Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

IAEGER,
SAMUEL T.

p. 1662

Surnames: IAEGER, CLYMER, TRUMP, FOX, SLOAN

Samuel T. Iaeger, of Reading, Pa., whose place of business is
situated on Douglass street, is a manufacturing pharmacist and
druggist. Mr. Iaeger was born in 1831, in Greenwich township, Berks
county, son of Rev. G. F. Iaeger, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany.

Samuel T. Iaeger was educated in the schools of
Berks county, and in 1849 entered Yale preparatory college, which
he attended for about one year, also attending Pennsylvania College
for one year. After leaving the latter institution he clerked for
Mr. Clymer, a dry goods merchant who conducted a store at Fifth and
Penn streets, after leaving whom Mr. Iaeger worked as a book agent
until 1863, then becoming a traveling salesman for a dry goods
house of Philadelphia, for which he worked until 1866. Mr. Iaeger
then engaged in the manufacturing of perfumery at No. 718 Market
street, Philadelphia, but after a short time came to Reading, where
he continued in the same business until 1880. He then engaged in
the manufacture of proprietary medicines, receiving in 1887 a
certificate from the State Pharmaceutical Board under the new law
of 1885. Among his well known remedies may be mentioned “Iaeger’s
Lightning Linament,” “Cough Pectoral,” and “Family medicine,” and
in the sale of these he travels throughout the surrounding country
and as far as Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington.

In 1853 Mr. Iaeger was married (first) to Sarah
Trump, and to this union there were born four children, all now
deceased. Mr. Iaeger’s second marriage, in 1863, was to Sarah Fox,
daughter of George Fox and five children were born to this union:
Elizabeth; Sarah; Annie; Florence; Charles, m. Kate Sloan and has
three children, William, Samuel and Sarah. Mr. Iaeger is a Lutheran
in his religious belief and politically is a Republican. Formerly
he belonged to several social orders.

IAEGER,
THOMAS T. (REV.)

p. 401

Surnames: IAEGER, GROH, FRY, AUDENREID, LEVAN, BERGER, SALADE,
PALSGROVE, SNYDER, KENDIG

Rev. Thomas Theophilus Iaeger, for forty years a preacher of the
Gospel, died May 13, 1888, in Reading, Pa. The Rev. Mr. Iaeger, who
was born in Greenwich township, Berks county, Aug. 29, 1826, came
of a long line of ministers of the Word of God, his
great-grandfather and grandfather having been ministers in Germany,
while his father, the late Rev. G. F. I. Iaeger, was one of the
best known and most beloved pastors in the Lutheran Church in this
section of the State.

Rev. G. F. I. Iaeger was born in Illigen,
Wurtemberg, Germany, and he received his literary training there,
attending several of the best universities. On coming to America,
in 1817, the Rev. Mr. Iaeger taught school for one winter in
Northampton county, Pa., and the following year located in Berks
county, where the remainder of his life was spent. While teaching
in the old schoolhouse near Hamburg, he began to study for the
ministry, and he was ordained in the Lutheran faith in 1819. He at
once began preaching, and he continued in active service until four
years prior to his death. At various times he had as many as
fifteen congregations in charge, and he was the pastor of six
congregations at the time of his death in 1874. When he
relinquished preaching the Rev. Mr. Iaeger had charge of the White
Church Lutheran congregation. From June 1819, to 1874, he baptized
nearly 7,000 children, gave catechetical instruction to nearly
4,000 persons, married over 1,200, preached 2,500 funeral sermons
and gave communion to over 50,000 persons. The Rev. Mr. Iaeger died
at his residence on South Oak street, Hamburg, Berks county,
shortly after eleven o’clock, Sunday morning, Nov. 16, 1879, being
at this time the oldest member of the Pennsylvania Ministerium. His
funeral was largely attended, the Rev. Mr. Groh, of Boyertown,
preaching the sermon in German, and the Rev. Dr. Fry, of Reading,
in English. Rev. G. F. I. Iaeger had preached his first sermon Oct.
18, 1818, at Dunkel’s Church, and he was there buried among the
people to whom he had given his labors for a period of sixty.one
years.

