Martha
(Minerd)
Imel-Harbaugh
(1789-1878)
Martha
(Minerd) Harbaugh was the daughter of Western PA pioneers
Jacob and Maria
(Nein) Minerd Sr. Her memories in late life, told to grandson Allen E. Harbaugh, form the basis of his 1913
landmark history of our family which
provides a vital framework for understanding the clan's pioneer
days.
Martha's grave, shown here, dated Jan. 11, 1878, is one of two markers of the pioneers' children known to exist in Western Pennsylvania. At last count, she and her two husbands together produced 15 children and step-children, 45 grandchildren and 159 great-grandchildren, virtually all born before the year 1900.
Martha was born on March 10, 1789 during the Minerds' brief residence in Emmitsburg, MD. As a two-year-old, she then traveled with her parents to their new home at Maple Summit, PA, along the mountainous Fayette-Somerset border. As an old woman, she would retell stories of her childhood to her adoring grandson Allen, who later wrote:
[Her father Jacob Minerd Sr.] pitched his camp under a large tree until he built a cabin. He labored rearing a home and clearing land. He also boiled salt at Victoria [along the Youghiogheny River]. Grandmother, while yet a girl carried provisions to him at the Saltspring bottom.
Martha first married Jacob Imel (1785-1816) and had two children -- Henry Imel and Susanna Knight.
Sadly, Jacob died an untimely death, of causes unknown. He is described in the book, Immel and Imel Families in America by Velma Byrum Keller (Schlechter's, Allentown, PA, 1974). Martha was thus rendered a widow at age 17, with two young children.
In about 1819,
Martha
married
widower Leonard Harbaugh Sr. (1780-1867), the son of Casper and Mary (Cramer)
Harbaugh. Casper is said to have been a civilian teamster in the French and
Indian War who was present when General Edward Braddock was mortally wounded in
battle near present-day Pittsburgh, and also observed Braddock's secret burial
at what is now Chalk Hill near Uniontown, PA. A hand-drawn family tree chart of
Casper's descendants is seen here. Dated 1927, the artist's identity is
not known.
Leonard's first wife, Elizabeth (Pritts) Harbaugh, had died on Sept. 20, 1819, at the age of 36. They had eight children -- Joseph Harbaugh, Mary Harbaugh, Catherine 'Kate' Rowan, Sarah 'Sally' Leonard, Rebecca Bacom, Samuel Harbaugh, Nancy Harbaugh and Jonathan Harbaugh.
Martha and Leonard settled near what is now Clairton Lake near Scullton, Somerset County, PA and went on to have five more children of their own -- Elizabeth Harbaugh, Isaac Harbaugh, Leonard Harbaugh Jr., Adaline Minerd and David Harbaugh. Leonard also became the legal guardian for stepdaughter Susie.
In
the 1840s, perhaps as a Christmas gift, Leonard received a large family Bible,
published by the Methodist Episcopal Church. Inside, inscriptions were written
of family births, marriages and deaths covering three generations. Seen here
is the record of his and Martha's births. The Bible has survived the ravages of
time and fire, and its pages may be viewed here.
All told, she and Leonard had 15 children and step-children, and 54+ grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
Of Martha's children and their spouses, at least two served in the Civil War, while at least four step-grandsons served as well. Three step-grandsons -- Jonas, Josiah and Leonard Rowan all died from the effects of their military service. Another step-grandson, veteran David Rowan, was killed in a railroad accident.
Leonard died on March 2, 1867 at the age of 87 years, in Lower Turkeyfoot Twp. His burial site is unknown. His original estate papers are on file at the Somerset County courthouse. In February 2006, the Laurel Messenger quarterly newsletter of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County published excerpts from Leonard's estate file, and show that his executors were sons Joseph and Leonard Jr.
Martha died on Jan. 15, 1878 at the age of nearly 90. She was laid to rest at the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery at Mill Run, PA, in the near vicinity of her stepson Joseph Harbaugh, stepson in law James Rowan, and other of her Rowan step-grandchildren.
Grandson Allen E. Harbaugh read his history -- Sketch of Minerd Families - Historical and Traditional -- at the clan's first reunion, in 1913, at Ohiopyle. The history, he said, was "an immortal tribute to the memory of his dearly beloved grandmother."
Copyright © 2000, 2002 Mark A. Miner