Focht Family Sketch
An American Adventure
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania - According to family remembrance, Immigrants George Focht and wife Barbara Beaver came to the Catawissa Valley about 1773. By 1820, George and Barbara Focht were enumerated living adjacent to their son Adam Focht, his wife Susanna Furry, and five of their children. Both generations of the Focht family lived in close proximity to the extended Bitler family, led by Ringtown pioneer John Bitler. Generations of Focht and Bitler children were baptized at St. Pauls Church, the "Old White" Church, in Ringtown, Union Township. In early records, the Focht surname is often written as Vogt or Voght.

Auglaize County, Ohio - In 1836, Adam purchased land from Daniel Bitler in Auglaize County, Ohio and established his home in Union Township until his death in 1853. Susannah Focht died in 1862; both are buried in Fairmont Cemetery, Union Township, Auglaize County. Adam Focht and Susanna Furry had eleven children:
  • Matilda Focht, who was baptized to Adam and Susanna Vogt at St. Paul's Church, Ringtown on 19 August 1810, married James Bitler, the youngest son of John "Long John" Bitler. This couple established their home in Anthony Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania.
  • Described as the "pathfinder" in the family's migration to Ohio, Samuel Focht married first Mary Brethers and second Louisa Justice. Samuel served several terms as county commissioner and other civic offices prior to his death in 1895.
  • Daniel Focht, baptized 18 June 1813 in St. Pauls Church, Ringtown, to father Adam Voght and sponsored by grandparents George and Barbara Vogt, married Maria Justice and resided in Union Township, Auglaize County, in the 1880 census with his wife and nine children. This couple is buried in Fairmont Cemetery, Union Township, Auglaize County.
  • Louis Focht was baptized to Adam and Susanna Vogt in St. Pauls Church, Ringtown, in 1817. He married Martha Bailiff in 1841 in Allen County, Ohio, and died in Fremont County, Iowa in 1892.
  • Adam Focht and wife Ursula Jane Bailey remained in Union Township until their deaths in 1881 and 1904 respectively. Two of their children married members of the Taylor family of Uniopolis, Union Township, Auglaize County, Ohio: Josephine Focht married Howard Taylor; Oliver Perry Focht married Almeda Taylor.
  • Mary Focht was baptized to Adam and Susanna Vogt at St. Pauls Church, Ringtown, in 1822. She married William Harrod in 1840 in Allen County, Ohio.
  • John Focht, who was baptized 1 August 1824 to parents Adam Vogt and Susanna at St. Pauls Church, Ringtown, and wife Mary remained in Union Township until their deaths in 1895 and 1888 respectively.
  • William Focht was enumerated in 1850 living with his sister and brother-in-law James Bitler and Matilda Focht in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He married Rebecca Williams in Auglaize County in 1853. The couple moved to Montgomery County, Iowa, where they died in 1909 and 1897, respectively.
  • Susannah Focht was born in Schuylkill County about 1829 and moved with the family to Auglaize County. In 1846, she married Levi Harrod. By 1900, the couple was living in Logan County, Ohio.
  • Carl Focht was baptized to Adam and Susanna Vogt at St. Pauls Church, Ringtown, in 1831.
  • Jacob Focht was baptized to Adam and Susanna Vogt in St. Pauls Church, Ringtown, in 1835. In 1865 he married Sylvania Gilmore in Auglaize County.