Dear Rod, Since I am somenew to this I hope I am writing you at the right address. Anyway I have just found out that I have a "GROFF" member in my family. Since I've read that you have a lot of information on this surname I was hoping you might be able to help me with this. This is the information I do have: Barbara GROFF (I have no dates) married: Adam MOWERY (I have no dates) they had a son: Thaddeus S. MOWERY 8-26-1856 - 5-12-1939 I believe they were from the Lancaster County, PA. area. If you have anything on this family I would greatly appreciate it. You can e-mail me at: LKaz@aol.com Thank you and God Bless, Lisa Bagin

A local school teacher, Jack Krider, is just getting started in genealogy (I"ve been addicted for over 20 yrs. so he asked me for help). He does not have access to a computer. What he gave me: Milton Krider married to Annie Fern, their son Alton Blair Krider born 1911. Alton died 1979 in Roaring Spring, Blair Co., PA Thought to have family connections in Lancaster Co. I realize he has alot of backround work to do and I have given him some ideas to try but in the meantime, even tho it is a long shot, if these names look familiar to anyone you can just email me privately. Thanks, Joanne

I know absolutely nothing about Peach Bottom but it is such a delicious name I have to say something. Are there other good place names in Pennsylvania? I grew up 7 miles from Slippery Rock and was in graduate school in another state before I knew people thought there was anything funny about it. In my childhood it was just the village down the road. When I went to Indiana with my husband, there is a place called, I forget whether it is Pea Blossom or Bean Blossom but it broke me up and he did not see anything funny about it. I imagine people can add some more Pennsylvania ones. Wilbsmeltz@aol.com wrote: > > I deleted a post trying to help someone get the zip to Peach bottom, > Lancaster county PA thinking I would see the original post but I do not seem > to have it-I hope i post this to the correct list. > > Peach bottom Zipcode > > 17563 > > Margo -- jan <janiceaf@ix.netcom.com> Researching names: FRANK, KELLER, LUPHER, PENROSE, SCHULTZ, TAYLOR

MOCKING BIRD, PART II I’ve been a bit puzzled about my mockingbird this past summer. You see, he seemed so content here in my yard with his family and his younguns and he continued to sing his little heart out. He certainly gave me a lot of joy. But somewhere along the line, later this summer I didn’t hear him singing as much and when I would check on the bird noises outside in the area of the spruce tree, I continued to be a bit puzzled by the presence of a blue jay in the immediate area. You see, I rarely have blue jays in my yard. What particularly puzzled me was that it appeared that the blue jay and my mockingbird were continuing to have some sort of a confrontation. It seemed to me that the blue jay was trying to take over my mockingbird’s territory. Now at that point I didn’t notice my mockingbird’s family in the vicinity--just the blue jay and my mockingbird. Well, over the rest of the summer I didn’t really pay much particular attention. The only conclusion I came to when I thought of it was that either the blue jay ran off my mockingbird or that maybe I had been wrong in the first place when I thought my mockingbird hung around here from spring to fall. But a couple of weeks ago I was kept reminded by the renewed presence of a blue jay. Hey, when they squawk, you hear them! Well, I certainly didn’t mind that. They’re so pretty, they don’t irritate me in the least and they’re at least not as loud as crows. But then just last week I heard “him”--MY MOCKINGBIRD!!!! He had returned!!!! Oh, what a joy! He was singing as beautifully as before. But I was still puzzled about where he had been over these last months of the summer. Oh, I know! He had taken his family and had gone camping up in Canada for the summer and now that fall is here, they’re on their way back down south. He had sent the family on down south and he was just stopping by here for one last “Hurrah.” That HAD to be the situation. But when I added everything up, I didn’t like it one single bit. And it was because of the blue jay’s presence. Now, I don’t want to make this too drawn out but this is what I suspect. Do you remember my earlier mentioning about his springtime passion for imitating other birds, including blue jays? And my comment about the possibility of his attracting a female blue jay who was “just out for a good time?” Well, I think that THAT’S what all of this is all about! Oh, I just can’t believe it! THAT’S what has been going on all this time! He HAD fooled around with that sleazy blue jay! The minute he sent his family up to Canada (Oh, trust me, he told them to go on up there without him and he would follow them just as soon as he cleared up a bit of business details he needed to do here), he and the blue jay just flew off and had some torrid affair. Well, now it looks like it’s payback time! His family is on their way back down south and once again he is confronted by the blue jay. She ain’t about to let him get away with dumping her just like that after all the sweet nothings he said to her. Oh, he just HAD to stop by here just one more time, didn’t he--”For the good times!” And now there she is! Well, Sweetie, it just wasn’t the way you had remember it, was it?? Oh, wait a minute! I think I’m getting a bit confused here. Am I talking to the PD group or am I talking with my analyst here???? Well, some days you just go into overload don’t you? Well, DON’T you?????? ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Haven't found a post of interest? Why not generate one of your own?

