USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Wiconisco > Hoffman's church in the valley of the Wiconisco (Lykens) Dauphin County, Pa. > Part 1
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STATE LIBRARY OF PENNSYLVANIA main,stks 974.831P2541 Hoffman's church in the valley
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SR V 974,831 P2541
HOFFMAN'S CHURCH
IN THE VALLEY OF THE WICONISCO (LYKENS)
DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA.
BY
E. W. S. PARTHEMORE
HARRISBURG, PA .: HARRISBURG PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1895.
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HOFFMAN'S CHURCH
This church was organized accord-
ing to the of date the oldest tombstone found in the grave yard adjoining, prior to this century. The first house of worship was erected by Levi Buffington, whose wife was Susanna, a daughter of John Nicholas Hoffman. It is located about three miles southwest of the village of Gratz, and the Lykens Valley, in which this house of wor- ship is erected, is one that the aggressive Scotch Irishman did not settle in, but from across the mountain in the direction " of the rising of the sun came the sturdy
1 German and Swiss Huguenot from out of the Tulpehocken settlement, and from the south across Berrys' Mountain out of the valleys of Armstrong, Powells, Clarks, Paxtang and Lancaster county as now bounded. The earliest place of worship in this valley for these early pioneers was the shrine of St. David's, located about three miles northwest from the mouth of the Wiconisco creek.
The ground upon which Hoffman's Church was located was donated by John Nicholas Hoffman, son of John Peter Hoffman, a native of Germany, where he
was born in the year 1709. He came to this country in the month of September, 1739, in the ship "Robert and Alice," and first located in Berks county, where he worked at his trade of carpentering. He afterwards settled at the base of Short Mountain on a large tract of land, a part of which belongs to the church which he gave for church, school and burial pur- poses. The present church house is & frame structure painted in an immaculate white color, and the grave yard contains the remains of many of the first settlers in that end of Lykens Valley and their des- cendants. Many are, however, not marked with tombstones, which is to be regretted, as they were enlisted in the companies that were formed in that valley which went to the forefront and engaged in doing . Valiant service against the incursions of the barbarous Red men and in the War of the Revolution. We copy, however, the tombstones that are there and give them herewith, with historical notes to a num- ber of those worthy pioneers.
Bordner, -, b. Oct. 10, 1787; d. Nov. 22, 1867.
Bordner, Margaret, b. July 22, 1787; d. Jan. 13, 1848.
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Hoffman's Church.
Bordner. John, b. Oct, 3, 1758; d. June 3, 1812.
Bordner, Susanna, w. of J., b. 1767; d. 1814.
Bordner, Peter, son of Jacob, b. March 3. 1763, in Bethel townehip, Berks county, Pa. ; d. Dec. 24, 1816; married Catharine Caterman; had siz sons and five daugh- ters. [His daughter Eva married in the year 1801 John Adam Weise, b. Jan. 24, 1780 He was a s. of Adam Weise, b. Dec. 23, 1751, and Margaret Elizabeth Wingard.]
Buffington, Johannes, b. Jan. 1, 1778; d. July 20, 1839; m. Catharine Hoffman. [He was a prosperous farmer residing on the farm adjoining the Elder farm in Lykens Valley. He served as County Commissioner from 1822-24. He was a s. of George, a soldier in the Revolution in Capt. Martin Weaver's company, Col. Burd commanding. ]
Buffington, Eve, w. of Daniel, b. Dec. 12, 1776; d. Feb. 3, 1853.
Buffington, Daniel, b. June 8, 1780; d. April 11, 1814.
Batdorf, Peter, b. Jan. 20, 1814; d.Dec. 5, 1880.
Batdorf, Elizabeth, b. Nov. 23, 1812; d. July 7, 1868.
Boyer, Peter, b. Jan. 15, 1787; d. March 6, 1852.
Boyer, Catharine, w. of Peter, b. June 27, 1791; d. Dec. 15, 1875.
Bischoff, Maria C., b. April 4, 1802; d. July 19, 1872.
· Bergstresser, John, b. Aug. 7, 1775; d. March 27, 1854. ( 1833 C.R.S.)
Bergstresser, Anna, w. of J., b. Oct. 8, 1779; d. May 27, 1833.
Bressler, Anna E., w. of Abram, b. Nov., 1788; d. June 13, -
Bressler, Abram, B. Dec. 15, 1786; d. June 27, 1844.
Bressler, Nicholas, b. Sept. 6, 1751; d. Nov. 6, 1825.
Bonner, Annie E., dau. of Peter and Elizabeth, b. March 25, 1853; d. March 4, 1871.
