Archives: Biographies

Johannes “Hans” Frantz was likely born by 1721, possibly in Pennsylvania. He may have been the son of Hans Frantz, the 1717 immigrant who was taxed at Conestoga in 1718¹ and likely died in Manor Township in 1767. He died in Manor Township sometime between 3 March 1786 when he wrote his last will and testament and 10 February 1787 when it was proven.²

Hans [Jr.] married Catharina (___), most likely prior to 1742.³ Not much is known about her. She was likely already deceased by late 1785. She was not included in a deed dated 7 November 1785 when Hans’ sold his land to son Jacob, nor was she named in Hans’ will in March 1786.

Frantz Manor tract

In 1746/7 Hans purchased 166 acres in Manor Township from Christian and Barbara Frantz for £350.⁴ The tract, I believe, was the so-called mansion tract, where the family lived. He was likely the John taxed at Manor in 1751.⁵

On 18 May 1761, Hans’ purchased 175 acres in Donegal Township from David and Grace Caldwell.⁶ He bought 296 acres in Donegal from Simon Snyder on 23 August 1769.⁷ Hans purchased “Chestnut Hall” in Londonderry Township from John Chestnut on 8 May 1775.⁸

Simon Snyder Donegal tract

On 27 December 1783, Hans sold one of the Donegal tracts to Christian Frantz.⁹ Nearly two years later on 12 March 1785, Hans sold one of the Donegal tracts to John Frantz Jr.¹⁰ In April, Hans and Catharina sold “Chestnut Hall” to their son Michael.¹¹ The following November, Hans sold the mansion tract in Manor Township to Jacob Frantz.¹²

Hans wrote his last will and testament on 3 March 1786.¹³ In it he bequeaths £500 to his four sons John, Christian, Jacob, and Michael which they had already received in the form of real estate property, sold below market value. He left his daughter Elizabeth £570 in gold or silver, to be made up out of his estate as soon as possible. Any remaining portion of his estate was to be equally divided amongst his five children. Hans named his friend Jacob Brubaker and son Jacob Frantz as his executors. The will was witnessed by his neighbors Jacob Kilhoffer and John Kilhoffer.

Caldwell Donegal tract

Hans had served as guardian to Magdalena, Jacob and Anna Kilhoffer of Manor Township as of 5 June 1765, when their father Heinrich Kilhoffer died intestate.¹⁴ Guardians are usually selected from amongst family members, so perhaps their was some relationship between the Frantz and Kilhoffer families beyond that of merely neighbors. Heinrich Kilhoffer was married to Barbara Stauffer and did not have a daughter named Catharine.

Children of Hans and Catharina (___) Frantz:

1. Michael Frantz was born about 1742 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died sometime before 17 October 1797 in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County. He married Feronica “Fannie” Nissley, daughter of Johannes “Hans” Nissley and Maria Siegrist, by 1779. She was born in 1759 and died in 1813.
2. Johannes Frantz was born 15 December 1749 in Manor Township and died October 1821 in Warwick Township. He married Maria Elisabetha Hostetter, daughter of Jacob and Anna Elisabetha (Hershey) Hostetter, by 1773. She was born before 1755 and died after 1820.
3. Christian Frantz was born 14 March 1752 in Manor Township and died 5 January 1828 in Manheim Township. He married Maria Long, daughter of John and Anna (___) Long, by 1778. She was born 16 December 1754 and died 18 Jan 1826 in Manheim Township.
4. Jacob Frantz was born 25 September 1775 in Manor Township and died 14 May 1799 in Lampeter Township. He married Barbara Hostetter, daughter of Jacob and Anna Elisabetha (Hershey) Hostetter, by 1778. She was born 28 October 1752 and died 4 October 1791. He next married Maria Nissley by mid 1796.
5. Elizabeth Frantz was the only surviving daughter. No more is known about her.

Christopher⁵ Weidman (Johann Martin⁴,Johann Matthias³, Johann Peter², Hans¹), son of Johann Martin and Anna Margaretha (Still) Weidman, was born 7 February 1724 and baptized the same day in the protestant church in Gräben, Baden-Durlach.¹ He died before 10 December 1794 in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.² He married Anna Maria (___), possibly Adams, in Lancaster County.³ She died sometime between 28 May 1780⁴ and 8 November 1785 when Christopher married Barbara Bricker, widow of Christian Bricker.⁵ Barbara died in Dauphin County prior to 20 February 1826.⁶

Christopher spent the first eight years of his life in the village of Gräben in Baden-Durlach. In early 1733, his parents and grandparents made the decision to immigrate to the new world. The family travelled down the Rhine to Rotterdam and there took ship to Pennsylvania. They arrived on board the ship Elizabeth on 27 August 1733 in Philadelphia. By the following spring, they were living in Lancaster County where both his father and grandfather had patented land.⁷

By 1753, Christopher was married and his first known child was born. He may have been the “Christopher Wittman” who married “Mary Adams” at Muddy Creek Lutheran Church on 20 Jun 1748.⁸ However, there was a Christopher Witman Jr., son of Christopher Witman, who owned land on Muddy Creek in Cocalico and Brecknock Townships⁹ who married a daughter of William Adams.¹⁰ This Unknown [possibly Mary] (Adams) Witman had two sons—John and Willam—and was deceased by 1753.¹¹ Christopher Witman died in Reading, Berks County in 1778.¹²

Whatever date he married, Christopher Weidman was married to Anna Maria (___), most likely by the birth of his son Christopher Jr. on 16 October 1753.¹³ The child was baptized on 16 December 1753 at the Warwick congregation by John Theophillus England. His aunt Elisabetha and her husband Adam Hacker were his sponsors. Christopher and (most likely) Anna Maria had at least three additional children: John, Catharina and Anna Maria.¹⁴ He married Barbara Bricker, widow of Christian Bricker, on 8 November 1785.¹⁵

In 1758, Christopher warranted 128 1/2 acres on Middle Creek on 10 May.¹⁶ It had been originally warranted to Christian Weaver 3 June 1741, was surveyed to Christopher on 3 April 1758, and patented to him 4 April 1784. This tract adjoined Jacob Springer, George Whitman, Christian Stapler, George Wyman, Henry Hoyle, John Schadt, and Oswald Hostetter.

On 2 July 1762, Christopher’s father Martin sold 236 acres of his 336-acre tract on Middle Creek to his three sons: Christopher, Wendel and Jacob to be divided equally between them.¹⁷ On 2 July 1762, Christopher and his father purchased an adjoining tract of 169 acres in Elizabeth (now Clay) Township from Michael Maurer.¹⁸

Christopher’s father Martin died sometime in 1768. Christopher and his brother served as executors of the estate. They filed an inventory in German in 1768 and their administrator’s account in 1770.¹⁹ The balance on the estate was distributed to Christopher and his siblings in December 1770.²⁰

On 30 April 1782, Christopher Weidman and Bernard Gartner patented the Maurer tract and partitioned it five years later on 11 April 1787.²¹ Bernard Gartner sold his 84 acres on the same day to John Erb.²² Since Bernard sold his other lands to Christopher’s brother Jacob on this date, it was likely that his family was preparing to move to Hanover Township, Dauphin County about this time.

