HISTORY OF THE BALSBAUGH FAMILY
by
EDWARD U. BALSBAUGH, Jr., Ph.D.
This Microsoft Word version of the first three chapters of the above book are made
available with the kind permission of Karen Balsbaugh, widow of the author Edward
Balsbaugh. There are no additional copies of the original book and these chapters will
provide you with a history of the family. The remaining chapters contained the names
and dates of approximately 2500 individuals.
No financial charges can be associated with the distribution of this document
without the written permission of Karen Balsbaugh.
This document was created by using ocr (optical character recognition) software to
scan the pages and generate a text document. I resisted the temptation to correct
spelling errors for several reasons. As a retired engineer with my own spelling
deficiencies, I probably would have introduced as many as I corrected. Even more
importantly, I wanted to maintain the historical integrity of the book and the documents
contained within the book. In a few cases, I just couldn’t help myself and made
changes.
George Stephen Balsbaugh
Milpitas, Ca.
6/11/2002
Fargo, North Dakota, 1983
(c) Edward U. BalsbauGh, Jr.
ii
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
iii
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
DEDICATION
Because of the unselfish love, devotion and interest
they have shown my brothers and me, as well as to others,
I take sincere pleasure in dedicating this book to
Margaret H. and Edward U. Balsbauqh, Sr.,
Mother and Dad.
iv
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
v
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
COVER FIGURE
The owl on the cover is symbolic for several reasons. It early became a symbol of intelligence
because people believed it could forsee events. To the Balsbaugh family the owl has particular
significance because it was the medieval symbol for the potter's trade, which was practiced by
the Balschbachs in Fahrenbach for nearly 400 years. The particular species of owl shown here is
the eastern screech owl, Otus asio naevius, which is common to the woods and forests of
eastern North America where our early American ancestors carved their "nests" in the woods.
This species of owl is one which shows confidence in people, building its nests in
hollow trees near buildings. It is a frequent nester in apple orchards and most likely was found
in the orchard of George and Maria Eva Balsbaugh. It is also a species which at mating time
cooperates to aid one another. They sit close together as possible, frequently preening each
other's feathers and often taking bits of food to the other.
vi
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
vii
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
PREFACE
Why should I have undertaken such a project as a "History of the Balsbaugh Family"? I have
asked myself this question many times under different circumstances and have arrived at several
justifications. Many persons, I'm sure, including even one of my brothers, commented to the
effect, "Why study genealogy? After all, it's nothing but compiling a list of dead persons." This
statement could be true in part, but in compiling a family history, one should certainly be aware
that it is with the living you must deal in digging out the clues and facts, which when properly
assembled weave some very interesting history about our forebearers and explain many of the
circumstances of why we live, work, worship, (or fail to worship), play etc. in the manner in
which we are now accustomed.
I suppose that I have had a latent interest in family history for quite some time. This was early
stimulated by my parents who have been interested in many, many things and took my brothers
and me, as children, to visit many historical sites and places in central Pennsylvania, such as the
State Capitol, Cornwall quarries, Pine Grove Furnace, Valley Forge, Gettysburg, etc., but also
including the cemeteries of some of our ancestors of whom they were aware. One major regret
that I now have is that I had not vet learned of Fahrenbach, the hometown of our ancestors, the
Balschbachs, while I was a soldier in the U. S. Army, stationed near Karlsruhe, Germany, in
1956 and 1957. I very much would have liked to have visited that village, and now have hopes
of taking my family there sometime in the future.
I actively began pursuing my ancestors and their histories after having taken the introductory
course in genealogy. taught by Mrs. Mary Larson and offered through the Concordia College
Communiversity Series in February, 1980. In turn, I am indebted to an office colleague, Calvin
Scholl, who suggested this course and attended classes with me.
A course of genealogical investigation is very much like doing detective work, but having
"cases" spanning considerable more nears than that of the average detective. There are two such
genealogical mysteries from which I derive a certain degree of satisfaction in having "solved".
One of these was ascertaining who the Peter Baltsbach (or Balsbach) was that arrived in
Philadelphia in August, 1732, Ship Samuel. Having learned that Peter, in 1748, had been a
viii
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
potter in Lancaster (via the intestate record); that his brother Johann Georg had been a potter in
Fahrenbach in 1751 at the time of his (Georg's) immigration; and that the family of those who
did not immigrate continued in the pottery business in Fahrenbach until 1923 were all three
very important pieces of information having the occupation of potter in common. This surely
seemed to be more than coincidental.
The second mystery which I solved regards determining the parentage -- at least the father -- of
my Great, Great, Great Grandfather, Abraham Balsbaugh (Sr.). This, I accomplished by
obtaining a copy of the will of his father, George Andrew Balsbauqh, the immigrant son of our
immigrant ancestor, Johann Georg. George Andrew settled in Derry Township in the last
decade of the 18th century.
