Hollenbach - Our Family History
1907

The following was provided by Pat Markowitz from a booklet titled "Hollenbach - Our Family History", 1907.  Corrections were provided by Anita Reeb.  Also see Descendants of Johann Hollenbach.

At this time James S. Hollenbach was again elected president and the reunion will be held at his home in August, 1907.  The reunion has steadily increased in interest and also in the number of those attending.  Mrs. Laura A. Shults was appointed historian at the meeting in 1903,and the following pages will tell you the result of her labor.

The original Dutch name was spelled "Hollenbach" and this is the name the historian thought best to use throughout the history. Some of the descendants have Americanized the name and in the lists of descendants the historian has tried to spell the name as the families now spell it.

Mistakes may have been made, errors in spelling may have crept in, but your historian asks you forbearance, as the task assigned her has not been a light one.  It has required a great amount of time, labor and patience.

But this work has been cheerfully performed, if only this little book may be the means of binding the Hollenbach’s more closely together.

And it is to the descendants of Matthias Hollenbach that your historian dedicates this work.

LAURA A. SHULTS.

It one of the unwritten laws of the universe that everything however large or great, small or slight, must have a beginning, and thus the Hollenbach Family had its beginning.

Let your imagination carry you back to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pennsylvania, and there in the Town of Carlisle, Northumberland Co., behold a boy named Matthias Hollenbach, born in the year 1782, and a girl named Sofia Bower, born in the year 1785, in Berks Co., Penn., and this, in reality, is our beginning.

Of their youthful lives we know but little, nor indeed, are we very much interested in them, but one event we are very much interested in, as it was of vital importance to us; and that is that these two, when grown to manhood and womanhood, were married, and this organization represents the results of that union.

Matthias Hollenbach was of Dutch descent, his ancestors having come over from Holland at the time the Dutch settled in Pennsylvania.

This early ancestor was a wealthy man and was known as Baron Matthias.

He was a great huntsman in Holland, and he brought his horses, dogs and arms with him to this country.

At the time of the Wyoming massacre by the Indians, he was one of the few who escaped with his life. Baron Matthias had a son, named Nathaniel who was a farmer and considered quite a wealthy man for those days.Nathaniel named one of his sons Matthias, after the Baron, and it is the descendants of this son that comprise this organization.

This Matthias also chose farming as his chief occupation; and after his marriage he lived on a farm, first in Northumberland Co., later they moved on a farm near Allentown, Berks.Co., and there in Pennsylvania were born to them six children — Daniel, Samuel, John, Solomon, Esther and Kate.

During the time they lived in Berks Co.,in the years 1812 and 1813 occurred the Border Warfare, between the British and Canadians on the one side and the United States on the other.

Matthias joined a rifle company and went to the front, leaving his wife and four small children at home, with but scanty clothing and only one dollar in money; this she took to buy clothes for the children.

One incident connected with this war we must here recount.

The British crossed Niagara River and after destroying various forts and villages came into Buffalo, which was only a village of log houses then, and burnt it: two days after the United States Army marched into, where once stood Buffalo, but where now was only smoldering ashes. An old white horse was walking about in the hot ashes, and as the men marched along they kept watching the horse and finally Matthias stumbled and fell over a big stone that was lying in his path.

His captain soundly scolded him for his carelessness, saying among other things - "Was not that stone large enough for you to see, that you must needs go and fall over it?

He served nine months in the army, his weapon being a flint lock rifle. He also carried a small knapsack.

At the end of that time he returned home and the very night he arrived home his daughter Esther was born. Thus it was that through this war, Matthias Hollenback first came into New York State and Niagara Co., and he thought he would like it here.

This war caused much destitution and suffering among the people of New York and Pennsylvania, and as money was scarce and the soil of the Blue Ridge was stony, and not adapted to raising all kinds of crops, Matthias with a number of other families decided to cross the border into New York State.

Accordingly in the year 1819, he yoked his team of oxen to his wagon, which was covered like our canvass covered market wagons of today, packed into it his household goods and family, and started on his journey, (driving his live stock behind the wagon.)

A large part of the way led through dense forests where wild animals abounded. At meal time they stopped, built a fire by the roadside, hung over it a huge iron kettle, and cooked their meals therein. At night they slept in the wagon.

Finally they arrived at a small village called Cooneytown, in Seneca Co., N. Y. and here they decided to make their home.

