John Henry Fertig

JOHN HENRY FERTICH/FERTIG

John Henry Fertich/Fertig and Beulah Vera Burrell

Wedding picture, September 7, 1914

John Henry

Beulah Vera (Burrell) Fertig with sons:

Sergeant Lamar Bertlette "Butch" Fertig, Sr. left, and

Sergeant Marlin Gerald Fertig right

Sergeant John Orville "Hook" Fertig

Hook

P.F.C. Calvin James "Cal" Fertig

sitting on a 500 pound bomb

Cal with Japanese grenade and canteen, next to friend Kilbourne

Cal Fertig and friend in Calcutta, India

Cal in Burma

Cal's war medals, dah on left, kukri on right and bullet ash tray that he made

Close up of Cal's war medals

Marlin

Circa 1943

Marlin's Purple Heart and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Marlin's Purple Heart and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Lamar and Marie Fertig

Early 1940's

David Jermiah "Hack" Fertig

JOHN H. FERTIG

FEB. 7, 1883

MAR. 9, 1961

BEULAH V. FERTIG

JULY 9, 1894

MAY 5, 1959

John Henry Fertich/Fertig homestead

Northern (right) half, 2 South Poplar Street

in Coal Township, Northumberland County

John Henry Fertich/Fertig was born in Lavelle, Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania on February 7, 1883, the second son of Jermiah T. Fertich and Sapronah Isabella Conrad^1,2. Five months later, John Henry was baptized on July 15, 1883 by Reverend J. E. Zimmerman¹. As a young man, John was employed as a slate picker and laborer at a local coal breaker^4,5.

John Henry married Beulah Vera Burrell on September 7, 1914 in Shamokin, Northumberland County^6,7,8. The marriage ceremony was performed by Reverend William E. Fischer of the Trinity Lutheran Church⁷. Beulah was born on July 9, 1894 in Tharptown, the daughter of David H. Burrell and Cora Elizabeth Neidig^2,6,8. John and Beulah were blessed with eight children together: John Orville, Eleanor Mae, Calvin James, Marlin Gerald, Edith Leona, Lamar Bertlette, Sr., Robert Allen and David Jermiah^8,9,10. Records indicate that John Henry changed the spelling of his last name from Fertich to Fertig sometime between 1920 to 1930^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11}. All eight of his children accepted the Fertig name.

Five of John Henry and Beulah's children served in World World II¹¹. Sergeant John Orville Fertig served in the Army 280th Signal Pigeon Company in Assam, India¹¹. He went on to serve in the Korean conflict as well¹¹. First Lieutenant Eleanor Mae Fertig served in the Army Nurse Corps in Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. and Calcutta, India¹¹.

P.F.C. Calvin James Fertig served as a demolition expert in Company C, 236th Engineer Combat Battalion in North Africa and the China-Burma-India Theater¹¹. Calvin was attached to Merrill's Marauders during the battle for Myitkyina, Burma¹¹. His unit was given 12 hours notice for battle preparation and on May 28, 1944 were flown into Myitkyina¹¹. They were under heavy fire for 61 continuous days and suffered 40 percent casualties, with 57 killed¹¹. Calvin also helped to construct the Burma Road¹¹. He was awarded a total of seven war medals including the Presidential Citation for his gallantry at Myitkyina, the Asiatic-Pacific medal with two battle stars, the E.A.M.E. medal and the China War Memorial medal¹¹.

Sergeant Marlin Gerald Fertig served in the Army in the Africa campaign and saw combat in Casablanca, Gafsa, Sicily, North Africa, Tunisia, Belgium and France¹¹. He was wounded twice by shrapnel and suffered a broken leg during the Sicily campaign and awarded the Purple Heart Medal¹¹. In addition, Sergeant Lamar Bertlette Fertig, Sr. served in the Marines, 7th Anti-aircraft Battalion, Heavy Artillery in the South Pacific¹¹. He saw combat at Wake Island and assisted his unit in downing 27 Japanese aircraft¹¹.

John Henry and Beulah resided in Northumberland, Point Township, Northumberland County during their early married life^8,¹². They purchased a home at 820 Mulberry Street in Coal Township around the year 1920^8,9,¹². Coal Township is located adjacent to the western side of Shamokin in Northumberland County. John was employed at a railway station during this time period and later served as a mechanic in a local coal mine^9,10.