The Rev. Mr. Iaeger was married to Mary
Audenreid, of McKeansburg, Pa., and to them were born these
children: Rev. Thomas Theophilus; Samuel; William, of Baltimore;
and Lewis F., of California; Mrs. Jackson Levan, of Hamburg, Pa.;
Mrs. James S. Berger, of Philadelphia; Mrs. E. S. Salade, of
Tamaqua.

Rev. Thomas Theophilus Iaeger pursued his
preparatory course and classical studies for about three years at
Mercersburg and Gettysburg, after which he entered upon his
theological course under the instruction of Rev. John W. Richards,
then pastor of St. John’s Church, Easton, Pa. During the summer of
1847 he received a license (ad interim) from the president of the
Ministerium, of Pennsylvania, to perform ministerial acts, which
license was renewed when he was received into the Ministerium at
its annual meeting in Easton in 1848. His ordination took place in
1850, at the Synodical meeting at Pottsville, Pa., and his first
regular charge was in Lancaster county, PA., where he served
congregations in and around Brickerville, and Muddy Creek. He
remained about two years at the latter place and then removed to
Womelsdorf, taking charge of the congregations there and at
Rehrersberg, and later the churches at Myerstown, Bellemans, Reed,
Bern and North Heidelberg. In 1855 the Rev. Mr. Iaeger removed to
the city of Reading, where he served at various times a large
number of congregations. At the time of his death he had charge of
the following Lutheran congregations: Bern, Oley, Spies, Shalters
and Kissinger churches. His ministerial life covered forty
continuous years, with the exception of the years 1865, 1866 and
1867, when on account of ill health he was forced to discontinue
his work. During his long labor in the Gospel he preached 5,258
sermons, baptized 6,263 children, performed 1,748 marriage
ceremonies, officiated at 2,472 funerals, confirmed 3,608
catechumens, gave communion to 74,750 persons, and prayed with the
sick 2,860 times. On May 4, 1888, he had a slight paralytic stroke,
which was but the beginning of the end, his death occurring May
13th, and he was interred in Charles Evans cemetery.

On Dec. 14, 1848, the Rev. Mr. Iaeger married
Mary A. Palsgrove, of Mercersburg, Pa., and they had a family of
ten children, seven of whom died in infancy. The three surviving
are: Miss Nora S., who lives with her mother at No. 522 Oley
street, Reading; Mrs. Jefferson Snyder, of Reading; and Mrs. John
Kendig, of Philadelphia. The Rev. Thomas T. Iaeger was justly
considered one of Berks county’s representative men. The influences
of his life had always been in the direction of temperance,
education and morality. His services in the religious body in which
he labored so faithfully for so many years but cemented more
closely the bonds between him and his fellow men. As a preacher he
was fearless in the exposition of the Word of God, and the fruitful
results of his work brought him comfort and encouragement in his
declining years.

IMHOFF, BERTHOLD J.

p. 495

Surnames: IMHOFF, WINTER, ARCHER, HENDEL, BORNEMANN, FREY,
STERNBERGH, JOHNER, HELMUTH, ALLGEIER

Berthold J. Imhoff. Reading has among her distinguished men,
Berthold J. Imhoff, artist, decorator and frescoer, a man of genius
who thoroughly understands his art and makes a specialty of church
and mural decorations.

