A BIOGRAPHY OF by John T. Nichols
He was granted 150 acres 13 March 1745, plat in name of Trayer, grant 6 June 1747, in name of Trayor. His grant was in the Saxe-Gotha Township area of present day Lexington County, South Carolina. Name of wife and child not revealed in the historical records at time of arrival. Gottfried Dreher, Sr., erected and operated a grist mill on Twelve Mile Creek (Lexington Co, SC), a short distance from the Saluda River. Later on, he erected and operated a grist mill on the Saluda River (Lexington Co, SC) a few miles upstream from the confluence of Twelve Mile Creek with the Saluda River. The Saluda River Mill was at Dreher Shoals which is now mostly covered by the Lake Murray Dam. Central South Carolina was experiencing the Ravages of the Cherokee War of 1757 - 1761. During the years 1759 and 1760, the people in Saxe Gotha suffered the ravages of the Cherokee War. About 1759, Gottfried Dreher, Sr., erected a fort near Twelve Mile Creek to provide refuge for local citizenry during the Cherokee Indian hostilities. Gottfried Dreher, Sr., a miller, gave patriotic service during the American Revolution. Although not a member of the American Militia, he gave patriotic service by providing provisions (flour, corn, beef, pork and other items) to the Patriot Forces per Audited Accounts for Revolutionary War Service, No. 348. Anna Barbara (Bickley) Wise, born 7 March 1749, daughter of John Bickley, and widow of George Weiss, died 5 January 1837, age 88. Her obituary listed in the Southern Times and State Gazette, records that she was sponsored in baptism (1749) by Godfrey Dreher and his wife Mary Barbara. From this record, we conclude that Gottfried Dreher's wife on arrival in America was Maria Barbara _______. The Dreher Family was instrumental in establishing the early Zion Church located near Twelve Mile Creek. This is quite likely where Anna Barbara Bickley was baptized. The Billy Dreher Island State Park, located in Lake Murray, is believed to have been named for a descendant of Gottfried Dreher, Sr., or his brother, Hans Jorg Dreher, or his first cousin, Johannes Dreher. The specific ancestry of “Billy Dreher” is not known. Known children of Gottfried Dreher and Maria Barbara: I. Catherine Dreher, born about 1743, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, died 4 September 1825, SC. Dreher researchers have come to believe that, through a collection of circumstantial evidence, Catherine Dreher became the wife of Michael Bates, born about 1743, died about 1800, SC. Other researchers maintain that, Ann Catherina Kelly, born 3 May 1748, was the wife of Michael Bates. It is not known if there were any children born to Gottfried and Maria Barbara between II. Anna Maria Dreher, born about 1754, (named for her paternal grandmother, Anna Maria Siger), Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died unknown, SC, married 1) Capt Johannes Kinsler (Patriot of the American Revolutionary War), born unknown, died 1781 (Revolutionary War), SC, son of Hans Conrad Kinsler and Dorothea ________. Married 2) Capt Gabriel Friday (Patriot of the American Revolutionary War), no issue. Or, was this child actually Anna Stengli, or perhaps Anna Maria Stengli, born about 1754, daughter of Johannes Stengli, planter of Saluda and neighbor of Gottfried Dreher, Sr. This is an unsolved mystery. Anna Stengli became a foster child of Gottfried Dreher, Sr., and his wife Maria Barbara in late 1762 or early 1763. Reference: SC Deed Abstracts, 1719-1772, Vol. lll, 1744-1768 Books QQ - H3. C. A. Langley, Southern Historical Press, 1983, Will recorded in Book Z - Z, pg 233, 21 October 1762, Gift in Trust. Referenced Will states: "Johannes Stengli, planter, of Saluda, for love and affection for his 2 children, Godfrey and Anna, whom he can no longer maintain, conveys to his friend, Godfrey Dreher, miller of Saxe-Gotha Township, godfather of his son Godfrey. The 50 acres on John's Creek, Saludee, on which Stengli lives, bounding E. on Charles Birkmeler, and W. on George Keith (list of farm animals), the plantation for sole use of son Godfrey. Farm animals to be equally divided