Matthias who was also a tight barrel cooper, worked at this trade, and so expert was he, that he won the distinction of being the best tight barrel cooper in that part of the state.

His barrels were largely used as meat barrels, and were sought for by meat dealers as far east as Utica. But he was not contented here hind he decided to move again, this time going to a place on the Buffalo Road, about one mile from where Willliamsville now stands.

This was the stage road from Rochester and the east, and numerous inns or taverns, as they were called, were located all along the way. Stages were the only means of conveying goods or people anywhere in Western New York.

Here on this road, the family lived near where stood the barracks of the war of 1812, and where were buried many the soldiers and settlers who died or were killed at that time; and many are the stories told of the trenches or graves which were only partly filled up leaving exposed to view bones which had never been covered.

This new land was not drained as well as our lands of today and it sometimes happened, after a heavy rain, that they would have to get onto the back of one of their oxen to bring their cows home from pasture.

Matthias here worked on the Hersey and Metz farms. He also ground tan-bark for a tanner in Buffalo. Here his son John, who was a lad between eight or nine years old, died and was buried. Here they lived at the time of the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825.

The running of boats on the canal, and their ability to carry people and goods more swiftly and conveniently, so interfered with the stage coach business that it was soon discontinued.

Perhaps it would not be amiss, right here, to mention more fully some facts concerning the Erie Canal and what its completion did for those early pioneers of Western New York.

All about them were forests, of no value to them, they wanted land that they could cultivate, not timber; so the trees were cut down and burned.

After the canal went through there was a demand for timber for building purposes, and many took advantage of this opportunity, and hauled their logs, which to them were useless, to the canal, and floated them off, for which they received money.

They were also now able to sell their surplus farm products as well. Then too they could travel so much faster and with so much greater safety.

Before the advent of the stage coach it took one man three weeks to cut his way through the woods from Seneca Cog, to Chestnut Ridge, and another man was twenty-seven days coming by ox team and wagon from Northern Pennsylvania to Lockport.

After stage coaches began to run, it took much less time to make these journeys, but even t hen, the roads being rough and uneven, it made the journeys slow and tedious, and as The country was wild and largely uninhabited, except by Indians, and as wild beasts and rattle-snakes were numerous, the passengers had ever to be on the watch for the safety of themselves and their baggage.

But in 1820 David Thomas was appointed principal engineer of the canal from the Genesee River, west, and in 1821 the whole western division was put under contract for construction.

On July 4, 1823, the first stone of the Lockport Locks was laid; John Birdsall, a lawyer, stood upon the stone and made the announcement of the commencement of this important work. In 1824 the canal was navigable from Buffalo to the head of the Locks.

On June 24, 1825 the Locks were completed and a celebration was held over the laying of the cap stone. On Oct. 26, 1825 the canal was opened for commerce and the first boat started from Buffalo for New York City. This fact was announced by the firing of cannon which had been stationed along the canal from Buffalo to Sandy Hook.

On June 1, 1826, a line of packets was advertised to make the trip from Buffalo to Utica in three days.The old Locks were torn down and new ones built in 1840.

But let us return to Matthias Hollenbach and his family.

We left him residing at Williamsville on the Buffalo Road, but even here he was not quite contented. He wished to own a farm of his own and he knew from what he had seen when he was here in 1812, and from what had been told him, that the land in Niagara County was very fertile and also cheap; and he decided to buy a farm here and settle his family upon it. Therefore he and his oldest daughter Esther, started, on foot, over the Transit Road to come to his sisters, who was married and lived on the road we familiarly call The Johnny Cake.

The Transit Road was a new road. cut through the forest, and built largely of logs laid crosswise or as we say a corduroy road. Much of the land it passed through was the low land where now stand Millersport, Swarmsville, etc., but where in those days were immense swamps and they were obliged to jump from log to log. This was no easy matter, as Matthias carried a bag containing a bushel of corn upon his back, and Esther, a spinning wheel upon her back.

But they reached their destination, and Matthias soon had a farm of his own, buying sixty-three acres on the Johnycake Road, now owned by Mr. Christ. Ramming. Of the land only five acres were cleared the rest was forest land. He immediately built, a log house and brought his family here. They moved in a covered wagon with an ox team, as before.

His family had been increased by the birth of two children, a boy, Benjamin, and a girl — Elizabeth. One daughter — Sarah was born to them after they came to live on the Johnycake Road.

