Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

PENROSE, GEORGE D.

p. 356

Surnames: PENROSE, SMITH, YARRINGTON, FEATHER, ABBOT, STROHECKER,
DODSON, ALSOVER, McCAULEY, MANNING, HEATHERINGTON, ALBRIGHT, VAN
KENNA, LEVAN, WILL

George D. Penrose (deceased) was born in Maiden-creek township,
Berks Co., Pa., son of Ephraim and Lydia Ann (Smith) Penrose. The
Penrose family is a very prominent one in Pennsylvania, of English
descent and of Quaker belief.

Ephraim Penrose was a life-long farmer of
Maiden-creek township, where he owned and operated a valuable farm.
He and his wife were members of the Society of Friends, he
belonging to the Hicksite branch, and she to the Orthodox. They had
one child, George D.

George D. Penrose was educated in the common
schools of Berks county, passed through the high school at Reading,
and took an advanced course at Swarthmore College, the great Quaker
educational institution which ranks with Yale and Harvard. While he
was still a youth he learned telegraphy, and after completing his
education he followed it for some years and subsequently became an
operator for the Berks & Lehigh Railway Company. In 1883 he
accepted a similar position with the Philadelphia & Reading
Railway Company, and on promotion was sent to the general office in
Philadelphia. He was a young man of marked ability, and continued
to find recognition with his employers and became assistant auditor
for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company. He was filling
this important position at the time of his death, which took place
Aug. 2, 1889, as the result of an accident. It had been the custom
of himself and wife to spend the summer seasons at Atlantic City,
where Mr. Penrose enjoyed the surf bathing, and it was during a
season there that he was drowned. This calamity was a source of
universal regret to his family, his employers and to a very large
circle of friends.

On Oct. 16, 1884, Mr. Penrose was married to
Catharine M. Yarrington, daughter of Thomas O. and Catharine S.
(Feather) Yarrington, both of English descent. One child was born
to this marriage, Edwin Y. In political faith Mr. Penrose was a
Republican. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow.

The Yarringtons came from England early in the
17th century, and were among the earliest settlers in Stonington,
Conn. Abel Yarrington, grandfather of Thomas O., left Connecticut
in 1770, and settled in Wilkes Barre, Pa., where he established the
first ferry across the Susquehanna at that point. He was a soldier
in the Revolution. Of his sons, five in number, the third was
Luther.

Luther Yarrington, son of Abel, was born in
1776, and died at Wilkes Barre in 1836. He married Hannah Abbot, a
descendant of George Abbot. The latter, a native of Yorkshire,
England, born in 1615, emigrated to America in 1640, and became one
of the founders of Andover, Massachusetts.

Thomas O. Yarrington, son of Luther and Hannah,
was reared in Wilkes Barre. He became a civil engineer, and
followed that profession for many years. He died June 3, 1905, aged
eighty-six years. He married Catharine S. Feather, daughter of
William and Margaret (Strohecker) Feather. Mrs. Yarrington died
Dec. 7, 1902, the mother of seven children: Abbot died in infancy;
William F., of Mauch Chunk, m. Hannah (Dodson) Alsover; Luther A.,
of Reading, m. Emily McCauley, daughter of the Rev. C. A. McCauley,
and had two children-Edith (deceased) and Charles (deceased in
November, 1905, aged ten years); Amelia m. George W. Manning, of
New York, and has one daughter, Grace Y.; Thomas O., of Reading, m.
Emma Heatherington; Catharine M. is Mrs. Penrose; and Margaret m.
William H. Albright, a job printer at Reading and has two
children-William Y. and Frank Y. The Yarringtons are all members of
the Episcopal Church. Peter Feather, great-grandfather of Mrs.
Catharine S. (Feather) Yarrington, appeared on the list of taxables
in Reading in 1759. Peter Feather, Jr., son of Peter, was born in
Reading, and in 1788 he married Margaret Van Kenna, daughter of
Balzer and Maria A. (Levan) Van Kenna, and granddaughter of Casper
Van Kenna. Maria A. (Levan Van Kenna was born in Exeter in 1730,
daughter of Isaac Levan, on of the first settlers.

