Jonathan E. is the son of
Johannes (John) Koppenheffer Sr.
and his wife Anna Maria
Margaretta (Ann Mary) Zerbe,
of Berks County, PA., and later,
of Berrysburg, Dauphin Co. PA.
----------------------------------
Note: PLEASE, do NOT transfer this
memorial to other web sites.
Thanks, Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
----------------------------------
Note: For the ancestry of this
Koppenheffer family, see the memorial
for Jonathan's father
Johannes (John) Koppenheffer Sr.
(Click on his name at the bottom
of this memorial).
-------------------------------------
Jonathan E. was baptized at the
St. John's Lutheran Church,
in Berrysburg, Dauphin County
Pennsylvania on May 19, 1808.
The "sponsors" were his father's
brother Frederick Koppenheffer
and Frederick's wife Elizabeth
(per church records).
--------------------------------
His parents are also buried here
in the St. John's (Evangelical)
Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Jonathan E. was the youngest
of seven children.
---------------------------------
The 1850 census of Mifflin Township,
Dauphin Co. PA shows Jonathan E.,
age 44, and his family living next door
(on the "Koppenheffer homestead"), to
his parents John Koppenheffer [Sr.],
age 85, and his wife Ann Mary, age 84.
(This farm contained two farmhouses).
---------------------------------
Jonathan's Great Grandfather,
(Johan) THOMAS "Koppenhoffer"
(1710 - Dec. 31, 1760), arrived
at Philadelpha on Sept. 11, 1728,
on the ship "James Goodwill",
from Wurttemberg, Germany.
He was one of the founders of the
"first" Christ Lutheran Church,
of Tulpehocken, Berks County PA
when it was built in 1743.
---------------------------------
Jonathan's Grandfather
Michael Koppenheffer served in
the Revolutionary War.
Jonathan's grandfather, Michael
Koppenheffer (1733-1823) and his
wife Eva Maria (Batdorf) Koppenheffer
first farmed in Bethel Township, Berks
County PA, then moved to a farm
North of Berrysburg, Pennsylvania.
They were the first of the family
to settle in the Lykens Valley
(near Berrysburg, Dauphin County PA).
---
There is a monument near the front of the
Saint Johns Lutheran Church, to honor
the service in the Revolutionary War of
Michael (Michale) Koppenheffer and several
other men who belonged to this church.
See the memorial for Michael Koppenheffer
(1733-1823), on this web site.
----------------------------------
Lyken's Valley is in the most
northern part of Dauphin Co. PA.
St. John's (Evangelical) Lutheran
Church is seated in the
very center of Lyken's Valley,
with the church on an elevation
overlooking the countryside in every
direction for many miles, and therefore
has the nickname "The Hill Church".
---------------------------------
The first record of the Koppenheffer
family in this church is on May 9,
1802 when Jonathan E.'s grandparents
Michael and Eva took comunion there.
----------------------------------
Jonathan E. and his sons are listed
among the donors to build the present
"brick" church, which replaced the
old "log" church in 1876.
---------------------------------
Michael was one of the 780 signers
of the Remonstrance of Berks County
July 2, 1774. Michael was a member of
the Bethel Township (Berks County, PA)
Militia in the Revolutionary War
from 1777 to 1780.
----------------------------------
Jonathan E. was married to
Julia Ann Swineford in 1827
"possibly" in Swinefordstown
(now known as Middleburg), in what
is "now", Snyder County Pennsylvania,
which was founded by Julia's Grandfather
John Albright Swineford Sr..
Jonatha E. and Julia Ann Koppenheffer
had ten children (listed under his
wife Julia Ann Koppenheffer).
----------------------------------
For a period of nearly one hundred
and fifty years (1809 - 1958), the
Koppenheffer farm in Mifflin Twp.,
North of Berrysburg, Dauphin
County Pennsylvania (later known as
the "Koppenhaver Family Homestead"),
was in the Koppenheffer family for
four generations. For each generation
it passed down to the youngest son
of the family.
---------------------------------
Note: Their homestead was known as
the "Koppenheffer" homestead.
It remained this spelling, until
it came down to Jonathan E. and
Julia Ann Koppenheffer's grandson
Edward Elwood, who changed the
spelling to "Koppenhaver".
Thus when Edward became the owner
of the family farm,
the "Koppenheffer homestead"
became known as the
"Koppenhaver homestead".
---
Other spellings of the family surname
that have been found are:
"Koppenhoffer", "Koppenhafer",
"Coppenheffer" "Copenhaver",
and "Koppenhaver".
------------------------------
Jonathan's father John was the
first Koppenheffer to own the farm.
John purchased the farm on April 24,
1809. (In Deed Book A-2-5807 in the
Dauphin County Courthouse at
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania).
-------------------------------
On Jan. 12, 1849, Johannes
(John) Koppenheffer and wife Anna
Maria, sold 177 acres and 90 perches
[one perch = 5 1/2 yards or one rod]
for $1500 to their youngest son,
Jonathan E. Koppenheffer.
--------------------------------
Deed records also show that on
Feb. 25, 1854, Peter Moyer and his
wife Catherine sold land to
Jonathan E. Koppenheffer, and then on
April 24, 1858, Jonathan E. Koppenheffer
and his wife Julia A. Koppenheffer,
sold this land to John Bonawitz.
This land contained
9 Acres and 85 3/4 Perches.
(Per: Deeds and Patents 1697-1911,
and Dauphin County [PA] 1787-1868).
------------------------------
In 1882,
Jonathan's widow Julia Ann deeded
the farm to her youngest son,
Frederick L. Koppenheffer.
-------------------------------
In 1932 Frederick's youngest son
Edward E. Koppenheffer purchased the
farm from the estate of his father.
--------------------------------
Edward had three daughters but no
sons to help with the farm, so he
sold the farm in 1958.
--------------------------------
This farm contained two farm houses,
a larger one, and a smaller one.
---------------------------------
There was a country school
about 1/2 mile west of the
"Koppenhaver Homestead". It was
named the "Koppenhaver School".
---------------------------------
Sophia was the only one of his
ten children, to move away from
Lyken's Valley (Berrysburg, PA).
Sophia moved to Berrien County
Michigan, after she was married to
John Henry Feather Sr., and they
lived in the "Feather Settlement",
near Hinchman (West of Berrien Springs),
Berrien County Michigan.
--------------------------------
Note: Sophia had her youngest child
Harriet Sophia Feather (who was
born in Berrien County Michigan),
baptized in Nov. of 1878, at Sophia's
childhood home church, the
St. John's Lutheran Church, in
Berrysburg, Pennsylvania, when she
went home for her father's funeral.
-------------------------------
There were two articles published
about Jonathan E. Koppenheffer, in
the Lyken's "Register" (newspaper)
in Berrysburg, Pennsylvania
in November of 1878.
One told of his death,
and one of his funeral.
They read as follows:
----------------------
Berrysburg, November 02, 1878.

