LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. YTMU03 21\niB MAP BERKS COUNTY — issa — Prcptffod liy KCNDnt OROS <■ / ^ X SCHOOL HISTORY OF Berks County IN PBNNSVLVANIA. bv MORTON U MONTGOMERY, AUTHOB OF "history OF BERKS COUNTY." / ^ ^ .^ / PHILADELPHIA: J. B. RODGERS PRINTING CO., 54 NORTH SIXTH ST. 1889. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1889, by MORTON t,. MONTGOMERY, In the OflSce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. *2^\V\'\ PRKKACK. ^ I ^HE author of this book compiled " The History -^ of Berks County," and in 1885 caused it to be published in a royal octavo volume of 1200 pages. Immediately afterward, certain teachers of our public schools suggested to him the utility of compiling a his- tory for the use of the schools, in order to enable the children of the county to acquire special knowledge of their own locality, in which they were mostly inter- ested, as well as general knowledge of this entire country and of foreign countries. It was believed that in this way they would be led to read of and investi- gate matters and things in the surrounding country with which they were now, or would shortly become, more immediately connected, and also to exercise their perceptive faculties in their daily school life, rather than their imagination ; from which they could then be led, as inclination or necessity might dictate, into larger divisions of territory and into more comprehensive knowledge, after their faculties had become sufficiently matured to be interested in them, and more especially to understand them ; and it was further believed that knowledge of this kind, thus acquired, would develop a tendency to acquire general historical knowledge. 3 4 PREFA CE. Being impressed with the importance of the sugges- tion, he accordingly prepared a "School History," and invited the most prominent educators of the county to meet him in the ' ' Reading High School ' ' for the pur- pose of criticising the arrangement and composition of the proposed work. A number of them kindly re- sponded, and, after considering the arrangement of topics and hearing portions of certain chapters read to them, they decided that it contained useful historical information which the children of the county should know, and that it was presented in a manner adapted for school purposes ; and therefore thej^ recommended its introduction into the schools as a necessary book of instruction. With this recommendation the matter was laid before the " Committee on Text Books " of the Board of School Controllers of the Reading School District, and this committee then presented a favorable report to the Board, recommending the proposed publi- cation as a supplemental reader in the schools, which report was adopted by the Board unanimously. Re- ceiving such encouragement, the author caused the volume to be published, and he now presents it to the several school boards and educators of the county for their approval. August, iSSg. CONTKNTS. i i CHAPTER I. GEOGRAPHY II-18 Situation and boundaries of County — Streams, valleys, and mountains — Geology — Relative elevation — Latitude and longitude. CHAPTER II. INDIANS 19-23 First occupants — Tribes— Clans — Manners — Departure- Relics — Glossary of local Indian names. CHAPTER III. EARLY SETTLERvS 24-36 Swedes — Germans— English — Welsh. CHAPTER IV. ERECTION OP COUNTY AND ITS SUBDIVISIONS 37-4O Erection — Area— Name— Subdivision — Sections, townships, and towns— Boroughs- City. 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. GOVERNMENT 4I-62 Privileges — Officers, local, State, and National — Declaration of Independence— Constitution of United States and National Legislature — Constitution of Pennsylvania and State Legislature— Offices by special legislation — Minority officials — Election districts— Political parties — Conventions— Nominations for office — Electors— Vote for Governor— Vote for President — Party vote — Vote for Liquor— State Conventions at Reading— Mass Meetings — Political festivals. CHAPTER VI. EDUCATION 63-95 Churches: Lutheran and Reformed, Friends, Baptists, Duukarda, Moravians, Roman Catholics, Amish, Epis- copal, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Uuiversalist— Ceme- teries. Schools : Early encouragement — Common school education — School progress — County Superintendents— Origin of system — Common school .system accepted by districts — Teachers' Institute — Pay schools. Netvspapefs : Weekly and daily. Language. Manners and Customs. CHAPTER VII. LABOR AND INTERNAI^ IMPROVEMENTS . . . 96-123 Labor: Agriculture— Industries. Internal Improvements: Advantages of river — Canals- Bridges— Freshets— Roads — Turnpikes — Stages — Rail- roads — Progress of locomotion — County buildings — Postal service— Post-offices in County— Stamps— Tele- graph— Telephone. CONTENTS. 7 CHAPTER VIII. MILITARY PERIODS I24-165 French and Indian ll^'ar, 7/55 (o iy6j : Cause— French and Indians unite— County entered— English victorious- Peace declared —Forts — Killed and captured. Revolution, i-jys to 1783: Stamp duty — Local patriotism — Companies from Berks County— Army supplies— Hes- sian prisoners — Duel at Reading— Conway Cabal — Con- tinental money— Peace — Return of soldiers. Whisky Insurrection of 7795 .• Cause— Call to arms — County Quota — Washington visits Reading. House Tax a7id Liberty Poles, 1799: Insurrection — I^ in which this system is arranged. In this magnificent arrangement, Nature would appear to have been Wisdom herself. The sub- division of this comparatively small portion of the earth's surface in such a perfect manner cannot have been the result of chance. Some great scep- tre marked out the courses for our streams, valleys, and mountains. It was the power of God ! It was He who indicated, by His wisdom, the ways which we should follow for our welfare and progress; and, fortunately for us, we have pursued these ways. Our roads, canals, and railways are laid, as it v/ere, in paths especially prepared for them. Valleys. — The arrangement of valleys in the county is not surpassed by that of any other county in the State. Its rolling character, interspersed with 14 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. hills and mountains, and intersected by numerous irrigating rivulets and streams, renders it most ad- mirable for successful cultivation with ordinary labor. A depression in the central portion of the county extends from the Blue Mountain on the north to the boundary line on the southeast, a dis- tance of 32 miles. It resembles an L irregularly drawn. It is called "Schuylkill Valley," and takes its name from the river that flows through its bosom. It is not distinguished for width; above Reading it is rather open, below rather confined. Valleys enter it on the east and west. The most conspicuous of the eastern valleys are the Onte- launee, the Bernhart, the Antietam, the Monocacy, and the Manatawny; and of the western, the Tul- pehocken, the Wyomissing, the Angelica, the Alle- gheny, and the Hay Creek. All take their names from the streams which flow through them. On both sides they begin at the extreme limits of the county, excepting the Bernhart, Antietam, and Monocacy, which begin in the central portion. Together, they present a remarkable conformation. Their depres- sion is from the limits of the county towards the centre, with a southerly declination. The principal valley has the lowest points of the county from the northern limit to the southern. The borders are water-sheds to a great degree; inside the waters flow inward; but at the lines, and outside, they flow out- ward — on the east into the Lehigh River and Perkio- men Creek, and on the west and south into the Swatara Creek and Conestoga Creek, These valleys, therefore, gather all the waters within the count}-, GEOGRAPHY. 15 and direct tliem into and through its territory for the great benefit of its industrious inhabitants be- fore they allow them to depart. Berks County occupies the central portion of the large district, in area 4600 square miles, which lies between the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. The plan of distribution of valle}'s and waters be- tween these rivers is marvelous; and the leaders in the movement for the erection of the county in this large body of land displayed remarkable foresight and knowledge in obtaining such boundary lines. The Tulpehocken Valley forms the eastern sec- tion of the Lebanon Valley; the Swatara Valley (which extends westward through Lebanon and Dauphin Counties) the western section. These two valleys are together 54 miles long, and take the name of Lebanon Valley from the city which occu- pies the highest point midway. There are other valleys, but they have only a local character and take their names from the respective streams which flow through them. " The "Schuylkill Gap" in the Blue Mountain, where the Schuylkill River enters the county, is the only gap of marked features in the county. Mountains. — The bordering elevations of the prominent valleys are called mountains. There are tv/o principal chains. Blue Mountain and South Mountain ; and from these there are projecting hills. The Blue Mountain forms the northern boundary line of the county. It has an average elevation of 1200 feet above the sea, and takes its name from a blueish appearance observable at a distance. The 16 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. South Mountain takes its name from its position south of the Bhie Mountain, and comprises a suc- cession of hills in the central and southern sections of the county whose average elevation is looo feet above the sea. "Never Sink" and " Penn's Mount" are particularly prominent, and are well known from their proximity to Reading. In the Blue Mountain several elevated points are noticeable, the most prominent being the " Pin- nacle" in Albany township and "Round Head" in Bethel township. Round Head. — Over looo feet above the level of the sea, and overlooking the fertile valleys and rolling hills of Berks and Lebanon Counties for 600 square miles, it stands high above the surrounding country a monument of natural won- der, a witness of Nature's terrible convulsions, a mark of pre-historic times. Where is the mind that can penetrate its hoary history, where the pen that can portray its grandeur and glor}- ? How many times have the magnificent beams of the morning sun first crowned its towering head with a halo of light before reaching the rocks and trees below, as they flashed over Penn's Mount, across the Schuylkill and the rolling country far on to the West ! and how many times have the same beams left it last before they were drawn in behind the western hills ! Thousands of years ago, when the waters under the heaven were gathered together and the dry land appeared, what a spectacle must have been in this locality ! The first speck of earth — as upon Ararat's famous height — to feel the GEOGRAPHY. 17 rushing of the mighty winds and to see the roaring waters assuage, what a witness of ages gone by ! And when the angry waves ceased to wash its rugged sides, and the great law of gravity was ex- erting itself to reduce all things to a common level, what a crashing and a thundering must have re- verberated in the valleys round-about, as the great rocks rolled from their primeval beds down into the gorge before it, 700 feet below ! Geolog-y. — The geological formation of the coun- ty is comparatively simple. The northern section, or about four- tenths, is slate; the central, or three- tenths, is limestone ; and the lower, or three-tenths, is sandstone. Many minerals have been found within its borders, numbering over seventy differ- ent kinds, and including gold, silver, and copper. The most prominent kind is iron ore, many thou- sand tons of it having been mined, which brought much wealth into our community. It was mined from the time of the earliest settlements. So was copper thus early mined here, but in small quanti- ties. In 1882 there were more than 100 iron mines in operation in the county, whose annual production exceeded 300,000 tons. In 1880 it was the third county in the list of ore-producing coun- ties in Pennsylvania, and seventh in the entire country. Relative Elevation. — The relative elevation of the several sections of the county above the sea, as compared with Reading, is as follows ; 2 18 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Reading — 265 feet above the sea. North. Leesport 295 Hamburg 372 Northeast. Fleetwood 446 Topton 482 East. Boyertown 386 Barto 466 Southeast. Birdsboro' 170 Douglassville 158 South. Geigertown 429 Joanna 624 Southwest. Fritztown 469 Deep Cut 570 West Sinking Spring 345 Womelsdorf 453 Latitude and Long-itude. — The county of Berks lies in the lower^ central portion of the north tem- perate zone, between 40° and 41° north latitude, and between ^° and i J/^° east longitude, reckoning from Washington. INDIANS. 19 CHAPTER II INDIANS. First Occupants. — The Indians were the first oc- cupants of this territory. We know of none be- fore them. No marks of any kind have been found to prove previous settlements. When they first migrated here has not as yet been ascertained. It is supposed that they came from the West. They were seen by the first Europeans who landed on the Atlantic coast. Tribes. — The Indians in this section were known as the Mmsi (or Wolf) tribe. They were one of the three tribes known to the English as the Delawares^ who took their name from the large river which forms the eastern boundary of Pennsylvania. The other two tribes were called Unamis (or Turtle), and Unalachtgo (or Turkey). It was the custom of the Indians to name themselves after streams and animals. The nation of Indians, of which these tribes in this section formed part, was known as Len7ti Leitdpe. Clans. — Each tribe of Indians was divided into clans ; and each clan had a chief. The clan which occupied this vicinity was called the Schuylkills^ and its chief, for a time, was Manangy. Many families with their connections lived together. They 20 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. settled along streams and formed towns and villages. A number of these were in the county, situated along the prominent streams. They made no per- manent improvements, but lived in huts which were generally constructed of poles fixed in the ground and tied together at the top, leaving a hole for ventilation. The outer cover- ing was the bark of trees. Beds and seats were made of animal skins. Manners. — The In- dians were great hunt- ers and fishers, and subsisted mostly on wild game and fish. In the use of the spear they were expert and successful. They car- ried on agriculture to a limited extent in raising maize, beans, and pumpkins, but the labor was performed entirely by women. They believed in the "Great Spirit," and pos- sessed a high idea of personal honor and integrity. The}^ had no domestic virtues, for they treated their wives with cruelty and their children with indiffer- ence. They were of a brave nature, and permitted no outward sign of pain. Painting of their bodies was a universal custom, which was regarded as their heraldry. They also carried plumes of feathers on their heads, esjjecially the chiefs and grand sachems. INDIANS. 21 Their weapons consisted of the tomahawk, knife, club, bow and arrow; and they were extremely dexterous in their use. When the Dutch intro- duced the gun to them they became expert marks- men. They conducted warfare in a peculiar and stealthy manner — mostly in small squads — ^and were extremely revengeful. They declared war by send- ing to the offending party a slave with a hatchet whose handle was painted red. Each tribe was governed by ah elected chief and council. In matters of great importance all the warriors were consulted. In their deliberations, questions were decided by the consent of all, not by a majority. Their assemblies were conducted with great formality, and their debates were carried on by set speeches, which abounded in bold figures and bursts of impassioned eloquence. The oldest chief always commenced the discussion of a question. The young men were permitted to attend, but not to speak. Departure. — The Indians were obliged by the Eng- lish and German settlers to depart from this section to the West, whence they had come. In 1718 they '^ sold their rights to all the lands in Pennsylvania, * south of the South Mountain, to William Penn for a consideration consisting of useful articles ; and in 1732 they sold to Penn's sons all that portion lying between the South Mountain and Blue Mountain. Then they departed. In 1789 they were settled in Ohio; in 1818 in Missouri; and in 1866 in Indian Territory, where they accepted land with an abso- lute title from the National government. A notion 22 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. prevails that their number has been much reduced, but this is erroneous. In 1880 they numbered in the United States, according to the census, 303,248. It is not known how many lived in Berks County before 1732, but all the clans taken together did not number a thousand. Relics.— Numerous Indian stone relics have been found in the county and collected by various parties. The most prominent and numerous collection has been made by Prof. David B. Brunner. The speci- mens consist of spear-heads, arrow-heads, axes, hammers, knives, mortars, pestles, beads and shells, pottery, etc., etc. These relics are the only evidence which we have to remind us that this peculiar people, — commonly known as the American or Red Race, — existed here for a time. They were found mostly at places where, it is supposed, villages had been located and clans had lived. The Indians occupied and roamed over the entire area of the county, but they pre- ferred certain sections ; as, for instance, along the Manatawny about Pleasantville, along the Ontelaunee about Moselem, along the Tulpe- hocken about Womelsdorf, and along the Schuyl- kill about Navesink and Flying-Hill; all of which were apparently well selected by reason of their admirable situation. In these several localities the greatest number of relics were found by farmers in turning over the soil, who either kept them as mementoes or presented them to persons interested in the subject. No marks of permanent improvements have as yet been discovered — no INDIANS. 23 foundations, no artificial mounds, no earth-works of any kind; and excepting these relics it will appear that, when the Indians left this section of country, they carried everything with them. Glossary — All the prominent streams in the county have been given Indian names; also four townships, and one hill. The following list of words is presented with their meaning : Allegheny — Fair water. Can show ehanne — Roaring or tumbling stream. This is now known as the Schuylkill. In old deeds it is called Manaiunk, the signification of which word was a ?«o//z^r of streams. Gokhosing — Place of owls ; now Cocoosing. Kau-ta-tin-chunk — Endless (applied formerly, now changed, to Blue Mountain). Lechauweki—'P\&ce: of Forks ; now Lehigh. South Moun- • tain was previously known by this name. Machksithanne Bear's-path Creek ; now Maxatawny. Maschilamehaniie — Trout Stream ; now Moselem. Manakesse — Stream with large beds ; now Monocacy. Menhallanink—Wheire. we drank liquor ; now Manatawny Navesink — Place of fishing ; now Neversink. C>//«/fe— Hole, cavern, or cell; also a cove or tract of land encompassed by hills ; now Oley. Ontelaunee — Little maiden ; now Maiden Creek. Pakihmomhik — Place of cranberries ; now Perkiomen. Sakunk — Place of outlet, where a smaller stream empties into a larger ; now Sacony also Saucon. Sinne-hanne — Stony Stream ; now Stony Creek. Sipuas-hannc — A plum stream ; now Plum Creek. Tamaque-haJine — Beaver Stream — a stream across which the beaver throws a dam ; now Beaver Creek ; also changed to Little Schuylkill. Tulpeivihaki — Land of Turtles ; now Tulpehocken. Wyoniissing — Place of flats. 24 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. CHAPTER III. EARLY SETTLERS. What was all this grand coimtty a thousand years ago? Where are the records to give us to know who inhabited these mountains and hills, these valleys and streams ? Were wild animals hfere alone and undisturbed? Was the eagle soar- ing aloft with wings outspread watching the sparkling ripples in meandering streams, or the gambols of the deer and fawn laving here and slak- ing their thirst? Were men and women and chil- dren here struggling for subsistence as they now are? Were buildings and temples and peace and prosperity here? No paper, no parchment, no papyrus is here to inform us what civilization ex- isted ; the ploughshare has turned up no ornamented and finely-chiseled stones with hieroglyphic in- scriptions ; no famous Bayeux tapestry has been handed down from generation to generation to tell us that here, too, as in Britain, a William reigned. Even five hundred years ago our whole country was Unknown — so it is supposed — and one hundred years farther down in the course of time Columbus was only concluding that a countiy must be here where we now are, and begging for aid to help him realize the grand venture of his life ; one hundred EA RL Y SE TTLERS. 2o years more, settlements were only begun along the Atlantic coast, and the first ideas of government were only introduced in this benighted land ; fifty }'ears more, the Swedes only began their settlements on the Delaware and Schuylkill ; and fifty more, Penn only landed here with his great charter from King Charles the Second for the government of Pennsylvania. Only? This seems like trifling with time. We speak of centuries then as years now. And well we can; for, what transpired along the Schuylkill, the Tulpehocken, the Manatawny, and the Onte- launee before 1680? In England, the noblemen trace back their ancestry and government for cen- turies ; in Germany, they go still farther back ; and the Maharajah of Jeypore a thousand years. Think of it ! Two hundred years ago our people here were only in reality beginning to live and under- stand free civil government. Then the great- grandsires of our forefathers were onl}- developing the ideas of independent thought and religious tol- eration in France and Germany. Then the Mon- ceys, the most warlike tribe of the Lenape Indians, were roving at liberty over these mountains and valleys with no one to molest them, no one to in- terfere; and then they traded peacefully with the English at and about the mouth of the Schuylkill. The early settlers of the county, while the In- dians were still occupying the territory, were the Swedes, Germans, English, and Welsh ; and they came here in the order named. Swedes. — The Swedes effected the first perma- 26 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. nent settlement in Pennsylvania along the Dela- ware River in 1638. After William Penn had come to take possession of his province, he enconr- aged them to move towards the interior ; and shortly before 1700, a number of them considered the propriety of accepting his offers, when they moved up the Schuylkill and viewed the adjoining country. In 1701 a small colony, under the lead- ership of a Lutheran minister, found suitable land along the eastern bank of the river, several miles above the mouth of the Manatawny Creek, and presented their petition to Penn for a grant of 10,000 acres. Immediately afterward, tracts of land were surveyed and laid off" for them. They numbered, with their families, altogether about fifty persons. They made permanent settlements. Descendants of some of them are still in the county, notably the Joneses and Yocums. This was the only colony of them which came into the county, and the only section of the county in which they took up lands. A building, erected in 1716, by one of their number, Mounce Jones, is still standing near the bank of the Schuylkill in a good state of preservation. It is the oldest building in the county. They were the first settlers who erected a building for religious worship in this county. They were members of the Lutheran denomina- EA RL y SE TTLERS. 27 tion, and possessed admirable characteristics to take up and develop a new country. They re- mained more immediately together than any other subsequent class of settlers in this territory. The Indians appreciated their virtues in permitting them to remain unmolested before the land was re- leased. The name of the township indicates the pleasant relation which prevailed between them and the Indians. There was amity between them, and so the township came to be named in 17 19. They pursued the vocation of farming. Germans. — The German immigrants were the second settlers to enter this section of territory. The first settlement was effected by them in 17 12, in Oley, in the Manatawny section, along the Manatawny Creek. Many arrived within the next decade. To the east of the Schuylkill, they pro- ceeded northwardly from Philadelphia. To the west, however, the first colony of Germans, before 1730, entered from the west, proceeding from New \ York southwardly and from the Susquehanna River eastwardly into Tulpehocken section, and settling in the vicinity of Womelsdorf The total number of Germans, who settled in the county previous to 1752, cannot be estimated, but they were more numerous than all the other nationalities taken to- gether. Many of these German immigrants were redenip- tioners, or persons who had bound themselves or one or more of their children, to the masters of ves- sels upon their arrival, for a term of years, to pay for their passage across the ocean. The usual terms 28 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. of sale depended upon the age, strength, and health of the persons sold. Boys and girls generally serv^ed from five to ten years, until they attained the age of twenty-one years. Alany parents were compelled to sell the service of their own children in order to satisfy their passage-money, so that they might be released from the vessel upon which they were brought to this country. Children under five years of age could not be sold to service. They were dis- posed of gratuitously to persons wdio agreed to raise them and give them their freedom when they attained the age of twenty-one years. In this manner the redemptioners came to occupy a very humble posi- tion; but from this class there sprang some of the most reputable and wealthy inhabitants. Prior to 1727, most of the German immigrants brought with them considerable means. But after- ward, many of them were poor and they came to be redemptioners on that account. The years in which these arrived were 1728, 1729, 1737, 1741, 1750, and 1 75 1. The major part of them were farmers; but many were mechanics, who had a knowledge of those arts which are necessary and useful in all countries, comprising weavers, tailors, tanners, shoemakers, combmakers, smiths of all kinds, butchers, paper- makers, clock-makers, and bakers. They became perfect mechanics and workingmen through a cus- tom of " Peregrination," which, as young men, just after the close of their apprenticeship, they carried on for one or more years, in order to make them- selves more proficient in their several trades. This was required of }oung mechanics before they were EA RL Y SE TTLERS. 29 permitted to set up for themselves. By this course, they were afforded opportunities of acquiring much useful general knowledge which books could not Supply, besides proficiency in their trades. They were called " Traveling Journeymen." The inten- tion of this custom was to enable them to gain ex- perience, learn methods practiced in other countries besides their own, and acquire also a knowledge of the world. Many of the earlier immigrants were Huguenots, who had been encouraged by Penn and the English government to emigrate to Pennsylvania and New York. In France, this name was used as a term of reproach for those who aimed at a reform of religion according to the principles enunciated by Calvin. The name attached itself to these reformers when they broke off all connection with Lutheranism, and began to organize themselves both as a church and as a political body. Their churches sprang up with wonderful quickness during the middle of the six- teenth century ; but they became unpopular — bit- terly disliked by the court and by a majority of the French people. The Germans, who settled the country along the Schuylkill and its tributaries, having been experi- enced hands in various employments, were a valua- ble acquisition to Penn and his sons in the develop- ment of their province. They were just what a new country needed to start it in the march of material progress. Their labor, their economy, their perse- verance, and their stability added great and increas- ing wealth to the country, decade after decade. 30 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. They prepared the way for the erection of a new county; and having fitted the settlements for a separate political organization, they proceeded ear- nestly in behalf of its establishment. Though largely in the majority, they did not have their in- fluence to appear by the name that was given to the county. Possibly they could not have secured a German name if they had desired to. In the sec- tions of territory which they inhabited, only three townships were named with German names, — Hei- delberg, Bern, and Alsace. Before this event, the Germans had done much for the territory in improving its soil, in erecting build- ings, in laying out roads. They were along every stream, excepting the Wyomissing, Allegheny, and Hay Creek in the Schuylkill section. They were in the valleys and on the 'hills, rather than along the Schuylkill. This singular selection of locality was not accidental. They found the best quality of land away from the Schuylkill. Our best farms in productiveness ' and in appearance are in the lo- calities where they settled, along the Manatawny, Ontelaunee, and Tulpehocken Creeks ; and in these several sections they caused the erection of churches at an early date. In the representative positions, secured to the people by our Constitution, the officials of the county have been mostly Germans, excepting in one particular, the office of president judge. They were in Congress without interruption from 1789 until 1847. They were extreme Revolutionists, and they encouraged the War for Independence to the EARL Y SETTLERS. 31 utmost of their ability. Their conduct was admira- ble. When the struggle closed, with the acquisi- tion of increased power to the people, they naturally asserted their rights and presumed to take positions and power unto themselves. In all the sections of the count}', the descendants of many of the first German settlers are still flour- ishing in numbers, in industry, in wealth, and in social, religious, and political influence; and the great majority of them have continued persistently engaged in agriculture upon or in the vicinity of the original settlements. Their names are so numerous that they cannot well be mentioned. Some moved to different districts of the county; others to Reading. Many sons and daughters mi- grated to the West, and settled particularly in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Col- orado. Some of the sons turned to the professions — divinity, law, and medicine — in which they shone with more or less distinction; others to trades and manufactures, in which they realized rich rewards for their industry and well-directed energy. In tracing down all the pursuits of life carried on in the county, it is only occasionally that a complete stranger appears and identifies himself with her on- ward movements for any considerable length of time. This is especially the case in politics. The names of the old families are continually on the sur- face. Not particularly demonstrative, they are like expert swimmers in deep water. They float onward majestically in the great stream of time ; their heads are always visible ; their endurance prevails. 32 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Eng-Iish. — The English entered this territory and took up lands shortly before 1720. They were, accordingly, the third class of settlers. Their first families were the Boones, Ellises, Lees, and Lin- colns. They settled in the Manatawny section — the Ellises and Lees in the central portion along the Manatawny Creek, and the Boones and Lincolns in the western portion along the Monocacy Creek and the Schuylkill. Within ten years after their permanent settlements, they established a meeting- house for religious worship, this being about 1726, at a point where the present Exeter meeting- house stands; and in 1727 they obtained a promi- nent public road. Shortly after 1730, they settled in the Schuylkill section, along and about Hay Creek and Allegheny Creek to the west of the Schuylkill; and also farther north, in the Ontelaunee section, along and about the Maiden Creek, immediately after the Indians had released their rights to the territory. The first families in the former settlements were the Embrees, Lewises, Humphreys, Scarlets, Harrys, Prices, Webbs, Moores, and Williamses ; and in the latter settlements, the Parvins, Lightfoots, Huttons, Starrs, Davises, Penroses, Pearsons, Wileys, Wrights, Wil- lits, Harveys, and Reeds. And these respective families also established meeting-houses in the midst of their settlements, about the year 1736 — the one at the cross-roads near the centre of Robe- son township, and the other near the centre of Maiden-creek township. All these families were connected with the EARL V SE TTLERS. 33 Friends. They exerted a strong influence in these three sections of the county. The numerous Eng- lish names, given to the townships east of the Schuylkill, were suggested by them. The English influence is apparent. The previous counties, excepting Philadelphia, were given English names — Bucks, Chester, I^ancaster, York, and Cumber- land. The proprietary government was English, and an English name for the new county was to be expected ; and the Penns having been at the head of provincial affairs, the name of their own shire naturally stood out with prominence as a proper name for the new organization. George Boone was particularly prominent in the Manatawny section, and Benjamin Lightfoot in the Ontelaunee section, in respect to proceedings for setting apart new townships. They w^ere survey- ors and men of more than ordinary ability. And just as these two men were prominent in their branch of service, Anthony Lee and Francis Parvin I were equally, if not more, prominent in these respective sections as justices of the several courts of the county. Until the Revolution, through the recognition of the provincial government, the Friends exerted the most influence in directinsf political affairs in the county, notwithstanding their number was far less than the Germans. But during the Revolution, and immediately afterward, the natural energy of the Germans carried them for- ward in political matters, just as it had carried them forward in agriculture and manufactures before the Revolution. Independence elevated them into 3 34 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. political rights, tlie exercise of which placed them in power. So the Friends lost their position in the community, and with it their public influence. Before the Revolution their number was strong, and their religious meetings were active and suc- cessful. But since that time they have gradually decreased, decade after decade, until now. Whilst in influence and power, they conducted themselves with justice and ability. Their best men were always elevated to positions of responsibility. The early county records are distinguished for neatness and legibility, this of itself indicating their careful- ness and attention to business. Since the Revolution, only a few of the represen- tative officers have been distinctively English, especially of the families mentioned. The Ger- mans have been our representative men almost entirely. It is safe to assert that this would not have been the case if the Revolution had not ter- minated successfully. During that trying period, the Friends here were mostly, if not entirely, Tories; and therefore they were opposed to the war. There were English people here besides the Friends. At first, before the erection of the county, they were in the southern and southeastern portions of the county. They manifested themselves in a religious way about the same time — between 1735 and 1740 — the one body in Caernarvon township and the other in Amity township. They were members of the Established Church of England, called Episcopalians. Afterward, when the county EARL V SETTLERS. 35 was erected, they also appeared in Reading, but not with sufficient strength to cause the erection of a church for themselves until 1825. Welsli. — Just as the Swedes settled in the county on the eastern bank of the Schuylkill, so the Welsh settled in the county to the west of the river. They migrated through Chester County lands until they crossed the South Mountain; and, though some of them reached a point beyond the moimtain before the purchase of the territory from the Indians in 1732, the most of them entered this district immediately afterward. The Swedes did not have a township named after any of their places in their distant home across the wide ocean; but the Welsh were more impressive, they having named three townships — Caernarvon, Cumru, and Brecknock. The Welsh had purchased from Penn in Eng- land, before 1700, a large body of land, aggregating 40,000 acres, to be selected in Pennsylvania ; and these acres they selected to the west of the Schuyl- kill. They settled the country so numerously that, before 1698, they had named six townships in the county of Chester. Rowland Ellis was a promi- nent Welshman who induced a large Welsh emi- gration from Wales to this country. In 1686, he himself embarked with roo Welshmen. The dis- trict of territor\^, which lay to the south of the South Mountain and west of the Schuylkill, was gradually settled by these Welsh people, and they migrated farther and farther up the river during the next fifty years. Before 1740, several hundred of 36 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. them had settled in the Schuylkill section beyond this mountain. The first families were the Davises, Evanses, Hughes, Joneses, Lewises, Lloyds, Rettews, and Thomases. They were adherents of the Baptist denomination. Their lands were taken up mostly along and in the vicinity of the Wyomissing and Cacoosing Creeks, and there they were most thickly settled. In their midst they caused a meeting- house to be erected. They took up many tracts of landj aggregating 20,000 acres before 1752. They were enterprising, and had a grist-mill along the Wyomissing before 1740. This flowing stream was appreciated by them for its superior water-power, and the^/ accordingly erected different factories along its banks for the manufacture of gun-barrels, files, etc. Agriculture was their principal employ- ment. Like the Swedes, they remained in their first settlement, southward of the Schuylkill and Cacoosing. They did not enter politics, but at- tended strictly to their personal affairs. They co- operated earnestly with the Germans in obtaining a new county out of the upper sections of Lancas- ter and Philadelphia Counties. ERECTION OF COUNTY. 37 CHAPTER IV. ERECTION OF COUNTY AND ITS SUBDIVISION. Erection of County. — After this section of Penn- sylvania had become sufficiently populous, the set- tlers concluded to organize a county, so that they would have a county-seat near by, to enable them to transact more conveniently business relating to themselves and their property. The territory lying east of the Schuylkill River was a part of Phila- delphia County, and that lying west of the river was a part of Lancaster County, excepting a small portion which was of Chester County. The county-seat of the former part was at Philadelphia, distant from the settlements from 40 to 75 miles ; and the county-seat of the latter part was at Lan- caster, distant from 25 to 50 miles. The first effort in this behalf was made in 1738, by applying to the Assembly of Pennsylvania. Repeated applications were made at subsequent sessions of the Assembly during a period of fourteen years. The county was finally erected on March 11, 1752; and afterward the boundary lines were established by commis- sioners, who were appointed by the Assembly. It was the seventh county organized in the State. The previous counties were : Bucks . . . . 1682 Philadelphia . 1682 York . . . ' 1749 Chester . . . 1682 Lancaster . . 1729 Cumberland . 1750 38 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Area. — As originally erected, the territory of the county extended to the northern line of the State ; but it was reduced by the erection of Northumber- land County in 1773, and of Schuylkill County in 181 1. Its area since iSii has been 900 square miles or 576,000 acres. Jifame. — The county was called "Berks," after Berkshire in England, the home of William Penn, who at one time owned all the land included within its boundaries. In 1681, he had obtained from King Charles II. a charter for the entire Province of Pennsylvania. Subdivision. — The boundary lines of the county form a figure somewhat like a diamond. The Schuylkill separates the county into two divisions; the eastern division contains 300,000 acres, and the western 276,000 acres. These divisions are each capable of a subdivision into two sections; and these several sections take their names from the streams which drain their areas. Thev are : Eastern Division . Manatawny Section. Oiitelauuee Section. IVesiern Division. Tulpehocken Section. Schuylkill Section. Each of these sections had distinctive settlements. Townships were then organized according to the growth of population and the demand for conveni- ent local government; and in certain localities, after the population had become considerable, bor- oughs were established for a higher order of gov- ernment; and one of the boroughs was, in course of time, advanced into a city. ERECTION OF COUNTY. 39 These several districts are as follows : TOWNSHIPS East of Schicylk Manatawny Section— 15. Alsace. Alsace, Lower. Amity. Colebrookdale. District. Douglass. Earl. Exeter. Hereford. Muhlenberg. Oley. Pike. Rockland. Ruscomb-manor. Washington. 43- z7/— 24. Ontelaunee Section— 9. Albany. Greenwich. Ivongswamp. Maiden-creek. Manatawny. Ontelaunee. Perry. Richmond. Windsor. West of Schuylkill — 19. TuLPEHocKEN Section— 13. Bern — Bern. Bern, Upper. Centre. Penn. Tilden. Bethel. Heidelberg — Heidelberg. Heidelberg, Lower. Heidelberg, North. Tulpehocken — Tulpehocken. Tulpehocken, Upper. Jefferson. Marion. Schuylkill Section— 6. Brecknock. Caernarvon. Cumru. Robeson. Spring. Union. 40 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. TOWNS — lOO. Scattered throughout the county in the several townships, there are numerous small towns not lim- ited in area by boundary lines, numbering altogether loo ; of which 70 have been named after early set- tlers, and 30 after places. Lying to the east of the Schuylkill there are 69, and to the west 31. Post- offices have been established at most of them. BOROUGHS — 10. East of Schuylkill. Erected. Boyertowu 1866 Fleetwood 1873 Hamburg 1837 Kutztown 1815 Lenhartsville 1887 Topton 1875 West of Schuylkill. Erected. Bernville 1851 Birdsboro' 1872 Centreport 1884 Womelsdorf 1833 Laid out as town . . . Erected into township CITY. Reading. 1748 I Erected into borough 1760 I Erected into city . . 1783 1847 G O VERNMENT. 4 1 CHAPTER V. GOVERNMENT. Privileges. — By the erection of this territory into a county, the inhabitants became entitled to certain privileges, such as local courts, offices, etc., and to representation in the Assembly. By local courts, they were enabled to conduct proceedings at law, settle up estates, establish new districts, and lay out roads; and by representation in the Assembly, to participate in the enactment of laws for the govern- ment of the State. Originally, a county was the district of territory under the control of a count. But in Pennsylvania there have been no persons of title. Hence, in a free country, a county is a dis- trict of territory set apart and organized for con- venient local government. Local Officers. — The elective officers of the coimty comprise judges, commissioners, treasurer, auditors, register, recorder, prothonotary, clerk of the Quarter Sessions, district attorney, sheriff, coroner, poor di- rectors, prison inspectors, county surveyor, and jury commissioners. They are elected by the resident tax-payers at stated periods for terms fixed by law — the judges for ten years, the treasurer for two years, and the others for three years. Through these several officers, all the general affairs of the county 42 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. are conducted for the order and welfare of the people. Judges. — The judges determine all matters in dispute between parties, and protect the people in the enjoyment of their rights of person and property. This is done mostly by trial before a jury of twelve men, selected from the tax-payers. They also issue writs for the sale of property and the collection of debts, grant licenses for the sale of liquor, order new roads to be laid out and new districts to be established, adjudicate the settle- ment and distribution of estates, and count the returns of gen- eral elections. The Judicial affairs of Pennsylvania are under a uniform sys- tem. The Legislature divides the State into districts and ap- portions them to counties according to population. The last division was made in 1883, whereby 49 districts were established, and Berks County was designated as the 23d. The judges were appointed by the Governor from 1791 to 1851 ; and elected since 1 85 1. The highest court in the State is the Supreme Court, to which matters in litigation can be carried by writ of error or appeal. The court consists of seven Justices. Berks County had Justices from 1752 to 1791, then a President Judgeand Associate Judges from 1791 to 1869, when it was given also an Additional Law Judge ; and in 1883 an Orphans' Court Judge. The Constitution of 1873 abolished the office of Asso- ciate Judge in counties forming separate districts. This county has been a separate district since 1849. ^t has now three judges ; two for matters arising in the Courts of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, and one for matters arising- in the Orphans' Court. The jurisdiction of the several courts is limited to the county. The following law judges officiated : Appointed. Term. Jacob Rush 1791-1S05 John Spayd 1806-09 Robert Porter 1810-32 Garrick Mallery 1833-35 John Banks 1836-46 J. Pringle Jones 1847-48 David F. Gordon 1849-51 Henry Van Reed .... 1869,* 1S75* * Appointed by Governor until office filled by election ', t Now in office. Elected. Term. J. Pringle Jones .... . . 1851-61 Warren J. Woodward . . . . 1861-74 Jeremiah Hagenman t . . . 1869- Augustus S. Sassaraan . . . 1S76-86 James N. Ermentroutf . . . 1S87- Hiram H. Schwartz + . . . .1S83- GOVERNMENT. 43 Commissioners. — The commissioners are three in number. They manage the general affairs of the ' county, attend to the assessment of property — both real and personal — in the county, construct the necessary public buildings, estimate the probable annual expense, fix the tax-rate, and collect the taxes from the tax-payers. The assessment is made by "assessors," and the taxes are collected by " collectors," the former being elected by the tax -payers of each district, and the latter appointed by the commissioners from the lowest responsible bidders. The ex- pense incurred is paid by orders drawn by them on the treas- urer. They appoint annually a solicitor, clerk, and mercantile appraiser. Treasurer. — The treasurer receives all the moneys belonging to the county, and pays out the same on orders drawn upon him. Auditoi^s.—Th.Q auditors are three in number. They examine all the accounts relating to the expenditure of money for the county. Register. — The register has the custody of last wills of de- ceased persons, and inventories and accounts in the settle- ment of estates ; and appoints executors and administrators. He is also the clerk of the Orphans' Court. Recorder. — The recorder has the custody of the records in which have been recorded the deeds, transferring title to land in the county ; also mortgages and miscellaneous agreements, releases, charters of incorporation, and commissions of officials. Prothonotary.—Th.& prothonotary is the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, and as such has the custody of all papers filed in his office, and of all records relating to litigation, and of all general election returns. Clerk of Quarter Sessions. — The clerk of the Court of Quar- ter Sessions has the custody of all papers relating to roads, licenses for the sale of liquor, and criminal prosecutions. District Attorney. — The district attorney prosecutes com- plaints against offenders arrested for crimes and misdemeanors alleged to have been committed in the county. Sheriff. — The sheriff is the officer who executes the writs and mandates of the several courts. Coroner. — The coroner investigates the death of all persons which arises from an unnatural cause through violence or otherwise. 44 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Poor Directors. — The poor directors are three in number. They look after the poor people of the county who are unable to care for themselves, and they make provision for their sup- port and comfort. The expense is paid b)' orders drawn upon the treasurer. The poor-house was established by special en- actment in 1824, and has been maintained since then at the public expense. It comprises a large farm in Cumru town- ship, with the necessary buildings erected at great cost. This feature of our local government reflects much credit upon the charity and liberality of the people. Prison Inspectors. — The prison inspectors are nine in number. Before 1848 the county commissioners conducted the prison, which then stood on the northeast corner of 5th and Washing- ton Streets. The sheriff was the keeper, and he had his resi- dence in the building. But in 1848, a law was passed establish- ing a Prison Board, and authorizing them to conduct the prison affairs. The keeper is a warden elected by the inspectors an- nually. County Surveyor. — Before 1850, this county officer was ap- pointed by the surveyor-general of the State to assist in tnaking surveys of land in the county, particularly of land remaining unseated, and he was called a deputy. Since 1850, he has been elected for a term of three years. His duties pertain to the es- tablishment of lines and the measurement of tracts of land in the county upon request of the owner. Ju7y Commissioners. — The jury commissioners are two in number. They select the men who are to serve as jurors, tak- ing them from all the districts in the countj'. They have been elected since 1867. Previously, the county commissioners and sheriff selected the jurors. State Representatives. — For affairs relating to the State of Pennsylvania, the enactment of laws for the government of the people, and the regulation of matters in the State, the county is entitled to representation in the Assembly — one Senator and five Representatives, The former is elected for a term of four years, and the latter for two years. G O VERNMENT. 