2004-10-30/2019-10-24 - From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). — Born 1784; father of John G. and William F. Obenhausen; active in Weisenberg Township {Northampton County}, Pennsylvania, by 1806; in Reading, Pennsylvania; in Pottstown, Pennsylvania; bankrupt in 1817 and 1826. Sources: Reading, Pennsylvania Adler July 8, 1806 Raymond J. Brunner.
2019-10-25/2019-10-25 - Received on-line from William Evans June 26, 2009:I am researching the Obenhausen family and, as a result of an on-line search, happened to find his name (or one just like it) on your OHS database.The builder was the son of a Lutheran pastor (as well as a doctor and organ builder) in Berks, Lehigh and Perry Counties of Pennsylvania from about 1795 until 1815; the father died in 1821. According to A History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, p 466, Pastor Johann Friedrick Obenhausen "...erected the first organ for Ziegel Church." This happened about 1803. Ziegels Union Church, in Breinigsville, PA, is old but has an active congregation.There appears to be some doubt about the actual builder of the organ in the Ziegel Church and the accuracy of the source:Was the builder Rev. Obenhausen or his nineteen-year old son?
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