John Tobias


Submitted by: Spunky


John Tobias was born 1790 in Berks County, PA. He died 16 Dec 1876 Upper Bern Twp, Berks, PA between 5-6 AM. His marriage date to Catharine KELLER is unknown. Marriage date by Aunt Florence is his brother's marriage date. Plus his middle name is not George nor was he born in Lancaster as Aunt Florence told us. I suspect the marriage to Catharine KELLER is sometime soon before their son, Benjamin was born due to the gap in ages with his children. He is the son of Jacob TOBIAS and Barbara DEGLER. John was married three times and had 21 children; Catharine KELLER our ancestor being the last wife.


I suspect his first wife to be Maria ALTHOUSE but there is an overlap of years between her will date and the date of his second wife's marriage date. Did it take a while for her will to be proved or was the date incorrect??? Maria ALTHOUSE married John TOBIAS bn Bern Twp, Berks, PA on 13 Mar 1814 per 1st Reformed Church of Reading's records. The Reading Adler in the 29 Mar 1814 Edition had the date as Last Thurs 2 weeks. Maria was born in Bern Twp, Berks, PA daughter of Daniel ALTHOUSE. Daniel possibly was born 1742 baptized 174 son of John A. & Mary Elizabeth ALTHAUS. Maria's will listed her as Mary. Her husband John was in charge of her estate. It was a generic form with the blanks filled in and did not give any additional info. The date the will was proved was 8 Jan 1824.


Children: I have 4 children for them, but the son, John I am not sure it is their's. (because of so many questions, all of John's children and marriages should be verified. I am trying to do this)

  1. John Tobias bn 10 Mar 1815 buried at Epler's Cemetery, Bern Twp, Berks, PA
  2. Louisianna Tobias bp 5 Oct 1817 at St. Michael's Church, Tilden Twp (which was still Bern Twp then), Berks, PA Sponsors Jacob TOBIAS and Barbara.
  3. Suzanna Tobias bp 5 Oct 1817 at St. Michael's Church, Tilden Twp, Berks, PA Sponsors Jakob TOBIAS & wf Barbara.
  4. Maria Tobias bn 20 Apr 1818 bp 1818 1st Reformed Church, Reading, Berks, PA Sponsor Catharine ALTHAUS.

Miles had info on some of John's descendants which I was able to trace back to generations taking me to his second wife. She is Margaretha (Peggy/Rebecka) Heffner (Hofner). Margaretha was born in Bern Twp, Berks, PA and Johannes/Johann/John and she married 21 Nov 1820. This was listed in the Reading Adler, Reading, Berks, PA. They were sponsors for Thomas & Maria LINDEMUTH's daughter, Elisabeth who was bn 4 Nov 1822 bp 23 Dec 1822 at St. Michael's Church.


Children: I have 4 children for them but suspect William is one of theirs. Not sure with dates being so sketchy then.

  1. Sarah Tobias bn 14 Sep 1823 Bern Twp, Berks, PA bp 23 Nov 1823 St. Michael's Church, Tilden Twp (would have been Upper Bern Twp then), Berks, PA Sponsors Samuel HOFMAN & Sara SCHARTEL (but according to the books I borrowed from my Aunt Ruth the sponsors names were spelled like this: Samuel HEFNER and Sarah SCHERTEL. Mother was also listed as Margaret.) died 18 Mar 1849 age 25-6-4 buried at St. Michael's Reformed Church, Tilden Twp, Berks, PA. She was married to Benjamin NUNNEMACHER 3 Nov 1845 at St. Michael's Church, Tilden Twp, Berks, PA.
  2. Elizabeth Tobias bn 30 Jan 1825 bp 10 Apr 1825 St. Michael's Church, Tilden Twp, Berks, PA Sponsor Elizabeth HAUMAN. (Mother listed as Margaret)
  3. John (Johann) H. Tobias bn 14 Dec 1827 (according to one record but St. Michael's Church records has 14 Dec 1828) bp 3 May 1829 St Michael's Church, Tilden Twp, Berks, PA Sponsors Daniel ALTHAUS & wf Elisabeth.
  4. Joseph Tobias bn 30 Oct 1830 bp 28 Feb 1831 St. Michael's Church, Tilden Twp, Berks, PA Sponsors Joseph HEFNER & wf Eva. (Mother was listed as Margaret)

    5. His last wife is my ancestor, Catharine C. KELLER was bn 4 Jan 1808 according to the Shartlesville Congregation. She died 27 Jan 1877 of Consumption in Upper Bern Twp, Berks, PA. She is buried at Frieden's Lutheran Church, Shartlesville, Berks, PA. Catharine is the daughter of Daniel KELLER. I have in my notes mother possibly is Eve according to the 1850 census but our records have Elizabeth SYLER. I previously listed all of John's children I had under this wife since I did not know he was married before marrying Catharine. Upon further research with census data and other records I knew he was married before because when he started showing up in census records, Catharine was to young. It wasn't until reading the notes from Miles Milton TOBIAS that I realized I'm missing more data than originally believed. Children: as I stated above I know Benjamin, Levi and Lovina were from this wife. I believe all the other children are from his other wives. Children are in order as to how they appeared on John's will:

    1. John William Tobias (thanks to Doris I was able to make this connection 11/20/02) bn abt 1824 according to my family records but by the bp date he was born abt 1822 in Upper Tulpehocken Twp, Berks, PA bp 1 Sep 1822 St. Michael's Church, Tilden Twp, Berks, PA Sponsors are Jacob TOBIAS and wf. (The parents were not listed nor the birth.) Married 4 Jan 1845 Salem Belleman's Union Church, Mohrsville, Berks, PA by Rev. I. Miesse.
    2. Joseph Tobias bn 13 Jan 1833 Bethel, Berks, PA
    3. Daniel Tobias
    4. Benjamin Tobias (my 2nd great grandfather.) bn 31 Aug 1844 Bethel, Berks, PA d 25 sep 1910 Bethel Twp, Berks, PA of indigestion and md Henrietta Eleanor HUBER 1867 Bethel, Berks, PA Buried Salem Church, Bethel, Berks, PA.
    5. Levi Tobias bn 31 Aug 1845 Bethel, Berks, PA bp Oct 1845 died 13 Jun 1928 near Meckville, Berks, PA bur Sat. Jacob's Kimmerlings Cemetery near Mt. Zion, Lebanon, PA md Radosa KEENEY 1867 Lebanon, Lebanon, PA
    6. Issabella Tobias bn abt 1841
    7. Sarah Tobias
    8. Lucian Ann Tobias
    9. Polly Tobias
    10. Lovina Tobias bn 24 Sep 1848 Bethel Twp, Berks, PA died 30 Nov 1908 Jefferson Twp, Berks, PA buried Frieden's Church md John S. KLEIN/KLINE 11 Nov 1865 Salem Belleman's Church, Centre Twp, Berks, PA

    John's will was dated 23 Mar 1871 and probated 26 Jan 1877. I have a copy of it but I can't get to it right now. John listed his sons first and then his daughters.


    John bought his land in Upper Bern Twp from his brother Solomon Tobias when Solomon moved to Lebanon Co, PA. John and his brother George lived side by side. George got his land from their father, Jacob who lived with George till he died.

    Census 1790: Not listed there per dates census was taken. Only child listed with parents is Solomon.

    1800: on census with parents

    1810: on census with parents

    1820: Upper Bern Twp, Berks, PA
    Males: 1 under 10, 1 age 26-45
    Females: 1 under 10: 1 age 16-26

    1830: Upper Bern Twp, Berk, PA
    Males: 2 under 5, 1 age 5-10, 1 age 10-15, 1 age 30-40
    Females: 1 under 5, 2 age 5-10, 1 age 30-40

    1840: Upper Bern Twp, Berks, PA
    Males: 1 age 5-10, 1 age 15-20, 1 age 20-30, 1 age 50-60
    Females: 1 under 5, 1 age 5-10, 1 age 15-20, 1 age 20-30, 1 age 40-50

    1850: Upper Bern Twp, Berks, PA Dwelling 262 Family 294
    Jno Tobias age 59 male white farmer RE $1000 bn PA
    Cath Tobias age 43 female white bn PA
    Joseph Tobias age17 male white laborer bn PA
    Benjn Tobias age 4 male white bn PA
    Levi Tobias age 3 male white bn PA
    Lovina Tobias age 2 female white bn PA

    1860: Upper Bern Twp, Berks, PA Dwelling 946 Family 1070
    John Tobias age 69 male white weaver bn PA
    Catharine Tobias age 53 female white bn PA

    1870: Upper Bern Twp, Berks, PA Dwelling 36 Family 37
    John Tobias age 79 male white retired farmer bn PA can't read or write
    Catharine Tobias age 65 female white keeping house bn PA can't read

    Isabella that was living with your William and Ellen/Nelly was 9 yrs. Old in 1850 census. William seems to have been the eldest son, but I don't know that for sure and Lovina is the youngest.

    I am sure John father, Jacob is the son of Hans but I have nothing to back up my feelings. He just doesn't' fit into any other family. What do you think? You asked about my German. If I can spell it correctly: Nich or Nicht so gut! Even though I took German in school I can't remember much.

    Does anyone out there know what this would mean? In the bible there is mention of Nelly Tobias LEDIG as the Confzeugen of Lovina's baptism? What does LEDIG and CONFZEUGEN mean???

    Lovina's husband, John S. KLEIN/KLINE was the son of John and Polly (SCHLAPPIG) KLEIN. You were interpreting the German script properly! This all makes sense since many times they married family or neighbors. John TOBIAS' brother, Solomon, married Catharine SCHLAPPIG!

    I don't know who the KISSINGER's in the family would be. I don't have any in my direct line that I can remember, but I think a girl married a KISSINGER.

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