On Jan. 14, 1868, Mr. Imhoff was born in
Mannheim Germany, and was there educated, beginning to learn the
painter’s trade when only fourteen years of age. For three years he
served an apprenticeship, then worked for others for another three
years, when he entered the College of Oberwinter where he took a
course in graining and marble work. Once more he resumed working
for others to gain sufficient money to carry out his ambition, and
when he had accumulated enough he studied art at
Halle-an-der-Halle. On leaving school he became foreman for a large
decorating firm, and received large compensation for his work.
Still he was not satisfied, but entered the art institute at
Karlsruhe, Baden, where he studied art in its higher forms, and in
March 1892, he landed in America and located in Ohio, where he
worked for five months, and then returned to Philadelphia where he
believed there was more appreciation to be found for his excellent
work. While in that city he was in the employ of Sima, and did some
of his best work. Once more be crossed the ocean, and locating at
Pforzheim, Germany, he engaged in business for himself. There he
remained until 1900, and during that time he entered, in 1898, the
academy of art at Dusseldorf, where he studied figure work. Selling
out his business he returned to America, this time locating at
Reading, and purchasing a valuable property at the corner of
Eleventh and Green streets he has established himself in a very
large business and is recognized as the leader in art circles. His
studio is 18×42 feet and is specially arranged with regard to light
and space. Five artists work under his direction.

While Mr. Imhoff is so well known as a
decorator, he is also an artist and one of his most famous
paintings is the “Death of St. Joseph”. The painting is 7×10 feet,
and the group includes St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin, Jesus and a
ministering angel. Being a devout Catholic Mr. Imhoff has handled
the subject reverently as well as artistically, with a due regard
to coloring and background which makes it a masterpiece. Another
very notable painting by this man of such diversified talents is
“Jesus in the Temple”, 4×6 feet. He has upward of one hundred
others, suitable for churches and private residences, and all
display his wonderful power and his skill at figure work.

Mr. Imhoff has frescoed over one hundred
churches since his return to Pennsylvania, among which may be
mentioned: St. Stephen’s Reformed; St. Luke’s and Trinity,
Lutheran; Salem Evangelical, of Reading, while Columbia, Lebanon,
Slatington, Phoenixville, Tamaqua, Allentown, Pottsville,
Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Hazleton, York, Philadelphia, Mahanoy
City, etc., have had him decorate their handsomest places of
religious worship. Mr. Imhoff has also decorated the Academy of
Music, Masonic Temple, the residences of Ferdinand Winter, Mrs.
Catherine Archer, John Hendel, Rev. Father Bornemann, Mr. Isaac
Frey of Douglassville, Pa., and Mr. Sternbergh, of Reading, etc.

Some of Mr. Imhoff’s masterpieces are to be
found in St. John’s Catholic church at Pottsville; St. Mary’s
Catholic church at York; German Catholic church at Hazleton;
Catholic church at Williamsport; Trinity Lutheran church, Reading;
Lithuanian Catholic church, Mahanoy City; Baptist church, Reading;
Spies’s Union church, Alsace township; Reformed church, Hazleton;
Lutheran church, Myerstown; and St. Paul’s church, Reading. Of all
these, St. Paul’s church, Reading, is his masterpiece. The
architecture of the church is Romanesque, and this necessitated
rich colors and heavy ornamentation. Above the main entrance is a
picture representing the parable of the Prodigal son. The center of
the ceiling shows three large compositions, 12×18 feet, “The
Descent of the Holy Ghost,” “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin”
and “The Coronation of the Virgin,” these forming the last three
mysteries of the rosary, the preceding twelve being depicted in the
painted windows. There are two other large compositions, “The
Adoration of the Magi” and the “Death of St. Joseph”; eight panels,
each containing a single figure; small medallions showing the
symbols of the rosary and the instruments of the passion. The
sanctuary arch, as is fitting, is marvelous in both execution and
design. The main composition is 40×25 feet. In the center the risen
Savior sits enthroned, and on either side but a little below him
are the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Baptist. Between heaven and
earth is the Holy Spirit surrounded by the cherubim. On the earth,
grouped about the cross, are the apostles and evangelists, Saints
Peter and Paul standing a little higher than the others. Other
figures appear, all tending to bring out more fully the subject of
the whole composition, “The Church of God.” There are about fifty
figures in all, and they occupy five of the seven panels. In each
end panel is an angel, one bearing the pillar at which the Savior
was scourged, and the other the spear that pierced His side, and
the sponge with which they quenched His thirst. In this work Mr.
Imhoff has used the best models, and his historical accuracy is
above question. If he left no other work than St. Paul’s, Mr.
Imhoff’s fame as an artist would be complete.

