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
This October issue of GEESAMAN Cousins completes two years of publication for our family newsletter. We believe that it serves a useful purpose and that it is appreciated by nearly 100 members of the GEESEMAN Family Association. But your editors would like to point out that the make it the best possible family newsletter we must receive letters from our readers telling us their family news and genealogical information. Please, please write us letters!
Give us your suggestions; send us information about your family history; tell us family deaths, marriages, births, important anniversaries, graduations, job promotions, etc.
Tell us all you can about your family tree. In our files we have Family Group Charts and/ or Ancestor Charts of about 40 GEESAMAN or GEESAMAN related families. We would like to have both Family Group Charts and Ancestor Charts of every member-family of our association. If you haven't done so before, won't you please give us the following information: Name, place and date of birth, place and date of marriage, also, place and date of each of the following: You, your wife or husband, each of your children, your father, your mother, each of your brothers and sisters, your grandfather and grandmother, each of their children, and from there go back as many generations as you can.
We realize that many of you will not be able to give nearly all this information, but we hope you will give us what you can. We will type the charts, file them, and send them to our members on request.
On 18 Sept. the reunion of the John G. GEESAMAN family was held near Linglestown, Pa. After a delicious meal, a short business meeting was held with the president, Herman GEESAMAN in charge. A taped message from Richard Kirkpatrick was played and was followed by remarks by Anna GEESAMAN of Hershey and John E. GEESAMAN of Quincy concerning the genealogy of the family.
Reading of the minutes and reports by the treasurer and Historian followed. Election of officers resulted as follows: President- Courtney GEESAMAN, Secretary- Verna GAMBER, Treasurer- John G. GEESAMAN, Jr., Historian- Doris GEESAMAN, persons traveling longest distance- John E. and Claude B. GEESAMAN of Quincy, youngest mother- Donna WOERNER, and Oldest persons present- Edward GEESAMAN and Gertrude NEWCOMER.
The historian, Arlene HESS, reported births since last reunion: Clinton and Wanda GEESAMAN, on 15 Feb, a girl, Chandra Lee; Bonnie GEESAMAN on Mar. 19, a girl named Charity Ann; the Wynn WOERNERS, a boy, named John Michael on 5 May; and to Mr. And Mrs. Dwayne DEATRICK in Nov. a girl named Heather Jan. Marriages were: Clinton GEESAMAN and Wanda FEARNBAUGH on 27 Sept. 1975, Wayne WOERNER and Donna HESS on 4 Oct. 1974, and Eugene FRAZER and Judy KELLER on 17 Jan. 1976. Deaths: John GAHLEN GEESAMAN on 21 Jan. 1976.
The 1977 reunion will be held at the same location on the third Saturday of September.
The Fifth Annual GEESAMAN Reunion was held on 5 Sept. at the Waynesboro Fish and Game Association with 133 in attendance. Fine weather, delicious food and good company made for a successful day. Sports were played all day including horseshoes, badminton, football and volley ball as well as games for the children, such as a peanut scramble and bag races.
A short business meeting was held with David GEESAMAN in charge, at which time generous donations were made to defray expenses and the overage to help finance next years reunion. The meeting was then turned over to the president of the GEESAMAN Family Association. Mr. George SONON, Sr. called for a moment of silence in remembrance of the family members who had passed away during the year. The Treasurer's report was read showing receipts for the year of $633.00 and expenditures of $317.20 leaving a balance on hand of $315.80.
Election of officers for the coming year was next on the agenda with these results: President- Mr. Russel H. GEESAMAN of Palmyra, PA: Vice President- L. Eugene GEESAMAN of Waynesboro, PA; Secretary- Mrs. Susan KIRBY of Waynesboro and Treasurer- Mrs. Virginia GEESAMAN of Waynesboro, PA. There was a slight oversight in the fact that election of the Historian was not made. John E. GEESAMAN has very capably filled this post and will continue in this capacity until the matter is decided. Before the meeting was adjourned a tape was played from Mr. Richard KIRKPATRICK of Covington, OK, who edits and publishes this newsletter, sending his regrets at not being with us, although it seemed that he was by his warm message to us. Play continued for the remainder of the afternoon and many expressed their pleasure with the location of the picnic area, which gave ample room for all including a large table for registration and many genealogical charts of interest to all.
