p. 872
Surnames: ESSER, GROSCUP GEEHR, KROLL, HUMBERT, OVERBECK, FISTER, WINK, DIEBERT, SCHWOYER, KLINE, BIEBER, FETHEROLF, SMITH, URICK, HILLEGAS
Among the prominent family names in the history of Kutztown is that of Esser. From the information at hand it appears that the family have lived in that vicinity for more than a hundred years past, and there is a tradition extant that the first house erected upon the site of Kutztown was built by an Esser.
The earliest American progenitor of this well-known family of which anything is definitely known is Jacob Esser, who was born December 29, 1758. He was a cabinet maker by occupation, and long had a shop and place of business in Kutztown. One of his specialties was making cases for the old style grandfather's clocks, and specimens of his handiwork are still preserved in some Berks county houses. He died August 24, 1845, and was buried in the graveyard of the old Lutheran and Reformed Church in Kutztown. He was a soldier during the Revolutionary war, and fought in the battle of the Brandywine. He served as a private in a Pennsylvania company, Paul Groscup, captain, and Balser Geehr, colonel. He first enlisted in 1776. This entitles his descendant Jacob B. Esser to all Revolutionary honors. The records of his military service are on file in the Bureau of Pensions at Washington.
This Jacob Esser married Anna Maria Kroll, of whom little is known beyond the fact that she was born March 23, 1767, in Greenwich township, Berks county, and grew to womanhood in that locality. She died January 4, 1851. For some years before her death she was totally blind but bore her affliction in meekness and patience, and her Christian graces are still warmly commended whenever her memory is recalled by those who knew her in the flesh. She also is buried in the graveyard of the Lutheran and Reformed Church. Jacob Esser and Anna Maria Kroll, his wife, had issue as follows: Jacob, Daniel, Samuel, Michael, Hannah and George. Daniel m. Elizabeth Humbert; Samuel m. Hannah Overbeck; Michael died unmarried; Hannah m. Jacob Overbeck and George m. Elizabeth Overbeck. The Essers and the Overbecks of this generation were quite effectually intermarried, Hannah and Elizabeth Overbeck being sisters of Jacob Overbeck.
Jacob Esser, the oldest child in the family of Jacob and Anna Maria (Kroll), was born October 9, 1792, in Maxatawny township, where he engaged at farming nearly all his working days. He married Sarah Fister, a daughter of George and Margaret Fister, and a member of another old representative Berks county family. He died January 20, 1860, and his wife October 20, 1870, both dying in the house now occupied by D. A. G. Wink, the house in which they were married. The remains of both are buried in the Hope cemetery, which adjoins the cemetery of the old Lutheran and Reformed Church.
To the union of Jacob and Sarah (Fister) Esser were born two children, namely: Charles W. and Mary. Mary m. Samuel Diebert, a merchant of Schuylkill Haven, by whom she had two children, both of whom are dead. Mr. And Mrs. Diebert are also deceased.
Charles W. Esser was born on the farm in Maxatawny township, but early in life learned the hat-maker's trade. After completing his trade he opened a store in Kutztown, using the back part as a shop in which to manufacture his goods and the front part as a salesroom. In politics he was a pronounced Democrat, and took great interest in party and public affairs. He was elected to the office of justice of the peace and several times was a candidate for nomination as sheriff, in which, though not successful, he always commanded a strong following. He was twice married. He first married Anna Maria Schwoyer (born March 12, 1832, died Jan. 15, 1859), by which union three children were born, two sons who died in infancy, and a daughter who grew to womanhood and married A. A. Kline, of Allentown. Mrs. Kline died in 1902, leaving issue two sons. Charles W. Esser m. second, Mary Bieber, daughter of John Bieber and Salome Fetherolf, his wife. Mary Bieber also was born in Maxatawny township, on Jan. 11, 1822, and was a member of one of the largest and most prominent families in this part of Pennsylvania. Charles W. Esser died Aug. 20, 1863; his wife, Mary (Bieber) Esser, survived him until Sept. 8, 1894. He and his two wives and his parents are buried on the same plot in the Hope cemetery.
