BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
History of Berks County, Pennsylvania
 in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783,
by Morton L. Montgomery,
Vols. I & II,
publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets,
1894

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Christopher Schultz	CHRISTOPHER SCHULTZ was one of the Mennonite family of that name in Hereford township, where they had settled at a very early period in the history of the county.  When the Revolution began, he was a man of great prominence in that section, and evidently interested in the popular movement for Independence, for he attended the first public meeting at Reading, on July 2, 1774, and was appointed on the Committee of Correspondence.  On December 5th, following, he was placed on the Committee of Observation.  He also officiated as a justice of the peace of that district for one term from 1777 to 1784, and died on Sept. 28, 1789. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 267
E. Scull	EDWARD SCULL (son of Nicholas Scull, Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania), was born at Philadelphia on Oct. 26, 1716.  He was educated to pursue surveying, and was the county surveyor of Northampton County before 1752.  He located at Reading shortly after the erection of Berks County, and continued to follow surveying until the breaking out of the Revolution, when he turned his attention to military life.  He became a captain and raised several companies at Reading.  On May 16, 1778, he was appointed Secretary of the Board of War.  He died at Reading, but I could not ascertain the exact time. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 268
	PETER SCULL, one of the captains from Reading in the Revolution, was born at Philadelphia in December, 1753.  He was the eldest son of James Scull, a surveyor, and was educated to be an attorney-at-law.  In January, 1776, while residing at Reading, he was commissioned as a captain in the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment.  Subsequently, he was aid-de-camp to Gen'l. Washington at the Battle of White Plains, and he showed such a high degree of accomplishment and gallantry that the General recommended him to Congress as a worthy candidate for the office of Secretary of the Board of War.  He received the appointment on July 17, 1779.  Before this he had served as a major in the regiment commanded by Col. John Patton, his commission having been issued on Jan. 11, 1777.  His health failing, he was ordered to go abroad by his physician, and he left Chester for France on October 20, 1779, on the frigate "Confederacy."  On the way, he died at sea, Dec. 4, 1779.  Shortly before, (November 23), he executed a last will, wherein he made the following bequests:  To his friend, Dr. Jonathan Potts, the thanks of a dying man; to Alexander Graydan his pocket pistols; to George Lux, the sword which was given to him by his honored father-in-law, friend and protector, Edward Biddle; to Col. Morgan Conner; his green-hilted hanger; and to Col. John Patton, of Philadelphia, his silver buckles. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 268
Charles Shoemaker	CHARLES SHOEMAKER was born at Germantown about the year 1735.  His grandfather emigrated to this country with Pastorius and settled in the vicinity of Germantown.  About the year 1765, he moved to Windsor township, Berks County, and took up a considerable quantity of land.  He exerted a large influence in politics and business in the upper section of the county.  He represented the county in the Provincial Conference, and also in the Constitutional Convention of 1776.  In 1777, he was appointed as one of the justices of the peace of the county for seven years, and at the expiration of his term he was reappointed, serving, doubtless, till the adoption of the Constitution of 1790; and he also officiated as a Judge of the courts from 1785 to 1790.  The State Assembly in December, 1777, appointed the empowered him to solicit and take subscriptions for the Continental Loan, this service having required a large measure of ability to conduct the duties of the office with success.  He succeeded in obtaining a considerable amount of subscriptions from various citizens of the county.  At the close of the war, much loss was suffered by farmers and merchants from non-redemption of these loans.  The people exhibited their patriotism to the country by lending their aid in its extremity.  In November, 1777, he acted as one of the Commissioners who assembled at New Haven, in Connecticut, to regulate the price of commodities in the Colonies.      He represented the county in the General Assembly for twelve years - 1702 to 1801, in 1810 and in 1812; and in the Statement for four years - 1813 to 1816.  After living a retired life for several years, he died in April, 1820, leaving o survive him five sons, Samuel, Charles, Jacob, Benjamin and John; and three daughters, Sophia (married to Jacob Huy), Catharine (married to Jacob Dunkle), and Mary (married to Benjamin Kepner). Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 269
Jacob Shoemaker	JACOB SHOEMAKER, an elder brother of Charles Shoemaker, was born at Germantown.  He became a resident of Reading some time before 1768.  In that year, he was elected sheriff of Berks County, and he was commissioned for three years.  His residence was on Penn street above Sixth (now No. 607).  Being a man of considerable prominence, he was selected in December, 1774, as one of the Committee of Observation.  He died at Reading in September, 1783, and left a widow, (afterward married to John Kurtz), and five daughters, Catharine (married to Conrad Foose), Mary (married to Henry Row, Hannah (married to Christopher Nagel), Christiana and Sophia. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 271
