Genealogy Report: Descendants of Martin Zerbe
Descendants of Martin Zerbe
266.ELIAS SIMON7 ZERBE (THOMAS6, DANIEL5, BENJAMIN4, JOHN "THE MILLER"3, JOHANN MARTIN2, MARTIN1)7940,7941 was born February 17, 1856 in Shamokin, PA7942, and died September 02, 1940 in Altoona, PA7942.He married BERTHA FRANCES GILHAM7942 December 25, 1879 in Ashland, PA7942.She was born June 01, 18597942, and died January 27, 1937 in Altoona, PA7942.
More About ELIAS SIMON ZERBE:
Residence: Altoona, PA7943
More About ELIAS ZERBE and BERTHA GILHAM:
Marriage: December 25, 1879, Ashland, PA7944
Children of ELIAS ZERBE and BERTHA GILHAM are:
| i. | EDWARD E.8 ZERBE7944, d. Unknown. | ||
| 442. | ii. | JOSEPH R. ZERBE, b. February 07, 1903, Juniata, PA; d. March 04, 1981, Tyrone Hospital. | |
| 443. | iii. | WILLIAM F. ZERBE, b. 1882; d. 1940. | |
| iv. | ELIZABETH ZERBE7944, b. July 11, 1885, Shamokin, PA7944; d. August 23, 19657944; m. WALTER NORRIS7944; d. Unknown. | ||
| 444. | v. | ALLEN PRESTON ZERBE, b. 1887; d. August 23, 1930. | |
| vi. | ARTHUR FLOYD ZERBE7945,7946, b. October 02, 1891, Northumberland Co., PA7947,7948; d. November 04, 1969, Upper Darby, Delaware Co., PA7949,7950; m. (1) NETTIE SHUPP7950; d. Unknown; m. (2) EDNA ALICE JACKSON7950, December 17, 1913, Blair Co., PA7950; b. 18907950; d. 19557950. |
| More About ARTHUR FLOYD ZERBE: Social Security Number: 075-10-54297951 |
| More About ARTHUR ZERBE and EDNA JACKSON: Marriage: December 17, 1913, Blair Co., PA7952 |
| vii. | HELEN CLARA ZERBE7952, b. 1898, Shamokin, PA7952; d. Aft. 19697952; m. (1) HARRY WICKER7952; d. Unknown; m. (2) WALTER HAMMER7952, 1918, Blair Co., PA7952; d. Unknown. |
| More About WALTER HAMMER and HELEN ZERBE: Marriage: 1918, Blair Co., PA7952 |
Notes for PHILLIP ZERBE:
Source 226(8,18) shows Philip Zerbe, Sr. as an owner of one of the original lots in Malta, PA.
According to Dennis E. Erdman, Phillip's ggggrandson, "Philip Zerbe lived with his wife Mary (Lessman) and their six children on a hill overlooking the Mahantongo Creek less than a mile west of Vera Cruz (present day Malta).Although not a young couple, Philip was 37 years old and Mary 40, they had a young family.Charles W. was seven, Sarah J. was four and Benjamin F. was two.Three older children, Ambrose L., John and William completed the family.A seventh child, Phillip, would be added in late winter since Mary was pregnant when Phillip left."(226(79))
Money was evidently in short supply and their house was badly in need of repair.In July 1864, Phillip enlisted to fight in the Civil War.According to Palmer Zerbe, his great grandson, "He didn't have to go because he had six kids, but he volunteered because somebody gave him $100 to take his place."(226(90))Earlier in the war, the Confederates had advanced to only 37 miles away from Phillip's and Mary's home, which may also have motivated him to join the cause.
Perhaps recognizing that in his absence Mary couldn't provide for seven children, Phillip may have left some of the children in the care of neighbors.According to F.P. Campbell (226(75)):"Before leaving home Father Zerbe placed Ambrose in the care of Michael Heckert on the Heckert farm, near Malta."
Dennis E. Erdman wrote (226(79-80)):
"At Camp Curtin (Harrisburg) Phillip was mustered in the 208th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company A, for a one-year enlistment. The 208th Pennsylvania was later assigned to the IX Corps under General Parke who replaced General Burnside. It was further assigned to the First Brigade, 3rd Division of the IX Corps under the command of General Hartranft and was associated with the 200th and 209th Pennsylvania regiments.
"October 15, 1964 - Washington, D.C.:In response to a letter from his wife, Phillip assures her that he is well although he has a 'sore mouse (mouth) and am somter tat (tired?).'We also learn that their house needs repair and perhaps even a new house is needed. He reports that he has not received any money yet but hopes to get a 'bunch' in two weeks and send it home. He tells of spending time on picket duty where he shoots at the 'Johnies' by day and trades with them at night. In a somewhat amusing passage, he writes that we 'trate (trade) noos papers or tobacio or emising (anything).'Also, 'da say da donet sout if I donet' and 'da comeover everyinte.'(They say they don't shoot if I dont' and they come over every night.) Phillip then reports that they go on shooting the next day.
