Year: 2011

Lancaster County Hoover Will Abstracts

Kris Hocker on 1 May 2011

During a visit to the Pennsylvania State Archives, I made copies of Huber/Hoover wills up through the early 1800s. I’ve transcribed some of those wills and added them to this site. I also abstracted a number of Huber/Hoover wills, as follows:

Esther Huber, Martic Township1
5 Dec 1828, 15 Mar 1832
Sisters: Barbara, Christina, Susanna
Nephew: Peter Huber of Martic twp.
Executor: Peter Huber

Henry Huber, East Donegal Township2
29 Dec 1836, 28 Feb 1837
Mother: Christiana Huber
Sister: Catharine Miller
Niece & Nephew: Barbara Hertzler, John Hertzler (Guardian: Nathaniel Wilson)
Executor: Nathaniel Wilson

Barbara Huber, Martic Township3
5 Dec 1828, 16 Jun 1841
Sisters: Esther, Christianna, Susanna
Nephew: Peter Huber of Martic
Executor: Peter Huber
Letters test. were granted to Abraham Herr 29 Jun 1841, the executor having renounced.

Abraham Huber, Lampeter Township4
31 May 1842, 30 Sep 1843
Wife: Ann
Children: John, Levi, Elizabeth wife of Abraham Harnish, Mary wife of John Huber, Catharine wife of John Yordy
Grandchildren: Levi Kneisley, Mary Kneisley wife of Benjamin Huber, Elizabeth Kneisley (children of Ann, dec’d)
Executor: John and Levi Huber

Joseph Huber, Earl Township5
16 Sep 1844, 21 Nov 1844
Wife: Magdalena
Children: Daniel, Isaac, Leah wife of David Martin, Sarah wife of Samuel Weaver, Elizabeth wife of George Shaeffer
Friends: Christian Musselman and Daniel Rife
Executor: sons-in-law David Martin and Samuel Weaver

Feronica “Frainey” Huber, West Earl Township6
5 Jan 1839, 27 Jun 1845
Husband: Samuel Huber of W. Earl
Father: Marks Groff of W. Earl
Children: Samuel, Fanny, Susanna wife of Henry Burkhart, Jacob Huber
Brother-in-law: John Huber
Executors: brother-in-law John Huber and son-in-law Henry Burkhart

George Hoover, Lancaster City7
23 Jul 1832, 7 Sep 1846
Wife: Catharine
Children: Michael, George, Mary wife of George Ziegler, Christianna wife of Jacob Lantz, Joseph, Barbara, Sophia
Executor: Michael Hoover and son-in-law Jacob Lantz

John Hoover, Lancaster City8
n/a, 28 Nov 1846
Wife: Elizabeth
Executor: Elizabeth

Michael Huber, Lancaster City9
2 Jun 1847, 11 Jun 1847
Wife: Anna
Children: Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Henry, George Michael, Philip Allen
Executor: Anna Huber & brother-in-law Adam Dellet

Michael Hoover (tailor), Lancaster City10
13 May 1847, 16 Jun 1847
Wife: Hetty
Children: Samuel Henry, Francis Lewis, John Atlee, Christianna (mother named Anna)
Executor: Godfried Zahn and Daniel Ritz

George Hoover, Lancaster City11
1 Oct 1841, 31 Dec 1849
Wife: Elizabeth
No children named
Letters of administration granted to Peter Hoover

Henry Hoover, West Lampeter Township12
18 Jan 1849, 18 Jan 1850
Wife: Feronica
Children: Christian, David, Matty, Susan wife of Peter Huber
Executor: Christian and David Huber

Preserve and Honor

Kris Hocker on 30 Apr 2011

Preserve and Honor screenshot

A teenager named Ricky Gilleland has created a digitized record of the graves of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His website—Preserve and Honor—allows you to enter the name, branch of service, date of birth and date of death of the fallen to search for their gravestone and burial location.

Preserve and Honor screenshot

Preserve and Honor results page screenshot

The results provide all that information, plus a photo of the grave marker, the location of the grave and a link to the soldiers obituary. The site is beautifully and respectfully done and is a tribute to our fallen soldiers. Excellent job, Ricky!

Read about this on Dick Eastman’s blog or the full story in the Los Angeles Times.

