She was born in Heimerdingen, Neckarkries, Wurttemberg, Germany.
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"Something about the "Wash Frau"-The History and Achievements of this famous person-A visit to her home-The origin of the peculiar name--NOTE: Article written about 1875-1876 and published in the Reading, Pennsylvania newspaper

There are few, if any, people in Reading, whose names are wiser known both in and out for the city than that of the "Woorst Frau," or as in more commonly termed the "Wash Frau." Certainly there are none who have done nobler service than she in the ranks of those who suffer from aches and pains that human flesh is heir to. And while thousands know her as the "Wash Frau," there are comparatively few who are acquainted with her history or even her proper name.
In a cozy two-story brick house at No. 936 Walnut street is where she lives. A neat and unassuming sign on the window shutter contains an apothecary's trade mark and the name of "F. Eberth." There were several visitors in the front room when the writer visited the house. On the short, narrow shelves were jars and bottles containing drugs and medicines; a small counter stood in front, and upon it was a small show case containing medicines, toilet articles and druggists' sundries generally. A door led into a comfortable apartment used as a reception room, and in there, probably have been affected more .......than in any other similar apartment in this country
Mrs. Eberth, or the "Wash Frau," is a pleasant, agreeable and a most estimable lady, verging on to fifty years of age, but not looking more than forty. She is slender in stature, above the medium in height, dark complexion, black hair, and dresses very plainly. She is apt in conversation, and from her extended practice she has become a woman of culture and experience. Mrs. Eberth was born in Germany, and she came to this country with her parents when she was but five years of age. Her maiden name was Catharine M. Smith, but her mother subsequently married a gentleman named Hess, who was a butcher, and who transacted that business in the north-eastern section of the city very many years ago. Mrs. Eberth's mother was the original "Wash Frau." She received that particular name from the very old people of Reading nearly forty years ago. It was in this manner: Mr. Hess was the first man who ever made and sold real German bolognas in this city. Mrs. Hess in those days delivered in person to the restaurants, hotels taverns, and many private families this article of food; and in this way she was name "de Woorst frau," or, the sausage or bologna woman, the same as dairy farmers at the present day are called milk-men. Mrs. Hess in her time was very successful in the cure of all kinds of aches, pains, cuts, wounds, sores, bruises, burns, and ailments of a kindred nature. She became learned in this business in Germany, and Catharine, the present Mrs. Eberth or our "Wash Frau" of the present day, who was the second oldest daughter, took a deep interest in her mother's profession. The consequence was that when her mother died, the daughter commenced the business and was called the "Wash Frau", too. The mother's death took place 16 years ago last August. She died at the corner of 10th and Walnut street as died her husband at the same place in 1850. On the 8th of last October it was 30 years since the present Wash Frau married her present husband Mr. Eberth. They have been living in their present residence many years, and during that time Mrs. Eberth has had a busy life attending to hundreds and thousands who have visited her to receive treatments for nearly every affection the body is subject to. Her reputation has brought to her home people not only from this city and county but they have come hundreds of miles to receive her treatment. With people from Maine to California and from the northern borders down to the Gulf of Mexico, has this famous woman had correspondence, and she has even sent advice and medicine to Africa. At all hours day and evening she has patients calling on her, and it is very seldom that she can absent herself from home without seriously affection her thorough course of practice. Very frequently she is compelled to visit patients in their homes.
The "Wash Frau," by some, is regarded as a quack or a pretender. The thousands she has treated and cured are evidences to the contrary. Fevers or diseases of a more complex nature she has little to do with. The cure of burns, cuts, sores, bruises, scalds, felons, scrofula, erysipelas, diseases of the blood and ailments of this class comprise her special work. She is allopathic in her practice; using herbs and roots in many instances, accompanied in nearly all cases with that mysterious practice of what is known as "pow wowing." She says this is no more nor no less than a prayer to the Almighty, asking His aid, mercy and instruction. "Pow wowing" is based on certain texts found in Scripture, and also certain short addresses in the German language, which are known only to a few. These words are handed down from generation to generation, and are seldom if ever written. There are words especially arranged for burns, scalds, blood diseases, stopping the flow of blood and kindred ailments.
