Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery
p. 381
Surnames: HIGH, MERKEL, REIGER, BROWN, DELP
A. M. High, postmaster of Reading, Pa., and the most potential
force in the Republican party of that city, is a son of Joel and
Marie (Merkel) High, and was born in Richmond township, Berks
county, Dec. 19, 1849.
The High family is of German descent, but
generations ago settle in Pennsylvania. Solomon High, grandfather
of A. M., was born in Richmond township, where he followed the
occupation of a farmer. In politics he was a Whig, but during the
latter years of his life he belonged to the Republican party. He
was a member of the Reformed Church, and was a captain in the old
State Militia. He was the father of three children, one son and two
daughters, and passed away in 1874, his wife surviving him many
years, and dying in 1891.
Joel High, father of A. M. High, was also a
native of Richmond township, and after obtaining an education in
the public schools of his district, turned his attention to
agricultural pursuits. He became one of the most substantial
farmers of that section, and died in 1872. His wife died in 1866.
The latter, whose maiden name was Marie Merkel, bore him eleven
children as follows: James; Joel; A. M.; Jacob; Solomon; Daniel;
Samuel; Charles; and Wilson, Emma and Mary, all three deceased.
A. M. High, who is a man of liberal education
and wide information, attended the common schools in his youth, and
afterward took a course in the Keystone State Normal of Kutztown.
He then taught school for two terms, after which he clerked in a
general store at Fleetwood, Berks county. After remaining there for
one year, in 1868 he removed to Reading, accepting a position in
the dry goods store of B. H. Brown, continuing there for one year,
and then holding a similar position for a year and a half in a
general store. He next embarked in business for himself,
establishing a tailor shop and general store at No. 824 Penn
street, where he was a successfully engaged for nineteen years. He
was then associated with John Rieger, in the same line of business,
but after a period of three years the latter was succeeded by Mr.
High's son. Mr. High and his son conduct a high class tailoring
business, having a large patronage. Although giving the closest
attention to business Mr. High's eminent qualification for a
political force and influence in his party, brought him to the fore
many years ago, and for twenty-three years he has been the
recognized leader of the Republican party in Berks county, the
Philadelphia Record, of Aug. 30, 1903, in an exhaustive article on
his political career, dubbing him the "Regent of Berks."
Recognizing his invaluable services to the party, he was made
postmaster of Reading, in 1899, reappointed in 1903 and again in
1907. He has been four times a delegate to the Republican National
Convention, having been the first delegate chosen in the United
States for the successive conventions of 1888, 1892, 1896 and the
third one chosen for 1904. His services at the head of the
organization were invaluable to the cause, and by his honest and
energetic methods of conducting campaigns he strengthened the hold
of the Republican party in Berks county, even gaining friends in
opposing factions. A man of magnetic presence and fine character,
he has a large following, and is a "tower of strength" politically
and socially.
Mr. High married Miss Lizzie Delp, and they have
had three children: Harry S.; Howard J., deceased; and Wayne M. The
family is one of the best known and most popular in Reading.
p. 531
Surnames: HIGH, KRICK, RICHARDSON, HECHLER
Charles P. High, a prosperous coal merchant of Reading, Pa., who is
also engaged in the flour and feed business, with yards and office
at No. 312 Rose street, was born in Cumru township, Berks county,
son of William R. and Lydia A. (Krick) High.
Charles P. High received his education in the
schools of his native township, and during his boyhood worked upon
his father's farm. At the age of nineteen years he left the farm
and went to Philadelphia, engaging with the Phoenix Plumbago Mining
Company, and while in the employ of that company attended a
business college. He subsequently returned to Reading, entering the
employ of his brother, of D. K. High & Co., who was carrying on
the coal, flour and feed business in Reading, which had been
established in 1887 by him, and Mr. High continued in this business
until 1890, when he accepted a position at the Philadelphia &
Reading freight house. At the end of one year, in company with
George Richardson, Mr. High established the present successful
business, and one year later Mr. Richardson withdrew, Mr. High's
father engaging in business with him, under the firm name of High
& Son. This connection continued until 1903, when the elder
High withdrew, and since that time Charles P. has successfully
conducted the business alone. He is a very enterprising business
man, of much ability, and his honesty and integrity have never been
questioned.
Mr. Charles P. High was married, in 1895, to
Miss Cora Hechler, daughter of William A. Hechler, of String
township, and in religious belief Mr. and Mrs. High are connected
with the Reformed Church. Fraternally he is connected with the P.
