Death Notices from the Lebanon Daily News

Lebanon, Pennsylania

1895 - 1923

Notice in paper Anna Irene Gerberich died April 14, 1895 1y 20 da Scarlet Fever.

Harry Gerberich died March 31, 1895 3y 3mo Blood Poison

The mortal remains of Stephen Hetrich were consigned to the grave this afternoon at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. Services over the body were conducted in the Brandywine street mission by Rev. Hoffman. W.H. Steiner was the undertaker.

At Hummelstown on the 27^th inst. Mark Heilman, son of Mr. and Mrs. (Margaret) Wesley Bowman aged 5m 2d. Funeral will be held at their residence, 306 South 9^th Street on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. Relatives and friends are invited to attend without further notice. Internment is private in Palmyra.

Henry R. Yorty, a highly esteemed citizen of East Hanover township, died on Wednesday morning of dropsy, aged 62 years. He was a member of Co. C, 12th Pa. cavalry during the Civil War and belonged to Sedgwick Post, No. 42, G.A.R. His wife, who was a Miss Bomgardner and a large family of children survive him.

Mrs. Sarah Atkins, widow of the late George S. Atkins, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, was buried this afternoon (Feb. 29, 1904) at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. Services were held at Asbury Park and at the home of the Misses Atkins, 206 South Ninth Street, this city, being in charge of Dr. Witherspoon, of Asbury Park. The pall-bearers were: Randolph Graoff, E.C. Sowers, G.W. Jamieson and W.G. Borgner. W.H. Steiner was the undertaker.

Mrs. Mary, wife of Harry J. Yorty, died on Thursday in East Hanover Township of pneumonia. She was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Milton R. Burgner of East Hanover township, and a member of Lemberger's U.B. Church. Services will be held there on Sunday morning with burial at Walmer's cemetary.

Joel H. Foster, a well known employee of the Pennsylvania railroad and a Civil War veteran was stricken with paralysis Wednesday morning in the East yard of the P.R.R. at Columbia and died later at his home. No. 21 South Fourth Street, that place. Foster was employed as a trimmer of the switch lamps. He was born in Paradise township, and was 66 years of age. He was a resident of Columbia for many years and was long in the railroad service. During the Civil War he served as a member of Company D. Second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. He was a member of General Welsh Post No. (???) G.A.R.; the P.R.R. Relief and Salome United Brethren church. He is survived by his wife and one son William, of Lancaster. A brother John Foster, residing in this city also survives.

Mrs. Carolina Yorty, widow of the late William (Henry) Reinoehl Yorty died on Sunday at her home in East Hanover Township. Though she was in an enfeebled condition sometime she was able to be (about town??) about a week ago. When she contracted a cold, from which pneumonia developed, and all efforts to nurse her to health failed. She was aged 69 years. Her husband died about seven years ago. Eight daughters and four sons survive. They are: William, Thomas, Harry and John, all of East Hanover, Katie, wife of Isaiah Brightbill, Lizzie, wife of Grant Daubert, Carrie, wife of Calvin Daubert; Mary wife of Hiram Ebersole; Emma wife of George Bashore, all of East Hanover, Lena, wife of Harry Albert, of Bellegrove, and Misses Lucy and Nora at home. Mrs. Benneville Peiffer, of York Co., and Mrs. Frank Blatt of East Hanover are sisters and Jacob, John A., and Aaron Bomgardner are brothers. The funeral will take place Thursday.

Miss Mary Runkle, aged 81 years, died at her home in Bellegrove on Sunday morning, after suffering for the past six months from a complication of diseases. She was a member of the Bellegrove United Brethren church and for the past sixty years was closely identified with the United Brethren congregation. She is survived by her brother, John Runkle, also of Bellegrove. The funeral will be held on Thursday morning at 9:30 o'clock from the late residence, followed by services in the U.B. church and internment in the adjoining cemetery.

Persons living in the vicinity of Pansy Hill were startled this morning by a rumor that a man had hanged himself on the Hill. Investigation proved the rumor to be correct. John Runkle, aged about 70 years, was found suspended by his neck from one of the trees and by the appearance of the body he had died peacefully. A raw hide throng about an inch wide was used. It was knotted and twisted with great deliberation with the largest know directly back of the left ear of the victim. Mr. Runkle chose a tree in the rear of he Pansy Hill school house, about a half block from the road leading to the Water Works.

Thought it April Joke.
No one can state just at what hour Mr. Runkle hanged himself. Several workmen who have occasion to use this section of the hill or the road, passed there early this morning and saw the body hanging, but knowing that today is April 1st, the majority of them imagined it was some boys playing a joke on the unthinking passerby. About nine o’clock Elias Kreider, discovered that it was a man hanging to the tree and he began spreading the report. In a short while the hillside was dotted with curious neighbors, and Mr. Sholly, keeper of the pump house, identified the dead man as John Runkle.

