Biography of Gideon Reider and Mary Magdalena "Lena" Meinder of Berks County, PA

Maria Magdalena "Lena" (Meinder) Reider
(1811-1848)

She was young when her father died, and the Berks County Orphans Court appointed Benjamin Mertz as her legal guardian. When she reached the age of 21, she signed court documents acknowledging that she had received her rightful share of her father's estate, and was thus discharging Mertz from his duty. She signed her name, spelled by a clerk as "Magdalena Minder," with an "X."

At the age of 25, on Oct. 16, 1836, Lena married Gideon S. Reider (or "Reiter") ( ? -1870) of Berks County. Rev. Röller performed the ceremony, and an announcement was published in the Kutztown Neutralist. Gideon was the son of Johannes Weidner and Elizabeth (Schlockerman) Reider.

The Reiders had four children -- Jeremiah Reider, Magdalena " Lena" Reider, Elizabeth Weiser (or "Weaver") and Mary Hahn.

In 1842, Lena she received a bequest of $332.42 from the estate of her late grandfather, William Cronrad ("Kronrath" or "Conrad").

They owned two small farms in Oley Township, Berks County. The first, measuring 10 acres, was adjacent to the farms of neighbors were Francis Weimberger, Daniel Augstadt Jr., Martin Yoder and Wisler Tally. The second, of 15 acres, adjoined the farms of Jeremiah Hartman, Levi Merkle, Martin Yoder and Wister Tally.

Magdalena apparently passed away on Sept. 1, 1848. She was just 37 at the time, and her untimely death may have been a result of childbirth. She was placed into eternal rest at the Friedens Church Cemetery in Oley Township. Her grave marker, written in German, was inscribed with her maiden name of "Meinder." (link)

Reider farms depicted in the 1876 Atlas of Berks County -- "Mrs. E. Reider" (red dot), and "J. Reider" and "S. Reider" (green dots)

As a widower, Gideon remarried, to Elizabeth Stitzer (1823-1879). They had five more children of their own -- Gideon Reider Jr., Joel Stitzer Reider, Daniel S. Reider, Sarah Kline and Emma Scheidt.

Gideon passed away on Feb. 3, 1870. He was buried with his first wife Lena at Friedens Church.

Widow Elizabeth outlived her husband by nine years. She appears as a 47-year-old in the 1870 census of Earlville, Oley Township with the following members of the household: Amelia (age 14), Gideon (12), Joel (9) and Kate (3) as well as two-year-old Annie Simpson and 64-year-old Anna Moll.

Elizabeth died on Jan. 12, 1879. No obituary has been found in the Reading Eagle.

Their farm was put up for auction, and daughter Lena Reider captured the bid at the price of $1,720.

The old Oley Academy in Friedensburg, a local landmark

Son Jeremiah Reider (1838- ? ) may have married Sarah. If so, they had five known sons -- Oliver Reider, George Reider, Jeremiah Reider Jr., Paul Reider and Charles Reider.

The 1880 census shows this family in Reading, Berks County, with Jeremiah plying his trade as a carpenter. He was alive at least as late as 1912.

Daughter Anna "Elizabeth" Reider (1840-1919) was born on Dec. 16, 1840 in Berks County. She married Daniel Weiser (1813-1890) in about 1860. The groom was 27 years older than the bride.

They had nine known children -- Catherine Stitzer (born 1861), Amelia Rebecca Keiffer (1864), Mahlon Weiser (1866), Lydia Schwartz (1868), Anna Weiser (1869), Abigail "Abbie" Lykens (1872), Daniel Weiser (1873), Sarah "Sallie" Endy (1876) and Maria "Mary" Bolich (1877).

It is logical to think that Daniel might have been a blood relative of the famed Conrad Weiser (1696-1760), a German immigrant to Pennsylvania who was active in public affairs as a diplomat with Native Americans and Berks County judge, helping lay out the town of Reading and carving out the County of Reading from Philadelphia County in 1752. But in fact Daniel was of a completely different family of Weisers who originated with David Weiser, a German emigrated to America in 1739 on the ship Loyal Judith. This is discussed in detail in the book The Weiser Family: A Genealogy of the Family of John Conrad Weiser, The Elder, authored by Frederick Sheely Weiser, Manheim, PA, 1960. Our Daniel and Elizabeth mentioned in the book in a section about "other" families of Weiser.

When the federal census was taken in 1870, the Weisers made their home in Earlville, Oley Township, Berks County, where Daniel was a sawyer. In 1880, continuing to live in Oley Township, the 66-year-old Daniel made a living as a farmer. Daniel passed away in 1890.

Elizabeth outlived her husband by 29 years, remaining on their farm in Oley Township. The 1900 census shows her as a 59-year-old widow with 33-year-old unmarried son Mahlon in the household, while married son Daniel lived next door. In 1912, she lived in Friedensburg. Elizabeth died on Aug. 29, 1919, at the age of 79. Burial was at the Friedens Church Cemetery. No obituary has been found in the Reading Eagle.

Daughter Catherine Weiser (1861-1885) was born in 1861 in Berks County. In about 1883, she married Ammon B. Stitzer (1861-1916), the son of August and (?) (Bridegam) Stitzer. They are said to have had one son, Ammon W. Stitzer. Sadly, Catherine died at the young age of 24, leaving Ammon as a single parent. He married a second time, to Alice Schaeffer, and they had at least four children of their own: Samuel Stitzer, Clarence Stitzer, Florence Stitzer and William E. Stitzer. Ammon was a member of the Kutztown Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the K. of F. of New Jerusalem. Ammon died in Fleetwood, Berks County, at the age of 54, on March 5, 1916. At the time of his death, son Samuel lived in Fleetwood; son Clarence and daughter Florence at home; and son William in Muskogee, OK.

Daughter Amelia Rebecca Weiser (1865- ? ) married Harry W. Kiefer (or "Kieffer"), the son of George S. and Rachel B. Kieffer. They were wed on March 21, 1891 in Oley Township. The Kieffers lived in Reading and had two known children -- Ella Kieffer and Valey W. Degler. Harry passed away sometime before October 1951.

Son Mahlon R. Weiser (1866-1943) was born in August 1866. He married Katie Mersinger ( ? -1973) in about 1939. They lived at 202 Riegel Avenue in the West Lawn neighborhood of Reading, and were members of the Reformed Church of Oley (seen here). They had no children. Mahlon died at the age of 76 on May 19, 1943. Following a funeral led by Rev. Paul P. Haas and Rev. Rollin T. Reiner, he was interred in the Shalters Church Cemetery. Katie outlived him by three decades. She passed away in 1973.

Daughter Lydia Weiser (1868-1955) was born in 1868 in Berks County. At the age of 20, on Dec. 1, 1888, she married George Schwartz (1866-1943). They had six known children -- Harrison Morton Schwartz, Raymond Schwartz, Ellen R. Schwartz, Joseph D. Schwartz, Esther May Schwarts and Pearl Schwarts. Their home in 1937-1951 was in West Reading. George died in 1943, while Lydia outlived him until her passing in 1955. They are buried in the Welsh Baptist Meeting House and burial ground in Reading. (link)

Daughter Abigail Weiser (1871-1937) was born on July 15, 1871 in Oley Township. She married Samuel Lykens (1865-1944), and they lived in Gibraltar, Robeson Township, Berks County. They had 11 children -- Bertha McGowan, Samuel W. Lykens, Helen Elizabeth Kochel, Florence Katherine Rhoads, Arthur D. Lykens, Mary Clementine Clouser (or "Clauser"), Esther Knabb, Viola "Ruth" Lykens, Vernon Lykens, Margaret Lykens and Harold Lykens. They were members of the Reformed congregation of St. John's Church in Gibraltar. Abigail died at home at the age of 66 on Oct. 25, 1937. The funeral was held in the family home, and at St. John's Union Church at Robeson Crossing, led by Rev. John C. Dries and Rev. Ehrgood, followed by burial in the church cemetery. Daughter Viola "Ruth" Lykens (1896-1961) also is buried at St. Johns. (link)

