Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery
p. 1516
Surnames: BEARD, WARREN, HIPPLE, ENDLICH, LIVINGOOD, HARTMAN
ELMER H. BEARD, city engineer of Reading, is one of the busiest men
in the busy, bustling city of Reading, for, with the fifty-one men
in his charge, he is carrying out the enormous amount of work
consequent upon the expenditure of more than a million and a half
dollars for improvements to the city.
Mr. Beard's paternal grandfather, Henry Beard,
was born in Robeson township, Berks county, and married Catherine
Warren, who was descended from General Warren, of Bunker Hill fame.
Our subject's father Amos H. Beard, was master carpenter for the
Reading division of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, served
as a member of the 196th P.V. I., during the War of the Rebellion,
serving a nine-months term and veteranizing, and was a member of
the select council for twenty-two years. Amos H, Beard married
Catherine Hipple, daughter of Adam Hipple, of Montgomery county,
master carpenter of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad. The
following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beard: William, an
insurance broker of Reading; Harry, city chemist of Reading;
Elizabeth, who died March 6, 1904, aged twenty-two years, two days;
and Elmer H.
Elmer H. Beard was born on the old homestead in
Robeson township, Sept. 7, 1865, and was educated in Reading,
graduating from the high school in 1881, and then joined the
engineering corps of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, being
advanced, in 1888, to the position of assistant engineer of the
Reading division. He was made supervisor in 1890, and left the
service the following year to become resident engineer of
construction, at Hurley, Wis., for the Milwaukee, Lake Shore
&Western railroad, in which position he remained until 1896. He
then became assistant supervisor of the Philadelphia and Reading
railroad, at Pottsville. Mr. Beard became assistant engineer of the
city of Reading in 1897, and in April,1900, became engaged in the
contracting and building business, erected many of the fine
buildings and homes in the city, including those of Judge Endlich
and Frank S. Livingood, Esq. In three years Mr. Beard built 285
houses, and in one of these years the record reached 103 buildings
built by him, which exceeded the record of any other builder up to
that time. In April, 1903, Mr. Beard was elected city engineer of
Reading.
Mr. Beard was married Sept. 26, 1889, to Lottie
E. Hartman, daughter of Harrison S. Hartman, in the Traction
Company's service in Reading, and one child was born to this union
-- Helen, at school. Mr. Beard is a thirty second degree Mason,
belonging to Rajah Temple of the Mystic Shrine and is a member of
the Sons of Veterans and the Elks.
He is a stanch Democrat, and belongs to St.
Barnabas Episcopal Church. He is a whole-souled, intelligent,
genial gentleman in every walk of life.
p. 650
BEARD, GODFREY, YEAR, REED, EASTBOUND, SKEEN
Samuel Beard, one of the oldest citizens of Reading, Pa., and an
honored veteran of the great Civil war, was born in 1840, in
Shoemakersville, Berks county, son of Herman Beard and, grandson of
Samuel Beard.
Samuel Beard, the grandfather, was for some
years engaged in the hotel business in Berks and Schuylkill
counties, being at one time proprietor of the well-known hotel at
Fifth and Washington streets, Reading, now owned by Mr. H. Godfrey.
He died at the age of seventy-five years.
Herman Beard, son of Samuel, was born in Berks
county, and for a number of years was engaged in the mercantile
business at Shoemakersville, Berks county, also conducting a hotel
business at that place. Coming to Reading, Mr. Beard engaged in the
hotel business at Fifth and Washington streets, but later went to
Pottsville where he was in business for three years. He later
returned to Reading, where he died in 1882, aged seventy-six years.
He was a Mason of high standing. Mr. Beard married Annetta Yerger,
and their children were: Samuel, Sallie and William.
Samuel Beard attended the public schools of
Reading, after leaving which he learned the machinist's trade,
which he followed from 1854 to 1861, at which time he enlisted in
Company H, 25th Pa. V. I., for three months service. After his
discharge he veteranized in Company I, 118th Pa. V. I., for three
years, and served with his regiment until he was wounded in the
battle of Antietam, Sept. 21, 1862, being shot in the muscle of the
right arm, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered.
On receiving his honorable discharge he returned to Reading, and
tried to go to work at his trade, but his arm could not stand the
strain, and he secured a position as clerk in a hotel at
Pottsville, where he remained until 1881. Mr. Beard then went to
Nebraska, and for some time was employed in clerking there, but
again returned to Reading and engaged with the Reading Iron
Company, in the tube works department, where he has been employed
to the present time, something over twenty-five years of faithful
service. Mr. Beard resides at No. 414 Walnut street.
Mr. Beard married Helen S. Reed, daughter of
Jacob Reed, of Pottsville. Schuylkill county, and to this union
were born: George R., a printer of Philadelphia, in. Emma Skeen;
William L.. employed at the tube works, is single and resides at
home; Nellie, m. Lewis Eastburn, of Reading; and Emma is at home.
Mr. Beard is a Republican in politics, and while a resident of
Schuylkill county, he assisted in taking the census there. The
family are members of the Lutheran Church. Fraternally Mr. Beard is
a Mason, and has been a member of Pulaski Lodge, No. 246,
Pottsville, since 1873.
p. 651
BECHTEL, RINGLE, STOUT, MILLER, GEHO, TAYLOR, DIVES, POMEROY,
STEWART
Charles W. Bechtel, , general inspector of the city of Reading, was
born in that place, son of John R. Bechtel, and grandson of David
Bechtel. The latter was a farmer of Douglassville, Berks county.
