The Kesler Family
Fourth Generation in America

8. ELIZABETH KESLER GARDNER⁴ (Johann Matthaeus³, Johann Philip², Johann Adolph¹, Georg Philip, Theiss), daughter of Mathias and Eva Kesler, was born on 30 Mar 1779 at Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania [Church Record]. She died on 24 Aug 1826 and is buried at Dutch Hollow Church Cemetery, Fairfield Co., Ohio.

Elizabeth married Jacob Gardner in Apr 1808 at Fairfield Co., Ohio. Jacob was born on 1 Jul 1777. He died on 27 Sep 1826 and is buried at Dutch Hollow Church Cemetery, Clear Creek Twp., Fairfield Co., Ohio.

Children:

9. DAVID KESLER⁴ (Johann Matthaeus³, Johann Philip², Johann Adolph¹, Georg Philip, Theiss), son of Mathias and Eva Kesler, was born on 11 Aug 1781 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. He was baptized at Zion Evangelical Church, Manheim, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, 23 Sep 1781 by the Rev. J.D. Schroeder. David died in 1817 in Fairfield Co., Ohio.

He moved about 1785/6 with his parents to Washington Co., Maryland. There he met and married Susannah Nigh (Neu in German). David and Susannah were married in Apr 1802 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elizabeth Town (now Hagerstown), Washington Co., Maryland, by the Rev. Schmucker. Susannah, daughter of George and Magdalena (Sailor) Nigh, was born 26 Oct 1783 in Washington Co., Maryland. She died on 2 May 1855. She is buried near her parents in the Nigh family cemetery in Fairfield Co. about two miles from Dutch Hollow Church near Amanda, Ohio.

David and Susannah only stayed a few years in Washington Co. Sometime before 1805 David moved his family to Fairfield Co., Ohio. After David's death Susannah married John Neff in Feb 1819 at Fairfield Co., Ohio. He, too, predeceased her. She lived in Fairfield Co. until her death. The administration of her estate is found in the Fairfield Co. Probate Office, Case #2990 Susannah Neff, Jonathan Kesler administrator. Of David's and Susannah's children, Jonathan was born in Washington Co., Maryland, and Sarah and the later children were born in Fairfield Co., Ohio.

issue: (David and Susannah Kesler)

issue: (John and Susannah Neff)

10. PETER KESLER⁴ (Johann Matthaeus³, Johann Philip², Johann Adolph¹, Georg Philip, Theiss), son of Mathias and Eva Kesler, was born 14 Apr 1783 in Lancaster Co.,Pennsylvania [Church Record]. He was baptized on 10 Aug 1783 in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Manheim, Pennsylvania [Church Record]. He died 5 Feb 1862 at Allen Co., Ohio, and is buried in the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery in Elida, Ohio.

On 22 Apr 1808 he married Elizabeth Bowman in Fairfield Co., Ohio. Elizabeth was born 15 Apr 1789 and died 2 Sep 1848.Nothing is known about her parentage. She was mortally injured one Sunday when preparing to attend church when the horsepulling her wagon spooked. She was thrown from the wagon and run over. She is buried in Dutch Hollow Church Cemetery, Fairfield Co., Ohio.

He went with his father to Maryland and later Ohio, where he met his future wife. After her death, Peter went to live with his son Abraham Kesler in Allen Co., Ohio. He died there intestate. His administration is on file case #1272 at the Allen County Courthouse in Lima, Ohio. His son Abraham served as the administrator of his estate.

Children:

11. MAGDALENA "MATTEY" "MOLLY" KESLER LEATHERS⁴ (Johann Matthaeus³, Johann Philip², Johann Adolph¹, Georg Philip, Theiss), daughter of Mathias and Eva Kesler, died after 1831.

She married Daniel Leathers. Daniel died about 1825.

Children:

12. SAMUEL KESLER⁴ (Johann Matthaeus³, Johann Philip², Johann Adolph¹, Georg Philip, Theiss), son of Mathias and Eva Kesler, was born on 12 Dec 1794 at Washington Co., Maryland [Church Record]. He died in 1822 at Fairfield Co., Ohio.

Samuel married Mary "Polly" Myers on 26 Mar 1816 at Fairfield Co., Ohio. Mary, the daughter of Abraham and Magdalena (Richards) Myers, was born 20 Mar 1799 at Shenandoah Co., Virginia. She died on 7 Jan 1864 and is buried at Lutheran Ridge Cemetery, Wyandot Co., Ohio. After Samuel's death Mary married Thomas Hart on 9 Aug 1833. Thomas was born 21 May 1800 at Virginia. He died on 7 Jun 1867 and is buried at Lutheran Ridge Cemetery, Wyandot Co., Ohio.

Samuel served as a private in Capt Abraham Myer's Company from Fairfield County, from 31 Jul - 15 Aug 1813 during the War of 1812. He apparently laid out the town of Amanda, Ohio, and was advertising the sale of town lots in the 25 Nov 1819 edition of the Ohio Eagle, the sale was scheduled for "the 3rd. day of December next, in the town of Amanda, adjoining the old stand where FREDERICK LEATHERS formerly kept a tavern, and on the main road leading by said tavern toCircleville."

Child:

27A i. Elizabeth 1817-1884 m. Emanuel Nigh

13. KATHARINA KESLER BOWMAN ⁴ (Johann Matthaeus³, Johann Philip², Johann Adolph¹, Georg Philip, Theiss), daughter of Mathias and Eva Kesler, was born on 7 Sep 1797 at Washington Co., Maryland [Church Record]. She died on 27 Jun 1853 and is buried at Dutch Hollow Church Cemetery, Clear Creek Twp., Fairfield Co., Ohio.

Katharina married Benjamin Bowman. Benjamin was born on 29 Aug 1791. He died on 4 Nov 1849 and is buried at Dutch Hollow Church Cemetery, Clear Creek Twp., Fairfield Co., Ohio.

Children:

14. ANDREAS "ANDREW" KESLER⁴ (Johann Matthaeus³, Johann Philip², Johann Adolph¹, Georg Philip, Theiss), son of Mathias and Eva Kesler, was born on 15 Oct 1800 at Washington Co., Maryland [Church Record]. He died in 1865 at Allen Co.,Ohio.

Andreas Kesler married Sally Shaeffer on 10 Oct 1820 at Fairfield Co., Ohio. Sally was born in 1800. She died in 1840 at Allen Co., Ohio, and is buried at Shawnee Twp., Allen Co., Ohio.

Andreas Kesler married Catherine Shafer in Apr 1841.

Andreas and Sally were living in Clear Creek Township, Fairfield Co., Ohio, in 1830. While still residents of Fairfield County they purchased land in German Twp., Allen Co., Ohio, in November of that year. By 1840 Andrew had moved to Shawnee Twp., Allen Co., Ohio.

Andrew Kesler left a will Case #1661, Allen Co., Ohio. He signed his will Apr 2, 1865. In his will Andrew names his wife; son Jacob Kesler; daughter Elizabeth Kesler; and deceased son, Henry Kesler. Samuel Bowsher signed the will for Andrew, and Thomas Dotson and Charles Duvel witnessed it.

Children:

Go to Table of Contents

Ric Tobin's Home Page