Ad for Christian Rodabaugh Genealogy by Kem Luther

Genealogy now available...

Four Generations of the Immigrant

Christian Rodabaugh (1707?-1779)

and His Family

Includes an Overview of
Cognate Eighteenth Century Rodenbach Lines
in North America

Published September, 1992. 168pp. 8" X 11". ACCO Binding, soft cover. Place and name index. Price $25.00 (includes postage). Available from the author: Kem Luther, 4542 Rocky Point Rd, Victoria, BC V9C 4E4, Canada, (250) 595-2474.

Christian Rodabaugh, a 1740 Pennsylvania German immigrant, married Elizabeth, the widow of Stoffel Weisskopf. They and their four Rodabaugh and two Whitehead children settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, (southeast of Pittsburgh) at the end of the French and Indian War. Many of their grandchildren immigrated to Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Christian and Elizabeth have about 30,000 living descendants.

This genealogy traces their descendants through their great-grandchildren. More than three-quarters of their great-grandchildren are documented. A large number of their descendants were Dunkers (Church of the Brethren). The genealogy explores where the Dunker influence began in the family.

Christian and Elizabeth's children married into the Marchand, Willyard, Broadsword, Studebaker, Klingensmith and Boyer families of Westmoreland County. Their grandchildren joined with member of the following families: Armstrong, Arner, Fiscus, Fry, Funk, Highberger, Hill, Hollingsworth, Kemmerer (Kemrie), Linsenbegler, Matthias, McDowell, Meyers, Miller, Milliron (Millison), Pitsenbarger, Potts, Runny, Schmidt (Smith), Stoner, Townsend, Waltz, Weber (Weaver).

The 50-page Appendix overviews the various Rodenbach cognate lines (R*) from the eighteenth-century German immigrations. The immigrants known from ship lists, emigration lists, and naturalization records are enumerated. The overview outlines the early family members of the following groups:

Westmoreland Group. The immigrant Christian R* (1740) ended up in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Many of his great-grandchildren settled in Montgomery and Darke Counties, Ohio, and in Marion County, Indiana, after 1810. The usual surname spellings after 1800 are Rodabaugh, Rodibaugh and Rodebaugh.

Weisenheim-Lancaster Group. John Michael R* and John Nicholas R* (1743 immigrants) were the source of this line. They settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Descendants moved to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and Crawford and Richland Counties, Ohio, early in the eighteenth century. Common spellings of descendant surnames after the eighteenth century are Raudabaugh and Rowdabaugh.

Neuwied-New Jersey Group. Heinrich and John Peter R*, brothers, immigrated from the Urbach region of Germany to Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Dominant spelling through Heinrich's line is Redenbough. John Peter's family may have moved to Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

Otzweiler-Tulpehocken Group. In 1738 Henry and Appolonia Riegel R* and eight of their children immigrated from Otzweiler, Germany, to Berks County, Pennsylvania, and settled in the Tulpehocken region. They had twelve children, and became the source for many of the R*s lines in the U.S. Large numbers of their descendants moved to the southern states (West Virginia at first) and many counties in Ohio. They seem to prefer Radabaugh and Raudabaugh spellings.

Lancaster-Dauphin Group. A Peter and Michael R*, presumably brothers, and born about 1755, show up in the region of Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, about 1775. In the 1780s they move to Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Their descendants come to reside in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Possible immigrating ancestor is a Henry R* who died in Lancaster County in the 1740s.

Lancaster-Union Group. Daniel and Leah R* moved from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Union County, Pennsylvania, in the early 1800s, and founded a group using the surname spelling of Raidabaugh.

Reading-Hamilton Group. Henry and Margaret R* came from Reading, Pennsylvania, about 1795, to Hamilton County, Ohio. Henry may have come from Germany. Descendants moved to Shelby County, Ohio, Montgomery County, Indiana and Kansas. The usual spellings of the surname in this family are Redinbaugh, Redenbaugh or Redinbo.

Chester-Newlin Group. A Peter and George of Newlin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania were perhaps immigrants. They were in Chester County by the mid 1760s. Descendants later moved to Licking County, Ohio, Utah and Oklahoma. Preferred spellings are Rhodeback and Rhodyback.

Chester-Tredyffrin Group. Another Chester County group, from Tredyffrin Township. They may all descend from mid-eighteenth century Adam R*. No modern descendants are known.