John Deeter  P-146388

John Deeter’s parents immigrated from Schwaigern, Germany and settled at Pennsylvania.   During the Revolution, he served in the Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Militia.  According to his “Record of Burial Place of Veteran,” which is published by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs, he was a Captain in the 3rd battalion and 7th company.  His dates of service were from 1781-1783.

In 1781, officers from the 3rd battalion reported difficulty in supplying men to fight.  At that time, the men of this area had settled at central and western Pennsylvania, which was largely wilderness.  There were concerns of Indian raids in the area, left over from the French and Indian War.  This was a genuine cause for concern for the men to leave their families at home, unprotected, while they were away fighting. 

John met his future wife Catherine Springer while serving in the war.  After their marriage, they settled at Allegheny Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.  John purchased 270 acres, which grew to 1,600 acres by the time of his death in 1825.  In 1789, John had built a dam and a mill.  At his mill, he sold lumber and also started making mill stones.  He also sold meat, hides, salt, rum, butter, grain and garden vegetables.  A plaque at his grave states John was a "Natural Mechanic," and built all of his own farm buildings, and his home.  The marker at his grave site is one of the mill stone that John had cut himself.