Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery
p. 1141
Surnames: MANNERBACK, MILLER, HUMBERT, REINOEHL, SIMON
William A. Mannerback, a member of the firm of Henry R. Miller
& Co. , hat manufactures, at Reading, Pa., was born in 1873, in
that city, son of George W. and Rosa A. (Humbert) Mannerback.
For many years George W. Mannerback was a
prominent citizen of Reading, largely interested in real estate and
at one time a member of the city council. In his earlier years he
was connected with the Seyfert, McManus Iron Company, and later was
elected constable, and then alderman, an office which he held for a
protracted period. He died May 19, 1899, at the age of fifty-five
years. He married Rosa A. Humbert, who still survives, and they had
five children, namely: Kate and Harry, who died young ; Lucy, who
died at the age of twenty years ; William A. ; and Anna W. George
W. Mannerback and wife were worthy members of the Lutheran Church.
William A. Mannerback attended the public
schools of Reading, and was quite young when he started out to make
his own way in the world. After a short period as office boy for W.
H. Reinoehl & Co., he commenced at the bottom of the ladder in
the hat manufacturing business, determined to master every branch
of that industry. Through close application to business and strict
honesty, he attracted the attention and gained the approbation of
his employers, John R. Miller & Co., and March 20, 1905, when
the company was reorganized, as Henry R. Miller & Co., John R.
Miller retiring, Mr. Mannerback was invited to become a member of
the firm. This is one of the old and reliable business houses of
the State and in its line is second to none in Pennsylvania. The
output of the firm include high grade wool and felt (womens) hats,
trimmed and untrimmed, and sales are made all over the United
States and Canada, shipping being made direct from the factory to
the trade. In 1897 Mr. Mannerback was married to Carrie E. Simon, a
native of Berks county. Fraternally he belongs to Reading Lodge,
No. 115, B. P. O. E. ; Neversink Tribe, I. O. R. M. ; Washington
Camp, P. O. S. of A., and is also a member of Liberty Fire Company,
of which organization he was secretary for three years.
p.
1585
Surnames: MANWILLER, HIESTER, GAMLER, HAFER, KEELER, FOX, BARZELL,
BROWN, MILLER, BOYER, SCHAEFFER, KECK, HERTZOG, RAUENZAHN
Daniel H. Manwiller, merchant at Pricetown, Pa., and a director in
the First National Bank of Fleetwood, was born Feb. 16, 1865, in
Ruscombmanor township, son of Isaac K. and Amanda (Hiester)
Manwiller.
Daniel Manwiller, his great-grandfather, was of
Oley township, Berks county, born March 19, 1773, died June 26,
1840, and is buried in a private burying ground. His wife was Sarah
Gamler (1780-1834). Their children were: John; David; Elijah; Amos;
Daniel; Joshua; Eliza (m. to Isaac Hafer); Esther (m. to Isaac
Hafer, as his second wife after the death of Eliza); and Mrs.
Reuben Keeler (of Illinois).
David Manwiller, son of Daniel, was born in Oley
township in 1803, and he died in 1886, aged eighty-three years, and
is buried at Pricetown. He lived in Ruscombmanor township the
greater part of his life, and was a weaver for twenty-five years.
He married Deborah Keeler, who was born in 1804, and died in 1889,
aged eighty-five years. They had eight children, Joel, Jacob, Obed,
Amos, Rachel (m. Samuel Fox), Malinda (m. William Barzell), Isaac
K. and David.
Isaac K. Manwiller, son of David and Deborah,
was born Oct. 10, 1836, in Ruscombmanor township. He attended the
old pay schools of his day as much as one and one-half months a
year. The months consisted of twenty-four days then, and the
teacher's pay was two and one-half cents a day from each pupil. Mr.
Manwiller, learned the carpenter's trade when twenty years old, and
this he followed seven years when he became the foreman for the
construction of ore mine buildings in eastern Pennsylvania, a work
he continued fifteen years. He retired from active work in 1894.
Since 1863 he has lived on an 18-acre farm in the eastern part of
Ruscombmanor township. In politics he is a Republican, and for
three years was school director. He and his family worship in St.
