History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 1887



Gleim Family - CHARLES GLEIM Biography

Charles Gleim, born September 24, 1844, at Lebanon, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, cashier of the Lycoming National Bank at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is a lineal descendant of the Rev. John Gottfried Gleim, a Lutheran pastor, of Wiesbaden, Germany (same family as that of the German poet, Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim), who, meeting in Germany Casper Fahnestock, had been deputed by Drs. Muhlenberg, Passavant and others to persuade Protestant divines to come to America, was induced in 1754 to leave his native land. Upon his arrival here he located in Germantown, Pennsylvania, where he preached the gospel until his death, in 1757. In company with Weiser, Matthias and others, he published a work entitled " The Inspired."

George Christian Gleim, son of the Rev. John G. Gleim, was born in Germany, April 7. 1736. He accompanied his father to America, served in the war of independence, and in a skirmish was severely wounded in the head and face by a British dragoon near Philadelphia. He married Anna Maria Matthias, of Germantown, Pennsylvania, and twelve children were the issue of this marriage. His death occurred at New Holland, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1817.

Charles Gleim, son of George C. and Anna Maria (Matthias) Gleim, was born April 7, 1775. He was the first sheriff of Lebanon county, his commission bearing the date of November 29, 1813. He also represented his county in the legislature in 1824-5 and 1825-6. He married Mary Elizabeth Gorgas, a granddaughter of John Gorgas, who, coming from Holland late in the seventeenth century, settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Gorgas was a Mennonite in religion, and his descendants were Seventh Day Baptists, identified with the religious life at Ephrata, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He married Sophia Rittenhouse, a granddaughter of William Rittenhouse.

Joseph Gleim, son of Charles and Mary Elizabeth (Gorgas) Gleim, was born at Lebanon, Pennsylvania, March 9, 18o6. He received a good education, and after laying aside his books learned the trade of printer, which he followed for many years, thereby gaining a comfortable livelihood for his family. He was the founder of the Lebanon Courier. He was originally a Whig in politics, but later in life changed his allegiance to the Democratic party. He was a consistent member of the German Reformed Church. He was active and prominent in the affairs of his town and county, and held various offices by commission from the state authorities. He married Rose Ann Embich, who was born November 11, 1824, a daughter of Major Frederick and Lucetta (Doebler) Embich, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Her paternal grandfather was John Frederick Embich, one of the first sheriffs of Lebanon county, and her maternal grandfather was Major Abram Doebler, a participant in the war of 1812.

Charles Gleim, son of Joseph and Rose Ann (Embich) Gleim, obtained his educational advantages in the common schools of Lebanon. In 1858 at the age of fourteen he learned telegraphy and secured employment along that line in his native town. At the death of his father the main support of a large family devolved on him, but he was equal to the emergency. From 1863 to the close of the Civil war in 1865 he served in the capacity of civilian clerk in the army, and in 1866 he secured employment at bookkeeping in the city of Williamsport. In the fall of that year he became teller of the Newport Deposit Bank, the following year became cashier of the Lykens Valley Bank, Millersburg, serving until 1873, a period of six years, was then appointed to a similar position in the Lycoming County Savings Bank, Williamsport, which was converted into the Lycoming National Bank in 1875, and is serving in that capacity at the present time (1905). He is connected with the First Presbyterian Church, member of its session, and closely identified with the various branches of work of that body. He is a Republican in politics. Mr. Gleim is a man of artistic temperament, socially inclined, possesses a fine tenor voice, is well known as a singer of note, and since making Williamsport his home has been identified with the best musical interests of the city.

On June 24, 1869, Mr. Gleim was married to Mary Elizabeth Nessly, daughter of Samuel and Catharine Norton Nessly, of Hancock county, West Virginia. Mrs. Gleim was educated at Morgantown Seminary, West Virginia. Her father, Samuel Nessly, a successful coal operator, was a descendant of Jacob Nessly, one of the pioneers of Ohio, a rugged character of the times when the conquest of the land was disputed by the Indians.


Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Lycoming County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1906.










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