THE DELTA ATLAS
by Vashti Seaman
March 31, 1976
THE PONTIOUS and PUNCHES Families:
NOTE: See the bottom of this page
for some new information on the Punches of Fulton County
The PONTIUS and PONTIOUS Families
of near Delta, in York and Clinton Twps.
Fulton Co., and in northern Henry Co., OH. have a common ancestor in
the immigrant
JOHANNES PONTEAS, who arrived and was qualified at Philadelphia, PA.
in
the ship "Glasgow", Sept. 9, 1738.
NICHOLAS PONTEAS - the younger brother of JOHANNES - is the ancestor
of
the PUNCHES family, who settled about 1850 in Gorham Twp., Fulton Co.,
OH.
There are many ways of spelling the name of this immigrant family,
such as
PONTIUS, PONGEAS, PONCHES, etc.
The original name can be found in the Bible times, when PONTIUS is mentioned
as an ancient country in northeastern Asia Minor, a country lying along
the
Black Sea. At one time PONTIUS was taken by the Romans. The word "PONT"
is
used in various ways - such as plants that grow in water; Pontigny,
a village
on the left bank of the Serein, in France; Pontine Marshes, a swampy
plain in
Italy north of Rome; and Pontoon, a military flat bottomed boat used
in bridge
construction.
'The nice booklet published by the National Pontius Family Association
is
named "THE BRIDGE BUILDER", and various coats of arms are claimed by
descendants of the PONTIUS Family, whose origin of the American PONTIUS
Family can be traced to the Birkenfeld District, Rheinland, Pfalz,
in Germany. It is supposed they were of Swiss origin.
The Known Ancestors:
I. MICLAS PONTIUS was b about 1570 and d prior to April 10, 1617
in Diensweiler, where he resided. His wife, MARGRETHA, was b ca 1574 and
d Mar. 20, 1632. They were the parents of 7 children MICLAS was known as
the "Shepherd of Diensweiler:. A brother, JOHANNES, also resided in the
same area. The children of MICLAS & MARGRETHA were recorded in the
records of the Birkenfeld Evangelical Lutheran Church. Among these children
were:
II. VELTEN PONTIUS, a son, was b Mar. 26, 1606. He m (1) EVA
KRAUS and
(2) MARGRETHA ANTHONY VELTEN d Apr. 16, 1685 at Diensweiler. He m EVA
KRAUS, Aug. 2, 1631, a dau of THOMAS KRAUS of Smissberg, Rheinland Pfalz.
Six children were b to EVA, who d between Feb. 16 and Mar. 31, 1665.
The first child:
III. HANS NICKEL PONTIUS was christened July 14, 1632, and was
m (1) to
MARGRETHA ANTHONIUS, and (2) to ANNA MARGRETHA HOFFMAN, of Kusell,
and 5 children were b to them at Eborn. The first child:
IV. JOHAN PETER PONTIUS was b Feb. 6, 1685 and d Nov. 1736 at
Beriangenbach, Rheinland-Pfelz. Jan. 17, 1715 he m ANNA ROSINA CATHERINE,
HAUCH, a dau of HANS NICHEL HAUCH of Berlangenbach. 7 children were b and
christened at Berlangenbach, and the 2nd son:
V. JOHANNES PONTIUS, was b Aug. 18, 1717 and d in Northumberland
Co., Pa. in 1792. He and his younger brother, JOHANN NICKEL PONTIUS. christened
Aug. 24, 1728, came to Pa. Sept. 9, 1738, in the ship, "Glasgow", Walter
Sterling, Comm.
It is supposed that these 2 brothers were accompanied to Pa. by their
mother, ANNA ROSINA, and possibly a sister, MARIA, but their deaths have
not yet been found, either in Germany or in PA. This ship's commander did
not list the names of female passengers, or the names of children under
16 years of age. Upon their arrival in PA., the family is soon found in
Berks Co., PA. JOHANNES located in Tulpehocken Twp. and MICLAS in Bethel
Twp. One family has claimed that the sister, MARIA, was married in Berks
Co. She was b in 1725, but the name of her husband is not given.
JOHANNES PONTIUS, b 1717, m Jan. 14, 1743 to ANNA CATHERINE
ZELLER, a dau of JOHAN HEINRICH ZELLER and his wife, ANNA MARIA BERIGEL
or BRIEGEL, who migrated from N.Y. State with other families in 1723-25,
and had settled in Tulpehocken Twp. Berks Co. was formed 1752 from Philadelphia
Co., Chester and Lancaster Counties. The River Schuykill had been the dividing
line between early Philadelphia and Chester Counties. Lancaster Co. was
taken from Chester in 1729.
About the year 1772, JOHANNES (JOHN) PONTIUS and his family moved to
Buffalo Valley, then in Northumberland Co., Pa., where JOHANNES d between
the date June 16, 1792 when he signed his will, and May 27, 1794, when
his will was probated in Buffalo Twp., Union Co., PA. His wife d in 1705
and both were buried in the "PONTIUS Cemetery, a short distance-east of
Mifflinburg, PA." He is credited with having served in some way to the
cause of the country during the Revolutionary War and all his sons of an
age also served in the Revolution from Northumberland Co. Taxes paid for
his land in Northumberland Co. can be found in Vol. 19, 3rd Ser. PA. Archives,
and Vol, 18 gives land tax in Tulpehocken Twp. Berks Co. His estate was
settled by his heirs, on June 3, 1805, HENRY PONTIUS, ANDREW PONTIUS, JOHN
PONTIUS, GEORGE PONTIUS, MARY WELKER (possibly a widow), CATHARINA and
her husband, GEORGE YOUNGMAN, all of Northumberland Co., PA., released
their claims to the estate of the father, JOHN PONTIUS, deceased, to NICHOLAS
PONTIUS, their brother, of Buffalo Twp. In March 1807, ANDREW PONTIUS is
recorded as being in Ross Co., OH. and acknowledged he had received money
from his brother, NICHOLAS of Buffalo Twp., PA. On June 1, 1807, the heirs
of JOHN PONTIUS, deceased, released further claims to his estate to FREDERICK
PONTIUS, their fathers administrator. Many of the family attended the little
Dreisbach Church, located a short distance from their home in Buffalo Twp.
The children of JOHANNES PONTIUS & ANNA CATHARINA ZELLER
were:
1. JOHAN HEINRICH PONTIUS, b Feb. 24, 1744 was named for his
grandfather, HEINRICH (HENRY) ZELLER, HENRY PONTIUS d Sept. 13, 1822, m
ca 1770 ANNA CATHERINE WOLFE. He served as a lst Lt. in the Rev.
2. JOHAN ANDREW PONTIUS, b Dec. 29, 1745, m BARBARA ANN SHERMAN.
He also served in the Rev. and d 1825 in Ross Co., 0.
3. JOHAN PETER PONTIUS, b Oct. 22, 1747, d Mar. 17, 1835. He
m ANNA CATHARINA BERGER, and served in the Rev. War.
4. JOHAN NICHOLAS PONTIUS, b Oct. 23, 1749, d Jan. 28, 1831 in
Snyder Co. PA. He m MARIA APPOLONIA WILHELM.
5. JOHANNES (JOHN) PONTIUS, b Aug. 16, 1751, d Oct. 5, 1836.
He m BARBARA KATHERMAN of COTTERMAN, and d in Armstrong Co., PA.
6. ANNA MARIA PONTIUS, b ca 1752, was named for her grandmother,
ANNA MARIA BRIEGEL, wife of HENRY ZELLER. ANNA MARIA PONTIUS m JACOB AURANDT,
son of JOHANNES AURANDT. After his death, she m 2nd. JACOB WELKER and must
have been a widow in 1805, as he did not sign with her when her father's
estate was settled. She d 1811.
7. JOHAN GEORGE PONTIUS, b Dec. 19, 1752, d 1824 in Pickaway
Co. OH. He m CATHERINE and 2nd DOROTHY MOYER, His son, GEORGE PONTIOUS,
and wife, MARGARET, deeded land to 4 of their children in York Twp., Fulton,
Co., when it was still known as York Twp., Lucas Co, between 1835 and 1848.
8. ANNA CATHERINE PONTIOUS (note change in spelling after about
1800) was b Apr. 14, 1757. She m JOHAN MICHAEL EMERICH, b 1757, a son of
LEONARD EMERICH and 2nd wife, CATHERINE FORBEY. MICHAEL EMERICK was a Rev.
soldier also ANNA CATHERINE d ca 1838.
9. FREDERICK PONTIUS, b Apr. 4, 1759, d 1823, m 1st ANN MARGARET
and
2nd CATHERINE REEDY.
10. ELIZABETH PONTIUS, b Aug.. 30, 1763, m GEORGE YOUNGMAN of
Berks Co. Pa.
Of these children:
HENRY PONTIUS & ANNA CATHERINE WOLFE had children;
ANDREW, b 1770; FREDERICK, b 1772, went to Stark Co., O.; HENRY, JR.
b ca 1773; NICHOLAS, b 1775, to Summit Co., O.; CATHERINE b 1777, JOHN
b 1778; GEORGE, b 1780, went to Seneca Co., N.Y.; PETER, b 1783, CHRISTINA
b 1785; BARBARA, who was b ca 1787 and moved to Wayne Co. O., and PHILIP,
b 1789. When members of the D.A.R. researched their ancestor, HENRY PONTIUS,
b 1744, most of them joined on the son, HENRY, JR.
ANDREW PONTIUS, b 1745, and wife, BARBARA ANN, had children:
CATHERINE, b 1775- BARBARA, b 1777; BENJAMIN A., b 1781, and SOLOMON,
b 1790/ All born in Union Co., PA.
PETER PONTIUS, Rev. soldier, 3rd son, d 1835. He and CATHERINA
BERGER has children: HENRY, b 1773; ELIZABETH, b 1776; CATHERINE, b 1778;
MARGARET, b 1780; PETER, b 1785; JOSEPH, b 1787; ROSANNA; ANNA MARIA; BARBARA
and GEORGE. GEORGE had died before his father and left sons, THOMAS &
GEORGE PETER, 1785,, was living in 1820. No heirs mentioned.
THE DELTA ATLAS
April 7, 1976
PONTIOUS & PUNCHES Families con't.
NICHOLAS PONTIUS, b 1749, and MARIA APPOLONIA WILHELM had these
known children; CATHERINE, b 1779; ADAM, b 1780; JACOB, b 1784; FREDERICK,,
b 1788 and ELIZABETH, b 1790. NICHOLAS served as a Lt. in the Revolution.
JOHN PONTIUS, JR. b 1751 and BARBARA KATHERMAN ahd children:
CATHERINE; JOHN, b 1799; ESTHER, b 1781; JACOB, b 1783 and SUSANNA, b 1787.
J. GEORGE PONTIUS, b 1752, and his wife or wives had these children;
BETSY (ELIZABETH), b ca 1780; CONROD, b 1783; SAMUEL, b 1788. GEORGE,
b 1785, who had a wife MARGARET; DANIEL, b ca 1791; CATHERINE and MARGARET.
This is the family who resided in Pickaway Co, OH. whose sons, GEO. and
SAMUEL purchased various tracts of land from the U.S. Government between
1834-45 in present York Twp., Fulton Co. near Delta. They left descendants
here.
CATHERINE PONTIUS, b 1757, and MICHAEL EMERICK had these children,
b in Northumberland Co., Pa.: JOHN, b ca 1782-, PHILIP, b 1784; CATHERINE,
b 1786; ELIZABETH, b 1788; MAGDALENE, b ca 1781; MARGARET, CONRAD; FREDERICK;
ANDREW; SARAH; SUSANNA and RACHEL EMERICK. This MICHAEL EMERICK, son of
LEONARD, was a grandson of J. MICHAEL EMERICK from Delkenheim to N.Y. State
in 1709, and who migrated with the ZELLER, BATDORFF and other families
from N.Y. State to.
Tulpehocken Twp., present Berks Co., Pa., in 1723-25.
FREDERICK PONTIUS, b 1759, d 1823 in Ross Co., OH
ELIZABETH PONTIUS, b 1763, d 1851 in Lycoming Co., Pa. She and
GEORGE YOUNGMAN left descendants. This name was early spelled YUNKMAN.
In the 1790 Pa. U.S. Census, p 183,
GEORGE YOUNGMAN had himself over 16, 1 m under 16, 1 fe.
ELIAS YOUNGMAN with 2 males over 16 and 1 fe. lived next to GEORGE.
JOHN PONTIUS, JR. had himself over 16, 2 m under 16 and 4 fe. any age.
ANDREW PONTIUS had himself over 16, 2 m under 16, 5 fe.
HENRY PONTIUS had 3 m over 16, 6 m under 16 and 4 fe.
JOHN PONTIUS (the father and immigrant) had himself and his wife.
FREDERICK PONTIUS had himself over 16, 2 m under 16, 3 fe.
NICHOLAS PONTIUS had himself over 16, 3 m under 16, 2 fe.
on p 193,
GEORGE PONTIUS had himself over 16, 3 m under 16, 2 fe.
MARK PONTIUS had himself over 16, 3 fe, any age, at Sunbury.
The Rev.: War records of the family can be found in Vol. 8, 5th Series,
P archives.
After the death of the parents, JOHANNES PONTIUS & ANNA CATHERINE
ZELLER, his wife, and the settlement of their estate, the family was broken
up and the
children started moving west. Taking up land in Ohio, where land was
much
cheaper, they became pioneers in Summit, Ross, Seneca and Pickaway
Counties.
A few years ago, the Ohio D.A.R. NEWS printed pictures and a fine story
of the
PONTIUS, PONTIOUS, PUNCHES families in Pickaway and nearby counties.
Tombstones were copied and the pictures telling the story of the family
were
included. I wish I could find my issue but I think I sent it ot J.
PHILIP PONTIUS in
Keokuck, Iowa, who was checking various family records. He had wished
for a picture of the old brick church located on the north side of
the Ridge
Road, a few miles south of Wauseon, which had been built many years
ago on
land owned by DAVID PONTIUS. The old building was torn down about 1974.
We have many burials in the Wauseon and Zion Cemeteries of the PONTIUS
descendants. I found the following land records in our Fulton Co. Court
House:
LUCAS CO. TRANSFER BOOK -
Vol, 1, p 268: The U.S. to GEORGE PONTIUS, Oct. 17, 1835, land subject
for sale at Waupakonetta, OH.,...Located in Sec. 29, T7N, R7E, of 160
cares. Then
"Known ye, all men, by these presents, that we, GEORGE PONTIOUS &
MARGARET, his wife, of the County of Pickaway, and State of Ohio, for and
in consideration of our natural love for our son, SAMUEL G. PONTIOUS ....
do deed the following describes land .... in SE 1/4 , Sec. 29, T7N, R7E,
containing 160 acres... more or less being part of a section of land patented
to said GEORGE PONTIOUS, dated at Washington City, the 7th day of Oct.
1835....We hereunto set our hands this
4th of April 1838-..." Wit by EZEKIAL MORRIS & ABSOLOM GRANDSTAFFE,
and Rec. in Vol. 3, - 507, by JUNIUS FLAGG, Rec. (This land is in present
York Twp., Fulton Co. OH)
Vol. 3, p 476, Lucas Co. Transfer Bk, Recorder's Office, Wauseon, "Know
ye
all men, that we, GEORGE PONTIOUS & MARGARET, his wife, in consideration
of the natural love and affection for our son, GEORGE G. PONTIOUS, of Pickaway
Co. OH ... do deed the land in the NE 1/4, Sec. 29, T7N, R7E, in the district
of lands on sale at, Waupakonetta, 0. of 160 acres being a part of the
land patented to said
GEORGE PONTIOUS by patent at Washington, D.C. Oct. 17, 1835." Signed
at Pickaway Co., O., Jan 24, 1845, before SAMUEL STOUT, J.P. and trans.
Oct. 20, 1846 by W.F. DEWEY, County Auditor, (This 160 acres joins the
above tract.)
A third land record can be found in Vol. 3, p 475, as follows:
"The U.S.
Government to GEORGE PONTIOUS, of Pickaway Co., O., 160 acres dated
May 23, 1835, in SE 1/4, Sec. 20, T7N, R7E, (being in present York Twp.,
Fulton Co. OH... Then Jan 24, 1845, GEORGE PONTIOUS & MARGARET, his
wife, deeded the 160 acres "because of the love for our daughter, SARAH
PONTIOUS, of Pickaway Co., OH.... for the sum of $1.00....(This is the
farm land that SARAH and her husband, ELIAS KESLER, lived upon and where
ELIAS d in 1866. They were m in Pickaway Co. 18 1846/47.
Mrs. HERBERT PRECHT is adding a bar to her D.A.R. present soldier, and
lives in
Napoleon the 1976, Their son, GEORGE KESLER, was her great-grandfather.
Vol. 1, p 212, of York Twp. Index, gives the record of a deed, dated
May
15, 1834, of land located in the NW 1/4 Sec. 29, T7N, R7E, which was
patented to
GEORGE PONTIOUS of Pickaway Co., OH, of 160 acres....Then Apr. 4, 1838,
GEORGE land his wife, MARGARET, of Pickaway Co. OH., deeded to their daughter,
CATHERINE, and husband, JACOB BAKER, this 160 acres .... Then Mar. 3, 1857,
CATHERINE BAKER deeded this 160 acres to MATHIAS GILGEN. (I cannot find
any reference that JACOB BAKER & CATHERINE lived in our county, and
he must have died before his wife sold it to GILGEN, as he did not sign
the deed). From these land records we have the names of four children of
GEORGE PONTIOUS and his wife MARGARET of Pickaway Co., O.,: SAMUEL G. PONTIOUS,
SARAH and ELIAS KESLER, and CATHERINE and JACOB BAKER, her husband,. GEORGE
PONTIOUS of this family was b in 1785 and d in Pickaway Co. in 1866. (He
was the son of GEORGE PONTIOUS who d 1824, and CATHERINE, who d ca 1810.)
There are also records of land purchased from the U.S. Gov. by SAMUEL
PONTIOUS of PONTIUS of Pickaway Co., the next younger brother of GEORGE.
This SAMUEL was b in 1788, and the land records in York Twp., Fulton
Co.
give the following:
Vol. 1, part 2, York Twp., Fulton Co. Deeds, p 29: The U.S. Gov. deeded
to SAMUEL PONTIUS of Pickaway Co., OH. 160 acres May 18, 1834, located
in Sec. 5, T6N, R7E, and then SAMUEL PONTIOUS and SUSANNA, his wife, deeded
80 acres to SAMUEL PONTIOUS, JR. and another 80 acres Mar. 6, 1850 to DAVID
PONTIOUS.
SAMUEL PONTIOUS, JR. and wife, REBECCA, deeded land to SIMON PONTIOUS....Aug.
20, 1885, SIMON PONTIOUS & WIFE, ANN (she is ANN JENNINGS) deeded to
EDWARD PONTIOUS .... Mar 13, 1889, DAVID PONTIOUS & Wife, LUCY, deeded
80 acres to MICHAEL SCHNUR. This 160 acres was located about 3 miles south
of Wauseon in Clinton Twp.
Vol. 20, p 69, listed Clinton Twp. "Indenture made the 6th Mar. 1850
between SAMUEL PONTIOUS & SUSANNA, his wife, of Pickaway Co., OH. of
the 1st
part, and DAVID PONTIOUS of Pickaway Co. of the 2nd part, for the sum
of $275
paid .... said land being in the S-1/2 of the NE 1/4 Sec. 5, T6N, R7E,
subject to sale
at Waupakonetta, OH. being part of the same land granted to said SAMUEL
PONTIOUS by Pres. ANDREW JACKSON on Oct. 7, 1850, and recorded Dec. 1866.
SAMUEL PONTIOUS of Pickaway Co., son of GEORGE (b 1752) is credited
with
the following children (I do not know if all the children are by SUSANNA
or if
she is a 2nd wife): GEORGE, b 1811, d 1886; SAMUEL, JR. b 1812; CATHERINE,
b 1813; BENJAMIN, b 1817; AMELIA, b 1819; POLLY, b 1821; WILLIAM, b 1823,
d 1908 DAVID, b 1824, d 1911; JOHN, b 1827; SUSAN, b 1829, d 1919; SARAH,
b 1834; HARRIET, b 1836; and NICHOLAS, b 1839, d 1927.
I found these families in the U.S. Census, 1850, Fulton Co.,
York Twp.,
stop 761: ELIAS KESLER, b OH. age 29; SARAH (PONTIOUS) KESLER, b OH.
age 32; GEORGE KESLER, b OH. age 3; MARGARET KESLER, b OH. age 1; stop
671 - SAMUEL PONTIOUS, age 39, b OH; REBECCA (RAYMOND) PONTIUS, 35, b Pa.;
JOHN W. PONTIUS, 11 b OH.; WILSON PONTIUS, 8, b OH, JOSIAH PONTIUS, 5,
b OH.; SIMON PONTIUS 3 b, OH
In the 1860 Census York Twp.: SAMUEL PONTIOUS is listed as age 47; REBECCA
PONTIOUS, age 43, b Pa.; WESLEY PONTIUS, age 20, b 0; WILSON PONTIOUS,
18, b OH.; JOSIAH PONTIOUS, 15, b OH.; SIMON PONTIOUS, 12, b OH.; SAMUEL
S. PONTIOUS, 61 b. OH; ?LOMY PONTIOUS, 2, b OH.; MAHALA PONTIOUS, 9, b
OH;
**********************************************
In comparing the ages of the family,
it appears that many of the ages
are "guessed at" when giving them to the census caller.
I find this is a common
habit when we check a census for 1 year, and then check the next
census 10
years before or after.
In the 1860 Census, of York
Twp.: DAVID PONTIOUS is age 22, b OH. (see
his will); LUCY A PONTIOUS, age 27, b OH. (her maiden name was DRAKE.;
SAMANTHA A. PONTIOUS, age 5, b OH.; WILLIAM B. PONTIOUS age 2,
b OH MARY A. PONTIOUS, age 6 mo, bOH
In the 1850 Henry co.
U.S. Census, Harrison Twp., we find: GEORGE G.
PONTIUS, age 29, b PA.; MARY PONTIUS, age 29, b Pa.; AMOS PONTIUS,
age 6, b OH. PETER PONTIUS, age 4, b OH.; MARY PONTIUS, age 1, b OH.;
In Damascus Twp.,
1850; SUFUEL PONTIUS, 28, b OH; CAMELIA PONTIUS, 23, b
N.Y.; MARY PONTIUS, 3 mo. b OH;
.Liberty Center Twp. 1850:
JACOB PONTIUS, 41, b Pa
MATILDA PONTIUS, 31,
b Pa.; ISAAC M. PONTIUS, 9, b OH.; BENNETT PONTIUS,
3, b OH.; MALINDA PONTIUS, 2, b OH.; J.T. DRAVIS, 14, b OH.
1850 Liberty
Center,Twp., Henry Co., OH.: DANIEL PONTIUS, 32, b OH.; ELIZBETH PONTIUS,
33, b OH .; ELIZABETH PONTIUS, 6, b OH; MARY ANN PONTIUS, 4 b, OH;
Harrison Twp.,
1880 Census, Henry Co., OH: BENJAMIN F. PONTIUS, 39, b OH.;
JANE PONTIUS, 14, b. OH.; HARDIE PONTIUS, 1.4, b
OH.; ORLA PONTIUS, 14, b, OH.;
CELIA PONTIUS, 11, b, OH.; ALVERDUS PONTIUS, 7,
fe, b, OH.; DAVID PONTIUS, 56,uncle, b Pa.
There are many records in
Seneca Co., OH. Census of the PONTIOUS families;
I copied several but they are not in our county
or area.
WILL of DAVID PONTIUS-
This will is filed in the Probate Cffice, Wauseon, Vol. 12, p 410.
He mentioned
his beloved wife, LUCY A. PONTIOUS, and he devised all his property,
both real and personal, of which he may possess at the time of his
decease, to
his loving wife, for her use during her natural life and at her death
the said
property was to be divided between their children or their heirs ....
said property to be divided wqually between them. He also desired
all his just debts
to be paid and no.appraisement of his property was to be made and that
the
Probate Court should omit said appraisement. He signed his will
Jan. 23, 1891
with an "X", and it was witnessed by W.H. MERCER & C.F. GREENOUGH.
His widow signed the "Citation to elect that she would accept the
terms of her husband's will" with an "X". Dated Dec. 7, 1911.
Wit. by HOMER PONTIOUS.
In the settlement
of this estate, the first child given in the census,
SAMANTHA, is not listed. Other children are
listed as living.
2. WILLIAM B.
PONTIOUS, b 1848, m. Mar. 25, 1880 to PATIENCE SNOW, b 1861, d 1938.
They settled in Sec. 7, York Twp. Her parents were JOHN & CASSANDRA
(CURTIS) SNOW. PATIENCE was b in Holmes Co. William. was living 1911
in Wauseon. MARY ANN, b 1850, dec'd.
3. HOMER PONTIOUS
moved from Wauseon to Detroit, Mich.
4. DELLA FIDELLA,
b Nov. 25, 1868, m Wm. ORNDORFF, and they resided in Toledo in 1925.
WILLIAM was descended from GEORGE ORNDORFF & RACHEL BIDDLE, daughter
of SAMUEL BIDDLE & ELIZABETH KNIGHT, his wife, who settled in York
Twp - by 1840.
5. LYDIA ELLEN, b Mar. 30,
1872, m JOHN TANNER, Nov. 26, 1891. Rev. D.C.SHELDON performed
the ceremony. JOHN TANNER was b Mar. 30, 1872 and in 1911 they were
living in Napoleon, Henry Co., OH.
* NOTE: the section above up to the the line of *'s was accidently
omitted before
6. CHARLES E. PONTIOUS, b Sept. 7, 1872. In 1911, he was living in Wauseon.
Some records found in the Court House, Wauseon:
SIMON PONTIOUS, son of SAMUEL & REBECCA (RAYMOND) PONTIOUS, was
b 1847. He m. May 14, 1871 to ANN JENNINGS, and they had these children:
GEORGE WILSON PONTIOUS, b Jan. 15, 1872;
OLIVER E. PONTIOUS, b June 6, 1873;
LOTTY MAY PONTIOUS, b Oct. 28, 1877;
FLORENCE L. PONTIOUS, b July 2, 1880;
CLARENCE EARL, b , d Wauseon, Dec. 9, 1945, age 59y 5m 25d.
There may be other children in next birth book.
MARRIAGES-
J. G. PONTIOUS m AMANDA ORTH, Nov. 28, 1876 by S.P. KLOTZ, V.D.M.;
MARY J. KESLER m ZERA BELKNAP, June 3, 1875;
CHARITY R. PONTIOUS, m ANDY S. HOFFMAN, May 11, 1865. Application for
license was made by JOHN WRIGHT.
MAHALA PONTIOUS m DANIEL P. LEIST, Nov. 14, 1875 by Rev. GEO. MILLER.
DELILAH C. KESLER, m HUGH MURRAY, Jan. 26, 1875 by Rev. DAVID BOWERS.
MALINDA B. PONTIOUS m HOMER SHAFER, Jan. 11, 1876 by Rev. H. W. CHERRY.
WILLIAM B. PONTIOUS m PATIENCE E. SNOW, Mar, 25, 1880. (He signed his
name and the writing is beautiful.)
ISRAEL PONTIOUS m ELLA E. FRANKFATHER Sept. 30, 1886 by Elder J. B.
CLOVE
MINA J. PONTIOUS m JOHN J. LEITNER, July 5, 1886.
FLORENCE L. PONTIOUS m CLARENCE RIBBLE, July f6, 1896.
GEORGE PONTIOUS of Clinton Twp. m EMMA SHASTEEN and had a son, DALE
W. PONTIOUS, b June 30, 1896.
J. G. PONTIOUS and AMANDA ORTH had a dau, ESTELLA M., b York Twp., Sept.
1, 1885.
There are many marriages and births in the later books.
DEATHS-
JACOB PONTIOUS d in York Twp., Jan. 20, 1893, age 83.
ELIZABETH PONTIOUS d Clinton Twp., Jan. 1894, age 74, b 0.
SAMUEL PONTIOUS d Clinton Twp., Feb. 10, 1898, age 85. (This son, SAMUEL,
is listed as a son of SAMUEL & SUSANNA of Pickaway Co.)
SIMON PONTIOUS, 67, d Ottokee, Sept. 24, 1899, b in Wyandot Co., 1832.
(He is a brother of above SAMUEL, sons of SAMUEL, Pickaway Co., OH)
GEORGE W. PONTIOUS, age 16 days, d Jan. 31, 1872, York Twp.
HARLEY G. PONTIOUS d York Twp., Feb. 8, 1882, age 21 days. Parents were
J. M. & H. PONTIOUS. (I think his mother was HANNAH SLACK.)
MARY M. PONTIOUS, d Wauseon, June 27, 1942, age 68y 2m 3d. Parents were
SOLOMON FRANKFATHER & ELIZABETH SLOAN.-
GEORGE KESLER, d in Wauseon, Dec. 9, 1929, age 83y 3m 25d. Parents were
ELIAS KESLER & SARAH PONTIOUS.