John R. Bechtel was a real estate dealer and
builder in Reading. He married Sophia Ringle, daughter of Jacob
Ringle, a boat builder of that same city, and to this union were
born seven children, namely: Sarah, Mrs. Stout; Susan, and Minnie,
wife of George E. Miller, an employe at the city hall; Rena, at
home; George I., a clothier; Ernest V., who represents the
Fourteenth ward in the common council; and Charles W.
Charles W. Bechtel was born Jan. 25, 1856, and
after attending the public schools, completed his education in
Palatinate College, graduating with the class of 1875. For two
years he was in the grocery business for himself, but at the end of
that time he went into his father's merchant tailoring
establishment, then the largest concern of its kind in Reading. He
worked for his father fifteen years, and for the next eight years
was employed at building for his father. He finally gave up the
building business, as he was in 1900 appointed general inspector of
all city manufacturing plants, and as he fills the office with
great efficiency, he has been reappointed each succeeding year.
Mr. Bechtel was married July 4, 1880, to Miss
Mina Geho, daughter of Nicodemus Geho, shoe dealer at Reading. One
daughter has been born to them, Amy, now the wife of Walter G.
Taylor, an employee of Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart.
In politics Mr. Bechtel is a Republican, and is
an active worker for his party, which in turn has made him its
representative in various official positions. He was a member of
the common council from the Fourteenth ward in 1888-89-90, and was
also ward assessor for twelve years. He has been chairman of the
Sixth ward for some time, is frequently a delegate to Republican
conventions, and holds a prominent place on the board of public
works. Fraternally Mr. Bechtel belongs to the B. P. 0. E., and in
religion he is a member of the Memorial Reformed Church.
p. 463
Surnames: BECHTEL, RAUCH, KAUFMAN, ZIMMERMAN, NOLL, RAUCH, HUFF,
MENSCH, MOYER, HEISTAND, BENFIELD, ROHRBACH, GERNAND, GERY, BERKEY,
BIDDENBENDER, YOUNG
Daniel Bechtel, merchant at Huff's Church, in Hereford township,
was born at Bechtel's Mill, in District township, the original
Bechtel homestead, March 9, 1846.
Peter Bechtel, great-grandfather of Daniel R.,
was an early settler of East District township, in Berks county.
Prior to 1774 he had settled there, and in 1790 he was the owner of
much land. He died about 1794, and is buried in the cemetery on the
farm now owned by David B. Rauch. This was a private burial ground
where many Mennonites were buried. It is now in a dilapidated
condition, but some of the tombstones are still standing. The
Kaufman, Zimmerman, Noll, and Johan Friedrich Huff and wife graves
are in good condition. Most of the burials here took place prior to
1812 when Huff's church and its cemetery were established. Peter
Bechtel had a number of children.
Jacob Bechtel, son of Peter, was born during the
war of the Revolution. He was a man of more than ordinary
intelligence and enterprise, and was the owner of considerable
land. He and his wife attended the Mennonite church at what is now
Bally. They are buried in the cemetery on the Rauch farm. They had
four children: Polly m. Abraham Mensch; Susanna m. Henry Moyer;
Elizabeth m. Jonas Heistand; and John.
John Bechtel, son of Jacob, was born at the
Bechtel Mill homestead in District township, April 29, 1805, and he
died May 10, 1876. He became a farmer and miller. The property
contains about 200 acres of land. The present frame mill was built
in 1769, and is still in good condition, and used for milling
purposes. The sawmill attached to the property is now operated by
Frank Benfield. The present barn was built by John Bechtel in 1860,
and the stone house by Jacob Bechtel. John Bechtel was a man very
well known in his section, and he was always active for the best
interests of the community. He and his family were Lutheran members
of Huff's Church. John Bechtel married Maria Rohrbach, born June
17, 1813, daughter of George Rohrbach, and she died April 18, 1865.
Their children were: Henry, John, Annie, Betzy, Sarah, Susanna,
Maria, Catharine, George and Daniel R.
Daniel R. Bechtel was educated in the township
schools and his home training was along agricultural lines. In 1871
he began clerking in the general store of William Gernand, of
Breinigsville, Pa., where he remained one year. In 1872 he went to
Zionsville, in Lehigh county, where he bought out Frank N. Gery,
and he conducted the store four years. In 1876 he located at Huff's
Church, in Berks county, where he has built up a fine business,
carrying on a general store to the present time, a period of
thirty-two years. His stock is good and his customers are always
well pleased. He resides in a large brick residence which he built
in 1890. The well kept lawn adds to the attractive appearance of
this, one of the finest places in the township.
In politics Mr. Bechtel is a Republican, and
from 1876 to 1890 he was postmaster at Huff's Church. He and his
family are Lutheran members of Huff's Church. Mr. Bechtel married
Sally Ann Biddenbender, daughter of Samuel and Catharine (Berkey)
Biddenbender, and granddaughter of Jacob and Susanna (Young)
Biddenbender.
p. 836
Surnames: BECHTEL, REESE, ROTHERMEL, HIGH
Among the well-known citizens of Cumru township, Berks county, may
be mentioned Mr. Frederick R. Bechtel, who now lives retired on the
farm upon which he was born, Sept. 17, 1830, son of Christian and
Julia (Reese) Bechtel, Christian Bechtel was born on the old
homestead in Cumru township, Feb. 11, 1786, and died April 11,
1839, having been a successful farmer throughout his life. He was
an old-line Whig in politics, and was very patriotic and
public-spirited. Mr. Bechtel married Julia Reese, daughter of a
Revolutionary soldier, and to them were born three children:
Benneville, who died in childhood; Charles, who died when eleven
years old; and Frederick R.
