From Tailor to Farmer

David Foltz (1800-1892)

Christina Hoffman (1802-1886) 

paternal 3rd great-grandparents 

 

David Foltz's chosen profession was that of a tailor. He   He continued in that trade after the family moved from Rockingham County, Virginia to Clark County, Ohio in 1832. But before 1848 he purchased a farm in Mad River Township, Champaign County, Ohio. David relocated his family, gave up his work as a tailor, and became a full-time farmer. Sons Nathaniel and Henry, along with their families, lived on and managed the farm with their parents.

 

The following are excerpts from a letter written by Jesse Foltz on August 26, 1931, to his niece, [Dorothy] Alice Foltz Patterson, daughter of his brother, Emmet:

"David [Foltz] moved from Shenandoah, Virginia to Clark County, Ohio in 1832, in a wagon with one mule and one horse.  He entered a 160 acre claim three miles SE of Lawrenceville.  He stayed there until he proved his claim or patent as it was called. It took five years then.  In 1838, he sold his claim for $800 and moved three miles northwest of Tremont City, or half-mile mile west of Chickenfoot Hill, and bought 160 acres for $1,000.  In 1884, he sold that for $1,350 and moved two miles northwest up Chapman Creek in Champaign County, or to what is now the little berg of Thackery, where he remained for the rest of his days.   

David continued his work as a tailor while he helped clear the 160 acres that is now owned by E.H. & C.A. Foltz. Homer Jenkins father and Uncle Henry [Foltz] stayed with Grandfather [David Foltz] and cleared the home farm.

To David and Christine Hoffman were born eight children. The first died in infancy, their next Aunt Martha, then Aunt Sarah, then father [Nathaniel], then Phillip who died at age three or four, then Uncle Henry, then the twins ‒ one died at birth the other a few days later and were never named."

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 – SOURCES –

• The History of Champaign County, Ohio: Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Champaign County; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters .... Chicago: W.H. Beers & Company, 1881, p. 712. 

• Excerpts from a letter written by Jesse Foltz on August 26, 1931, to his niece, [Dorothy] Alice Foltz Patterson, daughter of his brother, Emmet. Original file from www.rootsweb.com [HI24454] posted by Larry Hurley August 1, 2004. lhurley918@earthlink.net.

 

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Howell-Richards Family History – June 2021 (updated March 2026)

 

 

 

A Grave-Marking Ceremony

John Branner (1752-1837) 

Catherine Harpine (1753-1817)

paternal 5th great-grandparents 

 

The following is from the Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter, Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution, Fredericksburg, VA website. [Posted on Ancestry.com by Sue Nease 21 Oct 2011.]

 

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GRAVE MARKING CEREMONY FOR JOHN BRANNER  

SEPTEMBER 9, 2006, FORESTVILLE, VIRGINIA

 

Biography of John Branner,

Private Dunmore County Militia, 8th Virginia Regiment of Foot

John Branner was born August 12, 1752 in Indianfield, PA. He was the son of Gasper [Casper] Branner and his wife Catherine Zirkle Branner. A short while later the family moved to an area known as "the Forest", now Forestville, VA. John and his father Gasper were farmers and they worked 400 acres received as a land grant in 1760 from Thomas the 6th Lord Fairfax.

John married Catherine Harpine July 26, 1773. Together they had 8 children, the first child Phillip being born in 1775 and the last child Johannes being born in 1791. In the early years, the Branner family attended Roeders Lutheran Church a few miles south at Timberville. The first and second pages of the Baptism Records of this church lists the baptisms of their children and show John's parents, his siblings and his mother-in-law as sponsors. 

In 1775, the Committee of Safety for Dunmore County established a militia for the general defense. The List of Men's Names of the Dunmore County Militia under the Command of Captain Jacob Holman dated May 29th, 1775 lists John Branner and his father Gasper.

In early January 1776, the militia was called out to join the 8th Virginia Regiment of Foot under the command of the fighting Parson, Colonel John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg. The Regiment promptly left for coastal South Carolina to meet British advances there. The unit was stationed near Fort Moultrie and saw action there against Generals Clinton and Cornwallis.

The swampy climate took its toll on the men of the regiment and fully one-half of them became seriously ill. Many of these men were brought back to Woodstock to be tended to by local people. A short while later, the rest of the regiment was marched north to join General Washington's Army in Pennsylvania. The unit saw action at Brandywine, Georgetown and Monmouth.

A most notable occurrence involving the 8th Virginia happened at the Battle of Brandywine. The Continental Army outnumbered, was driven back in a frontal assault. Their right flank was about to crumble. The 8th Virginia was on the right flank and faced with superior numbers and fire power began to fall back.

The General Marquis de Lafayette, in his first action after being commissioned a General arrived on the scene, dismounted and led the 8th Virginia in a countercharge that stemmed the advance. Lafayette was shot in the leg, but refused to leave the field earning the gratitude and admiration of the men. This brave action gave the Continental Army time to execute an orderly withdrawal. It is unknown whether John Branner was in the Pennsylvania Campaign or was taken ill and returned home. It is our preference to honor him for the former as well as the latter.

In 1781, the Continental Congress authorized the Commissar to purchase supplies from the surrounding countryside to furnish to the Continental Army. A certificate was issued to John Branner on October 28th, 1781 for receipt of one beef weighing 385 pounds and is recorded in the Shenandoah County Public Claims. 

As Forestville grew, a new church was built just outside of town known as Solomon's Lutheran Church. The original subscription list for the church in 1793 shows John's mother Catherina as a widow and also records John's contribution of 18 shillings.

John inherited his father’s lands and lived there until his death on April 30th, 1837, at the age of 85. His wife had preceded him in death by 20 years. He and his wife both rest at Solomon's Lutheran Cemetery in Forestville. 

Left: John Branner’s headstone at Solomon’s

        Lutheran Cemetery. Note the Sons of  

        the American Revolution marker at the 

        lower right. (Image: Find A Grave) 

 

 

Inscription:

 

ERECTED 

to the 

memory of 

JOHN BRANNER

 who departed this 

life April 20 1837 

Aged 81 years 8 mon 

8 days

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  Howell-Richards Family History — June 2021 (updated March 2026)