Resided With Daughter
Mr. Runkle had no permanent residence. He stayed with his son and daughters for several months at a time, and his most recent home was with his daughter, Amanda, wife of Stephen A. Erwin, of West Lebanon. Erwin’s now live in Doe (????????????). When the body was found it looked most natural. There was no grim disfigurations of the features. The eyes and mouth were closed. and an expression of peace marked the features. The body was fully clothed even to the collar (?????????????) and hat. One’s first impression was that Mr. Runkle was standing at the tree instead of hanging by his neck.

Made Repeated Threats
For a number of years Mr. Runkle lived a retired life. Persons who are well acquainted with him state that his financial condition was good and no reason for the rash act can be accounted for, other than that he was queer at intervals and many times he spoke of taking his own life by hanging. About thirteen years ago his wife died, and since then Mr. Runkle seemed to wander about with no particular ambition or desire to do anything. Persons with whom he lived stated that it was necessary to watch him practically all the time, for fear he would make good his threats of hanging.

An Iron Worker
In his earlier life Mr. Runkle was employed at the local iron mills as a laborer. He had many friends throughout the city who are shocked to learn of his tragic end. He leave one son; George Runkel, of West Lebanon; and three daughters, Sarah, Amanda, wife of Stephen Erwin, and Elizabeth, wife of Cyrus Gross.

Coroner Investigates
Dr. John Light, the coroner, was notified about ten o’clock and sent his deputy to the scene. The body was (??) down and taken in charge by Undertaker Frank McGovern. It was viewed later by Coroner Light at the McGovern morgue, who issued a certificate of death by suicide.

Harvey Gingrich, baker for Shiffer Baking Company, died Sunday afternoon at his home, 20 Miflin Street, from pneumonia, following a short illness. He was 43 years old and leaves a wife (Fannie Light) and son Russell. He was a member of Bethany U.B. Church, Knights of Malta, and Camp No. 254, P.O.S. of A.. Interred Mt Annville Cemetery.

Alfred Gerberich, a prominent East Hanover Township farmer, died Saturday night from pnuemonia after a week's illness, aged about 42 years. He was a son of Valentine (Uhrich) Gerberich (11 May 1838-20 Aug 1902) (and Amanda Walmer Gerberich 25 Oct 1840-4 Jan 1908) and leaves a wife (Kate Ellen Jones 21 Oct 1874-?) and six children, five girls (six daughters noted: Eva May 1 Apr 1895-?, Carrie Amanda 5 Dec 1896-?, Jennie Kate 12 Jan 1899-?, Anna Elizabeth 18 Aug 1900-? married to Charles Rhine, Ellen 26 Aug 1908-?, Emma 13 Nov 1910-?) and one boy (Alfred 4 Mar 1913-17 Apr 1990). He was one of a family of ten children (Ephriam Walmer 4 May 1862-1909, Ellen 7 Mar 1864-26 Jul 1907, Laura Walmer 16 Aug 1865-15 Apr 1922, Emma Catherine 22 Dec 1866-1 May 1913, Valentine Walmer, Philip Walmer 1 Feb 1871-?, Amanda 10 Feb 1873-14 Aug 1912, Alfred, Caroline Elizabeth 18 Jul 1878-?, Elmer Walmer 19 Jul 1884-?), one who was a Valentine (Walmer) Gerberich (14 Oct 1868-bef 1918) of this city. His death occured at the Hospital where he had been brought from his home a mile north of Grantville. He was a member of the Lutheran church.

Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Shuey, of 229 South Fifth Street, on Sunday Morning received a telegram stating that their son, Walter Shuey, had died at Fort Thomas Kentucky. He was drafted lately for limited service in the army and left on October 4th for the camp with a delegation of other selected men. He contracted a cold shortly afterward, and then his condition was aggravated by an attack of appendicitis. He was operated on for appendicitis, and a letter received by the parents on Saturday, from Chaplain John R. Hahn, stated that he was coming around nicely when the cold developed into pneumonia and the letter indicated that his condition was serious indeed. The telegram announcing his death followed on Sunday morning. The body has been shipped here for burial but no arrangements can be made until it arrives. Shuey passed his 37th birthday last June. He was widely known in the city and a host of friends mourn his loss. Besides his parents, he leaves a brother, Frank, who is now with the American Expeditionary Force in France, and another brother, Harry, who is a chemist at the Lebanon Steel Foundry. The deceased was a member of the Lebanon Lodge of Moose and the Keystone Gun Club. interred Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, PA .

Mrs. Aaron Shuey stricken at noon on Monday with (?). Mrs. Aaron Shuey, (?) of (?) owner of Shuey's Mill, East Hanover Township, died from its effects (?) this evening. She was 5(?) years old and a daughter of the late Joseph Gingrich. She leaves her husband and three children, Elmer (Gingrich, 7 Oct 1887-28 Jun 1954), (?) (Ruth, wife of David Keller), and Clarence, all at home. (?) was a member of the U.B. Church. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 1 o'clock, (?) the house, with services in Ono U.B. Church and internment in the church cemetery. (Copy of obituary is not fully legible).

