Dr. William Herbst, son of Dr. Frederick William Herbst, was born in 1833, died in 1880. He was reared in Berks county, Pennsylvania, attended the schools in the neighborhood of his home, and later attended Williston Seminary in East Hampton, Massachusetts, remaining two years. At the age of eighteen years he began reading medicine with his father in Berks County, and later took a course at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1855. He located at Trexlertown in the spring of 1855 and there built up a large and lucrative practice, being a foremost physician of the county until his death. He served for thirteen years as physician at the almshouse, filled the chair of botany at Muhlenberg College for upwards of seven years, and was connected with the various local medical societies, serving as the secretary of the Lehigh County Medical Society for a number of years. He was a Lutheran in religion, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married Elenora Schall, daughter of David and Mary (Rupp) Schall, representatives of families the members of which were prominent in the Revvolutionary and Civil Wars of this country.