Superintendent of the Public Schools of Berks County, Pa.; born in Oley Township, March 20, 1865; was educated in the public schools, Oley Academy, Keystone State Normal School, and University of Pennsylvania; taught in the public schools for fourteen years; teacher of the Fleetwood High School in 1890; in 1891 supervising principal of the Hamburg schools; County Superintendent, 1896-1902. Active member of the Pennsylvania Educational Association and the National Educational Association. Address, Hamburg, Pa. (p. 606)
Born July 24, 1841, in Salfordville, Montgomery County, Pa.; educated in the public schools and entered Freeland Seminary, Collegeville, in 1859. Studied medicine with Drs. Keeler and Groff in Harleysville, Pa., and was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, with the class of 1864; practiced medicine in Adamstown, Pa., eighteen years; removed to the city of Reading in 1882, where he has since practiced his profession. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 606)
President of the Reading National Bank; was born on April 29, 1834, at Sinking Spring, Pa.; educated in the public schools and in private academies; worked on his father's farm, taught school two terms, and then removed to Reading in 1853 to enter the hardware store of George de B. Keim & Co. Three years later he formed a co-partnership with Adam Bard in the hardware business, in which he continued over forty years. With his son he then organized the Acme Manufacturing Company for the manufacture of bicycles, etc., the operations of which were successfully conducted until the establishment was absorbed by the American Bicycle Company. He served one term in Common Council as a Democrat, and was a Prison Inspector three years; he has held various offices in the Reformed denomination and as Trustee of Synod, Trustee of Palatinate College, Trustee of Bethany Orphans' Home, and member of the Board of Publication. Was married to Sarah Potteiger in 1854. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 610)
Physician; born in Reading, Pa., May 27, 1846; educated in the public schools and was graduated from the Reading High School in the class of 1864; was graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1867. After practicing medicine in Maxatawny Township one year, he located in his native city, where he still is engaged in the practice of his profession. Married Jennie Rauch, daughter of Capt. E.H. Rauch, of Mauch Chunk, Pa. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 613)
Manufacturer; born at Birkach, Germany, April 24, 1864; educated in the public schools, graduating from the High School at Plieningen at the age of fourteen years; was graduated from the Commercial College in Stuttgart in 1881; entered into commercial pursuits until the spring of 1883, when he sailed from Havre, France, for America, landing at Philadelphia. After an experience of some months in various mercantile establishments he returned to Germany to learn the iron business, with the view of locating in Reading, Pa., as an iron manufacturer; returned to America in 1885, and in November of that year started in the iron business in Reading. The present firm is William F. Remppis & Co., engaged in bridge structural work, the manufacture of ornamental work for banks, school houses, etc., fire escapes and general art work in iron. For several years was President and manager of the Reading Standard Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of bicycles; is president of the Reading Turner-Verein and connected with numerous German organizations. Married March 5, 1891, Mary A. Leinbach. In politics is a Republican, and was elected to Council in a strongly Democratic ward. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 618)
Clergyman; born March 18, 1864, in Hollowing Run, Northumberland County, Pa., he was educated at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Pa., and Union Biblical Seminary, Dayton, Ohio; taught public school six years; a minister in the United Brethren Church in Christ in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference seventeen years. Married Lillie L. Light, Nov. 24, 1887, at Annville, Pa. Prohibitionist,. Address, 138 Elm St., Reading, Pa. (p. 618)
Born Oct. 29, 1831, in Boyertown, Pa.; educated in his native town at Mt. Pleasant Seminary; studied medicine, and was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College in April, 1857; located at Zieglersville, Montgomery County, and practiced until August, 1862, when he raised a company of volunteers and received a Surgeon's commission. Subsequently he accompanied the 169th Regiment Pennsylvania Militia. He had charge of a Brigade Hospital at Yorktown, Va. After being mustered out he returned to Zieglersville, and resumed the practice of medicine, but at the end of a year he removed to Athol, Berks County. In 1882 he removed to Reading, having been elected Prison Warden of Berks County, which position he held until April, 1885. For sixteen years he was engaged in the nursery business in connection with his medical practice. He was married May 10, 1859, to Miss Kate W. Gilbert. Address, Reading, Pa. (pp. 620-621)
