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Christian Stoltzfus

Amish farm image


Christian Stoltzfus was born into an Amish family on August 10, 1749 in Zweibruken, Germany. He was the son of Nicholas Stoltzfus who had converted to Amish at a young age after his father and mother died.

At the age of eighteen, Christian arrived in Philadelphia with his father on October 18, 1766 on the ship Polly. Christian and his father Nicholas are the forefathers of the Stoltzfus name in America. They originally settled in Reading, Pennsylvania and purchased farms. After Christian's father died he moved to Lancaster.

A story has been passed on about how Christian longed to return to the Reading area along the beautiful Schuylkill and Tulpehocken rivers. He had decided to move back to Reading and he and his family were returning on their horses. Being unsure of his decision he decided to drop the reins of his horse. The horse turned back towards the Lancaster area so Christian decided to stay in Lancaster. At the site where Christian had his 'divine inspiration' he established a cemetery site which is known today as the Myers cemetery. Christian went on to become a bishop in the Amish church. He fathered twelve children, three with his first wife, Catherine Garber, and nine more with a second wife, Elizabeth King.

Christian died in 1832 and is buried, along with his wife Elizabeth and many of his decendents, in the Myers Cemetery.