Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

SHAPIRO,
PHILIP

p. 662

Surnames: SHAPIRO, COWEN

Philip Shapiro, one of Reading’s hustling business men, and a
member of the Reading Board of Trade, who conducts a flourishing
tailoring establishment at No. 6 South Sixth street, was born Sept.
1, 1861, in Germany.

Mr. Shapiro learned the tailoring trade in his
native county, where he also received his literary education. In
1881 he sailed from Hamburg on the Hamburg-American Line steamer
“Estralia,” and landed at Castle Garden, N. Y., July 7th of that
year. He worked as a journeyman tailor in New York for two years,
and then engaged in the manufacture of coats on his own account,
commencing with two machines. His skilled workmanship and honest
dealings soon won him a widespread reputation, and in 1895 he came
to Reading, at once opening up his present place of business. Since
locating here he has commanded some of Reading’s best trade, and
has a reputation second to none in his line. He has taken an active
part in business circles in the city, and in 1904 was unanimously
chosen a member of the Reading Board of Trade. Mr. Shapiro is held
in the highest esteem by his friends and associates, and is
considered one of the foremost business men of the city. He has
been prominently identified with fraternal matters, being a member
of the Knights of Pythias, the I. O. O. F., the Red Men, and the
John F. O. Hein Association of New York City. He has also been
associated with the I. O. B. A., of Reading, of which he has served
as president and treasurer for three terms each, and is now serving
as conductor o the O. B. A., of New York City. He is a member of
the Union Fire Company, the Northeastern Democratic League, and a
charter member of the Hebrew free school board of Reading.

Mr. Shapiro was married in 1879 to Anna Etta
Cowen, and to this union there have been born: Sadie, Bella,
Abraham J., Morris, Michael, Jacob, Dorothy, Margaret and Beatrice.
Mr. Shapiro and his family reside at No. 121 Moss street, Reading,
and are held in the highest esteem in their community.

SHARADIN
FAMILY

p. 1332

Surnames: SHARADIN, SCHIRARDIN, HAAG, HOCH, KUTZ, SCHMICK, KEMP,
BEIDLER, CRIM, BIEHL, ESSER, FISTER, WANNER, SCHAEFFER, DEISHER,
BUTZ, KECK, BIEBER, NEFF, MILLER, KEITER, ALMERS

Sharadin. This family is of French origin, and the name was
originally of quite different form. Jacob Schirardin, as the name
appears on the gravestone, was the emigrant ancestor of this family
in America. He was born in Europe in 1735, at Rauweisen, and died
in what is now Maxatawny township, Berks county, Pa., July 11,
1820. June 15, 1758, he married Margareta Haag, born Feb. 15, 1733,
died Jan. 30, 1806. Both are buried in Bowers cemetery. They had a
family of eight sons and four daughters, among whom were the
following: Maria C., born Aug. 16, 1759, died Dec. 26, 1827, m.
Daniel Hoch; Jacob, born Jan. 8, 1761, died Jan. 9. 1822
(great-grandfather of Francis E.); Peter, born July 25, 1764, died
March 3, 1841; Abraham, born July 25, 1766, died Dec. 29, 1818;
Daniel; Susanna, born Feb. 10, 1769, m. Nicholas Kutz, and died May
20, 1847; Justina, born Jan. 12, 1783, died May 22, 1852, m. Casper
Schmick.

It is not known at just what time Jacob
Schirardin came to America, but his daughter, Susanna, was born in
Maxatawny township, Berks county, Feb. 10, 1769. This is the
earliest record we have concerning him.

Jacob Sharadin, son of the emigrant, was born
Jan. 8, 1761, and died Jan. 9, 1822. He was a very prosperous
farmer and esteemed citizen. His children were: Abraham, lived on
the old farm; Elizabeth. m. George Kemp; Sarah, m. Absalom Beidler;
David, is mentioned below; Katherine, m. Jonathan Crim; Reuben, m.
Katherine Biehl; Nathan, m. Rebecca Esser; Jacob, died unmarried;
Polly, m. David Fister, and became the mother of the well-known
Col. Thomas D. Fister.

David Sharadin, son of Jacob, was a prosperous
farmer of Maxatawny township. He was born in 1807, on the old
Sharadin farm, near Bowers, Pa., and died in September, 1880. In
his early life he lived in Oley township, but later purchased his
farm in Maxatawny township, where he resided for over forty years.
He married Mary Magdalene Wanner, daughter of Col. John Wanner, and
they had these children: Ephraim, m. Florence Hoch, and lives in
Kutztown; Catharine, m. James Schaeffer, and lives in Richmond
township; Henry, m. Abbie Deisher; J. Daniel, m. Caroline E. Butz;
Sarah Maria, m. Frank Keck, and lives on Normal avenue, Kutztown;
William, m. Mary Sharadin; David, m. Mary Bieber, and lives in
Kutztown.

J. Daniel Sharadin, father of Francis E.
Sharadin, is a tanner by trade, and for some years has been engaged
in the leather and lumber business. He is an active Democrat, and
during his time has been Councilman and chief burgess of Kutztown,
serving in these offices for a number of years. He is
public-spirited, and has been a trustee of the Keystone State
Normal School for the past fifteen years. Mr. Sharadin married in
1868 Caroline E. Butz, daughter of Egedius and Elizabeth (Bieber)
Butz, and they have had the following children: Catherine, died in
infancy; Harry W., m. Louisa Neff, and is a well-known artist of
Reading; Ella M. m. Frank C. Miller; Howard S., m. Minnie Keiter;
Francis E., is mentioned below; Ralph C., unmarried, is a druggist
of Philadelphia; Caroline L., resides at home.

Francis Edgar Sharadin was born at Kutztown,
Aug. 20, 1880, and was educated in the local schools and at the
Keystone State Normal School, from he was graduated in 1898. After
graduating he became a clerk in the general store of H. H. Almers,
in whose employ he remained for about a year, and in 1899 he
assisted his brother in conducting a shirt factory. After being
thus engaged for a year, he took an extensive trip to Europe,
visiting Scotland, England, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, France and
Switzerland, and during this time he gained much useful
information. After returning from abroad, he traveled to some
extent in his own country, especially through the Eastern and
Central States, and the same year purchased the plant known as the
Kutztown shirt factory, from J. B. Sharadin, his father, which he
conducted very successfully until he sold the machinery in 1907 to
the present operators. The factory is a two-story brick building,
45 x 45, which Mr. Sharadin still owns. He gave regular employment
to about sixty hands, having a capacity of about 500 dozen shirts
weekly, and sold all his goods to the New York trade.

In politics, Mr. Sharadin is a Democrat. He is
an active member of the Reformed Church; fraternally he is a
prominent Free Mason, being past master of Huguenot Lodge, No. 377,
F. & A. M., and a member of Reading Lodge of Perfection,
fourteenth degree.

SHARMAN/SHERMAN/SHEARMAN
FAMILY

p. 1579

Surnames: SHARMAN/SHERMAN/SHEARMAN, RUTH, WEITZEL, MARSHALL,
FISHER, MOYER, FEATHER, EBERLY, MILLER, FLEISHER, ZWIER, WOLF,
STOUDT, MOSSER, ECKENROTH, HAAS, PEIFER, HUEBNER, EMES, WENRICH,
GRAEFF, GUNKELMAN, SHANNAMAN, HERTZOG, GAUL, HIESTER, GRIME,
SEITZINGER, SWIFT, WOLFENSBERGER, KLINE, POTTIEGER

The Sharmans or Shermans of Berks county, where they are numerously
represented, descend from one Peter Shearman or Sharman, who,
according to tradition, was of Welsh extraction and came to America
before the middle of the eighteenth century. In 1756 he was a
farmer and land owner of Cumru township, Berks county, and it is a
matter of record that in that year he paid a federal tax in that
district. Among his children was a son named John.

