Benjamin Franklin Fertich

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FERTICH
Benjamin Franklin Fertich and Julia Ann Yoder family: Left to right, back row: Katie May, middle row: Emma Elizabeth, Julia Ann and Amelia Jane, front row: Charles Henry, Maude Alice and Clinton Monroe Fertich/Singmaster family: Left to right: Margaret Singmaster, Emma Fertich, Maude Fertich, Julia (Yoder) Fertich Singmaster, John Singmaster, Amelia Fertich, Katie Fertich, Charles Fertich, Harry Singmaster and Clinton Fertich Fertich/Singmaster Family Left to right, front row: Amelia Fertich, Christi Ann Bennet (sister to Julia), Julia Yoder Fertich Singmaster and Emma Fertich, back row: Charles Fertich, Harry Singmaster and Clinton Fertich, rear left: Ella Mae Fertich (daughter of Charles) Fertich/Singmaster family: Left to right, front row: Clinton Fertich, Monroe Mattern, Charles Fertich, Harry Singmaster, Harry Smith and Bill Eyster, back row: Anna "Minnie" (Fickbohm) Fertich, Christiana (Eister) Fertich, Christiana Eister, Martha (Singmaster) Clarke, Alice (Felker) Smith, Julia (Yoder) Fertich Singmaster, Amelia (Fertich) Eyster and Emma (Fertich) Slotterback Grandsons of Benjamin and Julia Fertich and their sons most likely. Benjamin Fertich (son of Charles) is located in the back row, second from left. In front of him is Frank (son of Maude) Grandsons of Benjamin and Julia Fertich and their sons most likely. Benjamin Fertich (son of Charles) is located in the back row, third from right. Granddaughters of Benjamin and Julia Fertich and their daughters most likely. Ella Mae (daugher of Charles) is located in the back row, second from right. Julia Maude, Emma and Amelia (front to back) Amelia left and Katie right Four generations of the Yoder/Singmaster/Eyster family: (1) Harriet (Klock) Yoder Zimmerman, (2) Julia Ann (Yoder) Fertich Singmaster, (3) Amelia Jane (Fertich) Eyster and (4) Anna Mae Eyster Amelia - 1906 William Allen Eyster, Sr. and Amelia Jane Fertich William Allen Eyster, Sr. and Amelia Jane Fertich family: Left to right: William Allen, Sr., Mildred Jeanette, Ethel Geraldine, William Allen, Jr. and Amelia Jane William Henry Slotterback and Emma Elizabeth Fertich family: Left to right: Dorothy (wife of William), William Clifford, John Robert, Emma Elizabeth, William Henry, Maude Elizabeth, Isobel Irene, Edward Earl and Arlene Elverta Clinton Clinton Charles Charles and Christiana (Eister) Fertich Charles and Christie (Eister) family with Benjamin, Ella Mae (back row) and Grace (front row) Five generations of the Hummel/Brown family – May 1998: Emily Catherine (Felker) Hummel (upper left) is the youngest daughter of Charles Leonard Felker and Maude Alice Fertich Harry and Martha Singmaster Benjamin and Julia's old homestead location in Barry Double house has been torn down Singmaster Farm Near end of Cherry Street in Lavelle
I SAMUEL 20 CH. 18 V. BENJAMIN F. FERTICH DIED DEC. 25, 1891 AGED 34Y. 7M. 11D. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN	MOTHER JULIA A. SINGMASTER 1860-1942
Benjamin Franklin Fertich was born in Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania on May 14, 1857, the son of Adam Joseph Fertig/Fertich and Anna Bolich^1,2,3,4. After the death of his father, around 1863, the family moved to Barry Township⁴. Benjamin attended school and started farming at only 13 years old⁴. Benjamin united in marriage with Julia Ann Yoder, who was born on April 2, 1860, the daughter of Peter Yoder and Harriet Klock^1,5,6,7. Benjamin and Julia were blessed with six children together: Katie May, Amelia Jane, Emma Elizabeth, Clinton Monroe, Charles Henry and Maude Alice^1,6,8. The family attended a church in Locust Dale lead by Pastor S.S. Chubb⁹. Benjamin and Julia spoke "Dutch" or "Low German" regularly up until their children started attending school⁵. Benjamin died of pneumonia on Christmas Day 1891, at only 34 years of age^1,2,5. He actually died prior to the birth of his youngest child, Maude Alice^1,5. Benjamin was buried next to his mother at the Barry United Evangelical Church Cemetery, south of Lavelle². His tombstone records: I Samuel, 20:18: (Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty)². Julia was widowed at only 31 years of age^1,2,7. She cared for and raised her six children to the best of her ability, despite financial difficulties^5,8. On February 27, 1892, G.S. Maurer was appointed administrator of the estate of Benjamin⁸. In August 1892, Julia purchased a parcel of land in Barry Township for $100.00 from all the living heirs of Anna Fertich¹⁰. The property held a double house located along the Mahanoy creek, at the south side of the intersection of Dutchtown Road and Barry Road⁵. The house has been since torn down⁵. Three years later, on August 27,1895, Julia made a petition to the Schuylkill County Orphans Court for the release