Sernberger, De Witt

SERNBERGER, JOINER, CLARK, ROLPH, LOUCKS, BAKER, MCLAIN

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 4/15/2003 at 21:32:19

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

DE WITT SERNBERGER.

Among the old and honored residents of Clinton is numbered De Witt Sernberger, who has made his home here since 1864, and was one of the most trusted employes of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company for forty-four years. He was born in Columbia county, New York, September 10, 1833, a son of Ransom and Nancy (Joiner) Sernberger. At one time the father owned and operated a distillery on the Hudson river, but failing in business, he took up the painter’s trade and followed it throughout the remainder of his life. His last days were spent in Dement, Illinois, where he died when about sixty-five years of age. His wife survived him twenty years, making her home with our subject in Clinton, where she passed away in 1893, aged seventy-eight years. They were the parents of four children, of whom De Witt is the oldest; Josephine is the wife of Marten Clark, a resident of Kansas; Charles is engaged in farming in New Jersey; and Edward, who was a sailor, left home on a whaling voyage and has never been heard from since.

De Witt Sernberger received his education in the common schools of New York, and remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, when he commenced firing on the New York Central Railroad, being thus employed for two years. The following year was spent in Chicago, while employed as fireman on the railroad between that city and Freeport, Illinois. He next entered the service of the Alton & St. Louis Railroad, where he ran an engine for about two years. In 1858 he removed to Fulton, Illinois, and commenced work on the Air Line. When the road was extended to Clinton he ran the first engine across the new bridge to the island, and from there ferried the cars to the Iowa shore. When the bridge was completed he removed to Clinton, where he has since made his home, and was engineer after the connection was made with the Iowa side. He was engineer on a passenger train thirty-four years, but in 1896 he retired from the road on account of rheumatism, and is now living in ease and quiet, surrounded by all the comforts which make life worth the living. Before his family removed to Clinton, he purchased a lot on Tenth avenue and built his home afterward, and at different times has owned several houses in the city.

In 1860 Mr. Sernberger was united in marriage with Miss Emily Rolph, who was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1843, their wedding being celebrated in Fulton. Of the three children born to this union, one died in infancy. Charles an engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway since 1893, runs between Clinton and Boone and resides with his parents. Ruth is the wife of Walter Loucks, treasurer of the electric car line at Aurora, Illinois. Both children were educated in the schools of Clinton, Iowa, and Garden Plain, Illinois, where the family resided for a few years. Mr. Sernberger purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Garden Plain township, Whiteside county, Illinois, which he operated for a time, but still retained his position with the railroad company. He still owns that place, on which there are two good residences.

Mrs. Sernberger acquired her early education in the public schools of Illinois, and later attended the Mt. Carroll schools for one year. She is a daughter of Edward and Frances (Baker) Rolph, native of Queen Ann county, Maryland. About 1830 the mother moved to Illinois with her uncle, John Baker, and was the first white woman married in Fulton township, Whiteside county. Mr. Rolph, who was a farmer by occupation, went to Pike’s Peak in 1849, and finally located at Central City, Colorado, where he died at the age of fifty-six years. His wife died in Sacramento, California, at the age of sixty-three. They were the parents of ten children, of whom only three are now living, namely: Emily, wife of our subject; Charles, a resident of Leadville, Colorado; and Martha, widow of Samuel McLain and a resident of Salida, Colorado.

In his political views Mr. Sernberger is a Republican, and in his social relations is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason about 1862. He also belongs to Clinton Division, No. 125, B. of L. E., while his wife is a member of the ladies auxiliary of that order, and was its president for two years. She is now insurance collector and secretary of the G. I. a., member of the managing board of Agatha Hospital. She was a member of the plans committee when the hospital was erected and has since been a member of its board, having always been a very active and energetic worker for its interests. In religious faith she is a Presbyterian. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sernberger stand high in the community where they have so long made their home, and those who know them best are numbered among their warmest friends.