I know very little about Michael but he has a name and dates, and seems to have come to America so I'll write just a paragraph or two about him. He is in the Harshbarger line and I'm coming to a close on Harshbarger ancestors unless I break down another brick wall at some point.
Michael Birkle was born in 1676 in Hinterzarten, Breisgau-Hockschwarzwald, Baden, Germany. This is in the southwest part of Germany, in what is known as the Black Forest, and is now an attraction for ski-jumpers. In 1676, though, the thing that would be unusual in family history is that this was apparently a Catholic village, for Michael and his family were Catholics. (Usually a village was either Catholic or Protestant, depending on the preference of the ruler of the time). Michael's parents were Jacob and Maria Imberi Birkle.
We know that on November 22, 1699, he married Anna Maria Willmann, daughter of Anton and Catharine Willmann. They had about a dozen children: Franciska, Johan Jacob, Sgatha, Joseph, Catharina, Mathias, Gertrud, Christina, Maria Magdalena, Barbara, Michael, and possibly Maria (it's not clear whether Maria and Maria Magdalena could be the same person). It looks like the last child was born in 1724, and so this would have been a busy household. Records show that Michael Birkle came to the: New World, arriving on September 29, 1733 in Philadelphia aboard the ship "Mary".
From there, it gets confusing. Everyone agrees that he died on December 5, 1753 but some say he died in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and some say he died in Hinterzarten. So was it Michael the younger, born in 1702 who came to America, and not Michael Senior? Or did our Michael come, and then return to his native village in his old age? Were death records kept in both countries, with the record in Germany kept up by a priest even if the death occurred elsewhere? I'm also showing that Maria Magdalena married in 1738 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and his wife Maria died in Lebanon County in 1760, which if true would tend to make me think Michael also died here.. Incidentally, the Lebanon County would be a modern term, for it wasn't formed until 1813. Records of the time would all have shown Lancaster County as their residence. Since Maria Magdalena arrived in 1733, presumably with her parents, I'm leaning more toward the "they never left" idea.
I'll keep looking for records in Pennsylvania that give evidence of Michael's life here, because there may be more to the story than I've been able to find so far. In the meantime, we can think about the family religion and when it might have changed in the family.
The line of descent is:
Michael Birkle-Anna Maria Willmann
Maria Magdalena Birkle-Andreas Kraemer
Daniel Kramer-Anna Maria Geise
Anna Maria Kramer-Andrew Kepler
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Showing posts with label Kramer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kramer. Show all posts
Friday, April 7, 2017
Friday, June 24, 2016
Harshbarger line: Georg Lindemuth 1709-1772
Here's another Harshbarger line ancestor, an immigrant, about whom very little is known. We know he was born about June 12, 1709 in Bodigheim, Baden, Germany to Georg Lindemuth and Anna Catharina Bauermann or Baueman. I have been unable to locate information about the town online but it appears that it must be small, and was probably even smaller 300 years ago. Interestingly, there is a Jewish cemetery here which apparently dates back to early times, but the Lindemuth family seems to have not been of that faith. Georg was one of at least five children born to the couple. The family probably lived a typical small village German life, meaning it was highly structured and difficult to rise economically.
Georg married Maria Anna Drach, daughter of Johann Georg Drach, in 1733. She was three years older than he, widowed with two young children, and the couple would have at least 7 children together, some in Germany and some in their new home. They emigrated in 1749 on the ship Patience, arriving September 19 of that year. They would have had little time to prepare for their first winter, so perhaps they stayed in Germantown for their first months or years.
The trail goes cold after that, or at least, I haven't found it yet. Maria Anna died in 1755 and it is believed that Georg married again, to Barbara Keller, although some say that she was his first wife and died in Germany. Since Georg was just 24 when he married Maria Anna, I don't think it's likely that he had married earlier, given the norms of the time. I'd love to find documentation for the second marriage, whenever it was.
Georg died in 1772 in Berks County, Pa. I've not found a will for him but there were many German wills that were not transcribed so it's possible there is or was a will. It's also possible I just haven't found it yet.
