| Sources |
- [S9] Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;), Year: 1900; Census Place: Allentown Ward 8, Lehigh, Pennsylvania; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0072; FHL microfilm: 1241429.
- [S10] Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;), Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1966; Certificate Number Range: 075371-079100.
- [S8] Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Federal Census, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2006;), Year: 1910; Census Place: Allentown Ward 8, Lehigh, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1363; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0148; FHL microfilm: 1375376.
- [S593] Newspapers.com - The Allentown Leader - 8 Aug 1910, (Name: The Allentown Leader; Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania; Date: 08 Aug 1910, Mon;), 8 Aug 1910, Page 7.
CLAYBERGER.--Suddenly August 5, 1910, Army G., son of Charles W. and Mary J. Clayberger, aged 14 years, 10 months and 21 days. Funeral services at his parents' home, No. 414 North Eighth Street, on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, to which relatives, friends, teacher and members of his Sunday School class of Seibert U. E. Church are respectfully invited to attend without further notice. Interment at Greenwood Cemetery.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21549538/the_allentown_leader/?xid=637
- [S16] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Army G. Clayberger.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140625954
- [S595] Newspapers.com - The Allentown Democrat - 6 Aug 1910, (Name: The Allentown Democrat; Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania; Date: 06 Aug 1910, Sat;), 6 Aug 1910, Page 1.
14-Year Old Army Clayberger, One of a Merry Party of Four, Loses Life in Manges' Lake.
Harold Church, Fifteen, Rescues Two From Watery Graves; Deserving of Carnegie Medal.
Improvised Raft Overset Precipitating Boys Into 25 Feet of Water --- Body Recovered.
Heedless of the continued warning of his parents to keep away from the water, because of his inability to swim, Army, the fourteen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Clayberger of 414 North Eight street, met death by drowning yesterday afternoon while boating and swimming with three other companions, in Menges' Lake, near Waldheim Park.
Having secured a swimming suit some time ago young Clayberger was continually asking his parents to go swimming, but being unable to swim, and fearful lest he should drown, the latter as often refused to allow the lad to go near the water. Yesterday, however, he secured their permission to go picking blackberries at Waldheim where he was to meet three other companions from this city.
Pail in hand he started off at nine o'clock yesterday morning and walked to Waldheim Park where he met Harold Church of 135 North Fountain street, who is at present camping at the park with his parents, and Luke and Martin Kresge of 533 Green street. The Kresge boys had been visiting Church, and when young Claybereger arrived at the park the quartet started off berrypicking.
It was after they had filled their pails in the afternoon about 3 o'clock, that one of their number proposed that they go in swimming. With the exception of Church, none of the four could swim, and after wading around near the shore they decided tc build a raft. Securing two saplings the lada nailed boards across it and upon this flimsy craft the quartet started to navigate around the lake.
The raft was near the middle of the lake, where the water is about 25 feet deep, when Clayberger walked to one end, overbalancing it and toppled into the water, causing the other three boys, who were standing on the other end to lose their equilibrium and fall in, also.
Here is where Harold Church proved himself a hero. Showing wonderful presence of mind, he grabbed hold of Luke Kresge and swam with him to the raft. Getting him there safely, he got hold of Martin Kresge, the other brother, who had already sunk for the second time, and also managed to tow him to the raft where he secured a hold and kept himself afloat.
He had turned to rescue Clayberger, but he had already sunk and was nowhere to be seen. Badly frightened, the trio managed to get ashore again, and without donning their clothes they hurried to the refreshment stand of C. Y. Moyer at Waldheim Park, where they telephoned to Rev. J. S. Heisler of this city, the drowned boy's pastor, and to the Loux Creamery Company, where his father is employed, telling them of the calamity.
Almost distracted, the father accompanied by Rev. Heisler, hurried to Waldheim, where a search was immediately begun for the body. Ralph Minner, an 18-year-old boy from Mountainville, volunteered his services, and after diving half a dozen times, he managed to get hold of the drowned boy's ankle and pull him to the surface. The body was taken ashore and Undertaker Wonderly was notified. He later removed the remains to his morgue.