Son Daniel R. Weiser (1873-1962) was born in January 1873 in Oley Township. He married Katie Heist (1877-1952) in 1897. They had five children -- Paul Jeremiah Weiser, Maude Yoder, Lena H. Weiser, Meda Wessner and Leon H. Weiser. The Weisers made their living as farmers in Lobachsville, and were members of Frieden's United Church of Christ in Oley Township. Katie passed away in 1952 at the age of 75. Daniel outlived her by a decade. At the age of 89, he passed away in his residence in Lobachsville. At the time, reported the Reading Eagle, he was survived by 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. He was laid to rest in Lobachsville Cemetery, following a funeral officiated by Rev. Ear. G. Wolford.

Daughter Sallie Weiser (1875-1951) was born in 1875 in Oley Township. She married Thaddeus K. Endy (seen here), the son of John L. Endy. They lived at 1032 Union Street in Reading and were members of the St. Thomas Reformed Church. They had four children -- Marie DeTurk, Solis W. Endy, John Endy and Harold Endy. Circa 1897, Thaddeus was elected as a teacher in Oley Township and in 1903 attended the Teachers Institute, giving a presentation on "Method of Conducting a Review Recitation in History." He also was an officer with the Oley Republicans committee. By 1913, he had secured employment with the U.S. Post Office as a rural mail carrier in Oley Township. To supplement his income, he served as caretaker of the Knights of the Golden Eagle (K.G.E.) Lodge Hall, serving in this role for 19 years. In the winter of 1916, Thaddeus retired from his work at the lodge hall "in order to start truck farming on his newly acquired tract of land, formerly owned by his father," reported the Reading Eagle. He was so well admired that the Golden Eagles threw a surprise party for him on March 11, 1916, attended by some 175 people. Sallie died at the age of 76 on Oct. 17, 1951. Following a funeral led by Rev. Dr. Lee M. Erdman, she was laid to rest in Friedens Cemetery. Son Solis W. Endy (1899-1989) married Pearl Beatrice Shoemaker. He died on Feb. 3, 1989.

Daughter Maria "Mary" Weiser (1877- ? ) wed Claude Bolich (1874- ? ). Circa 1937-1951, they made their home in Auburn. They are thought to have lost an infant in early 1907, with the child buried at Friedens Church Cemetery. Their known children were Joseph Weiser Bolich, Sarah Elizabeth Bolich, Amy Kathryn Bolich, Mahlon Daniel Bolich, Esther Mary Bolich and Edna O. Aufferman. Maria was the last surviving member of her immediate family of brothers and sisters. She was mentioned in the 1962 newspaper obituary of her brother Daniel R. Weiser.

Daughter Magdalena "Lena" Reider (1842-1912) was born on Nov. 16, 1842 in Oley Township.

She never married, but purchased the family farm in Oley after her step-mother died in 1879.

As an adult, reported the Reading Eagle, she "was the head cook at the Mansion House for 29 years and was held in high esteem by a large circle of friends. [She] lived retired for the past 16 years and was a member of the Reformed denomination."

At the age of 70, on Oct. 15, 1912, while getting out of bed, she suffered a stroke and died immediately. Her lifeless corpse was discovered by a six-year-old nephew, John Connors, "with her head upon the floor and feet resting on the bed.... [She] had been in seemingly good health before retiring at 7:30 p.m." the night before. She was laid to rest in the Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. (link)

He married Sarah R. Leader (1854-1916) and they had six children -- Edward Alonzo Reider Sr., Carrie E. Wentzel, Catharine Reifsnyder, Emma Keim, Frank R. Reider and C. Irwin (or "Irvin") Reider.

