John Franklin

The following records are of early Eisenhards in America. Excerpted from John Franklin Eisenhart Family (found in Salt Lake City Mormon Geneology Library)

Excerpted from History of Lehigh County pages 302-304, note Andrew Eisenhard is also listed elsewhere as Andreas Eisenhard

EISENHARD FAMILY.

Andrew Eisenhard, the ancestor of this family, was born Sept. 22, 1715, and settled at an early date in Macungie township. He was naturalized April 10, 1761, and a few years later secured by warrant a tract of 300 acres of land in the township. He later added to this and at the time of his death on March I4, 1770, he owned 400 acres, which his eldest son Andrew, secured at its valuation of (Pounds)550. His wife, Anna Maria Eisenhard, was born Aug. 20, 1718, and died Feb. 14, 1760. He married the second time March 14, 1764, Dorothea, widow of George Volck, nee Dewees, a native of Amity township, Philadelphia County, where she was born Aug. 18, 1722. Andrew Eisenhrad aand his wife were members of the Moravian Church and are buried at Emaus. He had seven children: Andrew, Joseph, Jacob, Margaret, Simon, Samuel, and one other name unknown.

Andrew Eisenhard, the eldest son became the owner of his father’s tract of land and maried, Jan. 28, 1772, Elizabeth Jarrett. They had a number of children, among them Susanna, born Aug. 12, 1785; Elizabeth, born March 12, 1787; and Henry, born Feb. 3, 1788.

George Simon Eisenhard, son of Andrew, 1st, was born Feb. 7, 1752, and died Sept. 14, 1818.

Samuel Eisenhard, youngest son of Andrew, 1st married Catherine Jarrett. She was born March 7, 1757, and died Sept. 14, 1823. Samuel Eisenhard died Sept. 14, 1818, leaving surviving his widow and ten children: Henry; Jacob; John; George; Magdelena, wife of Henry Haas; Catherine, wife of Henry Paul; Andrew; Hanah, wife of Philip Hittel; Susanna, wife of John Albright; and Lydia.

Andrew Eisenhard died in April, 1817, leaving a widow Johanna, and eleven childre. He owned 117 acres in Macungie. His children were: John; Jacob; Daniel; Mary, wife of Henry Koch; Elizabeth, wife of George Fred Kuhns; Andrew; Henry; George; Dorothy, wife of Henry Wickett; and Gertrude.

Henry Eisenhard, son of Andrew, was a farmer and mason in Macungie township. He was born in 1793 and died in 1885, and was buried at Trexlertown. He married Mary Schnoyer and had seven children: Mary, who died single; Henry; Jonas; Lewis; Elvina, married Charles Ritter; Susanna, who died at the age of eighteen years; and Paul.

Lewis Eisenhard, son of Henry, was a tanner and carpenter in Macungie township, and a member of the Lehigh church Lutheran congregation. He married Mary, daughter of Conrad Ainey and his wife, nee Bogert.

OSCAR O. EISENHARD, son of Lewis, was born March 13, 1862, at Chapman’s Station. He attended schools of his native township as well as others in Whitehall and Fullerton and was employed for several years on a farm, after which he was employed as a furnaceman in the Allentown Rolling Mills for one year. In 1882, he began to learn the business of a confectioner, and was employed by M. E. Brobst & Company, and by a Philadelphia firm. In 1902 he went into the confectionery business and after having conducted both manufacturing and retail business with Calvin Haas and John L. Landis, sold out in 1908 to H. F. Hausman and started in business at 1009 Hamilton Street. In March, 1912, he went into the manufacturing business at 38 North Sixth street, which he still conducts. Mr. Eisenhard is a member of St. Michael's Lutheran church, where he has served as deacon. He is a member of Greenleaf Lodge, No. 561, F. & A. M.; Allen Chapter, NO. 203, R. A. M.; Allen Commandery, NO. 20, K. T.; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; Marv Livingstone Chapter, No. 167, O. E. S.; and Carroll Council, Sr. O.A M., No. 71.

