GEESAMAN FAMILY NEWSLETTER

Transcription:
Courtesy of Mary Ellen (Overmier) Smith
12 Oct 2000
HTML Coding and Layout:
by Audrey Shields Hancock
Descendant of:
Elizabeth R. GEESEMAN/GIESEMAN (ca 1825-1861)

This is a slightly abridged version of a published and copyrighted document. This Newsletter appears in abridged form for purposes of brevity and ease of reading on the internet. Please see the Geesaman Newsletter Homepage concerning changes.   Audrey Shields Hancock

Geesaman Cousins

April, 1975 No. 2

More than 100 copies of the first issue of Geesaman Cousins were mailed to Geesaman families or GEESAMAN-related families in 19 states from Pennsylvania westward to Hawaii. One was also mailed to Europe.

However, more than half of them were mailed to Pennsylvania which indicates that there are probably more GEESAMAN families living in Pennsylvania than in all the rest of the nation. Our immigrant ancestors settled in that state and most of their descendants have remained there.

Original sources of the GEESAMAN genealogy are in Pennsylvania which makes it more difficult for a native Oklahoman to edit a family newsletter than it would be for a resident of the Keystone state. For that reason your editor has asked Mrs. John E. (Bernadine) GEESAMAN, Quincy, PA., to be co-editor and she has kindly consented to do so.

Bernadine will be especially helpful in getting news of GEESAMAN reunion, Golden Wedding stories and similar events that should be recorded in a family newsletter.

As stated in our January issue, it is our hope that a family organization will be formed in the next few months and that the organization would take over Geesaman Cousins as its official organ.

If you have items of interest that you think should be in the next issue of the newsletter you may mail it either to Mrs. GEESAMAN or to me. Both of our addresses are given in the masthead above. The newsletter will continue to be printed and mailed at Covington, OK 73730 -- RFK

In order to bring our genealogy charts up to date we would like to include some names of younger GEESAMAN cousins in our newsletters and to tell you a bit of information on their activities or professions. This will be a continuous list so please send us additions from time to time.

Josiah E. GEESAMAN, Sr., 508 East Orange St., Shippensburg, PA 17257, proprietor of McCune Lumber Co., 26 N. Fayette St., Shippensburg, PA, has three of his famly working with him.

1. Kathryn GEESAMAN, b. 28 Nov. 1920, owns Kathryn�s Corner Gift Shop and lives at home;
2. Hilda GEESAMAN, b. 23 Dec. 1921, whose husband, Russell L. IRVING, works at the luimber yard;
3. Josiah E. GEESAMAN, Jr., b. 21 Mar 1928 and
4. Kenneth Lee GEESAMAN, b. Aug 1937, also employed at the family business.

The IRVINGs live at 308 Fairmont Ave., Waynesboro, PA 17268
The children of Hilda and Russell IRVING are:

1. Nancy IRVING, b. 29 Mar. 1947;
2. Gary IRVING, b. 2 Oct. 1948, and
3. Joan IRVING, b. 6 Aug. 1957.

Kenneth and Nina GEESAMAN live at 516 E. Orange St., Shippensburg, PA and their children are:

1. Lucinda GEESAMAN, b. 23 Aug 1960,
2. Kenneth Lee GEESAMAN, Jr., b. 13 Aug. 1965, and
3. Sandra GEESAMAN, b. 28 July 1966

John C. KAHL, Sr. and Betty (GEESAMAN) KAHL live at Rt. 1, Waynesboro, PA and have a grocery store called the �Village Store� in Waynesboro. Their children are:

1. John C. KAHL, Jr., b. 21 July 1950, has a trucking business and is married to the former Deborah REHRER;
2. Joel D. KAHL, b. 11 Apr. 1956, is in the US Army. His address is: PVT Joel KAHL, 201-46-5650, USA CSC Support Group Europe. APO NY 09062.

Helen S. GEESAMAN, 131 N. Church St., Waynesboro, PA, is employed at Fort Ritchie, MD.

• Mrs. Deborah J. SHELTON, b. 21 May 1951, is an RN and her husband, Paul A. SHELTON, is in the Air Force stationed in Germany. Their address is Box 5336, APO NY 07057.
• Kevin D. GEESAMAN, b. 12 Sept. ____, is living at home and is employed at Frick Co. as a welder. He is interested in auto mechanics.

One response to the first issue of GEESAMAN COUSINS was greatly appreciated by the editors. This came from Schuyler C. BROSSMAN, Box 43, Rehrersburg, PA 19550, who writes the columnm, �Our Keystone Families�, which appears in the Lebanon Daily News and the Middletown Press and Journal, Middletown, PA.

