Settlers began to come to Berks County, then known as Philadelphia County in the late 1600's. By 1750, the settlements were well in place and organized and by the time Berks was a county, many businesses had sprung up around the area. In this section we will be recording the history about the businesses and the people who started them. In addition, we hope to show how the families passed them down from generation to generation.
It was quite common for a young man to indenture himself to learn a trade. Sometimes he would be set out of his home very early to work with a blacksmith, farmer, or miller to work along side of the tradesman. Often if he proved an asset to the business, he would become a partner upon maturity or be offered a partnership to buy. But most often, after a few years of working with a partner, he would sell his partnership and set up business by himself or with a family member. Thus businesses grew and tradesmen grew and the county developed.
In Morton Montgomery's History of Berks County, the author presents an accurate representative of the business in Berks County during its history. The names he associates with them are many. The businesses have been divided into five groups for your ease of access:
If you have any information on early businesses, please send it to me for publication.
Berks County Businesses -- A-F
Berks County Businesses -- G-J
Berks County Businesses -- K-N
Berks County Businesses -- O-R
Berks County Businesses -- S-Z
Prominent Business in Berks County in 1847
File Making (from History of Reading, by Morton Montgomery)
Last Modified Thursday, 16-Oct-2008 21:07:41 EDT
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