HOUSE OF YODER HOSTS NATIONAL YODER REUNION

Music Ensemble Directed by Lowell Bender

The following Report on the National Yoder Reunion October 19- 22, 2007 was prepared by Don Honeywell - honeyhive1@juno.com, (Melchior Yoder line Coordinator)

The Garrett County YODERs are mainly Amish and Mennonite and the attendees were largely of the Amish and Mennonite branches of the greater YODER family. About 200 attended coming from New York City to California, London, Ontario, Canada to Florida, and most parts in between.

Thursday evening was a Get Acquainted Reception at the headquarters motel which featured refreshments and country/gospel/mountain singing entertainment by the Windy Ridge Singers, a group of four playing banjo, violin, guitar, bass fiddle, and mandolin. They also threw in some Yoder-style yodeling and story telling. William A. Yoder, of the Melchior line, played his harmonica.

Friday morning was cold and wet. The morning program was held in a large tent near the Yoder House at the Spruce Village Artisan Center. It had good group singing and included a local trapper, an appearance by George Washington, history and dedication of the Yoder House, and ended with singing of the Lord's Prayer. Here is a quotation from part of the dedication service:

"Today, we, the generations that follow, give thanks to you, O God, for your sustaining grace and providence, in ways beyond our understanding. In this moment of dedication, The Yoder House declares your faithfulness, and your goodness through generations past, and to generations yet to come. Now we stand together, with thanksgiving, as we dedicate The Yoder House to you, Oh God, to your service, and your Glory, Amen."

The Yoder House is modeled after a Swiss house of circa 1750; it is now complete and contains over 100 tons of natural stone. From it's inception, it has taken 15 years to reach this point of completion. The house contains a huge walk-in fireplace, arched root cellar, and is furnished with items that would have been found in a typical Swiss home of the 1700s. The workmanship that went into building this house is truly wonderful.

After the dedication was over, we found ourselves very chilled and wandered directly into Penn Alps for lunch and hot drinks. It was much warmer and drier inside. After warming up at lunch, we wandered a bit among the artisan shops observing their skills and wares. In one of the little shops, we watched and heard Gary Yoder who is a world-renowned bird carver. One of his carvings was offered at the auction which was held that afternoon along with fabulous hand-sewn quilts, paintings, wood working, and photographs - all done by talented YODERs who donated items to the auction for the benefit of the Yoder House endowment.

Friday evening was the banquet at the Salisbury, PA Fire Hall. Salisbury is a small town about 8 miles north of Grantsville. The fire hall probably doubles as a community center and a center of social life, as in many small towns. The buffet meal consisted of turkey, roast beef, soup, numerous vegetables, capped by home made pies and ice cream. If anyone went hungry, it was their own fault. The program was punctuated by several religious songs and hymns by the A'Cappella Ensemble. Chris Yoder, editor of the Yoder Newsletter, presented a very interesting overview of the 8 separate YODER lines in America and their origins. This was followed by a description of the YODER DNA project which is indicating that nearly all Yoders (no matter how they spell the name) have a common heritage from Alsace, Germany and Switzerland.

The banquet tables contained this small card:

"St. Theodore (Joder) became the first bishop of what is now Switzerland. He was very successful. Miracles are attributed to him. He was later granted sainthood. Switzerland still lists August 16 and Austria 14 as Saint Joder's day. The Greek meaning of the name Theodore is "gift from God."

We began the Saturday bus tour (3 tour buses) at approximately 8:30. Our first site of interest was Little Meadows at the foot of Meadow Mountain where General George Washington encamped with his troops prior to the American Revolution. Scores of YODER sites were pointed out as we progressed. We visited a number of them including old farms, cemeteries and an Old Order Amish Church which is still in use. The bishop who greeted us was about 70 with a characteristic full Amish beard. He told about his congregation, Amish practices and, with his wife, sang a hymn in German for us. There were no electric lights in the church which made it rather dreary despite several good sized windows. Heat was by 2 coal stoves. The pews were all hand-made, very plain and relatively small. While in this vicinity we saw several Amish buggies on the roads. We also drove past a site where the Amish community was holding an auction to benefit a Yoder family who had incurred terrible health care costs due to having to have rabies shots for the entire family. There were scores of Amish families in attendance, some coming from Lancaster County, PA, and as far away as Ohio. One of the Yoder tour buses "passed the hat" and collected over $311 to contribute to the medical fund. We also drove past several Amish schools which complete education with the 8th grade. We ate lunch in Berlin, PA at the VFW Hall. We also stopped at the 9/11 United Airlines Flight 93 National Memorial at Shanksville, PA.