John Soder	JOHN SODER was born in Bern township, Berks County, where his father, Nicholas Soder, had settled in the early history of that district of territory, having emigrated from Berne, Switzerland, in 1735; and he was brought up to farming, which occupation he pursued until his decease.      He served as a captain four different times in the Revolution, each time for a period of sixty days, in different years.  The record of his enlistments was obtained from the Pension Office of the United States.  His name appears in the Militia Returns of 1777 as a captain of the 5th company in the 3rd Battalion, commanded by Col. Michael Lindemuth, but I could not find it in any other connection with the military affairs of the Revolution.  The evidence of his service, however, is unmistakable.  Unfortunately, the pension records previous to 1812 were destroyed by the British when they took possession of Washington.  From the record of Capt. Soder, I am led to say that there were other enlistments similar to his, but they have not as yet been ascertained.      He died in April, 1817, possessed of a considerable estate, and left to survive him twelve children: four sons, John, Daniel, Jacob and Samuel; and eight daughters, Barbara (married to Peter Noecker), Margaret (married to John Hass), Mary (married to Jacob Zardman), Elizabeth, Sallie, Henrietta, Esther and Hannah.  He was married twice, the second wife having been Margaret Eva Angstadt. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 271
John Spohn	JOHN SPOHN was born in Cumru township, Berks County, on Jan. 19, 1754, a son of John Spohn, an early settler in that township.  He was brought up as a farmer, and came to own and carry on for himself at an early age a farm of 156 acres in Exeter township, some  distance to the south of Mt. Neversink.  At the time of his decease, in 1822, he still owned a farm in that vicinity, exceeding 200 acres.      When the Revolution began, he was a young man.  He formed one of the first companies at Reading in April, 1775, and was commissioned as a captain in January, 1776.  His company, and also that of Capt. Peter Decker, constituted part of the 5th Pennsylvania Battalion, and participated in the movements of Washington's Army at and about New York.  They were taken prisoners at Fort Washington in November, 1776, and held as such until January following.      He was married to Maria Beidler, a daughter of Conrad Beidler, a prominent miller of Robeson township, who owned and carried on for a time the large mill at the mouth of the Allegheny Creek.  Interest in military matters led his son-in-law, Philip Rush (my grandfather), to become identified with the County Militia also at an early age, so that when Berks County was called to supply her quota in the War of 1812-15, he became the fife-major of the 1st Regiment, 2nd Brigade, under the command of Maj. Gen'l. Daniel Udree.      He lived a retired life for some years, and died Apr. 19, 1822.  His remains were first interred in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, at Sixth and Walnut streets; then transferred to the Neversink Cemetery.  He left a widow; three sons, Adam, Solomon and John; and four daughters, Catharine (married to John Ingham), Elizabeth (married to Jacob Kerlin), Barara (married to Philip Rush), and Sarah (married to Daniel Ermold).      When I was a boy, possibly 14 years old, I asked grandfather one day about the early times in a general way, but he stopped all further inquiry abruptly by answering that I was too young to be concerned about such mattes.  I cannot recall the subject I was then interested in, but the natural bent of my mind displayed itself.  Some years after his death in 1871, I began by inquiries in earnest, and I have kept them up unaided ever since. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 272
Benjamin Spyker	BENJAMIN SPYKER was born in the Palatinate about the year 1723.  His father, John Peter Spyker, emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1738, landing at Philadelphia and proceeding thence shortly afterward to Tulpehocken township, where he took up a large tract of land and effected a permanent residence.  In 1744, he was licensed to carry on the business of an Indian trader;  and subsequently, he enlisted in the French and Indian War, his business having been destroyed by the rupture between the settlers and the Indians.  During this trying period, he wrote a number of important letters in reference to the cruelties of the Indians and the sufferings of the people.  He was a neighbor and intimate associate of Conrad Weiser, and was a saddler by occupation.      At the beginning of the Revolution, he assisted in organizing the Associators of the county and preparing them for active military service.  In 1776, he represented the county in the Provincial Conference and also in the Constitutional Convention.  He officiated as a justice of the peace for many years in Tulpehocken township, his district comprising the western section of the county; and there he commanded a strong social and political influence.  He died in September, 1802, aged nearly 80 years.  He was a brother of Peter Stryker, Judge of the County Courts. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 2724
Henry Spyker	HENRY SPYKER was a son of Peter Spyker, Judge of the County Courts.  He officiated as Paymaster of the Militia of the county from August, 1777, to the close of the Revolution.  In the Militia Returns of 1777, his name appears as the Colonel of the 6th Battalion, which was composed of companies in the western section of the county, and he continued at the head of the militia for that section until 1783.  In the Fall of 1777, he commanded the 5th and 6th classes, numbering 400 men, in the campaign about Chestnut Hill and Germantown.  He represented the County in the General Assembly for the years 1785 and 1786.      His residence was in Tulpehocken township, where he carried on a general store until 1800, when he removed to Lewistown, Northumberland County. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 276
Peter Spyker	PETER SPYKER was a son of John Peter Spyker.  He was born in the Palatinate, and emigrated with his father in 1738, locating in Tulpehocken township shortly after landing at Philadelphia.  He carried on farming in that township for many years.      He was appointed one of the Judges of the county in 1763, and he continued to officiate by reappointment until his death in 1789, a period of twenty-six years.  He was specially appointed as President of the Courts in 1780, though he had officiated as such since 1767.  He was the principal judicial officer of the county during the Revolution.  He also served as a justice of the peace of the Tulpehocken district from 1777.  He died in August, 1789, in the township named, and left to survive him a widow and five children:  John, Peter, Benjamin, Henry and Elizabeth (who was married to Philip Gardner) with a considerable estate for distribution among them under a last will. Source:  History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, by Morton L. Montgomery, Vols. I & II, publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets, 1894 - Page 275