Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 139

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018

USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 139

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THOMAS JEFFERSON OBERLIN, a school teach- er in Berks county for over twenty-three years, and a wholesale florist of Sinking Spring, was born at Schaef- ferstown, Lebanon county, June 21, 1850, son of Levi Schaeffer and Elizabeth (Spangler) Oberlin. He was educated in the local schools, the Palatinate College and the Ursinus College, qualifying himself for the pro- fession of teaching. In 1868 when eighteen years of age, he began teaching public school in the vicinity of Epler's Church, in Bern township, Berks county, and he continued teaching in different parts of the county until 1876, when he located at Sinking Spring, and a year lat- er opened a private school. He there established an in- stitution under the name of the Charter Oak Academy, in the Mull Mansion, which he carried on successfully for fifteen years, being supported by pupils from the village and vicinity. Then the township school directors erected a large two-story brick building, and established graded schools, which caused Prof. Oberlin to abandon his academy. Having made a special study of botany and flowers since his boyhood, he naturally turned his attention to the extensive cultivation of flowers, and he has pursued this business in the line of cut flowers during the spring, summer and fall seasons until the present time, in a very successful manner, making almost daily shipments to large wholesale dealers in Philadelphia and New York.

Prof. Oberlin made a valuable collection of the flora in Berks county, which he arranged and classified scien- tifically, the specimens numbering over 1,000, and including several species which are exceedingly rare. Among these he found the very rare orchid, Pogonia affinis, C. F. Austin, in June, 1882, in Cumru township, this county, the third station known for it in Pennsylvania, and the fourth in the United States. This specimen was deposited in the herbarium of Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. For this extraordinary work of classifying the Berks flora, he was highly complimented by the late Prof. Thomas C. Porter, of Lafayette College, the recognized authority on botany in Pennsylvania. Apropos of the subject of botany, Prof. Oberlin, in July, 1907, read a very practical paper, "The Redemption of the Hog Backs," before the Florists' Club of Philadelphia, at its session in Horticultural Hall, which paper was widely published in the floral journals of this country.

Upon locating in Sinking Spring Prof. Oberlin identi- fied himself with St. John's Reformed Church, and he took an active part in organizing the first Reformed Sunday-school in the village and became its first superin- tendent, serving in this position for several years. Since 1897 he has been officiating as a member of the consistory, acting as secretary of that body.

In 1902 Prof. Oberlin laid out the Mull plantation in the eastern section of the village into building lots, which num- ber altogether nearly 1,000, and a considerable part of these lots have been sold. They have taken the local name of "Oberlin's addition."

Prof. Oberlin married Eva Ann Mull, daughter of Reu- ben Mull, of Sinking Spring, and widow of Dr. William J. Thirwechter, of Stouchsburg. By her he has four children : Elizabeth, Mrs. Irvin R. Huyett; Eva Maria, Mrs. Harry W. Burgner; Frederica, Mrs. Floyd E. Groff; and Reuben L. Mrs. Oberlin had a daughter by her first husband, Marguerite, who married Dr. Thomas G. Binkley, a practicing physician at Sinking Spring.

Levi Schaeffer Oberlin was born in 1818 and died in 1893. He married Elizabeth Spangler, and had these children : Thomas J .; William Wallace, m. Lillie F. Sallade; Levi F. m. Eveline A. K. Myers; Ida Elizabeth m. Daniel F. Lynch; John Charles m. Kate V. Souders; Tamar A. m. Harry T. Myers; and George F., died in infancy.

Frederick Oberlin, father of Levi S., and grandfather of Thomas J., was born near Schaefferstown, Lebanon county, in 1775: For many years he was the owner and landlord of the "Franklin House" at Schaefferstown, which

was built by Alexander Schaeffer in 1746. He died in 1840. He married Maria Schaeffer, daughter of Capt. Henry Schaeffer, and granddaughter of Alexander Schaeff- er.

John Adam Oberlin, father of Frederick, married Mar- garet Stober, and his father, the great-great-grandfather of Thomas J., was Michael Oberlin, who emigrated from Germany in 1751, and settled in the vicinity of Schaeffers- town.

