History of Berks County - Upper Bern Township
The following is reproduced from the 1876 Atlas of Berks County, Pennsylvania
Little can be said of the early history of this township. It was formerly included in common with Centre and Penn, in the territory of Bern. The boundary of Upper Bern are Schuylkill county on the north, the Schuylkill river on the east, Centre and Penn townships on the south, Upper Tulpehocken on the west. The soil in the eastern part. is good, but in the northern portion it is only of average quality. The rest of the land is poor. The northern part is hilly, but the southern is more level.
The only villages in the township are Shartlesville. and Naftzingerstown. The inhabitants are rather sparsely scattered throughout the territory, and mostly engaged in farming.
The township has ten school houses, all of which are well patronized. There are three churches, two Union, and one belonging to the United Brethren.
The industries of Upper Bern are six mills, one forge, a lime-stone quarry and a kiln. Besides these there are six hotels and five stores, all doing a good business. The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad passes through the township.
The population in 1870 was 2,008.