Mr. Eisenhard married, April 5, 1885, Miss Carrie E. Heimbach, daughter of Benjamin. F. and Julia Ann (Wentz) Heimbach. Mrs. Eisenhard was the organizer of and first worthy matron of Anne Penn Allen Chapter, No. 145, Order of the Eastern Star, in 1913, and in 1914, was one of the organizers of and the first presiding officer of Mary Livingstone Chapter, No.167, of the same order, as well as a member of the Palestine White Shrine, No. 5, meeting in Philadelphia.

CHARLES WILLIAM HENRY EISENHARD was born Nov. 10, 1879, in Lower Macungie township. He is a son of Charles Eisenhard and Tevilla Miller, and grandson of Henry Eisenhard, of East Macungie, whose wife was a Jacoby. The parents of Tevilla Miller were William R. Millier and wife Catherine, nee Kehm.

Charles W. H. Eisenhard attended the public schools of Lower Macungie and Salisbury townships. Having had early in life an inclination for teaching, he took two Spring courses of study in the Emaus high school. When he was ten years of age he had to leave school for two years, and after that missed from six to thirty days in a term. Notwithstanding these discouragements he kept on studying faithfully and supplementing his high school education with private studies he was able on Aug- 31, 1901, to successfully pass a teacher's examination. The following term he commenced teaching in Ritter's school, Salisbury township, and has taught in said township ever since.

While teaching he took private lessons in algebra from Edward Yellis, Professor of Mathematics in the Moravian Seminary, and in 1910 and 1911 he attended the Saturday course for teachers at Muhlenberg College, taking a course in mathematics under Prof. J. A. Bowman. In

December, 1912, he was granted a Teacher's Professional Certificate.

Mr. Eisenhard was married in 1902 to Gertie E., daughter of Hiram B. and Senia (Sell) Long. This union was blessed with the following children: Malcolm Charles Russel, born Sept. 29,

1902; Althea Tevilla Orpha,. born Dec. 30, 1905; and Emerson Everett, born April 1, 1910.

Mr. Eisenhard, although his ancestors were Republicans, accepted the principles of the Democratic party. His first vote for President was for William Jennings Bryan, in 1900. Having served his party as township committeeman for three years,. and in 1908 as chairman of the Third Legislative District of Lehigh county, he was in 1909 elected justice of the peace of Salisbury township for a term of. five years, which term will be extended to the first Monday in 1916.

He is a member of the Reformed Church and was confirmed by the Rev. Charles E. Schaeffer at the Western Salisbury church. To this church he still belongs, having served therein as deacon, elder, and trustee. He attended the Sunday school of the church and served over seven years as its superintendent. Later he organized the St. John's Sunday school at Summit Lawn, and he has been its superintendent ever since, except one year.

Mr. Eisenhard belongs to Lehigh Chamber O.K, of F., Lecha Wonk Tribe, I. O. R. M., and

Lehigh Consultery, No. 40, K. F.

He is a stockholder in the Mountainville Telephone Company, a rural line of the Bell Company, and served is its secretary since its organization. During the last three terms he has been teacher of the Mountainville grammar school, also an officer for several years of the Lehigh County Teacher's Annual Institute.

William Walter Eisenhard, proprietor of the West End Hotel, Allentown, was born in the old Masonic Temple, Trexlertown, Jan. 25, 1876. He was educated in the common schools and later learned the trade of barber with M. F. Thomas of Allentown. For a period of 16 years he successfully conducted a barber shop in the West End Hotel.

On April 1, 1913, he purchased his father's interest in the hotel, who also owned and conducted it. The building contains about fifty rooms, together with bar connections. The hotel employs ten hands. Mr. Eisenhard is a member of the Longswamp Reformed church, and is a charter member of the Good Will Fire Company.

In 1896 he was married to Sallie R. Long, daughter of Dr. M. S. and Mary Swartz, of

Longswamp. They have three children: Ray, Harry, and Hilda.

SECTION TWO

ANDREAS EISSENHARDT

Andreas Eissenhardt was born September 22, 1715, in Dachtel, Calber Amt, Wurtemberg, Germany. He was the son of a farmer by the name of Balthas Eisenhard. His wife was Anna Margaretha (Maria), daughter of a clothmaker, Simon Haerter (Herter, Haerder, Herterg) of Deckenpfronn (Dickenspundt), Germany. They were married October 10, 1738.

