Dielman Schumacher Kolb

The following is taken from an old book which was printed in Germany in 1581, and was brought over to this country by Dielman Kolb and was in the possession of the family until 1895, when it was sold at public sale after the death of Daniel K. Cassel, Harleysville, PA.

(Translation) Anno, 1691, the 10th of November, I Dielman Kolb, was born into this world at one o'clock in the afternoon. Anno 1714, on St. Jacob's Day, in the 23rd year of my age, I was married to my housewife, Elizabeth. Anno, 1717, the 21st of March, we went to Ibersheim, in the Palatinate, on the journey to Pennsylvania and the 10th August, 1717, arrived safely here in Philadelphia. This book belongs to me, Dielman Kolb, and I have received it from Jacob Schnebli of Manheim, in the Palatinate, Anno Dom., 1722 at this time dwelling in Solforth township, in the County of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.

Dielman Kolb made his will July 8, 1748, and it was proved April 30, 1757, nearly nine years later. In this will, he named as trustees his "loving and trusty friend Henry Funk" and John Ulrich Berger. He provided well for his widow, Elizabeth, during her natural life; it is not know how long she survived him. Except for 50 acres of land to be laid out of that part next adjoining the land he had sold to his stepson, Jacob Snebley, which he left to his grandson Dielman Ziegler, he bequeathed to his only child, Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Ziegler, Sr., all his lands, plantations and tenements whatsoever. To his stepson, Matthias, and granddaughter, Catherine Ziegler, he left cash money and to the "Congregation of ye Dutch Mennonists in Salford" he bequeathed 2 pounds 1 shilling and to the Mennonists of "Perkyomin & Skepack," he left a like su

Dielman Kolb died December 28, 1756. David Shultze, the surveyor, entered upon his notebook the following under date of December 28, 1756: "Der alte Dielman Kolb zu Shippack is auch gestorben d. 28th xbr." And then on December 30: "Went to Shippack to the burial." While there is no doubt that he was buried in the graveyard adjoining the church in Lower Salford, which he so long and faithfully served, there is no stone standing today to mark his last resting place. He was in his sixty-seventh year, not quite having reached the alotted three score and ten. "Few men, even in that day of heroic characters, can lay claim to a nobler life, and while no monument marks his last resting place, his name for all time will be indissolubly linked with that great historical work of the Pennsylvania Mennonites, the most durable monument of the denomination.

From Find a Grave Contributor Ralph Brown