Heinrich Gernhardt and his descendants ... online

pate in fortly-five battles and skirmishes.

In the first battle, fought on the Jd day of May, 1863, Rudy
and Lewis were well initiated into the malignity of war, though
they were little more than deeply interested spectators. The
Seventeenth was one of the only three cavalry regiments with
Hooker in the battle, the rest of the mounted troops having all
been sent with Averill and Stoneman in a raid to cut Lee's com-
munications. On the evening of the 2d day of May the Eleventh
Corps was driven back in alarming disorder by the rebels under
Jackson, and the whole Union army was threatened with a fear-
ful disaster. At a critical moment General Pleasanton approach-
ed the breast-works with the Eighth and Seventeenth Pennsylva-
nia Cavalry, just as Jackson's 20,000 victorious troops were com-
ing on a rush after the broken ana retreating Eleventh Corps.
Comprehending at a glance what was transpiring, he ordered
INIajor Keenan to charge with the Eighth, then hardly a half regi-
ment strong, with all the fur}- and vigor possible on the head
of Jackson's approaching army, so as to give him (Pleasanton)
time to* get his battery of horse artillery into position. It was a
fearful venture, but a few moments of time thus gained was of
inestimable importance. The Eighth performed the direful task
in the most gallant manner, making a charge that will be known
in history as one of the most daring assaults that a small body
ever attempted against such immense odds. The rebels supposed,
of course, that they were being attacked by a heavy force, and
paused in their mad rush to receive the anticipated shock. The
object was thus attained. Twenty-two guns were instantly un-
limbered, loaded, double-shotted, and placed into position, and as
the enemy, checked but for a few minutes, came pouring in a great
mass over the parapet that the Eleventh Corps had just forsaken,
the order was given to fire. The well-aimed, double-shotted guns
mowed the rebels down at a fearful rate, and again checked the
furious onset, though a fierce musketrv' and artillerv duel follow-



1 62 The Gernhardt Family History.

ed that lasted almost an hour. The Seventeenth Cavalry, com-
posed of new and raw men, sat on their horses in the rear of the
battery, in single line, with drawn sabres, and with orders to
charge if the enemy attempted to take the guns. It is believed
that they were taken for the front line of a much larger force, as
the ground back of them sloped downward and was not in the
enemy's view. The position was a perilous one for the Seven-
teenth, but it performed for the army a service of immense im-
portance. It is difficult to imagine tfhe feelings of Rudy and
Lewis when close witnesses of such an awful scene, and standing
with sabres drawn and ready, expecting every moment to be
themselves engaged hand to hand in an tmsparing struggle. In
a general order after the battle General Pleasanton said : "The
coolness displayed by the Seventeenth in supporting the batteries
has excited the highest admiration."

After the baptism of fire at Chancellorsville Rudy and Lewis
had many lessons in the rigorous school of war, to enter into the
details of which would require a great deal of space. They were
together in the terriblei first-day battle on the field of Gettysburg,
July I, 1863, when the Union troops were vastly outnumbered,
and when the percentage of casualties was far greater than that
of the main army in the second and third days' awful fighting, but
both boys came out unharmed. One of the most trying moments
of that fateful day was when, through the dust and smoke, the
Seventeenth was mistaken for a body of the enemy by Howard's
artillery, posted on Cemetery Hill, and became the target for a
lire that was dreaded more than the fire from the hostile side.
While the shells were bursting over and around them the order
was given to change position, and, said Rudy, "we never obeyed a
command with greater alacrity." One of Rudy's recollections of
this fight may here be mentioned to show that shells sometimes
play strange freaks, as well as floods, tornadoes and lightning.
When the Seventeenth crossed Seminary Ridge on the morning of
July 1st and met Hill's infantry, a shell entered the body of his
captain's horse, bent the scabbard of his sabre, removed a patch
from the seat of his pants, and gave him a black spot for a re-



The Gernhardt Family History. 163



minder of the day. The horse phmged with him over a stone
fence and fell dead, but the plucky captain sustained no further
injury and continued in command of his company. On the sec-
ond and third memorable days Co. E was a part of the) force de-
tailed to protect the wagon trains at Westminster, and the broth-
ers were, therefore, not in the final battles at Gettysburg.