The delightful home of Mr. Imhoff is
artistically treated, and is one of the most beautiful in the city.
He carried out his own ideas in its decoration and tried to
reproduce something of the style of the Fatherland in his own
residence. That the result is artistic and very pleasing goes
without saying.

In 1891 Mr. Imhoff married Matilde Johner,
daughter of Joseph and Leopoldina (Helmuth) Johner. Joseph Johner
was Mr. Imhoff’s teacher of painting at Bonndorf. To Mr. and Mrs.
Imhoff have been born these children: Alexander, Hubert and
Berthold, who were born in Germany and are now deceased; Rosina;
Paul, deceased; Maria, George and Katharinn. The family are all
Catholics and belong to St. Paul’s Catholic church. In politics Mr.
Imhoff is independent, preferring to vote for the best man rather
than be bound by party lines.

The family history of Mr. Imhoff is rather
meagre, although it is known that his grandfather was Leopold
Imhoff. Among the sons of Leopold Imhoff was Leopold Imhoff, Jr.,
father of Berthold Imhoff, and he was an Oberjager and lived in
Karlsruhe. His wife was Rosina Allgeier, and their children were:
Alexander, Leopold, Berthold and Max.

There are very few men in America who are so
well fitted by nature and training to represent the true artistic
perceptions of the people as Mr. Imhoff. Combined with his high
artistic sense of the true values, he has a thoroughly practical
conception of the requirements of his business and his results
fully justify his methods. Mr. and Mrs. Imhoff are the center of a
circle of charming people, whose appreciation of art and higher
culture makes them delightful companions, and the artist and his
wife dispense to them and their other friends a delightful
hospitality, that makes their home a favorite gathering place. The
young people are already displaying in marked degree talent in
several directions which will undoubtedly be fostered by their
parents who thoroughly recognize the value of careful training
under proper instructors.

IRWIN,
WILLIAM J.

p. 1336

Surnames: IRWIN, BENJAMIN, WINCHESTER, COLLOM, SMITH, WRIGHT,
TRUCKSESS, BAKER, LERCH, GARREN, WHITTICK, FREELY, BITTING, RHOADS,
LONG, BRIDEGAM, FISHER, SASSAMAN, BUCK, ALTHOUSE, PRIZER, ROBERTSON

William J. Irwin, a leading agriculturist of Berks county carrying
on extensive operations in Cumru township, was born Jan. 24, 1845,
at Hibernia, Chester Co., Pa., son of Isaac B. Irwin and grandson
of Abner Irwin. He is a great-grandson of the founder of the family
in America, who located near Charlestown, Md., where it is supposed
he engaged in farming, and where his son Abner was born. Abner
Irwin followed farming for many years near Charlestown, but later
in life went to Pottstown, Pa., where he died in 1841, at the age
of sixty years. He married Elizabeth Benjamin, also of Maryland,
daughter of Joseph Benjamin, a converted Jew, who came to this
country during the Revolutionary war. Mr. Benjamin was married in
Charlestown, Md., to Betsy Winchester, and after his marriage
became one of the leading Methodists of his day. Mr. and Mrs. Abner
Irwin are buried in the Pottstown cemetery. Their children were as
follows: William, born Sept. 6, 1805, was killed while working in a
rolling-mill at Kensington, Pa.; Sarah, born Feb. 18, 1807, died in
Philadelphia, unmarried; Absalom, born Aug. 1, 1816, first learned
the shoemaker’s trade, was later an iron worker, and then went to
Oil City, Pa.. where he bought oil wells, and there he died; Isaac
B. was born Aug. 2, 1818; Anna Jane, born Sept. 20, 1820, m. Robert
Collom, of Oxford, Chester county, where she died; Jesse, born Jan.
17, 1823, m. Rebecca Smith; Francis G., born Feb. 14, 1825, was a
large railroad contractor at Oil City, Pa.; Mary E. was born Dec.
23, 1827.

