Tag: Gravestones

Tombstone Tuesday: Reuben and Emma Hoover

Kris Hocker on 17 May 2011

Reuben and Emma Hoover gravestone
Reuben and Emma Hoover gravestone

Reuben and Emma Hoover gravestone

Reuben Hart Hoover, eldest son of Christian and Caroline (Kinnard) Hoover was born in 1854, probably in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and died 5 Mar 1900 of consumption. He married about 1875 Emma Clara Coleburn, born Mar 1845 and died 12 Sep 1912. They are both buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Karthaus Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.

This couple had 6 children: Caroline Elizabeth (1876-1938), Sarah Victoria (1877-1959), Mary Jane (1879-1943), Lucretia Irene (1882-1961), Martha Priscilla (1885-1970), and Daniel Edgar (1887-1966).

A Grave Matter

Kris Hocker on 30 Aug 2010

Jacob and Catharine Ritter had nine children who all died between 1834 and 1852, none older than 2 years. They—and other family members—were all buried in the family cemetery on the family farm. Unfortunately, no one is quite certain where the cemetery was located.

In June construction crews working on a development in Penn Township, Lancaster County uncovered 21 gravestones for Ritter children and other members of the Ritter, Longenecker, Wolff and Minnich families, wood and what may be bone. The stones were all stacked on top of one another, indicating that they’d been moved at some time, possibly in order to till the plot. Work at the site immediately stopped.

Now it’s time to decide what to do with the remains. The final decision may be based on determining where the cemetery actually was. So far, the lawyers for the developer have not been able to find a record of the cemetery. The farm was owned in 1869 by Jacob Ritter and in 1879 by Peter Longenecker. Through deeds they’ve determined that some of Peter Longenecker’s heirs were Minnichs. They attempted to contact possible relatives in the area via mailing, but received no response.

The developer would like to move the headstones to Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery, 12 miles away. Grave Concern believes the burial site should be preserved and would like the area fenced off. A Lancaster County Judge has asked them to look into a compromise. A Penn Township manager has suggested the artifacts could be moved to one of two lots on the site that were slated to remain open ground.

What do you think they should do?

For more information you can view an article in the Harrisburg Patriot-News or a follow-up in the Lancaster Intelligencer.

Tombstone Tuesday: Martin Hocker (1768-1862)

Kris Hocker on 6 Oct 2009

Gravestone of Martin HOCKER (1768—1862)

Gravestone of Martin HOCKER (1768—1862)

Martin HOCKER, son of Johann “Hans” Adam HACKER and Maria Elisabetha WEIDMAN, was born 21 Oct 1768 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died 25 Apr 1862 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, aged 93 years, 6 months and 4 days. He was buried in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church cemetery in Hummelstown, Derry Township, Dauphin County. Hockersville in Derry Township was named after Martin.

He married twice, first on 22 Mar 1799 to Christiana BEINHAUER, daughter of Peter BEINHAUER and Christina STOBER, and second in 1809 to Barbara SMITH. Martin and Christiana had five children: John Peter, Catharine, Johannes “John”, George, and Christiana. Martin and Barbara had nine children: Elizabeth, Martin, Mary, Jacob, Susannah, Sarah, Anna, Barbara, and Magdalena.

Tombstone: Martin K Hacker (1850—1906)

Kris Hocker on 10 Jul 2009

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.

Tombstone Tuesday: Catharina Stober (1766—1834)

Kris Hocker on 7 Jul 2009

Catharina STOBER (1766—1834)

Catharina STOBER (1766—1834)

Catharina (HAUSHALTER) STOBER, daughter of Lorentz and Anna Margaretha (HACKER) HAUSHALTER,  was born 17 Feb 1766 in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and died 5 May 1834 in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. She was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Brickerville, Pennsylvania.

She married about 1783 Johan George STOBER.

Tombstone: Susanna Scherb (1774—1844)

Kris Hocker on 2 Jul 2009

Susanna SCHERB (1774—1844)

Susanna SCHERB (1774—1844)

Susanna (HAUSHALTER) SCHERB, was the daughter of Lorentz and Anna Margaretha (HACKER) HAUSHALTER. She was born 14 Sep 1774 in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and died 17 Apr 1844 in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. She was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Brickerville, Pennsylvania.

She was the wife of George SCHERB (1788—1850), who was also buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, along with his second wife Hannah MILLER (1795—1862). George and Susanna may have had a daughter Susanna who married Daniel Kern in 1820 in York county, Pennsylvania.

Tombstone Tuesday: Jacob Hacker (1791—1847)

Kris Hocker on 21 Apr 2009

Jacob Hacker (1791—1847)

Jacob Hacker (1791—1847)

Jacob HACKER, son of Frederick and Catharina (FUCHS) HACKER, was born 23 May 1791 in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He was christened 26 Jun 1791 in the Emanuel Lutheran Church, Brickerville, Warwick township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

He married twice, first to Catharina STEINER, daughter of Frederick and Catherine (___) STEINER, on 23 Aug 1818, and second to Christiana SPED/SPAYD/SPADE, daughter of George and Anna Maria (___) SPADE, on 1 Jan 1824.

Jacob HACKER died 1 Feb 1847 in Elizabeth township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville, Warwick township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania with his first wife.

Tuesday Tombstone: Christiana Miller (1778—1858)

Kris Hocker on 14 Apr 2009

Christiana (Miller) Hocker (1778—1858)

Christiana (Miller) Hocker (1778—1858)

Christiana MILLER, daughter of Christopher and Maria Barbara (STOBER) MUELLER, was born 1 Jan 1778 in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and died 29 Oct 1858. She was the wife of George HOCKER, son of Johan “Hans” Adam and Maria Elisabetha (WEIDMAN) HACKER. Christiana was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church (originally the Warwick Congregation) Cemetery in Brickerville, Pennsylvania.

Tuesday Tombstone: George Hocker (1766-1846)

Kris Hocker on 7 Apr 2009

George HACKER (1766—1846)

George HACKER (1766—1846)

George HOCKER, son of Johan “Hans” Adam and Maria Elisabetha (WEIDMAN) HACKER, was born 9 Oct 1776 in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and died 12 Sep 1846, age 79 years, 11 months, 3 days. He was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Brickerville, Pennsylvania.