When taken out of the water Clayberger was fully attired in a bathing suit which he must have spirited away from his home in some manner.
The drowned lad attended the grammar school in the Cleveland building, and was also a member of the Seibert U. E. Church and Sunday School. He had just attended the regular prayer-meeting on Thursday night. He is survived by his parents, five brothers and one sister, Mrs. H. M. Zimmerman of Derby Church, Charles G., of Fort Niagara, W. Roy, Harry, Roscoe and Thomas G., of this city.
The funeral has been arranged for Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock and will take place from his late home with burial in the Greenwood Cemetery.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21528214/the_allentown_democrat/?xid=637
- [S596] Newspapers.com - The Allentown Leader - 6 Aug 1910, (Name: The Allentown Leader; Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania; Date: 06 Aug 1910, Sat;), 6 Aug 1910, Page 1.
ONE BOY DROWNED; THREE OTHERS ESCAPE
Distressing Accident near Waldheim Park Yesterday.
ARMY CLAYBERGER LOSES LIFE
Boys Thrown Into Deep Water When Raft Upset--Harold Church Rescues Two Companions, But Couldn't Save Young Clayberger.
A sad drowning accident occurred yesterday afternoon at Menges' Lake, near Waldheim Park. The victim was Army, the 14-year-old son of Captain and Mrs. Charles W. Clayberger of 414 North Eighth Street.
Some time ago the boy secured a swimming suit and was continually asking his parents to go swimming, but being unable to swim, and fearful lest he should drown, the latter as often refused to allow the lad to go near the water. Yesterday, however, he secured their permission to go picking blackberries at Waldheim, where he was to meet three other companions. Young Clayberger left his home at 9 o'clock, pail in hand, and walked to Waldheim Park where he met Harold Church of 135 North Fountain Street, who is at present camping at the park with his parents, and Luke and Martin Kresge of 533 Green Street. The Kresge boys had been visiting Church, and when young Clayberger arrived at the park the quartet started of berrypicking.
In the afternoon at 3 o'clock after the boys had filled their pails one of their number proposed that they go in swimming. With the exception of Church, none of the four could swim, and after wading around near the shore they decided to build a raft. Securing two saplings the lads nailed boards across it and upon this flimsy craft the quartet started to navigate around the lake.
As the raft neared the middle of the lake, where the water is about 25 feet deep, Clayberger walked to one end, causing the other three boys, who were, standing on thee other end, to lose their equilibrium and fall in, also.
Harold Church, who was the only one of the quartet who could swim, proved himself a hero. Showing wonderful presence of mind, he grabbed hold of Luke Kresge and swam with him to the raft. Getting him there safely, he got hold of Martin Kresge, the other brother, who had already sunk for the second time, and also managed to tow him to the raft where he secured a hold and kept himself afloat.
Young Church also made heroic efforts to rescue Clayberger, but was unsuccessful.
Badly frightened, the trio managed to get ashore again, and without donning their clothes they hurried to the refreshment stand of C. Y. Moyer at Waldheim Park, where they telephoned to Rev. J. S. Heisler of this city, the drowned boy's pastor, and to the Loux Creamery Company, where his father is employed, telling them of the accident.
Rev. Mr. Heisler and the boy's father hurried to the scene of the drowning, where a search was immediately begun for the boy. Ralph Minner, an 18-year-old boy from Mountainville, volunteered his services, and after diving nine times, he managed to got hold of the drowned boy's ankle and pull him to the surface. The last time Young Minner was under water 24 seconds.
When taken out of the water Clayberger was fully attired in a bathing suit, which he must have spirited away from his home in some manner. The body was taken ashore and Undertaker Wonderly was notified. He later removed the remains to his morgue, where he prepared them for burial, after which they were taken to the home of the boy's parents.
The lake where the accident occurred is located about a quarter of a mile above the tented grove, where a number of workmen were engaged in preparing the homes and tents for the camp meeting to be held next week. The lake is quite deep, at some places reaching a depth of 50 or more feet.
