History: Family:  The LANDIS Family: Bucks, Lancaster, Montgomery Cos, PA
 
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The following is from The Strassburger Family and Allied Families of
Pennsylvania, by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, 1922, pp. 328-340.        

THE LANDIS FAMILY

John LANDIS, with his brothers, Benjamin and Felix, came to America from the
vicinity of Manheim, Germany, about the year 1717. They were descendants of a
family from the district about Zurich, Switzerland, prominent in the Mennonite
faith, which had suffered cruel persecution during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, and were forced to seek refuge in the German Palatinate of which
Manheim was the capital. In Hirzel, Switzerland, stands an ancient Landis
homestead built in 1488.

In the latter part of the Sixteenth century the Landis family, among others in
Switzerland, were noted for their piety and were therefore called Pietists, or
Mennonites, being followers of the teachings of Menno. They were sometimes
called Ana-baptists. After the persecution of the Protestants by the Catholics
had ceased, some of the Protestants of Switzerland were guilty of the same
cruel practices as were perpetrated during the Martyrs' Era. Various edicts
were issued, 1601-1660, by the Reformed churches against the Ana-Baptists or
Mennonites, by which fines were levied, property was confiscated, and banishment,
and even death, decreed. There were others, however, of the Reformed belief,
especially the regents of the United Netherlands, who exerted their influences
for the protection of these innocent people.

Hans Landis, "a pious witness of the Divine truth", was a pietist, or Mennonite,
preacher, who resided on the Swiss Rhine and ministered to those who were seeking
after righteousness. The Council of Zurich ordered his arrest hoping thus to
stop his teachings. The good man "was taken prisoner by his enemies and sent in
irons from Zurich to the Papists at Zolothurn." He was liberated on this
occasion, but was retaken and sent to Zurich, where he was rigorously examined
as to his doctrines and condemned to death; and, in September, 1614, he was
beheaded with a sword, "as a true follower of Christ."

A letter written by a preacher of Zurich, dated July 19-29, 1659, describes the
person and character of Hans Landis and the manner of his execution.

" 'Hatavier Salr, was present at the decapitation of Hans Landis, which
circumstance is still fresh in my memory, having witnessed it at the Wolfs-statt,
and the whole transaction seems as vivid to me now as though it had transpired
but a few weeks ago,' &c. In the sequel, he describes his person and the manner
of his death as follows: 'Hans Landis was tall of stature, had a long black
beard, a little gray, and a masculine voice. Being led out cheerfully with a
rope, to Wolfs-statt the place of decollation, the executioner, Mr. Paul Volmar,
let the rope fall, raised both hands to heaven, and said: O! God of mercy, to
thee be it complained, that you, Hans, have fallen into my hands; for God's sake
forgive me for what I must do to you, &c. Hans consoled the executioner, saying:
I have already forgiven you, may God forgive you also; I am well aware that you
must execute the sentence of the magistracy; be undismayed and see that nothing
hinders you in this matter, &c., whereupon he was beheaded. After he was
decapitated, the executioner inquired: Lord bailiff of the Kingdom, have I
executed this man according to the imperial law and sentence? Otherwise it
would be usual to say, this poor man, &c., as though he considered that he had
died happy. The people were of the opinion that when the executioner let the
rope go he wanted to give Hans an opportunity to escape; and, moreover, it was
a common saying that if he had run off no one would have pursued him.'

"The following, from credible witnesses may be added, namely; that when the
oft-mentioned Hans Landis was awaiting his doom at the place of execution, his
wife and child came to him with tears and lamentation, to bid him a last
farewell. But when he saw them, he entreated them to depart, so that his
resolution to meet his impending fate might not be shaken, and his tranquillity
of mind disturbed by tears and sorrowing. This done, and having commended his
soul to God, a stroke of the sword put a speedy termination to his life."

Although Hans Landis was the last person in that vicinity to be beheaded for
religions convictions, persecutions did not cease with his death, as the
Martyrs' Mirror, or Bloedigh Tooniel, gives instances of several others of the
name who suffered cruel treatment during the next fifty years.

In May, 1637, "Hans Landis the second, a steadfast minister of the church in
Horgerberg and his daughter Margaretha" were confined for more than a year at
Othenbach, during which time the authorities confiscated their property selling
it for 7000 florins.

Three years later, 1640, Oswald Landis, his wife, and two daughters-in-law,
were imprisoned at Othenbach, and Jacob Landis, son of Oswald, and all of his
family were banished. The two daughters-in-law, with their infants, escaped
from prison. Having been deprived of their property, they were forced to
wander about in poverty.

Felix Landis, son of Hans Landis (beheaded at Zurich, 1614), was also a member
of the church at Horgerberg. he, too, was committed to Othenbach and treated
with merciless rigor, for they gave him "nothing to eat for several days, so
that even some criminals, who were confined in an adjoining apartment, had
compassion on him, and with difficulty conveyed food to him through an opening
in the partition. The doorkeepers observing this, he was removed to another
prison. They at length gave him some food, but his digestive organs had become
so impaired by long-continued fasting, that his stomach refused to retain its
food, wherefore, he prepared himself for death. In this state of weakness they
carried him to church during the sermon, and (O, inhuman act!) threw him under
a bench, where he immediately expired, having previously commended his soul to
God.