Those in attendance were from New Castle, Newark and Wilmington, Delaware; Cascade, Catonsville, Ellicott City and Fort Meade, Maryland; Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Shippensburg, State College, Palmyra, Hummelstown, Fredericksburg, Rouzerville, Fairfield, Hershey, Reading, Auburn, Sinking springs, Quincy and Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. (VKG)
Refer to GEESAMAN Cousins, July 1976, page 41 for information on the Samuel and Elizabeth (GEESAMAN) SKINNER Reunion which was held on June 27, 1976 at Monroe, Michigan.
Donald F. GEESAMAN, son of Frank and Mildred SNYDER GEESAMAN, recently received his Ph.D. degree in Physics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is presently employed at the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to the former Janis GROVER from Minnesota. They have a daughter Megan who was born 17 Feb 1986.
Georgiana GEESAMAN HOLLAND was born 4 Feb. 1921, at Peabody, Kansas to Alva Clarence and Grace ABRAHAM GEESAMAN. Her father, Alva Clarence, was born on 12 Feb. 1973, in Cedar Co., Iowa to George W. and Lenora HOLMES GEESAMAN. He died 20 Jun. 1949, in Oklahoma City. Her mother, Grace ABRAHAM GEESAMAN was born 18 Apr. 1884 and died 12 Nov. 1966.
Georgiana married Thomas E. HOLLAND, Fr. On 7 Mar. 1949. They have one daughter, Amelia Ann HOLLAND, born 29 Nov. 1951. Georgiana lived in Peabody, Kansas until she was 2 1/2 years old when the family moved to Watchhorn, OK, and oil field town near Morrison, OK. After she graduated from Westville High School, she attended Oklahoma Northeastern College at Tahlequah where she met her husband Tom. She also attended Hill's Business college in Oklahoma City.
Tom spent four years in the Army as a laison pilot during WWII. After his discharge he worked for Doc and Bill Furniture Company in Oklahoma City until 1953 when he was employed by Motor Insurance Corporation, the insurance division of General Motors, and is still working for them as an adjuster.
Georgiana says, "I have the greatest profession any woman can have-- that of a homemaker". I do teach tole and decorative painting one day each week. I love to play golf, bridge and to swim. I also sew a great deal and am active in the First Christian Church. I gave up social and civic clubs several years ago.
Our daughter Ann graduated from Cameron University here in Lawton in May of 1974. She teaches second grade at Douglas School in Lawton. It is a public school for the children of working parents. Ann has her own apartment. She plans to marry LT. Clay WERNER on 19 Mar. 1977.
After WWII, Tom and Georgiana settled in Oklahoma City where they lived eight years. Then they moved to Enid, OK, but lived there only nine months before moving to Lawton where they still reside at 833 N. 33rd. Street.
At the reunion on 5 Sep. we held an election of officers and a new secretary was elected. She is Susan ELKINS KIRBY, daughter of Harry and Rosalie GEESAMAN ELKINS. In the next year she will be receiving the dues for membership. Her address is: 321 North Franklin Street, Waynesboro, PA 17268.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank our members for the interesting and informative letters sent to me. I urge you to keep sending family information to Richard or me for publication in the newsletter. Without this we could not continue printing it.
I plan to continue as co-editor and to assist my husband John in compiling genealogical data.
John and I visited Oklahoma for the first time this summer. We spent one week visiting the KIRKPATRICKS and the DONNELLS and enjoyed very much sightseeing, visiting some "cousins" we had corresponded with in the past two years, seeking information in the library and trying to catch up on conversation. Really had a great visit together. (BNG)
A record from the Ohio Adjutant General's Office states that David GEESEMAN was enrolled as a private in Company c, 65th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry on 24th day of September 1864 and was mustered into the United States Service as such for a period of one year by U.S.A. Mustering Officer and that he was twenty five years of age at the time of his enrollment in the Civil War. Drafted: Missing November 30, 1864, at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee; perished by explosion of Steamer Sultana on Mississippi river, near Memphis, Tennessee, April 27, 1865.
An article by Cedric A. LARSON called Dark River tells the story of a steamboat disaster on the Mississippi in Late April of 1865. The lower part of the river was at flood stage but the predominant feeling of the people was one of relief because the Civil War was ended. The war weary Union Soldiers still in the south were anxious to return home. Thousands of survivors, prisoners of war, just released, were in Vicksburg waiting for transportation to their homes and families in the middle west.
The Sultana had been on a regular run for two years between New Orleans and Saint Louis and frequently carried Army personnel. The Sultana left New Orleans on 21 Apr. 1865, on what appeared to be a regular run. She had approximately 100 cabin passengers and a cargo of sugar and assorted livestock. Captain J. C. Mason, who commanded the steamer, had a reputation as a good and careful riverman.
On the evening of 24 April, after stopping at Vicksburg for passengers and cargo, it was discovered that the boilers were leaking. So a brief lay over for repairs was made before going further upstream. Repairs were made quickly.
Meanwhile, a large number of passengers were taken on board; it was decided not to make out muster rolls in advance but to wait until the steamer left Vicksburg. The crowd was light hearted and happy and boarded in numbers far beyond the Sultana's regular capacity. The exact number is not known, but was believed to be between 1800 and 2000 persons. They filled all available space.
For 48 hours there was no trouble. A few stops were made and on 26 Apr., the Sultana docked at Memphis. Some passengers disembarked; some went ashore to see the sights or to earn some pocket money. Some did not return by time to sail and were stranded in Memphis. The leaky boiler was again repaired and after taking on a cargo of coal, near midnight, went up river toward Cairo where most of the servicemen were to disembark.
The paddle wheel thrashed against the strong current of water. One boiler began acting up and was repaired. By two AM progress was very slow. The Sultana began to pass a group of islands called "The Hen and Chickens".
Suddenly it happened. The boilers exploded with a crash heard back in Memphis, sending a pillar of flame into the black sky that was visible for miles. The watch on the U.S.S. Grosbeak, a river gunboat at Memphis, observed the light and heard the explosion. Under orders from the skipper they went upstream to investigate and help in any way they could. Other steamers followed this example.
It was a losing race for the Sultana was half disintegrated. Men were trying to keep afloat on scattered debris from the wrecked vessel. A large section of the afterdeck floated down to Memphis with men clinging to it. But few fared that well. The remaining part of the steamer was burning, floated downstream and finally sank. Those still clinging to it jumped into the water. When dawn arrived, survivors could be seen on both shores of the river. Many of those taken to hospitals died soon afterward.
No complete passenger list existed so it was impossible to tell the number killed, but estimates were from 1500 to 1900. It was the worst steamship disaster in history.
The catastrophe received little publicity possibly because of important events of the closing days of the Civil War. General Robert e. Lee had already surrendered; Gen. Joseph E. Johnson had surrendered the day before the disaster and the nation, under new president, was involved with rebuilding the Union.
The few hundred survivors formed a group called the Sultana survivors Society and held annual meetings for years.
The preceding information has been given as a background for the letter which follows:
In regards to your letter of August 13, I do not have much information as to ancestors of David GEESEMAN. This information mainly could be acquired from Mrs. Thelda RALSTON of Monroe, Michigan.
The information that I can give you is that my father, John Dalton SOUDER, is related through his mother, Stella GEESEMAN. Her father was George GEESEMAN. He was the son of David and Anna GEESEMAN and he was born in South Bend, Ind., November 18, 1857.
As to David GEESEMAN'S death, there is some disagreement. The Ohio Adjutant General's Office state he perished by explosion of steamer Sultana on the Mississippi River, near Memphis, Tennessee, April 27, 1865, but my family feels that this is wrong since we have other information. The information my family has is that David GEESEMAN was discharged December 15, 1864, after serving 100 days in the 169th Ohio National Guard. I am in possession of his discharge papers. David GEESEMAN returned home and entered the service in place for another man who paid him $500.00 to take his place. The reason, I feel, the death records were wrong is that they state he enrolled on the 24th of September, 1964, in the 65th Ohio volunteer Infantry which at this time I have records stating he was in the 169th National guard.
