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
The last two issues of Geesaman Cousins were printed in 1978. One was a combined issue dated January and April 1978. The second one was dated July 1978. Since no issues were printed in 1979, we have some "catching up" to do. This issue is devoted to just that, trying to up-date as much information as possible. We are including births, marriages and deaths so that this data can be added to your genealogical charts. If you find any errors or with to make any additions to the contents of this issue, or any other issues, please let us know and the correction will be printed in a later issue.
Also in this issue is an article on the family of Josiah Franklin Geesaman, another son of Josiah Elsworth and Anna Elizabeth Geesaman.
In the future we plan to print the records of the "George of Roxbury" lineage. This is the process of being prepared as this issue goes to print. More details will be given later.
Thanks for your patience with the delay in the printing of our newsletter. We do plan to print one or two issues per year.
When researching the genealogy of a family, many other family lines become involved in the keeping of accurate records. In the GEESAMAN family, two such lines are KLEIN (KLINE) and MILEY (MEYLY or MEILY).
Among the first records we received on the GEESAMAN fmaily were copies of papers researched by Amos GEESAMAN of Hershey. One record stated that George born about 1736 of Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania died 1800, married Maria Barbara KLEIN, daughter of Heinrich KLEIN. She was born 6 April 1740, christened at Zear Lutheran Church at Lebanon.
Another paragraph states that William GEESAMAN born 16 Feb 1769, died 12 Mar 1813, married Mary Catherine MILEY, daughter of George MILEY and Rachel MILLER.
We have recently found more information on the KLEIN and MILEY families in the "History of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, Pennsylvania" by Egle. In an article on the Moravian Church, pages 158 and 159, the first Moravian Meeting house was described as a substantial stone building erected in the years 1749 and 1750 at Hebron, one mile east of Lebanon borough.
Among the first communicant members of the the Moravian Church were listed Martin MEYLY and his wife Sabina; Henry KLEIN and his wife Anna Maria. From the MEYLY family listing in the same volume, we believed Martin MEYLY to be the grandfather of Mary Catherine MILEY who married William GEESAMAN. (See chat on page 32, July 1976 issue.)
The MEILY family is listed as follows:
In the July, 1978 issue of the Geesaman Cousins we covered the genealogy of (1) Barbara GIESEMAN, (3) Heinrich GEESAMAN, and (7) Elizabeth GIESEMAN. Next issue will be mostly on (2) George (of Roxbury). See page 18 of July, 1978 of Geesaman Cousins. Page 37 of the July, 1975 issue of the Geesaman Cousin has his will, and page 38 of the same issue gives the family, and if you have the issue you can correct the date of (11-2) John George, from 1734 to 1754 which is correct.
George GEESEMAN (of Roxbury) b 1762, d 1815; married Catherine SCHOOP. Catherine must have died shortly after George for when settling the estate both funerals were paid for by the executor, his son John. At the sale of his goods on 14 Mar 1815, his children, John, Peter, Mary and Elizabeth GEESEMAN were shown as buying, as was a Polly GEESEMAN.
Nov. 12--Mrs. Jeremiah MOHLER nee GEESEMAN died at Colton Wednesday the 9th. She was born in Perry County, Ohio, 26 March 1818, was married to Jeremiah MOHLER in 1841 and moved to Washington Twp. in 1844, where she has since resided with the exception of a short time. She was the mother of 13 children of whom 12 survive her; 34 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. She was a sister of Mrs. Jacob OVERMIER; the latter and one brother being the only survivors of a large family. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community.
Miss Lydia GEESAMAN of Fremont, was here during the past week, attending the funeral of her aunt, Mrs. MOHLER.
(By J.E.G., Mrs. Jeremiah MOHLER died 9 Nov 1892, Colton, Henry County, Ohio and was buried in Mohler Union Cemetery. She was a sister to the above Peter GEESEMAN.)
More information on this family would be appreciated.
Mrs. BRASSFIELD was "Queen for the Day" and really enjoyed every minute of it.
After the party, she went downhill fast but still stayed in her own home until being admitted to the hospital on 5 February 1979. She had been busy trying to finish a quilt for the American Legion to raffle. She never finished it as she died on 12 February 1979. Her obituary is given below.
VIOLA McCORMICK BRASSFIELD, 80, of Burlington, WA died at Skagit Valley Hospital on Monday, 12 Feb 1979. Shewas born in Oklahoma Territory on 20 Dec 1898, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. GEESAMAN. In 1904, she came with her parents to Washington, settling in the Boyd's area.
