| Back to INDEX | Back to CONTENTS |
ST. JODER'S CHAPEL---- (part Two)
[ In the "paper" version of YNL this article included seven photographs, by Glenn S. Yoder of Millerspurg, IN. These photos are not reproduced here. ddk]
Those of you who may be planning at some time to look up the St. Joder Chapel in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland will find it to be a very small building---a mere white dot on the landscape as you look across the valley in the Nidwald region. After you climb the mountain from Grafenor and enter the chapel, you will see that it has been laid out in the form of a cross, like the big churches, but so small that it holds hardly a dozen rows of seats and the benches on each side of the aisle so short that one of them can accommodate only two or three persons.
At one time the chapel had a sloping wooden roof but now inside we see a vaulted "plastic" ceiling with several arches. Snapshots brought back by visitors show some slight variation and some decoration seems to have been added from what we remembered from our visit in 1978, suggesting that changes have probably been made during the recent restoration. At that time we saw that a large painting in pastel colors directly on the left wall had been partially obliterated with fresh plaster, and we see thatbsome smaller darker patches of Biblical scenes are still there.We may simply not have remembered all the framed pictures and stations of the cross hanging in the chapel or perhaps they have been shifted around or were taken down during the renovation. However, the three little wooden figures are still in the left "arm of the transcript", standing behind metal bars in a niche at eye level. These images had once been stolen but were retrieved and since then kept with greater protection. The altar and altar pieces have apparently been refurbished and are said to show workmansip of artists and craftsmen at Lucern several cenuries ago. At the time of year of our visit, flowers graced the altar.
Probably of the greatest interest to the Yoder tourist is the panel of nine small paintings, three in a row, that at least in 1978 was hanging on the wall to the right, up front near what was the right "arm of the transcript". The original paintings were made in the 1620's and can give us some insight into the life and legends of St. Joder. The photographs taken by Edith Joder of Basel in 1966 show the upper outer corners rounded in the likeness of a church window, with wooden decoration across the top,but the present pictures are almost square and on a simple square board.The composition and content of the pictures in both cases seem exactly alike; however one sharp-eyed Yoder noted a slight difference in the foot of the Devil, making us wonder about the originals.Have they been restored? Or have they been taken away, either because of value or deterioration, and replaced with good copies? Officials at the Engleberg Monasery, not far away, might be able to answer these questions: and should a research-minded visitor find out more about this, we hope a report gets back to the Newsletter.
Meanwhile, for our immediate purpose of seeing how St. Joder was portrayed,it makes little difference whether we are seeing the originals or the copies. Each of the pictures has printed under it a caption in German beginning with the word "Wie... "(How), and we shall review them from Lafayette right. beginning with the upper left corner and using the translations sent by Edith Joder:
(pictures here)
(1) "How King Charles is forgiven his sin by praying with St. Joder"
The saint is shown kneeling at the altar, more or less facing us. As in all these pictures, he is shown with an aureole, or mandorla, not a narrow halo but more of a gold disk, behind his head, the kind of symbol often used for Jesus and the saints as painted by early artists. The king, toward the left in the picture, kneels behind St. Joder with hands outstretched, an attendant kneeling on each side of him but respectfully behind him.
Charlemagne (Charles the Great) lived from 742 to 814 A.D. and St. Joder,Bishop Theodore of Sion in southern Switzerland, lived in the fourth century.This immediately illustrates how errors can creep into oral tradition not substantiated by written records. As stories were handed down from generation to generation two other saints became confused with St. Theodore. This later"Carolingen St. Joder" was especially popularized by a wandering monk, Ruodpertus, who attributed the same accomplishments and qualities to a bishop coming four centuries later as for the real St. Theodore. However the character of these saints was so identical that when of the true St. Joder was eventually identified, the high esteem felt by the people did not need to be altered.