He says:
�I think you have done a nice job and commend you for it. Even if you do not publish another copy ever, you have already made a valuable contribution in the preservation of your family�s records.� We certainly appreciate these kind words from Mr. BROSSMAN for he is an authority on Pennsylvania genealogy.

Mr. BROSSMAN also stated that he will gladly publish queries free for anyone with Pennsylvania connections. All GEESAMAN Family Tree searchers should take advantage of this offer. Queries in his column should not have more than 150 words and should have a Pennsylvania connection and mention one date.

Mr. BROSSMAN called our attention to an error in the first line on page four of the January issue of GEESAMAN COUSINS. The cemetery at the Friedens Lutheran Church is located at Bernville, PA and not at �Bienville�. We regret the error. Thank you, Mr. BROSSMAN.

This of an Evangelical Lutheran Congregation down at the Tulpehocken nearby the Northkill. Found on microfilm at Reading Historical Society an read by Anna E. GEESAMAN, Hershey, PA.

ANITA MARGARET GUSEMAN, born Dec. 9, 1749, baptized 21 Jan. 1750, parents were Geo. Wm. GUSEMAN and wife; sponsor Anna Margaret HECK

JOHN GEORGE GUSEMAN, b. Mar. 1754, baptized 3 May 1754, parents: Geo. Wm. GUSEMAN and wife; sponsor: John George GUSEMAN.

MR. AND MRS. DAVID GEESAMAN,
WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA,
CELEBRATED THEIR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR

This is a scanned picture from the Xeroxed copy of this newsletter, which appeared on p. 17.
If anyone has a better picture and would like to share, please send it to Audrey.

Mr. and Mrs. David GEESAMAN, 314 Fairmount Ave., were feted on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday afternoon. A surprise buffet luncheon honored the couple at the Savoy Catering Service.

Golden and white decor for the party featured a four-tiered anniversary cake topped with a �50� ornament. The cake was flanked by tapers and floral arrangements. Mrs. GEESAMAN was given a white carnation corsage and her husband received a matching boutonniere. The couple was also honored with a money tree.

Jeanne GEESAMAN, 27 Landis Ave., registered the 150 guests who attended from Reading, York, Emmitsburg, Chambersburg, Shippensburg, State College, Greencastle, Ellicott City, Rouzerville, Blue Ridge Summit, Fayetteville, Quincy, and Auburn, Pa.

The couple has four children:

• Eugene GEESAMAN, 28 S. Church St.;
• Robert GEESAMAN, 237 Landis Ave.;
• Rueanna MOUER, Ellicott City; and
• David GEESAMAN, Price�s Church Road.

They also have 12 grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. GEESAMAN were married at the Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage, Hagerstown, by the late Rev. J. S. SIMON on Feb. 28, 1925. - from the Waynesboro Record Herald.

1. Lester Eugene GEESAMAN, b. 10 Oct. 1925, and Virginia KRUM, b. 21 Feb. 1928
   Children:
   
   • Karen Jean GEESAMAN, b. 27 Dec. 1948
   • Kurt William GEESAMAN, b. 4 Dec. 1950
   • Zane Eugene GEESAMAN, b. 2 Apr. 1955
2. Robert Allen GEESAMAN, b. 15 Jan. 1928 and Dolores Jean HAPPEL, b. 26 Feb. 1930
   Children:
   
   • Robert Allen GEESAMAN, Jr., b. Jan 1953
   • Harry Arthur GEESAMAN, b. 22 July 1954
   • Terry Lee GEESAMAN, b. 19 Feb . 1960
   • Larry Lin GEESAMAN, b. 2 Nov. 1962
   • Jean Marie GEESAMAN, b. 7 Nov. 1959
3. Rue Anna GEESAMAN, b. 23 Feb. 1930 and Harold Edward MOUER, b. 4 Dec. 1928
   Children:
   
   • Beth Ann MOUER, b. 28 July 1964
4. David GEESAMAN, b. 16 Sept. 1935 and Irene Bakner
   Children (triplets):
   
   • Cy Norman GEESAMAN, b. 3 Jan. 1968
   • Clinton David GEESAMAN, b. 3 Jan. 1968
   • Kara Irene GEESAMAN, b. 3 Jan. 1968

One could spend a fortune on genealogical books, but that is not necessary in order to learn a great deal about his ancestors. But the following are ones which every family tree searcher really needs.