Rudy was wounded by a shot through his right foot on the
7th day of May, 1864, at Todd Tavern, where his brigade relieved
Gregg's Division, and drove the enemy, with heavy loss, and that
day he saw his dear brother Lewis for the last time. "As I was
being carried to the rear," said Rudy, "I shall always remember
the anxious look Lewis gave me. He said something to me, but
the noise and clash of battle was so great that I could not catch
a word of what he said." Lewis was himself fatally wounded in
the fight at Cold Harbor, on the last day of the same month, as
already stated, and was brought to the same hospital where Rudy
lay, but the unfortunate brothers never dreamed of their being
again so near each other, and under such ill-fated circumstances.
But such is the fate of war. How true it is that, "What Fate im-
poses, men must needs abide." Lewis died, and was carried to his
"long home," at Arlington, before Rudy or any of his kindred
had learned of his sad end. Rudy s foot healed rapidly, and by
midsummer he was again at the front.

When armies move and skirmish to secure strategic positions,
and fight battles, every private soldier has a share and interest in
the general course of events, and the record of the service of every
private is therefore a bit of an army's history. His part has also
a certain entirely individual interest, especially to his immediate
friends and relations. The private is in truth the real fighter, the
man who is obliged to do the effective and most disagreeable
work, and on whose strength and valor the success of the army
so much depends. Generals, colonels, majors, and captains are
the pilots and helmsmen, the eyes and ears of the army, and as a
rule do not often with their own hands harm any one, though they
are frequently the shining marks for the missiles of the enemy.
The following episode in the army life of Rudy well illustrates



164 The Gernhardt Family History.

the duty, value, and perils of the common soldier. In the latter
part of September, 1864, Rudy was one of a detail of twenty men
from Co. E that was sent from Winchester to Martinsburg- with
a dispatch to General Sheridan. On the return trip, when hardly
more than one mile from the Union line, two men on horseback
appeared on the road who were at once concluded to be "bush-
wackers." Instantly the detail charged pellmell and pursued the
suspects as they fled from the main road into a tract of timber.
Unsuspectingly the detachment was led into a trap of one hun-
dred or more of Mosby's famous guerrillas, who suddenly opened
a destructive fire on them, instantly killing three and' wounding
four, one-third of their number, and the next instant made pris-
oners of twelve, only one being so fortunate as to escape. This,
considering the brief moment the affair lasted, and the actual re-
sult, was "about the hottest place," Rudy says, "that he was
ever in."

After hastily disarming their captives, relieving them of the
best of their clothing, cutting the buttons from the hard-worn
garments that they did not covet, and appropriating all the foot-
wear that passed their hurried inspection, the rebels started them,
under a strong guard, in the direction of the Shenandoah River.
Meanwhile the lucky soldier who escaped had lost no time in get-
ting back to Winchester and reporting that his comrades were
either captured or killed. So near the lines did this affair occur
that the bugle-call to boots and saddles for the purpose of pursuit
and rescue was distinctly heard by the guard and their prisoners.
The alarmed guard hurried their captives into a piece of timber
some distance from the scene of the capture, from which the boys
could see their regiment galloping past in the pursuit, and so
near were they that they would have shouted to let them know
where they were but for the disagreeable fact that their convoy
held their revolvers right in their faces and threatened to blow
out their brains the instant they made their presence known.
This happened about three o'clock in the afternoon. The regi-
ment gave up the pursuit, and on returning sought the scene of
the disaster to carry off the dead and wounded. Three of the lat-




MILTON T. DOXiMOYER
KnV/roWN, PA.



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 165

ter had been left by the guard at a farm house, and they were not
found — but the trio kickily got back into the lines three weeks
later through the friendly aid of the farmer, who proved to be
a good Union man.