Then in 1926, the family relocated to 2 South Poplar Street in Coal Township^10,12. The family were members of the Salem United Church of Christ in Shamokin⁸. John and Beulah were both always very kind and gentle people¹².

The first job that John Henry had was hauling fresh fruits and vegetables¹². He sold them around the neighborhood with an old, solid tire, Hahn truck¹². He then started selling Zanol household products for many years¹². He opened a store to sell Zanol products and other necessities, which lasted for about one year¹². He later sold baseball gambling pools¹². He then left town to work in Lancaster for about two years¹². John also worked at the Shamokin Dye and Print Works with his brother Lert until it closed in 1951¹².

John Henry constructed a house located about one mile from Shamokin and rented it out¹². He worked on the Works Progress Administration (WPA), part of President Roosevelt's New Deal¹². John did many odd jobs to survive¹². He made wine and washtub beer for the household and always performed his own house repairs as well¹².

Beulah was always very busy taking care of and raising her eight children^12,13. When she found spare time, she would visit neighbors and relatives and help them out¹². She never drove a car, but took the bus to travel¹³.

Beulah passed away at 7:45 p.m. on May 5, 1959 at the age of 64^2,⁸. She had been ill with diabetes for the last two months of her life and died in the Shamokin Hospital⁸. Reverend Sterling Martz, pastor of the Salem United Church of Christ, officiated the funeral⁸. At the time of her decease, five of her children were living at home: John, Calvin, Edith, Robert and David⁸. John Henry passed away less than two years later on March 9, 1961, at the age of 78². They were both buried at the Northumberland Memorial Cemetery in Shamokin Township².

CHILDREN OF JOHN HENRY AND BEULAH VERA:

John Orville "Hook", born December 7, 1914 and died January 15, 1983

Eleanor Mae, born March 3, 1916, married Jack Bailey and died August 7, 1998

Calvin James "Cal", born November 30, 1917

Marlin Gerald, born June 6, 1920, married Anna Harriet Straub and died May 15, 1983

Edith Leona , born September 23, 1921, married John Shankweiler and died November 1, 2003

Lamar Bertlette "Butch", Sr., born May 5, 1923, married Marie Alberta Schlegel and died December 29, 1996

Robert Allen "Bob", born January 13, 1925 and died May 8, 1995

David Jermiah "Hack", born January 18, 1932 and died March 19, 1999

REFERENCES:

1. 1883 Birth and baptismal certificate of John Henry Fertich/Fertig.

CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH AND BAPTISM

To these Two Parents: Jeremiah Fertich and his wife Sofrona Isabella Fertich a daughter of Joseph and Louisa Conrad was born a son on the seventh day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Eighty Three. This child was born in Rocktown Schuylkill County, in the State of Penn United States of America; and was baptized on the 15th day of July 1883, by the Reverend J. E. Zimmerman and received the name of John Henry Fertich. Witness Present. Sponsors Amanda Jane Bolich and Henry Allen.

2. Tombstones of John Henry Fertich/Fertig and Beulah Vera (Burrell) Fertig.

The tombstones are located at the Northumberland Memorial Cemetery, Shamokin Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Directions: Enter into the main cemetery entrance on the northern side of State Route 61 in Stonington, Shamokin Township, Pennsylvania. At the main cemetery entrance, the road splits into four directions. Take the road which is slightly to the right. Travel approximately 100 yards and the road will again split to the left and right. The Fertig tombstones are located in the cemetery section, named Garden of Peace, located just north of the split in the road. The tombstones are located in the ninth double row of tombstones from the west, 23rd tombstone south of the northern edge. The tombstones were photographed and transcribed on May 8, 2004.

JOHN H. FERTIG, FEB. 7, 1883, MAR. 9, 1961

BEULAH V. FERTIG, JULY 9, 1894, MAY 5, 1959

FARROW FUNERAL HOME BURIAL RECORDS, 1876-1988, Part I, Surnames A-L, Edited by Joseph A. Meiser, Jr., B.S., Ph. D. and Sarah Roadarmel Meiser, Elysburg, Pa., page 261

Fertig, John 3/9/1961-2/7/1883 s/o Jeremiah + Soprona, Lavelle, N.M.

spouse: Fertig Beulah V. Burrell 5/5/1959-7/9/1894

3. 1890 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Jermiah T. Fertich family.

