Email from cousins researching the Souder surname

Note: I'm putting the latest emails on top, so you'll have to read the thread from the bottom if you need to understand references to previous comments.

Hi,

I saw your information on your website, and wanted to let you and Cory know that there is already a genealogy done on the Souder family. I saw the copy at the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, PA on Yoder Rd. My grandfather's name was Norman Freed. Anna Souder, born Sept. 19, 1829 married Isaac B. Freed, born May 10, 1829. I think Anna would have been my great-great grandmother.
I hope this infor helps.

Chris Vizzachero


Hiya, I have been tracing the Souder family for a little while now and I saw the email that was sent to you about who your Leah Souder is. I have similar information but just a little different. Yes, the original Souder was Christian and his wife was Margaret, maiden name unknown. They had 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls. Their son Christian (1747-1822) married Mary H. Obertholtzer (1751-bef. 1822), not Oberholster. Their son was Abraham O. Souder. (Consistently I have found in this family that the mothers maiden name was the initial in all the children's names). Abraham was born in 1774 and died bef. 1818. He married Hester (Esther) Hunsberger Benner 1778- 4/1822. Their child was Abraham B. Souder 8/30/1804-1/24/1886. He married Margaret Schmidt 8/30/1801-1/24/1885. I did not know about any of their children, however and would be interested to know if Leah had any brothers or sisters. I know that Leah's Dad and Mom were buried in Ridge Valley Cemetery in Argus, Pa. Abraham had lived in Argus after 1833. I also know that he had purchased some land, 25 acres in 1826, in what is now Souderton, and that he and Margaret sold it to John and Elizabeth Hedrick 4/9/1833. I live right here in Telford and go to the library every Sunday to collect more information on the Souder family. I am having a ball with it and hope that my information is correct. Cory


1   3094 Catherine Heller 1826 - 1921 b: February 01, 1826 in Bucks Co.
Pa. d: December 11, 1921 in Bucks Co., Pa.
..  +3149 Clayton Souder 1834 - 1914 b: January 18, 1834 d: June 02,
1914 in Bucks Co., Pa. m: March 20, 1856
..... 2   3150 Emanuel Souder 1856 - 1932 b: July 07, 1856 d: 1932
.........  +3155 Ellamanda Maurer 1859 - 1940 b: 1859 d: 1940
............. 3   3158 Harry Irwin Souder 1882 - 1918 b: June 20, 1882
d: Aft. 1918
.................  +3161 Kate Painter 1884 - 1918 b: Abt. 1884 d: Aft.
1918
..................... 4   3162 Clayton Souder 1905 - b: Abt. 1905
..................... 4   3163 Robert Souder 1907 - b: Abt. 1907
..................... 4   3164 Wilmer Souder 1910 - b: Abt. 1910
..................... 4   3165 Albert Souder 1913 - b: Abt. 1913
..................... 4   3166 William Souder 1915 - b: Abt. 1915
..................... 4   3167 France Souder, twin 1918 - b: Abt. 1918
..................... 4   3168 Francis Souder, twin 1918 - b: Abt. 1918
............. 3   3159 Kate Souder 1886 - b: August 18, 1886
.................  +3169 Samuel Bleam 1884 - b: Abt. 1884
..................... 4   3170 Clarence Bleam 1908 - b: August 15, 1908
..................... 4   3171 Ralph Bleam 1910 - 1910 b: July 16, 1910
d: July 27, 1910
..................... 4   3172 Helen Bleam 1912 - b: August 19, 1912
..................... 4   3173 Howard Bleam 1915 - b: January 23, 1915
..................... 4   3174 Marion May Bleam 1918 - b: April 27, 1918

..................... 4   3175 Samuel Bleam 1924 - Unknown b: September
13, 1924 d: Unknown
............. 3   3160 Harold Wilson Souder 1897 - Unknown b: August 11,
1897 d: Unknown
.................  +3176 Mary Hildenbrand 1899 - Unknown b: Abt. 1899 d:
Unknown m: June 28, 1922
..................... 4   3177 Margaret Souder 1923 - b: 1923
..................... 4   3178 Dorothy Souder 1924 - b: October 18, 1924

..................... 4   3179 Harold Wilson Souder, Jr. 1927 - b: March
10, 1927
..................... 4   3180 Irene Souder 1929 - b: October 20, 1929
..... 2   3151 Milton Souder 1861 - 1929 b: March 1861 d: July 13, 1929
in W. Rockhill Twp., Bucks Co., Pa.
..... 2   3152 Rebecca Souder 1863 - 1940 b: March 1863 d: April 01,
1940 in bur Almont New Cem., W. Rockhill Twp., Bucks Co., Pa.
.........  +3181 Amandus Steinback 1861 - Unknown b: Abt. 1861 d:
Unknown
..... 2   3153 Catherine Souder 1865 - 1943 b: November 13, 1865 d: July
18, 1943
.........  +3182 Charles Schurr 1855 - 1945 b: November 13, 1855 d:
January 06, 1945
............. 3   3183 Mahlon Schurr 1889 - 1922 b: January 30, 1889 d:
Aft. 1922
.................  +3186 Eloise Van Billiard 1891 - 1922 b: Abt. 1891 d:
Aft. 1922
............. 3   3184 Clayton Schurr 1890 - Unknown b: June 09, 1890 d:
Unknown
.................  +3187 Ethel Fluck 1892 - Unknown b: Abt. 1892 d:
Unknown
..................... 4   3188 Catherine Schurr 1921 - b: May 20, 1921
.........................  +3189 Homer Siewell 1919 - b: Abt. 1919  m:
Abt. 1940
............................. 5   3190 Barbara Siewell 1941 - b: January
05, 1941
.....................  *2nd Husband of 3188 Catherine Schurr:
.........................  +3191 ? Ross    m: Aft. 1940
............. 3   3185 Mary Schurr 1898 - b: October 20, 1898
.................  +3192 Robert Greason 1889 - 1991 b: June 28, 1889 in
New York City, N. Y. d: May 13, 1991 in California m: June 28, 1949
..... 2   3154 Mary Ann Souder 1867 - 1946 b: February 23, 1867 d:
February 22, 1946 in bur Almont New Cem., W. Rockhill Twp., Bucks Co.,
Pa.
.... Mary Deaves - Email: wamadeav@citrus.infi.net


Again, from Mary (whoops, this one I believe came second)

Gerry, Here is a clue as to the ancestors of Abraham Souder, father of Leah Lovina Souder.

From, "The History of Bucks County", Edited by J. H. Battle, page 1067

Reuben Souder, farmer, P. O. Richland Center, was born in the old homestead in 1824. His grandfather came from Montgomery county, and had seven children. The youngest son, John, died in 1873, married Margaret, died in 1877, daughter of Abraham Clymer, of this county.
They had 16 children, 10 of which are: Lena, Henry, Elizabeth, ABRAHAM, Reuben, Nancy,Polly, John, CLAYTON, and Lydia.

Clayton Souder mar Catherine Heller, dau of Abraham Heller, younger brother of my ancestor, John Heller.

Hope this helps, Mary Heller Deaves


Thanks Mary, and everyone else for sending information. It helps all of us do our genealogy research, and advance our work - together.