John Sharman, son of Peter and great-grandfather
of David Sharman, a representative and influential citizen of
Fritztown, Spring township, was born Dec. 12, 1753, and died March
23, 1837. He was a lifelong farmer, owning much land, his farm at
Fritztown, which consisted of 120 acres, being the original Sharman
homestead at the foot of Cushion Hill. Here the Indians used to
congregate, and the old stone house, with walls two feet thick and
windows so small that a person could barely crawl in and out, was
used as a protection against the savages and was one of the first
buildings in this section. John Sharman and his wife were buried at
Hain’s church, of which he was a member. He married Margaretha
Ruth, born Dec. 8, 1763, who died July 15, 1815, and to them were
born these children: John; Henry; Peter; William, born April 21,
1791, who died May 10, 1831; Molly, m. to Elijah Weitzel; Mrs.
Johannes Ruth; Mrs. David Marshall; and Mrs. Peter Fisher.

Heinrich (Henry) Sharman, son of John, was born
Nov. 5, 1788, and died Sept. 28, 1828, aged thirty-nine years, ten
months, twenty-three days. Like his father, he was a lifelong
farmer, his property being the present home of Ammon Moyer. Mr.
Sharman married Esther Feather, and to them were born these
children: Magdalena, m. to Joseph Eberly, of Spring township;
Emanuel, who lived in Reading and had children – Joanna, Henry,
Victoria, Hannah and Isaac; David; Mary, m. to Henry Miller, of
Lancaster county; and Charles, m. to Mary Fleisher, mother of
Wilson and Elbina.

David Sharman, son of Henry, was born on the old
Sharman homestead in 1815, and his death occurred at his home, No.
422 South Seventh street, Reading, in 1854; he was buried at
Sinking Spring. He was a highly esteemed and respected citizen, was
a carpenter by trade, and for many years was employed at that
occupation in the shops of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
company. Davis Sharman married Margaret Zwier, daughter of Mathias
and Elizabeth (Wolf) Zwier, and to them were born the following
children: Helena, m. to Silas Stoudt, of Leesport, Pa.; Henry, who
died young; David; and Layton O., superintendent of No. 2 Works for
the Standard Oil company, Cleveland, Ohio, and m. to Mamie Feather.

David Sharman, son of David, was born in Reading
Dec. 12, 1851, and obtained a liberal education there and in the
public schools of Spring township, which he left when about
seventeen years of age. At that time he went to learn the
blacksmith’s trade at Fritztown under M. K. Mosser. In 1871 he made
his first trip West, remaining four years. Returning East for one
year, he subsequently went to Jacksonville, Ill., when he returned
in 1877, settling at Fritztown, where he began working at his
trade. This he followed with much success for thirteen years,
during this time building up a large and lucrative business, which
in 1890 he sold to George Eckenroth, who had learned the trade from
Mr. Sharman. Since 1890 Mr. Sharman has been engaged in looking
after his farm and other interests, which are quite extensive.
Since 1880 he has resided in his own residence at Fritztown, with
the exception of two years, from 1901 to 1903, when he lived near
Montello, on the Old John Haas farm of fifty acres, which he
purchased from Isaac Sharman in 1901, and sold in 1903 to Robert
Peifer. Mr. Sharman’s home is known as the old Daniel Huebner
homestead and consists of about thirty-seven acres. Since its
organization he has been a director of the Berks County Trust
Company, in which he is a heavy stockholder, and he is regarded as
an able financier and a man of much influence in his community. In
political opinion he is a stanch Democrat. He has given valuable
public service in his neighborhood, having for six years been a
school director of Spring township, of which he was also secretary
for three years. Since 1890 he has served in the capacity of
justice of the peace, a busy office for a busy man. Since assuming
the duties of this position Mr. Sharman has settled many estates,
clerked at numerous sales and proved himself an able adjunct of the
Berks county court. He has served as juror in the county and State
Circuit courts, and also helped to settle many land cases in
Chester county, assessing damages against the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. Mr. Sharman is a man of sound judgment and intelligence,
and a good, upright citizen. He and his family are members of St.
John’s Reformed Church, of which he is at present serving as
trustee, and he has been a deacon and elder. His ancestors are
buried at this church.

On Dec. 26, 1878, Mr. Sharman was united in
marriage with Sarah Emes, born Oct. 2, 1857, daughter of Augustus
and Rebecca (Wenrich) Emes, of Spring township, and to this union
have come six children, as follows: William E., graduated from the
Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, in the class of 1894,
took a post-graduate course, taught school for four years, and
later entered Dickinson Law School, graduating with the class of
1908; Harrison O., a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School,
class of 1900, taught school for five years, took a course in the
Schissler College of Business at Norristown Pa., and is now
connected with the firm of Schwarzschild & Sulzberger, great
packers, of New York, being bookkeeper at the Norfolk, Va., office;
Maud R., also a graduate of the class of 1900 at the Keystone State
Normal School, and of the Reading Commercial College, was
bookkeeper for J. B. Miller, of Reading, for several years, and is
now a trained nurse at Garfield Memorial Hospital, Washington, D.
C.; Lena, who lives at home, attends the Sinking Spring township
high school; John, a graduate of the Normal School, class of 1906,
taught school for one term; David is a bright and promising lad.

John Sharman, presumably a son of John and
grandson of Peter, the progenitor of the family in this country,
was the great-grandfather of George B. Sherman, proprietor of the
“Mansion House” at Robesonia, in Heidelberg township. This John
Sharman was born at the old home in Cumru (now Spring) township,
Sept. 15, 1783, and died March 19, 1862. He followed farming, and
also for many years kept hotel, in a stone building standing along
the Bernville road. He was twice married, his wives being sisters,
Rebecca and Hannah Graeff, and all his children were by the first
union, with Rebecca. They were as follows: Isaac; John, who lived
at Sinking Spring; Reuben, who lived and died at Myerstown, Pa.;
Levi, who lived in Reading; Daniel, who lived and died at
Boyertown; Lewis, who died unmarried; Catharine, who died
unmarried; Sally, who married William Gunkelman; and Mary, who died
unmarried.

Isaac Sharman, son of John, was born June 2,
1810, on one of the Sharman homesteads in Spring township, and died
Aug. 7, 1882, at Brownsville, this county, in the home which he had
purchased after giving up farming. He followed agriculture
throughout his active years, as a tenant farmer, and for may years
made his home in Heidelberg township. He married Sarah Shannaman,
who was born March 24, 1817, and died Jan. 21, 1898. Their children
were as follows: Hettie married George Peifer; Lizzie married Peter
Hertzog; Katie married John Gaul; Mary married Thomas Hiester;
Aaron was the father of George B. Sherman; Frank settled in Dauphin
county, Pa.; James settled in Philadelphia; Isaac, lived in
Reading; Henry died when young.

Aaron Sharman, son of Isaac, born in Spring
township, Feb. 21, 1836, was reared in his native locality, where
in his boyhood he attended the German pay school, the pedagogue
receiving three cents a day from each of his pupils. He was reared
to farming, and continued to work for this father until he was of
age. For a number of years after beginning life on his own account
he was engaged as a laborer, and for some time he was employed in
the ore mines in the vicinity of Sinking Spring. But for
twenty-four years and seven months he was engaged as toll-gate
keeper on the Berks & Dauphin turnpike, having gate No. 4,
which is now known as gate No. 1. He retired in the spring of 1907,
and has since enjoyed a well-earned rest. Mr. Sharman has been more
of less disabled for the past thirty years as the result of
rheumatism and hard work, but nevertheless he has managed to attend
to his duties.

On Feb. 19, 1862, Mr. Sharman was married to
Miss Sarah Grime, who was born Dec. 19, 1836, daughter of Benjamin
and Molly (Seitzinger) Grime, who had a family of six children
namely: James, Catharine, John, Sarah, Thomas and Benjamin. Mrs.
Sharman’s maternal grandfather, Michael Seitzinger, was a soldier
of the Revolutionary war. Nine children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Sharman, viz.: George B.; Kate, who is the wife of Robert
Swift; Ida, who died unmarried; Maggie, wife of Richard
Wolfensberger; Lizzie, who died in infancy; Sallie, who married
Walter Fisher; Emma who died unmarried; and Nora L. and Cora F.,
twins, both of whom died when seven moths old.

Mr. Sharman is a member of the Hain’s Church,
where he has a family burial lot.

