Bios: Mahlon Shaaber 1844- : Reading, Berks Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Marianne Wolfman marianne@ccnet.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. ____________________________________________________________ From: Morton L Montgomery, "Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1909. p 964-5 Surnames mentioned: Caldwell, Dease, Hooker, Knerr, Lemmer, Rhein, Sauerbier, Schisler, Shaaber Note: Surnames of related families have been capitalized, but are lower case in the original. MAHLON SHAABER, of Reading, who has been living retired since 1900, was born in Reading April 12, 1844, son of John C. and Elizabeth (SCHISLER) SHAABER. The Shaaber family is of German descent and was founded in America by Andrew, who located in Reading in 1754. His son, Andrew Jr., was born in that place and is shown by the records to have been a taxpayer in 1775. He married Elizabeth SAUERBIER, and their son, John, grandfather of Mahlon, was born in Reading March 5, 1790. He was the owner of the old family homestead at Ninth and Franklin streets, and followed the calling of a hatter all his life. On Oct. 11, 1810, he married Miss Mary CALDWELL, born in Berks county May 14, 1791. He died Nov. 11, 1839, and his wife March 11, 1844. Their children were: Catherine; Elizabeth; Margaret, Mrs. Frederick DEASE; Mary; John C.; George; Sarah; Peter; Rebecca; Daniel and Jacob, twins; and Henry W. John C. SHAABER, father of Mahlon, was born Oct. 30, 1820. He was a natural mechanic and became a blacksmith by trade. He was quite prominent in local affairs, was originally a Whig, but when the Republican party was formed he joined that. He married Miss Elizabeth SCHISLER, of Lehigh county, and a family of seven children were born to them, namely: Maria, deceased, a music teacher; Ella, Mrs. Frank KNERR; Susan and Elizabeth, who both died young; Adam J., a veteran of the Civil war; John, a mail carrier in Reading; and Mahlon. Mahlon SHAABER received little regular education as his health did not permit of steady attendance. He was only 17 when the war broke out, and in October, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 93d Pa. V.I. A severe wound received in the battle of Fair Oaks May 31, 1862, compelled him to leave the service for a time, but he later re- enlisted in the 42d regiment P.V.M., for three months, with the rank of corporal. At the end of that time he again enlisted in the 196th Regt., 5th Union League, becoming first lieutenant, and served three months more. The wound which he had received never healed, and still gives him much trouble, severely handicapping him. An ardent Republican, Mr. Shaaber has served as chief of police of Reading under Mayor Kenney. Socially he belongs to McLean Post, No. 16, G.A.R.; and Encampment No. 43, Union Veteran Legion. His trade was that of machinist, and for much of his life he followed that calling. On Feb. 1, 1898, however, he purchased the Postoffice cigar store and pool room, and while he was conducting it he made it a very popular place. His last position was as superintendent of the car barn for the Reading Street Railway Company, but since 1900 Mr. Shaaber has lived retired, his residence being at No. 1215 Chestnut street. Mahlon SHAABER married Miss Mary A. HOOKER, daughter of Amos, a foreman in the railroad shops. To this union children were born as follows: John E. and Arthur Osbeck, both deceased; Minnie, wife of Charles H. RHEIN, who is employed as foreman by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company; Edward Garfield, an engineer and machinist at Exeter Station, who married Miss Mary LEMMER; and Stewart Logan, a stenographer and typewriter in Reading. The youngest son is of unusual height, measuring 6'4" when only 18 years old. His father, also of extraordinary height, during the period of his military service owed to the fact of his stature an incident of unusual interest, an account of which follows, as given by himself: "While the 93d Regiment was passing through Washington and Georgetown, we passed in review on Pennsylvania avenue, and among the thousands who lined the pavements was a small group, among whom was a very tall gaunt man, with a pale looking countenance, dressed in a black frock coat, clinging somewhat indifferently to him, stooped shoulders, a black silk hat, with a thoughtful and serious cast of face, who called out 'Bub!' 