Merry Christmas everyone!
Following are some obituaries on some Berkheisers that were either born in Indiana or
Pennsylvania. The four that follow come by way of Bill Berkheiser who received these from
someone else. I have no idea which newspapers they came from but the three after
Merrit's obit were clippings from Merrit's Bible.
Rick
Merrit Edwin Berkheiser
Merrit Berkheiser Dies At Home
Merrit E. Berkheiser, 69, father of Myron Berkheiser of this city, died at 9:30 a.m.
today at his home at 401 Fulton avenue.
He had been ill for nine months.
Born Nov. 3, 1878, near Denver, Mr. Berkheiser came here 41 years ago from Miami
county. He married Elta May Wagoner Jan. 31, 1907. He was the sone of Franklin and Mary
Ann Berkheiser. A farmer, he was a member of the Trinity Evangelical United Brethren
church.
Surviving, besides the wife and son, are another son, Herschel, of Palo Alto, Calif.;
three brothers, Howard of Miamo, Fla., Lewis of New Haven, and Harvey of Rochester; three
sisters, Mrs. Dora Murphy of Fort Wayne, Mrs. Lillie Britton of LaPorte, and Miss Emma
Berkheiser of Flora; a grandson, Anson, and a granddaughter, Nancy Sue.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Trinity E. U. B. church with the
Rev. Stephen Gubi officiating. Burial will be in the I. O. O. F. cemetery.
The body will remain at the Foster funeral home until 1 p.m. Wednesday when it will
be taken to the Trinity church to lie in state until the hour of service.
Franklin F. Berkheiser
OBITUARY.
BERKHEISER.
Franklin F. Berkheiser was born in Wayne township, in Schuylkill Co., in the state of
Pennsylvania of the 5th day of August, 1852. In the fall of 1867 he united with the
Reformed Church at Summer Hill, Pa., at the age of 15, of which church he was a faithful
member until he saw fit by inconveniences to change his faith. On the 20th day of Sept.,
1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Berger who survives him. To this union
were born nine children two of whom preceded their father to a home beyond. In the spring
of 1875 Bro. and Sister Berkheiser removed to Miami Co., Ind., and located at Woolleytown
where he lived and labored for 13 years. The family then moved five or six miles farther
north where they were deprived of attending the church of their faith and coming in
contact with the doctrine and privileges of the Church of God, at Olive Branch, of which
Brother Berkheiser was a faithful member until Sept. 30, 1895, at the age of 43 years 1
mo. and 25 da!
ys, when death called him from the church militant to the church triumphant. He leaves a
wife and seven children besides a host of friends to mourn his loss. He was a kind and
faithful father, a true and loving husband. To know him was to love him, and his example
is worthy of imitation. Our loss is his gain. There is rewardfor his labors and rest for
his soul.
Funeral services were conducted from the New Enterprise church by O. A. Cook, of
Rochester, assisted by Rev. Emor D. Robbins, of Denver. Interment in New Enterprise
cemetery, Oct. 1, 1895.
Mary Ann (Berger) Berkheiser
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1921
OBITUARY.
Mary Ann Berger, daughter of Daniel Berger and wife, was born in Schuylkill County,
Pa., March 26, 1851. At an early age she was baptized and confirmed in the Reformed
Church.
In September 1873 she was united in marriage with Franklin F. Berkheiser who preceded
her in death in Sept. 1895. She and her husband were baptized and made members of the
Churck of God, where she remained until his death, after which she united with the Baptist
Church at Denver, Ind. where she was an active member.
Franklin Berkheiser and wife became the parents of nine children: Howard B. of Miami,
Fla; Wm O., who died at eighteen years of age; Merrit E. and Harvey E., of Fulton County;
Lewis A., of New Haven; Emma R. and Dora E. Murphy, of Denver; Lillie L. Britton, of Peru,
and Franklin F., who died at the age of nine years.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Berkheiser from Pennsylvania to Miami County, Ind.,
where they live till his death. In late years Mrs. Berkheiser has visited with her
children, passing away at the home of Merrit E. Berkheiseron May 27, 1921, after an
extended illness. Her seven children, seventeen grandchildren, two brothers and two
sister remain to mourn her departure.
Tell me my secret soul,
O, tell me Hope and Faith,
Is there no resting place
From sorrow, sin and death?
Is there no happy spot
Where mortals may be blessed,
Where grief may find a balm
And weariness a rest?
Faith, Hope and Love,
Best boons to mortals given,
Waved their bright wings and whispered--
"Yes, in heaven!"
William Otho Berkheiser
BERKHEISER-In Miami county, Ind., March 14, 1895, of brain trouble, Bro. Wm. Otho
Berkheiser, aged 18 years, 3 months and 17 days.
The subject of this sketch was born in Richland township, Miami county, Ind., and was
received into the church of God fellowship under the efficient labors of Elder Miller.
Bro William was a kind and loving young man, and by his gentleness and integrity had won
the love and confidence of the entire community. He bore his suffering patiently, without
a murmur or complaint, until the end. Olive Branch church feels the loss of his influence
and labors; but our loss is his gain. He has gone to enjoy the fellowship of the church
triumphant forever in heaven. May the Lord bless the parents in the sad bereavement, and
keep them faithful unto the end, that when they shall be called to go they may be
permitted to go into that city where they need not the light of the candle, neither of the
sun, and where all tears are wiped from the eyes.
A precious one from us has gone,
A voice we loved is still;
A place is vacant in our home,
Which can never be filled.
God in His wisdom has recalled
The boon his love had given;
And though the body moulders here,
The soul is safe in heaven.
The remains were laid to rest in the New Enterprise Cemetery. Funeral services were
conducted by the pastor. Text--Isaiah xxxviii. 1. "Set thine house in order, for
thou shalt die, and not live." M. S. HEMMINGER.