HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA. BY MORTON L. MONTGOMERY, MEMBER OF THE BERKS COUNTY BAR. ILLUSTRATED. 1886. DMK Heritage Project converted this historic book into a digital format for in-depth research for genealogist and historians with limited time and resources. The book was converted into an Adobe PDF format and is searchable with Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free program from Adobe) or Preview for the iMac. A new complete index was created of last names for quick identification. To maintain the integrity of this historic book, images of each page of the book are provided on a separate PDF file to resolve any questions concerning the conversion to an electronic format. Both PDF files are placed on one CD for your convenience. Price $69.95 Plus $3.00 S&H Total $72.95 DMK Heritage 12303 Indian Mound Austin, TX 78758 You can contact us at: dmkheritage.austin.rr.com Or visit our web site at http://www.dmkheritage.com/ This 1333 page book with a two hundred page index gives great biographical information on the people living in the area from the early 1700's to 1886. TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I. General History of Pennsylvania Early Settlers Dutch, Swedes. English, German, etc.--Provincial and Constitutional Government--Purchases of Territory from the Indians-- Counties erected--Development. CHAPTER II. Physical Geography of Berks County. CHAPTER III Indians. Origin--Delawares: Tribes, Clans and Sachems--Ganawese--Five Nations-- Manners and Customs--Retreat of Indians--Present Location--Villages-- Indian Names--Indian Relics. CHAPTER IV. Nationalities Swedes--Germans-English-Welsh-Irish-Hebrews -Negroes. CHAPTER V. Erection of County General Situation of Territory--Petitions for County--Act erecting County--Districts--Names of Townships and Towns-- CHAPTER VI. Agriculture General Condition and Progress-County Society and Exhibitions-Farms, Production, etc., of County, 1870 and 1880. CHAPTER VII. Early and General Industries Early Furnaces and Forges of County-Production, 1828-30--etc and 1880. CHAPTER VIII. French and Indian War Military Periods--Cause of War--Officers, Supplies. etc.--Colonial Forts--Burd's Journal--Invasion of County by Indians--Numerous Letters on Sufferings of Early Inhabitants--Peace Declared--Persons Murdered, Taken Prisoners and Missing. CHAPTER IX. Revolution and Independence CHAPTER X. Whiskey Insurrection of 1794 House Tax and Liberty Poles of 1799-Embargo of 1807-War of 1812-15 and Companies of County Enlisted. CHAPTER XI. Mexican War Cause of the War--Reading Artillerists Departure for Mexico-- Participation in War--Battles Engaged In--Return of Artillerists-- Brilliant Reception. CHAPTER XII. Civil War Introduction-Patriotism of County-War Meetings and Appropriations- Ladies' Aid Society-Reading Hospital-Drafts and Quotas of Berks County-etc. CHAPTER XIII Militia Legislative Provision -County Battalion of 1783--County Militia proffer Services to President Adams in 1798--County Military Division--Encampment at Reading in 1842--Battalion Day of 1843-- County Militia Companies in 1856--State National Guard--Reading Artillerists--Military Cadets. CHAPTER XIV. Religious Denominations CHAPTER XV. General Education Early Encouragement--Charity Schools-Common School Education-County Institute-Pay Schools--Comparative Table of Schools and Scholars. CHAPTER XVI. Language, Manners and Customs. CHAPTER XVII. Newspapers CHAPTER XVIII. Internal Improvements Schuylkill River--Bridges, Roads and Turnpikes--Stages, Canals and Railways--Public County Buildings--Post-Offices--Telegraph and Telephone. CHAPTER XIX. Politics and Civil List Election Districts--Political Sentiment of County--Prominent Representative Men--Offices by Special Legislation--Political Parties--Political Festivals--State Conventions and Mass Meetings at Reading--List of Officials--Biographical Sketches. CHAPTER XX. Judiciary--Bench and Bar Judges-Attorney-at-Law- Biographical Sketches. CHAPTER XXI. Medical Profession of Berks County. Early Medical History--Introduction of Medical Practice into Berks County--Biographical Sketches--Medical Faculty of Berks County-- Medical Society of Berks County--Pathological Society--Reading Medical Association--Homoeopathy--Early History of Homoeopathy in Berks County--Hahnemann Medical Society--Biographical Sketches of Homoeopathists--Medical Registry-Dentistry. IN PART TWO CHAPTER XXII. Census of Berks County Early Population of State-Rate of Increase of Population--Census Table of County, 1790 to 1880--Census of Villages, 1880--Table of Houses, Farms, etc., in County, 1850--Taxables and Voters of County, 1876 and 1885--Property and Money Assessed, 1885. CHAPTER XXIII. READING. PART 1.-Town from 1748 to 1783. Selection of Town Site--Town laid out-Lots sold at Public Sale--First Patentees--Ground Rent--List of Taxables, 1759-- District of Reading Erected--Churches--Schools--Public Buildings--Markets and Fairs, Charter to Reading for Them--Citizens against Change of Government-- Early Innkeepers--Early Occupations--Rainbow Fire Company--No Newspapers nor internal Improvements--Fuel, Light and Entertainments-- Hunting and Fishing--Indian Invasion-Revolution--Prominent Men--Pound Sterling--Old Style to New Style. PART 2.-Borough from 1783 to 1847 Charter of Incorporation-Election Districts--Newspapers--Post-Office- Internal Improvements--Ferries and Bridges-Fire Companies, Banks and Water Supply--Light-Public Buildings--Stages, Canals and Railway-- Manufactures--Traffic--Merchants of Reading in 1830--Occupations in 1839--Distinguished-Visitors--Memorial Services-Streets, Changes of Names--Executions-Early Exhibitions--Prominent Men. PART 3.-City from 1847 to 1886 Review of Reading in 1847-Incorporation-Development-Riot in Reading, July, 1877. PART 4.-Manufacturing Industries PART 5.-Internal Improvements City Buildings, etc-Post Office-Cemeteries-Gas and Electric Light- Halls-Private Market Houses-Hospitals-Private Parks-Street Railways. PART 6.-Churches PART 7.-Schools PART 8.-Associations PART 9-Officials PART 10.-Census. CHAPTER XXIV. Boroughs of County Kutztown. Womelsdorf. Hamburg. Birdsboro. Boyertown Bernville. Fleetwood Topton. Centreport - Part One: Index