CHARLES HENRY FERTICH

Charles Henry Fertich   Christiana Elizabeth "Christie" Eister   Charles   Charles   Charles   Christie   Christie   Charles and Christie   Charles and Christie   Christie with Benjamin Franklin and Ella Mae   Charles and Christie's children: Left to right: Ella Mae, Grace Alberta and Benjamin Franklin   Charles Fertich and Christie Eister family: with Benjamin Franklin, Ella Mae (back row) and Grace Alberta (front row)   Four generations of the Fertich family - 1963   Christie - July 1974   Charles Fertich homestead 506 Main Street in Lavelle   Benjamin Franklin Fertich - circa 1935   Ella Mae Fertich - 1945   Grace Alberta Fertich   FERTICH CHRISTIE, 1889-1974, mother CHARLES H., 1890-1938, father

Charles Henry Fertich was born on June 11, 1890 in Barry, Barry Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of Benjamin Franklin Fertich and Julia Ann Yoder1.  Charles was likely named after his father’s half brother, Charles Hendricks.  Charles was baptized on November 9, 1890 in Locust Dale by Pastor S.S. Chubb1.   Charles was only 18 months old when his father died of pneumonia.  He was raised in Lavelle, Butler Township on the farm of his step father, John Singmaster2,3.  As a young man, Charles began work as a laborer in a coal mine3.   Charles was united in marriage with Christiana Elizabeth “Christie” Eister on November 30, 1916 in Lavelle by Rev. Wesley D. Feel4,5,6.  Christie was born on September 29, 1889 in Lavelle, the daughter of Wilson W. Eister and Christiana Elizabeth Brosius4,6,7,8. Charles and Christie were blessed with three children together: Benjamin Franklin, Ella Mae and Grace Alberta5,6,9.   Charles worked as an assistant inside foreman for the Potts Colliery9.  His position was named "Fire Boss”, since he was the first person in the mine following a dynamite discharge to crack the coal.  He examined the blast area and determined what sections needed shored to provide safety for the other miners.    Charles was a member of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America (P.O.S. of A.), Washington Camp No. 260 in Lavelle10.  He was responsible for maintaining the dues ledger from July 1917 to December 192610.  Charles was also a member of the volunteer fire company9.  Charles and Christie attended the Christ Evangelical Congregational Church in Lavelle9.   Charles and Christie lived in a two story frame house located at 506 Main Street in Lavelle5,6.  During the Depression, Charles and Christie sold potato chips and peanuts in the Lavelle neighborhood11.  They hired Charles and Clifford Eister to travel the town and sell bags of the snacks for five cents each11.  Charles and Clifford were paid chips and peanuts for their wages11.   Charles passed away from a lingering illness of emphysema or miner's asthma at 5:00 p.m. on December 11, 1938, at the age of 487,9,12,13.  His obituary records that Charles was "A man of pleasing personality and sterling character he was held in high esteem by all who knew him.9"  Christie died on September 18, 1974 at the Ashland Hospital just 11 days before her 85th birthday7,8.  Charles and Christie were both buried in Citizens Cemetery in Lavelle7.  Ella Mae remained living in the house on Main Street until she passed away in 1994.   CHILDREN OF CHARLES HENRY AND CHRISTIE: Benjamin Franklin “Ben”, born May 9, 1917, married Dorothy Mae “Dot” Herring and died May 14, 1983 Ella Mae, born January 16, 1922 and died January 17, 1994 Grace Alberta, born February 17, 1926, married Daniel A. Hepler and died June 21, 1952   REFERENCES: 1. 1890 Baptism certificate of Charles Henry Fertich. In the Name of God Amen Certificate of Baptism GO YE THEREFORE AND TEACH ALL NATIONS Baptizing them IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST Math 28.19. That on the Ninth Day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and Ninety HOLY BAPTISM WAS DULY ADMINISTERED BY ME To Charles Henry born at Barry in the State of Penna on the 11th Day of June A.D. 1890 being a child of Mr. Benjamin F. Fertig and his wife Julia A. In Presence of: Katie Yarling S.S. Chubb Pastor. Locust Dale Dec 4 1890 Suffer the Little Ones to COME UNTO ME.   2. 1900 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, John Singmaster family. For more information, see the reference section for Benjamin Franklin Fertich.   3. 1910 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, John Singmaster family. For more information, see the reference section for Benjamin Franklin Fertich.   4. 