For more information, see the reference section for Jermiah T. Fertich.

4. 1900 Census of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Jermiah T. Fertich family.

For more information, see the reference section for Jermiah T. Fertich.

5. 1910 Census of Lavelle, North-West Butler Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Jermiah T. Fertich. family.

For more information, see the reference section for Jermiah T. Fertich.

6. 1914 Marriage license for John Henry Fertich/Fertig and Beulah Vera Burrell.

APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE, No. 22130.....

Statement of Male, Name and surname John Fertich, Color white,.....Occupation Laborer, Birthplace Lavelle Pa, Residence Coal Twp. Pa, Age 31 yrs,.....Name and surname of father Jeremiah Fertich, of mother Saprona Fertich, Maiden name of mother Saprona Conrad, Residence of father, Lavelle, Pa., of mother Lavelle, Color of father white, of mother white, Occupation of father Laborer, of mother Domestic, Birthplace of father Helfenstein, Pa., of mother Numedia, Pa.....Signature of applicant John Fertig

Statement of Female, Name and surname Beulah Burrel, Color white,.....Occupation Domestic, Birthplace Coal Twp., Residence Coal Twp. Pa, Age 20 yrs,.....Name and surname of father David Burrell, of mother Cora Burrel, Maiden name of mother Cora Neidig, Residence of father, Coal Twp. Pa, Color of father white, mother white, Occupation of father Laborer, of mother Domestic, Birthplace of father Georgetown Pa, of mother Shamokin Twp. Pa.....Signature of applicant Beulah Burrell

Sworn and subscribed before me this 1st day of September A.D. 1914., Harvey Morgan

Sept. 2nd 1914, duly attested and acknowledged consent of David Burrell, father of Beulah Burrell aforesaid minor to this marriage filed.

Whereupon a Marriage License was issued in due form of law, this 2nd day of September 1914, John O. Car, Clerk of the orphans' court.

7. 1914 Marriage certificate of John Henry Fertich/Fertig and Beulah Vera Burrell.

This is to Certify that John Fertich and Beulah Burrel were united by me in Holy Matrimony on the Seventh day of September, A.D. 1914 at Shamokin Pa. Wm. E. Fischer, pastor Trinity-Lutheran Church.

8. 1959 Obituary for Beulah Vera (Burrell) Fertig.

Sunbury Newspaper, Wednesday, May 8, 1959

Mrs. Beulah Fertig, Tharptown Native

Mrs. Beulah V. Fertig, 64, wife of John Fertig, 2 South Poplar street, Shamokin, and a former Northumberland resident, died at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday in Shamokin Hospital, where she had been a patient since Monday. She had been ill for two months. Mrs. Fertig was born in Tharptown, July 9, 1894, daughter of the late David and Cora Neidig Fertig. She was educated in Tharptown schools and had lived in that area throughout her early life. In September of 1914 she was married to John Fertig and at one time during her early married life they resided in Northumberland moving to Shamokin 38 years ago. She was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, Shamokin. Surviving are her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Jack Bailey, Paxinos, and Miss Edith Fertig, at home; six sons, John, Calvin, Robert and David, at home; Marlin, Shamokin, and Lamar, Perkasie; eight grandchildren, as well as one sister, Mrs. Ivy McSherry, Camp Hill, and two brothers, David Burrell and Bertlett Burrell, both of Bear Gap. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday from Farrow's funeral home, Shamokin. Rev. Sterling Martz, pastor of Salem United Church of Christ, will officiate. Burial will be in Northumberland Memorial Park, Stonington. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and on Saturday until the time of service.

9. 1920 Census of Coal Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, John Henry Fertich/Fertig family.

810 Mulberry Street; John Fertich, head, owned home free, age 36, married, Baggage Apt, Railway Station; Beulah Fertich, wife, age 26, married; Orval Fertich, son, age 5; Elenor Fertich, daughter, age 3 1/12; Calvin Fertich, son, age 2 1/12

10. 1930 Census of Coal Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, John Henry Fertich/Fertig family.