Like his father, Christopher was active in his community and his church. He and his wife Anna Maria served as a baptismal sponsors for Anna Maria Enck in 1760,²³ Fridrich Wächter in 1763,²⁴ John Laber in 1769,²⁵ Catharina Illig in 1774,²⁶ Christopher Rogh in 1776,²⁷ and their granddaughter Elisabetha Stichel in 1777.²⁸

In 1782, Christopher Weidman served as guardian to Christopher and Maria Horning, two minor children of Wendel Horning, the father of Christopher’s daughter-in-law Eva, and in 1783 their brother Conrad.²⁹ With Jacob Weidman he served as security for his son Christopher when he petitioned the Orphans Court to be awarded Wendel Horning’s land in Warwick Township in 1784.³⁰

Christopher died before 10 December 1794, possibly on 19 April.³¹ Christopher’s last will and testament named his wife Anna Maria, sons Christopher and John, and daughters Catharine and Anna Maria. He left his “beloved wife Anna Maria the sum of twelve hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania yearly during the term of her natural life, and also I give my said wife one bed and bedstead one of my best cows to be kept in fodder on my estate during the term of her natural life one little wheel and one large wheel and a chest of drawers and also six pewter plates six spoons one tea ettle one large kettle, and one iron pot, and further I give unto my say wife my youngest molata girl named Margaret during the term of her natural life.” He left specific bequests for his daughters and granted the residue of this personal and real estate to his sons as tenants-in-common.³²

As executors of the estate, his sons Christopher Weidman Jr. and John Weidman filed an extensive inventory in 1794 and their administration account in 1796.³³ On 17 July 1797, Barbara Weidman, widow and relict of Christopher Weidman Sr., sold her one-third dower share in the real and personal estate of her late husband to her son Jacob Bricker of Heidelberg Township, Dauphin County for £200.³⁴

Christopher died in possession of three tracts of land: 128 1/2 acres, an adjoining tract of 39 acres, and 84 acres, part of the 169 acre Maurer tract patented with Bernard Gardner in 1782.³⁵ An Orphans Court of 12 November 1798 awarded these tracts of land and mill to Christopher Weidman Jr. with the proviso that he pay the other heirs for their shares.³⁶ Christopher Strichel and his wife Catharine Weidman sold their share of the estate on 21 December 1798 to Catharine’s brother John.³⁷ At the time, they were living in Virginia. On 15 February 1804, Abraham Farney and his wife Maria Weidman sold their share of the estate to her brother Christopher.³⁸

Children of Christopher and Anna Maria (Adams) Weidman:

1. Christopher⁶ Weidman was born 16 Oct 1753 in Cocalico Township and died 4 December 1824. He was buried in the Trinity Lutheran Church cemetery in New Holland, Earl Township, Lancaster County. By 2 September 1783, he married Eva Horning, daughter of Wendel Horning of Warwick Township.
2. John Weidman was born 4 Jun 1756 in Cocalico Township and died 9 June 1830 in Hanover Township, Lebanon County. He married Catharine Mason of Philadelphia. She was born 16 February 1763 and died 8 October 1794 in Lebanon County.
3. Catharine Weidman married Christopher Strichel on 5 November 1775 at Reiher’s Reformed Church in Cocalico Township.
4. Anna Maria Weidman was born 7 March 1760 in Cocalico Township and died 23 May 1835. She was buried in the Forney graveyard in Brownstown in Earl Township. She married Abraham Forney, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Spurgeon) Forney, by 1791. He was born 15 August 1758 and died 18 January 1821 in Brownstown.

Johann Martin⁴ (Johann Matthias³, Johann Peter², Hans¹), son of Johann Matthias and Anna Catharina (Scholl) Weidman, was born on 4 October 1698 in Gräben, Baden-Durlach and baptized the next day in the Gräben Evangelische church.¹ He died sometime between 14 October 1767² when he sold land to his son-in-law Bernard Gärtner and 11 October 1768 when his last will and testament was proven in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania colony.³ He married Anna Margaretha Still, daughter of Hans Heinrich and Anna Barbara (Munck) Still, also of Gräben on 9 February 1723.⁴ Margaretha was born 19 May and baptized on 20 May 1703 in the village’s Protestant church.⁵ She died sometime after 5 December 1770 in Cocalico Township.⁶

Figure 1: Ship’s list signatures of Matthias Weidman and Heinrich Still, Martin’s father-in-law

Martin, like his father, was a farmer in Germany.⁷ Farmers were near the top of the social and economic strata in Germany.⁸ Martin’s grandfather had been a “citizen and procurator” for Gräben, a position of some importance in local government. His mother was the daughter of an anwalt and granddaughter of a former schultheiss of Gräben.⁹ So, the Weidmans were most likely amongst the most prominent citizens of Gräben. That did not change after they immigrated to Pennsylvania.

Figure 2: Tract warranted by Martin Weidman in 1734

In 1733, Martin, his father, father-in-law, and other family members left Germany via Rotterdam on board the ship Elizabeth, arriving in Philadelphia on 27 August 1733.¹⁰ His wife Margaretha was pregnant during the voyage and I imagine the trip across the ocean was anything but pleasant for her.

On 23 March 1734, Martin warranted 200 acres in Warwick (now Penn) Township.¹¹(see Figure 2) He apparently didn’t settle on this land as it was surveyed to Jacob Eub in 5 July 1740¹² and later warranted to Nicholas Marret.¹³ Martin’s father also warranted 200 acres on 23 March 1734.¹⁴ His land, however, was located in what is today Clay Township. He died before it was patented and it was later patented to Lorentz Haushalter.¹⁵

On 26 October 1745, Martin warranted 387 acres on Cocalico Creek in Cocalico (now Clay) Township.¹⁶(see Figure 3) This land had been surveyed on 4 January 1733 to Valentine Miller and adjoined land of Jacob Graff, George Albert, and Peter Baker.¹⁷ It was patented to Martin on 10 December 1745.¹⁸ He warranted another 336 acres further north on Middle Creek, adjoining Henry Stiegle, Jacob Giles, John Weaver, and Michael Mowrer, on 13 February 1748  and had it surveyed on 22 May 1762.¹⁹(see Figure 4) Pieces of this land were later surveyed and patented to George Weidman, Peter Weidman, and Robert Coleman.

Figure 3: Martin Weidman’s 1745 and 1749 warranted tracts in Clay Township

In 1749, Martin warranted on 30 March 104 acres on Cocalico Creek, adjoining the 387 acres he’d warranted in 1745.²⁰ This land had been previously warranted in 1733 to Michael Kitch, who died prior to 1743.²¹ Michael Shank patented the land in 1750.²² Martin also warranted 80 acres adjoining his 1745 tract on 25 March 1758, surveyed in on 4 April, then patented it on 17 September 1763.²³(see Figure 5)

Martin and his wife Margaretha sold to Abraham Brubaker on 16 November 1757 172 1/4 acres of the 387-acre tract that Martin had warranted in 1745 for £700.²⁴ On 2 July 1762, Martin sold 236 acres of his 336-acre tract on Middle Creek to his three sons: Christopher, Wendel and Jacob to be divided equally between them.²⁵ Wendel Weidman sold his share of this property to James Old on 1 February 1764 when he was living in Plymouth Township, Philadelphia County.²⁶ Jacob Weidman purchased from his parents 214 1/2 acres on 13 June 1766 for £900.²⁷ This was part of the 387-acre warranted lands and adjoined land Martin had sold to Abraham Brubaker in 1757. On 13 June 1766, Martin also sold his 80-acre tract to son-in-law Bernard Gartner.²⁸ On 14 December 1767, Martin sold Gartner one half moiety (share) of 153 acres in Elizabeth (now Clay) Township which Martin and his son Christopher had purchased from Michael Maurer on 2 July 1762.²⁹ This tract was patented to Christopher Weidman and Bernard Gartner on 30 April 1782 and they partitioned it on 11 April 1787.³⁰ Bernard Gartner sold his 84 acres on the same day to John Erb.

Figure 4: Weidman’s 336 acre tract and 169 acres purchased with son Christopher

Martin was active in his church and community. He was named as a church trustee for the Warwick congregation on 24 February 1745 with Leonhard Mueller, George Albert, and David Behler and stood as a sponsor for children of Johann Christian Kling, Stephen Lauman (or Baumann), Balthasar Süss, Heinrich Heÿl, and Simon Merckle, among others.³¹

Martin signed his last will and testament on 6 June 1766.³² In it he left the interest of one third of his personal estate to his “beloved wife Margaretha” for her natural life, and added that she should have “use of my best bed and all my Linnen” and “the use of my best cow to by kept in fother by my son Jacob shall provide her with firewood during her life.” His son Christopher received £50 instead of his rightful double share of the estate. All of his children inherited equal shares of his estate, the children of his deceased son Wendell receiving their father’s share. Jacob was to pay £900 that he owed his father to his siblings in £60 yearly installments, one year to Christopher, then next to Elisabetha, etc. until the full amount was paid. This was likely the money he owed for the 214 1/2 acres he was to purchase from his father seven days later. By the time of his death, Martin had sold all of his land, most of it going to his sons—Christopher, Wendel and Jacob—or son-in-law, Bernhardt Gärtner.

Figure 5: 80 acres warranted in 1758

Martin’s will was proven 11 October 1768 and letters testamentary were issued to his executors, sons Christopher and Jacob. The Lancaster County Orphans Court held on 5 December 1770 recorded the payment distribution from Martin’s estate to his widow Margaretha, eldest son Christopher, son Jacob, daughter Elizabeth wife of Adam Hacker, daughter Margaret wife of George Hacker, daughter Catharine wife of George Wächter, daughter Barbara wife of Bernhard Gärtner, and the [unnamed] children of son Wendel, deceased.³³

Children of Martin and Anna Margaretha (Still) Weidman:

1. Christopher⁵ Weidman was born 7 February 1724 and baptized the same day in the protestant church in Gräben, Baden-Durlach. He died before 10 December 1794 in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Anna Maria (___). She died sometime between 28 May 1780 when she last took Communion at Emanuel Lutheran and 8 November 1785 when he married Barbara (Kissinger) Bricher.
2. Wendell Weidman was born 15 August 1726 and baptized the same day in Gräben. He was aged six when the family emigrated in 1733. He died prior to 23 February 1766, when he was buried, in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania colony. He married Esther (___) and had children, including a son Johan Wendel born in 1765, in Pennsylvania.
3. Matheus Weidman was born 21 March 1729 and baptized the same day in Gräben. He was aged 3 1/2 when the family emigrated in 1733 and was alive when they landed in Philadelphia. He is not mentioned in his father’s last will and testament, so it is likely he died prior to 6 June 1776 without heirs.
4. Maria Elisabetha Weidman was born and baptized 13 January 1731 in Gräben. She was aged two when the family emigrated in 1733 and died during the trip across the ocean sometime prior to 27 September 1733.
5. Maria Elisabeth Weidman was born 3 November 1733 in Lancaster County and baptized 14 November 1733 in the Muddy Creek Lutheran church, sponsored by Matthias and Catharina Weidman. She died sometime after 28 September 1806 and was likely buried on the family farm near Durlach. She married circa 1752, Johann Adam Hacker, son of Johann Christopher and Anna Margaretha (Jock) Hacker of Rußheim, Baden-Durlach and Cocalico Township. He was born 28 October 1727 in Rußheim and died in 1782 in Cocalico Township.
6. Johann Jacob Weidmann was born 12 March 1736 in Lancaster County and baptized 18 April 1736 in the Muddy Creek Lutheran church, sponsored by Johann Jacob Högie and his wife Magdalena. He died 20 December 1802 in Elizabeth Township. He married Barbara Huber, daughter of Johann Jacob Huber of Elizabeth Furnace fame and his wife Elisabetha, about 1758. She was born 15 February 1740 and died 8 October 1828. They were both buried in Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery.
7. Anna Margaretha Weidman was born 4 November 1738 in Cocalico Township and baptized 12 November 1738 in the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, sponsored by Johann George and Margaretha (Reinacher) Albert. She died 3 July 1816 at Erdenheim, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. About 1754, she married Johann Georg Hacker, son of Johann Christopher and Anna Margaretha (Jock) Hacker. He was born 14 April 1734 in Rußheim and died 14 October 1821 at Erdenheim.
8. Maria Barbara Weidman was born 8 February 1741 and baptized 11 February 1741 at the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, sponsored by Balthasar and Maria Barbara (Pfizer) Süss. She died 8 April 1802 in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County. On 14 December 1758, she married Capt. Bernhardt Gärtner. He was born in 1741 and died 27 March 1807 in East Hanover Township. They were buried in the Zion Lutheran Church cemetery in Jonestown, Lebanon County.
9. Catharina Weidman was born 6 March 1746 in Cocalico Township. She died 10 March 1807 and was buried in the Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville. About 1762, she married Johann Georg Wächter, son of Johann Michael and Elisabetha (Ochs) Wächter. He was born 23 April 1731 in Liedolsheim, Baden-Durlach and died 9 April 1803 in Cocalico Township.

Caius Frederic Sophus Waage (aka Frederick) was born 17 Aug 1797 in Schleswig, Holstein, Denmark.¹ He was the son of Claus Heinrich Waage and Catharina Dorothea Hoffmeister.² He was baptized 20 Aug 1797 and sponsored by General and Baron Cay von Ahlefeldt, Ernestine von Brokdorf, wife of the Private Counsellor, and the nobel lady Anna Sophia von Ranzau auf Güldenstein.³ On 7 April 1813, he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at the Marienkirche (St. Mary’s Church) in Flensburg in Schleswig.

He studied at the University of Kiel in Germany for six years, starting at age 16, and came to the United States in 1819.⁴

Rev. Caius Frederic Sophus Waage (1797-1884)

Once in the United States, Frederick became a minister, becoming a licentiate on 27 Aug 1822 and ordained on 10 Jun 1828.⁵ He served congregations in Bucks, Northumberland, Columbia and Lycoming counties before finally receiving charge of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church outside Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania as well as five other local churches—including New Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church outside East Greenville—on 12 May 1829. He served there until 1870 when he was succeeded by his son Rev. Oswin Frederick Waage.

Frederick was a pioneer practitioner of homeopathy in northern Montgomery County. Although he was not formerly educated in the practice, he studied the literature and obtained the remedies to attend to the welfare of his family. When his parishoners heard, they appealed to him “to give them the benefit of his skill.”⁶

Frederick Waage married about 1823 Angelina Garber. She was born about 1806 at Trappe, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Reiner) Garber.⁷

Rev. Frederick Waage died on 23 Aug 1884, at the age of eighty-seven years. He was buried on 27 Aug 1884 in the cemetery at St. Paul’s in Pennsburg with many honors. Angelina (Garber) Waage died in 1897 and was buried with her husband.

