Randolph-Jackson County IL Archives Biographies.....Gerlach, Jacob P. 1867 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 15, 2008, 6:33 pm

Author: George Washington Smith (1912)

   JACOB P. GERLACH. The city of Evansville, Illinois, recognizes in Jacob P.
Gerlach one of her most worthy citizens, one who has the welfare of the
community at heart, always willing to serve when required and who will spare
neither time nor labor in any cause or movement brought for the betterment of
the city and county with which he has been identified for so many years. As
postmaster of Evansville for a number of years, and as the editor and publisher
of The Evansville Enterprise for a longer period, he has been active and
influential in all affairs pertaining to the advancement and general good of the
city, and in addition to holding many minor offices in connection with civic
affairs, has served his city two-terms in the capacity of mayor.

   Born in Monroe county, Illinois, January 28, 1867, Jacob P. Gerlach is the
son of Christian Gerlach, a German farmer. Christian Gerlach early in life
married Barbara Baum, and they were the parents of Christian, of Los Angeles,
Jacob P. and John H., of Evansville. Mr. Gerlach died in the 'sixties, at their
home near Renault, Monroe county, Illinois. In later years Mrs. Gerlach
terminated her widowhood by marrying. Casper Nurnberger, by whom she became the
mother of Louis, who died in youth; Mrs. L. J. Stahlman, of Baldwin, Illinois;
Mrs. C. Studle, of Evansville; George, of Welga, Randolph county, Illinois; Mrs.
Louis Nehert, of Nashville, Kansas; Rose, of Evansville, and Fred, also a
resident of Nashville, Kansas. Mrs. Nurnberger died in 1888.

   The early life of Jacob Gerlach was beset by many of the difficulties brought
to bear by the death of a parent in childhood, and he attained his education at
the cost of a rather severe struggle on his part. Determined, however, to
accomplish more than the ordinary education of the average country boy, he
persevered in his studies, and in his irregular attendance at the Carbondale
Normal acquired a liberal knowledge of the common branches. He was unable to
continue in school for any length of time at a stretch, but by teaching in the
district schools from time to time it became possible for him, to attend the
Southern Illinois Normal University, after which he engaged in teaching
regularly. Had it not been for the vacancy in the ownership and editorship of
the Evansville Enterprise, it is probable that Mr. Gerlach would have continued
indefinitely with his pedagogic work, but in the circumstances there seemed no
one but he to assume those responsibilities, and he undertook the editorship of
the Enterprise, which later placed him in the way of the ownership of a business
which has served him well in the years of his control. In the fall of 1895,
while he was engaged in teaching the Pautler school near Evansville, he
performed the work of teacher and editor both, and shortly thereafter he assumed
complete charge of the Enterprise, which, has been his principal business
occupation since that time. The Enterprise is a Republican paper, although
established as a Democratic paper by its founder, J. M. Shaw, in February, 1895,
but the paper met with repeated difficulties and the proprietorship was changed
of necessity. Since it fell into the hands of Mr. Gerlach the Enterprise has
been conducted rather as a mere medium for the conveying of local and other news
rather than as a mouthpiece for any particular brand of politics. While its
editor is a Republican, the patrons and friends of the paper are of various
shades of political belief, and its editorial column is never known to reflect
arbitrary sentiment. It rather partakes of the characteristics of any well
regulated country newspaper, non-partisan in sympathies and calculated to he
well received in the home. As such it is an unqualified success.

   The civic life of Mr. Gerlach, as briefly noted above, has been something
above that of the ordinary citizen. On January 11, 1898, he was appointed
postmaster to succeed H. G. Meyerott, and since that time has been reappointed
to the office twice. He has served his town as its treasurer for eight years,
and three years in the capacity of clerk. Later he was chosen mayor of
Evansville, serving with praiseworthy wisdom, following which he was elected one
of the trustees of. the town, and then chosen mayor again in April, 1911. All of
which is clearly indicative of his standing and ability. Politically Mr. Gerlach
is of the Republican faith, as before mentioned, and he is recognized as one of
the leaders af the party in his section by reason of his labors in its behalf
and his services as its delegate to various conventions. In his fraternal
affiliations he has served the Odd Fellows lodge of Evansville for several years
as its secretary, and he has been clerk of the Modern Woodmen since the
organization of the local camp, No. 4510, in 1897. In addition to his other
business interests he is secretary of the Evansville Building and Loan
Association, a stockholder in the Evansville Telephone Company, and president of
the Evansville school board.

   On May 26, 1891, Mr. Gerlach was married to Miss Johanna Wicklein. She died
February 21, 1892. Mr. Gerlach remarried September 15, 1896, when he took for
his wife Miss Rachel Schroeder, a daughter of John Schroeder. The issue of their
marriage are Arthur, Ella, Loretta, Harold and Raymond.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A HISTORY OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People, and its Principal
Interests

BY
George Washington Smith, M. A.
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1912


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