FILBERT, Ludwig Spang, physician and inventor, was born in Berks county, Pa., March 12, 1825. His uncle, Peter Filbert, was the first mayor of Reading. His mother's maiden name was Spang. Both the Filbert and Spang families have been prominent in Pennsylvania for many generations. When quite young he removed with his parents to Snyder county. For eight years he earned his living by working as a ferry-boy at Sunbury—a stern school, but a good one, for it taught him in his youth the invaluable lesson of self-reliance. Taking every advantage afforded him of acquiring an education, when he grew up he determined to become a physician, and entered upon the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Robert Jones at Bainbridge, Lancaster county, Pa. So assiduous was he in his studies, and such bright promise did he give of excelling as a physician, that he attracted the favorable attention of Simon Cameron, who rendered financial assistance to enable him to complete his medical studies. He attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania college of medicine, graduating from the latter institution in 1846. Practicing his profession with success for nearly nine years at Bainbridge, he removed to Columbia, where he secured a large practice in a short time. At the end of five years he had the most extensive practice in Lancaster county. In 1857 Gov. Wm. F. Packer appointed him quarantine physician at the port of Philadelphia. Filling the position very creditably for three years", in 1860 he located in his profession in that city, and soon attained great prominence. In 1868 Dr. Filbert turned his attention to the practicability of vulcanizing coal-tar and asphaltum for the purpose of paving. After a careful study of the subject, and practical experimenting with substances which he felt confident would make better pavements than previously in use, he obtained the desired results. In 1871 he gave up the practice of medicine, and organized the Vulcanized paving company of Philadelphia, of which he has since been president. The par value of the stock of this company is $10 per share, and it sells for $50. The pavement on Pennsylvania avenue, at Washington, D. C., was placed there by Dr. Filbert, who, in all, paved twenty-five miles of street in the national capital, as well as many miles in Chicago, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Columbus, and other cities in the Union. His granolithic pavement surrounds the Philadelphia post office, public buildings, Drexel building, Philadelphia Trust, and many other buildings. Another of his processes is adapted to laying floors of large and much-used structures. Still another of his compounds forms one of the best roofings extant, and is widely used. So impervious to water is Dr. Filbert's artificial stone paving, that it is recognized as the best known lining for the largest reservoir basins. His inventions have been of great value in improving the condition of public highways in large cities.
Source: James Terry White. The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography: Being the History of the United States, v. 4, New York: James T. White & Co., 1895, p. 487.
Contributed by: Nancy.