Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

HOYER FAMILY

p.
1410

Surnames: HOYER, HYER, HEYER, MCNEAL, BRIDENSTEIN, HAWS, STANLEY,
HOUCK, SNYDER, SCULL, LLOYD, ADAMS, RUFFNER, KILLIAN, WINNINGS,
HOLLOWAY, WILKINSON, WOMSHER, MILLER, SEYFRIT, GEIGER, WELLS,
SCHAEFFER, FRY, KURTZ, KRAMER, SPATZ, LONENECKER, GABLE, KOCH,
MATZ, KUTZ, DUNKLE, ALTHOUSE, WESTLEY, SEIFRIT, LEWIS, BECHTEL,
MARKS, MCMICHAEL, HOCH, ROTHERMEL.

The early home of the Hoyer (or as the name was then spelled ?
Hyer and Heyer) family was in Germany, whence in Revolutionary
times there emigrated to this country three brothers, (I) Adam,
(Ia) John and one whose name was probably George who in 1780 owned
land in York county, Pennsylvania.

(I) Adam Hoyer early became a man of some property, and in 1780
was assessed two pounds, and is of record as owning a cow. His
location is given as Maiden-creek township, Berks county. In 1808
he purchased land, and the record of the deed may be found in Deed
Book, No. 22, page 485. He was a tailor by trade. His children
were: Elizabeth McNeal; Daniel; and Jacob, who died in 1834,
leaving three sons, Jacob John and Daniel, the latter one of the
executors of his father’s will.

(II) Daniel Hoyer, son of Adam, was born March 23, 1775, and he
died May 3, 1848, and was buried at Allegheny Church in Brecknock
township. The greater part of his life was passed in Birdsboro,
Pa., where he followed his trade of shoemaker and cobbler. At one
time he served as constable in Reading, of which city he was a
resident for some years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. By
his wife, Katharine Bridenstein, he became the father of the
following children: Charles, whose children were ? Aaron, Harrison,
Leah, Hannah, Harriet, Mary, Susan, Daniel, Charles and William;
Daniel (1802-1839), who had a daughter ? Mary Ann (m. to a Haws);
Adam of Birdsboro, who had two children ? Adam and Isaiah W.;
Isaac, of Birdsboro, who had children ? Elhannon, Joshua, Isaac,
Sarah (Stanley), Tamson and Hannah Cover; Benjamin: Samuel, who
died single; Hannah, who m. Aaron Houck; Mary, who m. a Snyder, and
had a daughter, Kathrine (m. to a Scull); Annie, who m. a Lloyd,
and had two children, Sarah and Isaac; and Kathrine, who m. an
Adams, and had two children, Alva and Ferdinando.

(III) Benjamin Hoyer, son of Daniel, was born in Robeson township,
Berks county, and he died March 4, 1848, and was buried in St.
John’s cemetery, below Gibraltar, in the vicinity of which town the
years of his life had been passed. In his early days he worked upon
the farm, but later became a boatman on the Union Canal. When he
became twenty he entered the ranks of the teacher’s profession, and
for many terms was successfully engaged as a teacher in the public
schools. He was a good singer, and was a singing master, holding
singing schools in schoolhouses or private homes in the evenings,
and was a very popular and highly respected man. He married Susanna
Ruffner, of Brecknock township, who was born in 1802, and who died
March 29, 1883, and was laid to rest beside her parents in St.
John’s cemetery. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom
two daughters died young, the other being: Edward, Amos, Hannah,
Reuben (1833-1904), Henry, Samuel, Harriet, Sarah and
Rebecca.