Formerly the lake was a large iron ore mine. When it was abandoned, the springs within supplied a flow of water which filled the ore hole to its surface. The lake is well supplied with fish and has been a mecca for fishermen and swimmers for several years. Only a few spots offer any advantage to swimmers, as the banks are too steep and composed of a slippery clay and the depth of the water is great.
The drowned lad attended the grammar school in the Cleveland Building, and was also a member of the Seibert U. E. Church and Sunday School. He attended the regular prayer-meeting on Thursday night. He is survived by his parents, five brothers and one sister, Mrs. H. M. Zimmerman of Derby Church, Charles G. of Fort Niagara, W. Roy, Harry, Roscoe and Thomas G. Clayberger of this city.
The funeral will take place Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from his late home with burial in the Greenwood Cemetery.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21529930/the_allentown_leader/?xid=637
- [S594] Newspapers.com - The Morning Call - 6 Aug 1910, (Name: The Morning Call; Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania; Date: 06 Aug 1910, Sat;), 6 Aug 1910, Page 5.
BOY DROWNS IN LAKE AT WALDHEIM WHEN RAFT TIPS; 2 OTHERS SAVED
Playing around on a raft on the lake at Waldheim Park, yesterday, Army S. Clayberger, a 14-year-old boy of this city, was drowned when the raft tipped, while two other boys were saved only by the herculean exertions of Harold Church, the fourth member of the party and the only boy able to swim. The accident disastrously concluded a happy excursion by the boys into the country yesterday.
The lake is really an old ore-pit and is said to be upwards of fifty feet in depth. Where the accident occured it is thirty feet deep.
The boys who were on the raft when the accident occured were these:
Army G. Clayberger, 15 years old, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clayberger, of No. 414 North Eigtht street. He was unable to swim and lost his life.
Harold Church, 15 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Church, No. 135 North Fountain street. Able to swim, and saved the life of the Kresge boys.
Luke E. Kresge, 14 years old, son of Irwin H. Kresge, No. 533 Green street. Unable to swim.
Martin L. Kresge, 12 years old, and a brother of Luke. Also unable to swim.
The lake where the accident occured is located about a quarter of a mile above the tented grove, where a number of workment were engaged in preparing the homes and tents for the campmeeting to be held next week. The lake is quite deep, and it is known that at certain parts the water is at least fifty feet deep.
The recent rain had raised the water to a much greater depth.
Formerly this lake was a large iron ore mine. When it petered out and was abandoned, the springs within supplied a flow of water which filled the ore hole to its surface. This lake is well supplied with fish and has been a mecca for fishermen and swimmers for several years. Only a few spots offer any advantage to swimmers, as the banks are too steep and composed of a slippery clay and the depth of the water is great.
Around the lake and in the immediate vicinity the underbrush and woods are full of blackberry stalks. Young Clayberger, who knew of this, left his home yesterday morning to pick some of the berries. During the day he had fairly good luck. With several quarts of the berries in his kettle he came to the western shore of the lake about 2.30 in the afternoon. Here he met Church and the Kresge boys, who had journeyed to the lake especially for a swim, bringing along their swimming suits. Clayberger also had brought along his suit. It was decided by the quartet that they would take a swim. They swam around the shore where the water was shallow until this mode became too tiresome. Church who was the only one in the party who was able to swim volunteered to bring the raft which was floating some distance away to the landing place so that the entire party could make the trip to the centre of the lake without any danger to themselves. This raft is composed only of two saplings on which had been nailed about hald a dozen boards. This raft had often been used by other swimmers at the lake. Church knew this and felt it was safe to risk a trip to the centre. With the daring and foolhardiness that is so natural with boys of their age, the boys climed on the raft and set out for the other side. Young Clayberger, who would have entered the local high school in the fall, was a remarkably well built boy for his age--tall and powerfully muscled with broad shoulders. He sat on the one side of the raft with the others on the other side. Everything was going along fine with Church towing the raft from the side. When some distance from the shore one of the boys moved his position and the part where Clayberger sat sank slightly under the water. Clayberger became excited and stood up.
