Month: July 2009

Road to Hockersville

Road to Hockersville

Road to Hockersville

Two Hockers and a Hocker spouse at the Hockersville village road sign—I believe—in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. William Hocker Jr. (1918—2008) and John Garrett Hocker Jr. are standing in the road while William Wingeard (1915—1998), husband of Betty Jean (Hocker) Wingeard is holding the signpost.

How can I not be sure where Hockersville is, you ask. Well, there are two—yes, two!—Hockersvilles in Pennsylvania. One is located in Derry township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. It was named in honor of Martin Hocker (1768—1862). The other (pictured above) is located in Penn township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It was the home of Johannes “John” W. Hocker (1804—1884), son of Martin Hocker, and also John’s sister Catharine (Hocker) Greiner (1802—1871) and her husband Anthony Greiner (1802—1871) for a time.

Bill Wingeard wrote:

“Hockersville, in Cumberland County, is a really small village on the Walnut Bottom road. This road, at the time John had his tavern, was a main road from Shippensburg, Chambersburg, and the Shenandoah, Virginia valley to Carlisle, York, Lancaster and Philadelphia. Hockersville was half way between Shippensburg and Carlisle, which made it an ideal site for travelers, draymen, drovers, etc. to stop and refresh themselves.”

Tombstone Tuesday: Mary Hacker (1819—1888)

Mary HACKER (1819-

Mary HACKER (1819-1888)

Mary HACKER was born 5 Aug 1819 and died 22 Mar 1888, aged 78 years, 7 months and 17 days. I have not been able to associate the Mary with any of my know HACKER/HOCKER relatives. If you have any information on her family, please let me know.

Tombstone Tuesday: Benjamin K. Hacker (1856—1938)

Benjamin K HACKER (1856—1938) and Annie H. HACKER (1861—1939)

Benjamin K HACKER (1856—1938) and Annie H. HACKER (1861—1939)

Benjamin K. HACKER, son of Jacob and Maria “Polly” (KRIEG) HACKER, was born in Apr 1856 and died in 1938. He was a carpenter and was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Brickerville, Pennsylvania. He married Annie H. (___) about 1881. Annie was born in Aug 1861 and died in 1939. She was buried with her husband in the Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery.

I have not yet determined the relationship between his HACKER family and my own. If you have any clues, please let me know. :^)

Tombstone: May Bell Hacker (?—1890)

May Bell HACKER (?—1890)

May Bell HACKER (?—1890)

May Bell HACKER, daughter of Martin K. and Annie (KISSINGER) HACKER, died on 9 Nov 1890 and was buried in Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Brickerville, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

Tombstone: Martin K Hacker (1850—1906)

Martin K. HACKER (1850—1906)

Martin K. HACKER (1850—1906)

Martin K HACKER, son of Jacob HACKER and Maria “Polly” KRIEG, was born 25 Jan 1850 and died 16 Nov 1906. He was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Brickerville, Pennsylvania.

He was married twice, first to Annie Kissinger who died in 1894 and was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, and second to Sadie Bates on 31 Mar 1898 in Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania.

I am still trying to determine the relationship between this family and my HACKERs. I believe Martin’s father Jacob could possibly be a child of George and Christina (MILLER) HACKER, but at this point it is ONLY a suspicion. I have absolutely no evidence of this relationship.

Peter Purvis BONNINGTON

PETER3 PURVIS BONNINGTON (William2, Robert1) was born ca 1844 in Galashiels, Selkirk, Scotland, son of William and Margaret (PURVES/FAIRBORN) BONNINGTON.[1] Peter died in Mayburn, Loanhead, Lasswade Parish, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 16 Sep 1891; he was 47.[2] He was enumerated with his family on the 1851 census for Galashiels, Selkirk, Scotland, at age 8; the 1861 census for Junipergreen, Colinton, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, at age 18; the 1871 census for Bathgate, Linlithgow, Scotland, at age 28; the census for Bathgate, Linlithgow, Scotland in 1881; the census for Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland, in 1891. Peter’s occupation was listed variously as carpenter or joiner (journeyman).

On 17 Jun 1864 when Peter Purvis was 20, he married ELIZABETH BUCHANAN, daughter of James BUCHANAN (ca 1812/22—17 Apr 1888) and Sarah CRAIG (ca 1809—bet 1851-1861), in Bloomyhall, Junipergreen, Colinton, Midlothian, Scotland.[3,4,] Elizabeth was born ca 1845/1847. Lanarkshire, Scotland is the most often given location for her birth place, but other places include Ireland, Shotts Parish in Lanarkshire, Neilston in Renfrewshire, Chapelhall in Lanarkshire, and Monkland in Lanarkshire. Elizabeth died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Crown Terrace, Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland on 13 May 1928; she was 83.[5]

Elizabeth was enumerated with her family in the 1851 census for Cambusnethan, Lanark, Scotland, at age 6; as a single woman working as a dairymaid in the 1861 census for High Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, age 16; with her husband in the 1871 census for Bathgate, Linlithgow, Scotland, age 26; with her husband in the 1881 census for Bathgate, Linlithgow, Scotland; with her husband the 1891 census for Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland; with her family the 1901 census for Midlothian, Scotland, at age 56.

Peter and Elizabeth had the following children:

  1. ELIZA4 CRAIG BONNINGTON (1866-1946) married WILLIAM SMITH, son of James Smith and Isabella Aitken, on 12 Dec 1882 in The Manse, Uphall Parish, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, and married second Robert O. COCHRANE ca 1909 in Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.[6]
  2. MARGARET BONNINGTON (1868-1943) married DAVID SIMPSON, son of William Simpson and Margaret Russell, on 31 Jan 1890 in Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland.[7] They had at least one child: William Bonnington Simpson.
  3. WILLIAM JAMES BONNINGTON (1871-1945) married ROBINA WAIT, daughter of John Scott Waite and Agnes Dickie, on 12 Aug 1898 in Sproutston, Greenhead, Edinburgh, Scotland.[8] They had at least three children: Agnes, Douglas, and Robert.
  4. PETER BONNINGTON (1873->1939) married CHRISTINA LAW, daughter of David Law and Isabella Garvies, on 2 Dec 1914 in Morningside, Edinburgh, Scotland. They had at least one child: R.G. Bonnington.
  5. ALEXANDER BONNINGTON (1875-1964) married twice, first to CHRISTINA PEACE on 27 Jan 1899 in Loanhead, Lasswade, Edinburgh, Scotland, and second to MARTHA (___) about 1924 in West Virginia.[9]
  6. ROBERT BONNINGTON (1878-1879)
  7. ROBERT BONNINGTON (1881-1939) married JESSIE HUNTER CRAWFORD ALEXANDER, daughter of James Alexander and Jessie Blackwood, on 8 Jun 1910 at the Carlton Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland.
  8. CRAIG BONNINGTON (1885-ca 1959) married ISABELLA MASON KINGHORN, daughter of John Kinghorn and Annie Sharp?, on 11 Mar 1909 in Portobello, Midlothian, Scotland.

Footnotes:

  1. Peter Bonnington, death certificate no. 158 (1891), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland; extracted 12 Aug 2002, extract no. 75198; William Bonnington, death certificate (1885); There is some debate about the surname of William’s first wife. Peter reported it as Fairborn on his father’s death certificate. However, it is listed as Purvis on Peter’s marriage record in 1864.
  2. Peter Bonnington, death certificate.
  3. Eliza Craig Bonnington, birth certificate no. 81 (1866), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland; extracted 28 Aug 2001, extract no. 236828. 17 Jun 1864 in Colinton.
  4. Peter Bonnington and Elizabeth Buchanan, marriage record no. 14 (1864), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland; extraction no. 59479, extracted 6 Sep 2001.
  5. Eliza Craig Bonnington, birth certificate no. 81 (1866), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland; extracted 28 Aug 2001, extract no. 236828.
  6. Eliza Craig Bonnington, birth certificate no. 81 (1866), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland; extracted 28 Aug 2001, extract no. 236828. born 2 Oct 1866 at 2:45 a.m. in Colinton.
  7. David Simpson and Margaret Bonnington, marriage record (1890), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extract number 70399, extracted 12 Aug 2002.
  8. William James Bonnington and Robina Wait, marriage record (1898), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extract number 70401, extracted 12 Aug 2002).
  9. Alexander Bonnington and Christina Peace, marriage record (1899), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extract number 70400, extracted 12 Aug 2002; Alexander Bonnington household, 1920 US census, South Charlestown, Kanawha county, West Virginia, Enumeration district [ED] 123, Page 190, Sheet 17B, Line 94; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 1958.