William Feather, son of Peter, Jr., and
Margaret, was born in 1791, and died in 1849. He owned and
conducted a tannery at Hamburg, Berks county, at the time of his
death. He married Margaret Strohecker, who was born in Reading in
1796, daughter of John and Julianna Strohecker, residents of
Reading a century ago. Mrs. Margaret (Strohecker) Feather died at
Hamburg in 1874. John Strohecker, Sr., father of John and
grandfather of Mrs. Feather, served in the Revolution as first
lieutenant, Capt. George Will’s Company, Major Hiester’s Battalion
of Militia, of Berks county, Pa., in service at Newtown, Jan. 2,
1777.

PENTA
& RADNAZZO

p. 1127

Surnames: PENTA, RADNAZZO, REPUCCI, RUNO

Among the flourishing business concerns of Reading, Pa., is that of
Penta & Radnazzo, of No. 44 North Fifth street, dealers in
foreign and domestic fruits, nuts, canned goods, etc.

Mr. Radnazzo was born Sept. 4, 1863, near
Naples, Italy, and came to this country in 1884, settling in
Reading. He married in his native country, Carmella Repucci, and
they have three children- Maria Madalena, Maria Giuseppa and
Francesco. In their religious belief they are Roman Catholics. Mr.
Radnazzo received his naturalization papers in 1890, and is a
Republican in politics.

Mr. Penta, who was born Nov. 1, 1860, in Italy,
came to America in 1884, and after a short time engaged in business
with Mr. Radnazzo. He was married in 1894 to Rosina Runo, and to
them have been born three children: Lorenzo A., Michael G. and
Giovanni. In religious belief they are Roman Catholics. In 1896 Mr.
Penta received his naturalization papers, and like his partner is a
Republican.

Messrs. Penta and Radnazzo are among the
enterprising business men of Reading. Their place of business is
fully stocked with a fine line of foreign and domestic fruits and
nuts, canned salmon and other delicacies, and they deal both
wholesale and retail. They have an excellent reputation for fair
business dealings, and their business in the city is constantly
increasing. In addition to the lines above mentioned, they are
agents for the Fabie Line and Folly Steamship Company, the Cunard
Line, the White Star Line, the Italian Royal Mail Steamship
Company, the Anchor Line, the Austrian & American Steamship
Company, the Hamburg-American Line, and the La Veloce (Italian
Line). They transact a large amount of business for the Italian
colony, especially in financial transactions, they being the medium
through which much of the money goes to Italy from this city.

PEPPER,
HARLAN N.

p. 1523

Surnames: PEPPER

Harlan N. Pepper, deceased, business man of Reading, who was
proprietor of the “White House Lunch Wagon,” located in front of
the Second National Bank Building, was a native of Massachusetts,
born in Southbridge, in 1846, son of Joseph Pepper, originally a
shoemaker by trade, who in later years engaged in farming in
Massachusetts and died in that State, aged sixty-three years.

Harlan N. Pepper received his education in the
public schools of his native state, and when seventeen years of age
enlisted in the Civil war, becoming a private in Company F, 51st
Mass. Volunteer Infantry. He served nine months, taking part in
many important engagements, and after being honorably discharged
was employed at one of the large shoe houses of his native place
for a period of fifteen years. The next two years he spent
traveling for a company in the erection of machines, then removed
to Worcester, Mass., for a short time, later going to Providence,
R. I., where the next five years of his life were spent. In 1900
Mr. Pepper came to Reading. Erecting a small lunch wagon he began
business, his trade increasing so rapidly that he was soon
compelled to erect a building for his business, which he enlarged
from time to time. The “White House Cafe,” as it was known, was
largely patronized, remaining open from six o’ clock in the evening
until six o’ clock in the morning. Mr. Pepper was also the owner of
a large four-story building, 30 x 30 feet, at Madison avenue and
Washington streets, which is occupied as a garage, and in which he
had a four and one-half horse power motor. Mr. Pepper resided at
No. 422 Washington street. He died Feb. 4, 1909, the last of a
large family.

Mr. Pepper was considered a substantial man, and
it can be readily seen that he was a self-made one. His success was
due to his own energy and enterprise, and his honesty and integrity
in business dealings. He was of cheerful and happy disposition, and
of great kindness of heart. Besides his own son, Charles, of New
York, he reared five other children.

