GEORGE & DOLLEY KRETZINGER FAMILY

compiled by Betty Gilmore

*Kretsinger will be spelled as written in the record quoted.

George Cretzinger first appears when he bought land in Sharpsburg, Washington Co., MD from John McCoy for 50£ on April 25, 1802. The marriage records for Washington County were destroyed in a courthouse fire, however the marriage index was saved. It shows that a marriage license was taken out by George and Dolley Eckenbarger on July 2, 1803. On the 5th of April 1806 George sold the above lot to Daniel Painter for 65£ current money “all that lott (lot) or portion of ground in Sharpsburg, county aforesaid, being known by number 133 containing 103’ breadth and 206’ in length with all profits, advantages and appurtenance’. “At the same time came Dolley wife to the said George Cretsinger and relinquished her right of Dower to the said land freely and willingly.”

George next showed up in the 1810 census of Shenandoah Co., VA. Both were between 16 and 26 years of age with a boy and a girl under 10 (probably John & Mary). There is also a John in the same area with two males 16 to 26 and 1 female 16 -- 26. Both John & George later moved to Hardy County.

In Hardy County Deed Book #7, page 793 Benjamin Dean of Hardy Co., VA sold 147 acres in Hardy County for $600 on 13 Sep 1817 to George Cretsinger of the County of Shenandoah State of Virginia. “Included all houses, buildings, orchards, and way water.” The land was patented to Benjamin Dean by patent bearing the date of the 14 Dec 1790. (While in Hardy County in 1979 I was able to pinpoint this land down to within a mile or so. It is just a few miles SE of Wardensville in what is now the George Washington National Forest. It is a much better use for the land as it is extremely hilly and dense with trees.)

In Deed Book #11, pages 62-64 an indenture was made on the 5th day of January 1829 between George Cretsinger of the County of Hardy and Moses Wilson in order to secure the payment of $343.50 due by note of handing bearing the same date and payable on the 1st day of October 1830 to Isaac W. Baker and this 147 acres were put up for security. “If the debt not paid at least 30 days notice of the time and place of sale in some public newspaper published in or near the town of Winchester to proceed to sell the said Tract or parcel of land to the highest bidder- - - ” The description of the land was “on Waites Run a branch of big Capion and bounded as follows, to wit, Beginning at a black oak standing in a hollow at the foot of Andersons ridge thence S 64 E 140 poles Crossing said Waites Run to two white oaks by a drain thence N 31 E 192 poles to a white oak and pine on the bank of said run in a line of William Johnson’s, thence with the same N 60 W crossing sd (said) run to two pines S 41 W 206 poles to the Beginning containing one hundred & forty seven acres more or less being the same Tract or parcel of land that was conveyed” by Benjamin Dean. According to tax records this land was located 23 miles east from the Hardy County courthouse in Moorefield.

Deed Book #12, page 41, an indenture was made on the 9th of March 1831 between Moses Wilson, trustee of the County of Hardy of the one part and John Cretsinger “son of George Cretsinger of the other part that whereas the said George Cretsinger deceased did on the 5th of January 1829 ---”. This deed is very confusing but the note for the $343.50 was due to Isaac W. Baker. James Baker bought the land for $325 and then gave the land to his son, Isaac Baker. Then John Cretsinger gave the $325 to Isaac and got the land back. (I want to get a copy of this deed some day and have an attorney interpret it.)

On the 7th of Sept 1835 John Kretzinger and his wife, Rebecca, sold this 147 acres on Waits Run to Jepe Orndoff for $650. (Deed Book #13, pages 379 & 423). John & Rebecca also bought and sold other land in Hardy County.

Although George’s land was in Hardy County, his estate was settled in Shenandoah Co. An inventory & sale of George’s estate was made in September & October 1829. John Kretsinger Sr. was probably a brother, or at least a relative, of George. John Sr. was a shoemaker and he purchased a spool rack & bars for his cobbler trade at the estate sale. Other shoemaking tools & supplies were also sold so possibly our George was a cobbler also. Often they would call a person Junior or Senior to differentiate between an older and younger person bearing the same name and not necessarily father and son. John’s son John was too young to have bought at the sale. John Kretsinger (Sr.) owned 47 acres on Waits Run drains 26 miles east of the courthouse in Moorefield and 79 acres on Capion River (Cacapon River) which was 28 miles east. John Sr. moved to Ohio with at least five of his children. Some of these went on to Indiana eventually.

