Conrad Tippong, Revolutionary War Patriot

Conrad Tippong.  Born 1743 in Philadelphia, PA and died 28 Aug 1838 in Lincoln/Catawba Co., NC.  He fought in NC militia line during the Revolutionary War and served in the Battle of King's Mountain, SC.  "TIPPONG, Conrad, NC Line, S7729, appl 10 Feb 1833 Lincoln Co NC aged 88, sol was b some 3 or 4 miles from Philadelphia PA & he lived in Lincoln Co NC at enl[istment].  Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files, Vol I: A-E, Abstracted by Virgil D. White.  He is buried in the Old Tipps/Huit Graveyard in Catawba Co.,  NC, with only a few of the markers surviving.  Conrad Tippong's marker is transcribed as "Sacred to Memory of CONRAD TEPPOUG, Died August 28 1838 Aged 25 Years."  In fact, he would have been 95. 

George Wilfong, Revolutionary War Patriot

George Wilfong.  Born ca 1740, died 3 Nov 1818, Lincoln/Catawba. Wilfong married Mary M. Poff in 1759. "Among those serving in the engagement [of King's Mountain] which soundly discouraged the Britishers were Major George Wilfong, Captain John Sigmon, Captain Peter Mull, Captain William Sherrill, Lieutenant Isaac Van Horn, Palsor Sigmon, Daniel Whitener, Abram Whitener, John Dellinger, Michael Cline, Benedict Hahn, Michael Shell, Joshua Hahn, John Setzer, Francis McCorkle, John Wilfong, John Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Christian Arney, Samuel Caldwell, Caspar Bolick, Martin Coulter, Benjamin Bowles, Conrad Tippong, John Turbyfill, Conrad Yoder, John Dobson, Jacob Lutz, Simon Haas, Uriah Sherrill, Philip Fry, John Haas, and William Simpson."  A History of Catawba County, Catawba County Historical Association, Inc. 1954.  

John Hahn, Revolutionary War Patriot

Johannes (John) Hahn was born in Frechenfeld, Pfalz, Germany on 12 Jun 1712, to Maria Otillia Eichenlaub and Johan Jacob Hahn. Around 1737, he married Elizabeth Margaretha Forster, daughter of Jonas Forrester, in Freckenfeld, Pfalz, Germany. They had seven children in Germany before emigrating from Germany to Philadelphia, arriving 7 Oct 1751, on the ship Janet and taking the Oath of Allegiance. John Hahn had to work for at time in Philadelphia to finish paying his passage. After his debt was paid, he worked as a laborer until he had enough money for a small farm.

According to Hahn historian, Linda Setzer, “Johannes Hahn and his family lived in Philadelphia for 14 years [until about 1765], before coming to North Carolina's Rowan County, which today is Catawba County. By then his first wife had died, and he had married Agnes, whose last name has been alternately shown as Langle, Legnin and Langnin and perhaps some others. It is uncertain which is correct. By the time his family was complete, he had fathered more than 20 children, some of whom had left North Carolina for parts West. In some cases, their children did so. Along the way Johannes's last name changed from Hahn to Hawn or Honn or Haun or even Hohne or Hahne. There may be other spellings of which I am unaware. One record says Johannes had changed his name to honor King George but I have been unable to find proof.”
Agnes Langlin married John Hahn on 26 Jul 1757 at Canadochly Union Church, in York, PA. Five children were born before they came to NC. The story is told that their sixth child was born in a wagon on the night they first arrived on what was later to become their home. They crossed the Catawba River at Sherrill’s Ford and moved to the southwestern side of the county, near the Wideners (Whiteners) who were friends. Historian Walter Hahn says, "Johannes Hahn took up camp at that location for four weeks and within this period of time, in company with his sons, set about to locate their home in the south. After a few days prospecting, he located and selected a homesite on both sides of Henry's River, now Burke and Catawba County line. After a house, the next building erected was a building to shelter the stock, and a loom house, for his loom, since he was a weaver by trade. The location of the above homesite of Pioneer Hahn is five miles east or southeast of the present city of Hickory, N.C.” (Source: Linda Setzer, Johannes Hahn Family History).

This is the time when Johannes began to use the name John. Though they attended Old St. Paul’s Lutheran in Newton, for a while, they built a church, Zion Lutheran, nearer to their home, which still stands and where Johannes Hahn and Agnes Langlin are buried. Zion Lutheran Church is just off Highway 321 S in the Mountain View community on Zion Church Road.

The inscription on the tombstone is in German, and translated reads, "The one on the cross is my love, My love is Jesus Christ, Johannes Han, born June 12, 1712." John Hahn died 12 Apr 1793. Agnes died 13 Apr 1814.

During the Revolutionary War, John Hahn gave aid to the Americans and is considered to be a Revolutionary War patriot. His grave is on the Revolutionary Patriot register. His DAR patriot number is A049131.

