Harshbarger line: Johann Conrad Reber 1723-after 1790

I've written before about Johann Conrad Reber, born December 10, 1751.  I mis-stated his place of birth, for in researching his father, I find that his parents were already in Pennsylvania by the time Conrad Jr. was born. 

So let's look at this father's life and we may gain some insights into the younger generation also.  Johann Conrad Refer, the father and immigrant, was born in March of 1723 and christened on March 23 of that year.  He was the son of Johan Bernhard and Annia Maria Ahl Reber, and was born in Langenselbold, Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany.  The town may have been more of a village at the time, but it was probably larger than some of the other towns that our German ancestors came from. Still, economics of the time meant that land was scarce and our Conrad decided to come to America in 1746.

We don't know where he lived at first.  Germantown was a first stop for many of the immigrants of the time, but he was soon in Tulpehocken township, Berks County.  It is not known whether he had family there but it's quite possible.  He married Anna Margaret Conrad on August 1, 1750, and the couple set to work to build a family.  It's likely that they built their own home, which can still be seen today, or at least, there are pictures of it.  It's a small log cabin and it's hard to see how they raised 7 children in such a small space, so maybe this is their first home, or their last one.

Conrad may have wondered whether he had made the right choice in settling in Tulpehocken township because that area was hard hit by attacks from the native Americans for several years during the French and Indian War.  There is a long list in one of the Berks County history books of those who were killed, captured, and wounded, and it is sobering indeed to read it.  Most likely Conrad was in a militia to protect his family and his neighbors.  This was a Lutheran or Reformed family, not Mennonite or Amish, so fighting was permissible to them.  There seem to be no nearby settlements that the family would naturally have gone to, so they may have gone to Reading, which would be quite a trip, especially with young children, but there was a greater degree of safety there.

We can also wonder about Conrad's thoughts regarding the Revolutionary War.  He was 52 years old when it broke out, which was probably old to be doing much soldiering.  But he may have been involved in providing or transporting supplies to the Americans.  His son Conrad apparently fought so his father would have had some feelings about the matter.  Mostly, though, he farmed.  

Conrad farmed to support his family, and on some of the tax lists, there are also the initials "g.m."  I haven't found a key for this but I'm guessing this might have been "grist mill".  On tax lists, Conrad is generally taxed more than most of his neighbors, but not as much as some.  On one such list, I believe from 1789, he is shown as owning 200 acres, 4 horses and 5 cattle.  Sometime during his later life, he seems to have moved from Tulpehocken township to Bethel Township, but probably did not move far.  The two townships are adjoining. 

There are varying dates for Conrad's death, from 1786 to 1796.  The inventory was presented in 1796, and there wouldn't have been minor children to delay the probate, so I'm guessing he died shortly before September 24, 1796.  He is buried at Zion Church Cemetery at Strausstown.  It's not known when Anna Margaret died but it was apparently after her husband.  The records I found of his will are not clear but it looks like his estate was valued at about 224 pounds. 

You can see copies of his signature and of the picture I referred to at www.bergergirls.com, if you'd care to look. 

The line of descent is

Johann Conrad Reber-Anna Margaret Conrad
Johann Conrad Reber-Mary Margaret Pontius
Mary Margaretha Reber-Solomon Buchtel
Benjamin Buchtel-Barbara Burkholder
Nancy Buchtel-Adam Kenery
Della Kemery-William Withers
Goldie Withers-Grover Harshbarger
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Beeks
Their descendants