George B. Sherman, son of Aaron, was born April
29, 1864, at Sinking Spring, Pa., where he attended school. He also
studied at Heidelberg, Berks county, and took a course at
Myerstown, Pa., going to school until he was eighteen. In 1882 he
located at Robesonia, where he engaged in hotel-keeping at the
stand he still occupies. He is active in the public life of the
community as well as a successful business man, serving at present
as township auditor and as chief of the Robesonia Fire Company,
which latter position he has held since the organization of the
company. He is very much interested in fraternal organizations,
holding membership in Williamson Lodge, No. 307, F & A. M., of
which he is a past master; in Reading Chapter, No. 152, R. A. M.,
of Reading, Pa.; in DeMolay Commandery, No. 9, of Reading; in
Reading Lodge of Perfection, fourteenth degree; and in Rajah
Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to Washington Camp, No.
375 P. O. S. of A., of Robesonia; Mount Penn Commandery, P. O. S.
of A. of Wernersville; Robesonia Lodge, No. 119, K. P., and the
Uniform Rank K. P., of Reading; the K. O. O. K., of Reading; and
Neversink Council, No. 27, O. U. A. M. of Womelsdorf. Mr., Sherman
is a member of St. Paul’s Reformed Church at Robesonia. He is a
Democrat in politics and takes part in political affairs, having
served on the election board.

On Oct. 25, 1894, Mr. Sherman was married to
Mary Kline, daughter of John and Matilda (Potteiger) Kline, and
their union has been blessed with two children, Elkiana B. and
Lydia M.

SHARMAN,
IRWIN M.

p. 525

Surnames: SHARMAN, MOYER, GRAEFF, STURTZ, BREIDEGAM, WENTZ, HARDY,
DACK

Irwin M. Sharman, a prominent citizen of Ontelaunee township, Berks
Co., Pa., who is now in the employ of the P. S. V. Railroad Company
as operator and leverman near Leesport, has been closely
identified, with the public interests of his township, where he has
served as justice of the peace and State legislator. Mr. Sharman
was born Sept. 5, 1862, at the old West Reading toll house in
Spring township, Berks county, son of Levi and Emeline (Moyer)
Sharman.

John Sharman, grandfather of Irwin M., was for
many years proprietor of the old hostelry known as the “Dry
Tavern,” near State Hill and Cacoosing, in Spring township, and
also owned the adjoining farm, but subsequently removed to Reading,
where he died aged about eighty years. He married (first) a Miss
Graeff by whom he had all of his children, and after her death he
m. Hannah Graeff, sister to his first wife. The children of John
Sharman were: Isaac, John, Daniel, Levi, Reuben and two daughters.

Levi Sharman was born in 1818 at the “Dry
Tavern” in Spring township, received the ordinary education of the
times and later learned the trade of carpenter, an occupation which
he followed at Reading, where his death occurred at the age of
seventy-six years. He was married to Emeline Moyer, daughter of
Jonathan and Mary Moyer, and to them were born four children:
Howard is an employe at the City Hall, Reading; John married Lizzie
Sturtz , and has four children, Ralph, Birdie, Harry and Howard;
Irwin M.; and Edward with his brother John works at locksmithing at
Harbster’s.

Irwin M. Sharman received his education in the
schools of Reading, whither his parents had come when he was three
years old, and when eighteen years old he learned the trade of
tinsmith with William Breidegam of that city. In 1884, in company
with his friend Squire Henry Wentz, then of Reading but now of the
State of Washington, he made an extensive trip through Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and
Missouri, and returned in the fall of the year just in time to cast
his vote for Grover Cleveland for President. He then made a trip
through the South, finally locating at Bluefield, W. Va., and
worked on the New River division of the N. & W. Railroad under
Superintendent Hardy, formerly trainmaster of the P. S. V. Railroad
at Reading, until 1894, when he removed with his family to
Leesport, where he is now employed by the P. S. V. road as operator
and leverman. Mr. Sharman has always taken a great interest in
matters pertaining to the welfare of his township, and in 1896 was
elected justice of the peace for a period of five years, receiving
the re-election in 1901. In 1906 he was elected to the State
Legislature, where he served his term to the complete satisfaction
of his constituents; and was reelected in 1908. He is a member and
past grand of Leesport Lodge No. 141, I. O. O. F., a charter member
and past chief of Leesport Castle No. 503, K. G. E.; venerable
councilor of Camp No. 9284, Modern Woodmen, since its institution;
charter member and R. S. for three years of Ontelaunee Council No.
985, I. O. A.; financial secretary and trustee of Union Fire
Company No. 1, Leesport; and a member of the Order of Railroad
Telegraphers, Dispatchers, Agents and Signalmen.

On Feb. 13, 1894, Mr. Sharman was married to
Annie M. Dack, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Dack. Mr. and Mrs.
Sharman are members of the First Reformed Church.

SHARTLE,
ALVIN J.

p. 1656

Surnames: SHARTLE, XANDER, BAUSHER, BEARD, ANCONA, NIES, DRESSLER,
PRINTZ, TORREY

Alvin J. Shartle, general secretary of the Pennsylvania Christian
Endeavor Union, the largest union of Christian Endeavor societies
in the world was born Dec. 5, 1867, at Hamburg, Pa., a son of Jacob
and Maggie (Xander) Shartle.

Jacob Shartle, a son of Jacob, who was a son of
George, was born July 28, 1845, at Womelsdorf, Pa. He attended the
public schools through boyhood, and when the Civil war was
precipitated, although but seventeen years of age, he enlisted as a
musician in the Ninetieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and
served until the discontinuance of regimental musicians by order of
the Federal Government, in 1862. After the close of his military
service he learned the trade of saddler at Womelsdorf, which he
followed there, and later at Hamburg and Harrisburg, Pa. He was a
good and reliable workman, and continued with one Harrisburg firm
for twenty-four years, their most trusted employe. During his
residence at Hamburg, in 1878, he served as a member of Company E,
4th Regiment Pennsylvania National Guards, for three years. He was
a member of the Reformed Church. His death took place at
Harrisburg, Pa., April 1, 1904, and his burial was at Middletown,
Pa. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Maggie Xander,
who died Dec. 25, 1872, aged twenty-six years. She was a musician,
being a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, a daughter of
George Alexander and Mary (Bausher) Xander, of Hamburg, Pa., and an
active member of the Lutheran Church. By this marriage four
children were born: Alvin J., Eugene, Kate and Annie. In 1880, he
was married a second time to Adeline Beard, of Womelsdorf, who
survives and with her four sons, Paul, Roy, Abraham, and Dewey, at
Harrisburg. Howard and Mark, being sons with this second union
also, are both deceased.

Alvin J. Shartle obtained his early educational
training in the public schools of Hamburg, his later intellectual
training consisted in a technical course; a special course with the
Sheldon School of Chicago, and under private tutors he prepared for
religious work, specializing along the lines of Interdenominational
Young People’s Work. Being a poor boy Mr. Shartle was obliged at an
early age to learn the moulder’s trade at Hamburg, where he labored
for nine years.

Becoming discontent with his work at Hamburg and
with a desire for a larger field of usefulness, he came to Reading
in April, 1893, and this city has been his home ever since. His
removal from Hamburg to Reading was the beginning of his real
development. Although holding many responsible positions he
continued his night studies and persisted in church work, which was
the ultimate aim of his ambition. For nine years he was a foreman
with the American Bicycle Company; then he became manager of the
American Match Company, Riverside, Reading, after which he became
associated with the Daniel F. Ancona Real Estate and Fire Insurance
Agency; and following this he became connected with the Inter-State
Commercial College, Reading, as its representative and has shown
great ability, tact, business judgment and foresight in advancing
the prosperity of this institution.

On April 18, 1884, Mr. Shartle was married to
Sarah A. Nies, a daughter of Daniel and Florence (Dressler) Nies,
of Hamburg, and they have one daughter Florence M. The latter
received her education in the public schools of Reading, and is
also a graduate of Inter-State Commercial College, Reading. She
subsequently married Stewart E. Printz, a chemist in business at
Philadelphia. They have one son, Stanley V.