At the time they moved here Benjamin had a sore on his ankle and could not walk, so they made a bed for him in the wagon and he rode all the way.

Elizabeth, who was a baby six months old, was afraid of the wagon and she cried so that the mother had to walk all the way and carry her in her arms. It took them one whole day to reach their new home.

But this was a home of their very own and were they not willing to endure almost any hardship if only they might be able to live upon it? They began to clear off the woodland using their oxen to pull up the stumps. One accident befell them, in cutting down a large tree, it fell the wrong way, falling over the backs of the oxen and killing both of them.

They also cultivated their cleared land, raising mostly corn, rye, flax, potatoes and some wheat. Ah! This was indeed a goodly land to dwell in for here they could raise any quantity of wheat; not so in the Blue Ridge country, where white or wheat bread, which seems to us to be such a necessity, was a great luxury, some families having it only twice a year - on Christmas and the 4th of July.

Their mode of bread making is very interesting. They built an oven of sticks laid crosswise, one on the other with a hollow square in the center. The cracks were plastered with mud inside and out. The oven was then filled with wood and the fire lighted. When the oven became very hot, the fire was raked out and the bread was put in to bake. In place of bread tins they used baskets. These were made of straw, braided and then sewed, and formed into baskets. The bread was yeast bread, each one making their own yeast, and was made mostly of corn and rye flour. Some of our older people tell us that this bread was much sweeter than our bread of to day. Their main foodstuffs were potatoes, meat, mostly pork, rye and bread and johnycake.

Matthias had plenty of help to clear his wood land. His oldest son was fast nearing twenty years of age and his second son was seventeen, his oldest daughter was fourteen.

He brought with him from Williamsville, cows, hogs, sheep, and chickens; and as wolves, bears, and rattle-snakes were numerous, they had to keep close watch over them, and they themselves had ever to be on the alert, lest these, enemies surprise them.

Sometimes the cattle strayed far away in the forest, hence they resorted to the use of the cowbell and sheep bell.  The hogs were turned loose in the forest and fattened largely on acorns.  One day they strayed away and were lost.

Stretching away from the Johnny Cake Road was a dense and unbroken forest reaching to Tonawanda Creek, the Akron Road was only an Indian trail; but nevertheless the hogs had to be found, and so the mother started out to search for them.

She found them down between some logs near Hickory Corners, but she lost her own way in that dense forest. Fortunately for her a man soon passed along the path and he directed her which way to go to reach her home.

They also desired to possess some honey bees, therefore two of the sons walked to one of their old neighbors on the Buffalo Road and got a swarm of bees, wrapped a sheet around them, suspended them from a pole, which they carried home, across their shoulders.

The houses of those days were all built of logs, some who wished to build more elaborately than others hewed the logs square before putting them into their buildings.

Cracks and chinks were numerous and, in winter the snow sifted through these, so that in getting up in the morning, they were sometimes obliged to step with their bare feet into a drift of snow. Most of the people slept on feather beds and also had feather beds to cover them. Their houses were generally one story and a half high with two rooms down stairs and two low rooms upstairs. They also had great wide chimneys with open fireplaces wherein they rolled great logs and the light from these burning logs was so bright that they could see to work by it.

Across the chimney at the second story was placed an iron rod on two large hooks, one on each side of the chimney, and from this rod, suspended other iron rods, called cranes, generally three in number, whereon were hung the kettles and tea-kettles. Their frying pans had three short legs under it and this they shoved into the glowing coals; thus they did their cooking.

Their furniture was made by carpenters and was all hand work. They fashioned it all out of the rough boards or logs. and while it was heavier and more cumbersome than in these days, yet it was very substantial and well made and quite ornamental, and the cabinet maker of those days had to be an expert in his profession, as he was called upon to make beds, chairs, stands, bureau., cupboards, tables and everything else anyone might need.

John Backman, a brother-in-law of Matthias was the furniture maker of the Hollenback family, some furniture made by him over fifty years ago is still in the possession of one of the families. Some built their own farm implements and most everyone built their own sleighs.

Their earliest lamps were lard lamps. These were made of iron, shaped something like a canoe, with a lid to cover over them and a spout at one end, out of which the wick extended, this wick was made of strands or cords, loosely twisted together.  These lamps all had iron hooks on them and these they hooked into iron rings fastened to iron rods which were suspended from the ceiling, much after the manner of our chandeliers.

