Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Introduction
Enos and Joseph Y. Hooley were sons of Joseph J. Hooley (Chart 1 #1) and Rachel Yoder (Chart 2
#1). Both sons were born in Mahoning County, Ohio: Enos on January 12, 1856 and Joseph Y. on June 30,
1861. In 1863 Joseph and Rachel moved from Mahoning County and settled in Mottville Twp., St. Joseph
County, Michigan.
When Enos was 12 years old and Joseph 7, their father suddenly became ill, probably acute
appendicitis, dying before morning on December 24, 1868. That indeed was a sad Christmas for the family
as they buried their father in the little church cemetery, located in the southeast corner of Section 19 of
Mottville Township, at the intersection of Thomas Street and the Indiana-Michigan State Line. His grave is
in the east row along the road. Rachel was buried by his side on March 21, 1892. This cemetery belonged to
the Barker Street Mennonite Church. Joseph and Rachel were among the first members of that
congregation.
Joseph J. Hooley b. Jan 13, 1929 d. Dec 24, 1868 married Rachel Yoder b. Oct. 10, 1834 d. Mar.
21, 1892 Mottville MI. Their children were:
1. Enos md Lydia Yoder who md 2 Edward P. Mishler, Chapter 1
2. Menno Simon md Fannie Hostetler,
3. Anna md Isaiah Hostetler,
4. Joseph Y. md Gertrude Yoder Chapter 2
5. John F., died at age 2,
6. Emma Jemima md Jacob J. Hostetler,
7. Magdalena md William W. Hartzler (HH, 8443)
For seven years after Joseph’s death Rachel remained a widow. Then, on August 10, 1875, she married
Abraham Hershberger with whom she had two more children: Elizabeth md Jacob J. Miller and Jacob Y.
md Bertha May Lovejoy. (HH, 8443)
Some may wonder if the initial "Y" in Joseph Y's name is of any significance. In those days it was
customary for a son to adopt the first initial of his father's name. But his father's name was also Joseph J.
Hooley, being the son of John Hooley. Therefore to avoid confusion, Joseph Y. adopted the "Y" which
stands for his mother's maiden name, Yoder.
Enos and Joseph went to work for Valentine and Katie (Katherine/Catherine Schrock) Yoder. They
married their only daughters. Enos married Lydia on October 10, 1880. Joseph Y. married Gertrude on
March 1, 1884. At that time both couples attended the Townline Mennonite Church where the girls had
been attending even though their parents were Amish.
Valentine T. Yoder (Chart 3 #1) and Katherine Schrock (Chart 4 #1) had the following children:
1. Lydia md 1 Enos Hooley, md 2nd Edward P. Mishler,
2. Gertrude md Joseph Y. Hooley
3. John H. md Susanna Bontreger,
4. Tobias V. md Mattie Yoder,
5. Joseph E. md Katie Miller,
6. Daniel V. md Fannie Yoder,
7. Moses V. md Mary Yoder,
8. Levi (Lee L.) md Lizzie Schrock,
9. Henry H. md Mary Wingerd, md 2nd Celesta Bontreger.
Enos and Lydia began farming near the Townline Mennonite Church. On their eleventh anniversary
Enos died after a short illness leaving Lydia with four children. Then on Feb 20, 1896 Lydia married
widower Edward P. Mishler the son of Peter C. and Mary (Yoder) Mishler. Edward’s first wife was Anna
Stutzman who died July 24, 1887 leaving him with two sons Carl and Earl (See DBH family 2317).
Joseph Y. Hooley and Gertrude Yoder began farming in Newberry Township, LaGrange County,
Indiana on a farm just east of the Townline Mennonite Church. Here Levi, their eldest son, was born. The
following year they moved to the John Schrock farm north of Honeyville. From there they moved to the
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Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Noah Yoder farm on Townline Road, where Noah, their second son, was born. They named him after the
owner of the farm. They next moved one and one-fourth miles east and north to the Lehman farm. There
Menno was born. After this series of moves Joseph Y. and Gertrude, with the aid of Valentine T. Yoder,
Gertrude's father, purchased 80 acres of land one-fourth mile south of the Honeyville store. Joseph Y., a
skilled carpenter, began improving the farm by moving the house closer to the road and remodeling the
interior. In this house their fourth child, Lydia Ann, was born and named after her aunt Lydia (Yoder)
Hooley.
When Lydia Ann was 3 months old, Joseph Y. and Gertrude purchased the Henry Whetstone farm two
and one-fourth miles west of Shipshewana on the Middlebury-Shipshewana Road. This farm is better
known as the Sam Christner farm, who purchased it from Joseph and Gertrude. Beulah, Orie and Katie
were born at this location. Later they purchased land up the road west and built the buildings on what is
called Naylor Hill. They then moved the family there staying 12 years. Here Luella, their youngest child,
was born in 1909.
On November 15, 1919 they had sale and moved to South Main Street in Middlebury. Elmer F. and
Lydia Ann (Hooley) Murray moved to the farm on Naylor Hill. But in the Fall of 1920 they, with four other
families, moved to Niagara County, New York. These five families started what is now the Clarence Center
Mennonite Church. This move left Joseph Y. without renters on his Naylor Hill farm and being unable to
care for it himself, he traded farms with Harry D. Miller who owned a smaller farm just east of Middlebury.
This farm lies in Elkhart County just east of Grace Lawn Cemetery. They lived there until November 5,
1943 when they had sale and moved to the home of their son, Levi; and later to the home of their daughter
Luella and Paul Troyer in Elkhart.
Joseph Y. and Gertrude were persons of deep spiritual conviction. After they moved to the farm west
of Shipshewana, they became members of the Forks Mennonite Church located in LaGrange County. On
Good Friday, April 13, 1906, Joseph Y. was chosen by unanimous vote of the Forks Congregation and
ordained to the office of Deacon by Bishop D. J. Johns. In the same service D. D. Miller was ordained
Bishop. He served faithfully until his death on July 29, 1947.
The qualifications and duties of a Deacon are described in the Bible in Acts 6:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:1-13
and Titus 1:5-9; and summarized in the Constitution of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference as
follows:
"Article II, Section 3, The Ministry (bishops, ministers, deacons) is to be an example of the
flock in spirituality, nonconformity to the world, simplicity of life, devotion to the Lord's work,
home life, and in every other way.
Article IV, Section 3, Deacons. It is the duty of the deacon to receive alms and to
distribute to the necessity of the poor; to effect, if possible, reconciliation between
estranged members; to assist the bishop in the administration of church ordinances; and to
preach the Word when requested by, or in the absence of, the bishop and minister. Acts 6:13." (Mennonite Handbook, ed. by John Christian Wenger, 1956, pages 34 and 37)
Because Bishop D. D. Miller's work in the church took him to many other congregations, he was often
absent from worship services at Forks. Therefore, Joseph Y. often did the preaching. Those who knew him
and heard him preach, say that he was a man of deep spiritual conviction and a very energetic speaker, who
used many Biblical illustrations and quoted at length from the Bible to emphasize the points of his sermons.
One of his greatest concerns was that young and old alike would so live by faith in the power of Jesus
Christ and the Holy Spirit and be so grounded in Bible knowledge they would be able to overcome
temptations to sin and thus live a victorious, joyful life.
He believed and preached salvation in Jesus Christ by the grace of God through faith, not through one's
personal merit. He believed that a man who is saved by grace through faith is a new person whose life is
changed by forgiveness and forsaking of sin. Therefore, he will do good deeds, not as a means to salvation,
but because he is saved and is a new person living by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. (Ephesians 2:110; Colossians 3)
Therefore he believed, as did his forefathers before him, in a "Believer's Baptism." As the Scripture
says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," Mark 16:16. Believer's Baptism to him was an
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Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
outward symbol, symbolizing both an inner cleansing from sin that comes to the person who repents of his
sin putting his faith in Jesus Christ and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon that person enabling him to
live a new life. (Acts 19:1-6) Saving faith in Jesus for Joseph Y. was simply taking God at his Word and
acting upon it. This, at least in part, explains his manner of life and extensive use of the Scriptures in his
preaching and teaching.
Joseph Y. was also active as a member of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. He and S. S.
Yoder were appointed "to look after the work at Pretty Prairie" until 1909. He also helped some at a Sunday
School which met north of Shipshewana Lake in LaGrange County. His son, Levi, who lived in the area
after he married, served as superintendent for a couple of years.
Mennonite – Anabaptists Faith
Perhaps a word about the Mennonite-Anabaptists faith is in order here. The name Anabaptists means a
rebaptizer who believed in an adult believer’s baptism. They were first called Swiss Brethren and later
called Mennonites after the Dutch Reformer, Menno Simons. This denomination began in 1525 when
George Blaurock rebaptized Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz in Zurich, Switzerland. The areas along the
Rhine River Valley in France and Germany, as well as the country of Netherlands, were centers of
Anabaptists activity in the Eve of the Reformation.
On the surface the issue was adult baptism versus infant baptism. Adult baptism became the
proverbial "line in the sand." When one was rebaptized, he stepped over that "line" and was subject to the
wrath of the authorities. The real issues that the Anabaptists wanted and which upset the civil and church
authorities were three in number:
1. Separation of church and state. In those days the civil authorities chose the local priests who
were supported by government taxes.
2. Voluntary church membership sealed by adult, believer's baptism. This was a commitment to
follow Christ in a life of discipleship. This was to reflect in one’s life style, one’s speech, and
in one’s earthly relationships. One’s word is one’s bond. One must not take advantage of other
people’s misfortunes. One must be morally upright not just legally right. One’s yes must be
yes and no, no. And one must be ready to suffer if need be.
3. Opposition to war. The Anabaptists refused to bear arms and fight, insisting on peaceable ways
to settle disputes short of war.
Today here in the United States we accept separation of church and state and voluntary church
membership as matters of principle. They are guaranteed by the first amendment to the Constitution.
Today because of the destructive nature of modern warfare with the real possibility of self annihilation and
injuries to ones own soldiers, people are taking a new look at the issue of opposition to war and alternatives
to war as a means for settling disputes. Many governments allow a place for conscientious objection to
war, but in that time the heads of state and church felt extremely threatened by these three issues. They
thought these issues would destroy their country.
In 1535 Menno Simons, a Priest in Holland, joined the Anabaptists movement and became the chief
spokesman for the Anabaptists through his writings. Then the world began to call the Anabaptists,
Mennonites, meaning followers of Menno. About 1670 the persecution of the Mennonites began to subside
because so many educated and business people were leaving Switzerland causing problems for the Swiss
economy. Representatives of William Penn went to Europe and invited the Mennonites to come to
Pennsylvania. The first known boatload came in 1683.
Back in Europe the Amish group began in the Palatinate region of Germany in 1693 when Jacob
Amman, a young Mennonite minister, wanted a more strict discipline and opposed Jacob Reist, the Bishop
of that area. Among the names of ministers who signed with Bishop Jacob Reist for more patience and love
for those who differed was a minister named Christian Holly. (Letters of the Amish Division: A Sourcebook
as translated by John D. Roth. page 50). A letter written in 1698 by Ulli Ammann, brother of Jacob, says
that Christian Holly had died. (Ibid. page 92).
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Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
The first boat loads of Amish came about 1737 though a few may have come earlier. In America the
Amish retained their strict discipline and way of life. Some became more progressive leaving some of their
Amish ways and were called Amish-Mennonites. They then merged with the Mennonites. In Indiana this
merger took place in 1916. For a fuller understanding of these religious groups one can read the Mennonite
histories listed in the Bibliography.
Mennonites and Amish used the 1527 Schleitheim Confession of Faith and the 1632 Dordrecht
Confession of Faith. These were updated in English in 1923 and 1963. The most recent update, Confession
of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, was adopted in 1995 at the Mennonite General Assembly meeting in
Wichita, Kansas. These are, as the titles suggest, statements that help us confess and express our faith
rather then dogma or creeds that everyone must believe to be saved. We are saved by God’s grace through
our repentance and faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
HOOLEY-HOLLY
The Hooley name was originally spelled “Holly” (pronounced Hul-lee) and also spelled Hoelly, Holley
and Holi by tax collectors and other historians. The Holly’s are of Swiss origin, but took refuge in the
Palatinate region of southern Germany because of persecution. Christian Holly mentioned above was
probably a grandfather or great uncle of the Hollys who came to America in 1750. There was a second
Christian Holly also who became a Mennonite minister in that area of Germany about 1718 and died about
1741. He was perhaps a brother of Johannes Holly, father of our immigrant ancestors. But this has not been
confirmed.
The Hollys who came to America in 1750 were three brothers Andreas HL1, Michael and Johannes
HL2 who were born in the early 1700’s, married in Europe. Their father was most likely named Johannes as
both Andreas and Johannes had eldest sons named Johannes and no sons named Christian.. They with their
families arrived in Philadelphia November 3, 1750 on the Ship Brotherhood.
Andreas Holly HL1 (Chart 1 #16): Andreas settled first in what is now Bethel Township, Lebanon
County, PA about five miles west of where Johannes Mast MS2 settled in Pine Grove Township, now
Schuylkill County. His neighbors were Hans Kauffman KF1, David Troyer and his son Michael Troyer TY
who married Magdalena Mast. It appears that Andreas married David Troyer’s widow after 1756 as David,
Michael and Andreas are still in the 1757 tax list. They moved out of that area in 1757 due to Indian raids in
the French and Indian War.
All Americans now bearing the name of Hooley are descendants of Andreas’ son John Holly. Enos
and Joseph Y. were sons of Joseph, son of John, son of Peter, son of John, son of Andreas. (Chart 1)
According to an unfinished letter written by his son John, Andreas Holly had four children. One son
and one daughter died unmarried. One daughter married and died leaving two children. She was most
likely the first wife of Yost Yoder YR26 (Chart 5 #48).
In this unfinished letter John also mentions a stepsister who died single. Perhaps she died just before he
wrote the letter. So we know that Andreas was married twice with all his children from the first marriage.
Michael Troyer in his will written in 1807 also mentioned money he was to receive from his sister. It
appears that John Holly’s stepsister and Michael Troyer’s sister are one in the same person. This agrees
with the Seth Troyer story in The Wayne County Ohio History that Michael Troyer had a stepfather named
Holly but Seth did not give his first name. I also have a copy of an unrecorded deed conveying land to
Michael Troyer in Salisbury Township and witnessed by John Hooley HL13.
John married Catherine Blank, daughter of Dr. Hans/Johannes and Magdalena Blank. (See section on
Blanks) They lived first in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. About 1791 they moved
to Mifflin County where John died October 5, 1805 at the age of 64 which means he was born about 1741.
Catherine died January 21, 1812. Both are buried in the Hooley Cemetery about 2 miles west of Reedsville,
Pennsylvania. The cemetery is located on John and Catherine’s farm on the hill east of the farmstead.
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Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
HL13 John Holly was a minister in the Amish-Mennonite Church. He and Catherine (Chart 1 #
8&9): had eleven children born between 1761 and 1791:
HL131 Magdalena md Christian Yoder YR146
HL132 Catherine md Isaac Garver GBB3
HL133 John md Sarah Garver GBBb
HL134 Christian md Elizabeth Mast MS149
HL135 Barbara md Jacob Yoder YR162
HL136 Christiana second wife of Daniel Kauffman KFC6 (Chart 1 #16)
HL137 Peter, second husband of Esther (Mast) Zook MS14b (Chart 1 # 4&5)
HL138 Elizabeth md John Lantz LZ32, md 2 Solomon King KG74
HL139 Mary md John Kenagy KY71
HL13a Fanny md Joseph Kenagy KY74
HL13b David md Catherine King KG67
HL137 Peter Holly and Esther (Mast) Zook (Chart 1 #4&5) had seven children:
HL1371 John b. 1803 d. Dec. 12, 1858 md Jemima Kauffman KFC66 (Chart 1 # 2&3)
HL1372 Daniel b. 1806 md Esther Yoder YR2565
HL1373 Lydia b. 1814 md Yost King KG612
HL1374 Magdalena b. 1816 md Joseph Stutzman ST442
HL1375 Catherine b. 1818 md Joseph Summers SU113
HL1376 Abraham b. 1823 md Abigail Hartzler HZ1117
HL1377 Samuel b. 1825 md 1 Nancy Grady md 2 Susanna Yoder YR23b41
Peter and Esther married about 1801 or 1802 in Mifflin County where they raised their family. Later
they moved to Wayne County, Ohio where Peter died. Esther then moved on to Middlebury, IN where she
died on Dec. 6, 1867 at the age of 4 months, 7 days, 87 years making a birth date of July 29, 1780. She is
buried in the Thomas Cemetery on Route 4 south of Middlebury and just west of State Rd 13 on the east
side of the Fair Haven, Beachy Amish Church.
HL1371 John Hooley and Jemima Kauffman (Chart 1 # 2&3) had 10 children.
HL13711 Joseph b. Jan 13, 1929 d. Dec 24, 1868 (Chart 1 #1)md Rachael Yoder YRB1111 (Chart
2 #2) These are the parents of Enos and Joseph Y.
HL13712 David K b. 1831 d. 1908 md Lydia Zook ZK21155
HL13713 John b. 1835 d. 1857
HL13714 Peter b. 1837 md Mary Erb ERB2b51
HL13715 Daniel b. 1839 d. 1922 md Barbara Kauffman KFB428
HL13716 Barbara b. 1843 md Christian Kauffman KFC556
HL13717 Jacob b. 1844 d. 1922 md 1 Mary Brown md 2 Catherine Smoker SM11342
HL13718 Sarah b. 1847 md Jacob C. Mast MS36931
HL13719 Samuel b. 1847 d. 1848
HL1371a Jemima b. 1852 md Samuel C Mast MS36932
John Hooley HL1371 was born about 1803 in Mifflin Co. Sometime in the 1830s or 1840s he moved
his family to Lawrence County, PA. He died there and is buried in the Volant Cemetery. Jemima moved on
to Cass County, Missouri with her daughter Barbara and her husband Christian Kauffman. She died on
Sept. 15, 1884 and is buried in the Clear Fork Cemetery west of Garden City.
-----------Johannes Holly HL2 (Chart 1 #22):: We are also descendants of Johannes Holly HL2, a brother
of Andreas HL1 and Michael. Johannes settled east and south of Andreas in Berne Township, Berks
County where he had purchased two tracts of land.
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Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
The name Johannes is used in this work to distinguish him from John, son of Andreas. He always
signed his name as Johannes Holly. His name was translated as John when the land deeds were recopied in
the 1830s and recorded at Harrisburg, PA. The Department of Internal Affairs of Pennsylvania supplied
photocopies of land surveys and warrants issued to Johannes Holly.
This land was surveyed under land contract dated March 22, 1750. Johannes was given six months
from that date to claim the land, which he did late in November 1750 after arriving on the Ship Brotherhood
November 3, 1750. The original land contract was probably drawn up in Europe by representatives of the
Penns, proprietors of Pennsylvania, who were inviting Europeans to settle in Pennsylvania.
Johannes Holly was also listed as a first taxable in Berne Township, Berks County in 1752 when Berks
County was formed from Lancaster County. On November 16, 1764 he with Jacob Mast, his son-in-law,
purchased land from Samuel Martin in the Conestoga Valley on the Berks County-Chester County line. On
April 13, 1769 he deeded the land in Berks County to Jacob Mast, keeping the land in Chester County. He
sold part of his land in Berne Township, Berks County in 1762. C. Z. Mast says that this Johannes Holly is
John, son of Andreas, but he would have been only eleven years old, too young to buy land or sign the ship
list of 1750. A boy needed to be sixteen to sign the ship list.
Johannes Holly’s wife was Frani (Veronica) who according to the Johannes Holly Bible died Feb. 19,
1769. The margin of the Bible also records Johannes’ death as 1783. Frani was no doubt a Miller as they
brought with them an orphan boy named Nicholas Miller who appears on the Ship List right after Johannes’
name. He was perhaps a younger brother of Johannes’ wife Frani or her nephew. Nicholas married about
1752 and died in Berks County in 1784. His son Christian moved to Somerset County where he died in
1793. David Holly HL29, son of Johannes, and Christian Miller MLB were his executors.
HL2Johannes and Frani (Chart 1 #22 &23): had ten children. Three of them are known to be
our ancestors. The family is as follows:
HL21Magdalena (Jan. 26, 1739-Oct. 26, 1820) md Jacob Mast (1738-1808), Amish Bishop in
Berks Co. PA. (Chart 1 #10&11)
HL22 Barbara (Apr. 17, 1741-March 8, 1812) second wife of Christian Yoder Jr., (1726-Nov. 20,
1816), Amish Bishop in Somerset Co. PA. (Chart 4 # 20&21)
HL23 Frani b. Sept. 1, 1742 died young;
HL24Johannes b. Apr. 4, 1743 died young
HL25 Johannes b. Oct. 10, 1745
HL26 Jacob, b. Nov. 27, 1746
HL27 ? Hettie or ? Tinah b. July 27 1747
HL28 son b. & d. June 1751
HL29 David b. Dec. 12, 1754 md Catherine Gindlesperger, and settled in Somerset County, PA.
HL2a Veronica, better known as Frany, (b. March 27, 1757-December 15, 1833) md Joseph
Johns, the founder of Johnstown, PA (Chart 4 #14&15)
C. Z. Mast author of the Mast Family History wrote that the father of these children was Michael,
brother of Andreas. But the Johannes Holly Bible proves otherwise. This Bible has been found in Holmes
County, Ohio among descendants of Barbara, who probably inherited it from her father. The Bible passed to
Barbara’s oldest son David who also recorded the birth of his children in the Bible.
Michael Holly, the brother of Andreas, lived in what is now Montgomery County, PA and died about
1781. Tax was paid on the Michael Holly estate in 1781-1782 in Philadelphia County. In addition to
Michael’s name there were several Hollys listed in the tax list of that area who may be his sons. There are
several families still living in that area bearing the name Holly, Hawley, Howley. These later spellings may
be attempts to keep the original Swiss pronunciation of Holly. The name, Michael, is prominent among
these families, as seen from official records in Norristown, PA.
Other Hollys came to America. A Bernard Holly came to Maryland as early as 1658. Some of his
descendants may have moved north to the Philadelphia area where a Robert Holly lived as early as 1750.
Michael settled near these Hollys around Norristown. But if they were of any relation, it is not known.
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Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Peter and Katherine Holly settled in Butler County, Ohio in 1832. Peter’s ancestry has been traced
back to Isaac Holly; and Katherine’s ancestry to Jacob Holly born in 1710. Isaac and Jacob were sons of
Christian Holly and his wife R. Eier. Christian served as a minister in the Amish Church in Germany from
1719 to his death in 1748 at Barbelsteinerhof, Palatinate, Germany. He had come from Kurezberg,
Switzerland. According to John H. Holly of Illinois, he was the son of Nicolaus (sic) Holly and Catherina
Peter. There is a tradition among the descendants of Peter that Isaac and Jacob were related to the Andreas,
Michael, and Johannes who came to America in 1750. They were perhaps second cousins. Peter G. Rapp,
Fairfield, IL, a great-grandson of Peter and Katherine Holly, has kindly provided a photostatic copy of the
Peter Holly Genealogy compiled in 1933 by his great-granddaughter, Otelia Augspurger Compton.
Peter Rapp writes, “This genealogy is published in a History of the State of Ohio, by Charles B.
Galbreath, which was published in the year 1925 by the American Historical Society Inc. … There are now
no living descendants of this Peter Holly family by the name Holly, although there are many descendants
through the female lines.”
BLANK - PLANK
Dr. Hans/Johannes Blank and his wife, Magdalena, whose maiden name is unknown, were natives of
Switzerland. The name Blank is spelled Plank in some records. They were members of the Reformed
Church, but later joined the Amish-Mennonite Church. Hans was a medical doctor and farmer. Tradition
says that one evening while he was away from home, a band of religious persecutors destroyed their home.
His wife, Magdalena, fled by a back door taking their two-week-old child with her. She escaped across the
border into Germany traveling through deep snow all night. A black dog that she met on the path led her to
the home of friends, who provided for her until she and her husband were reunited.
The Blanks evidently lived in Southern Germany a few years as their daughter, Catherine, the third
oldest of six children, was born in Mimelgart, Germany as stated in an unfinished letter written by her
husband, John Holly, son of Andreas.
PKB Johannes Blank and Magdalena (Chart 1 # 18&19) had the following children:
PKB1 Anna b. abt 1740 md Joseph Hochstetler HS5 who had been captured and held by the Indians in
the French and Indian War. Merle Good has a special chapter on Joseph’s experience in his book People
Pieces.
PKB2 John b. abt 1742 md Veronica Schmucker SM2. Her brother John is the ancestor of the
Schmucker family that started the Schmucker Jams and Jelly factory in Orrville, OH.
PKB3 Catherine b. abt 1744 md John Holly HL12 (Chart 1 # 8&9)
PKB4 Barbara b. abt 1746 md Joseph Gerber GB2 md 2 Christian Umble UM
PKB5 Magdalena b. 1751 md Christian Zug ZK18
PKB6 Christina b. abt 1753 md Jacob Yoder YR142
Dr. Blank and his family came to America, arriving in Philadelphia October 4, 1751, on the Ship
Queen of Denmark from Rotterdam, Holland. They settled in Heidelberg Township, Berks County, PA
where he continued his medical practice along with farming. Later he sold this farm to his daughter Anna
and her husband Joseph Hochstetler and moved his family south to Salisbury Twp., Lancaster County. This
move was probably due to the Indian raids in Berks County during the French and Indian War.
Before his death in January, 1790 Hans divided his land in Salisbury Township between his daughter
Catherine and John Holly, and his son John. John and Catherine Holly received 137 acres for the price of
250 pounds (English money). John and Fanny received the remaining 166 acres. His wife, Magdalena died
in April 1796 and is buried by her husband in the Blank Cemetery.
Dr. Johannes Blank was a "Doctor of Physick" meaning herb doctor in Lancaster County. We have
no record that he used the common practice of “bloodletting” as did the Doctors Neff in the city of
Lancaster. According to the diary of Christopher Marshall, many people went to Dr. Christian Neff to have
this done. Bloodletting involved surgically opening a vein on the wrist and allowing blood to drain from
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Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
the patient. It seems obvious to us that in those days the function of the blood was not understood. It
appears that this practice of bleeding patients hastened death. Some wills of the 1700s were written only a
few days before they were probated.
Diagnosing illnesses in those days was done by observation and questioning of the patient. Dr.
Abraham Breneman did the first urine analysis in Lancaster about 1810. This was 20 years after the death
of Dr. Blank.
Medicines were made from imported narcotics, from herbs grown in herb gardens and from seeds and
roots of plants and bark of trees found in the surrounding forests. One can envision the doctors' wife and
children helping to plant, cultivate, harvest and dry the herbs. They probably helped their father gather
seeds, roots, bark and herbs from the forest. No doubt they watched their father prepare the medications
and listened to him explain their preparation and use. In this way a son learned the medical practice from
his father.
Some drugs like narcotics were purchased in Philadelphia from Christopher Marshal, an importer of
medications. It seems evident that the practice of medicine in those days was not a lucrative profession. It
appears that the major source of income for the family came from farming and not from the practice of
medicine.
Obviously the doctors had to prepare their own medications because the first drug store in Lancaster
was not opened until 1797. An interesting find would be their medical books containing the formulas for
preparing medications.
Those of us in the Murray family may remember the two volume set of medical books that Dad kept in
the book case. Volume I describes the various parts and functions of the human body. Volume II describes
diseases, and other physical problems, how to diagnosis them and what medications to prescribe. Volume
II also describes over one hundred herbs, narcotics and minerals used in the preparation of medicines and
what they were supposed to cure. It also has many formulas for mixing prescriptions. Of interest to me
were the instructions concerning the gathering and preparation of herbs, which were with little doubt similar
to those used by the Dr. Plank and his family.
The gathering of herbs is as follows:
1. Leaves should be plucked from a plant while it is still in bloom, and should be dried in an airy
room.
2. Roots should be gathered in the spring or the fall of the year.
3. Flowers may be gathered at any time of the year when in bloom and dried in a well ventilated
room.
4. Barks should be taken from the tree in the early spring or late fall and stored in a dry, dark place.
5. Seeds can be gathered any time they become ripe.
6. Herbs should be gathered only when they are in bloom.
The preparation of medicines is described as follows:
1. Infusions are made by steeping one ounce of the part of the plant to be used, thoroughly beaten, to
each pint of boiling water. Cover and let stand for half an hour, then strain. Infusions should be
made fresh at least twice a week.
2. Decoctions, with few exceptions, are made by adding one pint of boiling water to each ounce of
the part of the plant to be used, and should be boiled on a very slow fire for twenty or thirty
minutes; allow to cool and then strain.
3. Tinctures should be made from fresh plants, one ounce to each pint of alcohol. The plant should
be thoroughly pounded before adding the alcohol, and placed in an air-tight jar for one to two
weeks. It should be shaken often.
4. Essences are made by adding one pint of alcohol to each ounce of essential oils.
Let me highlight three medicines.
1. One is Nux Vomica. This is strychnine dissolved in alcohol. The dose was one to five drops,
depending on the size of the person, mixed in a little fruit juice for taste. It appears that the
8
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
strychnine would speed up the body's systems and in the process would also throw off the disease.
This was also used with guinine to cure malaria.
2. Tincture of aconite was a narcotic dissolved in alcohol. It was given as a sedative to help break
fever. Dosage was similar to Nux Vomica and was often given with Nux Vomica in cases of the
flu.
3. A third was paregoric which is a tincture of opium. The dosage for diarrhea was two teaspoonsful.
This was still in use a few years ago. One could buy Kaopectate with paregoric.
MAST
Jacob Mast MS14, who married Magdalena Holly HL21, was born in 1738 in Switzerland or Germany.
According to the Mast book, he, four sisters and one brother, John, were orphaned in Europe and were
brought to America by their Uncle Johannes Mast. They came on the Ship Brotherhood with the Hollys.
Johannes Mast settled in Pine Grove Township Berks County, now in Schuylkill County, PA keeping the
children in his care. It appears that they moved south to friends during the French and Indian War. Here
Jacob Mast married Magdalena Holly and began farming. These two would have known each other as
children having come on the same ship in 1750.
One wonders if the orphan story is true. The fact that all known children had an eldest son named John
might indicate that their father was Johannes. Unfortunately we have not found any wills or deeds for
Johannes Mast. The Mast children were:
MS21 daughter
MS22 Anna md John Yoder YR25 (Chart 2 #18&19)
Ms23 Magdalena b. 1736 md Michael Troyer TY and they are the ancestors of all Amish-Mennonites
who have Troyer ancestors.
MS24 Jacob b. 1738 d. Feb. 8, 1808 md Magdalena Holly HL21 (Chart 1 #10&11)
MS25 John b. abt 1740 md Barbara. They moved to NC and then back to Miami County, OH.
MS26 daughter
MS24 Jacob Mast md Magdalena Holly HL21 (Chart 1 #10&11) had children:
MS241 Johannes b. 1763 md Mary Kurtz KZB78
MS242 Magdalena b. 1764 md Christian Zook ZK32
MS243 Barbara b. 1765 md 1 John Hochstetler HS51 md 2 John Zook ZK31
MS244 Jacob b. 1768 md Barbara Kenege KY22
MS245 David b. 1770 md Mary Kurtz KZA131
MS246 Maria b. 1771 md John Coffman KFB2
MS247 Anna b. 1773 md Adam Kurtz KZB68
MS248 Freny b. 1775 md John Zook ZK221
MS249 Elizabeth b. 1776 md Christian Holly HL134
MS24a Christian b. 1778 md Susanna Kurtz KZA134
MS24b Esther b. July 29, 1780 d. Dec. 6, 1867 md 2 Peter Holly HL137 (Chart 1 #4&5)
MS24c Daniel b. 1783 md 1 Charity/Gertrude Zook ZK246 md 2 Catherine Kurtz KZB626 md 3 Mary
Morgan.
In 1764 Jacob and his family moved south to the Chester County line where he and his father-in-law
Johannes Holly bought land together. In 1787 he was ordained to the office of Bishop in the AmishMennonite Church and served faithfully until death. He is the progenitor of the Jacob Mast book written by
C. Z. Mast. Jacob died February 8, 1808. His wife outlived him by 12 years, dying on October 25, 1820.
Both are buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery, near Morgantown, Berks County, PA.
Their daughter, Esther, is our ancestor. She was born in Berks Co., PA. Her first husband was
Christian Zug (Zook), by whom she had two children: Jacob Zook married Barbara Yoder and Barbara
Zook married Jacob King. After Christian’s death, she married her second cousin, Peter Hooley HL137. To
9
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
this union were born seven children. See the Holly Family for their children and more information about
Esther.
Other Mast families also came to America. Some of them spelled their name Maust. The Strassburger
Ship Lists says Jacob and Barbara Mast (Chart 5 # 62&63) arrived October 8, 1737 on the Ship
Charming Nancy. Johann Jacob Mast arrived October 19, 1737. Jacob Mast, age 42, arrived with his family
September 2, 1743 on the Ship Judith; the names of his two sons, Hans, age 20, and Henry, age 15, appear
in the same ship list. This later Jacob settled north of Philadelphia.
KAUFFMAN
Many Kauffmans (also spelled Coffman) came to America in the 1700s. If the introduction to the
Kauffman-Coffman Lineage by Charles F. Kauffman is correct, the families were distantly related. In
America our Kauffman line begins with Isaac Kauffman and his wife Anna Streit, daughter of Hans Streit.
They lived in Homberg, Switzerland until 1714 and then moved out of the country.
The court records in Switzerland show that Isaac’s father was also named Isaac Kauffman. His wife
was Elizbeth Mergerdt. As an Anabaptists teacher Isaac Sr. was often in trouble with the law. He was
banished from Switzerland for his teaching but sneaked back in a couple of times. In Alsace, France on Feb.
7, 1700 he signed a letter with Jacob Ammon, the leader of the Amish division.
Isaac Sr.’s wife died on Nov. 15, 1715. Then Isaac Jr.’s brothers, Jacob and Christian, and a brother-inlaw Ruchti placed claims for their share of the estate and related that their brother Isaac had brought debt on
the family, left the country and ought to be deprived of any part of the estate. (Kauffman Lineage page
xvii.)
Isaac Jr. and Anna had four children christened in Switzerland, Barbara on Mar. 11, 1807 (died young
not in Gingerich’s list so I gave her the number KF0); Hans, Sept 15, 1710; Barbara, Apr. 1, 1714 and Isaac
May 29,1718 who was baptized at Aigle im Waahland im Rhontal near Genfersee. They lived in Germany a
number of years before coming to Pennsylvania on Virtuous Grace arriving on Sept. 24, 1737. The ship list
has Isaac Kauffman age 55, Hans Kauffman age 24 and Isaac Jr. age 19. The women and younger children
were not listed. Only men over 16 signed the ship list. They were no doubt other children with perhaps a
daughter or two between Isaac Jr. and Stephen. The following is an incomplete listing:
KF Isaac Kauffman md Anna Streit (Charts 1#48&49) had children:
KF0 Barbara bp. Mar. 11, 1707 died young before 1714
KF1 Hans/ Johannes b. 1710 md about 1735 ______ . (Chart 1 #24)
KF2 Barbara b. 1714
KF3 Isaac Jr. b. 1718 md 1 Catherine Yoder YR11 md 2 Anna ______.
KF4 Stephen b. abt 1725 d. 1800 md Barbara Yoder YR21
KF5 Christian b. about 1728 d. Feb 23, 1764 md 1 Maria ?? Beiler? BY4 (Chart 3 #22&23) md 2
Margaret Schnaebele
KF6 Jacob b. about 1730 md Elizabeth Beiler? BY5
The family of KF1 Hans Kauffman does not seem to be complete either. Gingerich pieces it
together as follows:
KFC Jacob Kauffman b. 1737 d. 1816 md Elizabeth Zug ZK13 (Chart 1 # 12&13)
KF12 John b. about 1740 md Veronica Hertzler HZ4
KF13 Christian b about 1745 md _____ Gindlesperger GR1
KF14 Anna b. about 1747 md Jacob Blough BL2
KF5 Christian Kauffman b. about 1728 d. Feb 23, 1764 md 1 Maria ?? Beiler ? BY5
KF51 Anna b. about 1754 md Jacob Blough
KF52 Barbara b. 1752 md Jacob Gindlesperger GR2 (Chart 3 #10 &11)
KF53 Jacob b. 1756 d. Nov. 1825 md 1 Catherine Miller ML25 md 2 Mary _____.
10
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Christian KF5 md 2 Margaret Schnaebele
KF54 Abraham b 1758 d. Sept. 1821 md Veronica _____.
KF55 Veronica b. 1760 md David Boehler
KF56 Christian b. 1762 d. 1843 md Elizabeth Miller ML46
KF57 Joseph b. 1764 d. 1815 md Mary _____.
KFC Jacob Kauffman was born Jan. 1737 in Europe and married in Cumru Township Berks
County, PA to Elizabeth Zug (Chart 1 #12&13) the oldest daughter of Christian Zug. They had 13
children:
KFC1 Christian b. May 25, 1764 md Anna Fisher FH16;
KFC2 Barbara, b. Oct. 25, 1765 md Christian Kurtz KZA111
KFC3 Jacob b. Oct. 28, 1767 md Mary Kurtz KZA114
KFC4 Henry b. July 25, 1770
KFC5 David b. June 22, 1771 md Barbara Kurtz KZA124
KFC6 Daniel b. Jan. 27, 1773 md Sarah Yoder YR178 (Chart 1 #6&7) md2 Christina Hooley
HL136.
KFC7 John b. July 20, 1774 md Anna _____ .
KFC8 Abraham b. 1776 md Veronica Kurtz KZA 126
KFC9 Joseph b. d. Apr. 1815 died single
KFCa Anna b. Nov. 25, 1782 md Christian Lapp LP18
KFCb Mary md Abraham Lapp LP19
KFCc Samuel
KFCd Magdalena b. Apr. 27, 1789 md John Oberholtzer
Jacob KFC md 2 Veronica Yoder YR141 Their children were:
KFCe daughter md Joseph Kurtz KZA183
KFCf Isaac
KFCg Hannah b. 1796 d. Clarence Center, NY single.
KFC6 Daniel Kauffman, b. Jan. 27, 1773 was married twice. His first wife was Sarah Yoder
(Chart 1 #6&7), daughter of John Yoder, whose will was probated in Berks County, PA November 7,
1807. Daniel and Sarah had 6 children born in Mifflin County, PA where they settled in 1799. His deed for
this land was dated July 23, 1799 and recorded January 21, 1813 in Lewistown after his first wife died.
Their children were
KFC61 Elizabeth, md John Yoder YR1621
KFC62 Nancy md Jacob Byler BY356
KFC63 Franey, md Joseph Hertzler HZ11a
KFC64 Sarah md David Kurtz KZB674
KFC65 Samuel (Sham) d. single;
KFC66 Jemima (June 15, 1810-September 15, 1884) md John Hooley (Chart 1 #2&3). John died
September 12, 1858 in Lawrence County, PA and is buried near Volant, PA. After his death Jemima lived
with her children the rest of her days and died in Cass County, MO. (Mast Book, family #1835; also
Kauffman Book, page 680)
After Sarah died about 1812, Daniel married Christiana (Jane, nickname) Hooley in 1813. She was
born in 1774 a daughter of John and Catherine (Blank) Holly. They had two children: John, born 1814, md
Mary Fisher, and Katherine, born 1817 and died single.
Daniel died in Beale Township, Juniata County, PA in 1853. His will was recorded in Will Book B,
page 44 and probated October 14, 1853 in Mifflintown, Juniata County, PA. Portions of his will are here
quoted to clear up the confusion among genealogists who list the five oldest daughters as children of
Samuel. The will reads: “The last will and testament of Daniel Coffman of the township of Beale in the
County of Juniata. I, Daniel Coffman … give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Jane Coffman, … to my
11
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
daughter Catherine Coffman … to my sons Sham Coffman and John Coffman and to my five daughters
Elizabeth Yoder, Nancy Biler (sic), Fanny Hartzler, Sarah Kurtz, Jemima Hooly (sic)…” (Chart 1 #3)
YODER
There are more families with the name of Yoder in our background than any other family name. The
Yoders in the ancestral tree appear to be of two distinct Yoder lines. One line begins with two brothers
whose families arrived in Philadelphia aboard the ship Francis and Elizabeth on September 21, 1742. Five
children in these Yoder families are our ancestors.
One of the brothers died at sea and was buried at sea. His widow Barbara and children settled in Berne
Township, Berks County. The list of children in this family comes from the will of their sister Barbara
Sherk who died without children and named her brothers and sisters as heirs.
YR1 ____ Yoder (father died at sea) md Barbara _____. (Charts 1&2)
YR11 Catherine, wife (1) of Isaac Kauffman KF3
YR12 Christian, d. 1773 md Barbara Beiler BY1 (Chart 2 #30&31)
YR13 Magdalena md? Moritz Zug (Zook) ZK2, his name not in Shirk will
YR14 Jacob (Strong) d 1790 md Anna (?) Beiler BY2
YR15 Anna md Samuel King KG (Chart 2 #20&21) See King family
YR16 Michael d 1799 md ____
YR17 John d 1804 md Anna Berkey BK14 (Chart 1 # 14&15)
YR18 Barbara d 1793 wife (2) of John Shirk
YR19 Veronica md John Hertzler HZ1 (will of Barbara Sherk calls him brother-in-law and makes him
executor)
YR12 Christian Yoder d. 1773 in Berks Co. md Barbara Beiler BY1 (Chart 2 #30&31)
YR121 Jacob b. 1745 md Veronica Hochstetler HS13
YR122 Christian b 1747
YR123 Elizabeth b. 1749 md Christian Hertzler HZ5 (Chart 2 #14 &15)
YR124 Barbara b. 1751 md Jacob Hertzler HZ3
YR125 John b. 1753 md Magdalena Stutzman ST1 (Chart 5 # 26 & 27)
YR126 Veronica b. 1755 md John Miller ML22
YR127 Joseph b. 1757 md Elizabeth Yutzi YZB13
YR128 Henry b. 1759 md Barbara Kauffman KF47
YR129 Anna b. 1761 md Jacob Stutzman ST5
YR12a David b. 1763 md Jacobina Eash ES2
YR12b Catherine b. 1765 md John Miller ML62
YR17 John Yoder b. 1732 d 1804 md Anna Berkey BK14 (Chart 1 #14&15). In his will probated
in Berks Co. on November 7, 1807 (Will Book 4, page 443) John named his wife, Anna, and his children as
follows: David, “who shall have my property located in Mifflin County, PA where he now lives. Johannes
and Jacob who “shall receive my plantation in Oley Township, consisting of 343 acres.” Their children
were:
YR171 Barbara b 1763 md Jacob Gnaegi KY7
YR172 Veronica b. 1764 died single
YR173 Anna b. 1765 md Christian Gerber GB18
YR174 David b. 1767 md 1 Barbara Steeley SAB231 md 2 Veronica Riehl RL2 md 3 Magdalena
YR175 Elizabeth b. 1769 md Steven Kurtz KZB79
YR176 Magdalena b. 1771 md Abraham Gerber GR1a
YR177 John b. 1773 md Veronica Rickenbach RB322
YR178 Sarah b. 1776 md Daniel Kauffman KFC6 (Chart 1 #6&7)
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Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
YR179 Catherine b. 1779 md John Hertzler HZ34
YR17a Jacob F. b. 1732 md Anna Rickenbach RB323
_______________
The other Yoder family on the 1742 ship is as follows:
YR2 Christian Yoder (brother of YR1; the older Christian of the 1742 ship list, wife Barbara
(Chart 2, 3 &4) The list of children is reported to have been made by “Butcher” Christ, son of Yost Yoder
YR26.
