A BIOGRAPHY OF JACOB ZIEGER (ZIEGLER)

1740-1826

December 25, 2013 By Lorraine Moffat

Great-Great-Granddaughter

1

Jacob Ziegler (Zieger): A Biography

For many years I have been interested in the life and times of my Great-Great

Grandfather, Jacob Ziegler. He was born in 1740; he died in 1826. His 86 years

spanned the formative years of a new nation. He was a farmer, a soldier in the

Continental Army, a frontiersman, father of eight children and a staunch Lutheran.

The Founding Fathers were Jacob's contemporaries. As a Revolutionary soldier he

understood what was at stake to insure his freedom. He was a true American who

took advantage of the tenets of the new Constitution and later the Bill of Rights.

He unabashedly sought the American Dream, which to Jacob, the farmer, meant

'Choose your destiny, work hard, and you could one day own property and be

beholding only to God'. He died in 1826, having fulfilled that dream.

Years before I even knew what the word· genealogy meant I can recall my cousin,

Ruth Moore Hodson,. talking about her great-great grandfather as having been born

in 1740 and he had married someone named 'Sowers'. It wasn't until years later

that I became interested in my roots. Armed with Jacob's birth date I began my

search for information about his life. His tombstone records would confirm his

date ofbirth as Jan 14, 1740.

I began my search by looking for birth, death and marriage records for Jacob

Ziegler in Pennsylvania. While searching name indexes of various books and

documents, his name popped up in the translated Ministerial records of J. Casper

Stoever, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 1767. In this early Lutheran Church record

was recorded the christening of Phillip Jacob Ziegler, the firstborn son of Jacob

Ziegler Jr. and W. Judith. 7 ___ «). Further records of this Lutheran Minister,

Stoever, reveal that f! Jacob Ziegler came to America along with brothers Phillip

and John George in 1727 and were listed as heads of family in the records of the

Christ Lutheran Church of York, Pennsylvania, the first Lutheran Church in York

County Pennsylvania in 1733. There is a strong possibility that our Jacob Ziegler

is the son of the Jacob Ziegler who came to Pennsylvania in 1727 thus explaining

the 'Jr.' in Stoevers birth record. . However, there are many

genealogies that have him born in Berlin, Somerset Co. Pennsylvania in 1740. He

moved into that part of Pennsylvania when he was about 55 years old and I believe

someone assumed he was born there.

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Name: Phillip Jacob Ziegler Birth: 30 Jut 1767, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA Lived In (Residence): Maryland, USA Family Members: Father: Jacob Z1e9ler, Mother:Judith NASS Any Event: 1767, Maryland, USA

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PhHiip Ziegler 8: 30 MAY 1778 in,, Maryland D: 18 OCT 1850 in CircleYille, Pickaway, Ohio

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1: · Name: PhiHp Jacob Ziegler

Parent: Jacob Ziegler, Jr.; Judith Location: Lebanon Birth Date: Jul1767 Baptism Date: 02 Aug 1767 Spo-: Philipp Brenner and wife

Name: John Adam Kraemer Parent: Peter Kraemer; Margal'etha Location: Lebanon Birth Date: 19 Feb 1767

Pennsylvania, Lutheran BaptiSms and Marriages

Baptism Date: 22 Mar 1767 Sponsor: John Adam Waible and wife Anna

ldiOUT PENNSYLVANIA. LUTHERAN 8AI'nSN5 AND IIIARIUAGES

-conemonllnOintHUtheran ·Church· records from southeastern Pennsylvania before 1896.

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__ .•.. Jol..!!n:ia9~Date:_26 J.an 176Z Groom: Johann Wendel Wolf Brfde: Anna Dorothea Endress Locath)n: lebanon

Marriage Date: 10 Mar 1767 Groom: Christoph Ulrich Bride: Juliana Umberger Location: lebanon

Marriage Date: 17 Mar 1767 Groom: John Nicolaus Fehler Bride: Barbara Leonhardt Location: Bethel

Marriage Date: 02 Apr 1767 Groam: lames Morton Bride: Catarina Crow Location: Derry Township

Marriage Date: 15 Apr 1767 Groom: Thomas Allen Bride: Jane Cassen Location: Hanover and Paxtang

Marriage Date: 21 Apr 1767 Groom: George Meyer Bride: Marla Ellsabetha Stoehr Location: Rapho and Lebanon

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Jacob Ziegler 1740-1826

Judith NASS 1744-

htto://search.ancestrv.com/cgi-binlsse.dll?rank=l&new=l&ssrc=pt t25997701 pl758381... 3/22/2013

AREA HISTORY: Church History, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/

History of York County, Pennsylvania. John Gibson, Historical Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.

CHURCH HISTORY - Page 523

Page 1 of4

The First Evangelical Lutheran Church - Immediately after permits were granted to purchase lands west of the Susquehanna, in 1731, numerous German emigrants located on what are now the fertile limestone lands of the valley, extending from the Susquehanna westward to the vicinity of Hanover. With them were some English, as the land warrants indicate, but the vast body of them were Germans -Lutherans, German Reformed and Moravians. These people brought with them the principles taught in the fatherland, from which most of them had just come, and in September, 1783, the Lutherans took steps for the organization of a congregation, the first one of this denomination west of the Susquehanna.

The contributors to the purchase this congregation, in September, some of them in America, were as

Martin Bauer 1732 Johannes Bentz 1732 Joseph Beyer 1731 Paul Burkhardt John Adam Diehl 1731 Carl Eisen

Christian Groll 1729 Baltzer Knetzer Christo£ Kraut Gottfried Mauch Nicholas Koger 1732 Jacob Scherer 1732 Mathias Schmeiser 1731 George Schmeiser 1731 Gee. A. Zimmerman Heinrich Schultz Valentine Schultz 1731 George Schwab 1727 Philip Ziegler 1727 George Ziegler 1727 Jacob Ziegler 1727 ruclrael Walck I 732 -Heinrich Zanck 1732 One name illegible.

of the first record book for the members of 1733, together with the times of the arrival of follows:

PLATE2

1731

Rev. John Casper Stoever, the first pastor, 1733-43 - In September, 1733, Lutheran settlers west of the Susquehanna, were visited by Rev. John Casper Stoever, who formed a congregation called "Die Evangelische Lutherische Gemeinde an der Kathores," and served as its pastor for ten years. He was born December 21, 1707, in the upper province of the Electorate of Hesse, at the city of Frankenberg, and was the son of Dietrich Stoever, bUrger and merchant, and

http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/history /gibson/church-history. txt 9/9/2011

Ancestry.com- Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, ... Page 1 of 1

..• ll1t"t'Slr\ Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952 for Jacob Ziegle•

"' ' York > 1767 ~ Related Cor

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2

Some genealogies have Jacob as the second son of John Nicholas Ziegler, born in

1710 in Cordorus, York, Pennsylvania. I recently found a land document showing

a Jacob Ziegler buying 50 acres(?) of land in York County, in 1767.- (Pi~'2A} It seems reasonable that he lived in York county, or nearby in that time period,

1767. However, there is much work to be done on this to find a primacy source for

these alleged birthplaces. (Plate 3).

So far I have not been able to trace Jacob back any further than the birth of his first

child. Colonial records are very hard to find if they even exist, but thanks to the

LDS Church and other entities, millions of records are being digitized and more

information becomes available on a daily basis .. Ancestry.com publishes

genealogies submitted by anyone who chooses to do so; they may contain your

ancestor's name somewhere in their genealogies. Unfortunately, I have found many

mistakes in those genealogies and can only conclude that people are content to copy

other people's mistakes. Purists like me want a source document to prove the

information is correct. As I have mentioned before, primary source documents like

certificates of birth, marriages and deaths are hard to come by since most of these

events occurred over 200 years ago. However, as a disclaimer, I will have to admit

that I, in some instances, while following the dots, have made some assumptions

without documentation to support my claims. I lay before you my findings (so far)

and my own conjectures and hope that this biography will titillate a future

genealogist to find proof or disproof of my allegations and subsequently fill in the

obvious holes in this history.

Even though communications were very slow in Colonial times, Jacob undoubtedly

knew of the rumblings of revolution that were occurring in Boston. He would have

been about 28 years old when the British arrived in Boston. In 1770, British

soldiers shoot 4 civilians in Boston (Boston Massacre). By 1772, Jacob and Judith

have had two more Children; Catherine, B. 1769, and Barbara, B. 1772.

Presumably they were born in Pennsylvania. Some genealogies show their fourth

child, Judith Ziegler, born in Maryland in 1774. I think that it was just previous to

this date (before the American Revolution) that the family moved to Frederick

County, Maryland, which is directly south of the Pennsylvania border, not far from

York Co. Pennsylvania.

Ancestry.com- Ziegler genealogy Page 1 of 1

PLATE 3 ZlRGLER FAMILY TREE

In America

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The commercial origin of the Ziegler name accounts largely for t:b• of numerous family groups in America. having no immediate connection one WlU Sp another. ye

The first United States Census. of 1790. enumerates 294 Zieglers. 55 ol sa: whom were heads of families distributed as follows: Massachusetts. 1: Pennsyl- ha vama. il: Maryland. 5: Vlrginia. 1: South Carolina. 7. The average size ol. lamily was 6 • .3. The name was variously spelled: Ziegler. Zeagler. Zeggela~ ~~ Zegler. Zeiger. Zeigler. Zigler. . . dii

Sevetal prominent groups are included in this list of 55 families. an Michael Ziegler. generally referred to as the Ziegler pioneer in Pennsylvania ca was naturalized in Philadelphia in 1730. He came to America before 1717 M He was bom about 1680. With two other brothers. be settled in Montgomerf-T( C..ountry forming the town of Zieglerville. The original farm has remained irtth the Zieglar family until recently. . _

Olrist Lutheran Church of York. Pennsylvania. the first Lutherat4 church in York County. was organized in 1733. In the list of 24 lleads ol famflies appear the names of Philip. John George and Jacob Ziegler. It • Jikelv that these three were brothers. John George and Philip came over my 1121. ,

5;

NICHOlAS ZIEGLER came over in the QUEEN ELIZABETHfot September 16. 1738. NICKlAS ZEGLAR arrived on the EDINBURG. Sept;th ember 16. 1751. AU the evidence points to NICHOLAS as our GREA1,~o ANCESTOR. He lived and died in Codorus Township. York Coun~ e PcmuwJvania. It is likely that John George. Philip. Jacob and NICHOLA~{: were closely ~ted. ·!

Not Jess than a score of Zieglers from York County are listed as servm:r· N ill the Revolutionary War. Among them are Jacob. Nicholas. Michael. Peter. The services of Major David Zieglar. not of York County. are w .. known. He was hom in Germany in 1748. and served with Washington uar •777-78. Later be became the first mayor of Oncinnati. ·p]

. . In tlie Boundary Dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland in whicl!h· . .Lary)anders attempted to preempt land along the Susquehanna river almost t•' y

York, ~ group of settlers. including Jacob Seglar. Jacob Seglar. Jr •• and Philip Seglar, becoming convinced that the territory rightly belonged to Pennsylvania 'oined with others in issuinq a protest to Governor Oglevie of Maryland. ~, 01

wbicb they say in part: .. We therefore . . .. do resolve to return to our du~ e-t

md ~e under the laws and Government of Pennsylvania. in which ProvinC. te believe ourselves seated .••.••.

