Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

WINTER,
FERDINAND

p. 1513

Surnames: WINTER, ANSORGE, BLATZ, GETZ, KUCHLER

Ferdinand Winter, who for many years was a well-known businessman
of Reading, and a member of the leather manufacturing firm of
Winter & Getz, is now living retired at his home No. 900 Centre
avenue in this city. Mr. Winter’s birth occurred 1838, in Austria,
son of Anton and Marie (Ansorge) Winter.

After receiving a good education in the schools
of his native country, Mr. Winter learned the process of tanning
chamois and other fine hides for glove and shoe purposes, and
followed this occupation as a journeyman for eleven years in
Bavaria. On Aug. 28, 1867, he emigrated to America, landing at
Castle Garden. on the steamship “Northern Light,” and settled in
Philadelphia for two and one-half years, after which he came to
Reading and entered into a partnership with Anton Blatz, who had
established, a short time previously, a small tannery. This
partnership existed under the name of Blatz & Winter from 1869
to 1875, when Mr. Winter purchased the business, and admitted as a
partner Ferdinand Getz, they carrying on the business on the Canal
street site of the Pennsylvania railroad, which purchased the plant
in order to clear their right of way. The firm then located on the
property now owned by the Ferdinand Getz Sons Co., where they
continued until 1904, in which year Mr. Getz died and Mr. Winter
retired from the business. The reputation that Mr. Winter made for
his goods was far reaching and much of the leather passed
inspection and sold in Philadelphia, New York and other large
cities as imported leather, but in fact this was not doing his
product justice, as it was in many instances superior to the
imported goods. He also exported to foreign countries including
Germany, France and England. Mr. Winter is a great traveler, and in
addition to traveling many miles in America, he has crossed the
Atlantic thirteen times, and each time visited his old home. Mr.
Winter is a director in the Keystone National Bank.

In 1874, Mr. Winter was married to Clara
Kuchler, and the following children were born to this union:
Edward, at home; Martha, deceased: Louis, manufacturer’s agent for
a German patented fountain pen with offices in the Raer building;
Rose, Maria and Louisa at home; and two that died in infancy.
Fraternally, Mr. Winter is connected with Teutonia Lodge, F. &
A M., Excelsior Chapter, Reading Commandery and Rajah Temple. A. A.
O. N. M. S.

WINTER,
MAHLON D.

p. 1099

Surnames: WINTER, RICK, DUNDORE, ROYER, HORNING, MENGEL, KAUFFMAN,
KLOPP, ERNST

Mahlon D. Winter, postmaster at Centreport, Berks county, and a man
who has been in business in that vicinity from early manhood, was
born Jan. 13, 1869, in Centre township, son of Christian R. Winter
and grandson of Christian Winter.

Christian Winter, the grandfather, was born in
Berks county and followed shoemaking in Centre township, where he
is buried at Bellman’s Church. He lived to the age of ninety-seven,
having been born in 1800 and died in 1897. His wife’s maiden name
was Rick, and they had a family of nine children: William, John,
Christian R., Charles, Frank, Cyrus, Malinda, Elizabeth and Lavina.

Christian R. Winter, son of Christian, born in
1829 in Centre township, followed lime burning there. He retired in
1902, and now makes his home at Centreport. He married Susanna
Dundore, and they have a family of seven children: Matilda m. Miles
Royer, of Illinois; Mary m. Oliver Horning; Katie m. David Mengel;
James lives in Kansas City, Mo.; William is unmarried; John, of
Reading, m. Louisa Kauffman; Mahlon D. is mentioned below.

Mahlon D. Winter attended public school in
Centre township, and learned the tailor’s trade, which he followed
for eighteen months. After that he clerked in a general store at
Centreport for three years and two months, and then engaged in
business for himself at West Leesport, where he remained for two
years. He was next at Centreport for two years, was engaged in
sawmilling for one year, and in 1898 embarked in the confectionery
business at Centreport, which he has continued ever since. In 1906
he went into the lumber business again, cutting down timber. He has
one mill in operation, and has cut many feet of timber in Berks
county. In 1907 Mr. Winter built a shirt factory at Centreport, a
frame building two stories high, where from twenty-five to fifty
hands are employed.

Mr. Winter has been quite active in the public
affairs of Centreport, has served six years as councilman of the
borough, as surveyor, as school director (acting as secretary of
the school board), and as Republican committeeman of Centreport for
eleven years. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster by the late
President McKinley. He is connected with Odd Fellows Lodge No. 141,
at Leesport, and with Camp No. 446, P. O. S. of A., of Centreport.
He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Winter married Lizzie E. Ernst, of Centre
township, daughter of Emanuel and Priscilla (Klopp) Ernst, and six
children have been born to them, five surviving: Oscar (who died
when eight years old), Lloyd, Frank, Raymond, Armand and Alberta.

