From J L Floyd. “George Deppen, son of Abraham, was born in 1836 at Locust Gap, Mount Carmel Twp, North'd Co, and was reared in Jackson Township, whither his parents removed during his early childhood. He spent his early years in farm work. In 1863 he embarked in the mercantile business in Snyder Co -- engaged in the grain and leather business -- and later engaged in the same line at Herndon, of which town he is now one of the oldest residents. The scope of the business has become so extended that many commodities are now handled, Mr. Deppen shipping grain and coal in large quantities, and dealing extensively in hay, feed, flour, leather and stoneware, while he also trades in wood pumps, shingles, terra cotta and galvanized pipes, his line being very comprehensive and a great accommodation to the local trade. He has always been recognized as a most progressive man, and has amassed a comfortable fortune. Mr. Deppen is one of the oldest justices of the peace in Northumberland Co, in point of both age and service, having been first elected in 1865. He is a Lutheran in religious faith, though all his family adhere to the Reformed faith.”

Floyd provides a list of his children, with which Census agrees.

Floyd wrote this about Abraham Deppen, father of George.

"In 1854 Abraham Deppen purchased half of the 300-acre island located in the Susquehanna River between Port Trevorton and Herndon, the other half being owned by a man named Strickler, who was the first man upon it. It was first known as Strickler Island, later as Strickler and Deppen Island. Mr. Deppen retained his interest until 1868 or 1869, when he sold to Peter Ziegler, since whose death his son George has owned it. The island comprises three hundred acres of the finest and most fertile land in the upper part of the state."

Is it possible that the island bought by my brother 30 years ago is this island? It sure sounds like it from the description.

Mary Ann lives with her parents in the 1850 and 1860 Census, but does not live with them in 1870, by which time she would have been 23 or so and most likely has married.

Her death record is present on LDS film # 961101 with dod as shown and age 50y 11m. She is buried at Herndon and was d/o Peter and Susan (last name not stated, but I know).

I think there is little question that she is the Mary Mertz referred to in this [edited] paragraph from Floyd's "Genealogical and Biographical Annals of North'd Co".

George Deppen, son of Abraham, was born in 1836 in Northumberland County. In 1863 he embarked in the mercantile business in Snyder County. In 1868 Mr. Deppen married Mary Mertz, of Freeburg, Snyder County who died Aug. 17, 1898 at the age of fifty-one years, the mother of a large family of children.

Her obituary in the 25 Aug 1898 Middleburg Post said: “Mary, wife of George Deppen, died at Herndon Wednesday morning,. She was the daughter of late townsman Peter P Mertz, sister of Rev. J A Mertz, Mrs. H B Moyer and Mrs E W Tool.”

Mary Ann was born and raised in Freeburg, yet she married George Deppen of Herndon in 1868. Hers is one of several marriages that demonstrate that there was some easy way for people to go back and forth across the river in both of those areas in the 1800’s, a ferry I assume.