52 Ancestors – Page 4 – A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy

52 Ancestors: George Hocker (1794—1873) Will

Kris Hocker on 26 Feb 2014

George Hocker, of Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was the son of Johan Adam and Sophia Maria (Hershey?) Hocker Jr. He was born 21 January 1794¹, most likely in Harrisburg, and christened at Salem Reformed Church.² He died 6 November 1873 and was buried at Churchville Cemetery in Oberlin.

He wrote his last will and testament on 13 September 1873 and it was proven one month later on 14 November.³ George named his youngest children—daughter Margaret Hocker and son George Hocker Jr.—as his executors. His will also names his widow Catharine and elder children: daughter Isemiah, wife of Henry Wagner, and son Levi Hocker. Not named in the will was his son David who died 4 November 1862 of Typhoid Fever in Jeffersonville, Indiana after enlisting in the Union Army during the Civil War.

[page 353]
“Last Will and Testament of
George Hocker dec^d }
In the name of God amen.
I George Hocker of Swatara town-
ship Dauphin County Penn^a
being of sound mind and memory thanked be God for the same
do hereby make the following as an for my last will and testament
Item. I give and bequeath to my widow Catharine all my household and
kitchen furniture in the house at my decease except what belongs
to my Daughter Margaret or son George she to have her choice of two
cows and two hogs and I give her five hundred dollars in cash out of
my Government bonds to by paid in one month after my death Item
I devise to my widow during her lifetime the house and buildings gardens
&c where I now live in Swatara township in said county adjoining
my farm and the land of Josiah Espy including the small potato
pach east of the garden containing in the yard &c all about one acre
more or less with the right to go into the adjoining fields to put on
weather boarding and repair her buildings I also give her the Interest
on five thousand dollars to be paid her yearly out of my farm [illegible]
after the payment of my debts and funeral expenses I give [illegible]

[page 354]

out of my personal estate as shall be necessary with the crop of the
year to pay for the cattle and farming implemments lately purchased
and I give the balance of my bonds notes stocks &c. to my daughter Margaret
and I devise to her during her lifetime and after her mothers death the house
grounds and buildings where I now live and after Margarets decease
I give and devise the fee simple in said house lot of ground and
buildings to my son George and his heirs / Item. I give and devise all
my farm in said township adjoining the Harrisburg and Ephrata
thrnpike [sic] lands of Josiah Espy G. Snavely Samuel Gray and others
containing except as above devised about one hundred and seventeen
acres to my son George Hocker Jr. and his heirs and assigns with the
right to the water at the pump where I live he paying half the ex-
penses of keeping the pump in good repair. Item. I hereby charge the
sum of Five thousand dollars on said farm for the use of my widow
and I direct that George or whoever holds the said farm shall pay
to my widow yearly the Interest on said five thousand Dollars at six
per cent / Item I direct that my share in the crop of this year and
all my cattle and farming implements except the widows shall belong
to my son George Item / At the death of my widow I direct that the five
thousand dollars charged on my farm shall be paid out in the following
manner. One year after the widows death five hundred Dollars to be paid
to my daughter Isamiah Wagner wife of Henry Wagner the next
year five hundred Dollars to be paid to my son Levi the third year
alike sum to Mrs. Wagner and then five hundred dollars a year
to be paid to Levi until he gets two thousand dollars and then the
remaining two thousand Dollars to be paid to my said daughter
Margaret in payments of five hundred Dollars each yearly and
additional payments shall also be made by George our of said farm
to Margaret to make her share out of my whole estate seven thousand
dollars in payments of five hundred dollars a year after the other payment
of five hundred dollars a year after the other payments made as aforesaid /
Item I direct and intend all said payments to be without interest
Item I order that George shall furnish his mother sufficient grain for
her use this year and feed for her hogs and cows for this year and also
that he furnish her off the farm yearly the pasture for two hogs and
two cows four tons of hay two load of corn fodder and as much straw as
necessary for bedding purposes during her lifetime and at her death George
to give the same yearly to Margaret during her lifetime Item I hereby
give and devise to my son Levi Hocker and his heirs and assigns my
piece of mountain land in West Hanover township in said County
containing about ten acres Item I have given to my daughter Isamiah
and son Levi Hocker in this will less than I have my other children
because I have given them heretofore what I consider their full share in
my estate Lastly I nominate and appoint my daughter Margaret and
my son George to be the Executors of this my last will and testament
hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made In witness
whwereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day
of September Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and seventy
three
George Hocker Sr.

[page 355]

Signed sealed executed declared & pronounced
by the testator in presence of us.
George Metz
Herman Alrick } Sworn Nov. A.D. 1873 before me
Simon Duey Register

Margaret Hocker & George Hocker sworn as executors of the last will
and Testament of George Hocker sen. dec^d according to law
and Letters Testamentary granted to them Nov. 14^th A.D. 1873
by Simon Duey Register

Recorded Nov. 14th 1873

George Hocker was my 4x great grandfather.

This post is part of an ongoing, blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This is my ninth 52 Ancestors post and (catching up) part of week eight, but will show up in week nine.

52 Ancestors: Peter Deischer (1793-1861)

Kris Hocker on 18 Feb 2014

Last week I wrote about Joseph Snyder and my search for his father. This week I’m turning my attention to his father-in-law, Peter Deischer of Hereford Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Peter Deischer was born 12 August 1793 and died 23 April 1861.¹ He married Maria Trump² by summer 1815.³ Maria (Trump) Deischer was born 22 August 1791 and died on 10 September 1874 (or 1875).⁴

The family resided in Hereford Township from 1820 through 1870, where Peter was a farmer. In 1820, the family was enumerated with “Peter Deisher” as the head of household:⁵

2 males, <10
1 male, 26-45
1 female, <10
1 female, 26-25

Adjoining households in the census list included Jacob Deisher, John Deisher and Henry Trump.

Ten years later, “Peter Deshard” was listed as the head of household and the family included:⁶

1 male, 10-15
1 male, 30-40
4 females, <5
1 female, 5-10
1 female, 10-15
1 female, 30-40

Nearby households of interest included: Jacob Deshar.

In 1840, “Peter Deisher” was the head of household. It included:⁷

1 male, 40-50
1 female, <5
2 females, 5-10
2 females, 10-15
2 females, 15-20
1 female, 40-50

Other households of interest on the page include: Jacob Deisher, George Deisher, Charles Deisher, and Michael Trump.

Peter’s household in 1850 had thinned out somewhat. It included:⁸

Peter Deischer, 55, M, Farmer, $1700 in real estate, b. in Pennsylvania
Maria Deischer, 56, F, b. in Pennsylvania
Amanda Deischer, 17, F, b. in Pennsylvania
Elmira M. Schulz, 3, F, b. in Pennsylvania
Charles Deischer, 31, M, Farmer, b. in Pennsylvania
Barbara Deischer, 25, F, b. in Pennsylvania
William Deischer, 10, M, b. in Pennsylvania

In 1860, “Peter Dysher’s” household included:⁹

Peter Dysher, 67, M, Gentleman, $2000 in real estate, $1000 in personal estate, b. in Pennsylvania
Mariah [ditto], 68, F, b. in Pennsylvania
Elmira [ditto], 12, F, b. in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year

Peter died in 1861. In 1870, Maria (Trump) Deischer was included in Charles Deysher’s dwelling:¹⁰

Deysher Charles, 53, M, W, Farmer, -, $2266, b. Pennsylvania
[Ditto] Barbara, 49, F, W, Keeping house, b. Pennsylvania
[Ditto] Charles, 7, M, W, Home, b. Pennsylvania, attended school within the year
[Ditto] Sarah, 4, F, W, Home, b. Pennsylvania
Deysher Mary, 77, F, W, Keeping house, -, $100, b. Pennsylvania, cannot write

Charles Deischer served as administrator for his parents’ estates. He did not file paperwork until 1875, after his mother’s death.¹¹ There was some dissension in the family about Charles’ handling of the estate—in particular payment for the building of a barn on the farm. Charles expected the estate to pay for it as the farm was not rentable without a barn. His sisters did not recall discussing and approving it and the court was required to step in. As a result, the paperwork includes the names of several of his sisters and their spouses.

Based on the probate and census records, Peter and Maria (Trump) Deischer had children, as follows:

Charles Deisher
Clara Deisher, married Joseph Hallman
Elizabeth Deisher, married David Gery
Mary Deisher, married Everard Roberts
Catharina Deisher, married Solomon Schiffert
Judith Deisher, married Joseph Snyder
Amanda Deisher
Sarah Deisher, married Copeland G. Stichter

It’s possible there were more children born to the couple who did not survive. Church records would be a next step to find out. I’m also wondering if Peter was related to Daniel Deisher/Teysher who can be found in the 1790 and 1800 census records for Hereford Township and if Maria (Trump) Deischer is related to the Henry Trump who was listed just after Peter in the 1820 census. Two tantalizing prospects for additional research. Wonder what I’ll be able to find about them.

Peter and Maria (Trump) Deischer are my 4x great grandparents.

52 Ancestors: Joseph Snyder (1826-1895)—Who’s Your Daddy?

Kris Hocker on 9 Feb 2014

For the longest time my Snyder family research has been stuck at my 3x great grandfather Joseph Snyder. According to his gravestone, he was born 2 January 1826 and died 4 November 1895 at the age of 68 years, 10 months and 2 days.¹ I’ve found him in census records from 1850 through 1880, the last surviving enumeration before his death. But I still had no idea who his parents were.

Joseph Snyder and Judith Deisher tombstone

Joseph Snyder tombstone

I decided to see if I could remedy that.

The earliest record I had was the 1850 census. A Joseph Snyder, aged 23, is listed with the Amos Jacoby family in Rockhill Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.² This Joseph was unmarried—my 3x great grandfather’s first child was born in 1856—and the correct age. A good match. Unfortunately, however, since Joseph wasn’t living at home in 1850, this record did not tell me who his parents were.