All five books may be purchased from The Everton Publishers, P.O. Box 368, Logan, Utah 84321. This company also sells some supplies a family genealogist needs, as Ancestor Charts, Family Group Forms, Census Work Sheets and many other aids which make family tree climbing much easier.

From the Commercial Review, published in Portland, Indiana, we learn that Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Oliver GEESAMAN of Portland celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary March 23 of this year. Many friends and relatives attended the open house event at the Portland Grange Hall.

The couple married March 24, 1915 in Portland. Mrs. GEESAMAN is the former Frances SHROLL, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John SHROLL near Bryant, Indiana. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Noah E. GEESAMAN, Greene Township.

Longtime Jay County residents, the GEESAMANs operated the Center Store for 36 years. The couple moved from Greene Township to Portland 24 years ago. He is also a retired farmer.

• Robert Jay GEESAMAN, Phoenix, AZ;
• Paul C. GEESAMAN, Kokomo, IN; and
• Max L. GEESAMAN, Lima, OH.

From Family Group Charts which GEESAMAN COUSINS has in its files we learn that Clarence GEESAMAN was the oldest child in a famly of seven born to Noah Edward GEESAMAN and Anna Elizabeth (BINEBAR) GEESAMAN.

1. Clarence Oliver GEESAMAN, b. 23 Mar. 1891 in Greene Twp., Jay Co., IN.; mar. Lulu Frances SHROLL 24 Mar 1915.
2. Hazel Cordelia GEESAMAN, b. 18 Feb. 1894 in Greene Twp., Jay Co., IN; d. 3 Nov. 1894
3. Inez Gwendolyn GEESAMAN, b. 30 Nov. 1896, Greene Twp., Jay Co., IN; d. 14 Aug. 1897
4. Freddie Eldon GEESAMAN, b. 11 Aug. 1898, Greene Twp., Jay Co., IN; d. 2 Oct. 1970; mar. Mae Violet HUDSON 6 Sept. 1918
5. James Lester GEESAMAN b. 9 Mar. 1902, Greene Twp., Jay Co., IN; mar. Adah Belle DeCAMP 27 Jan. 1923.
6. Edith Esther GEESAMAN, b. 9 Mar. 1902, Greene Twp., Jay Co., IN; d. 30 Sept. 1967; mar. 2 Oct 1918 to Cornelious Alfred VALENTINE.
7. Elsie Lucile GEESAMAN, b. 26 June 1908, Greene Twp., Jay Co., IN; mar. Murray Orwain ASHCRAFT 7 April 1928.

In a later issue we hope to give a more complete genealogy of this branch of the GEESAMAN family.

The following article was written by June TERRY, 3644 Denesmore Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103 regarding her GG-Grandparents Jacob and Susannah (GEESAMAN) BOHNER:

One hundred years ago, in the 1870s, my grandmother was a small girl named Mary Jane Sommers, living on a farm in Michigan. Her grandmother, Susannah Geesaman Bohner, would often come from Ohio to visit her daughter and grandchildren. Susannah was blind the last twenty-eight years of her life. "Take me out and let me feel the cowages," she would say to Mary Jane, and Mary Jane thought her accent was funny. The small child would take her grandmother by the hand and lead her up and down the row of cabbages, and Susannah would handle each one, feeling its firmness and size.

It is said by relatives that Susannah went blind because she cried so much. When she was young her parents rejected the man she loved and chose another for her: Jacob Bohner. She cried right through the wedding day, and after they were married she cried all the time. Her husband was mean to her, but after she went blind he treated her with great kindness.

Their youngest daughter, Lovina, fell in a wheat field full of stubble when she was five years old and ran a straw in her eye. It became infected and the infection spread to her other eye, and she became blind also. She attended a school for the blind. Lovina was very beautiful, they say. She was engaged to marry an instructor at the school when she died of a sudden illness.

Susannah Geesaman was born 19 February 1807 in Pennsylvania. Her husband, Jacob Boheer, was born 2 August 1807 in Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania to Jacob Bohner and Catherine Diebler Bohner. Susannah and Jacob were married 16 Jan. 1828.

Since the first GEESAMAN immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, family tree searchers who live in Pennsylvania have a �gold mine� of information waiting for them in the courthouses of their state. Here is a list of county courthouse departments and the records they hold:

REGISTER OF WILLS and CLERK OF THE ORPHAN�S COURT have records of Wills and the records of Probates of Estate of those who died without making a will.

CLERK OF THE ORPHAN�S COURT has marriage applications; Marriages after 1885; Orphan records; Guardian records (some early ones might be in the office of the Prothonotary); some Birth and Death records to 1906, but not many.

