History: Family: The SCHWENK Family: Montgomery (then Philadelphia) Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Thera Schwenk-Hammond. tsh@harborside.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ____________________________________________________ Updated 10/2002 The following is from The Strassburger Family and Allied Families of Pennsylvania, by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, 1922, pp. 281-314. THE SCHWENK FAMILY Hans Michael Schwenk was born in Germany March 11, 1696, and came to America on the ship "Jamaica Galley," Robert Harrison, Commander, which sailed from Rotterdam, arriving at Philadelphia February 9, 1739. There were three hundred and twenty passengers, but only the names of males over sixteen years of age, eighty-nine in number, are given, the other two hundred and thirty-one being women and children. On the official list of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania we find the names of "Hans Michael Swinck" and "Adam Schwinck," but on the original list, as made up by the authorities at Rotterdam before sailing, we find that "Michael Swenk," was fifty years of age, and "Adam Swenk" was eighteen years old. Accompanying him were his wife Mary Elizabeth, and his three sons, Jacob, George and Nicholas. It is possible that Adam was a son, who being over sixteen years of age, was registered, while the other three were under that age. The earlier genera- tions spelled the name "Schwenck" but the later ones dropped the second 'c' and it then became "Schwenk." (Note from contributor: some branches now spell it Swenk, others Swank, and still others Swink.) Very little is known of Michael Schwenck. On April 16, 1747, he bought of David Heebner and his wife, Mary, a tract of one hundred acres of land in Frederick Township, then in Philadelphia, but now Montgomery County. The Old Goshenhoppen Creek ran through the eastern end of his land. January 22, 1752, Michael Schwenck and Mary, his wife, conveyed this farm to their son, George Schwenck. The above-mentioned deed to Michael Schwenck is not recorded, the recital of this transfer being found in a deed from George Schwenck and his wife, Fronica, to Henry Boyer, of this same farm, some twenty years later. On June 1, 1749, Christopher Saur, publisher of the Germantown newspaper, the 'Pennsylvaniche Brietesche', inserted this notice in the issue of that date: "The Printer has a letter for Michael Schwenck, in Schipback." Michael Schwenk and his wife were members of the Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church, situated in Upper Salford Township. Goshenhoppen was a Union Church, erected and owned by the Lutherans and Reformed jointly. In 1732 a tract of land was procured from the Proprietaries of the Commonwealth for the purpose of building a church, and in the fall of that year a schoolhouse was erected which was used as a place of worship. But the tract was not properly sur- veyed until January 26, 1737. Then thirty-eight and one-half acres were set aside for the use of the church and school, the deed being recorded in Philadelphia the following month. As they were without a pastor, the Reformed and Lutherans worshipped together, occupying the schoolhouse as a church up to the spring of 1744, when the two congregations began the building of the first church, the cornerstone being laid on May 14 of that year, the members doing much of the work themselves. On a large stone over the entrance was inscribed in German "The united liberality of the Lutherans and Reformed erected this temple." The whole congregation consisted of about forty-five families. This venerable old church stood till 1858, when the two congregations resolved to build a stone edifice with a steeple and bell, the present church being the result of these later endeavors. On May 8, 1757, Michael Schwenk and Maria (Mary), his wife, were sponsors (by proxy) for their grandson, Daniel, son of Nicholas and Anna Barbara Schwenck, who was baptized by the minister of the Goshenhoppen Lutheran Congregation. Michael Schwenck died February 20, 1773, aged seventy-one years, eleven months and nine days. (Note from contributor: this would make his date of birth about March 11, 1701, not 1696.) His wife died Jul 4, 1775, aged seventy years, nine months, less five days. They were both probably buried in the churchyard adjoining the church. There is no will on record nor were any letters of administration issued at the time of his death. Children of Hans Michael and Mary Elizabeth Schwenk: 1. Jacob Schwenck, born in Germany, 1725; came to Pennsylvania with his parents in 1739 and was naturalized at a session of the Supreme Court at Philadelphia April 14, 1754. 