Christian Hoover

Christian L. Hoover was born sometime between 1820 and 1826 in Pennsylvania.1 His son, Simon’s death certificate is more specific.2 It states the Christian was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania.3 It is possible that Christian was the son of Philip and Hannah (Thomas) Hoover of Plumcreek township, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. Christian died in Covington township, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania on 1 Oct 1887; he was 67. 4 According to family sources he was probably buried in probably Oak Hill or Old Oak Hill (also known as Bridgen’s) cemetery, Karthaus township, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania.

Sometime around 1852-1854 Christian first married Caroline Kinnard, daughter of Thomas Kinnard (ca 1798 — bef 4 May 1857) and Maria Fisher (ca 1808 — bef 14 Sep 1865), probably in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. Caroline was born in 1830-1831 in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania.5 She died in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania on 11 Jul 1883; she was 53. 6 Family information provides multiple burial locations for Caroline. According to one source, she was buried on the Hoover farm, Covington township, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania because the weather was so bad at the time of her death that the family could not get her to the cemetery. Another family source states the Caroline was buried with Christian in either the Oak Hill or Old Oak Hill cemetery.

Christian and Caroline had the following children:

  1. Reuben Hart Hoover (1853-1900)
  2. Samuel Thomas Hoover (1857-1930)
  3. Simon Edward Hoover (1864-1933)
  4. George I./J. Hoover (1865-1930)

I have had some difficulty in documenting this couple. Census information on this couple is limited. According to the census for Jefferson county, Pennsylvania in 1860, Caroline, Reuben and Samuel were living with a “Catherine” Hoover in Henderson county.7 To date, this is the only census information I’ve been able to find on either Christian or Caroline after their marriage.

It is, however, consistent with other research that places the family in Jefferson county in the late 1850s and 1860s. Both Simon (born 1864)8 and George (born 18659, the younger sons of Christian and Caroline, indicate in official records that they were born in Jefferson county. Legal documents from the Kinnard family also place the family in Jefferson county. According to a “Petition of Benjamin F. Kinnard for Partition of the Estate of Thomas Kinnard deceased,” Thomas and Mary had seven children who were still living at the time of his death in 1858, including “Caroline, married to Christopher Hoover (in Jefferson county).” This document connects our Caroline (Kinnard) Hoover to the daughter of Thomas and Maria (Fisher) Kinnard of Armstrong county.

Additional information seems to place the couple in Jefferson even earlier. A Christian Hoover was drafted in Dec 1864 from Gaskill township in Jefferson county.10 Gaskill township is the next township over from Henderson township. Additionally a Christian Hoover was elected as a school director in Henderson township in 1857.11 And according to tax records a Christ Hoover was included in the 1858 taxables list also for Henderson township.12 If this proves to be our Christian Hoover, then it is likely that Samuel and possibly Reuben were also born in Jefferson county.

So, when and why did the family leave Jefferson county? What made them come to Clearfield county? When did they come to Jefferson county?

After Caroline’s death in 1883, Christian married for a second time in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania. His second wife was Mary A. Conaway. She was born in Mar 1863 in Pennsylvania.13 Mary died sometime after the 1940 census.

Christian and Mary had one child:

  1. Eva Edith Hoover (1887-1967)

After Christian’s death in 1887, Mary sold her rights to the family farm to her step-son, Samuel Hoover. She apparently moved to Jefferson county and remarried as she was listed on the census for Falls Creek Borough, Washington township, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania in 1900 with her new family. According to the 1900 census, Mary had 8 children with Daniel Fry, her new husband, by 1900—though only three of those children—Johny, Lottie, and Lizzie—were still living by that year. 14 By 1920, Mary’s second husband, Daniel, was dead. Mary had a business on Main street—a general store—which she shared with her partner, Albert B. Tudor.15

Jacob Hacker

Jacob Hacker was born 28 Sep 1803, probably in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He died 26 Jul 1873, probably in Lancaster county, and was buried in Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville, Warwick township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. This is the church that my ancestor Johan Adam Hacker attended.

About 1841 Jacob Hacker married Maria Krieg, daughter of John Elias Krieg and Anna Maria Gibbens. Mary was born 5 Aug 1819 and died 22 Mar 1898, both in Pennsylvania, probably in Lancaster county. She, too, is buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery.

