Dutch Corner History Group

I am a genealogist researching early Walter, Dibert, Imler, Ickes and Knipple ancestors in Bedford County. Living in Baltimore I am at a disadvantage with the "lay of the land" and I was happy to find this Dutch Corner group. Presently I am focused on information that seems to be in conflict as far a location is concerned. I hope some of the Dutch Corner group can help.

Mathias & Barbara (Imler) Walter's youngest daughter, married Frederick Klee Claar on 26 October 1800. In the 150th Anniversary book of the Upper Claar Church I found the statement, "Christina was the daughter of Mathias and Barbara (Imler) Walter, of Pleasant Valley, Bedford County, PA". http://upperclaarcob.com/history1112.html I located Pleasant Valley in the Dutch Corner area. I suspected that this was the location of Mathias and Barbara's homestead but the following tax and census data do not agree with the location I identified.

• 1772 Mathias Walter assessed tax as "Inmate" (living on another's land)
• 1775 Mathias Walter assessed taxes for 100 acres in Bedford Co
• 1778 Mathias Walter assessed taxes for 100 acres in Bedford Co
• 1781 Mathias Walter died
• 1784 Barbara Walter Bedford County census - 100 acres, 12 people in household
• 1785 Widow of Mathias assesses taxes for 100 acres in Bedford Co
• 1789 Joseph son of Mathias & Barbara (Imler) Walter assessed taxes in Woodberry Twp.
• 1790 census lists Barbara Walter in Bedford Co but no township is recorded
• 1796 and 1797 Tax assessment records indicate the Walters were in Woodberry Twp.
• 1800 census for Hopewell and Woodberry lists Daniel, John and Henry Walter are listed in separate households and all are sons of Mathias and Barbara (Imler) Walter. Son, Joseph is recorded in the census for Bedford and St. Clair Townships.

note: This Joseph Walter is the some one that has the tombstone that is pictured on the Dutch Corner site but more about that later

My questions:
Were these Walter people in Dutch Corner during the last part of the 1770s?
Have I correctly identified Pleasant Valley as being in Dutch Corner?
Is there more than one Pleasant Valley?
Was Dutch Corner in early years 1785-1800 ever within Woodberry Township?

Thank you for any help or comments you can provide
Carol Bickel

Carol, I responded to your email to me, but I thought I'd post this as well, in case someone else has the same questions.

Were these Walter people in Dutch Corner during the last part of the 1770s? In the 1776 taxables list, there is Mathias Walter (and an interesting note.....there is a George Einler, which would be George Imler). In the 1779 property list for Bedford township, there is a Henry Walter listed as having 100 acres (which makes me wonder if this is the 100 acres that Mathias was taxed for in the previous years). We know that the Walters were in Dutch Corner, because of the marriages between the Imlers and Walters. We also know that Joseph Walter received a land warrant for land in Dutch Corner (the index that we have on our webpage, but the direct link is http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20D1-D90/Book%20D14/Book%20D-14%20pg%20591.pdf. I've not done any additional research to see if I can find anything for Walters in the Patent Indexes.

Have I correctly identified Pleasant Valley as being in Dutch Corner? - Yes, there is a Pleasant Valley in Dutch Corner. It is located around the area of the St James Church, also known as the Yellow Brick Church. http://www.dutchcornerpa.com/Churches/StJames/StJamesChurch.html

Is there more than one Pleasant Valley? Not in Dutch Corner. There is no definitive boundaries, however, if you go by the 1877 map http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/mg/di/m011/PDFs/m011Map0793_BedfordTwp.pdf, it is in District No. 8. The Joseph Walter tombstone is located in the Dibert District (near the location of "G. Biddle" on this map, though it is at the crossroads where the roads all meet slightly southeast of G. Biddle's location.

Was Dutch Corner in early years 1785-1800 ever within Woodberry Township? I don't beleve it ever was. The mountains are the natural border for Dutch Corner, and South Woodbury is on the wrong side of the mountains.


I know that there are many descendants of the Walter family in Dutch Corner, due to the link with the Imler family. I also have a couple of names of people who are doing research on the Walter family. I can send you a private message with their information if you want.