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MARSHALL COLLEGE
Class of 1858 Obituaries
Joseph J. BRIDENBAUGH, son of Philip and Mary
(Heilman) Bridenbaugh, was born December 15, 1832, at Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pa. When he was quite
young the family moved to Sinking Valley, Blair county, Pa. In his childhood he lost his right arm near the elbow.
After receiving such education as was possible in the country schools of that day, he was sent to an academy at
Meadville, Pa., where he prepared for entrance to college. In 1854 he became a member of the Freshman class and in due
course was graduated with honor. He was an active member of the Diagnothian Literary Society.
Although he had always enjoyed excellent health, during
commencement week, or soon thereafter, he contracted a severe cold, which gradually developed into consumption
of the lungs. The best medical treatment available was obtained, but the ravages of the dread disease could not be
checked. Immediately after graduation he returned to the home of his parents, but continued to decline, passing away
December 30, 1859.
[Rev. S. R. Bridenbaugh, D. D.; A. K. Stauffer, Esq.]
David EVANS, A. M., was born near
Neffsville, Lancaster county, Pa., in 1827, attended the common schools, engaged in business, and then became a school teacher.
He entered the Sophomore class in 1853, and remained in college one year. Returning to the Junior class in 1856, he
graduated in 1858. He was a member of the Goethean Literary Society. The year
of his graduation he was married
to Miss Zook, of near Neffsville, and they at once removed to Landisburg, Perry county, Pa., where he had been elected
principal of the high school. From 1859 to 1872 he was superintendent of the public schools of Lancaster county,
retiring from that position on the election of B. F. Shaub. He then engaged in the real estate and insurance business
in Lancaster city. He died October 25, 1887. A widow, three daughters, and a son, Sidney Evans, teller in the
Conestoga National Bank, Lancaster, survive him.
[College Student, 8 : 33, 39.]
Rev. Charles Gutzlaff FISHER, A. M., D.
D., only son of
Rev. Dr. Samuel R. and Ellen Catharine (May) Fisher, was born at Emmitsburg, Md., December 28, 1837. He
prepared for college in Chambersburg, and entered the Sophomore class in 1855, graduating in 1858.
Having directed his attention to teaching, in 1858 he
became principal of the Mifflinburg (Pa) Academy; in 1859, principal of the Mt. Dempsy Academy, Landisburg, Perry
county, Pa.; in 1861, principal of the Parsonage School, Ellicott City, Md.; in 1863, assistant in The Hill Family School,
Pottstown, Pa. The same year he entered the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg. In 1864, as principal, he
reorganized Marshall Collegiate Institute, which eventually became Mercersburg College. After graduating from the
Seminary he was licensed by Mercersburg Classis in 1866, and ordained to the holy ministry. His first charge was at
Grindstone Hill, Franklin county, Pa., where he labored in 1866-67. In 1868 he became pastor of Boehm's charge, at
Blue Bell, Montgomery county, Pa., the church which his father attended when a boy, and in which he was also
confirmed. Dr. Fisher served this charge till 1873, when he was called to Winchester, Va. This pastorate, which he
considered the happiest of his ministry, continued until 1880, when he became assistant superintendent of the
Reformed Church Publication Board.
In 1881 he was elected superintendent and treasurer of
the Board, succeeding his father. At the annual meetings of the Eastern Synod and of the Potomac and Pittsburg
Synods, in 1887, the Publication Board presented a proposition which had been received from Dr. Fisher, and in
which, in consideration of a monetary claim held by him, he proposed that the Board transfer to him " all the
property it possesses . . . except stereotype plates and publishing rights." By direction of the Synods the transfer was made by the Board, and he assumed sole charge of the
work of publication, under a lease of ten years, dating from January 1, 1888.
Dr. Fisher held many positions of honor and trust in the
Church. He was treasurer of the Board of Education of the Reformed Church from 1881; a member of the Board
of Visitors of the Theological Seminary, at Lancaster, from 1883; an original member of the Board of Directors of the
Daniel Stine Home for Aged Ministers, at Myerstown, Pa., and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Franklin
and Marshall Alumni Association of Philadelphia from 1887. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania-German
Society. While at college he was a member of the Goethean
Literary Society. He received the degree of A. M. in 1861, and the honorary title, D. D., in 1890, from his Alma Mater.
He was married to Miss Margaret Hay at Johnstown,
Pa., October 2, 1867. The widow and four of their five children survive to mourn their loss : Mrs. Margaret F.
Clarke, Asbury Park, N. J.; Ellen May, Samuel R., and Charles W.
Dr. Fisher died suddenly on Tuesday, February 25, 1896.