As far as I know, Jacob and Mary had the following children:

  1. William Hacker was born about 1841 and died before sometime between 1850 and 1873, as he is not mentioned in his father’s will.
  2. Elias K. Hacker was born in Jun 1845 and died on 6 Nov 1920. He was buried in Machpuelah Lutheran Cemetery in Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Elias served in Company K, Regiment 195 in the Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. He married Isabella Weidman, daughter of Daniel and Frances (Zartman) Wiedman, about 1869. The couple had 7 chidren:
    1. Ida Nora Hacker married Nathan Kurtz
    2. John F./W. Hacker married Laura E. Wagner
    3. Cora Hacker, born 8 Nov 1873 and died 21 Dec 1873
    4. Milton Ellis Hacker married Adaline E. Eckert
    5. Henry Daniel Hacker married Margaret Heagy
    6. Frank Weidman Hacker married Grace Swartz
    7. Susie May Hacker married Henry Sussman
  3. Allen K. Hacker was born either 31 Mar or 1 Apr 1847 and died 24 Mar 1928 in Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in the Moravian Church Cemetery in Lititz. About 1868, Allen married Lydia Eitnier. The couple had, I believe, nine children, seven surviving, as follows:
    1. Horace Hacker
    2. Samuel Hacker married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Y. Matthews
    3. Henry “Harry” E. Hacker married first Emma Doutrich, daughter of Byram and Catherine (Hess) Doutrich, and second Elizabeth Lesher
    4. Adaline E. Hacker married Clayton Z. Meiskey
    5. Wilson Eitnier Hacker married Serena Spickler
    6. Minerva “Minnie” E. Hacker married Charles S. Frey
    7. Emma G. Hacker married Clayton B. Snavely
  4. Martin K. Hacker was born 25 Jan 1850 and died 16 Nov 1906. He was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married first Annie Kissinger and second Sadie Bates.
  5. Henry K. Hacker was born 16 Sep 1852 and died 3 Oct 1925. He was buried in Lititz Cemetery, Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Kate (___) about 1877. The couple had five children:
    1. Laura E. Hacker married Zacharias T. Wike.
    2. Mary Hacker was born Nov 1879.
    3. Vera G. Hacker married Harry B. Weand
    4. Daisy Hacker married a Lenhart
    5. LeRoy B. Hacker was born 20 Jun 1893
  6. Benjamin K. Hacker was born in Apr 1856 and died 1938. He was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Annie H. (___) about 1881. The couple had two children:
    1. Lillian H. Hacker married John D. Todd
    2. William H. Hacker married first Alice C. Meiley, and second Mayme F. Keisinger.

Jacob Hacker’s will reads as follows:

“Jacob Hocker, Dc’d

I, Jacob Hocker of the Township of Elizabeth County of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made,

1st I order and direct my body to be decently buried, suitable gravestone to be procured and placed at my grave, and the costs of theses as well as all my other just debts and funeral expenses, to be paid as soon conveniently can be done after my decease,

2nd I give and bequeath to my wife Mary Hocker, such articles of my furniture, as she may select to retain for her use said articles so selected by me wife shall be appraised and the amount deducted from the three hundred dollars to which she is otherwise entitled out of my estate,

3rd I order and direct that the rest and residue of my furniture and all personal property in my possession, to be appraised and sold at public sale,

4th I order and direct, that my real estate shall also be sold, and converted into money as soon as conveniently can be done authorizing my executors, to make good and sufficient title deeds unto the purchase n purchasers thereof

5th I order, will and direct that after all my property both real and personal be converted into money by my hereinafter mentioned executors that all my debts by fully paid and satisfied, and the balance, I give and bequeath to my said wife Mary Hocker, during her lifetime and after her decease, the balance if any remains, to be divided in equal shares to and among my five children namely, Eli, Allen, Martin, Henry and Benjamin Hocker

6th I order, will and direct however, that if my son Eli, should fail to pay the judgment on which I am security—And said judgment must be paid out of the proceeds of my estate he shall not be entitled to any thing after my said wifes decease if anything remains as before stated

7th I appoint my two sons Allen Hocker and Martin Hocker, to be my executors of this my last will and testament, in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty fifth 25th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three (1873)

Jacob his mark X Hocker

signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Jacob Hocker, to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses therewith

Joel Hippert
Isreal G. Erb
Lancaster County, S.S.

On the 13th day of August A.D. 1873 before me the subscribers personally appeared Joel Hippert, and Israel G. Erb Esq., the subscribing witnesses to the preceding will and on their solemn affirmation did declare and say that they were present and saw and heard Jacob Hocker, the testator therein named, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament, and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge, observation, and belief. J.S. Albright, Depy Regr.

