Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

HALBEISEN, HENRY
ALBERT

p. 1553

Surnames: HALBEISEN, BRUTSKY, SEIGLING, HECKMAN, O’BOYLE

Henry Albert Halbeisen, a well-known resident of Mt. Penn borough,
Berks county, who is engaged in the painting and decorating
business, was born June 18, 1861, in Louisville, Ky., son of George
and Criszentia (Brutsky) Halbeisen.

George Halbeisen was a native of Germany, and
there married Criszentia Brutsky, by whom he had two children:
Henry Albert and Catherine, a Sister of St. Francis. Mrs. Halbeisen
died after they came to Kentucky and Mr. Halbeisen was married
(second) to Sophia Brutsky, his first wife’s sister, and there were
four children born to this union: Annie, deceased, who was organist
for St. Paul’s Church, Camden, N. J.; Charles, an artist of Camden;
William P., a physician and surgeon of that city; and one child,
Albert, who died in infancy. George Halbeisen was a tailor by
trade, and on coming to America followed that occupation for some
time at Louisville, Ky., later removing to Philadelphia, where for
thirty-five years he was in the employ of John Wanamaker as head
cutter. He died after living in retirement for some time at Camden,
N. J., his death occurring in 1903, in his eighty-fourth year.
Henry Albert Halbeisen was reared in Louisville, Ky., and at
Philadelphia, at which latter city he was educated in the parochial
schools until twelve years of age, when he went to the La Salle
Institute.

After leaving the latter institution, Mr.
Halbeisen learned the trade of decorator with Keiser & Hertzog
of Philadelphia, soon thereafter locating in Reading in the employ
of George Seigling, a church decorator, with whom he remained two
years and six months. Mr. Halbeisen then began operating on his own
account, decorating two churches in Minersville, but later entered
the employ of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, doing
decorating on the ceilings of coaches for six months. He then
engaged in general decorating in Reading, in which city he
continued until the spring of 1904, when he removed to Mt. Penn. In
April, 1907, Mr. Halbeisen took his sons into partnership and the
firm became known as Halbeisen & Sons. This concern does a
large business not only in Mt. Penn, but in the surrounding country
as well and they have had a number of large contracts in
Philadelphia. On locating in Mt. Penn, Mr. Halbeisen purchased a
property and erected a fine residence, later putting up a building
adjacent, which he uses as a paper store. He is a member of the
Holy Cross and Boniface’s orders, of the Union Fire Company ad the
Mt. Penn Fire Company. The family are members of St. Paul’s
Catholic Church.

On Sept. 9, 1882, Mr. Halbeisen was married to
Miss Susie Heckman, daughter of George and Mary (O’Boyle) Heckman,
natives of Chester and Berks counties respectively. Mr. And Mrs.
Halbeisen have four children, all of whom reside at home:
Crescentia, George H., Charles E. and Annie.

HALLER,
HENRY

p. 779

Surnames: HALLER, BIDDLE, NAGEL, MORGAN, OTTO, MEARS, WEBB

Henry Haller was a tailor at Reading in 1765,
and in 1775 was engaged as an innkeeper, by which time he had
become a man of considerable social and political influence. In the
formation of a regiment in Berks county, as its quota of the 4,500
men for the Flying Camp, he was chosen Colonel, but he did not
accompany the regiment in its march to Long Island, and did not
participate in that battle. Shortly afterward, however, he
commanded another battalion which went into service in New Jersey.
In the public actions for encouraging the Revolution, he took a
prominent part, and next to Edward Biddle, George Nagel, Jacob
Morgan, and Bodo Otto, was as prominent as any man in Reading. He
was a delegate to the Provincial Conference in 1776, and also a
member of the Committee of Safety, the Committee on Attainder, and
the Committee to Collect Arms, etc. He served as a member of the
Assembly from 1776 to 1781. During the years 1778, 1779 and 1780,
wagon-master-general of the Continental Army. The first public
office he held was that of coroner of the county in 1767.

After the Revolution, he moved up the Schuylkill
Valley beyond the Blue Mountains, in Brunswick township, then still
part of Berks county, and there he died in September, 1793,
possessed of a very large estate. He had eight sons; Frederick,
Jacob, Henry, John, William, Isaac, Benjamin and Lewis; and two
daughters, Elizabeth (m. to William Mears), and Sarah (m. to Samuel
Webb).

HAMILTON, ROBERT T.

p.
1153

Surnames: HAMILTON, DOUGHERTY, GALLITZEN, DEVINE, AMY, BAIRD,
SEMBOWER, FIX, MURDOCH, DRUNKENMILLER, TYON, HESSLEY

Robert T. Hamilton, a well-known resident of Reading, Pa., who was
employed in the planning mill department until his death Feb. 15,
1909, was a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Hamilton was born in
Johnstown, Pa., July 18, 1837, son of John and Margaret (Dougherty)
Hamilton.

John Hamilton was born in 1813, in Huntingdon
county, Pa., and when a young man located at Johnstown, where he
followed the trade of patternmaker, being one of the earliest
employes of the old Cambria Iron Company. He died in 1885, in Lower
Yoder township. His wife, Margaret Dougherty, was born Feb. 20,
1815, at Loretta, Cambria county, daughter of John Dougherty, who
was among the earliest settlers of Cambria county and one of the
first citizens of Johnstown. He removed from Johnstown to a small
farm near Loretto about the year 1812, and it was on this place
that Mrs. Hamilton was born. She had the distinction of being
christened by Father Gallitzen, the famous prince priest, whose
life is so romantically interwoven with the early history of
Cambria county. She grew to young womanhood in Loretto, and when
about twenty years of age came to Johnstown and shortly afterward
was married to John Hamilton. At the time of her death, which took
place Dec. 24, 1905, at No. 749 Franklin street, Johnstown, Mrs.
Franklin was the oldest woman in the city, being nearly ninety-one
years of age, and she had spent practically all of the many years
of her residence there in the place in which she died. She was well
known in the city, particularly among the older residents. The
funeral took place from St. John’s Catholic Church, of which she
was one of the earliest members, and following a mass of requiem
interment was made in the cemetery in Lower Yoder township. Nine
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, only four of whom
survive their mother: Robert T., of Reading; and John H., Charles
and Frank, all of Johnstown. One son, William, died in infancy, and
four daughters, Mrs. Mary Devine, Mrs. Elizabeth Amy, Mrs. Tillie
Baird and Ida Hamilton are deceased.

Robert T. Hamilton was educated in the schools
of Cambria county, also receiving instruction under the Rev. Mr.
Sembower, of Reading, after which he learned the carpenter’s trade,
which he followed until 1863. In this year he accepted a position
with the Philadelphia & Reading Railway, with which he was ever
afterward connected. In August, 1862, Mr. Hamilton enlisted in
Company K, 136th Pa. V. I., First Army Corps, Second Brigade,
serving out his full term of nine months. He was a faithful and
efficient soldier, and during his services was in a number of
serious engagements, including Antietam, Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville.

In 1860 Mr. Hamilton married (first) Mary Fix, a
native of Reading, by whom he had five children, three of whom
still survive: Howard M. m. Della Murdoch; Warren L. m. Hannah
Drunkenmiller; and Emma H. m. Joseph Tyon. Mr. Hamilton m. (second)
Louisa Hessley, a native of Lehigh county, who survives him, and
resides at No. 935 North Third street, Reading.

In religious belief Mr. Hamilton was a Roman
Catholic, but later joined the Lutheran Church, of which his widow
is also a member. He was a member of McLean Post, No. 16, G. A. R.,
which he joined over thirty years ago; Reading Council, No. 46, O.
U. A. M.; and the Philadelphia & Reading Relief Association;
and he was formerly a member of the I. O. O. F., the Knights of
Pythias and the Jr. O. U. A. M. In politics he was a stanch
Republican.