Isaac B. Irwin, born Aug, 2, 1818, at
Charlestown, Md., died at Oxford, Pa., Dec. 22, 1900, and is buried
in the Charles Evans cemetery, Reading. When a boy he located at
Norristown, where he remained for a number of years, later locating
at Pottstown, at which place it is claimed he turned out the first
sheet of iron made there. He was skilled in his occupation, and was
considered a good, honest, upright citizen. Mr. Irwin married
Catharine Smith, daughter of James and Ann (Smith) Smith, both of
whom came from Ireland and were Protestants in faith. They bought
property near Oxford, Chester Co., Pa., later removing to Cecil
county, Md., where they raised their family. Mr. Irwin survived his
wife several years. To them were born children as follows: Annie E.
m. Charles Wright; Mary W. m. George Trucksess; William J.;
Catherine m. Thomas Jefferson Baker, of Norristown, a well-known
saddler; Mahlon D. m. Henrietta Lerch; Sarah m. Arthur T. Garren,
of Philadelphia; Cyrenius W. m. Mary Whittick; Fannie m. Augustus
Freely, of Philadelphia.

William J. Irwin received the greater part of
his education in the schools of Norristown, to which place he went
with his parents when but six years of age; he had previously
received some schooling in Pottstown. After completing his
education he was first employed with his father as heater in a
rolling-mill, becoming, as was his parent, very skilled in this
line of work. About the time he reached his majority he went to
Allentown, Pa., and to Oxford, N. J., where he remained for a short
time, in 1866 locating in Reading and beginning work at the
McIlvaine plant, where he continued for one year. He then spent two
years in the polishing department of the Reading Hardware Company,
his next employment being with Rick Brothers, at polishing, after
which he drove a wagon through the country, selling notions for
Samuel T. Jaeger. He then went into the plating business, doing
this kind of work first for Orr, Painter & Co., later for many
other firms, and continuing for about twenty years in the business,
in which he was very successful. Mr. Irwin then purchased the old
Jacob Bitting farm, comprising 100 acres of well improved land in
Cumru township, on which he has resided since the spring of 1901.
This valuable farm, located near the Kurtz House and but one mile
from the city of Reading, has undergone many improvements since it
came into the hands of Mr. Irwin, who is now carrying on a
profitable fruit and dairy business, also keeping a large stock of
wine and cider on hand. He is considered one of the most
substantial farmers of Cumru township, and his work is done with
the aid of the latest improved machinery.

On Jan. 24, 1871, William J. Irwin married Miss
Elmira Rebecca Rhoads, daughter of Henry W. and Susan L. (Long)
Rhoads, and to this union have been born children as follows: Ida
M. m. W. Bridegam, an electrical contractor of Reading, and has
three children, LeRoy, Dorothy and Grace; Katie L. m. Wesley
Fisher, a butcher of Fritztown, Pa., and has two children,
Catherine and Allen; Harry B. m. Katie Sassaman and has three
children, William J., Harry and Earl Thomas; William, Jr., m. Clara
Buck; Joseph P. m. Celia Althouse; Walter G. m. Bessie Prizer, and
has four children, Walter J., Pearl, Arthur and Mildred; Florence
m. Thomas Robertson, and. has one child, Harold Irwin; Jesse H. is
a student in the schools of Reading; Leona F., who is an
elocutionist, attends Schuylkill Seminary, Reading; George W. is
attending grammar school. The family occupy a beautiful Colonial
residence standing on the corner of the farm, near the Kurtz House,
on New Holland avenue, one of the most modern homes in the county.
It was just completed in 1908.

