Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

p. 649

Surnames: BABB, DE HART, FIEFS, EIDER, BAUER, CHRISTIAN, LONG,
LEINBACH, REIDER, HEINE, ZIEBER, FOULK, FICK, KELLER, FISHER,
MARBERGER, HAFER, KLEMMER, IBACH, KERN

David D. Babb, a highly esteemed citizen of Lower Alsace township,
Berks Co., Pa., who is engaged in blacksmithing and operating a
well-cultivated truck farm, was born June 25, 1837, in Alsace (now
Lower Alsace) township, son of John and Mary (De Hart) Babb.

John Babb, son of John Sr., and grandfather of
David D., married and had the following children: Jesse, who in
early life was a farmer, removed to Reading where he died aged
seventy-eight years; Benjamin, a tailor of Reading, where he died
when eighty years of age, married and left a family of children:
John, father of David D.; Sarah married Peter Fies, a wheelwright
by trade, who kept the “Black Horse Hotel” for many years, and they
had five children — Rachel, Sarah, Benjamin, Mahlon, and Jerre;
and Rachel married Augustus Eidel, a farmer of Oley, where she died
aged seventy-five years.

John Babb, father of David D., who was a
blacksmith by trade, conducted the “Centre Hotel” for many years,
and there his death occurred. He married Mary De Hart, daughter of
John De Hart, and to this union there were born sixteen children,
as follows: David D.; Sarah, m. to Jacob Bauer, a farmer of near
Baumstown; Emma, m. to Henry Christian, a farmer of Alsace
township, whose death occurred in Reading; Mary, m. to Richard
Long, a cooper who died in Reading; Elizabeth, who died in Reading,
m. to Dallas Leinbach; Savilla, who died unmarried in Reading; Rose
m. to Daniel Rider, a brick layer who now lives in Nebraska;
Caroline, m. to Fred Heine, who resides at Omaha, Nebr., Daniel
farmer of near Green Tree, Cumru township, m. to Amanda, daughter
of Daniel Zieber; George, m. to Isabella Foulk, deceased; James, a
farmer who resides near the old homestead, m. to Hettie, daughter
of Jerre Fick; John, who was killed at the second battle of Bull
Run, during the Civil war; William, who died young; Martha, m. to
Thomas Keller, who works in a woolen mill and resides near the
Stony Creek Mills; Minerva, who married John Fisher, deceased, and
resides near Reading; Ida, m. to Louis Kern, and residing near
Reading.

David D. Babb was reared and educated in Alsace
(now Lower Alsace) township, and from the age of sixteen years
assisted his father in the blacksmith shop. There he learned the
trade, which he was followed to the present time, also carrying on
truck farming. Mr. Babb was married to Miss Rebecca Marberger,
daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Hafer) Marberger and she died Aug. 3,
1907, being interred at Spies’s Church cemetery. The following
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Babb: Sarah Alice, born Feb. 3,
1862, m. William Ibach, and resides near Mt. Penn in Lower Alsace
township; John M., born June 12, 1863, m. Sarah Keller; David M.,
born Aug. 5, 1867, is single; Annie Rebecca, born June 15, 1869, m.
John Klemmer, and they reside with her father; Mary Ida, born June
22, 1875, died Aug. 1, 1877; and Elmenda M., born June 1, 1878, m.
Samuel Long, and they reside at St. Lawrence, Exeter township,
where he is a weaver in Brumbach’s woolen mills. Mr. Babb and his
family are members of the Lutheran congregation at Spies’s Church.

p. 1511

Surnames: BABST, EXMOYER, FAIR, MEITZER, FREDERICK, HOHL, HARBSTER,
WINTER

John Babst, a well-to-do citizen of Reading, Pa., who has been
living retired at his home since 1896, is a native of this city
born April 8, 1842, son of Adam and Margaret (Exmoyer) Babst.