One very important revelation I received as a result of having done this genealogical study was
in better realizing the interrelationship of the human species, Homo sapiens L.
It's always exciting in meeting a new "cousin". Shortly after our move to Fargo in 1976, we
were introduced to Dr. and Mrs. John B. Gruber. John was then Dean of the College of Science
and Mathematics at North Dakota State University. He confided that his middle initial stood for
Balsbauqh, his mother's maiden name. We determined that we were related by more than one
pair of ancestors in common.
Or consider even more remote relationships. I also corresponded with distant "cousins" with
whom we share ancestors in common no closer than 11 generations removed. (These were of
my Mother's ancestors -- our French Huguenot ancestors Jacques Zeller (Celliere or Sellaire)
and his wife, Clothilde de Valois).
Also consider my excitement upon receiving two letters from Fahrenbach, Germany, in
response to one I had addressed to the mayor of that village. Our distant cousins, Frau Erna
Munch (nee Munch), my 6th cousin once removed, and Herr Adolf Balschbach both responded.
Thus after 230 years family ties were reestablished with distant cousins, now at least 9
generations removed. (Our ancestors, Johann Georg Balschbach and wife Maria Eva Munch,
had emigrated from Fahrenbach in 1751.)
Recently an article appeared in Bio Science (Westing, 1981) entitled "A Note on How Many
Humans That Have Ever Lived." The author's estimate of 50 billion persons covered the period
from 298,000 BC, in the Paleolithic Age at the dawn of man, with a population of two, through
1980 AD. His article got me to thinking as to how many total generations of man there might
have been and how many ancestors one would have. Based on Westing's data for average
ix
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
lifespans, I calculated that there have been approximately 17,000 generations.
As genealogists, or any others who compile family trees realize, the number of one's ancestors
doubles through each generation back through time. Thus it would have required only 37
generations for one theoretically, to have in excess of 50 billion (i.e. 68.7 billion) ancestors.
However, it very frequently happens that, as is demonstrated in the Balsbauqh family, there is
considerable ancestral overlap. (Because I am a descendant of two of the sons of Johann Georg
and Maria Eva Balschbach, these two forebearers and all of their ancestors -- and hence mine
too -- are my ancestors twice. This phenomenon likely has occurred more frequently in the
undocumented past -- thus further reducing the actual number of our ancestors.)
Westing (personal communication) suggested that ancestral overlap probably could
theoretically have been avoided for a maximum of only 18 generations (360 years back to
1621). Thus he indicated that one's genetic composition is derived from a breeding pool of
500,000 persons during those 360 years.
As brothers and sisters, we descend from many ancestors held in common. The further back we
trace our ancestory, the more ancestors we find in common. In order to calculate the maximum
number of, direct ancestors one theoretically (i.e. no ancestral overlap) has had in any particular
generation back from the present one, you can use the formula
AS = 2G
(where As represents the number of ancestors in any single generation and G is the generation
number, counting the parental generation as the first. Thus our immigrant ancestors, Johann
Georg and his wife Maria Eva, who are nine generations removed from my children Julie and
Daniel, were only two out of a potential of 256 ancestors for that 9th generation.
In order to calculate the theoretical maximum total number of direct ancestors a person has had
in any cumulative number of generations (assuming no overlap) one can use the formula
AT =2 G+1 - 2
(where AT represents the total number of ancestors and G is as defined above). Thus Julie and
Daniel had 510 potential direct ancestors back through the generation of immigrants, Johann
Georg and Maria Eva.
x
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
I guess what all these large figures boil down to is that all mankind is remarkably
related and we need to treat our neighbors as our brothers and sisters, for indeed
we are the family of man and the children of God, our Creator. "Know ye that the
Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people,
and the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100: 3.
By compiling this genealogy, I hope to leave a legacy for my children and their
descendants, who along with my wife are direct descendants of Volga German
pioneers who settled in the Dakota Territory prior to 1880. Thus my marriage to
Karen Elaine Hofer, a descendant of Russian German ancestors, rather symbolizes
the reunion of two groups of common ethnic origin. Koch (c. 1977) in his book on
The Volga Germans discussed the commonality of origins of many of the
Pennsylvania "Dutch" and the Russian Germans, including their linguistic
parallels.
In compiling this family history I have tried to avoid errors of commission and
omission, although both are bound to occur. As author, I accept responsibility for
those mistakes which have slipped past and would welcome being informed about
them for correcting possible future editions or revisions.
