Fred Otto Ammon & the Ammon Lineage

Fred Otto Ammon and wife Lela Bell (Washburn) Ammon

Fred Otto Ammon was born on August 8, 1891, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Fred's father, Levi, was 20 and his mother, Ida, was 22.

Levi Ammon, father of Fred and Ida Springer Ammon

Fred in back with a brother and two sisters. Fred was very close to his sisters and visited them regularly throughout his life.

Fred married Lela Bell Washburn on June 16, 1913.

Fred and Lela had two children during their marriage, Keith Otto and Thelma Olszewski. Fred died on May 5, 1967, in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, at the age of 75.

Fred holding daughter Thelma and wife Lela standing behind son Keith. The background of this photo looks very similar to one that Keith would have for his wedding photos with Florence Moser, probably in the same studio in Lewisburg.

Fred was a resident of the Lewisburg-Sunbury-Montandon all his life. His first wife, Lela Bell preceded him in death in 1959. He remarried in 1965. Fred worked at the Lewisburg Chair and Furniture Company for many years, retiring at age 70. Fred had several sisters, including Mary Emes, Edna Callender, Elsi Gage, and Cora Parsons. One of Fred's sister's, Mildred, died at age 13.

Fred also had a brother Frank and another brother, Roy, who died in WWII. I remember my mother, Carol Ammon Curfman, a granddaughter of Fred, telling a story about how he was shot out of a tree in the Pacific. Private First Class Roy Lee Ammon. In a January 1949 newspaper, it was detailed how the body was shipped home to his mother, Ida Springer. Roy was born in Scranton, PA and entered the service in 1943, assigned as a sniper with the 167th infantry rifle unit, Company K. He was killed in Dutch New Guinea on August 13, 1944, while in action against Japanese forces.

Father Levi, Mother Ida, along with their children. Fred is front left with son Keith Ammon. I'm guessing the man in the front right is Frank Ammon, Fred's brother.

Family was a big part of Fred's life. He would spend a lot of time with his kids, his mother, and then his grandchildren. He was a loving father and grandfather. My mother said that he had a very soft demeanor. His wife Lela ruled the roost and passed that personality on to her son Keith (my grandfather). Fred would often help with the cleaning after a meal, which apparently annoyed his son Keith, who felt that was women's work.

Four generations of Ammons in one photo. Far right is Levi Ammon. Beside him is son Fred. Keith Ammon is on the far left with his son, Freddie.

Fred's father was named Levi Harvey Ammon, born in 1870. He is named after his father's (Harvey Collier Ammon) brother, Levi H., who died during the civil war at the Battle of Wilderness.

Brother of Harvey, uncle of Levi Harvey, and great uncle of Fred Ammon. I have not been able to find where Levi H. is buried.

Fred's mother, Ida Springer, as she was always called by my mother, was a very Christian woman. Fred took care of her after Levi died, and she is seen in many of the pictures with Fred visiting family.

Fred loved his grandchildren. He would have lived long enough to see his two grandsons die as teenagers. That must have been very hard on him, as it was on the whole family.

Back left is Keith, next to Ida Springer, Fred and Lela Bell. In front of Keith is Florence K. (Moser) Ammon, son Freddie, and probably my mother, Carol Ammon.

This group photo was taken shortly after Freddie passed away. My mother, Carol, was taking the picture. Linda is front left.

Grandson Freddie, named after Fred, who died at the age of 18 due to a blood clot during surgery.

Fred Ammon in later years. Fred loved to have his picture taken.

Ammon reunion in the mid 1950's a Knoebles Amusement Park. Freddie is pictured front left. Keith and Florence are back left. My mother, Carol is middle, behind Lela Bell. Fred is far right with daughter Thelma behind him.

