Women played an essential role in American society as mothers and homemakers.
Guardianship is when a court gives an adult custody of a child and/or the responsibility of managing the child's property. Before women could own property, guardians were appointed for their minor children if their husband died.
Rebecca Margaret Branstetter Hullinger was born in September, 1811 in Heidelberg Township, Northampton County, now Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Daniel Branstetter and Christina Bauman.
She came with her family to Ohio about 1818 where they were early pioneers.
Her brother, John Branstetter, was appointed her guardian when she was twelve years old.
She married John Hullinger on February 25, 1836 at the age of eighteen in Clark County, Ohio. John was born March 4, 1817 in Ohio. His parents were Christopher Hullinger and Mary Crabb.
Their children included:
Charles Hullinger (1836, died age 2),
William L. Hullinger (1840, married Nancy Ann Tuller),
Ellen R. (Ella) Hullinger Zirkle Niece (1843, married Cornelius Zirkle and John S. Niece),
Harvey D. Hullinger (1846, married Jenneta Maier and Letitia Edgington)
John N. Hullinger (1849),
Jason Pierce Hullinger (1852, married Mary Ella Tudor),
Mary Eliza Hullinger Russell (1855, married John Russell), and
Wesley Hullinger (1859, died 20 months).
In 1840 they were in German Township. They were still there in 1850. The household in 1850 consisted of John age 35 who was a wagoneer, Rebecca who was 32, William who was 10, Ellen R. who was 6, Harvey who was 3, and John who was 1.
From an Ohio newspaper in 1840.
The Hullinger family appeared in the 1870 census of Richland Township, Logan County, Ohio. The household consisted of John age 56, Rebecca age 52, John age 20, Jason age 17, and Mary age 14.
They remained in Richland for the 1880 census. The household consisted of John age 65, Rebecca (Rabecca) age 63, and their granddaughter Jeneora age 3.
John died on April 3, 1885.
Rebecca lived with her son Jason before she died.
Rebecca died on February 27, 1906 in Logan County, Ohio and is buried in McGraw Chapel Cemetery, Richland Township, Logan County, Ohio.
Clark County, Ohio was formed March 1, 1817, from Champaign, Madison and Greene Counties. The first settlement was in 1796. The inhabitants of German Township were German Lutherans who came from Virginia.
Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania originally included Washington Township and Slatington. It is located on Trout Creek and Jordan Creek.
Northampton County, Pennsylvania is on the eastern border of the state in the Lehigh Valley. It was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County. Easton is the county seat.
American pioneers migrated west to settle areas not previously inhabited by European Americans.
The first Europeans settled in the Northwest Territory in 1788. Migrants came from New York and New England. Ohio was admitted to the Union as the 17th state on March 1, 1803.
Buildings in Clark County, Ohio ranged from simple log cabins to sophisticated Italianate and Gothic Revival structures.
Rebecca Hullinger, wife of John Hullinger, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania in September, 1811 and departed this life February 27, 1906, aged 94 years and 5 months. She moved from Pennsylvania to Clark County, Ohio with her parents in infancy in which county she resided 54 years.
She was united in marriage to John Hullinger at the age of 18, who preceded her to the grave 21 years ago. To this union were born 8 children, 6 sons and 2 daughters, 5 of whom are still living:
William of DeGraff, Harvey of Trenton, Mo.,
Mrs. Ellen Niece of Champaign County,
Mrs. Eliza Russell of Alger, and Jason of Huntsville, with whom she resided at the time of her death.
Charles,
John and
Wesley being the dead, the first and last named being the oldest and youngest of the family.
She united with the Methodist Episcopal church at the age of 14 years, after which she lived a true and sistent [sic] Christian during the remainder of her long and useful life, being loved and respected by all who knew her. She was a good wife, loving mother and a kind neighbor. Funeral services were held Thursday at 10:30 am. at the McGraw Chapel. Internment in McGraw cemetery. Bellefontaine Examiner,
February 28, 1906
Mrs. Rebecca Hullinger died Tuesday afternoon at the age of 94 years at the home of her son Jason Hullinger, three miles northwest of Huntsville. The infirmities of age were the cause of death; her husband died twenty years ago.
The other surviving children are Mrs. Eliza Russell of Alger, Mrs. Ella Neese of Terre Haute, Ohio; William Hullinger of Degraff, and Harvey Hullinger of Missouri. The funeral will be held Thursday at 10:30 sun time, at McGraw chapel, where interment will be made.