45 In 1883, the county was divided into two districts for representatives, Reading having been made one district and given the right to elect two members, and the remainder of the count}^ the other and given the right to elect four members. In 1887 the num- ber was reduced to five ; two members given to Reading and three to the remainder of the county. National Representatives. — For affairs relating to the United States and the people of the entire country, the county is entitled to representation in Congress. The Representative is elected for two years, and is called a Congressman. From 1832 to 1888, Berks County was a Congressional district by itself, and, as such, entitled to a Representative. In 1888, Berks and Lehigh Counties became a district Congress apportions the whole number of Represen- tatives amongst the several States according to the population at each census taken every ten years, and the State Legislatures create the Congressional districts according to the number apportioned to their respective States. The Representatives in Congress for Berks County from 1789 till 1889 were the following persons : Daniel Hiester, Joseph Hiester, Matthias Reichert, John M. Hyneman, Daniel Udree, Ludwig Worman, William Addams, Henry A. Muhlenberg, George M. Keim, John Ritter, William Strong, J. Glancy Jones, Henry A. Muhlenberg, Jr., Williarn^ H. Keim, John Schwartz, Jacob K. McKenty, Sydenham 'E- Ancona, J. Lawrence Getz, Hiester Clymer, Daniel Ermentrout. David B. Brunner was the first Congressman elected to repre- sent this district, comprising Berks and Lehigh Counties, and in the beginning of the second centur)^ All have been resi- dents of Berks County, notwithstanding before 1832 the district included other counties. 46 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. The following in the list named became prominent in politi- cal positions of the State and Nation : Joseph Hiester, Governor of Pennsylvania. Henry A. Muhlenberg, ambassador to Austria. William Strong, associate justice on Supreme Bench of United States. J. Glancy Jones, ambassador to Austria. Declaration of Independence. — The people of this country, for over one hundred years before 1776, were under the government of Great Britain. Owing to the imposition of taxes without repre- sentation, they forwarded petitions to the King for relief, but their complaints were ignored. Their feelings of opposition grew stronger and stronger, from 1765 during the next ten 3'ears, until they finally culminated in the "Declaration of Inde- pendence," which was published at Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. This remarkable declaration of principles was framed by delegates or representa- tives from the thirteen colonies, which then included all the inhabited parts of the countr}^ There were nine delegates from Pennsylvania. The colonies were : New Hampshire. Massachusetts. Rhode Island. Connecticut. New York. New Jersey. Pennsylvania. Delaware. Maryland. Virginia. North Carolina. South Carolina. Georgia. Constitution of the United States. — While the Declaration was being framed, steps were taken to establish a constitutional government. ' ' Articles GOVERNMENT. 47 of Confederation " were prepared by a committee, consisting of a member from each colony ; and these were reported July 12, 1776. After full considera- tion, they were adopted by Congress on November 15, 1777, and subsequently ratified by the States, Pennsylvania and seven other States ratified them on July 9, 1778 ; and Congress assembled under this new form of government on March 2, 178 1. It consisted of thirteen articles, and the name therein given to the confederacy was — " The United States of America ; " a firm league of friendship was entered into by the States for their common de- fence, for the security of their liberties, and for mutual and general welfare ; and the powers and duties of the general government and of the several States were prescribed. The people soon found that this plan of govern- ment was not sufficient. They therefore caused a convention to assemble for the purpose of supply- ing an improved plan, and the result of its labors was a Constitution, dated September 17, 1787; which was adopted by a majority of the States, and then became the law of the land. Pennsylvania was the second State to ratify it, December 12, 1787 ; Delaware was the first, December 7, 1787, The preamble states the purpose as follows : We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our poster- ity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. The Constitution, briefly stated, established a 48 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Congress , to consist of a Senate and House of Rep- resentatives, and prescribed its powers and duties in respect to legislation; vested the executive power in a President and fixed the mode of* his election and the extent of his powers and duties ; established a judiciary, to consist of a Supreme Court and such inferior courts as Congress might create, for the purpose of adjudicating all cases which arose under the Constitution, laws, and treat- ies of the country or between parties, whether States or individuals ; recognized the public acts, records, and proceedings of the several States, and the privi- leges and immunities of their citizens; provided for amendment of its several provisions; and made it the supreme law of the land. Fifteen amend- ments were made until 1869, the first ten having been proposed by Congress at its first session in 1789, which are generally recognized as the "Dec- laration of Rights." The general government under this Constitution can only exercise such powers as have been given to it by the States; but the several States can exer- cise all powers not specially prohibited. This Constitution, with its amendments, is still the fundamental law of our country. The Centen- nial of Constitutional Government was grandly celebrated at Philadelphia on September 15, 16, and 17, 1887. National Legislature. — The National Legislature is called Congress. It has two bodies, called the Senate and the House. The Senate has two Senators from each State in the Union, and the GOVERNMENT. 49 House lias Representatives from each State appor- tioned according to population. The Union com- prises 38 States. * Constitution of Pennsylvania. — The Continental Congress passed a resolution on May 15, 1776, calling upon the respective Assemblies of the United Colo- nies "to adopt such government as shall in the opinion of the representatives of the people best conduce to the happiness and safety of their con- stituents in particular and America in general ; ' ' and in pursuance thereof a conference was held in "Carpenter's Hall," at Philadelphia, on June 18, 1776, which was attended by representatives from all the counties of the Province, then eleven in number. Ten representatives were from Berks County. This conference decided that a conven- tion should meet on July 15, 1776, for the express purpose of "forming a new government in this Province on the authority of the people only;" fixed the qualifications of electors, the number of representatives from each county, and the time of their election; ordered an address to the people ; and agreed upon a " Declaration of Independence." On the day named the convention assembled, com- posed of delegates from each county — eight from Berks County. A Constitution was agreed upon on September 28, 1776, which comprised a Preamble, Declaration of Rights, and Frame of Government, whereby the rights of the people were recognized and their * Proceedings have been instituted to establish four new States. 4 50 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. ■ privileges established, and the power and duties of the government in its several branches, legislative, executive, and judicial, were prescribed. The leg- islative branch tution was adopted in 1790, which was prepared by a conven- tion of delegates from the several counties called for that purpose. It was similar, in most par- ticulars, to that of 1776, but the General Assem- bly was made to consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. Important amendments were made by a convention in 1838, the most promi- nent requiring county and other officials to be elec- ted for fixed terms by the people, which there- tofore had been appointed by the Governor. And in 1 85 1 judges were made elective. The rapid increase of wealth and the wonderful development of political influence, corporate power, and special legislation during a period of fourscore years, had come to render a new, fundamental, general law necessary ; for, complaints had become as loud as they were numerous, and they had pro- ceeded from all sections of the State. The selfish- ness of men had grown beyond their judgment and integrity, and the good of the people had come to GOVERNMENT. 51 be of minor importance; and self-aggrandizement in wealth and power had been set up as the great idol of men who were at the head of the various important affairs and enterprises of the State. Therefore, a general feeling prevailed throughout the State that political ambition, corporate power, and special legislation should be checked and con- siderably modified in order to have these important agencies to subserve the public welfare. In this behalf, an act of Assembly was passed in 1871, which provided for the calling of a general conven- tion to create a new Constitution. It was submitted to the people at the general election of October, 1 87 1, and ratified. Delegates were accordingly elected ; the convention assembled — first at Harris- burg, then at Philadelphia ; many weeks were spent in deliberations ; and finally the result of their labor was submitted to the people in 1873, and adopted. Its general plan and scope are simi- lar to the Constitution of 1790. Berks County was represented in the convention by three delegates, and the electors voted for the new Constitution by a large majority. This is now the supreme law for the general government of the State. The counties have no separate Constitution for their respective government. Their aifairs are directed under the general laws of the State. State liCgislatiire. — The State is supreme, gov- erning itself by laws enacted by its Legislature, which is composed of representatives from the sev- eral counties in the State. The Legislature has two bodies, called the Senate and Assembly, which 52 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. must agree to all laws proposed ; and the laws must be approved by the Governor or passed over his veto before they are binding upon the people. The State comprises 67 counties. The executive officer of the county is a sheriff ; of the State, a Governor ; and of the Nation, a President. Offices by Special Legislation. — The general gov- ernment of our county is similar to that of the counties of the whole State ; and a sameness ex- tends throughout the entire period of its existence. Comparatively little special legislation has been done for our county in the way of creating particu- lar political positions. Four acts of the General Assembly are worthy of mention : One passed in 1824, relative to the management of poor affairs ; another in 1848, relative to the management of prison affairs; a third in 1869, relative to the elec- tion of an additional law judge ; and a fourth in 1883, for the election of an Orphans' Court judge. Minority Officials. — A marked change was intro- duced by the Constitution of 1873, enabling the minority party to elect officials. In Berks County this applied to county commissioners and county auditors. These officials in the county had been almost entirely Democrats since their election in 1 84 1. The first Republican commissioner and au- ditor under this provision were elected in 1875. And in 1873, the act of 1848, creating the Board of Prison Inspectors, was so amended as to enable the minority party to elect three out of nine inspectors, or annually one out of three. GOVERNMENT. 53 The act of 1824, relating to the poor directors, which provides for the annual election of a direc- tor for three years, has not yet been amended to meet the spirit of the times and of the State Con- stitution. In 1867, when jury commissioners were authorized to be elected throughout the State, pro- vision was made that each elector should vote for one person for this office, and the two persons hav- ing the highest vote should be the commissioners. This provision enabled the minority party in the county to elect one commissioner. Accordingly, the Republicans have elected a jury commissioner since 1867. Election Districts. — Provision was made by Wil- liam Penn, in the laws agreed upon in England on April 25,. 1682, in reference to the government of Pennsylvania, for free and voluntary elections. The right of election was given to every freeman of the province. A freeman was defined to be ' ' every inhabitant that is or shall be a purchaser of 100 acres of land or upward ; and every per- son who shall have paid his passage and taken up 100 acres of land at one penny an acre, and have cultivated 10 acres thereof; and every person that hath been a servant or bondsman and is free by his service that shall have taken up 50 acres of land and cultivated 20 thereof ; and every in- habitant, artificer, or other resident that pays scot or lotto the government." At that time the ter- ritory comprising Berks County was occupied by Indians. Not a single white man had yet settled upon it. There was no need for election laws, nor 54 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. for districts to facilitate elections and their returns. Within loo years afterward, many permanent set- tlers had entered the territory, and the necessity for government in all its forms had become apparent. Townships had been organized, and the county had become erected with all its offices. Independence had been declared and government established. Before the Revolution the elective franchise was a recognized privilege, but it was not particu- larly encouraged by the creation of convenient or numerous polls to enable electors to express politi- cal preferences. Local offices for the townships and the town were filled by election; but county offi- cials were appointed, and this feature continued in respect to the major part of them till 1841, when an act of Assembly was passed which provided for a general change to election. The elections for county representatives were held at Reading from the beginning of the county in 1752 till 1785. The county then comprised one election district ; and all elections were directed to be held at the court-house. In 1789 the county was divided into five districts. There were then 29 townships and one borough — Reading. The electors of 12 divisions voted at Reading, and in the performance of this political duty many of them went a distance of 15 miles. But this was an improvement on what had been required four years before — those living in the townships farthest re- moved from Reading having been required to travel from 25 to 30 miles. Subsequently, at dif- ferent times, additional districts were erected to fa- G O VERNMENT. 55 cilitate the elections. Now they comprise 13 wards, 10 boroughs,* and 43 townships. Political Parties. — From the bes^inninof of the county, there have been two or more parties in po- litical aflfairs. This was both natural and neces- sary. During the Revolution the people formed themselves into two parties, especially those who manifested any concern in the government which was to prevail over them. The one party, favoring a continuance of the royal government, was called "Tories;" and the other, favoring a free, repre- sentative government, "Federals," or "Whigs." The distinction was marked, and fortunately for the people, the latter party won a decisive victory. Upon the establishment of freedom new parties arose. These proceeded from the Whigs, and were recognized either as the Government Whigs or Fed- erals, who desired a Republican form of govern- ment ; or as the Particularist Whigs or Anti-Feder- als, who desired the same form of government, but Democratic in spirit, with the rights of local self- government. In a certain sense the latter took the place of the " Tories," and were called "Republi- cans." They were the dominant party in Berks County then ; and they have continued to be till now. A singular change in respect to party names arose afterward. As early as 1793 the Anti- Federal party was called the Democratic-Republi- can party; but the word "Republican" was dropped in 1 805, and the name Democratic alone ' * Hamburg and Birdsboro each having two wards, the districts now in the county number altogether 68. 56 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUXTY. used. Thence the Federals, or Whigs, or Republi- cans have been on the one side, and the Demo- crats on the other, the latter party keeping its iden- tity for over 80 years. Conventions. — In districts where the voters are not numerous, as in townships and boroughs, it is practicable for the voters themselves to assemble at the same time and place, and determine what action shall be taken in matters of public concern ; but in districts where the voters number into the thou- sands, as in cities and counties, it is impracticable for them to assemble thus and dispatch business with success. It will therefore be apparent that a system of representation is necessary, so that voters can have their opinion represented or expressed through a person empowered to act for them. Such a person is called a delegate ; and he is ap- pointed or elected at a meeting called for that pur- pose. Each district is allowed three delegates. Hence, in a county convention, there are delegates equal to three times the number of districts ; and in a city convention, three times the number of wards. Some districts are divided into smaller divisions, called precincts. This division is made by the Court of Quarter Sessions of the county upon ap- plication of the voters of the district, who set forth that it is too large in area to encourage them to go to the polls, or that the voters are too numerous to enable the election officers to compute the ballots with reasonable promptness. :N"ominations for Office. — The nomination of can- didates for county offices is made by a convention G O VERNMENT. 57 of delegates from the political districts in the county. These conventions are held annnally, either in August or September, the time being fixed by the county committee of the respective parties. The county committee is composed of a commit- teeman from each district in the county, who is ap- pointed by the delegates representing the district ; and each convention appoints a county chairman to superintend the political affairs of the respective parties. The day of election is fixed by the State Consti- tution on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. It is also the day for State and Na- tional elections. For city offices the nomination is made in a simi- lar way, in January or February ; but for borough, ward, and township offices at local or district meet- ings. The day of election is fixed by law on the third Tuesday of February. For State offices a State convention is held, which is composed of delegates from the respective coun- ties appointed by the conventions. The number corresponds with the number of representatives in the Assembly. A National convention is held to nominate can- didates for President and Vice-President, though these are not voted for directly. The convention is composed of delegates from each State in num- ber equal to the Senators and Representatives in Congress. The State conventions appoint Presiden- tial electors, in number equal to the Senators and Representatives to which the State is entitled in 58 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Congress, and these are voted for by its tax-payers. The party electors who have received the majority of votes cast then assemble at the State Capitol, on the first Wednesday of December following, and ex- press their choice for President and Vice-President, and this is certified to the National authorities at Washington, and the election is made known in Congress on the second Wednesday of February. Electors. — In Pennsylvania, only male tax-payers, 21 years of age, who possess certain qualifications fixed by law, are entitled to vote at public elections in their districts. They are called electors. Po- litical suffrage has not been extended to female tax- payers in this State ; and they cannot be elected to fill any public office, excepting as a director of the common schools. Representation. — It will be observed that repre- sentation runs through our entire system of govern- ment, extending from the smallest political district in the State to the entire State ; which displays not only the wisdom of the founders of our government, but also the continued liberality and equality of our people. This will be seen plainly in the following synopsis : — 1. Toivnship — By Delegates from district in County Convention. 2. City — By Delegates from wards in City Convention. By Delegates from wards in Coimty Convention. By Delegates from district in State Convention. By Councilmen from wards in City Councils. By Controllers from wards in School Board. By Assemblymen from district in State Legislature. GOVERNMENT. 59 3. County — By Delegates from district in State Convention. By Delegate from district in National Convention. By Assemblymen from district in State Legislature. By Senator from district in State Legislature. By Congressman from district in National Legislature. 4. State — By Congressmen-at-large from State in National Legisla- ture. By Senators from State in National Legislature. Vote for Governor. — Since 1788 the people of the county have manifested a most remarkable ad- herence to the Democratic party and the principles which it advocated, chiefly the principle of local self-government. In the return of 1802, the Demo- cratic vote was eight times that of the Federal. Afterward this proportion has at no time been sur- passed, not even equaled. And the vote has been regularly for the Democratic candidate, excepting upon two occasions, in 18 17 and 1820, when the people of the county manifested their respect for a distinguished son of one of the first families of the county, though on the opposing ticket. These oc- casions were when the Hon. Joseph Hiester was a candidate on the Federal ticket for Governor. He had distinguished himself in political affairs of the county for 40 years. Even through the excite- ment incident to the Civil War, 1861-65, the county continued Democratic by large majorities. But the city of Reading was otherwise. At the elec- tion previous to i860, it had been Democratic almost three to one ; but in i860, 1863, and 1866 it was Re- publican. Since 1869 it has been Democratic. 60 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Vote for President. — In 1828 the vote for Jackson in the county was five to one against Adams. Then it was that the county distinguished itself in voting for Jackson. The vote of Reading was in about the same proportion. And at Jackson's re-election in 1832, the result of the vote, both in the county and city, was for him in the proportion of about four to one. The vote in the county for President from 1828 to 1888 was always Democratic by a large majority. And the city of Reading was also Demo- cratic by a considerable majority till i860, when a decided change took place through the great up- heaval in political affairs. Lincoln was given a majority of more than 500 over Breckenridge, and of more than 300 over all, Douglass and Bell included. And this Republican feeling in the city prevailed until the re-election of Grant, when a ma- jority of 1207 was given for him. In 1876 a change took j^lace for the Democratic party, which has pre- vailed since. Piirty Vote. — In reference to the party vote in the county, the Democratic vote compared with the op- position was as follows : In 1828 it was five times the number ; in 1832, four times ; in 1836, three times ; from 1840 to 1888 the average was a little less than double. Vote for Liquor. — The liquor question was sub- mitted to the voters of Pennsylvania three times — first in 1854, then in 1873, and again in 1889. At each election Berks County was decidedly for it — first by a vote of four to one ; second by a vote of three to one ; and last by a vote of seven to one. G O VERNMENT. 61 State Conventions at Reading-. — Three Demo- cratic State Conventions were lield at Reading at which candidates for Governor were nominated : the first on Jnne 4, 1851, when William Bigler was nomi- nated by acclamation ; the second on February 29, i860, when Henry D. Foster was nominated ; and the third on May 30, 1872, when Charles R. Buckalew was nominated. The first named was elected, the others were defeated. Mass-Meetiug-s. — Numerous " Mass-Meetings " have been held at Reading by the respective politi- cal parties for many years past. The Clymer Mass- Meeting in 1866 is worthy of particular mention. Hiester Clymer, a citizen of Reading, received the nomination for Governor on the Democratic ticket in 1866. He had been State Senator from this dis- trict for two terms, from 1861 to 1866, during which time he acquired a considerable popularity through- out the State. General John W. Geary was the Republican candidate. Both parties were under thorough organization, and, with popular candidates, they labored earnestly for success. The friends of Mr. Clymer exerted themselves to bring about his elec- tion, if possible. Many mass-meetings were held in different parts of the State, and at all of them much enthusiasm was manifested. In Berks County the leaders of the party were particularly active. Numerous public meetings were held, and many speeches were delivered. General political excite- ment prevailed from the beginning till the close of the campaign, which increased as the day of elec^ tion approached. Two Democratic mass-meetings 62 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. were held at Reading, one on July i8tli, and the other on October 3d ; and upon each occasion a multitude of people assembled. High party feel- ing was produced under the great excitement which was awakened by demonstrations of all kinds, so high, indeed, that it almost resulted in riots with certain Republicans who were equally earnest, ac- tive, and demonstrative for their leader. General Geary. Notwithstanding all this exertion, the city of Reading was .not carried for Clymer. It had been Republican through the war, and this political sentiment still prevailed by a small majority, which Clymer could not overcome, even with the aid of local prejudice and enthusiastic demonstrations. Political Festivals. — There have been three sreat political festivals in the county worthy of mention : The first by the Federalists in honor of the election of Joseph Hiester, as Governor of Pennsylvania, in 1820 ; the second, by the Whigs, to celebrate the election of General William H, Harrison as Presi- dent of the United States, in 1840 ; and the third, by the Democrats in 1876, in anticipation of a victory for their party in the election of Samuel J. Tilden to the Presidency, which was not realized. ^ EDUCATION. 63 CHAPTER VI. EDUCATION. CHURCHES. The territory which is now included in this county was a conspicuous portion* of Pennsylvania to emigrants who were encouraged to leave their homes and settle in a country where they could de- velop and enjoy religious freedom. This sentiment was their principal consideration in the selection of a new country, and it was in continued prominence after they had fixed their habitations. There were in the county, previous to 1752, thirty- four churches, distributed as follows: Manatawny section, 12; Ontelaunee section, 6 ; Schuylkill section, 4 ; Tul- pehocken section, 12. The denominations were as follows — the Lutheran and Reformed having had as many as all the others taken together: Baptist 2 Catholic 2 Dunkard 3 Episcopalian 2 Friends 4 Mennonite i Moravian 3 Lutheran (Reading) . . . . i Reformed (Reading) . . . . i Union (IvUtheran and Ref 'dj 15 The Swedes built the first church in the county. This was about 1720, on the lot of ground occupied by the St. Gabriel's Episcopal congregation at Doitglassville, about 100 feet eastward from the old stone church. It was called " Molatton." They 64 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. were adherents of the Lutheran faith. And the Friends established the second church to the east of the river in 1726. The Lutherans established the swedes' church, 1720. first church to the west of the river. This was about 1726, near the Tulpehocken Creek, in Mar- ion township, east of Stouchsburg. Lutheran and Reformed. — The Lutheran reli- gion was predominant in the county, both with the Swedes and Germans to the east of the Schuylkill, and with the Germans to the west. Some of the Germans were of the Reformed religion. The churches built by these denominations were mostly " union" churches. In nearly every instance, the members of the two denominations united in bearing the cost jointly, they having appointed sepa- EDUCATION. 65 rate committees to co-operate in conducting the building operations. And the church services alter- nated every two Sundays. This hannony between these denominations in such a peculiar and jealous matter as religion displayed the singular excellence and liberality of the Germans. The people were alike in general affairs, in dress, in speech, in labor, in manners and customs ; and a difference in their religious notions did not develop any antagonism between them. The members of the one denomi- nation frequently visited the church services of the other denomination. Each was the equal of the other in every respect. The earliest regular lyutheran ministers were Henry Melchior Muhlen- berg, J. C. Stoever, and John Peter Miller. The Swedes attended religious services at Weccacoe (now included in Philadelphia) until they estab- lished their own church at Molatton ; and the Ger- mans residing in the eastern division of the county attended services at " The Trappe," in Montgom- ery County, until they erected a church for them- selves in Oley, in 1735. Previously, the settlers traveled from 20 to 40 miles to attend divine ser- vice. The first church of the Lutheran denomination at Reading was erected in 175 1 on the northeast corner of Church and Washington Streets. The members erected a magnificent and imposing building in 1791 on the same lot at 6th Street, and this is still occu- pied by a flourishing congregation. It displays in a remarkable degree the taste, enterprise, liberality, and Christian zeal of the community in that genera- 5 QQ SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. tion. The most prominent pastors have been Henry A. Muhlenberg, Jacob Miller, and Jacob Fry. Persons attached to the Reformed faith were known among the early settlers as "Calvinists" or "German Calvinists." Their first churches were in Oley and in Heidelberg, in which, however, they were mostly con- nected with the Lutherans. The early Reformed ministers in Penn- sylvania, before 1740, were Goet- schy, Weis, Rie- ger, Boehm, and Dorstius. They were assisted by the church in Hol- land, In 1 74 1 a number of Ger- man Bibles were sent here for their use. In 1746, Rev. Michael Schlat- ter, the great Re- TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, l^X. fonUCd mlSSlOU- ary from Switzerland, arrived and visited Oley and Tulpehocken. The denomination at Reading erected a log church in 1 75 1 on the northeast corner of 6th and Wash- ington Streets ; and in 1761 a fine stone building with a steeple, on the east end of the same lot. A EDUCATION. 67 third building was erected on the site of the second in 1832. The more prominent early pastors were John William Boas, Philip Panli, William Pauli, and John Conrad Bucher ; subsequently Aaron S. Lein- bach, Benjamin Bausman, and Henr>^ Mosser. These two denominations are the strongest in the county. The total membership is estimated at 45,000, the Lutheran being somewhat larger than THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, 1761. the Reformed. They have altogether 79 churches ; as follows : Union, 58 ; Lutheran, 14 ; and Re- formed, 7. The membership of the other denomi- nations in the districts outside of Reading is rather limited. Friends. — The Friends were the third sect of people who settled in the county. They erected a j meeting-house in 1726 near the Monocacy, along the ' 68 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. western line of the Swedes' settlement, then called Amity township. Within the next decade they erected two more meeting-houses, one in Maiden- creek township, and the other in Robeson township. They built a fourth at Reading in 175 1. They had four meeting-houses before 1752, when the county was erected, but they did not get beyond this number afterward. They were most active about the time when the county was erected and for a score of years afterward. Their religious in- fluence was large and wide in their several commu- nities. It was estimated that they numbered then about 2000 ; now they do not number 50. Some of the most eminent ministers who preached to the Friends in the county before 1800 were the follow- ing : Samuel Hugh, Ellis Hugh, Job Hugh, Enos Ellis, x\bel Thomas, Moses Embree, James Iddings, Amos Lee, Peter Thomas, and Judah Thomas. Baptists. — The major part of the early Baptists who settled in Pennsylvania were Welshmen. The principles which William Penn proclaimed, as the basis of his intended colony, were such as to attract all pious people who were persecuted on account of their religion. This was the case in Wales, where dissenters of all shades of opinion were to be found ; but they were chiefly Baptists and Friends. Among the first settlers in the counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester, there were large colonies of Welshmen who purchased immense tracts of land ; and when townships were formed they gave to many the names of the places from which they had emigrated. In 1738 persons of this denomination EDUCATION. 69 settled near the banks of the Tulpehocken Creek, in what is now Berks County, and founded the Tulpe- hocken Baptist Church. Thomas Jones was the pastor. It had two meeting-houses ; the first in Cumni built in 1740, and the other about three miles west from the first, built the same year, on a lot where Sinking Spring now is. From that time onward until now, no church organization of this denomination has been in existence in the county outside of Reading. A congregation was formed in Reading in 1828. Dimkards. — The " Dunkards " existed at an early day in the county. They were also called "The Brethren;" and sometimes "German Bap- tists." Their first location was in Oley, where they were numerous from 1730 to 1745. ^^ ^7-4 they held a large general convention there, and upon that occasion took sacrament. Another con- vention was held in Oley in 1742, which was at- tended by "four priests of the congregation at Ephrata." Elders were the first local preachers. About the year 1730 they effected an organization through the assistance of Elder Peter Becker, of Germantown, and shortly afterward erected a church. For about ten years it was in a flourishing condi- tion ; then many of the members left for other set- tlements, and the congregation was almost aban- doned. Another congregation was formed in the northwestern section of the county, and comprised settlers in Bethel and Tulpehocken townships. They erected a church in the former township, along a branch of the Little Swatara Creek, about 1745. 70 SCHO OL HIS TORY OF BERKS CO UNTY. A third congregation existed in Bern and Upper Tulpehocken townships, along the Northkill, several miles above the confluence of this stream with the Tulpehocken, where the members erected a church in 1748. In 1750 Elder George Klein came from New Jersey and settled amongst the members. Through his energy the congregation flourished for twenty years. Then settlements in the western part of the State influenced most of the members to withdraw from the church and move away. This left the congregation without sufficient support, and it naturally ceased to exist. A fourth congregation was organized in Ruscomb-manor township at Price- town, where a meeting-house was erected about 1780. Moravians. — The Moravians were among the early settlers of the county. This peculiar sect was represented here by Count Zinzendorf, who came to Pennsylvania in 1741. In 1742 he conducted a synod in Oley, and afterward visited the inhabitants of Tulpehocken. Shortly after this visit a congre- gation was organized in Bethel township. Between 1742 and 1750 two churches of this denomination were erected in Heidelberg and one in Oley. Rev. Andrew Aschenbach was the pioneer minister, he having arrived in 1740, and preached for two years, mostly in Oley. Another zealous preacher of this sect was Bishop Augustus G. Spangenberg. Ow- ing to disagreements there they lost influence, and in 1765 disbanded. From 1748 to 175 1 they carried on a flourishing boarding-school in Oley — near where Friedensburg is now situated. The Education. 71 Moravian School of Germantown was removed thither. Roman Catholics. — Followers of the Roman Catholic Church first appeared in the lower section of the county about 1740, but their number was very small compared with Protestant denomina- tions. In 1743 they had a congregation and small building in " Gnadenhutten " (which included part of Colebrookdale, now Washington township) ; and also in Maxatawny township. In 1757 their total number in Pennsylvania was 1365, and in Berks County 205. Their two earliest priests were Rev. Theodore Schneider and Rev. Ferdinand Farmer. At Reading they had a congregation soon after the town was laid out ; and this congregation they maintained, notwithstanding the smallness of their number and the opposition of the Lutheran and Reformed people ; and about 1790 they succeeded in establishing a church. In 1846 they dedicated a fine, commodious structure and called it "St. Peter's;" and in 186 1 another, which they called "St. Paul's." Two additional churches were erected recently in Reading. Five churches of this denomination are in the county, with a membership estimated at over 6000. Aniish. — The Amisli denomination is a branch of the Mennonites. It was never in a flourishing condition in the county. The members were not ambitious to have a church until 1881; then they erected a building in Lancaster County, near the Berks County line, several miles west of Morgan- 72 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. town. They did not then number lOO altogether. Religious services were always conducted at private houses. The first bishop of the denomination in this vicinity (comprising Berks, Chester, and Lan- caster Counties,) was Jacob Mast, who settled near the place named in 1750, and began to exhort and preach about 1765. He continued in active and faithful serv'ice for many years. The second bishop was Peter Plank, who moved from Oley and settled in Caernarvon. And the third was John P. Mast, who officiated for over 30 years. He died in 1888. His father, Daniel Mast, was a minister of the de- nomination from 1830 till 1883. At one time there were ^hree other congregations in the county — one in Cumru, the second in Maiden-creek, and the third (called ' ' Northkill " ) in Bern township. The last named was the oldest in this State. Other Denominations. — The Episcopalians, or members of the Established Church of England, were in two sections of the county before 1740 ; one was in the southeastern part, in Amity town- ship (now Douglassville), and the other in the southern part, in Caernarvon township (near Mor- gantown) ; and in each locality they caused a church to be erected. They were among the first inhabitants of Reading, and had regular preaching for ten years before the Revolution. The officiating minister was Rev. Alexander Murray. They were then inactive for fifty years. They erected their first church at Reading in 1825 on 5th near Court Street. A new structure was built in 1863. A second congregation was organized in 1859, ^^^ EDUCATION. 73 called St. Barnabas, which erected a church in i860. The Presbyterians began to collect a society in Reading about 1813, and from that time onward they increased in religious activity. They erected a church in 1823, on Penn Street above 2d; and in 1848 they dedicated a fine new building on 5th Street near Franklin, in which they still carry on religious worship. They were earnest in insti- tuting a general Sunday-school. The Methodists, Baptists, and Universalists fol- lowed in 1822^ 1828, and 1831, and also erected churches. Every district in the county has one or more churches excepting Douglass, District, and Earl townships east of the Schuylkill, and Penn town- ship west of the Schuylkill. Cemeteries. — Bur^nng-places were attached to all the meeting-houses in the county from the time of their erection, and therein the members of the con- gregation buried their dead. Many persons estab- lished "family burying-grounds " on their farms, and continued the custom of burying their dead in them until about 1 860 ; then the practice began to be discouraged, because the farms, upon which they were situated, passed into the possession of other parties not lineal descendants of the first owner. The grave-stones, marking the place of the dead, were simple and inexpensive. No one thought of erecting a monument or costly tombstone in our early history. But after a higher average general education prevailed, a superior taste was mani- 74 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COlNTY. fested. Cemetery companies were then formed and incorporated in all the sections of the county, and the citizens began to show a marked improvement in laying out and adorning their burial-places. From sandstone and slate they advanced to fine marble and granite; and from a small headstone, costing only a few dollars and extending not much above the sur- rounding grass, they grew into large and elevated monuments, costing thousands of dollars. By com- parison, it is apparent that the taste, liberality, and affectionate remembrance for the dead, of the present generation, are far beyond the previous generations, and this can be attributed to our increased general education. SCHOOLS. Early Enconrag-emeut. — The first settlers of the county appreciated the importance of education, and encouraged it as a means of promoting the gen- eral welfare. They were not slow in erecting churches wherever they had effected a considerable settlement ; and therein they caused their children to be taught the common branches of knowledge, such as spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic, EDUCATION. 75 SO as to enable them to conduct their daily affairs with success. This teaching was influenced to a great degree by the religious spirit that prevailed amongst them ; for religious principles were con- sidered a vital part of their education. By this, it is apparent that the school was regarded as of equal importance with the church ; and the two were therefore conducted together, the one for the younger folks, the other for the older, — the one for secular knowledge, the other for spiritual. In the first settlements, and until the passage of the common-school law of 1834, the education that prevailed throughout the length and breadth of the county was almost entirely in the German lan- guage, which was a natural consequence from the great predominance of German settlers over all other nationalities. In Exeter, Maiden-creek, and Robeson townships, the Friends were rather nu- merous ; they established English schools at an early period, and continued them for many years. The first German settlers broug-ht alonsf their teachers and ministers. These were so recognized before emigration. If there was no minister, the teacher officiated in both capacities. Some teach- ers even practiced their trades, such as tailoring or shoemaking, whilst teaching. Coiniiioii -School Education. — Various and re- peated legislative attempts were made, in pursu- ance of a constitutional provision, towards general education throughout the State. The reformers labored hard to develop a satisfactory system, and, fortunately for the people, their earnest purpose 76 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. prevailed against arguments, obstacles, and preju- dices of all kinds. The subject was discussed from the beginning of the provincial government. Wil- liam Penn recognized its importance and encour- aged it. He declared that " that which makes a good constitution must keep it, viz. : men of wis- dom and virtue, qualities that, because they de- scend not with worldly inheritance, must be care- fully propagated by a virtuous education of youth." It was a question of public importance immedi- ately after the " Declaration of Independence," and for nearly eighty years afterward, until the adoption of a compulsory scheme. The Constitution of 1776 provided that "a school or schools shall be established in each county by the Legislature for the convenient instruction of youth, with such salaries to the masters paid by the public as may enable them to instruct youth at low prices ; " and that of 1790 : " The Legislature shall, as soon as conveniently may be, provide by law for the establishment of schools throughout the State in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis." This provision continued in the funda- mental law of the State unchanged until the new Constitution of 1873, when it was modified as fol- lows: "The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and ef- ficient system of public schools wherein all the children of this Commonwealth above the age of six years may be educated, and shall appropriate at least $1,000,000 each year for that purpose." A great weakness in the early history of educa- EDUCATION. 77 tion was the incompetency of teachers. Educated, experienced men and women could not be obtained, for duty to their families obliged them to labor in vocations which afforded a fair remuneration for their services. Pronounced opposition discouraged those who felt inclined to teach. A general tax for the purpose was considered burdensome and un- just, and the less paid then the better. The seed had to be sown, and the plant therefrom had to grow, however slow the growth. We cannot, at this day, understand the feeling as it obtained pre- vious to 1834. School Prog-ress. — In 1833, when the State con- tained about 800,000 children, less than 25,000 at- tended the common schools, — just one in 32, or about three per cent., — notwithstanding the offer of education at the public expense. After 20 years of experience with comparatively little progress, an act was passed on May 8, 1854, which authorized a school tax to be levied, directors to be elected, etc., and made the proceedings compulsory. And the of- fice of county superintendent with a term of three years was created for the purpose of seeing that the branches of a common education were properly taught, teaching directed, established graded schools maintained, and uniformity in course of studies preserved. Since then the system of education provided by the State has been carried on success- fully in the county by school directors and a county superintendent. In 1883 the State contained about 2,000,000 children ; the number attending common schools was 957,680 — nearly one-half or 48 per 78 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. cent. This shows an increase of i6 fold in 50 years. County Superintendents.- The county superin- tendents were : — William A. Good . . 1854-60 Samuel A. Baer . . . 1875-81 John S. Ermentrout . 1860-69 David S. Keck . . . 1881-90 David B. Brunner . . 1869-75 Orig-in of System. — The general system of public education, provided by the act of 1834, is attribu- table to a society which was organized at Philadel- phia in 1827. The express object of this society was general education throughout the State, and its efforts, after laboring in this behalf for seven years, culminated in the passage of the act named. In 1835, a great effort was made to repeal this act, but it failed. The credit of preserving the system at that time is generally given to Governor George Wolf and Hon. Thaddeus Stevens. System Accepted. — The following table shows when the common-school system was accepted by the districts in the countv : Reading ........ 1834 Albany 1855 Alsace 1849 Alsace, Lower 1888 Amity 1850 Bern 1850 Bern, Upper 185 1 Bernville 1851 Bethel 1854 Birdsboro' 1873 Boyertown 1866 Brecknock 1850 Caernarvon 1834 Centre 1851 Ceutreport 1884 Colebrookdale 1838 Cumru 1850 District 1867 Douglass 1850 Earl 1851 Exeter 1849 Fleetwood 1874 Greenwich 1851 Hamburg 1838 Heidelberg 1849 Heidelberg, Lower . . . 1850 EDUCATION. 79 Heidelberg, North . . . 1850 Hereford 1845 Jefferson . 1855 Kutztown 1838 Lenhartsville 1887 Longswamp 185 1 Maiden-creek 1849 Marion 1839 Maxatawny 1852 Muhlenberg 1851 Oley 1850 Ontelaunee 1851 Penn 185 1 Perry 1851 Pike 1851 Richmond 1854 Robeson 1836 Rockland 1850 Ruscomb-manor .... 1837 Spring 1850 Tilden 1887 Topton 1875 Tulpehocken 1850 Tulpehocken, Upper . . 1855 Union 1836 Washington 1850 Windsor 1850 Womelsdorf 1836 In 1854 the schools in the county numbered 362, and the scholars 10,116 ; in 1888 the schools 628, and the scholars 26, 1 14. Teachers' Institute. — An institute, composed of many of the school-teachers of the county, was held in March, 1851, in the court-house at Reading, for the purpose of encouraging the general work of education by a discussion of improved methods of teaching. The meeting was largely attended ; and it was very successful. Institutes were held for several years in succession and then discontinued. In 1867 an act of Assembly was passed, requiring the county superintendent of common schools "to call upon and invite the teachers of the common schools and other institutions of learning in his county to assemble together and organize them- selves into a teachers' institute, to be devoted to the improvement of teachers in the science and art of education, and to continue in session for at least five days." Accordingly, the superintendent held 80 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. an institute at Reading in 1868. It was largely attended by teachers from all sections of the county, and great interest was manifested throughout the whole of its proceedings. Since that time annual institutes have been held with increasing attend- ance and success. In 1869, Professor D. B. Brunner, county super- intendent, inaugurated the system of local insti- tutes, and during that year held eight institutes in different sections of the count}', which proved very successful. This enabled the teachers in remote districts to attend an institute and become familiar with its proceedings, and also to take part in its discussions, an opportunity being afforded and an inclination to do so being encouraged. Each suc- ceeding year till now has shown an ever-increasing interest in them. Pay-Schools. — Various pay-schools have been conducted in the county. The Keystone Normal School, the Oley Academy, and the Reading Scien- tific Academy (now Business College), are worthy of special mention, having been conducted successfully for many years. NEWSPAPERS. During the early history of our people before 1789, there was no newspaper published in the countv. News was communicated by persons to one another mostly at inns, of which the number was large in proportion to the population. It will not be supposed that the inhabitants encouraged these resorts only for the liquid spirits which they EDUCATION. 81 afforded. Men there drank whiskey, cream-beer, mead, etc. ; and they played at cards, dominoes, checkers, etc., for sport, if not for stakes. And the young people frequently indulged in dancing in the bar-room and dining-room of these places. But there was a prominent feature of the daily life at inns which surpassed all the things mentioned. This was talk, and gossip, and story-telling. Each man was an unappointed, implied committee of one — a reporter, as it were — to collect and report anything new. The "bulletin board" was not in existence. The latest accident, death, transac- tion, or crookedness of any kind was communicated from one to the other, or to small groups of persons, by the living voice. And so it was carried from building to building, and from place to place. What interesting persons these reporters must have been — not reporters with pencil and paper gather- ing news for the press, but communicators report- ing what they knew or heard for the general infor- mation of the public ! What versatility — what attention — what memories — what imagination they must have possessed ! And what stor}^-tellers, in- deed, enlivened frequently, if not generally, under the influence of "apple-jack" and "old rye!" Not in the English language, for English was rarely spoken then by those who assembled at inns ; but in the German language, which was used al- most entirely throughout the county in the daily affairs of life, both secular and religious. The inn of the past can be, in this sense, likened to the newspaper of the present. People assembled there 82 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. for information ; and the places could have been appropriately named — "Messenger," "Observer," "Courier," "Reporter," etc., instead of "King George," "Gen'l. Washington," "Red Lion," " Black Horse," etc. Now reporters go there daily, not to communicate, but to collect news for news- papers, by which it is circulated throughout the community. Then the Pennsylvania Gazette^ published at Philadelphia, had a limited circulation here. It was an interesting messenger to the people; and its weekly arrival must have been an event of more than ordinary importance. A copy was doubtless busy in passing amongst persons who could read English — not for the personal matters which it contained, but for foreign affairs, market reports, letters published at Philadelphia, etc. Christopher Saner' s Journal.^ a newspaper printed in German, and published at Germantown, had a more ex- tended circulation in this vicinity, and it exercised a large influence over the residents. Forty years in the history of Reading elapsed before the newspaper became a local institution. The entire period of its local life as a town, with all its interesting and many important events, passed away without having it introduced. This would seem to be a long while for such a factor to obtain a foot-hold in a community otherwise ener- getic and progressive ; but this delay is capable of explanation. The people were interested in home rather than in foreign affairs, and strove to give them successful, if not profitable, development. EDUCATION. 83 Local matters required no printed publication, for, the town being small and the population limited, they were easily communicated. But as the town grew into a borough, and especially as the borough grew into a city, with its territory enlarged, the in- habitants more widely scattered, and the population largely increased, the natural way became more and more incapable of satisfying the in- quisitiveness of the people, and an artificial way had to be introduced ; and this was sup- plied by the newspaper. After the lapse of one hundred years since its introduction, general progress came to be so wonderful, the people so numerous and scattered, and their relations so intermingled that, just as the natural way had to yield to the artificial, so did the old and slow process of printing on a hand-press, with its limited capacity, have to make way for the new and spirited process by a steam- press, with its un- limited capacity. In the beginning the newspaper was weak in ever)^' re- spect — small in size, limited in cir- culation, uncertain in financial sup- port, and wanting in originality; but now it is strong, rich, bold, and energetic, and exercises much infiluence over social and political affairs. 84 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Weekly Newspapers. — The newspapers of the county comprise two classes — weekly and daily. The weekly began in 1789, and continued to be the sole public agency for the transmission of news and the advertisement of merchandise, notices, etc., for seventy years before the daily was introduced per- manently. The first publication was in the Ger- man language in 1789, and the second in the English language in 1796 ; both at Reading. Many were started afterward in both languages, but few survived. Those worthy of particular mention, on account of long-continued and successful publica- tion, are the Rcadiiiger Adler^ and the Berks and Schuylkill Journal., the former a German newspaper begun in 1796, and the latter an English news- paper begun in 18 16. The Reading Gazette and Democrat was published for thirty years success- fully till 1878, when its name was changed to Read- ing Weekly Eagle. An active English weekly for thirty years, from 1835 to 1865, was the Berks County Press., devoted to Democratic principles ; and the Liberate Beobachter (Liberal Observ^er), a German weekly, devoted to Whig principles, was also prominent for twenty-five years, from 1839 to 1864. Besides the first three named, there are published at Reading eight weekly newspapers — three in the English language and five in the German : Banner von Berks . . . 1864 j Die Deutsche Eiche . . 1869 Re/onnirter Haus/re7tnd 1S67 I Reading IVee/tly N^ezus .1881 Die Bienc 1867 1 Reading Weekly Herald \S%\ Republikaner von Berks 1869 | Reformed Churcli Record 1888 EDUCATION. 85 Weekly newspapers are also published at Boyer- town, Hamburg, Kutztown, and Womelsdorf. Daily Newspapers. — Reading possessed a popu- lation sufficient in number to support a daily news- paper long before the first was established. The rapid increase of the people would seem to have warranted — if it did not inspire — such an enter- prise. Education was quite general, though only stimulated with marked public energy after 1834 ; and the English language was growing gradually into favor. The railroad was constructed ; various shops and factories — especially for the manufacture of iron goods — were erected ; and English churches were founded. The borough was promoted into a city. All these things came to pass ; still the daily newspaper had not arrived. The second period of Reading was unusually prolific in producing great things for the common progress of its citizens. In 1840 the population was 8410, and in 1847 it was about 12,000; and in the respective years named the entire county had about 65,000 and 70,000. A railroad extended through the entire Schuylkill Valley, and stages ran daily in every direction. These means facilitated the distribution of news- papers, even encouraged the spirit of publication ; but still there was no daily newspaper. The third period — the city — came. Then there were seven weekly newspapers carried on successfully, — Adler^ Journal.^ Berks Comity Press., Liberale Beobachtery Alt Berks., Jefferson Democrat., and Reading Ga- zette. They were issued upon different days in the week, but mostly on Saturday. Naturally, this 86 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. number was sufficient to discourage the thought of a daily publication. But the spirit of enterprise was working its way in different channels ; buildings were multiplying, trade was growing, population was increasing, and many strangers were locating here permanently. The daily events necessarily grew with the general growth, and the disposition to know them at once was preparing the way for a step beyond the weekly publication. Just as the stage-coach and canal-boat, through the energy of trading, were found to be slow and had to make way for the steam-car ; so the weekly newspaper was coming to be late in communicating news, the feeling against the delay was growing stronger and stronger, and public eagerness was clamoring for an improvement, for a step beyond the days of decades before. Of course this feeling, this eagerness, this curiosity had to be satisfied ; and in time it was. Two efforts in this direction w^ere made in 1 847 ; but they both were failures for want of sufficient encouragement. Ten years more elapsed. In this time two new railroads were extended from this natural centre, one to the west through Lebanon Valley, the other to the northeast through East Penn Valley. From 12,000 the population in- creased to 20,000, and the population of the county increased from 70,000 to 90,000. The post-offices roundabout in the county multiplied from forty-one to seventy ; the added wealth to the community from all sources was estimated not by the thousands of dollars, but by the millions ; and the hand-press was supplanted by the steam-press. Surely, under EDUCATION. 87 these inviting circumstances, the time wonld ap- pear to have come for a certain step in advance of the days of 1789, of 1816, and of 1847. So a third effort was made, but it likewise proved a failure. Its list of patrons embraced only 450 regular sub- scribers ; and only 16 out of 240 business men of Reading took sufficient interest in its success to give it advertising patronage. It would seem that the daily newspaper, like all great things in the progress of mankind, could not be created in the first effort, and that several efforts in its behalf also had to be made before it became an established in- stitution in our community. In many things, it is said, a prophet is not with- out honor, save in his own land ; and this was ap- plicable here with respect to the daily newspaper. These efforts had been made by men of Reading, who were practical, experienced printers and well known to the community ; but it remained for a stranger, not a printer, to come here, take up jour- nalism as his vocation, and make it a success. This was J. Robley Dunglison, an accomplished young man from Philadelphia. On July 19, 1858, he issued the first number of his paper, which he entitled the Reading Daily Times., and he continued its publication till December 9, 1859, when he transferred it to Henry Lantz. After changing hands several times it became the prop- erty of the present proprietors, J. Knabb & Co., on June 19, 1869. Within a year afterward (April 4, 1 870) the firm purchased the Evening Dispatch, and united it with the Times., entitling the news- 88 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. paper Reading Times and Dispatch. From that time onward it has been successfnlly published b\' the same firm as a morning newspaper. The Reading Daily Eagle was begun on January 28, 1868, by William S. Ritter and Jesse G. Haw- ley, as an afternoon paper. Mr. Hawley became the sole proprietor in 1 874. The vSunday edition was begun by him in 1877. Die Reading Post. — The first daily German news- paper was established here on June i, 1868, by William Rosenthal, a practical printer and editor of large experience. It is the only daily paper in the State, outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, pub- lished in the German language. Two other daily English newspapers are pub- lished at Reading: the Herald., begun in 1881, and the Telegram^ in 1887. No daily newspapers are piiblished in the county outside of Reading. I.ANGUACxE. The great majority of the early settlers of Berks County having been Germans, their language, man- ners, and customs became predominant. Their in- dustry, perseverance, and economy built up and en- riched its valleys and hills with substantial improve- ments. Over one hundred and thirty years have elapsed since the erection of the county in 1752, but the general features of the whole community bear their impression. Their language is still in gene- ral use in every section. It is composed of words principally from German dialects, such as the AUe- EDUCATION. 89 mannisch,* the Pfalzisch* and the Schwabisch,* and some from the German proper. Its preservation to such a marked degree is due mostly to the German Bible. Martin Luther performed a great service to one of the strongest and most prolific nations of the earth in translating the Latin Bible into the German language, for through it he made its use here persistent and continuous. Their Ger- man hymn-books and prayer-books, and Arndt's Wahres Christenthiim (True Christianity) assisted greatly in this behalf The use of the English language in courts of justice, and in legal docu- ments of all kinds, did not, and apparently could not, interfere with its preservation. And even English teaching, through a general system of school education, has not disturbed it much, though fifty years have elapsed since its introduction. This system has caused the introduction of numerous English, mixed, and contracted words, and caused the language to be called " Pennsylvania German " — or "Pennsylvania Dutch." These remarks are particularly applicable to the country districts. The German people have also occasioned the introduc- tion of a considerable number, through an earnest desire to succeed in their business relations with the citizens of Reading. The English language, both written and spoken, has been in use from the time of the earliest settle- ments by the English in the county, and it is natu- ral to suppose that, in all these years, through judi- cial proceedings, business transactions, and general * After localities in Prussia. 90 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. education, it should have made considerable pro- gress, especially during the last twenty years ; but frequent visits to churches and schools, stores and families in this time enable me to say that the Ger- man language is still predominant. Another gene- ration v/ill have to pass away before the English language can take its place. The circulation of Eng- lish newspapers is increasing gradually ; but their total circulation is still small compared with our pop- ulation. They are a strong agency in effecting a change from the German to the English; in reality, they are a stronger agency in this respect than the common schools. This is particularly apparent in Reading. Before the daily English newspaper was established here, the German language was com- monly used by the major part of its inhabitants in their daily affairs ; but now the English has its place, and principally through the more general in- troduction of the newspaper. The convenience of distribution facilitates its growth. The situation, however, is not much improved in our boroughs, and towns, and townships, especially in the latter, notwithstanding the encouragement of common schools. In those, the newspapers are not generally read as they are in Reading, for they are not so con- veniently distributed. But in them, as in Reading, the English language will become more generally used according to the more general introduction of English newspapers. The National government is contributing much aid by extending and increasing the postal facilities and the delivery of mail matter throughout the county. EDUCATION. 91 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. The buildings and improvements throughout the county are mostly the result of German thrift and energy. Profits from labor have been mostly appro- priated toward increasing the value of land rather than towards enlightenment. Fine barns, dwellings, and fields are prominent in every locality. They are superior to those which existed in the previous cen- tury. Practical affairs show a decided advance beyond their condition fifty years ago. This is ap- parent in live stock, in the cultivation of fruit, in the possession of improved implements and machinery, besides a better class of dwellings and barns. A higher order of taste in the adornment of persons and places has made its way through increasing liberal- ity. These are signs which indicate the develop- ment of the people out of their previous condition. Domestic habits, in respect to home-made articles, have changed. Spinning and weaving have been abandoned. The loom and the factory supply all the materials required. A change began to be made about 1840. Before that time spinning was com- mon everywhere in the county. It was one of the necessary acquirements of mothers and daughters. Sales of reels and spinning-wheels then declined gra- dually at the stores, and within twenty years after- ward there was no demand at all for these articles. The life of the farmer is comparatively little beyond hard, earnest labor, and rigid economy through- out each succeeding year. His daily reflection is upon his stock and crops. All the improved imple- ments and labor-saving machinery are devised and 92 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. introduced by others for his benefit. He would con- tinue in the same manner of conducting his farming operations which had been practiced last centuiy, and even this century until 1850, if inventive genius had not created them for him. The farmer of our own county has not produced anything to improve his situation in respect to labor. He adopts what is brought to him. This singular inactivity keeps him back of the advancing times. Through it, the products of his labor are permitted to be drained to populous places. One of the chief consequences is little remuneration. The men of thought and energy in cities absorb the greater proportion of the profits. If his daily habits were not simple and his expenses small, he could not keep what he has, much less accumulate more. His net income from actual labor is limited. Compared with the income of business men, agents, officers, and clerks in cities, it is insignifi- cant. His manners are the same in this respect as in others. If we examine them closely and com- pare them with the condition of things one hundred years ago, we find little progress. His household furniture, bedding, clothing, table-ware, social hab- its, and general customs are generally the same. His walls are not decorated with costly paintings ; his floors are not covered with fine, soft carpets ; his beds are not composed of easy springs and hair or wire mattresses ; his table does not glisten with polished silver or sparkle with cut glass ; his dwell- ing is not after the modern stvle, with arrang-e- ments for health and convenience ; and he himself EDUCATION, 93 is not a patron of art, literature, or amusements. But in towns and cities we find all these things, not only in the dwellings of bankers, lawyers, and merchants, but also of industrious mechanics, agents, and clerks ; and art, literature, and various amuse- ments are largely patronized and encouraged. This great difference is caused by the spirit of progTess which obtains more in populous places, where the people are led in numerous ways to inter- mingle daily with one another. Association creates the laudable ambition to develop improvement in the various departments of domestic and social life ; and it relieves the monotony of daily labor by amusements, — literar}-, musical, and dramatic. In carrying on amusements successfully, this spirit is converting night more and more into day, and de- vising new methods for social pleasure and excite- ment. Improved light facilitates and encourages it in the night-time. And traveling is a g^eat agency in stimulating it. In certain respects, it is like steam on the one hand and electricity on the other, — active and energetic in moving about from place to place, and brilliant and powerful in providing the necessary light to accommodate its conceptions. Horse-power, and the locomotion afforded by it, may suffice for the people in the country districts ; but steam and railroads afford locomotion which is not too rapid for the people in the towns and cities. The genius that thrives in the very midst of the most populous places, and of the pleasures and ex- citements which they produce, is struggling with the mysteries of the world for a motive-power 94 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. stronger and quicker than steam ; and hopes of realizing victory are highly entertained. Restless energy is introducing wonderful changes in the manners and customs of the people. In the mountainous and farming districts, where distance separates the inhabitants, and where means for rapid intermingling are impracticable, if not impossible, the changes are imperceptible. Their situation does not warrant changes, especially such as are constantly going on in the cities, for it could not support them. The profits of labor and the investments in them are too slow and too small. Hence, their manners and customs, their dwellings and churches, their roads and movements, their speech and actions, their dress and associations are the same or nearly the same as they were a hun- dred years ago. Their energ}' is inseparable from the plow and the hoe and muscular exertion. But the cities produce and support these changes, and in them energy partakes more of the mind than of the body. And these changes and this mental energy are more active amongst their inhabitants. In comparing the situation of the people of Albany and Caernarv'on townships — districts located at the extreme northern and southern ends of our county, thirty miles apart; also of Hereford and Bethel townships — districts located at the extreme east- ern and western ends, forty miles apart, with the situation of the people of Reading, the county-seat, the difference is apparent at a glance. One hun- dred years ago they were alike or nearly so. But just as Reading is in advance of the districts men- EDUCATION. 95 tioned, so is New York, the great metropolis of our vast country, in advance of Reading. By contrasting the two extremes, our mountain- ous districts with the great metropolis, the differ- ence in the manners and customs of the respective inhabitants is wonderful. And yet the forefathers of each, as immigrants, started alike. In the one, oil and tallow are still used, and even the open fire- place for the production of light in a simple and inexpensive way ; in the other, these have long passed away, especially for public purposes, and the people have light from electricity. In the one, thousands of inhabitants are scattered over miles of territory ; in the other, thousands are concentrated upon a few acres. In the one, a few hundred dol- lars suffice to make the inhabitants contented and happy ; in the other, millions of dollars are invested and expended to carry on successfully the manners and customs of the inhabitants, and such changes as ambition and competition produce. Content- ment would seem to be the co-partner of slowness, if not of stillness ; but discontentment, of energy and activity. In the one, the expense of a few extra dollars in travel or in entertainment is looked upon as luxur}', if not extravagance ; in the other, thousands of dollars are expended as a matter of necessity for the same purpose. These strong con- trasts enable us to see our own manners and customs in the county of Berks as they are, or were, or as they will be, especially in our more populous places, the nearer steam and electricity come to be connected with our material progress. 96 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. CHAPTER VII. LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. LABOR. Ag-ricnlture. — When the first settlers entered this territory they found it entirely without cultivation or improvement of any kind. The land along the Schuylkill and its tributaries was in a primitive state in every respect ; but it was in a good condi- tion for farming purposes. Its location was fine ; its irrigation was superior ; therefore it was very in- viting to them. Labor stood out prominently as the one thing neces- sary to cause it to become fruit- ful. Fortunate- ly for them, they possessed this personal quality in the highest degree ; and with this quality they also possessed other qualities equally important in taking hold of an uncultivated country, — perse- verance, patience, and economy. Driven from home by religious persecution, they must have rejoiced in finding such a pleasing situation, such inviting con- ditions. After the beginning of emigration had been made, can we wonder that emigrants came by LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 97 the thousand? They knew their sufferings and their uncertain conditions at home ; and their sense of well-being induced them to leave. But in leav- ing their native valleys and hills, they came to pos- sess and enjoy a country equally favored for beauty, for health, and for profit ; but more highly favored in respect to a condition which was to them more important than all the others combined — freedom. It is surprising to find in the course of time and government in one country the development of a condition for mankind so unfortunate, so objection- able, so discouraging ; but it is equally surprising to find in the same course of time and government, in another country far removed, over a thousand miles across a dreaded sea, a condition ex- actly opposite, fortunate, ac- ceptable, and encouraging. The condition of the settlers was encouraging, not only in respect to an acceptable country, but also in respect to their own constitution, — physically, men- tally, and morally. They were strong and enduring in physical development ; they were sensible and practical in thought and feeling ; they were sound, hopeful, and trustful in religious convictions. These fitted them admirably for their vocation. The land was then cultivated as it is now — by manuring and enriching the soil, by turning the sod, by sowing and planting seeds, by rotating crops ; 7 98 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. but the manner was more laborious. Every act was performed by muscular exertion and endurance, with the assistance of horse-power. The plow, the harrow, the scythe, the sickle, and the rake were important then. By comparing the past with the present, we can readily appreciate the vast differ- ence. The farming implements were rude and sim- ple in construction, and they continued so for many years. The whole of the eighteenth century passed away without any improvement. The fanner la- bored on earnestly and faithfully year after year, and decade after decade, with the same muscular exertion. These rude implements required him to be at his place all the time, but his devotion was equal to the task. He was up with the sun in the morn- ing ; and he was up with the moon in season. He was never behind ; he could not be, without great loss and inconvenience. His imple- ments were satisfactory to him, because he gave them no thought beyond the assistance which they afforded ; and his sons followed in his footsteps— by imitation. Half of the nineteenth century passed away without any material progress in this vi- cinity beyond the days of 1700, of 1750, and of 1800. Labor-saving machinery had begun to be in- troduced within a score of years before 1 850, and this naturally led to an improvement in farming imple- ments. The mower came to be substituted for the scythe, the reaper for the sickle, and the drill for LABOR AND INTERNAL LMPROVEMENTS. 99 the hand. Improved plows of various patterns were introduced. And now we have the combined reaper and binder — a machine truly ingenious. The same slowness, simplicity, and earnest labor followed the threshing of grain after it had been harvested. The flail and the walking of horses on the barn-floor were continued for a hundred and fifty years ; indeed, some of the poorer, non-pro- gressive farmers in districts removed from railroads and prominent highways still carry on this labor- ious performance. For long straw the flail is still indispensable. The threshing-machine was intro- duced about 1836, and also the horse-power ma- chine for running it with speed and success. Pat- ent hay-rakes, hay-forks, corn-shellers, and imple- ments and machines of various kinds are also used in every section of our county. All these things were developed from the manufacture of iron into every conceivable shape. Accordingly, the model and the foundry played an im- portant part in these im- provements. And at the bottom of all this progress for the farmer we find iron, coal, and steam. We no longer see from 20 to 40 persons engaged in harvesting crops on our farms, as they were seen in 1800, even in i860. A farmer and his own family, with the aid of his 100 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. horses and improved fanning machinery, can carry on all the work from beginning to end successfully. He has comparatively little hired help to deal with, which is certainly a great consideration to him. His investment in improved machinery is therefore profitable ; and it is always reliable and ready. Since i860 numerous manufacturing establishments were erected in our country. They caused a great demand for working-people ; and this demand was supplied to a great degree from the farming dis- tricts. The manufacturer paid higher wages than the farmer, and limited the time of daily labor to ten hours. Towns and cities, at which these estab- lishments were almost entirely erected, afforded the working-people more and better advantages and facilities in respect to schools, churches, pleasures, and associations. These naturally inclined them to quit laboring on farms in the country and enter establishments in populous places. Accordingly, farm-laborers began to grow scarce, and farmers be- came alarmed ; bitt fortunately for farming, whilst enterprise was drawing one way apparently against its welfare, genius was acting with equal force in the other for it. The result has actually come to be beneficial to the farmer, especially in respect to making him more self-dependent. Industries. — There were many industries in the several districts of the county, in their early his- tory. Blacksmith-shops and wheelwright-shops were conducted in ever>^ community, being necessary for the accommodation of the settlers. They were not large, for only a few individuals worked together — LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 101 mostly master-workman and his apprentice. Grist- mills for flour and feed were situated along all the large streams. The Welsh were mechanics who conducted their trades in small factories along the Wyomissing. Rope-makers were common in every section, ropes and cords being largely used in the daily affairs of life. This industry was conducted for many years by individuals at their homes ; but improved machinery and steam caused its decline, and small ropewalks were compelled to discontinue. Carpenters and builders were numerous. They were finished workmen, preparing every article out of wood by hand. Some of the old buildings, still in a good state of preservation, attest the excel- lence of their workmanship. Doors, windows, and frames of all kinds used in building operations were hand-made. This custom amongst them continued till the introduction of the planing-mill about 1835, and then it began to pass away. The country saw-mill, run by water-power, was active then in preparing lumber ; but great steam mills in the lumber regions have caused them to become less and less active. Great rafts of logs are no longer towed down the canals to Reading, es- pecially the Union Canal from the Susquehanna River, to afford employment to saw-mills. The railroads deliver finished lumber instead. Every community had a weaver, who conducted his busi- ness at his home. He wove carpets and coverlets (plain and fancy) ; and linen and cotton stuffs for domestic use. He did not carry a large stock on hand ; he manufactured articles to order. And so 102 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. it was with the shoemaker and tradesmen of various kinds. Fulling-mills, paper-mills, oil-mills, and distilling-mills were conducted for cloths, paper, oil, and whiskey ; but they were limited in capacity. Before the Revolution, in each division of the county, there were iron industries, especially in the lower portion. They were scattered many miles from one another. All were located along strong streams which afforded constant water-power, and in the midst of thickly- wooded territory which fur- nished an inexhaustible supply of charcoal. The greater number were east of the Schuylkill. Four forges and two furnaces were carried on in the county before 1752. The first forge was erected in 17 1 7, and the first furnace in 1720; and these are believed to have been the earliest in Pennsylvania. The iron-masters of the county comprise many men distinguished for their enterprise, success, and wealth. They extend through the history' of the county from its earliest settlements until now. A great proportion of the material prosperity and en- richment of the county has been contributed by them. They have, to a great degree, influenced its social, political, and industrial welfare. In the set- tlement and development of its several sections, they have been pioneers. Though their great and influential industry does not antedate agriculture in the affairs of the county, it has, nevertheless, been a traveling companion ; and, like agriculture, has been transmitted from grandfather to son and grand- son. Their names reveal the fact that the ereat majority of them have been of German origin. LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.^}^ INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. The internal improvements of the county relate to the several prominent affairs which have been instituted and carried on for the o^eneral develop- ment, convenience, and enrichment of the whole community. They comprise the canals, bridges, roads and turnpikes, stages, railways, county build- ings, post-offices, telegraph, and telephone. Advantages of Kiver. — In a natural aspect, the Schuylkill River has occupied an important posi- tion in the well-being of the county. We can only appreciate this by realizing the great advantages which it has afforded in leading away successfully enormous quantities of water year after year, from the mountains and valleys to the sea. And in its meandering channel the flowing waters are detained in their onward course to moisten the air and vege- tation, and to proceed with only such speed as not to injure the adjoining country. In a practical aspect, it has been valuable in vari- ous ways — two especially, fishing and navigation. It respect to fishing, it was a source of profit and subsistence to the early settlers who occupied the adjoining properties. They discovered this imme- diately after settling here ; and to facilitate the catching of large quantities of fish with little labor and expense, they erected wears, racks, and dams, into which the fish were driven by the fishermen, who either waded afoot or rode on horseback through the water. In respect to navigation, it was likewise a source of advantage in enabling them to carry conveniently 104 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. by boats, flats, and canoes, and with little expense, great quantities of grain and goods of all kinds, to the market at Philadelphia. Penn had hardly landed here before he found that navigation in the river was obstructed by fishing wears and dams ; and believing them to be objectionable, he encouraged legislation against them. Various acts were passed, but the wears and dams were not abandoned. Eventually the inconvenience and suffering occa- sioned by them became so burdensome that earnest complaints arose, when they were discontinued ; but not, however, till the assistance of the law had been invoked. Canals. — Navigation was encouraged by State legislation during a period of 60 years from 1761 ; and finally the Schuylkill Canal was constructed along the river from Port Carbon through Reading to Philadelphia, and the Union Canal from the Schuylkill at Reading to the Susquehanna at Mid- dletown, — the former having been finished in 1824 and the latter in 1828. The Union Canal was aban- doned in 1884 on account of railroad competition, after having been conducted for over 50 years. The Schuylkill Canal is still maintained, though much affected by competing lines of railroad. Bridg-es. — In 1778, there were 18 fords over the river from Reading southward to the county line, a distance of 18 miles. Afterward bridges were constructed at 6 of the fords : Harrisburg [Penn St.] . . 1816 I Birdsboro' 1844 Ivaucaster [Bingaman St.] 1831 I Monocacy 1866 Poplar Neck 1832 Douglassville 1832 LABOR AND INTERNAL LMFROVEMENTS. lO.j And above Reading- bridges were also constructed: Bell's 1822 Kissinger's 1810 Leize's 1833 Stoudt's 1857 Althouse's 1835 Mohr's 1837 Windsor Haveti ..... 1862 Hanaburg 1829 All of the bridges named were toll-bridges. The first three and last were constructed by the count)- ; the others by private individuals. Most of them were declared free in 1883, and the others afterward. The county purchased the private bridges at an ap- praised valuation. Freshets. — Numerous freshets have swept down the river, entailing great losses upon the adjoining property-holders. Those worthy of particular men- tion were in 1757, 1786, 1822, 1839, 1841, 1850, and 1869. Roads. — Paths extended through this section of country long before Reading was laid out. The " Ford " was a central point for the Indians. Na- ture would seem to have selected the site for a town rather than the Penns. Accessible water may have induced the Penns to select it ; but Nature — the great index to many things, which so strangely re- main hidden from our perception until revealed to us by time and experience— formed the ford that be- came the terminus of different roads, and this natu- rally directed the tendency to formulate a town. Roads anteceded railroads as a sure means towards the rapid development of a community. The sev- eral roads from Reading extended in seven direc- tions. They were laid out in the years named ; but they were traveled for some years before : 106 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Tulpehockeu 1727 Schuylkill 1750 Lancaster 1 762 Oley 1727 Maiden-creek 1745 Alsace Church I753 Neversink 1753 Turnpikes. — The Berks and Daupliin Turnpike was constructed on the Tulpehocken road in 18 16 and 1817; the Perkiomen Turnpike on the Oley road from 181 1 to 1815, branching off to the south at the Black Bear Inn ; the Oley Turnpike in 1862, from the Black Bear Inn to Pleasantville, branch- ing off to the east at Jacksonwald ; the Centre Turnpike on the Maiden-creek road from 1805 to 1812, following the Schuylkill River above Berkley. The last named turnpike was abandoned in 1884. LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 107 Short turnpikes are maintained in Amity and Hereford townships ; in the former, from Douglass- ville via ^Amityville to Yellow House, five miles long; and in the latter, in three directions from Treichlerville, altogether five miles long. The total length of turnpikes in the county is about fifty-three miles. Stag-es. — The public stage over these roads was introduced in 1789. It first traveled weekly between Reading and Philadelphia for the transportation of passengers and letters. Afterward stage lines were extended to the west and southwest, north and northeast; and they were continued until they had to be abandoned by reason of railroad competition, for the stage-coach could not compete with the rail- road train, or horse-power with steam-power. In this respect, as in others, the fittest and strongest survived. Stages continue to run in nine different directions from Reading to districts of the county not reached by railroad, and carry passengers, mer- chandise, and mail. Railroads. — The railroads were established as fol- lows, all extending from Reading : Southwest to Lancaster .1864 South to Wilmington . . 1874 North to Slatington . . . 1874 Southeast to Philadelphia 1838 North to Potts ville . . .1842 West to Lebanon . . . .1857 Northeast to AUentown . 1859 The Colebrookdale Railroad from Barto via Boy- ertown to Pottstown was opened for travel in 1869 ; and the Kutztown Branch from Topton to Kutztown in 1870. The Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley road was 108 SCHOOL HISTOR V OF BERKS COUNTY. constructed from Philadelphia to Reading in 1883- 84, and to Hamburg and Pottsville, in 1885-86. The total length of railroads in the county is about 160 miles. Progress of Locomotion. — Reading had been an active inland town, and public roads had been laid out extending in all directions, for nearly forty years, before the inhabitants were afforded a means of transportation by public conve}ance at regular intervals, to the surrounding settlements and towns both near and distant. We are naturally inclined to wonder what subjects occupied the attention of its enterprising men to such an extent as to hinder them from devising so important and yet apparently so simple a thing as a stage for the accommodation of the public in respect to travel, soon after a con- siderable population had settled in the town, say in 1770. People generally, and business men espe- cially, moved about from place to place to a greater or less extent. Some had their own conveyances ; but the majority had not. Progress was, therefore, necessarily slow without an accommodation of this kind, and considerable time had to pass away be- fore any perceptible improvement was realized. Elsewhere the stage-coach was then a useful insti- tution and in successful operation. At Philadel- phia, just 50 miles to the southeast, it had been in use 40 years before Reading was laid out. The stage was first introduced on the great high- way between Reading and Philadelphia in 1789. Several years afterward, stage-lines were extended to the west through Lebanon Valley to Harrisburg, LABOR AND INTERNAL LMPROVEMENTS. 109 to the north over the Bkie and Broad Mountains to Sunbury, and to the northeast through East Penn Valley to Easton, At first weeklj^ trips were made ; afterward, as public demands required, they gradu- ally became semi-weekly, tri-weekly, and event- ually daily, the last having been reached in 1826 — a period in the development of our local affairs about as long after the introduction of the stage as it was to obtain it after the settlement of the town in 1 751. When the daily stages ran to and fro, trade and travel were lively. Their constant and increasing activity provoked competition. In order to "make time," "relays" for fresh horses were established at points along the lines every 6 miles, and the horses were urged onward over hills and dales under the twirling, cracking lash. How the coaches must have rocked on their leathern sup- ports ! how the horns, blasted by long-winded drivers, must have sounded on the way in announc- ing their approach !. The highest point of competi- tion was reached in 1830, The fares had been cut to half their reg- stage-coaches -'''!»3ZD'''C^^^^^^"°'*"''===:^-/^^ pikes at a gallop — especially to the southeast and west — even racing side by side at times to reach prominent places first. Then the Court-House on Penn Square was the prominent point of observation in town to witness arrivals. Betting on first arrivals of competing 110 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. stages was frequently practiced. It was common to see fifty and even a hundred persons assembled there, to receive the stages with a welcome of shouts and applause. What times indeed ! Men now, who are beyond the middle age of life, inform us that the times were better then than now, because more real business life prevailed through individual enterprise, and be- cause men had equal chances in their efforts for traffic and success. But legislation was then devis- ing, if it had not already devised, a new and pow- erful competitor, and it was unwittingly creating a great inequality among the several agencies in this department of intercourse. And this competitor was the corporation. It did not take hold of the stage-coach as an institution worthy of its genius. But it had taken hold of the turnpike, and after- ward of the canal, and had struggled hard with them through many years till they were put into practical and successful operation. And these were hardly given an opportunity to display their utility before it developed the railroad, with steam as a pro- pelling power. Hauling over steep hills and bad roads was slow and tedious, but it was not discouraging. The early settlers kept themselves and their strong teams at it in spite of hills and roads and weather. Nav- igation was recommended, but it was generally deemed impracticable. Efforts were made to intro- duce it, but progress was very slow, if not imper- ceptible. A discovery, however, beyond the moun- tains led to a change, and by it, physical energy LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. \\\ was to be somewhat relieved. One of the great elements of nature was to be substituted in the place of the common road and turnpike, in order to sat- isfy the demands of trade as developed by this dis- covery — water was to become a highway, and the boat a conveyance. In the upper regions of the Schuylkill, coal had\ been discovered as early as 1770 ; but it was not mined successfully till the lapse of forty years later. After it began to be mined in large quantities, the ordinary wagon, capable of holding but a few tons, became impracticable for the purpose of carrying it many miles over mountains and through gorges. This process was laborious, slow, and costly. A way had to be found to make its transportation much less laborious and costly, and to hasten its delivery. This way was afforded soon afterward by the Schuylkill Navigation Com- pany. It came with the demand. It began to carry coal, lumber, merchandise, and produce in 1818 ; and every year, for several decades afterward, demonstrated its great utility. Its traffic increased from hundreds of tons to hundreds of thousands. The canal extended along the Schuylkill from Mount Carbon to Phila- delphia, a distance of 108 miles, and was finished for traffic from one end to the other in 1 824. Its success stimulated a similar enterprise through the Lebanon Valley from the Schuylkill to the Susque- 112 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. hamia. This latter scheme for a highway by navi- gation had been projected more than fifty years before, but it was not completed till shortly after- ward. It needed a great staple to hasten its devel- opment and construction. It found this in lumber, and it came to be equally successful for a period. But the development of the country grew beyond navigation. The demands of the former exceeded the capacities of the latter. So a new agent had to be supplied to satisfy the one by taking the place of the other. This was found in steam. It would appear that this great motive-power came to us just when it was a necessity. How frequently discov- eries succeed each other in a natural order to favor the development, the convenience, the enrichment, and the improve- ment of a country ! Steam required a railroad ; and the railroad was sup- plied. Its construc- tion began in the county in 1835, and it was finished from Philadelphia to Reading in 1S38, and to Pottsville in 1842. What a step for- ward this was— a step to speed, to ease, to power ! What was the horse in a coach or boat by the side of steam on a firm railroad track, which the seasons could not render precarious or impassable — even four- in-hand, fresh every six miles, flying under a lash LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 113 and speeding before a horn ! Naturally, the stage business passed away with the introduction of this new agent, a factor in our daily life which wind or weather, heat or cold, could not affect, and which was tireless and irresistible ; and in time the canal came to be similarly affected. County Bnilding-s. — The county buildings com- prise the Court-House, Prison, "State-House," and Poor- House. The first Court-House of the county was erected in 1762, at the intersection of Penn Square and Callowhill (now 5th) Street. It was built of stone, plastered, and marked off in imitation of cut stone ; and it was surrounded by a brick pavement. The first floor was arranged in one large room for the "courts," and the second floor in three rooms. The steeple on the building contained a bell and town-clock. The bell was cast in England in 1763 especially for the county. The town-clock was a \ thirty-hour clock, imported from London about 1 755. The floor of the court-room was laid with brick. Benches were arranged on inclined platforms along the southern and eastern walls, but the seating capacity was limited. The dimensions of the room were about 40 by 50 feet. The "Bench" was arranged along the northern wall ; the ' * Bar ' ' was enclosed by a semi-circular railing, the ends of which extended to the wall on both sides of the "Bench;" and the "jury-box" was situated in the northwest corner of the room. The "court- crier" was a prominent figure by reason of the elevation of his seat near the centre of the room : 114 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. THK OLD COURT-HOUSE, 1762-184O. LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. \\fi and his hickory pole was an object of much attrac- tion during an exciting trial ; for, he would not only cry out "Silence!" to restore order, but he would also raise his pole, as if fishing for the dis- turber of the peace, and drop the end of it on his pate, if within reach. This performance was known to cause disturbance at times instead of re- storing order. Crier and the Boys. — Upon a certain occasion, ^ several boys found their way into the crowded court-room, attracted by some unusual trial, and not being able to get a seat anywhere on the benches, they climbed to the top of a pile of sawed- wood, which was arranged on the western side of the room, behind a ten-plate stove. For a time they were quiet and looked on attentively ; but, boy-like, they soon lost interest in the trial and began to pass remarks about the gray-haired old man with the long hickory pole. Naturally, they proceeded from the serious to the ridiculous, and from quiet amuse- ment they crossed the line into snickering. The watchful crier, observing their levity, thrust his pole suddenly after their heads, when great confu- sion followed ; for the boys, in dodging the pole, caused the wood-pile to separate and they slid to the floor unceremoniously with the top pieces roll- ing after them. "Silence! Silence!" the crier cried aloud, to stay the increasing laughter through- out the room ; and upon restoring order he glanced around with look profound, but the boys were non esf^ for during the excitement they had stealthily disappeared. 116 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. The Town-Clock and " Yorrick." — The town- clock was remarkable for a peculiarity which gave it a local reputation, and that was persistently con- tinuing out of order, notwithstanding frequent re- pairs ; and the common talk, after it had lost the confidence of the community, was that it was "verhexed" [bewitched]. About the year 1820, the clock seemed to take a freak of striking irregu- larly, and "Yorrick," the janitor,* became much concerned; so much, indeed, that he expressed him- self in a manner more forcible than elegant. His profanity amused some of the wags of that day, and they determined to break him of this bad habit, if possible. So, after dusk on a certain Winter's night, one of them stole his way to the belfry of the Court-House, and, attaching one end of a ball of twine to the tongue or " clapper" of the bell, he threw the ball to an accomplice on the street below, who then stretched the twine to the lower gable end of the eastern market-house, where he fastened it ready for the proposed experiment, that they together might put " Yorrick" truly in a fix, and if not, then worse out of fix. At eight o'clock the bell struck as usual, but, instead of stopping at "eight," it continued until it had struck "eigh- teen." The news of this " hexerei " [witchery] was soon communicated from store to store and from dwelling to dwelling, and shortly afterward many of the towns-folk gathered about the Court- House, manifesting apparently much concern over * A tall, stout man, inclined to be humorous, whose name was George Fix. " Yorrick " is the German pronunciation for George. LABOR AND INTERNAL LMPROVEMENTS.W^ the extraordinaty occurrence. "Yorrick" was then at his post as watchman of the "Branch Bank" [now Union Bank] and hearing the com- motion in the "Square" before him, he could not remain in the building unconcerned. Accordingly, he went over to the Court-House to see what was the matter, and, to his surprise, he found already gathered there many excited people, both old and young, who laughingly teased him about the ''''Hex im Tfmrni^''^ [witch in the steeple] and said that he was afraid to make an examina- tion. In spite of doubts and fears, he took a lighted lantern and climbed the stairway to the bell ; but nothing was seen and all was still ; and this stillness continued until he had reached the main doorway below, when, to his amazement, the striking began again, the bystanders counting aloud from "one," "two," to "twenty-two." ' ' Yorrick ' ' could not master himself ; so, flying into a passion and uttering several profane exple- tives, he yelled, ^^Zwei und zwanzig 9—Katin net sei ! Narrheit des, net hexerei ! " * After thus expressing himself, he turned to revisit the steeple, when the clock began to strike again ; not, however, as before, slow and regular, but in quick succession as if the bell had indeed become possessed of an unnatural spirit. Excited beyond measure, and burning with rage, he hurried aloft, there to find the "clapper" moving quickly before * "Two and twenty ? — Cannot be ! Folly this, not witchery ! " 1 1 8 SCHOOL HISTOR Y OF BERKS CO UN TV. him and striking " Ding-dang-dong ! " — " Ding- dang-dong ! ! " A single glance and all was clear ; and perceiving the cause,, he seized the twine and felt the wag pulling at the other end. " Yorrick " was not cured ; but the experiment added another incident to the many humors of that day. And now, though three-score years have passed, of all the amusing stories told about our " Olden Times," there's none with interest surpassing that of "The Town-clock and Yorrick. " Previous to 1762 for ten years, the county justices had held the sessions of court in a room at a town- inn. There were no rooms in the building for the county officials. Five offices of the county were vested in one individual for upward of twenty years. The public offices were opened in Februar}^, 1 766 ; but in what building is not known. This Court- House was used for hearing and detennining crimi- nal and civil matters until 1840. But its smallness and inconvenient arrangement had been felt seri- ously for many years. It was torn down in 1841. The present Court-House was erected during the years 1838, 1839, and 1840, at a cost of $60,000; and extensions were added in 1869 ^^^^^ 1888. The steeple is 142 feet high. The "State-house" was erected in 1793 to ac- commodate the county officials, and was occupied by them until 1840. It was a fine two-story brick building and stood on the northeast corner of 5th and Penn Streets. It was destroyed by fire in 187 1. The first County Prison was erected in 1770, on LABOR A ND IN TERN A L IMPR O VEMENTS. 119 the northeast corner of 5th and Washington Streets. It was a two-story stone, plastered building. The second floor was in four compartments, used for prisoners. It was sold in 1 849 and converted into a store. The present prison was erected on the k "Commons" in 1847 ^^^ 1848, at a cost of $17,000. The tower is 96 feet high. An addition was built to it in 1869. The whole number of cells is 94, arranged in two stories. The Poor-house was founded by the county au- thorities in 1824. The "Main Building" was erected in 1825; the "Insane Asylum" in 1837; and the "Hospital" in 1871. The property com- prises mostly farming land, in area over 400 acres. Postal Service. — The first attempt to systematize and regulate postal communication in the American colonies was made by the British government in 1660. And this subject received the attention of William Penn shortly after his arrival in Pennsyl- vania, he having, in July, 1683, issued an order for the establishment of a post-office at Philadelphia. The postal facilities, however, in that early period, were only such as were afforded by personal accom- modation among the colonists. In 1692 the rate of postage to and from Philadelphia, within a radius of 80 miles, was four pence halfpenny. British Service. — The office of Postmaster-Gen- eral for America was created by Parliament in 1704. Shortly afterward stage-coaches were introduced to run between Boston and Philadelphia. In 1737 Benjamin Franklin was appointed postmaster at Philadelphia, and in 1753 Deputy Postmaster-Gen- 120 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. eral. The delivery of letters b}- the penny post be- gan in the latter year; and also the practice of ad- vertising letters which remained in the office at Philadelphia. In 1774 Franklin became obnoxious to the British government, and he was therefore dis- missed. This caused private arrangements to be made for carrying letters, and, as a consequence, the postal service did not contribute any revenue to the British treasury. United States Service. — In 1775 the colonies es- tablished their own postal department, and in that year Benjamin Franklin was unanimously chosen Postmaster-General. This was an important action in connection with the movement for independence. In 1792 rates of postage were established according to distance, which remained unchanged for over 50 years. Reading- Office Established. — Within a year after- ward, the first post-office in the county was estab- lished at Reading. This was on March 20, 1793. The department had been in practical existence for nearly 20 years. The population of the borough was large and business transactions were numerous ; but correspondence was limited. Letters had been carried for several years previously by a private stage-line to Philadelphia and Harrisburg, at the rate of three pence postage ; and about the year 1 800 they began to be carried to Sunbury once a week on horseback, and to Lancaster and Easton once a week in a private two-horse carriage. After the stage- coach had become a fixed mode of transportation for people and light articles of merchandise, at regular LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 121 intervals, postal matter began to be carried by them from place to place. The mails were carried by stages till the introduction of the railway ; then passenger trains were substituted. Offices in County. — The first post-office in the county was established at Reading in 1793; '^^^ second at Hamburg in 1798 ; the third at Kutztown in 1805; the fourth at Morgantown in 1806; the fifth at Womelsdorf in 1807; and the sixth at Rehrersburg in 1818; these six having been intro- duced in the first 25 years. In the next 25 years there were 33 established; in the next, 58; and from 1868 till 1889, 41. The post-offices in the county now number 138 ; which are distributed as follows : Eastern Division — 8 Manatawny section . . Ontelaunee section . . 40 Western Division — 50. ' Schuylkill section iS Tulpehocken section . . . .32 Stamps. — No postage stamps were issued by the National government until August, 1847, when two denominations were issued — 5-cent and lo-cent. The idea of using postage stamps was first suggested in 1 841, Previously postage had been collected en- tirely in money ; and in all cases prepayment was optional. The two denominations mentioned con- tinued in use four years ; then new denominations — i-cent and 3-cent appeared; and shortly after- ward others for 5, 10, 12, 24, 30, and 90 cents. In 1 86 1 this series was called in and a new series issued. In 1 863 the first 2-cent stamps appeared ; which was to accommodate local postage. In 1869 another series was substituted. Designs of persons on stamps, 122 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. in honor of distinguished representative men of our countr>^, had been in use from their first introduc- tion, particularly of Franklin and Washington. Telegraph. — In 1844 the telegraph was success- fully introduced for transmitting messages by elec- tricity. The first message was sent through a wire elevated on poles between Washington and Balti- more, May 27, 1844. Congress had in March pre- viously appropriated $30,000 to Prof. Morse for the purpose of enabling him to make experiments with his instrument to demonstrate the practicability of his invention. A company was incorporated under the name of Philadelphia, Reading, and Pottsville Telegraph Company in 1847, for the purpose of maintaining telegraph lines between Philadelphia, Reading, and Pottsville ; and commissioners were appointed to effect an organization of the company. The com- pany was organized in iVpril, 1847, ^^^ the tele- graph line was successfully established shortly after- ward. Communication was completed between I Philadelphia and Reading on May 10, 1847, and the first message then forwarded to Reading related to the Mexican War. This line has been maintained since. Upon the construction and operation of the other railroads running from Reading, telegraph lines were extended to Harrisburg, Allentown, Col- umbia, Lancaster, Wilmington, and Slatington. The American Telegraph Company introduced a line of telegraph here in 1863, and the Western Union Telegraph Company in 1865. These two then formed a union ; and the lines have been oper- ated since under the latter name. LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. 123 The Lehigh Telegraph Company opened an office at Reading in 1880. Its lines were transferred to the ' ' Bankers' and Merchants' Telegraph Com- pany " in 1884. Telephone. — The telephone was introduced in Reading in 1879. A system of communication in the city was carried on for a year, when a stock com- pany was formed for the purpose of maintaining telephone lines and exchanges in Berks, Montgom- ery, Schuylkill, and Lebanon Counties, under the name of East Pennsylvania Telephone Company. In 1883 the lines were transferred to the Pennsyl- vania Telephone Company, and this company has operated them since. The first telephone company in the State was or- ganized at Philadelphia in 1878. The introduction of this improvement has been of great advantage to the business men of the community. The telegraph was a great step in advance of the postal and express deliveries, which had been the common means of communication carried on through the agency of steam ; but the telephone was a marvelous step in advance of even the telegraph — for, instead of writ- ing, forwarding, and reading messages and letters, which required both labor and time, communication was facilitated, and business men were enabled to speak with each other directly, as it were, face to face, without any loss of time. It is like the great agent, electricity, upon which it is based — the em- bodiment of dispatch. 124 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY CHAPTER VIII. MIUTARY PERIODS, FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. Cause. — While the Penns were endeavoring to lo- cate a town on the eastern bank of the Schuylkill at the "Ford," war was being carried on between England and France, and the treaty of Aix-la-Cha- pelle was formed between them in the same year in which the town was laid out. But this treaty of peace did not settle the controversy between them in respect to territory on the American continent. The English colonies were originally planted along the Atlantic coast, and thence extended to the west. The English, therefore, claimed the right to go on with their settlements across the continent from ocean to ocean. The French, however, had posses- sed Canada to the north and Louisiana to the south, and they, too, claimed the intervening territory which lay along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Both parties claiming the same country, in order to maintain their respective rights, they "rushed into a fierce and bloody war for lands which belonged to neither, and which, in 20 years after the termination of hostilities, passed away from both, and became vested in a new power whose national existence, by a mysterious Providence, in a great measure, grew out of their contentions." MILITAR Y PERIODS: 125 French and Indians Unite. — The Indians united with the French through misrepresentation, and, finding the fron- '^^"^ '^ iier open, pro- ceeded e a s t - wardly to recov- er and repossess the territory which had for- merly been theirs, and out of which they believed they had been swin- dled. On their way they committed depredations and cruelties which resulted in great loss of life and property to the settlers. Notwithstanding forts were erected by the Provincial government along the Blue Moun- tain from the Delaware to the Susquehanna, to af- ford protection to the settlers in the vicinity, and were garrisoned with 25 companies, comprising 1400 men, they even crossed the mountain and carried their wickedness, arson, and murder into the counties adjoining. County Entered. — Berks County was entered ; men, women, and children were killed ; and many dwellings and barns were burned. This naturally spread consternation throughout the county. The settlers along the mountain fled and abandoned their homes and property. The enemy even ex- tended their incursions to a point near Reading. 126 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. The inhabitants of the town, becoming alarmed for their safety, armed and organized themselves for the purposes of defence; and some marched to the mountain to assist in 'driving the cruel foe out of the county. The town of Reading had just been fairly started when this terrible shock fell upon the inhabitants. Though discouraged, they did not abandon their new settlement and its bright pros- pects, as the settlers were forced to do along the mountain. It is probable that the unsettled condi- tion of affairs during that period in the townships bordering on the mountain, which arose from the incursions and cruelties of the Indians, contributed much towards the rapid growth of the town. English Victorious. — The cruelties of the Indians and the unsettled condition of the inhabitants of the upper section of the county continued during the years 1755, 1756, and 1757. Then the English were unsuccessful in their campaigns against the French and Indians, and their affairs here were in an alarming situation. Their efforts had produced only expense and disappointment. But in 1758 the tide turned, through the vigorous administration of a new leader, William Pitt ; the Indians were forced to retreat ; and victory crowned the British armies everywhere until 1760, when the French were dis- possessed of all the territories in dispute and forced to surrender Canada. Peace Declared. — After the French had receded into Canada before the advancing army of English soldiers, the Indians naturally followed their allies. Hence the cruelties here ceased after 1758 ; and MILITAR V PERIODS. 127 when Canada was surrendered in 1760, the peace and safety of our community were assured. The declaration of peace was delayed for three years. When it was published in 1763, only a few Indians remained in the eastern section of Pennsylvania. A small settlement of them, who were friendly to the government and the inhabitants, remained at Shamokin (now Sunbury) ; and some families were scattered in different parts of the county, where they remained for many years afterward. Before the war, considerable trade had been car- ried on successfully between the settlers and the Indians, continuing without interruption from the time of the first settlements until 1744, and even a decade afterward. The relations had become so pleasant and firm that certain Indians remained in the county unmolested during the war, and carried on their peaceful vocations, such as basket-making, bead-work, etc. ; and after the war, traveling par- ties of them frequently visited the county and sold articles of their handiwork. Forts. — The forts along the mountain were sim- ply for refuge, as places to which the inhabitants could retreat when danger was imminent. They were erected hastily to serve a temporary purpose. Unfortunately for the people, they were too few in number and too far apart to serve the purpose for which they were intended, especially to those who were somewhat removed. The following three forts were in Berks County, along the Blue Moun- tain: Fort Henry, Fort Dietrich Snyder, and Fort Northkill. 128 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Killed and Captured. — During this war the In- dians killed about 150 inhabitants of the county and captured 30 of them. Several of those who were taken captive returned after the war. But, strange to say, during these eight years, only four of the In- dians were killed in the county, so far as we have been able to ascertain. The Indians were cunning, fleet, and enduring. They approached settlements stealthily ; committed outrages, arson, and murder ; and then departed speedily. Their success in these wicked incursions was truly wonderful. They were always in small parties of three, four, or six; and being thoroughly acquainted with the mountains, they were enabled to escape pursuit by various routes; hence their limited casualties in warfare. Numerous letters have been published descriptive of the alarm, suffering, and losses of the people. The most active and prominent man in the corres- pondence was Conrad Weiser, one of the justices of the county. RiEVOLUTION. Stamp Duty. — The Parliament of Great Britain passed an act in 1765, which required all instru- ments of writing, such as deeds, bonds, and promis- sory notes, to be written on parchment or paper and stamped with a specific duty, otherwise they were to have no legal effect ; but this measure met with such general opposition in Great Britain and throughout the American colonies, and was found to be so unpopular, that the act was repealed in the following year. This opposition, however, led Par- MILITAR Y PERIODS. 129 liament to pass a declaratory act, asserting power over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever ; " and an act was then passed which imposed a tax on tea, glass, paper, and painters' colors imported into the colonies. " Legislation without representation," as this was, awakened in the colonies a spirit of resist- ance ; and this grew year after year until it finally cul- minated in a violent demonstration at Boston in De- cember, 1773, when certain men, in the disguise of Indians, went upon three vessels loaded with tea at the wharf in the night-time and threw the tea over- board. This act led to the passage of the ' ' Boston Port Bill" on the 14th of March following, which provided that after the i8th of June, 1774, no per- son should load or unload any ship in that harbor. In this manner it was thought the customs and commerce would be transferred from Boston to Salem. And "other acts were passed in reference to the government of Massachusetts, the trial of the offenders, etc. Through these acts the people of Boston were visited with suffering and loss ; but their situation won the sympathy of all the colonies. Local Patriotism. — When the news reached Read- ing, the citizens developed great excitement and held a meeting on July 2, 1774, at which the ac- tion of the British government was condemned. This meeting was called by notices headed "Bos- ton Port Bill," and posted throughout the town. From this meeting to the close of the' Revolution the people of the town and of the county partici- pated actively in all the affairs of the province 9 130 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. which were carried on for the establishment of independence. They were represented by dele- gates at the several conferences ; and they contrib- uted their quota of men, money, and supplies in the successful prosecution of the war. The battle of Lexington was fought on April 19, 1775. When the news of the battle reached Reading, about a week after- ward, a company of men was formed, who wore crape for a cockade in token of sorrow for the slaughter of their brethren, and each township in Berks County resolved to raise and discipline its company. Companies from Berks County. — A large num- ber of men from Berks County were enlisted in the struggle of the colonies for independence ; and her representative patriots and companies continued in faithful servdce from the beginning of actual war- fare until the declaration of peace. In 1775 there were five "Associated Battalions" from the county, which were commanded by the following colonels : Edward Biddle, Mark Bird, Daniel Brodhead, Balzer Geehr, and Christian lyouer. Biddle and Brodhead were particularly prominent, — the former as a distinguished repre- MILITAR V PERIODS. \ 31 sentative in the First Continental Congress, and the latter as a brave officer on the field of battle. Both were residents of Reading. The companies from the county in actual ser- vice, so far as they have been ascertained, were the following : Companies in Col. John Patton's battalion, 1776 : Captains. Captains. John Lesher Nicholas SchaeflFer. Michael Forrer. Michael Wolf. John Diehl. George Will. George Miller. Companies in different regiments : George Nagel. Jacob Bauer. Jonathan Jones. Benjamin Weiser. Henry Christ. Joseph Hiester. John Spohn. Jacob Maurer. Peter Decker. Jacob Graul. Jacob Moser. Jacob Livingood. Companies in Col. Joseph Hiester' s battalion, 1780: Jacob Baldy. Ferdinand Ritter. Charles Gobin. Conrad Sherman. John L/udwig. Henry Strouch. In the battle of Long Island, fought on August 27, 1776, there were two battalions composed of Berks County militia under the command of Lieu- tenant-Colonels Nicholas Lotz and Peter Kachlein. Lotz had six ofiicers taken from him, all prisoners, none killed or wounded ; and Kachlein not more. The following were among the list of prisoners : Lotz and Kachlein, Major Edward Burd, Captain 132 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Jacob Graul, Captain Joseph Hiester, Captain Jacob Maurer. In 1777 the militia returns of the county showed that 4000 men between the ages of 18 and 53 years were subject to military duty. Army Supplies. — In the beginning of the Revo- lution, Reading was selected by the Continental government as a place well-adapted by its situation for storing army supplies. Being surrounded by hills, it was capable of easy defence, and it was not far distant from the operations of war. I^arge quan- tities of provisions were deposited here. In 1778, the supplies were so valuable that Congress ordered the State to station 200 militia here to defend the place. In 1780, General Washington directed the Executive Council to furnish the State out of the supplies at Reading with the following articles: 200 barrels of flour ; 560 gallons of rum ; 180 tons of hay; 14,000 bushels of corn. Nicholas Lotz was then commissioner of purchases in Berks Coun- ty. In 1777, 350 wagons were sent to Philadelphia from Berks County ; also a wagon-master general and wagon-master. In 1780, the quota of supplies from the county was 600 barrels of flour and 600 bushels of forage per month ; 200 horses and 20 wagons ; and 300 militia. Hessian Prisoners. — In 1775, the King of Great Britain obtained, by treaty with the German princes, 17,000 men for the purpose of sending them to America to assist in subduing the colonies, and they were shipped early in 1776. Many of them, (Hes- sians,) were taken prisoners at the battle of Trenton MILITAR V PERIODS. \ 33 on December 26, 1776, and conveyed to Lancaster. Some of these were afterward stationed at Reading. Their first quarters in the town were in the south- ern section ; and, after remaining in that locality several years, they were removed to the southern declivity of Penn's Mount. The place has since been known as " Hessian Camp." The majority of these huts were standing in 1841. In 1780, the prisoners numbered 100. In 178 1 a large number of convention prisoners of war, 1050, all Germans, excepting 63 Britons, arrived under guard of the York County militia. Two classes of companies of the regular militia were called out to guard the en- campment. On Christmas day, 1781, the prisoners and their guard were suddenly alarmed by certain soldiers in the disguise of Indians, which caused them to fly from the encampment. A court-martial was after- wards held, but no one was punished. During the winter of 177^77 there was much sickness amongst the prisoners, and many of them died. The burials were made in " Potter's Field," on the west side of 6th Street, south of Walnut The deaths were so numerous at times that it be- came necessary to bury two, and even three, in one grave. Duel at Reading-. — A regiment was quartered at Reading during 1780-81. Most of its ojfficers were worthy men. Captain Bowen, an officer in the regiment, had a wann temper which occasioned some disturbances at Reading about that time. On one occasion he took offense when none was in- 134 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. tended, and on that account fought a duel with the major of the regiment. The duellists each fired a shot, and Bowen had a button shot from his coat. Their seconds then settled the matter. An investi- gation of the cause of the difficulty was then made. "It appeared the major was walking with some girls on the night before, and they burst out laughing just after Bowen had passed them. Their laughter was caused by the major telling them of his and Bowen' s being at a dance on the evening before, when the blind fiddler broke one of the strings of his fiddle, and the landlady took a candle and held it for him while he was fitting a new string." This story even set the seconds to laughing, and they all returned in good humor. Upon another occasion, soon afterward, whilst Bowen and Charles Biddle were playing backgammon, Captain Bower — an offi- cer in the same regiment — came into the room and, addressing himself to Bowen, said: "I hope you are very well. Major." Bowen immediately started up and replied to him: "Don't major me, sir ! None of your majors ! You know I'm not a major, sir ! What do you mean, sir ? " Bower declared that he had not intended to give any offense. Bowen then took Biddle into an adjoining room and inquired if he should not challenge Bower. Biddle replied to him that "a man who would not fight on some occasions was not fit to live, nor was a man fit to live who was always quar- reling." They returned, and Biddle induced the captains to shake hands, and so avoided a second duel. MIUTAR V PERIODS. 135 Conway-Cabal. — The " Conway-Cabal " was a secret movement by which it was designed to re- move General Washington and put General Gates in his place. It has often been stated as a tradi- tion that this "cabal" was conceived at Reading, but this is not correct, for Conway was never at Reading. Continental Money. — During the beginning of the war. Congress issued "Bills of Credit," amount- ing altogether to $20,000,000. In 1777 they began to decline in value, and finally became worthless. This extraordinary depreciation brought great loss to many of the people who had aided the govern- ment in the struggle for freedom. The soldiers suffered most. The people of Reading, and es- pecially of the county, met with considerable losses. Some of them had large quantities which were trans- mitted for many years till lost or destroyed. They were not redeemed. Peace. — The surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown on October 19, 178 1, was virtually the end of the war. The treaty of peace was con- cluded at Paris on September 3, 1783 ; whereby the United States were acknowledged to be "free, sovereign, and independent." Return of Soldiers. — In order to avoid the incon- veniences of dismissing a great number of soldiers in a body, furloughs were freely granted. In this way a great part of the unpaid army was disbanded and dispersed over the States without tumult or dis- order. The soldiers returned to labor. As they had been easily and speedily formed out of farmers, 136 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. mechanics, and laborers, in 1775 ; so with equal facility did they throw off their military character and resume their former occupations. They had taken up arms earnestly for the purpose of self-de- fense and political freedom, but when these were no longer necessary, they laid them down peaceably to become again good, industrious citizens as they had been for eight years devoted and patriotic soldiers. WHISKEY INSURRECTION OF 1 794. Cause. — As early as 1756 the province of Penn- sylvania looked to excise on ardent spirits for the means of sustaining its bills of credit. The origi- nal law was limited to a period of ten years ; but it was extended from time to time as necessities pressed upon the treasury. During the Revolution, the law was generally evaded in the western part of the State by considering all spirits as for domestic use., such having been excepted from excise. But when the debts of the Revolution began to press upon the States, the government officials became more vigilant in the enforcement of the law. Con- gress, in 1 79 1, increased the duty on imported spirits and levied a tax on distillation. The Legis- lature of Pennsylvania had instructed their repre- sentatives in Congress to vote against the law. Opposition arose at once in the western counties, and resolutions were adopted at public meetings demanding an unconditional repeal. Liberty-poles were erected ; and people even assembled in arms to resist officers in the enforcement of the law. MILITARY PERIODS. 137 Various public excitements continued until 1794, when an insurrection ensued. Call to Arms. — Governor Mifflin declined to call out the militia to suppress the insurrection, and, as a consequence, the spirit extended into contiguous States. President Washington, who feared that successful resistance to one law might be the be- ginning of rebellion against all laws, called on Penn- sylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia for 15,000 men, and sent commissioners to the scene of the disturbance, with power to arrange for peaceful submission any time before September 14, I794' But the commissioners returned to Philadelphia ten days after that date, having failed to obtain a satis- factory settlement. Troops were promptly put in motion, the Governors of the several States named commanding their respective quotas. On the ap- pearance of the troops in November, the insurrec- tion subsided. There was no opposition and no bloodshed. Among the Pennsylvania troops there was a company from Reading, called the " Reading Union Volunteers." It was afterwards known as the " Reading Artillerists. " County Quota. — The quota of troops from Berks County was 434 officers and privates, and 26 caval- ry ; and the militia responded promptly. In Sep- tember, 1794, 400 equipped men of the county had been collected in an encampment near Reading. Washington visits Reading^. — President Wash- ington stopped at Reading on October i , 1 794, on his way to Carlisle. His presence caused much social excitement. During his sojourn he stopped 138 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. at the "Federal Inn" (now Farmers' Bank Build- ing), where many people called to pay their respects. A military parade was held under the command of FEDERAL INN. Colonel Nicholas Lotz, to signalize the occasion, and the distinguished visitor reviewed . the troops from the second-story window over the doorway. HOUSE-TAX AND I.IBERTY-POLES OF 1 799. Insurrection. — During the early part of Adams' administration, Congress passed an act requiring a direct tax to be levied upon houses. This tax was called the "house-tax ; " also " window- tax." The National government, in collecting it in the eastern counties of Pennsylvania, caused much opposition, which eventually broke out in an insurrection in MILITAR V PERIODS. 139 1799. The leader was John Fries, of Bucks County, who was tried, convicted of high treason, and sen- tenced to be hanged, but pardoned by President Adams. A general amnesty was issued for all offenders. Considerable excitement prevailed for a time in the northeastern section of Berks County, particularly along the border adjoining Northamp- ton County (afterward Lehigh County). Local Excitement. — This insurrection was in- directly the cause of a considerable commotion at Reading. Certain troops were called out to sup- press the insurrection ; and among them was a company of Light Dragoons from Lancaster. Their way to the scene of excitement was through Read- ing, and upon arriving here they cut down certain "Liberty -Poles," insulted the people, etc. These unwarranted performances induced an anonymous correspondent of the Adler to publish a letter, criti- cising their conduct. This appeared whilst the men were on their way to Northampton County, but upon their return they heard of it. Proprietor of Adler Flogged.— This public criti- cism naturally developed in them a spirit of revenge, j They, therefore, went to Jacob Schneider, the senior proprietor of the Adler ^ and demanded from him the name of the person who had written the let- ter condemning and ridiculing them, but he refused to tell. His refusal led the soldiers to spend their anger on him by taking him forcibly to the market- house and giving him a certain number of lashes. Mr. Schneider made complaint before a justice of the peace and caused the criminals to be arrested, 140 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. but Captain Montgomery, who commanded the company, denied the authority to make the arrest. The matter was then referred to General Macpher- son, who said he would look into it, A number of the insurrectionists were tried before Judge Peters ; but though some of them were found guilty, and fined, imprisoned or condemned to be capitally punished, none atoned with their lives — they having been pardoned through executive clem- ency. EMBARGO OF 1807. Congress passed an act in 1 807, laying an embargo on all the ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States, in pursuance of the recom- mendation of President Jefferson. It prohibited the departure of all American vessels and of all foreign vessels, except those in ballast. No merchandise whatever was to be exported. The act was not simply to save American ships from danger, as Jefferson suggested in his message ; but it was also a measure of aggression against England. It was unpopular in proportion as men were or were not engaged in com- merce. The maritime States thought that the ag- ricultural States took a special satisfaction in a quasi war, of which all the burden fell at first upon com- merce. But the burden at length became universal. The men whose tobacco, corn, and cotton could not be sent to market, soon learned that they also, as well as the carriers of these products, were pay- ing a heavy tax by this interdiction of commerce. Under the pressure of public opinion, this act was MILITARY PERIODS. 141 repealed in 1809, and another was then substituted which interdicted commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and forbade imports from Europe. During this interdiction, the people of Berks County began to feel the evil effects of the policy of non-intercourse. A number of millers and other citizens met in Reading, on April 11, 18 12, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the late measures of Congress, the perilous situation of our common country, and of consulting and devising such means or measures as may tend to relieve us from the distress which impends over us;" and passed appropriate resolutions. ENGLISH WAR. Cause. — After the Revolution, though peace had been declared to exist between the United States and Great Britain, the British government con- ducted itself persist- ently in an offensive manner towards the people of the United States, and their com- merce, etc. , and to their great injury for nearly 30 years. The Nation- al government passed naturalization laws, whereby foreigners could be naturalized and become citizens ; but the British government contended that a British subject could 142 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. not be naturalized, and claimed the right of stop- ping United States vessels, searching for seamen of English birth, and impressing them into their service. In exercising this right, they stationed ships at harbors of the United States and searched every departing and arriving vessel. They were so vigilant that within a period of eight years they captured 900 vessels and impressed over 6000 sea- men into their navy. All this humiliation was borne with patience. Declaration of War. — Finally the complaints be- came too loud, and the injuries too grievous to be endured any longer ; therefore President Madison made them the subject of a message to Congress on June I, 1 8 12, and war was then declared. Anticipating this "Declaration of War," Gov- ernor Snyder of Pennsylvania issued an "Order," dated May 12, 18 12, requiring the quota of troops from this State, 14,000, to be promptly raised and formed into two divisions. The first division in- cluded the troops from Berks County. A noble re- sponse was made to this call, the troops tendered exceeding three times the quota required. Local Patriotism. — The naval battle on Lake Erie was fought on September 10, 18 13, with bril- liant success. Commodore Pen-y then sent his famous despatch to General Harrison : * ' We have met the enemy and they are ours." The news reached Reading on the 27tli of September following, and a grand illumination of the town took place in the evening from 7 till 10 o'clock, to signalize the glorious event. The destruction of the Capitol and MILITA R V PERIODS. \ 43 public buildings at Washington, in August, 18 14, and the threatened attack on Baltimore by the enemy shortly afterward, brought the war near Pennsylvania. The march of the enemy towards the interior, by way of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, naturally stimulated the military spirit in the State, and a great number of men came forward in her defense. Companies fi'om County. — After Washington had been taken, and the news of its destruction by the enemy had reached Reading, the patriotic feeling of this community became thoroughly aroused. Twelve companies were organized in the county and left Reading in August, 18 14, but they did not partici- pate in any engagement with the enemy. Their service was military duty at York, Pa., where some of the companies remained four months and others six months, after which they returned home. Daniel Udree, of Oley, was major-general of the Second Brigade, and John Addams, of Reading, brigadier-general. Jeremiah Shappell, of Windsor, was lieutenant-colonel of the First Regiment ; and John Lotz, of Reading, of the Second Regiment. Eight companies from the county were in Shap- pell' s regiment, which were commanded by the fol- lowing captains: John May. I George Marx. 1 Jonathan Jones. John Mauger. George Ritter. George Zieber. Jacob Marshall. I Henry Willotz. I And three companies were in Lotz's regiment, commanded by the following captains : John Christman. I Thomas Moore. 1 Gabriel Old. 144 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. The twelfth company was under the command of Captain Daniel DeB. Keim. It was known as the " Reading Washington Guards." Peace Declared. — Peace was concluded at Ghent on December 24, 18 14, but it was not until Febru- ary 22, 181 5, that the event became known at Reading ; then the citizens signalized it by shoot- ing off cannon during the day, and at night by a grand illumination in which 1600 pounds of candles were consumed. English Families at Reading-. — During this pe- riod a number of foreign English families, resident at Philadelphia, left that city for the interior parts of the countr}', owing to a National law which re- quired them to move away from the sea-coast and ports at least fifty miles. Some of these families came to Reading, and took quarters at the Tyson Inn, at the head of Franklin Street (now Bechtel's Hotel). Whilst here the city of Washington was captured by the English. This news caused them to rejoice ; and to express their joy they carried on dancing, with the assistance of music. But they misconceived the temper of the German people of this inland borough, who were thoroughly patriotic and in sympathy with the government ; and they soon found that their conduct wounded the National pride of the people. In the midst of their de- monstrations, they were suddenly attacked by a party of citizens, and the attack was made so earn- estly as to require the building to be closed and the performance to be stopped. If certain pro- minent English-speaking men of the borough had MILITAR y PERIODS. \ 45 not interposed, they would have been driven out of the town. MEXICAN WAR. Cause. — The Mexican War arose out of the ques- tion relating to the annexation of Texas to the United States. The constitution of Mexico pro- hibited slavery in Texas, and this provision was a sufficient reason why the Southern States wished to control it. President Adams and also President Jackson made fruitless efforts to buy the province ; and subsequently for some years the scheme of an- nexation was considered. One of the last acts of Jackson's official life was the appointment of an official agent to Texas, thereby acknowledging the independence of the province. This was looked upon as the first step towards obtaining possession of territory large enough for five new slave States. Henceforward, the project was urged with persist- ence but little success until 1842, when President Tyler gave it his encouragement. In 1 844, John C. Calhoun became Secretary of State, who "believed in annexation at any cost ; ' ' and President Tyler justified Calhoun's invitation to Texas to join the United States, because he thought Great Britain was engaged in a diplomatic intrigue to abolish slavery in Texas. At the close of Tyler's adminis- tration, a joint resolution was passed annexing Texas ; but as Tyler went out of office with the scheme carried through Congress, Polk came into office with the certainty of war with Mexico. declaration of War. — In the beginning of May, 1846, the regular troops were intercepted along the 146 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Rio Grande River by the Mexican troops, and the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma ensued. Before the news of these events reached Washing- ton, Congress had declared war on the 13th of May, and had authorized the President to call for 50,000 volunteers for one year. After carrying on war for nearly two years, the Mexicans were conquered, and a treaty of peace was signed in February, 1848, at the City of Mexico, whereby the United States acquired not only Texas, but also Arizona, New Mexico, and California, Patriotism at Reading-. — During the excitement, a great patriotic feeling was developed at Read- ing. In May, 1846, a town-meeting was held, at which appropriate resolutions were adopted, ap- proving the course of President Polk. A promin- ent prevailing sentiment was — "Our country, our whole country; our country right or wrong." The volunteer companies of Reading — Reading Artillerists, Washington Grays, and National Grays — held meetings and tendered their services to the President. Reading- Artillerists. — The Reading Artillerists, commanded by Captain Thomas S. Leoser, were accepted. They left Reading for Philadelphia on December 26, 1846, and arrived in the afternoon of the same day. After their examination, Dr. Wurtz, U. S. Surgeon, pronounced them the finest body of men he had yet passed into the service. Previous to their departure, the officers received numerous testimonials of regard ; and the Town Council and the County Commissioners each appropriated $1000 MILITARY PERIODS. 147 for the comfort of the soldiers and the relief of such of their families as needed assistance. Departure for Mexico. — The Artillerists proceed- ed by railroad to Harrisburg and Chambersburg, then walked to Pittsburgh, accompanied by three large 6-horse teams with provisions which had been furnished by the citizens of Reading. They arrived on January 5, 1847, and were mustered into service as Company A, in the Second Regiment of Penn- sylvania Volunteers. There were two regiments from Pennsylvania. The Reading company, with other companies, left Pittsburgh on the 8th of Janu- ary in the boat "Anthony Wayne," and proceeded by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, arriving thereon the 15th. They encamped on the old battle-ground of 1812-15, 7 miles below the city. There they laid all night in the rain without tents ; and, owing to the negligence of cer- tain government officials, they were without provi- sions for thirty-six hours. This caused much dis- satisfaction in the ranks, and, as a consequence, 12 men of the company deserted. Such was their be- ginning in active military service. Battles of Company. — The company served with distinction throughout the war and were particularly recognized and complimented for their bravery. They were engaged in the following battles : Vera Cruz, March 19th to 28th ; Cerro Gordo, April i8th ; Chapultepec, September 12th ; Belen Gate, Sep- tember 13th. The City of Mexico was taken on September 14th, and the troops, including Com- pany A, were stationed in that famous city until 148 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. December i8th, when they were removed to San Angel ; and there they continued until peace was declared. Ketiirn of Company. — The men were ordered home about the middle of June, 1848. They then marched to Vera Cruz — consuming about a month in the journey — and took transportation on the bark "Florida" for New Orleans. Thence they pro- ceeded up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Pitts- burgh, and were mustered out of service on July 2ist. The men took packets and traveled by canal to Harrisburg, and thence by railroad to Philadel- phia and Reading. Some of them went by stage to Reading from Pittsburgh. Upon their arrival, on July 29th, they were given a brilliant military recep- tion. Numerous buildings and streets were hand- somely decorated with flags and wreaths. The company numbered altogether 102 men ; of these I was killed in battle, 4 died of wounds, and 22 of disease. CIVIL WAR. Cause. — The Civil War in the United States broke out in April, 1861. The direct cause was the agita- tion of the subject of slavery. After 1850, the ex- tension of slavery on the one hand, and its restric- tion on the other, became thoroughly National ques- tions, and their animated discussion resulted in a terrible struggle of political leaders for the suprem- acy. Until that time, the South had the general control of political affairs through leadership and legislation ; but the Southern statesmen then saw MILITARY PERIODS. 149 that their political power was in reality passing away through the wonderful growth of the North in population and wealth, and in political represen- tation in the National government. A similar growth could not be effected in the South ; so its leaders desired to extend the rights of slavery. This was particularly apparent upon the admission of Kansas as a State. The Republican party — the expo- nent of restrict- ing slavery to territory then occupied — became an active political factor in the country in 1 856 ; but its Presidential candidate was defeated. Threats of secession by the Southern States had been made about that time, and it was thought that if the Republican party had been successful, secession would then have been at- tempted. Lincoln Elected. — For four years this ques- tion was prominent above all other questions. Buchanan preserved the peace during his ad- ministration, but he could not preserve the bal- ance of power. Public opinion grew more favor- able towards the Republican party, and in i860 this party appeared before the people with renewed 150 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. strength. During that time, the Democratic party agitated the question of slavery to such an extent that two branches of the party were created, — one, the Douglas branch, for submitting the question to the people of a new State upon its erection, and the other, the Breckenridge branch, for submitting it to the Supreme Court for adjudication under the National Constitution, — and in the Presidential campaign of i860 their political power was divided. The party was still strong enough, as a whole, to elect a candidate ; but it was not strong enough to bear a division, especially such a division as Doug- las was able to create by the support which he had won through public discussion; and Abraham Lin- coln, the Republican candidate, was therefore elected. Secession. — From the sentiments of the Republi- can party — especially of its ultra-leaders, who were styled "Abolitionists" — the Southern leaders felt constrained to take earnest steps towards secession ; and these steps were taken between the day of the election in November and the day of Lincoln's in- auguration in March, not only vigorously, but suc- cessfully, without the slightest hindrance on the part of the National government. Prominent Cab- inet officials. Senators, and Representatives with- drew from their respective positions and caused their several States to pass ordinances of secession, declaring the contract ' between them and the Na- tional government broken. When Lincoln took possession of the government, the status was not only discouraging but very alarming. In his MILITAR V PERIODS. 