecca m. John Seidle, a
blacksmith of Alsace township; and has four children — Henry,
Mary, John, and Annie; Israel of Boyertown, m. Susan Hartman,
daughter of Abraham Hartman, and they have six children — Albert,
William, Abner, Charles, Edwin, and Sallie; Lena m. John Wanner, a
miller of near Stony Creek Mills, and has six children — William,
Martin, Katie, Hannah, John, and Thomas; Catherine m. Peter Wanner,
also a miller and farmer near Stony Creek Mills and has six
children — Ella, Katie, Hannah, Peter, and Nora and Dora (the
latter of whom are twins); William K.; James m. Amanda Seidel, and
has children — Charles, James, William, Howard, Frank, Adam,
Mayme, Amelia, Sarah, Catherine and Lillian; and Rose m. John
Miller, son of William and Mary (Boone) Miller, a driver for Lerch
& Co., hardware merchants of Reading, and has children —
Katie, Nora, Mayme, Rose, Stella, Esther, William, and Howard
(deceased).

William K.
Adam was reared and educated in his native township, and was
trained to agricultural pursuits, assisting his father, after whose
death he purchased the homestead farm. On May 30, 1868, he married
Mary Seidel, daughter of Solomon and Mina (Whilhelmina) (Egelman)
Seidel, and to this union there have been born eight children, six
of whom survive: Ida m. Jacob Longendorfer, a brewer of Tremont,
Schuylkill County, and has children — Ruth, Esther, and William;
Llewellyn, who assists his father on the farm, m. a daughter of
Jacob and Emmeretta (Shildt) Wentzel, and has two children — Jacob
and Mary; Edward S., a molder of Reading, m. Ida, daughter of
Samuel Nine, and they have had five children, Florence, Dorothy,
Ruth, Earl, and Paul (deceased); Emma m. David Crum, son of Jacob
and Elizabeth (Lutz) Crum, an employee of Gravity R.R., and has one
child, Arthur; Catherine who resides at home, is the widow of
Albert Schoor (who was killed in an automobile wreck in October,
1906), and has had four children — Helen, Armond (deceased),
Antionette and Eugene; and William, of lower Alsace township, m.
Ella Cunius, and has two children — Edna and Edith.

Mr. Adam is a
democrat in politics and has taken an active part in township
affairs, having served as auditor, school director, delegate to
county conventions at various times, and being now a candidate for
the office of county commissioner. He and his family attend the
Reformed Church.

ADAMS, AARON

p.
1489

Surnames:
ADAMS, BELL, HART, MOYER, MCCORMICK, EGOLF, ESTLEY, GEIGER,
ROBINSON

Aaron Adams,
deceased, who for many years was a resident of Reading, where he
was engaged as a machinist, was born in 1828, in Amity township,
Berks County, son of Henry and Mary (Bell) Adams, the former a
native of New York State, who came to Berks County when a young
man, working as an iron worker until his death in 1850. He and his
wife had these children: Hiram, Aaron, Samuel, Harry, Sarah, Mary,
and Martha.

Aaron Adams
received his education in the common schools of his native
township, and later learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed
for some years, and then took up the trade of machinist which he
followed in Reading until his death. Mr. Adams was married in 1852
to Esther Hart, daughter of John and Kate (Moyer) Hart, and to this
union was born children as follows: Ida died in infancy; Mary E.,
deceased m. Charles McCormick, and had one child, Winfield; Melvin
E., a machinist, m. Ida Adams, and they had five children, Arron W.
(m. Cora Egolf and has two children, Stanley and Fred), Esther (m.
Daniel Estley and has one child Mary), Sally, Melvin, and Harry M.,
deceased; Kate, deceased m. Charles Geiger and has one child, Carl;
Amelia, deceased, m. Hale Robinson, and had two children, Eugene,
deceased, and Albert. In religious belief, Mr. Adams was a member
of the Reformed Church, and in that faith he died in 1881, his
funeral being conducted by the I. O. O. F., of which he had been a
member for many years, being connected with the Encampment. In
political matters he was a Republican.