HAMM,
CHARLES

p. 1420

Surnames: HAMM, LAUGEN, SNYDER, WANAMAKER, MENGEL, BACHMAN, HAM,
SCHROEDER, LUTZ, KNEPPER, KELLER, BRAUCHER, YEASER, YENSER, HOCH,
REINHART, FREY, GRAFF

One of the many citizens of Albany township who have successfully
developed but one or two sides of the farming business, is Charles
Hamm, poultryman and potato-raiser. He is the owner of over one
thousand fine specimens of Plymouth Rocks, White leghorns, Black
Minorcas, and Blue Andalusians. The ancestry of the Hamm family is
Swiss, the first American immigrant being Daniel Hamm,
great-great-grandfather of our subject. Said Daniel was landed at
Philadelphia, September 7, 1748, from the good ship “Hampshire.” He
was but twenty years of age at that time, having been born about
1727 or 1728, and lived to a ripe old age in Lynn township, Lehigh
county. His full name as given in the Hampshire’s list of
passengers and a deed of gift executed about 1761, was John Daniel
Hamm. John Daniel Hamm and good wife Maria Hamm, reared a large
family, among their sons being Andrew (or Andraes) and Daniel (2).
The latter is known to have resided, and raised a large family, in
Lynn township, about 1790.

Among the many good deeds done by this member of
the family was the gift of a location to this church. The deed
reads as follows: “d. des Evangelische Reformirten Kirche (gannant
als Jacobs Kirche) soll zwei Acker sein, und solche zwei Acker
verschreib ich Frank und Frei, ohne einigen austand,” etc. . . .
“Auch gebe ich das Recht an die Spring zu gehen um zu trinken.
Dieses land das ich Geschenkt habe ist gelegen an der Konigstrasze,
eine halben meile von des Abraham Laugen Haus. . ..” This last
phrase translated reads: “This land which I have presented lies on
the King street, a half mile from the Abraham Laugen House.”

The next member to be taken up is Andrew, or
Andraes Hamm, son of John Daniel, and great-grandfather of Charles.
Not much can be secured concerning this generation outside of the
Pennsylvania Archives and the First Federal Census (1790). It is
known, however, that he resided in the vicinity of Lynnport, and
was a land owner. The Archives mention him as a “Ranger of the
Frontier,” from Northampton county, (now Lehigh), serving during
the five years of the Revolution between 1778-83. The First Federal
Census (1790), records him as a resident of Lynn township and head
of a family consisting of himself and wife, three sons under
sixteen, and one daughter. It is evident however, that there was a
larger family, for Johannnes, grandfather of Charles, was born in
1796.

Johannes Hamm, shoemaker and farmer, the
grandfather of Charles, was born July 17, 1796. He owned the tract
of land in Albany township now in the possession of Monroe Snyder.
These acres he cultivated, and also followed the shoemaking trade.
He and his family were members of the Reformed Congregation of New
Bethel Church. His wife was Esther Wanamaker. She was born June 19,
1800, and died April 10, 1863, aged sixty-two years, nine months,
and twenty-one days. Johannes and Esther Hamm had the following
children: Leah married Daniel Snyder; John, referred to later;
Jacob married and lived at Pine Dale, Schuylkill county–no
children; Benjamin died in young manhood; Catharine married Charles
Mengel; Emeline, second wife of Charles Mengel; Lucy became the
wife of Griffith Bachman; and Eliza, who is unmarried. After a long
and useful life, Johannes Hamm died December 11, 1871, aged
seventy-five years, four months and twenty-four days, and was laid
to rest with his wife in the cemetery of New Bethel Church, and the
name of the family was spelled on the tombstone “Ham.”

John M. Hamm, father of our subject, was born in
Albany township November 28, 1826. He was a shoemaker by trade, and
a farmer by inclination, the shoemaking preceding the farming in
date. His son Samuel now owns the homestead whereon he resided.
John M. also owned a small tract of some twenty acres, now in the
possession of William Schroeder, and located near New Bethel
Church. The homestead consists of 160 acres, some of which is
woodland. Here he resided until twenty years before his death,
which occurred on the smaller property April 5, 1903, at the age of
seventy-six years, four months, and seventeen days. He was a
Democrat in politics, and sufficiently interested in public affairs
to become Supervisor. He and his family were members of New Bethel
Church, Reformed Congregation, of which he was Deacon and Elder.
John Hamm married Kate, daughter of Christian and Mary (Lutz)
Knepper. She was born November 28, 1827, and died December 25,
1887, aged sixty years and twenty-seven days, and is buried with
her husband in New Bethel graveyard. John and Kate Hamm were the
parents of eight children, all living and named as follows:
Benjamin, of Allentown, Pa.; James, in Carbon county; John, also of
Carbon county; Charles, our subject; Samuel, of Albany township;
Mary, the wife of Walter Keller; Sarah, married Allen Lutz; and
Kate, unmarried.

