Chapter 9
The Zirckle Family
The Zirckle Family who came to America in the early 1720's, came from a country that had been war-torn for many years. For this was during the time of the 30 year war between France and Germany. In their day our family lived in the most fertile garden spot in the Deutschland (Germany). The place was the Rhine-Nekar River Valley. Of course, they spoke the Deutsche (German) language every day.
The Palatinates were prosperous farmers. Due to the mass, widespread, scorched-earth destruction of the French-German War of 1685-1699 many were killed, fields destroyed totally ruining the area. The population was cut from 500,000 to 50,000. William Penn, son of Admiral Penn, traveled up and down the Rhine Valley seeking for setters for Penn's colony in the New World. His mother was German, and he spoke their language. Soon after 1700 a stream of Palatinates started down the Rhine to Rotterdam to England and the Port of Philadelphia. Travel agents called New-Landers were paid to promote the movement. Thousands of little pamphlets were issued extolling the virtues of the new land across the sea. One of them was Daniel Falkner's little booklet describing how good life was around Philadelphia. Parson Anthony Jacob Henkel had served five congregations in the Palatinate until 1717 when he emigrated to Pennsylvania. His last parish was at Neckargemund (five mile from Heidelberg), where the Elsenz Creek joins the Nekar River. He lived at New Hanover, Pennsylvania, which is now in Montgomery County. The German settlements grew in Pennsylvania by leaps and bounds.
The refugee emigrants packed all their belongings in trunks including equipment that would be needed in the new land. They also packed a large supply of dried fruit and other food to last them down the Rhine, through the custom house delays, and the great sea voyage.
Life aboard ship was crude and often the sea so furious that men cursed the day they set sail and prayed to die and be spared the storms ahead. Food became foul, wormy and revolting. Diseases, scurvy, boils, lice and filth spread the misery and suffering. Often large numbers died and were buried at sea. To say the voyage across the sea was rigorous would be an understatement.
Later the public authorities would require a health inspection of immigrants and an oath of allegiance to the crown and the proprietor. Thereby began the practice of making a list of all persons on each ship to enforce the regulations. The ship lists began in 1727 for the Port of Philadelphia. The Zirckle's came before then.
Heinrich (Henry) Zirckle was our immigrant ancestor who came from the little town of Ittlingen, Baden, in Germany. He brought with him his son Ludwig and his twin sister Anna Maria. They settled in Pennsylvania.
In the year 1955, Rev. Zirckle, in quest of the ancestry of Heinrich Zirckle and the birthplace of his son Ludwig, was in correspondence by letter with a William Zirckle of Chicago,
Illinois. William put him in touch with a Mr. Wilhelm Zirckle of Ravensburg, West Germany who
eventually contacted a Pastor Heinz Schuchmann in Duhren, near Sinshein in Baden Germany.
After about a year, a letter finally came with the complete record of Ludwig's birthplace and
material on his parents and grandparents. The letter was mailed on December 13, 1955, by Pastor
Heinz Schuchmann on his official stationery. Here is the record of Ludwig Zirckle as given by
Pastor Schuchmann:
Heinrich Zirckle, Lutheran, Occupation unknown, Wife Euphrosina
CHILDREN:
1. Johann Heinrich, named as godfather & unmarried in Ittllingen in 1722.
2. Hans Martin Born 8/22/1701 in Ittlingen.
3. Eva Margretha Born 1/20/1703 in Ittlingen.
4. Johann Ludwig Z. Born 10/9/1705 in Ittlingen.}Twin
5. Anna Maria Born 10/9/1705 in Ittlingen.}Twin
6. Eva Rosina Born 9/1/1710 in Ittlingen
Concerning Ludwig Zirckel's grandparents, Pastor Schuchmann reports their wedding record from the Evangelical Parish register of Reihen (another small nearby town in Sinsheim): "the 23 of January 1672 are married Joh. Lofenius Zirkel, the leaved son of the died Conrad Zurckel, Chaplain (Caplan) in Hambach in the County of Solms Braunfels (Palatinate), to Catherine, the leaved daughter of the died Heinrich Hirtzel, citizen of Reyheim (today Reihen)."
Pastor Schuchmann further states that: "Johann Lofenius Zirckel a Lutheren citizen and
smith (farrier), settled in Kirchardt, then in Babstadt, where he died. He had emigrated after the
Thirty Years War 1618-48 into this depopulated county in the Territory of the Lutheran Knights
of the Kraichgau in the Palatinate. His wife Catherine Hirtzel was born in Switzerland, in the
village Aublikon (parish Pfeffikon), the daughter of Hans Heinrich Hirtzel and his wife Maria
Steiner. After the Great Thirty Years War, the Hirtzels also settled in Reihen where their relative,
Pastor Clemens Hirtzel, a Calvinist clergyman from Winterthur in Switzerland, was minister from
1651 to 1670." Their children (all born in Kirchardt):
1. Ursula b. 1/30/1672
2. Hans Jacob b. 4/20/1674
3. Heinrich b. 11/10/1676
4. Anna Maria b. 3/19/1678
5. Hans Georg b. 3/30/1680
6. Katherina b. 8/10/1682
7. Anna Barbara b.4/13/1684
8. Johann b. 5/5/1685
The Zirckle Family Reunion
Prof. Gordon K. Zirckle wrote in his book "The Zerkle Family in America", about the big Zirckle Family reunion. It was held in 1893, the story being abridged from "The Shenandoah Valley" and "The Shenandoah Press" of August, 1893. The story as written:
New Market, Virginia...Thursday, August 10, 1893. The Zerkles and their friends, to whom a cordial invitation had been extended, held a family reunion and general picnic in Miss.
Nannie Quick's woods, one mile west of Quicksburg, Virginia. Preparation had been made on a vast scale, in anticipation of a vast concourse of people.
The people began to pour in at an early hour from all directions: in carriages, wagons, horses, and foot back. Free hacks ran back and forth from the railroad station conveying many to the field.
"The woods was full of 'em when we arrived: the steam Merry-go-Round, the musical phonograph, vendors of cooling drinks, ice cream, cake and candy, the photographers tent, and watermelons...all on the outer side of the huge circle... while within it was the speaker's stand and benches, also a large hollow square of picnic tables. Around about were giant water-tanks filled with tons of ice.
Bustle and activity were in all directions: the young, the old, the middle-aged--all greeting each other cordially, happily, freely. All went "Merry as a Marriage Belle". If no weddings come from this gathering of so many charming, healthy young ladies, and so much display of culinary art...such men are really doomed to remain bachelors, and well deserve their fate. Brass bands were playing from Hamburg and Cabin Hill, also a string band with organ from New Market.
More than 2000 were present--about half were Zerkels and related families. We met hundreds of them from Shenandoah, Page and Rockingham Counties. From distant parts of the country we note the following-- Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hershberger of Baltimore and two sons; Columbus, Ohio--W. B. Rinker, grandmother a Zerkle; Terre Haute, Ohio--Eramus Zirkle (whose father Michael Zirkle left here 64 years ago) wife and daughter; Mrs. Catherine Z. Dingledine, age 70, whose brother Michael Zirkle lives at Dialton, Ohio, They arrived yesterday at A. J. Zirkles near Forestville. And "Uncle Lewis" age 80, was the oldest of the family present, with his brother Reuben, age 66, both of Rockingham County. Dinner was announced and after all had eaten, there was still plenty for thousands more. A very pleasant day.
The assembly was called to order then. Professor J. Milton Zirkle spoke as follows: "Uncles and Aunts, innumerable cousins, who have honored us with your presents...Ladies and Gentlemen: we have no language to express our feelings to this vast assemblage gathered here in our reunion today. All of you are aiding us in making this a day of pleasure. A day of social enjoyment. We say to you with a heart overflowing with love and goodwill...we bid you a hearty welcome!"
"This Reunion, a day of handshaking and pleasant conversation brings to us something of the immensity of our family, a wonderful family from the North, South, East and West numbered in the thousands. And all of us are descendants of five...within little more than a century! I am appointed by the committee to speak for the descendants of the two original fathers who settled on Holman's Creek near the village of Forestville..."
"I shall say, by way of introduction, that in about the year 1725 our old ancestor, Ludwig Zirkle, left Germany to seek a home in this country. He settled in Pennsylvania and raised a family of five sons and as far as we have been able to learn, two daughters. In about the year 1760 or so, those five sons came to Virginia. Two of them settled on Holman's Creek, namely, Michael and Andrew; one on the river (George Adam); and two on Smith Creek (Lewis and Peter). One of the Smith Creek brothers (Peter), however, moved to Botecourt County (located at the head of the James River)."
Here Professor Zirkle referred to a diagram chart erected in the rear of the platform, surmounted by six large circles, bearing numerous arrowheads...the collection being found on the Zirkle farm at an old fort. This was the work of Mr. Julius Zirkle who has over 2,000 of them. He continued by saying that the Zirkles were a family of pioneers..."Michael and Andrew often being required to send their children to the fort to keep them safe from Indian atrocities."
Again referring to the diagram, he said: "I have made a little calculation as to what will be the probable number of the descendants of those five brothers. In one hundred years hence, at the present rate of increase...there will be 1,960,000. And this being Columbus Year suggests the idea...that it will be necessary to discover a new country for the Zirkles."
After music by the brass band, Dr. F. E. Rice... who spoke as follows: "I have the honor of appearing before you as the trumpeter...of the River branch of the Zirkle family; from the days of George Adam Zirkle to the present, and consisting of six generations." He then read from the book, "The Family Records of George Adam Zirkle's Descendants." by Moses A. Zirkle.
Mr. Elon O. Henkel was the next speaker...following is a sketch read by Mr. Henkel, prepared by Edgar L. Zirkle...embracing that branch of the family that settled on Smith Creek in Rockingham County, Virginia.
"Lewis Zirkle (our Boyd ancestor), located in that region at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He came from Pennsylvania, that portion where Philadelphia now stands. He carried on a tannery and farming, was prosperous and accumulated a large estate. He married a lady by the name of Miss Roush and their issue consisted of four sons and four daughters. He died at the age of 70 years, and his body and that of his wife are buried in St. Matthew Lutheran graveyard; he having the ground for the first Lutheran church in New Market, Virginia. At the time he died he owned fifteen hundred acres of land, a good tannery and fine mill property.
The brother of the original settlers...named Peter, was located at the head of the James
River. Letters asking for information have been written to different interested parties, but so far,
no answers. With the announcement that the Zirkles congregate to be photographed by Mr.
Broun, the exercises closed.
Lewis Zirkle and his wife Mary Magdalena Roush had 10 children. Their daughter Eve,
born circa 1773 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, married Jacob Roller Sr., our ancestors (my 4th
great grandparents). They had a son named Jacob Roller Jr. who we think married Sarah (Sally)
Anderson. They had a son named Elias Roller who married Rebecca Robinett born 1831 in
Virginia and died in 1899 in Christian County, Missouri. They are buried in the old Roller
Cemetery near Rogersville, Missouri (my 2nd great grandparents). They had a daughter named
Martha Roller who married Jasper N. Holland, son of James M. Holland and Mary Ensign. They
had a daughter named Mary Ann Holland who married William R. Boyd of Ozark, Missouri (my
grandparents).
The Zirckle Family Chart
Johannes Lofenius Zirckle born circa 1650 in Kirchardt/Palatinate, Germany
Married 23/1/1672 Katherina Hirtzel in Rein, Sinsheim Co., Germany
CHILDREN (all born in Kirchardt, Germany)
||
1. Urusla 2. Hans Jacob 3.
Heinrich
4. Anna Maria 5. Hans George 6. Katrina
7. Anna Barbara 8. Johann
b. 30/1/1672 b. 20/4/1674 b. 10/11/1676 b. 19/3/1678
b. 30/3/1679 b. 10/8/1682 b. 13/4/1684
b. 1685
m. Euphrosina
(all children born in Itlengen, Germany)
||_________________
||
1. Johann Heinrick 2. Hans Martin 3. Eva Margretha 4. Johann Ludwig <Twins> 5. Anna Maria
6. Eva Rosina
m. Catherine b. 22/8/1701
b. 20/1/1703 b. 9/10/1705
b. 9/10/1705 b. 1/9/1710
Rauch
m. Eva Maria
m. Jacob Faut
Bear
||_________________
||
(1st 4 born Forestville, Pa.)
|| (last 3 born Rockingham Co. Va.)
1. Catherine 2. Michael 3. Andrew
4. Margaret 5. George Adam 6. Lewis
7. Peter
b. 1723 b. 1735
b. 1737 b. 1736
b. 1738
b. 1740 b. 1741
m. Johann m. Catherine m. Mary C.
m. Michael m. Elizabeth
m. Mary m. Irene
Branner
Schlearn Zirckle
Nehs Ridenour
Magdalene Meyer
Rouse
||
_______________||
||
1. Magdalene 2. John 3. George 4. Elizabeth 5. Catherine 6. Eve
7. Sally 8. Margaret 9. Susan
10. Lewis II
b. 1764 b. 1766
b. 1763
b. 1769 b.1770
b. 1766 b. 1785
b.1780
b.1779 b. 1785
m. George m. Elanor m. C.
m. Philip
m. Abram m. Jacob m. Tom
m. Geo.
m John m. Nancy
Huff
Jones Byrd
Airy Peters
Roller Sr. Robinson Rosenburger Higgs Caldwell
||
||
11. Rachel 12. Daniel
||
b. 1788 b. 1790
||
m. William m. Nancy
||
Pence
Philips
Information obtained from Church Records ||
in Rienhan/Palatinate Co. of Sinsheim
||
Baden West Germany. "Zerckle Family in ||
America-Germany to Pa.", by Gordon Zirckle ||
||
(See Roller Chart)
http://www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/helios/fachinfo/www/gesch/tipfam2.htm#Auswanderung_Sueddt
For more information about the Zirckle's, click on the above link. This
information provided by Ursula
Perkow
