JOHN GERBER

John Gerber claims the picturesque land of the Alps as the place of his nativity, his birth having occurred in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, his natal day being March 15, 1857. He is a son of Ulrich and Barbara (Streit) Gerber. The father was a manufacturer of cheese, spending his entire life in his native land, where he died in 1870. In 1876 the mother emigrated to America and spent her remaining years with her son John, passing away at his home on the 26th of December, 1909, when she had reached an advanced age. She was the mother of seven children, as follows: Elizabeth, still a resident of Switzerland; Dan, who makes his home in Wisconsin; Ferene, also of Switzerland; Ulrich, who went to Norway, since which nothing has been heard of him; Fred, a resident of Virginia; John, of this review; and Christian, who died in Dakota in 1894.

John Gerber, the sixth in order of birth in the family, was reared in his mountain home to the age of sixteen years and at that period in his life, in 1873, accompanied his brother Fred on his emigration to the new world. The trip across the Atlantic was full of interest for John Gerber and he also looked forward to the superior advantages that he could enjoy in the new world and thus make a place in life for himself. He and his brother first located near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where for three years John Gerber worked at farm labor. On the expiration of that period he made his way to Cedar county, believing that through the exceptional advantages here offered to the agriculturist, he might more quickly acquire a competency. Thus in 1876 he located here and for four years continued his work at farm labor, while in 1880 he removed to Guthrie county, this state, there purchasing a farm on one hundred and sixty acres, which he cultivated and on which he made his home during the succeeding twenty years. He then sold his land and returned to Cedar county, having since that time resided on his father-in-law’s farm of seventy-eight acres, situated on section 13, Center township. He assists in the operation of this tract of land and also helps his father-in-law in the conduct of a feed mill, Mr. Gerber running the engine in the mill. He likewise rents a separate tract of land, which is devoted to general farming, and through his industry and perseverance he is meeting with substantial success.

It was in 1884 that Mr. Gerber established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Elma Elizabeth Beltz, who is a native of Center township, born December 31, 1862, and a daughter of Elias and Fidelia (Goodale) Beltz, both natives of Ohio. The father came to Cedar county in 1859, while his wife had come in 1852 with her parents, and it was in this county that their marriage took place. The mother departed this life June 15, 1865. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gerber has been blessed with seven children, namely: Gilman, who married Coe Iola Collar and makes her home with her father; Lilly Barbara, who died when thirteen months old; John E.; Gertie Elma, who died when only three years of age; Harry Albert; Roscoe William; and Estella Euretta. The children still reside with their parents.

Spending his boyhood and youth amid the beautiful scenery of the Alps, Mr. Gerber has in later life enjoyed the freedom and opportunity for advancement in this country and as time has passed he has worked his way upward until today he stands not only among the successful men of Cedar county but is as well a man highly respected and esteemed in the community in which he has spent much of his life since taking up his abode in America.