Gerhard, Jonas, a retired farmer of Quakake Valley, and the oldest resident of that portion of the county, was born in Lausanne township, Northampton county, now Packer township. Carbon county, on February 3, 1823. He is a grandson of Stephen Gerhard, who with his son, Daniel, came to Quakake Valley from beyond the Blue mountains, about the year 1790. The elder Gerhard, who was one of the first settlers of this valley, cleared a farm which has since been divided, and which is now owned by William Reed and Joseph Horn.
Jonas, the son of Daniel and Mary (Heil) Gerhard, began life as the owner of the farm on which his grandfather had located. His mother was a daughter of Daniel Heil, one of the two first settlers of Quakake Valley. In those days, practically every farmer of the locality was a lumberman, as well, and Mr. Gerhard was no exception to the rule, selling sawed lumber and mine timber in large quantities.
He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Jacob Bachart, and, when about forty years of age, he removed to Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county. At the expiration of a few months, however, he returned to Packer township, purchasing the farm on which he has now lived for nearly half a century. He also became possessed of various other tracts in the township, and was for years a large land owner. Exceptionally well preserved for one of his advanced age, he has been quite ablebodied until recent years. Even to-day, at ninety, he is a splendid marksman, handling a rifle with surprising accuracy and precision.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard: John H. and Annie, the wife of David Gerhard, of Packer township; Caroline, the widow of David Kerschner, of Tamaqua ; William, also living at Tamaqua; Simon P., of Packer township; Catharine, who married George Hinkle, deceased; Asa, who died when a youth; Joel G., living in the west; Amanda, wife of Oliver Koch, of Freeland ; Austin, of Weatherly, and Allen, of Packer township. Two others died in infancy. Mrs. Gerhard died early in 1913.
Mr. Gerhard cast his first ballot for President Polk, in 1844, journeying to Weatherly, which was then the only polling place in Lausanne township, for that purpose. The voters of Rockport came to Weatherly in a large wagon, drawn by four sturdy oxen, on this occasion. For more than a generation he served as a school director of Packer township, and at various times he held other township offices. During nearly the whole of his life he has been connected with St. Matthew's Lutheran and Reformed church, located near his home. Formerly he led the singing of this
congregation. The Sunday school of this church also received his encouragement and support.
Mr. Gerhard is one of the few who can recall seeing Halley's comet on its visit seventy-seven years ago.
(Source: History of Carbon County, Pennsylvania; also containing a separate account of the several boroughs and townships in the county)
Jonas, the son of Daniel and Mary (Heil) Gerhard, began life as the owner of the farm on which his grandfather had located. His mother was a daughter of Daniel Heil, one of the two first settlers of Quakake Valley. In those days, practically every farmer of the locality was a lumberman, as well, and Mr. Gerhard was no exception to the rule, selling sawed lumber and mine timber in large quantities.
He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Jacob Bachart, and, when about forty years of age, he removed to Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county. At the expiration of a few months, however, he returned to Packer township, purchasing the farm on which he has now lived for nearly half a century. He also became possessed of various other tracts in the township, and was for years a large land owner. Exceptionally well preserved for one of his advanced age, he has been quite ablebodied until recent years. Even to-day, at ninety, he is a splendid marksman, handling a rifle with surprising accuracy and precision.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard: John H. and Annie, the wife of David Gerhard, of Packer township; Caroline, the widow of David Kerschner, of Tamaqua ; William, also living at Tamaqua; Simon P., of Packer township; Catharine, who married George Hinkle, deceased; Asa, who died when a youth; Joel G., living in the west; Amanda, wife of Oliver Koch, of Freeland ; Austin, of Weatherly, and Allen, of Packer township. Two others died in infancy. Mrs. Gerhard died early in 1913.
Mr. Gerhard cast his first ballot for President Polk, in 1844, journeying to Weatherly, which was then the only polling place in Lausanne township, for that purpose. The voters of Rockport came to Weatherly in a large wagon, drawn by four sturdy oxen, on this occasion. For more than a generation he served as a school director of Packer township, and at various times he held other township offices. During nearly the whole of his life he has been connected with St. Matthew's Lutheran and Reformed church, located near his home. Formerly he led the singing of this
congregation. The Sunday school of this church also received his encouragement and support.
Mr. Gerhard is one of the few who can recall seeing Halley's comet on its visit seventy-seven years ago.
