OBIT: Emanuel M. BERKLEY, 1932, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

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EMANUEL BERKLEY

  Emanuel Berkley, retired farmer and well known citizen of Meyersdale, aged 76, 
died at his home on Meyers Avenue at 2:30 this (Thursday) afternoon.  His death 
is said to have been due to cancer of the stomach.  He is survived by his wife, 
Minerva, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Silas Walker.  Funeral services will 
be held in the Church of the Brethren at 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon, J. L. 
Tressler is the undertaker in charge.

Meyersdale Republican, September 15, 1932

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EMANUEL M. BERKLEY

  The death of Emanuel M. Berkley, a well known citizen of Meyersdale on Sept. 
15th, occasioned some surprise, as the serious state of his health for some days 
prior to his passing was not known to many of his friends.
  He was aged 75 years, 9 months and 1 day, having been born Dec. 14, 1856, in 
Summit Township, Somerset County, Pa.  He was the eldest of the three sons of 
Bishop Peter and Sally (Meyers) Berkley, both deceased.  His brothers, Harvey M. 
and Mahlon C. Berkley, preceded him to the grave.
  Mr. Berkley's father, revered bishop of the Church of the Brethren, and farmer 
by occupation, died when his children were yet young, and on Emanuel, the eldest 
son, devolved the management of the fine farm a short distance northeast of 
Meyersdale, left to his mother by her husband.  He proved equal to the task and 
during many years of his mother's widowhood, he was her right hand and 
dependable administrator.  He was an industrious and capable farmer, managing 
the farm now owned and occupied by Samuel L. Saylor, for his mother until after 
his marriage when he took over the farm on his own account, but his mother who 
was one of the finest women of Summit Township, continued to have her home with 
him until she went to her eternal rest at a ripe old age.
  After selling the above mentioned farm to Mr. Saylor, Mr. Berkley moved to his 
ancestral farm a little farther to the north of Meyersdale, which he operated 
until he sold it to the Wilmoths during the coal boom of twelve or more years 
ago, and about nine years ago he retired from farming and located in Meyersdale 
to engage in various business activities.
  For the greater part of his life, Mr. Berkley had extensive business interests 
other than farming.  For some years he had banking interests in the West.  He 
was also a stockholder and for some years a director of the Second National Bank 
of Meyersdale.  He also engaged to some extent in coal mining and real estate 
speculations, and for several years was one of the owners and managers of the 
Meyersdale Milling Company.  In his later years some of his investments proved 
unfortunate and he lost a large portion of the fortune he had accumulated.
  During the last few years of his life his health was failing and he lived 
quietly, but engaged in useful labor whenever his health permitted and he could 
find any work to do.  He was by nature very industrious and a hard worker all of 
his life.
  Mr. Berkley during his young manhood espoused the faith of his devout parents 
and was a faithful member of the Church of the Brethren until the end of his 
days, and until about a year ago a member of the church choir.  A fine spirit of 
helpfulness and generosity was always manifest in his life.
  Funeral services were conducted in the Church of the Brethren at 4 o'clock, 
Saturday afternoon, September 17th, by his pastor, Rev. George L. Detweiler.
  Mr. Berkley's only surviving relatives, near of kin, are his widow, Mrs. 
Minerva Walker Berkley, and a nephew, Robert E. Berkley, of California, son of 
the late Mahlon C. Berkley.

Meyersdale Republican, September 29, 1932