ADAMS, ALBERT
H.

p.
901

Surnames:
ADAMS, LEINBACH, SNYDER, TOBIAS

Albert Adams,
a prominent citizen of the town of St. Lawrence, Pa., who is
engaged in general farming and dairying on his excellent fifty-acre
farm in Exeter township, was born Sept. 18, 1859 in Alsace
township, son of Israel Adams, and a member of the old Adam family,
the present spelling of the name being of recent
adoption.

Albert H.
Adams was educated in the public schools of Alsace and Exeter
townships, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. After attaining
his majority he entered the Brucknow Rolling Mills in Douglas
township as a heater, where he continued for four years, when he
returned to the farm and for one year conducted an eighty-nine acre
property in Douglas township. At this time he removed to the
Breneiser farm in Exeter township, a property of 120 acres which he
operated for eleven years, and than located on the farm which he
now owns, and which he purchased in 1898, thirty five acres of the
fifty being under cultivation. He has good, substantial buildings
and the latest farm machinery, and has been very successful in
truck farming, fruit growing and dairying, the latter of which he
has followed for nineteen years, conducting a route to Reading, and
keeping from fourteen to sixteen cows. Mr. Adams is a stockholder
in the St. Lawrence Water Company, in which he has been a director
and vice president since its organization. He is also a stockholder
in the Oley Turnpike Company, and a director and member of the
board of managers of same. In politics he is a Democrat, and since
1898 has been a member of the Exeter school board, and Treasurer
since 1899. He takes a deep interest in public school affairs in
his township, and in spite of strong opposition he succeeded in
getting a four-room building erected in the village of
St.Lawrence.

On April 23,
1881, Mr. Adams was married to Miss Deborah T. Snyder, the daughter
of William and Hannah (Tobias) Snyder, the former for many years a
justice of the peace in Exeter township. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have
had a family of fifteen children namely: William is deceased; Katie
m. William Leinbach, of St. Lawrence, and has three children, —
Sarah, Elizabeth and John; Warren a teacher in the public schools,
is now attending Perkiomen Seminary; Harvey, formerly a
schoolteacher, is attending State College, Pa.; Charles is a
teacher in the public schools; Daniel; Ralph; Milton is deceased;
Israel; Albert; Edward is deceased; Hannah; Esther; John; and a son
died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of Spie’s Reformed
Church, while their children attend Schwartzwald Church of that
denomination.

ADAMS, RALPH
E.

p.
360

Surnames:
ADAMS, JONES, KURTZ, FISHER, LOAG, STRONG, BOYER, THOMPSON, BELL,
FELIX, HELMS

E. Ralph
Adams, who at the time of his death was superintendent of the
Philadelphia & Reading Telegraph Company, was born Nov. 5,
1850, at Robesonia, Berks Co., Pa., son of Reuben and Magdalena
(Jones) Adams.

Reuben Adams
was born also in Berks county. He carried on a blacksmith and
machine business at Robesonia, where he died in November, 1895,
aged seventy-five years. His widow died in June 1907. They had six
children, namely: Richard, of Missouri; Rufus, who died at Denver,
Colo.; E. Ralph; Emma, deceased, who married Samuel Kurtz; John;
and Valeria, wife of George Fisher.

E. Ralph
Adams was a pupil in the public schools until the age of fourteen
years, when he took charge of the telegraph service at Robesonia,
for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway. This was in 1862, and
he continued to be in the employ of this corporation until his
death, with the exception of 1871 to 1874, when he was with the
Western Union Telegraph Company at Sedalia, Mo. After his return to
the former company he was made manager of the Sixth street office
at Reading, in 1875 becoming chief operator, and in 1886 he was
sent to the Philadelphia office of the company as manager. Nine
months later he was promoted to be superintendent of the whole
service, and this responsible position, gained entirely through his
own merit, he held up to the time of his death, which occurred
March 3, 1895. He was a member of Lodge No. 62, F. & A.M.;
Excelsior Chapter; Reading Commandery, K. T.; and Philadelphia
Consistory. He belonged also to Mr. Penn Council, Royal Arcanum,
and to the Philadelphia & Reading Telegraphic
Association.

