The Buzzard Gang: From Petty Thieves to Infamous Criminals

The Buzzard Gang

In the dense, rugged terrain of the Welsh Mountains in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a gang of outlaws once ruled the land with cunning escapes, daring heists, and a reputation that spread as far as New York and Chicago. They were the Buzzard Gang—a band of brothers whose exploits rivaled those of the Wild West’s most infamous criminals. Yet, despite their notorious legacy, history has largely forgotten them.

A Band of Brothers Turned Outlaws

The Buzzard Gang’s origins trace back to the 19th century, when John Buzzard and Mary Anne Gler settled in the Welsh Mountains. John, a soldier in the Civil War, was killed in battle in 1862, leaving Mary to raise their eight children alone. The six sons—Martin, John, Abraham (Abe), Isaac (Ike), Jacob, and Joseph—grew up in poverty, a hardship that would shape their path to crime. The boys, particularly Abe, Ike, Martin, and Joseph, became notorious criminals whose actions terrorized Lancaster County and beyond.

The Buzzard name itself, despite its outlaw reputation, has roots that predate the gang. Some variations of the name include “Bizard” or “Bowser,” with spellings shifting over generations. However, the family that came to infamy in Lancaster County spelled their surname just like the scavenger bird—Buzzard.

John Buzzard’s death in the Civil War left his widow, Mary Anne, struggling to provide for her children. Eventually, the family turned to crime, but it was Mary herself who was the first Buzzard to be arrested. She worked for a man named Elmaker and was caught stealing food—apple butter, sausage, butter, and lard—likely to feed her family. The punishment was severe: she was sentenced to six months in prison. This hardship marked the beginning of the Buzzard family’s long entanglement with the law.

From Petty Crime to Infamy

As teenagers, the Buzzard boys began with minor thefts—stealing chickens, breaking into local stores, and selling stolen goods at market. But their crimes escalated. By the 1870s, Abe and Ike were leading a gang of about 20 men, orchestrating elaborate burglaries, breaking into railroad stations, general stores, and even ironworks. They didn’t just steal money; they took jewelry, liquor, cigars, and weapons.

One of their daring early escapades occurred in 1875, when they broke into an ironworks factory in northern Lebanon and stole $1,000. Their spree continued with a burglary at the Bird-in-Hand railroad station, where they made off with cash and whiskey. Their luck ran out in the town of Schoeneck, where, after robbing a store, Ike Buzzard was shot in the back of the head by a local resident. Miraculously, he survived—a detail that would later become significant as he eventually went blind, claiming the injury was the cause.

While the gang started with smaller crimes, they soon graduated to high-profile burglaries. In 1880, Abe and Ike broke into a coal and lumberyard in Oxford, Pennsylvania, hoping for a major payday. After breaking into a safe, they found only fifty cents. Disappointed but undeterred, they ransacked a nearby jewelry store, stealing 23 silver watches and eight gold ones. Their crime spree took them to Bart Township, where they looted a general store, only to be discovered by a passing horse and buggy. This led to a chase, with a posse forming in the village of Georgetown. The Buzzards, on stolen horses, managed to evade capture, retreating to the safety of their mountain hideout.

The Blue Rocks: The Buzzard Gang’s Notorious Mountain Hideout

Deep in the heart of the Welsh Mountains lies a rugged, labyrinthine rock formation known as the Blue Rocks—a place shrouded in legend and infamy. This imposing landscape of massive boulders and dense forest became the most notorious hideout of the Buzzard Gang, where Abe and Ike Buzzard evaded capture time and again.

Whenever law enforcement or vigilante posses pursued them, the gang retreated to this near-impenetrable stronghold, disappearing into its maze-like passages. According to Abe, they could see the electric lights of Lancaster City from their perch, giving them an advantage over their pursuers. The Blue Rocks were not just a refuge; they were a fortress, a secret world where the Buzzards ruled the shadows.

.