Mrs. Eberth related very many remarkable cures. She has treated the most fearful and the most dangerous cases. Men and women have come to her suffering from all kinds of diseases of the body. She is kind, careful, sympathetic in her nature and conscientious. The stalwart man is used as gentle as a babe, and his wounds are attended to with a mother's care and tenderness. There are few people in this section who have more real friends than Mrs. Eberth. She is a good woman, honored and respected by all who know her. M."
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Reading Eagle-Monday, July 20, 1903-DEATH OF MRS. EBERTH WHO WAS WELL KNOWN-Was Called Upon by Thousands at Her Home to be Cured of Aches and Pains
Catharine M., widow of Frederick Eberth, died at her home, 936 Walnut, to-day. She was taken ill several weeks ago. Her condition became serious last Tuesday and she was in a semi-conscious state until she passed away. The immediate cause of death was cholera morbus. Mrs. Eberth was the daughter of John and Margaret Schmidt. She was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to Reading with her parents when she was a child. She was 77 years of age and lived in the same house for more than half a century. Her mother carried on the practice of medicine manufactured from herbs, and at her death, her daughter, Mrs. Eberth, continued the business. She prepared all her own medicines and salves. She was one of the kindest women and her acquaintanceship extended not only throughout the city but all over Berks. She even had customers in neighboring counties, and had the reputation of effecting many cures. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Eberth but they had an adopted daughter, Mrs. Kate Denschellmann, living at the same place. Frederick and Joseph B. Schmidt, of Phila., are brothers of the deceased. She was a member of St. Luke's Lutheran church. Her husband died 23 years ago.
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Reading Eagle-July 1903-LARGE TURNOUT AT MRS. EBERTH'S FUNERAL-Rev. Huntsinger's Tribute to the Deceased, Who Was Popularly Known as the "Wash-Frau"
The funeral of Catherine M., widow of Frederick Eberth, who was known throughout this section as the 'wash frau," took place from her residence, 936 Walnut, at 1:30 p.m. and was largely attended. Long before the time for the services there was a steady stream of visitors to view the remains. They came from all sections of the city. After brief services the cortege proceeded to St. Luke's Lutheran Church, of which deceased was an active member. The edifice was crowded.
Rev. F. K. Huntsinger, the pastor, had for his text: Acts 9:36. "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas; this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did."
Rev. Huntsinger in the course of his remarks said: This is said of Tabitha, a woman full of good work and almsdeeds and it can also be said of the departed. Tabitha was a discipline of Christ. She was a pupil of his school, like Mary, she attended the best on earth, sitting at the feet of Jesus.
"Mrs. Eberth loved to be in this school. Her attendance at church was commendable. Tabitha was a believer and was therefore baptized and a member of the church of Christ, as was also the departed. Tabitha was a follower of Christ, she believed in His teachings and therefore followed the same.
"She was full of good works and almsdeeds. It is said that many widows stood by her remains weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. The value of such services is indeed great. Good works will follow the departed to bless their memory.
"Deceased was full of good works. She was sympathetic and relieved the wants of many, both by alms and medicines. Many loved to think of her kindly. The death of Tabitha was a great loss to many, sot he death of the departed will be a great loss to this church. She was ever interested in its well being , and it will also be a loss to many poor.
"The services she rendered them were most valuable, and her death is sincerely lamented by many. The reward of such people will be great, both in this world and the world to come."
During the services the choir of the congregation sang a number of hymns. The bearers were: Sherwood Smith, William Smith, John Dersch and Rev. Phillip Hoh, of Phila., nephews of deceased. The remains lay in a black cloth covered cedar casket with oxidized extension bar handles, oxidized trimmings and plate bearing name and age of deceased and date of death and were attired in a black dress.
The tributes included a pillow, on pedestal bearing the inscription "Grandma" in blue immortelles from grandchildren; vacant chair of natural flowers, daughter and husband; lyre on pedestal of natural flowers, nephews and nieces, sheaf of wheat, Mrs. Baron and Louisa,; palms, John and Frances Fahrbach; sheaf of wheat, Dr. W. P. Marks; bouquet, Mrs. Leo Curry; sheaf of wheat and sickle, Rudolph Keller and wife of Pottstown; palms, Mrs. Lisa Scherdon; cross, on pedestal, John Denschellmann; spray of carnations, Sherwood Smith.
