USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > Blue book of Schuylkill County : who was who and why, in interior eastern Pennsylvania, in Colonial days, the Huguenots and Palatines, their service in Queen Anne's French and Indian, and Revolutionary Wars : history of the Zerbey, Schwalm, Miller, Merkle, Minnich, Staudt, and many other representative families > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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(Note-William Rittenhouse, b. 1664, in the principality of Broich, near the city of Mulheim on the Ruhr. He lived in Amsterdam, where he took the oath of citizenship, June 23, 1678. He emigrated to New York, 1688, and came to Germantown, Phila., 1690. He erected the first paper mill in America. He was the founder of the family to which David Rittenhouse, astronomer and statesman, belonged. The Rittenhouse fam- ily of Lewistown trace their ancestry back to the early founders of the family name in Germantown, Phila.)
JOHN ADAM MILLER
John Adam Miller, son of Heinrich Miller and Christina Sheppen, b. August 27, 1793, Bern Township, Berks County, married Anna+ Maria Zerbe, (John3 George, George2 Peter, Martin1), of Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, about January 1, 1815. He removed with his family to Centre County, near Bellefonte, about 1819, where he took up a tract of land and farmed it. He became prosperous, his family owning several of the richest farms in that vicinity, some of them having retired and renting their homesteads, live in the city, where they also own property. John Adam and Anna Maria Zerbe Miller had six children. His second wife, with whom he had no issue, was Mrs. Catharine Spangler, who died May 5, 1877. Adam Miller d. March 17, 1871. Children :
Henry Miller, b. October 30, 1816, in Bern Township, Berks County, came to Centre County, when about three years of age, with his parents, where he became a prominent and prosperous farmer. He m. Catharine Miess, b. December 9, 1815, d. April 11, 1888. Henry Miller, d. May 24, 1881. Their children were:
William Henry Miller, b. April 11, 1844; d. January 23, 1907; m. Mary Ann Hoy, May 2, 1865, b. June 11, 1844; e., Sarah Emma, b. 1865, m., 1890, Charles Garis, b. 1868, d. 1898, at Spanish American War Hospital, Chicka- mauga. Children: William Henry, m. Lettie Reese, one child, Bessie
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Louise; Catharine Ann, b. 1867, m. 1895, Charles E. Wetzel, b. 1866, c .: Mary Elizabeth and Susan, d., twins, b. 1896; Miles Thomas, b. 1899; Emma Caroline, b. 1903; Margaret Miller, b. October 4, 1845, d. 1893; Henry A., b. 1874, d. 1890.
Mary Margaretha Miller, b. October 4, 1845; d. September 15, 1851.
Sarah Jane, b. September 2, 1847, m. October 5, 1880, to John J. Musser, b. March 29, 1829, d. January 7, 1901. One daughter, Katharine S., b. March 11, 1883.
(Note-Mrs. Musser and danghter live in their own apartments in a business block, Bellefonte, Mrs. Musser owning the building.)
John Adam, b. July 9, 1849.
Anna Eliza, b. June 18, 1854; m. 1893, to John A. Slack.
Mary3 Miller (John2 Adam, Heinrich1), b. September 27. 1821, d. April 2, 1878; m. Samuel Greeninger. Children :
Thomas Greeninger, m. Caroline Spangler; no c., Tylersville, Penna. Daniel, m. western woman. Seven children live in the West, Jane, m. Luther Schreckengast; d., twelve c .; Blanche m. Mark Shade, of Brush Valley, Centre Co .; two c., Edward and one da .; Cyrus, m., two c. live near Laureltown, Pa .; Frances, m. Wmn. Preston, of State College, twelve children, nine of whom are living. Bertha m. Charles Taylor, Huntington, Pa., two sons, Erie, d .; m. John Huss, Spring Mills; two children, Jennie and George; Hamilton E. m. Mattie Weaver, Farmer's Mills, Centre County, five c., Earl, Ruth, Pearl and Mary; Bessie m. John Guthrie, Philadelphia; da., Ruth. Mary m. Dr. Hibner, Bethlehem, c., Harold and Hildred; Lillie m. John Hanna, Boalsburg, Pa., seven children; Samuel, m., one child, Altoona; Ilarry m. Lottie Armbruster, Farmer's Mills, Pa .; son, Martin. Edna m. - Hickernel, Colorado; Rebecca m. Scott Kers- tetter; six children, Glen Iron, Pa .; Daisy m. Wm. M. Luse, two c., Centre Hall, Pa. Margaret and Helen; Samuel, Cleveland and Sumner, of White- fish, Montana, all single; Thomas, single; Jennie m. Royston Powell; da. Geraldine, Glen Iron, Pa.
