Nicholas Stoltzfus braved an 18th century crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to settle on the Pennsylvania frontier. But he started more than just a new chapter in his family’s life.
He couldn’t have known it then, but the German immigrant turned out to be the forebear of the Stoltzfus clan in America, tens of thousands of descendants who include most of the people currently part of the Lancaster Amish settlement.
Some of his descendants have been working for the past couple decades to preserve the site of his homestead along the Tulpehocken Creek in Wyomissing, Berks County. They plan to gather on Saturday, Oct 3, to dedicate a new, 20-by-40-foot structure for gatherings of his extensive progeny.
To help mark the event, a group of Amish people plan a two-day horse-and-wagon trek from Gordonville to the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead. They’ll be taking back roads on the 30-mile trip, highlighting the historical link between the two early centers of Amish population in North America.
“Ninety percent of the Amish in Lancaster County all descend from the Stoltzfuses, even if they’re not called Stoltzfus,” said wagon train trek organizer Ben Riehl, an Amish man from Leacock Township who chairs the Nicholas Stoltzfus House Preservation Committee. His own mother, for example, was born a Stoltzfus.
The homestead site director is Elam Stoltzfus, 69, who was born near Honey Brook, Chester County, before his family left the Amish church. He had a long career as a filmmaker in Florida before he and his wife, Esther, became the homestead’s caretakers, tour guides and leading advocates six years ago.
It’s not clear how many people will participate in the Gordonville-to-Wyomissing caravan, which plans to wind north from New Holland on Weaverland and then Maple Grove roads. They expect to camp overnight on an Amish farm in Narvon and get to Wyomissing late afternoon on Oct. 2 and participate in the pavilion dedication on Oct. 3.
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The historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
Elam Stoltzfus, a ninth-generation Stoltzfus, speaks with a reporter at the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
Elam Stoltzfus lifts one side of a table in the dining room to demonstrate how it can be expanded at the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
Elam Stoltzfus lifts the lid of a large travel chest used by Nicholas Stoltzfus on his journey to America and now displayed in the dining room of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
Elam Stoltzfus lifts the straw mattress on a rope bed displayed in a bedroom of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The dining room in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The dining room in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
A Stoltzfus family tree hangs in the dining room of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
A dining room sign provides information about a large travel trunk used by Nicholas Stoltzfus on his journey to America and now displayed at the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
A large travel chest used by Nicholas Stoltzfus on his journey to America is now displayed in the dining room of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
From left, copies of Martyrs Mirror, a songbook and a prayer book are now displayed in the dining room of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
A utility room in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
A bedroom in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
Period clothing, left, worn by John F. Stoltzfus in the 1860s hangs on a bedroom wall in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
Period children’s clothing hangs on a bedroom wall in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
A dress, apron and cape worn by Annie Fisher Zook, the grandmother of Elam Stoltzfus, hang on a bedroom wall in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
The historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
Elam Stoltzfus, a ninth-generation Stoltzfus, speaks with a reporter at the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
Elam Stoltzfus lifts one side of a table in the dining room to demonstrate how it can be expanded at the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
Elam Stoltzfus lifts the lid of a large travel chest used by Nicholas Stoltzfus on his journey to America and now displayed in the dining room of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
Elam Stoltzfus lifts the straw mattress on a rope bed displayed in a bedroom of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The dining room in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
The dining room in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
A Stoltzfus family tree hangs in the dining room of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
A dining room sign provides information about a large travel trunk used by Nicholas Stoltzfus on his journey to America and now displayed at the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
A large travel chest used by Nicholas Stoltzfus on his journey to America is now displayed in the dining room of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
From left, copies of Martyrs Mirror, a songbook and a prayer book are now displayed in the dining room of the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing.
A utility room in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
A bedroom in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
Period clothing, left, worn by John F. Stoltzfus in the 1860s hangs on a bedroom wall in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
Period children’s clothing hangs on a bedroom wall in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
A dress, apron and cape worn by Annie Fisher Zook, the grandmother of Elam Stoltzfus, hang on a bedroom wall in the historic Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, as viewed on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. A planned fall trek involving Amish participants could retrace part of the route their ancestors traveled after arriving in Philadelphia from Germany in the 18th century, with the trek ending at the homestead.
Plain communities’ heritage
Volunteers took part in a “frolic” work party event last month to kickstart work on the Beiler-Renno Pavilion, a partially open-air, log cabin-style structure constructed in part from rocks salvaged from a barn built in the early 1700s by Amish pioneer Jacob Beiler and logs from Joseph Renno’s 1760 cabin.
The homestead serves as a sort of Plain communities heritage center, bringing together historical items, genealogical source material and research into the many families that trace their ancestry to the immigrants who settled in colonial Berks and Lancaster counties.
“This pavilion that we’re building is not just recognizing our family, the Stoltzfus family, but other families, because we’re all connected, we’re all intermarried,” said Elam Stoltzfus, director of the homestead. His own genealogical chart includes 28 different families that lived in Berks County in the 1700s.
Contractors and volunteers were working on construction of the new Beiler-Renno Pavilion at the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead in Wyomissing, Berks County, on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. The facility is incorporating stones and logs taken from structures built by Amish pioneers.
ELAM STOLTZFUS
Among the surprise finds as the home was being renovated and a new barn put up were a 1776 half-cent and a cannon ball of possible Revolutionary War vintage.
Today the former working farm hosts tours, holds a fundraising auction each spring and houses an impressive and growing collection of maps, documents and artifacts. It has also become a popular spot to hold family reunions.
“I’ve been working on it for 20 years already and finally it’s getting on the map,” said Riehl, 70, a former dairy farmer who does electrical work for solar energy projects. He called it “basically a place to go and appreciate your ancestors.”
A process to seek listing on the National Register of Historic Places is underway.
“People ask, ‘Who owns it?’ I say, are you a Stoltzfus? If you are, it’s yours – you are a part of it,” Elam Stoltzfus said.
Saving the homestead property
Nicholas Stoltzfus, born in 1719 in Zweibrucken, Germany, was a Lutheran who married an Amish woman, Anna Elisabeth Bachmann, before he emigrated. The two of them — four children in tow — passed through Rotterdam and England before their trans-Atlantic sea voyage. They arrived in Philadelphia on Oct. 18, 1766, at the end of a two-month journey on the Polly, a wooden ship.
They were among some 80 Amish families who, between 1733 and 1775, traveled out from Philadelphia to put down roots. Nicholas and Anna Stoltzfus had lived in Leacock Township before he and his son Christian purchased the Wyomissing homestead site and other nearby property in 1770-71.
Stoltzfus is the most common name among Old Order Amish in Lancaster County. Along with the variant name of Stoltzfoos, they take up about a quarter of the 864-page “Lancaster County & Daughter Settlements Church Directory” published two years ago.
The two-story farmhouse was deteriorating and overgrown when it was nearly a victim of a 1990 highway expansion. It also was threatened by later land development pressures, but instead it was preserved thanks in substantial part to former Pennsylvania Gov. George Leader.
Leader was founder of the Country Meadows chain of retirement communities, with a facility next door to the Stoltzfus homestead property. The former governor had Country Meadows purchase it in 2000 and licensed a group to begin restoring it.
“They were going to tear that place down within days,” Riehl said.
Leader, who had been governor from 1955-59, took a keen interest in the site. There is a photo of the former governor attending a 2001 pig roast there as major restoration work was underway. Two years after he died, his family members in 2015 gave the 2-acre property to the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead Preservation Committee.
Leader, his family said in donating the homestead, “loved the authentic restoration carried out by members of the Stoltzfus clan over the past 12 years, and always intended to return ownership to descendants of Nicholas Stoltzfus when an appropriate organization was set up to take ownership.”
Leader’s son Mike Leader said the transfer occurred once the Stoltzfus descendants were legally set up to accept it and deemed capable of managing it. He said the Leader family is happy with the results: “They’ve done just a magnificent job of restoring it.”
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