Banker and capitalist of Reading, Pa.; born at Robesonia, Pa., June 5, 1868; son of Nathaniel and Amanda (nee Davenport) Ferguson, the elder Ferguson having for many years been part owner of the Robesonia Furnaces; was educated at the public schools, at the Carroll Institute, Reading, Pa., and Pierce Business College, Philadelphia; President Keystone Wagon Works, President Blue Mountain Manufacturing Company; Vice President First National Bank of Reading; Vice President Montello Brick Company, of Reading; Director Reading Public Library; Director Berks County Agricultural Society; Director Pennsylvania Trust Company, and Director Oleyville Railroad. By his personal influence, he raised a large sum of money for establishing a free public library in the city of Reading; also by his personal efforts increased the capital stock of the First National Bank to the extent of $375,000, making the present capital $500,000, the largest of any banking establishment in the city; organized the Keystone Wagon Works, which does a general business, shipping wagons to all parts of the world. Married Anna Rodman Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richmond L. Jones, June 19, 1895. Republican in politics. Address, Reading, Pa. (pp. 218-219)
Methodist Episcopal divine; born in Philadelphia, July 22, 1864; was educated in Pennington Seminary, graduating in 1888, and entered the art department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1892, but left two years later to enter the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While still in college he had done much Church work, and was admitted to the Philadelphia Annual Conference in 1889. His first pastorate was in the Simpson Memorial Church, in which he increased the membership and built a new church at a cost of $18,000. He then went to the Fourth Street Church in Reading, and in 1894 was called to the Siloam Church in West Philadelphia, where he built a chapel at the cost of $13,000. In 1897 he was transferred to the Scott Church in Philadelphia, in which he had a successful pastorate. He is now stationed in Eden Church, Lehigh Ave. and Lawrence St. Mr. Ferguson received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from the American University at Harriman, Tenn. in 1901. Address, 2523 North Fifth St., Philadelphia, Pa. (p. 219)
Architect; born in Reading, Pa., Dec. 20, 1845; educated in the public schools; learned the building trade with his father, John Fink; took up the business of architect, succeeding his father, who for many years was the only architect in Reading. He has erected thirty-six churches in all parts of Pennsylvania; also prepared the plans for school houses all over the country; supervised the erection of a number of public halls and other buildings of prominence in Eastern Pennsylvania; was elected to Common Council as a Republican from the Fourth Ward, and served in that body nine years. Married Mary Hemmig, now deceased. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 222)
Lawyer; born in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pa.; was graduated from the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, in the elementary course in 1875, and in the scientific course in 1877; taught school several terms; studied law in the city of Reading in the office of Hon. Hiram H. Schwartz, who was later Judge of the Orphans' Court of Berks County; admitted to the bar Nov. 10, 1884; served one term as District Attorney; active in Democratic politics in Berks County. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 228)
Superintendent of schools; born in Reading, Pa., Dec. 17, 1863; educated in public schools of Reading, Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven, Conn.; took special courses at Yale, Harvard, University of Chicago and University of New York; received honorary M.A. from Lafayette College; was a newspaper reporter 1884-1886; instructor and also principal of Union Academy, Morganfield, Ky., 1886-1887; instructor Stewart Academy, Reading, Pa., 1888-1889; principal of High School, Orwigsburg, Pa., 1889-1890; instructor and principal of Boys' High School at Reading, Pa., 1890-1902; superintendent of public schools, Reading, Pa., since 1899; active in State and National educational associations, Masons, Knight Templars and other orders. Address, Reading, Pa. (pp. 229-230)