John's Union Church at Pricetown, belonging to the Reformed
congregation. On Nov. 8, 1862, he was married to Amanda Hiester,
daughter of Benneville and Sallie (Brown) Hiester. She was born
June 15, 1841, and died March 8, 1909. Their children were: Maggie
m. Wilson W. Miller, died aged 41 years; Daniel H.; Newton; Kate m.
William Boyer; Alice m. Albert Schaeffer; Emma is single; Henry;
Harvey; Ida is deceased; Robert; James; John; Clara is deceased, as
is also Deborah; and Hannah m. Harry Brown and has four children.
Linwood, Hilda, Helen and Wilber.
Daniel H. Manwiller, merchant at Pricetown and a
director of the First National Bank of Fleetwood, Pa., was born
Feb. 16, 1865, in Ruscombmanor township, son of Isaac K. and Amanda
(Hiester) Manwiller. He was educated in the public schools of his
native township, the Oley Academy and at the Keystone State Normal
School, graduating from the latter institution in the class of
1891. He was licensed to teach by Prof. D. S. Keck, the county
superintendent, in 1882, and he taught his first term at
Drumheller's school in Pike township. He taught in all sixteen
terms, one term in District, three in Longswamp, one in Richmond,
three in Maiden-creek, and seven in Ruscombmanor. After giving up
teaching he became chief clerk with the Reading Cement Company at
Molltown, remaining one year. During the next five years he worked
in H. F. Hertzog hardware store at Sixth and Bingaman streets,
Reading. In the spring of 1906 he became a general merchant at
Pricetown, where he has since been successfully engaged. He carries
a full line of general merchandise. He became one of the organizers
of the First National Bank of Fleetwood, of which institution he is
also one of the directors. He is of a progressive spirit. He was
also one of the organizers of Pricetown Rural Telephone Company,
which was organized Dec. 5, 1908, and of which he is one of the
directors, and is the secretary of the board.
Mr. Manwiller became a justice of the peace of
Ruscombmanor May 3, 1909, an office he also filled from 1895 to
1900. In politics he is a Republican, and wields influence for good
in his locality. He and his family are members of the Reformed
Congregation of St. John's Church at Pricetown. He has served the
church as treasurer since 1906, and his daughter, Miss Eva, is a
member of the choir.
On Aug. 15, 1891, Mr. Manwiller married Miss
Catharine Rauenzahn, daughter of Daniel and Catharine (Brown)
Rauenzahn, of Ruscombmanor township, and they have had two
children: Eva May; and Catharine, who died aged fourteen months.
p.
1047
Surnames: MANWILLER, NEIN, GAMLER, DeTURCK, ULEIN, FRY,
HIMMELREICH, SHERRY, KLINE, HERBINE, RITCHEY, KOCH,
Irvin N. Manwiller, a substantial business man of Mount Penn
borough, Berks county, Pa., was born July 22, 1867, in Exeter
township, son of William and May Ann (Nein) Manwiller, and grandson
of Samuel Manwiller.
The progenitor of the Manwiller family of Berks
county was one Daniel Manwiller, who in 1775 lived in Oley
township, where his name appears on the tax list of that year. In
1799 Daniel Manwiller and Daniel Manwiller, Jr., were taxables in
Exeter township. In 1806, a Daniel Manwiller paid fourteen pounds
tax in Oley township. This probably was Daniel, Jr., Daniel
Manwiller, the elder, in 1778 is mentioned as a taxable in Bern
township. Besides Daniel, Jr., above mentioned, he had a son
Michael (probably others).
Daniel Manwiller, Jr., was born March 19, 1773,
and died June 26, 1840. He married Sarah Gamler (1780-1834), and
both are buried in a private burial ground on the farm owned by
Seth DeTurck. Their children were: John, of Ruscombmanor township,
who lived to be nearly ninety years old; David, also of
Ruscombmanor, who died in 1886, when past eighty-three years;
Elijah, who died at Pine Grove, Schuylkill county; Amos, a
shoemaker and farmer in Oley; Daniel, who died unmarried; and
Joshua, a shoemaker by trade, who followed farming in Oley, and
whose children were--Nathaniel, Anna, Amelia, Howard, Joshua,
Calvin, Sarah, Emma, Deborah and James.