YR21 Barbara md ? Stephen Kauffman KF4
YR22 Magdalena, wife 2 of John Gnaegi/Kenagy KG
YR23 Christian Jr., 1728-1816, (too young to sign ship list in 1742) md 1 ____ (Chart 3 #16) md
2 Barbara Hooley HL23 (Chart 4 # 20&21)
YR24 Elizabeth, wife (1) of Christian (Christopher) Beiler BY3, according to his land deed and when
he died, his widow was Barbara.
YR25 John, md (1) Anna Mast MS12 (Chart 2 # 24&25); md 2 Magdalena
YR26 Yost, md 1 ___ Hooley HL12; (Chart 5 # 48 & 49) md 2 Mary Siever
YR27 Veronica md ? Stephen Kurtz
YR28 Jacob, md ? Barbara Rupp
YR23 Christian Yoder, md ___ (Chart 3 #16)
YR231 Veronica b. 1753 d. 1 9/15/1821 md John Troyer TY1
YR232 Barbara b. 1756, Christian Troyer TY3
YR233 Christian b. 1758 d. 4/29/1838 md Magdalena Troyer TY5
YR234 Jacob b. July 1760 d. Mar. 24, 1829 md 1 Elizabeth Yoder YRB2 (Chart 3 # 8&9) md 2
Barbara Wenger WGBI2
Christian YR23 md 2 Barbara Hooley HL22 b. April 17, 1741 d. March 8, 1812. (Chart 4
#20&21) and they had children:
YR235 David b. 1763 d. 1850 md Barbara Livengood LG3 (Chart 4 #10&11)
YR236 Yost b.1765 d.1792 md Magdalena Rickenbach, RB35
YR237 Jonathan b.1766 d.1846
YR238 Magdalena b.1769 md Blough, Peter BL14
YR239 John b. Feb. 8, 1772 d. 1860 Barbara Yoder YR1251
YR23a Elizabeth b.1774 d. by 1830 md Blough, Henry BL15
YR23b Solomon b.3/25 1776 d. 2/1611868 md Barbara Miller ML57
YR23c Gertrude b. 1778 d. by 1830 Yost Miller ML221
YR23d Jeptha b. Dec. 1780 md Elizabeth Zug ZK172
YR23e Esther b.Dec.1780 d. Nov. 20, 1871 md Peter Baumgardner BG
YR23f Henry b.1782YR234 Jacob Yoder md 1 Elizabeth Yoder YRB2 (Chart 3 #8&9) md2 Barbara Wenger WGB15
YR2341 David b. 1784 d. 1866 md Elizabeth
YR2342 Levi b. 1785 d. 1788
YR2343 Barbara b. 1786 d. 1860 md Peter Miller ML243
YR2344 Christian b. 1787 d. 1867 md Judith Gindlesperger, GR28 (Chart 3 #4&5) md 2 Veronica
Kauffman KF53b
YR2345 Joseph S b. 1788 d. 1852 md Elizabeth Speicher, SP152
YR2346 Veronica b. 1789 d. 1857 md Stephen J Yoder YR1257
YR2347 Elizabeth b. 1793 md Emanuel Miller, ML229
Jacob YR234 m2 Wenger, Barbara WGBI2 b. 1777
YR2348 Mary b. 1805 md Jeptha T Miller ML771
13
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
YR2349 Philip b. 1806 d. 1868 md 1 Veronica Stutzman ST86 md 2 Veronica Hochstetler HS1224
YR234a Henry b. 1807 d. young
YR234b Jacob M. b.1811 d. 1879 md Magdalena Miller ML2337
YR234c Yost b. 1813 d. young
YR234d Catherine b. 1816 d.1863 single
YR2344 Christian Yoder b. 1787 d. 1867 md Judith Gindlesperger, GR28 (Chart 3 #4&5)
YR23441 Stephen b.11/ 5/1812 d. 4/26/1950 md Sarah Speicher SPI59
YR23442 Jacob b. 9/ 2/1814 d. 3/ 6/1898 md Rachel Yoder YR23b7
YR23443 Tobias C b. 1/25/1816 d. 2/13/1875 md Maria Swartzentruber, SZE4 (Chart 3 # 2 & 3)
rnd2 Barbara Borntreger BN228
YR23444 Peter b. 12/25/1817 d. 1857 single
YR23445 Joseph C b. 1819 d. 9/ 4/1863 md Magdalena Yoder YR2337 md2 Susanna Yoder YR23b4l
YR23446 John C b. 8/25/1821 d. 5/22/1889 md Catherine Schrock, SK218
YR23447 Valentine C b. 8/25/1821 d. 5/ 8/1889 md Elizabeth Yoder YR23921
YR23448 Daniel C b 1824 d.1885 md Catherine Hostetler HS5541 md 2 Barbara Kauffman, KF4355
YR23449 Herman C b. 1827 d.1902 md Elizabeth Eash ES181 md 2 Mast, Barbara MS36327
YR2344a Barbara b. 12/31/1827 d. young
Christian YR2344 md 2 Veronica Kauffman KF53b - b. 11/3/1800 d.12/10/1877
YR2344b Moses C b. 3/16/1837- 11/13/1916 md Barbara Yoder, YR234134
YR2344c Elizabeth b. 3/22/1839 d. 9/ 6/1911 md Joseph Hostetler HS5627
YR23443 Tobias C Yoder b. 1816 d. md Maria Swartzentruber, SZE4 (Chart 3 # 2 & 3)
YR234430 Judith b. 9/25/1837 d. by 1840
YR234431 Elizabeth b. 2/22/1839 d. I/ 2/1919 md Daniel Kemp KPC4
YR234432 John T b. 1840 d.1922 md Anna Bontrager EN2228 md 2 Lydia Kauffman KFB478
YR234433 Valentine T b. 9/25/1842 d. 4/10/1913 (Chart 3 # 1) md Catherine Schrock SK2153
(Chart 4 #1) The parents of Lydia md to Enos Hooley and Gertrude md Joseph Y. Hooley.
YR234434 Aaron T b. 2/12/1845 d. 1/21/1908 md Magdalena Kauffman KF53812
YR234435 Moses T b. 10/15/1847 d. I/ 6/1910 md Veronica Miller ML22378
YR234436 Jeremiah T b. 1850 d. 1/21/1946 md Lydia Troyer TY23132 md2 Anna Kauffman
KF53841
YR234437 Tobias T b. 3/27/1853 d. md Mary Ann Schrock SK3a61 md 2 Magdalena Weirich WR43
Tobias C Yoder YR23443 md2 Barbara Borntreger, BN228 and had one son who died young.
YR234438 Benjamin d. by 1870
They are buried south of Shipshewana in the Yoder Cemetery on the Cable Line Road just west of Route 5
YR235 David Yoder m Barbara Livengood LG3 b. 1764 (Chart 4 # 10 & 11)
YR2351 Barbara b. Apr. 11, 1787 d. Sept. 30, 1877 md John Schrock, SK21 (Chart 4 #4&5)
YR2362 Elizabeth b. 1788 md Paul Stutzman
YR2353 Veronica b. 1790 d. 1871 md John Hostetler HS123
YR2354 Joshua b. 1792 d. 1857 md Catherine Kauffman, KF13b
YR2355 Sarah b. 1794 d. 1880 md Henry Hochstetler, HS18
YR2356 Caleb b. 1797 d. 1878 Susanna Hochstetler, HS129
YR2357 Joel b. 1799 d. 1888 md Rebecca Hershberger HB351
YR2358 Susanna b. 1805 d. 1893 single
YR2359 Catherine b. 1808 d. 1883 md Peter B Miller ML2322
YR235a David b. 1811 d. 1905 md Sarah Eash ES123
14
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
YR25 John Yoder md Anna Mast MS12 (Chart 2 #24&25)
YR251 John b. 1754 md Barbara Rickenbach, RB31 (Chart 2 #12&13)
YR252 Magdalena b. July 9, 1761 md Christian YoderYRB1 (Chart 2 #8&9)
YR253 Jacob 7/17/1763 md Catherine Blank PKB21
YR254 Barbara b. about 1765 d. April,1835 md Moses Peachey BC3
YR255 Anna b.1770 md Jacob Kauffman, KFB4
YR256 Christian b. 1774 d. Dec.19, 1827 md Barbara Hertzler HZ54
YR257 Yost b. 1775 d. 1856 Veronica Yoder YR166, md 2 Mary Zook ZK146
YR258 Veronica b. 1779 d. Dec. 31, 1827 md Jonathan Hochstetler HS1a
YR251 John Yoder md Barbara Rickenbach RB31 (Chart 2 #12&13)
YR2511Yost b. July 27, 1775 d. May 3, 1849 md Sarah YoderYR1252
YR2512 Jacob b. about 1779 d. 1852 md Mary Keim KM6
YR2513 Magdalena md Christian King KGB
YR2514 Christian b. Aug. 1784 d. May 3,1850 md Esther Hertzler HZ57 (Chart 2 #6&7)
YR2515 Anna b. Mar. 10, 1786 d. Jun. 18, 1877 md Henry Yoder YR2613
YR2516 Barbara b. Feb. 10, 1788 d. Jan. 6, 1870 md Daniel Yoder YR12al
YR2517 Daniel b. April 21, 1792 d. Dec. 1, 1882 md Anna Yoder YRB62
YR2518 John d. single
YR2519 Elizabeth b. Apr. 13, 1799 d. May 8, 1890 md Christian Hostetler H8517
YR2514 Christian Yoder b. Aug. 1784 d. May 3,1850 md Esther Hertzler HZ57 (Chart 2 #6&7)
YR25141Lydia b. Mar. 22, 1813 d. Jan. 20, 1884 md David Hartzler HZ1112
YR25142 Anna b. Apr. 10, 1815 d. Aug. 9, 1887 Cass Co. MO. Md Jacob Yoder YRB111 d.
Mottville, MI. (Chart 2 #2&3) See YRB111 on the following page.
YR25143 Simeon H b. Nov. 9, 1816 d. Jan. 31, 1892 md Elizabeth Kanagy KY715
YR25144 Daniel C b. Aug. 7, 1818 d. July 23, 1896 md Elizabeth Byler BY3571 md 2 Barbara Glick
GK54
YR25145 Sarah b. Jan. 31, 1820 d. May 13, 1899 md Jacob Zook ZK2166
YR25146 Elizabeth b. April 11, 1822 d. 1888 md Stephen Kurtz KZB6711
YR25147 Christian H b. 1828 md Lydia Kurtz KZB6741
YR25148 Abraham b. 1830 d. 1904 md Veronica Kurtz KZB6742
YR25149 Moses H b. 1833 d. 1912 md1 Barbara Kauffman KFI1553 md2 Elizabeth Slabaugh SBC19
The John Yoders of families YR1 and YR2 may be interchanged. Both wives were named Anna,
which adds to the confusion, but placing them this way avoids two first cousin marriages in the next
generation, and best explains the “close relationship” explained in DJH 2798.
_________________________
YRB. Another Yoder family came to America. We think his name was Yost and he could be the
Yost Yoder on the 1744 ship with the Kings. If so he was either not married until about 1760 or perhaps
had no living children from a first wife who would have died before 1760. Yost died about 1779-1780. His
widow appears to be the Barbara Yoder who became the second wife of Christian Beiler BY3 and his
widow at death. The children in this Yoder family are as follows:
YRB Yost Yoder md Barbara and had children:
YRB1 Christian, b. Dec. 3, 1761, md Magdalena Yoder YR252 (Chart 2 #8&9)
YRB2 Elizabeth b. 1764 d. Jun 9, 1803 md Jacob Yoder YR234 (Chart 3 #8&9)
YRB3 Barbara, md Christian Plank PK42
YRB4 Isaac, d. 1841 Wayne Co., OH, md Catherine (he died without children; his will mentions
David Yoder, son of Sister Elizabeth and Jeptha Plank (son of Sister Mary) parentheses not in will.
YRB5 Mary b. Feb. 13, 1771 d. Mar. 28, 1830 Wayne Co OH, md Jacob Plank PK41
15
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
YRB6 Peter, 1773-1849, md 1 Veronica Kauffman KFB8 md 2 Gertrude Kauffman KF537
YRB7 Jacob b. 1775 md Elizabeth Rickenbach RB324
YRB8 Magdalena b. 1778 d. abt 1830 Holmes Co, OH, md John Plank PK43 (Ancestors of Elmer
Murray md to Lydia Hooley.)
YRB1 Christian Yoder b. Dec. 3, 1761, md Magdalena Yoder YR252 (Chart 2 #8&9)
YRB11 John b. Dec 15, 1785 md Mary King b. May 4, 1790 d. Aug 23, 1866 in Wayne Co. OH
KG65 (Chart 2 #4&5)
YRB12 Barbara b. 1787 md Abraham Zook ZK216
YRB13 Magdalena b. 1788 d. 1863 md Joseph Zook ZK217
YRB14 Anna b. 1792 d. 1830 md Samuel King KG73
YRB15 Mary b. 1794 d. 1873 md Jacob King KG73
YRB16 Veronica b. 1796 d. 1861 md David Kauffman KFC13
YRB17 Christian b. 1799 d. 1872 md Veronica Kauffman KFC17
YRB18 David C b. 1801 d. 1870 md Magdalena Hooley HL1342
YRB11 John Yoder b. Dec 15, 1785 md Mary King b. May 4, 1790 d. Aug 23, 1866 in Wayne Co.
OH KG65 (Chart 2 # 4&5)
YRB111 Jacob Yoder b. Jul 23, 1812 d. Feb 9, 1864 md Anna Yoder YR25142 (Chart 2 #2&3)
YRB112 Magdalena b. 1818 d. 1900 md John Plank PK 4231
YRB113 John K Yoder b. 1824 d. 1906 md1 Lydia Zook ZK22214 md 2 Jemima Zook ZK211a4
YRB114 Christian K Yoder b. 1829 d. 1911 md1 Catherine Plank PK4252 md 2 Sarah Zook ZK21157
YRB111 Jacob Yoder b. Jul 23, 1812 d. Feb 9, 1864 Mottville MI. md Anna Yoder, YR25142 b.