(IV) Henry Hoyer, son of Benjamin, and now a venerable esteemed
citizen of Reading, was born in Cumru township, near Yocum’s Forge,
Dec. 27, 1836. He obtained a limited education in the public
school, known as Westley school in the Morgantown road in Robeson
township, but the early death of his father necessitated his
devoting his time to the farm. He worked on the home farm, and as a
hired man to the neighboring farmers until he was eighteen, and
then became a mule driver on the Schuylkill towpath, this
engrossing his attention for four summers. Later he became a
boatman, and followed that calling for twenty-seven seasons,
running a boat for many years for the Schuylkill Navigation
Company, and later for the Reading Railroad Company. During the
earlier years that he followed boating he lived at Gibraltar, but
in 1862 he moved to Reading, and there he has since made home. When
he gave up his work on the canal he worked at the blast furnace for
eleven years, and then for three years was employed at the pipe
mill. On Aug. 20, 1892, he entered the service of the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Company, at Reading, as an agent, and he has since
worked for this company. During the first twelve years he did not
lose by sickness or other cause over one week’s time, but in the
fall of 1906 he fell upon the pavement, and this disabled him for
several weeks. Three times he had been offered the assistant
superintendency, but he has steadfastly refused to accept it. When
he entered the company’s service in 1892, they had twenty-seven
agents and four assistants. At the present time they employ
forty-six agents, and six assistants. Mr. Hoyer built up a $300
debit in industrial business, besides writing a large amount of
ordinary insurance. He has had the honor of leading the agents in
Reading for six consecutive years, and for three years was second
best, while as late as 1905 he was third best man in the office. He
won a number of medals and pins, as well as service badges and
other mementos from the company for efficient and faithful
service.

Mr. Hoyer is a member of the First Christian
Church, while Mrs. Hoyer belongs to the Evangelical faith. He owns
a residence at No. 630 Birch street, and for many years lived in
the Tenth ward, but since 1893 he has lived north of Penn
Street.

My Hoyer has been married three times. His
first wife, Mary Killian, died in 1869, the mother of two sons:
John Lincoln, of Seyfert, Pa.; and Millard, who was accidentally
shot while out hunting, when he was but sixteen year of age; Mr.
Hoyer m. (second) Emily Winnings, who died in 1889, the age of
forty-four years. No children were born of this union. In 1891 Mr.
Hoyer m. (third) Mrs. Annie E. (Holloway) Wilkinson, widow of John
H. Wilkinson, and they have one daughter, Elsie K. Mrs. Hoyer’s
parents are William A. and Mary (Womsher) Holloway, of Amityville,
the former a tailor by trade. Their three children are: Douglas,
Annie E., and Clara.

(Ia) John Hoyer, one of the three emigrant brothers, died near
Reading, and was buried at the First Reformed Church burying ground
on North Sixth street, his remains afterward being removed with
others from the same cemetery, to the Charles Evans cemetery. His
children were: John, a resident of Reading, where he died the
father of two sons ? Mahlon and Aaron, the latter of Iowa; Peter,
who lived in Spring township: Daniel, who died at Poplar Neck
Bridge, where he was toll-keeper, leaving no children; Samuel;
Jacob; Hannah; and Mrs. Henry Miller.

(IIa) Samuel Hoyer, son of John the emigrant and father of the
Hon. Joseph S. and John, was born in Berks county, April 2, 1796,
and he died in Robeson township, May 15, 1849, at the age of
fifty-three years, one month, thirteen days. He was a stonemason by
trade, and followed this calling until he began farming. He owned
100 acres of land in Robeson township, near the White Bear, at the
old Quaker Meeting House ? one of the old landmarks. He continued
work at his trade at times until within fifteen years of his death.
He married Susanna, daughter of Jacob Seyfrit, who died at the age
of sixty-three years, and was buried beside her husband in the
churchyard of the Robeson, generally known as Plough Church. Samuel
Hoyer in politics was a democrat. His children were: Joseph S.;
Elizabeth m. James Geiger; Susanna m. Henry Miller; John; Hannah m.
Elisha Wells; Samuel died aged sixteen years; Sarah m. George
Schaeffer; Isaac S., of Robeson township m. Mary Fry and had two
sons and two daughters ? Sallie (m. to Jacob Kurtz), Hannah (m. to
John Spatz), John F. (m. to Katie Kramer) and one son died in
infancy; and Isaiah. (IIIa) Joseph S. Hoyer, son of Samuel and
Susanna, was born in Robeson township, Sept. 10, 1817, and was
educated at Myerstown, Lebanon county, and then taught school for a
number of years in addition to his duties as a farmer. Removing to
Reading in 1857 or 1858 he there conducted a general store for some
time, and was a very active and public-spirited citizen, holding a
number of offices of public trust, and discharging his duties with
a fidelity that won for him the esteem of all men. From 1863 to
1865 he was mayor of Reading, and afterward for a number of years
served as clerk in the prothonotary’s office of this county. He
died in Reading June 16, 1880. He married Sarah Longenecker of
Myerstown, and they had seven children, of whom two sons and one
daughter died in childhood, those surviving to mature years being:
Thaddeus A., George, Edward and Clara, the latter dying in 1876, at
the age of sixteen years.