2. George Schwenck, born in Germany, March 1728, died in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1803; married Veronica Markley. 3. Nicholas Schwenck, born in Germany; came to Pennsylvania in 1739; died 1808; married Anna Barbara ____; he was a blacksmith and resided in Harleysville, Pennsylvania. George Schwenck, son of Hans Michael and Mary Elizabeth Schwenck, was born in Germany March, 1728, and came to America with his parents in 1739, when eleven years of age. He married April 30, 1751, Veronica (Fronica), daughter of Major Jacob and Barbara Dotterer Markley. She was born April 1, 1732, confirmed in Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trappe, Pennsyl- vania, April 7, 1751, three weeks before her marriage. George Schwenck was a farmer and blacksmith, and resided in what is now Frederick, but then Perkiomen Township, Montgomery County. He was naturalized September 24, 1755, having taken the Sacrament the day previous. The census of 1756 for Perkiomen Township shows that: "George Schwenck had two children, one hundred acres of land, of which forty were cleared." In 1769 he was assessor for Frederick Township of the proprietary tax, he himself being taxed 15 pounds, 18s, 4d for provincial tax on two hundred acres, three horses and five horned cattle; 1776, appears on the township assessment as owner of two hundred acres, three horses and five cows; 1779, collector for Frederick Township of the supply tax for that year, his tax being 16 pounds. The first roads from one new settlement to another were simply paths through the forest, leading over private property. As communities grew, the need for public roads was recognized and petitions were accordingly addressed to the Court of Quarter Sessions, praying that such highways be laid out for public use. Such a petition was made to the Court held at Philadelphia on the first Monday of September, 1763, for a road leading from George Weickert's tavern, in Frederick Township, to "John Bargen's mill, on Perkyomen Creek" (later Henry Vanderslice's mill) and thence to Goshenhoppen Church. Among the signers were: George Weichert Killian Gangler Heinrich Beyer Daniel Hister Johannes Neiss Valentine Nungessor Jost Holbousch Heinrich Krauss Wendel Horst John Miller Johan Peter Holbusch Michael Renn Christian Hepler George Schwenck At a general term of the same Court of Quarter Sessions, 1775, George Schwenck was made Supervisor, or Overseer, of the Highways, for Frederick Township. Besides following his trade as blacksmith, George Schwenck owned a large tract of land, which he farmed. This land lay for the most part in Frederick Township. The first purchase of which we have any record was for one hundred acres in the above-named township, located principally on the west side of Old Goshenhoppen Creek, which he secured of his father and mother, Michael and Mary Elizabeth Schwenck, January 2, 1754. On April 14, 1761, George and his wife, Fronica (Veronica), sold this tract to Henry Boyer. October 18, 1765, he bought of David Heebner two hundred acres also in Frederick Township, which adjoined "other lands of said George Schwenck," but on May 2, 1768, he sold one hundred and forty-six acres and one hundred and twenty-six perches of this last-named tract to Ludowick Reimer. The "other land" referred to was, no doubt, the homestead tract, the deed for which is not recorded at either Philadelphia or Norristown. It appears by another indenture under date of March 27, 1771, that George Schwenck, with his brother, Nicholas, had purchased in 1769, a small planta- tion of about forty acres lying in Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County. This tract "George Swenk of Frederick Township, blacksmith, and Fronica his wife and Nicholas Swenk of Lower Salford Township, blacksmith, and Barbara his wife" sold to Nicholas Charles for two hundred pounds. Still one other deed of interest is on record. George Schwenck, on May 27, 1795, purchased of his sons, John and George Schwenck, Jr., as executors of the estate of Henry Krauss, Jr., four tracts of land lying in Frederick Township, belonging to the heirs of Henry Krauss. The marriage of "George Schwenck and Veronica Mercklin," daughter of Jacob Merklin (Markley), April 30, 1751, is found recorded on the Register of Augustus Evangelical Church or "Old Trappe," as it is commonly called, in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, and here we also find the baptism of "Daniel, son of George and Veronica Schwenck, born May 9, baptized August 9, 1761; sponsor the parents." Among the members of this congregation, who promise to contribute to the salary of the Reverend Pastor Muhlenberg, November 27, 1760, it is noted that "George Schwenck promises