John BARKEY

• Born: August 21, 1781, Pennsylvania

• Married c.1807

• Died Oct. 30, 1860

  Marriage Information:

John married Susannah BUSSARD, daughter of George BUSSARD and Rachel GODSHALK.

General Notes:

John was born August 25, 1781 in Franconia Twp., Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Burial place:

F

Two of his daughters died early and are buried beside him. On their headstone the  name is spelled BERKEY.

The following is contributed by Dave and Angie Barkey, July 21, 2005.

 "The information from the book, Memoirs Elkhart and St. Joseph Co. 1873 were given by our great grandfather, John Barkey. There is a longer write up about him.   Dave"

For generations the ancestors of our subject (John Barkey) have led agricultural lives. They came to America fleeing from religious persecution in Germany and at the invitation of Wm. Penn settled in Bucks, Co., Pa. John Barkey's father was a farmer in Bucks Co. His brothers, Christian and Jacob located in Wayne and Medina Counties, Ohio.

Born in Bucks, Co., Pa. he was reared to farm life and educated in German. The religion of the family was Mennonite and the children were all strictly reared. In 1827, Mr. Barkey moved his family to Holms Co., Ohio and settled on 160 Acres of land in the wilderness and here cleared up a good farm and erected comfortable farm buildings. He became a minister in the Mennonite Church, preacher for many years and was one of the founders of that church in Holmes Co. He was an earnest man, a good citizen and like many other pioneers, could turn his hand to almost any kind of work. He was a fair carpenter, cooper, shoemaker and miller and lived to the age of 79 years, 2 months, 5 days, dying on his farm in Holmes Co. Of quiet disposition and of sincere Christian character, he had regard and respect from all and it was a comfort to him that he never had a law suit in his life.

Family of twelve children who grew to maturity and three who died young.

John was a Mennonite minister and preacher in the old Mennonite Church adjoining the cemetery where he and his wife and some of their children are buried. This church and cemetery are located in a beautiful valley amongst the hills of Holms County on the highway leading from Mt. Eaton to Winesburg, about 4 miles out of Mt. Eaton. - History of Chester Twp., Wayne Co., Ohio, Harvey S. Rett, 1930.

Bergey (Bergy, Berke, Berkey, Berki, Berkey, Birki, Barkey, etc.) A family name among the Swiss Annabaptists in the Enmental during the 17th century and present in the Palatinate Mennonite family census lists of 1672, 1738,1743,1752,1753,1759,1768-(Mennonite Quarterly Review 1940-41) The 1940 census of Mennonite families in So. Germany listed 18 families under 4 variants of the name. Peter Burke, 1538 and Cheston Burki 1669 appear in the Bernece Ratsmanual as Anabaptists. Hans Burky, a preacher was exiled in 1710 [Mennonite Encyclopedia].

Rev. John Barkey was farmer, carpenter, cooper, shoemaker, miller. "John Barkey was married to Susannah Buzzard. [Bu. His date of ordination has been lost. ... On their two marble grave markers in the Longenecker Cemetery one finds interesting symbolism that suggests he was a minister. At the top of the marker of John's grave is carved a hand on top of an open Bible. On Susannah's stone, at the bottom, was carved a hand holding the Bible. A minister was considered the teacher or minister of the Word. In his case the hand on the open Bible symbolizes him as one who expounded the Word. In her case she supports the Bible, or under girds the preaching of the Word, which task only her husband would have been permitted to perform." He and Susannah H. Buzzard had 15 children. Rev. John Barkey was born in 1781 at Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA. He married Susannah H. Buzzard, daughter of George Buzzard and Rachel H. Godshalk, c.1807 at Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA. Rev. John Barkey lived in 1827 at Holmes County, Ohio, USA. He was ordained c.1830. He died on October 30, 1860 at Holmes County., Ohio, USA. He was buried after October 30, 1860 at Longenecker Mennonite Cemetery in Ohio.    [Information is from Shantz Family Tree]