In 1860, Joseph was living with his wife and children in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County.³ His household included: Joseph, his wife Judith (Deisher), children Irwin, Mary Jane and Henry, and an older woman, Elizabeth Schneider, aged 58. Was this his mother? If so, it seemed to indicate that Joseph’s father was most likely dead by 1860 and possibly by 1850.

Who Is Henry Snyder?

Meanwhile, I possess the original document for a 1830 mortgage between Henry Snyder and George Hillegas for 62 acres in Upper Hanover Township. Who was this Henry Snyder? Could he be Joseph’s father? Why would the family have this document after more than 100 years if he’s not related to us?

Looking through census records, I found Henry Snyder in Upper Hanover Township in 1840⁴ and 1830.⁵ In both records, Henry’s household has a male of the correct age bracket to be Joseph—10-15 in 1840 and under 5 in 1830—and a female of the same approximate age group as Elizabeth Schneider from the 1860 census.

Could it be that simple? Were Henry and Elizabeth Joseph’s parents?

Where was Elizabeth in 1850? I found an Elizabeth Schneider in Upper Hanover Township in 1850, living in the Joseph Gery household.⁶ The age was off—56 years, instead of the 48, I would have anticipated. But it’s a possibility. If it’s the same woman and she was Joseph’s mother, then Henry was probably deceased prior to 1850.

So, I went looking in Montgomery County estate records for an estate for Henry Snyder who died before 1850. I found nothing that matched date and location.

Bummer.

Taking a break from that seemingly fruitless search, I was reviewing Snyders buried in New Goshenhoppen UCC Cemetery on Findagrave.com and came across Joel Snyder, a contemporary of my Joseph Snyder. Joel is buried in the same section as Joseph, a couple of rows away. Maybe a cousin, I thought.

Then I saw who his father was—Heinrich Schneider, who was also buried in New Goshenhoppen Cemetery. Could this be Joseph’s father? He was a match in age and location to the Henry Snyder from the 1830 and 1840 census records. Joel matched the older male child from those records, too.

The only problem was that Heinrich died in 1860 and his wife’s name was Sarah. However, Sarah died in 1852, so maybe Henry remarried.

As clue, it was worth a little research. Maybe I’d learn something useful—even if he wasn’t Joseph’s father.

A search for Henry in the 1850 census records turned up no match. I found no estate records for a Henry or Heinrich who died in 1860 in Montgomery County. I began to wonder if this was a dead end.

I did, however, find Henry in the 1860 census for Upper Hanover Township.⁷ His household included Sophia Schneider and Lucy A. Mock and her family—both women matching the age ranges of the young females in Henry’s household in 1840. Joel Schneider, too, was living in Upper Hanover Township in 1860.⁸

Okay. So, now I was more than a little frustrated. Without an estate record naming Henry’s children, I had no direct information linking Henry to Joseph. Who was the second male in Henry’s household in 1830 and 1840—the one who matched Joseph age-wise? Where was Henry in 1850? Why couldn’t I find him? The 1850 census record might tell me who that second male was. I needed to find it.

I decided to do what I always do when someone isn’t where I expect them to be in the census indices. I go back to the records. I scrolled page-by-page through the Upper Hanover Township 1850 census records. After torturing my eyes for 20+ pages, I finally found him—right where I expected him to be.

And I couldn’t believe my eyes!

Right there on page page 417B, I found, not only Henry Schneider, but also Joseph Schneider.⁹ The 1850 census record for Joseph Snyder in Rockhill Township was not my Joseph Snyder. This was most likely my 3x great grandfather, living in the same location in which I’d found him from 1860 on. He probably lived there all his life!

Although the 1850 census does not include the relationship between the head and the other members of the household, Henry’s household in 1850 matches the 1840 and 1830 census enumerations, making it quite likely that Joseph is Henry and Sarah’s son. Additionally, Henry’s 1860 occupation—shoemaker—corresponds with the occupation included on the 1830 mortgage—cordweiner.¹⁰ He likely earned a living from multiple occupations–as many did back then—as both a shoemaker and farmer, and was recorded as a shoemaker after he retired from farming.

Furthermore, a little deed research may provide some additional information regarding proof that Henry Schneider is Joseph’s father. Some of Henry’s 1850 neighbors—William Keck, Jacob Styer, Solomon Steltz, and John F. Gerhard—were Joseph’s neighbors in 1860.

Given that I found no estate records for Henry, it’s possible that he sold or gave his estate to his children prior to his death. Henry was a farmer in 1850; Joseph was a farmer in 1860. Joel was consistently a mason or bricklayer in census records. Both Joel and Joseph went from no real or personal estate in 1850 to having both in 1860.

Conclusions

After several wrong turns and false starts, I’m pretty convinced that Henry Schneider (aka Heinrich Schneider) is Joseph’s father. Turns out—as is usually the case—I was the brick wall in finding Joseph’s father.

So, what did I learn from this exercise?

