John Eilenberger (1834 - 1906)

Born 6 May 1834 in Middle Smithfield, Pennsylvania,USA

Ancestors

Husband of Catharine Vandermark (Bush) Eilenberger — married 4 Apr 1865 in Sidney,,Ohio,USA

Descendants

Died 17 Dec 1906 at age 72 in Shawnee, Pennsylvania,USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Gail Cox [send private message] and Suzanne Bennett [send private message]

Biography

From the Commemorative Biographical Record of Pennsylvania ^[1]

A worthy representative of the intelligent and enterprising citizens who makes up the agricultural population of Smithfield township, Monroe co.,is a native of that county, born in Middle Smithfield township, in May 1834, and is a son of Frederick and Sarah (Michaels)Eilenberger.

The father, Frederick, was also born in the township, in June 1798, a son of Andrew and Elizabeth Eilenberger, who were natives of Northampton county and at a very early day settled at Shawnee,Smithfield township, Monore Co.,where both died. Their children were Jacob who also died at Shawnee; Frederick, our subjects father; Henry; Peter; Moses; David and Mary the only daughter who married John Coolbaugh, of Middle Smithfield township.

Frederick Eilenberger cleared the farm in Middle Smithfield township now owned by Charles W. Angle, and throughout life followed lumbering and agricultural pursuits, being quite extensively engaged in former occupation, rafting his lumber down the Delaware river to the markets of Philadelphia. He made many improvements upon his farm and there died in March 1854, his wife departing this life ten years later. Their family consisted of three children, out subjects being the only son, and second in the order of birth. 1. Catherine, born in Smithfield township, in 1831, married Jacob Angle, of Warren Co., NJ and they located in Stroud township, Monroe Co.,near the Delaware & Lackawanna railroad, but later removed to South Stroudsburg; he departed this life in 1888, leaving a window, who still resides there and three children, Chester, Cora & Charles, the last being a Baptist minster of East Stroudaburg. All are unmarried. 3 Louisa, born in Smithfield township, in March 1837, is now the wife or Rev. John E. Sweitzer of Allendale NJ., and they have two children, Walter and Carrie, who reside in NJ.

On the old Eilenberger homestead John M Eilenberger grew to manhood, and is indebted to the subscription and free schools of the locality for his education. He remained on the farm with his father until the latter's death in 1854, and then became the manager of the estate in connection with his mother. In 1864 he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Bush, of Ohio, formerly of Monroe Co., her birth occurring in Middle Smithfield township in January 1836. At the time of her marriage she was residing with her brother George in Ohio. She is the daughter of Jacob and Annie Labar Bush and the grand daughter of Henry Bush, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, who was taken prisoner by the British at the battle of Long Island in 1776, at which time he was wounded and later he died in Monroe Co. from the effects of the same.

Mr. John Eilenberger brought his bride to the old homestead which they occupied until 1872, when he sold the place to Charles W. Angle, and removed to the home of his father-in-law.

Prior to his marriage he engagaged in school teaching, and continued three years, conducting his last school in Smithfield township in 1893.

In the spring of 1886 he purchased, of James Kintner, the farm known as the Jacob Kramer homstead, where he has forty acres of well improved land, and is now devoting his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits with marked success. He has remodeled his residence, and made many other improvements upon the place which add greatly to it's value and attractive appearance.He is an enterprising and energetic man his success being due entirely to his own efforts and he has not only succeeded in gaining a comfortable competence, but has also won the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact.

Politically John Eilenberger is a Jacksonian Democrat, and has been honored with a number of local offices in Middle Smithfield, including mercantile appraiser and school director, while he is assessor of the latter township at the present time. He and his family are leading members of the Presbyterian Church of Shawnee, and socialy he and his son Frederick affiliate with the Knights of Pythias.

In the family are five sons;

1 Frederick W. born in Smithfield township, in 1866, recievied a good practical education, and is now one of the leading business men in Monroe Co., being extensively engaged in lumbering, milling and other business. In 1893 he was elected county treasurer of Monroe co., which office he filled in a most able and creditable manner. In 1899 he was re-elected to the same office, which he now holds, being the only man who was ever re-elected to the same office in the county. He married Miss Amy, daughter of Melcher and Sarah Heller, one of the prominent families of Monroe co.

2 William B., born in Smithfield twonship, in 1876, was for a time a student at the Kutztown (Penn) Normal, subsequently completed the scientific course, and graduated at Lebanon (Ohio) University, and then took up the study of law under Judge Storm, of Stroudsburg, and completing his prepation of the legal profession at the Law school of Pa. He is now a prominent young attorney of Stroudsburg. He married Miss Clara Rhodes, of East Stroudsburg and they have one daughter, Catherine.

3 Louis D., born in 1870, is now a bookkeeper for his brother Frederick W., and resides in East Stroudsburg. He married Miss Minerva Heller, of Monroe Co., they have two children, Ralph and Gladys.