We were very much surprised and sorry
to learn of the death of our friend,
Mr. Jonathan E. Koppenheffer, who
resided in Mifflin township about a
mile north of this borough. Last
evening about 6 o'clock he was in
town on his way home from Lykens,
in the enjoyment of good health.
He died about 5 o'clock this morning
suddenly, while sitting on his chair.
The deceased was well known
throughout the valley [Lykens Valley]
and in the mining district, and this news
of his death will carry sorrow to a wide
circle of friends and acquaintances.
His funeral will take place on Sunday
morning next - interment at St. Johns
Lutheran Church. Mr. Koppenheffer was
about 71 years of age.

------------------------------------

Funeral of Jonathan E. Koppenheffer.

Mr. Koppenheffer's funeral took place
last Sunday and was one of the largest
seen in Lykens Valley for many years.
The procession one hundred and fifty
vehicles by actual count. St. John's
Lutheran Church, where services were
held, was filled to overflowing, and
was unable to accomodate all the
people, the crowd being estimated
at from 1200 to 1400 people. An
impressive discourse was preached
by the pastor, Rev. R. S. Wanger,
from the text: "Watch, for ye know
not the day nor the hour when the
Son of Man cometh." The deceased was
consined to his quiet resting place
in the Church-yard, mourned by a
numerous company of relatives and
held in kindly rememberance by all
who knew him. He was one of the most
substantial citizens of Mifflin
township. Mr. J. H. [John Henry]
Feather of Berrien Springs,
Michigan having been informed by
telegraph of the death of his
father-in-law arrived with
his wife [Sophia] and children
on Saturday evening in time to be
present at funeral.
___________________________

