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
We are sorry that this issue is late. There are a number of reasons for the delay.
After much consideration, it is with regret that we find that we will no longer be able to continue editing and publishing the GEESAMAN Cousins newsletter. We have greatly enjoyed getting acquainted with the Richard F. KIRKPATRICK family and cooperating with them in the work involved with the printing of the newsletter. Without them, this could not have been accomplished.
We have met and corresponded with many wonderful "cousins" in the past three years. We will be happy to continue to correspond and exchange information with any who desire it. We thank all who have contributed in any way to the success of the GEESAMAN Cousins newsletter.
Since we have had no response to the Editorial in the April 1977 issue, we feel that we cannot continue without help. The October issue will complete three years of publication.
In the October 1975 issue, on page 47, we printed an article entitled, "Why I am Proud of the GEESAMAN Family Heritage". This was printed before the book "Roots" was published and made headlines. With all the research we have done, we are still have the same opinion as stated in that article.
Those who have paid dues for 1978 will have them refunded.
The following family information was contributed by Mrs. Grace GEESAMAN of Fontanelle, Iowa. Her picture and letter were printed in the Jan. 1977 issue. For other references to this family see the Jan. 1975 issue, pages 3 and 5, and the July 1976 issue, page 32 (George, born Feb. 7, 1794). The April 1976 issue, Page 16.
Charles Elijah GEESAMAN, born Dec. 25, 1877, died June 30, 1964, was the son of Henry GEESAMAN and his second wife, Caroline L. (nee CHADWICK) WIGGINS, widow of J.E. WIGGINS.
Charles' first wife was Blanch McINTOSH GEESAMAN, dates of birth and death not known. They had one daughter, Edith Louise GEESAMAN, born May 3, 1911 and one son, Walter McINTOSH GEESAMAN, born June 15, 1912, died Sept. 1940.
Edith, daughter of Charles and Blanch, is now Mrs. Don KAMPHER, Porterville, California, Larry LARSON, Molt, Montana and Mrs. Bill DRAIN, Billings, Montana.
Betty, daughter of Charles and Grace, was born July 19, 1920 and is now Mrs. Bev. BEESAN, Fontanelle, Iowa. They have a daughter Rebecca (Becky), born February 24, 1945, who is married to R.H. CONKLIN, Jr. and lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Becky's daughter, Jennifer Rebecca, was born May 1, 1975.
Mr. Schuyler C. BROSSMAN, genealogist, has reported to us that the gravestone of Johann George GIESEMAN, buried at Friedens Cemetery at Bernville, PA is broken. A picture of this stone was in the first copy of GEESAMAN Cousins, page 4.
Mr. BROSSMAN says that the U.S. Government has a plan for the replacement of stones of veterans. There would be a charge for placement of the stone. This item of business will be discussed at the reunion on Sept. 4, and will be reported to our readers in the next and last issue of GEESAMAN Cousins.
I just got a letter from Aunt Edith, and she mentioned GEESAMAN Cousins. That rang a bell, that I hadn't sent my membership fee, so just enclosed a check for two years, so it won't be late for 1978.
I didn't receive the January issue for 1976, and should there be an extra about, would sure appreciate a copy.
Are you getting an unusually cold winter for your area, this year? We have had such a mild winter, no snow, and very little rain. In fact if we don't get a sudden change, we may be without water, just as Calif. I have never seen the hills so bare, nor the streams so low, and just no water in the lakes. Last winter the North Cascade Pass was closed before Thanksgiving, and it just has a skiff of snow, now. It didn't open until about the 4th of July, last summer. What a contrast!
Usually, we just don't do any work from the time the snow falls, until it melts in the spring. We often take the month of January off, and go south, as my husband has a sister in California, and our youngest reported about the world, we are getting more than we can keep up with. However this maybe just a short term rush, and then idle for a while, later on. 1976 was a very slow year for us, but still was able to meet our obligations, and not feel so pushed.