(2) "How King Charles hands the spiritual and secular emblems (crosier and sword) over to St. Joder"
In this picture the principals are standing, each with his attendants,as the emblems are transferred. We might think of Charlemagrle's ups and downs with papal power in his day, or perhaps later struggles between church and state going on at the time the pictures were painted; but it is very likely that the artist was simply making a pious observation treat eve..so great a monarch as Charles the Great would be willing to submit to the representative of the Heavenly Kingdom, especially one as outstanding and good as St. Joder.
(3) "How St. Joder forgave the sin of the people of St. Moritzen"
This interesting picture shows St. Joder and retinue beholding an opened grave, showing three bodies, one of them with a mandorla.
One of the things that brought the real St. Theodore into prominence was the discovery of the remains of the "Theban Martyrs". He ordered a basilica built over the site in their memory. (This same thing was later also credited to the Carolingen St. Joder.) Later legend began to associate the remains of St. Joder himself with those of the martyrs and finally votive offerings began in his name.
St. Moritz is now known on the Swiss maps as St. Maurice and it is located about twenty miles across the mountains to the west of Sion, where St. Theodore lived.
We need to know more about this story to understand what motivated this picture and what the discovery of the remains had to do with St. Moritz;but the artist at any rate wanted us to know that St. Joder, a man of power and authority, was also a man of mercy and forgivness.
(4) "How St. Joder overheard the evil spirits discussing their misdeeds".
St. Joder, again with staff in hand is standing on an archway in a mountain setting, while under the arch the devils are shown in animated conversation.St. Joder's powers were considered so great that he could understand and outwit the Devil, as we shall see. It has been said that his image has been shown with a devil underfoot to show his triumph over evil.
(5) "How St. Joder ordered the Bell to ring by itself".
St. Joder in full regalia at the entrance of a grotto, with sharp hills in the background and a few buildings at the upper edges of the picture, is shown confronting a bell almost as big as he is.
This is probably related to some tale known in the Middle Ages, but Allah know about it is that the bell was especially associated with St. Theodore and he was often shown with one. His chapel tower at Sion may have been among the very first in Switzerland to have had a bell. Later on when other bells were cast for churches or monasteries requests were often made for a chip from St. Theodore's bell (like a blessing) that they could incorporate into their new one. In his dissertation about offerings to the saints in the Sion diocese during the Middle Ages Eugen Gruber pointed out that not only were there many requests for such chips, but the bell in Grabunden (Tersnaus Lugnes), one in Bern (Meikirch), and one in Lucerne (Roth) still bear the inscription of St. Joder today.
(6) "How St. Joder ordered the Devil to carry him and the Bell on his shoulders across the Wallis" (the Valais country of southern Switzerland).
Again in mountainous country, St. Joder- with the insignia of authority in his hands is shown sitting in the Bell. which is being carried by a fierce two-legged beast with horns and a tail and arms that can reach back to hold his burden on his shoulders. This comes close to the story of how St.Joder was to have brought his bell from Rome.
The Pope had presented him with a bell to take back with him for his diocesan center at Sion, but he had no way to get the huge bell up into the mountains. He then thought oof his power to make the Devil do his bidding. Summoning him, St. Joder proposed to him that he could have a human soul if he could transport the bell up to Sion before daybreak (cockcrow). St. Joder than sat into the bauch of the Bell, a term many of our readers can understand and the Devil in eager anticipation swiftly bore him through the air. But the might of St. Joder was greater than the cunning of the Devil. At the command of the Bishop a rooster crowed before dawn came.
(7) "How the Devil let The bell fall and it broke to pieces".
The above story ended fortunately, yet these two pictures seem related.This picture shows the bell, though cracked and lying in a fallen position,not obviously broken. St. Joder, with hands upraised, is shown victorious over the Devil, who is seen flying away through the air in defeat, his long wavy tail following after. This time his wings are outstretched.
(8) "How bad weather destroyed the building of those who worked on St. Joder's Day"
The building shown is not much higher than the men who are working on it. One is lying prone in front of the doorway, while another holds his hands to his head. He and the man working at the side of the building look up in what must be astonishment at the wonderfully large hailstones (Or is it heavy snowfall?) that have taken them by surprise.Apparently the painter wanted to instruct us on proper reverence for a great bishop.