O. S. of A., and the order of the Independent Americans.
p. 1064
Surnames: HIGH, SHUNK
Conrad B. High, a representative business man of Reading, Pa., and
secretary and treasurer of the Penn Planing Mill Co., of that city,
was born in 1872, in Poplar Neck, Berks county, son of William P.
High, Mr. High was educated in the schools of Cumru township, after
leaving which he worked on the home farm until he accepted a
clerkship with Bright & Lerches. This position he resigned to
become secretary of the F. Shunk Planing Mill, in which position he
served until the new company was organized at the time of Mr.
Shunk's death, under the style of Penn Planing Mill Company,
incorporated, with the following officers: Harry Shunk, president;
K. M. High, vice-president; and C. B. High, secretary and
treasurer. He is a young man of much business ability, and is very
popular with the employees of the company, which is one of the
large concerns of Reading. Mr. High is also one of the
incorporators of the Salteatchee Lumber Company (Inc.), with mills
at Olar, South Carolina, of which he is a director and at present
secretary.
Mr. High was married in 1892 to Miss Katherine
M. Shunk, and their union was blessed with three children: Edgar
Earl, now (1909) fifteen years old; Clarence Stewart, who died in
infancy; and Conrad Gordon, now aged seven years.
p. 617
Surnames: HIGH, BRUNNER, BROWN, DEETER, KAUFFMAN, KEITH, SHEELER,
VAN REED, LEINBACH, ZACHARIAS, TAYLOR, HELLER, LENGEL, GERHART
Daniel K. High, hosiery manufacturer at Robesonia, Pa., was born in
Cumru township, on the old High homestead which has been in the
family since 1747, May 22, 1856, son of William R. High. His early
education was obtained in the district schools and later he went to
Palatinate College, Myerstown, and D. B. Brunner's Academy in
Reading. He was licensed to teach by County Superintendent, D. B.
Brunner, in 1874. He taught two terms in his native township, one
at the Cedar Top school and the other at the Kurtz school, meeting
with great success as a teacher. He was reared to farm work, and
continued at it summers until he was sixteen. In 1876 he went to
Reading and entered the dry goods store of B. H. Brown, remaining
in his employ for a period of two years. He then entered into
partnership with Howard Kauffman, under the firm name of High and
Kauffman, dealers in dry goods and groceries and general
merchandise. This firm continued with success for two years, when
owing to failing health Mr. High was obliged to sell to Mr. A. S.
Deeter and his brother Wm. F. High, who later also sold his share
to A. S. Deeter, and the latter has continued the business to the
present time. Mr. High then moved to a farm near Van Reed's paper
mill in Spring township, and for five years devoted himself to
agriculture. In 1887, with his brother Henry, under the firm name
of D. K. High & Bro., he opened up a coal yard at No. 512 Rose
street, Reading, also handling flour and feed. They met with a good
trade and the business has been carried on with increased success
by his brother Charles P. High. The firm was continued as D. K.
High & Bro. Until 1891, when Mr. D. K. High retired, and
started in the creamery business on his farm. This he conducted for
two years, but on account of the scarcity of milk in that locality
he removed to Brownsville, and with M. K. Keith as a partner under
the name of High & Keith carried on the business for five
years. Again the difficulty of securing milk proved a factor in Mr.
High's business arrangements, and he sold out to his partner, and
bought a half interest of Harry W. Sheeler, of the firm of Sheeler
& Leinbach, who were engaged in the hosiery business at
Robesonia, Pa. Later Mr. High bought out Mr. Leinbach's interest,
and he now conducts the business alone under the name of Robesonia
Knitting Mills. His factory is a two-story frame structure 40 x 60
feet. He employs upwards of fifty people, and the out-put is about
250 dozen pairs per day. This consists of men's find seamless
hosiery, and a ready sale is found all over the United States. In
1906 he started his sons Edwin and Walter in a branch factory at
Bernville, where about thirty people are employed. The capacity of
this factory is also 250 dozen pairs per day. This business is most
successful. Mr. High still retains his fine farm of 118 acres on
the Tulpehocken, near the Van Reed mills (now used by the Acme
Paper Company).
In politics Mr. High is a Democrat. He was
honored by election as school director to fill an unexpired term,
and then re-elected, serving as secretary of the board and rending
valuable service to the cause of education. Socially he is a member
of Castle No. 49, K. G. E., of Reading. Since 1885 he and his
family have been connected with St. Paul's Reformed Church at
Reading, of which he was a deacon.
On Feb. 26, 1880, Mr. High was married to Clara
Van Reed, daughter of Henry Z. and Mary (Leinbach) Van Reed, and
granddaughter of Charles and Margaret (Zacharias) Van Reed. To Mr.