Their earliest newspapers were about the size of one page of our papers and were folded pamphlet fashion.

The first school house in this part of Niagara Co., was a log house standing on the same plot of ground where the Johnycake school house now stands, but not on the same spot.

The first churches were of the Dutch Reformed denomination, one standing where the Stahler Cemetery is now located and the other where now stands St. Paul’s Lutheran, or the Brick Church as it is more frequently called, on the Akron Road.

These churches were built of logs, with long wooden seats with rather high backs and quite a large round rail at the top. The men sat on one side of the church and the women on the other side. The churches were served by a minister from Landcaster at first. Rev. Kellar was the first one to preach, later Rev. Kugler became the pastor. During his pastorate the congregation grew so large that the log church on the Akron Road became entirely too small; they therefore tore it down and then built the present brick church.

When Matthias Hollenbach first came into Niagara Co. in 1827, Lockport was only a little settlement. It was not incorporated into a village until March 26, 1829. All about the village stood dense forests, the site being marked by a clearing about four square miles. Most of the village was built in Lowertown, only Main, Niagara and Transit Sts., forming Uppertown. It was no uncommon thing for deer to roam about the streets.

In 1830 the population of the Town of Lockport was only 1723 and of the village 2100.

The Postal System of those days was somewhat different from that of today.  The first postman that Niagara Co. had was probably Philip Beech who went afoot following a path marked by blazed trees, and sleeping wherever night overtook him, with the ground for a pillow and the sky for a covering. Later the postmen went on horseback carrying the letters in their pockets. Then the stage coaches carried the mail and lastly the cars.

At first the postage was twenty-five cents per letter, the receiver paying instead of the sender, later it was reduced to eighteen cents per letter and soon until our present rate of two cents an ounce or fraction thereof. The first post-office in Lockport was established in 1822.  It was located in a grocery and dry goods store. George H. Boughten being the postmaster.

Mathias Hollenbach had eight children four girls and four boys that grew to manhood and womanhood. The girls all learned the art of spinning; they spun wool and flax for cloth and also linen thread they spun for other people as well as their own family.  The boys all learned to be coopers as well as farmers.

In 1826, L. A. Spalding built a flour mill in Lockport, and here they sold their barrels at two shillings and six pence.

They cut their own logs and had to make everything pertaining to a barrel, all by hand, out of these logs. It is said of Samuel that he could make six barrels in one day.

Daniel, the oldest son, was a great hunter. He would start out on his hunting trips early in the morning with a compass in his pocket to guide him and many were the deer and other game he brought home, across his shoulders.

So So plentiful were deer in these parts, that they would come and eat the food prepared for the cattle and so many did Daniel kill that the meat was often given to the neighbors, his own people growing tired of eating venison.

He was considered the crack shot of Niagara Co. But now Matthias’ family were children no longer, and they all married and made homes of their own, the trials, and experiences of their early married lives and home makings being much the same as their fathers.

After their marriage they nearly all lived in Niagara or Erie Counties, and here most of their descendants are still found. Daniel was the only one of the children to go far away.  He moved to Fulton, Marion Co., Ohio. He was the only one who was twice married.

Samuel and Solomon both belonged to the State Militia. Solomon was the drummer boy of his company. This company used to drill in a field in the rear of Solomon’s house at Hickory Corners. Their uniforms were bright red coats trimmed with blue straps and brass buttons; and blue caps with bright red feather in front.  These soldier boys were called out to Schlosser at the time of the Patriot War in Canada.

‘The circumstances of this uprising were these; that during the Canadian Patriot War, at midnight on December 29, 1837, seven boat loads of Canadians crossed over the Niagara River from Chippewa to the lock at Schlosser where the little boat Caroline lay moored. They boarded the vessel, drove off her crew, and passengers, cut her fastenings, towed her out to the middle of the river, set her afire, and sent her over the Falls. One man, Amos Durfee was killed. The reason they gave for this attack was, that this boat was carrying arms and ammunition to the Canadian patriots camp on Navy Island.

This her owners denied claiming she only carried passengers and sightseers. For this high handed action oil the part of the British the militia was called to Schlosser, but the British Government quickly apologized and thus war was averted. The militia gave it the name of Pork and Beans War. Samuel and Solomon remained at Schlosser ten days, the married men staying that length of time, the single men twenty days. For this service they all received small sum of money.  In later years the government gave each man a land warrant. These warrants called for one hundred and sixty acres of land in the west. They both sold their land for one dollar per acre.