Mr. Shartle is an active member and elder of St.
Stephen’s Reformed church, Reading. He was president of the
Christian Endeavor society for three years, and for four years was
financial secretary of this congregation. He is assistant
superintendent of the large Sunday-school and teacher of the Adult
Bible Class, also a member of the Reformed Sunday-school
Superintendents Association. In 1901 Mr. Shartle was elected
president of the Berks County Christian Endeavor Union, serving as
such for four years, and during that period through his efficient
leadership the status of this union was raised to a high standard.
He is a director of the Montrose Bible Conference Association, of
which the celebrated evangelist, Rev. Reuben E. Torrey, D. D., is
president; a life member of the United Society of Christian
Endeavor, Boston, Mass.; editor of “The Secretary’s Bulletin” which
is the official organ of the Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor Union,
and also a contributor to various religious publications.

On July 19, 1906, at Altoona, Pa., Mr. Shartle
was elected State Secretary of the Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor
Union, in which capacity he attracted national attention in church
work. July 9, 1908, in State Convention at Reading, Mr. Shartle was
elected General Secretary of the Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor
Union, a union of 4,700 young people’s societies, with a membership
290,000, the largest union of Christian Endeavor societies in the
world. Following his election to this latter office Mr. Shartle
resigned his position with Inter-State Commercial College in order
to devote all his time to religious work.

It has been conceded that there is no layman in
church work better known today, in the State, than Mr. Shartle,
having visited every county in the State, and spoken to audiences
in all the cities and large towns of Pennsylvania, and a number of
other States, he has in connection with his publications, acquired
a national reputation in Young People’s Work. He is a strong,
forcible speaker, a lucid writer, and a man with great executive
ability. The “Christian Endeavor World,” the official organ of
International Christian Endeavor work, say of Mr. Shartle: “As
general secretary of the great Pennsylvania State Union, the
largest in the country, he has already made a remarkable record. He
is a master of detail and method, and makes every move count in the
accomplishment of his purpose. A sturdy Pennsylvania Dutchman, he
is showing the grit and grace that will place the Keystone State at
the front.”

SHARTLE,
HARRY H.

p 1397

Surnames: SHARTLE/SCHARTLE/SCHERDEL/SHERDLE, BERGER, KAUFFMAN,
ALBRIGHT, RIEGEL, NUNNEMACHER, KERSHNER, MOYER, WITMAN, COX, WELLS,
FIANT, BARTHOL, VAN REED, WERNER, RUTH

Harry H. Shartle, a well-known citizen of Lower Heidelberg
township, Berks county, who is engaged in practical blacksmithing
at Wernersville, was born at Womelsdorf, Berks county, Aug. 19.
1865, son of George and Mary Ann (Cox) Shartle.

Bernhard Shartle (sometimes “Schartle,”
“Scherdel,” and “Sherdle”) was born in Switzerland in 1708 or 1709,
and when twenty-three years old crossed the ocean on the ship
“Adventure” with many of his other countrymen, and landed at
Philadelphia, Sept. 23, 1732. Soon thereafter he settled in Berks
county, in that section of Bern township now embraced in Upper Bern
township, where he was a taxable in 1759, paying a tax of three
pounds. The original place of settlement was on what is now State
road, one mile east of the village of Shartlesville, the farm being
now owned by O. F. Berger. The ancestor had sons names William;
Jacob, who died in 1803, was a witness to the will of Catherine,
the widow of his brother John Sherdel; John; and George, the
great-grandfather of Harry H. Two daughters were married to Adam
Kauffman and Jacob Albright. Although the offspring of Bernhard
Shartle were numerous in Bern township, scarcely any descendants
remain.

John Sherdel, son of Bernhard, died in middle
life. His widow, Catherine (Riegel) Sherdel, made a will Oct. 8.
1803, which was probated Dec. 5, 1803, and in it she mentioned
their children: Catherine; John; Bernhard; Philip; Daniel, to whom
was willed the grandfather’s clock, old Bible and religious books;
and Jonas.

