The Conestoga Wagon Wagon Makers of Lancaster County

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Overview

Wagon Makers

Parts Identification

Slideshow (25)

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In colonial days it was almost essential for a farmer to have working knowledge of a blacksmith, and a blacksmith to be able to sustain his family by farming. In fact in Lancaster County where the Conestoga wagons were produced, there is a List of Blacksmiths in the Townships of Lancaster County from 1729 to 1840 which lists approximately fifteen hundred blacksmiths.

When the British Parliament passed a law restricting the American colonies to the manufacture of bar iron and cast iron products, Lancaster was protected from of imported goods by a sixty mile journey from Philadelphia. Lancaster had many metal works and an abundant supply of material. It was the perfect spot for the birth of the Conestoga wagon. A blacksmith had to be a jack of all trades including a farrier and at times a wheelwright especially when working on the Conestoga wagons. He was known as a "smithy" in the country towns. Based upon the Tax Assessment Records of Lancaster County for Townships of the Conestoga Valley area, the blacksmith, wheelwright, and wagon maker worked in tandem to create the large freighter that was so influential in colonial America.

Wagon Makers, Wheelwrights, Blacksmith from the Wagoners Tax Assessment Records of Lancaster County for Townships of the Conestoga Valley Area are listed below. The dates given are the first time the person appeared on the list:

Caernarvon Township

Name	Date	Profession
Antrican, David	1818	Blacksmith
Antrican, James	1815	Blacksmith
Antrican, Samuel	1818	Blacksmith
Boyer, John	1822	Blacksmith
Brown, Henry	1797	Blacksmith
Brown, Nathan	1825	Blacksmith
Cafry, James	1825	Blacksmith
Cook, Jacob	1819	Blacksmith
Cough, Jacob	1822	Blacksmith
Coyle, Thomas		Wagon Maker
Criley, Peter	1836	Blacksmith
Davis, Edward	1758	Blacksmith
Davis, Jacob	1792	Blacksmith
Dehaven, Edward	1797	Blacksmith
Dehaven, Harmon	1792	Blacksmith
Dehaven, James	1807	Blacksmith
Dehaven, Isaac		Wheelwright
Dehaven, Philip	1839	Blacksmith
Delezel, Thomas	1824	Blacksmith
Dillor, John	1797	Blacksmith
Eliot, Thomas	1775	Blacksmith
Engle, Peter	1836	Blacksmith
Evans, Hiram		Blacksmith
Ferrell, John	1807	Blacksmith
Frernt, George	1839	Blacksmith
Galaway, William	1839	Blacksmith
Gilgore, John	1818	Blacksmith
Hains, John B.	1800	Blacksmith
Hamond, James	1828	Blacksmith
Hauck, Eli	1839	Blacksmith
Hildebrand, Adam	1807	Blacksmith
Holinger, Thomas		Blacksmith
Jackson, David	1845	Blacksmith
Keemer, John	1824	Blacksmith
Kellor, David	1758	Blacksmith
Kich, Balser	1769	Blacksmith
Kock, Jacob	1828	Blacksmith
Lilly, Walter	1807	Blacksmith
Low, John	1839	Blacksmith
Miller, Jacob	1822	Blacksmith
Patton, James	1807	Blacksmith
Peck, Benjamin		Wheelwright
Rigg, George	1800	Blacksmith
Roark, Cornelius	1832	Blacksmith
Ruth, William	1819	Blacksmith
Smith, Abraham	1845	Blacksmith
Smith, Conrad	1814	Blacksmith
Spots, Jacob	1821	Blacksmith
Squib, Elisha		Wagon Maker and Wheelwright
Swearer, Peter	1825	Blacksmith
Thomas, Owen	1797	Blacksmith
Thomas, William	1828	Blacksmith
Valentine, Beniamin	1836	Blacksmith
Valentine, George	1836	Blacksmith
Valentine, John	1831	Blacksmith
Valentine, Pennel	1832	Blacksmith
Wilfron, James	1825	Blacksmith
William, Joseph	1792	Blacksmith
Yocum, Isaiah	1812	Blacksmith

