Susannah Dunkelberger

GEDCOM Note

!BIRTH-MARR-DEATH: Tombstone, Mt. Zion Lutheran Churchyard, Landisburg, PA
The Dunkelberger Family in America by Shirley J. Turner, 1980, p 133
MARRIAGE: Birth & Baptismal Certificates copied from German by Edgar T. Bower
Notes by Anna N. BOWER Kennedy written after 1917
List by Mary Alice KENNEDY Messimer
copies of all filed with R. B. Howe, Jr., Gloucester Point, VA

Susan (Susanna, Suzanne) Bernheisel was born 31 May 1811, according to her
tombstone and the book, The Dunkelbeger Family in America, p.132- 133.
She married Jeremiah Dunkleberger (see #94). The Dunkelberger Family
book lists their thirteen children, including eight that died in infancy.
"They had five children living: Mary Ann, Margaret, Pricilla, John, David,"
according to notes by Anna Bower Kennedy, written after 1917.
Their daughter Mary Ann was born in Tyrone Township, Perry County, PA, on
23 Sept 1833 and was baptized 25 Dec 1833, according to the birth and baptismal
certificates translated from German by Edwin Bower Kennedy. At the end of
these notes, Edwin Bower Kennedy writes: "Her [Maria Anna Dunkleberger]
parents were Jeremiah Dunkelberger and Susan (Bernheisel) Bower." This was
evidentally an easy error to make, as her son-in-law was "Bower", but her
married name was obviously "Dunkleberger" as her husband is listed in the same
note. Another spelling is given in a list by Mary Alice Kennedy Messimer:
"Grandmother Bower my Mothers Mother was Mary Ann Dunkleberger her mother was
Suzanne Bernheisel." Then in notes by Anna N. Bower Kennedy: "Abraham was
Father's name he was married to Mary Ann Dunkelberger...My Granmothers name was
Bernheisle..." The Dunkelberger Family book (p. 133) also gives the name
variation as Susannah and on p. 132 states, "Some sources said Jeremiah married
Sarah Bernheisel." The spelling of the name Dunkleberger generally seems to
have the "LE" in earlier years then usually changes to "EL" in later years.

A souvenir pamphlet of the semi-centennial Jubilee held 30 May 1908,
for Mt. Zion Evangelilcal Lutheran Church, Loysville Pastorate, lists Jeremiah
Dunkleberger as a Trustee. (The other trustee listed is Abraham Bower,
son-in-law of Jeremiah and Susan BERNHEISEL Dunkleberger.)
The Dunklebergers must have had an "open" home, as a page in this pamphlet
entitled "History of Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church" states:
"January 7th, 1857, at a meeting of the Church at the home of Jeremiah
Dunkleberger the decision was unanimous to withdraw from the Union at St.
Peter's, to build a separate Church for the Lutheran Church alone, and a
constitution was adopted, and the name, Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church,
in Spring Township, Perry County, PA was chosen as the title of the
congregation from that date."
One might note that in that same year, 1857, Susan and Jeremiah
Dunkleberger's last child was born, a daughter who was born and died on
1 April 1857 (Dunkelberger Family book, page 133).
A large stained glass window depicting Jesus with the children, located in
the front of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Landisburg, PA is dedicated "In Loving
Remembrance of Jeremiah and Susan Dunkleberger, by Mary A. Bower,
Margaret McBride, Priscilla Stambaugh, D. B. Dunkleberger, Clarence and Edward
Dunkelberger and Mary Wilson."

Susanna BERNHEISEL Dunkelberger died 5 Sept 1871. Her grave is beside
her husband's at Mt. Zion Lutheran Churchyard, Spring Township, Perry Co., PA.
(see records p 5). A tall obelisk in the center of the cemetery marks the graves, while Father and Mother
stones are behind the spire. One side of the obelisk (side next to her husband's) reads:
"Susanna wife of Jer. Dunkelberger born May 31, 1811 died Sept. 5, 1871
aged 60 yrs. 3 mos. 4 days." Her husband died in 1886 at the age of 82.