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(This memo is posted here in case some of the Gerhardt family wants to contact Michael Robinson. "Dear Harold, I saw your article on the Gerhardt family of Gerhardt Valley NM. My friend's children descend from this family and I have been doing some research into their German origins. First it is important to note that the 3 brothers were not from Freisenheim (pronounced fry) they were from Friesenheim (pronounced free) (in German when two vowels go walking the 2nd always does the talking). Johannes (John), Joseph and Friedrich (Fredrick) were the sons of the master Baker Johann Georg Gerhardt and his 2nd wife Anna Maria Gabelmann. Neither Georg nor Anna Maria were originally from Friesenheim, Georg was from Tutschfelden and Anna Maria from Hugsweier, both in Baden Germany (these are in the area of Lahr on modern maps). Let me know if you are interested, or know others who are interested in this family. Sincerely Michael Robinson Sleepingdragon777@yahoo.com ")
John Gerhardt was born in 1830 in Freisnheim, Baden, Germany. He arrived in New York June 18, 1852 with two younger brothers: Frederick and Joseph. It is not known where Joseph ended up. He stayed back east. They had seventeen other siblings in Germany. Soon after his arrival in New York, John enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to Co. G, First N.Y. Mounted Rifles. His company was sent to the Southwest in 1854 where it was involved in the Navajos held at Fort Sumner. John had some medical training and he was assigned as a male nurse at Fort Sumner. After his discharge from the army in 1865, John located a sheep ranch at Los Ojitos about 25 miles northwest of the fort on the Pecos River. He called his ranch Cedar Springs. Since John had some medical training he became a doctor and the remainder of his life was spent at the ranch on the Pecos River as rancher and doctor. (See copy of his NM medical certificate.) John married Sophronia Caviness in 1869 in Puerto do Luna. After they were married they lived on the ranch and had twelve children. (See photos) John Gerhardt, age 50, is listed in the 1880 Census of Sunnysaid (should be Sunnyside), Fort Sumner, Cedar Springs, and Los Ojitos, New Mexico Territory. Some of the children of John and Sophronia are: Mary Ann Gerhardt (the first child); Nancy; and Ellen (the youngest). Mary Ann married W. M. Hunter. William M. (Bill) Hunter was born in Michigan in 1856, the son of Peter and Mary Frances Hughs Hunter. He went west to find adventure. He did! In December of 1887 he married John Gerhardts oldest daughter, Mary Ann, in Puerto de Luna. He settled his family on a ranch in Guadalupe County while he freighted mail, merchandise, and passengers from Las Vegas, New Mexico to Sunnyside (Fort Sumner). At the age of 90 he died and was buried beside Mary Ann in the Fort Sumner cemetery. (See photos) John Gerhardt died September 17, 1906 at the ranch and was buried on a bluff overlooking the Pecos River. Sophronia died in 1925 in St. Helena, California where she lived with her youngest daughter, Ellen Gerhardt Ballantine. Picture made June 13, 1977 at Grandpa Gerhardts grave at the old ranch.Use BACK button to return.
