Family – Page 4 – A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy

52 Ancestors: James Benjamin Houdeshell (1842—1926)

Kris Hocker on 18 Jan 2014

I’ve heard family stories about an ancestor who fought on both sides during the Civil War, but I didn’t really believe it. Two brothers fighting on opposite sides? Yeah, okay. But one man fighting for both sides over the course of the war? Seemed a little far-fetched.

Benjamin and Phoebe (Mayes) Houdeshell

Wars are always justified as necessary to stand-up for our principals or our rights, or to fight evil, or protect the mother land. But it seems to me that when it came to joining up during the Civil War to fight for one side or the other, the reasoning was black or white. You either believed in the Rebel cause or you believed in the Union and the destruction of slavery. So, it doesn’t seem probable that one person would enlist in both armies—by choice—between 1861 and 1865.

And, yet, I think that’s exactly what Benjamin Houdeshell did.

According to Benjamin’s death certificate, he was born 13 March 1842 in Maryland and died 20 March 1926 in Rush Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was 84 years old. His full name was James Benjamin Houdeshell.¹ His obituary read:

Recent Deaths: Houdeshell – Benjamin Houdeshell, Civil War Veteran, father of John Houdeshell, of Curtin, and well known resident of the Philipsburg community, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Thomas Passell, Saturday morning [20 March]. He had been in failing health for the past four years, death being due to infirmities of age. The funeral service was held Tuesday afternoon; internment in the Philipsburg Cemetery. Deceased, is a son of Adam and Mary Houdeshell, was born at Westmoreland, Virginia, on March 13, 1842, making his age 84 years and 7 days. He enlisted as a Private in Company I, Thirteenth Regiment of Maryland Infantry, February 24, 1865, and was mustered out at the close of the War. He was a woodsman and farmer, and for twenty years or longer has been residing in the Philipsburg region. The wife of the deceased was Pheobe Mayes, who died five years ago last August. Twelve children were born to the marriage. The surviving sons and daughters are: John, of Curtin; Mrs. Jacob Webb, of Windber; George, of Surveyor Run; Frank and Jacob, of Kato; Mrs. Thomas Passell, of North Philipsburg; Mrs. Daniel DeHaas, of Julian, and Mrs. Nora Blake and Mrs. Ernest Vinton, of Philipsburg.²

The military pension index card for “Benjamin Houdeshell” lists his death date as 20 March 1926 and place of death as Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania.³ So, it matches my 3x great grandfather’s death certificate. It also states that he served as a private in the 13th Regiment, Company I of the Maryland Infantry, mustering in on 24 February 1865 and out on 29 May 1865.

Benjamin Houdeshell Military Pension Index Card

Benjamin Houdeshell’s Military Pension Index Card

Fortunately, additional records for Maryland Civil War Soldiers are online at Fold3.com. Benjamin’s record for Company I, 13th Regiment includes his volunteer enlistment. He enlisted at Frederick, Maryland on 24 February 1865, stating that he was 19 years old, born in Hardy County, Virginia, and a laborer.⁴ The record also states that he was 5′ 6″ tall and had grey eyes, light hair and a fair complexion.

Benjamin Houdeshell Civil War Volunteer Enlistment

Benjamin Houdeshell’s Civil War Volunteer Enlistment

Neither the description nor his age on this record matches other information I have regarding Benjamin. Born in 1842, he would have been 22 years old, nearly 23, in February 1865. And the one photo I have of him shows him with dark hair. However, based on the information in his obituary and pension index card, this is the record of enlistment for my great great great grandfather.

So, there’s his Union service. What about his Confederate service?