According to Don Brinkerhoff’s Uncle Eldridge, both George & Dolley lost their lives in a fire in their home while trying to save their belongings and left twelve children orphaned. They lived with various neighbors until old enough to take off on their own. This would fit in with my grandfather telling my sister that his father was orphaned at an early age. I would guess that it happened during the summer of 1829 as corn in the field was sold at George’s estate sale. Following are the children I’ve been able to prove, but not necessarily in the correct order:

1.   John. John was administrator of George’s estate and at that time in Virginia the eldest son inherited everything. A marriage bond dated May 9, 1831 was issued to John Kutsinqer & Rebecca Smootz. Bondsman was David Smutz. I do not yet know what happened to John & Rebecca. The 1840 census has him living alone. Besides “Jr.” he has also been called 2nd”.

2.   Mary. Mary was born ca 1806 in Maryland. A marriage bond was issued April 16, 1832 in Shenandoah Co., VA to William Windle & Mary with George Wiseman as bondsman. According to son, George Windle’s biography, the Windles had ten children and moved to Ogle Co., IL in 1855. In 1864 they purchased 200 acres in Pine Creek Twp. and resided there until their deaths, William in July 1879. They were both members of the Lutheran Church. Mary died April 28, 1875 and is buried in Red Oak Cemetery in Pinecreek Twp. Proof of relationship is in Lewis’ obituary which states that Rev. (Cornelius) Windle was his nephew. Emma Prather’s grandfather Baker kept diaries, in it, he stated that Uncle Lewis and Uncle Isaac Kretsinger came to visit a few weeks before Mary’s death.

3.   Elizabeth. Elizabeth was born ca Nov 1810 in Virginia. She died 11 Aug 1899 in Lincoln, Logan Co., IL. Proof for Elizabeth is that at a court held for the County of Shenandoah on Monday, the 12 of October 1829…Elizabeth Kretsinger, orphan of George Kretsinger deceased, over the age of 14 (and under 18 years) made choice of Henry Layman Jr. as her guardian who complied with the law. The same day a marriage bond was taken out for Elizabeth Critsinger & Henry Layman Jr. with Henry Layman, Sr. as bondsman. In 1836 they left Virginia and moved to Union Co., Ohio, ca 1843 near Palestine (Crawford Co.) Illinois, 1844 to Parke Co., Indiana, in 1846 to Mason Co., Illinois for twenty years, then to Logan Co. in 1866. With sons, Samuel & George, they bought a tract of about 600 acres of land. Their homestead was on the Northeast quarter of section 15 in Chester Twp. Elizabeth & Henry had nine children — five sons and four daughters. Her husband died in 1868 and she continued to run the farm.

4.   Samuel. I have conflicts on the date of Samuel’s birth. Grandpa told my sister that Samuel was born Oct. 19, 1813, his tombstone says October 1, 1814, his obituary in the “Religious Telescope” says he was born early in the year 1813. He was born in Shenandoah Co. before the move to Hardy Co. When old enough he too went to Washington Co., MD to live. There he became interested in the United Brethren Church and converted to that religion. On the 31 July 1834 he married Nancy Spessard, the daughter of John and Catherine (Stover) Spessard. On 28 Nov 1836 Nancy died and was buried in the Spessard Family Cemetery at the U.B. Church in Chewsville. An infant son is buried beside Nancy so possibly she died in childbirth. On Jan. 5, 1839 Samuel married again to Katherine Stotler (her parents were John Henry Stotler & Prudence Snavely) by the Rev. Henry Bertner. Rev. Bertner was the minister of the Bethel U.B. Church in Chewsville.

Their first child, William Otterbine, was born on June 1, 1840. Samuel sold their household goods on June 13, 1843 in preparation for their move to Harrison Co., Indiana.

On May 15, 1844 their 2nd son, David Lewis was born. Proof of relationship: “Portrait & Biographical History of Ogle Co., Ill.” by Chapman for Lewis tells how Lewis left Washington Co., MD to go to Harrison Co. in 1844 where he spent three months with two of his brothers and in July started in company with his brother Samuel & family for Ogle Co. IL. David Lewis went by the name of “Lew” or “Lou” most of his life.

After much decision and being a lay preacher Samuel decided to become a full U.B. minister in Ogle Co. in 1849. Samuel mainly worked in Ogle Co., IL and Green Co., WI in his ministry. On April 1, 1857 Samuel and family started for Kansas with a colony of 40 who came by oxen teams. They landed at what was known as Captain’s Creek on June 16, 1857. Their farm was located on the NE quarter of Section 28 of Palmyra Twp. in Douglas Co., KS. Samuel traveled the entire state as a circuit rider for the church. He was also one of the elders for the Kansas district. He returned home on a Monday complaining of chills, developed pneumonia and died the following Friday on March 1, 1878. He was buried on his farmplace beside his small daughters who had died some years before. Katherine died in 1884 and according to Samuel’s obituary she had suffered from a cruel disease” for many years. Later when Grandpa sold the land, Samuel, Katherine and two daughters were moved to the Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City.

5.   Isaac. I have conflicting dates for Isaac’s birth also. Dec. 1, 1814 and Jan. 15, 1815, and another in 1814. His obituary in the “Christian Conservator” states that he was born while his father was engaged against the British in the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. With the different statements that he was 79 years, 10 months, 16 days when he died, the Jan. 15, 1815 date would be correct. It is also stated that he was the 7th child of George Kretzinger. Isaac too went to Washington Co., MD where he joined the UB Church in 1832 and became a minister in 1839 according to his testimony in the Illinois State Supreme Court. Isaac’s marriage to Mary Deitrich on 25 October 1836 is listed in the Washington Co., MD marriage index. Mary died four months later. He then married Elizabeth Ogilbie (Oglesby) and they had six children. Elizabeth died June 11, 1883 and on April 1, 1884 he married Sarah E. (Nail) Goodpasture (a widow). Isaac was a UB minister for 56 years and for 22 years was a circuit rider. Some of the places he lived were Reading Twp., Perry Co., Ohio, McDonough, Warren, & Knox Counties, IL before going to Logan Co., IL.

There was a split in the United Brethren denomination in 1889 and Isaac testified before

the Illinois State Supreme Court for a trial for possession of the church property. In the split he cast his lot with the members who seceded, or radicals. They felt that the liberals did not keep the true teachings of the UB. The radicals did not believe in belonging to any secret societies, no slaveholder could be a member, and they preached the resurrection of the body. This group is still the United Brethren in Christ, while the liberals are the group that merged with the Methodist Church some years ago. Isaac died 24 Nov 1894 in Latham and was buried in Mt. Pulaski, Logan Co., IL.

6.   Delila. Delila was born ca 1817/1818 in Virginia. Proof of relationship is that when Lewis went to Ogle Co. he took up residence with his brother-in-law, Jacob Bovey with whom he worked in Maryland in farming and the carpenter trade. (Jacob’s father returned to Washington Co., MD about 1818 after going to Virginia for about 8 years.) Delila Kritzinger married Jacob Bovey May 5, 1835 in Washsington Co. Information that I have that does not list a source states that the Bovey land was handed down from Andrew Bachtell (Bechtell) to John Wesley Beard to Emma Beard Kretsinger to Max Kretsinger. There was a note that “Recently a corner cupboard belonging to the original Bovey’s at Chewsville was sold at public auction for $350. The cupboard was solid walnut and most unusual with 12 panes of glass.” The Boveys went to Ogle Co., Illinois where they spent the rest of their lives. They had nine children, two dying in infancy. Delila died sometime after her husband’s death on 11 Dec 1879 in Mt. Morris, Pine Creek Twp., Ogle Co., IL. I have been unable to find her death. At one time they also had the post office address of the town of Oregon. Aunt Delila is mentioned in the diary as visiting Mary also.

7.   George. I know there is a George but I cannot positively identify the following as the right George. The 1850 Ogle Co. census shows brother George Kretsinger living with Delila & Jacob Bovey. He was listed as age 31 and born in Virginia, but census ages are often wrong. With the group that went to Kansas in 1857 with Samuel was a George Kretsinger. (There was another George Curtsinger living in Pine Creek Twp., Ogle Co. with Thomas Fear, he was 33, horn also in Virginia. A Dave Fear went to Kansas in the same wagon train.) The 1860 census for Palmyra Twp., Douglas Co., KS, besides Samuel, shows George Kretsinger, age 43 with his wife, Permelia and four children. By 1865 he moved to Ottawa Twp., Franklin Co. (a short distance away.)

Samuel made a special trip back to Ogle Co. from Green Co., WI (probably not more than 30 miles) to perform the marriage of George to Permelia Thompson on 18 Feb 1851.

According to his obituary this George was born in February 1816 “from which state he afterwards moved to Maryland. After a number of years’ residence there he went to Illinois, where he lived until coming to Kansas in 1857.” He died in a daughter’s home March 25, 1907. “His wife died four years before and he spent his remaining days of his life among his children of which there are six.”

In Washington Co., MD, George Kretzinger is listed in the marriage index as marrying Anna Stotler on July 29, 1840, again by the Rev. Bertner (same as Samuel.). Anna is a second cousin to my Katherine Stotler  her father being John Peter Stotler. Anna & George had 3 boys: Ezra, born 1841; Isaac, born 1843; and David, born 1846 in Washington Co. Several different sources in Maryland say that after the mother died the father moved west. “Little else is known of him. He was a farmer and a wagon maker, he was Irish-German on his father’s side.” When he moved west he left the children behind. The 1850 census shows David Kretsinger living with Jacob Stotler, Jacob Kretsinger living with David Stotler, and Ezra with another relative. One of the children listed in George’s obituary was a Mrs. Lizzie Evans. I have a typed copy of a letter giving to me by the same source in Washington Co. written August 21, 1872 in Peoria, Franklin Co., KS to “Dear Brother”. In it she comments on her many mistakes and says “if you come out here I would read it to you. That is if you ever come but I don’t expect you will come to Kansas but I hope you will come some time.” It is signed “from your affectionate sister Lizzie Kretsinger” and addressed to Ezra Kretsinger. She also mentions that she wants him to be sure to send a picture of him, Sue, & Mary as soon as he can and she will send him ones of her parents and of her. Sue is Ezra’s wife and Mary is their oldest child, their other two were born after the letter was written. It would appear that this George had two wives and a family by each, but there is no mention of any other children in his obituary but those by Permelia.

8.   Lewis. Lewis was born April 1, 1822 in Hardy Co., (W)VA. According to his biography He was orphaned at 5 and raised by another family. As stated earlier he went to work for his brother-in-law in Washington Co., MD. He went west in 1844 to Ogle Co., where he spent the rest of his life. He became a road commissioner, school trustee and director of an insurance company. He was also class leader and trustee, of the U.B. Church. He married Carolyn Ziegler of Washington Co., MD on June 4, 1846 in Ogle Co. They had ten children, eight of whom survived to maturity. Lewis’ biography (Portrait & Biographical History of Ogle Co. Ill. 1886 by Chapman) also states that his father was George Kretsinger, who was born in Germany but emigrated to this country while a young man. “His wife, previous to marriage, was Miss Dorothea Hackelbarger, a native of Virginia and of the same county in which her son was born.” (When they were gathering all of these biographies for the books, there were mistakes made. At least it gives info to work on.)

9.   Lydia. Lydia was born September 1812 in Virginia and died in Ogle Co., IL, 25 Sept 1868. She married Philip Hammond in Shenandoah Co., VA on March 9, 1843. The bondsman was Abraham Smootz and (brother?) John Kretsinger married Rebecca Smootz. Philip and Lydia went to Ogle Co. between 1850 and 1860. I have no proof that she is a sister but somehow I feel that she is.

10.   Mahala. I have no proof that Mahala was a sister but she was born in Virginia ca 1821 and she married Philip Wiseman January 11, 1843 in Shenandoah Co.  As stated before, the area that the Kretsingers lived is just a few miles from the county line with Shenandoah. George Wiseman was Mary’s bondsman. I do not know what happened to them after the 1850 census.

11.   Rachel. b. 1823, Hardy Co., WV. A Rachel Cretzinger married Addison Orndoff on Nov. 26, 1846 in Shenandoah Co. There were many Orndorff in the Kretsinger area. There were Orndorffs in the party that went to Kansas with Samuel. I do not know what happened to them after 1850 either.

12.   Rebecca Jane. Rebecca was born in Virginia on Nov. 20, 1824. Rebecca Kritsinger married John Henry Hottle (Hottel) 13 January 1845, the marriage bond was taken out in Shenandoah Co. and Isaac Hottel was bondsman. The “History of the Descendants of John Hottel” by Rev. William David Huddle published in 1930 spells her name Kretzinger. They left Shenandoah County after the 1850 census for an area near Winchester, VA. He was a farmer and they were members of the German Reformed Church. They had nine children. Rebecca died March 16, 1913 and her husband four years later. They were buried in Salem, WV. As a side note, their eldest dauaghter, Mary Frances, married John Dick. There was a Ludwick Kretsinger who married a Rachel Dick in Washsington Co., MD in an earlier generation.

None of the four above have been claimed by descendants off John Kretsinger Sr. and there doesn’t appear to be any other Kretsinger for them to belong to. John Sr. left the Shenandoah Valley for Ohio and it would seem that he would have taken them with him. John Sr.’s daughter, Elizabeth, married Joseph Wilkins on Aug. 20, 1820 in Hardy Co., (W)Va. Her husband bought at George’s estate sale. Since John’s daughter, Elizabeth, was old enough to get married in 1820, this John must have been older than our George.

The Ludwig Kretzinger mentioned earlier, born ca 1745 and died shortly before 1819 in Washington Co., MD married Rachel Dick. Their children were:          Elizabeth, born 4 Nov 1791 and died 7 Feb 1868. She married William Cost the 12th of April 1823. Ludwig also had: George; John; Mary, 1793-1865, died in Adeline, IL. and married Harry Rinehart (1792-1872); Catherine, 1794-1871, buried in Sharpsburg & married Samuel Sprecker; Ludwig, 1800—1854; Charlotte; Nancy, d. 1877, married John Miller. This is the family that Elizabeth Jones had our George in. He has to be older than these children, but perhaps this Ludwig had George & John by an earlier wife. This needs to be pursued.

Jump to points in this document:

George and Dolly die in house fire

John

Mary

Elizabeth

Lydia

Samuel

Isaac

Delila

George

Mahala

Lewis

Rachel

Rebecca Jane