My Mocking Bird I’ve been thinking a lot about my mocking bird lately. Well, he really isn’t *my* mocking bird--I don’t have him caged up in my house or anything--but, he’s mine nonetheless. You see, every year he shows up in the spring, hangs around my Norway spruce tree all season long and then in the fall he leaves to lie around some Florida beach all winter. And in the spring, he returns again. Over the years the two of us have reached a comfortable agreement. I don’t charge him rent for his nest in the tree and, in return, he has agreed to serenade me all season long. And he certainly has held up his part of the bargain. When our spring weather suits him just right, he appears, clears his throat and starts in to sing. Oh what a joy to hear his first concert! He goes through his entire repertoire, starting first with the song of a robin because he knows I never tire hearing the sound of the beginning of spring. He then follows it with a variety of other songs--catbird, redwing blackbird, chipping sparrow, blue jay, grackle and whatever else he has a mind to sing. All of his songs are impeccably sung. He’s quite a professional, you know. All season long, I know he’s around because, as good an imitator as he is, I can always tell his song from the songs of the birds he is imitating. How? Because he’s got a big mouth! He sings louder than any robin I’ve ever heard and even when he sings the sweet melodies of a tiny goldfinch, he just bellows it out. Oh, he loves to sing. But why does he do that? Why is he always play-acting? Why doesn’t he just sing like a mocking bird and not some other bird? In fact, when it comes mating time, how in the world does he attract a mocking bird mate and not just some sleazy robin or blue jay out for a good time? Well, I don’t know how he does it, but he always manages and soon there are little mocking birds already practicing their scales to be as good as Daddy. But you know, even though he says he’s singing his concerts *just* for my pleasure, every once in awhile I get the sense that he’s pretending that he’s auditioning for the Metropolitan Opera. Other times, I feel he’s hoping to get on Dave Letterman’s show as Rich Little’s successor. And even other times I sense he’s pretending he’s been handed a mike in a Karaoke bar and would rather sing a Frank Sinatra song like “I Did it My Way!” Now, regarding his singing opera, I never heard him sing in Italian. Hmmm, I wonder if Italian mocking birds sing in Italian. And do Swiss mocking birds yodel? Heaven help me if he were a Scottish mocking bird--I enjoy bagpipes but they can get on my nerves pretty quickly. And if he were to be Rich Little’s successor, would I be forced to listen to his James Cagney impression of, “You dirty rat!” And thank goodness I’ve never heard him sing “Achy Breaky Heart!” But I wouldn’t put it past him. And so the season comes and goes. He arrives and keeps me entertained, he finds a mate and raises a family, he hangs around until the fall and leaves only to return again in the spring. He loves to sing and he loves life. Why does he live like a play-acting mocking bird? Well, maybe all along he’s been singing the answer--“I did it my way!” Hey, you can’t argue with logic like that! Vee L. Housman

