2001

Ship Phoenix	When the Phoenix docked at the Port of Philadelphia, 15 September 1749, it was carrying our ancestor Jacob Seiler (SL). The passenger list also included other heads of Somerset County pioneer families. Ulrich Gindlesberger (GR), brothers Abraham and Jacob Kurtz (KZA), Ullrich Mishler (MH), Hannes Muller (ML2), Johannes Lans (LZ) and Jorg Frantz Phillippi. Other names among the Amish that migrated to Somerset County about 1771 were Gnaegi, Lehman, Livengood, Spiker, Troyer and Zug. [References ( ) from Amish and Amish Mennonite Genealogies by Gingerich and Kreider]
First Saylor Reunion	With the assistance of Victor Witt of Meyersdale and Kenneth Resh of Grantsville, MD, a photograph of the first Saylor Reunion was donated to the Berlin Area Historical Society. Held at New Lexington in 1922, two hundred fifty seven relatives are photographed. Next year will be the 80^th anniversary. Should we invite a few more relatives?
Saylor Hill	On the attached Cousins of Kenneth D. Resh you will find our Yoder cousins. They have remained Amish and farm the land next to Saylor Hill.
Allegheny Township	Allegheny Township, Somerset Co, PA is a very interesting place. Jacob Burkhart and his wife Elizabeth raised their large family there. This is where Peter Saylor lived before leaving for the Civil War. Per census records Solomon Burkhart lived with Susannah Saylor and her family after Peter's death. I suspect Susannah's farm was very close to the Burkhart farm. Peter and Susannah's son Samuel married Susan J. Ferner, who was a daughter of John Ferner and Elizabeth Burkhart. Samuel and Susan's oldest daughter, Minerva, (13 Jun 1874 - 15 Apr 1878) died young and is buried in the Burkhart burial ground. This farm is now known for its elk as the Glen Savage Ranch.
Hartge	This family also settled in Allegheny Township near the Burkhart farm. While working on this family for friends in Pittsburgh, I found Viola (Klink) Saylor and her husband John. I hope they get to meet you today. When I'm not looking for Saylor information, I find it.
Custer	How do you pronounce it? The first time I spoke with Franklin Bishop, compiler of The Custer and Related Families of Allegany and Garrett Counties, Maryland, he asked if I was from Somerset County. From the Rev. Bishop's work, I determined Shane Allen Saylor and his sisters are fourth cousins three times removed from General George Armstrong Custer.
Portage, PA	William Saylor was one of three men shot during a miner's strike, 22 August 1914, in Portage, PA. William was 18 years old when he died 2 September 1914. David Mellett was one of many arrested. Per Melissa (Mallet) Meirer, her great-grandfather, David, moved to Michigan about 1919. I have not found any other link between our family and that of William's.