Maria Sarah Salome (Hoy) Gerhard

Heinrich Henry Gerhard

Heinrich Henry Gerhard, Grandfather of *William Francis Gerhard, born May 1, 1798, at Rehrersburg, died November 22, 1871, at the age of seventy three

years, six months and twenty one days.

Like his father, he was a farmer and wheelwright.

Coming to Schuylkill County in 1828, he bought a

farm in West Brunswick township April 5th of that

year, the old Abraham Werner farm, comprising

263 acres, 155 perches. He continued to farm there

the rest of his life, dying at that place, and is buried

in the Reformed Cemetery at Orwigsburg.

His wife, Maria Salome, daughter of Philip and

Ann Maria (Gilbert) Hoy, was born January 2, 1800

and died December 25, 1863, at the age of

sixty-three years, eleven months and

twenty-three days. They were the parents of

six children: Maria, who married Daniel Alspach;

Sarah, Mrs. Samuel Yost; Henry; Priscilla, who

married James Anderson and (second) Edward

Mengel; William and Edward, the last dying young.

Excerpt from the Book

" The Historical Book of

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania"

By: J. H. Beers

Printed in 1916

Page: 485

Per the July 28, 1870 West Brunswick, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania Census,

Henry Gerhard (40), is residing with his wife, Eliza (35), and their children:

William (15), Elwood (10), Mary (8), Henry (6), Samuel (4), and Franklin (1).

and next door to him is William Gerhard (44), Residing with his wife, Rebecca (43)

and their children: Sarah (17), Alice (15), Salome (13), Henry (10), Dianna (6) and Ambrose (4).

Henry Gerhard

Henry Gerhard, father of *William Francis

Gerhard, born August 25, 1829, in West Brunswick

township, in the house where he still resides. Part of

his house was standing when his parents moved

here, his father adding to it subsequently.

Mr. Gerhard has been living retired since 1912.

He attended school in the neighborhood, and

farmed throughout his active years. After the death

of his father, he brought 148 acres of the home

property, his brother William taking eighty-three

acres, and their brother-in-law, Daniel Alspach,

also owning a tract. The latter engaged in the

undertaking business. While the cultivation of the

property was under Mr. Gerhard's direct management

he was one of the prominent farmers in the

vicinity and attended the markets of Schuylkill

Haven, Pottsville and Orwigsburg, where he known

as a thoroughly reliable dealer, all his transactions

being above reproach. He is a Democrat, served

many years as school director of his township,

and was one of the prominent members of the

Reformed Church in which he held offices of

elder and deacon for many years.

On June 19, 1852, Mr. Gerhard married

Diana Mengel. who was born August 19, 1833,

and died January 3, 1857, at the age of twenty-three

years, four months and fourteen days. She was the

mother of three children: Charles, born July 16,

1853, died October 8, 1854; William Francis,

born, March 11, 1855; and Diana, born

November 5, 1856, died November 10, 1857.

On November 5, 1859, Mr. Gerhard married

(second) Eliza Yost, who was born, June 19.

1838, daughter of Samuel and Betsy (Merkel) Yost.

Eleven children have been born to this union, as

follows: Elwood P., born, May 31, 1860, is living

in Port Carbon; Mary E., born, August 2, 1862,

is married to Joel S. Degler, who is farming in

West Brunswick township; Henry Y., born,

October 5, 1864, is a shoe manufacturer in

Orwigsburg; Samuel, born April 6, 1867,

died, aged nine years; Frank, born, February 5,

1869, is a farmer in West Brunswick township;

Emma M., born February 22, 1871, married

Jacob Zuber, and they are farming in Treichlers,

Northampton County, Pennsylvania;

George Albert, born April 11, 1873, is a stock fitter

for The Rehr Shoe Company, Orwigsburg;

John, born, March 17, 1875, is farming in the

borough of Orwigsburg; Calvin L., born July

2, 1876, is farming in the borough of Orwigsburg;

Hannah S., born, June 20, 1881, married

George Seltzer and is living in McKeansburg,

Schuylkill County; and Edwin, born, October

20, 1884, is farming the homestead place in

West Brunswick township.

Excerpt from the Books

" The Historical Book of

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania"

By: J. H. Beers

Printed in 1916

Page: 485 & 486

And

Schuylkill County, Pa.:

Genealogy Family - History, Vol. 2

By: J. H. Beers

Page: 717