An Account of
Johann Caspar Iba
Compiled by Mark L. Iba
circa December 7, 1984
[I transcribed this document my
father, Mark L. Iba, wrote sometime prior to December 7, 1984. I
have made only minor typographic alterations. --Wayne Iba]
Born September 26, 1719, Son of Heinrich Iba, a shoemaker in Ruppur (an
outskirt of Karlsruhe) District of Durlach in Germany.
On July 26, 1737 he completed a three year apprenticeship in the bakery
trade under the masterbaker, Georg Carl Bader, in Karlsruhe, Germany.
He married Anna Maria (Anna Catarina), who was born December 6,
1711. They arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 17,
1749 on the ship Drogon, which sailed from Alsace-Lorraine. There
were 244 passengers who came from Wurtemberg, Palatinate and
Alsatia. The master of the ship was Daniel Nicholas.
They settled in the village of Schaefferstown in Heidelburg township,
Lancaster County (now Lebanon County), Pennsylvania. They were
one of the first members of the Schaefferstown Lutheran church.
From this time on, he is referred to as Caspar Iba. They had
three daughters: Catherine Dorothea (Sept. 6, 1749), Christina (April
18, 1752), and Susanna Margareta (Feb. 5, 1755). These daughters
later went by the name of Ibachin.
There is no record of when his first wife died, but sometime prior to
1773 he married Gertraute Weil, widow of Andreas Weil (probate
1765). A Lancaster county orphans court document, dated August 7,
1773, disposing of Andreas Weil's estate indicates she had two
children: Henry Weil and Margaret Weil. Also that Casper Ebaugh
(the English spelling of the German pronunciation of Iba) received part
of Henry Weil's share for the boy's schooling, clothing, etc.
Andreas Weil came to the United States in 1754 on the ship
Edinburgh. He had apprenticed as a tailor in Germany.
Caspar took the oath of allegiance to the state of Pennsylvania on June
22, 1778. On Feb. 13, 1759 Caspar was one of 18 signers of the
original agreement of the Schaefferstown water company.
Caspar's will was dated July 27, 1796 leaving the use of the house and
half the lot to his wife Gertraut as long as she lives. After her
death what remained went to his two sons Henrich and Phillip.
Both sons were appointed executors.`
According to the Schaefferstown Lutheran Parish Register the last
recorded communion for Caspar was Cantate Sunday 1796, and for Gertraut
it was Rogate Sunday 1800.
Sources of Information:
Caspar's apprenticeship paper
Caspar's last will (7/27/1796)
Schaefferstown Lutheran Parish Register
Lancaster County orphans court document
A Brief History of Schaefferstown,
by A. S. Brendle, Esq. 1901