Christian Sholder1,2

M, (31 January 1835 - 10 November 1929)
Relationship
5th great-grandson of Martin Scholderer
Charts
Martin Scholderer descendants (Remmingsheim, Württemberg)
     Christian Sholder was born on 31 January 1835 at Centre County, Pennsylvania.3,2,4,5 He was the son of Christian August Scholderer and Anna Margareta Lutscher.2 Christian Sholder married, at age 23, Leah Sechrist, age 21, daughter of Michael Sechrist, on Thursday, 28 October 1858 at Old Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.6,2,5 Christian Sholder died on 10 November 1929 at age 94 years, 9 months and 9 days.7,4 He was buried on 13 November 1929 in the Wildwood Cemetery, located in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.4
     Christian Sholder was probably included as a free white male, between the age of 5 and under 10 years, in Christian August Scholderer's household, enumerated 1 June 1840 in the Sixth Census for the United States of America, Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.8

Christian Sholder was listed as living in the household of Christian August Scholderer in the Seventh Census for the United States of America, enumerated on 19 September 1850 Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, age 15 born in Pennsylvania.9 Christian Sholder was a farmer in 1860 at Old Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.10

Christian Sholder was listed as the head of household in the Eighth Census for the United States of America, enumerated on 31 July 1860 in the State of Pennsylvania, Lycoming County, Old Lycoming Township as "C. Shoulder," a white male age 24 with an occupation of a farmer, being born in Pennsylvania; there is no real estate value listed but his personal property was valued at $600, the equivalent of $12,200 in the year 2000. We find Leah Sechrist resided in the same household, as "Leah Shoulder" age 22 being born in Pennsylvania; and Clara Sholder, as "Clarence Shoulder" age 3/12 [3 months], being born in Pennsylvania.11 Christian Sholder and Leah Sechrist appeared on the census of 11 June 1880 at Old Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

The "History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania" was published in 1892. John F. Meginness, editor helped to preserve the biographies for the families living in the area at that time. On page 1135 we find a short sketch for Christian describing his family at that time:

     CHRISTIAN SHOLDER, eldest son of Christian Sholder, Sr., was born. January 31, 1835, in Centre county, Pennsylvania, and was reared on the homestead, in Old Lycoming township. He has always resided on the farm which he now owns. He was married in 1858, to Leah, daughter of Michael Sechrist, of Newberry, Pennsylvania, a native of Snyder county. The following children have been born of this union: Louisa, deceased; Clara, wife of Michael Murray; William, deceased; Franklin; Henry; Eli; Edward, and Ida. Mr. Sholder is an ardent Democrat, and has filled several of the minor offices in his township. He has been township auditor for twelve years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church [Bottle Run], and has served as elder for several years. He has always taken an active interest in the progress of agriculture, and is an active member of the Farmers’ Alliance.2 He and Leah Sechrist joined the Presbyterian Church of Williamsport in 1899. Christian Sholder and Leah Sechrist appeared on the census of 7 June 1900 at Old Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He became a widower at the age of 65 with the death of Leah on 12 October 1900.7,4 Christian Sholder appeared on the census of 26 April 1910 in the household of Clara Sholder at Old Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Christian Sholder appears in family photograph on 24 August 1912 Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This was taken as a part of a family reunion in which this photograph appeared in the Sunday Grit on 1 September 1912. He appeared on the census of 2 January 1920 in the household of Clara Sholder at Old Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The following article about Christian was published sometime in February 1926 in the local paper, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. This article stated:

     Family Honor Mr. Sholder On Anniversary - On Sunday, January 31, [1926] Christian Sholder, of Williamsport R.D. 2, received the congratulations from many relatives and friends, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. M. C. Murray, who baked the anniversary cake, that was decorated with ninety-one candles. Mrs. Murray is the eldest daughter and at the table sat at the right hand of the father, with Mrs. Richard Turner of Harrisburg, the youngest daughter sitting on the left. Besides these two daughters Mr. Sholder has three sons living, fifteen grand children, of whom Mrs. Harry Harer, thirty-eight, of Proctor State Route, is the eldest and Miss Sarah Jane Turner, six, of Harrisburg, is the youngest, and twenty-seven great-grand children, of whom Llewellyn Harer, thirteen, is the oldest, and Alice Rosetta Weigle, about one year old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Judson Weigle, of Cogan Station No. 2 is the youngest. He is in fairly good physical condition, enjoys conversation, has a good appetite and when the weather is favorable, delights in a stroll about the country. He was the recipient of numerous presents, on this occasion, all of which he greatly appreciated, and one that gave him especial pleasure was a Chinese Primrose sent by the Bethel Presbyterian Bible class of Bottle Run. He also received more than a half hundred beautiful cards with appropriate sentiments, of which the following is an example:

'Another birthday now and then
Assails all kinds and sorts of men.
But, in the crowd, there's doggone few
Can count 'em off as well as you.12'

