John (Johannes) George Zediker (Zürcher)

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=shasta473...

Name: John ZEDIKER born 1772

Sex: M

Birth: 1772 in Frederick Co., Maryland

Death: 1845 in Iowa

_EMAF: 0

Note: The following biography is about Robert Zediker a grandson of John Zediker, but it also has information about grandfather John and father Lewis Zediker:

p. 1202 ROBERT ZEDIKER. This progressive and enterprising citizen of South Strabane township is a representative of one of the best-known and most prominent families in the county. John Zediker, grandfather of subject, was a native of eastern Pennsylvania, and in their youth he and his brother David, having an eye to the grandeur and fertility of the then "far West," set out to "spy the land," ostensibly on a hunting expedition, and finally arriving in Washington county, they were so fascinated with the beauties and attractions of South Strabane township, that they here resolved to remain and cast their lot. John, while in eastern Pennsylvania, had learned the trade of blacksmith, which he carried on for many years in the county of his adoption. Soon after his arrival he married Margaret, daughter of Ludwig Smith, who was among the earliest settlers of the county, and the children born to this union were Lewis, Susan (Mrs. Joseph Hallam), Elizabeth (Mrs. George Smith), Julia A. (Mrs. James Schwisher), Mary (Mrs. Matthew Doak) and John. Mr. Smith took a "tomahawk claim" of nearly a thousand acres of wild land, a part of which is now occupied by the subject of this sketch. He early identified himself with the politics of his section, and was prominent among the Federalists. In church matters he also took an active interest, and in the organization of the Lutheran Church in Amwell township he was a prominent factor. In this Society he was an elder for many years. Lewis Zediker, father of our subject, was born in 1792 in South Strabane township, and passed his boyhood and youth on the home place, attending the subscription schools of his locality. In his early manhood he was married to Isabella, daughter of Robert Henry, and the children born to them were John (deceased), George, Robert, Nicholas, Sarah (Mrs. William Birmingham), Mary A., Susan (Mrs. E. R. Smith), Julia (Mrs. Frank Martin) and Harriet (Mrs. John Redick). After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Zediker took up their residence on the farm of his father-in-law, where he built a log cabin in which they lived some years; then moved to the place known as the "B. B. Zediker farm," on which they passed the remainder of their days, Mr. Zediker dying in 1867, his widow in 1876. Their remains repose in the Pigeon Creek U. P. cemetery. As members of the United Presbyterian Church at Pigeon Creek, Mr. and Mrs. Zediker were among its most active and liberal supporters. In politics originally a Whig, afterward a Republican, he was a leading counselor in the ranks of either party. Robert Zediker was born August 24, 1822, on the old homestead, where he was early inducted into the multifarious duties of farm life. He attended the common schools of the district, and was regarded as one of the most apt scholars of his section. On December 25, 1849, Mr. Zediker was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of John Hewitt, of Amwell township, and the children born to them are Mary J. (Mrs. John Berk), Anna M. (Mrs. Aaron Gamble), Martha B. (Mrs. George Shipe), Margaret K. (deceased), John H. (deceased), Emma G. (deceased), Lizzie (Mrs. John N. White) and Fannie. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Zediker took up their residence on the home farm, where they yet live, and on which they have made material improvements, having built two commodious dwellings; the one in which they at present reside was erected in 1885. A zealous and enthusiastic Republican, Mr. Zediker has for many years been one of the leaders of the party in his section, and he has ever taken a deep interest in all matters tending to the advancement of his township and county, particularly in educational affairs, in connection with which he has done much to elevate the standard of instruction, and for a long period he served as director of schools. Mr. Zediker, through his liberality and influence, was of valued assistance in getting the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad through his locality, giving the right of way, and donating grounds for the station. Text taken from page 1202 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/. Beers publication by J.H. and Co. in 1893 (Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington Co, Pa.) Book is mentioned in many other places in the Hallam and Zediker family notes. He was mentioned as the grandfather of Robert Zediker on page 1202. John was a native to Eastern Pa. He had a brother named David and they ventured west in Pa. and settled in Washington County, Pa. John settled in South Strabane Twp. He married Margaret the daughter of Ludwig Smith who was among the earliest settlers of the county. John resided later on what was the Tomahawk Claim by Mr. Smith which comprised of nearly thousand acres of wild land. John was also was prominent factor and participant in the Lutheran Church in Amwell township. Source for marriage date and some children info from mail list for Washington Co. posted Oct. 11, 1998 by bkaezf@aol.com referencing Jean Suplick Matusons database for the Zediker families. Ancestry World Tree Project: Vahary and Dawson Ancestors, contact: Patti Vahary.


Email from a researcher:

Morning Susan, I got a really shortened version of things for you right now. Back at work this morning. OK, from info I have collected over the years, Zediker name was originally Zurcher--why or how it got changed is a mystery, but the name is now Zediker (or Zedaker or Zedeker). Our crew is coming from Germany and Switzerland--orginally Switzerland I think. Looks like Julias father and mother born in Maryland, possibly married there and at some point moved to PA. Here it gets rather murky--Philadelphia keeps popping up, but where a lot of Zedikers finally landed was Washington Co PA. Julia could have been born, I feel, in any one of these three places. I am leaning towards Washington Co PA. She seems to have been the youngest in the family and when the stuff hit the fan when her father committed adultery/bigamy, they were already in Washington Co PA. Julia was just a baby when her father remarried. I have come across something somewhere that said our bunch were Mennonites--which fits with the Swizerland and Germany origins. Ill look again for it--its in my computer somewhere. The other thing is-I have not found any early Zedikers participating in Revolution or other early wars, like War of 1812. If they were Mennonites, then this would fit as Mennonite/Amish dont participate in military things. Maybe I am not looking in the right places, but so far, no military service seen. There are a couple of later Zedikers fighting in Civil War I think, but thats it. Other info I have says Zedikers were Lutheran. Earliest Zurcher I have is Julian Zurcher, b. c 1649 Switzerland-d 22 Feb 1688 Germany. (I get place names for you, forgot to write them down). Married Ursula Unknown (m. c 1672). Ursula b 1646, d 14 MArch 1716 Germany. Son of these two: BALTOZAR ZURCHER Number 1 : b 18 Jan 1673-d 17 May 1742, married Wife Unknown. Son of Baltozar #1: BALTOZAR ZURCHER #2: b. c 1705, d c. March 1782 Germany. Married Christiana/Christina Unknown b c 1709, d 25 Feb 1735 Germany. Gets murky here too...possibly Baltozar emigrated to this country, as his son was married in Philadelpshia. Son is: CHRISTOPHER ZURCHER/ZEDIKER b 11 Sept 1734, d August 1786. Ill check where I have Christopher as being born--might have been Germany. Christopher married (30 November 1756) to MARGARETHA FALCKENSTEIN b 30 April, d 14 January 1791. Have info on her family as well. Kids of Christopher and Margaretha--had large family--only giving you son John right now, can send rest later on. JOHN ZURCHER/ZEDIKER b. 1772-1778 Maryland, d 1845 Iowa married 1st : MARGARET SCHMIDT/SMITH b 1 April 1773 Frederick Co,Maryland d. 1824 Washington Co PA I think. Daughter of Lodowyck/Ludwig SCHMIDT/SMITH and Susannah Schreiber--no further info on Ludwig or Susannahs families at this point. Ludwig (b c 1755) and Susannah had a pile of kids, and there was a lot of intermarriage between the two families--cousins marrying cousins etc. This went on for about two generations and then stopped. Info coming. Kids of John and Margaret 1. Mary Zediker b?, d? married Matthew Doak 2. Susan Zediker b 1 Nov 1793, married Joseph Hallam 3. Lewis/Ludwig Zediker b 15 Feb 1795, married Isabelle Henry(another of my ancestors) Isabelle sister to my great great great grandfather Joseph Henry. 4. Magdalen Zediker b 23 October 1796, d? no marriage info, possibly died young 5. MArgaret Zediker b 20 November 1798, married Nicholas Henry--I think he was Isabelles brother. 6. John Zediker b c. 15 Dec 1800, married Margaret Guthrie/Guttery. Guttery/Guthries are tied into Lodowyck Schmidt/Smith--I think Margaret is one of his granddaughters--Ill check. 7. Elizabeth Zediker b 10 Feb 1803, married George Smith--no idea if he is related to the other Smiths. 8. Julia b 4 Jan 1805 married 1st James Swisher (married c. 1821) married 2nd William Lary. Like I said, John got involved with another lady and committed bigamy/adultery with her(I think 2 or 3 kids were born prior to his divorce). Messy divorce ensued and as settlement,John was forced to sell all his possessions,including blacksmithing tools to give as settlement to 1st wife Margaret. Ill get the info for you. He married 2nd wife ELIZABETH MILLER (married 22 September 1805, possibly in Montgomery Co, Ohio--nothing certain on this). Elizabeth 1778-1885. They moved to Iowa and had-- 1. Catherine Zediker 2. Elizabeth Zediker 3. Mary Zediker 4. Sarah Zediker 5. John M. Zediker 1806-1808 6. David S. Zediker b. c 1807 7. Jacob E. Zediker b 20 Sept 1813 This is all I wrote down for now. I have lots of info on Zedikers--although some people have more info than others. Ive been doing this for YEARS! Problem: no info on Swisher family!! No idea if any oher part of the family moved into Champaign Co. I dont have a website--I just keep searching through genealogy message boards and try to contact people when I see something that "fits" with my stuff. Talk to you later. Lois lakastner@usa.net

ALIV: 0

Father: Christopher ZURCHER Zediker BORN 1734 b: Sep 11 1734

Mother: Margaretha FALCKENSTEIN

Marriage 1 Margaret SCHMIDT born 1773 b: Apr 01 1773 in Frederick County, Maryland

Divorced:

Children

Julian `July Ann` ZEDIKER b. circa 1805 b: Feb 04 1805 in Washington Co., PA

Mary ZEDIKER

Susan ZEDIKER born 1793 b: Nov 01 1793

Lewis LUDWIG Zediker BORN 1792 b: Feb 15 1792 in PA

Magdalen ZEDIKER born 1796 b: Oct 23 1796

Margaret ZEDIKER born 1798 b: Nov 20 1798

John ZEDIKER born 1800 b: Dec 15 1800

Elizabeth ZEDIKER

Marriage 2 Elizabeth MILLER born 1778 b: 1778

Married: Sep 22 1805

Children

Catherine ZEDIKER

Eliizabeth ZEDIKER

Mary ZEDIKER 2

Sarah ZEDIKER

John M. ZEDIKER 1806 b: 1806

David S. ZEDIKER born circa 1807

Jacob E. ZEDIKER born 1813 b: Sep 20 1813

some researchers show Johannes "John" born in MD, but, given date of birth, I lean toward PA. Family firmly established in Washington Co by that time. -- mez