Biography: Harry Jacob Weidner: Berks County, PA

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"Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County", by Morten Montgomery

Surnames: Auge, Barndt, Bean, Deloplain, Drumheller, Dry, Graul, Hartline,
Haugen, Johnson, Keim, Koch, Monroe, Price, Shaaber, Weidner, Yoder.

Vol. II, p. 1348-49 - HARRY JACOB WEIDNER, engaged in the shoemaking business
in the Sixteenth ward, Reading, is a member of the old WEIDNER family of Berks
County.  Mr. WEIDNER was born Oct. 14, 1866, in Reading, son of Daniel W. and
Sally (PRICE) WEIDNER.

Tychicus (Dietrich) WEIDNER, the progenitor of this branch of the family in
America, was one of three brothers who came from the Fatherland about 1750 and
settled in Oley Township, where one of his brothers, Lazarus, also settled, the
other one, Adam, locating in Amity Township.  The death of Tychicus WEIDNER
occurred in 1798, he being at a very advanced age, and his will, which was
probated in that year, mentions these children: Jacob, John, Hannah, Catherine,
Esther, Susannah, Mary, Peter, Jonathan, Christian, and Daniel.  Of these Jacob
WEIDNER was the great-great-grandfather of Harry J., was a farmer and owned the
old homestead, where he was buried, and had a number of children, among them
the great-grandfather of Harry J., [and] William.

William WEIDNER, like his father, spent his life in Oley Township, where his
entire Attention was given to agricultural pursuits on the homestead farm.  He
married Susannah YODER, and to them were born the following children:  Daniel;
Jacob, who married Mary Ann WEIDNER; William, who married Catherine BEAN;
Reuben (1832-1889), who married Mary BEAN; Amanda, who married Reuben DRY;
George, who married Theresa BARNDT; Rachel, who married William DILAPLAIN;
Leah, who married Israel KEIM; and Polly, who married David WEIDNER.

Jacob WEIDNER, grandfather of Harry J. was a native of Oley Township, and was
engaged in farming and wheelwrighting [sic] above Pleasantville, but in 1855 he
located in Reading and there engaged in car building for SHAABER & JOHNSON
until his death in 1888. He married Mary Ann WEIDNER, daughter of David WEIDNER
of Friedensburg, and to the union there were born children as follows: Augustus,
who died young; Jacob, who died aged eighteen years; James, who was killed in
the Civil War; Gideon, born 1842, who died in 1906, was a shoemaker of Reading,
married Esther GRAUL, and had two children, of whom James, born Aug. 8, 1865, a
shoemaker of Reading, married Mary MONROE, by whom he has two children, Annie
and Charles; Daniel W., father of Henry J.; and Malinda who married Luke KOCH,
of Reading.

Daniel W. WEIDNER was born Oct 12, 1844, in Oley Township, was reared on the
farm, and at eleven years old came with his parents to Reading. When seventeen
years of age he learned the shoemaking trade, and he has been engaged in this
business to the present time.  For twelve years he was located at No. 214
Chapel Terrace but since 1904 he has resided at No. 231 South Tenth Street,
where he owns property and conducts his business.  Mr. WEIDNER was married in
1866 to Sallie PRICE, born Sept 2, 1847, and to them have been born three
children:  Harry Jacob; Annie, who married Jeremiah AUGE, of No. 214 Chapel
Terrace, Reading; and another that died in infancy.  Mr. and Mrs. WEIDNER are
members of the Gospel Tabernacle on Franklin Street, above Eleventh, where Mr.
WEIDNER is an official and exhorter.

Harry J. WEIDNER obtained his education in the public schools of his native
city, which he left after completing the grammar school course.  At the age of
fourteen years he became an errand boy in A. HAUGEN's shoe store, where he
remained one year, and from 1871, when he learned the shoemaking trade with
his father, until 1888, they worked together at No. 231 South Tenth Street.
At the latter date Mr. WEIDNER married and opened up a shop of his own at Maple
Street and Benner's Court, and there he followed his trade until 1892, when he
bought the house at No. 239 Miller Street, and here he has continued to the
present time, having all the trade that he can handle.  Mr. WEIDNER is very
proficient at his trade, and his good work has won for him much custom, while
his pleasant and courteous manner has won for him many friends.  In political
matters he is independent, and socially he is connected with the Knights of
Good Templar of Reading.  He and his wife are regular attendants of the Gospel
Tabernacle.

On Oct 11, 1888, Mr. WEIDNER was married to Clara D. HARTLINE, born June 29,
1867, daughter of George A. and Deborah (DRUMHELLER) HARTLINE, the former a
shoemaker and farmer of Alsace Township.  To Mr. and Mrs. WEIDNER have been
born five children, sons as follows:  Earl R., born Sept 29, 1889; Harold C.,
born Jan. 1, 1891; Daniel W., born July 10, 1892; George S., born Oct 16, 1895,
died May 9, 1904;and H. Clifford born Oct. 15, 1903.