History and Genealogy of the Burkhalter/Burkholder Family
Romaine Stauffer
2011 Feb 1
Update 2011 Jul 14

According to the unwritten law in the Emmental Valley, the youngest son inherited the family farm and the other sons moved to other farms nearby but continued to be called by the family name. In this case, they carried the name of Burkhalter and it was spread throughout the Emmental Valley.

In 1673, a new law was passed which made each person a citizen of the town where he lived in that year. This registry of residents lists a Burkhalter at Rüderswil. The other Burkhalters in the Emmental would have been from the same family tree and related to one another, but the family in Rüderswil is the one to which we trace our ancestry.

The Burkholder family who migrated from Switzerland to Gerolsheim, Germany, in the 1670s has proven to be a different Burkholder family and not the ancestors of our immigrant Christian Burkholder as was previously believed. (Note* The first chapters of Hidden Riches were written based on this information which was later found to be incorrect.) Christian Burkhalter of Gerolsheim, his wife Gertrud, and their four children were listed among the six Mennonite families who lived in Gerolsheim in 1759. Records from the church also show Christian still living in Gerolsheim in the 1760s. The fact that this Christian Burkhalter was still living in Gerolsheim after 1754 proves that he was not the father of Bishop Christian Burkholder.

Documents which have been found in Rüderswil and Péry, Switzerland, correct the information on the first three known generations of our immigrant Burkholder family. The following information on the Burkhalters at Rüderswil is found in St. A. B. Kirchenbuch 4 (1645-1671), Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Rüderswil (Bern); LDS film 2005858.

The Burkholder Family from Rüderswil, Switzerland

1. Joseph Burkhalter, b. ca 1628, was married to Elisabeth Widmer. They lived at Rüderswil, Bern. Elisabeth was probably the daughter of Elias Widmer of Mutzlenberg, Rüderswil.

Children:

1. Daniel Burkhalter, b. June 19, 1653, Rüderswil
2. Peter Burkhalter, b. January 28, 1655, Rüderswil
3. Elias Burkhalter, b. May 3, 1657, Mutzleburg, Rüderswil
4. Ulrich Burkhalter, b. April 24, 1659, Rüderswil. Ulrich Widmer was one of the sponsors at his baptism.
5. Benedict Burkhalter, b. December 1, 1661, Steinberg, Rüderswil.
6. Magdalena Burkhalter, b. June 12, 1664, Steinberg, Rüderswil.

2. Benedict Burkhalter, b. December 1, 1661, Steinberg, Rüderswil, Bern, was married to Anna Kohler.

Children:

1. Barbara Burkhalter, b. July 18, 1684, Rüderswil
2. Elisabeth Burkhalter, b. Sept. 3, 1686, Rüderswil
3. Peter Burkhalter, b. March 8, 1689, Rüderswil
4. Anna Burkhalter, b. Jan. 1, 1692, Rüderswil
5. Joseph Burkhalter, b. March 23, 1694, Rüderswil
6. Hans Burkhalter, b. Sept. 7, 1696, Rüderswil
7. Ulrich Burkhalter, b. Feb. 11, 1699, Rüderswil

3. Ulrich Burkhalter, b. Feb. 11, 1699, married Barbli ___. In a 1745 tax record in Switzerland, Ulrich was listed as age 45 and Barbli was age 40. The record states that he was an Anabaptist, was from Rüderswil, had been a resident on the mountain of La Heutte, Péry, for 17 years, and his lease was to end in 1751. He paid a tax and they were considered people of good conduct. They had five children in 1745. Their sixth child, Christian, was born the following year. Ulrich made plans to immigrate to Pennsylvania but became ill shortly before the departure date and died. His widow, Barbli (Barbara), carried out his plans. She and their six children emigrated from Switzerland with a group of Swiss Mennonites from the Jura. They arrived in Philadelphia on board the ship Phoenix on October 1, 1754. Barbara settled in Lancaster County. She died in 1789 and is buried near her son, Christian, in the Groffdale (brick) Mennonite Church cemetery.

