Johann Jacob Fehler left just enough of a paper trail that I can write a few sentences about him. He was the son of Jacob and Anna Margareth Lowenguth, and was born April 13, 1746 in Upper Tulpehocken Townhip, Berks County, Pa. Jacob and Margareth were apparently killed in one of the many attacks by the native Americans, in 1758, and our Jacob was an orphan at the age of 12, He had three older and five younger siblings, except that maybe he didn't. The will of Jacob Lowenguth refers to an only son, Jacob, and two daughters, which would not explain the long list of children I've found for them.
At any rate, our Jacob would have lived with other family members, or assigned a guardian by the court. I've not found a record yet of what happened to the children, but somehow they survived the horror of being orphaned and went on to live their lives.
Our Jacob is next found marrying Anna Eva Behney, daughter of Peter and Anna Barbara Behney, on October 26, 1767, but I haven't yet found records specifying the location. Some say it was in Heidelberg Township, Berks County and some say East Hanover Township, Dauphin County. We know he was in East Hanover Township by 1781, when there is record of the baptism of the ninth of his twelve children. The distance between Jacob's childhood home and his new home was about 30 miles, down a mountain valley and Jacob may have been quite happy to leave his childhood home behind.
We don't know what Jacob did during the Revolutionary War. His name is not found on the digital archives of Pennsylvania web site, or perhaps I didn't think of enough way s to check the spelling for Fehler. It seems that he would at least have been in a militia, since at the start of the war he was only about 30 years old. Certainly news of the war would have reached him and he would have followed the events with interest, if he didn't go off to war for at least a time.
Jacob and Eva had 12 children together. I've not located a death date for Eva but it's possible that Jacob remarried as his will names a wife whose name starts with Pa...Jacob was apparently a successful farmer, for his will lists many items that are to be the property of his wife. His son Christly is to care for his (Step) mother, and daughter Barbara is also to be allowed to live in the house. If Christly and Barbara can't get along, then he is to build her a new house to live in, and a barn. Christly gets the home farm of about 50 acres. Other sons have already received land from their father, and the remaining daughters are to get 50 pounds apiece, to make them roughly equal to what the sons got earlier.
The only other fact we know about Jacob is that he and Eva attended Lutheran churches. He died October 1, 1817 and was buried at the Sattazahn Lutheran Cemetery near Jonestown, which is named for a Revolutionary War hero. There may or may not be a connection there.
Jacob Fehler deserves our admiration. He certainly had a traumatic childhood but he rose above it, made his way through or around the Revolutionary War, married, raised a large family, and when he died at the age of 71, was able to have given or to give each of his children enough to give them a real boost in their financial condition. He was another hard working :German", although he was of the generation born in the colony of Pennsylvania.
The line of descent is
Jacob Fehler-Eva Behney
Christina Fehler-John Harshbarger
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Beeks
Their descendants
Showing posts with label Fehler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fehler. Show all posts
Friday, June 7, 2019
Friday, August 5, 2016
Harshbarger line: Thoughts about Hans Jacob Loewenguth or Liebengud
I've long had the story about this family as that they were killed by Indians in the horrible attacks in Berks County, Pa in 1758. In double-checking the facts before I wrote up this story, I am confused. I may be missing a generation, it seems to me.
My story starts with a Hans Jacob who was born probably in Bern, Switzerland in 1681. However, when I started fact checking, I'm finding that most sources say this gentleman died in or before 1754. He also is assigned a different wife (Maria Margaretha Schaefer) than the one I have noted. They were married in Mertzwiller, Bas-Rhin, France on December 9, 1720. This would make Hans Jacob very old by the time of the 1758 attack, and if he actually died in 1754, it would have been impossible.
So the Hans Jacob I have in my records probably was not born in 1681. I don't know if he was a son of the Hans Jacob mentioned above or not. It seems possible, though. Having two generations of Hans Jacobs would help make sense of some of the Lowenguth/Liebengood/Liebengud men that I haven't been able to account for, such as Peter, who was possibly a brother to the younger Hans Jacob. But wait, there's a problem! It seems that the younger Hans Jacob died in 1808, not 1758, in Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio (oh goodness, another county to research?? Yikes!)
I'm going to copy the copy I made from a book, who knows what it was. The heading at the top of the page says "Reading and Berks County", but I have no information as to the title or publication date of the book, although from internal clues it was after 1919. It's found on page 392.
"Jacob Loewenguth, who came to this country in 1710, was born in Schalkendorf, in Alsace, and was the son of Friederich Liebengut, who left Aarwanger, near Langenthal, Canton, Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1653, after the Peasants War, in which he took part. He was one of a part of Germans sent by the British Board of Trade to Livingstone Manor in the Province of New York, to manufacture tar and naval stores, to cover the cost of their transportation. He was located in one of the towns in "West Camp", above the present city of Kingston, on the Hudson River. After three years of toll and hardship and the failure of Governor Hunter, of the Province of New York, to keep his contract with the settlers, in 1713 they left the Camps and worked their way through the wilderness to the Schoharie lands, a beautiful country southwest of Albany, in the western foothills of the Catskills. This Schoharie land was promised them by Queen Anne, of England, who was interested in them as refugees from their distressed fatherland, and had been given to the Queen by a group of Indian chiefs, who were in London when the refugees were camped outside the city.
After ten years of conquering the forest and creating and cultivating the farm lands of Schoarie, the settlers were driven out and the settlement caused to be abandoned by a combination of land speculators, who had been favored by the New York provincial government. Jacob Loewenguth was one of the group of settlers, who in 1723 cut through the forests to the head waters of the Susquehanna, down which they worked their way to the Province of Pennsylvania. They ended their journey at the mouth f the Swatara Crrek and from there moved into and settled the Tulpehocken region.
Jacob Loewenguth's family consisted of his wife, Margaretha, and three children, Jacob, Anna Margaretha, and Anna Barbara. In the early part of April, 1758, a party of Indians attack the settlement and Jacob Loewenguth and his wife wife were filled and scalped. Anna Barbara, and Anna Margaretha, who was the wife of Jacob Fehler, with two of her children, were carried away captive by the Indians, and nothing was ever heard of them. Jacob Loewenguth, Jr., the son, escaped the attack"
To further confuse matters, Jacob Loewenguth, Jr., farmer, son of this Jacob Loewenguth, is said to have died in 1788.
This is quite a colorful story and I thought it worthwhile to put it in this blog post, because if this is not our Hans Jacob it is still likely a relative of some sort, and this story needs to be remembered and honored. The conditions these settlers lived through were horrendous, from Germany to England to at least two settlements in New York, to Pennsylvania, where things started out looking better, at least.
I would love to hear from other researchers and family members who can share their sources, hopefully better than I am able to do. The book I quoted from was written about 150 years after the Indian attack, which makes it suspect to elaboration and confusion over the years, and also means we have to wonder if the person who compiled it was one of the "fake" genealogists of the time period. I don't know who provided this family biography although it may have been contributed by John E. Livingood, M.D., who has a rather extensive biography on the same page. Since there were also Hans Jacob Loewenguths, both Senior and Junior, and Peter, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1750, I am thoroughly confused. I would love to be able to figure out the truth in all of this.
Here is the possible line of descent:
Hans Jacob Loewenguth-Margaretha Sands
Anna Margaretha Loewenguth-Jacob Fehler
John Jacob Fehler-Anna Eva Behney
Christina Elizabeth Fehler-Johannes Harshbarger
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
My story starts with a Hans Jacob who was born probably in Bern, Switzerland in 1681. However, when I started fact checking, I'm finding that most sources say this gentleman died in or before 1754. He also is assigned a different wife (Maria Margaretha Schaefer) than the one I have noted. They were married in Mertzwiller, Bas-Rhin, France on December 9, 1720. This would make Hans Jacob very old by the time of the 1758 attack, and if he actually died in 1754, it would have been impossible.
So the Hans Jacob I have in my records probably was not born in 1681. I don't know if he was a son of the Hans Jacob mentioned above or not. It seems possible, though. Having two generations of Hans Jacobs would help make sense of some of the Lowenguth/Liebengood/Liebengud men that I haven't been able to account for, such as Peter, who was possibly a brother to the younger Hans Jacob. But wait, there's a problem! It seems that the younger Hans Jacob died in 1808, not 1758, in Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio (oh goodness, another county to research?? Yikes!)
I'm going to copy the copy I made from a book, who knows what it was. The heading at the top of the page says "Reading and Berks County", but I have no information as to the title or publication date of the book, although from internal clues it was after 1919. It's found on page 392.
"Jacob Loewenguth, who came to this country in 1710, was born in Schalkendorf, in Alsace, and was the son of Friederich Liebengut, who left Aarwanger, near Langenthal, Canton, Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1653, after the Peasants War, in which he took part. He was one of a part of Germans sent by the British Board of Trade to Livingstone Manor in the Province of New York, to manufacture tar and naval stores, to cover the cost of their transportation. He was located in one of the towns in "West Camp", above the present city of Kingston, on the Hudson River. After three years of toll and hardship and the failure of Governor Hunter, of the Province of New York, to keep his contract with the settlers, in 1713 they left the Camps and worked their way through the wilderness to the Schoharie lands, a beautiful country southwest of Albany, in the western foothills of the Catskills. This Schoharie land was promised them by Queen Anne, of England, who was interested in them as refugees from their distressed fatherland, and had been given to the Queen by a group of Indian chiefs, who were in London when the refugees were camped outside the city.
After ten years of conquering the forest and creating and cultivating the farm lands of Schoarie, the settlers were driven out and the settlement caused to be abandoned by a combination of land speculators, who had been favored by the New York provincial government. Jacob Loewenguth was one of the group of settlers, who in 1723 cut through the forests to the head waters of the Susquehanna, down which they worked their way to the Province of Pennsylvania. They ended their journey at the mouth f the Swatara Crrek and from there moved into and settled the Tulpehocken region.
Jacob Loewenguth's family consisted of his wife, Margaretha, and three children, Jacob, Anna Margaretha, and Anna Barbara. In the early part of April, 1758, a party of Indians attack the settlement and Jacob Loewenguth and his wife wife were filled and scalped. Anna Barbara, and Anna Margaretha, who was the wife of Jacob Fehler, with two of her children, were carried away captive by the Indians, and nothing was ever heard of them. Jacob Loewenguth, Jr., the son, escaped the attack"
To further confuse matters, Jacob Loewenguth, Jr., farmer, son of this Jacob Loewenguth, is said to have died in 1788.
This is quite a colorful story and I thought it worthwhile to put it in this blog post, because if this is not our Hans Jacob it is still likely a relative of some sort, and this story needs to be remembered and honored. The conditions these settlers lived through were horrendous, from Germany to England to at least two settlements in New York, to Pennsylvania, where things started out looking better, at least.
I would love to hear from other researchers and family members who can share their sources, hopefully better than I am able to do. The book I quoted from was written about 150 years after the Indian attack, which makes it suspect to elaboration and confusion over the years, and also means we have to wonder if the person who compiled it was one of the "fake" genealogists of the time period. I don't know who provided this family biography although it may have been contributed by John E. Livingood, M.D., who has a rather extensive biography on the same page. Since there were also Hans Jacob Loewenguths, both Senior and Junior, and Peter, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1750, I am thoroughly confused. I would love to be able to figure out the truth in all of this.
Here is the possible line of descent:
Hans Jacob Loewenguth-Margaretha Sands
Anna Margaretha Loewenguth-Jacob Fehler
John Jacob Fehler-Anna Eva Behney
Christina Elizabeth Fehler-Johannes Harshbarger
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Friday, June 3, 2016
Harshbarger line: Peter van Gundy 1713-1757
First, this is a condensed version of information found on the Van Gundy Family Tree website, with a couple of my own observations thrown in. Knowing that some in our family are not likely to read the great amount of information, and speculation, there, I want to at least give the bare outline of this ancestor.
Peter is believed to have come from the village of Gunten, on the Lake of Thun, Berne Canton, Switzerland. He was born about 1713. His father's name is variously given as Jacob or as Hans, so the jury is still out on that.
Many Mennonite families either fled from Switzerland or were expelled, because they weren't allowed to practice their Anabaptist beliefs there. Either you belonged to the state church and had your children baptized there, or you were not welcome. These Mennonite families sometimes settled in what is now Germany, but their ultimate goal was usually Holland, where wealthier Mennonite families did much to help these people, who arrived with not much except the clothes they were wearing. It's recorded that Peter spoke only Dutch, not German, so I believe his family likely arrived in Holland when he was just a young boy.
We don't know anything about his childhood or young adulthood, and there seems to be no record of his arrival in Pennsylvania. In general, Mennonites arrived fairly early in Pennsylvania history, many being there by 1740. We know that Peter was there by 1738 because he had built a mill on Muddy Creek in Ephrata township by that date. He must have learned that trade somewhere, either in Holland or perhaps as an apprentice or servant in Pennsylvania. At any rate, being a miller meant some degree of economic stability, because it was an income in addition to whatever farming was done.
It was in this same general time frame, probably about 1739, that Peter married Fronica (Veronica) Farny or Forney. They had at least seven children together, six boys and a girl.
Peter purchased land in Earl Township, Lancaster County in 1749 and had it surveyed in 1750. In 1750 he is on the tax list in Cocalico Township and apparently in 1751 and 1754 also. He must have acquired additional land because in 1755 he and wife "Fronich" sold 200 acres in Earl Township for 100 pounds. In 1757, Peter was on the tax roll for the final time, and his widow is shown up until 1763.
There is at least one story that says Peter was killed by native Americans in the early part of the French and Indian war, but there is no proof. He is reported to have died on July 4, 1757. Some sources say it was 1758 but since his widow is listed on the 1758 tax rolls, 1757 may be correct. At any rate, he died without a will and his estate wasn't settled until 1772, when the farm (apparently in Cocalico Twp) was sold for 1200 pounds sterling, with the proceeds divided among the children.
There are other stories about Peter's early life, some saying his family fled to France before going to Holland. It's possible, but the language Peter spoke was Dutch so they wouldn't have been there long. There is also a story that the family in Switzerland had possessed great wealth but this has generally been disproven. The wealth of this family was in their faith, their family, and their farm.
The line of descent is:
Peter van Gundy-Fronica Farny
Magdalena van Gundy-Christian Harshbarger
John (Johannes) Harshbarger-Christina Elizabeth Fehler
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Peter is believed to have come from the village of Gunten, on the Lake of Thun, Berne Canton, Switzerland. He was born about 1713. His father's name is variously given as Jacob or as Hans, so the jury is still out on that.
Many Mennonite families either fled from Switzerland or were expelled, because they weren't allowed to practice their Anabaptist beliefs there. Either you belonged to the state church and had your children baptized there, or you were not welcome. These Mennonite families sometimes settled in what is now Germany, but their ultimate goal was usually Holland, where wealthier Mennonite families did much to help these people, who arrived with not much except the clothes they were wearing. It's recorded that Peter spoke only Dutch, not German, so I believe his family likely arrived in Holland when he was just a young boy.