(IVa) Thaddeus A. Hoyer, son of Joseph S., was born in Reading
Oct. 11, 1850. As a young man he clerked in his father’s grocery
store, which was located at the corner of Eighth and Washington
streets. For several years then he was a clerk in various
attorneys’ offices, and in 1866 he learned the barber’s trade from
Amos Gable, of Reading, who then conducted a shop at the corner of
Sixth and Penn streets. He was also a painter of portraits, and his
brush gained him no little fame. Since 1868 Mr. Hoyer has had his
place of business at No. 5 North Seventh street. In politics he is
a Democrat, and for four years he represented the Eighth ward on
the school board. He is a member of Mystic Star Commandery, No. 47,
and for a number of years served as its recorder; and of Mt. Penn
Castle, No. 51, K. G. E. He and his family are members of the First
Reformed Church. In October 1876, Mr. Hoyer was married to Emma
Koch, daughter of Samuel Koch, of Reading, and they have had five
children: Catharine, wife of Charles E. Matz; Anna, who married Jay
Kutz; Florence; and William and Joseph, who both died in
childhood.

(IIIa) John Hoyer, son of Samuel and Susanna, born in Robeson
township, in 1824, died at his home in Reading, No. 140 North
Eighth street, July 9, 1896, in the seventy-third year of his age.
In his early life he learned the blacksmith’s trade as well as the
carpenter’s trade, and these he followed for some years in Reading.
He was a tipstaff at the courthouse for many years, and he was well
and favorably known to the judges and officials. For a long time he
was tax collector in his ward, and he was an active worker in the
Democratic party. He and his family were active members of the
First Reformed Church, of Reading, and he was long an official in
both church and Sunday school. The children all called him “Uncle
John.” He sang in the choir of the First Reformed Church until the
time of his death, and he retained the sweetness of tone that had
marked the singing of his earlier years to the very last. He is
buried in Aulenbach cemetery. His wife, Mary A. Dunkle, died Oct.
30, 1896, when she was ages sixty-five years, three deaths having
occurred in this family within the one year, the first being the
daughter, Geneva L., who passed away Jan. 3, 1896, age thirty
years; she had been a school teacher in Reading for about twelve
years. The only living member of the family is Miss Helen A., a
refined and respected lady, interested in church, Sunday school and
philanthropic work, who resided at No. 140 North Eighth street.
Mrs. Mary A. (Dunkle) Hoyer was a daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth
(Althouse) Dunkle, farming people of Maiden-Creek township, and an
early settled family in that section.

(IIIa) Isaiah Hoyer, son of Samuel and Susanna, was born Sept. 16,
1839, in Robeson township. The public schools afforded him a good
common school education, and on leaving school he learned the
carpenter’s trade. In the spring of 1866 he came to Reading, and
worked continuously at his trade until 1884, and then embarked in a
grocery business which he carried on for over eleven years, the
first five being located at the corner of Eleventh and Chestnut
streets, and the remainder of the time at Ninth and Elm streets.
After closing out his grocery interests he resumed work at his
trade, until he was appointed tax collector of the Ninth and
Eleventh wards, and he served as such during 1904-05-06. He
represented the Tenth ward in the common council in 1879-80. He is
at present living retired.

