Neander Augustus Gobrecht ^{3 5 6 7 8 9}

   FamilySearch ID: KJZX-N2R.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1860 in Franklin Twp., Adams, PA. ⁷ The 1860 census recorded Amanda Gobrecht, 27, living with son Neader, 8; Lydia Miller, 25; and Avilla Raffensberger, 1. The post office was Mummasburg.

2. Census in 1870 in Franklin Twp., Adams, PA. ¹³ The 1870 census recorded George Thomas, carpenter, 42, living with wife Amanda, 38; Leander, carpenter, 18; Adeline, 16; Isabella, 14; Ellsworth, 8; Elmer, 6; and Emma, 4. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office was Arendtsville. [Note: Leander is surname Gobrecht by Amanda's 1st marriage.].

3. Census in 1880 in Altoona, Blair, PA. ¹⁴ The 1880 census recorded Neander Gobrecht, laborer, 28, living with wife Clara J., 28; son George N., 5; and son Samuel B., 1. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

4. Census in 1900 in Altoona, Blair, PA. ¹⁵ The 1900 census recorded at 123 3rd Avenue: Neader Gobrecht, carpenter, 49, born Sep 1851, living with wife Clara J., 48, May 1852; Edwin W., laborer, 20, Aug 1880; John C., 12, Sep 1888; and Irene C., 10, Jan 1890. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania. Clara was married for 29 years and had birthed 9 children, 5 still alive in 1900.

5. Magazine: The Pennsylvania-German: article about bibles of John Christopher Gobrecht and John Beecher owned by N.A. Gobrecht, Apr 1908, , , PA. ¹⁶ N. A. Gobrecht, Altoona, Pa., has in his possession a German Bible printed at Zurich, Switzerland, by Emanuel and Johann Rudolff, printers, 1729. It was brought over by John Christopher Gobrecht, the ancestor born October, 1733, at Angerstein, Hanover, Germany; landed September 11, 1753, at Philadelphia, from the ship "Queen of Denmark," Geo. Parish, captain; settled in Bucks county; studied theology under Rev. John George Alsentz, and was licensed 1764 as the first Reformed student under the care of Coetus in Pennsylvania; died at Hanover in 1815. He has also another German Bible printed by Christopher Sauer, Germantown, Pa., 1763, having family record of John Beecher and Elizabeth Keplinger, the ancestors of the numerous Beecher families in Adams and York counties, Pa. John Beecher was a soldier of the Revolution, died in his 90th year, August 1838, and was buried at Arendtsville, Pa. This Bible comes to N. A. Gobrecht by his wife, who is a Beecher descendant of the third generation. Both German Bibles are in good condition and are in the hands of a worthy member of the Pennsylvania German Society of Pennsylvania and are cherished by him as family heirlooms.

6. Newspaper: Altoona Tribune: "Mr. And Mrs. N. A. Gobrecht Have Revlatives at Dinner", 4 Apr 1921, Altoona, Blair, PA. ³ In commemoration of fifty happy years of married life, Mr. and Mrs. N. A. Gobrecht celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home, 309 East Grant avenue, Saturday, members of the immediate family attending. This couple thus richly favored with the mutual sharing of a golden half century of life's joys and vicissitudes, began their wedded life at Beechersville, Adams county, April 2, 1871, when the Rev. M. Snyder, pastor of the Lutheran church at that place, pronounced the words united in marriage Neander August Gobrecht and Miss Clara J. Beecher, the bride being a grand daughter of the founder of the town.
The young couple took up their residence in Altoona in 1875 and have lived in the Eighth and Tenth wards practically all the time since. Previous to removing to this city they lived for a time at Centerville, Cumberland county. Mr. Gobrecht began service with the Pennsylvania railroad company as a laborer in the car shops July 26, 1875, and worked successfully as a car builder and a clerk in the stores department of the freight shop until his retirement last November. He was born at Arendtsville, Adams county Sept. 7, 1851. During hsi young manhood he studied for the ministry at Franklin and Marshall college but was obliged to abandon this course because of a throat affection which resulted in the loss of his voice. Mrs. Gobrecht will be 67 years of age on May 1.
Mr. and Mrs. Gobrecht, although both in failing health, greatly enjoyed the festivities connected with the celebration, which was featured with a sumptuous dinner. The day was also pleasantly marked by the felicitations of the many friends of the couple, who called in person or sent messages, a large number of which were received throughout the day.
The honored guest was Mrs. Amanda Thomas, the aged mother of Mr. Gobrecht, who is still hale and hearty at 88. Mrs. Thomas resides at the home of her daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Hahman, 1119 Thirteenth avenue. Others present were S. B. Gobrecht and family, E. N. Gobrecht and family, H. H. Shaw and family and E. W. Cavender and wife. J. C. Gobrecht, a son, and family were unable to be present on account of sickness. The significance of the occasion was impressed upon the host and hostess in a material way the presentation of a substantial purse of money.

7. Obituary: Altoona Mirror: obituary of Neander A. Gobrecht on 1 Sep 1925 in Altoona, Blair, PA. ¹⁰ NEANDER A. GOBRECHT, A well known clerk at the Altoona car shops and resident of the Tenth ward, died in his home, 114 East Crawford Avenue, at 9:05 o'clock yesterday morning of complication of diseases. He had been in failing health for
some time and had been confined to his bed for the past eighteen weeks.

Deceased was born at Arendtsville, Pa. on Sept. 7, 1851. He was reared in that vicinity but came to this city when youth about 14 years of age. On attaining young manhood he entered the service, of the Pennsylvania Railroad company and at the time of taking ill was employed as a clerk in the car shop offices.

He was a member of Salem Reformed church and the Knights of Malta and the College of Ancients, an auxiliary of that order.

He is survived by his wife, four sons and one daughter, George N., Edwin and Mrs. Irene Shaw, of Altoona and Samuel B. and John C. of Pittsburgh.

The funeral will take place Thursday afternoon with services at Salem Reformed church at 2 o'clock. Interment in Rose Hill cemetery.

8. Book: History of the John Christopher Gobrecht Family in America, 1977. ⁴
Neander Augustus Gobrecht, son of William D. and Amanda Gobrecht, was born near Arendtsville, Pa. on September 7, 1851 and was baptized May 27, 1853 by Rev. George Roth, Lutheran minister of the Conewago Charge. He was confirmed by Rev. David W. Wolff, pastor of the Arendtsville congregation.
Mr. Gobrecht was inspired to be a minister and on October 14, 1867, entered the preparatory department at Mercersburg College. But he contracted a throat condition which forced him to give up the idea of being a minister during the first session at college. Later his voice was restored and he enrolled at Palatinate College, Lebanon, Pa., but again his voice failed after attending school for 14 weeks. Thus he was forced again to relinquish the desire to be a minister of the Gospel.
Neander became a practical carpenter. In 1873 he moved to Centerville, Cumberland County, Pa. and burned lime for two years as an occupation. On April 6, 1875, Neander and his family moved to Altoona, Pa., where he became a cabinet maker and later was employed as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
He married Clara J. Beecher, daughter of Samuel and Matilda Beecher, on April 2, 1871. The wedding ceremony was performed by Rev. Michael Snyder, Lutheran minister of the Conewago Charge.
His wife, Clara, was born May 1, 1852, baptized July 18, 1852 by Rev. Jacob Zeigler, pastor of the Reformed church and was confirmed October 12, 1867, by Rev. Michael Snyder of the Lutheran Church.
Neander and Clara were parents of the following children:
William Edward Gobrecht was born September 16, 1872, died January 11, 1873.
George Nevin Gobrecht was born December 9, 1874.
Samuel Beecher Gobrecht was born September 28, 1878, was baptized October 14, 1878 by Rev. A. C. Whitman and was confirmed March 31, 1893, by Rev. Lloyd E. Coblentz, pastor of Trinity Reformed church, Altoona, Pa. On October 9, 1899 Samuel, married Dollie A. Blackburn, daughter of George and Annie M. Trout Blackburn. They were married by Rev. J. M. Yingling of the M. E. Church at Cumberland, Md. Dollie Gobrecht attended grade school in Altoona, Pa. Her husband, Samuel, was a machinist by trade and was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in Altoona until 1920 when the employees went out on strike and Samuel was never called back to his former position. Because of this Samuel and his family moved to Pittsburgh where he was a machinist for the B. P. Tracey Co. until his retirement in 1952. Mrs. Dollie Gobrecht died June 27, 1960 and was buried in Union Dale cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pa., where her husband, Samuel, is also buried, having died December 23, 1965. Samuel and Dollie had the following children. Eva Maud Gobrecht was born in Altoona, Pa., August 3, 1900. She was baptized by Rev. Lewis Robb on January 9, 1901. She attended Madison Elementary, Central Grammar and Altoona High School. She graduated from high school in 1918 and attended Altoona Business School. Later she became a secretary to a lawyer in Altoona. She never married. Gerald William Gobrecht, second child of Samuel and Dollie Gobrecht, was born January 14, 1904 in Altoona, Pa. He attended Madison Elementary, Central Grammar school and was graduated from Altoona High School in 1922. He married Margaret Warrell of Reistertown, Md. on September 26, 1927. Rev. John Rupley, a Lutheran minister, performed the ceremony in Westminster, Md. At the present time Gerald Gobrecht is in the men's clothing business. Two children were born in this union.
Edwin Neander Gobrecht, born August 25, 1880,
Elmer Ellsworth Gobrecht, born March 30, 1884, died April 10, 1884,
Bertha May Gobrecht, born May 12, 1887, died August 21, 1887.
John Christopher Gobrecht, born September 14, 1888.
Clara Irene Gobrecht, born January 21, 1890.

Neander married Clara Jane Beecher, daughter of Samuel M. Beecher and Sarah Ann Matilda Wagoner, on 2 Apr 1871 in Beechersville, Adams, PA.^{1 2 3 4} (Clara Jane Beecher was born on 1 May 1852 in Beechersville, Adams, PA ^{2 3 4 8 9 17 18}, christened on 18 Jul 1852 in Arendtsville: Arendtsville Union Church (Zion Lutheran and Trinity Reformed), Adams, PA,^{4 17} died on 27 Jan 1937 in Altoona, Blair, PA ^{2 8 18} and was buried on 30 Jan 1937 in Altoona: Rose Hill Cemetery, Blair, PA ^{2 8 18}.)