GEORGE KESLER m MARY EBERLY, dau of DANIEL EBERLY & MARTHA SNYDER,
MARY d Wauseon, Oct. 14, 1945, age 95y 7m 13d. Their son: CLARENCE BURR
KESLER was age 60 y 11m 23d when he d Mar. 1, 1941.
In the ZION Church Cemetery we find:
ELIAS KESLER, b 1820, c 1866; SARAH PONTIOUS, his wife, b 1818, d 1902;
ISAAC PONTIOUS, b in 1842, d ?? ; JOHN GEORGE PONTIOUS, b 1853, d 1916;
AMANDA ORTH PONTIOUS, 1854-1919, Her husband is often listed as JONATHAN
PONTIOUS. They had a son, CHARLES WILLIAM PONTIOUS, b May 9, 1878;
dau, DORTHA E. b Oct. 4, 1880, and ESTELLA M., b Sept. 1, 1885.
There are so many records in the Court House that it would require
pages
and pages to give them all, and would be much more than we can print
in the
space allowed for families.
THE DELTA ATLAS
April 21, 1976
The PONTIOUS & PUNCHES Family-
Before leaving the PONTIUS family in York Twp.. I wish to mention that
I
found my issue of the Ohio D.A.R. News, printed for March-April 1967.
On
pages 8,& 9 are pictures of the grave stones of ANDREW PONTIOUS,
Rev. soldier,
b Pa-., Dec. 29,-1745, and he d Aug. 8, 1825, age 79y 7m 9d. He is
buried in
the Salem-Lutheran Church Cem. 2 miles west of Hallsville, Ross Co.
OH ( Sec.
p 690, Vol 4, Pa. Archives, Ser. 5.)
Also a picture of the tombstone of GEORGE PONTIOUS (as his name was
spelled) who d Sept. 29, 1824, age 71y 9m 21d. He is buried in the Old
Zion Cem.
Washington Twp. Pickaway Co., OH . This GEORGE is the ancestor of most
of the
Fulton Co. PONTIUS or PONTIOUS families.
Page 15 of Dec. issue 1967, Ohio D.A.R. News gives the family of GEORGE
PONTIUS, as given by D.M. POLSER, of 3980 W. Elm St., Rd., Lima, 0.
45805,
which reads:
"GEORGE PONTIUS was one of 6 sons of JOHN PONTIUS, who served in the
Rev. War from Pa. (1) Lt. HENRY, b 1744, d 1822 in Pa.,; (2) JOHN JR. b
1751, d
1836 and buried in Armstrong Co., Pa.,; (3) ANDREW, b 1745, d 1825
and buried
,in Salem-Lutheran Church Cem., Green Twp., Ross Co., O.; (4) FREDERICK,
b 1759 d 1823 and also is buried in the Salem-Lutheran Church Cem.; and
(5) NICHOLAS, who d in Pa.."
From the old scrapbook in the Wauseon Library, 1 found this:
SIMON PONTIUS, b Feb. 28, 1848, was a son of SAMUEL PONTIUS,
who d Dec. 10, 1898, age 85y; SAMUEL m REBECCA RAYMOND, who d May 11, 1899.
They were buried in the old Ruppert Cem., York Twp., Fulton Co; SIMON PONTIUS,
d Jan. 21 1923, He m ANN JENNINGS, b Jan. 5, 1852 and she d Apr. 25, 1911.
They were the parents of 8 children, 6 of whom were living 1915:
1. CHARLES B. PONTIUS, m RHODA ANN KRIEGER, dau of SAMUEL
KRIEGER & ANN ROTH of Pettisville.
2. CLARENCE EARL PONTIUS, m MAUDE MABEL WIDENER, dau of JOHN
& MINA (GOEBEL) WIDENER.
3. OLIVER E. PONTIUS, b June 6, 1873, d in Toledo.
4. LOTTIE MAY PONTIUS, living 1968, m MOTT ROBERTS. They lived
on Ottokee St., Wauseon, before their deaths.
5. AMBLE PONTIUS, m 1st , and 2nd CHARLES DORF; resided in Wauseon.
6. HELEN PONTIUS, b Sept. 15, 1894, d June 4, 1916, age 21, m
Dec. 25, 1912 CHARLES. HOFFMAN, Wauseon. The 2 deceased children 1915 were:
7. FLORENCE L. PONTIUS, b June 2, 1880.
8. GEORGE WILSON PONTIUS, b Jan. 15, 1872.
Of these children, CHARLES PONTIOUS & RHODA ANN KRIEGER and children:.
1. VIOLA, b 1892, m JESSE BERNATH, parents of SIMON & RAY &
FRED BERNATH, Delta.
2. MAY, b ca 1900, m ALFRED FOUTY.
3. ORVILLE, b 1905, m MARJORIE SAMS.
4. MARY, b ca 1907.
5. BERTHA, b ca 1909, m WM. GORSUCH.
6. KENNETH, employed as caretaker at the Court House, Wauseon, many
year
7. GRACE, m MELL DENNIS.
JACOB PONTIUS was b in Ohio and d June 20, 1893, age 83. He m MATILDA
GRIST and they settled in York Twp. and some burials are in the Zion
Church
Cem. Their Son: ISAAC M. PONTIUS was b 1842 and d Apr. 13, 1921, age
78.
He is buried in the Zion Cem. He m HANNAH SLACE, who was b 1845 and
d 1910. ISAAC was a native of Pickaway Co., 0. and lived in York
Twp. on a farm until 1919 when he retired and moved to Wauseon. -their
children were.
1. MINA ESTELLA, b July 26, 1869, m 1886 JOHN LEITNER.
2. MERTIE ESTELLA, b 1887, d 195-, m FRED VOLLMER, b 1886 and d 1958.
3. ORA PONTIUS, m BESSIE WILLIAMS.
4. LAURA PONTIUS m CECIL MILLER of Wauseon.
.5. HOWARD D. farmer of York Twp., m RUBY SWIGART.
6. HARLEY G. b Jan. 18, 1882.
7. FLOYD K. PONTIUS.
8. JOHN ARCHIE PONTIUS.
Our Court House has many land records, births, marriages and deaths
of
the descendants of JOHN PONTIUS, b 1717 and his wife, ANNA MARIA ZELLER
(dau of HENRY ZELLER & ANNA MARIA BERIGEL of Tulpehocken Twp., Berks
Co. PA)
DANIEL PONTIUS is buried in the Wauseon Cem. His marker reads: "b Aug.
13, 1819, d Jan. 10, 1902. His wife, ELIZABETH GINTZEL, d Jan. 7, 1894,
age
78y 2m 21d. Among their children were 2 daughters: SUSANNA PONTIOUS,
b Aug. 21, 1843, who m SAMUEL EDGAR; MARY ANN PONTIUS, b Feb. 14, 1845
in Pickaway Co. OH. She m GEORGE EDGAR, brother of SAMUEL.
SAMUEL & GEORGE EDGAR were sons of SAMUEL & MARY (PARKS) EDGAR
who came from Co. Armagh, Ireland to America, 1857, and had settled in
Henry Co. MARY PARKS EDGAR d in Henry Co. (date not known to me).
SAMUEL & MARY PARKS EDGAR were the parents of 10 children: SUSANNAH,
LUCID, MARY J.., JOSEPH, WILLIAM, SAMUEL, GEORGE, JOHN, HUGH & MARGARET
EDGAR.
Of these children, WM. SAMUEL EDGAR was b in Co. Armagh, Ireland, July
1
1833 and d in Delta. He and SUSANNA PONTIUS had 5 sons: WILLIAM R.,
ALVA, ELMER, ALBERT (b Sept. 28, 1869, m Sept. 21, 1893 to MAMIE E. MANN),
and GEORGE EDGAR. For many years ELMER EDGAR lived on the old homestead
and m Dec. 25, 1901 to EMMA J. SMELLIE, a dau of GAVIN SMELLIE & JULIA
WHITTAKER of Dover
They had a son, DOYLE S. EDGAR. The EDGAR boys worked on the old canal
thru Napoleon. GEORGE EDGAR is known as Rev. GEO. EDGAR, and he was b in
1839, Co. Armagh ,Ireland, and d in Fulton Co., 1899. MARY ANN PONTIOUS,
his wife, b 1845, d 1921. Mrs. CHLOE (RUPPERT) EDGAR of Wauseon, now deceased,
gave me the family record of Rev. GEORGE EDGAR & MARY ANN PONTIOUS,
as follows:
MARY ANN PONTIOUS was b Pickaway Co., Feb. 14, 1845, and d Nov. 26,
1921, age 76y 9m 12d. She m June 7, 1863 to GEORGE EDGAR, b Dec. 27, 1838,
d Nov. 1899. Children were:
a. CLARA ETTA EDGAR, b Henry Co., Mar. 27, 1864,
m ED MODEN; had children CARL, RALPH, FLOYD & DELLA:
b. EMMA VIOLA EDGAR, b Fulton Co., Feb. 16, 1866, d Oct. 3, 1927. She
never
m and was a school teacher; I
c. MARY ELIZABETH EDGAR, b Fulton Co. Feb. 10, 1870, d Oct. 22, 1954,
m
lst ANDREWS, and 2nd, D.D. SOLES;
d. WILLIAM SAMUEL EDGAR, b Sept. 20, 1872, m lst JENNIE HULL and 2nd
ELLA HARTMAN, He d on Mar. 25, 1957;
e. DELLA FLORENCE EDGAR, b Aug. 1, 1875, d May 23, 1886;
f. ROBERT ELROY EDGAR, b MAr. 27, 1878, d Oct. 13, 1946, m CARRIE HOAR
and had CHRISTEN, WALTER & JOHN EDGAR of Delta;
g. EARLE DWIGHT EDGAR, b Nov. 15, 1880, d Dec. 7, 1967, m ELIZA HAMM
and had KATHERINE (m M. DAWSON), and ELIZABETH, a teacher;
h. LLOYD G. EDGAR, b Aug. 15, 1888, d Aug. 26, 1953, m to CHLOE RUPPERT,
and had 1 son, GEO. EDGAR of Wauseon, who m BETTY BURR and had 2 daughters.
EARLE & LLOYD EDGAR were partners in the Edgar Funeral Parlor, Wauseon,
later owned by GEORGE EDGAR, on S. Fulton St. and now Grisier's of
Wauseon, Stryker and Archbold.
DANIEL PONTIUS lived his last years with his son's family in Royalton
Twp.
neat Lyons.
The PONTIOUS Families were very important in the early settlement of
Northumberland Co., Pa. and many children and grandchildren migrated to
Ohio. And the sons and sons-in-law of JOHN PONTIOUS & ANNA MARIE ZELLER
were all noted Rev, War soldiers. So it might be helpful in tracing your
PONTIOUS ancestors if I give the names of Heads of Families in the 1830
Ohio U.S. Census. The
spelling given was either PONTIOUS or PONTIUS, and lists county and
townships
as follows:
MARY, Fairfield, CC Twp.; ADAM, Pick, Co., Was. Twp.; ANDREW, Ross Co,
Gr Twp.; CONROD, Ross Co., Col. Twp.; FRED'K, Ross Co., Col. Twp.; JACOB,
Pre. C Gra. Twp.; JACOB, Ross Co. Col. Twp.; JOHN, Ross Co., Gra, Twp.;
MICHAEL, Pick. Co., Was. Twp.; SOLOMON, Ross Co., Gre. Twp.; ABRAHAM Montg'y.
Co., Ger, Twp.; ANDREW, Stark Co., Lake ,twp.; BENJ., Pick, Co., Was. Twp.;
DANIEL, Pick., SC Twp.; DAN'L, Pick, Co., Was. Twp.; DANIEL, Por. Co.,
Cov. Twp.; DOROTHY, Pick, Co., Pic, Twp.; FRED'K, Stark Co., Pla. Two;
GEORGE, Pick, Cc SC Twp.' GEORGE, Pick Co., Was, Twp. ; JACOB, Stark Co.,
Pla. Twp.; JOHN, Pick Co., Pic, Twp.; JOHN, Pick. Co., SC Twp.; JOHN Stark
Co., Lak. Twp.; NICHOLAS, Por. Co., Spr. Twp.; NICHOLAS, Stark Co., Lak,
Twp.' NICHOLAS, Star Co., Gre. Twp.' PETER, Pick, Co., Wal. TkTp.; PETER,
Stark Co., Pla. Twp.; PETER, Stark Co. Lak, Twp.; SAMUEL, Pick Co., Was.
Twp.; SOLOMON, Stark Co. Lak, Twp.; SUSANNAH, Pick, Co., Was. Twp.; FREDERICK,
, Co., Ger. Twp.
We next take up the family of NICHOLAS PONTIUS, b 1728, brother of JOHN
PONTIUS, whose descendants are the PUNCHES Families of Gorham Twp.,
Fulton
Co. OH. near Fayette.
THE DELTA ATLAS
April 28, 1976
The PUNCHES Family of Gorham Twp.-
Before we leave the PONTIOUS Families of Fulton Co., I would like to
give
a sketch of the ancestors of HENRY PUNCHES, who came to Gorham Twp.
about 1850. He is the ancestor of ART GAMBLE, who was a Wauseon mail carrier
for many year His son, PAUL GAMBLE, is a mail man out of the Wauseon
Post Office also. If we turn back our family records, ART GAMBLE and I
share a common an-
cestor in J. MICHAEL EMERICK of N.Y., who d in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks
Co., Pa. in June 1744.
ART GAMBLE's PONTIOUS ancestor was NICHOLAS PONTIUS, b 1728 in Germany,
and a brother of JOHANNES PONTIUS. The lineage is as follows (see first
of this record.
IV. JOHANN PETER PONTIOUS, b 1685, d 1736 at Beriangenbach,, Rheinland
Pfalz Germany, m ANNA ROSINA CATHARINA HAUCH, and had-
V. JOHANN NICHOLAS PONTIUS, christened Aug. 24, 1728. He came to Pa.
with his brother in the ship, "Glasgow", Sept. 9, 1738. NICHOLAS m
in Berks Co., Pa. to ANNA MARGARETH SCHUY, a dau of DANIEL SCHUY of SCHUEY
and his wife MARY MARTHA. ANNA MARGARETHA SCHUY was b about 1730 and she
d in Bethel Twp., Berks Co., in 1794-95. They had 7 sons and 2
daughters. The 2nd child:
VI. JOHAN MARTIN PONTIUS was b Mar. 22, 1757 and d 1843 in Seneca Co.
NY. MARTIN served as a Rev. Soldier from Pa. He m MARIA BARBARA
EMERICH, b 1760, dau of LEONARD EMERICK, who applied for a license to keep
an inn or tavern on road to Sunbury. MARIA BARBARA was a twin to her brother
JOHN EMERICK. Among the children was a son:
VII. WILLIAM PONTIOUS, was m twice. By the lst wife 4 children were
born and by the 2nd wife there were 11 children. WILLIAM PONTIUS m
2nd to CATHARINE MILLER, who was b in Lehigh Co., Pa. and d in N.Y. State
in 1875.
VIII. HENRY PONTIUS changed the spelling of the family name to PUNCHES.
He was b in Seneca Co., N.Y. in 1821 and came to Gorham Twp. Fulton
Co. about
1850 with his EMERICK cousins. For years he was a farmer in Gorham
Twp. and
then 'moved into Fayette. He m about 1846 to ELIZABETH DEAL or DIEHL,
and they raised a nice family in Gorham Twp. HENRY PUNCHES d at Fayette,
Feb. 9, 1895, age 74y. His will is recorded in the Fulton Co. Court House,
Vol, 8, p 23.
WILL OF HENRY PUNCHES-
He willed his real estate to his wife m. ELIZABETH, and all the personal
estate, and at her death, the children were to share and share alike
... These
names appear on the settlement of his estate: my dau, FRANCES GLIBLE,
Fayette;
son, LAWRENCE PUNCHES, Fayette; dau, SARAH KUMP, of Zone, Gorham Twp.;
dau MARY SNYDER, of Fayette; son, ARTHUR PUNCHES, Frankfort, Mich; son,
GEORGE PUNCHES, Fayette; grandson, FLOYD PUNCHES, Fayette, a son of EDWARD,
deceased.
Will of ELIZABETH DEAL PUNCHES-
Vol. 12, p 526. Signed June 18, 1903. She died 1913 at Fayette. (Her
death record is possibly at Columbus, OH. for year 1913 and might give
the names of her
parents.)/ This was a very interesting will.
1. She willed her household goods to be divided as follows:
To my dau, FRANCES GAMBLE, the cupboard in the buttry and also a picture
of the PUNCHES brothers hanging in the parlor.
To my son, LAWRENCE PUNCHES, a red cotton coverlet.
To my dau, SARAH KUMP, 1 dark metal sugar bowl, 1 tea-tray, 1 castor
with
bottles and 1 vase.
To my dau, MARY FORD, 1 bed stead and bedding and bed clothes thereon,
found in the north west room upstairs.
To my son, ARTHUR PUNCHES, 1 woolen bed spread, also the table in the
parlor.
To my son, NATHANIEL PUNCHES, his father's big chair and large looking
glass.
To my son, GEORGE PUNCHES, the organ and the Family Bible.
The above bequests are made to my children commencing with the oldest
and
following in the order of their ages.
2. I also bequeath to my grandson, FLOYD PUNCHES, a picture of his father
and the certificate of his birth and baptism that belonged to his father
(EDWARD).
I bequeath to my grandson, LEO PUNCHES, the watch now in my possession.
To my granddau, ALMA KUMP, I give the small corner table with the glass
there-on.
All other articles of household goods and other personal property in
the
house is to be equally and amicably divided without appraisement -
between my
children, FRANCES GAMBLE, LAWRENCE PUNCHES, SARAH KUMP, MARY FORD,
ARTHUR PUNCHES, NATHANIEL PUNCHES & GEO. PUNCHES. It is also my wish
that all the articles so distributed shall be kept by the persons who receive
them as keepsakes.
Item 2. It is also my wish that the remainder of my property, consisting
of the house and lot now occupied And owned by me, and described as
being 4
rods in width on north side of lot no 3, Block no 18, of JOHN GAMBER'S
Division of the Village of Fayette, and all goods and chattles on the farm,
known
as the N-2 WSD, and NW fractional Sec. 30, T9S, R9E, situated in Gorham
Twp ....
hall be sold and converted into cash and which shall constitute a common
fund
from which all my debts and cost of administration of my estate ....
shall be
paid....then to my grandson, FLOYD PUNCHES, $25.00 be paid. And to
my dau,
MARY FORD, $50.00 be plaid. The remaining to be divided between all
my children.
(ELIZABETH appointed her son, NATHANIEL, administrator of her estate.)
The will was signed June 18, 1903, Witnessed by L.C. GALLUP and JACOB
L. MATTERN.
The PUNCHES Children of Gorham Twp.
With the help of marriages, death and other records, I found the records
of the following children:
1. EDWARD PUNCHES, b ca 1849-50, d July 18, 1888, age 38, m Jan. 15,
1873
HELVINA FARST of Gorham Pw. (I think she was a dau of SAMUEL FARST.)
A son, FLOYD PUNCHES, m Apr. 24,, 1895 to LILLIAN COLLINS, and lived for
years near Adrian, MI.
2. FRANCES PUNCHES, b ca 1852, d Feb. 29, 1932, m WILLIAM GAMBLE.
3. LAWRENCE PUNCHES, b 1853, d Fayette, Feb. 29, 1936, age 83y 9m 15d,
m
Jan. 27, 1884 to JENNIE M. RUSSELL of Gorham Twp. (dau of HORACE RUSSELL
.
4. SARAH PUNCHES, b-Oct. 1854, m REUBEN KUMP, son of LEVI * SARAH of
Gorham Twp. SARAH d Nov. 26, 1943, age 89y lm 5d. (Married REUBEN Jan.
1, 1887).
5. MARY PUNCHES, b m lst SNYDER, and 2nd HORACE FORD.
6. ARTHUR PUNCHES, b ca 1858, m Sept. 8, 1881 ADDIE PARKER. ADDIE d
Lucas Co., OH. July 26, 1926, age 67y 10m 25d. Her parents were JARED PARKER
& ALMIRA BRINK.
7. NATHANIEL PUNCHES, b 1861, d Fayette, Feb. 29, 1936, age 83y 9m 15d,
Oct. 14, 1885 ELMA J. BAKER, who d May 26,.1937, age 73y 3d. Her parents
were HARVEY BAKER & NANCY JEFFERS.
8. GEORGE PUNCHES, b 1, m Jan. 14, 1891 SARAH A. GRIFFIN.- They had
a
son, LEO PUNCHES, b Aug. 17, 1892.
Of the above children, 6th generation, FRANCES PUNCHES & WILLIAM
GAMBLE Gorham Twp. WILLIAM GAMBLE signed his will Aug.
29, 1910. When willed (Vol 12, p 461 all his property for the benefit of
his beloved wife during her natural life.
She was to be his Executrix. Wit. by C.L. ALLEN & Mrs. MARY C. ROE.
Their children listed in the settlement were:
a. dau, OPHIE TILLOTSON, Fayette;
b. son, NELSON GAMBLE, Hudson, MI.;
c, son, WILLIAM ARTHUR GAMBLE, of Bryan; d. son, BIRD VANBUREN GAMBLE,
Fayette
d. son ARTEMUS LEROY GAMBLE, Fayette.
ARTEMUS L. GAMBLE the last named child, is of the 7th generation from
J.
MICHAEL EMERICK & his wife, ELIZABETH (?)KRONTS. ART is still living
in or just north edge of Wauseon as I write this record. For many years,
ART raise
beautiful gladiola blossoms, and usually every summer he would know
at our
door and present my husband and I with a lovely and colorful bouquet
from his
garden. At present time his is not very well, but we have always had
a special
place for ART GAMBLE in our hearts, and folks around Wauseon have been
fortunate in having such a fine family among us.
REUBEN J.KUMP, husband of SARAH PUNCHES, also left a will in our Probate
Office, recorded in Vol. 17, p 508. He signed his will on Feb. 12,
1916, and
mentioned he was living in Franklin Twp. and that his 80 acres known
as the
middle part of the NW 1/4 of Sec. 31, in T8N, R5E, listed in the district
of lands
subject for sale at Lima, OH And 35 acres in SEC. 31, same twp. and
range, to
become the property of his wife, during ner natural lifetime. REUBEN
KUMP
mentioned his only child - my dau, ALMA ELIZABETH ANDRE, was to have
$100.00. ALMA E. KUMP ANDRE would also be the 7th generation from our common
ancestor.
J. MICHAEL EMERICK, b 1688, who d Pa. 1744. ALMA m ROSS ANDRE and
they resided on a nice farm just south of the farm of ORA H. SEAMAN,
west of
Fayette. ALMA used to stop in to visit with me if ROSS came to twon
on business.
Their son, NORRIS ANDRE, lives near Wauseon and has a nice family of
children. His wife, ESTHER, has been a school teacher many years. ALMA
&
ROSS have both passed away some years ago, and most of the family of
HENRY
PUNCHES & ELIZABETH DEAL resided and are buried at Fayette, Fulton
Co.
NORRIS ANDRE and I are of the 8th generation from MICHAEL EMERICK,
who arrived 1709 N.Y.
I know this has made an unusually long record, but it has been very
difficult
to work on and taken many years to complete. It includes several branches
of
the same early PONTIOUS Family from Europe 1738, to Tulpehocken Twp,
Berks, Co and Lebanon County, Pa. to Fulton Co., OH. I doubt that the
families
in our area knew they were related a few generations before their arrival
about
1850 in Fulton Co. And when I first moved to Wauseon, on Cherry St.,
our
next door neighbor was MERVIN PONTIOUS and his wife, KATHERINE HOFFMAN.
MERVIN's parents lived across the street from us. They were CORNELIUS T.
PONTIOUS and MARY E. FINK. KATHARINE L. HOFFMAN'S parents were JAMES F.
HOFFMAN & LENA WISEMAN. KATHERINE is still living.
KENNETH PONTIOUS is the custodian of the Court House in Wauseon and
keeps
the Court House clock ticking waay the hours and the years. And so
time passes on .... I love the old clock, and can see it from my windows
at home.
**************************************************
I received the following e-mail with some additional
information on PUNCHES of Fulton County Ohio
Hello Mr. Lozer,
I'm James Eugene Punches and I was
born at Oakshade, north of
Wauseon on August
5, 1940, on the family farm located there. I believe you and I have
communicated with each other in the past but for the life of me, I
can't seem to find my copies of those communications. So, I'm
approaching you again as if we'd never exchanged emails.
I've read your compilation about
the
Fulton County Pontius, Pontious and Punches families but I've
not seen any mention of my family's names and they were resident in
Fulton County from 1900 onward. My great grandfather, Edson Goit
Punches and his wife Eliza Ann (Golden) Punches, moved from Henry
County where they'd been married in 1869 to Fulton County. They
brought with them their living children: Louis Jasper Punches
1871-1950, George Arthur Punches 1873-1937, Henry Arthur Punches
1976-1963, James Pirl Punches 1878-1940, Elvin S. Punches b. 1881,
Maudie May Punches 1885-1966, m1. Smith, m2. Mortimore, Peter R.
Punches 1889-1962, Martha Viola Punches 1895-1968, m1. Feeney, m2.
Snow, m3. Grimm, and Golda A. Punches 1898-1978, m. Hill.
Edson Goit Punches (1849-1911) was
the fourth son (a twin with Edwin Ruthven Punches) born to
George Washington
Punches (1821-1887) and his wife, Elizabeth Beard Punches
(1826-1898). Edson was born in
Pickaway County where his family had lived since his
grandfather, Peter Punches (1785-1862?), had located sometime before
1811 when he married Margaret
Hager
(1790-1862?).
If you look in the old Butler
cemetery in Oakshade, you'll find the stones marking the graves of my
father, grandfather and great grandfather. You'll also find other
stones for other members of my family.
In reading your notes and
compilations about the Punches families in Fulton, I've noticed you
have limited yourself to the Punches families in Gorham Twp, without
mention of the Punches families in
Chesterfield
Twp. Perhaps you have simply assumed that the Punches people found
there were related to those in Gorham Twp? It is not to be. I'm the
General Administrator for the Pontius Families DNA Project and the dna
data thusfar collected would not support such a conclusion. The Gorham
Twp Punches people are supposedly descended from Martin Punches, a son
of Nicholas Pontius who landed in Philadelphia in 1738 with his
brother Johannes Pontius.
We have one member who claims
descent from Martin Pontius/Punches of Seneca, NY. The Pontius Family
Association (PFA) records say that Martin of Seneca is a son Nicholas
Pontius, brother of Johannes. The project has three descendants of
Nicholas Pontius and two members who claim descent from Johannes. The
five members mentioned all show a common genetic linkage; they are all
of Haplogroup E1b1b1, a middle-eastern haplotype with Judeo-Roman
connections. Our one member from the Martin line shows Haplogroup
R1b1b2; the Celtic haplotype. Despite the fact that the PFA places the
Martin lines as being from Nicholas, our dna results currently cannot
support that conclusion.
My own family's dna signature is
Haplogroup I1. This haplotype is pure Anglo-Saxon. It is most common
in Northern Germany,
Denmark, Holland,
England and the Frence province of Normandy.
You may be asking, "Why has he told
me this information?"
I've told you this information
because I'd like to see my family acknowledged by the
Fulton County
Genealogical Society (FCGS), not have the society just
acknowledge the Martin lines. Additionally, if there are any members
of the Martin lines who are also members of the FCGS, I'd like to
appeal to them to join the DNA project so we can determine if the
Martin lines are Celtic or are connected to Johannes and Nicholas in
the Judeo-Roman haplogroup. Any new dna information on the Martin
lines would resolve the question of whether our current data holds
true for all Martin lines or simply the one holding our member. The
dna information we get from the labs is confined to the male
Y-chromosome dna which is passed from father to son without
significant change over thousands of years. If the information
developed about a son doesn't match the father's dna then we therefore
know that the father who contributed his name to the son, was not the
biological father. The son must have been adopted (formally or
informally) or he must have had a biological father of another surname
and been placed in the Pontius father's family without him knowing he
wasn't the father. In the project we call such happenings,
paternity events.
I'm hoping that some of the Gorham
Punches people are members of the FCGS. I believe they would be
interested in the information here. I have read other histories of
Fulton County and it was in them that I first learned of Martin of
Seneca, NY passing through northern Ohio and leaving some of his
descendants behind in Gorham Twp. For a long time, I'd thought my
family was related to them. Now I don't have that belief any longer. I
would be very surprised if they were my relatives after all.
I thank you and remain,
Yours very truly,
James (Jim) Punches
MORE on this line
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