Children:

1. Barbara Burkhalter, b. 1734
2. Anna Burkhalter, b. 1735
3. Ulrich Burkhalter, b. 1737, signed his name on the list of males over age 16 on the ship Phoenix when it arrived in Philadelphia on Oct. 1, 1754. He first appears on a tax list in Earl Twp. as a freeman in 1758. In 1763 he appears on a tax list in Brecknock Township. He was taxed as a blacksmith from 1769 to 1803 at Brecknock. In 1781 he was taxed as a farmer with 150 acres. Ulrich was married to Anna (?Mussleman) and was a Mennonite minister at Muddy Creek (Bowmansville). He died in 1804 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster County. The executors of his estate in 1806 were Abraham Good and John Bowman.
4. Elizabeth Burkhalter, b. 1740, m. Jacob K. Sensenig (1730-1814) on Oct. 14, 1759. She died on. Aug. 12, 1782, the day her sixth child was born. Jacob received the Sensenig homestead in Earl Twp. from his father. Jacob was buried in the Sensenig family cemetery on the farm located between Hinkletown and Blue Ball. Elizabeth was probably also buried there although no stone or record of her burial exists.
5. Peter Burkhalter, b. May 7, 1743, was first taxed in Earl Twp., Pa. in 1769 as a freeman. He was taxed as a weaver in 1770 and in 1772 as a renter on widow Graff's land. He married Margaret Huber (1750-1798), daughter of John Huber of Earl Twp., Lancaster County, Pa. He went to Rockingham County, Virginia in 1788. Margaret died in 1798 and was buried in Trissels Mennonite Cemetery, Va. Genealogy books say that while visiting in Pa. in 1799, Peter died and was buried beside his mother at Groffdale Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster County, Pa. A stone has been erected in the Groffdale Cemetery in his memory. However, research in Virginia shows he was still living in Virginia until at least 1811. His estate was settled in 1813. He was probably buried with his wife in the cemetery at Trissels Mennonite Church.
6. Christian Burkhalter, b. June 1, 1746, at La Heutte, Péry, Jura, Switzerland. He immigrated to Pa. with his widowed mother in 1754 and married Anna Graff/Groff.

4. Christian Burkholder, b. June 1, 1746, married Anna Graff on July 12, 1766. He is listed as the husband of Anna Graff and son-in-law of Daniel Graff of Earl in 1772. He was first taxed at Earl Twp. in 1769 on 100 acres. In a series of land purchases from 1784-1789, Christian bought all the land from the Conestoga Creek to the south of the Fairmount hill. More than three hundred acres, the land stretched from the current eastern border of West Earl Township almost to North Farmersville Road on the west. On these acres lie what is known as the Burkholder Homestead along the Conestoga Creek near the Fiandt's Mill Bridge (also known as Eberly's Mill). This farm is currently owned by Jeffrey Martin, a ninth generation descendant.

Christian was ordained to be a minister for the Mennonite churches in the Groffdale/Weaverland area on August 12, 1770 and a bishop in 1780. Christian died on May 13, 1809 and is buried at Groffdale (brick) Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Children:

1. Maria Burkholder, b. May 16, 1767; d. Aug. 23, 1823; married Joseph Weaver
2. Abraham Burkholder, b. Nov. 27, 1768; d. Jan 15, 1840; married Catherine Eby
3. Daniel Burkholder, b. June 30, 1770; d. Feb. 12, 1858; married Elizabeth Hess. Daniel was ordained deacon on March 31, 1811, for the Mennonites of Warwick township, which later became the Hess Mennonite Church. Daniel inherited Christian Burkholder's Martyrs Mirror, which was printed at the Ephrata Cloister. The family record Christian entered in his own hand in his Martyrs Mirror matched exactly with the records in Switzerland and helped to confirm the new information on Christian Burkholder's ancestors. The same book contains the records Daniel's family. This valuable book is now in the Muddy Creek Library, Ephrata, Pa.
4. Barbara Burkholder, b. Jan 22, 1772; died before Feb 7, 1844; married Christian Weber
5. Anna Burkholder, b. Dec. 28, 1773; died before 1782
6. Christian Burkholder, b. April 28, 1775; d. Oct. 10, 1839; married Anna Bear
7. Christiana Burkholder, b. Aug. 28, 1778; d. Oct. 9, 1856; married Samuel Reiff
8. Anna Burkholder, b. March 17, 1782; d. 1823; single; foster son, Jacob Shaub
9. Elizabeth Burkholder, b. Sept 12, 1787, d. Apr. 26, 1872; single

5. Abraham Burkholder, second child, first son of Christian and Anna (Graff) Burkholder, was born November 27, 1768. On June 26, 1792, he married Catherine Eby (b. Oct. 30, 1771), daughter of Christian and Catherine (Bricker) Eby. She was a sister of two famous bishops: Peter Eby of Pequea and Benjamin Eby of Berlin, Ontario.

Abraham and Catherine lived on his father's farm along the Conestoga River near Farmersville, Pa. and had ten children. He was ordained to serve as a preacher in the Groffdale Mennonite church. After ten years of effort, he requested to fill the deacon's office instead and the counsel of the church granted his request. He faithfully filled this office until he died on January 15, 1840. His wife died on March 4, 1856. They are buried in Groffdale (brick) Mennonite Church cemetery.

Children:

1. Christian E. Burkholder, b. May 22, 1793; d. Sept. 11, 1872; married Veronica Groff
2. Catharina E. Burkholder, b. March 2, 1795; d. May 11, 1865; married (1) Joseph Wenger Jr.; (2) Peter Wanner
3. Abraham E. Burkholder, b. January 22, 1798; d. Mach 17, 1880; married Fannie Stauffer
4. Elisabeth E. Burkholder, b. May 28, 1800; d. August 26, 1823; single
5. Jonas E. Burkholder, b. March 16, 1802; d. June 16, 1871; married Catherine Sauder
6. Anna (or Nancy) E. Burkholder, b. April 21, 1805; d. July 3, 1874; married Jonas Nolt
7. Johannes (John) E. Burkholder, b. Nov. 5, 1807; d. May 7, 1862; married Esther Sauder
8. Maria (Mary) E. Burkholder, b. January 19, 1810; d. Oct, 29, 1891; single (affectionately known as Aunt Molly)
9. Susanna E. Burkholder, b. Aug. 2, 1812; d. July 13, 1852; married Abraham Martin
10. Samuel E. Burkholder, b. May 26, 1815; d. May 25, 18858; (single) He bought the family farm near the Fiandts Mill Bridge. After he died his brother John bought the farm.

The John E. Burkholder Family

John's Family Bible contains the record of his own children and his wife's Sauder family as well as the family of his father, Abraham, and his grandfather, Christian. This valuable book is preserved in the Muddy Creek Farm Library, Ephrata, Pa.

Children of John and Esther:

1. Twins--Abram and Catherine Burkholder, b. Oct. 15, 1832. Abram died March 17, 1833; Catherine died March 22, 1833.
2. Daniel S. Burkholder, b. Oct. 4, 1833 d. Aug. 3, 1915; married Anna W. Weaver
3. Levi Burkholder, b. June 27, 1835; d. Oct. 3, 1853
4. Anna Burkholder, b. March 24, 1837; d. Jan. 24, 1863
5. David Burkholder, b. May 8, 1839; d. Jan. 1, 1916; married (1) Barbara Reiff-no children; (2) Mary Martin-five children (including Stone Quarry David who lived on the farm between Hinkletown and Martindale now owned by Martin Limestone)
6. Esther Burkholder, b. Feb. 19, 1843; d. April 30, 1927; married David Burkhart
7. John Burkholder, b. Feb. 10, 1849; d. Feb. 15, 1850

Children of John and Veronica:

1. Abraham Burkholder, b. Oct. 18, 1852; d. May, 1936; married Catherine Zimmerman
2. Elizabeth Burkholder, b. Nov. 26, 1854; d. April 8, 1913; married Isaac Weaver

7. Daniel S. Burkholder, third child (second son) of Abraham and Catherine Burkholder, was born October 4, 1833. On December 1, 1857, Daniel married Anna Weaver (born Feb. 6, 1836), daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Weber) Weaver.

Daniel owned and operated a farm north of Martindale in Ephrata Township. The current address of this farm is 1008 Fry's Road, Ephrata, PA. Later, Daniel bought the original Christian Burkholder homestead near the Fiandt's Mill Bridge, which he passed on to his daughter, Fannie, and her husband, Henry M. Martin. The farm has been passed down to succeeding generations of their descendants and remains in the Martin family. Daniel was ordained deacon in the Weaverland Mennonite church on Aug 25, 1864 and served the Weaverland, Martindale, Bowmansville, and Churchtown congregations. Anna died on April 28, 1908 and Daniel died on Aug. 3, 1915. They are buried in the Zimmerman cemetery, also called the Martindale (Old Order) Mennonite Cemetery.

Children:

1. Martha Burkholder, b. April 5, 1859 d. Feb. 10, 1908; single
2. Levi W. Burkholder, b. April 7, 1860 d. Jan 15, 1948; married (1) Magdalena Nolt; (2) Anna Rutt
3. John Burkholder, b. Nov. 29, 1861; d. April 4, 1941; married Susan Wenger
4. Weaver Burkholder, b. Aug 25, 1863; d. May 30, 1941; married Maria Zimmerman
5. Fannie Burkholder, b. May 5, 1865; d. Sept. 11, 1951; married Henry M. Martin
6. Mary Burkholder, b. April 17, 1867; d. Feb. 9, 1954; married Isaac Weaver
7. Aaron Burkholder, b. Feb. 3, 1869; d. Dec. 19, 1950; married Maggie Hostetter
8. Lydia Burkholder, b. Dec 8, 1870; d. Dec. 27, 1948; married Isaac Nolt
9. Annie Burkholder, b. Jan. 1, 1873; d. Nov. 1, 1918; married Martin Newswanger
10. Moses Burkholder, b. Nov. 19, 1874; d. July 9, 1956; married Lydia Zimmerman Rutt
11. David Burkholder, b. June 1, 1876; d. March 3, 1962; married Ida W. Kurtz
12. Daniel Burkholder, b. Sept. 28, 1879; d. Oct. 4, 1964; married Rebecca Oberholtzer

8. Levi W. Burkholder, second child (first son) of Daniel and Anna (Weaver) Burkholder, was born April 7, 1860. He married Magdalena Nolt, daughter of Michael and Magdalena (Martin) Nolt. They had three children. Levi farmed near Martindale in Lancaster County, Pa. Magdalena died on June 29, 1894 after a long battle with tuberculosis. On December 29, 1895, Levi married Anna Rutt (b. Sept. 3, 1866), the daughter of Samuel Rutt. Levi and Anna had six children. Anna died on Dec. 17, 1937. Levi died January 15, 1948 and is buried in the (Old Order) Martindale Mennonite cemetery with his two wives.

Children of Levi and Magdalena:

1. Elam N. Burkholder, b. Aug. 14, 1883 d. Nov. 18, 1942; married Anna M. Martin
2. Annie N. Burkholder, b. Sept. 1, 1886 d. April 21, 1935; married Reuben Martin
3. Noah N. Burkholder, b. Nov. 14, 1890 d. Nov. 28, 1961; married (1) Mattie Hurst; (2) Virgie Shank)

Children of Levi and Anna:

1. Henry R. Burkholder, b. Oct. 26, 1896; d. Mar. 19, 1963; married Anna Martin
2. Magdalena R. Burkholder, b. Feb. 4, 1898; d. May 14, 1934; married John Leid
3. Leah R. Burkholder, b. June 13, 1899; d. Mar. 15, 1980; single
4. Samuel R. Burkholder, b. Oct. 15, 1900; d. April 21, 2000; married Anna Mary Nolt
5. Emma R. Burkholder, b. Nov. 11, 1903; d. April 20, 1981; married Jonas Martin
6. Amos R. Burkholder, b. June 10, 1906 d. June 22, 2000; married Mary Martin

9. Elam N. Burkholder, first child of Levi and Magdalena (Nolt) Burkholder, was born August 14, 1883. On October 5, 1905, he married Anna Mary Martin, daughter of Henry and Lydia (Weaver) Martin. Elam and Anna began housekeeping in the spring of 1906 on a farm near the Frysville Bridge and their first two children were born there. In 1909 Elam and Anna bought a farm near New Holland. During his lifetime he built a new house, barn, tobacco shed and tobacco warehouse on the farm. Thirteen more children were born there. Elam died at home on November 18, 1942. Anna moved to a house on Bethany Road, between Ephrata and Murrell in 1946. She died there on October 23, 1950. Elam and Anna are buried in the Weaverland Mennonite (frame) Church cemetery.