For three decades, he served in the elected position as superintendent of buildings and repairs for the Reading School District. Said the Reading Eagle:

[His] many duties placed him in daily contact with hundreds of school children, teachers and others. He had a happy faculty of making lasting friendships, especially among the children by whom he was familiarly known as "Uncle Dan"... [On] Feb. 22, 1889, [he] was elected by the school board to an office that was then termed superintendent of repairs. As his work increased he was given assistants, and in 1918 he was named superintendent of buildings, which office he held up until the time of his retirement. When he first assumed his duties in 1889 the district comprised 38 buildings with a total valuation, including property and equipment, of $571,500. Today there are 50 buildings in the district, with a valuation estimated at over $4,500,000. So familiar was Mr. Reider with the various types of school buildings that it was nothing unusual for him to superintend needed renovations to them without so much as consulting the blueprints. This was only one of the many outstanding traits of his efficiency. Two high schools were erected during Mr. Reider's incumbency and he supervised the construction of both. They stand today as memorials, in a sense, to his keen foresightedness. Due to the painstaking care, his election to the post he occupied for years was always unanimous, despite opposition. In later years this faced discouraged opponents.

Daniel also enjoyed hunting, and in November 1915 traveled by automobile to hunt at Porter's Lake with architect E.Z. School and John J. Witman of the Reading Electric Company. In February 1913, he and his son Frank visited his brother Gideon in Reading, according to a short article in the Eagle.

Daniel died on March 28, 1923, at the age of 82. His death was front-page news in the Eagle, which included his photograph as well as the list of buildings he supervised. They are interred at Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. (link)

Son Irwin C. Reider (1876- ? ) became a Reading police officer in July 1906. The Reading Eagle reported that he resided at 448 North 11th Street, was 30 years old, weighed 185 lbs. and stood six feet high.

Son Edward Alonzo Reider Sr. (1887-1961) was born on Feb. 12, 1887 in Reading. As an adult, he was tall and slender, with blue eyes and brown hair. Circa 1917, he was employed as a carpenter at the Beard Construction Company in Reading. He was married, lived at 525 Ritter Street in Reading and had at least three children, among them Edward Alonzo Reider Jr. (1906-2003). When he filled out a military draft registration card during World War I, he claimed he should be exempt from military duty due to his health. He died on Jan. 7, 1961, as he approached his 74th birthday. Edward Sr. rests for eternity at Charles Evans Cemetery.

Daughter Carrie E. Reider (1890-1916) was born on Nov. 17, 1890. She married Elmer Wentzel ( ? - ? ). Carrie was an active volunteer at the Zion's Reformed Church and heavily involved with its Christian Endeavor Society and Sunday School. They lived at 448 North 11th Street in Reading. Tragically suffering from bronchitis and inflammatory rheumatism, Carrie passed away at the age of 25 on Jan. 13, 1916. The Reading Eagle said "Her demise caused much sorry among her relatives and many friends." Burial was in Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading.

Son Frank R. Reider ( ? - ? ) may have been president of the the Berks County chapter of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America in 1913. But this needs to be confirmed.

Step-daughter Sarah Ann "Sally" Reider (1849- ? ) married Ammon M. Kline (1850-1919), a carpenter. They were wed in about 1872. The Klines lived in Exeter Township and later in Reading, Berks County. They had two known children -- David B. Kline and Alberta Kline.

When the federal census was taken in 1880, they lived next door to Sarah's married brother Gideon and his family in Exeter Township. That year, Ammon labored as a farmer. Living in their household that year was 15-year-old servant girl Ann Hoffman.

