Prince/Printz Family History

From "Brentz" in Duehren, Germany to "Printz" in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to "Prince" in Ohio and Beyond

Brushes with US Presidents

David Norman Prince Fought Under James A. Garfield
David Norman Prince, born near Westville, OH on July 25, 1831; died Dec. 5, 1919 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, St. Paris, OH. He married on May 5, 1859 in Champaign Co., OH to Mary Jones, born Jan. 23, 1839; died Mar. 21, 1900. David was a school teacher until the beginning of the Civil War. He enlisted on Sept. 15, 1861 for three years in Co. I, 42 Ohio Infantry, commanded by Col. James A. Garfield. He was promoted to sergeant and on Oct. 6, 1862 to 1st Lieutenant of Co. B, 42nd OH Inf. He became Captain of Co. I, on Jan. I, 1864 and was mustered out with his company at Columbus, OH on Dec. 2, 1864. After his discharge, he moved to Shelby Co., OH and on Mar. 13, 1865 settled on a farm near Ballou, Shelby Co., OH and began farming. He was a very civic minded individual and served for more than 25 years on the Board of Education, served as Justice of the Peace, Town Treasurer, President of the Shelby Co. Farmers Alliance and for six years was the president of the Ballou Hall Co. and later was one of its
trustees.

 

Captain George Printz - Aide to General George Washington, Commissioned by Governor Thomas Jefferson, Received Land Grant Signed by President James Madison
Johan Georg Brentz, born Dec. 8, 1742 in Duehren, Baden, Germany; bp Dec. 9, 1742; died May 8, 1834 at Stoney Man, Page Co., VA. He
married (1) c!764 to Elizabeth Henry, born  died c!785-86; it is probable that her name as Elizabeth Crum, daughter of Henry Crum as the land that George Printz' home place is located on formerly belonged to Henry Crum; (2) on Aug. 5, 1787 with the Rev. Paul Henkle, officiating, to Mary Magdalene Shaffer, born  Apr. 4, 1760; died Oct. 20, 1823 in Shenandoah Co., VA. George came to America with his parents in 1751. The earliest record that has been located concerning George Printz is contained in a deed recorded at Frederick Co., VA Court in Winchester, Va. on July 26, 1771. This deed conveys to George Printz 92 acres of land, "lying on the drains of the Great Hawksbill", that being part of a 387 acre tract granted Henry Crumb by the Proprietors. It is probable that all of the Printzes came at that time as that is the date that George's father also patented land in Shenandoah Co., VA.(At that time, Shenandoah Co., VA contained present day Page Co., VA). In 1775, a militia regiment was established in Dunmore Co.(the county name was changed to Shenandoah Co. in 1777) with Col. Thomas Marshall in command. It is possible that George served from the beginning since on Apr. 30, 1778, his name appears on a list of lieutenants sworn in as officers of the county militia. This commission was probably signed by Governor Patrick Henry, the Governor of Virginia at that time. George was promoted on Oct. 11, 1780 to Captain and his Commission was signed by Governor Thomas Jefferson (this Commission is now in the possession of the son of the late John L. Printz of Grand Island, NE). Part of the Virginia Militia served with the Continental Army. David C. Mclnturff declares in the pension application of John C. Aleshite, that "Aleshite marched in August 1781 from Shenandoah Co. , VA under Capt. George Printz and served at the battle of York"; previously, he had been drafted for three months under Capt. George Printz and had marched from Shenandoah County to Newcastle on the Pamunkey River. At Newcastle, George Printz became ill and was releaved from duty. (VA Revolutionary War Pension Applications. Vol. 1. Dorman. 1959). Joseph Printz, George's son, when erecting his tombstone, had inscribed, "Aide to General Washington". A great grandson, John David Printz, of Stonyman, stated in a newspaper article published several years ago in the Page (Co.) News and Courier, that Capt. George Printz was present at the surrender of General Cornwallis. George was also found on a list, dated Baltimore, MD, July 29, 1778, on General Nelson's Corps of Light Dragoons. Whether the Virginia Militia was a part of this group or not, has not been ascertained. George's name is enscribed on a brass plate at the Valley Forge Memorial Bell Tower dedicated by the NSDAR to patriots of the Revolutionary War. There are no further records of his activities during the Revolutionary War or that he served in an official capacity in the local government. However, in 1792, his name appeared on a petition along with 25 or 30 fellow citizens of Shenandoah Co. to the General Assembly to establish a new county separated from Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties. This petition was denied by the General Assembly, but 39 years later, Page County was established
(Virginia Valley Records. John W. Wayland.  Strasburg, Shenandoah Publ. House. 1930. p91). In October, 1797, George represented the Hawksbill Church at the Lutheran Special Conference in Woodstock, VA. In 1806, he attended the Lutheran Conference at Roeders Church. In 1809, he was listed as a church officer of the Hawksbill Church. In 1789, 1798, and 1819, George obtained a total of 260 acres in the Hawksbill. He received a land grant of 80 acres on July 18, 1812 signed by President James Madison for his services in the Revolutionary War in Stark Co., Ohio and later he visited the area. However, he did not stay, probably finding the area too wild. When he returned to VA, he offered to give it to any of his sons who would live on it. George's will was drawn in March 1823, and was probated on Sept. 22,
1834. However, he had two codicils added to it in 1827 and 1829. In this will, he gave the Ohio lands to his sons George and Reuben to be equally divided between them. The codicil stated that son, Joseph is to give to son George, $700, and that Joseph would receive the quarter section of land originally given to George. Each of the children were mentioned by name and each of the children received a portion of their father's estate. He mentioned, also, three grandchildren, David, Christianna and Magdalena Baker, children of his deceased daughter, Magdalena Baker. George's nickname was "Hooneyarick".

Isaiah Printz Married Daughter of Abraham Lincoln's Cousin
Isaiah Printz, born Mar. 17, 1849 on the George Printz homestead; died Oct. 6, 1910. He married on May 27, 1880 to Ida Angeline Pence, born Jan. 16, 1863 in Woodstock, VA; died Feb. 20, 1942, daughter of Beale S. Pence and Rebecca Lincoln and granddaughter of Jacob Lincoln and Nancy Lionberger. Rebecca Lincoln Pence was a first cousin of Abraham Lincoln.