(Source: History of Carbon County, Pennsylvania; also containing a separate account of the several boroughs and townships in the county)
Gerhard, Jonas, a retired farmer of Quakake Valley, and the oldest resident of that portion of the county, was born in Lausanne township, Northampton county, now Packer township. Carbon county, on February 3, 1823. He is a grandson of Stephen Gerhard, who with his son, Daniel, came to Quakake Valley from beyond the Blue mountains, about the year 1790. The elder Gerhard, who was one of the first settlers of this valley, cleared a farm which has since been divided, and which is now owned by William Reed and Joseph Horn.
Jonas, the son of Daniel and Mary (Heil) Gerhard, began life as the owner of the farm on which his grandfather had located. His mother was a daughter of Daniel Heil, one of the two first settlers of Quakake Valley. In those days, practically every farmer of the locality was a lumberman, as well, and Mr. Gerhard was no exception to the rule, selling sawed lumber and mine timber in large quantities.
He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Jacob Bachart, and, when about forty years of age, he removed to Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county. At the expiration of a few months, however, he returned to Packer township, purchasing the farm on which he has now lived for nearly half a century. He also became possessed of various other tracts in the township, and was for years a large land owner. Exceptionally well preserved for one of his advanced age, he has been quite ablebodied until recent years. Even to-day, at ninety, he is a splendid marksman, handling a rifle with surprising accuracy and precision.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard: John H. and Annie, the wife of David Gerhard, of Packer township; Caroline, the widow of David Kerschner, of Tamaqua ; William, also living at Tamaqua; Simon P., of Packer township; Catharine, who married George Hinkle, deceased; Asa, who died when a youth; Joel G., living in the west; Amanda, wife of Oliver Koch, of Freeland ; Austin, of Weatherly, and Allen, of Packer township. Two others died in infancy. Mrs. Gerhard died early in 1913.
Mr. Gerhard cast his first ballot for President Polk, in 1844, journeying to Weatherly, which was then the only polling place in Lausanne township, for that purpose. The voters of Rockport came to Weatherly in a large wagon, drawn by four sturdy oxen, on this occasion. For more than a generation he served as a school director of Packer township, and at various times he held other township offices. During nearly the whole of his life he has been connected with St. Matthew's Lutheran and Reformed church, located near his home. Formerly he led the singing of this
congregation. The Sunday school of this church also received his encouragement and support.
Mr. Gerhard is one of the few who can recall seeing Halley's comet on its visit seventy-seven years ago.
(Source: History of Carbon County, Pennsylvania; also containing a separate account of the several boroughs and townships in the county)
Jonas, the son of Daniel and Mary (Heil) Gerhard, began life as the owner of the farm on which his grandfather had located. His mother was a daughter of Daniel Heil, one of the two first settlers of Quakake Valley. In those days, practically every farmer of the locality was a lumberman, as well, and Mr. Gerhard was no exception to the rule, selling sawed lumber and mine timber in large quantities.
He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Jacob Bachart, and, when about forty years of age, he removed to Mahanoy City, Schuylkill county. At the expiration of a few months, however, he returned to Packer township, purchasing the farm on which he has now lived for nearly half a century. He also became possessed of various other tracts in the township, and was for years a large land owner. Exceptionally well preserved for one of his advanced age, he has been quite ablebodied until recent years. Even to-day, at ninety, he is a splendid marksman, handling a rifle with surprising accuracy and precision.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard: John H. and Annie, the wife of David Gerhard, of Packer township; Caroline, the widow of David Kerschner, of Tamaqua ; William, also living at Tamaqua; Simon P., of Packer township; Catharine, who married George Hinkle, deceased; Asa, who died when a youth; Joel G., living in the west; Amanda, wife of Oliver Koch, of Freeland ; Austin, of Weatherly, and Allen, of Packer township. Two others died in infancy. Mrs. Gerhard died early in 1913.
Mr. Gerhard cast his first ballot for President Polk, in 1844, journeying to Weatherly, which was then the only polling place in Lausanne township, for that purpose. The voters of Rockport came to Weatherly in a large wagon, drawn by four sturdy oxen, on this occasion. For more than a generation he served as a school director of Packer township, and at various times he held other township offices. During nearly the whole of his life he has been connected with St. Matthew's Lutheran and Reformed church, located near his home. Formerly he led the singing of this
congregation. The Sunday school of this church also received his encouragement and support.
Mr. Gerhard is one of the few who can recall seeing Halley's comet on its visit seventy-seven years ago.
(Source: History of Carbon County, Pennsylvania; also containing a separate account of the several boroughs and townships in the county)
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