PETERS,
JACOB

p. 1343

Surnames: PETERS, HARMAN, KELLY, BARE, SWERGERT, SMITH, WITZEL,
RAND, SCHAEFFER, HOLMAN, CARPENTER, DIETRICH, SHATZ, DIVES,
WENTZEL, MERTZ, CHRISTMAN, REITZ, SHIRK, GOOD, MOSSER, HITTLE,

Jacob Peters, of the borough of Mohnton, who engaged in plaster
contracting, was born Oct. 30, 1858, in West Earl township,
Lancaster county, son of Henry K. and Lydia (Hartman) Peters.

John Michael Peters, the grandfather of Peter,
was a native of Ireland, and came to this country when a boy with
his sister, his parents being deceased. He located in West Earl
township, Lancaster county, and there the remainder of his life was
spent in agricultural pursuits. He married Polly Kelly, who died in
middle life, and both were buried in Rollans cemetery, near New
Holland, Pa. There children were: Isaac, who died while defending
his country in the Civil war ; Joseph, who was a farm hand, met an
accidental death while working for a Mr. Bare ; John, who died
suddenly in Indianapolis, Ind., where he had been successfully
engaged in the milling business ; Gibson, a soldier in both the
Mexican and Civil wars, who was of a roving disposition and had a
wonderful career ; Susanna, who married Henry Swergert, a farmer of
Lancaster county ; Elizabeth, who married George Smith, a soldier
in the Civil war ; Henry, father of Jacob ; Cornelius, who married
Joanna Witzel of Berks county ; and Rev. Lewis, a minister of the
United Brethren Church, was a noted pulpit orator, and for many
years had been presiding elder. He died in New Holland, Pa., in
1890, aged fifty-four years and is buried at Steelton, Dauphin
county. He married a Miss Rand, and they had three children, Dr.
Jacob, Dr. Augustus and a daughter.

Henry K. Peters was born in Earl township,
Lancaster county, Oct. 16, 1830, and died there May 9, 1882, having
been engaged for a number of years in operating a sawmill for
Benjamin Schaeffer. Mr. Peters was a highly respected citizen, and
all his life was a regular attendant of the United Brethren Church
at Hinkletown, Lancaster county. He was twice married, (first) Oct.
4, 1853, to Lydia Harman, born Aug. 4, 1830, who died Sept. 17,
1865, daughter of Daniel Harman. Six children were born to this
union: Lemon, born July 29, 1854, married Cecelia Holman ; Herman,
born July 19, 1856, married Emma Schaeffer ; Jacob ; Harriet, born
April 23, 1860, married William Carpenter, deceased ; Mary Ann,
born Dec. 11, 1861, died June 14, 1880 ; and Henry, born Feb. 14,
1864, is a bachelor of Lancaster. Mr. Peters was married (second)
to Fannie Dietrich, daughter of George W. Dietrich of Lancaster
county, and to them was born one son, Benjamin Franklin.

Jacob Peters was reared to agricultural
pursuits, but when sixteen years of age began to learn the trade of
plasterer with Jacob Shatz of Lancaster, in whose employ he
continued for three years, then connecting himself with J. Madison
Dietrich, a contractor of Vogansville, Lancaster county. In 1880
Mr. Peters engaged in business on his own account in Lancaster
county, following his trade throughout the country for a period of
twelve years and employing an average of six people the year round.
On Dec. 12, 1892, he located in Mohnton, and for two years worked
for Adam Wentzel of Sinking Spring, a plasterer contractor. In 1895
Mr. Peters re-engaged in business on his own account, doing work in
Reading and the surrounding county, and in this he is at present
engaged. Himself a thorough mechanic and skilled workman, Mr.
peters employs only those who are skilled at the trade, and his
staff of workmen comprises twenty mechanics. He has been handling
all of the contracts of the Reading Real Estate co. since 1902,
this company building from thirty-five to forty-five buildings
annually, and he also did the work in forty-five houses erected by
Mertz & Christman of Reading in 1905. In 1906 he had the
contract for plastering the large Barbey Hall at Hamburg, Pa., and
in the fall of that year did the work in J. Dive’s summer residence
in Cumru township. Politically Mr. Peters is a stalwart Republican,
and takes a great interest in public matters. He is a member of the
Hill Side Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. In religious belief he
and his family are members of Salem Evangelical of Mohnton, and in
earlier life Mr. Peters was much interested in Sunday school work,
being for a number of years superintendent of the Evangelical
Sunday school at Vogansville.

