Frank Reppert Sterner, of West Penn Township, is now devoting most of his time to farming. A Blacksmith by trade, he followed that calling for a number of years after locating on his present property, but has given it up except for the work necessary about his home.
Mr. Sterner is descended from an old family of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was born there, in District Township, November 27, 1848. is great-grandfather, Henry Sterner, was a farmer on the Henry Zell place in Maxatawny Township, Berks County, which he rented for twenty years.
Henry Sterner, was a farmer on the Henry Zell place in Maxatawny Township, Berks County, which he rented for twenty years. He died there when about seventy-eight years old, and is buried with his wife at the Mertz Church, in Rockland Township, Berks County. He was married three times, first to a Leiby, second to a Foulk and third to Catherine Shantz, and his children were: John, Jesse, Henry, Jacob, Samuel, David, Nathan, Peter, Polly, Elizabeth, Lydia, Hettie and Sallie. Henry Sterner, son of Henry, above, by the second marriage, was born in November, 1795, in Maxatawny Township, Berks County, where he was reared and educated. In early life he worked for his father on the farm. he learned the weaver's trade, but followed general farming principally, acquiring a farm of 100 acres in District Township, Berks County, much of which he cleared. He made many improvements there, put up buildings, rebuilt the dwelling house, and had a thrifty career. When he retired he lived with his daughter Lydia (Mrs. David Hess) until his death, which occurred in District Township in June 1874.
Mr. Sterner was married in Rockland Township to Mary Magdalena Keller, a daughter of Christopher Keller (whose wife was a Delph), and she died at the age of seventy-three years, in district Township. He is buried at Long's Church in Rockland Township, Berks County.
Mr. Sterner was a very active worker in the Reformed denomination, belonging to Huff's Church, in Hereford Township, and he also took great interest in public affairs, first as a Democratic Republican, later as a Democrat, and finally as a Republican. His children were: Joel married Susan Felthoff, and they died in the West; Polly married David Seip, and both are deceased; David K. is the father of Frank R. Sterner; William, deceased, married Elizabeth Frederick, of Huff's Church, Berks County; Lydia is the widow of David Hess; George, deceased, married Maria Merkel; Peter K., unmarried, lives in District Township, Berks County.
David K. Sterner was born in Rockland Township July 14, 1829, and lived in District Township form the time he was about ten years old, receiving his education there. He worked for his father until his marriage and then for other farmers, and also burned charcoal. Later he owned a patch of twelve acres which he operated until his retirement, when he sold it, and for nine years lived with his son Frank. For the last two years he has been living at Reading, Pennsylvania, with his son Alfred. He has lost his sight.
Like his father he belongs to Huff's Reformed Church, though he has never been active in the congregation, and he has always been a Democrat in political opinion.
Mr. Sterner has been married three times. His first wife, Susanna (Reppert), born October 22, 1826, died in May, 1861, and is buried at Huff's Church. She was a daughter of Melchor and Susanna (Schrading) Reppert. Six children were born to this union: Frank R. is mentioned below; Hettie married James Schneck and (second) Samuel Bush, and now resides at Henningsville, Pennsylvania; Benneville, of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, married Amanda Beidler, who is deceased; Henry married Louisa Hyle, and they live in Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; Anne Maria died when three years old; William died in infancy.
For his second wife Mr. Sterner married Susanna Herbst, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Reidenour) Herbst, and she had three children: Sarah; Jonathan, who died aged twenty-two years; and Aaron, unmarried, who lives at Henningsville, Longswamp Township, Berks County. Mrs. Sterner died when forty years old, and is buried at Huff's Church. Mr. Sterner's third union was to Lavina Miller, daughter of William and Kate (Reppert) Miller, both natives of District Township, Berks County. She died when thirty-five years old and is buried at Huff's Church. There were four children by this marriage; Alfred M., now of Reading, who married Ida Weidner; Catherine, who died when three years old; David, who died when five years old; and Fianna, who died when one year old.
Frank R. Sterner was educated in the public schools of District Township, Berks County, and remained at home until 1866, working for his father. He then served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade at Hensingerville, Lehigh County, with Henry Merkel, with whom he continued two and a half years, after which he was with Daniel Everhart, in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, for three years.
He married and moved to the vicinity of Saegersville, Lehigh County, where he was employed by Ephraim Saeger, sharpening tools for the curbstone quarries. He was so engaged for one year, and then went to work in the stone quarries at Jordan Bridge, Lehigh County, for Edward Marto, for about seven months. He then removed to Hensingerville and sharpened tools around the rock mines for nine years, thence moving to Slateville, Lehigh County. He was there three years, sharpening tools for the slate quarries in the vicinity, and meantime remarried, his first wife having died at Hensingerville. After that he removed to his present place in West Penn Township, having bought the property from Hezekiah Turner, father of his second wife. It originally consisted of 143 acres, part of which he has sold off, retaining seventy-three acres, 118 rods. Sixty-four acres are under cultivation, and Mr. Sterner is successfully engaged in general farming. Occasionally he markets his produce to Tamaqua. He has made valuable improvements on the home place, built the present substantial dwelling there, and also a blacksmith shop, following his trade quite steadily when he first settled here. However, he has given up doing work for outsiders, but continues to do most of his own blacksmithing.