To Charles W. and Mary (Bieber) Esser were born two children, namely: Sally M. (m. to Samuel Smith and lives in Kutztown), and Jacob B. Esser Jacob Bieber Esser was born Jan. 5, 1863, in the borough of Kutztown, where he grew to manhood and has spent nearly all his days. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and in the Keystone State Normal School, and selected for his life occupation the printer's trade, serving his apprenticeship with A. B. Urick in the office of the Kutztown Journal. After completing his apprenticeship he worked for two years as a journeyman in Philadelphia and for three years more in the city of New York, by which time he had acquired a thorough, practical knowledge of the art of printing. He then returned to Kutztown and in 1887 purchased the Kutztown Journal and the Kutztown Patriot, which two papers he has successfully conducted ever since. He gives every branch of his business close personal attention and under his energetic direction both papers have not only maintained the high prestige they enjoyed when they came into his possession, but have greatly increased in circulation and influence. His plant is complete and up-to-date in every respect, containing linotype, improved presses, folders and other modern machinery, and a very superior class of typographical work is turned out. The Journal is printed in German, the Patriot in English.
Mr. Esser is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen and has done much to forward the best interests of his community. For a period of three years he was chief burgess of the town; for nine years continuously was secretary of the former Kutztown Fair Association, and one of the leading spirits and first president of the new association, which has expended more than thirty thousand dollars for grounds and improvements. In the matter of politics he is a Democrat, both by inheritance and conviction, and has expended much time and labor for the success of his party. For six consecutive years he was a member of the Democratic county committee for Kutztown and for four of those years secretary of the committee. In 1903 he was elected assistant chairman of the Democratic county committee and the following year, its chairman, in which capacity he served acceptably until April, 1905. He has repeatedly been delegate to county and State conventions and one of the best proofs that his political course generally met the approval of his party is the fact that in 1901 he was nominated and elected clerk of the court of Quarter Sessions of Berks county, it being the first time that his name was ever presented for county office.
Fraternally Mr. Esser belongs to Huguenot Lodge, F. & A.M.; Excelsior Chapter, of Reading; Reading Commandery, Knights Templar; Rajah Temple of the Mystic Shrine; is a Thirty-Second degree Mason; a Knight of the Golden Eagle; and a Junior American Mechanic. He is also a member of the Reading Press Club and of the Pennsylvania State Editorial Association.
On Oct. 10, 1887, Mr. Esser married Miss Mary L. Hillegas, a daughter of John G. Hillegas, of Pennsburg, Montgomery county, and their union has been blessed with the following children: Florence O., Charles H., and Helen M.
p. 957
Surnames: ESSICK, BARR, MCFARLAND, MARCH, GREENWOOD, OBERHOLTZER, BARR, EBY
Joseph Wesley Essick, prominently engaged in the insurance business at Reading since 1894, was born at Royersford, Pa., in 1877, and there educated in the public schools until he was seventeen years old, when he located at Reading and engaged in the insurance business as the agent of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company of Boston, and he has continued to be its agent until the present time. His agency embraces nine counties ? Berks, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Lancaster ? and through his well-directed efforts he has developed his agency into the third largest in the State, the other two ahead of it being Philadelphia and Pittsburg; and in the volume of personal business he has made it the second largest, the first being at Pittsburg. During this time he has also represented the casualty lines of the Aetna Life Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn., for which Company he has also been very successful.
In 1901, Mr. Essick married Bessie H. Barr, daughter of William U. Barr, of Reading, chief clerk to the General Superintendent of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, and they have one child, Elizabeth McFarland. Their home is in the suburban town of Springmont, four miles west of Reading.
