Bernard Eisenhuth ^{2 3 4}

   Other names for Bernard were Barnard Eisenhuth,⁹ Barney Eisenhuth,¹⁰ Bernet Eisenhuth ^{11 12} and Bernhard Eisenhuth.

   FamilySearch ID: 2QBY-V28.

  General Notes:

His obituary says he had 10 children. According to his obituary, his house was destroyed in 1806 along with the family records. There is considerable debate regarding Bernard's service in the Revolutionary War, as well as the service of his father. No records substantiating involvement have been found. Historians in Schuylkill County generally include Bernard in lists of those who served, but in the area where a soldier's specific military company or commander is specified the listing for Bernard merely says "tradition."

  Birth Notes:

His birth date may not be as reported in varous sources, including his obituary which listed him as the oldest living man in Pennsylvania aged 111 years, 3 months, and 12 days when he died on June 22, 1866. Several U.S. Census listings suggest he was actually born 10-11 years later.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence: in 1779 in , Berks, PA. ¹ According to Bernard's obituary he was born in Lebanon and then removed to Berks County where he married Catherine Saylor in 1780, before moving to Centre County and later to Schuylkill County.

In 1780 the baptism record for his first child was recorded at Zion Red Church which at the time was in Berks County, which later was divided so the church today is in West Brunwick Township, Schuylkill County.

Therefore Bernard born in Lebanon likely moved north to the West Brunswick area, then to Centre County, and back to Schuylkill County where he is buried.

2. Tax List: Eisenhude, Barnet, 200 acres, tax 3.45 pounds, 1779, Pine Grove Twp., Berks, PA. ¹³

3. In 1780 in West Brunswick Twp.: Zion Red Church, Schuylkill, PA. His children by Anna Maria Orwig appear in the christening records of this church.

4. Tax List: Eisenhood, Bernard, 50 acres, no horses, no cows, 8.2 pounds, 1781, Brunswick Twp., Berks, PA. ¹⁴

5. Military on 1 May 1782 in , Lancaster, PA: He volunteered for the Revolutionary War but never fought. His miliary status is "inactive duty.". ^{12 15} Bernard volunteered but never served in the Revolutionary War nor saw battle. He didn't volunteer until May 1, 1782, and the war was essentially over the previous year with the surrender in Yorktown on October 17, 1781. Bernard was available to fight if the British invaded Pennsylvania again in 1782, but they did not.

He is probably the "Bernet Eisenhuth" record card on file in the Pennsylvania Archives which states in total:

Inactive Duty, Militia
Eisenhuth, Bernet
Lancaster County 9th Battalion 4th Company John Herkerider
Date: 1 May 1782
Published: A(5) VII, 954-5

No Eisenhuth in the Revolution is listed in "Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999" database of military graves.

In the Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book Volume 137 1917-1918 is the lineage of Mrs. Sara Miller Ruth #136982 a descendant of Bernet Eisenhuth and Catharine Saylor's daughter Elizabeth who married Jesse Bean, and in that lineage is stated:
"Bernet Eisenhuth (1755-1866) served as private in the 9th battalion, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania militia under Capt. John Herkerider and Col. John Rogers. He was born in Lancaster County; died in Schuylkill County, Pa."

6. 1793 Pennsylvania Septennial Census census in 1793 in Manheim Twp., Berks, PA. This is now known as Schuylkill County.

7. Census in 1800 in Brunswick Twp., Berks, PA. ¹⁶ The Bernard Eisenhuth household is listed in Brunswick, which was in Berks County in 1800 but later became Schuylkill County. The family consisted of:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 1 son
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 Bernard
45 & over (<=1755)
Females (born)
10-15 (1785-1790) = 2 daughters
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 wife.

8. Occupation: 1800 Pennsylvania Septennial in 1800 in Brunswick Twp., Berks, PA. His occupation is listed on census records as laborer. This is now known as Schuylkill County.

9. Bernard obtained a PA Land Warrant on 11 Aug 1803 in Brunswick Twp., Schuylkill, PA. ¹⁷ The PA Land Warrant map for West Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County shows a Tract #6 assigned to Bernhard Eisenhood and described as follows:
Tract 6
Bernhard Eisenhood
191 acres 106 perches
Application No. 3013
Resurvey Aug 11, 1803
Patent Feb 7, 1811
To - Jacob Zimmerman
Warrant to Accept
Dated Feb 5, 1811

This record indicates that Bernard obtained the land warrant and sold it later to Jacob Zimmerman in 1811. The 1800 and 1810 census suggest Bernard could have lived on the tract in these years, which at that time was still Brunwick Township in Berks County, Schuylkill County not being created until 1 Mar 1811.

The location of this land warrant is plotted on a Google Map at latitude 40.6274371 and longitude -76.1190744 along the Schuylkill River opposite the village of Landingville and to the southwest of Orwigsburg. A neighbor was George Orwig. See our map of the location at https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?hl=en&mid=14pAPWhszhv6OGWc2MNq9jH8M72-Fj_lT&ll=40.72899157038759%2C-76.14750015966877&z=11

See Tract 6 on the State of Pennsylvania's Land Warrant Map at http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-522WarranteeTwpMaps/r017-Map3049-Schuylkill-EWBrunswickWeb.pdf and the data for Tract 6 on http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-522WarranteeTwpMaps/r017-Map3048-Schulykill-EWBrunswickdatasheetWeb.pdf


.

10. Census in 1810 in Brunswick Twp., Berks, PA. ¹⁸ The 1810 Census lists Bernhard Eisenhood with this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 4 sons
16-25 (1785-1794) = 1 son
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 father Bernard
Females (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 1 daughter
10-15 (1795-1800) = 1 daughter
16-25 (1785-1794) = 1 daughter
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 wife

However, Bernard's age by his birth date should have been 55, so perhaps his birth date is wrong or the census recorder made an error?.

11. Occupation: Timbering in Jan 1816 in New Berlin, Union, PA. By 1816, Bernard, his father-in law's family the Orwigs, and his eldest son George Eisenhuth pursued timbering in the wildness of Union and Centre counties. They succeeded in getting the Pennsylvania House and Senate to pass an act in 1868 signed by the Governor allowing them to build a mill race on Penn's Creek near New Berlin in Union County to transport logs down the creek to the Susquehanna River.

12. Book: Journal of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Mar 1816. ¹⁹
26 Feb 1816
page 268

Agreeable to order,
The Senate resolved itself into a committe of the whole, Mr. Beale in the chair, on the bill from the House of Representatives, entitled
'An act to authorize George Eisenhuth, George Orwig, John Orwig and Jacob Orwig, to dig, establish and support a mill race on the north side of Penn's creek near the town of New Berlin, in the county of Union.'
And after some time,
The committe rose and reported said bill with one amendment.

29 Feb 1816
page 270

The bill from the House of Representative, entited
'An act to authorize George Eisenhuth, George Orwig, John Orwig and Jacob Orwig, to dig, establish and support a mill race on the north side of Penn's creek near the town of New Berlin, in the county of Union.'
was read the second time as reported by a committee of the whole yesterday, considered by section and agreed to.
Ordered, That said bill be prepared for a third reading.

1 Mar 1816
page 277

The bill from the House of Representatives, entitlted
'An act to authorize George Eisenhuth, George Orwig, John Orwig and Jacob Orwig, to dig, establish and support a mill race on the north side of Penn's creek near the town of New Berlin, in the county of Union.'
was read the third time, and
Resolved, That this bill pass.


2 Mar 1816
page 282

That the House of Representatives have concurred in the amendments by Senate, to the bills, entitled as follow, viz,
'An act to authorize George Eisenhuth, George Orwig, John Orwig and Jacob Orwig, to dig, establish and support a mill race on the north side of Penn's creek near the town of New Berlin, in the county of Union.'
The Speaker signed the bills presented for signature.

8 Mar 1816
page 309

Mr. McSherry from the committee appointed for the purpose, made further report in part, which was read as follows, to wit.
That in conjunction with a similar committee from the House of Representatives, they have compared, and on the 7th inst. presented to the Governor for his approbation, the bills, entitle as follow, viz.
'An act to authorize George Eisenhuth, George Orwig, John Orwig and Jacob Orwig, to dig, establish and support a mill race on the north side of Penn's creek near the town of New Berlin, in the county of Union.'

11 Mar 1816
page 330

The Secretary fo the Commonwealth being introduced, present a message from the Governor, which was read as follows, to wit.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
I have this day approved and signed the following acts and resolution of the General Assembly, and directed the Secreatary of the Commonwealth to return them to the houses in which they respectively originated, viz.

4. 'An act to authorize George Eisenhuth, George Orwig, John Orwig and Jacob Orwig, to dig, establish and support a mill race on the north side of Penn's creek near the town of New Berlin, in the county of Union.'
.

13. Fact: Bernard was paid a bounty by Schuylkill County for delivering the scalps of wolves., 21 Apr 1817, , Schuylkill, PA. From "Schuylkill County Accounts for the year 1817, John Hammer Treasurer:"

Bounties, Etc.

Apr. 21, 1817
Bernard Eisenhuth for one wolf scalp and five puppies...$23.00
Bernard Eisenhuth, for one wolf scalp...$8.00.

14. Census in 1840 in Haines Township, Centre, PA. ²⁰ The 1840 census recorded Barnard Eisenhood with this household:
ree White Persons - Males - Under 5: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 6
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 6.

15. Census in 1850 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ⁴ The 1850 census recorded in the Northwest Ward of Pottsville: George Eisenhuth, occupation "none, 43, living with Mary, 29 or 24 (handwriting unclear), Lydia, 15, George, 10, Sarah, 12, and Susan, 6. Also in the household is George's father, Bernhard Eisenhuth, 84, and Henry Eisenhuth, 21, occupation clerk, and a Mary Logan, 17 Everyone was born in Pennsylvania, except for Logan in Ireland. George had no real estate value listed, suggesting he was renting.

Note that if Bernhard was 84 in 1850 then his birth year would be about 1766, not 1755 as reported in most sources.

16. Census in 1850 in Rush Twp., Schuylkill, PA. ²¹ The 1850 census recorded Jacob Isenhuth, laborer, 58; Lydia, 56; Lydia, 20; Jacob, 18; Mary, 16; Benjamin 13; and Margaret, 10. Also in the home is Jacob's father Barnard Eisenhuth, 87; Thomas Heiser, teamster, 25; and Jacob's son, Barnard, laborer, 29; with his wife Catharine, 21; and their daughter Mary Alice, 2. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

17. Book: Bernarnd Eisenhuth was granted a lease to mine coal., Dec 1857. ²²
Background: After the death of Stephen Girard (1750-1831), the lands he had purchased in Schuylkill county were supervised by a board of trustees for his estate, who determined they could raise capital by leasing them for coal mining, as explained as follows in the book, "Girard Estate Coal lands In Pennsylvania, 1801-1884."

"In December 1857, the committee instructed F. B. Kaercher, who had succeeded Poole as their agent in residence, to negotiate a coal lease. A lease was granted to Bernard Eisenhuth to mine coal on the Israel Cope tract with the coal to be sold to persons residing in Catawissa Valley. It appears that some mining was done with the coal being sold locally, but on such a small scale that it never resulted in a large prosperous operation."

Note: We can speculate that Eisenhuth was selected because he might have had a previous business relationship to timber the Girard properties, since that was Eisenhuth's profession in earlier years in Centre and Schuylkill counties.

18. Obituary: Pottsville Standard on 30 Jun 1866 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ²³
Bernard Eisenhuth
Aged 111 years, 3 months and 12 days.

Death of the "Oldest Inhabitant." - On Friday morning of last week, June 22, 1866, Mr. Bernard Eisenhuth died at New Castle in this county, aged over one hundred and eleven years. He was probably the oldest man in Pennsylvania.

He was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania and was Baptized on the 10th day of May, 1755, in the old Lutheran church at Lebanon. His age then was two months.

During the Revolutionary War he was left at home to take care of the family, while his father who Captain of Riflemen under General Anthony Wayne, was in the Army. It is supposed that Captain Eisenhuth was killed, as he never returned.

Mr. Eisenhuth afterwards removed to Berks county, where he married Catherine Saylor. She was born in Philadelphia. They had 10 children, 5 of whom are still living.

The early history of the family is not known correctly, as the house of Mr. Eisenhuth was destroyed by fire in 1806, and the family records etc. were consumed. His wife died in 1848, aged 95 years. Mr. Eisenhuth leaves 5 children, 41 grand children and 116 living descendants; probably as many more have died.

He was sick only five weeks, apparently suffering from nothing but weakness, and retained his consciousness to the last, dying as gently as though falling asleep.

In his younger days he was a powerful man. He was about 6 feet in height, raw boned and heavily built, with light brown hair, light complexion and blue eyes. He was a lumberman and trapper, and at the age of 105 years he worked in the harvest field with apparent ease.

He was always "early to bed and early to rise," being up at daylight every morning. He always ate plain food, and frequently lectured his descendants for using too much shortening, etc. in their food. He used liquor occasionally, but never to excess, and would taste only the best old-fashioned rye Whiskey.

At the age of 105 years, while at work clearing new land, he fell and severely injured his hips. He was by a physician fastened to a plank for nine weeks, and requested to remain nine days longer, but he refused to do so; and attempted to walk, when it was discovered that his hip was dislocated. The injury was properly attended to, and he was soon able to walk, but he was lame ever after from the effects of it.

He was attended during his last illness by Rev. U. Graves, of the English Ev. Lutheran Church of Pottsville, who at his request gave him the Communion; during the service the old man was melted to tears, and partook as intelligently as ever of the sacred elements. Nor did he forget this service while he continued to suffer out his days.

The last Sabbath of his life on earth he expressed a wish that he might be at church and hear Mr. Graves preach, but in a few days after that Sabbath he left these earthly scenes for the realities of another world.

The text from which Mr. Graves addresses the friends of the family at the funeral is found in Gen. xlvii, 9: "And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years; few and evil have the days of my life been and I have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their Pilgrimage."

Mr. Eisenhuth always voted the Democratic Ticket. He voted for Washington, and cast his vote at every presidential election in the United States. His last vote he cast for Abraham Lincoln, he (Mr. Lincoln) appearing to him like Washington.

Mr. Eisenhuth was one of a class that seem to be getting smaller yearly; to the class who do their duty to God and man, love their country for their country's sake, pay their debts and live honestly and frugally. He goes down to the grave respected and honored by all; and thus is broken one of the few living links between the by-gone past and present.

He was buried on Saturday last at the Old Lutheran Cemetery at Ringtown. His descendants are generally healthy and able-bodied, and carry their age remarkably well. Like himself, they are good, useful and law-abiding citizens. May our country be blessed with many more such men as the old patriarch who has been gathered to his fathers, Bernard Eisenhuth.

19. Newspaper: Harrisburg Telegraph: Death of the "Oldest Inhabitant.", 5 Jul 1866, Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ²⁴ Death of the "Oldest Inhabitant."
One of our exchanges announces that on Friday of week before last, Mr. Barnard Eisenhuth died at New Castle, Schuylkill county, aged over one hundred and eleven years. He was probably the oldest man in Pennsylvania. He was born in Lebanon, Pa., and was baptized on the 10th of May, 1755, in the old Lutheran Church at Lebanon. His age at this time is not known, but he was probably an infant. During the Revolutionary war, he was left at home to care of the family, while his father, who was Captain of the reifleman under Anthony Wayne, was in the army. It is supposed that Captain Eisenhuth was killed, as he never returned. Mr. Eisenhuth afterwards removed to Berks county, where he married Catharine Saylor. She was born in Philadelphia. They had 10 children -- 5 of whom are still living. The early history of the family is not known, as the house of Mr. Eisenhuth was destroyed by fire in 1806, and the family records, etc., were consumed. His wife died in 1848, aged 95 years.
Mr. Eisenhuth leaves 5 children, 41 grandchildren, 63 great grand-children, and 7 great-great grand-children -- 116 living descendants, Probably as many more have died. He was sick only five weeks, apparently suffering from nothing but weakness, and retained his consciousness to the last, dying as gently as though falling to sleep. In his younger days he was a powerful man. He was about six feet in height, rawboned and heavily built, with light brown hair, light complexion and blue eyes. He was a farmer and lumberman, and at the age of 103 years worked in the harvest field with apparent ease. He was always "early to bed and early to rise," being up at daylight every morning.

20. Obituary: Pennsylvanische Staats Zeitung: obituary of Bernard Eisenhuth on 12 Jul 1866 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ²⁵ Original in German:
Der älteste Einwohner
von Schuylkill County, und wahrscheinlich auch von ganz Pennsylvanien, Bernard Eisenhuth, starb vorletzte Woche in New Castle, 111 Jahre alt. Genau weiß man den Tag seiner Geburt nicht; aber er wurde am 16. Mai 1755 in Lebanon getauft, so daß er jedenfalls das angegebene Alter überschritten hat. Sein Vater diente als Capitän im Rcvolutions - Kriege, während Bernard das Hauswesen verwalte mußte. Letzterer zog später ach Berks County, wo er sich verheirathctc. Seine Frau wurde 95 Jahre alund starb 1848. Sie hatten in ihrer Ehe zehn Kinder, von denen fünf och am Leben sind; die ganze Zahl ihrer noch lebenden Nachkommenschaft beläuft sich auf 116. Der Verstorbene blieb rüsstig bis auf wenige Jahre vor seinem Tode; überhaupt war er während seiner langen Lebenszeit nur fünf Wochen krank.'97ln Politik gehörte er zu jener Classe alter standhafter Demokraten, deren Anhänglichkeit an der Partei durch Erfahrung und aufmerksame Beobachtung Classe von Patrioten, deren Reihen sich leider immer mehr lichte. Er stimmte von Washington an für jeden demokratische Präsidentschaft Candidaten, mit Ausnahme McClellans, und dies geschah nur, weil ihm durch einen gewissenlosen Menschen ein falsche Ticket untergeschoben wurde, was er, wegen seiner schwachen Ausgen, nicht entbedte bis es zu spä war. Diefer Betrug verursachte dem alten Manne grossen Rummer.

Translation:
The oldest inhabitant
of Schuylkill County, and probably Pennsylvania, Bernard Eisenhuth, died last week in New Castle, 111 years old. Exactly, one does not know the day of his birth; but he was baptized on May 16, 1755 in Lebanon, so that he has in any case exceeded the specified age. His father served as captain in the Revolution Wars, while Bernard was in charge of housekeeping. The latter later moved to Berks County, where he married. His wife was 95 years old and died in 1848. They had ten children in their marriage, five of whom are alive; the whole number of their surviving offspring amounts to 116. The deceased remained venomous until a few years before his death; in fact, during his long life he was ill for only five weeks. In politics he belonged to that class of old steadfast democrats whose loyalty to the Party through experience and attentive observation was a class of patriots whose ranks, unfortunately, are becoming ever brighter. He voted for every Democratic presidency candidate from Washington, with the exception of McClellan, and this was only because he was falsely blamed by a man without conscience, which he did not deprive, because of his weak points, until it was too late. This fraud caused the old man a great deal of trouble.

21. Fact: A creek, Eisenhuth Run, Ryan Township, Schuylkill County, in1874 became Eisenhuth Reservoir, a principal water supply for the Pottsville Water Company. The creek is now named Mill Creek, but the earlier name confirms the Eisenhuth's lived here in 1800s.., 1874, Ryan Township, Schuylkill, PA.

22. Book: History of Schuylkill County, 1881. ⁹
Union Township Cemeteries. The earliest burying-ground was in connection with the Union church, and the first person interred in it was Jacob Eisenhauer, who died May 9th, 1815, aged two years, eleven months and twenty-six days. The first adult to whose memory a stone is erected was Daniel Kolb, who died January 5th, 1818. In this cemetery are stones erected to the memory of the following soldiers of 1812: Jacob Laudig, died July 17th, 1863, aged 77 years; Benjamin Sautzer, died November 29th, 1863, aged 71 years; William Dombuch, died October 5th, 1847, aged 69 years; Charles Bitting and Frederick Labenberg. The oldest person whose death is recorded on the burial tablets of this country church yard was Barnard Eisenhuth, aged one hundred and eleven years.

23. Book: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Schuylkill County, 1893. ²⁶
ANDREW C. EISENHUTH, an enterprising young shoe manufacturer of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, is a son of Henry and Catherine (Christ) Eisenhuth, and was born August 14, 1863, in Auburn, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.

The great grandfather of our subject on the paternal side of the family, Bernard Eisenhuth, was almost a contemporary of George Washington himself, being born in March, 1755, in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania.

During the Revolutionary struggle, resulting in our National Independence, he was left at home to take care of the family, whilst his son, George Plisenhuth, the grandfather of our subject, was in the patriot army under General Anthony Wayne, with the rank of Captain. Conrad Eisenhuth removed to Berks county, where he married Catharine Saylor, a native of Philadelphia, and who died in 1848 at the advanced age of ninety-five years. He was among the pioneers of that county and became a lumberman, a trapper and a hunter, avocations indigenous to a pioneer life. He was a man of remarkable physical vigor, and at the age of one hundred and five years worked in the harvest field with apparent ease. His first vote was cast for George Washington, and he voted at every Presidential election down to Lincoln, dying in June, 1866, at the extreme age of one hundred and eleven years, three months 'and twelve days.

Quite likely, George Eisenhuth, grandfather, was born in Auburn ; it is at least known that at an early day he went to Pottsville and became proprietor of a hotel on the present site of the Merchants' hotel. This hotel he operated a number of years, and accumulated considerable money, and invested extensively in the coal lands of the county. He removed to Shenandoah, this county, about the time that place was founded, and lived there until his death in 1884.

He was twice married ; first time to a Miss Saylor. Among the issue of this marriage was the father of subject His second marriage was with a Miss Mary Baer.

Henry Eisenhuth, father, was born in Millheim, Pa., in 1830, but has been a resident of Schuylkill county most of his life. He married Catharine Christ, who was born February 5, 1840, and died May 3, 1891. The fruit of this marriage was a family of seven children.: John, who is a station agent for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company at Orwigsburg; Andrew C.; T. Harry, who is in the employ of his brother Andrew as bookkeeper and shipper; Kate, the wife of Howard Eisenburg, of Hazleton ; and Mamie, a milliner of Reading, Pa.; two died in infancy. In Mr. Eisenhuth's career we find an example of what a young man can accomplish even with a limited education, coupled with a strong will and indefatigable energy. After leaving the public schools of his township, he entered the Kutztown Normal school. He then taught school five terms, two of them in South Manheim township, two in Porter township, and one as principal of the Green Street building in the borough of Hazelton, Luzerne county. This position he resigned in 1884, to accept the position of bookkeeper in the office of A. E. Brown & Co., of Orwigsburg. He remained with that firm until January 1, 1892. During this time he made a study of the shoe business in all its details, and feeling that he was competent to pursue successfully the business on his own account, he formed an alliance with Alfred M. Miller, under the firm name Eisenhuth & Miller, and embarked in the manufacturing of shoes. The factory of this firm is located on the corner of Tannuary and Warren Streets, and is sixty feet long by forty wide, two stories high. It gives employment to forty hands, including six traveling salesmen. They manufacture children's and infants' turn shoes exclusively, and dispose of their product throughout the central and western States.

Mr. Eisenhuth is a republican, has served for eight years as town clerk, and is one of the school directors of his borough. He is a member of Schuylkill Lodge, No. 138, F. and A. M., of which lodge he is a Past Master; Mountain City Chapter, No. 196, R. A. M., at Pottsville ; Constantine Commandery, No. 41, Knights Templar, of same place; Grace Lodge, No. 157, I. O. O. F., of Orwigsburg, of which he is a past officer; and St Paul's Lutheran church, at Orwigsburg. His union with Anna R. Wernert, daughter of Victor Wernert, of Orwigsburg, on March 11, 1892, has been blessed with the following children: Harry, Lillian, Floyd and Marguerite.

24. Book: The Successful American, Volume 3, Part 1 - Volume 4, Part 1, 1900. ²⁷
Within Biography of John Washington Eisenhuth (born 1860):

It is of interest to recall that his great grandfather, Bernard Eisenhuth, was one of the leading spirits of the Revolution and voted to elect George Washington President and lived to cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln, living until the age of one hundred and eleven years and six months, enjoying every faculty and never using a cane nor glasses and when asked why he changed his politics in voting for Lincoln, replied that Lincoln's principles and the platform which he represented were identical with those of Washington.

25. Newspaper: Republican and Herald, 6 Oct 1937, Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ²⁸ FRACKVILLE'S GRAND OLD LADY NOW NEARING HER 98TH BIRTHDAY

One of Schuylkill County's oldest women resides in Frackville. She is Mrs. Margaret Anna Edwards of 116 South Balliet street. Mrs. Edwards, who is nearing her 98th birthday, was born when there were only 26 stars in our flag, when there were but twelve amendments to the Constitution, and when the eighth President, Martin Van Buren, occupied the White House.

This woman, who appears no more than 75 years of age, saw the era before kerosene lamps were universally used and she had to wait until she was 36 years old before the invention of the telephone.

This "grand old lady" was born in Bellefonte, Centre County, on February 10, 1840, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Eisenhuth. When she was very young her family moved to Mahanoy Plane. There were only two houses in the place at the time, one of them occupied by her uncle. According to her, there was only one house each in Frackville, Mahanoy City and Shenandoah at the time. The one in Mahanoy City served as a country hotel and was located on South Main street, opposite to where the entrance of the Mansion is now. Ashland had no houses at the time; workmen were just clearing the brush and trees away. Pottsville was a very small village with one church, while Girardville had three houses.

Recalls Childhood Days

Not long after Mrs. Edwards took up her residence in Mahanoy Plane, Stephen Girard drove a tunnel into a rich vein of coal near her parents' home and she recalls vividly how she and members of her family picked the family supply of coal in this tunnel.

Mrs. Edwards was married in 1863 and came to live in Ashland, where she resided a few years and then moved to Aristes. From Aristes she moved to Frackville, where she has made her abode for the past 57 years.

Her husband was a track-layer for the Pennsylvania Railroad and is credited with laying the first rail on the famous Horseshoe Curve near Altoona. He died 42 years ago. She is the last and youngest of twelve children, some of whom died at various ages of 92, 89 and 84 years.

Her paternal grandmother, Mrs. Bernard Eisenhuth, was burned to death when her clothes caught fire while she was warming herself before an open grate. She was blind and 80 years of age.

Grandfather Attained 108 Years

Her paternal grandfather, husband of the lady who met this tragic death, lived to be 108 years old and died at New Castle. Mrs. Edwards remembers that her grandfather, even when he was past the century milestone, walked from Mahanoy Plane to Pottsville and then home again.

According to Mrs. Edwards, her great grandfather went to fight in the Revolutionary War when he was only 12 years old. Prior to his joining the army, the family buried the kitchen utensils in the ground near Reading and all rode horseback to Fort Henry, west of Orwigsburg.

On the journey her great grandfather became tired and he walked and picked berries. While in the woods he came upon a sight he never forgot. There ahead of him was an Indian kneeling above a white man, holding his hair as he scalped him. Her great grandfather rushed back, burst out with the sad tale and post haste they all rode at fast as they could to Fort Henry.

Mother of Eight

Mrs. Edwards is the mother of eight children, three of whom survive. They are Mrs. Wesley Berger and Mrs. Richard Moll of Frackville and Lawrence Edwards of Hershey. Mrs. Edwards belies her age. She bears few age wrinkles, her hearing and sight are of the best and her faculties are unimpaired. She is a good walker and a brilliant, rapid conversationalist, and goes to Sunday school and church every Sunday. She has read the Bible from cover to cover eleven times and is often called "The Living Bible." She lives with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Moll. Mrs. Moll is her oldest daughter, being 73 years of age.

26. Book: Beecher Family History: Bernard Eisenhuth, 1972. ²⁹
Written in 1978 by our family genealogist, Bruce Franklin Beacher Ph.d (1919-2004)

BERNARD "BARNEY" EISENHUTH was well-known among Pennsylvania's backwoodsmen. Fair-haired and blue-eyed, he stood a full head above most of his short-statured contemporaries. His youthfulness was astonishing; he was destined to live longer than any other man in Pennsylvania--over ill years! Born in the Lebanon Valley and baptized a Lutheran on May 10, 1755 (probably by John Casper Stoever, the younger), he grew to six feet and assumed charge of the family when his father left to serve as Captain of Riflemen under General Anthony Wayne. Capt. EISENHUTH never returned, presumably killed in action.

In their youth, BARNEY EISENHUTH and JACOB BICHER were friends in the Lebanon community. But the EISENHUTHs left Lebanon for new lands opening in the mountain valleys after the war. BARNEY met and married a Philadelphia girl, CATHERINE SAYLOR, and tried farming in Pine Grove Township (then Berks County.) They had ten children before fire destroyed their home in 1806 and, with it, most of the family's keepsakes. Relatives and the demand for lumbermen to serve the rapidly growing iron industry of Centre County drew Barney and his family to that area where the EISENHUTH name became established in Penn Township.

When young JOHN JACOB BICHER reached manhood he left the Lebanon Valley seeking his independence and livelihood, as well as his heart's desire--ANGELINE EISENHUTH. Nothing could have pleased his grandfather and BARNEY EISENHUTH more when the young couple married in 1837 and proceeded to bring a succession of sons into the world that welded the bond between the old friends for life.

The firstborn of JACOB and ANGELINE was named WILLIAM, honoring JACOB BICHER's brother and other family ancestors. His brothers arrived with regularity--JOHN JACOB (1840), HIRAM (1842), BENJAMIN (1845), GEORGE (1849) and NATHAN (1851.) Meanwhile opportunity for lumbermen shifted eastward to Schuylkill County, the focus of the evolving hard coal mining industry. It was there where the first and only daughter, MARY, broke the male dynasty in 1853. The family moved to Pottsville before 1850 when the flurry of inventions for coal stoves, ovens and furnaces, the development of railroads, and the application of machinery to mining multiplied coal production 40 to 50 fold.

Lumbermen, miners, masons and other tradesmen were drawn as by a magnet to the center of action in Schuylkill County. The word "schuylkill" is Swedish, meaning "to hide." The county is named after the river. Picturesque mountains and valleys hid the great deposits of coal until anthracite became a prime fuel. Now the torn hillsides and great rounds of mine tailings are mute reminders of the historic, albeit frantic, mining period.

Sadly, BARNEY EISENHUTH lost his wife in 1848 when she was 95. He was still capable of a day's work, and already a legend in the State. He moved his home to Pottsville with son GEORGE EISENHUTH and nearby ANGELINE and her sons.

The 1850 United States Census records JACOB BIEGER, tailor, living in the South Ward, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, with his wife, ANGELINE, and six sons. The earliest settlers of the community were from Alsace-Lorraine and Switzerland, via the Schoharie Valley (New York) settlement and the Pennsylvania-German speaking JACOB and his family were at home among fellow "Germans." But Pottsville literally exploded with growth as mining developed and the railroad came to town. It became the seat of Schuylkill County in 1851 as well as the center of communications for rail and stagecoach travel and the news.

Life was rough by today's standards--mining, drinking and fighting became commonplace together and churches were few and sparsely attended. But the people were courageous and patriotic. Volunteers joined the campaign against Mexico under the leadership of Captain James Nagle and the young BIEGER boys followed the news with keen interest in the Freiheits Press and the Miners Journal. Emotions ran high with the outbreak of the War Between the States and when Lee threatened Pennsylvania at Gettysburg WILLIAM and JOHN enlisted.

Many families coming to America have experienced name changes. The BEACHERS are no exception and the enlistment of the Sons of JACOB and ANGELINE in the Union Army marked the introduction and permanent attachment of BEACHER to this branch of the original BUCHER line. Coincidentally in Lebanon, Pennsylvania at about the same time, the enlistment of WILLIAM BICHER, blood-relative of WILLIAM of Pottsville, introduced the name of BEICHER to that line of the family.

JOHN and BENJAMIN BEACHER survived the campaign without injury and returned home to be mustered out of service on August 23, 1865. Brother WILLIAM also had re-enlisted as a private, this time in Company C, 194th Regiment Infantry, at Pottsville, on July 13, 1864. The regiment was sent to Baltimore for provost duty before returning to Harrisburg, where WILLIAM was mustered out of the service on November 6, 1864.

While the War was in progress, other events were shaping a future home for the BEACHERS in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. For a long time the site had been occupied only by an old tavern, the Kaley House. PETER KALEY (or KEHLEY) settled there to farm sometime after 1820. He found some coal which he carried to the blacksmith in Ringtown over the mountain. But the great seam of coal beneath him attracted the Philadelphia Land Company to purchase his right, allowing him to remain there until his death in 1860. Mining began in earnest in 1862. P. W. SFIAEFER of Pottsville laid out "Shenandoah City," choosing an Indian name meaning "sprucy stream" (Or perhaps, "daughter of the stars.") The first building was a frame hotel, followed by houses on Cherry street, where JACOB and ANGELINE BEACHER and their family would settle.

When the War ended, marriages quickly followed. BENJAMIN married SARAH JANE JACOBS while his brother, JOHN, stood as a witness with his girl-friend, ANGELINE OCOM (or OKUM), whom he soon married. HIRAM BEACHER married HENRIETTA JACOBS and established his home in Mt. Carmel.

The Nation would never be the same after the War Between the States, nor would the BEACHER families ever again enjoy a role model like BARNEY EISENHUTH. At the age of 105 while clearing land, he fell and severely injured his hips. He was fastened to a plank by a physician for nine weeks and finally could remain no longer, although requested to do so. He was soon able to walk painfully, suffering from the effects thereafter. On June 22, 1866 at the age of 111 years, 3 months and 12 days, he departed this life. He was attended during his last illness by the Reverend U. Graves of the English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pottsville, who at his request gave him the Communion. During the service the patriarch was melted to tears, and partook as intelligently as ever of the sacred elements. He was laid to rest with other Eisenhuths and Eisenhowers in the beautiful setting. of the Old White Church cemetery near Ringtown, the oldest church in Schuylkill county.

BARNEY EISENHUTH left five children, forty-one grandchildren and one hundred and sixteen living descendants. Probably as many more predeceased him. His impact on the BEACHERS was far more than genetic. He was always "early to bed and early to rise," being up at daylight every morning. He always ate plain food, and frequently lectured his descendants for using too much shortening, etc. in their food. He used liquor occasionally, but never to excess, and would taste only the best old-fashioned rye whiskey. Arriving in the world at the outset of the French and Indian War he had experienced the yoke of colonialism, watched his father go off in the struggle for independence without return, followed the Contention among the new States and finally the supreme struggle to maintain the Union. He voted for every President from George. Washington to Abraham Lincoln. He was eulogized in the Pottsville Standard as "one of a class that seem to be getting smaller yearly; to the class who do their duty to God and man, love their country for their country's sake, pay their debts and live honestly and frugally. He goes down to the grave respected and honored by all.. .one of the few living links between the by-gone past and present."

JACOB and ANGELINE BEACHER lived out the rest of their lives through the 1880's in Shenandoah, never forgetting the grand old man or failing to recount his life and character to their children and grandchildren. JACOB's own grandfather, the Elder of Lebanon, preceded BARNEY EISENHUTH in death by nearly a quarter of a century, and the families gradually lost contact.

JACOB's brother, WILLIAM BICHER (BEICHER) died in 1880 and was interred in Mount Lebanon Cemetery by his son, WILLIAM, a veteran of Company K, 127th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, along with their mother MARY MICHAL BICHER and other relatives. The BIECHER name was carried into the 20th century in Lebanon by 'four sons and four daughters of the marriage of the veteran WILLIAM to LOUISA HARTMAN EMBICH.

It is one of life's fateful facts that bloodlines diverge and lose contact. What an event it would be if all were to be reunited at the feet of the patriarchs and grand dames to renew associations and exchange experiences! But especially to look for the familiar twinkle of an eye, dimpled smile, or gesture that one could identify at once with an ancestor and relative. There is no doubt that some might be called "Little Barney" or "Little Jacob" or "Little Angeline" if this were to happen. And the honored elders would, no doubt, beam their approval.

Bernard married Anna Maria Orwig, daughter of Johann Gottfried Orwig and Ann Clara Lampert. (Anna Maria Orwig was born on 19 Dec 1751 in Maiden Creek, Berks, PA ³⁰ and died in 1778 in West Brunswick Twp., Schuylkill, PA.)

Bernard next married Catherine Saylor in 1780 in , Berks, PA.¹ (Catherine Saylor was born on 9 May 1767 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA,^{5 12 31} died on 20 Jan 1849 in Mahanoy City, Schuylkill, PA ^{5 12 31} and was buried in Ringtown: St. Paul's Old White Church Cemetery, Schuylkill, PA ³¹.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

1. They have conflicting marriage information of 1780 and Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ³²

  Marriage Notes:

Bernard Eisenhuth's obituary published in the newspaper said he was married to Catherine Saylor in Berks County, not Lebanon County as other sources report.