Our knowledge of this period is limited and must be gathered from land records of the time and the still scantier family histories. Fortunately however, more facts have been preserved of the European side of the movement and upon these we must depend largely for what little we know of the immigration. It was at this time, it will be remembered, that the Swiss Mennonites were driven out of Switzerland and as late as 1709 sent to the galleys, and their Dutch brethren, in order to help them in their hour of distress, organized the Committee of Foreign Needs. This committee carried on an extensive correspondence during the next 50 years with the Mennonite ministers of the Palatinate relative to thecondition of the Swiss refugees, as well as the condition of the Palatinates, who desired to emigrate to Pennsylvania. (In 1710, committee granted 20,000 florins for that purpose). These letters have preserved in the archives of the Mennonite Church at Amsterdam, and almost the only source of information on this phase of Mennonite history (See Smith's Mennonite Immigration, Page 124).
Our first bit of information gleaned from this source is from a letter written in 1707 by one David Rutgers to the deacons of the Waterland and Flemish and Old Frisian churches of Amsterdam, asking the churches for a refund of a sum of money he had advanced to a certain *Wynand Bowman and his wife and three children for their voyage to Pennsylvania in that year. This Wynand Bowman is the same one, no doubt, whose name appears on the German membership list of 1708 with that of the Kolb brothers, who had arrived at Germantown the same year. It is likely, also, that he is the same person as the Wendel Bowman whose name appears on the Lancaster warrant of October 10, 1710. (See Smith's Menn. lmm., Page 125).
From the membership list of the Germantown (Pa.) church of 1708, which fortunately has been preserved, we learn that, exclusive of the Skippack congregation (which lay close by), the following names compose
the Mennonite contingent of the Germantown settlement by that time:
Pastor Jacob Godschalk
Bishop Willem Rittenhouse
Herman Carsdorp
Martin Kolb
Isaac van Sinteren
Conrad Johnson
Henry Kassel
and their wives
Herman Teyner
John Krey
Peter Connerts
Paul Klumpkes
Arnold Von Vossen
John Kolb
Jacob Kolb
John Nice
Hans Nice
John Lensen
Issac Jacobs
Hendrick Sellen
John Connerts
Peter Keyser
Wynanat Bowman
John Georges
Cornelius Claessen
Arnold Kuster
Mary Tuynen
Helena Krey
Gertrude Conner
Mary Von Vossen
Barbara Kolb
Ann Bowman
Margaret Huberts
Mary Sellen
Elizabeth Kuster
Margaret Tuysen
Altien Revenstock
Hermann Kuster
Christopher Zimmerman
Sarah von Sinteren
Civilia Connerts
Altien Tysen
Catherine Casselberry
Civilia von Vossen
(Smith's Menn. Imm., Page 96). It is believed that the above Ann Bowmans the wife of Wynant (Wendel) Bowman.
On October 10, 1710, a warrant was issued by the Board of Property the Surveyor-General of the Province for 10,000 acres on the "north-westerly side of a hill about 20 miles easterly from the Conestoga, near the head of Perquin Creek" for the following
persons--John Rudolf Bundely, Martin Kendig, Michael Oberholts and Wendel Bowman, "Switzers lately arrived in the Province." For these 10,000 acres the purchasers were to pay 500 pounds Pennsylvania money, or about 16 cents per acre; and, in addition, one shilling quit rent annually for every 100 acres, the principal to be paid in six annual installments. The actual settlement was not made, however, near the headwaters of the Pequea, but farther down the stream, and several miles south of the present City of Lancaster, near the Village of Willow Street. (This is about 60 miles west of Philadelphia). The presence of a Shawanese Indian village near the headwaters may have had something to do with the change in the location as originally planned. From a plot of the original tract, now found in the Department of Interior at Harrisburg, we learn that the land was surveyed October 23, 1710, but was not divided among the different settlers until April 27 of the following year. The actual survey and division was made for the following-Martin Kendig, Martin Milan,
Christian Herr, John Herr, Wendal Bowman, John Bundely, John Bachman, H. Carpenter, Jacob Miller and John Funk. It will be observed that the names of the surveyed plot are not identical with those on the warrant. In the survey are two names-H. Carpenter and John Bachman-which are not found in the warrant-, while sereval names in the latter do not appear at all in the former-Hans Graff and the two Oberholtzers,Martin and Michael.