Note: Jonathan E. died at the age of
70 years, 9 months and 14 days.
----------------------------------
The shared headstone for Jonathan E.
and his wife Julia Ann Koppenheffer
is located right next to the North
side of the St. John's Lutheran Church.
Jonathan's side of the headstone reads:
-------------------
JONATHAN E.
KOPPENHEFFER
Born Jan. 18, 1808,
Died Nov. 2, 1878,
Aged 70y, 9m, 14ds.
Text Matthew 24 Ch. 42.
-------------------------------
Note: This text from the bible reads:
---
"Watch, for ye know not the day nor
hour when the Son of Man cometh".
__________________________________

SOURCES:
For additional information on this
Koppenheffer family,
see the following:
----------------
1. "Dauphin County
Pennsylvania Archives Vol. 2",
Collected and compiled by
Phillip A. Rice and Jean A.
Dellock. Pages 200-204 and
265-272. Located in the
Allen County Public Library,
Fort Wayne, Indiana.
--------------------------------
2. "The Pennsylvania Dutchman",
Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
Nov. 15, 1950. Page six.
(This is a newsletter).
Located in the Allen County Public
Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
-----------------------------------
3. "Historical Book of
Berrysburg and Mifflin Township",
Pages 12-17, 26-29, 51-55, 182-183,
(and especially) 231-241,
289, and 323-326.
This book was printed in 1969
for the One Hundred Fiftieth
Birthday of Berrysburg and
Mifflin Township.
It was printed by,
The Sunbury Daily Item, Inc.,
Sunbury, Pennsylvania, 1969.
Winifred E. (Koppenhaver) Romberger
Great, granddaughter of Jonathan E.
and Julia Ann Koppenheffer
(and Granddaughter of
Sophia S. Koppenheffer's brother Fred),
was the chairman of the "historical
committee" to research and compile
this book. (Picture of the book
committee on page 289). She was also
on the committee to compile the
175th and the 200th anniversary
books for St. John's Lutheran Church.
Winifred was a former school teacher.
This book also includes the
Koppenheffer family tree.
--------
Note: Winifred sent Nancy Heib a copy
of this book (which had previously
belonged to her sister Frieda), with
a picture of herself glued to page V,
in the front of the book.
Nancy Heib later donated this book
to the Allen County Public Library,
in Fort Wayne, Indiana (to be shared
with other descendants).
--------------------------------
Winifred also sent Nancy Heib
copies of the two newspaper articles
on Jonathan E. Koppenheffer, and the
two newspaper articles on his wife
Julia Ann Koppenheffer.
---------------------------------
Note: There are at least five persons
named Jonathan Koppenheffer, that are
buried in this cemetery.
----------------------------------
Note: See the memorials for one line
of Jonathan E. Koppenheffer's family,
on this web site:
-----------------
Father, Johannes (John) Koppenheffer Sr.
Mother, Ann Mary (Zerbe) Koppenheffer.
Wife,
Julia Ann (Swineford) Koppenheffer.
(All of Pennsylvania).
---
Daughter,
Sophia S. (Koppenheffer) Feather, of MI.
Granddaughter,
Julia (Feather) Bliss, of Michigan.
Great, grandson, Lloyd Feather Bliss,
of Michigan.
Great, Great, Granddaughter,
Thelma Celestia (Bliss) Letcher, of MI.
(ALL of Berrien County Michigan).
----
Note: Jonathan E. Koppenheffer
and his wife Julia Ann, are my
Gt., Gt., Great, Grandparents.
Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
-----------------------------
Beautiful headstone photos,
courtesy of Russ Ottens.
---
Click on photos, to see enlargements
and captions.
-----------------------------------
Note: Click on "Find all Koppenheffer's
in St. John's Cemetery" (on the left).
(There are at least 88 Koppenheffer's
buried at St. John's: and at least 185
buried in Dauphin County PA).
------------------------------------