In 1871 Mr.
Adams was married to Loretta Loeg, a daughter of William R. and
Eliza (Strong) Loeg. They settled at what is now known as Loag’s
Corner, Chester county, where they engaged in farming. She is the
youngest of their children, the others being: Margaret, deceased,
wife of Michael P. Boyer, a prominent attorney at Reading; John,
deceased who was proprietor of a hotel at Scranton, Pa.; Emma,
widow of James Thompson, of Hillsboro, Md.; James, deceased, a
merchant in Philadelphia; Mary and Esther, both deceased; George,
deceased, a dentist at Fort Wayne, Ind.; Sarah, wife of Theodore J.
Bell, of Chester, Pa.; Frances, also of Chester.

Mr. and Mrs.
Adams had two children, viz.: Fred B., who is supervisor of the
Shamokin Division of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway
Company, and who married Lue G. Felix; and Florence L., wife of R.
Ray Helms, representative for the Equitable Life Assurance Society,
at Reading, Pennsylvania.

ADAMS FAMILY

p.
741

Surnames:
ADAMS, WEISNER, REINHARD, STIMMER, DUNKEL, LESHER, LADICH, ELY,
HAUSKNECHT, KLINE, MILLER, MADERY, GLASS, ZANER, HESS, HILL, ENGLE,
TRUGH, GOBLE, HUTTON, LEIDY, MOYER, CONNER, LEVAN, TRAUGH,
VANDERHOVEN, KISNER, KINNEY, FREAS, WARREN, TURNBACH, MILES,
ALBERTSON, CRYDER, EVANS, DAVIS, ANDERSON

Anthony Adam,
a potter by trade, was born in the Fatherland in the year 1716, and
emigrated to America in the year 1741. He sailed from Rotterdam on
the Snow “Molly,” commanded by Captain John Cranch. This vessel
arrived at Philadelphia, and the passengers, having taken the oath
of allegiance to the English Sovereign, were qualified to land,
Oct. 26, 1741. Anthony Adam’s age is entered on the passenger list
as twenty-five years. On Feb. 7, 1748, he received from the
Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, a warrant for a
tract of 136 A. 146 P. of land in Albany township, then a part of
Philadelphia county. This land was surveyed for him by the
Surveyor-General of the Province, June 6, 1752. The farm is now in
the possession of Nathan Weisner of Round Top, Albany township,
Berks county.

Anthony Adam,
or Andoni Adam, as he wrote his name, received a warrant for a
tract of 135 A. and 47 P. “above Maxatawny,” Feb. 7, 1748. In 1761
he sold 140 acres of his land in Albany township to John Reinhard.
He was administrator of the estate of Albrecht Stimmel, of Albany
township, in 1766, being the chief creditor. His administration
account was audited and approved in December of 1768. The date of
death of Anthony Adam, of Albany township, is not known.

Anthony Adam
(2), son of Anthony of Albany township, was born about the year
1736, and was a resident of the adjoining township of Windsor in
1758, described on the tax list of that year as a single man. He
married Rosina Dunkel, widow of Vincent Lesher, of Richmond
township. Anthony Adam served during the Revolutionary War as a
private in Captain Jacob Ladich’s Company, Colonel Samuel Ely’s
Battalion of Berks County Militia, as appears from a muster roll
showing that this company was in the service of the United States
from Oct. 1, to Oct. 17, 1781 (Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series,
Vol. V, pp. 279-281). In 1799 Anthony Adam (2) received from the
State of Pennsylvania, a patent for 307 acres of land called
“Manheim” on Briar Creek, in Northumberland (now Columbia) county,
Pennsylvania, and in 1806, received a patent for another tract of
426 acres called “Quincy” on the same creek. These lands he
conveyed to his four sons. Anthony Adam died sometime after April
27, 1809. He had at least four children, as follows. Peter, of
Windsor township, Berks county, born Oct. 1, 1765, died July 1,
1849, m. Catharina Hausknecht; Anthony (3) was of Briar Creek
township, Columbia county; Jacob Adam, of Richmond township, Berks
county, m. Susan Kline; Abraham, of Briar Creek, born Oct. 7, 1799,
died in Briar Creek, July 6, 1855, m. Sarah Miller.