Records on file in the local church parishes of Wurtemberg, translations of which were made by Adolf Gerber, indicate that Andreas Eissenhardt, his wife and five of their children (Johann Andreas, Joseph, Johann Jacob, Catharina Barbara, Lorenz Simon) left Deckenpfronn for America in 1751.

Andreas was a member of the Lutheran church, but transferred to the First Moravian Church, Emmaus, Lehigh County, Pa., on the 11th of September, 1758. He took his first communion in the Moravian church, September 5, 1762. He and his wife are buried on the old Moravian Cemetery, Emmaus. Stones numbered 46 and 30, respectively, mark their last resting places; they lie flat on the

ground, approximate 15 by 18 inches in size and bear the following inscriptions:.

Andreas Eisenhard Geb. 1715 denn 22 Sept

verschid den 14 Mar 1770

A. M. Eisenharten Nat. d: 20 Augu 1718

denat. d: 14 Febu 1760

Andreas married three times. His first wife died in her fortyfirst year. The children born to this union were:

George Balthaser, b. 1739.

George Simon, 1740-41.

John Andreas, 1742-1817.

Joseph, 1744-1784,

John Jacob, b. 1745.

Catharina, b. 1747.

George Simon, 1749-1751.

George Simon, 1752-1818

Margaretta, b. 1756.

His second wife's name was Eva Lerch, a widow. They were married August 25, 1760; she died February 24, 1763. She bore him one child, Anna Johanna, born November 24, 1761.

His third wife was Dorothy Volck, widow of George Volck (born near Worms, Germany, 1705); she was a native of Amity Township, Philadelphia, where she was bom August 18, 1722.

Her maiden name was DeWees (Davis). They were married March 14, 1764; there were no children.

Andreas settled in Macungie Township, Northampton County (now Lehigh), Pa. He was a cordwainer by trade; i.e., a shoemaker. Shortly after settling in Northampton County, he acquired by purchase from Andrew Giering and his wife, Catharine, July 8, 1761, a tract of land containing thirty acres for which he paid forty-five pounds, English money. The tract was part of a larger tract containing fifty acres and thirty-six perches which was deeded Giering by Thomas and Richard Penn through James Hamilton, Lieut. Governor, January 11, 1760, for a yearly quit rent of one half penny Sterling per acre or the value thereof in current coin.

In the course of his lifetime, Andreas acquired a considerable estate. Letters of administration, executed by his widow, Dorothy, John Oakley and George Klein leave blank the sum of money which the three bound themselves, at or before April 24, 1771, to pay Benjamin Chew, Esq., or his attorneys. A summarized inventory, appraisal by Sebastian Knouss and Jacob Herman exhibited before Lewis Klotz, justice of the Peace, June, 1770., show an estate of 192 pounds, 12 shillings and 9 pence.

Andreas was naturalized April 20, 1761, taking the oath of allegiance to the English government whose jurisdiction Pennsylvania then acknowledged.

Andreas Eissenhardt's son, Andrew, became the owner of his father's tract of land which approximated several hundred acres in extent and which, at the latter's death, was valued at 550 pounds English money. This son is mentioned in the Proprietary Tax List, 1772, as a farmer paying 4 pounds tax. His brothers, Joseph (laborer) and Jacob (unmarried) are mentioned in the same tax list as having paid 6 shillings 8 pence, and 15 shillings, respectively. Andrew is also mentioned in the Federal Tax List, 1786, as a resident of Macungie Township, Northampton County, Pa., who paid 2 pounds, 14 shillings, 3 pence tax on 350 acres of land, 4 horses and 5 cattle. In 1785 he paid 5 shillings tax on 75 acres of land in Salisburg Township, and again in 1786 he is mentioned as paying 5 shillings 5 pence tax on 75 acres of land in the Lehigh Hills. Andrew took the oath of allegiance to the Colonial Government in 1777.

Andrew Eisenhart died April 2, 1817, leaving a widow, Joanna, and the following children:

John, died 1825.

Jacob.

Daniel.

Mary,.1783-1870; m. Henry Koch, 1778-1854.

Elizabeth, m. George Frederick Kuhns.

Andrew.

Henry, 1793-1885; m. Mary Schmoyer.

