Finding Aid to Bachman Family Papers, 1769-1864

The Bachmans represented in this collection were a family of five generations of cabinetmakers and undertakers from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The family continues the business of undertaking today. The founder of this family was John (Johannes) Bachman II, born 1746 in Switzerland. After arriving in the United States as a young man, he married Maria Rohrer in 1771 and they had nine children. He was primarily noted for his clock cases and custom furniture making. His furniture business was located in Lampeter Township, Pennsylvania. He died in 1829.

The eldest son, John III (1775-1849), continued the family business but later moved his shop to Willow Street in Pequea Township. He married Esther Grider in 1797 and they had eight children. He was a leading member of the Mennonite Church and was an “industrious and thorough workingman, and a man highly respected throughout the neighborhood.” His brother, Jacob (b. 1782) was also in business with him at some point.

Jacob (1798-1867), the eldest son of John III, adopted his father's and grandfather's profession. After his 1822 marriage to Barbara Kendig, he moved to East Lampeter Township and established his shop near Soudersburg, Pennsylvania. Besides cabinetmaking, he also farmed and became a well-known local public figure. Bachman advocated the advancement of education and was a member of the local board of education.

Of the ten children born to Jacob and Barbara Bachman, Christian (1827-1901) chose to continue the cabinetmaking trade. He worked with his father until 1855 when he married Barbara Buckwalter and moved to Strasburg, Pennsylvania, where he opened his own shop. In 1880, his two sons, Frank and Ellis, joined him and the business was renamed to C. Bachman & Sons until the withdrawal of Frank in 1888. Apparently, Christian expanded the business trade line “to embrace every style and kind” of furniture. He too, was a prominent community figure, serving on the board of education for twenty-five years and as a notary public.

After the withdrawal of his brother Frank and the retirement of his father Christian, Ellis Bachman (1856-1933) assumed control of the cabinetmaking business. Having been reared and educated in Strasburg borough, he thoroughly learned the family trade from his father. He married Lillian Arnold in 1883 and had nine children. Following his father's footsteps, he succeeded him as a notary public and assumed the office of assessor as well. He was also an active member of the Republican party.

This collection contains two account books, two photocopies of privately owned estate inventories, and one roll of microfilm (Mic. 935) of two daybooks. Of the documents on microfilm, the first, by Jacob Bachman (son of John III) is owned by Winterthur Museum and is described below as item 73×315. The second, in German, was written by Johannes Bachman (John II) and was in private ownership at the time of filming. For a description of the Johannes Bachman daybook, see corresponding RLIN record DEWV90-A119.

The two account books and the two photocopies are in one box.

None

Gifts and purchases from various sources.

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Repository code: DeWint File name: Col285.xml Abstract: The Bachmans were a family of five generations of cabinetmakers and undertakers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Included in the collection are two account books and two inventories taken after deaths. An additional daybook is available on microfilm. Extent: 0.3 linear feet Date range: 1769-1864 Related materials: Language: English Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera Winterthur, DE 19732 (302) 888-4853 Bachman Family Papers Col. 285 Creator: Bachman family. Title: Papers Dates: 1769-1864. Call No.: Col. 285 Acc. No.: [various] Quantity: 1 box, 1 microfilm reel Location: 15 L 4

	54×104. Ledger book of John Bachman, 1816-1835, and Daybook of Jacob Bachman, 1850-1864	1816-1835,		Box 1
	The first of the account books, this one bears the spine title “Ledger B.” According to the title page inscription, it was first owned by John Bachman III from 1816-1835. It contains an index of names in the front and uses facing pages to record debits and credits of each customer in traditional ledger fashion. Occasionally, the occupation of the customer is listed. Items that Bachman made include a cherry breakfast table, clock cases, writing desks, poplar cradles, walnut dressers, bureaus, high post bedsteads, etc. The second half of this book was used as a daybook by his brother, Jacob Bachman, from 1850-1864. Jacob apparently made functional pieces such as wash troughs, gates, salt boxes, locust posts, and hoe handles, as well as fine furniture such as French bedsteads, fall leaf tables, a set of bureaus, and clock cases, among others. He also sold farm produce such as wheat, corn, hay, and pigs.

	73×315. Account Book of Jacob Bachman, 1822-1862	1822-1862
	The second account book is an unindexed ledger owned by Jacob Bachman (son of John III) from 1822-1862. It too uses facing pages to record debits and credits of each customer in traditional ledger fashion. While Jacob did some farming, he primarily made his living from the cabinetmaking business. Most notably, he made high post bedsteads, walnut chests, bureaus, high cases of drawers, corner cupboards, dining tables, cradles, “doetroughs,” and clock cases.

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	Ph 1173.1. Estate inventory of John Bachman, 1829	1829
	Taken in 1829 at the death of John Bachman II (Johannes) of Conestoga Township. Besides household items, the inventory includes the appraised values of carpentry and cabinetmaking tools, his own furniture, and a turning lathe.

	Ph 1173.2. Estate inventory of John Bachman, 1849	1849
	Taken in 1849 at the death of the above's son, John Bachman III, also of Conestoga Township. This inventory lists the appraised values of rough wood, screws, morticed posts, bench and grovering tools, moulding planes, saws, chisels, squares, vices, hammers, and other cabinetmaking tools among the household items.