Mr. Hoyer was married (first) to Elizabeth
Westley, who died in 1868, leaving three children: William W.,
deceased, m. Mary A. Lewis, and had one son Howard Ellsworth (m.
Bertha Seifrit, and has a son William); Susan m. James D. Bechtel;
and Samuel M. m. Louisa Marks. Mr. Hoyer m. (second) Kate R.
Schaeffer, who died Oct. 1, 1900, leaving one daughter, Emma, now
the widow of Alfred McMichael of Reading. He m. (third) Susan Hoch,
daughter of Benneville and Susan (Rothermel) Hoch, and they reside
in a pleasant home at No. 1030 Oley street.

In November 1864, Mr. Hoyer joined Reading
Lodge, No. 348, I. O. O. F., and in 1884 withdrew and helped to
organize Vigilance Lodge No. 194, I. O. O. F., and is now a veteran
belonging also to Reading Encampment, No. 43, I. O. O. F., and
Esther Rebekah Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., and is a member of the
Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment, being past grand and past chief
patriarch. He was admitted to the Sovereign Grand Lodge, I. O. O.
F., in 1895. In 1868 he joined Friendship Lodge, No. 5, K. P. of
which he is past chancellor; and he is a past president of Camp No.
552, P. O. S. of A. He is a member of Grace Lutheran Church, and
during the erection of the present fine edifice in 1888 was foreman
of the building committee. Mrs. Hoyer is active in the work of the
Evangelical Association. My Hower is a Democrat, and is a
well-known and highly respected citizen.

HOYER, ISAAC
S.

p. 971

Surnames: HOYER, SEIFERT, GREENEWALT, MONYON, GEIGER, MILLER,
WELLS, SCHAEFFER, FRY, KURTZ, SPATZ, KRAEMER

Isaac S. Hoyer, a successful farmer of Robeson township, Berks
county, cultivating an excellent property of eighty acres, was born
April 22, 1835, in Robeson township, son of Samuel and Susan
(Seifert) Hoyer.

John Hoyer, grandfather of Isaac S., was a
native of Berks county, and practically all of his life was spent
in wagoning between Philadelphia and Pittsburg. He married
Elizabeth Greenewalt, and they were the parents of these children:
Peter, George, John, Samuel, and Susan (m. a Monyon). In religious
belief the family were Reformed. Mr. Hoyer was a Democrat in
politics.

Samuel Hoyer was educated in the schools of
Robeson township, and at an early age engaged in farming near his
old Quaker Meeting-house, where he continued all of his life, dying
in 1849, at the age of fifty-three years. He married Susan Seifert,
who died in 1860, when sixty-one years old, and they became the
parents of these children: Joseph; John; Samuel; Isaac S.; Isaiah;
Elizabeth (m. James Geiger); Susan (m. Henry Miller); Hannah (m.
Elisha Wells); and Sarah (m. George Schaeffer). The family was
Reformed in religious belief, and Mr. Hoyer was a stanch Democrat
in politics.

Isaac S. Hoyer received his early educational
training in the schools of his native locality, learned the
blacksmiths trade, and later became a helper in the
Seyfert-McIIwaine rolling mills at Gibraltar. In 1858 he commenced
farming near the Quaker Meeting-house, but in 1867 he took charge
of the “Beckerville Hotel,” where for six years he served as
postmaster. In 1873 Mr. Hoyer purchased his present farm, known as
the Daniel Fry property, a tract of eighty acres, and here he has
been very successful, his land being one of the valuable farms of
the township. He has good substantial buildings and modern farm
implements, and keeps a dairy of seven cows. In the winter of
1858-1859, Mr. Hoyer was married to Mary Fry, daughter of John Fry,
and four children were born to this union, namely: Sarah E., m. to
Jacob Kurtz; Hannah M., m. to John Spatz; John F., m. to Katie
Kraemer; and Isaac N., who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyer are
members of the Lutheran church. In politics his is a Democrat, and
he has held several township offices.

