Biographies: DUNDORE : Berks Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sherry Staley Sasharysch@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. _____________________________________________________________________________ Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks Co. PA By Morton L. Montgomery J. H. Beers 1909 Sketch on DUNDORE pgs. 1577- 79 Note: the numbers represent the generation. The surnames have been capitalized for easier reading, otherwise nothing has been changed. SURNAMES: BAGENSTOSE, BRECHT, BRIGHT, BROCKWAY, BROWN, CHRIST, COE, DENGLER, DEPPEN, EMES, ERNST, GEHRHART, GOOD, GRAUL, HEBERLING, HEISTER, KARCH, KAUCHER, KLINE, KLOPP, KREMER, KURR, LATTAMAN, LUTHER, MELLINGER, MIESSE, MILLER, REHRER, SCHAEFFER, SCHAUER, SMITH, STAMM, STONER, STRAUSE, WALTMAN, WINTER. France was the first home of the DUNDORE family, and tradition says that (1) John DUNDORE, a Huguenot, left his native land during the revocation period, and went to Germany, settling in Alsace. (2) Jacob DUNDORE (DONDOR, DONDORE, DUNDIER, DUNDON, DUNDER, DUNDEN, and DUNDARE) son of John, was born, July 25 1720, and was educated in the German Language. In 1741 he came to America on the ship "Friendship" and on April 10 1760, was naturalized by the Supreme Court, sitting at Philadelphia, there-by becoming an English subject. In 1771 he bought a farm east of Bernville. He continued to reside for some time at the farm in Tulpehocken Township several miles east of Host Church (where in 1749 the birth of one of his children is recorded), as according to the court records he owned that farm until 1785. In this year we find a deed recorded conveying the same to Valentine HEBERLING. It is certain that he resided on the Bern farm at the time of his death. This farm he conveyed by deed to his eldest son, John (signing "Jacob under" in German), from whom it passed to his son John Adam, by deed signed "John DUNDORE" in bold round English; John Adam divided the farm between his two sons, Samuel E. and Adam E. (signing Adam DUNDOR' in German)-Adam E. obtaining the portion on which was the old house-the farms being in their possession in 1908. Jacob is buried in the Bern Churchyard., and on substantial yellow sandstone is the following inscription: Hier Ruhet dem Leibe nach Jacob Dondoer ist gebohr. D. 25 Jul. 1720 u. Starb D. 12 May 1789 hat Sein Leben Bracht auf. 68 Ja. 10 u. 17 tag mit einander kinder ergeugt 5 sohne u. 3 tochter in der Ehe gelebt 44 Jahr". His will is dated March 3 1787, and the original and a translation are recorded in Reading. It was approved June 12 1789, and it is an outpouring of his soul's thanks to God for health and prosperity, and is an example of equity and justice in the distribution of his estate such as could come forth only from a Christian's heart. About 1745 he was married to Anna Maria BRECHT who died in 1794. Their children were: Maria Catherine, b. Mar 19 1749, who married John SMITH, and some of their descendants still live in the Wyoming valley; Susanna, who married Frederick GERHART, and lived in the vicinity of Host Church, where their descendants still reside: John, born March 20 1751, who died Oct 14 1823; Michael, born Dec 4 1754: John Jacob, born March 19 1756, who died Sep. 22 1821: David, born July 21 1758; Catherine Elisabeth, who arried Adam SCHAUER; and a son whose name is not known. (3) John DUNDORE son of Jacob and Anna Maria (BRECHT) was born in Tulpehocken Township, March 20 1751, and he died Oct 14 1823. He settled in Bern Township near the present site of Bernville, and his descendants are known as the "Bern Branch" of the DUNDORE family. He married Catherine GEISS, born Dec 23 1753, who died Jan 12 1827; they are both buried at Bern Churchyard. Their children were: John Jacob born Aug 13 1776 died Oct 23 1861; John Adam born Aug 2 1778, died June 17 1850; John born Jun 30 1780 died Apr 14 1858; Catherine born Nov 24 1782 died Jan 17 1840; Frederick born Apr 30 1786 died Aug 30 1864; John George, born Oct 6 1788 died Dec 24 1803; Phillip born Feb 28 1791 died Oct 5 1867; and Elizabeth born March 10 1794, who married Daniel MIESSE ( 1789-1823), and died about 1867. This family is remarkable for the average age attained. With the exception of John George, who died of Lockjaw at about the age of fifteen, the remaining eight averaged fully seventy-five years, although two had their deaths hastened by accidents - Catherine being thrown out of a sleigh, and Frederick losing his life by being run over by a railroad train. 