George
Adam Eckhart immigrated to America from Germany in 1750 aboard the ship
“Patience”. Arriving in Philadelphia, he entered into indentured servitude for
4 years to the Pennsylvanian who paid his fare.
George
married “Mary” Anna Maria Wittmeyer, also from Germany, in 1755. Daughter
Sarah, my 4th Great Grandmother, was born in 1770 in the Philadelphia
area.
George
Adam purchased 100 acres of land in Frederick County, Maryland. In the early
1780s, George moved to Alleghany County, Maryland and planted crops. George
Adam and sons John and George received patent rights to 50 acres of land here
in 1800.
The
little village where George and Mary raised their family and died is known as
Eckhart Mines. (The rich beds of coal were not discovered until the National
Road was built in 1811.)
The
Eckhart family cemetery is still located in the fields not far from the
original homestead. (Just down the hill from Weis Market on Old National Pike,
Frostburg-we parked at the laundromat behind the market)
George’s
daughter Sarah married Jacob Loar, who immigrated to America from Germany in
1774. Jacob served in the Revolutionary War and was awarded land near Eckhart.
Old Loartown Road is just 3 miles from Eckhart.