"December 23, 1864 - The Front at Petersburg, VA:In a long letter to his brother, Phillip writes of his unit's activities and engagements. In a particularly gripping passage, he tells of a three-day twenty-four mile march that started in rain and mud, turned to sleet, then snow and finally 'blew up very cold.' He matter-of-factly reports that he had just a little 'scorched corn' to sustain him. He goes on to tell of how the 5th Corps of 80,000 men strong burned fine homes 'worth twenty thousand dollars' making a clean sweep as they went yelling that 'this cracks like Chambersburg.'(Historical note Chambersburg was burned by the Confederates in July, 1864. Property damage was valued at $3,000,000 with 300 people rendered homeless.)
"In a disturbing passage, Phillip darkly hints at things too horrible to mention 'for the truth would be too awful to tell.'In another account, reminiscent of the biblical Prodigal Son story, he says, 'soldiers are used worse down here than our dogs are at home and we have to eat just what our dogs would not look at at home and further our dogs have better places to sleep than we have and warmer places too.'To add to the misery, he tells of seeing two men from the New York 179th hung as deserters.'That I did not like to see and I don't want to see anymore hung.'
"It appears that Phillip is now at a low point both mentally and physically - near starvation, weary and exhausted with inadequate shelter and wondering why they can't get adequate 'rasions' (rations). But the worst was yet to come. (Historical note - It is certainly ironic that there were storehouses full of supplies and 'rashuns' in the North at this time.) To make matters worse, it is Christmas and Phillip thinks of Christmas at home in that wonderful Pennsylvania German tradition. He pitifully describes his Christmas of 'cannon balls and shells and bullets.'
"February 8, 1865 - Northumberland County, PA:In broken and 'Dutchified' English, Phillips 'Truly Wife' Mary writes to her 'husbent' to let him know that she is well but the children 'has the cold werry bad.'She is concerned about renting the house mentioning a Mister Yeager in this regard. She also will be sending the tops [shirts] along with Henry Zerbe 'son of Joseph.'I took it as humorous that she wrote 'that dond trople me any more wis tam tops.'(Then don't trouble me anymore with them tops.) Apparently they became quite an issue! ... She also tells Phillip that it is a 'werry cold yaer.'
"May 19,1865 - Near Alexandria, VA:In this last letter, Captain J.W Hoffman, 3rd Division 9th A.C., responds to a letter from Mary Zerbe dated May 17. He tells Mary of a shell wound Phillip received to his head and that he 'died like a true soldier, at his post facing the fire.'He states that Phillip was a 'good man, and, a faithful soldier, always at his post and obeying his orders willingly.'He comforts her with a prayer that 'the God who protects the widows and the orphans will look graciously upon you and afford you that comfort that the world cannot give.'He mentions her small children saying 'I trust when they grow up they will try to imitate their father in good deeds, and always feel proud to know that they gave their all to a cause so holy and just as ours.'He asks that 'God grant you may meet him in heaven.'
"Historical Note: Phillip Zerbe died in the last campaign of the Civil War in some of the most harrowing action of that conflict. The 10-month siege of Petersburg, led by General-inChief of the Union Army U.S. Grant, was a brutal ordeal for the 125,000 Union troops living in the dirt, heat and cold of the trenches. Disease ran rampant and was as deadly as the Confederate sharpshooters and artillery fire. Petersburg, heavily fortified, was held by an ever dwindling force of 50,000 men under the command of Robert E. Lee. After George Pickett's Confederate division was routed on April 1 at the Five Forks junction, Grant ordered the final assault to commence at 4:30 a.m. the next day. The 208th regiment joined in this terrible onslaught, attacking the rebel works in front of Ford Sedgwick. The 208th was of the assaulting column and, with determination, moved over the ground under Confederate fire from small arms and powerful batteries. There were many casualties. The 208th carried the works and turned the Confederate guns on the retreating rebels. The rebels made a stand at an inner line and attempted to recapture its position all day long. In one of these attempts, the rebels succeeded in retaking a portion of the line held by detachments sent to help the left of the 208th regiment. These detachments resisted the rebel assault, and though suffering from enfilading fire, held the position until relief arrived. At night the fire slackened arid pickets were placed at the front. Nine men from the regiment were killed and thirty-nine wounded. Petersburg was occupied that evening. Richmond fell the next day. Ulysses Grant's troops pursued Robert E. Lee's army west along the Appomattox River. The rest is history. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 12, 1865 thus ending the four years of bloody conflict that claimed the lives of more than 800,000 Americans. As with many who died, Phillip's burial place is not known but is most probably a relocated grave near the battlefield in Petersburg."
According to F.P. Campbell, "Joseph Erhart of Lower Mahanoy township, a member of the same company to which Mr. Zerbe was attached, told the family that he saw the dead body of Mr. Zerbe, who was 38 years of age, lying in a small stream, during the battle, but that the Northern soldiers were obliged to retreat a short time later and he was unable to learn where the body of the soldier was buried.(Philip was supposedly filling his canteen when he was shot.He was considered one of the snipers.)"(226(75-76))
The next month, Phillip's brother David Zerbe (1844-1908) joined the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry and fought through the remaining year of the Civil War.Perhaps David enlisted to avenge his older brother's death.
