I am lucky enough to have inherited many of the Bixler family photos and other documents.  Some of these items, especially papers date back to 1789.  There are many other "Bixler" researchers due to the many branches of the Bixlers over the centuries, each with different ideas on the origins of the Bixlers in Europe.  In my research I have focused mostly on my 4th grand grandfather, Jacob Bixler (1729 - 1807) and his descendants.

There are different spellings of the surname, some "Bixfler" or "Bipler" or "Buscher" or  "Bichsler" or "Bipher" with most families settling on the "Bixler" spelling in the 19th century.  One suggested original meaning for the surname was "box maker".
On the oldest original document (shown below,
Jan. 13, 1789), it appears the name was spelled Bixfler.

 

NOTE: April 2007 - The image of the Jacob Bixler signature can be viewed with a different spelling. It may have been the practice of the day to place a 'double s'. What is thought of as a "f" actually maybe a "s". So Jacob may have signed his surname as Bixsler.

This is a receipt about the sale of a wagon with the amount figured in English shillings. (Value in today's money about $199.)

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Jacob Bixler, Sr.

He was born March 11, 1730 in Hanover, York County, PA.  His parents were John Hans Bixler and Madalena Kroehbuhl.  John had a wife named Catherina Wiegali before Madalena and they had one daughter, Matalena (Mary) Bixler, born 1725, possibly in Switerland.  The widower married in November 24, 1742 in York County, PA.  to Madalena Kroehbuhi or Krochbiel and they had five children (three sons were Madalena's stepsons, and two children - Elizabeth and Christian were Madalena's children with John.) It has never been found to date who and when there was a wife between Catherina and Madalena - the mother of Jacob, John Jr. & Samuel.    He did very well as a farmer and he owned a mill.  His property was 62 acres "Digges Choice" near Codorus Creek near Manheim, York County, PA.  John died 1765 in York County.   His property was inherited by his son, Samuel Bixler.
Many in the Bixler line moved into the Bachman Valley in present day Carroll County, Maryland.  This was where Jacob settled and married Barbara Baer about 1769.  Barbara was from Maryland and bore Jacob two sons.
Jacob Bixler, Jr. - born June 15, 1770 in the Manchester area.
Abraham Bixler - born October 14, 1775 in the Manchester area.
Barbara died sometime after Abraham's birth in late 1775, possibly between 1776 and 1783.
NOTE: It is unsure at this time if Jacob served in the militia during the American Revolution.  There are a couple records of a "Jacob Bixler" serving with the York County and the Lancaster County of PA. in 1782.
Jacob, Sr. did remarry before 1787 to Elizabeth Hickman of Maryland.   She was born about 1745 or 1746.

Elizabeth and Jacob had ten (possibly eleven, one daughter unnamed in will) children, all daughters except for a son, named John Bixler.  Jacob did also have his two oldest sons (Jacob, Jr. & Abraham) from his first marriage, wife - Barbara.
Jacob was a farmer with a good deal of property.  One of his neighbors was George Everhart, Sr.  NOTE:  The Everhart and Bixler families later intermarried through their descendants.
One of the properties owned by Jacob was "Wells Care" and below is a receipt for the 1799 property taxes on the tract of land.  The amount paid was "two pounds, eighteen shillings, nine pence, and half penny" and paid in full on July 23, 1800 by Jacob.

Jacob, Sr. died March 14, 1807 in the Manchester area.  Elizabeth died December 19, 1826.  They are buried at Jerusalem Cemetery on Bachman Valley Road in Westminster, MD.
   The headstone written in German for JACOB BIXLER is in the Bachman Valley area, near one of the Bixler farms.
His son, Jacob, Jr. inherited the family farm (located 3 miles outside of Manchester).

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JACOB BIXLER, JR.

The oldest son of Jacob was born just before the birth of the United States.  He would grow up during the years of warfare the colonists faced trying to gain their independence from Britain.  By the time the American Revolution was over and the United States had written and approved its US Constitution in 1789, he was a young man of 19 years old.  He worked on his father's farm and helped produce the food for the young nation.

Jacob, Jr. married Barbary Grebel ( Grevel or Grable) on November 29, 1795 in Frederick County, Maryland.
She was a child of the Revolution, being born on November 10, 1776 in Frederick.  There were nine children known born to the couple that reached adulthood.  They lived in Manchester & Westminster, MD and in Fayettesville & Hanover, PA.  One went west with her husband to Illinois.

Jacob worked the land that he had inherited from his father, Jacob, Sr. and was a member of the Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Westminster, MD.  He died on July 13, 1842 in Manchester and buried at the Jerusalem Church Cemetery on Bachman Valley Road.
Barbary Bixler died April 10, 1862 and also buried at the Jerusalem Church Cemetery.

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Abraham Bixler
(Author's third great grandfather)

The second son of Jacob, Sr. was born at the dawn of the American Revolution for Independence.  He was born October 14, 1775.  He became a young man as the United States entered the 19th century.  Abraham was given an education because he left to his descendants many of the papers and documents he wrote over the years.  He also worked his own farm (located 2 miles west of Manchester, MD) and ran a mill, known as Round Top, Dug Hill.

Abraham married Catherine Brown on January 15, 1806 in Baltimore County, MD.  She was born January 14, 1783, daughter of William and Mary Brown of the Manchester area of Maryland.  She had one brother and four sisters.  One sister, Hannah Brown married into the
Sullivan Family of Carroll County.  She married Michael Sullivan.   The fall of 1840 must have produced a widespread outbreak disease which proved fatal for Hannah and two of her sons.

The first child born to Abraham and Catherine was a son, named, William Bixler, born November 25, 1806. But he only lived a little more than 2 months when he died on February 1, 1807 in Manchester.
Second was a daughter, Elisebeth Bixler, born on April 23, 1808.  She later marries William Smyth in June 8, 1837 and have a son named Abraham Smyth and two daughters, named Rebecca and Lizzie Smyth.  They made their home in Philadelphia, PA.
Third was Jeremiah Bixler born on February 25, 1810.  It was believed he never married and died just after reaching his 40th birthday, on February 28, 1850 in Westminster, MD.
Fourth to arrive was a daughter named Rebeckah Bixler, born November 1, 1811.  In later years her given name was spelled "Rebecca".  She married Samuel Baughman Epply (also spelled "Eppley) on March 5, 1836 in Baltimore County, MD.  Theirs was a large family of ten children, eight of which were daughters and two sons.  The family spent most of years farming in Union Bridge, Carroll County, MD.
The fifth child was a son, named George A. Bixler, born on March 10, 1814 in Manchester.  By the time George was a young man in the early 1830's in Manchester, both he and his father, Abraham were well known and productive citizens of the community.
It is at this time that Manchester becomes a major town in the new county of Carroll County, MD.

The 1810 Federal Census for Manchester shows both Abraham and his brother, Jacob listed.

All the information on the above children's births and their christianing dates were recorded by Abraham.

The following is the 1820 Federal Census showing Abraham and his neighbors of Manchester.  Abraham was listed second from the bottom.  Other neighbors' surnames include:  Weaver, Frankforter, Bixler, Burn, Panebaker, & Shaeffer. 

Note:  The Shaffer (Shaeffer) family intermarried with the
Bixler Family - especially William Shaffer marrying Sarah
Jane Bixler (daughter of George Bixler) in 1861.
Here is a link to the Shaffer Family history --- Coming Soon in Maryland.

1820 US Census below

Below was the only words written on a full sheet of paper.  So it is unsure what was purchased on November 6,1834.

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Abraham and Catherine Bixler were members of the Jerusalem Lutheran Church on Bachman Valley Road.  Several additional papers handed down to his descendants were his writings of he holy scriptures.  He also wrote out the Church's by laws.

Catherine Brown Bixler died January 26, 1837 and was buried at the Jerusalem Lutheran Church Cemetery.

The only child to marry prior to Catherine's death was Rebeckah to Samuel Baughman Epply on March 5, 1836 in Baltimore.  After Catherine's death then Elisabeth married William Smyth on June 6, 1837 and then George A. Bixler to Mary Magdaline Gettier on October 10, 1837.  The last son, Jeremiah Bixler, stayed on the family farm and never married.

Abraham lived for many years, an important citizen in Manchester.  He was also able to see his family expand with the grandchildren.

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Rebeckah and Samuel Epply Rebecca's husband, Samuel was born April 13, 1812 in Maryland.  After their marriage in 1836, the first child born was Catherine Epply (so named for her grandmother who had just passed away), born March 13, 1838.  The couple had seven additional daughters (Julia, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Alice, Emma, Helen and Frances) and two sons (John, born 1841 and Samuel, born 1849).  The Epply family lived most their years in Union Bridge, Carroll County, Maryland where Samuel farmed the land.  Rebeckah's father, Abraham loaned and gave large sums of money ( $2,500 - valued today about $50,000) to Samuel to help the family get established.
Rebeckah lived until 1888 and Samuel until December 20, 1892 with both buried at Mt. View Cemetery in Union Bridge.

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Elisebeth and William Smyth There are only three known children for the couple, Abraham, Rebecca and Lizzie Smyth and no birthdates known. The family lived in Philadelphia, PA for many years.  Abraham also advanced William money ($800 - valued about $18,000) and "collateral security" over the years.

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George and Mary Bixler
(Author's great great grandparents) George was the youngest child but the only son to marry and have children.  He and Mary had 10 children between 1839 and 1858 and all survived to adulthood.  What was sad for the family were some of the early deaths of a few of the adult children, which then left motherless children and young widows. Details on the George Bixler's family is covered in a separate site.  Click on the link below.
George Bixler and Family

George was a wealthy farmer and miller.  He had inherited his father's real estate and personal wealth.  He and the family were faithful members of the German Reformed Church and later known as Reformed and Lutheran Church in Manchester.