Physician; born in Colebrookdale Township, Berks County, Pa., Sept. 26, 1837; was graduated from Jefferson Medical College in March, 1861; commissioned as Assistant Surgeon Dec. 17, 1862, and assigned to 169th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in that capacity until the regiment was mustered out of service; has been practicing medicine for forty-three years in his native county. Organized the National Bank of Boyertown in 1874, and was its President until 1882; organized the Farmers' National Bank of Boyertown in 1883, and since its President; Treasurer of Boyertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company, Secretary and Treasurer of the John Rhoads Mining Company, etc.; also President of the Board of Health of Boyertown. Married to Theresa, only daughter of Capt. Henry S. Liedy, in May 1862. Author of several hundred poems, including "The Tale of Onewago," "Genovefa," "Lost and Starved in the Alleghenies," "Kat, the Arapahoe Squaw," etc.; "Reminiscences of Youth and Other Poems," which contains the most important of his writings. Address, Boyertown, Pa. (p. 621)
Lawyer; born at Gloucester Furnace, Atlantic County, N. J., May 6, 1842; son of John Richards; removed to Pennsylvania in 1848; received an academical education; studied law and was admitted to the Berks County bar, 1865. In 1869 engaged in journalism, becoming partner in the firm of J. Knabb & Co., publishers of the Reading Times and Dispatch and Berks and Schuylkill Journal. In 1871 re-sold his interest and resumed the practice of law. Member of the City Councils of Reading in 1875-1876; Secretary of the Municipal Commission of Pennsylvania, 1877-1878; Republican candidate for Congress in the Berks District, 1884. Author of "Rights and Liabilities of Married Women in Pennsylvania" (with Judge G.A. Endlich), 1889; "The Pennsylvania Form Book," 1898; and "Digest of Acts of Assembly for Cities of the Third Class" (two editions), 1900 and 1902; numerous law pamphlets, historical and genealogical sketches. President of the Berks County Historical Society. Married in 1869; wife deceased, 1901. Address, Reading, Pa. (pp. 623-624)
City official; born in Bethel, Berks County, Pa., July 28, 1875; son of G.F.M. Rick, a prominent merchant; educated in the district schools, at the Keystone State Normal School, Muhlenberg College and Yale Law School; Deputy Controller of Berks County for one term; at present a practicing attorney and Solicitor of the Reading School District; active in Republican politics in Berks County. Married Carrie V. Lawshe, April 20, 1899. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 624)
Lawyer; born Oct. 22, 1854, in Bern Township, Berks County, Pa., now the village of West Leesport, of Swiss ancestry; only son of Jacob Rieser, a prominent farmer; educated at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1880; studied law in the city of Reading and was admitted to the bar Nov. 13, 1882; was District Attorney from 1896 to 1899, prior to which he had been Solicitor for the Directors of the Poor. Active in politics as a Democrat, and was elected President of the Americus Club. Married Sallie E. Leinbach, daughter of Rev. Dr. Aaron S. Leinbach, Dec. 14, 1882. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 626)
Lieutenant United States Navy; born in and appointed from Pennsylvania; Naval Cadet, May 25, 1886; Ensign, July 1, 1892; Lieutenant (junior grade), March 3, 1899; Lieutenant, June 4, 1899; retired, Aug. 22, 1900. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 628)
Publisher; born Sept. 19, 1854, in the city of Reading; eldest son of William S. Ritter, whom he succeeded as manager of the Reading Adler, the oldest German newspaper in the United States (established 1796), upon the death of his father; was also publisher of the Reading Evening Telegram until the paper was disposed of July 15, 1902, to a new company; is now the publisher also of the Reading Weekly News; educated in the public schools and graduated from the Reading High School, June 27, 1872, as class chronicler. Besides engaging in the newspaper business, has been interested in other enterprises; was one of the organizers of the Berks County Trust Company, of which he is a Director; is President of the West Reading Building Association and Treasurer of the Berks County Agricultural Society for the past fourteen years, having succeeded his father. Was Chairman of the Democratic County Committee several terms. Member of the Reading Press Club. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 628)
Mechanical engineer; born Sept. 12, 1832, in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pa.; educated in the public schools and the Moravian Academy at Lititz, Lancaster County, Pa. Went in 1849 with Reaney-Neaffle & Co. (now Neaffle & Levy's Ship Yard) to learn mechanical engineering. In 1852 assisted in the building of mining machinery at Pottsville; 1854 assisted in the building of Dickson Manufacturing Company; 1856 was appointed by the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company to superintend the placing of the machinery on their mountain road from Carbondale. In 1860 assisted in building the ship yard at Chester, where many ships were built for the war; became chief engineer and designer. In 1862 married Mary F. Mortimer, daughter of William Mortimer, of Pottsville. In 1869 superintended the Scott Foundry at Reading; in 1884 assisted in building some hydraulic machinery in the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia. From 1886 to 1904 in an office in Philadelphia. Republican in politics. Address, 1012 Betz Building, Philadelphia, Pa. (p. 632)
