FAMILY HISTORIES

Gilbert ADAMS was born in 1760 in New York and married Rachel DINGEE about 1779. He died 15 Jul 1825 in East Fishkill, Dutchess Co. NY. His daughter, Adah Ann ADAMS married Lemuel Munger ADAMS who was her first cousin. Lemuel was the son of Gilbert's brother, Moses ADAMS. Moses was born in 1768 in New York and died 20 May 1851 in Kent Putnam Co. NY.

Adah Ann ADAMS was born in 1799 iu New York. Lemuel Munger ADAMS was born in 1810 in New York. They were married in New York in 1830. Their two oldest children were born in New York and the family moved to Delaware County, Ohio about 1832 and Indiana about 1842. In the 1850 census they are listed in Allen County, Washington Township, Indiana.

Aida Ann died sometime between 1850 and 1857. On 15 Jul 1857 in Marshall County, IN, Lemuel married Julia (HARVEY) BUNNEL, widow of Anthony BUNNELL. They are listed in the 1860 census in Marshall County, West Township. Julia died at Kalamazoo, MI 31 Jan 1904. It is not known where or when Lemuel died.

Lemuel and Aida Ann's daughter, Zella, married John W. SULLIVAN on 24 Feb 1856 in Marshall County IN. She died Oct 1863 in Jackson County, IN.

The earliest known ancestor in the ANDERS genealogy line is John ANDERS. He was born circa 1804. His birth place is not known for certain. His son, George W. Anders, listed his father's place of birth as England in the 1880 and 1900 census, and Pennsylvania in the 1910 census.

John married Mary (?) and in 1830 they were living in Starke County, Ohio. Mary was born in Pennsylvania and died 6 Jan 1865 in Whitley County, IN at the age of 61 years, 2 months and 5 days. She is buried in Eberhard Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery which is located on Keiser Road about 5 miles east of South Whitley, IN.

It is not known where John died, but the 1850 census lists Mary as head of household in Jefferson Township, Wells County, IN. Their youngest child, Lucinda, was one year old at the time so it is likely that he died sometime between 1848 and 1850. The 1860 census lists Mary living with her sons Joseph and George in Whitley County, Columbia Township.

John and Mary's youngest son, George W. ANDERS married Mary Louisa SAXTON/THAXTON in Whitley County IN on 29 Apr 1864. In 1900 they were living in LaPorte County, New Durham Township, Indiana, and in 1910 in Marshall County, Center Township. George made baskets for a living. He cut the ash trees from the woods and prepared the wood into splints to weave into baskets. It is said that they were sturdy baskets and can still be found around Marshall County.

Mary died 22 Jun 1913 and George died 4 Jan 1928. They are both buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Plymouth, IN. Their daughter, Rosa Anna ANDERS, married John Riley SNYDER on 25 Nov 1890 in Marshall County IN.

The earliest known ancestor in the BEAM genealogy line is Michael BEAM. He was born 29 May 1794 in Pennsylvania. It is not known where the BEAM family lived in Pennsylvania, but it is believed they resided in Franklin County, PA.

Michael married Elizabeth HOOVER circa 1836. It is not known if they married in Ohio or Pennsylvania, but by 1837 the family was living in Ohio. The 1850 census lists the family in Springfield Township, Richland County, Ohio. Michael died in Richland County on 15 May 1874. See Michael's will on the document's page.

Michael and Elizabeth's younget son, James J. BEAM married Manora GERBERICH in 1889 and moved to Elkhart County, IN around 1894. Manora (GERBERICH) BEAM died 24 Sep 1905 in Nappanee, IN. James J. BEAM died 6 Jan 1937 in Argos, IN. James and Manora's daughter, Cleo Elizabeth BEAM married Nathan PLETCHER on 21 Jul 1906 in Plymouth, IN.

By Vena Pletcher

The BRENNENAM family was established in Canton, Bern, Switzerland in the Middle Ages, particularly near Belp and in the Aare Valley. They later scattered to other areas. There are references recorded at Canton, Bern as far back as 1479. There were various spellings such as Bronnimann.

We'll focus our attention on Melchior BRENNEMAN, who seems to have been born at Ober-Biessbach on the north slope of the Buchhalterberg.

From the beginning of the Reformation, some Protestants did not believe in infant baptism, convinced that the ceremony was spiritual and signifying the washing away of sin. Many followed Meno Simon, the leader of the Anabaptists or Mennonites. They were severely persecuted. Melchior Brenneman was one of these and was imprisoned for his faith in the castle of Thun in the year 1659.

We next hear of him in 1671 when he left Switzerland, bound for Germany. He was 40 years old and his wife 35. There were 7 children between the ages of 18 months and 15 years. His worldly possessions consisted of one horse, one trundle bed and bedding, and 43 rix-dollars. He had been fortunate to escape with his life. He ended up at Grieshem, which was located 20 miles northwest of the city of Worms. He was doubtless living there in September, 1677 when William Penn visited and told of the state of Pennsylvania where people could worship without persecution.