Charles Hamm, of this family, was born in Albany
township April 7, 1861. He received his education in the schools of
the township, and worked on the farm where he was reared until he
was of age. He began farming for himself on his father’s property
in 1888. He remained there as a tenant four years, adding another
year on the “Sarah Braucher” farm. Then he bought his present
property, the “Moses Yeaser” farm, in 1894, located along Pine
Creek, two miles west of Albany. The land owned by Mr. Hamm
comprises 133 acres, the house being built by Moses Yenser, and the
barn by a Hoch. Twelve acres of potatoes a year is the average of
the present owner, besides his large poultry business.

Mr. Hamm is well-known in Democratic circles,
and, being active in public affairs, was elected a member of the
township school board in 1907, at present being treasurer. He has
also held office as district supervisor. He and his children are
members of New Bethel Church, Reformed Congregation, and Mrs. Hamm
of the Lutheran division.

Mr. Hamm has been twice married, the first to
become his wife being Emma L., daughter of Daniel and Sarah
(Reinhart) Braucher, of Albany. She was born May 1, 1869, and died
April 6, 1902, aged thirty-three years, eleven months and four
days, and is buried in New Bethel Cemetery. Seven children came of
this first marriage: Mattie F., Minnie T., Hattie L., George D.,
Libbie G., Elsie K., Clarence R. On December 5, 1902, Mrs. Amanda
(Frey) Graff, widow of Edward Graff, became his second wife. Mrs.
Hamm had a family of four children, Llewellyn S.; Salena F.; Warren
F.; and Mabel S. (deceased). Mr. Graff died January 28, 1897, at
the age of thirty-one years, seven months, and fourteen days, and
is buried at Wessnersville. Mr. and Mrs. Hamm have had five
children: Herman C. (deceased), Annie M., Anson M., Abner H., and
Esther A.

HANTSCH, G.
SAM

p. 832

Surnames: HANTSCH, HAGY, CUTLER, WILLIAMS, RHEIN, KAUTERMAN

G. Sam Hantsch, a well-known cigar dealer of Reading, Pa., whose
place of business is located at No. 521 Penn street, was born in
1858, on Lemon street, Reading, son of George W. and Harriet (Hagy)
Hantsch.

George W. Hantsch, who followed cigar making
until his retirement in 1890, died in 1902, aged about eighty
years, he and his wife being the parents of these children: Philip
m. Rebecca Cutler, and had four children-Elizabeth, Effie, Estella
and Mary; Warren, of New York, m. a Miss Williams, of Manayunk,
Pa., and had four children-Etta, Emma, Marion and Lavollette;
Milton died single; and G. Sam.

G. Sam Hantsch, after receiving his education in
the public schools, engaged with his father in cigar making, having
made this his life work. He opened up his present stand and is here
extensively engaged in manufacturing numerous brands of well-known
cigars, for which he finds a ready market in Reading and the
surrounding country. In addition, there is probably no better judge
of leaf tobacco in the State of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Hantsch married Julia Rhein, daughter of
Jacob, and she died in 1903, the mother of Jennie, Bessie, Howard,
Sam, Jr., and Edwin. Mr. Hantsch married (second) in 1904, Agnes
Kauterman, daughter of Benj. Kauterman. Mr. Hantsch is a good
business man, is public-spirited and a good citizen, and possesses
those qualities of character that draw to him many warm friends. He
is highly respected in the community in which he has lived for so
many years.