The enlistment record states that he was born in Hardy County, Virginia. Census records for 1860 show Benjamin Houdeshell, aged 18, living in the household of Adam Howyshell (his father per his obituary) in District No. 1, Hardy County.⁵

1860 US Census for Adam Howdyshell’s family

The household included:

Adam Howdyshell, aged 69, Farmer, born in Virginia
Mary “, aged 64, born Virginia
John Wm “, aged 28, born Virginia
George W. “, aged 21, born Virginia
Benjamin “, aged 18, born Virginia

On the next page are the households of:⁶

Adam Howdyshell Jr., age 40, Laborer, born in Virginia
Mary “, age 42, born in Virginia
Daniel “, age 13, born in Virginia
Sarah C. ” , age 11, born in Virginia
John W. “, age 8, born in Virginia
William E. “, age 5, born in Virginia
Daniel Howdyshell, age 37, Laborer, born in Virginia
Jane “, age 24, born in Virginia
Elizabeth “, age 7, born in Virginia
Benjamin “, aged 5, born in Virginia
Joseph “, aged 3, born in Virginia
Virginia “, aged 1, born in Virginia
Isaac Howdyshell, aged 23, Laborer, born in Virginia
Dorothy “, aged 58, born in Virginia

Adam’s household in 1850 included:⁷

Adam Howdyshell, aged 63, Farmer, born Virginia
Mary “, aged 49, born Virginia
John W., aged 18, Laborer, born Virginia
Isaac, aged 14, born Virginia
Westfall, aged 10, born Virginia
Benjamin, aged 7, born Virginia

A search of the Confederate Civil War Soldiers on Fold3.com turns up records for the 14th Regiment, Virginia Militia for Adam Howdyshell Jr., J. Benjamin Howdyshell and Westfall Howdyshell.

All three men enlisted on 17 September 1861 in Wardensville, Hardy County, Virginia. The names, approximate ages, and place of enlistment seems to indicate that these three men may very well have been the sons of Adam Howdyshell of Hardy County. They enlisted for the period of six months and it’s entirely possible that is all they served.

If, in fact, they are Adam’s sons (and it seems likely), then my great great grandfather, James Benjamin Houdeshell, served in both the Confederate and Union armies during the Civil War.

Why would he do that?

First, I have to think that he did not have any great convictions regarding slavery. Based on the 1860 census, the Houdeshells were not wealthy land-owners and, as far as I can tell, not slave-owners either. Adam’s real estate was worth $1,000 and he did not list any personal estate. I searched the slave schedules for Hardy County in 1860. It did not include the 1st district. Whether this was because there were no slave-owners there or it has been lost, I do not know. However, the county supposedly has a “rich African American history, with many free African Americans living there before the Civil War.”⁸

Additionally, he may have been a member of the militia prior to the war, serving as a home guard. The militia was ordered into service with the Confederate Army on 10 September 1861 by the governor of Virginia. The 14th “played a roll in Jackson’s January 1862 Romney campaign after which the 14th was assigned to the ‘region of their homes’.”⁹ That may be how he came to serve in the Confederate forces, rather than a voluntary enlistment.

On 6 November 1864, Benjamin married Phoebe Mayes of Snow Shoe Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.¹⁰ That’s nearly four months before he enlisted in the Maryland Infantry on 24 February 1865. It’s possible he enlisted because he needed the money to support his family. I don’t imagine that there were that many jobs available during the winter in the mountains of Centre County. The government bounty—for which the record indicates he was eligible—might have been tempting to a young man in his position.

I don’t know what happened to Benjamin between his enlistment in September 1861 in the Confederate Army and his marriage in November 1864 to a Pennsylvanian girl. So, it’s hard to say with any certainty why he enlisted twice—in two opposing armies. But I bet it’s an interesting story.

What do you think?

This post is part of an on-going blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This is my second post for 52 Ancestors and is part of week three.

52 Ancestors: #1 Nora Melinda (Houdeshell) Hoover (1891-1965)

Kris Hocker on 11 Jan 2014

For some reason, I’ve been thinking about my great grandmother Nora (Houdeshell) Hoover a lot recently. I never had a chance to meet her, but from the few stories I’ve heard, I think I would have loved her. So, I thought I’d start my 52 Ancestors series writing about her.