In the summer of 1911, Mr. Sterner built a fine pool for raising trout, laying a large cement wall, and there are two compartments, properly arranged, and fed by a very fine spring which runs through his place. He bought his trout at the fishery near Weissport, Pennsylvania. The trout pond has been very successful and has well repaid the time and effort Mr. Sterner has expended on its development. It is a feature in the neighborhood and attracts considerable attention. Mr. Sterner is a member of the Reformed congregation of Zion's Church in West Penn Township. On political issues he supports the Democratic party.
Mr. Sterner married Lucianna Sherry, a native of Lowhill Township, Lehigh County, born December 30, 1848, daughter of Solomon Sherry, who died when she was seven years old. Her mother's maiden name was Wieand. Mrs. Sterner was educated in Lowhill Township. She died September 25, 1882, and is buried at Huff's Church. She left three children: (1) William Henry, born September 25, 1871, resides neat Klinesville, Berks County, Pennsylvania. He married Sarah Moser, and they have had children as follows: Carrie (Mrs. Milton Tyson, has three children), Stella (Mrs. Kershner, has two children), Lizzie, Henry, Granville, Oscar, Edith, William, Mahlon and Esther. (2) Annie Louisa, born February 15, 1874, married Fred Turner, of West Penn Township. They have children: Oscar, Dora, Stella and Ralph. (3) Frank Harvey, born January 21, 1882, lived in Mahanoy City, and is now deceased. He married Carrie Williams, and they had one child, Wilbert David.
Mr. Sterner married for his second wife Susanna Turner, who was born in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County, May 15, 1864, a daughter of Hezekiah and Lucy (Hill) Turner, the latter dying when her daughter Susanna was nine years old. Mrs. Sterner was reared and educated in her native township, and belongs to Zion's Reformed Church there. She is the mother of the following children: Clara Elamanda, now the widow of Walter Lee; David, born October 11, 1885, who is employed in Royer's Mill at Tamaqua; Calvin Oscar, born October 6, 1889, employed as a wood chopper and residing at home; Celesta, born March 4, 1891, of Tamaqua; Lewis Abraham, born June 4, 1892, a section hand on the Lehigh railroad, residing at home; Charles Ryan, born February 22, 1895, at home; Levi Milton, born August 21, 1897; Mary Susanna, born January 8, 1901, and Eli Hezekiah, born February 26, 1905.
Solomon Sherry, father of Mrs. Lucianna (Sherry) Sterner, was a tailor by trade. He lived in Lowhill Township, near Guthsville, and owned a small tract of land, but he continued to work at his trade all his life. He died at the age of fifty-five years, and is buried with his wife at Lowhill Church. Her maiden name was Wieand, and she died when seventy years old. They had children as follows: Eli; Jonas; Abbie, Mrs, Koch; David, who married Hannah Focht; Lucianna, Mrs. Sterner; and Clara, who died young. The father was a Republican.
Abraham Turner, grandfather of Mrs. Susanna (Turner) Sterner, was a lifelong farmer and also followed butchering in West Penn Township. he was highly prosperous, and owned three farms. To his marriage with Susanna Miller, daughter of Heinrich Miller (the builder of Staudt's mill in West Penn Township), children as follows were born: Elizabeth married Giddeon Hill; Ambrissa married Elijah Ziegler; one daughter died unmarried; four children died in infancy; Abraham married a Hetler; Hezekiah completes the family. The father was a Democrat, and held the office of constable for a number of years. He belonged to Zion's Church in West Penn Township, and he and his son Hezekiah assisted with the construction of the present church building. He and his wife are buried there. Mr. Turner lived to be about seventy years old.
Hezekiah Turner, son of Abraham, born in West Penn Township April 1, 1820, died October 2, 1890, and is buried with his wife at Zion's Church. He was educated in West Penn Township and spent his life there, following general farming. He owned the place now in the possession of his son-in-law, Frank R. Sterner. Mr. turner retired after the death of his wife. He married Lucy Hill, daughter of Jonas Hill, both natives of West Penn Township, and she passed away at the age of forty-five years, the mother of twelve children: Ames, deceased, married Ella Baer, who now lives in West Penn Township; William, of Albany Township, Berks County, married Kittie Geiger (deceased) and (second) Lizzie Wagner; Abraham died young; Kittie is married to Samuel Geiger, of West Penn Township; Emma, widow of Wilson Eck, lives at Macungie, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; Lizzie married Lewis Freby, of Henningsville, Berks County; Abraham (2) is deceased; Noah, who married Sarah Ashley, lives at Ashfield, Carbon County; David, who is living in East Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County,married Rosie Berk; Susanna, twin of David, is the wife of Frank R. Sterner; Killian, who married Katie Schrer, is a resident of Lowhill Township, Lehigh County; Clara is deceased. The father was a Reformed member of Zion's Church in West Penn Township, and in political principle a Democrat.
Source: Schuylkill County Pennsylvania: Genealogy, Family History, Biography..., Chicago: Beers, 1916, pp. 919-922.
Submitted by Linda.