Daniel NIHART

Sources:

History Of Elkhart County (FHL#924,661)
Elkhart County Wills, Vol. 2 By Ruth Slevin Pg. 96
Nihart Book
Vital Records Of Elkhart, Indiana (FHL #1,266,793 It. 2-3)
Ancestry World Tree
New.FamilySearch.org, Sep 2011
1840 Census - Elkhart County, Indiana
1850 Census - Middlebury, Elkhart, Indiana
1860 Census - Middlebury, Elkhart, Indiana

Notes:

                   NOTE:
    Historical information from Ancestry World Tree in PAF notes.

Daniel Neihart was born and reared on his father's plantation in present Lower Augusta township, Pennsylvania. He was confirmed in Zion/Stone Union church at Augustaville in 1819. The communicant lists show he was married to Juliana Kauffman, a sister of a near neighbor, in 1820 or early 1821. Presubably, Daniel followed farming in the area, either with his father or on nearby rented land. Ten of their twelve children were born there.On August 10, 1835, they received Juliana's portion of her father's estate, and about this time the parents and ten children with all their possessions headed for Elkhart County, Indiana. They arrived on a Saturday night and were greeted by the James Bundy family (Mary Bundy was a swister to Juliana Kauffman Neihart). The Neiharts were all given the potatoes they could dig the following Monday. This, with the 22 deer Daniel shot during the winter were major items on their diet that first winter in Indiana.The Bundys had been established on an adjoining farm consisting of 200 acres of patented land three years prior to the Neiharts arrival. The Bundys had agreed to sell 80 acres of their property to the Neiharts. The part sold was centered in the north half of Section 31, Middlebury township, about 5 miles east by northeast of Goshen city. The land proved very productive and this family prospered.On July 21, 1871, Daniel executed his will, naming (2nd) wife, Phebe, who was to have $500 out of his personal estate. (Later she received another $500 from his children for releasing her dower interest in the real estate.) Children Sarah Crichfield, Issac Neihart, John Niehart, Matilda Schrock, Samuel Neihart, Tena McConnell, Peter Neihart, Aaron Neihart, David Neihart, Elizabeth Myers, and James Neihart - all to share equally in personal property - except for $5.00 only to son Daniel ( as his portion of both personal and real estate - because son John had made a bad loan to Daniel.) Brother Adam Neihart to be maintained for life, after which real estate to be sold and proceeds divided into 12 shares - 2 shares to John and none to Daniel (because of the bad loan). Elkhart County Wills Vol. 2, pp. 105/6/7, proved March 11, 1873. Daniel used the name as Neihart in his life time, but it is "Nihart" on gravestone. (Source: "Neuhart Chronicles Vol. III" by Dennis Allen Kastens)