I'd love to know more about this man. What church did he attend? Where did he settle in Berks County? What lead several of the children to go to the Buck Hill area of Frederick County in about 1752? What was his occupation? He likely farmed, but was there something else? How did the French and Indian War impact his life? There's much to be learned about this man and his family!
The line of descent is:
Georg Lindemuth-Maria Anna Drach
Maria Elizabeth Lindemuth-Bernard Kepler
Andreas Kepler-Anna Maria Kramer
Mary E Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Georg married Maria Anna Drach, daughter of Johann Georg Drach, in 1733. She was three years older than he, widowed with two young children, and the couple would have at least 7 children together, some in Germany and some in their new home. They emigrated in 1749 on the ship Patience, arriving September 19 of that year. They would have had little time to prepare for their first winter, so perhaps they stayed in Germantown for their first months or years.
The trail goes cold after that, or at least, I haven't found it yet. Maria Anna died in 1755 and it is believed that Georg married again, to Barbara Keller, although some say that she was his first wife and died in Germany. Since Georg was just 24 when he married Maria Anna, I don't think it's likely that he had married earlier, given the norms of the time. I'd love to find documentation for the second marriage, whenever it was.
Georg died in 1772 in Berks County, Pa. I've not found a will for him but there were many German wills that were not transcribed so it's possible there is or was a will. It's also possible I just haven't found it yet.
I'd love to know more about this man. What church did he attend? Where did he settle in Berks County? What lead several of the children to go to the Buck Hill area of Frederick County in about 1752? What was his occupation? He likely farmed, but was there something else? How did the French and Indian War impact his life? There's much to be learned about this man and his family!
The line of descent is:
Georg Lindemuth-Maria Anna Drach
Maria Elizabeth Lindemuth-Bernard Kepler
Andreas Kepler-Anna Maria Kramer
Mary E Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Friday, February 26, 2016
Harshbarger line: Bernard Kepner 1673-1765, Long-lived immigrant
I sure wish I had the constitution and stamina of this man! He must have been remarkable, to have survived his roots in war torn Baden. It is quite possible that he lost family members in the Thirty Years War, although his immediate family's struggles would have been with the post-war recovery efforts. Much of Baden was devastated by the war(s), although I haven't yet found anything specific to Sulzfeld, the town or village where he was born.
His birth or christening date is given as January 30, 1673. His parents were Johannes Bernhardt Kepner and Barbara. His father was 50 years old when Bernard was born, and died when Bernard was just 7. He likely had older brothers and sisters to take care of him, and we don't know when his mother died or remarried. His sponsors were the nobleman Johann Bernhard Goler, Michael Hainlin, a citizen of Sulzfeld, and Ursula Volkmann, shepherdess. (I am wondering what the significance of these identifications are. Because the name of the child was Johann Bernhard, perhaps Mr. Goler was obliged to attend. Michael Hainlin and Ursula Volkmann give more cause for wonder. Who were they? Was there a family relationship to either sponsor? Was Ursula perhaps a sister to the unknown Barbara?
On November 22, 1698, also in Sulzfeld, Bernard married Anna Barbara Schlagaman, who had been born December 28, 1672 to Johannes Bernhardt Kepner and Barbara. The couple had at least seven children together, two of whom died young. In about 1715, Bernard and possibly his family came to Pennsylvania. This was fairly early in the German emigration, and hints that there was a strong motive, whether religious or economic, to come to the new land. We don't know what he was doing for the next few years, but somehow he managed to not only provide for his family, but also to save enough money to buy land. He purchased 100 acres of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia from Claus Braun on April 29, 1721, and he and his wife lived there for 24 years. They sold the land in 1745, when Bernard was 72 years old. He likely had no family at home and perhaps it was getting to be too much for him to keep up the "old home place." (By this time, on July 29,1740, Bernard had complied with recently passed laws that required him to be "naturalized", showing that he owed his allegiance to the British monarchs.)
