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Joe, the 8th child of John and Mary, was born Joseph Phillip Berger on 5/02/1886. On 3/19/1920 he married Evelyn Beryl VanAman.
"Two years later, my brother Joe was born, christened Joseph Philip. Of him, I remember little, until he was of school age and he became my charge. That long treck home together! I can feel tired just thinking about it, especially that pull up the hill."
"Attached to the right of the stable, was a rabbit hutch. Those bunnies had their way of digging their way out which kept us youngsters in suspense. One morning, when we went out to feed them, we found a few had been killed either by a wild animal or some stray dogs. There was weeping and wailing. They were brother Joe’s pets. He was 6 years my junior."
"At one time, in payment of a business debt, George took over a racehorse. A beautiful, spirited animal. After a while, she was bred and produced Dolly who was even more spirited. She was raised by a Swiss hired man, we had at that time, who really loved her. Brother Joe, who was then in his teens, was determined to break her in into harness. A new two wheeled sulky was appropriated and it was fun to watch, how much more so to hold the reigns. From a lamb, she turned into a fury. Stood up on her hind legs, almost toppling over backwards, or she would work the bit to the front of her teeth and run. Such excitement! When Joe subdued her he felt like a hero." Quotes by Theresa Sheblessy.
"One day after school Uncle Joe in his racing rig saw me walking home. He stopped, said, "hop in," and off we went. When we reached Richters' Grocery he told me to wait in the rig while he picked up some groceries. While I sat there something frightened the very nervous racing horse and it took off at high speed for the Hill. Fortunately for little Francis a young neighbor, Harry Stephens (later the village dentist) dashed into the street, grabbed the animal's bridle, and was able within about 50 feet to bring the rig to a stop. Uncle Joe and Harry thought the incident was great fun - I had other ideas!"
"My uncles carryings-on did not always please the ladies in the family, but he had a way with them and gifts of candy would at least temporarily make them forget his peccadillos."
"At this time in my life the regular occupants of the Hill house were my grandmother, my Aunt Anna (unmarried), and my Uncle Joe (also unmarried). The latter was rarely home - he was a ladies' man, a traveling salesman, a three-cushion billiard champion, and in general, a man about town? He was my idol - he seemed to always have time for me. He rode me in his buggy, behind his fast racehorse. He tossed ball, hard ball, with me. He pitched and I caught. He was 6 ft. 3 in. tall - and the balls he pitched were fast, they really did sting my hands."
"It was about then that Uncle Joe sold his horse and buggy, and purchased a Stutz Bearcat. This beautiful auto was parked in Eckerles' drive one day when somehow the brakes loosened and down the hillside it went, to Queen City Avenue. The car must have been a tough one, for Uncle Joe went down to get it, and drove it back up the hill." Quotes by Franz Trefzger.
"I loved my grandmother, Aunt Anna and Uncle Joe." Quote by Franz Trefzger.
Joe died on April 7,1956, and Evelyn died on March 17,1959.
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