We don't know anything about his childhood or young adulthood, and there seems to be no record of his arrival in Pennsylvania. In general, Mennonites arrived fairly early in Pennsylvania history, many being there by 1740. We know that Peter was there by 1738 because he had built a mill on Muddy Creek in Ephrata township by that date. He must have learned that trade somewhere, either in Holland or perhaps as an apprentice or servant in Pennsylvania. At any rate, being a miller meant some degree of economic stability, because it was an income in addition to whatever farming was done.
It was in this same general time frame, probably about 1739, that Peter married Fronica (Veronica) Farny or Forney. They had at least seven children together, six boys and a girl.
Peter purchased land in Earl Township, Lancaster County in 1749 and had it surveyed in 1750. In 1750 he is on the tax list in Cocalico Township and apparently in 1751 and 1754 also. He must have acquired additional land because in 1755 he and wife "Fronich" sold 200 acres in Earl Township for 100 pounds. In 1757, Peter was on the tax roll for the final time, and his widow is shown up until 1763.
There is at least one story that says Peter was killed by native Americans in the early part of the French and Indian war, but there is no proof. He is reported to have died on July 4, 1757. Some sources say it was 1758 but since his widow is listed on the 1758 tax rolls, 1757 may be correct. At any rate, he died without a will and his estate wasn't settled until 1772, when the farm (apparently in Cocalico Twp) was sold for 1200 pounds sterling, with the proceeds divided among the children.
There are other stories about Peter's early life, some saying his family fled to France before going to Holland. It's possible, but the language Peter spoke was Dutch so they wouldn't have been there long. There is also a story that the family in Switzerland had possessed great wealth but this has generally been disproven. The wealth of this family was in their faith, their family, and their farm.
The line of descent is:
Peter van Gundy-Fronica Farny
Magdalena van Gundy-Christian Harshbarger
John (Johannes) Harshbarger-Christina Elizabeth Fehler
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Friday, January 15, 2016
Harshbarger line: Will of Christian Harshbarger 1744-1810
By 1810, when our Christian died, there were quite a few Christian Harshbargers in the United States. I found this will on FamilySearch and thought that it was worth trying to transcribe it, in hopes that it will help someone prove or disprove their connection to this family. This is the Christian Harshbarger who was married to Magdalena (Van) Gundy. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1744 to Christian Harshbarger and Barbara Rupp, and died in 1810 in Dauphin County. The will says he was of Inwell Township, but this must have been Annwell Township. This is from the transcription in Will Book 1C, page 88. I noticed that the name of the township was consistently spelled Inwell, but I've not been able to find any reference to such a place.
Here is the will, to the best of my ability to read it, and I do apologize for the lack of punctuation but that's how it looks to me:
"In the name of God, amen. I, Christian Hershberger of Inwell township in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, blessed be to God for his mercy Do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following to wit: Imprimis I order all my just debts to be paid out of my estate after my decease. Item Item [it appears to be written twice] I will unto my son Samuel Hershberger my plantation one hundred and fourty acres more or less situate in Inwell township in County of Dauphin and adjoining land of John Miller Philip Baumgardner and others to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever he must pay or cause to be paid [from?] foresaid plantation the sum of twelf hundred pounds good lawful Pennsylvania money as followsfour hundred pounds after my decease and fifty pounds yearly and every year until the twelf hundred pounds is paid to the children of my secont wife John Jacob Abraham Samuel Henry Elizabeth Anna Mary and Anna shall have out of my Estate two hundred pounds of the first money more than my other children equal sheares and the rest of my estate shall be sheared equal between the whole of my children Christian John Jacob Abraham Samuel Henry Elizabeth Anna Mary. and I will and bequest unto my grand daughter Polly Handshaw fifty pounds which shall remain in my hereafter mentioned executor's hands Till she comes of age and shall bear interest after my decease and no more and the personal estate shall be solt by my hereafter mentioned executor after my decease And I do constitute and appoint my son Samuel Hershberger and John Reasor my sole executors of this my last will and Testetment In Witness whereof I the said Christian Herberger have here set my hand and seal the twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Christian Hershberger to be his last will and Testament in the presence of the subscribers Martin Meiby [not sure of next name] Williams. Proved September 10,1810."
In reading this, I've learned some things, including that Christian was married twice, and had at least one son by his first wife, Christian. I wonder who the first wife was? I wonder why Anna was singled out for an extra portion of the estate. Was she his favorite, or had she helped to care for him, or did she need the money due to some sort of physical challenge? I also wonder who Polly Handshaw was. She was apparently the daughter of a married (probably deceased) daughter; was this daughter also a daughter of his first wife? I'd like to know about the last years of his life. Was he ill the whole time between the time he wrote the will and the time it was proved? Did he die in 1803 and the will just wasn't presented until later, for some reason? His will didn't mention his wife, which would lead one to assume she was deceased. My records show a death date for Magdalena of 1842. Is that date correct, and if so, what is the explanation?