2 Poplar Street; John H. Fertig, head, rented house, $25 per month rent, age 47, married age 31 first married, mechanic, miner; Vera Fertig, wife, age 35, married, age 19 first married; Orville J. Fertig, son, age 15; Eleanor M. Fertig, daughter, age 14; Calvin J. Fertig, son, age 12; Marlin G. Fertig, son, age 9; Edith L. Fertig, daughter, age 8; Lamar B. Fertig, son, age 6; Robert A. Fertig, son, age 5; Lert T. Fertig, brother, age 30, dyer, silk mill

11. World War II military service newspaper articles of the children of John Henry Fertich/Fertig.

John H. and Beulah Fertig, 2 S. Poplar St., Shamokin, had five children in the armed forces and one was serving in Sicily. Sgt. Marlin J. Fertig was subsequently wounded by shrapnel on that campaign. Daughter Eleanor (Fertig) Bailey rose to the rank of first lieutenant and eventually served in Calcutta, India. Sgt. John Fertig was assigned to Assam, India, from where he was able to travel to see his sister at her Indian Hospital. Lamar B. Fertig was sergeant in the Marines and Sgt. Calvin J. Fertig was stationed in Burma, where he helped build the Burma Road.

Cpl. Lamar B. Fertig, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Fertig, South Poplar Street, Coal Township, was back in the States after two and a half years in the South Pacific. Attached to the 7th Anti-aircraft Battalion, Heavy Artillery, he assisted in downing 27 Japanese planes.

"Cpl. Lamar Fertig, U.S. Marine who served two and one-half years in the South Pacific, and Pfc. Marlin Fertig, Army, who served the same amount of time in the European war theater, have arrived in Shamokin and are visiting their parents Mr. and Mrs. John Fertig, 2 S. Poplar St," stated the News-Dispatch. "Pfc. Marlin Fertig was wounded in action in the European and...was admitted to England General Hospital, Atlantic City, N.J., where is now a patient..."

"To John A. Fertig, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Fertig, 2 S. Poplar St., stationed with the Army in Assam, India, this is a very small world," stated the Shamokin paper. "In a communication the soldier writes: 'It seems that no matter where I go I run into fellows from the old hometown.' "Since being in India, Fertig met his brother Cal Fertig twice, a neighbor Ben Sickilecki, and his uncle David Burrell....."First Lt. Eleanor Hixon of the Army Nurse corps left for overseas duty two months ago, and according to Fertig's communication, he expects to meet her in India in the near future..."

Cpl. John O. Fertig, one of five siblings in the service, reported he had met at least 10 Shamokin servicemen while on maneuvers from Camp Claiborne, La., where he was in charge of a detachment supplying pigeons to divisions as a member of the signal corps. Brother Marlin Fertig saw action at Casablanca, Gafsa and Sicily, Lamar at Wake Island and Calvin as a demolition expert with an engineers unit. Lt. Eleanor Fertig as stationed at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C.

Mr. and Mrs. John Fertig, 2 S. Poplar St., Shamokin, learned today their son Marlin G. Fertig, who was wounded in action, was recuperating in an Army hospital in England. He sustained a fractured leg and shrapnel wounds. The Fertigs had three other sons overseas, Lamar, a Marine who was recently promoted to corporal in the Pacific; Calvin, whose unit was awarded a presidential citation in Burma; and Orville, a member of the signal corps, who as recently awarded first prize in a carrier pigeon race in India. Their daughter Lt. Eleanor Hixon was stated at Water Reed Hospital, Washington D.C.

Mrs. John Fertig, 2 S. Poplar St., Coal Township, received a Purple Heart Medal awarded to her son Pvt. Marlin G. Fertig, who was wounded in the African campaign. Mrs. Fertig had three other sons in service overseas: Pvt. Calvin Fertig in North Africa, Pfc. Lamar Fertig with the Marines in the South Pacific and Cpl. John Orville Fertig at an undisclosed post. A daughter, 2nd Lt. Eleanor Hixon of the Army Nurses Corps, was at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C.

"Pfc. Marlin G. Fertig was slightly wounded in Germany Nov. 23. Fertig has been in service for three years, two years of which was spent fighting in North Africa, Sicily, Tunisia, Belgium and France. He was previously wounded a year ago when he was struck in the foot by shrapnel. The telegram sent by the War Department today was followed by a cablegram sent by Pvt. Fertig in which he expressed best wishes to his family. He did not mention anything concerning his latest injury."

