William B. Henry & Ellen Elizabeth Adam Family

William B. Henry and Ellen Adam were both born and raised in the small town of Churchville (now called Bally) in Berks County, Pennsylvania, they probably new each other for most of their lives.  Both were German Catholics and members of the congregation of Father Augustine Bally, the Priest for whom the town was later named.  They probably also attended the same school at the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church together, though William was six years older than Ellen. 

William was the son of a local carpenter and lived in a house on Church Street while Ellen lived on her father's farm directly adjacent to the Catholic Church property.  Both families probably were drawn to the area because of their families' faith and possibly because their was available land that the Church was selling.  Ellen's father, in fact, had purchased his property directly from the Church.

William took up the profession of his father, learning the trade of carpenter while working in a planing mill in Churchville.  When he was 20 years old, he had already moved out of his parent's home and he was living as a border in the home of a neighbor, Isaiah Milller.   At some point around this time, William and Ellen courted and decided that they would marry.  The wedding was in 1886, and was conducted by Father John Harpes, a Jesuit Priest, witnesses were Frances Shell and Elizabeth Henry, sister of the bridegroom.  It appears for sometime that William and Elizabeth may have lived on property they bought from Ellen's father.

William may have tried farming for a while to support his family that was growing rapidly.  In the 12 years between 1887 and 1899, Ellen gave birth to 9 children and at the end of the century the family still lived in Churchville, which was now called Bally, and William was working as a carpenter.

In 1901, the Henry's moved their large family to Reading, Pennsylvania and William began working in the car shops of the Reading Railroad continuing as a carpenter.  Ellen had one last child around this time, Paul, but he died in infancy.  An earlier daughter had also died young so the family now numbered eight, seven boys and one girl. 

The family eventually  resided in Reading in one of the many row homes of the city, at 713 Mulberry Street.  My grandfather related that his father at times used tough discipline to control his boys, sometimes employing a "razor strap" to keep them in line, a type of punishment which was more common in those days.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Henry were active in the local Catholic Church and in local civic organizations.  In 1927, Ellen became suddenly ill at her home and passed away at the age of 60, leaving her husband and probably one son at home at that time, 17 year old Leo.

Sometime within the next couple of years, William decided to remarry, an idea that apparently met with some resistance from the rest of the family.  He married a woman named Barbara Holt, and they continued to live in the house on Mulberry Street.

In 1930, on the day after his 70th birthday, William retired from his job at the Reading Company having put in 29 years of service.  On the following Saturday, he and his wife entertained friends and family at their home, celebrating his birthday and retirement.  Sadly, he passed away the very next day on May 4th, 1930.