WINTERS, JOHN M. S.

p.
927

Surnames: WINTERS, SPATZ, RICK, ZELLERS, MINKER, BUCKS, GRAEFF,
DUNKELBERGER, CHRIST, LINDENMUTH, GUAER, FRANTZ, STROUSE, STRAUSE,
KISSLING, BLATT, GERHART

John M. S. Winters, one of the successful agriculturists and good
reliable citizens of Penn township, was born Jan. 21, 1856 in
Marion township, Berks Co., Pa., son of John R. and Amanda (Spatz)
Winters.

Christian Winters, grandfather of John M. S.,
lived near Centreport, where he followed farming and lime burning,
although in early life he had been engaged at shoemaking. He
married Elizabeth Rick, and they had twelve children, seven sons
and five daughters.

John R. Winters was born near Centreport, and
followed farming in Upper Bern township throughout life, his death
occurring in Reading in 1904, aged seventy-six years, and he was
buried at Belleman’s Church. He married Amanda Spatz, one of the
twelve children-three boys and nine girls-born to Jacob and
Elizabeth ( Zellers ) Spatz. The following children were born to
John R. Winters and wife: Helen S. m. George F. Minker, of Reading,
and died in 1908; Valeria S. m. Joshua Bucks, and lives in Reading;
John M. S. ; Alice S. m. Isaac L. Graeff, of Reading; Sarah A. S.
m. Franklin Z. Dunkelberger, of Lower Heidelberg; William S. m.
Matilda Christ, and lives in Philadelphia; Samuel S., of Kutztown,
m. Elmira Lindenmuth ; Annie S. is deceased; Elizabeth S. married
William Guaer, of Philadelphia; Elam S., of Philadelphia, m. Mary
Frantz ; and Llewellyn S. is deceased.

John M. S. Winters was reared to the life of a
farmer, and in 1880 began farming on his own account on the Samuel
G. Strouse farm, which belonged to his father-in-law. He also owns
a forty-four acre property adjoining this tract and he farms it in
connection therewith. On Oct. 20, 1877, Mr. Winters married Amelia
E. Strause, daughter of Samuel G. and Lydia (Kissling) Strause, and
they have had these children: Samuel L., of Bernville, m. Katie V.
Blatt, and has one child, Estella E. ; Laura and Florence are
deceased; and George lives at home. In politics Mr. Winters is a
Democrat, and he has served his township as school director for six
years; as judge of election; in 1901 as grand juror; and twice as
petit juror, besides being delegate to county conventions. He is a
member of Belleman’s Church and served as deacon thereof.
Fraternally he is connected with Lodge No.122, I. O. O. F.,
Bernville, of which he has been treasurer since 1902; and Camp
No.113, P. O. S. of A., Bernville.

Mrs. Winters’ paternal grandparents were Jacob
and Elizabeth (Gerhart) Strause, who had twelve children, six sons
and six daughters, and her maternal grandparents, Jacob and Kate
(Gerhart) Kissling, had ten children, six boys and four girls.

WISE, WARREN
L.

p. 1534

Surnames: WISE, RHOADS, BRUNNER, SPATZ, TOBIAS, LORAH

Warren L. Wise, one of the progressive farmers of Douglass
township, was born there July 24, 1866, son of William H. Wise. He
grew to maturity on his father’s farm, and worked then at the tin
smith’s trade for one year. He gave his services to his father
until he was twenty-one, and in the spring of 1898 he began farming
in Oley township, near the Yellow House, and was a tenant there on
the Ammon #RhoadsFamily”arm for three years. In the spring of 1901 he
moved to Douglass township, and settled on the old home farm, which
in 1903 he purchased form the estate. This farm is located north
from the central part of the township, in School District No. 4. It
was owned by his father many years and before him was the property
of Henry Brunner. The farm has ninety-two acres of the best land to
be found in the township. The present set of buildings were erected
by William H. Wise, with the exception of a stone house which dates
from the Revolutionary war period.

Mr. Wise is a Democrat in his political faith,
and has always been alert to the best interests of his party. He
and his family are Lutheran members of St. Paul’s Church at
Amityville, of which he was deacon for four years.

On Nov. 17, 1892, Mr. Wise was united in
marriage with Ellen Spatz, daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Tobias)
Spatz, of Jacksonwald, and granddaughter of Abraham and Catharine
(Lorah) Spatz. Abraham Spatz was a farmer in Exeter township, and
to him and his wife were born three children, as follows: Sarah,
Ephraim and Jacob. Jacob Spatz had a fine truck farm in
Jacksonwald. To him and his wife, Lydia Tobias were born: Ellen,
Emma, Jacob, Abraham, and Daniel. Mr. and Mrs. Wise have been
blessed with three children, namely: William, J., Edgar W. and
Marion Naomi. Mr. Wise is one of the enlightened men of his
township, and is ever ready to lend his aid to any movement that
tends to the progress and development of his town or county.