Capt. Henry Schaeffer, father of Mrs. Maria (Schaeff- er) Oberlin, was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and his company was included in the Second Battalion of Penn- sylvania Associators from Lancaster county. This com- pany was engaged in active service in the battle of Long .Island, in August, 1776. In 1777 and 1778 he served as a justice of the peace, and as such administered the oath of allegiance to more than 360 persons at Schaefferstown. He married Anna Eva Schweitzer, by whom he had six children, of whom Maria was the third. Capt. Schaeffer's father, Alexander Schaeffer, was born in 1712 in the Pal- atinate, Germany, and emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1738, landing at Philadelphia. He was accompanied by his wife and several children. It was he who laid out and founded Schaefferstown in 1758.

EDWARD PENGELLY, one of the substantial men of Reading, senior member of the printing firm of Edward Pengelly & Brother, was born in 1856, in Cornwall, Eng- land, son of Michael and Frances ( Merrifield) Pengelly.

Michael Pengelly came to the United States in 1866, having previously worked as a miner in Chile, South Amer- ica, for six years. He died in Nevada City, Cal., in 1867. His widow came to America in 1873, with two sons and two daughters, namely : Emily, Edward, Harriet and James H. In religious belief the family are Methodists.

Edward Pengelly was seventeen years old when he ac- companied his mother to America, locating at Reading, Pa. Ten days later, Oct. 13, 1873, he entered the office of the Reading Eagle as an apprentice, where he worked until 1880, when he was engaged as a compositor on the Reading News, where he continued for six years, or until it suspended. Mr. Pengelly then went West and for a time worked at Butte City, Montana, and later at Center- ville, a suburb of Butte, where he was foreman for six months of the Mining Journal under Mr. Penrose, who was later murdered. He then returned to Reading, and, in company with five other practical printers, started the Daily Telegram, retaining his interest for four years, when he sold out and entered into partnership with Adam G. Harner in book and job printing. They began business under the name of Harner & Pengelly, and the partnership lasted until 1899. On May 10th of that year the present firm was organized, under the name of Edward Pengelly & Brother, and they control a fair share of the better class of the printing trade of Reading.

In 1893 Mr. Pengelly was married to Emma G. Boyer, daughter of Alvin N. Boyer, and they have one daughter, Frances Merrifield. In 1884 Mr. Pengelly became identi- fied with the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 435. He belongs also to Mount Penn Lodge, I. O. O. F. In politics he is independent. In 1902 Mr. Pengelly enjoyed a pleasant visit to his old home in England.

JOSEPH D. C. UMBLE. One of the familiar figures in the public life of Reading is Joseph D. C. Umble, pro- prietor of the "Mansion House," a hotel favorably known. throughout the East. Since 1893 Mr. Umble has in some way, or in some capacity, been identified with the "Man- sion." He is the son of Capt. Joseph and Phoebe (Dick- inson) Umble, the former a prominent figure in the poli- tical and business life of Lancaster county, and one of the well-known veterans of the Civil war. He died in Read- ing, March 1, 1905, at the age of seventy-seven years. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he was one of the first to in- terest himself in his country's defense, raised a company, went at once to the front, participating in all the privations that fall to the lot of the soldier. After the war he was

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

prominent in civil life, being a justice of the peace for a Anna Dobler, daughter of Gallus Dobler, Court Chaplain number of years, and register of wills of Lancaster coun- at Dresden. They became the parents of a son, Paul. ty during 1882-83-84. Mrs. Umble, mother of Joseph D. (II) Paul Gerhardt, son of Christian and Anna (Dob- ler, was born March 12, 1607, and he died June 7, 1676. On Feb. 11, 1655, he married Anna Maria Berthold, daugh- ter of Andrew Berthold. Paul Gerhardt was known as a religious poet, the Luther of the seventeenth century C., together with her two daughters, Anna Mary and Ida E., have their home at the "Mansion House," and assist in its management. Phoebe E., the third daughter, is the wife of R. M. Breneiser, a wholesale tobacconist of Read- ing. The father of Mrs. Umble was Henry Dickinson, hymnology. one of the prominent husbandmen of Lancaster county.

