The Oberholtzer Book
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THE OBERHOLTZER BOOK A Foundation Book of Oberholtzer Immigrants and Unestablished Litres DATE 1! IRORLMED JAN 10 2QQ1 7 ' • id c 1 ROL # CALL # 42 8 H42 5IM ? Barbara B. Ford Yt-te users Compiler and Editor yr JAU FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY 35 NORTH WEST TEMPLE SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84150 Published by The Overholser Family Association Compiled and typeset by Barbara B. Ford. Copyright 1995 by Overholser Family Association 313 Henry Lane Wallingford, PA 19086 Library of Congress Catalog Number 94-74043 Printed by Olde Springfield Shoppe 10 West Main Street, P. O. Box 171 Elverson, PA 19520-0171 Dedicated to J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER President and Genealogist of the Overholser Family Association 1956-1986. Without his dedication and guidance, this book would never have been published. ^ til Wappe n OBERHOLZER von Wald/ZH IV FAMILY COAT OF ARMS OBERHOLZER OF WALD, SWITZERLAND In 1958 the Overholser Family Association adopted the Family Coat of Arms of Wald, Switzerland. It was recommended by Dr Hans Klaui, Genealogical Investigation Office, Oberwinterthur, Switzerland through correspondence with Spencer Overholser and Dr Winfred Overholser, then Supt. of St Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington DC. Pertinent portions of the letter of 2/29/1956 are quoted as follows: "In the historical-biographical dictionary of Switzerland, the coat-of-arms Oberholzer is described as follows: 'Obliquely divided, above of red with a half moon and two stars, below of silver with two green oaks.' This emblazoning is not to be described as very happy, since it leaves in respect of the anangement of the half moon and the stars, as well as of both oaks, considerable freedom to the designer. One cannot ascertain, for example, the color of the trunks of oaks, or whether they stand on flat ground or on a small hill. "The somewhat complicated construction of the coat of arms has consequently led to different variations.... "A ... variation was found some years ago...on the oil-painted family tree of the family Spoerry-Oberholzer in the building of the firm of Spoerry and Schaufelberger in Wald... "In regard to these different variants the undersigned in conjunction with the spe cialist in heraldry Herbert Hablutzel in Winterthur in the year 1949 made a clarification of the coat of arms. This was based on the device of said painted family tree, kept accordingly for the upper field the blue color, but reduced the figures down to a crescent moon and one star. The arrangement of the firs was retained, but their trunks instead of in heraldic brown were changed into red. The emblazoning of the clarified family coat of arms, that from now on is recommended to interested persons, runs as follows: "Diagonally divided in blue and silver. In blue an oblique rightward crescent moon, in the left upper corner accompanied by a golden star. In silver two green re-trunked firs on swaying green ground. "(Heraldically left-right from the observer and the opposite.) "The historical-biographical dictionary of Switzerland mentions no crest..the coat of arms shows on the said family tree Spoerry-Oberholzer a bush of five ostrich feath ers. If one could make out a full coat of arms with a crest, ostrich feathers are to be considered as a crest. Four of them in the colors blue, silver, blue and gold should be enough. "...At the best for the future the conect variation, a sketch of which is given here with, should be carried on." PRESIDENTS OF THE OVERHOLSER FAMILY ASSOCIATION 1906-1920 Martin L. Overholser, Millersville, Pa. 1920-1937 Dr. George W. Overholser, Reading, Pa. 1937-1939 Christian H. Oberholser, Lionville, Pa. 1939-1956 Dr. Winfred Overholser, Washington, D.C. 1956-1986 J. Spencer Overholser, Wyomissing Hills, Pa. 1986-1988 John Oswald, Conshohocken, Pa. 1988-1990 Mildred B. Pettigrew, Pottstown, Pa. 1990-1992 Willard E. Overholtzer, Rancho Cordova, Calif. 1992-1994 Charles Carroll, North Hills, Pa. 1994- Darwin Overholt, Doylestown, Pa. 1994-1996 OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION President Darwin Overholt, Doylestown, Pa. 1st Vice President Willard E. Overholtzer, Rancho Cordova, Calif. 2nd Vice President D. Ernest Weinhold, Manheim, Pa. Recording Secretary Darlene O. Redcay, Goodville, Pa. Treasurer Richard Stevens, Lititz, Pa. President Emeritus J. Spencer Overholser, Wyomissing Hills, Pa. Chaplain, Necrologist Rev. John R. Weiler, Bethlehem, Pa. Genealogist, Editor Barbara B. Ford, Wallingford, Pa. BOOK PUBLISHING COMMITTEE Willard E. Overholtzer, Rancho Cordova, Calif., Chairman William H. Oberholtzer, Bethlehem, Pa. J. Spencer Overholser, Wyomissing Hills, Pa. Mildred O. Poley, Souderton, Pa. D. Ernest Weinhold, Manheim, Pa. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction xi Preface xvix List of Illustrations xxii List of Maps xxii Key to Codes xxiii Key to Abbreviations xxiv IMMIGRANTS Marcus Oberholtzer, cl664 Europe-1726 (Code MC) Coventry Twp., Chester Co., Pa. 7770 Immigrant 1 Martin Oberholtzer, cl667 Europe-dp 1733 (Code ML) Lancaster Co., Pa. 7770 Immigrant 41 Jacob Oberholtzer, cl686? Europe-1755 (Code JF) Franconia Twp., Montgomery Co., Pa. 1717/1719 Immigrant 45 Samuel Oberholtzer, cl700 Europe-1748 (Code SL) Manor Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa. 7727Immigrant 69 Hans Jacob Oberholtzer, Europe-1771 (Code HJ) Hatfield Twp., Montgomery Co., Pa. 7750 Immigrant 98 Jacob Oberholtzer, cl704 Europe-1755 (Code JL) Brecknock Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa. 7732 Immigrant 115 UNESTABLISHED LINES Mark Overholt, d 1754 (Code MT) Tinicum Twp., Bucks Co., Pa 149 Abraham Overholser, cl740-1798 (Code AB) Bedford Co., Pa 170 vn John Overholser, c 1740-1809 (Code J A) Adams Co., Pa 174 Jacob Oberholtzer, 1741 -1811 (Code JB) Colebrookdale, Berks Co., Pa 194 Abraham Overholtzer, 1761 -1831 (Code AS) Springfield Twp., Bucks Co., Pa 217 John Overholser, c 1764-1842 (Code JM) Montgomery Co., Ohio 238 Jacob Oberholtzer, 1767-1847 (Code JC) Northampton Co., Pa., and Columbiana Co., Ohio 267 Mark Overholt, C1733-1798 (Code MR) Richland Twp., Bucks Co., Pa 280 John Overholt, d 1789 (Code JT) Tinicum Twp., Bucks Co., Pa 281 Christian Oberholtzer, d 1789 (Code CH) Hempfield Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa 282 Henry Overholt, d 1764 (Code HW) Worcester Twp, Montgomery Co., Pa 284 Henry Oberholtzer, d 1827 (Code HR) Robeson Twp., Berks Co., Pa 285 Henry Overholser, b cl772 (Code HA) Adams Co., Pa 286 Christian Overholser, dp 1819 (Code CA) Reading Twp., Adams Co., Pa 287 David Overholt, c 1780-1857 (Code DB) Doylestown, Bucks Co., Pa 288 John Oberholtzer, 1782-1828 (Code JJ) Chester and Juniata Cos., Pa 290 Henry Overholt, c 1797/8-1859 (Code HO) Licking and Fairfield Cos., Ohio 293 Jacob Overholser, 1801-dp 1870 (Code JG) Of Pennsylvania and Indiana 297 CANADIAN LINES Isaac Overholt, cl746 Pa.-1825 (Code IC) Louth, Lincoln Co., Ont 299 Abraham Overholt, 1746 Pa.-1840 (Code AC) Thorold, Lincoln Co., Ont 308 Jacob Overholser, c 1774-1815 (Code KC) Kingston, Upper Canada 311 Jacob Overholt, 1777Pa.-1844 (Code LC) Clinton Co., Ont 312 Benjamin Oberholser, 1806-1847 (CodeBC) Welland Co., Ont 313 VIRGINIA LINES Abraham Overholts, d 1803/4 (Code AV) Franklin Co., Va 315 Marcus Oberholtzer, b cl760 (Code MV) Rockingham Co., Va 339 Christian Overholser, d 1828 (Code CV) Giles Co., Va 345 Female Lines (Codes BG, AM, AO, ES, SD, CK, MB, and SM) 347 Odds and Ends 355 Bibliography with Short Titles 356 Index 364 IX Winter time view of Oberholz, Switzerland, shows the forest and mountains around the village. Oberholz lies just east of a line that separates Canton Zurich from Canton St. Gallen. 90 I'ttMlV *4I \1i MwMmP This map shows the city of Wald, Canton Zurich, Switzerland, and nearby areas of Niederholz and Oberholz. Summer time view of Oberholz, Switzerland, with rolling hills, well-cared for homes, and well-managed farms and forests. The scenery is indescribably beautiful. Credit: Willard E. Overholtzer. INTRODUCTION Prior to coming to America, our Oberholzer ancestors lived for many centuries in northern Switzerland and for several generations in southern Germany. The name Oberholz is the place name of a small Swiss village located about forty miles southeast of Zurich. Three generations of Oberholzer family members still live in the village. When I visited Oberholz in 1994, I asked Johanna Oberholzer about the origin of our family name. She replied: "Below our village (abut 3 miles) is a forest and the larger town of Wald. About the year 900, the people of Wald began to refer to the people of our region as das bauers im Oberholz (the farmers who live above the woods). Thus the people in this region were called Oberholzers and took the family name Oberholzer." To better understand our ancestors' motivations for emigration it may be helpful to interject a brief history of the region's political, economic, and religious conditions. The present territory of the Swiss Confederation was colonized by Romans in the first century B.C. and later invaded by barbarian tribes of Alamans and Burgundians. In the middle ages, Switzerland was a part of the Holy Roman Empire. The gradual decline of the empire enabled feudal dynasties like the families of Habsburg and Savoy to emerge as territorial powers beginning in the 13th century. In 1291, three Swiss regions revolted XI The Gottfried Oberholzer home in Oberholz, Switzerland, built about 1500, is visited in 1994 by Will Overholtzer of Rancho Cordova, Calif. Adjoining the home is a large garden. Courtesy: Willard E. Overholtzer. against the Habsburgs and gave birth to a new Helvetic Confederation. Throughout most of the 14th century major battles were fought against the Austrian Habsburgs by the people of these of these original cantons. Other regions aligned themselves with the original cantons. Zurich did so in 1551. Numerous "territorial wars" were fought for the next several hundred years. In 1648, recognition of Swiss sovereignty was formally made by the signatories of the Treaty of Westphalia.