A brief history of the three families

John Shank (Schenck) of German descent married a Miss Gingrich. In 1741 they came from Switzerland to Manor Township in Lancaster County. They gave issue to six children - Henry, Daniel, Michael, Anna, John, Elizabeth, and Martha.

Michael (1744-1816) became a Mennonite minister. He married Mariah Maynard in 1770. Of this union eight children were born - Frederick, Michael, Anna, John, Barbara, Rudolphy, Magdalena, and Daniel.

In 1795 Rev. Michael Schenck and his family accompanied by brother Daniel (1765-1854) migrated to this area (Centre Co.). (In 1829 Daniel move to Ohio.)

Rev. Michael had bought land in 1796 from the heirs of General John P. DeHaas (who had bought it previously from Ensign Augustus Stein of the English Army. Stein had acquired the same as a land grant in payment for his military service during the French & Indian War).


Mary Pletcher and her two sons Henry and Samuel arrived in Philadelphia in 1756. During the trip from Germany, Mary's husband had died at sea. Since she had no money, she advertised for hire. Her uncle Fred Maynard, a widower, paid for her trip, consequently, she and her two sons married Fred. He died in 1775. No further information concerning Mary is available.

Henry and Samuel served as volunteers in Revolutionary War. Henry married Catherine Stinerman and produced three sons - Henry, Jr., Jacob, and Daniel. Catherine died in 1792.


In 1795, Henry (1756-1803), his three sons and his mother-in-law, along with Samuel (1751-1830) and his family accompanied Rev. Michael Schenck and his family to the Howard area. Samuel remained here until 1821 when he move to Ohio.


Henry married Anna Schenck (1775-1848) in 1796. Anna being Rev. Michael Schenck's eldest daughter. This union produced six children - Frederick, John, Molly, Rudolphy, Michael, and Anna.

Henry bought four hundred (400) acres. Within two years he had cleared twenty (20) acres. This was no small feat at the time! Henry died accidentally in 1803. Anna later married Samuel Pletcher (1778-1811) (Henry's nephew) in 1804. They had four (4) children - David, Daniel, Samuel, and Ester.

George Holter (1776-1861), a native of Oslo, Norway, came to America in 1768, landing at Annapolis, Maryland. he married Margaret Arnold in 1876. They had nine (9) children. The two eldest, Jacob and Catherine, migrated to this area about 1800. Jacob married a Miss Miller. They had two daughters - Sarah and Sophie. After this first wife's death, Jacob married Catherine Neff. They had thirteen (13) children - John, Nancy, Elizabeth, Jacob H., Benjamin F., Henry N., Susan, Polly, Abraham, Christian, Nancy, Catherine, and George. The latter two died in infancy.