Bonner, Elizabeth, w. of Peter, b. May 7, 1816; d. Aug. 9, 1874.
Cahler, Susannah, w. of Johannes, dau. of Peter Trautman, b. April 8, 1780; d. May 5, 1852.
Deibler, Mathias, b. April 13, 1794; d. Feb. 10, 1875.
Deibler, Catharine, b. Nov. 14, 1801; d. March 31, 1867.
Deibler, Mathias, b. June 14, 1763; d. March 10, 1837.
[He was- a son of Albright Deibler, a prominent man and an active soldier in the Provincial campaign, and made a strong defense against the Indians, and did vali- ant service through the Indian and Revo- lutionary Wars. Capt. Albright Deibler's company was in the regiment under Col. James Burd, of the Fourth Batallion, dur- ing 1776. Mathias was a private at the
Transfere tus le vas.
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Hoffman's Church.
age of thirteen years, doing service in his father's company; sergeant at the age of eighteen years in Capt. Martin Weav- ers company in the year 1781. ]
Deibler, Catharine, b. Feb. 20, 1768; d. May 28, 1838.
Deibler, John George, m. Magdalena Kepner; b. Sept. 30, 1786; d. Nov. 5, 1824.
Daniel, Simon, b. Dec. 30, 1819; d. March 22, 1884.
Daniel, John George, b. Aug. 13, 1801; d. Dec. 4, 1871.
Daniel, Susan, w. of J. G., b. Dec. 29, 1818; d. June 18, 1885.
Daniel, Susannah, w. of A., b. Nov. 20, 1798; d. Aug. 17, 1859.
Daniel. Magdalena, 2d, w. of Henry; b. April 15, 1792; d. Aug. 20, 1864.
Daniel, Catharine, 1st, w. of Henry; b. Oct. 10, 1792; d. April 14, 1842.
Daniel, Susannah, w. of Andreas; b. March 15, 1768; d. June 17, 1851.
[A son of Isaac Ferree, a French Huge- not, who settled in Lykens Valley at an early day. He established a gun powder mill on the Wiconisco creek the beginning- of this century. - George W. Ferree's grandfather settled on the banks of Pequea; his wife Leah was a daughter of Henry Umholtz.}
Ferree, Leab, b. Feb. 7, 1815; d. Jan. 28, 1888.
Forrey, John. b. Aug. 7, 1791; d. May 2, 1866.
Forney, Anna Maria, w. of J., b. Sept. 9, 1798; d. Aug. 8, 1873.
Forney, Catharine, dau. of George and Catharine, b. March 16, 1807; d. Feb. 15, 1863.
Hoffman, Susan, b. April 27, 1820; d. May 17, 1823.
Hoffman, Daniel, b. Feb. 19, 1800: d. Nov. 6, 1823.
Hoffman, John P., b. 1806; d. Feb. 8, 1887.
Hoffman, Elizabeth, b. Feb. 23, 1806; d. March 1, 1886.
Hoffman, E. Catharine, w. of Peter Meyer, b. March 26, 1773, in Bethel township, Berks county, Pa ; m. Decem- ber, 1793; d. Oct. 9, 1843.
Hoffman, Daniel, s. of Johannes, b. Feb. 10, 1776; married in the year 1800 Elizabeth Hoffman; d. June 8, 1814.
[He was a farmer residing near the church on the farm lately owned by George Row. He descended from Lieut. John Hoffman .of Capt. Deibler's com- pany in the Revolution. ]
Hoffman, Christian, s. of Joh- ...:
Juannes, b. Tune 11, 1776; d. Feb. 12 1. Lvmy. , 1815.
Hoffman, Phoebe, w. of Jonathan, dau. of J. and P. Bergstresser, b. Oct. 6, 1813; d. Oct. 11, 1831.
Hoffman, Elizabeth, b. Dec. 13, 1821; d. Sept. 3, 1823.
Hoffman, H., b. 1783; d. 1828.
Hoffman, Jacob, b. Feb. 4, 1780; d. Jan. 2, 1862.
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[Jacob Hoffman succeeded to the home- stead farm of his father, was exceedingly popular, filling several local offices, and in the years 1833-34 served in the Legislature of Pennsylvania. His wife was CatharIne Ferree, daughter of Daniel. ]
Hoffman, Catharine, w. of J., dau. of Daniel Ferree, b. April 7, 1783; d. May 11, 1859.
Hoffman, Elizabeth, w. of Amos, dau. of Henry Miller; b. Nov. 11, 1811; d. Oct. 30, 1836.