Check for alternate spellings. There may be a better match to your family member under an alternate version of their surname, ie. Schneider.
Don’t stop at the index. I got frustrated because I couldn’t find Henry in the 1850 census. FamilySearch is really good about matching alternate spellings on surnames in their index search. However, that won’t help you if the name is way off in the index. In this case, the family was indexed as “Sohneider” which doesn’t resemble Snyder at all.
Keep it simple. My maternal lines all seem to have a long history—well into the 20th century—in the Upper Hanover Township/East Greenville/Pennsburg area. I need to first rule out clues and possibilities in that general location before branching out to other areas.

I already knew all of this. Really, I did. But when your research is flowing along nicely with clues falling smoothly and easily into place, it’s easy to forget the techniques required for when it’s not. This search was a timely reminder.

52 Ancestors: Levi Hocker (1824-1876)—A Sad & Mysterious End

Kris Hocker on 4 Feb 2014

Levi Hocker (1824—1876)

My 3x great-grandfather Levi Hocker was born on 17 January 1824, most likely in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.¹ His parents, George and Maria Magdalena “Molly” (Landis) Hocker, had been married for five years² and had one other child, a daughter named Isemiah.³

His mother died the following winter on 22 February 1825.⁴ Her parents were also deceased,⁵ as was George’s father Johan Adam Hocker.⁶ Levi was likely raised by his father and, possibly, his grandmother Mary (Hershey?) Hocker, until George remarried. He married Catharine Cocklin, daughter of Jacob and Mary Margaret (Hoover) Cocklin, on 5 November 1835, when Levi was 10 years old.

Levi married Anna Frantz, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Walters) Frantz, on 6 February 1851. He was a farmer and the family lived in Upper Swatara Township. Levi and Anna had at least 9 children:

Benjamin Franklin (17 Feb 1852—2 Dec 1919)
Francis Michael (26 Jan 1854—1919)
Mary Elizabeth (22 Aug 1855—25 Jan 1939)
Emma L. (29 May 1857—14 Jul 1942)
George Warren (8 Dec 1858—12 May 1868)
Albert Curtin (9 Sep 1860—24 Jul 1940)
Margaret A. (25 Jul 1863—1957)
Herbert Hershey (9 Jun 1865-25 Jun 1946)
John Edward (14 Oct 1869—1873)

On 31 October 1876, Levi mysteriously vanished from his home. Newspaper accounts state that he had gone to bed with his wife about 8 or 9 p.m., but when Anna woke around 2 a.m., he was nowhere to be found. One article stated:

Mr. Levi Hocker, a retired farmer of very considerable means, and unimpeachable character, well known in this city, disappeared mysteriously on Friday night. He retired with the family in good spirits about eight o’clock in the evening—no one having suspected anything, or noticed anything unusual in his conduct… No cause whatsoever is known for his very strange proceeding—no financial embarrassment. It is presumed that he is laboring under a slight aberration of mind.⁷

The writer described Levi as “about five feet seven inches, black hair and whiskers slightly mixed with gray, no moustache, dark eyes, about fifty-five years of age, wore a black soft felt hat, dark suit, no overcoat.”

His body was found the following April in the water at Fry’s dam, near Middletown.⁸ He died by drowning, a presumed suicide while “laboring under a fit of mental aberration.” He was buried 29 April 1877 in Churchville Cemetery.

I often wonder what happened. His family apparently saw no reason for his disappearance, no change in his behavior. But he’d lost two of his children—George and John—to early death, one just three years earlier.⁹ His father also died in November 1873.¹⁰ Would that be enough to drive him to suicide years later?

Or was there perhaps something else? His son Michael was listed as “idiotic” on the 1880 census¹¹, but not the 1870 census¹², perhaps indicating that his disability was not a lifelong condition. He would have been about 26—a few years younger when his father died—about the age when mental illness can emerge. Is it possible that Michael was having problems that impacted his father’s mental state? Without Michael’s medical records, I can’t be sure.

Regardless, Levi’s untimely death at the age of 52 was both mysterious—as we’ll likely never know what happened—and sad. He left seven children, the youngest only 11 years old, his wife and friends to try to understand his disappearance and apparent suicide, and to mourn his tragic death.

52 Ancestors: Rudolph Mulhollan (1766-1855)

Kris Hocker on 27 Jan 2014

My 3x great grandmother Susan L. (Mulhollan) Force was the daughter of John and Emily (Boileau) Mulholland.¹ She was allegedly—I haven’t proven the connection, yet—the granddaughter of Rudolph and Mary (Weirham) Mulhollan.

I didn’t have much information on Rudolph and Mary, just the following from The Commemorative Biographical Record of Centre County, PA:

Rudolph and Elizabeth (Weirham) Mulhollan, paternal grandparents of our subject, natives of Ireland and England, respectively, came to America in an early day, and settled at Wallace Run, Centre Co., PA, there remaining until 1832, when they removed to Ohio.²

Not much to go on. I remember several years ago getting curious about the couple. They are one of the very few non-German couples in my ancestry. But when I searched, I couldn’t really find out anything about them. Fortunately, there are more records online today.