Levi Harvey Ammon 1870 - 1938

Levi Harvey Ammon was born on September 14, 1870, in Pennsylvania. His father, Harvey was 21 and his mother, Annie, was 20. Levi married Ida Springer and they had at least seven children, including Fred. Levi died on September 5, 1938, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 67, and was buried there. Levi was a butcher. Levi Harvey Ammon lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1920. His father Harvey Collier passed away on October 20, 1923, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 74. Levi died in a field while picking tomatoes. Below is a picture of Levi (far right), Fed in the middle and Keith, far left.

Harvey Collier Ammon 1849 - 1923

Harvey Collier Ammon was born on August 5, 1849, in Pennsylvania. Harvey's father was Samuel and his mother was Mary. Harvey died on October 20, 1923, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 74, and was buried there. Harvey named one of his sons Levi after his brother who died in the civil war. Harvey served as editor of the Lewisburg Chronicle. Harvey also did plastering.

I think this "may" be a picture of Harvey Ammon. Harvey died in 1923 and this picture would have been taken around that time. Fred Ammon is seated with daughter Thelm and son Keith is in front right.

Harvey had two brothers who fought in the Civil War. Levi H. Ammon, who was in Company E. of the 51st Pennsylvania Infantry, and died at the battle of Wilderness in 1864, and Captain Beach Ammon, who survived the war.

Levi was only 18 when he joined the Union Army and was actually discharged when he tour was up. However, Levi must have been very patriotic and firmly believed in the Union cause, because he rejoined his regiment after only a short time. Below is an article that was published in the newspaper in the 1880's that is from an excerpt of a soldier that served with Levi. The notes are from that soldier's letter home and detail Levi being injured (by friendly fire from a Massachusetts brigade) during, or right before the battle of Antietam. Apparently the injury was not too severe.

This may have been how the family learned of Levi's death at the battle of the Wilderness. This was in the paper on 21 May 1864. Levi was killed on the 5th of May. It is unknown if his mother, Mary Hicks Ammon received a telegram from the War Department about the passing of her son before she would have read this in the newspaper. Levi's father Samuel would have already died by this point in 1852.

Beach Ammon was born in 1839. He joined the Union Army in Sept of 1861 in the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry. He attained the rank of captain in 1864. He fought at both Antietam and Gettysburg. It is unknown if he was at the battle of the Wilderness, where his brother was killed.

Beach Ammon (photo found on findagrave.com

Samuel Ammon 1813 - 1852

Samuel Ammon was born on December 8, 1813, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Samuel's father was Johannes and his mother was Elizabeth. Samuel married Mary Hicks and he died on September 4, 1852, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 38, and was buried there. Samuel died of dysentery.

Samuel was a tailor in Lewisburg, who advertised NY style fashions.

Below is his wife's obituary, which I was able to use to confirm that Levi, who died in the Civil War and did not have an obituary, was brothers to Beach and Harvey.

Johannes Andrew Ammon 1785 - 1842

Johannes ( Andrew, Andreus ) Ammon was born on July 5, 1785, in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. His father was Johann Philip and his mother was Anna Elisabeth. Andrew died on March 14, 1842, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 56. His father Johann Philip passed away on October 13, 1814, at the age of 54. His mother Anna Elisabeth passed away on March 7, 1823, in Kolmbach, Hesse, Germany, at the age of 69.

Johann Philip Auman 1760-1814 (Immigrant to Pennsylvania)

Johann Philip Auman was born in 1760 in Altenberg, Saxony, Germany. His father was George. He married Anna Elisabeth Schmitt on September 14, 1779, in York, Pennsylvania. He died on October 13, 1814, at the age of 54. His wife returned to Germany and died there. I could not find the ship that he arrived on. George Auman Ammon died in 1786 in Northumberland, PA, indicating he traveled with Philip to Pennsylvania and probably lived less than one year after arriving. He was 51 when he died. George's father may have been Jacob Ammon Auman, who was born in 1713 in Altenberg, Saxony, Germany. He died in 1760 in the same town at the age of 47.