Graff, Bowman and Carpenter had been in Germantown for several years and joined the Pequea colony from there. (Smith's Menn. Imm., Pages 152-155).
The unnaturalized were under many disadvantages which was at first not so apparent, and we find the Mennonites rather slow in becoming British subjects. As early as 1691, however, Henderich Casselberg and Clas Jansen, of Germantown, were naturalized. They were followed in 1698 by Hans Neus, Paul Engle and others. Petitions by others were sent to the General Assembly in 1706, and again in 1709. But it was not until Sept. 29, 1709, that the Mennonites as a body in and around Germantown were granted the rights of naturalization, and thus given equal civil rights with their English neighbors.
No Lancastrians seem to have been naturalized before 1729. The disadvantages under which the unnaturalized were placed is well stated in an entry which appears in the Minute Book of the Board of Property under the date of September 22, 1717, where Martin Kendig, Hans Heer and Hans Funk were mentioned regarding having applied to purchase land near Conestoga and the Pequea Creek for the accommodation of their friends and relatives. They became aware of being born aliens, that therefore their
children could not inherit, nor themselves convey to others the lands they purchased. The commissioners said it was their business to sell and dispose of the proprietor's lands to such as would buy it, yet at the same time they were willing to let them know of the above facts and advised them as how to come in contact with the Assembly with petitions for adjustments regarding their difficulties.
Petitions were sent in, but it must be remembered that it was just at this time that Governor Keith was alarmed at theincreasing German immigration, and it appears that no attention was paid to the petitioners. Keith was soon followed by Gordon, however,who was more liberal toward non-English; and it was during Governor Gordon's administration that the Mennonites of Lancaster County were permitted to become British Subjects and thereby acquire right to sell and bequeath their lands. British Subjects only had that privilege.
The bill of 1729 was the result of a petition sent in November 27, 1727, by Wendel Bowman, Martin Meiling and Benedick Hearsy, in behalf of themselves and others called "Menists", asking permission to bring in a bill "to enable them to hold lands and trade in the said Province," which was presented to the House, read, and ordered to lie on the table. The year 1727, however, was another year of heavy immigration, and so the petition was not immediately granted. It was discussed at various times during the following year, and finally on December 14, 1729, permission was given by the Assembly to draft such a bill; but not until after the Governor had made inquiry regarding the general character of the petitioners,. which was found satisfactory, and the bill accordingly passed. (Smith's Menn. Imm., Pages 368-388).
Wendel Baumann, as the name of this settler is properly written, when he took up his original tract of land, consisted of 530 acres, including the 6 per cent. for road allowance. **The tract forms part of the Present Village of Lampeter and consisted in 1886 of 3 farms and 8 town lots, etc. In 1717 he took up another piece of land of 300 acres plus 6 per cent. for road allowance, along Big Beaver Creek, about 3 miles southeast of his mansion farm. This second tract was divided into 2 farms which he sold in his lifetime to John and Casper Bauman. He sold, also in his lifetime, 250 acres of his mansion place, leaving at his decease 280 acres. Of this property a little over 72 acres remained in the hands of his descendants until Daniel Bowman and his wife, on the 30th of March, 1837, sold the same to Jacob Miller. (The above and the inventory following, by H. M. Bowman).
Wendal Baumann died in April, 1735. Letters of Administration for his estate were granted by the Registrar of Wills to Benjamin Baumann, dated September 6, 1735; bond given in 300(pounds); his bail are Jacob Baumann Martin Bear. An inventory was filed of his real and personal estate. Administrator's account is found on file. A true and compared copy of original inventory, as the same is on file in the Registrar's Office (Lancaster County), viz:
"A Inventory made the 7th day of April, 1735, for the Plantation of Wendel Bauman, deceased, and of all other goods
as followeth:
First the plantation with the land belonging to it
@ ......................... L200/0/0
To an olt Wagon .............ct L 6/0/0
To 3 Horses .............. ct L14,/16/0
To a Mear (Mare) ............ct L 4/5/0
To 3 Cows................... ct L 8/5/0
To 2 Steers................. ct L 5/7/0
To a Still...................ct L 6/13/0
To a Wasch Kettel........... ct L 3/0/0
To a Stellyard (Steelyard) ct L 1/6/0
To (?) a Sag Bock and a Sag (a Saw-horse, or
Sawing Jack, and a Saw)........ ct L 0/18/0
To all sorts of Piwder (Pewter).ct L 1/10/0
To Tiners (Tinners') Tools .....ct L 2/16/0
To severall sort of Woottes, Coppersmith Tools
(Wood's Coppersmith tools)
.. ct L 1/7/6
To 4 Hobs and 2 Shovels, 2 Grobinohss and 2 Axes
(4 Hoes and 2 Shovels, 2 Grubbing-hoes and
2 Axes), together .............. ct L 1/5/6
To a Ploue and Horse Cears (Plow and Horse
Gears (Gears meaning Harness)
..ct L 1/6/8
To Iroin Neif and a Hand Sake and an Olt Broad Ax
(Iron knife and a Handsaw and an Old Broad-ax).. ct L 0/9/4
To 3 Olt (?) Slges (?Sickles).... ct L 0/4/0
To Earthen Wear .............. ct L 0/9/8
To Beding ..................... ct L 7/8/0
To Linnen ................... ct L 2/3/6
To Clothing
................. ct L 3/17/4
To a Bibell................. . ct L 2/3/6
To severall sorts of Small Books .. ct L 2/3/6/
Whole Amount........................ L268/0/6
Theese man that vallueth these aboffe menshened goods (valued the above mentioned goods) was Uotrich Brackbiel and John Bouman.
Filed in the Registrar's Office, September 6, 1735".
(Note: In those non-prohibition days it appears, as the above list that a still was an item of necessity for the generation of that time).
None of the 3 Baumans connected with the settlement of the estate can be identified as sons of Wendel. His oldest known son, Christian (born August 13, 1724), was then only eleven years old. At a Mennonite conference of the entire Pennsylvania church, held in 1725, two of the five preachers present from Conestoga, as the Pequea settlement was then called, Martin Baer and Johannes Bauman, names that correspond respectively, with one of the bondsmen and one of the valuators of the estate. Ulrich Breckbiel, also is known to have been a preacher at that time.
Wendel was buried a little south of his old home in the Hans Tschantz graveyard, which is located south of Lampeter and about 8 miles southwest of the City of Lancaster, Pa. His grave has no tombstone. This dilapidated ancient burying ground, set aside by Preacher Tschantz from his farm releasing all personal claim thereto in 1740, was for the use of the neighbors. It lies between two Mennonite meeting houses called Willow Street (or Brick and Strasburg, where some of the descendants of the pioneers still worship. One of their ministers, Frank M. Herr, is a descendant of Hans Herr, the bishop of this settlement and after whom it is named. Some of the early settlers including Jacob Miller, Hans Mylin and the consort of Martin Mylin, are all interred here. The earliest grave with any record on its marker is L. G. 1741
In the foregoing paragraphs it was given that old Wendel, with wife and three children, came to America in the year 1707; of how money was advanced for their ship fares; and again located as members in the Germantown congregation the year after. If he was born in 1681, this would mean he was about 26 years of age at the time of his sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and about 54 years old when he died in 1735; his oldest known child being then 11 years old. Now what about those 3 children who left Europe with him? They now all would be over 28 years old. With historians stressing this Wendel to be the same and our ancestor, could it be possible that this first family was wiped out through death by one or other epidemic of a dreaded disease that often wrought havoc among the early settlers, or was this entirely a different Wendel but still an immigrant? It's also a known fact that many small children died on ship in those years of emigration. Another source of history says a *Wendel Bauman landed at Philadelphia in the year 1709. It is hoped that at some future date more light will be shed on this point of the question.
A German writer, Mueller, has described the Swiss Mennonites as they appeared in the hills and valley of their native land shortly before coming to America. They were a people stern by nature who ould endure hardship; they wore long, uncut beards and rough clothing, and heavy hobnailed shoes with iron heels; they were very zealous to serve God in prayer, in reading and otherwise; in all their ways they were as simple as lambs and doves; and their life in the Swiss mountains, apart from the villages and towns and with little intercourse with men, had made them blunt and rude in speech.
In the forties, following the death of Wendel Baumann in 1735, his sons, Christian, Peter and Jacob, moved from the Pequea settlement northeastward about 25 miles to the valley of Alleghany Creek, in what is now Berks County. Earlier settlement had been made in this direction by Hans Graff at Graff's Thal (now Groffdale) in 1717, by three Weber brothers at Weber's Thal (now Weaverland) in 1724, and by the Goods and Musselmans at Muddy Creek in 1737. The Goods of Waterloo County are of this line of settlers at Muddy Creek. Weaverland and the neighboring Village of Martindale are the original district of the Mennonite Webers and Martins so numerously represented in Waterloo.
Groffdale, Weaverland and Muddy Creek are, respectively, some 6, 12 and 18 miles northeast of the original Pequea colony. The Pequea settlers had gone so far west of the settled parts around Philadelphia that he three new settlements made towards the east and northeast were all in still unsettled territory. Muddy Creek, the last of the three, was a little south of the present Village of Bowmansville. This brought the settled frontier near to the Forest Hills along the northeast line of Lancaster County. The movement of the three Bowmann brothers in the forties carried the settled border across this line into Berks.
The pioneer of this movement into Berks was the youngest of the three brothers, Jacob. He was the Nimrod of the Pequea country, a great hunter and fisher. By this time the woods and streams in this neighborhood has been well hunted and fished.When Jacob Baumann was at Muddy Creek prospecting for a new location, an Indian offered to show him good hunting ground to the eastward on the upper eaches of the Muddy Creek. Baumann's friends at Muddy Creek advised strongly against this proposal. The Indian danger was then not yet at the pitch reached in the French and Indian War of 1754 to 1763, but the Indians were uneasy over the encroachment of the whites. In general, the earlier friendliness between the two races was at an end. But Baumann decided to make the venture.
The next morning he, with the Indian. started from the log cabin of one Good about a quarter of a mile south of the present Bowmansville. prospecting eastward up the valley of Muddy Creek. The next day they found a site that pleased Baumann. The Indian helped him to lay off 300 acres along the creek. At the same time he advised Baumann never to settle at any point where the water was running towards the sunset. In such laces, he said, there was no good luck; and the next day he would take him to a place where the water was running towards sunrise, and where there was plenty of fish, game and good luck. The Muddy and Alleghany Creeks in these parts are parallel streams, some miles apart, but running in opposite directions, the Muddy westward into into the Conestogo and Susquehanna, and the Alleghany eastward into the Schuylkill and Delaware.
Baumann the next day followed the Indian still eastward to the head the Muddy Creek valley, then northward, by the Indian path leading fri Sinking Spring to the Delaware, over a small range of hills into another valley called by the Indian Alleghean (Alleghany). A clear stream flowed through toward the sunrise. The lndian's home was on the north side of the valley near the path. They selected a location and built a cabin for Baumann about a mile and a half southwest of the Indian's home. The Indian invited Baumann to bring his wife and child, guaranteeing their safety.
Baumann's friends at Muddy Creek, Weaverland,and Groffdale were greatly surprised at his safe return. They helped him to move as far as Muddy Creek. From this point Baumann, with a few of the most necessary things, went forward alone. It was a month since he had departed from his Indian friend who was greatly pleased at his return. When Baumann told him of the trouble with his friends, who had halted with his goods at Muddy Creek, the other said, "Friend Jacob, go and tell your white friends to go home, and tell them also that ou have found a friend who is a friend indeed." The two completed the transportation of the goods. The friendship between them continued for life. Frequently in this virgin territory they shared the pleasure of fishing the hase. Jacob's removal occured about in *1747.
Christian and Peter Baumann had no friendly Indian connections, but as a result of their brother's favourable experience, Christian followed Jacob in *1748 and Peter some time after *1752 to the Alleghany valley. Peter settled somewhat west of Jacob and Christian a mile west of Peter. Christian's homestead is the one referred to in Eby's Waterloo History, Vol. 1, page 63, where it says he built, in 1749, a log dwelling that was quite sound for upwards of hundred years. It is situated two or three miles north of the Christian Bauman mill (1777) on Alleghany Creek. This mill is about four miles northeast of Bowmansville, which place, in turn, is a little north from the original Muddy Creek settlement. Jacob Baumann and the Indian had taken a round-about ourse on their prospecting tour from Muddy Creek to Christian Baumann's home, nearest of the three brothers in Alleghany valley. This was only some seven miles; but between them and the older settlement at Muddy Creek ran the Forest Hills. The four miles from Christian Baumann's mill to owmansville, passes directly across these hills.