And Mrs. High were born three sons, namely: Edwin V. R., born July
14, 1881, in Spring Township, has a liberal education, and is
successful in business. He married, June 22, 1907, Rachel M.
Taylor. (2) Henry V. R., born in Spring township, July 27, 1883, is
a bookbinder by trade, and is manager and treasurer of the C. F.
Heller Book Bindery, at Reading, where he learned his trade (D. K.
High is vice president and director of this company). On Sept. 12,
1906, he married Anna Lengel. (3) Walter V. R., born Aug. 16, 1885,
with his brother Edwin is engaged in the hosiery business at
Bernville, under the firm name of the Durable Hosiery Mill. Walter
V. R. is the superintendent. He married, May 25, 1908, Estella May
Gerhart.
p. 409
Surnames: HIGH, MERKEL, DRY, HERBEIN, RHOADS, SCHEARER
James M. High, a prominent citizen of Amity township, Berks county,
was born in Richmond township, this county, Aug. 23, 1846, son of
the late Joel and Maria (Merkel) Hoch. He was reared upon his
father's farm and was educated in the common schools, White Hall
and Oley Academies and the Keystone State Normal School at
Kutztown. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching school and
taught five winter terms and two summer terms in the select school
at Fleetwood.
On Sept. 24, 1869, Mr. High with his family
moved to Amity township, where he had purchased the Mount Pleasant
Mills from his father-in-law, David Dry. This was then an old style
custom mill, but in 1873 Mr. High remodeled it, substituting
turbines for the old fashioned water wheels, and changed it to a
flour mill. In 1890 he again remodeled it, this time installing a
complete roller process, and changing the name to the Amity Roller
Mills, under which he is still operating, turning out annually
large quantities of flour and feed, for which he finds a ready
market. He also has a well cultivated farm of some forty acres in
connection with his mill.
Mr. High is a firm believer in Republican
principles, and takes an active part in politics. Notwithstanding
his party is in the minority he served his township three years as
school director, and fifteen years as justice of the peace. Since
1891 he has been a notary public, and was re-appointed only last
February (1909). He served three years as county auditor, and for
forty years has followed surveying, during that time settling many
boundary disputes, besides being frequently appointed by the courts
to lay out public roads and bridge sites for the county. He has
officiated in the settling up of many estates as executor,
administrator and assignee, and is frequently consulted in legal
matters. He is a scrivener and conveyancer, and has always held the
confidence of the community.
In addition to all these many duties, Mr. High
is secretary and a director of the Yellow House Creamery
Association; and a director of the Sinking Spring Fire Insurance
Company, of which he has also been president. In the spring of 1908
he moved to near Yellow House, from where he can look after his
many interests. His son Wilson D. at the same time moved to the
mill. Mr. High and his family belong to the Reformed Church, in
which for twenty years he held the office of elder.
On Nov. 23, 1867, Mr. High married Amanda Y.
Dry, daughter of David Dry, late a prominent farmer of Rockland
township. They have had three children, namely: Wilson D., a miller
in his father's mill, m. Ellen Herbein, daughter of the late Aaron
Herbein; Maria D. m. Samuel R. Rhoads; and Annie D. m. Edwin H.
Schearer, one of the proprietors of the Yellow House.
M. (BRIGIDADIER GENERAL)
p. 785
Surnames: HIGH, VAN REED, GERNAND, HAIN, DETURK, SCHALL, LEWIS,
BEIDLER, SPOHN, GRIESENER, POTTEIGER, SHUNK, MORRIS, BICKEL,
GRIFFITH, YOST, HATTENSTEIN, BROBST
Brigadier General William
High was born Jan. 14, 1786, and was one of the best-known men of
Berks county of his time. He was county commissioner from 1816 to
1819; a member of the State Legislature in 1832; served as one of
five delegates from Berks county to the Constitutional Convention
in 1828; and was associate judge of Berks county from 1846 to 1851.
He was most prominently identified with the State militia, holding
the office of brigadier-general by election for fifteen years. In
1816, he was elected captain of the Reading Cavalry, of which he
had become a member in 1809. He died March 29,1851, with honor
untarnished and integrity undefiled. General High was a man of many
sterling qualities of character, being able to draw the line
between right and wrong, and never faltered in carrying his
convictions into execution. He was twice married, his first wife
being Catherine Van Reed, daughter of John Van Reed, and his second
wife the daughter of Jacob Van Reed, of Amity township. 