More About PHILLIP ZERBE:
Date born 2: 1828, Lower Mahanoy Twp, Northumberland Co., PA7985
Date born 3: Abt. 1829, Lower Mahanoy, PA7986
Died 2: Bet. April 02 - 07, 1865, Petersburg, VA7987
Cause of Death: Shot in the battle of Petersburg
Military service: Civil War7988
Notes for MARY LESSMAN:
A photo of her tombstone, courtesy of Becky Young, is source 112(3).According to Floyd's History of Northumberland County (ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/northumberland/bios2/f468493.txt), Mary is a daughter of John Lessman, one of the Hessian soldiers who settled in this region.
More About MARY LESSMAN:
Burial: Unknown, Malta Church7989,7990,7991
Residence: Vera Cruz, PA7992
More About PHILLIP ZERBE and MARY LESSMAN:
Marriage 1: 18517993
Marriage 2: Abt. 18517994,7995
Marriage 3: Abt. 18527996
Children of PHILLIP ZERBE and MARY LESSMAN are:
| 445. | i. | WILLIAM LINCOLN8 ZERBE, b. 1850, Mahantonga Twp, PA; d. 1939, Tower City, PA. | |
| ii. | JOHN ZERBE7997,7998,7999,8000,8001, b. Abt. 18528001; d. Unknown. |
| Notes for JOHN ZERBE: Page 491 of Floyd's History of Northumberland County (111(14)), says he "died young." |
| 446. | iii. | AMBROSE LESSMAN ZERBE, b. August 13, 1853, Lower Mahanoy Twp, Northumberland Co., PA; d. January 02, 1944, Malta, PA. | |
| 447. | iv. | CHARLES W. ZERBE, b. November 12, 1857, Vera Cruz, Lower Mahanoy Twp., Northumberland Co., PA; d. June 27, 1940, Malta, PA. | |
| 448. | v. | SARA J. ZERBE, b. 1860, Hubley Twp., PA; d. Unknown. | |
| 449. | vi. | BENJAMIN FRANK ZERBE, b. June 07, 1862, Malta, Lower Mahanoy Twp, Northumberland Co., PA; d. May 05, 1945. | |
| 450. | vii. | PHILIP OSCAR ZERBE, b. 1864, Malta, PA; d. 1901, Malta, PA. |
268.ELIZABETH7 ZERBE (JOSEPH6, PHILIP ADAM5, DANIEL4, JOHN "THE MILLER"3, JOHANN MARTIN2, MARTIN1)8002,8003,8004,8005,8006,8007 was born December 28, 1833 in Lower Mahanoy Twp, Northumberland Co PA8008,8009,8010,8011, and died Unknown in Malta, PA8012.She married (1) JOHN TSCHOPP8013,8014,8015,8016,8017,8018.He died March 27, 18608019,8020.She married (2) MICHAEL THOMAS WERTZ8021,8022,8022,8023,8024,8025 Aft. 18608026.He was born March 23, 1839 in Malta, PA8027,8028,8029, and died May 01, 1927 in Malta, PA8030,8031.
Notes for ELIZABETH ZERBE:
Rebecca Young (source 112) wrote:
"I have a Joseph Zerbe born 1799 married to whom?????I have him listed as being married to a Anna Maria Heckert but I am told the wife's name should be Elizabeth Meck.Can anyone help me straighten this out?Among other children they had a daughter Elizabeth born 1833 who was supposed to have married twice.First to a John Tschopp, second to M.T. Wertz.According to the information I have the family of Joseph moved to Cedar County, Iowa from Northumberland County, Pa.But the person who told me I had the wrong wife for Joseph says that Elizabeth stayed here in Pa.And according to the newer information I received Elizabeth and M.T. Wertz (Michael Thomas) had a son John Jacob Grant Wertz."
More About ELIZABETH ZERBE:
Died 2: March 13, 1887, Cedar Co., IA8032,8033,8034
Burial: Unknown, Malta, PA8035
More About MICHAEL THOMAS WERTZ:
Burial: Unknown, Malta, PA8035
Military service: Bet. October 28, 1862 - August 01, 1863, Civil War8035
Occupation: Carpenter8035
More About MICHAEL WERTZ and ELIZABETH ZERBE:
Marriage: Aft. 18608036
Child of ELIZABETH ZERBE and JOHN TSCHOPP is:
| 451. | i. | SARAH JANE8 TSCHOPP, b. December 15, 1856, Pennsylvania; d. June 03, 1940. |
Child of ELIZABETH ZERBE and MICHAEL WERTZ is:
| ii. | JOHN JACOB GRANT8 WERTZ8037,8038,8039, b. February 24, 18688039; d. March 28, 19518039. |
| More About JOHN JACOB GRANT WERTZ: Burial: Unknown, Malta, PA8039 |