Adam Babst was born in Bavaria, Germany, and
while in his native country followed gardening. He came to America
in the fall of 1841, and remained at Philadelphia few weeks before
going to Reading. He started the vineyard of Mr. John Fair, who
kept a wine house on Penn street, below Seventh, and then bought
six acres of land at the foot of Mt. Penn, where he started a
vineyard. Mr. Babst died at this place in 1847, when about fifty
years of age, while his wife passed away in her sixty-eighth year ,
both being buried at the Alsace Church, they being Lutherans in
their religious belief.

John Babst, the only child of his parents,
attended the school situated at the corner of Tenth and Washington
streets, and early in life learned the hatter’s trade, following
this occupation for twenty-five years. He then went to Philadelphia
& Reading shops, where he was employed in different departments
for a period of fourteen years, retiring in 1896. He now spends his
time on his fine property left him by his mother, most of which he
has since sold for building lots, although he still possesses a
desirable tract. The view from these grounds is very beautiful and
it is a charming place for a home. Mr. Babst erected his present
residence in 1863, at No. 331 Lombard street, and an interesting
incident concerning the tearing down of the old home was the
finding, by Mr. Babst, of a string of unique brass beads. These
beads must have been wrought by an Indian, skilled in such
workmanship. Mr. Babst is a member of the Odd Fellows, No. 158, and
a charter member of the Veteran Firemen’s Association, joining the
Rainbow Fire Co. in 1860. In politics, Mr. Babst is a Democrat, and
he has served his ward, the Ninth, as a member of the Council. He
is religiously connected with the Alsace Church.

Mr. Babst married Lovina, daughter of Jacob
Meitzer, a farmer in Lehigh county, and to this union there were
born: Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of John Frederick, had
two children, Charles and John; Margaret, the wife of Lewis C.
Hohl, a policeman of the Ninth ward, has one daughter, Emma; Emma,
the wife of William R. Harbster, has one daughter, Helen Irene;
Elisabeth, the wife of William A. Winter, has two children, Nora
and Howard; and John J., a cigar maker, is single.

BACHMAN,
JOSEPH S.

p. 1117

Surnames: BACHMAN, SETTLER, HEISTER, HIGH, KOENIG, ROSENTHAL,
VOGELMAN, MERCER, FOLK

Joseph S. Bachman, proprietor of Bachman’s Steam Pretzel Bakery,
No. 836 North Eighth street, Reading, was born in Austria in 1863,
and came to America with his parents, Francis and Margaret
(Settler) Bachman, in 1868.

In his native country Francis Bachman had
learned carpentering and cabinet-making, and these occupations he
followed on settling in Reading. He is now living retired at No.
351 North Eleventh street, at the age of sixty-eight years, his
wife also surviving at the same age. They have had a family of five
children: Joseph S., the only child born in Europe; John, a stone
cutter of Reading; Annie m. to Adam Heister; Margaret m. to John
High; and Charles, who is employed by his brother in the Bachman
Steam Pretzel Bakery plant. In religious belief, the family are
Catholics.

Joseph S. Bachman was educated in the public and
parochial schools of Reading, and his first work was at Koenig’s
Marble Yard, which position he left to engage in carrying the Daily
Post for Wilhelm Rosenthal. His next employment was with the Penn
Hardware Company, where he remained about one year, and he then
apprenticed himself with Anthony Vogelman. After several years
spent as a journeyman, Mr. Bachman in 1886 engaged in business at
No. 450 North Eleventh street, where he spent three years, was for
one year at No. 232 Mifflin street, and then engaged in model
baking on Fifth street. Later he removed to No. 609 Moss street,
but in 1897 he engaged in the pretzel baking business, at his
present place, selling out his general baking establishment. Mr.
Bachman had three years experience as a journeyman pretzel baker,
which gave him a complete and comprehensive knowledge of the
business, and from a humble beginning he has established the
largest enterprise in this line in the State of Pennsylvania. He
employs a force of thirty people, having a night shift, has two
wagons on the streets of Reading constantly, and his trade reaches
all over the United States.