On Nov. 21, 1878, Mr. Peters was married to Dora
R. Reitz, born Aug. 1, 1852, in Ossenberg, Hesse Darmstadt,
Germany, daughter of Baltzer and Caroline (Reitz) Reitz, and to
this union there have been born six children: Harry C., born July
24, 1879, married Ada Shirk, of Mohnton ; Caroline R., born Dec. 4,
1882, married Frank R. Good, of Lancaster county ; Lizzie R., born
April 2, 1883, married Irwin R. Mosser, of Mohnton ; George W.,
born June 26, 1884, married Stella Hittle, of Boyertown ; Lydia,
born March 8, 1886 ; and Chester A., born Sept. 14, 1888.

PHILLIPS, CHARLES S. (M.
D.)

p. 709

Surnames: PHILLIPS, STEPHEN, MOGEL, SCHWALM, RICHARD, SCHWENK,
EYRICK, RHEIN, FEHAFER, GEIGER, GRAMM

Charles S. Phillips, M. D., physician and pharmacist, located at
No. 1342 North Eleventh street, Reading, was born July 2, 1849, at
Womelsdorf, Pa., son of Charles S. and Eliza (Stephen) Phillips.

Solomon Phillips, the ancestor of the Phillips
family, came to America in the ship “Phoenix,” which arrived at
Philadelphia, Aug. 28, 1750. He lived to a ripe old age and reared
a large family, two of his sons being Michael and Heinrich (The
latter the direct ancestor of Dr. Phillips).

Heinrich Phillips resided near Belleman’s
Church, where he and his wife Esther (Mogel) Phillips, lie buried.
They reared children as follows: Peter, Jacob, John, Samuel, John
Adam and several daughters.

Peter Phillips, grandfather of Dr. Phillips, was
a farmer near Belleman’s Church in what is now Centre township,
Berks county, where he was born, and both he and his wife are
buried in the old graveyard near that church. He was accidentally
drowned at Lenhart’s Dam. He married Maria Catherina Schwalm, and
their children were: Magdalena, born Dec. 22, 1809 ; Anna Maria,
Dec. 19, 1812 ; Charles S., Sept. 19, 1813 ; Peter, Aug. 20, 1815 ;
Esther, Aug. 27, 1817 (m. John Richard) ; Catherine, Jan. 31, 1820
(m. (first) William Schwenk, (second) George Eyrick and (third)
Daniel Rhein) ; John, June 24, 1822 ; Caroline, Oct. 2, 1824 ;
Rebecca, April 9, 1827 ; Reuben Oct. 18, 1831, and Franklin, Dec.
3, 1835. Of these Catherine and Franklin still survive.

Charles S. Phillips, father of Dr. Phillips, was
born Sept. 19, 1813, in what is now Centre township, and died near
Reading on his farm, in 1896. He is buried at the Ontelaunee
Church. He dealt extensively in horses and the business was very
lucrative before the days of railroads. He was also a veterinary
surgeon for many years. He married Eliza Stephen, who was residing
with her son, Dr. Phillips, at the time of her death, and she rests
in the Womelsdorf cemetery. They had the following children: Walker
and Charles S., both professional men at Reading ; Francis,
residing at Philadelphia ; George, a physician practicing at
Womelsdorf ; and John, a prospector and miner, now residing in
Central America, but formerly for many years of California.

Until he was twelve years of age, Dr. Charles S.
Phillips lived at Womelsdorf, but in 1861 he accompanied his
parents to Lebanon, where he attended school. In 1864 he went to
Washington City and was in the employ of the Government as a
hospital steward, remaining there until Christmas morning, 1864,
when he returned to Lebanon.

