“Genealogy is addictive. It’s like a huge puzzle. While
you’re searching to fit one piece, you uncover other
pieces (facts) that take you in a whole different direc
tion,” said Saranna Miller of searching the Yoder family
history. She considers herself fortunate to have several
heirlooms passed down through the generations. These
include the original paper on which her great-great
grandmother practiced the German script alphabet and
numbers dated in 1829 and her great-great grandparents
marriage certificate dated 1843.
The 1880 Daniel Yoder tombstone is believed to be the
oldest Yoder tombstone in America. The descendant of
Hans Yoder is buried in the Pleasantville Cemetery,
which is a restoration and preservation project of the
Oley Yoder Heritage Association.
From left, Joe Yoder, Richard H. Yoder, Ken Yoder, and
Martha Yoder listen to some of the history that Richard
recounts. Richard has researched the Yoder family histo
ry for 25 years and is credited with much of the historical
accounts for reunion tours.
Remembering Ancestors
National Yoder Reunion In The Planning
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
MARIETTA (Lancaster Co.)
“When you reach a certain
age, you become more apprecia
tive of the relatives that came be
fore us and allowed us to have
the things we have today,” Sa
ranna Miller said.
In the past 10 years, Saranna
has researched genealogy, espe
cially her mother’s line the
Yoders.
The fascinating story of the
first Yoders to come to America
and settle in Oley Valley is part
of the celebration planned for the
National Yoder Reunion, July
20-21.
According to Saranna, two
brothers Hans and Yost Yoder
are believed to be the first
Yoders to come to America.
Han’s wife and two children died
on the ship, leaving him with one
young son when he embarked in
1709.
Hans remarried. Although de
tails of the second marriage are
skimpy, Saranna said, during
that era of settlement in the new
world, few women would have
been available for marriage. It
was not uncommon for
14-year-old girls to be given in
marriage.
“Marriages were not necessari
ly arranged for love but by who
was available at the needed
time,” Saranna said. “They (an
cestors) made their marriages
work. They had goals and roles
they needed to fulfill in order to
survive.”
Survival was the most impor
tant goal.
Hans is said to have been a
very industrious man who trans
formed the wilderness never be
fore seen by white men into a
productive farm. On it, Hans
built a flax seed oil mill, grist
mill, tannery, forge, cider press,
and sawmill.
Hans’ brother Yost is said to
have enjoyed trapping and hunt
ing. He spent weeks in the Blue
Mountains to obtain hides and
skins to trade and barter in Phil
adelphia, a two-days walk from
the Yoder homestead.
Both brothers maintained con
genial relationships with the
Lenni-Lenape Indians, who still
populated the area where they
settled. The compatibility be
tween the native tribes and the
pioneers is credit to William
Penn, who insisted on paying the
Indians for the land, unlike set
tlers in other areas of the new
world.
Although the original log cab
ins are no longer in existence,
later houses and buildings are
still standing.
Hans and Yost were said to
have come from a successful
family in Switzerland. The broth
ers were fleeing religious perse
cution, like many of the other
immigrants from Steffisburg,
Switzerland. Today, most of the
thousands of Yoders continue to
live within a 50-mile radius of
the original homestead. But some
Yoders migrated to Mifflin
County, other states, and Cana
da.
“Regardless of where Yoders
live today, research shows that
we are all related to the original
Oley settlement,” Saranna said.
During the reunion, hundreds
are expected to return to the
homestead for the National
Yoder Reunion.
Saranna said that two main
branches of Yoders are referred
to as the Amish Yoders and the
reformed Yoders. Both branches
are believed to have been related
and have originated from the
same area of Switzerland. But
the Amish Yoders arrived later
than the Hans and Yost. The re
union is for both branches of
Yoders.
The reunion will recount fasci
nating history about the two
branches. Reservations must be
made for the events that include
an Amish tour scheduled for Fri
day, July 20, and the Oley Valley
Bus Tour and Revolutionary
Military encampment, Saturday,
July 21. Representing both the
German regiment and Germans
serving under the county militia
system will be re-enactors from
the Tulpehocken Associators,
Inc., a nonprofit, educational vol
unteer organization dedicated to
Yoder blanket throws are being sold as a fundraiser
for the Yoder research. Pictured are places with signifi
cant interest to the Yoder family. The throw sells for $65
plus $5 if shipped.
IrSSS *' **
\ 1 V • tIMPCTPAn fHfC
George Yoder examines a cider press thought to be
identical to one that had existed on the Hans Yoder
Homestead. Research uncovered a sizable orchard and
records that show that Johnny Appleseed spent several
summers at the Yoder homestead.
the authentic portrayal of the life
of the 18th century soldier and
his family.
“We don’t have diaries, so we
don’t know exactly how Hans
and Yost lived, but we have un
covered court records, papers,
and have second-hand verbal ac
counts of history,” Susanna said
of her heritage. “They came
seeking freedom, independence,
and a better way of life. They
were industrious and productive.
Most early Yoders were farmers
and the love of the land was im
portant to them.”
For more information about
the reunion, write to Oley Yoder
Heritage Association, 415 State
St., Pottstown, PA 19454 or e
mail pryBB4@aol.com
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