Cocalico Township

Name	Date	Profession
Adams, Jacob	1842	Blacksmith
Althouse, John	1842	Blacksmith
Althouse, John Jr.	1842	Blacksmith
Artz, Philip	1783	Blacksmith
Baker, Fredirick		Wagon Maker
Barter, John	1783	Blacksmith
Beis, Jacob	1796	Blacksmith
Bentz, William		Wheelwright
Bermersderfer, John	1758	Blacksmith
Bernard, Gier	1783	Blacksmith
Binckley, Benjamin	1842	Blacksmith
Bingeman, Paul	1796	Blacksmith
Bolender, Stephen	1783	Blacksmith
Bollinger, Jacob	1796	Blacksmith
Borgholder, Peter		Wheelwright
Brenneman, Henry	1842	Blacksmith
Buck, Philip	1783	Blacksmith
Conrad, Christian	1779	Blacksmith
Dornbach, Joseph	1777	Blacksmith
Dinnig, William	1842	Blacksmith
Duck, Nicholas	1783	Blacksmith
Eberly, Peter	1783	Blacksmith
Ecteimach, Jacob	1844	Blacksmith
Eicholtz, Henry	1777	Blacksmith
Eisenhart, Cunrad	1758	Blacksmith
Ensminger, Nicol	1758	Blacksmith
Foymyer, John	1844	Blacksmith
Fuhrman, Conrad	1796	Blacksmith
Fuhrman, Henry	1796	Blacksmith
Geiger, Bernhardt	1777	Blacksmith
Gensmoyer, Jacob	1777	Blacksmith
Gerhard, Frederike		Wheelwright
Gerhard, John		Wheelwright
Gramer, Frederick	1759	Blacksmith
Heldenbendel, Jack		Wheelwright
Heinsey, Adam		Wagon Maker
Hendel, John		Wagon Maker
Henessy, Henry	1783	Blacksmith
Hiltonbritte, Jacob		Wheelwright
Hoehn, Nicol	1758	Blacksmith
Hoffman, Balzer	1777	Blacksmith
Hoffman, Henry	1777	Blacksmith
Hoffman, Philip	1780	Blacksmith
Hogh, Christ	1759	Blacksmith
Hondfhu, Henry	1777	Blacksmith
Hornberger, Jacob	1796	Blacksmith
Hornberger, Samuel	1842	Blacksmith
Kerfen, Frederick	1779	Blacksmith
Keplinger, Jacob		Wagoner
Killian, Andrew	1844	Blacksmith
Kindig, Jacob		Blacksmith
Klop, Henry		Wheelwright
Lander, Henry	1796	Blacksmith
Lead, William	1842	Blacksmith
Lutz, Nicholaus	1777	Blacksmith
Markle, Adam	1792	Blacksmith
Mellinger, Anthony	1786	Blacksmith
Mellinger, Joseph		Blacksmith
Mellinger, Samuel	1792	Blacksmith
Mellinger, Stofohel	1792	Blacksmith
Mellinger, William	1796	Blacksmith
Merkel, George		Wheelwright
Miller, Peter		Wagon Maker and Wheelwright
Pitz, Michael	1779	Blacksmith
Ream, Alexander	1844	Blacksmith
Ream, Andrew	1844	Blacksmith
Ream, Cyrus	1842	Blacksmith
Regar, Isaac	1842	Blacksmith
Regser, Andrew	1842	Blacksmith
Renninger, Jacob	1842	Blacksmith
Ruhland, Jacob	1779	Blacksmith
Senseman, Jacob	1758	Blacksmith
Sander, Peter		Wheelwright
Shimp, Andrew	1792	Blacksmith
Siegfreid, Solomon	1844	Blacksmith
Slott, John	1842	Blacksmith
Smith, Henry	1796	Blacksmith
Snyder, John	1792	Blacksmith
Snyder, Peter	1779	Blacksmith
Sollenberger. Dan	1777	Blacksmith
Speckler, Frederick	1792	Blacksmith
Turner, Abraham	1844	Blacksmith
Urieh, John	1783	Blacksmith
Ury, John	1777	Blacksmith
Walk, Matthew	1777	Blacksmith
Weidnicht, Elias	1842	Blacksmith
Withner, Jacob	1783	Blacksmith
Wolf, George	1759	Blacksmith
Wolfskill, Nathaniel	1844	Blacksmith
Wolfskill, William	1842	Blacksmith
Wookert, William	1783	Blacksmith
Zentmeyer, Adam		Wagon Maker
Zentmeyer, Jacob	1780	Blacksmith
Zentmeyer, John		Wagon Maker
Zervas, Nicol	1758	Blacksmith
Zigler, John	1783	Blacksmith
Zug, Jacob	1796	Blacksmith