George.

Dorothy, m. Daniel Baumer.

Lydia, 1792-1875; m. Henry Wickert.

Gertrude, m. --------- Wentz.

Andrew died intestate. His oldest son, John, filed a petition in the Orphan's Court, Lehigh County, Pa., for the settlement of his father's estate, May 9, 1817. The records show that Andrew had a total of 147 acres, more or less, the appraisal value of which was placed at approximately $6,600. Final settlement of the estate was made in 1828 after the death of his widow, Joanna, in 1827.

Robert's Anniversary History of Lehigh County cites the following facts about other of Andreas Eissenhardt's children:

"A son, George Simon, was born February 7, 1752, and died September 14, 1818."

"Samuel Eisenhart, youngest son of Andreas, Sr., married Catharine Jarrett, who was born March 7, 1757, and died September 14, 1823. To this union the following children were born:

Henry, Jacob, John, George, Magdalena (m. Henry Haas). Catharine (m. Henry Paul), Andrew, Hannah (m. Philip Hittel), Susanna (m. John Albright), and Lydia (m. Jonathan Schumacher)."

The evidence appears to justify the belief that the Samuel Eisenhart referred to in the last paragraph is the same person as George Simon Eisenhart who is buried on the cemetery at the Zion Lehigh Church near Alburtis, Pa.; the inscription on the latter's tombstone is February, 1752-September 14, 1818. The latter's death date is the same as that of Samuel's in his estate records in the court house at Allentown. A nearby grave on the cemetery referred to in this paragraph has a stone on which the following is inscribed: Catharine Eisenhart, nee Jarritt, wife of Samuel Eisenhart; Mar. 7, 1757-Sept. 4,1823.

There are thousands of descendants of Andreas Eisenhardt, nearly all of whom live in Lehigh and Northampton Counties; only a few of his immediate descendants are referred to in this account.

SOURCES

Gerber Lists, edited by Donald Yoder; Tenth Year Book, Pa., Ger., Folklore Society, p. 151.

Pa, Magazine History & Biography, Vol. 23, P. 127.

CR. First Moravian, Emmaus, Pa.; custody pastor in parsonage

D: Bk., G-3, p. 29; Adm, Northampton County, C. H., Easton, Pa.

OC: Register's Office, Lehigh County, C. H., Allentown, Pa.

PA: 2S., V., 2; 3S, V., 18, 19, 26; 5S., V., 8.

Robert’s Anniversary History of Lehigh County, Vol 2, p. 302.

SECTION THREE

GEORGE EISENHARD

As of this date, the writer has been unable to locate any records definitely relating, either to the ancestry of George Eisenhard or to his arrival in America. The earliest known record relating to him refers to his sponsorship of the baptism of John George Eisenhart, first son of John Conrad Eisenhart and Anna Catharina, his wife, September 2, 1759; the other sponsor on that occasion was his fiancee, Anna Elizabeth Ottinger.

On the first of November, 1761, and again on the twentieth of October, 1765, he and Elizabeth Ottinger sponsored the baptism of two more of Conrad and Catharina Eisenhart's children. In all three baptisms, the records refer to them as unmarried. In the record for November 1, 1761, George Eisenhard is referred to as the son of John Jacob Eisenhart. Who the latter was is not known at this writing.

The earliest known reference to a John Jacob Eisenhart in America was found in a record book in possession of the First Moravian Church of Emmaus, Pa., where he is mentioned as the fifth son of Andreas Eissenhardt. The Proprietary Tax List (1772) for Macungie Township, Northampton County, Pa., refers to this John Jacob Eisenhart as single, hence he was not the father of the George Eisenhard referred to in this section.

The probability is that George Eisenhard either came to America with one of the immigrants in 1751, or that he immigrated a little later himself. In either case thorough search has not resulted in the discovery of his immigration record. If he accompanied one of the immigrants, he was in all likelihood less than sixteen years of age, hence his name would not appear in the immigration lists of 1751. If he came later, his immigration may have been irregular; probably, as Gerber says, he may have "left secretly for the new world."

