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
New Years Greetings from your editors! You will probably receive this several days, maybe weeks, after New Years Day, but the year is young and we wish for each of you a Prosperous and Happy 1976. And we trust that you had a Merry Christmas!
1976 is our nation�s bicentennial birthday and many organizations are working on some project this year to celebrate the event. We would like to suggest that the Geesaman Family Association search for information on the activities of our own ancestors in the Revolution.
We have plenty of evidence that at least two Giesemans served in the Revolution, but there are other ancestors of our members who also had a part in winning our independence.
Eighteenth century Giesemans married into such families as the Orths, Kneppers, Smiths, McNeals, Ressleys, Goldmans, Mileys, Fishers, and others. Many of our members are descended from one or more of these families. So, we suggest that we search for the military records of every Revolutionary ancestor of each of our members. Surely we can unearth some very interesting data on these patriotic ancestors for publication in Geesaman Cousins during 1976.
Please write to your editors and give us your views on the project.
The October issue of Geesaman Cousins printed the list of the first 18 memberships. Following is a list of additional memberships received by December 15.
Mr. and Mrs. John G. Geesaman, Jr., Rt. 2, Hummelstown, PA 17036Other reference to this branch of the family is made in the Jan. issue, page 11, Cemetery Inscriptions, and the April issue page 19, in the Will of John or Johannes.
In 1801 John Geeseman and Sabinah, his wife, took communion under Rev. John Rothrauff at Grindstone Hill Church. John Geeseman had settled in the German settlement between 1780-1785.
John Geeseman was born 19 Nov., 1767 and died 11 Sept., 1826, aged 58 years, 9 months and 23 days. His wife, Sabinah, died 9 June, 1844, aged 72 years, 5 mo. And 20 days. The Franklin Co. Courthouse Will Book C, page 820, names nine children: Sabinah married Samuel Mack, Catherine married David Mentzer, Jacob, Joseph (home property), Sally, Margaret, and Elizabeth were unmarried, and Samuel, who was the youngest child.
Joseph Geeseman was born 7 Oct., 1799 and died 18 Aug. 1841, aged 41 years, 10 months and 11 days. Susan Geeseman was born 11 Aug., 1796 and died 19 Oct., 1855, aged 59 years, 2 months, and 8 days.
Ann Elizabeth was born 20 April, 1825, died 23 Nov., 1892, aged 67 years, 7 months and 3 days and was married on 7 Nov., 1848 by L. T. Williams of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fayetteville to Charles Thomson of Quincy township. Charles Thomson was born 11 Jan., 1826 and died 26 March, 1899, aged 73 years, 2 months and 15 days. Both are buried at Fetterhoff Chapel, as are two sons: Clayton 25 Aug., 1868, William born 1 April, 1856, died 29 Jan., 1861, Wesley, Emma, born 5 May, 1853, died 8 Feb., 1902, married Daniel Sheller 13 Dec., 1877, Daniel, born 1 Dec., 1851, died 20 June, 1927.
Ann Elizabeth Geeseman had a sister married to Michael LONG; also a sister Susan married to Adam Cook on 27 Nov., 1849 at the Chambersburg Hotel. Daniel Sheller and Emma Thomson were married in Chambersburg by Rev. H. J. Comfort, Reformed Pastor, and had the following children: Charles, born 1879, Percy, D. Roy, born 1883, Harry Tomson, born 2 Sept., 1889, died 13 Dec., 1974.
Harry Thomson Sheller married Esta Snyder Lesher and had one child, Mildred E. who married Enos H. Horst. They had one child, Nancy Ann Horst who married Thomas Gee Burkey and they have had one child, Suellen Ann Burkey.
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Mrs. Geesaman was the former Miss Ruth E. Shubert, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Shubert of Hagerstown, MD. Mr. Geesaman was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Geesaman. The couple were married on August 9, 1911 at the Mont Alto United Brethren parsonage by Rev. D. B. Rojahn.