Well, all of you managed to overwhelm me again with your mountain of positive responses to my "cry for help" regarding my trying to juggle my writing efforts with genealogy, etc. Yesterday you overwhelmed me and got my shorts tied up in a knot. Today you overwhelmed me and knocked my socks off with your marvelous responses. I hope this trend regarding my underwear doesn't now turn suddenly ugly!! :-D How can I possibly summarize all the great suggestions you have sent me. Who knows but first on my list was the "perfect" suggestion--"Clone yourself!" And then, wow, it really hit home when Teri made the comment that "The historical facts are there, someone can find them and research them. Your stories aren't." Teri, trust me, I thought about that all day and I knew that you were dead right. I had two responses that suggested that maybe if I would tape-record my thoughts and have someone else type the words up, made me smile--only in that when these stories bubble up inside me, I'm either in the middle of eating dinner, down on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor, drifting off to sleep or some such odd "activity!" And, oh yes! I particularly noted Ed Gottshall's suggestions for title's to my possible weekly newspaper column. How about something along the lines of "Vee's Memories--Out of Her Mind!!!" (Take it any way you wanta!) ALL of you who replied indicated you want me to continue writing and sharing it with the list and I certainly intend to based on your encouragement. Also based on your encouragement, there is no doubt but what I will eventually gather up all the stories in some sort of fashion and put them together in some sort of book or series of booklets--whether for sale or, well, just to give away to whoever really would like to read the stories. To give you a bit of an update to the other "boring" parts of my day, in this morning's paper there was the article that Don Glynn headlined in his column--"Missing Trophy Takes the Long Way Home." It was the story I had sent him via email and the one that I was talking about last night regarding his phone call to me yesterday. Of note, he ended his article with "'All of this happened because of a little boy whose heart was in the right place and some museum folks who knew the value of the trophy and were determined to find its proper home,' said Ms. Housman, a Creek Road resident and author with a deep appreciation for local history." You have no idea how that blew my mind this morning--the Gazette, INCLUDING Don Glynn is at NO ONE's beck and call! BTW, if you would like me to send to you what I actually wrote, just let me know. Meanwhile, up at the museum this afternoon I had an intense session with our "Computer Guru" who came back up here from Florida to deliver the computer system for the museum that he decided to donate personally to us and, trust me, it was a grueling session regarding setting up a database program for our artifacts and historical information. When I checked my email this evening, I found a query from someone looking for his Washburn/Wooster family connections here in the Town of Porter. And, wow, did I have a bunch of super stuff to send to Father Stephen--at least I THINK he's a Roman Catholic priest! And now that I've covered all the events of my day that deal with my "usual" everyday concentrations--museum computer's database and local genealogical research, there's only one left. Story writing! And I have been bursting to get this story out of my overloaded brain! You see, it has to do with My Mockingbird! And here's what I'm going to do. I will first post my original story about my mockingbird that I posted back in early July for those of you who hadn't subscribed to the list back then or for those who would appreciate their memories refreshed as to what I'm talking about. The second posting will be entitled "Mockingbird, Pt.II." Of course, I haven't written it yet, but I will--and you'll be the first to read it--after I do! Sincerely, you've overwhelmed me again with your loving words. Luvyuz, vee ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== New? Looking for a quick connection? Visit the surnames list associated with this mail list at http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pdlsurnames.html

Maintain your current pace and add weekly newspaper column...if they'll accept your terms. Accepting a type of deadline will not be difficult, will add discipline which may slop over into the other writing you should be completing. "From Vee's Vat" uhhh..."Bites from Cycle 4"...nuhhhh....."Vee's Vices and Other Recipies"..ummmm......."Some Stuff"...better. Whatever you do will be fine. Ed.

I am not a Lutheran and have no great interest in the subject, but this was sent to me by someone who is, and I have gathered that some of you are, and I guess it qualifies since the one person described was buried in PA; he must have spent some time there. > From: James Kiefer's E-Mail Relay <kilroy@copland.rowan.edu> > > HENRY M MUHLENBERG, PATRIARCH OF AMERICAN LUTHERANS (7 OCT 1787) > > Henry Melchior Muhlenberg is the principal organizer of American > Lutheranism. He was born in Einbeck, Germany, in 1711, and studied > at Goettingen and at Halle. Lutherans in America at that time were > found in a few scattered communities, of various national > backgrounds, with no central organization, and with a grave danger > of factionalism. Several congregations wrote to Halle University, > asking for a pastor to take charge. Hermann Francke, a Lutheran > leader of the Pietist movement at Halle, chose Muhlenberg and sent > him to America. He arrived in Charleston on 23 September 1742. He > was soon accorded widespread recognition by Lutheran churches, > German, Swedish, and others, as the senior Lutheran pastor in > America. He set the tone for the Lutheran community in what was to > be the United States, and almost all Lutheran Churches in America > today use liturgies which are developed from the one that he > proposed for American use. His plans for local church government, > presented to congregations that had been accustomed to a great deal > of government control, eased the transition to the "free church" > model, and form the basis for plans of local church government in > American Lutheran churches today. > One of his sons, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, served as a > general under George Washington in the War of Independence. Another, > Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, became a member of the > Continental Congress, and first speaker of the House of > Representatives. A great-grandson, William Augustus Muhlenberg, > became an eminent Anglican priest (see 8 April). Henry Melchior > Muhlenberg died 7 October 1787, and is buried at Trappe, > Pennsylvania. His epitaph (in Latin) reads: "Who and what he was, > future ages will know without a stone." Then there is a prayer, I'm not sure if it means it is on his tomb or just what, and even less sure it belongs on this list, but I will email it to anyone who asks. -- jan <janiceaf@ix.netcom.com> Researching names: FRANK, KELLER, LUPHER, PENROSE, SCHULTZ, TAYLOR

