This has ended up being a long message and at the end there's a bit of a cry for help. At no point will there be any surnames mentioned. This message is only about ME!!!!! You'uns don't know how much you have overwhelmed me in the past few days with your responses to my recent postings about Grandma's apron and about horseback riding and about Uncle Will and Aunt Annie. Not only have you let me know how much you enjoy my writing, you have shared with me your own memories on the different subjects. And do you know what? Each time I would post such a message--generally very late at night--when I would check my email the next morning I always cringed, dreading the thought that someone on the mailing list might take umbrage (hey, I've always wanted to use that word!) with my non-genealogical/PD posting. But it just hasn't happened (well not in the very longest time and Rod took care of "that one" in a hurry!). But, do you know what else? You've also managed to get my shorts tied up in a bunch!! Several of you have suggested that I gather up all the stories that I have posted to the group and publish them in a book for sale. And I've taken serious (and appreciative) note of that. The funny thing of it is that it was only a few years ago that your warm suggestions would have triggered the light at the tunnel I was going through in my pathetic financial life. But now that I'm finally receiving my Navy pension and Social Security checks on a nice monthly basis, "selling" my writings is of little importance to me. But do you know what? (Hey, I just like to use that expression!) It seems that more and more lately, people from all over the place keep encouraging me to write more. And I guess what really hit home today was a phone call to me from the local Niagara Gazette columnist, Don Glynn, who was truly interested in what I had submitted to him in hopes that the story would be published in the paper. Hey, we chitty-chatted for the longest time--HE did most of the chitty-chat! He remembered that I wrote and published a book based on the local Town of Porter history and asked me right off the bat if I was still writing and if I was writing another book. I said yes and no. I was still writing (and I mentioned WHY I was still writing--and told him it was because of you'un's encouragement--)and no, I knew my start of a book about WWII in Niagara Falls was too big of a story to be told simply from the viewpoint of a little girl. I was thrilled to get such a call from him and, at the same time, he reinforced what you'uns have been telling me for a long time. That is, keep on writing! Now, why are my shorts all tied up in a knot? Well, now, what do I do? Type into my computer all the stories that have been bubbling up in my mind and seething to be let out over the past 50 years?? But what about my research into my personal genealogy? (OK, I'm not into that as much as I have been over the past 25 years.) But what about the current genealogical research I've been doing on our local familes here? And what about the exciting new computer our local museum has been given and was just delivered to my house today with a database program (Paradox) that we can use for cataloging and indexing every bit of artifacts and important genealogical information we have in our magnificent historical records? And here's the thing of it. I have a problem here. I LOVE to write and frankly I'm wallowing in the applause you have all given me. And I would LOVE to devote every last bit of energy in writing more. By the same token, I LOVE researching the local families in their search for their families' roots. Now, what do I do now??? BTW, those of you who aren't Senior Citizens yet and have been wondering what could possibly be exciting in our lives, WOW, do you have a surprise waiting for you!!!! Overwhelmed in Youngstown! 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

Does anyone have any info related to a married couple by the names of Paul SCHULTZ and Jennie Matilda BERRY? They were from the DuBois area is what I'm told. He was born in Germany between 1885-1886 and she was born in Sugar Run, PA between 1891-1892. ANY info would be much appreciated. Thanks! L.J. Ray

Looking for any info on Ernest Koegel family. They came from Germany to PA abt 1870. They lived in the Lehigh and Carbon Co. area. I do not know who his parents were, but do have his childrens names. Ernest married Bertha KASTEN. Also need any info on Frederick KASTEN. His parents were Henry Kasten and Sophie PLATZ. They came to PA from Germany in 1831 and settled in the Easton, PA area. Frederick married a Matilda ROTH in 1854 in Easton, PA. Matilda's parents were Jacob ROTH and Elizabeth BAUER. I have no info on them. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Cindy ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Forgot how to SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE? Send the appropriate one word message to PENNA-DUTCH-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM

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

Several interesting pieces of information appear in the latest issue of "Es Elbedritsch," the newsletter of the Pennsylvania German Society. First, the society has completed its move to Kutztown. They give the following address: P.O. Box 244 Kutztown, PA 19530-0244 phone (610) 894-9551 fax (610) 894-9808 Second, they announce their new Web site. I took a look at this today, and so far it has mainly information about the Society, including membership information, the history of the society, lists of officers, and a list of their publications with an online order form. I don't know whether they have plans to develop this into a general Pennsylvania German resource. The URL is www.pgs.org. Rod, this might be a candidate for a link on your Web site. Third, they announce the publication of Eugene S. Stine's new Pennsylvania German Dictionary, which they bill as the first dual-language PG dictionary (i.e., it has both PG-English and English-PG sections). The cost is $12 plus tax and shipping. They also announce that next year's annual meeting will be held May 1-2, 1998 at the Warrington Inn in Bucks County. ==== 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

