Following my paper on the Johan Georg Stump family in Brethren Roots, December 2012, a group of us began researching in depth the Stump families that came from Vaughan twp York Co ONT to near (east) of Nappanee, Elkhart Co IN. Most moved down about 1838-1840, as a result of the Rebellion of 1837, which came through their community north of Toronto. While there were other Ontario families that came, we are primarily concerned with three children of Abraham Stump (c1750-1820)and Mary Meckle/Meckley. Solomon and Daniel came themselves with their children. Susannah had died, but 5 (of 7) of her children came. Her husband, and second wife, later moved down with the Mennonite Bishop Martin Hoover family. The eldest was Susannah (c1780-c1825) who married John Smith (of the Schmidt-Dalziel Barn -at the Black Creek Pioneer Village north of Toronto ONT). John Smith (occasionally listed as Schmidt) originally came from Somerset Co, as a bachelor, with a brother, Jacob Smith. He was married to Sally soon after 1800. John sold the farm there after her death, and moved north, marrying Susannah Hoover Nighswander, widowed daughter of the Mennonite Bishop, Martin Hoover. Three of the Smith-Stump children came to Union twp, Elkhart Co IN in the 1840 migration, all living a couple miles east of the Union Center Church near others of the Stump kin. Lydia Smith, who married Jacob Brown; John Smith Jr, who married Catherine Snider and Jacob Smith, married to Elizabeth Fisher. John Smith Sr followed the migration of the Hoover families, in 1837 moving to Medina Co OH, then in 1845 coming to Harrison Centre, Harrison twp Elkhart Co. Two more of Susannah Stump Smith's children came with them, and remained: Joseph Smith (wife Susannah Hoover) and Susanna (married to Martin Hoover Jr). In 1856 John and Susannah Hoover Smith moved back to Ontario, to her children in Markham twp York Co ONT, where John died that year. Two sons of Abraham Stump (actually 3) moved down to adjoining farms, 2 miles east of the Union Center Church, on CR50. Solomon Stump (wife: Anna Burkholder) lived on the Northeast corner of CR50 and CR15. Daniel Stump (wife: Sally Smith) lived across the road, on the Southeast corner. A brother, David Stump, is listed as "insane" and was in the care of Solomon, Solomon's will names him, and passes care of him on to his son, Abraham Stump. We have found no burial for him. Solomon's families were instrumental in the formation of the Union Center German Baptist Church, (now Church of the Brethren). His son-in-law John Burkholder, was the first minister at the church. John was the first of the family to come down to Elkhart Co IN. He refused the Elkhart Prairie, north of Union Center, saying: "If it can't grow trees, it can't grown good corn." John Burkholder's homestead is north of Nappanee on CR7 at CR46 - a couple miles west and north of the Union Center Church. Solomon and Anna had 2 sons and 9 daughters. I have managed to trace the marriages of the daughters - starting with my own ancestry. Daniel was a Bishop of the River Brethren Church (now Brethren in Christ) and his original church, Union Grove, is on the Southwest corner. Daniel Stump's homestead is still retained in near original condition, with the original houses, and after the original barn burnt, one was removed from nearby property, in equivalent condition to replace it. The place is used for picnics and conferences. Stumptown, east of Nappanee, just south of the Union Center Church of the Brethren, is essentially the descendents of Daniel. We have basically concluded that Sally Smith, wife of our Daniel Stump, was NOT the Salome ("Sally") Schmidt of Milltown, Lebanon Co PA. An essential reason is that our Daniel Stump's Sally Smith, was Sarah Smith, not Salome (although researchers have for a number of years adapted the Milltown family to include both Sarah and Salome names for their daughter. This conclusion seems to have been proposed by Rev Carl Stump, of New Paris/Goshen IN.) Another reason is that the Salome Schmidt-Daniel Stump marriage was in Milltown, York Co PA, while the Sarah Smith-Daniel Stump marriage was in Vaughan twp, York Co ONT. There is about 300 miles separation between the two. A third reason is how the two became acquainted. Our Daniel Stump left that area soon after 1800 (10-12 years old), with no indications that he returned at any