Sufficient space is available on the pages in Chapter 5, Descendants, for adding
notes or pasting in address labels of one's cousins, aunts and uncles etc. Although
much of this data was available to me, I intentionally did not wish to include it
because of its ephemeral nature in our modern, mobile society.
xi
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
FOREWORD
Wir Fahrenbacher freuen uns, dass wir durch Herrn Edward U. Balsbauqh, Jr. in
Fargo, N. D. von den zahlreichen Nachkommen des Georg Balschbach and der
Maria Eva Münch kunde erhalten haben und wünschen, dass das Buch Irh
Interesse an der alten Heimat wachauft und bestarkt.
Wir danken dem Herausgeber für alle Nachforschunqen und wünschen Ihnen allen
viel Freude mit dem Buch.
Fahrenbach, im November 1982
Für alle Balschbachs:
Für alle Münchs
Adolf Balschbach
Erna Münch
We Fahrenbachers are very pleased that we could learn of all the numerous
descendants of Georg Balschbach and Maria Eva Münch, compiled in this book by
Edward U. Balsbauqh, Jr., Fargo, N. D., and we wish that this book will arouse and
strengthen in you an interest in the native land.
We thank the editor for all the pains he had to take in order to conduct all the
research and we wish you all much pleasure with the book.
Fahrenbach, November 1982
For all Balschbachs:
For all Münchs
Adolf Balschbach
Erna Münch
xii
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
xiii
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many, many persons have assisted me in the preparation of this document. I
sincerely wish to thank them all but hope too that I have not unintentionally
omitted anyone.. Mary Jo Stanislao and Deb Saylor, both librarians in the
Interlibrary Loan Department at North Dakota State University, conducted
research on sources and ordered perhaps ninety percent of the works appearing in
the Bibliography as well as many other works that were not germane. Linda
Sherman of the Fargo Public Library likewise ordered microfilms for my use.
Gregory B. Mulkern, my colleague in the Entomology Department, North Dakota
State University, greatly assisted in helping me correct errors in "word-processing"
the text. I especially wish to recognize the following as principle contributors to
Chapter 5: For information on the descendants of John Henry Balsbauqh and Sarah
Jane Fisher, I am most grateful to Dr. Marcus Miller of Covington , Ohio. Mrs. Pat
Meleski of Albuquerque, N. M. furnished much ancestral data, especially on the
Hans Herr family. My first cousin, Mary Balsbauqh Schroyer also contributed
much data on ancestors in America as well as some in Europe. Kathryn W. Sandel,
Erla B. Gruber, Janet Welsh, Gregory Straub, K. Ruth Drescher, Mabel A.
Gerberich, Harvey M. Balsbough, Lester R. Balsbauqh, as well as my father,
Edward U. Balsbaugh, all contributed much data on Balsbauqh descendants. I also
wish to acknowledge our distant cousin in Fahrenbach, Erna Münch, for all the
data she supplied about the village of Fahrenbach and Herr Adolf Balschbach for
data on the Balschbach family there. Herr Friedrich R. Wollmerhäuser also did
excellent professional research on our European ancestors. Arlene Huss and Janet
Welsh both read early drafts of the manuscript and offered numerous suggestions
for corrections. I am grateful to them as well but errors still persisting should not
be charged to their oversight.
xiv
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
xv
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
CONTENTS
DEDICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
COVER FIGURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
FOREWARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Chapter
Page
1. EUROPEAN HERITAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Onomastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Fahrenbach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
John George Balschbach (1704-1773) (256.1) . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Peter Balschbach (1709 - 1748) 256.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Andrew Balsback (Balsbagh and Balsbach) 256.25 . . . . . . . . 17
Causes of Emigration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2. THE JOURNEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Arrival in The New World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3. PENNSYLVANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Third Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Derry Township and the French and Indian Wars . . . . . . . . . . 27
Earl Township and the German Baptist Brethren . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Hanover Township . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
The Great Swatara Congregation and Elder George Miller . . 32
Will of George Balschbach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Fourth Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
George Andrew Balschbach (128.2 =64) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Will of George (Andrew) Balschbach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Valentine Balsbach (128.8 =40) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Will of Valentine Balsbaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
xvi
BALSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
Fifth Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Abraham Balsbaugh (Sr.) (64.1 =32) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
John Balsbach (40.7 =20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Sixth Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Elijah Balsbach (20.7 = 10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
George Balsbaugh (32.3 =16) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Seventh Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Jacob H. Balsbaugh (16.3 =8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Will of Michael Baughman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Eighth Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
George H. Balsbaugh (8.4 =4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Ninth Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Edward Ulmont Balsbaugh (Sr.) (4.1 =2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Tenth Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Edward U. Balsbaugh, Jr. (1= 2.1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
4. ANCESTOR CHART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
5. DESCENDANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
xvii
xviii