In yesterday's mail (10/6) I received a flyer from the Historical Society of York County announcint its reprinting of Prowell's 1907 History of York County Pennsylvania. This is what it says: "George R. Prowell published his monumental "History of York County" in 1907. Original two-volume (2,176 page) sets often bring over $400.00 at sales. The Historical Society of York County reprinted Prowell in 1973, adding a 487 page index volume. That set has also become a scarce and expensive collector's item. In reponse to many inquiries, the Historical Society has decided to reprint a limited run of this important work in a three-volume set, bound in library quality buckram with gold-lettered covers. This fully indexed reprint is presently being offered to the public on a subscription basis only, at a cost of $150.00. Members of The Historical Society of York County may purchase this deluxe three-volume set at a special pre-publication price of $135.00. Pennsylvania residents need to add 6% sales tax. Purchasers may pick up their orders at the Museum when they arrive, or have them delivered for an additional $8.00 per set. Orders will be delivered in time for 1997 holiday giving." The order blank says orders have to be recieved by September 30, but I only got the flier yesterday (bulk mail), so I have to assume they'll still accept orders. $150 is very dear for me. What do you guys think? Is it worth it? Should I scrape it together if I can? The vast majority of my ancestors are from the York County area. Vanessa R. Stern (vstern@gte.com) GTE Laboratories Incorporated --Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.-- ==== 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

http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pennadutch.html <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/PennaDutch/pennadutch.html">Penna-Dutch-L Hom e Page</A> I received 2 messages that there was a problem. here is the address again. thanks rod ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Haven't found a post of interest? Why not generate one of your own?