Children of Christian Sholder and Leah Sechrist

Last Edited=2 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S639] C. Shoulder household, 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule) Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Old Lycoming Township, New Berry post office, page 621 stamped, page 155 written, dwelling 1025, lines 19 through 21. Digital image of the microfilm publication series: M653; roll: 1137 from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images online; Ann Arbor, Michigan: ProQuest Information and Learning Company) http://www.heritagequestonline.com/, subscription database, accessed 11 March 2006. The entry on line 19 shows his name as C. Shoulder.
  2. [S14] John F Meginness, History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania (Baltimore, Maryland: prepared by Lycoming Historical Society; Gateway Press, Inc., 1990 reprint of 1892 original), p. 1135.
  3. [S639] C. Shoulder household, 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule) Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Old Lycoming Township, page 621 stamped, page 155 written, dwelling 1025, lines 19 through 21. Online http://www.heritagequestonline.com/, accessed 11 March 2006. The entry on line 19 shows the age of Christian Sholder as 24, making his year of birth circa 1836, being born in Pennsylvania.
  4. [S214] Christian and Leah (Sechrist) Sholder tombstone, Lot #520 C. West, Wildwood Cemetery, 1151 Cemetery Street, Williamsport, Pennsylvania; photographed by Kevin Sholder, in March 2002. An upright memorial tombstone made of granite and in excellent shape. It states surname Sholder, then Christian Sholder Jr. 1835 - 1929 and Leah, his wife 1837 - 1900.
  5. [S38] Letter written to Ida, his daughter on 15 March 1916, on Christian Sholder and Son, letterhead. Original papers in the possession of Margaret Horn Bennett. (n.p.: n.pub., unknown publish date).
  6. [S639] C. Shoulder household, 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule) Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Old Lycoming Township, page 621 stamped, page 155 written, dwelling 1025, lines 19 through 21. Online http://www.heritagequestonline.com/, accessed 11 March 2006.
  7. [S30] Bethel (Bottle Run) Presbyterian records dated 1901 - 1945 on micro film kept in the Northen Central Bank in Williamsport safety deposit box by the Bethel Presbyterian Session. Contact person Gail Leidecker, RD 5, Williamsport, PA (n.p.: n.pub., unknown publish date).
  8. [S525] C. A. Shoulder household, 1840 U.S. Census (Population Schedule) Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Lycoming Township, page 91, line 2. Digital image of the microfilm publication series: M704; roll: 473 from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images online; Ann Arbor, Michigan: ProQuest Information and Learning Company) http://www.heritagequestonline.com/, subscription database, accessed 23 October 2004. This entry shows 2 males under 5 years; 1 male, 5 and under 10 years; 1 male, 30 and 40 years; 1 male, 60 and under 70 years and 1 female, 5 and under 10 years; 1 female, 30 and under 40 years; 1 female, 60 and under 70 years. Of these, there are 4 listed in the household that are employed in manufactures and trade.
  9. [S526] Christian Sholder household, 1850 U.S. Census (Population Schedule) Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Lycoming Township, page 270 stamped, page 535 written, dwelling 1204, lines 19 through 30. Digital image of the microfilm publication series: M432; roll: 795 from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images online; Ann Arbor, Michigan: ProQuest Information and Learning Company) http://www.heritagequestonline.com/, subscription database, accessed 23 October 2004. This entry shows Christian Sholder age 43, Margaret Sholder age 42, Elizabeth Sholder age 17, Christian Sholder age 15, Samuel Sholder age 13, Emanuel Sholder age 11, Charlotte Sholder age 9, Benjamin Sholder age 6, Daniel Sholder age 4, John Sholder age 1, Christina M. Sholder age 76, Catharina B. Lutcher age 80.
  10. [S639] C. Shoulder household, 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule) Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Old Lycoming Township, page 621 stamped, page 155 written, dwelling 1025, lines 19 through 21. Online http://www.heritagequestonline.com/, accessed 11 March 2006. The entry on line 19 lists the occupation for C. Shoulder as a farmer.
  11. [S639] C. Shoulder household, 1860 U.S. Census (Population Schedule) Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Old Lycoming Township, page 621 stamped, page 155 written, dwelling 1025, lines 19 through 21. Online http://www.heritagequestonline.com/, accessed 11 March 2006. This entry shows C. Shoulder age 24, Leah Shoulder age 22, Clarence Shoulder age 3/12.
  12. [S1897] Family Honor Mr. Sholder On Anniversary, undated clipping from an unidentified newspaper presumably from a local paper in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, circa February 1926. The original article was from a scrapbook of personal memorabilia compiled by Johanna (Weiss) Edler (1915-1999) through out her life. Viewed in the home of her daughter Donna (Edler) Sayah on 1 June 1999, by Kevin Sholder. Donna Lee Edler, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, USA.