Clyde & Nora (Houdeshell) Hoover

Nora Melinda (Houdeshell) Hoover was the eldest daughter of George Westfall/Wesley Houdeshell and Lovina Caroline Force. She was born 25 October 1891 in Wooster, Cameron County, Pennsylvania.¹ She died of an acute myocardial infarction, possibly brought on by complications of diabetes, on 11 May 1965 in Pine Glen, Burnside Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania and was buried 3 days later in the Advent Cemetery in Pine Glen.

Great grandma was one of 12 children, 10 surviving to adulthood. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where her father worked as a lumberman and also supported his family by farming. According to family stories, when she was 16, her father told her she was to either get married or get a job. So, she took a job as a cook in a lumber camp. Apparently, that’s where she met my great grandfather, Clyde L. Hoover. They were married 16 April 1908 in Dubois, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.² He was 21 (nearly 22) and she was 16. Clyde and Nora were the parents of 12 children—seven sons and five daughters.

Nora was a believer in education. She ran a small library from her home in Pine Glen. Today, it probably would be the equivalent of a small personal collection, but it provided an opportunity for Pine Glen residents to experience the world of books. She also wanted her daughters to wait until they were 21 before marrying, probably so that they would have a chance to fully grow-up, get an education, and experience life a bit before settling down to raise their families. My grandmother was married a month after her 21st birthday.

During the war—World War II, I presume—she planted a pine tree for every Pine Glen boy who went off to war, including four of her sons. I wonder what she thought as she watched those trees grow.

Family stories also allege that great grandma had Indian blood. I think that story arose mainly because she had straight dark hair as I’ve found no reason to believe her ancestry was anything other than northern European. Perhaps, one day one of my Hoover or Houdeshell relatives will have a DNA test and we’ll get proof one way or the other.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks — A Writing Challenge

Kris Hocker on 5 Jan 2014

Amy Johnson Crow over at No Story Too Small has issued a challenge to geneabloggers to blog about an ancestor each and every week for 2014. Anything and everything is fair game, as long as it is devoted to 1 specific ancestor.

I actually spend a lot of time writing about folks that I’m not related to in any way. Most of the Hoovers in my Hoover Surname Study are—to the best of my knowledge—not directly related to my Hoovers (except perhaps back in the fog of times long gone). So, accepting this challenge would mean that I would have to focus on my own family. Not a bad thing.

The big question, however, is can I actually find something to say about 52 of my ancestors? I’ve already written about the ones I’ve researched. Can I find 52 more to write about? Have I even done that much research on my various family lines?

I’ve decided to accept the challenge, so I guess we’ll find out. Who knows, I might even surprise myself! Stay tuned.

Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake

Kris Hocker on 24 Dec 2013

Yum! Funny cake is a holiday tradition in our house. It features a chocolate filling beneath a moist cake, all in a pie shell with a crunchy topping. It makes a perfect breakfast, snack or dessert. And every taste brings back memories of holidays past.

Friday Find: Benjamin W. Hocker’s 1920 Census Entry

Kris Hocker on 4 Oct 2013

Last week I posted a photo of Levi F. Hocker from his days in the Pennsylvania cavalry during the Civil War and mentioned that his brother Benjamin W. Hocker had supported his injury claim in his request for a pension in 1892. Going through the records I have on Benjamin W. Hocker, I realized that I’m missing a couple of census records—amongst other records—for him, including the 1900 and 1920 census enumerations. Fortunately, I was able to locate one of those records.

In 1880, Benjamin and his wife Margaret were living in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.¹ This household included:

Benjamin W. Hocker, age 33, Farmer
Margaret Hocker, age 32, wife, Keeping house
Minnie S. Hocker, age 11, daughter
Adam S. Hocker, age 9, son
Lora L. Hocker, age 7, daughter
Helen A. Hocker, age 3, daughter
Frank Hocker, age 6 months (born Feb), son
Adam Hocker, age 77, father

I haven’t found Benjamin in 1900, but his wife Margaret and three of their children—Mary [Minnie] S., Helen A., and Morris G.—were living with her brother Frank Beltzhoover in Carlisle.² In 1905, Benjamin received a patent for 160 acres in Berlin, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma and he can be found living there in 1910, working as a stock trader.³ He allegedly died in Berlin in 1925, but I did not find him there in the 1920 census.

Another check of the Bureau of Land Management records showed that Benjamin received a patent for 480 acres of land in Brown County, Nebraska on 13 April 1914.⁴ The land was located in the “south half of the southeast quarter of Section twenty-two, the east half of Section twenty-seven, and the west half of the southwest quarter of Section twenty-six in Township twenty-five north of Range twenty-two west of the Sixth Principal Meridian, Nebraska.” I looked at a map for the county and, based on the BLM’s plat map, determined that this land was likely in Chester or Calamus townships. Scrolling through the 1920 census for these precincts yielded a successful result:

Click to enlarge

B.W. Hocker is listed as a 73 year-old rancher on line 84. He was born in Pennsylvania, owned his own home, and was widowed.⁵ His youngest son was living in nearby Blaine County, Nebraska in 1910⁶ and 1920.⁷

Still looking for his 1900 census record. I’ve located his wife and all his children and he’s not with any of them. I haven’t found him through any of the census indices, so who knows how his name is indexed—if it is. I guess I need to locate all his siblings in 1900. He didn’t receive his land in Oklahoma until 1905, so it’s possible he’s still in Pennsylvania in 1900.

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Levi F. Hocker, PA Cavalry

Kris Hocker on 25 Sep 2013

Private Levi F. Hocker of Co. F, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, in uniform with pistol and sword, on horseback (source: Library of Congress)

Levi F. Hocker, son of Johan Adam and Mary (Hoover) Hocker III, was born 2 October 1843 and died 28 March 1899 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He served in Company F, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry during the Civil War. He married Frances R. Steigelman on 18 Jan 1866 in New Kingston, Cumberland County.

There were two Levi Hockers from Pennsylvania who enlisted in 1862: Levi F. Hocker who enlisted on 23 Sep 1862, and Levi Hocker who enlisted on 15 Sep 1862. Levi F. Hocker reportedly served in the 17th Cavalry, Company F, which was recruited from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in 1862. The company fought at Trevillian Station in Virginia between the 11th and 13th of June 1864. Levi F. Hocker reported in his application for invalid pension on 11 January 1878 that he had been wounded on or about the 11th of June 1864 at Trevillian Station. His reply of 10 February 1892 to the government’s denial of the pension was supported by Benjamin W. Hocker of Cumberland County. Benjamin states that he knew Levi intimately and had seen the injury on Levi’s return home in 1864.

Wingeard, I believe, inappropriately attributed him as the son of Peter and Hannah (Reinhold) Hocker of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Given the location of recruitment (Cumberland County) and Benjamin Hocker’s statement supporting Levi’s application, I feel it is more likely that Levi F. was the son of Adam and Mary (Hoover) Hocker, who lived in Cumberland County, than it is that he was the son of Peter and Hannah (Reinhold) Hacker of Lancaster County.

Adam and Mary (Hoover) Hocker were in Cumberland County by 1840 when Adam Hocker appeared as a head of household in North Middleton Township.¹ They were still farming in North Middleton in 1850 where their household included:²

Adam, aged 47
Mary, aged 41
Jeremiah, aged [14?]
Mary, aged 20
Elizabeth, aged 16
Fanny, aged 13
Isemia, aged 9
Levi, aged 6
Benjamin, aged 4

The family can be also found in Cumberland County during the 1860 enumeration of Middlesex Township.³

Meanwhile, Peter and Hannah Hocker can be found consistently in Lancaster County in Ephrata, Elizabeth and Clay townships, respectively in 1840,⁴ 1850,⁵ and 1860.⁶ In 1850, their household included:

Peter, aged 37
Hannah, aged 35
Susanna, aged 13
Jacob, aged 12
Mary Ann, aged 10
Levi, aged 7
Rebecca, aged 4
Elizabeth, aged 2

Both Levi and Benjamin Hocker were living in Cumberland County in 1880—Levi in Monroe Township⁷ and Benjamin in Middlesex Township.⁸ Levi died there in 1899 and was buried in Mount Holly Springs Cemetery.⁹

Persistence Pays Off? Maybe. Maybe Not.

