OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 568 Today's Topics: #1 Church Records From Tuscarawas Cou [MWilli1008@aol.com] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 19:38:41 EDT From: MWilli1008@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: Church Records From Tuscarawas County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Section 20 Diaries of the Congregations in Sharon and Gnadenhutten Wolle's Diary January 1842 Monday, January 3. Drove to Sharon and in the evening held monthly prayer meeting with a very full house. Then the communicant members remained. I reminded them that very much of the communicant money was in arrears (much of it for 3 years) and asked them to pay it as soon as possible. I had to drive home in a very dark cold night to make preparation for a funeral to be held here tomorrow. But fortunately the young Jac. Meyer offered to go with me. He was a great help to me in the fording, with which I was unfamiliar.. He rode my horse home yet the same night. Tuesday, Jan, 4. At 1 o'clock in the afternoon I held the funeral at Sharon of a married man by the name of Martin Wine, who died yesterday in Trenton, age 54 years. Saturday, January 8. In the forenoon I make a few very disagreable visits in the village for the correction of various matters. Sunday, January 9. Sermon in Gnadenhutten. After the exposition of the text, I use the opportunity to speak in an impresssive manner on the duties of parents toward their childrenl and especially that they should keep them faithful in attendance at services, as this matter had recently come to be talked about so much. This was followed by church council. It was decided to enlarge the God's Acre as soon as possible, and to enclose it with new fences and, if the subscriptions should be large enough, to build a new fence around a part of the garden and lot. Likewise, it was declared to be reasonable in future to allow no one to be buried free of charge in the graveyard who did nothing in supposrt of our congregational affairs, and $1.00 would be fixed as the cost of a grave for an adult, 50 cents for a child. Sunday, Jan. 16. The baptism of Heinrich von Lehn's little son, Simon. Tuesday, Jan 18. I visit Abraham B. Blickensderfer at the Trenton ferry, who with his oldest daughter, Catherine, is very sick with fever of the chest. Sunday, Jan 23. The baptism of Bro. and Sr. Jonathan Taylor's little son, Owen Theophihis. Thursday,lJanuary 27. I rode out to Isaac and Abraham Blickensderfers, The latter are getting better. February 1842 Sunday, Feb. 6. Father Martin Keiser incurred a bad injury on his face while log-rolling. Tuesday, February 8. Before I rode home I visited with old Bro. Sturgius, who was lying very sick. I had not gone much farther when Bro. Joshua Miksch met me with the unexpected message that the single Bro. Jesse Winsch, who had been sick seceral months but seemed to be much improved in the last week, had lain in convulsions yesterday afternoon and all of last night, and his death was hourly expected. Then I hastened on the way home and arrived half frozen, I found Bro. Winsch quite beside himself. His sickness is dropsy. Saturday, February 12. On receiving the report that Bro. Martin Kaiser was dangerously ill from the injury received in the face, Bro. Christian Blickensderfer and I rode to Frey's Valley to visit him,-- but found him busy in his field, but still pretty unwell. We then visited sick Mother Frey, at Samuel Frey's, Jesse Frey's and John Tschudy's. In all the families they have suffered immensely from a kind of scarlet(fever) during the past few weeks; this epidemic seems to be creeping around through the whole neighborhood, also in Gnadenhutten, but it is worse in this valley than elsewhere. Peter Edmond's family are all said to be very sick. The weather is continued warm and for the most part we have had a very unusual winter so far. We have had spring-like weather during January and February. As there is a great scarcity of feed for the cattle, it is very much to the advantage of the poor farmers. Wednesday, February 15. It is snowing (5 inches deep) hence on Thursday, February 17 I use the opportunity in the afternoon of driving by sled with sister Wolle, who on account of poor health has been unable to go out of the house since Christmas day, to Abraham Blickensderfers at the Trenton ford. Likewise on Friday, February 18, we visit at Isaac Blickensderfers by sled, but return in the rain, and the snow is melting. Sunday, February 20 The baptism of Isaac Blickensderfers little son, Francis Eugene. Tuesday Feb. 22. Young Bro. Jacob Blickensderfer of Dover pays a visit and stays with us over night --he informs us that all the Dover brethren and sisters are well. Thursday, Feb. 24. Mother Huebner is very sick. March 1842 Wednesday, March 23, In the afternoon, in the home of Bro. and Sr. John Blickensderfer, I united in marriage the single Bro. Benjamin Keller and the widowed sister Rose Charlotte Blickensderfer, maiden name Walton. Sunday, March 27. Easter. I baptized the little son of Jacob Blickensderfer Jr., Robert, and the little daughter of Jacob Meyers, Jr., named Charlotte Rosanna. We went to John Schorbs soon after and I baptized their little daughter, Caroline Louise. Monday, March 28. In the afternoon I drove to Martin Keller's house in German Valley, where in the presence of both families, I united in marriage the single brother, Gottlied Oehler and the single sister, Belinda Ticksecker. Some of the peach trees have been blooming for a week already. Thursday, March 31. In the afternoon, in