Well my daughter graduated from Flour Bluff HS. ;-) > ---------- > From: Janice A. Frank[SMTP:janiceaf@ix.netcom.com] > Reply To: janiceaf@ix.netcom.com > Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 1997 6:59 PM > To: Wilbsmeltz@aol.com > Cc: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com; BRETHREN@rootsweb.com; > PENNA-DUTCH-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: peach bottom > > I know absolutely nothing about Peach Bottom but it is such a > delicious > name I have to say something. Are there other good place names in > Pennsylvania? I grew up 7 miles from Slippery Rock and was in > graduate > school in another state before I knew people thought there was > anything > funny about it. In my childhood it was just the village down the > road. > > When I went to Indiana with my husband, there is a place called, I > forget whether it is Pea Blossom or Bean Blossom but it broke me up > and > he did not see anything funny about it. > > I imagine people can add some more Pennsylvania ones. > > Wilbsmeltz@aol.com wrote: > > > > I deleted a post trying to help someone get the zip to Peach bottom, > > Lancaster county PA thinking I would see the original post but I do > not seem > > to have it-I hope i post this to the correct list. > > > > Peach bottom Zipcode > > > > 17563 > > > > Margo > > -- > jan <janiceaf@ix.netcom.com> > Researching names: FRANK, KELLER, LUPHER, PENROSE, SCHULTZ, TAYLOR >

I deleted a post trying to help someone get the zip to Peach bottom, Lancaster county PA thinking I would see the original post but I do not seem to have it-I hope i post this to the correct list. Peach bottom Zipcode 17563 Margo

Jacob TEMPLETON b. 1838 and d. 1896 married Anna May SOUDERS b. 1850 and d. 1919. Issue: Elmer TEMPLETON b. 6 Oct. 1871 in Lancaster Co., Pa. Would like to know parents of Jacob and Anna. Elaine May (bufflow@bellsouth.net)

Hi all! In the past year or so, I have collected a lot of information thanks to the generosity of strangers who are now cousins. Now I would like to slowly, family by family, post what I have and see if there is anyone out there that can add to it. As always, I am willing to share what I have. Anna Margaretha ALTMAN b. 08 JUN 1727, Herbitzheim, m. 13 FEB 1748, in Herbitzheim, Joh. Georg ECKERT. Children: i Georg Nicolaus ECKERT 06 JUN 1756. ii Maria Christina ECKERT b. 11 MAY 1758, 25 JUN 1758. Take care and happy hunting!! --Larissa Souzer larissa+@pitt.edu ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== New? Looking for a quick connection? Visit the surnames list associated with this mail list at http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pdlsurnames.html

