Husband of Anna Mary∼Johann Christian and Anna Maria Fruutsche Laubach had eleven children: Susannah, John, George, Frederick, Peter, Hannah, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Anna Margaret (Polly), Catherine and Christian. From the Timeline of John Godhard: 1797 ... Before 7 June 1797, John GODHARD dies at the home of his granddaughter, Anna Maria (FRUTCHEY) LAUBACH in Northumberland County, PA. John FRUTCHE of Bloom Twp., Northumberland Co., PA, and Christian LAUBACH of Fishing Creek Twp., Northumberland Co., PA, are appointed executors, as named in John GODHARD's will. 1798 ... Johann "Christian" & Anna Maria (FRUTCHEY) LAUBACH move their extended family to the Cole's Creek area near present-day Benton, Columbia County, PA, soon after the death of John GODHARD, Anna Maria's grandfather. 1799 ...1800 ... In a Letter of Attorney fromJohn FRUTCHE of Bloom Twp., Northumberland Co., PA, to Christian LAUBACH of Fishing Creek Twp., Northumberland Co., PA: Christian LAUBACH is to recover or receive money from Andrew BARNET of Northampton Co., PA, due to the Estate of John GATHERD [sic], dec'd., and to settle all accounts of whtever nature concerning the Estate of the said John GATHERD, dec'd., in the Registers Office of Northampton County, PA. 1812 ... First log structure for St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church is built. Church is probably multi-congregational. The burial grounds have supposedly already existed at this location for some time-no definite date of first burial or church service-oldest part of cemetery called "Cole Town Cemetery." Johann "Christian" LAUBACH was appointed one of the two first wardens for the church. An Article from: The Argus, Benton, PA; Thursday, August 24, 1916; LAUBACH FAMILY REUNION; Held at Grassmere Park in Honor of Mrs. Mary Koons. The Laubach Reunion, was held at Grassmere Park, Aug. 16, in honor of Mrs. Mary A. Koons, from Michigan, who is the oldest member of this branch of the family. One of the most interesting features of the reunion was the reading of the family history by means of which it is possible to trace directly the ancestry of the Laubach family to Christian and Susanna Laubach, who emigrated from Germany in 1738. The following in an abstract: "The Laubachs in this country are direct descendents of Christian and Susanna his wife. They emigrated from the Palatinate Germany along the Rhine in Aug 1738 and arrived in Philadelphia Sept. 16, 1738 in the ship Queen Elizabeth, with Alexander Hope of Rotterdam as commander. Christian Laubach was a blacksmith and dealer in iron ware. He dealt largely with the Durham furnace of that time. Soon after settling in lower Luzerne, he built a saw and grist mill on the stream where the saw mill now stands. He shortly brought five tracts of land some of which are yet in possession of the Laubach family. "The Laubachs of this section are descended from John Christian Laubach who settled at what is now called Coles Creek, then a vast wilderness abounding in game and fish. He settled in 1795, John G. Laubach now lives there." At the meeting it was decided to hold another reunion next year, previous to that held at Oakland Park, near Easton, in order to make arrangements to send representatives to that place. The following were present: Mr. and Mrs. B.R. Laubach, Edna Diehl, Wapwallopen; Mrs. C.A. Laubach, Berwick; Mrs. A.E. Hess, Mrs. Casper Hess, Miss Dorothy Belles, Mrs. Gwynn Hess, Mr. W.O. Caster, J.B. Laubach, Benton; Mrs. J.B. Laubach, Miss Etta Brink, Martin Harter, Mich; Mary A Koons, Mich.; John G. Laubach, Lewis L. Harter, Mich.; Mrs. Albert Metzger, Benton; C.F. Laubach, Wilkes-Barre; A.L. Fritz, Jamison City; Ethel M. Laubach, Benton; F. Marie Metzger, Williamsport; Earl R. Laubach, Benton; Mr. and MRs. John H. Laubach, Ella G. Laubach, Elsie E. Laubach, Mrs. Inez Belles, Gertrude Hess, Reber, Eva and Ruth Laubach, Mrs. Rolland E. Hess, Elizabeth E. Hess, Mrs. H.R. Laubach, Maude C. Hess, Dora B. Edson, Flo Laubch, Frank R. Edson, Charels A. Edson, Gordon Laubach, C.M. Laubach, Mrs. C.M. Laubach, Ora Laubach, Robert Laubach, Carlton Laubach, Mr. and Mrs. Clay Laubach.