I'm going to enclose a copy of some advertising mailers that I have been sending out. I'm sure there is no other in the family, who can claim to be a professional "Rock-Hound". We find this most interesting, since we were able to get this Aluet Indian to supervise the stone cutting, and see the beautiful carvings he does. He sells all the work he can turn out, to the Sea-Tac Airport gift shop. One can't believe the price they demand for his carvings. After viewing carvings from many other places, his are really superior.
I'm still trying to get some more information to send our family history, but so far mother hasn't been able to find Grandma, and Grandpa's wedding certificate. I sure hope she hasn't lost it during her moving around. She is failing very fast, has difficulty walking, uses a cane, and so forgetful. I hate to have her living alone, but won't try to make any changes until it becomes necessary. However there are the three sisters, so among us, can keep in touch, and close observation on what is going on. She does keep busy with her clubs, sewing for the Veterans home, and plays cards with a couple of friends.
Better cut this short, and get it to the mailbox. How I would love to come to one of the family reunions, but I wouldn't know a soul, nor have a way around. I wouldn't think of driving that far, but suppose I could get a rental car after arriving. I have thought of asking Aunt Edith to come with me, but her knee is quite bad, and don't believe she would consider it. Maybe one of these days. I can't see any possible chance of my husband leaving his work at that time of the year. Maybe after we retire, but doubt if he ever will. Those hills, and his equipment, are just kids-play to him. He really loves his work.
Dear Ruth,
Our winter was extremely cold and long. Our jobs are year-long with only a few breaks. John's vacation usually falls the last week of July and first week of August.
I'm sure the readers of GEESAMAN Cousins will find the Skagit County Soap Stone article extremely interesting.
The article in this issue on the Charles GEESAMAN line should be of interest to you as he is in your line.
Anytime that you would decide to fly East, either to Harrisburg, Pa., Baltimore, Md., or Washington, D.C., we would arrange to meet you, furnish you a car and lodging and be glad to show you our section of "God's Country". Our local reunion is always held the Sunday before Labor Day and you would be most welcome then or any time.
David Alan GEESAMAN graduated June 6 from Dauphin County Vo-Tech School. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Courtney GEESAMAN. Commencement exercises were held at the Forum in Harrisburg.
Timothy Lee GAMBER, who graduated June 7 from Lower Dauphin High School, is the son of Mr. And Mrs. Ralph C. GAMBER, Sr. (Verna M. GEESAMAN). Norman Thomas WINFINDALE, Jr. also graduated June 7 from the same High School. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman T. WINFINDALE, Sr. (Pauline J. GEESAMAN). Commencement exercises were held in the Hershey Community Theatre in Hershey, Pa.
Clifford Lee GEESAMAN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marlin J. GEESAMAN, graduated June 9 from West Perry High School with exercises being held at the school.
Darren Richard GEESAMAN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman R. GEESAMAN, graduated June 14 from Northern Lebanon High School. Commencement exercises were held at the same school.
These graduates are the grandsons of Mrs. Edna B. GEESAMAN, whose family records are printed in the October 1975 issue, page 43.
Two students who graduated from the Waynesboro Area high School on June 14, are GEESAMAN Cousins. Debra Ann KIRBY, daughter of Susan ELKINS KIRBY (Secretary of our Association) and granddaughter of Rosalie GEESAMAN ELKINS was one. The other is David KEESEMAN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin KEESEMAN, (see April issue, page 19).
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MRS. M. CORA BOVEY, 62, wife of Chester J. BOVEY, 319 Fairview Ave., died unexpectedly at her home at 11: 30PM Saturday. Her death was attributed to a heart attack.
Mrs. BOVEY was born in Quincy Township March 19, 1914, daughter of the late Frank and Elva (RODGERS) GEESAMAN. All her life was lived in the Waynesboro area.
She and Mr. BOVEY were married in March 19, 193? and had made their home at the present residence for the past four years.