Ammon Miller, m. Rebecca Wolf, Philadelphia; c., Kinley, twice mar- ried, da. Helen; Bessie, Lottie Mary, single; Minnie, m., two children; Thomas, d .; Edward, m., two c.
Orpha Miller, m. Herman Bressler, Corning, N. Y .; c., Eva and Maude; Elizabeth m. James Cooney, da. Minnie m. - Heisher; c., Thomas and James.
Harriet Miller, m. Leonard Schreckengast; c., Mary, m. Samuel Strayer; da. Mary, m., live in the West; Alfred, m., one c., Tylersville, Pa .; Han- nah m. J. H. Lutz; six c., Flemington, Pa.
Elizabeth Miller, b. June 2, 1819; d. May 1, 1887; m. Joseph Kleck- ner, d.
John Adam Miller, b. June 2, 1837; d. May 14, 1900; m. January 3, 1858, Mary Ann, da. of Frederick and Catharine Esterline, b. April 23, 1837; five children, two died in infancy; Edwin M., b. June 21, 1867, m. Regie Swartz, d .; son, Randall. Second wf., Sarah Aigler, two sons, Stanley and Ward Curtis; Edwin Miller, a physician, Beavertown, Pa. Melissa Grace Miller, b. February 7, 1864, m. George S. Frank, a physician,
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no children, Millheim, Pa .; Adelia, Catharine b. December 21, 1878, m. Chauncy Frankenberger, da., Rhoda Grace, b. February 28, 1897, State College, Pa.
Rebecca Miller (Adam and Anna Maria Zerbe Miller), b. October 2, 1830; d. April 17, 1838.
Children of Harriet and Leonard Schreckengast: Mary, m. Samuel Strayer, Shickley, Nebraska; three children, Alfred, Effenger and Minnie, m., three children.
Alfred, b. June 27, 1847, m. Amanda Lutz, da. Tolitha, m., two children; Alfred's second wife, Agnes Greeninger, one son, Charles, m., two chil- dren; Hannah, b. September 17, 1853, m. J. H. Lutz, seven children, live at Flemington, Pa .; Kathryn, m. Samuel Miller, two children, Miriam and Ralph; Mary, m. John Lair, four children, Florence, Eleanor, Laura and Dorothy; Harry, m. Pearl Englert, da. Marguerite; Meda, m. Raymond Stabley, three children, Hazel, Julia and Clarence; Irvin, John and Flor- ence are single.
(Note-John1 Adam Miller removed from Bern Township, Berks County, Pa., to Miles Township, Centre County, Pa., about 1818.)
The author is indebted to Mrs. Melissa Grace Miller, wife of Dr. George S. Frank, of Millheim, Pa., and to Miss Katharine Musser, of Bellefonte, for assistance in the compilation of the above.
MONEY TALKS
John Adam Miller's wife, Anna Maria Zerbe, died and he wanted to marry again. He came to Orwigsburg to get a wife and paid his addresses to the widow of his nephew, Dan- iel Grieff. The aged suitor was a prosperous man and while he made his proposal drew from his inner pocket a purple vel- vet bag, lined with yellow silk, untied the strings and poured the contents, several handsful of golden eagles and large golden coins, on the table. "Money talks," he said. "Yes, but not loud enough to me," said she, and he scooped up his gold and went elsewhere.
AN EARLY CHRISTMAS
One of the children asked the grandmother, Barbara Zerbe, if they kept Christmas and what they did to observe it? Why, yes; certainly, she said, the children of those days did not have much to celebrate Christmas with, but what they had they enjoyed as much, or more than, those of today. We lived in the country and brought from the forest branches of
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the green fir trees which were placed over the doors, on top of the clock and glasses and china cupboard. The red thorn berries in bunches were tied up around. On the "Dresser" (sideboard) we placed two long rows of apples, red and green, . that had been selected and highly polished. Between these rows were piled up in heaps chestnuts, walnuts and hickory nuts. We had small cakes cut with tin patterns. A few of these were ornamented with pink and white sugar. The only candy we knew of were small pink and white buttons of sugar, dropped in rows on white paper and long sticks of hoarhound and dark sugar candy, home-made and not very often or plenty at that. We popped corn and roasted chestnuts and then, why, Yes! of course, we had a roasted goose for our Christmas dinner, and our presents were useful articles of clothing: a pair of new shoes, a linsey wolsey dress or a knitted scarf or cap (hauben).
