THE CRIPE FAMILY TREE

Compiled  in 1935 by Sarah Cripe Ranck
From the Files of the Harold Miller Family
Transcribed by Nancy J. Reed, January 2009
Corrections submitted by Jack Bonham, July 21, 2010

The material of this history I have gleaned from various sources and at widely different times; some from moss-covered tombstones in tiny family grave yards; some from my own memory of things spoken of by my Grandmother Cripe, and much of it I owe to my uncle David E. Cripe, now 80 years old but possessed of a keen memory.

 Our Cripe ancestors came from Germany about the year 1750 [Alsace-Lorraine, France; see note below**]; at this same time came Ulerys, (original spelling was “Ulerich”) the Brubakers, and the Metzgers; all from Germany at this time.  Altho the Ulerys and Brubakers were originally from Switzerland and the Metzgers from Holland, and of the Low Dutch stock.  Hence we see some of them can hardly speak plain English yet or even the Pennsylvania Dutch as we learned it; and I have heard of some of them who could not quite say “Metzger.”

 I speak of these other families because their settling at the same place at the same time very likely accounts for the intermarrying of these names so much at this early day.  Many of these first families settled in the North west corner of Pennsylvania at Franktown, that name must since have been changed or the place been wiped off the map by emigration to the ‘West’ as it is not to be found now.  As a small girl I well remember hearing my Grandmother refer to some of her first Ohio and Indiana neighbors as “Franktowners”.  I wondered then what kind of a creature a Franktowner was; when I asked she said, “We all lived at Franktown.” (If only I had asked then for more questions while so much could have been easily gotten to enrich this bit of history!)  This Grandmother was a very timid woman who never learned or attempted to use the English language, but understood it well enough to carry on a conversation in Dutch with another person speaking in English.

 It is thought that quite likely there was some intermarrying with the Scotch in Penn. As the Dutch of these people contains many Scotch words.

 Soon after General Wayne conquered the Eastern Indiana Indians, and built a fort where Ft. Wayne now stands, these Franktowners began to move west, coming to Montgomery Co. Ohio, and out of the dense woods hewed them our rich farms.  Our own Cripe ancestor settled on Wolf Creek near Dayton.  This move began in 1798.  Thirty years later the same stock, but mostly a younger generation began moving to Northern Indiana. 

 The first of these settlements were made in the fertile prairies around where Goshen now stands.

 Four of the older Cripes were of these first emigrants from near Dayton, Ohio.  It is thought these were brothers; this is not known certainly.  Of these four Jacob and Daniel settled near Goshen, one near Richmond, Ind. And one, John, soon nicknamed “Ornery John” went to Wild Cat Creek; the Cripes in Clinton Co. and around Wild Cat and Deer Creek are all descended from him.  (Let us hope they are not all ‘ornery’)  I personally have known one of these families where both husband and wife were of this descent.  Traits that gave this “John” his nickname had clearly followed on down through the generations.  Certainly heredity is a vital and potent thing.  These four Cripes came to Indiana in 1828.  The one at Richmond left very few descendents.  The Daniel Cripe near Goshen was the first minister and elder of the Church of the Brethren to settle in Northern Indiana; he was the father of my great grandfather Daniel Cripe who was born 1785, died 1865 in Ohio.   This Daniel also moved to Indiana early, perhaps same time as his father as he was 43 years old then and had a family, he (my Great Grandfather) settled where Mishawaka stands.  He married in 1812 (probably in Ohio), his wife, our Great Grandmother died there about 1837.  Her maiden name was Catherine Overholtzer.  Their children are:

David              My Grandfather, born 1814, died Feb. 1855   

Born 1814

Jacob             father of Henry, Aaron, Susie, Betty, whose mother was my mother’s B. B.1816   sister, Elizabeth Frantz, she was his 2^nd wife, his 3^rd was Mary Swihart Ulery.

Daniel, Jr.      father of Noah Cripe, Lizzie Cripe Frantz, “Little Jake” Cripe by 1^st

B. 1818     marriage.  2^nd wife was Polly Mohler, she had several children named Mohler, the child of this last union was Elisa, 1^st wife of Frank Reahard.  Daniel and Polly also raised her orphan grandchild, Lula Mohler.

Stephen         He was the father of “Deaf Jake” his only child and this son was left an

B. 1820          orphan when just a baby.  He lived to middle age.

John N.          Married, but his wife lived only a few years.  Married again left one child,

B. 1825          Katie.  I think she married a Skiles.  Lived at Wild Cat.

Susan            Became wife of John J. Ulery and mother of a large family.  The following

B. 1823          children, Isaace, Aaron, Stephen, John ?, Dave, Katie, Barbara.

Isaac               Married Katherine Fontz of Pyrmount, Ind.  Their children were Fanny,

B. 1835          married Sam Fontz; Molly married Jake Metzger; and Sammy.  Isaac was a victim of Rheumatism which twisted his body so he was near helpless and died in 1868 aged 33 years.  His widow married David Shock.

 David Cripe and Elizabeth Ulery, my Grandparents, were married in 1836.  Our Cripe and Ulery ancestors lived only a few miles apart in Ohio.

 In the fall of 1835, David then in his 22^nd year, left his Indiana home and walked back toOhio, visited in the home of Isaac and Barbara Gripe Ulery and won for his wife, the daughter Elizabeth; they had a simple home wedding in 1836.  Elizabeth was the second child.  The first was David a preacher, the father of John J. Ulery who afterward married my Grandfather David Cripe’s only sister, Susan.  The third child in the Ulery home was Esther who had married Jacob Metzger and already had two children when Grandfather married Grandmother.

 Father Ulery had a short time before ‘been west’ and procured a piece of land and all were planning to move soon.  After this wedding the old parents staid long enough to make sale, but the young Metzgers and the Bride and Groom started for this new Indiana home at once, each with a team and wagon and Metzger’s father with his team and wagon also took a load, returning home afterwards (he did this six times each time helping a child move west.)

 My Grandmother often laughingly spoke of how it was her and Grandfather Metzger’s job to drive the cows, two for each family; his team they said traveled well without a driver; they had fine appetites, and she said he would often sneak up to a wagon, get out some food, take it back and divide with her.  Soon after starting, the cows broke back and scattered through the thick woods, then the teams had to be unhitched and with the help of the horses they finally rounded them up and went on.

 They started in August, taking the State road from Dayton to Indianapolis.  This road runs through Richmond, Ind. Which in 1836 was already quite a city, but Indianapolis was quite new, only a few buildings; from here they took the Richmond State road, a mere patch cut through the woods.  When they got to Logansport they followed Eel river to North Manchester many times having to cut their road ahead of them.  The trip lasted three weeks.  On a farm adjoining their new home was an empty cabin already deserted by a family for a better house, into this they went for a few days, and on the first night there a third son was born to the Metzgers, who left three generations at his death.

 Next morning Grandpa Metzger started back home alone.  This new home was several miles north (maybe a little west) of N. Manchester; here these young brothers-in-law soon had two new cabins ready, one for the Metzgers and one for the newly weds.  I have been told these were 10 or 12 by 14, walls of logs of course, roof of roughly split boards, the earth was the floor, the south end entirely open for light and entrance, with the wagon sheet hung over it in bad weather.  These two sisters looked much alike except that Elizabeth was larger than Esther, she was much more energetic.  Esther loved ease and comfort; both had the grace of kindliness and generosity to a great degree.  I saw them together often.  Here I must mention two more brothers of Grandmother I should have placed earlier. 

John, father of S. S. Ulery of Ogans Creek Church fame, Eli, Aaron who was quite wealthy, Mrs. George Tridle and many others.