of funds by G.S. Maurer, administrator of the estate⁸. The court agreed with her petition and ordered Mr. Maurer to pay Julia five dollars for each of her six children for winter clothes and an additional fee of two dollars per month for several months to cover maintenance and court costs⁸. Julia still could not afford to raise all of her children, so the two oldest, Katie and Amelia, went to live with other people as a helping hand⁵. Julia got remarried to John Henry Singmaster in Barry on May 6, 1899 by Rev. Harvey J. Kline¹¹. Julia and the children then moved onto John's farm at the end of Cherry Street in Lavelle, Butler Township^{5,11,12,13,14,15}. John and Julia had two other children: Margaret Harriet and Harry Albert Singmaster¹. Harry was born on November 5, 1899, married Martha Arbella Biddinger and died on August 20, 1964^{1,12,13,14,15}. Margaret was born a year and a half later on June 24, 1901¹. Julia died at 82 years of age on October 8, 1942 and was buried at the Citizens Cemetery in Lavelle^1,7. CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND JULIA ANN: Katie May, born March 14, 1881, married Monroe Allison Mattern and died July 4, 1929 Amelia Jane "Millie", born March 15, 1883, married William A. "Bill" Eyster, Sr. and died April 9, 1949 Emma Elizabeth, born September 19, 1885, married William Henry "Bill" Slotterback and died December 8, 1969 Clinton Monroe "Clint", born December 2, 1887, married Anna Mathilde "Minnie" Fickbohm and died October 1, 1947 Charles Henry, born June 11, 1890, married Christiana Elizabeth "Christie" Eister and died December 11, 1938 Maude Alice, born February 24, 1892, married Charles Leonard Felker and died October 25, 1918 REFERENCES: 1. Benjamin Franklin Fertich and Julia Ann Yoder Family Bible The Family Bible has been handed down and preserved through the line of Harry Singmaster. Holy Bible Births: Benjamin Franklin - May 14^th 1857 Julia Ann - April 2^nd 1860 Katie May - Mar 14^th 1881 Amelia Jane - Mar 15^th 1883 Emma Elizabeth - Sept. 19^th 1885 Clinton Monroe - Dec 2^nd 1887 Chas. Henry - June 11^th 1890 Maude Alice - Feb 24^th 1892 Harry Albert - Nov 5^th 1899 Margaret Harriet - June 14^th 1901 Marriages: Katie May Amelia Jane - Mar. 28^th 1911 Emma Elizabeth - Aug 15^th 1908 Maude Alice - Aug 14^th 1910 Clinton Monroe - Aug 19^th 1919 Deaths: Benjamin Franklin - Dec. 25^th 1891 Julia Ann Singmaster Emma Alice Slotterbach Charles Henry Fertich Harry Albert Singmaster - August 20, 1964 Katie May Clinton Monroe Fertich 2. Tombstone of Benjamin Franklin Fertich. The tombstone is located at the Barry United Evangelical Church Cemetery (St. Johns Church of Evangelical Association Cemetery / Immanuel Evangelical Congregational Church Cemetery) in Barry, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. For directions, see the Reference section for the discussion of Adam Joseph Fertig/Fertich. The tombstone was photographed and transcribed on March 2, 2002. I SAMUEL, 20 CH. 18 V., BENJAMIN F., FERTICH, DIED DEC. 25, 1891, AGED, 34Y. 7M. 11D., GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN 3. 1860 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Adam Joseph Fertig/Fertich family. For more information, see the reference section for Adam Joseph Fertig/Fertich. 4. 1870 Census of Barry Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Adam Joseph Fertig/Fertich family. For more information, see the reference section for Adam Joseph Fertig/Fertich. 5. Correspondence with Mildred Jeanette (Eyster) Shealter, granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin Fertich. Mildred is the daughter of William Allen Eyster, Sr. and Amelia Jane Fertich. The following is a summary of the telephone conversations with Mildred on March 22, 2002, July 7, 2002 and December 22, 2003: Mildred spent a lot of time with her Grammy Singmaster (Julia Yoder), wife of Benjamin Franklin Fertich, who got remarried to John Singmaster. Benjamin and Julia spoke "Dutch" or "Low German" regularly up until their children started attending school. Also, Mildred’s mother, Amelia Jane and her uncle, Charles Fertich, spoke "Dutch" or "Low German" occasionally when they didn’t want their children to hear their conversations. Benjamin and Julia lived in a double house in Barry, across from the Barry Church, between the road and the creek. The house has since been torn down. Mildred’s mother, Amelia, was eight years old when her father, Benjamin, passed away. He died on Christmas day from pneumonia before his youngest daughter Maude was even born. Julia was widowed with 6 children. She couldn't afford to raise all of them, so the two oldest, Kate and Amelia, went to live with other people as a helping hand. Amelia went to live with her Uncle and Aunt Zimmerman. Julia remarried John Singmaster and moved onto his farm at the end of Cherry