OUR TROYER HISTORY

The history of the first Troyer in America was a confusing puzzle to historians for many years, and probably will never be completely known. Ship passenger lists and census records were not always complete, and there was some erroneous information given on the Troyer family in earlier genealogy records.

A book called "Amish and Amish-Mennonite Genealogies" by Hugh F. Gingerich and Rachel W. Krieder (Pequa Publishers, Gordonville, PA, printed in 1986) has corrected some of the errors published earlier. Based on their research, and from some other histories, I have pieced together the following:

Michael Dreier was born about 1730 (Switzerland or Germany), and came to America with his stepfather (believed to be Andreas Holly) on the ship Brotherhood. They arrived in Philadelphia on November 3, 1750.

One report said the stepfather settled in what is now Lebanon County. Another account reads, in part: "Michel Dreier/Troyer came from Switzerland, born ca. 1734, died April 1807 in Sommerset Co., PA... came on the Ship Brotherhood and arrived in Pennsylvania Nov. 3, 1750. With a land grant from William Penn. he operated a small tub mill in 1780 west of Berlin, PA...."

Michael's name is recorded in a 1767 deed book as Michael Dryer, but according to later records, he adopted the Troyer spelling for himself, and all his children used that version, also.

Michael married a young woman named Magdalena Mast, who came to America as an orphan girl, on the same ship that he did. It is not known whether they ever met each other on this ship, but it is quite likely that they did.

Between 1753 and 1781 Michael and Magdalena had 14 children, 8 sons and 6 daughters. From birth records of their children and grandchildren, it appears that Michael and several of their sons moved to Somerset County, PA in the late 1700's. Michael died there in April, 1807. Around 1810 - 1815 four of the sons moved to Holmes County, Ohio. Magdalena moved there with them, and she died there in 1827.

My Branch of the Troyer Family

Michael's 12th child was David, b.July 6,1777, d.Jan.9,1851 in Holmes County, OH. David married Barbara Schrock; they had 10 children.

David's oldest child was Andrew D., b.Dec.1,1801, d.?? in Holmes County, OH. He married Magdalena Hochstedler; they had 13 children.

Andrew's 11th child was Abraham A., b.June 5, 1846, d.July 10,1906 in LaGrange County, IN. Abraham married Sarah Eash, who had moved to Indiana from Somerset County, PA in 1848, when she was 3 years old. They were one of the earliest Amish families to move into LaGrange County. Abraham and Sarah had eight daughters, and one son, the 6th child, who was named David. They lived in Newton County, IN for a number of years, which is where David was born on Aug. 29, 1880.

Abraham was ordained a minister in 1878, and was ordained bishop in 1885. When David was still a young boy, they moved to LaGrange County. They lived on a farm that was owned by their church district, as they were "not very well off". This farm was located near the village of Pashan, on what is now US Highway 20, about 1-1/2 miles west of the junction that is now State Road 5.

 Abraham and Sarah's children:

Lydia, b.1870, d.1951 - married Jonas Weaver

Lovina, b.1872, d.?? - married John Lehman

Sovilla, b.1874 ,d.1886

Sarah, b.1876, d.1943 - married Valentine Yoder

Mattie, b.1876, d.?? - married Amos Yoder

David, b.1880, d.1976 - married Mary Yutzy

Abbie, b.1882, d.?? - married Andrew Yoder (Bush Andy)

Fannie, b.1884, d.?? - married Jonathan Lehman

Barbara, b.1886, d.1920 - married Andy W. Yoder

In 1889 a railroad was built from Goshen, IN to Sturgis, MI. The railroad ran Northwest, passing between the villages of Pashan and Shore. Both these villages then moved their businesses to a new village which was formed beside the railroad, about 1-1/2 miles North of the now-junction of Highways 5 and 20. The new village was named after a local Indian chief, Shipshewana. David helped move the first store into Shipshewana in 1889.

David married Mary Yutzy, of Arthur, IL in 1904. Mary was the daughter of Dan Yutzy, who lived on a farm Southwest of Arthur, next to the railroad. Dan's only son, Lewis (Lew) married Mary Thomas, and they moved to the home farm. They had two children, Esther and Dan. Lew died in 1919 of influenza, when son Dan was only 5 months old. After that, David and Mary moved to this farm, where they spent the rest of their lives.

David was ordained Deacon of the Cadwell District Amish Church at age 55, on Oct.9, 1921. Other members in the lot were Chris Gingerich, Jacob D. Beachy, and Jacob E. Hershberger.

Mary died on Jan.16, 1950. David married the second time to Anna Miller, on Nov.4, 1952. David died on July 20, 1976.

The Children of David A. and Mary (Yutzy) Troyer:

Sovilla, b.1908, married Rudy H. Mast

Lewis, (my father) b.1909, d.1988, married Mary L. Mast

Daniel, b.1911, d.1987, married Fannie Kuhns

Sarah, b.1913 , d.1969, married Joe Graber

Melvin, b.1915, d.1998, married Lizzie Ann Farmwald

Ada, b.1919, , married Jonas (Tony) Hochstetler

by Erwin L. Troyer - 1999 (last update 1/30/01)

If there are any errors in this history, or if you have additional information that should be in the Troyer History, write me at: reo43@aol.com.

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