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Johann Jacob 'John' Gaumer |
Johann Jacob "John" Gaumer was born on Aug. 3, 1783, in Macungie Township, Northampton (now Lehigh) County, PA, the son of Johannes "John" and Albertina Christina (Dean) Gaumer.
At the age of four weeks, on Aug. 31, 1783, he was baptized. His sponsors were Maria Desch and J.D. Gaumer, possibly his grandfather or uncle, both of whom went by the name "Johannes Dietrich Gaumer."
Johann Jacob migrated to southwestern Pennsylvania in about 1792 and established a residence in Southampton Township, Somerset County.
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Research notes about this branch compiled by Gilbert R. Gaumer, on file today in the Somerset (PA) Historical Center. |
In about 1813, when he would have been age 30, Johannes Jacob married 16-year-old Susannah Leydig (1797-1865), daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Greisner) Leydig of Southampton.
The couple produced these known children -- Daniel Gaumer, Peter Gaumer, Solomon Gaumer, Rachel Shultzman, Jonathan Gaumer, Sarah Wright, Richard Gaumer and Amy "Elizabeth" Hauger.
Circa 1831, the Gaumers pulled up stakes and relocated to a new home in Union Township, Knox County, OH, making a living as farmers.
Sadly, on April 30, 1833 -- at the age of 49, just a few years after their migration to Ohio -- Johann died in Union Township. He is buried in Workman Cemetery in Danville, Knox County. His grave marker still is legible today. [Find-a-Grave]
Susannah outlived her husband by more than three decades. On Oct. 22, 1840, she married again to German immigrant Joseph Adam Raybarger (1789- ? ).
When the federal census enumeration was made in 1850, Joseph and Susannah, and her youngest daughter Elizabeth, resided together in Union Township, Knox County. They lived just two houses away from her married son Solomon.
Federal census records for 1860 show her living in the household of her married daughter Amy "Elizabeth" Hauger in Union Township.
She passed into eternity in Knox County on Sept. 12, 1865, at the age of 68. Her remains are said to repose in Workman Cemetery.
Jacob is named in Myrtle Knepper Weniger’s book The Gaumer Family and Allied Lines.
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| Danville, Ohio, in the early 1900s |
~ Son Jonathan Gaumer ~
Son Jonathan Gaumer (1827- ? ) was born in April 1827 in Southampton, Somerset County, PA. He was but a boy of five when his father died.
On Feb. 24, 1862, when Jonathan was age 44, he reputedly married Sarah Ann Munger ( ? - ? ). Research by Gilbert R. Gaumer states that their wedding occurred in Jefferson County, IA.
This couple has not yet been located in federal census records.
It is possible that they were the parents of Julia A. Miller Cordray and William Gaumer.
Jonathan's name appears on a list of residents of Black Hawk Township, Jefferson County, who were eligible for service in the Civil War. At that time, he was listed as age 37 and living in the county seat of Fairfield.
Evidence suggests -- although not proven -- that Jonathan died on Sept. 17, 1891 in Decatur County, IA. A. Brockway fashioned the coffin box. Dr. D.R. Springsteen requested that the estate pay a $25.50 medical bill, spelling Jonathan's last name as "Gormer." J.E. Ownby charged the estate $2.50 for preparing medicines. B.F. Puckett asked reimbursement in the amoutn of $7.50 for nursing the patient and sundry expenses. Probate Court records show that he left behind household effects, about six bushels of corn in the crib, 13 chickens, a grindstone, double shovel, scythe, three hay forks, four joints of stovepipe, two-and-a-half acres of corn and two loads of stove wood.
Burial for Jonathan's remains was in Decatur City Cemetery. Etched on Jonathan's grave marker are the words "JONATHAN GORMER, Born in Cumberland Point. Jan. 15, 1826. Died Sep. 17, 1891." These discrepancies may suggest these are two different men. [Find-a-Grave]
Daughter Julia A. Gaumer (1862- ? ) was born in 1862 in Jefferson County. If so, Julia was twice married. Her first spouse was (?) Miller ( ? - ? ). Her home in 1891 was in Des Moines, Polk County, OH. Then in 1919, she is known to have made a home in Des Moines, IA. Then, at the age of 57 on Oct. 2, 1919, she wed 54-year-old laborer John Cordary ( ? - ? ), son of John A. and Marie (Berkhart) Cordary of Des Moines. District Judge Joseph E. Meyer officiated. On her second marriage license, Julia gave her mother's maiden name as "Sarah Nugent," and John indicated it was his third marriage.
Son William Gaumer (1865- ? ) was born in about 1865. At the age of 26, dwelled in Des Moines, Polk County, IA in 1891.
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~ Daughter Sarah (Gaumer) Wright ~
Daughter Sarah Gaumer (1828- ? ) was born in November 1828 in Southampton Township, Somerset County, PA.
She is said to have wedded William Wright ( ? - ? ).
Nothing more about her life is known.
~ Son Richard Gaumer ~
Son Richard Gaumer (1830-1848) was born on Aug. 6, 1830 in Southampton Township, Somerset County.
He did not reach adulthood and died at age 18 in 1848.
| Copyright © 2000, 2017-2019 Mark A. Miner |
| Carlton Greve graciously has furnished substantial material for this biography. |