the house of Bro. and Sr. Massman, I baptized their little son Eugene Friedrich. April 1842 Saturday, April 2. With the help of the young brethren, Jacob Blickensderfer of Trenton and others, the afternoon was applied to measuring the God's Acre Reserve accurately. Sunday, April 3. Baptized the little daughter of David and Barbara Guenther, named Esther. Thursday, April 14. Arrangements were made for a funeral here this afternoon. He was a certain George Rebstock, who formerly belonged to the congregation, but was addicted to drink for many years. I have a funeral. The married sister Susan Blickensderfer, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria Uhrich, was born April 1, 1818, at Waterford, and was soon baptized; on January 4, 1838 she was married to Simon Blickensderfer in Gnadenhutten, and was confirmed on April 12 of the same year. The marriage was blessed with three children, of whom the oldest son, Owen went home on the 20th of April, and the birth of the later ones,twins, on April 14, were the cause of her early end, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the 25th, when she went home, contented and quickly. yet unexpectedly soon. May 1842 Monday, May 2. I went to Sharon early to baptize Simon Blickensderfers twins; but this was postponed as the elderly Uhrichs, (the sponsors) were unable to come, due to the rough weather. But mother Uhrich had recovered from the measles which had quite hindered her from visiting her daughter on her sick bed. (and prevented) her attending the burrrial. I found Bro. Simon Blickensderfers hand, George Burroway very seriously ill from a cold which he had contracted at the last funeral, just recently having recovered from the measles. Wednesday, May 4. The sisters festival is celebrated in Sharon, for which we had a very beautiful day. The older girl, Hannah Oehler, entered the single sisters choir and 8 little girls joined the older girls choir: Elizabeth Knaus, Susanna Demuth, Sarah Schmick, Marian v Lehn, Marian Blickensderfer, Amanda Keriter, Eva Pfeiffer and Sarah Romig. Then we drove to Simon Blickensderfer's home where we still find the most compassionating distress--George Burroway, hopelessly ill, the twins serious and the dear mother also very much exhausted by the great distress. I felt impelled, before the baptism of the twins, Susanna Caroline and Albert B., after the singing of some verses, to implore the dear Lord in a fervent prayer for grace, confidence, and strength to bear this affliction. Friday, May 6. The single brother John Meyer came over in the forenoon to tell me George Burroway died yesterday evening at 10 o'clock. Saturday, May 7. At 1 o'clock in the afternoon George Burroway's funeral in Sharon. He was 22 years old--his father, a Brother before him, almost cast him out quite early--and 8 yeago he found a place of refuge with Bro. and Sr. John Blickensderfers who raised him. Saturdayl May 14. I drove to Dover in the expectation of meeting my dear parents-in-law, Bro. and Sr. Jac. Rices of Bethlehem. But as they had not yet arrived, i baptized, in the house of the parents, the little son of Bro. and Sr. Israel Rickseckers, Rufus, on which occasion Bro. Benjamin Ricksecker, from St. Kitts and the single sisters, Elizabeth, and Katy Warner,l together with Jac. Blickensderfer, were sponsors. Sunday, May 15. Our dear parents arrived quite early, safe and sound in a private conveyance from Steubenville, to our very great joy. The rite of confirmation of the following four sisters took place at 10 o'clock: the married(sisters) Mary Magdoline Fuchs, Mary Magd. Demuth, Elizabeth Romig, and the single Catherine Ann Blickensderfer. at 4 o'clock in the afternoon in the home of J.G. Fuchs, the funeral address of the little daughter of his youngest son, Herman, Amanda Catherine by name was held. Monday, may 16. We went to Sharon with our dear parents where I conducted the funeral of Christian Capler, a father of six children who died suddenly. Tuesday, May 17. As Bro. Jac. Rice had business in Medina County, 70 miles from here, I decided to take him thither with my horse and carriage; We set out on the road today, as I know of nothing to detain me. We took the road above Dover, through the splendid territory of Mount Eaton, Wooster and Jackson, an on the second night we lodged with an old acquaintance from Northampton County--a Mennonite minister by the lname of Samuel Kappes. Friday, May 20. We arrived home again safe and sound after we had visited in Dover with Judge Blickensderfer. During my absence there occurred the burial of an outsider, Burroway, father of the young man whom I buried at Sharon on the 7th. He died of the same illness as his son -- an inflamation of the lung. Saturday, 28th. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon occurred the burial of the married sister, Maria Salome Huebner. Her maiden name was Knaus, born in Bethlehem, December 9, 1780, and baptized the following day. She became a communicant member in that place May 4, 1798. November 15, 1804 she entered into wedlock with Anton Huebner and moved to Hope, Indiana---1808 to Nazareth, 1810 to Scheenock and to Gnadenhutten in the year 1834. Her marriage was blessed with 9 children, of whom 2 preceded her. On the same day I was asked to hold the burial of a man in Trenton, by the name of Joseph Burns, who was killed by the caving in of a rock in a coal mine--but I had to decline. June 1842 Friday, June 10. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon I kept the funeral in Sharon of the aged brother, Joseph Sturgin. He was born in Lititz in 1770. 