History of Berks County in Pennsylvania
by
Morton L. Montgomery
Illustrated
Philadelphia
Everts, Peck & Richards .
Chapter I.
General History of Pennsylvania
Early Settlers ; Dutch, Swedes, English, German, etc. — Provincial and Constitutional Government — Purchases of Territory from the Indians — Counties erected — Development.
Chapter II.
Physical Geography of Berks County
Geology — Minerals — Botany — Mountains — Valleys — Streams — Relative Elevations.
Chapter III.
Indians .
Origin — Delawares : Tribes, Clans and Sachems — Ganawese — Five Nations — Manners and ' Customs — Retreat of Indians — Present Location — Villages — Indian Names — Indian Relics.
Chapter IV
Nationalities Swedes— Germans— English — Welsh— Irish— Hebrews — Negroes.
Chapter V.
Erection of County
General Situation of Territory— Petitions for County- Act erecting County — Districts — Names of Townships and Towns— Reductions of Territory, Northumberland County and Schuylkill County— New Counties Proposed.
Chapter VI.
Agriculture
General Condition and Progress — County Society and Exhibitions— Farms, Production, etc., of County, 1870 and 1880.
Chapter VII.
Early and General Industries 87
Early Furnaces and Forges of County — Production, 1828-30— Industries in 1840— Comparative Statement, 1860-76— Memorial for National Foundry— Summary of Present Furnaces, Forges and Mills— Comparative Table of Statistics for 1880— Production of Iron in County at three recent periods — General Industries- Statistics of Manufactures of County, 1870 and 1880.
Chapter VIII.
French -and Indian War 104
Military Periods — Cause of War — Officers, Supplies, etc. — Colonial Forts — Burd's Journal — Invasion of County by Indians — Numerous Letters on Sufferings of Early Inhabitants — Peace Declared — Persons Murdered, Taken Prisoners and Missing.
Chapter IX.
Revolution and Independence .
Revolution — Stamp Duty — Patriotic Spirit at Reading — Various Committees chosen — Battle at Lexington awakens County — Companies from Berks County — Conscientious Scruples against War — Tory Feeling in County — English Prisoners at Reading — Associators — Brigadier-General Elected — Quota of County Exceeded — Patriotism of Joseph Hiester — Battle of Long Island — Deserters— Hessian Prisoners — Hessian Camp Surprised — Hessian Officer Drowned — Militia Refuse to March — Militia Returns of County — Army Supplies — Affairs at Reading in 1777 — Conway Cabal — Duel at Reading — Independence Won and Peace Declared — Revolutionary Survivers — Continental Paper Money.
Chapter X.
Whiskey Insurrection of 1794 167
House Tax and Liberty Poles of 1799 — Embargo of 1807— War of 1812-15 and Companies of County Enlisted.
Chapter XI.
Mexican War 180
Cause of the War— .Reading Artillerists Departure for Mexico — Participation in War — Battles Engaged In — Return of Artillerists — Brilliant Reception.
Chapter XII.
Civil War 186
Introduction— Patriotism, of County— War Meetings and Appropriations — Ladies* Aid Society — Reading Hospital— Drafts and Quotas of Berks County — Northern Men in Service — Summary of Battles — Paper Money — List of Companies from Berks County in Civil War —President's Call for Troops— First Companies in War — Ringgold Light Artillery the First Company — Statement of Captain McKnight — Soldiers of Berks County in Three Months' Service, 1861 ; Three Years' Service; Nine Months' Service; Volunteer Militia of 1862; Drafted Militia of 1862; Volunteer Militia of 1863; One Hundred Days' Service of 1864 ; One Year's Service 1864-65— Miscellaneous Enlistments from Berks County — Soldier's Buried in Berks County — Grand Army Posts — Society oi Ex-Prisoner's of War.
Chapter XIII.
Militia
Legislative Provision — County Battalion of 1783 — County Militia proffer Services to President Adams in 1798— County Military Division— Encampment at Reading in 1842— Battalion Day of 1843— County Militia Companies in 1856— State National Guard — Reading Artillerists — Military Cadets.
Chapter XIV.
Religious Denominations ...
Lutherans — Reformed— Friends — Baptists — Dunkards — Moravians — Roman Catholics — Amish — Other Denominations — Religious Excitement, Heidelberg and Exeter Meetings — Sunday Mails — County Bible Society.
Chapter XV.
General Education . .
Early Encouragement — Charity Schools — Common School Education — County Institute — Pay Schools — Comparative Table of Schools and Scholars.
Chapter XVI.
Language, Manners and Customs . .
Chapter XVII.
Newspapers
Chapter XVIII.
Internal Improvements
Schuylkill River — Bridges, Roads and Turnpikes — Stages, Canals and Railways — Public County Buildings — Post-Offices — Telegraph and Telephone.
Chapter XIX.