HOYER,
WILLIAM

p 1093

Surnames: HOYER, RUFFNER, BICKLEY, WESTLEY, THOMAS, SEIDEL.

William Hoyer, line foreman for the United Traction Company at
Reading, was born April 26, 1862, in Cumru township, son of Reuben
and grandson of Benjamin Hoyer.

Benjamin Hoyer, made his home in Robeson
township, Berks county. For many years he taught school, chiefly in
Exeter township, but his death occurred at his home in Robeson. His
wife was a Ruffner, and they had children as follows: Samuel,
Henry, Edward, Reuben, Harriet, Hannah and Rebecca.

Reuben Hoyer, son of Benjamin, was born in
Robeson Township, and for twenty-five years he was engaged in
boating on the Schuylkill canal for Charles Bickley. For a while he
was in the employ of the Reading Hardware Company, and for sixteen
years was in charge of the stables of the South Reading Market, his
long term of service being convincing proof of his fidelity to
duty. He died in November, 1904, aged sixty-seven years and was
buried at Yocom’s Church in Cumru township. He married Mary
Westley, daughter of Daniel Westley, and their children were:
William, Catharine, Samuel, Ida, Milton, Tillie, Edith, Annie,
Sarah and Charles.

William Hoyer attended the public schools in
Cumru township. His first work after completing his education was
the care of horses for private parties, and this he continued for
four years. He then entered the employ of J. O. Thomas in the
grocery business, and with him continued for three years. On March
4, 1888, he became an employee of the Reading City Passenger
Company, driving a house car for one year, and acting as conductor
five years. Then for one year he drove the trolley repair wagon,
after which he was made assistant lineman, and at the end of four
years chief lineman. He has charge of 127 miles of wire, and has
proved a most efficient workman.

On Dec. 25, 1881, Mr. Hoyer married Catharine
Seidel, daughter of Frederick Seidel, and of their eight children,
three are living, namely: Lawrence, Harry and Mamie. William, a
promising your man, died May 16, 1909, aged twenty-three years, and
is buried at Yocom’s church. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyer are Lutheran
members of Christ’s (Yocom’s) Union Church in Cumru township. Mr.
Hoyer is a Republican in politics. He and his family reside in
their own home at No. 1623 North Tenth street, Reading.

HUBER,
CHARLES M.

p. 1670

Surnames: HUBER, MUTHART, HOOVER, BOLTON, LEESER, DEPPEN, LEININGER
GRUBER, KUNKELMAN

Charles M. Huber, justice of the peace of Wyomissing, Pa., and a
popular and influential citizen of the borough, was born June 1,
1874, at Niantic, Montgomery county, Pa., son of John B. and Leah
(Muthart) Huber.

Henry Huber, grandfather of Charles M., was a
lifelong farmer of Niantic, Montgomery county, where he owned a
tract of 100 acres, on which he erected the old Huber (Hoover)
homestead. He married Mary Bolton, of Montgomery county, and they
had these children: David; Jacob; Henry; John; Amanda; Mary and
Elizabeth.

John B. Huber, father of Charles M., was born at
Niantic, in October, 1850, and is now a resident of Sheridan, Pa.,
having been a lifelong farmer. He married Leah Muthart, daughter of
Jonas and Mary (Leeser) Muthart, and they have had twelve children:
Charles M.., Mary, m. Charles Deppen, of Robesonia; Edgar, who
lives at Durlach, Lancaster county; Henry, who lives at
Schaefferstown; James, of West Reading; Jonas and Annie, deceased;
and Eva, Emma, John,George and Elwood, single at home.