Ezra High, son of Gen. William High, was
born at Poplar Neck Aug. 15, 1816, and died April 8, 1897. He owned
235 acres of land, although he lived on a farm of seventy acres,
the house upon which property he built in 1866. He also erected all
of the buildings at the Poplar Neck bridge, and was an influential
citizen of the lower end of the county and public-spirited to a
large degree. In politics a Democrat, he was school director in
1861, when the special bounty tax was levied in Cumru township. He
was an antiquarian of some note and possessed a valuable collection
of Indian relics, which he donated to the Berks County Historical
Society.
In 1841 Mr. High was married to Hannah Gernand,
daughter of George and Barbara (Hain) Gernand, and they had these
children: Kate married Jonas DeTurck, and died Feb. 10, 1909, aged
sixty-six years; William P. is mentioned below; Mary married Capt.
William A. Schall; Annie married Harry Lewis; Sarah, unmarried, is
living at Reading; Emma died in 1882, aged twenty-four years. Ezra
High and his wife were buried in the High private cemetery at
Poplar Neck, on the High homestead, where rest also the remains of
Gen. William High.
William P. High, born June 28, 1844, on the old
High homestead at Poplar Neck, obtained a good practical education
in the public schools of his native township, and at The Trappe in
Montgomery county. He was brought up on the homestead, and in 1866
began farming for himself on his father's farm, where he remained
for eleven years. From 1876 to 1883 he lived on his father-in-law's
farm, the Beidler place, and in 1883 he erected his present
residence in Shillington, where he has lived retired since 1884. He
has a number of large farms which he superintends, being part owner
of the High homestead, which originally consisted of 235 acres of
the best farm land in Berks county, besides having large interests
throughout Cumru township. Mrs. High is the owner of the Conrad Y.
Beidler farm, better known as the Beidler farm of Cumru township,
this tract consisting of 106 acres in the best state of
cultivation, with fine, substantial buildings. Mrs. High also owns
an excellent farm along the Schuylkill in Spring township, near the
Lebanon Valley bridge, consisting of 100 acres, on which there is a
fine residence and good buildings; a $5,500 barn, built in 1873 on
this farm, was destroyed by fire May 21, 1903. Mr. High is
well-known in the community in which he makes his home, as well as
throughout Cumru township. A staunch Democrat in politics, he has
been called upon to fill positions of honor and trust, having been
delegate to numerous county conventions, for twelve years a member
of the school board, and held other local positions. He and his
wife are members of the Emanuel Reformed Church, of which he was
deacon for many years, and to the support of which he contributes
liberally.
On Aug. 29, 1865, Mr. High was married to Sarah
A. Beidler, daughter of Conrad Y. and Catherine (Spohn) Beidler,
and to this union have been born children as follows: Katie, who
married W. A. Greisener; Hannah, wife of Abraham Potteiger; Ezra,
who died when one year old; Conrad, who married Katie Shunk; Mary,
who died in infancy; William, who married Olivia Morris; Magdalena;
Sallie, wife of William L. Bickel; Charles, who married Goldie
Griffith; Mabel, twin to Charles, unmarried; Isaac, a medical
student at the University of Pennsylvania; and Paul, who died in
infancy.
Conrad Beidler, the great-great-grandfather of
Mrs. High, came from Germany. His son, Peter, married a
Hattenstein, and they had these children: Conrad, Henry, John and
Rebecca. John Beidler, of this family, married Magdalena Yost, and
to them were born: Jeremiah; Conrad Y. (the father of Mrs. High);
Mary, who married Samuel Brobst; Isaac, and Abraham. Mrs. High was
the only child of her parents.
p. 1439
Surnames: HIGH, HOCH, LUCKENBILL, STITZEL, BARNT, MERKEL, KAUFMAN,
BEARD, WICKLINE, FRY
William M. High (Hoch), one of the highly respected citizens of
the Eleventh ward, Reading, is a veteran of the Civil war, and for
thirty-nine years has been in the employee of the Philadelphia
& Reading Railroad Company, as carpenter. Mr. High was born
April 4, 1837, in Richmond township, Berks county, son of Daniel
Hoch.
Philip Hoch, grandfather of William M., was
born in Oley township, son of Casper Hoch, and followed farming in
Richmond township, where he had 400 acres of land. He married
(first) a Miss Luckenbill, by whom he had two children: Samuel and
Daniel. To Mr. Hoch and his second wife there were born children as
follows: Joel; Hannah, who married Tyson Stitzel, brother of the
late Judge Stitzel; Mrs. Samuel Barnt; Mrs. Samuel Merkel, whose
husband was at one time county treasurer of Berks; and Mrs. Daniel
Kaufman.
