Jacob Christophel was born in Redenbach, in the Palatinate on the Rhine. [1]
1818 Jacob Christophel emigrated to America and settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. [2]
1820 Jacob Christoph lived in East Huntingdon, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in a household with Males: 1 (age Under 10), and 1 (age 26 thru 44); Females: 1 (age Under 10), and 1 (age 26 thru 44). [3]
1821 Jacob Christophel moved to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. [4]
1827 Jacob Christophel was ordained as a Menonite minister in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania by Bishop David Funk. [5]
1830 Jacob Christopher lived in Indiana, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in a household with Males: 2 (age 5 thru 9), 1 (age 10 thru 14), and 1 (age 50 thru 59); Females: 2 (age Under 5), 1 (age 5 thru 9), 2 (age 10 thru 14), and 2 (age 15 thru 19). [6]
1840 Jacob Christophle lived in Beaver, Columbiana County, Ohio in a household with Males: 2 (age Under 5), 3 (age 10 thru 14), and 1 (age 50 thru 59); Females: 1 (age Under 5), 1 (age 5 thru 9), 1 (age 10 thru 14), 1 (age 15 thru 19), and 1 (age 30 thru 39). [7]
1848 Jacob Christophel arrived with his family in Elkhart County, Indiana from Columbiana County, Ohio and bought a farm in Jackson Twp. [8]
1850 Jacob Chrstoph (age 67, born in Germany) lived in Jackson, Elkhart County, Indiana with Barbary Chrstoph (age 49, born in Virginia), Peter Chrstoph (age 24, born in Pennsylvania), Mary Chrstoph (age 26, born in Pennsylvania), Elizabeth Chrstoph (age 17, born in Pennsylvania), Joel Chrstoph (age 15, born in Ohio), Henry Chrstoph (age 13, born in Ohio), Susan Chrstoph (age 10, born in Ohio), Daniel Chrstoph (age 8, born in Ohio), and Joseph Chrstoph (age 6, born in Ohio). [9]
1868 Jacob Christophel died at age 85 years, 11 months, and 3 days [10] and was buried at the yellow Creek meeting house graveyard. [11] An obituary for him reported [12]:
On the 3d of Dec., in Elkhart County, Indiana, Pre. Jacob Christophel, aged 85 years, 11 months, and 3 days. He was buried on the 5th at Yellow Creek burying-ground, followed by a good number of relatives and friends to his last resting place. Funeral discourses were delivered by the brethren J. Weaver and J. M. Brenneman, from Luke 2: 29, 30. He suffered from palsy and had been almost helpless for about three years being unable to walk. He retained the use of his mental faculties to the last. About twenty four hours before his death he was attacked with severe pain of the bowels. He died calmly, as one lying down to pleasant sleep, and was gathered to his fathers, where it had long been his desire to be. He was born in Rodenbach in the Palatinale on the Rhine, in Germany, came to America in 1818, and settled in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, where he was ordained to the ministry of the Gospel in the Mennonite Church. From there he moved to Columbiana County, Ohio. From there he came to Elkhart County, Indiana, about twenty years ago. He was chosen to the ministry about forty years ago and served faithfully in that capacity as long as bodily health permitted. He has gone to his reward. Soon we too must follow---God grant that we may be also ready.
1874 On 10 November, Barbara Christophel died. [13] Her obituary reports: "On the 10th of November, 1874, in Elkhart County, Indiana, Barbara, widow of Preacher Jacob Christophel, deceased, aged 73 years and 4 months, formerly from Rockingham County, Virginia. She was buried at Yellow Creek Meeting-house, where funeral services were held by J. F. Funk, M. E. Kreider and R. J. Schmitt." [14]
Research Notes:
"Johan Jacob Christophel, born 1 Jan 1783, Rodenbach. died 3 Dec 1868, Elkhart County, Indiana. md first Gertrude Berg. He married secondly Susanna Neff on 29 Jul 1817 at Spiesheim, Germany. She was born at Hardenburg near Duerkheim, Germany. He married thirdly Barbara Bare on 25 Dec 1832 in Pennsylvania. Johan Jacob was ordained a Mennonite minister in 1827 at Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania." Names 9 children." [15]
[1] Daniel K. Cassel, History of the Mennonites (1888), 165, [InternetArchive].
[2] Daniel K. Cassel, History of the Mennonites (1888), 165, [InternetArchive].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] Daniel K. Cassel, History of the Mennonites (1888), 165, [InternetArchive].
[5] Daniel K. Cassel, History of the Mennonites (1888), 165, [InternetArchive].
[6] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[7] United States Federal Census, 1840, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[8] Daniel K. Cassel, History of the Mennonites (1888), 159, [InternetArchive].
[9] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[10] Elkhart County Genealogical Society, Cemeteries of Elkhart County, Indiana, Vol. 2 (1990), 105, [GoogleBooks].
[11] Daniel K. Cassel, History of the Mennonites (1888), 165, of 165-66, [InternetArchive].
[12] Mennonite Obituary Archives, Herald of Truth, Volume V, Number 12 - December, 1868, page 190, 191, [MennObits].
[13] Elkhart County Genealogical Society, Cemeteries of Elkhart County, Indiana, Vol. 2 (1990), 105, [GoogleBooks].
[14] Mennonite Obituary Archives, Herald of Truth, Volume XII, Number 2 - February 1875, Page 30, 31, [MennObits].
[15] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Christophel B 4156, [Website].