Frederick and Angelina (Garber) Waage had children:

1. Johanna “Hannah” Waage was born ca 1825 and died bef 1890.
2. Dr. Charles Theodore Waage was born 22 Oct 1827 in Milton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania and died 6 Mar 1921 in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He married twice, first to Mary Ann Heisler. The couple had four children: Ida (1854-bef 1890), Emma Josephine (1856-1869), Eugene H. (1860-aft 1930), and Charles Frederick (1862-1863). He married second Lydia S. Eshbach, daughter of Henry M. and Catherine Lydia (Bobb) Eshbach. The couple had one child: Mary Catharine (1877-1970), my great grandmother.
3. Angeline Waage married about 1850 Dr. Edwin Beiber. They had at least one child: Emma (c1854-?).
4. Emma Waage was born ca 1833 in Pennsylvania and died bef 1867, most likely in Minnesota. She married Charles Duncan Gilfillan.
5. Anndora S. Waage was born ca 1836 in Pennsylvania. She married 28 Nov 1865 in St. Paul, Minnesota, William K. Gaston. The couple had at least three children: Frederick Waage (1869-?), Martha (1870-bef 1880), and Hugh P. (1872-1964).
6. Theodora Rosalie Waage was born in Nov 1839. She married Isaac Yeakel Krauss on 8 Oct 1861. The couple had children: Nevin (ca1862-?), Elmer Frederick (1862-aft 1904), Florence Sarah (1864-Jan 1917), Edgar Anthony (1867-?), Charles Oswin (1869-?), and Isaac Walter (1878-1933).
7. Franciska S. Waage was born ca 1842/4. She married Charles Duncan Gilfillan after her older sister, Emma’s death. The couple had children: Emma K. (ca1868-?), Fannie S. (ca1871-1938), Charles O. (1872-1962), and Fred James (1874-?).
8. Oswin Frederick Waage was born 4 Feb 1845 and died 7 Aug 1919 in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He married 22 Jun 1869 Hannah Young Schelly, daughter of Dr. Joel Y. and Hannah (Young) Schelly. The couple had a son Frederick Oswin Waage on 26 Oct 1877. A doctor, he died at Fort Bliss, Texas during the influenza epidemic in 1918.
9. Atha “Addie” Waage was born 26 Apr 1847 and died 5 Oct 1928 in Pennsylvania. She was a teacher.
10. Edwin Eugene Waage was born 13 Sep 1849 and died 23 Sep 1854 in Pennsylvania.

Jacob R. Hacker was born 26 Aug 1838 in Pennsylvania, most likely Lancaster County, and died 16 Feb 1906. He was buried in Bowman’s Cemetery in Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania¹ Jacob was a farmer.

About 1870, Jacob married Sarah Ann Kissinger. She was born 6 Feb 1849 and died 26 Jul 1921. She too was buried in Bowman’s Cemetery.²

The couple had seven children, six of whom were still living in 1900:

1. Franklin K. Hacker was born in Dec 1870 and died in 1952. He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.³ Frank married Maggie Rishel. The couple had five children: Amos R., Florence M./R., Ernest G., Franklin, and Jacob.
2. Amanda K. Hacker was born about 1872. She married John S. Turner. The couple had at least one child, a daughter named Anne.
3. Jacob Hacker was born in Feb 1879. He was a meter reader for a trolley company in 1910.⁴
4. Emma Hacker was born Dec 1883. She may have married Frank Crall.
5. Annie K. Hacker was born May 1886. She married William I. Mull on 3 Dec 1904 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
6. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Hacker was born Nov 1888. She worked in a cigar factory in 1910.⁴
7. Lottie Hacker was born 27 Aug 1892 and died 11 Nov 1895. She was buried in Bowman’s Cemetery with her parents.

I am looking for information on this family so that I can determine whether or not they fit into my Hacker/Hocker family .

George² Hoover (Andrew¹) was born circa 1766, most likely in Frederick (now Washington) County, Maryland in the Leitersburg—Ringgold—Hagerstown area.¹ He died 20 May 1847 in Union Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.²

Andrew Hoover’s Union Township property

He probably came to the Fayette County area with his father and older brother sometime around 1779. When his father died in 1784, George inherited a piece of his father’s Union Township property as did his brothers John and Jacob.³  By various conveyances, he also came into possession of the land his brother Andrew Hoover and brother-in-law John Hunsaker purchased of John Waller. He sold 11 acres from this property to Jacob Herbaugh in 1796.⁴

George lived in Union Township all his life, a resident on a “parcel of land, devised to him by his father, Andrew Hoover deceased,… nearly all his life, upwards of 50 years.”⁵ George first appears in tax records for Union Township in 1787 and is still there in 1788 and 1789.⁶ The 1790 U.S. census also includes George as a head of household in Union Township with one male over 16 and 2 females.⁷ These females may possibly be his mother Catharine and older, unmarried, sister Anna.

Presumably, George married sometime after the 1790 census, quite possibly after 1796 when he sold land to Jacob Herbaugh as there is no mention of a wife in the deed.⁸ In 1800, George is still a head of household in Union Township, this time aged 26-44 with the following other members of his household:⁹

• 1 Male, age  <10
• 1 Female, age 26-44
• 1 Female, age 16-25
• 2 Females, aged <10

The youngest members of his household are quite likely his children. The two older females are most likely his wife and possibly his sister Anna, assuming she had not married. His mother had likely passed away by this time. His wife is first named in a deed from 1810 where George Hoover and wife Rosannah sold part of a lot in Uniontown to William Sullivan on 4 Jul 1810.¹⁰ They had purchased his lot from Elijah Tracy and his wife Catherine in 1809.¹¹ The couple also sold land from his father’s estate to George’s brother (presumably) John Hoover in 1811.¹²

George and family appear in the 1810 census for Union Township, as follows:¹³

• 1 Male, age 26-44
• 1 Male, age <10
• 1 Female, age 26-44
• 2 Females, age 10-15
• 4 Females, age <10

George appears as a farmer in Union Township tax records consistently from 1810 through 1825 (where I stopped looking).¹⁴ He’s also there for the 1820, 1830 and 1840 United States census enumerations.¹⁵ He died in 1847, but some of his children and grandchildren appear in the 1850 census for Union Township.¹⁶

George Hoover married Rosannah (___) circa 1796/7, presumably in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.¹⁷ Rosannah probably died sometime between 1830 and 1840, but definitely before 1847 as she is not mentioned in his estate papers.¹⁸ The couple had children, as follows:

1. Elizabeth² Hoover was born circa 1798 in Union Township. She died after 1852 when she was the executrix of her father’s estate. To the best of my knowledge, she never married.
2. Catharine Hoover was born ca 1796—1800 in Union Township and died before 1852 when her father’s estate was settled as her children were named as heirs. She married Joseph Downer/Downard circa 1820. The couple had children:
   1. Aaron Downer
   2. John Downer
   3. Jemima Downer
   4. Nathaniel Downer
   5. Joseph Downer
   6. Ann J. Downer
   7. Adventure Downer
3. John Hoover was born circa 1805 in Union Township and may have died 29 Dec 1870 in Howard, Park County, Indiana. To the best of my knowledge, John never married.
4. Sarah Hoover was born circa 1806 in Union Township and died sometime prior to 1860. She married Mark Smith before 1829. The couple had children:
   1. Eliza Smith, born circa 1829
   2. Rosanna Smith, born circa 1834
   3. George Smith, born circa 1837
   4. Martha Smith, born circa 1840
   5. Sarah L. Smith, born circa 1844
   6. Mary C. Smith, born circa 1846
   7. Emma Smith, born circa Jul 1850
5. Ann Hoover was born circa 1808 in Union Township. To the best of my knowledge she never married.
6. Rosanna Hoover was born circa 1806-1810 in Union Township and died sometime after 1831 and before the settling of her father’s estate in 1852. She had a daughter Mary who petitioned to have John Hoover as her guardian. Mary was born circa 1831 as she was 19 in the 1850 U.S. Census.
7. Mary Hoover was born circa 1806-1810 in Union Township and died sometime before 1850. She married William Carr and the couple had a daughter Jane who petitioned for John Hoover as her guardian.¹⁹ Jane was born circa 1834; she was 16 in 1850 when she was living as a member of John Hoover’s household.

George² Hoover (Michael¹) was likely born circa ca 1735-1740, possibly in Germany or Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Assuming George was 21 years of age at the birth of his first child in 1761, he was likely born by 1740.¹ Although no direct proof has been found linking him as a son of Michael Huber, a strong indirect case has been presented by Richard Hayden.² Because Michael’s will refers to a son Philip, who was residing in Germany at the time of Michael’s death, it is likely that Michael emigrated from Germany and at least some of his other children, if not all, were born there.

George died sometime between the 15th and 18th of March 1813 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. His son Christian was the executor of his estate. In the estate papers Christian lists expenses “in entertaining the friends and relatives of dec’d at the time of his sickness & burial from March 15 to March 18th, 1813.”^{3, 4} Christian was a dutiful record keeper listing the following activities and expenses on behalf of his father’s estate:

March 24, 1813: To going to Greensburg to collect money owed the estate [George Hoover vs. James Carnahan] and to get the will [interpreted?] on three days 3.50

March 30, 1813: To going to Kittanning town to take out Adm’r letters 1.00

March 31, 1813: To one day spent at the appraisement of dec’d goods 1.00

April 1 & 2: To two day attending vendue of said goods & chattels 4.00

The list continues through August 25th when he went to town to settle the estate. No will was found filed for George Hoover in Armstrong, Fayette, Greene, Washington, or Westmoreland counties, even though there apparently was one as Christian went to have it interpreted—perhaps from German on March 24th. Perhaps the will was not deemed valid as Christian had to take out letters of administration on March 30th. This would indicate that George died intestate.⁵ There was no final settlement of the estate included in the estate packet. However, the names of heirs were listed in several places within the papers.

George Hoover was likely married twice. Unfortunately, it seems he was possibly married to two women who shared the same given names—Eva Elisabeth. George married his first wife circa 1760 or before, possibly in Lancaster County. George’s first two daughters were baptized in the Hill Church in Derry Township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) County in 1761 and 1763.⁶ Although his wife’s name is not mentioned in the baptismal records of his two eldest daughters, she is named as Eva Elisabeth in the baptism record of their daughter Eva Catharina, born 22 Dec 1772.⁷ At the time of his death, he was also married to an Eve Elisabeth (___) Hoover.⁸

How does this imply that he was married twice? It doesn’t, but some research into the available records does. The estate record for Eve Hoover of Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County lists the following heirs:⁹

1. daughter Catharine, wife of Andrew Harmon
2. George [??] and wife Betsy
3. son Jacob Saundle
4. son John Saundle
5. son Valentine
6. son Christopher Saundle
7. son-in-law Jacob Wolf and wife Eve
8. son-in-law John Wolf and wife Anne

If this Eve Hoover was, in fact, George’s wife, then she was also Eve (___) Sandle, widow of Valentine Sandle. Andrew Harmon was a bondsman.

Since there is no mention of any of George’s children in this will, how can we know she was his wife? Although it’s not conclusive, Jacob and John Wolf appear not only in Eve’s will, but also in George’s estate records. First, they appear several times in the list of people who purchased items from George’s estate. Second, and more importantly, Jacob Wolf was one of the three men the widow Hoover gave bond to as security. Third, both John and Jacob Wolf appears as witnesses at the Orphans Court when Eve petitioned the Court for Christian’s account as administrator of his father’s estate.¹⁰ Additionally, I believe that Eve (___) Sandle Hoover was living with John and Anne (Sandle) Wolfe at the time of the 1820 U.S. Census enumeration. An older woman (45+) was living in John Wolf’s household in Sugarcreek Township.¹¹ Anna (Sandle) Wolfe was born 4 Mar 1796, so she was only 24, thus the 16-26 year-old female in the household.¹²

So, if Eve (___) Sandle Hoover was George’s wife at the time of his death, she was also his second wife, not the mother of his children. Eve Sandles and Gaspar Tarr were granted letters of administration on the estate of Valentine Sandles on 6 Oct 1803, placing her first husband’s death circa 1803.¹³ George and Eve could have married anytime between Valentine Sandle’s death in 1803 and 1813 when George died. No death date for George’s first wife, nor a marriage record for his second marriage have been found. George was listed in the baptismal records of St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran church as a sponsor with his wife Eva in 1807.¹⁴ And they were on the communion list of 10 Jun 1810. However, since both his wives shared the same given name, it’s impossible to know to which woman these records refer.

George Huber’s Bedford County Property

The first records we have of George Hoover in Pennsylvania are the baptism records of his daughters Catharina and Rosannah in 1761 and 1763 in Lancaster County. Some time prior to 1773, the family moved to the Hagerstown area in Maryland where daughter Eva Catharina was baptized in 1773. It is possible they were there before 1770 as George’s brother Jacob had likely left the Derry Township area for Maryland by that time.¹⁵ I have not yet found any deeds for George in Frederick or Washington counties, but his father Michael purchased a tract from Christopher Shockey near the Maryland/Pennsylvania border in 1769.¹⁶

George left Maryland sometime after his daughter’s baptism on 1 Feb 1773 and before 1 Mar 1773. George was granted a warrant for 200 acres of land, a tract he called “No More,” on Castlemans River in Turkeyfoot (now Brothersvalley) Township, Bedford (now Somerset) County on 17 Mar 1775.¹⁷ The copied survey indicates that he had begun improvements on 1 Mar 1773. George is listed on the Brothersvalley tax lists in 1774 and 1776.¹⁸

For whatever reasons, George did not stay long, moving west again by 1779. George purchased 250 acres of land on Little Champlain Creek in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County from Michael McHenry on 10 Apr 1779.¹⁹ This land was originally warranted to John Knousinger on 29 Sep 1774 and surveyed on 30 Apr 1788. George Hoover obtained a patent for this 268 acre property called “Tillingham” on 26 Feb 1799. ²⁰ He is also listed in Donegal Township tax records in 1783, 1786, 1792, and 1799.²¹ Census records also place George in Donegal Township, Westmoreland in 1790. His household in 1790 included one male over 16, four males under 16, and six females.²²

George Huber’s Salt Lick Township property

There is also a George Hoover in Bullskin Township with a household of only 1 male over 16.²³ There was a George Hoover listed in Bullskin Township tax records in 1785, 1786, 1788, and 1789, and in Salt Lick Township (formed from Bullskin) tax records in 1798 and 1799.²⁴ The tax lists of Salt Lick Township for 1800 list both Gorge [sic] and Christian Hover [sic] and indicate that they had “moved out of county.”²⁵

From this information alone, it is not possible to determine whether or not the George Hoover of Donegal Township is the same man as George Hoover of Bullskin Township or perhaps his father.