On Saturday evening we attended a presentation at the Maple Glen Mennonite Church given by Virgil YODER on Anabaptist Yost YODER of Steffisburg, Switzerland. This would be a very informative program for YODERs of the Anabaptist lines interested in YODER history in Switzerland. Virgil had some excellent photographs that he had taken on his several trips to the area.

On Sunday morning we attended a packed Mennonite worship service at the Yoder House. These folks are terrific singers, and it is all done in parts without accompaniment. The music sheets contained shape notes. We did several verses in German. Paul YODER moderated the meeting, David YODER directed the singing and Nate YODER delivered a fine message based on Nehemiah 9 entitled 'Making God's History Your History'.

Each event honored God for His faithfulness over many generations. We left Grantsville around 12:00 p.m. The ride back home was beautiful with the Lord's handiwork on all the hillsides. The bright blue sky and warm sunshine added to the pleasure of the trip. We arrived home about 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon. ---All best wishes in Christ, Don Honeywell, Cub Hill, Baltimore County, Maryland.

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The PowerPoint charts and script for the presentation by Chris Yoder and a full set of Photos from the Reunion (including many contributed by Michelle and Matt Zook. of Allensville, Pa and another set from Kenneth Yoder) can be seen at: http://www.yodernewsletter.org/famas.html

OLEY PRES. Joe Yoder - PA Dutch Christmas

Cook Stove of David Y Yoder (YR26119)

new Stone for Henry Yoder and wife (YR261)

Lunch at berlin, Pa Fire Hall

VISIT TO OLD YODER CEM.

YODER CREST IN WALL OF YODER HOUSE

AT THE 9-11 MEMORIAL IN SHANKSVILLE, PA

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THE DNA RESULTS--

WHAT ARE THEY TELLING US?

By triangulating the results from descendants of at least two sons of each 18^th century Yoder immigrant, we have been able to see what the actual Y-DNA profile was for the immigrant himself. This chart summarizes these families. We see that there is a 67 marker exact match between Adam Yoder (father of Oley Yost and Hans), Hans of Great Swamp of the Mennonite Yoder line, and Conrad Yoder of North Carolina. For the line of Melchior Yoder, we have one question mark at marker “CDYb” and are in process of upgrading one of our testees to allow us to eliminate the question mark—either Melchior will match the “38” value of the other lines, or he will have a “37” value as appeared in one of his descendants (odds say he’s a “38”).

(Full current details for the Yoder Project can be seen at:

http://www.yodernewsletter.org/DNA%20Summary.htm )

The statistical chart by the Family Tree test lab which is provided below shows the probability for the number of generations to the “Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA)”. In other words, for Conrad, Hans of Great Swamp, and the Oley line, there is a 95% probability that the MCRA is no more that 6 generations before the immigrants, and a 50% chance it’s no more than two generation above them. This may well also be true for Melchior, as we’ll see when the second test comes back on the CDYb marker.

The Amish line has an established one digit pre-immigrant mutation at marker “19” (based on the chart- it means a 50% probability of a MRCA no more than 4 generations before). We’ll analyze this mutation and how it fits with the Steffisburg Yoders in the Oct. 2007 issue of the YNL.

Last issue presented the 67 marker profile of our Yoder Most Recent Common Ancestor. We showed a “?” for marker number “481”. We now know the value for this marker is a “27”.

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NEED YOUR HELP to fund selected DNA tests. http://www.familytreedna.com/contribution.html or by mail to “The YODER PROJECT”: Family Tree DNA, 1919 North Loop West, Suite 110 Houston, Texas 77008. (See offer below for contributors of $100 or more).

-Pinpoint the 67 Marker profile for Melchior Yoder

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LAST HARDCOPIES BOUND YNL 1-25!

We will donate the last remaining hardcopies of the bound and indexed Yoder Newsletter Issues 1-25 as a premium for donations to the DNA Fund. If you donate $100 or more to this effort, you can receive one of these last copies (until they are gone). Chris Yoder will be glad to inscribe these on request. Exciting tests now underway to determine:

--Relationship of Catholic Joders of Hecken France

-Possible descendants of Abraham Yoder OH135

-Was Jacob Yoder b. 1783 of Lewisburg, Pa YR1272?

