Peter Gearhart

Ancestor Number

A043924 »

Date of Birth

1762

Place of Birth

Germany

Date of Death

1854

Place of Death

Des Moines, Iowa

Spouse(s)

Elizabeth

Children

Samuel, Stephen, Conrad, John Nyce, George, May, Elizabeth, Rose Ann and Phillip

American Revolution Service

Assisted in establishing American Independence while acting in the capacity of class 4 private for the state of Pennsylvania

State of Service

Pennsylvania

Donor

Jean Mowen, 537032, Marais des Cygnes Chapter DAR

Peter Gearhart was born to Johannes and Anna Margaretha in Germany in the year 1762.

The family arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by passenger ship in 1768. The Gearhart families were very involved in their community. They founded the first church on record in Francomia, and they purchased an inn that was later known as the Gearhart Tavern. In 1777, while British were occupying Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell and church bells were housed overnight in Gearhart’s tavern.

Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Des Moines County. Photo courtesy of: Stars and Stripes Chapter, Spring Creek Cemetery, Des Moines Iowa, DAR.

Spring Creek Cemetery. Photo courtesy of: Stars and Stripes Chapter, Spring Creek Cemetery, Des Moines Iowa, DAR.

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The family story is that Gearhart joined the Revolution War at 14 as a drummer boy when he came to America; however, there is no proof of this activity.

Documentation does show that the Peter Gearhart who resided in Philadelphia County in Pennsylvania during the American Revolution assisted in establishing American Independence while acting in the capacity of Class 4 private for the state of Pennsylvania. A description of his service during the Revolutionary War follows: 1) CAPT JOHN LOWREY, PHILADELPHIA CO MILITIA.

Peter Gearhart married Mary Elizabeth Wallen and they had nine children: John, Stephen, George, Conrad, Philip, Samuel, May, John Nyce, Elizabeth and Rose Ann. Records show that Gearhart lived in Pennsylvania until 1850, when the census lists him in Jefferson, Henry County, Iowa, with his daughter.

Gearhart died in December 1854 and was buried in West Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Wallen, was born in 1765 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and she died in December 1844. They are buried cemetery in Spring Creek Cemetery, which is now located inside the Iowa Ordnance Plant confines. Accompanying photos are the entrance to the cemetery and a plaque presented by the STARS AND STRIPES CHAPTER, DAR.

Gearhart’s NSDAR proven children are:

Stephen Gearhart, born 1801, died 1877; Elizabeth Gearhart, born c. 1797 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, died August 11, 1882 in Henry Co., Iowa; John Nyce Gearhart, born July 15, 1814, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, Died September 7, 1894 in Eldora Hardin Co., Iowa.