A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy
the genealogy & family research site of Kris Hocker
George W. Houdeshell, son of Adam and Mary (Sine) Houdeshell, married Mariah Mayes, daughter of John and Mary A. (___) Mayes, 14 May 1865 in Snow Shoe, Centre county, Pennsylvania. Mariah was the sister of Phoebe Mayes, wife of George’s brother Benjamin.
George and Mariah had 10 children, 7 who survived: Mary Louise, Rachel Anne, Amanda, Hetty May, Drusilla, Pleasant (son), and Cora.
Photo courtesy of Diana Townsley
Levi O. Hacker's class
Levi O. Hacker was, for a time at least, a school teacher. Here is a photo of him (standing, right) with his students.
Photo courtesy of Kim Hogarth
Levi O. and Mahala (Neis) Hacker
This photo of Levi O. and Anna Mahala (Neis) Hacker was taken about 1895. The children shown, include: Harry Lincoln (center, back), John Norman (left), Annie Laura (right), and George Granville (center, front). The baby of the family, Miriam E., was not born until 1901.
Photo courtesy of Kim Hogarth
George2 Hacker (Johan Adam1) is another Hacker/Hocker family member I’ve had some difficulty finding information on.
Johan George Hacker was the fifth son of Johan Adam and Maria Elisabetha (Weidman) Hacker. He was born 9 October 1766 and christened 12 October 1766 in the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Brickerville, sponsored by Lorenz Haushalter and wife (his uncle and aunt).1 He died 12 September 1846 and was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery.2 This is all William Wingeard found on George.
I managed to find reference to him (most likely) in the 1814 Lancaster county will of Christopher Miller (Mueller) of Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.3 In the will, George Hacker is named as his son-in-law, husband to Christopher’s daughter Christina. This tells us who he married, but doesn’t provide much additional information. Christina is buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery with her husband.
Census records don’t show George until 1810 when he is included in the list for Cocalico township.4 He is in Lebanon township in 1820, living alongside Christopher Miller, possibly his brother-in-law.5 I have been unable to find him either 1830 or 1840 U.S. Federal census records. Christopher Miller, however, is back in Lancaster county, in Elizabeth township in 1830 through 1850.
Lancaster county tax records show a George Hacker in 1791, his status “freeman.”6 I’m assuming that this is Johan Adam’s son George as Adam’s brother Johan George had moved his family to Erdenheim (outside Philadelphia) in 1763 and Frederick’s son George (Johan George’s nephew) was an infant.
He is listed in 1796—1799 tax records together with Frederick, his brother. In 1800, he’s listed separately, but in 1801—1803 they are listed together again. In 1805, George is listed as having 10 acres valued at $600, having 1 saw or grist mill. George, the miller, is also listed in 1806, 1807, and 1808. There my tax records end.
In 1817 George purchased land in Lebanon county with his brother-in-law Christopher Miller.7 On 21 July 1816, George and Christina had a child, Joseph, baptized in Shaefferstown at St. Luke’s church, and sponsored baptisms at Shaefferstown in 1815 and 1817.8 In November 1817, George sponsored a child’s baptism at Salem Lutheran church in Lebanon.9
However, that’s where the trail goes cold. I have nothing on him, including the births of other children, tax records, or land transactions, until his burial at Emanuel Lutheran Church. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Granville Hacker in WWI uniform
George Granville Hacker, son of Levi O. and Anna Mahala (Neis) Hacker, dressed in his World War I uniform. His WWI registration card states he was born Jan 23rd, 1891 in Lincoln, Pennsylvania. He was single and living in Philadelphia. The registrar’s report states that Granville was short, of medium build, with brown eyes and black hair. He died 8 Apr 1937 in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.
Photo courtesy of Kim Hogarth
Jane (Martin) Hacker and children
This photo of Jane (Martin) Hacker and her four children: Earl Martin and Anna Katherine (standing), and Miriam Grace and John Edwin (seated), was taken in the late 1920s. Jane’s husband, John Norman Hacker, son of Levi O. and Anna Mahala (Neis) Hacker, died in 1925.
Photo courtesy of Kim Hogarth
Levi O. Hacker family, ca 1910
The Levi O. Hacker family, circa 1910. This time Miriam is included with the family, age 9, but apparently she could not stand perfectly still while the photo was being taken. Does that look like a teddy bear in her arms?
From left to right: Miriam E., Annie Laura, Levi O., Harry Lincoln, John Norman, Anna Mahala (Neis), and George Granville.
Photo courtesy of Kim Hogarth
Well, I had a web site I put together to share the results of my family research and solicit more information and tips to follow up on. As a result, I got a lot of emails from distant relatives, including some great information and family photos. But I didn’t update it — like not in years. Mostly because it was too time consuming. See I’d put it together back in the day (way long ago) by hand. Updating static HTML files, not worth it. Simpler by far to just shoot out emails.
But I like to gather new information and I like to share it. It’s kinda hard to do that through email since you can only share with people you know. I’ve been using WordPress on another site and it finally hit me that I could use it to share this stuff. It’s wicked easy to use and there are a ton of great themes out there (like this one) that could get me up and running very quickly. Great idea. So, I’m moving my old content over to this new site and hopefully, adding more research and photos in the future.
You can, too. I’d love to post new information and photos from any relatives — there are LOT of surnames I’ve covered. If you’d like to add something let me know.
The Witmers
Another Witmer family group photo, probably taken at the family farm before 1912. Gertrude, the youngest Witmer child, was born in 1897. This photo may have been taken in 1904 to celebrate Edward & Lydia Witmer’s 50th wedding anniversary.
Left to right (adults): Henry and Lillian Snyder, Horace and Mary (Breish) Witmer, Lydia and Edward (Kline) Witmer, Milton Nace (wife Elmira died in 1896), Saraphine (Witmer) Snyder, Willoby and Emma (Witmer) Snyder, Milton and Cora (Gussman) Witmer.
Left to right (children): Gertrude, Morris and Wilmer Witmer (children of Horace and Mary), and Herbert W. and Laurence Witmer Nace (children of Milton and Elmira)
The Witmer Family
The Witmer family group shot, possibly the summer of 1894. I don’t know if I can correctly identify everyone, but here goes…
Left to right:
(Standing) Lillian Witmer Snyder, Henry D. Snyder, Willoby Snyder, Cora (Gussman) Witmer, Milton K. Witmer, Horace K. Witmer, Wilmer Witmer (child), Milton B. Nace, Herbert W. Nace (child)
(Sitting) Saraphine (Witmer) Snyder, Emma (Witmer) Snyder, Edward J. Witmer, Lydia Amanda (Kline) Witmer, Mary A. (Breish) Witmer, Morris Witmer (child), and Elmira (Witmer) Nace