Perhaps someone reading this already has the answers to some of my questions. If so, I'd love to hear from you, so I can have a better understanding of Christian's life. Also, if I have any of this wrong, I'd like to know about it!
The line of descent is:
Christian Harshbarger-Magdalena (Van) Gundy
John Harshbarger-Christena Fehler
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mancer Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Here is the will, to the best of my ability to read it, and I do apologize for the lack of punctuation but that's how it looks to me:
"In the name of God, amen. I, Christian Hershberger of Inwell township in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory, blessed be to God for his mercy Do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following to wit: Imprimis I order all my just debts to be paid out of my estate after my decease. Item Item [it appears to be written twice] I will unto my son Samuel Hershberger my plantation one hundred and fourty acres more or less situate in Inwell township in County of Dauphin and adjoining land of John Miller Philip Baumgardner and others to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever he must pay or cause to be paid [from?] foresaid plantation the sum of twelf hundred pounds good lawful Pennsylvania money as followsfour hundred pounds after my decease and fifty pounds yearly and every year until the twelf hundred pounds is paid to the children of my secont wife John Jacob Abraham Samuel Henry Elizabeth Anna Mary and Anna shall have out of my Estate two hundred pounds of the first money more than my other children equal sheares and the rest of my estate shall be sheared equal between the whole of my children Christian John Jacob Abraham Samuel Henry Elizabeth Anna Mary. and I will and bequest unto my grand daughter Polly Handshaw fifty pounds which shall remain in my hereafter mentioned executor's hands Till she comes of age and shall bear interest after my decease and no more and the personal estate shall be solt by my hereafter mentioned executor after my decease And I do constitute and appoint my son Samuel Hershberger and John Reasor my sole executors of this my last will and Testetment In Witness whereof I the said Christian Herberger have here set my hand and seal the twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Christian Hershberger to be his last will and Testament in the presence of the subscribers Martin Meiby [not sure of next name] Williams. Proved September 10,1810."
In reading this, I've learned some things, including that Christian was married twice, and had at least one son by his first wife, Christian. I wonder who the first wife was? I wonder why Anna was singled out for an extra portion of the estate. Was she his favorite, or had she helped to care for him, or did she need the money due to some sort of physical challenge? I also wonder who Polly Handshaw was. She was apparently the daughter of a married (probably deceased) daughter; was this daughter also a daughter of his first wife? I'd like to know about the last years of his life. Was he ill the whole time between the time he wrote the will and the time it was proved? Did he die in 1803 and the will just wasn't presented until later, for some reason? His will didn't mention his wife, which would lead one to assume she was deceased. My records show a death date for Magdalena of 1842. Is that date correct, and if so, what is the explanation?
Perhaps someone reading this already has the answers to some of my questions. If so, I'd love to hear from you, so I can have a better understanding of Christian's life. Also, if I have any of this wrong, I'd like to know about it!
The line of descent is:
Christian Harshbarger-Magdalena (Van) Gundy
John Harshbarger-Christena Fehler
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mancer Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Friday, July 10, 2015
Harshbarger line: Peter Jacob Fehler died 1753
Peter Jacob Fehler is the last immigrant in the Harshbarger line to write about, unless of course, someone breaks down any of several brick walls in this line. There is discouragingly little to write about the man, but we know enough about the life of the people he lived near to at least have an idea of how he lived.
We don't know where he came from, or when he immigrated, or even the year of his birth. Many internet sources give his birthdate as 1708, with anywhere from Berks County to Adams County, Pa to Germany as the location. Most Fehler families seem to have come from southern Germany or possibly Switzerland, but that is as much of a hint as we have at this point. It is possible that he was part of the emigration from Queen Anne's offer to assist the many Germans who were in danger of starvation at Rotterdam, since many familiar names are on the list of settlers who came through the Schoharie, N.Y. route. It's possible that he took the more traditional route to Pennsylvania, from Rotterdam to Philadelphia, and we just haven't located his nameon a ship list yet.
We do know that he was in Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania when he married Maria Otilia Weiler on May 2, 1732. The record-keeping Rev. John Casper Stoever performed the ceremony, and he also baptized their children. At least three children were born to the couple and there were some additional children identified as the children of Jacob, but it's not clear whether this was Peter Jacob or Jacob.
The next we hear of Peter Jacob is his death, in 1753, in Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pa. He had apparently moved there some time prior to 1742, when it would have been very much frontier area. If he was born in 1708, then he lived only 45 years, but they would have been exciting years. Despite the hardships of immigration, learning to live in America, the threat of Indian hostilities, the wild animals such as wolves, bear, and panthers, and the constant fear of crop losses due to weather, Indians, or other causes, he persevered, married and raised a family, was faithful to his church, and left a legacy to his family, whether he owned property or not.
There is much more I'd like to know about this German (?) immigrant, but I'm glad we have even these glimpses of him. It should be considered an honor to descend from pioneer German immigrants. It would be a privilege to learn more about him.