Daniel Hoch was born in Richmond township, and
there spent his entire life engaged in agricultural pursuits, his
death occurring in his fifty-ninth year. He married Miss Catherine
Merkel, who died when fifty-two years old, and to them were born
seven children as follows: John M., Hettie, Catherine, William M.,
Susan, Solomon, who died at the age of twenty-seven years, and an
infant daughter. William M. High (Hoch) attended school in Richmond
township, and until sixteen years of age worked on a farm, then
learning the carpenter trade, which he followed at Fleetwood for
three years as an apprentice. He traveled for two years in the
Eastern States then went West, returning home, however, in
December, 1860, and remaining until the following spring, when he
enlisted in Company D, 12th Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves,
remaining with this company three years. He then went to
Washington, D. C., and was employed in the Navy yards for nine
months, then reenlisting in Company K, 2d Regiment, Hancock's
Reserve Corps, in which he served one year. He had many experiences
while in the service of his country, being wounded Sept. 17, 1862,
at the battle of Antietam. He was also at Chancellorsville,
Wilderness, Gettysburg and many other big battles of the war, being
in thirty-two engagements, and his record is that of a faithful,
cheerful and gallant soldier.
In 1871 Mr. High returned to Reading, Pa., and
engaged with the Philadelphia & Reading Company, being for
seventeen years foreman of bridge-building for that company, a
concern with which he has since been connected. In 1880 Mr. High
built his comfortable residence in the Eleventh ward, where he is
well known and highly esteemed. He is a member of G. A. R. Post No.
16 and the P. & R. Relief Association, and in his political
views is a Democrat. He is a member of St. Mark's Evangelical
Lutheran Church, at Tenth and Windsor streets, where for six years
he served as vestryman.
Mr. High was married (first) to Mary Catherine
Beard, daughter of Henry Beard, and she died Oct, 31, 1901, aged
sixty-nine years, without issue. Mr. High's second marriage was to
Maggie Wickline, daughter of Samuel and Mary E. (Fry), whose death
occurred June 17, 1906, also without issue
p. 617
Surnames: HIGH, ROTHERMEL, VAN REED, SCHEPPS, SCHAFFER, BECHTEL,
HARTMAN, KRICK
William R. High, a highly respected retired citizen of Reading,
Pa., who passed away Aug. 14, 1908, was born Aug. 10, 1835, in
Cumru township, Berks County, Pa., son of Daniel and Esther
(Rothermel) High, and a grandson of Gen. William High, who married
Annie Van Reed.
General William High was also a native of Cumru
township, and for years was a prominent agriculturalist there. His
last years were spent in Reading. For a period of thirty-three
years he was a brigadier general of the State militia and he also
served as judge of probate. His children were: Charles, Daniel,
Ezra, John, Reubin, Isaac (died young), Annie, Sarah, Lucie and
Rebecca. The family was strong in its support of the Reformed
Church.
Daniel High was born in Cumru township and
followed farming as his main occupation throughout his life. He
died in 1839 at the age of thirty-one years. His widow survived him
many years, dying at the age of sixty-five. They had five daughters
and one son, as follows: Sarah, m. to Samuel Schepps; Susan, m. to
Nicholas Schaffer; Esther, m. to Frederick Bechtel; William R., of
this sketch; Amanda, m. to Frederick Hartman; and Mary, who remains
single. In religious belief the members of this family were all of
the Reformed faith, with one exception. In political sentiment they
were Democratic.
William R. High was educated in the common
schools of Cumru township, and when the time came for him to choose
his life work he decided in favor of agriculture. For thirty-two
years he continued to be engaged in farming and stock raising, and
owned one of the finest and best developed farms in his locality.
In 1887 he left his farm in Cumru township and moved to Reading,
where he entered into partnership with his son, Daniel K., in the
coal business and continued with him until Daniel sold his interest
to his brother Charles P. The father and son continued the business
until 1902, when the senior member retired and Charles P. still
continues to carry on the business.
On Dec. 11, 1885, Mr. High was married to Lydia
Krick, daughter of Daniel Krick, and they had five children,
namely: Daniel K., William, Henry, Ezra and Charles.
Up to the time of his death, in spite of his
advanced years, Mr. High very easily superintended the management
of the old High homestead; this was originally owned by his
maternal great-grandfather Rothermel. He took an active interest in
local politics and public happenings, and was a well known and
esteemed resident of his neighborhood. Mr. High was buried in
Yocom's Church in Cumru township.