While the Blue Rocks were a well-known landmark, few knew of the hidden cave that supposedly lay beneath them. Local lore claims that Abe and Ike Buzzard excavated a secret chamber beneath the boulders, cleverly concealing the entrance with a large, movable rock. This cave provided shelter during their most intense crime sprees, allowing them to store stolen goods and disappear without a trace.

It was from this vantage point that they could watch posses gathering in nearby villages before they even set out, ensuring they were always one step ahead. Whenever necessary, the Buzzards emerged from their mountain lair to raid stores, only to slip back into the shadows before authorities could track them down.

One of the most dramatic chases in the gang’s history took place after Abe and Ike stole horses following a robbery in Georgetown. A posse quickly assembled and pursued them across Lancaster County, gunfire ringing through the night. The outlaws raced toward the safety of the Welsh Mountains, their horses galloping over dirt roads and winding trails.

The pursuit continued deep into the Blue Rocks, where the terrain became treacherous. The posse struggled to navigate the uneven landscape, and as dawn approached, the Buzzards simply vanished among the boulders. Some claim the gang disappeared into their secret cave, camouflaging the entrance so well that their pursuers never stood a chance.

The Blue Rocks were more than just a hideout; they became a symbol of the Buzzards’ ability to outmaneuver the law. The rugged, unforgiving terrain made it nearly impossible for outsiders to track them, and their deep knowledge of the mountains gave them a formidable advantage.

This region had long been a refuge for those on society’s margins. Native Americans once roamed the Welsh Mountains, and later, it became a sanctuary for escaped enslaved individuals seeking freedom. By the time the Buzzard Gang rose to prominence, the mountains were home to poor farmers, mixed-race families, and outcasts who had little interest in helping authorities. The gang leveraged this isolation, moving between sympathizers and blending into the landscape when needed.

Some say the Buzzards buried caches of stolen goods among the boulders, but no treasure has ever been recovered. Despite extensive searches over the years, the hidden wealth of the Buzzard Gang—if it ever existed—remains lost to history.

By the 1930s, the cave was no longer in use. Stories vary on what happened to it—some claim locals, tired of criminals using the mountains as a sanctuary, dynamited the cave entrance to ensure it could never be used again. Others believe it collapsed naturally, swallowed by the shifting earth and weight of the boulders above.

Regardless of its fate, the legend of the Blue Rocks endures. The massive boulders still stand as silent witnesses to the Buzzard Gang’s reign—a time when outlaws ruled the Welsh Mountains, and lawmen were always a step behind.

Click here to read other Wild Tales of the Buzzard Gang.

The Criminal Life of Isaac M. Buzzard

If you want to read the full confession that this story comes from, The Criminal Life of Isaac M. Buzzard: A True and Complete History of His Life, from Boyhood to the Present Day, is now available in a fully annotated and indexed edition for only $9.99. This restored publication is a faithful reproduction of the 1897 public-domain work. Only a handful of original copies remain, and the text has been digitally reconstructed to improve readability while preserving the historical text, with minor typographical and spelling errors corrected where appropriate. 

Editorial footnotes and a newly prepared index have been added to help modern readers follow Buzzard’s world as it moves from the Soldiers’ Orphan Schools to the Welsh Mountains, from Lancaster County’s jail corridors to a canary’s flight across prison bars, and finally into the hills where a disappointing treasure might still be waiting. Get your copy on Amazon.

---

Never miss a new post!

Never miss a new blog post by signing up for email updates. Be sure to follow Uncharted Lancaster on Facebook or Instagram for exclusive content.

---

References

• The Criminal Life of Isaac M. Buzzard: A True and Complete History of His Life, from Boyhood to the Present Day
• The Welsh Mountain
• Abe Buzzard’s Cave
• A look back at the Buzzard Gang’s lawless exploits
• Who Were the New Holland Buzzard Gang? – March 2023
• Video Lecture: History of The Buzzard Gang