Frederick R. Bechtel obtained his primary
education in the common schools of his native locality, and later
attended select schools in Reading. His youthful days were spent on
the farm, where in 1858 he commenced operations on his own account,
continuing there with much success until his retirement in 1885.
Since that time he has lived at the homestead, which had been built
by his grandfather, Christian Bechtel, the house, being in
excellent condition and apparently good for another century. The
homestead, which includes 127 acres, is one of the best in the
county, and has been in the possession of the Bechtel family since
before the Revolutionary war. In politics, Mr. Bechtel is a
Republican, and for three years he served his township as school
director. He is a member and regular attendant of Trinity Lutheran
Church, of Reading.
On May 24, 1857, Mr. Bechtel was married to
Esther R. High, born Sept. 7, 1833, daughter of Daniel and Esther
(Rothermel) High. To Mr. and Mrs. Bechtel four children have been
born: Miss Emma, at home; Charles H., living at Lake, Idaho; John
H., one of the proprietors of the Neversink Planing Mill of
Reading; and Miss Sarah Esther, at home.
p. 1643
Surnames: BECHTEL, ESHBACH, NOLL, BAER, ROTH, STAUFFER, LATSHAW,
DOTTERER, HUBER, HELLER, BRUNNER, BITZ, REIF, JOHNSON, HOCH, BARTO,
SASSAMAN, KEHL, OBERHOLTZER, SPRINGER, ERDMAN, PENNEPACKER,
FRONHEISER, CLEAVER, KOCH, FRY, ZUBER, MOYER, HEMS, RENNINGER
Hiram C. Bechtel, a resident of Washington township, Berks county,
living near Eshbach Crossing was born April 24, 1851, on the old
farm of his grandfather, Gerhard S. Eshbach. He is a descendant of
the old Bechtel family which came to America from the German
Palatinate.
On Aug. 24, A. D. 1728, eighty Palatinates with
their families, in all 205 persons, who shortly before, after a
seventy days' voyage, had arrived with the ship "Mortonhouse," from
Deal, Captain John Coultas, in the harbor of Philadelphia, appeared
in the halls of justice in Philadelphia to render the oath of
allegiance to the Crown of England, declaring it to be their
intention to settle themselves in Pennsylvania. The company
consisted of eighty men, and sixty-nine women over sixteen years of
age, and fifty-six children. Among the names of the adults
belonging to this company of immigrants we find the name of (I)
George Bechtel, the presumable father of Isaac and Gerhard Bechtel,
heading the list. Tradition tells us he came from Weinheim,
Germany.
The large German family Bible of George Bechtel
is yet in existence. The Bible came into the hands of Gerhard
Bechtel and is now in the possession of one of his descendants. On
the fly-leaf of the Bible is written this note in German: "Diese
Biebel ist gedruckt in Deutschland im Jahr 1720. Im Jahr 1730 ist
sic George Bechtel von seinem Vater von Deutschland nach Amerika
geschickt worden. Zwischen den Jahren 1750 und 1760 bekam sic
Gerhard Bechtel."
In the course of time the early history of the
family has been so much effaced and is so much obscured in the
mists of the past that a clear conception and an unerring
presentation of the facts are now wellnigh impossible. It would
give us much satisfaction if our ancestors, from the time they
immigrated into this country, had kept a record of their family and
church affairs. On the list of immigrants who came in the same ship
with George Bechtel we find the names of Noll, Baer, Roth,
Stauffer, Latshaw, Dotterer, Huber, Heller, Brunner, all familiar
names to us and whose descendants in part reside with us here in
Eastern Pennsylvania.
(II) Isaac Bechtel was a farmer and miller, and had his home in and
near Bechtelsville, now in Washington township, Berks county, Pa.
Bechtelsville was laid out by his son John S. Bechtel. Isaac
Bechtel and his two wives are buried in the old Hereford Mennonite
graveyard near Bally, Washington township, Berks county. His
tombstone bears the following inscription:
Hier ruhen die gebeine des verstorbenen Isaac' Bechtel's er
wurde geboren den 23ten tag Jany, A. D. 1751, und ist gestorben den
3ten tag April im Jahr, 1820, er brachte sein alter auf 68 Jahre, 9
monat und 10 tage. Selig sind die toden die im Herren
sterben.
Isaac Bechtel was twice married, his first
marriage being to Esther Stauffer (1757-1805), and his second
Barbara Bitz. There were no children by the latter union. By his
first wife he had a family of fourteen: Jacob S., born Oct. 9, 1774
(married Anna W. Bechtel); S.. born Sept. 22, 1776 (married Abraham
Eshbach); Elizabeth S., born Nov. 14, 1778 (married Peter Eshbach);
Nancy S., born Nov. 2, 1780 (married Joseph Reif); Susan S., born
Oct. 6. 1782 (married William Johnson); Catherine S., born Oct. 5,
1784 (married John Bahr): John S. born Feb. 21, 1786 (married Maria
Hoch); George S., born Feb. 22, 1788 (married Miss Barto); Sally
S., born Dec. 25, 1789 (married Henry Sassaman); Isaac S., born
Oct. 18, 1791 married (first) Polly Sassaman and (second) Betzy
Kehl); Polly S., born Aug. 30, 1793, (married Henry Oberholtzer);
Abraham S., born July 20, 1795 (married (first) Nancy Bechtel and
(second) Hettie Springer); Gerhard S., born May 3, 1797, is
mentioned farther on; David S., born Sept. 14, 1799, died Feb. 28,
1800.
