Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 261
Surnames: Esterly, Zabel, Eckert, Hunter, Deem, Shade, Fisher
Hon. Charles Joseph Esterly, whose scope of activities and interests include representing the Berks-Lehigh District in the Sixty-ninth Congress of the United States, and as an executive in manufacturing circles, farming on an extensive scale, the breeding of blooded stock, and an honored career in politics, is today one of the best known and most prominent citizens of Reading, Pennsylvania, and its environs. He is still a young man, and that he has been successful in such a ramified career in so short a time is irrefutable proof of his ability and energy.
Mr. Esterly was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1888, a son of Hermann Augustus and Louise Gertrude (Zabel) Esterly, both of whom are living (1925). Hermann Augustus Esterly was born in Baumstown, Pennsylvania, and has been successful as a commission merchant. Louise Gertrude (Zabel) Esterly is a native of Schenectady, New York. The senior Mr. Esterly is a son of Joseph S. Esterly, who served with distinction in the Civil War. The Esterly family has been prominent in Pennsylvania since 1720, when the first of that surname came to America from Southern Germany, and established the family in the New World. The name was originally spelled Oesterle, which soon was changed to the present form in America. The town of Esterly, Pennsylvania, is named in honor of the pioneer Esterly.
Hon. Charles Joseph Esterly received his early education in the public schools of his birthplace, following which he attended the Reading High School, from which he was graduated in the class of 1906. Immediately upon the completion of his schooling he embarked upon his business career, his initial employment being that of meter reader for the Metropolitan Electric Company, of Reading, with which concern he remained for ten years, working up to be sales agent for the company. In 1916 he served his connection with the Metropolitan Electric Company in order to accept the offer of a position in the sales department of The Berkshire Knitting Mills of Wyomissing, Berks County, Pennsylvania. He began his duties with this well-known concern on January 1, 1916, and has continued with it ever since. As an important factor of the sales department of the above-named company, Mr. Esterly continues to demonstrate his ability as a business man. Other outstanding business affiliations of Mr. Esterly's are as follows. President and director of the Crystal Rock Water Company, a director of the United States Knitting Mills, and a director of the Reading Bottle Stopper Company. He is also owner of the famous Sally Ann Furnace Farms in Rockland Township, near Bowers, Berks County, Pennsylvania, where the historic Sally Ann Furnace was started in 1791 by Valentine Eckert, and later owned and managed by Nicholas and Jacob Van Reed Hunter. The mansion, erected in 1814, on this property, is still in an excellent state of preservation. Altogether, Mr. Esterly owns six large farms in Berks County. He resides at the Sally Anne estate, Rockland Township, Berks County, where he is especially interested in breeding registered Ayreshire cattle and Berkshire swine.
During the late World War, Mr. Esterly served as secretary of the local Red Cross Chapter, and later chairman of the Red Cross Roll Call, his enthusiasm and energy predicating the successful outcome of all financial drives. He helped to organize the New Reading Fair and served as the first advertising manager. He has also been a supporter of the Reading Baseball and Athletic Association, having acted as director for some time. For the past seven years, in addition to managing other public celebrations, he has had charge of the Wyomissing Fourth of July festivities. He has also lent his support to the Playground Association, having served as a director.
Mr. Esterly's achievements in the world of politics have been noteworthy. Since his ephebic days he has cast his lot with, and his ballot for, the Republican Party. His party soon recognized his evident ability, and in 1917, at the age of twenty-nine years, elected him Borough Committeeman, which office he held until 1921. Meanwhile he had been chosen a school director of Wyomissing, holding this position for six years, from 1915 to 1921, inclusive. In 1920 he was National delegate to the Republican Convention in Chicago, and helped to nominate President Harding. From 1922 to 1924, as a fitting compliment to his successful years as a delegate and committeeman, Mr. Esterly was elected by a majority of 6,700 to the Sixty-ninth United States Congress to represent the Berks-Lehigh Fourteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, and in view of his past record it is an assured fact that the interests of his constituents will be well and wisely served. Veteran politicians, who have watched the meteoric career of the youthful Congressman, predict other steps upward when his term in Congress is completed.
Mr. Esterly is an enthusiastic Mason, and holds membership in a majority of the Masonic bodies. That he is ever "in search of further light" is proved by his affiliation with Rajah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and other of the higher Masonic degrees. He is also a member of Reading Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Esterly holds membership in many clubs and social organizations, among which may be mentioned the Temple Club, the Wyomissing Club, the Iris Club, and that internationally-known organization of good-fellowship among business men - The Rotary Club, of which he was one of the organizers, and to which at one time he gave his services as secretary. Mr. Esterly and the members of his family attend Grace Lutheran Church of Reading.