'Bub!' Capt. Arthur heard him, and noticing that he was addressing me, informed me of it and gave me permission to leave the ranks. I no more thought when the tall, gaunt looking gentleman, with pleasing friendliness of manner, grasped my hand and said, 'Excuse my manners, it was jealousy on my part, that made me call you out to size you up.' He said, 'How tall are you, and what is your age?' I told him, 'I am 6 feet 6-1/2 inches, and in my 17th year, and weigh 140 pounds.' He forthwith drew out of his pocket a black covered memorandum book, and with an ordinary stub pencil noted down my answer. Then he introduced himself in this characteristic way: 'I am old Abe!' I was startled, but felt honored; he next introduced me to Vice-President Hamlin as 'My Son,' and I noticed Gen. Cameron and Governor Curtin stood in the group. He noted our combined heights in the memoranda, giving each full name as follows: Mahlon Shaaber, B, 93d P.V. 6 ft. 6-1/2 in. Abraham Lincoln, President 6 ft. 4 in. Hannibal Hamlin, Vice-President 6 ft. 2-1/2 in. General Cameron 6 ft. 1 in. Governor Curtin, Pennsylvania 6 ft. 2 in. --------------- Total 31 ft. 4 in. "He said jokingly this incident, where so many tall men have met, will not occur again. After quite a prolonged conversation he volunteered good advice to me. He indicated what my habits should be, my diet in camp, that I must eat no pastry, pies, etc., and emphasized the precaution against the use of intoxicating drinks. He told me when lying down to sleep I should always rest the head lower than the chest to expand my lungs, and seriously added 'I am afraid that you will not stand the service.' I essayed to leave, but just then thinking of the orders about stragglers, I asked him to give me a pass, as the patrolmen might gather me in to the guard house. He at once reproduced his memorandum book, tore out a blank, and wrote these words, 'Pass the soldier on his way to camp, by request of, Abe Lincoln.' My knapsack was captured in battle and the memento lost. When the grand old man bade me good bye, he embraced me, virtually putting his arm around my neck, and said with kindly emotion, 'Good-bye, my son. God bless you. Come soon and dine with me.' "At a subsequent time accompanied by Sergeant Fritz, of Company B, I paid a visit to Washington to exchange clothing drawn by me which were too short. On our return to camp we called on the President at the White House. We were ushered into the Blue Room by a colored attendant, where the President arose from a chair where he was engaged in writing, and at once recalled the former meeting and gave us a kindly welcome to the White House. He showed us the spacious building, and presented us to the invited guests of the day. Being invited to dine I lost courage and made up my mind to decline. Mr. Lincoln insisted and said 'I will give you a seat on my right as my particular guest.' I confessed that I was afraid and ashamed to sit with such elegantly dressed company in my shabby clothes, when the Presaident characteristically replied: 'It's not the clothing that makes the man, my son, it's the heart. I think more of a man dresssed in blue for love of his country, than of those gay visitors, whose chief business in these trying times is simply to dress for receptions.' I, however, declined, stating that I would enjoy my bean soup and hard tack better than the reception diner. The President took both hands in his and gave me a parting blessing and dismissed me saying: 'If you lie around Washington in the future call again.' It was always my great regret in after life, that I did not dine with the President. [Signed] Yours truly, Mahlon Shaaber." At the National Encampment of the G.A.R., held at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the week of Sept. 9, 1907, Mr. Shaaber had the honor to be chosen as one of the grenadier guards, composed of men from every Department of the Order, 45 in all, each over six feet in height. He was the tallest by 3-1/2 inches, being 6 feet, 7-1/2 inches. It was the duty of these guards to bear a huge flag, wide enough to cover the street, in the Grand Parade, and in spite of the down pour of rain that drenched these veterans, they marched proudly on with the same unconcern for the elements that they had learned in bygone years.