Anthony Adam
(3) established the Adams homestead in Briar Creek township,
Columbia county, Pa. He was the son of Anthony Adam and Rosina
Dunkel, of Windsor township, Berks county, and was born Dec. 25,
1767. He served as a private in Captain Christian Madery’s Company
of Berks County Militia, which was “Ordered to Wyoming by the
Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania.” This
company arrived at Fort Allen Nov. 21, 1787, at Wyoming, November
6th, and was discharged January 6, 1788. (Pennsylvania Archives,
6th Series Vol. III, pp. 94, 95, 96.) Anthony Adam (3) settled in
Briar Creek as early as 1792, for on Oct. 18th of that year a
warrant was granted to him for 278 acres of land for which he
received patent in 1811. On March 20, 1795, he purchased
seventy-five acres of land in Fishing Creek township (later a part
of Briar Creek). The tract of land called “Manheim,” containing 307
acres, was deeded to him by his father, Sept. 3, 1806. On Oct. 15,
1811, he received a deed from his three brothers for his fourth
interest (106 acres) in the tract of land called “Quincy.” He
married Catherine Glass, born Dec. 30, 1766, died Aug. 12, 1845. He
died April 29, 1822. Both are buried in the Briar Creek Reformed
Church-yard, five miles west of Berwick, Pennsylvania. The children
of Anthony Adam and Catherine Glass: (1) Hannah, born May 10, 1790,
died Sept. 3, 1870, m. Daniel Zaner, of Briar Creek. (2) William,
of Briar Creek, born Dec. 15, 1791, died April 26, 1860, m. Susanna
Hess. He served during the War of 1812-1814, as a private in
Captain George Hidler’s Company in the 112th Regiment of Columbia
County Militia, under Colonel Andrew Keller. (3) Samuel, of Briar
Creek, born in 1793, died Nov. 29, 1846, m. Esther Hill. (4)
Anthony (4) m. Elsie Engle, and removed to Rock Island, Ill. (5)
Rachel, born Nov. 29, 1797, died April 8, 1852, m. in June, 1817,
William Trugh, of Berwick. (6) Abraham m. a Goble, and removed to
Rock Island, Ill. He served in the same company with his brother in
the War of 1812-1814. (7) Elizabeth m. John Hutton, and removed to
Illinois. (8) Catherine, born May 12, 1803, died Sept. 26, 1840,
unmarried. (9) Mary Magdalene, born in 1806, died June 17, 1879, m.
Aug.22, 1824. Enos Leidy, of Berwick and later of Manayunk,
Philadelphia. (10) Sarah Adam, born May 29, 1808, died March 17,
1872, m. Jacob Moyer, of Berwick.

Samuel Adams,
son of Anthony Adam and Catherine Glass of Briar Creek township,
Columbia county, Pa., was born there in 1793, and remained in the
same township. He married June 27, 1819, Esther Hill, who was born
March 21, 1802 and died March 9, 1826, daughter of Captain
Frederick Hill, proprietor of the old “Fort Jenkins Inn.” and his
wife, Catherine Conner. Captain Frederick Hill was born March 8,
1772, and died Aug. 21, 1823. He was commissioned Captain of the
6th Company of the 112th Regiment of the Militia of Pennsylvania,
by Governor Thomas McKean, Aug. 3, 1807, as appears by the original
commission in the possession of Charles F. Hill Esq., of Hazleton.
Captain Frederick Hill was the son of Frederick Hill of Berks
county, by his wife Maria, daughter of Judge Jacob Levan, Colonial
Judge of the Courts of Berks County. Frederick Hill, Berks County,
father of Captain Frederick Hill, served during the Revolutionary
war in the Continental Line. He enlisted May 1, 1776, as a private
in Captain Lewis Farmer’s Company in the Pennsylvania Rifle
Regiment, commanded by Colonel Samuel Miles. After the capture of
Colonel Miles and the greater portion of the command at the Battle
of Long Island, Frederick Hill, with other survivors of the Rifle
Regiment, enlisted in The State Regiment of Foot. He served in this
regiment in 1777 as a private in Captain John Nice’s Company,
participating in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown.
(Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II.)

Samuel Adams
and Esther Hill of Briar Creek township, Columbia County,
Pennsylvania, had the following children: Anthony, born Feb. 26,
1821, died in infancy; Mary Ann, born Jan. 31, 1822, died March 1,
1877, m. (first) Louis Traugh, of Berwick (died Nov. 5, 1850) and
(second) Warren Vanderhoven; Enos L. is mentioned next.

