Simon Seyfert was born June 2, 1786, near Shartlesville, Berks County. Pa., being one of seven sons of Joseph Seyfert, a farmer and miller.
When a young man he came to Reading, where, after several years' service in the grocery and dry goods store of John F. Eichorn, he opened a store of his own at the northeast corner of Seventh and Penn Streets, and continued in business until 1826.
He then, in company with John Schwartz, purchased the Gibraltar Forges and engaged in the manufacture of iron. In 1828 the two partners purchased the Mount Penn property, in Cumru Township, and operated it in connection with the Gibraltar Furnaces.
In 1836 Simon Seyfert, together with George M. and DeBenneville Keim and James Whitaker, organized the then Reading Iron Works, consisting of a rolling mill and nail factory, in 1848 a wrought iron pipe and tube mill being added.
The Reading Iron Company of today, with its extensive plants, not only in Reading but at other points throughout the State, is a fitting "monument" to the industry and pioneering instinct of Simon Seyfert.
Simon Seyfert died October 26th, 1848, in his sixty-third year.
Source: Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading, PA, and the 150th Anniversary of the Reading Volunteer Fire Department Sept. 30th to Oct. 6th 1923, ed. by the Chairman of the Publicity Committee, Reading, PA, 1923, p. 139.
Submitted by: Nancy.
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