Melchior and his wife made great sacrifices for the ideal of religious liberty. This should be an inspiration to the descendants. Because they feared God and chose to risk their lives rather than put aside the things they cherished, we, their descendants, enjoy freedom in a new world today. We should be proud that they helped in the founding of this nation.

One of the sons of Melchior also had that name. Family tradition states the year of his birth as 1655 at Bern, Switzerland. Like his father, he learned the weavers trade, and he also became a preacher in the Mennonite church. He was known as Melchior the pioneer. Both he and his brother, Christian, came to this country in 1715 or 1717, possibly in the migration led from Rotterdam by Benedict Brechbuhl.

They purchased land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The village of New Danville is built on part of Melchior's holdings.

His wife's name was Elizabeth (maiden name is unknown). Six children were born to them, Melchior Jr. being the youngest.

Melchior died 1-20-1737 and was likely buried on his farm or at the New Danville Mennonite Church Cemetery.

Melchior Jr. was born on the homestead farm in August, 1718 and died at the same place on 4-19-1794. He married Ann Good who was born in 1722 and died in 1800. Both are buried at the New Danville Mennonite Church Cemetery. He became a prosperous land holder and left his family well established. There were 13 children.

We'll proceed with his son, David, who was born about 1754 and died in 1820. He is said to have been married four times, but none of the names are known except the last, whose name was Barbara.

David served in the militia from Swatara and Conewago after the Revolution for five years. He lived in York County and Dauphin County in Pennsylvania. In 1784, he is listed as living in Rockingham County, Virginia and later in Albemarle County, Virginia, then in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He also had 13 children.

David's son, Peter, was born before 1800. He died in Mahoning County, Ohio. He married Barbara BAER of Swiss descent, and they had two sons, Jacob and John.

John BRENNEMAN was born 4-18-1827 and died 2- 5-1895. He married Veronica MILLER, who was born 5-7-1832 and died 10-27-1868. There were 10 children. John's second wife was Sarah HUNSBURGER, and they had four children. He moved from Mahoning County, Ohio to Medina County, Ohio, then apparently to Indiana.

John's fifth child, Nancy, was born 5-23-1857 in St. Joe County, Indiana and died 5-13-1941. Nancy married David PLETCHER on 2-13-1881. Their oldest son was named Nathan.

The earliest known ancestor in the CANAAN genealogy line is John CANAAN. He was born about 1771 in Pennsylvania. He married Ruth CUMPSTON about 1800. John died in 1848 in Hardin County, Ohio. John and Ruth's son, John CANAAN, Jr. was born circa 1814 in Ohio and married Rebecca POE on 6 Feb 1836 in Hardin County, Ohio. The family moved to Indiana around 1849/1850. They are listed in the 1850 census in LaPorte County, Wills Township, IN. In 1860 they were living in Stark County, Center Township, Indiana. John and Rebecca had seven children. Their son, George, married Bathia HOFFHEIN on 2 Jul 1869 in Marshall County, IN.

The GARVERICK-GERBERICH Family dates back to the village of Altfeld bei Marktheidenfeld, Frankfort-Aun-Main, Spessart, Bavaria, Germany. "DerrGarbenreiche" means rich in sheaves. The first known Gerberich was Hans (1613-1681) who married Apollonia (1659-1720). They had four children. Their third son, Hans Kasper (1659-1720) married Apollonia VOLZ and had ten children. In 1751 Hans and Michael, the seventh and ninth sons of Hans Kasper GERBERICH made preparations to journey to America. They were living in the parish of Michelrieth, in the little village of Altfeld. Hans was married to Christine SCHUCH, from the nearby village of Remlingen and they had several children. Michael was unmarried. Their plans were changed, however, possibly because Hans and Christine were expecting another child. Michael went ahead with Peter, Hans' eldest son. They left from Rotterdan for America on 12 July 1751 on the ship "Duke of Bedford". Hans and the rest of his family (except for his second son Andrew) later came to America on the "Phoenix" and arrived in Philadelphia on 2 Nov 1752. Andrew followed the rest of the family and arrived in 1754.

Gerberich History By Vena PLETCHER

The area of Bavaria mentioned as the Spessard is a beautiful stretch of rolling wooded country enclosed on three sides by the great bend of the Main River.

Peter and Michael (who was a brother of Peter's father, Hans) were the first of the family to come to America. They traveled by boat on the Main River to the Rhine and followed it to Rotterdam. Hans and others followed a few months later.

They had property in Berks County, Pennsylvania. In 1771, Peter moved to Codorus Township, York County. In 1773, he purchased a tract of 300 acres, two miles southwest of Glen Rock in York County. Peter was buried in the church yard at Fissels Church near Glen Rock. Peter and his oldest son, John, served in the York County militia during the Revolutionary War.

John had property near Stell's Church in Shrewsbury Township, York County, where he and his wife are buried.

John's son, George, was born in that county and farmed there.

George's son, Jonas, lived in York County two miles from New Freedom on the Baltimore Road. His oldest son, Charles, was born on his father's farm in 1843. Charles went to Ohio in 1858 likely around Crawford County, where his great uncles had settled in 1830. He worked for Isaac Ruhl for two years and then two years for Isaac Hull. He volunteered in Co. K, 81st Ohio V.1. and was in the Civil War until it ended, and he was honorably discharged. He lived in the vicinity of West Point for 47 years and moved to Galion in 1916.

Charles' third daughter, Manora, married James J. BEAM. James J. and Manora Beam had a daughter named Cleo BEAM, who married Nathan PLETCHER.

Jacob HERTZLER was born in 1703, of Swiss parents, in Switzerland. He was a farmer and minister of the Amish Mennonite Church. He married in Europe and had one son named John. He wife died and was buried in Europe and he married a second time to Catherine RUEGY. He had two sons and two daughters with his second wife.

The family emigrated from Switzerland to the Palatinate in France. After living there for some years, Jacob and family emigrated to America traveling by way of Rotterdam, Netherlands, and then to Plymouth, England, on the ship St. Andrew. They landed in Philadelphia, PA on 9 Sep 1749 and settled on a farm in Berne Twp., Lancaster Co., PA, now Upper Berne Twp., Berks Co., PA., two miles west of Hamburg on the road leading to Harrisburg. He purchased 182 acres, 30 perches of land for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre - warrant dated 9 Jan 1750. Another warrant granted 13 Oct 1752 for 100 acres, 130 perches, warrant granted 5 Aug 1765 for 36 acres, 36 perches, a warrant granted 2 Dec 1766 for 44 acres, 95 perches and a warrant granted 23 Jun 1773 for 30 acres, 33 perches. There is a marker on the north side of Old 22 about 2 miles west of Hamburg which marks the Jacob HERTZLER farm - "Contentment, Homestead of Jacob HERTZLER, First Amish Bishop in America. Migrated from Switzerland 1749. Northkill Amish Burial Ground". Catherine HERTZLER died between 30 Aug 1773 and 4 Mar 1774 and Jacob died in 1786. They are buried in the Amish Congregation Burying ground, two miles west of Hamburg, joining the family farm.

The Hertzler farm was located near the Jacob HOCHSTETLER farm and Jacob HERTZLER's oldest daughter, Catherine, married John HOCHSTETLER. They lived on a farm near the site of the Indian massacre. In 1784 Catherine and John Hochstetler moved to Somerset County PA.

On 1 Sep 1736 Jacob HOCHSTETLER landed in Philadelphia on the ship Harle. He settled along the Northkill Creek in Berne Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. He was a member of the Amish Mennonite Church.

On 19 Sep 1757, Jacob and his family were attacked by Indians. The Indians set fire to the house and the family hid in the cellar. The family kept quiet beating back the fire until the Indians left and then climbed out through a small window in the basement. However, a young Indian had stayed behind gathering peaches and he gave the alarm. A son, Jacob, and a daughter were tomahawked and scalped. The mother was stabbed in the heart with a butcher knife and scalped. The father and sons Joseph and Christian were taken prisoner. Jacob eventually escaped but Christian and Joseph were adopted by the Indians and remained until the end of the French and Indian War (around 1764). Another son, John, was married and lived on a neighboring farm, escaping the attack. Jacob died in February 1776 in Berks County, PA.

The earliest known ancestor in the Hoffhein line is John HOFFHEIN who was born circa 1802 in Pennsylvania. He married Catherine WALLACE. They lived in Wayne County, Plain Township, Ohio.

John and Catherine's son, Israel married Minerva KIZER in Wayne County, Ohio and moved to Marshall County, IN. In the 1880 census, Israel and Minerva are listed between their daughter and son-in-law, George and Bathiah CANAAN and their son, Jacob, in Marshall County, Center Township. Israel died in Kosciusko County, IN in 1911. It is not known when or were Minerva died.

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The earliest known ancestor in the Hoover line is Elizabeth HOOVER who was born 14 Jun 1816 in Pennsylvania. She married Michael BEAM and the family lived in Richland County, Ohio. It is not known at this time who Elizabeth's parents were. Elizabeth died 11 Mar 1892 in Richland County, Ohio.

Manerva KIZER married Israel HOFFHEIN in Wayne Co., Ohio on 7 Oct 1847. She was born in Ohio circa 1827. It is unknown who her parents are. Israel and Manerva's daughter, Bathia, married George W. Cannon on 2 Jul 1869 in Marshall County, Indiana.