[66-5a] REV. JACOB K. MESCHTER, b Oct. 3, 1818; d Dec. 15, 1891; s Jeremiah and Christina (Kriebel} Mesehter [66-2]; mm Nov. 28, 1843, AGNES YEAKEL, b Jan. 23, 1821; d Dec. 25, 1872; dau Daniel and Susanna (Geho) Yeakel [38-41].
Children (8):
William Yeakel Meschter was born on his father’s farm at Palm, Pa. In addition to attending the public schools in the vicinity he attended a private academy for afew terms, after which he spent several years in the school room as a teacher. Mr. Meschter began his business career as a clerk in the Perkiomen Valley Bank, which he left to become a clerk in a Philadelphia business house.
In 1883 he entered the J. O. Schimmel Preserving Company as bookkeeper, and a short time afterwards became a director and treasurer of the company. In 1890 the company was incorporated under the heading of the American Preservers’ Company with Mr. Meschter as treasurer and overseer of the office force. Seven years later, Mr. L. J. Link and W. Y. Meschter bought out the American Preservers’ Company and incorporated it under the title of the American Preserve Company, with Mr. Meschter continuing as treasurer and director until his death. The business is now owned and operated by his nephew, Wayne C. Meschter.;
William Y. Meschter always retained an interest in the place of his birth as well as in religious work. He was one of the main factors in founding the Mission Church of the Schwenkfelders in Philadelphia. As a matter of fact, the existence of the Philadelphia Church today is due to the loyalty of the late William Y. Meschter and Dr. James M. Anders, the present Moderator of the Church. Both of these men were prominent members of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, but when this mission was established they left their church and gave of their time and money in order to foster this institution.
Throughout his entire business career Mr. Meschter retained a deep interest in various charitable, benevolent, educational and religious enterprises. His will shows a remarkable variety and scope of charitable interests. It is stated that Mr. Meschter’s will was the most liberal and magnanimous of any among the Schwenkfelders since the days of Dr. Abraham Wagner, who died in 1763, and who bequeathed a large part of his estate to charity. His bequests to the various church organizations made it possible to carry on enterprises that otherwise could not have been started or continued. That he did
not restrict his bequests to purely Schwenkfelder interests portrays the broadminded liberality of the man. The bequest of a thousand dollars to the Mission Board of the Schwenkfelder Church was the first that the board had ever received, and with this money the ‘“‘William Y. Mesehter Memorial Home for Teachers’ in Shansi, China, was built. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the many bequests is that they were made without any solicitation on the part of those concerned. WILL OF WILLIAM Y. MESCHTER
I, William Y. Meschter, of the City of Philadelphia, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, b make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all wills by me at any time heretofore made.
First, I direct my hereinafter named executors to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease as the same may be conveniently done, and it is my desire that my body be interred in the Schwenkfeldian Burying Ground, at Kraussdale, Pennsylvania, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Schwenkfeldian Church.
And I hereby further direct, that the selection of a tombstone suitable for my grave shall be at the discretion of my said executors; that the cost thereof shall not exceed Six Hundred Dollars ($600.); and, any unexpended balance remaining between the cost of my tombstone and the sum of Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.), I give and bequeath to my said executors, in trust nevertheless, to appropriate the interest or income arising from said balance to the care and preservation of my grave and tombstone, and those of my dear parents and of such other members of the family who may be interred in said burying ground.
As to the residue of such estate as it has pleased God to entrust me with, I dispose of the same as follows:—
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my honored stepmother, Hannah Meschter, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.) in cash, said sum to be free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax; and, in case my said stepmother shal’ not survive me, then the said bequest shall go to and form part of my residuary estate.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to my dear aunt, Emma Kemmerer, Emaus, Pennsylvania, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.), said sum to be free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Perkiomen Seminary at Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), to be used by the Trustees thereof for such purpose or purposes as they may deem for the best interests of said institution, said sum to be free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Mennonite Home for Aged People, at Frederick, Pennsylvania, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.), said sum to be free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Sunday Breakfast Association, located at No. 222 North Twelfth Street. Philadelphia, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.), said sum to be free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM, I give and bequeath to the Franklin Reformatory Home for Inebriates, No. 915 Locust Street, Philadelphia, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.), said sum to be free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Pennsylvania Society to Protect Children from Cruelty, No. 415 South Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.), said sum to be free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.;
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, Philadelphia. the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.) free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital, 1725 Cherry Street, in the City of Philadelphia, for the purpose of endowing a Free Bed therein, in memory of my dear father and mother, Rev. Jacob Meschter and Agnes Meschter, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Methodist Episcopal Hospital, Cor. Broad and Wolf Streets, in the City of Philadelphia, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.), free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. [I give and bequeath to the German Hospita), Cor. Girard Avenue and Corinthian Avenue, in the City of Philadelphia, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.), free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Board of Publication of the Schwenkfeldian Church the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. I give and bequeath to the Board of Missions of the Schwenkfeldian Church the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. JI give and bequeath to the First Schwenkfeldian Church of the City of Philadelphia, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.), free and clear of any collateral inheritance tax.
ITEM. All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal, and mixed, whatsoever and wheresoever, I order and direct to be converted into money as soon as the same can conveniently be done after my decease; and for that purpose, I do hereby authorize and empower my hereinafter named executors to sell and dispose of all my said real estate either by public or private sale or sales, for the best price or prices that can be gotten for the same, and by proper deed or deeds, conveyances or assurances in the law, to be duly executed, acknowledged or perfected, to grant, convey and assure the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, his, her, or their heirs and assigns, free from all liability for or on account of the application of the purchase money. And when the whole of my said residuary estate shall be converted into money, as aforesaid, then I will and direct the same to be divided into four (4) equal parts or shares, and disposed of as follows, to-wit:;
One full equal one-fourth part or share thereof, I give, devise and bequeath to my dear brother Daniel Meschter, his heirs and assigns forever.
One other of the said full equa! fourth parts or shares of the proceeds of my said residuary estate, I give, devise and bequeath to my dear brother Levi Meschter, his heirs and assigns forever.
One other of said full equal fourth parts or shares of the proceeds of my said residuary estate, I give, devise and bequeath to my dear sister, Susanna, wife of Hiram A. Krieble, her heirs and assigns forever.
And the remaining one full equal fourth part or share of the proceeds of my said residuary estate, I give, devise and bequeath to my brother, the said Daniel Meschter, in trust nevertheless, to invest in good and lawful securities, and to pay the income thereof to my dear sister-in-law, Matilda Méschter, widow of my late brother, Charles Meschter, deceased, for and during her widowhood. And from and immediately after the marriage or death of my said sister-in-
jaw,.I give, devise and bequeath the principal of the said one-fourth part or share of my said residuary estate to be equally divided, share and share alike, between the children of my said sister-in-law, which were, by my late brother, the said Charles, of her body begotten.
Lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my brother, the aforesaid Daniel Meschter, of East Greenville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and Lewis J. Link, of the City of Philadelphia, to be the executors of this my last will and testament.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty-eighth day of May, A.D., One thousand nine hundred and eight. (1908.) William Y. Meschter (Seal.)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named William Y. Meschter, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names, at his request, as witnesses thereto, in the presence of the said testator and of each other.
John R. Cassel
354 Drexel Bldg. Phila.
Elsie P. Snyder
354 Drexel Bldg., Phila.