Libby's Genealogy: Cosner Family

The Cosner Family

What is known:
The Cosner "Kastner" name originated in Germany. The family immigrated to PA then traveled on to Hardy County, Virginia / West Virginia. They purchased property on Allegheny Mountain just below Route 42 approx. 5 miles from Mt. Storm heading towards Petersburg. The property was later known as the Geiser place and many of the Cosner, Hanlin and Geiser family are buried there in a small family plot. I visited this location in July of 1999 and found the cemetery completely overgrown with weeds and brush. It is obviously not well maintained at this time.

The beautiful valley which was once home to the Cosner family. It is unknown who currently owns the property. It is used for cattle.

This is what remains of the home on the property. If anyone knows who built this home, I would greatly appreciate that infomation. I am not sure if any Cosners ever resided here or if the home was built later by the Geiser family.

The family cemetery sits at the edge of the meadow that adjoins Route 42. You can not see it from the road, but there is a pull off with a ladder that goes over the barb wire fence into the meadow. David and Catherine Cosner are buried at the far back of the cemetery. Markers near the front are more recent and contain those of the Hanlins and Geisers. There is a large area of graves in the middle that are marked only with rocks. "Allegheny Passage" states that Philip Peter, his wife, son Johann and family are buried there. I can only assume that they rest in the unidentified graves.

The stones above are (left to right) David Cosner, dates illegible; Catherine Cosner b:?-4-1797 d:4-1-1885; Jesse F. Cosner b:12-28-1866 d:2-1-1928. It is unknown where this Jesse fits into the family, as the dates do not match for him to be the son of David Cosner. He is buried more towards the front.

Family Statistics:
1Christian "Kastner" married Anna Otillia Fuchs and had the following sons: Christian, Hans, Philip. My line is descended from Philip.

2Philip Peter Kastner "Casner" married Catherine Klein both of Germany. They had one child: Johann Jacob, born in Germany, August 1st, 1760 from which my line descends. Catherine died and Philip remarried Anna Catherine Roth. Children listed in the will of Philip Peter are: Christian, Jacob, Adam, Philip, Elizabeth, and John. Philip, wife and two oldest children immigrated to Philadelphia 1763 on the "Chance." (according to Allegheny Passage, pg. 343)

3Johann Jacob (of Philip) b:Aug. 1, 1760 d:?, married Christina Horn b:1760 d:?. Their children were: Jacob 1788, Philip 1789, Catherine ca.1790, Sarah 1792, David 1794, Henry 1796, Christian 1797, and John 1799. Now it gets really interesting because my line descends from two of these children. Something not uncommon in those days, as transportation as we know it today was not available.

The two children in my line are:
4David Cosner (of Johann) b: 1794 d:1817 married Catharine Hanlin b:ca. 1797. They married in 1817 and they had the following children: Samuel 1818, Christina 1820, Jesse 1821, Margaret ?, Andrew 1824, Jonathan 1825, Joseph ?, Christian 1832, Jacob ca.1833, Adam ca.1835, Catherine 1837, David ?, John 1840, Archibald ca. 1842, Wesley ca. 1844, and Elizabeth ?.

Children and ages as shown in the 1850 Hardy County Census were:

4John Cosner (of Johann) b:Oct. 15, 1799 d:April 17, 1881 married Eve Hanlin in 1821 and they had the following children: Catherine ca.1822, Solomon 1824, Margaret ca. 1827, Susannah 1830, Benjamin 1832, Hiram 1834, Rebecca 1837, Eve 1840, and Job "John" ?. Eve was the daughter of Samuel Hanlin and Catherine Brandstetter. It is unknown at this writing if Catherine and Eve Hanlin were sisters?

Children and ages as shown in the 1850 Hardy County Census were:

5Benjamin (of John) b:1832 d:Jan. 1, 1896 married 5Catherine (of David) b:1837. They were married ca.1856 and had the following children: Paulina 1856, Charles ca.1861, Emily ?.

6Paulina Cosner(of Benjamin) b:Oct. 14, 1856 d:Dec. 27, 1939 married John Wesley Lyon b:Sept. 17, 1855 d:Jan. 22, 1916 in 1881. They had the following children: Mahala Frank 1882, Gertrude 1883, Minnie 1885, Calvin 1887, Benjamin 1890, Millard 1892 and Ester 1895. Paulina was extremely near sighted and would spend hours sitting on the front porch knitting. Her daughter, Minnie Lyon married a Sions.

I'd like to thank all those who have shared with me regarding the Cosner family. Without the sharing that takes place in the field of genealogy I never would have been able to make so many new discoveries.