The “52 Cousins” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database. The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Johan Martin Derr (1775–1823) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:
Johan Martin Derr
1775–1823
Early Life and Family Background
Johan Martin Derr was born on November 6, 1775, in Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, during the turbulent years of the American Revolution. He was christened on December 6, 1775, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Middletown in Frederick County, a testament to his family’s strong German Lutheran heritage.
Johan Martin was the son of Johan Martin Derr Jr. (1737–1812) and Anna Maria Ursula Cassell (1739–1785). His mother passed away when he was only ten years old, leaving his father to raise their large family. Growing up in a household of eleven members, as recorded in the 1790 census, Johan Martin was surrounded by siblings who would help shape the close-knit German community in Frederick County.
Brothers and Sisters
Johan Martin grew up in a large family with numerous siblings, many of whom lived long, productive lives in Maryland and beyond:
Anna Margaretha Derr Gross (born January 14, 1761) married Henry Gross and helped establish one of the early family branches in the region.
Anna Christina Derr Shryock (born March 1763, died 1842) married Valentine Shryock and lived a long life of nearly eighty years.
Maria Elisabeth Derr Snoweagle (born 1767) married George Snoweagle.
George Derr (1769–1819) married Mary LeFevre and eventually moved to New York, where he died in July 1819.
Catherine Derr Morningstar (died 1813) married into the Morningstar family.
Mary Derr Miller (1772–1845) married George Miller.
Peter Derr (April 1773–August 1773) died in infancy.
Maria Barbara Derr Miller (November 6, 1775–1800), born the same day as Johan Martin, married Henry Miller but died young at age twenty-four.
Maria Eva Derr Moudy (January 12, 1778–1861) married and later divorced Conrad Holtzman, then married again, living into her eighties.
Susannah Derr Miller (December 25, 1779–1851) married Henry Miller, the widower of her sister Maria Barbara.
Sarah “Sallie” Derr Dellinger (1780–1861) married into the Dellinger family.
Training as a Wagon Maker
Like many young men of his era, Johan Martin learned a practical trade to support himself and his future family. Records from the Frederick County Orphans Court Minutes show that he was apprenticed to learn the act and Trade of a waggon maker; along with instruction in reading, writing, and keeping accounts. This apprenticeship not only provided him with valuable skills but also reflected the importance of craftsmanship in rural Maryland during this period.
Wagon making was an essential trade in late 18th and early 19th century America. As transportation and commerce expanded westward, skilled wagon makers were in high demand. Johan Martin’s training would have included woodworking, metalworking, and understanding the mechanics necessary to build sturdy, reliable vehicles for farmers and merchants alike.
Marriage and Family Life
On September 1, 1798, at the age of twenty-two, Johan Martin married Elizabeth Brim in Frederick, Maryland. Elizabeth was born on January 10, 1781, in Lewistown, Frederick County, the daughter of Henry Brim (1740–1835) and Elizabeth Dorosia Sophia Kurtz (1742–1817). At the time of their marriage, Elizabeth was just seventeen years old.
The couple established their home in Lewistown, where Johan Martin pursued his trade as a wagon maker. Together, they built a thriving household and raised ten children over the course of their marriage. The Derr family became well-established in the Lewistown community, contributing to the growth and development of Frederick County during a period of significant expansion in American history.
Children
Johan Martin and Elizabeth were blessed with ten children, five sons and five daughters:
Mary Ann Derr (October 5, 1797–September 5, 1868) married into the Frederick family and eventually moved to Darke County, Ohio, where she lived until her death at age seventy.
Sophie Marie Derr (October 18, 1800–August 22, 1887) married Daniel Stouffer and moved westward to Saline County, Missouri, where she lived an exceptionally long life of nearly eighty-seven years.
Ann Elizabeth Derr (March 25, 1801–August 6, 1883) remained in Frederick County, living to age eighty-two.
Rebecca Derr (February 3, 1803–October 27, 1836) married John Coleman Bowers but died tragically young at age thirty-three.
Johann Henrich “Henry” Derr (April 21, 1809–1852) lived and worked in Frederick County until his death at age forty-three.
Daniel Derr (December 11, 1811–November 4, 1884) married Catherine Dertebaugh and lived a long life in Frederick County, passing away at age seventy-two.
Jacob Derr Sr. (March 26, 1813–December 5, 1882) married Elizabeth Wyle and established his own family line in Maryland.
John Derr (December 13, 1816–April 16, 1891) moved to Derry Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, where he died at age seventy-four.
Dorthea Elizabeth Derr (September 26, 1819–November 7, 1870) married Jacob Hewitt and remained in Maryland.
Frederick Derr (August 18, 1822–December 10, 1863), the youngest child, was baptized on October 12, 1822, in Creagerstown. He died during the Civil War at Kelly’s Ford, Culpeper County, Virginia, at the age of forty-one.
Life in Frederick County
The 1790 census shows Johan Martin’s father’s household in Frederick County with three males over sixteen, one male under sixteen, and seven females, demonstrating the multigenerational and extended family living arrangements common in that era. By the 1800 census, Johan Martin appears as head of his own household in Emmitsburg, Frederick County, with one male under ten, one male over forty-five, one female aged sixteen to twenty-five, and one female over forty-five.
Frederick County during this period was a thriving agricultural region with a strong German immigrant population. The community maintained its cultural traditions, including the Lutheran faith, German language, and skilled trades. Wagon makers like Johan Martin were essential to the local economy, supporting farmers and merchants who depended on reliable transportation for their goods.
Revolutionary War Heritage
Johan Martin’s family maintained a connection to the American Revolution. His grandson Jacob Derr later applied for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR Membership Number 55275) on February 15, 1937, claiming Johan Martin as his ancestor. This application affirms the family’s patriotic service during the founding of the nation, though the specific nature of Johan Martin’s or his father’s service is not detailed in the surviving records.
Death and Legacy
Johan Martin Derr died in 1823 in Lewistown, Frederick County, Maryland, at approximately forty-seven years of age. He was laid to rest at Mount Prospect Cemetery in Lewistown, the same cemetery where his beloved wife Elizabeth would be buried twenty-five years later.
Elizabeth outlived her husband by a quarter century, continuing to raise their younger children and maintaining the family home in Lewistown. She died on May 10, 1848, at the age of sixty-seven years and four months, joining Johan Martin in their final resting place at Mount Prospect Cemetery.
The Derr family legacy extended far beyond Frederick County. Their children and grandchildren spread across Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and beyond, carrying forward the values of hard work, faith, and family that Johan Martin and Elizabeth had instilled in them. Several of their descendants lived well into their eighties, testament to the strong constitution and resilient spirit of the Derr line.
Today, Johan Martin Derr is remembered through Find a Grave Memorial #107947710, ensuring that future generations can trace their roots back to this hardworking wagon maker who helped build Frederick County during America’s early years. His life represents the story of countless German-American families who contributed their skills, labor, and devotion to the growth of their adopted homeland.
Johan Martin Derr is my 1st Cousin 6X Removed
Johan Martin Derr✤
Prepared by Charles Purvis
February 2, 2026