The line of descent is
Peter Jacob Fehler-Marie Otilia Weiler
Jacob Fehler-Anna Margaretha Lowenguth
John Jacob Fehler-Anna Eva Behney
Christina Elizabeth Fehler-John (Johannes) Harshbarger
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendents
We don't know where he came from, or when he immigrated, or even the year of his birth. Many internet sources give his birthdate as 1708, with anywhere from Berks County to Adams County, Pa to Germany as the location. Most Fehler families seem to have come from southern Germany or possibly Switzerland, but that is as much of a hint as we have at this point. It is possible that he was part of the emigration from Queen Anne's offer to assist the many Germans who were in danger of starvation at Rotterdam, since many familiar names are on the list of settlers who came through the Schoharie, N.Y. route. It's possible that he took the more traditional route to Pennsylvania, from Rotterdam to Philadelphia, and we just haven't located his nameon a ship list yet.
We do know that he was in Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania when he married Maria Otilia Weiler on May 2, 1732. The record-keeping Rev. John Casper Stoever performed the ceremony, and he also baptized their children. At least three children were born to the couple and there were some additional children identified as the children of Jacob, but it's not clear whether this was Peter Jacob or Jacob.
The next we hear of Peter Jacob is his death, in 1753, in Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, Pa. He had apparently moved there some time prior to 1742, when it would have been very much frontier area. If he was born in 1708, then he lived only 45 years, but they would have been exciting years. Despite the hardships of immigration, learning to live in America, the threat of Indian hostilities, the wild animals such as wolves, bear, and panthers, and the constant fear of crop losses due to weather, Indians, or other causes, he persevered, married and raised a family, was faithful to his church, and left a legacy to his family, whether he owned property or not.
There is much more I'd like to know about this German (?) immigrant, but I'm glad we have even these glimpses of him. It should be considered an honor to descend from pioneer German immigrants. It would be a privilege to learn more about him.
The line of descent is
Peter Jacob Fehler-Marie Otilia Weiler
Jacob Fehler-Anna Margaretha Lowenguth
John Jacob Fehler-Anna Eva Behney
Christina Elizabeth Fehler-John (Johannes) Harshbarger
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendents
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Harshbarger line: Johann Peter Behney 1715-1784
Johann Peter Behney or Bene would be another German immigrant in the Harshbarger line, except for one thing. He lived just on the other side of the border, in what was then Alsace but is now France. It appears that the Bene family may not have been there for more than a generation, but with all the upheaval surrounding the Thirty Years War it is hard to pinpoint the family's origin.
Peter was born April 11, 1715 in Gundershoffen, Alsace, the son of Melchior Bene and Anna Barbara Mallo. He had at least two brothers and there may well have been other siblings. However, as far as is known the brothers did not come to America. Internet sources say that 99% of the people in this country who carry the name of Behney have Peter as their ancestor. Gundershoffen was a small town (current population is about 3900) at the time that Peter lived there, and it is likely that the family farmed and possibly had a small business within the confines of the town also. We don't know when Peter married Anna Barbara, but when they came to Philadelphia on the Phoenix in 1750 there were six children, so the marriage possibly would have taken place between 1735-1742. It is likely that the Bene/Behney family came to America for better economic prospects, so the name of the ship is somewhat prophetic.
When they arrived in America, Peter would have taken the oath of allegiance to the King before he was allowed to permanently leave the ship. He and his family (wife Anna Barbara and children Maria Elisabetha, Eva, Anna Barbara, Johann Jacob, Anna Margaretha, Hans Melchior) went to Heidelberg Township, in what was then Lancaster County but is now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Three more children were born to the couple here, being Christina Elizabeth, Maria Magdalena and George Peter. There is a span of years between 1752 and 1759 when no known children were born to the couple, so it is possible that there were one or more additional births during that time span and the infants did not survive.
In 1773, Peter Behny is listed in Heidelberg Township, Lancaster County for what was called the sixteenth eighteen penny tax. He is noted as having 30 acres of land, 1 horse, 1 cattle, no servants, and was taxed 3.6; presumably shillings and pence. We don't find his name on the 1753 tax lists, so perhaps they had not yet arrived in the township. At any rate, it is not a surprise to see that he owned only 30 acres, 23 years after the family arrived here. The area that they settled was the frontier, and there were frequent Indian raids that forced families to leave their homes, leaving much, including crops that would have sustained them through the winter, behind them. It was not an easy life, but the family worked hard. At Peter's death in 1784, he left 100 acres of land and a "plantation" (the land he lived on and farmed). It is said that he once owned 1000 acres of land, but I haven't seen the documents to prove that. It is also said that he never stopped wearing Continental apparel, which might have made him a strange sight when Heidelberg was a frontier township and many men dressed in the country American style.
Peter lived through the American revolution and saw at least one of his sons serve in the Revolutionary War. It is amazing to think what he lived through, from living in a small town in France, to arriving in Philadelphia in a strange world, to protecting his family from Indians, to seeing a new country born before his eyes. I hope he was a good story-teller, for he would have had much to tell his family.