.. Signed with our own hands this eleventh day of August Anno Doli 1736.''

On October 21. 1736. Gov. Oglevie issued a warrent for the arrest ci sl

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http://search.ancestry.com/Browse/print_u.aspx?dbid 12940&iid-dv... 7/19/2013

3

In 1773: the Boston Tea Party occurred; 1774: The First Continental Congress

meets in Philadelphia. In 1775, there was the 'shot heard round the world' by the

Minute Men in Concord, Massachusetts. In 1775, at age 35, Jacob answered the

call to serve and volunteered as a soldier in George Washington's Continental

Army.

"Zigler (Ziegler), Jacob Pickaway co

War Dept record shows he servd as Ensign in Capt Jonathan Jones Co 1st Pa Battl under

Col John Bull; was commissioned Oct 27 1775 his name last in Roll Dec 12 1775 at

Barracks at Philadelphia. Servd 1st Lieut in 2nct Pa Rgt Jan 1 1777" 1

Jacob's military record shows, (as I interpret it), that he joined the Army in 1775 as

an Ensign .,4); was made a 1st Lt .in January, 1777. One month later he

resigned, possibly returned home before the birth of my Great Grandfather , Phillip,

born, May 30, 1778. Jacob returned to his regiment in September 1778. At some

point during that time period, his regiment had been adjoined with the 13th Pa

Regiment. MJ"Ij The Revolutionary Medallion placed on his grave site states his

time of service was from 1776-1783.

In 1776, Frederick Co., Maryland, became Washington Co. The 1790 Federal

Census shows Jacob's family in Washington County, Maryland, with 3 males under

16, 1 male over 16, and 5 females. This fits the family makeup at that time. ~ 6)

Land records in Washington County, Maryland, up to 1790, show Jacob having

bought land in 1779 from John Shank and subsequently sold land to John Ritter in

1780. Bought land in 1787 from Stidinger. ~f). The last two

sales on the document were by a Jacob Zeig. However, if Jacob moved his family to

Stoney Creek, Pa. in the early 1 790s, he could easily have left some property unsold

and the land sales by Jacob Zieg in 1794 could have been our Jacob. Scribes were

not too careful in those days about spellings. The scribe may have been as confused

about the spelling of the name as so many were during Jacob's lifetime and was

content with an abbreviation .... Zieg.

1 Official Roster III soldiers of The American Revolution who lived in the State of Ohio Vol2. Cal1#977.1M23ad Pub by State Society DAR. SLFHC

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Ancestry.com- 1790 United States Federal Census- Jacob Ziegler

1790 United States Federal Census record for Jacob Zic

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I have a theory: Considering all of the mis-spellings of the name Ziegler throughout

Jacob's life, there is a possibility that Jacob Ziegler could neither read nor write and

the mis-spellings were phonetic errors; the scribe wrote down what he heard and not

what was the actual spelling. Illiteracy in those days was very common.

Nonetheless, the family is still on the Maryland census records in 1790 (now

Washington County). (Piate6). I believe further investigation into Church records

may tum up more definitive information about the family in their earlier years in

Frederick/ Washington County, Maryland; births, marriages, etc. So far I don't

know of the family's whereabouts from 1767, Lebanon County, PA, to Frederick

Co, Maryland, in 1 77 4 when daughter Judith was born. Where did they live for

those twelve years? I believe that Judith, Jacob Jr, Phillip, Frederick, and Margaret

were all born in Maryland.

There were financial advantages to being a Commissioned Officer in the

Continental Army. Congress was unable to finance the Revolution adequately, so

as an incentive to recruit men into the army, Congress passed an Act to compensate

for loss of pay. The Act was passed in 1788. Beginning in 1789land warrants were

given out to those men who met the Military service requirements. A warrant was

issued to Jacob in 1790 according to a survey of this property made in 1870.

~1). 200 acres would be commensurate with his rank as a 1st Lieutenant in the

Continental Army.

The Ziegler's probably moved to Stoney Creek, Pennsylvania, in the early 1790's.

Remember, his land warrant was issued to him in 1790. The next entry I have for the

family in Pennsylvania is the 1796 tax rolls: Land, 300 acres, one horse, one cow;

valued at $350. Four year's later, in 1800, the tax rolls show only eight acres cleared

and the value at $464.{-~-""

We can only imagine the backbreaking task it was to clear land of rocks and trees

with one horse, three sons over 16 and probably the two older daughters. ( I think by

that time Judith was married). In addition they had to farm the small acreage that

was cleared while struggling to clear the rest.

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~.D. l?90 •. Surve;re<l and returned at the re•pest or Andrew · and J.:artin L. Sta1;ler, t!te present O\'mer. ·

To: J. 1!. Campbell, Sur. Gen.

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In 1794 an incident occurred in Berlin, Pennsylvania, (close to Stoney Creek) which

would have shocked and discouraged Jacob and his family. I'm assuming he lived

there by 1794. Jacob was a staunch Lutheran; church-going would have been a

Sunday habit for the family. The nearest meetings I could find at this time, were in

Berlin, Pennsylvania, a wagon or a buggy-ride away. (I have been unable to

determine how far it was from Stoney Creek Township to Berlin). It seems there was

a meeting of the congregation to discuss ending the services of the unpopular

minister, Cyriacus Spangenberg. During the meeting a prominent parishioner, Jacob

Glessner, was making a convincing case against Spangenberg who subsequently

became enraged at what Glessner was saying. Suddenly Spangenberg lunged forth,

pulled out a long bladed knife and stabbed Glessner to death in view of the

congregation. With so many witnesses to the stabbing there was no question as to the

outcome of Spangenberg's trial. He was found guilty and later publicly hanged for

Glessner's murder. (Ptlte'i'O)

It is uncertain whether or not this incident contributed to Jacob's discontent with

the slow progress he was making on clearing his land. By 1800 he had lived in

Stoney Creek for possibly 8 to 10 years and had only cleared eight acres in that

length of time. No doubt the wooded, rocky terrain had overwhelmed him and his

family and they were looking for a change ofvenue ..... better farmland.

In 1788, the Government, anxious to settle the western territories more quickly,

passed an act allowing the Military Lands in the Territory of Ohio to be sold at very

reasonable prices. Ohio was the frontier of the United States and a virtual wilderness.

The government began advertising in eastern newspapers to attract settlers like those

of southwest Pennsylvania. The farmers were hearing tales of the " land of milk and

honey" with fertile soil for farming. An advertisement, reads as follows:

Public Sale of Land

"It is hereby made known, that the land east of the Sciota River, south

of the Military Lands, and west of the fifteenth range of townships, will

be offered at Public Vendue, at Chillicothe, under the direction of the

Governor or Secretary of the North-western Territory and the register

The Cyriacus Spangenberg Story

meeting, the diseussion was heated. Tempers flared on both sides with a few defending their preaeher, but most opposing him.

Page2 of2

Elder Glessner, who had remained sllent_ untll most of the congregation had expressed their opinions, finally rose to speak, and beeause of his prominence, all listened. Glessner spoke of the shortcomings of Spangenberg, making it plain that he was against his continuing as minister, and there was little doubt that when he finished speaking, Spangenberg would u longer serve the church.

I As Glessner spoke, Spangenberg beeame enraged beyond eontroL Finally and suddenly, as Glessner eoneluded his rematrlci, Spangenberg drew a dirk- a long knife - from beneath his eoat, lunged tow~d Glessner and plunged the dirk through Glessner's heart. Glessner staggered to tlte church altar and died there before the horrified members of the congregation. NOTE: (Other sources say he lived for two days after having been stabbed).

Slow to read, the congregation falled to apprehend Spangenberg at the time, but he was caught hours later. He was eharged irith murder.

On April27, 1795, Spangenberg was tried. As expected, he was found gullty of "' murder in the first degree. He was jalled in Bedford, pending his execution, which

was delayed due to his efforts to obtain a;pardon - an effort that failed.

On the day scheduled for his execution by hanging, Spangenberg rode a wagon to the place of exeeution in Bedford. And, by his side on the wagon was the coffin in which he was to be buried.

The hanging was public, as was commoriin those days. And on hand was a large crowd - a carnival atmosphere crowd. Among them were many of the congregation which he had at one time served.

• i

More Information on Cyriacus Spangenberg

Glenn W. Glessner - Quincy, Illinois Web Page Updated on February 14, 2004

Glessner Home Page Glessner/Kimmel Genealogy I Glessner Genealogy I

http://home.eomcast.net/-g.Jrlessner/spangen.htm 11/23/2013

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6

of the Land Office there established, agreeable to the provisions of the

act, entitled, "An act providing for the sale of the lands of the United

States, Northwest of the Ohio and above the mouth of the Kentucky

river. " The vendue will commence on the first Monday in May next,

and will continue from day to day, for the term of three weeks, at the

large frame house opposite to John Carlisle & Co's store, in the said

town. T Worthigton, 2

The'Public Sale of Land' office, established in Chillicothe, Ohio, opened May 1, 1801.

Six days later on, May 7, 1801, Jacob Zieger was one of the first to purchase land. He

laid claim to Sections 19-20. (By 1800, a section consisted of 320 acres). The same

record shows that Section 26SE, was sold to J. Zegar on June 20,18053• Jacob Zieger Jr.

came into the territory in 1805 and it's possible that the later section may have been

purchased by Jacob Zieger Jr. either for himself or for his father. Apparently Jacob Sr' .s

purchase of section 19-20 amounted to 640 acres on the first day @ $2.00 per acre . (PfittJ;l).

Jacob was obviously a strong and persuasive Patriarch of his family. As a solid

Churchman, he believed in family and was able to keep all of them together with the

exception of his oldest son, Phillip Jacob. (I have found him listed in all genealogies as

being married to Mary Easter (Oester). So far there are no source records to show Phillip

Jacob's whereabouts since the time ofhis birth in1767). The other 7 children and spouses

obviously believed in the project and the possibility of success in their new venture.

In a publication of the Pickaway Quarterly (a genealogical Newsletter published in

Circleville, Ohio) there is an account of Susanna Zieger's life. She was Jacob Ziegler Jr's

wife, Susanna Easter Zieger Shoemaker. Note that Phillip Jacob married a Mary Easter;

(possibly sisters ?). I recommend that if you don't read anything else in the plates that

you take time to read this. It gives insight into what it was like to be a frontiersman and

frontier-women in 1805; remember these people, Jacob Zieger Jr., and Susanna Easter,

were your forebears; your Gr-Gr-Gr-Aunt and Uncle) ~~-1:1)~-

2Register of the Land Office, Chillicothe, 201h of April, 1801

3Call #977 .1, r2c Clark: Ohio Land, Chillicothe Land Office Pg 81

Ohio Land Survey - Families Migrating West Page 1 of 1

PLATE 11

------· -- --- ------~-----·~-- -------~

TERMS OF SALE UNDER VARIOUS U.S. LAND ACTS 1785-1862 YEAR PRICE TERMS

1785 $1.00 per acre 1795 $2.00 per acre

~1800 $2.00 per acre

1804 $2.00 per acre

1820 $1.25 per acre 1830 Land Scrip 1832 $1.25 per acre 1841 $1.25 per acre

1855 $1.00 per acre-12 1/2 cents per acre

1862 $10 (filing fee)

Specie, loan-office or debt certificates One half down, one half due in one year One quarter cash, remainder to be paid in three annual installments One quarter cash; remainder to be paid in three annual installments Cash Acceptable in lieu of cash Cash, Land Scrip. Squatters who built homes and improved land could purchase one-quarter section before it was offered for public sale Land not sold for 10 years to be offered at $1.00 per acre; if not sold for 30 years, land could be disposed of at 12 1/2 cents per acre Title could be obtained after 5 years residence under Homestead Act

http://www.brumbaughwise.com/history-l/untitledpost

MINIMUM PURCHASE 640 Acres 640 Acres 320 Acres

160 Acres

80 Acres None Listed 40 Acres 160 Acres

40-320 Acres

160 Acres

8/12/2011

PLATE 12-13

"SUSANNAH SHOEMAKER .=-PIONEER WOMAN." by .Jolmda T. Da'ris

We are all grateful to Robert W. Jones for making available to us this detailed picture of pioneer days in Circleville. Polly Miller had the manuscript copied for our use and Dr. Emily Lutz and Marilyn Lutz Brehmer pro­vided the photographs. Ow sincere thanks goes to all of them for this special treat.

