Notes and Links

• m1. Barbara Naftzinger*
• Christian and Barbara had 9 Children:
  • John Fike (1750-1829)
    • m. Barbara Bandreyer
  • Anna Fike; b. 1752
  • Barbara Fike; b. 1754
  • Mary Fike; b. 1756
  • Margaret Fike; b. 1758.
  • Christian Fike II* (1760-1850)
    • m. Christina Livengood* (1763-1857)
  • Albretch Fike
  • Catherine Fike; b. c1763
  • Jacob Fike; b. c1768
    • m1. Eve Moyer
    • m2. Mary Barnhouse on Dec. 29, 1836.

Brief Biography:

He may have emigrated from Southern Silesia (now part of the Czech Republic), where the name "Feike" is not unknown, to Hannover in c 1730, and then to America in c1740. He probably joined the Amish sect after arriving in Lancaster County, although he could have been among the Amish Sect from birth. However, since his son, Christian Fike, II, and his descendants were known to have been members of the Church of the Brethren, which is a German Baptist Church of Anabaptist/Mennonite traditions, it is possible that the European Church from which the Fike family orginated could be Mennonite or Anabaptist, rather than the more orthodox Amish.

Certain historical records have indicated Christian Fike had built the first Grist Mill in Somerset County, PA.

It should also be noted that a booklet: History of the Ancestry of the Fikes, by Elder Emra T. Fike, published "in memory of the Fike's Re-union held at Maple Spring Church, W. Va., Aug. 20, 1927" indicates that Christian Fike had a father, John Fike, who was an Amish weaver from Hanover [sic: Hannover, Germany], who had also emigrated to Pennsylvania. This booklet says that the name was sometimes known as "Feige" in Germany. This booklet also indicates that John Fike had three sons in America, with the following progeny:

• John Fike, who settled in Fayette County PA, had a son:
  • Christian Fike. This Christian Fike had a son:
    • Christian Fike, who was an ancestor of Isaac Savage's wife, of McHenry Maryland.

• Jacob Fike, who settled in Fayette County PA, and had three sons:
  • Jacob Fike, Jr., had 11 children:
    • Jonathan Fike
    • Samuel Fike
    • Jacob M. "Socker Jacob" Fike, who was the father of Silas Fike of Uniontown PA.
    • Andy Fike
    • William Fike
    • Betsey Fike
      • m. Alex Fike
    • Eva Fike
      • m. Jacob B. Fike
    • Lydia Fike
      • m. David Miller
    • Polly Fike
      • m. William Barnthouse
    • Nancy Fike
      • m. Jerry Fisher
    • ___ (a daughter) Fike
      • m. Harrison Fike

  • Abe Fike, who had a son:
    • Abe Fike, Jr., who was the father of Marcellus Fike of Markleysburg PA.

  • Christian Fike, a school teacher, considered a good disciplinarian (see the footnote below the References).

• Christian Fike I*, who settled in Somerset County PA

The booklet by Elder Emra, goes on to say:

"I have not been able to place the Jacob Fike who lived in the north end of Preston County, West Virginia. His children were: John, Sam, Nancy (Forman), Huldah (Mosser), Susan (Thomas), Margaret (Thomas), Mary Ann (Curl), Liza (Harager), Cinda (Augustine), and Catherine (Frederick). But they are undoubtedly of the same race of Fikes."

References:

• Amish and Amish Mennonite Genealogies by H.F. Gingerich & R.W. Kreider, 1986.
• History of the Ancestry of the Fikes, by Elder Emra T. Fike, published "in memory of the Fike's Re-union held at Maple Spring Church, W. Va., Aug. 20, 1927"
• Genealogy of the family of Johann Caspar Werner (1809-1878) by John Edward Werner.

Footnotes:

• Regarding Christian Fike, the school teacher, Elder Emra's booklet states:

  "Christian was a school teacher, and in those days it meant to know the three R's and the two S's (Readin', Ritin', Rithmetic, Spellin', and Switchin'). Some of the scholars say he was rather expert at the latter when out of tobacco."