Church Record Sunday: Henry & Kezia Eckman

The Smithville Church of God in Smithville, Lancaster County recorded Henry and Kezia's burial in their small graveyard. Henry was born 13 September 1826 and buried on 17 Mar 1904. Kezia was born 1 November 1828 and was buried on 17 September 1884. Kezia's note reads: "w of Henry".

About Henry Eckman:

I found a Henry & Kezia Eckman in 1860 (on the 1860 Census) in Providence Township, Lancaster County, PA. He was 33 years old and a laborer. Kezia was 31. Living with them was four year old Albert Martin. The 1860 Census however does not record relationships among household members. Henry registered for the US Civil War Draft in 1863. His age, as of 1 July 1863, was 35. It reveals only that he is white, lives in Providence Township, is a laborer and was born in Pennsylvania.

I found the three again on the 1870 Census. Henry of course was 43; Kezia was 41 and Albert was 14. Also living with them was three year old William Zittle and 26 year old Elizabeth Gochnauer. Henry was a farm laborer. Kezia was keeping house. Elizabeth was a domestic servant. She was white. There is no relationship listed for the two boys.

The 1880 Census answers some questions posed by the earlier censuses. Henry, now 53, and Kezia, 51, are still living in Providence Township in Smithville. With them is his mother-in-law Lydia Gochnauer, 74, and 13 year old nephew William Zittle, as well as nine year old niece Annie Lanions. The children were at school. Henry was a laborer. The two older women kept house at home. All were born in Pennsylvania, as were their parents.

The 1850 Census does include 23 year old Henry Eckman, a single man. He was at home in Little Britain Township, Lancaster County. The head of household was 38 year old Daniel Eckman, assumably his older brother. Also living there was 68 year old Susan Eckman (assumably his mother), 27 year old Hironomous, 22 year old Susan, and 19 year old Catherine. A Thomas Henry, age 23, also lived with the family.

Source:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 1000.

Comments

Coatesville's First Serial Killer

Young Alexander Meyer was a disturbed and angry young man with some major issues. He had failed sixth and seventh grade, and instead of having to repeat eighth grade again, he finally gave up on school. At age 16 he quit Downingtown Junior High. Meyer is not a relative, nor are his victims (that I am aware). I stumbled upon young Alex while reading Tortured Minds: Pennsylvania's Most Bizarre - But Forgotten - Murders by Tammy Mal. On 11 February 1937 Alexander Thweatt Meyer killed young Helen Moyer as she walked home from school in Coatesville along Modena Road. She was not his first. The jury was out only three minutes after hearing Dr. Michael Margolis' testimony on the death of Helen Moyer. The jury determined Meyer had murdered Moyer and should be held for first degree murder. The jury also condemned the parole system which had released Meyer back into the public, after having served just 14 months in Huntingdon Reformatory, for the murder of two other girls - Anna Blasc...

Thaddeus Stevens at the Lancaster Convention Center

Within the Lancaster Convention Center (Lancaster, PA) is a small section dedicated to Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith. The section is known as the Stevens & Smith Historic Site. It is scheduled for development this year. At the moment one can only get a glimpse of it through the Convention Center or by peeking in from the outside. Here at Queen and Vine Streets in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens had his law office. Stevens was an abolitionist. An abolitionist is a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery. Stevens was born 4 April 1792 to Joshua Stevens and Sarah (Sally) Morrill in Danville Vermont. One of four children, he attended Vermont University from 1810 to 1812 when the War prompted its closure. He then went to Dartmouth, where he graduated in 1814. He then studied law and found himself set up in Gettysburg, PA in 1816. He practiced law there until 1828 when he...

52 Ancestors: Remembering the King

Today is Elvis’ birthday. He would have been 80 today. I was only eight when he died so obviously I am too young to have seen Elvis perform. However, when I hear his music, I go back in time. I am once again that young girl dancing in the living room to Elvis and other greats with my father. Back then girls learned to dance by dancing with their fathers not some video of scantly dressed people doing all sorts of things young ladies should not be doing in public! What is YOUR favorite memory - either of your father or of Elvis? 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a weekly genealogical challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small . Look for my weekly posts each Thursday! © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Genealogical Gems

Search This Blog