to pay 7s 6d yearly," while his father-in-law, Jacob Merckle, contributes 15s as his subscription. George and Fronica Schwenck lived at first in what is now Zieglerville, opposite the old home of Andrew Ziegler, Jr. He sold this property and removed to a new and more pretentious house which he had built on the north branch of the Perkiomen Creek, about three-fourths of a mile southwest of the Borough of Schwenksville, where he plied his trade as blacksmith, making and repairing tools for the company who owned and operated the copper mine nearby. He planted a buttonwood tree by the side of his shop for a shade tree, which, despite the fact that it was struck by lightning in 1911, is still in a flourishing condition, measuring sixteen feet in circumference at its base. George Schwenck died February 24, 1803, (sic) aged seventy-five years; his wife, Fronica, October, 1777, (sic) in her forty-sixth year. Both are buried in the private burying ground on the homestead farm. The farm has long passed out of the possession of the Schwenk family. This little cemetery, the resting place of a dozen or more of the children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren of George and Fronica Schwenck, now lies in the midst of the plowed fields, and, to save it from destruction by the disinterested owner, the Schwenk Family Association purchased the tiny plot and thus secured its perpetual protection. The tombstone marking the grave of Fronica had broken and fallen, the inscription being almost obliterated. The association set up a new stone, leaving the old one lying flat upon the grave. On the Old Goshenhoppen Church record is found: "Veronica, George Schwenck's wife, died 29th September, 1777." In the manuscript record of deaths in the Markley family occurs this: "1803, 25 Feb.: old George Schwenck died." Letters of administration on the estate of George Schwenck, deceased, were granted March 21, 1803, to his two sons, Jacob and Abraham. An inventory and appraisement of his personal estate was made by Samuel Pennepacker and Abraham Groff, and the amount found to be 1468.8.3 1/2 pounds. Among his effects was a sermon book, appraised 7s 6d, and a large German Bible. The whereabouts of this Bible is unknown. It is probably in the possession of one of his descendants, but it was not located in time to be used in compiling this record of the family. The administrators filed their final account May, 1805. Notices advertising the filing were put up at Henry Krebs', at Philip Bower's and at Samuel Bower's, three of the most frequented public houses in the neighborhood. The settlement showed a net balance of 3134.11.6 1/2 pounds for distribution among the heirs. Children of George Schwenck and Fronica Markley: 1. John Schwenck, born in Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsyl- vania, March 5, 1752; died February 3, 1803; married September 4, 1773, Regina Krause, born April 12, 1756; both buried in the Schwenk private burial ground. 2. Jacob Schwenck, born June 7, 1755, in Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; died July 29, 1825; married Eva Maria Beirly; resided in Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. (Note from contributor: Jacob's wife's name was actually Eva Maria Krauss, daughter of Henry and Anna Maria Krauss.) 3. Abraham Schwenck, born in Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsyl- vania, May 24, 1759; died August 6, 1843; married Fronica Bauer. 4. Daniel Schwenck, born May 5, 1761; married 1st, Catherine Roudenbush; 2nd, Catherine Boyer. 5. Elizabeth Schwenck, born December 31, 1766; married John Markley. Abraham Schwenck, son of George Schwenck and Veronica Markley, was born in Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1759. He served an apprenticeship in Germantown, where he learned the trade of tanner. Henry S. Dotterer, in his history of the Perkiomen Region, gives the follow- ing incident, as occurring during the Revolutionary War: "Abraham Schwenck was a tanner in Germantown at the time of the war. Was nineteen years old, tall, fine man and was under age, but because of his size the officers did not know it. At the Battle of Germantown he went upstairs in a house as he was wounded; a woman said that British were coming; he said, 'Let the devils come,' and he took a large stick from the fireplace and drove them back." About the year 1779 he married Fronica, daughter of Michael Bauer and Veronica Landis, [See: Note 1] who was born April 10, 1756. They took up residence at a place now called Claytonville, but later bought a large farm in Frederick Township at what is now Delphi, or Zieglerville Station. He built a tannery there and carried on farming and tanning until 1808, when