Children:

1. Lydia M. Burkholder, b, Oct. 5, 1906; d. Oct. 28, 1974; married John N. Rutt on December 24, 1929
2. Clayton M. Burkholder, b. Oct. 30, 1907; d. Sept. 26, 1976; married Lena Rutt on January 2, 1930
3. Paul M. Burkholder, b. Dec. 20, 1908; d. Sept. 20, 1977; married (1) Violet Schaeffer on April 30, 1932-divorced; married (2) Gertrude Fox
4. Chester M. Burkholder, b. Feb. 19, 1911; d. Sept. 4, 1944; married Nora S. Burkholder on February 19, 1933
5. Harvey M. Burkholder, b. Aug. 19, 1911; d. Aug. 24, 1911
6. Edna M. Burkholder, b. Aug. 14, 1912; d. Dec. 12, 1994; married John F. Martin on November 26, 1931
7. Elmer M. Burkholder, b. Oct. 22, 1913; d. July 19, 1966; married Elizabeth Shirk on July 27, 1935
8. Raymond M. Burkholder, b. Nov. 5, 1914; d. July 3, 1973; married Alice Weaver on February 27, 1937
9. Clarence M. Burkholder, b. July 7, 1916; d. April 13, 1981; married Ruth Sauder on December 25, 1937
10. Jennie M. Burkholder, b. Oct. 15, 1917; d. June 17, 1965; married Paul G. Witmer on October 22, 1938
11. Elizabeth M. Burkholder, b. Jan. 7, 1919; d. Oct. 4, 1951; married Harold Litzenberger on April 15, 1939
12. Anna M. Burkholder, b. Nov. 9, 1920; d. Oct. 20, 1991; married Mark Dieffenbach on April 10, 1954
13. Elam M. Burkholder, b. Mar. 5, 1923; d. Jan. 23, 1985; married Mabel Bowman on March 11, 1944
14. Lester M. Burkholder, b. Aug. 8, 1924; d. Jan. 10, 1987; married Elizabeth Burkholder on October 14, 1944
15. Eli M. Burkholder, b. Nov. 3, 1926; d. Nov. 10, 1976; married Helen Reich on October 20, 1945

10. Lester M. Burkholder, fourteenth child (ninth son) of Elam and Anna (Martin) Burkholder, was born August 8, 1924. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Burkholder, who was also a descendant of the Burkhalters from Rüderswil, Switzerland, and immigrant Christian Burkholder. She was the daughter of Ezra P. and Elizabeth (Stauffer) Burkholder. Lester and Betty had six children. They lived near Ephrata, in Lancaster County, Pa. until 1967 when they moved to Berks County. Lester worked in the manufacture of concrete products and later was a meat salesman. Lester died on January 10, 1987 and Betty died on July 30, 1993. They are buried in the cemetery of the Springville Mennonite church.

Six children.

The Jonas E. Burkholder Family

1. Joseph Burkhalter, b. ca. 1628

2. Benedict Burkhalter, b. Dec. 1, 1661

3. Ulrich Burkhalter, b. Feb. 11, 1699

4. Christian Burkholder (immigrant), b. June 1, 1746

5. Abraham Burkholder, b. Nov. 27, 1768

6. Jonas E. Burkholder, fifth child (third son) of Abraham and Catherine (Eby) Burkholder, was born March 10, 1803. He married Catherine Sauder (born Apr. 12, 1804), daughter of Casper and Catherine Sauder. Jonas operated a farm in West Earl Township. He and Catherine had eight children. Jonas died on June 16, 1871 and Catherine died Sept. 11, 1873. They are buried in the Groffdale (brick) Mennonite church cemetery.

Children:

1. Isaac S. Burkholder, b. Nov. 6, 1827; d. Mar. 17, 1882; married Maria Rupp
2. Susanna S. Burkholder, b. Nov. 8, 1828; d. Nov. 17, 1851; married Abraham Martin
3. Jacob S. Burkholder, b. Nov. 21, 1831; d. Sept. 3, 1902; married Mary Bender
4. Elizabeth S. Burkholder, b. Sept. 20, 1834; d. July 25, 1915; married Samuel Buchen
5. Samuel S. Burkholder, Aug. 1836; d. Dec. 2, 1904; married Hettie Landis
6. Joseph S. Burkholder, b. June 8, 1838; d. Dec. 23, 1920; married Emaline R. Powl
7. Catherine S. Burkholder, b. 1843; d.1892; married Isaac M. Hoover
8. Mary S. Burkholder, b.1852; d.1924; second wife of Isaac M. Hoover

7. Joseph S. Burkholder, sixth child (fourth son) of Jonas and Catherine Burkholder, was born June 8, 1838 in West Earl Township. When he was in his twenties he was employed at Hoober's Mill in Earl Township. The mill stood next to the residence of the Josiah Powl. Joseph boarded with the Powl family and on Sept. 17, 1865, he married Josiah and Barbara (Gerber) Powl's daughter, Emaline Rockdalene Powl. She was born Sept. 7, 1849. Joseph and Emaline lived in West Earl Township and had at least four children before they moved to Wabank where he operated a mill on the Conestoga River. The rest of their eleven children were born there. In 1894 they moved to the Farmersville area where they operated a mill known as Fiandt's mill along the banks of the Conestoga (later known as Eberly's Mill). Joseph bought a retirement home in Farmersville in 1914 where he died on Dec. 23, 1920. Emaline died May 29, 1938. They are buried at the Groffdale (frame) Mennonite Church.

