Source: Proceedings of Pennsylvania-German Society, Volume X, 1899.
Hon. Daniel Ermentrout was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on January 24, 1837, and came from an old and prominent Berks County family. He was the son of William Ermentrout, b. December 12, 1799, d. January 21, 1880 (m. Justina Silvis, b. June 9, 1804, d. January 12, 1882), who was the son of John Ermentrout, b. April 27, 1777, d. Mar. 27, 1851 (m. Maria Magdalena Moyer), who was the son of Christopher Ermentrout, b. February 8, 1754, d. April 5, 1825, who was the son of John Ermentrout, who emigrated from the German Palatinate to Pennsylvania in August, 1739. The family is still represented in the German nobility.
His education was obtained in the public schools of his native place, at Franklin and Marshall College, from which he graduated with honor, and at Elmwood College, of Norristown, Pa. After leaving the later place he began his legal studies under Judge David F. Gordon, at the same time teaching school. He was admitted to the Berks County Bar August 3, 1859, and rapidly rose in his chosen profession. He was honored, in 1862, by election as District Attorney for three years; was Solicitor for the city of Reading from 1867-70; State Senator in 1873 for a period of three years and reelected in 1876 for four years; a member of the Board of School Control for a number of years; appointed, October 1877, by Governor Hartranft, a member of the Pennsylvania Statuary Committee, and was instrumental in having his State represented by a statue of Major-General Peter Muhlenberg, of Revolutionary fame, in the Statuary Hall of the National Capitol, on which occasion his address was of marked ability; was several times a Chairman of the Democratic County Committee of Berks County, and a delegate to many State and National Conventions.
In 1880 he was elected a member of the 47th Congress, to represent Berks County, then constituting the Eighth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, and was successively in the 48th, 49th and 50th Congresses, his services ending March 4, 1889. During this time he was a member of the Committees on Accounts, Banking and Currency, Military Affairs, Postoffice and Post Roads, and was Chairman of the Committee on Election of President and Vice-President. He was elected again, in 1896, to represent Berks and Lehigh Counties, constituting the Ninth Congressional District, in the 55th Congress, and was reelected in 1898 for another two years, and was thus serving his sixth term at the time of his decease.
Mr. Ermentrout, while in Congress, most ably and creditably represented his party, the Democratic, of which he was a strong adherent. At the same time, in matters of general interest, he was untiring in his efforts to benefit his district, home and constituents irrespective of party. He was a man of most generous impulses and unassuming in his manners. He was willing at all times to give a patient hearing to everyone and never wearied in his efforts to aid the many who sought his assistance. In this work he made no discrimination between those who were rich or poor, white or black, Republican or Democratic, but his sympathy and help went to all alike. Probably no one was better known to all and he was well entitled to the affectionate name Uncle Daniel, which was universally given him. In all his public acts no stain of dishonor rests upon his name.
He was a member of the Reformed Church, and for upwards of twenty years a member of the Board of Trustees of the Charles Evans Cemetery.
He was married to Adelaide Louise, daughter of John Metzger, of Lancaster, who survives him, with a son, Fitz Daniel, and daughter, Adelaide Louise.
His death, at 6 A.M. on Sunday, September 17, 1899, resulted from the accidental lodging of a piece of food in his esophagus.
He was a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Historical Society of Berks County, the Americus Club and other societies, and was elected to membership in the Pennsylvania-German Society on January 12, 1894.
H.M.M.R.
Submitted by: Linnea Miller
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents.