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Gehlbach Unification
Project
(July 9, 2002)
In the 1800s a number of Gehlbach families and individuals from the area around Zweibruecken, RheinPfalz, Germany emigrated to the United States. Based on correspondance with others as well personal research I have been able to identify three major Gehlbach family groups. This page is published in the hopes that as research progresses, we will be able to join these three groups together.
If you are related to one of these groups, I would be happy to provide a link on this page to your website and/or email address. Please let me know of any corrections or additions.
Major Group I
The common ancestor for this group is Johann Georg
and Salomea (Bauer) Gehlbach. At first they lived in Ixheim, a few miles
south of Zweibruecken, but about 1800 moved to Einoed-Ingweiler (a NW suburb).
They had nine children: Elisabeth, Daniel Conrad, Catharina Sophia, Johann
Georg, Jacob, Valentin, Johann Philip, Johann Friedrich, and Johann Joseph.
[I have traced the Gehlbach ancestors back to about 1650.]
1. Jacob Gehlbach and Louisa Strobel
This family arrived in New York in June 1838 on the ship Louis Philippe.
Recently, I have been in contact with a woman who claims to be a descendan
of Jacob and Louisa. She reports that the familiy settled in Troy, NY, and
changed the last name to Gilbert. (This name change also appears with
Bartholomaeus, below.)
2. †Johann Philipp Gehlbach and Maria Elisabetha Reiter
This family was headed by Maria Reiter, widow of Philipp Gehlbach. Two children
of that family arrived in New Orleans in 1846, with Maria and the others
coming in 1852. This family eventually settled in Logan county in central
Illinois. Philipp is a brother to Jacob (above). [Researchers:
Daryl Gehlbach]
3. Bartholomaus Gehlbach (or Gilbach)
Bartholomaus Gehlbach is possibly the son of Valentin, making him a nephew to Philipp and Jacob (above). The evidence indicates that he came to the United States prior to 1855, dying in New York. A few years ago, I spoke with a woman who claimed to be a descendant. She said that the family changed the last name to Gilbert. (I was skeptical of this until a descendant of Jacob made a similar statement.)
Major Group II
The common ancestor to this group is Johann Christian
and Maria Elisabetha (Albrecht) Gehlbach. They were married in 1762 in the
Ernstweiler Reformed Church, which is where those in Major Group I were baptized
and married. At some point this family moved east, settling near
Bergzabern.
4. †Lorenz Gehlbach and Sophia Vogtman
Sophia Vogtman, widow of Lorenz Gehlbach, along with several of their children
left Bergzabern, Pfalz, Bavaria and arrived at New York in 1842. They settled
in the vicinity Harrison county in southern Indiana. [Researchers:
Selene Hunter]
5. Philipp Gehlbach
Philipp Gehlbach was born in Bergzabern, Pfalz, Bavaria. He came to the United
States and settled in New Orleans. He is a son of Lorenz and Sophia (Vogtmann)
Gehlbach, and thus related to the group in southern Indiana. [Researcher:
Lisa Mills]
6. Louis (Ludwig) Gehlbach
This individual came to the United States around 1865 and settled in New York City. He appears to be a nephew of Lorenz Gehlbach (above).
Major Group III
7. Julius Otto Reinhardt Gehlbach
Otto Gehlbach was born near Winterbach, which is east of Zweibruecken. His father passed-away and his mother remarried. He arrived in the United States in 1866. He, his mother and his half-siblings settled in Grundy County, MO. There are no direct descendants bearing the Gehlbach name. I have traced Otto's Gehlbach ancestors back to about 1675. One of Otto's half-brothers, Gustave Briegel, married a granddaughter of Johann Philip Gehlbach (#2 above).