Taken From the Book of biographies - Berks County.
This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Berks County, Pa.. Buffalo. Biographical Pub. Co.. 1898.

Transcribed by Nancy Piper for Genealogy Trails

General David McMurtrie Gregg

Page 11-15

This distinguished and widely-known resident of the city of Reading, whose portrait we take pleasure in presenting on the opposite page, occupies an enviable place in the esteem of the best people of the county and state as one of the best and most efficient officers produced by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the late Civil War. Educated at West Point, and trained by actual experience in the U.S. Regular Army for a number of years before the conflict between the North and the South, he was fully prepared when actual hostilities did break out, to perform his part in preserving the Union, and in thus acting the part of a patriotic son of the nation to rise to a high rank, creditable alike to his early training and to his natural ability as a director and leader of men. Gen. Gregg served through the entire ware, and won promotion after promotion being finally brevetted Major-General U.S. Volunteers on Aug. 1, 1864. In civil life he has also achieved distinction that entitles him all the more to the highest regard of his countrymen.

Our subject was born in Huntingdon, Pa., April 10, 1833, and was a son of Matthew Duncan and Ellen (McMurtrie) Gregg. On both sides of the house, paternal and maternal, he comes of ancestors of whose records in civil and military life he may well be proud. The Gregg, Potter, McMurtrie and Elliott families from whom Gen. Gregg is directly descended, all settled in the colony of Pennsylvania at a very early date, and had much to do with the development and improvement of the Keystone State.

David Gregg

The first Gregg ancestor, of whom there is any sure knowledge, was David Gregg, who was born at Ayrshire, Scotland, about 1630. He was a captain in Cromwell's Army in 1655, and was within the walls of Londonderry during the great siege of 1638-39, as a faithful supporter of the Prince of Orange, William III, against the exiled King of England, James II. Both David and his son John, who was born near Londonderry in 1665, were killed by a party of Roman Catholics, in one of the conflicts that were constantly occurring between the Orangemen and the Romanists in the north of Ireland. John Gregg's two sons, David and Andrew, and their sister Rachel (Mrs. Solomon Walker) came to America in 1726, and first settled in New Hampshire, where David remained. Andrew and his brother-in-law, Mr. Walker, were not satisfied to locate there and so with their families and possessions shipped from Boston and landed at New Castle, Delaware.

Andrew Gregg

Andrew Gregg first located on a tract which he purchased at Chestnut Level, in Lancaster County, Pa., where he continued to live until 1718, when he purchased and removed to a plantation near Carlisle, where he continued to reside until his death in 1789. His first wife died at Chestnut Level, leaving six children; he again married, his second wife being named Jean Scott, who was born in 1725 and died in 1783. The children of this second union were Andrew and Matthew.

Andrew Gregg

Andrew Gregg, the grandfather of the subject of these memoirs, was ushered upon the stage of life June 10, 1755, near Carlisle, Pa., and died May 30, 1835, at Bellefonte, Pa. He received his early mental training in Rev. John Steel's Latin School at Carlisle, and completed his education at Newark, Del., while a resident of that place he served for a considerable period in the militia of the Revolution. In 1789 he accepted a tutorship in tthe College (now University) of Pennsylvania. He married Martha Potter, daughter of General James Potter, and in 1789 he removed to Penn's Valley, Center County. In 1791, he was elected to the lower house of Congress, and remained a member until 1807, when he was chosen United States Senator, his term of office ending in 1813. In 1820 he was appointed Secretery of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Geov. Joseph Heister, and in 1823 was nominated for governor on the Federal ticket in opposition to John Andrew Shulze, but was defeated in the ensuing election. There were born to Andrew Gregg and his good wife ten children named as follows: Mary, who married William McLanahan; Jean the wife of Roland Curtin (of their children Andrew G. was the "War Governor" of Pennsylvania); Martha, who because the wife of Dr. Constance Curtin (brother of Roland); Eliza who married David Mitchell; Julianna, the wife of Gen. James Irvin; Andrew married Margaret Irvin (a sister of Gen. Irvin); James P married Eliza Wilson; Matthew Duncan, our subject's father, who married Ellen McMurtrie; Sarah, the wife of Henry Kimey; and Margery, who married Rev. Charles Tucker. The mother of the above-named children Martha (Potter) Gregg, was born April 10, 1769 and died Aug. 20 1815.