One circumstance connected with the militia's going to Schlosser we must relate.

In 1835 the Lockport and Niagara Falls Railroad or the Strap Road as they called it, was commenced It was finished in 1836. Steven Sult was foreman of the construction work and William E. Cooper was one of its first locomotive engineers. At first the trains were run by horse power but later by steam power.

On August 23, 1836, the railroad advertised two trips per day, by steam power ; the speed being twenty-four miles in one hour and forty minutes or a mile in a little more than four minutes. The railroad crossed the Eighteen Mile Creek and than ran up over Pioneer Hill.

The militia boarded the train and it started, but when it came to pull up over the hill it was found to be too heavily loaded and it could not get up. The conductor wanted the men to get out and push and thus help the engine; some did but others refused, saving, "They had paid their fares and meant to ride so as to get the full worth of their money."

Mrs. William Preish, Benjamin Hollenbach’s oldest daughter has the honor of being the first baby christened in the Brick Church on the Akron Road.  Rev. Kugler performed the ceremony and Samuel Hallenbach and his wife, uncle, and aunt of the child, stood as sponsors.

Matthias Hollenbach died in 1849 aged sixty-seven years and Sofia, his wife, in 1865 aged eighty-one years. They both died on the Johnnycake Road although not on their original farm.

Of the children only one was alive when this organization was formed; Mrs. Elizabeth Frey who died in 1905. Of the daughters-in-law only one was alive — Mrs. Benjamin Hollenbach who died March 1, 1907. She was the last one of the original family.  Of the sons-in-law only two were alive — Jacob Widrig who died in 1905 and Howard Simons who died in 1906.  Jacob Widrig lived to be the oldest in years. He being ninety-five when he died.  All of the children lived to be over sixty. Two of the sisters Kate and Sarah died only two weeks apart, and three of the sons — Samuel, Solomon, and Benjamin died within ten months.

This is the record your historian has been able to gather.

Following are the names of all those descendants of Matthias Hollenbach who were living on July 1, 1907. They are arranged in families according to the son or daughter they descended from.

Daniel Hollenbach married as his first wife Annie Smith and as his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth Pitts.  His descendants are the following:

Margaret Hollenbach,

Mr. Samuel S. Smith,

Mrs. Samuel S. Smith,

Mrs. Alice Roberts,

Mr. Samuel Roberts,

Earl Roberts,

Hellen Roberts,

Mr. Chas. Roberts,

Mrs. Chas. Roberts,

Edwin Roberts.

Mr. Owen Landon,

Mrs. Owen Landon,

Mr. Simeon Blue,

Mrs. Simeon Blue,

Maud Blue,

Ray Blue,

Roy Blue,

Mr. Flem D. Kirby,

Mrs. Flem D. Kirby,

Ethel Kirby,

Chas. Kirby,

Mr. Win. Almendinger,

Mrs. Win. Almendinger,

Margaret Almendinger,

Grover Almendinger,

Harry Almendinger,

Paul Almendinger,

Mr. John C. Smith,

Mrs. John C. Smith,

Bernice Smith,

Ruby Smith,

Mr. H. W. Cratty,

Mrs. H. W. Cratty,

Mr. J. H. B. Howison,

Mrs. J. H B. Howison,

Mr. Chas. Isler,

Mrs. Chas. Isler,

Ada Isler,

Frederick Isler,

Mr. Max Thibaut,

Mrs. Max Thibaut,

l)ale Thibaut,

Millard Thibaut,

Mr. John Hollenbach,

Mrs. John Hollenbach,

Mr. Jacob Hollenbach,

Mrs. Jacob Hollenbach,

Chas. C. Hollenbach,

Hazel Hollenbach,

Mr. K. A. Bevis,

Mrs. K. A. Bevis,

John D. Bevis,

Mary E. Bevis,

Mr. Clement Hollenbach,

Mr. Samuel Hollenbach,

Mrs. Samuel Hollenbach.

Total 56.