My father told me this afternoon that his grandfather, George GEESEMAN (David GEESEMAN'S son) told him that his father (David) was serving under his uncle, Hanson BOWLUS, of Fremont, Ohio. They were under fire from confederates (I do not know in what battle). David was shop in the leg. Capt. BOWLUS told him to crawl to a barn nearby and he would send for a medic. As David crawled over a fallen tree a cannonball decapitated him. Hanson BOWLUS then took David's wallet and papers from the body and brought them home to Sandusky County with him and told the family the above story. I am in possession of his bloodstained wallet and papers which would be hard to do if he had perished in the sinking of a ship.
I only have a tintype photo of him but I believe Mrs. RALSTON has copies of the picture.
I hope that this has been of some use to you in your research. I might add that David's grandson, Delbert, settled in Pittsburgh and became President of the Pittsburgh Standard Tinplate Company which is now known as Continental Can. He became quite rich and his son, George, became an eye surgeon who was quite famous.
Many of the present day GEESAMAN and related families in the Waynesboro area of Pennsylvania and in Delaware and Maryland, have as their ancestor Josiah ELSWORTH GEESAMAN, son of Joseph and Leah KNEPPER GEESAMAN (See April 1976 issue). Many of his line are now living in Iowa, California and other states.
In this issue and future issues we hope to print a complete list of the family group up to the present generation.
Josiah was born 2 Feb 1838 and died 1 Aug 1885 (See July 1976 issue). As a child he lived near Quincy and as an adult resided in Rouzerville, PA. His granddaughter, Mrs. Maude MENTZER is presently living at the home site.
Josiah had many interests and at various times served as Justice of the Peace, tailor and Postmaster, using a part of the home as Post Office. His daughter Amanda also worked at this Post Office.
On 25 Apr. 1861 he married to Anna Elizabeth PENTZ, Chambersburg by the Rev. Samuel M. HENRY. Anna's date of birth was 11 Mar 1842. The couple had twelve children.
Josiah enlisted on 27 Jan 1864 at Chambersburg for a period of three years. The enlistment paper gives the following information: eyes- brown, Hair-dark, complexion- fair, height- 5 ft. 9 in. On 3 Feb 1864 he was mustered in as a Pvt. In Co. D. 21st Reg't. PA Cavalry. His name appeared on the muster out roll, Lynchburg, VA, 8 Jul 1865.
On 222 day of Jul 1890, Anna signed a Declaration for Widows Pension. On an affidavit concerning the pension claim, Arnold RODGERS and Jacob SITES, citizens of Rouzerville declared: We know that Josiah GEESAMAN was struck by lightning on August 1, 1885 and died the same day. We know because we were present and prepared him for burial.
At the age of 47, while holding his son in his arms, Josiah was struck by lightning and was killed. His son, Chancy Blaine, survived. (Note: In the family Bible, Josiah's middle name is spelled ELSWORTH, his son's name was spelled with two L's- Ellsworth. We try to use the spelling that we find in original documents.)
1st Row: Isabel (dau. of Lambert), Ruth (dau. Of Mary Leah), Miriam (dau. of Chester), Adena (dau. of Chester), David (son of Chester), Genevieve (dau. of Chester), Jean (dau of Mary Leah), Allen (son of Chester), Rosalie (dau of Lambert).
2nd Row: Amanda (dau of Josiah), Chester (son of Josiah), Anna Elizabeth (widow of Josiah), Samuel (son of Josiah), Cora (wife of Samuel), Mary Leah G. DUNWOOD (dau of Josiah), Lambert Sr. (son of Josiah), Minnie (wife of Lambert), May (wife of Chester) holding baby (Lena?).
Spring Creek Church, Hershey, was the setting for the double ring ceremony which joined in marriage Mary Ann GEESAMEN and Jeffrey Michael HEVERLING, on Saturday, August 28 with Rev. J. Herbert MILLER and Father HANEY officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Russel H. GEESAMAN, of Palmyra. The groom's parents are Mr. And Mrs. Richard HEVERLING of Palmyra.
