M, b. 22 October 1808, d. 19 November 1887
| ResidenceLast* | | Michael Dreher last resided at Stark Co., OH. |
| Birth* | 22 October 1808 | He was born on 22 October 1808 at Herschberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.2,3,4 |
| | He was the son of Peter Dreher and Anna Elisabetha Sauberschwarz. |
| Confirmation* | 23 March 1823 | He was confirmed on 23 March 1823 at Herschberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.5 |
| (Sponsor) Baptism | 19 April 1829 | He sponsored the baptism of Jacob Andrie , son of Peter Jacob Andrie and Anna Maria Hartenstein, on 19 April 1829 at Herschberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.5 |
| Marriage* | 24 February 1831 | He married Louisa Hartenstein, daughter of Gottfried Hartenstein and Elisabetha Schmidt, on 24 February 1831 at Herschberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Michael Hardenstine, Adam Bender Jun., Peter Dreher and Heinrich Hartenstein witnessed the marriage.3,5 |
| Immigration* | circa 1832 | He immigrated circa 1832 into New York, New York Co., NY.6 |
| Communion* | 30 March 1834 | He received Holy Communion on 30 March 1834 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, New York, New York Co., NY.7 |
| (Sponsor) Baptism | 8 January 1837 | He sponsored the baptism of Dorothea Catharine Koeler , daughter of Philip Köhler and Margaretha Hartenstein, on 8 January 1837 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, New York, New York Co., NY.6 |
| (Sponsor) Baptism | 25 January 1841 | He sponsored the baptism of Elisabeth Hardenstine , daughter of Godfrey Hardenstine and Odella Schaefer, on 25 January 1841 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, New York, New York Co., NY.7 |
| Occupation | 1850 | He was a farmer in 1850. |
| Occupation* | 1860 | He was a vendor in 1860. |
| Occupation | 1870 | He was a farmer in 1870. |
| Occupation | 1880 | He was a saloon keeper in 1880. |
| Marriage* | 29 April 1880 | He married Eliza Stucker on 29 April 1880 at Stark Co., OH.8 |
| Death* | 19 November 1887 | He died on 19 November 1887 at Limaville, Stark Co., OH, at age 79.9,4 |
| Burial* | November 1887 | He was buried in November 1887 at German Church Cemetery, Atwater Twp., Portage Co., OH.9 |
| Anecdote* | | Michael and Louisa married and had their first child in Herschberg, Germany in 1831.5 Their marriage entry in the church records there identified the parents of both. Louisa first appeared in the records of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church of New York City as a communicant at Easter of 1833. The death of their first son was recorded in the same church book in 1834.
Michael and Louisa's presence in New York City through May of 1847 can be confirmed by their appearance in the records of St. Matthew's and St. Paul's churches. Their remaining children were baptized there and several of their deaths are recorded in the church records. They also served as sponsors at the baptism of several children of Gottfried (Godfrey) Hartenstein and Margaret Hartenstein Köhler, siblings of Louisa. In 1841 Michael was one of many church members who pledged money towards the creation of the new St. Paul's Lutheran Church building. Note that many other immigrants from Herschberg can be found in these church records. In many cases they sponsored the baptisms or weddings of friends and family.6,7
By the time of the 1850 census the Drehers had moved to Atwater Township, Portage County, Ohio. Michael purchased 45 acres of land in that township in October 1853. This was near the village of Limaville in Lexington Township, Stark County where many immigrants from Herschberg and surrounding areas had settled. The earliest immigrants arrived there in 1831.10
It was a surprise to discover that the entire Dreher family returned to New York City by 1860, where they were located during the census in June of that year. The occupation listed for Michael and his son Godfrey was street vendor. Godfrey had married and three children were living with him and his wife. Their first two children were baptized at the German Church in Atwater Township, the second in January of 1858. Their third child, Frederick, was born in August of 1859 in New York City. So they apparently moved back to the city in 1858 or 1859. In September 1860 and February 1861 Michael Dreher purchased land in the northwest part of Lexington Township, Stark County, along County Line Road and just west of the village of Limaville. The family retained this property for many years.
Louisa died in 1879 and was buried in the German Church Cemetery. My wife Margie and I saw her tombstone when we visited the cemetery in 2003. Michael remarried in 1880. He and his second wife Eliza Stucker were enumerated in the 1880 census of the city of Alliance, where he apparently operated a saloon. I found only one reference to Michael's death, which indicated that he also was buried in the German Church Cemetery. We saw no evidence of his tombstone in the cemetery, and his death was not recorded in the German Church records. The family of Louisa Hartenstein and Michael Dreher remained in Lexington Township for several generations until the present. The spelling of their surname was changed to Drayer by the second generation. |