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I inherited the Longenecker family Bible which was hand-printed in Old German and belonged to Elder Henry Longenecker, who came from Juniata County, PA, to Miami County, Ohio with his family in the Spring of 1834. It is unknown who owned it before that. It is one of the first Bibles ever printed in America in any European language. It antedates by 40 years the first English Bible, printed by Robert Aitken. It was published by Christopher Sower (Sauer) at Germantown, PA in 1743. Only four pages could be printed at a time then. A man named Flickenstein made some of the matrices for the type required, by hand upon an anvil. He also manufactured the paper on which it was printed along with the ink.
Elder Henry Longenecker was born in Pennsylvania in 1791 and died near the old Sugar Grove Church about two miles south of Covington, Miami County, Ohio in 1872. His wife was Anna Hart, also from Pennsylvania, born in 1794 and died Christmas day, 1863. They were married about 1815. They reared a large family and he always preached in German. After his death his youngest son, Henry Longenecker, of Hillgrove, Darke County, OH, purchased the Bible. His son, Dr. Orlando B. Longenecker, my grandfather, in Dayton, OH, obtained it from his father, Henry.
This information was provided by William Minnich, youngest son of Jacob and Anna Longenecker Minnich, and grandson of Elder Henry Longenecker.
For a fuller history of the Sower Bibles see "History of the Brethren," by the late M. G. Brumnaugh, Ex Governnor of Pennsylvania. (All of this information was written Dec. 15, 1930 by Wiilliam Minnich.)
An additional note by Mr. Minnich gives information which he got from his Aunt Sally Landis. She said her grandfather was David Longenecker. He was married twice. His first wife, Esther Hershey, bore at least five children: Henry, Joseph, Samuel, Catharine, and Barbara. His second wife was Eva Smeltzer. John was their only child as far as Mr. Minnich knew, though there may have been more. He believes that his grand grandfather David Longenecker was owner of this BIble as was likely also his father.
Mr. Minnich's address in 1930 was RFD #1, Union, OH.
There is a listing of names, beginning with Ulrich Longenecker from Switzerland, Daniel Longenecker, and Samuel Longenecker, who was born Apr. 5, 1789, and died in Darke Co., OH, Sep. 14, 1852. He was married to Anna Shank, also of Londonberry Tp, Dauphin Co., PA, Oct. 2, 1810. He moved with his family about 1820 to Warren Co., Ohio, and also his sister, wife of John Wilhelm.
The children of Samuel Longenecker were:
Michael Longenecker, b. Sep. 10, 1811, died Jul. 13, 1897
David Longenecker, b. Jul. 14, 1813, died Aug. 20, 1869
Massia Longenecker, b. Jun. 1, 1815, died Apr. 16, 1921
Catherine Longenecker, b. Mar. 13, 1817, died Sep. 3, 1898, married to Daniel Wise
Nancy Longenecker, b. Oct. 11, 1818, died Feb.25,1862
married to David Miller
Samuel Longenecker, b. Jun. 25, 1820, died Sep. 14, 1855
Fanny Longenecker, b. Jul. 13, 1824, died Jul. 14, 1895
married John Coppess
Elizabeth Longenecker, b. Dec. 25, 1826, died Nov. 1, 1907
married James Hager
John Longenecker, b. Feb. 12, 1830, died Sep. 1913
There is more information which I will add later.
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