This is the first of a multi-part post. It is from a presentation to the PA German Society made in 1898 by Henry Eyster Jacobs. It has been reprionted in many books or excerpted in articles about the Pennsylvania Dutch and the immigration of their forefathers. Introduction In 1608, the first German settlers arrived at jamestown , Virginia, thus marking the beginning date in German American history, and in 1683 group immigration began with the arrival of the first group of German immigrants, who established the first permanent German settlement in America at Germantown, Pennsylvania.(1) The stage was thereby set for the beginnings of the German immigration on a massive scale, and this occurred in the early 1700's with the immigration from southwest Germany, especially from the Palatinate. The significance of this immigration cannot be underestimated as it in essence became the core group of the entire colonial German element.(2) Although the core group of immigrants actually came from the Palatinate, most German immigrants were indiscriminately referred to as "Palatines" since most of them came, if not from the Palatinate, then from the neighboring regions of the southwestern German speaking area of Europe, which included southwest Germany, Alsace-Lorraine and Switzerland. The southwest region of German-speaking realm was frequently a battleground during European warfare. It was repeatedly attacked, pillaged, and devastated in a period ranging from the Thirty Years War for the next two centuries through the Napoleonic area.(3) The ravages of the Thirty Years war (1618-48) were particularly acute in this region. And after the war, the French burned the castle of Heidelberg and the city of Mannheim. The population was reduced to poverty-America appeared on the horizon as a ray of hope and the chance for a new life.(4) There are a number of causes and reasons which can be cited as leading to the first wave of immigration, but the single most frequently mentioned one was the devastation caused by the long history of warfare. indeed the southwest German-speaking realm may be referred to as a war zone. After the Thirty Years War the region was often the stamping ground for the armies of Louis XIV of France. It should be noted that the German states were not unified in a centralized state, but its neighbor, France, was, and after 1648 it conducted a foreign policy aimed at direct intervention in German affairs with two quite specific objectives in mind. First, it aimed at obtaining a frontier on the Rhine, which translated into French control of the German speaking province of Alsace-Lorraine. Second france aimed at the maintenance of a weak and divided Germany. As a result of the french drive to the east, Germany suffered continual territorial losses:Alsace was annexed by France in 1681; Burgundy was ceded to France in 1714, and Lorraine annexed in 1766. Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm of baden remarked with reference to the French conquest of Alsace in 1681:"For France it is a door constantly open for war, through which she can invade German soil as often as she wished." And invade France did repeatedly, resulting ion the ruination of the southwestern German region, especially the Palatinate. Specifically the French devastated the province in 1674; 1688089 it was laid waste again; and in 1707, during the war of Spanish Succession, it was again plundered. All of this ruination, it should be noted, followed hard on the heels of the Thirty Years War, from which the region had not yet recovered in 1674, when it was plundered again. By the early 1700's there had been almost a century of intermittent warfare. When immigrants were asked about their reasons for immigrating they spoke mainly "of the French ravages in 1707." Hence the relationship between French military intervention in the German states and the beginnings of massive German immigration can best be answered by describing the two as cause and effect. Without the former, it is highly unlikely that the early 1700's would have witnessed the beginnings of the first massive wave of German immigration.(5) (**this goes back to a thread of a few weeks ago ie:poor vs. persecuted. I have yet to read or have anyone provide the list a source which makes a compelling argument for persecution as the motivator/cause of this effect) In 1708, the Rev. Joshua Kochertal applied to an English agency in Frankfurt am Main for permission to take a small group to England, where he applied to Queen Anne for assistance for the Palatines. he recited the cause of their plight as the French ravages and destruction in southwest Germany. "In the judgement of the immigrants, so severe was the destruction that they could not possibly attain sufficient means of livelihood during the hard times, which still continued."(6) Queen Anne therefore provided for their welfare and sustenance. Kochertal then asked if he could transport the Palatine Germans to America. It was decided that New York would be the appropriate place for them. In 1708, a small group arrived in New York. each person received 50 acres of land. Among this group were carpenters, smiths, weavers,and various skilled craftsmen. They established a settlement, Newburgh in New York. In 1709, there were some 13,000 Germans in England who were awaiting passage to America. in 1710, Kochertal returned to England and brought more of them to America; some of these early Palatine Germans, it should be noted, settled in Ireland but the majority made it to the New World. Perhaps the largest group, approximately 3,000, came to New York in 1710. Eventually, it is estimated that tens of thousands came in the colonial period to America, and settled in various colonies. Among these early German-Americans were some outstanding individuals, such as John Peter Zenger, the first champion of the free press in America. In New Jersey, two prominent representatives of this group were General Frederick Frelinghysen and Johan Peter Rockefeller. The formwer would serve in the American Revolution and become a member of the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and the U.S. Senate in the 1790's. Rockefeller of course, became the founder of one of America's most illustrious industrial dynasties.(7) In America, the Palatines established a variety of towns and villages with German names such as Weiserdorf, hartmannsdorf, Brunnendorf, Schmidtdorf, Gerlachsdorf etc. In times of peace, they were regarded as excellent farmers who provided grain and crops for the growing colonies. During the frontier wars and the American Revolution, they acted as a protective bulwark on the frontier, and also actively supported the War of American Independence. As the representatives of the first massive wave of German immigration to America, the Palatines occupy an important place in American as well as German-American history. Once underway the waves of immigration would bring a total of eight millions from the German-speaking countries to America(9) the next part contains the footnotes to the introduction notes 1. see Don Heinrich Tolzmann," The First Germans in America, With A Biographical Directory of New York Germans" ( Bowie, Maryland:Heritage Books, Inc., !992) 2. A contemporary journal, published in Columbus, Ohio by the Palatines of America Society, which deals with the history and heritage of the Palatines, is "The Palatine Immigrant" edited by Dr. John Terence Golden 3. Regarding the Palatine immigration, see Walter Allen Knittle, "Early Eighteenth Century Palatine Emigration" ( Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co. 1976) 4. see Don Heinrich Tolzmann, "Germany and America, 1450-1700:Julius Friedrich Sachse's History of the German Role in the Discovery, Exploration, and Settlement of the New World" (Bowie, MD:Heritage Books, Inc., 1991) see especially pp. 143-68 for a discussion of "The French Wars of Conquest" 5. for further information on the background of the German immigration, see the editor's "Understanding the Causes of the German Immigrations: The Context of German History Before 1830," in:Don Heinrich Tolzmann, "Das Ohiotal-The Ohio Valley: The German Dimension" (New York:Lang, 1992), pp. 3-17 6. Knittle, p. 34 A history of the Palatines in New York notes with regard to the Palatinate, that after the Thirty Years War, war again broke out in 1668, and in 1673 Louis XIV of France began his marauding expeditions...destructive raids laid waste the Palatine countryside, and the ruthless pillage continued....when the French king himself entered the land 'to make it a wilderness,' as declared. As a youth of twenty years Kochertal heard of the burning of Heidelberg and Mannheim and in May of 1689 news reached him that Speyer and Worms had been set on fire. The villages, towns and farmsof the Rhine regions were pillaged and burned, their inhabitants tortured, ravished or slain." By 1705, England, Holland, Sweden and Prussia threatened intervention unless the carnage stopped which was then taking place during the War of Spanish Succession (1701-13). See lou D. MacWethy, "The Book Of Names, Especially Relating to the Early Palatines and the First Settlers of the Mohawk Valley ( Baltimore Genealogical Pub. Co., 1969), p. 53 7. See don Heinrich Tolzmann. "America's German Heritage" (Cleveland:German-American National Congress, 1976), pp.26-27. 8. For further information with regard to the American revolution, see Don Heinrich Tolzmann, German- Americans in the American Revolution:Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Richards' History" (Bowie, Maryland:Heritage Books, Inc.,1992) 9. For a General survey of German-American history, see LaVern J. Rippley, "The German Americans (Boston:Twayne, 1976) tbc- ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Haven't found a post of interest? Why not generate one of your own?

