My Genealogy Hound

E. J. GERLACH, a merchant of Bethlehem, was born in Nazareth, Northampton County, Pa., July 9, 1852. His father, Lewis A. Gerlach, was born in the same place, and was a tanner and currier there. Later he moved to Bethlehem and ran the Bethlehem Tannery for a number of years, remaining in this city until his death, at the age of seventy-two. In politics he was a Republican. The grandfather, John G. Gerlach, was born in Saxony, Germany, and was married there. He was a dealer in pottery and a carpet-weaver, and after coming to this country located at Nazareth, where he followed the same pursuit. He died at that place.

Mrs. Louisa (Weaver) Gerlach, the mother of E. J., was born in Lower Saucon, and is the daughter of Kraft Weaver, who was a prominent farmer at that place. She now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Frances Flux, and is seventy-four years of age. There were seven children in her family, our subject being the fifth in order of birth. He was reared at Bethlehem, and attended the Moravian school there. While still a boy he learned the tanning business, and at the age of eighteen went to Coopersburg, where he worked for Samuel Kern. From Coopersburg he went to various other places in the state, still working as a journeyman. In the year 1877 he went to Hecktown, Northampton County, Pa., and there engaged in business for himself as a wagon and coach manufacturer, remaining there until the spring of 1880, when he sold out and located at Bethlehem. At this place he formed a partnership with a Mr. Grube, and continued with him for two years, when he bought out his interest.

Mr. Gerlach has the natural capacity to promote his material interests and make a profitable future, but a disastrous fire which overtook him June 12, 1891, prevented for a time such a consummation. Undaunted by this catastrophe, he immediately commenced having a new three-story building erected, the dimensions of which are 30x100 feet. It contains an elevator and all modern equipments, and has a warehouse adjacent, its dimensions being 17x85 feet. He is now a dealer in cotton and woolen rags, cement, building and roofing paper, plaster, sand, marble dust and phosphate, and employs about forty men.

The first marriage of Mr. Gerlach occurred at Limeport, Lehigh County, Pa., when he was united with Miss Castelia Betting, who was a native of that place. She died there in 1876, having become the mother of two children. Our subject was again married, at Bethlehem, this union being with Miss Sarah N. Hartzell, who was born at Hecktown. There were three children by this marriage, Annie L., Edwin B. and Emma M. Mr. Gerlach is a prominent member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, Royal Arcanum, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Knights of the Mystic Chain. In politics he is a Republican.