According to "St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Reformed Church, Black Oak Ridge (West Beaver), Snyder County, Pennsylvania, Parish Records, 1798-1857". John David was born August 17, 1802: "Date of Birth: August 17, 1802; Date of Baptism: October 3, 1802; Name: David; Parents: Philip Everhart and wife Elizabeth; Name of Sponsor: David Eberhart,single."

John David Eberhard, son of Elizabeth Catherine (Gentzel) or (Kinsell) and Philip Eberhard, married first Christenia Wise in 1830 in Ohio (Marion Co., OH, Marriage Records, Vol. 1-4, 1824-1869, LDS film #384239: "David Eberhardt(sic) and Christena Wise, license issued March 26, 1830, no return."
(Note: "No return" means the couple married elsewhere.)
Christenia died in August of 1838 in St. Joseph County, MI. Her stone reads, "Christenia, wife of John D. Eberhard, died Aug 1838, aged 25 years." He married second Sarah (Smith) Winchell, daughter of Barbara (Rnitzing) and Zophnes Smith, December 12, 1839, in Porter Township, Cass County, MI (Cass Co., MI, Marriage Records, recorded & filed March 20, 1840). Sarah's first marriage was to William Barney Winchell, who died in 1839 in LaPorte County, IN.

Children of Christenia (Wise) and John David Eberhard are Miara Elizabeth (married George Weeks Teller), Joshua George Washington (married Louisa J. Jones), and Barbara Anna (married Isaac Parker, Jr). They are all listed below on this Memorial.

Children of Sarah (Smith) Winchell and John David Eberhard are Martin Luther, Calvin Zopher, Apolion Augustus, Jefferson Bonepart, Lewis Philip, Lazarus D., Robert Psalter, B. Franklin, Ida Lovina, and Francis Marion. Four of these children are not listed below on this Memorial, but all may be buried at South Colon Cemetery. Births, deaths, and full names are taken from the John D. and Sarah (Smith) Eberhard Family Bible, the record of Sarah (Smith) Winchell Eberhard, which is held by Ms. Vivian A. Fennell, Fulton, MI, who purchased (we should say, "saved") the Bible some years ago at a yard sale in Colon, MI! The four children are the following:
MARTIN LUTHER (November 16, 1849-Abt. 1873), married Lydia Ann Ware (Abt.1847-Jan.1873). For further information, see the Memorial for their daughter, Mary Elesta (Eberhard) Swihart. buried at South Colon.
APOLION AUGUSTUS (March 11, 1844-May 4, 1850), buried at South Colon under the name, Napolien Eberhard, 1844-1950.
JEFFERSON BONAPART (Nov. 7, 1845-July 29, 1856) buried at South Colon under the name, Jefferson Eberhard, 1845-1856.
LEWIS PHILIP (June 29, 1848-May 3, 1924), buried at South Colon under the name, Louis Philip Eberhard, 1848-1924. Lewis married Lovina Adell "Dell"Wagner (Feb. 6, 1857-Dec. 26, 1890) on Feb.20, 1876, in Colon.

John David, who was called "David" in his family, was named after his uncle, David Eberhard, who was also his sponsor at baptism. After the death of John David's father, Philip, it was Uncle David and his family who shepherded Philip's young adult children, including John David, westward from Pennsylvania to Crawford Co., OH, and then on to Michigan to settle. His Uncle David and family settled in Newberg Township, Cass Co., MI, where he and many of his descendants are buried in Poe Cemetery. This researcher is a direct descendant of David Eberhard and his wife, Susannah (Rager), who are 4th great-grandparents. John David was the oldest of six children: Barbara, married John Frederick Knepp, both buried at South Colon Cemetery; Barnard Ginsel Eberhard, married Elizabeth Staley, both buried at Hubbard Cemetery, Marion Co., Oregon; Lazarus Eberhard, did not marry, died in San Franciso, California Territory, November 12, 1849, burial place unknown; Rachel, married John McCrea, both buried at South Colon Cemetery; and John Jacob, married Catherine Phillips, both buried at Lakeside Cemetery, Colon,St. Joseph Co., MI. John David and his mother were named as executors in the Will of his father, Philip: "Wills of Mifflin County, 1789-1860," p. 27: "Philip Eberhard, Decatur Twp., w. 6-23-1818; p. 7-14-18, wife, Elizabeth; son David; says has other children but does not name, Exec. John Drees. "

John David Eberhard was a very influential and well respected leader in his community. He donated land for a church, a school, and South Colon Cemetery, formerly called the Eberhard Cemetery.