An additional 132 acres of land on Salt Lick Creek in Bullskin Township, Fayette County and Donegal Township, Westmoreland County were warranted to a George Hoover on 18 Mar 1793, surveyed 17 Jan 1799, and patented 26 Feb 1799.²⁶ This tract was called “Warrington.” Both this tract and “Tillingham” are shown in the image above. In 1799, George Hoover and his wife Elizabeth sold two tracts of land to Jacob Hess—one of 132 acres and the other of 268 acres—both situated in Bullskin and Donegal Townships.²⁷ From these deeds, we can clearly see that it was George Hoover, the elder, who owned and sold this property.

1802 Survey for Christian Hoover’s property

In 1800 the family is listed as “George Hover” in Buffalo Township, Armstrong County. The household included 1 male over 45 (George), 1 male 10-15, and 1 male under 10, as well as one female over 45 (his wife).²⁸ His son Christian’s household is listed next. By 1810, George and family are listed in Kittanning Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.²⁹ In the household are 1 male over 45 (George) and 1 female over 45 (his wife).

No deeds were located in Armstrong County for George. However, when his son Christian’s property was surveyed on 20 Apr 1803, it referenced land of George Hoover, bordering the property to the west (refer to 1802 survey to above).³⁰ This land was patented to Christian’s son Philip in 1820 (see below).³¹ Both George and presumably one of his sons—Henry—were listed in tax records for Allegheny Township, Armstrong County in 1805.³² Additionally, George, Christian and Henry were listed in tax records for Armstrong County in 1807—Henry in Allegheny Township, and George and Christian in Kittanning Township.³³

George Hoover’s Armstrong County property

George and his first wife Eva Elisabeth probably had children, as follows (birth order not certain):

1. Catharina³ Hoover was born 10 Apr 1761 in Derry Township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) County. ³⁴ She died sometime between 1830 and 1840 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She married William Matthias Kern Jr., son of William Matthias and Anna Christina (___) Kern. He was born 8 Feb 1756 in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania and died about 1837 in Springfield Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.³⁵ This couple had children: ³⁶
   1. Solomon Kern, born 30 Nov 1781
   2. Abraham Kern, born 17 Oct 1785
   3. Mathias Kern, born 1 Sep 1787
   4. William Kern, born 1790
   5. Simon Kern, born 26 Apr 1793
   6. Jacob Kern, born 15 Jun 1795
   7. Anna Rosina Kern, born 18 Mar 1797
   8. Jonathan Kern, born 30 Mar 1799
   9. Joshua Kern, born 3 May 1801
   10. Maria Elizabeth Kern, born 18 Aug 1803
2. Rosannah Hoover was born 27 Mar 1763 in Derry Township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) County, Pennsylvania and was baptized at the Hill Lutheran Church, sponsored by Johann Cassel.³⁷ She died in 1832, and was buried in Rupp Lutheran Church Cemetery, Kittanning Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. She married Johan Adam Waltenbaugh, born 1751 and died 1 Aug 1833 in Kittanning Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The couple had children:
   1. Jacob Waltenbaugh, born circa 1786/7
   2. Anna Maria Waltenbaugh, born 14 Sep 1790, married Isaac Wolf
   3. Susannah Waltenbaugh, born 1792, married Jacob Heilman, son of Peter and Elizabeth (Harter) Heilman
   4. John George Waltenbagh, born 1794
3. Anna Elizabeth Hoover was born circa 1766-1774, likely in  Lancaster or Bedford County, Pennsylvania or Frederick (now Washington) County, Maryland and died sometime before 1813.³⁸ She married circa 1791/4 Peter Tedrow. He was born circa 1766-1774. The couple had at least one child:
   1. Eva Catharine Tedrow, born 3 May 1794, baptized 18 May 1794 in the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
4. Philip Hoover was born circa 1768 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania or Frederick County, Maryland. He was listed in the 1789 tax records of Bullskin Township, placing his birth in 1768 or before.³⁹ He died unmarried in 1792 and his father was named the administrator of his estate in letters of administration granted 15 May 1792. ⁴⁰
   • 17 Jun 1793: “Before Alexander Addison, Esq, President, and his Associate Justices of the same Court, at Union Town. George Hoover, administrator of the estate of Philip Hoover, late of Fayette County, yeoman, deceased, presents his account of the administration, whereby there appears to be a balance in his hands of £20 8s 2d, which the Court allows and confirms, and orders that the said balance be distributed according to law.” ⁴¹
   • 17 Jun 1793: “Report of George Hoover, administrator of the estate of Philip Hoover, yeoman, deceased, stating that in pursuance to an order of this Court made 18 March last, he had on 09 May last exposed to sale at public outcry a certain tract of land in Bullskin twp, containing 181 acres of thereabouts, after due and timely notice had been given of such sale, agreeably to the directions of the said order, and that this tract of land (with appurtenances) had been sold to George Anshultz for the sum of £30, and two notes of £5 each payable in yearly installments of £5, he being the highest and best bidder for the same. Sale approved by the Court.”⁴²
5. Julianna Hoover was born circa 1770 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania or Frederick County, Maryland and died 10 Sep 1808 in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.⁴³ She married Martin Kehrbach/Carbaugh. Martin was born circa 1760-1765 and died in 1841 in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. This couple had children:⁴⁴
   1. Anna Maria Magdalena Kerbach, born 20 May 1798, baptized 3 Jun 1798 at the Good Hope Church. She married David Clemons
   2. George Kerbach, born 12 Oct 1800
   3. Eva Elisabetha Kerbach, born 17 Feb 1803 and baptized 1 Apr 1803 at the Good Hope Church. She married George Clemons
   4. Martin Kerbach/Carbaugh, born 11 Feb 1805 and baptized 18 May 1805 at the Good Hope Church
   5. Samuel Kerbach, born circa 1806 and died 5 Mar 1873 in Ackley, Hardin County, Iowa
6. Eva Catharina Hoover was born 22 Dec 1772 presumably in Frederick County, Maryland and was baptized 1 Feb 1773 in the Zion Reformed Church in Elizabethtown (now Hagerstown).⁴⁵ She died sometime after 1820. She married Peter Kern, son of William Matthias and Anna Christina (___) Kern. Peter was born circa 1759 and died sometime after 1820.
7. George Hoover was born before 1774 in either Lancaster County or Bedford County, Pennsylvania or Frederick County, Maryland. A George Hoover is listed in the 1790 census of Bullskin Township, the household having one male over 16. If this is George Jr., then he was born sometime before 1774.⁴⁶ George died after 1813, but possibly before 1815. He is named as an heir in 1813 in his brother Christian’s account administration of their father’s estate, but is not listed as a witness in a suit filed by Eve Hoover in 1815.⁴⁷ He may have married circa 1791 Catharina (___). In Jul and Aug of 1791 a George Huber and Catharina were sponsors for Eva Catharina, daughter of Philip Harbach and Maria Christina, and Anna Maria Poh, daughter of George Poh and Anna Elisabeth.⁴⁸
8. Christian Hoover was born 10 Feb 1776 in Brothersvalley Township, Bedford (now Somerset) County, Pennsylvania and died 20 Feb 1850 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in St. John’s Lutheran Church cemetery in Sagamore, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He married circa 1796 Maria Barbara Harmon, daughter of Christian and Christina Magdalena (Lenhart) Harmon. Barbara was born 9 Sep 1773 in Westmoreland County and died 3 Mar 1870 in West Mahoning Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The couple was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Crooked Creek in 1810. The couple had children:
   1. Samuel Hoover, born 8 Sep 1796 and married circa 1817 Sarah Thomas, daughter of John and Margretta (Mackin) Thomas, and on 24 Mar 1874 Mary C. McCune
   2. George Hoover, born 24 May 1799 and married Mary Repine, daughter of Christopher and Catharine (___) Repine, circa 1825 and Mary (___) after 1853
   3. Catharine Hoover, born circa 1800 and married Jacob Repine, son of Christopher and Catharine (___) Repine, circa 1825
   4. Philip Hoover, born circa 1802 and married Hannah Thomas, daughter of John and Margretta (Mackin) Thomas, circa 1820
   5. Christian Hoover, born 6 Oct 1809 and married Mary Green circa 1833
9. Andrew Hoover was born sometime between 1774 and 1790, probably in Bedford or Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.⁴⁹ He died possibly sometime between 1813 when he is listed as an heir in his father’s estate records and 1815 when he is not included as a witness in the suit filed by his step-mother Eve Hoover. No more is known about him.
10. Henry Hoover was born circa 1774-1780 in either Bedford or Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and died sometime after 1815. He was listed in the 1805 and 1807 tax lists for Allegheny Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. No more is known about him.
11. Maria Magdalena Hoover was born 8 Oct 1787 in either Fayette or Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and baptized on 14 Sep 1788 in Good Hope Church.⁵⁰ She died sometime after 26 Jul 1870 in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.⁵¹ She married Philip Weitzel about 1804-1806. They had children, and possibly others:
    1. Margaret “Peggy” Weitzel, born 28 Apr 1807, baptized 5 Jun 1808 at St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at Brick Church.
    2. Jonas Weitzel, born 17 May 1810, baptized 9 Jun 1810 at St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at Brick Church.
    3. Philip Weitzel, born circa 1818-1824 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and likely died in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania sometime after 10 Jun 1880.⁵²
    4. Catarina Weitzel, born 4 May 1819 in Armstrong County, baptized 10 Oct 1819 at St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at Brick Church.
    5. Mary Weitzel, born circa 1822 and died 19 Oct 1894. She married Isaac Palmer.
    6. Martha Weitzel, born 27 Nov 1826, baptized 14 Oct 1827 at Thomas House, Plumcreek Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.⁵³
    7. Robert Weitzel, born circa 1832/33 in Indiana or Jefferson County and died sometime after 10 Jun 1880 when he was listed in the 1880 census for Perry Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.⁵⁴ He married Catharine (___) about 1853. She died sometime between 1868 and 1870.
12. Salomon/Solomon Hoover was born 7 Apr 1790 in either Fayette or Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and was baptized 12 Oct 1790 at Good Hope Church. He was confirmed at age 21 on 3 Jun 1811 at the First Lutheran Church of Westmoreland County.⁵⁵ He died sometime after 1815 when he was listed as a witness in the suit filed by his step-mother Eve against his father’s estate. No more is known about him.