Kris Hocker on 13 Sep 2013

I wrote previously about finding information that Adam P. Hocker, son of George and Margaret (Prevost) Hocker of Buckingham County, Virginia, had served in the Company E of the 20th Virginia Infantry (Lee’s Guards) during the Civil War and died at the Battle of Rich Mountain. However, information I’ve recently located calls that into doubt.

The 1860 census indicates that Adam P. Hocker was a miller.¹ This is fitting as I found an account, dated 8 May 1863, for the purchase of 180½ bushels of wheat by the Confederate Army in which “Mr. A.P. Hocker” was dissatisfied with the price of $487.35.² A further note from 24 July 1863, signed by A.P. Hocker indicates that he received $812.25 for his wheat. On 19 January 1864, Adam appointed William Hocker as his attorney to receive any money due him from the Commissionary department of the Confederate States. So, during the war Adam was working as a miller and supplying wheat to the Confederate army.

Additionally, in looking up the members of Company E, 20th Virginia Infantry, the only name that looks close to “Hocker” was that of “E.T. Hocher.” E.T. signed up for 12 months service in Buckingham County on 20 May 1861 and appears on the muster roll for 30 June to 10 September 1861.³ The Battle of Rich Mountain occurred 11 July through 13 July 1861 in Randolph County, [West] Virginia.⁴ So, he likely would have been a participant at the battle.

I believe that “E.T. Hocher” may have been Edmund T. Hocker, son of George and Margaret (Prevost) Hocker and youngest brother of Adam P. Hocker. Ed reenlisted in the war on 9 February 1862 with Company H, 22nd Battalion of Virginia volunteers to serve the whole war.⁵ Subsequent records show him as Edmund T., Edward T. and E.T. Hocker. The muster rolls show him as serving through 1865 though he was injured 1 July 1863. Ed also survived the war, appearing in the 1880 census with the Nathan Payne family in the Slate River district in Buckingham County, Virginia.⁶ He died 23 December 1891.⁷

Adam’s brother, Amos H. Hocker, also served in Civil War. He enlisted on 7 February 1862 for one year as a private in Company K, 2nd Regiment Virginia Artillery.⁸ This regiment disbanded in May 1862. Amos then enlisted on 28 July 1862 for 6 months in Company C, 25th Battalion VA Infantry.⁹ He actually served through 1865. He was hospitalized for rheumatism from July to September in 1863. He also requested a 25-day furlough on 30 August 1864, but was present with his unit in November and December. He was apparently captured by the Union on 6 April 1865 in Nottoway County, Virginia—possibly at Sailor’s Creek when General Sheridan cut off nearly a quarter of the retreating Confederate Army—and sent to Point Lookout, Maryland. He was released on 13 June 1865.

So, it doesn’t look like Adam served in Company E of the 20th Virginia Infantry and didn’t die in the Battle of Rich Mountain. So, what happened to him?

The answer may lie in his brother Amos’ letter requesting a furlough in August 1864. Here’s what he wrote:

Camp 25 Va Batt

Chaffin’s Farm/30 Aug 1864

Col.

I respectfully ask a Furlough for Twenty-five Days under the following circumstances, to go to Buckingham County [?] my Father died during last year & willed me an amount in money, one third of which [I know not] between $5000 & $6000 I have already lost by reason of the act of Congress reducing the currency & my not being able to obtain a Furlough at the time to make an investment, one of my brothers has since died & left important business requiring my attention; the remnant of money left me was invested in Court Bonds, which the Shff informed me will now be paid & has avised [sic] to come & received the same I desire to make a permant [sic] investment of these funds which is the object of this application. I saw Genl. Ewell on yesterday & stated these facts to him who voluntary consented to approve Furlough for the time asked.