When near the Shenandoah River a company of horsemen
were seen coming across a field. The major in charge of the rebel
guard, thinking it was another detachment of Mosby's force, that
had been detailed to capture a supply train that was going from
Winchester to iNIartinsburg, halted his men to have a talk with
the officer in charge. When, getting into closer range, the major
called out, "Who are you?" The response was, "Who are youT'
The major replied, "we belong to Col. Mosby's command." "So
do we," said the officer with the most perfect sang froid, allaying
the major's suspicion, and then the pair agreed to meet each other
half way and have a chat. When at close range the officer quickly-
raised his revolver and shot the major dead, and instantly his men
came on in a furious charge, beginning to discharge their carbines.
The road to the river now led into a deep cut, and down between
the sloping banks the retreating rebels rushed, nearly every one
with the horse of a prisoner tied on the right-hand side of his
horse. The captives, seeing their opportunity in the rush, sud-
denly slid off their horses. Several shots were fired at them, but
the stampeded rebs were in too great a hurry to take proper aim,
and too eager to get away from their lively pursuers to bother wiih
prisoners. Their impetuous adversaries — a company of indepen-
dent scouts of West Virginians who had just been on the look-out
for Mosby's men — were getting too uncomfortably near them.
The W. V.'s told the freed captives to take care of themselves,
as they desired to devote their attention entirely to their now
fleeing captors. Rudy and his comrades made as short a cut as
possible for Winchester, and sometime after midnight were ad-
mitted within the picket line, where the}' were detained until
morning, when they were sent under guard to headquarters, and
thence to their command. In camp they were soon surrounded
by their comrades, eager to shake hands with and congratulate
them, and to hear what kind of a time thev had.



i66 The Gcrnhardt Family History.

After the war Rudy also served three years in the Regular
Army as a member of Co. I, 19th Infantry, and assisted in taking
care of the famous Klu Klux in Missouri and Arkansas, but lim-
ited space will not permit a fuller account of his military service.
The army life of most men who served their country from three
to six years during that eventful era would furnish material
enough for a separate volume. During the last twenty-five years
Rudy has been general manager of the South Bend Toy Manu-
facturing Company, a concern now having $100,000 capital, and
employing from 300 to 350 men. He is one of the original propri-
etors. The enterprise launched upon the great commercial tide
with the imposing sum of several hundred dollars, but is now re-
garded as one of the largest institutions of the kind in the coun-
try. Among the articles manufactured are croquet sets, ball
bats, game boards, children's wagons, carts, wheelbarrows, toy
tables, chairs and carriages, in illustrating and advertising which
the firm has from time to time issued many beautiful catalogues.

9. Milton-Taylor Donmoyer*, b. Aug. 8, 1848; m. Hannah
E Springer, January, 1869; r. Kutztown, Pa.

Served three years as a member of the Prison Board of Berks
County, and was afterwards appointed postmaster of Kutztown
under President Harrison, serving five years. Was a harness-
maker by occupation, and still kept up the business while post-
master, but also spent about ten years of his life as a dealer in
cattle. His reminiscences as a drover are very interesting, but to
appreciate and enjoy them fully he must himself be heard relate
them. Although the youngest of the family, he wanted to go and
help his brothers Frank, Lewis and Rudy crush the rebellion, and
made a break for the front, but his guardian started after him
and brought him back, insisting that three brothers in the army at
one time was enough for one family. Industrious and frugal, he
has accumulated something to make the struggle of life easier in
old age. His children and grandchildren :

i. Charles Benjamin D.^, b. Sept. 29, 1870; d. Julv 14,
1871.




MRS. CATHARINE HINTEKLEITER:i, KUTZTOWN, PA.

1808-18bl.



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 167

a. Jennie Elizabeth D}, b. ;\Iarch 28, 1873; m. Charles E.
Alessersmith, Dec. 29, 1892; r. Kutztown, Pa. One son:
John Milton^, b. Feb. 8, 1894.

Hi. William Augustus D.^, b. April 8, 1875 ; m. Lillie Die-
trich, Jan. 19, 1895; r. Kutztown, Pa. Children: Hel-
en^, b. June 7, 1895; Florence*^, b. Sept. 18, 1896;
Charles Milton^, b. May 30, 1898; Mary^, b. June 27,
1899; Mabel and Laura^, twins, b. x\ug. 8, 1900; Laura
d. Jan. 6, 1901.