In Pennsylvania

Starting in Pennsylvania—since that’s where my relatives lived and so, too, did Rudolph until 1832—I found Rudolph in Boggs Township, Centre County in 1830.³ He was aged 60-70, placing his birth circa 1760-1770. His household included:

1 male, 60-70 [Rudolph]
1 male, 20-30 [George?]
1 male, 15-20 [Hugh?]
1 female, 60-70 [Mary]
1 female, 15-20 [Nancy or Rebecca?]

Other Mulhollans in Boggs Township included John Mulhollan, aged 20-30⁴, and William Mulhollan, aged 30-40.⁵ I found James Mulhollan in Bellefonte.⁶ I believe they were sons of Rudolph and that John was the father of Susan (Mulhollan) Force.

On 24 September 1824, a land warrant was issued for Rudolph in Boggs township.⁷ A survey for him was completed for 173 acres on 25 September 1824. A note on the survey states “There is an improvement on this tract said to have been commenced about the year 1804.” Whether or not it was Rudolph who first improved the land, I do not know.

Rudolph and family are also in Boggs Township in 1820.⁸ The household included:

1 male, 45+ (b. bef. 1775) [Rudolph]
1 male, 26-45 (b. ca 1775-1794) [William?]
1 male, 16-26 (b. ca 1794-1804) [James, John?]
1 male, 16-18 (b. ca 1802-1804) [James, John?]
2 males, 10-16 (b. ca 1804-1810) [Rudolph & George?]
1 male, <10 (b. aft. 1810) [Hugh?]
1 female, 45+ (b. bef 1775) [Mary]
1 female, 10-16 (b. ca 1804-1810) [?]
2 females, <10 (b. aft. 1810) [Nancy & Rebecca?]

I did not find Rudolph in Spring Township—Boggs’ predecessor—in 1810.

Outside Pennsylvania

According to the history, Rudolph and Mary left Pennsylvania about 1832 and settled in Ohio. I believe I found them in the 1840 census for Perry Township, Wayne County, Ohio.⁹ Rudolph was 70-80, placing his birth circa 1760-1770, a match to the Pennsylvania Rudolph Mulhollan. His household included:

1 male, 70-80 (b. ca 1760-1770) [Rudolph]
1 male, 20-30 (b. ca 1810-1820) [Hugh?]
1 male, <5 (b. ca 1835-1840) [Alfred, Hugh’s son?]
1 female, 70-80 (b. ca 1760-1770) [Mary]
1 female, 20-30 (b. ca 1810-1820) [Mary, Hugh’s wife?]
1 female, 10-15 (b. ca 1825-1830) [?]
1 female, <5 (b. ca 1835-1840) [Hannah, Hugh’s daughter?]

Mary (Weirham) Mulhollan died on 9 February 1844 and was buried in Redhaw Cemetery, Ashland County, Ohio.¹⁰ She was 73 years and 6 months old, placing her birth circa August 1770.

Rudolph and family were located in Perry Township, Ashland County in 1850.¹¹ Rudolph, aged 81, was the head of household, but Hugh Monholin is listed as the farmer. Rudolph died 23 September 1855 and was likely buried in the West Carmel Cemetery in Charlotte, Carmel Township, Eaton County, Michigan.¹²

Hugh and family were located in Carmel township in the 1860¹³ and 1870¹⁴ census records. Hugh died 27 August 1870 and was buried in West Carmel Cemetery.¹⁵

A search for other Mulhollan family members revealed that Rudolph and Hugh were not the only ones to go west.

James Mulhollan was in Perry Township, Wayne County, Ohio in 1840¹⁶ and he was in Carmel Township, Eaton County, Michigan in 1850¹⁷ and 1860.¹⁸ He died in Eaton county in 1860 and was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.¹⁹

George Mulhollan was in Canaan Township, Wayne County, Ohio in 1840²⁰ and Carmel Township, Eaton County, Michigan in 1850.²¹ By 1860, he was back in Canaan Township.²² George died 17 March 1867 in Canaan Township and was buried in Canaan Center Cemetery.²³

I think that’s a pretty good start on the family of Rudolph Mulhollan. It’s certainly not complete if I want to prove the family connections, but it certainly provides enough information to suggest further research.

What do you think?

This post is part of an on-going, blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This is my fourth 52 Ancestors post and part of week four.

52 Ancestors: Rachel Jones (1809-1897)

Kris Hocker on 19 Jan 2014

Amongst my grandfather Greulich’s things, I found the following newspaper clipping

I believe it’s from the the Town and Country. It reads:

Another Four-Generation Group Of This Section

Witmer-Kline-Snyder-Greulich Freundschaft

The above illustration represents another four-generation group of a widely-known family — the Witmer-Kline-Snyder-Greulich freundschaft, of which the oldest, Edward J. Witmer, has died since the picture was taken, he having passed away at his home in Marlbrough township, near Finland, last Wednesday [24 January 1912], aged 78 years.

Mrs. Witmer, aged 75 years is the mother of Mrs. Henry D. Snyder, aged 51, of near East Greenville. Mrs. Witmer’s maiden name was Miss Lydia A. Kline. Mrs. Elmer C. Greulich, of near East Greenville, aged 33 years, is a daughter of Mrs. Snyder. The youngest in the group is Master Russell Roy Greulich, who was born July 23, 1910.