John Potter

John Potter, the grandfather of Martha Potter, wife of Andrew Gregg, emigrated from County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1741, being accompanied by his sister, Isabella, and her husband, John Hamilton; they landed in New Castle, Del., in September, 1741. In 1746 he settled in Antrim township, Franklin Co., near the village of Greencastle. He was the first sheriff of Cumberland County. In 1756 he became a captain in Lieutenant-Colonel Armstrong's Expedition against Kittanning, in September of that year. The date of his death is unknown; his wife passed away in 1778.

James Potter

Of their eight children, James was born on the bank of the river Foyle, Tyrone, Ireland, in 1729, and came to America with his father in 1741. On February 17, 1756, he was commissioned ensign in his father's company of Lieutenant-Colonel Armstrong battalion, and served in the Kittanning Expedition, in which campaign he was wounded. He was promoted to the position of captain February 17, 1759, and commanded three companies on the northern frontiers. Captain Potter removed to Sunbury, in 1768. In 1775, occurred the stirring events of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, which aroused every patriotic son of Pennsylvania, and hurried them into a conflict that finally resulted in the recognition of American Independence. Captain Potter was among the first to offer his services for the struggle, then so doubtful, and on January 3d, 1776, he was elected Colonel of the Upper Battalion, and in July of that year of independence he became a member of the Constitutional Convention. He was in command of a battalion of Northumberland County militia in the battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776, and at Princeton, January 3, 1777 and on April 5, 1777 was appointed third Brigadier-General of the militia of the state, and commanded a brigade at Brandywine and Germantown, and served in the outposts at Valley Forge. In 1780, when residing at Middle Creek, Snyder County, he became a member of the State Council, and on November 14, 1781, he was elected Vice Preseident of Pennsylvania. He was unanimously elected Major-General, May 23, 1782, and in 1784 was elected a member of the Council of Censors. General James Potter first married Elizabeth Catheart. His second wife was Mrs. Mary Chambers, daughter of James and Mary Patterson. Mary Patterson, whose maiden name was Stewart, was a granddaughter of George Stewart, who settled in Conestoga township, Chester County, in 1717. To General Potter and his wife Mary were born three daughters and one son of this family. Martha became the wife of Andrew Gregg and thus became the grandmother of our subject. At his death General Potter possessed an immense landed estate in Penn's Valley, Center County.

Matthew Duncan Gregg

Matthew Duncan Gregg was born April 5, 1804 in Penn's Valley, Center County, and fitted himself for the legal profession, being admitted to the bar in Huntingdon in 1825. In 1828 he was united in marriage with Ellen McMurtrie, daughter of David and Martha (Elliott) McMurtrie of Huntingdon. From that place he moved first to Pine Grove Mills, Center County, and in 1838 took up his residence in Bellefonte, where he engaged in the iron business. In 1845, in connection with his brother James P., and his brother-in-law, David Mitchell, he purchased the Potomac Furnace in Loudonn County, Va. Nine children were gathered about his fireside, as follows: Martha, born May 28, 1829, married Richard R. Bryan; Andrew, born May 28, 1831; General David McMurtrie, our subject; Mary, born August 20, 1834, married G. Dorsey Green; Ellen, born December 24, 1836; George, born February 10, 1838; Henry H., born Mary 19, 1840, married Rose Mitchell; Thomas I., born October 8, 1842, married Bessie D. McKnight; and died December 28, 1848. On July 25 1845, Matthew Duncan Gregg died, and in August of the same year was followed in death by his brother James P.; they were both buried in a churchyard between Leesburg and Point of Rocks, Va. Ellen (McMurtrie) Gregg, our subject's mother, died at Bedford, August 17, 1847 and is buried at Huntingdon, Pa.