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bobbiesmith@juno.com wrote: > Does anyone know of an institution in Birchrunville, PA for the insane > > around 1909? > I have a family member who died there but I don't know where it is. > She > was from the > Pottstown, Royersford, Spring City areas. Her name was SARAH SEAZHOLTZ > > and she died on Apr 27, 1909 in the Birchrunville institution. > (insane) I > do not have a maiden name for her. (but would like one) > > Her husband JONATHAN SEAZHOLTZ was a marble yard owner in Pottstown > with > a Mr. Shenton, until 1873, then he moved and established marble works > in > Spring City and then in Royersford PA. He was killed when a piece of > marble fell on him. I have the news article but no date. At the time > of > his death he was survived by his wife Sarah and their three children, > Clara, wife of Earl ERB, Susan, wife of George JOHNSON and John Yahn > SEAZHOLTZ at home. He was buried in Pottstown's Mount Zion Cemetary. > He > was cared for at the Phoenixville Hospital right before he died. > I have no birth date or date of death. > > They may both be buried in the same plot at the Mt. Zion Cemetary in > Pottstown PA. Any helpful information would be appreciated > > Any information would be appreciated if you are in the area or know of > > these people. What is your relationship to Jonathan. He is my great grandfather. He also has a great great granddaughter who is on this list as well. We are both from the George Johnson/Susan Seazholtz line. She and I have both worked on this. Since she lives in the area. She has a located a lot of materials and done the in the area research. This evening when I get home from work I'll put together the dates for you. Sarah was Sarah Yahn, daughter of George Yahn and Elizabeth Oberholtzer. Jonathan's father was Joseph Seasholtz and his mother was Susan Latshaw. Gary -- Gary D. Johnson Richmond, VA gjohnson@i2020.net or gjohn1@juno.com

Does anyone know of an institution in Birchrunville, PA for the insane around 1909? I have a family member who died there but I don't know where it is. She was from the Pottstown, Royersford, Spring City areas. Her name was SARAH SEAZHOLTZ and she died on Apr 27, 1909 in the Birchrunville institution. (insane) I do not have a maiden name for her. (but would like one) Her husband JONATHAN SEAZHOLTZ was a marble yard owner in Pottstown with a Mr. Shenton, until 1873, then he moved and established marble works in Spring City and then in Royersford PA. He was killed when a piece of marble fell on him. I have the news article but no date. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Sarah and their three children, Clara, wife of Earl ERB, Susan, wife of George JOHNSON and John Yahn SEAZHOLTZ at home. He was buried in Pottstown's Mount Zion Cemetary. He was cared for at the Phoenixville Hospital right before he died. I have no birth date or date of death. They may both be buried in the same plot at the Mt. Zion Cemetary in Pottstown PA. Any helpful information would be appreciated Any information would be appreciated if you are in the area or know of these people.

Vee As usual, you brought back some very special memories of my grandmother. She had her apron from morning until night - I don't remember her ever taking it off but I am sure she did. One time grandma had her clothes draped over her arm to come downstairs where it was much warmer to dress. She tripped on the clothes and fell head over heels. Grandpa was so upset that when he packed her suitcase to take to the hospital he "accidentally" grabbed a couple of her aprons out of the drawer. We got quite a laugh at the hospital. When she was released from the hospital, she stayed with us. Yes she put on that apron over her bathrobe and back brace and helped my dad in the kitchen. Thanks again for the memory joggers. Cousin Sharon ---------- > From: Vee L. Housman <housman@concentric.net> > To: PENNA-DUTCH-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Grandma;s All-Purpose Apron > Date: Sunday, October 05, 1997 12:06 PM > > I guess I'm still in a story-writing mood (actually, I'm trying to avoid > the huge stack of genealogy on my desk!). I hope you all will bear with > me and my trips down Memory Lane. > > GRANDMA’S ALL-PURPOSE APRON > > Do you remember the apron that Grandma alway wore? You know, the one > that wrapped half way around her, tied in the back in a bow and had a > big bib to it? Oh, the many uses she had for that apron! > > First, of course, was to protect her house dress from getting dirty. > But that was only the beginning. Aprons always had a least one pocket. > She may have had a hankie stuffed into it but more than likely she used > the pocket for a place to put little odds and ends she picked up around > the house--hair pins, stray pennies, buttons, maybe a clothes pin or > two--any little thing that needed to be put back in its place. > > Aprons were rarely spotlessly clean. Over time they got stained at the > belly from leaning up against the sink or the countertop. They were > always handy when she needed to wipe her hands on something. They were > also handy for wiping her sweaty brow and handy when listening to soap > operas--they wiped away tears in a jiffy. > > Of course, children’s tears got wiped away by aprons also. And > children’s faces were spot-cleaned with a tip of the apron. When > Grandma would see one of the kids with a smudge on his face, she would > moisten the tip of the apron with her tongue and then scrub off the > smudge. Aprons also were good for playing Peek-a-Boo with the baby. > > Aprons made good baskets. They’ve been known to carry a virtual harvest > out of the vegetable garden and into the house. A flapping apron was > good for shooing the chickens or herding the cows back to the barn. > They made a good fan on a sweltering day over a steaming wash tub and > they made a warm muff on a chilly morning. > > But you could bet your bottom dollar that when someone came to the front > door, Grandma wouldn’t answer it until she took off her apron and hung > it up on a hook or a door knob. Heavens to Betsy if someone were to see > Grandma in her apron! > > Vee L. Housman > ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Forgot how to SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE? Send the appropriate one word message to PENNA-DUTCH-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM

Vee, You forgot one item that the apron was used for, gathering eggs. Gordon ==== 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

I understand there's a reference to DANIEL WERNTZ on page 171 of Volume 43 of the Journal of the Lancaster Historical Society. If you have such a volume, could you glance at it and see if this is likely to be my DANIEL WERTZ, who sired at least 7 children in Germany, then brought them with him to Pennsylvania (or Maryland) between 1752 and 1778? Thanks in advance! - Jeff R

I just had to reply to this letter from Vee. First I must ask "Whaddya mean 'Grandma's' apron"??? I still wear one like that. LOL I use mine for all that you mentioned except for shooing chickens and cows but that's only because I have no chickens or cows. It comes in handy for carrying, wiping, etc. It is so thin you can almost see through it so I guess I'd better get a new one. They are great. Loved your letter. :-D Judy

Has anyone encountered the name LUPHER? It doesn't look exactly German to me but it doesn't look exactly anything else either and I wonder if it is German or modified from something German. My other greatgrandmother, Rosetta LUPHER, was born I think in the 1840s in Crawford Co, a long way from the Dutch country, but I know nothing about her family before that and I am trying to get some sort of handle on it. The name appears to be rather rare. Any help or suggestions of any kind received with gratitude. -- jan <janiceaf@ix.netcom.com> Researching names: FRANK, KELLER, LUPHER, PENROSE, SCHULTZ, TAYLOR ==== 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

Looking for death date of William RHOADS, born 1861. He was born in Berks County, but may have moved to Philadelphia.

I am looking for info on George MUTH, immigrated from Germany to America in 1818, landing in either Baltimore or Philadelphia. He married Sara Weaver (daughter of James Weaver/Weber) in Adams Co., PA in 1822. They lived in Adams, York and Cumberland Counties before moving to Butler Co., OH in 1827. Also, the parents of Sara were James Weaver (Weber, Weyver) and Elizabeth Nicholson(?) (born in Ireland). They had three children in Adams Co., PA in 1799 (Anna Maria WEYVER), 1801 (John WEAVER) and 1803 (Sara WEAVER). Any connections for James and Elizabeth or info on Elizabeth's immigration to America would be greatly appreciated. Laura Tuttle

To anyone else who may have been interested in my post selling two past issues of Pennsylvania Genealogist and Historian - I had a taker within 1/2 hour of my post. Vanessa R. Stern (vstern@gte.com) GTE Laboratories Incorporated --Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.--

Looking for parents of Samuel REINERT, born 1790, died 1839, resided Douglass Twp., Berks Co.