Prior to her retirement in September, 1975, Mrs. BOVEY was employed at the Waynesboro Hospital for 22 years. She had worked in the housekeeping department for several years and for 15 years Mrs. BOVEY had been a licensed practical nurse for 10 years. She was a member of the Waynesboro Chapter, AARP.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons: Gary F. BOVEY, Cullman, Ala., Windsor H. BOVEY and Gordon D. BOVEY, both of Waynesboro. Also surviving are five grandchildren; three sisters; Mrs. Gail BARLUP, Waynesboro; Mrs. Elizabeth JONES, Mont Alto and Mrs. Lula DUKEHART, Hagerstown, and a brother, Emmert GEESAMAN, Pacific Grove, California.
The funeral will be held Wednesday at 2 PM in the Grove Funeral Home in charge of the Rev. Howard SMITH. Burial will be in the Harbaugh Church Cemetery.
It was Mrs. BOVEY's request that there be no viewing, however, the family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 PM Tuesday.
CHESTER J. BOVEY, 69, of 319 Fairview Ave., died at 6:20 PM Wednesday in the Franklin county Nursing Home. He had been in failing health for the past two years and was a guest at the nursing home since March. Mr. BOVEY was critically ill for the last two weeks.
He was born in Waynesboro, Aug. 6, 1907, a son of the late Harvey A. and Jennie (KOONTZ) BOVEY. Most of his life was lived in Waynesboro.
Mr. BOVEY served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during WWII.
Prior to his retirement in 1971, he was employed as a machinist at Frick Co. for 25 years.
His wife, Mrs. M. Cora (GEESAMAN) BOVEY, died Jan. 29.
Mr. BOVEY was a member of Faith United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the American Legion, the National Rifle Association, the Waynesboro Chapter of AARP, and the National Historical Society.
He is survived by three sons: Gary F. BOVEY, Cullman, Ala., Windsor H. BOVEY and Gordon D. BOVEY, both of Waynesboro. Also surviving are five grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Margaret (BOVEY) SMITH, York.
The funeral will be held Saturday at 2 PM in the Grove Funeral Home in charge of the Rev. Howard H. SMITH. Burial will be in the Harbaugh Church Cemetery.
There will be no viewing; however, the family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 PM Friday.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at the Citizens National Bank and Trust Co.
George GESSMAN to miss Kate W. MILLER. Married in Frankfort on Jan. 24, 1860. Kentucky Statesman 1/27.
(Since these records are not complete, we will print the missing information, if received in time, in the October issue as that will be the last one printed. We hope to complete the family of Josiah in the October issue.)
The Annual Reunion of the Waynesboro, PA GEESAMAN Families will be held on Sunday, Sept. 4, 1977 at the Waynesboro Fish and Game Farm. Bring your own lunch; beverage will be provided. A pavilion with tables an fireplace with grills are available so come "rain or shine" and have an enjoyable time with cousins from near and far. For directions to the farm, contact Eugene GEESAMAN, 28 S. Church Street, Waynesboro, PA 17268, phone: 717-762-2913.
Expenditures: Postage for membership cards, $ 13.00
Paid to John E. GEESAMAN for Jan. issue: 140.00
Paid to John E. GEESAMAN for Apr. issue: $139.00
292.85
292.85
103.87
Deposit of membership dues 85.00
Balance��.. 188.87
Your welcome and interesting letter received this morning and I will answer all of your questions in the order you ask for.
I have known your uncle, Mr. Finley Geesaman, for about ten years, and during the last four or five years I have attended to many of his financial investments, the last one I made for him was on December 10th, just a few days before his death. About the first of this month, in a confidential talk with him regarding his affairs, he requested me to draw his will, which was done and he signed it in the presence of myself and two others who are the witnesses. Mr. Chas. E. WALKER, the Vice President of the Consolidated National Bank of Tucson, is named in the will as the executor.
As will be seen by enclosed newspaper clipping, Mr. WALKER has filed the will in the Superior court, and petitions for his appointment as Executor, and January 2, 1918, is the time set for hearing said petition and for proving the will. By the terms of the will, after payment of all expenses and funeral charges, the remainder of the estate is left to the nieces and nephews of his two deceased brothers, share and share alike just as soon after January 2, 1918, as the inventory and appraisement of his estate is filed in court, I will send you a copy of the same, and more particulars.