Mr. Witmer was a direct descendent of the famous Jones family of England. There is an interesting romance connected with the emigration to this country of Mr. Witmer’s grandmother. She was a typical English girl and exceedingly pretty and fearless. Crossed by her parents in a love affair, Miss Jones escaped from her home with the aid of her favorite saddle horse, and swam across the English Channel on horse-back and fled the country.¹

I love this article because it creates a direct link from my grandfather, Russ Greulich, to his great grandparents—Edward J. and Lydia A (Kline) Witmer. It also provides clues to Edward Witmer’s maternal family line—the Jones family. The story of Miss Jones riding her horse across the English Channel is rather amusing and adds a dash of romance to the family story for all that it must be a total exaggeration.

But who was this “Miss Jones” and how does she connect to the Witmer family? Was she really Edward’s grandmother?

The Jones Family Connection

It turns out that the connection to the Jones family is actually much closer than grandmother—grandson. Edward Witmer’s 1912 death certificate lists his parents as John and Rachel (Jones) Witmer.² Both parents were born in Pennsylvania. Making it unlikely that his mother crossed the English Channel on her trusty steed.

Edward was listed with his parents in the 1850 census for Milford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.³ The household included:

John Witemer, 38, M, Huckster, $1200, Pa
Rachel [ditto], 39, F, Pa
Edward [ditto], 16, M, Farmer, Pa, attended school within the year
Henry [ditto], 15, M, Pa, attended school within the year
William [ditto], 11, M, Pa, attended school within the year
Mary Ann [ditto], 9, F, Pa, attended school within the year
Susan [ditto], 7, F, Pa, attended school within the year
John [ditto], 6, M, Pa
Able [ditto], 4, M, Pa
Milton [ditto], 2, M, Pa
Henry Jones, 70, M, None, Pa

John and Rachel are listed in the 1860⁴, 1870⁵ and 1880⁶ census records for Milford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In each census their place of birth is consistently listed as Pennsylvania. In the 1880 census, Pennsylvania is given as the birthplace of their parents, as well.

John died 21 May 1885⁷ and Rachel died 10 September 1897.⁸ They were buried in the Christ Church cemetery in Trumbauersville, Bucks County.

Rachel’s entry on Findagrave.com names her father as Henry Jones (1776-1854) which is consistent with the Henry Jones living with the Witmer family in 1850. In 1840, a John Widmer was living next to Levi and Lewis Jones in Milford Township.⁹ Lewis Jones is listed as one of the children on Henry Jones’ entry on Findagrave.com¹⁰ and there is a 50-60 year-old male living in Lewis’ household in 1840.¹¹ So, it’s quite possible that Henry Jones was Rachel’s father and Lewis her brother.

Henry Jones

Henry Jones was born 15 July 1776 and died 10 December 1854, both most likely in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.¹² He was buried in Christ Church cemetery in Trumbauersville. He is included in the 1820¹³ and 1830¹⁴ census for Milford Township. In 1830, his household included:

1 male, 50-60 [Henry]
1 male, 20-30 [Levi?]
2 males, 15-20 [Lewis?, ?]
1 male, 10-15 [?]
3 males, 5-10 [Henry?, Abel?, Oliver?]
1 male, <5 [?]
2 females, 20-30 [?, Rachel]
1 female, 15-20 [?]
1 female, 10-15 [?]

Henry’s wife—possibly the “exceedingly pretty and fearless English girl”—must have died prior to 1830.

Henry’s household in 1820 included:

1 male, 45+ [Henry]
1 male, 10-16 [Levi?]
2 males, up to 10 [Lewis?, ?]
1 female, 26-45 [wife?]
2 females, 10-16 [?, Rachel]
2 females, up to 10 [?, ?]

In 1810, Henry can be found in the census for Hilltown Township.¹⁵ His household included:

1 male, 26-45 [Henry]
1 male, up to 10 [Levi?]
1 female, 26-45 [wife?]
2 females, up to 10 [?, Rachel?]

Henry Jones had a neighbor named John Hiller/Heller¹⁶, aged 26-45 in 1820 and aged 50-60 in 1830. In 1840, John Witmer, Levi Jones and Lewis Jones had a neighbor named John Heller, aged 60-70. It seems to me that I’m looking at the same physical location for these three census records, and thus there is a connection between Henry Jones and John Witmer, Levi Jones and Lewis Jones.

I’ll need to keep looking for clues to build a sound case that Henry is Rachel (Jones) Witmer’s father, but I’ve made a good start.

This post is part of an on-going, blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This catch-up post is my third 52 Ancestors post and part of week three.

52 Ancestors: James Benjamin Houdeshell (1842—1926)

Kris Hocker on 18 Jan 2014

I’ve heard family stories about an ancestor who fought on both sides during the Civil War, but I didn’t really believe it. Two brothers fighting on opposite sides? Yeah, okay. But one man fighting for both sides over the course of the war? Seemed a little far-fetched.