Enos L.
Adams, of Briar Creek township, Columbia county, Pa., son of Samuel
Adams and Esther Hill, of the same place, was born July 28, 1824.
He married March 13, 1847, Margaret Kisner, who was born April 21,
1827, and died May 19, 1872, daughter of John Kisner and Lydia
Kinney. Lydia Kinney was born Nov. 10, 1805, and died Sept. 5,
1851, daughter of John Kinney and granddaughter of Major John
Kinney, a Revolutionary officer of New Jersey.

Mr. Enos L.
Adams owned the old Adams homestead in Briar Creek township,
several properties in the neighboring town of Berwick, and some
lands in the State of Kansas. From 1872 to 1880, he was the senior
member of the firm of Adams & Son, merchants, of Berwick. He
died Aug. 17, 1887. The children of Enos L. Adams and Margaret
Kisner were : (1) Alice Lydia, born Feb. 11, 1848, married Jan. 7,
1869, James Knox Polk Freas, of Berwick, who died Oct. 16, 1898.
(2) John Kisner, born April 8, 1850, died March 15, 1880,
unmarried. (3) Samuel Warren, born Feb 2, 1853, was of Berwick. (4)
Enos Kinney, born July 8, 1855, died Nov. 30, 1889, m. Clara Miles.
(5) Anna Mary, born Nov. 4, 1857, m. Joseph H. Turnbach, a hardware
merchant of Philipsburg, Pa. She died Dec. 30, 1903. (6) William
L., born May 27, 1860, is mentioned below. (7) Charles Elliott,
born Jan. 26, 1863, of Berwick, m. Mary E. Albertson. (8) Margaret
Ida, born Oct. 11, 1866, married Oct. 9, 1891, Leoni H. Cryder, of
Berwick. (9) Francis Laura, born Oct. 14, 1869, m. June 2, 1904,
James L. Evans, attorney- at-law, of Berwick. (10) Edwin Orison,
born March 12, 1872.

William L.
Adams, son of Enos L. and Margaret (Kisner), was born at the Adams
homestead in Briar Creek township, Columbia Co., Pa., May 27, 1860.
He was educated at Mr. Union College, Alliance, Ohio, graduating
with the Class of 1881. On Aug. 15, 1888, he was married at Fort
Worth, Texas to Lizzie A. Davis, only daughter of Willis G. Davis
and Adelia Anderson of Colon, Mich., and a graduate of the Michigan
Seminary, Kalamazoo, Mich. Since March of 1890, Mr. and Mrs.
William L. Adams have resided at Hoquiam, Washington. They have
four children living, viz: Gaylord, born Aug. 8, 1890; Gwenivere
Sept. 12, 1893; Elizabeth, Jan. 30, 1898, and William L., Jr., May
27, 1907. William L. Adams is president of The First National Bank
of Hoquiam, and president of the Keystone Timber Company of
Hoquiam.

ADAMS, JOHN
T.

p.
1119

Surnames:
ADAMS, TOBIAS, LICHENTHAELER, MUNTZ, HENDRICKS, KNABB,
ESTEY

John T.
Adams, member of the pretzel baking firm of J. T. Adams & Co.,
of Reading, is a native of Alsace township, Berks county, born
March 29, 1856, son of William Adams, a farmer of that township who
died Dec. 24, 1904, and Fernie (Tobias) Adams, whose death occurred
in 1870.

John T. Adams
spent his early school days in his home township, and the latter
part in the schools of Reading. At the age of fourteen years he
began to learn the trade of pretzel making, with a Mr. Muntz, with
whom he remained eight years, the next thirteen years being spent
with the late Benjamin Lichtenthaeler. In May, 1893, Mr. Adams
engaged in business with Mr. J. S. Hendricks, and they are located
under the firm name of Hendricks & Adams, at Nos, 333-335
Cherry street, the entrance to the factory being at No. 332 Penn
street. Mr. Hendricks retired from business in October, 1907, and
Mr. Adams continued the business, taking his son Paul as a partner.
They manufacture what is known as the “Original Pretzel.” When they
first started in business they employed but two hands; now they
have fourteen. Their first year’s business was 1,060,273 pretzels,
and the year of 1905, 3,712,644. Their trade is very large, and
they ship to all parts of the United Stated, from Boston to San
Francisco, as well as abroad. They have two large ovens, and four
wagons are continually busy in the city, where the firm’s goods are
in great demand.