Journalist; born at Nordhausen, foot of the Hartz Mountains, in Prussia, Nov. 20, 1823; educated in his native town and was graduated in 1840; then entered a publishing house, and after five years connection with it started in the publication business for himself. In December, 1846, he emigrated to America in a sailing vessel, landing at New York in May, 1847. After a short sojourn there he removed to Philadelphia, where he established a book store; in 1848 he organized a German Workingmen's Association, of which he was President five years. In 1848 he commenced his career as an editor in this country, becoming the editor of a paper just started, which was named the Free Press; this he edited successfully until 1855; it was Democratic in politics. Then he established the Wochenblatt, a German weekly, and, when it was merged with the New World,' he edited the latter paper until July, 1860, and also was assistant editor of the Philadelphia Democrat, published by the same firm. In 1860 he moved to Reading to become the editor of the Reading Adler, the oldest German weekly newspaper in the United States; in 1864 he established the Banner von Berks (weekly), and in 1867, Die Biene, a Sunday edition of that paper. In 1868 he commenced the publication of a German daily, the Reading Post, and in 1869 he established a fourth paper, a fraternal journal with the title of Die Deutche Eiche; these four papers he continues to publish. He has been prominent in building association affairs in Reading for a number of years, and is also a member of the Reading Press Club, in which organization he is known as "The Nestor of the Reading Press." Address, Reading, Pa. (pp. 639-640)
Born at Moselem, Berks County, Pa., Jan. 6, 1864; educated at public schools, and Keystone State Normal School in 1880; in 1886 was graduated from the Keystone State Normal School; was principal of the Pleasant Valley Academy at Gilbert's, Pa., in 1886-1887; entered the sophomore class at Franklin and Marshall College in September, 1888, and was graduated in 1891; then elected Professor of Natural Sciences in the Keystone State Normal School; Vice President, 1895, and principal since 1899. Address, Kutztown, Pa. (p. 641)
Lawyer; born in Richmond Township, Berks County, Pa., March 7, 1856; educated in the district schools, at the Reading Scientific Academy and the Keystone State Normal School; read law in Reading in the office of Albert G. Green, Esq., and was admitted to the bar, Aug. 20, 1881; has taken a prominent part in politics as a Democrat, and was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Additional Law Judge against the incumbent, Judge G.A. Endlich; Director of the Reading and Southwestern Street Railway Company for several years, and solicitor of the company. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 641)
Physician; born in Maidencreek Township, Berks County, Pa., May 4, 1866; educated in public schools of Berks County, Palatinate College, Myerstown, Pa., and Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa.; public school teacher eight years and Coroner of Berks County, Pa., three years. Married Alice T. Schmehl of Blandon, Pa., Dec. 25, 1893. Democrat in politics. Address, Reading, Pa. (pp. 641-642)
City Solicitor of Reading, Pa.; born in Reading, Sept. 11, 1859; son of a mill-worker, John Rourke, of that town; was graduated from the Reading High School on June 24, 1876. He was employed for seven weeks in a drug store, and on May 8, 1877, began the study of law in the office of Peter D. Wanner, being admitted to the Berks County bar on Nov. 22, 1880. After a little over four years of successful practice he became the Democratic nominee for City Solicitor, and was elected Feb. 28, 1885; his ability in this position was rewarded by his unanimous re-election, without opposition, for four successive additional terms of two years each, until June 4, 1895, when, the Republicans being in power, they elected a Republican City Solicitor; he was again elected in April, 1897, and re-elected, without opposition, in April, 1899, and continued in office until May 12, 1902, one year beyond his term, when the Republicans, being again in power, elected a Republican City Solicitor, who remained in office until Feb. 16, 1904, when Mr. Rourke was again elected, without opposition, for the unexpired term of three years. From 1890 to 1893 he was assistant to W. O. Miller, District Attorney, during whose term he tried many important criminal cases. He has served as a delegate to various city, county and State party conventions, and has been conspicuously identified with all city and county campaigns. He married Miss Lizzie Yocom in 1884. Address, Reading, Pa. (p. 642)
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