151 inaugural address he stated that apprehension seemed to exist among the people of the Southern States that, by the accession of a Republican ad- ministration, their property, peace, and personal security were to be endangered, but that there never had been any reasonable cause for such ap- prehension ; and he declared that he had no pur- pose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it existed. Call to Arms. — Notwithstanding his plain and direct language to perform the duties of his office according to the Constitution and laws, without any mental reservations or any purposes to construe them by hypercritical rules, and his expressed sen- timents for peace and inseparable union of the States, the Southern leaders persisted in secession and disunion ; and when he endeavored to protect National property they rose up in arms and com- mitted treason. In April, 1861, Fort Sumter was bombarded from the fortresses and batteries at Charleston in such a furious manner that the com- mander was forced to surrender it. This was the signal for war, and the people in the North arose with a grand, patriotic impulse to punish the out- rage. The President issued a requisition for 75,000 troops, in order to quell the disturbance in the in- surrectionary States, and the response was prompt and noble. The National government had not, as yet, done anything to cause the South to feel alarmed ; but this hostile demonstration required it to show some positive action towards defending its property and enforcing its laws. The excitement at 152 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Reading, as everywhere else in the North, was in- tense. Ringgrokl Light Artillery. — Captain James Mc- Knight offered his company of Ringgold Light Artillery, and it was the first military organization that responded to the call and moved to the defense of the coun- try. It was hoped that this simple mani- festation of ex- ecutive au- thority would restore peace ; but the organization at the South was too thorough, and its purpose to establish, if possible, a confederation by itself, too premeditated. Men rushed to arms and were forced into dreadful warfare ; call after call for troops was made ; and thousands of lives were sacrificed, and millions of dollars were expended, in the two sec- tions, for a right which each claimed, — the one to establish a confederation and the other to maintain constituted authority, — and this terrible contest continued four years before peace was restored. Patriotism of County. — The feeling here for maintaining the Union was strong and continuous from the beginning to the close of the war ; and this was exhibited by Democrats and Republicans alike. Breckenridge had received a majority over Lincoln, exceeding 2000 votes ; but the sentiment for the Union was general in all our districts, espe- cially at Reading. Companies were raised rapidly and mustered into service — numbering 93, almost MIL ITA R V PERIODS. 1 53 entirely enlisted in the county. They went to the rescue freely, moved by the highest patriotic im- pulse. Public meetings were numerous ; and earn- est sympathy for the cause was manifested at all of them. The prominent men took the lead, for our judges, lawyers, merchants, and business men gen- erally, without respect to party affiliations, united to encourage and sustain the National administra- tion. Their pronounced opinion in the matter created and preserved a proper spirit in the commu- nity, and through them the county and city gov- ernments were constantly liberal in appropriations of money towards encouraging volunteer enlist- ments. Partisan Protest. — The methods of conducting the war, however, received a degree of criticism amounting to condemnation. This was natural from partisans who entertained political opinions opposed to those of the administration in power. Our county contained a large majority of people who were against the war, if we interpret their opinion from the exercise of their political suffrage at elections ; but they were submissive, — they caused no trouble, no riotous demonstration. This reflects great credit upon them as a law-abiding com- munity. Our National and State governments, by enactments, required these things to be done, and therefore they bore them. They went to the war by the thousand ; they endured conscription with- out opposition ; and they permitted the assessment of burdensome taxation. They encouraged appro- priations of money, amounting to nearly a million 154 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. of dollars, expressly for the enlistment of men ; and they invested large sums of money in the National securities. These, taken together, truly constitute significant evidence of devotion to their country. Social Excitement. — During this period the ex- citement throughout the county was ever active. Several times, when the State was invaded by the rebels, and our own county was threatened with the horrors of war, it became alarming. This was par- ticularly the case at Reading. Penn Square was daily, more or less, in com- motion with the en- listment of men, the formation and exer- cise of companies, and their departure to the seat of war or their return from it. The music of fife and drum, and the march- ing of men — fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons — thrilled the entire community time and time again. These were, indeed, events that made a lasting im- pression upon that generation. Two encampments — one in the northern part of Reading in 1862, and the other in the eastern part in 1863 — attracted much attention. They afforded the people an op- MILITAR V PERIODS. \ 55 portunity of forming a proper conception of camp- life and military discipline. The " Union League," a Republican association at Reading, organized after the great "Union League" at Philadelphia, was very active in enlisting men for military service ; and so were the various secret societies, especially the ' ' Junior Sons of America. ' ' Local Enterprise. — In the midst of the great excitement, our local energy displayed itself to a remarkable degree in every department of bus- iness. Trade was both active and profitable, and it stimulated various enterprises. Railroads were projected, and substantial improvements were made in every section of the county, especially at Read- ing ; and matters pertaining to education and relig- ion were directed with earnestness and success. The prices of all kinds of materials were high ; but money was abundant and a spirit of increased lib- erality kept it moving about actively. Appropriations. — The city of Reading appro- priated altogether for war purposes, in bounties, relief, etc., $373,179; and the county of Berks the sum of $452,389 ; the total amount being $825,568, Besides this sum, the boroughs likewise appropri- ated and raised moneys for the same purpose. Laclies' Aid Society. — Just as the "Ringgold Light Artillery" were preparing to take the Leb- anon Valley Railroad train on the afternoon of April 16, 1 86 1, to proceed to Harrisburg, certain influential ladies of Reading assembled and formed a society, which they entitled "Ladies' Aid So- ciety." Its object was to supply the soldiers with 156 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY clothing and materials useful whilst in military service away from home. It was active during the entire period of the war, collecting and forwarding tons of materials. A "depot" was established at Reading, to which all the goods were carried and from which they were consigned. The country dis- tricts were encouraged to co-operate in this benevo- lent work, and the ladies responded nobly by for- warding materials to Reading. This was the first society of the kind organized in the country. It took an active part in the " Sanitary Fair," which was conducted with great success at Philadelphia in 1863, for the purpose of raising funds to relieve the wants of the soldiers. Reading: Hospital. — A "Military Hospital" was fitted up at Reading during the middle of June, 1862, in the main exhibition building of the Agri- cultural Society, on the "Fair Ground" [Com- mons], with cots sufiicient to accommodate 130 patients, and successfully conducted until the Spring of 1863. The "Ladies' Aid Society" of Reading took an active interest in the welfare of the sick and wounded soldiers, and performed admirable service during the continuance of the hospital. Draft ill County. — During the progress of the war, requisitions for troops became so frequent that the government was compelled to resort to the con- scription of men for the purpose of enabling it to prosecute the war with success. Numerou's volun- teers enlisted from Berks County ; and the citizens of this district responded nobly to the .several calls for troops, but nevertheless here, as elsewhere, the MILITA R V PER 10 DS. 157 draft had to be made. There were four drafts, one in each of the years 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865. Companies from County. — Ninety-three compa- nies of men, and five regimental bands of music were enlisted from Berks County and mustered into the service. Eight of the companies included men from other districts. Reckoning all the men together in the companies mentioned and those enlisted else- where, 8500 men of our county were engaged in the great struggle for the preservation of the Union. THREE months' service, 1 861. Regt. Co. Name. Captain. 2Sth,A — Ringgold Light Artillery James McKnight. 25th, C. — Ringgold Light Artillery Henry Na^le. ist, G.— Reading Artillerists. George W. Alexander. 5th, H. — Union Light Infantry Frank M. Cooley. 7th, C. — Washington Artillery Isaac Schroeder. 7th, D.— Pennsylvania Artillery George S. Herbst. 7th, G.— Reading Rifles Albert F. Rightmyer. 14th, A.— Union Guards David A. Griffith. 14th, E.— Keystone In fan tr3' John A. Shearer. Regimental Bands. 5th, Reading City Band . E. Ermen trout, leader. 25th, Ringgold Band John A. Hoch, leader. THREE YEARS' SERVICE, 1861-64. Regt. Co. Name. Captain. 32d, A.— Reading Artillerists Jacob Lenhart, Jr. 32d, D.— Mechanics' Infantry William Briner. 32d, F.— Washington Guards Washington Richards. 36th, I.— Berks and Lebanon Counties Joseph G. Holmes. 44th, L.— Reading Troop J. C. A. Hoffeditz. 44th, M.— Reading Cavalry Thomas S. Richards. 46th, E.— Reading Rifles Cornelius Wise. 4Sth, D.— Berks and Schuylkill Counties Daniel Nagle. 50th, B.— Ellsworth Zouaves Hervey Herman. Soth, E.— Reading Light Infantry William H. Diehl. 50th, H.- Union Light Infantry Thomas S. Brenholtz. 55th, B. — Washington Legion John C. Shearer. 59th, K.— Cavalry, Berks and Philadelphia. . . . Stephen H. Edgett. 70th, G.— Reading Dragoons George E. Clymer. 74th,G.— Berks and Adams Counties William J. Bart. Soth, L- — Cavalry, Berks and Northumberland. . Charles C. McCormick. 158 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. 83d, I.— Reading and Harrisburg Robert W. McCartney. 88th, A. — Junior Fire Zouaves George W. Knabb 88th, B.— Neversiuk Zouaves Henry R. Myers. 88th, II.— Union Guards David A. Griffith. 93d, B.— Union Zouaves John E). Arthur. 93d, G.— Reading and Norristown Alexander C. Maitland. 93d, K.— Berks and Lebanon Counties David C. Keller. 96th, G.— Hamburg Light Infantry James M. Douden. 104th, H.— Berks County William F. Walter. D. — Independent Battery George W. Durell. 5th, M.— Battery U. S. Artillery James McKnight. Regimental Bands. 26th, Bernville Henry S. Grime, leader. 46th, Birdsboro' Richard J. Stanley, leader. 88th, Reading City E. Ermentrout, leader. NINB MONTHS' SERVICE, 1S62-63. Regt. Co. Name. Captain. i2Sth, A. — Washington Infantry L- Heber Smith. 128th, B. — Muhlenberg Infantry William McNall. 128th, E.— Reading Artillerists William H. Andrews. 123th, H.— Felix Light Guards John Kennedy. 128th, I. — Reading Iron Works Guards Richard H. Jones. 128th, K.— City Guard George Newkirk. 151st, E. — Ontelanuee Jacob S. Graeff. 151st, G.— Bernville Levi M. Gerhart. 151st, H.— Upper Tulpehocken William K. Boltz. 151st, I. — Berks and Schuylkill ■ William L- Gray. 151st, K.— Longswamp James W. Weida. VOLUNTEER MILITIA, 1 862. Regt. Co. Name. Captain. 2d, G.— Fifth Ward Guards Franklin S. Bickley. nth, E.—Nicolls Guards Dr. Charles H. Hunter. nth, I.— McKnight Guards Nathan M. Eisenhower. 20th, G. — Liberty Fire Zouaves William Geiger. 20th, H.— McLean Guards Samuel Hamer. 20th, I. — Halleck Infantry Frederick S. Boas. 20th, Berks County Cavalrj' Samuel L- Young. DRAFTED MILITIA, 1862, NINE MONTHS' SERVICE- Regt. Co. Location. Captain. 167th, A. — Womelsdorf Jonathan See. 167th, B.— Reading Charles Melcher. 167th, C— Oley Peter Y. Edelman. 167th, D.— Ontelanuee Samuel A. Haines. 167th, E— Spring Hiram H. Miller. 167th, F.— Marion Joseph Groh. 167th, G.— Washington William A. Schall. MILITAR V PERIODS. \ 59 Regt. Co. I,ocation. Captain. 167th, H.— Pike Abraham H. Schaeffer. 167th, I. — Richmond Jonas M. Schollenberger. 167th, K.— Rockland Edward F. Reed. 179th, I.— Reading Amos Drenkel. 179th, K. — Amity John B. Wagoner. VOLUNTEER MILITIA OF 1 863. 31st, H.— Reading David A. Griffith. 42d, A.— Reading William F. Walter. 42d, B. — Reading Samuel Harner. 42d, C— Reading John E- Arthur. 42d, D.— Robeson William D. Smith. 42d, E.— Reading John McKnight. 42d, F.— Robeson Bentley H. Smith. 42d, G.— Ontelaunee Samuel A. Haines. 42d, H. — Reading John Obold. 42d, I. — Birdsboro' Edward Bailey. 42d, K. — Heidelberg Jacob Deppen. 48th, G.— Reading Joseph G. Holmes. S3rd, A.— Reading Richmond L. Jones. 53rd, B.— Reading Jacob Lehman. Independent Artillery — Reading . . . William C. Ermentrout. 100 DAYS' SERVICE, 1864. 20th, G— Reading George W. Ashenfelter. 194th, I.— Reading Henry E- Quimby. 195th, A.— Reading Henry D. Markley. 195th, B.— Reading Harrison Maltzberger. 196th, I.— Reading George S. Rowbotham. ONE YEAR'S SERVICE, 1864-65. i92d, F.— Reading John Teed. 195th, A— Reading Henry D. Markley. 198th, D.— Reading Isaac Schroeder. 198th, G.— Rockland, William L. Guinther. 205th, B.— Reading Joseph G. Holmes. 205th, E.— Reading William F. Walter. 205th, H.— Ruscombmanor Franklin Schmehl. Cemeteries.— Deceased soldiers have been buried in the cemeteries throughout the county. The most prominent burial-place is ' ' Charles Evans Cemetery," at Reading, where a magnificent granite "Soldiers' Monument" was erected in 1887 by the G.A.R. Post's, McLean No. 16, and Keim, No. 76. Confederate Annies Surrender. — The army un- der Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses mo SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. S. Grant at Appomattox Court-House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. This surrender has come to be gen- erally regarded as the conclusion of the Civil War. The army under Gen. J. E. Johnston surrendered to Gen. W. T. Sherman at Greensboro', North Caro- lina, on April 26th ; all the other Southern troops to the east of the Mississippi River surrendered on May 14th, and those to the west on May 26th. A "Grand Review" of the "Union Armies" was held at Washington on May 23-24, 1865. It was regarded as the grandest military display ever wit- nessed in the history of nations. The men were then discharged. Their return home was signalized everywhere throughout the Northern States with great demonstrations of joy. Summary of Battles. — In the four years of ser- vice, the armies of the Union fought 2265 battles with the Confederate troops. Counting only those engfasfements in which the Union loss in killed, wounded, and missing exceeded 100, the total number was 330. From the northernmost point of contact to the southernmost, the distance was more than 2000 miles ; and from East to West the ex- tremes were 1500 miles apart. The first year of hostilities was one of preparation on both sides ; hence the battles were naturally fewer in number and less decisive in character than afterward, when the troops were disciplined and the materiel of war was collected and stored for prolonged campaigns. Sacrifices of War. — It has been estimated that during the war 56,000 National soldiers were killed in battle, and about 35,000 died in hospitals of MILITA R V PERIODS, 161 wounds, and 184,000 by disease ; the total loss, if we include those who died after their discharge, was about 300,000. The loss of the Confederates was less in battle, owing to the defensive character of their struggle ; but they lost more from wounds and by disease, on account of inferior sanitary ar- rangements. The total loss of life caused by the Rebellion exceeded half a million of men, and nearly as many more were disabled. State Banks. — Before the Civil War, the different States allowed banks to be established for the issue of notes, payable in specie on demand. These banks were established by acts of the local Legisla- ture, which limited the liability of the shareholders. Banking then was quite free, and all individuals could carry it on, provided they pursued the re- quirements of the law. But under this system there was great fluctuation in value, which pro- duced an unprecedented amount of bankruptcy and ruin. Between 181 1 and 1820 many banks be- came bankrupt ; and twenty years afterward another financial panic occurred. The inflation of the bank-notes was wonderful between 1830 and 1837. But just as the amount had then increased, so it decreased during the following six years until 1843 5 and this caused the ruin of many moneyed institu- tions. Among them was the Bank of the United States, the renewal of whose charter had been de- nied by President Jackson. The loss in the value of stocks and property of all kinds was enormous. But great as the loss was, it was trifling compared with the injury which re- II 1G2 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. suited to society in disturbing the elements of social order, and in causing the utter demoralization of men by the irresistible temptation to speculation which it afforded, and by swindling to retain riches dishonestly obtained. Another crash took place in 1857. At the beginning of the war, the paper money in circulation amounted to $200,000,000, of which three-fourths had been issued in the North- ern States ; and the coin amounted to $275,000,000, National Banks. — The early necessities of the National treasury in this trying period compelled the government to borrow money ; therefore, in Februar>% 1862, Congress authorized the issue of treasury notes amounting to $150,000,000, declar- ing them to be legal tender except for custom.s duties and for interest on the National debt. This action was taken after a full discussion of the ques- tion. Its constitutionality was contested vigor- ously, but unsuccessfully. A premium on gold naturally followed, causing it to be drawn entirely from circulation ; and this increased as the treasury notes multiplied. The National Banking System was then introduced to supply a circulating me- dium. It was created on Februar}- 25, 1863, and amended June 3, 1864, whereby a Bureau and Comptroller of Currency were established in the Treasury Department, with power to authorize banking associations, under certain provisions for public security. The existing State banks were rapidly trans- formed into National banks under this system, and their previous notes were withdrawn from circula- MILITARY PERIODS. 163 tion. The currency of the country in this manner came to consist of treasury demand notes, and Na- tional bank notes, — the former, in 1865, amounting to $450,000,000, and the latter to $300,000,000. The latter circulated as freely as the former, be- cause their ultimate redemption was assured by the deposit of an adequate amount in United States bonds in the National treasur>^ This system was found superior in the protection against loss which it afforded ; but it could not prevent a financial crisis from sweeping over the country, especially when other causes, such as excessive manufactures and enormous losses from fire, contributed greatly towards the result. National Currency. — Congress also authorized small notes for five, ten, twenty-five, and fifty cents to be issued for the purpose of supplying the loss of the small denominations of coin money from circu- lation. This was commonly known as ' ' currency. " It was redeemed after the war. During this period, the merchants at Reading issued and circulated for a time their own fractional demand notes for the purpose of encouraging trade amongst one another ; but it was gradually redeemed as the National cur- rency was supplied, MILITIA. Legislative Provision. — The Convention of 1776, in framing the first Constitution of the State, made provision for the establishment of a military system. The Revolution was then raging ; and a State sys- 164 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. tern was not necessar}', owing to the general system provided by the government of the United States. Without any training in the "military art," the freemen were at once thrown into actual practice, in which they met an enemy face to face. Their encounters were not "sham battles," and they afforded no "fun and frolic." In this practice many paid the price of life for liberty. After the close of the Revolution, the State adopted a system in order to keep the freemen trained, which was modified by repeated legislation ; and its provisions were carried out year after year until the Civil War. By it the State was divided into sixteen military divisions ; each division comprised two brigades ; and each brigade as many regiments as could be ar- ranged within the bounds of the division. County Battalions. — The system of militia carried on in the State was active and successful in Berks County and embraced six battalions. Every free, able-bodied, white, male citizen who was a resident in the State for six months previous to the time of his enrollment, of the age of i8 years and under the age of 45 years, was required to be enrolled in- the militia — certain officials and other persons excepted. The militiamen were paraded and trained in May of every year, first in companies on the first Monday, and then in battalions on the second Monday. These services and parades were very useful. But beyond their utility, they provided great amusement for the people. Many persons set apart this day as a "holiday," if they did not set apart any other in the entire year. The day was observ^ed at the sev- MILITAR Y PERIODS. \ 65 eral boroughs, even at certain prominent towns in the county, but especially at Reading. In 1856 there were 24 companies of militia in Berks County. These were arranged in 6 bat- talions, and comprised the ist Brigade of the 5th Division of Pennsylvania Volunteers. The total force of troops then in the county was 6644 ; re- ported in companies, 1463. State National Guard. — In 1864 a new system was provided. " The active militia shall be com- posed of volunteers ; and, in case of war, invasion, the suppression of riots, etc., . . . shall first be or- dered into service. ' ' The assessors are required to enroll "every able-bodied male citizen resident within the State at the age of 21 years and under the age of 45 years," excepting certain persons specified ; and this roll of persons is placed on record in the office of the county commissioners. The or- ganization is similar to the previous systems, but the State is divided into 20 divisions, each county to form a separate brigade. Berks, Lebanon, and Dauphin Counties comprise the 5 th Division. Sub- sequent modifications have been made. The active militia is styled the "National Guard of Pennsyl- vania." There are two companies in Berks County, — one at Reading, the other at Hamburg. 166 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. CHAPTER IX. TOWNSHIPS. Org-anizatioii. — The comity is divided into four natural sub-divisions or sections. Each section was settled at a different time by a different people ; and from these several settlements, communities were developed and organized into townships. Before the erection of the county in 1752, each section was or- ganized into townships, and local government was practically carried out in every department of social and political life. After the settlements had begun, the manner of development in each was about the same. Houses and buildings were erected to serve the comfort and convenience of the people ; roads were laid out to encourage and facilitate intercourse from one settlement to another ; and churches were erected for religious worship. Agriculture was the principal employment of the settlers. By studying the situation of the people as it then existed, we find that they had a perfect conception of self- government, and knew how to direct their affairs. Devclopineut. — When the county was erected, there were altogether 23 townships — 18 regularly established and 5 commonly recognized ; and prom- inent highways extended from Reading through the several sections to enable the tax-payers to visit TOWNSHIPS. 167 the county-seat conveniently for the transaction of business, whether relating to their own personal matters or matters connected with the government of the county. Subsequently, as time advanced, additional roads were laid out, new communities formed and organized into townships, post-offices established, newspapers issued, canals and railroads constructed, manufactures of all kinds encouraged, and boroughs and a city erected. Now, after the lapse of nearly 140 years, we have i city, 10 bor- oughs, and 43 townships, — altogether 54 political divisions; 100 towns; 138 post-offices; 10 rail- ways ; and many roads, churches, and schools. The population increased from 12,000 to 130,000; and the wealth from a few million dollars to |ioo,- 000,000. Government. — The townships are under the gen- eral government of the county ; but for local affairs they have a government of their own. The princi- pal officers are 2 supervisors, 3 auditors, assessor, 6 school directors, 2 justices of the peace, and a con- stable, all of whom are elected by the tax-payers. The duty of the supervisors is to maintain the pub- lic roads in a proper condition ; of the auditors, to pass upon their accounts, showing the moneys re- ceived and expended ; and of the assessors, to assess the value of property. The expenses are paid by the levy and collection of a road tax, which is rated on the county assessment of property in the town- ship. The school directors are required to carry on the system of common-school education as provided by the State law, the cost being raised similar to the 1G8 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. road tax. The justices of the peace are judges of a limited jurisdiction and determine personal actions for the recovery of claims not exceeding $300, and of damages for trespass against individuals. Crim- inal prosecutions are lodged before them for the arrest of persons who have committed crimes and misdemeanors, and they make return thereof to the District Attorney of the county, who conducts the prosecution. The constable serves summonses issued by the justices, and executes writs for the sale of property, and also warrants for the arrest of of- fenders against the law. The government of a township is government in its simplest form, and is therefore the unit of gov- ernment. It is thoroughly democratic, for the tax- payers nominate its local officers as well as elect them. No delegates are required. The election is by ballot at the polls, however, and not by the voice at a public meeting. There are only two purposes which it serves, — the maintenance of roads and schools. Without these there would be no neces- sity for its existence. Being so simple, it is not generally seen or felt until the tax collector demands the payment of road and school taxes. Its rigor is only perceptible when the payment of tax is re- fused, and the delinquent is obliged to forfeit his property or his liberty. The tax-payers thus take a direct interest in their local government and are closely connected with it. But the higher the gov- ernment advances, as into borough, city, county, State, or Nation, the farther are the tax-payers re- moved from it, and their connection is only by rep- TOWNSHIPS. 169 resentation. The township is the beginning of onr system of free government, just as the Nation is the end. The aggregation of townships compose our county ; of counties our State ; and of States our Nation. Sections. — The four sections of the county are the following: Manatawny Section. ' I Schuylkill Section. Ofitelaunee Section. \ Tulpehocken Section. MANATAWNY SECTION. The Manatawny Section takes its name from the stream which drains almost its entire area. The first settlement was made by a small colony of Swedes in 1701 along the Schuylkill; the second in the central portion, by Germans and English, from 171 2 to 1720; and the third in the eastern portion, also by Germans, about 1720. The first settlers remained where they took up land ; and owing to their friendliness with the Indians the district when erected into a township was called "Amity." The second settlers extended settle- ments to the northward and westward, and in time caused districts to be established. The Germans were the more numerous, though the English were in control of political affairs. And the third set- tlers also extended settlements to the northward and formed districts. The first permanent improve- ments were dwellings and barns for the comfort and protection of the settlers and their live stock ; then, being inclined to religion, the next improvements were churches for religious worship. As the set' 170 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. tlements extended, roads were laid out, three of which are conspicuous: one to the northeast, through the eastern portion ; another to the north, through the central portion ; and the third to the northwest through the western portion. The manufacture of iron was one of the first in- dustries in this section, having been begun about 17 17, and the Rutter and Pott families were the pioneers here as the Bird family was in the Schuyl- kill Section, The townships were settled and erected in the following order : Original. Settled. Erected. | Sub-division. Taken from Erected. Amity 1701 1719 Rockland . . . Oley 1758 Oley 1712 J740 I District .... Oley 1759 Exeter 171S 1741 Colebrookdale 1720 1741 Douglass 1720 1736 Hereford 1732 1753 Alsace 1735 1744 Karl Oley 1781 Pike Oley 1812 ,„ , . . f Colebrookdale Washington ^ ^^^^ ^^r^i^xA '^^9 Muhlenberg . . Alsace 1851 Ruscomb-manor .... 1752 1759 I Alsace Lower Alsace . 1888 The derivation of the names is as follows : .\mity— Friendliness with the Indians. Oley — Indian word, Olink, meaning hollow. Exeter — District in England. Colebrookdale— After " Colebrook ; " English name. Douglass— After " Douglass ; " Scotch name. Hereford — District in England. Ruscomb-manor — District in Wales. Rockland — After nature of land. District — Section of country. Earl— Title of nobility. Pike — Name offish abounding then in local streams. Washington — After first President of United States. Muhlenberg— After Rev. Henry A Muhlenberg, of Berks County. Alsace, Lower — Southern section of Alsace. Thirty-nine towns, a borough, and a city have been formed in this section. Post-offices have been TO WNSHIPS. 171 established at most of them, the first at Reading in 1793 ; total post-offices, 48, Booue, the Keutiicky pioneer. — Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky pioneer, was born in this section, in Exeter township, in 1733, on a farm now situated about a mile north of Baumstown. His father was Squire Boone ; and his grandfather, George Boone, who took an active part in the early affairs of the county. The dwelling, in which he BOONE'S BIRTHPLACE. was born, is still standing, though much enlarged and improved. His father and family (including Daniel) left the township in 1750, and migrated to North Carolina; and in 1769 the son Daniel led a party into the unknown regions of Western Virginia (now Kentucky), where he distinguished himself by his boldness, his wonderful experience with the Indians, and his successful career as a pioneer. His 172 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS CflUNTY. life in that early period of our great country has made him the most prominent character in the first steps of our civilization westward of the Allegheny Mountains. He died in Missouri, in 1820, aged nearly 87 years. Lincoln family. — Abraham Lincoln, the great- grandfather of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, was born in Exeter township in 1736, and occupied a prominent posi- tion in the political history of the county. He served in the Assembly from 1783 to 1786, and re- presented the county as a delegate in the Constitu- tional Convention of Pennsylvania in 1789. ONTELAUNEE SECTION. This Section takes its name from the stream which drains the greater part of its area. The first settlement was made by " Friends" in 1732, in the southern portion ; and the Germans entered a few years afterward, having mostly migrated from Oley across the "Oley Hills," and extended forward, even to the Blue Mountain. After considerable settlements had been effected, petitions were pre- sented to Court, and the districts were erected into townships. First, dwellings and farm buildings were erected, and roads laid out ; then religious congrega- tions were organized and churches built. Three of the early roads are still prominent highways, — one extending diagonally through the section northeast- wardly ; another northwardly along the river ; and a third across the northern portion near the moun- TOWNSHIPS. 173 tain. Nine townships were settled and organized as follows : Original. Settled. Erected. Sub-division. Taken from. Erected. Greenwich . . . Albany .... 1755 Perry Windsor . . . 182 1 Ontelaunee . . Maiden-creek . 1849 Maiden-creek 1732 1746 Richmond 1732 1755 Maxatawny 1732 1742 Longswamp 1734 1761 Windsor * . 1740 1752 Albany 1740 1752 The names of the townships originated as follows : Maiden-creek — English word for Ontelaunee. Richmond — After town in England on the Thames River. Maxatawny — Contraction of an Indian word. Longswamp— Nature of location. Windsor— Place in England. Albany — Place in England. Ontelaunee — Indian word, meaning Maiden-creek. Perry— After naral officer of United States. Greenwich — Place in England. In the section there are 30 towns and 5 boroughs, and 40 post-offices. The first post-office in this section was established at Hamburg in 1798, and the second at Kutztown in 1 805 ; none was estab- lished afterward for 20 years. SCHUYI,KILIv SECTION. This Section takes its name from a larger district of territory originally laid out in Chester County and which is believed to have extended beyond the South Mountain. It contains a number of larsfe creeks, but neither draining a sufficient area to jus- tify naming the section after it. The Welsh were the first immigrants to settle within its boundaries. Some English families took up lands in Robeson district, along Hay Creek. The greater part of the section was a part of Lancaster County from 1729 174 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. till 1752. In 1729, when Lancaster County was erected out of Chester County, there had been al- ready set apart two townships — Robeson and Caer- narvon. Two townships were subsequently organ- ized — Cumru in 1737, and Brecknock in 1741 ; and Union township was formed in 1753. Some time after the erection of the county, Germans moved into the section. The development was similar to the other sections. Six prominent roads were extended through the section — four from the "Ford" at Reading to the west, southwest, south, and southeast, one through the northern portion along the river, and one through the southern por- tion near the county-line. Copper was mined at an early period in the southern portion. Iron was manufactured in 1740 by William Bird, at a point where Birdsboro' is now located, and it has contin- ued to be manufactured there from that time till now. Six townships were settled and established as follows : Sub-division. Taken from. Erected. vSpring . . . Cumru 1850 Original. Settled. Erected. Robeson .... 1720 1729 Caernarvon . . 1720 1729 Brecknock ... 1729 1741 Cumru 1732 1737 Union 1715 1753 The names of the townships arose as follows : Robeson — After Andrew Robeson, first settler. Caernarvon — District in Wales ; separated from Caernarvon in Lancaster County. Brecknock— District in Wales ; separated from Brecknock in Lancaster County. Cumru — District in Wales. TOWNSHIPS. 175 Union — Union of two portions of territory in forming the township. Spring — After large spring of water, called '' Sinking Spring." The section contains 1 5 towns and i borough, and 18 post-offices, the first established at Morgantown in 1806. TULPEHOCKEN SECTION. Tulpehocken Section comprises the upper portion of the western division. It takes its name from the stream which drains three-fourths of its area. The name is an Indian word, and signifies "land of tur- tles." In the other three sections, the settlers came from the southeast from Philadelphia. In this sec- tion, however, they came from the north, from New York by way of the Susquehanna River and its tributary, the Swatara. This was in 1723, by Ger- mans ; and five years afterward another colony came by the same route. Some time before 1729, the territory was set apart into a township, the bounda- ries extending from the Schuylkill on the east to the Swatara on the west, and from Cacoosing Creek on the south to Blue Mountain on the north. In 1729, Conrad Weiser located with his family at a point about a mile east of the present site of Wom- elsdorf He came to be a prominent Indian inter- preter and county official, and was active in the county affairs until his death in 1760. After 1729 the settlers came hither from Philadelphia, after landing there. This section was divided into four sub-divisions before 1752, namely: Tulpehocken, Heidelberg, Bern, and Bethel ; and each was then occupied by a considerable number of people with 176 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. many permanent improvements. Subsequently, all excepting Bethel were again sub-divided into smaller townships, to suit the convenience of the people. A road was laid out in the section west- ward from the "Ford" at Reading in 1727; in 18 16, it became the bed of a turnpike. A prominent road extends diagonally through the section from near the mouth of the Tulpehocken Creek to the northwestern corner ; and another through the northern portion, near the mountain. A peculiarity in the flow of water may be noticed in this section. On the water-shed in Tulpehocken township, at Rehrersburg, the water, running through the rivulets northwardly, flows into the Swatara Creek, and thence, by way of the Susquehanna River, into the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean ; and that, run- ning through the rivulets southwardly, flows into the Tulpehocken Creek, and thence, by way of the Schuylkill River, into the Delaware River, Dela- ware Bay, and Atlantic Ocean. A similar peculi- arity may be noticed in the Schuylkill Section in Caernarvon township, near Morgantown, The townships are 13 in number : Original. Settled. Erected. Tulpehocken .... 1723 1729 Heidelberg 1732 1734 Bern 1733 1738 Bethel 1733 1739 Subdivision. Taken from. Erected. Tulpe- Marion .... Tulpehocken Jefferson . . . Tulpehocken Lower Heidelberg, Heidelb'g North Heidelberg, Heidelb'g Upper Bern Bern Penn . . Bern and Upper Bern I Centre Bern and Upper Bern Tilden Upper Bern 1820 1843 1 851 1842 1845 1789 1841 1843 1887 TOWNSHIPS. 177 The names of the townships were derived as fol- lows : Tulpehocken — After the stream. Heidelberg — Place in German Empire. Bethel — Place in Palestine. It reveals religfious sentiment of first settlers. Named after Bethel Church. Marion — After naval officer of United States. Jefferson — After Thomas Jefferson. Penn — After William Penn. Centre — Location between Bern and Upper Bern. Tilden — After Samuel J. Tilden, Democratic candidate for President of United States in 1876. In the section there are i6 towns and 2 boroughs ; and 32 post-offices have been established, the first at Womelsdorf in 1807. The cruelties of the Indians during the years 1/55) 1756, 1757, and 1758, in the "French and Indian War," were mostly in this section, particu- larly in Bethel, Tulpehocken, and Bern townships ; some were also visited upon the settlers in the upper portion of Ontelaunee Section, in the townships of Greenwich and Albany. 12 178 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. CHAPTER X. BOROUGHS. When the county was erected in 1752, it con- tained only one town, Reading; elsewhere, there was not even a village so far as I have been able to ascertain. But the growth of the settlements afterward in the several sections developed central points where towns became a necessity. In study- ing the time of their beginning, they were slow in forming. Trading, however, was very limited and the settlers were kept busy in looking after the im- provement of their properties. And the population of the county was comparatively small till the Revolution. WESTERN DIVISION OF COUNTY. Womelsclorf. — The first town to be laid out in the county next to Reading was on the " Tulpe- hocken Road," 14 miles west from Reading, at a point midway between Reading and Lebanon. Lands had been taken up in that vicinity since 1723, and the tendency of settlements had led the popnlation in that direction. A man named John Womelsdorf moved thither from the Amity settle- ment in 1 760, and two years afterward laid out a town which he named " Middletown." The road BOROUGHS. 179 was much used and the town became quite a stop- ping-place. No particular industry was carried on ; the people were employed in various pursuits in a manner just as we notice to-day in a country town removed from the railroad. And this condition continued for a hundred years without much pro- gress. The first improvement was the introduction of the turnpike in 1816; then the population was about 500. In 1833 the town was incorporated into a borough and the population was about 750. The town began to be commonly called Womelsdorf about 1 800. A post-office was established there in 1807. The Lebanon Valley Railroad was extended through the valley one mile west of the borough in 1858, but it did not stimulate enterprise in the place. Birdsboro*. — The second town was begun about the same time, also in this division, to the west of the Schuylkill, but in the lower section. This was Birdsboro'. It was laid out by William Bird, about 1760. He took up lands in that vicinity in 1738, and began the first iron industry in 1740. It was situated on the road which extended along the Schuylkill from " Poplar Neck " towards Philadel- phia, and was commonly known as the "Schuyl- kill Road." Beyond the iron works established there, no particular local progress was made for many years. The Schuylkill Canal was extended along the southerly side of the Schuylkill in 1821, and this added some influence to the place as a ship- ping point. A post-office was established in 185 1; and the borough was incorporated in 1872. The 180 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Brooke family have been there continuously since 1796, and through the enterprise and influence of Edward Brooke and George Brooke the place has grown to its present condition in population, wealth, and influence. The first railroad facilities were afforded by the construction of the Philadel- phia and Reading Railroad in 1838 along the north- erly side of the Schuylkill ; the second by the con- struction of the ' ' Wilmington and Northern ' ' through the town in 1870; and the third by the construction of the "Pennsylvania Schuylkill Val- ley," also through the place in 1884, With the extensive Brooke Iron Works and three railways to encourage trade, Birdsboro' has come to be the most important borough in the county. Moro-antown was the third town. It was laid out by Jacob Morgan about 1770, on land taken up nearly 40 years before. It was on a prominent thoroughfare leading from Philadelphia to Lancas- ter. The distance from Birdsboro' was about 10 miles, in a southerly direction. No effort was ever made to advance it into a borough. The fourth post-office in the county was established there in 1806. These three towns were the only places in the county west of the river established before 1800 — one in the upper section, and two in the lower. Rehrersburg was laid out in 1803 by Jacob Rehrer in the upper part of Tulpehocken Section, on the road from Reading to Pine Grove, 21 miles northwest from the former place and 8 miles north from Womelsdorf Some years afterward, a move- BOROUGHS. 181 ment was made to erect a new county with Rehrers- burg as the county-seat, but it failed to receive gen- eral encouragement. The place, though regularly laid out, has not advanced into a borough, the peo- ple not feeling the necessity of improved local gov- ernment beyond that afforded by the township. Wohleberstown (now Mt. ^tna) was laid out in the same section, near the county line, in 1810, by Peter Wohleber ; but it likewise continued the same. It was on the road from Myerstown to Pine Grove. And Millersburg was laid out on the same road near the Blue Mountain in 18 14 by Michael Miller. Bernvdlle. — Lots were being sold at these three places and efforts made to establish centres for bus- iness when a town was laid out in the central por- tion of this section by Thomas Umbenhower. This was in 18 19, and the place was named Bernville, after the township. It had apparently more terri- tory to look to for support and men of more energy to encourage its advancement as a political body, for it was incorporated into a borough in 185 1. It was the third borough established in this division, though four other towns, besides Womelsdorf and Birdsboro', had been previously laid out ; and the fifth borough in the county. Centreport.— Centreport was established as a borough in 1884, in this section, several miles from the Schuylkill. Though a village for many years, it was never regularly laid out. 182 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. EASTERN DIVISION OF COUNTY. To the east of the river two towns were laid out in 1779. One was Kutztown, on the road to Easton, 16 miles northeast from Reading; and the other Hamburg, on the road to Sunbury, 18 miles north from Reading. Kutztown. — Kutztown was named after George Kutz, the owner of the land. It became a borough in 1 8 15, and continued about the same in business and social affairs for fifty years. The establishment of the ''Keystone State Normal School" in 1866, and the construction of the railroad from Topton in 1870, caused progress in various directions to show itself. The "Normal School" is one of the finest and most successful educational institutions in this State. The town was an important place when stages traveled to and fro ; and military parades were a great social feature for many years annually on "Battalion Day," in May. A post-office was established there in 1805, the third in the county. Hamburg-. — Hamburg took its name from the warrant when the land was taken up. Originally, it doubtless was named after the prominent city in the German Empire. The second post-office was established there in 1798 ; by that time the stages had become an established means of conveyance to and from the place. The next step forward was through the canal, which was opened to that point in 1 82 1 , and trading and shipping were thereby much encouraged. The town was incorporated into a borough in 1837 ; and five years afterward, railroad communication was opened with Reading to the BOROUGHS. 183 south and Pottsville to the north. In 1885, the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad was ex- tended throuo:h the borough. Boyertowii. — Whilst these two places were grow- ing in importance and influence as centres of popu- lation in their respective districts in the Ontelaunee Section, Boyertown was laid out in the Manatawny Section, in Colebrookdale township, a short distance from the county line. This was in 1835. The town, however, had been so known many years be- fore. The settlements in that vicinity were amongst the earliest in the county, next to Amity and Oley. The first furnace in the State was erected near by about 1720, and mining operations for iron ore were carried on from that early period. But no town was formed there, nor for miles around, excepting at Pottstown, in Montgomery County, 8 miles distant. Reading was 18 miles off to the west. The incor- poration was postponed until 1 866. The post-office had been located there in 1828, and many other important movements had been begun for the ad- vancement of the people in both religious and secu- lar matters ; business places had become thoroughly established, water introduced, and cemeteries laid out. In 1869, th^ Colebrookdale Railroad was extended through the borough from Pottstown to Barto ; and in 1874 a national bank was successfully begun. It is the only borough in the Manatawny Section. In the Ontelaunee Section, three additional bor- oughs have been erected : Fleetwood, Toptor and Lenhartsville. 184 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Fleetwood. — Fleetwood was laid out in 1868. It was known as " Coxtown " for over 70 years before; but it was given the name of Fleetwood when the East Penn Railroad was finished in 1859, after a prominent party in that enterprise. It became a borough in 1873. Topton. — Topton received its name in 1859, from its situation at the highest point on the East Penn Railroad, between Reading and Allentown, and was incorporated as a borough in 1875. lienhartsville. — Lenhartsville was named after the Lenhart family, who settled there; and it be- came a town of importance upon the construction of the Berks County Railroad (now the Schuylkill and Lehigh). It was incorporated a borough in 1887. Government. — The government of the boroughs is carried on mostly through a town-council elected annually, and its fundamental law is the charter of incorporation. This body passes ordinances for the regulation of its several affairs, and levies and col- lects a tax for the payment of the municipal ex- penses and improvements. The principal officers are a chief burgess, clerk, treasurer, two justices of the peace, and a constable. The chief burgess is elected annually by the tax-payers, and his duties relate principally to the enforcement of the ordi- nances. The clerk and treasurer are appointed an- nually by the council, the one to keep a record of its business, and the other to receive and disperse the moneys of the borough. The justices are elected every five years, and the constable every three years, by the tax-payers. BOROUGHS. 185 The borough government is advanced one step beyond the township government, and its operations are more visible and perceptible. The area of terri- tory is much smaller, and the servants of the law are more active in the matter of roads and schools. The regulation of highways and buildings, and the distribution of water, are a necessity for public con- venience, order, and safety ; and a natural conse- quence is increased taxation. Being a single district, * the political matters are conducted similarly to those in a township for local officers. The borouehs are : WESTERN DIVISION. Tulpehocken Section. Wotuelsdorf. Bemville. Centreport. Schuylkill Section Birdsboro'. EASTERN DIVISION. Manatawny Section. Boyertown. On tela It nee Section . Kutztown. Hamburg. Fleetwood. Topton. Lenhartsville. * Hamburg and Birdsboro' are the only boroughs with two districts or wards. 