Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 177.
Surnames: Arthur, Parker, Leoser, Scott, Moyer, Keppelman, Mester
A name of permanent significance to Berks County and to the city of Reading, and one which is an ornament to the records of civic and patriotic activity is that of Colonel John E. Arthur. Many years have passed since he laid aside the responsibilities and duties of life, obeying the higher summons to which, eventually, all must respond. Yet so closely did his forward endeavors parallel the progress of his time that his life story is one of the keenest interest to every student of conditions and affairs, and it bears direct relation to the immediate advance of the present day. Colonel Arthur was a man singularly devoted to his own high appreciation of the meaning of the word duty. This principle governed his life and inspired his every act. His brilliant mentality and forceful, courageous spirit, together with his habitual attitude of looking forward, reaching upward, all these combined to form a majestic character, while his deep appreciation of the problems and achievements of others gave him that sympathy which even in his own day and generation made him honored and beloved.
ARMS -- Gules, a chevron between three Irish brogues or,
CREST -- a demi-savage reguardant proper.
The family of which Colonel Arthur was an honored representative came to America from the North of Ireland, emigrating from County Tyrone in the person of John Arthur, father of Colonel Arthur, in 1810. Engaged in the profession of teaching for some three years in Chester County, Pennsylvania, he removed to Lycoming County shortly after his marriage, but continued in the work of an educator. A pioneer in spirit he did much outstanding work in this profession during those early years of the development of the Public School System of Pennsylvania and much credit is due to his devoted endeavors. He was active as a teacher until his death at an early age in 1830. John Arthur married, in 1813, Rebecca Parker, who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, of English descent. She survived her husband for forty-eight years, passing away in 1878 at the great age of ninety-two years.
John E. Arthur was born in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1826, and died April 1, 1903. His education was received in the public schools of his birthplace, and although it was limited to the common school course his keen mind and interest in study were the same throughout his lifetime of constant acquisition of useful knowledge, while his pleasure in literature and the arts made of him a highly cultured man. As a young man he mastered the blacksmith's trade, completing his apprenticeship at the Reading Railroad shops where he became an employee at the age of nineteen years. In those early years Colonel Arthur's career was interrupted by the War with Mexico in which he took a prominent part. A considerable period passed after his return to civilian life before he was entirely recovered from wounds and hardships endured during the war. In 1854 he became identified once more with the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, this time as foreman of their blacksmithing department. Civil War called Colonel Arthur a second time to the colors and before its close he was returned to his home broken in health and exhausted. He resumed his position as foreman of the blacksmith shop, however, before the close of the war, and while he was still again interrupted in the performance of his civilian duties by local military activities he remained with the same railroad for a number of years. In all his activities as a business man he revealed the ability to lead others which was so definitely marked in his military service. Rising in the organization until he filled a position of large responsibility, Colonel Arthur was a factor of importance in the history of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad during the years immediately subsequent to the Civil War. In 1870 he was elected treasurer of the city of Reading on the Democratic ticket for a term of two years, and his services in that largely responsible office were so entirely satisfactory to the people that no opposing candidate entered the field for the next election, both political parties giving Colonel Arthur the unanimous nomination, and the people following with a splendid vote at the polls. His remarkable judgment and absolute integrity were so fully recognized by the people that he was reelected to the same office for six successive terms, serving thus from fourteen years of consecutive activity. His retirement from municipal office in 1885 practically closed his active career. The remaining years of his life were devoted to his real estate interest and other personal affairs.
The military record of Colonel John E. Arthur began with his enlistment in Captain Thomas Loeser's company in a Pennsylvania unit for service in the Mexican War. Going with this company to Philadelphia, he was transferred to Chambersburg, and from that point marched to Pittsburgh. Recruiting en route had largely augmented the numbers of this military body, and upon their arrival in Pittsburgh Colonel Arthur was assigned to the Second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The soldiers went to the front by river boats down the Ohio and Mississippi, joining General Scott's army on the Island of Lobos in the Gulf of Mexico. Colonel Arthur participated in the siege of Vera Cruz in the spring of 1847, and after the surrender of that stronghold he accompanied General Scott to the city of Mexico, taking a gallant part in the short but spectacular battle at the pass of Cerro Gordo when the Mexicans fled before the invading army. Garrisoned for a time at Jalapa to keep a clear road for the commissary wagons to pass through to the other branches of the army, he joined his regiment later in the city of Pueblo and participated in the storming of Chapultepec, two miles outside the city of Mexico. At the very entrance of the city, at the Belen Gate, a rifle shattered by a cannon ball instantly killed five men and Colonel Arthur received several wounds from the flying fragments of metal. On September 14, 1847, that little contingent of some six thousand men under General Scott lifted the Stars and Stripes over the city of Mexico above the "Halls of the Montezumans," the stately buildings erected by the early successors of Old Cortez. Stricken as he was just before the final success, Colonel Arthur was cared for in the military hospitals within the city for six months, his wounds dressed by a Mexican surgeon. It was after an absence of a year and a half that he returned with his company to Reading, and of those who belonged to that company twenty were still living in 1886.
It was as one of the sadly needed seasoned veterans of his time that Colonel Arthur entered the activities of the Civil War. He recruited Company B of the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and with his command was assigned to the army of the Potomac. He bore a part in the siege of Yorktown, the battle of Williamsburg, also the battle of Fair Oaks, and endured the fearful strain of the seven days' siege of Richmond. Throughout the entire peninsular campaign of 1862 he revealed the strength and lofty spirit of the true soldier, receiving commendation from his brigade commander, General Peck, for coolness and bravery at the battle of Fair Oaks. For several months thereafter he was placed in command of the regiment, and his promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel was received in July of the same year. Later in that year Colonel Arthur served in the battles of Chantilly and Antietam. Past his first youth when he entered the activities of the Civil War, the strain of the earlier conflict having left its mark, two years of service in the cause of the Union so aggravated a chronic disease contracted in Mexico and the trouble resulting from the wounds of that war early in 1863, that Colonel Arthur was honorably discharged from the service by recommendation of the military surgeons. Returning home, Colonel Arthur resumed work in the shops of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad as soon as he had partially recovered his health. There the second Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania found him engaged in the interest of civilian life, still the military leader. He instantly recruited a splendid company to meet the emergency, practically all of the prominent businessmen of Reading rallying around him to drive the invaders back to their own territory. This company under Colonel Arthur's command as lieutenant-colonel, was assigned to the Forty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Although the active duties of this unit amounted to little more than emergency service, Colonel Arthur held his commission for three years before finally resigning from military affairs. His record of faithful service forms one of the bright and inspiring pages in the annals of advance in Pennsylvania, and is a worthy record of patriotic endeavor.
Colonel John E. Arthur married, May 3, 1851, Rebecca P. Moyer, daughter of Amos Moyer, of Reading, and they were the parents of the following children: 1. Mary E., wife of John H. Keppelman (q.v.) of Reading. 2. Frank M., a superintendent of the United Gas Improvement Company, Philadelphia. 3. Amos A., a Methodist clergyman, stationed at Philadelphia. 4. John E., foreman of the Consumers' Gas Company of Reading. 5. Emily, wife of Samuel A. Mester, formerly of Reading, now of Columbus, Ohio.
Last Modified