We had planned to prepare a careful documentation of the role carried out by Jacob Zeiger, Sr., and his eight children in the very earliest history of our area but' time did not permit. We shall make tbis a first priority for the Fall '84 Quorterly. I am sure that it will ~me as a surprise to most of u.s to discover how many of the Pickaway County families living today in the townships east of the Scioto River are related directly or by marriage to Jacob Zeiger, Sr .• and his children. At the same time, it would be dif­ficult to estimate bow many of u.s now owning a lot in CircleviHe or a plat of land adjoining Circleville city limits eould trace the abstract back to 1810, 1811 or 1812 when it was owned by Jacob, Sr .• or one of his offspring.

Miss Helen Black who wrote "Susannah Shoemaker" was loved and respected for her long-time service as teacher in the public schools. We are fortunate indeed that she took the time to set down Susannah's stories, which

give us a much more vivid picture of daily living than can be found in any history book.

One final comment: It has been widely known for many years that the first sessions of Pickaway County Courts were held in the large room in the upper story of Jacob Zeiger, Jr.'s home located on the southwest comer of Scioto and High Streets. The first meetings of the Masonic Lodge were held here also. Several years ago, a bronze marker was set here by the Masonic Lodge. Unfortunately, the name "Zeiger" is misspelled on the marker as Ziegler.

We would like to point out another important "first" associated with Jacob Zeiger, Jr.'s home. Susannah men­tions attending early meetings of the English Evangelical Lutheran Church under the guidance of the great missionary-minister, the Rev. Jacob Leist. Williams' "History," p. 175 tells of the organization of the first con­gregation and tells of their nieeting in homes before the new octagonal courthouse was erected in the center of Main and Court Streets. It is an educated guess to presume that those initial meetings were held in the same large room which had housed the courts and the Masonic Lodge.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The spelling of Zeiger or Zieger seems to be according to the authority at hand, Williams' "History," has both spellings- take your choice. J.T.D.

SUSANNAH SHOEMAKER - PIONEER WOMAN by Anna E. Black

SU~AHSHOE~R 1784-1879

On February 19,1873, the Circleville, Ohio, Herald con­tained the following notice:

.. The eighty-ninth anniversary of. the birth of Mrs. Susannah Shoemaker was celebrated by a surprise party, on Friday last. at the residence of Samuel Row in Washington Township. Upward of fifty persons partook of the feast provided by those in charge of the party, and the occasion was one of much genuine enjoyment. Mrs. Shoemaker is quite active for one of her years, and her mind is well-preserved. She is the fortunate possessor of a comfortable estate and still retains personal supervision of her business.

.. She was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, on February 14, 1784, and was twice married. Her f"ttst hus­band was Jacob Zieger. Jr •• who with Samuel Watt, his brother-in-law, owned the land on which the city of Circleville now stands. Her second husband was Judge Jacob Shoemaker, a member of the first Court of Pickaway County."

PICKA W.A YQUARTERLY, SUMMER 1984

This birthday celebration thus reponed in 1873 was the beginning of a series which continued until the del!th of "Auntie" Shoemaker in 1879. One of her friends who at­tended all of them wrote later: "They were occasions of rare profit to those present for she loved to recall the days of the early settlement of the county .when she was an ac­tive participant in the stirring incidents with which pioneer life abounded. u

By the usc of her birthday reminiscences, family tradi­tions, ·and local records, with such help from historical data as is necessary to make clear her background, her life story is presented in the following pages - the story of a typical PIONEER WOMAN OF OHIO. .

When in the spring of 1801 the public lands in Ohio were put on sale and widely advertised in the eastern states they were eagerly sought by many citizens. The impoverished veterans of the Revolutionary War (who had been paid for their services in the cause of independence only in the wor­thless Continental p!i'rency or by certificates on the bankrupt Treasury) were joined by other land-hungry men, who were willing to brave any hardship for a share of

Page9

the country described as «<fertile as heart could wish a land fiowins with milk and honey," and which could •be. had almost for the asking.

On foot,· on horsebac:k, in ox-c:arts. over Zanes Trail, and by flatboat and barge down the Ohio River came th~ .home-seekers in large numbers; some b- their families, others, more prudent, coming ahead and entering as much land as they could afford, then going back East, to return later with wife and children. ·

Among those who came alone and went back was Jacob Zieger, Sr., of Somerset County, Pennsylv~. He took up two and a quarter sections to provide homes for himself and hJs eight children, six of whom were already married. Yome of the family came to the wester;n wilderness in 1805, the rest came the following year.

ln 1806 Jacob Zieger, Jr.~ and his wife Susannah (Easter) made their way by flatboat down the Ohio. then by covered wagon up the Scioto Valley till they reached the land bis father had takm up in 1801. This was a denself wooded tract about twenty miles north of OUllicothe and in it was included the cireular piece of ground and the square adjoining it, eadt surrounded by an earthen wall ten feet high, formini the so-called "'Moundbuilders" fort. The ••circle" was on part of the land allotted to Jacob, Jr., but it did not then seem to offer a suitable place for a home, so they chose a location to the northwest out­side the walled enclosure, on a hill at the foot of which was that invaluable possession- a fmc spring. Together the young couple commenced the work of hewing a home out of the forest. Susannah used to tell with pride how she had helped clear the land, often working with her husband far into the night, raking and burning brush and log heaps.

After Jacob and his brothers had put the Jogs of their cabin in place, she helped chink the cracks with clay and sticks. Their cabin, like all the earnest ones, was very crude - the window just a hole cut in the logs and covered with paJ?Cf. greased with bear's fat, the ftoor of puncheons (logs split m two and ••scotched"), the roof of rough clap­boards. At one end was a large fJreplace where all the cooking was done and where the "seed" of the f"rre was carefully covered with ashes to keep it all night, because if the ftre went out the tinder-box had to be used and that was a lot of trouble.

On one side of the cabin was an opening for a door at rrrst with a bedqui)t bung up, wbicb Susannah regarded as a poor ex~ for a door, where rattlesnakes were plentiful and wo~ made night hideous with their howling! She was OVer.JOyed when her husband rived out some oak boards and made a heavy door with a good stout latch. The latch was made of oak too, and was on the inside with a strong strap of deerhide attached. The ••tatch-string" was P~ through a _bole ending on the outside. At night ~ string was pulled m, which made a very secure fasten­Ing.

Page tO

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The furniture of the log cabin was as simple as the house itself. A forked stick set in the floor and supporting two poles resting on the Jogs at the side and the end of the cabin formed a bedstead. With strips of rawhide stretched from side to side it was ready for the "tick" Itlled with corn shucks. straw. leaves or feathers. Susannah Zieger had a tick made of course linen which bad been spun and woven in her old home. In her dower chest were homespun blankets, coverlets, and linens. Every Pennsylvania girl in those days worked industriously to rill her chest with need­fuls for a bride's "settin'-out." Not to have such an outfit was considered a disgrace. Tucked away safely in her chest also were Susannah's silver teaspoons, her mother's wed-ding gift.

The table was a split slab with four rustic legs set in auger holes. Benches and stools were made in the same manner. Pegs driven in auger holes in the logs of the wall supported shelves to hold dishes and utensils. These con­sisted of pewter platters and tin cups, a pewter teapot, some wooden plates and bowls. Gourds were the great standby for dippers and containers. A long-handled one was hung on a tree at the spring, offering a refreshing drink to passers-by. Brooms were made of a stick of birch for handle and birch splints for the brush, or with hickory handle and com shucks for brush. For cooking at the f"rreplace were a Dutch oven for baking com pone or mak­ing meat stew, a copper tea-kettle, an iron pot or two and a gridiron. In the yard was an ash-hopper for making lye for soap.

A pair of deer horns over the flTeplace formed a rack where hung the rifle and powder-horn, which no cabin was without. Hanging on the mantel-shelf or from its spindle stuck into a crack in the legs was the "Betty" lamp, which with a wisp of flax or moss or a twist of rag for a wick, burned whatever kind of fat could be found - bear's grease, turkey fat, hog's lard. On the table stood a Penn­sylvania grease lamp which had a cup to hold the fuel, placed on a base like a candleholder and an upright wick, giving a cleaner light than the Betty, and it was more con­venient because it could be moved to any part of the room. Tallow dips in tin holders and a lantern of pierced tin with a candle inside completed the lighting equipment of the cabin.

Another imponant articles was the spinning wheel. Susannah had brought hers from home, and was looking forward to using it just as soon as some flax could be rais­ed and wool purchased.

When their clearing had been make ready for a patch of com and a garden she and Jacob worked with all theil might to get it seeded, and to build a fence of saplings anc brush to keep the varmints from destroying the littlt plants. Years afterward she used to tell about her firs! garden: "I had brought vegetable and flower seeds with m< and cuttings from my mother's garden. In a box of sand l

PICKAWAYQUARTERLY, SUMMER~--~-

Shoemaker Coadaued:

had started roses and laylocks and pineys (peonies) - the posies I've loved all my life - and oh how I petted and tended them in my new home! They grew fine in the rich soil and gave me many a happy hour. Turnips, pumpkins and potatoes were soon growing too, and my gourd vines ran everywhere.

I brought a parcel of yarbs (herbs) along too, to have on hand in case of sickness. My grandmother used to tell us that there's something growing in the woods and fields, if folks only know what they are, that'll cure most every complaint there is. She thought the Lord who made 'em planned it out for our good. I learned from hCI; to use boneset tea for chills and fever and surely it was needed out here. Everybody had the .. shakes" at one time or another during the year; sometimes whole families would be down at once. Then a neighbor with a batch of boneset tea was a good one to have!

I had catnip and sage and tansey - all good medicines. In the woods we found mint and pennyroyal for makin' tea to drink instead of store tea, which couldn't be bought here in the early days. What did we have for sweetening? Not sugar at first - not until we made maple sugar, but we had lots of honey from the wild bees. Sometimes as many as twenty bee-trees would be found in one day. Early in the spring all the neighbors turned out to help each other with • 'sugarin-off." The maple trees were tapped and troughs were made of buckeye wood to catch the say, which then had to be boiled and boiled. We were all so glad to get the syrup and sugar that we didn't mind the work and besides it gave us a chance to visit each other ... And she told about many other thing they found in the forest:

"There was a sight of wild fruit in- the woods - grapes, blackberries, cherries, crab apples, paw-paws (custard ap­ples some call 'em) and a lot more. Many's the good time I had with my sisters-in-law goin' berryin'. even if we did have to take a hoe along to kill snakes! We took turns as "lookout," for we were all afraid of Indians, though they never molested us. We were afraid of bears too, but one day when we saw a mother bear playing with her cub and ran screaming toward home, we scared her and she went loping off into the thicket. What berries we didn't use right away we dried for winter use - we knew nothing of cann­ing in those days. In the fall we gathered nuts from walnut, hickory and chestnut trees, a plentiful store.

"The woods furnished our meat too. A man had only to go out with his gun and he was sure to come in with some kind of game - squirrels, wild turkey or deer. I never tasted anything better than deer meat (ven'son we called it) roasted on a spit before a hickory fire. Deer were as plen­tiful then as cattle are now. The buckskin was used for men's clothing and moccasins and many other things.

Just as soon as the com was fit we had roasting ears. I took off some of the outside shucks and buried the ears in hot ashes, then piled live coals on top. J\.{y! but they made

PICKA WAY QUARTERLY, SUMMER 1984

good eatin! The wheat flour we had brought from home lasted till the com was ready to grind and by that time we bad rigged up a mill - if your could call it that.

A tree stump in front of the cabin was squared off and a hollow burned out big enough to hold maybe a half-bushel of shelled com. Then with a heavy piece of wood for a pes­tle it was pounded and crushed- a back-breakingjob. We made a sieve by stretching a green deer hide over a hoop and then when it was dry punching it full of holes. By hav­ing three such sieves with different sized holes we could have three grades of meal- the fmest was used for baking a pone in the Dutch oven or a Johnny cake on a board before the ftre. The coarsest was boiled (sometimes for a whole day) for mush. Even after we had raised wheat, we still used the homemade mill for there was no grist mill within reach for a long time. But we were young and strong, and managed to get along."

So with stout hearts, Jacob and Susannah persevered in the task of subduing the wilderness and establishing a home. They had their share of losses, the most severe being the killing by wolves of their entire flock of forty sheep. Another was the destruction of a field of growing corn by a horde of squirrels.

In only four years after putting up their rough cabin with one greased-paper window, they were able to build a two-story house of hewn logs and glass windows, and this house was destined to play an important part in the early history of the town which suddenly sprung up around it. In January, 1810, the State Legislature ordered that adjacent parts of Ross, Franklin, and Fairfield counties be erected into a new county to be called Pickaway. Then a commit­tee was appointed to locate a county seat. After viewing the whole territory, in which were located several towns of two hundred or more inhabitants the committee, unac­countably enough, selected the circular enclosure (the an­cient high-walled "fort") belonging to the Ziegers, and the town of Circleville was born.

An act of the Legislature then provided that the town should be laid out with a central area for public use, and that eight streets should radiate from this area like the spokes from the hub of a wheel, and that these . streets should be intersected by circular streets at gi\ten distances from the central area; the rest of the wwn to be laid out in regular squares like other cities.

The next step was the appointment of Daniel Dreisbach as Director of the town, with authority to purchase the site designated, lay it out in town lots, and dispose of same. He proceeded at once to secure 200 acres of land from the Zieger family and to lay it out according to directions. There were many large trees and much underbrush to be cut from the streets, but by the day set for the first sale -September 10, 1810, all was in readiness. This sale was a memorable event, celebrated with a grand barbecue and much excitement - a day long remembered by those pre-

Pagell

Slloeaulker Continued:

sent. There were bidders from all parts of the country and Dreisbach disposed of twenty-nine Jots, and in October, eleven more. By winter· forty families had taken up mddence in the new town.

The Conunissioners' first duty after the town had been laid out and the lots sold was to provide a place for the meeting of the Court. For this purpose the new house of Jacob Zeiger. Jr .• still unfinished. the upper floor not hav­ing been partitioned off, offered suitable accommodation. This room was rented for $40.00 a year, and was used unb1 the octagonal brick Courthouse was built in the c,enter of the circle.

Thus, almost over night, Susannah zclger found herself with many new neighbors. and her house which had been built in the open woods, standing at the comer of two streets (High and Scioto); and most thrilling of all, it had been chosen as the .. Temple of Justice" for Pickaway County. She used to tell how impressed she was (and amus­ed) to watch the dignified justices, escorted by the soldierly sheriff, James Renick, a general in the War of 1812, march through her front room and up the ladder to that roughly­furnished court room. She always added with a twinkle: "I didn't lmow it then, but one of. those judges, Jacob Shoemaker, was to be my second husband." She loved to tell too of lending her best chairs to the Court - fine ones that had been bought at Chillicothe. She prized those chairs highly and kept them as long as she lived. In 1813 her house was further . honored by being used by the Masonic Lodge for its meetings .. Both the Court and the Lodge moved to the Courthouse in the center of the circle as soon as it was completed.

It was not a matter of record but it is safe to assume that the Zieger upper room was used for the meetings of the Lutheran congregation which was organized by a young missionary from Pennsylvania, the Rev. Jacob Leist. His fll'st sermon in Circlcville (probably the first in the town) was preached August 28, 1811, the beginning of a long and useful ministry. Having regular church service again meant a great deal to all the Lutherans in the community, but to no one did it mean more than to Susannah Zieger. At the end of her long life it was said: .. She was a worthy and consistent exponent of the religion she professed."

1812- the fateful year that brought the "Second War of Independence" to the young Republic- found the men of the Scioto Valley willing and eager to rush to the defense of the northern frontier. All credit is due theui for their patriotism, but a tribute of praise should be given to the women who lived through those times with their children in isolated cabins in the woods. It was a time of anxiety and terror, for it was feared by all that the Indians migbt take advantage of the desation of these homes by their natural defenders and pillage and destroy them. The fear of robbery and murder filled many a mother's beart as she bent all her strength to the task of providing food and

c;lothing for her young family. ••These women were truly heroic in their endurance of hardship and privation and loneliness."

Women in the towns had a less trying time for they had neighbors to share their troubles, and to help them care for the .. young uns ... Such a neighbor was Susannah Zieger who, having no children of her own, could go where there were little girls to be taught to sew and knit; small boys needing help and encouragement in tending garden and in the hard task of grinding com; fretful babies to be soothed with her catnip tea. She managed to find time to work for the soldiers, too, making warm shirts and knitting socks from yam of her own spinning.

1813 -saw the e."ld of the war so far as the Northwest was concerned. That year Perry's fleet and the gallant fighting of the homespun army under Harrison won out over the combined force of British and Indians. and the "Buckeyes" were free to return to their families.

After the war the feeling of security was so much greater than ever before that the settlers started in with renewed energy to enlarge their clearings and improve their homesteads. Before many years there was a surplus of grain and livestock which could be disposed of only by the hazardous and toilsome ways of flatboating to New Orleans, or by driving hogs and cattle over miserable roads to the eastern markets. The urgent need for better transportation finally Jed to highway improvement and the building of the Ohio and Erie Canal.

In 1822, after strong opposition, the law authorizing the building of the Ohio Canal was passed. On July 4, 1828, ground was broken at Circleville for this section of the canal. In three years it was in operation, and its usefulness at once became apparent. Colonel John Noble, a contem­porary, wrote: "Because of the lack of transportation wheat sold for 25 cents a bushel, but when the canal was finished it brought Sl.OO a bushel. Then the enemies of the canal (who were all large taxpayer's) had their eyes open­ed. One of these, Judge Jacob Shoemaker, was a rich land owner and had opposed the canal because it would increase his taxes, and be a failure. This gentleman, for such he was, told me that his boys with an ox-cart had hauled potatoes to Circleville and sold them for enough to pay his taxes for the year. As this was an article he had never before sold, he was now a convert to the improvement."

Historians agree that the canal was of immense benefit to Pickaway County. Many others besides Judge Shoemaker lived to profit by the "contraption" they had opposed.

Chief Justice Chase, in his history of Ohio says: "The canals have afforded the farmer of the interior an easy ac­cess to market, and enhanced the value of his farm and his products. They have made the people more united as well as prosperous, and furnished them a common object of generous satisfaction."

PICKAWAYQUARTERLY, SUMMER 1984 -· ~-

Shoemaker Continued: In 1821 Jacob Zieger, Jr .• sold their house in town and

they moved to some heavily timbered land he owned east of Circleville. The house they built there was Susannah's home for the rest of her life. Though built of logs it was not so crude as the earlier ones, for by that time a sawmill was within reach so they had boards for floors and doors. Carpenters and masons were hired from town to make it more like the houses "back East." They even had a large outdoor bakeoven which Susannah told about: "We used to fire it twice a week and do a sight o' baking all at once. We'd make a big fire in the oven and when the bricks were good and hot we'd scrape out all the coals and sh9ve in the roasts and fowls, the pies and bread - and fine tasting they were when they came out! For small batches of baking and roasting I used a tin reflector before the fire. That was after tin-peddlers began coming around with loads of things to tempt the housewife. As the peddlers took trade for pay we could get their new-fangled things for whatever we had to spare - skins (they allowed $1.00 for a buckskin, 25 cents for a coon skin), or wool, flax, Iinsey­woolsey, almost anything.

You don't know what Iinsey-woolsey was? Well, it was a cloth we wove out of linen and wool. If we could get cotton to weave with wool we called that jeans. For sum­mer wear we had linen cloth of our own making, raising the flax, hackling it, spinning and weaving it. By going into the woods we could get a lot of things to color it with -sumack for red. hickory bark for yellow, walnut for brown, and oak for purple.

Yes, l missed my town neighbors, but I had some good ones out here. Mr. and Mrs. Seall and the Row family were not far away and they were kind and friendly. Jacob and I both had saddle horses and we always went to town to church and singing-school. Besides, the women-folks had gatherings - quilting parties. wool-pickings and the like -that brought us together for sociable times. I was always expected to bring my :.ccordion along and play it while someone else did my stint of the work. You see there were few musical instruments in the settlement in those days. Of course in <>fler years when the roads were better and the canal in use lots of folks had an organ or a spinet. I can remember when the first pianos were brought in.

By that time we had better furniture of all kinds. The cabinet-makers went around with small sample chests, desks, and so on. taking orders. They made beautiful pieces out of our own cherry and walnut wood, and of mahogany brought from away off. Clock peddlers came around too, with big and little clocks. I had brass candlesticks instead of tin or iron and for the best room I had glass lamps burning whale oil, and wasn't I proud of 'em!"

Auntie was able to indulge her taste for nice tableware by buying some Staffordshire china when a supply of that much coveted article reached Circleville. She gave her

PICKA WAY QUARTERLY, SUMMER 1984

"Penn's Treaty" plates as keepsakes to her special favorites later on.

From Circleville newspapers: "Died- December 23, 1831, Jacob Zieger, Jr., aged 55

years. He was an early settler, highly respected. "Died -February 13, 1832, Maria Shoemaker, wife of

Jac<;»b Shoemaker, Esq. .. Married- in Washington Township, March 12, 1835,

Jacob Shoemaker, Esq. and Mrs. Susannah Zieger .. "Died- January 2, 1843, Jacob Shoemaker, Esq. aged

71 years. The deceased was an early settler, and in 1810 was elected Associate Judge, which office he filled with credit for 14 years. Throughout a long life he sustained an unblemished reputation as an upright citizen and an honest man."