Very Respectfully

Yr Obs. Svt.

A.H. Hocker

Co. C 25 VA Batt

Did you see that? He wrote: “one of my brothers has since died…” Both of his younger brothers George W. and Edmund T. survived the war. Thus, Adam P. Hocker—his only other brother—died sometime shortly before 30 August 1864.

Persistence does pay off; but often it’s in unexpected ways.

Wordless Wednesday: H.W. Hocker Manufacturing Company

Kris Hocker on 11 Sep 2013

H.W. Hocker Manufacturing Company, Lewes, Delaware; image from the Library of Congress

I came across a series of photos from the H.W. Hocker (Harold Willets Hocker) Manufacturing Company of Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware during a search at the Library of Congress’ website. You can go see more images there.

Harold Willets Hocker, son of John William and Georgia (Tunnell) Hocker, was born 23 April 1892 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in December 1981 in Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware. He was a descendant of Johan Georg Hacker of Erdenheim, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Mystery Monday: In Search of My Hershey Family Connection

Kris Hocker on 9 Sep 2013

I’ve been focusing recently on some of my female ancestors for whom I have little or no information. With surnames like Leedy, Frantz, Landis and Hershey, these are well-established—and I would have thought—well-documented families. When it comes to my ancestors, not so much.

Take my 5x great grandmother Mary (Hershey) Hocker, for example. According to my information, “Sophia Maria Hershey” was born on 5 August 1769 and died sometime after her husband Johan Adam Hocker Jr. (died 1821), but before the final settlement of his estate on 1 April 1839.¹ I’ve only seen her as “Mary Hocker” in documents, so I’m not sure about the name Sophia. I’ve been able to find out nothing about about her family.

About Adam and Mary

Although, I presume she and Adam were married prior to December 1787—their first child was born in August 1788—I do not have a marriage date or location for them. Adam was living in Harrisburg by that time.² However, they could have met in Lancaster County before he left home.

Between their marriage and the late 1790s, Adam and Mary lived in Harrisburg.³ Adam was listed as a tavern owner, cordweiner, and tanner in tax lists during this period.⁴ They had five children before 1800: John, Anna Barbara, George, Jacob, and Benjamin.⁵

By 1797, the family had likely moved out of town to Derry Township as their fourth son Jacob was baptized on 12 February 1797 in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hummelstown.⁶ Adam owned a farm near Hummelstown, along Swatara Creek. The couple had three more children while living in Derry Township: Johan Adam (III), Benjamin, and Elizabeth.⁷

Adam died in November 1821.⁸ In Dec 1821, Jacob Hocker was appointed guardian of his younger brothers, Adam and Benjamin.⁹ Adam’s estate was divvied up amongst his heirs with land in Derry Township going to sons John and Jacob, and land in Swatara Township going to sons George and Adam. John and Jacob eventually sold their piece to their youngest brother Benjamin before they left Pennsylvania for Ohio.¹⁰

Religion

Adam Hacker was a Lutheran. He was baptized in Emanuel Lutheran Church in Brickerville and was confirmed there in 1780.¹¹ He was a deacon at Salem Lutheran Church in Harrisburg in 1790 and 1793. His connection to the Lutheran Church is consistent throughout his life.

I’m not certain about Mary’s religion. Her children were baptized Lutheran—Anna and George in Salem Lutheran in Harrisburg¹² and Jacob in Zion Evangelical Lutheran in Hummelstown—and she was buried with her husband in the Lutheran church cemetery in Hummelstown. However, the early Hershey family were known to be Mennonites. Given her birth year of 1769, Mary would have been born to the first or second generation of Pennsylvanian Hersheys. It’s very likely that she grew up in a Mennonite household, assuming, of course, that her maiden name actually was Hershey.