Mr. Bachman m. Mary Mercer, and they have two
children: Francis, m. to Florence Folk; and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs.
Bachman are Catholics in religious belief. He is a Democrat in
politics, is captain of the Marion Fire Company, a member of the
Knights of St. John, and major of the Second District of
Pennsylvania. He also served as captain for five years of this
order, and was chairman of the convention committee for June, 1908.

BACHMAN,
LEVI

p. 1459

Surnames: BACHMAN, BENNER, REITZ, FENSTERMACHER, ARNDT, HENRY,
JACOBY, ROTHERMEL, YOST, BITTNER, HUYETTE, SCHITZ, WELDER, WEIDER,
WHITE

Levi Bachman, farmer and dairyman of Spring township, residing near
Shillington, Berks county, is a son of Joseph Bachman and a member
of an old pioneer family. Frederick Bachman , the ancestor of the
family, was a pioneer of Ruscombmanor township, Berks county. He
settled there sometimes prior to 1759, and reared a large family.
One of his sons, Henry, located in Rockland township, another
settled in Lynn township. Lehigh county.

Nicholas (Nicholaus) Bachman, probably a
grandson of Frederick, is said to have come to Lenhartsville from
Lynn township, Lehigh county. He died a few years after his
marriage to Elizabeth Benner, sister of Gideon and George Benner,
and they had one son, Joseph (or Jost). The widow Bachman married
for her second husband, Heinrich Reitz, and they lived on the first
farm below Lenhartsville, on the Ontelaunee, having a farm of more
than 100 acres. The only son of this union was Lewis. Mrs.
Elizabeth Reitz in about 1883, was burned to death when past
seventy years of age, her clothing having caught fire from her
pipe. Her remains rest in the cemetery at Dunkle’s Church in
Greenwich township.

Joseph (or Jost) Bachman, son of Nicholas, was
born Jan. 1, 1826, in Lehigh county, Pa. He lived in Berks county,
owning a small farm along the Ontelaunee, where he carried on
agricultural pursuits. He married Lovina Fenstermacher, who died in
middle life, and they are buried side by side at Dunkel’s Church,
of which Mr. Bachman was at one time a member. He died March 4,
1892. Mr. and Mr. Bachman had a family of six children, namely:
James died young; Lovina married Eli Henry; Levi is mentioned
below; Lizzie married James Jacoby, of Reading, and both are
deceased; and Medina died young.

Levi Bachman was born August 15, 1855, at
Lenhartsville, Berks county, and he attended the common schools in
that section for a few years. He was brought up on the farm, and
during his young manhood hired out to various farmers, being thus
engaged until he was nearly twenty years old. After the Civil much
ore was mined in this section, and for nine years Mr. Bachman drove
an ore team in Oley township, where he was similarly engaged in the
employ of John K. and James Rothermel, continuing with them for
five years. In 1892 he commenced farming on his own account in
Richmond township, on Widow Debbie Rothermel’s farm, where he
remained for two years. Then for four years he farmed a piece of
property near “Six Mile House,” in Maidencreek township, in 1900,
moving to Cumru township, where he was a tenant on Benneville
Yost’s farm for two years. The following three years he was the
tenant on the Bittner farm, in Spring township. It was formerly the
Catharine Huyette farm, and consists of ninety-two acres of the
best land in Lower Berks county, supplied with the best water in
this section. Mr. Bachman purchased the farm in the fall of 1904.
He is a thrifty farmer, and indications of his industry and good
management are seen everywhere on his land and about his home. He
has substantial buildings, all the most improved implements for
carrying on his work, and keeps excellent live stock, including
good horses and mules and from fourteen to twenty cows. He has made
somewhat of a specialty of the dairy business, running a daily
wagon to Reading, where he markets all his milk. His prosperity is
well deserved, and he is highly respected in his community as a
worthy man. Considerable iron ore has been found on his farm,
adding to his revenue.