This added weight caused the raft to sink still further and Clayberger was toppled into the lake. When his weight was released the Kreage boys on the opposite side were thrown into the lake. The three boys were unable to swim, but fought valiantly for their lives. Church although a youngster of frail build proved himself a hero. He grabbed Luke Kresge and started to take him toward the raft. Luke got his arm around Church's neck and would have also carried him under if the raft had not been alongside. Church saved himself and forced Luke to take a hold on the sapling to keep his head above the water.
Although tired by his efforts and struggle with Luke he set out to save young Martin who had made a valiant fight for his life. Church saw him sink for the first time only a few yards away. He swam alongside and caught the sinking body before it had gone far. Pulling him by the arm he brought the boy to the raft. He supported himself and kept the boy's head above the water until he had revived sufficiently to support himself.
Nothing could be seen of Clayberger nor had any sound or cry been heard by any in the party. Not even a bubble disturbed the smoothness of the surface. When Church saw nothing of his friend he began to tow the party hanging to the raft towards the shore. The party after much exertion reached the bank almost ready to collapse.
By this time the horror of the calamity that had befallen their companion and thair own narrow escape struck with stunning force on the three survivors. They broke down completely. Some ladies who were picnicking at the grove during the afternoon happened to pass along. To their sympathetic inquiries the sad tale was related. This occured shortly after three o'clock.
A number of campers and workers were notified who rushed to the lake. Among these were: C. Y. Meyer and L. H. Mertz, who did everything in their power to find the body and ascertain whether the boy had really drowned. When this was evident to all, it was decided to notify his father, who is a driver for the Wilson Loux Company. This was accordingly accomplished and Rev. J. S. Heisler, the pastor of Seibert Church was called. The pastor instantly hurried uptown and at Eighth and Gordon streets he met Mrs. Clayberger, who was hurrying to the scene of the accident. At first she had been too dazed to feel the force of the blow. As Rev. Heisler caught up with her in front of T. M. Wilhelm's bakery on North Eighth street, she collapsed. The minister and passing strangers took the grief-stricken mother to her home a few doors away.
Wonderful Diver Gets Body
The search for the body continued all afternoon. Several young men made a number of dives but were unable to reache the bottom. Harold Minnich, the swimmer who won a large number of prizes for diving, came with several friends to erect several tents for the campmeeting. He was informed of the accident and journeyed to the scene of the accident and volunteered to try his best to discover the body.
After several dives to a depth of at least twenty-five feet he finally discovered the body and brought it to the surface. The row-boats which had been brought into service towed the corpse to shore. From here the body was taken to the dining room at the park. Undertaker Wonderly and Coroner Goheen were notified.
The father of the victim wsa able to take only one glance at this lifeless form of his stalwart boy before he also broke down. He was accompanied by his son Roscoe. Later the body was removed to the parents' home at No. 414 North Eighth street.
The boy is survived by his parents and these brothers and sisters: Charles, Raymond, Harry, Roscoe, and Graul, at home, and Mrs. Harry Zimmerman, of Dery Church, Dauphin county.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21529443/the_morning_call/?xid=637
- [S597] Newspapers.com - Harrisburg Daily Independent - 6 Aug 1910, (Name: Harrisburg Daily Independent; Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Date: 06 Aug 1910, Sat;), 6 Aug 1910, Page 2.
BOY PICNICKER DROWNS.
---
Try to Cross Deep Lake On a Raft.
---
Allentown, Aug. 6.--Four Allentown boys picnicking at Waldheim, the campmeeting grounds of the United Evangelical Association, between here and Emaus, yesterday afternoon, built a raft to cross the lake, which at places is 150 feet deep.
Of the quartette only one lad, Ralph Kresge, could swin, and the raft went to pieces and all were pitched info deep water. Kresge saved two of his companions, but the fourth boy, Arnie Clayberger, aged 15, was drowned.
Kresge kept on diving for two hours, finally bringing up Clayberger's body by the foot.
The dead boy's father, Charles Clayberger, is prominent in Grand Army circles, and the family formerly lived in Pottsville.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21530773/harrisburg_daily_independent/?xid=637
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1895 - 1910 (14 years)
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