Untitled From Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 547-548

PHILLIP GERHART, a retired farmer of Harrison township, Grant county, richly deserves the rest and peace that have come to him in his last and declining years. He has been all his life an industrious and hard-working man, has kept close to the soil, and wrought a good work in the oft-recurring sowing and reaping. Now that the sun is casting the long shadows, it is fitting and proper that he should surround himself with those things that he has accumulated by honest toil, to comfort the afternoon of his day on earth.

Mr. GERHART was born on the river Rhine, in Germany, in 1837, and is a son of Valentine and Mary (POST) GERHART, who lived and died in the Fatherland. His father followed the work of a weaver, and in his time served as a soldier in the German army. Phillip GERHART, with one brother and one sister, came to this country in 1855, and worked in the coal mines at Pottsville, Penn., for a year. He then came West to Grant county, Wis. The brother, Valentine, settled on a farm near Platteville, and married Miss Mary J. LORY, who was born in England. They have had six children: Susan, who married Rev. Mr. FARNSWORTH, of Grant county, and is now deceased; Jane, of Iowa; Mary, who married Rev. Richard CARNS, of Iowa; Miss Louisa; and Carrie and Jessie, also unmarried. Charlotte GERHART, sister of Phillip, married Lewis HABLE in Germany; they came to Wisconsin, and settled on a farm in Harrison township, where he died in May, 1900, leaving a widow and six children: Mary, wife of Charles BRUNTON, of Harrison township; Lewis; Lizzie, Mrs. ESLIP; and Carrie, Mrs. Edward IVAN - all of Harrison township; Frank, of Platteville; and Nettie, who died at the dawn of womanhood.

Phillip GERHART was eighteen years old when he came to America, and though he had been thoroughly educated in the German schools his English education was mostly acquired after coming to this country. He did farm work by the month in Grant county until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company B, 43d Wis. V.I. and served mainly in the Army of the Tennessee, under Gen Thomas. His regiment was badly cut up at Nashville, and throughout the war he saw many hard-fought battles, and made many long and dreary marches. He was mustered out in November, 1865, and, coming back to Grant county, married Miss Mary LAWRENCE, the estimable daughter of Henry and Sophia (FAACIER) LAWRENCE, both of whom were German born and bred. After coming to America they spent some years in the hard coal region near Pottsville, Penn., where they were married. In 1845 they came to Grant county, Wis., and settled on the farm near Platteville, which was their home until death. Four of their children are still living: Charles, of Grant county; Maggie, Mrs. Peter CABLEY, of Harrison township; Carrie, Mrs. John LORY, of Crawford county, Wis.; and Mary, Mrs. Phillip GERHART. The last named was born in Pennsylvania in March, 1845, and came to Wisconsin when a child.

After their marriage Mr. GERHART and his wife settled at Platteville, where he went into business as a general merchant. He did well, and displayed good business habits, but his health so failed that he was compelled to seek out-of-door work, and he rented a farm near Platteville, which he continued to cultivate until he purchased it, in 1896. He has erected a new home, and made extensive improvements. Mr. and Mrs. GERHART have reared a family of seven children: Henry was born in Platteville in 1870, married Miss Ida BURKHOLDER, of the town of Harrison, and resides on a part of the present homestead; they have two sons, Arche and Earle. Edith, (deceased), married Edward MORSHEAD, of Grant county, and bore him two sons, John and Roy. Hannah, born in 1875, married Jefferson RICE, and resides in the town of Platteville, on a farm; they have six sons, Frank, Alvin, Charles, Ornie, Samuel and Harry. Carried died when eleven years old. Charles, born in 1878, married Ollie LAUTHAIN, and lives in the town of Harrison. Frank, born in 1880, married Rena BURKHOLDER. Mabel, born in 1882, is now the wife of Charles MOSES, and lives on a farm in Grant county.

Mr. GERHART has always been a member of the Republican party, and he and his wife were brought up in the Lutheran Church. They are honorable and upright people, and are highly respected by all who know them.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck