Switzer Families :: Index to Posts

An Index Post is how I keep track of all of the blog posts that have been written on a family line. It helps keep me organized and allows visitors to easily find information on that family. This post will be updated as new blog posts are written on the family. Please contact me at kinexxions@gmail.com if you are researching this family or have additional information on them.

Jacob and Catharine (Brinker) Switzer are my 4th great grandparents. I am descended through their daughter Elizabeth who married Jacob Yarian. For years I “put off” researching this family, primarily because there was more than one man by the name of Jacob Switzer residing in Columbiana County, Ohio at the same time. In fact there were four men by that name living there at various times in the 1810-1860 time period.

In May 2011 I was fortunate to be able to spend several weeks researching at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It was with what was found there that I began to unravel the threads of the various Switzer families in Columbiana County, Ohio. The four families are:

1. Jacob Switzer, born February 28, 1761 and died October 27, 1841. His wife was named Elizabeth (maiden name possibly Hoke and possibly married February 19, 1786).
2. Jacob Switzer, born January 4, 1788 and died November 2, 1859. He married Catherine “Caty” Brinker on February 26, 1811. [This is my family.]
3. Jacob Switzer, born December 25, 1794 and died August 29, 1849. He married Polly Skelton January 11, 1816. He is in Columbiana County by 1817 and is gone by 1830.
4. Jacob Switzer, born November 8, 1788 and died March 25, 1859. His wife was Catharina Mummert. He appears in Columbiana County in 1830.

Below are the posts that have been written thus far on the Switzer Families of Columbiana County, Ohio. Posts specific to "my" Switzer family will be found below this first section.

• They were Shouting “Hey! What About Me?”  - - June 20, 2011 - - A brief overview of my previous research on the Rupert and Switzer families of Columbiana County, Ohio

• The Three Jacob Switzers - - July 11, 2011 - - Identifies the three men named Jacob Switzer, and their wives, through cemetery records.

• The Ups and Downs of On-Site Research - - July 22, 2011 - - Researching on-location in Columbiana County, Ohio

• Not One, Not Two, Not Three, but Four of Them! - - July 31, 2011 - - A compilation of Land Records, Tax List Records, and Census Records used to “sort out” and distinguish the various Jacob Switzer families in Columbiana County.

• Switzer Family Number 4 :: Jacob G. and Catharina - - August 07, 2011 - - Discusses the Estate File of Jacob G. Switzer and potential members of his family.

• Switzer Family Number 3 :: Jacob and Polly - - August 08, 2011 - - Information on the known children of this Jacob Switzer. Names of heirs obtained from a Deed Record.

• Switzer Family Number 2 :: Jacob and Catharine - - August 11, 2011 - - A compilation of information on the families of the four heirs of Jacob Switzer: Elizabeth Yarian, Barbara Manaweck, Rebecca Buchecker, and Susan Deemer.

• Switzer Family Number 1 :: Jacob and Elizabeth :: Sale of Land - - August 12, 2011 - - In 1832 Jacob and Elizabeth sold their land in the NE ¼ R3 T15 S25 (Salem Twp), which Jacob had received by Patent in 1808. There were specific provisions made in the mortgage that I thought were interesting.

• Switzer Family Number 1 :: Jacob and Elizabeth - - August 12, 2011 - - Discusses the potential children of Jacob and Elizabeth. Jacob left no will and no probate record was found for him creating a bit of a puzzle regarding the makeup of his family.

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Jacob and Catherine (Brinker) Switzer - my 4th great grandparents

• One Switzer Family in Columbiana County – Mine! - - July 10, 2011 - - Analyzes the information from a biography of Jacob Yarian and one of his son Jonathan Yarian to determine its validity.
• The Estate of Jacob Switzer :: Executors Bond - - July 12, 2011
• The Estate of Jacob Switzer :: Widow's Allowance - - July 17, 2011
• The Estate of Jacob Switzer :: Notes Due the Estate - - July 18, 2011
• The Estate of Jacob Switzer :: Sale Bill - - July 19, 2011
• The Estate of Jacob Switzer :: Amounts Paid to the Estate - - July 20, 2011
• The Estate of Jacob Switzer :: Final Account - - July 21, 2011 - - Among other things the final account names the heirs who received a distribution from the estate.
• Switzer Family Number 2 :: Jacob and Catharine - - August 11, 2011 - - A compilation of information on the families of the four heirs of Jacob Switzer: Elizabeth Yarian, Barbara Manaweck, Rebecca Buchecker, and Susan Deemer.

Originally posted on July 30, 2011. Last updated on August 13, 2011.Post date adjusted December 29, 2012 so that when a search for the surname is done on the blog this post will appear first the search list.

One Question Answered

After one day at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, I've already found the answer to one question "left over" from my Switzer research!

As noted in the post Not One, Not Two, Not Three, but Four of Them! (about half way through the post) there was a question regarding which Jacob Switzer was the owner of 80 acres in the W ½ of the SW ¼ of R2 T12 S16 in Fairfield Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

The answer came in a deed record (volume 64 page 397 of FHL film 926962) in which Isaac Switzer and Christiana his wife, Benjamin Switzer and Lidia Ann his wife, Levi Switzer and Hannah his wife, Peter Keck and Delia Ann his wife, James Crooks and Eliza his wife, Anna Switzer and Sophia Switzer of the county of Columbiana sold the parcel “containing 72 acres of land owned and lately occupied by Jacob Switzer deceased” to Christian Kiser for $3420 on April 6, 1860.

So now we know that this land belonged to Switzer Family Number 4 :: Jacob G. and Catharina and not to “my” Jacob. In addition, it confirms the names of his heirs and provides the names of the spouses of the married children, which would be nice for anyone researching this particular family!

The Brinker Kinexxion

The following Deed Record was found on June 7, 2011 at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It was the occasion of an extremely happy “Happy Dance” for me, as reported by Carol several days later. You see, it had been many, many years since I've been able to add a new ancestor to my pedigree chart.

I was ecstatic, to put it mildly. I had finally found the maiden name (as well as the actual first name) of the mother of Elizabeth (Switzer) Yarian – Catharine Brinker – and the name of Catharine's father, Andrew!

Not only had I added a new ancestor, but, I didn't know it at the time, I would have the Brinker lineage several generations back to the early 1700s in Switzerland. It seems that extensive research has been done on the Brinker family by two ladies who have documented Andrew's parents and grandparents!

In addition, at least one book has been published on the Leatherman/Lederman family – the wife of Andrew Brinker was Barbara Leatherman.

Yes, those last two days before I left Salt Lake City on June 9th were filled with amazing revelations and I was busy gathering as much information as possible, barely even reading most of it at the time!

And this document, a Quit Claim Deed dated the 11th of August in 1849 was the catalyst for that research frenzy... the heirs of Catharine Sweitzer were “selling” 213 acres in section 12 Fairfield Township, Columbiana County, Ohio to Thomas McCoy for which he gave one dollar to each of them. I've added emphasis on specific "important" portions...

Daniel Deemer, etal to Thomas McCoy.

Know all men by these presents the we Daniel Deemer and Susan Deemer his wife, of the county of Columbiana, Jacob Mondwick and Barbara Mondwick his wife of the County of Portage, Peter Bubecker & Rebecca Bubecker his wife of the County of Mahoning, Jacob Yarian & Elizabeth Yarian his wife of the County of Portage for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar each to us severally in hand paid by Thomas McCoy of the county of Columbiana the receipt whereof is hereby Acknowledged, have remised, released, and forever quit claimed... all our right, title and interest both legal and equitable in and to the following described premises, situate in the county of Columbiana and state of Ohio, and being the South East corner or part of section number twelve, in township number twelve, in range number two in the district of land offered for sale at Steubenville. Beginning at the South East corner of said section then on West with the line of the same thirty chains and seventy five links to a post, thence North fifteen degrees West fifty chains and fifty nine links to a post on Peter Firestones line thence East thirteen chains & twenty five links to a post, thence North ten chains and eighty seven links to a post, thence East thirty chains to a post, on the Eastern boundary line, thence South with the section line fifty nine chains and seventy four links to the place of beginning. Containing two hundred & thirteen acres and forty two hundredths, be the same more or less. It being the tract or parcel of land willed & devised by Andrew Brinker late of Columbiana County, deced, to his daughter Catharine Switzer & her heirs & deeded by the executors of said Andrew to said Catharine. To have and to hold the aforesaid described premises with all the privileges and appurtenances unto the said Thomas McCoy his heirs and assigns forever, so that neither we the aforesaid grantors above named nor our heirs nor any other person or persons claiming by through or under us shall at any time hereafter by any ways or means have claim or demand any right or title to the aforesaid premises or appurtenance or any part thereof. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this eleventh day of August A. D. 1849.

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us
Samuel Entrilkin
George W. Entrilkin

The deed was signed by Dr Daniel Deemer, Susannah Deemer, Jacob Morndick, Barbary Morndick, Peter Buckecker, Rebecca Buckecker, Jacob Yarian, and Elizabeth Yarian.

Received for record January 30th, 1850. And recorded on the second day of February following.

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But there was one thing that really, really puzzled me about this transaction. Did you notice that I put the word selling in quotes in the paragraph prior to the deed transcription?

Why was the land sold to Thomas McCoy for so little – just one dollar paid to each of the heirs?

It seems I had overlooked another earlier deed recorded in volume 41, page 818. I had made note of it but not the name of the purchaser and I hadn't taken the time to view it while in Salt Lake City – I was concentrating on deeds that included “etal” with the grantors name! On my visit to Columbiana County I looked up the record and found that Jacob and Catherine had actually sold the land for $5,000 to Thomas McCoy. However, I neglected to write down the month and day of the transaction (I got in a hurry because the Recorders Office was extremely busy). The year was 1849. Most likely earlier than August 11th since it was recorded in an earlier volume than the other deed.

So, why?. If Jacob and Catherine sold the land to Mr. McCoy earlier in 1849 then why was there the second transaction with her heirs signing off on a Quit Claim deed? Catharine was still living – she didn't die until 1852. So, why?

I don't have an answer to that question. I'm just very glad that they did, otherwise I still might not know that Catherine Brinker was the mother of Elizabeth Yarian. Nor would I now have several more generations added to my ancestral pedigree chart!

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 42, bottom of page 596 (FHL Film 926947)

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 42 page 597 (FHL Film 926947)

Is He or Isn't He?

The question being, is Jacob Switzer #2 a son of Jacob Switzer #1 and his wife Elizabeth?

Jacob #1 did not leave a will nor was there a probate file found for him, thus we do not know with any certainty at this time who his children were, which was discussed in this post.

There is only circumstantial evidence that might connect them, and, to be honest, rather flimsy evidence at that!

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When were they in Columbiana County and where did they live?

Jacob #2 born January 4, 1788 was married on February 26, 1811 in Columbiana County to Caty Brinker. He was 23 years old at the time. He initially lived in Fairfield Township on the land inherited by his wife Catherine from her father Andrew Brinker. In 1838 they purchased land in section 33 of Salem Township and they were living there in the 1840 census. This land was not far from where Jacob #1 and Elizabeth Switzer lived in section 23, also in Salem Township. Jacob #2 easily “fits” in as one of the older children of Jacob and Elizabeth, who were reportedly married on February 19, 1786. They had a daughter, Elizabeth, reportedly born on December 25, 1786 so it is possible that Jacob #2 could be their second child.

But then, so could Jacob #4 who was born November 8, 1788. However, he does not appear in Columbiana County census records until 1830. He is listed in Fairfield Township from 1830 through 1850 where he presumably lived until his death on March 25, 1859. He was already married to his wife Catharine when he arrived in Columbiana County. Yes, he was born the same year and died the same year as Jacob #2, and they both had wives named Catharine.

Then there is Jacob #3 born December 25, 1794 who arrived in Columbiana County about 1815. He was 21 years old when he married Polly Skelton on January 16, 1816 in Columbiana County. In 1824 they sold their land and moved to what later became Ashland County, Ohio. So he was only in Columbiana County a few years, about 1815-1824.

So far, no evidence except that Jacob #2 was in Columbiana County earlier than the other two and he lived closer to Jacob #1 than the others.

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Well, what about naming patterns of their children?

The first two daughters of Jacob #2 were named Barbara and Elizabeth. Barbara was presumably named after Catherine's mother, Barbara Leatherman. Could Elizabeth have been named after her “grandmother” Elizabeth, wife of Jacob #1 ? Or was this merely coincidence? The other three known daughters of Jacob #2 were Rebecca, Susan, and Sarah.

Neither of the other two Jacob Switzers have a daughter named Elizabeth. At least, not that we know of anyway.

• Known children of Jacob #3 were John, William, Nancy, Margaret, and Lewis.
• Children known of Jacob #4 were Ann, Sophia, Benjamin, Lydia, Eliza, and Susan.

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What does the term “Junior” really mean?

On page 133 of the 1828 Ohio Tax Records for Chattels (i. e., personal property) is an entry for a Jacob Switzer and Jacob Switzer (indexed as Junior). The first one listed appears to have an “S” after his name (first line in image). But I can't figure out what it is after the second Jacob Switzer (at the bottom of the image). In any case, in 1828 there were only two Jacob Switzers known to be in Columbiana County – Jacob #1 and Jacob #2.

Also, in his will, Andrew Brinker refers to the husband of his daughter Catharine as Jacob Sweitzer Jr.

Of course, back in the day, “Junior” sometimes simply indicated a younger man with the same name. It didn't necessarily mean that “Junior” was the son of the elder man.

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And that leaves us with what? Not much, I'm afraid. Mostly wishful thinking on my part. Obviously, a whole lot more research will be needed before I can claim Jacob #1 and his wife Elizabeth - if ever - as ancestors! At this point, I guess I'm “beating a dead horse” as the saying goes, rehashing the same information over and over.

So, for now, this concludes the saga of my research on the Switzer families of Columbiana County, Ohio.... until something new shows up!

All posts related to the Switzer families are summarized in this Index to Posts. If anyone doing research on these families is interested in collaborating, please contact me at kinexxions@gmail.com - Jacob #2 and his wife Catharine are my 4th great-grandparents.

Switzer Land :: Disposition of Jacob's Land in Salem Township

Jacob Switzer passed away on November 2, 1859 and in this transaction dated November 27, 1860 his widow Leathy is selling the land in Salem Township ( S ½ NE ¼ S33) to his heirs in this straight-forward Quit Claim deed.

Daniel Deemer, Peter Buhecker, Jacob Yarion and Jacob Manaweck paid $400 to Leathy for the land.

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 62, bottom of page 507 (FHL Film 926960)

Then, on March 7, 1861 the heirs sell the land to Mary Stalloup for $3,525. What makes this deed interesting is that it provides the current place of residence for each of the parties:

Jacob and Barbara Monawick of St. Joe County in the State of Indiana, Jacob and Elisabeth Yarian of the County of Portage in the State of Ohio, Peter and Rebecca Bubecker of the County of Mahoning in the State of Ohio, and Daniel and Susan Deemer of the County of Columbiana in the State of Ohio.

The deed was not signed “in person” rather, each of the parties involved signed an affidavit attesting to the fact that they had signed the deed and that it was voluntary on their part. The affidavit's were signed at a court in their respective places of residence.

When I obtained this deed, I already knew that Jacob and Elizabeth Yarian resided in Portage County but was not aware of the residences of the other three. This information helped me to locate the families in census records.

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 62, top of page 508 (FHL Film 926960)

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 64 page 256 (FHL Film 926962)

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 64 page 257 (FHL Film 926962)

Switzer Land :: Jacob buys it back from Daniel and Susan Deemer

On February 10, 1847 Jacob Switzer and Catharine, his wife, sold their property in Salem Township, situated in the South ½ of the Northeast ¼ of Section 33, to their son-in-law Daniel Deemer, with certain provisions.

Catharine Switzer passed away on March 6, 1852 and just over a year later, Jacob married Leathy Bricker, on March 10, 1853.

A month later, on April 11, 1853 Daniel Deemer and his wife Susan, sold the same land they had purchased in 1847 to Jacob Switzer for $2200.

Did Catharine's death and Jacob's subsequent marriage null the original contract, which provided certain benefits to the survivor of them including the house where they lived? Perhaps Daniel (or more likely his wife, Susan) decided that they didn't want to provide for a step-mother? Regardless of what the reason was, which we will never know, the land returned to Jacob in a rather straight-forward transaction.

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 48, bottom of page 251 (FHL Film 926951)

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 48 page 252 (FHL Film 926951)

Switzer Land :: Jacob and Catherine sell to Daniel Deemer

There were certain rather interesting reservations (at least I thought so) made in the sale of this land... On February 10, 1847 Jacob Switzer and Catharine, his wife, sold their property in Salem Township to their son-in-law Daniel Deemer for the sum of $2000. This was the land that was situated in the South ½ of the Northeast ¼ of Section 33 in Township 15 Range 3, which was bounded by the lands of John Bricker, Samuel Wall, Abraham Arter, Simon Arter and Samuel Entrikin and contained eighty acres. Jacob had purchased this land on March 26, 1838 for $2600 from John and Hanna Froth.

The land was sold, with provisions as set forth in the second paragraph of page 777:

“Reserving nevertheless to him the said Jacob Switzer and to the said Catharine & to the survivor of them during their natural lives and the life time of the survivor of them the house in which they now reside on said premises with the appurtenances – also the truck patch which lays North West of said house containing one quarter of an acre & the orchard which lays East of said house and contains one and a fourth acre – also one half of the garden – also all of the rights and privileges set forth in an article of event date herewith entered into between the said Deemer & said Switzer which said article and all the covenants therein contained on the part of the said Deemer, are hereby expressly charged upon said real estate which is hereby conveyed subject to the same...”

And the legalese continues on page 778. In the portion just prior to the signatures is wording that I've never seen in a deed record before:

“And I the said Catharine wife of the said Jacob do hereby, in consideration of the money paid to my said husband, remise, release, and forever quit claim to the said Daniel Deemer and to his heirs and assigns, all my right and title of dower in and to the above described premises.”

The Article of Agreement between Daniel Deemer and Jacob Switzer and Catharine Switzer was made and concluded on the 10th day of February A.D. 1847 (beginning at the bottom of page 778 and continuing on to page 779).

“That whereas the said Switzer & wife have this day conveyed to the said Deemer the South half of the North East quarter of section number thirty three in township number fifteen in Range number three, in said county for the consideration of two thousand dollars & other considerations – fifteen hundred dollars of which consideration is given to the said Deemer who is the son-in-law of said Switzer & wife – And whereas the said Switzer & wife have made in said deed certain reservations – therefore , the said Deemer covenants & agrees to pay the said Jacob Switzer (as the balance of the consideration of said $2000) the sum of five hundred dollars as follows – one hundred dollars on the first day of April 1847 – one hundred dollars on the first day of April 1848 - $100 on the first day of April 1849, $100 on the first day of April 1850 – and $100 on the first day of April 1851 – in accordance with five promissory notes of even date herewith.

“And it is further agreed between the parties that the said Jacob Switzer & Catharine his wife, and the survivor of them, shall reserve for their own use & for the use of the survivor of them the house on said premises in which they now live – also the privileges of the yard around the same – also the truck patch North West of said house of about one quarter of an acre – also the orchard which lays East of the said house containing about an acre and a quarter, also one half of the garden – also pasture and hay from off said premises for one horse and two cows, and stable room for one horse and two cows, also pasture and stabling for two hogs – also the said Switzer & wife or the survivor of them to have one third of the chickens, which shall grow from said premises (the said Switzer & wife to feed said one third thereof.)

The said Switzer & wife also reserve as much fire-wood as they need for their own use (they to cut & haul the same) also the said Switzer & wife to have the manure from said farm for their truck patch & garden as much as they may want for their lives or of the survivor – all of which right and privileges the said Deemer covenants to furnish & guaranty to the said Switzer and wife during their natural lives and the life of the survivor of them. And for the security of the said Switzer & wife, all the above privileges rights and covenants of the said Deemer are hereby charged upon the said premises. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hand and seals this day & year above written.”

The Deed was Signed by Daniel Deemer, Jacob Switzer and Catharine Switzer (with her mark). Attested by Edward Carroll and Beulah R. Wright Carroll

The legal stuff continues on page 780. However, I somehow managed to miss scanning that page while at the Family History Library earlier this year! Hopefully there is nothing of major importance included on that page!

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 38 page 777 (FHL Film 926944)

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 38 page 778 (FHL Film 926944)

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 38 page 779 (FHL Film 926944)

Switzer Family Number 1 :: Jacob and Elizabeth

This previous post was a summary of the Tax Lists, Land Records, and Census Records for each of the Jacob Switzers living in Columbiana County, Ohio and in that post this Jacob was identified as Jacob #1.

Jacob Switzer (the elder) was born February 28, 1761 and died October 27, 1841 ae 80y 7m 27d. Quite a few online family trees have him as the son of Peter Jacob Switzer (1715–1798) and Elizabeth Hefflefinger (1724–1838) but since there are no sources associated with this information, and I have received no response from the “submitters” that I have contacted, I am more than a little skeptical. Obviously, more research needs to be done! Several of these family trees also show that Jacob was married on February 19, 1786 to Elizabeth Hoke in Trinity Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth was born on February 7, 1766 and died on December 20, 1844. Jacob and Elizabeth are both buried in Switzer Cemetery, Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

Recreating the family of Jacob and Elizabeth is complicated by the fact that Jacob did not leave a will, at least none that was recorded in Columbiana County, Ohio. There is no estate or probate file for him. The land that he had purchased in 1804 and for which he received the Patent certificate in 1808 was sold by Jacob and Elizabeth on January 20, 1832 to Daniel Switzer.

In the deed book, along with the record of the sale of the land, was a “mortgage” record that enabled Jacob and Elizabeth to remain living in their “mansion” and to be provided with substantial goods and services for the remainder of their lives. As a result, they would have actually owned very little at the time of their deaths, he in 1841 and she in 1844.

Census records provide a limited view of the family of Jacob and Elizabeth who resided in Salem Township.

• 1820: Jacob Switzer with one male 16-25, one male 45 and over, one female 10-15, two females 16-25, one female 26-44 and one female 45 and over.
• 1830: Jacob Swetser with one male 60-69, one female 40-49, one female 60-69
• 1840: Jacob Switzer with one male 70-79 and one female 70-79

Making the assumption that all those listed are children of Jacob and Elizabeth, their family may have included, among others (keep in mind they were reportedly married in 1786, and if so, there are likely additional older children):

• one male born 1795-1804
• one female 1805-1810
• two females 1795-1804
• one female 1776-1794
• one female 1781-1790

In three earlier posts we have identified the families of the other three Jacob Switzers, any one of whom could conceivably be a son of Jacob and Elizabeth. They are: (#4) Jacob G. and Catherina, (#3) Jacob and Polly, and (#2) Jacob and Catherine.

Looking at the early marriage records of Columbiana County and “eliminating” those previously identified with the other families, we have the following who could also be children of Jacob and Elizabeth:

• George Switzer to Catharine Macherman on 14 Jul 1811 (v1 p106)
• John Switzer to Elisabeth Wisbaum [Nusbaum] on 07 May 1818 (v2 p7)
• Daniel Switzer to Elisabeth Litler [Sitler] on 25 Nov 1819 (v2 p45)
• Barbara Switzer to David Lower on 06 Dec 1821 (v2 p100)
• Martin Switzer to Mary Sitler on 28 Mar 1822 (v2 p109)
• Mary Switzer to John Miller on 18 Mar 1823 (v2 p137)
• Nancy Switzer to Frederick Roose on 28 Oct 1824 (v2 p183)

In the online family trees that I have reviewed, and by no means have I reviewed all of them, the majority show only one daughter and three sons for Jacob and Elizabeth, all born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Elizabeth, John, Daniel and Martin.

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The information below is compiled from online data including FamilySearch (Columbiana County, Ohio Marriages; Ohio Death Records), Ancestry (Census Records 1820 through 1850, Family Trees), WorldConnect and other online trees as well as Find A Grave. Specific sources are available upon request.

It has not been “proven” that any of the people listed below are children of Jacob and Elizabeth Switzer, I'm sure some of them are but I don't have any “real” documentation or sources. I'm just putting the information “out there” in the hopes that someone researching these families might have family records (a Bible, perhaps) or other other information that could help prove or disprove relationships... and I'm also hoping that those researchers will contact me!

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Elizabeth Switzer was born December 25, 1786. Her birth was apparently recorded in the records of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I have not verified this and I have no additional information on her. If she was living at the time, she was likely already married when her parents moved to Columbiana County, Ohio.

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Jacob Switzer, but which of the three, if any? More on this theory in a future post...

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George Switzer died prior to July 3, 1813 when his estate was admitted to probate. Sadly, the only document in the probate file simply stated “Support for widow and children” and noted that Catherine Switzer was appointed administrator. Presumably this would be the George Switzer who married Catherine Macherman on July 14, 1811.

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John Switzer was born December 12, 1790 and died April 25, 1860. He was married to Elisabeth Nusbaum on May 7, 1818. They are both buried in Bowman Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio.

John was enumerated in the census records from 1820 through 1850 in Elkrun Township, Columbiana County. In the 1850 census he owns real estate valued at $3,000 and his place of birth is given as Pennsylvania. Members of his household included his wife, Elizabeth, and (presumably) three children: James age 19; Mary age 22; and Elizabeth age 16. Earlier census records indicate that there may have been three more sons and another daughter.

The will of Elizabeth Switzer was admitted to probate on August 6, 1863 (File 5553) in which she left “all my goods, and Chattles, Moneys and credits which I may have at the time of my death except so much as may be necessary to pay my debts and funeral expenses” to “my daughter Mary Ann Switzer”. The will was signed December 21, 1860, witnessed by Clement V. Crow and George Turner. The final account was submitted by James Switzer, administrator, probably in 1867 (the latest date on the account was August 4, 1867).

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Daniel Switzer was born October 16, 1795 and died August 23, 1872. Daniel was married to Elisabeth Sitler on November 25, 1819. They are both buried in Switzer Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio

In the 1820 through 1850 census records, Daniel was listed in Salem Township, Columbiana County (I haven't gone further than 1850, yet.) In the 1850 census he owns real estate valued at $3,000 and his place of birth is given as Pennsylvania. In addition to his wife Elizabeth there were three presumed children in the household: Henry age 21, David age 17 and Samuel age 14. Earlier census records indicate that there may have been three more sons and a daughter.

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Barbara Switzer was married to David Lower on December 6, 1821. David and Barbary Lower (age 53 and 51, respectively) were found in the 1850 census in Marlboro Township, Stark County, Ohio residing in the household of Elias Lower, age 20. Also in the household were Delila, age 20 (she had real estate valued at $3,000); Meary, age 1; Merthias, age 17; and Lydia, age 11. Elias and Merthias were both farmers. All members of the household were reported to have been born in “O” (Ohio).

I found one online tree for them that shows that Barbara was born April 10, 1801 and died September 29, 1867. She is buried in Marlboro Cemetery, Stark County, Ohio as is her husband. That tree does not have any parents listed for Barbara.

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Martin Switzer was born August 17, 1797 and died December 18, 1878. He married Mary Sitler on March 28, 1822. They are both buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Leetonia, Columbiana County, Ohio.

Census records for 1830 through 1850 show that Martin was living in Salem Township, Columbiana County. The 1850 census shows that he was a farmer with real estate valued at $3,000. His place of birth was listed as Pennsylvania. Listed in his household were his wife Mary age 47 and born in Pennsylvania, Elizabeth age 13, and Francis G. Switzer age 6 both born in Ohio. The 1830 and 1840 census records indicate that there may have been three more sons and two more daughters.

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Mary Switzer was married to John Miller on March 18, 1823. I have to admit that I haven't done any research on Mary Miller other than finding one online family tree that had her included.

That tree had her parents listed as Jacob Switzer and Elizabeth Sitler. This was the only tree that I saw that had a different maiden name for Elizabeth and was one of the few that had more than the four children listed for Elizabeth and Jacob. My email to the submitter of the tree has gone unanswered.

According to that online tree, Mary Switzer was born March 25, 1805 and died July 19, 1866 in Columbiana County, Ohio. Her husband, John Miller, was born about 1798 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Thirteen children are listed for Mary and John Miller.

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Nancy Switzer married Frederick Roose on October 28, 1824. Again, due to limitations in internet access since I've been traveling, I have done no research on Nancy. I did find one online tree for the family but no parents were given for Nancy.

That family tree shows that Nancy Switzer was born June 27, 1803 and died March 19, 1872. Her husbanc, Frederick Roose was born in 1799 in York, Pennsylvania and died September 12, 1854 in Stark County, Ohio. Nancy and Frederick are buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Washington Township, Stark County. There are nine children listed for Nancy and Frederick Roose.

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As stated before, much more research needs to be done with these families to validate or negate any specific relationships. I wish that I could somehow predict which of these families would be “the one” to investigate further. Which family has a descendant interested in their family history? Which descendant holds the key, the “prize” document that will unlock all the secrets?

Now, where did I put that Crystal Ball? Or perhaps I should dig out that Ouija Board that Grandma Fergie gave us kids for Christmas one year back in the mid-1960s? Well, in its place the best I can do, for now, is post this information here at kinexxions and hope that some interested party happens by and contacts me (kinexxions@gmail.com)...

Switzer Family Number 1 :: Jacob and Elizabeth and the Sale of their Land

This previous post was a summary of the Tax Lists, Land Records, and Census Records for each of the Jacob Switzers living in Columbiana County, Ohio and in that post this Jacob was identified as Jacob #1. This Jacob Switzer was born February 28, 1761 and died October 27, 1841. His wife was named Elizabeth (maiden name possibly Hoke and possibly married February 19, 1786).

From 1816-1831 Jacob Switzer was taxed on 156 acres in the NE ¼ R3 T15 S25 (Salem Twp). Patent Certificate 883 was issued to Jacob Switzer of Jefferson County, Ohio for this land in 1804. The final certificate number 1976 was issued in 1808. In 1832 this land was sold by Jacob and Elizabeth to Daniel Switzer.

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 15, bottom of page 389 (FHL Film 926868)

Pages 389 and 390 contain the standard legalese associated with land transactions.

“This indenture made this twentieth day of January AD One Thousand eight hundred and thirty two, by and between Jacob Switzer and Elizabeth his wife of the county of Columbiana in the state of Ohio of the one part, and Daniel Switzer... for and in consideration of the sum of Fifteen hundred dollars... do convey unto the said Daniel Switzer... all that tract or parcel of land... in the North East quarter of Section No twenty five Township No fifteen and range No three of the Steubenville land District... containing one hundred and fifty six acres and Seventy Seven hundredths... which quarter Section of land was granted to the said Jacob Switzer by Patent From under the hand and seal of Thomas Jefferson while he was President of the United States..."

Jacob and Elizabeth both made their marks. The deed was recorded on the 13th day of February 1832.

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 15, page 390 (FHL Film 926868)

The interesting part of these documents begins at the bottom of page 390 and continues on to page 391 and is a Mortgage made by Daniel Switzer to Jacob Switzer.

This Indenture made this twenty first day of January AD one Thousand eight hundred and thirty Two, between Daniel Switzer & Elisabeth his wife... and Jacob Switzer of the other part, Witnesseth that the said Daniel Switzer and Elisabeth his Wife for and in consideration of the sum of Six hundred dollars to them in hand paid by the said Jacob Switzer... do confirm unto the said Jacob Switzer... all that tract or parcel of land... being the North east quarter of Section No twenty five Township No fifteen, and range No Three... containing one hundred and fifty six acres more or less...

Provided always, and these presents are upon This express condition, that if the said Daniel Switzer, his heirs executors or administrators shall pay or cause to be be paid unto the said Jacob Switzer or assigns, yearly and every year for and during his natural life on or before the first day of April annually commencing in 1833 twenty five Bushels of wheat, fifty bushels of corn, fifty bushels of oats and six bushels of buckwheat, and also to furnish and provide yearly and every year during his natural life, hay and stable rom for one horse and a Cow, during the winter season, and pasture during the remainder of the year, keep four head of Sheep for said Jacob Switzer. Furnish him a Sufficient quantity of firewood ready for use at His house. let him have the entire use of the mansion house he Now lives in – room in the Springhouse as usual – as much fruit as he and his wife shall want for their own use a truck patch Before his door and as much room as usual in the garden. That then and from Henceforth these presents and every thing Herein contained shall cease and be void, anything herein Contained, to the contrary not withstanding. In Testimony whereof the said Daniel Switzer and Elisabeth his wife have hereunto set their hands and seals, day and year first above written.

Daniel Switzer signed his name and his wife Elisabeth made her mark. The mortgage was received for record and recorded on the 13th day of February 1832.

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 15, page 391 (FHL Film 926868)

Columbiana County, Ohio Deeds Volume 15, top of page 392 (FHL Film 926868)

Switzer Family Number 2 :: Jacob and Catharine

This previous post was a summary of the Tax Lists, Land Records, and Census Records for each of the Jacob Switzers found in Columbiana County, Ohio. In that post this Jacob was identified as Jacob #2. This is my family.

Jacob Switzer was born January 4, 1788 in Pennsylvania and died November 2, 1859 in Columbiana County, Ohio. He was married to Catherine “Caty” Brinker on February 26, 1811 in Columbiana County (v1 p95).

Catherine Brinker was born June 18, 1787 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and died March 6, 1852 (ae 64y 8m 24d) in Columbiana County, Ohio. Her birth name was Anna Catherina and she was the daughter of Andrew and Barbara (Lederman/Leatherman) Brinker.

On March 10, 1853 – slightly more than a year after the death of Catherine – Jacob Switzer and Leathy Bricker were legally joined in marriage (v38 p168). Leathy died January 17, 1869 ae 79y 11m 25d (birth calculates to January 23, 1789).

All three - Jacob, Catherine, and Leathy - are buried in the English Lutheran Cemetery in Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

We already know, from the final account of his estate, that Jacob and Catherine (Brinker) Switzer had at least four daughters. Census records (discussed in the first post mentioned above) indicate that there may have been another daughter, and indeed another was found.

A daughter, Sarah, died May 1, 1842 ae 18y 8m 27d (birth calculates to August 4, 1823) Sarah is buried in the St. Jacob's Cemetery in Salem Township just two graves away from her grandparents Andrew and Barbara Brinker.

The four daughters were not explicitly named in the final account. However, their husbands were - Jacob Yarian, Jacob Manaweck, Peter Buchecker, and D. Deemer (identified as Daniel in other records of the estate).

Columbiana County records show the following marriages, with some very mangled spellings:

• Elizabeth Switzer to Jacob Yarian on April 2, 1835 (v3 p48)
• Barbara Switzer to Jacob Manaway on February 1, 1838 (v3 p173)
• Rebecca Switzer to Peter Buckuker on February 27, 1838 (v3 p181)
• Susan Switzer was married to Daniel Denut on March 5, 1845 (v3 p405)

From the deed record where the heirs are selling the land of Jacob Switzer in the south ½ of the NE ¼ of Section 33 in Salem Township, Columbiana County (v64 p256-257) we know that on April 2, 1861 Jacob and Elizabeth Yarian resided in Portage County, Ohio; Jacob and Barbara Monaweak resided in “St Joe” County, Indiana; Peter and Rebecca “Bubecker” resided in Mahoning County, Ohio; and Daniel and Susan Deemer lived in Columbiana County, Ohio.

There were some very creative spellings for these surnames in the census records! So much so that I'm not sure of the “correct” spelling for two of the surnames: Manaweck, Monaweak, Momweck, Minawick (indexed as Minarick), Monawick, Monaueck, and Manaway. Then there was Buchecker, Buckhecker, Buchaker, Buckuker, Buhecker, Buchater, Bucheder, Bubecker, Brickecker, and Boohecker. I'm not making these up, really.

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Elizabeth Switzer was born September 24, 1815 in Columbiana County, Ohio and died July 8, 1894 in Portage County, Ohio. Her husband, Jacob Yarian, was born December 24, 1812 in Columbiana County and died March 26, 1895 in Elkhart County, Indiana at the home of their eldest child, Susanna Walker. Jacob was the son of Conrad and Eva (Rupert) Yarian. Elizabeth and Jacob Yarian are buried in Randolph Hillside Cemetery, Portage County, Ohio.

Jacob and Elizabeth Yarian lived in Unity Township, Columbiana County and were enumerated there in the 1820 and 1830 census records. They moved to Portage County, Ohio sometime before May 25, 1839 when their 3rd child was born there.

Census records from 1840 through 1880 show that Jacob and Elizabeth resided in Randolph Township, Portage County, Ohio where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Well, at least Elizabeth did. Jacob went to live with their daughter, Susanna Walker, in October 1894 and remained there until his death five months later.

Since Jacob and Elizabeth Yarian are my 3rd great grandparents, future posts (someday!) will provide additional information on them and their 11 children: Susanna Walker (1836-1925), Jonathan (1837-1918), Eli (1839-1895), Benjamin (1842-1911), David (1844-1929), Jacob Jr. (1846-1913), Daniel (1847-1849), Mary Catherine (1850-1911), Eva Ada (1852-1912), and Rebecca (1856-1941).

The four oldest children (Susanna, Jonathan, Eli, and Benjamin) all moved to Locke and Union Townships, near present-day Nappanee, in southern Elkhart County, Indiana. The other children who survived into adulthood remained in Ohio although in different areas. The four oldest sons (Jonathan, Eli, Benjamin, and David) all served during the Civil War. Eli Yarian and his wife, Lovina Berlin, are my 2nd great grandparents.

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More research definitely needs to be done on these other three families as all I have thus far are their census records. I don't have death records or obituaries yet. I have not yet looked for any records on their children. Now that I'm back on the road traveling I don't have much internet time for research and I'm still working through the other stuff I found in Salt Lake City and in Ohio. I'll get back to these families again, sometime. I might even do some on-site research on the Monaweck (or whatever their name is) family when I return to Indiana. Someday.

Rather than attempt to create family groupings (i.e. determine who is a child and who isn't), I'm just going to present the information that I currently have on these families from the census records and Ohio Death Records. If anyone is related to these families or doing research on them, please contact me at kinexxions@gmail.com

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Barbara Switzer was probably born in 1813 or 1814 (she was 36 in the 1850 census, 45 in 1860, and 58 in 1870) in Columbiana County, Ohio. Her husband, Jacob Manaweck, was probably born about 1815 (he was 35 in the 1850 census, 45 in 1860, and 57 in 1870) in Germany.

Since Barbara and Jacob were married in 1838, they should be in the census records in 1840. However, I haven't found them there yet.

1850 Deerfield Township, Portage County, Ohio Image 26, Dwelling 1194, Family 1258
Jacob Momweck, Jr., 35, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $2000 or $2500, born Germany
Barbara, 36, born Ohio
John, 11, born Ohio
Josiah, 10, born Ohio
Lydia, 6, born Ohio
Mary, 4, born Ohio
Elizabeth, 3, born Ohio
Cathaine, 5/12, born Ohio
Jacob, 66, farmer, born Germany
Margaret, 66, born Germany

1860 Madison Township, St Joseph County, Indiana pages 122 & 123 [Indexed as Minarick]
Jacob Minawick, 45, Real Estate valued at $1000, Personal Estate $295, born Millenburg
Barbara, 45, born Ohio
Lydia, 16, born Ohio
Elizabeth, 15, born Ohio
Meary, 14, born Ohio
Catherine, 10, born Ohio
Jacob, 8, born Ohio
Adam, 5, born Indiana
Martha [?], 1, born Indiana

1860 Madison Township, St Joseph County, Indiana page 123 - the next family after Jacob
Josiah Minawick, 21, farmer, born Ohio
Lucy A., 17, born Ohio
Meary A., 5/12, born Indiana

1870 Madison Township, St Joseph County, Indiana page 8
Jacob Monawick, 57, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $6000, Personal Estate $800, born Wurtemburg
Barbara, 58, Keeping House, born Ohio
Jacob, 18, Farmer, born Ohio
Adam, 15, Farmer, born Indiana

1870 Madison Township, St Joseph County, Indiana page 9
Josiah Monawick, 30, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $12000, Personal Estate $300, born Ohio
Lucy, 26, Keeping House, born Ohio
Adaline, 10, born Indiana
Martha, 7, born Indiana
Anna, 4, born Indiana
Ellen, 2, born Indiana

1880 Madison Township, St Joseph County, Indiana page 20 [Indexed as Monaueck]
Adam Manaweck, 25, Father, Farmer, born Indiana
Martha, 23, Wife, born Ohio
Curtis, 2, Son, born Indiana

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Rebecca Switzer was born about 1820 in Columbiana County, Ohio. Her husband, Peter Buchecker was born about 1816 in Pennsylvania. From the one online tree that I found on this family, it stated that Peter died May 18, 1882 and is buried in North Benton Cemetery, Mahoning County, Ohio.

Since Rebecca and Peter were married in 1838, they should be in the census records in 1840. However, I haven't found them there yet.

1850 Smith Township, Mahoning County, Ohio page 310
Peter Buchecker, 34, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $1300, born Penna
Rebecca, 30, born Ohio
Jacob, 11, born Ohio
Isaac, 7, born Ohio
Jonas, 4, born Ohio
Daniel, 2, born Ohio
Adam, 1, born Ohio

1860 Smith Township, Mahoning County, Ohio pages 242 & 243
Peter Brickecker, 44, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $8000, Personal Estate $1600, born Penn
Rebecca, 40, born Ohio
Isaac, 17, Farm Labor, born Ohio
Jonas, 14, born Ohio
Daniel, 12, born Ohio
Adam, 10, born Ohio
Eliza J., 9, born Ohio

1870 Smith Township, Mahoning County, Ohio page 6
Peter Buchecker, 54, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $15000, Personal Estate $1000, born Pa.
Rebecca, 49, Keeping House, born Ohio
Daniel, 22, Works on Farm, born Ohio
Adam, 21, Works on Farm, born Ohio
Ms. E. Airhart, 16, House Work, born Ohio

1870 Smith Township, Mahoning County, Ohio page 6
Jonas Buhecker, 24, Farmer, born Ohio
Levinia, 23, Keeping House, born Ohio
E. Sherwood, 16, male, Farm Work, born Conn.