between son Godfrey and daughter Anna. Witnesses: Hans Ulric Backman and Ulric Backman. Recorded 17 November 1762 before William Hopton, Register". If there were two girls (with name Anna) in the Dreher household, one natural born, Anna Maria Dreher, and the other Anna Stengli, then Anna Stengli retained her identity and went her way after coming of age and nothing further is known about her. If on the other hand, there was only one, and her name was Anna Maria Stengli, the foster child, then the children/descendants of Anna Maria Dreher listed below devolve to Anna Maria Stengli. There were two male children in the Dreher household by the name of Godfrey, one was Godfrey Dreher, Jr., natural born son of Gottfried Dreher, Sr., and Maria Barbara ______, and the other was Godfrey Stengli, foster child, son of Johannes Stengli. After Godfrey Stengli came of age, he married and had four children, Frederick, George, Mary, and Barbara Stingley. Godfrey Stengley died about 1842, leaving his four children as heirs. Reference Lexington County, SC Deed Book P, Pages 513 through 518. Children of Anna (Maria?) Dreher/Stengli and 1) Johannes Kinsler: A. Dorothy Kinsler, born 2 June 1771, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 27 August 1857, buried Tyler Cemetery, Sandy Run, Calhoun County, SC. Married 1) Jacob Geiger, born November 1763, died 25 December 1801, son of John Conrad Geiger and Barbara Murff, no issue. Married 2) Major Abraham Geiger, born 1 July 1770, present day Children by 2) Major Abraham Geiger: 1. John William Geiger, born 12 September 1803, Poor Hope Plantation, Lexington County, SC, died 1837, unmarried. 2. Ann Caroline Geiger, born 10 April 1806, Poor Hope Plantation, Lexington County, SC, died 6 December 1884, married Charles Neuffer, born 11 November 1805, died 1 June 1862, Columbia, SC. 3. Elizabeth Ann Geiger, born 29 June 1808, Poor Hope Plantation, Lexington County, SC, died unknown. Married John McKinney Weston, born 1798, Orangeburg District, SC, died 16 March 1877, Sumter County, AL, son of Robert Weston and Mary Ogilvie. 4. Alexander Geiger, born 1881, Poor Hope Plantation, Lexington County, SC, died 1859, unmarried. 5. Henry Jacob Geiger, born 13 January 1815, Poor Hope Plantation, Lexington County, SC, died 8 October 1857. Married 8 November 1843, Charlotte Heath Kaigler, born 6 October 1826, Lexington County, SC, died 4 March 1857, daughter of John Geiger Kaigler and Harriet Heath. Both buried Old Kaigler Home Cemetery, Sandy Run, Calhoun County, SC. B. William Kinsler, born 30 October 1777, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 4 December 1828, Lexington County, SC, married Sarah Salome Senn, born 9 July 1782, present day Lexington County, SC, died 14 September 1859, Lexington County, SC. Both buried Kinsler Cemetery near Cayce, SC. Children. 1. John J. Kinsler, born 1803, Lexington County, SC, died unknown, married Amelia Kennerly, daughter of Samuel Kennerly. No issue. 2. Mary Ann Kinsler, born 15 October 1805, Lexington County, SC, died 2 July 1891, married 1) John Daniel Arthur. Married 2) Anderson H. Holmes, no issue. Children by 1) John D. Arthur. 3. William Kinsler, Jr., born 13 January 1809, Lexington County, SC, died 3 January 1894, unmarried. 4. Daniel Kinsler, born 6 January 1811, Lexington County, SC, died 10 December 1870, unmarried. 5. Elizabeth Kinsler, born 1813, died 1908, married Daniel D Finley. 6. Catherine Kinsler, born 28 September 1815, died 29 October 1905, married 10 February 1842, George Kaigler, born 16 March 1803, died 17 September 1887, daughter of Elizabeth Geiger. Both buried Kaigler-Davis Cemetery, Sandy Run, SC. 7. Major Edward Kinsler, born 31 May 1818, Lexington County, SC, died 21 May 1898, married Susan C. Hook, born 15 July 1845, Lexington County, SC, died 6 February 1919, both buried Kinsler Cemetery near Cayce, SC. 8. Henry O. Kinsler, born 23 February 1823, Lexington County, SC, died 25 February 1910, married Sarah E. Geiger, born 25 February 1858, Lexington County, SC, died 27 September 1954, daughter of Edward W. Geiger and Elizabeth Gardner. No issue. C. John Kinsler, born unknown, SC, died unknown. D. Daniel Kinsler, born unknown, SC, died unknown. E. Ann Kinsler, born unknown, died unknown, married Robert Duke. III. Mary Dreher, born about 1758, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died unknown, married John Jacob Bickley, Jr., born 1753, SC, died 3 April 1805, Lexington County, SC, son of John Jacob Bickley, Sr., and Nancy _______. Children (help with children received from John Nicholson, Athens, GA): A. Thomas Uriah Bickley, born 1782, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died before 1830, married Catherine Caughman, born about 1787, died between 1860 and 1870, daughter of Andrew Caughman and Anna Maria Derrick. B. Mary Ann (Molly) Bickley, born 1784, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 30 Sep 1813, married John Michael Wingard, born 19 Apr 1775, died 28 Jun 1841, son of George Michael Wingard and Anna Maria Ochs. C. Catherine Bickley, born 1789, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died Jun 1837, married 22 January 1808, Samuel W. Wingard, born 3 Sep 1786, died 13 Jun 1845, son of George Michael Wingard and Anna Maria Ochs. Children: 1. Mary Wingard, born unknown, married Lorenzo Taylor. 2. Rachel Wingard, Born unknown. Never married. 3. Leah Wingard, born unknown. Never married. 4. Catherine Wingard, born unknown. Married Colonel James J. Clark. 5. S. P. Wingard, born unknown. D. Jacob Bickley, born 1791, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 18 January 1843, married 27 November 1822, Geminia Smith. IV. Captain Godfrey Dreher, Jr., born 1760, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died May 1815, Algiers, Orleans Parish, LA. Captain Dreher was a Patriot and Veteran of the American Revolutionary War, AA - 2032, Stub Entries to Indents, Revolutionary War Claims, Book W, No. 247. Captain Dreher is recorded in the DAR records by some of his descendants. He married 1) unknown. He married 2) Millery Pollard. Captain Dreher moved from Lexington Co, SC about 1801and went to Screven Co, GA for awhile, then on to Washington Co, GA in 1803. In these locations, he worked in his profession of constructing water powered mills. At the time of the war of 1812 (Battle of New Orleans), Captain Dreher left Washington Co, GA, and went to East Feliciana Parish, La. About 6 miles south of Clinton, La, Captain Dreher purchased 631.2 acres of prime La plantation country farmland. Here he initiated his plantation plans and continued his profession of constructing water powered mills and was under contract to Shepard Brown & Company. The future indeed looked bright. But, then disaster struck. Both Godfrey, his wife #2 and children were on a trip from their home in East Feliciana Parish, LA, to Algiers, New Orleans, LA, in May of 1815. Here both Godfrey and his wife died suddenly/unexpectedly in May 1815. An explanation has never been determined. Children are named in the probate of his estate and other documents. Shepard Brown & Company (Captain Dreher’s employer) was a benefactor to Captain Dreher’s Family. In Shepard Brown’s will it states that his partner, John McDonough, was to have the 3 girls educated. So, John McDonough, arranged to place the girls in the Ursuline Convent Boarding School in New Orleans, La, for their upkeep, safety, and education. A letter of inquiry, dated 24 Mar 1975, was sent to the Ursuline Convent in New Orleans seeking information on the 3 girls. The Ursuline Convent replied to the inquiry in a letter dated May 22, 1975. The letter goes on to say that the Convent historical records reveal that Misses Mary and Nancy Drehr entered the Convent Aug 10, 1818. No record was found for Elizabeth. The writer The Baptismal Register of the Ursuline Convent Chapel provides additional information. The Register indicates that Mary Drehr, No. 242, aged 13 yrs; Anne Drehr, No. 243, aged 10 yrs; and Eliz Drehr, No. 244 aged 5 years, were baptized the 3rd day of Apr 1819. Record states that the girls were the legitimate daughters of Sieur Godfre Drehr and of Dame Mary Drehr, /s/ Louis Moni, Vicar General. Nothing more is known of Elizabeth Dreher. The boys, Andrew Watson, O’Conus Godfrey, Richard, George and James McDonough, may have been put in foster homes to work/learn a trade as was the practice of the day. The three older boys married and had families. Nothing more is known about George. James McDonough, aged about 13 years, died 10 Mar 1825. The Captain Godfrey Dreher, Jr., estate was probated and recorded 2 May 1833 in East Feliciana Parish, La, Conveyance Book C, Para 375. Note: In the succession papers of 1828, it mentions “Amelia Dreher”, wife of Godfrey Dreher. So, Millery/Millry/Mille/Millie may be a nickname for Amelia. The Ursuline Convent records refer to the mother of Mary, Anne, and Eliz. Drehr as Dame Mary Drehr. From these records, it is believed that the full name of Capt Godfrey Dreher’s second wife is “Mary Amelia Pollard”. Child of Captain Godfrey Dreher, Jr., and wife (1): A. John Dreher (named for paternal uncle, John Dreher), born 1795, present day Lexington County, SC, died 31 March 1878. Married 4 November 1822, Jane Street, born 1804, East Feliciana Parrish, LA, died 31 October 1849, East Feliciana Parish, LA. Children of Captain. Godfrey Dreher, Jr., and wife (2) Millery Pollard: B. Andrew Watson Dreher (named for his paternal g-grandfather, Andreas Dreher), born 1801, Washington County, GA, died 1851, East Feliciana Parish, LA. Married 21 December 1826, Sarah S. Thomas, born 1806, GA, died 12 August 1862, East Feliciana Parish, LA. Both buried Kelley-Irvine Cemetery, East Feliciana Parish, LA. F. Ann Nancy Dreher, born 14 January 1809, Washington County, GA, died 23 July 1886, Pride, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, married 1 March 1827, George Washington Hatcher, born 4 December 1802, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, died November 1850, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. G. George Dreher, born 1810, Washington County, GA, died unknown. H. James McDonough Dreher, born 1812, East Feliciana Parish, LA, died 10 March 1825. I. Elizabeth Dreher, born 1814, East Feliciana Parish, LA, died unknown. V. John Dreher (named for his paternal g-grandfather, Johannes Dreher), born 20 March 1765, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 23 May 1847, buried St Michael Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC, married 1) Nancy (Ann) Hollingshed, born about 1770, died 7 November 1792, buried Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC, daughter of Zachariah Hollingshed and Mary Kennerly. Married 2) Elizabeth Parler. Married 3) Mary Catherine (Kate) Lever, born 15 March 1765, present day Lexington County, SC, died 8 May 1852, Lexington County, SC, buried St Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC. Children by 1) Nancy (Ann) Hollingshed: A. Rev Godfrey Walter Dreher (named for his grandfather, Gottfried Dreher), born 4 December 1789, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 28 July 1875, buried St Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC. Married 1) 6 October 1808, Anna E. Saylor, born unknown, died 1810, no issue. Married 2) 13 December 1810, Lexington County, SC, Mary Catherine Miller, born 15 November 1790, died 11 May 1847, daughter of Rev. Robert Johnson Miller of North Carolina. Married 3) 28 November 1848, Mrs. Margaret Harman Leaphart, daughter of John and Rachel Busby Harman and widow of William Leaphart. Rev Godfrey Dreher maintained a diary of his ministry. In recent years, a book has been published based upon his diary and it is titled "Journal of the Rev. Godfrey Dreher, 1819-1851". B. Mary (Polly) Dreher, born 25 August 1792, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 12 January 1855, married John Gable. Children by 2) Elizabeth Parler: C. Nancy (Ann) Dreher, born 1 October 1795, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 19 October 1837, Lexington County, SC, buried St Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC. Married Thomas Shuler, born 1 October 1785, Saxe-Gotha Township, present day Lexington County, SC, died 27 May 1843, SC, buried St Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC. Children: 1. Catherine Shuler, 28 August 1817, Lexington County, SC, died unknown, married Thomas Williamson. 