4/10/1815 in PA. d. Aug 9, 1887 in Cass Co. MO. (Chart 2 #2&3)
YRB1111 Rachel b. Oct. 10, 1834 d. Mar. 21, 1892 Mottville MI (Chart 2 #1) md 1 Joseph J
Hooley HL13711 (Chart 1 #1) md2 Abraham Hershberger HB2234
YRB1112 Mary b. Jun 30 1836 d. Jun. 3, 1925 md Gideon Y Smucker SM1112
YRB1113 Menno S. b. 1838 d.1844
YRB1114 Esther b. 1840 d. 1908 Cass Co., MO. md Solomon Kauffman KFB464
YRB1115 Ezra b. 1841 d. 1893 md Harriet Briscoe b. 1848 d. 1902
YRB1116 Gideon J b. 1843 d. 1930 md Barbara Miller ML54335 md2 Veronica Hunter
YRB1117 Elizabeth b. 1845 d. 1923 md John S Zook ZK211
YRB1118 Simon Peter b. 1847d. 1926 md Mary Metzler, b. 1850 d. 1931
YRB1119 Abigail M. b. 1849 d. 1928 md Christian K Miller b. 1851 d. 1910
YRB111a Lydia b. 1851 d. 1930 md Jacob N Yoder YR162a4
YRB111b John C. b. 1853 d. 1854
YRB111c Anna b. 1854 d. 1909 md Eli Schmucker b. 1860 d. 1919
YRB111d Magdalena b. 1857 d. 1936 md Jonas Smucker SM1137
RICKENBACH
The Rickenbach lineage given in the footnote of our Rickenbach family (Gingerich page 361) is as
follows:
1. Martin Rickenbach b. abt 1560 had a son:
2. Jacob Rickenbach b. July 25, 1585 at Zeglingen, Switzerland md Barbara Widmer on April 27,
1623 at Kilchberg, Switzerland. had a son:
3. Hans Rickenbach b. May 25, 1626 at Zeglingen md Dec 1, 1646 at Kilchberg to Anna Gysin. had a
son:
4. Martin Rickenbach b. Dec. 25, 1629 Zelinger, Switzerland md Barbara Gerber Jan. 19, 1692 at
Kilchberg. had a son:
16
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
5. Henry Rickenbach (RB) b. abt 1696 d. 1741 md Barbara Thommen (Chart 2 #52&53), daughter
of Adam. They came to Philadelphia arriving Sept. 23, 1740. He was age 44 and she was 39. The
following are the christening dates for their children in the Reformed Church, Zeglingen, Switzerland.
RB1 Elizabeth c. July 30, 1724 d. 1796 md John Kurtz KZB6
RB2 Hans Adam c. Nov 18,1726 d. 1804 md _______. 14 children
RB3 John c. Oct. 24, 1728 d. 1782 md Anna ____ (Chart 2 # 26&27)
RB4 Jacob c. June 25, 1730 d. 1805 single
RB5 Margaret c. March 18, 1732 md Samuel Baer
RB6 Henry c. May 22, 1735 md _________
RB7 Barbara c. Oct 20, 1737 died young
RB8 Anna c. Nov. 28, 1739 died young
* c. = christening
Henry wrote his will Feb 28, 1740/41 and it was probated on March 25, 1741. The story is that the
children were placed in Amish homes and were brought up Amish. The son Adam returned to Switzerland to
collect the inheritance from the estate of Adam Thommen, his grandfather, who died in 1743.
RB3 John Rickenbach b. 1828 d. 1782 in Berks County. He married Anna ? Rupp (Chart 2 #
26&27). They had 8 children:
RB31 Barbara b.1755 md John Yoder YR251 (Chart 2 #12&13)
RB32 Jacob b. 1757 d. 1832 md Barbara Hertzler HZ12
RB33 Anna b. 1760 d. 1832 md John Hertzler HZ11
RB34 Mary b. 1761 d. 1830 md John Lapp LP11
RB35 Magdalena md 1 Yost Yoder YR236 md 2 Michael Troyer TY2, wife 2.
RB36 Margaret b.1765 d 1854 md Jacob Lapp LP12
RB37 Catherine md Michael Lapp LP14
RB38 John b. 1770 md Elizabeth Hertzler HZ14
LEIBUNDGUTT AND NAFZIGER
Barbara Leibundgutt married on April 16, 1786 David Yoder. She was born August 7, 1764, a
daughter of Peter Leibundgutt who came from Switzerland arriving in Philadelphia August 28, 1750 aboard
the Ship Phoenix (Chart 4). Peter’s descendants spell their name Livengood. He is reported to be the first
Amish-Mennonite minister to have moved west across the Appalachian Mountains.
It appears that Peter first married the widow of Martin Ritter. She and Martin had one child Barbara
Ritter who when she reached the age of 14 in 1764 chose Jacob Kurtz as her guardian. It does not appear
that Peter and Martin’s widow had any children.
By 1760 Peter had married Barbara Nafziger who is probably the daughter of Jacob Nafziger who
arrived in Philadelphia November 3, 1750 on the Ship Brotherhood with the Hollys. Jacob’s family seems
to be the only Nafzigers on record as having come that early. Barbara was born in Switzerland or Alsace
Lorraine, France. She preceded her husband in death.
Barbara had a least one brother John. Peter Leibundgutt was a weaver by trade. He kept a daily journal
in which he recorded all the transactions from his weaving business. He entered the following in his
Journal on page 169. “May the 4th, in the year 1767, I loaned my brother-in-law, John Nafftsger (sic) money
– 1 pound, 5 shillings.” On the same page is the name of Henry Nafftziger (sic) who might be another
brother-in-law. On page 182 he mentioned his own sister Anna Schneider. On page 193 it appears that
another sister was married to John Stauffer. This Journal also seems to indicate that Peter’s business
supported a network of cottage industry. Several persons, women included, wove cloth or spun thread for
him.
17
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
The final accounting of Peter’s estate in 1827 mentions the book, Pilgrims Progress, German and
English Bibles plus other books. To me this indicates the type of inspirational reading that Peter had for his
family.
Peter Leibundgutt was born in 1730 and died April 26, 1826 at 96 years of age. I believe that all the
following children were his and Barbara’s as there is no natural break in the birth years of the children and
In his journal Peter did not indicate different mothers for the children. He used the same expression for each
child “…born to us and we give...”
LG Peter Leibundgutt and Barbara Nafziger (Chart 4 #22&23) had children:
LG1 Christian b. 1761 md Elizabeth Forney
LG2 Christiana b. 1763 md Christian Fike FK2
LG3 Barbara b.1764 md David Yoder YR235 (Chart 4 #10&11)
LG4 Peter b. 1765 md Anna Beachy BC4
LG5 Mary b. 1767 md Jacob Saylor SL413
LG6 Anna b. 1769 md Jacob Kepple
LG7 Sem b. 1771 d. 1773
LG8 Catherine b. 1773 md William Ogg
LG9 Elizabeth b. 1775 md Jacob Breneisen
LGa Sem b. 1777 d. 1779
LGb John b. 1779 md Barbara Hardman
LGc Veronica b. 1780 md David Miller
In his journal Peter also kept a list of all of the things that he gave each of his children when they
married. The following is a record of the items that he gave to his daughter Barbara, our ancestor, when she
married David Yoder. The record is on page 9 of his Journal. I quote:
“1812 the 13th day of March have I, Peter Leibundgutt, reckoned together the whole sum which my
daughter Barbara was started with, namely the whole sum of thirty-three pounds, nine shillings, and eight
pence, as part of her inheritance.
August the 14th day in the year 1764, a daughter was born to us, and we gave her the name Barbara.
And in the year 1786, the 16th day of April she married David Yoder, and we have started her with,
namely:
1 bed comes to - 4 pounds and 10 shillings
1 mare with colt, makes - 13 pounds
2 cows and calves - 6 pounds, 10 shillings
2 sheep -1 pound
1 side saddle costs - 3 pounds, 15 shillings
2 irons pots - 1pound, 2 shillings, 6 pence
1 corn hoe - 2 shillings
1 spinning wheel - 15 shillings
1 horse collar and traces makes - 12 shillings
3 iron ladles - 7 shillings, 6 pence
1 song book, 1English Testament, 1 Golden Apple (this is a book), all together makes - 19 shillings
4 tin cups and a pint - 1 shilling, 8 pence
6 baking baskets makes - 3 shillings
(not legible item) - 7 shillings, 6 pence
1 bell, makes - 4 shillings
This list gives us a window into the life of David and Barbara and into the heart of Peter Leibundgutt.
David and Barbara died near Johnstown, PA in Cambria County. (See page 14 for a list of their children)
18
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
BEILER-BYLER
Jacob Beiler and his family arrived in Philadelphia October 8, 1736 on the Ship Charming Polly. In
the ship’s list of women and children are the following Beilers: Ferona, Barbara, Anna, Christopher, Maria
and Elizabeth. The first listed is probably Jacob’s wife, Feronica or Frany, and the rest are their children.
The Beiler family settled in Berks County where both Barbara and Christopher married into the Jacob
Yoder family.
BY Jacob Beiler md 1 Veronica Siever. (Chart 2 # 62&63& Chart 3 #46&47)
BY1 Barbara b. 1723 md Christian Yoder YR12 (Chart 2 #30&31)
BY2 Anna b 1726 md Jacob Yoder YR14
BY3 Christian b. 1729 md 1 Elizabeth ? Yoder YR24 md 2 Barbara ___.
BY4 Mary b. 1732 wife 1? Christian Kauffman KF5 (Chart 3 #22&23)
BY5 Elizabeth b. 1735 md ? Jacob Kauffman KF6 This couple had only one child, Elizabeth, who
married Peter Plank who recorded in his Bible the death of Christian Kaufman KF5 as “my relative.” Was
this relationship on the Beiler or Kauffman side? No doubt both sides as siblings in one family often
married siblings in another family. This double relationship would make Christian Kauffman a special
relative.
Jacob Beiler BY md 2 Elizabeth Kallen and had children: Jacob, John, Sarah, Joseph and David.
Jacob Beiler kept a diary of his days crossing the Atlantic Ocean. In it he records the hardships
suffered and deaths of persons on the ship who were buried at sea.
Jacob Beiler wrote his will 19th of July 1765. In Article #9 of his will he listed his children in order of
birth to establish an order for his executors to pay inheritance money. To begin each child was to be given
30 Pounds. It is not clear if all of the children were still living at that point. The list appears only to establish
an order to pay Jacob's Heirs. Article #10 then orders the executors to divide the remainder of the estate to
the heirs following the order as given in item #9.
Then follows the statement, "All of the above mentioned Articles the Executors shall certainly truly
(sic) and well administer and pay to my Heirs and if any Controversey (sic) shall happen between my Heirs,
the Executors shall decide between them in my name." This sentence seems to indicate that not all Jacob's
children were still living for if all the children were still living this sentence would no doubt read "pay to
my children." So it appears that some of the heirs were not his children but grandchildren.
Executors were his widow Elizabeth, Christian Yoder (YR12) and Jacob Kauffman (KF6). Christian
and Jacob were also sons-in-law by the first marriage.
ZUG-ZOOK
Three Zug brothers, Johannes, Christian and Moritz, arrived from Rotterdam, Holland in Philadelphia
September 21, 1742 on the Ship Francis and Elizabeth. These three brothers appear to be sons of Johannes
Zug, a grandson of Hans Zaug, a Mennonite minister and teacher who was arrested and imprisoned in
Berne, Switzerland in 1659 during the period of religious persecution in Europe.
The Ship List C for the Francis and Elizabeth in Sept. 21, 1742 is of special interest to us because it
has the names of five of our ancestors as underlined. List C records the names of Christian Yoder YR2,
Christian Yoder YR12, Jacob Yoder YR14, Christian Miller, Johannes Gnaegi (Kenagy) KY, Moritz Zug
ZK3, Christian Zug ZK1, Johannes Zug ZK3, Jacob Guth (probably the step-father of the Zugs)..
The story of the elder Hans Zaug, his imprisonment and trial may be read in the Martyr’s Mirror
(pages 1134-1135). The Letters of the Amish Division (1693 Letter page 25) mentions a Hans Zaug of
Switzerland who pleaded with Jacob Ammon for more tolerance. This Hans is probably the elder Hans
Zaug above. In the same book (1711 Letter page 113) is the name of Christian Zaug, a minister living in the
Palatinate in 1711.
In 1688 Christian Zaug and Michael Miller rented the Wilensteinerhof estate in the Palatinate. This
Christian appears to be the Minister Christian Zaug of the Palatinate in the Amish Division 1711 Letter.
19
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Since there are 18 years between the 1693 letter listing Hans Zaug and the 1711 letter listing Christian Zaug
as a minister it would appear that Hans and Christian were not in the same generation and therefore could
be father and son.
Christian appears to have had a son Hans Zaug born in the 1680s who become a renter of the
Wilensteinerhof estate after 1710. This Hans wrote in his Bible that he received his Bible from Christian
Zaug. He entered his children’s names and birth dates in the Bible. (see the article by Neil Ann Stuckey
Levine in the Mennonite Family History, April 1996 issue).
Hans Zaug made the following entries in his Bible in German:
I received this Bible from Christian Zaug. My Children are:
1.
Ana (sic) born September 1710,
2.
Hans Zaug born 21 May, 1712,
3.
Barbara born 16 September 1714,
4.
Magdalena born 19 June 1716,
5.
Kristen (sic) Zaug born 21 February 1718.
This Bible became the possession of daughter Magdalena born 19 June 1716 who married Christian
Gingerich in 1737. The Bible was passed on down by 1800 to a Kennel family who brought it to Ohio. It is
now in the Trenton Ohio Historical Society. In 1739 at the neighboring village of Salingsmuhle a widow
Zaug, no doubt the mother of these children, married Jacob Guth (Good). This Jacob Guth is no doubt the
Jacob Guth/ Good whose name appears on the 1742 Ship List right after the three Zug Brothers. He died in
1754 and Johannes Zug ZK3 was the executor of his estate.
True, Moritz is not named in this Hans Zaug's Bible. But it appears that Hans Zaug died just before
1720 for in that year the Wilensteinerhof Estate which he was renting and farming was leased to Christian
Zaug (either father or brother of Hans) and Christian Stauffer. Since Han’s Christian was born in 1718, one
would expect another child in 1720. It would seem reasonable to me that Hans' wife was pregnant with
Moritz when Hans died and that Moritz was born after his father's death and therefore his father could not
have written Moritz's name and birth date in the Bible. And no one else did either. It would also appear to
me that according to tradition Maurice Nassau, ruler of the region extended special treatment to this family
because their father had died and therefore Hans' widow named her son Moritz for Maurice. Tradition says
that Moritz was a brother. He was with the family on the 1742 ship.
For the above to be true the following must be approximately correct: (The words in italics are my
guesstimates based on the known facts.)
Hans Zaug was born about 1630, had children in the 1650s, was about 30 when imprisoned for his
faith in 1659, was about 63 when mentioned in 1693 “Letters of the Amish Division” (page 25)
Christian Zaug was born about 1655-58, was about 30-33 with children when in 1688 he and Michael
Miller rented the Wilensteinerhof estate in the Palatinate, was about 56 when in 1711 Letter he was named
in the “Letters of the Amish Division” as a minister living in the Palatinate. (page 113)
Hans Zaug was born about 1685 and was about 24 when he married about 1709 and received his Bible
from Christian Zug and began recording his children in the Bible in 1710. Hans died in 1719 before the
birth of his son Moritz who was born about 1720 and his widow remained unmarried until she married in
1738 to Jacob Guth/Good. This Hans Zug appears to me to be son of Christian Zaug b. about 1655 from
whom he received the Bible and to be the father of Christian, Johannes and Moritz Zug who were on the
ship Francis and Elizabeth in 1742 along with Jacob Guth their step-father. It is also of interest to note that
Christian, Johannes and Moritz had eldest sons named Hans /John which might indicate that their father was
named Hans.
If we say the above is true, then Johannes ZK3 was born on May 21, 1712 and Christian ZK1 on Feb
21, 1718 and Moritz ZK2 in 1720. This works OK with ages of their children. Johannes did not marry until
about 1755. He must have married a younger women but not much younger than himself as they only had
five children which also indicates that Johannes might have been older when he married. He would have
been 43 when he married and was 52 when his youngest child was born. The suggested birth years for the
20
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
three brothers in Amish and Amish Mennonite Genealogies are guesstimates made by Hugh Gingerich based
on the ages of their children.
That Johannes ZK3 was the oldest of the brothers seems to be confirmed by the fact that in Bern Twp.,
Berks County, PA he was the first to buy land on December 16, 1742. He sold this land to his brother
Christian on November 30, 1744 (Vol. 2A pages 162 and 163, Berks Co.). Johannes was also appointed
executor for Jacob Good’s estate in 1754 in Bern Township, Berks County which is another confirmation
that their mother was the widow Zug who married Jacob Good in 1739. (Abstracts of Berks County Wills,
1752-1785, Westminster, Md, 1993, ob. cit.: Mennonite Family History, April 1996 page 67) Also noting
the above Kennel connection, I wonder if the maiden name of Christian ZK1’s wife was Kennel and not
Kanabel. We are descendants of both Christian and Johannes.
ZK1 Christian’s children by his first wife, Anna Kanabel, (Chart 1 #26&27) were:
ZK11 Anna b 1740 md Peter Miller ML3
ZK12 Barbara b. 1742 md Michael Buechle (Beegley) BH
ZK13 Elizabeth b. 1744 md Jacob Kauffman KFC (Chart 1 #12&13)
ZK14 John b. 1745 md 1 Catherine _____ md 2 Mary
ZK15 Yost b. 1747 md Catherine
ZK16 Mary b. 1748 md John Olinger
ZK17 Jacob b. 1750 md 1 Gertrude Miller md 2 Anna Long md 3 Magdalena Schrock SK34
ZK 18 Christian b. 1752 md Magdalena Blank BKB5
Christian married second Dorothea widow of Joseph Mishler Sr. (See Mishler family). All her Mishler
children are named in his estate papers. His third wife was Anna.
ZK3 The children of Johannes and Veronica Zug (Chart 2 #22&23) were:
ZK31 Hans b. 1756 md 1 Magdalena Kenagy KY3 md 2 Anna Yoder YR163 md 3 Barbara Mast
MS143
ZK32 Christian b. 1758 md Magdalena Mast MS143
ZK33 Daniel b. 1760 md Catherine King KG8
ZK34 Barbara, born October 6, 1762, md Jacob King KG6 (Chart 1 #10&11)
ZK35 Elizabeth b. 1764 d. 1773.
Christian Zook ZK222, the first husband of Esther (Mast) Hooley, was a grandson of Moritz Zug
ZK2.
Three other Zug brothers, Peter, George and Ulric, also came to America arriving in Philadelphia on
September 27, 1727 from Rotterdam, Holland. I question if this family was Anabaptists when the boys
were born because the names George and Ulrich were not names used by Anabaptists.. Descendants of
these brothers affiliated with the Dunkard or Brethren Church in America. They are thought to be cousins
to Johannes, Christian and Moritz. Other Zugs who came to America were Joseph Zug, who arrived in
Philadelphia August 14, 1750 and Jacob Zuch who arrived September 30, 1754.
The Zug name, also spelled Zoog, Zeog, and Zaug, and now written in English as Zook, is a very old
Swiss name. In Switzerland there is a town, a canton, a river and a lake all bearing the name Zug.
KING/ KÜNG/KOENIG
Samuel King (Koenig) came to America from Germany by way of Rotterdam, Holland arriving in
Philadelphia on December 22, 1744 aboard the Ship Muscliffe Gally. The names of two other Kings,
Christian and Jacob, appear in the ship list. In the same list appears the name of Yost Yoder (See section on
Yoders). Some have said of Christian and Jacob that one was Samuel’s father and the other is his uncle.
Recent research by Richard Davis suggests that all three were brothers with the following ancestral
line:
21
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
1. Hans Küng born 1595
2. Abraham born about 1625 d. about 1674 at Steffisburg md Elizabeth Nussbaum.
3. Samuel Küng about 1651 md Anna Gnagi (Kenagy in English) the daughter of Hans Gnagi on
Oct. 31, 1679 in Steffisburg. They were listed as an Anabaptists when the authorities at
Steffisburg forcibly baptized his infant daughter Barbara in 1693. He was living at Markirck,
Alsace, France with the Amish in 1703 and 1708.
4. Hans was born June 15, 1684 at Steffisburg, Switzerland and living at Alzey, Germany in
1719. This Hans was likely the father of Samuel, Christian and Jacob the 1744 immigrants.
(See Emigrants, Refugees and Prisoners by Richard Warren Davis Vol I page 240)
KG Samuel King b about 1720 d. about 1777 married Anna Yoder YR15 soon after arriving.
They settled in Berks County, PA. (Chart 2 #20&21)Their children were:
KG1 Magdalena b. 1745 md Jacob Kurtz KZA21
KG2 Barbara b ____ md Bishop John Blank BK11
KG3 Anna b ___ md Christian Beiler BY31
KG4 Elizabeth b. 1755 md Samuel Lantz LZ4 md 2 Christian Stoltzfus SF5
KG5 John b. ___md 1 Catherine Blank BK14 md 2 Anna Renno RN2
KG6 Jacob b. 1758 d. 1822 md Barbara Zug ZK34 (Chart 2 #10&11)
KG7 Christian b. 1761 md 1 Catherine Kurtz KZB77 md 2 Elizabeth Beiler BY36 md 3 Mary
KG8 Catherine b. 1763 md Daniel Zug ZK33
KG9 Samuel b. abt 1765 md Catherine Kurtz KZA123
KGa Abraham b. 1767 md Catherine Sieber SV21
KGb David b ___ md ______.
KGc Michael b. 1770 md Veronica ______.
KGd Veronica b ___ md John Stoltzfus SF51
KGe Solomon b ___ md Veronica Schmucker SM16
KG6 Jacob b. 1758 md Barbara Zug ZK34 b. 1762 (Chart 2 #10&11)
KG61 John b. about 1782 md Elizabeth Yoder YR269
KG62 Anna b. about 1784 md Daniel Zug ZK235
KG63 Samuel b. 1786 d. 1847 md Anna Yoder YRB14
KG64 Barbara b. 1788 d. 1855 md David Zook ZK219
KG65 Mary b. 1790 d. 1866 md John Yoder YRB11 (Chart 2 #4&5)
KG66 Elizabeth b. 1792 d. 1867 md Peter Yoder YR1623
KG67 Catherine b. 1795 d. 1876 md David Hooley HL13b
KG68 Magdalena b. 1798 d. 1858 md David Yoder YR1624
KG69 Jacob b. 1800 d. 1875 md 1 Barbara Zook ZK2222 md 2 Magdalena Zook ZK2215
Several other King-Koenig families came in the last half of the 1700’s, but Samuel and Anna (Yoder)
King seem to be the progenitors of Mennonites and Amish in America who trace their King ancestry as
coming to America in the 1700’s.
HERTZLER - HARTZLER
Jacob Hertzler was born about 1703 in Switzerland and moved to the Palatinate area in France because
of religious persecution. His first wife, with whom he had one son, John, died in Europe. Then he married
Catherine Ruegy who was born in Switzerland. Gingerich suggests that her maiden name might have been
Knegi rather than Ruegy.
They came to America sailing from Rotterdam on the Ship St. Andrew and arrived in Philadelphia
September 9, 1749. In America some of Jacob Hertzlers descendants spell their name Hartzler. He is the
progenitor of the Hertzler-Hartzler Family History written by Silas Hertzler of Goshen, Indiana.
22
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Jacob and Catherine and their family settled two miles west of Hamburg, in Berne Township,
Lancaster County, PA, now Upper Berne Twp., Berks County. There he purchased land from Richard and
Thomas Penn. Later he purchased other nearby tracts of land. He built the house that still stands. The
Cemetery is north down the hill behind the house.
He was probably the first Bishop in the Amish-Mennonite Church in America having been ordained in
Europe, and given the charge to serve those of like faith in Pennsylvania. One of Bishop Jacob Hertzler’s
books, found a few years ago among descendants of Jacob Hertzler Jr, was a book of sermons by Menno
Simons. The front cover is missing. But the writing and signatures in the book seem to indicate that the
book passed down through the family of Jacob Jr.
Catherine died in 1773 or 1774 and he died in 1786. Both are buried in the Hertzler Cemetery on their
farm. Their daughter-in-law, Elizabeth (Yoder) Hertzler, died January 11, 1791, is also buried there. Her
husband Christian Hertzler, born 1744, died February 18, 1817, is buried near Belleville, PA.
The Hertzler family may not be complete. The known children by wife 1 were:
HH1 John b. abt 1729 md Veronica Yoder YR19
HH2 Catherine b. abt 1731 md John Hochstetler HS1. She might be a daughter of the wife 2.
Chart 5 # 60 & 61)
HH Jacob’s known children by Catherine Ruegy or perhaps Knegy (Chart 2 #28&29) were:
HH3 Jacob b.1733 md Barbara Yoder YR124
HH4 Veronica b. ____ md John Kauffman KF??
HH5 Christian b. 1740 md Elizabeth Yoder YR123 (Chart 2 #14&15) md 2 Mary Yoder YR244
HH5 Christian b. 1740 md Elizabeth Yoder YR123 (Chart 2 #14&15)
HH51 Jacob b. 1770 md Anna Rickenbach RB33
HH52 Christian b. 1771 md Anna Zug ZK185
HH53 Sarah md Christian Yoder YR268 “Butcher Christ”
HH54 Barbara b 1776 md Christian Yoder YR312 “Cooper Christ”
HH55 Elizabeth b 1779 md Jacob Beiler BY312
HH56 Anna b. 1781 md Jacob Zook ZK218
HH57 Esther b. 1788 md Christian Yoder YR2514 “Kiefer Christ” (Chart 1 #677)
One will note that three daughters married men by the name of Christian Yoder who had nicknames to
distinguish them from each other.
GINDLESPERGER – (See Gindlesperger Article)
Judith Gindlesperger GR28 (1787-1832) was the first wife of Christian Yoder YR2344 (1787-1867)
and a granddaughter of Ulrich Gindlesperger who came to America arriving in Philadelphia from
Rotterdam, Holland on the Ship Phoenix September 14, 1749. He could not write his name and so the
ship’s clerk spelled the name as it sounds in English, Kindlishberger.
Ulrich settled first in Berks County, PA and then moved to Bedford County where he died in January
1784. His land was located in what is now Somerset County which was formed from Bedford County in
1792 near land owned by Christian and Barbara (Holly) Yoder. His will is recorded at Bedford in Will
Book 21, page 258 on June 11, 1956 (this will was unrecorded until then). The will is dated April 30, 1783
and probated February 5, 1784. Uli Gindlesperger signed his will with an (X). John Yoder and David Holly
served as executors. Witnesses to the will were Christian KF13 and Jacob Kauffman.
According to the will, his son Albrecht was to take care of his mother and receive the farm and pay his
brothers and sisters an annual amount as their share of the inheritance. The names of Ulrich’s wife and
other children are not given in the will. These children appear to be as follows:
GB1 daughter md Christian Kauffman KF13 one of the witnesses to the will
GR2 Jacob md Barbara Kauffman KF51 (Chart 3 #10&11)
GR3 Catherine md David Holly HL29
23
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
GR4 Albrecht - He seems much younger than the others and perhaps a son of a second marriage.
Ulrich’s son Jacob lived in Berks County until 1792 near the Christian Kauffman family KF5. Then he
sold his land there and moved his family to Somerset County with the family of Jacob Kauffman KF53.
Jacob Gindlesperger died in 1799. His will written May 25, 1798 and probated in Somerset on June 17,
1799 divided his land between his eldest sons, Christian and Joseph. They were to provide for their mother,
Barbara, and younger brothers and sisters (not, named). The executors were John Stutzman ST8 of Brothers
Valley Twp. and John Yoder YR239 of Stony Creek Twp. The witnesses were John Yoder YR125 and
Christian Miller MLB.
Judging from her birth date Judith Gindlesperger (Chart 3 # 5), married to Christian Yoder, has to be a
daughter of Jacob and Barbara Gindlesperger. She can not be a daughter of Albrecht because he had no
daughters born before 1790. The 1790 Census for Albrecht has only 2 females, his wife and mother.
SCHWARTZENTRUBER - MILLER
Peter Schwartzentruber (Chart 4), who married Elizabeth Miller, was probably born in Germany in the
1780’s. The names of Peter’s parents are uncertain at present. John and Maria (Kennel) Schwartzentruber
whose names appear in land transactions in Berks County as early as 1804 and 1805 might be his parents.
A Jacob Schwartzentruber born in 1771 came to America in the 1790’s and was married in Berks County to
Catherine Schmucker, moved to Lancaster County and finally to Ontario, Canada. Appearing in the same
ship list with Jacob is the name of a Daniel Schwartzentruber. This ship list has no date.
The Schwartzentrubers who spell their name with a “druber” arrived later in the 1820s and 1830s.
These Swartzendrubers settled first in Somerset County near Peter’s children. Later they moved south to the
area of Grantsville, Maryland and from there they homesteaded near Kalona, Iowa where many families
having this name still live.
SZC Peter Swartzentruber married about 1809 to Elizabeth Miller (Chart 3 #6&7) and bought
land and settled in Somerset County, PA. She was a daughter of a Christian Miller MLB, who died in the
early 1830’s. They had seven children: [guardians for the children are in brackets and italics]
SZC1 Jacob b 1811 md ______ [Christian Miller MLB5]
SZC2 Christian b. 1813 md Magdalena Stutzman ST822 [MLB5 and Yost Yoder YR23b2]
SZC3 Peter b. 1816 md Jacobina [Jeremiah Miller ML246]
SZC4 Maria b. Nov 2, 1817 md Tobias C. Yoder YR 23443 (Chart 3 #2&3) [ MLB5 & YR23b2]
SZC5 Felty (Valentine) 1819 [Henry Stutzman son-in-law of MLB5]
SZC6 Christiana / Tinah/ Dinah [Jacob Blough BL13 husband of Barbara Miller MLB2]
SZC7 John b. 1824 md Veronica Kauffman [MLB5, YR23b2]
Peter died suddenly in July 1824. On August 30, 1824 Elizabeth, his wife, expecting her seventh child,
petitioned in the Orphan Court of Somerset County for guardians for five children under 14 years of age:
Christian, Peter, Maria, Felty, and Christiana. Christian Miller MLB5 and Yost Yoder YR23b2 were
appointed. John, the youngest son, was born in November 1824. On June 6, 1825 the eldest son, Jacob, a
minor above 14 years of age, petitioned for a guardian and again Christian Miller was appointed.
On February 28, 1826 Daniel Will, Officer of the Court, petitioned for a guardian for John, age 15
months. His mother, Elizabeth, had died a couple of days previously. Yost Yoder YR23b2 and Christian
Miller MLB5 were appointed.
As each of the children reached the age of 14, other petitions were made and guardians were
reappointed or new ones appointed. Christian Miller MLB5 seemed to be the chief guardian. Yost Yoder
YR23b2, son of Solomon YoderYR23b and Barbara Miller ML57, served as guardian for Maria and John.
One Jeremiah Miller ML246 served as guardian for Peter beginning January 31, 1832. In 1839 a John
Speicher SP135 and in 1840 Abner Yoder YR239b were appointed guardians for John.
24
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
On March 12, 1835 Christian Miller filed a guardianship account, part of which reads: “Said
accountant charges himself with money received from Christian Miller deceased grandfather of said minors
out of his estate as their share on the part of their mother.”
The eldest son, Jacob, married and received his father’s farm by deed in 1833. The daughter Maria
(Chart 3 # 3) was the first wife of Tobias C. Yoder and is a grandmother of Gertrude Yoder, wife of J. Y.
Hooley. Maria died December 7, 1853 and is buried in the Yoder Cemetery, LaGrange County on Cable
Line Road about one-half mile west of Indiana Route 5. Tobias was buried by her side. His second wife is
also buried there.
John, the youngest brother of Maria, married Fannie Kauffman and also lived in Indiana where he died
near Shipshewana March 25, 1898. Most of the Swartzentrubers of northern Indiana are his descendants.
(DJH, 1071) (See the Tobias Yoder family YR23443 Page 14.)
Miller
There are many Miller families that came to Pennsylvania. There is some question as to how they all
fit together. The Christian Miller ML family immigrants on the ship Phoenix on Sept. 14, 1749as listed by
Hugh Gingerich may be correct with the exception of Nicholas Miller ML4. I’m sure that he is not son in
this family for he came with Johannes Holly in 1750. (See the Johannes Holly).
John Hannes Miller ML2 was on this ship Phoenix in 1749 and probably a son of ML. (Chart 5 #
18) One of his grandsons Jeremiah Miller ML257 was a guardian for Schwartzentruber SZC3 above.
Christian Miller ML5 also had a grandson Yost Yoder YR23b2 who was one of the chief guardians. But
how Elizabeth Miller mother of the Schwartzentruber children was related to these families is a mystery.
We do know that her father was Christian Miller MLB as follows: They might have been related on the
Yoder side.
The children of MLB Christian Miller and Christina (Tinah) were (Chart 3 #14&15):
MLB1 child about 1771.
MLB2 Barbara b. about 1773 md John Blough BL13
MLB3 Mary b. about 1775 md Samuel Rhodes
MLB4 ? Tobias b. 1777 md 1 a daughter of a Abraham Miller ML7 md 2 Mary Guthart. Tobias had
been placed as son of ML7 but he was no doubt a son-in-law of ML7 as an Ausbund song book says he was
married first to a Miller and the MLB family has several descendants named Tobias which makes it fairly
sure that he belongs here.
MLB5 Christian b. 1779 md 1 Susanna Musser md 2 Elizabeth [Christian was the chief guardian of
Schwartzentruber children.]
MLB6 Jacob b. 1781 md 1 Sarah Lehman md 2 Elizabeth ____
MLB7 Veronica b. 1783 md Henry Lehman LM342
MLB8 Elizabeth md Peter Schwartzentruber SZE. (Chart 3 #6&7)
When considering the ages of Christian’s children it appears that Christian and his wife Tinah must
have been born in the 1740s and at least by 1750. The name of Christian’s wife comes from a deed in
Somerset County as Christina. But she was better known as Tinah and had several granddaughters named
Tinah, also spelled Dinah.
SCHROCK
The Nicholas/Klaus Schrag Bible shows that we
descend from Nicholas Schrag SK by his son Ulrich
Schrag SK2 who married Anna Christner CH1 Chart 4
#8&9 and came to Pennsylvania on Sept. 1, 1770. They
25
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
had eight children. Those named are John, Barbara, Anna, Veronica and Mary. She had one known brother,
John Christner CH2 who married Veronica Schantz/Johns the sister of Joseph Johns (see the Johns family
below).
John Schrock SK21 (1766-1843) supposedly was born in Windstein, Switzerland. When four years
old he was brought to America by his parents. He settled in Pennsylvania near Johnstown at a place called
“Amish Hill.” He had at least two children with his first wife and sometime after she died, he married
Barbara Yoder (1786-1877) (Chart 4 # 4&5).. To this union 10 children were born Sarah: David, John
(born June 13, 1811), Jonas, Maria, Katie, Lydia, Barbara, Samuel and Jacob.
Their son, John, born June 13, 1811, married Gertrude
Honeyville General Store
Borntreger and in 1848 homesteaded in LaGrange County,
As it is today in 1999
Indiana two miles south of the present Townline
Mennonite Church. He is sometimes referred to as “Rich”
John Schrock because he purchased two sections of land and started what is now called Honeyville, which
was originally called Schrock. John and Gertrude are buried in a small cemetery in the center of this farm
north of Honeyville. Their tombstones are two of three engraved tombstones in this cemetery. The other
graves are marked only with fieldstones.
SK215 John J Schrock b. June 13, 1811 md Gertrude Borntreger BN226
SK2151 Joseph b. Mar. 12, 1836 md 1 Veronica Kauffman md 2 Lydia Lehman Joseph and Veronica
were the parents of Joe Schrock who moved in 1920 to NY with the Elmer Murrays and Ammon Masts.
SK2152 John b. Mar. 7, 1843 md 1 Sarah Hershberger md 2 Magdalena Miller
SK2153 Catherine b. Mar. 16, 1845 md Valentine T. Yoder YR234433 and these are the parents
of Lydia and Gertrude who married Enos and Joseph Y Hooley.
SK2154 Christian b. 1848 md Ellen ____
SK2155 Amos S. b. Dec 10 1850 md Mary Lehman LM31488
SK2156 Mary b. about 1856 died by 1870
The original German-Swiss spelling of Schrock is Schrag or Schraag. After 1664, this name was
prevalent in the Palatinate of Germany, a refuge for persecuted Christians from Switzerland. From there
some went to Russia in the 1700’s and in the 1870’s left Russia coming to Canada and Kansas and North
Dakota. These retained the original spelling of Schrag and are affiliated with the General Conference
Mennonite Church.
But those who came to America in the last half of the 1700’s changed the spelling to Schrock. The
Strassburger ship list gives the names of Hanes Schrag, who arrived October 18, 1766 on the Ship Polly,
and Johan Henrich Schraag, who arrived October 13, 1766 on the Ship Betsy. Both ships sailed from
Rotterdam, landing at Philadelphia.
BORNTRAGER
Martin L. Schlabach of Marilla, New York has done extensive research in Europe on the Borntrager
family and he believes that our Borntrager ancestry comes from the Province of Hesse, Germany. His work
is included in the 1979 update of the book entitled Descendants and Ancestors of Johann Martin
Borntraeger by Marion G. Bontrager of Hesston, KS. He gives seven generations of the ancestral line as
follows:
1. Klaus Borntraeger, mentioned in documents 1577, 1579, 1582
2. Philipp Borntraeger d. 1616 md 1574 Catherine Schore
3. Kaspar Borntraeger d. 1656 md
4. Hieronymus Borntraeger d. 1664 md Elizabeth Lips
5. Johann Philipp Borntraeger b. 1642 d. 1687 md Elizabeth Lange
6. Johann Casper Borntraeger b. 1681 d. 1751 md 1708 Anna Maria Antrbringer
26
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
7. Johann Martin Borntraeger b. 1723 md 1751 to Anna Elizabeth Hanauer
Johann Martin Borntraeger family is probably the first of the Borntraegers (also spelled Bontreger,
Bontrager) to come to America. (Chart 4 #24) Martin and his family arrived in Philadelphia on October 5,
1767 sailing from Rotterdam on the Ship Sally. His wife, Anna Elizabeth Hanauer, died while coming to
America and was buried at sea.
The family settled in Bedford County, now Somerset County, PA near Meyersdale. Martin’s son, John
married Mary Falb whose ancestry is unknown at present. Her name appears on a deed of land sold when
they moved from Somerset County to Tuscarawas County, OH. The records of Somerset County show that
they owned several tracts of land totaling more than seven hundred acres. Their son, John, married Barbara
Johns and lived a number of years in Somerset County, PA. In the 1840’s they moved to LaGrange County,
Indiana where he died February 4, 1856 and she died March 4, 1870. Both are buried in the Old Bontreger
Cemetery East of the Forks in unmarked graves. Their family is as follows:
BN22 John Borntreger md Barbara Johns JH12 (Chart 4 # 6&7)
BN221 Veronica b. 9/22/1803 d. 1/ 4/1887 md David Schlabach
BN222 John b. 3/10/1805 d. 4/2711891 md 1 Anna Yoder YR233e md 2 Magdalena Miller ML2281
BN223 Margaret b. 1/23/1807 d. 7/2011882 md Christian Miller, ML3112 md 2 John J Miller,ML622 md
3 John Eash ES43
BN224 Mary b. 11/14/1808 d. 8/24/1896 md David Schrock, SK214 ni
BN225 Joseph b. 8/ 4/1811 d. 4/ 5/1908 md Barbara Yoder, YR23371
BN226 Gertrude b. 1/29/1814 d. 1/ 8/1891 md John J Schrock, SK215 Chart 4 # 2&3)
BN227 Christian b. 1/16/1816 d. 3/16/1907 md Elizabeth Baumgardner, BG3
BN228 Barbara b. 7/21/1819 d. 6/7/1902 md Tobias C Yoder, YR23443 as wife two
BN229 Amos b. 4/20/1826 d. 10124/1899 md Lydia Miller
JOHNS
Joseph Johns was the founder of Johnstown, PA. He arrived in Philadelphia on September 1, 1769
being nearly 20 years of age. The Johns name in German is Shantz or Tshantz (pronounced Shontz), also
spelled Jantz and Jantzin. At least, when he recorded the names of his children in his family Bible, he wrote
“Jantz” behind the boys’ names and “Jantzin” behind the girls’. But on land transactions he signed his
name as Shantz. People generally pronounced it Johns. Joseph married Frani Holly. He had one known
sister, Veronica who married John Christner CH2.
JH1 Joseph Johns b. Nov. 8, 1749 d. Jan 16, 1813 md about 1778 Veronica (Frany) Holly HL2a.
(See the section on Holly)
JH11 David b. July 30, 1779 d. 1796
JH12 Barbara b. Jan. 22, 1782 d. May 4, 1870 in LaGrange Co. IN md John Borntrager BN22
JH13 Veronica b. Jan. 22, 1786 d. Oct. 1869 md 1 John Holly HL295 md 2 _____ Nell
JH14 Joseph b. Jan 19, 1792 d. Dec. 5, 1861 md Anna Blough BL133
JH15 Sarah b. Jan 7, 1794 d. Nov 15, 1863 md Christian Eash ES12
After their marriage they resided in Conestoga Valley, then moved westward to Somerset County and
resided near Berlin, PA. In 1794 he bought the land on which the city of Johnstown now stands. Sometime
after he purchased the land, he drew up a plan to divide the land into city lots.
On November 4, 1800, his charter for the village was recorded in the court of Somerset County. In
the charter the land was zoned for residential, business and government buildings, and provisions made for
streets and alleys. He also set aside two plots for building of school houses and houses for public worship.
The official name of the town given in the charter was Conemaugh, being located at the junction of
Stoneycreek and Little Conemaugh Old Town rivers, but the early settlers called it Shantz’s Town. By an
act of the Pennsylvania State Legislature on January 12, 1831, the town was incorporated as the Borough of
27
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Conemaugh. But on April 14, 1834 by special act of the Legislature, the name was changed to Johnstown
in honor of its founder, Joseph Johns. On June 16, 1913 a memorial to him was erected in downtown
Johnstown. The top of the memorial is a bust of Johns, sculptured by J. Otto Schweitzer.
On May 31, 1889 the name of Johnstown, PA hit the headlines around the world. On that day at 3:10
in the afternoon, the dam above Johnstown, holding back the Conemaugh Lake, broke allowing a 70 foot
high wall of water to rush down the narrow valley, destroying everything in its path. More than 2000
persons died in the destruction. David G. McCullough, among others, has preserved the story of the tragedy
and the heroism of the Johnstown people in his book, The Johnstown Flood.
The city of Johnstown was originally part of Somerset County, but became part of Cambria County
when Somerset County was divided in 1804. In 1806 Johns sold his remaining acres around Johnstown and
bought the Stover farm to the south near Davidsville in Somerset County. It was there that he died on
January 10, 1813, although his tombstone erected some time later reads 1810. The Johns farm near
Davidsville is still owned by descendants of Joseph and Frany (Holly) Johns. Frany died on December 15,
1833 and was buried by his side in the burial grounds on the farm. The cemetery is located on the top of the
hill overlooking the farm.
BERKEY
The Berkey families are not complete. The names of Leonard and Anna Bergi come from notes made
by Eber Cockley and published in the Laurel Messenger, Somerset Co., PA. Jacob and Christian may not
have been brothers. Jacob appears to have immigrated in 1733 and Christian on October 8, 1737. Both
settled in what became Berks Co. PA. Elizabeth BK24 and Anna BK25 are my additions from the study of
the Dillabaugh and Mishler connections.
BK Leonard Bergi md Anna Catherine Facesh (Chart 1 & 5)
BK1 ?? Jacob Berkey d. Dec. 1763 in Berks Co., PA (Chart 1 # 30)
BK2 Christian Berkey b. 1715 d. Somerset Co PA (Chart 5 # 34 & 35)
BK1 Jacob Berkey (Chart 1 # 30)
BK11 Christian b. 1733 md Catherine Seiler SL42
BK12 Mary
BK13 Catherine d. 5/18/1809 md John Seiler SL41
BK14 Anna md John Yoder, YR17 (Chart 1 # 14 & 15)
BK15 John b. 1745 d. about 1800 md Susanna (Chart 5 # 10 & 11)
BK2 Christian Berkey md Catherine b. about 1717 (Chart 5 # 34 & 35)
BK21 Jacob b. about 1738 d. 1805 ____ Mishler, MH6 md2 Elizabeth Blough, BL5
BK22 Joseph b. about 1740 d. 1797 md Barbara Speicher, SP4
BK23 ?? Christian b. 1742 md Anna Blough BL3
BK24 Elizabeth b. about 1744 d. after 1800 md Joseph Mishler HH3 (Chart 5 # 16 &17)
BK25 Anna b. about 1746 md Valentine Dillabaugh
Anna Dillabaugh died in York County, Ontario near Toronto and she named “My nephew Joseph
Mishler the son of Joseph Mishler, the Younger,” MH3 as her executor. Jacob Berkey BK21 also served as
an executor for her in Somerset Co. PA.. We can prove that she was not an aunt on the Mishler, Dillabaugh
or Hulley side. The only way for Joseph to be her nephew is that Anna and Joseph’s mother were sisters in
this Birky B2 family.
MISHLER
28
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Researchers generally agree that this Mishler (MH) family immigrated on the ship Phoenix that arrived
in Philadelphia on September 15, 1749. On that ship list are the names of Jacob Mishler, who signed with
an X, followed by Joseph Mishler, who wrote his name in German. Some researchers, including myself,
have mistakenly suggested that Ulrich Mischler whose name comes near the end of the ship list was their
father. There was also an Ulrich Mishler in Cocalico Township near our Mishler family.
But the Ulrich Mishler of Cocalico Township was age 30 and married to Elizabeth age 25 with their
daughter Anna age 13 years when they immigrated on the ship Oliver which landed in Philadelphia on
August 26, 1735. These ages given on the ship list seem off a couple of years. Ulrich’s estate proves that he
had only one child, Anna, who married Christian Zweller. They were Lutheran.
The Ulrich Mischler on the 1749 ship was not the father either. He was married to Eleanora Mueller.
They were from Schwarzenburg, Canton Bern, Switzerland. They settled in Hanover Township, York
County. They had only two known children: Maria Louisa born "on the sea" on August 17, 1749 and
Eleanora Mishler baptized on April 5, 1752, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in York County, PA. They
belonged to the Reformed Church.
Back to our Mishler family. The marriage record in the First Reformed Church in Lancaster dated April
22, 1754 of the oldest daughter Catherine MH1 to Casper Diefenbach says that she was from the Durlach
territory. This is an area near Karlsruhe, Germany. In the records of Karlsruhe is the name of an Ulrich
Mishler, an Amish-Mennonite minister who was living in that area. This is a third Ulrich Mishler adding
confusion to the stories. This Ulrich being 40 to 50 years old was perhaps a grandfather of our Mishler
family.
Some have written that Christian Zug ZK1 and Christian Miller ML5 returned to Europe for their
Mishler wives. But the Mishler family is proven to have been in Berks County, PA before these marriages
took place. The proofs are the marriage of Catherine MH1 to Casper in 1754 and the Mishler sons begin to
appear in the tax list as early as 1754.
I believe that the father of our Mishler family was Joseph Mishler who signed his name in German script
on the ship list in 1749. He died sometime before 1755 and his widow Dorothea then married Christian
Zug. The Joseph Mishler who signed the Ship list could not have been Joseph MH3 as MH3 never signed
any deeds or wills but only made his X for his name and he was called Joseph Mishler Jr. in the Valentine
Dillabaugh Will. Joseph MH3 first appears in the 1756 tax list as a single male of 21 years old, which gives
him a birth year of 1735. That would make MH3 only 14 in 1749 and too young to sign the ship list. Only
males 16 years and older signed. For a more complete story see the article, “Mishler Families of Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania” published in the Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage Magazine, October 1993.
The will and estate papers of Christian Zug who died Dec. 17, 1787 in of East Whiteland Township,
Chester County, Pennsylvania, names members of this Amish Mennonite Mishler family due to the fact that
Christian Zug was their stepfather who married their mother, Dodorea/Dorothea. I follow Hugh F.
Gingerich’s order in listing the children even though I believe that Joseph was younger than Christina and
perhaps even younger than Veronica.
MH Joseph Mishler b. around 1700 to 1710 d. 1750s md Dorothea (Chart # 5 32&33)
MH1 Catherine md Casper Diefenbach
MH2 Jacob
MH3 Joseph md Elizabeth Berkey BK24. (Chart 5 #16& 17)
MH4 Christina md Christian Speicher SP1
MH5 Veronica md Christian Miller ML5
MH6 daughter md Jacob Berkey BK21
Christian Zug ZK married Dorothea in fall 1760 or spring 1761--between August 4, 1760, when he sold
land (with no wife listed) and September 6, 1761, when he and his two Mishler stepsons became naturalized
citizens. The naturalization list made by the Philadelphia court includes residents of Berks County,
Pennsylvania, who were "persons being Quakers or such who conscientiously scruple to take an oath:" John
Carver (GB1), Christian Suke (sic) (ZK1), Joseph Mishler (MH3), Jacob Mishler (MH2), and Adam
Richenbacher (sic) (RB2).
29
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
Joseph Mishler (MH3) was single and at least twenty-one years old in 1756 in Cocalico Township when
he first appeared in the tax lists. By 1767 he, his brother Jacob, all their brothers-in-law, and their stepfather
Christian Zug were living in Cumru Township, Berks County. Only two years later Joseph's name appears
on tax lists for Cocalico Township. In November 1772 he and Michael Buechle (BG), his step-brother-inlaw, purchased land in Brothers Valley Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. In 1781 he purchased
land from Valentine Dillabaugh in Quemahoning Township, Somerset County. In 1792 Joseph sold his land
in Brothers Valley to Michael Troyer (TY) in a transaction not recorded in civil records. He and son John
(MH32) were living in Quemahoning Township in 1800. In the 1810 Census they appear to be living with
son-in-law David Livingston, which might indicate that Elizabeth had died by 1810.
MH3 Joseph Mishler md Elizabeth Berkey BK24 (Chart 5 # 16 & 17)
MH31 Christian b. 1764 ___ Miller ML2a (Chart 5 # 8)
MH32 Joseph b. 1766 md Elizabeth Hulley HL25
MH33 John b. 1768 died single
MH34 Anna b. 1770 d. 5/1846 md David Livingston LS2
MH35 Jacob b. 1773 md Veronica Mast MS337
MH36 David b. 1775 d. in Holmes Co. OH md Magdalena b. 1770 Ancestors of Elmer Murray.
MH37 Barbara b. 1777 md David Miller ML75
MH38 Valentine b. 1779 md Barbara Lehman LM313?
MH39 Samuel b. 1781 md Veronica b. 1784MH3a Veronica b. 1784 md David Hulley HL292
Christian Mishler MH31 was the father of Peter the father of Peter C. Mishler, the father of Edward P.
Mishler (see chart 5). Edward was first married to Anna Stutzman. They had two sons Carl and Earl before
she died. By 1936 Carl had married Virgie Wolfe and had three children: Juanita, Leonard and Dorothy.
Earl had married Maud Herrold and had daughter Lenora. I did not include these to sons in Chapter two
because I was unable to learn more about them.
HOCHSTETLER - STUTZMAN
The Hochstetler family has been traced back to the 1738 immigrant Jacob Hochstetler who settled in
Berne Twp. Berks County. During the French and Indian War on September 21, 1757 the family was
attacked by Indians. They took captive Jacob and his sons Joseph and Christian. The mother and two
children were killed and scalped. Son John and daughter Barbara were already married and living near by.
Their families were not hurt. Jacob’s family has been pieced together as follows:
HS Jacob Hochstetler md ________ She was killed by Indians on 9/21/1757
HS1 John b. about 1730 d. 1805, md 1Catherine Hertzler HZ2 (Chart 5 # 60 & 61) md 2 Anna
Christner, CH1
HS2 Barbara b. about 1732 md Christian Stutzman, ST (Chart 5 # 54 & 55)
HS3 Jacob d. killed by the Indians on 9/21/1757
HS4 a daughter d. killed by the Indians on 9/21/1757
HS5 Joseph b.1744 d. 1812 md Anna Blank PKBI md 2 Barbara Kauffman
HS6 Christian b. about 1746 d. April 1814 md Barbara Rupp,
Christian Stutzman was the son of Maudlin Stutzman and Christian Stutzman. The later is reported to have
died in Holland and his wife Maudlin brought her family to Pennsylvania. Her name appears in land deeds
in Berks Co. Her known children are Christian and Jacob.
30
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
CONCLUSION
I know little about the Detweiler and Keim families. More research is needed on these families. Other
facts of interest could be told about the lives of other ancestors of the aunts and uncles by marriage whose
charts are not included in this work. Many of these stories can be found in the books and articles listed in
the bibliography. These are available at the Mennonite Historical Library on the upper floor of the Good
Library of Goshen College, Goshen, IN and the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Library, Lancaster, PA.. I
assume they are also in the libraries on the campuses of Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA.
and Hesston College, Hesston, KS.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Bontrager, Marion G., Descendants and Ancestors of Johann Martin Borntraeger, Hesston, KS
1979.
2. Cooper, H. Austin, Two Centuries of Brothers Valley Church of the Brethren, 1762-1962, The
Time Inc, Westminster, MD, 1962.
3. Cornish, J. L. MD Editor, Health Knowledge, Volume I and II, Domestic Health Society, New York,
1921.
4. Davis, Richard Warren, Emigrants, Refugees and Prisoners, Vol I, Provo, UT 1995
5. Eash, Levi T., Eash Family Record and History, Independent Press, Middlebury, IN, 1934.
6. Ellis, Franklin and Samuel Evans, History of Lancaster County Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Evert &
Peck, 1883, p. 247, 248 and 905, 906
7. Frey, Daniel D. Sr., Descendants of John Frey, 1927.
8. Gingerich, Hugh F. and Rachel W. Kreider, Amish and Amish Mennonite Genealogies, Pequea
Publishers, Gordonville, PA 1986
9. Gnagy, Elias, A Complete History of the Christian Gnagi Family, Mennonite Publishing, Co.,
Elkhart, IN, 1897.
10. Grieser, Orland R. and Ervin Beck Jr., Out of the Wilderness, Dean-Hicks Co., Grand Rapids, MI,
1960.
11. Hertzler, John S., Hertzler Genealogy, Mennonite Publishing Co., Elkhart, IN, 1885.
12. Hertzler, Silas, The Hertzler-Hartzler Family History, Economy Printing Concern, Inc., Berne, IN
1952
13. History of Northeast Indiana, Vol. I and II, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York, 1920.
14. Hostetler, Rev. Harvey, D..D., Descendants of Barbara Hochstetler, Gospel Book Store, Berlin, OH,
1965. (DBH)
15. Hostetler, Rev. Harvey, D..D., Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, Brethren Publishing House, Elgin,
IL, 1912. (DJH)
16. Kauffman, Charles Fahs, A Genealogy and History of Kauffman-Coffman Families of North
America, 1584-1937, York, PA, 1940 (Kauffman Book)
17. Kauffman, Monnoah A., Abraham Kauffman Family History.
18. Keim, J. J., Zimmerman Family, 1939.
19. Levine, Neil Ann Stuckey, Previous Kennel Froschauer Bible Owners – Christian Zaug and Hans
Zaug. Mennonite Family History, Volume XV, Number 2, April 1996. Pages 50-70
20. Mast, C. Z., Mast Family History, Elverson, PA, 1911.
21. Mast, C. Z., and Robert E. Simpson, Annals of Conestoga Valley, Mennonite Publishing House,
Scottdale, PA, 1942. (ACV)
22. Mast, Lois Ann, The Peter Leibundgutt Journal, Mennonite Family History, Elverson, PA 1991.
23. Murray, John F. and Marilyn Murray and others, J. Y. and Gertrude (Yoder) Hooley, 1976
31
Chapter 1 - Ancestral and Historical Background
24. Murray, John F., A Family History of Murrays, McKibbins, Smiths, Planks, Neffs and Related
Families of Elkhart and LaGrange Co’s in Indiana. 1977
25. Murray, John F., Blank/Plank Ancestry of the Amish Mennonite Tradition, Pennsylvania Mennonite
Heritage Magazine, July 1981
26. Murray, John F., Mishler Families of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, published by Pennsylvania
Mennonite Heritage Magazine, October 1993
27. Peachy, Samuel M., Memorial History of Peter Bitsche, ca1892. (PB)
28. Pennsylvania Archives, Series III.
29. Peter Speicher Family History (unpublished).
30. Smith, C. Henry, The Mennonites of America, Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, PA, 1909.
31. Strassburger, Ralph Beaver, LLD., Pennsylvania German Pioneers (Ship-lists 1727-1808)
Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, PA, 1934.
32. Roth, John D., translator and editor, Letters of the Amish Division: A Sourcebook Mennonite
Historical Society, Goshen, IN 1993.
33. United States Census, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio.
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