Before the erection of the Waterloo and Preston mills the nearest grist for Waterloo settlers was thirty miles away, at Dundas. In the Alleghany valley the settlers, before they had a mill of their own, carried their grist on horse about the same distance to a mill on the Brandywine below Downingtown. Milling became almost a hereditary business among Christian Baumann's descendants. The Christian Baumann Mill was marked on a timber within "C.B.M. 1777.' His son Christian was 24 years old when this mill was built; he was a miller. *He died in 1807; the same initials, "C.B.M.", were carved on his tombstone, while old Christian's tombstone has 1790 and only the "C.B." *At first the older Christian had built a grist mill about a mile upstream, to the present Village of Allehangyville. Preacher Joseph Baumann (No.1757 a son of II. Christian, built, in 1801, a second mill about five miles east the other, before he moved to Ontario in 1816.
*(Wynand Bowman was the first of the Palatines to be helped by the Amsterdam Comm for Foreign Needs. -By Smith).
**Their settlement was Strasburg Twp., Chester Co., now West Lampeter Twp., Lancaster Co
Wendel Bauman and his wife, Maria Huber, resided in Berks Co., Pa., in the house built by his father in 1749. They are buried in the Alleghany Cemetery. Wendel was married a second time. On the one side of Wendel's own grave was buried the above mentioned Maria, his wife. On the other side, it is pre- sumed, lies his other wife, made mention of in his will. The inscription on this tombstone reads-E.D. 1843. This would mean that the "Stiefmutter" died in the year
following that of Wendel's death.
The following letter, written the day following the funeral, referring to the death and funeral of their aged father, III. Wendel, was sent by IV. Christian H. to his brother, IV. Joseph B. Bauman, in Waterloo Twp., Ont. The text of the letter is as follows:
Brecknock Township, Berks County, Pa.,
November 23, 1842.
Einen Herzfreundlichen Grusz und Wohlwunsch an alle meine Bruder, Schwestern und Schwaeger, in Canada, wie auch an mein onkel, Joseph Bauman (No. 1757), und sein Weib Maria, Gottes Gnade zuvor.
Der gegenstand, der mir in dieser zeit ursache giebt an euch zu schreiben ist dieser, dasz naemlich unser alter Vater Wendel Bauman aus diesser Zeit in die Ewigkeit gegangen ist, die naehren umstaende seiner krankheit, oder viel mehr seiner ablebens, sind
ehngefaehr diese: Man verspuerte diesem ganzen nachsammer eine zunehmente alters schwaeche an ihm. ohngefaehr um die mitte vom September fing sein othem an schlechter zu werden, der Appetit zum essen wurde schlechter, und die kraefte schienen zichmlich stark abzunehmen, um den 20 ten October vurde seine lage ziemlich bedenklich, er hatte naemlich sehr viel mehe mit seinem Wasser zu lassen, das mit etwas schmerzen wieder gut, nach dieser Zeit kante er ohrgefaehr 2 wochen auf und bekleidet war, nach verlauf von ein paar ochen, wurde dieses jedoch nieder, unde war abwechseind in seinem bett und auf seinem stuhl, die letzen zwey wochen schieri das Lebens lichtlein immer kleiner und schwaecher zu werden, er wierde vest bettligerich, in diesenzwey wochen war er mehrentheils in einem schlaf und schiummer, das essen war die einte woche sehr wenig, und die letzten 4 tage gar nichts, er klagte keine schmerzen und sein othem war sehr leight, aus genommen bey der geringsten bewegung war er sobald sehr schwer, bisz die paar letzten tage, da war er haerter und kurizer, bisz er endlich auf ietzten sonntag abend bey onnen untergang den Geist aufgab, sanft und stille schien scin Tod zu seyn. Gestern wuerde sein Leib, bey einer zahireichen Leichenbekeidung zur erde Bestattet, Wobey unser diener Samuel Guth eine schickliche anrede hielt, und unser diener Christian Gehman eine schickliche Abhandlung hicit ueber die worte offenbarung Johannes Cap. 2 der letzte theil des 10ten verses. Leichen Lied, Ach Herr lehre mich bedenken &c ... Sein alter belauft sich zu 84 jahr 8 monat und 25 tag. Unsere stiefmuter ist so ziemlich in ihren alten elendigen zustand, dem verstorbenen Franze Eschliman seine hinteriassene Witwe ist gegen-waertig hart krank an einer Fieberartigen krankheit, uebrigens Sind die leuete von dieser gegend ziemlich gesund, und wir wuenschen dasz dieses auch alle gesund antreffen moge. Ich will beschliesen, und euch und uns nochmals der Gnade Gottes anbefehien.
Wir hoffen in einigen wochen wieder an euch zu schreiben. Euer Bruder, Schwager, Freund und Wohlwuenscher alles guten,
First, it is my will and I do order that my worldly estate which I at present own shall be distributed and bequeathed the same as follows, to wit: To my beloved wife, Elizabeth, for and during her natural life or as long as she remains my widow, all such house, home, widowseat rights and privileges, yearly income and advantages, either yearly or in some other way as such is agreed upon and named for in an agreement that is in power which is dated the twenty-ninth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, which is an agreement between me and my son Christian Bowman for the giving over to my said son Christian the Tenement Plantation and Farm, consisting of a piece of land of ninety-one acres and eighty perches, on which I at present live as such in the said agreeinert is recorded in Reading for further accommodation. Item: I give and bequeath to my said wife, Elizabeth,
or her heirs forever the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds money in gold or silver and three beds and bedstead with double, Covering, and three blankets, one cow which she will choose, one copper wash kettle, one large cedar tub, two small tubs, one churn, one dough trough, one drawer, one kitchen dresser, two chests, the clock and case, one table, two iron pots, two pans, four pewter dishes, seven pewter and seven earthen plates, one dozen pewter spoons, one dozen knives and one dozen forks, two tin buckets, four chairs, one woman's saddle, one bridle, fifty yards of flax, twenty yards of linen, one spinning wheel, one reel, seven tablecloths, seven hand towels, one Bible, four o,her books, seven three-bushel bass, and one barrel; every article in this item named, I bequeath to my said wife, Elizabeth, or her heirs forever, and she may choose the same out of my estate and shall be delivered to her in Ihe space of four weeks after my decease.
Item: I give and bequeath to my said wife for and during her natural life or widowhood, the stove with pipe which we have in use at the time of my decease.
Item: I have a particular Family Book in use in which each of my children, especivily those who have sums of money charged to them which they have received from me as a part of their inheritance out of my estate and each of my children that have any sums charged against him or her shall be added to the remainder of my estate and be divided in equal shares between all my children.
Further, it is my will and I do order that it shall begin at the oldest of my children and pay him his full share or portion of my estate, both real and personal, and so in rotation according to age down to the youngest of my children until each of my children, viz: Benjamin, Elizabeth, Esther, Susanna, Joseph, Christian and Barbara have their full share out of my whole estate, share and share alike.
Item:Since my daughter Esther died, I give and bequeath her share or portion to her two children namely, Maria and Solomon, such I bequeath to my children and pay him his full share or portion of my estate, both real and(personal?)
And lastly, I nominate, coonstitute and appoint as executors of this my last Will and Testament my aforesaid son, Christian Bowman, and my friend Henry Weber.
Witnessed by Adam redge and Joseph Horning
written in 1839?
Peter was born October 26, 1824 in the Alleghenyville area of Berks County. He married Susanna Meixel 1831-1872 before 1850 when they were living in Brecknock Township of Berks County.Peter was a storekeeper in the Knauers area of Brecknock Twp, Berks County.
Peter died November 22, 1874 and was buried with three generations of his ancestors and with his wife in the Alleghenyville Mennonite Church Cemetery in Alleghenyville, Brecknock Twp. of Berks County.
Among the known children of Peter and Susanna were minors at the time of Peters death, 2 years after Susanna's. At least one of the minor children was living in the home of a Mrs. Bowman as shown on the 1875 map of Caernarvon Township of Lancaster County. Mrs Bowman's home was located northwesterly of Churchtown.
Mary Ellen was born July 6, 1862 in Brecknock Township of Berks County. Mary Ellen was 10 years old at the time of her mother's Susanna's(Meixel) death. Only two years later her father Peter died. Mary was living with a relative, a Mrs Bowman in the 1870s. To the west of the home a lane ran northerly to the home of William Koch. Mary Ellen's future husband was the son of Willam, William Siverling Koch.
Mary Ellen was married to William in 1879. Between 1880 and 1894 they had a family of seven sons and one daughter.
Mary Ellen died October 24, 1925.