Oakland County, Michigan Tax Records

Kris Hocker on 22 Apr 2011

The Oakland County Historical Society has announced that they’ve digitized and indexed tax assessment records for 1884, 1890 and 1894 for Brandon Township, Oakland County, Michigan. The announcement states:

“The Oakland County Genealogical Society (OCGS) has digitized the 1884, 1890, and 1894 tax assessment rolls for Brandon Township, Oakland County Michigan. Volunteers created an index of the names in the records, and the index is available on the Society’s website at http://www.ocgsmi.org. The index and images are also available at the Oakland County Historical Resources website at http://www.OaklandCountyHistory.org. The digitization was funded from the Society’s Ruth S. Kennedy Oakland County Records Preservation Fund.

The release of the databases marks the beginning of the Society’s 1890 Census Substitute Project, which focuses on locating and digitizing Oakland County records created between 1884 and 1894. The 1884 and 1894 State of Michigan Census for Oakland County and the Federal Census for 1890 for Michigan no longer exist, so replacement data is very useful to genealogical researchers.

The OCGS Board of Directors has allocated an additional $3,000 from the Kennedy Fund to continue the 1890 Census Substitute Project. Custodians of Oakland County records which are suitable for inclusion in the project are encouraged to contact the project director, Pamela Epple, at 1890sub[at]ocgsmi.org. Donations to the Kennedy Fund are appreciated, and may be made with a check to OCGS at the Society address.

Founded in 1977, the Oakland County Genealogical Society is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to locating, publishing and safeguarding public and private genealogical records; and to encouraging and instructing in the science of genealogical research and compilation through workshops, sharing, and other educational means. Donations, gifts and legacies are tax deductible. OCGS meets at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Troy, Michigan, a meeting schedule and more information are available on the Society website at http://www.ocgsmi.org. The Society is a charter member of Oakland County Historical Resources.

OaklandCountyHistory.org is the work of Oakland County Historical Resources (OCHR), a 501(c)(3) consortium of libraries, genealogical and historical societies, which seeks historical materials pertaining to Oakland County, Michigan to make them searchable and accessible to the public. OCGS is a member. OCHR offers affordable membership options to organizations dedicated to preserving Oakland County history. Please contact Linda Sickles, director of the Orion Township Public Library for membership information, (248) 693-3000.”

Wordless Wednesday: Wieder Anniversary

Kris Hocker on 13 Apr 2011

Edwin and Mae (Waage) Wieder
Edwin and Mae (Waage) Wieder

Edwin and Mae (Waage) Wieder at 50th Wedding Anniversary

In honor of my great-grandparents wedding anniversary next Tuesday, April 19th…

Edwin J. Wieder, son of Emanuel J. and Alavesta (Dillinger) Wieder, married Mary Catharine “Mae” Waage, daughter of Dr. Charles Theodore and Lydia S. (Eshbach) Waage, on 19 Apr 1905 at Dr. Waage’s home in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The couple had 55 years together before Edwin’s death on 22 Jan 1960 at age 79. Mae lived another ten years, dieing on 28 Nov 1970 at age 93.

The photo shows them on the 50th wedding anniversary on 19 Apr 1955. Their anniversary was written up in the Town and Country on 20 Apr 1955.

Friday Finds: Order LDS Films Online (Soon?)

Kris Hocker on 8 Apr 2011

I’ve known that you could order microfilm online from the Church of the Latter Day Saint’s FamilySearch if you lived in Australia for a little while. Now, however, if you live in Utah you can do it, too. And it’ll soon be available to the rest of us in the United States.

“You can sit at home and order microfilms and microfiche from FamilySearch in Salt Lake City. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection and a user ID, which is free.

The films and fiche will be delivered to a Family History Center near you and you will be notified when they arrive. You then must go to the Family History Center and use the microfilm and microfiche readers there to view the materials.”

This makes so much sense to me. I haven’t actually ordered films in recent years because of the inconvenience—having to drive to the nearest Family History Center—over 30 minutes away—to spend mere minutes writing up the order and paying for it. Then driving back down when the microfilm arrived. There are so many other avenues of research I can follow from home that I couldn’t be bothered. Now I’ll be able to conveniently follow-up on research that I’d tabled due to the inconvenience factor. Yay!

