Source: Pennsylvania, A History, George P. Donehoo, (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1926), p. 173
Surnames: Keppelman, Beltz, Bower, Brown, Ermentrout, Beacher, Seiders, Veasey, Wolf, Schroeder, Rowe, Frees, Arthur, Moyer
Seldom is a city more deeply moved by grief than was the case in Reading on August 9, 1924, when John H. Keppelman passed from a life of signal devotion to civic duty and individual effort. The outstanding position attained by this upright and worthy citizen gave him a wide influence in the progress of city, county and commonwealth, while to the group which came in close personal touch with his varied and far-seeing activities his entire life was a record of extraordinary usefulness - an example honored in countless cases by the sincere compliment of emulation. The phase of his career most clearly recognized, and perhaps most significant to the general well-being, was his unfailing attitude of interest in and benevolence towards others. Mr. Keppelman was a singularly selfless man. His laurels of achievement were striven for and won in the promotion of the public good, and no effort so fully aroused his enthusiasm or absorbed his energies as did the many movements which he instituted or led looking towards the public good. He was universally known in this city and as universally esteemed and beloved.
Keppelman-Van Keppel-Von Keppel Arms - Per fess argent and sable, in chief a man issuant, habited gules, wearing a pointed cap of the same, and holding a sword of the first, garnished or; in base a lion passant of the last.
Crest - Out of a ducal coronet the man issuant, between a pair of
wings, the dexter per fess gules and argent, the sinister or and sable.
Mantling - Dexter, or and sable; sinister, argent and gules.
The Keppelman name is one of great honor in Germany, and John Keppelman, grandfather of John H. Keppelman, was a distinguished soldier, who fought under Napoleon. Participating in the battle of Wagram with signal courage, John Keppelman was awarded two medals in honor of his service to the cause and his valor in action. These medals are now in the possession of his descendants and comprise one of their most highly prized heirlooms. John Keppelman died at forty-six years of age, but his wife survived for many years, living to the great age of ninety years. They were the parents of four children, their son, John Joseph Conrad Keppelman, having been the only one to become a resident of the United States.
John Joseph Conrad Keppelman, son of John Keppelman, and father of John H. Keppelman, was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, in 1827, and there learned the trade of locksmith. At the age of twenty-one he left home and country to come to America, and for a time resided at Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Shortly afterward he came to Reading and here became largely successfully in the foundry business, conducting an extensive interest over a period of many years. He maintained and operated three plants, one on North Sixth Street, another on North Fifth Street, and a third in the locality known as Riverside. He died in 1909. His name is still remembered and honored both in business and social circles in Reading. He married Christiana Bower, daughter of John and Wilhelmina (Beltz) Bower, and they were the parents of ten children: 1. William, who married Ella Brown. 2. John H., of further mention. 3. Emma, who married Dr. Samuel Ermentrout. 4. Edward, who married Ella Beacher. 5. Howard, who married Ida Seiders. 6. Ida, who married Joseph Veasey. 7. Katharine, who married Dr. F. X. Wolf. 8. Albert, who married Catharine Schroeder. 9. Theodore, who married Sallie Rowe. 10. Florence, now the wife of Howard Frees. Christiana Keppelman, the mother of these children, is still living and is ninety-two years of age.
John H. Keppelman, son of John Joseph Conrad and Christiana (Bower) Keppelman, was born at Reading, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1853. Receiving his education in the public schools there, he was graduated from the high school in the class of 1870. He then learned a practical trade, that of moulder, in his father's foundry. Following his trade for some nine years, Mr. Keppelman then became identified with the public service in the capacity of city clerk of Reading, which office he ably filled from 1879 to 1884. Later, in 1887, he accepted the office of superintendent of the Consumers' Gas Company, which is one of the widely important enterprises of the city of Reading, and Mr. Keppelman's responsibilities were of an exacting nature. He nevertheless, went forward with efficiency and ability, his supervision of the activities of the concern counting in a large measure for the daily welfare of the people through the excellent service which they received. His associates in the organization, without exception, held him in the highest regard, while in business circles his administration of its affairs was commended in the highest terms. Mr. Keppelman filled various other public responsibilities, having served as councilman from the Sixth Ward from 1885 to 1897, the early part of that period in the Common Council, but the latter eight years in the Select body. Mr. Keppelman's alert attention to the needs of the people always constituted a determining factor in his activities, and during this period of twelve years he did much to improve conditions, especially in fostering and bringing to successful accomplishment such important necessities as the early sewer system and the paving of the streets. Of this early civic leadership a local daily newspaper said in an extended review of his life:
Doubtless the most notable service rendered Reading by the late John H. Keppelman during his career of twenty years as a city official was the movement which he fathered and which resulted in the first paved streets and the first house sewers being installed here.