From: The History of Columbia County, PA, Chapter XI, 1887: The following year (1792 in all probability) the actual immigration occurred. The route pursued was the Susquehanna and Lehigh road from Easton to Nescopeck falls, laid out by Evan Owen in 1787. In their progress up Fishing creek they passed a few houses in the vicinity of Light Street, one at Orangeville, the Klines above the Knob, and Daniel McHenry at Stillwater. William Hess owned a tract of land four miles in length, extending from Coles mills to North mountain. He built a log cabin near a small spring, the site of which is on land in possession of Andrew Laubach. His sons, George, John, Andrew, Tobias, Conrad, Frederick, Henry and Jacob took up their residences in the valley of the creek above their father in the order of their names. John Kile and Ezekiel Cole located in the immediate vicinity of William Hess. Christian Laubach settled at first in Montour township (then Mahoning) prior to 1795, and about two years thereafter removed to Sugarloaf township. John G. Laubach, his grandson, has succeeded to his land. When Leonard Rupert, the near neighbor of Christian Laubach in Montour township, had returned from assisting to move his effects to the North mountain country, he is reputed as saying that that region was certainly at the end of the world. Whether it was or not, Philip Fritz followed his relatives thither in 1795 and took possession of "Fritz's Hill." Jonathan Robbins arrived in the same year from Bethlehem township, Huntingdon county, New Jersey. He located upon land now owned by David Lewis and planted an orchard at that place with seeds brought from his former home. Two brothers of Mr. Robbins, Daniel and John, also settled in this region. Godfrey Dilts and William Bird, from New Jersey, David and Jacob Herrington from New York, became residents of this section at a later period. James Seward, Jesse Hartman, James A. Pennington, Ezekiel Shultz, William Shultz and others have crossed from Fairmount township, Luzerne county. The population of Sugarloaf in 1800 consisted of the Hesses, Kiles, Laubachs, Robbins and Cole's. Expecting a comparatively small element of the inhabitants the same remark applies equally well to-day. From: The Mill at Greystone; The Ezekiel Cole Mill on Coles Creek, the first mill in northern Columbia County. William Hess came from Northampton County with his father-in-law, John Godhard, in 1792 and purchased a tract of land four miles long from the mouth of Coles Creek to North Mountain. He built a log cabin near a spring near the old Laubach store. His sons George, John, Andrew, Tobias, Conrad, Frederick, Henry, and Jacob took up residences in the valley of the creek above their father. His son-in-law, "Ezekiel Cole, located on a tract south of the homestead, at the home many would recognize as the later-day home of Hervey Long, and in 1795 he built the first grist mill in northern Columbia County at "Cole Town at the mouth of Coles Creek." He continued to operate the mill until 1820. Many interesting stories are told of the hospitality of Ezekiel Cole. The Coles Grist Mill was owned and operated by Ezekiel Cole, Jr., from 1820 to 1848, the year he died. Albert Cole, eldest son of Ezekiel's son Alinas Cole, eventually operated the mill until his death in 1917. In 1918 the property was sold at public sale to Byron Keller, and the old mill was removed in 1920. The water power for this mill furnished power for four buhr flour and feed mills and a saw mill. The buhrs were imported from France. The water wheel and transmission equipment were handmade wood. The mill always enjoyed a healthy number of customers even from over the mountain in Sullivan County. In 1923, the Kettle Club, Bloomsburg, purchased the house. At one time, the house was known as the Greystone Club House. John Herbert Laubach recalls that there are some references to Ezekiel Cole in the "Day Book" of John Christian Laubach. Christian (the early Germans tended to "throw away" the first name) Laubach moved into the northern end of Columbia Country about 1794 or 1795. John Herbert writes, "I would not consider the Day Book spelling as authoritative. John Christian tended to write things according to German phonetics. However, since so many of John Christian's associates were German immigrants, they probably did use the German spelling in their early days.
In any case, John Christian referred to Ezekiel Cole as "Sik Kohl." In German, an "s" that begins a word is pronounced as a "z." Hence, the German "Sik" would be pronounced "Zeke." On December 24, 1794, John Christian recorded that "Sik Kohl" had borrowed a substantial sum (22 Pounds) from Johannes Gotthart," known elsewhere as "John Godhard." Godhard was the grandfather of John Christian's wife. He came to live with John Christian late in his life. Several local persons borrowed money from him. There were additional references to "Sik Kohl" in August, 1795, when John Christian worked for Zeke Cole in connection with corn, perhaps the milling of corn. The "Day Book" of John Christian Laubach was lent me by Ethel Laubach, the widow of John Paul Laubach. It was written in German and tracked much of the day labor of John Christian from the time of his youth near Bethlehem, Pa. The time period was from 1782 until 1795. John Christian settled near the crest of what is now Kearcuff Road, near Camp Lavigne.
[NOTE]: Grandson Corporal David K. Laubach 198th. Regiment, Company B., PA., was Captured on April 9, 1865 at the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse. He was released and later discharged on June 28, 1865.