Other Events:

• Occupation: Doctor
• Residence: Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA

Notes:

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ZERBE, M. D. - Born October 11, 1853. Died May 30, 1915. Aged 61 yrs., 7 mos and 19 days. Dr. Zerbe was the youngest of three sons of Dr. Jonathan and Martha A. (Meyer) Zerbe. Dr. Jonathan was born in Tulpehocken, Berks County, Pa., in 1811, from whence, after maturity, and after having spent some years in the State of Virginia, where he attended school, and after his return to Pennsylvania, he came to Schaefferstown in 1837, and settled there. Later he attended a course of lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and on his return to Schaefferstown took up the practice of medicine there, and in time became prominent in medical circles and in public life. The American progenitor of the Zerbe family came to America from one of the French Cantons of Switzerland in the days of Queen Anne, settled in Berks County in 1723, and obtained a grant of land there. On the maternal side the family is related to the Schaeffer family, whose ancestor in this country, Alexandria Schaeffer, founded Schaefferstown (then known as. Heidelberg) in 1743, he having come from the University town of Heidelberg, in Baden, Germany, hence this early name of Schaefferstown, and still the name of the township of which it is the centre.

After a course in his home schools and one at Palatinate College, Myerstown, Dr. Zerbe took up the reading of medicine with his father and older brother, Dr. Thomas T., and subsequently took a course in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1878. After practicing his profession for some time with the late Dr. George Gleim at Cornwall, he settled down in his native town and continued his practice there to the day of his death. Along with this he engaged in his later years, with his brother, Dr. Thomas T., quite extensively in the industry of cigar manufacturing, the eastern section of Heidelberg Township and the neighboring Millbach section having gone largely into the growing of tobacco, for which their soils, like that of many parts of the adjacent county of Lancaster, had been found especially adapted.

Dr. Zerbe, as a member of the Republican Party for years took an active part in the political affairs of his county, like his father, who had aided in organizing that party in Lebanon County and had taken an aggressive part in the Fremont Campaign of 1856, and also represented his county in the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1870 - 71. Dr. Zerbe served as Prothonotary of the county during the years 1907, 1908 and 1909. He also was at one time a member of the School Board of Heidelberg Township.

He was admitted to membership in the Lebanon County Historical Society Aug. 15, 1913. On November, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida a daughter of the late Judge George S. Lauser of Schaefferstown, who survives him, together with a son, Charles L. Zerbe, a former Deputy Prothonotary during the term of his father and that of Eli Wallace, of Newmanstown. He is also survived by his brother. Dr. Thomas T., already mentioned, and by another brother, Charles M. Zerbe. Esq., an Attorney at Lebanon, and at one time President of the Lebanon Bar Association and one sister Jennie M., the wife of Jacob F. Hickernell, of Schaefferstown, and also had another sister, Agnes E., the deceased wife of Dr. George Mays, of Philadelphia, who formerly, but now deceased, was a valued member of this Society and contributed to it a number of excellent papers.

NOTE: The above information is from "The Lebanon County Historical Society" Eighteenth Annual Meeting December 17, 1915 (Report of the Committee on Necrology).

Name:
Headstone has his name as B. Frank Zerbe M.D.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31971324/benjamin-franklin-zerbe

Family/Spouse: Ida Susan Lauser. Ida was born on 16 Oct 1856 in Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA; died on 29 Dec 1940 in Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA; was buried in Schaefferstown Cemetery, Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31971329/jonathan-zerbe

Dr. Jonathan Zerbe was not a native of the town; but, for upwards of forty years he resided in town and practiced his profession. During that time he enjoyed a very extensive and lucrative practice. He ranked very high as a skillful surgeon and successful practitioner. He was instensely devoted to the cause of education, and was public-spirited. He was always prompt to identify himself with every movement or project that promised to promote the welfare of the community. He won the absolute confidence of his fellow citizens by his steadfast loyalty to their interests. He died in 1877, deeply mourned by all who knew him. [History of Schaefferstown]