Andrew² Hoover (Andrew¹) was born circa 1755—1761, probably in the Leitersburg—Hagerstown—Ringgold, Maryland area. Andrew may have died sometime between 1792 and 1800 as he does not appear in the 1800 census for Fayette County.

He went to the Fayette County area (then Westmoreland County) by 1780, possibly as early as 1769 with his brother Jacob. He may have first settled in an area that Virginia first called Yohogania County, which consisted of parts of present day Fayette, Washington, Beaver, Allegheny, and all of Westmoreland counties.¹

Andrew Hoover Jr.’s Union Township property was part of Waller’s “Fouts Disapointment”

Andrew Jr. purchased from John Waller 28 acres of land on the Redstone Creek adjacent to his father’s property. He was a millwright of Youghiogeni County, Virginia at the time of the purchase. He may not have had the deed recorded until he sold it as it was dated 7 Mar 1780 and he turned the title to it over to Jacob Pindle on 7 Aug 1780.²

Andrew and his brother-in-law John Hunsicker purchased together 185 acres of land in Tyrone Township, Westmoreland County from John Waller on 24 Nov 1775 for 168 pounds.³ At the time, they resided in Menallen Township, Westmoreland County (now part of Fayette County). This land was signed over to Andrew’s brother Henry on 8 Sep 1780. The two men also received lots in Uniontown (then Beeson town) in 1776, the same month Hunsicker was fined in Elizabethtown (now Hagerstown) for neither serving in or paying the military to support the war. ⁴

Andrew purchased from his brother John the land in Union Township that John inherited from their father’s estate. He then turned this land over to his brother Henry and Henry Beeson for and “in consideration of debts owning from the estate of Andrew Hoover deceased” and five shillings on 16 Aug 1785.⁵

Andrew Hoover Jr.’s Dunbar/Wharton Township property

Andrew Hoover also received 200 acres of land from the state of Pennsylvania “on Dunbar’s Run near the top of Laurel Hill in Wharton [township] near the line of Union township in Fayette County” as shown in a warrant dated 24 Sep 1792. This property was surveyed 11 and 12 Apr 1833. ⁶

Andrew Hoover Jr. was listed on tax records for Menallen Township, Westmoreland County in 1783 as a single man, in Union Township, Fayette County in 1785 and 1786, and in Wharton Township, Fayette County in 1789.^7,8,9,10

No marriage record was found for Andrew. His wife is not listed on any of the deeds I’ve seen for Fayette County. However, on 10 Nov 1788, Andrew Hoover appointed Yost Herbaugh of Manchester Township, York County, possibly an uncle of Andrew’s probable brother-in-law John Herbaugh/Harbaugh (married to his sister Maria Catharine), as his attorney to receive from Catherine Liebrich, relict of Nicholas Liebrich, late of Raffow Township (Rapho Township), Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, “three bonds due from John John [Hans] of Menallen Township, Lancaster County… unto me two of which are for the sum of Twenty-five pounds.”¹¹

By tracing Lancaster deeds involving Andrew Hoover, Nicholas Liebrich, and John Hans, I was able to determine that Andrew Hoover married Maria Hans, daughter of Henrich Hans of Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, sometime after the 1783 tax enumeration of Westmoreland County but prior to 1 Apr 1784.¹² Maria Hans is recorded as the “wife of Andrew Hoover of Feyat [sic] County.”

I have information on only one possible child of Andrew and Maria (Hans) Hoover. There was a baptism for a child Anna Catharine at Jacobs Lutheran Church in German Township, Fayette County on 12 Apr 1785 with parents named Andrew and Maria Hoover.¹³ This is too late to be Andrew Hoover Sr. and too early to be a son of Henry or George Hoover. So, for now, I am presuming that this baptism is for a child of Andrew Hoover Jr. and his wife.

Only one child is known for this couple:

1. Anna Catharine Hoover was born 3 Feb 1785 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania and baptized in Jacobs Lutheran Church on 12 Apr 1785, sponsored by Elias Metz and Anna Maria. She is possibly the Catharine Hoover who married Adam Shoemaker, son of Johannes and Catharine (Hoover) Shoemaker on 28 May 1801 in Pennsylvania. If so, she died sometime after the 1840 census enumeration in Perry County, Indiana.