PROTHONOTARY has Divorces; Civil Court Dockets; Naturalization records of early times.

CLERK OF COURTS has Criminal Dockets.

RECORDER OF DEEDS has Deed and Mortgages records.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS have road records; Assessment of property maps; Poor Relief records; County governing board; Early Election records; Voter Registration records for 40 years or more ago; Tax and Assessment Lists.

Other sources of information are: The Division of Vital Statistics, Dept. of Health, Harrisburg has birth and death records from 1906.

Several Pennsylvania cities maintained Registers of Births and Deaths between 1888 and 1906. For Philadelphia 1860-1906, write to Vital Statistics Section, Dept. of Health, Philadelphia.

The Division of Archives and Manuscripts of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, has microfilm copies of some records prior to 1850 for several Southeastern counties, such as Adams, Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadlephia, and York.

(Information given by Mrs. Cleona (GEESAMAN) APPLEBY, Peru, Kansas. More information is given than was on the stones.)

GEORGE B. GEESAMAN - Born 28 Sept. 1828, Lebanon, PA; Married 10 Nov. 1852 Indiana to Louisa May ROCKHILL; Died 2 Aug. 1898, Chautauqua Co., Kansas

LOUISA MAY (ROCKHILL) GEESAMAN - Born 23 Sept. 1833, Fort Wayne, Ind., Died 27 Jan. 1913, Chautauqua Co., Kansas

HENRY O. HELVIE - (Husband of Lulu GEESAMAN) Born 30 Jan. 1881, Wells Co., Indiana; Died 31 March 1961, Cedarvale, Kansas

LULU (GEESAMAN) HELVIE - Born 22 Feb. 1884, Marshall Co., Iowa; Died 16 June, 1969, Independence, Kansas

EARL MONROE HELVIE - Son of Henry O. HELVIE and Lulu (GEESAMAN) HELVIE, Born 17 March 1906, Chautauqua Co., Kan; Died 17 Dec. 1935, Tulsa, Oklahoma

DOROTHY COLEAN - Daughter of Bruce COLEAN and Floe (GEESAMAN) COLEAN - Died at birth 9 Jan. 1920, Chautauqua Co., Kansas

GEORGE O. GEESAMAN - Born 13 Dec. 1880, Gilman, Iowa; Died 30 Aug. 1963, near Peru, Kansas

WILLIAM H. GEESAMAN - Born 26 Oct. 1857, Tipton, Iowa; Died 23 May 1927, Tulsa, Oklahoma

KATIE BAER GEESAMAN - Wife of William H. GEESAMAN, Born 6 Jan. 1861, Marshall Co., Iowa; Died 4 Jan. 1939, Chautauqua Co., Kansas

CLAUDE D. APPLEBY (Husband of Cleona (GEESAMAN) APPLEBY), Born 25 Jan. 1902, Wauneta, Kansas; Died 4 April 1967, Kansas City

This will was recorded on page 151, Volume B of the Will Register in the Lebanon Co., PA, Courthouse. It was designated as Will G-31, and it was signed in December 1823. The exact day of the month was not filled in. Witnesses were John KRAUSSE and Geo. W. KLINE.

Henry GEESAMAN died in December of 1831 and his will was filed in court on the 29th day of December 1831.

Henry�s wife Catherine was willed a long list of personal property, including kitchen furniture, Dutch oven, spinning wheel, beds, etc. The executors were directed to sell the rest of the personal property and the house in which Henry was living at the time the will was made. Out of the proceeds $250.00 was to be paid each year to his widow for the care of three minor children until they either reached 21 years of age or were married. The three minor children were William, Hannah and Henry.

The remainder of the proceeds from the sale of real and personal property was to be disposed of as follows: one-third put out on interest which was to be paid annually to his �beloved wife Catherine� during her widowhood and the remaining two thirds was to be equally divided amongst his �nine children share and share and share alike�.

In addition to the three minor children three others were mentioned by name. Two of these were deceased, Anna who had married Thomas STAINS and Elizabeth who had married John SNAVELY. The children of these two daughters were to receive their mother�s shares. The other child was Mary who was the wife of Jacob SMITH. Her share was to remain in the hands of the executors and put out on interest for �the sole use, benefit and behoof of my daughter and to be paid unto her for her separate use as she may require it.�

He also directed that the �new house which I built� was to be allotted to his wife Catherine for her use during her widowhood, but at her remarriage or death the house was to be sold and the proceeds, along with the one-third which had been put out on interest for her use be divided among all his children.

