The history of German-heritage Pennsylvanians migrating to this area includes several Revolutionary War veterans, a few of whom are documented to have gravesites in Germantown.

An estimated 7,000 veterans of the Revolution are buried in Ohio, according to Ohio History Connection

Lt. Michael Emrick

Revolutionary War veteran Michael Emrick is buried in Sunbury on Eby Road in a small cemetery.

His grave lists him as a lieutenant in the Continental Army, serving 1770-1780. His identification as a member of the Continental Line refers to a soldier who was enlisted in the official, national military established by the Continental Congress under General George Washington.

According to a detailed account posted in Find a Grave, Emrick was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1756. He Married Christina Kanter in 1778.

According to research shared on Find a Grave, Reverend J. P. Hentz in his book "History of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Germantown, Ohio" wrote as follows:

"Michael, the oldest (speaking of the four Emrick brothers), born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1756, came here in 1806, and purchased the land on which at present stands Conover's Mill, on which he lived until removed by death, which event took place October 14, 1820. He was a man of means and purchased at once land for those of his children who were grown up to years of maturity. Himself a strict and consistent member of the Lutheran Church, he brought up all his children in his own faith.

A visit to the cemetery this month showed many of the graves have metal plaques on the back that note the name and information from the stones.

Pvt. Philip Negley

Private Philip Negley is buried at Germantown Union Cemetery.

In September 2024, the Jonathan Dayton Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, held an event and plaque ceremony at his gravesite. Afterwards, the DAR members and their guests were treated to a reception at the Veterans Memorial Museum Foundation

According to a Daughters of American Revolution of Ohio book written in 1929, Negley was a Private in Captain Robert Gray's Company. He married Elizabeth Hoffer in 1771 and had a son John.

The same DAR booklet says Negley was originally buried in the same Sunbury cemetery as Emrick but was later moved to the Germantown Union Cemetery.

After serving in the war, Negley moved to the Twin Valley in 1808.

Elizabeth and Philip Negley’s son John was also in the military and is listed as a captain in another entry in the DAR book. He married Mary Shuey, also of Germantown, whose father is buried in Dayton and is also a Revolutionary War veteran.

Pvt. J. Martin Shuey

DAR records show Private J. Martin Shuey was in Captain Casper Stover's 3rd Company in 1780.

Shuey was born in 1750 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Elizabeth Conrad and they had ten children, including Mary (Negley).

The DAR records say in 1805 Shuey took a flat boat down the Ohio River from Pennsylvania with his family to Cincinnati and then the Miami Valley, settling near Germantown.

Elizabeth Shuey was listed as living in Germantown at the time of her husband’s death. Martin Shuey, who died in 1829 and lived to be 79, is buried at Greencastle Cemetery outside Dayton.

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