Earl Township

Name	Date	Profession
Alds, Michael	1769	Blacksmith
Balmer, Christian		Wagon Maker
Bartholomew, Jacob	1805	Blacksmith
Bawder, George	1769	Blacksmith
Bernhard, Frank	1770	Blacksmith
Berlits, William	1786	Blacksmith
Bower, Christian		Wheelwright
Bresher, Jacob	1772	Blacksmith
Bridge, Valentine	1780	Blacksmith
Brown, William		Wagon Maker and Wheelwright
Clymer, John	1796	Blacksmith
Crash, Christopher	1781	Blacksmith
Cunningham, George	1769	Blacksmith
David, Jacob	1800	Blacksmith
Davis, Jacob	1805	Blacksmith
Dehaven, Abraham	1806	Blacksmith
Diffenderfer, David		Wagon Maker and Wheelwright
Diffenderfer, George	1820	Blacksmith
Diffenderfer, Michael		Wheelwright
Dillear, Peter	1783	Blacksmith
Diller, John	1815	Blacksmith
Dinnis, William	1820	Blacksmith
Druck, Philip	1788	Blacksmith
Engle, Peter	1805	Blacksmith
Evens, Samuel	1805	Blacksmith
Fasnaught, Gerard	1778	Blacksmith
Fellebaum, David	1820	Blacksmith
Geamer, John	1807	Blacksmith
Groff, Chrisopher	1807	Blacksmith
Groff, Henry		Wagon Maker
Grush, Stophel	1780	Blacksmith
Handle, Valentine	1805	Blacksmith
Heatwohl, Jacob	1800	Blacksmith
Howe, James	1770	Blacksmith
Keller, Jacob	1770	Blacksmith
Kimer, John	1800	Blacksmith
Landis, John	1770	Blacksmith
Latz, Jacob	1805	Blacksmith
Lauch, John	1800	Blacksmith
Latz, Daniel	1807	Blacksmith
Ressler, George		Wagon Maker and Wheelwright
Ressler, Henry		Blacksmith
Ressler, Philip		Wheelwright
Risler, George		Wagoner
Sheaffer, Samuel		Blacksmith
Snyder, John		Blacksmith
Valentine, Peter	1796	Blacksmith
Warlich, Matthias	1788	Blacksmith
Weaver, George	1822	Blacksmith
Weig, Hophel	1770	Blacksmith
Weik, Stophel	1780	Blacksmith
Werns, Daniel	1796	Blacksmith
Wike, Christopher	1769	Blacksmith
Winter, John	1800	Blacksmith
Wolford, Ludwig	1780	Blacksmith

Leacock Township

Name	Date	Profession
Abraham, James	1803	Blacksmith
Anderson, Robert	1758	Blacksmith
Bartholomey, Jacob	1800	Blacksmith
Barton, Thomas	1811	Blacksmith
Bear, Isaac	1800	Blacksmith
Bird, John	1814	Blacksmith
Bury, Jacob		Wagon Maker
Canedy, John	1814	Blacksmith
Carel, Joseph	1807	Blacksmith
Collington, Jacob	1808	Blacksmith
Coplin, Joseph	1814	Blacksmith
Corl, Peter	1811	Blacksmith
Crage, David	1801	Blacksmith
Delap, John		Wagon Maker
Dennis, William	1811	Blacksmith
Drue, William	1815	Blacksmith
Ealey, Jacob	1815	Blacksmith
Eby, Joseph	1780	Blacksmith
Eby, Benjamin	1796	Blacksmith
Eby, Joseph	1796	Blacksmith
Erin, John	1820	Blacksmith
Fellobam, Daniel	1807	Blacksmith
Forbes, John	1780	Blacksmith
Frank, George	1800	Blacksmith
Garber, Joseph	1814	Blacksmith
Garver, Peter	1802	Blacksmith
Gurden, Casper		Wagon Maker and Wheelwright
Hamilton, Hugh	1807	Blacksmith
Headen Moses		Blacksmith
Heller, Daniel	1805	Blacksmith
Hersh, Joseph	1820	Blacksmith
Johns, Jacob	1805	Blacksmith
Johns, John	1811	Blacksmith
Keller, Frederick	1799	Blacksmith
Klein, Peter	1770	Blacksmith
Kling, Joel	1811	Blacksmith
Kling, Moses	1808	Blacksmith
Kling, Peter	1803	Blacksmith
Landis, John	1820	Blacksmith
Lasho, Jacob	1802	Blacksmith
Lemon, Alex	1785	Blacksmith
Liget, James	1796	Blacksmith
Lightner, William	1801	Blacksmith
Line, David	1787	Blacksmith
Malcentire, Andrew	1820	Blacksmith
Mayer, Bear	1814	Blacksmith
McFadden, Daniel	1801	Blacksmith
McMullen, Thomas	1788	Blacksmith
Preslor, Peter	1801	Blacksmith
Rakestraw, William	1811	Blacksmith
Roland, John	1770	Blacksmith
Rough, John	1805	Blacksmith
Ruch, John	1820	Blacksmith
Rutter, Bolser	1815	Blacksmith
Sheaffer, David	1811	Blacksmith
Sheldeberger, Mich.	1785	Blacksmith
Shope, Barned	1801	Blacksmith
Skiles, Gideon	1801	Blacksmith
Stewart, Philip	1800	Blacksmith
Stewart, Robert	1796	Blacksmith
Strickler, Zmahy	1802	Blacksmith
Tague, Andrew	1777	Blacksmith
Teag, Hendery	1780	Blacksmith
Walker, Eli	1808	Blacksmith
Weaken, Elias	1807	Blacksmith
Wilce, John	1807	Blacksmith
Winger, Adam		Wagon Maker and Wagoner
Wybregh, Michael	1758	Blacksmith

