BIOS: Lewis BERKLEY, Brothers Valley, Somerset County, PA

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Lewis BERKLEY.

Lewis Berkley, born June 23, 1860, on the farm in Brothers Valley he now owns 
and resides upon, is a son of Joel L. and Elizabeth (Wingert) Berkley, and 
grandson of Ludwig and Sarah (Beachley) Berkley, who were the parents of the 
following named children: Joel L., of whom later; Lewis, a resident of Iowa; 
Eliza, wife of Ephraim Miller, they reside near Meyersdale, Pennsylvania; Mary, 
who resides in the west; Susanna, wife of William Ikenberry, they reside in 
Illinois.  Ludwig Berkley was a farmer of Somerset county, a member of the 
German Baptist church, and a Whig in politics.  He died when about forty years 
of age, and his wife survived him many years, passing away in 1892, aged eighty-
five years.
Joel L. Berkley (father) was born upon his father's farm near Pine Hill, 
Pennsylvania, October 8, 1833.  He followed farming as an occupation throughout 
the active years of his life.  After his marriage, at the age of twenty-three, 
he purchased his father's farm, but after a short period of time disposed of it 
and purchased the farm in the Valley where his son Lewis now resides, which 
consists of two hundred and forty acres.  Afterward he purchased the farm on 
which he now resides, of one hundred and fifteen acres.  He has held the offices 
of supervisor and school director, rendering efficient service therein.  He is a 
member of the German Baptist church, and since attaining his majority has been a 
Republican, casting his first vote for the candidates of 1856.  On February 28, 
1856, Mr. Berkley married Elizabeth Wingert, a daughter of George Wingert; a 
farmer of Brothers Valley.  She is a member of the Reformed church.
Lewis Berkley was educated in the township schools, and then worked on the farm 
with his father until his marriage at the age of twenty-three.  He then 
purchased the old home farm and has since resided thereon.  The property 
consists of two hundred and forty acres, well cultivated and improved.  There is 
a good orchard of apple trees, and a sugar camp of seven hundred vessels, 
producing in a good year three thousand pounds of maple sugar.  The farm is well 
stocked with Belgian horses, Durham cows and Shropshire sheep.  He also buys and 
feeds for market, using all the grain and hay which is produced on his farm in 
this way.  In 1903 he demolished the old house and built a handsome, modern 
brick residence, consisting of ten rooms, finely equipped with heating apparatus 
(hot water), modern plumbing and everything needful for the comfort and ease of 
its occupants.  The barn is very large, accommodating seventy-five head of stock 
and vast stores of hay and grain.  He conducts a small dairy, and in the spring 
house there is a famous spring.  He is a director of the First National Bank of 
Berlin, and for ten years has held a similar office in the Union Association and 
Fire Insurance Company of Someset county, one of the flourishing and prosperous 
companies of the county.  He now serves in the capacity of school director, in 
which office he has rendered valuable service.  He is a member of Mt. Zion 
Reformed church, of which he is trustee, and also serves as president of the 
Sabbath school.  He is a Republican and his first vote was cast for the late 
Ulysses S. Grant.
Mr. Berkley married, October 30, 1884, Sarah Hay, born February 6, 1858, 
educated in the common schools of the township, daughter of Philip Hay.  Their 
children are as follows: Stuart, born July 16, 1885; was educated in the public 
schools and at the Berlin Normal school, and is now his father's assistant on 
the farm.  Elizabeth, born Februrary 3, 1886; was educated in the public and 
normal schools of Berlin, and at the Southwestern Normal school at California, 
Pennsylvania; she has taught school three terms; she resides at home.  Grace, 
born November 27, 1888; also received a common and normal school education, and 
has received a teacher's certificate.  Sherman, born November 20, 1890; is being 
educated in the public schools.  As shown by the above statement, Mr. Berkley is 
a firm believer in the value and advantages of a good education, and he is well 
pleased to be able to give to his children better educational advantages than he 
enjoyed during his boyhood.  The family is highly respected in the community, 
and enjoy the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends.