Henry Schneider (1792-1860) In Search of His Family

Kris Hocker on 14 Oct 2015

Based on research that I wrote about in Joseph Snyder (1826-1895)—Who’s Your Daddy?, The Greulich Farm, and Part II: The Greulich Farm, I’ve determined that Heinrich Snyder was the father of Joseph Snyder, my 3x great grandfather. Henry died intestate, but deed records state directly that Henry was the father of Joel, Joseph, Lucianna, and Sophia.1 The farm research also showed that Henry’s wife Sarah was the daughter of Godfrey and Eva Wissler.2

But who were Henry’s parents?

Henry Snyder was enumerated in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in the 18303 and 18404 census. The only other Snyder head of household I found in Upper Hanover in those census records was Catharine Snyder in 1830.5 Her household was comprised of:

  • 1 male, 10-15 (b. ca 1815-1820)
  • 1 female, 15-20 (b. ca 1810-1815)
  • 1 female, 30-40 (b. ca 1790-1800)
  • 1 female, 50-60 (b. ca 1770-1780)

Since Henry was born in 1792, it’s possible that Catharine Snyder was his mother and the others his siblings—if Catharine was born in the early 1770s.

Henry’s eldest child (that I know of), Joel, was born in 1823. It’s therefore possible that Henry, aged 28, was living with his parents in 1820. Were there any Snyder families in Upper Hanover in 1820?

Yes. There were Adam Snyder6, Jacob Snyder7, and Peter Snyder.8 The only household with a member in the 26-44 age group is Adam, but that individual is the eldest male, indicating that it’s likely Adam himself. So, I did not find a likely candidate in a Snyder household for Henry in Upper Hanover in 1820.

However, Henry was most likely in Upper Hanover Township or the general area by 1814. A Henry and Elizabeth Schneider took communion at New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church on Easter Sunday, 10 April 1814.9 They also attended services on the 1st and 2nd of April in 1815. Additionally, Jacob Schneider, aged 17, Catharine Schneider, aged 16, and Sara Wisler, aged 15 1/2 were confirmed on that weekend.10 Sara Wisler, of course, was Henry’s future wife.

Do Jacob (about 22) and/or Catharine (about 21) fit as members of Adam, Jacob, or Peter’s households in 1820? Let’s look closely at each.

Adam Snyder:

  • 1 male, <10
  • 1 male, 10-16
  • 1 male 26-45 [Adam]
  • 3 female, <10
  • 1 female, 10-16
  • 1 female, 26-45 [Adam’s wife]

Jacob Snyder:

  • 1 male, <10
  • 2 males, 10-16
  • 1 male 16-18
  • 2 males, 16-26
  • 1 male, 45+ [Jacob]
  • 1 female, <10
  • 2 females, 16-26
  • 1 female, 45+ [Jacob’s wife]

Peter Snyder:

  • 1 male 16-26 [Peter]
  • 1 female, <10
  • 1 female, 16-26 [Peter’s wife]

Both Jacob—as one of the males aged 16-26—and Catharine—as one of the females aged 16-26—fit nicely into Jacob Snyder’s household based on this census.11 There aren’t any members of Adam or Peter’s households that match in age, except Adam, Peter and their wives. While that might work for Catharine—if she married a Snyder, it definitely doesn’t for Jacob.

What about previous census enumerations? In 1810 there are two Jacob Schneider households in Upper Hanover, but only one matches the 1820 household.

Jacob Schneider:12

  • 4 males, <10
  • 1 male, 10-15
  • 1 male 16-25
  • 1 male, 45+ [Jacob]
  • 1 female, <10
  • 1 female, 10-15
  • 1 female, 26-45 [Jacob’s wife]

Jacob would have been about 12 years old in 1810 and Catharine about 11. Again, both fit—both Jacob and Catharine in the 10-15 age group. Henry would have been about 18 years old—and there is a male in Jacob’s household, aged 16-25, who fits him, too.

Jacob can also be found in Upper Hanover in 1800.13

  • 3 males, <10
  • 1 male, 26-44 [Jacob]
  • 2 females, <10
  • 1 female, 45+ [Jacob’s wife]

Once again, Henry (aged 8), Jacob (aged 2), and Catharine (aged 1) would all fit as members of this household.

Godfrey Wissler is found in Upper Hanover Township starting in 1790 when he purchased land through 1829 when his estate was probated. So we know his daughter, born in 1799, lived in the township her whole life. Given these census records, it’s possible that Henry did, too.

So, what does this mean? Does it prove that Jacob was Henry’s father and Catharine his mother?

No. The census records are suggestive of a possible relationship, but do not prove one. This is one of the difficulties with working with census records. Even if the record names all of the household members, it wasn’t until 1880 that each person’s relationship to the head of household was noted in the enumeration.

In this case, working with pre-1850 census records, only the head of household is named. We need to guesstimate who the household members could have been using the number of people in each age range. When we don’t know who the members of the family were, this means we have a number of holes to fill in.

Check back to see what I can find.

Part II: The Greulich Farm Connecting Five Generations with Deeds & Probate Records

Kris Hocker on 5 Oct 2015

Russ Greulich haying at farm

In my last post about the Greulich farm, I compared the metes and bounds from two documents—Henry Snyder’s 1830 mortgage and Henry D. Snyder’s 1899 deed—and determined that there was a significant overlap between the two. While searching for a photo to use for the post, I found additional deeds to examine.

Having now looked through these deeds, I’ve been able to put together a timeline for the property, as follows:

  1. Godfried Wissler wrote his last will and testament 3 April 1825 and it was proven on 21 October 1829.1 He wrote: “It is my will and I do order that my real estate shall be sold by my Executors on public sale…”
  2. On 2 April 1830, Jacob Stoyer, administrator of Godfried Wissler’s will sold Henry Snyder 62 acres 40 perches.2
  3. On 1 April 1857, Henry Snyder sold 59 acres 128 perches to his son Joseph Schneyder.3
  4. On 3 April 1861, Joseph Schneyder and his wife Judith sold this same tract to her first cousin Nathaniel Deischer of Hereford Township, Berks County.4 Henry Snyder’s mortgage on the original property was paid off on 3 April 1861, so it appears Joseph and Judith sold the land in order to pay the debt.5
  5. On 24 March 1866, Nathaniel Deischer and Lydia his wife sold the 59 acres 89 perches to John Rooks of Warren County, New Jersey.6
  6. On 20 February 1869, John Rook and his wife Cheretta sold 59 acres 89 perches to Addy Ziegler of Marlborough Township, Montgomery County.7
  7. On 8 April 1869, Henry Hartman and Caroline his wife sold 16 acres 128 perches to Addy Ziegler.8 This was formerly part of the land of Thomas Lynch.
  8. On 8 April 1875, Addy Ziegler and Elizabeth his wife sold 59 acres 89 perches and 16 acres 128 perches to Elias H. Hoch of Upper Hanover Township.9
  9. On 29 March 1877, Elias H. Hoch and his wife Lavinia sold 59 acres 84 perches (part of the two adjoining tract purchased from Ziegler) to Joseph Schneider of Upper Hanover Township.10
  10. Joseph Snyder wrote his last will and testament on 10 July 1894, which states “All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real, personal and mixed, whatever and wherever, I order and direct to be converted into money as soon as the same can conveniently be done after my decease.”11 He died 4 November 1895 and his will was proven on 7 December 1895.
  11. Joseph Snyder’s executors, Henry D. Snyder and Amandus Snyder, sold 55 acres and 84 perches (except 40 square perches) to their brother Mahlon Snyder on 1 April 1899.12
  12. On 1 July 1899, Mahlon Snyder sold 55 acres 84 perches (except 40 square perches) to Henry D. Snyder.13
  13. On 22 August 1928, Henry and Saraphine Snyder sold 55 acres 84 perches to their son-in-law and daughter, Elmer and Lillian Greulich.14

Thus, I can prove—thank you, Snyder and Greulich ancestors for holding onto all those deeds!—the land descended from Godfried Wissler to his son-in-law Henry Schneider to his son Joseph Schneider, then through other hands until most of it was bought back by Joseph Schneider in 1877, then eventually to his son Henry Deischer Snyder.

Can we go back further? Let’s find out.

Recipe: Funny Cake

Kris Hocker on 30 Sep 2015

Pennsylvania Dutch Funny CakeI had a question from a reader regarding an earlier post about funny cake. So, I pulled out the recipe.

 

Funny Cake

Funny cake is a family tradition for Thanksgiving at our house. Sometimes we request it for Christmas, too. My mother got the recipe from my grandmother Hocker. It can easily be modified for gluten-free cooking.

Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:30-40 minutes
Yield: 2 9″ pies

Chocolate Sauce

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cake Batter:

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Crisco
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:

To make the chocolate sauce, add the sugar, cocoa, and warm water to a sauce pan. Bring to a boil while stirring and cook for 10 minutes, then add the vanilla. Pour into an unbaked pie shell in a 9″ pie pan.

In another bowl beat the egg yolks, crisco, and sugar together. Add the sifted flour and baking powder to the mix, alternating with the milk and vanilla extract. Beat the egg whites and fold into the mix. Pour over the cooled chocolate sauce and bake in a 375-400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes.

Optionally, to make the cake fluffier, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar and a little sugar to the egg whites before you beat them.

The Greulich Farm Using Deeds to Prove Henry Snyder Was Joseph Snyder's Father

Kris Hocker on 28 Sep 2015

Russ Greulich at Snyder farm

When I last wrote about Joseph Snyder, I was on the trail of his father and believed he was the same Henry Snyder whose mortgage indenture I had in my possession. The 1850 census for Henry Snyder of Upper Hanover Township included Henry, Sarah, Joel, Joseph, Louisa Anna, and Sophie Schnider.1 Although I can infer a relationship between the household members, it is not directly indicated in this record.

I also postulated that Joseph Snyder received his father’s farm sometime before Henry’s death. Based on the metes and bounds as outlined in Henry Snyder’s mortgage, it sounded like the location of the farm that I’ve always known as the “Greulich farm” which was located just outside East Greenville in Upper Hanover Township, diagonally opposite the New Goshenhoppen Church. Since I have two deeds—one for Henry Snyder’s farm and one for the farm my great great grandfather Henry Deischer Snyder purchased from his father’s estate—I figured I would compare the metes and bounds to determine once and for all if they were the same farm.

Henry Snyder farm Upper Hanover Township

Henry Snyder’s farm

Henry Snyder (1830)

Henry Snyder purchased 62 acres from Jacob Stoyer, the administrator of Godfrey Wissler’s estate.2 Godfrey Wissler was Henry’s father-in-law.3

Henry and Sarah Snyder sold pieces of this land in 1839 (to Peter Strunk4) and 1850 (to George Gery5 and George Seasholtz6). These sales totaled about 7 acres.

Henry D. Snyder (1899)

Henry D. Snyder farm

Henry D. Snyder (aka Greulich) farm

Joseph Snyder died in 1895. His sons Henry D. and Amandus D. Snyder served as executors of his last will and testament, proven 7 December 1895, which required that his land be sold and the proceeds divided into seven equal shares and divided amongst: Henry, Irwin, Clement, Amandus, Mary, Sally, and Ida.7 On 1 April 1899, Henry and Amandus sold 55 acres to Mahlon Snyder.8 On 1 July 1899, Mahlon and his wife Clara sold 55 acres to Henry D. Snyder, except 40 square perches that Henry and Amandus sold to the Upper Hanover school district.9

The northwest sections of these maps, I believe, are a very close match—likely with miscellaneous additions to and subtractions from the original tract between 1839 and 1899.

This farm was in Henry’s possession until his death in 1931 when it passed to his only child Lillian Witmer (Snyder) Greulich. It passed to her only child, Russ, after her death in 1949. The remains of the house and farm buildings can be seen on Google Maps’ satellite image along School House road, up to the corner with Third Street and Church Road.

Joel and Joseph Snyder

On 13 May 1861, the spring following Henry Snyder’s death, Joel Snyder and his wife Catharine and Joseph Snyder and his wife Judith sold a piece of land in East Greenville to Lucianna Mock, widow, and Sophia Schneider, spinster.10 This deed states that Henry Schneider died intestate with four children: Joel, Joseph, Lucianna intermarried with Peter Mock (now deceased), and Sophia, and that Joel and Joseph had agreed to sell the plot to their sisters.

Evidence doesn’t get much clearer than this. Joel, Joseph, Lucianna, and Sophia were the children of Henry Schneider of Upper Hanover Township. Thus, the 1850 census entry for Henry shows him, his wife, and their children.

Either Henry sold his farm to Joseph prior to his death or Joseph’s siblings sold it to him after his death. I haven’t found a deed or other reference to this transfer, but the deed maps show that the land Joseph’s sons sold after his death contain at least part of the original land that Henry Snyder purchased in 1830 from his father-in-law’s estate. In 1860, Joseph owned $5000 worth of real estate11, his father only $150012, and brother only $1,000.13 Joseph was a farmer in 1860, and this—with the value of his real estate—indicates to me that he already owned a farm by 1860. It seems probable that it was his father’s farm.

Addendum

In looking for the photo I’ve used as the feature image for this post, I found a treasure trove of family deeds. Check in next time to see what they tell me.

 

Changes Coming Soon

Kris Hocker on 27 Aug 2015

There’s things afoot behind the scenes here. I’ve been working on a new design for sometime and finally got the time to work on coding it. That’s finally done. I’ve been putting the theme through it’s paces, testing it, and I’m happy to say it’s nearly finished.

So, keep an eye out. This site is going to have a new look—and maybe a new name—very soon!

1918 Pandemic Flu Gravesite Found in Pennsylvania

Kris Hocker on 19 Aug 2015

Last week a highway construction worker in a small Pennsylvania town made a grim discovery with links to a deadly pandemic that killed millions around the globe nearly a century ago… According to the Pottsville Republican-Herald, approximately 17,000 residents in the region around Schuylkill Haven fell ill. Close to 1,500 of them died, leaving as many as 3,000 children orphaned.

The 2nd Wave 19th Century Hacker Emigrants from Rußheim to America

Kris Hocker on 22 May 2015

Although Adam Hacker was the first Hacker family member from Rußheim, Baden-Durlach (now Baden-Württemberg), Germany to immigrate to North America, he wasn’t the last. A little over a hundred years later, his first cousin three times removed, Johann Christoph Hacker, emigrated from Rußheim to the United States.

On 11 Jan 1854, Christoph1 and his family—wife Christina (Siegel) Hacker, and children Friedrich, Friederike, August, Luise, Wilhelm, Philippine, and Ferdinand—arrived in New York City from Havre on the ship Zurich.2 According the Rußheim records, they left the village in 1853.3

I was able to locate the family in the 1860 U.S. census, living in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio.4 At that time, the household included: Christoph, Christina (his wife), Frederick, August, William and Christine.

Ten years later, the family can be found in Margaretta Township, Erie County.5 The household included Christoph, his son August and August’s wife Helen. By this time, Christoph’s wife had apparently died and the other children—if still alive—moved out to start their own families. At this time, I haven’t located them in 1870 census records.

Christoph most likely died prior to 1 Jun 1880.6 Both Frederick and August were living in Margaretta Township in 1880. Frederick and his wife Christina were living in Cold Creek with their seven sons and one daughter.7 Frederick was a laborer. August was a widowed farmer with five children under the age of 10, including three sons and two daughters.8

Frederick and August remained in Margaretta Township. Both are found in the 1900 census enumeration of the township. Frederick, aged 67, was a carpet weaver living with his wife next door to their son William.9 His brother August was 72 (should be 63) and still enumerated as a farmer.10 He was living with his second wife Kate and their six children.

August died 20 Apr 1903 and was buried in Sandhill Cemetery; Frederick died in 1914 and was buried in Castalia Cemetery. Many of their descendants can be found in Erie County through the 1940 census.

Johann Christoph and Christina (Siegel) Hacker had the following children:11

  1. Christoph Friedrich Hacker was born 29 Sep 1832 in Rußheim. He died in 1914 in Erie County, Ohio and was buried in Castalia Cemetery. About 1860, he married Christina Callista Kahn, born about 1842 and died 1 May 1923, and had children:
    1. August C. Hacker (1861-1933)
    2. Philip Hacker (1862-1938)
    3. George C. Hacker (1864-1951)
    4. William Hacker (1867-1951)
    5. Frederick Hacker (1869-1946)
    6. Charles Hacker (1871-1907)
    7. Peter Hacker (1874-1907)
    8. Sarah Hacker (1874-1931)
    9. Unknown Hacker (?-bef 1900)
    10. Unknown Hacker (?-bef 1900)
  2. Christine Friederike Hacker was born 2 Jan 1835 in Rußheim and arrived in New York city with her parents 11 Nov 1854. She may have been married or deceased by 1860. I have no additional information on her.
  3. August Frederick Hacker was born 8 Sep 1837 in Rußheim and died 20 Apr 1903 in Margaretta Township. He was buried in Sandhill Cemetery. He married sometime prior to 1 Jun 1870 Helen Walter (or Ellen Walder). She was born about 1847 in Germany and died before 1 Jun 1880 in Erie County. August and Helen had children:
    1. William Christopher Hacker (1871-?)
    2. Christina Hacker (1872-?)
    3. Henry Hacker (1874-1959)
    4. John Hacker (1876-?)
    5. Susan Hacker (1878-1943)

    August married second Catharine Zahn before 1 Jun 1880. They had children:

    1. August Charles Hacker (1881-?)
    2. Elizabeth C. Hacker (1882-1953)
    3. Fred J. Hacker (1885-1925)
    4. David John Hacker (1887-1975)
    5. Rose Hacker (1888-?)
    6. Catharine Hacker (1890-?)
  4. Luise Hacker was born 31 Oct 1839 in Rußheim. She may have married Peter Hermes in Erie County, Ohio.
  5. Infant Hacker
  6. Wilhelm Hacker was born 16 Aug 1843 in Rußheim. He was living with his parents in Perkins Township in 1860, but I haven’t located him in later census records.
  7. Philippine Hacker was born 29 Mar 1846 in Rußheim. She was included as “Christine” in the 1860 census enumeration for her family. I’ve found no further information about her.
  8. Christina Hacker was born 4 Apr 1848 and died 20 Apr 1851 in Rußheim.
  9. Ferdinand Hacker was born 18 Oct 1850 in Rußheim. I’ve found no additional information on him after his arrival with his family in New York on 11 Nov 1854. He may have died prior to 1 Jun 1860.

The emigration from Rußheim didn’t end with Johann Christoph and family. Several of Christoph’s nieces and a nephew immigrated to America, presumably in the 1880s: Luise Friederike Hacker and Emilie Hacker (and her daughter Hanna), daughters of Daniel and Christina (Knoblach) Hacker; and Ferdinand, Hermina, and Sophia Siegel, children of Johann Friedrich and Margaretha (Hacker) Siegel.

Genealogical Serendipity How I Found the Maiden Name of One Many Times Great Grandmother While Trying to Find Another's

Kris Hocker on 13 May 2015

Recently, I was going through Dauphin County Orphans Court books researching those of a specific surname, hoping to locate clues to the family of one of my many times great grandmothers. The information I have for her is sketchy and gives her name as the same as her mother-in-law’s. So, I’d really like to create some clarity around the identities of these two women.

While the records didn’t yield anything, I kept seeing a familiar name in nearby records. When my 5x great grandfather, Michael Krehl, died in 1818, the administrator of his estate was named John Steiley.1 So, when I kept seeing the Stehley surname crop up again and again, my interest was piqued.

Jacob Stehley of Harrisburg died intestate in Nov 1793, leaving a widow Elizabeth, three young children, and property in Harrisburg.2 George Stehley, “eldest son and heir at law of Jacob Stehley late of Harrisburg… Brewer,” petitioned the court for an inquest to partition his father’s property in 1800.3 His petition named the seven children of Jacob Stehley: George, “Margaret, Wilhelmina the wife of Michael Krehl, John, Martin, Philip and Elizabeth (now decd).” John, Philip, and Martin were yet minors under the age of 21.

Because I have so little information on the family currently, it’s possible that Elizabeth was a second wife, and therefore not Wilhelmina’s birth mother. So, I haven’t yet added her in as such. As I gather more information—hopefully including a marriage date for Jacob and Elizabeth—I’ll be able to build a more complete picture of this family. Jacob is now one of the earliest of my ancestors to live in Harrisburg. He purchased his Front Street property for £120 on 15 Jun 1791.4 (The Hocker boys bought land there in 1785.)

Following up on the Stehley name gave me the maiden name of my 5x great grandmother, Wilhelmina (Stehley) Krehl, and presumably the names of my 6x great grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth (___) Stehley.

A Quick Status Update

Kris Hocker on 5 May 2015

Editing and formatting. Formatting and editing. Hard at work on the next Lancaster County, Pennsylvania online deeds index. Coming soon.