Minerd.com Biography of John Adam and Christiana (Wesco) Gaumer of Macungie, PA

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Johann 'Adam' Gaumer
(1790-1871)

The Gaumers' graves, in German, Solomon's United Church, Macungie

Johann "Adam" Gaumer was born on July 6, 1790 in Macungie Township, the son of Johann Heinrich and Anna Margaretha (Meitzler) Gaumer.

In about 1810, Adam was wedded to Christiana "Christine" Wesco (June 6, 1792-1863), daughter of Philip Wesco.

They produced 11 children -- among the known names were Joseph Gaumer, Liesetha "Lucetta" Treichler, Judith "Judy" Wenner, Benjamin Charles Gaumer, Carolina Fox Schneck, Anna Maria Jacobs, Jonas F. Gaumer and William Gaumer.

Rev. J. Yeager

Their farm homestead was along the Macungie and Trexlertown Road, a mile west of the borough. When it was finally sold out of the family, in 1899, the farm was described as bounded by properties of David Barner, Dr. Herbst, Alexander Singmaster, John Faust and Tilghman Schmoyer. It contained 80 acres and included a stone farm house "with stone kitchen, porch and frame summer house, a large bank barn, and other necessary outbuildings, all in good repair," said a classified advertisement placed in the Allentown Democrat. On another quarter-acre of the tract sat a frame dwelling house and outbuildings.

In 1824, their infant son Benjamin was baptized by their pastor, Rev. Benjamin German. At the time, German was serving as pastor of Lutheran congregations in Zionsville, Saucon and Western Salisbury. He is said to have been "a powerful Preacher, eloquent and fearless. He was a strict disciplinarian and a painstaking teacher."

Record of Christiana's death

When the federal census enumeration was made in 1850, John Adam was marked as a farmer, with their three youngest children in the household. Also under their roof in 1850 was 11-year-old Lucinda Stettler.

Sadly, Christiana passed away at the age of 70 years, 11 months and 20 days on May 26, 1863. Her funeral was led by Rev. Joshua Yeager, pastor of Solomon's Lutheran Church of Macungie. A notation of her funeral was written into the church record, and many years later, in 1941, published in a centennial anniversary booklet of the congregation.

A month later, John Adam filed a lawsuit against his Wesco in-laws, likely to receive her inheritance from the value of their real estate. A legal advertisement, in German, was published in Allentown's German-language newspaper, Der Lecha Caunty Patriot.

Adam died at the age of 81 years on Sept. 5, in 1871. His remains are in repose in Solomons United Church of Christ Cemetery in Macungie, with a grave marker inscribed in German. [Find-a-Grave]

As of 1912, the Wesco farm where Christiana had grown up was owned by W. Oscar Lichtenwainer.

Nearby Allentown, PA stereoview, 1870s. Library of Congress