Benjamin and Phoebe (Mayes) Houdeshell

Wars are always justified as necessary to stand-up for our principals or our rights, or to fight evil, or protect the mother land. But it seems to me that when it came to joining up during the Civil War to fight for one side or the other, the reasoning was black or white. You either believed in the Rebel cause or you believed in the Union and the destruction of slavery. So, it doesn’t seem probable that one person would enlist in both armies—by choice—between 1861 and 1865.

And, yet, I think that’s exactly what Benjamin Houdeshell did.

According to Benjamin’s death certificate, he was born 13 March 1842 in Maryland and died 20 March 1926 in Rush Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was 84 years old. His full name was James Benjamin Houdeshell.¹ His obituary read:

Recent Deaths: Houdeshell – Benjamin Houdeshell, Civil War Veteran, father of John Houdeshell, of Curtin, and well known resident of the Philipsburg community, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Thomas Passell, Saturday morning [20 March]. He had been in failing health for the past four years, death being due to infirmities of age. The funeral service was held Tuesday afternoon; internment in the Philipsburg Cemetery. Deceased, is a son of Adam and Mary Houdeshell, was born at Westmoreland, Virginia, on March 13, 1842, making his age 84 years and 7 days. He enlisted as a Private in Company I, Thirteenth Regiment of Maryland Infantry, February 24, 1865, and was mustered out at the close of the War. He was a woodsman and farmer, and for twenty years or longer has been residing in the Philipsburg region. The wife of the deceased was Pheobe Mayes, who died five years ago last August. Twelve children were born to the marriage. The surviving sons and daughters are: John, of Curtin; Mrs. Jacob Webb, of Windber; George, of Surveyor Run; Frank and Jacob, of Kato; Mrs. Thomas Passell, of North Philipsburg; Mrs. Daniel DeHaas, of Julian, and Mrs. Nora Blake and Mrs. Ernest Vinton, of Philipsburg.²

The military pension index card for “Benjamin Houdeshell” lists his death date as 20 March 1926 and place of death as Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania.³ So, it matches my 3x great grandfather’s death certificate. It also states that he served as a private in the 13th Regiment, Company I of the Maryland Infantry, mustering in on 24 February 1865 and out on 29 May 1865.

Benjamin Houdeshell Military Pension Index Card

Benjamin Houdeshell’s Military Pension Index Card

Fortunately, additional records for Maryland Civil War Soldiers are online at Fold3.com. Benjamin’s record for Company I, 13th Regiment includes his volunteer enlistment. He enlisted at Frederick, Maryland on 24 February 1865, stating that he was 19 years old, born in Hardy County, Virginia, and a laborer.⁴ The record also states that he was 5′ 6″ tall and had grey eyes, light hair and a fair complexion.

Benjamin Houdeshell Civil War Volunteer Enlistment

Benjamin Houdeshell’s Civil War Volunteer Enlistment

Neither the description nor his age on this record matches other information I have regarding Benjamin. Born in 1842, he would have been 22 years old, nearly 23, in February 1865. And the one photo I have of him shows him with dark hair. However, based on the information in his obituary and pension index card, this is the record of enlistment for my great great great grandfather.

So, there’s his Union service. What about his Confederate service?

The enlistment record states that he was born in Hardy County, Virginia. Census records for 1860 show Benjamin Houdeshell, aged 18, living in the household of Adam Howyshell (his father per his obituary) in District No. 1, Hardy County.⁵

1860 US Census for Adam Howdyshell’s family

The household included:

Adam Howdyshell, aged 69, Farmer, born in Virginia
Mary “, aged 64, born Virginia
John Wm “, aged 28, born Virginia
George W. “, aged 21, born Virginia
Benjamin “, aged 18, born Virginia

On the next page are the households of:⁶

Adam Howdyshell Jr., age 40, Laborer, born in Virginia
Mary “, age 42, born in Virginia
Daniel “, age 13, born in Virginia
Sarah C. ” , age 11, born in Virginia
John W. “, age 8, born in Virginia
William E. “, age 5, born in Virginia
Daniel Howdyshell, age 37, Laborer, born in Virginia
Jane “, age 24, born in Virginia
Elizabeth “, age 7, born in Virginia
Benjamin “, aged 5, born in Virginia
Joseph “, aged 3, born in Virginia
Virginia “, aged 1, born in Virginia
Isaac Howdyshell, aged 23, Laborer, born in Virginia
Dorothy “, aged 58, born in Virginia

Adam’s household in 1850 included:⁷

Adam Howdyshell, aged 63, Farmer, born Virginia
Mary “, aged 49, born Virginia
John W., aged 18, Laborer, born Virginia
Isaac, aged 14, born Virginia
Westfall, aged 10, born Virginia
Benjamin, aged 7, born Virginia

A search of the Confederate Civil War Soldiers on Fold3.com turns up records for the 14th Regiment, Virginia Militia for Adam Howdyshell Jr., J. Benjamin Howdyshell and Westfall Howdyshell.

