Person:Samuel Guldin (2)

Samuel Koch Guldin was born 3 June 1664 in Bern, Switzerland. He was the son of Hans Joachim Gueldi/Guldin. and Anna Maria Koch. He married Mary Magdalina Malacrida who was born in Switzerland and was the daughter of Rev. Peter Malacrida and Esther Fischer.

The Guldin family were originally from St. Gall, Switzerland. There has been an interesting naming pattern in this family in the early generations. Each child, male and female, was given their mother's maiden name as a middle name. Samuel K. graduated from Bern University in 1679. He was assistant pastor at Bern Cathedral 1686 - 1699 but was dismissed from there because of his Pietistic views. He served at Boltigen, Switzerland in 1701 and in 1702, he went to northern Germany. From there he came with his family to Philadelphia, arriving on the ship, "Maria Hope" on 23 September 1710.

Samuel K. Guldin was the first recorded minister of the German Reformed faith to settle permanently in Pennsylvania. He became the chaplain of the Pietist Community at Wissahickon on 1 December 1719. He also preached at Philadelphia, Oley, Roxboro and Germantown. In 1718, he made a brilliant defense of Pietists which has been incorporated into church history.

Samuel died on a farm that he owned in Roxboro on 31 December 1745 at age 79. He is thought to be buried in Warner's Graveyard at Germantown, Pennsylvania.

The early home of the Guldin family was at St. Gall, Switzerland, where records of it are found as far back as 1529 A.D. The first of the name found in America was the Rev. Samuel K. Guldin, who left Hamburg, Germany, July 1, 1710, and landed at Philadelphia Sept. 24, 1710. From him descended all the Guldins in the eastern part of the State. He was the leader of the church Pietists in Switzerland, and the spiritual forerunner of the Reformed church in Pennsylvania. In Switzerland the Guldin family is almost extinct, there being but six representatives of this once powerful name-one man, one boy and four women.

(I) The Rev. Samuel K. Guldin spent the first forty-six years of his life in Switzerland, Holland and Germany. In 1718 he made a brilliant defense of the Pietists which has been incorporated into church history. In 1710 he wrote a letter in which he states that he bought a farm in Oley township, Berks county, Pa. He lived at Roxboro and there died. In this letter he mentions these children: Samuel M., seventeen; Maria Catherine, fourteen; Christoffel, thirteen; and Emanuel Frederick, eleven years of age.

(II) Samuel M. Guldin learned blacksmithing and then together with Engel Peter and a Mr. Bartolet, all blacksmiths, went to Oley, then known as "The Land of Great Trees," about the year 1718. Each built a log house, and began to clear the land. These houses were built somewhere along what is now the public road from "The Yellow House" and Friedensburg. On May 22, 1722, Samuel M. Guldin married Elizabeth Hilsaweck. Their children were: Samuel, born July 12, 1723; Susanna, Oct. 5, 1724; John, Feb 22, 1726; Mary Magdalene, Aug. 26, 1728; Frederick, Aug. 2, 1729; Daniel H., Johanna Esther (twins), April 20, 1735; and Clara Elizabeth, Sept. 17, 1738. Berks county was incorporated in 1752 and Samuel M. Guldin was one of its first county commissioners. At that time there were still Indians in the county, and without doubt this ancestor bore his part in defending the people and exterminating the dreaded foe. The records show that at least three of his children married and reared families.

(III) Daniel H. Guldin, son of Samuel M. Guldin and his wife Elizabeth, was born April 20, 1735, and he died Aug. 17, 1817. In 1762 he married Catherine Elizabeth Geltback, and she died about 1785. Their children were: Samuel G., 1763-1769; Daniel G., 1764-1845; John Jacob, 1766-1826; Samuel G., 1769-1775; John G., 1770-1852; Elizabeth G., 1773-1848; George G., 1774-1814; Abraham G., 1776-1838; Samuel G., 1777-1854; Frederick G., 1779-1838; Peter G., 1782-1826; David G., 1784-1799.

(IV) John G. Guldin was born Oct. 18, 1770, and died June 13, 1852, son of Daniel H. Guldin and wife Catherine Elizabeth Geltback. He was a blacksmith, farmer and justice of the peace. He married Mary Cronrath, born Jan. 1, 1772, died Dec. 28, 1835. Their children were: Daniel C., 1792-1856; Samuel C., 1794-1871; Rev. John C., D. D., 1799-1863; David C., 1804-1858; Charles C., 1808-1864; Abraham C., 1811-1884; Isaac C., 1812-1874.

(V) Samuel C. Guldin, son of John G. Guldin, was born 1794, and died 1871. He was an extensive dealer in cattle and mules, a large owner of real estate and stock and a man widely and favorably known throughout Berks county. He married Elizabeth Yeager, of Chester county, who was born June 17, 1797, and died Feb. 8, 1879. They lived near Yellow House. Their children were; Simon P., 1823-1873; John F., 1825-1875; Mary Ann; Elam Y., 1829-1892; Sophia H., 1832-1893; James A., 1834-1864; Jeremiah L., 1837-1858.