II. CATHARINE GERNERT^, b. Feb. 8, 1808; m. Daniel
Hinterleiter, of Maxatawny, .Berks County, Pa., Feb. 27, 1827.
She died Xov. 12, 1881. Daniel d. Aug. 16, 1889. Both were
buried in the cemetery at Kutztown. When a boy back in the for-
ties and early fifties it was my happy privilege to visit with this
hospitable aunt and uncle, and their large family of boys and
girls, in their cheerful home on their beautiful farm of 150 acres,
in the fertile limestone district three miles east of Kutztown. The
farm was first owned by uncle's grandfather, Mathias Hinter-
leiter, who bought it of Nicholas Muffly, in 1767. It descended
to his father, Jacob, then to Uncle Daniel, and still continues in
the family name. Uncle was a thrifty farmer, kept everything
about his premises clean and in good order, thought brier and
brush-grown fence rows an abomination, and his barn, wagons,
pigs, horses and cattle were all evidences of scrupulous care, tire-
less industry and good living. The provident habits, patience
and perseverance for which the Pennsylvania Germans have al-
ways been noted were dominant traits of this once happy family,
the majority of whom have already passed over the mystic river
to the land of rest and silence — and I now look back with a mel-
ancholy pleasure to the days I spent with them so delightfully in
their peaceful and cheerful home. Catharine and Daniel had :

I. Jacob Hinterleiter'*, b. July 4, 1827; m. Sarah Anna
Young, of Richmond, Berks County Pa., May 3, 1853: r.
Kutztown, Pa. He d. Feb. 12, 1901, and she d. the 20tli
day of the same month. They had been happily united in
life almost half a century, and were separated only eight
davs bv death. Thev had three children :



1 68 The Gernhardt Family History.

i. Kate A. H.^, b. Aug. 22, 1853 ; m. George F. Rahn,
Sept. 13, 1884. She d. Jan. 13, 1887.

a. Amelia Sarah H.^, b. Jan. 27, 1859; d. unm. July 31,
1901.

Hi. Sabra Ann H.^, h. Aug. 17, 1866 ; m. Calvin G. Stamm,
of Womelsdorf, Pa., Dec. 26, 1896; r. Kutztown, Pa.;
n. c.

2. Joshua Hinterleiter*, b. March i, 1829; m. Elwina
Smith, of Long Swamp, May 29, 1853. She d. Sept. 23,
1891, in Lebanon County. He now has his home with his
daughter Susanna and her husband, Dr. Gerberich, in Leb-
anon. Had eight children :

i. Martha Jane Katharine H.^, b. July 27, 1853 ; m. Rev.
Irwin William Bieber, of Kutztown, July 27, 1873 ; r.
Bethlehem, Pa. Thirteen children : Florence Ada^, b.
Oct. 5, 1874; Warren Joshua, b. Dec. 28, 1875; Lottie
Irene, b. July 10, 1877; Gertrude Catharine, b. Jan. 26,
1879 — deceased; Agnes Heidenreich, b. July 29, 1880;
Arthur Irwin, b. Feb. 11, 1882 — deceased; Bertha Su-
san, b. March 24, 1884; Mabel May, b. Jan. 20, 1886
— deceased; Raymond Luther, b. Oct. 24, 1888; J.
Blanche Evelyn, b. Nov. 30, 1890; Miriam Esther, b.
Sept. 27, 1892; Truman Irwin, b. Sept. 11, 1894; Ruth
Mildred, b. Oct. 31, 1896.

a. Theodore Daniel H.^, h. April 27, 1855; d. Aug. 24,
1858.

Hi. Susanna Louise H.^, b. Dec. 10, 1856 ; m. Dr. Daniel
Philip Gerberich, of Lebanon, Pa., April 6, 1881. One
son : Guy Ascher^, b. May 25, 1883.

iv. William Henry H.^, b. Aug. 19, 1859; "^- Gertrude
Esser Terry, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., Oct. 31, 1894; r.
Carlisle, Pa. ; o. merchant. One son : Harold Esser",
b. Oct. 3, 1896.

V. Emma Eliza H.^, b. April 26, 1861 ; d. July 22, 1873.

vi. Charles Elszvorth H^, b. Julv 25, 1863 ; d. Sept. 3,
1865.

vii. Oscar Daniel H.^, b. Aug. 4, 1865; m. Amentha Ar-
nold, February, 1891. He d. Aug. 23, 1891.