He names his son-in-law, John SNAVELY, and Ludwig SHOTT executors of the will. Shortly after Henry�s death Ludwig SHOTT renounced his rights as co-executor of Henry�s will in favor of John SNAVELY.

From trhe records in the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, it appears that this Henry GEESAMAN was born 30 January 1763 to George GEESAMAN and Maria Barbara (KLEIN) GEESAMAN. On 22 December 1782 he was married to Elizabeth GOLDMAN, who seems to have died prior to ca 1814. Henry then married Catherine SHOTT, widow of Jacob SHOTT.

Henry and Catherine�s first child was William GEESAMAN, born 23 Nov. 1815, followed by Philip GEESAMAN, born 23 Feb. 1818; Hannah GEESAMAN, born 20 (or 22) July 1820; and Henry GEESAMAN, born 11 September 1822. The last three were the minor children mentioned in the will.

Five of Henry�s nine children were by his first wife, Elizabeth GOLDMAN. In addition to Anna, Elizabeth and Mary there would have been two others by his first wife. One of these seems to have been John GEESAMAN, born in August 1794, according to the baptismal records printed on page eight and nine of the January issue of GEESAMAN COUSINS.

In fact five of Henry�s children were listed in the article �Births and Baptism Records of Salem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, PA� in that issue of this publication.

On page 12 of the first issue of GEESAMAN COUSINS we asked readers to indicate whether they would like to exchange information on famly history with others. The following people said �YES�.

• Ada M. GEESAMAN, 21 W. Areba Av., Hershey, PA 17033
• Mrs. W. A. LOONEY, 1027 N. 11th, Salina, Kansas 67401
• Anna E. GEESAMAN, 41 E. Araba Ave, Hershey, PA 17033
• Mrs. Edna (GEESAMAN) ANDREWS, 704 Rutherford, Muskogee, OK 74401
• Donald W. GEESAMAN, R. 1, Box 226, Waynesboro, PA 17268
• Mrs. Cleona (GEESAMAN) APPLEBY, Box 37, Peru, Kansas 67360
• Russell H. GEESAMAN, RD 1, Box 375, Palmyra, PA 17078
• John E. GEESAMAN, Box 175, Quincy, PA 17247
• June TERRY, 3644 Densmore N., Seattle, WA 98103
• Mrs. Dale WURSTNER, 1485 Old Springfield Road, Vandalia, OH 45377

Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope when you write them. They will appreciate the courtesy.

This was compiled from inscriptions read by Charley SHULTZ, Box 81, Rte. 4, Union City, Indiana 47390 and from research by Mrs. Elsie ASHCRAFT, Box 2037, Muncie, Indiana 47302.

• WILLIAM HENRY GEESAMAN - b. 4 April 1835; d. 19 May 1916
• LEAR (TIBBS) GEESAMAN - Wife of William Henry GEESAMAN, b. 4 May 1840; d. 13 April 1906
• ROY M. GEESAMAN - 1902
• ICY J. (GEESAMAN) - 1903
• GERALD GEESAMAN - b. 1930; d. 1959
• ISIAH EUGENE GEESAMAN - b. 29 Aug. 1871; d. 13 March 1962
• DENNIS G. GEESAMAN - b. 30 June 1953
• ISAAC HILLERY TOTTEN - b. 1871; d. 16 July 1906
  Isaac Hillery TOTTEN was killed by a Lake Erie and Western RR train at the Blain Crossing.
• LYDIA ANN (GEESAMAN) TOTTEN
  wife of Isaac Hillery TOTTEN - b. 5 Aug 1874; d. 13 March 1962
• ARENA D. HUDSON - wife of Joseph E. HUDSON, b . 1859; d. 1923
• JOSEPH E. HUDSON - b. 1861; d. 1917.
  These were the parents of Mae Violet HUDSON, wife of Freddie Elon GEESAMAN.
• CLARENCE OLIVER GEESAMAN - b. 23 March 1891, still living
• LULU FRANCES (SHROLL) GEESAMAN
  Wife of Clarence Oliver GEESAMAN, b. 1892, still living in Portland, Indiana
• JAMES LESTER GEESAMAN - b. 9 March 1902, still living
• ADAH BELLE (DeCAMP) GEESAMAN - b. 1904; d. 1972
• NOAH EDWARD GEESAMAN - b. 22 Nov. 1868; d. 1 May 1943
• ANNA ELIZABETH (BINEGAR) GEESAMAN, - b. 5 March 1871; d. 8 May 1959
• CORNELIUS A. VALENTINE - b. 1899, still living
• EDITH ESTHER (GEESAMAN) VALENTINE - b. 9 March 1902; d.30 Sept. 1967
• FREDDIE ELON GEESAMAN, - b. 11 Aug. 1898; d. 2 Oct. 1970
• MAE VIOLET (HUDSON) GEESAMAN - b. 1898, still living