Hon. Charles Joseph Esterly was married in Reading, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1912, to Beulah Shade Deem, who was born in Reading, a daughter of Henry and Rosa (Shade) Deem. Mr. Deem, now deceased, was for many years prominently identified in local real estate circles. To Hon. Charles Joseph and Beulah Shade (Deem) Esterly have been born two children, as follows: Henry Herman, born February 15, 1917; and Richard Harding, born October 12, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Esterly are prominent in both Reading and Wyomissing society, and are always ready and willing to lend their moral or financial support to any worthy movement which has as its design the advancement of civic, municipal and county welfare work.
History informs us that Valentine Eckert, a Revolutionary officer, started Sally Ann Furnace - now a picturesque ruin nestling amid the fabled hills of Rockland Township, three miles from Topton, Berks County, Pennsylvania - during 1791. Tradition states that iron was made at the same spot at a still earlier but undetermined date by Hollandish forge masters who are supposed to have penetrated the then wilderness on a pilgrimage of research from New Amsterdam, as New York City then was known. Since tradition is just as reliable as written history, it is not an idle claim to declare Sally Ann Furnace one of the primitive centers in America where an excellent quality of ore was reduced to a superior, finished charcoal iron. The ruins of the furnace are very picturesque.
For long historians have wondered what prompted the erection of this now famed but silent mart in an isolated locality - far from basic requirements of virgin ore. From later discovered data they learned that the surrounding hills were studded with a prolific growth of giant dog-wood trees which yielded a peculiar kind of charcoal of unrivaled value in manufacturing iron. A few saplings are but remnants of a remote dense growth. It required two hundred and fifty acres of woodland per year to keep the furnace going - the daily capacity was six tons of pig iron.
Aside from the furnace proper there is much of interest to those who delve into Indian lore radiating for miles. No less than six authentic aboriginal towns were in the neighborhood. On the south bank of the Saucony Creek that bisects a vale of rugged grandeur, Indians had an immense peach orchard three centuries ago. Further on is Flint Hill with its extinct volcanic crater filled with monster fragments of vari-colored stone from which Indians for hundreds of distant miles procured material for fabricating stone weapons of war and implements of agriculture. The covered spring on the estate was once a shrine for vanished red men. For years there has existed a belief among neighboring farmers that the gentle knoll due north of the mansion house was an ancient graveyard on account of skeletons and implements being unearthed when ploughing.
According to custom, Nicholas Hunter, once part owner of the entire estate, named the furnace in honor of his wife, Sally (Sarah) Ann Fisher, daughter of a prominent and substantial early settler in Oley Valley, Berks County. During 1814 the mansion - an outstanding replica of early Colonial architecture - was built. It is the largest Colonial mansion in Berks County. The ceilings of the mansion are twelve feet high and a ten-foot Colonial hallway divides the house. There are fourteen rooms in the house - all of spacious size. The six fireplaces are outstanding examples - some of them being constructed of imported Italian marble. The windows are of huge size and the window panes are curved - coming from England. The woodwork is in remarkable state and the stair railing is considered a masterpiece. The house faces the furnace ruins and due to a confronting mill race forcibly reminds visitors of the feudal period. What was then considered the most attractive garden in the county occupied an adjacent enclosure. The largest and oldest lilac bushes in Pennsylvania stand clustered nearby. The original estate comprised one thousand acres. Some two hundred acres remain with the property.
A spacious barn, sheep fold, smoke house, store house, charcoal shed and several minor buildings at regular intervals lend added charm to the environment. Several century old hemlocks impart delightful odor to a constant atmosphere of invigoration and health. The place - verily an oasis of beauty - can easily be reached over an ancient Indian trail, now a smooth road leading eastward from Lyons, a typical Pennsylvania German village of thrifty, upright, pious, energetic and highly respected people.
Two examples of the famous Sally Ann Furnace ten plate wood stoves are on exhibition at the Pennsylvania State Museum at Harrisburg. The Berks County Historical Society has placed a granite marker on the premises, and with the advent of the automobile some ten thousand persons visit this historic shrine yearly. The guest book kept by the present owner, Congressman Charles J. Esterly, contains the names of famous men of the State and nation.
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