He had returned to his home at noon on that day, and whilst looking over some books with his son and daughter, his
voice was suddenly hushed, his eyes closed, and without a struggle or moan he calmly fell asleep.
[Proceedings Pa. German Society,. 6: 124; Reformed Church
Messenger, March 5, 1896 (Portrait); Mrs. M. H. Fisher.]
Theodore David FISHER was born in Jonestown,
Lebanon county, Pa., on Sunday, St. John's day, May 6, 1838. His father was Philip Fisher and his mother Louisa,
daughter of Jacob Greenawalt, of Harrisburg, Pa. Theodore was their only child and received the nurture of a Christian
home. He was confirmed by Rev. F. W. Kremer (1843) as a member of the Reformed Church, October 27, 1855.
He prepared for college at the academy at Lebanon, Pa.,
under Rev. John Kluge, A. M., and later at the same place under Rev. J. M. Titzel (1854), who had succeeded Mr..
Kluge as principal in September, 1854.
Admitted to the Junior class of college in September,
1856, he graduated in July, 1858, sharing the highest honor of his class—the Marshall oration. The subject of
his graduating address was " The Jewish Nation." He was a Diagnothian.
January 4, 1859, he and his classmate, H. Kyd Douglas,
jointly took charge of the academy at Hagerstown, Md., for six months. At the end of this term he returned to
Lebanon and on July 7 of the same year commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. J. W. Killinger (1843). On
October 15, 1859, he was appointed teller in the Lebanon Valley Bank, and on January 1, 186o, entered upon the
duties of his new position.
When, in September, 1862, the Home Guards were called
out for three months in defence of the State during the Civil War, he enlisted and went to Harrisburg, Pa.
Because of
his experience and facility with the pen, he was appointed a clerk to aid in the organization of the regiments. When
the emergency was passed and the regiments were disbanded, he again returned to his home at Lebanon.
On the day before Christmas, 1863, his uncle, Major
Theodore D. Greenawalt, paymaster in the U. S. Army, came from Harrisburg to secure the services of Theodore
as his clerk, with residence and business for the present at Washington, D. C. In January, 1863, he accepted the
position. About the middle of July of this year they were ordered to St. Louis, Mo. The last letter from him was dated
at St. Louis, August 3, 1863. They had been ordered to Memphis, Tenn, by the steamboat Ruth, a transport boat,
which left St. Louis at 4 P. M. with about 200 passengers, among whom were eight paymasters with their clerks, who
had $2,600,000 in greenbacks with which Grant's army was to be paid. They had as guard thirty-one soldiers of the
Ninth Wisconsin Regiment. At Cairo the Ruth stopped for a few hours and Major Greenawalt went ashore; but as he
did not return in time the boat started without him. About twelve miles below Cairo, at midnight, the boat was found to
be on fire. As soon as discovered the boat was headed for the shore on the Missouri side, and when it approached
the bank a number of passengers jumped ashore. The boat at once swung around and floated down stream with
about thirty persons on board, all of whom perished, and among them Theodore David Fisher.
A memorial service was held in St. John's Reformed
church, Lebanon, on Sunday, October 8, 1863, at which time his pastor, Rev. Dr. Henry Harbaugh, preached a
suitable sermon.
[Rev. E. R. Eschbach, D. D.]
Henry Leidy GERHART was the son of Rev. John
Henry and Elizabeth (Leidy) Gerhart. His great-grandfather, Peter Gerhart, who emigrated from Alsace, in France,
in 1737, and settled in Franconia township, Montgomery county, Pa., was the ancestor of the Gerhart family in
America, which is of Huguenot stock.
Henry L. Gerhart was born in Bedford, Pa., December
6, 1821. He entered the Freshman class of Marshall College in 1845, remaining three years. In 1857 he returned
to college for his Senior year, graduating from Franklin and Marshall in 1858. He was a member of the Goethean
Literary Society. He was licensed to preach the Gospel, but was never ordained. His time was mainly devoted to
teaching. He taught in the Line Lexington Seminary, and in the Perkiomen Seminary, at Pennsburg, Montgomery
county, Pa.
He enlisted, October 16, 1861, at Harrisburg, Pa., for
three years as a private in Captain Robert E. Taylor's Company F, 51st Reg. Pa. Vol. Infantry, commanded by Col.