In 1877 Mr.
Adams married Miss Mary Knabb, daughter of the late David G. Knabb,
of Reading, and these children have been born to the union; Paul,
member of the firm of J. T. Adams & Co.; Martha, wife of
William Estey. Mr. and Mrs. Adams reside in the house in which she
was born, No. 1035 Franklin street. Fraternally a Mason, he is very
active in the work of that society, and is also connected with the
Odd Fellows. He served on the council of the Lutheran Church, and
has been very prominent in educational work in Reading. He is one
of the city’s representative citizens.

ADAMS, THOMAS
F.

p.
1508

Surnames:
ADAMS. GODDNER, LUCKENBILL, SMITH, HOFFMAN, MENGEL, ACKER, MOLLEY,
DOUGHERTY

Thomas F.
Adams, now residing at No. 961 North Ninth street, Reading, was
born in Perry township, Berks county, May 14, 1860, son of Simon
and grandson of Jacob Adams.

Jacob Adams,
the grandfather, was born in Windsor township (now Perry township),
son of Peter and grandson of Anthony Adams. He became a well known
farmer. He married a Miss Goddner, and both are buried at Zion’s
Church cemetery. They had a family of sixteen children, all now
deceased.

Simon Adams,
son of Jacob and father of Thomas F., was born in Perry township.
He became the owner of a farm of 140 acres which he cultivated. His
wife, Sarah Luckenbill, was a daughter of Thomas Luckenbill, and
their children were: Thomas F.; Cyrus and Simon live in Perry
township; and Annie married Albert Smith.

Thomas F.
Adams attended the schools of Perry township and the Reading
business college one term. When eighteen years old he turned his
attention to the carpenter’s trade, and under the direction of his
uncle Thomas Luckenbill, in Perry township, he became an able
workman, and he continued with him for twenty-three years. At the
end of that time he went to Fleetwood, and for four years engaged
there in the hotel business, and then for one year lived retired.
In 1900 he came to Reading, and since that time has been working at
his trade as foreman.

Mr. Adams
married Miss Ellen E. Hoffman, daughter of Joel and Susanna (Reber)
Hoffman, and of the eight children born of this union, six are
living: Wilson J. married Hettie Mengel; Elwood married Carrie
Acker, and lives in Allentown; Sarah married Robert Molley, and
they live in Lebanon county; Cora married Clarence Dougherty, and
they reside at Upland, Delaware Co., Pa.; Benjamin enlisted in the
U. S. Navy Sept. 27, 1907, and has been around the world; Mary is
at home; Walter S. died Dec. 3, 1908, age ten years, of typhoid
fever; and Irvin C. died in infancy. While living in Perry
township, Mr. Adams served as school director two terms, and also
while living at Fleetwood held the same office on term. He is very
popular in the Democratic party. He has been nominated (1909) on
his party’s ticket for prothonotary of Berks county, which in this
county is equivalent to an election. He is a member of Camp No. 103
P. O. S. of A., of Fleetwood; Aerie No. 66, F. O. E., Reading;
Carpenter’s Union No. 492; and the Maccabees of Reading. With his
family he attends the Reformed Church.

ADAMS, WILLIAM
H.

p.
880

Surnames:
ADAMS, HARTMAN, KLINE, MILLER, SEIDEL,WANNER, SNYDER, ALBRIGHT,
HEYDT, HOUCK, FISHER, WISE

William H.
Adams, one of the leading business men of Exeter township, Berks
county, senior member of the well-known general merchandise firm of
Adams Brothers, at Esterly P. O., village of St. Lawrence, is a
native of Berks county, and a son of Israel and Susan (Hartman)
Adams.

William
Adams, the grandfather of William H., was reared in Lower Alsace
township, this county, where he spent his life in stone-mason work
and contracting, being a prominent business man of his day. He was
an attendant of the Reformed church and consistent in his belief.
He married Mary Kline, of Reading, and died when sixty-eight years
old; his widow was about seventy-eight at the time of her death.
They had the following children: Mary married Michael Miller;
Rebecca married John Seidel; Israel married Susan Hartman; Lena
married John Wanner; Catherine marred Peter Wanner; William married
Mary Seidel; Rosa married John Miller; James married Amanda
Seidel.