(Grandmother Barbara was born in 1758. Susan Grieff, wife of Henry Krebs, was the grandchild above referred to.)
FOURTH GENERATION-GEORGE ZERBE
George Zerbe, was born in the Long Run valley, the first farm from the Schuylkill Haven covered bridge. The farmhouse stood on the crest of the hill and was later occu- pied by Daniel Bartlett, who purchased part of the land; it was razed several years ago to make room for a more modern building. He rented a farm in the Panther Valley (Bender Thal), the land adjacent to Dr. F. W. Boyer's farm, and was the tract afterward owned by Mrs. George Frey, of Cressona. His marriage took place shortly after his father's death, 1814, and the family lived on this tract, where all but the three youngest children were born, until 1836.
(Note-George Zerbe was confirmed October 20, 1805, at 16 years of age. (St. John's Lutheran church records, Friedensburg.)
February 13, 1836, George Zerbe took out a deed, Sam- uel Kimmel, Grantee, for a tract of land in West Brunswick
GEORGE ZERBE HOMESTEAD, W. BRUNSWICK TWP., SCH. CO., PA., NEAR ORWIGSBURG.
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PUBLIC NOLSO
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Township, a mile and a quarter below Orwigsburg. This tract was surrounded by lands of Daniel Hummel, Phillip Wernert, Daniel Schoener and Peter Hummel. May 1, 1838, he bought an addition to this tract from Peter Hummel. (Deed book, Schuylkill Co. C. H.) He cleared the land and built a log house for his family which was succeeded by a large white painted farm house in later years. The land was not very productive and the family and hired help worked hard and incessantly until it became so. They planted their own flax and spun and wove their own linen, carpets, cloths and woolen coverlets, in a small log building erected on the farm, which was installed with looms, spinning wheels, carders, etc. (Some of the linen is still in possession of members of the family.) Everything possible was raised upon the farm as the acreage was limited and the family large.
George+ Zerbe, (John3 George, George2 Peter, Martin1), b. November 21, 1789; d. June 18, 1865; wf., Magdelena Mer- kle, da. of Michael2 (Peter1) and Elizabeth (Ebert) Merkle, b. September 28, 1796; d. July 22, 1871. Both buried in the Lutheran cemetery, Orwigsburg. Their children were:
Eliza, b. June 11, 1815; wf. of Daniel Jones; d. February 14, 1895. Daniel Luther, b. December 14, 1817; wf., Catharine Gass; d. March 30, 1892.
Catharine, b. April, 1823; wf. of Jacob Bock; d. December 19, 1869. William Merkle, b. January 22; bap. May 1st, 1824, at Red church. Sponsors, Wm. Grieff and wf. Catharine; wf. Sarah L. Schwalm.
Sarah, b. February 15, 1826; d. May 18, 1901; m. Perry Eaton. Matilda Merkle, b. May 1, 1830; d. September 3, 1886; wf. of Samuel B. Graeff.
Magdelena, b. September 11, 1833; d., single, November 19, 1906. George M., b. July 2, 1836; d. January 1, 1839.
Henry, b. 1838; d. in Philadelphia, 1896; wf., Caroline Hammer, d. Children: George, Howell, Henry, d .; his son Harry is a letter carrier in Spring City, Philadelphia; Melissa.
Susanna, b. 1840, d. in Philadelphia. Husband, Jacob Buehler, d. Children: four sons. Jacob Buehler was a soldier in the Civil War, a member of the 96th regiment, Schuylkill County Volunteers.
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Eliza Zerbe, wf. of Daniel Jones, m. 1838. His father, Charles Jones, came over the Blue Mountain from Berks County and settled in Brunswick Township (Berks Co.) prior to 1800. He was a farmer and shoemaker. Daniel and Reuben Jones were bap. at the Red Church ; Daniel, b. March 3, 1816, d. August 13, 1886. (Reuben was the father of Reu- ben Jones, clerk in the Miners' National Bank, Pottsville, since 1878.) Daniel Jones was a shoemaker by trade and after his marriage lived in the vicinity of Landingville. He removed to Bucyrus, Ohio, in the late 'forties and thence to Washington, Tazewell County, Ill., 1855, where he purchas- ed a farm, living on it eight years, and then removed into the town and engaged in the shoe business, in which he be- came prosperous. The children of Eliza Zerbe and Daniel Jones were :
George Jones, b. November 11, 1839; d. December 23, 1856.