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HANS YODER’S MILL

WHITE LINE- LESHER DUG HIS DITCH

(AEREAL PHOTO BY RICHARD H. YODER)

Hans Yoder (OH1) (c1700-1779) had a falling out with his neighbor and former son-in-law John Lesher. This story was given in Dr. Peter Bertolet’s “Fragments of the Past”. Bertolet was a grandson of Mary Yoder Bertolet (OY12).

“Mr. Lesher was proprietor of the Oley Forge and owner of much real estate in this vicinity. He got at variance with his neighbor, Hance Yoder, who owned the Griesemer’s Mill property, just situated between the two points in this stream. In order to satiate his vengeance upon the poor miller, Mr. Lesher resolved to set his mill dry, by running the Mantawny down past the mill, in an artificial channel upon his own property, a considerable distance from the mill. In truth he did carry out this malignant scheme. In testimony or proof of the fact, we can at the present day see the remains of the deep channel, cut through the fields for some fifty rods. He could then easily turn all the waters of Crooked Dam into this channel and set the mill, about a mile below, high and dry. Suit was brought against Mr. L. and damage recovered, and of course he had to remove his obstruction in Crooked Dam and thus paid pretty dearly for this bit of folly.

“Besides, the miller had taken advantage to secure a small plot of ground above Crooked Dam, of Mr. John Yoder, which in case the suit had failed would have eventually frustrated the wily project of Lesher. In consequence of this act of generosity by Yoder to the miller, Lesher became very wrath at this and in consequence abandoned the scheme.

REMNANTS OF 900FT CHANNEL DUG BY LESHER

RICHARD A AND DAVID A YODER AT LEFT

“Another story is that Lesher, had intended building a mill at Ab. Houck’s, and for that purpose tapped the Manatawny, etc., while Yoder was building his (now) Griesemer’s. One day he had left home and on his return he found his ditch at Manatawny filled with large stones. Lesher declared that the devil had helped Yoder to do this trick, but really it was Yoder’s friendly neighbors, of which he had more than the other.”

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The Yoder Newsletter- Founded 1983 by

Ben F Yoder (1913-1992), Chris Yoder & Rachel Kreider

Chris Yoder, Editor, Saugatuck, MI; John W. Yoder, Circulation Manager, Middlebury, IN; Rachel Kreider, Senior Contributing Editor, Goshen, IN; Esther E. Yoder, Mail Manager, Goshen, IN; Donald Kauffman, YNL Webmaster, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Other Contributors: Richard H. Yoder, Bechtelsville, PA; Hubert A. Yoder, Charlotte, NC; Dr. Don Yoder, Devon, PA; Neal D. Wilfong, Cleveland, NC.

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SEND YNL CORRESPONDENCE:

- FOR CIRCULATION ISSUES ONLY such as new or renewed subscriptions, changes of address, orders for back issues to: Yoder Newsletter, P.O. Box 594, Goshen, IN 46527-0594.

- ALL OTHER CORRESPONDENCE- Dealing with ancestral queries or contributions for future YNLs or archives (such as reunion notices, letters to the Editor, copies of Bible records or other historical information) to: Chris Yoder, 551 S. Maple St., Saugatuck, MI 49453 or email at cyoder@tds.net .

YNL PRICE INFORMATION (Price unchanged since 1983!)

-Annual YNL subscription (published Apr. and Oct.) for $3.

-BACK ISSUES of the YNL are $1 per issue.

Visit: http://www.yodernewsletter.org/subscrib.html for mail-in subscription form.

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YODER DATA ON DISK. Included back issues of YNL text, census and county records, family group data and pictures and scanned images. The price for our “Yoder Data on Disk” is $10 (postage included). Send to YNL address in Goshen. (Most of this info is also available free at the YNL Homepage).

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DVDs from National Reunion for $10 each. Sessions include:

The 2006 National Yoder Reunion was captured on camera, and copies can be ordered from: Bradley Maust, 1300 Oakdale Rd, Salisbury, PA 15558, email: emaust@yahoo.com , phone 814-662-2866. All events on 4 DVDs= $45; or individual sessions on separate DVDs

Thursday Evening - Registration & “Get Acquainted” Reception

Friday Morning- Program at Yoder House

Friday afternoon- Public Sale of Yoder Artifacts

Friday Evening- Banquet and Chris Yoder Talk on Yoder Origins, American Immigrant Lines, and DNA Project Findings