Stephen = he married Mary Swihart later called “Old Mary.”   They were the parents of “Yankee Jake”, Polly Isenbarger, Esther Clymer and maybe others.  After Stephen died this “Old Mary” became Henry Cripe’s step mother by marrying Jacob Cripe.

 In 1837 Great Grandfather Daniel Cripe sold out at Mishawaka and got a section of land west of N. Manchester.  He settled by a spring quite a bit north of the present buildings on the Sam Boyer farm.  When I was about 12 years old I helped plant corn with the hoe in this back field when Sam Boyer’s oldest child was a baby, and here the plow had turned up pieces of broken dishes and pottery, and I was told that a long time ago a cabin stood there.  I didn’t know then that it had been the home of my Great Grandfather.  A part of his land was where my brother David now lives and owns and which had been owned continuously by his descendants from the time he bought it; four generations of Cripes having owned and occupied it. 

 This first Daniel selected the spot overlooking the creek for a burial place.  He himself was buried there in 1865.  The first grave put there was that of his son David’s first-born, Daniel, born 1837, died 1843.  To this farm his son David with his wife, Elizabeth, moved from their first Indiana home soon after his father bought this section of land; anyway before 1843. 

Although it is said that my Grandfather, David, was not very energetic, did not like work over well, certain it is that he accomplished a great deal with his farm, his water power saw mill on the creek and was also a good blacksmith in the 12 or 15 years that he lived here.  He died in 1855, aged 41 years.

 The children of David and Elizabeth Ulery Cripe are as follows:

Daniel – born 1837 – died July 15, 1843

Isaac – born 1840 – died June 10, 1916

Hannah Cripe Neher – born Sept 26, 1844 – died July 17, 1928

Esther Cripe Albright – born July 1, 1848 – died June 24, 1926

Barbara Cripe Buckingham – born Dec 17, 1850 – died Feb 18, 1929

David E. Cripe – born Feb 11, 1855 – was 2 weeks old when his father died, - died Nov 30, 1943 in Wichita, Kansas

I have been told that my Grandmother inherited her great energy and endurance from her father Isaac Ulery and certainly she in turn passed it on to her children; they needed it too.  Left fatherless at 14-1/2 yr. old boy – 3 little girls and a baby boy, they all lived to a good old age, and left many descendants.  Many times Great Grandfather Daniel came to this widowed daughter-in-law and helped her with council and with money.

CRIPE FAMILY TREE

Daniel Cripe came from Germany about 1750

Daniel Cripe born 1785 – died 1865, age 79-10-10

David Cripe born 1814 – died Feb. 16, 1855, age 41

Elizabeth Ulery born Apr 28, 1811 – died Dec 16, 1894, age 83 yrs 8 mo 18 days

David Cripe and Elizabeth Ulery married 1836

 Isaac Cripe, born July 15, 1840, died June 10, 1916, married Mary Frantz in Aug 1867. 

Their children were:

 Sarah (1869-1962), married Marvin Ranck (1870-1935).   Their children were: Esta, Lena (1895), Ivan and Royal

           John (1871-1946), married Florence Boblet (1872-1948).  Their children were:  Vernie (1892-1987), Mary (1895-1981), and Dorothy (1908-?)

 David (1877-1960), married Rosa Grosnickle (1873-1956).  Their daughter was Eunice.

Edna (Sept 6, 1882-June 28, 1913), married Egbert Burger.  They had twin daughters, Josephine and Paulene (April 23, 1913-?).  Edna died when they were ten weeks old.

 Hannah Cripe, born Sept 26, 1844, died July 17, 1928, married Joseph Neher who died Apr 8, 1923.   Their children were:

 Levi (Oct 15, 1872-Jun 18, 1924), married Bertha Miller.  Their children were:  Royal (b. 1915), Viola, Kendal, Galen (died Jul 21, 1925), and Loren.

 Ella (Mar 4, 1869-Feb 26, 1927), married John Craver.  Their children were:  Roy, Ray, Mattie, Mary, Clara (died Jan 27, 1936), and Joe.

