BIOS: William H. BERKEY, Somerset, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania and Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 342/3 William H. BERKEY. William H. Berkey, a resident of Somerset, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was there born December 1, 1839, a son of Henry and Lucy (Philson) Berkey, and grandson of Adam Berkey, who emigrated to this country from Germany. William H. Berkey acquired his education in the common schools of his native county. When the Civil war was in progress he enlisted in 1862 and served for nine months under Captain George F. Baer. He re-enlisted in 1864, and served under Dr. Webster B. Lomen, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, until the close of the war. In matters of politics Mr. Berkey is a strong Republican, and he and his family are regular and consistent members of the Lutheran church. In 1869 he married Nancy E. Lape, born December 25, 1850, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Hufman) Lape, and they have the following children: Norman E., born 1870; Mollie B., 1872; George H., 1875, died in Guatemala, Central America, November 23, 1905; Emily S., 1888; Rhea, 1892. Of these children, Norman E., the eldest, married Flora Custer, and they have two children, Samuel and William H.