1792 he was married to Elizabeth Brun in York, and had fifteen children by her, of whom only three survive. In 1823, after the death of his first wife, he married his now surviving widow, Margaret Metzger. Monday, June 13. I drove to Port Washington and left our Becky with her brother Thomas. Wendesday, June 15. The cemetery fence in Gnadenhutten is being completed. Thursday, June 16. In Bro. Demuth's Tavern I baptize a little child of some people who do not belong to us, Friederick Kael, by name. Saturday, June 18. During the noon hour I rode eastward into the hills 4 miles and delivered a funeral address in the house of a Mr. Bachman over his wife, Eva B. who died yesterday. She belonged to the Presbyterian church--left behind 7 children. Then the procession went to Gnadenhutten where we buried the body in the cemetery while it rained. Thursday, June 23rd. The dysentery has invaded almost every family in the village since Sunday. In Sharon the little twin daughter of Simon BLickensderfer went home and was interred the next day in Sharon by Mr. Greenwald. July 1842 Thursday, July 7. at 10 o'clock in the forenoon in Beershe I conducted the funeral of the married sister Rebecca Cherryholmes, who died of dysentery day belore yesterday. In the afternoon in Sharon there was a funerall it was likewise of a mother, with a large family, Mrs. Born, formerly Warnern, from Heidelberg, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Sunday, july 10. In the home of an outsider by the name of Kint I baptized 2 of his children, 2 of Edward Stockers, and one of a certain Dieterich. Monday, July 11. Bro John Blickensderfer of Sharon came to tell me that according to appearances, his dear wife was close to death from the prevailing epidemic. So I drove over and as she and all those present expected she was near her end, we sang and prayed at her bedside and I spoke a blessing on her home again. Then I returned home agin and arranged to have Bro. Edward Peter to go to Massillon for me to get my newly purchased carriage. Tuesday, July 12, in the forenoon I conducted the funeral from Thomas Guenther's residence in Beersheba of little Thomas Jefferson Cherryholmes, who had just been baptized on Sunday. Friday, July 15. I visited Sister Betsy Blickensderfer and found her much worse again. Monday, July 18. I drive to Levi Rank's in Stone Creek and baptize their newborn little daughter, Maria Louisa, and from Jacob Blickensderfers I go to my home again, early in the afternoon, where I arrive very sick with headache and dysentry. Sunday, July 24. The baptism of Charles Huebner's little son, Israel Edward and a son of Jacob Wolf, Wiliam. Monday, July 25, The funeral of an 11 year old girl, a daughter of Betsy Buffington, Werner's Valley. Wednesday, July 17. Another funeral, that of a certain Mrs. Challer, of Lock 17, who passed into eternity yesterday after a protracted dropsical illness. There was not much good to be said of her, and for such I often feel inclined blankly to refuse the request for a funeral sermon--for if they live like the heathen, why shouldn't they want to bury their own dead like the heathen. I went over toward evening of the afternoon and after the singing of some English verses and prayer at the house, we accompanied the corpse to the Beersheba's Gods's Acre, where I worked in a very short address. I could do no more on account of my exhaustion. August 1842 Wednesday, August 3. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon the burial of little Mary Angeline Guenther, daughter of Bro. and Sr. John Guenther, aged 8 months, who also died of the dysentry. Thursday, August 4. I visited Judge Blickensderfer, and the same forenoon I baptized the children of Bro. and Sr. Rickert and Sr. Newbold, their names James Henry and David William. September 1842 Wednesday, Sept 14. at 4 o'clock in the afternoon occurred the burial of little Lucy Isabel Hoover, who died yesterday at the age of 1 3/4 years. Thursday, September 15. In the home of Bro. and Sr. Michael Rehmel, I married the single Bro. Christian Lichty to the single sister, Mary Catherine Rehmel, their youngest daughter. Monday, Sept. 19. The baptism of Bro. and Sr. Lewis Peter's little child, Emily Susanna. December 1842 Tuesday, December 6. In the afternoon surprized by the sad report that Bro. Abraham Blickensderfer, being near his end from burning, but oddly, I found him better than I had expected. Wednesday, December 7. Again at Abraham Blickensderfer's who seems to have become considerably better since yesterday. To Christian Blickensderfer in the evening, at there at night and celebrated his 55th birthday. Tuesday, December 13. From Jac. Meyers, where I had stayed overnight, I rode while it was snowing hard, in company of the young brother Jac. Blickensderfer up the towpath toward Dover to see Bro. Kampmann. But we met him and Jac. Blickensderfer, senior at Lockport, turned about with them again and learned the circumstances of his coming In the afternoon Bro. Kampmann rode with me to Gnadenhutten and spent a few days with us. We sought to get acquainted with other and to hit upon a plan as to how both of us might be most useful to the church. And it was determined that Bro. Kampmann should stay for the time being at Jac. Blickensderfers, senior, and serve the Dover brethren and sisters for the most part. Thursday, December 15. Bro. Kampmann and I drove out in the sled and visited Abraham Blickesnderfer at the ferry, whom we found rapidly recovering. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #568 *******************************************