183 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. CHAPTER XL READING. _, TOWN FROM 1748 TO 1 783. Town Proposed. — In 1 743, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, first conceived the idea of laying out a town on their land situated along the Schuylkill above the "Ford," opposite the mouth of the Tulpehocken Creek. This was caused by the movement of the settlers towards having a county erected in this section of Pennsylvania. The plan was to be similar to that of Lancaster ; and the town was to be called "Reading," after their native place, the county-town of Berkshire, in England. Whilst proceeding in this project, they discovered that the water lay deep below the surface, and was not only scarce but difficult to obtain, requiring excavation through beds of lime-stone in sinking wells. On the land to the south at the "Ford" it was abundant, bubbling up at many places in strong spjings, and at others lying near the surface. Site Selected. — This was a great consideration to them in such an undertaking. Having, however, sold the land there to Thomas Lawrence in 1733, they were first obliged to negotiate for its re-pur- chase. In this they were not immediately success- s li T 107 J06 203 I *^ f, J99 155 l«5 C^J •* I9« ff 191 183 i;l S ^ ■" N 175 .. tu 171 170 = = I It? ISC 163 .-1 ' 5 1 s ss ; ^ 4 K o 2 2 CI '1 1:7 n ISI ISO 199 .,i S US 147 = t: ins 3 ° 2 1 112 III — ; — i 108 » S 107 105 — n 1 i I ^ 5 S S S ° oE So ' - 2 9 lo»£ 1- T? 13 -ts n «T D 1< 116 CaiLOVJHILL STREGT. S SOUTH CALIOWHILL STREET. o ° ^ 32l ^ 24 a 23 27 26 25 ~ = " s s oc § : 5 c; 5 3 ■? » 33 1 35 !2 £ = <13 45 47 3a c » 36 40 u m as 1 ^ ^ ' T ' ^° 5 S 1 5 lib s a K V ^ T 52; 523 536 527 in ^ 526 521) s " s 530 531 533 c s ^ 53q r, 536 -sJ ^ « ^ ?. ^ 2 .s a V fti ^ fn 3 n J ns H 3 vo IN t^ r^ CO '-' a a o tt •a - .§ ^ ^H b <: ^ «s |S Pi ■t-i u 2; t -3 . -P -^ lO o tT} ^ ^ H be °2 ■^,0 ^^'S V^ -^ rt •r! c li; er an exte ds, p > -^ rt u .a ^ Xi u C rt C/i OJ C . ^where, time out of mind. Card-playing, racing, quoiting, rolling and throwing an iron ball, running and jumping, ball-playing, and hoop-rolling were most common. These were, however, for men and boys. The women and girls devoted their spare time mostly to knitting, quilting, fancy-sewing, and spinning. They did. not have any sports which re- quired physical exertion. READING. 195 Hunting^ and Fishing-. — Hunting and fishing were especially interesting and successful sports in the days when the woods were great and wild, and the waters rolled onward unpolluted. This was a great section then for these sports. Before the town was laid out, bears were numerous in this vicinity ; and they continued here for some years afterward. Sev- eral were shot near by in 1754, of which special piention was made in a letter to the Pennsylvania Gazette. All kinds of wild game were plentiful — deer, rab- bits, pheasants, partridges, ducks, geese, and pigeons. The latter were here in flocks, estimated by the thousand. Gunning for food — if not for a livelihood — was common with every man. Traps and snares were used very suc- cessfully by many for catching game. The Schuylkill and its many tributaries abounded with fish. Fishers were just as successful as gun- ners. They were not required to walk more than a mile or two at most from their homes. The abun- dance of shad made this locality famous as a fish- ing-ground. Along the " Neversink " and around the "Poplar Neck" they were plentiful. The name of the locality — Navesink^ fishing-ground — arose from this circumstance. With the Indians it was a chosen district above others. The name im- ports the preference. Other fishes of various kinds were here likewise. Different modes of catching them^ were used — the net, and the rod and line 196 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. being preferred. The gig at night was frequently- adopted ; but the first-named was used mostly for this purpose. A large part of the food of the early- inhabitants consisted of wild game and fish. Pound Sterling-. — The term "pound sterling" arose in England under King Richard I. , about the year 1 190. It is supposed to be an abbreviation of the word " Easterling," the name of an oriental coin which was introduced into England by distin- guished coiners from the East. It is also supposed to have been a small coin, worth about one penny, which was stamped by merchants from Germany, called Esterlings, during the reign of King John, 1199-1216. In the provincial days of Pennsylvania, a pound was equal to $2.42. The pound sterling of Eng- land is now represented by a " sovereign, ' ' a gold coin valued at $4. 84. The terms "pounds," "shillings," "pence," were used in reckoning for some years after the establishment of independence. The county records show a change from the use of these terms to dol- lars and cents in the year 1796. The early inhabit- ants of Reading were obliged to understand the value of the foreign coins in order to carry on satisfactory business intercourse with one another. Before the change was introduced, there were two units of value : the English pound and the Spanish milled dollar, and the values of these standards were not common. The matter of reckoning value, making change and exchange, etc., was a compli- cated matter for them, much more so than we, who READING. 197 are accustomed to simple units of value, would imagine. Calendar — Old Style to Neiv Style. — The old style of reckoning time [Styli Vetcris) was the Julian Style, derived from Julius Caesar — 46 B.C. The length of the year by this reckoning was afterward found to be incorrect ; but centuries elapsed before it was changed. In 1582 Pope Greg- ory XIII. issued a brief in which he abolished the use of the Julian Calendar and substituted a cor- rected calendar, according to the calculations of a learned astronomer of Naples, named Aloysius lyil- lius. The correction added ten days to the old style. The name of this calendar was called, after the Pope, "Gregorian," and came to be recognized as the new style. The difference between the two styles continued to be ten days till 1700. In the eighteenth century it was eleven days. The order of the Pope was first recognized only by govern- ments under the influence of the Roman Catholic religion ; but the change was gradually introduced into the reckoning of all the governments. In 175 1, an act of Parliament was passed by the British government, adopting the new style in all public and legal transactions, and directing that the next year (1752) should begin on the ist day of January, instead of the 25th day of March ; that the names of the months (as January, February, March, etc.) should be substituted for the numbers (as ist, 2d, 3d, etc.), and that the day following the 2d day of September, 1752, old style, should be reckoned as the 14th day of September, new style. Previous to 198 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. the time that this act went into effect in the Amer- can colonies, the Assembly of Pennsylvania passed an acton March ii, 1752, recognizing the act of Parliament, more especially for the purpose of pre- venting disputes in reference to the dates of legal conveyances. BOROUGH FROM 1 783 TO 1 847. Charter of Incorporation. — After the close of the Revolution, the town was ready for a step for- ward into a distinct political body with the powers and privileges of municipal government. It then contained about 400 taxables, or fully 2000 inhabit- ants, most of whom were Germans ; and it was generally recognized as the largest, most important and progressive inland town in the entire country. Accordingly, a petition in this behalf was presented to the General Assembly, and on September 12, 1783 — 35 years after the town-plan had been laid out — it was erected into a borough. This length of time would seem to indicate a slowness of politi- cal action in respect to advancement beyond the ordinary and limited powers of a township ; but it would also seem to indicate a good, orderly, and contented people, who were able to get along satis- factorily without the aid of increased police regula- tions. The principal offices were a Chief Burgess, 4 assistants, high constable, treasurer, clerk, super- visors, and assessors. By that time the county had come to contain a population numbering 25,000; and towns had come to be laid out and established in the county round- READING. 199 about Reading : Womelsdorf to the west 14 miles, in 1762 ; .Hamburg to the north 18 miles, and Kutztown to the northeast 16 miles, in 1779 ; Birds- boro' to the southeast 9 miles, about 1760, and Mor- gantown to the south 15 miles, about 1770. A new charter was provided by an act passed March 29, 1813, which gave the borough enlarged powers, and it continued in force till 1847, except- ing several modifications with respect to elections and certain officials. Electiou Districts. — In 1789, Reading and 11 townships of the county were erected into an elec- tion district. . The poll was at the Court-House. The townships were taken away during the following 50 years and erected into separate election districts. In 1 8 1 7, Reading was divided into two election wards, — North and South, — Penn Street having been made the dividing line. In 1840, it was divided into four election wards, — Northeast, Southeast, North- west, and Southwest, — Penn and 6th Streets having been made the dividing lines. And in 1844, a 5th election ward, called Spruce, was erected out of that part of Reading which lay between the Schuylkill River, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and Spruce Street. Newspapers. — The introduction of municipal gov- ernment marked the beginning of real progress, and Time thence would seem to have been generous in bestowing his blessings upon the community. By reviewing the whole period of the borough from 1783 to 1847, the newspaper occupies a very promi- nent position. It was the first evidence of real ad- 200 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. vancement by the town-people beyond their previ- ous condition ; and that this instrumentality in a new era of Reading should be the first was as natural as it was reasonable and necessary. The contents of the earliest publications were, doubt- less, interesting to its readers, notwithstanding they consisted of advertisements and foreign news almost entirely ; but to us of to-day they would be decidedly uninteresting, inasmuch as we have been taught to expect and to read and to know many matters pertaining to persons, not only round- about us, but distant many miles, as well abroad as at home. Nine-tenths of the inhabitants were Germans. Naturally the first local publication in 1789 was in the same language; but an English publication fol- lowed seven years afterward. Newspapers in both languages have continued in circulation thence till now. Many were begun, but they did not flourish. From 1820 till 1847, it would seem to have been quite fashionable to start and run a newspaper, judging from the number instituted, but not strongly constituted. The general development of the borough through these newspapers cannot be fully appreciated. Their influence was certainly wonderful. At first their power over the public was trifling ; but it grew with passing years. Long before the inhab- itants thought of growing out of their boyhood into manhood, in respect to local self-government, it was felt as a strong agency amongst them. And it was as good as it was strong. READING. 201 Post-office. — Several years after the introduction of the newspaper, the post-office at Reading was established. This was in 1 793. We of to-day can- not imagine what a step this was by the people out of the wilderness of inconvenience and labor, if not anxiety. The nearest post-office, since the estab- lishment of this department of public service in the country, had been at Philadelphia. Letters, there- fore, were comparatively few in number. If a letter were addressed to a person residing at Reading, it was delivered at Philadelphia, and there published in a newspaper ; through this publication, notice would reach Reading, and eventually the person. Correspondence was almost entirely indulged in by those who could forward it by an express messenger. The stage was then a public conveyance. It was used also for transporting letters, as well as persons and goods, from place to place. After the establish- ment of postal routes, the mail-bag was substituted for the driver's pocket. There was a daily mail be- tween Philadelphia and Reading from 1793 until the establishment of the railroad in 1838. In this period of 45 years, the intercourse of the people for social and business purposes was stimulated to a high degree. During nearly the whole time, letters were folded and closed with red sealing-wax. There was quite an art displayed in the folding so as to ad- mit of opening the letter without mutilating certain parts of the manuscript. The envelope was intro- duced here shortly before the railways. From 1835 for a number of years, mail matter was received twice a day regularly. 202 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Internal Improvements. — Great thoroughfares had been established which led through this section of country before Reading was laid out in 1748, From the Schuylkill, at the foot of Penn Street, roads extended to the west, to the north and north- east, to the southeast, and to the southwest. The Indians had marked out these courses in passing to and from their respective encampments, and they were adopted by surveyors in laying out public roads between the settlements. But notwithstanding the rapid growth of the population round-about and in Reading down to 1783, there was no movement to- wards the creation of great highways by either land or water to encourage as well as to facilitate the business enterprises of the town. This was a very important matter to them, but apparently they did not feel the need of easy and rapid inter-communi- cation. However, soon after the town had devel- oped into a borough, a progressive spirit appeared, and this continued to show itself persistently from one decade to another, until the people came to en- joy turnpikes, canals, and a railway. These were accomplished before 1840. By studying them re- spectivel}^, it will appear that they were plants of slow growth. It is possible, if not probable, that the demands of trade were not urgent. Both dealers and people took ample time in business transactions, the former in supplying and the latter in demanding articles for use and consumption in daily life ; and this ma}'' account for the apparent slowness of actu- ally realizing their practical utility. Everything was slow. Competition was comparatively an un- READING. 203 known factor in the market, especially that compe- tition which is now recognized for its energy, and without which a merchant would certainly be left far in the rear. These agents were useful to the borough in the development of manufactures and traffic, and they continued active until it was ad- vanced into a city. Before 1810, they were of no consequence to the borough ; but subsequently in every decade they manifested their power by an ever- increasing influence. In respect to population this is perceptible; for, from 18 10 to 1820 the in- crease was 25 per cent. ; from 1820 to 1830 it was 35 percent; from 1830 to 1840 it was 43.6 per cent; and from 1840 to 1850 it was 87.2 per cent Allow- ing the town to have had 2000 inhabitants when it was incorporated into a borough, and the borough to have had 12,000 when it was incorporated into a city, Reading increased in population 10,000 during 64 years, sex-tupling itself in two generations. A great, if not the greater, proportion of this surprising increase is attributable to internal improvements. Ferries— Bridg-es. — At the foot of Penn Street, there was a ferry across the Schuylkill from the beginning of the town until 18 16, when a bridge was constructed. The first efforts of the inhabit- ants in this direction were made in 1796. The sub- ject of this important improvement for the con- venience and safety of the public was constantly before the people during a score of years. A stone bridge was first suggested, and the project was en- couraged by liberal legislation. Even the "Lot- tery Scheme" was brought to the rescue, with the 204 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. aid of prominent, influential commissioners. A beginning was made by the erection of stone piers, and the county commissioners paid large sums of money on account of their construction. But the "ferry" could not be supplanted. The people knew it was unsafe and uncertain, for they expe- rienced it, especially every Spring. It would seem that all efforts were fruitless until the turnpike was introduced, though stages ran to and fro across the ferry daily for nearly 30 years. Immediately after the turnpike had become established, a strong de- termination manifested itself towards the completion of the bridge. In 1816 it reached a passable con- dition; and in 1818 it was completed. It took the name of " Harrisburg Bridge" from the turnpike, the eastern terminus of which was at this point and the western at Harrisburg. Twelve years afterward, a second bridge was erected across the river about two-thirds of a mile below. It took the name of "Lancaster Bridge" from the road which led to Lancaster. It was constructed also of wood. The county commissioners were authorized by an act passed in 1829 to erect it. They proceeded in the matter in 1830, and completed the bridge in 1831. At this point there had also been a ferry for many years. It was commonly called " Srohecker's Ferry;" afterward "Garber's." The first privilege for a ferry at this point had been granted by the Penns to one Levan, and during his time it was called " Levan' s Ferry." Fire Coiiiijaiiies — Banks — Water Supply. — In the development of the borough, special mention must READING. ■ 205 be made of three useful bodies which contributed much towards the general welfare of the commu- nity — the first in respect to fire, the second to money, and the third to water. When the borough began its eventful histor}', the "Rainbow Fire Company" was the only associa- tion in the place for the protection of property from fire, having continued alone since 1773. Two other organizations of this nature were in existence for some time, but no information was obtainable to show when they began or ended. One was called the "Union," and the other the "Sun." They were in active operation in 1808. Subsequently, during the history of the borough, three fire com- panies were instituted, viz. : Junior, 1813; Read- ing, 1819; Neversink, 1829. In 1837 the "panic" struck Reading. Owing to a suspension of the United States Bank, the banks at New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other places suspended specie payments ; and the banks at Reading were forced to do likewise. The suspension here took place on May 12, 1837. Not- withstanding this suspension, the business men of the borough published a notice of their entire con- fidence in the banks at home, and of their willing- ness to accept the notes of the banks in payment of debts, goods, etc. The banks then in operation were the " Branch Bank of Pennsylvania," "Farm- ers' Bank," and "Berks County Bank." The scarcity of money compelled the people to resort to an expedient for a circulating medium. This was found in the " Shinplaster," commonly so called ; 206 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. and also "Rag-Barons," " Hickory Leaves," etc. The Borough Council came to the relief of the peo- ple by authorizing an issue of loan certificates to the amount of $20,000, in denominations of five, ten, twenty-five, and fifty cents, and one, two, and three dollars, which were to be redeemable on August I, 1838. These certificates were loaned to business men on good security to guarantee their redemption ; and they were afterward redeemed. Water was entirely supplied from wells and cis- terns to the citizens until 1821 ; then a company was organized for the purpose of supplying good water. It was called the ' ' Reading Water Com- pany." This was a great improvement, especially for those people who did not have a pump upon their premises and were compelled to carry water for some distance to their homes. The company, by means of pipes, conducted water throughout the borough into the yards of their patrons. But the pumps were not abandoned, notwithstanding the water was of a limestone quality and not adapted for general household use, especially for washing purposes. Through this period, many people from all parts of the borough resorted to the ' ' Com- mons," along the stream which flowed from the " arched spring " near the "gravel-hole," to carry on washing. The "Commons" was a great place on "wash-day." The most popular locality was at the head of Washington Street. Many women and girls were there at a time. The days most com- monly devoted to this purpose were Mondays and Tuesdays. The numerous heads bobbing up and READING. 207 down over tubs, and long lines with "wash" flap- ping in the breeze, presented an interesting sight. The water was heated in large iron kettles, sus- pended from cross-bars which rested on notched upright posts, or placed on a temporary hearth built of stones gathered from the vicinity. Light. — The light of the town was still the light of the borough. Tallow, moulded in the form of candles, and oil and camphene in lamps, were used. The streets were not lighted. Public buildings were very seldom used in the night for meetings or entertainments ; and store-keepers could get along with the light afforded from lamps. The times did not require a superior light, for the peo- ple had not yet come to convert part of the night into day. Public Building's. — The public buildings of the borough comprised the Court-House, Prison, State- House, and Market-Houses. The old Court-House was found too small and inconvenient, and a fine large brick structure was supplied in 1840. The Prison of 1770 remained, and accommodated all the prisoners from the county and the county-seat. The rooms were not numerous, but the county commis- sioners and sheriff, nevertheless, found place for all the prisoners. In 1793 the "State-House" was erected on the northeast corner of Penn and Callowhill (5th) Streets, to provide offices for the county clerks, treasurer, and commissioners. Upon the erection of the new Court-House, the offices were removed thither, and the building was sold. 208 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. When the town was incorporated into a borough, there was only one Market- House. It stood in Penn Square, above Callowhill Street. About 1799, a second was built after the same plan, below Cal- lowhill Street. They were both rebuilt at the close of this period. There were no halls for the accommodation of public entertainments. Balls, amusements, etc., were carried on in large rooms of certain inns. Two places were conspicuous : Weldy's, adjoining the " Harrisburg Bridge" on the south side; and Pricker's, on the southwest corner of Penn and 6th Streets. Streets - Chaiig-e of Names. — Upon the laying out of the town, the streets were named as follows : East and litest. — Penn, extending through the centre of town ; to the north, Thomas and Mar- garet ; to the south, Richard and Hamilton. North and South (crossing the streets named at right angles). — King, Queen, Callowhill, Prince, Duke, Earl, Clement, Lord, Vigour. These names were continued until they were ordered to be changed by the Borough Council in 1833. The names then substituted were as follows, Penn having been retained : North of Penn. — Liberty, Washington, and Wal- nut. South of Penn. — Cherr}^, Franklin, and Chest- nut. Across Penn. — 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, loth, and nth. READING. 209 Those that had been for a time called Bridge and Treat were then changed to Front and 2d. A year previous, (in 1832,) the streets of the bor- ough were graded, according to regulation, by Enoch Lewis. On October 18, 1845, the Councils named the following alleys, extending, — North from Liberty. — Pear, Thorn, Rose, Ash, Church, Reed, Poplar, Cedar, Moss, Black. So2ith from Cherry. — Oak, Apple, Carpenter, Wood, Pear, Plum, Lemon, Peach, Orange, Maple. Laurel and Willow (south of Bingaman) were also named then. CITY FROM 1847 TO 1 889. Review of Reading in 1S4J. Manufactures. — When Reading came to be incor- porated as a city in 1847, it was in a flourishing state in every department of life, and well prepared to enter a new, larger, and more responsible period of municipal existence. This condition was caused by diversified industry and manufactures. Natu- rally, this feature of the place stood out above every other with great prominence. Shops, factories, and stores were numerous. These gave it activity and thrift, and attracted increasing trade and wealth. The population numbered about 12,000. The ten- dency of local development was to the south of Penn Street, and to the west of Ninth ; and the erection of churches followed this development. At that time there were thirteen churches : seven north of Penn, — Friends, Lutheran, Reformed, Episcopal, 14 210 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Presbyterian (colored), African Methodist Episcopal (colored), and Evangelical (Salem's) ; and six south of Penn, — Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Bap- tist, Universalist, and Lutheran. Railroad. — The railroad deserves especial men- tion for its great influence over all the local affairs of the community. A decade had not fully elapsed since its introduction, yet it demonstrated its power in accelerating the growth of everything. As a stimulating agent it was inestimable, not simply for its direct action upon manufactures and traffic, but also for its indirect action upon the people and their various business enterprises. Lands and buildings increased in value. Inter-communication was as much facilitated thereby on the one hand as it was encouraged on the other. It brought villages and towns to the north and to the southeast nearer to Reading, not in respect to distance but to time, and this was a wonderful accomplishment in the onward march of our development. And what a teacher it was in quickening the intellect ! It was the fore- runner of increased education — having piepared the way for the more general introduction of the system which was then gradually working its way into the affections of the people. This railroad extended in a southeasterly direction to Philadelphia, and in a northerly direction to Pottsville. Another railroad had been projected, to extend westward from Reading through Lebanon Valley to Harrisburg, but it was not as yet begun. The canals and stages must be mentioned in this connection, for they, too, still occupied a prominent position. The former READING. 21 1 consisted of two lines, the "Schuylkill" and "Union;" and the latter of three lines, — to the northeast to Easton, to the west to Harrisburg, and to the southwest to Lancaster. Secret Societies. — A prominent social movement was then perceptible. This was the secret society. Though not practically in its infancy, it had, never- theless, not begun to make a marked impression till towards the close of the second period of Reading. The Independent Order of Odd-Fellows was partic- ularly active. As a beneficial organization it ex- . tended its branches in various directions with re- markable activity. People of all trades, all classes, and all denominations fairly ran to it, for the friend- ship that it engendered, and especially for the char- ity that it dispensed amongst its members in sick- ness and distress. And the Free and Accepted Ma- sons, Lodge No. 62, instituted in 1794, kept up a ■ successful organization, notwithstanding there had been for a time, from 1830 to 1840, much opposition to them by a political party styled the "Anti-Ma- sons." In 1832, the Anti-Masonic vote in Reading exceeded the Democratic vote. Fortunately for the Lodge, its list of members included the most influ- ential men of the place, and they preserv^ed the so- ciety. In 1840, the feeling began to grow less ; and by 1847, it had subsided. Saving- Association. — The Building and Saving Association had just arrived as a great financial in- stitution in this growing community. The idea of saving money in small sums by numerous members of a common society, and erecting dwellings from 212 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. the total accumulations by and for the working peo- ple, was simply formulating. It was a public con- ception which was extending itself favorably amongst the laborers and middle classes, and obtain- ing a permanent hold upon them. It was a project for providing homes through economy in the daily affairs of life, just as the " Secret Society " was a similar project for providing relief to its members and their families. Both were akin. Fire Coiiipauy. — The fire company was in an ac- tive, if not in a flourishing, state. Four volunteer or- ganizations were being conducted successfully (Rain- bow, Junior, Reading, and Neversink), partly through pecuniary assistance from the municipal government, but mainly from the spontaneous efforts of their members. It was a useful body ; but its usefulness was sacrificed to a considerable degree in the estimation of many property-holders by the boisterous conduct of some of its members about that time. It had not yet come to possess friendly unity in a common cause, and especially to realize its importance as a political factor. It was still without a head. Each organization acted for itself All the organizations responded to alarms from im- pulse towards accomplishing the object of their ex- istence, in which they always displayed a commend- able pride in reaching the fire first. This perform- ance provided them with amusement in a certain sense, but they obtained it only by great exertions and risk of life. They still pulled their apparatus by hand ; and after exhausting themselves some- what in this manner on their way to the fire, they READING. 213 were there compelled to further exert their physical powers towards extinguishing the flames. When we consider that these companies were composed of men generally in ordinary circumstances, with a limited common education, and continued their or- ganizations year after year, in spite of gratuitous labor and of monthly dues, we cannot help but feel a high respect for their persistent devotion for the common welfare ; particularly upon comparing them with literary societies, which were then in a feeble existence and struggling unsuccessfully, though composed of professional gentlemen who possessed a high order of intellect and were in good circum- stances. Coininon Schools. — The system of common- school education was actively conducted in the two school wards of the city. There were 17 schools, 31 teachers, and 2064 scholars. The following 10 districts in the county, besides Reading, had also accepted the system previous to 1847: Caernarvon, Colebrookdale, Hamburg, Hereford, Kutztown, Marion, Robeson, Ruscomb-manor, Union, and Womelsdorf. Progress was perceptible, but public energy was necessary to maintain the increasing hold of the system of 1834 upon the citizens. In . the beginning it had encountered opposition so strong as to have been a prominent factor in poli- tics. This was especially the case in the country districts. About that time the power of the County Court was directed, upon petition, towards the en- forcement of the system in certain districts in which directors had been elected, but who had 214 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. failed to perform their duties. Such a spirited agitation of the subject increased the general move- ment in its behalf. Newspapers. — The newspaper was in a flourish- ing condition at that time. Advertising was a con- spicuous feature. When the city began, there were six strong and well-conducted newspapers, viz.: Readuiger Adler^ Berks and Schuylkill Jouj-nal^ Berks County Press^ Liberale Beobachter^ Reading Gazette^ and Jefferson Democrat. The political sentiment of the inhabitants was favorable to the Whigs in relation to the local government, but to the Democrats in relation to the State and National governments. Markets. — The m.arkets were conducted success- fully in Penn Square. The ''market-people" came to Reading with their produce regularly twice a \^ek — Wednesdays and Saturdays — and sold it dur- ing the early hours of the morning. They stood in the market-houses and round-about them through all the seasons of the year, without regard to the condition of the weather. Convenience to them and to the purchaser was not as yet a subject of consideration. The Town Council proposed no improvement beyond the public advantages first afforded four-score years before ; and they still levied and collected rents. About that time they even rebuilt the market-houses, apparently indi- cating that the "old style" should prevail for a score of years more, notwithstanding the wonderful development of the place and the increase of its in- fluence as a centre of trade and wealth. READING. 215 Fairs. — The semi-annual "Fairs" were still kept up ; but they were without profit or advantage of any kind. They were useless ; indeed, injurious to public morals. Hence, they were not only dis- couraged, but denounced by the press and by the people generally. Amongst the customs of the in- habitants, its hold was almost entirely gone. Danc- ing, drinking, and fighting were conspicuous fea- tures, these having been indulged in by the lower classes of the people. Military affairs, however, maintained their activity. "Exercise" was car- ried on annually in May ; and it was known as "Battalion day." Customs. — The great majorit}^ of the people were still domestic in their daily life. Gardening was commonly carried on either in the lots upon which the dwellings stood, or in out-lots. Fruit-trees were numerous in every quarter. Peaches, cherries, quinces, plums, and apples were plentiful. The first three were "preserved," not "canned," as now ; and nearly every family boiled apple-but- ter in an open fire-place in the Fall of the year. " Butchering" was observed by all, and home-made sausage, pudding, scrapple, hams, and mince-meat were common in every household. About Christ- mas all the cellars of housekeepers were well stocked. Wood was still mostly used for fuel ; and sawing upon the highway was a common occupation. It was commonly called "cord-wood," because it was delivered by the cord on a wagon with ladders. It consisted of pieces of hickory, oak, and chestnut (mostly the first), cut four feet in length. ThesQ 216 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. pieces were sawed into two or more parts, and then split and piled away ready for use. The ' ' ten- plate" stove was almost wholly used for cooking and heating purposes. Coal had been known to the community for nearly forty years, but it was not yet generally utilized, especially for domestic purposes. Its consumption was principally in pub- lic places, shops, factories, etc. Lig-ht. — The light was produced from fluid, oil, and tallow, even common fat, the first two having been used almost wholly in stores, and the last two in dwellings, especially of the poor inhabitants. Gas was not yet introduced. The streets were not lighted up in the evening ; and the persons, whose business or pleasure called them away from their homes during the night, had to go in darkness. Lanterns were frequently carried to shed light upon the roadway. Walking then was no easy matter, for pavements were few and irregular, and did not facilitate the way of pedestrians. There were no "street-crossings" at the intersections of streets. Amuseiweiits. — The customs of the residents had not as yet converted night into day for amusements of various kinds ; their morals would not have tol- erated such a practice, especially on the part of the young people. Dramatic entertainments were just starting out in earnest ; and the demands for an improved light were gradually growing stronger. The extent of the borough was not large — the prin- cipal portion lying between Walnut Street on the north and Chestnut on the south, 9th Street on the east and 3d on the west. Business of all kinds was READING. 217 almost entirely done during the day-time, and mer- chants derived their chief support from the farmers. The streets were, therefore, quiet after sunset. Two constables were watchmen of the night, and for several hours before and after midnight they called out the hour and the condition of the weather in a monotonous, low tone of voice. Pump. — The pump was still a common thing throughout the city, notwithstanding the general supply of superior water afforded by the ' ' Reading Water Company." It was convenient in every block, and at least lOO of them were in daily use. Penn Street was especially well supplied. Ice had come to be furnished in small quantities for about lo years, but not for drinking purposes. Cool water, freshly pumped from the wells, was satisfactory to all. Incorporation of City. — The borough was incor- porated into a city by an act of Assembly passed on March i6, 1847. This act, besides investing the corporation with certain powers and privileges common to all municipalities, preserved the divi- sion of the territory into 5 wards, — Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Spruce. It provided for the annual election of mayor, treasurer, and three auditors, and also for the election of Select and Common Councilmen, the former for three years and the latter for one year ; and for the an- nual appointment by Councils of a solicitor, street regulator, street commissioners, market commis- sioner, high constable, scavenger, and president and clerks of Councils. It divided the city into 218 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. 2 districts for aldermen — Penn Street having been the dividing line ; and each district became entitled to two aldermen, with the term of office and powers of a justice of the peace. The day of election was fixed on the third Friday of March. A second charter was provided by an act passed on March 13, 1861. In it, among other things, the names of the wards were changed, as follows : Spruce to ist Ward ; Southwest to 2d ; Southeast to 3d ; Northeast to 4th ; Northwest to 5th ; and the terms of office of the mayor and treasurer were increased to two years, and city auditors to three years. A third charter was provided by an act passed on April 26, 1864. The city was then divided into 9 wards, numbered respectively, i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The day of election was changed to the second Friday in February, and the term of Common Councilmen was increased to two years, one-half of the number to be elected alternately every two years. The act of May 23, 1 874 was accepted as a fourth charter which introduced additional changes. Each ward became entitled to one alderman. It sub- stituted a "city controller." with a term of office for two years, in the place of the three auditors, and increased the terms of office of engineer and solicitor to two years. And the Common Council- men were to be elected every two years. This act has since been modified particularly as to the mayor, enlarging his powers and increasing his term of office to four years. READING. 219 Development of City. 1847 to 1857. — From the time of incorporating Reading into a city till now, the general develop- ment of the place from decade to decade has been remarkable. Its history began whilst the Mexican War was being carried on ; in which there was a company of volunteers from Reading, called the "Reading Artillerists." During the decade from 1847 to 1857, business affairs grew more active, and continued to do so till towards the close, when a panic ensued. Gas was introduced for lighting pur- poses ; and the first large hall was provided for the accommodation of the public in respect to entertain- ments, dramatic performances, etc. The " Charles Evans Cemetery" was founded, and other ceme- teries were established, to which the dead were then removed from the grave-yards in the central portion of the city, and in which burials were made from that time. Numerous buildings were erected, both dwellings and industrial establishments, the latter including prominent enterprises which have been continued in operation almost constantly till now, affording employment to hundreds of men, and yielding to the community thousands of dollars. Two railroads were constructed, — the East Penn to the northeast, and the Lebanon Valley to the west, — and these stimulated the energy of the people. The militia system was still prominent, and bat- talion days were devoted to general military exer- cise ; but the "fair days" at the market-houses passed away without regret from any one, and the 220 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. Agricultural Society substituted a county fair for an improved annual exhibition of goods, live-stock, etc. About 1850, many citizens became excited upon the subject of migrating to California, and several parties proceeded thither under the hopes of realizing great profits from adventure and speculation ; but their doleful letters and early return dispelled the charm which had been thrown over the community, and the excitement subsided. And political questions also agitated the people, — one question, that of slavery, having been brought prominently to their notice, and caused the Presidential campaign of 1856 to be particularly enthusiastic. A public ' ' High School" was discussed and successfully established ; and the tax-payers realized the promises of its pro- jectors in affording a means of advanced education to children "who attended the common schools. 1857 to 1867.— In the next decade, from 1857 to 1867, the Civil War was the most prominent subject which engaged the attention of the people. The streets were regulated by a topographical survey, from 1864 to 1868, which, by the establishment of lines and grades, encouraged building operations, especially in the northern section of the city ; and the houses were numbered in 1863 by an admirable system along all the streets. The " water- works " became the property of the people in 1865 ; efforts were made to improve the city charter by two amendments ; and the wards were differently ar- ranged and increased in number. A "Firemen's Union" was organized in 1861 ; and several years afterward another union was effected which related READING. 221 to a public measure of equal importance. This was the consolidation of all the wards in the city for school purposes into one district, under the name of the "Reading School District," — a movement which soon demonstrated its utility in giving to the chil- dren of the tax-payers better advantages for obtain- ing a good education. The feeling of union was also shown in another direction, the co-education of boys and girls in the High School, having been started in 1859. The people were active and ener- getic in every department of life, and the wealth of the community was increased millions of dollars. Weekly newspapers became more thoroughly circu- lated, and the daily newspaper was established. Postal facilities were increased, to the great conve- nience of the people. A fourth railroad from Read- ing was extended to the southwest, affording direct communication with Lancaster and Columbia. Po- litical excitement reached the highest point which the community was able to bear without resulting in a serious social disturbance. 1867 to 1877.— During the third decade, from 1867 to 1877, general enterprise was active in the beginning and continued so for several years ; but then it began to decline and finally showed marked effects from the panic which prevailed throughout the country. Fire elsewhere destroyed much prop- erty, resulting in enormous losses which amounted to many millions of dollars ; and it seemed that some evil genius possessed this community also, by the numerous acts of incendiarism in the most pop- ulous parts of the city. Fortunately for us, the vol- 222 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. unteer fire companies were not only prompt but vigilant. They were interested in the preservation of property and therefore moved by the noblest impulses to prevent losses from fire. Then the "Electric Fire Alarm " was introduced, which soon demonstrated its incalculable value to the commu- nity ; and the water supply was largely increased by the appropriation of the water of Antietam Creek, and the construction of a lake to be used as a stor- age reservoir, with a capacity of many million gal- lons. The ' ' Centennial ' ' was a prominent subject for several years, especially during the year 1876 for six months, from the loth of May to the loth of November, when our people patronized the ' ' Great International Exhibition" at Philadelphia very ex- tensively, having traveled repeatedly to and fro in regular and excursion trains. Many people of the county had articles on exhibition, and they distin- guished themselves by their zeal for the success of the great enterprise. In two respects they were particularly complimented ; one was the production of superior fruit, and the other was the display of educational work by scholars of certain school districts in the county. The railroads were busy, and their activity led others to be extended from Reading ; the Wilmington and Northern, and the Berks County. Street railways were also intro- duced and operated through the length and breadth of the city. The old market-houses became objec- tionable, and upon the erection of fine, commodious, and pleasant buildings in the several sections of the city by private enterprise for market purposes they READING. 223 were removed. New and modern halls were pro- vided, not only to encourage but to gratify the pub- lic desire for amusement. Foundries and factories were extended in different branches of industry, showing the increasing enterprise and wealth of manufacturers, and the employment of a larger number of mechanics and workingmen. Merchants and business men generally began to appreciate more the value and the necessity of advertising in various ways, especially in the newspapers ; and just as they here endeavored to attract the attention of the people of Reading and the districts through- out the county, so did the merchants at Philadelphia endeavor, through the newspapers, to draw trade away from the growing stores here to the business places there. Competition became an active feature of business life, and a state of trade was produced far in advance of previous decades. The city was extended northward in 1871, increasing the area to over 3200 acres ; and a new charter for the city was obtained, by accepting the general act of 1 874, for the government of cities of the third class. In the previous decade the militia system was obliterated by the Civil War ; and though a new system was then provided, it did not exhibit any strength in our community during this decade. The feeling and the general situation of the people in this re- spect were altogether different. We had no "bat- talion days," no military exercises. During the decade before 1857 there were 24 companies of militia which exercised frequently every year in the several sections of the county ; but in this decade 224 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. (before 1877) we had only two companies, one at Reading and the other at Hamburg, whose exercises were scarcely noticed. The building and savings associations were in a flourishing state and assisted greatly in improving the city with numerous dwell- ing-houses for the working people. The political feeling of the people throughout the country changed very much, and the process of change necessarily developed a high degree of excitement. The year 1876 was particularly distinguished in this respect. Improved postal facilities were given to the people, and the business of the post-office was largely in- creased. 1877 to 1887. — And the fourth, or last decade, from 1877 to 1887, did not fall behind the previous decades. It started out with a serious trouble, the regulation of which was beyond our wisdom. We could not rectify it ; it broke upon us like a sudden explosion ; and then, through fear, it subsided. This was the labor question. Several years before 1877 the subject was discussed earnestly, and it led to the formation of different societies, the most prominent of which was the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers. Demands for higher wages were made ; these were not complied with ; and a strike followed. This strike was general in this State and in other States ; and it was persisted in until it terminated in a great riot at Reading on July 23, 1877, causing the death of 10 persons and the wounding of 39. Councils increased the water supply to answer the growing demands of- our rapidly-increasing community ; and they made READING. 225 efforts in the direction of improved highways. An earnest beginning for a city park was instituted in 1878 by private individuals, but the decade was permitted to pass away before Councils gave the matter any consideration or appropriated any moneys toward its improvement and enlargement. The building and savings associations were more flour- ishing than ever before, 25 having been conducted successfully, with their payments and investments counting into the millions of dollars. Societies of all kinds, particularly secret, beneficial, and social, were very active, numbering altogether at least 150, with their membership including almost every man of age in the community. Manufactures of all kinds were carried on extensively, more especially of hats, stoves, cigars, and building materials; and the demands of trade extending throughout the country required enlarged factories and the employment of more working-people. The common-school system of education, under the direction of the Board of School Controllers and a City Superintendent, was carried on very successfully, and the good man- agement was shown not only by the education af- forded to the children of the city, but also by the superior school buildings erected. Co-education was found to work unsatisfactorily, and it was therefore abandoned in 1881. The population, which in 1 847 was about one-fifth of the entire county, grew in 40 years to nearly one-half, and the assessed value of all property to more than one-half, a result in the progress of improvement directly attributable to manufactures, the former having been estimated 15 226 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS CObNTY. at 60,000, and the latter at nearly 30,000,000. And the election returns showed an increase of four- fold, from near 3000 votes to near 12,000. Future Prospects. — Looking backward through two scores of years in our municipal life, and realiz- ing what education and steam have done for us since 1847, when these two great forces just began to impress themselves forcibly upon our people, and then looking forward through the remaining years of this century to the year 1900, with the advant- ages of our vigorous population, education, wealth, manufactures, various internal improvements, and political freedom, what can we not hope to accom- plish with these same forces, the one to direct and the other to propel us in the march of civilization ? We have here a grand centre, possessed of inconceiv- able natural advantages which arise from the con- junction of fertile valleys and flowing streams. The prospects before us, for developments on the one hand and accomplishments on the other, are most pleasing to contemplate. But to insure our continued progress and make it proportionate with that of the past, we must fit ourselves to discrim- inate for things, not persons, and so direct our in- dustrial, political, and moral energy as to subserve the public welfare rather than individual aggran- dizement. 