Mr. Essick's father is William Somerfield Essick, born in 1852, at Coventryville, in Chester county, and there educated and brought up on his father's farm where he remained until 1881, when he became the secretary of the Buckwalter Stove Company at Royersford, and he held this position for thirteen years. He then moved to Reading and filled the position of general manager of the Reading Stove Works for five years, when he became associated with his son Joseph W. in the insurance business, and has continued with his son until the present time, being in charge of the Harrisburg branch office, which he established at that place. He married Charlotte March, of Phoenixville (daughter of Hiram March and his wife, Esther Greenwood), and they have two children: Evelyn and Joseph Wesley.
Mr. Essick's grandfather was John Essick, Jr., of Philadelphia, a lineal descendant of Rudolph Essick who emigrated from Wittenberg, Germany, in 1760. His grandfather on his mother's side, Hiram March, was a son of Jacob March, of Chester county, and was married to Ellen Oberholtzer of same county. His wife's grandfather was Elias Barr, of Lancaster City. He married Anna Eby, daughter of Christian Eby, a descendant of Peter Eby who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1720 and settled in that section of the province which became Lancaster county.
p. 623
Surnames: ESTERLY, SNYDER, MILLER, QUIMBY, NOECKER, HOMAN, TAENZER
Daniel S. Esterly, a well known business man of Reading, and a member of the Board of Trade, was born in 1831, in Exeter township, Berks Co., Pa., son of Joseph Esterly, and grandson of Daniel Esterly, a blacksmith by trade, who followed that occupation in Exeter township, near the "Black Bear Hotel" where he died at an advanced age.
Joseph Esterly was born in Exeter township, and learned the blacksmith business of his father. He followed that trade for some time, later devoting his time to farming, and he continued at that occupation until his death, aged sixty-two years, well known and highly respected in his native community. He married Lydia Snyder, who died at the age of eighty-three years, and of their family, two children survive; Augustus, a farmer of Exeter township and Daniel S.
Daniel S. Esterly attended the schools of the place of his nativity until fifteen years of age, and then learned the cabinet makers' trade, which he followed a few years on Penn street, Reading. The work not proving congenial, Mr. Esterly engaged with the Reading Railroad in the car shops, and remained therein for about two and a half years, when he was transferred to Philadelphia, where he became car inspector. After nine and a half years in that position, Mr. Esterly returned to Reading and engaged in the produce business at No. 15 North Sixth street, in 1865, and later in 1868 took his brother Augustus as a partner. They later removed to the corner of Seventh and Penn streets, and continued business together at that stand until the spring of 1876. Their business became so prosperous that they had four private cars built, the first one, a four wheeler, being built at a cost of $400, and the second, an eight wheeler, at a cost of $350. In 1897 Mr. Esterly retired from the produce business and engaged in the wholesale grocery business at No. 818 Penn street, until 1901, when he retired. He was known as one of the largest commission merchants of Reading, his four cars running daily between Philadelphia and Reading. Mr. Esterly built his fine home in 1874, at No. 116 South Eighth street and there he has since resided.
Mr. Esterly married Mary Miller, daughter of Daniel Miller, a well known blacksmith, and she died in 1889, the mother of these children: Joseph, a grocer salesman, of Reading, m. Lavina Quimby, and has two children, Daniel and Joseph H.; and Clara A. m. George W. Noecker and has a son Alpheus (m. Carolina, daughter of Edward and Kate (Holman) Taenzer).
In politics Mr. Esterly is a democrat, and is a member of the board of health. He has been a member of the Reading Board of Trade for many years. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and been a deacon for fifteen years, and treasurer of the Baptist Association for the past fifteen years. Fraternally he is a member of Richmond Lodge No. 230. F. & A. M., of Philadelphia; the Good Fellows, No. 32 of Philadelphia; and also the Odd Fellows.
p. 1122
Surnames: ESTERLY, SNYDER, KANTNER, EPLER
Harry S. Esterly, a leading citizen of Reading, Pa., engaged in the manufacture of cakes, crackers and biscuit, with his brother, Romanus Esterly, under the firm name of the Reading Biscuit Company, also following the occupation of railway mail clerk, was born in Exeter township, in 1866, son of Henry and Sarah (Snyder) Esterly.