Israel Adams
was born in Lower Alsace township. He was a stone-mason by trade,
although he gave most of his attention to farming, which he
followed quite extensively in Exeter and Alsace townships, and
finally in Amity township until his retirement about 1897. They had
a family of ten children, of whom six grew to maturity: Albert, a
farmer of St. Lawrence married Deborah Snider; Sallie, married
Anthony Albright, of Boyertown; William H. is mentioned below;
Abner, a farmer of Exeter township, married Catherine Heydt;
Charles, of the firm of Adams Brothers, married Elsie Houck;
Edward, bookkeeper at the Reading Glove and Mitten Works, Reading,
married Carrie Fisher.

William H.
Adams was educated in the public schools, and until 1899 followed
farming. In that year the firm of Adam Brothers was started by
William H. and Charles Adams, in a very small way, with a modest
stock. Business grew rapidly, however, and since the establishment
of the firm the floor space has been doubled, and the patronage is
drawn from a large territory, extending even into the city of
Reading. Both brothers are able business men, and are affable and
courteous to patrons. Their establishment presents as fine an
appearance as any in this section of Berks county. Mr. Adams was a
trustee and one of the organizers of the St. Lawrence Water
Company, and is a stockholder in the Montello Brick Company, and
other enterprises. Fraternally he is connected with Washington Camp
No. 230, P. O. S. of A., being a trustee therein. He and his son
are members of the Reformed church, he being a trustee of Union
Sunday-school Chapel, while his wife is a member of the Lutheran
church. In politics Mr. Adams is a Democrat, and has served as
delegate to county conventions on numerous occasions.

In 1888 Mr.
Adams was married to Miss Annie Wise, daughter of Rebecca and
William Wise, of Douglas township, and two children have been born
to this union: Harry W. and Ella M. The former is a graduate of the
public schools of Exeter township and of the Inter-State Commercial
College.

ADAMS, WILLIAM H. –
Reading

p.
1338

Surnames:
ADAMS, MOCK, KENDALL, BRANHOUSE, GENANT, BARBER, BROWN, YEAGER,
MILLER, HOMAN

William H.
Adams of Reading, Pa., engaged in the drug business, who resides at
No. 159 West Oley street, was born in this city in 1859, son of
Elwood and Catherine (Mock) Adams, and a grandson of William H. and
Maria (Kendall) Adams.

William H.
Adams, grandfather of William H., was born about 1812, near
Absecon, N. J., and died in 1872; his wife, aged ninety years, is
still surviving, residing at Reading. They had six children:
Rachael, deceased, m. Thomas Branhouse; Elwood, deceased; two
children died in infancy; Winfield S., of Reading, m. Kate Genant,
deceased; and Josephine, m. Morris Barbar, a retired grocer. Mr.
Adams was engaged in the hotel business in New Jersey.

He came to
Reading and engaged with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway
Co., at core-makng, a trade he learned after coming to this city.
He continued with this company until his death, being regarded as a
skilled and faithful workman by his employers, and his fellow
citizens rated him as an honest and honorable man.

Elwood Adams
was born in Reading, and after receiving a common school education
learned the trade of core-making and molding, entering the employ
of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, with which he
was connected until his death. He and his wife had these children:
William H., Charles, Winfield S, James, Marian M. married Millard
Brown; Estella married George Yeager: Rachel married Walter Miller;
and Harry. Mr. Adams was a Baptist in his religious belief.
Fraternally, he was connected with the P. O. S. of A.

William H.
Adams was educated in the schools of Reading, Pa., and then learned
the trade of spectacle maker at Willson’s spectacle factory, where
he remained for three years. He then resigned this position to
learn the molder’s trade at the Philadelphia & Reading shops,
with which company he was connected ten years, when he engaged with
the Mellert Iron Foundry Co., working there until it closed out
business. He then accepted a position with the Prizer Painter Stove
works at Millmont, where he continued about nine years, resigning
this to engage in the drug business at No. 1326 North Tenth street,
where he has continued to the present time with much
success.

Mr. Adams was
married to Sally Homan, daughter of Frank Homan, and to this union
there have been born three children: John, a druggist is a graduate
of the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, Pa.; Ollie, a
student at that institution; and Walter, is employed as a clerk in
the store. Mr. Adams is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and an
independent in politics. He and Mrs. Adams attend the Universalist
Church of Our Father.