After the death of Judge Shoemaker, Susannah made a bargain with Samuel Row, whose wife was her niece, to farm the land in which she had a dower right, she to have every third bushel of grain produced and to have a room in the house. This arrangement resulted profitably for both sides and continued until her death 35 years later, when her estate amounted to $20,000.

"Auntie" Shoemaker had the reputation of being a kind friend to children. Some of her relatives now living remember the store of peppermint candy she kept on hand for youthful visitors. One of them says she was always afraid "Auntie" would forget the treat, but this never hap­pened. Mr. and Mrs. Row had a large family, so "Auntie" had scope for her love for linle folks. She helped their mother care for them and bring them up in the way she thought proper. She was quite strict in her ideas, the young people used to think, but she remembered them generously in her will, so they must have pleased her. Her kind heart prompted her also to help the poor.

On the occasion of one of Auntie's birthday parties, Mrs. Row, at the instigation of some of the guests, asked her if she wouldn't like to have a photographer come out that afternoon and take her picture with her friends around her. With a severe look she said: "Hannah Row, you know I think it's wicked to have a likeness made. I've tried all my life to keep the "Thou shalt nots" in the Com­mandments, and rm not going to break one now on my 90th birthday. I believe that when th~ Good Book says: 'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything' - it means just what it says." And she was never again asked to have a "likeness" taken.

However, a year or two later the Rows engaged an artist to make some drawings of her without her knowing what he was doing. He stayed at the bouse some time, ostensibly to get her to help him with a history of the county he said he was writing. She grew quite tired of him and one day said to Mrs. Row: "Hannah, I wish that young man would go about his business. I've told him everything I can remember, but he keeps pestering me with questions."

Page 13

Shoemaker Condoned:

Mrs. Row answered that he wo~d soon be going, she thought, so Auntie bore with him for the time he remain­ed.

Copies of the likeness which were given to her many friends and relatives are still cberished by the descendants of those who knew and loved her.

At the beginning of this sketch we noted that her friends gathered on February 14, 1873, to celebrate her 89th birth­day. A year later they gathered again, "fmding her in good health and boyant spirits, able to enjoy the com~y with infinite satisfaction." In 1875, .. a large number of friends and neighbors assembled to offer congratulation on an an­niversary vouchsafed to few. As her 9lst birthday came on Sunday .. religious services were held by her pastor to the great edification of the venerable hostess."

Each year till 1879 her natal day brought her friends to her home. That year just a few days before her 95th birth­day they met instead at her beloved Lutheran Church to at­tend the last rites of this honored pioneer. who died February 4, 1879, truly the last of her race. "She had lived more than her allotted time, and death was but the solution of the enigma of life, and the introduction to that higher plane for which she longed for many years."

BmLIOORAPHY BOOKS: Crouse, D. C .•••.••..•..•.•.•... "The Ohio Gateway" Howe, Henry ....•.••.. "Historical Collection of Ohio" Jones, Dr. H. E .•..•...•.....•...• "Why Circleville?" Jones, Dr. H. E ...•.... "The Squirrel Hunters of Ohio" Van Cleaf, A ...••...... "History of Pickaway County" Williams, F .. "History of Franklin & Pickaway Counties" NEWSPAPERS: "The Oliver Branch" ....•.•....•....... Various issues "The Circleville Herald" .• Jan. 6, 1843 & February issues

1873 to 1879 ''The Circleville Democrat and

Watchman" .........• February issues 1874 to 1879 INTERVIEWS: Miss Amelia Rowe, 14715 Terrace Rd., E. Cleveland, OH Mrs. Helen B. Anderson, Circleville, Obio

hp14

SaaoaJa Shoemaker reading ber dally cllapter in tbe

"Good Book."

Roundtown Rembdscenses Historical. Pictures and Text on Circleville's Past by Ned Harden and W. W. Higgins is being reprinted.

PICKA WAY QUARTERLY, SUMMER 1984

PLATE 13

OHIO- - -- · ·: .- ~- ........ : ~ ' r - ...,_.,..... ~ ·~t:-·-"" _.r. · 'ui

HI U.S

Union Ctty

Bryan

:..i MOWI'Jee

IVver

,Au~.e Convoy

Uma

Ashtabula

w~ p '""' L.akewoodEud"d Mc:ntor

C!'1T}'Sbu~ . . Marblehead """ .,_ ' · Cleveland Hei h

BoGwling Fremonflndusky Parma Cleveland g ts

rccn 8 :J 5andusk runswick H ClJY!!!tof River y NorwAlk udson :.; ~r o

Medina Akron Warren Youngstown

Toledo

Findlay Ashland

Al lianc:e Boardman

Mansfi~d Massillon Ca Wooster nton

Marion

~ VMount

Delaware ernon Marysville Steubenvill Muslcingum ~

Piqua Oublin Westerville RNerL fll(j Oh'

T ">twood Springfield C Ncwri ... ~ ,...;: Dayt olumbus ~'

. Sidney

Kotwing on ~"""" Zanc•villc ' B<ooluldo

Oxford -, Xenia tr ""~ l.iule ~.!.. ~! e'· Great Middletown M~ti g,ash·,~n .. ~ ~ ....,. ,.....i lwn ,._ urt Hodah , ~flfl ~Wer--e fairfield Mason Chillicothe , River g- ~

V · Cincinnati ~ - A<h'"' . · Oelhl ~s~~ :_Bit n!!rhasstttt Piketon River Island /"..-. ...;~.,.,..~

Portland ~r::;_· ~

Manchester .Portsmouth

3Smi

35km

Mills

Oh:o River

r

Kancrnha o River

.A~

. = -·

7

In 1805-06, reports indicate that Jacob Jr. settled on the land his father had previously

purchased in 1801.. Susanna Zieger's account says the rest of the family came to Ohio in

1806.

"On foot, on horseback, in ox-carts, over Zane's Trail, and by flatboat and barge down the Ohio

River, came these home-seekers in large numbers; some bringing their families, others, more

prudent, coming ahead and entering as much land as they could afford, then going back East to

return later with wife and children." -~~~jfl$)

It is also reported in Susanna's story that she and Jacob Jr. came into the Ohio Territory

via flat-boat down the Ohio River. They probably landed somewhere east of Chillicothe,

traveled inland to Chillicothe; back up the Sciota Valley by covered wagon, found their

parcel of land, then lived in the wagon until their cabin was finished.; Circleville is only

about 20 miles north of Chillicothe. (The c~bin mentioned in Susanna's story is also

mentioned in the property settlement document when the town was formed in 1811 ). -- ----

(:Platef3)

I believe this was the scenario for the Zieger family because Jacob Zieger Sr. shows up

on Circleville, Ohio, Tax rolls in 1810. Probably six of his eight children were married

by this time. It would be interesting to trace the children's genealogies to find when and

how they came into the Ohio Territory between 1805 and 1810. Their names begin to show

up in local Ohio tax records of 1810. ~'f~)

When Ohio Government officials decided in 1810 to designate Circleville as the County

Seat, they appointed Daniel Dreisbach as Town Director. A Town Director acted for and

in behalf of the County Supervisors. Dreisbach was allotted $10,000 to purchase acreage

from the land owners for the establishment of the town of Circleville. They divided up the

property in lots of different sizes which were later sold to those individuals who wanted

a town residence or to merchants for business purposes.

There were Indian burial mounds on the property that Jacob Sr had purchased. They were

formed in a circle hence giving name to the town, Circleville. It is well documented that

Jacob Sr. donated fifty acres for the establishment ofthe town. Sam Watt, Jacob's son-in­

law, donated some also. Personally, I think Jacob Sr. owned all the land and parceled it

out to his family, (Sam Watt was married to Jacob's daughter, Judith). Perhaps Jacob Sr.

.......

PICKAWAY COUNTY, OIDO 1810 TAX LIST Auditor of State of Ohio PLATE 14

~se tax records were copied from the original ledgers found in the office of the Aumror or State of Ohio. Variations in :twriling and in the spdling of proper names are always to be found in these early records, making transcription very dif­!t and not uniformly accurate.. Readers are advised to search for the phonetic spelling of the surname in which be is in­steel. We assure you that what may appear to be a glaring error on our part is not a misspelled word·or a .. typo.'' The 1ries of early record-keeping are what requires genealogists to become first-class sleuths!-=- Ed. -J. T.D.]

Aadly 1?Simon Abrahams, Raehl Adamson, Isaac Aedges 1 !-lary Alkire, Isaac

" George " John " Michael " Robert

Anderson 1 Abraham " Bethuel .. •• " ••

James Jr. John Joseph JVilliam

Apple, Peter Argo 1 Alexander Armstrong, John Arnold, Andrew Aters, George Sr.

11 Jacob Aticheson, Phildon Bailey, B. lim.

n James Baker, Joseph Sr.

" Purnell 11 William

Barnabas, Lambert Barns, John Barr, Thomas Bartley, Christopher Baucher, Anthony Bell, James Bennett, William Berry, Alexander Berry, Jacob Bishop, Henry Bobst, George Bogard, Ezekiel

" George " Joshua

Boger & John Shoemaker Boggs, David

" John Sr. " John Jr. " Sera

Boots, Martin

~cKA WAY QUARTERLY. FALL 1981

Bowman & Regent Bowman & Reger Bradshaw, Robert Briner, Andrew Brinker, George Brown, Coonrad Brundidge, Thomas

. Burns, John Buskirk, John Jr. Buskirk, Peter Cade, Isaac Campbell,_ William Carr, Robert Champ, William Chaney, James Chepman, John Cherry, Andrew Cherry, Phillip Col.e, Shadrick Colvin, Moses Cook, John Cook, Walker Coonrad, Adam Coonrad, Moots Coonrad, Woolery Sr. Cox, Benjamin Crab, Edward Crabb, Jeremiah

" Ral.ph " Thomas

·Craig,· Jonathan Craig, William Creaton, Hugh Crist, Abraham Crow, Thomas Cumley, John Davidson, Edward Davis, Enos

n James n Jared fl Jesse

Decker, Luke Demand, Isaac Denny, David

11 James " John

Qenny, Samuel. Denny, William Donaldson, Moses Dornport, S. Anthony Drisback, Daniel.

n Henry " John

Drum, John Drury, William Duncan, Benjamin Dunkle, George Dunkle, John Ealey, John Edward, Samuel Emitt, John Emmerson, Thomas Sr. Endsworth, Andrew Evans, Caleb Ewing, William Fauver, Phillip Fitzjarrald, Edward Fleming, John Fogeler, Christian Foraizer, James Foregeson, Mathew Forsman, Hugh Fowler, Samuel Fraizer, James Frane, Nathen Frayser, Al.exander Friback & Loveborrow Funk, Jacob Gaskins, Caleb G·auger, Nicholas Gay, John Sr. Gay, John Jr. Gay, William Geager, Jacob Geazer, ·Jacob Gehn, John Gibson, George Gilliland, Samuel Sr. Glaze, George Glaze, Thomas Green, Jacob Greham, Jared

Page19

i l

' j

i

l I

;1·.1 I . I . i '