The line of descent is:
Johann Peter Behney-Anna Barbara
Anna Eva Behney-Johann Jacob Fehler
Christina Elizabeth Fehler-Johannes (John) Harshbarger
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendents
Warning: I am still trying to prove that George Harshbarger was the son of John Harshbarger and Christina Fehler.
Peter was born April 11, 1715 in Gundershoffen, Alsace, the son of Melchior Bene and Anna Barbara Mallo. He had at least two brothers and there may well have been other siblings. However, as far as is known the brothers did not come to America. Internet sources say that 99% of the people in this country who carry the name of Behney have Peter as their ancestor. Gundershoffen was a small town (current population is about 3900) at the time that Peter lived there, and it is likely that the family farmed and possibly had a small business within the confines of the town also. We don't know when Peter married Anna Barbara, but when they came to Philadelphia on the Phoenix in 1750 there were six children, so the marriage possibly would have taken place between 1735-1742. It is likely that the Bene/Behney family came to America for better economic prospects, so the name of the ship is somewhat prophetic.
When they arrived in America, Peter would have taken the oath of allegiance to the King before he was allowed to permanently leave the ship. He and his family (wife Anna Barbara and children Maria Elisabetha, Eva, Anna Barbara, Johann Jacob, Anna Margaretha, Hans Melchior) went to Heidelberg Township, in what was then Lancaster County but is now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Three more children were born to the couple here, being Christina Elizabeth, Maria Magdalena and George Peter. There is a span of years between 1752 and 1759 when no known children were born to the couple, so it is possible that there were one or more additional births during that time span and the infants did not survive.
In 1773, Peter Behny is listed in Heidelberg Township, Lancaster County for what was called the sixteenth eighteen penny tax. He is noted as having 30 acres of land, 1 horse, 1 cattle, no servants, and was taxed 3.6; presumably shillings and pence. We don't find his name on the 1753 tax lists, so perhaps they had not yet arrived in the township. At any rate, it is not a surprise to see that he owned only 30 acres, 23 years after the family arrived here. The area that they settled was the frontier, and there were frequent Indian raids that forced families to leave their homes, leaving much, including crops that would have sustained them through the winter, behind them. It was not an easy life, but the family worked hard. At Peter's death in 1784, he left 100 acres of land and a "plantation" (the land he lived on and farmed). It is said that he once owned 1000 acres of land, but I haven't seen the documents to prove that. It is also said that he never stopped wearing Continental apparel, which might have made him a strange sight when Heidelberg was a frontier township and many men dressed in the country American style.
Peter lived through the American revolution and saw at least one of his sons serve in the Revolutionary War. It is amazing to think what he lived through, from living in a small town in France, to arriving in Philadelphia in a strange world, to protecting his family from Indians, to seeing a new country born before his eyes. I hope he was a good story-teller, for he would have had much to tell his family.
The line of descent is:
Johann Peter Behney-Anna Barbara
Anna Eva Behney-Johann Jacob Fehler
Christina Elizabeth Fehler-Johannes (John) Harshbarger
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendents
Warning: I am still trying to prove that George Harshbarger was the son of John Harshbarger and Christina Fehler.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Harshbarger line: Johannes (John) Harshbarger 1773-1853
I'm writing about this man because there is a bit of a mystery surrounding him, which I hope one or more of his many descendents can solve. I've been working on it for a while and haven't yet found the records that would answer the big question.
First, what I know of him:
Johannes Harshbarger was born to Christian Harshbarger and Magdalena Gundy on October 3, 1770, probably in what is now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. This would have been very near the border of Berks County, Pa. Johannes' grandparents had emigrated to America in 1737, and Christian was born in Pennsylvania, so Johannes was a third generation American. He was too young to serve in the Revolutionary War, but may have served in the War of 1812. The 1820 census shows him in Miles Township, Centre County, Pa, where the family had moved before May of 1804. He has a family of 11 in the census, if all of the younger persons shown are his children. It is possible that one or more were grandchildren, or other relatives, since we only know of the names of 9 of his children.
The big question is, who was the mother of the older children? He married Christiana Fehler in 1804 at the Brush Valley Union Church in Rebersburg, Pa, per "History of Centre County" by John Blair Linn. The children of John Harshbarger are reported to have birth dates as early as 1796. So, either John had a first wife, or the birth dates of George, Leonard, and Susannah, and possibly Catherine are incorrect. Or, possibly John and Christiana had been living together without the benefit of marriage, and 1804 seemed like a good date to make it right. I am not comfortable with saying which is correct, except that the wedding date of John and Christiana was stated in the church records as being in 1804.
At any rate, John and Christiana raised their family there. John was a farmer and a weaver, and Christiana would have helped in both areas as much as she was able, given their large family. In 1822, John sold his 50 acres of land to Henry Mayer, and moved to Green Township, Stark County, Ohio (later Summit County) where they owned 69.90 acres. Most of the children moved with them. George is traditionally given as the oldest, with a birth date of 1796 but I have seen him with a supposed birth date as late as 1805. The other early children were Leonard, Eva, Susanna, and Catherine (born February 7, 1804). Leonard has a birthdate given of October 13, 1800, but the other children are shown as "about". After the marriage, the children are Thomas, John Heinrich, Christena, and Maria Magdalena.
