HISTORY: Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia, Chapter 7, Weise, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 149-151. _______________________________________________________________ THE WEISE FAMILY OF LYKENS VALLEY. ADAM WEISE was born in New Goshenhoppen, Philadelphia county, Pa., December 23, 1751. His parents were John George and Eva Weise. They moved from New Goshenhoppen to Heidelberg township, Berks county, Pa., where Adam was brought 150 HISTORICAL REVIEW up in a Christian-like manner in the faith and doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The subject of this sketch was married on the 2d of February, A. D. 1772, to Margaret Elizabeth Wingard, who was born in Heidelberg township, Berks county, on the 15th of March A. D. 1749. Her parents were Lazarus and Catharine Elizabeth Wingard. She belonged to the Evangelical Presbyterian (German Reformed Church. By this marriage there were the following children: i. Catharine-Elizabeth, b. November 21, 1772, in Heidelberg township, Berks county; m. George Gundrum, April 7, 1795, by Rev. William Hendel. ii. Ann-Elizabeth, b. April 28, 1774, in Hagerstown, Md. (the famly having removed to that place the previous year); m. Philip Shaffer, April 5, 1795. He died March 23, 1814, in Upper Paxtang township, Dauphin county. iii. John, b. August 13, 1776, in Hagerstown; m. Elizabeth Bordner, daughter of Michael Bordner, of Upper Paxtang township, Dauphin county, on June 7, 1801. iv. Anna-Mary, b. June 28, 1778, in Hagerstown; m. Michael Shadel November 7, 1797, in Upper Paxtang township, Dauphin county, in the year 1801. His wife died the first year of their marriage, and he was married the second time, to Elizabeth Lebo. Adam Weise served as a sergeant in the Maryland cavalry in the Revolutionary war, enlisting at Hagerstown. He moved with his family from Hagerstown to Upper Paxtang township, in Lykens Valley, Dauphin county, Pa., in the year 1782. [He settled at this time on the north or south side of Wiconisco creek on the road (as now known) leading from Cross-Roads to Berrysburg, formerly Hellerstown. According to the best information obtainable, he settled on the north of said creek, on what is generally known as the Elder farm, and very likely he owned the land on both sides of the creek, for he owned three hundred acres or over. When I (his youngest son) was ten or twelve years old, in passing along on that road in company with old men of the valley, I was shown the place where they said my father's blacksmith shop had stood, which was a little back in the field from the road, southwest from the old residence, which is still standing, but has been remodeled and repaired at different times. I was also shown where he had his coal- pit or hearth, which was about a hundred yards slightly northwest from where the shop stood, in the woods. Blacksmiths used nothing but charcoal in those days, and most of them burnt or charred their own coal. It should be remembered, also, that nearly all of what is now Washington and Mifflin townships to the Susquehanna river was included in Upper Paxtang township] vi. John-George, b. January 7, 1786, in Upper Paxtang township, Dauphin county; m. Charlotte Moore, 1808. The Indians were very troublesome, and from this and other causes the family removed to Bethel township, Berks county, Pa., 1788. vii. Anna-Margaret, b. February 14, 1789, in Bethel township, Berks county; m. Michael Shoop, November 6, 1808, in Upper Paxtang township, Dauphin county. viii. Anna-Maria, b. July 21, 1791, in Bethel township, Berks county; m. Abraham Jury, 1811, in Upper Paxtang township, Dauphin county. Mr. Weise moved back to Lykens Valley to the old place in the year 1796, and in 1802 took up his residence in Millersburg, erecting the third house in the town and a blacksmith shop, on the southwest corner of Union and Race streets (now owned by Levi Bowman, Sr.). His anvil was the town clock in the morning for a number of years, so the old people of Millersburg used to say. He was commissioned a justice of the peace by Governor Mifflin February 1, 1799. Remained in office over thirty-four years, or until his death in 1833. His wife died on Sunday, March 29, 1818, and was buried on the following Tuesday, in the David's (German Reformed) graveyard, about three miles northeast of Millersburg. The funeral attendance was exceedingly large, and Revs. J. R. Reily and Nicholas Hemping were present. A very appropriate sermon was preached by Rev. J. R. Reily, from Psalms iv. 8. She reached the age of 69 years and 14 days. They lived DAUPHIN COUNTY. 151 together in matrimony 46 years, 1 month and 26 days. Adam Weise entered into matrimony the second time August 23, 1818, with Mary Kuehly (Keely), widow of George Kuehly, of Swinefordstown, Union county, Pa. (now Middleburg, Snyder county). Her parents were Jacob and Mary Bitterman, from Montgomery county, Pa. She was born March 20, 1765, in Montgomery county. On Sunday evening, September 10, 1820, his second wife died, and was buried the following in the German Reformed burial ground, alongside his former partner. Her age was 55 years, 5 months and 15 days. Rev. Isaac Gearheart preached on the occasion, from the words recorded in Isaiah xxxviii. 1. Mr. Weise entered into matrimony the third time December 10, 1820, with Catharine Patton, widow of James Patton, of Swinefordstown, Union county, Pa. (now Middleburg, Snyder county). Her maiden name was Catharine Neiman. She was born November 10, 1785, in Montgomery county, Pa. Her parents were Conrad and Catharine Neiman. This union was blessed with the following issue: ix. Abel, b. October 3, 1821, in Millersburg, Dauphin county, Pa. He is still living, a resident of Lykens. x. Hannah, b. February 13, 1823. xi. Frederick-Neiman, b. August 25, 1825, in Millersburg. Adam Weise died October 5, 1833, in Millersburg, after a long and useful life, and was buried by the side of his two deceased wives in the graveyard of David's Reformed church, Upper Paxtang township. Rev. Isaac Gearheart officiated at the funeral. His age was 81 years, 9 months and 12 days. Catharine Weise, surviving relict of Adam Weise, died in Berrysburg, Dauphin county, April 30, 1863, aged 77 years, 5 months and 20 days. She was buried in the cemetery of the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed church at Berrysburg. Funeral services were held by Revs. Bosler and I. Gearheart. At the death of Adam Weise there were 11 children, 63 grandchildren and 133 great-grandchildren. The descendants of the above record (which is made from a correct translation of the original German by Rev. Michael Lenker) are now scattered in nearly every State of the Union, especially in the West. F. N. W.