Research Trip to Berks County

It has been sometime since my last post and I have been working on the book. I have finished the indexing but still need to do a bit more researching to finish.

I took ten days to research in Berks County and hit the ground running. By the end of the trip I had a cold from too much running and lack of sleep. I visited the court house service center first to gather the many marriage records that were needed to verify connections. After the court house I ventured out to some of the cemeteries. I did not have my camera at the time but walked around and got wet as it was raining.

During the week I spent time at the public library gathering obituaries, the court house gathering marriage records. Took some pictures of tombstones and hope to get those on find a grave. I did take in one Phillies game and visited with mom.

Searching needs to be done and I will continue to do so.

William Bingeman

William, sixth child of Samuel Bingeman and Sarah Wentzel, was born 8 April 1841 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He was baptized 6 September 1841 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. William married Mary Reich on 19 November 1864 in Alsace Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

William and Mary had seven known children: Henry Jacob, 1866-1935; Daniel R., 1867-1954; Mary, 1870-; Kate L., 1872-1942; Albert William, 1873-1955; Mary Emma, 1876-; George Harrison, 1879-1971. Mary had additional but their names are not known at this time. There is a stone in Spies Church cemetery that has carved in to it "Children of William and Mary Bingaman" however no names are listed on the stone. Additional information about these children would be greatly appreciated.

William tried his hand at farming but by 1880 he returned to the trade of stonemason. William died 1 September 1906 in Exeter Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Mary died of a stroke at the home of her son, Jacob R. Bingaman, on 19 March 1921. William and Mary were buried in Spies Church cemetery Alsace Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

I do have additional information about the individuals that are mentioned on this site. So. if any would like additional info just leave me a message.

Hannah Bingeman

Hannah Bingeman, the fifth child and first daughter of Samuel Bingeman and Sarah Wentzel, was born 8 November 1837 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. She was baptized 14 May 1838 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. In 1860, probably due to the death of her mother, Hannah worked as a servant in the household of Henry and Eliza Hofmeister.

Hannah married Daniel Pott on 1 December 1861 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Hannah and Daniel had seven children: Samuel, 1861-1930; George B., 1864-1931; Ellen, 1867-1871; Daniel B., 1870-1941; Sarah Elizabeth, 1872-1884; Charles B., 1874-1941; Irvin B, 1878-1961.

Hannah, suffering from the effects of dropsy, died while sitting in her rocking chair on 10 December 1906. Daniel died 3 April 1926. Both were buried in Spies Church cemetery, Alsace Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Johannes Bingeman

Maybe some day someone will read this stuff and they can send me suggestions of what they would like to see at this site. But until that time let's move along to the next child of Samuel Bingeman and Sarah Wentzel.

Johannes Bingeman is my second great-grandfather and the fourth child and fourth son of Samuel and Sarah. Johannes was born 25 October 1835 and baptized 11 September 1836 in Trinity Lutheran Church Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. During the Civil War he served with Company D, 167 Regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia. His military record gives his physical description as five feet nine and one-half inches, light complextion with blue eyes and brown hair. While in the service he contracted rheumatism and was hospitalized most of the time at Suffolk and Hampton, Virginia.

John, a stonemason by trade, married Isabella Henrietta Eyrich, daughter of Michael and Maria (Wummer) Eyrich, on 15 January 1856 in Berks County, Pennsylvania They lived near Leinbach Post Office in Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania from 1863 to 1902. John and Isabella had four children: Emmalora (1856-1923); John Washington (1860-1939); Charles Ellsworth (1863-1940) and Edwin Milton (1871-1927).

John died on 28 January 1908 and Isabella died 19 June 1923. Both died in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania and buried in Eplers Church cemetery.

Samuel Bingeman

Samuel Bingeman was the third child and third son of Samuel Bingeman and Sarah Wentzel. He was born 10 July 1833 in baptized 12 May 1834 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Samuel married Caroline Schildt, daughter of John and Hannah (Saylor) Schildt, on 27 June 1857 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Samuel and Caroline had fifteen children: Mary Katherine (1857-1862); Ellen A. (1859-); Caroline (1860-); Sarah Ann (1861-1922); Samuel (1862-1903); Kate (1863-1911); Amelia (1865-1926); James (1867-); Hannah (1869-1888); Charles (1870-); Rosa (1872-1950); Annie Octavy (1875-1950); Ida Wilmina (1877-1953); Gertie Elizabeth (1880-1887) twin; Lottie Irene (1880-) twin.

Samuel and his family lived at various address in Reading. From 1876-1877 the family lived at 1837 Cotton Street; 1878-1883 at 1839 Perkiomen Avenue; 1884 at 434 South 18th Street; 1885 on 14th Street and 1886-1888 at 509 South 18th Street.

It was while at the last address that Samuel died on 14 July 1888 in Reading, Pennsylvania from malaria-fever. His wife Caroline and grandson Earley died 25 July 1888 while his daughter Hannah, mother of Earley, died 24 July 1888. A funeral was held at the house for Caroline, Hannah and Earley that was estimated to have five hundred  people pass through to view the bodies. Hannah and her young son were buried in the same coffin. All were buried in Spies Church Cemetery. I have been to Spies many times and have not located the burial site for this family. In May, when I am in Pennsylvania, I will give it another try.

I should mention that the Bingaman surname has changed over the years. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was common to see the name spelled BINGEMANN. At one point the last "N" was dropped so the name was spelled BINGEMAN. It is in the 20th century that the name takes on the current spelling of BINGAMAN.

Is anybody there?

Daniel Bingeman was the second child and second son of Samuel Bingeman and Sarah Wentzel. He was born 20 February 1831 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He married first Mary Jane Roland on 5 October 1850. Daniel had two children by Mary Jane, Cyrus (1851-1928) and Celinda Elizabeth (1853-1924). Mary Jane died 10 August 1854 and was buried in Spies Church cemetery. However to this point I have not identfied her grave. On 27 July 1861 Daniel married his second wife Sarah Gottschall the daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Schildt) Gottschall. Daniel, a stone mason by trade, was a farmer during his life. His property sits along Bingaman Road in Alsace Township.

Daniel had seven children with Sarah: Mary Ann (1861-1921), Hannah (1863-1943), Daniel (1866-1914), Samuel Horatio (1868-1949), Sarah I. (1872-1947), Charles Adam (1875-1939) and Maggie Ellen (1878-1955).

Daniel farmed until the death of his wife. Daniel died 8 May 1905 at the the home of his daughter and son-in-law Hannah and Amos Wentzel. Sarah died 12 March 1902. Both were buried in Spies Church cemetery.

In the below tombstone of Sarah my daughter Hannah is off in the background searching for more dead relatives.

Charles Bingeman was the first of ten children born to Samuel Bingeman and Sarah Wentzel. Charles was born 1 March 1829 and baptized 4 June 1829 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Little is known about his early life other than he learned the trade of a stonemason and enjoyed 'coon and 'possum hunting. Charles married Sarah Miller, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Seidel) Miller, 8 September 1849.

Charles and Sarah had five children: Wilhelmina Lydia, born 31 May 1851; Albert A., born 1853; Henry (Harry), born 18 October 1855; Katarine, born 10 September 1857; Emma, born 14 January 1859.

In 1852 Charles purchased approximately thirty-four acres in Alsace Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Charles and his family worked the farm until 1893 when they sold the property to the city of Reading. The family moved to 525 South Eighteenth street in Reading. Charles died 30 December 1903 and Sarah died 23 November 1914 in Reading, Pennsylvania. Both were buried in Spies Church cemetery.