John George Teater

The Reverend John Caspar Stoever, a Lutheran circuit minister throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, records the baptisms of the children of "Joh. George Dieter, Opequon," including our ancestor:

               John George, b. Mar. 9, 1739, sponsors: George Bauman and wife Maria

[Note: The Reverend Stoever is assumed by the Eisenhower family be an ancestor of President Eisenhower. There were various Stoevers in Pennsylvania at this early time who were closely related and from the same area of Germany. Depending which book on early Virginia history one reads, the Reverend is presumed to be a direct ancestor of the President or an uncle.]

This Lutheran infant baptism indicates that the Dieters either fell away from “The Brethern” or were not part of Mack’s congregation upon their immigration. The Stoevers (Senior and Junior) ministered to German speaking Lutherans. During their absence, local lay leaders conducted Bible readings and often

taught reading.