Huber, Jacob, b. 1756; d. Feb. 6, 1849.
Huber, Jacob, b. July 28, 1788; d. Dec. 25, 1827.
Huber, Magdalena, dau. of Jacob, w. of Johannes Imschoffstall, b. Dec. 16, 1781; d. Aug. 18, 1855.
Holtzman, George, b. July 22, 1811; d. April 26, 1850.
Hanninger, Susanna, w. of Samuel, b. Sept. 6, 1818; d. March 15, 1856.
Henninger, Sebastian, b. Jan. 20, 1790; d. Feb. 10, 1880.
Wortman, Henry, b. Oct. 14, 1752; d. Ha.
Oct. 14, 1836.
IH IHQQ . A. M.
Hoover, John, b. Sept.t, Live, un march 17. 1877.
Hoover, Magdalena, b. 1795; d. July 20, 1843.
Hoover, John, b. Sept. 2, 1817; d. Aug. 29, 1866.
Haag, Susanna, b. June 30, 1778; d. July 12, 1824
Haag, J. Mathias, b. May 7, 1774; d. April 4, 1831.
Laudenslager, Joseph, b. April 3, 1823; d. Sept. 8, 1855. [His wife was Susan, daughter of John Philip Umholtz. ]
Laudenslager, Daniel, b. Sept. 13, 1792; d. Aug 29, 1867.
Laudenelager, Susanna, w. of D., b July 11, 1804; d. March 3, 1874.
Leidich, William, b. Dec. 17, 1792; d. Oct. 17, 1871.
Leidich, Magdalena, w. of W., b. Nov. 16, 1797; d. Feb. 16, 1871.
Lupold, Frederick, b. June 21, 1833; d. Feb. 20, 1865.
Lupolt. Samuel, b. Sept. 15, 1801; d. March 1, 1871.
Lupolt, Catharine, wife of Peter; h. 2 April 21, 1803; d. June 29, 1855. [She was the daughter of Peter Hoffman, b. Sept. 22, 1778; d. 1864, son of John Nich- olas Hoffman. Peter was a soldier in the war of 1812. ]
Lupolt, Rebecca, w. of Josiah Boyer, b. June 10, 1836; d. Dec. 4, 1854.
Millard, John Peter, b. Feb. 21, 1745, in Willard Dar ne: d. Aug. 15, 1821.
wurops
WMillard, Magdalena, w. of J. P., b. Oct.
6, 1745; d. Oct. 2, 1822.
Millard, Livina, dau, of Samuel, b. Feb. 23, 1824; d. March 11, 1850.
Millard, Samuel, b. May 6, 1799; d. Feb. 8, 1853.
Miller, Catharine, w. of S., b. April 12, 1798; d. Aug. 21, 1877.
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Muench, Sarah, w. of Jacob, b. Oct. 24, 1814; d. Jan. 23, 1879,
Muench, Elizabeth, dau. of Jacob, b. Dec. 7, 1836; d. May 5, 1856.
Muench, Carl F., b. Jan. 7, 1769; in der chur Pfalz am Rhein in Europe; d. Jan. 8, 1833.
[He was a descendant of a French fam- ily of nobility by the name of Beauvoir; and came to Germany before the French Revolution and took the name of his pat- rimonial estate "Munchhofen." He was born at Millenheim, on the Rhine, edu- cated at Heidelberg and for fourteen years prepared himself for the ministry and be- came master of five different languages. The French marshal Jourdan invaded the section he resided in, when in defense of his country he raised a company of dra- goons and in an engagement with the French he was injured in his left arm which ever after became partly useless. That portion of Germany become overrun and in possession of the French troops when he abandoned his possessions and sailed for America in the year 1798. On his journey across the ocean the vessel was overtaken by a French privateer and all his possessions were taken from him; landing at Philadelphia with his family and unable to find employment and being discouraged, he started for the interior of the State and landed at Sheafferstown, Lebanon eounty, Pa., where for a short time he was engaged at teaching & German
school. From this point he drifted to different points in this State, when he settled down finally at Hoffman's Church, and was the faithful teacher for twenty. eight years. Although not & regularly ordained minister, he frequently conducted the religious services at Hoffman's Church in the absence of the regular minister and officiated at funeral occasions. He mar-
ried July 8, 1794, Margaretta Bieser, the very day he was promoted quartermaster under Sir Francis of Wiedlungen. He left numerous descendants, some of whom were honored citizens of this county. Carl F. Muench surrendered this tem- poral for a spiritual life as above in the year 1833, respected and revered
by the people of the Lykens Valley, an's was a representative of the best cultured German blood that settled in the county. ]
Muench, A. Margaretta, b. Jan. 24, 1770, am Pfalz, in Europe; d. Feb. 19, 1834.
