More Than Names and Dates: The Saylor Family Story
Dusting off twenty years of research to finish the official Saylor family history book.
If you would have told me in high school that I would be working on my senior high school project decades later, I probably wouldn't have believed you!
What began years ago as a high school project to map out my genealogy, grew into collecting files full of family records, courthouse deeds/wills, newspaper clippings, old family photographs, notes and correspondence with cousins across the country (and the world!). That early chapter of the project reached a high-water mark in the mid-2000s, when the Saylors gathered together for the 2004 and 2006 Saylor Family Reunions at Ringing Rocks Park in Pottstown.
After developing a lifelong Genealogy addiction, my focus expanded to other branches in the tree and tilting at brick walls - not to mention finishing college, grad school, public service and a career in real estate. Recently, while looking back through the boxes of letters, folders, and notes from my early Saylor research, I realized that I needed to revisit my goal of assembling this information into a comprehensive source so it can be shared with the family and future generations.
It’s time to bring the comprehensive Saylor Family History across the finish line and, if you are a Saylor relative, I would love to have (and need) your help!
The Saylor Family by the Numbers
When Georg Conrad Sailer, his wife Maria Catharine, and their children arrived from Gemmrigheim, Germany, aboard L'Amelie around 1830, they planted roots in Pottsgrove Township. Nearly two centuries later, that immigrant household has grown into an expansive family network.
As of October 2026, the current draft history stands at 325 pages. As the database continues to grow, here is a quick snapshot of my research, how our original family branches break down:
A Few Project Stats:
9 Generations Documented: Stretching from the immigrant George Conrad Saylor and his wife Maria Catharine Scholl in Gemmrigheim located in the Neckar River Valley.
Coast-to-Coast Reach: While our roots are firmly planted in Pennsylvania along the Schuylkill River (Pottstown, Kenilworth, Sanatoga, and Royersford), Saylor descendants today live across more than 18 states - from New England to California, Washington, Florida, and Georgia.
Nearly 900 Documented Descendants: As of October 2026 our family register contains 898 descendants of our immigrant ancestors and the list continues to grow.
Reached out to 52+ Descendants: Outeach to the Saylor family continues with 52 Letters, Emails or Messages sent as of 4 October 2026. Thank you to those that have responded with information, documents and pictures!
More Than Names and Dates: A Sneak Peek
When many people think of genealogy, they picture lists of birthdays and children. My goal is to create a record beyond names and telling the collective narrative of the family history by highlighting our individual stories.
Here are just a few highlights featured in the upcoming history:
Canal Boatman Strength and a Keg of Beer: Long before he served as the steward of the Montgomery County Almshouse, Adam Frederick Saylor, Sr. worked on the Schuylkill Canal, driving mules along the towpath and captaining his own boat, the J. C. Saylor, as far as the Susquehanna. Standing over six feet tall, Adam was renowned for his physical strength. As family historian L. H. Brownback noted from old family traditions, Adam was said to be so strong that he could hoist a full keg of beer in his arms and drink right from the bunghole!
A Southern Epic Drama at Barnsley Gardens: In the 1890s, chemist Benjamin Franklin Saylor traveled to Georgia under an alias, took a 25-cent-a-day farm hand job at the historic Woodlands estate (Barnsley Gardens), and secretly scouted the land before discovering rich bauxite deposits. He eventually married the estate heiress, Adelaide Baltzelle. The estate saw dramatic rivalries between his sons, including prize fighter "K.O. Billy Dugan", a tragic 1935 fratricide, and a visit by author Margaret Mitchell who would draw from the estate's history for her novel Gone With the Wind.
Some Interesting Family Facts:
"Fly, Eagles, Fly": Bandleader and music educator Arlen Saylor arranged the dynamic 1966 brass rendition of the Philadelphia Eagles' victory song that became the beloved stadium anthem we sing today.
"A Song for Adam": The tragic 1968 loss of young Adam Saylor in Bombay, India, inspired his close road-trip friend, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, to write the classic on his 1972 debut album.
A Living MVP in the Family Tree: Did you know our extended family includes baseball's oldest living MVP? Pottstown native Bobby Shantz stood just 5-foot-6, but he baffled big-league hitters across sixteen seasons, winning the 1952 AL MVP with the Philadelphia Athletics, earning eight straight Gold Gloves, and remaining today as MLB's oldest living Most Valuable Player.
Calling All Saylors: How You Can Help
If you are a descendant of the Adam F. Saylor, Sr., John Conrad Saylor, or Margaret (Saylor) Hollenbach Miller lines, or if you stumbled upon this post while Googling an ancestor, I want to hear from you!
I am currently working to ensure everyone’s branch is complete, accurate, and up-to-date. Specifically, I am looking for:
Family Updates: Recent births, marriages, or milestone passings to make sure our current generations are accurately preserved.
Old Photographs: Vintage portraits, old photographs or snapshots of all descendants and living family members.
Memories & Lore: Do you know of an interesting family story? Even small details bring these pages to life.
If you have information to share, corrections to suggest, or just want to say hello and get connected, please drop a note via my Contact Form on the bottom of my homepage.
Comments