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Obituary of Lazarus Zerbe of Williamstown
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on March 30, 2018
Lazarus Zerbe, also known as Zerby, died in September 1905 in Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. According to his grave marker in the United Methodist Cemetery in Williamstown, he served in the 17th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company H, as a Private. Confirmation of this service is found in the Pennsylvania Archives, but the service was in the militia regiment called for the Emergency of 1862. His actual service was from 17 September 1862 to 28 September 1862. He enrolled at Tremont, Schuylkill County, and was discharged at the end of the emergency. No other Civil War service has been located for him in any of the databases available on line, including Fold3 and those databases available on Ancestry.com.
The obituary of Lazarus Zerbe appeared in the Lykens Standard, 15 September 1905. However, that obituary reported a different regiment of service, the 61st Pennsylvania Infantry. Thus far in researching this veteran, no confirmation has been seen that he served in that regiment – including in the regimental muster rolls.
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
LAZARUS ZERBY
As was stated in our Williamstown correspondence last week, the above aged citizen of that place died at 7 o’clock Tuesday evening of last week, of bladder disease, from which he had been a sufferer for a long time, although he was able to follow his employment, that of a carpenter, until 1 August, when he came home ill from the colliery. Deceased was born in Berks County, 10 June 1827. He was one of 16 children, 8 of whom survive him, some in Indiana and Illinois, where they went with their parents when quite young. After growing to manhood deceased returned to this State and located at Tremont.
At 22 years of age he married Louisa Updegrove at Reading, Rev. Yost performing the ceremony. To this union eight children were born, four of which survive: Mrs. August Kuehn and Mrs. Edward Rautzen, of Williamstown; John Zerby of Altoona; and Oscar Zerby, of Lancaster.
Deceased was one of the oldest residents of Williamstown, having lived there 57 years. Near the close of the War of the Rebellion he enlisted in the 61st Pennsylvania Volunteers [61st Pennsylvania Infantry] and served until hostilities ceased. His wife died ten years ago, since which time he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Edward Rautzen.
The funeral took place at 2 o’clock Friday, the services being conducted at his late home by Rev. R. W. Mottern, and interment was made in the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery. Joseph Jones, John Messersmith, Moses Shaefer, William Warlow, James Baird, and John Kessler were the pallbearers, and R. W. Day the funeral director.
Deceased is survived by 4 children, 14 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and the following brothers and sisters: Michael Zerby, John Zerby, David Zerby, Sarah Zerby, Louisa Zerby, Molly Zerby, Emma Zerby, and Freeda Zerby.
The following from a distance attended the funeral: John Zerby of Altoona; Oscar Zerby of Lancaster; Arthur Rautzen wife and children of Lykens; Emanuel Updegrove and wife of Sacramento; Aaron Updegrove and wife and Richard Updegrove, Tremont; Mrs. Beecher and Mrs. L. Henry, Philadelphia; Robert Evans and wife, George Evans and wife, Johnstown; Mrs. Mace, Bearmont; Mrs. Albert Evans Reinerton; Mrs. Harry Witmer, Mrs. George Witmer, Wiconisco; Mrs. Claude Kaufman, Tower City; Mrs. Ella English, Tower City; Mrs. Verna Kocher, Harrisburg.
The family desire to thank all their friends for their kind assistance during the illness and after the death of their father.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
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