The village of Shartlesville is situated near
the Blue Mountain in Upper Bern township, and derives its name from
the Shartle family, who lived at this place and did much toward
developing it. The Shartles were farmers, and after the custom of
those days kept inns, one of which was opened as early as 1765, and
which in 1801 was spoken of as “an old log tavern.” In 1819 George
Shartle built a large brick house, which with other property
suddenly passed into the possession of Benjamin Nunnemacher. In the
lower inn George Shartle sold the first goods, and his nephew, John
Albright, had one of the first stores in the old tavern.

George Shartle, the great-grandfather of Harry
H., was born in the vicinity of Shartlesville, and died between
Robesonia and Womelsdorf, being buried at the latter place in the
graveyard back of the church. He was a farmer, owning land at
Heidelberg township, being at one time in very comfortable
circumstances. Mr. Shartle married Esther Kershner, and they had
these children: Jacob; Daniel, of Pottsville, who had five
children, – William, Harry, Alvin, Sallie, and Hattie; and
Benneville, of Reading, who had four children, -Alexander, Emma,
Tillie, and Laura.

Jacob Shartle, grandfather of Harry H., was born
in the vicinity of Shartlesville, Upper Bern township, Sept. 22,
1804, and died at Womelsdorf, July 21, 1894, aged nearly ninety
years. He was a blacksmith by trade, an occupation which he
followed at Womelsdorf, whither he had come as a young man. Mr.
Shartle was married to Eliza Moyer, born April 3, 1810, in
Heidelberg, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Witman) Moyer. They were
married March 7, 1833, and Mrs. Shartle died May 1, 1893. Their
children were: Franklin, born Feb. 10, 1834, who died March 5,
1884; George, born Nov. 14, 1835, died Jan 2, 1898; Sarah, born
Feb. 18, 1848; Helen, born Nov. 26, 1842; Jacob, born July 28,
1845; Adaline, born March 7, 1853; and Mary Ann, born May 21, 1840
died Dec. 28, 1848.

George Shartle, father of Harry M., was born
Nov. 14, 1835, and died Jan. 2, 1898, aged sixty-two years one
month and seventeen days, being buried at Womelsdorf. He was a
brewer, and burned many barrels of apple-jack. He was the owner of
the residence at Newmanstown, where his widow now resides. He was
twice married, his first union being April 11, 1858, with Mary Ann
Cox, who was born Jan. 31, 1840, daughter of Charles Cox, of
Womelsdorf. Ten children were born to this union: Charles J., born
July 18, 1863, a shoemaker of Reading; Harry H.; Katie, born in
1863, who died in 1864; Adeline, who died at the age of fourteen
years; William, born June 28, 1872, a blacksmith of Reading;
Lizzie, who married George Wells, of Philadelphia; John Franklin,
who died single, Sept. 8, 1888; Lillie May, born in 1881, died in
1884; George W., born in 1871, died in 1872; and Mary Annie, who
died April 13, 1886.

Harry H. Shartle obtained a public school
education and at the age of sixteen years learned the blacksmith
trade from his grandfather, at Womelsdorf, an occupation which he
has followed ever since. He came to Wernersville, July 19, 1886,
and for eight years worked for Henry Fiant. He then engaged in the
business on his own account, purchasing the business and shop of
Henry Barthol in 1884. Mr. Shartle is an excellent mechanic, and he
is considered the leading blacksmith and horse-shoer of his
district, also having the agency for the New Burch plows. He is a
stockholder, and was formerly a director, in the Wernersville Water
Company. He erected a fine brick residence on Main street, 65 x 75
feet in dimensions in which are installed all of the latest modern
improvements, including electricity for lighting. In politics he is
a Democrat, but although he was very active in the incorporation of
the borough, he has never cared for public office, preferring to
give his time and attention to his business. He and his family are
members of the Reformed Church, and he was a member of the building
committee, his name appearing with the others on the front of the
First Reformed Chapel, which was erected in 1900. He is a trustee
of the church, and an active member of the Sunday school, in which
he was formerly an official member. Fraternally he is connected
with Washington Camp, No. 99, P. O. S. of A., of Wernersville.

On Oct 24, 1889, Mr. Shartle was married to
Katie Van Reed, daughter of Levi and Catherine (Werner) Van Reed,
and granddaughter of Thomas and Eliza (Ruth) Van Reed.