Peggy Smith-Hake's
"Window to the Past"
Wyrick Family
by Kelly Warman-Stallings
Published to Window to the Past website on 19 Jan. 2021
The Wyrick family dates back to 15th century Germany and a man named Johann Christian Weyhereich, who was born in 1487.
According to the House of Names website, the surname Wyrick is derived from a nickname meaning "priest spreading incense" yet there is no indication that any of the Wyrick descendants were priests, at least for those who came to Miller County in the 19th century. It has been recorded that the European Wyrick family were devout Lutherans and continued practicing this religion after arriving in the New World (America).
The early origins of the Wyrick clan was first found in Saarburg, where Wiricus Vogelhunt was mentioned in records dating from 1229. Entomologists believe the name was likely passed down through his descendants as the surname "Wyrick". The family was prominent enough to be granted a Coat of Arms.
Johann Christian Weyhereich (b.1487 • Germany ) married Hetwig Margaretha Gerst (b. 6 Dec.1500 • Bavaria, Germany). Johann and Hetwig had a son named Georg Weyhereich/Weyrich (c/1534-1598). Georg was most likely one of the younger children as Johann was in his mid-late 40s at his birth. Johann Christian Weyhereich died in 1575. He was living in Oppenheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany at the time of his death. Hetwig (Gerst) Weyhereich died on 17 Jul 1589 in Prussia, Germany.
Georg Weyhereich/Weyrich, son of Johann Christian, was born c/1534. He married Agnes Magdalena Franz (1538-1607) in 1557 in Pfeffelbach, Kusel, Rheinland-Platz, Preuben (Germany). They had at least four children: *Nickolas Weyrich (1559-1610); Peter Weyrich (1567- ); Johann Georg Weyrich (1568-1623); Margaret Weyrich (1569-1593). Georg's death is recorded as occurring on 15 January 1598 in Sankt Wendel, Saarland, Germany. Agnes passed away in Pfeffenbach, Rheinland- Pfalz, Preuben (Germany) on 20 August 1607.
*The Miller County genealogy comes through the Nickolas Weyrich lineage.
For the next five generations, the [Wyrick] family basically resided in the region of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Those generations included: #1 Nickolas Weyrich (1559-1610), son of Georg and Agnes; #2 Peter Weyrich (1584-1645), son of Nickolas and Katharina (c/1559- ); #3 Hans Godtmann Weyrich (1620-1685), son of Peter and Margaretha Becker (1586-1628); #4 Hans Niklaus Weyrich (1648-1715), son of Hans Godtmann and Barbara Aulenbacher (1622- ); #5 Johann Georg Weyrich/Weirig (1702-1751), son of Hans Niklaus and Margaret _______ (1673-1704).
Johann Georg Weyrich/Weirig, son of Hans Niklaus, was born in Reichweiler, Kusel, Rheinland-Platz, Germany on 18 July 1702. He lost his mother [Margaret] when he was around two years old. She died a young woman of 31 years old. At his birth, his father (Hans Niklaus) was 54 years old and his mother was 29 years of age. It is unknown if Hans Niklaus married again after the death of his young wife, but Johann Georg lost his father at the age of 13 years, making him an orphan at a very young age. According to Baumholder records, Johann Georg married Anna Margaretha Theiss in Germany on 22 October 1722. She was born 19 March 1702 in Grünbach, Birkenfeld, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and was the daughter of Matheus and Maria Margaret (Engel) Theiss of Reichweiler, Germany.
Johann Georg and Anna Margaretha had 10 children - the first six were born in Germany; the last four were born in America.
1) Johann Nickolas
2) Maria Barbara
3) Anna Katherina
4) Johann Wilhelm
5) Johann Christian
6) Anna Margaretha
7) Maria Elizabeth
8) Johann Peter
9) Johann Georg Jr.
10) Johann Valentine
b.1723 Germany - married: Anna Barbara Litchmere
b. ???? Germany - married: Hans Jacob Dups/Dubbs
b. 1728 Germany - d.1730 Germany
b. 1731 Germany - married: Maria Elizabeth Simon
b. 1733 Germany - married:
b. 1735 Germany - married: 1) Rudolph Fry; 2) Jacob Bruner
b. c/1738 Pennsylvania (died young)
b. c/1740 Pennsylvania - married: 1) _____ 2) Sarah Johnson
b. c/1747 Pennsylvania - married: Maria Catherine Simon
b. c/1750 Pennsylvania - married: Catherine _______
Johann Georg and Anna Margaretha left their native land of Germany and arrived in the New World (America) on the ship Samuel, landing in Pennsylvania in 1737. They settled in Philadelphia on 30 August 1737 and lived there for some years. Johann Georg is responsible for founding a Lutheran denomination, known as Trinity Tuplehocken Reformed Church [which would later become a Church of Christ] in Lancaster County (present-day Lebanon County), Pennsylvania. It is unknown if he pastored the church.