time. Correspondingly, the Johannes Schmidt/Christina Nunnenmacker family shows no connections to Ontario, for a 17-18 year old daughter to get married to the Daniel Stump living in Canada. Many years ago, Rev Carl Stump, of Goshen IN, did research on the Daniel Stump family. He concluded that the father of Abraham Stump (c1750-1820 - going to Vaughan twp York Co ONT in 1803), was a Caspar Stump, son of the immigrant, Johan Georg Stump (1710 to Schoharie Valley NY, c1725 coming down to the Tulpehocken in now Berks and Lebanon Cos PA). [I spoke with him, years ago, and made copies of much of his research. This was the basis of my incorrect entry in the Brethren Encyclopedia, on the Stump family.] Of the 8-9 children of Johan Georg - for two, and a possible third, little records have been found. These are Caspar and Abraham (Sr) (the third being a possible Adam). All lived near Mlllbeck, Heidelburg twp, now Lebanon Co PA a branch off Swatara Creek. Recently, the "Snyder County Pioneers (PA)" was observed to identify the father of Abraham Jr (our Abraham) [p91] - which states that Abraham Jr was the son of Abraham Sr. Abraham Jr lived at Straubstaun (now Freeburg, Snyder Co), Abraham Sr owned land in Northumberland Co, but is listed as "non-resident" (i.e. - living at Millbeck) It also stated that Abraham Sr was a "Northumberland Ranger". Northumberland was the original county north of the Pine Mountain Range, reaching north to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, the border with the Iroquois Indians. The "Rangers" were frontier scouts used by the British, to keep track of the Indians (seems to have developed after the French and Indian War). Abraham Sr's eldest brother, Christopher, had a son, Frederick, who is notorious for his murder of several Mingo Indians on his farm. Frederick was also a Ranger. Frederick fled to Georgia. , and ended his life at Fort Nashboro (Nashville TN). A statement made by a Rev R E Stump, at Purpleville ONT is: "There were 5 Stump brothers who came up from Somerset Co PA. They were loyal to the British Monarchy, and refused to swear oath to the new rebel government." As an historian this tantalizes me. Now, knowing that Abraham Stump Sr was a "Northumberland Ranger" (Indian Scout) - and having the story of Frederick Stump, his nephew (son of Christopher Stump), another "British Ranger" who fled an Indian Massacre (to Georgia - He fought in the Revolution with Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox. He was captured by the British, bribed his freedom - then to Ft Nashboro. His log house, north of Nashville TN, was recently up for sale, with 10 acres of land, and a cemetery.) - the Stump family seems to have given strong support to the British government - after all, Queen "Maud" brought them over from the devastation of the Palatinate by the French, brought them to the "New World" - even if there were problems resulting from her soon death. AND - most of the children of Johan Georg Stump were Brethren (Baptist Brethren then - early connected to the Little Swatara German Baptist Church) - a faith that opposed war - whose young men refused to participate in the militia - a church persecuted by the Sons of Liberty during the Revolution. But - they "came to York Co Ontario from Somerset Co PA". Somerset Co PA was originally called "Brothers Valley" - a major settlement of the German Baptist Brethren (and Mennonites) starting about 1750. I suspect that Abraham Stump, with others, after the 1800 census, moved west to Somerset Co PA. Maybe it was because of the increasing tensions with the British, which resulted in the War of 1812, these Stumps had already been "tarred" with the brush of "Tory" [An adjacent William Stump, seemingly older than Abraham, also disappears about that same time from Northumberland Co - and is possibly the William Stump then found in Mifflin Co PA - part of the way to Somerset Co. I do suspect that William Stump is a brother of Abraham.] Around 1800 was when the 200 acre Lots of "Upper Canada" were opened to settlement - and a number of people from Somerset Co moved to Vaughan twp, York Co PA. Abraham Stump moved there in 1803. So - who are the "5 Stump brothers"? Several in my research group say they were the sons of Abraham Stump. I disagree. In 1803 the three youngest would have been: 13, 6 and 4. I do not see them as old enough to have "refused to