Biography: Horatio Trexler

Horatio Trexler

Source: Proceedings of Pennsylvania-German Society, Volume X, 1899.

Horatio Trexler was born in Longswamp, Berks County, Pa., in 1813.

He was the son of Reuben Trexler, b. November 22, 1781 (Berks County, Pa.),
d. April 29, 1846, who was the son of Peter Trexler, b. August 15,
1748 (Lehigh County Pa.), d. March 13, 1828.

He was a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania and one of the forty-three members
who voted in favor of the adoption of the First Federal Constitution, 1787.

The Trexler family came to Berks Co, Pa., prior to 1720.

Mr. Trexler’s mother was Anna Lesher, b. November 30, 1791 (Berks County),
d. May 12, 1848, who was dau. of Jacob Lesher, b. December 27, 1764
(Berks County), d. March 5, 1843, who was the son of John Lesher, b.
January 5, 1711 (Germany), d. April 5, 1794, who was the son of
Nicholas Lesher, b. 1667 (Germany), d. 1750. The above John Lesher
was Captain in Colonel John Patton’s regiment, 1776, also appointed
Commissioner of Supplies for the Continental Army, January 20, 1778.
He was a member of the first State Convention which formed the
Constitution of Pennsylvania and afterwards was elected a member of
the Pennsylvania Legislature from Berks County serving six years.

Mr. Trexler engaged in mercantile business in 1830, continuing in the same
until 1834 when he superintended his father’s iron works consisting of
the Mary Ann charcoal blast furnace, in Longswamp, and two bar-iron
forges in District Township.
In 1837, he succeeded his father in the
furnace and became the owner of the Mary Ann furnace which he
continued to operate until 1869.

In 1848 he removed to Reading, Pa.,
and, in 1853, bought a quarter interest in the Reading Iron Works. In
1864 he was elected a Director of the National Union Bank, becoming
its President September 9, 1873, which position he held at the time
of his decease. In 1860 he was elected President of the Reading Gas
Company and remained such until his death. At this time he was also
one of the trustees of the Charles Evans Cemetery Company, having
served in that capacity for thirty-six years. In politics he was a
Whig and, naturally, became a Republican in later years, always
staunchly advocating the platform of the party. Mr. Trexler was a
prominent member and officer of St. James’ Lutheran Church, Reading,
Pa.

His first wife was Miss Hunter, of whose issue there survive two
daughters, Mrs. George B. Eckert and Mrs. Henry May Keim, both of
Reading.

He next married Miss Mary Louise Bell, who died February 6,
1900, barely one month before him. There also survives him one brother
William Trexler, of Longswamp. His death, at 7:30 A.M. on Monday,
March 19, 1900, in his eighty-seventh year, was due to the
infirmities of age.

Mr. Trexler became a member of the Pennsylvania-German Society on
January 9, 1895.H.M.M.R.

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