In June 1895, Ammon was employed as a carpenter at the Blandon Iron Works, installing an addition with other journeymen carpenters. One of their tasks was to construct a 500-lb. truss or rafter made of walnut timber beams that each were more than nine inches high and a foot wide. While raising the rafter using a sling, the rafter broke and fell to the ground, shattering the ankle of a co-worker. Ammon later testified at the colleague's a personal injury trial, with his testimony published in the Reading Eagle.

Ammon also was "employed at the local Reading Railway offices for 20 years," reported the Reading Eagle, most likely in the car shop where he made many friends. He was a longtime elder and secretary with the consistory of Olivet Reformed Church, teaching in the intermediate department.

The 1900 census shows the Klines living in Reading, with Sarah Ann's 58-year-old unmarried half-sister Lena Reider, widowed daughter in law Ida Kline and grandson Arthur Kline residing under their roof. Sarah Ann was alive in 1912 but is thought to have pre-deceased her husband.

In his final years, Ammon lived at 1018 Pear Street in Reading. He died in August 1919, at the age of 69. A brief viewing was held in his home followed by services at the Olivet church, led by Rev. Fred H. Sterner and Rev. L.M. Beaver. With remarkable detail, the Reading Eagle described his funeral:

Brief sermons were delivered. The choir rendered hymns in the church. The bearers were these members of Olivet: Frank D.S. Kreitzer, Wilson Frymoyer, Solomon Tobias and William King. The body was attired in a black suit and rested in a square-cornered solid oak casket with silver antique handles, trimmings and name plate. Interment, under the direction of Undertaker Seidel was made in Charles Evans cemetery. The floral tributes were many and beautiful and adorned either side of the casket. Among them were: Asters, Mr. and Mrs. Tobias; gladioluses, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Weaver; asters, Lewis Riegel and family; roses, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Britton; asters, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Trumbore; galax wreath and roses, Reading Railway car shop employees; large spray of asters, Olivet Reformed Sunday School; basket of roses, Olivet Reformed choir; asters, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Huber; flowers, Yeager family; asters, Steckler family; galax wreath and asters, grandchildren; gladioluses, Mrs. Edgar Breneiser; asters, Mr. and Mrs. Maurer; large spray of gladioluses and asters, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Chambers.

Son David B. Kline (1872-1900) was born in September 1872. He married Ida (?) (1871- ? ) and had one son, Arthur Kline, born in 1899. David was a school teacher. Sadly, David died in about 1899 or 1900, leaving Ida as a young widow and single mother. They have two entries in the federal census of 1900 -- one with this family intact, and the other with the widowed Ida and young Arthur living in the dwelling of David's parents in Reading.

Step-daughter Emma S. Reider (1855-1944) was born in December 1855. At the age of 22, in about 1878, she wed 22-year-old Thomas W. Scheidt (also spelled "Scheit", "Shide" and "Sheet") (1850-1937), the son of Henry Scheidt. They had seven known children -- Howard Scheidt, Gideon Scheidt, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Scheidt, Birdy R. Scheidt, Thomas Reider Scheidt and Emma R. Scheidt.

The federal census of 1880 shows the Scheidts making their home in Oley Township, Berks County, with Thomas' occupation listed as farmer.

In 1900, remaining in Oley Township, the census-taker recorded that all seven of Emma's children were still alive.

Thomas passed away in 1937, at the age of 87. He is buried in the Friedens Church Cemetery in Oley Township.

Son Howard Scheidt (1871-1891) was born on April 9, 1871. He died just a day after his 20th birthday, on April 10, 1891. The cause is not yet known.

Son Gideon R. Scheidt (1878-1912) was born on Nov. 17, 1878. He married Mary A. (1878?-1940). He passed away at the untimely age of 34 on Oct. 15, 1912. No obituary has been found in the Reading Eagle. Mary outlived him by more than a quarter of a century. She died on April 11, 1940. They rest together under an elaborately carved stone in the Friedens Church Cemetery.

Daughter Elizabeth "Lizzie" Scheidt (1880- ? ) was born in about 1880 in Oley Township.

Daughter Birdy R. Scheidt (1884- ? ) was born in December 1884 in Oley Township.

Son Thomas Reider Scheidt (1893-1950) was born on March 13, 1893 in Oley Township. He was tall and slender, with brown eyes and brown hair. He married Mabel Y. Noel (or "Noll") (1897-1948), and their known offspring was Pearl M. Scheidt. Thomas was a self-employed painter, working in the Oley Valley area. During World War I, Thomas registered for the military draft, filling out a card on June 5, 1917. He stated that he was married and had one child at the time. The federal census of 1920 shows this family living in Alsace, Berks County, with Thomas working as a farmer on a "truck farm." Both passed away at relatively young ages. She died first, in 1948, at the age of 51. He followed her into eternity two years later, in 1950, at the age of 57. They are buried at the Samuel Union Shalters Cemetery in Fleetwood, Berks County.

Stepson Gideon Reider Jr. (1858- ? ) married Sarah (?) (1860- ? ). They had at least one son, Ammon Reider.

The 1880 census shows the young family living in Exeter Township, Berks County, next to Gideon's married sister and brother in law, Sarah "Sallie" and Ammon Kline, and their family. That year, Gideon was a laborer.

Sarah is thought to have died sometime between 1880 and 1883, the year that Gideon married again, to Mary E. (?) (1867- ? ). They lived at Robeson Station in Robeson Township, Berks County, and had eight children. Those children alive in 1910 were Harry Reider, Maurice Reider, Charles Brook Reider, Edward "Eddie" Reider and Blanche Reider.

In 1910, the federal census lists the Reiders in Robeson, with Gideon having no occupation, but sons Maurice and Charley employed as molders in a local steel plant.

Gideon died during the early 1910s, with son Charles taking over operation of the family farm near Robeson Station.

Son Charles Brook Reider (1891- ? ) was born ion May 28, 1891 in Clingan, Berks County. At the age of 15, he was given the responsibility to drive his father's milk delivery wagon every morning over the "Birdsboro route." He also assisted his father in farming chores. One morning in August 1907, after finishing his deliveries, his mother asked him to help his father make hay in Arlington, near Birdsboro. He left for Arlington, but never arrived. Said the Reading Eagle, his parents speculated that "he had arranged with some Reading boys to leave home and get employment in a city, and that he boarded a Belt Line coal train to carry out that purpose. Efforts have been made to locate him, but thus far without avail. His has always been well treated and there is not reasonable excuse for his strange action, except that his mind may have been filled with rosy conceptions of great opportunities in the city, and he has ventured to try them out." Charles apparently returned, and as a young man was of medium height and build, with grey eyes and brown hair. Ten years after his brief disappearance, he was employed as a moulder at Birdsboro Steel Foundry Machine Company in Birdsboro. As World War I raged in Europe in 1917, he filled out a military draft card, stating he lived at Birdsboro R.D. #1, and that he should be exempt from military service because his employer already was working on governmental contracts. At the age of 29, he married Mabel Lott ( ? - ?) on Sept. 27, 1921, at the home of her parents Mr. and Mrs. George W. Lott in Baumstown. They honeymooned at Niagara Falls, and then returned to set up their home "at the Reider homestead," said the Reading Eagle.

Son Edward Reider (1894- ? ) was born on Nov. 5, 1894 in Clingan, Berks County. He was of medium height and slender build, with gray eyes and brown hair. Edward was a farmer, laboring for Lyman J. Nupstead (?) in Birdsboro, Berks County. Circa June 1917, when he registered for the military draft during World War I, Edward was married and had a child. He may have married Edna (?) (1897- ? ) and had these children -- Alma M. Reider, Alfred L. Reider and Jacob G. Reider. In 1920, Edward was employed in Robeson, Berks County as a laborer in a forge.

Thaddeus K. Endy and Daniel S. Reider photographs and Ammon Kline obituary images courtesy of Google Books