Michael Manwiller, son of Daniel the elder, was
born Feb. 6, 1785, and died Oct. 28, 1863, and is buried at
Schwartzwald Church. His wife, Margaret Ulein, born May 19, 1785,
died April 10, 1861. They had three children: Charles, Samuel and
Jessie (m. Samuel Fry, of Exeter township).
Samuel Manwiller, grandson of Daniel the elder,
was born March 14, 1811, in Exeter township, and died there Feb.
18, 1881. His life was spent in farming and laboring. He was a
member of Schwartzwald Reformed Church, where he is buried. Mr.
Manwiller married Mary Himmelreich, born Jan. 31, 1813, died Sept.
11, 1883. They had seven children, as follows: Elmina is the widow
of Peter Sherry of Stonersville; Samuel, timekeeper of the plant at
Birdsboro, and for forty years superintendent of the Perkiomen
& Reading Turnpike Company, married Emily Kline; William;
Hannah is the widow of Amos Herbine, of Stonersville; Sarah married
George Ritchey, of Stonetown, Elam died in boyhood; and Anna died
in infancy.
William Manwiller was born in August, 1845, in
Exeter township, where he has spent his entire life, and where he
owns a comfortable home and some thirty acres of good land, in the
cultivation of which he has been engaged in connection with
considerable work on highways and in the building of roads. In
politics he is a Democrat. He and his good wife, Mary Ann (Nein),
who was born in September, 1847, and who like her husband has been
a resident of Exeter township all of her life, are members of the
Reformed Church. They have one child; Irvin N.
Irvin N. Manwiller spent his boyhood on the farm
and attended the district schools, which he left at the age of
eighteen years to engage in work at the blast furnaces at
Birdsboro. Here he remained for nearly three years, when he located
at gate No. 1, as keeper of the Perkiomen turnpike, a position he
held for four years. On March 9, 1893, he opened a general
mercantile establishment at what was then Dengler's P.O., now Mt.
Penn. since which time he has successfully conducted this business.
Mr. Manwiller is one of the enterprising businessmen of the borough
of which he was one of the organizers. He served Lower Alsace
township for two terms as auditor, has filled the office of borough
auditor of Mount Penn, and is a Democrat. He was one of the
organizers of Trinity Reformed Church, of which he has served as
elder, and is active in the work of the Sunday-school. He is
fraternally connected with Camp No. 230, P. O. S. of A., of St.
Lawrence.
On Jan. 28, 1887, Mr. Manwiller married Miss
Catherine Koch, daughter of Isaac and Emma Koch, of Wernersville,
Berks county, and to this union have been born three children;
Warren, a musician, who proficient on the pipe-organ and piano,
resides at home; William assists his father in the store; and
Florence is at home. The family reside in their pleasant home on
Perkiomen avenue, and have a wide social circle.
p. 485
Surnames: MARCH, MILLER, LIVINGOOD, REINART, LUDWIG, KEIGER, KNABB,
NAGLE, KOCH, HERFLICKER, HOFFMAN, HAWS
Isaac F. March, late one of the most respected citizens of
Birdsboro, where he had been prominent in the business world and
active in the town government for many years, was a native of
Philadelphia, born there July 6, 1841.E arly deprived of his
parents he was reared by relatives near Pottstown.
As soon as he was old enough to learn a trade,
he was sent to a grist mill near Amityville, there to acquire such
knowledge as would enable him to be a first class miller. For many
years he worked at the Livingood mill on Ironstone creek, and later
he operated Marchs Mill on the Manatawny near Pottstown, and for
about five years he was similarly engaged at Monocacy. In 1880 he
came to Birdsboro and engaged in the lumber and coal business, but
in time gave it up and opened a like line at Bridgeport under the
firm name of I. F. March & Son. At the end of a few years he
sold out to his sons, who still carry it on under the name of I. F.
Marchs Sons. During the last three years of his life he had a
number of interests, and among the positions he held may be
mentioned: president of the Alabama Coal, Mineral and Lumber
Company, of Cordova, Ala.; general manager of the Berks Coal
Company, of Jasper, Ala.; president of the Watts Creek Jellico Coal
Company, of Wofford, Ky.; director in the Pennsylvania Coal
Company, of Drifton, Ala.; vice president of the First National
Bank of Birdsboro.