She was educated in that area and was married to Ray L. McCORMICK in Colville in 1917. He preceded her in death. She moved to Sedro-Wooley in 1930 and to Port Orchard in 1954. She was employed in the Retsil Veterans Home. While in that area, she was married to Floyd BRASSFIELD who preceded her in death.
In 1960, Mrs. BRASSFIELD retired and moved to Burlington where she has since resided. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary; the American Legion Auxiliary; the Port Orchard Rebekah Lodge where she was 25 year member; the Willing Workers and the Eagles, both of Burlington.
Survivors include three daughers, Mrs. Ruth WADE, Burlington; Mrs. Emily KOMAR, Bellingham, and Mrs. Mae KING, Mount Vernon; one sister, Mrs. Althea KIRKENDALL, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Two sons also preceded her in death. Interment was in Hawthorne Lawn Mausoleum in Mount Vernon.
(Viola was a first cousin of R. F. KIRKPATRICK's mother, her father John H. GEESAMAN was brother of George Washington GEESAMAN who was the grandfather of RFK. Other articles on this family are in Geesaman Cousins July 1976, pp. 37 & 38, and in Jan 1977, pp. 4 & 5; her brother Oscar and sister Graces's obituaries are in July 1975, p. 34)
LELA V. MOATS SHOCKEY, of Waynesboro, PA died 7 Aug 1978. She was the wife of Gilson SHOCKEY. Among the survivors are one brother and five sisters, Wayne MOATS and Ruth MILLER, of Waynesboro, Zula REID and Helen SHEELEY, Hershey, PA. Interment was in Mount Zion Cemetery, near Quincy, PA.
VIOLET ELIZABETH SMITH GEESAMAN, 75, of Newark, DE died 3 March 1979 at Wilmington, DE. Born 11 Sep 1903 in Rouzerville, PA. She was the daughter of Henry O. and Ellen SMITH.
Surviving are her husband Arthur F. GEESAMAN, Sr.; three children: Mrs. Betty PASCO, Robert F. GEESAMAN, and Arthur F. GEESAMAN, Jr. all of Delaware; two sisters: Mrs. Robert WISHARD of Waynesboro, RD 6 and Mrs. Kenneth GEARHART of Mount Wilson, CA; two brothers: H. Franklin SMITH of Miami, FL, and James A. SMITH of Rouzerville; eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a number of nieces and nephews. Burial was in Gracelawn Memorial Park, Newark, DE.
FRANCES VERDA REED, born 26 Dec 1931, died 1 July 1979, was the daughter of Frank and Verda REED, Newark, DE.
SADIE K. GEESAMAN, 55, of Hummelstown, RD 2, PA died 22 Aug 1979. Surviving are her husband Earl W. GEESAMAN, Sr., two sons: Earl W. Jr. of Lebanon and Daniel L., at home; three daughters: Janet L. VIA of Grantville; Mrs. Carrie E. BOLDEN of Hummelstown and Mrs. Joyce L. WARNER of Palmyra; a brother, Aaron ROWE of Lancaster; three sisters: Mrs. Louise ADAMS of Reading and Mrs. Edna COOK & Mrs. Gertrude ADAMS, both of Wiconisco; and four granddaughters. Burial was in Hanoverdale Cemetery, Dauphin Co., PA.
MAHLON EUGENE (RED) BONNER, 58, of Quincy, PA, died on 1 Oct 1979. He was born 15 Jul 1921, son of Susie R. MOATS and the late Mahlon B. BONNER. He and Mrs. BONNER were married in Mar 1941 and had resided at Quincy for the past 32 years. In addition to his wife, Mrs. Geraldine DeRoss BONNER, he is survived by five children: Kerry L. BONNER, Waynesboro; Mrs. Patricia HOUSEHOLDER, Williamsport, MD; Lynwood A. BONNER, West Jordan, UT; Mrs. Kimberly S. WISNER, Quincy & Susan K. SEASE, Waynesboro. Also surviving are five grandchildren, his mother and three brothers: Harvey W. BONNER, G. Park BONNER, and G. LaMar BONNER, all of Quincy. Burial was in the Quincy Cemtery.
INA M. EBERLY, 90, of Palmyra, PA died 7 Nov 1979 at Lebanon, PA. She was the widow of George A. EBERLY. She is survived by a son, Walter A. of Lebanon; four daughters: Mrs. Susie NEIDIG, with whom she lived; Mrs. Grace E. McNEAL of Palmyra; Mrs. Florence LAUDERMILCH of Middleburg and Mrs. Bertha OBERHOLTZER of Palmyra; a sister, Mrs. Bessie McKEE of Middletown; a brother, Cleveland KEESEMAN of Waynesboro; eleven grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Burial was in Spring Creek Cemetery, Hershey, PA.
