I am a board member of the newly created Gindlesperger Family History
Association (please see the news release that follows). If you'd like
more information about membership, please let me know.
Julie Matthews Burnette
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News Release - For Immediate Release
October 25, 1998
JAMESTOWN, PA - In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the
arrival in America of the family's immigrant ancestor, the
Gindlesperger Family History Association, Inc. was incorporated in
Pennsylvania on August 27, 1998.
The Gindlesperger Family History Association, Inc. (GFHA) was
established to encourage, coordinate, compile, and publish the results
of research into the history, traditions, and lore of the family. A
family reunion at one or more locations is being planned for late
summer, 1999, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the family in
America.
The immigrant ancestor, Ulrich Gindlesperger, arrived in Philadelphia
aboard the Phoenix on September 15, 1749, from Rotterdam. He settled
first in Bern Township, Berks County, PA. An Amish-Mennonite probably
originally from Switzerland, Ulrich had four children: Catherine,
Jacob, Albrecht, and a daughter whose first name is not yet known.
Before he died in 1783, Ulrich, his children, and grandchildren
migrated to Stoneycreek and Quemahoning Townships, Somerset County,
PA. Some members of the next generations migrated to Ohio, Indiana,
and Ontario, Canada. Ulrichs descendants migrated and lived in close
association with other families bearing such early Amish-Mennonite
surnames as Good, Hooley, Kauffman, Miller, Zuck, Yoder, and others.
The Gindlesperger surname has been spelled in literally dozens of ways
over the past 250 years, including Gindlesberger, Kindlesperger,
Jinglespiker, and Inglesbrighter. If you have a surname even remotely
close to Gindlesperger, youre likely to be a cousin, said Rev.
Norman L. Gindlesperger, GFHA President.
One of the most interesting things about the establishment of the
Gindlesperger Family History Association is that the founding members
met over the Internet. Although we are cousins, we have not yet met in
person. This is one of the reasons we look forward to celebrating the
familys 250th anniversary in Americathe reunion will give us a
chance to meet each other and many other Gindlesperger cousins as
well, said Rev. Gindlesperger.
Drawing on the members Internet expertise, the GFHA will soon launch
a comprehensive website that provides a large database of
Gindlesperger genealogy. To date, weve found over 3,000 direct
descendants of Ulrich Gindlesperger. One of our goals is to provide
free access to this great research; we want other people to have as
much fun exploring their ancestry as we do, Rev. Gindlesperger said.
The incorporators and initial board members are: the Rev. Norman L.
Gindlesperger, Baldwin, L.I., NY, President; James L. Gindlesperger,
Johnstown, PA, Vice President; Julie Matthews Burnette, Germantown,
MD, Secretary; G. James Gindlesberger, Alva, OK, Treasurer; and
Virginia Gage Firks, Fort Wayne, IN.
Additional information is available at the address below or from the
above officers, respectively, at the following email addresses:
normanlg(a)idt.com; jimgind(a)alvant.alva.ok.us; jg57(a)andrew.cmu.edu; and
julie-mike(a)erols.com.
The GFHA is inviting Charter Memberships at $15.00 per year for
individuals and families until the time of celebration in 1999.
Membership dues may be sent to G. James Gindlesperger, 815 12th
Street, Alva, OK 73717.