BIO: David L. ZERBY, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ DAVID L. ZERBY, teller of the Millheim Bank, Millheim, Centre county, is one of the most substantial and conservative business men of Penn's Valley. He is a native of Penn township, Centre county, having been born at Penn's Creek, January 28, 1851, the fourth son and child of Adam and Susan (Snavely) Zerby, well-known and highly respected residents. Mr. Zerby, for a time, attended the schools of his district, W. E. Shirk being his first teacher. In 1868 he attended the Aaronsburg Academy, and later the academy at Penn Hall, receiving instruction from such able educators as W. H. Gottwalt, Prof. Salm, George W. Ebright and D. M. Wolf. At eighteen he was competent to teach, and undertook the management of the "Mountain School" in Gregg township, Centre 356 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. county. Finding the work congenial, he decided to continue it, and his pronounced success making it an easy matter for him to secure positions, he taught for thirteen years, or twenty-six terms, all but one term being in his native township. Six years were spent at Liberty school, and his success there indicates his efficiency as both an instructor and disciplinarian. He was especially gifted in mathematics, the most difficult problems being solved by him with ease. On November 5, 1874, Mr. Zerby was married to Miss Margaret Keen, a native of Penn township, Centre county, and daughter of Jacob and Anna Mary (Deininger) Keen, who are mentioned below. Since his marriage Mr. Zerby has made his home in Millheim, and on giving up teaching as a vocation, he entered mercantile life as a clerk for W. K. Alexander in his general store. He remained there some time, and was also employed at odd intervals in the Millheim Bank, in which he took his present responsible position as teller in January, 1893. Since entering upon the duties of the place he has gained hosts of friends, the public having learned that in their dealings with him they can be sure of courteous treatment and the most scrupulous honesty. He is a self-made man, and, although his father assisted him in securing an education, the money was repaid from the earnings of the first term as teacher. In 1877 Mr. Zerby purchased his residence in Millheim, and extensive improvements have made it one of the pleasantest homes in that charming village. His only child, Stella E., an accomplished young lady, is now a teacher in the high school at Millheim. The family attend the United Evangelical Church, and all are prominently identified with its activities. Mr. Zerby is a trustee and steward, and for many years has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. His zeal for the welfare of the Church has been shown in many ways, and during the negotiations for the transfer of certain properties in Penn's Valley to the new Church, he has ably represented the adherents of Bishop Dubbs. His interest in public affairs is not less keen, any project for the advancement of Millheim borough receiving his hearty support. In political affiliations he is a Democrat. He was the first burgess of the borough, and has served on the school board, while in May, 1889, and again in 1894, he was elected justice of the peace. As an official he has shown characteristic efficiency and public spirit, winning the confidence and esteem of all classes. Mrs. Zerby's family is of German extraction, the name having been Kuhn originally. Her great-grandfather, Johan Jacob Kuhn or Keen, was the first to leave the Fatherland, and after a brief residence in Berks county, Penn., he came to this section and settled upon a farm in Centre county, one mile west of Millheim. This is still known as the Keen farm, and has been continuously in the possession of his descendants since his day. He reared a large family of children, seventeen in all. His son George (Mrs. Zerby's grandfather) accompanied him from Berks county, became a leading farmer of Centre county, and in later years a prominent member of the Evangelical Church. His wife, Saloma Kramer, was a daughter of Daniel Kramer, a pioneer settler. Nine children were born of their union, the names with dates of birth being as follows: Jacob, October 22, 1809, died at Millheim when between seventy and eighty years of age; Rebecca, November 5, 1811, died while young; Elizabeth, January 15, 1814, married Samuel Runkle, and died in Illinois; Mary, November 22, 1816, married George Mark, and died in Millheim; Jacob, January 11, 1818; Daniel, January 5, 1820, went west, and all trace of him was lost; Samuel, September 24, 1822, resides in Williamsport, Penn.; Peter, January 20, 1826, is a resident of Cass county, Mich.; Katie, September 22, 1831, is now Mrs. John Gutileus, of Mifflinburg, Penn. The father of this family died in his seventieth year, and the mother in her eighty-fifth year, the remains of both being interred at Aaronsburg. Jacob Keen, the father of Mrs. Zerby, obtained a practical education, partly in the local schools of his day, and partly through observation. Although he was not the oldest son, his capacity for leadership was made evident at an early age, as he always "went ahead." On January 5, 1843, he married Miss Anna M. Deininger, a native of Bernville, Berks Co., Penn., born December 4, 1823. Her parents, Emanuel and Johanna H. (Obenland) Deininger, both came from Wurtemberg, Germany, in their youth, and were married in the United States. Emanuel Deininger was a well educated man, though not as familiar with English as with German, and an excellent musician. By occupation he was a marble cutter and candle maker, the latter business proving especially profitable. He moved with his family to Philadelphia when Mrs. Keen was a young lady, and after a short stay came to New Berlin, Union Co., Penn. where he remained ten months before locating permanently, in 1843, at Millheim. His wife died in 1861, aged sixty-two years, and he passed away in 1876 at the age of seventy-seven, both being laid to rest in COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 357 the cemetery at Millheim. Of ten children, five lived to maturity: Anna M. (Mrs. Keen); C. F., an Evangelical minister, who died at York, Penn., in July, 1888; Jonathan, a resident of Centre Hall; Benjamin O., who died in Millheim; and Augustus O., a resident of Hughesville, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania. Jacob Keen and his bride began housekeeping at the old homestead, and lived there until 1882, when he removed to Millheim, retiring from business cares. His death occurred November 1890, and his remains were buried there. He was a lifelong Democrat, but no politician, although he took much interest in local affairs, and at one time served as constable of the village of Millheim. In religious belief his sympathies were with the United Evangelical Church, to which his entire family belonged. He left a large estate, including the old homestead farm of more than 100 acres and some mountain land, as well as the comfortable home in Millheim, where his widow, a highly respected lady, still resides. There were thirteen children, whose names with dates of birth are here given: Sarah, October 28, 1844, now Mrs. Christopher Alexander; John D., October 7, 1845, a farmer of Penn township, Centre county; Justina J., February 28, 1847, now Mrs. A. F. Kramer; Rebecca, August 16, 1848, who died in infancy; E. D., July 26, 1849, a minister of the United Evangelical Church at Red Lion, Penn.; Anna M., January 14, 1852, Mrs. Zerby; Henry Franklin, March 30, 1853, residing near Curtin, Centre county; George W., May 13, 1855, a stock farmer of Lee county, Ill.; William E., March 7, 1857, a resident of Millheim; Mary A., June 14, 1860, who died in childhood; Rosa E., April 4, 1862, wife of Rev. M. I. Jamison; and Katie E., May 30, 1866, and Ada O., January 17, 1869, both at home at Millheim. Mr. Zerby is a charter member of Providence Grange at Millheim, was its secretary some twelve years, and is its present master. John Snavely, his maternal grandfather, was a soldier in the Mexican war.