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(MENNONITE ACCOUNT BOOK). HERSHEY, JOHANNES. Beer Maker & Seller's Account Books. 1793-1848. Two Volumes. Folio. 220; 85 pp. Ink. Contemp. calf backed wall-paper covered boards & calf backed marbled boards. In German, index tabs in front, one index page ?��e?�� cut out. Entries drawn through with ?��x?�� as completed. Lancaster, Pa: 1793-1821. $4,500.00

 

     Extensive accounts in old German of a Mennonite farmer and merchant, evidently on paper used by the Ephrata Community, made by Christian and John Bauman (Gravell & Miller 166), a paper first made in 1794. See also, Spohn, "The Bauman/ Bowman Family of the Cocalico Valley: Printers, Papermakers and Tavernkeepers," [in] Journal of the Historicl Society of the Cocalico Valley, 1994.

     There were several of the name Johannes Hershey or John Hershy or Johannes Hersche in the Lancaster County area. He may be the Johannes Hershy who was born in 1769 in York, Pennsylvania, of John and Elizabeth (Wanner) Hershey. This Johannes married Magadelena Roth, had ten children, and died in 1829. Or he may be John Stoneman Hershey, son of Christian Hershey and Maria Stoneman who was born in 1765 in Manor Township. He married Anna Herr, had two children, and died in Manor in 1848. Lending credence to the latter is that written on the back inside cover of volume one of these accounts is Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pa. On the front cover of the second volume is written: "1836 John Hershy. The second volume contains entries dated from 1829-48. There are loose receipts and I.O.U.s,some signed by Christian Hershy.

     Hershey sold grain and wood, and pints, quarts, gallons and barrels of what appears to be "dram." He seems to have made malt liquors and there are recipies, as well as home remedies

      Switzerland was the native land, either directly or indirectly, of nearly all the Mennonites in America east of the Mississippi River. They were mainly from Bern and Zurich though other cantons are also represented. The earlier Pennsylvania names usually appear considerably Anglicized. ("Smith's Story of the Mennonites", revised edition, by C. Henry Smith,1957, pp. 157-159.) Most clients are Swiss Mennonites from the area and, at the time, there were only about sixty families settled in the region. Contained in the pages is a document fragment of the administration of Jacob Kilheffer who died in 1825, probably a relative of Hershey?��s. Cash paid to others from the estate include Christian Newcomer, Jacob Kautz, and Christian Habecker. Another fragment in the book is a receipt from Jacob Horner (?) ?��gauged and inspected for John Hershy six hogsheads of whiskey $161.10 March 2, 1827.?�� (See Hershey family folder at York Historical Society.) Rare Mennonite account deserving of translation and further study.