From the time that he began his career as a public official with his election as city clerk, Mr. Keppelman applied himself diligently to an exhaustive study of municipal matters. His wide knowledge of city affairs was recognized throughout the State, and he frequently was consulted and his opinions obtained on many important questions dealing with municipal government.
When he began his career as a public official Reading was just about in its formative period as a municipality. Mr. Keppelman was quick to see the necessity for beginning permanent public improvements and much of his time and effort as a public official was devoted to this end.
A loyal Democrat since the attainment of his majority, Mr. Keppelman held the public good above merely partisan consideration, and was therefore never considered a politician, rather a servant of the people. On many occasions his colleagues in civic endeavor tried to persuade him to accept the nomination for mayor of the city of Reading, but he consistently declined this honor, although among his friends it was felt that his eminent qualifications for this position made his reluctance to accept it a regrettable fact. A characteristic phase of Mr. Keppelman's usefulness in whatever matter engaged his attention was his minute thoroughness. No proposal for civic projects or public works could be brought to his attention without his informing himself exhaustively regarding every aspect of its cost, its value to the municipality, its probable permanence and its general feasibility. Another important public service which he rendered was his promotion and championship of the filtering of the city's water supply, which involved a loan of $500,000, and it was unquestionably due, in a great measure, to his ceaseless labors that it was accomplished. That was done in 1907, and some three years later he made many stirring speeches for the loan of $1,275,000 then proposed for general public improvements.
No record of Mr. Keppelman's usefulness as a citizen would be complete without mention of his first service of a public nature. Always appreciative of his own educational opportunities, although these were limited to the public schools, Mr. Keppelman opened, almost immediately following his graduation, an evening school for young men. He chose a location in the northwestern part of the city, which was then known as Ricktown. There centered the brick yards and other industrial plants, where much cheap labor was employed, principally youths under the majority, who had little or no education. He took over the direction of their part time studies in this way, and such was his kindly brotherly attitude and manner that they made of him their friend and confidant in many of their problems outside of the school routine. It is said that a great number of these young men now trace their subsequent success to this benevolent work carried on by a youth, who at that time was one of their age. This enterprise as the more noteworthy, considering the fact that educational legislation was then a matter undreamed of and no opportunities were available for this stratum of society. The Nursery Literary Association, which was one of the influential organizations in educational affairs in Reading for many years, was the direct outgrowth of this early school conducted by Mr. Keppelman. Many instances of the good which he did could be enumerated in detail, were it not for the fact that his extensive benevolences and charities were never heralded and rarely acknowledged even among his closest friends.
Fraternally, he became affiliated, in 1881, with Teutonia Lodge, No. 367, Free and Accepted Masons, of which his father was the founder and first Master, and he later became affiliated with the various Scottish Rite bodies of the order, including Harrisburg Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, is a Noble of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Reading, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Wyomissing Club. Mr. Keppelman, himself, was a leading spirit in the organization of Reading Council, Royal Arcanum, which is now one of the thriving fraternal orders of this city. He served as president of the Board of Trade for a number of years, was long a director of the First National Bank, was a director of the Colonial Trust Company, served for a number of years on the board of managers of the Reading Public Library, and was president, manager and a director of the Consumers' Gas Company. Mr. Keppelman was one of the fore-members of the Keystone Hook & Ladder Company, and so highly was he regarded in this organization that the hall and apparatus of the company were draped in mourning for thirty days following his death. One of his great services to the community was his activity as a director of the Reading-Berks County Safety Council and that body, shortly after his decease, passed the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Reading-Berks County Safety Council has learned, with regret, of the death of Mr. John H. Keppelman;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the board record its appreciation of Mr. Keppelman's service to this community both as a public official and private citizen, his leadership in business and particularly his interest in public safety as manifested in his work as president of this organization, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Reading-Berks County Safety Council offer to his family its sincere sympathy.
Many personal expressions of the esteem and affection borne toward this remarkable man among his contemporaries were brought out by his death, of which the following, from a lifelong friend, finds place in this record:
His grasp on detail during the entire period of his incumbency of the office of city clerk made him of marked value in that position, and his knowledge of city affairs has probably never been excelled by any predecessor or successor. He carried that thoroughness into the work of his later years, a trait that gave him the highest position in the company whose destiny he guided for a number of years.
It falls to the lot of few executives to be held in greater esteem by those under them than was the portion of Mr. Keppelman. The Consumers' Gas Company had no labor troubles under his leadership. Every employee regarded him as a personal friend, to whom they went in time of trouble, and no appeal was ever disregarded by him. Only a few of his closest personal friends had even a faint idea of his charities, which were legion.
John H. Keppelman married, in 1876, Mary E. Arthur, of Reading, daughter of Colonel John E. and Rebecca P. (Moyer) Arthur. Mrs. Keppelman preceded her husband in death by two years, having died August 10, 1922. Their children were three, and are: 1. John Arthur, a biography of whom follows. 2. Edith, deceased in infancy. 3. Robert, who passed away in the flower of his youth.
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