KELKER Families

Switzerland to Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana

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From Switzerland KÖLLIKER was changed to KELKER after arriving in 1743 in Pennsylvania. The David KELKER family ran a boarding house following the railroad through Ohio as the rails were laid. Son Anthony became an engineer after they arrived in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Several others in the family also worked for the railroad and several were engineers.

My great-great-grandparents were Amanda KELKER 1839-1914 Franklin County, Pennsylvania to Delphos, Van Wert County, Ohio to Marion, Grant County, Indiana and Lewis TIMMONS 1838-1899 Logan County to Delphos, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Amanda's parents were David KELKER 1801-1872 Lebanon County, Pennsylvania to Goshen, Mahoning County to Delphos, Allen County, Ohio to Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana and Mary HOUSER 1802-1883 Pennsylvania to Mahoning County to Delphos, Allen County, Ohio to Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Brother Anthony KELKER is outlined on my Public Officials web page.

David's parents were John KELKER after 1768 to after 1808 to Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and Barbara ZIMMERMAN about 1773-1855 was 92 years old when she died in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

John's parents Rudolph KELKER 1747-1826 Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and Maria WEIDMAN about 1750 Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

• Rudolph, Anthony, Henry KELKER in 1790 Lebanon Tax List
• Rudolph and Anthony KELKER in Historical Annals of Lebanon County

Rudolph's parents were Henry KELKER (Heinrich KÖLLIKER) 1705-1762 Zurich, Switzerland to Lancaster now Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and Regula BRÄETSCHER Andelfingen, Switzerland to Lancaster now Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. One of their descendants of the Harrisburg KELKER's was a well known abolitionist during the slavery days. The Harrisburg KELKER's are mentioned in many early Dauphin County, Pennsylvania histories. Engletown, located in the Old Uptown Harrisburg historic district, between Harris and Kelker Streets and between N. Second and N. Third Streets, is a turn-of-the-century neighborhood and features ornate buildings primarily of Queen Anne and Italianate design.

The KELKER book and several internet sources take the KÖLLIKER family back eight more generations to 1465 in Zurich, Switzerland. My David KELKER and wife Mary HOUSER are found in the book on page 120 (126) below.

Sources and Internet Links

• Hess, Rev. John Jacob and Kelker, Rudolph F., Genealogical Record of The Family of Koelliker of Herrliburg, District Meilen, Canton Zurich, Switzerland, 1849, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1883, reprinted by Higginson Book Co., and on shelf at ACPL
• KELKER Ancestry.com
• 1916 KELKER Blower Company explosion
• KELKER DNA Surname Project
• KELKER Family GenForum
• KELKERS Family GenForum
• Kelker Junction, El Paso County, Colorado Latitude: 38.79583, Longitude: -104.78083, Elevation: 5854 feet , a Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad spur near Fort Carson, named for George and John KELKER. Early railroad engineer brothers who moved from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Colorado in the mid to late 1800's. There is a large concert hall at Kelker Junction claimed to be the world's largest 3.2 night club that hosted the rock bands Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels and The Who August 18, 1968. Even mentioned on a miniture railroad web site.
• John KELKER history a first cousin once removed of David KELKER in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

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