1916 Marriage license for Charles Henry Fertich and Christiana Elizabeth Eister Marriage Certificate I, Rev W Feel Pastor Christ UE Church hereby certify that on the 30th day of November one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, at Lavelle Schuylkill Co Pa Mr Charles H Fertich and Miss Christie Eister were by me united in marriage in accordance with license issued by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Wesley D. Feel (MINISTER OF GOSPEL) Vol. 33 No. 131     APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE, No. 131..... COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY OF SCHUYLKILL We, the undersigned in accordance with the statements hereinafter contained, the facts set forth wherein we and each of us to solemnly swear are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief, do hereby make application to the Clerk of the Orphans' Court of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, for a license to marry.  Charles H. Fertig, Christie Eister. STATEMENT OF MALE Full name and surname Charles H. Fertig, Color W,.....Occupation Laborer, Birthplace Barry Twp., Residence Lavelle, age 26 years,.....Name and surname of father Benjamin Fertig, Of mother Julia, Maiden name of mother Julia Yoder, Residence of father, Dead, Of mother Lavelle, Color of father W, of mother W, Occupation of father ----, Of mother Domestic, Birthplace of father Ashland, Of mother Mahantongo.....Signature of applicant Charles H. Fertig STATEMENT OF FEMALE Full name and surname Christie Eister, Color W,.....Occupation domestic, Birthplace Lavelle, Residence Lavelle, age 27 years,.....Name and surname of father Wilson Eister, Of mother Christie, Maiden name of mother Christie Love, Residence of father, Dead, Of mother Lavelle, Color of father W, of mother W, Occupation of father ----, Of mother Domestic, Birthplace of father Mahantongo, Of mother Gordon.....Signature of applicant Christie Eister 1916 Nov. 17 Marriage license issued. Sworn to before justice James McFadden 1916 Duplicate certificate returned by Wesley D. Feel, Dec. 2 Married at Lavelle, Nov 30 1916 Wesley D. Feel, MINISTER OF GOSPEL     5. 1920 Census of Lavelle, Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Charles Henry Fertich family. Charles H. Fertich, head, age 29, married, coal miner; Christie, wife, age 30, married; Benjamin, son, age 2 years, 7 months   6. 1930 Census of Lavelle, Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Charles Henry Fertich family. Chas. H. Fertich, head, house owned, $2000 value, age 39, married, age 27 first married, coal miner; Christiana Fertich, wife, age 40, married, age 28 first married; Benjamin Fertich, son, age 13; Ella Mae Fertich, daughter, age 8; Grace A. Fertich, daughter, age 4; Christiana Eister, mother in law, age 75, widow   7. Tombstone of Charles Henry Fertich and Christiana Elizabeth Eister. The tombstone is located at the Citizens Cemetery in Lavelle, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  For directions, see the Reference section for the discussion of Jermiah T. Fertich.  The tombstone is located about 70 feet north of the cinderblock building, which is on the left of the paved cemetery road.  The tombstone was photographed and transcribed on April 27, 2002. FERTICH, CHRISTIE, 1889-1974, mother, CHARLES H., 1890-1938, father   8. Social Security Death Index, Christiana Elizabeth (Eister) Fertich. Name: Christian Fertich, Social Security Number: 179-40-5156, Issue State: Pennsylvania, Birth: 29 Sep 1889, Death: Sep 1974, Death State: PA, Last Known Residence: 17943 (Lavelle, Schuylkill, PA)   9. 1938 Obituary for Charles Henry Fertich. POTTSVILLE EVENING REPUBLICAN, POTTSVILLE, PA, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1938, PAGE 5 Chas. Fertich Charles Fertich, 48, former assistant inside foreman for the Potts Colliery, died at his home in Lavelle, at 5 o’clock, Sunday afternoon, after a lingering illness.  He was ill for the past 20 months.  He was a member of the Evangelical Congregational Church, of the P.O.S. of A., and of the Volunteer Fire Company.  To survive be leaves his wife, Christie, three children: Benjamin, Ella Mae and Grace.  His mother, Mrs. Julian Singmaster; three sisters and two brothers also survive.  They are: Mrs. William Eyster, of Sunbury; Mrs. William Slotterbach, of Natalie; Clinton, of Newburg, N.Y.; Harry Singmaster, Lavelle, and Mrs. Margaret Clarke, Miami, Fla.  The funeral will be held Thursday.  Kull Brothers, Ashland, have charge.   Ashland Daily News, Monday, December 12, 1938 Charles Fertich, 48, Of Lavelle, Dies at His Home There Charles Fertich, 48, of Lavelle, died Sunday evening at 5 o'clock at his home following a lengthy illness.  Mr. Fertich was born in Barry but has been a resident of Lavelle for some time.  For many years he was assistant inside foreman at the Potts colliery.  He was a member of the Evangelical Congregational Church of Lavelle.  Fraternally he was a member of the P.O.S. of A. and of the Lavelle Volunteer Fire Co.  