Samuel Hollenbeck married Elizabeth Preish and they left the following descendants:

Mr. M. Win. Hollenbeck, Hazel C. Hollenbeck,

Mrs. M. W. Hollenbeck, Mr. J. Fred Hollenbeck,

Dr. Wilson Pettit, Mrs. J. F. Hollenbeck,

Mrs. Wilson Pettit, Carl F. Hollenbeck,

Harold W. Pettit, Mr. Daniel Behe,

Mary L. Pettit, Mrs. Daniel Behe,

Hazel M. Pettit, Mr. Peter Bush,

Margaret E. Pettit, Mr. James Bush,

Mr. Chas. Hollenbeck, Mrs. James Bush,

Mrs. Chas. Hollenbeck, Mr. Ira Bush,

Mr. Ed. Hollenbeck, Mrs. Ira Bush,

Mrs. Ed. Hollenbeck, Glenn F. Bush,

A. .F. Hollenbeck, Lenora M. Bush,

Mr. Hubert Hollenbeck, Dr. Win. H, Symonds,

Mrs. Hubert Hollenbeck, Mrs. Win. Syrnonds,

Doris M. Hollenbeck, Win. C. Symonds,

Mrs. Daniel Hollenbeck, Albert Symonds,

Mr. D. Hollenbeck, Jr. Mr. George Woods,

Mrs. D. Hollenbeck, Jr. Mrs. Geo. Woods,

Walter Hollenbeck, Ashley L. Woods,

Mr. Geo. Hollenbeck, Mr. Jesse Long,

Mrs. Geo. Hollenbeck, Mrs. Dr. Samuel Long,

Mr. Chas. C. Dewalt, Lillian Long,

Mrs. Chas. C. Dewalt, Hazel Long,

Chester C. H. Dewalt, Mr. Chas. Long,

Mr. James S. Hollenbeck, Mrs. Chas. Long.

Mrs. Jas. S. Hollenbeck, Marion Long,

Hazel Long.

Total 55

Solomon Hollenback married Saloma Preisch and left the following descendants:

Mr. S. S. Hollenback,

Mrs. S. S. Hollenback,

Mr. Thos. Pearson,

Mrs. Thos. Pearson,

Maude Pearson,

Mr. Lawrence Duncan,

Mrs. Lawrence Duncan,

M. Grace Duncan,

Mrs. John V. Gunby,

Mr. Warren E. Gunby,

Mrs. Warren E. Gunby,

Mr. Geo. W. Gunby,

Mrs. Geo. W. Gunby,

Florence E. Gunby,

Ethel M. Gunby,

Mr. Henry Brandt,

Mrs. Henry Brandt,

Mr. Jacob Stegner,

Mrs. Jacob Stegner,

Gertrude Stegner,.

Mr. Ed. Stegner,

Mrs. Ed. Stegner,

Dorland Stegner,

Leora M. Stegner,

Mr. William Stegner,

Mrs. William Stegner,

Erie C. Stegner,

Ruth W. Stegner,

Mr. Nelson Widrig,

Mrs. Nelson Widrig,

Nellie M. Widrig,

Allen Widrig

Mr. A. W. Hollenback,

Mrs. A. W. Hollenback,

Mr. Walter O. Shults,

Mrs. Walter O. Shults,

Miss Anna Keck,

Mr. Leon Layer.

Total 38.

Esther Hollenback married James La Roche and the following are her descendants:

Mr. Samuel LaRoche

Mrs. Samuel LaRoache

Samuel La Roche Jr.

Dora La Roache

Elmer La Roche

Harold La Roche

Elton La Roche

Ralph LaRoche

Lawton La Roche

Mrs. Emanuel Preish (nee Maude LaRoche)

Mr. Baldwin

Mrs. N. Baldwin

Washington Baldwin

Mr. Herbert Wallace

Mrs. Herbert Wallace

Ruth Wallace

Winifred Wallace

Robert Wallace

Donald Wallace

Mr. Frank Flexner

Mrs. Frank Flexner

Mr. C. W. Pierce

Mrs. C. W. Pierce

Mr. Frank Lerch

Mrs. Frank Lerch

Eugene Lerch

Total 26

Kate Hollenback married Jacob Widrig and left no descendants.

Elizabeth Hollenback married Jacob Frey and the following are her descendants:

Mr. Wm. Frey, Viola Frey,

Mrs. Wm. Frey, Herbert Frey,

C. Floyd Frey, Marshall Frey,

Blanche E. Frey, Dorothy Frey,

Mr. Geo. W. Frey, Miss Eliza J. Frey,

Mrs., Geo W. Frey, Mr. Orimer K. Sharp,

Mr. Chas. W Frey, Mrs. Orimer K. Sharp,

Mrs. Chas. W. Frey, Cresent E. F. Sharp,

Mildred C. Frey, Mr. C. Frederick Crofut,

Mrs C. Frederick Crofut.