Charles M. Huber attended the township schools
until seventeen years of age, having come to Berks county with his
parents when ten years old, and later went to the Keystone State
Normal school at Kutztown for three spring terms. He left this
institution when a member of the senior class and taught school
three terms in Lower Heidelberg township, beginning in the fall of
1892. He gave up his profession to engage in telegraphy, which he
had learned under the instruction of Operator Samuel G. Leininger
of Sheridan, Pa., and became an operator for the Philadelphia &
Reading Railroad, in whose employ he continued for some time. For
four years he followed the trade of machinist, and in 1903 was
promoted to draughtsman; he has been engaged as such since having
been in the employ of the Textile Machine Works since 1900, at
Wyomissing.

In politics Mr. Huber is a Democrat. He was
elected to the office of justice of the peace in February, 1907,
and in addition is secretary of the borough council, and secretary
of the Civic League. He is president of Wyomissing Fire Company No.
1, which he was instrumental in organizing, and a member of
Bohemond Commandery No. 277, Knights of Malta, of Reading. He and
his family are members of the West Reading St. James’ Reformed
Church, and are also connected with the Sunday school.

On December 28, 1898, Mr. Huber married Miss
Nellie Gruber, of Stouchsburg, who died Oct. 9, 1901, aged
twenty-six years, leaving one daughter: Nelly May. Mr. Huber’s
second marriage was to Miss Lizzie Kunkelman, daughter of Elias
Kunkelman of West Reading, and to this union there have been born
three children: Paul, Minerva and Marion.

HUBER,
HENRY

p. 743

Surnames: HUBER, EBEN, GROUPER, HAGGERTY, GERBER, HONEKER

Henry Huber, a resident of Reading since his first coming to this
country in 1869, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany in 1841.

Frederick Huber, father of Henry, lived and died
in Germany. He was a stone cutter by trade, and brought up several
of his sons to the same occupation. He and his wife had a large
family of children, fifteen of them reaching maturity, namely:
Lizzie; Frederick, of New Jersey; Augustus, of Paris, France;
Henry; Mary, deceased; Gustave, at the old home on Germany;
Hermann, of Germany; Gottlieb, William and Charles, of St. Louis,
Mo., the latter now deceased; Fredericka, at the old home; Minnie,
of Lepsic, Saxony; John, of Paris; Ernst, in the stone business at
the old home; and Theodore, an engineer in Germany. Three other
children died in infancy.

Henry Huber learned stone-cutting from his
father, and worked under him until he was twenty-eight years old.
He then decided to make a new start in a new country, and in 1869
he landed at New York. He proceeded immediately to Philadelphia and
secured work there at this trade, but after only two weeks left
that city for Reading and has ever since made his home there. He
found employment readily and remained for thirty-four years with
his original employer, Christian Eben, and with the sons who
succeeded him. Finally, in 1903, after his long period of faithful
and efficient labor, Mr. Huber gave up his place and left home to
revisit the scenes of his youth. He spent nearly four months
abroad, and then, on returning to America, went into business on
his own account, getting out stone for building purposes, mainly
sand stone. Mr. Huber is in partnership with Andrew Honeker, and
the firm is located on Locust street, between Elm and buttonwood,
where they do a large business and bid fair to become one of the
leading industrial concerns of the city.

Mr. Huber married Miss Pauline Grouper, and
three children have been born to them, as follows: Emma, who
married Edward C. Haggerty, a sergeant of the Reading police,
appointed by Mayor Gerber; Harry; and William. Politically Mr.
Huber is a Democrat, and in religious matters a Lutheran, a member
of the Reading church. During his long period of service under
another, Mr. Huber fully demonstrated the many sterling qualities
of his character, and he well deserves the success that is so
abundantly rewarding his efforts now that he is in business for
himself.