The old church calendars show the feast day for St. Joder to be August 16, the day believed to be the time of his death. (You can greet your kin on that day with "Happy St. Joder's Day"' or perhaps for us simply"Happy Yoder's Day!").
It is appropriate at this point to mention that St. Joder was also called upon as a powerful protector against bad weather. According to some documents of 1497, people sang at a service the following Antiphon after the Magnificat in their mass:
"Oh glorious pontifex, worker with your devotions, save us from hailstones from cold and frost--that you may be eternally praised by the productiveness of our fruits."
Associated with reference to weather was also another picture handed down during the Middle Ages (but not hanging in the chapel). St. Joder was shown kneeling in the foreground blessing the grape vines. In the background was a Church in front of which a sexton wringing his hands in the midst of an excited throng. He was to have rung the bell in warning of an approaching storm but he could not do this, for the Devil had possession of it and was shown grinning maliciously behind St. Joder. This picture seems to have been more intent on telling a story than teaching a lesson.
(9) "How a priest who threw away a picture of St. Joder saw his hands dry up".
The partial image of St. Joder, with a staff but no mandorla at his head, lies in a doorway. The priest, with three others behind him, looks at his own outstretched hands. This is again a reminder that St. Joder was to be held in reverence and there could be dire consequences for those who did not. )
All this lore about St. Theodore, bishop of Sion, illustrates a number of things about Christianity in the Middle Ages. We feel we have quite outgrown the need or use of magic and superstition to guide and encourage us in our daily lives or to foster our proper respect for good people. However we think we have our own ways to determine who are the good and worthy persons, and we still want to appreciate and respect them.
And we can smile at one another with playful satisfaction that ever so long ago "our" Swiss clan chose to honour, by choosing his name a religious man of peace with such a good name and reputation.
THE AMISH-MENNONITE CEMETERY, STARK CO, OHIO - records by Ann E Hilles
Stark Co, OH was one of the prime settlements for the Alsatian Yoder immigrants of the early l9th century. YNL #4 outlined the French and German born Yoders of the 1850 census and shows the major family groups in Stark Co at that time. These individuals were split between Washington and neighbouring Nimishillen Township.
The Amish-Mennonite cemetery west of Freeburg, OH in Washington Twp.served this community and is the resting place for what appears to be two distinct (but probably interrelated) families. It lays off a private lane on the west side of Paris Ave., about one quarter mile south of SR 153.
(map here)
The first of these families is that of Capt. Joseph Yoder from around Belfort in Alsace. His family was described in "A Brief Record of Four Pioneer Families of St Joseph Co., IND."compiled by the late Charles M. Yoder. Capt. Joseph Yoder was reportedly, born in Switzerland about 1789 and his family moved across the border settling in or around Belfort. Although of Amish-Mennonite background, he was either conscripted or recruited into the Army of Napoleon and became captain of a company of cavalry. He participated in the march on Moscow in l812 and later told of the starvation and suffering of the retreat from that campaign.
Capt. Joseph married Barbara Weiss (1800-8/3/1877) and immigrated to the US with their three children in the fall of 1825. After initially settling on a farm near Maximo, OH they later moved to a small place near Alliance,OH close to their oldest son Joseph where Capt. Joseph died May 20, 1874. Capt.Joseph is described as having been "very tall, straight, and always carried a cane."
The other apparent Yoder progenitor was Christian Yoder (c1786-1869).It is conceivable that Christian and Joseph were brothers, but this is merely speculation at this point. In the 1850 census, he is shown with a young wife and small children. It is likely that this was not his first marriage, and some of the other Yoders in the area who were not Capt.Joseph's children may have been his.