Daniel Boohecker born 1846 N. Benton, Mahoning Co, Ohio died 06 Oct 1920 Sebring, Mahoning, Ohio - parents Peter Boohecker and Rebecka Switzer (Ohio deaths)

Jacob Boohecker born 05 Jan 1839 died 15 Feb 1911 Smith, Mahoning, Ohio – parents Peter Boohecker and Rabecca Sweitzer (Ohio Deaths)

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Susan Switzer was born about 1826 in Columbiana County, Ohio. Her husband, Daniel Deemer, was born about 1822 in Pennsylvania.

1850 Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio pages 14 & 15 [Indexed as Denner]
Daniel Demeer, 28, Physician, Real Estate valued at $2000, born Pa.
Susanna, 23, born Ohio
Lewis, 18, farmer, born Ohio
Catharine, 15, born Ohio
Israel, 11, born Ohio
John P, 4, born Ohio
Jacob S, 3, born Ohio
Catharine, 2, born Ohio

Note: Lewis, the older Catharine, and Israel are not children of Daniel and Susan - they were not married until 1845. My guess would be that they are nephews and a niece of Daniel and may even be related to Susan. The Ohio death record for Isreal J. Deemer (1838-1924) gives his parents as Phillip Deemer and Cathern Sweitzer!

1860 Columbiana, Columbiana County, Ohio page 367
Dr. D. Deemer, 38, Physician, Real Estate valued at $8980, born Penna.
Susan, 34, born Ohio
John T., 15, born Ohio
Jacob S., 13, born Ohio
Kate, 11, born Ohio
Frank, 9, born Ohio
George, 6, born Ohio
Nameless, 2/12, born Ohio

1870 E Fairfield Township, Columbiana County, Ohio page 101
Daniel Deemer, 48, Physician, Real Estate valued at $5000, Personal Estate $10000, born Pennsylvania
Susannah, 45, Keeping House, born Ohio
Jacob, 23, Trader, born Ohio
Catherine, 21, Home, born Ohio
Frank, 20, born Ohio
George, 17, born Ohio
Charles, 10, born Ohio

1880 Fairfield Township, Columbiana County, Ohio pages 61 & 62
Daniel Deemer, 57, Physician, born Penn
Susan, 54, Wife, Keeping House, born Ohio
Jacob, 33, Dealer in Stock, born Ohio
Dale Vandisalia, 20, Painter, born Ohio
Kate Marlan 35, Tailoress, born Ohio

Jacob S. Deemer born 03 Mar 1847 died 23 Aug 1923 Lisbon, Columbiana, Ohio – parents Daniel Deemer and Sweitzer (Ohio Deaths)

Isreal J. Deemer born 10 Oct 1838 Lisbon, Ohio died 03 Apr 1924 Beaver, Mahoning, Ohio - parents Phillip Deemer and Cathern Sweitzer (Ohio Deaths)

Switzer Family Number 3 :: Jacob and Polly

The First Families of Ohio application (No. 2190 dated February 27, 1990) was my first clue that there were actually four Jacob Switzers in Columbiana County. After reviewing that file, things seemed to fall into place. The nonsensical began to make sense. This previous post was a summary of the Tax Lists, Land Records, and Census Records for each of the Jacob Switzers, and in that post this Jacob was identified as Jacob #3. Much, but not all, of the information below was obtained from the First Families of Ohio application (sources are available upon request).

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Jacob Switzer was born December 25, 1794 in Pennsylvania and died August 29, 1849 in Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio. He is buried in Orange Cemetery near Nankin, Ashland County, Ohio.

According to the First Families of Ohio application, this Jacob Switzer came to Ohio late in 1815 and married Mary (Polly) Skelton on January 16, 1816 in Columbiana County. (Marriage Record v1 p229 gives her name as Polly Skilton.) This would seem to imply that Jacob knew the Skelton family prior to his arrival in Columbiana County. Or perhaps, it was love at first sight!

Mary (Polly) Skelton was born January 16, 1791 and died November 28, 1841 in Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio. She is also buried in Orange Cemetery near Nankin, Ashland County, Ohio. Her father was William Skelton.

On January 13, 1817 Jacob purchased 50 acres of land in West Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. Seven years later, on January 17, 1824 Jacob Switzer and Polly, his wife, sold that land and moved a few counties west. They purchased land in Orange Township in 1834 in what was then Richland County and which, in 1846, became part of Ashland County, Ohio.

Polly died on November 28, 1841 and a little over a year later, on February 22, 1843 Jacob was married to Lydia White (Columbiana County Marriages v3 p331).

An Ashland County, Ohio deed record (v10 p318) provides the names of the heirs of Jacob Switzer. On October 6, 1852 John McDowell and James Sloan, the administrators of the estate of Jacob Switzer, filed a Petition in the Court of Common Pleas against the estate of Jacob Mitchelin. Apparently there was some discrepancy or disagreement and a small portion of the land of Jacob Mitchelin was transferred to the heirs of Jacob Switzer. Those named in the deed were: John Switzer, William Switzer, Nancy Switzer, Henry Fluke & Margaret Flukes his wife, and Lewis Switzer.

So now we have names... and through the wonders of the internet and online databases we now also have some additional information.

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Jacob Switzer had five known children, as shown in the above mentioned deed. The first four children were by Polly Skelton and the last one, Lewis, was by Jacob's second wife Lydia White.

• Margaret (Switzer) Fluke was born March 12, 1819 (birth date calculated based upon age at death) in Ohio. She died June 12, 1892 at age 73y 3m and is buried Nankin Cemetery, Ashland County, Ohio.

Margaret married Henry Fluk [sic] on December 13, 1836 in Richland County, Ohio (v1 p144). Henry Fluke was born about 1811 and died December 17, 1875. He is also buried in Nankin Cemetery, Ashland County, Ohio.

They were found in the 1850 census in Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Henry Fluke, 38, farmer, Real Estate valued at $3000, born Pa
Margaret Fluke, 31, born Ohio
Mary Ann Fluke, 13, born Ohio
Wm Fluke, 11, born Ohio
Amanda Fluke , 8, born Ohio
Enos Fluke, 5, born Ohio
Nancy Sweetzer, 26, born Ohio
Jacob Sweetzer, 12, born Ohio

• Nancy Switzer was born born 1820/1824 in Ohio. She was age 78 at death and age 26 in the 1850 census where she was enumerated in the household of Henry and Margaret Fluke. Nancy died February 3, 1898 and is buried in Nankin Cemetery, Ashland County, Ohio.

• John Switzer - There were two men named John Switzer (one was John B.) in the 1860 census in Ashland County. They were 37 and 38 years of age thus born about 1822 or 1823. It is possible that either one or neither is this John Switzer.

• William Switzer was born September 9, 1825 in Ohio and died January 7, 1895. He is buried in Nankin Cemetery, Ashland County, Ohio

William married Mary Ann Richards on February 3, 1846 Richland County, Ohio (v2 p312)

Mary Ann (aka Ann) Richards was born June 12, 1829 in Ohio and died August 3, 1901. She is also buried in Nankin Cemetery, Ashland County, Ohio.

They were found in the 1850 census in Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio
William Switzer, 24, Farmer, born Ohio
Ann Switzer, 20, born Ohio
Mary Ann Switzer, 1, born Ohio

And, they were in the 1860 census in Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Wm Switzer, 34, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $5200, Personal Estate $698, born Ohio
Anne Switzer, 30, born Ohio
Mary A Switzer, 11, born Ohio
Howard Switzer, 9, born Ohio
Homer Switzer, 7, born Ohio
Laura Switzer, 5, born Ohio
Virgil E. Switzer, 3, born Ohio
Adda Switzer, 1, born Ohio
Frederick Switzer, 73, born Ohio, Blind

• Lewis Switzer was born about 1846 in Ohio.

He was listed with his mother in the 1850 census in Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Lydia Switzer, 47, Personal Estate valued at $2000, born Md
Lewis Switzer, 4, born Ohio
Frederick Switzer, 62, born Pa, Blind

And in 1860 Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio – Family
Lydia Switzer, 58, Personal Estate valued at $150, born Pa
Lewis Switzer, 15, born Ohio

Neither Lydia nor Lewis were listed in Nankin Cemetery or in any Ashland County cemetery on Find-a-Grave. That does not mean they aren't buried there.

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The Frederick Switzer listed with Lydia in 1850 and William in 1860 is most likely a brother of Jacob Switzer. Frederick was born August 19, 1787 (calculated from age at death 82y 3m 18d) and died December 7, 1869. He is buried in Nankin Cemetery. The census records state that he was blind.

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I do not plan to pursue this family any further. The information is being presented here because I have it and hopefully it will be of some use to another researcher someday.

Switzer Family Number 4 :: Jacob G. and Catharina

This previous post was a summary of the Tax Lists, Land Records, and Census Records for each of the Jacob Switzers, and in that post this Jacob was identified as Jacob #4.

The Estate File in Columbiana County, Ohio (Number 4874) gives his name as Jacob G. Switzer while the Columbiana County Cemetery Inscriptions (v1 p6) lists him as Jacob C. Switzer. I'm going with Jacob G.

Jacob G. Switzer died March 25, 1859 at age 70y 4mo 17d (date of birth calculates to November 8, 1788). He is buried in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio.

His wife Catherine/Catharina died December 17, 1850 at age 62y 3mo 5d (date of birth calculates to September 12, 1788). She is also buried in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio. The gravestone transcriptions give her name as Catharina. The Ohio Death Record for Anna ( Switzer) Grove gives her mother's name as Catherine Mummert while that of Sophia Sweitzer shows it to be Catherine Murmmouh. A record on Find-a-Grave gives her name as Catharina Murmmoth.

On April 16, 1859 Isaac Switzer of Stark County, and James Crook and Joseph Anglemyer of Columbiana County signed a bond for $2000 for Isaac Switzer who was named Administrator of the estate of Jacob G. Switzer.

Above is a portion of the final account that shows there was a balance of $917.63 in the estate of Jacob G. Switzer which Isaac Switzer was ordered to distribute according to law.

“The deceased in his lifetime having made advancements to most of his children of unequal sums, in order to equalize each as near as possible, the above balance was distributed as follows between the six heirs who have received the least by way of advancement, as per receipts filed.”

The above statement implies that there were possibly other heirs that did not receive a part of the final distribution... Census records seem to show that there may have been other children not named as having received a distribution.

The heirs that received a distribution and the amount they received were:

Ann Switzer – 194.60 ½
Sophia Switzer – 194.60 ½
Benj. Switzer 134.60 ½
Lydia Keck – 194.60 ½
Eliza Crook – 94.60 ½
Isaiah Holloway agt for Susan Holloway - 94.60 ½
Probate Judges & Attorneys fees – 10.00
Equal balance in Admr's hands $917.63

In the sale bill for the estate of Jacob G. Switzer, which was very difficult to read, there were several entries for a Tobias Switzer but none for Isaac or Benjamin. Is Tobias a son? Tobias also owed several notes to the estate amounting to $452.07 and it was reported in the final account that T. Switzer had paid $456.28 to the estate.

This Jacob Switzer does not appear in Columbiana County census records until 1830 and then he is listed in Fairfield Township from 1830 through 1850. See the above-mentioned previous post for details on the census records and well as the land ownership information.

From the census records it was determined that the family of Jacob and Catherina Mummert Switzer seems to have consisted of at least:

one male born 1826-1830
two males born 1821-1825
two males born 1816-1820
two females born 1826-1830 [Anna born 1829 + one other]
one female born 1821-1825 [Sophia born 1822 and Lydia born 1824]
one female born 1816-1820 [Eliza born 1818]
one female born 1811-1815 [Susan ?]

Known children of Jacob G. and Catharina Switzer (they received a distribution of his estate):

• Susan (Switzer) Holloway is probably the Susan Switzer who married Charles Holloway on March 10, 1839 in Columbiana County (v3 p208).

• Eliza/Aliza (Switzer) Crook. Aliza was born October 4, 1818 and died April 20, 1903. She is buried in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio. Eliza married James Crook on September 12, 1844 in Columbiana County (v3 p382). James Crook was born September 17, 1820 (calculated from age at death) and died October 23, 1895 at age 75y 1m 6d. He is buried in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio.

• Anna (Switzer) Grove was born December 25, 1825 in Fairfield Township, Columbiana County, Ohio and died March 16, 1910 in Columbiana, Columbiana County, Ohio. The Ohio Death Record of Anna Grove gives her parents as Catherine Mummert and Jacob Switzer. Anna was widowed at the time of her death. Since she was named as Ann Switzer in the distribution record or her father, it is likely that she married “Mr. Grove” after 1860. The informant on the death record was Valentine Grove.

• Sophia Switzer was born May13, 1830 in Ohio and died April 27, 1916 in Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio. She is buried in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio. The Ohio death records give her parents names as Catherine Murmmouh and Jacob Sweitzer.

• Benjamin Switzer was not found in a quick search of the marriage records or census records for Columbiana County.

• Lydia Ann (Switzer) Keck was born April 27, 1837 and died March 11, 1870 and is buried in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio. Lydia married to Peter Rick [Reck/Keck] on 27 April 27, 1858 in Columbiana County (v38 p333). Peter was born October 17, 1834 and died October 6, 1900. They are buried in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio.

Other possible children of Jacob G. and Catharina Switzer:

• Isaac Switzer was the Administrator of the Estate of Jacob G. Switzer. He may be the Isaac Switzer who married Christina Zimmerman on January 2, 1840 in Columbiana County (v3 p226). He was found in the 1850 census in Lexington Township, Stark County, Ohio (page 462): Isaac Sweitzer was 37 years old (born about 1813 – doesn't quite “fit” the ages of “sons” in family of Jacob G). He was a farmer and was born in Ohio. In his household were Christina Sweitzer, 40; Silvenus Sweitzer, 8; Henry Sweitzer, 6; and Benjamin Sweitzer, age 3.

• Tobias Switzer was the only Switzer that purchased goods from the estate. He also owed several notes to the estate, which he paid on April 6, 1860.

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I do not plan to pursue this family any further. The information is being presented here because I have it and hopefully it will be of some use to another researcher someday.

Not One, Not Two, Not Three, but Four of Them!

My apologies in advance. This is going to be a very long post. I thought about making it into four separate posts but the information seemed “fractured” that way. It has helped me to compile this “report” and to see all of the information together in one spot. It is my hope that it may help others in sorting out the Switzer families of Columbiana County. If you are a descendant of any of these fellows, please contact me at kinexxions@gmail.com and let me know how you are related. I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have any documentation to prove or disprove my theories.

In my previous post The Three Jacob Switzers I identified three men by the name of Jacob Switzer who lived in Columbiana County, Ohio at the same time. I was having a bit of a problem deciphering the census records for 1820, 1830 and 1840 as they didn't seem to make sense in regards to what little information I had. It appeared that families were being enumerated in townships that were different from where their land was located – and they were! The Ohio Tax Lists added somewhat to my confusion. As it turns out there were actually FOUR Jacob Switzers in the county but only three living there at any one time during those years.

A “breakthrough” of sorts came with an application for First Families of Ohio on Jacob Switzer who married Polly (Mary) Skelton and also with the Estate File of the “other” Jacob who was the same age as “my” Jacob.

As a recap, with corrections, and adding the fourth Jacob (he's actually #3), here are the “players” involved.

1. Jacob Switzer, born February 28, 1761 and died October 27, 1841. His wife was named Elizabeth (maiden name possibly Hoke and possibly married February 19, 1786).
2. Jacob Switzer, born January 4, 1788 and died November 2, 1859. He married Catherine “Caty” Brinker on February 26, 1811. [This is my family. I am descended through their daughter Elizabeth who married Jacob Yarian.]
3. Jacob Switzer, born December 25, 1794 and died August 29, 1849. He married Polly Skelton January 11, 1816. He is in Columbiana County by 1817 and is gone by 1830.
4. Jacob Switzer, born November 8, 1788 and died March 25, 1859. His wife was Catharina Mummert. He appears in Columbiana County in 1830.

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The Ohio Tax Lists for 1816-1838 at FamilySearch were downloaded and compiled into a spreadsheet. (In the land description, R=Range, T=Township, S=Section.) It should be noted that the spelling of the surname in these records was usually Switzer, but occasionally Switser or Schwitzer.

The Tax Lists were then compared to the Deed Records and abstractions that I obtained in June while at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as well as some Deed Records that were viewed and abstracted earlier this month at the Recorders Office in Lisbon, Ohio.

Comparing the information from the Tax Lists, Deed Records, and Census Records I came up with some semblance of an idea of who lived where and the makeup of their respective families. In three out of four cases, Deed Records and Estate Records were instrumental in the identification of family members, though not necessarily all of their family members. For various reasons, for this initial analysis, I chose not to rely on the various online family trees for these families, especially those for the elder Jacob Switzer, which are numerous and for the most part sourceless.