• THOMAS E. GEESAMAN - b. 1890; d. 1969 [hus/o Pearl]
• PEARL M. GEESAMAN - b. 1892; d. 1971 Thomas and Pearl were married 18 Nov. 1910.
• FRED EUGENE GEESAMAN
  Son of Harley W. and Ruth E. GEESAMAN, b. 23 Jan. 1952; d. 18 Dec. 1971
• JASPER L. GEESAMAN - b. 1892; d. 1960
• LESSIE E. GEESAMAN - b. 1893; d. 1965
• MARJORIE L. GEESAMAN - b. 1923; d. 1959
• HARLEY E. GEESAMAN - b. 1921

• WILLIAM F. GEESAMAN - b. 1900; d. 1971 [hus/o Edna]
• EDNA S. GEESAMAN - b. 1901
  William and Edna were married 17 April 1924.
• JOHN WILLIAM GEESAMAN - b. 4 Jan. 1942; d. 29 May 1943
• LOUIS FRANKLIN GEESAMAN - b. 2 Dec. 1860; d. 7 March 1930
• WILLIE ANN (BAILEY) GEESAMAN - b. 1863; d. 1915

Will you please send us any information on GEESAMAN genealogy, such as abstracts of wills, church and Bible records, stories of pioneer ancestors, current weddings, golden wedding anniversaries, family reunions, cemetery inscriptions, in fact anything that you think others will be interested in.

From Ray J. DIEFFENBACH, 218 N. Maple St., Elizabethtown , PA 17022 we learn of the connection between the DEFFENBAUGH and GEESAMAN families when...

• WILLIAM HENRY DEFFENBAUGH, b. 1845; married MARY LOUISE GEESAMAN; & d. 1930. Mary Louise, b. 1855; d. 1934.
  They had six children:

1. Lucy Mary DEFFENBAUGH, 1882-1957, married Clarence GRANGER in 1902.
2. Julia Bell DEFFENBAUGH, 1884-1974
3. Wilma Hazel DEFFENBAUGH, b. 1886
4. John Harris DEFFENBAUGH, 1888-1947, married Edith GRABLE in Feb. 1914. Edith d. 1956
5. Mary Elizabeth DEFFENBAUGH, b. 1890
6. Orrin Geeseman DEFFENBAUGH, b. 1894, married Anna SCHAEFFER 28 May 1924. Anna b. 1895

1. Charles Wm. DEFFENBAUGH, b. 1916, married Rosemae BRADSHAW
2. Howard Eugene DEFFENBAUGH, b. 1920
3. Ralph Edward DEFFENBAUGH, b. 1924
4. Walter John DEFFENBAUGH, b. 1926

1. Carl Richard DEFFENBAUGH, b. 10 Aug. 1931, married Ruth STAUFFER in 1956
2. David Arthur DEFFENBAUGH, b. 11 Jan. 1936, married Louella LODGE in 1959.

• WILLIAM HENRY DEFFEBAUGH was the son of Christian R. and Elizabeth Ann (HARRIS) DEFFENBAUGH. Christian R. was a son of Solomon R. and Martha (TWADDLE) DEFFENBAUGH. Solomon R. was a son of Conrad and Mary Magdalene (RIFFLE) DEFFENBAUGH.

Conrad was the immigrant of this line. He was born 1748 or 1749; died in German Twp., Fayette Co., PA in Feb. 1812; buried in Jacobs Lutheran Cemetery. If anyone wants further info on the DEFFENBAUGH family they can write to Ray J. DIEFFENBACH, 218 N. Maple St., Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or to C. Lloyd DEFFENBAUGH, 1221 Avondale Dr., Ohio View, Industry, PA 15052.

Ray J . DIEFFENBACH further states that he has not found a connection between his immigrant Conrad DIEFFENBACH from Wiesloch, Germany, and Conrad DEFFENBAUGH buried in Jacobs Lutheran Cemetery. Ray J. is descended from Johan Conrad DIEFFENBACH and his second wife who was Marie Barbara (nee CHRISLLER). She was born in the Upper Siebenthal of the Bern area of Switzerland.

