I am the son of Mary Elizabeth Eberle Lewis (1909 - 1995) and John B. Lewis (1897 - 1958). Mary was a daughter of John L. Eberle (1878 - 1940) and Ida M. Trimmer Eberle (1883 - 1970). I have one (full) sibling, a brother James (Jim). Our father had an earlier marriage that produced two children, John G. (Bud) Lewis (1918 - 1992) and Dorothy (Dot) Lewis Shipley (1916 - 2003). Our mother also had an earlier marriage, to Elwood Melhorn (no children). These people were born in York County, Pennsylvania, and most of them died there.
This web page is devoted to Mary E. Lewis's siblings and ancestors.
Many of the photos and info here were given to me by my Aunt and Uncle, Geraldine and John S. Eberle. Thank you Gerry and Johnny.
A great source of information on the Eberle family (variously spelled Eberly, Eberli) is the book "Eberly Family History" compiled by Paul C. Bennetch, 1974. The branch
described here begins on page 452 of that book.
For information on my Dad's family, the Lewises, click here.
The children of John L. and Ida Eberle:
Velma M. (1905 - 1982), married Charles Sprenkel (1903 - 1998); children Irene and Carolyn.
Lottie (1907 - 1984) married Russell A. Thomas (1907 - 1979), children Russell Jr., Mae, John.
Mary E. (1909 - 1995) married John B. Lewis (1897 - 1958), children James and Robert.
Ida Pauline (1913 - 1976) married Clarence Krout (1910 - 1965), child Beverly.
Mildred (1915 - 2001) married Jay Shultz (1914 - 1967), children Sandra and Jay Jr.
John S. (1918 - 2007) married Geraldine Zinn (1921 - 2017), child Patricia.
Marguerite I. (1921 - 2010) married Clarence Einsig (1921 - 1994), child Susan.
In addition there was a boy named Roy who died as a young child. From the dates above it would appear he fits after Mary.
John A. Eberle (1845(44?) - 1919): father of John L., so my great-grandfather. According to the Eberly Family History, he married Susan C. Dussinger (1841 - 1906). John was a school teacher, a dealer in horses, and operated a store at Camargo, Pa. I recall my mother (Mary) telling of her grandfather who died in their house when she was a young girl, of the effects of diabetes. I am not positive which grandfather she meant, but I think it was this one.
Four childen. I think these are the last four children of Ida and John, so they would be Pauline, Mildred, John, and Marguerite.
John L. Eberle around 1920(?). children unknown.
John L. Eberle evidently around 1936(?). The two young men are Russell Thomas and Charles Sprenkel. The two boys are probably Lottie and Russell's sons Russell Jr. and John.
Sprenkel family, early 1940s; daughters Irene and Carolyn.
Family picture around 1939-40. Evidently taken during the spring; John L. died on September 30, 1940. Front row, left to right: not sure, Elwood Melhorn (crouching), Carolyn Sprenkel, not sure, not sure. The others, left to right: Clarence Krout (with daughter Beverly), John L., Pauline, Charles Sprenkel, Velma, Lottie, Russell Thomas, Ida, Mary, John, Mildred, Irene Sprenkel(?), Marguerite, Jay Shultz.
Grandma Trimmer, nee Dierdorff, Ida's mother, with Ida, Velma, and Pauline.
John S. Eberle as a young man, with guinea pigs.
John and Geraldine mid 1940s.
Mary, my mother, 1945. The photo has been colorized; Mom's eyes were not brown but bluish/hazel.
John B. Lewis, my dad, 1953 or 54. I am the little one on the left; Jim is on the right.
Thomas family around 1957(?), Lottie and Russell around age 50. The three young men are probably Russell Thomas Jr., Albert Lynch (husband of Mae), and John Thomas. I am not sure who all the kids are. I am guessing that the oldest boy is Thomas Purvis, grandson of Velma.
Clarence "Gus" Einsig mid 1960s.
Susan Einsig, and again here.
Jim and his two sons. My brother Jim Lewis with sons Chris and John, taken around 1982.
Family gathering 1986 at the home of Ken and Sandy Potter. (Sandy is the daughter of Mildred.) From left, Marguerite, her daughter Susan, John, Mildred, Sandy, Mary, Geraldine.
Family gathering 1986 siblings. John, Marguerite, Mildred, Mary.
November 24, 2004. Any information or corrections: email to rlewis at fordham dot edu.
On January 9, 2006 I found reference to this family on the web via the Trimmer line. Here is Ida Trimmer Eberle. Following the links reveals our ancestors through many generations, with surnames such as Dierdorff, Bupp, Hake, Harlacher, Kunkle, Trimmer (same Trimmer line! a cross link), Ahardt, Houshell [Houshildt], Bosserman, Landis, Ness, Bushey [Bushi], Schmalenberger, and Rider.
Note added December 2007: The link above may have been changed by the rootsweb owner. If so, just do a web search for "John Leber Eberle" or "Ida M. Trimmer".
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