August 13th A.D. 1873, Setters Testamentory granted to Allen Hocker, and Martin Hocker the executors named in the annexed will they being duly affirmed and well and truly to administer the goods and chattels, rights and credits which were of the testate according to the law, and also that they will diligently and faithfully regard and well and truly comply with the provisions of the law relating to collateral inheritance. J.S. Albright Depy Regr”

Update:

I am still trying to determine how this HACKER family fits into our extended HACKER/HOCKER family. The names of his sons are of particular interest. Our Jacob4 HACKER (Frederick3, Johan Adam2, Christoph1) named two of his sons Allen and Henry. He also had grandsons named Elias, Martin, William, and Henry.

Given the birth date of Jacob HACKER he could fit into the family of Johan George3 HACKER, fifth son of Johan Adam2 HACKER, who married Christina MUELLER/MILLER, daughter of Christopher and Maria Barbara (STOBER) MUELLER. This couple stayed in the northern Lancaster County/southern Lebanon County area and is buried in Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville.

Jacob HACKER could also be a son of John4 HACKER, son of Frederick3 HACKER. John4 married Sarah/Salome MOSER, daughter of Johan Adam and Christina (Prunner) Moser. They had at least three children—John, George, and Lydia—before her death by 1823. John4 then married her sister Susanna MOSER. I have no knowledge of children for this couple. This family is less likely because John’s three children are named in his father-in-law’s will in 1823 as minor heirs.

If you have information on this family or clues to a possible link to the other HACKERs of Lancaster County, please let me know. Many thanks to Nancy Manley for her assistance with this HACKER/GREEK (Krieg) family.

John Hocker (1815-1882)

John2 Hocker (Unknown1) was born 6 July 1815 in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and died 21 January 1882 in Churchville, now Oberlin, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Churchville Cemetery, Oberlin, Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.1 John’s occupation, according to census records, varied from brick-maker to farmer to shoemaker.

He married on 3 December 18352, probably in Hummelstown, Sarah Beinhower, daughter of Peter Beinhower (30 November 1787-25 November 1853) and Mary Ann Smith (8 April 1790-4 April 1877). She was born 12 January 1814 in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and died of pneumonia on 12 November 1901 in Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania where she had gone to visit relatives.3 Sarah was buried 15 November 1901 in the Churchville Cemetery, Oberlin, Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania with her husband.4

John Hocker’s will states:

“I, John Hocker, of Churchville, Swatara Township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Item; I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah, all my estate real, personal and mixed for her use during her natural life, to use the same or any part thereof for her support and whatever is left at her died is to go to the children of my deceased daughter, Mary Ann, share and share alike.”5

Sarah Hocker’s illness was news in the local papers in Middletown.

“Mrs. Hocker Very Sick— Mrs. Hocker, widow of the late John Hocker, of Oberlin, came to visit her grandaughter, Mrs. C.P. Longenecker at East Middletown bridge, a week ago last Sunday. While there she took sick and her trouble soon developed into pneumonia. At this writing there are no hopes for her recovery. Mrs. Hocker is 87 years old and for many years resided near Good’s fulling mill in Lower Swatara.”6

“Mrs. Hocker, an aged and highly respected lady of this place, and widow of the late John Hocker, died on Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock in the 89th year of her age. Mrs. Hocker has gone to visit relatives near Middletown, and while there contracted an attack of pnuemonia which resulted in her death.

The funeral which took place from her late residence in this place on Friday morning at 9:30 was attended by many. Services were held in the United Brethren church, of which she was a consistent member for many years. Interment was made in the cemetery of this place.”7

John and Sarah (Beinhower) Hocker had one child:

  1. Maria Anna/Anna Maria3 Hocker was born 2 January 1840, baptized 2 April 1840 in the Zion Evangelical Church, and died 11 September 1873 or 1883.8 She married Christian A. Gingerich circa 1864.

This John Hocker was incorrectly attributed to the family of John4 Hocker (Johan Adam3, Johan Adam2, Christoph1) and Catherine Sterling in William Wingeard’s “A German-American HACKER-HOCKER Genealogy.” John4 did, in fact, have a son named John. However, my research shows that his son John removed to Ohio with the rest of his family. Additionally, this John Hocker was born approximately 19 years before John4‘s son, John K. Hocker.

If you have any information on this family, please share.