Johan Conrad DIEFFENBACH, as a widower, married her on 25 Dec. 1702 in Wiesloch, Germany. They had four children born to them in Wiesloch (just south of Heidelberg). The eldest son Ludwig, born 1704, died young for when they arrived in England in 1709 there were only the three girls with them. Again in New York, 1710, it was Johan Conrad, his wife Barbara, and Conrad�s 74 year old widowed mother, Anna DIEFFENBACH, who was on Hunter�s subsistence list in 1712 but not on the Swimendinger (sp?) Register written in 1717.

Mr. DIEFFENBACH says he is a ninth generation American and traces his lineage as follows:

1. Johan Conrad DIEFFENBACH who died in 1737
2. Johan Adam DIEFFENBACH, 1712-1777
3. Johan Jacob DIEFFENBACH, 1744-1803
4. Christian DIEFFENBACH, 1769-1829 ?
5. David DIEFFENBACH
6. Elias DIEFFENBACH
7. Jacob DDIEFFENBACH
8. Victor Calvin DIEFFENBACH, 26 Oct. 1882 - 1965 (he was Ray J�s father)
9. Ray Jacob DIEFFENBACH, 22 Jan. 1922.

In April 1884 George R. GEESAMAN and his wife Louisa Rockhill GEESAMAN sold their farm in Marshall County, Iowa and with their two sons, William H. and his wife Katie Baer Geesaman, their son George O., age four, and their daughter Lula Geesaman Helvie, age seven weeks, moved to Kansas Their other son Charley and his wife, Emma Duns Geesaman and their daughter Maude Geesaman Lightner, came to Independence, Kans. The railroad ended at Independence. They lived there about a year when George R. Geesaman bought a 480 farm in Chautauqua Co., near Niotaze, Kans., about 30 miles west of Independence.

There was a log cabin near a river where George R. and wife and William H. and his young family lived. Charley and family lived farther up the river. In the middle of the night their little dog awakened them and was wet. They got up and tried to get out but the water was so deep the wagon bed began to float off the wagon and they had to go back to the house. Charley and famly got up in their attic and cut a hole in the roof where they put a light so the other family would know they were alright. As soon as the water went down George R. bought 120 acres of hill land near by and they moved there. When they built their house they had to haul the lumber from Independence, Kans.

Charley and wife had a son, John Cleveland, born in Kansas. They moved back to Iowa but George R. and wife and William H. and family stayed. George O. lived there all his life. He died 20 Aug. 1963 and the farm was sold.

I am Cleona Geesaman Apopleby, the youngest of William H. and Katie Geesaman�s children. I live in Peru, Kansas about four miles west of the farm.

When George R. and his wife Louisa May Rockhill Geesaman and their two sons, William H. and Charley E. were young they lived in Iowa. George R. decided to go to California by wagon train. He had two teams and two wagons, one of which he drove himself and hired a man to drive the other. When they got to California he decided he didn�t want to live there, so he sold his teams and wagons. Since that was years before the Panama Canal had been built, they went by boat on the Pacific Ocean down South America, around Cape Horn and on to the Atlantic Ocean to New York and finally settled back in Iowa.

In August 1958 my husband, Claude D. Appleby, and I drove to Oregon and Washington states. At that time the Interstate Highway had not been built and we drove several miles along the Oregon Trail and could hardly imagine how the wagon trains could cross over the mountains and rivers.

When the first issue of GEESAMAN COUSINS was printed we underestimated the number of copies we would really need. We had calls from a number of people for extra copies which we supplied free as long as our supply lasted.

If anyone should want a copy now we would have to have Xerox copies made of each page, which with the postage would make each copy of the January number cost $1.50. If anyone wants a copy they may send that amount to R. F. KIRKPATRICK, Box 37, Covington, OK 73730 and one will be mailed.

There has been no charge for the more than 100 copies of the first issue. And there will be no charge for the April or July issues unless we run short again. We are printing more copies next time and hopefully will be able to supply all those really interested in Geesaman family history.

After the July issue there will have to be a charge of some kind. Our preference is to make GEESAMAN COUSINS the organ of a Geesaman Family organization with dues sufficient to take care of the expense of the newsletter. If this does not occur there will be a subscription price.

• WILLIAM GEESAMAN - Born Nov. 23, 1815; died Jan. 23, 1863.
  Aged 47y 2m.
• DAVID GEESAMAN - Born May 5, 1794; died Dec. 24, 1859.
  Aged 65 y 7m 19d.
• MARY P. GEESAMAN - There were no dates given on this stone.

