OBIT: William Henry MERRBACH, 1931, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

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

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WILLIAM MERRBACH

William Merrbach Fatally Injured
Sterling Citizen of Meyersdale Meets Tragic Death While Hauling Coal

  William Merrbach, a sterling citizen of Meyersdale, aged 52 years, was fatally 
injured Monday afternoon, Oct. 26, and died in the Hazel McGilvery Hospital, at 
11:30 a.m., Tuesday, after Drs. Glass and Gracie had done all that surgical 
skill could do to repair the injuries to his head which were of a major nature.
  Mr. Merrbach lived on Keystone Street opposite the stone house and operated a 
custom coal mine near Sippleville.  On Monday afternoon he delivered a truck 
load of coal at the home of Lloyd Lehman on the old Sand Patch road, a short 
distance east of the borough line.  After unloading the coal and while turning 
his truck to return to the mine, he lost control in some manner and the truck 
plunged over a high bank and dropped down into the new Sand Patch road.
  The cab was demolished and Mr. Merrbach was caught under the wreckage, 
sustaining frightful injuries about the head and face, in spite of which he was 
able to extricate himself from the wreck.  He was promptly taken to the Hazel 
McGilvery Hospital, where it was found he had a fracture of the skull, besides 
other serious injuries about the head and face.  Death mercifully relieved his 
suffering which would have been long and severe had he been able to survive.
  William Henry Merrbach was born at Altamont, Md., Jan. 6, 1879, and lived in 
Frostburg for a long while before locating in Meyersdale 19 years ago.  He was a 
very honest and industrious man and a highly respected and exemplary citizen in 
every respect.  He was a pipe-fitter besides being an expert coal miner.  He 
worked in coal mines the greater portion of his life.
  He is survived by his wife, who before her marriage to him was Miss Anna 
Catherine Emmerka of Frostburg, two sons, Aden and Ernest, and two 
grandchildren; also by two brothers, Henry, of Meyersdale, and John G., of 
Frostburg, and three sisters, Mrs. Carl Vogtman and Mrs. John Livengood, of 
Meyersdale, and Mrs. Charles Brode, of Sharon, Pa.  Two brothers and two sisters 
died in infancy.
  Mr. Merrbach was an active member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and the 
Lutheran Brotherhood of Meyersdale, the services of which he attended regularly.  
He was also a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics at Frostburg.
  Funeral services were conducted in Zion Lutheran Church at 1:30 this  
(Thursday) afternoon, by the pastor, Rev. J. Luther Frantz, after which the body 
was taken to Frostburg, Md., for interment in the German Lutheran Cemetery at 
that place.  The Junior Order of American Mechanics had charge of the burial 
services at the grave.  J. L. Tressler was the undertaker in charge.

Meyersdale Republican, October 29, 1931

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WILLIAM MERRBACH

  In the report of the accident, death and burial of William Merrbach last week 
a few errors were made.  The following paragraph will correct same:
  William Henry Merrbach was the youngest of twelve children.  He was born in 
The Glades, Garrett County, Md., near Deer Park.  He is survived by his wife, 
who was born in Germany, and two sons, Aden and Ernest; two brothers, Henry, of 
Shade Mill, Garrett County, Md., and John, of Frostburg, Md.; three sisters, 
Amelia Brade, Sharon, Pa., Carrie, widow of John Livengood, of Meyersdale, and 
Annie, who is Mrs. Carl Vogtman of Meyersdale.  Three children died in infancy; 
Godlieb died at the age of 62 at Lonaconing, Md., Theodore died at the age of 71 
years, and Emma Phillips at the age of 49 years at Frostburg, Md.  Godlieb and 
Theodore were born in Germany.

Meyersdale Republican, November 5, 1931