Mr. March was always a busy man, but like most
busy men he kept constantly on the alert for anything that affected
the interests of his community. He was keenly interested in public
affairs, and was active in the work of the Democratic party. In
1891 he was elected treasurer of Berks county, and served a
three-year term. He also served three years in the town council of
Birdsboro, being the first Democrat to win that honor after the two
parties had named candidates or changed from the former method of
uniting on a citizens ticket. He was connected with the Birdsboro
Electric Company and Friendship Fire Company, No. 1. He had been a
member of and an official in the Amityville Lutheran Church, and
after locating in Birdsboro joined St. Marks Church. He was
prominent in Masonic circles, and also belonged to Neversink Lodge,
No. 514, I. O. O. F. In all his business affairs Mr. March was
eminently successful; as a citizen he was enterprising, progressive
and public-spirited; and in his home he was friendly and social
with a host of warm friends. He died Jan. 13, 1906.
On Sept. 14, 1861, by the Rev. George F. Miller,
Mr. March was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Livingood,
daughter of Matthias and Elizabeth (Reinart) Livingood, of
Amityville. She survives him, and still makes her home in
Birdsboro, where she is greatly beloved for her many kindly deeds.
The children born of this union were: (1) Matthias m. (first)
Sallie Ludwig, and had two children, William and Ethel; and m.
(second) Lilla M. Keiger, who bore him five children, Russell,
Anna, Ellsworth, Robert and George. (2) Ellsworth is unmarried. (3)
Irvin m. Annie Knabb, and has one child, Paul. (4) Isaac m. Anna
Nagle, and has three children, Ralph, Sylvanus and A. Florence. (5)
A. Delila m. Henry Harrison Koch, and has five children, Sarah,
Ruth, Esther, Isaac and Henry M. (6) Morris m. Ida Herflicker (no
issue). (7) John died at the age of five days. (8) Linton m. Leah
Hoffman and has one child, Linton E. (9) Mary F. m. John R. Haws,
and has one child, John M.
p. 1415
Surnames: MARKERT, PEIFFER, BAUGNER, SNYDER, BUCHER, BROCHER,
REASNER
George A. Markert, proprietor of Markert's caf?which is located at
Nos. 645-647 Walnut street, Reading, was born in this city, April
12, 1873, a son of George Adam and Mary (Peiffer) Markert.
Great-grandfather Markert, who was a native of
Glostenhaus, Bavaria, Germany, never came to America, and he lost
his life by accidentally falling into a stream of water. Four of
his sons, however, came to the United States, George Adam settling
in Elk county, Pa., and Nicholas setting at Reading.
George Adam Markert, the grandfather of George
A. Markert, was born May 24, 1811, at Glostenhaus, Bavaria, and
came to America about 1839 or 1840. He was married at Gettysburg,
in Adams county, Pa., in the latter year, to Susan Baugner,
daughter of Michael Baugner. She was born Jan. 19, 1819, and died
in Wisconsin, in 1887. They had four sons and three daughters, as
follows: Joseph, who is an inmate of the Soldiers' Home of Hampton
Roads, served in the Civil war; Grace, who married Jacob Snyder,
who was a soldier in the Civil war; George Adam; John, who was
accidentally killed at St. Paul, Minn.; Francis, who died at
Lancaster, Grant county, Wis.; and Mary, who is the wife of John
Bucher, of Lancaster county, Pa.; and Susan, married, who resides
at Lancaster, Wis.
George Adam Markert, father of George A., was
born Dec. 9, 1847, at Reading. When twenty years old he accepted
employment on the Reading Railroad and is still identified with
that corporation, on March 24, 1908, completing a period of forty
years with the road, the most cordial relations between employers
and employe having existed all these years. He is a member of the
Junior Fire Company, of Reading, with which he became connected in
1869, and belongs to the Veteran Fire Association. Mr. Markert
resides in his own home, a very comfortable one, at No. 640 Walnut
street. On Jan. 23, 1870, he married Mary Peiffer, a daughter of
Jacob Peiffer of Reading, and they had two children: George A. and
Mame. The latter died June 1, 1905, aged twenty-six years. She is
survived by her husband Scott Brocher, and their children:
Catherine, Dorothy and Viola.
