Welcome to my genealogical web site. This site provides the genealogical information I have gathered from many sources. I have entered a lot of the information into a computer program called “The Master Genealogist” sold by Wholly Genes. These web pages have been produced from that data base by a program called “Second Site” sold by John Cardinal. Please note the acknowledgements page for information on those persons who have contributed significant data. Detailed personal data is provided for deceased persons. Living persons have limited personal data showing on this web site. Events dates and photos are not shown for living persons.

I first became interested in my Althaus/Althouse genealogy in the 1970’s. My great uncle, Harry N. Althouse, produced a booklet in 1977 of the genealogical information he had gathered. My father, George W. Althouse, did considerable research into the family, located many of the homes of my ancestors and took pictures of the homes and gravestones. Many of these pictures are included on the photos pages. He then produced, in 1994, a typed loose-leafed notebook version of the family using the information he had gathered.

My direct ancestor, who first arrived in America, was Johan Georg Althaus. He arrived in the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 24, 1738 with two other Althaus's - Johannes Althaus and Johannes Christian Althaus. I have not been able to clearly ascertain whether these three were brothers or had some other relationship. They came from a town in Germany named Elsoff, County Wittgenstein, Province of Westphalia, which was one of the provinces of Prussia, near to, but not bordering on nor traversed by the Rhine River. They sailed from Rotterdam on the St. Andrew Galley, John Steadman, Master.

The surname Althaus is a compound of two German words; ALT and HAUS and its literal meaning is "an old house." The name refers either to the antiquity of the house in which its possessor resided or to his line of ancestry, antiquity being considered a sign of rank and distinction. The name Althaus was always a complimentary surname and was never used in a derogatory sense.

Upon their arrival, the three Althaus's traveled to what are now Bern, Center and Upper Bern Township. The section that was called Bern Township, Lancaster County, in those days, was transferred to Berks County upon its formation in 1752.

I have found no public records of land owned or other information for Johan Georg Althaus. The other two were landowners and it may be presumed that he lived with or on one of their farms. The best information is that he died before 1752 and had one son John George Althaus. His birth date and wife's information has not been found.

Thus did my Althouse family begin in America. At some point, the surname was anglicized to Althouse from Althaus.

I hope that the reader of this site will accept such information as it is contained herein as being presented with full sincerity. I regret that this work is not as complete as it could be, neither is it implied that all statements in this work are correct. I present it as faithfully as I can with the information at my disposal and encourage anyone that has more or complete information or corrections to submit it to me. I will endeavor to add it to this information as time permits.