Street in Lavelle. Julia pronounced Amelia’s name with a strong Germany pronunciation when registering her for school. The teacher thought that Julia said "Millie", so "Millie" became her nickname. Amelia was known as "Millie" her entire life. Mildred remembers meeting her great uncles Albert Fertich, Dan Fertich and Jermiah Fertich when she was very little, but she doesn’t remember many details about them. Albert Fertich and his wife Clara lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was known as the rich uncle. Mildred remembers going to their house. They did not have any children. He owned a paint company and rented an apartment. Albert and Clara would take a train from Philadelphia to Sunbury to visit Mildred’s parents every spring and fall. They kept their belongings in a chest in Mildred's parent's attic. Mildred remembers being five or six years old when Albert died, which would place his date of death around 1927 or 1928. Mildred still has an old chest full of clothes, which belonged to Albert and Clara. Mildred’s father went to Philadelphia after Albert’s death to help settle his estate. Mildred said that she remembers visiting her uncle Dan’s house in Sunbury. Mildred also remembers playing with her cousin Mary Alice Fertich (granddaughter of Dan) when they were very young. Mary Alice's family had a "nanny goat" which they both loved to play with. Mildred's uncle Clint Fertich and aunt Minnie lived most of their life near Jersey City, New Jersey. Clint was an engineer and worked on reservoir dams for New York City drinking water. Clint and Minnie took Mildred to New York City to see the World’s Fair one year. Minnie was in a facility before her death. Clint and Minnie both died of cancer. They were buried somewhere near Jersey City, New Jersey. 6. Writings of Esther E. (Fertich) Hummel, daughter of Jermiah T. Fertich. For more information, see the reference section for Adam Joseph Fertig/Fertich. 7. Tombstone of Julia Ann (Yoder) Fertich Singmaster. The tombstone is located at the Citizens Cemetery in Lavelle, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. For directions, see the Reference section for the discussion of Jermiah Fertich. The tombstone is located near the northwest corner of the cemetery. The tombstone was photographed and transcribed on April 27, 2002. MOTHER, JULIA A. SINGMASTER, 1860-1942 8. 1895 Estate Petition by Julia Ann (Yoder) Fertich. Estate of Fertich Minors. In the Orphans Court of Schuylkill County. To the Honorable Thomas H.B. Lyon, President Judge of said County: The Petition of Julia Fertich respectfully represents: That she is the widower of Benjamin F. Fertich who died on or about the Twenty Fifth day of December 1891, intestate, leaving to survive him your petitioner and six children, one born after the death of its father, and all minors, to wit: Katie now aged 14 years, Amelia now aged 12 years, Emma, now aged 10 years, Clinton aged 8 years, Charles aged 5 years, and Maudie now aged 3 years. That on the 27th day of February A.D. 1892, G.S. Maurer was appointed Administrator of the estate of said Benjamin F. Fertich, deceased, and filed his final account showing that there is a balance due each of the said minors of Fifty-three dollars and forty-four cents, which said several amounts the Administrator is ready and willing to pay out, but that no one has been appointed as guardian for any of said minors, the amounts being so small and the expenses necessary proportionally very large. That your petitioner has no means of her own to care for, maintain, and educate the said children, all of whom are too young to earn a livelihood for themselves and besides your petitioner is anxious to have them attend public school. That with very little exception all of the said minors have remained with your petitioner since the death of her husband and their father, and your petitioner has cared for them as best she could. Your petitioner therefore prays your Honor that an order may be made directing the Administrator, G. S. Maurer to pay your petitioner the sum of Five ($5.00) dollars for each of the said six minors for the purpose of purchasing Winter clothes for them and a further sum of Three dollars per month for each minor until further order of Court, and that the said Administrator be allowed credit for the sum so paid your petitioner as also the costs of this petition and order upon his final settlement with the proper parties the same as of he were the duly authorized Guardian of said minors. And your petitioner will ever pray, +c. Julia Fertich Schuylkill County. ss: Julia Fertich, the petitioner being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and says that the facts set forth in the foregoing petition are true and correct to the best of his knowledge and belief. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27" day of August A.D. 1895, C.F. Russell J.P., Julia Fertich And now Sept. 2nd 1895. the foregoing petition being presented in open Court on motion of S.H. Enterline the Court order and direct G.S. Maurer to pay Julia Fertich the petitioner the sum of five dollars for each of said six children for winter clothes and a further sum of two dollars per month for several months as maintenance, and also the costs of there proceedings. By the Court, Chas. B. Mattern, Clk. O.C., Filed Sept. 2-1895 9.1890 Baptism of Charles Henry Fertich. For more information, see the reference section for Charles Henry Fertich. 10. 1892 Property purchase by Julia Ann (Yoder) Fertich. Deed Book 301, pages 36 to 38 at the Schuylkill County Courthouse. THIS INDENTURE, made the __ day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety two, BETWEEN A.B. Fertich and Clara his wife of the City of Philadelphia, Nathan Fertich and Effie his wife of the borough of Sunbury Northumberland County Pennsylvania, Jeremiah Fertich and Saffrona his wife of Butler Township Schuylkill County and State aforesaid, D.B. Fertich and Alice his wife of Sunbury Northumberland County and State aforesaid and Charles T. Himick and rebecca his wife of Liverpool Ohio, of the first part and Julia Fertich (widow) of the township of Butler County of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, of the second part: WITNESSETH, that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of ONE HUNDRED (100.00) DOLLARS lawful money of the United States of America, well and truly paid by the said party of the second part to the said parties of the first part…..ALL THAT CERTAIN one half (being the western one half) of the certain small tract or piece of land situate in Barry Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described as follows to wit:- Beginning at a stone corner at the public road leading to the Centre Turnpike, thence south eighty five and one half (85 1/2^o) degrees east twenty perches to a stone, thence thirty (30^o) degrees west nine perches and one half to a dead spruce, thence north eighty (80^o) degrees west eight perches and three quarters to a stone, corner, thence north sixty three (63^o) degrees west ten perches and seven links to a sassafras corner, and being the western half of the same premises which Isaac F. Betz by his deed dated the 30^th day of September A.D. 1864 and intended to be recorded did grant and confirm unto Timothy Bolich and Amanda Grow and the same which Amanda Grow by her Assignment dated the 18^th day of March A.D. 1868 and intended to be recorded did grant and confirm unto Anna Fertich now deceased and the same which Timothy Bolich by his indenture dated the 21^st day February A.D. 1872 and intended to be recorded did grant and confirm unto the legal heirs of Anna Fertich deceased the said parties of the first part hereto…..Recorded and examined October 25, 1904. 11. John Henry Singmaster and Julia Ann (Yoder) Fertich Marriage Certificate [ORIGINAL.] MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE. I, Rev. Harvey J. Kline, herby certify that on the sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, at Barry, Pa Mr. John Singmaster and Miss Julia Fertich were by me united in marriage in accordance with license issued by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Harvey J. Kline [Minister of the Gospel.] ___________ [Justice of the Peace or Alderman.] No. D.1192 MINERS' JOURNAL PRINT. 12. 1900 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, John Singmaster family. John Singmaster, head, born Feb 1861, age 39, married 1 year, laborer, owned house; Julia Singmaster, wife, born April 1861, age 39, married 1 year; Emma Singmaster, daughter, born Sept. 1885, age 14; Charles Singmaster, son, born June 1890, age 9; Maud Singmaster, daughter, born Feb. 1895, age 8; Harry Singmaster, son, born Nov 1899, age 8/12 13. 1910 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, John Singmaster family. John Singmeister, head, age 49, married 11 years, laborer for Butler Twp, owned house; Julia A. Singmeister, wife, age 50, married 11 years; Harry A. Singmeister, son, age 10, laborer on farm; Marguerite M. Singmeister, daughter, age 8; Charles H. Fertic, Step Son, age 19, laborer at coal mines 14. 1920 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, John Singmaster family. John Singmaster, head, own farm, age 58, married, coal miner; Julia Singmaster, wife, age 58, married; Harry Singmaster, son, age 20, laborer, coal miner; Margarite Singmaster, daughter, age 15 15. 1930 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, John Singmaster family. John Singmaster, head, house owned, $3,000 value, age 69, married, age 39 first married; Julia Singmaster, wife-h, age 39, married, age 39 first married; Harry Singmaster, son, age 30, laborer at the colliery