Mr. Irwin is a Republican in his political
belief, and he has served his fellow-citizens as a member of the
school board of Cumru township, holding the office of president of
that body with great efficiency. He is a member of the Evangelical
Church, to which his family also belong, and is an honest and
upright citizen, much esteemed and respected in his community. He
is a Mason, holding membership in Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M.;
Reading Chapter, No. 152, R. A. M., and DeMolay Commandery, No. 9,
Knights Templar.

ISETT, J. FREDERICK (M.D.)

p. 805

Surnames: ISETT, CHRISTMAN, MARKLEY, HALLMAN, BROWER, SHADE, POLEY,
CAMP, KELLER, BIERMAN, GROVE, MILLER, MOYER, CARPER, RUMBLE,
SCHOLLENBERGER

Joseph Frederick Isett, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice
of medicine at Hamburg for nearly thirty years, is a native of
Berks county, born Oct. 19, 1846, in Greenwich township, son of Dr.
Benjamin F. and Lovina (Christman) Isett.

It is traditional in the family that the
great-great-grandfather of Dr. Isett removed with other French
Huguenots to Germany, and that he started from there to America,
but died on board the ship, his remains being buried at sea, while
his widow and two sons, Frederick and Jacob, landed in safety at
Philadelphia in 1732. This progenitor’s name is said to have been
Frederick

Frederick Isett, son of the progenitor, settled
on a farm near Trappe, in Montgomery county, Pa. His farm lay
adjacent to Governor Shunk’s, and he married a Miss Markley, by
whom he had several children, among them Frederick, the Doctor’s
grandfather. He was born during the Revolutionary war and died ripe
in years. He was a farmer by occupation, and was well and favorably
known in his district. He married Mary Hallman, and they had
children as follows: Dr. Benjamin Franklin; Samuel, of Upper
Providence township, Montgomery county, married to Harriet Brower;
Frederick, of Limerick township, Montgomery county, married to
Harriet Shade, and John, married to Esther Poley.

Dr. Benjamin F. Isett was born in Upper
Providence township, Montgomery county, Jan. 29, 1807, and died
Oct. 9, 1869. He was educated in Montgomery county, and was engaged
in milling before taking up the study of medicine in the University
of Pennsylvania. He be.came assistant physician at the Montgomery
county almshouse, where he remained one year before locating at
Klinesville, Berks county, in 1833, and thereafter successfully
practised at that place for twenty-three years. In 1856 he settled
in the town of Hamburg, where he resided at the time of his death.
He was a man of wide influence in his community and a staunch
friend of education, serving several terms as school director.
Early in his practise he espoused homeopathy and was largely
instrumental in introducing it in northern Berks. Dr. Isett was
married to Lovina Christman, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Camp)
Christman, and they had children as follows: Henry Francis married
to Mary Keller; Anna M., married to Dr. E. Benjamin Bierman,
president of Lebanon Valley College, and a former legislator of
Lebanon county; Dr. J. Frederick, and Catharine B., married to Rev.
S. G. Grove, of Philadelphia.

J. Frederick Isett was taken by his parents to
Hamburg when nine years of age, and there gained his preliminary
education in the public schools. In 1862 he entered Dickinson
College, and while there enlisted in the 195th Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, serving with this regiment until the close of
the war. Returning to Hamburg he engaged in the mercantile
business, which he followed for three years, when he took up the
study of medicine, graduating from the Halnemann Medical College,
Philadelphia, in 1876. He then located in Middletown, Dauphin
county, but in 1878 returned to Hamburg, where he has been
successfully engaged in practice ever since. Dr. Isett is the
medical examiner for a number of life insurance companies,
including the Metropolitan and Prudential Companies.

On Oct. 31, 1869, Dr. Isett married Emma R.
Miller, daughter of Edward M. and Sarah (Moyer) Miller, and to this
union have been born children as follows: Sarah Lavinia, married to
Harry C. Carper; Harry M., who is married to Clara Rumble; J. Fred,
Jr., a public school teacher; Chester M., who married Ellen
Schollenberger; and William M., a machinist by trade.