"His wife, Adelheyd Egli, was also kept in durance in Othenbach, nearly four
years. During this period they treated her not only unmercifully, but
disgracefully; they threw her into several offensive places, stripped her
twice in irons, and for a time took her clothes from her every night, &c.
She afterwards escaped from prison with a good conscience. Meantime, authorities
dispersed her family, drove the children among strangers, and then confiscated
her house and furniture, and sold them for 5000 florins. But the rejected and
forsaken consoled themselves, according to the words of the Apostle: 'Ye took
joyfully the spoiling of your goods, Knowing in yourselves, that ye have in
heaven a better and enduring substance.' "

Another incident of interest, recited in the Martyrs' Mirror, is the persecution
and death of one Verena Landis, in 1643. The name Verena is no doubt a variant
of Veronica, or Fronica, the latter being a family name carried by the Landis
and intermarried branches, in America, through many generations.

"The house of Verena Landis, an elderly sister, was attacked in the night with
such a noise and tumult, that being greatly alarmed, she grew faint and sick,
and in consequence of which could not go with the beadles. As she could not
accompany them, she was compelled to make a promise that she would remain a
prisoner in her own house, which promise she accordingly fulfilled. However,
as they treated her very harshly, and supplied her with very bad provisions,
death was, in a very short time, the consequence; thus she departed her life,
full of hope and joy; and because she suffered this for the name of the Lord,
he will reward her hereafter with a crown of everlasting bliss, and free her
from eternal death, 'And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed
away.' "

About 1660, or thereabouts, the Landis family took refuge in Germany, some
settling in Zwieburg and Alsace, others locating in the neighborhood of
Strasburg, while still others found a home in Manheim where, like the Palatines,
they became cultivators of the soil.

It was from the vicinity of Manheim that the three brothers, Benjamin, Felix,
and John Landis, in 1717, emigrated to Pennsylvania. Benjamin, the eldest,
settled in what is now Lancaster County, where in 1718, he received by patent
from the London Company a tract of two hundred and forty acres of land situated
in East Lampeter Township. He was a Mennonite minister and his house became a
refuge for many of the Swiss emigrants who enjoyed his hospitality until they
were able to secure homes of their own.

Felix Landis, brother of Reverend Benjamin Landis, received a patent from the
London Company in 1719-20, for four hundred acres of land on Mill Creek, also
in East Lampeter Township. He died in 1739.

John Landis, the third brother, settled in Bucks County, near what is now
Shelly, where he died 1749-50. Very little is known of him, as few records can
be found pertaining to him, particularly no deeds of transfer of property. A
persistent but futile search was made for the deed or document referred to in
the Genealogy of the Bauer Family, by which property owned by John Landis came
into possession of the heirs of his daughter, Veronica Landis Bauer. Some time
prior to 1738, he entered into an agreement with the Proprietaries by which
one hundred acres of land lying with the Proprietaries' Manor of Richland in
Bucks County, would be granted to him for which he was to pay seven shillings
per acre and the yearly quit-rent of one-half penny sterling per acre. In 1738
this tract was surveyed to him, and the following year an order of Warrant was
issued returning and establishing the survey. (Survey Book D, No. 83, p. 159.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.)

The wife of John Landis was Ann, surname unknown, who survived her husband.
Nothing is known of their burial place. John Landis made a will, dated
September 26, 1747, which was probated May 1, 1750. It was written in German
and in it he calls himself of "Lower Millford Township," Bucks County.
(Will Book I, p. 397. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.)

John Landis died between September 26, 1747, the date of his will, and
April 12, 1748, when an inventory of his personal estate was made. The will
being written in German, a translation was necessary before it could be
probated. The final account was rendered in 1758. Although he was a resident
of Bucks County, for some reason the will was proved in Philadelphia and the
original will and papers are filed in the Office of the Register of Wills in
that city. There is no record of his will and estate on file in Doylestown, PA.
In this instrument, he mentions only his wife and sons, Samuel and Jacob, by
name, to whom he makes certain bequests and directs that his executors divide
the residue of his estate equally among all of his children when the youngest
son shall have reached the age of nineteen years which would be in 1759. The
account of the executors rendered in 1758, shows that there were nine children
then living, but we know of only seven.

Children of John and Ann LANDIS:

1. John Landis, born November 11, 1720 in Bucks County. He removed to
Montgomery County, PA.

2. Jacob Landis, died in 1806, near Jersey Shore, Lycoming Co., PA.

3. Martin Landis.

4. George Landis.

5. Samuel Landis, died 1771, married Margaret _______. Resided in
Lower Milford Township, Bucks County, PA. His will names children: John,
Jacob, Abraham, George, Anne, Barbara and Eve. The witnesses were Michael
Musselman and Jacob Shelle.

6. Veronica Landis, married Michael Bauer (Bower), b. about 1721, d. 1784.
Children:

i. Samuel Bauer, b. 06 Aug 1746, d. 18 Nov 1822, m. Elizabeth Ziegler

ii. Fronica Bauer, b. 10 Apr 1756, d. 13 Sep 1840, m. Abraham M. Schwenk

iii. Anna Bauer, m. Christian Meyer

7. Barbara Landis