BUSHWACKER’S
Decendants Salute. Son Brian, Bushwacker and Brother Ron Salute
John Peter Obermeier at an SAR grave marking held on Sept. 10, 2006
"Ohio Rusty" commands the Salute.
My Heroes are my Patriot Ancestors. John George held the rank of Captain in the Northumberland Militia. His two oldest sons served under him. The younger of the two boys, John Peter Obermeier, (My fourth Great Grandfather,) was fifteen years old at the opening of the Rev. War. He served as a Ranger alongside his older brother. Initially the men (and boy) served in the French-Indian wars and continued to serve, sometimes under the direct orders of General George Washington, when the hostilities with England commenced. The three, along with their mother, the Patriot Anna Barbara /Vogt/ Overmeyer survived some 10 years of fighting. Prior to the Battle of Trenton, General Washington ordered Captain Overmeyer back to Northumberland to put down the Indians who were instigated by the English to harass and kill the settlers of the county and the surrounding countryside. Captain George complied and using the local militia, now greatly reduced in numbers, did quell the natives allowing for the remaining militia to join up with Washington at the Winter camp in Pennsylvania following the defeat and capture of the Hessian garrison of Trenton. John Peter, along with his father and brother, remained together throughout the war, and following the disbanding of troops, John Peter‘s Marriage and the starting of his own family, he, along with his family and possessions, set out for the Ohio Territory to join up with his close friend and Brother-in-Law Johann Peter Witmer Jr. and his Sister Mary Magdalena /Overmeyer/ Witmer. When attempting a raft crossing of the storm swollen Ohio River, a Wagon along with the team and the families moneys and furnishings, were lost when the raft capsized. John Peter stayed on in the Pittsburgh area for a year while he re-cooped his losses and set aside traveling money. It was around 1803 that the family settled in Fairfield county South of Newark, Ohio and cleared land. He and his Brother-in-Law donated land and materials for building of common structures for a new community which they named Overmeyersettle. (Now New Reading, Ohio) Among the structures that they provide for was the German style Lutheran church. Only the bell tower and entrance stands today. John Peter and his wife raised 8 children. David Deal (John Peter’s Son-in-Law) assisted in laying out the lines of demarcation of the new county formed up from Fairfield County. John Peter and Peter Witmer supervised the forming of the county, and offered the name Perry County so as to honor Commodore Hazard Perry, The hero of the Battle of Lake Erie. It was accepted and today Perry County is noted for it’s many colonial cemeteries. David Deal (My third Great Grandfather) Lost his wife, Mary Magdalene (Obermeier) and the mother of their 10 children. After a period of mourning David set out with his sons to the community of Lower Sandusky, a small settlement on the Sandusky River portion of the Ohio Scioto Trail. It was now about 1810 and David’s services were required at Fort Meigs where he served as a part of the garrison there. By 1813, the Fort was under siege by British gunboats and Marines who were supported by Tecumseh’s army of Shawnee warriors. In the end, Fort Meigs held, and the British fleet withdrew to attack the supply Fort at Lower Sandusky. Tecumseh and his braves set out across country for the same purpose. Fort Stephenson held fast and defeated the British who withdrew downriver. Tecumseh’s army of Shawnee also withdrew. Following the siege at Fort Meigs, David Deal returned to Lower Sandusky and served as one of the founders of today’s Fremont, Ohio. He built and operated a Road House near the point where the Great Black Swamp and the Tall Grass Prairie join with the Ohio Woodlands. Later, he served as the first Sherriff of Sandusky County, Ohio. In his golden years, David was honored as being the last survivor of the Siege of Fort Meigs. Upon his death, President Hayes noted in his journal that he took the day off to attend the funeral of his good friend, Squire, David Deal. On September 10, 2006, we conducted a Sons of the American Revolution Grave Marking and Dedication Ceremony Honoring John Peter Obermeier. The celebration was conducted by the (Then) President of the Rufus Putnam Chapter of the Ohio Society of the SAR. Mr. Keith Kaufman assembled the program and served as the Master of Ceremonies. At the reception following, My Son Brian and myself received our Rosettes signifying our formal acceptance into the ranks of the Sons of the American Revolution.
John George Overmeyer, (My fifth Great Grandfather,) lived in Northumberland County, of the Pennsylvania Territory, during the period prior to the Revolutionary War. John George built one of the first privately owned forts in the New World, Fort Overmeyer. In actuality he built his home, a heavily logged cabin with a fresh water spring concealed in the basement. The fortress was known as Fort Overmeyer by the locals who sought protection there during the Indian uprisings.
The Old New Reading Lutheran Church 
To view the slide show of this event, Click on the following link:
To view My Persona, click here.