Mr. Bachman was married Feb. 13, 1873, to Miss
Kate Schitz, daughter of John and Susanna (Welder) Schitz, of
Rockland township, and six children have blessed this union:
Lillie, wife of Mahlon Weider, of Spring township; William, who
married and lives in Shillington; Glenson, married and lives at
Oakbrook; Annie who is married to Frank White, of No. 232 West Elm
street, Reading; John, of Shillington; and Clarence, at home. Mr.
Bachman and his family are Lutheran members of St. John’s Church at
Sinking Spring. He is a Democrat in political sentiment.

BACHMAN,
WILLIAM

p. 892

Surnames: BACHMAN, MILLER, DRIES, BLOCH, FRITZ, BUSSLER, SCHMEHL,
WAGNER, HECKMAN, RICK, KOHL

William Bachman, a well known citizen of Centre township, who is
engaged in blacksmithing and carriage making, was born in 1852 in
Ruscombmanor township, this county, son of Joseph and Barbara
(Miller) Bachman.

Joseph Bachman was also a native of Ruscombmanor
township, where he received his education. Most of his life was
spent, however, in Chester county, and there he died at the age of
seventy-four years, his widow surviving until December, 1906, when
she passed away in her eighty-second year. Both were buried at
Saint Peter’s Church in Chester county. Their children were: David,
of Oakbrook. Berks county; Joseph, of Lebanon; Noah of Chester
county; Emma, the wife of John Dries; Sallie, of Norristown; Emma,
wife of Augustus Bloch, of Tuckerton, Pa.; Lizzie, the wife of
Samuel Fritz, of Cumru township; and William.

William Bachman attended the schools of Leesport
and Ruscombmanor township, and when a boy worked at farm labor. At
the age of nineteen years he began to learn the trade of blacksmith
with John Bussler, of Leesport, with whom he remained a few years,
then engaging in journeyman work for seven years. Mr. Bachman next
embarked in business for himself at the “Kurtz House,” in Cumru
township, but since 1878 he has been located at his present stand.
He has a large and growing business and employs a number of skilled
workmen throughout the year.

Mr. Bachman was married to Miss Elizabeth Clara
Fritz, daughter of Jeremiah Fritz and granddaughter of Elias Fritz,
and to this union have been born five children: Robert, who married
Eva Schmehl; Alvin; Harry; and Alice and Luke, at school. Mr.
Bachman is a Democrat in politics and has served his township as
tax collector; He and Mrs. Bachman attend Yokum’s Lutheran Church.

Jeremiah Fritz, father of Mrs. Bachman, was born
March 6, 1840, and now resides at Centre, Cumru township, where he
is engaged at blacksmithing. He married Annie Wagner, daughter of
Daniel Wagner, and to them were born children as follows, besides
Mrs. Bachman: Elias, of Reading; Alice, who married Hiram Heckman,
of Reading; William of West Reading, married to Estella Rick; and
Sallie, who married Alvin Kohl, of Centre, Berks county.

BACHOFER
FAMILY

p. 1717

Surnames: BACHOFER, MANN, LAUER, SEIDERS, HINNERSHITZ, MILLER

Bachofer, a good name of German origin, is now worthily borne in
Reading, Pa., by two brothers, John L. and J. George Bachofer, both
prominent and both highly esteemed. They are the sons of John and
Josephine (Mann) Bachofer.

John Bachofer was a native of Stuttgart,
Germany, as was also his wife, and they came to America in the
spring of 1874, landing at Castle Garden. They came immediately to
Reading, here Mr. Bachofer secured work with the Philadelphia &
Reading Railway Company. He remained there until he entered the
employ of the large brewer, Frederick Lauer, with whom he remained
for twenty-two years. In 1890 he built the stand now occupied by
his son. He died in 1896, at the age of fifty-six years, his widow
surviving until 1903. They had a family of nine children, of whom
six lived to maturity, namely: John L.; Fredericka, wife of Frank
Seiders; Christian, of Reading; Miss Mary; Jacobina, wife of Ira
Hinnershitz of Shillington, Pa.; and J. George, of the Reading Loan
Guaranty Company. In politics, John Bachofer was a Democrat. The
religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran Church.

