Baltzer Gehr

biography

Gehr, Baltzer. —The original members of the well known family of Gehr were, Jacob, John, Joseph, Samuel, Adam and Baltzer Gehr. Four of this number, including Jacob, came to Crawford county in 1797. They were from Somerset county, but were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Jacob Gehr settled at what is now known as Dennison Corners, but John. Joseph and Adam at what is still known as Gehr Schoolhouse. There is a remarkable strain of longevity in the family, many of the sons living to be ninety and over, the mother herself attaining the age of ninety-seven. The most favored, however, as regards age was Baltzer, whose useful life extended three years beyond a century. Baltzer Gehr was born April 3, 1782, in Cocalico, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In 1800 Baltzer rode across the mountains, on horseback, with his mother, to join his brothers, who had previously undertaken the same journey into Crawford county. He purchased a claim in Sadsbury, which is now the southwestern part of Summerset. For sixty years of his life he engaged in general farming; his latter days were spent with his children, Samuel and Augustus. When one hundred years of age Baltzer Gehr was a remarkably preserved man, both physically and mentally, and still interested in the pastime of Izaak Walton, fishing. His century birthday was celebrated in a way to rejoice the heart of the recipient and to be long remembered by the vast number of relatives and friends who assembled to do him honor. Hundreds of them were feeble and old and could recall the time when, as children, he was too old to play with them. The speech of the day was delivered by the Hon. S. H. Richmond, of Meadville. and was a glowing tribute to the usefulness Of his long life, and the excellence of ancestry which had rendered it possible. One year later there was another celebration at Conneaut Lake, where thousands met to marvel at the continued vitality of this eventful life. The late Judge Pearson Church delivered a splendid and stirring oration. Baltzer Gehr was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Flemming, who died in 1872, twelve years before her venerable helpmate. Baltzer Gehr lived until 1884, to the age of one hundred and three years. His children were: Marie, born in 1811, and now living; Samuel, born in 1813, and living in Sadsbury; Joseph, born in 1815, died when very young; John, born in 1817, died in 1895 ; Adam, born in 1819, is living in Pine Town; Josiah, born December 16, 1822, is the subject of the succeeding sketch; David, born in 1825, died in 1885; Baltzer, born April 3, 1832, died in 1884; Wilson, born in 1834; died in 1883; Augustus, born in 1836, is now living in Summit.

Our county and its people: a historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania by Samuel P. Bates, 1899, pages 701-702.