Total 19.

Sarah Hollenback married Howard Simons and left the following descendants:

Mr. Win. H. Simons,

Mrs. Win. H. Simons,

Farrington Simons,

Mr. Frank Simons,

Mrs Frank Simons,

Minnie Simons

Mr. Burt Simons

George Simons,

Eva Simons,

Charles Simons,

Mr. Benjamin Deci,

Mrs. Benjamin Deci,

Benjamin F. Deci, Jr.

V. Simons.

Total 13.

Grand total of living descendants 279.

Corrections
The following corrections and clarifications were provided by Anita Reeb.

Following is an account of what I have written correcting and showing the errors in this booklet. I have done so to correct the errors that were made in Laura's accounts. As you will see, Mathias's father was NOT "Baron Mathias", but Johann Conrad Hollenbach. This booklet is also listed in PERSI.

In 1907 a booklet was compiled by Laura A. Shults entitled "Our Family History - 1907" for the Hollenbach family reunion. Laura was a great-granddaughter of Mathias Hollenbach. The family reunions started in 1904 and the last one being held in the 1940's.

I must commend Laura Shults for her endeavor in compiling this booklet. I do not mean to discredit Laura for her work, as it was not an easy job to research, I am sure. As they did not have the means or facilities in which to do a thorough job of researching, I believe that alot was written from hearsay. At the time of her research, only one daughter-in-law and two son-in-laws were living at an advanced age. Grandchildren that may have contributed probably repeated stories they had heard and we know that stories sometimes get changed as they get passed down.

After years of reading this booklet and being fascinated by it, I decided I wanted to know more about these ancestors. In contacting many genealogical societies in Pennsylvania and after having Pennsylvania researchers check out leads, it was soon found, there were several inaccuracies and no proof to back up some of what was written in the little booklet.

After checking out many references to any and all "Mathias Hollenbach's" in Pennsylvania, I finally found some new information, and was able to narrow my search and locate our Matthias. After checking census records, there was no reference ever found for a Nathaniel Hollenbach or a "Baron" Matthias as referenced in the booklet.

For those who may have the Hollenbach booklet previously mentioned, I have taken the time to clear up some of these inaccuracies

ERROR - On page 3, "let your imagination carry you back to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pennsylvania and there in the Town of Carlisle, Northumberland County, behold a boy named Mathias Hollenbach born in the year 1782."

FACT - First, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Town of Carlisle are in Perry County, not Northumberland County. Perry County was originally taken from Cumberland County. When a young boy, Mathias lived in Northampton County. Possibly these "umberland's" and "North" caused some confusion, as this information was probably passed on down thru the years on hearsay. Also, his gravestone and census records indicate he was born in 1784.

ERROR - On page 3 of the booklet, she states "Matthias Hollenbach (referring to the grandfather of our Mathias) was of Dutch descent, his ancestors having come over from Holland at the time the Dutch settled in Pennsylvania. He was a great huntsman in Holland and he brought his horses, dogs and arms with him to this country."   Wrong!

FACT - Mathias Hollenbach was of German descent. His father, Johann Conrad Hollenbach, having been born in Lindfluhr Germany (Bavaria). Many times the Germans sailed to America from Dutch seaports. Thus, if someone would ask where they came from, many answered Holland as meaning the seaport they set sail from. Also, Deutsch which is actually a name for the german people, was mispronounced Dutch. Thus people came up with the term Pennsylvania Dutch when they were really Pennsylvania Germans.

ERROR - On page 4 she stated that he lived in Northumberland Co, then later moved to Allentown, Berks Co.

FACT - Allentown is located in Lehigh County, which was taken from Northampton County. It was not in Berks County. As a boy Matthias did live in Northampton County. His family later moved to Berks County. About 1809 the family moved to Perry County, which was taken from Cumberland County in 1820.

ERROR - On page 4 she stated about the elder Matthias "at the time of the Wyoming massacre by the Indians he was one of the few who escaped with his life". Wrong !

FACT - There was a Matthias Hollenbach who resided in the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area that was a merchant, judge and colonel. It is said his father came from Wurtemburg, Germany. He was of comfortable means, and very prominent among the people.. This man's son, Colonel Matthias served in the Revolution and became quite a land baron, very well-to-do and respected by all. The Colonel had one son named George and he only had an adopted son. So this is not our ancestor. In a biographical sketch of this Colonel Matthias Hollenbach I quote ""Mathias Hollenback became prominent in the history of the state and was one of the few who survived the massacre at Wyoming." This is not our ancestor. I feel that she did find information on the Colonel and assumed he to be ours.  