(III) Gerhard S. Bechtel, son of Isaac Bechtel, was born May 3,
1797, and died Oct. 8, 1881. By occupation he first learned the
milling trade, and afterward was a carpenter, undertaker and
farmer. As undertaker he had charge of hundreds of funerals in his
time in the lower end of the county. He and his assistants made the
coffins by hand as needed. For many years he was landlord of the
"Washington Hotel" at Eshbach. He was a member of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church, and worshipped at St. Joseph's Church, commonly
known as Hill Church, in Pike township, Berks county. He is buried
in the family lot in the cemetery near the church. Gerhard S.
Bechtel was three times married. By his first wife, Maria Erdman,
he had four children: Lydia E., born April 2, 1818, died Aug. 2,
1852 (married John M. Stauffer, who was sheriff of Montgomery
county from 1859 to 1862, and they had children, Elvina, Jacob B..
Mary and Wesley B. Of these, Jacob B. was a soldier in. the Civil
war and is now a clerk in the adjutant-general's office at
Harrisburg, Pa.); Mary E., born Oct. 23, 1821, died Feb. 19, 1878
(married Jesse B. Pennepacker, and had one child, Amos B.);
Elizabeth E., born Aug. 4, 1826, died March 15, 1871, married
George M. Eshbach, and had children, Mary, Henry, Amanda, Emma,
Peter, Jeremiah, Diana, George, Lovina, Jesse and Kate B.; Levi E.
is mentioned farther on.
By his second marriage, to Mary H. Fronheiser,
Mr. Bechtel had one child, Jesse F. Bechtel, who is fully mentioned
elsewhere in this work. To his third marriage, with Christian
Gruber, were born three children, Abraham, Amanda and Catharine G.,
all of whom are deceased.
(IV) Levi E. Bechtel, son of Gerhard S. and Maria (Erdman) Bechtel,
was born at Eshbach, Berks county, Dec. 24, 1823, and died Dec. 26,
1905, aged eighty- two years, two days. He is buried at Boyertown,
Pa. He was a prosperous man, engaging in several lines of business
besides farming, in which he was also successful. He bought an
excellent 109 acre farm in Washington township, one mile east of
Eshbach, from the William Stauffer estate, and there lived and
farmed until 1898, when he retired to a tract which he had
improved, along the Schultzville road. He built a stone house on
this place in 1887 and occupied it until his death. Mr. Bechtel
also owned a forty-one acre place adjoining his large farm. He
conducted undertaking establishments at Eshbach and Gabelsville,
and was also in the wood and lumber business, cutting down trees;
he gave employment to about eight men in this line.
In 1850 Mr. Bechtel married Catharine Cleaver,
daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Koch) Cleaver, and granddaughter of
Isaac Cleaver. Mrs. Bechtel is now living near her son Hiram, on
the Schultzville road, in Washington township. Eleven children were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Bechtel: Hiram C.; Amos, who died young;
Lovina (married Edward Stauffer, of Bechtelsville); Amanda (married
John Fry, of Washington township); Sarah (married John Zuber, of
Reading Mary; Lizzie (married William Moyer, of Reading Catharine,
who died young; Olivia (married to Horace Hems, of Eshbach); Frank,
of Philadelphia, where he is engaged as a mechanic (married Emma
Renninger); and Edwin C., also a mechanic of Philadelphia, who
married Mary Bechtel (not a near relative). Mr. Bechtel and his
family were members of the Lutheran Church at Boyertown, of which
he served as trustee for some years, being prominent in the church
as he was in everything else which interested him.
(V) Hiram C. Bechtel began his education in the Oberholtzer public
school, where he attended for two winters. His parents then moved
to the Gerhard Bechtel farm at Gablesville, where the family lived
for seven years, during which time Hiram C. Bechtel attended school
in that neighborhood and went two terms to Isaac B Hankey's
Kallynean Academy, Boyertown. The Bechtels then moved to the
adjoining farm owned by Jacob Bechtel. And after a six years'
residence at that place moved to the 109- acre farm in Washington
township which Levi F. Bechtel purchased from the William Stauffer
estate. When he was eighteen years old, Hiram C. Bechtel commenced
to learn the millwright's trade, serving his apprenticeship under
Frederick Glaes. He was employed at such work for eight years, when
he began farming on his father's forty-one acre tract, cultivating
that place for three years at the end of which time he bought the
Jacob Latshaw homestead, which is located on the Schultzville road,
near Eshbach. The place consists of six acres of valuable land and
a comfortable dwelling, which Mr. Bechtel remodeled in 1893. He has
a very attractive home, nicely located.
Mr. Bechtel has, worked at his trade for many
years, having followed it for seventeen years in the employ of the
Wolf Company, of Chambersburg, Pa., his work taking him into New
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and
Indiana. Since 1903 he has been building mills on his own account,
commanding the greater share of the patronage in Macungie and the
adjacent portions of Lehigh county.