4) John Adam DUNDORE, son of John and Catherine (GEISS) was born on the old Homestead Aug 2 1778, and died Jun 17 1850, when he was aged seventy-one years, ten months, fifteen days. He was buried at Bern Church. He was an agriculturist all of his life, and owned the homestead, which in later years became the property of his son, Samuel E. He was a substantial and influential citizen of his day, was director of the poor when the present almshouse was erected, and was well known and universally respected. Mr. DUNDORE was married (first) to Elizabeth MIESSE, by whom he had nine children, namely: Susanna, Maria, Elisabeth, Leah, John (born Apr 17 1818), Daniel, Sarah, Benneville, and Jacob (born in 1820 died 1853). He married (second) Elizabeth ERNST, daughter of Johannes ERNST, of Heidelberg Township. She was born Apr 10 1791 and died Apr 10 1870, and was buried in Bern Churchyard. Three children were born to this union: Samuel E.; Adam, born Dec 1 1829, who married Rebecca MILLER, and had three children - Valeria, Sallie, and Ella.; and William E. who married in Plainfield, ILL and had one son. ( William E. was a soldier in an Illinois regiment during the Civil War, and lost his life in battle by the bursting of a shell). 5) Samuel E. DUNDORE, son of John Adam and Elizabeth (ERNST), was born in Penn Township, Berks County, Feb 1 1827, and is now living retired in the borough of Womelsdorf. He attended the old pay schools during the tern from Jan. to Mar. , his teachers being Messrs. BROCKWAY and COE, and he left school at the age of eighteen to engage in agricultural persist, which he followed throughout his active career. He first engaged in farming on his own account in 1851, on a part of his father's farm, which he had bought, and which was apart of the old DUNDORE homestead. There he lived for eighteen years, when he purchased he old DEPPEN farm in Heidelberg Township, a tract of 117 acres, on which he carried on operations very successfully for twenty years. These two farms he still owns. Since 1890 Mr. DUNDORE has lived retired in Womelsdorf, and has become one of the borough's best-known and most highly esteemed citizens. Prior to the Civil war Mr. DUNDORE was a democrat, but since that struggle he has been an ardent Republican, was councilman of Womelsdorf for six years, and also served on the Railroad committee for some years. He and his family are members of Salem United Evangelical Church, which he joined in 1860. He is one of the pillars of the church, was a class-leader and exhorter for many years, and for the past quarter of a century has been a trustee. When the church divided, it was Mr. DUNDORE who purchased the church from the Evangelical Association and presented it to the United Evangelical Church Congregation. Mr. DUNDORE was married (first) to Rebecca STRAUSE, of Bethel Township, Dec 23 1854. She was born May 22 1833 and died Feb 16 1858. Three children were born to this union: Amelia, of Maryland; Sarah; and Aaron who left this section of the country in 1887. Mr. DUNDORE married (second) Polly (Mary) SCHAEFFER, born Jan 17 1827 who died Nov 25 1868. Two children were born of this marriage: Emma, and Wilson. Mr. DUNDORE married (third) Mary or Polly (STONER) YOST b. Nov 18 1829. Daughter of Rudolph and Elizabeth (DENGLER) STONER, and widow of Henry YOST. Mrs. DUNDORE had three children by her first marriage, namely, Henry R.YOST, Mary E. YOST and Charles F. YOST. 4) John DUNDORE son of John and Catherine (GEISS) was born Jun 30 1780 in Bern Township and died Apr 14 1858. He was twice married, his first union being with Elizabeth KLINE, born Mar 30 1783, who died Apr 14 1812 and was buried at Bern Church. The children of this marriage were: Samuel K. born Apr 27 1805 died Dec 18 1857; Rebecca born Mar 19 1807 died Feb 16 1875; Isaac born Mar 6 1808 died Sep 13 1878; Polly born Sep 29 1809, married Rev. John KREMER, of Kankakee, IL., and had a large family; and Mary born Jan 17 1812 married Israel MELLINGER, of Wittenberg, SD. Mr. DUNDORE married (second) his first wife's sister, Christiana KLINE, born Feb 8 1794 who died Apr 5 1861. Their children were - Elizabeth born Aug 15 1814 died in infancy; Aaron born Oct 16 1817 died in infancy; Catherine born Dec 3 1819 died Sep 30 1871; Elizabeth born Jan 2 1823; William K. born Jul 20 1825; Leah, born Jun 28 1828 who married John STONER; Harrison K. father of David D.; Susanna born Apr 26 1835, who married Christian R. WINTER of Centreport PA. ; and Lydia born Dec 10 1840 who married Aaron Jacob CHRIST of Naperville IL. The parents of this family were buried in Zion's Churchyard. 