Update: This has been available for some time now. I’ve been ordering films from them and having them sent to a local library that is part of the FHL’s program. It’s incredibly convenient and—except for one bobble that was quickly corrected—has been a smooth and reliable process!

Christian Hoover’s Civil War Draft Registration

Kris Hocker on 7 Apr 2011

Christian Hoover Civil War Draft Registration

Years ago I found reference to a Christian Hoover of Gaskill Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania who was drafted along with Augustus Kinter and Samuel T. Hoover during the Civil War.1 I’ve always wondered if this were my ancestor Christian Hoover. Today, I may have found my answer.

Christian’s sons Simon and George Hoover were born in Jefferson County.2,3 It’s extremely likely that his other sons were, too. I found Caroline Hoover and her sons Reuben and Samuel living in Henderson Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania in the 1860 United States Census.4 The head of household is listed as Catharine Hoover.

Catharine Hoover household 1860 census

Catharine Hoover household, 1860 US Census

This places the family in Jefferson County, but adds a mystery. Where is Christian and why is his family living with Catharine Hoover? Who is Catharine Hoover? I’ve yet to answer any of these questions…

But I’m now reasonably sure that the Christian Hoover drafted from Gaskill Township was my ancestor.

Christian Hoover Civil War Draft Registration

Christian Hoover, 1865 Civil War Draft Registration

This image is the draft registration record for Christian Hoover of Gaskill Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.5 It states that he was 44 years old, with gray(?) eyes, brown hair, and fair skin, standing 5′ 11″ tall. This description is a reasonably good match to the one image we have of Christian (see below). I believe the record date was 11 Apr 1865.

Christian L. Hoover

Christian L. Hoover (ca 1820—1 Oct 1887)

According to the record, he was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and was a farmer. His age and birth in Armstrong County makes him a likely match to the son of Philip and Hannah (Thomas) Hoover, my presumptive ancestors. Since my GGG grandfather’s sons were born in Jefferson County, his family was living in Jefferson County in 1860, and he was likely born in Armstrong County, this record is likely a match to him, as well.6

Later in the list are both Samuel T. Hoover and Augustus Kinter. Samuel T. Hoover was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Thomas) Hoover, brother and sister respectively of Philip and Hannah (Thomas) Hoover. My GGG grandfather named his second son Samuel Thomas Hoover, possibly after this cousin. Augustus Kinter was likely a relative of Samuel T. Hoover’s wife Christianna Kinter.

Ancestry.com’s Civil War databases are available for free from Thursday, April 7th through Thursday, April 14th to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Wordless Wednesday: Wedding Photo

Kris Hocker on 6 Apr 2011

Russ and Mildred Greulich
Russ and Mildred Greulich

Russ and Mildred Greulich, 1937

A wedding photo taken on 12 Jun 1937 in front of the Grace Lutheran Church in Norristown. It includes (L to R): Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bobb, Edwin J. and Mary Catharine “Mae” (Waage) Wieder (parents of the bride), Gertrude Wieder (bride’s sister), Mildred (Wieder) Greulich, Russell Greulich, Lillian Witmer (Snyder) Greulich (groom’s mother), Helen Wieder (bride’s sister), Elmer Greulich (groom’s father), and ??.

Lizzie Bobb was a first cousin to Lydia (Eschbach) Waage, Mary Catharine (Waage) Wieder’s mother. She was, I believe, a daughter of Abraham H. and Margaretha Rebecca (Moyer) Bobb.  There was a significant age gap between Lydia and Lizzie, placing Lizzie’s age closer to Mary Catharine’s. Lizzie can be found in many of the family photos.

Wordless Wednesday: E.J. Wieder Family

Kris Hocker on 30 Mar 2011

Emanuel Wieder Family ca 1905
Emanuel Wieder Family ca 1905

Emanuel Wieder Family ca 1905

A family portrait of the Emanuel John and Alavesta (Dillinger) Wieder family. (L to R) John William Wieder, Emanuel John Wieder, Cora Anna (Wieder) Trumbore, Alavesta Esther (Dillinger) Wieder, and Edwin Joshua Wieder.

Photo courtesy of John William Wieder Jr., son of John William and Katharine Jane (Greulich) Wieder, and grandson of Emanuel and Alavesta (Dillinger) Wieder.