Wherever he went after the sale of his farm, it wasn't far, as he is noted as a communicant (if I am reading the German correctly) at St Michael's Congregation in Philadelphia in 1758, when he was also noted as being 85 years of age. This church is on Germantown Avenue, just a short distance from the land Bernard had owned. He lived until October of 1765 (nearing his 93rd birthday), and is buried in the old cemetery at Saint Michael and Zion Lutheran Church. The church is currently in the process of repairing their historic cemetery, and it is possible that during this process, his actual tombstone may be located, although it is also possible that it is gone forever.
In my opinion, Bernard was brave and hardworking, proven by the fact that he survived the difficult early years in a strange land. We know that he had strong religious convictions (which brings us back to wondering whether he left his homeland to escape the religious wars that were ongoing) and we know that he helped build Pennsylvania, simply by being there and living his life. It would be wonderful to know more about him, both in Baden and in America, but this much is more than enough to make him a memorable ancestor.
The line of descent is:
Bernard Kepner-Anna Barbara Schlagmann
Benedict Kepner-Maria Salome Weicker
Bernard Kepler-Maria Elizabeth Lindemuth
Andrew Kepler-Anna Maria Kramer
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Further research: I've learned that there are articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly of September 1973 and the Pennsylvania Genealogy Magazine Volume 20. I'll be looking for these articles, hoping to find more about this family!
His birth or christening date is given as January 30, 1673. His parents were Johannes Bernhardt Kepner and Barbara. His father was 50 years old when Bernard was born, and died when Bernard was just 7. He likely had older brothers and sisters to take care of him, and we don't know when his mother died or remarried. His sponsors were the nobleman Johann Bernhard Goler, Michael Hainlin, a citizen of Sulzfeld, and Ursula Volkmann, shepherdess. (I am wondering what the significance of these identifications are. Because the name of the child was Johann Bernhard, perhaps Mr. Goler was obliged to attend. Michael Hainlin and Ursula Volkmann give more cause for wonder. Who were they? Was there a family relationship to either sponsor? Was Ursula perhaps a sister to the unknown Barbara?
On November 22, 1698, also in Sulzfeld, Bernard married Anna Barbara Schlagaman, who had been born December 28, 1672 to Johannes Bernhardt Kepner and Barbara. The couple had at least seven children together, two of whom died young. In about 1715, Bernard and possibly his family came to Pennsylvania. This was fairly early in the German emigration, and hints that there was a strong motive, whether religious or economic, to come to the new land. We don't know what he was doing for the next few years, but somehow he managed to not only provide for his family, but also to save enough money to buy land. He purchased 100 acres of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia from Claus Braun on April 29, 1721, and he and his wife lived there for 24 years. They sold the land in 1745, when Bernard was 72 years old. He likely had no family at home and perhaps it was getting to be too much for him to keep up the "old home place." (By this time, on July 29,1740, Bernard had complied with recently passed laws that required him to be "naturalized", showing that he owed his allegiance to the British monarchs.)
Wherever he went after the sale of his farm, it wasn't far, as he is noted as a communicant (if I am reading the German correctly) at St Michael's Congregation in Philadelphia in 1758, when he was also noted as being 85 years of age. This church is on Germantown Avenue, just a short distance from the land Bernard had owned. He lived until October of 1765 (nearing his 93rd birthday), and is buried in the old cemetery at Saint Michael and Zion Lutheran Church. The church is currently in the process of repairing their historic cemetery, and it is possible that during this process, his actual tombstone may be located, although it is also possible that it is gone forever.
In my opinion, Bernard was brave and hardworking, proven by the fact that he survived the difficult early years in a strange land. We know that he had strong religious convictions (which brings us back to wondering whether he left his homeland to escape the religious wars that were ongoing) and we know that he helped build Pennsylvania, simply by being there and living his life. It would be wonderful to know more about him, both in Baden and in America, but this much is more than enough to make him a memorable ancestor.
The line of descent is:
Bernard Kepner-Anna Barbara Schlagmann
Benedict Kepner-Maria Salome Weicker
Bernard Kepler-Maria Elizabeth Lindemuth
Andrew Kepler-Anna Maria Kramer
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants
Further research: I've learned that there are articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly of September 1973 and the Pennsylvania Genealogy Magazine Volume 20. I'll be looking for these articles, hoping to find more about this family!