J. George Bachofer, son of John, is the present
efficient manager of the Reading Loan Guaranty Company. He is a
native of Reading, and he received in the public schools here his
education, continuing until he was in the grammar grade. He then
commenced work in the Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart department store
as cash boy. Later for a period of three years he was employed in a
broker’s office. He then entered the service of the Reading Loan
Guaranty Company, whose offices are on the fourth floor of the
Colonial Trust Company building, and we worked as a clerk for three
years. His capable and efficient services were appreciated, and at
the end of three years he was made manager (1905), and he still
fills that position to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

Mr. Bachofer is a member of Lodge No. 549, F.
& A. M., Reading; Reading Chapter No. 152, R. A. M.; Reading
Lodge of Perfection, 14th degree; and Friendship Lodge No. 247,
Knights of Malta.

On Oct 6, 1904, Mr. Bachofer was married to Miss
Mary E. Miller, a successful pubic school teacher in Berks County
for the preceding five years. She had also taught near Leesport.
Her father, Wesley A. Miller, is a retired farmer, formerly of
Leesport, now of Reading. Mr. and Mrs. Bachofer have one daughter,
Elizabeth J. They are members of St. John’s Lutheran Church. Though
young in years success has attended Mr. Bachofer’s efforts and he
is the owner of his fine home at No. 126 Oley street. He is an able
business man and his integrity and industry are above reproach.

BACHOFER, J.
L.

p. 1067

Surnames: BACHOFER, MANN, SEIDERS, HINNERSHITZ, HINTZ, DELP,
HARNER, SCHUCKER

J. L. Bachofer, proprietor of a hotel and cafe, at the corner of
Elm and Third streets, Reading, is one of the city’s deserved and
prosperous men. He was born in Germany, Dec. 21, 1870, son of John
and Josephine (Mann) Bachofer.

John Bachofer brought his family to America in
the spring of 1874, landing at Castle Garden, and he came
immediately to Reading where he secured work with the Philadelphia
& Reading Railway Company; there he remained until he entered
the employ of the brewer, Frederick Lauer, with whom he remained
for twenty-two years. In 1890 he built the stand now occupied by
his son. He died in 1896, at the age of fifty-six years, his widow
surviving until 1903. They had a family of nine children, six of
whom lived to maturity, namely: John L.; Frederika, wife of Frank
Seiders; Christian, of Reading; Maria, single, Jacobina, wife of
Ira Hinnershitz, of Shillington, Pa.; and J. George, of the Reading
Real Estate, Loan & Investment Company. In politics, John
Bachofer was identified with he Democratic party. In religious
belief the family is Lutheran.

John L. Bachofer was educated in the parochial
and the public schools of Reading. His first work after leaving
school was clerking in his uncle’s grocery store in Philadelphia,
where he remained for two years, and upon his return to Reading he
worked for several years for Henry B. Hintz, and then became
associated with G. H. Delp & Co., wholesale grocers, continuing
there until 1890, when he changed to his father’s establishment,
assisting him until the father died. When the property was sold to
the Deppen Brewing Company, in 1903, he engaged in his present
business.

Mr. Bachofer was married (first) in 1895, to
Lillian May Harner. After her death he m. (second) in 1903,
Isabella Schucker, who was born in Berks county. In politics Mr.
Bachofer is an independent, being one of the prime movers in
independent politics in the Sixth ward. He belongs to the Eagles
and the Knights of Malta. For some years he has also been a member
of the Neversink Fire Company. He is one of the enterprising and
progressive as well as popular business men of this city.