David McMurtrie

David McMurtrie, the grandfather of Ellen (McMurtrie) Gregg, our subject's mother was born at Ayr, Scotland, about 1709, and came to America in 1735, settling in Philadelphia, where he engaged in importing merchandise. In 1754, March 18, he married Margery Fisher at Cooper's Ferry (now part of Philadelphia), and his children were as follows: William, born May 15, 1757; David, born January 14, 1764; Charles, born July 21, 1766; and James, born December 16, 1768. Just before the Revolution David McMurtrie moved to Bedford, now Huntingdon County, and began the improvement of large tracts of land owned by him on Shaver's Ceek and in the town of Huntingdon. His death occurred in 1782.

David McMurtrie, son of the above-mentioned pioneer, was born in the City of Brotherly Love, and went to Huntingdon with his father, were he became a merchant, carrying on his business first in Huntingdon, then in Petersburg, and again in Huntingdon. He was a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania in 1802. He married Martha Elliott, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Carpenter) Elliott, and they had the following issue: James E.; Anna, who first married Ed. Patton and then was united in marriage with Thomas Jackson; Mary, who married James Given; Ellen, born January 3, 1802, married Matthew Duncan Gregg, and died August 17, 1847; David, who espoused Martha McConnell; Benjamin E., who married first Sarah H. Orbison, and afterwards was united in matrimony with Mrs. Ellen (Patton) Dorsey; Margery; Robert Allison, who was twice married, first to Sarah Briscoe and second to Mrs. Maria Dennison; Martha, who became the wife of James McCahen; and William, who married Margaret Whittaker.

Robert Elliott

Robert Elliott, the great-grandfather of our subject's mother, through Martha (Elliott) McMurtrie, was born prior to 1730, but it is uncertain whether his birth-place was in America or in Ireland. His home was in Peters township, Cumberland (formerly Lancaster) County. He was twice married, the issue of his first marriage being two sons, Benjamin and George and two daughters, Barbara and Jane. Benjamin Elliott was born in 1752, in Peters township, Cuberland (now Franklin) County, Pa., and became a resident of Huntingdon, then in Bedford County, in 1775. When but twenty-four years old he was elected one of the delegates from Bedford County to the convention, which met July 15, 1776, at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, for the purpose of forming the first Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was sheriff of Bedford County in the years 1784 and 1785, and became the first sheriff of Huntingdon County in 1787. In that year he was also elected a delegate from Huntingdon County to the Pennsylvania Convention, which ratified the Federal Constitution. He was elected a member of the Supreme Executive Council from Huntingdon County, October 31, 1789, and served until December 20, 1790, when the Council's term of office expired by reason of the election of Gov. Mifflin. He held several county offices in Huntingdon county, including that of associate judge. He died in Huntingdon March 15, 1835, and was laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery. He was thrice united in matrimonial bonds. His first wife was Mary Carpenter, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Herr) Carpenter, and a granddaughter of Heinrich Zimmerman, who was born in 1673 in Switzerland. Heinrich Zimmerman made his first trip to America in 1698, returning to his native place in 1700. He married Salome Ruffner. Being a physician, he practiced his profession until 1706, when, having engaged in a conspiracy against the government, he was compelled to flee the country for safety, and accordingly came to America, settling in Germantown. In 1710 he began to acquire lands in Lancaster County, and in 1717 he moved there; he died about 1750, leaving a large estate to his heirs. Benjamin Elliott and his wife, Mary Carpenter, had three children namely; Martha, born in 1799, who married David McMurtrie and died in 1841; Mary, born in 1781, who became the wife of Robert Allison; and James, who prepared for the legal profession, but died young and unmarried. Benjamin Elliott's second wife was Sarah Ashman, and his third, Susan Haines.