George Eisenhard's name appears in the tax assessment lists for Manchester Township, York County, Pa., as early as 1762. On the 27th of August, 1764, in accordance with the custom of the time, he took the Sacrament and was naturalized at the Supreme Court in Philadelphia in September, 1764. The naturalization record refers to him as a "foreigner."

George Eisenhard married Elizabeth Ottinger sometime between the years 1765 and 1767; their first child was named Anna Maria and was born June 18, 1768. Conrad Eisenhart and his wife, Catharina, sponsored the baptism of this child, July 3, 1768. A second child, Anna Elizabeth, was born February 1, 1772; her baptism was sponsored by her aunt, Clara Ottinger. The records of Fissel's Church, York County, list a son, John George, who was born June 12, 1784, and those of the Friedensaal (Shuster's) Church, Springfield Township, York County, Pa., list two more children; viz., Dorothea, b. September 23, 1776; and John Jacob, b. January 9, 1779 (?).

His wife was a daughter of John Jacob Ottinger who immigrated from Germany, October 27, 1738. He is referred to as a tavern keeper living in Manchester Township, York County, Pa. He was naturalized April 10-11, 1761; he died in the year 1781. Jacob Ottinger married Anna Johanna (Hannah) Josey, a daughter of Martin Josey (Josi) who lived in Montgomery County in 1731, but later settled in Lancaster (now York) County, Pa., where he died in 1747.

Jacob and Hannah Josey Ottinger were married August 20, 1741; they lived on a farm in Manchester (after 1799, West Manchester) Township, where Elizabeth's mother died about 1801. In her father's will is referred to as the wife of George Eisenhard. Shortly after Jacob Ottinger died, his estate was divided equally among his nine children. The deed (release) recording the transfer of his farm to his son, Jacob, Jr., lists the narnes of Elizabeth’s brothers and sisters, and their wives and husbands.

George Eisenhard appears to have emigrated to Maryland shortly after his marriage, but he did not remain there very long. On the 26th of April, 1771, he acquired a tract of land in Shrewsbury Township, York County, Pa. In the deed he is referred to as George Isenhart of Frederick County, Md. There is no record in the Frederick County court house indicating that he owned real estate in Maryland; nor is there any record relating to him in the Hall of Records, Annapolis, Md. The lure of land may have attracted him to Maryland, as it did hundreds of other emigrants from Lancaster and York Counties.

Between the years 1772 and 1782, he is listed as a taxable of Shrewsbury Township. In 1772 he paid a tax of 1 shilling 8 pence on a valuation of 10 pounds. From 1779 to 1781 he paid taxes on 120 acres of land, 2 horses and 3 cattle.

A warrant in the office of the Department of Internal Affairs, Capitol Building, Harrisburg, Pa., for a tract of land containing ?? acres and 49 perches situated in Shrewsbury Township, was issued to him, February 12, 1787. On the 18th of April, 1788, he and Adam Hendricks, both of Shrewsbury Township, exchanged tracts of land by transfer of deeds as of the same date.

For an approximate period of ten years, ending after he had married, George Eisenhard lived in frequent contact with Conrad Eisenhart; perhaps he made his home with Conrad. One record referring to him states that he was a blacksmith. It is probable that he learned the trade from Conrad as the latter was a blacksmith. This association and other contacts referred to above point to close relationship between them; perhaps that of uncle and nephew.

It is probable that George Eisenhard left York County sometime during the year 1789. After the latter date no records of him have been located in York County. The United States Census for 1790, page 23, lists him as a resident of Bedford County, giving the composition of his family, in addition to himself as head, as consisting of three males under sixteen years of age and four females, including the female head of the family. How long he remained in Bedford County is not known.

On the 5th of November, 1946, the writer met a descendant of Valentine Alt (Ault) who told him that "the second of his sons, Jacob, married Margaretha Elizabetha Schneider; that they had a son, Jacob, Jr., who married Anna Mary Eisenhart The latter couple emigrated to Washington County, Pa., thence to Montgomery County, Ohio, and later still from there to Darke County, Ohio, where the descendants of their son, John, are now living. John Ault’s family Bible, now in possession of Miss Ellen Ault of the last named Ohio county, has entries relating to the Eisenhart ancestry of the family."