The Weyrich family evidently left Philadelphia and moved to Hanover, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania during this time period. The family put down permanent roots here as this is where Johann Georg Weyrich/Weirig died in c/1750-51. His will was proven and probated on 9 April 1751 (Will Bk. J-1, page 348). By June, 1751, his daughter, Anna Margaretha, married Rudolph Fry (per petition in Orphans Courts Records of Lancaster Co., PA - Vol. 1, page 348). Johann Georg's sons - Nickolas, Christian, Georg, Jr, Valentine - were listed in the 1790 Census as residing in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, a few miles north of the Lancaster County line. Anna Margaretha (Theiss) Weyrich died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on 24 August 1748.
Johann Nickolas/Nicholas Weyrich/Wirick, son of Johann Georg, was born on 21 December 1723 in Pfeffenbach, Sankt Wendel, Saarland, Germany and immigrated with his family to America when he was 14 years old. Peggy Smith Hake wrote, "The oldest son, Johann Nicholas, grew to manhood in Pennsylvania, perhaps in Lancaster or Dauphin County in the Susquehanna valley near present-day Harrisburg." Nickolas/Nicholas was married at least twice, but the name of his first spouse is obsolete at this time, but it has been determined that his first marriage occurred around 1740-41. From this union he had three known daughters: Eva Barbara Weyrich (1741-1819); Mary Barbara Weyrich (1746-????); and Phillipina Weyrich (1747-1748). During the 1750s, more children were born to Nicholas and included: John O. Weyrich (1751 VA- TN) and Mary Margaret Weyrich (1754 PA-1806). It is unknown if Nicholas married a second time or if these children were from his first wife. His last wife was Anna Barbara Litchmere, who outlived him. Anna Barbara Litchmere was born c/1723 in Germany. No other information is found on Anna Barbara (Litchmere) Weyrich/Wirick. He married Anna Barbara Litchmere, most likely in Pennsylvania, sometime in the early 1760s.
Nicholas and Barbara, as they were called, had at least 6 children:
1) Henry
2) Martin
3) Elizabeth
4) William
5) Nicholas, Jr.
6) Samuel
b. c/1762 - married: Eva Creager
b. c/1763 - married: Mary Hounschell
b. c/1764 - married: Peter Kitts (1786)
b. c/1765 - married: Katherine Kitts
b. - married: Elizabeth Leonard
b. - No other information found
North Carolina
Before the Revolutionary War, Nicholas Wirick moved his family to Virginia. The trek from Pennsylvania was made when many German settlers ventured southward through the Shenandoah Valley into southern Virginia around 1770-75. The Weyrich/Wirick family laid down roots in Wythe County near the small town of Wytheville. Other Weyrich/Wyrick families migrated to the Ohio Valley and later became members of the Mormon Church.
Peggy Smith Hake related an interesting story about Nicholas and the Revolutionary War...
"During the Revolutionary War, Nicholas Wirick/Wyrick refused to swear allegiance to the Colonies and was declared a Tory, loyal to the King of Great Britian. This was an unusual situation for a German Lutheran who came to a new homeland but still felt loyalty to a European country which was not even his own! In May 1789, he was brought into a court in Montgomery Co., VA and the following charges were leveled against him....."Nicholas Weyrich and others have been maintaining the authority of the King of Great Britain and levying war against the people of the state of Virginia." A jury of 12 men found him guilty as charged and returned a verdict... he was fined 500 pounds and imprisoned for 18 months... (from THE ANNALS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA). They later lowered his fine to 250 pounds and labeled his a "noted Tory'. Evidently he carried the name of a traitor most of his life. It is interesting to learn on the other hand that he had 3 sons who served with the Colonial Army of Virginia during the same war! Nicholas died in Wythe Co., VA in 1792 and his probate estate is recorded in that county. A copy of his will has been found, written originally in German, later translated into English. (Will Bk. 1 page 21). Nicholas gave his son, William, 250 acres of land; his wife, Barbara, was given her choice of two cows and one horse and whatever could be raised on their 'plantation'. The remainder of the children would have an equal share of the estate. The name Nicholas appears to have been dropped from all future generations (with the exception of one grandchild). I suppose this ancestor may have shed shame on his family at that time and his name was not given to his descendants."