General Gregg spent his earlier boyhood with his father's family in Bellefonte, Harrisburg, and Hollidaysburg. In April, 1845, the family removed to Potomac Furnace, Loudoun County, Va. When in the following July, the father died, the widowed mother with her nine children returned to Hollidaysburg, where her death occurred not long after in August 1847. Our subject then became a member of the family of his uncle, David McMurtrie, living in Huntingdon, and for two years attended the school of that excellent teacher, Mr. John A. Hall. From this school he went to Milnwood Academy, in the lower end of Huntingdon County, and a year later joined his elder brother, Andrew, at the University at Lewisburg. While at the University he received an appointment as cadet at the United Stated Military Academy at West Point, which he entered July 1, 1851. He graduated in June 1855, standing eighth in a class of thirty-four members; among his classmates were Generals Averill, Webb, Ruggles and Comstock, all prominent officers in the Union Army in the War of the Rebellion, and General Nichols of the Confederate Army. He was promoted in the army to Bvt. Second Lieutenatn of Dragoons, July 1, 1855, and served in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., in 1855-56, being commissioned Second Lieutenant of First Dragoons, Sept 4, 1855. In 1856 he was assigned to frontier duty in the West and on the Pacific Coast, and remained there until the outbreak of the Civil War recalled him to the East. He was stationed at Fort Main, New Mexico, in 1856; took part in the march in California in the same year; was at Fort Tejon, Cal, in 1856-57; Fort Vancouver, Wash., in 1857-58; and Fort Walla Walla, Wash. in 1858. He took part in the Spokane Expedition of 1858, being engaged in a desperate combat with the Indians at To-hots-ninme, Wash., Mary 17, 1858; was present at the combat of Four Lakes, Wash., September 1, 1858; combat on Spokane Plain, September 5, 1858; and skirmish on Spokane River, September 8, 1858. He was on frontier duty at Fort Walla Walla, Wash., in 1859; at Fort Dallas, Oregon in 1859-60; was scouting against the Snake Indians in 1860, being engaged in a skirmish near Hamoy Lake, Oregon, May 24, 1860. The winter of 1860-61 was spent in duty on the Warm Spring Reservation.

Our subject became First Lieutenant of the First Dragoons on March 21, 1861 and was made Captain in the Sixth Cavalry on May 14, 1861. During the first months of the war he saw duty in the defenses of Washington, D.C., and throughout the remainder of the war was connected with the Army of the Potomac. From Oct. 12, 1861 till January, 1862, he was on sick leave. He became Colonel of the 8th Reg. Pa. Vol. Cav., on Jan. 24, 1862, and took part in the Virginia Peninsular Campaign. He was engaged in the battles of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, May 31 and June 1 1862, skirmishes at New Kent Court House, Savage Station, Bolton's Bridge and White Oak Swamp, June, 1862, battle of Glendale, June 10, 1862, and covering the movement from Hanson's Landing to Yorktown, August 1862. He was in the Maryland Campaign of the Army of the Potomac, which extended from September to November, 1862, being engaged in several skirmishes on the march to Falmonth, Va., in October and November. On Nov. 29, 1862, our subject was commissioned Brigadier General U. S. Volunteers. From December, 1862 to June, 1863, Gen. Gregg commanded a Division of Cavalry, being engaged in the skirmish at Rappahannock Bridge, April 4, 1863, and "Stoneman's Raid" towards Richmond April 13 - May 2, 1863. The Pennsylvania Campaign of the Army of the Potomac was participated in by our subject, still as a cavalry commander; he was engaged in the combat of Brandy Station, June 9, 1863, kirmish at Aldie, June 17, Middleburg, June 19, Upperville, June 21, 1863, battle of Gettysburg, July 1-2-3, 1863,, skirmish at Shepherdstown, July 16, 1863, and pursuit of the Rebel Army to Warrenton, Va., July, 1863. Central Virginia then became the scene of operations for the Army of the Potomac, and our subject there participated in the action at Rapidan Station, Sept. 14, Beverly Ford, Oct. 12, Auburn, Oct. 14, and New Hope Church, Nov. 27, 1863. From March 26 to April 6, 1864, Gen. Gregg was in command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and in the Richmond Campaign from April 6, 1864 to Feb. 3, 1865, was in command of the Second Cavalry Division of the Army of the Potomac, being engaged in the skirmishes at Todd's Tavern, May 5-7, 1864, where he was in cammond, Ground Squirrel Church, May 11, 1864, combat at Meadow Bridge, May 12, 1864, battle of Haw's Shop, May 28, 1864, skirmish of Gaines' House, June 2, 1864, battle of Trevillian Station, June 11, 1864, action of St. Mary's Church, June 24, 1864, where he was in command, skirmish at Warwick Swamp, July 12, 1864, combat of Darbytown, July 28, 1864, skirmish at Lee's Mills, July 30, 1864. On Aug. 1, 1864, Gen. Gregg came into command of the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac, being brevetted on that date Major-General U. S. Volunteers "for Highly Meritorious and Distinguished Conduct Throughout the Campaign, Particularly in the Reconnaissance of the Charles City Road". On Aug. 17, 1864, he was in the action at Deep Bottom, skirmishes and battle of Ream's Station, Aug. 23-25, 1864, combat of Peeble's Farm, Sept. 29-30, and of the Vaughan Road, Oct. 1, 1864, where he was in command. The battle of Goydton Plank Raod, Oct. 27, 1864, destruction of Stony Creek Station, Dec. 1, 1864, and skirmish at Bellefield, Dec. 9, 1864, terminated Gen. Gregg's active work in the army. He resigned from the service Feb. 3, 1865.