On Jan. 24, 1874. Mr. Bechtel was married to
Catharine Funk, daughter of Samuel and Judith (Conrath) Funk, of
New Jerusalem, Berks county, and they are the parents of five
children Agnes F., wife of Harry B. Becker, of Fagleysville,
Montgomery Co, Pa.; Amos F., unmarried, who follows millwrighting,
traveling all over the United States; Annie F.; Alice F., married
to Samuel H. Moser, son of Henry Z. Moser; and Ammon F., at home.
This family are members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
at Boyertown. Mr. Bechtel is a Republican in politics, and in
fraternal connection a member of Columbus Lodge, No. 75, I. O. 0.
F.. of Chambersburg.
p. 515
Surnames: BECHTEL, HIMMELWRIGHT, KIEL, KECK, LATSHAW, RUSSELL
Irwin H. Bechtel, a successful and progressive merchant at Bally,
in Washington township, Berks county, was born Jan. 7, 1866, son of
William B. Bechtel, and he died May 16, 1902.
William B. Bechtel was born June 20, 1835. He
was the first merchant to open a general store in Bally, and after
carrying on the business until 1898, sold it and the premises to
his son, while he himself engaged in the manufacture of paper,
under the name of the West Branch Paper Mill, in a mill located
three miles east of the town, and this he continued until his
death, July 15, 1903. He established the postoffice at Bally; it
has continued in the store until the present time. He was active in
church life, belonging to the New Mennonite Church, which he served
officially many years. He married Elizabeth Himmelwright daughter
of John and Maria (Kiel) Himmelwright, of near Bally, and they had
One son, Irwin H. Bechtel.
Irwin H. Bechtel was educated in the public
schools and in the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown. He was
licensed to teach by Prof. D. S. Keck, county superintendent, and
he taught two terms in Washington township-one term at Dale and the
other at Bally. His father then took him into the store, where he
gained practical knowledge of the mercantile business under his
father's guidance, and in 1898 became the purchaser of the
business, conducting it until his death.
Mr. Bechtel and his family were members of the
New Mennonite Church at Bally. For some years he was assistant
superintendent of the Sunday-school, and then became
superintendent, which position he filled in a most satisfactory
manner until his decease, ably assisted by his wife.
On Oct. 3, 1893, Mr. Bechtel married Mary
Latshaw, daughter of Samuel B. Latshaw, and two children were born
of this union, Stanley Latshaw and Irwin Russell. Since her
husband's decease, Mrs. Bechtel has carried on the business in a
most satisfactory manner, serving also as Postmistress.
pp. 523 & 524
Surnames: BECHTEL, NOLL, BAER, ROTH, STAUFFER, LATSHAW, DOTTERER,
HUBER, HELLER, BRUNNER, ESCHBACH, REIF, JOHNSON, HOCH, BAHR, BARTO,
SASSAMAN, KEHL, SPRINGER, FRONHEISER, GRUBER, BITZ, PENNEPACKER,
CLEAVER, WIEAND, GANSZ, RENNINGER, HANKEY, BRUNNER, KECK, ZECHMAN,
RAPP
Jesse F. Bechtel, of Colebrookdale township, Berks county, has long
held an honored place in the educational world as a teacher, his
enthusiasm and magnetic personality winning his pupils and carrying
them bravely forward along the path to knowledge.
The Bechtel family came to America from the
German Palatinate. "On Aug. 24, 1728, eighty Palatines with their
families, in all 205 persons, who shortly before, after a seventy
days' voyage had arrived in the ship 'Mortonhouse' from Deal, Capt.
John Coultas, in the harbor of Philadelphia, appeared in the Halls
of Justice in Philadelphia to render the oath of allegiance to the
Crown of England, declaring it to be their intention 'to settle
themselves in Pennsylvania.' The company consisted of eighty males
and sixty-nine females upward of sixteen years of age, and
fifty-six children. Among the names of the adults belonging to this
company of emigrants we find the name of (I) George Bechtel,
presumably the father of Isaac and Gerhard Bechtel, heading the
list." Tradition says he came from Weinheim, Germany.
The large German family Bible of George Bechtel
is yet in existence. The Bible came into the hands of Gerhard
Bechtel, and is now in the possession of one of his descendants. On
the fly-leaf is written this note in German: "Diese Biebel ist
gedruckt in Deutschland im Jahr 1720. Im Jahr 1730 ist sie George
Bechtel von Seinem Vater von Deutschland nach Amerika geschickt
worden. Zwischen den Jahren 1750 und 1760 bekam sic Gerhard
Bechtel."
"In the course of time the early history of
the family has been so obscured in the mists of the past that a
clear conception and an unerring presentation of the facts are
well-nigh impossible. Among the lists of emigrants who came over in
the same ship with George Bechtel are found the names of Noll,
Baer, Roth, Stauffer, Latshaw, Dotterer, Huber, Heller, Brunner,
many of whose descendants still reside in eastern
Pennsylvania."
(II) Isaac Bechtel became a farmer and miller, and had his home in
and near Bechtelsville, now in Washington Township. Pa.
Bechtelsville was laid out by his son, John S. Bechtel. Isaac
Bechtel and both of his wives are buried in the old Hereford
Mennonite graveyard near Bally, Washington township, Berks county,
Pennsylvania. His tombstone bears the following inscription:
Hier ruhen die gebeine des verstorbenen isaac Bechtel's er wurde
geboren den 23ten tag Juny A. D. 1751, und ist gestorben den 3ten
tag April im Jahr 1820, er brachte sein alter auf 68 Jahre, 9 monat
und 10 tage. Selig sind die toden die im Herren sterben.