5) Isaac DUNDORE, son of John and Elizabeth (KLINE) was born in Bern Township March 6 1808, and he died Sep 13 1878, aged seventy years, six months, seven days. He owned a farm of 102 acres in Penn Township, which he farmed until about five years before his death. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served as school director of Penn Township. He belonged to the Evangelical Church, and is buried in its churchyard. He married (first) Annie KLOPP and (second) Sallie (KAUCHER) STAMM. To the first union were born: Jonathan K., born Dec 8 1838; a son b. 1840 (died in infancy); Benneville b. Feb 22 1842; Caroline born Dec 23 1843; Jacob K.; Jared, born 1847 (d.1847); Nathan K. born Apr 6 1849 (prison inspector of Berks Co.); William K. born Dec 31 1850; Mary Ann born Jun 5 1853 died May 3 1855; Sarah born July 31 1855; Lovina born Apr 13 1858; and Benjamin born Apr 11 1860 (out west). 6) Jacob K. DUNDORE son of Isaac and Annie (KLOPP) was born in Penn Township Oct 28 1845, and was brought up on his father's farm, working for his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He then started a life for himself as a farmer, working for Adam E. DUNDORE of Mount Pleasant, for two years. He then learned the butcher's trade under James MILLER, near Reading, and worked for him nearly two years. In 1878 he engaged in farming in Fritztown, where he still resides, though he retired from farming in the spring of 1909. He cultivated a good farm of forty acres, through which the Cacoosing creek runs, and raised good crops, engaging in trucking: he had stand No.42 at the Reading Market house, at Ninth and Buttonwood streets. He kept six cows and three horses. In 1885 he erected a two and one half-story frame house, 24x28 feet to which there is a two-story addition 16x18. Mr. DUNDORE is a Democrat in politics, and he belongs to the Reformed Church at Sinking Spring. He has been industrious and thrifty, and his success is due to his unaided efforts. On Nov 19 1877, he married Mary EMES, born Aug 3 1832, daughter of John EMES, of Spring Township. No children have been born to this union. 5) Harrison K. DUNDORE, son of John and Christiana (KLINE), was born in Bern Township Sep 21 1832, and died Feb 21 1872. He was a cabinetmaker and undertaker at Lebanon, where he had a large business, employing fifteen skilled mechanics. He was well known and highly esteemed, and his early death was a severe loss to the community. Mr. DUNDORE and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On May 18 1854 Mr. DUNDORE married Whilhelmina DENGLER, daughter of George and Christina (LUTHER) DENGLER, and to them were born children as follows: Emily born Mar 27 1855, married Israel KARCH (both are deceased); David D. is mentioned below; Sally, born Jun 21 1859, married Phillip WALTMAN, deceased; Ida born Jun 6 1861,deceased, married Frederick LATTAMAN, of Reading; and Grant and Katie both died in childhood. 6) David D. DUNDORE, son of Harrison K. and Wilhelmina (DENGLER) was born Sep 12b 1857 in Lebanon, PA. When a young man he learned the hatter's trade at Hendel's on South Fifth street in Reading, where he worked for upwards of twenty five years. In 1901 he engaged in the paper-hanging and painting business, which he has carried on to the present time with much success. He does a great deal of work in Reading, and also in the surrounding district of Mt. Penn. He is also an excellent carpenter, and for some years, contracted for different buildings in his borough, erecting in 1901 the Trinity Reformed Church, and he also put up his residence on Perkiomen Avenue. Mr. DUNDORE is a master in the art of wood carving, his home containing many beautiful specimens of his skill in this line. In 1888he made an ornamental cuckoo clock, which contains sixty-two different kinds of Pennsylvania wood. In politics Mr. DUNDORE is a Democrat, and has served in numerous offices. He was a school director of Lower Alsace Township and of Mt. Penn, and one of the first councilmen of the borough, being an incumbent of both offices at the time the borough was organized. He takes a great interest in educational matters, and in fact in any movement, which