One other story that helps give personality to the family is told by Catawba County historian George Yoder: “After the Revolutionary war there was a gang of bandits, who was headed by one Joe Brown, roving over the country plundering and robbing the people. So it happened while this old pioneer, John Hahn, was in his loom house weaving, he spied this gang of plunderers come to his house. It is said that he threw his money purse under the floor. They came to his loom house and demanded his money. They told him if he did not tell where it was they would hang him. This had no bearing and he still refused to tell where it was hidden. So, according to their threatnings [sic], they gathered a rope that was found in the loom house and fastened it around his neck. They again demanded he tell them where his money was but, true to his word, would not tell them. So they drew him up until he got, as it was said, blue. Then at last they let him down and told him that if he would not tell them where his money was they would take his fine steed, and two of his daughters heard their remark. And it is said that they ran to the wood pile and gathered the axes and ran to the stable and took their stand at the door; and, when they came to the stable and demanded the door to be opened, they stood there with drawn axes and said that the first one who attempted to open the door they intended to make sausage of him. They were stout and robust young women and possessed the courage of lions. They scared the bandits so bad that they left in a big hurry and never got the fine steed.”

John Hoyle Chapter History Award Presented

John Hoyle Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has awarded the annual Mildred H. Showfety History Award to Amelia Gaither, daughter of Jay and Beth Gaither.

The Mildred H. Showfety History Award was established in 1987 to honor Mildred Showfety, former John Hoyle Chapter DAR Regent, NC State Regent and Vice President General.  The award, an excellence in history medal, is given in April to an outstanding student of American history at Hickory High School

Ms. Gaither was highly recommended by Hickory High School Social Studies Chair Mr. Drew Daniels.  Amelia participated in Honors Early American History and AP US History and was recognized for her ability, discipline and character. She scored a 5, the highest score possible on the AP US History exam.  Only 11% of the nation’s advanced students achieved 5’s last year. She also served as a teacher’s assistant at HHS and is a member of the Marching Band and the cross country team.  Amelia will be attending Davidson this fall.

John Hoyle Chapter DAR Honors Outstanding High School Seniors

JROTC Cadet Lt. Commander Renee Simons, Cadet Lt. Colonel Kaitlyn Ross Rayfield, and Cadet Commander Yessica Orozco, outstanding local high school seniors, were individually honored with Good Citizenship medals and campaign bars by the John Hoyle Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), May 14 at Lake Hickory Country Club.  Preceding the awards, Ray Cerda, former long-time JROTC instructor at St. Stephen's High School, spoke on the true definition of citizenship

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Cadet Lt. Commander Simons is a senior at Alexander Central High School and is the daughter of Jack and Theresa Simons of Taylorsville.  Major personal awards include Honor Roll, multiple NJROTC Academic Excellence Awards and physical fitness awards.  She is a member of the school cross-country team and cofounder of the Junior Military Aviation Academy.  Ms. Simons is also this year’s winner of the Commanders Choice Award for leadership excellence and has just enlisted in the Army Reserves as a horizontal construction engineer.

Cadet Lt. Colonel Kaitlyn Ross Rayfield is a senior at Fred T. Foard High School.  Her numerous awards include Mid-Atlantic States Championship Raider Team, National Society United States Daughters of 1812  Award, National Physical Fitness Award, JCLC Leadership Award, Superior Cadet Award, Distinguished Cadet Award, Academic Excellence Award, Achievement Award, Community Service Award, and NC Scholars.  Ms. Rayfield is the recipient of a 4-year ROTC Scholarship at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she plans to study Veterinary Medicine.

Cadet Commander Yessica Orozco, St. Stephens High School, has served four years in JROTC with distinction in almost every leadership position the Company structure offers.  She served as Unit Executive Officer, leading the unit through its Annual Military Inspection resulting in St. Stephens receiving the highest Navy Award for the first time in unit history.  Ms. Orozco was the Unit Physical Fitness Team Captain and recently led the team to victory in the Admirals Cup Fitness Challenge giving St. Stephens its first win in this event since 2006.

*Pictured from left to right are:  Kaitlyn Rayfield, Yessica Orozco, and Renee Simons

Library displays art

Catawba County Library in Newton displayed student art, thanks to John Hoyle Chapter of  Daughters of the American Revolution. Contest chairman Gina Abernethy of Newton provided representations of art by area students to the DAR Junior American Citizens art competition. A total of 250 budding artists submitted drawings, photos, collages and banners in the contest. Twenty-one blue-ribbon winners are currently in regional competition. Copies were viewed at the library through the end of the month of April.


From left Ede Escuder and Laura Gora, Youth Services library staff, with DAR display.

National Society DAR Good Citizenship Medal Presentation

At our April meeting...... 

Kathryn Nelson was awarded the DAR Good Citizenship Medal honoring youth in grades 5-11 who exemplify the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism.  Nelson is a junior at Fred T. Foard High School and is active in Girl Scouts, where she has earned both the Bronze and Silver Awards.  She is a member of Juniorettes and Beta Club, as well as playing tenor sax in the marching band.  She is also active in the First Presbyterian Hickory Youth Group.  Nelson is the daughter of Jennifer and Derwin Nelson of Hickory.

Kathryn's special project was a campaign against bullying. Here she shows a banner she created for display in her school. It was signed by students who signed a pledge to help prevent bullying.

Save your bags!

The JHC Board has decided that a good project for the chapter would be to help create mats for the homeless by donating plastic grocery bags.  There was an article in the Hickory Daily Record on March 4 highlighting the work being done by Hickory resident Bobbie Brannon.  You can read the article here..

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/article_8d5540de-82c9-11e2-b46c-0019bb30f31a.html

Chapter members are being asked to bring their plastic grocery bags to our monthly meetings.  Gina Abernethy has volunteered to collect and deliver them. 

photo courtesy of Hickory Daily record