Moyer, Sergt. J. B., Co. I, 49th Reg. Pa. Inf.
Meyer, Peter, b. December 27, 1775; m. E. Catharine Hoffman.
Moyer, Henry, b. April 12, 1810; d. Sept. 7, 1863.
Moyer, Jacob, b. Feb. 22, 1774; d. Feb. 6, 1859.
[A son of John Moyer, a private of the first class in Captain Martin Weaver's company, 1781.]
Moyer, Magdalena, b. May 19, 1780; d. Oct. 17, 1864.
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Moyer, Elizabeth, b. Sept. 6, 1787; d. August 2, 1826.
Meyer, Salome, dau. of Peter, b. Oct. 16, 1809; d. Feb. 14, 1833.
Moyer, Eve Christina, w. of Jacob. b. Oct. 21, 1778: d. March 27, 1812.
Matter. Rebecca, w. of Jeremiah, b. April 15, 1843; d. March 31, 1884.
Matter, John, b. January 25, 1795; d. January 4, 1881.
Daniel, Andreas, b. Feb. 25, 1757; d, May 25, 1841.
Daniel Andreas, b. Feb. 24, 1797; d. March 7, 1840.
Daniel, Maria, w. of J .; b. March 18, 18 -; d. June 8. 1839.
Daniel, Henry, b. June 3, 1792; d. May 27, 1876.
Ferree, George W., b. Nov. 21, 1810; d. Jan. 5, 1873.
[He was a descendant of John Matter [Motter], an early German, settled in the valley and a private in Captain Deibler's company, 1776, and a corporal in Captain Weaver's company, 1781.]
Matter, Christina, w. of J., b. Oct. 21, 1798; d. Feb. 26, 1885.
Maffert, William, b. Feb. 2, 1787; d. Oct. 25, 1824.
Maffert, Maria, w. of W., b. Feb. 5, 1794; d. April 26, 1822.
Mertz, Solomon, b. Oct. 31, 1808; d. Oct. 28, 1887.
Potteicher, Peter, b. Feb. 16, 1783.
Potteicher, Margaretta, b. March 21, 1778; d. Dec. 25, 1833.
Rickert, Hannah, w. of Benj. Rigel, b. August 11, 1824; d. July 24, 1849.
Row, Mary, b. Oct. 15, 1806; d. Sept. 17, 1883.
Row, Joseph, b. Sept. 22, 1806; d. Sept. 1, 1875.
Romberger, Hannah, w. of John, nee Hoffman, b. August 10, 1807; d. August 14, 1858.
Reigel, Daniel, b. Sept. 21, 1774; d. Feb. 8, 1839.
[He descended from George Reigel, & private in Captain Deibler's company 1776, and a corporal in Captain Weaver's com- pany 1781 ].
Reigel, John, b. Sept. 6, 1772; d. June 14, 1838.
Regel, Jacob, b. Dec. 5, 1808; d. May 3, 1838.
Reigel, Susan, w. of John, b. Dec. 24, 1787; d. March 20, 1871.
Reigel, John Jacob, b. Aug. 7, 1790; d. June 19, 1846.
Rickert, Martin, b. Sept. 17, 1804; d. March 22, 1871.
Rickert, Elizabeth, w. of M., b. April 26, 1813; d. May 5, 1877 .-
Rickert, Peter, b. May 7, 1812; d. June 5, 1880.
[Their ancestor was John Rickert [Richter]. a private of the second class of Captain Weaver's company 1781].
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[Im] Schoffstall, Mary, w. of Christian, b. May 18, -in "Ritschment" township, Berks county, Pa. ; d. March 14, 1863.
[Im] Schoffstall, Elizabeth, b. Feb. 21, 1829; d. April 28, 1850.
[Im] Schoffstall, Sarah, b. Jan. 21,1830; d. Dec. 10, 1851.
[Im] Schoffstall, Sarah, b. Nov. 4, 1799; d. Aug. 2, 1880.
[Im] Schoffstall, Henry, b. July 2, 1765; d. May 13, 1840.
Schoff[im]etall, Abraham, b. Dec. 19, 1780; d. Oct. 17, 1864.
Schoff[im]stall, Jacob, b. March 16,1799; d. Oct. 2, 1858.
Imschoffstall, Jonas, b. Nov. 15, 1771, in Strasburg township, Lancaster county, Pa ; d. July 29, 1840.
Imschoffstall, Mary Magdalena, w. of Jonas, b. Sept. 1, 1779; d. July 5, 1826.
Schneider, Lenhard, b. May 1, 1772; d. Jan. 17. 1815.
[A son of Leonard, a private in Captain Deibler's company, fourth battalion, com- manded by Col. Burd, 1776].
Shipley, George, b. March 28, 1814; d. Nov. 16, 1871.
Sierer, John, b. Oct. 26, -; d. Oct 16, 1861.
Sierer, Susanna, b. April 22, 1789; d. May 18. 1852.
Sierer, Jacob, b. April 22, 1805; d. April 29. 1884.
Sierer, Elizabeth, b. Aug. 2, 1811; d. June 16, 1880.
Shearer, George, b. March 22, 1811; d. Oct. 15, 1881.
Shearer, Magdalena, w. of G., b. Dec. 28, 1823; d. June 15, 1863.
Sherer, Michael, b. March 17, 1791; d. Sept. 27, 1851.
Schaffner, Christian, b. Nov. 1, 1771; d. Jan. 12, 1835.
Schaffner, John A., s. of Jacob and Susan; b. Feb. 8, 1847; d. Feb. 31, 1860. Snyder, John, b. Aug. 1, 1795; d. May 4, 1850.
Snyder, Ann Mary, w. of J .; b. May 5, 1798; d. Jan. 2, 1836.
Speth, Johannes, b. March 14, 1786, d. Dec. 12, 1856.
Umholtz, Johann, b. Sept. 29, 1772; d. Feb. 18, 1845.
Umholtz, Johann, b. Aug. 11, 1770; d. July 26, 1856.
¿He was a son of Henry, who emigrated from Switzerland to America prior to the Revolution, and was a soldier in Captain Martin Weaver's company during the war of the Revolution. ]
Umholtz, John P., b. Dec. 10, 1812; d. April 25, 1882.
[He married Anna Maria, dau. of John Peter Willard, a native of Switzerland, where he was born in the year 1745.]
Weaver, John, b. Aug. 2, 1810; d. March 10, 1875.
Weaver, Daniel, b. Sept. 21, 1803; d. Sept. 30, 1882.
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Weaver, Susannah, w. of D .; b. March 21, 1810; d. Jan. 10, 1878.
Weaver, Catharine, w. of J. G., nee Bischoff; b. March 4, 1802; d. July 19, 1872.
Weaver, John George, b. Dec. 10, 1801; d. April 13, 1873.
Weaver Peter, b. June 10, 1800; d. May 11, 1874.
Weaver, Ann Mary, w. of P .; b. Feb. 13, 1806; d. Jan. 26, 1877.
Weber, Peter, s. of John Peter and Maria Elizabeth; b. Jan. 17, 1766; d. May 14, 1839.
Weber, Catharine, w. of P., dau. of Jacob Pfeffer and Margaretta; b. Nov. 14, 1767; d. March 8, 1836.
Witmer, Mary, w. of D., b, Sept. 29, 1795; d. May 28, 1875.
Witmer, Daniel, b. Sept. 15, 1781; d. March 30, 1869.
Wert, Catharine, w. of Daniel, b. Feb. 24, 1800; d. June 8, 1872.
Williard, Catharine, w. of Peter, b. Dec. 7, 1778; d. March 5, 1847,
Williard, George, b. June 8, 1819; d. Sept. 17, 1885.
Williard, Henry W., b. Feb. 22, 1839; d. May 29, 1864; wounded May 5 at battle of the Wilderness.
Williard, Sarah, w. of Jacob, dau. of M. Deibler, b. March 9, 1819; d. Aug. 22, 1853.
Wellier, Adam, b. Sept. 12, 1785; d. Jan. 29, 1860. [He was a son of John Peter Williard, born 1745, and came to America as a soldier in the British army. Afterwards he deserted and took up arms in defense of the American colonies. He died in the year 1821, and no doubt is buried in this graveyard, but no stone marks the grave of this soldier of two na. tions. ]
Wellier, Sarah, w. of A., b. Sept. 19, 1796; d. Aug. 31, 1879.
Welkerd, Susanna, w. of Wilhelm, h Jan. 15, 1786; d. Sept. 9, 1852.
Wommer, Elizabeth, w. of John, b. Sept. 2, 1786; d. June 12, 1853.
Yeager, Susan, dau. of George Buffing- ton, b. Aug. 25, 1790; d. Sept. 14, 1849.
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