Politics and Civil List
Election Districts— Political Sentiment of County- Prominent Representative Men — Offices by Special Legislation — Political Parties — Political Festivals — State Conventions and Mass Meetings at Reading — List of Officials — Biographical Sketches.
Chapter XX.
Judiciary — Bench and Bar 532
Judges— Attorney-at-Law— Biographical Sketches.
Chapter XXI.
Medical Profession of Berks County . . .
Early Medical History— Introduction of Medical Practice into Berks County— Biographical Sketches— Medical Faculty of Berks County— Medical Society of Berks County— Pathological Society— Reading Medical Association — Homoeopathy— Early History of Homoeo- pathy in Berks County — Hahnemann Medical Society —Biographical Sketches of Homceopathists — Medical Registry — Lenti stry.
Chapter XXII.
Census of Berks County 644
Early Population of State— Rate of Increase of Population-Census Table of County, 1790 to 1880— Census of Villages, 1880— Table of Houses, Farms, etc., in County, 1850— Taxables and Voters of County, 1876 and 1885— Property and Money Assessed, 1885.
Chapter XXIII.
Reading.
Part 1.— Town from 1748 to 1783 . . Selection of Town Site— Town laid out— Lots sold at Public Sale— First Patentees— Ground-Rent— List of Taxables, 1759— District of Reading Erected— Churches —Schools— Public Buildings — Markets and Fairs, CharLer to Reading for Them — Citizens against Change of Government — Early Innkeepers — Early Occupations — Rainbow Fire Company — No Newspapers nor Internal Improvements— Fuel, Light and Entertainments — Hunting and Fishing — Indian Invasion — Revolution — Prominent Men — Pound Sterling — Old Style to New Style.
Part 2.— Borough from 1783 to 1847 Charter of Incorporation — Election Districts — Newspapers — Post-Office — Internal Improvements — Ferries and Bridges — Fire Companies, Banks and Water Supply — Light — Public Buildings — Stages, Canals and Railway — Manufactures — Traffic — Merchants of Reading in 1830 — Occupations in 1839 — Distinguished Visitors — Memorial Services — Streets, Changes of Names — Executions — Early Exhibitions — Prominent Men.
Part 3.— City from 1847 to 1886
Review of Reading in 1847 — Incorporation — Development — Riot in Reading, July, 1877.
Part 4.— Manufacturing Industries 692
Part 5. — Internal Improvements 744
City Buildings, etc.— Post Office— Cemeteries— Gas and Electric Light— Halls— Private Market Houses— Hos- pitals— Private Parks— Street Railways.
Part 6.— Churches 767
Part 7.— Schools 793
Part 8. — Associations sxi
Part 9.— Officials 841
Part 10. — Census 353
Chapter XXIV.
Boroughs of County
Kutztown
Womelsdorf
Hamburg
Birdsboro
Boyertown
Bernville
Fleetwood
ToPton
Centreport
Chapter XXV.
Townships of County .
Tulpehocken Section
Manatawny Section . .
Oley
Upper Tulpehocken .... .
Colebrookdale . . .
Douglass . .
Heidelberg .
Exeter ...
Lower Heidelberg .
North Heidelberg
Muhlenberg ....
Bern . ...
Hereford
Upper Bern
Penn
Ruscomb-manor
Centre . ....
Rockland
Bethel
District. . . .
etc.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Adlor Building .895
Arnold, William. . . . 708
Arthur, John E. . . . 268
Baer, George F. . . . 678
Baird, Wm. M. . . . . 569
Banks, John . . 541
Barbey, Peter . . 723
Barto, A. H . . 1006
Batdorff, M. D. M. .... 622
Bear, Benjamin C." . . . . 1057.
Beidler, Conrad Y . . . 1169
Bertolette, Levi J . . .935
Bethany Orphans' Home . . . . . . 1112
Bickel, Geo. H . 620
Binder, Frank G., Kes. of . . ... . 911
Birth-place of Daniel Boone 974
Boas, F. S. . . 305
Boas, Augustus F. . . . 744
British Stamp. . . . . . . 136
Brunner, D. B . ... ... 382
Brooke, Geo. . . 895
Brooke, Edward ... 894
Buskirk, Daniel. . . . . 557
Carpenter Hall . . . . . ... 15
Clingan, Chas. M . . . . . . . . . 1189
Clymer, Daniel K . 848
Continental Currency. 166
Court-Honse, The Old. . ... 403
Delaware Indian Family. . . .... 58
Delaware Indian . . • .... 57
Dechert, Elijah ... * . . . . 563
Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, Building of 738
Eckert, Henry S 835
Eckert, Isaac ... 834
Eckert, Geo. J .721
Engelman, Charles F . 407
Ermentrout, Daniel . . . 512
Ermentrout, John S . .... 380
Ermentrout, James N . 546
Evans, Charles V. K 1124
Evans, Charles . . 757
Fegley, L. P. G. . . . 967
Ferguson, Nathaniel .... . . 1114
Findlay, James • . ¦ 1055
First Befonned Church . . . 776
Fisher, Eeily L HIS
Focht, L. H .901
Franklin, Benjamin ... 469
Friends' Meeting-House, 1765 . . . . . .781
Friends' Meeting-House, 1886 782
Gerasch, CharleB A . . 599
Getz, J. Lawrence . 410
Getz, James K , 853
Good, Bev. William A . . . . . 379
Gordon, David F . ... 542
Grim, D. B . . . . 1081
Hagenman, J ... 543
Harbster, William 701
Harbster, M 702
Harris, William 893
Heinly, David .... 1075
Heller, F. P 733
Hendel, Henry B. & Co., hat-factory 711
Hendel, John 710
Hiester, Joseph ... 523
Hix, Joseph S . . . . 1135
Hoffeditz, J. C. A . . . 219
Hottenstein, Edward .... 624
Howe, M. A. De Wolfe . . . .... 786
Iaeger, G. F. I 889
Jail, the old 465
Jones, Jonathan ...
