REBER FAMILY

Surnames: REBER, HAHN, SHOFER, ORBENGAST, HAAS, RATHMACHER, BICKEL, RIEGEL, HAIN, AHRENS, FISHER, HIESTER, POTTEIGER, TOBIAS, MILLER, MINNICH, EYRICH, GRING, RHOADS, ADAMS, HERBINE, REESER, RICKENBACH, MOYER, WITMOYER, APPEL, DAVIS, BENDER, GERHART

Reber. The early home of the Reber family of Berks county was Langenselbold, in Kreis Hanau, Regrersungbezirk Cassel, Germany. In the old book at the Evangelical Church there appear the names of four brothers, Johan Bernhard, Hans, Johan Conrad and Michael. These were found there by Mr. James J. Reber, of Reading, in 1882.

The first named of these brothers, Johan Bernhard, is recorded as having a son, Johannes Reber, who was married Feb. 8, 1736, to Johanna Magdalena Hahn, daughter of Conrad Hahn. To this union were born in Germany two sons: Johannes, Dec. 16, 1736; and Ludwig Freiderich August, Sept. 11, 1740. The Pennsylvania archives contain a list of 30,000 emigrants, and among them is Johan Bernhard Reber, from Rotterdam, Holland, on the "Snow Two Sisters," landing at Philadelphia, and qualifying Sept. 9, 1738, and of him no further records are to be found. However, according to his passports Johannes Reber left his native land for America April 23, 1742, bringing his family with him. His second son Ludwig died on the voyage. Being a member of William Penn's Colony his first object was to find a suitable location, and he selected a tract of land about six miles west of Reading, in Lower Heidelberg township, at the bend of the Tulpehocken - a beautiful but desolate valley now known as the Blue Marsh. He moved thither with his wife and son, built himself a home which served the double purpose of shelter and protection from the Indians and wild beasts. This old building with its large square fire place in the center, is still standing, the farm now being the property of Henry Shofer, of Reading. He was naturalized May 13, 1768. Three sons were born to him after his arrival in America, namely: Thomas, Valentine and Peter.

Johannes Reber, son of Johannes, born Dec. 16, 1736, was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Orbengast, who bore him two children, John and Magdalena. The maiden name of his second wife was Haas, and of this marriage four children were born: Nicholas, Abraham, Michael and Susanna.

John Reber, son of Johannes Reber (whose wife was an Orbengast), became a farmer in Bern township. He married Magdalena Rathmacher, and they had fourteen children, namely: Magdalena, who married (first) John Bickel, and (second) Jacob Riegel; Barbara, who married John Hain; Christiana, who became the wife of John Ahrens; Elizabeth, who married John Fisher; Rebecca, who became the wife of Yost Hiester; Susanna, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-two years; Sarah, who married John Potteiger; Joseph, mentioned below; John, who died young; Benjamin, who married (first) Margaretha Tobias, and (second) Susanna S. Miller; and John (2), Samuel, Jonas and Daniel, who all four died young.

Joseph Reber, son of John and Magdalena, was a prominent miller and farmer in Bern township. He married Elizabeth Minnich, and had eleven children: (1) James died young. (2) Elias M., living at Tina, Mo., married Sarah Hain, and had five children: Wilson, Louisa, John J., George and Alva S. (3) Maria married Joshua Eyrich, and had twelve children: Charles, Frank, William, Joshua, George, Aaron, Elizabeth, Emma, James, Calvin, John and Sarah. (4) Eliza married Charles Gring, and has three children, Calvin, Charles and Wallace. (5) Fietta married Henry Rhoads, and their only child, George, died in infancy. (6) Harrison M., born Sept. 7, 1833, married Amelia Fisher, and died Nov. 16, 1892, the father of six children: Ellen, Joseph F., Mary E., Amelia, Kate and Alice B. (7) Sarah married James Adams, and had one son, Tyson. (8) Simplecius married Sarah M. Herbine, and had four children: Ellen H., Emma N., James H. and Sarah. (9) Priscilla married William Reeser, and had six children: Sarah, Ida, Obert, Ocky, Owen and Laura. (10) Henry M. (11) Rebecca married Jacob Rickenbach, and had eight children: Sarah, Clara, Ella, Annie, John, Solomon, Calvin and Charles.

Henry M. Reber, son of Joseph and Elizabeth, was born on the homestead farm at Reber's Mill in Bern township, June 15, 1841. He grew to manhood there and was trained to agricultural pursuits, giving his service to his parents until he was twenty-two years old. He then entered the employ of Joseph Reber, and for some years drove his mill team, and later continued in the same capacity for his brother Elias, who succeeded Joseph in the business. In 1865 Mr. Henry M. Reber engaged in farming, commencing in Heidelberg township, along the Tulpehocken, where he tenanted five years. He then moved to Spring township in the Cacoosing district, where he lived ten years, continuing to farm rented land in Spring and Heidelberg townships until 1892, when he purchased his present farm of eighty acres in Lower Heidelberg, in the Faust school district. In 1892 he built the present frame house, and has it equipped with all the modern devices for comfortable living. He has twelve head of cattle and five horses, and a complete outfit of up-to-date farm implements. In politics Mr. Reber is a Democrat, and in religion he and his family are Reformed members of Epler's Union Church.

On Nov. 21, 1863, Henry M. Reber was married to Mary Rickenbach, born in March, 1843, daughter of Solomon and Rosina (Moyer) Rickenbach, of Rickenbach Station. The latter was born in Germany, and at her death was buried at Epler's Church. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Reber: Solomon R.; Morris R., a school teacher at Wernersville; Harry, who died aged twenty years; Ella Nora, who married Aaron Witmoyer, a farmer of Lower Heidelberg township; George R., unmarried and teaching school; and Calvin R., born April 14, 1880, at home.

Solomon R. Reber, son of Henry M., and now a farmer near Shillington, in Spring township, was born Aug. 24, 1864. He was brought up familiar with the duties about a farm, remaining at home until he was twenty-seven. In 1892 he began farming one of the Shoup farms in Spring township, where he has since lived. This farm consists of fifty-five acres of excellent land, and Mr. Reber has a good equipment of modern machinery. He has a herd of Holstein and Durham cattle, and some good horses. His milk is sold wholesale, and shipped to Reading. While taking an interest in public affairs, Mr. Reber is no politician. He stands well in the community, being upright in his relations with his fellowmen. He was confirmed at Epler's Church, in Bern township, by Rev. R. S. Appel, and is a Reformed member of Hains' Church in Lower Heidelberg, in which latter Church Mrs. Reber was confirmed by Rev. W. P. Davis.

On Oct. 17, 1891, Mr. Reber was married to Sallie G. Bender, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Gerhart) Bender, farming people of Lower Heidelberg township.