County Coordinator
History of the Emanuel M. E. Church near West Unity, Ohio
also in connection is the history of the Drum Family
by Mrs. B. M. Beach
(Stryker Advance Print, 1908)
Transcribed and submitted by Donna Neister Przecha, Dec 23, 2000
_____________________
Truly, those were pioneers in German Methodism. From 1844 to 1847 came Christov
[sic], Hoefner who, in 1846, organized the few into a class, with
John B. Altman as their class leader.
Just who and how many members constituted that class, is not now obtainable, on account of lapse of time, and no records thereof can be found. Among the first members were John and Sarah Gares, Jacob and Mary E. Gares, Joseph and Salamina Nichter, Bonaparte Nichter and John B. Altman, and a few others.
In 1847 Julia A. Altman was added to the class. In 1848 Bonaparte Nichter married Margaret Billau. She joined the class in 1848. In 1848 Adam Smith Sr., and his wife, Catharine, were also added to the class. In 1853 Adam Ruth and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, were added to the class.
The first little frame church was built in 1851. Previous to the erection of this church, preaching services, prayer and class meetings were held at the different homes, and it was not an infrequent occurrence for our parents to take their children on their arms and walk out to old Mr. Gross’s on a Sunday morning, a distance (for some of them), of seven miles, to prayer meeting. Couldn’t do it today, or, rather, wouldn’t do it. But this constituted the only variation, the only opportunity of worship aside from the family prayer in their homes.
The first subscription to build the first little frame church was started on January 7th, 1851. The names of the subscribers follows: Adam Smith, Jacob Gares, John Gares, Joseph Nichter, Bonaparte Nichter, John B. Altman, James Berryman, M.W. Meacham, Abraham Gish, Moses Shoemaker, Joseph Shoemaker, Michael Gish, Daniel Cook, Peter Habel,
Joseph Pickle, D.B. Kimmel, John Bohner, S. W. Walker, Hugh Colbrath, George M. Gilbert, G.W. Finch, W. Bargahiser, Jacob S. Brenner, John H. Kunkle, Jacob Petit. Total, $330.
The above sum built the first German M. E. Church, on the same place where now stands the brick church (the original plat was obtained from Bonaparte Nichter) and was built by Joseph Wagstaff, and John Blair, who completed the church. It was ceiled throughout, for wood was plenty, and out of one kind or other of soft wood were made the cradles for the oldest of the children who came to bless those humble homes. "They were made like a trough."
Troughs were also made and used to gather the sap every spring. From the sap was made their year’s supply of sugar and maple syrup. Those were the luxuries of our pioneer fathers and mothers.
John Gares in 1839 walked from Pennsylvania to Brady Township, Williams County, Ohio, and bought his farm, and walked back to near Williamsport, Pa., again, and there was married to Sarah Drum, in Lycoming County, Pa.
These honest, stalwart, rugged, industrious pioneers began in this then dense wilderness to carve out homes from among these almost insurmountable obstacles.
When a small plat of ground was cleared they would, in the springtime, plant their potatoes near the south side of the largest stumps, and take the best of care of them (by frequent hoeing), so as to get their next season’s supply of potatoes.
Their first chairs were benches, split out of logs, and feet manufactured out of this same abundant supply, viz., wood. To those pioneers so much was possible, with such an abundance of wood at hand.
Bonaparte Nichter and a few others would make the splint-bottom chairs, Adam Smith and Jacob Gares were wagon makers by trade, and they made the high-wheeled wagons long since placed in retirement. Be it said of them, they were the only middlemen between the tall oak in the forest and the men who later owned the wagons, for with their own hands they felled the oak and made with their own hands every part of the wagon, save the few pieces of iron obtained from the blacksmith.
These wagons did service for many years for these fathers and mothers and their families, and when even the good old ox team was hitched to them, made the convenient buggy for themselves and family to ride to church in, with rough boards laid across the top of the box. Later came the spring seat, rudely constructed, but that, nevertheless, was the envy of the possessor.
In the spring of 1846 John B. Altman came from Summit County, Ohio, on foot (and a chance ride of a few miles), to Williams County, Ohio, to pay the taxes on his and his brother Jacob’s 80 acre tracts of land, thinking the taxes would be about the same as they had been for a year or two past. He arrived at Bryan about two o’clock p.m., went direct to pay his taxes, and when his change was returned, he had eighty-two cents left!
Mr. Youse, the County Treasurer, at once noticed Mr. Altman’s stunned look and asked, "Is there anything wrong?" Altman, scarcely able to control himself, said: "This is all the money I have and I am a stranger in these parts, and I am very hungry, as I have eaten nothing since five o’clock this morning. I am also very tired, having walked fast to get here, so as to get my taxes paid on time."
Mr. Youse looked him over, when Altman said, "I can work, if you can tell me where I can find work." Mr. Youse took him to his home, and fed him and kept him all night, and next morning gave him an introductory letter to Mr. John Miller, the former owner of the Swisher place. There he worked by the month until fall, when he went to his home in Summit County, Ohio, and from there across the mountains to near Williamsport, Pa., with horse and buggy, to meet his bride-to-be. There he married Julia Anna Drum, on Nov. 24, 1846.
In due time the little frame church became the pride of those industrious, frugal Germans, and with a preaching service every three or four weeks, was the great event looked forward to, as the minister in those days would often come and preach for them on their mid-week prayer meeting night. Never would they neglect mid-week prayer meeting or Sunday forenoon prayer meeting, with Sabbath school at two p.m.
On prayer meeting night, or if it chanced to be a preaching service, all would quit work an hour earlier, so all could get ready to attend prayer or preaching service.
The minister would also make it a point to stop each time with a different family, so as to give no offense. Each one could know when their turn came to entertain the minister, as well as their turn at boarding the school teacher.
On his return trip he would call on as many of his members as possible, and never left a home without asking for the family Bible, and would read therefrom and have prayer with the family, a practice long since obsolete among many Methodists.
A friend said to the writer a few years ago: "Do you, or don’t you, miss the friendly calls of the German Methodist ministers, and their never-failing prayer with the family before leaving?" She said, "We miss it very much."
Truth to tell, we are drifting a long way from our old time Methodism.
John Gares and his wife, Jacob Gares and his wife, Joseph Nichter and his wife, Bonaparte Nichter and his wife, Julia Anna Drum Altman, were all converted under Gustav Haefner [sic]; Adam Smith, Sr., and his wife, and Margaret (Billau) Nichter under the labors of Nicholaus Nupher. Adam Ruth, Sr., and his wife were converted under the labors of Phillip Doerr.
The ministers that were on the Defiance Circuit from 1842 down to 1874 (when the circuit was divided), were as follows:
E. Reimenschneider, 1842-1843 John Bier, 1843-1844 Gustav Hoefner, 1844-1847 Nicholaus Nupher, 1847-1849 Charles Schelper, 1849-1850 John Ficken, 1850-1852 Peter B. Becker, 1852-1853 Phillip Doerr, 1853-1855 Friedrich Ruff, 1855-1857 John Schneider, 1857-1859 Charles Lurker, 1859-1860 Herman Herzer, 1860-1862 Jacob Braun, 1862-1864 William A. Boerns, 1864-1866 George A. Reuter, 1866-1868 Daniel Volz, 1868-1869 G.A. Militzer, 1869-1872 Louis Dunker and J. Kern, 1872-1874, Stryker Circuit. Lars Christian, 1874-1876 John Lamprecht, 1876-1878 Gottlob Heeb, 1878-1880 Adam Weber, 1880-1882 Jacob Roser, 1882-1884 Elias Roser, 1884-1886 J.S. Sinclair, 1886-1888 Herman Rogatsky, 1888-1891 Henry Metzger, 1891-1892 J.J. Link, 1892-1893 W. Fishbach, 1893-1896 Henry Lehnert, 1896-1899
Just who and how many members constituted that class, is not now obtainable, on account of lapse of time, and no records thereof can be found. Among the first members were John and Sarah Gares, Jacob and Mary E. Gares, Joseph and Salamina Nichter, Bonaparte Nichter and John B. Altman, and a few others.
In 1847 Julia A. Altman was added to the class. In 1848 Bonaparte Nichter married Margaret Billau. She joined the class in 1848. In 1848 Adam Smith Sr., and his wife, Catharine, were also added to the class. In 1853 Adam Ruth and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, were added to the class.
The first little frame church was built in 1851. Previous to the erection of this church, preaching services, prayer and class meetings were held at the different homes, and it was not an infrequent occurrence for our parents to take their children on their arms and walk out to old Mr. Gross’s on a Sunday morning, a distance (for some of them), of seven miles, to prayer meeting. Couldn’t do it today, or, rather, wouldn’t do it. But this constituted the only variation, the only opportunity of worship aside from the family prayer in their homes.
The first subscription to build the first little frame church was started on January 7th, 1851. The names of the subscribers follows: Adam Smith, Jacob Gares, John Gares, Joseph Nichter, Bonaparte Nichter, John B. Altman, James Berryman, M.W. Meacham, Abraham Gish, Moses Shoemaker, Joseph Shoemaker, Michael Gish, Daniel Cook, Peter Habel,
Joseph Pickle, D.B. Kimmel, John Bohner, S. W. Walker, Hugh Colbrath, George M. Gilbert, G.W. Finch, W. Bargahiser, Jacob S. Brenner, John H. Kunkle, Jacob Petit. Total, $330.
The above sum built the first German M. E. Church, on the same place where now stands the brick church (the original plat was obtained from Bonaparte Nichter) and was built by Joseph Wagstaff, and John Blair, who completed the church. It was ceiled throughout, for wood was plenty, and out of one kind or other of soft wood were made the cradles for the oldest of the children who came to bless those humble homes. "They were made like a trough."
Troughs were also made and used to gather the sap every spring. From the sap was made their year’s supply of sugar and maple syrup. Those were the luxuries of our pioneer fathers and mothers.
John Gares in 1839 walked from Pennsylvania to Brady Township, Williams County, Ohio, and bought his farm, and walked back to near Williamsport, Pa., again, and there was married to Sarah Drum, in Lycoming County, Pa.
These honest, stalwart, rugged, industrious pioneers began in this then dense wilderness to carve out homes from among these almost insurmountable obstacles.
When a small plat of ground was cleared they would, in the springtime, plant their potatoes near the south side of the largest stumps, and take the best of care of them (by frequent hoeing), so as to get their next season’s supply of potatoes.
Their first chairs were benches, split out of logs, and feet manufactured out of this same abundant supply, viz., wood. To those pioneers so much was possible, with such an abundance of wood at hand.
Bonaparte Nichter and a few others would make the splint-bottom chairs, Adam Smith and Jacob Gares were wagon makers by trade, and they made the high-wheeled wagons long since placed in retirement. Be it said of them, they were the only middlemen between the tall oak in the forest and the men who later owned the wagons, for with their own hands they felled the oak and made with their own hands every part of the wagon, save the few pieces of iron obtained from the blacksmith.
These wagons did service for many years for these fathers and mothers and their families, and when even the good old ox team was hitched to them, made the convenient buggy for themselves and family to ride to church in, with rough boards laid across the top of the box. Later came the spring seat, rudely constructed, but that, nevertheless, was the envy of the possessor.
In the spring of 1846 John B. Altman came from Summit County, Ohio, on foot (and a chance ride of a few miles), to Williams County, Ohio, to pay the taxes on his and his brother Jacob’s 80 acre tracts of land, thinking the taxes would be about the same as they had been for a year or two past. He arrived at Bryan about two o’clock p.m., went direct to pay his taxes, and when his change was returned, he had eighty-two cents left!
Mr. Youse, the County Treasurer, at once noticed Mr. Altman’s stunned look and asked, "Is there anything wrong?" Altman, scarcely able to control himself, said: "This is all the money I have and I am a stranger in these parts, and I am very hungry, as I have eaten nothing since five o’clock this morning. I am also very tired, having walked fast to get here, so as to get my taxes paid on time."
Mr. Youse looked him over, when Altman said, "I can work, if you can tell me where I can find work." Mr. Youse took him to his home, and fed him and kept him all night, and next morning gave him an introductory letter to Mr. John Miller, the former owner of the Swisher place. There he worked by the month until fall, when he went to his home in Summit County, Ohio, and from there across the mountains to near Williamsport, Pa., with horse and buggy, to meet his bride-to-be. There he married Julia Anna Drum, on Nov. 24, 1846.
In due time the little frame church became the pride of those industrious, frugal Germans, and with a preaching service every three or four weeks, was the great event looked forward to, as the minister in those days would often come and preach for them on their mid-week prayer meeting night. Never would they neglect mid-week prayer meeting or Sunday forenoon prayer meeting, with Sabbath school at two p.m.
On prayer meeting night, or if it chanced to be a preaching service, all would quit work an hour earlier, so all could get ready to attend prayer or preaching service.
The minister would also make it a point to stop each time with a different family, so as to give no offense. Each one could know when their turn came to entertain the minister, as well as their turn at boarding the school teacher.
On his return trip he would call on as many of his members as possible, and never left a home without asking for the family Bible, and would read therefrom and have prayer with the family, a practice long since obsolete among many Methodists.
A friend said to the writer a few years ago: "Do you, or don’t you, miss the friendly calls of the German Methodist ministers, and their never-failing prayer with the family before leaving?" She said, "We miss it very much."
Truth to tell, we are drifting a long way from our old time Methodism.
John Gares and his wife, Jacob Gares and his wife, Joseph Nichter and his wife, Bonaparte Nichter and his wife, Julia Anna Drum Altman, were all converted under Gustav Haefner [sic]; Adam Smith, Sr., and his wife, and Margaret (Billau) Nichter under the labors of Nicholaus Nupher. Adam Ruth, Sr., and his wife were converted under the labors of Phillip Doerr.
The ministers that were on the Defiance Circuit from 1842 down to 1874 (when the circuit was divided), were as follows:
E. Reimenschneider, 1842-1843 John Bier, 1843-1844 Gustav Hoefner, 1844-1847 Nicholaus Nupher, 1847-1849 Charles Schelper, 1849-1850 John Ficken, 1850-1852 Peter B. Becker, 1852-1853 Phillip Doerr, 1853-1855 Friedrich Ruff, 1855-1857 John Schneider, 1857-1859 Charles Lurker, 1859-1860 Herman Herzer, 1860-1862 Jacob Braun, 1862-1864 William A. Boerns, 1864-1866 George A. Reuter, 1866-1868 Daniel Volz, 1868-1869 G.A. Militzer, 1869-1872 Louis Dunker and J. Kern, 1872-1874, Stryker Circuit. Lars Christian, 1874-1876 John Lamprecht, 1876-1878 Gottlob Heeb, 1878-1880 Adam Weber, 1880-1882 Jacob Roser, 1882-1884 Elias Roser, 1884-1886 J.S. Sinclair, 1886-1888 Herman Rogatsky, 1888-1891 Henry Metzger, 1891-1892 J.J. Link, 1892-1893 W. Fishbach, 1893-1896 Henry Lehnert, 1896-1899
Henry W. Lenz, 1899-1901, when it was decided to let our old German
Emanuel
M.E. Church pass over to the English M.E. Church.
M.E. Church pass over to the English M.E. Church.
Rev. Philpot very amicably filled the pulpit and was a good pastor
from 1901 to 1905, and Rev. Hill for one more year, when it was decided
to have the members go to West Unity.
Services of all kinds, save an occasional funeral service, were abandoned in what had
been to many of our parents and their children, such a dear church home.
However, in the fall of 1906 the old Emanuel Church was re-roofed and made safe in
every way, and repapered and nicely repaired, and rededicated by Revs. Money, Hill
and Stockton.
As we revisit the old church and in memory see the dear old faces in their accustomed
places, we heave a sign and tears unbidden fall. To us the familiar voices seem to re-echo
within those sacred walls. As we recall their testimonies and prayers and songs, they seem
to reverberate and echo back the earnestness of lives well spent and worthy of emulation.
Do we, as descendants of those noble pioneers, fully appreciate the hardships they
endured, the economy they practiced, to leave not only a legacy in worldly goods, but the
legacy of Christian lives, Christian examples, and an earnest solicitude that their
children and children’s children might continue to worship the God of their Fathers,
and as they one by one crossed the silent stream, would meet again on the shores of that
beautiful city, whose builder and maker is God?
The first class leader was John B. Altman, who was also the first
Sunday school superintendent. He was class leader until the later fifties, when Adam Smith
became class leader and remained class leader until in the nineties, when Frederick Smith,
his oldest son, became the class leader until the church was abandoned. I wonder how many
of those who attend our annual reunion stop to think and consider the changes that have
been made since 1842, in sixty-six years?
As has been truly said by one interested, not a more rugged, industrious, hard working,
patient, frugal, sel-sacrificing, contented people can be found within the borders of
this, our broad land, than was the privilege of the writer and her generation to call
fathers and mothers.
Today their children are standing up in the many congregations, not only in our own
beloved state, but in many of the states, and call those pioneers blessed, not only in
memory, but their lives are to those of us who are left a benediction. Will the changes in
the coming sixty years, according to their advantages, have as much to show for the uplift
and betterment of mankind as did the past sixty years? We pray that, with the present
resources at hand, God in his mercy will lead them on to more noble work, to higher
attainments, that in comparison will be as great an honor to their day and age.
As we go back in review, many of us remember the log cabin homes of John and Jacob
Gares, Adam Smith, Sr., Joseph Nichter,
Bonaparte Nichter, Adam Ruth, Sr., George Altman
and John B. Altman, John Bretthauer, John Holly,
Grandpa Fike. All were at one time, with their companions, members of
this same German M.E. Church, who so sacredly attended with their families every Sabbath
day. When there was no preaching service, they were none the less punctual at prayer and
class meetings and Sabbath school. On Thursday evening they were just as punctual to
attend unless too sick or worn out to be able to get to the little frame church on the
hill.
Within the walls of this same little church was heard the voice of no less a personage
than that of the sainted Bishop Long of the Evangelical Association, who
never questioned when an opportunity offered, to preach the gospel of the Son of God in
its purity, embraced that opportunity nearest at hand to proclaim good tidings to all men,
of whatever creed or tongue. Those were the days when bishops traveled on horseback, glad
to find a lodging place on the Sabbath
day among God’s worshiping people.
day among God’s worshiping people.
Many a grand, old fashioned revival was held within those walls. When the old frame
church gave place to the present brick structure in 1869, proud was the whole community of
the new church, to the building of which one and all had liberally contributed.
The conversions that followed the dedication of the brick church have already their
many representatives on the other shore; among them, Ella (Combs) Smith,
Dora (Cook) Smith, Mary, Louise and Catharine (Gares) Drum,
Elisabeth (Drum) Money, David and Baltas Beach and many
others are today awaiting the final coming Home of their loved ones who are still on their
journey. The deaths, as much as are now obtainable, of the first members of the first
church, are as follows:
Joseph Nichter died in 1861 [Joseph died Nov. 28, 1854];
Salamina Nichter died July 1, 1891; Peter Drum died July
23, 1880; Catharine Drum died March 9, 1899; John Gares died
May 29, 1890; Sarah Gares died Sept. 15, 1897; Jacob Gares
died Nov. 28, 1876; Mary E. Gares died Sept. 9, 1885; Adam Ruth,
Sr., died May 15, 1890; Mary E. Ruth died Nov. 1, 1890; Bonaparte Nichter
died July 2, 1891; Margaret Nichter died April 8, 1900; John B. Altman
died Dec. 22, 1898; Julia A. Altman died March 21, 1902; John
Bretthauer died May 21, 1883; Elisabeth Bretthauer died June 25,
1904; Adam Drum died Oct. 7, 1900; Mary Drum died Feb.
16, 1908; Catharine Elisabeth Drum died Oct. 28, 1861, she having also
been a member of the first church for many years, and was our dear old Grandmother.
As we now take up the family history, eight of the honorary members, and four of them
were members of the original Drum family, were with us at our first
reunion, also Mrs. Margeret Nichter, ten short years ago. Today the
record reads, "None of those dear ones are left."
On the picture that was taken at the first reunion, Aug. 10, 1898, there are
twenty-three that have in those few short years laid down this earthly warfare, and as we
fall one by one, may we fall at our post and be reunited in that Home above,
Where no farewells are said, And no tears are shed.
At our first reunion a short history was given of the Drum family, it
being gathered from those who were still with us, none being gifted with a better memory
of the same than the youngest member of the Drum family, viz., Elisabeth Brethauer.
For many of us here present this history begins with our Great Grandfather, Sebastian Drum,
one of three brothers born in Nieder Alpen [sic - should be Niederalben], Prussia.
Sebastian Drum and his wife, Catherine Neu were born in
Nieder Alpen, Prussia, and both died in February, 1814, in Nieder Alpen, of typhoid fever.
Frederick Drum, being the third son and the youngest of four children,
was married to Elisabeth Bauer in Ulmet, Germany, May 5, 1807, in Kanton
Kusel, Reihnphalz, Bavaria.
Frederick Drum died April 15, 1844, by drowning in the River Glan, in
Bavaria.
Elisabeth, his wife, died Oct. 28, 1861, near West Unity, Williams County, O.
Elisabeth, his wife, died Oct. 28, 1861, near West Unity, Williams County, O.
The children of Frederick Drum, Sr., thirteen in number, were:
Barbara, Mary Elisabeth, Peter, Frederick, Sarah, John, Catharine, Julia Anna, Philipene,
Adam, Margaret, Jacob, Elisabeth. All of Frederick Drum’s children
were born in Bavaria, Germany. Barbara married Peter Schuch, in Ulmet,
Germany. To them were born nine children, three of them having died previous to their
parents. At the first reunion there were six of their children living, but today only four
are living, to the best of our knowledge.
Barbara and her husband, with their five oldest children, emigrated to America in June,
1842, and landed in New York in August. They made their home in Lycoming County,
Pennsylvania where they lived and died.
Mary Elisabeth was born in June, 1810, and was married to Jacob Gares in
Ulmeth [sic], Germany. To them were born ten children. Only one of the ten is
living. Mary Elisabeth and her husband, with their third but only living child, emigrated
to American in June, 1839, and arrived in New York in August. They journeyed from New York
to Pennsylvania by canal and any kind of conveyance that would bring them to their
destination.
In December, 1839, they moved to Richland County, Ohio, by horse and wagon, lived there
three years, then moved to Williams County, Ohio, near West Unity, onto the farm where
they lived until death called them Home. They moved from Richland County by ox team and
drove their cows.
Peter Drum was born in June, 1812, and emigrated to America in June,
1836, and landed in New York in August. From there he went to Pennsylvania by canal and on
foot. There he married Catharine Fisher. To them were born nine children,
four of whom are living. They lived in Pennsylvania until 1867, when they moved to
Williams County, Ohio, onto the farm now owned by their daughter and her son, viz.,
Elisabeth Maneval and William Maneval.
Frederick Drum, Jr., was born in May, 1814; emigrated to America in
March, 1834, landed in New York in May, going from there to Pennsylvania by canal and on
foot. In Lycoming County, Pa., he married Lydia Bird. To them were born
thirteen children, six of whom are still living. He died in August, 1896.
Sarah was born May 9, 1816; emigrated to America in June, 1839; landed in New York in
August. From New York
she went to Lycoming County, Pa., and there married John Gares, in December, 1839. Then they, in company with her sister Mary and her husband (Jacob Gares), moved to Richland County, Ohio, lived there three years, when, again in company, they moved to Williams County, Ohio, onto the farm now owned and occupied by her son, Jacob Gares. To them were born four children, three of whom are now living. Sarah died Sept. 15, 1897.
she went to Lycoming County, Pa., and there married John Gares, in December, 1839. Then they, in company with her sister Mary and her husband (Jacob Gares), moved to Richland County, Ohio, lived there three years, when, again in company, they moved to Williams County, Ohio, onto the farm now owned and occupied by her son, Jacob Gares. To them were born four children, three of whom are now living. Sarah died Sept. 15, 1897.
John Drum was born May, 1818; emigrated to America Feb. 28, 1844;
landed in New York in June, after being tossed about on old Ocean’s waves in a
Swedish sailing vessel for seventy-three days. He went from New York to Lycoming County,
Pa., and married Catharine Apple in June of the same year. To them were
born ten children, eight of whom are still living. He died in February, 1887, in Lycoming
County, Pa.
Catharine was born March 21, 1820; was married to Adam Smith in Ulmeth
[sic], Bavaria, Germany, in 1844. Emigrated to America, with their two oldest
children, in March, 1848; landed in New York in June. From New York they came to Williams
County, Ohio, by steamer and canal, and from Sandusky by wagon to the farm near West
Unity, Ohio, where they lived over fifty years. The farm is now owned and occupied by her
third son, Jacob Smith. To them were born six children, all of whom are
now living. Catharine was the last member of the family to die and the last of the third
generation.
Julia Anna was born May 19, 1822; emigrated to America with her brother John, Feb. 28,
1844, and landed in New York in June, on the Swedish sailing vessel Stockholm, after
spending seventy-three days aboard ship, having narrowly escaped being shipwrecked twice,
one time among the glittering icebergs of the distant north, and another time running into
another vessel on account of the Swedish vessel not having her lights out; and through the
heartlessness of a cruel captain, suffering hunger and thirst, having given up all hope of
ever seeing land again. From new York they went to Lycoming County, Pa., by rail and canal
and in any way to get to her brothers and sisters. She lived in Pennsylvania until 1846,
when she married John B. Altman, on November 24, 1846, and came from
there to Ohio by team, and suffered intense cold crossing the Alleghaneys [sic].
They often became alarmed at the queer places they had to pass, where such signs as
"Robbers’ Roost" and sign of a "black bear" and one a lion with
blood streaming from his mouth, and a sign of a huge rattlesnake, were the welcome to the
places called "tavern." These they were told to avoid, as they were really bad
places.
In February, 1847, they came from Summit County, Ohio, to Williams County by team, and
located on the farm that was for more than fifty years known as the John Altman farm.
Here they lived and died. Julia Ann died March 21, 1902. To them were born three children,
all of whom are living.
Philipene was born October 9, 1824, and died October 9, 1841.
Adam Drum was born March 10, 1827. At the death of his father he was
only seventeen years old; but with the assistance of his brother-in-law, Adam Smith,
and his uncle, Peter Drum, he aided his mother in settling up his
father’s and mother’s estate. (Elizabeth Bauer had more money
when she married Frederick Drum than he had.)
Great trouble having resulted from his older brother Fred having left Germany for
American without serving his time in the army or navy of Germany. At that time every young
man arriving at the age of twenty-one had to serve his country a certain number of years.
If he failed to do so the government confiscated his share in the family estate.