In 1876, Dr. Phillips was married to Fate
Fehafer, a daughter of Michael and Sarah (Geiger) Fehafer, and to
this union has been born sixteen children, ten of whom are buried
in the family lot at Womelsdorf, namely: Anna m. to J. W. Gramm ;
Stella, who died young ; Charles, residing at Port Kennedy, Pa. ;
Maud and Walker, twins, the latter of whom died in infancy ; Agnes,
who died in infancy ; Francis, residing at Reading ; John and
Louisa, who both died young ; Emma ; George and David, twins, who
both died young ; Crissie, who died young ; Edith, residing at home
; and Grant and Ernest, both of whom died young. Dr. Phillips and
family belong to the Reformed Church. In politics he is identified
with the policies of the Republican party, but he has never
consented to hold political office. He is a member of Ashland
Lodge, No. 294, F. & A. M., and Griscom Chapter, No. 219 Royal
Arch Masons.

PHILLIPS,
FRANK

p. 1514

Surnames: PHILLIPS, TAYLOR, DAVIS, LYONS, COLUM, REYSER, MEYERS,
CHANDLER, CONARD, GRAY, HALLOWELL, WATSON, GREENFIELD, BEHM

Frank Phillips, of Reading, was born Dec. 26, 1864, at Avondale,
Chester county, Pa., a son of Chalkley and Emma (Taylor) Phillips.

Mr. Phillips belongs to an old and honorable
family of Chester county. His great-grandparents were John and Mary
(Davis) Phillips and they had the following children: Sarah married
Breese Lyons ; Lavinia married Joseph Colum ; Margaret married
William Reyser ; Mary is unmarried ; George married Susan Meyers ;
and Thomas.

Thomas Phillips, grandfather of Frank, was born
at Wilmington, Del,. in 1810. When he was seven years of age his
parents moved to Malvern, Pa., where he later learned the
blacksmith’s trade and was there engaged in business until he
removed to a farm that he bought in the vicinity of Avondale, on
which he resided until his death, in 1889. He married Edith
Chandler and they had the following children: Phebe, who married
Edwin Conard, had four children, Everard, Thomas, Emma and Mary L.
; John, who married Sarah Grey, had five children Matilda, Thomas,
Laura, Ella and Ada ; Mary, who married Elwood Hallowell, had four
children, Joseph, Annie, Edward and Bertha ; Hannah died in infancy
; Chandler, who married Mary A. Watson, had one child, Florence E.
; Annie, who married C. C. Hallowell, had three children Flora,
Edith and Josephine ; Margaret, who married H. C. Greenfield, has
one daughter, Ida M. ; Lydia P., who married Morris Watson, has two
children, Mary E. and Wilmer P. ; and Chalkley, who married Emma
Taylor, has four children, Frank, Eugene, Charles and Leona.

Chalkley Phillips, father of Frank, was born at
Avondale, Chester county, Pa., March 26, 1840. During his life
spent in Chester county, he engaged in farming, owning one farm of
100 acres, in Franklin township, and a second one of forty-five
acres in London, Brittain township. For four years he conducted a
hotel at Krebsville and then engaged in different lines of business
until 1895, when he came to Reading, where he now lives retired. He
married Emma, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Taylor, of near
Newark, Delaware.

Frank Phillips attended the public schools, the
New London Academy, at New London, the Shortledge Boarding School
and the West Chester State Normal School. He then went to St.
Louis, Mo., where he entered the employ of an uncle, a very
prominent citizen there, a large contractor and former mayor. Mr.
Phillips remained there until 1884, when he went to Texas and
became a cowboy on a large ranch, and when he tired of that life he
returned to Chester county and followed farming on his father’s
farm in Franklin township. After a time he embarked in a livery
business at Kennett Square, which he conducted for four years, and
from that went into the hotel business and conducted a hotel at
Delaware City, Del., meeting with success in this line which he
subsequently followed at Elkins, Md., Harrisburg, Pa., where he
operated the “Park Hotel, ” the “Three-Mile House,” at Shillington,
Berks county, and then bought the “Cecil Hotel,” in New York City.
After conducting the latter for three years he sold out and then
took charge of the “Imperial Hotel,” at Phillipsburg, N. J., going
from there to the “Cross Keys Hotel,” at Doylestown, which, for 150
years has been a licensed hotel. Mr. Phillips then became
proprietor of the “Surf House,” at Surf City, N. J., which is the
most easterly point on the Atlantic coast.

