BIO:  J. A. H. RETHER, Butler Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 385-386

J. A. H. RETHER, P.O. Bigler, was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 9, 1821, 
and is a son of John Michael and Anna Martha Rether, natives of Germany, who 
lived and died in that country.  The boyhood of our subject was passed in the 
village of Rhidenberg, where he acquired a practical education in the village 
schools.  He learned the blacksmith’s trade in his father’s shop, who was also 
by trade a smith.  In 1840 he sailed for America, and after a voyage of nine 
weeks, landed at Baltimore.  The second day after his arrival in that part he 
secured employment at his trade, remaining there three years.  During that time 
he assisted in the construction of the first locomotive that went to Russia to 
be used on the first railroad in that country.  In 1843 he located at 
McSherrystown, this county, and established a shop, which he carried on three 
years; then removed to Hunterstown, where he continued his trade until 1849, 
when he bought property in Middletown, erected a shop, and here at present he 
may be found, little the worse to all appearances for the fifty years of 
incessant toll he has passed through.  For two years during the war he served in 
the mechanical department of the United States Service, mostly at the front; his 
brother, Sebastian, was also in the service, a member of the First Maryland 
Cavalry and died while in the service; another brother, Martin, resides in 
Germany, and another in Bedford County, this State.  Mr. Rether has one sister, 
Margaret, who married John Leach of Crawford County, Kas.  In connection with 
his trade, Mr. Rether also carried on a farm, hotel and brick-yard, etc., etc., 
doing a general and successful business.  He left the “fatherland” with barely 
enough money to pay his passage to our shores, but gradually has made his 
efforts tell, and his progress is marked by a permanent growth in property, the 
value of which will foot up to $20,000.  Through endorsing the paper of others 
he lost some $8,000, but adversity never “downs” a man of his pluck and energy.  
He was appointed postmaster at Bigler under President Buchanan’s administration 
and efficiently served until the inauguration of President Cleveland.  Of 
township offices he has held those of collector, treasurer and auditor, and 
discharged the duties of each impartially and to the satisfaction of his 
townsmen.  Politically he is an adherent of the principles of Republicanism, and 
never fails to help his party with his vote and influence.  In 1849, he married 
Sophia, daughter of Peter Smith of this county, born July 6, 1832, and to them 
have been born eight children-four living:  Alsena A., wife of Israel Shank; 
Clarence, a physician; George A. and Charles; the deceased are Frances Eugenia, 
John E., Peter R. and Etna May.  Mrs. Rether is a member of the Lutheran Church.  
Dr. Clarence Rether was born in 1856, and after completing a course at the Adams 
County Normal school, followed teaching five years.  In 1881 he entered 
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1884; 
practiced one year in Philadelphia and the same length of time in Centerport; 
located at Middletown in 1886.  August 31, 1883, he married Elizabeth A. 
Herrmann, daughter of Dr. August F. Herrmann, A.F., and has one daughter Edna D.  
George A. Rether was born in Middletown, Penn., November 2, 1863.  In 1876 he 
entered the Hyghenian College, at Oxford, Penn., where he completed a full 
course of the college, and in 1879 he entered Bryant, Stratton & Saddler 
College, of Baltimore, Md., where he graduated in penmanship and book-keeping 
(commercial) department.  He taught public school two years in Adams County and 
one year in the college of Girard, Kansas, as teacher of penmanship and book-
keeping.  In 1883 he commenced business in Middletown, dealing in coal and 
lumber, and in 1884 he erected a large warehouse on the line of the Gettysburg & 
Harrisburg Railroad at Middletown, and in 1886 built a planing-mill, sash and 
door factory.  February 22, 1886, he married Anna C., second and youngest 
daughter of Senator Ezra Minnick of Middletown, Md.  Charles Rether, in 1880, 
completed a full course at the Hyghenian College, Oxford, Penn.  He employs 
several hands in the manufacture of cigars, for which industry he travels as 
salesman.