Berks-Lehigh-Montgomery County PA Archives Obituaries.....Schubert, William July 31, 1898 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Suzzette Yandle yandles2@charter.net December 18, 2008, 11:03 pm "Leader" of Allentown, PA; issue date 01 August 1898 OLD TEACHER DEAD William Schubert Who Devoted His Life to Noble Purposes. *** MADE HIS MARK IN MANY VOCATIONS *** Organist at Longswamp for 52 years and a Justice for 40. Instructed Thousands in Pay and Free Schools and in Music. Long and Useful Career. *** William Schubert, one of the best known musicians of this vicinity and a man of very varied accomplishments, died at 7:30 yesterday morning at his home at 317 North Ninth Street, after a lingering illness. He was a musician, teacher, justice, civil engineer and notary public. Six years ago he was stricken with apoplexy and he has since been confined to bed. His mind was clear almost to the end. The deceased became a resident of Allentown two years ago. Mr. Schubert was born at Arnst Hauck, by Neustadt, Germany, February 19, 1815. At an early age, in accordance with the German customs, he was sent to school, where the discipline was very rigid. He was taught the simple branches and music on the piano, organ and violin. Subsequently he attended college and studied languages. After his graduation he worked in a book store and later in a grocery store at Weimar, Saxony. Having heard that America was a glorious country he embarked in 1836, at the age of 21 and, after a voyage of 96 days on the ship Vesta, arrived in New York. His father told him he shouldn’t return without having acquired a fortune. From New York he went to Philadelphia, where his money was stolen. He then left for Easton, where he assisted farmers in threshing with flails and later took up the work of a millwright. His expectations were not realized and he felt discouraged, but remembering the words of his father, he took fresh courage and left for Weisenberg, Lehigh County, and then to Sumneytown, where he worked in a powder mill. He made money at this place. Later he came to Ziegel’s Church, where he became acquainted with a German school teacher, and subsequently with the Rev. John Helffrich, pastor of the congregation, and they became fast friends. Rev. Mr. Helffrich secured employment for him as organist at Dankel’s Church, in Greenwich Township, and he remained there four and one-half years. While there he became one of the proprietors of Hamburg Schnell Post. The distance from his home to Hamburg was six miles, which he made almost daily on foot. The paper that he helped to print had a large circulation, considering the times and manner of printing then in vogue. Finally he was elected organist of the Longswamp Church, through the kindness of Rev. Mr. Helffrich, and he moved into the house belonging to the congregation, which he occupied for 52 years, in the meantime serving as organist. The dwelling was an old one story log house, but it was soon replaced by a more substantial stone building, which is still standing. Besides being organist for this congregation, he served in the same capacity at Lehigh Church for 22 years, and at Mertztown for 15 years. He also taught the school connected with the church. The term was five months and the branches taught were reading, writing, arithmetic and the study of the Bible. He had as many as 100 pupils at times. Each one was required to pay two cents per day. Among his scholars were a number who, in later years, took up professions, such as medicine, theology and law. He taught Latin and French to some adults. He was elected justice of the peace of Longswamp and served 40 years. At the same time he was notary public for five years, and revenue assessor for the district, Longswamp, Maxatawny, Kutztown and Rockland, for five years. He also did considerable work as a civil engineer, a profession he learned in Germany. He instructed large singing classes free of charge and conducted an orchestra. There are few people in Longswamp of the generation ahead of this who were not at some time under his instruction either in school or in music. He was very successful as an instructor and a justice, he wrote a number of wills. He was stricken with paralysis in November, 1889. His son Edwin then took up his work as organist until 1894, when he moved to Allentown. The deceased has two brothers, Lewis, of Allentown, and Gustave, of Reading, and two sisters in Springfield, Ill. He was married December 9, 1838, to Sarah, daughter of John and Eva Zepp. Nine children were born to them, Amelia, John, Alfred and Mary, deceased: William Jr., of Allentown; Henry J., of Scranton; Mrs. William Reyser, of Springfield, Ill.; Mrs. Henry Wendling and Mrs. Charles H. Walbert, of Longswamp. He was married the second time October 8, 1857, to Matilda Zepp, a sister of his first wife. Seven children were born to the second union, as follows: James, deceased; Milton Z., Edwin L. and Mrs. Samuel Biery, of Allentown; Mrs. Charles E. Neese, of Lansdale; Mrs. Frank Davenport, of Pitman, N.J., and Harvey F., of Allegheny. He was a member of Reading Lodge, No. 62 Free and Accepted Masons. The funeral will be held on Thursday morning at 11 o’clock from the residence of his son, Milton Z. Schubert, No. 536 Turner Street. Burial and services will be held at Longswamp, to which place the remains will be removed at 12:50 p.m. Rev. Dr. William Wackernagle, of Allentown, and Rev. D. K. Humbert, of Bowers, will officiate Additional Comments: Submitter’s notes: William Schubert died in Allentown, Lehigh Co PA. Besides the obituary in the “Leader” of Allentown, PA, an obit for him is also in the “Macungie Progress”, Thursday, August 4, 1898, page 1. This obit can be found at which was submitted by Jerri. Longswamp Cemetery is now the Longswamp Union Cemetery, Mertztown, Berks Co PA. William Schubert’s parents: John Gottlieb Schubert and Christianna nee Roersch. Per census records for sons in America, the parents were born in Saxony/Germany. 1st wife Sarah nee Zepp was born 29 Apr 1820 in Marlborough Township, Montgomery Co PA, died 31 Jan 1856. 2nd wife Matilda nee Zepp was born 04 Apr 1835 in Marlborough Township, Montgomery Co PA, died of apoplexy at the age of 69 on 20 Jan 1905 at home in Allentown, Lehigh Co PA. Matilda’s obituary was published in the “Macungie Progress”, Thursday, January 26, 1905, page 1. This obit can be found at which was submitted by Jerri. These two wives were sisters. Another sister, per Matilda’s obituary was Mrs. Mary Ann Neece of Erie, PA who in 1905 was 96 years old. A brother Jesse Zepp of Sonneytown, PA also survived his sister Matilda. Children of 1st marriage: 1) Amelia born 06 Apr 1839 in Marlborough Township, Montgomery Co PA, died 28 Sept 1884, married Edwin Bortz; Their children: Edwin, William, Ida, Alavesta, Ellen and Mary. 2) John born 19 May 1840 in Greenwich Township, Berks Co PA. 3) William Jr born 26 Aug 1841 in Greenwich Township, Berks Co PA, married Caroline Fegely; lived in Allentown, PA; Their children: Ellen, Frederick, Herbert, Charles, John H., Harry F., Lovenia, Sarah. 4) Sarah born 15 May 1843 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA, married William H. Keyser born in PA now of Springfield, Illinois. NOTE the difference in the spelling of the husband’s name from William Schubert’s obituary. The 1870 Census record for Sangamon Co IL, City of Springfield confirms the spelling is KEYSER and not Reyser. The name is spelled Keiser in her step-mother’s obituary. Their children: Ida, Mamie, Frank, William. 5) Eliza born 19 Feb 1845 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA, and died 31 May 1909 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA; married Henry Wendling; In 1905 Eliza lived in Alburtis, Lehigh Co PA. Their children: Maggie, William, Frederick, Eva. 6) Alfred born 30 June 1847 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA and died there 20 Dec 1847. 7) Martha born 11 Nov 1849 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA and married Charles H. Walbert of Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA. 8) Henry J born 17 Jan 1851 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA and married Maria H. daughter of William Mertz; Henry J.’s and Maria’s children: Sallie E., Susie M, Mayme J. who married K.H. Landt, and Ruth E. Places lived: Longswamp and Reading in Berks Co PA; Phillipsburg, NJ; Allentown, PA; Oil City, PA; Scranton, PA 9) Mary born 25 Jan 1853 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA and married Frederick Bermelin; Children: John, Jennie, Edwin. Children of 2nd marriage: 1) James born 11 Sept 1858 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA and died 01 Oct 1858. 2) Milton Z born 01 Nov 1859 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA, married Annie Frederick; lived in Allentown, PA; Children: Gertrude, Raleigh M. 3) Harvey Franklin born 11 Oct 1861 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA, lived in Allegheny and Pittsburg, PA; unmarried. 4) Edwin Lewis born 06 May 1864 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA, married Louisa ____?___; moved to Allentown, PA; Children: Paul, Maude, Grace, Mildred, Harold, Edward. 5) Annie Matilda born 18 Dec 1865 in Longswamp, Berks Co PA, and married Charles E. Neese of Lansdale, PA; Children: Frances and John. Per her mother’s obit in 1905 she was Mrs. Annie Kietz of Allentown, PA. 6) Ellen Jane born 10 Dec 1867 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA, and married T. Frank Davenport of Pittman, New Jersey, also lived in Camden NJ; Child: Harry. 7) Rosa Emma born 14 Feb 1870 in Longswamp Township, Berks Co PA, married Samuel F. Biery of Allentown, PA; Children: Erma, Mary, Ellen, James, Woodrow. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 10.5 Kb