Harry S. Esterly attended the public schools and graded schools of Reading, and in 1882 and 1883 took a course at the Kutztown State Normal School. He began teaching school at the age of fifteen years, in Exeter township, continuing at this profession in all ten years. Mr. Esterly then took a civil service examination for the position of railway postal clerk, passing very high in rank, at Philadelphia in 1894. In October, 1895, Mr. Esterly began running between Philadelphia and Pottsville, and was considered one of the most faithful and efficient clerks in the mail service. He resigned in May, 1907, to give his entire attention to his business. In April, 1903, Mr. Esterly formed a partnership with his brother, Romanus, and since this time they have been engaged in the manufacture of crackers, cakes and biscuit, the firm style being The Reading Biscuit Company. In this venture the Messrs. Esterly have been very successful, and their patronage extends throughout the State.
Mr. Harry S. Esterly was married in April, 1905, to Miss Sallie E. Kantner, daughter of W. C. and Sarah (Epler) Kantner, of No. 103 South Sixth street, Reading, and they have one son, Franklin Kantner. They have their home at No. 143 South Eighth street. Mr. Esterly is a Mason, being connected with Blue Lodge No. 62, Consistory, and Rajah Temple, Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Sons of American and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. In politics he is a Democrat, and his religious connection is with Schwartzwald Lutheran Church.
p. 957
Surnames: ESSICK, BARR, MCFARLAND, MARCH, GREENWOOD, OBERHOLTZER, BARR, EBY
Joseph Wesley Essick, prominently engaged in the insurance business at Reading since 1894, was born at Royersford, Pa., in 1877, and there educated in the public schools until he was seventeen years old, when he located at Reading and engaged in the insurance business as the agent of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company of Boston, and he has continued to be its agent until the present time. His agency embraces nine counties ? Berks, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Lancaster ? and through his well-directed efforts he has developed his agency into the third largest in the State, the other two ahead of it being Philadelphia and Pittsburg; and in the volume of personal business he has made it the second largest, the first being at Pittsburg. During this time he has also represented the casualty lines of the Aetna Life Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn., for which Company he has also been very successful.
In 1901, Mr. Essick married Bessie H. Barr, daughter of William U. Barr, of Reading, chief clerk to the General Superintendent of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, and they have one child, Elizabeth McFarland. Their home is in the suburban town of Springmont, four miles west of Reading.
Mr. Essick's father is William Somerfield Essick, born in 1852, at Coventryville, in Chester county, and there educated and brought up on his father's farm where he remained until 1881, when he became the secretary of the Buckwalter Stove Company at Royersford, and he held this position for thirteen years. He then moved to Reading and filled the position of general manager of the Reading Stove Works for five years, when he became associated with his son Joseph W. in the insurance business, and has continued with his son until the present time, being in charge of the Harrisburg branch office, which he established at that place. He married Charlotte March, of Phoenixville (daughter of Hiram March and his wife, Esther Greenwood), and they have two children: Evelyn and Joseph Wesley.
Mr. Essick's grandfather was John Essick, Jr., of Philadelphia, a lineal descendant of Rudolph Essick who emigrated from Wittenberg, Germany, in 1760. His grandfather on his mother's side, Hiram March, was a son of Jacob March, of Chester county, and was married to Ellen Oberholtzer of same county. His wife's grandfather was Elias Barr, of Lancaster City. He married Anna Eby, daughter of Christian Eby, a descendant of Peter Eby who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1720 and settled in that section of the province which became Lancaster county.
p. 546
Surnames: ESTERLY, CLARK, HERBEIN, SNYDER, BODY, KEENER, DUNN, WERTZ, BROWN, LEVAN
Romanus Esterly, one of Reading's successful business men, and one of the proprietors of the Reading Biscuit Company, manufacturers of cakes, crackers and biscuits, located at No. 120 South Third street, was born in Exeter township, Berks Co., Pa., son of Henry Esterly, and grandson of John and Mary (Clark) Esterly. John Esterly, who was a farmer and blacksmith of Exeter township, died when eighty-three years of age, and his wife at the age of eighty-two years.