In the 1830 census, John and Christena still have 6 persons, appearing to be their children, in their home. John was almost 60 and Christena 56 or 57 by then. It sounds like they worked raising children for a long, long time! Interestingly, there is a Conrad Harshbarger living right next to them, of the right age to be a son, but I have never seen Conrad listed as such. Could he be one of the missing children?
By the 1840 census, I'm confused. John is shown as living alone in Coventry Twp, Summit County, Ohio, with one female aged 20-29. Where is Christena? Was she visiting a family member somewhere? Or perhaps she was being cared for by a family member. Christena died November 6, 1849, and John died November 2, 1853. I do not find John listed in the 1850 census, so I'm not sure where he was, but it must have been at or near his Coventry Twp home.
Both Christena and John are reported to have been buried in the "Old Kepler Burying Ground", now known as East Liberty Cemetery, in Summit County, Ohio. His estate was valued at a little over $1014, and by the time it was distributed, four of his sons, including George, were deceased. Their shares went to their children, which may explain why Lewis, Andrew, and John Harshbarger sons of George, were able to move to Whitley County, Indiana from 1854-1856.
There is more to this man's story, I'm sure, and I will continue to follow up on it. Meanwhile, we know that he was a farmer and a weaver, the father and provider for a large family, He was of the Lutheran or Reformed faith (Brush Valley Union Church served both). I know that there is a will for him in Summit County, and I would love to see it, to learn what else it might tell us of his life.
The line of descent is:
John Harshbarger-Christena Fehler (maybe)
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
First, what I know of him:
Johannes Harshbarger was born to Christian Harshbarger and Magdalena Gundy on October 3, 1770, probably in what is now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. This would have been very near the border of Berks County, Pa. Johannes' grandparents had emigrated to America in 1737, and Christian was born in Pennsylvania, so Johannes was a third generation American. He was too young to serve in the Revolutionary War, but may have served in the War of 1812. The 1820 census shows him in Miles Township, Centre County, Pa, where the family had moved before May of 1804. He has a family of 11 in the census, if all of the younger persons shown are his children. It is possible that one or more were grandchildren, or other relatives, since we only know of the names of 9 of his children.
The big question is, who was the mother of the older children? He married Christiana Fehler in 1804 at the Brush Valley Union Church in Rebersburg, Pa, per "History of Centre County" by John Blair Linn. The children of John Harshbarger are reported to have birth dates as early as 1796. So, either John had a first wife, or the birth dates of George, Leonard, and Susannah, and possibly Catherine are incorrect. Or, possibly John and Christiana had been living together without the benefit of marriage, and 1804 seemed like a good date to make it right. I am not comfortable with saying which is correct, except that the wedding date of John and Christiana was stated in the church records as being in 1804.
At any rate, John and Christiana raised their family there. John was a farmer and a weaver, and Christiana would have helped in both areas as much as she was able, given their large family. In 1822, John sold his 50 acres of land to Henry Mayer, and moved to Green Township, Stark County, Ohio (later Summit County) where they owned 69.90 acres. Most of the children moved with them. George is traditionally given as the oldest, with a birth date of 1796 but I have seen him with a supposed birth date as late as 1805. The other early children were Leonard, Eva, Susanna, and Catherine (born February 7, 1804). Leonard has a birthdate given of October 13, 1800, but the other children are shown as "about". After the marriage, the children are Thomas, John Heinrich, Christena, and Maria Magdalena.
In the 1830 census, John and Christena still have 6 persons, appearing to be their children, in their home. John was almost 60 and Christena 56 or 57 by then. It sounds like they worked raising children for a long, long time! Interestingly, there is a Conrad Harshbarger living right next to them, of the right age to be a son, but I have never seen Conrad listed as such. Could he be one of the missing children?
By the 1840 census, I'm confused. John is shown as living alone in Coventry Twp, Summit County, Ohio, with one female aged 20-29. Where is Christena? Was she visiting a family member somewhere? Or perhaps she was being cared for by a family member. Christena died November 6, 1849, and John died November 2, 1853. I do not find John listed in the 1850 census, so I'm not sure where he was, but it must have been at or near his Coventry Twp home.
Both Christena and John are reported to have been buried in the "Old Kepler Burying Ground", now known as East Liberty Cemetery, in Summit County, Ohio. His estate was valued at a little over $1014, and by the time it was distributed, four of his sons, including George, were deceased. Their shares went to their children, which may explain why Lewis, Andrew, and John Harshbarger sons of George, were able to move to Whitley County, Indiana from 1854-1856.
There is more to this man's story, I'm sure, and I will continue to follow up on it. Meanwhile, we know that he was a farmer and a weaver, the father and provider for a large family, He was of the Lutheran or Reformed faith (Brush Valley Union Church served both). I know that there is a will for him in Summit County, and I would love to see it, to learn what else it might tell us of his life.
The line of descent is:
John Harshbarger-Christena Fehler (maybe)
George Harshbarger-Mary Kepler
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
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