HANTSCH,
JAMES M.

p. 1576

Surnames: HANTSCH, FOX, ROERICH, HENNINGER, MOULD, CROUSE, HAINS,
FABER, REMACK, FULLER, COX

James M. Hantsch, for a number of years one of the best-known cigar
manufacturers of the city of Reading, Pa., was born in Schuylkill
county, son of Philip and Catherine (Fox) Hantsch. Philip Hantsch,
who was a printer by trade, came to Reading when James M. was a
child, and here followed his trade until his death. Three children
were born to Philip and Catherine Hantsch, two of whom grew to
maturity: George W., who was a cigar manufacturer; and James M.
James M. Hantsch received his education in the schools of Reading
and at an early age was employed at tobacco stripping. He was
faithful and energetic and gradually arose in the tobacco business,
learning to make cigars, and with only $5.00, which was given him
by his employer Mr. Roerich, as capital, he engaged in the cigar
manufacturing business in a small room on Penn street, between
Seventh and Eighth streets. He later built the place now owned by
Hunter Henninger on Penn street, where he remained several years,
afterward removing to Penn street, below Seventh. His next place of
business was J. Mould & Company’s store, and there he remained
until ill health forced his retirement, about twelve years prior to
his death, which occurred in February, 1869. For several years Mr.
Hantsch had Daniel W. Crouse as a partner, and they operated under
the firm name of Hantsch & Crouse, employing over 400 hands. He
was the largest manufacturer in the city in his day, and was
considered a representative citizen.

Mr. Hantsch married Miss Rebecca J. Hains,
daughter of Dr. Reuben and Sarah (Faber) Hains, and to this union
were born: James, who died at the age of three and one-half years;
Ellen, who died when three years, thirteen days old; William, who
died when one and one-half years of age; Charles, who died aged
eleven months; Prof. James, who was for a period of nine years
organist of the St. Paul’s Memorial Reformed Church of Reading,
married Minnie Remack, had one son, Harry, and died in 1897, aged
twenty-seven years; and Rebecca, the wife of Harvey J. Fuller,
secretary of the Abraham Cox Stove Company, Philadelphia, resides
in Jenkintown, N. J., and has two children, Carol and Ruth N. Mrs.
Hantsch, who is now deceased, resided at No. 826 Elm street from
1869. In religious belief she was a member of the Reformed Church,
while her husband as a Lutheran. His political views were
Republican.

HARBACH, CHARLES A.

p.
1436

Surnames: HARBACH, KANTNER, WEINBIGLER, MOYER, MADEIRA, HOLLENBACH,
GITTELMAN, STIEFF, STRAUSS, McKNIGHT, DUNCKEL, LEINBACH, LUDEN,
SCHLECHTER, BURKHART, DEISHER, KEPNER

Charles A. Harbach, jeweler, of Reading, was born in this city,
March 8, 1869, a son of Reuben M. and Lydia R. (Kantner) Harbach, a
grandson of Jacob and a great-grandson of George Harbach, who came
from Germany to America and settled in Berks county at a very early
day. Since that time the Harbach family has been closely identified
with Berks county affairs. He married Margaret Weinbigler, and they
had four sons, namely: Jacob, John, Peter and another whose name is
not known.

Jacob Harbach, the grandfather of Charles A.,
was one of the extensive farmers in the vicinity of Leisz’ Bridge,
Berks county. He married Sarah Moyer, of Myerstown, by whom he had
the following children: Matilda; Daniel; Florian, now living in
Virginia, a soldier in the war; Frank; and Reuben, father of our
subject, Wellington being the youngest member of a family which has
all passed away with the exception of Florian.

Reuben M. Harbach was born Jan. 6, 1843, at
Reading and was educated in the best schools of the city at that
day. When he was deemed old enough he was sent to live with a Mr.
Madeira, a farmer in Tulpehocken township, where he remained until
eighteen years old. Then he returned to Reading and apprenticed
himself to the painting and paper-hanging trade, with John
Hollenbach, whose establishment stood on the present site of the
“Farmers Hotel.” After completing his trade he was anxious to enter
into business for himself although he had but little capital.
Finally he associated with H. K. Gittelman and they opened a shop
in the basement of the Reading Trust Co. building, on the corner of
5th and Court streets, where they remained five years. By that time
the business had outgrown the quarters and they removed to No. 32
North 5th street, where they operated the largest store in that
line in Reading. Mr. Harbach was in the business up to the time of
death. From an almost humble beginning he had built up a large and
important business house and had acquired a substantial fortune.
The firm of Gittelman & Harbach became widely known.