They had two sons, John E., now living in Quincy, PA, and Joseph S., who died 25 January, 1965.�
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The following is the family and descendants of Gahlen David Geesaman, born 18 Oct., 1870, died 11 Nov., 1941, and wife Rebecca Shultz, born 26 Feb., 1879, died 5 Jan., 1957. He was born in Lebanon Co., Pa and was the oldest of nine children, four boys and five girls.
Gahlen�s father was John H. Geesaman, born 6 April, 1841 and died 11 March, 1917. He was married to Sarah Ann Keefer, born 10 Dec., 1848 and died 26 Oct., 1902. John H. was one of ten children, five boys and five girls.
John H. Geesaman�s father was William Geesaman, born 23 Nov., 1815 and died 23 Jan., 1863. He was married to Marie Elizabeth Zering, born 18 Feb., 1819 and died 24 Sept. 1895. All of these people are buried in Lebanon Co., PA and Dauphin Co, PA within approximately a five mile radius.
Gahlen David Geesaman married Rebecca Shultz circa 1895. They had four children, one daughter and three sons. He was a farmer most of his life. He moved circa 1898 onto a farm which his father had rented and farmed prior to him. He farmed this farm until about 1907 when he bought the property for $2100.00. He was to pay $100.00 and the remainder as he was able. He worked and earned his living on this farm until his death on Armistice Day of 1941.
Their first child, Bertha May, was born 13 Sept., 1897 just prior to their moving to this farm. Bertha married Edwin C. Hess, born 23 July, 1892 and died 28 Feb., 1971, having six children.
Edgar David was the second child, born 9 Nov., 1899, married Eva May Runkle, born 19 Aug., 1899 and died 12 Oct. 1974, having 14 children. Edgar�s second wife was Ruth Marie Phillips, born 9 April, 1931. They had 2 children.
Gahlen�s third child, being Wiliam Henry Geesaman, was born the fourth of July, 1902. He married Clara Mary Henry, born 23 June, 1897. They had three children.
Gahlen�s fourth and last child was John Gahlen Geesaman, born 10 June, 1909, who married Edna Belle Teets, born 2 Sept., 1906, having sixteen children.
The descendants of Gahlen David Geesaman and his wife Rebecca, as of 15 Dec., 1975, totaled 4 children, 41 grandchildren, 121 great grandchildren, and 80 great-great grandchildren, a total of 246 descendants. The number of great-great grandchildren is possibly a few more due to the fact of a few incompleted family charts. A chart on page four shows his descendants more clearly.
If anyone can give me the names of the parents of William Geesaman, born 23 Nov., 1815, died 23 Jan., 1863, I will appreciate it, as I am looking for a missing link. Also, does anyone know anything about David Geesaman, born 5 May, 1794, died 24 Dec., 1859?
Both of these persons are buried at Shells Lutheran Church in Shellsville, Dauphin Co., PA. If you can give me information, write Russel H. Geesaman, R. D. #1, Box 375, Palmyra, PA 17078.
In the name of the Benevolent Father of All, I Jacob Geesaman of the Township of Lawrence, County of Stark and State of Ohio, in view of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, and being of Sound Mind and a disposing Memory do hereby make and publish this my lsat will and testament.
Item 1st, I do heareby give to my beloved wife Ann Maria during her natural life all our household and chattels of Every Name and Nature Book and provisions on hand at the time of my decease, also our horse and buggy and harness being those now on the farm and in use by us, also three cows and keep for them until the farm is sold as hereinafter described and specified. All of the same to keep and hold and use during her natural life, and at her decease so much of the same as remains unconsumed and unexpended to go to my Estate and be equally divided share and share alike with all my children and their heirs. I also devise to her a good and comfortable supply and living from the farm upon which we now reside until the same is sold as hereinafter directed, said supply is to agreed upon from time to time by my Executors and herself, and they are hereby instructed and directed to make it ample and sufficient.
