Sunday's Obituary - John W. Rodenberg, John W. Rodenberger

A Sudden Death

Yesterday John Rodenberg, who lives at No. 930 north F street, and who has for a long time been an invalid, had two attacks of vertigo, one of them was so severe that he fell with it. Last evening he repaired to his room. About 2 o'clock his granddaughter, Cora Baker, on going up stairs to retire, looked into his room and saw that his chin was resting on the bed and his feet and body on the floor. She approached him and found that he was dead. A newspaper was lying on the chair and he had his spectacles on, showing that he had been reading. He probably arose from his chair and started to the bed and fell before reaching it. Coroner Zimmerman was summoned and found that he had died from a stroke of apoplexy. He would have been seventy-three years old if he had lived till next New Year's day. His wife, who was in Chicago on a visit at the time, has been telegraphed for, and also other relatives who live at a distance. The time for the funeral will be arranged as soon as they arrive
[Evening Item. Fri. Nov. 1, 1889, p1 c3]

The funeral of John W. Rodenberg Monday was largely attended.
[Richmond Sunday Register. Sun. Morning, Nov. 10, 1889, p8 c2]

Both newspapers are from Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana.  Copies received from Morrison-Reeves Public Library, Richmond, Indiana.

John W. Rodenberger, son of Johannes [John] and Elizabeth Rodenberger, was born January 1, 1818 in Ohio, possibly Montgomery Co.  His first wife was Anna Maria Plankenhorn. They had at least four children.  She died in 1847.  John married Maria Long on April 23, 1848.  They had seven children.  John and his second wife are buried at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana. 

John and his brother George shortened their name from Rodenberger to Rodenberg.

Elizabeth Rodenberger - Found at Last!

On my trip yesterday to the DAR Library in Washington, DC, I discovered the burial location for my 5th great-grandmother!  From the Cemeteries of Union County, Indiana book, Elizabeth Rodenberger, wife of John Rodenberger, died on September 30, 1842 at the age of 51 years, 11 months, 30 days.  She is buried in  Philomath Cemetery in Brownsville Twp, Union Co., Indiana.

Elizabeth's calculated birthdate would be October 1, 1790.  Her first child, Samuel Rodenberger, my 4th great-grandfather, was born to her at age 18 (thanks, Ray for the calculations). 

Elizabeth and John (Johannes) had at least 10 children:  Samuel, Leah, Rachel, Elizabeth, John W, George, Jacob, Paul, Peter, and Sarah.  Samuel, Leah, and Rachel were born and baptized in Upper Milford Twp, Northampton Co, Pennsylvania.  After Elizabeth's Pennsylvania birth, the family arrived in Ohio before 1818.  John Rodeberger was enumerated in the 1820 Federal Census of Montgomery Co, Ohio. In 1832, John purchased land in Wayne Co, Indiana, an adjoining county to Union Co.

Elizabeth is still a mystery since I don't know her maiden name or who her parents were.

A side note on the value of cemetery surveys.  The book mentioned above that contained this vital information was compiled in 1934 [Lacks title page, title information from 4th leaf - from the DAR Library catalog].  Based on the photo of the cemetery on the Find A Grave website, I'm fairly certain that these gravestones would be unreadable today.

This cemetery is located off of C. Rodenburg Rd. on the south end of Philomath. The condition is severely neglected. At one time, there used to be a church close by the cemetery but all that is left is the foundation.

Added by: R James
5/28/2011

This cemetery is located off of C. Rodenburg Rd. on the south end of Philomath. The condition is severely neglected. At one time, there used to be a church close by the cemetery but all that is left is the foundation.