Johann Nickolas Weyrich/Wirick died in September of 1792 in Wythe County, Virginia. Anna Barbara (Litchmere) Wirick died in 1800 in Virginia, most likely in Wythe County, as well.
William Wirick/Wyrick, son of Johann Nickolas, has a somewhat sketchy timeline and not a lot of information is found for this Wyrick ancestor. According to the 1830 and 1840 Census, he and his family were residing in Wythe County, Virginia on 250 acres bequeathed to him by his father, Nicholas. William was born in Wythe County around 1765. However, his son (John Wyrick) was born in Tennessee around 1785, so William was in Tennessee during this time. Around 1785, William married Katherine Kitts (b. c/1769-70) most likely in Virginia. Katherine (Kitts) Wirick/Wyrick was the daughter of Peter Kitts (1752 Wythe Co, VA-after 1830 Grainger Co, TN) and Elizabeth Wyrick (1763 Montgomery Co, VA-1869 Grainger Co, TN). Peggy Smith Hake recorded that some of the Wyrick clan moved to Grainger County, Tennessee in the early 1800s. It's probable that William and his family followed suit. It is unknown when or where William died, but his wife, Katherine, died after 1850 in Tennessee.
John Wyrick, son of William Wirick/Wyrick, was born in Tennessee around 1785. The records indicate that John spent the majority of his life in Grainger County, Tennessee, but having lived out the last decade or so of his life back in Wythe County, Virginia. It is unclear why John returned to his father's native homeland and died there. He married Margaret Monroe c/1810 in Grainger County. Margaret Monroe (b. 1796 Lunenburg Co., VA) was the daughter of Robert Monroe (c/1770-7 Jan. 1836 TN) and Rosannah Puckett (no vitals on record). Margaret, who came from a prominent political family, was a first cousin to the 5th President, James Monroe. (Margaret's father [Robert] and President Monroe's father [Spencer] were brothers.)
John and Margaret had seven sons:
married: 1) Polly Graybill; 2) Hannah Johnson; 3) Margaret ____
married:
married: Margaret H. Trent (1832-TN)
married: Elizabeth Lively Hicks (1845-MO)
married: Mahala L. Wyrick (1844-MO)
married: Lodusta L. Wyrick ( -MO)
married: Lucinda Wyrick (1849-MO)
1) Jefferson V. Wyrick (1811-1890)
2) Eli Wyrick (1812-1864)
3) Othaniel Wyrick (1813-1881)
4) Nathaniel Tanner Wyrick (1818-1900)
5) Robert Monroe Wyrick (1824-1878)
6) Christopher Columbus Wyrick (1828-1863)
7) Chesley Nelson Wyrick (1829-1912)
Note: Jefferson V. Wyrick died in Union County, Tennessee.
Note: Othaniel Wyrick died in Nov. 1881 at the home of his his son, Lafayette, in Seligman, Barry Co., Missouri.
Note: The three younger sons of John and Margaret married three sisters, all daughters of Michael R. and Lucinda (Jones) Wyrick. They were all 3rd cousins who shared the same great-grandparents, Johann Nicholas & Barbara Wyrick.
Note: Christopher Columbus Wyrick died in the Civil War and buried in the National Cemetery at Springfield, Missouri.
The majority of his life John resided in Grainger County, Tennessee. Upon his death on 2 February 1851, he was living in Wythe County, Virginia. It is unknown why John went back to Virginia; Jefferson migrated to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Eli lived in Roane County, Tennessee and the other five sons traveled further west - a few years earlier - to the state of Missouri. Margaret (Monroe) Wyrick died on 11 February 1834 in Grainger County, Tennessee.
Nelson and Lucinda Wyrick standing in front of their home c/1900
Chesley Nelson Wyrick, son of John Wyrick, was born in Grainger County, Tennessee on 24 August 1829. His formative years were spent in Grainger County until the mid 1800s. Around 1841-42, Michael and Joseph Wyrick (sons of Henry and Eva (Creager) Wyrick; grandsons of Johann Nicholas and Anna Barbara (Litchmere) Weyrich/Wirick) left Tennessee and ventured to Missouri and was the first of the family to lay down permanent roots in Miller County.