• CATHERINE ZEHRING (German words probably meaning wife of George KRUMM - b. Aug 7, 1799, d. April 22, 1873. Aged 73y 8m 15d
• MARIA ELIZABETH GEESAMAN - wife of William GEESAMAN - b. Feb. 18, 1819; d. Sept. 24,, 1895. Aged 76y 7m 6d
• GAHLEN D. GEESAMAN - b. Oct. 18, 1870; d. Nov. 11, 1941. Aged 71y 23d
• SABINA ALICE GEESAMAN - daughter of John H. and Sarah A. GEESAMAN. - b. April 4, 1874; d. March 2, 1877. Aged 2y 10m 28d
• ANNA ELIZABETH GEESAMAN - daughter of John H. and Sara A. GEESAMAN - b. July 14, 1881; d. Sept. 19, 1881. Aged 2m 5d
• SUSAN FIANNA GEESAMAN - daughter of John H. and Sarah A. GEESAMAN - b. Nov. 18, 1888; d. Dec. 12, 1894. Aged 6y 24d
• JOHN H. GEESAMAN (Father) - b. April 6, 1841; d. March 11, 1917. Aged 75y 11m 5d
• SARAH A. KEIFFER (Mother) - b. Dec. 10, 1848; d. Oct. 26, 1902. Aged 53y 10m 16d

1. SABINA GUESEMAN - age 15 when confirmed on 15 May 1854 by Rev. W. S. EMERY.
2. ROSANNA REBECCA GUESEMAN was born 4 Nov. 1862; baptized 19 April 1863; sponsored by her mother, Elizabeth GUESEMAN. Father was dead.
3. ELIZABETH GUESEMAN partook of Communion 18 Oct., 1863; 1 May 1864; 16 Oct. 1864; 30 May 1865; 15 Oct. 1865; Spring 1866; Fall 1866; 30 May 1867.
4. SABINA GUESEMAN partook of Communion 1 May 1864; 16 Oct. 1864; 30 May 1865; 15 Oct. 1865; Fall 1866.
5. SABINA ALICE GIESAMAN, daughter of J. H. and Sarah A. GIESAMAN, born 4 April 1874; died 2 March 1877; disease - croup, age 2y 10m 28d.
6. CATRHERINE ZEHRING KRUMM, wife of George KRUM, born 7 Aug. 1799; died 22 Apr. 1873, age 73y 8m 15d.
7. MARIA ELIZABETH GEESAMAN, wife of William GEESAMAN, born 18 Feb. 1819; died 24 Sept. 1895, 76y 7m 6d.
8. JOHN H. GEESAMAN, born 6 Apr. 1841; d. 11 Mar. 1917, aged 75y 11m 5d.
9. SARAH A. (KIEFFER) GEESAMAN, wife of John H. GEESAMAN, born 10 Dec. 1948, d. 26 Oct. 1902, age 53y 10m 16d
10. JOHN ZEHRING and wife had a son, John, born 22 Feb. 1800; baptized 11 May 800, sponsored by Michlin and wife.
11. SUSAN FIANA GEESAMAN, daughter of John H. and Sarah A. GEESAMAN, born 18 Nov.1888; d. 12 Dec. 1894, age 6y 24d.
12. ANNA ELIZABETH GEESAMAN, daughter of John H. and Sarah A. GEESAMAN, born 14 July 1881; died 19 Sept. 1881, age 2m 5d.
13. JOHN ZEHRING, in 1801 sponsored many persons for baptism.
14. JOHN ZEHRING and wife had a daughter, EVA SUSANNA ZEHRING, born 13 Apr. 1803; baptized 3 June 1803, sponsored by Gottfried ZIMMERMAN.
15. PETER GEESAMAN of Londonderry Twp. and MARY E. GRANGER of Derry Twp., were married 18 Jan. 1877.

March 31, 1975

Mr. Richard Kirkpatrick,

Dear Cousin,

After reading the GEESAMAN COUSINS newsletter that my sister Nina Gisch received, I would appreciate very much if you would mail one to me also. I am enclosing $1.00 to cover the cost of mailing Nos. 1 and also Nos. 2 and 3 if you will be kind enough to send them.

Also if it gets to be a regular publication as you mentioned, I would be happy to contribute the $5.00 fee in order to receive the letters.

It is obvious that some of the family have gone to a great deal of work and research for so much information.

We in our immediate family (John Cleveland GESSMAN) have been discussing our ancestry for some time but no one has gone to any effort to trace our genealogy.

We are also curious about you and your family. What your occupation was, when you moved to Oklahoma, etc.?

We really appreciate the effort and interest you have put forth.

Florence (Gessman) White
(Mrs. Ared White, Jr.)
1414 N. Carolina Pl.
Mason City, IA 50401

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