Henry Stauffer
Encyclopedia
Henry Stauffer was born in Ibersheim
Worms-Ibersheim
Ibersheim, Ibersheim, Ibersheim, (pronunciation is the district of Worms (Rhineland-Palatinate) that is furthest from the city centre and the smallest in terms of population....

, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 on 1724 and died November 27, 1777. He immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 on September 9, 1749, and settled in Bedminster
Bedminster Township, Pennsylvania
Bedminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,574 at the 2010 census. Bedminster is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:...

 on 23 acres (93,077.8 m²), purchased of William Allen
William Allen (loyalist)
William Allen was a wealthy merchant, Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania, and mayor of Philadelphia. At the time of the American Revolution, Allen was one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Philadelphia...

, June 12, 1762. The purchase of this land was recorded in the history of Bucks County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...

, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. Please see below this recording.

It is said three brothers came to America, that they were potters along the River Rhine and manufactured fine china and porcelain ware in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...

, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. In America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 they expected to find a superior quality of clay and came here to establish a china plant, but as the clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...

 did not turn out as was expected they turned their attention to milling
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...

 and farming. One of the brothers is said to have gone South, but where the third brother went to is not known. As has already been stated, Henry Stauffer finally settled in Bedminster Township
Bedminster Township, Pennsylvania
Bedminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,574 at the 2010 census. Bedminster is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:...

, where he purchased his land from William Allen
William Allen (loyalist)
William Allen was a wealthy merchant, Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania, and mayor of Philadelphia. At the time of the American Revolution, Allen was one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Philadelphia...

, the deed bearing date of June 12, 1762, for 213 acre (0.86198118 km²) and 91 perches, for which Henry Stauffer paid the sum of œ400, 8 shillings and 8 pence "lawful money of Pennsylvania, with a rent yearly forever of one pepper corn, if the same shall be demanded." After the death of Henry Stauffer the homestead in Bedminster Township
Bedminster Township, Pennsylvania
Bedminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,574 at the 2010 census. Bedminster is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:...

 came into the possession of his son, Ulrich Stover, who was the second owner. "The deed of Henry Stover, Jacob Stover and Catharine his wife, and Ralph Stover
Ralph Stover
Ralph Stover was born on January 10, 1760 and died November 7, 1811 on a farm in Tohickon, Pennsylvania. His father, Henry Stauffer, immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 9, 1749, and settled in Bedminster on , purchased of William Allen, June 12, 1762. The purchase of this land...

 and Catharine his wife, all of Bedminster Township
Bedminster Township, Pennsylvania
Bedminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,574 at the 2010 census. Bedminster is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:...

, county of Bucks
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...

, state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

, yoeman of the one part, Ulrich Stover, sons of Henry Stover, of the same township, county and state yoeman of the other part, for 213 acre (0.86198118 km²) and 91 perches of land in Bedminster Township
Bedminster Township, Pennsylvania
Bedminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,574 at the 2010 census. Bedminster is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:...

 for 1150 pounds of lawful money of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 with a rent yearly forever of one pepper corn if the same shall be demanded," is dated April 28, 1786.

The History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania

THE HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, CHAPTER XXXV, BEDMINSTER, 1742

Henry Stauffer born in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, and married Barbara Hockman, landed at Philadelphia, September 9, 1749, and settled in Bedminster
Bedminster Township, Pennsylvania
Bedminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,574 at the 2010 census. Bedminster is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:...

 on 23 acres (93,077.8 m²), purchased of William Allen
William Allen (loyalist)
William Allen was a wealthy merchant, Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania, and mayor of Philadelphia. At the time of the American Revolution, Allen was one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Philadelphia...

, June 12, 1762. [Stover_Mill|Here] he lived and died, on the farm now, or recently owned by Joseph Sine. They had five children, Ulrich, Barbara, who died young, Henry, Jacob and Ralph.

Ulrich Stover (Stauffer) born July 16, 1750, eldest son of the immigrant, married Barbara Swartz and had seven children, Elizabeth, who died young, Mary married William Fretz, Henry, Abraham, Jacob, Andrew and Joseph. He died on the Tohickon, Haycock Township, November 2, 1811, where his grandson, John Stover, now or recently, lived.

Henry Stover, second son of the immigrant, born July 9, 1754, married Elizabeth Fretz, [Tinicum], had children, Abraham, Catharine, Barbara, and Elizabeth, and died in Springfield
Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Springfield Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,035 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 30.8 square miles , all of it land...

 near Bursonville.

Jacob, the third son, born May 13, 1757, and died April 28, 1844, married Elizabeth Swartz, and by her had one child, and nine children by a second wife. He drove his father's team, a mere lad, when pressed into the service during the Revolution, first with Sullivan's cavalry, and then with the main army, under George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...

, sometimes carrying his personal effects. He purchased the mill property on the Tohickon now known as "Myer's Roller Mill," December 27, 1784, and died there.
The most prominent members of the Stover family were Ralph, youngest son of Henry, the immigrant, and his eldest son, Abraham F. Stover. The former, born January 10, 1760, married Catharine, daughter of Abraham Funk, owned a farm on the Tohickon where the Easton road crosses that stream, and died there November 7, 1811. He was many years a Justice of the Peace, when a much more important office than now, and member of the Assembly, 1793-99, inclusive. While a member of Assembly, he had an act passed changing the name "Stauffer" to "Stover." His son Abraham F. Stover, born May 10, 1786, married Rachel Fretz, of [Warwick], and died 1854. He followed in his father's footsteps; was several years a [Justice of Peace] and [Surveyor], and three years a member of Assembly, [1817] - [1820]; removed to Farquier County, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

, 1833, purchased a 300 acres (1.2 km²) farm and died there. The late Ralph Stover
Ralph Stover
Ralph Stover was born on January 10, 1760 and died November 7, 1811 on a farm in Tohickon, Pennsylvania. His father, Henry Stauffer, immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 9, 1749, and settled in Bedminster on , purchased of William Allen, June 12, 1762. The purchase of this land...

, Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Point Pleasant is an unincorporated community in Tinicum and Plumstead Townships of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies on both sides of Tohickon Creek by the creek's confluence with the Delaware River; the creek is the dividing line between the townships...

, was one of his children. A Christian Stauffer settled in Bedminster
Bedminster Township, Pennsylvania
Bedminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,574 at the 2010 census. Bedminster is part of Pennridge School District.-Geography:...

 about the same period, and owned a farm on 181 acre (0.73248166 km²) there, but we do not know that he was a member of the same family.

The Stauffer/Stover family, according to tradition, had its origin in a generation of knights called Stauffacher, at Hohenstauen, in Suabia. The dynasty existed more than 130 years to 1268, when Conrad
Conradin
Conrad , called the Younger or the Boy, but usually known by the diminutive Conradin , was the Duke of Swabia , King of Jerusalem , and King of Sicily .-Early childhood:Conradin was born in Wolfstein, Bavaria, to Conrad...

, son and heir of Conrad IVth
Conrad IV of Germany
Conrad IV was king of Jerusalem , of Germany , and of Sicily .-Biography:...

, was taken in battle and beheaded. The family now separated, and their elegant seat has never been reclaimed, one branch finding a home in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

History of Henry Stauffer Homestead

The third owner was Henry Stover, son of Ulrich, but when he came into possession off and the amount he paid for it we have not been informed. Some time during either the lifetime of Ulrich or is son Henry portions of the homestead were divided or sold off, so that at the time the old homestead proper was sold there were but 87 acres (352,076.8 m²) and 42 perches remaining, which Henry Stover and his wife Barbara sold to their son, Reuben Stover, in 1855, for $4799.44. Reuben Stover was the fourth and last Stover owner of the old homestead. In 1860 Reuben Stover and wife sold the homestead of 87 acres (352,076.8 m²) and 22 perches to the present owner, Joseph Sine, for $5700. The house and barn were built by Henry Stover--the barn in 1808 and the house about the same time. The additions to the house and barn were built by Joseph Sine, the present owner.

The immediate neighbors of Henry Stauffer, whose lands joined his plantation, were John Fretz, Christian Stover, Jacob Overholt and Frederick Solliday. The old family Bible of Henry Stauffer is in the possession of Aaron Stover, of Richland Centre, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. It contains a record of his family and also of his son Ulrich's family. It also contains some poetic descriptions that probably were composed and written by Ulrich Stover, as this and Ulrich Stover's family records seem to be the same hand writing. It reads as follows:
"Allein auf Gott setz dein vertraun,
Auf Menschen Heulf sollst du nicht bauen,
Gott ist allein der Glauben haellt
Sunst ist Kein Glaub mehr in der welt."


The name as written in the Bible is "Stauffer," but was changed to Stover by his son, Ralph Stover
Ralph Stover
Ralph Stover was born on January 10, 1760 and died November 7, 1811 on a farm in Tohickon, Pennsylvania. His father, Henry Stauffer, immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 9, 1749, and settled in Bedminster on , purchased of William Allen, June 12, 1762. The purchase of this land...

, by an Act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania--presumably about the time that he (Ralph) was a member of that body. It is quite evident that Henry Stauffer and wife were members of the Mennonite church at Deep Run, where they are buried. Children: Ulrich, Barbara, Henry, Jacob, Ralph.

History of Ralph Stover State Park

Tohickon Creek was named by the Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...

 some of the first inhabitants of the area. "To-Hick-Hanne" means "Deer-Bone-Creek". Ralph Stover State Park
Ralph Stover State Park
Ralph Stover State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Plumstead and Tinicum Townships, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is a very popular destination for whitewater kayaking on Tohickon Creek and rock climbing on High Rocks...

 was the site of an 18th century gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...

 that was built on Tohickon Creek
Tohickon Creek
Tohickon Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River. Located entirely in Bucks County, in southeastern Pennsylvania, it rises in Springfield Township and has its confluence with the Delaware at Point Pleasant. It is dammed to form the popular Lake Nockamixon....

 by the park's namesake, Ralph Stover. Remnants of the mill and mill race
Mill race
A mill race, raceway or mill lade is the current or channel of a stream, especially one for conducting water to or from a water wheel or other device for utilizing its energy...

 can still be seen near Tohickon Creek
Tohickon Creek
Tohickon Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River. Located entirely in Bucks County, in southeastern Pennsylvania, it rises in Springfield Township and has its confluence with the Delaware at Point Pleasant. It is dammed to form the popular Lake Nockamixon....

, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

.

The Stover family gave their land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1931. The recreational facilities were built during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

 by the Federal Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...

 created by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...

 to provide work for the unemployed. Author James A. Michener
James A. Michener
James Albert Michener was an American author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which were sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating historical facts into the stories...

 donated the High Rocks area to the park in 1956. Although "High Rocks State Park" is listed in the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...

 Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...

 and the coordinates given in USGS GNIS are located here, it was never an official name according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources , established on July 1, 1995, is the agency in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania responsible for maintaining and preserving the state's 117 state parks and 20 state forests; providing information on the state's natural resources; and...

or a separate park.

External links

  • http://www.csm.uwe.ac.uk/~rstephen/livingeaston/local_history/Penn/Penn_family_Index.html - Penn Family History
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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