Valentine Ault immigrated to America in 1738, settling in what was later York County. Orphan Court records indicate that he died about eighteen years later, leaving a widow and eight children. His widow, Maria Catharina (1722-1759), was a daughter of Martin and Anna Catharina Schmidt, of Fennershausen, Osingen, Germany; after her first husband's death she married Henry Conrad.

When George ~Eisenhard and his wife, Elizabeth, died; and where they are buried is not known to the writer of this narrative.

SOURCES

CR: Christ Lutheran, York Pa.

Etting MSS, f. 12; York Co. Hist. Society, York, Pa.

PA: 2S., V, 2; 3S., V., 21; 5S., V., 4; 6S., V, 2.

W: Bk. F, p. 299; Y.

D: Bks. E, p. 44; 2E, p. 424; 2E, p. 514; Y.

SECTION FOUR

JOHN CONRAD EISENHART

Thorough search of available records has disclosed no evidence that Conrad Eisenhart and Andrew Eisenhart were related. Both came to America from Germany; on different ships and after an interval of only three weeks, but such information does not necessarily prove relationship. There is marked similarity, also, between the majority of Christian names both immigrants gave their children; even so, many children in other families of the period during which they lived bear names given the Eisenhart children.

It follows, therefore, that the exact date and place of Conrad's birth is not known. If he was a brother of Andreas, his father's name was Balthas Eisenhart; Balthas was a farmer who lived at Dachtel in Wurtemberg, Germany. Conrad must have been a comparatively young man at the time of his death in 1782. If he had been an old man, he would no doubt have referred to himself in his will as old instead of merely saying, "very sick and weak of body." Moreover, his age would have disqualified him in 1778 for service in the York County Militia during the Revolutionary War. Furthermore, he requests in his will "that his widow and children remain together and keep in possession all his real and personal estate to and amongst themselves until Conrad (who was fourteen years old at the time) should arrive at his full age of twenty-one years." This request was cornplied with by his widow and children.

There is no known evidence that he was married before he immigrated to America in 1751. If he was born about 1718, as is probable, he would have been forty-one years old at the birth of his first known son. It may be, therefore, that he contracted a previous marriage; if so, his wife may have died before he left Germany, or on the voyage to America. Either supposition is not improbable as proven by similar cases reported in authentic records.

The records of Christ Lutheran Church, York, Pa, mention Anna Catharina, nee Maul, as the wife of Conrad Eisenhart. It is probable that they were married in 1757 or 1758. Thorough search of records relating to members of the Maul families who came to York County during the middle decades of the eighteenth century has produced no evidence of Catharina Maul's ancestry. Quite recently, however, the writer ran across certain statements that seem to furnish a clue to her parentage. The statements referred to suggest that the George Maul, blacksmith, who lived in York in 1779 may be the Johann George Maul, immigrant, who came to America in 1754.

Since Conrad Eisenhart, blacksmith, lived "within seven miles of York Town" soon after 1751, it is possible that common interests brought the early blacksmiths together more or less frequently after George Maul's arrival in 1754. It is also possible that Anna Catharina was a member of the Johann George Maul family, perhaps a sister of the immigrant; that she came to America with her brother, George; that she and Conrad Eisenhart became acquainted as a result of the contacts referred to; and that they married not too long thereafter.

Of course, this is only conjecture; there is no known documentary evidence to support it. However, if such evidence were found, it would mean that the parents of Conrad Eisenhart's wife were Johann George Maul, shoemaker, who lived in Dagersheim, Germany, and Anna Barbara Hoeger, his wife.

The following children were bom to Conrad and Anna Catharina Eisenhart:

Johann George, 1759-1846

Johann Jacob, 1761-1812.

Anna Maria, not living in 1790.

Mary Elizabeth. b. September 17, 1765.

Conrad, 1767-1858

John Peter, b. January 17, 1772.

It is probable that Mary Elizabeth and John Peter died before their father's will was made on the 25th of December, 1791. Anna Maria died sometime between the years 1782 and 1790, as indicated in the following statement taken from a deed, dated August 20, 1790: "whereas Anna Maria Eisenhardt is since dead (i.e., s~nce the time Conrad's will was made), under age, unmarried, and without issue."