Not all the Hersheys remained Mennonites. For instance, Johannes “John” B. Hershey was the son of a Mennonite minister, was himself a Mennonite minister, but left the faith to become an integral part of the United Brethren in Christ church. What’s particularly interesting about this is that Adam and Mary Hocker’s eldest son John left the Lutheran church—his two eldest children were baptized at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hummelstown¹³—and became a minister for the River Brethren (aka Brethren in Christ) in Randolph Township, Montgomery County, Ohio.¹⁴

While I don’t believe these are the same church, they both originated in the German spiritual revival of the late 1700s and the leaders of both were originally Mennonites.¹⁵ I wonder what led John Hocker to change religions. Obviously, he felt very strongly to not only leave the church he was raised in, but to become a minister in his new church, too. Perhaps, he was influenced by a member of his mother’s family? It’s certainly something to think about.

Conclusion

I’ve not been able to find a “Sophia Maria” or even an unidentified Mary in available Hershey family information. I don’t know that she actually was a Hershey since I have no source for Wingeard’s information.

If you have information on Mary’s parentage or insight into the Hershey family, please drop me a line. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Update

Looking through my database, I found an interesting bit of information. John Hocker’s daughter, Christianna, married John Hershey, son of Jacob and Maria (Hertzler) Hershey, in Montgomery County, Ohio on 21 Oct 1852. John Hershey was a descendant of Jacob and Barbara (Hiestand) Hershey of Lancaster County and his parents Andrew and Maria (Acker) Hershey.

Persistence Pays Off

Kris Hocker on 30 May 2013

In working through my Hocker family research, I’ve eventually come to George Hocker of Slate River Mills and his family. George’s two eldest sons have provided me with more than their fair share of speculation and frustration.

The 1850 census for District 2, Buckingham County includes George and his family:¹

The household was comprised of:

George Hocker, 49, Male, Farmer, $13,000, b. Buckingham
Evalina Hocker, 35, Female, b. Buckingham
Adam Hocker, 26, Male, Miller, $25, b. Buckingham
Howel Hocker, 23, Male, Miller, $25, b. Buckingham
Amanda Hocker, 18, Female, b. Buckingham
George Hocker, 15, Male, None, b. Buckingham, attended school within the year
Edmund Hocker, 14, Male, b. Buckingham, attended school within the year
Margaret Hocker, 12, Female, b. Buckingham, attended school within the year
James Sudbury, 25, Male, Farmer, b. Buckingham, person over 20 years who cannot read or write

In 1860, George and family and his son Adam are living in two adjoining households.²

Adam Hocker, 33, Male, Miller, $0, $4600, b. Virginia
George Hocker, 50, Male, Farmer, $15,000, $13,450, b. Virginia
Evaline T. Hocker, 45, Female, b. Virginia
George [W?] Hocker, 29, Male, Manager, b. Virginia
Edmund T. Hocker, 24, Male, b. Virginia
Margaret G. Hocker, 22, Female, b. Virginia

I haven’t been able to locate [Amos] Howell in the 1860 census. Since Adam’s age is more in line with Howell’s from the 1850, I’ve wondered if this is not Adam, but Howell, but census ages are notoriously inaccurate, so…

In 1870, I’ve found Amos Howell Hocker. He was working as a farm manager in 1870 in Maysville, Buckingham County, Virginia.³ But I haven’t been able to locate Adam in 1870.

The 1850 census is the only record I’ve seen of there being two sons of George named Adam and Amos Howell. In my most frustrated moments, I’ve wondered if there really were actually two sons. Since I can’t find both of them in census records in the same year after 1850…

Well, I may have found my answer. Searching the web for random mentions of either, I hit upon “Buckingham County: The Battle of Rich Mountain” on the slate river ramblings… website. It quotes a speech supposedly prepared in 1884 in which the name “Adam Hocker” is listed amongst those Buckingham County men killed at the Battle of Rich Mountain on 11 Jul 1861.

Adam, an unmarried man in 1860, would have been likely to volunteer to fight a year later. If he died in 1861, that would explain why I’ve never found him in later census records.

Next steps: to prove that Adam joined Company E of the 20th Virginia Infantry (Lee’s Guards).

Category: Family

About Adam and Mary

Religion

Conclusion

Update