The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-13
The BIOcher Family.
written for The Republican,

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county. the respected name of Blocher
presents itself, and is well worthy of
similar attention. Sorry am unable
to do it full Justice.
Andrew Blocher, the ancestor of
this numerous progeny, was born in
Germany about the year 1851, but it
is not known exactly when he came
to America. however when quite
young. He married in this county.
and all his children were born here.
Nine in number, four sons and five
daughters. We find him in the be.
ginning of the present century seat
ed, and opening up a farm about
three miles below the Little Cross
ings on the Casselman River. Here
he lived and prospered till the end Of
his life which came in 1888, aged II
years, 7 months and days. He was
industrious. honest, hardy, thrifty
and besides a good law abiding citi-
zen, very primitive and simple ma
tured In MS ways, and the subject of
many characteristic jokes and stories /;
one of which will bear telling, with
out yot6csT5g for1ts truth. One day
while hauling logs with a pair of
cattle, his log chain parted, when al
most at the end of his haul. The way
to mend a chain temporarily in those
early days, was to insert the end link
through the other. and then put a
wooden plug through the inserted
link. To save time the industrious
new beginner, offered his middle
finger for a plug-result, very dis
tressed member.
His four sons were John, Jacob,
Daniel and Jonas, the latter in early
life removed "out back" which was
the style in those days for Ohio, our
present near neighbor. John was
born in 1871 and grew up to man.
hood on the homestead; married to
Nancy Mussleman, a member of an
old and highly respectable family
who had their seat Immediately on
the old Braddock road, about six miles
West of Frostburg. 1t was in olden
times "publicinn" and a prominent
point on that great thoroughfare, but
now to be detected only here and
there by dim scars and depressions
upon the earth's healing surface. AS
the Musslemans passed away, John
Blocher became its possessor, and
lived there till his death. He was
an honest, industrious and ener-
getic man. Without education, but
still good business man. A farmer,
Ostensibly, but much engaged in gen.
eral business, and always successful.
He was drafted in 1914 to fill the
quota of Allegany county, to repel
the British at Baltimore. Having
just marrlyd, ne could not think OF
leaving his young wife. A substitute
was allowable, and fortunately one
was at hand in the person of old
"DaYy Sibert," a veteran of the Rev.
olutionary war, and some of the SUBJ
sequent Indian wars, in which he
was captured, tied to the stake, and
about to be burnt, but good story
from him as to his great eXpertness
in repairing old flint locks, proved a
ransom for his endangered life. but
old Dayy broke the treaty the first
opportunity and made a most won
derful escape. He became the willing
substitute for 800 in money, and 10
bushels of wheat, and did his duty at
North Point. Sibert was never done
cursing the British and Indians. Our
subject was married twice, lastly to
the widow of Daniel B. Layman in
1843,who still survives, just little the
worse of four score years, and beloved
by all. He was remarkably fond o.
society, and genteel amusements, par.
ticuIarly dancing, full of life and gooG
cheer, and always gentleman. He
died in 1858, the father of fourteen
children twelve by the first and two
by his last wife. Thesons are Christian
Andrew, John (dead), George w.
Henry, Jacob aud Daniel all residents
of this county except the last two
who live in Kansas. All well dOins
and good citizens. One of the daugh
tiers, Elizabeth, is the widow ofthe lat,
Col. Hanson Brown. The most prom
inent of the family is George W., thu
first commissioner of Garrett county
and subsequently member of tn,
Legislature, in both relations a faith
ful officer. with prospects of seat il
the State Senate, but he adhears t
the good old doctriue, that honor
are only worth wearing when the.
come without being sought. Georg
is an incurable bachelor, but his do
nestle relations are of the most hap
Ply and fortunate nature. He ha
lately completed the finest privat
residence in the county, with eyer.