The bride given in marriage by her father, selected an ivory gown of organza with an empire style waistline. The bodice featured a ruffled neckline of Brussels Lace with a yoke of Brussels Lace accented with lace appliques and dotted with seed pearls. The gown had long sheer sleeves that ended in cuffs edged with Brussels Lace. She wore a matching cathedral length mantilla edged in Brussels Lace that fell from her juliet cap trimmed with lace and seed pearls.
Mary A. SIPE was maid of honor. Gale M. HAINES, sister of the bride, served as bridesmaid.
Richard CASSEL was best man and David MILLER seated the guests.
Mrs. Carlo STINE was the organist.
The bride, a graduate of Lower Dauphin High School, is employed by Hershey Foods. The groom graduated from Shippensburg State College, and is employed at Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A reception was held in the Palmyra Fire hall.
Following their wedding trip to Cape Cod, the couple will live at 152-A North Railroad, Palmyra.
Word has been received that Roy GEESAMAN of Route 2 Portland, IN died on 2 Apr 1976. His widow, Icy GEESAMAN is now residing at Route 4 Hartford, IN 47348.
In recounting the genealogy of a family, perhaps too much emphasis is given to the male members of our ancestors. Among the women who married into the GEESAMAN family were many remarkable women (sic). Among these was Lenora HOLMES GEESAMAN, WIFE OF George W. GEESAMAN. She was born in Maples, Allen Co., Indiana, 7 January, 1850 to William P. and Eliza Ann DRIVER HOLMES. During the more than 100 years that she lived, she pioneered in Iowa, Kansas, Indian Territory and Washington. She died 9 Apr 1951, in Enid, Oklahoma.
Two of her granddaughters, Mrs. Eloise GORTON, Enid, Okla., and Mrs. Georgiana HOLLAND, Lawton, Okla., each were with her a great deal of their childhood and recall many of the stories she told them of events which occurred before, during and after the Civil War. Her father enlisted in the Union Army 19 July 1862 and served until honorably discharged 20 July 1865. His son, Lyman HOLMES, seems to have enlisted about the same time.
Mrs. HOLLAND relates that "Granny" told of standing in the yard and watching her father and brother leave when they enlisted in the Union forces. Lyman was killed in an explosion aboard a military craft on the Mississippi river.
Granny's father, Wm. P. HOLMES, was given but one furlough during the three years he served, and that may have been because of his illness. He was hospitalized for some time during service and received injuries to his eyes which later caused total blindness. The family was living in Iowa when Mr. HOLMES enlisted but after he entered service the family returned to Allen co., Indiana where they had formerly lived.
Both granddaughters remember stories of the hard time the family endured during the war. Much of the burden of supporting the family fell on Granny's mother and the older children. Mrs. HOLMES was a seamstress and made clothing from cloth that she and the children made from virgin wool. The children would pick burrs from the wool and clean it for carding, spinning and weaving. Granny told how her brother Willard would get tired of the job and would stuff large quantities of wool through a crack in thee floor. Granny said that her mother had the first sewing machine in their neighborhood.
On 11 Dec 1867, Lenora HOLMES married George Washington GEESAMAN whose ancestors were natives of Lebanon, Pa. The couple moved to Iowa where five of their nine children were born. In the late 1880's they moved to Southern Kansas which was pioneer country at that time. However, George and Lenora apparently enjoyed pioneer life for about 1892 they moved to Indian Territory where they farmed Indian land. Their neighbors were Indians and occasional visitors were outlaws who made the Indian Territory a refuge after robberies committed in Kansas and other states. The outlaws would stop at a farm home at meal times and asked to be fed. Granny said she never asked questions, though she knew they were outlaws from the "wanted" posters with their pictures of them. Among these were Cherokee Bill and the DALTON Gang. Usually the outlaws paid well for their meals.
About 1902, George and Lenora and their youngest son, Ottie, moved to northern Washington where they filed on a homestead in what is now Ferry County. In 1907, before the claim was "proved up" and a patent issued, George died leaving Lenora a widow after 40 years of marriage. Lenora (of Nora as she usually was called) was not one to give up so she continued to live on the claim until she received a patent to the land.