ERROR - On Page 4 she stated that Baron Matthias had a son named Nathanial.  

FACT - After an exhaustive search, I found no record found in Pennsylvania of a Nathaniel Hollenbach.

ERROR - On page 21 she states that Matthias died in 1849. Wrong.

FACT - According to his gravestone, he died August 22, 1851. He also appears in the 1850 census for the Town of Royalton, so he was still living in 1850.  

ERROR - On page 26 it says Benjamin Hollenbeck married Maria Brown. Wrong.

FACT - She was in fact Maria Barbara Deal. Her parents were John Deal and Susanna Brown all of Seneca Co., NY. This has been proven in her death record and in the estate file of her grandfather, Michael Brown Sr. (father of Susanna).

She is true in saying that our Matthias served in the War of 1812. He was indeed stationed in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls area. I have copies of the papers from the National Archives.

He also served with two of his brother-in-laws, David Dysinger and George Dysinger. Also in the booklet it mentions a brother-in-law John Backman as a furniture maker. Also in his company was a John Boughman, who deserted the army. I believe this is the same person after seeing how they pronounced some of their words and names. He was probably related on Sophia's side of the family.

Laura does say that about 1819 he came to NYS. We do know that according to the tax rolls, he was in Toboyne Township, Perry Co. in 1817, but by 1820 he was gone. She was correct in stating that his occupation was that of a barrel cooper. He did indeed reside in Kuneytown (Cooneytown) Seneca County, New York before settling in the Town of Royalton, Niagara County, NY.

Aside from the early family information that was included in the booklet, much of the other information appears to be reliable.

Anita Reeb

Additional Corrections from Anita Reeb

9/1/99

She left out one of the children and their decendants, which is my great great-grandfather, Benjamin. She copied the listing for Daniel - Samuel - Solomon - Esther - Elizabeth & Sarah, but she omitted Benjamin who was between Esther & Elizabeth. She even listed the grand total of living decendants at 279, but she omitted my 72 decendents which is a part of that total.

Mr. William Preisch
Mrs. William Preisch
Elma Preisch
Edward Preisch
Cleveland Preisch
Walter Preisch
Mr. Jacob Fischer
Mrs. Jacob Fischer
Gelnn J. Fischer
Howard O. Fischer
Lulu M. Fischer
Mr. William O. Preisch
Mrs. William O. Preisch
W. Ernest Preisch
Robert T. Preisch
Mr. Warren Preisch
Mrs. Warren Preisch
Floyd Preisch
Mr. Emanuel Preisch
Mrs. Emanuel Preisch
Irene Preisch
John Preisch
Donald Preisch
Mr. Burt Blosser
Mrs. Burt Blosser
Harley Blosser
Alvin Blosser
Nellie Blosser
Mable O. Blosser
Mr. Jacob B. Baker
Mrs. Jacob B. Baker
Letah Baker
Avice Baker
Mr. John Hollenbeck
Mrs. John Hollenbeck
Asa Hollenbeck
Herman Hollenbeck
Ray Hollenbeck
Mr. Benjamin Hollenbeck
Mrs. Benjamin Hollenbeck
Grace Hollenbeck
Leon Hollenbeck
Mr. Elmer Harrington
Mrs. Elmer Harrington
Gladys Harrington
Mr. William Deaterly
Mrs. William Deaterly
Melvina Deaterly
Rosa M. Deaterly
Mr. Raymond Snell
Mrs. Raymond Snell
Melvin Snell
Howard Snell
Mr. Edward Ogden
Mrs. Edward Ogden
Beatrice E. Ogden
Mr. Oliver Hollenbeck
Mrs. Oliver Hollenbeck
Louie Hollenbeck
Ella Hollenbeck
Mr. Charles Ertman
Mrs. Charles Ertman
Laverne M. Ertman
Mr. William Plarr
Mrs. William Plarr
William Plarr Jr.
Charles Plarr
Florence Plarr
George D. Plarr
Anna I. Plarr
Elmer Plarr
Amanda Hollenbeck
Frank Hollenbeck

TOTAL 72

Return to Hollenbeck Genealogy