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REVEREND JOHN GEORG BAGER
If you are descended from Jacob Oberlander or Christian Tome, you are also descended from Rev. Bager (later Baugher). John George Bager was born December 30, 1680 in Wiesbaden, Germany, the son of John Jacob Bager, Catholic, and Anna Elizabeth Jess, Evangelical (Lutheran), who were bakers by trade. At age seventy, Rev. Bager's father was converted to the Lutheran faith. In his father's home, Rev. Bager learned reading, writing, catechism, arithmetic, music 'and Latin. At age fourteen he went to Gymnasium (German high school), where he studied grammar, logic, rhetoric, Greek, religion and mathematics.
In 1702 John George Bager matriculated at Jena. For over two years he studied Hebrew and Theology, then registered with the University of Strasburg. Upon graduation he became a tutor to the Lutheran pastor in Freimershein; then to an official Stutz and Pastor Johann Helferich Lotz (1642) in Flonheim. Pastor Lotz was the son of Pastor Burkhard Lotz, born in Marburg on June 13, 1613 and his wife, Katharina Weinreich. Pastor Lotz was the son of Heinrich Lotz (1570), a cabinetmaker and miller in Marburg, Germany, who in 1608 was put in charge of the clock and water department.
On December 4, 1708 Rev" Bager married Amalie Dorothea Elisabeth Lotz, born July 25, 1689 in Flonheim, the eldest daughter of Pastor Lotz and his second wife, Maria Katharina Rocker. Maria was the daughter of a fellow pastor, Phillip Hartmann Rocker. That same year Bager became deacon of Flonheim and pastor of churches at Barnheim and Uffhofen and in 1712 he was called to pastor the church at Niederlinxweiler. Bager was described as being "quick and orderly" about the service. He "preached for one hour, sometimes a little longer, but no complaints." Every Sunday afternoon he held instruction in Bible verses and the catachism. Here he completed fifty years of preaching, retired in 1761 and died January 8, 1765 at age 84.
Reverend Bager and Amalie had twelve children-- seven sons and five daughters. Two sons died at birth, one died in infancy and the fourth died at age 24. Ludwig Philip Bager left home at an early age and his fate is unknown. Another son, Christian Friedrick, became a schoolmaster in the school in Niederlinxweiler which was started by his father. On April 4, 1735, Amalie died at age 46 and her mother came to take care of the children, the youngest just four years of age. Maria Katharina Rocker Lotz died February 7, 1746.
All known male descendants are from the tenth child and sixth son, Johann Georg Bager II, born March 29, 1725 at Niederlinxweiler, who arrived at Philadelphia on the ship Rawley on October 23, 1752. Johann George Baugher studied theology at Halle, married about 1 748 in Giessen Anna Elizabeth Schwab (Swope), and in March, 1753 began his ministry in Pennsylvania. In 1763 he accepted a call to pastor in New York City, but after a short time returned to York County because "New York was not, suitable for his large family or his health."
Reverend John George Baugher II and Elizabeth Schwab (1728ยท1790) had twelve children: Two children, William, born April 15,1750 and Charles (1751-1752 in Holland) were born in Simmern, Germany while Rev. Baugher was a pastor there; Cathrana, born in January 1753 at Quitopahilla, PA married Martin Shup; Christian Friedrich (1754-1851) married Anna Mattore; Daniel (1756-1838) married Anna Moyer; Anna Maria (1757) married Martin Carl; John Jacob (1759-1838); John Nicholas (1760-1848) married Elinor Nickey; George Samuel (ca 1762-1822) married Catherine Bossert; George David (ca 1765) married Catherine Merschall; John (ca 1767-1795); and Anna Elisabeth (1768-1850).
Reverend Bager II died June 9, 1791 and their stone in the Carlisle Street cemetery of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Hanover bears this inscription:
"'They were lovely in their lives,
and in death they were not parted. "
Their oldest son, John George William Baugher (April 15, 1750-May 17,1798) married Catherine (ca 1750-after 1798) and they were the parents of eight children: Catherine Hahn, Elizabeth Riegel, Barbara Donstein, Susannah (ca 1776-1814) married Jacob Oberlander (see page 165 of our anniversary book). Mary, William, Christina (1786) married Christian Tome (see page 183), and Hannah Slyder.
Christian Friedrich Baugher was the father of Rev. Dr. Henry Louis Baugher (1804-1868) who became president of Gettysburg College in 1832 and spoke the benediction after President Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address. The patent for the homestead of 179 acres near Abbottstown was granted to Samuel Baugher in 1801.
Sources: Madaline Baugher of Oklahoma, Barbara Russell of California and Dr. Charles Gladfelter's book, Pastors and People".
In a letter from June Grove received March 23 2009.
This bio is from the Chanceford Clarion
volume 6 number 3 June 4, 1999
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