Henry Esterly attended the public schools of Exeter township, receiving a fair education, and early in life engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning a fine farm of 110 acres. He continued to operate in that township until 1903, in which year he removed to Mt. Penn, where he has since resided, retired from active business life. For one and one-half years, Mr. Esterly kept the old "Washington House" in Exeter township, conducting it under the name of the "Gechter's Hotel." He is known as an honest, upright citizen, and has the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come into contact. Mr. Esterly married Sarah, daughter of Peter and Mary (Herbein) Snyder, of Oley Valley, Berks county. The children born to this union were: John of Mt. Penn.; Harry S.; Romanus; Alice, m. to Howard Body; George, m. to Catherin Keener, of Reading; and Sallie, m. to Harvey Dunn. Henry Esterly is a Democrat in politics and for ten years was a school director in Exeter township. He is now serving as a member of the board of health of Mt. Penn, and as member of town council.
Romanus Esterly received his primary education in the public schools of Exeter township, where he supplemented with a course at Stoner's Business College, and subsequently attended Kutztown State Normal school in 1888 and 1889. The next four years he taught schools in his native township, and was then employed as a salesman with F. S. Wertz & Co., bakers, with whom he remained until they sold out to The National Biscuit Company. Mr. Esterly remained with the latter firm until this branch of the business was closed. In April 1903, Mr. Esterly, with his brother, H. S. formed a partnership, and since that time they have engaged successfully in the baking of cakes, crackers and biscuits under the firm name of the Reading Biscuit Company. They have a fine large four-story building at No. 120 Third street, 60 x 120, well equipped with all the latest machinery and improvements, employing forty-five skilled workmen. The firm works up an average of 125 barrels of flour weekly, and besides enjoying a good, steady local trade, ships the product throughout the surrounding country.
Mr. Romanus Esterly married Miss Sallie Brown, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Levan) Brown, and five children have been born to this union: Mabel, Sarah, Paul, Charles and Frances. In politics Mr. Esterly is a Democrat. He is connected with St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, serving as a deacon and as a teacher in the Sunday-school, and is a member of the Christian Endeavor. Mr. and Mrs. Esterly and their children make their home at No. 721 North Fourth street. Mr. Esterly has made his own way in the world, and his success is due to his native ability, his determination to succeed and his straightforward manner of doing business. He and his wife are highly esteemed in the community in which he has proved himself to be such a useful and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Esterly is a Mason, being connected with the Isaac Hiester Blue Lodge, No. 660.
p. 333
Surnames: EVANS, THOMAS, CHEW, KEENE, STILLE
Charles Evans, founder of the superb cemetery at Reading which bears his name, was born in Philadelphia, March 30, 1768. His parents were David Evans, of Philadelphia, and Letitia Thomas, of Radnor, both members of the Society of Friends. He received a good education, and when twenty years of age, entered the office of Benjamin Chew, Esq., a distinguished lawyer at Philadelphia, for the purpose of reading law. He was admitted to the Bar in June, 1791, and two months afterward went to Reading to practice law. In his profession he was faithful, capable and diligent. He continued in active business till 1828, and then retired with an ample fortune. In 1846 he founded the Charles Evans Cemetery, situated in Reading, and established it firmly by large donations of money and grants of property. He died Sept. 5, 1847, and was buried in the cemetery of his endowment. He married Mary Keene, daughter of Reynold Keene and Christiana Stille, his wife, both of Philadelphia. He was the first philanthrophist at Reading. Strange to say, notwithstanding this incentive to others who have been engaged in business at Reading and accumulated fortunes, not a single individual since then has been moved to make a similar gift, donation or grant for a public cause.
p. 711
Surnames: VAN REED, EVANS, THOMAS, YOST, BECHTEL, MILLER, BRIGHT, JONES, SPOHN, CARPENTER, SHEPP
Charles Van Reed Evans (deceased), who during the course of a long and useful life was a well-known and most highly esteemed resident of Berks county, conducting a farm in Heidelberg township, was born on the original Evans homestead in Cumru township, March 4, 1810. The Evans family, one of the early established families of Berks county, has contributed its share of prominent citizens in this section in peace and in war. Church-loving, law-abiding and God-fearing, the family has always been noted for the honesty and integrity of its members, some of: whom have filled positions of eminence in their day.