Katharine, b. January 4, 1840; m. Ezra Lee, Florida fruit grower, since 1876. A daughter, wf. of Dr. Nelson W. Francis, managing physi- cian of St. Catharine's Hospital, Jacksonville, Fla.
Charles, b. March 4, 1841; d. June 10, 1863.
Sarah, b. September 30, 1842; m. December 6, 1866, George Zinser, cashier Peoria, Ill., bank; c., Hattie Wookey, b. September 28, 1867, m. October 28, 1891; Maude, b. November 30, 1870; d. August 16, 1872.
Emma, b. June 16, 1844; m. Wm. LeConte; c., Danforth and Gilman, Iroquois County, Ill., farmer.
William, carpenter and contractor, Washington, Ill .; b. December 10, 1849; m. Emma Snyder, December 18, 1873; e. Charles E., b. April 24, 1876, m. December 5, 1898; Harry Lee, b. May 10, 1880, m. February 12, 1912; Herbert E., b. January 1, 1886, m. October 21, 1909; Mabel L., b. August 9, 1888.
Mary E., b. April 4, 1851, single, lives with her sister in Florida. Matilda, b. June 16, 1853, m. - Kyer, December 27, 1876; d. January 1, 1882; c .: Jesse, b. September 19, 1878, m. May 10, 1902; Robert, b. Feb- ruary 29, 1880.
Daniel Luther Zerbe-His wife, Catharine Gass (Gars), was born in Northumberland County, where the Gars emi- grated from Berks. Mother, Mary, da. of Mathias Kersh- ner, b. June, 1785; d. September 29, 1873 (buried in Odd Fellows' cemetery, Pottsville, Pa.) ; Henry Gars, son-in-law of Jacob Phillips, is buried in Alsace church cemetery, near
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Reading. He had four children, one of whom was Henry. John living at Adamsdale, Schuylkill County ; wf., - Strauss, from Schuylkill Haven. Daniel Zerbe lived in Pottsville from 1842 until his death; he was a carpenter and builder. The children of Daniel and Catharine Zerbe were:
Martha J. Zerbe, b. May, 1847; d. May 24, 1899; m. Aaron W. Keefer, d., of Pottsville, Jan. 21, 1870, who was twice married; their children were: Clara E., wf. of Wm. B. Bergman, of Ashland; 1 c., d .; Ellen J., d. wife of Thomas Hadesty, m. August 8, 1900; 1 c .; d. 1914; Millie, teacher in the public schools; Florence A., and Arabella L., wf. of Mordecai Brobst, Pottsville.
Mary A. Zerbe, b. 1849, single.
Anna L. Zerbe, b. 1851, d. October 30, 1901; teacher in the public schools.
Lillie Zerbe, b. 1853, taught in public school, Port Clinton.
Emma E. Zerbe, b. 1854, d. September 26, 1901; teacher in public schools.
Wm. Luther Zerbe, b. 1856, d. 1913; single; mechanician, in charge of the telephone switchboard at the Reading Co. shops at the time of his death.
Catharine Zerbe, m. Jacob Bock, son of William Bock, born at Hamburg, 1790, and grandson of Balthaser Bock, b. in the Province of Hessen, Germany, 1747. He came to America, 1755, settling in Berks County (History in Part I.) Jacob Bock, b. August 13, 1822, d. July 11, 1885. He was a member of the Evangelical church, a soldier in the Civil War and lived near New Ringgold. The children of Jacob and Catharine Bock were:
Mary, d., wf. of William Nester one c.
Charles, b. 1846; m., lives in Portland, Ore., family Catholic. Has several children, da. Susan. Builder and contractor and prosperous.
Franklin, d. March 4, 1870, aged three years.
Susan, wf. of Rev. George A. Knerr, Lutheran minister, Ambler, Pa. Sallie, single, lives in Philadelphia.
The Bock family home at New Ringgold was one of the historical buildings of Schuylkill County. It was a roomy log house built by Bernard Kepner, 1769, and was a road house on the King's Highway from Philadelphia to Sunbury. He also donated the ground upon which Frieden's church now stands, the log church being built several years later.
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Kepner was 89 years old when he died. His son-in-law, John Adam Will, lived in the old house for many years. They were succeeded by William Knittle and afterward by William Leibich. Jacob Bock bought the place but fol- lowed other occupations, mainly sub-contracting for the Little Schuylkill Railway. Tenants occupied the house until in the 'go's, when it was razed and the rocky and stony ground dynamited and Tilghman Rex, the purchaser, erected a handsome, modern residence on the site.