Jones, Jonathan, Kes. of . .
Jones, J. Glancy . . .
Keim, George De Benneville . .
Keim, George May
Keim, George De B
Keim, William H
Keim, John
Keim, Nicholas
Keller, D. C
Keystone State Normal School
Kline, Simon
Knabb, Jacob
Koch, Daniel
Kraemer, Louis
Kremp, Louis ...
Krick, Adam B
Kutz, David
Lauer, Frederick
Levan, Isaac W
Levan, Nathan 873
Levan, Joseph ' 981
LeoBer, Thomas S 185
Lentz, Levi B 638
Log House, the first in Pricetown 1009
Lorah, George K . . .
Lichtenthaeler, B
Ludwig, Elam M . . . . .
Map, outline of County . . .
Map showing purchases from Indians .
Map, Geological, of County .
Marks, W. F
Mauger, B. B
McMichael, Richards ...."..
McLean, Joseph A .
McManus. John . . ...
McKnight, David
McHose, Isaac
Miller, J. B
Mishler Academy, auditorium of . .
Mishler Academy, stage of
Montgomery, M. L .
Muhlenberg, H. H . . . , . . .
Muhlenberg, H. A .
Muhlenberg, Henry A. . .
Nagle, H. 31 .
Nagle, Peter, Jr . .
Nicolls, G. A
Otto, John B
Otto, Dr. Bodo
Pearson, John S . . . .
Penn, "William .... ....
Plank, D. Heber
Printz, John H . . . ....
Prison, ground plan of .
Bea, Samuel M .
Reading PasBenger Station .
Beading roads, plan of ...
Heading, paper money .
Reading, early surveys of .
Beading, town plan of, 1748.
Beading Hospital .
Beading Hardware Company, .
Beber, James T
Reservoir and present jail . .
Bhoads, Thomas J. B .
Bhoads, Ezekiel. . . .
Richards, John S . .
Bitter, William S . . .
Bittenhouse, S. B
Bocks in Rockland
Rosenthal, AV.
Frontispiece
Eowe, W. G. . . . . . . •
Sanitary Fair Buildings
Schwartz, John . .
Schweitzer, Samuel Z. . . •
Schneider, Ephraim . .
Schmucker, E. Z
Schaeffer, Lewis
Schaeffer, John
Schwartz, H. H.
Seidel, Franklin . .
Seyfert, Simon
Shoemaker, Charles E. . ¦
Shaffner, Jacob ....
Shollenberger, J. M. ....
Slegel, E. . . . . .
Smith, George . ....
Smith, L. Heber .
Smith, Levi B . .
Spohn, Daniel. .
Stein, Adam ...
St. Luke's Lutheran Church .
Stitzel, George D . . .
Stoudt, George K .
Stuy vesant, Peter . . . .
Swedes' Building .
Swedes' Church.. .
Times and Journal Building .
Trinity Lutheran Church .
Tyson, Henry A .
Umbenhauer, William. . ...
Van Reed, Henry. .
Van Beed, Charles, residence and paper-mills of .
Van Reed, Charles .
Van Reed, Charles L . .
Van Beed, Henry Z . r .
Walter, Bobert
Washington Grays ... .
Weaver, Jeremiah . .
Weidman, W. Murray . .
Weidman, B. B .
Wertz, Samuel ...
Wheeler, Caleb .
Whitner, George K.
Wily, (). H .
Wily, Penrose . ....
Woodward, W. J . ...
Yocum, William .
CONDITION: Shiny gold page edges. Front cover has been reattached with bookbinding glue so there is a crack in the hinge between the spine and the front cover trim. The front content pages have been reattached and they have buggy bites. The preface page is detached but included. The other pages are mostly in really good condition. See listing description and photos.
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