Joseph D. C. Umble was born in Salisbury township, Lancaster Co., Pa., March 26, 1867. He passed the for- mative period of his life on the home farm, securing a good common school education in the village of Christiana, and in the Yeates Institute at Lancaster. When his father was elected to the office of register of wills, he entered the office as his clerk. This was in January, 1882. In 1885 he took a position with the . Pennsylvania Steel Company, at Steelton, as clerk to the manager of their commissary department, and in the experience he secured in that line in the following four years, lies the secret of his success in the hotel business at a later period. Coming to Read- ing about this time, he was variously employed for sever- al years, in different service for the railroads. The point to be noticed is that he was always "employed" and to this his advancement and prosperity may be ascribed. In the spring of 1904, he became proprietor of the "Mansion House," having previously served there as clerk and mana- ger, and it is needless to add that these experiences well equipped him for the fuller responsibilities. It is but fair to state that under the present liberal regime the house has come into much favor. The hotel is complete in every detail, thoroughly accontered, and spacious enough for the accommodation of 150 guests. Whether by endowment or acquisition, no matter, we find in Mr. Umble a man of pleasing manners and personality, to which no doubt his popularity is attributable. To the prince, pilgrim or peas- - ant, the same welcome and hospitality meted to one, is measured to all, when within the doors where "Joe" Umble presides.

Mr. Umble is a prominent member of several of the most popular fraternal and club organizations of the city, among them being the Elks, the Masons, the Berkshire Country Club, Wyomissing Club, and he is quite active in the State Association of Hotel Men. He is a Republican in politics, though he takes little part in such matters, aside from casting his vote on election day.

GLYNDEUR HICKMAN, D. D. S., a prominent den- tist of Reading, was born in Chester county, Pa., Sept. 6, 1863, son of John W. and Elizabeth (Lamborn) Hickman, and a grandson of Benjamin and Julia A. ( McFarland) Hickman. Benjamin Hickman located at Brag Hill, Ches- ter county, and there cultivated a farm all of his life.

Dr. Glyndeur Hickman was educated in the schools of Chester county, and then entered the office of Dr. R. L. McClellan, where he studied dentistry for five years. In 1885 he entered the Philadelphia Dental College, and graduated therefrom in 1886. Two years later he located in Reading, and here he has resided ever since, engaged in ' m. Jacob Ebling; and Barbara m. a Mr. Strauss, and died the practice of his chosen profession. His well appointed offices are located at No. 35 South Fifth street. Dr. Hick- man is a member of the I. O. R. M. and the Royal Arca- num.

In 1887 Dr. Hickman married Mary E. Thompson, and two children have been born to this union, namely : J. Earl and Roy L. The Doctor is a member of the Baptist Church. In his political affiliations he is connected with the Republican party.

HOWARD ERASMUS GERHARDT, dealer in pianos and all kinds of musical instruments, was born Jan. 18, 1879, in Millersburg, Bethel P. O., Berks county, Pa., son of Dr. Erasmus and Agnes (Weber) Gerhart.

The Gerhardt family is of German descent, and Mr. How- ard E. Gerhardt has succeeded in tracing his line back to (I) Christian Gerhardt, Burgomaster of Grafenhaininchen, Saxony, Germany, who died July 11, 1637. His wife was

(III) Paul Frederick Gerhardt, son of Paul and Anna Maria (Berthold), was born Aug. 2, 1662.

(IV) Christopher Gerhardt, son of Panl Frederick, died Aug. 15, 1736.

(V) William Gerhardt was a son of Christopher.

(VI) Frederick Gerhardt, son of William, was born March 26, 1714, in Langenselbold, Dukedom of Isenberg, Germany. He emigrated to America prior to the Revolu- tion. On Jan. 22, 1737, he married Elizabeth Fisher, daugh- ter of Henry Fisher. With their son John Peter, born Oct. 28, 1737, they emigrated to America, landing at Philadel- phia, Aug. 27, 1739, having made the voyage on the ship "Samuel," Hugh Percy, commander. Shortly after their arrival in Philadelphia, the wife died, and Frederick Ger- hardt located in Heidelberg township, Berks county, where, Feb. 14, 1740, he married a widow, Barbara Rieger. On Dec. 1, 1768, he purchased of George Brendle, a tract of seventy acres of land in Heidelberg township. By trade he was a wagoner. His parents had been members of the German Reformed church, but through a sermon

