My Genealogy Hound

DR. DAVID HENDRICKS BERGEY is the son of Godshalk Reiff and Susan D. (Hendricks) Bergey. He was educated in the public schools of Lower Salford township, at West Chester State Normal School and at Ursinus College. He taught public schools for two years, and in 1881 commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Wolfe, of Skippack. He entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, October 1, 1881, graduating with the degree of M. D., May 1, 1884, and also received the degree of B. S. from the University June 13, 1884. He received the degree of A. M. from the Illinois Wesleyan University in 1894 for non-resident work in science and philosophy. Dr. Bergey engaged in the practice of medicine at North Wales, Pennsylvania, from June, 1884, to November, 1893. In the fall of 1893 he entered the Laboratory of Hygiene of the University of Pennsylvania as a special research student, and was appointed Scott Fellow in Hygiene, 1894-95; Instructor in Hygiene, 1895-96; First Assistant in Hygiene, 1896-1903; Assistant Professor of Bacteriology, 1903. He is the author of the following text books: “A Handbook of Practical Hygiene,” 1899; “The Principles of Hygiene,” 1901.

Dr. Bergey married June 5, 1884, at Skippack, Pennsylvania, Annie S., daughter of Joseph F. and Catherine (Stauffer) Hallman, of Skippack township, Montgomery county. Joseph Hallman is a farmer by occupation. He is the son of Joseph and Margaret (Fry) Hallman and a descendant of Anthony Hallman, of Skippack township, who was one of the building committee of the Old Trappe Lutheran church in 1743. Margaret Fry (grandmother of Mrs. Bergey) was a descendant of Henry and Catherine (Levering) Fry, who came to America in 1680.

Dr. David H. Bergey is a Republican in politics. He held the office of school director in North Wales for three years, and served as secretary of the board of health of North Wales from its first organization until 1893.

Dr. Bergey stands very high in his profession for so young a man, being but little past forty years of age. He has achieved a high rank among the medical practitioners of Philadelphia and of the country. He is a member of the following organizations: Montgomery County Medical Society, Pennsylvania Medical Society, American Medical Association, Society of American Bacteriologists, American Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists, American Climatological Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Educational Association, University of Pennsylvania Chapter Sigma Xi.

Godshalk Reiff Bergey (father) was born in Lower Salford township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1833. He was educated in the public schools of the township, and at Washington Hall Collegiate Institute at Trappe, Pennsylvania. He taught in the public schools of Berks and Montgomery counties and later engaged in the occupation of farming which he followed in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, up to 1901. He now lives retired in Philadelphia. He is a Republican in politics, and served as a member of the school board of Lower Salford township for a number of years. In religious faith he is a member of the Mennonite church. He married, January 13, 1856, Susan D. Hendricks, daughter of John H. and Mary (Detweiler) Hendricks, (both deceased), of Skippack township.

The ceremony was performed by Rev. Henry G. Johnson of Skippack. John H. Hendricks (father of Mrs. Bergey) was the son of Henry and Barbara (Hendricks) Hendricks, of Towamencin township. Mary Detweiler was the daughter of Joseph and Susanna (Shoemaker) Detweiler and granddaughter of Jacob and Maria (Funk) Detweiler, great-granddaughter of John Funk, and great-great-granddaughter of Bishop Henry Funk, of Lower Salford township.

Godshalk Reiff Bergey had by his union in marriage born to him the following children: I. Nelson H., born January 3, 1857; he married, October 25, 1879, Mary Moyer, and has children: L. Arthur, Sallie M., Susan M., Katie M., Nelson and Raymond D. 2. Dr. David H., of this review, 3. Elizabeth H., born August 9, 1862 ;she married John C. Kaiser, June 11, 1881, and has children: Harry G., Lizzie Irene, Susan May, who married Harry Gottshalk, September 2, 1903; Ida Myrtle is the next in order of birth; Barbara Ella and Bertha Alvilda, who is deceased. The mother of these children, Elizabeth (Bergey) Kaiser, died April 8, 1890. 4. Sarah H., born December 4, 1863; she married Nari Hunsicker, November 18, 1882, and had one child, Lovina B. Hunsicker. The mother died October 8, 1883. 5. Mary H., born April 7, 1865, died January 21, 1866. 6. Irwin H., born March 31, 1869; he married, February 20, 1892, Mary Kepler; no issue.

The Bergeys are one of the oldest families of German descent in Montgomery county. John Ulrich Bergey, the founder of the family in this country, emigrated to America about the year 1717, presumably from Saxony, and located in Salford township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm of 250 acres from Hugh Roberts, March 16, 1726. In 1760 he served as road supervisor of Salford township. At the organization of the congregation of the Salford Mennonite church, in 1738, John Ulrich Bergey was one of the charter members. His wife was Anna Mary Bergey. The ancestors of Dr. David H. Bergey in direct line of descent are as follows, the list being confined to those living in America: I. John Ulrich Bergey, founder of the family; 2. John Bergey, whose wife was Anna Bergey; John Bergey was a miller in Upper Salford township; 3. Jacob Bergey, married Elizabeth Godshalk. Jacob Bergey was a farmer and weaver by occupation, and resided in Lower Salford township; 4. Rev. David Bergey, married (first wife) Elizabeth (Reiff) Kolb; second wife Annie (Burgstresser) Kreamer. He was a farmer by occupation; he was a minister in the Mennonite church, residing in Lower Salford; 5. Godshalk R. Bergey, married Susan D. Hendricks. He was a farmer by occupation but now resides in Philadelphia; 6. Dr. David H. Bergey.

Among other prominent ancestors of Dr. David H. Bergey may be mentioned the following: Jacob Reiff, the elder, of Lower Salford township; Valentine Hunsicker, of Lower Salford; Dillman Kolb, Peter Schumacher, and Isaac Von Sintern, of Germantown; Jan de Voss, burgomaster in Hansbooten, in Flanders, about 1550; Gerhart Clemens, of Lower Salford; Leonard Hendricks, and Rev. Jacob Gaettschalk, of Towamencin; Christian Moyer of Lower Salford, and Jacob Shoemaker of the same township.

Among prominent ancestors of Annie S. Hallman (wife of Dr. Bergey) are the following: Christian Stauffer, of Lower Salford; Dillman Kolb, Isaac Van Sinterm and Jacob Schumacher, of Germantown; Jacob Grater, of Skippack, and Valentine Hunsicker, of Lower Salford.