Item 2nd, I desire that as soon as convenient after my decease my Executors shall make sale of all my personal property, except such as is herein devised, to my said wife and to pay all of my just debts; also to take charge of all my personal Estate and convert the same into money to be paid out as hereinafter directed.
Item 3rd, When my daughter Malinda (Being my youngest child by my first marriage) arrives at the age of Eighteen years, I do hereby direct and empower my Executors hereinafter named to sell, at either public or private sale, and as a whole or in pieces as will best suit, the real estate now owned by me and being the North East quarter of Section Twenty-nine and the South East quarter of Section Twenty of Township (1) of Range ten (10) also all of my Western lands and deliver in fee simple, And also to sell the same upon such terms of credit as shall seem best. I then direct them that in lieu of Dower in all of my real Estate to my said wife Maria they shall take the one third of the money arising from the sale of the real Estate and invest it in a homestead such as will be suitable and agreeable for my said wife, taking the title to said homestead in their own names as trustees for the heirs; said wife may use and enjoy said premises with all the profits of the same until our daughter Emma arrives at the age of Eighteen years; at which time my Executors shall sell said homestead upon such terms as they shall deem best and rom said sale, or the avails of said homestead they shall give to my said wife the sum of twenty five hundred dollars which she is hereby authorized to use and invest in such manner as she may think best, and at her decease so much of the same as remains unconsumed and unexpended shall go into my Estate and be distributed share and share alike between all of my heirs or shall go in making them all equal. The foregoing clause in reference to a homestead is made conditional upon her accepting it in lieu of dower in my real estate. The remainder of the proceeds of my real Estate after paying for the homestead, I direct to be paid over share and share alike between all of my children by my first wife or their heirs and out of the sale of the homestead after our daughter Emma arrives at age, I Devise and direct that the children of my second marriage living or their heirs shall be divided share and share alike between all my heirs, Except the heirs of my daughter Rebecca, whose remains I direct to be removed to the cemetery and a suitable tombstone to be erected to her memory the expense of which shall be taken from said Rebecca�s share.
Item 4th, In case I should survive my wife then, at the arrival of my daughter Malinda at the age of Eighteen years; then I direct all of my real Estate to be sold as hereinafter specified and divided share and share alike between all of my heirs as hereinbefore specified.
Item 5th, I give to my son Joseph Fifty dollars in addition to his equal share with the others for his extra Kindness and attention to me in my sickness.
Item 6th, All of my children having received an outfit upon coming of age, I do hereby direct my Executors to pay or give to my daughter Malinda upon her arriving at age from my Estate articles in value and quality corresponding with my daughter Rebecca, a list of which will be found in a book kept for that purpose, and as the children of my second marriage respectively arrive at age they shall be furnished with like outfit.
Lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint my son Joseph Geesaman and Christian Eshelman Executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of May ad 1861.
Jacob Gesaman
Executed, signed and sealed by said Jacob Gesaman and declared as his last Will and Testament in our presence and subscribed by us as Witnesses in his presence and at his request.
John Shilling
John Gesaman
Be it remembered that on this thirtieth day of May in the year Eighteen Hundred and Sixty One the last Will and Tesyament of Jacob Gesaman deceased was brot into this Probate Court within and for the County of Stark and State of Ohio and the subscribing witnesses to said Will to wit John Shilling and John Gesaman also came into court and being duly Sworn say that said testator signed said will at the end thereof in the presence of said witnesses that they attested and subscribed the same as witness in the presence of said Testator and at his request, that said testator, at the time of executing said Will was of full age, of sound mind and memory and not under restraint. All of which testimony was by the Court reduced to writing and files, and it appearing to the Court that said will was in all respects duly Executed, attested and proved the same is admitted to probate and record attested.
(Note: Again the punctuation and spelling were followed as closely as possible. Your attention is called to the spelling of the name at the beginning and ending. In the Canton, Ohio telephone directory we found eight listings of the name spelled GESAMAN. These are probably descendants of this Jacob. We believe he was the son of John and Sabina of Guilford Twp. In Franklin Co., PA. The will of this John is printed in the April issue of �Geesaman Cousins� on page 19. BG)
We now know the names of at least three Gieseman immigrants, though there are several different spellings of their surnames. They seem to all have come from Germany. Several questions arise. Were they related to each other in the �Old County?� Is it time for the Geesaman Family Association (or individual members of the Association) to start researching in Germany?
YERIGH WILLIAM GIESEMAN came to America on the Snow Molly in 1741 and settled in Pennsylvania. It appears that he came from the Palatinate. Most of the members of our association are descended from him.
JOHN GEISMANN landed at New Orleans when he was about 30 years of age. His wife was Zitha Bellon, but we do not know whether they were married in the United States or in Germany. They settled in Madison Co., Ill., where he operated a brewery. He came to America more than 100 years later than Yerigh William Gieseman.
CHRISTIAN WILLIAM GEISMAN was born in Saxony, Germany and came to America in 1852, port of entry not known. He settled in Crawford Co., Ohio in 1854.
If these and other early Gieseman immigrants came from a common ancestry in Germany, is it time for us to begin searching German records?
Geesaman Cousins will run free queries for our readers if there is a connection with some Geesaman family.
Clara Margaret Geesaman, born 12 Oct. 1923, daughter of Jasper and Lessie Shroll Geesaman was married 21 Dec. 1946 to Fred Alvin Steen, born 22 Jan 1922, son of Frank and Delia Geesaman Steen. Delia was a daughter of John L. and Nancy Lanning Geesaman. John�s parents were Samuel and Mary Ann Johnson Geesaman.
Margaret�s daughter, Ruby Ellen Robbins, from a former marriage, was born 15 Nov. 1942. She was four years old when Margaret and Fred were married. Ruby married Mark Stump and three children were born to this marriage: Margaret Marie, born 26 April, 1963; Malinda Kay, born 31 May 1965 and Michele Lyn, born 22 Feb 1970. Later Ruby married Keith Rinker and their son Jonathan Michael was born 14 May 1973. Keith is a foreman at the Westinghouse Transformer Plant in Muncie, IN. Ruby is a housewife.
Fred Steen was employed at Shellar�s Steering Wheel Plant #1 for almost 29 years. Margaret worked at Westinghouse Small Motor Division in Union City, IN for 12 years before disability in 1967 took her out of the plant. This is when their interst in antiques grew and they started to prepare for the shop which they now operate in their home. They are active members of the First Church of God, just two blocks from their home, serving as Treasurer, Trustee and helping with care of the lawn, etc. They are thankful that an early retirement has given them an opportunity to be helpful to others in their time of need.
Margaret says that she liked the Geesamans so much that she couldn�t get away from them. (Her husband�s mother was Geesaman also.) She finds the newsletters interesting and enjoyable and looks forward to getting the next copy. The Steens live at 117 E. Penn Street, Portland, IN.
(We are indebted to Mrs. Jean Davis of Battle Creek, MI for the following description of the hardships of her ancestors over 140 years ago.)
Elizabeth Geeseman, b. 15 Sep. 1812 in Pennsylvania to George and Mary Geeseman, moved with her parents to Perry Co., Ohio and from there to Sandusky Co., OH in 1831.
Elizabeth Geeseman married Samuel Skinner 17 Oct. 1833. Within two weeks after their marriage they began life together in a cabin which he had just completed.
Sixty years later Mr. Skinner gives this account of their early years:
�We built the cabin in ten days on the 80 acre lot that Tom Hafford now owns. There had not been a tree cut on it before unless it might have been a coon or bee tree. It was very wet lot at times. It was near under water when we began to keep house. We were very poor indeed. I think everything we had would not have brought 50 dollars. The house was 16 x 18, clabbord [sic] roof held down by wait [sic] poles, floor of split punchin [sic], door of the same material. Bored holes in the wall and put poles in the wall for bedstead, basswood bark for cord, don�t think there was � lb. of nails used in the house.