George A. Markert obtained his education in the
public schools of Reading and when fifteen years old he commenced
to learn the molding trade. On Dec. 9, 1889, he met with a serious
accident by which he lost his left eye. He was thus forced to give
up the lucrative trade which he had learned and turn his attention
to something else, which proved to be the machinist's trade,
serving his apprenticeship with the Philadelphia & Reading
Railroad, at which work he continued until he was twenty-five years
of age. Mr. Markert then learned the barber trade and followed that
occupation for about five years. On Sept. 12, 1904, he embarked in
a hotel and restaurant business at his present address, and through
his close attention to its details, his uniform courtesy to guests
and the excellence of his cuisine, he has met with deserved
success. His place is favorably known all over the city.
With his family, Mr. Markert attends Christ
Cathedral, on North Fifth street, where he was married on Sunday
morning, Jan. 22, 1898, to Miss Bertha Reasner, a daughter of Jacob
and Mary Reasner, of Bellefonte, Center county, Pa.
Mr. Markert is a member of Emblematic Lodge No.
169, I. O. O. F.; Fraternal order of Eagles, No. 66; Twentieth
Century Quakers, No. 2; Junior Fire Company; Humane Association; a
contributing member of the Philharmonic Band; Electric Wheelmen;
East Penn Social Club; and the Harmonie Maennerchor.
p. 618
Surnames: MARKLEY, FISHER, MAY, ARNOLD, SAUERBIER, FREDERICK
D. Frank Markley (deceased), who for many years was engaged in the
real estate and insurance business, was born in Maxatawny township,
Berks county, May 3, 1842, son of Joseph and Esther (Fisher)
Markley, both parents being natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania.
Joseph Markley was engaged in farming in
Maxatawny township for many years, but removed to Minnesota in
1876, dying in St. Cloud, that state, in 1889, his widow, Esther
Fisher, surviving him but a few years. They had been the parents of
five children, four of whom lived to maturity: D. Frank, deceased;
T. Wellington; Elmira m. to John May, deceased; and Joseph H.,
deceased. The family were Lutherans in religious belief.
Politically Mr. Markley was a Democrat, but it is not known whether
or not he ever held office.
D. Frank Markley was educated in the common
schools of Reading, and when a boy engaged in work at the old
Bushong distillery, located at the corner of Front and Penn
streets. Here he remained a number of years, and later accepted a
position with the National Union Bank of Reading as clerk,
continued in that capacity for some time, and then engaged with the
Boas Lumber Company, for several years. Mr. Markley then was
employed by the Reading Fire Insurance Company, which he left in
1898 to engage in the real estate business, in which he continued
until his death, July 12, 1900. He was buried in the Charles Evans
Cemetery.
Mr. Markley was married in 1864 to Amanda E.
Arnold, daughter of William and Catherine (Sauerbier) Arnold, the
former a hat manufacturer and director of three banks. To Mr. and
Mrs. Markley were born children as follows: Catherine May; Edwin
Arnold; Charles Hunter, deceased; William A., a druggist of
Harrisburg; Frank A., of Reading, who is carrying on the real
estate business at No. 535 Court street; Alice May; and Emma I.,
deceased. Mr. Markley was at one time connected with the I. O. O.
F., and was a past officer of Freedom Circle, No. 7, Brotherhood of
the Union. In politics he was a Democrat, but never aspired to
public preferment, although he took a good citizens interest in
elections. He was a kind husband and indulgent father, and in his
death the city of Reading lost one of its good, intelligent
citizens. Frank A. Markley, one of the leading young business men
of Reading, Pa., is successfully engaged in the real estate and
insurance business. He was born May 26, 1874, in Reading, and
received his education in the public schools of that city. His
first business experience was gained as a clerk for the Reading
Hardware Company, with whom he remained eleven years. He then
succeeded his father in the real estate and insurance business, and
in this he has successfully continued ever since. The business was
established in 1898.