1310 Tax Ll5l Coat.

Hadley, Simon Hager, John Hagerman, Abraham Hall, Anthony Hall, Joseph Ilaller, Henry Harber, John Harssey, Stephen Haver, Jacob Hayes, Levi Hedges, Mary Hefner, Abraham Helm & Saylor Hemphill, Johnston Herman, John Hill, Samuel Hittler, George Hobbs, Joshua Holderman, Christopher Hopkins, Samuel Hopkins, William Hornback, George

" Isaac " John " Simon

Hosteter, Henry Huffhines, Joseph Huffman, Joseph Hugh, Jacob Hurberd, John Huston, Henry James, Benjamin Jamison, George Jamison, Jacob Jones, Isaac Jones, Purmele Justice, Aquiller

~Keffer, Valentine Kelley, James Kelly, Joseph Kent, Jesse Kepner, Benjamin Kerne, A. Killwell, Alex. King, William Kline, Coonrad Knowles, Epharn Kriffeth, John Kulbeson, Davis

Lambert, Barnabas Lambert, Isaac Lane, Joseph Lewis, Tilman-List·, Andrew .sr. Litter, Elisha Long, James Long, Peter Loveborrow & Friback Loveborrow, _John W. Lowther, George Lowther, Uriah Ludwig, Daniel Lutz, Jacob Lutz, John Lytle, Andrew McCollister, John McCutcheon, John McFadin,· John McFarlen, Jesse McFarlen, John F. McHenry, Isaac McKenny, John McKune, Joseph McNeal, Elison McNeal, John McNeal, Thomas Madden, Jonathan Mann, John Mantle, John Markle, w. Marquis, William Martin, James Martin, John Mathias, Henry Mauser, Peter May, John Mayer, William Meek, Bayel Menery, Hugh l1iller, Nicholas ? Miller, Nicholas Miller, Peter Miller, West Miller, William Mills, Prichard Mitts, John Moar, Fergus Moats, Philip Monnett, Anna

Monnett, William Morehead, Samuel Morris, Benjamin

" Ezekiel .. " II

II

If

"

Jane Jesse John Joseph Sr. Richard Richard Sr.

" Samuel 1'1orris & \vaddle ~1yers, William Nebeker, Lucas J. Neville, Henry Neville & Rush Newhouse, Isaac Nice, Jacob Oxford, John Pancost, Isaiah Penneger, John Petty, Ebenezer

" Joseph " Joseph Jr.

Phebus, George Phebus, Samuel Philips, James Pontious, George Powel, Abel Prewith, Byrd Pritchard, Edward Propst, Leonard Puntious, Benjamin

11 Coonrad " George Jr.

George Sr. Ratleph, Benjamin Ray, George Rawls, John Rector, Ed\vard Rector, Josiah Reed, George Reed, John Reed, Nehemiah Reeder, Henry Regent & Bowman Reger & Bo111.'Inan Reger, John Renick, John

PICKAWAYQUARTERLY,FAI.L 1981

I

I

• Jj) Ta.~IJ.'It ('ont.

Renick, Jonathan tl s_

Thomas Richelderfer,

Christian Richelderfer,Henry

" John u .John,Sr

John,Jr Right, John Roads, George Robeson, John

" ttoolsey Rodgers, William Roist, ~Hlliam Rolan~, Michael Rol.ans, ~athan Rush, Henry

" !ienry ,sr " John &

i<eville .. Iiilliam SamPle, John Sayior, Elizabeth Saylct i. Holm Sc.:;tt, John

" }ioses Seals, J.:1mes Sears, Samuel ~:(;,_:ds , Robert £-..:yt:torc, hrillL:nn Sharp, Jo!1n Sl:.a\-l, Hugh

" John s:-:e:lby, D..tvid ~:hel t:on, Clough .S~•:::;ard, Jvhn

John,Jr Shoc:::~~:er, Jacob

" John .. Short,

John & Boger James

PLATE 14

Shoup, Jacob ____ ------·-vanmeeter, Isaac Smith, Clay Waddle, James

" Jeremiah " & Morris " Samuel Waggoner, Jacob u Philip _Walker, William

Snodgrass, Sara· Ward, William Snyder, Isaac · Warner, Isaac~ Spangler, George Watt, Samuel

11 Jacob weastler, Henry Steen, John Weaver, Anthony Stingley, Jacob,Sr. " Michael Straus, David West, George Strear, Adam Whitsel, Daniel Stump, Jacob Nickson, Barbara

" William Wiedner, Jacob Sullivan, Aaron Wilker, William Tallman, William Will, George Tanner, Coatmy Willets, Isaac

" Peter 11 Samuel Taylor, George " William Teuebaugh,< John Williams, Edward

*Thomas, David · " John " John Williamson, ~im. " Mary t'iillum, Samuel " Sam ~7ilson, Jame:1

Thompson, John " Joseph " Thomas " Robert

Tiffin, Henry " Samuel Timmons, John Wilton, Uri Tiner & Valentine Witobah~ George Tipton, Thomas Witterunyer, John Todd, John,Jr Wolf, Philip

" John,Sr Woodraugh,?John " Samuel ,Jr Woods, Samuel, " Samuel ,Sr ~1oof, Hanna

Trullinger, Daniel Woolery, Sara Valentine, 1

7- Yates, David

" Henry ~' Zeager, Fred· k V " John ~ ., Jacob ,Jr tf/ '" & Tiner " Jacob,Sr ~

Vance , l;eorge .. Phi lip ~ *Thomas, Jeremiah ( Zimmer, George ~

Pic~away County was formed in 1810 from parts of Fairfield, Franklin and Ross Counties. The county seat is at Circle­viii~·- The town was so named because of a large Indian mo~:-10 . .:;.n t..lte center of the city. The first permanent settle­ment ~n the _county was made in 1796. Settlers as early as 1900 \vere: Jonathan Renick, Abrallam Shanton and David Denny.

PICKA II :4 Y QUARTERLY, FALL 1981 Page2l

---------------------~~~~-------~------

8

deeded the land to them later in life, or eventually sold it to them.. Further investigation

into land records may clear that up. According to his Will he only owned 36 acres at the

time of his death. "Jacob Zieger Sr., emigrated from Pennsylvania (near Berlin) to this vicinity, about the year

1805, and located section nineteen ... the identical tract ofland now partially occupied by the

city of Circleville". (Lists children)" These sons and daughters occupied different positions

of the land and cleared and improved it"

"Jacob Zieger, Sr donated, to the 'director of the town', a considerable portion ofthe

land on which the city is located, for public purposes. He caused the court of common

pleas of Pickaway County to pass an order to the director of the town (at their

session, held in the second story of his son Jacob's house in Circleville), which reads

a follows: August 1811

"Ordered, that the director reserve all the southeast bank, or fortification( elevation of the

square on the circle for County uses, and sell no lots including the same. And, further ordered

that he reserve lots number 115-116 for the use of the Lutheran and Calvinistic German congregation for a church and burial."

These lots are the ones on which the Trinity Lutheran Church now stands. 5

As you can see, Jacob stipulated that the Indian mounds be preserved, and as the

Courthouse was to sit in the center of the circle surrounded by the mounds, they would be

preserved as an Historical Site for the townspeople to treasure. As it turned out, this was

not the case. (Piit6~~~~~~~'')

In 1810 the Ohio state legislature was trying to decide on a place to build a Pickaway

County courthouse. They settled on the Township of Circleville possibly because ofthe

ancient mounds that were there which distinguished it from other surrounding townships.

The legislature picked Daniel Dreisbach as the director of the town, a very prominent

position at that time. He was allotted 10,000 dollars to purchase property from the land

owners on which to build a town and a location for the Pickaway County Courthouse.

~''-Xli)

5History ofFranklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio Pg 228 (see court records for 1810 and '11, page 120)

--------------------~~~------

But since the founder> ,_.f the county !.tad not the far-r----~­sighted liberality to do this, the next hcsl thing they could ha\·e done was the very thin~ tht.·y did, viz. . .- to locate their C()unty scat <lO the site~ ~of these ancient works-placing llwit· <~ourt house in the t·cntrc ·of the . c-ircle-making the· lineS; ,,( rhe tw.o prinripal street.q ~. <)f

the city cr<>ss c~ch other af this pdint, -_a:; tht)SC nf -Pl!nn .. sylvania and ~J:iryl:t\l<l :nt.-nues do. ·at the_: t~apit~l. in_ · . lVashingtoni dh·iding tht~ four quadrant~ thns._fc)ffllt.~d ~1y two othc~· str~•:.tfi err)ssing ead1 otlwr at right :ingk~ · in­:the_ same. way, but ext~·ndirtg no further. th:tri the: Hrrtits

··of the circle~-'~··:t.nd HnnHy laying out tw() drrular streets around tJle~ (""OUrl· };.lU.5{!-t Wltbin the SaUlt" 1iJllft•i, l)ttt leav·

·. .. . . . . -

.· . tng ~U the ~f:~t. ()f fh,_- fi)w:n to he l:l!rl out in regul:u ·~ ~; :squares. :like mo.st. othc~: \\·t.~terri ririe~.~ · ~ .

· . ·1'hi!;, i( the· t::t~J·;.\\·nrks thc.•n•sch·t.."S .,.t•tt' to he:- oblitcr· ~ ated,_'wa~ f'ertnint, .. a gr~·trf'iul.,nd allngcrhcr approprintt: • · ·way of j>erpcfut,ting· a \·!-;ihlc: mern~>rial c,f them. · Hut,

strange·· to srt)"<; :1 ithhn¢h this plan was ad<tpH.-d antf t:lrrietl ·oiJtt ~l the t?irt':lt" IJnilt up in an nrdanrc \\~lh it,_ :lft~t;

. ~he t~ity h:ld ttttnit.u.stl tt.i; h'"l~tny·st:·,·cnth yt•:tr :1nd n· popt1- ~ bition of over two thon!;:tnd ~ou"ls. thi· c-itil••n..; Wt.!rt• per.' SUtlded. to tlhtln .tlll~ W(~JT\.:, ~hl" ohlitCf,Ht' the ( irdc ,~nn~

· !ttrta~tcd hy the ftr:-st·huiltlcr~.of t_h~ t·ity, a~ tit('-lattt:r had. · ~ obliteratt·d· tht•:drrl~·(:c)n~:trlic'~ed hy tht· )1 nund Huil• lt.\rs. · ~ T~ff historj· ·.of the .'' sc1uaring flt the drdc u (that feat­

~ · hitherto -.rt'jj:trdt•d n~ irittJ'ii~~rblc itt gcnnv·tt~ty),_ \~ith the : :_ ... :-.-~tiet~lod tlf ··it~ art~tJiupli:"ttH~tent and the n·it"nns for it~ ,·if".