HUBLEY,
EDWARD B.

p. 334

Surnames: HUBLEY, PORTER, SPAYD

Edward B. Hubley was born at Reading in 1792, son of Joseph Hubley,
a practicing attorney of the Berks county Bar. He studied law with
his father and was admitted to the Bar April 5, 1820. After
practicing at Reading for a while he moved to Orwigsburg, then the
county-seat of Schuylkill county, and there continued his
profession for a number of years. He represented that district in
Congress for two terms, from 1835 to 1839. He held the appointment
of canal commissioner of this State for several years, under Gov.
David R. Porter, and acted as a commissioner of Indian affairs
under president Polk. In all these positions he discharged his
duties with ability and fidelity. About 1848 he returned to Reading
and continued to reside here for eighty years; he then removed to
Philadelphia, and died there shortly afterward, Feb. 23, 1856, aged
sixty-four years. He married Catharine Spayd, eldest daughter of
Judge Spayd.

HUESMAN,
HENRY J.

p 1038

Surnames: HUESMAN, COOK, KEFFER, HOUSER, LENOX, RICKERT

Henry J. Huesman has established himself as one of the leading
florists of Reading. His large greenhouses are at the corner of
Schuylkill avenue and Greenwich street, and he also owns the
Brookside Cut Flower Store, which is under the management of his
son.

Mr. Huesman was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1844,
but he has passed practically all his life in Reading, his parents,
Joseph and Lena (Cook) Huesman, having moved hither in 1845. Both
the parents were natives of Germany, coming to America while young.
Joseph Huesman was a shoemaker by trade, and he had a thriving
business in New York City. When he settled in Reading he purchased
property in the vicinity of the Hampden reservoir, but he died soon
after his removal to this city. He was the father of the following
named children: Ida, widow of Hillary Keffer, now living in New
York; Henry J.; George and Louisa, deceased. The family were all of
the Catholic faith.

Henry J. Huesman was educated in the Reading
public schools, but his father having died when he was a young
child he did not have many early advantages. However, he did have
the benefit of excellent practical training. He was only ten years
old when he began work in the line which he has since continued to
follow, and in which he was met with such substantial success. His
first employer was Michael Houser, who was located in Ninth street,
and with whom he remained for the unusually long period of
twenty-two years-in fact until he felt able to commence business on
his own account. In 1887 he settled at the location on Schuylkill
avenue where he has ever since had his business headquarters, and
where he now has a plant which for completeness and quality of
equipment will compare with any up-to-date hothouse in
Pennsylvania. He has facilities for raising 100,000 plants, having
over 20,000 feet of glass, and makes a specialty of house and
bedding plants, also doing a large business in cut flowers,
particularly for weddings, funerals and decorative purposes. For
the special accommodation of this branch of the business he
conducts the Brookside Cut Flower Store, at No. 104 South Fifth
street, his son , Harry C. Huesman, being in charge there. Mr.
Huesman includes in his business all the branches of floriculture
usually carried on by modern florists, for he is enterprising in
keeping abreast of the times, and indefatigable in investigating
new methods which promise better results. Mr. Huesman has been
successful solely because he has devoted himself industriously to
his work and pursued a most commendable course. His establishment
has been developed to its present large proportions gradually, all
his business operations being conducted upon a sound basis. He has
acquired and held an extensive custom by giving honest service to
his patrons, and he is highly respected for his substantial worth
and the honorable career he has led.

Mr. Huesman married Elizabeth Lenox, who was
born in Philadelphia, Pa., and they have had two children, Harry C.
(m. to Mary Rickert) and Mary. The Huesmans are members of the
Catholic Church, and in politics Mr. Huesman is a Democrat. He is
not active, however, in party affairs, devoting himself solely to
the business in which he has found his life work.