Friday, July 24, 2015
Harshbarger line: Anna Maria Geis or Geise died 1813
This will be a short post. We know nothing about her, except that she married Daniel Kramer in Pennsylvania about 1765 and that she had 12 children. We have a death year, but no date, of 1813 in Haines, Centre County, Pa. That's what we know about Anna Maria.
In looking at the trees that are on line, I think there is probably an error. "Everyone" is listing her as born in 1755, yet her children were born starting in 1766. It seems more likely that she was born sometime between 1745 (or perhaps earlier) and 1750. So she was likely born in Pennsylvania before records were kept or survived, or in Germany and came as a young child. For instance, the ship "Samuel" from Rotterdam in 1737 carried a Johann George Geis who was 28 years old. This particular manifest seems to list only men, but it is likely there were women on board, too. I'm only suggesting that this or another Mr. Geis may have brought children with him who were undocumented upon their arrival. Or, again, she may have been born in Pennsylvania. We don't even know for sure that this was a German family, but I've not found evidence of a family of that name from any other country, in that time period.
The names of two of her sons who don't seem to be named for the father's line were Johann Jacob and Johann Philip. One of those names may someday provide a clue. Perhaps one is a father or a grandfather's name.
For the moment, my research for her parents and siblings is at a stand still but I hope that by writing this post someone may see it and have some information they'd be willing to share. At the very least, I hope this alerts someone searching for Anna Maria that her birthday is likely not 1755!
The line of descent is:
Daniel Kramer-Anna Maria Geis
Anna Maria Kramer-Andrew Kepler
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendents
In looking at the trees that are on line, I think there is probably an error. "Everyone" is listing her as born in 1755, yet her children were born starting in 1766. It seems more likely that she was born sometime between 1745 (or perhaps earlier) and 1750. So she was likely born in Pennsylvania before records were kept or survived, or in Germany and came as a young child. For instance, the ship "Samuel" from Rotterdam in 1737 carried a Johann George Geis who was 28 years old. This particular manifest seems to list only men, but it is likely there were women on board, too. I'm only suggesting that this or another Mr. Geis may have brought children with him who were undocumented upon their arrival. Or, again, she may have been born in Pennsylvania. We don't even know for sure that this was a German family, but I've not found evidence of a family of that name from any other country, in that time period.
The names of two of her sons who don't seem to be named for the father's line were Johann Jacob and Johann Philip. One of those names may someday provide a clue. Perhaps one is a father or a grandfather's name.
For the moment, my research for her parents and siblings is at a stand still but I hope that by writing this post someone may see it and have some information they'd be willing to share. At the very least, I hope this alerts someone searching for Anna Maria that her birthday is likely not 1755!
The line of descent is:
Daniel Kramer-Anna Maria Geis
Anna Maria Kramer-Andrew Kepler
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendents
Friday, December 27, 2013
Harshbarger line: Andrew Kepler 1777-1855
Andrew Kepler, perhaps also known as Andreas, was born February 16, 1777, which may actually be his christening or baptism date. For the sake of accuracy, we should probably say, "born on or before" that date. His parents are Bernard Kepler and Maria Elizabeth Lindemuth. Andrew's grandfather, Benedict Kepler, was the immigrant to America, having been born in 1714 in Sulzfeld, Baden Wurttemburg, (Germany, now), and dying in 1778 in Berks County, Pa. Bernard was one of at least six children, and Andrew was the father of at least 9 children. Andrew's wife was Anna Maria Kramer, and she also was of German extraction, and came from a large family.
Internet sources say that the two were married in Pennsylvania in about 1800 in Centre County, Pennsylvania. If this is accurate, it is possible that the family never moved from their original settlement, because part of Centre County was originally part of Northumberland County, which was originally part of Berks County. At any rate, they need not have moved far from their original home, perhaps just over a mountain ridge.