he gave this place to his son, John. In 1784 he bought six acres in Frederick Township, which he, with his wife, Fronica, sold in 1791 to Christopher Streecker for 33 pounds. This six acres was part of the Perkiomen copper mine tract which had been sold at public auction, 1773, by the trustees of the company. On August 6, 1807, Abraham Schwenck purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Skippack Township of John Dehaven for the sum of $5133.33 1/3, it being the old homestead of Joseph Powling [Pawling]. He afterwards purchased an additional thirty-six acres of Henry Keely's land adjoining. Here he resided until his death. This farm lay on the Perkiomen Creek opposite Schwenksville and very close to the Pennypacker Mills, the Revolutionary Company ground. There was no bridge across the creek in the early days, the farmers and travelers through this section using a convenient crossing known as Grater's Ford, near the present Iron Bridge at the lower end of Schwenksville. Here high on the side of the hill, overlooking the beautiful Perkiomen Valley, stands the old homestead, until recently owned and occupied by the late Enos S. Schwenk, the family historian, son of Samuel and grandson of Abraham. Mr. Schwenck purchased from his son Abraham Schwenck, a plantation and house in Upper Providence Township January 6, 1826, but three years later he sold this to John Crater. Abraham Schwenck served in the Revolutionary War as Sergeant of the Seventh Class, in the company commanded by Captain James Haslett, Second Battalion, Philadelphia County Militia, November 20, 1778. We also find his name on the class roll of Captain Michael Gangler's Company of the Fourth Battalion Montgomery County Militia, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Peter Richards for the year 1786. On the same roll appear the names of Daniel Swenck, John Dehaven, Jacob Panebacker, Philip Dotterer, etc. Abraham Schwenck and his family were members of the old Keeley's Lutheran Church, situated about a mile from the village, the same building being used by the Reformed Congregation. This church was organized about 1756, but as the village grew, it was found that the location was too far away and incon- venient to reach in bad weather, so steps were taken to build suitable churches in Schwenksville and Abraham Schwenck gave the ground upon which the Lutheran Church was eventually erected; later, his granddaughter, Mrs. Mary Geiger, gave the parsonage as a memorial to her father, Jacob Schwenk. The Reformed Congregation also moved into Schwenksville, the ground for this edifice being donated by Elizabeth Schwenk Strassburger. After the death of her husband, Reuben Y. Strassburger, in 1873, she placed in the church a beautiful stained glass window in his memory. Abraham Schwenck died August 6, 1843. He made a will dated July 11, 1842, which was admitted for probate a month after his death. His wife, Fronica, having died September 13, 1840, he divided his entire estate among his nine children, or their heirs, equally, and named his sons, George, Jacob and Samuel, and his son-in-law, George Reiff, executors. At the time of the making of his will, he and his son, Samuel, were occupying the old homestead, and to his son he bequeathed the homestead farm. In 1846 a number of the heirs signed a release to Jacob Schwenck, one of the executors of the will, acknowledging that they had each received their share of their father's and grandfather's estate. As late as 1854 others of the heirs acknowledged the receipt of their full inheritance from George Reiff and Samuel Schwenck, two of the executors. Jacob, the son of one of the executors of Abraham, Sr., died August 19, 1852, and his executors, his son, Abraham G. Schwenck, and Jacob G. Schwenck, and son-in-law, Reuben Y. Strassburger, signed, with others of the grand- children, a deed of release and full satisfaction to Samuel Schwenck and George Reiff, the surviving executors of Abraham Schwenck, Sr. Both Abraham Schwenck and his wife, Fronica Bauer, are buried in the Keeley Reformed Churchyard, now the Schwenksville Graveyard, about a half-mile from that village. Children of Abraham Schwenck and Fronica Bauer: 1. Elizabeth Schwenck, born June 19, 1780, died November 27, 1858; married Andrew Walt; resided near Pottstown, Pennsylvania. 2. George Schwenck, born December 7, 1783; died July 6, 1845; married Catherine Moyer; he was a Captain Second Regiment Volunteer Light Infantry, 1812-1814; resided in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, PA. 3. John Schwenck, born May 3, 1785, at Delphi, Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, died April 30, 1830; married Catherine Snyder. 