Three brothers named Evans emigrated from Wales about the year 1720, and landed at Philadelphia, whence all went prospecting through Pennsylvania, with the result that Daniel settled in Chester county, Philip (the ancestor of the family herein described) in Berks county, and the third in Montgomery county.
Joshua Evans, grandfather of Charles Van Reed Evans, was born in 1733, and his death occurred. in March. 1778, when he was aged forty-five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Thomas, was born July 1, 1746, and died in 1813, at the age of sixty-seven, after a widowhood of almost thirty-six years. They were the parents of the following children:. Thomas, Peninnah, Philip, Thomas, Mordecai, Sarah and Joshua. Mrs. Evans' parents, Philip Thomas and his wife, Esther, lived in East Vincent township, Chester Co., Pa., but they owned outlying land near Reading, upon which their daughter Mary and her husband, Joshua Evans, settled. By the will proved in Philadelphia Oct. 4, 1774, Philip Thomas wills this farm to Joshua Evans' son, Philip Thomas Evans. As previously stated, Joshua Evans and his wife continued to live on the farm, improved it, and built the stone farm house.
Philip Thomas Evans, father of Charles Van Reed Evans, was born on the old Evans homestead just mentioned, July 13, 1770, and he passed all his life on that place, dying there Sept. 26, 1835. On Feb. 1, 1801, he married Anna Elizabeth Van Reed, who was born Sept. 29, 1778, daughter of John and Eve (Yost) Van Reed; she died July 18, 1853, aged seventy-four years. They became the parents of children as follows: (1) Thomas Evans, born Jan. 7, 1803, died July 30, 1844, aged forty-one years, six months and twenty-three days. He m. Susan Bechtel, and lived eleven miles up Maiden Creek. (2) John V. R., born Jan. 29, 1804; died July 5, 1864, aged sixty years, five months, six days. He inherited the homestead. He m. Anne Miller. (3) Joshua, born Dec. 25, 1805, died Dec. 12, 1826, aged twenty years, eleven months, seventeen days. (4) Mary T, born Sept. 11, 1807, m. Peter Bright, and moved to Danville, Monitor Co., Pa. (5) Charles V. R. is mentioned farther on. (6) Abner, born Dec. 25, 1811, died May 21, 1816, aged four years, four months, twenty-six days. (7) Hannah was born Feb. 10, 1814. (8) Henry V. R., born Jan. 8, 1818, died Oct. 29, 1838, aged twenty years, nine months, twenty-one days. He inherited the mill property. (9) Anna Elizabeth, born May 10, 1821, m. Thomas H. Jones, who died in 1850. Mrs. Jones resides in Reading.
Charles Van Reed Evans was born March 4, 1810. He received his education in the common schools, the teacher being paid by the patrons of the school. He gave his time to his father on the farm, and with his patrimony purchased his farm in Lower Heidelberg, where he continued throughout his active days, following farming. He spent the last twenty years of his life in retirement, and died April 13, 1891, at the age of eighteen years, one month, three days, and was buried at Sinking Spring. He was a Republican in politics, and held a number of township offices, was frequently appointed administrator, executor and guardian, and was of well known integrity. In 1836 he married Maria Spohn, daughter of William and Catharine (Miller) Spohn, and to them were born a family of thirteen children, namely: Josiah S., a soldier in the Civil war, who served in the 90th Ohio regiment under Captain Carpenter, and died in a Southern hospital, Feb. 26, 1863; Margaret E.; Jane, who resides at No. 115 North Third street, Reading; Amanda, deceased; John H., m. to Margaret J. Van Reed; Maria C., Catharine, James, Sarah and Katie E., all deceased; P. Thomas, of Iowa. rn. to Sally H. Shepp; Annie S., who died Sept. 24, 1901; and Mordecai, who died young.