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 169



via. Minnie H.°, b. Sept. 15, 1872; m. William Benjamin
Sands, of Baltimore, 'Md., Sept. 10, 1901. She d. Feb.
22, 1903, and was buried at Lebanon, Pa., on the 25th.

Minnie was a very sweet, bright and pious girl, beautiful in
mind and heart as well as in person. I saw her often enough to
become much impressed with her intense interest in and her learn-
ing" of the Scriptures. She was greatly taken with Millenarian
views, and believed that Christ would return to the world in great
power and glor>', just as truly and literally as he left it. She look-
ed for a literal resurrection of the dead, and believed that the
righteous alone would inhabit the earth when Christ has returned
and destroyed all the powers of wickedness and converted the
planet into a Paradise. But Minnie's meek, pure and dutiful life
endeared her to all her friends much more than her doctrines.
She had enjoyed good health, and was rejoicing in the prospect
of motherhood, when she was suddenly cut down by the Great
Reaper, who is no respecter of persons.

3. Maria E. Hinterleiter'*, b. Dec. 24, 1833 ; m. Jacob W.
Fisher, of Kutztown, Pa., Sept. 11, 1855. She d. June 2,
1899. Had three children :

i. Louisa F.^, b. Jan. 11, 1858; m. Benjamin Deibert, of
Kutztown, Pa., Dec. 25, 1877. Children: Eva Viola
D.6, b. March 21, 1880; George Thomas D.^, b. Oct. 8,
1892.

a. George Hozvard F}, b. Oct. 2, 1863 ; m. Elizabeth S.
Fenstermacher, of Lebanon, Pa., June 29, 1889. He
d. May 2, 1891. One child: Elmina Louisa^, b. March
22, 1890.

Hi. John Daniel Fisher'^, b. Oct. 30, 1867; m. Mary J.
Brown, Aug. 10, 1889; r. Robesonia, Pa.; o.- railroad
ticket agent. Children : Charles Jacob F.^, b. Jan.
25, 1890; Milo Edgar F.^, b. Oct. 3, 1892; Raymond
John F.^, b. Aug. 15, 1894.

4. Eliza Hinterleiter^, b. Feb. 6, 1835 ; m. Daniel S.

Seigfried, of Maxatawny, Pa., Sept. 11, 1853. She d. June
27, 1864. Had four children :

i. Abraham^, b. Feb. 11, 1857; d. Feb. 2, 1876.



170 Tlic Gernliardt Family History.

a. Catharine Elizabeth^, b. May 22, 1858; m. John Ober-
holtzer, Oct. 9, 1884; r. Lebanon, Pa. One child: May
Catharine''^ b. April 18, 1895.

/;'/. Elinira'', h. Dec. 25, i860; d. when nine months old.

re'. Elmer L.^, b. Aug. 19, 1862; d. May 18, 1865.

5. FiANA E. HiNTERLEiTER*, b. March 4, 1837; m. Lewis

Fisher, Jan. 4, 1857. She d. Aug. 30, 1891. He d. Oct,
16, 1 90 1. He was the station agent of the Reading R. R.
at Kutztown, Pa., for 26 years, and was one of the most re-
spected citizens of the town. They had nine children :

i. Ehvood D. F.^, b. Sept. 10, 1857 '> ^'^- Ella L. Wenner,
Sept. 3, 1877. Succeeded his father as agent of the
Reading R. R. Has been a school director for a num-
ber of years, and takes an active interest in the affairs
of the town. Is also a Notary Public. Two children :

a. Warren R. F.^, b. April 5, 1878; m. Ida J. Reinhard.
Has children: Eva May"'', b. Aug. 10, 1897; Edwin^, b.
July 5, 1 90 1.

b. Lillic E. F.^, b. June 27, 1879 ; d. Nov. 27, 1897.

a. Jacob G. F.^, b. March 27, i860; d. Sept. 12, i860.

