our churchyard/cemetery a few of the interesting tombstones

THOMAS LINGLE PVT., FILBERT’S CO. PA. VOLS. REV. WAR 1742- 1811 THE FOUNDER OF THE TOWN OF ST. THOMAS Thomas Lingle is recognized as the founder of the Town of St. Thomas which gradually became known at Linglestown.  When he arrived in the area in 1765 he saw the potential for developing the simple community into a planned town.  His original plans are available.

FRANCIS WENRICH SERVED IN BATTLE AT BRANDYWINE, GERMANTOWN & ON THE FRONTIER AGAINST THE INDIANS 1750-1827, aged 77 years In 1784 Franz Wenerich and wife, Elizabeth, came to the area and purchased land from Andrew Berryhill.  That land included the log parochial school and house of worship for the area.  In 1792 the Wenrich’s sold the section of land that included the school/church to the four congregations who worshipped there – Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Lutheran, and German Reformed.

IN THE YEAR 1828 DID GEORGE PLETZ DID DY IN SEPTEMBER ??DAY HIS AGE 20 YEARS 1 MONTH AND 10 DAYS In September, 1828 George Pletz and his brother built a flying machine and attempted to fly over the mountain into Fishing Creek Valley.  They did not succeed.  George, age 20, broke his neck and died.  His brother survived with a broken arm.

IN MEMORY OF JOHN EISENHOWER Died JUNE 21, 1861 Aged 87 years 4 months and 16 days Served Pennsylvania Militia Revolutionary War and 5th Class Capt Henry Snevely’s Co at the time of the Whiskey Rebellion.  John was the half brother of the great great grandfather of the 34th president of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower.  His wife, Catherine Planck ,daughter of Jacob Planck, a signer of the deed to the church property, is buried next to him.  The church has a copy of an extensive Eisenhower genealogy.

INDIAN PRINCESS WHITE FEATHER SIOUX TRIBE 8-24-1939  84Y Known as Mary Greene, Mary Redd, Mary Taylor, White Feather , and Eagle Feather, the stories say that she was an American Native princess, a Sioux from the Dakota territory, taken from the arms of her dead mother, Prairie Flower, after a massacre by the American government.  As a youth she was sent to the Carlisle Indian School and after that she never left central Pennsylvania.  Her funeral was attended by many Native Americans.  There are pictures of the funeral in the church archives. slave burials information about slave burials at Wenrich Cemetery can be found at this link: slave burials links to other sites Wenrich Cemetery tombstone transcriptions www.maley.net/dauphin/OnlineData/cemetery/wenrichs2.htm genealogy of Casper Bucher & Catharine Wannemacher www.mercerfamilyhistory.com/modules.php?name=Genealogy Wenrich genealogy www.maley.net/genealogy/wga15.html Bonawitz genealogy http://bonnewitz.org Clawges/Mumma genealogy www.clawges.com Barnett genealogy www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/2089/genealogy/joseph.html [Back to History Home Page ]