(VI) John Frederick Guldin, son of Samuel C. Guldin, was born in Oley township, June 9, 1825, and he died at Yellow House May 13, 1875, aged forty-nine years, eleven months and four days. He was one of the most extensive dealers in mules in this part of the county, owning hundreds of the mules along the Schuylkill canal, and he supplied the whole system with mules. In addition he kept in stock from 100 to 150 and his business was a very successful one. He also cultivated his eighty-five acre farm, now owned by his son John R. Mr. Guldin was a charitable man, and while in the business to make money, never hesitated to help one less fortunate than he by lending mules to tide over a difficulty. For some years he was associated in business with his father, Samuel Guldin and after the latter's death, he continued with his brother Simon. After a prosperous life, he died firm in the faith of the Reformed Church, and is buried at Amityville, in the cemetery of this church. For years prior to his death he took an active part in church work, organizing the Reformed denomination at Amityville, as well as establishing the cemetery.. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order. On Sept. 21, 1852, John F. Guldin married Hannah Rhoads, born Oct. 1, 1832, daughter of Abraham Rhoads of Amity; she died June 2, 1872. They had children: Samuel, born Aug. 26, 1853, died Oct. 24, 1905; Lizzie, born 1856, died in 1858; Mary, born in 1858, died in 1861; Ella, born in 1860, died in 1893; Emily m. J. F. D. Geiger, of Philadelphia; Catherine m (first) Nelson Bertolet, deceased, and (second) Grant Loder, of Philadelphia; John R.; and Charles R. of Philadelphia, a butcher.

(VII) John R. Guldin, postmaster at Yellow House, and agent of the National Bank of Boyertown, was born in the house where he now resides, March 15, 1867. He was educated in the common schools, and Prof. D. B. Brunner's Business college, at Reading, from which he was graduated in 1885. Having been reared upon the farm, he thoroughly understood the work, and at the age of eighteen began farming for his father on the homestead. The property is a very fine one consisting of eighty-five acres located at Yellow House, in Amity township. Mr. Golden supervises the work upon this very valuable tract, and makes it pay well. Since 1897 he has been engaged in a butchering business, and gives employment to three men in this line, and runs three teams delivering to his customers throughout a wide section. Mr. Golden is one of the owners of "Yellow House Hotel," having succeeded to his father's interest in it upon the latter's death. This old landmark is often referred to by writers of Berks county, and for many years has been a place of entertainment for the traveling public. Mr. Gelding's residence is just opposite the hotel, and is a large stone house, well supplied with all modern conveniences, and surrounded with a magnificent lawn. At midnight, Aug. 14, 1908, his large barn was burned to the ground, including its contents, consisting of the year's crops, three thorough-bred cows, one bull, thirteen trained hounds and about one-hundred chickens,--a total loss of $6,500. Mr. Guldin immediately rebuilt on practically the same site, and now has the only barn in his section that has a complete concrete base, one staple high. In addition to being the agent for the National Bank of Boyertown, he is one of its largest stockholders, and since 1893 he has been the postmaster at Yellow House. Before he was of age, in 1888, Mr. Guldin was placed upon the Democratic ticket for auditor of Amity township, and being elected served that and two succeeding terms, nine years in all. In politics he is a Democrat, and has always taken a lively interest in township affairs. Fraternally he is a member of Wohling Tribe No. 179, Order of Red Men, at Yellow House. He and his family are members of Amityville Reformed Church, of which he was elder for some years, and is now treasurer. On Feb. 26, 1891, Mr. Guldin married Sue L. Rhoads, daughter of Frank and Rebecca (Lorah) Rhoads, of Amity township. To Mr. and Mrs. Guldin have been born these children: Paul R., a graduate of Mercersburg Academy, in Franklin county, Pa., Class of 1908, and now taking a course in Agriculture, at Cornell University, Class of 1912; and Miss Helena, a member of Class of 1909, Kutztown State Normal School, and an accomplished young lady. Mr. Guldin is a sportsman, and is very fond of hunting, keeping a large number of hounds for fox hunting. At times his pack numbers thirty. He also has foxes, opossums, coons and other wild animals. The old Guldin family is well represented in Mr. Guldin, an excellent type of the genial, kind-hearted hospitable country gentleman. He is wealthy, prominent and a great favorite throughout all of Berks county, where he and his family occupy so desirable a place in the confidence and esteem of its people.

1. ↑ Montgomery, Morton L., History of Berks County, Pennsylvania (J. H. Beers Company, 1909.)
   p. 718.
2. ↑ International Genealogical Index - North America at familysearch.org.
3. ↑ Montgomery, Morton L., History of Berks County, Pennsylvania (J. H. Beers Company, 1909.)
   p. 718.
4. ↑ Montgomery, Morton L., History of Berks County, Pennsylvania (J. H. Beers Company, 1909.)
   p. 718.
5.   GEDCOM file submitted by Thomas A. Stobie, SFO, stobie@sprynet.com. Created on 25 MAY 2006. Imported on 19 Aug 2006..