Saturday Bus Tour- Historic Sites, Grantsville Md to Berlin, Pa

Saturday Evening-Talk- Joders in Switzerland by Virgil Yoder

Sunday - Church Service -Yoder House, Nate Yoder Speaker

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Paton Yoder Article Featured in “Pa. Mennonite Heritage”

Thanks to Don Reed for pointing out an excellent article by Paton Yoder in the Oct. 2006 Pa. Menn. Heritage, entitled “Jacob, Samuel, and Jonathan Yoder: From Old Order Amish to Amish Mennonite”. Contact: Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, 2215 Millstream Road, Lancaster, PA 17602-1499

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NEW JAMES D. YODER BOOK

Visit James D. Yoder’s webpage at www.Yoderbooksk.com to review his latest historical novel, “Mudball Sam,” set in Oklahoma during the land rush.  The book tells the story of a Quaker mother and her son and daughter who were abandoned by a sick father and husband on the prairies in the 1890’s,  12-year-old SamYoder must take the lead in the family.  It is a story of faith and survival.  The books can be ordered directly from www.Yoderbooks.com email: James@yoderbooks.com

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

I have good news to report. We have been searching for the Yoder cemetery since 1983 and thank Dottie Shannon of Farmington, Mo. for locating it. Peter Yoder (Con15) (1805-c1870) was a grandson of N.C. Conrad Yoder and his 1^st wife Catherine Cline. Peter Yoder and his 1^st wife Rachel Hahn moved to Farmington, Mo. In 1850. Peter deeded 1/3 acre for a cemetery on his farm, which is the Martin Redmond farm today (on the outskirts of Farmington). The cemetery is grown up in weeds and trees, and is a favorite place for the cattle because of the shade. The cattle have knocked stones over and trampled on them until some got buried. So we want to get a fence around the cemetery to keep the cattle out and probe for tombstones and set them upright, and do whatever needs to be done. Have had several “work days” cleaning things up and hope to raise some funds for fence and marker. Contributions welcome. - Sincerely Edwin Sr. & June Yoder, Bonne Terre, Mo.

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WHO WAS P. A. YODER?

This postcard is marked “P.A. Yoder General Mdse. Store”. Mr. & Mrs. Yoder may be on porch. Sign post at bottom says, Kellerville, Dimmsville 4mi, Millerstown 12 mi. circa 1904-1918

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YODERS OF ALLEN CO., IND.

The Yoders of Allen County, Ind., started in 1971, data collected through 1975, rested on my shelves for 30 years, is now completed and ready for distribution.  It begins with Christian Joder/Barbara Schott (1787/1794) of Alsace.  Seven of their eleven children emigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1800's and settled (at least for a time) in Allen County, Ind..

The book has 91 pages of text and 21 pages of photographs.  There are four chapters and three appendices:

Chapter 1:  The Yoder Name

Chapter 2:  European History of the Allen County Mennonites

Chapter 3:  Migration and Settlement in America

Chapter 4.  The Yoder Family of Allen County, Indiana

Appendix A:  The Yoder Settlement in Stuttgart, Arkansas

Appendix B:  Joe and Leah Conrad Wedding

Appendix C:  America in the Years 1820-1860

The book includes a brief genealogy of the 11 children of Christian Yoder/Barbara Schott and a detailed genealogy of their 5th child, Joseph.  Joseph married Katharina Roth and they had 9 children including my grandfather, Christian.  The book includes photographs of 8 of the 9 children of Joseph and Katy and as many of the 61 grandchildren as we could find.

The book cost $27 to print (photos are picture quality), and the sale price is also $27 plus $2.50 for mailing.  Order from: Levon Yoder, 2499 Sword Highway, Adrian, Mi., 49221

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Thanks to Bob Crowl for sharing Howard Harrison Yoder (M2146) Family. Fm left: Earl, Luella holding Leah, Howard, Mary (Howard (1871- 1934) was a son of John Longacre Yoder)

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THE MEANING OF HAPLOGROUP “I1c”

-by Gary Yordy

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Editor Note: A “Haplogroup” is an ancient tribal branch of mankind. The DNA Profile for the Swiss Yoders and the American immigrant Yoder shows we are haplogroup “I1c”. Thanks to Gary for explaining the history of our branch of humans.

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About 80,000 BCE, our ancestor left eastern Africa, crossing the southern Red Sea and arriving in Yemen.  Over millennia, our ancestors made their way north along the west coast of the Red Sea, eventually arriving in the Middle East.  Our ancestor then left the middle east and migrated to Europe during the Upper Paleolithic (40,000 BCE to 11,000 BCE).  About 28,000 BCE, the I Haplotype Ancestor branched in Europe.  He became part of the Aurignacian Culture, and later, the Gravettian and Magdalenian Cultures. 

Our I1c ancestor is believed to have branched during the late Upper Paleolithic (18,000 BCE – 14,000 BCE) in northern France, before the last glacial maximum.   After spending the last glacial maximum in southern France avoiding the glaciation to the north, they returned north following the reindeer herds. 

How did our ancestors get from northern France to Switzerland?  I think two general possibilities exist. Our ancestor either 1) disseminated eastward through Europe before or during the Neolithic period, arriving in Switzerland some 3500 years ago and settling along the shores of Lake Neuchatel;  Or, 2) our ancestor continued north to Scandinavia during the Neolithic (9,000 BCE- 3,000 BCE).  From there, descendants moved into northern and central Germany, and much later (around 260 CE) as members of the Alemennian tribe, invaded northern Switzerland settling in the valleys between the Alps and Jura mountain ranges.  Either scenario is plausible.

I know this is, at best, speculative.  But it is grounded in my understanding of human migration based on YDNA and mitochondrial DNA studies, anthropological research, paleontology, and archeology.  Of course, we will never be able to prove any of it.  But somehow, visualizing my ancestor dressed in skins, carrying a knife, bow and arrows (very much resembling “Otzi” ,the ice man of the Alps), and living in a Swiss Valley  some 5000 years ago (at the same time as the pyramids of Egypt were being built and some 1800 years before Moses received the Ten Commandments on Sinai) gives me some sense of perspective on my heritage.  Put another way … when I think that on the day Jesus was born, my direct ancestor was likely a pagan, living with his small family in a stone and sod house and using primitive tools to farm a small plot of land on the Swiss plateau, somehow connects me with history, my heritage, and my faith.

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YNL LOANS YODER ITEMS

The YNL has loaned two items for display at the Yoder House. The first is a life-size photo portrait of Congressman Samuel S. Yoder (YR233317), Representative from Ohio (1887-1891) and Sgt at Arms of the US House of Representatives 1891-93. d. May 11, 1921 (See YNL 8 for biography). The second is a hand colored fractur for Benjamin Yoder (OH14561) b. 1839, son of Gideon Yoder who m. 9/13/1838 Anna Haines.

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Gov. Pennypacker Translation Error

By Karolyn Roberts

Penna. Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker had the 1791 “Genealogy of the Family of De Voss” translated into English in 1876. This document listed the maiden names of two wives of early Mennonite Yoder line members. An error in translation listed the surname “Holten” instead of “Sell/Sellen” for Veronica, wife of Casper Yoder (YB11). According to Forrest L. Moyer, Project Archivist, Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville, PA, this translation was an error. Veronica was a “Sell” and her ancestry is as follows:

Jan De Voss (earliest known of this line)

Peter De Voss m Jannicke Van der Mers

Peter Van Sintern m Sara De Voss

Izaak/Isaac Van Sintern m Neeltje Classen/Classen

Peter Sellen m Adriana Van Sintern

Henry Sellen m Maria Schell)

Veronica Sell

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PA. STATE ARCHIVES ON THE WEB

Thanks to Lisa Dominick for pointing out the PA Historical and Museum Commission web site, which has patent, warrant, and military service records(from the Revolution onward) scanned from and accessible on-line. Many Yoders can be found there. Check this out at: http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ .

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1ST “YODER” TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT

WAS A “YORTY”

Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty (1909-1998),

sought Dem. Pres. nomination in 1972

DNA Test results show a common ancestor between the Swiss “Joder” family and three different “Yorty” immigrant lines from the Jordi Family of Switzerland (23 of 25 markers matched). I’d like to thank Gary Yordy for his analysis of these links and his comments on the ancient Jordi family. The DNA results come from descendants of: Peter Yorty of Pennsylvania who arrived ca. 1717; Peter Yordy of Illinois arrived in 1838; & Christian Yotty of Illinois arrived in 1839.

(the remaining 12 of a 25 marker profile match exactly for all).