The children of Chesley "Nelson" and Lucinda included:
1) John Henry Wyrick
2) James Clemons Wyrick
3) Joseph Wyrick
4) Amanda M. Wyrick
5) Laura Frances Wyrick
b. 27 Nov. 1853-Miller Co., Mo
b. 19 Sept. 1856-Miller Co., Mo
b. 24 Aug. 1864-Miller Co., Mo
b. 1867-Miller Co., Mo.
b. 27 Nov. 1869-Pulaski Co., Mo.
d. 03 Apr.1923-Miller Co., MO married: Rachel E. Kinder
d. 25 Jan.1941-Pulaski Co., MO married: Mary F. ______
d. 13 Aug.1893-Pulaski Co., MO married:
d. 1929-Shawnee Co., KS married: Thomas H. Godfrey
d. 19 Nov. 1951-Webster Parish, LA married: 1) Wm Sanders;
2) Mr. Hurt/Heard
Sometime before 1869 Nelson and Lucinda left Miller County and moved to neighboring Pulaski County near the town of Richland and remained in this county until their deaths. Per the 1880 Census, Chesley Nelson was listed as "farming". According to Peggy Smith Hake, "Joseph [the third son] drowned in the Gasconade River in 1893". How heartbreaking for the family. Chesley Nelson Wyrick died near Richland on 23 June 1912. Lucinda (Wyrick) Wyrick died prior to Nelson on 26 December 1908 in Pulaski County, one day after celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary. They are both buried in Oaklawn Cemetery in Richland, Pulaski County, Missouri.
John Henry Wyrick, son of Chesley Nelson, was born in Miller County on 27 November 1853. He was reared to adulthood in Equality Township in Miller County, near the village of Ulman, having remained in Miller County after his parents and younger siblings moved to Pulaski County. He married Rachel Elizabeth Kinder (b. 4 February 1856 - Miller Co., Mo) on 24 August 1878. Rachel, who was called "Betty", was the daughter of John Jacob Kinder (1819 Shelby Co., KY-1902 Christian Co., IL) and Didama Ruth Bilyeu (20 Sep. 1828 Christian Co., IL - 1900 Christian Co., IL). The Kinder family left Miller County and moved to Illinois before 1870 when Rachel "Betty" was 14 years old. It would be interesting to know how John and Betty ended up marrying in Miller County, Missouri when she came of age.
The children of John and Rachel "Betty" were:
1) Earnest Wyrick
2) Perry Tolbert Wyrick
3) Vernetta Amanda Wyrick
4) Aretta F. Wyrick
5) George Elmer Wyrick
6) Chesley Sylvester Wyrick
b. 1879
b. 30 Oct. 1880
b. 23 July 1883
b. 03 Mar. 1885
b. 01 Apr. 1888
b. 26 Jan. 1892
d. 1879
d. 12 Oct. 1959 married: Carrie G. Whittle
d. 23 Aug.1942 married: Anthony Cordell Martin
d. 25 Mar. 1919 married: John Hendricks
d. 22 Aug. 1975 married: 1) Leatha Shelton; 2) Elizabeth M. ______
d. 03 Mar. 1962 married: Amanda E. Whittle
Note: All the children were born in Miller County, Missouri.
Note: George left Missouri with his family and moved to Bourbon County, Kansas.
Note: Perry and Chesley married sisters (daughters of Josephus Whittle). Perry T. Wyrick was a prominent teacher and politician in Miller County. He taught at many country schools, including Hicks and Curry School, as well as taught at the Iberia Academy. His political record was enumerated by Peggy Smith Hake:
"In 1914, he [Perry Wyrick] went into politics and won the office of Miller County Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds on the Republican ticket. He later served two terms as County Judge of the Second District. From 1929 to 1933, he was supervisor of automobile funds in the State Treasurer's office in Jefferson City. From 1933 until his retirement in 1946, he served as a bank official with three Miller County banks---Bank of Iberia, Farmers and Traders Bank of Iberia, and Bank of Tuscumbia."
For the majority of his life, John resided in Equality Township near Ulman and was listed as a "farmer" in the census. For a period of time during the 1880s he was found living in Osage Township, most likely near his kinfolk in the small community of Pleasant Farm.