18-47 and 1889 Contrasted. — A general review of Reading in the year 1889, forty-two years after its in- corporation as a city, will reveal a marked improve- ment in the community. Its population was in- creased five-fold, and from one-fifth of the county it READING. 227 has come to be nearly" one-half. In this time its sheds were developed into factories and its shops into works, through a more general introduction of steam as a motive-power. The investments in in- dustrial establishments grew from a few thousand dollars in value to hundreds of thousands. Then one railroad extended through the place with several trains traveling to and fro each day ; now trains run from the city in eight different directions, and con- tinue running almost day and night through the year, carrying passengers and tons of freight count- ing into the millions. The territor}^ was extended in every direction, particularly to the north, and the dwellings were multiplied from 2500 to 12,000. The citizens could then easily walk from place to place, for the im- proved portion lay between 3d and 9th streets, and Chestnut and Walnut Streets, not a square mile in area ; but now the four corners are reached by street-car lines covering an area of over five square miles. The houses then were not numbered and they were easily found without a directory, for ihe residents were generally known to one another ; now all the buildings are regularly numbered and a complete directory enables an entire stranger to find any person with ease. The sender of letters then had to drop them personally in the post-office, and fetch those addressed to him or pay one cent to a carrier ; now the postal service gathers them from numerous boxes located at nearly every street-cor- ner, and also distributes them from door to door several times a day. From the foot-messenger we 228 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. advanced into the telephone j from the letter into the telegram ; from lamp-light into gas-light and electric light ; and from a ten-plate stove for cooking and heating purposes into superior ranges, heaters, and furnaces, and steam is now supplied not only by private individuals for themselves, but also by a corporation which distributes it through the streets into dwellings, stores, and factories just as the water is distributed. The public schools increased from 17 to 170, the scholars from 2000 to over 7000, and the churches from 13 to 44. The language then mostly used by the major part of the people was German ; now it is mostly English. Then amusements were occasion- ally conducted ; now they are common, of every variety, from one week to another throughout the year, in halls and theatres for nine months, and in parks and the open air for three months. The streets then were in a condition similar to country roads, and they were without crossings or lights ; but now they are in an improved, substantial condition, with crossings at all intersections and lights every- where to make walking at midnight a pleasure ; and then it was exceptional to see people on the street after 9 o'clock in the evening, especially women and children ; now many are seen every evening until midnight. Wooden bridges then spanned the river, but they made way for iron structures. The buildings were generally one and two stories in height, a three- story building being exceptional ; now three-story buildings are common in every section of the city, READING. 229 and we have reached the fifth story ; and from log, stone and brick we are advancing into a more gen- eral use of granite and iron. Business was then al- together done on the first floor ; now it has reached the fifth floor, with an elevator to carry people up and down without the slightest exertion on their part. The secret society then included two kinds, "Free and Accepted Masons" and "Odd- Fel- lows;" now it includes many kinds, numbering al- together over loo organizations with a membership running into the thousands. Gardening, butchering, and other customs of an earlier day were then carried on by every family ; now these have passed away almost entirely. Mar- keting for country products was then conducted in two public market-houses with extensions from 4th to 6th Street in Penn Square, both sides of which were lined with wagons whose shafts were propped up and horses stood eating oats or nibbling at hay, and purchasers moved hither and thither regardless of the weather ; now it is conducted in superior structures distributed in six sections of the city. Sewing men's and boys' clothing, and knitting stockings were then common duties by mothers and daughters at their homes ; now these are seldom practiced, especially the latter, for ready-made clothing of all sizes can be purchased everywhere, and stockings are knitted by machinery. Women and girls were then afforded employment only in domestic affairs ; now they are engaged in every de- partment of industry excepting in the iron works and upon the highways. Then the teaching of chil- 230 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. dren in the public schools was done almost wholly by male teachers ; now it is done almost wholly by fe- male teachers. All these contrasts taken together constitute a material and social progress that is truly wonderful, and in examining for the cause of our present situation, we find one agent standing out more prominently than all other agents combined, and that is steam. LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. LABOR. Situation. — The close proximity of Reading to the great coal-fields of Pennsylvania, its location near the great centres of trade and commerce, and its superior local resources induced enterprising busi- ness men to establish large manufactories here ; and these have been the principal causes of its rapid and substantial development. The various trades common to every industrious community were carried on successfully in Reading from the begin- ning of its history. As a town for nearly 30 years, it had developed industrial life to such a degree as to give the people a good start in a new political era. Employment. — Their employments made the bo- rough self-dependent and self-sustaining. They produced numerous articles, such as hats, ropes, chains, carpets, coverlets, clocks, home-spun ma- terial, barrels, castings, earthen-ware, leather, boots and shoes, wagons and carriages, etc., and, I must not forget to add, whiskey and brandy in great quantities. These constituted a good foundation upon which to build a rich and attractive super- READING. 231 ^ structure during the two generations that were to follow. Manufactured articles were produced by- hand during the entire period. Steam-power was introduced about 1 836 ; but it was applied almost en- tirely to the man- ufacture of machinery. And about that time the industry in iron began with commendable enterprise, naturally following the introduction of steam. Grad- ually thereafter, this important labor-saving agent was utilized in the manfacture of building materials, hats, ropes, etc. The railway was the principal cause in the development of this great industrial life. Before 1836 the borough contained no strong and rich manufacturing enterprises, notwithstanding turnpikes had encouraged trade overland for at least 20 years, and canals by water for 10 years. Traffic. — The traffic of the borough in the begin- ning of that period was great, but the introduction of the several agencies mentioned increased it to a wonderful degree, especially after 1836. The an- nual increase of buildings evinces the rapid growth of the place: for, in 1840, "JJ were erected; in 1842, 65; in 1843, 98; in 1844, 120; in 1845, 182; in 1846, 246 ; and in 1847, 360, when there were at •least 2500 buildings in Reading. Hatters and Hat-Making-. — The manufacture of wool and fur hats is the oldest, most prominent, and most continuous employment in Reading. It 232 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. was in a flourishing condition when the borough was erected. In 1795, there were in Reading 38 hatters who produced 2200 fur hats and 54,000 wool hats, having then produced more wool hats than all the other counties in the State taken together. In Philadelphia the hatters were engaged mostly in producing fur hats. The wool hat, as then made, was heavy and stiff, so stiff that a man, weighing 200 pounds, could stand upon it without crushing it. Its weight was II to 12 ounces, — to us of to-day, who carry fine, small, light hats, weighing but 2 ounces, prodi- gious. Its height was from 4^ to 6 inches, with a brim 3^^ to 4 inches wide, and from Y^ to 3^ of an inch thick. The colors were black and white, and the number of each manufactured was about the same. In 1824, the borough contained less than 1000 taxables. Of this number, there were 6 master-hat- ters, who gave employment to 450 journeymen and apprentices, worked up annually 60,000 pounds of wool, and manufactured 150,000 hats. A hatter could make, on an average, 8 hats a day. This branch of industry continued to grow in strength as the years rolled on, especially in respect to the number of employees. The apprentices were nu- merous, and their increasing number alarmed the masters and journeymen. Some years afterward, this industry was injured con' siderably by the introduction of caps and straw hats. Many journeymen were compelled to seek other oc- cupations. In 1846, the estimated number actively READING. 233 engaged in it was 1 5 master-hatters and 50 journey- men. This was a wonderful decrease in 20 years ; and it was not revived until 1852, when hats began to be made by machinery. The daily pay was about 96 cents. Hats were made by the piece. The colors began to be introduced about 1847 ; and after- ward many different colors were used. The first soft wool hats in Reading were made in 1847. They were from 6 to 6^ inches high, and weighed from 4 to 5 ounces. They had a wide brim. A button was attached on the right and left sides of the hat to enable the brim to be looped up, if desired. The style was called ' ' sugar-loaf, ' ' hav- ing a round top. Home-made hats were mostly worn by the citizens. The total investment in this industry now amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the daily product is estimated at 1200 dozens, which affords employment to about 800 working-people. Brick-Making-. — The business of making bricks for building purposes was an early industry. Tile- making is mentioned amongst the first employments of the town, but this branch did not include bricks. The buildings erected before 1800 were mostly of stone, log, and frame. The Trinity Lutheran Church is a superior specimen of a brick building erected before 1800. In 1845, this business had reached a wonderful degree of development in Read- ing; for, in that year over 7,000,000 bricks were made by 14 manufacturers, and in 1846 over 9,000,000 by 16 manufacturers. Building brick then cost $4 a thousand. This industry has continued active from 234 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. that time until now. The number of hands employed is about 500, and the annual product exceeds 10,- 000,000. Fire brick began to be made in Reading about 1846. The annual product now is several millions. Cig-ar-Making-. — The manufacture of cigars began in Reading about the year 1800. The tobacco used in making cigars was at first obtained from Ken- tucky ; manufacturers visited that State annually and purchased a sufficient supply for the entire year. The prices paid ranged from 3 to 7 cents a pound. About 1835, tobacco was introduced from Lancaster and York Counties. Cigar-makers generally made from 800 to 1 500 cigars a day ; a few made as many as 2000 per day. If an experienced workman could not make 1000 per day, he was considered ordinary. The wages paid were 5, 6, and 7 cents a hundred. The cigars were sold at rates ranging from $1.50 to $2 per thousand. The total manufacture in 1 840 was about 40,000 cigars daily. Possibly, of this num- ber, one-half was made in the country districts sur- rounding Reading. Most of the cigars were sold at from 3 to 7 for a cent, and were consumed in Read- ing and vicinity. There was then more smoking, in proportion to the population, than at the present day. On the counter of every tavern, a box of cigars always stood, whose contents were free to all guests. The workers in tobacco then were almost entirely men and boys, the latter being strippers. The em- ployment of females was not then thought of. Chewing tobacco was also manufactured. After 1840, the business of cigar-making gradually in- READING. 235 creased, a better quality of cigars was made, and more skillful workmen were employed. It is a valuable industry in Reading, and the trade of the establishments extends throughout the country. Clock-Making-. — Clocks were made at Reading from 1760 for about 70 years. The metal parts of the clock were mostly imported, and then set to- gether by clock-makers. Some of the brass wheels were cast at Reading by brass-founders, and then filed and prepared for clock-works. Eight-day cor- ner clocks only were made at Reading. The cost was from $60 to $70 ; and with a fine, high wal- nut case added, it would frequently amount to $100. Evidently only a few clocks in proportion to population were in use. The making of a clock required from six weeks to two months. This branch of industry departed after the intro- duction of Yankee clocks, which were much cheaper. There were shops also for repairing watches, clocks, etc. ; in which, however, no clocks were made. Some of these clocks indicated the changes of the moon ; others had moving figures, which appeared and disappeared. A musical de- partment was even included in the more valuable clocks, which produced pleasing tunes. Their delicate construction displayed wonderful work- manship. Many of them were destroyed after 1840. Comparatively few families have them now. A fine specimen is considered a rare piece of fur- niture, and commands a hi^h price. Boot and Shoe-Making". — Large quantities of boots and shoes were manufactured in the bor- 23G SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. ougli previous to 1840. But this industry was then also affected, for in the year named the bor- ough contained seven stores, which sold annually many cases of boots and shoes, mostly made in and shipped from Philadelphia and New England. The production of the factories at Reading was thereby greatly diminished. From that time until now this industry has continued active. Iron Establislinients. — Before 1847, large man- ufacturing establishments were few in Reading. Numerous industries were carried on, some by indi- viduals and others by firms ; but none by corpora- tions, such as furnaces, mills, factories, and foun- dries ; and these caused the wonderful increase of 87 per cent, in the population during the decade from 1840 to 1850. The growth of the place was almost entirely south of Penn Street, where the industries were located. The first large establishment was for the man- ufacture of iron bars and nails. It was started in 1836 by the firm of Keims, Whitaker & Co. The name was changed to Seyfert & McManus in 1844, and to Reading Iron Works in 1862. In 1880 it was one of the largest enterprises in the State, employing over 2000 hands, and paying out an- nually in wages over a million dollars. Other iron works were started afterward but I can only mention several of the most prominent en- terprises, without extending the chapter beyond the space allowable : the Mellert Foundry was begun in 1 848 ; the Reading Hardware Works, by the Harb- ster Brothers in 185 1 ; the Obert Boiler Works in READING. 237 1854; the Mcllvaine Iron Works in 1856; Reading Bolt and Nut Works by J. H. Sternbergh in 1865 ; Reading Stove Works by Orr, Painter & Co. in 1866 ; Reading Butt Works by the Rick Brothers in 1 867 ; Penn Hardware Co, by the Heizmann Broth- ers in 1877; and Mt. Penn Stove Works in 1882. Numerous other establishments for manufacturino- articles of various kinds are carried on in Reading, four of which are worthy of mention by reason of the large number of persons employed, — the Jack- son Ropewalk started in 1850, the Cotton- Factory in 185 1, the Willson Spectacle Factory in 1872, and the Silk-Mill in 1887. The latter was demolished by a terrible tornado which visited Reading on Jan- uary 9, 1889. P. & K. R. Co. Works. — The extensive works of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company must also be mentioned. The introduction of this railway immediately stimulated enterprise at Read- ing, and caused energy and capital to be directed towards manufacturing. Both people and money concentrated here more and more every succeed- ing year ; and buildings multiplied rapidly to answer the demands of the increasing population. The company established its work-shops here when the railway was completed in 1838, and these grew in capacity with the increasing traffic of the road. The first large shop occupied the half- block on the west side of 7th Street, between Franklin and Chestnut Streets, where it has con- tinued till now. Each succeeding decade found the company with more extended shops of all 238 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. kinds for the manufacture of engines and cars, affording constant employment for an ever-increas- ing number of workmen. The total annual income to the people of Reading from this single source dur- ing the past 50 years counts into millions of dollars, all of which contributed directly towards the sub- stantial growth of this community in its buildings, stores, factories, churches, and schools. The largely increased wealth of the city is, therefore, attributa- ble to this valuable internal improvement. The possessions and investments of this company at Reading amount to an enormous sum. From these it is apparent that the company appropriated a great proportion of its income here, besides afford- ing constant employment to several thousand men in its numerous shops and on its several branches of railway. This fact stands out prominently in the management of the company, and it is worthy of special mention ; and, though this generous feeling resulted directly in the enrichment of this inland city, the entire county of Berks was indirectly benefited by it. The statistics for the time mentioned, as to the growth, wealth and producing capacity of our county, show that the major part was at Read- ing. This enrichment and development were, how- ever, very beneficial to the county in various ways, especially in respect to supplying funds for our gen- eral government, and to providing stores, merchan- dise of all kinds, and enlarged home market for the people. The same strong cause increased the population, wealth, influence, and power of the entire Schuyl- READING. 239 kill Valley from Philadelphia to the mountains, the Lebanon Valley from the Schuylkill to the Susque- hanna, and the East Penn Valley from the Schuyl- kill to the Lehigh, an area of territory covering al- together several thousand square miles. Brewing-. — Distilleries for the production of spirit- uous liquor had an existence in Reading from the beginning of the place ; and about 1 800 they were active. Brewing was also then carried on, but in a limited manner. About the time that steam was in- troduced, it began to grow into more prominence as a business enterprise, and it continued to grow with the development of the community. Gradually beer took the place of whiskey, and in 50 years it came to be as prominent as whiskey had been before 1836. It is a great factor in our social affairs. Many peo- ple regard it as the direct cause of much extrava- gance, suffering, and crime in the community. Within the last 30 years it has awakened the public conscience to such a degree in Pennsylvania and other States that a feeling of profound opposi- tion has been developed, which is not only inclined to regulate it by stringent legislation, but to prohibit it entirely by constitutional amendment. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. The internal improvements of Reading comprise the market-houses, postal service, water-works, city-hall, fire company buildings, Commons, public halls, gas and electric lighting, and street railways. Market-Houses. — Immediately after a charter had been granted to Reading in 1766, authorizing the holding of semi-annual fairs and weekly mar- 240 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. kets, the town-people erected a market-house on Penn Square. It extended from the eastern line of the Central Square eastward about 120 feet along the middle of the highway, and was about 20 feet wide. It consisted of a number of small square brick pillars, arranged in a row on each side, cov- ered by a shingle roof. .A similar market-house was erected in 1799 westward of Central Square. A belfry was on the eastern extremity of this struc- ture. There were paved, uncovered extensions to the market-houses — from the eastern market- house to 6th Street, and from the western to 4th Street. In the eastern market-house and extension there were 32 stalls and 58 stands ; and in the west- ern 38 stalls and 58 stands. Numerous stands were on the outside of, and between, the market-houses. The stalls of the eastern market-house were mostly occupied by butchers. Their rental was high through competition. These structures were re- built in 1846 and 1847, and continued in use until 1871. When steps were being taken, looking to the abandonment of the public market-houses, private individuals erected substantial and commodious buildings to accommodate the market people; which were opened to the public on May 10, 1871. The following three buildings were erected shortly be- fore : South Reading, 6th and Bingaman ; Farmers', on Penn between 8th and 9th ; West Reading, on Penn between 3d and 4th. In 1874, two additional market-houses were erected, — Northeast, at 9th and Buttonwood, and the Keystone, on 6th near Wal- READING. 241 nut; and in 1884, a sixth was erected at loth and Chestnut. In 1886, the Keystone was converted into a theatre, and the market-house at 5th and Buttonwood (which had been erected and occupied for a time as a skating rink) came to be used in its stead. Market-Days. — The charter established two mar- ket-days for every week — Wednesday and Saturday. The weekly markets began during the Fall of 1766. Butchers and farmers attended regularly for the sale of meat, vegetables, butter, eggs, etc. ; some twice a week, others once. The markets opened in the morning. No regular hour was fixed at which to begin sales. The market people were generally at their stalls very early, some soon after midnight, and so timely as to be able to take a nap in their wagons before the town-people came to buy their articles ; and this they did with wonderful persistence through all seasons of the year. We cannot imagine what trials they frequently endured through the cold Winter mornings for the sake of selling their goods to get a little cash. What labor to produce them, what energy to carry them to market, what patience to sell them ! And this cus- tom of selling goods at the market-place in the highway, mostly without shelter, continued decade after decade for over 100 years, from the time when the town contained about 1000 inhabitants till the number had grown beyond 33,000. This was a long period to continue going to the same place for the same purpose, without any improvement in re- spect to comfort and convenience of both the seller 16 242 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. and the buyer. The subject of private market- houses in the several sections of the city was agi- tated for some years, but the movement met with general opposition from the property-holders and business men on Penn Square. After considerable discussion, the Councils passed an ordinance on April 30, 1870, favoring the removal of the public market-houses. This action encouraged private enterprise, and steps were then taken towards the erection of private market-houses. Their utility and excellence were practically demonstrated im- mediately after their completion. Fiiir-Days. — By the charter, the semi-annual fairs were held on the 27th day of October and the 4tli day of June of each year. These fairs were insti- tuted for the exhibition and sale of all kinds of pro- ducts, manufactures, and merchandise. And they were not alone for the town-people, but for the farmers. The eastern market-house was the most popular. The first fair was held in October, 1766. Dancing was carried on by men, women, and young people at certain taverns in the town, the "Green Tree " (now Hotel Penn) having been conspicuous in this respect. Besides dancing, there was much general jollification. Two days were usually spent in this manner, the first day having been by common consent for the "countryfolks" and the second for the "town folks." Fighting was a common practice, and "rowdies" and "bul- lies" were conspicuous. This rough and boisterous element in public brought the fairs gradually into disrepute. About 1836, they began to be so objec- READING. 243 tionable that the better class of people of the town uttered complaints. The noise and disturbance was not caused by men alone. Boys took part in the demonstration by shooting off and exploding fire- crackers and yelling vociferously till midnight. Just then the common school was making its way into public favor ; and as the school came nearer to the people, the fair-day with its hilarity and profan- ity departed. Year after year these great days lost respect until 1850, when they were abandoned. A new institution arose to take its place, which was more adapted to develop respectful behavior and en- courage agriculture and manufactures. This was the Agricultural Society, And from the highway at the market-houses the exhibition was transferred to the ''Commons." The selling feature of "fair- day" was discontinued, and the semi-annual town fair became an annual county fair. Postal Service. — The post-office at Reading was established in 1793. The letters were called for until about 1835 ; then a man by the name of Shei- rer began to carry letters of many individuals not in business throughout the borough at a cent a letter. He was succeeded by William Taylor, Hamilton Mills, and Joseph Barrett. William Ruckman en- tered this service in 1848 and continued until 1861, He charged two cents for each letter, and earned from |i2 to $15 a week. Samuel B. Ruth, Albert Miller, Christian Schultz, and Benjamin Guinther succeeded him, the latter two carrying until 1864, when the government established the free delivery system. These men were recommended by the 244 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. postmaster, and appointed by the department at Washington. Letter-boxes were put up in August, 1864, at 5 places in different sections of Reading, for the pur- pose of enabling the citizens to drop letters to be collected by carriers. The first collection was made on August 22d. Two collections were made daily, 9 A.M. and 3 P.M. All letters had to be stamped with a 3-cent stamp. And there were then two letter carriers — one for delivery north of Penn and the other south. This postal accommodation was introduced bj' the postmaster, Jacob Knabb. The boxes and carriers were subsequently increased as necessity required. The money-order system was introduced about the same time. In 1887, the United States government appropri- ated $180,000 for a public building at Reading. It was erected on the southeast corner of 5th and Wash- ington Streets during the years 1887, 1888, and 1889. Water- Works. — For over 70 years, the inhabitants of Reading were almost entirely supplied with water from cisterns, wells, and pumps. The water was mostly limestone in quality and generally unpalata- ble, especially to those persons who were not accus- tomed to its peculiar taste. It was unfit for wash- ing purposes, and those who had no cisterns were compelled to fetch water from the Schuylkill. After the borough contained a population of 4000, these sources were too limited for convenience and certainty of supply. Accordingly, in 18 19, the sub- ject of "water-works" was agitated ; and this re- READING. 245 suited in the incorporation of the "Reading Water Company" for supplying the people with water. The company purchased land in Alsace Township, along the western declivity of Penn's Mount, lying northeast of Reading, which included a large and inexhaustible spring of water, commonly called "Hampden Spring," and proceeded without delay in the construction of a reservoir at the head of Penn Street, into which they conducted the spring water by gravity through earthen pipes 2^ inches in diameter, laid 3 feet below the surface. Some of the pipes were of logs. The pipes through the streets were mostly of iron, varying from 2 to 4 inches in diameter. This was accomplished by October, 1821. By 1833, the money expended in this great improvement exceeded |20,ooo. Then 250 families were supplied with water, and the an- nual income was about $1500. The population was about 6500. About one fourth of the inhabitants were supplied. This would indicate a considerable encouragement of the enterprise. The company in- creased its capacities and facilities with the growth and demands of the borough, and continued to sup- ply the people till the borough grew into a city, and for 18 years afterward, when the company sold its rights and properties to the " City of Reading" for $300,000. In this sale there were included the Edelman Spring introduced in 1838, the Mineral Spring in 1853, and the Bernhart Dam in 1858. The City Reservoir was constructed by the Read- ing Water Company, — the first basin in 182 1, and the second in 1848, and was included in the transfer 246 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. by the company to the city on April i, 1865. These basins were enlarged in 1872, at an expense of about $17,000. Their total capacity is 5,132,- 000 gallons, — northern basin, 2,087,000 gallons; southern basin, 3,045,000 gallons. Immediately before the purchase of the water- works, Councils had obtained the Ohlinger Mill property in Alsace Township, with the view of eventually constructing water-works at that point. This purchase induced the water company to sell their properties for $300,000, having shortly before demanded from the city more than $500,000. The price paid for the Ohlinger property was $7000. For some years afterward, the subject of an increased water supply was discussed very earnestly by Coun- cils and by the citizens generally, in order to ac- commodate the demands of the rapidly increasing population and the manufacturing establishments. After investigating all the surrounding streams of water. Councils determined to appropriate the waters of Antietam Creek, and to convert the mill property into a large reservoir, for which purpose it was, by its situation, well adapted. The improve- ment was made during the year 1874, affording to the city a storage reservoir with a capacity for 30,000,000 gallons. Tn 1880, the dam was height- ened and the capacity increased to 60,000,000 gal- lons, — supposed to have a capacity for 100,000,000 gallons. A large sum of money as damages was paid to the several property-holders situated below the lake on the creek. The total expense to the city exceeds $100,000. READING. 247 The Hampden Reservoir is a large storage basin in the northeastern section of the city. It was con- structed during the years 1882, 1883, and 1884, at an expense of over $100,000. The daily minimum flow of the streams and springs of water which supply the city is estimated to be nearly 2,000,000 gallons; and the total storage ca- pacity is over 130,000,000 gallons. The supply was increased in 1889 by the intro- duction of the water of Maiden Creek. City Hall. — The Borough Council organized in the old Court-House in 1 783 ; and there it assembled year after year until the new Court-House was erected, when it removed its place of meeting into that building. In 1847, the City Councils organ- ized on the third floor, and continued to meet there till the city of Reading purchased the property on the northeast corner of 5th and Franklin Streets — then an old-fashioned, low, two-story brick building. City Hall was erected by Councils in 1870. The total expense was about $26,000. It comprises the " lock-up," the battery for the electric alarm, offices for the several city officials. Council chambers, and a large hall. Fire Company Building's. — For many years the early fire companies owned their own buildings in which they kept their apparatus ; but when the city government began to contribute more liberally towards their encouragement, it became the owner of the buildings. Now it owns all the buildings of the several companies, 10 in number, excepting that of the Liberty Fire Company. The buildings 248 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. are all fine, substantial structures, elegantly fur- nished. Commons. — A large tract of land, which lay at the base of Penn's Mount and contained about 50 acres, was ' ' reserved by the proprietaries of Penn- sylvania as a free and public Commons for the dwellers in said town," when they laid out Reading in 1748. Notwithstanding the land belonged to the town and had been occupied by the dwellers as a "Commons" for 50 years, the authorities of the borough permitted a sale thereof, by the at- torney for the Penns, to the commissioners of Berks County on November 19, 1800, for the nominal consideration of $440. And from that time until 1886 the county claimed to own it. In June, 1850, about 30 acres were inclosed by a fence, the inclos- ure extending from the " Hill Road " to Washing- ton Street, and from nth Street to the eastern boundary line (excepting the reservoir property and the County Prison), and upon the organization of the Agricultural Society, the county commissioners leased the tract to them for the purpose of holding an annual ' ' Fair ; ' ' which then erected exhibition buildings, and constructed a circular race-track (one- third of a mile in circumference). In 1865 the track was increased to a half-mile in length, and then the remaining part of the "Commons" to Walnut Street on the north was inclosed, making the total area nearly 50 acres. In 1878, a movement was made by property- holders in the vicinity to improve that part of the Commons which lay between the prison, the turn- READING. 249 pike, and the Hill Road. Over $6000 was collected by them and appropriated towards the improve- ment. The sheds of the Agricultural Society were removed to the northern portion of the ' ' fair- ground," and the small triangular tract was in^ closed. In 1884, legal proceedings were instituted by City Councils to obtain a deed from the County Commissioners for the entire tract of land known as the "Commons," but the Court of Common Pleas refused to award a writ of mandamus to com- pel them to execute the deed prayed for. The matter was carried to the Supreme Court and the judgment was reversed. The deed was finally exe- cuted and delivered on November 22, 1886. Coun- cils afterward established a "Park Commission," and since that time the " Commons" has been rec- ognized as public property and has received annual appropriations for its improvement under their super\'ision. Halls. — The people of Reading had a natural fondness for amusement from the beginning of the town. During its first period there were no build- ings set apart expressly for meetings and amuse- ments. Every tavern had a large room, in which the landlord encouraged parties to assemble for dancing, an amusement which was indulged in frequently during the year by the young people, and which was especially conspicuous on "Fair- Days," Public meetings assembled mostly at the Court-House. And during its second period, the situation in this respect was not much improved. The "State-House" included two large rooms on 250 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. the second floor ; but these rooms were never con- verted into "halls" for dancing, theatres, etc., — the one having been mostly used for a lodge-room by the "Masons," and the other for a Sunday- school from about 1820 until 1846, when the build- ing was sold by the county. Theatres and per- formances of all kinds were still conducted in large rooms of certain taverns. But its third period had hardly begun before a change was effected to ac- commodate the public. The first enterprise for this purpose was projected in 1842, when steps were taken by the " Free and Accepted Masons" to erect a large and commo- dious three-story hall on the east side of 5th Street near Franklin ; but it failed, notwithstanding a large room was much needed. The "Reading Academy" had been closed to entertainments, even concerts. In 1 846, a second effort was made. This was by the ' ' Odd Fellows. ' ' They purchased the lot on the southwest corner of 5th and Franklin Streets, began building operations in April, 1846, and dedicated the "Odd Fellows' Hall" on Octo- ber 26, 1847. The procession of Odd Fellows upon that occasion presented one of the finest pageants ever witnessed in Reading. Concerts and enter- tainments began to be held immediately after its dedication in the auditorium on the second floor. The next was the ' ' Keystone Hall, ' ' an addition erected at the rear of the Keystone House — north- west corner of 6tli and Penn Streets, by the owner, Tobias Barto. Its completion was signalized by a "Grand Dedication Ball," on October 19, 1854. READING. 251 Its capacity was about 500. Many entertainments, balls, and public meetings were held in it during its continuance. In 1866 it was enlarged and much improved, when it was called Keystone Opera- House. It was discontinued upon the enlargement of the hotel. The third was "Aulenbach's Hall," on the south side of Penn Street, above 6th, erected by John S. Aulenbach in 1862. Its capacity, including gallery, was about 800. The fourth was "Breneiser's Hall," on the north- east corner of Penn and 8th Streets, erected by Charles Breneiser in 1869. From 1879 until now it has been known as Association Hall, after the Young Men's Christian Association. The third floor is occupied by societies of Odd Fellows. Mishler's Academy of Music was erected by Joseph Mishler, of Reading, and opened to the pub- lic October i, 1872. It was the first modern theatre erected in Eastern Pennsylvania, outside of Phila- delphia. Its seating capacity was over 1000 per- sons. The cost exceeded $100,000. The interior arrangements were complete, and the ceilings and walls were magnificently frescoed. After a success- ful career of 14 years, it was closed February 27, 1886, when it was converted into a hall for the use of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is now oc- cupied by McLean Post, No. 16. In 1 87 1, the West Reading Market-House Com- pany erected a fine market-house on Penn Street, between 3d and 4th Streets, and in 1873 added an "Opera-House" to the front part with a seating 252 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. capacity for looo persons. It was opened in that year to the public as a place of amusement. The cost was $40,000. A "Masonic Temple " was begun in 1873, on 6th Street near Walnut, but the project failed after the completion of the market-house at the rear. Then several individuals purchased the property and com- pleted the building. It was opened in 1877, and named Msennerchor Hall after the prominent sing- ing society of Reading. The market house was torn down in 1886, and the owners erected a superior theatre, to take the place of the "Academy of Music." Gas and Electric Lig-lit. — Our forefathers used a ver}' simple sort of light. It was produced from tallow and oil. Candles were in universal use. And they continued in use during the first and second periods of Reading. The inhabitants did not require a superior light, for they performed their labor and transacted their business during the hours of the day in which the sun shone, — from "sun-rise" to "sun-set," — carrying out the divine injunction, "work while it is day, for the night Cometh when no man can work." From this, how- ever, we are not to infer that the night was not used to some extent as it is now, for amusement at least, if not so much for labor and business. " Country life," as distinguished from "town-life," clung to the inhabitants with remarkable tenacity. This arose from their condition. They were mostly of the laboring class, and had simple habits. A great proportion also carried on agriculture in connection READING. 253 with their trades and occupations. Generally in- clined to exercise economy, they avoided expense beyond the necessaries of life. Naturally, a simple, cheap light was sufficient for their purposes. A de- mand for an improvement did not arise ; hence, it was not thought of If, perchance, it occurred to some men of enterprise and advanced thought, it was certainly during those periods impracticable. The time had not yet come, and the population had not yet reached the number, to justify the experi- ment and expense. Immediately after the erection of the borough into a city, an improvement was made. And this was by the introduction of gas, for which a company was formed in 1848, under the name of the "Reading Gas Company." It con- tinued to supply many citizens and business places and the streets of the city with gas from that time until November, 1885, when the "Consumers' Gas Company" took possession of its extensive and costly plant under a lease. The latter company is now supplying gas to the community. A company was formed in 1883 for the purpose of supplying Reading with electric light and power, and it has been in successful operation since. It began to supply the city with light at the more prominent intersections of streets in September, 1883. Street Kailways.— In 1873, the Reading City Passenger Railway Company was incorporated and the railway was laid in 1874 on 6th Street, from Canal Street northward to Robeson, and thence to the Cemetery. The first cars were run in August 254 SCHO OL HIS TORY OF BERKS CO UNTY. of that year. The company has continued to oper- ate the road successfully since. In 1886, it con- structed two branches, — one on Laurel and Cotton Streets, and the other on Walnut and i ith Streets ; and in 1887 and 1888 they extended branches on other streets. A company was incorporated in 1873, under the name of Penn Street Passenger Railway Company, to operate a railway on Penn Street ; and the right was given to construct a street railway on Penn Street from Front to nth, thence on Perkiomen Avenue to 19th Street. The railway was laid in 1874 ; but the road was not operated successfully for a number of years. Then it passed into the possession of the Central Passenger Railway Com- pany, which also failed to carry it on to advantage. In 1 88 1, the Perkiomen Avenue Passenger Railway Company was organized, and it purchased the road, cars, etc. In 1886, it constructed a branch road on loth to Centre, to 9th, and to Penn. It operated the road until 1888, when the first-named company became the owner. These street railways have been of great value to Reading in various ways, especially in causing buildings to be erected and more generally distrib- uted throughout the several sections of the city, and in facilitating the movements of the people, whether in traveling to and fro in their daily employments or in carrying on the social affairs of life. They extend through the main thoroughfares from one end of the city to the other, and being so convenient to the people, they are well patronized. The cars READING. 255 have been drawn by horses from the beginning till now. A line of railway, on which the cars are pro- pelled by electricity, was constructed in 1888, ex- tending from East Reading to " Black Bear Hotel." It is operated very successfully. This enterprise was immediately appreciated by the residents of Alsace and Exeter townships, and it will be not only a strong and sure means of improving the value of their property, but also of uniting them more closely with Reading, and its inhabitants. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. SCHOOLS. Education began in Reading at the very begin- ning of its settlement. Churches were erected in 1751 ; and in connection with the churches there were schools. The oldest building used for school purposes for nearly a hundred years, now standing in Reading, is the one-story stone building at the southwest corner of 6th and Washington Streets (the southern half of the building having been torn away). This was owned and carried on by the ' ' German Lutheran ' ' (afterward Trinity) congre- gation. It was erected, it is supposed, in 1763, when the lot was purchased. Two of the early teachers were Joseph Fleischer and Paul Fuegner. A cultured German by the name of Staudt taught for 30 years till 1820. He was succeeded by Christian Deininger (father) and E. Jonathan Dein- ingerand Constantine J. Deininger (sons). In 1844, the week-day school was still active, though not 256 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. so numerously attended as previously. Education was conducted in German. The teacher last named discontinued the school in 1858. The room was situated in the lower (left-hand) side of the building, facing on 6th Street. The desks and benches were hisfh and longf, to accommodate a number of scliol- ars ; just the opposite of the desks and chairs used to-day, which are low and arranged separately for each scholar. The "German Reformed" congregation pur- chased a lot on the southwest corner of 7th and Washington Streets in 1776, and about that time erected a brick building and used it for school pur- poses for many years. The building is still stand- ing. One of the early teachers was John Philip Foesig. His name has been traced back to 1751. He died in 1805, having served the congregation as their schoolmaster for 54 years. The ' ' Friends ' ' were also active in the matter READING. 257 of education from the beginning of Reading. Their building stood on the southwest corner of Washing- ton and Wood Streets, and they continued on that lot until 1868, when they removed to 6th Street north of Washington. The last teachers were the Misses Griscom, who are two of the oldest surviv- ing teachers in this community after a long period of useful service in the profession of teaching. Reading- Academy. — The Reading Academy was the most prominent educational institution at Read- ing for about 30 years, during its second period. The association was incorporated in 1788. For 20 years, however, its history is unknown. In 1805, the State made a grant of 4500 acres of land to it, and in that year a board of trustees was organ- ized. Two years afterward, the board received a donation of I2000 from the State for the purpose of erecting a suitable building. And in that year commissioners were appointed to conduct a lottery, for the purpose of raising money to erect "a build- ing for English worship and for a school-house in the borough of Reading." They advertised the scheme ; an^ on July 15, 1806, published the draw- ing of prizes. The highest prizes were for $1000, $500, and ^200. On June 26, 1806, they published a scheme for second-class, same as the first. They presented a petition to the Court of Quarter Sessions, praying "that the Grand Jury authorize the county com- missioners to take a number of tickets." On April 6, 1808, authority was given "to take 200 tickets of the second class of the ' Reading Church 17 258 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. and Academy Lottery,' to hold them for the profit or loss of the county." The profits to the commis- sioners on the lottery enterprise were devoted to the " Reading Academy." In 1832, another donation was received from the State, amounting to $3000 — " Upon the condition that four students in indigent circumstances should be educated for 5 years in such a manner as to be- come teachers in Common English schools." The trustees also received considerable money from the "Reading School-House and Church Lottery." All these several sums of money were expended by the trustees ; but the institution was left in debt. This caused great dissatisfaction in the community, and public meetings were held in relation to it. A sale of the Academy was considered at a public meeting in 1835, and deemed inexpedient and im- proper ; and in 1836 another meeting was held, when the same opinion was expressed. A commit- tee was appointed by the meeting to confer with the trustees as to the sale. Complaint was then made to the State Legislature. In 1837 an investi- gation was demanded and given. Many communi- cations appeared in the local newspapers about the matter. The Academy building, with one acre of ground, was finally sold in 1838.* Then the trustees of the Academy, in 1839-40, erected the two-story brick building now standing at the northeast corner of 4th and Court Streets, and a school was opened in it May 4, 1840, by Rev. J. R. Goodman. The * Situated on 3. W. corner of 7th and Chestnut Streets, and sold to Philadelphia and Reading R. R. Co. M READING. 259 course of instruction embraced all the branches of a classical education ; and scholars were prepared for college. Young men from distant parts were accommodated with boarding. The cost of board- ing and tuition was $175 a year. Day scholars, for tuition only, was $6 a quarter. The trustees held the Academy building till 1850. By virtue of an act of Assembly passed in 1848, they sold it to the school directors of Reading for the purpose of a "High School," in 1850. Coninion-Scliool System. — Immediately after the passage of the act of 1834, the people of Reading ex- erted themselves in behalf of the common-school system. In May, 1836, a meeting of delegates from the various districts of Berks County was held in the Court-House, for the purpose of accepting or re- jecting the system. Twenty-nine districts were represented. The following voted for it : Reading 260 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. (two districts), Amity, Caernarvon, Robeson, Rus- comb-manor, Union, Windsor, and Womelsdorf. All the others voted against it. At first the school-houses in Reading were small and inconvenient. They improved as the popula- tion and wealth increased. The first school direc- tors of Reading were elected without opposition on March 20, 1835. The first school-house in Reading, as a result of the advocacy and adoption of the common-school system, was a small one-story brick building erected in 1838 at the southwest corner of 6th and Walnut Streets. Previously, the schools were conducted in buildings rented for the purpose. Subsequently, three additional buildings were erected, viz. : One-story brick, 42 by 30 feet, on Washington, between 8th and 9th, erected in 1838. Two-story brick, 45 by 55 feet, on Franklin, between 8th and 9th, erected in 1839. Two-story brick, 45 by 55 feet, on Chestnut, between 3d and 4th, erected in 1840. School Statistics. — The following statistics are presented to show the progress of the system of education in Reading : Schools. Teachers. Scholars. 1835 17 17 1439 1865 82 83 6449 18S5 152 162 7113 High School. — The first effort to establish a High School proved a failure, " through the remissness of one of the wards" (Northeast), and it was aban- doned for a while. A meeting of the directors of three wards was held December 6, 1849, and READING. 