Sallie H. Longenecker, wife of Harry G(ingrich) Longenecker (29 Dec 1863-25 Oct 1938), the widely known South Annville township cattle dealer, died at seven o'clock on Saturday evening from heart failure, following an attack of influenza, at the Longenecker homestead, following an illness which began last Tuesday. Mrs. Longenecker had been a sufferer with an impaired heart for some years and from the very beginning of her seizure by influenza, her condition was regarded as most serious because of its effect on her already weakened heart. Highly Esteemed: She was 51 years old and the youngest member of her family of the late Henry (John) Gingrich (19 Feb 1814-2 Apr 1885 and Sallie Bachman 18 Jan 1825-8 Jan 1906). Born on the Gingrich homestead farm, now occupied by her brother, former county commissioner J(ohn) Henry Gingrich (16 Jul 1863-17 Dec 1944), at Mt. Pleasant, she was a life long resident of the township. She was widely known and highly esteemed and her death is a matter of sincere regret throughout the community where the family is so prominately known. She leaves her husband and three children, Harry (Benjamin, 11 Dec 1892-22 Dec 1971), Mrs. Annie (Anna Katharine, 15 Oct 1890-?), wife of Elmer Minnich (13 May 1889-15 Jan 1919), and Walter (18 Oct 1899-?). Two sisters and a brother are also left as follows: Mrs. Nancy (J. Alfred) Bowman (27 Jul 1857-11 Apr 1948); Mrs. Allen (Mary, 26 Feb 1865-28 Jan 1949) Bucher of South Annville, and J(ohn) Henry Gingrich of Mt. Pleasant. Funeral on Wednesday. She was a member of the Church of the Brethren and funeral services will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock with services in the Annville church and interment in the cemetery at Longs Meeting House.

Mrs. Annie, widow of Mahlon Weidner of (??) West Maple Street, Leb. Independent Borough, died on Monday from pneumonia, following an illness of five days. She leaves four children:(????????) Weidner, Mrs. Charles Abb, William and Raymond Weidner. Two sisters Mrs. Milton Leinsperger and Mrs. Bentz also three brothers, George, Howard, and John Reigel, all of Berks County.

For a second time within a week death entered the Longenecker homestead, in South Annville Township, on Wednesday evening, in claiming Elmer Minnich, son-in-law of Harry G(ingrich) Longenecker (29 Dec 1863-25 Oct 1938), the widely known farmer and cattle dealer. Only on Wednesday afternoon had been held the funeral of Mrs. Longenecker (Sallie H. Gingrich, 9 Sep 1867-11 Jan 1919) who had succumbed to heart complications attending an attack of influenza and at the time of her death the son-in-law, Mr. Minnich was known to be very seriously ill suffering with the dreaded disease. Deceased was very well known and stood high in the community. Only recently he was admitted to preach the gospel in the Church of the Brethren. He was well educated and this fact stood him in good stead in his chosen Profession. Had a fine delivery which made it a delight to sit in his audience. His future looked exceedingly bright. Services in Church: Because of the admittedly critical condition of the sufferer, no funeral services were held at the Gingrich homestead, but at the Church of the Brethren at Annville followed by interment at the cemetery at Longs Meeting House in South Annville township. Mr. Minnich was a native of Lititz, a son of Mrs. Jacob Minnich. He is survived by his wife (Anna Katharine "Annie" Longenecker, 15 Oct 1890-?) and one son, Harry (Elmer, 31 Dec 1913-?), besides the mother. Also two brothers, Graybill and Hiram, both of near Lititz; four sisters, Alice, wife of John Batdorf of Lititz; Emma, wife of Benjamin Evans, Lititz, Lizzie, wife of Harvey Eberly, Lititz; Sadie wife of Abraham Shelly, of Mastersonville. Mrs. Longenecker and son, Harry, are sick in bed at present and much sympathy is expressed for them as well as for Mr. Longenecker, the father-in-law, in their breavement. They all lived happily together on the Longenecker farm.

Mrs. Mary (J. NEE:BOMGARDNER) Blatt, widow of the late Frank Blatt, of Grantville, died yesterday at her home, after a long illness, due to complications of diseases. She was aged 65 years and was a life long resident of the town, where she was well known and highly esteemed. She was a faithful member of the Grantville U.B. Church and for many years was an active figure in the church work. She leaves one son, Harry, of Grantville, and a daughter, Mrs. Francis Stevens, also of Grantville. One grand daughter also is left.

Services and burial of the late Zaccharias Gingrich of Jonestown were held this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. from the late residence at Jonestown. Rev. George R. Deisher was in charge of the services. The burial took place at the Lutheran Cemetery in Jonestown. H.B. Strauss was in charge of the Burial.