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ANALYSIS BY GARY YORTY (par5in2@qwest.net): I have done some preliminary investigation into the Jordi and Joder families in Switzerland and beyond.  I believe that the common ancestor of the Joder and Jordi families occurred between 1100 C.E. and 1500 C.E. in Switzerland.  The DNA supports this theory.  The basis for this belief is that surnames were not adopted in Switzerland until after 1100 C.E.  By 1250, the "Joder" surname was in use.  The earliest reference to the "Jordi" surname I have found (to date) is about 1500 C.E.  Since the basis for the Joder surname is St. Theodore, and I can find no basis for the Jordi name, other than it is likely a variation of the spelling of Joder, it seems most logical that at some point between the adoption of surnames (1100 C.E.) and the identification of the Jordi name (1500 C.E.), a man with the surname of "Joder" had his surname changed to "Jordi" - either volitionally or as a result of a spelling error by the individual or a bureaucrat, and the name "Jordi" stuck and was passed on through generations.

My research indicates that the Jordi name probably originated in the Oberaargau in the Swiss Plateau, in Canton Bern, possibly in the region of Gondswil.  This is about 20 miles north of the earliest recorded Joder ancestor, Peter Joder from Jodershubel, and 3.3 miles from Huttwil, the home of Peter's great grandsons, Ulli and Heini Joder, in 1389.

The earliest Swiss Jordi's were Roman Catholic.  When the Protestant Reformation was inaugurated in Canton Bern in 1528, most of the Jordi's became members of the Swiss Reformed Church (as did most of the population of Canton Bern).  Sometime between 1528 and 1700, a few Jordi's joined the Anabaptist movement (possibly only one family).  Most of the Jordi's who remained Catholic and those who joined the Swiss Reformed church remained in the area and some of their descendants remain there today.  Those very few who joined the Anabaptist movement (Subsequently referred to as Mennonites) began to leave Switzerland because of religious persecution around 1700-1717. 

At least one Jordi (Jakob Jordi) split from the Mennonites and joined the Amish division.  He is identified as a member of the Amish Congregation at Ste.-Marie-aux-Mines, Alsace, France in 1715.  At this time, it is believed the Jakob Jordi was probably the progenitor of all of the Amish or Mennonite Jordi's that were subsequently identified in historic documents in Alsace, France and in Germany.  It is my belief that Jakob Jordi was the progenitor of both Peter Yordy of Illinois and Christian Yotty. 

At the same time, Peter Jordi left Switzerland, traveling at first to Pfalz and shortly thereafter, to America, where he settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and became the progenitor of the Yordy families of Pennsylvania. The relationship between Peter Jordi and Jakob Jordi is unclear, but they were certainly contemporaries, and may have been brothers.  The DNA studies would support this possibility.

To date, I have only been able to identify 3 other Jordi family members of the era who were labeled as Anabaptists: Johannes, Elizabeth, and Barbara Jordi were identified as Anabaptists in Eriswil, Switzerland in 1735.  They may have been siblings of Jakob, or Peter, or both, but there is no evidence for that at this time.

In essence, the YDNA studies to date support the historical evidence quite nicely.  The historic data that we have on Christian Yotty and Peter Yordy in Illinois show that the two men had a close relationship, but we have not been able to prove they were siblings.  But both were clearly related to the Yordy's of Pennsylvania and to the Yoders.

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INITIALS IN CHRISTIAN YODER BARN (YR2337) -MYSTERY SOLVED

Mr. and Mrs. Leon Knepper, current owners of the farmhouse and barn built by Bishop Christian Yoder Jr. (YR2337) welcomed three tour buses from the National reunion. Leon showed folks the initials carved into a beam in the barn. These were a complete mystery to him and to the Somerset County Yoder historians who had been told about them. YNL Editor Chris Yoder, g-g-g-grandson of Bishop Yoder, was able to identify the culprit as Daniel R. Yoder, son of Reuben (who went to Indiana in 1851), and grandson of Christian. Members of the Reuben Yoder family returned many times to the old homestead, and 130 years later took the lead in restoring the cemetery on this property. Daniel Yoder (1858-1956) of Goshen, Indiana was the father of Indiana Public Service Commissioner Toby Yoder, and grandfather of the late Goshen High School football coach Don Yoder. Don has been inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in Richmond, Indiana.

***************************Queries**********************

The YNL will publish Yoder related inquiries or exchanges at no charge. Please limit as possible to include a full return address. All inquiries are checked against our records to see if we can help too. If you receive added info, please share it with the YNL for our files. Send Queries to: Chris Yoder, 551 S. Maple St., Saugatuck, MI 49453 or email at cyoder@tds.net .

