Joshua Dawson Ahalt ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9}

  General Notes:

(Source: "HISTORY OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND" (Vol. II); T. J. C. Williams; L. R. Titsworth & Company, Publishers; 1910)

Joshua Ahalt was the seventh child of Matthias Ehalt and Phebe. An interesting story which has been "handed down" in the family, and was recently told by Frank Ahalt, tells of a time when, as an infant, Joshua Dawson stopped breathing - perhaps having choked on something. This occurred at the time that the present house on the homestead in Middletown was being built (c.1843). His mother, Phebe, ran out of the house with him. A workman took him up a ladder to the second floor and dropped him into the arms of an other workman, causing Joshua to "catch his breath". But for the quick thinking of the workmen, many of the Ahalts wouldn't be here today! Joshua continued to live on the family homestead in Locust Valley just three miles southwest of Middletown (approximately 125 acres at that time). It was here that he brought his wife, Laura Emily Shafer. The story has been passed down in the family that Matthias, Joshua's father, paid someone to fight in the Civil War in Joshua's place, as Joshua was needed on the farm. This was a common practice at the time. Joshua served as Elder and Deacon of the Lutheran Church in Middletown, Maryland, where he was a consistent and active member for more than forty years. He also served as School Director of his district for over 30 years, and filled the office of road supervisor for some length of time. Joshua and Laura were the parents of eight children.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of Mar 1842 and a birth location of Maryland.

This birth date was given on his 1900 US Census.
²

• He appeared on the 1860 US Census in Middletown District, Frederick County, MD on 23 Jun 1860. ⁷

1860 US Census
Page 79, Dwelling 558, Family 590, Roll 474
Middletown District, Frederick County, Maryland
Joshua Ahalt..17..MD..Laborer
(Living with parents.)

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Middletown, MD on 19 Jun 1880. ¹

1880 US Census
Page 178C, Roll 0509, District 72, Family 342
Middletown, Frederick County Maryland
Joshua E. Ahalt..Head..37..MD..Farmer
(Living with wife and 3 sons.)

• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Middletown District, Frederick County, MD on 14 Jun 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Sheet 15A, District 10, Dwelling 297, Family 306
Middletown District, Frederick County, Maryland
Farm owned with mortgage
married 32 years
Joshua D. Ahalt..Head..58..Mar 1842..MD..Farmer
(Living with wife and 4 sons.)

NOTE - His birth date is believed to be Mar 1843 instead of Mar 1842.

• He appeared on the 1910 US Census in Middletown District, Frederick County, MD on 28 Apr 1910. ³

1910 US Census
Sheet 11A, District 57, Family 211, Roll 564
Middletown District, Frederick County, Maryland
Home owned, with mortgage
Married 41 years
Joshua D. Ahalt..Head..67..MD
(Living with wife.)

• He appeared on the 1920 US Census in Middletown, MD on 20 Jan 1920. ⁸

1920 US Census
Sheet 12B, District 66, Dwelling 69, Family 70, Roll 672
Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland
Broad Run Road; farm rented
Joshua D. Ahalt..Father..76..MD
(Living with wife at the home of his married son, Albert, and his family.)

• He appeared on the 1930 US Census in Middletown, MD on 9 Apr 1930. ⁴

1930 US Census
Sheet 6A, District 16, Dwelling 144, Family 170, Roll 874
Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland
West side of South Broad Street; Home owned, $3500
Josh D. Ahalt..Head..87..MD
(Living with wife.)

• His obituary was published in The Frederick News on 24 Jan 1933 in Frederick, MD.

Joshua D. Ahalt died at the home of his son, Albert Ahalt, near Middletown, Sunday evening at 9:30 o'clock after an illness of several weeks of complications. He was aged 89 years, 10 months and six days. He is survived by the following children: Harmon Ahalt, Brunswick; Alonza Ahalt, Middletown; Albert Ahalt, near Middletown' Roy M. Ahalt, Downer's Grove, Ill.; and John R. Ahalt, Cincinnati, O.

Funeral Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Lutheran church, Middletown, of which the deceased was a life long member. Rev. L. Ralph Tabor will officiate. Interment in Lutheran cemetery. C. T. K. Gladhill, funeral director.

(Source: The Frederick News, Frederick, MD, 24 Jan 1933)
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• He was buried on 25 Jan 1933 in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Middletown, MD.

Find A Grave Memorial 76778617
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Joshua married Laura Emily Shafer, daughter of Joseph S. Shafer and Elizabeth Ellen Abrecht, on 8 Mar 1869 in , Frederick County, MD.^{1 2 3 4} (Laura Emily Shafer was born on 17 Mar 1851 in Middletown, MD,^{2 3 4 5 8 10 11 12} died on 20 Jun 1932 in Middletown, MD ^{5 6 10 12} and was buried on 23 Jun 1932 in Middletown, MD ^{5 12}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They have conflicting marriage information of 9 Mar 1869. ⁵

• They appeared on the 1880 US Census in Middletown, MD on 19 Jun 1880. ¹

1880 US Census
Page 178C, Roll 0509, District 72, Family 342
Middletown, Frederick County Maryland
Joshua E. Ahalt..Head..37..MD..Farmer
Laura E. Ahalt..Wife..28..MD..Keeping House
Harmon L. Ahalt..Son..8..MD
Albert M. Ahalt..Son..5..MD
Alonzo J. Ahalt..Son..2..MD
Laura V. Dutrow..Othr..26..MD..Servant

• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Middletown District, Frederick County, MD on 14 Jun 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Sheet 15A, District 10, Dwelling 297, Family 306
Middletown District, Frederick County, Maryland
Farm owned with mortgage
married 32 years
Joshua D. Ahalt..Head..58..Mar 1842..MD..Farmer
Laura E. Ahalt..Wife..49..Mar 1851..MD..8/2(?)
Aloza J. Ahalt..Son..22..Mar 1878..MD..Farm Laborer
Roy M. Ahalt..Son..19..Nov 1880..MD..At School
John R. Ahalt..Son..16..Mar 1894..MD..At School
Edgar S. Ahalt..Son..12..Nov 1887..MD..At School

• They appeared on the 1910 US Census in Middletown District, Frederick County, MD on 28 Apr 1910. ³

1910 US Census
Sheet 11A, District 57, Family 211, Roll 564
Middletown District, Frederick County, Maryland
Home owned, with mortgage
Married 41 years
Joshua D. Ahalt..Head..67..MD
Laura E. Ahalt..Wife..59..MD..8/5

• They appeared on the 1930 US Census in Middletown, MD on 9 Apr 1930. ⁴

1930 US Census
Sheet 6A, District 16, Dwelling 144, Family 170, Roll 874
Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland
West side of South Broad Street; Home owned, $3500
Josh D. Ahalt..Head..87..MD
Lauretta E. Ahalt..Wife..79..MD