Isaac Bechtel married (first) Esther Stauffer (1757-1805), and to
this marriage were born fourteen children: Jacob S., born Oct. 9,
1774, in. Anna W. Bechtel; Mary S., born Sept. 22, 1776, m. Abraham
Eschbach; Elizabeth S., born Nov. 14, 1778, m. Peter Eschbach;
Nancy S., born Nov. 2, 1780, m. Joseph Reif; Susan S., born Oct..
6, 1782, m. William Johnson; Catherine S., born Oct. 15, 1784 m.
John Bahr; John S., born Feb. 21, 1788, m. Maria Hoch; George S.,
born Feb. 22, 1788, m. (first) Miss Barto, and (second) - ; Sally
S., born Dec. 25, 1789, m. Henry Sassaman; Isaac S., born Oct. 18,
1791, m. (first) Polly Sassaman, and (second) Betzy Kehl; Polly S.,
born Aug. 30, 1793, m. Henry Oberholtzer; Abraham S., born July 20,
1795, m. (first) Nancy Bechtel, and (second) Hettie Springer;
Gerhard S., born May 3, 1797, in. (first) Maria Erdman, (second)
Mary H. Fronheiser, and (third) Christina Gruber; and David S.,
born Sept. 14, 1799, died Feb. 28, 1800. Isaac Bechtel M. (second)
Barbara Bits. To this union no children were born.
(III) Gerhard S. Bechtel, son of Isaac, born May 3, 1797, died Oct.
8, 1881. By occupation he was a carpenter, undertaker and farmer.
As undertaker he had charge of hundreds of funerals in his time in
the lower end of the county. He and his assistants made the coffins
by hand as needed. For many years he was landlord of the
"Washington Hotel" at Eschbachs. He was a member of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church, and worshipped at St. Joseph's Church, commonly
known as Hill Church, Pike township, Berks county, and he is buried
in the family lot in the cemetery near the church. He married Maria
Erdman, and they had four children, as follows: (1) Lydia E., born
April 2, 1818, died Aug. 2, 1852, m. John M. Stauffer, sheriff of
Montgomery county from 1859-62, and their children were: Elvina,
Jacob B. (a soldier in the Civil war and now a clerk in the
Adjutant General's office, Harrisburg, Pa.), Mary and Wesley B. (2)
Mary E., born Oct. 23, 1821, died Feb. 19, 1878, m. Jesse B.
Pennepacker, and they had one child, Amos B. (3) Elizabeth E., born
Aug. 4, 1826, died March 15, 1871, in. George M. Eschbach. and had
children: Mary, Henry, Amanda, Emma, Peter, Jeremiah, Diana,
George, Lovina, Jesse and Kate B. (4) Levi E., born Dec. 23, 1823,
died Dec. 25, 1905, m. Catharine Cleaver, and became the father of
Hiram, Amos, Lovina, Amanda, Mary, Catharine, Sarah, Lizzie,
Olivia, Frank and Edwin C. Gerhard S. Bechtel m. (second) Mary H.
Fronheiser, and the only child of this union is Jesse F. Bechtel,
born Sept. 16, 1852. Gerhard S. Bechtel m. (third) Christina
Gruber, and their three children, Abraham, Amanda and Catharine G.,
are all deceased.
(IV) Jesse F. Bechtel, son of Gerhard S. and Mary H. (Fronheiser),
born Sept. 116 1852, at Eschbachs, in Washington township, married,
Sept. 23, 1876, Mary A. W. Pennepacker, born June 19, 1856,
daughter of Eli and Sarah (Wieand) Pennepacker, a distant relative
of ex-Gov. Samuel Pennypacker. Four children have blessed this
union: (1) Marie Cordelia P., born July 8, 1877, is at home. (2)
Jesse Luther P., born Dec. 30, 1878, graduated from the
Philadelphia Business College and College of Commerce, and is now
employed by the Boyertown Casket Company, in their store at
Philadelphia. He married Anna C. Gansz. (3) Grace Agnes P., born
Dec. 17, 1880, married Harry B. Renninger, and has one child, Mae
B. Renninger. (4) Abram Grant P., born March 2, 1887, is a graduate
of the Pottstown Business College, and is now at home.
Jesse F. Bechtel has resided at Gabelsville, in
Colebrookdale township, since 1880, in which year he built his
present home. At about the age of seven years he came to
Colebrookdale township to live with his uncle Jesse B. Pennepacker,
with whom he made his home for ten or twelve years, working on the
farm in summer and attending the public schools in winter. During
the fall of 1870 he attended the Kallynean Academy at Boyertown,
Prof. I. B. Hankey, principal. The same year he was licensed to
teach, receiving his first certificate from the late D B. Brunner,
the Superintendent of Public Schools of Berks county. He taught his
first term 1870-71 in Pike township near Hill Church. During the
summer of 1871 he again attended the Academy. He has taught in all
thirty-six terms, all with the exception of the first term, in
Colebrookdale township, having been engaged at the Cleaver's,
Gabelsville and Weisstown schools, and in several families he has
taught three generations. He has taught under the following county
superintendents: Brunner, Baer, Keck, Zechman and Rapp. Since 1887
he has held a Permanent Certificate, and since 1893 he has been a
member of the Berks county Teachers' Reading Union. For three
years, 1872-75, he was a clerk in a general store--one year at
Pikeville and two years at Gabelsville.