Manager of Reading News Bureau; born in Reading, Pa., March 12, 1847, the youngest son of Frederick Fox, whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers of the English-speaking portion of Berks County; educated in the public schools of his native city, and graduated from the Reading High School June 30, 1864, at the head of his class; began reading law in the office of John S. Richards, Esq., in Reading, but abandoned this for agricultural pursuits. Manager of the Chesterwood Experimental Gardens, Lancaster County, Pa., 1865-72. In the latter year became City Editor of the Reading Times, having previously contributed for some years to its columns, as also to the Reading Evening Dispatch, and to the Farm Department of the Berks and Schuylkill Journal; also a contributor to a number of other newspapers from 1867 to 1872. Was city editor of the Reading Times until Sept. 1, 1887. Established in that year the Reading News Bureau, (of which he is still manager,) furnishing special matter to daily newspapers in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other cities, also articles to leading agricultural and horticultural journals, and to papers devoted to the horse, live stock, and sports; also contributing to trades journals. Editor of the Reading Daily Review from July 1, 1895, to April 15, 1896; and was subsequently editor and business manager of the same paper from July, 1897, to January, 1899. Identified with the Berks County Agricultural Society from 1867, becoming Corresponding Secretary in 1873, and serving as Secretary from 1874 to 1902, with the exception of two years (1877 and '78). State Pomologist of Pennsylvania from 1877 to the present date. Secretary of the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania for two years, 1897-98; had previously been Chairman of the General Fruit Committee of the same association for fifteen years. Secretary Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Societies. Member of the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania State College from 1891 to 1903. City Clerk, Secretary of the Board of Park Commissioners and of the Board of Water Commissioners of Reading, Pa., 1889-1900; President of the Reading Press Club in 1893, and present at the organization of the International League of Press Clubs at Pittsburg in that year. President of the Pennsylvania State Editorial Association in 1902, and elected Corresponding Secretary in 1904. Was one of the organizers of the same in 1871, and of the National Editorial Association at Cincinnati in 1885; Secretary of the Reading Board of Trade 1891 to 1897, and increased its membership from 72 to 600. Manager of the Great Roanoke Fair at Roanoke, Va., in 1903; Superintendent of Horticulture for Pennsylvania at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904; elected Secretary of the World's Fair Association of Superintendents of Horticulture May 2, 1904. Lecturer at the Farmers' Institutes for a number of years, and the Secretary of the Local Board of Farmers' Institutes for a number of years, and Secretary of the Local Board of Farmers' Institute Managers. One of the organizers of the Reading and Southwestern Street Railway Company in 1890, and a Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee for seven years. Active in politics for many years as a Republican; Chairman of the Republican County Committee of Berks from 1873 to 1883, and Chairman of the Republican City Executive Committee for the same period; member of the Republican State Committee for many years, and member of the Committee of Five in 1877 that framed the new party rules. Delegate to the Republican State Convention in 1871, and chosen Secretary; chief Secretary of the Republican State Convention of 1882. Married Miss Tillie Shartle of Reading, Pa:, Jan. 7, 1875; their children are four sons, two of whom are newspaper men. Address, Reading, Pa. (pp. 235-236)
News editor of Reading Herald; born in Reading, Pa., Oct. 23. 1875; April 15, 1895, became connected with the staff of the Reading Daily Review, just started; Oct. 1, 1895, became editor of the Reading Evening World; Oct. 12, 1896, became editor of the Allentown Daily Leader, which position he relinquished in a few weeks to become news editor of the Reading Herald, a position which he still occupies. Married, June 15. 1898, Miss Alma Mingle, youngest daughter of Dr. I.L. Mingle of Reading. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 236)