All three men enlisted on 17 September 1861 in Wardensville, Hardy County, Virginia. The names, approximate ages, and place of enlistment seems to indicate that these three men may very well have been the sons of Adam Howdyshell of Hardy County. They enlisted for the period of six months and it’s entirely possible that is all they served.

If, in fact, they are Adam’s sons (and it seems likely), then my great great grandfather, James Benjamin Houdeshell, served in both the Confederate and Union armies during the Civil War.

Why would he do that?

First, I have to think that he did not have any great convictions regarding slavery. Based on the 1860 census, the Houdeshells were not wealthy land-owners and, as far as I can tell, not slave-owners either. Adam’s real estate was worth $1,000 and he did not list any personal estate. I searched the slave schedules for Hardy County in 1860. It did not include the 1st district. Whether this was because there were no slave-owners there or it has been lost, I do not know. However, the county supposedly has a “rich African American history, with many free African Americans living there before the Civil War.”⁸

Additionally, he may have been a member of the militia prior to the war, serving as a home guard. The militia was ordered into service with the Confederate Army on 10 September 1861 by the governor of Virginia. The 14th “played a roll in Jackson’s January 1862 Romney campaign after which the 14th was assigned to the ‘region of their homes’.”⁹ That may be how he came to serve in the Confederate forces, rather than a voluntary enlistment.

On 6 November 1864, Benjamin married Phoebe Mayes of Snow Shoe Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.¹⁰ That’s nearly four months before he enlisted in the Maryland Infantry on 24 February 1865. It’s possible he enlisted because he needed the money to support his family. I don’t imagine that there were that many jobs available during the winter in the mountains of Centre County. The government bounty—for which the record indicates he was eligible—might have been tempting to a young man in his position.

I don’t know what happened to Benjamin between his enlistment in September 1861 in the Confederate Army and his marriage in November 1864 to a Pennsylvanian girl. So, it’s hard to say with any certainty why he enlisted twice—in two opposing armies. But I bet it’s an interesting story.

What do you think?

This post is part of an on-going blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This is my second post for 52 Ancestors and is part of week three.

52 Ancestors: #1 Nora Melinda (Houdeshell) Hoover (1891-1965)

Kris Hocker on 11 Jan 2014

For some reason, I’ve been thinking about my great grandmother Nora (Houdeshell) Hoover a lot recently. I never had a chance to meet her, but from the few stories I’ve heard, I think I would have loved her. So, I thought I’d start my 52 Ancestors series writing about her.

Clyde & Nora (Houdeshell) Hoover

Nora Melinda (Houdeshell) Hoover was the eldest daughter of George Westfall/Wesley Houdeshell and Lovina Caroline Force. She was born 25 October 1891 in Wooster, Cameron County, Pennsylvania.¹ She died of an acute myocardial infarction, possibly brought on by complications of diabetes, on 11 May 1965 in Pine Glen, Burnside Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania and was buried 3 days later in the Advent Cemetery in Pine Glen.

Great grandma was one of 12 children, 10 surviving to adulthood. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where her father worked as a lumberman and also supported his family by farming. According to family stories, when she was 16, her father told her she was to either get married or get a job. So, she took a job as a cook in a lumber camp. Apparently, that’s where she met my great grandfather, Clyde L. Hoover. They were married 16 April 1908 in Dubois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.² He was 21 (nearly 22) and she was 16. Clyde and Nora were the parents of 12 children—seven sons and five daughters.

Nora was a believer in education. She ran a small library from her home in Pine Glen. Today, it probably would be the equivalent of a small personal collection, but it provided an opportunity for Pine Glen residents to experience the world of books. She also wanted her daughters to wait until they were 21 before marrying, probably so that they would have a chance to fully grow-up, get an education, and experience life a bit before settling down to raise their families. My grandmother was married a month after her 21st birthday.

During the war—World War II, I presume—she planted a pine tree for every Pine Glen boy who went off to war, including four of her sons. I wonder what she thought as she watched those trees grow.

Family stories also allege that great grandma had Indian blood. I think that story arose mainly because she had straight dark hair as I’ve found no reason to believe her ancestry was anything other than northern European. Perhaps, one day one of my Hoover or Houdeshell relatives will have a DNA test and we’ll get proof one way or the other.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks — A Writing Challenge

Kris Hocker on 5 Jan 2014

Amy Johnson Crow over at No Story Too Small has issued a challenge to geneabloggers to blog about an ancestor each and every week for 2014. Anything and everything is fair game, as long as it is devoted to 1 specific ancestor.

I actually spend a lot of time writing about folks that I’m not related to in any way. Most of the Hoovers in my Hoover Surname Study are—to the best of my knowledge—not directly related to my Hoovers (except perhaps back in the fog of times long gone). So, accepting this challenge would mean that I would have to focus on my own family. Not a bad thing.

The big question, however, is can I actually find something to say about 52 of my ancestors? I’ve already written about the ones I’ve researched. Can I find 52 more to write about? Have I even done that much research on my various family lines?

I’ve decided to accept the challenge, so I guess we’ll find out. Who knows, I might even surprise myself! Stay tuned.

Tag: 52 Ancestors