Jonathan Zerbe was born July 31, 1812, in Tulpehocken, Berks Co., Pa. He was the son of a farmer in moderate circumstances, and his early education was such as the schools of the vicinity afforded. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, but at the end of his apprenticeship he went to Virginia, where he attended school and gained a fair knowledge of the English language, which at that time was but litle used in the section of the county where he was born. In 1837 he went to Shaefferstown, and entered the office of Dr. John Shertzer as a student of medicine. Before the completion of his studies Dr. Shertzer emigrated to Ohio, leaving his practice to his student. He attended two courses of lectures, one at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, the other at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, after which he started out fairly in the practice of his profession at Shaefferstown. In 1846 he entered the mercantile business, with Cyrus M. Krall as partner, and continued in the business until 1854. In 1870 he was elected a representative from Lebanon County to the General Assembly of the State, and served during the session of 1871. He died after a brief illness at Shaefferstown, on the 3d of April, 1877. Dr. Zerbe took a warm interest in public affairs. During the war of the Rebellion he was a zealous supporter of the government, and gave freely of his means to aid in raising and equipping troops. In his adopted home he was a promoter of all measures and enterprises that tended to the public welfare. The cause of education had in him an ardent advocate. He was one of the original incorporators and a trustee of the Shaefferstown Academy, which in its day was one of the best institutions of learning in the State; and he also later in life served as a director of the common schools of Heidelberg township. In his profession, which he practiced for almost forty years, he attained the reputation of being a safe and successful practitioner. Dr. Zerbe married, in 1840, Martha A. Myer, and they had five children. Of the sons, Charles M. is a lawyer, and Thomas T. and B. Frank, physicians, practicing at Shaefferstown."History of Schaefferstown: Dr. Jonathan Zerbe was not a native of the town; but, for upwards of forty years he resided in town and practiced his profession. During that time he enjoyed a very extensive and lucrative practice. He ranked very high as a skillful surgeon and successful practitioner. He was intensely devoted to the cause of education, and was public-spirited. He was always prompt to identify himself with every movement or project that promised to promote the welfare of the community. He won the absolute confidence of his fellow citizens by his steadfast loyalty to their interests. He died in 1877, deeply mourned by all who knew him. [Biographical Annals of Lebanon County]

Jonathan married Martha Meyer. Martha (daughter of Christopher Moyer and Catharine Krum) was born on 26 Mar 1816 in Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA; died on 26 Jan 1896 in Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA; was buried in Schaefferstown Cemetery, Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Residence: Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA

Notes:

GENEALOGY OF THE MEYER FAMILY by Henry Meyer, 1890

Martha, married to Dr. Jonathan Zerbe, Schaefferstown, Pa. She is still living (1888). She contributed considerable information for these pages, forwarded through the kindness of her son, Charles M. Children: Charles M., married to Rebecca Yearsley, Phila. The family live at Lebanon, Pa., where Mr. Zerbe is practising law; Agnes E. (deceased), was married to Dr. George Mays: Dr. Thomas T., married to Emma E. Taylor ; Jennie M., married to J. F. Hickernell ; Dr. B. Frank, married to Ida S. Lauser. Last three children live at Schaefferstown, Pa.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31971331/martha-anna-zerbe

27 Jan 1896: Mrs. Martha, widow of the late Dr. Jonathan Zerbe, who for many years enjoyed a large practice at Schaefferstown, having died in April, 1877, passed peacefully away during Sunday night at the residence of her son, Dr. B. Frank Zerbe, at Schaefferstown, of general debility, due to old age. Deceased was a member of the Reformed church and will be interred in the Reformed church cemetery at Schaefferstown. She was aged about 82 years and leaves to mourn her death four children, as follows: C. M. Zerbe, Esq., this city; Drs. Thos. and B. Frank Zerbe, and Mrs. Jonathan Hickernell, all of Schaefferstown. [Lebanon Semi-Weekly News]

January 1896: Consigned to the tomb. The funeral of Mrs. Mary Zerbe, relict of the late Dr. Jonathon Zerbe, of Schaefferstown, was held at 1:30 oclock from her late residence. Services were conducted in the Reformed Church in Schaefferstown by the Rev. Bachman, and interment was made in the church cemetery. [Lebanon Courier]

Other Events:

• Residence: Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA

Notes:

Rev War Private. Captain G. Nagels Company.
From Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Military Affairs