Mrs. Hilles and her husband visited the cemetery this past summer and it appears fairly well preserved. The stones are legible, although Capt.Joseph's is beginning to wear. The following markings were copied and include adjacent ones for nonYoders which might hint at family relationships for subsequent research:
Joseph Yoder d. July 4,1891 ae 73yrs 4mo 2days
Leah Yoder d. July 13,1891 ae 63yrs 6mo 8days
Joseph B Yoder d.Aug.18,1876 (s/o Anna)
Andrew Bacher d. Apr.10,1862 ae75yrs 3mo 8days
Anna Yoder d.Jan.1,1881 ae42yrs 6mo 25days
Anna Conrad d. Oct.3,1865 ae 72yrs 11 mo 9days
-------(w/o Jacob)
Christian Yoder d.Feb.21,1869 ae 82yr 2mo 7days
Jacob Conrad d. D
Christian Yoder d.Apr.16,1854 ael8yr 7mo 27days
-------(s/o C & A)
Joseph Yoder d.May 20,1874 ae85yrs (Capt.Joseph)
Barbara Yoder d.Aug.3,1877 ae 77yrs
Christian Yoder b.Aug 19,1835 d.Apr.16,1854
------(s/o C&A) (duplicate stone)
Christian Klopfinstine "Fathers" d. Nov.2,1858
-------ae 79yr 3mo 8days
Barbara Miller Klopfinstine "Mother" d.Feb.5,1853 (w/o C)
Christian Yoder b. May 17.1811 d.Jan.15,1897
Anna Yoder b. Aug.11,1809 d.May 17,1889
The Joseph Yoder who married Leah was the eldest son of Capt. Joseph and Barbara and the only one of their children known to have been buried here. Other children were:Christopher (10/10/1820)-Peter (10/8/ 1822);Andrew(10/16/1825); Eli (1/29/1828); Daniel (3/12/1831); Philip (1/13/1834); and Barbara (Jul 1837). All married except Eli. Hopefully, bits and pieces of Alsatian and Ohio Yoder records will give a clue to some sharp researcher which will establish the Alsatian ancestry and family relationships for those early settlers who rest in this plot.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Mrs Ann E Hilles,who contributed much of the material for this article, is a descendant of the Oley Yoder line. Her ancestress Barbara Yoder married John Oyster on 1/7/1784 and was a daughter of Jacob Yoder and Maria Keim. Her address is 191 W. Bayton St., Alliance, OH., 44601. Thanks Ann!
****************************************************
FROM THE EDITORS
Ben F. Yoder, Goshen IN, Managing Editor
Chris Yoder, Battle Creek MI, Historical Editor
Rachel Kreider, Goshen IN, Contributing Editor
Published Semi-annually
With your help, we've come a long way. The YNL has grown to over 700 subscribers. We've helped literally hundreds of Yoder cousins with information about their heritage.
************************************************
YODER IN RUSSIAN
While Judge Worth Yoder and I were eating lunch we were discussing the wide distribution of the Yoders. My remark that there are supposed to be a few in the USSR he brightened up and remarked. "How do they spell their name?" Of course there was no answer. He then remarked that he had studied the Russian language. He showed me what YODER looked like in Russian-
(Russian word "Yoder)
His explained that there is no Y sound in Russian and that about the nearest anyone could pronounce our name in Russian would sound like IODER. Big Brother is watching you.- Ben
*************************************************
A SPECIAL NOTICE- To those who ordered Amish and Amish-Mennonite Genealogies by Hugh Gingerich and Rachel Kreider: We are very sorry for the long delay in getting out your AAMG books, but there has been so much more work to this than expected. We hop now to have the books ready for the binder by May 1, 1986.--The AAMG Publishing Committee, Levi L Stoltzfus. Treas., 98S Gr
**************************************************
AMISH MENNONITE BRETHREN HERITAGE TOUR--with H. Harold Hartzler Sept.24- Oct.2,1986 visiting historical sites and libraries in IN,OH and PA.Tour by private motor coach. In Sept.1987 will lead a tour to Alsace, Palatinate and Swiss Anabaptist locations. For details write for brochure from : Hartzlers' Charters and Tours, 3525 W. Jordan Lake Dr., Lake Odessa, MI 48849
***************************************************
From Opal West of Savannah, Missouri comes the following story of the death of Conrad Yoder (grandson and namesake of the founder of the North Carolina Yoders):"When my father, Albert Conrad Yoder (1877-1957) was a baby, Conrad Yoder (1793-1879) his grandfather came from the barn with a rat, he had caught in a trap, to show my father. The rat bit him, and a short time later he died from the infection caused by the bite."
