John Hocker (1815-1882)

John² Hocker (Unknown¹) was born 6 July 1815 in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and died 21 January 1882 in Churchville, now Oberlin, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Churchville Cemetery, Oberlin, Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.¹ John’s occupation, according to census records, varied from brick-maker to farmer to shoemaker.

He married on 3 December 1835², probably in Hummelstown, Sarah Beinhower, daughter of Peter Beinhower (30 November 1787-25 November 1853) and Mary Ann Smith (8 April 1790-4 April 1877). She was born 12 January 1814 in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and died of pneumonia on 12 November 1901 in Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania where she had gone to visit relatives.³ Sarah was buried 15 November 1901 in the Churchville Cemetery, Oberlin, Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania with her husband.⁴

John Hocker’s will states:

“I, John Hocker, of Churchville, Swatara Township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Item; I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah, all my estate real, personal and mixed for her use during her natural life, to use the same or any part thereof for her support and whatever is left at her died is to go to the children of my deceased daughter, Mary Ann, share and share alike.”⁵

Sarah Hocker’s illness was news in the local papers in Middletown.

“Mrs. Hocker Very Sick— Mrs. Hocker, widow of the late John Hocker, of Oberlin, came to visit her grandaughter, Mrs. C.P. Longenecker at East Middletown bridge, a week ago last Sunday. While there she took sick and her trouble soon developed into pneumonia. At this writing there are no hopes for her recovery. Mrs. Hocker is 87 years old and for many years resided near Good’s fulling mill in Lower Swatara.”⁶

“Mrs. Hocker, an aged and highly respected lady of this place, and widow of the late John Hocker, died on Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock in the 89th year of her age. Mrs. Hocker has gone to visit relatives near Middletown, and while there contracted an attack of pnuemonia which resulted in her death.

The funeral which took place from her late residence in this place on Friday morning at 9:30 was attended by many. Services were held in the United Brethren church, of which she was a consistent member for many years. Interment was made in the cemetery of this place.”⁷

John and Sarah (Beinhower) Hocker had one child:

1. Maria Anna/Anna Maria³ Hocker was born 2 January 1840, baptized 2 April 1840 in the Zion Evangelical Church, and died 11 September 1873 or 1883.⁸ She married Christian A. Gingerich circa 1864.

This John Hocker was incorrectly attributed to the family of John⁴ Hocker (Johan Adam³, Johan Adam², Christoph¹) and Catherine Sterling in William Wingeard’s “A German-American HACKER-HOCKER Genealogy.” John⁴ did, in fact, have a son named John. However, my research shows that his son John removed to Ohio with the rest of his family. Additionally, this John Hocker was born approximately 19 years before John⁴‘s son, John K. Hocker.

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• Category: Family