p. 1090
Surnames: EVANS, THOMAS
John Van Reed Evans was a lifelong farmer in Spring township, where he died July 5, 1864. He was born Jan. 29, 1804, son of Philip Thomas Evans, and a descendant of a Welsh emigrant who came to America in 1720.
The Evans family, so long represented in Berks county, has an enviable reputation for honesty and right living. Three brothers named Evans emigrated from Wales about the year 1720, and landed at Philadelphia, whence all went prospecting through Pennsylvania, with the result that Daniel settled in Chester county, Philip (the ancestor of John Van Reed Evans) in Berks county, and the third in Montgomery county.
Joshua Evans, grandfather of John Van Reed Evans, was born in 1733, and died in March, 1778, when he was aged forty-five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Thomas, was born July 1, 1746, and died in 1813, at the age of sixty-seven, after a widowhood of almost thirty-six years. They were the parents of the following children: Thomas, Peninnah, Philip Thomas, Mordecai, Sarah and Joshua. Mrs. Evans' parents, Philip Thomas and his wife Esther, lived in East Vincent township, Chester Co., Pa., but they owned outlying land near Reading, upon which their daughter Mary and her husband, Joshua Evans, settled. By the will proved in Philadelphia, Oct. 4, 1774, Philip Thomas willed this farm to Joshua Evans' son Philip Thomas Evans. As previously stated, Mr. Evans and his mother continued to live on the farm, improved it, and built the stone farm house.
p. 470
Surnames: EVERTS, LICHTY, BROCK, ROBINSON, FORESTERS
Garrett Brock Everts, of the Reading Times is the grandson of Garrett Everts, who was court crier of the Lancaster county courts for many years, and who died at the age of eighty-three years. Garrett Everts had four children: Garrett H., Strickler R., Jacob R., and Catherine (m. Samuel K. Lichty, of Lancaster, a well known tailor, who met his death while standing at the cutting table). Of these children three are living, Strickler and Mrs. Lichty who live in Lancaster, and Garrett H., the father of Garrett B., a retired tailor who now makes his home with a married daughter in Harrisburg. Garrett B. Everts' mother, who was Sarah Brock before marriage, died June 19, 1886, leaving three children: Annie, who died Feb. 6, 1902; Mary, the wife of H. A. Robinson, proprietor of an extensive department store in Harrisburg; and Garrett B., of Reading.
Garrett B. Everts was born in Baltimore Md., Oct. 9, 1855, and was educated in Baltimore and in Lancaster, Pa., after which he became an apprentice to the printer's trade in the office of the Lancaster Intelligencer, this being in 1872. On Oct. 25, 1881, Mr. Everts removed to Reading, when he has ever since resided, his first position being with the Spirit of Berks, as a compositor, with which he remained one year, then becoming connected with the Reading Times in a like capacity. In 1898 Mr. Everts was transferred to the linotype department of this publication, and he now holds a responsible position therein.
Mr. Everts belongs to the Foresters, Typographical Union No. 86, the West End Social Club and the Keystone Hook & Ladder Co. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and he is a constant attendant and liberal supporter of that denomination. In politics Mr. Everts is a Democrat. Garret B. Evert's uncle, Strickler R. Everts, was for many years the champion skater of Lancaster county, and although now advanced in years, can to-day give the younger generation lessons in the art of fast and fancy skating. The Everts family was one of the oldest and best known in Lancaster. Garrett B., its representative in Reading, who has spent twenty-five years of his life in this city, has determined to make the "Capital of Old Berks" his permanent abiding place.