 John (Jul 4, 1874-Jul 16, 1936), married Alice Saul (Aug 30, 1877-Apr 21, 1956) of Illinois.  Their children:  Lola (1901-?, Howard (1902-1967), Ruth (1908-?), Ernest (1910-?), Hima (1916-?), and Martha.

 Mary (Nov 1, 1875-1961), was sick when she was a baby and was crippled all her life.

             David and Elizabeth who died in infancy.

 Samuel (born Feb 24, 1878, died Mar 26, 1937), married Emma Fike ( 1875-1962) of Illinois.  Their children were:  Emerson (died Apr 30, 1923, age 17 y 5m 25d), Joe, Mildred, Clarence, and Royal.     

 Sarah (born Feb 8, 1881, died Jun 14, 1937) married Ed. Bow(?)er.  Their children were:  Joe, Dorothy, Madalene, and Betty.

 Simon (born Jan 19, 1883, died 1956) married Lizzie Montel (Jul 5, 1880-1918).  Their children were:  Harold (1904-1972), Charled (1905-?), Esther (1910-?), and Paul (Jul 24, 1912-May 9, 1983).  His wife died, then he married Mrs. Jacy Hedrick.    

 Charles (born Nov 20, 1884) died of typhoid fever Sep 4, 1906. 

 Lina (born May 8, 1887, died Jun 20, 1954) married Charles Delauter (1886-1940).  Their children were:  Irene (Dec 16, 1909-Mar 2, 1989), Herbert (Jan 23, 1914-Mar, 1940), Millard (Aug 15, 1918-Sep 4, 1952).

 Barbara Cripe, born Dec 17, 1850, died Feb 18, 1929, married John Buckingham who died Nov 27, 1923.  Their children were:  Levi, married Clara ?, Lizzie married David Wolfe, Frank (1883-Dec 1, 1927) married Nellie Martin of Illinois; David, married Beulah Barker (or Bash) and had a son, Ralph (1917-1955).

 Isaac Albright, my grandfather, born May 13, 1808, died June 3, 1852, aged 44 years and 21 days.  Moved to Wabash County in 1847 from Lancaster, PA.

 Saloma Albright, my grandmother, born Aug 24, 1816, died Nov. 2, 1882, aged 66 years, 2 months, & 9 days.

 My father, Jacob M. Albright was the oldest son of Isaac and Salome Fredrick Albright.  Their other son’s name was Isaac.  He was married twice.  His first wife was Amanda Grossnickle.  To them was born one daughter, Rosa May, who died at the age of six years.  His second wife was Mary Cupp(s) or (y).  To them was born Dayton E. Albright.  These two were the only cousins on the Albright side.  After Isaac, our uncle died, his wife Mary married William Miller.  Isaac, my uncle, we born July 5, 1850 and died Dec. 17, 1879, age 29 yr. 5 mo. 12 days. 

Esther Cripe, born July 2, 1848, died June 24, 1926, married March 19, 1874 to Jacob M. Albright.  Jacob M. Albright was born March 8, 1848, died June 22, 1887.  They moved on the Albright homestead and lived there all their lives.  Their children are the following:

 Mary, born May 22, 1876, died May 30, 1939, married Ben Domer on Feb 2, 1928.  Ben died March 20, 1930.  She married William Marburger on Jan 1, 1931.

 Elizabeth, born Dec 22, 1878, died May 29, 1960, married Ellis Miller on Nov 27, 1909.  Harold David Miller was born to them Sept 26, 1912.  Ellis died June 22, 1951, aged 83 yr, 2 wks and 6 days.  Harold married Eleanor Gable Aug 9, 1936.      

An infant son born Feb 16, 1939 died at birth, names David E.  A daughter, Rosemary Ellen, was born Jan 13, 1940.  Richard Eugene was      born Aug 20, 1941.  Carol Louise was born Nov 14, 1944.  Joann Marie was born Jul 24, 1946