Peter Gochenauer Greider (1822-1874)

Peter Gochenauer Greider was born on 24 Oct 1822 in East Hempfield Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He was born the son of Peter Greider and Elizabeth Gochenauer.  All of Peter's siblings took the mother's maiden name as their middle name.  Peter G Greider was married to Elizabeth Ann Spring.  On some census records and town maps, Peter's last name is shown as Krider/Kreider.  Peter's father was buried as Peter Greider, however his mother was buried as Elizabeth Kreider.

On 28 Sep 1848, Peter purchased, from John M. Bear, land on the north side of the Lancaster-Harrisburg Pike, nearby Jacob Minnich's hotel.  In the 1850 census, Peter Krider [sic] had real estate on this land valued at $600.  It is apparent that Peter was employed by his neighbor, Simon Minnich, at his hotel.  On H.F. Bridgens' 1853 map of East Hempfield, P. Kreider is shown as owning that land.

Peter sold this land in 1855 to John Landis.  He must have moved to the city of Lancaster, where in the 1860 Census, Peter was shown as a hotel proprietor.  Peter, along with Henry Bard, split the purchase of the Keystone Hotel on 01 Sep 1866, from Hugh M. North.  The hotel was a three-story brick building, on the west side of North Queen St, between Chestnut and Walnut Sts.

Peter G. and Henry Bard sold this property on 01 Apr 1871 to George Hurting, for $15,000.  The property was bought for $3,200 less than their selling price 5 years prior.  

Peter's father passed away 31 Aug 1871, and had bequeathed his residence in East Hempfield Twp, which was 38 acres, 119 perches, 2 story brick home, and barn.  Peter sold this property to his brother, Joseph on 18 Jan 1873.

Peter purchased a 2 story brick home, on the east side of N. Prince St, for $6,500 from Jacob and Maria Shirk.  This purchase was made on 26 Sep 1873.  Peter must have been aware that his alcohol abuse was taking a toll on his body, and that his death was around the corner.  As two months prior to his death, Peter sold his residence to his son Frank, whom transferred the property to his mother, Elizabeth.

The following news item appeared while Peter was living at this residence:

Found Dead - On Wednesday evenening, at 7 O'Clock, Christian Eshleman, the sexton at Grace Lutheran church, was found dead in the stable of Peter Grider [sic] by a young man named George F. Anderson.  It appears that he lived with Mr. Greider, and on Wednesday evening, about supper time he became very sick and vomited very much.  A son of Mr. Greider's carried the sick man to the stable, and laid him upon a bed, which he usually occupies at night.  In a short while afterward he was discovered lying stiff and cold, by Mr. Anderson, who immediately ran for Dr. Downey, who resides close by.  When the physician arrived, the man was a corpse.  Corner Bair was notified of the occurrence and summoned a jury, who, duly investigating the case, returned a verdict of "death by apoplexy".

 Without a written will, Peter passed away from intemperance (alcoholism), on 06 Feb 1874.  He is buried right along New Holland Ave, in the Lancaster Cemetery.

Peter and Elizabeth had the following children:

• Sarah Ann Greider (b abt 1848)
• Franklin B. Greider (b. abt 1850)
• Barbara Greider (b. abt 1852)
• Harry Greider (b. abt 1854)
• William Edward Greider (b. abt 1859)
• Catherine (Katie) Greider (b. 1863 - d. 1871)
• Mary Greider (b. 1865 - d. 1867)

(Quote on Tombstone: "He is not dead but sleepeth")

Martin Nestel (1841-1899)

Martin Nestel was born on 13 May 1841, in Betzingen, which is a large suburb of Reutlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.  He was born the son of Johann Georg Nestel (b. 26 Jun 1814) and Anna Maria Digel (b. 28 Dec 1816).  He was baptized in the German Lutheran Church on 14 May 1841.  Some Nestel descendants believed their family came from Alsace-Lorraine.  Baden-Wuerttemberg was on the opposite side of the Rhine River form the Alsace region.  Although it is possible Martin crossed the Rhine to live at some point, it is not a known fact.  As seen on the map below, Baden is bordering the Alsace region.

While growing up in Germany, Martin learned the trade of a Weaver.  Based on later records, it appears Martin was a basket-weaver.  In April 1862, Martin made application to emigrate Germany.  Martin arrived at Castle Garden, New York on 30 Jun 1862 on the vessel "Atalanta" with his mothers cousin, Gottlob Kurz.  The voyage took 40-50 days.  By the end of the trip, the "bread was usually moldy, the butter rancid, and the water almost undrinkable."  


On 02 Nov 1866, Martin renounced his allegiance to the King of Wuerttemberg, and became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.  In the 1870 US Federal Census, Martin was living with the Kurtz family, as a baker.  This Kurtz family, is presumably related to the same Gottlob Kurz that Martin arrived to America with.  In about 1870, Martin Nestel married Anna Catherine Hohmann, from Allegheny Co., Pa.  They had their first child, John Hohman Nestel, on 03 Aug 1871, while residing at 2034 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  


Martin's first home ownership was in Riverside, Burlington Co, New Jersey on 01 Jul 1874.  He purchased his first home from Bartholomew Schmid, "Numbered 236 and 237 in the Plan of Progress (now Riverside)", for $1,000.

Martin and his wife, Anna Catherine had five children, all boys.  

• John Hohman Nestel (b. 03 Aug 1871)
• Charles Jacob Nestel (b. 15 Dec 1873)
• Edward Peter Nestel (b. 26 Oct 1875)
• Martin John Nestel (b.25 Nov 1878)
• George Henry Nestel (b. 1880 - d.1888)

Martin Nestel died on 27 Jan 1899 from Croupous Pneumonia.  He was buried at the German Lutheran Cemetery of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The remains at this cemetery have since been removed to Philadelphia Memorial Park.