261 they decided to organize a "City Union High School," which was to be opened with 75 scholars. The subject of a " Reading High School ' ' was again agitated in 185 1, and it was finally organized on No- vember 2, 1852. William H. Batt was the princi- HIGH SCHOOL, 1852. pal. There were 35 scholars admitted, all boys, sent from the several wards as follows : Northeast, 5; Southeast, 5; Northwest, 10; Southwest, 10; Spruce, 5. In September, 1853, it opened with 63 scholars. The first " High School Commencement " was held July 3, 1856. 262 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. The "Female High School" was organized in September, 1857. The second floor of the building was occupied for this purpose. The co-education of boys and girls began August 15, 1859, and continued until 1881, when the Board of Controllers decided upon a separation. The fe- male department remained in the "High School" building, and the male located in the building at the southeast corner of 8th and Penn Streets, third floor. The fine, commodious "Boys' High School," at the southeast corner of 8th and Washington Streets, was erected in 1883 and 1884. The total cost, in- cluding equipment in all its departments, was $65, 500. Possession was taken, and the school began to be conducted there, in April, 1884. The successful management of these High Schools reflects much credit upon the School Con- trollers of Reading ; and also upon the liberal sen- timent of the taxpayers in permitting increased taxes to be levied for this purpose. They have for thirty years afforded a means of obtaining at home an extended education, much beyond that generally afforded in the common schools, and in this time they have demonstrated their incalculable value. The numbers in attendance have increased three- fold. Both sexes have been fitted to conduct them- selves as people of this community with propriety in a social sense, and with success in a business sense. Nearly all the female teachers in the schools of the city have been scholars. This fact is worthy of special mention, for it proves the value of the READING. 263 school system as encouraged and conducted here in developing the daughters of our people into compe- tent teachers. In an intellectual sense the average of our children is equal to any in the whole coun- try, and so it can be said of them in a moral sense. This is attributable mainly to the superior charac- ter and devotion of our own daughters ; and by continuing our school affairs in this manner, we can look forward to the coming generation with hope and confidence for a condition which will as- sure the people of a higher political freedom and a nobler social equality. The following statistics are presented to show the increase of the High School scholars in Read- ing : Male. Female. Total. i8S7 75 38 113 1872 106 140 246 1885 162 206 368 Female Seiuinaries. — The first institution at Reading for the education of young ladies was in 1835. A seminary was then begun by Mrs. M. E. Shaw, who came highly recommended. Her school was in five departments ; and besides English and French, her coiirse of education embraced music, drawing, and needle-work. Her terms were, — board and washing, twelve weeks, $32.50 ; music, French, and drawing, each $8 ; use of piano, $1 ; pew-rent in church, .50. She was succeeded by a Mrs. Clarke, of Lancaster. In 1838, a female school at Reading was erected into a seminary for the education of female youth in the arts, sciences, and useful literature. It was en- 264 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. dowed by the State, according to the number of teachers and pupils, from $300 to $500. Eighty shares of stock were authorized to be issued at $25 each, and only two shares were allowed to one person. It was opened on September 3, 1838, with three teach- ers and sixty pupils, and successfully conducted for some years afterward. In 1850 three female seminaries were carried on, — one by Mrs. Dechert and daughters, on Penn above 6th Street ; a second by Mrs. Orrick and Mrs. Young, at corner of 5th and Walnut Streets ; and a third by Miss M. Jackson, on 5th between Franklin and Chestnut Streets, whose course em- braced English education, wax, worsted, and zephyr-work, and Polish and silk embroidery. The St. Peter's Roman Catholic congregation established a superior school for young ladies in 1859, naming it "The Academy of the Immacu- late Heart," and has conducted it since with suc- cess. A "Winchester Female Academy" was insti- tuted in 1 867 and carried on for some years on Penn above 8th in the building now used as Union Hotel. The " Stewart Academy " was instituted in 1881 by Prof. John A. Stewart, and is worthy of special mention from the long connection of its proprietor with public education in Reading, having been pre- viously a teacher in the High School for 26 years, the last 14 years as principal. The "Reading Seminary" was begun by Mrs. S. I. B. Wisener in 1884, and since 1885 has been carried on successfully by Miss C. J. Brown. READING. 265 Military and Other Institutions. — A "Military and Scientific Collegiate Institute" was organized by Capt. Alden Partridge in 1850, and carried on in the Academy building for several years. The cost of tuition was as follows : Primary, under 10 years of age, $4 a quarter ; Junior, from 10 to 14 years, English, $6 a quarter ; classical, $7 a quarter ; Sen- ior, over 14 years, English, $8 a quarter; classical, $10 a quarter. Gen. William H. Keim was chiefly instrumental in its establishment. It was incorpor- ated under the name of " Pennsylvania Military In- stitute of Reading" in 1852. Then it had 69 scholars. J VK>t^; lM^- About the time of its discontinuance. Rev. Wil- liam A. Good began the ' ' Reading Classical Acad- emy," which is still conducted under the name of "Reading Business College" by Prof. D. B. Brunner. In 1875, the Protestant Episcopal Church of Cen- tral Pennsylvania founded in Reading a school for boys, naming it " Selwyn Hall." It is under the immediate direction of the Bishop of the Diocese. Military training is part of its curriculum. Carroll Institute was established by Prof. Edward Carroll in 1880; and the Inter-State Commercial College by Prof. H. Y. Stoner in 1885. Schools have also been conducted for young chil- dren. An organized society began an "Infant School" in 1832, and this was conducted success- fully by certain prominent ladies of the borough who solicited funds to defray the expense. It was discontinued when the common-school system was introduced. From that time till now numerous 266 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. private schools have been carried on successfully for boys and girls under 14 years of age. Parochial Schools. — Three parochial schools are conducted in Reading : one by St. John's German Lutheran Congregation, instituted in 1865 5 ^^i^ the other two by St. Peter's and St. Paul's Roman Cath- olic Congregations, instituted in 1859 and 1869. The scholars are children of members of the churches, and the expense is defrayed by the congregations. All of them are under superior management. CHURCHES. The religious education of the community is car- ried on in churches for both adults and children. Three denominations were organized immediately after the town was laid out, — Lutheran, Reformed, and Friends — and they then caused churches to be erected. Afterward other denominations were formed, and they too then erected churches. They continifed to increase during each period. Now the city of Read- ing comprises 14 denominations and 44 churches. They are classified as follows, with the date showing the time of organization ; all being Protestant ex- cepting the last two — Roman Catholic and Hebrew. Ltitheran. Trinity 1751 St. Matthew's 1842 St. James' 1850 St. John's i860 St. Luke's 1869 Reformed. St. John's Chapel .... 1S74 Grace 1878 Hope— Trinity Chapel . . 1885 Peace — " . . 1885 First 1751 Second 1848 St.John's 1871 St. Paul's 1872 Zion's 1881 St. Stephen's 1884 Calvary 1888 READING. 267 Friends — 1751. Episcopal. Christ's 1763 I St. Barnabas' 1859 Presbyterian. First 1811 I Bethany Chapel 1870 Washington Street . . . 1823 I Olivet 1889 — Methodist.* Ebenezer 1822 1 St. Peter's 1848 African 1837 I Covenant 1869 Evangelical.* Salem 1844 I Immanuel 1861 Ebenezer ..••.,.. 1870 I St. Matthew's 1883 United Brethren.* Zion's 1847 I Otterbeiu 1856 Baptist. First 1828 I Berean 1879 Universalist — 183 1. Free Church — 1883. Mcnnonite — 1884. Roman Catholic. St. Peter's (English) . . 11791 I St. Joseph's (English) . . 1887 St. Paul's (German) . . i860 I St. Mary's (Polish) . . . 1889 Hebrew — 1864. Simday-SchooLs. — Each of the denominations mentioned conducts a Sunday-school in its church building. The first Sunday-school in Reading was organized about 1816. In 1828, the several denom- inations united and formed an association to carry on successfully the religious education of the chil- dren of Reading. In 1829, the Lutheran and Re- formed denominations organized an association for themselves, but several years afterward they sepa- * In the entire County the Methodist denomination numbers II churches, and 1500 members ; Evangelical, 35 churches and 2800 members ; United Brethren, 11 churches and 1000 members. t A log church had been occupied for some years previously. 268 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. rated, and each from that time conducted a school for the children of its own members. Subsequently, the other denominations pursued the same course. This work is one of the great features of religious life in the community. ASSOCIATIONS. PROTECTIVE. The associations of Reading, which have been created for the protection of the inhabitants from losses by fire, comprise those which are called "Fire Companies," The first company for this purpose was the "Rainbow." It was instituted in 1773, An organization of this nature existed here for some years previously ; but no definite informa- tion was obtainable. The "Rainbow" was the only company for nearly 30 years. In March, 1800, a company was organized under the name of the " Sun." Some time afterward another was organ- ized under the name of ' ' Union. ' ' These two were disbanded about 1 8 1 2 ; possibly they merged into a new company, which was organized in 18 13, and called the "Junior." Since 181 3, nine companies have been formed, namely: Reading, 18 19; Never- sink, 1829; Friendship, 1848; Liberty, 1854; Washington, 1855; Keystone, 1856; Ringgold,* 1856; Hampden, 1867; and Marion, 1884. The "Reading" and "Washington" were organized as "Hose Companies;" but the former became an "Engine Company" in i860. The "Washing- * Ringgold disbanded in 1871, members going mostly to Junior Company. READING. 269 ton" added a hook-and-ladder truck in 1873. The "Keystone" was organized as a " Hook-and-Lad- der Company," and in 1880 it added a "Salvage Corps." These several companies are incorporated bodies. A meeting of the firemen of Reading was held in 1833, for the purpose of considering the propriety of calling upon the Borough Council " to pay the expenses of keeping up the Fire Department." Previously the companies were compelled to beg assistance from the citizens to enable them to carry on successfully the object of their association. But this continual begging came to be regarded by the people as a nuisance in one respect and as unjust and unequal in another, for some citizens gave con- tributions of money and others would not give any, yet all were benefited alike by the common pro- tection which the fire companies afforded. This meeting was held in order ' ' that the burden should be removed from the few." The local government thereafter made annual appropriations, and subse- quently came to own the fire apparatus and build- ings. The first steam fire-engine was introduced in i860 by the Reading Hose Company. Before 1870 four additional engines were added to the Fire De- partment by the following companies in the order named: Rainbow, Junior, Liberty, and Friendship; and in 1872 two more by the Neversink and the Hampden. There are now altogether eight in the service of the department. Firemen's Union. — Representatives from the 270 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. companies named assembled on March i8, 1861, and formed a Firemen' s Union, ' ' in order to pro- mote harmony and friendly intercourse among the firemen, to establish those just relations which ought to exist among institutions whose views are similar, and to enable them more effectually to per- form those philanthropic duties which devolve upon them." This Union was an ordinary association for four years, composed of five delegates from each company represented. Finding its powers inade- quate for the purposes for which it was formed, an application was made to the Legislature of the State for a charter of incorporation ; and it was accordingly incorporated on March 15, 1865, under the name of the " Firemen's Union of the City of Reading. ' ' It has since acted under this charter, and performed its functions in an admirable manner. And it has been to the people of the cit>' through these years a strong assurance of protection to their property and lives from fire. The management is vested in a board of trustees, elected by the Union annually in October, and serving from the third Monday of January following. It is composed of one member from each company represented in the Union, and it is authorized to elect such offi- cers at such salaries as the trustees shall deem ex- pedient. The volunteer Fire Department has now been an active institution here for over 100 years, and it has through this long time not only defended, but also promoted the public welfare. The companies have always occupied a prominent place in the READING. 271 municipal affairs of Reading, more especially since the establishment of the Firemen's Union. Fire-Alarm. — Immediately upon the breaking out of a fire, an alarm was given to summon assist- ance. This alarm was struck on the bells of Trin- ity Lutheran Church for many years until 1840; then upon the bell of the Court-House for the next 33 years. The locality of the fire was indicated by a number of strokes on the bell to correspond with the number of the ward in which the fire was. In 1873, the " electric fire-alarm " was introduced. It has proved invaluable. Previous to 1873, the fact that a fire had broken out was carried to the janitor of Trinity Church, or of the Court-House, who would ascend the steeple and strike the alarm. This was a proceeding slow and tedious, and fre- quently delayed by the absence of the janitor. Joseph Ritter (janitor of the Court-House and court-crier of the County Courts from 1840 until his "death in 1880,) was active in this important ser- vice. At all hours of the night, as well as during the day, and in all seasons, for 33 years, he re- sponded promptly and willingly to give the alarm ; and upon sounding it on the superior, clear-toned bell, he awakened the whole community. Firemen of the several companies proceeded first to their respective engine-houses and then with their en- gines to the fire ; men and boys from all parts ran, many taking hold of the ropes attached to the engines and hose-carriages and assisting in drawing them to the fire. On the way the fire- man's horn sounded, "Roll her, boys; roll her!" 272 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. and excited voices cried out repeatedly, ' ' Fire ! fire!!" Such a demonstration naturally collected a large crowd at the fire. When the hand-engines were in use, many of the bystanders assisted ; and the pumping process afibrded them much amuse- ment. But progress has brought change. Men and boys are no longer seen tugging away, nearly breathless and exhausted, or running out of line on account of "stitches" in their sides, to rest on the curb-stone half-way to the fire, or rolling out of g>^ the way after a stituted in their stead, and these now gallop onward as if sporting with the heavy engines drawn after them ; and ex- cited people are no longer heard crying "Fire!" whilst running to the scene of the conflagration. During the decade from 1857 to 1867, the im- provement from the hand-engine to the steam-en- gine was great ; but the introduction of the electric fire-alarm in 1873 was a greater improvement. By it, many places were substituted for one place, at all of which the signal could be given with equal facil- ity. These were located in different parts of the city, so as to be convenient in case of fire, and to enable the alarm to be given promptly. Its opera- READING. 273 tion came to be understood aud its utility recog- nized immediately. In the old way, much valua- ble time was frequently lost in causing the alarm to be given, whereby the fire reached a stage beyond control ; but in the new way, the alarm was trans- mitted to all parts of the city without loss of time, and its promptness enabled the chief engineer and responding department -to arrive at the place before the fire obtained much progress beyond ignition. The alarm was struck at first, for '^ ^"^^^ some years, on the bell of the Presby- terian church, and then fire-gongs were introduced in the buildings of the several fire com- panies. And this electric communication has been carried on so far as to open the stable-doors and permit the horses to run into position at the engines and carriages without assistance. In 1877, a hand- some, substantial brick fire-alarm tower was erected on the premises of the Rainbow Fire Company. It is 1 14 feet high. The alarm-bell weighs over 3000 pounds and is elevated go feet. The money for this improvement was raised by contributions and sub- scriptions through the energy and liberality of its members. The system of fire-alarm is regulated by a powerful battery which is situated in the City Hall. It is attended by a superintendent. Wires extend from this battery in eight circuits through- 18 274 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. out the city and alarm-boxes for public convenience are located along these wires at or near the intersec- tion of streets, several squares from one another, now numbering 50.* Parades, Etc. — The fire companies have had nu- merous parades, in which they exhibited their re- spective organizations in full dress. The number of their members was an imposing feature, and their appearance won general admiration. The success of these voluntary associations for the general wel- fare was thereby satisfactorily demonstrated. An annual ball has been given by each company for many years, especially by the older companies. It is an event which has avv^akened much interest and afforded much pleasure ; and the members have dis- played energy and ability in its successful man- agement. General sociability has always stood out prominently upon this occasion. Previous to i860 the general deportment of the companies as bodies was not at all friendly towards one another. It was rough and frequently resulted in demonstrations which elicited public concern. Water-fights were occasionally indulged in after a fire was extinguished. Such battles required much courage and perseve- rance. The water was driven with great force into the faces of the respective factions, especially the leaders, who held the branch-pipes ; and the per- formance offered much amusement to the b}'-stand- ers. Since i860, the general conduct of the firemen, especially their friendliness towards one another, * These circuits aud alarm-boxes are increased according to necessity. READING. 275 has improved very much. There have been no fights for many years. The "Union" has exer- cised a beneficial influence over them. SECRET. Secret societies have flourished in Reading, espe- cially since the Civil War. The first society was the "Free and Accepted Masons," instituted here in 1794 as lyodge No. 62 ; and the next was the "Odd Fellows," instituted in 1838. Until 1861, the former only increased to 2 lodges ; but the latter to 17. Previously they were the only organizations of promi- nence in the place ; but since that time many different kinds have been instituted, number- ing over 100, with a member- ship aggregating many thou- sands. Most men belong to several kinds of organ- izations. The idea of a secret society was at first deemed inimical to the put)lic welfare, particularly the religious welfare, of the people ; but this has come to be so much modified that the great major- ity of the people, more especially in cities, regard them as a necessary feature of social life. They are mostly beneficial, providing the means of relief in times of sickness and distress. BANKS AND BANKING. The first public financial institution of this coun- try was the "Bank of North America." It was incorporated by the United States Congress on De- cember 31, 1 781. The idea was suggested by Rob- 276 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. ert Morris, and he also submitted a plan for its management. It arose from a conviction that the public finances would be supported thereby, and that the exigencies of the government rendered its establishment indispensable. Its operations began on January 7, 1782, when Robert Morris wrote to the president of the Executive Council of Pennsyl- vania "that it would have a tendency to increase both the internal and external commerce of North America, and would undoubtedly be infinitely use- ful to all the traders of every State in the Union, if properly conducted." This project necessarily stimulated the idea of a State bank. The "Bank of Pennsylvania " was incorporated March 30, 1793, and was empowered to es- tablish " Branch Banks." One of these was estab- lished at Reading in 1 808, and continued until 1857 in the building occupied by the "Union Bank." Upon its suspension then, the "Union Bank" was organized, and the latter has been continued until now in the same building with great success. The second bank organized at Reading was the "Farmers' " in 1814, which has continued in successful operation till now, three- quarters of a century, and in the same building which it then purchased. The banks now doing business here besides the "branch bank," 180S-1857 READING. 211 ' ' Union ' ' and ' ' Farmers' ' ' were organized as fol- lows: First National, in 1863; Second National, Penn National, and Keystone National, all in 1883. WBRARIES. Two libraries were instituted at Reading about the year 1808 ; the one was German and the other English. The former was established first. It was organized by 26 prominent citizens of Reading, under the name of "Reading German Library Com- pany." By-laws were adopted and a successful management was carried on for many years. It be- gan with 685 volumes ; and by additions came to have 1 507 volumes. These additions would indicate that the library was in a flourishing condition. The company disbanded about 1847 ^^^ distributed its books among its members. The ' ' Reading Library ' ' was organized at a public meeting held on March 16, 1808, at the pub- lic-house of Conrad Foesig. The name then adopted was "The Society of the English Library of Read- ing." Seventy persons subscribed its constitution. Upon its organization, 84 volumes of books were ob- tained from a " Library Company " which had been previously established — the former having evidently taken the place of the latter. On the i6th of May follov/ing, its name was changed to "The Library Company of Reading;" and on December 14, 1819, it was incorporated. In June, 1832, the library con- tained about 1000 volumes. At that time it was in successful operation, and continued active for a number of years. For some time before Reading 278 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. was incorporated into a city, it had not been in a flourishing condition ; in fact, it had become rather abandoned. The citizens, in respect to trade and buildings, were making great strides onward since the estabhshment of the city ; but, notwithstanding their earnest efforts in these directions, they could not forget this struggling institution whose object was the general welfare of the people through read- ing and good literature. After the incorporation of Reading, it was revived and much interest was shown in the organization for some time. In 1 868 a re- organization was effected, and the company pur- chased the "Odd Fellows' Hall" for $10,000. It was actively conducted until 1879 \ then it was closed for four years. In 1883 it was re-opened and since that time it has been open to members on al- ternate days (excepting Sunday), every afternoon and evening. The present number of volumes is about 6500. It is also supplied with weekly papers and monthly periodicals. Washington Library Company had its origin. in' the Fall of 1854 as a social body, but after a number of years it was permanently organized with the above name. On October 22, 1870, it was in- corporated. In 1876 a hall was erected by the company on Penn between 6th and 7th Streets. MUSICAL. Musical associations had an early beginning in Reading ; and organizations, both instrumental and vocal, have been carried on continuously until now. Bands have been more or less prominent for over READING. 279 70 years. The recent bands worthy of mention are the Ringgold, Liberty, and Germania, — the former institnted in 1852. Vocal societies have been maintained since 1832. The first was entitled " Beethoven Society of Read- ing." In 1847, the Reading Msenner- chor was organized, having been compos- ed mostly of the prom- inent Germans of the city. It continued its organization until 1874, when it united with the Harmonie Msennerchor (a society begun at Reading in 1870), since which time the two organizations have been one, under the latter name. It has been located in its present quarters in the hall on 6th Street near Walnut since 1878, where pleasant rooms have been furnished. It has a li- brary of classical and other works, both English and German, numbering 2500 volumes. Reading Choral Society was organized in April, 1875, ^^^ ^^s ^^*^ ^ successful existence since. CHARITABI,E. Charity has been prominent in the various public affairs of Reading for over 60 years. The citizens, as a whole, have not displa}'ed any noteworthy en- terprise whose object was the promotion of the common welfare ; but throughout their entire his- tory they have exhibited active benevolence. It assumed definite proportions about the time when the common-school system of education was firmly 280 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. introduced ; and as time advanced it ran into differ- ent useful channels. The several associations of this nature which have been established are the following: Benevolent organized in 1835 ; Relief in 1866 ; Dispensary in 1867 ; Widows' Home in 1874 ; Hospitals, the Reading in 1868, and St. Joseph's in 1873; and St. Catharine's Female Orphan Asy- lum in 1872 ; all of which occupy superior struc- tures excepting the first named. Young Men's Christian Association was organ- ized in 1869. It occupied its first rooms in Earl's building, northwest corner of 5th and Penn Streets, and shortly afterward removed opposite into the Crouse building, where it remained six years. Since 1 879 it has been in its present quarters, corner of 8th and Penn Streets. In 1879, the first general secretary was employed to look after the work and interests of the association , and this officer has been continued since. It was incorporated in 1882. Its rooms are spacious and well-furnished for worship, recreation, and literary culture. The reading-room is supplied with numerous daily, weekly, and monthly newspapers ; also periodicals. INDUSTRIAL. The Board of Trade was organized in 1881, to enhance the material interests of the city. Its spe- cific purposes are to promote the trade, commerce, manufactures, and mechanic arts ; to establish and maintain uniformity in commercial usages and to inculcate principles of justice and equity in busi- ness relations ; to. disseminate valuable commercial READING. 281 and statistical infonnation ; to facilitate the adjustment of controversies in trade ; and to foster, protect, and advance the best interests of the business community. These aims have enlisted the sympathy and secured the co-operation of most of the energetic business men of the city, who have enrolled themselves as members of the association. Committees have been appointed in accordance with the above purposes, and their efforts have produced gratifying results. Building, loan, and savings associations have been important factors in promoting the growth of the city, and have assisted many worthy citizens to the ownership of homes, or given them financial aid in transacting their business. The moneys handled by them count into millions of dollars. The building association as an organization did not begin to erect buildings until about 1876. Pre- viously, it simply received moneys and made the same profitable by disposing thereof to parties on mortgage securities. When the amounts on hand became so large as to be unproductive, measures were instituted to make them productive, and the directors then turned their attention to buildinsf operations. From 1876 to 1886, it is estimated that the several building associations of Reading erected altogether about 800 buildings, almost entirely dwellings for the working people. Many men have been active in this matter for a number of years, and they have contributed greatly to the permanent improvement of Reading. Lewis Kremp, Esq., has been prominently connected with this branch of business in our community for thirty years. 282 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. GOVERNMENT. The government of Reading is prescribed by Acts of Assembly enacted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and by ordinances passed by the City Councils in pursuance of said Acts. The fundamental law of the city was the act of in- corporation passed in 1847 ; but this has been changed by a number of acts passed since, giving the municipality increased powers. These acts have established certain rights and powers, and also created certain offices, which are either filled by elec- tion of the tax-payers, or by appointment of the mayor and Councils ; and through these officers the regulation of the municipal affairs is properly carried on for the welfare and progress of the people. Three departments have been established, some- what similar to the State and National governments, which are — Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. I^eg-islative. — The legislative department is vested in the City Councils, and consists of two branches. Select and Common, which pass the necessary ordi- nances to make the laws operative. Committees are appointed from the members of the two bodies for the purpose of examining matters within the scope of their appointment, and of presenting such reports and recommendations as may be deemed necessary ; upon which the Councils take such action as they consider advisable. In this manner all the municipal affairs are regulated. Four sub- jects are particularly prominent before the tax- payers : highways, police, water, and finance. The READING. 283 expense of carrying on the government is raised by levying and collecting taxes from the people. The two principal sources are from taxes on real property and from water rents ; the latter are fixed by rates of consumption, but the former are levied by Coun- cils, being rated on the county assessment according to the demands for appropriations. Both are paid by the tax-payers directly to the treasurer. Coun- cils are composed of members from the several wards of the city, one from each ward for the Select branch, and a number from each ward for the Com- mon branch apportioned according to population. The city is now divided into thirteen wards, which have been created either by Act of Assembly, or by the Court of Quarter Sessions upon petition of the tax-payers and favorable election. Executive. — The executive department is vested in a mayor, who is elected by the tax-payers every four years. His duties are principally those of a police magistrate ; also recommendations to Coun- cils, and the approval or disapproval of ordinances passed by them. The police department is under his direct control, he appointing the policemen, subject to the confirmation of Councils. The police force is composed of a chief, two sergeants, and patrolmen, who preserve the peace of the commu- nity and arrest offenders. Persons arrested are either admitted to bail or imprisoned ; then heard and, according to the circumstances of each case, discharged, fined, or sentenced to the county prison for a fixed time not beyond thirty days. Judicial. — The judicial department is vested in 284 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. an alderman, resident in each ward, and elected by the tax-payers of the district for a term of five years. The aldermen of the several wards do not act to- gether as a body, but each for himself. His duties and powers are similar to those of a justice of the peace. His jurisdiction extends over the' entire county — though elected for a ward — and compre- hends personal actions to recover money not exceed- ing $300 in amount, and also complaints for the arrest of persons alleged to have committed some offence against the law. His summonses are served, and his warrants for the arrest of offenders, and his writs for the collection of money or the sale of per- sonal property are executed, by a constable, who is elected by the tax-payers of each ward for a term of three years. Each is obliged to enter into a bond with surety for the faithful performance of his duties. Other Officers. — The elective officers, besides those required for the three departments named, are a trea- surer and a controller. The former receives all the moneys belonging to the city and pays out the same upon warrants ; and the latter examines and counter- signs all warrants drawn upon the treasurer by the city clerk by order of Councils. Both are elected for a term of two years. There are also certain ap- pointed officers, the more important being a city clerk, appointed by Select Council ; and solicitor, engineer, and two highway commissioners by both branches of Councils. The clerk records all the proceedings of Councils and of the several commit- tees, and draws all warrants for money due by the READING. 285 city. The solicitor is the advisor of Councils, and attends to the law business of the city. The en- gineer regulates the highways and buildings ac- cording to established grades ; and the commissioners — two (one for the section of the city east of ytli Street, and the other for the section west of 7th Street) — attend to the construction and repair of the highways. The city is divided into four districts — 6tli and Penn Streets being the dividing lines — for the purposes of supplying water and of protect- ing health. The Water Board was established in 1865, and consists of four commissioners, one from each district, who are appointed by Coun- cils for four years. The Health Board was estab- lished in 1874, ^^i . Boyertown (bor.) . Brecknock . . . . Caernarvon . . . . Centre Colebrookdale . . Cumru District Douglass Earl Eseter Fleetwood (bor.) . . Greenwich . . . . Hamburg (bor.) . . Heidelberg . . . . Heidelberg, I, . . . Heidelberg, N. . . Hereford Jefferson Kutztown (bor.) . . Longswarap Maiden-creek . . . Marion Maxatawny . . . . Muhlenberg . . . Oley Ontelaunee . . . . Penn Perry Pike Richmond Robeson Rockland Ruscomb-manor . Spring Topton (bor.) . . . Tulpehocken . . . Tulpehocken, U. . Union Washington . . . . Windsor Womelsdorf (bor.) 2,386 858 890 817 2,049 3,462 995 1.275 1,090 2,266 1,342 4,332 5,856 1,182 1,129 1.942 '.384 2,1 2,117 1,640 1,279 1. 791 2,017 817 924 1.294 338 453 495 723 536 829 671 1,413 753 450 489 S02 792 2,017 805 660 794 1,194 1,046 2,462 5°9 709 934 1,381 1,004 329 1,569 1,104 1,337 3,605 923 203 863 770 929 918 1,630 1,284 1,371 1,192 1,847 1,410 731 1.232 971 1,807 1,026 932 645 1,135 2,065 1,130 1,057 1,482 866 862 1,229 2,688 562 839 990 1.455 1,407 4,124 ■1,695 1,350 2,108 1,469 2,119 669 2,294 " 766 993 370 Total of County . 32,407 1,358 t 43,146 3,238 921 1,950 752 1,379 1,342 1,256 3,200 1,456 1,046 46,275 53,152 8,410 1.057 2,498 1,664 3,149 2,906 15,743 1,406 2,697 1,566 ',734 1,747 23,162! 1,586: 1 , 299 1,596 2,516 2,027 1,458 1,871 159 935 813 1,216 1,124 2,939 5S3 1. 133 1,158 1,911 876 977 1.346 1,102 3.S53 842 i,or8 1.047 2,074 953 1,392 1,359 2,182 786 1,120 1,143 2,308, 1,629 * 3,539 693 1,836 1,749 1,897 1,877 1,842 1.035 1.244 640 1.530 1,740 790 1.997 2,016 1,649 1,799 1,045 1,476 1,320 883 2,056 2,404 1,369 1,235 2,041 1,334 1,013 2,398 956 1.372 1,122 915 2,217 1,531 1,628 2.093 1,676 2,056 1,398 1,444 1,526 1,178 2,575 2,461 1,707 1,566 2,004 33,930 1,510 1,294 1,646 2,124 2,008 457 2,285 2,941 1,581 1,272 1,210 2,882 1,665 1.154 1,115 947 1,956 1,125 1,968 1,600 1,450 1,076 64,569 77.129 690 813 927 1.529 1,660 2,573 724 1,072 1,022 2,239 2,151 1,590 1,193 2,480 979 1,260 1,133 945 2,91 J 1,615 1,837 2,531 1,547 1,986 1.339 i.5'5 1,680 925 2.874 2,458 1,451 1,408 2,253 2,013 1,196 2,165 1,609 1,2H 1,031 93,818 106,701 122,597 * Hamburg in 1840—648. 1 103 Taxables. X Population, 727. In 1790 the population of Reading was 2235, and of the county, 30,179. 294 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. The valuation of all property in 1885, for the county, was nearly $50,000,000; and for the city nearly $30,000,000; total, $80,000,000. The real value is believed to exceed $100,000,000. POPULATION OF READING. In 1847, when Reading became a city, the popu- lation was 13,044 ; of which 4634 was north of Penn street, and 8410 south. As to sex, there were 6641 males and 6403 females. The families numbered 2398 ; and the houses 2138. In 1876, the population was 40,109, — distributed as follows : — North of Penn street, 20,869 ; south, 19,240; as to sex, — males, 19,552; females, 20,557; and as to age, — under 21 years, 20,549 ; over 21 years, 19,560. The city then contained 8186 dwellings, 1044 stores, 117 manufactories. In 1880 the population, by the census enumera- tion, was 43,278 ; north of Penn, 21,167 ; and south, 22,111. In 1 886, the taxables of the city were as follows : — Resident owners, 4668 ; tenants, 688 1 ; and single men, 1172. In 1889, the registered voters numbered 13,543, distributed as follows : — North of Penn, 7379 ; south, 6164. 1st Ward 2d Ward 3d Ward 4th Ward 5th Ward The population in 1889 is estimated to be over four times the number of taxables, or about 60,000. • • 923 6th Ward . ■ 1414 loth Ward . . • 1245 . . 1282 7th Ward . • 1352 nth Ward . . . 883 . . II6I 8th Ward . . 1064 1 2th Ward . . . 832 . . 667 9th Ward . • "33 13th Ward . . . 701 . . 886 READING. 295 CONCLUSION. In the pages of this volume, the Author has en- deavored to present the important historical facts of the people of Berks County, whilst acting under the forms and requirements of law. In the beginning, the country was a wilderness, without cultivation or improvement of any kind, and possessed by Indians, — a race of people who had no idea of civilization, though having lived here a long while, possibly for centuries ; but now, after the lapse of less than 200 years, we see its hills and valleys improved in every section, exhibiting the unmistakable results of pos- session by another race of people who had a just conception of social progress. In the several departments of life, whether in government, industry, education, or warfare, a per- sonal energy was shown by them, indicating that they directed their affairs for the accomplishment of a common end, — the general welfare, — just as the natural energy of gravity directed the flowing waters through the streams of the county into a common channel ; and as the Schuylkill River had its waters to roll onward year after year without diminution, replenished by a Power Divine, so did this people, under the guidance of His love and wisdom, show increasing manifestations of life from generation to generation, until they came to constitute a govern- ment truly representative, to carry on works suc- cessfully in every avenue of labor, to bestow knowl- edge freely upon the whole community, and to make patriotism the noblest impulse of citizenship. 296 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, From a wilderness, we find that the country has been developed into an extensive garden ; from bar- barism and the ruling of men by might, the prin- ciple of equality has been .finnly established ; from looo uncivilized persons, with property of no gen- eral value, a civilized population has multiplied to 130,000, whose possessions have a fixed value now estimated to be worth $100,000,000 ; and from a few rude relics left half-buried by an improvident race, the change has become so great, including founda- tions and buildings and improvements of such a per- menent nature, that, if this succeeding race in the wonderful fluctuations of time should also be obliged to depart, or be exterminated by warfare, many evi- dences would remain to demonstrate their social progress and intellectual greatness. INDKX. A DLER, proprietor of, flogged . . 139 Agriculture 96-100 Amish, denomination of 71 Preachers 72 Amusements 194, 216, 228, 249 Area of County 38 Associations 268-281 Protective 268 Secret .... 275 Banks and Banking 275 Libraries 277 Musical 278 Charitable 279 Industrial 280 Auditors, office of 43 "DANKS and Banking 204, 275 Baptists, denomination of . 68, 267 Berks County, adjoining counties of . 11 Position of 15 Erection of 37 Area of 38 Name of 38 Bernville i8i Birdsboro' 179 Board of Trade , 280 Boone, Daniel, the Kentucky Pioneer, 171 Boot and Shoe-making at Reading . . 235 Boroughs 40, 178-185 Bernville 181 Birdsboro' 179 Boyertown 183 Centreport 181 Fleetwood 184 Hamburg . . . ' 182 Kutztown 182 Lenhartsville 184 Topton 184 Womelsdorf 178 Government of 184 Census of . 293 Boyertown 183 Brewing at Reading 238 Brickmaking at Reading 233 Bridges 104 Building Associations 211,280 QALENDAR, Old Style to New Style 197 Canals 104 Cemeteries 73 Census of County 290-294 Table, 1800 to 1880 293 Centreport 181 Charitable Associations 279 Churches of County 63-73 Lutheran and Reformed .... 64 Friends 67 Baptists 68 Dunkards 69 Moravians 70 Roman Catholics ji 297 298 INDEX. Amish 71 Episcopal 72 Other denominations 72 At Reading 266 Cigar-making at Reading 234 City Hall at Reading 247 Civil War, 1861-65 148-163 Ringgold Light Artillery .... 152 Patriotism of County 152 Partisan Protest 153 Appropriations 155 Ladies' Aid Society 155 Reading Hospital 156 Drafts in County for 156 Companies from County in . 157-159 Confederate Armies surrender . 159 Summary of Battles 160 Sacrifices of War 160 Clock-making at Reading 235 Commissioners, office of 43 Commons at Reading 248 Common School Education 75 Common School System, Origin of . 78 Accepted by Districts 78 At Reading 213, 259 Congressmen of County 45 Constitution of Pennsylvania .... 49 Constitution of United States .... 46 Continental money '35 Conventions, necessity of 56 State, at Reading 60 Conway Cabal, not at Reading, ... 135 Coroner, office of 44 County Buildings 1 13-119 Court-House, 1762 113 Court-House, 1840 118 County Prison, 1770 118 County Prison, 1848 119 Poor-House, 1824 "9 State-House, 1793 118 County of Berks, erection of ... . 37 Area of 38 Name of 38 Sub-divisions of 38 Townships of 39 Districts of , 39 Counties of State previous to Berks . 37 County Superintendents 78 Court-House, 1762 113 Court-House, 1840 118 Crier and the Boys " • * . 115 Customs, Manners and ... 91, 215, 229 ■PJECLAR ATION of Independence, 46 Names of 13 Colonies 46 Delegates to Conventions 56 District Attorney, office of 43 Districts of County 39 Divisions of County 38 Duel at Reading, during Revolution . 133 Dunkards, denomination of 69 ■pARLY Settlers of County . . . 24-36 Situation of County before ... 24 Education 63-95 Early encouragement of 74 Churches 63-73 Schools 74-80 Newspapers 80-88 Language 88-90 Manners and Customs .... 91-9S At Reading 255-266 Educational government at Reading . 285 Presidents of School Board . . . 287 City Superintendents 288 Elections, day for general and local . 57 Election Districts of County S3 Electors— Male tax-payers 58 No female tax-payers 58 Electric Fire-alarm 27X INDEX. 299 Electric Light, Gas and, at Reading . 252 Elevation, Relative, of sections ... 17 Embargo of 1807 140 English — third settlers of County . . 32 Names of first families 32 Connected with Friends 32 Named most of townships .... 33 Named County 33 Tories 34 Some, Episcopalians 34 English War of 1812-15 141-145 Companies from County, in . 143-144 Episcopal, denomination of 72 Erection of Berks County 37 pAIR-DAYS at Reading . . . 215, 242 Female Seminaries at Reading . 263 Ferries and Bridges at Reading . . . 203 Fire-alarm 271 Fire Companies 205, 212, 268 Fire Company Buildings 247 Fireman's Union 269 Fishing, Early 103 Fleetwood 184 Fords of Schuylkill 104 Friends, denomination of 67 Churches ' 68 Membership 68 Early preachers 68 French and Indian War, 1755-63 . 124-128 Freshets 105 /^AS and Electric Light at Reading . 252 Geography of County 11 Geology of County 17 Germans, second settlers of County . 27 First Settlers in Oley 27 Redemptioners 27 Immigration , . 28 Huguenots 29 Named three original townships . 30 Selection of land 30 Representative positions .... 30 Extreme Revolutionists 30 Descendants of, in County ... 31 Government of County 41-62 Of Townships 167. Of Boroughs . .' 184 Of Reading 282-289 TJALLS at Reading 249 Hamburg 182 Hatters and Hat-making, Reading . 231 Hessian Prisoners in County .... 132 House-tax and Liberty-poles of 1799 . 138 High School at Reading^ 260 Statistics 260 Huguenots 29 JNDIANS 19 Tribes 19 ("lans 19 Manners 20 Departure 21 Weapons 21 Relics 22 Glossary of names 23 Industrial Associations 280 Industries of County 100-102 Internal Improvements of County . 103 Of Reading 232, 239 Iron establishments at Reading . . . 236 Iron masters of Comity 102 JURY Commissioners, office of Judges, office and names of . K UTZTOWN T ABOR and Internal Improvements of County 96-123 Of Reading 230-254 300 INDEX. Language 88-90 Latitude of County 18 Legislature — National 48 State 51 Lenhartsville 184 Liberty Poles of 1799 138 Libraries 277 Light 123, 207, 216, 2ig Lincoln family 172 Local officers of county .... 42, 43, 44 Locomotion, Progress of 108 Longitude of county 18 Lutherans, denomination of 64 Churches 63, 67 Membership 67 Early preachers 65, 66 At Reading 266 I^ANATAWNY Section of town- ships 169 Names of Townships 39 Derivation of Names 170 Manners and Customs . . . 91, 215, 229 Market Days at Reading .... 214, 241 Market-Houses at Reading 239 Mass Meetings at Reading ... 61 Mexican War, 1846-48 145-148 Reading Artillerists in 146 Battles of company 147 Military Institute at Reading .... 265 Military Periods 124-165 French and Indian War . . 124-128 Revolution 128-136 Whiskey Insurrection . . . 136-138 House-tax and Liberty Poles 138-140 Embargo of 1807 140-141 English War 141-145 Mexican War 145-148 Civil War 148-163 Militia 163-165 Legislative Provisions for .... 163 County Battalions 164 State National Guard 165 Minority officials of County .... 52 Moravians, denomination of ... . 70 Morgantown 180 Mountains of County 15 Musical Associations 278 JJAME of County 38 National Banks 162 National Currency 163 Legislature 48 Representatives 45 Navigation 103 Newspapers 80-88 Weekly 84 Daily 85 Nominations for office . 56 ("OFFICES by Special Legislation for County 52 Offices, Nomination for 56 Ontelaunee section of townships . . 172 Names of Township 39 Derivation of Names "..■■. 173 Origin of Common School System . . 78 PAROCHIAL schools 266 Pay-schools 80 Pennsylvania, Constitution of ... . 49 Legislature of 51 Political Festivals at Reading .... 62 Political Parties 55 Poor Directors, office of 44 Poor-house of County, 1824 .... 119 Post-office of Reading established, 120 201 Post-offices in County 121 Postal service 1 19-122 INDEX. 301 British service 119 United States service 120 Post-offices in County 121 Stamps 121 At Reading 243 Pounds Sterling 196 Precincts, divisions of district ... 56 Presbyterians, denomination of . . . 72 Presidential Electors 57 Prison Inspectors, office of 44 Prison of County, 1770 118 Prison of County, 1848 119 Progress of Locomotion 108 Protective Associations 268 Prothonotary, office of 43 P. & R. R. Co. works at Reading . 237 Public Buildings of County 113 Pumps 192, 206, 217 Q UARTER Sessions, Clerk of ■D AILROADS in County 107 Influence on Reading 210 Reading 186-289 Town, from 1748 to 1783 . . 186-198 Borough, from 1783 to 1847 • 198-209 City, fcom 1847 to 1889 . . . 209-230 Review of Reading in 1847 . 209-218 Development by Decades . 219-226 1847 and 1889 contrasted . . 226-230 Labor and Int. Imp. . . 191, 202, 230 Schools and Churches . . . 255-268 Associations 268-281 Government 281-289 Post-office established at . . 120, 201 Mass Meetings at 61 Newspapers at 80, 199, 214 Political Festivals at 62 State Conventions at 61 Reading Academy 257 Recorder, office of 43 Redemptioners 27 Reformed, denomination of 64 Churches 63j ^^7 Membership 67 Early preachers 66, 67 At Reading 266 Register, office of 43 Rehrersburg 180 Relative Elevation of several sections 17 Representatives National from County 45 State, from Reading 288 Representation, principle of 58 Revolution, 1775-1783 128-136 Companies from County in . . . 130 Roads from Reading 105 Roman Catholics, denomination of . 71 Churches 71 Membership 71 Early preachers 71 Churches at Reading .... 71, 267 Round Head 16 Caving Associations .... 211,281 Schuylkill River 12 Principal branches of 13 Advantages of 103 Schuylkill Section of townships ... 173 Names of Townships 39 Derivation of Names 174 Schuylkill Valley 14 Secret Associations 211,275 Sections of County 38 Settlers, Early, of County 24 Schools 74-80 Early Encouragement in County, 74 Common School Education ... 75 Constitutional provision for . . . 76 Progress of Schools 77 302 INDEX. County Superintendents .... 78 Originof Common School System 78 System accepted by Districts . . 78 Teachers' Institute 79 Pay-schools 80 At Reading .... 190, 213, 255-266 School Progress 77 School Statistics of County 79 Of Reading 263 Sheriff, office of 43 Stages 107 Stamps, Postal service 121 State Banks 161 State Conventions at Reading .... 61 State Legislature 51 State-House, 1793 118 State Representatives 44 From Reading 288 Streams of County 11 Street Railways at Reading 253 Streets of Reading, Change of Names, 208 Subdivision of County 38 Sunday-schools 267 Surveyor, office of 44 Swedes, first settlers 25 Oldest building in County ... 26 'pEACHERS' Institute, County . . 79 City 288 Telegraph 122 Telephone 123 Topton 184 Town-clock and " Yorrick " . . 116-118 Towns in County 40 Townships of County ... 39, 166-177 Derivation of names .... 170-177 Government of 167 Manatawny Section 169 Ontelaunee Section 172 Schuylkill Section 173 Tulpehocken Section 175 Census of 293 Treasurer, office of 43 Tulpehocken Section of townships . . 175 Names of townships 39 Derivation of names 177 Tulpehocken Valley 15 Turnpikes 106 WALLEYS of County 13 Vote for Governor 59 For President 60 For Party 60 For Liquor 60 WATER-WORKS at Re.ading, 206, 244 Washington visits Reading in J794 137 Welsh — fourth settlers of County . . 35 Named three townships 35 Names of first families 36 Whiskey Insurrection of 1794 . . 136-140 Womelsdorf ... 178 YORRICK, Town-clock and . 116-118 ^^<^^^^^y^ * N >U<