preached in 1742 by the Rev. Mr. Ruettner, a Moravian minister, he became a member of Reed's Church, and subse- quently he became one of the principal founders of the Moravian Brethren in North Heidelberg township, known as the Herrn Huter Church. As an elder of the Mora- vian Church he attended the first public convention of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania, held Ang. 29, 1743. He died Nov. 30, 1779, and is buried in the cemetery ad- joining the church. Through the efforts of a grandson, John K. Gerhardt, a monument was erected by subscrip- tion. Frederick Gerhardt was the father of ten children, namely: (1) John Peter Gerhart, born Oct. 28, 1737, m. Elizabeth and had one child, Andreas (born Oct. 13, 1791, died Oct. 31. 1791), and was buried at Host Church. (2) Conrad Gerhard, born Nov. 22, 1740, was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Heidelberg township until 1808, when he retired from business and located in Philadelphia. In 1768 he m. Rachael Rogaert Ysselstein, and they had seven children-Rachael, Elizabeth, William, Mary, John, Elonora and Thomas. In 1815 he m. (second) Elizabeth Jungmann, daughter of Rev. George Jungmann. There were no children by this marriage. (3) Elizabeth Gerhardt was born Sept. 29, 1742. (+) Frederick Ger- hard, born Sept. 23, 1744, m. Susanna Dundor, daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria Dundor. In his will, dated Nov. 30, 1822, he mentions three sons and two daughters: Frederick (1780-1845) m. Magdalena Troutman, and had eleven children; Jacob, who m. (first) a Miss Leiss, had two sons, and (second) Catharine Magdalena Schock, and had eight children; John died in 1852; Anna Maria in 1840. (5) Johannes Gerhart, born Feb. 12, 1747, lo- cated in the neighborhood of Swamp Church in Lancaster county, and there he and his wife. Susanna Rhoads, are buried. They had nine children: Peter, John, Frederick. Jacob, William, Susannah, Barbara, Christian and a daugh- ter who married a Mr. Bixler. (6) Anna Maria Gerhart, born June 13, 1750, m. Jacob Meahlaesen. (7) Jacob was born Jan 1, 1752. (8) Anthony Gerhart, born Feb. 10, 1754, died in infancy. (9) Anna Rosina Gerhart, born Oct. 29, 1755, m. Henry Burkholder, and had children : Daniel, Peter, Jacob, Elizabeth, Samuel, Sally and Maria. (10) Catharine Gerhart was born Oct. 2, 1758.

(VII) Jacob Gerhart, son of Frederick by his second marriage, was born Jan. 1, 1752. By his father's will dated Nov. 26, 1779, he received the old homestead. He was a private in Capt. Ferdinand Ritter's Company, 6th Battalion, Berks county militia, commanded by Joseph Hiester in the service of the United States in 1780. He died Dec. 13, 1808, and both he and his wife Elizabeth

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Potteiger (born May 7, 1752, died April 25, 1824, daugh- ward; Lovey; and Cora. (d) Jonathan. (e) Amos Ger- ter of Martin and Susanna Potteiger), are buried at the hart died unmarried. Eck Church. They had three sons: (1) Martin Gerhart, (IX) Isaac Gerhart, son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Kalbach), was born Nov. 26, 1808, and died July 12, 1894. He m. Elizabeth Kurr (born July 3, 1813, died May 9, 1893). Their six children were: (1) Emma Gerhart, born May 24, 1836, m. Charles H. Zieber (born Aug. 13, 1840). (2) Ephraim J. Gerhart, born July 1, 1837, m. Mary Brown (born Feb. 11, 1845) and has children: Lizzie m. John Lindenmuth; Emma, born Feb. 24, 1871, m. Wall Piefer; Charles W., born Feb. 19, 1873, and died Aug. 1, 1873; born April 6, 1776, died Dec. 7, 1826, m. Margueretha Leiss, and had four children: Isaac m. Catharine Klopp, and had four children, Kate (m. George Zimmerman), Emma (m. Nick Hunter, and had two sons, Edward and Fred- erick), Rebecca (m. George J. Eckert) and Elizabeth; John Gerhart; Elizabeth Gerhart; and Elias Gerhart. (2) Frederick, born April 13, 1781, is mentioned below. (3) John (born April 11, 1789, died March 20, 1827) m. Anna Maria Klopp (born March 5, 1791, died Aug. 28, and Paul W., born June 13, 1882. (3) Minnie Gerhart 1824) and had eight children : John K., Elias, Isaac, Maria, Joel, Nathan, Elizabeth and Esther.