Gen. Gregg's brothers, Henry H. and Thomas J., were both in the Union Army and served three years, the former as Captain in the 125th Reg. Pa. Val. Inf., and as Major in the 13th Reg. Pa. Vol. Cav., the latter as Lieutenant in the 6th Reg. Pa. Vol. Cav., and as aid-de-camp on his brother's staff.

In February 1874, President Grant appointed General Gregg U. S. Consul at Prague, Bohemia, which position he resigned and returned to Reading in the following August, where he has since made his home. In 1891 he was nominated by the Republican party as its candidate for Auditor-General of Pennsylvania, was elected, and made a splendid record in his three years of service. He was elected Commander of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. in 1886, and was continued in office by successive elections every year until the present. He is president of the board of directors of the Charles Evans Cemetery Company of Reading, and is a member of the board of trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Harrisburg.

On Oct. 6, 1862, General Gregg married Ellen F. Sheaff of Reading, a great-granddaughter of Frederick A. Mehtenberg, as also of Gov. Joseph Hiester. They have two sons namely: George Sheaff; and David McMurtrie.

Daniel Drenkle Lerch

Page 15-16

Daniel Drenkle Lerch, deceased, who was a member of the firm Bright & Lerch, leading hardware merchants of the city of Reading, was sadly afflicted with blindness during the last fourteen years of his life and his marvelous career in business life extending over that period was the wonder of all with whom he came in contact. He was a son of George Lerch, during his day the leading hardware dealer in Reading, where our subject was born July 5, 1844.

After completing his education in the schools of Reading, he entered the employ of his father, and upon the latter's demise he, in partnership with his brother, William Jl., assumed control of the business, which was located above the Mansion House, at 504 Penn Square. Subsequently William J. Lerch retired and disposed of his interest to a Mr. Bright, the firm name becoming Bright and Lerch. William J. Lerch then engaged in the manufacture of cigars and is one of the prosperous business men of the city. In 1884, our subject was taken ill and was left totally blind as a result of the optic nerves becoming paralyzed. This was a great shock, but with the indomitable will and energy which was always characteristic of him, he regained his health in other respects after a gallant struggle and again entered the realms of the business world, much to the surprise of his many friends and business associates. The deprivation of sight seemed to sharpen his intellect and other senses, and a stranger seeing him as he sat in his chair in the counting room or waited upon customers would express the greatest surprise when informed of his affliction, as his eyes were not disfigured and the vacant stare which usually characterizes the blind was absent. He purchased the stock for the store with his usual good judgement, and in fact his life was very little changed. He was deprived of the pleasure of reading, in itself a great misfortune, but his wants in that direction were supplied in a measure by his son George, who read to him from the newspapers and kept him posted on all of the current topics of the day. He was widely known and honored as one of the most remarkable men the city of Reading has ever known. He was a man of the keenest perception and sound judgment and his opinions were not infrequently sought by his fellow citizens. In matters of public interest and general improvement he ever evinced a spirit of progress. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and was a delegate to the Democratic County Convention which nominated Heisler Clymer, Esq., for congress, also aiding largely in securing his election. He was also at one time a delegate to a Democratic National Convention. He was a member of the school board for a number of years, and took a deep interest in educational matters. In the various capacities in which he served he won the high esteem of his colleagues by a quiet, straightforward, and impartial course in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Lerch died February 23, 1898, aged fifty-three years, seven months and eighteen days.