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From 1816-1831 Jacob Switzer (#1) was taxed on 156 acres in the NE ¼ R3 T15 S25 (Salem Twp). Patent Certificate 883 was issued to Jacob Switzer of Jefferson County, Ohio for this land in 1804. The final certificate number 1976 was issued in 1808. In 1832 this land was sold by Jacob and Elizabeth to Daniel Switzer, presumed to be a son, with provisions, which were quite interesting. I may have a future post on that transaction.

Jacob and Elizabeth had another parcel of 20 acres in the SW ¼ of R3 T15 S23 (Salem Twp) which they purchased in 1812 from Baltzer Kulp and sold in 1820 to John Pepple.

Census records show that Jacob and Elizabeth lived in Salem Township.

• 1820 p65: Jacob Switzer with one male 16-25, one male 45 and over, one female 10-15, two females 16-25, one female 26-44 and one female 45 and over.
• 1830 p435: Jacob Swetser with one male 60-69, one female 40-49, one female 60-69
• 1840 p116: Jacob Switzer with one male 70-79 and one female 70-79

Making the assumption that all those listed are children of Jacob and Elizabeth, their family may have included, among others (keep in mind they were reportedly married in 1786, and if so, there are likely more children):

• one male born 1795-1804
• one female 1805-1810
• two females 1795-1804
• one female 1776-1794
• one female 1781-1790

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From 1820-1838 Jacob Switzer (#2) was taxed on 213 acres of land in the SE ¼ of R2 T12 S12 (Fairfield Twp). This was the land that Jacob's wife Catherine inherited from her father, Andrew Brinker, who was the original proprietor. As I understand it, Andrew had deeded this land, as well as various lands to his other children, some years before his death as mentioned in his will. Numerous Quit Claim deeds were recorded in 1832 between and to each of the heirs. (Yes, future posts!) Jacob and Catherine owned this land until 1849 when they sold it to Thomas McCoy.

Apparently, Jacob and Catherine did not live on the land in Fairfield Township the entire time until it was sold. In 1838 they purchased 80 acres in the south half of the NE ¼ of R3 T15 S33 (Salem Twp) from John Froth. They sold the Salem Township land to their son-in-law Daniel Deemer in 1847, with specific provisions and a little twist, which will of course be the subject of a future post.

The final account found in Jacob's probate file listed four daughters as heirs. Biographies of several family members indicated that Jacob and Catharine did not have any sons. Based on that premise, I believe this family in 1820 in Centre Township (p83) is the right family. I have no idea why they would be listed in Centre Township but Andrew Brinker (Jacob's father-in-law) was also enumerated there on the last line of the previous page and his lands were also in Fairfield Township. It's possible that he also owned land in Centre Township but I haven't reviewed his records yet.

• Jacob Switzer with one male 26-44, three females under 10, and one female 26-44.

Even though there is a male age 20-29 included in this family in 1830 in Fairfield Township (p345) I'm pretty sure it is the family of Jacob #2. The 20-29 year old male is most likely a hired hand or other relative, possibly even a brother.

• Indexed as Jacob Smither with a correction to Jacob Switzer: one male 20-29, one male 40-49, one female under 5, one female 5-9, two females 10-14, one female 15-19, and one female 40-49

The 1840 (p118) and 1850 (p14) census records show the family residing in Salem Township, probably on the land that was purchased in 1838.

• 1840: Jacob Switzer with one male 50-59, one female 10-14, one female 15-19, and one female 50-59
• 1850: Jacob Switzer, 65, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $1700, born Pa. with Catharine A. Switzer, 65, born Pa. [Note: The Daniel Deemer family is listed immediately following Jacob.]

Again, disregarding that one male age 20-29 in 1830, the family of Jacob and Catherine (Brinker) Switzer seems to have consisted of:

• one female 1826-1830 [Susan born abt 1826]
• one female 1821-1825 [Sarah born 1823 and died 1842]
• two females 1816-1820 [Elizabeth born September 1815 and Rebecca born abt 1820]
• one female 1811-1815 [Barbara born abt 1814]

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In the 1819 Tax List, Jacob Switzer (#3) is taxed on 50 acres in the SE ¼ of R5 T16 S14 (West Twp). He purchased the land in 1817. In 1824 Jacob Switzer and Polly, his wife, sold the land. I have no idea why he is in the tax lists only in the year 1819. The deed for this transaction was included in the First Families of Ohio application along with information that stated that Jacob came to Ohio in 1815. After selling the land in Columbiana County, Jacob and Polly moved to Wayne County, Ohio and settled in Orange Township, which became part of Richland County which later became part of Ashland County.

Although enumerated in Fairfield Township in 1820 (p62) I believe that this is Jacob and Polly Switzer, even though their land was located in West Township. The family makeup more closely resembles what was found in the First Families of Ohio application.

• Jacob Switzer with one male under 10, one male 26-44, two females under 10, and one female 26-44. There was also one Foreigner not naturalized.

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Jacob Switzer (#2 or #4 ?) was taxed on 80 acres in the W ½ of the SW ¼ of R2 T12 S16 (Fairfield Twp) from 1830 to 1838. Jacob was issued a Patent in 1833 from the state of Ohio (given the year it was probably the date the final certificate was issued). I did not find a record of the sale of this land in the grantor index going up to the year 1897, therefore I cannot conclusively state which Jacob owned this land. And even if I had found a record of the sale by Jacob I may not have been able to determine which one it was – they both had a wife named Catherine!

Above is a portion of the image from the 1837 Property Tax List for Fairfield Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. It shows two listings for Jacob Switzer (2nd and 3rd from the bottom) with the second entry being “Do” for ditto. I know for sure that the 213 acres in R2 T12 S12 was owned by “my” Jacob (#2). If I'm reading this correctly (and I could be wrong), the 3rd column from the right indicates that there was a house on the property in Section 12, while there was none on the 79 acres in Section 16.

In the years 1830-1838 the tax lists show the two properties on the same page usually consecutively as shown above and in each case there is no value in that column 3rd from the right.

This is the upper half of the 1841 Atlas (referenced below) that shows “Switzer” in Section 12 (to the right of the “2” in 12 on the right side of the map) and “J.S.” in Section 16 (above and to the left of the “R” in Fairfield).

If Section 16 was also owned by Jacob #2, then where was the land located that was owned by Jacob #4? He obviously had land somewhere... the 1850 census (see below) shows that he had Real Estate valued at $2400 while Jacob #2 had Real Estate valued at $1700. The land records noted thus far are the only ones I found for “Jacob Switzer” during this time period.

The “Combined Atlas of Columbiana County 1841-1860” published by the Columbiana County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society in 1984 (compiled from previously published works) shows that in 1861 the 79 acres in the W ½ of the SW ¼ of Section 16 were owned by “Keyser.” Obviously, I've got a little more work to do in regards to this land.

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Jacob Switzer #4 did not show up in Columbiana County until 1830 and then he is listed in the census records for Fairfield Township from 1830 through 1850.

• 1830 (p353): Jacob Switzer with one male under 5, two males 5-9, two males 10-14, one male 40-49, two females under 5, one female 5-9, one female 10-14, one female 15-19, and one female 40-49
• 1840 (p229): Jacob Switzer with one male 10-14, one male 15-19, one male 50-59, two females 5-9, one female 10-14, one female 15-19, one female 50-59
• 1850 (family 492): Jacob Switzer, 61, Farmer, Real Estate valued at $2400, born Penn. with Catharine Switzer, 61, born Penn, and Anna, 21, Sophia, 18, and Lydia A., 16, all three born Ohio.

The family of Jacob and Catherina Mummert Switzer seems to have consisted of at least:

• one male 1826-1830
• two males 1821-1825
• two males 1816-1820
• two females 1826-1830 [Anna born 1829 + one other]
• one female 1821-1825 [Sophia born 1822 and Lydia born 1824]
• one female 1816-1820
• one female 1811-1815

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In addition to the four Jacobs there were other Switzers in the tax lists for Columbiana County: John 1820-1838 with several properties in Elkrun Township, Martin 1829-1838 with various properties in Elkrun, Fairfield and Salem Townships, and Daniel 1830-1838 in Salem Township (the land purchased from Jacob and Elizabeth). They were also recorded in the census records for the county.

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Do John, Martin and Daniel fit into the family equation? If so, how? Are they sons of Jacob and Elizabeth?

All three of the younger Jacob Switzers are of the right age to be a son of the elder Jacob and his wife Elizabeth. Is one of them their son? If so, which one?

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See Switzer Families :: Index to Posts for additional information on the Switzer Families of Columbiana County, Ohio.