2. Rebecca L. Shuler, born 26 May 1820, Lexington County, SC, died 31 May 1848, married J. A. Linn. 3. John Thomas Shuler, born 29 February 1822, Lexington County, SC, died 3 April 1848, Orangeburg District, SC, married Mary Ann Dreher, born 12 August 1824, Orangeburg District, SC, died 17 December 1904, buried St Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC, daughter of Daniel Dreher and Rebecca Shuler. 4. Ann Shuler, born 11 February 1824, Lexington County, SC, died 28 June 1843, unmarried. 5. Maria F. Shuler, born 27 February 1826, Lexington County, SC, died 27 September 1915, buried St Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC. Married Drury Nunamaker. 6. Martha Shuler, born 26 April 1828, Lexington County, SC, died unknown, married B. F. Bradford. 7. Martin L. Shuler, born 7 August 1830, Lexington County, SC, died 5 May 1848 (17 years, 9 months, 8 days) unmarried. 8. Paul Holman B. Shuler, born 27 December 1833, Lexington County, SC, died 2 May 1870, unmarried. 9. Peter Shuler, born 1836, Lexington County, SC, died CSA, Point Look Out, unmarried. Children by 3) Mary Catherine (Kate) Lever: D. Rev. Daniel Dreher, born 22 April 1798, present day Lexington County, SC, died 14 Children by wife 2) Rebecca Shuler: 1. Elizabeth Ann Dreher, born 1 November 1820, Lexington County, SC, died unknown, married George Haltiwanger. 2. John Jacob Dreher, born 27 September 1822, Lexington County, SC, died 27 April 1877, married Martha Elizabeth Counts. 3. Mary Ann Dreher, born 12 August 1824, Lexington County, SC, died unknown, Married John Thomas Shuler. 4. Rebecca Ann Dreher, born 3 August 1826, Lexington County, SC, died 9 December 1856, married John Barnett Hyler. 5. Susanna Catherine Dreher, born 23 November 1828, Lexington County, SC, died 18 February 1914, married John Barnett Hyler. 6. Jacob Wingard Dreher, born 13 May 1831, Lexington County, SC, died 19 June 1905, married 22 December 1858, Ann Amelia Hiller. E. Jesse Dreher, born 10 May 1800, present day Lexington County, SC, died 12 December 1832, buried St Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC, married 27 October 1825, Elizabeth Shuler, born Orangeburg District North, SC. No issue. F. John Dreher, Jr., born 6 August 1802, SC, died 18 May 1828, unmarried. G. Barbara Dreher, born 1805, present day Lexington County, SC, died 10 September 1845, married 2 February 1823, George Harman, born unknown, SC. Children: 1. Catherine (Kate) Harman, born 1824, Lexington County, SC, died 12 November 1842, unmarried. 2. Rebecca Margaret Harman, born 1826, Lexington County, SC, died 12 October 1832 (child). 3. Josiah Christian Harman, born 25 September 1829, Lexington County, SC, died 30 September 1831 (child). 4. John Melance Harman, born 1832, Lexington County, SC, died 15 September 1833 (child). 5. Edwin P. Harman, born 1834, Lexington County, SC, died 1909, married Lou Glover. 7. Walter Harman, born 1839, Lexington County, SC, died 1911, unmarried. H. Catherine (Katie) Dreher, born 5 February 1809, present day Lexington County, SC, died 31 October 1902, married John Henry Counts, born 30 June 1803, Newberry County, SC, died 8 June 1883. Both buried St Michaels Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lexington County, SC. Children: 1. John Dreher Counts, born 1830, Lexington County, SC, died 31 August 1831 (child). 2. Elvira Counts, born 2 Sep 1831, Lexington County, SC, died 23 October 1882, married Z. L. White. 3. Walter H. Counts, born 27 May 1834, Lexington County, SC, died 25 October 1862 CSA, unmarried. 4. Rosa C. Counts, born 12 October 1836, Lexington County, SC, died 28 August 1888, married John R. Shuler. 5. Angella Counts, born 12 January 1841, Lexington County, SC, died unknown, married Thomas W. Holloway. 6. Ellen Counts, born 25 November 1842, Lexington County, SC, died unknown, married M. H. Witt. No issue. 7. John Henry A. Counts, born 26 October 1844, Lexington County, SC, died 1 June 1864 CSA, unmarried. 8. Mary E. Counts, born 12 April 1847, Lexington County, SC, died 19 June 1919, married John A. Dreher
Posted 10 July 2004
|