"It was only a few years ago that I was able to establish the identity of my great grandfather as Jacob Eschbach Yoder. I have no living relatives who could go back any further than that. Now thanks to you and the Yoder Newsletter (which I think I received by chance) I can trace back to my immigrant ancestor."-Col. Robert A Yoder,Schenectady,NY
*************************************************
EARLY YODER MARRIAGES $$ REWARDS CONTINUED
In our last issue, we listed a number of Yoder marriages for "unlinked"Yoders. We are again offering a $1 (wow!) reward to anyone who can identify the ancestry of the Yoders involved. Only one of the Yoders in the last list has been identified. Eagle-eyed Helen Petzar Yoder (Mrs. Daniel W)of Venice,Fla showed the Elizabeth Yoder who married Ludwig Graber to be a daughter of Jacob Yoder and Maria Keim of the Oley line
Marshall Co, IN
10/9/1858--Ester Ann Yeoder m. Peter Q Nichols
11/26/1854--Margaret E Yoder m. Samuel Miller
11/11/1858--John H. Yeoder m. Mahala Nott
Bartholomew Co,IN
11/22/1825--Sally Yoder m. Labein Banister
1/5/1843--Cynthia Ann Yoder m. Robert Covert
7/ 3/1848--Moses Yoder m. Elenor Banister
11/6/1849-Catherine Yoder m. James Elson Potorff
Elkhart Co,Ind.
11/6/1851-Elizabeth Yoder m.Henry Smeltzer
8/5/1852 Abraham Yoder m. Judy Baughman
4/10/1861-Jacob Yoder m. Barbara Shriner
6/28/1863-Elizabeth Yoder m. Reuben Dillman
2/11/1868-Joseph Yoder m. Catherine Cripe
***********************************
STEPHANUS (STEPHEN) YODER SIGNATURE-1827
From the Amish Historical Society of Aylmer, Ontario comes a signature found in an 1834 AUSBUND printed by Joseph Bar of Lancaster,PA. Stephen is not a common early Yoder name and it seems likely
that this individual was the Stephen (b.6/10/1784 in Somerset Co,PA)who married Veronica Yoder and whose parents were John Yoder and Magdalena Stutzman. He settled died around Shanesville,OH 12/13/1867.
************************************
COL. GEORGE M. YODER
The Yoder family was established in North Carolina circa 1755-62 by one Conrad Yoder a Swiss immigrant, who landed at the port of Philadelphia on October 25, 1746.
Upon moving to Carolina many years later, Yoder took up residence with Heindrich Weidner and his family on the South Fork river in an area now located equadistantly between the cities of Hickory and Newton in Catawba County.
Conrad Yoder Purchased a 200-acre tract of land from Weidner, in December 1762, and made his living principally through farming. It is said that Yoder was also adept at stone masonry. By the end of his life the pioneer had acquired an estate of 1022 acres. The old settler died in the spring of 1790 and was buried high atop a hill near his homestead close by the waters of the Jacob's Fork of the South Fork river.
A distinguished great-grandson of Conrad Yoder was George M. , who was born in Lincoln (now Catawba) County, August 23, l826, the oldest of four son, of Michael and Magdalena "Polly"(Dietz)Yoder.
George Monroe Yoder attended the "Union Schoolhouse", a field school that operated for three month terms during the winter months. Yoder was eventually to become an assistant to the schoolmaster and following the completion of his own education the young man taught 13 sessions in the school.
Col. Yoder lived his entire life in Catawba County. He was a widely known corn and cotton farmer and like his grandfather, John Yoder, was a self-taught surveyor.
He was active in the local militia, having moved through the ranks as corporal, captain, major regimental adjutant and colonel.