HULL, CHARLES BARTON

p.
971

Surnames: HULL, CONNELL, SHAPPELL, HEFFNER YOCOM, LAMBERT, YOH,
CLAUSER, WINTERS, HIESTAND

Charles Barton Hull, the leading general merchant at Sinking
Spring, was born in Pennville, Lancaster county, Sept. 2, 1867, son
of Hiram R. and Margaret (Connell) Hull. When he was three years
old his parents removed to Sinking Spring, Berks county, and he
there received his education in the Public schools, attending
Oberlins Charter Oak Academy until 1883. In that year he entered
the general store of his father and remained with him until his
decease in 1902. In the settlement of the estate Mr. Hull purchased
the entire stock, and he has successfully carried on the business
until now. He has filled numerous township offices, acting as a
delegate to the Democratic county conventions; has served as
secretary of the Sinking Spring Cemetery Company since the death of
his father, the latter filling the same position for upward of
twenty years; and succeeded his father as the local agent of the
Reading Eagle, the father having been the representative for thirty
years. Mr. Hull belongs to St. Johns Reformed Church, Sinking
Spring. Fraternally he is a charter member and Past Grand of
Sinking Spring Lodge No. 660, I. O.O. F., and a charter member and
past officer of Loyal Chamber No. 43, O. K. of F.; is a member of
the O. U. A. M. at Sinking Spring; and of the Sinking Spring Fire
Company.

On Oct. 22, 1890, Mr. Hull married A. Laura
Shappell, daughter of Jonas Shappell, of Shoemakersville, Berks
county and they have one child, a son, Hiram.

Hiram R. Hull, who was born in 1828, in Leacock
township, Lancaster county, was there brought up. When eighteen
years old he located at Pennville, near Lititz, and engaged in the
general store business, and this he continued for twenty-five
years, and then, in 1871, removed to Sinking Spring, where he
continued the general store business for over thirty years until
his decease in 1902. He took an active part in the Reformed Church
in Sinking Spring, and served as assistant superintendent of the
Sunday school for twenty-five years. He was married twice. His
first wife was Margaret Connell, daughter of Mark Connell, of
Earlville, Lancaster county. She died in 1871, and by her he had
eleven children: Franklin m. Lizzie Heffner; Charles; Emma m. John
S. Yocom; Annie m. Henry S. Clauser; Maggie m. Milton Yoh; Martha;
and five died young. Hiram R. Hull m. (second) Mary Lambert,
daughter of John Lambert, of Sinking Spring, and by her he had one
child, Louisa.

Samuel Hull, father of Hiram R., lived at
Earlville, Lancaster Co., Pa., where he was a merchant for a number
of years. He is buried at Ephrata. He was a member of the Lutheran
Church, and was prominent in public matters. His children were:
Benjamin; Hiram; Martha m. Tristrim Connell; Louisa m. Washington
Winters; Emma is unmarried and is the only survivor of the family;
Mary Ann m. Jacob Hiestand; Elizabeth was unmarried.

HULL, GEORGE
A.

p. 1314

Surnames: HULL, BRITTON, KLEINE

George A. Hull, who has won a wide reputation in civil engineering
circles, is now carrying on his business under the name of the
Reading Engineering Construction Co., with offices in the Baer
Building, Reading, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Hull’s grandfather, Aaron, was a farmer. I.
W. Hull our subject’s father is superintendent of factories of the
Reading Hardware Co., and he and his wife, who was Julia Britton,
of Reading, had a family of eight children: Frank, Ellen, and
Walter, who died in infancy; Richard, who died when a young man;
John, a foreman in a machine shop of Reading; Florence, at home;
Ida, the wife of H. H. Kleine, a druggist of Reading; and George
A., our subject.

George A. Hull was born March 8, 1880, in
Reading. He was educated in the public schools and also received
private tuition, and after completing his education went to
Philadelphia and engaged in railroad construction with a civil
engineering corps for one year. He then spent some time in
municipal work for the city of Reading, after which he engaged in
business on his own account. Since 1909 he has been located in the
Baer Building, doing business under the style of the Reading
Engineering Construction Co., and has engaged largely in work all
over the Eastern and Northeastern States.

Religiously Mr. Hull belongs to Calvary Reformed
Church. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the
Germania Maennechor.