WISE, WELLINGTON L.

p.
1101

Surnames: WISE, WEISS, SCHMALE, WENTZEL, HARTRANFT, FISHER,
LEVENGOOD, WEILER, HANKEY, BRUNNER, VAN REED, EAGLE, RHOADS,
SCHAEFFER, HEIST, REIFF

Wellington L. Wise, whose fine farm lies three-quarters of a mile
southeast of Amityville, Berks county, is a member of a family
whose early home was in the Palatinate, Germany, his
great-grandfather, Ehrhart Weiss, emigrating from that locality to
America during the latter half of the eighteenth century. When he
first came to the New World, in company with others he traveled
through the Oley Valley with a view to settling there, but they
found there only wood of small growth, and this caused them to
question the fertility of the soil. They drifted along in the
direction of what is now known as Koch’s Tavern in Pike township,
where they found heavy timber and good water, and accordingly chose
that place for their new homes. Ehrhart Weiss had a number of
children, and many of his descendants are in Lower Berks county at
the present time.

John Weiss, son of Ehrhart, was born above
Gabelsville, in Colebrookdale, and there grew to manhood and
learned the tailor’s trade. This he followed some years, and then
came to Douglass township, and bought the 163-acre farm now owned
by Wilson Schmale, and this he cultivated for forty years. At the
end of that time he moved to Earl township, and for a number of
years conducted the “Worman Hotel.” When he retired his son-in-law,
Jeremiah Wentzel, took charge of the same place. Mrs. Weiss died at
this hotel from a stroke of apoplexy, while sitting in her chair,
Oct. 15, 1852. She was Anna Hartranft, born Nov. 17, 1786, daughter
of William and Anna Barbara Hartranft. Mr. Weiss made his home with
his son-in-law at the hotel until his own death April 6, 1879. TO
him and his wife were born children as follows: Sarah m. Samuel
Fisher; Samuel (born Aug. 2, 1809, died Feb. 9, 1863) m. Catharine
(born Nov. 24, 1815, died July 22, 1895); Polly; Rebecca; Sophia;
Ephraim (born Oct. 16, 1816, died March 4, 1864); Catharine;
William H.; Henry and Caroline.

William H. Wise, son of John, was born in
Douglass township, near Pine schoolhouse, Jan. 31, 1822, and died
in the same township Jan. 18, 1898, and he and his wife are buried
in the cemetery at Amityville. William H. Wise was a farmer, owning
a ninety-two acre farm in Douglass, which is now the property of
his son Warren. He was a Lutheran member of Amityville church, and
served as deacon and elder many years. In politics he was a
Democrat, and long served as school director. He was
public-spirited and progressive, and was sincerely interested in
furthering the cause of public education. He married Rebecca
Levengood, born March 17, 1826, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca
(Weiler) Levengood, and she died May 5, 1857, the mother of ten
children, as follows: Philip, Leah, Rebecca, Wellington L., Amanda,
Delilah (born Sept. 4, 1857, died Aug. 22, 1877), Irwin, Harvey L.,
Warren and Annie.

Wellington L. Wise, son of William H., was born
in Douglass township, adjoining Amity on the south, Dec. 16, 1852.
He was reared to farm work and educated in the public schools,
completing his literary training by twenty weeks in Kallynean
Academy under Prof. I. B. Hankey. In 1873 he was licensed to teach
by the late Prof. D. B. Brunner, and he taught his first term at
what was then known as “Goosetown school,” now School No. 4. In all
he taught seven terms, three in Earl township and four in Douglass,
and he became well known for his “spelling bees,” which were most
enjoyable affairs and were always well attended. In the spring of
18825 he began farming in Douglass township on the farm whereon he
was born and reared. At the end of three years he sold out his
stock and moved to the Jeremiah Van Reed residence and in
partnership with his father and brother Philip bought a steam
threshing outfit for $1,500, and for one year followed threshing.
In 1884 he bought what is know as the Henry Eagle farm in Amity, of
146 acres, 146 perches. The present house was built many years ago,
but in 1895 Mr. Wise remodeled it, and built an addition. He has
his farm of the best modern farm implements.

In politics Mr. Wise is a Democrat, and he has
been a man of influence in his party. He was elected a member of
the school board in 1903, and later re-elected, and since 1907 has
been secretary of the board. He and his family are Lutheran members
of St. Paul’s Church, in which he is a member of the vestry. From
1885 to 1903 he served as deacon, and he was elected elder and a
member of the church council.