(1) The works of Rev. John Wesley, M.A., London, 1829, I., 20-23 Rev. John wesley's Journal "Saturday, January 17, 1736--Many people were very impatient at the contrary wind. At seven in the evening they were quieted by a storm. It rose higher and higher till nine. About nine the sea broke over us from stem to stern; burst through the windows of the state cabin, where three or four of us were, and covered us all over, though a bureau sheltered me from the main shock. About eleven I lay down in the great cabin, and in a short time fell asleep, though very uncertain whether I should wake alive, and much ashamed of my unwillingness to die. O how pure in heart must be he, who would rejoice to appear before God at a moment's warning! Toward morning, 'He rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.' "Sunday 18.--We returned God thanks for our deliverence, of which few seemed duly sensible. But the rest(among whom were most of the sailors) denied we had been in any danger. I could not have believed that so little good would have been done by the terror they were in before. But it cannot be that they should long obey God from fear, who are deaf to the motives of love. "Friday 23--In the evening another storm began, in the morning it increased, so that they were forced to let the ship drive. I could not but say to myself,' How is it that thou hast no faith?' being still unwilling to die. About one in the afternoon, almost as soon as I had stepped out of the great cabin door, the sea did not break as usual, but came with a full, smooth tide over the side of the ship. I was vaulted over with water in a moment, and so stunned, that I scarce expected to lift up my head again, till the sea should give up her dead. But thanks be to God, I received no hurt at all. About midnight the storm ceased. "Sunday 25--At noon our third storm began. At four it was more violent than before. Now, indeed, we could say, 'The waves of the sea were mighty, and raged horribly. They rose up to the heavens above, 'and clave' down to hell beneath.' The winds roared round about us, and(what I never heard before) whistled as distinctly as if it had been a human voice. The ship not only rocked to and fro with the utmost violence, but shook and jarred with so unequal. grating a motion, that one could not but with great difficulty keep one's hold of anything nor stand a moment without it. Every ten minutes came a shock against the stern or side of the ship, which one would think should dash the planks in pieces. At this time a child, privately baptized before, was brought to be received into the church. It put me in mind of Jeremiah's buying the field when the Chaldeans were on the point of destroying Jerusalem, and seemed a pledge of the mercy God designed to show us, even in the land of the living. "We spent two or three hours after prayers in conversing suitably to the occasion, confirming one another in a calm submission to the wise, holy, gracious will of God. And now a storm did not seem so terrible as before. Blessed be the God of all consolation! "At seven I went to the Germans. I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behavior. Of their humility they had given continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers, which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired, and would receive no pay, saying "it was good for their proud hearts." and "their loving Saviour had done more for them." And every day had given them occasion of showing a meekness, which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sang on. I asked one of them afterwards, 'Were you not afraid?' He answered. 'I thank my God, no.' I asked, 'But were not your women and children afraid?' He replied, mildly, 'No, our women and children are not afraid to die.' "From them I went to the crying, trembling neighbors and pointed out to them the difference in the hour of trial, between him that feareth God, and him that feareth him not. At twelve the wind fell. This was the most glorious day which I have hitherto seen." -tbc ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Haven't found a post of interest? Why not generate one of your own?

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All, Looking for a contact in the Lebanon, Pa area for help in the Maier/Moyer/Fields family lines. Bill Maier, Satellite Beach, FL ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Have you visited the webpage associated with this mail list? If not go to http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pennadutch.html

Robert, I am a Funk descendant and have a lot of information on Washington County, Maryland and Ogle County, Illinois Funks and allied families. Always searching to learn more. Looking forward to hearing from you. Jay21740@aol.com

Am researching Anna Mary HESS (1843-1925) and her parents, Frederick HESS(1797-1877) and Mary Miller (1806-1870). If someone with access to the book "Descendents of John Hess, 1809-1888 -- A Hess Genealogy through Pioneer Hans Hess" could check to see if these folks are listed, it would be very much appreciated. I cannot locate this book even through interlibrary loan. Ron Kathren

Hello Listmembers: Recently someone posted a couple of queries regarding the FUNK family. Well, wouldn't you know it, I deleted them. Now, I have been able to get a hold of a friend of mine who is a descendant of the Illinois FUNK's and she wants the info. Sooooo, if whoever posted the FUNK queries could e-mail me either through the list or privately, I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Robert rpinder@caribe.net

Hi Cindy - I have MILLER surnames from the Northampton/Lehigh/Carbon area going back to an Abraham MILLER b. 16 Oct 1788, d. 26 Feb 1829 who married Magdalena LEIBENGUTH on 3 Dec 1811. I've accumulated a lot of other MILLER research over the years not yet (or ever) connected to my line. I'll check my research if you let me know what MILLER information (in general) you have. Just may get lucky! Sue (Miller) Bosevich Cindy Koegel wrote: > > My surnames are DECH, MILLER, AND STAHLER. I have lots of info on the > Stahler surname but very little on the Dech and Miller surname. My > husbands grandfather was Harvey Dech and his father was William Alexander > Wilson Dech b 1852. They lived in the Lehigh and Carbon Co., PA. Any > info would be helpful. > Thanks > Cindy > > ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== > New? Looking for a quick connection? Visit the surnames list associated with this mail list at http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pdlsurnames.html ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== New? Looking for a quick connection? Visit the surnames list associated with this mail list at http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pdlsurnames.html