Mr. Markley was married Aug. 11, 1904, to Mamie
May Frederick, daughter of Louis and Emma Frederick, of Reading,
and to them were born two children, Frank Edwin and Mary Elizabeth.
Mr. Frederick is the owner of a meat market. Mr. Markley belongs to
the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Knights of the Maccabees, the
Modern Woodmen of America, Harmonie Maennerchor, and the Friendship
Fire Company, having served in all the offices in the latter
organization, is a Past Worthy President of the Eagles, and
President of the Reading Eagles Home Company, Inc., and has held
office in nearly all these societies. He belongs to Trinity
Lutheran Church. Mr. Markley is one of the foremost young business
men of Reading, is popular in fraternal and social circles, and has
a great number of friends.
p 1233
Surnames: MARKS, HATT, UMBENHAUER, STAHL, HOSTER, ORTZ, WENRICH,
BITLER, KALBACH, KINTZER
George W. Marks, an enterprising young business man of Lower
Heidelberg township, Berks county, who is engaged in blacksmithing
at Lorah, was born Sept. 17, 1872, in Spring township, son of
Jonathan and Elizabeth (Hatt) Marks.
The great-grandfather of George W. Marks was a
resident of Lebanon county and the father of a number of children,
among whom were: Christian; Molly, who m. Daniel Umbenhauer;
George, who was a resident of Bern township; and Hannah, who died
unmarried. Christian Marks, grandfather of George W., was born in
Lebanon county in about 1806, and after a long and useful life
spent at laboring, died in 1890, being buried in the Sinking Spring
Church burial ground. He was married to Sarah Stahl, of Womelsdorf,
and they had five children: John, who is buried at Sinking Spring
Church; Lovina, who m. Isaac Hoster, of Reading; Jonathan; Aaron;
and Adam, of Montello.
Jonathan Marks, father of George W., was born
Nov. 18, 1831, at Womelsdorf, and there as a young man learned the
trade of tinsmith, which he followed regularly for nine years, and
off and on for the major part of his life. He also engaged in
farming in Heidelberg, Spring and Cumru townships. In 1900 he
removed from Heidelberg township to Montello, where he now lives
retired. Mr. Marks was married to Elizabeth Hatt. daughter of
William and Elizabeth (Ortz) Hatt. and to this union there have
been born the following children: Emma. who died young; John, of
Wernersville; Adeline, m. to Joseph Wenrich; Katie, m. to John
Bitler; Frank, a hatter of Montello; George W.: Annie, m. to Howard
Kalbach; and Ellen, deceased, who m. Michael Kintzer.
p. 1034
Surnames: MARKS, WEIDNER, COLE, HOSHEIR, KRICK, HORNBERGER,
SHILLING, HECK, HINNERSHITZ, YOUNG, MILLER, TOTHERO, DETEMPLE,
WHITE, MENGEL, RUTH, ANGSTADT, BEAVER, SHANNEMAN, KELLER, HEMMIG,
SCHNABLE, FRITZ, SCHNABEL, GRADE
Howard F. Marks, a leading and substantial citizen of Cumru
township, Berks county, who is extensively engaged in milling
operations at Grill, Pa., was born in Cumru township, Jan. 2, 1867,
son of John H. and Catherine (Weidner) Marks.
Conrad Marks, great-grandfather of Howard F.,
came to America from Switzerland, and settled in Brecknock
township, Berks county, where he lived until his death, on a small
tract of ten acres, besides attending to which he also engaged in
weaving. For about fifteen years prior to his death, which occurred
at a very old age, Mr. Marks was blind. He and his wife were buried
at Gouglersville. They were the parents of the following children:
John, who died on the homestead, was also a weaver; Joseph died in
Brecknock township; George was the grandfather of Howard F.; Polly
m. William Cole; Susan m. Mr. Hosheir; and Elizabeth m. Peter
Krick.
George Marks was born in 1800 in Brecknock
township, and followed day laboring until coming to Cumru township,
where he died in 1880, being buried at Gouglersville. He married
Elizabeth Hornberger, daughter of Conrad Hornberger, who died aged
sixty-three years. To this union were born children as follows:
Elizabeth m. Daniel Krick; Catherine m. Ephraim Shilling; William
m. Lovina Heck; Richard m. Catherine Hinnershitz; John H. is
mentioned below; George, who served in the Civil war, died at the
age of sixty-three years; and Joseph and a daughter died young.