The last time I had any conversation with Mr. F. GEESAMAN was on Friday the 14th. Inst. And he complained of being cold and rather weak, and all day almost, he set around the stove at the office of the Belmont Hotel, and in the afternoon he complained of being very weak and hardly able to get up out of the chair. The Hotel people first noticed his condition when he was almost delirious and calling for " Black Jack" who is a Mr. Jack GARDEN, a mining man out near Oracle, and who has been associated in many mining matters with Mr. GEESAMAN during the last few years out in the Catalina Mountains. I mailed a dozen copies of the newspapers containing an account of the death, to Mr. C.A. GEESAMAN who no doubt has distributed them to each of the nieces and nephews. The body was viewed by many of the old time friends and acquaintances, at the undertaking parlors and there were many beautiful flowers placed on the casket by friends. The body was sent by express with all charges paid, to Waynesboro, Pa. And should have arrived there Saturday.
I had the Wells Fargo Express agent here in Tucson, wire to the agent at Chicago, to wire C. A. GEESAMAN, Waynesboro. Was this attended to?
I also had the Knights of Pythias Lodge here, wire to the Waynesboro Lodge through Mr. GEESAMAN's Lodge at Council Bluffs, Iowa of which he was a member, about the shipment of the body, and was informed that if desired, the Waynesboro Lodge would take care of the funeral services. I regretted very much that I could not accompany the remains on this last journey, because I know Mr. GEESAMAN would have been pleased to have had me done so. But business engagements absolutely precluded my going. However on my next trip East, possibly early this fall, I will certainly make arrangements to stop a day and meet you, and view the spot in Mount ion, where Mr. GEESAMAN wished to be laid at rest, beside his father and mother, as expressed to me with much feeling, and had me make this wish as a request in his last will.
As far as I can learn Mr. GEESAMAN carried no life insurance, nor do I find any record of his having paid any money by check on the bank to any insurance company. He left no personal effects, nor jewelry; I found a little cash in his little memoranda book, which he carried with him.
After being taken to the St. Mary's Hospital, which is about a mile out of town late Friday afternoon, he did not become conscious, except for a few minutes about 8 O'clock: the doctor gave him some medicine to quiet him; As soon as I heard, on Saturday morning that he had been taken away from the hotel, I went out to the hospital, arriving there about 9:30 and stayed until 11 o'clock, but he was sleeping very peacefully, and the doctor did not want him awakened, so I came back to town with the doctor (Doctor A.W. OLCOTT) and left word at the hospital to phone me as soon as he waked: about 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon the hospital people phoned me that he had just quietly passed away. Dr. OLCOTT told me his heart was very weak and that he had diabetes. No, I am not connected with the bank; have been in Tucson, for the past 20 years, and am conducting an Abstract & Title Guarantee Company, business, besides being somewhat interested in mining property. Will write you again in a few days, and will gladly give you any further information desired, and having been a friend to Mr. GEESAMAN during his lifetime, it will be a pleasure to do anything that I can for all his nieces and nephews and look after their interests here in Tucson. Hoping to hear from you soon, I am your friend,
GEISSAMAN, John a Private, in the (Capt. Henry DOEBLER's Company) First regiment, First brigade, Pennsylvania Militia, under the command of Col. Maxwell KENNEDY, at York, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1814. In service from August 28, 1814, to March 5, 1815, from Lebanon County.
GEESEMAN, john, a Private, in the (Capt. Jacob DIETRICK's Company) in the Second regiment, first Brigade, of Pennsylvania Militia, under the command of Adam RITCHERD, at York, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1814. In service from September 1, 1814, to March 5, 1815, from Dauphin county.
From John E. GEESAMAN GEESAMAN Cousins Box 175, Quincy, Pa. 17247 *********************** Address Correction Requested Return Postage Guaranteed ************************ THIRD CLASS