During the remaining 40 odd years of her life she spent most of it living near or with some of her children in Oklahoma and Kansas. In 1924, she and her son, Ottie and his wife, Dorothy, and daughter Eloise returned to Washington to dispose of the farm and the Valuable timber which was on it. Many of the trees were huge. Eloise remembers that she and her mother stood on opposite sides of some of the trees and tried to reach around them but they could not make their hands meet. They lived there about three years, and after selling the timber and farm they returned to Oklahoma.
Eloise recalls many of the incidents that Granny told her. Once her son, Archie, was bitten by a poisonous snake. This must have occurred in the Indian Territory where doctors were few and far between and Indians were next door neighbors. Lenora sent one of the other children to call an Indian woman who gathered some herbs on the way to the GEESAMAN home. The Indian lady made a tea from the herbs and gave it to Archie to drink. They also put Archie's foot in a pan of mild which turned a peculiar color and clabbered. The Indian's treatment may have saved the boy's life for he got over it. However, he was so swollen that a tube had to be placed in his throat to keep him from choking to death.
Georgiana (Mrs. HOLLAND) told of Granny giving her a very old cup and saucer during the several years she made her home with Georgiana's parents. Georgiana still has the cup and saucer as a memento. Though her grandmother was very "prissy", she did drink her coffee from a saucer.
Both Eloise and Georgiana admit that Granny "spoiled" them for they were her favorites. Georgiana said she remembers asking her Grandmother, "Granny, when you die may I have this?" Whatever the article was that was requested she would say, "Yes, Dear child", and her brown eyes would just twinkle.
Mrs. GEESAMAN lived in Enid, Okla. The last few years of her life and until she was past 95 years of age she kept house by herself in apartment near her only living child, Mrs. Helen BRUCE. At the time of her death she was living in her daughter's home.
We are indebted to Miss Anna E. GEESAMAN, 41 East Areba, Hershey, PA for the following copy of a translation from the original document written in German and found in the courthouse at Reading, PA in Berks County. Apparently, this Will does not give orders on disposition of real estate, nor does it name the children.
(The following letter is being included in this newsletter because we feel it is of interest to all our readers.)
So many people have been writing to me about my column on genealogy it has become necessary for me to write this form letter to save time in writing so many individual letters. Most of the questions are on the same subject and I have found I was writing practically the same things to everyone, over and over.
"Our Keystone Families", is published once a week in these three newspapers (as of January 1976): LEBANON DAILY NEWS, Lebanon, Lebanon Co., PA; THE CHRONICLE, Elizabethtown, Lancaster Co., PA; and the PRESS AND JOURNAL, Middletown, Dauphin Co., PA. The same column appears in each newspaper.
Subject matter in the column pertains to anything of interest to genealogical research. Sometimes a feature on genealogical matters, book reviews, new societies, new publications, newly discovered records and queries, or a combination of any of these things.
Queries are free to everyone, but queries of subscribers are run first, if it is known. Each query must have a Pennsylvania connection, include at least one date and should not be more than 150 words. Anyone wishing to know when his query will appear must send a stamped envelope so he can be notified. If you do not wish to be notified then the stamped envelope is not necessary.
Anyone not subscribing to the paper may but single copies of the paper at $.30 postpaid. If ordering a paper in which your query appeared, please be sure you give column number and date of publication, if known. If you have sent in a query and a stamped envelope, and if you do not get the paper, this letter will inform you the query has been published in Column No.____date of ____. If you want a copy of this, please mention these two things.
Your name and address will appear with your query. If any reader can help you he will know where to address his letter by this method.
Anyone interested in subscribing to the newspaper may send a check of $7.00 ($6.00 in PA) to Schuyler C. BROSSMAN, Box 43, Rehrersburg, PA 19550, for a one year subscription.
I do not do research for others. Writing this column is a hobby and I have a full time job which takes my time. I am not employed by any of the newspapers above, in fact, do not work for a newspaper, but in an industrial plant.
Hope this letter has answered your question(s). Thanks for writing.