A man of pleasing personality and sterling character he was held in high esteem by all who knew him.  To survive he leaves his wife, Christy and three children, Benjamin, Ellamae and Grace at home, his mother, Mrs. Julia Singmaster, three sisters and two brothers who survive, Mrs. William Eyster of Sunbury, Mrs. William Slotterback of Natalle, Clinton N. Fertich of Nuburg, New York, Harry Singmaster of Lavelle and Mrs. Margaret Clark of Miami, Florida.  The funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon with services from his late home at 1:30 o'clock with further services from the church at 2:00 o'clock.  Kull brothers are the funeral directors in charge.   10. The Patriotic Order of the Sons of America (P.O.S. of A.), Camp No. 260, Lavelle, Dues Ledger. This Ledger was used by Chas H Fertich, Fin Secty W C 260 POS of A, From July 1-1917 to Dec 31-1926 Fertich D. B. Folio, page 27; Fertich, Jerre, page 28; Fertich, John, page 29; Fertich, Wm, page 30; Fertich, Clinton M., page 31; Fertich, Chas, page 32; Fertich, Pershey M., page 29   11. Correspondence with Charles Elmer Eister, grandson of Calvin Charles Eister, brother of Christie (Eister) Fertich. The following is a summary of the telephone conversation with Charles Elmer on June 7, 2003:   During the Depression, Charles and Christie Fertich sold potato chips and peanuts in the Lavelle neighborhood.  They hired Charles and Clifford Eister to go around town and sell bags of the chips and peanuts for five cents each.  Charles and Clifford Eister were paid chips and peanuts for their wages.   Charles Fertich had a severe case of Asthma and couldn’t work too much outside of the house.  He was a very ambitious man.  He was a member of the POS of A.  It was a secret society.  Charles and Christie Fertich attended the Christ EC Church in Lavelle.   12. Correspondence with Dorothy Mae (Herring) Fertich, wife of Benjamin Franklin Fertich. The following is a summary of a conversation with Dorothy Mae on September 6, 2003:   Dorothy Mae remembers her father-in-law, Charles Fertich.  She said that he had emphysema real bad because of breathing a lot of coal dust.  He couldn’t even walk from his backyard into his house without stopping to catch his breath.   13. 1938 Will of Charles Henry Fertich. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF CHARLES H. FERTICH, DECEASED.   Be it remembered that I, Charles H. Fertich, of the village of Lavelle, Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and considering the uncertainty of life, do therefore make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, in manner and form following, that is to say:  Item: That all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.  And as to all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal or mixed, of whatever nature or kind, or wheresoever situate at the time of my decease, I do hereby give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Christy Fertich.  And lastly, I do constitute and appoint my wife Christy Fertich (and with this exception should anything happen to both my wife and myself at the same time then I do appoint Mr. Harry Singmaster Lavelle, Pa. to act as executor providing Benjamin my son is under the age of twenty one years of age.  But if he be twenty one years of age then he be appointed executer and everything shall be shared share and share alike among the three children) to be the executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills and testaments by me at any time heretofore made, and declaring this to be my last will and testament.  In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed by seal, the twenty seventh day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty eight.  Chas. H. Fertich (seal)  Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator above named, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who have hereunto, at his request, subscribed our names in his presence, and in the presence of each other as witnesses thereto.  Dan Eister, Harry Singmaster, Archie C. Smith – seal – Justice of the Peace, My commission expires first monday in January 1944……Decedent died December 11, 1938, Examined & compared January 6, 1939.   14. Correspondence with Betty Lou (Singmaster) Colahan, daughter of Harry Albert Singmaster, half brother of Charles Henry Fertich. The following is a summary of a telephone conversation with Betty Lou on March 22, 2002:   Betty Lou knew Charles and Christie Fertich.  She said that they were both very great people. She told a story that her birth name was Mona Renee and that she didn’t like it.  Charles used to call her Betty Lou and said that as long as he lived, that she was Betty Lou to him.  She later legally changed her name to Betty Lou.

Home Page   I   Are You A Good Person?   I   Contact Us