GENEALOGY OF THE MEYER FAMILY by Henry Meyer, 1890

Christopher (Henry, John, Gr. Myer), was married twice, first to a Miss Eckert, second to widow Hoffman, whose maiden name was Catharine Krum. This lady was an inmate of the house in which occurred the Sheetz murder in 1797; she was then a little girl and was present when the murder was committed. The place is not far from Mühlbach. Christopher was born Sept. 5, 1761; died Jan. 5, 1822. He lived at Schaefferstown, Lebanon Co., Pa., and must not be confounded with the Christopher Meyer who lived at Campbellstown, same county. The list of children was given by John Meyer, Mühlbach, son-in-law, and corrected later by Charles M. Zerbe, Esq., Lebanon, Pa.

ISSUE WITH FIRST WIFE-SEVEN CHILDREN.
1. John married Catharine Wolfersperger. Lives at Breathodsville, Md. Children : — John, married a Miss Mussina, near Hagerstown, Md.; Israel, married to Salina Everly, Schaefferstown, Pa. ; Sarah, married to John Hill. Sheridan, Pa.; Susanna, married Michael Groh, Schaefferstown, Pa.
2. Michael, married Miss M. Crotzer.
3. Susan, married to Jacob Funk. Maryland.
4. Elizabeth, married to Henry Schaeffer, grandson of Alexander Schaeffer, who laid out Schaefferstown, Pa. See page 25. Clara (Dissinger), wife of Henry Meyer, who lived on the old Mühlbach farm till recently, is a grand- daughter of this couple. Elizabeth was born Aug. 24, 1796 ; died July 3, 18G4. Children: — Catharine, married Jeremiah Magee ; Rebecca, married William Dissinger; Infant: Dr. Samuel M., born 1823; died Dec. 29, 1872.
5. Margaret, married to Michael Stroch.
6. Catharine, married Joe Crotzer. Maryland.
7. Mary, married John Krall.

ISSUE WITH SECOND WIFE, FOUR CHILDREN.
8. Sarah, married John Krall. She died about the year 1863.
9. Magdalena, married to John Meyer, who lives on the western part of the Mühlbach tract. See page 2G. She was born in 1814; died Nov. 6, 1879.
10. Martha, married to Dr. Jonathan Zerbe, Schaefferstown, Pa. She is still living (1888). She contributed considerable information for these pages, forwarded through the kindness of her son, Charles M. Children: Charles M., married to Rebecca Yearsley, Phila. The family live at Lebanon, Pa., where Mr. Zerbe is practising law ; Agnes E. (deceased), was married to Dr. George Mays : Dr. Thomas T., married to Emma E. Taylor ; Jennie M., married to J. F. Hickernell ; Dr. B. Frank, married to Ida S. Lauser. Last three children live at Schaefferstown, Pa.
11. Lydia, married Ed. Becker.

Name:
Christopher Meyer

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26228974/christopher-moyer

Christopher Moyer, s/o John Henry and Anna Barbara (Engle) Meyer, was married to Margaret (Eckert) Moyer. They were the parents of 7 children, Michael, Catharine, John, Margaret, Elizabeth, Susan and Mary Moyer.

Christopher married Catharine Krum. Catharine was born on 17 Jul 1777; died on 30 Nov 1862; was buried in Schaefferstown Cemetery, Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Widow Hoffman, maiden name Catharine Krum.

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13149737/catharine-hoffman

Died:
Gravesite Details age 85y 4m 13d. Spouse of Christopher Moyer & (unk) Hoffman (calculated DOB)

Notes:

Henry or John Henry (John, Gr. Meyer), married to Anna Engle, so stated on an old deed (see page 22), but his granddaughter, Mrs. Martha Zerbe, says his wife was a Miss Rath. The date of his birth was not ascertained ; it is said he died Nov., 1812. George Meyer, Dauphin, Pa., states he often heard his grandmother, Catharine (Schaeffer) Meyer, say that Henry was the only brother that his grand- father John had; and that at one time he owned the Mühlbach homestead, but being unable to keep it, his grandfather John (Henry's brother) bought it at the solicitation of his grandmother Catharine, so that the old home should remain in the Meyer name. See deed, page 22.
There were three children, two sons and one daughter.

Henry married Anna Engle. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]