·. :-::· .·_ . afiy·C;'ln-. he fnund~ will h~ n ... lat~d further on. · Htit \\~c· ~ ~ ,:·:.· ·, ltave deetned it prnpc.·r tn rt·bt..~ thi~ uuwh at the._intBCt;: · ·· · ~~~ -·_by way !)f t~xplaiuinl{ wl~r tht.· namt.• c ·ir• ·lt~Yilk. was· given · · ·. • ~ to ~his beautiful :tnd hi-=r<•:ic tnnt ih s~1y prt·-hishuic) :C:ity~· ·';

.. ' ··-

. ~ .: 'the· first hrit·k hou ... t• cn·t~t'd·· ih--thc~. ("it)· c~f: t~i~~~l¢\·.in~;' -~ that now DtTUpit:d by ~ l [:ttshi(~: ll\ttthk- .,\"f~fJ(S. then·:'

- .. ! ~ .. 4"\. .... 4 ... f ............ 1, •• ;1.1~.-..... l\;f~. ·~~ ..... ~ •• ~ ., .. ~;";..,·. -~~-::-.¥1'"" .... :; .• <.;.;.....:.-.: ... .... ·:

7 PLATE 15A

These lots are the ones on which the Trinity Lutheran Church now stand.

Part of the property for the town covered an area_occupied by old Indian mounds, the

grave sites of their dead. The mounds were built in a circle and the town fathers took

the circle as a model for their town, hence Circleville. The diagram below is a birds

eye-view of the layout ofthetown ~riorto its change 1838.

ttp:llwww.pickaway.co.mlhlstory.btml

History of Circleville

Left. Cin:levile, Ohio as it appeared in the year 1836. Original daawillg by .... G.F. WiUich. 01919 Eclward Wittich .

9/6/201: ·-···---- ---- ---

Circleville was unique among early Amertcan towns, built to confonn to a drcular prehistnric earthworks. When Pickaway County was formed fn 1810 there were no exfstfng settlements that seemed suitable for a county seat. lherefore, a new town was laJd out wlthfn the ancient's •cin::le• on

. the high bank east of the Scioto River. It's streets radiated from an od:Zigonal courthouse In the center of the drde. Two communitieS exish!d near Ordevllle prior to D:s being laid out as the county seat..wre.son and Livingston ceased to exist several years after Ordevllle was designated the seat of government In 1811. When the OhiO canaa reached an::1ev111e, the shaped the town wl:hfn the dn:le proved to be a hindrance, and in 1838 a group d enterprising businessmen began to '"square the drde'". OVer the next 20 years the job was accomplished and all traces of the ancient earthworks disappeared.

.~ '_' ~ Ibtorv of t•ranklin & Pickawav Counties. Ohio: Circleville Pa{!'

I Dreisbach purchased, as the records show~ three tracts and II

II one or two :tractions ot acres. 1 he tirst tract contained one ,.,, hundred and three-fourths acres, fifty of which Zeiger donated, the other fifty being bought at etght doilars per ~-acre. For the three-fourths acre the price was twenty rioiiars per acre, With a IU.rttler consi<teration, m payment · for the improvements, consisting of the cabin, etc., to be decided upon by referees. The second tract, purchased of Valentine Keffer, contained seventy-one acres, seventy­eight poles, and was bought for two hundred and eighty­six dollars. The third tract contained twenty-nine acres and was bought for one hundred and sixteen dollars. The whole two hundred acres cost but between eight and nine hundred dollars, many time le~s than single lots have since sold for.

Dreisbach proceeded at once to survey and lay out the town according to the directions and by the day appointed for the sale had all complete. We have been able to find no one who could give definite information in regard to the first sale, b!lt we judge from what we have learned that it was a memorable event and celebrated with a grand barbecue, with whole ox roasts, etc. We have been told that a large number of persons from the west side of the river joined in the manufacture of an immense cheese for the occasion, weighing several hundred pounds, and drawn to the barbecue on a large sled. There seems to have been quite a spirited competition for the honor of building the ftrst house in the new town. No sales were made before the second Monday of September, and of course no one had a right to occupy any of the ground before that time. Among others determined to build the ftrst house was John Ludwig, who then lived on what is now known as the Rudy fulJll. He had his lumber all prepared before the, sale day, and the logs hewn and fitted ready for framing, and all loaded on wagons and ready to start into town, as

- PLATE 16

http://www .genealogybu~.net/FrankPic/ circleville.htm 1 0/2R/'20 1 i

--------------------~--------·---~~--

1880 History ofFranklin & Pickaway Counties, Ohio; Circleville Page 2 of3

soon as his purchase should be announced. Laborers were ready and stone for the foundation was in waiting with David Leist, as mason, prepared to lay them. What the result of so much preparation was, or whether he got his house up first we have not learned, but it is certain that the sun had not gone down on the day of the sale when several habitations had been reared, in a temporary and hasty manner, of course. On the first sale day Dreisbach disposed of twenty-nine lots, and on the next day eleven. The houses were rapidly pushed to completion, and by winter about forty families had taken up their residence in the new town. Dreisbach's first report to the county commissioner, in which he gives an account of his stew [ ard]ships read as follows:

·,_

"Daniel Dreisbach, director, made report of his proceedings, which was sanctioned by the court and ordered to be recorded verbatim, viz.: and that the plat returned of town be recorded in the recorder's office.

Proceeds of sales of lots in the town of Circleville, public and private sales from the tenth to the twelfth of September,-1810:

To 29 · lots sold frrst day's sale $2,276 30 11 " second " 611 00 17 " private sales 762 50

Sale of timber on streets and alleys 44 50 Total amounts $3,694 50

Valuation of Jacob a'egar's improvement, appraised by Charles Bodkin and Aquilla Justice, duly sworn and both parties chosen:

The house appraised to Six and three-fourths acres of at $6 per

cleared land acre Well of water and other

improvements

http://www.genealogybug.net/FrankPic/circleville.htm

$275 00

4000 15 00

10/28/2011

...... - 1~~0 History of Franklin & Pickaway Counties, Ohio; Circleville Page 3 of3

$330 00

Which sum is to be paid to the said Jacob, on or before the first day -of May n~ 1811, or he, the said .Jamb, will take 1he house back at the valuation, and purchase the lot on which the house is erected.

~ an:tu; •• ewe• 11

··:.· ..

~ : -·;. . . . ~: .

THE zetGeR..WILUAMSON HOOS:: S'-OO:IT"!.. Y aEFORE IT WAS RAZED. IT SERVED AS THE FIRST COURT­HOUSE IN CIRCLEVILLE. THE FIRST !..!~~-;:c LODGE IN CI~CLEVIL~ ~!F.T IN T:-iE SECOND FLOOR LODGE ROOM. ---------

http://www.genealogybug.net/FrankPic/circleville.htm 1 ()J'l 0 ,,.., " .......

PICKAWAY QUJIIIJ'ERIY

SUMMER -1984

.: . -~ . -

9

The Zieger property referred to was under the stewardship (or ownership) of Jacob Zieger

Jr. The cabin and spring are mentioned in Susanna Shoemaker's story. The new house

referred to, east of the cabin, had an unfinished upstairs and was used as a Courtroom,

Masonic Hall, and general meeting place while the Octagon shaped courthouse was being

built in the center of the circle. I don't know when the house was razed; probably around

1840 while the town was being 'squared'. ~;:t9)

Jacob Zieger was always a strong Churchman; like most early Americans of German

heritage, he was affiliated with the Lu,therans. His sons followed suit. They are mentioned

in documents related to the organization of new congregations. The early sermons were

mostly in German ; later in the century there were more in English. In the early days of

the history of the Lutheran Church in Circleville, you will find the names of families that

were active in the Lutheran Church; The underlined names are all sons and sons-in-law

of Jacob Ziegler Sr.~ll) Valentine Keffer, son-in-law, is also mentioned.

It would seem that the Zieger family prospered over the years; all but two of his children

remained in Circleville to live out their lives. Jacob died in 1826 and is buried in Forest

Cemetery in Circleville, Ohio. I have transcribed his Will from another transcription so

it is third-handed. I have enclosed a photocopy of the original Will. When you try to read

the original, you will see why I trusted another's transcription. Oddly, whoever

transcribed it read the handwritten "Z"s for "Y"s resulting in Yeager instead of Zeager.

In my transcription I corrected that and also added some punctuation.~f-'f~·l9A)

In 1990-91 (?), Dad and I flew to Columbus, Ohio, rented a car and drove about 60 miles

due south to Circleville, Ohio. I was looking for the final resting place of my Great

Grandmother, Sarah Ann Cronk (Crank, Cronkite). I wanted to find a gravestone for her

and if there wasn't one I wanted to provide one. She was born in 1822 in Virginia (as

noted in the 1850 Ohio Federal Census): In 1848 she married my Gr-Grandfather, Phillip

Zieger, (the 3rct son of Jacob Zieger Sr. ), born, 1778. She was 28 years old, he was 72.

On October 9, 1849, a child was born to them, Mary Phillipanna Zieger. Almost exactly

one year later, October 18, 1850, Phillip died, leaving Sarah with a big farm to manage and

a 1 year old baby. Her's is a tragic story which I, or Chris, will tell at a later time. Mary

Phillipanna was my Grandmother who, in 1868 married Daniel Rudy. That is how the

Zieger's tie in with the Rudy side of the family. The Rudy's came into Circleville a little

later than the Zieger's.

1880 History of Franklin & Pickaway Counties, Ohio; Circleville Page 1 of 1

PLATE17.

"The lands upon which the fortifications stood -ueiOIIgeo to-- ---- ----------­

the heirs of Jacob Zeiger: Jacob Zeiger, jr., and Samuel Watt, the circular fort being the property of the former. He at that time resided in a log cabin which stood about where the canal ~&is, and just opposite the site of Ruggles' slaughter house, there being one of the best springs in the country at the foot of the rise upon which his cabin stood. He at this time had' partly completed a new residence a little east of his cabin. This new residence is still standing, and is known as the Williamson house, on the comer of Scioto and North High streets. His wife, who

*For all of the documents, for nearly all of the facts, and largely for the phraseology of this article, we are indebted to the Circleville Union-Herald of August 2, 1878.

**Mr. Dreisbach held the office of director until his death, in 1850. One or two others were subsequently appointed by the court, but, there being no further need of such an officer, the office has not become obsolete.

179

also signed the deed, became Mrs. Shoemaker, having, after the death of Mr. Zeiger, married Judge Shoemaker, one of the justices who frrst held court in the county. (At the time this was written she was ninety-five years old and in possesion of all her faculties. When the editor of the Union-Herald called upon her a few days before, he found her reading a book. Unfortunately the last few years had dimmed her recollection of those early days, and she was able to give comparatively little information. She died in January, 1879,)

http://www .genealogybug.net/FrankPic/circleville.htm 10/28/2013

OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS- Pickaway County, Ohio- Ifistory Page 1 of2

The early history of the Lutheran church in this place is involved in much PLATE l8 obscurity. A division occurred in 1859~ resulting from differences in theological opinion, since which time there have been two separate ___ _ congregations,. each claiming to be the rightful successor of the original ----- ----organi7.atioa We have received, from represen.tatives of both congregations, historical sk~ from which we condense the following brief history of the church, down to the time of the ~on._ . .