If all the members of Andrew’s household in the 1790 census are his family, then Andrew and Maria may have had additional children, as follows:¹⁴

2. Male, age <16, born bet 1774-1790
3. Male, age <16, born bet 1774-1790
4. Male, age <16, born bet 1774-1790
5. Female, born bef 1790
6. Female, born bef 1790

Since Andrew and Maria were married circa 1783/4, these children—if born of this couple—were more likely born between 1783/4 and 1790. Given the fact that they’d been married for approximately six years, it is likely that not all of these children were theirs. Usually, when estimating birth years for children you estimate one child every other year. Catharine was born in 1785, so I’d “guesstimate” additional children born in 1787 and 1789.

Andrew Hoover Jr. is not found in Fayette County at the time of the 1800 United States census. So, he either died prior to 1800 or left Pennsylvania. A Widow Hoover is found in the 1800 census for Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Knowing that Andrew had at one point owned land in Tyrone I check the township tax records for 1790 through 1810. The only Hoovers listed during this period were Sarah Hoover and Henry Hoover, single man.¹⁵ So, unless Andrew remarried prior to 1800, this is not Andrew’s widow.

Henry² Hoover (Andrew¹) was born about 1/4 Dec 1748, probably in Ellerstadt, Germany. He came to the United States with his family in 1754 at the age of 6.

He lived in Maryland most likely through at least 1776 when he was fined for not contributing to the Revolutionary war effort.¹ He went with his family to Fayette County, Pennsylvania probably sometime around 1779. He was listed in the tax records of Union Township, Fayette County in 1785—1787, and 1789.² He was of Whitely Township, Green County, Pennsylvania at the time of the 1810 US Census, but had moved to Johnstown, Monroe Township, Ohio by the time of the 1820 US Census and was possibly there by 1811.³ He died on 23 Sep 1823 in Johnstown, Monroe Township, Licking County, Ohio.

In Feb 1769 at the age of 21, Henry married Eve Hamline/Henlein, probably near Leitersburg or Hagerstown, Maryland. Eve was born on 3 Mar 1751, also in Germany; she died in Johnstown on 10 Jun 1826. The couple was buried at the West Coshocton St. Cemetery in Johnstown.⁴

Henry was a co-executor of his father’s estate along with Henry Beeson.⁵ Henry ended up with most of his father’s property. His brother Andrew Jr. purchased the land their brother John had inherited, then sold it to Henry.⁶ Jacob sold his piece of their father’s land to Henry on 5 Jul 1790.⁷ Only brother George held on to his land, deeding part of it to John Hoover—possibly his son—in 1811.⁸

Henry and Eve (Hamline) Hoover had the following children:

1. George³ Hoover was born ca 1771, aged 5 in 1776, near Hagerstown, Maryland. He may have moved to Licking County, Ohio with his father as there is a George Hoover, aged 50-60, in Johnstown in the 1830 US Census.
2. Elizabeth Hoover was born circa 1772, near Hagerstown, Maryland. No more is known.
3. Andrew Hoover was born 25 Jan 1775 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania and died 20 Apr 1821 in German Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.⁹ Andrew married Frances McClure on 14 Sep 1800 in Fayette County. She was born 20 Feb 1779 and died 16 Feb 1850. She was buried with her husband in the Harrison Graveyard. Andrew and Frances had five children:
   1. Abraham⁴ Hoover was born 18 Nov 1801 and died 2 Sep 1807.
   2. Rebecca Hoover was born 6 Jun 1802 and died 26 Apr 1864. She married Nathaniel Darrall
   3. Harriet Hoover was born 29 Nov 1806 and died 2 Sep 1807.
   4. Maria Hoover was born 22 Apr 1809 and died 6 Sep 1896. She married a Ramsay.
   5. Thomas Hoover was born 5 Feb 1814 and died 12 Dec 1857. He was a farmer of German Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
4. Catharine Hoover was born circa 1776, most likely near Hagerstown, Maryland and died 10 Oct 1813 in Licking County, Ohio. She married John Duke, son of Francis and Sarah (Shepherd) Duke. This couple had nine children, seven of whom were:¹⁰
   1. Levi⁴ Hoover Duke was born 12 May 1795 in Brooke County, Virginia (now West Virginia) and died 17 May 1889 in Licking County, Ohio. He married Persis (___).
   2. David Duke was born 27 May 1797 in Brooke County, Virginia and died 23 Sep 1888, Licking County, Ohio.
   3. William Duke was born 13 Jun 1799 in Brooke County, Virginia.
   4. Sarah Duke was born 26 Apr 1802 in Brooke County, Virginia and died 20 Jun 1866.
   5. Henry Duke was born 9 Oct 1806 in Licking County, Ohio and died 20 Apr 1860.
   6. John Shepherd Duke was born 9 Aug 1808 and died circa 1830.
   7. George Duke was born 13 Sep 1811 in Licking County, Ohio.
5. Barbara Hoover was born circa 1778 in either Maryland or Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She married Levi Baker.
6. Emanuel Hoover was born circa 1780, most likely in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He died 13 Jul 1826 in Johnstown, Monroe Township, Licking County, Ohio. He married Mary Mitchellabout 1803, probably in Fayette County. The couple probably had at least two children:
   1. Mahlon M.Hoover was born circa 1804 near Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania and died 6 Sep 1873 in Ohio. He married twice, first to Ruhama Williams, and second to Mary C. Ashbrook.
   2. James Hoover was born circa 1808, probably near Uniontown and died sometime between 1870 and 1880 in Harlem Township, Delaware County, Ohio. He married Nancy Perfect about 1842.
7. Jacob Hoover was born circa 1782, probably in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. No more is known.
8. Esther Hoover was born circa 1784, probably in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. No more is known.
9. Eve Hoover was born 17 Sep 1786, probably in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She may have married first Richard Phillips, then Sampson Violett on 15 Dec 1815 in Johnstown, Monroe Township, Licking County, Ohio. No more is known.
10. Henry Hoover Jr. was born 26 Oct 1788 in German Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He died 4 Apr 1844 also in German Township. Circa 1811, Henry married Sarah Harrison. She died 4 Apr 1837. The couple had children, as follows:¹¹
    1. Mary Hoover was born 17 Aug 1811 and died 28 Feb 1813.
    2. Jacob Harrison Hoover was born 13 Apr 1813 and died 4 Mar 1854. He married on 15 Mar 1840 Catherine Ann Beard. This couple had five children: Sarah Elizabeth, James Henry, Jesse Veech, Thomas A., and Margaret Jane.
    3. Rebecca G. Hoover was born 17 Mar 1815 and died 15 Dec 1839.
    4. Jesse W. Hoover was born 27 Apr 1817 and died before 1912.
    5. Lucinda Hoover was born 23 Jul 1819 and died before 1912.
    6. Robert H. Hoover was born 19 Sep 1822 and died 16 Oct 1843.
    7. Jonas S. Hoover was born 6 Jul 1825 and died before 1912.
    8. Andrew Jackson Hoover was born 15 Sep 1825 and died 18 Nov 1851.
    9. Sarah Lavilla Hoover was born 8 Jun 1834 and died 21 Mar 1852.
11. Sarah Hoover was born circa 1790, probably near Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She may have married a Slater.

I believe some of the other Licking County Hoover families may be closely related to this Henry Hoover, possibly through his brother John. I am seeking any information on the Licking County Hoover families…