On Feb. 7, 1880, Mr. Wise married Rosa E.
Rhoads, daughter of Maberry and Mary Ann (Schaeffer) Rhoads of
Amity, and they have eleven children, namely: Mary; Wayne; Delilah;
Nora, a graduate of the Interstate Commercial College, Reading, is
head bookkeeper for Penn Troy Laundry, Reading; Howard is a teacher
in Douglass township; Carrie is an expert penman and is a student
at the Pottstown Business college; Annie is a member of the choir
at Amityville, as is also her sister Carrie; Eva attended Reading
high school; Ella and LeVerne are twins; and William J. In 1878 Mr.
Wellington L. Wise and his brother Philip went to Sterling, Rice
Co., Kans., where they bought a 160-acre farm at a place called
Lyons, paying $12.60 an acre. Shortly after ward they sold it for
double the purchase money to a man who later sold half of it for
$40, 000, and cut the other half up into building lots which he
sold at good prices. The village of Lyons became the county seat of
Rice county and real estate prices soared high.

Harvey L. Wise, son of William H. and brother of
Wellington L., was born in Douglass township Jan. 17, 1863, and was
educated in the public schools in Douglass and trained to farm
work. In 1891 he began farming in Amity on rented land, and so
continued for seven years?two years on the Levi Heist farm, and
five on his father’s farm. In 1898 he bought the farm upon which he
now resides, located one-quarter mile southeast of Amityville. It
consists of fifty-three acres, and Mr. Wise pays particular
attention to his dairy. This farm at one time belonged to John
Wentzel, and later to Milton Reiff, from whose assignee Mr. Wise
purchased it. He and his family are Lutheran members of Amityville
church, in which he has been a deacon for eight years. In politics
he is a Democrat. On Oct. 27, 1888, he married Mary Rhoads,
daughter of Maberry and Mary Ann (Schaeffer) Rhoads, of Amity, and
they have four children: Alma, Ida, Minnie, and Lloyd.

WISSER,
STEPHEN SYLVESTER

p. 1458

Surnames: WISSER, BRUBAKER, REINHOLD, SHARP, HECKMAN, BOLTZ,
RHOADS, HARDING, FRECHT, CARPENTER

Stephen Sylvester Wisser, a merchant in West Reading for upward of
twenty years, was born at Ephrata, Lancaster county, Jan. 13, 1853.
When three years old his parents moved to Reamstown, and they
resided at that place until 1867, when they went to Denver. He
attended the public schools until he was sixteen years old, and
then learned tanning, in which business his father was engaged.
After remaining in the tannery for three years, and not liking the
vocation, he entered the general store of S. M. Brubaker as a
clerk, and continued with him for eight years.

Mr. Wisser then learned cigar making and
followed it for three years, when he moved to the village of
Bird-in-Hand and engaged in the confectionery business, starting
with a capital of less than $25. He carried on this business for
three years and then determined to locate in a more promising
place. He selected Reading and went there in 1882, locating at No.
240 Penn street, for the purpose of engaging again in the cigar
business, but not realizing his expectations after conducting the
store for two years, he removed to West Reading to engage in the
grocery business. This was in 1884, and Mr. Wisser started with a
limited capital at No. 26 West Penn street. In ten years he
succeeded in developing a large trade, and this encouraged him to
include dry goods and general merchandise in his stock in trade. By
persevering and attending strictly to business he became more and
more successful. Gradually enlarging his store, in 1902 he added
another extensive department, that of household furniture. In the
following four years he increased his trade to still larger
proportions, and now he occupies three adjoining three-story brick
buildings, altogether seventy-five feet wide by eighty feet deep,
which evidences the extent of his great success from a small and
well directed beginning.

In 1876 Mr. Wisser was married to Harriet
Reinhold, daughter of Frederick and Susan (Sharp) Reinhold, of
Reinholdsville, by whom he had six children: Daisy, Mrs. Walter
Heckman; Bertha, Mrs. Nelson Boltz; Charles; Stephen; and two who
died young. He and his family have been members of the First
Baptist Church at Reading since removing from Lancaster county. HE
acted as one of the building committee in the erection of the
superior building at Fifth and Franklin streets; and served as a
trustee for several terms filling this position at the present
time.

Mr. Wisser’s father, Samuel Wisser, was born at
Grimville, Berks county, and removed to Denver, Lancaster county,
when sixteen years old. He there learned the tanning business, and
carried this on for some years. He married Julia Ann Rhoads,
daughter of Philip Rhoads, of Reamstown, by whom he had two
children: ;Ann Eliza, who died young; and Stephen.

Philip Wisser, the grandfather, was of Reamstown
and by occupation was a cabinet-maker. He married Julia Ann
Harding, and by her had children: Samuel, William, Elias,
Frederick, Edward, Mary (Mrs. John Frecht) and Harriet (Mrs.
Ephraim Carpenter).