A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy
the genealogy & family research site of Kris Hocker
Charles Greulich family (c 1887)
The Charles and Caroline (Wolf) Greulich family of East Greenville, Pennsylvania in 1887.
Back (L to R): Charles Ambrose, Irwin Franklin, Morris Linton, Lily Elenora, Chester Daniel
Middle (L to R): Nevin Wilson, Annie E., Hannah Louisa
Front (L to R): Flora, Karl Philipp, Carrie A., Caroline (Wolf), Katharine Jane, Elmer Calvin
Daniel E. Hoover gravestone
A gravestone photo of Daniel Edgar Hoover, only son of Reuben and Emma (Coleburn) Hoover, of Karthuas, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, was born 16 Jul 1887 and died 11 Feb 1966. He was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Oak Hill, Karthaus Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Daniel served during World World I.
Joseph Snyder tombstone
A gravestone for Joseph Snyder and his wife Judith Deisher of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Joseph was born 2 Jan 1826 in either Germany or Pennsylvania and died 4 Nov 1895 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He married circa 1855 Judith Deisher, daughter of Peter Deisher and Maria Trump. She was born 15 Aug 1830 in Pennsylvania and died 17 May 1906 in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The couple is buried in the Goshenhoppen Cemetery in East Greenville, Pennsylvania.
The couple had children:
William Hocker and family
Fishing has always been a favorite pastime in my family. Both my Dad and Uncle Bill love to fish. My grandfather used to take us girls out fishing. This photo shows it’s been a family favorite for at one additional generation.
The photo is not labelled—big surprise—but I believe the man standing in the center with the fishing pole, wearing the white shirt and tie, is my great grandfather, William Hocker. The others may be his family members—quite likely—or friends.
Emanuel Hocker (1842-1862)
A gravestone photo for Emanuel Hocker (11 Jul 1842-16 Nov 1862), son of George and Mary “Polly” (Brubaker) Hocker of Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He’s buried in Shoop’s Cemetery outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Dr. David R. Hocker (1850-1887)
Dr. David R. Hocker, son of Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker, was born 1 Dec 1850 and died 21 Nov 1887. He was buried in Shoop’s Cemetery, Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He married 4 Feb 1876 in Shoop’s Reformed Church Hettie Esther Rudy, daughter of Joseph Frederick and Hettie (Landis) Rudy. She was born 3 Jan 1854 and died 11 May 1894.
Christian L. Hoover (ca 1825-1 Oct 1887)
Christian Hoover, the man who inspired all my Hoover family research.
George and Omet Hoover gravestone
George Hoover, youngest son of Christian and Caroline (Kinnard) Hoover, was born 14 Apr 1865 in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and died 19 Jan 1930 in Sterling Run, Lumber Township, Cameron County, Pennsylvania of a stroke. He married about 1898 Anna Meade. The couple had one child, a son, Omet who was born in Jan 1899 and died in 1901, presumably of drowning.
I took this photo at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Oak Hill, Karthaus Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. According to his death certificate, George was buried at the Pine Street cemetery in Gibson Township, Cameron County, Pennsylvania.
In honor of Memorial Day, I’d like to take a moment to remember those in my family who’ve served in the military.
I grew up an Air Force brat. My father was Air Force ROTC in college and joined the Air Force upon graduation. We lived in multiple states and even overseas before his twenty years were up and he retired. He never fought in a war, but he served his country nonetheless.
My mother’s younger brother served in the Army during the Vietnam War.
My father’s dad, William Hocker, enlisted during World War II. A trick knee kept him stateside, but the Navy put his carpentry skills to use building at a Naval base in Florida.
My grandfather's building crew
This photo shows his crew. My grandfather is the second man from the left in the bottom row. The photo includes a list of names on the back for seven of the men: Chilton Butler (Kentucky), J. Julian Hugo (Connecticut), A.M. Wade (Kentucky), Roland Imbriaco (Providence, Rhode Island), L.W. T[??]asher (Georgia), Vernon Turner (Georgia), and James K. Collier (Mississippi). Unfortunately, I don’t know which name goes with which man and there are nine people in the photo.
Two of my great uncles also served during World War II: Harold Ruder, husband of my grandfather’s sister Bonnie, and William Wingeard, husband of my grandfather’s sister Betty Jean. Both were stationed overseas—Uncle Boots [Ruder] in Europe and Uncle Bill in the Pacific.
Names from the back of the photo of William Hocker's WWII crew
All three have since passed on.
One of my Smith relatives served in France during World War I. William M. Smith Jr. supposedly enlisted in the Army under the assumed name John Norwood. He remained in France after the war.
At least three of my ancestors served during the Civil War. Christian Hoover was drafted for the Union Army from Jefferson County, Pennsylvania in 1863.1 According to the record, he was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and was a farmer. It also states that he was 44 years old, with gray(?) eyes, brown hair, and fair skin, standing 5′ 11″ tall. I believe Christian’s brothers Ralston and Samuel both served, as did his cousin Christian R. Hoover. Ralston enlisted on 1 Aug 1861 in the 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D. He died at Baltimore Cross Roads, Virginia.2
Jefferson Force was drafted for the Union Army from Centre County in Jun 1863. He was a 33 year-old, married laborer who was born in Pennsylvania and resided in Burnside Township.3 He enlisted 20 Dec 1864 at Troy, Pennsylvania and was mustered out 17 Jul 1865 at Alexandria, Virginia. He served with the 45th Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers, Company E IX Corps, 1st Brigade, 1st Division. His name is engraved on a plaque in Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Jefferson’s presumed brother Martin V. Force also served as a Private in Company E of the 5th Pennsylvania Reserves.
My grandfather's crew hard at work
James Benjamin Houdeshell served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War in the 14th Virginia Militia, Company A. He mustered in 10 Sep 1861 at Wardensville, Hardy County, Virginia.4 According to his obituary, he enlisted 24 Feb 1865 in the Maryland Infantry, 13th Regiment, Company I and mustered out at the end of the war.5 Benjamin’s brothers George W. and Adam Jr. both served as well.
I’m sure there are more that I’ve missed. But whether I know their names or not, I’m proud of their service to their country and their fellow Americans. Their sacrifices should not be forgotten.