Children:

1. John P. Burkholder, b. April 5, 1866; d. Feb. 4, 1932; married Catherine Kreider
2. Susan P. Burkholder, b. Nov. 29, 1867; d. Dec. 30, 1945; married Benjamin Herr
3. Eliza P. Burkholder, b. Jan. 2, 1872; d. Oct. 25, 1939; married John Rupp
4. Mary P. Burkholder, b. Oct. 8, 1875; d. Oct. 9, 1949; married Edwin Nolt
5. Levi P. Burkholder, b. June 8, 1875; d. Oct. 9, 1949, Riverside. California, (cremated); married (1) Belle Talbott (in Illinois), separated in 1913 and divorced; (2) Myrtle Gammell (in Utah) Sept. 3, 1918, separated in 1920 and then divorced; (3) Alma Ryan (in California) in 1923, separated in 1926 and later divorced.
6. Ida P. Burkholder, b. Jan. 11, 1877; d. Jan. 17, 1955; married Isaac Hoover
7. Cora P. Burkholder, b. April 2, 1879; d. April 14, 1949; married Harry H. Nolt
8. Annie P. Burkholder, b. May 21, 1881; d. April 30, 1961; married Isaac N. Zimmerman
9. Katie P. Burkholder, b. Mar. 13, 1885; d. Apr. 28, 1971; married (1) Abram Witmer-had four children (2) Graybill Lausch-had four children
10. Frank P. Burkholder, b. Feb. 6, 1887; d. Nov. 20, 1970; married Minnie Witmer
11. Ezra P. Burkholder, b. may 8, 1889; d. Mar. 10, 1973; married Elizabeth W. Stauffer

8. Ezra P. Burkholder, fourth son and youngest of Joseph and Emaline (Powl) Burkholder's eleven children, was born May 8, 1889. On October 11, 1908, he married Elizabeth (Lizzie) W. Stauffer (born Sept. 20, 1889), the daughter of David B. and Elizabeth (Witmer) Stauffer. Ezra was a carpenter by trade and lived along Fulton Street, Ephrata, for fifty years. Ezra and Lizzie had four children. Lizzie died April 30, 1964 and Ez died March 10, 1973. They are buried at the Springville Mennonite Church.

Children:

1. Emeline S. Burkholder, b. May 1, 1909 d. April 2, 1998, married George S. Felpel (Oct. 24, 1904-Oct. 10, 1998)
2. Frank S. Burkholder, b. Jan. 10, 1912 d. Jan. 25, 1997; married (1) Florence Eleanor Shibley (Sept. 2, 1911-Nov. 13, 1966) (2) Lucille Eleanor Brezger (Nov. 25-1912-Dec. 15, 1998). Frank and his two wives died in Phoenix, Arizona.
3. Nora S. Burkholder, b. Feb. 10, 1914; d. Jan. 19, 2011; married (1) Chester M. Burkholder (Feb. 19, 1910-Sept. 4, 1944); (2) James S. Weaver (Jan. 14, 1902-July 6, 1969)
4. Elizabeth S. Burkholder, b. Dec. 23, 1926; d. July 30, 1993; married Lester M. Burkholder (Aug. 8, 1924-Jan. 10, 1987)

9. Elizabeth S. Burkholder, fourth child (third daughter) of Ezra and Lizzie (Stauffer) Burkholder, was born in Ephrata Twp. on December 23, 1926. She married Lester M. Burkholder, who was also a descendant of the Burkhalters from Rüderswil, Switzerland and immigrant Christian Burkholder. Lester and Betty had six children. They lived near Ephrata, in Lancaster County, Pa. until 1967 when they moved to Berks County. Lester died on January 10, 1987 and Betty died on July 30, 1993. They are buried in the cemetery of the Springville Mennonite church.

Six children.