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WHO WAS THIS DAVID YODER?- From Columbiana Co., Oh Marriages: “Yoder, David & Domicilla Leoclosh: m. at White Cloud, Kansas on 5^th inst by Rev E.W. Mauck. David Yoder formerly of Mahoning Co., OH and Domicilla Leoclosh. The Indian Chief’s daughter of the Iowa tribe in Doniphan Co. Kansas” (NLJ 30 Aug 1869): Write Chris Yoder, 551 S. Maple St., Saugatuck, MI 49453 or email: cyoder@tds.net .

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UNLINKED YODERS- RECOGNIZE ANYONE?

From Falkner Swamp Reformed Church, Montgomery Co.,Pa.

Daniel Jotter death 9/16/1812

From Louisiana Marriage Records

G.C. Yoder m. 2/8/1880 Dell Guillett, Red River, La

From Maryland Marriage Records

Jacob Yeoder m. 1/30/1798 Caty Wagonner, Frederick, Md

From Wisconsin Marriages

John Westly Yoder m. 10/27/1872 Emma Louise Cox, Jackson Co., Wisc.

From St. Louis Death Records

Rosie Yoder d. 10/11/1901 (per 1900 census she was born Ireland in 1852, and lived with her mother Rose McCarran)

From St. Louis Marriage records:

Isabella Yoder m. 9/5/1873 James White

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SOMERSET COUNTY YODER CEMETERY NEEDS HELP

I wanted to advise someone that many of the Yoder stones in the North Fork Dam Cemetery are now broken.  I visit there about twice a year when I come to Pennsylvania as the Roddy's buried there are my family. In fact, they were the first people buried at North Fork Dam Cemetery.  I moved to Tennessee a few years ago but check on the cemetery when I am home.  Am also curious as to how this came to be known as the Yoder Cemetery and any history you may have on the cemetery.  I would be grateful for any information as John and Mary Roddy were my ggggrandparents. Reply to: Beverly Andrews (nee Clark), Erwin, TN Email bandrewso5@comcast.net

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YODER CEMETERY- Conemaugh Township.
YODER, Lucinda d. 9/10/1889 age 30-11-4 (YR23d14)
YODER, John d. 9/19/1892 age 27-2-23 (YR23d17)
YODER, Tobias b. 8//1808 d. 10/10/1880 (YR23d1)
YODER, Sarah b. 7/26/1830 d. 11/5/1916 (w2YR23d1)
YODER, Tobias B. b. 12/28/1869 d. 10/30/1918 (YR23d18)
YODER, Jacob J. d. 9/19/1902 age 41-10-21 (YR23d15)
YODER, Rachel b. 11/16/1849 d. 12/15/1928 (YR23d11)

Other family names buried in this cemetery: ALWINE, EPPLY, HERSHBERGER, KEAFER, KEEFER, SHAFFER, LIVINGTON, RODDY, THOMAS.

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Abraham who m. Cath. Troutman

Initial DNA results from a descendant of Abraham Yoder (Sept. 10, 1809 Berks Co-8/1/1879) and Catherine Troutman support the speculation that he is a descendant (possible son) of Abraham Yoder OH135! We hope to give more details in the next issue of the YNL.

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HOW MANY YODERS?

The Census Bureau says the surname “Yoder” ranks 1118^th in frequency of occurrence within the U.S. population. It also says that it represents about .011% of the US population. With an estimated population on March 4, 2007 of 301,000,000, this equals approximately 33,000 Yoders in the US today.

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REPORT FROM THE PAYSHAN CEMETERY

--contributed by Ann Marie Middleton

Stone for Joel Yoder (YR2357) (1799-1888)

His wife Rebecca (Hershberger) Yoder (1802-1879)

Here are photos of Joel and Rebecca Yoder's grave at Pashan Cemetery, Newbury Twp., LaGrange County, Indiana. Joel was born in Somerset County, Pa. and married Rebecca Hershberger there before moving to Holmes County, Pa.

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St. Joder Chapel at Hergiswil, Switzerland

-photo complements of Max Joder, Rottenburg, Germany.

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YODER PASSINGS

-- Dan E. Yoder, 92, of Dover, Delaware, died of a heart attack July 27, 2006, while staying with a daughter in Iowa. Mr. Yoder was born Aug. 26, 1913, in Holmes County, Ohio, son of the late Emanuel D. Yoder (YR2612a61) and Lizzie Wengard Yoder. He is survived by 10 children 77 grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren, 294 g-grandchildren; and 22 g-g-grandchildren.

