An American Family History

Henry Kessler and his wife, Barbara Kneyer, were married in the 1770’s in York County, Pennsylvania.

Their older children were christened at St. Paul's Church in North Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.

Henry Kessler was born in 1776.

Simon Kessler was born in 1778. In March, 1778 Leonhard and Barbara Kneyer, were his sponsors at Zeigler's (St. Pauls) Lutheran Church in Codorus.

Barbara Kessler Beary was born in 1780. In May, 1780 Leonard and Barbara Kneyer were her sponsors at Zeigler's (St. Pauls) Lutheran, North Codorus.

Catherine Kessler Smith was born about 1780.

Henry Kessler appeared in the 1780 and 1781 tax lists of Codorus Township. In 1780 he had 50 acres and two heads of cattle.

In January, 1780 Henry was the executor of John Jacob Scholl's estate along with John Ottman. The heirs were Jacob's wife, Catharine Scholl and children: John, Dorothea, Mary and Catharine.

In 1781 Henry had 50 acres, 1 horse and 2 cows.

Mary Elizabeth Kessler Baker was born in 1782, John Kessler was born in 1784, and Mary Magdaline Kessler Myers was born in 1786.

Henry was listed on the 1788 tax list of Cordorus.

In 1790 the household was in York County, Pennsylvania. The household consisted of a man over 16, a boy under 16, and 5 females.

Before Anna Maria (Mary) Kessler Kemp was born on June 3, 1794, they moved to Rockingham County, Virginia where their older children married. Barbara married in 1798, Mary Elizabeth and Catherine married in 1803, and Mary Magdalene in 1804.

They were associated with Frieden's Church while in Virginia.

John was still living in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1810, with his wife, his mother, or mother-in-law, a daughter and 2 sons

The family moved to Champaign/Clark County, Ohio in about 1813. They acquired two quarter sections in Champaign/Clark county in the Cincinnati district. On December 23, 1813, Henry Kesler of Champaign County, Ohio bought the north east section of 160 1/2 acres between the Miami Rivers (NE 1/4 Section 21, Township 4, Range 10) for $2.00 an acre from the land office for a total of $323.00. Barbara Kesler bought the northwest quarter (NW 1/4 of Section 21, Township 21, Range 10) from Lewis Huffman for the same price. They finished paying for the land on May 7, 1816.

In 1820 the widow, Barbara Kesler, was in Green Township, Clark County, Ohio. She was living by herself. Henry Baker, John Baker, John Kesler, Henry Kesler, Joseph Bearey and Philip Baker were close neighbors.

On September 17, 1823, Henry and Barbara sold part of NE Section 21, Township 4, Range 10 to John Kessler. On November 3, 1824 Henry and Barbara sold NE 1/4 Section 21, Township 4, Range 10 to Abraham Rust.

In 1830 Barbara Kessler (Kesler) appeared alone in German Township in the Ohio Census as one female between 70 and 80. She was a close neighbor of John Kesler who was between 40 and 50 years old. He was married and had seven children at home.