Our Immigrant Heritage: Ziegler

Written by Forrest Moyer on April 19, 2017

This series of posts highlights families descended from 18th-century Mennonite immigrants to eastern Pennsylvania, in connection with the MHC’s exhibit Opportunity & Conscience: Mennonite Immigration to Pennsylvania, on display through March 31, 2018. The stories reflect the enrichment brought to communities over centuries by the descendants of immigrants.

Michael and Andrew Ziegler

Michael Ziegler, a 25-year-old weaver, was listed along with Henry Kolb and John Bean in the group of Germans who left Europe for America in 1709. Ziegler was Lutheran, but soon married a Mennonite fellow immigrant, Catherine Schrager. They settled in Skippack, and Michael was called to serve as a minister in the Mennonite congregation where Henry Kolb was bishop.  Michael served for many years in that office until he died in 1765.

He lived near the present-day intersection of Routes 113 and 73. His son or grandson built a house there that stands today. It is nicely renovated and called “Lochwood”. The barn on the property serves as a venue for wedding receptions.

 

Michael’s son Andrew joined his father in the ministry at Skippack in 1746, and was ordained bishop in 1762. Andrew was an influential leader during  the years of the American Revolution. It was he, along with senior bishop Abraham Swartz of Deep Run, who took the lead in silencing and excommunicating fellow bishop Christian Funk for his tolerance of Mennonite support for the Revolution. Ziegler never made peace with Funk before his (Ziegler’s) death in 1797, and although younger bishops did try to make peace with Christian, agreement could not be reached, and the “Funkites” were separate from the larger Mennonite community for several decades into the 19th century. For more on this story, see John Ruth’s book ‘Twas Seeding Time (Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1976) and Christian Funk’s own account, entitled A Mirror for All People (originally published 1809 in German, edited and translated by J. C. Wenger, Mennonite Quarterly Review LIX, Jan. 1985, pp. 42-66).

Harmony Mennonite settlement

A great-grandson of the immigrant, Abraham Ziegler (1774-1836), moved to Butler County, western Pennsylvania in 1815. He purchased the entire village of Harmony–9,000 acres and 130 buildings–from the utopian Harmonist Society for $100,000.00.

Settling there with his wife and children and several other Mennonite families, they built a meetinghouse in 1825 that remains largely unchanged, preserving an early-19th-century style, while most Mennonite meetinghouses in Pennsylvania underwent replacement, expansion and other remodeling. The congregation declined and ceased worship services around 1900, the last minister being Abraham’s son, Joseph H. Ziegler (1815-1904). Photos courtesy of Ellis Michaels.

Daniel F. Ziegler, photographer

Daniel F. Ziegler (1871-1961), a descendant of bishop Andrew, was a photographer who operated a studio for many years in Souderton. The photos he took in settings around town, including many school group photos, provide a view of life in the growing railroad town at the turn of the 20th century.

Daniel was a member of the church council at the progressive Zion Mennonite Church in Souderton and father-in-law of the congregation’s third pastor, Reed Landis.

Daniel Ziegler, circa 1910.

Ziegler photo of the original Zion Mennonite Church, Souderton, interior with pastor Allen M. Fretz at the pulpit, circa 1908. Mennonite Heritage Center Collection; gift of J. Herbert Fretz.

Ziegler photo of the Franconia-Morwood Baseball Team at the Morwood Hotel, circa 1905. Mennonite Heritage Collection; gift of Betty Detweiler Musselman.

Ziegler photo of students and teacher at the Telford Public School, circa 1913. Mennonite Heritage Center Collection; gift of Howard & Cleta Moyer Freed.

Zeigler’s Apple Cider

One branch of the family moved “over the Ridge” into Marlborough Township and did not remain Mennonite; for some reason, they began to spell their name “Zeigler”. When Franconia Mennonite Conference began a mission in the nearby village of Finland in 1931, widow Mary Henry Zeigler became converted and joined the church, probably with no idea that her husband’s ancestors had been prominent Mennonite leaders in early Pennsylvania. Mary donated the land for the original Finland Mennonite meetinghouse and cemetery, and today a newer meetinghouse has been built across the street from her humble farmhouse on Zeigler Road.

Mary’s son Maurice moved to a row home in Lansdale, where in 1932 he began pressing cider in his back shed, on a press that he built himself. He invented and built devices to wash jugs and apples, emphasizing a cleanliness that was not always present in cider making of the day.

Photo courtesy of Grace Zeigler Freed.

With the help of his children and others, Maurice developed a delivery route in North Wales and Norristown, and over the decades the family grew Zeigler’s Apple Cider into a very successful business with national distribution.

Maurice Zeigler

Sources on the Ziegler family:

Ruth, John L. Maintaining the right fellowship: a narrative account of life in the oldest Mennonite community in North America. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press. 1984.

Strassburger, Ralph Beaver. “The Ziegler family.” The Strassburger family and allied families of Pennsylvania. Gwynedd Valley, PA: self-published. 1922. pp. 414-453.

Wenger, John C. “Ziegler (Zeigler, Zigler) family.” Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 9 Nov 2016. http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Ziegler_(Zeigler,_Zigler)_family&oldid=120540.

Ziegler, Gertrude Mohlin. The Ziegler family and related families in Pennsylvania. Zelienople, PA: Charles Campbell Printing Co. 1978.

“History of Zeigler’s [Apple Cider]”. Web. 14 Nov 2016. http://www.zeiglers.com/history-of-zeiglers/.

Posted Under: Blog

17 replies to “Our Immigrant Heritage: Ziegler

  1. Carl Ericson Jr -

    I am looking for a copy of Ziegler, Gertrude Mohlin. The Ziegler family and related families in Pennsylvania. Zelienople, PA: Charles Campbell Printing Co. 1978., and cannot find anywhere. Do you know if it is available online. I really enjoyed the article and was able to add to our family history. My grandmother was a Ziegler and always used to say we were from a strong Mennonite background. Little did I know until I found the article searching for Michael Ziegler. I am a history teacher and this article has opened up a door for family related research. Thanks so much. Fred Ericson

    Reply

    1. Post Author Forrest Moyer -

      Hello Fred, Glad you found the article helpful. I don’t think Gertrude’s book is available online for viewing because it’s too recent. And it doesn’t appear that any copies are available for sale at the moment. You may be able to request the book through interlibrary loan at your local public or university library.

      Reply

  2. Chris (Heckler) Pritts -

    Can I possibly find information for a photo taken by Ziegler? I have found one in my boxes of family photos and have no idea who it is…..my father was born in Bucks County and the family lived in Lansdale
    for most of their lives…..
    I would say it’s early 1900s…..

    Reply

    1. Post Author Forrest Moyer -

      Hi Chris, If you want to bring it into the Mennonite Heritage Center sometime, we can take a look at it and see if we recognize anyone. We’re open Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm. It would be best to wait until after this weekend, as we’re busy preparing for our Apple Butter Frolic on Saturday.

      Reply

  3. Alice Wise -

    Hello. I am a descendent of John Ziegler. Do they still have a Ziegler Reunion. I would love to come visit, take a tour, and learn more about my ancestors and my heritage.

    Reply

    1. Post Author Forrest Moyer -

      Hi Alice,
      Thanks for your interest. We welcome you to visit the Mennonite Heritage Center when we reopen. We are currently closed because of Covid-19 restrictions, but those should be lifted soon. I don’t know that there is a Ziegler reunion these days.

      Reply

  4. Tom Nesbitt -

    This book is available at the Zelienople Historical Society to be used on site only. 243 S. Main St. Zelienople, PA 16063 724-452-9457

    Reply

  5. Jim Ziegler -

    The article gives fascinating NEW info for our family history. I am a 10th generation direct descendant of Michael, ‘The Immigrant’. Our branch came to Canada in 1816, the year with no summer, and would have starved if not for the Mennonite community of Waterloo County. Is there any info regarding Michael being an ‘Indentured Servant’ for his first few years in the Colonies? This has been supposition in our branch for many years. Also that the family came to Canada due to a lingering allegiance to England, as evidenced by Andrew’s Revolutionary War position, and which finally came to a head after the War if 1812.

    Reply

    1. Post Author Forrest Moyer -

      Hi Jim, Glad you found this post helpful. We’re not aware of any evidence of Michael Ziegler being indentured, but it is possible.

      Reply

  6. Fred Ericson -

    Hi, I am a retired history teacher and relative through my grandmother. I have done extensive research over this last year and have found no concrete evidence of Michael Ziegler being an indentured servant. Nor have I found a hint anywhere. Lots of evidence for him being a weaver and farmer though. I have researched all those who came at the same time and his ties to them are through trade, religion and old country connections. He also appears with them on a series of important lists (gov, roads, land, Mennonite records, etc.; over time. No indentured relationships that I have run across.
    Fred

    Reply

  7. Benjamin Ryan Robinson -

    I am very proud of my ancestry. I have been doing a lot of work to find out more about it. I am a 5th great grandson of Abraham Ziegler, my great great grandmother actually being born a Ziegler. This article has been extremely helpful!

    Reply

  8. C L Walker -

    C L Walker – April 21, 2022. I was given a copy of “The Ziegler Family and Related Families In Pennsylvania by Gertrude Mohlyin Ziegler by my grand father. Have found my listing and I am a generation of Michael Ziegler, The Emigrant (1684 – 1765). Most all of the relatives that I know from family reunions are in the Butler Co and Zelinople PA area. My grandfather was Emmett Ziegler. Following my path back to the Emigrant has been interesting. Has there been a 3rd edition of the book listed above.

    Reply

  9. C L Walker -

    Thank you Joel. Is there any individual or organization that is collecting updates? I am updating the Emmett Ziegler branch with the next two generations and would like to pass it on if someone is keeping a file. On our branch there are two generations past what is published in the Revised Edition. Again thank you.

    Reply

  10. Toni Walker -

    Hi my question has nothing to do with family but it was a nice store I have been trying to find a children home that was in zelinople. When I was smaller, I was there and those homes look like where I was. I was just wondering if it is. I remember the big history sign on the family being there. It was in the 1976 before and after.

    Reply

  11. Donald E. Fenstermacher -

    I am interested to know if there is an archive of Daniel F. Zeigler photographs or negatives? I am particularly interested in those he collaborated with Charles Berkemeyer to print as postcards.

    Reply

  12. Matt Fisher -

    I have a copy of “ziegler family record revised” if anyone is interested. Turned out it is the wrong ziegler line.

    Reply

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