Biography: Hon. Daniel Ermentrout

Hon. Daniel Ermentrout, 1837-1899

Source: Proceedings of Pennsylvania-German Society, Volume X, 1899.

Hon. Daniel Ermentrout was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on January
24, 1837, and came from an old and prominent Berks County family. He
was the son of William Ermentrout, b. December 12, 1799, d. January
21, 1880 (m. Justina Silvis, b. June 9, 1804, d. January 12, 1882),
who was the son of John Ermentrout, b. April 27, 1777, d. Mar. 27,
1851 (m. Maria Magdalena Moyer), who was the son of Christopher
Ermentrout, b. February 8, 1754, d. April 5, 1825, who was the son of
John Ermentrout, who emigrated from the German Palatinate to
Pennsylvania in August, 1739. The family is still represented in the
German nobility.

His education was obtained in the public schools of his native
place, at Franklin and Marshall College, from which he graduated
with honor, and at Elmwood College, of Norristown, Pa. After leaving
the later place he began his legal studies under Judge David F.
Gordon, at the same time teaching school. He was admitted to the
Berks County Bar August 3, 1859, and rapidly rose in his chosen
profession. He was honored, in 1862, by election as District
Attorney for three years; was Solicitor for the city of Reading from
1867-70; State Senator in 1873 for a period of three years and
reelected in 1876 for four years; a member of the Board of School
Control for a number of years; appointed, October 1877, by Governor
Hartranft, a member of the Pennsylvania Statuary Committee, and was
instrumental in having his State represented by a statue of
Major-General Peter Muhlenberg, of Revolutionary fame, in the
Statuary Hall of the National Capitol, on which occasion his address
was of marked ability; was several times a Chairman of the Democratic
County Committee of Berks County, and a delegate to many State and
National Conventions.

In 1880 he was elected a member of the 47th Congress, to represent
Berks County, then constituting the Eighth Congressional District of
Pennsylvania, and was successively in the 48th, 49th and 50th
Congresses, his services ending March 4, 1889. During this time he
was a member of the Committees on Accounts, Banking and Currency,
Military Affairs, Postoffice and Post Roads, and was Chairman of the
Committee on Election of President and Vice-President. He was
elected again, in 1896, to represent Berks and Lehigh Counties,
constituting the Ninth Congressional District, in the 55th Congress,
and was reelected in 1898 for another two years, and was thus
serving his sixth term at the time of his decease.

Mr. Ermentrout, while in Congress, most ably and creditably
represented his party, the Democratic, of which he was a strong
adherent. At the same time, in matters of general interest, he was
untiring in his efforts to benefit his district, home and
constituents irrespective of party. He was a man of most generous
impulses and unassuming in his manners. He was willing at all times
to give a patient hearing to everyone and never wearied in his
efforts to aid the many who sought his assistance. In this work he
made no discrimination between those who were rich or poor, white or
black, Republican or Democratic, but his sympathy and help went to
all alike. Probably no one was better known to all and he was well
entitled to the affectionate name Uncle Daniel, which was
universally given him. In all his public acts no stain of dishonor
rests upon his name.

He was a member of the Reformed Church, and for upwards of twenty
years a member of the Board of Trustees of the Charles Evans
Cemetery.

He was married to Adelaide Louise, daughter of John Metzger, of
Lancaster, who survives him, with a son, Fitz Daniel, and daughter,
Adelaide Louise.

His death, at 6 A.M. on Sunday, September 17, 1899, resulted from
the accidental lodging of a piece of food in his esophagus.

He was a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the
Historical Society of Berks County, the Americus Club and other
societies, and was elected to membership in the Pennsylvania-German
Society on January 12, 1894.

H.M.M.R.

Submitted by: Linnea Miller

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