C.T. man receives medal for war efforts in China

COAL TOWNSHIP - A Coal Township man has received a China War Memorial Medal this month in appreciation for his contributions made in a joint effort in the China theater during World War II. Calvin Fertig, 2 S. Poplar St., a member of the 236th engineer combat battalion attached to Merrill's Marauders during the battle for Myitkyina, Burma, in World War II in the C.B.I. (China, Burma, India) Theater of War was awarded the medal. The medal was for his contribution to a joint effort with the Chinese Nationalist Army in the China Theater of War. Fertig was a demolition specialist who helped build the famous Stillwell Road from India, across Burma to China. He was previously awarded the distinguished unit badge (presidential citation), the Asiatic-Pacific medal with two battle stars, the E.A.M.E. (North Africa) medal, the Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. The medal was sent by S.K. Hu, deputy representative, for the Coordination Council for North American Affairs, Office in U.S.A., Bethesa, Md.

FROM A BURMA NEWSPAPER, 236 Departs.....One of the most famous units of India-Burma-China started on the road home recently--the 236th Engineer Combat Battalion. They arrived in India in December, 1943, and for five months worked on construction of Ledo base installations. on May 28, 1944, with only 12 hours notice, they were flown into Myitkyina as battle replacements for Merrill's Marauders. Under fire for 61 days, they suffered 40 percent casualties, with 57 killed. For their gallantry, the unit received the Presidential Unit Citation and many individuals were decorated. After the Battle of Myitkyina, the unit was reorganized and since that time has been engaged in construction work along Stilwell Road......

12. Correspondence with Calvin James Fertig, son of John Henry Fertich/Fertig.

The following information was recorded in a letter from Calvin James dated March 31, 2004 and April 13, 2004 in addition to a summary of a conversation on May 8, 2004:

.....Also our existence was fairly normal for the times. Going thru the roaring 20's the hard times 30's then the war time 40's Wow! How did we make it? My father: - He was kind and gentile in our upbringing. He never beat us children. The first job he had was huckster. We had an old Hahn truck. (solid tires, yet) to haul fresh fruits + vegetables to sell around the neighborhood. We bought the stuff from a distributor. Then he started selling Zanol household products for many years. We tried to open a store to sell Zanol products and other necessities, but that failed in 1 year. He sold baseball gambling pools. He left town to work in Lancaster, which lasted 2 years. He joined the Ku Klux Klan as a non-active member for a year. He built a house about a mile from our present dwelling and rented it out. He worked on the W.P.A. (Works Progress Association, I think) under Roosevelt in the hard times. Many odd jobs to survive. He made wine and washtub beer for the household, he drank sparingly and I never saw him drunk. He never smoked although he had a few cigars in his trunk.....I get tobacco and tubes from Smokers Warehouse and make my own cigs. $26.90 makes 3 cartons. We always did our own home repairs too, which saved us a lot of money. My mother, nee Beulah V. Burrell was also kind + gentle. She was always busy taking care of and raising 8 children but when she could, she would visit neighbors and relatives and help them out. After WWII my older brother, John O. signed up for the Korean War and was a carpenter, Tech Sgt, I think he was. He did a 2 years time or hitch there. After that, he returned home and did what he liked best raising and training homer pigeons. Oh! I just remembered, my father also worked at the Shamokin Dye + Print works with his brother Lert until it closed up in 1951. I also worked there for 10 years then left town to work for Phoenix Steel Corp. in Phoenixville, PA 100 miles away which I did through 25 yrs until they went bankrupt? I retired with a pension and returned to the old homestead to rest my laurels (as they say).....Cal