John H. Marks was born Aug. 4, 1837, in Mohnton,
Berks county, and attended the public schools of Cumru township
until the age of seventeen years, when he engaged in milling,
learning the trade with Adam Young, at Angelica. This he followed
for thirty-five years at Angelica, and also worked at Mohnton for
Jonathan H. Miller during the Civil war. In 1893 he located in
Shillington, where he has since been engaged at different kinds of
work. In political matters he is a Republican. John H. Marks
married (first) Catherine Weidner, daughter of Obediah Weidner, and
to them were born: Ellsworth, who died in infancy; Ella, m. George
Tothero; Anna, m. Jacob DeTemple; and Howard F. Mr. Marks m.
(second) Priscilla White, daughter of John R. and Elizabeth
(Mengel) White, and to this union there were born: John is living
in the West; George W., died single, aged twenty-nine years;
Catherine m. Howard Ruth, and is living in Shillington; Charles m.
Sarah Angstadt; and Mary m. George Beaver, and resides in Reading.
Howard F. Marks spent his school days in Cumru
township, and when a young man learned the milling business with
his father, with whom he continued until twenty-three years of age.
He was then employed for five years at Angelica, engaged at days
work and trucking, and then came to Grill, engaging with Irvin
Shanneman as teamster and salesman in the Angelica flour mill. He
continued with Mr. Shanneman for one and one-half years, and then
went to Reading, where he was employed in F. S. Keller's flour and
feed store for one year. Returning to Grill he rented the Angelica
mills for five years with his brother George W., the firm name
being Marks & Brother, this partnership continuing until April
1, 1901, when Mr. Marks purchased the mill and property, consisting
of seventy-two acres of land about two miles south of the city of
Reading. Here he has continued to the present time with much
success, manufacturing the well known Angelica Daisy and Angelica
White Rose brands of flour, for which he finds a ready market in
Reading and in the surrounding country. His mill, which was erected
in 1797 by Joseph and Elizabeth Hemmig, and which is one of the
land marks of this section of the county, Mr. Marks has equipped
with the latest and finest machinery. He is a man of enterprise and
his business is constantly assuming larger proportions. Mr. Marks
is a member of Emblematic Lodge, No. 169, I. O. O. F., Red Men No.
186, and the Modern Woodmen of America. In his political belief he
is a Republican, and has always taken a great interest in the
success of his party in this section, serving at various times as a
member of the election boards. In February, 1909, he was elected
auditor of Cumru township. Mr. and Mrs. Marks and their children
attend the Yocom Reformed Church and Sunday-school, and for some
time he has served as deacon of the former.
Howard F. Marks married Emma E. Schnable,
daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Fritz) Schnable, and granddaughter
of John Schnabel (who wife was a Grade), and to this union there
have been born two children: Elmer, born September, 1889, is a
miller, assisting his father; and Bertha is attending the Yocom
school.
p. 1400
Surnames: MARKS, FINK, RIESER, HELFRICH, KOCH, DUNDORE, ALTHOUSE,
REGER
William F. Marks, M. D., born April 6, 1846, at West Leesport,
Berks county, son of Elias and Catharine (Fink) Marks, has been a
successful practitioner for forty years, thirty-eight of
which-since 1871-he has spent in his adopted city of Reading.
Elias Marks, the father, was employed by the
Schuylkill Canal Company until the great freshet of 1850, which
destroyed the home at West Leesport, and in which is wife, one son,
and three daughters lost their lives. Utterly distracted by this
tragedy and the total loss of his property, he resolved to start
his life anew. With this purpose in view he made provision for the
care of the remnant of his family, who were saved from the
flood-consisting of two daughters and the subject of this sketch,
the latter being adopted by Jacob Rieser-and removed to Illinois,
and, on the outbreak of the Civil war, enlisted in defense of his
country; he saw active service the first year, when he contracted
pneumonia and died at Memphis, Tennessee.