-- Dr. Julian C. Yoder (Con37343) passed on August 9, 2006, age 96. He taught his entire academic career as a full Professor of geography (and also taught geology) at Appalachian State University.

--Dorothy Yoder Coffman, 86, of Minerva, Ohio, passed away Dec. 30, 2006. Dorothy wrote the Melchior Yoder article which appeared in YNL3, and did major work in copying the Yoder census data now available for use by Yoders everywhere.

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THE AARON YODER FAMILY

The family of Aaron J. Yoder (1833-1910) (YR234b1) and Catherine (Rohrer) Heider at their home in Berlin, Holmes Co., Oh. Back row: Saloma, Fred, John, Sevilla (Domer); Front row: Jacob, Jemima (Domer), Aaron, Catherine, Lydia Heider (Warnes), & Amanda (Brandt) –contributed by Michael John Yoder 14139 C.R. 38, Goshen, Indiana 46528

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EMMA (BERRY) YODER FOUND ON eBAY

“From your Friend Emma L. Yoder, June 1, 1887, Washington, D.C.” This photo was found on eBay. Emma Louise (Beery) Yoder (1856-1927) was the 2nd wife of Charles Theodore Yoder (OY42411). Maj. C. T. Yoder, was the highest ranking Yoder officer in the Civil War. He did extensive Yoder family research in the late 19th Century, but his notes have never been found. He was featured in YNL18.

Oley Yoder Reunion Plans

Our 2007 Regional Reunion will be held on Saturday, July 21 at the Fire House in Oley, PA. We will have a luncheon, a raffle, a guest speaker and time for participants to meet and talk. Tentative plans are for a sit down lunch with homemade desserts. We will have several special gift packages and treats that will be raffled off through tickets sales and there will also be Yoder memorabilia for sale.

Our guest speaker will be Henry F. Zerbe who will present “THE OUTHOUSE– AN ENDANGERED SPECIES”. He will give a humorous talk about the family outhouse. Reviews from some local newspapers include: “Homespun and low-keyed. One of the best.” -Reading Eagle; “Kept the audience on the edge of their seats.” –Williamsport Sun-Gazette

Mr. Zerbe entered a Humorous Speech Competition with this talk and took home top honors. It should be fun for the whole family.

We encourage you to bring your pictures and memorabilia to share with others. There will be time to share your family stories and to catch up with old friends and to make new ones. Come and bring your family and your stories to share.

Also we would like to give you a head’s up on a future National Yoder Reunion, date to be announced, that will be held in our area. We have started making plans and choosing an itinerary for our next national gathering. We hope you will let us know what type of places you would like to visit and what kinds of topics you would like to learn more about. If you know of places in our area, that you would like to visit, please let us know so that we can consider them for our tour. We want to provide you with an exciting visit to the mid-Atlantic region in line with learning more about our Yoder family and its history and heritage. You can send or share your ideas and requests with Nancy Yoder 415 State St. Pottstown, PA 19464, Joe Yoder, at 610-779-5932, or email us with Yoder Reunion in the subject line at kayoder@netcarrier.com.

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ABE S.YODER REUNION

The bi-annual Abe S. Yoder (YR257182) Reunion is scheduled for June 8 to 10, 2007 at Roxbury, PA. A Family Cookbook is being prepared as a fund-raiser and will be available at the reunion. For more information contact Rachel Shetterly, 778 State St., Millersburg, Pa. 17061, email: padutchgirl70@yahoo.com ,phone 717-692-0390.

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NORTH CAROLINA ANNUAL REUNION

The 57th annual reunion of the Conrad Yoder Family of NC will b e held Aug. 12, 2007 at the Zion Lutheran Church, Hickory, NC. Social gathering and business part of the reunion begins with a covered dish lunch at Zion Church at 1pm and concludes several hours later. Family members and historians are available throughout the weekend for out-of-town “cousins” and others interested in local family history. The Zion parish hall is the focus of activities from Thursday through Sunday with displays of Yoder history and items of interest. A memorial service is held Saturday at the Conrad Yoder gravesite. For further info contact: President Phillip Yoder, pyoder@twave.net ; Secretary, Neal Wilfong, NDWILFONGOPTIKER@AOL.COM : Directors: Ted Yoder, tyoder@yahoo.com ; Rachael Hahn Kennedy, rkennedy@rbh.com ; Bill Yoder, byodernc@aol.com . Mailing address: The Yoder Family of North Carolina, P. O. Box 10371,     Mt. View Station, Hickory, NC 28603

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