Mr. Bechtel is a member of St. John's
Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Boyertown, where for more than ten
years he has served as elder, and since 1897 as secretary of the
Church council. He has represented his church as lay delegate to
the meetings of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and adjacent States
at Lancaster in 1897, Easton. 1902, Philadelphia, 1903, and
Allentown, 1908. For nineteen years he has been superintendent of
the Sunday-school (Union) at Gabelsville. In politics he is a
Republican, and he has been a delegate to a number of County
conventions, twice a State delegate, and for twenty-four years
committeeman for Colebrookdale township. From 1894 to 1899 he
served as justice of the peace, and in 1880, 1890 and 1900 he was
census enumerator. Mr. Bechtel has a fine collection of Indian
relics, numbering some 1,600 specimens, and most of these were
found in the immediate vicinity of his home in what is known as the
Popodickon Valley (named for the Indian chief who once lived
there). He also possesses a unique Washington button, made many
years ago. It bears the motto "Long live the President"; along the
outside are the initials of the thirteen colonies. In the inner
circle are the initials G. W. He finds great pleasure in his well
chosen library, and takes a great interest in local history.
The first, Bechtel Reunion was held Sept. 23,
1897, in the old Hereford Mennonite Meeting-house (since then
replaced by a new structure). The original meeting house there was
built in 1755, and its quaint appearance indicated its great age.
It was a low wooden building a little larger than an ordinary
school house. The joists upon which the roof rested extended far
over the sides of the building. This venerable building was
occupied by the Old Mennonites, who held services there over 140
years. Many of the descendants of the first Bechtels worshipped
there. Among the ministers who served this congregation are a
number named Bechtel; in fact, the family has supplied a minister
from almost every generation.
p.
1674
Surnames: BECHTEL, KOCH, FRANCIS, BAUSHER, NEWELL
Oliver Koch Bechtel, who has been successfully engaged in the ice
business in Reading since 1895, was born July 22, 1857, in Pike
township, Berks county Pa., son of George and Barbara (Koch)
Bechtel, and grandson of Abraham Bechtel, of Pike township.
George Bechtel, who was a lifelong farmer of
Berks county, died in August, 1899, at the age of seventy-two
years, while his widow, who survives him, is now in her
eighty-fourth year. They were the parents of five children: Frank,
William, Oliver K., Amelia, deceased, who married Mahlon Francis,
and Mary, deceased. In religious belief the family were all
connected with the Reformed Church. Mr. Bechtel was a Democrat in
political matters.
Oliver K. Bechtel received his education in the
public schools of his native locality, and was reared upon his
father's farm, on which he worked until 1889, on March 29th of
which year he came to Reading and found employment in the brick
yard of Thomas B. Bausher, where he continued six years. In 1895
Mr. Bechtel engaged in the ice business, starting work with two
wagons, and to such an extent has his business grown that he now
has six two-horse and one single-horse wagons, and employs seven
men. Mr. Bechtel is a thorough business man.
Mr. Bechtel was united in marriage with Sarah
Newell, daughter of the late Henry Newell and to them were born
four children: Charles, a professional baseball player; Henry,
connected with the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company;
Archie, who is engaged in assisting his father; and Eddie, also
connected with the Pennsylvania & Reading Railroad Company.
Religiously the family are members of the Reformed Church. Mr.
Bechtel is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Knights of
Friendship.
p. 1204
Surnames: BECHTEL, ADDAMS, HOCH, KRICK, HECK, SIEDEL, REESER,
OYSTER, LORAH, TRATE, DAVIS, BRUNNER, HEINZ, HELLER, FICHTHORN,
HELLER, LUTZ
Richard D. Bechtel, a real estate dealer of Oakbrook, Cumru
township, Berks county, is of the fifth generation of a family that
has lived in that immediate vicinity continuously since 1771, and
that has always been found in the forefront of progressive
movements for the community.
Of Dutch origin, the progenitor of the American
branch, John George Freid Bechtel, came from Holland on the
"Pennsylvania Packet," landing at Philadelphia June 17, 1771. He
soon chose Cumru township as his location, and his descendants have
remained there ever since. Four sons were born to him, namely:
John; Jacob, of Cumru township; Daniel, of the same locality,
father of Thomas, Lydia, Catherine, Anna and Elmira; and Christian,
also of Cumru township, father of one son Fred, who is still living
on some of the original Bechtel land, at Brookside.
John Bechtel was born Nov. 3, 1779, and died
Jan. 17, 1847, aged sixty-seven years, two months and fourteen
days. He was the owner of considerable land, most of it now covered
with modern residences. He married Dec. 13, 1801, Magdalena Addams,
daughter of the founder of Adamstown. She was born July 4, 1778,
and lived to an advanced age. She bore her husband children as
follows: Susan, born April 24, 1804, m. A. Hoch; Richard A.;
Catherine, born Oct. 18, 1807, m. Jacob Krick, a Spring township
farmer; Elizabeth, born March 7, 1809, m. John Heck, a farmer in
Cumberland county: John, born June 29, 1810, m. Miss Amelia Siedel,
of Gibraltar, Pa.; Sarah, born March 26, 1812, m. John Reeser, a
farmer at Milltown, Cumberland county; and Hannah. born Feb. 22,
1814, m. David Oyster, a farmer at Whitehall, Cumberland county.
Richard A. Bechtel was one of the large
landowners and prominent men of Cumru township, his life there
covering the period between April 10, 1805 and July 25, 1861. A
portion of his property was the section now known as Oakbrook. He
was married to Miss Rachel Lorah, who lived to the age of sixty-six
years. They had two children only, George L. and John L., the
latter of whom was born March 1, 1841, and married Miss Catherine
Trate.