FGS - John L Spring and his two wives

Family Group Sheet for John L. Spring and Margaret Williams

Husband – John L. Spring

                                Born:                     12 February 1794 in Massachusetts

                                Spouse:                 Margaret Williams

                                Married 1:            27 August 1818 in Harrison Co, Ohio

                                Spouse 2:            Martha L. Moreland

                                Married:               7 September 1830 in Miami, Ohio

                                Died:                     Before 3  January 1872

                                Buried:                 Old Hill Cemetery, Brazil, Clay Co, Indiana

                                Parents:

Wife 1 – Margaret Williams

                                Born:                     11 March 1792 in Virginia

                                Died:                     19 January 1830 in Ohio

                                Buried:                 Terre Haute Cemetery, Terre Haute, Champaign Co, OH

                                Parents:

Child 1 – John Finley Spring

         M                   Born:                     3 February 1821

                                Spouse:

                                Married:

                                Died:

                                Buried:

Child 2 – Mary Ann Spring

        F                      Born:                     30 August 1824 in Ohio

                                Spouse 1:            John W. Getty

                                Married:               15 April 1850 in Owen Co, Indiana

                                Spouse 2:            ---- Jenkins

                                Married:

                                Died:

                                Buried:

Child 3 – Sarah Williams Spring

         F                     Born:                     1 December 1826 in Piqua, Ohio

                                Spouse:                 Paul Rodenberger

Married:              10 July 1854 in Owen Co, Indiana

Died:                     28 June 1915 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Child 4 – William Waitt Spring

        M                    Born:                     16 May 1828 in Ohio

                                Spouse:                 Amy Coffelt

                                Married:               26 October 1854 in Owen Co, Indiana

                                Died:                     14 May 1916 in Ames, Story Co, Iowa

                                Buried:                 Ames Cemetery, Ames, Story Co, Iowa

               

Wife 2 – Martha L. Moreland

                                Born:                     21 February 1803 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

                                Died:                     12 August 1841 in Putnam Co, Indiana

                                Buried:                 City Cemetery, Greencastle, Putnam Co, Indiana

                                Parent:

Child 1 – Rachel Byers Spring

         F                     Born:                     25 March 1832 in Ohio

                                Spouse:                 William B. Holt

                                Married:               7 September 1851 in Owen Co, Indiana

                                Died:

                                Buried:

Child 2 – Martha Lowry Spring

        F                      Born:                     27 August 1835

                                Died:                     22 August 1836

                                Buried:

Child 3 – Elizabeth Lowry Spring

         F                     Born:                     28 April 1837 in Ohio

                                Spouse:                 John Harland Rodenberger

                                Married:               27 April 1854 in Owen Co, Indiana

                                Died:                     8 September 1895 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Child 4 – David R. Spring

        M                    Born:                     About 1838 in Putnam Co, Indiana

                                Died:                     24 January 1840 in Greencastle, Putnam Co, Indiana

                                Buried:                 City Cemetery, Greencastle, Putnam Co, Indiana

Child 5 – Alexander Bayley Spring

        M                    Born:                     10 August 1841 in Greencastle, Putnam Co, Indiana

                                Died:                     16 August 1841

                                Buried:

Child 6 – David Baber Spring

        M                    Born:                     10 August 1841 in Greencastle, Putnam Co, Indiana

                                Died:                     August 1841

                                Buried:

Child ? – Margaret Humphrey Spring

       F                       Born:                     Before August 1841 in Putnamville

                                Died:

                                Buried:

Tombstone Tuesday - John L. Spring

I don't have a photograph of John L. Spring's grave marker.  At the  Clay Co., Indiana Genealogy Society, in Center Point, Indiana, there is a Civil War History Binder that listed the Burial Places of Soldiers, surveyed May 1907.  One item was Hill Cemetery – John L Spring [Brazil].

From family records, John L. Spring was born 12 February 1794.  From various census records, John was born in Massachusetts.

1794 - February 12 -  Massachusetts - Birth of John L. Spring
1818 - August 27 -     Ohio, Harrison Co. -  Marriage to Margaret Williams of Virginia

John Spring to Margaret Williams
27 August 1818 in Harrison Co, Ohio
[Source:  Ray Beamer]

1830 - January 18 -    Ohio, Champaign Co - Death of Wife, Margaret Williams Spring
1830 -                         Ohio, Champaign Co, Mad River Twp. - Federal Census
1830 - Sept. 7  -         Ohio, Miami Co. - Marriage to Martha L. Moreland
1835 - Sept. 8 -          Ohio, Zanesville Land Patent Office to John Spring of Harrison Co, Ohio

John Spring of Harrison Co, Ohio
Dated 8 Sept 1835 under President Andrew Jackson
[Source:  Bureau of Land Management]

1838 - June 27            Indiana, Putnam Co, Madison Twp - Land Grant


John Spring
Madison Twp, Putnam Co, Indiana Patent Grants

1840 -                        Indiana, Putnam Co, Greencastle - Federal Census
1840 - Nov. 10 -        Indiana, Crawfordsville Land Patent Office to John Spring of Champaign Co, Ohio

John Spring of Champaign Co, Ohio
Dated Nov. 10, 1940 under President Martin Van Buren
[Source:  Bureau of Land Management]

1841 - August 12 -     Indiana, Putnam Co. - Death of Wife, Martha L. Moreland Spring
1848 - Feb. 29 -         Indiana, Owen Co. - Purchased Land, John Spring of Putnam Co., Indiana

29 Feb 1848 Land Purchase in Owen Co, Indiana
[Owen Co., Indiana Court House Deed Book 9, Page 665]

1850 - October -         Indiana, Owen Co, Jackson Twp. - Federal Census
1860 - July -                Indiana, Owen Co., Jackson Twp. - Federal Census
1860 - August 14 -      Indiana, Owen Co. - Sold land

1860 Land Sale in Owen Co, Indiana
[Owen Co.Court House, Spencer, Indiana ]

1866 - June 4 -           Indiana, Clay Co, Brazil - Last Will and Testament written
1870 -                           Indiana, Clay Co, Brazil - Federal Census, living with daughter
                                      Indiana, Clay Co, Brazil - Burial at Old Hill Cemetery
1872 - January 2 -      Indiana, Vigo Co. - Last Will and Testament entered into Probate
                               

Amanuensis Monday - Will of John L Spring

John L Spring is one of my brick walls.  He was the father of my 3rd-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Lowry (Spring) Rodenberger, with his second wife Martha L. Moreland.  From handwritten notes placed in a Dawson family bible, we have a birth date of 12 February 1794.  From various censuses, we believe his birth location to be Massachusetts.  The earliest we have place him is 27 August 1818 in Harrison Co, Ohio where John L Spring married his first wife, Margaret Williams, of Virginia.  His Last Will & Testament, dated 4 June 1866, was entered into Probate at the Vigo Co, Indiana Court House on 3 January 1872.

Last Will & Testament of John L. Spring of Brazil, Clay, Indiana

[Source:  FHL#1377996, Item 3 – Will Record, v.1, Mar 1853-Mar 1874, Vigo Co, Indiana; page 484-485]

Last Will and Testament of John L. Spring

Last Will and Testament of John L Spring

Know all men by These Presents that I John L Spring of Brazil County of Clay and State of Indiana, bring a sound mind and memory, do make and Publish this my last Will and Testament.

                First,        I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary A Getty         Four hundred dollars

Second.                  I give and bequeath to my son, John.  John F Springs, heirs Olivia Spring and Ellen   Spring.   One hundred dollars each.

Third.    I give and bequeath to my daughter Racheall B Holt’s heirs Albert Holt and Ellen Holt.     One hundred dollars each.

Fourth. I give and bequeath to my son William W Spring               Four hundred dollars

Fifth.     I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah W Rodenburgers heirs             Four hundred dollars to be equally divided among them.

Sixth:     To My daughter Elizabeth L Rodenburgers  heirs, I give and bequeath Four hundred dollars, each to have an equal proportion of same.

                Now it is herein understood by these presents, that at my death, that the Executor of this my last Will and Testament herein after named, cause[?] to be paid to my son William W Spring the Amount I bequeath to him, and also my daughter Mary A Gettys Amount I bequeath to her.  On my death should they or either be living at that time, but in care of their deaths, or either of them, said Amount I bequeath to them, to be equally divided with their heirs at Law.  And it is to be further understood, that no money is to be paid heirs until they arrive at the age of Twenty one years.

                I further ordain and appoint Eli Hendrix of Brazil Ind as Executor of this my last Will and Testament, and it is further understood, that if my moneys should fall short of Amounts as above mentioned then it is to be divided in proportion to Amounts of money and effects.  But in case of an increase of moneys and effects, it is to be equally divided between Sarah W Rodenbergers heirs and William W Springs heirs, and Elizabeth L Rodenbergers heirs.

                In Testimony Thereof, I have on this day, Set my hand and Soul, publish and declare this to be my Last Will & Testament in the presence of the witnesses named below this 4^th day of June 1866.

                                                                                                                John L Spring  {SEAL}

This is signed in our presence and declared to be by John L Spring, his last Will & Testament and by his request and in presence of each other, we subscribe our names as witnesses

                John Hendrix Jr  {Seal}

                Thomas Desort  {Seal}

                Eli Hendrix  {Seal}

Proof of Will

State of Indiana}

Vigo County}

                Thomas Desart personally appeared before the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county, and being sworn says that John L Spring signed his name to the above writing of date 4^th day of June 1866, as and for his last will and that the same was attested and subscribed by said Thomas Desart, John Hendrix Jr and Eli Hendrix as witnesses thereto, in his presence, and by his request, that said Testator was not at the time of executing said will an infant, or of unsound mind, or under coercion.

                                                                                                                Thomas Desart

Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 3^rd day of January 1872               

                                                                                                                Martin Hollinger Clerk

Attest the signature of said Clerk, and his Seal of Office, the date last aforesaid.                               

                                                                                                                Martin Hollinger, Clerk {Seal}

State of Ind. V.C.

Certificate of Probate

I, Martin Hollinger Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Said County, certify that the within last Will and Testament of John L Spring, late of Vigo County, deceased, has been duly admitted to Probate; that its due execution was this day proved by Thomas Desart, whose proofs, together with such Will have been duly recorded on 484^th page of the Record of Wills Vo. 1, in our office.

                In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court, this 3^rd day January 1872.

                                                                                                                Martin Hollinger Clerk {Seal}

FGS - Paul and Sarah Wiliams (Spring) Rodenberger

Family Group Sheet for Paul Rodenberger and Sarah Williams Spring

Husband – Paul Rodenberger

                                Born:                     16 February 1826 in Ohio

                                Married:              10 July 1854 in Owen Co, Indiana

                                Died:                     15 January 1911 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Parents:                Johannes “John” Rodenberger and Elisabeth _________

Wife – Sarah Williams Spring

                                Born:                     1 December 1826 in Piqua, Ohio

                                Died:                     28 June 1915 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Parents:                John L Spring and Margaret Williams

Child 1 – John Edgar Rodenberger

         M                   Born:                     17 July 1855 in Indiana

                                Spouse:                Sarah J “Sadie” Davis

                                Married:              About 1891

                                Divorced:             Before October 1900

                                Died:                    1942

                                Buried:                 Rebekah IOOF Home Cemetery, Riley Co, Kansas

Child 2 – Margaret Myra Rodenberger

          F                     Born:                     About 1858 in Indiana

                                Died:                     24 October 1860 in Brazil, Clay Co, Indiana

                                Buried:

Child 3 – Carrie Jeannette Rodenberger

          F                     Born:                     6 January 1859 in Indiana

                                Spouse:                Napoleon Bonaparte Parkinson

                                Married:              11 March 1884 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Died:                     18 September 1921 in South Bend, St Joseph Co, IN

                                Buried:                 Riverview Cemetery, South Bend, St Joseph Co, Indiana

Child 4 – Paul Weller Rodenberger

         M                   Born:                     7 August 1860 in Brazil, Clay Co, Indiana

                                Spouse:

                                Married:              Pre-1910

                                Died:                     4 June 1920 in Allentown, Lehigh Co, Pennsylvania

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Child 5 – Cassius L Rodenberger

         M                   Born:                     12 March 1862 in Indiana

                                Died:                     19 November 1881 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Child 6 – Martha A Rodenberger

         F                     Born:                     28 October 1864 in Indiana

                                Died:                     15 December 1881 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Child 7 – Benjamin S Rodenberger

         M                   Born:                     29 October 1866 in Indiana

                                Spouse 1:            Sarah J “Sadie” Davis

                                Married:              6 October 1900 in Columbus, Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Divorced:

                                Spouse 2:            Lenora _________________

                                Married:

                                Divorced:

                                Died:    

                                Buried:

Child 8 – Mary E Rodenberger

          F                     Born:                     14 June 1868 in Indiana

                                Died:                     23 December 1881 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

1856 Iowa State Census - Boone Twp, Boone Co.

Samuel and Susannah (Dice) Rodenberger had seven children with six alive in 1850:  Peter, John, Samuel, Mary Elizabeth, Moses, and Levi.  Son William died in 1850.  The father, Samuel, died on 7 October 1845 in Owen Co, Indiana.  Susannah remarried to Joel Anderson on 3 February 1848.  Susannah and Joel had at least one child:  James A Anderson was born about 1850 and died 6 August 1852.



Dec 1855
[Clay Co, Indiana Courthouse Deed Book M]



In December 1855, a deed of sale was written but not entered into the record until December 1856.  This deed sold 200 acres of Owen Co, Indiana lands of Peter Rodenberger and his wife Barbary, John Rodenberger and his wife Elizabeth (Spring) Rodenberger, and Joel Anderson and his wife Susan to Henry Sonnefield for $1,650.00.  Henry Sonnefield is the husband of Mary Elizabeth Rodenberger, the sister of Peter and John, and daughter of Susan Anderson.  An interesting aside is that John Spring, father of Elizabeth Rodenberger, had to approve the sale as guardian and father.  At this time, Elizabeth has been married for over a year and has her first child, Iona, born in November 1855.





Dec 1856
[Clay Co, Indiana Courthouse Deed Book M]



Peter and John sold their family land to their brother-in-law.  They took their families and their 3 younger brothers and moved to Boone Twp, Boone Co, Iowa.  They were enumerated in the 1856 Iowa State Census.

Samuel, age 23, Francis, age 19, and Hortense, age 2, Rodenberger.

John, age 24, Elizabeth, age 19, Sylvana, age 1, and Levi, age 15, Rodenberger

Peter, age 26, Barbary, age 27, Ira, age 7, Lorena, age 5, Ellen, age 4, Susan, 1, Rodenberger, Moses Rodenberger, age 16.

All are listed as living in Iowa for 1 year.  Samuel, John, and Peter are listed as Carpenters.

In addition, the census has John listed as an “Owner of land” with Agricultural Statistics: 33 acres of improved land, 127 acres of unimproved land, 10 tons of hay, 5 acres of spring Wheat - 18 bushels harvested, 2 acres of oats – 75 bushels harvested, 13 acres of corn – 600 bushels harvested, 1 acre of potatoes – 40 bushels harvested, 5 hogs sold - $75 value for hogs sold, 1 cattle sold - $27 value, 40 pounds of butter manufactured, and 80 pounds of cheese. Samuel might have owned 100 acres of unimproved land and had 3 tons of hay.  Peter owned 80 acres of unimproved land and harvested 3 tons of hay.

While living in Iowa, John and Elizabeth had their second child: Charles Clifford Rodenberger was born 18 November 1857.  Peter and Barbara[y] had four more children born in Iowa:  Adelia Elizabeth, Flora Ziphora, Alfred Richard, and Mernerva Jane.

By the 1860 federal census, the family had changed dramatically.  Paul Rodenberger died on 9 February 1860.  His wife Barbary (Anderson) Rodenberger died 20 October 1860, several weeks after Mernerva Jane was born.  Their children are living with many different families in Iowa.  John and Elizabeth (Spring) Rodenberger were living in Bourbon Co, Kansas Territory with their two children.  Samuel and Francis were living with his twice-widowed mother, Susannah (Dice) Rodenberger Anderson in Brazil, Clay Co, Indiana with their son Eugene L, age 1, who was born in Kansas Territory. When and where did Hortense die?  Joel Anderson, Susannah's second husband, died 3 September 1859 in Bourbon Co, Kansas Territory.  Living next door to Samuel, Francis, Eugene and Susannah was Mary Elizabeth (Rodenberger) and Henry Sonnefield with their daughter Laura.

I haven't found Moses or Levi Rodenberger in the 1860 federal census.  Moses' obituary in 1934 stated that he "left Brazil, Indiana in 1859 and drove a six-yoke team of oxen transporting settlers to the far west."  Did Levi go with him?  In October 1861, Levi enlisted in the Union army as a Private in Co. G, 2nd Indiana Cavalry.