(Note-B. Morgan Will, of New Ringgold, eighty-six years old, 1914, and six years of age when his grandfather, Bernard Kepner, died, contributed the above information.)
(Note-The old log school house, known as Frieden's church, was built 1771. In 1796 it was decided not to en- large the school house, but build a second church aside of it. This church was dedicated March 19, 1798. It was enlarged or rebuilt 1828 and dedicated October of the same year. Cornerstone of the third church, one of the most picturesque in the county, was laid May 30, 1875. The first baptismal record : 1779. Third child of Andrew Young and wf. Mag- delena. Bap. record in old catechism in church archives. 1801, April 6, bap. Johannes, son of Solomon Whetstone, Jan. 3, 1808, Jacob Whetstone a sponsor, Henry Merkle a sponsor, 1804. July 14, 1804, Phillip Schwartz, Rev. soldier, bap. a son, Jacob. (Revolutionary Record.)
Sarah Zerbe, m. Oliver Perry Eaton, 1848, who was b. in Carroll Co., New Hampshire, October 16, 1826; d. in Washington, Illinois, February 27, 1866. His parents re- moved from New Hampshire to Boston, Massachusetts, and later settled in Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pa. After his marriage Perry removed to Lowell, Massachusetts, subsequently returning to Shamokin, 1850. Perry Eaton was a jeweler. He was a soldier in the three years' service of the Civil War. The couple were married in Pottsville, Pa. Four children died in youth.
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The children of Perry and Sarah Eaton were:
Clara, b. in Lowell, Mass., February 22, 1849; m. Isaac Graves, 1878, whereabouts unknown.
Albion Fillmore Eaton, b. September 7, 1850, in Shamokin, Pa .; wf., Jennie Jackson, b. December 26, 1855, Warsaw Ill .; m. December 26, 1877; lives at Decatur, Ill. Children, Della, b. May 25, 1881, m. C. A. Imboden, of Decatur, Ill., July 20, 1910; Bertha E., b. May 7, 1888, m., Green Bay, Wis., one son, d.
George Ebenezer, b. January, 1853, New York; wf., Alice, whereabouts unknown. One da., m., lives in Peoria.
William Sumner Eaton, b. July, 1857, Ashland, Pa .; wf., Margaret Fitzpatrick; m. 1897; lived in Hamilton, Ill .; removed to Decatur, Ill .; wf. Margaret d. June 15, 1913. He was a railway engineer but is now retired. Children: Della, b. May 26, 1898, Peoria, Ill .; m .; Bertha, Ethel and Helen.
(Note-Perry Eaton and Ellen and Ephraim Phillips, the latter later of New Castle and subsequently of Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., were among the pupils of the first public school organized, 1835, in Northumberland County .- Old History of Northumberland County.)
Matilda Merkle Zerbe, m. Samuel B. Graeff, March 6, 1852 (White Church records, Orwigsburg, Pa.) Samuel Beard Graeff, son of Daniel Graeff and Arasmy Beard, b. July 15, 1828, in Maiden Creek Township, Berks County, Pa .; died in Tamaqua, March 25, 1887. The family removed, 1841, to Schuylkill Haven, where the father kept a leading hotel, subsequently removing to Tamaqua, where his wife's brother, Michael Beard, conducted the Mansion House, ran stage lines and owned considerable property.
(Note-Harman B. Graeff, d., of Tamaqua, attorney at law. was a brother of Samuel.)
(Note-The Beards lived near Temple. Berks County, some of the family reside in Reading. They were prominent people and of Revolu- tionary stock.)
Samuel Graeff learned the trade of machinist and work- ed in Pottsville at the old George W. Snyder machine shops, now the Reading Company's. His name occurs, 1847, on the roster of the American Hose Fire Company, as having been one of the charter members. He removed to Tamaqua after his marriage, where he worked at his trade, and served
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in the Civil War as Captain of Co. D, 173d Regt. Penna. Vol. The children of Samuel and Matilda Graeff were:
Ann Beard Graeff, b. December 13, 1853; d. June 20, 1880; m. February 27, 1872, Edmund Lloyd; e. of Edmund and Ann Lloyd: Matilda Zerbey and Edmund C.
Matilda Zerbey Graeff, b. January 15, 1855; m. Lewis Beck, May 23, 1878, who d. June 18, 1880. leaving one son. Berthold Graeff Beck. He graduated from Lehigh University, 1900, and married Georgie J. Emery, May 20, 1904. Issue, one son, John Emery Beck, b. January 23, 1906. She married John M. Herbig, April 10, 1889. Both he and her son are employed with good positions in the mechanical department and office of the Beth- lehem Iron Works, Bethlehem, Pa.