4. Anna Schwenck, born September 5, 1786; died March 29, 1803, unmarried; buried in Schwenk's private burial ground. 5. Jacob Schwenck, born September 14, 1789; died August 19, 1852; married (1) Magdalena Ziegler; (2) Mary Gehman. 6. Samuel B. Schwenck, born April 13, 1791, at Delpi; died April 23, 1864; married Rachel Smoyer; he inherited the homestead farm, which he bequeathed to his son Enos S. Schwenk, who owns and occupies it at present; Enos Schwenk was the founder of the Schwenk Family Association and the family historian. It is owing to his interest in collecting data for the family history that so much genealogical value has been preserved and much of the information on later generations has been taken from his record. 7. Abraham Schwenck; married Margaret Snyder. 8. Mary Schwenck; married George Reiff. 9. Catherine Schwenk; married David J. Croll. Jacob Schwenck, son of Abraham Schwenck and Fronica Bauer, was born in Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1789; died August 19, 1852. His early life was spent in and about his father's tannery and farm near Delphi. About 1817 he married Magdalena Ziegler, daughter of Andrew Ziegler and Catherine Lederach, of Frederick Township, born September 4, 1795. He purchased, in 1816, a farm of eighty-nine acres lying in Skippack Township, to which he brought his young bride. This property lay across the Perkiomen Creek from that of his father. In 1816 he opened a large store of general merchandise in part of his dwelling and, owing to freshets and floods, he also gave accommodations to travelers, as they were sometimes obliged to stop over a day or two until they could ford the creek. About 1845 he built an addition to his house and started what was then known as the Farmers and Mechanics' Hotel. The following year he erected a large and commodious dwelling, with a large storeroom, on the opposite side of the street. He thus became the founder of the thriving borough of Schwenksville. It was about this time that the family began to drop the final 'c' in their name and it took its present form of Schwenk. He took an active part in the building of the Perkiomen and Sumneytown Turnpike; in politics, was an old-time Whig; in religion, a member of the Lutheran Church. It was largely through the efforts of Mr. Schwenk, who aided with money, teams and leadership, that the present two-story stone building, with an interior gallery on three sides, was erected and conse- crated about 1830-1834. This church was built within the present bounds of Schwenksville, while the graveyard attached to the old Keely Church has been enlarged and is now known as the Schwenksville Cemetery. Jacob Schwenk, with his brothers, Daniel and Samuel, were the executors of the will of their father, Abraham, but before the estate, which was quite large, was entirely settled, Jacob died, leaving a will in which he disposed of a large amount of property. This will is on file at Norristown. Two years later, April 10, 1854, Aaron and Jacob, two grandsons of Abraham Schwenck, Sr., acknowledged the payment of all the legacies due them from the estate of their grandfather. This instrument was signed by the surviving executors of the estate of Abraham Schwenck, Sr., namely, George Reiff and Samuel Schwenk, and by Jacob G. Schwenk, Abraham G. Schwenk and Reuben Y. Strassburger, executors of the estate of Jacob Schwenk, deceased. Ten days later, April 20, all the heirs of Jacob Schwenk acknowledged the payment of all legacies due them from their father's estate. Magdalena Ziegler, first wife of Jacob Schwenk, died September 23, 1823, in her twenty-ninth year, and was buried in the graveyard of Lower Salford Mennonite Church, of which her father and mother, Andrew Ziegler and Catherine Lederach, were influential members. Her grave adjoins that of her parents, who died about twenty years later. Jacob Schwenk married, second, Mary Gehman, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Gehman and widow of ____ Landis. She was born July 15, 1800, and died December 2, 1878, surviving by more than twenty-five years her husband, Jacob Schwenk, whose death occurred August 10, 1852. Among the papers found with the original will and inventory in the Register's Office at Norristown are two certificates of death, made out by the attending physician, Henry Geiger, M.D., his son-in-law. One of them states that Jacob Schwenk was buried at Jerusalem Church, Skippack Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. From this it was apparently the first intention to bury him in the graveyard of a church in Skippack (Perkiomen Township.) It is evident, however, that they changed their minds, for he was laid beside his father and mother in the graveyard of