Bios: Blatt Family: Berks Co, PA

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From:  Morton L Montgomery, "Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks
County, Pennsylvania.  Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1909.  p 1181-82.

Surnames mentioned:
Billman, Blatt, Bohn, Boltz, Gaul, Gerhard, Gerhart, Gruber, Hafer, Hain,
Keim, Kleinginni, Koch, Snyder, Stepp

Note: Surnames of related families have been capitalized, but are lower case
in the original.

BLATT.  The BLATT family of Berks county has long been classed among those
whose representatives are useful and substantial citizens.  At the present
time, the brothers, Cornelius F. BLATT, a former director of the poor of
Berks county, and an extensive and successful farmer of Marion township, and
Darius M. BLATT, of Reading, jury commissioner of Berks county, sons of
Abraham G. and Elizabeth (GERHART) BLATT, are worthily bearing the family
name.

Frederick BLATT, the great-grandfather of Cornelius F. and Darius M., was a
pioneer farmer of Bern township, owning the large farm which is now the
property of Levi Rentschler, and lived in a stone house, which was situated
near the present Philadelphia & Reading railroad depot, near Mohrsville.  He
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being a member of Captain Shartle's
company, and was a man of adventurous spirit.  In 1800, with his son
Matthias, he rode on horseback to Reading to vote for Thomas Jefferson for
President.  On one occasion, while he and his brother were hunting in the
Blue Mountains, he entered a cave to secure a number of bear cubs, but the
return of the mother bear interrupted him, and the warning cry of his
brother who was on the outside enabled him to squeeze past the old bear in
the opening of the cave and to escape with his life.  He is buried at either
Belleman's or St. Michael's Church.  Mr. Blatt had these children:  Adam,
who went to Ohio in either 1836 or 1839, his descendants living in the
vicinity of Sandusky; David and John, who were residents of Centre;
Matthias; and Jeremiah, of Centre, who had four children--Aaron, Reuben,
Caroline (m. Adam BOHN) and Malinda (m. George SNYDER).

Matthias BLATT, the grandfather of Cornelius F., was born in Bern township
in 1777, and died during the winter of 1859, having been a lifelong farmer
of Bern (now Centre) township, where he owned a property of about 100 acres,
now the property of his grandson, John B. BLATT.  He was a member of the
German Reformed Church, and is buried at Belleman's Church.  He married
Rosanna GERHARD, a native of Germany, who came to this country with her
parents when nine years of age, and they became the parents of the following
children:  Adam, who had--Adam, Davilla H., Catherine, Mary and Harry (who
lives in Kansas); John, whose children were--Jacob, Levi (of Dauphin
county), John, William (who was killed during the Civil war), Sarah, Maria
and Catherine; Polly (Mary), who died unmarried; Rebecca, who m. (first)
Nathan HAFER and (second) Daniel STEPP; George, who had an only daughter,
Hettie, who is the widow of Adam KOCH; Abraham G.; and Elizabeth, who m.
Samuel BILLMAN, a prosperous citizen of Stark county, Ohio.

Abraham G. BLATT, father of Cornelius F., was born in Centre township (then
Bern) in 1815, and died on his farm in the same township in March, 1892.  He
was reared to farming, and when a young man learned the milling trade, which
he followed for 25 years in Centre and Jefferson townships, the last mill
operated by him being the old Miller Mill, above Bernville, which he
conducted for five years in addition to farming a 200 acre property.  Mr.
Blatt was a very robust man, and was never sick a day in his life, with the
exception of his last illness, which was of short duration, being caused by
a stroke of apoplexy, which he suffered while on a visit to his brother,
George, near Robesonia.  His brother passed away eight days later, aged 88
years.  Abraham G. BLATT was buried at Belleman's Church in Centre township,
and George at the Corner Church in North Heidelberg township.

In 1839 Abraham G. BLATT was married to Elizabeth GERHART, who was born Oct.
17, 1825, and died in December, 1893, daughter of a well-known musician and
the composer of a book of hymns long used by the Lutheran and Reformed
churches of Berks county.  To Mr. and Mrs. Blatt there were born 13
children, as follows:  Cyrus G., of Bernville; Isabella, who married John L.
BOLTZ; Cornelius F.; Catherine, the widow of William HAIN, of Williamsport;
Joanna, m. to Abner HAIN, Jr. of Lower Heidelberg township; Emanuel,
deceased, who is buried at St. Michael's Church, Tilden township; Sophia, m.
to Samuel KEIM, of Reading; Seth, a farmer of Lower Heidelberg township;
Darius M.; Wellington, who met his death in a railroad accident at West
Leesport; Charles, a farmer of North Heidelberg township; Benjamin, of
Reading; and one child that died in infancy.

Cornelius F. BLATT was born in Centre township, Berks county, May 21, 1847,
and was reared to farming.  In 1882 he began operating the Madeira farm in
Heidelberg township on his own account, continuing there for five years.  He
then became the tenant upon the Reed farm of 200 acres, located in Marion
township, which he has operated since 1887, in connection with a 56 acre
property adjoining, which he purchased in 1901.  He is a progressive,
up-to-date agriculturist, and the fine condition of his property bears
evidence to his ability in this line.  He keeps 35 head of cattle and 22
horses.

Mr. Blatt is prominently known throughout Berks county.  He has been active
in the ranks of the Democratic party, and on different occasions has held
positions of honor and trust.  He was first a school director in Heidelberg
township, and later held a like position in Tulpehocken township, where,
during his term of office, the board established the Rehrersburg high school
and in 1889 erected a four-story bulding, which is a credit to the
community.  Mr. Blatt is an able exponent of the cause of education, and has
rendered valuable services in this line to his county.  In 1899 he was
elected a director of the poor of Berks county, and while a member of this
board displayed ability, sound judgment and honesty of principle.  He and
his family are members of St. Paul's Reformed Church of Robesonia.

Mr. Blatt was married to Amanda GRUBER, who was born in 1848, and died Sept.
29, 1904, aged 56 years.  To this union there were born four children:
James, of Millbach, Lebanon county; Frank, who resides at home and assists
his father in farming; Maggie, who also resides at home; and Charles, a
farmer of Heidelberg township, who married Maggie GAUL.

Darius M. BLATT was born in Jefferson township, Nov. 4, 1858, and was reared
to farming, which he followed until 16 years of age, at which time he
commenced teaching public schoool, and continued at that profession for 14
consecutive years.  He subsequently became associated with the 'Reading
Eagle' as collector, and continued in that capacity for 16 years, when he
took charge of the livery stable attached to the "United States Hotel,"
Reading, and is also engaged in school teaching.  In 1909 he was elected
jury commissioner of Berks county, and is a competent and pleasing official.
 In 1877 he was married to Sallie A. KLEINGINNI, and they have seven
children:  Julia; Maud; Dallas M., who has two children, Clara and Dallas;
Anna M.; Wilhelmina; Bunting; and Darius L.