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CONNELLSVILLE
- Shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Jacob
Bottomer, a German immigrant, put away his farming equipment, picked up a
rifle and left his family in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, to help
his new homeland gain its freedom.
On Saturday, 185
years after his death, his descendants, who live throughout the country,
gathered at Hill Grove Cemetery in Connellsville to pay tribute to him.
"This is a great day," said Lois Tonhauser, a fourth great
grandchild of the Revolutionary War veteran.
According to Donald O. Buttermore, a third great grandchild of the honoree,
Jacob Bottomer enlisted on Aug. 9, 1776, in the German Regiment of the Second
Continental Pennsylvania Line.
Four months later, while serving with General George Washington at the Battle
of Trenton, Jacob Bottomer was wounded.
"He wasn't expected to live," said Donald Buttermore. "Not
only did he survive, but returned to his regiment where he served until Jan.
15, 1781."
Afterwards, he returned to the area, making his home and raising his family
in both Westmoreland and Fayette counties.
The memorial service stemmed from the tracing of the family history by three
of Jacob Bottomer's ancestors, Georganne Wilkinson, of Utah, Margarette Davis
of California and Tonhauser of Florida.
"They kept stumbling over one another on the Internet and finally
decided to pool their efforts and found that they were related," said
Donald Buttermore.
A Buttermore Club was formed and the search for other family members
intensified, said Wilkinson.
After determining that there were different variations of the Bottomer name,
including Bottimer, Bodamer and Bottimore, club members began locating
relatives across the country.
Eventually, they found Jacob Bottomer's son and his family buried in Hill
Grove Cemetery.
According to the family, there is no indication where the family patriarch
was laid to rest.
Julia R. Allen, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Regent for the
Philip Freeman Chapter, and a descendant of the Bottomer family, said records
indicate Bottomer family ties to Col. William Crawford and Peter Stillwagon,
two of Connellsville's first families.
Wilkinson, a genealogist, said it has been fascinating to trace the family
history.
"To know your roots and to know who gave you your heritage and character
are all very important," she said.
During the service a granite marker, noting Jacob Bottomer's military
service, was erected and dedicated alongside his son, John Bottomer and his
family.
Also taking part in the service was VFW Post 47, the Reverend Elmer H. Reamer,
pastor of the Otterbein United Methodist Church, Pete Porreca and American
Legion Post 301.
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