Sometime after the turn of the 20th century, John and Rachel left the Ulman area and moved in with their son, Perry T. Wyrick, who was residing in the Pleasant Hill community, southwest of Iberia. There, they would live out the remainder of their lives.
John Henry Wyrick died on 3 April 1923; Rachel Elizabeth "Betty" (Kinder) Wyrick died on 11 July 1932. Both passed away in Miller County and are buried at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Richwoods Township. It is interesting to note, they are the only Wyrick family members buried there.
Chesley Sylvester Wyrick, son of John Henry, was born in Miller County on 26 January 1892. Like his father before him, he lived in Miller County his entire life. He was the youngest of seven children and was reared near the small village of Ulman in Equality Township during his childhood years. On 16 October 1912, Chesley married Amanda Elizabeth Whittle of Richwoods Township. Amanda, commonly called "Lizzie", was the daughter of Josephus Whittle (1856-1928) and Leatha (Loveall) Whittle (1864-1946). Upon the death of her father (Josephus Whittle) in 1928, Lizzie was awarded 80 acres of the Whittle homestead in the northeast corner and it was there where Chesley and Lizzie raised their family of four daughters.
The children of Chesley and Lizzie Wyrick included:
1) "Stillborn Son"
2) Verlie Alberta
3) Merlie Florence
4) Gladys Lorene
5) Vernetta Brooks
b. 1913
b. 25 Oct. 1914
b. 26 Mar. 1917
b. 10 Feb. 1920
b. 27 Apr. 1923
d. 1913 - Miller Co., Mo.
d. 22 Apr. 1998 - Cole Co., Mo
d. 14 July 1964 - Boone Co., Mo.
d. 12 May 2001 - Miller Co., Mo.
d. 26 Mar. 1994 - Maries Co., Mo
married: G. Oliver Smith
married: Woodrow W. Humphrey
married: Joseph F. Irwin
married: 1) Leo Williams; 2) Clyde Love
Note: All the children were born in Miller County, Missouri.
Note: The son of Chesley and Lizzie was never named; it is unknown where he is buried.
For the majority of their life, Chesley and Lizzie farmed the land that had been bequeathed to them. Being the youngest son in the family, Chesley was required to apply for the Drafts of World War I and World War II, but he was not required to go into service for the country. Chesley did not fight in either war, but he did go to work for the government building roads during the first World War and possibly worked briefly at Ft. Leonardwood during the second World War. Sometime during the early-mid 1900s, Chesley worked as a log-puller and he was also employed for construction of Bagnell Dam at Lake of the Ozarks between 1929-1931.
The first of many grandchildren to arrive for Chesley and Lizzie was Peggy Smith Hake (daughter of Verlie Wyrick Smith), who was born at the home of her grandparents on 10 August 1935. Many times, I heard the story about how Peggy was born on the Wyrick homestead during one of the worse thunderstorms Miller County had seen in years! The doctor barely made it in time to deliver her... During their elderly years, Chesley and Lizzie moved into Iberia and resided on Normal St. until their deaths.
Chesley S. and Amanda "Lizzie" Wyrick home
c/1950s
PSH
Chesley Sylvester Wyrick died in Miller County on 3 March 1962. Amanda Elizabeth (Whittle) Wyrick died in Cole County on 21 April 1964.
They are both buried in Miller County in the Iberia Cemetery. At the time of Chesley's death, he had 4 surviving daughters, 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Today, there are still many Wyrick families scattered throughout Miller County and the neighboring counties. All are descendants of Johann Georg Weyrich/Weirig, who brought the family to America in 1737. After extending a 475 year period of Wyrick history, from the progenitor, Johann Christian Weyhereich (1487) to Chesley Sylvester Wyrick (1962) this particular branch of the Wyrick lineage came to an end with the death of Chesley S. Wyrick. Peggy Smith Hake summed up the Wyrick family the best in 1991 ...
"From the late 17th century in Old Germany, the Wyrick family has been recorded in history. In the early 18th century, a family of Weirigs/Wyricks sailed to a new homeland and settled in Colonial America. A wander lust possessed these pioneer fathers as they traveled through Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, and finally, in the mid 19th century, they reached Miller County, Missouri. Here in our central Missouri region they put down permanent roots which have existed for over 150 years [2021, we have reached the 180th year]. Our ancestors were woven from a texture of strength that would be envied today. Every descendant of these families should feel a sense of pride because deep within each person is a touch of this pioneer spirit. Had they not ventured into an unknown land, then we may have never experienced the many blessings of this nation."