View source for Oberholtzer (Overholtzer, Overholser, Overholt) family

Oberholtzer (Overholtzer, Overholser, Overholt), a Mennonite family name, probably of Swiss origin. One of the immigrants bearing this family name was a Martin Oberholtzer (1709-44) of [[Germany|Germany]] who settled in the Deep Run area of [[Bucks County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Bucks County]], Pennsylvania. A Jacob Oberholtzer was living in Franconia Township, [[Montgomery County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Montgomery County]], Pennsylvania, in 1719. The settlers of 1710 in what is now [[Lancaster County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Lancaster County]], Pennsylvania, included two Oberholtzers, Martin and Michael. Descendants of the family in Lancaster County included two deacons, a preacher (MC), and Bishop Jacob Oberholtzer (ca 1826-1888) of Bowmansville (GCM). The Franconia Conference Oberholtzers included at least six preachers, three deacons, and a bishop, Isaac Oberholtzer (1815-1887) of the [[Blooming Glen Mennonite Church (Blooming Glen, Pennsylvania, USA)|Blooming Glen]] congregation. The Ontario Conference (MC) included a deacon and a preacher bearing the name. By far the most prominent representative of the family was [[Oberholtzer, John H. (1809-1895)|John H. Oberholtzer]] (1809-1895), a preacher from 1842 in the [[Franconia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Franconia Conference]], founder of what is now the [[Eastern District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Eastern District]] Conference of the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]] in 1847, a bishop from 1847 (GCM), schoolteacher, locksmith, publisher, and author. He played a major role in the formation of the General Conference (GCM). In [[Westmoreland County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Westmoreland County]], Pennsylvania, one of the pillars in what became the Scottdale church (MC) was [[Overholt, John D. (1797-1878)|John D. Overholt]] (1797-1878), ordained preacher in 1830 and bishop in 1833. His uncle Abraham Overholt (1785-1870) was a successful distiller from 1810 (Old Overholt Whiskey) and a member (trustee at times) in the church (MC). This Overholt family descends from the above Martin Oberholtzer. A preacher Jacob Oberholtzer of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, moved to [[Mahoning County (Ohio, USA)|Mahoning County]], Ohio, in 1806, and became the first ordained Mennonite minister in Ohio, organizing the congregation there.
= Bibliography =
Fretz, A. J. <em>A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Martin Oberholtzer</em>. Milton, N.J., 1903.

Loomis, E. S.<em> Some Account of Jacob Oberholtzer who settled about 1719, in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania</em>. Cleveland, 1931.
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 12|date=1955|a1_last=Wenger|a1_first=John C|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
[[Category:Family Names]]