David L. SOUDER
521 West Smith Street
Gibsonburg, Ohio 43431
Mar. 18 Mar, 1852 to Ann Mariah BLACK.
(He was killed in Civil War.)
son of George and Mary M. GEESEMAN.
Grandson of George and Catherine GEESEMAN.
Brother of Elizabeth GEESEMAN SKINNER.
(10th and last child of George and Mary M.)"
(See picture below)
Husband�s Full Name: Josiah Elsworth GEESAMAN
Born: 2 Feb 1838
Married: 25 Apr 1861, Chambersburg, PA
Death: 1 Aug 1885, Rouzerville, Franklin, PA
Burial: Price's Church Cemetery
(was a Tailor and also Justice of the Peace and a Post Master, lived Quincy and Rouzerville)
Father: Joseph GIESEMAN Mother: Leah Knepper
Wife�s Full Name: Anna Elizabeth PENTZ
Born: 11 Mar 1842
Death: 15 Dec 1926, Rouzerville, Franklin, PA
Burial: Price's Church Cemetery
Father: Mother:
Children:
1. Augustus William, b. 3 Dec 1861, d. 6 Mar 1876, bur. Mt Zion
2. Josiah Elsworth, b. 6 Apr 1864, d. 13 Aug 1864
3. Amanda Florence, b. 2 Sep 1865, d. 13 Nov 1941
Never Married
bur. Price's
4. Samuel Joseph, b. 3 Aug 1867, d. 5 May 1939
bur. Burn's Hill
married: 21 Jan 1890,Cora Elizabeth PRYOR
5. Christopher Sylvester, b. 1 Aug 1869, d. 26 Mar 1913
married: Cora Belle MARSH
6. Mary Leah, b. 27 May 1871, d. 18 Nov 1956
married: 11 Sep 1908, James Patrick DUNWOODY
7. Finley Benton, b. 31 Dec 1872, d. 16 Aug 1960
married: Myrtle Elizabeth GRIMES
8. Lambert Clayton, b. 11 Sep 1874, d. 10 Jan 1958
bur. Quincy
married: Minnie MONN
9. Josiah Franklin, b. 30 Aug 1876, d. 26 Jan 1925
married: 20 Sep 1900, Elva RODGERS
10. Charles Sumner, b. 22 Oct 1878, d. 16 Dec 1880
Note from Pearl: It was a pleasure to find my article "Pioneer Days" in the July issue of "GEESAMAN Cousins". It was enjoyed very much by my children, grandchildren and other relatives. Pearl TAYLOR, Wenatchee, WA.
QUERY: Information on the EIKELBERCHER- EICHELBERGER family is wanted. They lived in or near Franklin Co., PA about 1800- 1840. Jacob, whose wife is unknown, had children: Dan, Sam, George, Ann Marie and David Isaac, born 29 July 1836, married Hannah M. GEESEMAN and moved to Kansas about 1878.
Schuyler C. BROSSMAN
Box 43
Rehrersburg, PA 19550
Dear Genealogical Friends,
Sincerely,
/s/ Schuyler C. BROSSMAN
Mr. And Mrs. John C. KAHL, Sr. left on Sept 14 for a three weeks visit with their son Joel D. KAHL in Germany.
Several of our members were recently hospitalized. Richard F. KERKPATRICK was a patient in Enid Oklahoma, Josiah E. GEESAMAN, Sr. in Chambersburg, PA and Hilda IRVING in Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA.
On 17 Oct the John GEESAMANs had a visit from Mrs. Susan BONNER, Kippen BONNER of Quincy and Mrs. Zulu REID of Salt Lake City, Utah. We have just recently received information that we are related through the marriage of Conrad SMITH and Elizabeth GEESAMAN (b. 1 mar 1809).
If you have not already sent your DUES for 1977, please send as soon as possible so that you won't miss any copies. Items of interest in coming issues are: another listing of immigrants from our very faithful correspondent, Larry KIMBLE, a complete list of the family of Mrs. Sally MYERS of the Quincy area and more on the big family of Josiah GEESAMAN. Reminder: new secretary is Mrs. Susan KIRBY, 321 N. Franklin Street, Waynesboro, PA 17268.