Emmeline Graeff, b. August 31, 1856; d. January 19, 1860; raised by her grandmother, wf. of George Zerbe, West Brunswick Township, near Orwigsburg, where she died of scarlet fever and is buried in the Lutheran cemetery, Orwigsburg.
George Zerbey Graeff, b. February 10, 1858; m. Melinda Moss, Decem- ber 20, 1885; railroader, lives at Hazleton, Pa .; children: Samuel B., Sallie, Harriet, Laurine.
REV. FRANK ELLSWORTH GRAEFF, D. D.
Frank Ellsworth Graeff, b. December 19, 1860, m. Mary Lourene Mauger, da. of Rev. Henry Benner and Harriet Isabel Mauger, March 1, 1894. He was admitted into the Philadelphia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, 1890, and received honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Claflin University, 1911. He served the following ap- pointments : Bangor circuit, Somerton, Wesley, Bethany, Em- manuel, Summerfield, all of Philadelphia, and is now at Roy- ersford after serving two years at Haws Avenue, Norristown, Pa. Dr. F. E. Graeff is a prolific writer of Gospel hymns, of which more than two hundred have been published. One, "Does Jesus Care?" has been translated into a number of lan- guages and is sung all over the world. He has also written many short stories for children and is a contributor to leading magazines. His book, "The Minister's Twins," is very popu- lar.
Sallie Beard Graeff, b. June 16, 1863, d. March 4, 1882.
Arasmus Beard Graeff, b. August 29, 1867; d. February 14, 1901; m. Abram T. Oliver, of Tamaqua, December 12, 1888. Their c. were: Frank Graeff and Robert A. Oliver.
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WILLIAM MERKLE ZERBEY
William5 Merkle Zerbey. (George!, John" George. George2 Peter, Martin1), was born in the Panther Valley (Bender Thal), Schuylkill County, January 22, 1824: d. May 30, 1891. The family removed to a farm, in West Brunswick Township, one and a quarter miles below Orwigsburg, when he was about ten years of age. His father was a Lutheran and his mother Reformed, and according to the strict di- vision of the two sects, in the early times, the boys of the family were confirmed in the Lutheran and the girls in the Reformed church, the old White church of Orwigsburg,1 then having alternate worship of both congregations. He attended a private school for three months in the winter, learning the English vocabulary and to write German script. at night, from one Prof. Getler2, an armless cripple, who kept a writing school and used the ferule freely with his feet upon the fingers of the unfortunate pupils while they attempted to form the letters. He learned to read English in the early Episcopal Sunday school, held for a few years in Orwigs- burg ; his limited school experience being mostly confined to arithmetic and the "Rule of Three," the farmers being very exacting that their children should learn to count in order to transact business. He was, however, a well informed, self educated man, practical and thorough in all his business transactions and a close reader of the leading events of the day. At an early age he was employed by Benjamin Pott, brother of John and Abraham Pott, who kept the old Half- Way House (Lessig's), between Schuylkill Haven and Or- wigsburg, where Mr. Pott housed and boarded a large force
(Note 1-St. John's Lutheran and Reformed Church, of Orwigsburg, known as the "White Church," was crected 1831.)
( Note 2-In 1872 when Barnum's eircus visited Pottsville, Prof. Getler accompanied it. He wore a purple gold braided velvet waistcoat with wide white lawn ruffles at the neck and ankle, and sat upon a table where he gave exhibitions of his skill in writing with his feet. Some of his old Pottsville pupils called upon him but he gave them scant recognition.)
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of men who were engaged in felling timber for the Reading Railway, then being constructed, and others who worked on the Schuylkill Canal.
A kick from a fractious young colt that he was attempt- ing to train and which left him lying unconscious for several hours and left a wide swath of white hair in his boyish black locks, made him conclude that farm life was not to his taste and he engaged in boating on the Schuylkill canal, subse- quently learning the carpenter trade, in Orwigsburg, com- ing to Pottsville in 1842. Here he engaged in the building and contracting business and could relate many interesting reminiscences of early days of coal mining when he, with the Lords, DeFrehns and other early builders erected the com- pany houses for the carly coal operators, at Tuscarora, Kaska William, Wadesville and Flowery Fields, and who also were engaged on some of the leading buildings in Potts- ville.
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