Strasburg Township

Name	Date	Profession
Amend, George		Wagon Maker and Wagoner
Amend, Henry		Wagon Maker
Barge, George		Wheelwright
Barber, John	1815	Blacksmith
Bartholomew, Henry	1800	Blacksmith
Beam, Christian	1796	Blacksmith
Beam, Peter	1768	Blacksmith
Bennard, John	1815	Blacksmith
Benner, Philip	1816	Blacksmith
Bennet, Philip	1807	Blacksmith
Beva, Jacob	1753	Blacksmith
Blear, James	1814	Blacksmith
Boyer, David	1807	Blacksmith
Boyer, Henry	1818	Blacksmith
Brooks, Matthias		Wheelwright and Blacksmith
Brush, John	1779	Blacksmith
Burges, John	1813	Blacksmith
Camel, Robert	1796	Blacksmith
Carnechen, John	1753	Blacksmith
Clark, Robert		Wagoner
Cline, Peter	1758	Blacksmith
Cooper, Daniel	1796	Blacksmith
Criswell, William		Wheelwright
Darlington, John	1825	Blacksmith
Donalley, Philip	1807	Blacksmith
Drevers, William	1800	Blacksmith
Eckert, George	1802	Blacksmith
Eckman, Henry	1811	Blacksmith
Ervin, William	1779	Blacksmith
Esburn, Thomas	1816	Blacksmith
Evitg, Joseph	1803	Blacksmith
Evits, William	1806	Blacksmith
Ferre, Abraham		Wagon Maker and Blacksmith
Ferre, Richard		Wagon Maker
Forguson, James	1802	Blacksmith
Forguson, Robert		Wagon Maker
Forguson, Samuel	1796	Blacksmith
Froclich, John		Wagon Maker
Froelich, Jacob	1796	Blacksmith
Glass, William	1814	Blacksmith
Groff, George	1812	Blacksmith
Gutner, Peter		Wagoner
Hamelton, James	1807	Blacksmith
Hare, John	1787	Blacksmith
Harris, Thomas	1809	Blacksmith
Harvel, Mitchel	1810	Blacksmith
Herr. John	1801	Blacksmith
Hestone, Samuel		Wagon Maker and Blacksmith
Hessler, Fredric		Wagon Maker
Henry, Samuel		Wheelwright
Hemer, Mose		Wagon Maker
Hoober, Sufana	1809	Blacksmith
Horn, John	1814	Blacksmith
How, Levi	1809	Blacksmith
Humel, Jacob		Wagoner
Isburn, John	1816	Blacksmith
Kendig, Henry	1815	Blacksmith
Kenny, James Jr.	1789	Blacksmith
Kimble, John	1817	Blacksmith
Kindig, George	1809	Blacksmith
Leaman, Isaac	1807	Blacksmith
Leittel, Archibald		Wagon Maker
Linvil, Arthur		Wheelwright
Little, James	1825	Blacksmith
Loyd, John	1818	Blacksmith
Loyns, Peter	1807	Blacksmith
McClochen, Andrew	1800	Blacksmith
McCue, Andrew	1816	Blacksmith
MeElroee, James	1825	Blacksmith
McFadden, Daniel	1806	Blacksmith
McFadden, Robert	1813	Blacksmith
McMinn, Hugh	1817	Blacksmith
MeMurry, Samuel	1806	Blacksmith
McQuigin, Patrick	1803	Blacksmith
Meyer, Henry		Wagon Maker and Wagoner
Miller, Martin	1796	Wagon Maker and Blacksmith
Mim, John		Wagoner
Morrison, Robert		Wagon Maker
Mowyer, Balser	1815	Blacksmith
Moyer, George	1779	Blacksmith
Pecher, Daniel	1815	Blacksmith
Pehart, Daniel	1814	Blacksmith
Pickle, Jacob	1787	Blacksmith
Pots, Ephram		Wagon Maker
Quigley, James	1781	Blacksmith
Rees, John	1788	Blacksmith
Rottenhouser, George	1806	Blacksmith
Row, Francis		Wagon maker and Wagoner
Rusk, Robert	1806	Blacksmith
Sarbey, Daniel	1806	Blacksmith
Sevaras, Nicholas	1779	Blacksmith
Shroy, Samuel	1787	Blacksmith
Shrye, Simmeral	1789	Blacksmith
Shultz, John	1807	Blacksmith
Sides, George	1801	Blacksmith
Sides, Jacob		Wagon Maker and Wagoner
Sides Jr., Jacob		Wagon Maker
Smith, George	1782	Blacksmith
Snyder, Adam	1816	Blacksmith
Sweaney, William	1809	Blacksmith
Tentlinger, John	1788	Blacksmith
Travers, William	1806	Blacksmith
Tillicker, John	1814	Blacksmith
Wals, John	1817	Blacksmith
Warren, James	1816	Blacksmith
Warrant, James	1809	Blacksmith
Weaver, John	1806	Blacksmith
Weikert, George		Wagon Maker
Whitehill, John	1803	Blacksmith
Whytke. Joseph	1802	Blacksmith
Wike, John	1814	Blacksmith
Withers, George	1807	Blacksmith
Yodder, Christian	1812	Blacksmith

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Source: Research and Text by Bryan Wright

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