An American Family History

John Jacob Brandstetter and Maria Margaretha Bloß were married on March 30, 1773. The marriage was recorded at Schlosser's Church in North Whitehall Township, Northampton (now Lehigh County) Pennsylvania. Although Jacob and Margaretha were born in America, they probably spoke German in their home because they lived in the isolated, frontier German community in Heidelberg Township.

John Jacob owned 140 acres there. Their house was on the road leading from the village of Germansville to the village of Jordan Valley. Their home was described in the 1790 tax list. They lived in a one-story stone house, with a separate log kitchen. The house was 23 by 20 feet and had a log barn 40 by 23 feet. It was on 127 acres.

The names of their children were listed in Sylvia Olson’s Early Clark County, Ohio Families. Maria Barbara Brandstetter Peter was born on February 11, 1774.

In 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolution, they appeared on the Heidelberg Township Tax List. During the Revolution, Jacob was a member of the Northampton Militia.

Henry Brandstetter was born about 1777.

On March 22, 1777 and in 1778 Jacob appeared on the list of communicants of the Heidelberg Lutheran Church. Margaretha did not appear on the list.

In 1779 and 1781 Jacob again appeared on the tax list of Heidelberg Township.

Daniel Brandstetter was born about 1781. Jacob Brandstetter, Jr. was born about 1782. Margaretha Brandstetter Schneider was born on February 19, 1783. She was christined at Heidelberg Lutheran on March 23. Her sponsors were Rebecca and Peter Bloss.

The family appeared in the 1790 census (Ransteter) in Heidelberg Township.

Soloman Brandstetter was born about 1790. John Brandstetter was born about 1794.

On Palm Sunday, 1794 Jacob appeared on the list of communicants of Heidelberg Lutheran Church.

In 1796 the Lutherans of Heidelberg built a new schoolhouse and Jacob promised to pay 1 pound 10 schillings 0 pence. In 1798, Jacob Brandstetter was on the U.S. Direct Tax list of Heidelberg township.

In the 1800 census, the family (Brandslatter) appeared in Heidelberg Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

On April 18, 1807 Jacob granted his land to his son Daniel Brandstetter.

In 1809 John Jacob passed away.

After Jacob's death Henry and Jacob left Lehigh County and settled in Canfield Township, Trumbull County (later Mahoning), Ohio. Henry, John and Jacob’s families all appeared in the 1820 and 1830 census in Austintown, Trumbull County, Ohio.

Daniel and Solomon remained in Heidelberg at least until 1812. Solomon moved to Greenwood Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.

His grandfather, Theodore Straub (Dewalt or Theobald), was born in what is known as Dry Land, a little hamlet located between Easton and Bethlehem. He was an extensive distiller, and a man of considerable force of character and local influence in his day, being widely known as an industrious, upright and worthy citizen. 

[He married Margaret Bloss] His family numbered five sons: Emanuel, Daniel, John, David and Thomas, and three daughters.(from Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green, & George T. Ettinger, eds., 1905)