Cut a hole in the wall, tacked strips across and pasted grease paper on it for window. We had no chairs in the house for two years. Used stools made out of split basswood. No sawmills, could not get lumber even if we had the money.
The wild animals were deer, wild turkeys, wolves, wild cats, coons and o�possum [sic], and porcupines. Many a night I got up and shot off the gun to drive the wolves away, but never killed one.
We went to work, was both of us real well and hearty. Cleared a patch that winter for corn and potatoes. In the spring planted it. Growed nice till the June flood came, everything drowned out. We saw hard times indeed. We often had no bread for days at a time. We sifted bran and made bread of that. At times lived on corn bread and wild meat mostly. I had to work from home � the time and go to the river to get work about six miles. Got 50 cents per day. Got one bushel of corn for a days work. We used corn bread mostly.
Knowing what I do now and was young again I would not take a section of land there as a gift and go through with the same hardships.
You may think that strange to look at things as they are now (1893). But it seemed alright. We did not know anny [sic] better. We worked with a will. The next July Wash was born. Then we had something to amuse ourselves with. Our family increased fast, soon we had a family of ten children and it makes my heart ache to think back how they was raised. They went barefoot 8 months in the year and clothes very scanty indeed.�
In a family history of Samuel and Elizabeth Geeseman Skinner published about 1914, we find this tribute to Elizabeth:
�Nor can we overlook another picture in this home, where the prudent mother is patiently teaching the daughters to clean flax and wool with a hand card; how to prepare it with the aid of a spinning wheel for the shuttle, and how, finally, to weave into cloth, for we must remember that the thud of the loom was then more common in the home than the noise of the sewing machine today, and upon the women rested the burden of providing clothing for the entire family. Shirts, trousers, dresses and bedclothes, all were the product of the busy hands of this pioneer woman and which must needs be provided for in addition to the other regular housework.
Mrs. Skinner�s health when at the best was not such as to long endure hard labor. Her strength gradually failed her�a sickness of several weeks duration came on but tender care seemed to be winning her back: a sudden overexertion proved to be more than her weakened constitution could bear and at the close of the eighth day of March, 1869, she died suddenly.�
Mr. Skinner died in Fremont, OH 15 Feb., 1902.
Children of Samuel and Elizabeth Geeseman Skinner were:
WEDS JEFFREY BLAINE GEESAMAN |
On October 19, 1975, Miss Patricia Ellen Frantz and Jeffrey Blaine Geesaman were united in marriage at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waynesboro, PA. Pastor Charles W. Reider and the Rev. Gerald E. Houseknecht co-officiated at the three P.M. double ring rites.
Patricia is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Richard Frantz of Waynesboro and Jeffrey is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Blaine A. Geesaman of Rouzerville, PA.
The bride is a 1973 graduate of Waynesboro Area Senior High School and a 1975 graduate of Hagerstown (MD) Junior College where she majored in merchandising. She is employed by Routzahn�s Department Store in Hagerstown.
A 1973 graduate of the same high school, the bridegroom is a self employed builder. Following a New England honeymoon, the couple is now residing in Rouzerville.
FROM HERSHEY CHOCOLATE FACTORY |
Miss Sara L. Geesaman, 41 E. Areba Ave., Hershey, PA was one of eleven area employees of Hershey Foods Corporation�s Chocolate and Confectionery Division who retired on November 1, 1975. Four of these employees has more than forty years of service. Sara was one of these with 42 years of service to her credit. She was last employed in the Wrapping Department. Congratulations are extended and best wishes for many enjoyable retirement years.
We are indebted to Larry Kimble, Oak Hill, KS 67472, for compiling this information of the Geesamans of all spellings, who lived in Pennsylvania in 1800. Some of our readers may question the propriety of including such spellings as Geiselman and Guseman. We have been informed that some who used those spellings were closely related to others using Geesaman and Gieseman.
Research on this list of Geiseman deaths (or burials) as recorded by the Salem Church, Lebanon, PA, as made by Pastor Frederick Weiser, Hanover, PA.
STAINS, Catarina, died or buried April, 1811, at age 4 mo. Less 2 days; dau of Thomas Stains and wife Anna and born 10 Dec 1810; baptized, sponsor Catarina Geiseman. Child died of convulsions.
GEISSEMAN, Elizabeth, died or buried 8 Nov. 1815, at age 2 yr., 3 mo., 21 days; dau. of George and Elizabeth Geisseman.
GEISSEMAN, Mrs. Cath., died 23 Dec., buried 25 Dec 1825, age 44 yr., 8 mo., 17 days; born 5 Apr. 1781. Baptized and confirmed. Married twice, second husband Henrich Giesseman. (Note: first husband, Jacob Shott [sic].)
GIESSEMAN, Heinrich, died 23 Dec. and buried 25 Dec 1831, age 68 yr., 10 mo., 21 days; born 30 Jan. 1763. Baptized and confirmed. Married (1st) Elizabeth Goldman, 7 children; Married (2nd) Elizabeth (or Catherine) Schott, 4 children.
GIESSEMAN, John, died 2 Apr. and buried 5 Apr. 1836; age 41 yr., 7 mo., 21 days; born 12 Aug. 1794, parents: Henrich and Elizabeth (Goldman) Giesseman; baptized and confirmed. Married Maria Beistel. They had 7 children.
SCHMIDT, Mrs. Anna Maria (Kuhns) nee Giesseman, d. 29 Nov. and buried 1 Dec. 1836, age 53 yr. Less 4 days. Born 3 Dec. 1783. Baptized and confirmed. Married twice; had 3 children by 1st husband, J. Kuhns.
GIESAMAN, Sabina, born 1 Oct. 1848; died 28 Sept. 1868, age 19 yr., 11 mo., 28 days. Dau. of Wm. and Elizabeth Gieseman (sic).
Let us remind you that only those households having children age 10 or under were included, but if there was a child ten or under, all persons were listed regardless of age. But those Geesaman families who had no child ten or under, and living in Illinois in 1880, can be found in the regular census schedules. The following arrangement will be used.
Name of Family Head, Vol. No., District No., Sheet No., Line No., Color, Sex, Age, Birthplace
County, City, Street or Township
Family Names, Relation, Age, Birthplace
Congratulations are extended to Sgt. and Mrs. Paul A. Shelton on the birth of their first child, a daughter named Maribeth Lynn, born 22 Nov. 1975. Paul is stationed in Germany in the Air Force. His wife, the former Deborah J. Geesaman is the daughter of Mrs. Helen S. Geesaman of Waynesboro, PA.
To the APRIL 1975 issue, page 17, for Karen Jean birth date should be: b 27 Dec. 1948 instead of 1950.
To the OCTOBER 1975 issue, page 42, the last entry in list of guests should be GALE, not �Glae.�
To OCTOBER issue, page 43, in the list of names of Rev. and Mrs. John G. Geesaman�s children, VERNA, not �Verris.�
Page 47, date of birth of J. D. Geesaman should be 11 Jun 1820 instead of 1920.
Your co-editor is seeking information on Josiah E. and Anna Elizabeth Geesaman who resided in Rouzerville, PA; also information on Finley Geesaman of the Quincy area who went to Arizona. This information is needed for future articles in the Newsletter. Send to address on heading of the newsletter. (BNG)
Does anyone know the present address of KENNETH L. GEESAMAN, who formerly lived at 7611 Cold Spring Blvd., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825? His October issue of Geesaman Cousins was returned and we wish to send it to him.