EARLY BURKHOLDER FAMILY

Samuel Burkholder was born about 1800 and came at an early year to Wayne Co., Oh. He was joined about 1835 by other families from his home land, and was one of the men who came to Defiance Land Office in search of land to purchase from the U.S. Government. The land he purchased was located north of Ridgeville but after 1850, the land was included in Fulton County. He died some time before the 1850 census taker called upon the family. Samuel was survived by his wife, Mary Ann, who was born 1805 in Switzerland. The following known children were: John born in Switzerland in 1833; Samuel Jr. born Ohio 1836; Jacob born 1838; Christian born 1840; Moses born 1842; Peter born about 1843; Daniel born 1844; Catherine born 1846; Jonathan born 1848. In 1850 Jacob Burkholder worked for Jacob Binder, who was one of the early immigrants to German Twp. in Fulton Co. As the sons married and settled on farms, several were found in Ridgeville Twp. 1880; and there are many descendants living in Henry and Fulton Counties of Ohio in 1975.

Jacob Burkholder, son of Samuel and Mary Ann, married Susan Rupp, and had the following children: Catherine born 1860, married John Weichesser; Sarah A. born about 1863, married David Pollinger; Samuel Burkholder born 1865, married Elizabeth Cameron and died in Wauseon,

Oh.; Mary born 1868, married Benjamin Zimmerman; Joseph born 1870, married Lydia Miller; Elizabeth born 1872, married Henry Mull; John born 1873, married Lydia Bernath; Susan S. died young; Jacob Jr. born 1875, married Barbara Garbers; and Andrew Moses born about 1881, married Emma Bernath.

Moses Burkholder, born 1842 in Switzerland, is listed as age 42 in 1880 in Ridgeville Twp. Henry Co. and occupation was a farmer. He had a wife Magdalena age 47 in 1880, and children: Jonathan age 13, Christian age 12, Christina age 10. Benjamin Zimmerman and Mary Burkholder lived in Wauseon before their deaths. Mary was his second wife. They were the parents of Bertha Smith, Minnie Rowe, Vera called "Pete" who never married, and Merlin who died years ago unmarried in Dover Twp. Fulton Co., and Byrona who married Earl Wiseman.

Andrew M. Burkholder and Emma Bernath had the following children: Fanny married John Keller; Harold married Frances Owens and lives in Wauseon, 1975; Audrey married Morris Shelling; Alice married Virgil Long; Merlin married Charles Eldred; Oliver died young; Inez married and has children; Mary married Kenneth Wise and Otto Burkholder. Harold, Inez, Mary, and Otto are living 1975. In 1880 Daniel D. Burkholder also lived in Ridgeville Twp. He married Catherine Keifer and had children: Lydia born 1873; Simon born 1874; Emma born 1876; and John age 2, and the baby was Daniel Jr. age 6 mo. Jonathan Keifer, brother of Daniel's wife, is listed as born in France in 1862.

Peter Burkholder, son of Samuel and Mary Ann also lived in Ridgeville Twp. His wife was Barbara, and children were: Daniel born 1867, Mary born 1869, David born 1870, Caroline born 1872, Peter Jr. born 1874, Noah born 1875, and Elizabeth born 1878. Peter Burkholder's will is recorded in Vol. 14 page 3 Fulton Co. Probate Court, and named the following heirs: Katie A. Burkholder, Daniel A., David W., Peter C., Noah C., Amos, Mary Frey, Caroline Nofzinger, and Katie Kauffman.

This year 1975 marks the 140th year that the Burkholder families settled in northwestern Ohio. Many burials are in German Twp. and around Wauseon, Ohio. Many still reside in Henry County. Catherine Kline, born 1846 to Matthias Kline and Eleanor Markley, married David Cameron. Their daughter Elizabeth Cameron born 1868, died 1950. She married Samuel Burkholder born 1865, died on a farm near Wauseon in 1940. Their 9 children were: 1. Andrew Burkholder married Inez Barnes; 2. Ralph 1892-1958 married Helen Scott and had 8 children; 3. Ord Burkholder married Verna Peaton; 4. Susie Burkholder lives in Wauseon 1975, widow of Kenneth Lawrence; 5. Samuel Burkholder Jr. born 1900 married Wilma Croninger, 1 child Berneta; 6. Nelson Burkholder, living Wauseon, Oh., 1975 married Loal Mae Rozell; 7. Maurice married Alma Buchman; 8. Jacob married Hazel Durham; 9. Corwin married Wilma Myers and had 6 children, living 1975.

Submitted By Mrs. Vashti Seaman