David Philip Gerberich was born 22 Dec 1814 in East Hanover Twp., Lebanon, Pennsylvania. His parents were Johann Philip Gerberich 1769 – 1845 and Maria Elizabeth Shuey 1778-1857.

"David left Pennsylvania in the spring of 1837 in company of Simon G Stein, his second cousin. They located first with their relatives at Florid, Putnam Co., Illinois, remaining till the fall of 1839, going from thence to Washington, Tazewell Co., Illinois, where they formed a partnership and carried on business for three years.
After he had dissolved partnership, David went to South Bend Indiana, to become head miller in Harpers Mill, one of the early establishments in that city.
In 1828, he owned property in Bertrand Twp., Berrien Co., Michigan. On October 28, 1850, he sold his property at the southeast corner of Colfax Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard in South Bend, now owned by the South Bend Tribune, to Abraham R. and John H. Harper, for $1,200. In 1853 or there abouts he moved to the vicinity of Niles, Michigan, where he made his permanent home.
David Gerberich was a man of great strength of character and of even temperment. He was industrious and prospered. His life and example will long be held in memory by his children, of whom there were in all thirteen. ( History of the Gerberichs in America)"

On his marriage license to his second wife,Catherine Anna Miller the surname was spelled Gerberuch ( Michigan marriages from 1840-1899/ftm)

On the 1850 census,the name is spelled Garbrick.

David married two of Henry W. Miller and Catharine Harper Miller's daughters. First Fannie Maria Miller 1817-1843 in 1840 who bore him two daughters:

Mary Catherine Gerberich 1841-1924
never married

Henrietta Fannie Gerberich 1843-1942
married James Wilson Kingery 1841-1912
had William H, Effie E,Mary A,Mabel G,Catherine M,
James D.
Fannie may have died in child birth in 1843.

His second wife was Catherine Anna Miller(1828-1905) who gave birth to 11 children. Catherine raised all of the children. Those children are:

William Henry Gerberich 1850–1851
Cemetery records show Wm born in 1835 and 16 at time of death, which would make him Fannie's son. 1850 census has Wm Henry 1 yr old. Some confusion over Wm.

Henry Miller Gerberich 1852–1930
married Olive Amanda Luscombe 1863–1931
had Cora,Henry,Catherine,David and Margaret

Malinda Gerberich 1854–1892
married William H Hoover 1848–1939
had Kate,Bessie,Jennie and Gordon E

Ella Gerberich 1855–1932
married Amos F Ribble 1845–1931
had Edna, Grace and Alice

Caroline Gerberich 1857–1940
married Samuel C Thomson 1843–1923
had Samuel and Josephine

Ida Gerberich 1858–1864

Joseph David Gerberich 1860–1930
never married

Martha Ann Gerberich 1862–1947
married William VanNess 1855–1924
had Mary and Fannie E

Charles Eugene Gerberich 1864–1946
married Cora A Halsey 1866–194
had Howard H,Florence E,Bessie B,Jessie D
and Nellie E

Philip Gerberich 1867–1867

Katherine Gerberich 1870–1940
married Nathaniel Holley Bacon 1867–1928
no children