Macoupin County
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Biography - PHILLIP GERBER

Phillip Gerber, a well known and successful carpenter, contractor and builder of Carlinville, maintains his residence at No. 407 Orient street. His birth occurred in Waterloo, Illinois, on the 13th of April, 1884, his parents being Phillip and Mary (Rick) Gerber, both of whom were natives of this state. The paternal grandfather, who was born in Germany, was twice married, Phillip being the only child of his first union. The maternal grandfather of our subject was also a native of Germany and lived to the age of about ninety-five years. He and his wife, Mrs. Mary Rick, took up their abode among the early settlers in the vicinity of St. Louis, Missouri. They had a number of children, including Anton, Charles, Fred, Gottlieb, John and Mary.

Philip Gerber, the father of our subject, followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and made his home in the vicinity of Waterloo. He inherited a farm from his father, but sold the property and cultivated rented land. His demise occurred in 1887, when he had attained the age of about forty-five years. His widow, who has made her home at Carlinville for the past twenty-two years, is a devoted member of the German Evangelical church. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom reached mature years, as follows: Lizzie, the wife of Charles Bloom, of North Otter township; Mary, who is the wife of Charles Loehr and resides in Carlinville; Katie, the wife of F. C. Leefers, of Shaws Point township; Emma, the wife of George Schmidt, of Honey Point township; Anna, the wife of Herman Tostberg, of Carlinville township; Phillip, of this review; and Charles, living in Carlinville.

The gentleman whose name introduces this review has resided in Carlinville from the age of five. He attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education and worked at farm labor until a youth of eighteen. At that time he began learning the carpenter’s trade, which occupation has since claimed his attention. For the past three years he has likewise done contract work. Though still young in years, he is a fine workman and has erected a number of substantial buildings in Carlinville. Industrious, enterprising and ambitious, he has won an enviable reputation in the business and social circles of Carlinville, which town has been his home for twenty-two years.

On the 26th of April, 1906, Mr. Gerber was united in marriage to Miss Anna Geiser, a native of Carlinville, Illinois, and a daughter of William and Mary (Pfaff) Geiser, natives of Germany, who have made their home at Carlinville for the past twenty-five years. They had nine children, namely: William; Mary; Anna; Joseph; Charles; Henry; Lilly; Rose, and Theodore, who died at the age of five years. Mr. and Mrs. Gerber have two children, Theodore and Alfred.

In politics Mr. Gerber is a republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Evangelical church. His wife is a faithful communicant of the Catholic church. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Carlinville.


Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 103-104.


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