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

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Biographies:

Daniel Ermentrout, representative, was born at Reading, Pa., Jan. 24, 1837; son of William and Justina (Silvis) Ermentrout; grandson of John Ermentrout, and great-grandson of Christopher Ermentrout, who was a son of John Ermentrout. He attended the public schools, Franklin and Marshall college, and Elmwood institute, and was admitted to the bar in 1859, practising in his native place. He was district attorney of Berks county, 1862-65; city solicitor of Reading, 1867-70; and state senator, 1873-80. He was a Democratic representative from Pennsylvania in the 47th, 48th, 49th and 50th congresses, 1881-89, and in the 55th congress, 1897-99. He died in Reading, Pa., Sept. 17, 1899.

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

Spencer Fullerton Baird, naturalist, was born at Reading, Pa., Feb. 3, 1823; son of Samuel Baird. He was graduated at Dickinson college, Pa., in the class of 1840; attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city; became professor of natural history at Dickinson in 1845, and later accepted the professorship of chemistry in addition. In 1850 he was made assistant secretary, and in May, 1878, succeeded as secretary of the Smithsonian institution. He sent out natural history parties, taking charge of the specimens they collected and editing their reports. He also collected many valuable specimens which he added to those brought in by the parties, and these laid the foundation of the United States museum at Washington. In 1871 he was chosen U. S. commissioner of fish and fisheries, and was so successful in his work of protecting and promoting the culture of fish in the rivers and lakes of America that some European countries followed his teachings. He received the honorary degree of M.D. from the Philadelphia medical college in 1848, and in 1856 Dickinson college conferred upon him the degree of Ph.D., and in 1875 he received the degree of LL. D. from the Columbian university. For a number of years he occupied the position of a trustee of Columbian university, and also of the Corcoran gallery of art in Washington. During the years 1850 and 1851 he was secretary of the American association for the advancement of science, and in 1864 was made a member of the National academy of science. He received many honorary medals from foreign societies, a medal from the Acclimation society of Melbourne in 1878, from that of France in 1879; the first honor prize for the International fish exhibit in Berlin in 1880; and the order of St. Olaf from the King of Norway and Sweden. More than twenty-five kinds of animal life have been named in his honor, as well as several extinct species. Prof. George Brown Goode's bibliography of his works from 1843 to 1882 include 1,063 titles. Among his most widely used works are his translation of Heck's "Bilder Atlas "; the "Iconographic Encyclop?dia" (4 vols., 1852); "Catalogue of North American Reptiles" (1853); "Mammals of North America" (1859); "Birds of North America," with John Cassin (1860); "Review of American Birds in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution" (1864-'66); "Distribution and Migrations of North American Birds" with Thomas M. Brewer and Robert Ridgway (5 vols., 1874-'84). He was scientific editor of Harper and Brother's publications, 1870-'78. (See Baird's "Manual of North American Birds," (1887).) He received eight votes for a place in the Hall of Fame, New York university, in October, 1900. He died at Woods Holl, Mass., Aug. 19, 1887.

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