In October, 1862, Col. Yoder volunteered for service in the Confederate Army. He served three years first as a private and later as a second lieutenant in Company F 38th N.C. Regiment and effective in 1863 as a captain in the Home Guard.
In county politics, Col. Yoder was a respected public servant and well-known political figure. At the time that he enlisted in the War Between the States, he was serving Catawba County as clerk of and master of equity. Following the war Col. Yoder practiced briefly as a magistrate, until 1866, when he was disfranchised from voting and holding public office by law (until that law was repealed by congress). When the Democratic Party gained control of state politics in 1875, Col. Yoder regained the office of magistrate in which capacity he continued to serve until 1894.
During the early 1880's, Yoder was a member of the county commission and later served one term as county surveyor. He was the county coroner in 1866-67 and again in 1892-94. Col. Yoder obliged his community by acting as the enumerator in Jacob's Fork Township for the Federal censuses of 1880 and 1890.
For many years Col. Yoder contributed articles about history and the weather to several area newspapers. The columns sometimes written under the pseudonym of "XYZ", detailed the early history of the South Fork River pioneers and their families.
Two historic sketches about the Yoder family which Col. Yoder penned in the latter portion of the nineteenth century formed the core of a History of the Yoder Family in North Carolina. The interesting volume which traces many of the descendants of Conrad Yoder was published in 1970 by Dr. Fred Roy Yoder, a grandson of Col. George M. Yoder.
As a result of his union in 1851 to Rebecon R. Herman (1833-75). Col. Yoder had five children. Francis Alfonzo (1851-1913), Julius Montfort (1853-1925), Mary Ann (1856-l931), Florence Irene (1860-1935), and Colin Monroe (1863-1953).
Colonel George M. Yoder and Eliza Yoder.
In 1877 Yoder was married to his first cousin, Eliza E. Yoder (1841-1924), a daughter of Jacob and Catherine "Katy" (Hahn) Yoder. By this union Col. and Mrs. Yoder produced one son, Enloe Michael Yoder (1379-1943).
On March 13, 1920. at his home in Catawba County Colonel George M. Yoder passed into eternity. It had been his request that his funeral service be held outdoors and the family respected his wishes. The remains of the venerable old citizen were committed to the grave yard at the Grace Lutheran Church, about seven miles southwest of Newton, where Col. Yoder held a life-long membership.
A contemporary newspaper in reporting Yoder's death offered a glowing tribute to the popular man, which editorialized in part that "we shall miss the presence of this remarkable old gentleman, who always had a cheerful word for us and always had his face turned towards the sunrise."
The world is made better by the lives of such men. Their influence has a tendency to lift up rather than tear down.
(The writer, Neal B. Wilfong, RR#2. Cleveland NC 27013, is a great-grandson of Francis A. and Louisa Catherine (Coulter) Yoder. F. A. Yoder was the oldest child of Col. George M. Yoder. Wilfong is secretary of the annual"Conrad Yoder Reunion" near Hickory NC)
*****************************************************
**********************QUERIES***********************
The YNL will publish Yoder related inquiries or exchanges at no charge.Please limit to 30 words or so plus return address. All inquiries are checked against our records to see if we can help too. Address your correspondence to: Yoder Newsletter Queries,203 Lakeshire Rd,Battl
****************************************************
HARRIET (SPOTTS) YODER , b.l854, Lebanon, Pa.m. GIDEON YODER 1872 in McClean Co.IL. Left her husband and two daughters about 1890. Parents died in Minn. Any info. concerning her later years would be appreciated. Tim O'Callaghan, 46878 Betty Hill, Plymouth, MI 48170.
****************************************************
What was the ancestry of JOSEPH YODER b.l/21/1878 Richland Twp., Cambria Co,PA? On 1903 marriage license to Gertrude Sowerbrowser his parents were listed as Joseph Yoder and Emma Baumgardner. Reply to: Duane Yoder,100 Old Stone House Rd. Carlisle,Pa 17013.