Andrew and Anna Maria had at least 9 children: Mary, Andrew A, John, Rebecca, Samuel, Sarah, Jacob, Elizabeth, and Catherine. Some were born in Centre County, Pa and some were born in Stark County, Ohio. Andrew and his brother John were two of the earliest settlers in Green Township, Stark County, Ohio, having gone there about 1808-1809. John became a justice of the peace there and Andrew was a constable, so the family was respected in the area. Andrew served in the war of 1812, while brother John stayed to take care of the families whose husband/father was gone. He was part of either Rayen's Regiment of the Ohio Militia or the Second Regiment (Hindman's) of the Ohio Militia, or possibly both, at differing time periods. At this point in my research, I can only say that he was probably guarding against Indians who were fighting with the British against the Americans, but I don't know any specifics about when or where these units fought, or even if they actually fought at all.
Andrew "entered" (meaning he was the original land owner, after the natives) land in Green Township in 1832 and again in 1834, with his brother John. By 1850, Andrew's farm was valued at $5500, a pretty considerable sum for the time. There are at least two other listings on the same page of Andrew Kepler, with smaller farms. It is likely one of these was Andrew's son Andrew, but perhaps another of the farms belonged to Andrew Sr. Mary Harshbarger is listed on the same non-population schedule, with a small farm. (This would have been when she was a widow, before her third marriage.
About 1849, Andrew and Mary donated land for the present day cemetery where he and Mary, along with other family members, are buried. It is known as East Liberty Cemetery, and is in what is Green Township, Summit County, Oh. Mary died in 1852 and Andrew died in 1855.
A lot of the dates in this blog are vague, because I haven't found sources for them yet. I intend to do more research on this family, but I want to share what I'd found about them now, "just in case" I never find more.
The line of descent is:
Andrew Kepler-Anna Maria Kramer
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
Internet sources say that the two were married in Pennsylvania in about 1800 in Centre County, Pennsylvania. If this is accurate, it is possible that the family never moved from their original settlement, because part of Centre County was originally part of Northumberland County, which was originally part of Berks County. At any rate, they need not have moved far from their original home, perhaps just over a mountain ridge.
Andrew and Anna Maria had at least 9 children: Mary, Andrew A, John, Rebecca, Samuel, Sarah, Jacob, Elizabeth, and Catherine. Some were born in Centre County, Pa and some were born in Stark County, Ohio. Andrew and his brother John were two of the earliest settlers in Green Township, Stark County, Ohio, having gone there about 1808-1809. John became a justice of the peace there and Andrew was a constable, so the family was respected in the area. Andrew served in the war of 1812, while brother John stayed to take care of the families whose husband/father was gone. He was part of either Rayen's Regiment of the Ohio Militia or the Second Regiment (Hindman's) of the Ohio Militia, or possibly both, at differing time periods. At this point in my research, I can only say that he was probably guarding against Indians who were fighting with the British against the Americans, but I don't know any specifics about when or where these units fought, or even if they actually fought at all.
Andrew "entered" (meaning he was the original land owner, after the natives) land in Green Township in 1832 and again in 1834, with his brother John. By 1850, Andrew's farm was valued at $5500, a pretty considerable sum for the time. There are at least two other listings on the same page of Andrew Kepler, with smaller farms. It is likely one of these was Andrew's son Andrew, but perhaps another of the farms belonged to Andrew Sr. Mary Harshbarger is listed on the same non-population schedule, with a small farm. (This would have been when she was a widow, before her third marriage.
About 1849, Andrew and Mary donated land for the present day cemetery where he and Mary, along with other family members, are buried. It is known as East Liberty Cemetery, and is in what is Green Township, Summit County, Oh. Mary died in 1852 and Andrew died in 1855.
A lot of the dates in this blog are vague, because I haven't found sources for them yet. I intend to do more research on this family, but I want to share what I'd found about them now, "just in case" I never find more.
The line of descent is:
Andrew Kepler-Anna Maria Kramer
Mary Kepler-George Harshbarger
Lewis Harshbarger-Catherine Mentzer
Emmanuel Harshbarger-Clara Ellen Harter
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Harshbarger children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren
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