swear oath to the new rebel government." Of the three older sons - one is labeled an "idiot" (retarded). I do place our Abraham Stump (c1750-1820) as one of the 5. There is record of an Adam Stump being in Canada. [Adam Stump, wife: Mary Catherine Deiss - who then moved to York Co PA] His tradition says he came from Germany to Canada - but he has several of the family names in his children - so I think he might be connected, maybe even a brother of Abraham (or - one son is Casper!) Johan Georg had an assumed brother, Adam Stump, who died in Schoharie in 1741 and there are some inferences that the Adam Stump who lived adjacent Caspar, Abraham and John at Millbeck, Heidelberg twp could have been a son of Johan Georg In Northumberland there was record of a nearby Jacob Stump, who was younger than Abraham, but definitely older than Abraham's children. When I was at Brampton ONT - at the "Old Jail" Archives - inquiring of the Stumps there (Solomon and Daniel both owned land near there at one time, as did John Smith) - I mentioned Jacob Stump - and the Archivist came running out of the records: "You are UEL ! " - "What's UEL?" - 'United Empire Loyalist" (a title given to refugees from the States - especially if they had fought with the British Army or were pro-King). I do not have a connection between those two Jacob Stumps - but we have not identified that Jacob Stump Maybe there are more Stump names - that we have not heard of yet? Merle C Rummel

Merle: There are two Stumps found in early Somerset County records, which I believe you are familiar with: 1) Francis Stump had a 1785 warrant for property in Brothersvalley Township. Survey map shows it adjacent the property of Jonathan Cable, likely the son of Abraham Cable, and the Brethren Cable family. Francis is listed as a tenant in the 1783 tax records. He is in the Elk Lick Township tax in 1786, a township formed from Brothersvalley. He moved onto Kentucky. 2) John Stump had 3 warrants, a 1774 warrant in Brothersvalley Township, and a 1775 warrant for the adjacent property, and a 1775 warrant for a property in Quemahoning Township. Survey map shows the Brothersvalley Township property adjacent Michael Beeghly, the Brethren minister. The History of Bedford & Somerset County notes this property as having the name 'Coal Bank' and was located in present day Summit Township. Survey maps shows the Quemahoning Township property adjacent John Rhoads, and the Roads family has Brethren Connections. John is also missing from Brothersvalley tax and Quemahoning tax rolls form this period. A John Stump shows up in Stonycreek Township, in the 1800 & 1810 census. The Stump Quemahoning Township property was later in Stonycreek Township. The 1820 census has a John Stump in Shade Township, which is the location of the Stump Cemetery that contains a John Stump born in 1759 and died in 1833. Shade Township was formed from Stonycreek Township. This John is designated as a Revolutionary War Vet. However, a biography of John is on the GenWeb, and states he was in early tax records, but I couldn't find his name listed. I also suspect there were two John Stumps from this period. Bill Thomas

Merle: Also wanted to provide some info of Somerset County Amish related families who migrated to Ontario. The John Stump of Brothersvalley owned property in what later was Elk Lick Township, then Summit Township (near Meyersdale). 1. Brothers John and Christian Troyer and their wives sisters Veronica and Barbara Yoder. Barbara was previously married to Joseph Forney and prior to that Isaac Miller. They migrated from Elk Lick Township after 1802. Joseph Forney's daughter Elizabeth married Christian Livengood, the son of Brethren minister Peter Livengood. 2. Joseph Hochstetler and his wife Mary Yoder. They migrated from the Conemaugh/Jenner Township line adjacent one of my Thomas ancestors, who was likely Brethren after 1810. 3. Jacob Berkey and his wife Veronica Blough. They lived in Brothersvalley Township, and migrated ??. His brother Joseph was married to a Good, and her brother Jacob was Brethren. 4. Sisters Mary and Elizabeth Keagy died in Ontario, and were married to brothers Joseph and Abraham Beeghley, the son's of Brethren minister Michael Beeghley. Michael owned property adjacent John Stump. They migrated after 1818. As they say....birds of a feather flock together....hope this is helpful. Bill Thomas