Relatives and friends were in attendance from Phila., Pittsburgh, Pottstown, Auburn, Brecknock, Birdsboro, and other places. Interment was made in Charles Evans cemetery. Funeral Director F. F. Seidel.
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Reading Eagle-July 26, 1903-Reminiscences of the "Wash Frau"
The Recent Death of Mrs. Catharine M. Eberth-Treated Many by "Pow-Wowing" and Had Many patrons for Her Herb Remedies, Salves, Etc.
Few persons in Reading and the surrounding district are so well known as was Mrs. Catharine M. Eberth, who died at her home, 936 Walnut, last Monday, after a brief illness, ag4ed 77 years, and whose funeral was held on Thursday afternoon. Rev. F. K. Huntzinger conducted services in St. Luke's Lutheran Church, and the edifice was crowded. She was generally called the "Wash Frau," and comparatively few knew her as Mrs. Eberth.
Her mother, the original "Wash Frau," was known as such throughout Berks and the surrounding counties. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and when her funeral was held, 44 years ago, that large edifice was not spacious enough to contain all the people who came to attend the services. Rev. Dr. J. F. J. Schantz, who was then the pastor, preached the sermon, and in his remarks referred to the immense audience. The seats were all occupied, and aisles crowded with people standing, and many were outside who could not gain entrance. It was remarked at the time that it was the largest funeral ever held in Trinity Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Eberth was born in Germany and came to this country with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schmidt, when she was only 5 years old. The family located at Nicetown, near Phila., where her father, while on his way home in the evening after a day's work was attacked and beaten by several roughs, without provocation, and he died a few hours thereafter. His widow, with her half a dozen children, came to Reading nearly 70 years ago, and here she married a German butcher by the name of Hess.
Mr. Hess was the first butcher who made real German bolognas in Reading, and Mrs. Hess delivered them to restaurants, hotels and private houses and in this way she became generally known among the German speaking people as "Wurst Frau" (Sausage Woman), which the English speaking people generally pronounced as "Wash Frau". She was so named as men who deliver milk to customers are called milkmen. Her second husband died 53 years ago in the old log house at the northwest corner of 10th and Walnut, still standing and she died at the same place 8 years thereafter.
Mrs. Hess had learned from her father, in Germany, how to pow-wow and to make salves and soap to cure all kinds of aches, pains, cuts, bruises, burns, scalds, felons, erysipelas, scrofula, and other ailments of a kindred nature. Allopathic and homeopathic doctors bought her salves and recommended them to their patients. People from far and near called upon her for treatment. If a farmer or any members of his family or person in his employ was hurt in an accidents, the "Wurst Frau's remedies" were the first ones thought of, and she had a busy life making her salves and her decoctions and attending to her many visitors who called to receive treatment.
Her daughter, Catharine, whose husband. Frederick Eberth, died 23 years ago, took a deep interest in her mother's profession, and after the latter's death carried on the same kind of business, and she was then call the "Wurst Frau." She had learned from her mother how to make all the salves and soaps and other medical preparations, and men and women came to her for treatment for nearly all kinds of ailments. She was kind and sympathetic and treated many a poor person and children for which she received no pay, and she had many friends. She never made any charge for pow-wowing, but persons who said they had been benefited by her treatment paid her, and some of them liberally. The day before the last 4th of July she made 100 balls of soap to use in the sure of skin diseases and prevention of falling out of hair. She also always kept on hand a large quantity of her dark salve for healing all kinds of sores and for which there was a large demand. People who have gone to Europe or a visit this summer have taken along some of her remedies, and she often sent salves and other preparations to different states from Maine to California. As to "pow-wowwing," she said that it was a silent prayer to the Almighty, asking His aid and mercy, based on certain portions of Scripture, and short addresses in the German language, known to only a few, and which are seldom written, but handed down orally from generation to generation. There are words especially arranged for burns, scalds, blood diseases, bleeding, and kindred other ailments.
When the law was passed requiring medical persons to register in the court house, Mrs. Eberth had her name entered in the prothonotary's office as a practicing physician.
Mrs. Eberth's daughter, Kate, married to Andrew Denschellmann, occupying the same house. Mrs. Eberth did, will now become "Wurst Frau" No. 3. She assisted her mother in making the salves, soaps, and other medical preparations and intends to continue making them for the afflicted who may call at her home.