has for its objects the betterment of the community, giving his hearty support and cooperation to such enterprises. He is one of the borough's public-spirited citizens, and a representative man of Berks County. Mr. DUNDORE and his family are members of the Trinity Reformed Church, which he helped organize in 1901, having been an elder of the church since it's inception. The church is thew outgrowth of the Reformed Sunday school, of which Mr. DUNDORE was a superintendent, and he has been active in church and charitable work, as also his wife. On Sep 12 1884, Mr. DUNDORE was married to Sarah L. GRAUL, daughter of William C. and Mary E. (McNALL) GRAUL and granddaughter of Samuel and Mary (WHITMAN) GRAUL. To Mr. and Mrs. DUNDORE have been born four children: Cleveland, a brass finisher in Reading, married to Florence GOOD; and Katie, Wesley and Myrtle, all at home. 4) John Jacob DUNDORE, son of Jacob and Anna Maria (BRECHT), was born Mar 19 1756 and died Sep 22 1821. He settled in Heidelberg Township, the Tulpehocken creek, which is the dividing line between Bern and Heidelberg townships, also separating John Jacobs farm from his father's. His descendants are known as the Heidelberg branch of the family. He married Margaretta BROWN 1761- 1817; they are both buried in Bern Churchyard. Their Children were: Jacob (1784-1828); John Adam 1786-1847; Christian 1787-1839, moved to Ohio where he died; John 1792-1858 and Margaret who married Jacob KLINE. 4) John Adam DUNDORE, a son of John Jacob and Margaretta (BROWN) was born Jan 27 1786, and after a life devoted to farming died Mar 12 1847. He was twice married. His first wife, Susanna MILLER, became the mother of children as follows: William, born in 1812; Jonathan, born in 1813; Lydia, born in 1815, who married Benneville BAGENSTOSE, of Centreport, PA; David, born in 1816; Esther; Annie; Mary, born in 1820; Lovina; Catherine born in 1824; and Elizabeth born in 1825. For his second wife he married Mrs. Catherine (MILLER) HEISTER sister of his first wife. She was born in 1788 and died in 1859, the mother of one child, Adam M. Mr. DUNDOE and his two wives are buried in North Heidelberg Church Cemetery. 5) Adam M. DUNDORE son of John Adam and his second wife, was born in North Heidelberg Township Apr 25 1829. He was engaged in farming and was owner of considerable land, making his home in Reading. His wife Rachel BRIGHT was born Jan 21 1829. Both are deceased. They had children: Amandon B., born Sep 15 1850, who died Aug 16 1853; Adam J. B., born Jun 14 1854; Dr. Darius W. 6) Dr. Darius W. DUNDORE, son of Adam M. and Rachel (BRIGHT) was born in Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Oct 16 1856, and died Feb 22 1905, aged forty-eight years, four months, four days. He was educated in the Township Schools, the Bernville High School, and Muhlenberg College, from which he was graduated. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated from the medical department of that institution in Sep 1879. He entered upon the practice of his profession at Tremont, PA, where he built up a good practice, and thence moved to Fat Top coalfields in West Virginia, where he remained for ten years. At the end of that time he returned to his native county, and located at Womelsdorf, where he remained until his death. Dr. DUNDORE was a most influential and highly respected citizen of the towns in which he resided. He was member of Williamson Lodge, No. 307, F&A.M. of Womelsdorf, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Royal Arcanum. He was a Reformed member of the Zion Union Church, of Womelsdorf, and is buried at this church. His grave is marked by a handsome monument. Dr. DUNDORE was married to Miss Amanda KURR, daughter of Isaac and Catherine (ARTZ) KURR (the former, a farmer at Rehrersburg, PA)., and granddaughter of John and Marie (REHRER) KURR (the town of Rehrersburg was named after the latter's parents). Three children were born to Dr. DUNDORE and his wife: May Mable who died in childhood; Lillie Kathryn, who attended the Lebanon valley College, at Anneville, PA, and is now at home; and Beulah Anna, now also at home, who graduated from Womelsdorf High School and afterward attended the Conservatory of Music at Frederick, MD. Both daughters have done splendid work in art and music. Mrs. DUNDORE and her daughters reside in a handsome residence on High street in Womelsdorf, and hold an important position in the social world.