Bios: William A. Gery, 1868-: 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 1329.

Surnames mentioned:
Babb, Beck, Collins, Evans, Fisher, Gery, Gehris, Harbster, Hartz, Haupt,
Ruth, Smith, Van Reed.

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

WILLIAM A. GERY, manufacturer of vitrified brick, was born at Reading, Oct.
23, 1868, and educated in the public schools.  He learned the trade of
hatter and followed it for four years until 1890, when he embarked with his
brother, Albert A. GERY, in the business of manufacturing vitrified brick at
Montello, a mile south of Sinking Spring, in Berks county.  In the
organization of the company, he became the manager; and he filled this
position until 1907, when he and his brother organized the Glen-Gery Brick
Company, which established a plant, with all the latest appliances, at
Shoemakersville, in Berks county, and became its  manager.

Mr. Gery was married to Minerva EVANS, daughter of Lewis M. EVANS of Spring
township; by whom he has two sons:  Edward Evans and Ralph William.  His
father is Addison GERY, born in 1837, and brought up on a farm in Hereford
township until he was twelve years old, when he accompanied his parents to
Reading.  He learned the trade of carpenter but entered the employ of the
Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, and continued with the company for
26 years (mostly as a locomotive engineer), until 1893, when he became the
stationary engineer of the Montello Brick Company, and he has continued in
the employ of this company until the present time.  He was married to
Catharine SMITH (daughter of Balthaser SMITH of Reading), by whom he had
eight children:  Albert A. (married to Nellie HARBSTER); Mary Rebecca
(married to Herbert E. COLLINS, of New Haven, Conn.); William A.; Leah
(married to William C.K. FISHER); Frank S. (married to Amelia BECK); and
three who died young.

Mr. Gery's grandfather was Jonathan Nuss GERY, tailor, of Hereford township,
who located at Reading in 1849.  He entered the employ of the P.& R.R. Co.
in 1851 and continued with the company until 1892.  He died in 1893, aged 82
years.  He was married to Mary GEHRIS, daughter of George, of Oley (now
Pike) township, by whom he had five children:  Addison; Emma E. (married to
John HAUPT of Savannah, Ga.); Benjamin F. (who died in infancy); Sarah Ann
(married to Harry HARTZ); and Jonathan G. (married to Emma BABB).  His wife
died in 1885, aged 69 years.

His great-grandfather was Michael GERY; and great-great-grandfather, Jacob
GERY, who emigrated from Switzerland in 1739.

Mr. Gery's wife is a lineal descendant of Philip EVANS, who emigrated with
two brothers from Wales about 1720, and afterwards settled in Cumru
township, Lancaster county, which in 1752 became a part of Berks county.
Her father was Lewis M. EVANS (1833-99), who married Sarah RUTH, and had
four children, George, William, Annie and Minerva.  Lewis was a son of John
V.R. EVANS (1804-64), who married Annie RUTH (1814-79).  John V.R. was a son
of Philip Thomas EVANS (1770-1835) who married Annie Elizabeth VAN REED
(1778-1853), a daughter of John VAN REED.  Philip was a son of Joshua, and
Joshua was a son of Philip, the immigrant above mentioned.