One branch began when Samuel WICHTERMANN (age 56) left his home in Kirchenthurnen, (Canton Bern) Switzerland, along with his daughters Elisabetha (24) and Anna (14) and his sons Christian (age 20) and Samuel (18). His wife, Barbara STETLER, had died in childbirth in 1821, along with the baby. They arrived in New York City on September 17, 1833, aboard the ship Plato. Although their destination was listed as Pennsylvania. they settled along the Ohio River in Monroe County, Ohio in that same year. The deed book shows land was bought by him on 15 Jan, 1834.

Another branch began in PA. when Georg J. WICHTERMAN, son of Georg Michael WICHTERMANN sailed aboard the Brig Mary from Amsterdam to Philadelphia, PA and landed 10/4/1790. He was a German Lutheran minister and was sent to America to help establish the church as well as translate the first American Bible with the American Bible Society. His name was written Georg I. WIGHTERMAN in the passenger list of the Brig. He is first listed in the 1800 census of NY at Rensslear Co., 86:6 as Joseph WIGHTEMAN and in the 1820 Seneca Co. written Page 363, Printed page 84 City of Romulus, NY as George J. WICHTERMAN. He married Anna Catharina BROSIUS, d. of Peter and Christina SIPPERLY BROSIUS 6/15/1794 in St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rhinebeck, Dutchess Co., NY and had 6 known children.