The death of Reuben M. Harbach took place Feb.
1, 1902. His wife died Feb. 23, 1901, aged fifty-four years, ten
months and twenty-eight days. They had issue as follows: William
H., deceased, m. Maggie Stieff and they had one son, Robert; Darius
died in infancy; Charles A., of this sketch; Edward J., a druggist
doing business at Schuylkill avenue and Oley street, m. Lillie
Strauss and they have two children, Marguerite and Adelaide; Sarah,
deceased; Carrie G., deceased, m. Paul McKnight and they had one
daughter, Grace; Irvin, in the employ of the D., P. & L. Ry.;
and Sadie m. Bayard Dunckel, has one child, May.

Reuben M. Harbach was a prominent member of the
various branches of masonry, belonging to Lodge No. 62, F. & A.
M.; Reading Chapter, No. 52; De Molay Commandery, No. 9, K. T.; and
the A. A. O. N. M. S. of Reading. He belonged also to Emblematic
Lodge, No. 169, I. O. O. F., and Reading Encampment No. 43, I. O.
O. F. and to the Reading Hose Fire Co. Politically Mr. Harbach was
a stanch Republican. He belonged to the First Reformed Church at
Reading.

Charles A. Harbach was educated in the schools
of his native city and after his education was completed and he was
ready to begin his business life, he entered the woolen mill of J.
G. Leinbach, going then to the Harbster Hardware Works, and then
entered the employ of J.C. Luden, jeweler. He was then located on
North 5th street and with him Mr. Harbach served out the usual
apprenticeship, deciding to make this his line of work. He then
went to Philadelphia where he remained for three years and on
returning to Reading, was connected for a year and a half with E.
B. Schlechter and subsequently with J. M. Burkhart. Since Mr.
Burkhart sold his jewelry business to I. A. Deisher, he has
continued with the latter. He is a careful, experienced workman and
has ample patronage.

In November, 1892, Mr. Harbach was united in
marriage with Ida M. Kepner, who is a daughter of David and Emma
Kepner, old residents likewise of Reading. To this union one child
has been born, Paul E., a student in the Reading schools.

Like all the members of his family, far back,
Mr. Harbach is a consistent member and liberal supporter of the
Reformed Church, his attendance being with the congregation of the
First Reformed Church at Reading. He is a member of Emblematic
Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Reading.

HARBOLD, HORACE Y.

p. 1712

Surnames: HARBOLD, YOCOM, HERBOLD, HELLER, JONES, HOLLOWAY, LORD,
BOYER, CUSTER, LORAH, LLOYD, BORTZ, RHOADS, GABEL, HIGH

Horace Y. Harbold, now living retired in Amity township, was born
at Douglassville, July 22, 1847, son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Yocom)
Harbold, and a direct descendant of Frederick Harbold, an early
settler of Berks county, Pennsylvania.

Frederick Harbold, or Herbold, as the name
appears in the census of 1790, located in Robeson township, Berks
county, in 1784-85. To him and his wife, Phoebe Ann, was born one
son, Jacob. In 1796 the name of Frederick Harbold disappears from
the list of taxables in Robeson township, and it is safe to presume
that he died about this time. His widow Phoebe Ann married for her
second husband a man named Heller, by whom she had children, among
whom was a son, Frederick Heller, father of Henry Heller, who
conducted the “Allen House” at Reading. There is now in the
possession of Mr. Horace Y. Harbold the Bible of Jacob, giving the
family record for three generations from Frederick.

Jacob Harbold, son of Frederick, was born Oct.
24, 1786, and died Feb. 4, 1867. He was the first of the family to
settle in Amity township, where he became the owner of the old
Jones homestead between Douglassville and Amityville. This was one
of the earliest settled farms in the county, the first Jones
locating there in 1701. Jacob Harbold is buried in the Amityville
cemetery. He was a Lutheran in religious faith, and a Republican in
politics. He married Ann Holloway, born Feb. 5, 1789, and died Oct.
28, 1861. Their children were: Mary (Polly), born Sept. 9, 1810,
died unmarried; Frederick, born Oct. 10, 1811, died Feb. 6, 1812;
John, born Dec. 12, 1812, died Jan. 13, 1813; Elizabeth, born May
27, 1814, m. William Lord, and lived at Douglassville; Samuel, born
April 16, 1817; Harriet, born Sept. 6, 1819, m. Abraham Boyer;
Mahlon, born Feb. 7, 1822, m. Anna Custer, and died at Pottstown;
William, born Dec. 19, 1824, m. (first) Rachel Lorah, and (second)
Maria Lloyd; Jacob died small; a daughter still born, 1829; and
Franklin, born April 9, 1832.