the old Keely's Church, near Schwenksville, with which congrega- tion he had long been identified, a large marble tombstone marking his last resting place. Jacob Schwenk was a man both stern and amiable and a leader in his community. He was successful in business, a careful and sound counsellor and much respected for his good work. Children of Jacob Schwenk and Magdalena Ziegler: 1. Catherine Schwenk, born September 9, 1818; married December 19, 1839, Abraham Steiner. He conducted a grist and oil mill on the Perkiomen Creek near Collegeville. Later removed to Philadelphia, where he died in 1893. His wife died in 1891, and both are buried at Boehm's Church Cemetery near Blue Bell, Montgomery County, PA. 2. Elizabeth Ziegler Schwenk, born September 24, 1821, died October 11, 1907; married Reuben Y. Strassburger. 3. Jacob G. Schwenk, born January 31, 1825; married Mary, daughter of Charles Hendricks, of Worcester Township, Montgomery Co, PA, born September 8, 1829. He purchased his father's store, which he conducted for many years, doing an extensive business, and it was under his career that the post office was changed from Schwenk's Store to Schwenksville. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church. About 1872, he sold his store and removed to Philadelphia, where he died March 5, 1889. His wife died October 10, 1894; both are buried in Schwenksville Cemetery. 4. Abraham G. Schwenk, born June 4, 1826; married Elizabeth Stauffer, of Berks County, PA. After his father's death he became owner of the hotel and farm and, about 1860, laid out the town of Schwenksville. With is brother-in-law, Reuben Y. Strassburger, he established the coal and lumber firm of Schwenk and Strassburger. Mr. Schwenk was an active member of the Vestry until his death, which occurred October 14, 1899. His wife died November 1, 1909, and both are buried in the Schwenksville Cemetery. 5. Mary Gehman Schwenk, born February 25, 1828; married October 26, 1848, Dr. Henry A. Geiger, born June 2, 1826. He practiced medicine at Harleys- ville for a number of years, then removed to Philadelphia and engaged in the wholesale grocery business on Third Street, in company with his brother-in-law, John G. Schwenk and Samuel Horning, under the firm name of Geiger, Schwenk and Horning. After a number of successful years in business, in which time he had accumulated a large fortune, his health failed and he retired form active business. He was elected Vice President of the Fifth and Sixth Street Passenger Railway Company, which position he held until his death. Dr. Geiger was a preacher in the Congregation of the Brethren, formerly called the German Baptists, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He died at his home on North Broad Street, Phila- delphia, December 30, 1885, and was buried in the graveyard attached to the Church of the Brethren, Germantown, PA. Mrs. Geiger died about 1915. 6. Samuel G. Schwenk, born February 14, 1830; married Mary, daughter of John Funk, of Towaminsing, PA. He studied medicine under Dr. Henry A. Geiger, at Harleysville, PA, and practiced his profession at Hilltown, Bucks County, for some years, and then removed to Schwenksville, where he died April 24, 1863. Buried in Schwenksville Cemetery. 7. John G. Schwenk, born September 15, 1831; married December 30, 1858, Emeline, daughter of Peter and Angeline Spare. She was born June 3, 1830. He owned and conducted for a number of years a store of general merchan- dise near the east end of Perkiomen bridge, Collegeville, then sold it to his brother, Henry, and removed to Philadelphia to engage in the grocery business with his brother-in-law, Dr. Geiger. He died at home on North Broad Street, April 14, 1904, and was buried in the Augustus Lutheran Churchyard, Trappe, PA. 8. Henry G. Schwenk, born June 17, 1840; married May 11, 1864, Lydia Keeler, who was born January 25, 1841. He purchased the store and dwelling of his brother, John, near the east end of Perkiomen bridge, Collegeville. He died June 21, 1889, and was buried in the Lutheran churchyard, at Trappe. -------------------------------------- Added: Oct 2002 [Thanks to Thera and Stanford Landis.] Note 1: Per the Will of Barbara (Landis) Bauer Miller, she and Samuel W. Bauer were the parents of Fronica Bauer, not Michael & Veronica (Landis) Bauer. Barbara (Landis) Bauer married Conrad Miller after the death of Samuel W. Bauer. Per the will of Michael Bauer, he had just one daughter, Anna/Fannie, wife of Christian Meyer. Veronica Landis and Barbara Landis were sisters; Michael Bauer and Samuel Bauer were brothers, which is perhaps what led to the confusion. For further information on the Schwenk family, see: http://wc.rootsweb.com/~schwenk