George L Bechtel was born Jan. 20, 1839, and
lived only to the age of thirty- one years, dying Nov. 26, 1810. He
was a man of standing in the community, much liked and esteemed,
and his premature death was felt to be a general loss. A farmer by
calling, he owned a place of fifty-seven acres, twenty of which was
still woodland. He married in 1862 Catherine Janette, daughter of
Rufus Davis, and they had four children, namely: Sallie, born July
17, 1863, died Sept. 25, 1891; Jennie, March 31, 1863 died Jan. 29,
1890; Laura, Aug. 10, 1867, died April 1, 1895; and Richard D.
Richard D. Bechtel has already made himself a
place of importance among his fellow-townsmen, although still
comparatively young, the date of his birth being Nov. 1, 1869. He
was given a good education, attending first the public schools and
then an academy in Reading conducted by Prof. D. B. Brunner. He
began to work early and chose the trade of painter and paperhanger,
at which he was engaged for some years, but in 1891 he gave that up
in order to enter upon the real estate business. He and Henry B.
Heinz formed the firm of Bechtel & Heinz, with offices at No.
518 Washington street, Reading. and for eleven years did a large
amount of business in Reading real estate. But in 1902 Mr. Bechtel
withdrew from the firm and gave his attention almost wholly to
developing the suburb of Oakbrook, where he himself now resides. He
owned a tract of thirty-seven acres there, of great value, lying
along the trolley line of the Mohnton and Adamstown road. He cut
this into building lots and most of them are now occupied by good
residences. Mr. Bechtel is a splendid business man, progressive in
his methods, and has done remarkably well.
Mr. Bechtel married, Oct. 9, 1896, Miss
Catherine Fichthorn, daughter of James and Mary (Heller) Fichthorn,
and a granddaughter of George and Hannah (Lutz) Fichthorn. Mr. and
Mrs. Bechtel have three children. May R., Catherine M. and George
R. Mr. Bechtel. with his wife, is a member of Yocomus Union Church.
Politically he is a Republican, active in his district and with
considerable influence. He has served his district officially as
registry assessor, and in 1909 was elected tax collector of Cumru
township.
p. 840
Surnames: BECK, SIMMONS, JOHNSON, WORLEY
George Slater Beck, a well-known and popular resident of Reading,
Pa., was born in Armagh township, Mifflin Co., Pa., May 13, 1854.
His education, and it is liberal, has been acquired mostly in the
great school of the world, he having run away from home and gone
into the United States Marine Corps when only seventeen years of
age. During his enlistments, covering four years, a portion of
which time he served as paymaster's steward of the U. S. S.
"Richmond", he circumnavigated the globe twice, and returned to the
"Land of the Free" fully as well equipped to cope with the world as
any of his boy friends who had remained at home attending school.
He has always been
a student of men and things, cause and effect, and, developing into
a writer of great force and strong descriptive power, he was not
long in drifting into newspaper circles, where his reportorial work
was of such character and his "scoops" so frequent that he is
generally known as "Cyclone Beck", among newspaper reporters, to
this day. In 1883 he engaged in the business of promoting
industrial editions of newspapers all over the United States, doing
his first work in that line on the Steubenville, Ohio, Gazette and
Bulletin. He has issued magnificent illustrated editions for 123
papers, including both the Herald and the Times, in Reading, Pa.,
the Canton, Ohio, Repository, the Cincinnati Inquirer, the San
Francisco Examiner and the New York World. His work in this line
attracted so much attention that he was called to manage the
advertising department of a syndicate of leading Western papers,
with offices in New York City, where he became noted as one of the
most successful advertising managers and publicity boomers in the
country.
Between 1898 and 1907 Mr. Beck made a snug
fortune in the medicine business, and in 1908 he became interested
in the Aguacate Gold Mine in company with Messrs. J. G. and W. F.
White, of New York City, and Don Rafael Yglesias, ex- president of
Costa Rica. This mine is located in Monte Del Aguacate, Costa Rica,
and is fast developing into one of the greatest gold mines the
world has ever known.
Success has not swelled Mr. Beck's head nor
hardened his heart. Since his return to Reading in 1902 to end his
days in the city where he wooed and won his present wife (nee Anna
Simmons, daughter of John Simmons, deceased) his hand has always
been out and his purse open to assist the worthy poor and
unfortunate. Most prominent among his benefactions have been those
to St. Joseph's, the Reading and the Homeopathic Hospitals, and the
orphans' homes of Reading, among which will be found nearly fifty
beds and furnishings for the free use of the poor, sterilizing
devices, wheel chairs and other paraphernalia, all of the very best
quality and most modern type, and all the free gifts of this
open-hearted man. The sisters and nurses all call him "Uncle
George", and hundreds who have profited by his kindness of heart
call him blessed.
Mr. Beck is the father of two daughters: Lillie,
the wife of J. Elwood Johnson, of Columbus, Ohio; and Ethel, living
at home, of whom his first wife, Mary Jane Worley, of Milroy, Pa.,
was the mother. He belongs to but one club, the Reading Press Club,
of which he is a charter member. First, last and all the time he is
a family man, devoted to his wife and daughters. His commodious
home is his club, where with his family, amid his books, paintings
and art treasures, it is his delight to receive and entertain his
many friends.