(VIII) Frederick Gerhart, second son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Potteiger), was born April 13, 1781, and died March 20, 1823. He m. Elizabeth Kalbach (born Sept. 17, 1786, died April 15, 1817). They had six children: (1) John Gerhart, born May 24, 1805, died Sept. 5, 1868. He was twice married. By his first wife, Kate Meiser (1805-1837), his children were: (a) Mary Gerhart m. (first) John Filbert, and had children-Henry R. Filbert (m. Amelia Kalbach, and has eight children, Ella, Anna, Nathaniel, Millie, Mary, Ida, Carrie and Charles) ; John Filbert (m. Emma Stump) ; Agnes Filbert (m. James Wagner) ; and Emma Filbert. Mary m. (second) Sam- uel Dundore, and to this marriage were born four child- ren : Clara Dundore (m. Clayton Schaeffer) ; James Dun- dore (m. Ella Himmelberger) ; Thomas Dundore (m. Catharine Burkey) ; and Darius Dundore (m. Kate Hies- ter). (b) Lizzie Gerhart m. Adam Stump, and their son Levi m. Emma Seidel. (c) Levi M. Gerhart, captain of Company G, 151st P. V. I., in the Civil war, was mustered into service Nov. 1, 1862. He m. Elmira Lamb, and their children were: Beulah, Sallie, James and Kate. (d) Kate Gerhart m. Adam Stondt, and had three children, Ida, Kate and Levi. John Gerhart m. for his second wife, Martha Schull (1810-1878), and they had five children : Ellen; Louise m. John Keener, and had three children- Adam, Ella and Sarah; Amelia m. Amos Graul, and had one child; Emma Victoria; and John. (2) Mary Ger- hart (born July 4, 1807, died Dec. 21, 1894, m. George Beyerle (born March 19, 1804, died Sept. 20, 1875) and their children were: (a) Dr. Wellington G. Beyerle m. (first) Anna Hines, and had eight children : George; Flora Grace (m. Milton H. Fahrenbach, and has two children, Russel Fahrenbach and Sarah Fahrenbach) ; Charles; Wil- liam Percival (m. Hannah Peters, and has a daughter, Helen) ; Louis Allen (m. Gertrude Heffner, and has a son, Wellington) ; Ida E .; Walter Henry; and Anna Matilda (deceased). Dr. Beyerle m. (second) Arabella Daniels, and they have one child, John Franklin. (b) Mary Ann Beyerle m. Rev. Franklin H. Schwartz, a Reformed pastor (no children). (c) Percival Beyerle was twice married, but no records can be found. (d) William Beyerle m. Valeria Lesher, and had three children: Ida (m. Edward J. Krause, and has two children-Walter Krause and Alfred Krause) ; Alice ; and William. (e) Sybil- la Beyerle m. Dr. John Brobst, and has six children : Laura (m. Newton Harrison, and has four children, Edward, John, Robert and Laura) ; Mary; Minnie; William (m. Victoria Grunwell, and has three children, Thomas, Robert and Marshall) ; Lillie; and Jennie. (3) Isaac Gerhart, born Nov. 26, 1808, is mentioned farther on. (4) Elizabeth Gerhart (born May 22, 1811, died April 4, 1880) m. George Miller (born July 24, 1806, died March 22, 1888). Their children were: Kate, m. to Nathaniel Kalbach; and Lizzie, m. to Abraham 'S. Groh. (5) Ephraim Gerhart, born Feb. 24, 1816, died in infancy. (6) Gabriel Gerhart, born Feb. 24, 1816 (twin to Ephraim), died December, 1891. He m. Catharine Gruber (born Feb. 1, 1815, died March 24, 1865), and their children were: (a) Emma S. Gerhart m. John G. Royer, and had two children: Kate (m. Jeremiah Hartman, and had one child, Edith Hart- man) ; and Liza Jane. (b) Amelia Gerhart m. Adam D. Stump, and had children : Laura. Robert, Lillie, Florence, Harvey and Allen. (c) Elmira Gerhart m. Monroe Zerbe, and had children : Charles; Laura (m. John Bohn) ; Ed-

was born Nov. 11, 1839. (4) Erasmus, born June 25, 1842, is mentioned in full below. (5) Meranda Gerhart and (6) Celissia Gerhart died in infancy.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Kurr) Gerhart, wife of Isaac, was born July 3, 1813, and died May 9, 1893. She was a daugh- ter of John Kurr (died March 28, 1863, aged eighty-one) and Mary (Rehrer) (died Sept. 9, 1875, aged eighty-one), a granddaughter of Thomas Kurr (who died Nov. 28, 1832, aged seventy-eight years) and of Godfried Rehrer (State Representative in 1819 and 1822, who died Sept. 22, 1823), and great-granddaughter of Thomas Kurr, Sr. (Deacon in 1757 of the Adtollohoe or German Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rehrersburg) and of Godfrey Rehrer (who in 1768 had a tavern in Rehrersburg, where in 1789 was the voting place of the 4th District).

(X) Erasmus Gerhart, M. D., born June 25, 1842, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Kurr), died July 27, 1896. He was enrolled Oct. 7, 1858, as a student in Swatara College at Jonestown, and on Nov. 3, 1859, at Freeland Seminary, Perkiomen Bridge, Montgomery county. On Oct. 10, 1864, he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated therefrom March 14, 1867, with the degree of Doctorem in Arte Medica. On Dec. 24, 1875, he m. Agnes Weber (born Feb. 13, 1853), and their children were: Gertrude Charlotte, born July 1, 1877, m. Hunter Henninger, and has two children, Marian and John Hunter; Howard Erasmus, born Jan. 18, 1879, is the subject proper of this sketch; Ida May, born April 20, 1881, m. Harry E. German, and has one son, Robert German (born Dec. 24, 1906) ; John Isaac, born May 30, 1884; and Sophia Elizabeth and Florence Grace (twins), born Jan. 19, 1893.

Mrs. Agnes (Weber) Gerhart was born Feb. 13, 1853, a daughter of John and Sophia (Snyder) Weber. John Weber was born in 1823, and died in 1900, son of John Adam Weber (born July 13, 1788, died March 12, 1849) and his wife Juliana Bordner (born May 21, 1791, died Sept. 26, 1869), the latter a daughter of Ensign Jacob Bordner (born 1754, died 1837, Capt. Lesher's Company, Col. Patton's Battalion, Berks county militia, 1776) and his wife Anna Maria Brosz (1761-1839). John Adamı Weber was a son of Henry Weber. (1758-1799) and Mar- garet (Meyer) Weber, the latter a daughter of Court Mar- tial Man Valentine Meyer, of the 6th Company, 6th Bat- talion, 1777. Henry Weber was a son of John Henry Weber (born May 28, 1737, died April 10, 1815) and his wife Elizabeth Filbert (1741-1813).

Mrs. Sophia (Snyder) Weber, mother of Mrs. Agnes (Weber) Gerhart, was born in 1830, and died in 1896. She was a daughter of Peter Snyder (1802-1860) and his wife Eva Rieth (1806-1871). Peter Snyder was a son of George Snyder, Jr., and his wife Katharine Koebe, and a grand- son of George Snyder, Sr. (the maiden name of whose wife was Rehrer). Eva (Rieth) Snyder was a daugh- ter of J. Adam Rieth (born 1756, died 1815, a fifer in Capt. Furrer's Company, Col. Patton's Battalion) and Juliana Braun (1766-1826) and a granddaughter of Leon- hard Rieth and Elizabeth Lebo, who donated between seven and eight acres of land for church and burial pur- poses, upon which Reed's church was built.

(XI) Howard Erasmus Gerhardt attended the district schools of Bethel township, and later he taught school for one term in Brecknock township. In the fall of 1897 he enrolled as a student at the Inter-State Commercial. Col- lege, Reading, graduating the following spring. He se- cured a position with C. H. Lichty as stenographer, and

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later was given charge of the Musical Merchandise and Sheet Music department, where he laid the foundation of his successful career. On May 19, 1902, he opened a musi- cal merchandise and sheet music store of his own at No. 757 Penn street, and in March, 1904, owing to the devel- opment of the business he was compelled to procure larger quarters, moving to No. 809 Penn street. At this time he formed a partnership with Bertrand H. Farr, un- der the firm name of Farr & Gerhardt, and they were the sole representatives for the Aeolian line of instru- ments, including the Weber, Steck. Wheelock and Stuy- vesant Pianola pianos, the Metrostyle and Themodist Pianolas, the Orchestrelle, and the Sohmer, Wegman, Estey and Becker Bros. pianos. They carried a complete line of musical merchandise, sheet music, Edison and Victor machines and records. Regina music boxes, etc. Mr. Gerhardt retired from the firm on March 10, 1909, and on Aug. 30, 1909, he opened a complete music store of his own at No. 843 Penn street. He controls several well-known piano and player piano agencies, and car- ries a full line of musical merchandise.

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Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 139

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1018

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018