My Genealogy Hound

JOHN R. HERNER was born in Amity township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1834. He is the son of David and Susan (Rhoads) Herner.

David Herner (father) was born in Amity township, Berks county, and spent his life on the farm. He held various township offices, and was a prominent man in his community. He died in Amity township at the age of eighty-nine years. He married Susan Rhoads, who was born at Milton, Pennsylvania, and died at the age of seventy-seven years. David Herner was a member of the German Reformed church, while his wife was a Lutheran. They had eight children, four of whom are now living: John R., Nathaniel, Sarah and Franklin.

Henry Herner (grandfather) was also a native of Berks county, and was a farmer. He served in the war of 1812, and at the time of his death was nearly ninety years of age. He held township offices. His wife lived to an advanced age and they had a large family. John Rhoads (maternal grandfather) was born in Pennsylvania, and spent most of his life at Milton, where he was a farmer. He and his wife both lived to an old age. They had five children.

John R. Herner was reared in Berks county and attended the district schools. Beginning at the age of eighteen he worked at the trade of flour milling for sixteen years, part of the time operating a mill which he had rented, in Amity township. After leaving the milling business he worked on the farm for three years, during which time his wife died. In 1878 he removed to Pottstown, where he has resided ever since, being employed in the Pottstown Iron Company’s mill.

November 3, 1862, John R. Herner married Miss Susan Sassaman, daughter of Daniel and Susan Sassaman. They had four children: 1. Warren, a puddler in the Glasgow Iron Works. He married Clara Schaeffer and they have one child, Maud. 2. Lucy, unmarried and keeps house for her father. 3. David, died at the age of ten years. 4. John Allen, died at the age of eight years. Mrs. Susan (Sassaman) Herner died in 1873, at the age of twenty-eight years. She belonged to the German Reformed church.

October 8, 1887, John R. Herner married (second wife) Mrs. Matilda Moyer, widow of William Moyer. Mrs. Matilda Herner died in 1891, at the age of forty-four years. She was a Baptist.

Mr. Herner is a member of the German Reformed church. Politically he is a Democrat, and was a school director for several terms. He was also township auditor and held other township offices. He belongs to the Patriotic Order, Sons of America. He resides at 401 Chestnut street, where he bought a home and remodeled it.