YODER LINEAGE

Other Than Amish
by Karolyn Rae Roberts

Joders in Switzerland
The surname of Yoder is derived from the Alemannic given name of Theodor which comes from a Greek word meaning "man of God." The first known bishop in Switzerland was Saint Theodorus and he died around 393 A.D. Later his name became Saint Joder. As far back as the forth and fifth centuries, the Joders settled on the right shore of the Emme River in an area that became known as "Joder Hubel," or "Joder Hill" and the elevation is 9,870 feet at this site. This hill was made into a walled stronghold to protect the Joder clans down through the years. In the village of Huttwil, a Ulli Joder and his son, Heini Joder, are recorded as the highest taxed families. In about 1385, a Heini Joder moved to Steffisburg, Switzerland, which is in the southern part of the Emmental. These Yoders lived here approximately eleven generations before they joined the Widertäufer (Anabaptists) and then were forced to leave their homeland in search of religious freedom. The Steffisburg Joders were mostly farmers, but also involved in a variety of trades. Some were also in civil administration offices. In 1848, a Jost Joder served as governor at Laueren near Thun. Some Yoders migrated to the Alsace or to the Pfalz and later they sailed for America. (Information: Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, vIV,n2, European Yoder Research by Lois Ann Mast)

The next bridge to cross is linking our line back to some of these earlier generations, which could take some doing.

Yoders in America
[1785-The shutters and the iron hinges for the Saucon Meetinghouse were made and donated by John Bachman, Casper Young, Jacob Yoder, John Geissinger, Samuel Meyer, and Abraham Meyer.]
*Saucon and Swamp Churches of Coopersburg Area, Milford Twp., of Bucks Co., PA
**Yoder Swiss Heritage
***Tombstone Locations in Saucon Cemetery

Mennonite Yoders
It seems to be that the earliest record of Hans of The Great Swamp for a land purchase is January of 1720. Here is some information found from different sources. Bucks-Lehigh County Yoders-As early as 1734, one John and Anna Yoder came to "Penn's Woods" and took land during the reign of King George II of England. The land was part of a land grant of William Penn. Later, the Mennonites petitioned for and were granted township for the area that became Milford Township in Bucks County and Upper Saucon in Lehigh County. (Source: The History of Saucon Mennonite Meetinghouse and Church) Hans purchased a tract of 99 acres in Lower Milford Township, Bucks Co., PA (then known only as "The Great Swamp") from Joseph Growden of Trevose, PA on January 17, 1720 for fifteen pounds current silver money. - Hans of Great Swamp LAND RECORD says "11/22/1724, Minute Book "I" John Nich. Sentz & Hans Yoder request the grant of 100 acres of land at Sawcany." p726, Early PA Land Records edited by William Henry Egle. (Yoder Newsletter,n40,Oct.2002; Donald Honeywell) Montgomery County also soon came to be home for some of the descendants of this line. These Yoders were the only ones in America to use the name Casper, found so frequently among the Steffisburg Joder records. A John Yoder is known to have married Anna Bachman, but it is not clear whether this was the senior immigrant or John Jr. Although there is still some confusion as to the generations, this branch may be the next to establish a demonstrable connection to the Joders of Steffisburg.

YB13 Abraham Yoder & Maria Schell Sell

YB-Hans (John Sr.) Yoder of Great Swamp-b ca1680 Europe - d1753 Lower Milford Twp., Bucks Co., Pa - mAnna_______ d1753 or soon after,Milford Twp.,Bucks Co.,PA (or was it Barbara Berger???) Hans/John Yoder Sr. was born in either Switzerland or Germany around 1680. He died in Lower Milford Township, Bucks County, PA, but his death date is unknown. (Ancestry Com #10478) He married Anna ____ (maiden name, birth and death dates unknown). He purchased a tract of 99 acres in Lower Milford Township, Bucks Co., PA (then known only as "The Great Swamp") from Joseph Growden of Trevose, PA on January 17, 1720 for fifteen pounds current silver money. Hans of Great Swamp LAND RECORD says "11/22/1724, Minute Book "I" John Nich. Sentz & Hans Yoder request the grant of 100 acres of land at Sawcany." p726, Early PA Land Records edited by William Henry Egle. (Yoder Newsletter,n40,Oct.2002; Donald Honeywell) Pennsylvania Land Warrants and Patents has a record of purchase of 100 acres and another entry for 51 acres with no dates. (PA Land Warrants and Patents:v1). Then on Janunary 4, 1737, is a record of purchase for 250 acres.

The "Great Swamp" region of Bucks Co., PA is located in the Northwestern corner of the county and includes the Townships of Milford and Richland and extends north into LeHigh County and west into Montgomery County. The early settlers found the land to be very rich and very suitable for growing crops. The land became more valuable after the timber was cut down and the swampy land was drained. Many wild animals roamed this land and rattlesnakes were in abundance. Many farmers were bitten by these unwanted creatures and, to combat them, the men wrapped their legs in grass to ward off the dealy bites of the rattlers. There were Indians in this area until 1770, mostly living in small groups along the Swamp Creek.

Milford Township (Upper Bucks), was settled by Mennonites about 1715, so named from Menno Simon, a prominent reformer of Friesland, Germany, born 1492, and died in Holland, 1559. They were mostly from the Palatinate, whither religious persecution had driven them from Switzerland and Alsace. They were poor, but industrious and frugal, and soon provided homes for themselves and their families. There are few indigent among them, and no one in good standing will accept public alms. The first minister in the county of this denomination, was Valentine Clemmer, as early as 1717, and attended the first Mennonite conference in America, held at Skippack or Franconia in 1724. He represented the church at the "Great Swamp" (History of Bucks Co., p434). The earliest services were held in private houses, the first church building not being erected until 1735, built on the land of William Allen. September of 1730 "Hans of Great Swamp" signed a petition calling for a road to be built from the new Meeting House to Montgomery Road. (YNL). In 1771, a second building was erected for the Swamp church, a mile east of the originalone. In 1847, the Mennonites became divided and were known as the Old and New Schools. The Mennonites landed at the port of Philadelphia, PA. They worked their way up the Perkiomen Valley of Montgomery Co. and settled in the "Great Swamp." Hans Yoder, Sr. was one of the early settlers.

A petition was presented to the Assembly in 1734 from the "Inhabitants of Bucks Co.," stating the petitioners were from Germany, and having purchased lands, they desired naturalization that they may hold the same and transmit them to their children. John Yoder, Sr. and his son, John Yoder Jr., names were on the petition (Bucks Co. Pioneers of the 18^th Century, Westchester Library; Bucks Co. History, p425,426). John Yoder, Sr.'s name was on the first plat of survey returned to the Court September/October 1734 for Milford Twp. On the back of the draft, it is endorsed "Bulla," the name the petitioners desired their township to be called (History of Bucks Co., p429). In 1747, Hans was a coexecutor of Samuel Shoup's will, but signed a letter of renunciation stating that he was ancient and not fit to travel in ye winter season. In 1748, he was one of the three people who took inventroy for the estate of John Landis (his friend & neighbor), a Mennonite farmer of Lower Milford Twp.

Hans Yoder was one the the signers for the last Will and Testament of Jacob Clemmer of Lower Milford Twp. It was probated on 11/11/1751. He signed his name: John Joder Sinior (Sr).

Out of the diary of David Schultze, a surveyor from Montgomery Co., PA-Nov. 20, 1750: Went to Great Swamp and surveyed for Herwick Ackerman, Zwiewitz, & Hamsel Yoder in Saucon Twp. (YNL, Issue 16, Oct. 1990)

On 12/8/1750, Hans and Anna sold their farm to their son, Casper, for twenty pounds current money. The Bucks and Philadelphia, PA court houses have been searched to locate the will of Hans, but one cannot be found.

Out of the diary of David Schultze, a surveyor from Montgomery Co., PA-July 1782: Old Hansel Yoder on Upper Saucon, died earlier this year, in March or April. (YNL, Issue 16, Oct. 1990)

Hans and Anna were Mennonites and donated tghe land for the Saucon Mennonite Meeting House. (YNL, Issue 37,p8 Yothers Family)

Note: Mennonites-The Mennonites established their first congregation in Bucks Co. in 1735 in the northwestern part of the county, known as the Swamp Church of Milford. Later a meeting house was built in Bedminster. In 1746, a church was given to the followers at the Deep Run settlement. In 1752, a log building was erected for worship in the northwestern part of New Britain. The Perkasie or Milltown meeting house was built in 1753, Gehman's in Rockhill in 1773 and in Springfield ca 1753/1765. There are no known records of birth, marriage, or death.