****************************************************
Parents of AARON YODER? b.c.1826 Bucks Co,PA.d.Sep. 9,1898 River Styx,OH.Married Katherine (?Traster?) b.c1832. Children were Susan (m. Wm Good):Reuben(m.Mary Rickert): Sarah (m.Jeff McFadden) and John. Reply to: Ralph s Thompson,1209 Northwest 43d St.,Gainesville, FLA 32605
****************************************************
Info wanted on FREDERICK YODER (JOTTER) (1813-1884) b. Oley Twp.Berks.Reportedly orphaned and raised by kinsman Daniel Yoder near Pleasantville.m.Maria Shartle (1815-1891)..Lived in Center Twp.,Berks. Children: Amelia(m.Marcus Davis) Alfred S.(m.Mary Haag) Jacob (m.Anna Maria Fisher) Mary(m. Reuben Phillips) Cyrus went to OH Valeria (m. Nathaniel Loeb): Wellington(m.Polly Balthaser). reply to: John B. Yoder Jr.,4303 Knights Ave.,Tampa,FL33611
****************************************************
THEODATE YEATER/YEATOR b.NH cl809/10.m. c1828/9 Joseph Bangle. Resided NH,VT,Canada,IL. Believed d. MO c1890. Reply: Judy Persin,P.O.Box 661767,Sacramento, CA 95866.
****************************************************
CHARLES THOMAS YODER b. 11/24/1815 Schuylkill Co,PA. m. in Pittsburgh 9/1/1842 Ann Eliz.Kennedy (8/1/1823-1894). He d. 8/14/1851.Children were:Charles Theodore (1843) (see below): Hamilton Wright (1844) (m.Mary L
****************************************************
Descendant info wanted on CHARLES THEODORE YODER. s/o Charles Thomas Yoder above.b. PA Jul 1843.Major during Civ. War. Lived Wash,DC. Wives believed Annie Warder and Emma L. . Pos. d. in 1915. A dau. Edith m. Albanus Johnson,Clara M. m ____McKee. ANY info appreciated.Chris Yoder 203 Lakeshire Rd.Battle Creek, MI 49015
****************************************************
Ancestry wanted...ANTHONY YODER b.May 16,1786 Berks Co. d. Dec.1,1852 Northumberland Co,PA. m. Sarah Howerter. His parents reportedly Peter Yoder and Catherine Fraud. reply to Robert D. Yoder, 884 Brockway Mills Dr.,Springfield,VT 05156.
***************************************************
Who were the parents of JOHN D YOTHER, b c1818 NC, m.Nov.22,1839 Lumpkin Co.,Ga to Anna Blackstock; d. about 1890. Reply to Janet M.
***************************************************
Ancestry wanted for William Youther. B.Feb.15,1865, m. Saphoni Halifax Miller Oct.3,1897, d.Apr.4, 1904 all events in Tennessee. Reply to Charles Youther, c/o 203 Lakeshire Rd. Battle Creek, MI 49015
***************************************************
Need parents & siblings of SARAH YODER b. ca 1822 PA m. (before 1842?!John Hickle (b.cal 822?PA). Lived in OH 1842. Dau. Sarah Jane
***************************************************
Need information from Yoders who have old histories connected to the Yoder/Cline pioneer families of Catawba County NC or from any kin. Also anyone (and all) veterans or next of kin of World War II connected to Catawba Co., please write. Mrs. Pauline H. Reinhardt 503 St. James Church Road Newton NC 28658
***************************************************
Would like info. on line of Jacob K. Yoder (Aug. 1828-April 1912) and Nancy Lantz (Oct. 1831-Dec.1860) Children: b. Mifflin County, PA- Madaline,1851; Sarah
***************************************************
(photo)
From the files of OTTMAR JOTTER and the late KARL JODER of Germany comes the photograph displayed above. Michael Yoder was a 1825 Amish Yoder immigrant from the Palatinate. He settled initially in Somerset Co, PA , but in 1845 moved with his family to Holmes Co, OH where many of his descendants reside today. Michael (1788-1873) was a miller who lived and worked at the Weitzendefer Mill near Heidelbach. He was the son of Samuel Joder (1745-1806) and Mary Gingerich. Samuel was the son of Jacob Joder, who was the son of Hans Joder and Catherine Eash of Steffisburg, Switzerland. (See YNL #2, European Yoder Research by Lois Ann Mast).
***********
ORIGINAL CHRISTIAN JOTTER HOMESTEAD IN BERKS Co??
In YNL#5, on the back page, we presented a map by John Mark Slabaugh which shows the approximate location of the Christian Jotter/Yoder (c1700-1775)property in Berks Co.,PA. Last summer one of your editors visited this property and photographed the house which John Mark indicated as the possible homestead property. The present owners welcomed the visit and showed where in working on a wall the original log beams of the structure could be seen. It is obvious that the house is very old, and it may well be the original homestead residence. In a stop with a long time resident somewhat upstream, it waslearned that the area was called "Platt's Valley". One of the pieces of Christian Yoder property is known to have been Patented to John Blatt in 1810. A large old barn is also on the property to the west
****************************************************
CORRECTION on SAMUEL P YODER BOOK REVIEW
We'd like to apologise for the erroneous statement in the item on "People of Conscience: The Samuel P. Yoder Family", by Lissa K Thompson (YNL #6.page 7) which indicated that he resided in the American West. Samuel was born near Morton, IL and spent the majority of his life near Fairbury, IL. He was a grandson of Peter Yoder and Fanny Blough of Wayne Co, OH (s/o Solomon Yoder and Barbara Miller, s/o Christian Yoder (1728-1816) and Barbara Hooley (1741-1812).
****************************************************
Descendants of Michel Yoder (1783-1873). Printed in 1973 and contains 891 families. Price $6.00 postpaid. Order from: Roy A. Yoder, RR4, 4901T.R. 367, Millersburg OH 44654
****************************************************
YODER CENSUS SUMMARY: Mrs. Dorothy Cofman has continued her efforts to extract Yode
$3.50 from her at 30 Grouse Rd., Malvern, PA 19355. An excellent tool for yourself and for donation to your favourite research library!!
****************************************************
NEW BOOK OFFER: THE AMISH IN AMERICA: Settlements That Failed, 1840-1960,by David Luthy, is available for $16 plus $1.50 postage from Pathway Bookstore,Rte.4,LaGrange, IN 46761. It is cloth bound, 555 pages, 8 1/2 X 11 and has many Yoders in its index of 5300 people.
****************************************************
CASPAR JODER -1578
The second of a series of the various Yoder coat of arms taken from the church at Steffisburg. Caspar Joder (1578)
*****************************************************
WE ARE DISCOVERING MANY INTERESTING NICK-NAMES AMONG THE YODERS. WHAT NICK-NAMES ARE IN YOUR FAMILY AND HOW DID THEY ORIGINATE???????
Please Reply to the Newsletter.
*************************************************
BIBLE RECORDS IDENTIFIED- The following bible records were submitted by their owner to the Ohio Genealogical Society Library. This data is not known to have been identified in any published genealogy and provides birth dates and locations for the children of David B.Yoder and Magdalena Reams(David s/o Henry and Anna (Yoder) Yoder s/o Henry and Catherine (Detw
Jacob Yoder 1842 June the 12 in Juniata Co PA
Pansey Yoder 1850 March 20 in Wayne Co OH
John Yoder 1853 August 8 in Wayne Co OH
The present owner of this Bible has offered to send it to anyone who can identify them self as a descendant of this couple. Please contact the newsletter for further information
*************************************************
North Carolina Yoder Reunion Announcement
Beginning in the middle 1890's on the Sunday nearest his birthday Col.George M. Yoder would invite his relatives and friends to an outdoor dinner in observance of the occasion. Those early "reunions" were the model for the establishment of the Yoder Reunion Association in 1950.
*************************************************
| Back to INDEX | Back to CONTENTS |