An American Family History

John (Johannes) Branstetter was born on August 6, 1804 in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Daniel Branstetter and Christina Bauman.

He was baptized on August 29, 1804 at the Towamensing Union Church in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. His sponsors were his father's maternal first cousins, Theobald Straub and Margaret Bloss.

He came with his family to Ohio about 1818 where they were early pioneers.

He (John Brunstetter) married Effie (Effa) Hardesty on April 4, 1828 in Champaign County, Ohio. Effie was born on March 8, 1805 in Brown County, Ohio. Her parents were Henry Hardesty and Elizabeth Matheny.

John appeared in the 1830 census in German Township, Clark County, Ohio.

Their children were listed in Brunsteter Bible records.

• Louisa Brunsteter Shockley (December 9, 1829-November 24, 1886) married John Shockley
• Charles Marion Brunsteter (December 11, 1831 to March 5, 1865) married Margaret Patterson in 1852
  
• Mary Elizabeth Branstitter Copeland (December 29, 1834 to October 18, 1923) married Elisha Copeland
  
• Elijah Brunsteter (September 15, 1836)
  
• Henry Brunsteter (May 10, 1839 - May 25, 1862) married Elizabeth Patterson
  
• Mahalah Caroline Brunsteter Patterson (December 15, 1841) married William D. Patterson
• Rebecca Ellen Brunsteter Welty born August 10, 1844, married Dr. Ephraim Welty ( 1840) of Warren County on August 1, 1867.
  
• William Brunsteter (November 8, 1846 to November 16, 1853)
• John Wesley Brunsteter (June 30, 1849) married Mary Angeline Tabler on September 9, 1869 in Allen County, Ohio.

In 1831 John was appointed guardian of three of his younger siblings: William Branstetter, Rebecca Branstetter Hullinger, and Nathan Branstetter.

The family appeared in the 1850 census in Auglaize Township, Allen County, Ohio. The household consisted of John age 46, Effie age 44, Louise age 21, Charles age 19, Elizabeth age 17, Henry age 13, Mahalah age 10, Rebecca age 6, William age 3, and John age 1. John was a farmer and Charles a laborer.

Effie died on July 4, 1866. According to their descendant, Roger McCullough, John married two more times after Effie.

His second wife was Anna Cox (1805).

His third was Eliza Band (1807).

In 1870 John was still living in Auglaize. The household consisted of John age 65. Eliza age 64, John W. age 21, and Mary age 20.

Eliza died in 1878.

John died on February 10, 1884 in Harrod, Allen County, Ohio. He was buried in Salem Cemetery.

Children of Daniel Branstetter, Sr. and Christina Bauman Daniel Branstiter Henry Branstetter John Brunsteter Sarah Branstetter Rogers Neville Mary Branstetter Enoch Elizabeth Branstetter Wallace Morris Rebecca Margaret Branstetter Hullinger Charles F. Branstetter Eliza Branstetter Heller William Branstetter Nathan Branstetter