John F. Hartranft, and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. During his
term of service the regiment participated in the following engagements in 1862: Roanoke Island, N. C., February 7,
8; Newbern, N. C., March 14; Camden, N. C., April 19; near Elizabeth City and in the interior of the State, April
and May; Kelly's Fort, August 3; Rappahannock, August 21; battle of Bull Run, Va., August 30; Chantilly, Va., September 1; Frederick City, Md., September 12; South
Mountain, Md., September 14; Antietam, Md., September 16; Upperville, November 3; Fredericksburg, Va., December
13.
In 1863 he participated in the following engagements: Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June and to July 4; Big Black
Run, Miss., July 6; Jackson, Miss., July 9-16; Warrenton, August 24; Cumberland Gap, September 9; Sulphur Springs,
November 16; Lenoir and Loudern Bridge, Tenn., November 5; Campbell's Station, November 16; siege of Knoxville,
November 17 to December 4; Rutledge, December 16; Plains Cross Roads, December 18. In 1864 Mr. Gerhart
fought at the Wilderness, Va., May 5-7; Spottsylvania C. H., May 8-18; Bethesda Church and Cold Harbor, June 1-12;
Petersburg, Va., June 30 to July 31; Weldon Railroad, August 19; near Yellow Tavern, Ream's Station, Va.,
August 25; Poplar Springs Church, September 30 and October 1; siege of Petersburg, Va., to April 2, 1865. In spite
of his many battles, Mr. Gerhart received few injuries. He was slightly wounded at Fredericksburg in his right breast;
at Antietam in the head by a shell; and at Yellow Tavern in the right leg.
At Petersburg he was sick with chills and fever
in Crab Orchard hospital about three months. He was honorably discharged October 15, 1864, but re-enlisted
February 22, 1865, for one year or during the war, at Washington, D. C., as sergeant in Capt. G. M. Steele's company,
United States Veteran Volunteers, under Col. Bird, and was honorably discharged April 21, 1865.
Henry L. Gerhart died December 18, 1894, at North
Wales, Montgomery county, Pa. He was unmarried.
[Bates, 2: 30; Rev. E. V. Gerhart, D. D.; Isaac G.
Gerhart.]
Samuel Bahl LIGHT, M. D., son of Samuel and
Catharine (Bahl) Light, was born in Lebanon, Pa., March 15, 1839. Early in life he manifested a disposition to study and
attended Kluge's Academy in Lebanon, and subsequently, in 1856, entered the Junior class of college. He was a
member of the Diagnothian Literary Society, and one of its foremost debaters. He was also a member of the Chi Phi
fraternity. He graduated in 1858 with the first honor divided between himself and T. D. Fisher.
Returning home to Lebanon he was elected, by the
Lebanon School Board, principal of the male high school, which position he filled with credit for two terms,
1859-60, at the same time pursuing the study of medicine with Dr. Cyrus D. Gloninger (1843). In time he attended medical lectures,
and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1863, passing a brilliant examination.
The Nation having use for men of his ability, he obeyed
the call of his country, and soon found himself in the army of the Union, as assistant surgeon, with rank of 1st
lieutenant of the 96th Reg. Pa. Vols., from October 18, 1863, to October 21, 1864. Subsequently he filled a similar position
in the 48th Reg. Pa. Vols., serving in the army until January 5, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He then
returned to Lebanon and began the practice of medicine. In 1884 he opened a drug store, which he conducted in
connection with his practice as a physician.
He was elected the first prison physician of Lebanon
county, and re-elected successively for seven years from March 2, 1868, to January 1, 1876. He was made the clerk
and physician for the directors of the poor and almshouse from November 5, 1875, and served in this position until his
death in 1886. He stood in the front rank in his profession, and his opinion as a medical expert was frequently
called into requisition in court trials.
He was one of the founders of the Lebanon Lyceum, and
was the presiding officer for three years. He had great taste for literature. Shakespeare was his favorite poet, and
he could recite whole plays from memory. His life was characterized by acts of generosity.
Dr. Light was an ardent Republican and represented his
party on several occasions in county and State conventions. He was married to Annie G. Fowler, January 4, 1869.
His children are Catharine Ann, wife of J. Warren Light, Jennie R., wife of C. D. Weirick, Esq. (1890); George R.,
Robert J., chief clerk in Lebanon post-office; Charles Augustus, Elizabeth F., and Barbara C.,—all of Lebanon.
Dr. Light for some time before his death was broken
down from over work. He was stricken with paralysis, in his carriage, while making a professional visit, taken home,
and in three days passed away, July 7, 1886.
[Bates, 3: 390; C. D. Weirick, Esq.]
Source: Franklin and Marshall College
Obituary Record, Edited for the Alumni Association, Vol. 1, No.1, Lancaster,
Pa. Published by the Alumni Association of Franklin and Marshall
College, June 1897.
Obituaries
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