Hi. Ellen C. F.^, b. April 23, 1861 ; m. William Hicks Rex,
Jr., June i, 1889; r. Philadelphia, Pa

iv. Eizzie C. F.°, b. Aug. 23, 1863.

v. Williani T. F.^ b. Nov. 11, 1866; r. St. Louis, Mo. .
z'i. Charles E. F.^, b. July 11, 1869; d. March 17, 1896.
rii. Lillie i\L F.^, b. Aug. 31, 1872; d. May 14, 1876.
via. Annie A. F.^, b. Feb. 22, 1875.

is. Harry F.^, b. July 29, 1877 ; m. Miss Alice Lawrence,
of Topeka, Kansas, Aug. 2, 1900; r. St. Paul, Minn.
Is traveling freight agent for the AIo. Pac. R. R. Co.,
in charge of the N. W. territory.

6. John G. Hinterleiter'^, b. May 18, 1839: m.x, Nov.
22, 1862 ; n. c. ; r. Kutztown, Pa. ; o. butcher.

7. Sarah A. Hinterleiter'*, b. Sept. 25. 1841 ; m. first,
Esquire Ephraim B. Shuey, of Lebanon County, Pa., Oct.

18, 1866; Shuey d. Dec. 19, 1889; m. second, William H.
Hess, Oct. 21, 1898; r. Jonestown, Pa.; n. c.




KLWOOI) I). FISHEK'-, WARREN R. FISHERH,

EVA MAY AND EDWIN FISHER".

KUTZTOWN, PA.



The Genihardt Family History.



8. William G. Hinterleiter-*, b. April ii, 1844; m. Kate S.
Bear, of Oley, Pa., Dec. 10, 1874. Residence in Kutztowu,
Pa., where he keeps a well stocked dry goods store. Also
has a D. G. store at Hazleton, Pa., in which fifteen clerks
are employed. Is a director of the Kutztown National
Bank, and is interested in the silk mill of the place. Has
for, many years led the choir of the Kutztown Trinity Lu-
theran Church. Owns the Hinterleiter Homestead, which
has been in the possession of the family nearly 140 years,
and, as he has several sons, may remain in tlie fam-
ily name many years longer. Five children : Irene Viola^*,
b. Oct. 29, 1875 ; Asher Vincent^, b. Oct. 25, 1876 — d. Nov.
30, 1876; Florence May^ b. May 25, 1878; Raymond Wil-
liamS, b. July 6, 1883 ; Arthur Bear5,b. Sept. 13', 1885 ; Ala-
bel Katie^, b. Sept. 2, 1880 — d. July 20, 1890.
[This part of the family history was completed when the sad
word came of the death of our esteemed relative, William G. Hin-
terleiter, of Bright's disease, on the 3d day of July, 1903. He
from time to time manifested great interest in this work, and it is
seriously regretted that he was not permitted to see it in print.
That he was eminently worthy of the eulogium that acquaintance
and esteem would have prompted writing of him, is verified by
the following excerpts from a lengthy obituary notice in the Kuiz-
tozi'H Patriot:

"He was one of the most popular men in town, and identified
with all the town's best interests for so many years that he was
looked upon by everybody as one of the safe leaders in all public
and private enterprises."

"Seeing that Kutztown was destined to become an important
business place, he abandoned the general store business, remod-
eled his store, making it one of the most attractive and commo-
dious outside of the larger cities, and established an up-to-date
dry goods store, which became widely known and was well pat-
ronized by all the country around."

"Trinity choir, under his leadership, was one of the best church
choir organizations in this section, the music rendered being of a
high order."

"For his many virtues, his genial good nature, and his estima-
ble qualities of mind and heart, he was respected by all who knew
him."



172 The Gernhardt Family History.

"Being one of the original founders of Trinity Lutheran con-
gregation, he occupied a leading place in its affairs from the be-
ginning up to the time of his death, laboring diligently for the best
interests of the church, and often at the sacrifice of personal com-
fort."

"To him alone may be ascribed the honors for the erection of
the handsome Trinity Church, which may serve as a memorial to
him for that one act."

"He had a number of young men as clerks during the past 25
years, all of whom regarded him with tender affection and all
made periodical visits to his home, a pleasant duty."

"During the funeral the entire town paid its respects to the
deceased by refraining from all business. Stores, etc., were