Mr. Lerch was united in hymeneal bonds with Mary Elizabeth Stidfole, a woman of many virtues, and a daughter of Joseph E. Stidfole of Philadelphia, who was a member of the firm, Morgan & Co., proprietors of a large wholesale dry goods store on the corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia. This happy union was blessed by the birth of the following offspring: George, who is now employed by Bright & Co., successors to his father; Joseph S., who is engaged in the grocery business in Reading; William H., who is with Arms & Early, with an office in the Reading Second National Bank; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of A. W. Pritchett of New York, employed by Kean & Hagerty as salesman, and mother of one child, Daniel; Marie, who is a young lady of eighteen years; and Emma, who died aged nine days.

Dr. George W. Kehl

Page 16, 19

Dr. George W. Kehl, a rising young physician of Reading, was born September 18, 1871 in Boyertown, Pa., and is a son of William D. and Deborah (Hartman) Kehl.

George Kehl, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of New Hanover township, where he was born February 6, 1801, and where he died May 30, 1839, while in the prime of life. His son, William D. Kehl, the father of our subject, was born December 16, 1836, and since 1862 has lived in Boyertown, where he is one of the most prominent and progressive citizens. He was intimately connected during his years of business activity will all public enterprises which tended to elevate the standing of the community, and now occupies an enviable position in public favor. When he moved to Boyertown, he was engaged as a commission merchant, but later operated a creamery. He continued in that line of business for some years, but gave it up when he was called to accept the vice-presidency of the Boyertown National Bank, which position he still retains. He is interested in many business ventures and is president of the Boyertown Mutual Fire Insurance Co.; president of the Douglassville Turnpike Co; a director and superintendent of the Boyertown Casket Co. Religiously he is an adherent of the faith of St. John's Lutheran Church of Boyertown. He was joined in hymeneal bonds with Deborah Hartman, a daughter of Conrad Harman who was born in Oley township, December 12, 1801, and died at Marysville, near Boyertown, August 28, 1878. This union was blessed by the birth of four sons and two daughters, whose records are as follows: Ada, who was born November 17, 1866, is the wife of Dr. J. Eliner Porter of Pottstown, Pa; S. Eva, who was born February 4, 1868, is the wife of Rev. J. Calvin Fisher, who has charge of a pastorage at Lebanon, Pa; George W., the subject of this personal history; Jonathan S., who was born June 21, 1873, and died February 21, 1876; William, who was born March 2, 1875, is not attending the Millville State Normal School; and Lester, born January 16, 1880, who is in attendance at Cornell University. In business, William D. Kehl is shrewd, upright and exact. His social relations are of the pleasantest nature and few men stand higher than he in the estimation of his fellow townsmen. Surrounded by those elements which make life worth living, he finds with each succeeding day matters of live interest into which he throws the same energy and activity which has been of such valued service to him these many years.

Our subject is a man of educational attainments, having received a thorough academic and collegiate training. After completing the required course in the public schools of Boyertown, he attended Mt. Pleasant Seminary and later the Arms Academy of Pottstown, where he finished his preparation for college. He then took a course in the Roanoke College of Salem, Va., after which he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated May 10, 1893. He was then appointed resident physician at St. Timothy's Hospital at Philadelphia for one year, during which time he gained valuable experience which enabled him to enter auspiciously upon his present practice at Reading. Although young in years, he has had a thorough preparation and is well qualified to handle the most complicated of cases which may come up in general practice. He is one of the assistant physicians on the medical staff at St. Joseph's Hospital of Reading, and is a member of the Reading Medical Society and the Berks County Medical Society. Dr. Kehl has a successful practice, and a brilliant career is predicted for him.

Who's Who in Pennsylvania:
A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries
Edited by John W. Leonard: Published 1908
Transcribed by Vicki Hartman for Genealogy Trails.

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