Among the heads of fmnilies attached to the Lutheran church, who emigrated, principally from Pennsylvania, and settled in Circleville and its immediate vicinity, early in the present centmy, are recorded the following: ~~b Zi@Kers sr..!2.. George Zbnmer,_Sa.muel Watt, Philip Zieger, Jaeo~ -~' Jr~ ~JY9~r!~. ~r, .lo~ y~e, Peter Apple, Valentine Keffer~ Peter Trees, Heinrich Trees, WilliaiD Moyer, Peter Herbster, Heimidt Ely, "Old Father Try," ADthony Weaver, John Weaver, John Row ~-E~sr.,andothers. _ _ ·-- --·------~- ______ _

In the year 1811, the Evangelical Luteran synod of Pennsylvania delegated the Rev. Jacob Leist to go to Ohio and Organize congregations. He preached his first sermon here on the 28th of August, 1811. As this was less than a year aftertbe town was laid out, it must have been one of the first sermons (tf not the very fust) preached in the place. For a long time he held services once in four weeks. All the members being familiar with German, the services. were held exclusively that language for several years. There was no church building in town, and the meetings were held in such places as could be obtained. After the court house was built in the old circle, this denomination, as well as others, used it for their meetings. It is claimed that the Rev. Mr. Leist organized a church in due form; an~ judging from the amount of material which he found here at the time, as well as from the nature of his mission, nothing can be more probable. And yet, if such an organization was effected, two things are very remarlcable: ~-that no scrap of record can be found to testify ofits existence; and second, that it should, by common consent, have been entirely ignored in the forming of a new organization to take its pi~. some twenty years later. However this mystery is to be expEed, it is certain that records, apparently authentic, exist, which show that, May, 1831, a congregation, talciJ?g the_ name of "the English Evangelical utberan Church," was organized, with the Rev. N. B. Little as pastor. Of the meeting at which this organization was effected, Mr. George Wddbalm was chosen president, and Jolm Marfield secrebny. Following are the names of the gentlemen present and taking part in the meeting: George P. Kephart, Hemy Try, George Hamme), Adam Pontious, Robert Hays, James Carlisle, Gershom M. P~ters, Moses Dawley, Michael Pontious, Joseph Landes, Daniel Funk, Michael May, John Valentine, Henry Triece, Samuel Wa!!t U. P. Kerr, Philip Zieger, John Groce, WiDialm B. Thrall, Valentine Ketler, Dr. William N. Lenker, Jolm A. Wom James K ~ and John Lu ·

The three lasf named having been appointed a committee to examine the credentials of the Rev. Mr. Little made a favorable report, and he was thereupon chosen as their pastor. At the same meeting, or one held very soon after, a committee was also appointed to confer with the Rev. Mr. Leist, who, quite advanced in years, was still residing in the vicinity. The object of the conference with Mr. Leist does not very definitely appear. It is evident,

http://www.ohiogenealogyexpress.com/pickawav/pickawavco bistorv circleville churche... 6/22/20 I I

OIDO GENEALOGY EXPRESS - Pickaway County, Ohio- History

however, that he gave at least a tacit assent to the organization, and thenceforth the venerable missionary drops out of view.

The Rev. Mr. Little continued in charge about two years and a half, when he resigned; and, on the 23d of February, 1834, the congregation gave a call to the Rev. J. A. Roof, who labored for them acceptably twenty-one years, preaching partly in German and partly in English, when he resigned and moved to Iowa.

In the fall of 1831, soon after Mr. Little commenced his ministrations, steps were taken to build a church; the sum of two thousand three hundred and thirty­seven dollars being raised for that purpose by subscription, part of which was paid in money, and part in materials or work on the building. The south half of the "area on Bastile avenue" was obtained as a site, and the comer stone was laid in the spring of 1832. The building contained a basement and audience room, the dimensions being sixty-five feet in length and forty-five in width. The basement was occupied till 1839, in which year the audience room was completed.

After the resignation of Mr. Roof, there was a vacancy of about two years in the pastorate, when the Rev. Joel Swartz, of Shenandoah county, Va., accepted a call in the latter part of March, 1857. He also preached in German and English. It was during the administration ofMr. Swartz that the church was permanently divided. We should have no heart, even if we had time and space, to write the history of the painful theological controversy which culminated in this unhappy division, nor of the still more painful lawsuit by which the party that felt themselves compelled to withdraw from the church, sought to regain possession of the property. Suffice it to say that, at the annual meeting which was held on the 7th of March, 1859, the party corresponding to what is known as "old school," or "high church," in other religious bodies, retired, leaving the "new-school," or "low church" party, with Mr. Swartz at their head, (whom they retained for another year) in possession of the church. Each party elected officers, claiming· to ·continue the original organization. The so-called old Lutherans brought suit against the so-called new Lutherans, for the possession of the church property, both parties claiming their right to it

The decision of the court of common pleas, in which the case was tried, was in favor of the so-called old Lutherans. The case, however, was appealed to the district court, which (in effect, at least) reversed the decision of the court below. The old Lutherans could have brought suit by another form of action, but concluded not to do so. They were served for a time by neighboring ministers, and remained in the Ohio synod. Mr. Swartz and his congregation connected themselves with the Miami synod. Thus two congregations existed. The party that adhered to Mr. Swartz

Page2of2

h+ho.•//uru.n.u nhinaP.nPstloovexnreSS.COm/DiC.kaWay/pickawayCO _history_ circleville Churche... 6/22/2011

PLATE 19

Will of Jacob Zieger

uln the name of God, I Jacob Zeager Senior, ofPickaway County and the state of

Ohio, being in good health and body and of sound and disposing mind and

memory, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs which I have strength and

capacity so to do, make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby

revoking and making void all ~vious wills by me at anytime heretofore made,

and first and principally I commit my body to earth to be interred at the discretion

of executors hereinafter named. First, it is my will and I do order that my just

debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can

be after my decease.

Item, I give and devise unto my son, Jacob Zeager, his heirs and assigns, forever,

the following tracts or parcels of land, to wit, one tract beginning at·the point in the section line southeast comer ofV alentine Keffer's land, from thence running

with said Keffer's line north ninety-eight poles to a post in the south boundary line

of the town of Circleville, thence with the same S 71 Y2, E 43199 poles to a post;

thence by lots laid out by Jacob Zeager, S 18 112 poles to·a post in the section line,

and thence with the same west twelve and half post to the place of beginning. The

other piece beginning at a post in the section line south west corner of Samuel

Watt's land from thence nmning with the section line, west fifty-seven and half

poles to a post, thence by lots laid out by Jacob Zeager. Nl8 ~ E 81 poles to a post

in the south boundary line, of the town of Circleville. Thence with the same S 71

!12 E33 poles to the place of beginning, continuing together 36 acres and 33 poles

of land and situated in the county ofPickaway, the aforesaid known by being part

of section N, 19 township, Nl I range, N21 Worthingtons Survey to have and to

hold the said tracts or parcels of land with the apprentices to him the said Jacob

Zeager, his heirs and assigns forever; he or they paying therein the following sums

of money to wit: to ~ohn Barr the sum of fifty dollar;, to Jacob Shumaker the sum

of forty dollars; to John Ely, the sum of twenty-five dollars and to the

administrator of the estate of Aaron Sullivan, deceased, the sum of fifty dollars,

which sums of money I have borrowed from the said Barr, Shumaker Ely, and

----------~--------~- --------

Sullivan and have given them respectively my notes of hand, dated on or about the

fifth day of April anno Domini 1823. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter

Barbara, wife of George Zeamer, the sum of ten dollars which shall be in full for

her share or portion of my estate. Item, I do order and direct that my executors

named or the survivor of them, shall as soon as conveniently may be after my

decease, sell and dispose of all my personal and real estate of what kind or nature

so ever the same may be at a public sale, to such person or persons and for such

price or prices as may reasonably'gotten for the same, and for that purpose~ I do

hearby authorize and empower my said executors or the survivor of them to sign,

seal, execute and acknowledge all such deed or deeds of conveyance as may be

required and necessary for the granting and assuring the same to the purchaser or

purchasers thereof in fee simple, and the money arising from such sale shall be

considered as part of the rest and residue of my estate I give and bequeath the

same to and amongst my sons Jacob, Phillip and Frederick and to my daughters

Catherine, Judith, and Margaret and to my granddaughter, Margaret Metzger, the

daughter of George and Margaret Barbara Zeamer, share and share alike, except

that the share of my granddaughter, Margaret shall be ten dollars less than the

share of the others, which shall be paid to them or their legal representatives by

my executors within two years after my decease. And lastly, I nominate, constitute

and appoint my son Jacol> Zeager and my son-in-law, John Valentine, to be executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my

hand and seal this fourth day of December in the year of our lord, one thousand ,

eight hundred and twenty four.

Jacob Zeager. Proved 25 Mar 1826.

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10

I recall our trip from Columbus to Circleville; There were cloudy, drippy skies when we

arrived at the Forest Cemetery .. The ground was damp and smelled of wet leaves; it was

a typical autumn day in the mid-west. The cemetery office was closed so we drove around

randomly looking for a name. It was like

looking for a needle in a haystack. We found

a groundskeeper and asked him if he knew

where the Zieger plot was. He said he had

noticed it just that morning and directed us

straight to it. A very tall gravestone qmght my

eye with ZIEGER engraved across the bottom.

Over the last 163 years the circular face of the

stone had been completely obliterated by the

elements. I presume it to be Jacob Zieger's

original gravestone.

Another stone's inscription is reported to be

for Jacob which reads "w. Judia wid of John

Sowers" .. Findagrave.com, lists Judith Nass

and Judith Sowers with the same birth and

death dates, indicating that they are one and

the same person. I doubt that premiss.

There is much consternation about the two

Judith's. Judith( or Judia) Sowers maiden name

was Judith Hain who married John Sowers

prior to 1760, in Brownsville, PA. They had

two sons: John Sauer, b. Sept 1, 1760; and Michael, b. October 9, 1762. The same record

shows John Sr. to have died in the revolution. Another source states that "John Sauers was

killed in Battle of Long Island, Aug, 27, 1776" 6

Jacob had children being born during the revolution, obviously to Judith Nass. I think

Judith Hain Sowers married Jacob possibly after Judith Nass died: Ziegler children were

being born during the time that John Sowers was serving in the Army. Judith Sowers was

still married to John until he died in 1776.

6Egles notes and Queries, Vol 1, Pg 1 05

11

Also, I think the DAR (Daughter's_Qfthe American Revolution) recorded the tombstone

of Jacob "widow of John Sowers", and assumed that she was the mother of all of the

children. War information and 'wife and children' information was lumped together in the

DAR records.

A qualified assistant at the Family History Center in SLC suggested that the hiatus of births

for six years, between May 1778 and June 1784, was the period when Judith Nass may

have died and Jacob married Judith Sowers. Perhaps she is the mother of the last two

children, Frederick and Margaret. T4at is pure speculation but the genealogy assistant's

tip lead me to Maryland where I found more information on the family. Exactly what time

they moved into Maryland I do not know. There are lots of areas to pursue: land records,

Church records, etc. According to Census Records, My Gr-Grandfather was born in

Maryland in 1778 Also, according to ancestry.com, his sister Judith was also born in

Maryland in 1774)

For my money, I believe Judith Nass to be the first wife and mother of all, or most, of the

children. At any rate, the children have already been sealed to her and Jacob.

Due to the elements, the writing on the tombstones was almost invisible since they were

placed in the early 1800's. Someone, over the years, has obviously replaced Jacob

Ziegler's stone with a new one; it is clear and

easy to read and just gives the facts.

(Frontispiece) Wife information is missing

but the Revolutionary War marker is in plain

view. It's nice to know that there are people

who care enough to honor one of the

founders of their town.

By the way, the grave marker for Sarah Ann

Cronk that I was searching for was there, a

tiny stone in front of Phillip Zieger's

tombstone.