Conrad Eisenhart settled in Manchester Township, York County, Pa., where he and a fellow immigrant, Simon Widenmire, acquired 300 acres of land, December 2, 1758; i.e., about seven years after coming to America. The sum paid for this tract of land was 195 pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania; it lay on the south side of the Lincoln Highway about five miles west of York near the point where the Hanover highway joins the Lincoln. At the time of purchase the tract was part of the estate of Paul Burckhard, deceased, who bought it from Jacob Welsh, December 12, 1754. Welsh had received a warrant February 4, 1752, to survey tract of land of approximately 250 acres; the tract to include his own dwelling plantation," adjoining the lands of Dietrich Uhler and Jacob Ottinger. An indenture dated August 20, 1790, states that the land had been equally divided, after re-survey, between Conrad Eissenhard and Simon Wittmyer, Conrad receiving 163 acres.

By trade, Conrad Eisenhart was a blacksmith and is so referred to in a return of taxables of Manchester Township, York County, Pa., for the year 1781. He was, however, interested in farming also; his return of taxable property for the years 1779, 1780 and 1781 included a farm of approximately 160 acres and several head of livestock. At death he provided for the disposition of personal and real property approximating a value of several thousand dollars.

In 1778 Conrad Eisenhart served as a private in the second class of the Fifth Company, York County Militia, Captain Emanuel Herman commanding. The relationship between him and Capt. Herman is shown by the fact that he named Capt. Herman as one of the executors of his will, referring to him as his "trusty and loving friend." His will was probated January 26, 1782. It is probable that he was less than sixty-five years old when he died. His burial place is unknown, although great probability attaches to Bott's Graveyard, West Manchester Township, where there are several tombstones marking the resting places of his oldest son George; George's wife; his son Conrad's first wife, and two of Conrad II's children. Some of the stones on this graveyard were removed some years ago when the burial ground was being improved; it might be that Conrad's (1) was among the number.

Conrad Eisenhart was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church. In accordance with the custom of his time, he had his children baptized soon after birth. The records of Christ Lutheran Church, York, Pa., indicate that his oldest sons, George and Jacob, were catechised and, after confirmation, were receive into its membership on Whitsunday in the year 1776. On numerous occasions he acted in the capacity of godfather at christenings of his neighbors' children. In the first paragraph of his will he says, "I commit my soul into the hands of almighty God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a christian ... manner"; he also speaks of "such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me."

He was a respected citizen of his community, serving in the settlement of the estates of deceased neighbors. In his will, Jacob Ottinger refers to him as his trusty friend, naming him an executor. He witnessed Mathias Smyser's will, made in 1778.

Eighteen years after the death of Conrad Eisenhart, Ws widow, Catharina entered into an agreement, May 27, 1800, with Godfrey Koenig stipulating the terms upon which an impending marriage between them was to take place. The marriage was consununated as indicated by the provision Koenig made for his wife, Catharina in his will, which was probated December 3, 1805. The Koenigs lived in Bottstown at the time of Godfrey's death.

In 1806 Catharina; Koenig sponsored the baptism of Catharine Eisenhart, a daughter of her son, George Eisenhart. On the 2nd day of October, 1808, she married a third time as shown by an entry in the marriage record book of the First Reformed Church, York, Pa. Her third husband was Daniel Dift of Dover Township, York County. She must have died prior to June 1, 1821, as she is not mentioned in Dift's will which was made on the latter date. Her son, Conrad Eisenhart, however, was an executor of Dift's will and, together with his brothers, George and Jacob, was named as one of the nine heirs who shared equally in the distribution of the Dift estate.

At this writing, the exact date of Catharina Dift's death, and the place of her burial are unknown.

SOURCES

Gerber; op. cit, p. 189.

PA: 2S, V., 17; 3S., V., 21; 6S, V., 2.

CR: Christ, op. cit.; Wolfs Union, West Manchester Township, York County, Pa.

W: Bks. E, p. 330; 1, p. 318; 0, p. 369; Y.

D: Bks. A, p. 322; 2F, 511; 2Q, p. 572; Y.

Adm & OC: Bks. E, p. 101; F, p. 243; Y.

As found in the Salt Lake City Geneology Archives this was a typewritten pamphlet (not typeset)