Chemist; born in Reading, Pa., Mch. 24, 1860; son of Geo. Frear, D.D., and Malvina Rowland; educated in public schools of Reading and Norristown and collegiate preparatory school at Lewisburg, Pa.; B.S., Bucknell University, 1881; special student in chemistry, Harvard University; Ph.D., Illinois Wesleyan University, 1883; special assistant in chemistry, Bucknell University, 1881-1882; Assistant Chemist, United States Department of Agriculture, 1883-1885; Professor of Agricultural Chemistry in Pennsylvania State College, 1885, and Vice Director and Chemist, Experiment Station, 1887: Chemist to Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture, 1888. Editor and publisher, 1892-1894, Agricultural Science; 1902, Chairman of committee appointed to establish official standards of purity for foods by Secretary of Agriculture. Fellow American Association Advancement Science; member Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science (United States and Canada). Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, Association of Official Agricultural Chemists of United States; American Chemical Society; Chairman Executive Committee National Pure Food and Drug Congress. Married, 1900, Julia Reno, daughter of Lewis Reno of Greenville, Ky. Address, State College, Pa. (p. 239)
Born near Claytonville, Berks County, Pa.; educated in the public schools, at Mt. Pleasant Seminary, Boyertown, and at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; surgeon in the Civil War, in charge of Post Hospital, at Newport News, Va.; Superintendent of Registration under Reconstruction Act of Prince George County, Va., and afterward a Justice of the Peace and Director of the Poor in that County, and member of the Legislature. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1875, and located in Fleetwood, Berks County, where he has been practicing medicine for twenty-nine years; elected a Justice of the Peace of Fleetwood and serving in that borough as Justice for eighteen years, with two more years of his present term to run. Married Miss Emmeline Robertson of Philadelphia; Democrat in politics. Address, Fleetwood, Pa. (p. 240)
Professor of Homiletics in the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia; born at Trappe, Pa., Feb. 9, 1834; son of Hon. Jacob Fry and Mary, daughter of Hon. Samuel Gross; graduated at Union College, New York, 1851, and at Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., 1853; ordained to the ministry by the Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania; received degree of D.D. from Union College, 1873. Married Eliza J. Wattles of Gettysburg, 1855. Pastor of the Lutheran Church at Carlisle, Pa., 1854-1865; Trinity Lutheran Church at Reading, Pa., 1865-1896. Elected Professor of Homiletics in the Theological Seminary in 1891. Author of "History of Trinity Church, Reading, Pa;" published by the congregation in 1894, "Elementary Homiletics" (Luth. Board of Publication, revised edition 1901), "Trembling for the Ark of God," "Jubilee of the Reformation," "Sin of Adultery," "The Church-Book Explained," "Resurrection Thought in Lutheran Theology," "Seminary Inaugural Address on the Pulpit," etc. Address, Mt. Airy Station, Philadelphia. (p. 243)
State Lecturer on Horticulture; born in Montgomery County, Pa., March, 1844; was educated in the public schools, at Freeland Seminary, Collegeville; and was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1865; practiced medicine for a few years at Boyertown; was elected Burgess, served several terms; was also a member of the Borough Council of Boyertown and served on the School Board. Mr. Funk has devoted the past thirty-five years of his life to fruit growing, in which he has been so successful that his services have been engaged by the State Department of Agriculture as a lecturer on fruit culture topics at Farmers' Institute. Married Valeria Stauffer on Dec. 25, 1865. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 245)
Lawyer; born in Reading, Pa., Sept. 26, 1857, of German-Jewish descent; was graduated from the Central High School of Philadelphia, in 1874, and then studied law in the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1878. Mr. Furth has since been engaged in legal practice in Philadelphia, and has also been active in political affairs. A Democrat in politics, he was elected to the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1881, and re-elected in 1883. While Chairman of the Committee of Municipal Corporations he assisted in framing the Bullit bill, under which the Government of the city of Philadelphia is now administered. He has been a member of various conventions of his party, and in 1896 was a delegate to the Indianapolis Convention of Gold Democrats, which nominated Palmer and Buckner. He was a member of the State Militia from 1879 to 1885, being for three years on the staff of General Snowdon. He has been Secretary of the Lawyers' Club, of Philadelphia, since 1890. He was re-nominated for the Legislature in 1889, but declined to run. He has recently published a book of travel entitled "The Tourist--Outward and Homeward Bound." Address, 1707 Jefferson St., Philadelphia. (p. 247)
Last Modified