CHARLES L. GERLACH

Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Pages 481 & 482

Kindly submitted by: Barbara Gallagher

CHARLES L. GERLACH. Among the local industries which have aided materially in the upbuilding of Bethlehem is the Bethlehem Ice Company, of which this gentleman is proprietor. He is a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, as he has made his own living from his early years and has been dependent upon his own resources. He has met the obstacles in his pathway with fortitude, overcoming them and rising to fresh successes, and acquiring his fortune through hard work and energy.

            The birth of our subject occurred in Nazareth August 31, 1860, and his first years were passed in Springtown, His father is Lewis A. Gerlach, whose biographical sketch is given in that of his son, E.J. Gerlach, in another portion of this volume. Charles L. became a resident of Bethlehem when he was five years of age, and there attended the Moravian Parochial School until attaining his twelfth year. For the succeeding seven years he drove ice wagons for C.D. Trumbower, and ice dealer. For a year thereafter he served an apprenticeship to a wheelwright in Nazareth, later was employed for two years with his brother in Hecktown, and then for a like period of time was with Mr. Hoffman in Bethlehem.

            In 1887 our subject embarked in business for himself, his concern being known as the Bethlehem Ice Company. He started on a very small scale, having one horse and a small wagon and only four customers. The same season he found it necessary to run another team and wagon, and succeeding well he finally purchased the Wermeth Ice-houses and commenced packing ice. He now owns ice-houses on the canal in West Bethlehem, filling them with White Haven ice. They have a capacity of four thousand tons, about half of which is filled with ice from the lakes. In order to supply his many customers three teams and three wagons are kept running all the time. These are owned by Mr. Gerlach, and his horses have the reputation of being the finest in the city for drafting and the wagons are finely painted. At No. 32 Iron Street Mr. Gerlach built stables, and in other ways is constantly branching out in order to meet the demands of his business. Besides the natural ice he also deals considerably in the artificial article, as many of his customers prefer the latter.

            In 1888 our subject married Miss Amanda Rodenbach, who was born in Williams Township, this county, and of this marriage have been born four children: Earl, Flossie, May and Anna D. The parents are faithful members of the Moravian Church, and have a large circle of warm friends and acquaintances. Fraternally Mr. Gerlach is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Order of Red Men. Politically he is a stalwart Republican, believing that that party advocates the best measures for the prosperity and progress of the people.