History of Reading, (Berks County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

Henry Dickinson Green, representative, was born in Reading, Pa., May 3, 1857; son of Albert G. and Rebecca (Dickinson) Green; grandson of John and Catharine (Bright) Green and of William Penn and Elizabeth (Miller) Dickinson; and a descendant of William Green, a Quaker, who emigrated from Ireland in 1760 and settled in Maxatawny township, Pa.; and of Michael Bright, born in Schreissheim, Germany, emigrated to America in 1726 and settled in Germantown, Pa., in 1726. Henry was educated in the public schools of Reading and at the Reading high school and was graduated from Yale in 1877. He was admitted to the bar. Nov. 10, 1879, and practised in Pennsylvania. He was a member of the state legislature. 1883-87, and was state senator, 1889-97. He was commissioned a captain of the 9th Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, June 25, 1898, and served throughout the Spanish-American war. He was elected a representative in the 56th congress, November, 1899, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Daniel Ermentrout.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joshua Humphreys, ship-builder, was born in Haverford, Pa., June 17, 1751; son of Joshua and Sarah (Williams) Humphreys, and grandson of Daniel and Hannah (Wynn) Humphreys and of Edward and Eleanor Williams. Daniel Humphreys, son of Samuel Humphreys, of Merionethshire, Wales, came to America in 1682, and settled about seven miles west of Philadelphia, Pa., in Haverford, Chester county. There be purchased lands, erected two or three fulling and grist mills, and cultivated a farm. He also erected the second Quaker meeting house, on his land. Joshua was apprenticed to a ship-builder, and arose to the head of his profession in America. He built the first frigate Randolph and fitted out the first fleet under Commodore Hopkins that sailed under the United Colonies flag in 1774. He furnished the models for the construction of the six frigates ordered by congress in 1794, and when they were adopted, sent the moulds and drafts on to the ports where they were to be built. These vessels were the Chesapeake, Constitution, Congress, Constellation, Presideat and United States. He was appointed naval constructor with a salary of $2000 a year, June 28, 1794, to take effect from May 1, 1794, and held this office until Oct. 26, 1806. He was presented with a cane made from a part of the frigate Constitution by Josiah Barker, naval constructor at Boston, Mass., in 1837. He was married to Mary Davids, of Philadelphia. He died at Reading, Pa., Jan. 12, 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Nagle, soldier, was born in Reading, Pa., April 5, 1822. He enlisted in the let Pennsylvania volunteers upon the outbreak of the war with Mexico, and was stationed at Perote Castle in command of a regiment, to keep open communication with Vera Cruz during the siege. He was present at the battles of Huamantla, Puebla and Atlixco, and after the capture of the city of Mexico, Sept. 14, 1837, was stationed at San Angel. He was mustered out of service at Philadelphia, Pa., July 27, 1848, and was presented with a sword by the citizens of Schuylkill county, Pa. He was commissioned colonel of the 6th Pennsylvania regiment in 1861, and later in the year organized the 48th Pennsylvania regiment, of which he was made colonel. He commanded the 1st brigade, 2nd division, 9th army corps, Army of the Potomac, and was engaged in the battles of South Mountain, Md., Sept. 14, 1862; Crampton's Gap., Sept 14, 1862, and Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. He made a gallant effort to approach and cross Antietam bridge, which, although futile, prepared the way for the subsequent capture of the bridge. He was commissioned brigadier-general, Sept. 10, 1862, and on March 13, 1863, his commission was renewed, and he served in Kentucky until May 9, 1863, when he resigned. He organized the 39th Pennsylvania regiment in June, 1863, and was commissioned its colonel. He commanded a brigade during Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, and was honorably mustered out of service, Aug. 2, 1863. He organized and was colonel of the 149th Pennsylvania regiment in 1864, and guarded the approaches to Baltimore. He died in Pottsville, Pa., Aug. 22, 1866.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Henry Darling, educator, was born in Reading, Pa., Dec. 27, 1823; son of the Hon. William and Margaretta Vaughan (Smith) Darling. He was graduated at Amherst in 1842; studied theology at Union theological seminary, 1842-43; at Auburn theological seminary, 1843-45; was ordained by the presbytery of Columbia Dec. 30, 1847; was pastor at Hudson, N.Y., 1846-53; at Clinton street church, Philadelphia, Pa., 1853-61; was an invalid in Philadelphia, 1861-64; had charge of the 4th Presbyterian church in Albany, N.Y., 1864-81; and was president of Hamilton college, Clinton, N.Y., 1881-91. He was permanent clerk of the Presbyterian general assembly, 1854-63, and moderator of the General assembly, 1881. He received from Amherst the degree of M.A. in 1852; from Union that of D.D. in 1860, and from both Hamilton and Lafayette that of LL.D. in 1881. His published works include: The Closer Walk (1862); Slavery and the War (1863); Difficulties of Revelation (1864); Conformity to the World (1873); Doing Nothing ? but Receiving (1875); and Preaching and Modern Skepticism (1881). See memorial of his life and work published byson, Richard W. Darling. He died at Hamilton college, Clinton, N.Y., April 20, 1891.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor