BIOS: Edmund K. SUDER, Berlin, Somerset County, PA

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 310-312

Edmund K. SUDER.

Among the well known, practical and progressive agriculturists of Somerset 
county, whose industry, perseverance and thrift have been the means of 
bringing to them good returns for their labors, is Edmund K. Suder, a 
resident of Berlin.  He was born in Somerset township, Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, July 12, 1851.
John Suder, father of Edmund K. Suder, and son of Henry Suder, was born in 
Brothers Valley township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1819.  He was 
educated in the schools adjacent to his home, and followed the occupation of 
a farmer up to the time of his death, which occurred during the July harvest 
of 1889, while driving a reaper, from which he fell lifeless.  He held many 
of the township offices, to which he was elected several terms, among them 
being that of collector, supervisor and school director; he also served as a 
director of the county poor farm.  He was a member of the Reformed church, in 
which he served as deacon for many years, and during the last twenty-five 
years of his life efficiently filled the office of elder.  He was active in 
all branches of church and religious work, and in all respects acted the part 
of an earnest Christian man.  He was formerly a Whig and later a Republican 
in politics.  In 1843 he married Sarah Hay, born in the year 1825, a daughter 
of Valentine Hay, who died when she was but seven years old.  She received a 
common school education, and later became a member of the Reformed church. 
Mrs. Suder died in March, 1906.  Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Suder, as follows: Susan, wife of Henry Stuck, resides near Berlin, 
Pennsylvania; Matilda, died in childhood; Henry, died at the age of twenty-
two years; William J., a farmer of the Valley; Edmund K., of whom later; 
Sarah, wife of Simon Hay, a farmer; Irvin H., a farmer of the Valley.
Edmund K. Suder was educated in the common and normal schools of Somerset 
county, and at the age of sixteen was qualified to follow the vocation of 
teacher, in which capacity he served for two years.  He then apprenticed 
himself to a carpenter, but owing to the death of his employer, he only 
followed this for one year, after which he returned to his father's farm.  
One year after his marriage, at the age of twenty-three, he purchased and 
removed to his present farm, where he has since resided.  The farm contains 
one hundred and seventy-seven acres of land, well stocked and thoroughly 
cultivated.  He purchases a large number of horses, cows and hogs, which he 
fattens for the market, using the production of is farm for this purpose. 
There is a sugar camp of five hundred vessels on the farm, producing from ten 
hundred to fifteen hundred pounds annually, and in addition to this there is 
a good orchard of one hundred and twenty-five apple trees of various kinds.
In politics Mr. Suder is a Republican, and his first vote was cast for the 
late Ulysses S. Grant.  He held the office of supervisor of Brothers Valley 
township four terms, and that of school director three terms.  At the age of 
fourteen he joined the Reformed church at Berlin, and has since hald 
membership in that body.  For many years he held the office of deacon, and 
since 1890 has been a member of the board of elders.  He is also 
superintendent of the Sunday school, connected therewith, and was a member of 
the building committee at the erection of the new church edifice.  Mr. Suder, 
while a man "diligent in business," is deeply interested in all religious and 
educational subjects.
Mr. Suder married, November 23, 1873, Emma Glessner, of Stony Creek, a 
daughter of Jacob and Dinah (Walker) Glessner, the former named being a 
farmer of Stony Creek.  Emma (Glessner) Suder was born November 7, 1855, 
educated in the Stony Creek schools, and is a member of the Reformed church. 
The issue of this union was eleven children, as follows: Effie M., born 
September 3, 1874, wife of C. C. Glessner, a farmer of Stony Creek, and they 
are the parents of one child, Edison G. Glessner.  Viola G., born August 14, 
1877, died August 12, 1878.  Cora B., born January 17, 1879, passed through 
the normal school and became a teacher in the public school; she was married, 
June 14, 1906, to Harvey Walker.  John Wallace, born April 11, 1881, learned 
the trade of a painter; now in Carleton, Nebraska.  Clara S., born November 
12, 1882, wife of Harvey Weigel, of Stony Creek; they are the parents of 
three children: Merlie, Nevin and Nelvin E. Annie L., born April 12, 1885, 
wife of Bert Bowers, a telegraph operator of Somerset township; they have one 
child, Walter G. Jacob G., born October 4, 1886, assists his father with his 
farming operations.  Sadie M., born October 23, 1888, is at present (1905) 
receiving a musical education.  Norman H., born October 25, 1890, is now 
being educated for a teacher at the Berlin Normal school.  Edmund K., Jr., 
born November 26, 1892; also expects to adopt the profession of teaching. 
Eugene S., born February 1, 1898, now attending the schools of Berlin.