Samuel Harbold, son of Jacob, was born April 16,
1817, and he died on his farm in Amity township Aug. 29, 1848, in
the thirty-second year of his age, and was buried at Amityville. He
was a farmer. He married Mary Ann Yocom, daughter of Daniel Yocom,
and they had two sons: (1) Daniel, born May 25, 1844, for four
years farmed the homestead with his brother, and then bought the
adjoining farm, where he lived and farmed until his death Feb. 16,
1897. He is buried at Amityville. To him and his wife, Ellen Bortz,
were born six children–Annie, Minnie, Samuel, Horace and two that
died small. (2) Horace Y. Horace Y. Harbold was educated in the
common schools which he attended four months of the year. He
learned the duties connected with a farmer’s life under his
grandfather, Jacob Harbold, in Amity, for whom he worked until
after he was eighteen, when the grandfather died. Then the two
brothers, Horace Y. and Daniel (who was also reared by the
grandfather) bought the homestead farm in 1867, and farmed it
jointly for four years. Then Horace Y. purchased his brother’s
interest, and continued farming there until 1905, a period of
thirty-four years. In the spring of 1905 he retired, and moved to
Amityville (P. O. Athol) but he could not find rest in idleness and
now as a pastime works at carpentering, mason work, cement paving,
etc. He owns in Amityville what was the Michael Custer home, but
later the Dr. Reuben Rhoads place and still later the home of
William R. Rhoads.

Mr. and Mrs. Harbold are members of St. Paul’s
Lutheran Church at Amityville, of which for many years he was an
elder. In politics he is a Republican, and although living in a
township with a good Democratic majority, was elected three times a
member of the school board–serving in all nine years. On Dec. 22,
1870, Mr. Harbold married Catherine G. Gabel, daughter of David and
Mary (Gabel) Gabel, and granddaughter of Jacob and Catharine (High)
Gabel. Mr. and Mrs. Harbold have no children.

HARBOLD, SAMUEL B.

p. 1640

Surnames: HARBOLD, BARTZ, LIVINGOOD, MILLER

Samuel B. Harbold, of Birdsboro, has thoroughly mastered his trade
and is successfully engaged as a harness maker; he handles a full
line of harness, collars, whips, robes, blankets, etc., and has a
substantial place among the business men of the town. He was born
in Amity township, Berks county, March 20, 1874, son of Daniel and
Ellen (Bartz) Harbold.

Daniel Harbold, the father, died in 1901, aged
fifty-four years. He was a native of Amity township, and passed his
years principally at farming. In public affairs he always took a
keen interest, and as a faithful Republican worked hard for the
success of his party. For six years he served acceptably as
constable, and he also filled the office of tax collector. He was a
member of the Reformed church, as was also his wife. He married
Ellen Bartz, and they became the parents of six children, as
follows: Annie, Minnie, who became the wife of Livingood; Samuel
B.; Horace; Katie, at home; and one that died in infancy unnamed.
Samuel Harbold, father of Daniel and grandfather of Samuel B., was
a farmer all his life.

Samuel B. Harbold passed his youth upon the home
farm. He attended the district schools until he was seventeen, thus
acquiring a good practical education, and his time out of school
was spent in assisting his father. Upon leaving school he went to
Pottstown and learned the trade of harness making, and he remained
in that town until the fall of 1896. The following year he came to
Birdsboro, and established his present flourishing business.

In 1898 Mr. Harbold married Miss Rebecca Miller,
of Douglassville. They are members of the Lutheran church. Both Mr.
Harbold and his wife are popular socially, and their home is always
open to their many friends.