4 C. Webster, born in Smithfield township in 1872, was a student of Stroudsburg Normal also of the Drexel Institute of Architecture, and is now a prominent contractor and builder, making his home with his parents. He is a scholarly young man, and is well posted in everything pertaining to his chosen profession.

5 Clinton B. born in January 1876, was educated in the public schools and the East Stroudsburg Normal Department and has been a successful teacher in the public schools for several terms. He makes his home with his parents. At the present time he holds the position of deputy treasurer of Monroe county Pa.

Census 1850 ^[2] NAME: Frederick Eylenbergen/ AGE: 52/ BIRTH YEAR: abt 1798/ BIRTHPLACE: Pennsylvania/ HOME IN 1850: Middle Smithfield, Monroe, Pennsylvania/ GENDER: Male/ FAMILY NUMBER: 599/ HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS: / NAME AGE// Frederick Eylenbergen 52/ Sarah Eylenbergen 47/ Catharine Eylenbergen 18/ John Eylenbergen 16/ Luisa Eylenbergen 13/ John Mann 19/ Catharine Transue 18/

1870 Census ^[3] Name: John Eilenberger  ;/ Age in 1870: 36  ;/ Birth Year: abt 1834  ;/ Birthplace: Pennsylvania  ;/ Home in 1870: Middle Smithfield, Monroe, Pennsylvania  ;/ Race: White  ;/ Gender: Male  ;/ Post Office: Tobyhanna Mills  ;/ Household Members:  ; / Name Age  ;/ John Eilenberger 36  ;/ Catharine Eilenberger 33  ;/ Frederick Eilenberger 4  ;/ William Eilenberger 2  ;/ Lewis Eilenberger 2/12  ;/ William Smith 25  ;/ Elizabeth Cantieman 17  ;/

1880 Census ^[4]// John Eilenberger ,/ Age: 46  ;/ Birth Year: abt 1834  ;/ Birthplace: Pennsylvania  ; Home in 1880: Smithfield, Monroe, Pennsylvania  ;/ Race: White  ;/ Gender: Male  ;/ Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)  ;/ Marital Status: Married  ; Spouse's Name: Catharine Eilenberger  ;/ Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania  ;/ Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania  ;/ Occupation: Farmer  ;/ Household Members:  ;/ Name Age  ;/ John Eilenberger 46  ;/ Catharine Eilenberger 44  ;/ William Eilenberger 12  ;/ Louis Eilenberger 10  ;/ Webster Eilenberger 8  ;/ Clinton Eilenberger 4  ;/

1900 Census ^[5]// NAME: John M Eilenberger/ AGE: 66/ BIRTH DATE: May 1834/ BIRTHPLACE: Pennsylvania/ HOME IN 1900: Smithfield, Monroe, Pennsylvania/ RACE: White/ GENDER: Male/ OCCUPATION: FARMER/ RELATION TO HEAD OF HOUSE: Head/ MARITAL STATUS: Married/ SPOUSE'S NAME: Kate V Eilenberger/ MARRIAGE YEAR: 1865/ YEARS MARRIED: 35/ FATHER'S BIRTHPLACE: Pennsylvania/ HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS: // NAME AGE/ John M Eilenberger 66/ Kate V Eilenberger 64/ Webster C Eilenberger 28/ Clinton B Eilenberger 24/ Edward L Castiglione 16/

1865 Marriage License (See Photos) ^[6]To Catharine. Marriage takes place in Ohio where Catherine was living with her brother.

Death

Find A Grave Memorial Page

Sources

1. ↑ 'Commemorative Biographical Record of Pa J. H Beers pages 715-716
2. ↑ Year: 1850; Census Place: Middle Smithfield, Monroe, Pennsylvania; Roll: M432_798; Page: 130A; Image: 257
3. ↑ Year: 1870; Census Place: Middle Smithfield, Monroe, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1376; Page: 103B; Image: 212; Family History Library Film: 552875//
4. ↑ Year: 1880; Census Place: Smithfield, Monroe, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1157; Family History Film: 1255157; Page: 359D; Enumeration District: 226; Image: 0277
5. ↑ Year: 1900; Census Place: Smithfield, Monroe, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1442; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0128; FHL microfilm: 1241442
6. ↑ Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research. Ohio, Marriages, 1803-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001.

• Michelle Harrison Kintner book: The Kintner's of Monroe Co., PA. & Related Families. See Tree on RootsWeb

• Virginia (Ginny) Marr Research and Book. Ginny Marr did a lifetime of research on the Eilenberger family. Some of her research is the possession of Gail Cox.

• Family Records held by Gail Cox. I have in my possession a set of four carbon copied typed pages of a family history written by Catherine Eilenberger from a family Bible and other records she had in her possession. She wrote the history on March 18, 1921.