.....He (John Henry Fertig) had two brothers in WWI. Merle, whom I don't know anything about his record, and Lert who was a wagoner, I think it was named the Rainbow Division. He was gassed with mustard gas and lost his sense of smell. Also, I received 7 medals. I had a few scary moments in India. The most frightening was - I was pulling guard duty one night in India. It was raining and I was lying under a tarp. Something bit me on the finger. I thought a Krait Snake or a spider. Either one could be deadly, every one else was sleeping and I didn't want to alarm the whole camp and I couldn't leave my post and I was scared stiff. I lay there waiting to die for about 3 hrs until daylight and was relieved. I checked my finger and couldn't find a mark on it, so I kept quiet about it. In that 3 hrs I would have been dead, if it had been a Krait. Now the reason I wrote you about it is, my Corporal from the states Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. wrote that V Mail to me and addressed me as "Fearless". Well I sure was not fearless that time.....Cal Fertig

Conversation:

John Henry and Beulah first lived in Point Township, Northumberland County. Then they moved to Mulberry Street in Shamokin. In 1926, they moved to 2 South Poplar Street in Coal Township.

Cal was involved in the battle of Myitkyina. Company B of the 236th Engineer Combat Battalion was surrounded in Myitkyina by Japanese forces on all sides. Cal's unit, Company C, flew in to provide assistance. Cal's C-47 transport plane was chased into the battle zone by seven Japanese aircraft. Cal and his company fought hard and broke up the Japanese forces.

13. Correspondence with Jack McSherry, nephew of Beulah (Burrell) Fertig.

Jack is the son of Ivy (Burrell) McSherry, sister of Beulah. The following is an e-mail from Jack dated June 17, 2003:

Attached are some brief biographies of the members of the Fertig family as I remember them. I hope this is of interest to you.

Beulah (Burrell) Fertig: Aunt Beulah was an older sister of my Mother, Ivy L. (Burrell) McSherry. She was, of course, very busy with all of her children. She did not drive a car, so she would ride a bus from her home in Shamokin to our home in Sunnyside, three miles away, to visit us. (primarily to visit my Mother). She and my Mother always got along well, and enjoyed each other’s company. Aunt Beulah’s favorite chair in our house was a wicker rocking chair. Whenever she sat in it, she kept it moving. During World War 2, Aunt Beulah had five children in the Service, Orville, Calvin, Marlin, Lamar, and Eleanor. Unfortunately Aunt Beulah had diabetes, and at the young age of about 64 or 65 had one of her legs amputated. She died shortly after. The Fertig family home was at 2 South Poplar Street, Shamokin, PA.

John Fertig: Although John Fertig was my uncle, I hardly knew him. I don’t recall that he ever came to visit us, even though his wife, Beulah, and his daughters, Eleanor and Edith visited us often. When we went to their house to visit, we visited Beulah in the living room, usually in the presence of Eleanor and Edith. But John and the male members of the family remained in the kitchen. There was no animosity there. Looking back on it, I believe that John was somewhat of a recluse, and preferred not to visit.

John Orville Fertig: John Orville Fertig was always referred to as Orville (also spelled Orval. I don’t know which was actually the correct spelling). Orville’s hobby was raising homing pigeons. I remember back in the 1930’s when my Dad drove him far out into the countryside with a bunch of his pigeons so that he could let them loose to find their way home. They always successfully found their way home. In the early 1930’s during the great depression when work was very difficult to get, I remember my Dad hiring Orville to excavate, with a pick and shovel, for the building of a storage area addition to our garage. He worked hard excavating in shale. During World War 2, Orville went into the US Army, where he was immediately assigned to the Signal Corps and was put in charge of the care of the Army’s homing pigeons. Orville was considerably older than me, however, he was pretty compatible with my uncle, David F. Burrell.

Calvin Fertig: I very seldom saw Calvin, and have not seen him in at least fifty years. He was older than me. Even though we were cousins, we did not seem to have any serious ties.

Eleanor Fertig: Eleanor was a great person. Being several years older than me and my brothers Bill and Dave, she used to come to our house and stay all summer. I guess that you could say that she was our baby sitter, even though we were much bigger than babies. She would take us berry picking, and entertain us in other ways, but one of her favorite places was a small stream in the woods, about a mile from our house, where we would play in the stream in a cow pasture. While we were playing, Eleanor would be nearby visiting with the son of the owner of the farm where we were playing. His name was Jack Bailey. They became very good friends. Eleanor became a registered nurse, and early in World War 2, she enlisted in the Army as a nurse, reaching the rank of Lieutenant. During her time in the army, she met a man named Hixon, to whom she became married. This marriage did not pan out too well, and eventually ended in divorce. In the meantime, Jack Bailey was drafted into the army and was in the thick of the war in Europe. He was wounded in battle. I remember when he was discharged from the army, he was walking home, carrying his bag on his shoulder, limping severely. My Dad was driving our car towards the town of Shamokin, when we found Jack walking the opposite way, heading home. He had already walked about two miles and had about a mile and a half to go. Of course, my Dad turned the car around and took him home. When we left him at his home, it was the typical picture of the wounded veteran limping toward his house, returning home. Several years later, Eleanor and Jack Bailey were married. Eleanor had a good sense of humor, and was a very faithful friend. She was always helpful to other people and to other family members.

Edith Fertig: Edith was several years younger than Eleanor, and a few years older than me. She was a very pretty girl, and would visit us often. During the later war years, I did not see her very much since I had also ended up in the Navy. However, many years later, I would see her periodically in visits to her house, with my Mother, and then later, when she worked as a cook in a very nice restaurant in Weigh Scales, PA, I would always be served special, large helpings of very good food whenever I patronized that restaurant. In 1963, I went to my High School reunion for the first time. In sitting at a random location at one of the tables, I noticed a young girl at the table directly across from me who was the splitting image of Edith. It turned out that she was Edith’s daughter, Marcia. Unfortunately, I have not seen her since. Edith is still living in Shamokin.

Marlin Fertig: Marlin was several years older than me. He and his brother, Lamar, would come to visit us occasionally when I was a little kid. During World War 2, Marlin went into the Army. He was involved in the invasions of many of the islands in the Pacific.

Lamar Fertig: Lamar was also several years older than me. He was a cheerful person. During World War 2, he enlisted in the Marines and was also involved in the invasion of many of the islands in the Pacific. Late in the war, before I enlisted in the Navy, apparently both Marlin and Lamar had returned from the Pacific and were home on leave when they came to our house to visit us. We were standing in front of our house talking when a car went by and backfired. They both dove for cover, the obvious results of years of brutal warfare. Lamar married Marie Schlegel, who lived in Tharptown, a small village outside of Shamokin.

Robert Fertig: Bob Fertig was only a few years older than me. Unfortunately, when he was a young boy, he was riding a sled down a hill in Shamokin and was hit by a car at an intersection, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. Bob gained a lot of weight, probably because of his inactivity because of his incapacitation. However, the last time that I saw him, he was slim, looked very healthy, and walked without a limp on his artificial leg.

David Fertig: David was a few years younger than me. I only saw him when he was a little boy, and had not seen him since.

Lert Fertig: Lert, who I am sure was John’s brother, lived with John & Beulah and family in the 1930’s. When we visited the Fertigs he would always come down from upstairs and visit with us. He was a rather friendly and sociable person. He is buried in the Fertig plot with John, Beulah and family at the Northumberland Memorial Cemetery at Stonington, PA.

14. World War II, Draft Registration Card for John Henry Fertich/Fertig

REGISTRATION CARD – (Men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897); SERIAL NUMBER U 914; 1. NAME John H. Fertich; 2. PLACE OF RESIDENCE 2. S. Poplar, Shamokin North’d Pa; 3. MAILING ADDRESS Same; 4. TELEPHONE - ; 5. AGE IN YEARS 59; PLACE OF BIRTH Lavelle; Schuylkill County; DATE OF BIRTH Feb. 2 1883; NAME AND ADDRESS OF PERSON WHO WILL ALWAYS KNOW YOUR ADDRESS Beulah Fertich; EMPLOYERS NAME AND ADDRESS W.P.A.; PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS Capitol Theatre Bldg Shamokin; I AFFIRM THAT I HAVE VERIFIED ABOVE ANSWERS AND THAT THEY ARE TRUE; John H Fertich

REGISTAR’S REPORT; DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT; RACE White; HEIGHT (Approx.) 5’ 8 ½”; WEIGHT (Approx.) 155; COMPLEXION Ruddy; EYES Blue; HAIR Bald; Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification none; I certify that my answers are true; that the person registered has read or has had read to him his own answers; that I have witnessed his signature or mark and that all of his answers of which I have knowledge are true, except as follows:; J. Robert Hoffman; Registrar for Local Board # 2, North’d Pa, Date of registration April 27, 1942