Above is a receipt for George Bixler for some common grocery items (coffee, pepper, salt, allspice, sugar, and chocolate) for a total of $10.42 in March 8,1839.     (Value today of about $175)

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Bixler Church in Bachman's Valley
Carroll County, Maryland

One of the branches of the Bixler family, under Peter Bixler, wanted a church built.  So he instructed his son, Benjamin Bixler to do so.  Funded by the Bixlers, the church was completed in 1877.  The first minister was Rev. L. Rohr.  The church was later remodeled and dedicated in 1904, then 1925 and then 1949.
The church plate below illustrates the church and covers its history.  (Plate is owned by the author.)

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By the mid-1850's with only three children, Abraham Bixler writes a draft of his final will and testament.

The upper two-thirds was where he drafted part of his will, the bottom of the paper has some scripture writings, upside down. His final will does read a little different.  His faithful son, George and his heirs were given all Abraham's real and personal Estate.  To the daughter, Elizabeth, she was to get $50 starting one year after Abraham's death and that was to continue annually until the figure of $500 (Value of about $10,000) was reached.  The daughter, Rebecca, was "excluded" from any additional monies since she and Samuel Epply had much earlier received well over $2,500 (Value of about $50,000).  George was made the sole executor and the final will was signed July 1, 1856 in Carroll County, MD.

Abraham was an educated writer, loving especially to write holy scriptures.  This was very unusual for the times when most men and women couldn't read or write.

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Bixler Farm

Abraham Bixler died August 17,1856 in Manchester, MD
Below is written what was engraved on his tombstone.

 

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The one other child of Abraham and Catherine Bixler with several descendants was Rebeckah Bixler Epply.  The following is her family outline for three generations.

Descendants of Rebeckah Bixler

 1   Rebeckah BIXLER Born: November 01, 1811 in Manchester, Md.  Died: 1888 in Union Bridge, Carroll Co., MD Burial: 1888 Mt. View Cemetery, Union Bridge, MD     Census: 1880 Lived in Union Bridge, Carroll Co., MD with husband and two daughters.    Fact 1: Name as spelled "Rebecca"
..  +Samuel Baughman EPPLY Born: April 13, 1812 in Pa. Married: March 05, 1836 in Baltimore Co., Md. Died: December 20, 1892 in Union Bridge, Md. Burial: 1892 Mt. View Cemetery, Union Bridge, MD     Census: 1880 Lived in Union Bridge, Carroll Co., MD with wife and two daughters.   Fact: Another spelling of surname:  "Eppley"     Occupation: Farmer
... 2   Catherine EPPLY Born: March 13, 1838
... 2   Julia Anna Margaret EPPLY Born: October 11, 1839 in Adams Co., PA  Died: April 12, 1928 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD Burial: April 14, 1928 Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD
.......  +John METCALFE Born: May 21, 1829 in Frederick, MD Married: December 16, 1856 in Joppa Hartford, MD Died: March 11, 1911 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD Burial: March 13, 1911 Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD
........ 3   Ida May METCALFE Born: May 18, 1858 in Frederick Co., MD  Died: 1946 in ? Burial: 1946 Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD
........ 3   Charles METCALFE Born: February 27, 1861 in Carroll Co., MD  Died: November 05, 1861 in Union Town, Frederick, Md
........ 3   Lynne Rebecah METCALFE Born: July 23, 1865 in Frederick, MD  Died: 1941 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD Burial: 1941 Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD
........ 3   Elsie Alice METCALFE Born: November 17, 1868 in Frederick, MD  Died: May 14, 1936 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD Burial: May 16, 1936 Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD
........ 3   Ella Katherine METCALFE Born: July 09, 1870 in Frederick, MD  Died: July 25, 1909 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD Burial: July 27, 1909 Mt. Olivet Cemetery,Frederick, MD
... 2   John Bixler EPPLY Born: February 26,1841 in MD
... 2   Rebecca EPPLY Born: January 11, 1843 in MD
... 2   Elizabeth EPPLY Born: June 28, 1845 in MD
... 2   Alice A. EPPLY Born: February 18, 1847 in MD        Census: 1880 Lived at home with parents in Union Bridge, Carroll Co., MD (age 32 years old)
... 2   Samuel EPPLY Born: January 05, 1849 in MD
... 2   Emma Safring EPPLY Born: October 11, 1853 in MD        Census: 1880 Living at home with parents in Union Bridge, Carroll Co., MD
... 2   Helen EPPLY Born: Bet. December 22, 1855 - 1857 in MD
... 2   Frances EPPLY Born: March 27, 1857 in MD

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Reminder:  Above is the link to read on George A. Bixler and his descendants and into the 20th century.

 Return to Alice's Homepage

SOURCES

    The BIXLER FAMILY STORY was written by Alice L. Luckhardt, based on personal family documents handed down in the family, along with information written in two family bibles.  Several years of research, including US Census and gathering of vital records assisted in the writing.  Photos are mostly family personal items with some additional photos provided by fellow researchers in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Everything in this website is the property of Alice Luckhardt and is copyrighted.
Additional source was "JOHN BIXLER (1700-1765) PIONEER, IMMIGRANT, FARMER" Second Edition by Agnes Bixler Kurtz.

Please contact Alice (allgel@bellsouth.net) if you have any questions on the material or information.  The research is never complete.

Written originally January & February 2003
Updated October 2006