Under the care of his foster-father, to whom he
was indentured to the age of eighteen years, William 
F. Marks was granted four months' schooling a year,
the limit of the term in the district schools in those days, in
conjunction with his labor on the farm, until he reached the age of
seventeen. Then he made his first attempt at teaching in the
township school, thus continuing for three years. At the close of
each term during these three years he attended Freeland Seminary,
now Ursinus College, in Montgomery county, Pa., and thereafter two
terms at the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, Pa. While at
the latter institution and in delicate health he became the patient
of Dr. Helfrich, a prominent homeopathic physician of the town, and
through the acquaintance thus established resolved to read medicine
under the preceptorship of the latter. He then attended a course of
lectures at Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, and, during
vacation was a student in the office of Prof. Richard Koch, one of
the faculty of the institution, under whose influence and tutelage
he gained a practical knowledge of his chosen profession, as the
Professor appreciated the diligence and close application of his
student. Yielding to the trend of his inclinations, he took a
special course in obstetrics at the Philadelphia School of
Practical Obstetrics and Diseases of Women.
After graduating from Hahnemann Medical College,
March 3, 1869, Dr. Marks purchased (through the assistance of his
adopted father) the property of Dr. A. J. Dundore, at West
Leesport, and assumed the latter's practice, and there continued
successfully for two years, when ambition for greater latitude in
the practice of his profession induced him to locate in Reading.
That the change was one exhibiting rare judgment and
self-confidence is confirmed by the extensive clientele that
followed his scrupulous and untiring efforts, contemporaneous with
which he was a close student and observer of all t he important
advances made in the science of medicine. In addition to his
personal or self-attained acquirements through his office study, he
made his vacations consist of special courses in prominent medical
institutions of the country, which included the clinical lectures
of Profs. Ludlam and Pratt, of Chicago; Profs. Emmet, Newman and
Snow, of New York; Prof. Howard Kelly, of Baltimore; and Prof.
Massey, of Philadelphia, all of whom were specialists and
instructors of national reputation. All these lectures constituted
what is known as post-graduate courses, and physicians pursuing
them are regarded as having qualified themselves to an exceptional
degree. Dr. Marks's flattering success in his practice is properly
attributed not only to conscientious devotion to his work, but to
his skillful diagnosis and prognosis in the treatment of disease.
Notwithstanding the incessant demand made upon
his time in his practice, Dr. Marks has not been unmindful of his
duties as a citizen, and, while interesting himself in other
directions of a civic nature , his most conspicuous service to the
pubic may be said to have been in connection with his labors
associated with the board of health, of which body he has been an
active member for twenty-eight years, six years of which he was
honored with the presidency. His annual reports are illumined with
sanitary and preventive measures generally against disease,
pestilence and contagion. In his persistent warfare against the
smoke evil he attracted attention not only at home, but among
municipal, State and national governments as well, a number of his
suggestions finding adoption in various communities, or by the
authorities communicating with him on the subject.
Dr. Marks is the gynecologist of the Homeopathic
Hospital of Reading, and is connected wit h the following medical
associations: The Practitioners Society; Hospital and Dispensary
Association; State Medical Society; American Institute of
Homeopathy; International Medical Congress; American Association of
Orificial Surgeons, and American Electro-Therapeutic Association.
Dr. Marks married Rebecca S. Althouse, daughter
of Henry Althouse, of Reading, and to this union was born one
daughter, Minnie. Mrs. Marks died Nov. 10, 1879, and later Dr.
Marks was wedded to Clara B. Regar, of Reading. To the second union
were born two children, Edith C. And Bessie.
In political matters the Doctor is not biased by
partisanship, although technically a Democrat, but of the
Jeffersonian persuasion. In religion he is broad-minded, and the
denomination with which he is identified is the Reformed faith.
The Doctor is prominent in fraternal
organizations, being a popular member of Isaac Hiester Lodge, No.
660, F. & A. M.; Oley Lodge, No. 218, I. O. O. F.; Mt. Penn
Castle, K. G. E.; Fidelia Chamber, No. 5, K. Of F.; Washington Camp
No. 505, P. O. S. Of A.; and Mt. Penn Council, R. A.