After this long experience, Mr. Phillips came to
Reading and on April 1, 1908, became proprietor of the “Colonial
Cafe,” Penn Square, which under his management, has proved a
money-maker. It is equipped with modern comforts and is conducted
along the most approved lines.

Mr. Phillips married Bessie Behm, who is a
daughter of William and Ella Behm, and they have two children: Ruth
V. and Norwood V.

PHILLIPS, IRWIN Y.

p. 1068

Surnames: PHILLIPS, YODER, MASON, GESCHWINDT, LUDWIG, CHRIST,
ALTHOUSE, YODER, SHARTLE, HUYETT, POTTEIGER, MILLER, HORNBERGER,
GAUL, KALBACH, GERHART

Irwin Y. Phillips, a representative agriculturalist of Berks
county, Pa., who is carrying on operations on his seventy-acre
tract in Cumru township, about four and one-half miles from the
city of Reading, was born March 13, 1866, in Bern township, Berks
county, son of Reuben G. and Mary (Yoder) Phillips.

Solomon Phillips, the progenitor of the family
in America, came to this country in the ship “Phoenix,” Capt. John
Mason, which arrived at Philadelphia, PA., Aug. 28, 1750, he being
the only Phillips in the 339 passengers. He settled in Bern (now
Centre) township, where many of the name now reside, and lived to
advanced years, as did his son, Michael. Michael’s son, John H.
Phillips, who attained the age of 105 years, had a son, Jacob, who
died when ninety-two years old, the latter being the
great-grandfather of Irwin Y.

Henry B. Phillips, son of Jacob, was a lifelong
resident of Centre township, where he followed the trade of stone
mason in early life and farming in his latter years, owning two
large farms of 133 and 129 acres, respectively. He was a stanch
Democrat in politics, was public-spirited to a high degree, and was
often called upon to act as delegate to county conventions. He was
a Lutheran member of Belleman’s Union Church, in which he was a
deacon and elder. He married Hannah Geschwindt, sister of Henry
Geschwindt, and they had eight children, namely: Nathaniel G.,
Reuben G., Levi G., Mrs. Reuben Ludwig, David G., Henry G., Mrs.
Henry Christ and Mrs. Joseph Althouse.

Reuben G. Phillips was born Aug. 27, 1838, on
the Phillips homestead in Centre township, and from 1885 until his
retirement, in 1897, lived on his ninety-two-acre farm in Lower
Heidelberg township. He now lives in his residence at Wernersville,
where he and his wife attend Sinking Spring Lutheran Church, of
which he is an official member. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr.
Phillips married Mary Yoder, a daughter of Frederick and Mary
(Shartle) Yoder, and to them there were born five children: Clara
m. Henry Huyett; Sallie m. Webster Potteiger; Irwin Y.; Katie m.
Charles Miller; and Frederick m. Annie Hornberger.

Irwin Y. Phillips was educated in the Bern
township and Lower Heidelberg schools, which he attended until
twenty-one years of age, and he then went out to Sac county, Iowa,
working on a farm there for one year. In 1890 Mr. Phillips began
farming for himself on what is known as the Maccabees farm, near
Shillington, but after two years removed to the Endlich farm in
Alsace township. In 1899 he purchased the Benneville M. Gaul farm
in Cumru township, and here he has since made his home. He
cultivates seventy acres of land, and keeps a fine herd of cows,
running a milk wagon daily to Reading, about four and one-half
miles distant. Mr. Phillips uses the latest makes of machinery, and
his property is considered one of the finest of its size in the
community. In political matters he is a Democrat, and fraternally
he is connected with the Maccabees. He and his wife are Lutheran
members of St. John’s Church of Mohnsville.

In the year 1889, Mr. Phillips married Deborah
Kalbach, born Feb 21, 1865, daughter of Harrison and Sarah
(Gerhart) Kalbach, farming people of Bern township. Six children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips: Laura M., born Oct. 25,
1889; Annie I., March 5, 1891; Irwin, March 14, 1893; Wayne H.,
Jan. 22, 1898; Amly Ruth, Dec. 3, 1907 (died July 19, 1908); and
Deborah, Dec. 22, 1908.