Consequently all things of value were sealed with the government seal for seven weeks,
causing them much anxiety and hardship; when finally, with great urging, it was released,
but with great loss to the estate.
Adam Drum, in company with his mother and his youngest sister,
emigrated on April 19, 1845. They sailed from Havre on the sailing vessel North Carolina,
and landed in New York June 6, 1845.
From New York they went to Pennsylvania by rail and canal. In 1847 he accompanied his
mother and sister to Ohio. He returned to Pennsylvania on foot, walking the entire
distance. However he stopped in Richland County to visit old friends, thence to the Ohio
river, continuing his lonely journey until lone day, footsore and weary, he came to his
brother’s house "for a rest."
In Lycoming County, Pa., he married Mary Beach on June 18, 1852. To
them were born twelve children, eight of whom are living.
Adam Drum died October 7, 1900, on the farm he owned and occupied
since his removal to Williams County, Ohio, in 1863.
Margaret was born in October, 1829, and died in Germany in May, 1836.
Jacob was born in November, 1831, and died in his infancy.
Elisabeth, the youngest of thirteen children, was born June 25, 1834, and emigrated to
America in company of her mother and her brother Adam, April 19, 1845. Sailed from Havre
on the sailing vessel North Carolina, and landed in New York June 6, 1845; from New York
to Pennsylvania after two years, from there to Ohio 1847, with her mother and her brother.
Near West Unity, Ohio, she was married to John Bretthauer on December 30,
1849. She moved with him onto the farm (then a dense forest), where, not unlike her other
sisters, she helped to build a home for her children, and the privations then endured to
hew out a home out of the dense forest, with the hooting of the owl for her organ and the
yelping of the wolves for her midnight serenade. Truly, she, too, was one of our hard
working pioneers.
To them were born two sons, who are still living.
Elisabeth died June 24, 1904, at Fayette, Ohio, at the home of her oldest son.
We have today with us many of the sixth generation, and one member of the seventh
generation.
The homes that have been carved out of this then dense wilderness, many of us who are
here today can look back over the pages of years, and we must say, through the efforts of
those stalwart, study pioneers, "Our own beloved parents being truly worthy of being
numbered among them."
The wilderness has given place to the productive fields, that yield an abundant
fruitage and has been made to blossom as the rose. The log cabin and log barn have long
since given place to the beautiful homes that their children are justly proud of, but not
solely attributable to the children’s efforts and their sole good management. But we
must thank the dear wasted and emaciated forms that we laid away in the silent churchyard,
for to them is much more praise due than to any of the present generations represented
here today.
Many are changes that have taken place in this Drum family since
August 10, 1898. Many that day with us are today at home, in the land of rest, where
trouble, pain and death never enter. Naturally we ask, who will be missing at out [sic]
next reunion? May God in His mercy grant that, whoever it may be, that we will be prepared
to say, "Welcome, Death, thou end of fears. I am prepared to go to meet again in that
sun-bright clime where reunions never end."
Mrs. B. M. Beach
TRANSCRIPTION NOTES:
Attached is the transcription of the "History of the Emanuel M. E. Church".
Great information if you happen to be from the Drum family.
There are several mentions of Gustav Hoefner. I think she wrote this out by
hand and it was transcribed because in one place it is Christov and another
Haefner. I have added a [sic] next to these spellings as I believe Gustav and
Hoefner are correct.
She also mentions Ulmet and Ulmeth. The first is correct so I have added [sic]
to the later. Neider Alpen is Niederalben on a modern map and I have added
that comment.
She has the death date for Joseph Nichter as 1861 but I have added in
brackets and italics his correct death date which was 1854.
Other than that I have not made changes. My husband and I proofed the entire
document so I think it is reasonably correct.
The historical society also has a copy of the book but this will make it
available to everyone and it is easy to do a word search online to find people.
Shared by; - Donna Neister Przecha, San Diego CA,
NOTE: Donna is descended from the Nichter
and Ruch families and
does NOT have any information on any other families.
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