MAUDE E. MENTZER, 85, Rouzerville, PA died 18 Feb 1980. She was born in Waynesboro, 28 Dec 1894, daughter of the late Samuel J. and Cora (PRYOR) GEESAMAN. She was married to John C. MENTZER in May 1923 and lived at Rouzerville residence for the past 35 years. This was formerly the home of the Josiah Elsworth GEESAMAN family. Her husband died in Feb 1976. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Dorothy LeBLANC of Waynesboro and son, the Rev. Junior C. MENTZER, Clearfield, PA; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; and a sister, Mrs. Ruth G. BETTS, a resident of the Quincy United Methodist Home. Burial was in Burns Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro.
ADA M. GEESAMAN, 77, of Hershey, PA died 12 April 1980. She was a retired employee of Hershey Foods Corporation, a member of First United Methodist Church of Hershey. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. Burial was in United Christian Cemetery, Campbelltown. (Ada was interested in the genealogy of the GEESAMAN family and gave us some helpful data when we first met her at the reunion at the LeRoy GEESAMAN farm in July 1974.)
EDNA B. GEESAMAN, 73, of Hummelstown RD 2, PA, died 22 April 1980. She was the widow of the Rev. John G. GEESAMAN and was a member of Manada Gap Full Gospel Mission. Surviving are 10 sons: Earl W. and John G., Jr. both of Hummelstown; Courtney J. and Ray W. both of Linglestown; LeRoy D. and Herman R. both of Fredericksburg, Marlin J. of Newport; Ralph E. of Jonestown; Lloyd E. of New Bloomsfield and Frederick K. of Elliottsburg; 6 daughters: Mrs. Verna M. GAMBER and Mrs. Pauline J. WINFINDALE, both of Hummelstown; Mrs. Lillian R. KELLER and Ms. Martha M. GOODLING, both of Palmyra; Mrs. Fay E. DEATRIK of Halifax; and Mrs. Arlene E. HESS of Mount Joy; two brothers: Paul TEETS of Hummelstown and Preston TEETS of Annville; 67 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren. Final resting place, Hanoverdale Cemetery, Dauphin Co., PA.
ANNA J. GEESAMAN, 92, formerly of Waynesboro, widow of William D. GEESAMAN, died 23 Jul in the Quincy United Methodist Home. She was born in Quincy Township on 15 Aug 1887, a daughter of George D. and Ellen M. (DUFFIELD) BENEDICT. She and her husband were married in March 1906. Her husband died in March 1946. Mrs. GEESAMAN was a member of Quincy United Methodist Church. She is survived by two sons, Claude B. GEESAMAN of Quincy and Donald W. GEESAMAN of Waynesboro. Also surviving are four grandchildren, two great-granchildren, and three sisters and brothers; Miss Ada BENEDICT and MRS. EVA HEEFNER, both of Waynesboro; J. Glenn BENEDICT, Chambersburg; and Orville BENEDICT of Quincy. Burial was in Mount Zion Cemetery, Quincy Twp.
ROBERTA JEAN FRAZIER, b 24 September 1978. Parents are Gene P. FRAZIER and Judy (KELLER) FRAZIER. Grandmother is Lillian (GEESAMAN) KELLER, of Palmyra, PA.
TERRY LEE GEESAMAN, b 16 October 1978. Parents are Earl and Cherrie GEESAMAN. Grandparents are the Rev. Kermit R. and Martha (CASH) GEESAMAN of Pennville, IN.
KELLY AMBER CLADY, b 19 November 1978. Mother is Lorinda CLADY, dau/o Eliabeth (GEESAMAN) JONES. Kelly and her family live in Oregon where her father is a lumberjack.
LUKE THOMAS WERNER, b 28 November 1978. Parents are Amelia Ann HOLLAND and Clayton Emil WERNER. Grandparents are Georgiana (GEESAMAN) HOLLAND and Thomas E. HOLLAND of Lawton, OK.
BENJAMIN ANDREW GLADHILL, b 15 January 1979. Parents are Mr. and Mrs. Ralph GLADHILL. Grandmother is Carmen (GEESAMAN) GLADHILL.
JASON SAMUEL GESSAMAN, b 4 March 1979. Parents are Samuel N. and Starr (MILLER) GEESAMAN. Grandparents are Ruth and LeRoy GEESAMAN of Fredericksburg, PA.
TRAVIS LYNN GEESAMAN, b 28 March 1979. Parents are Clinton and Wanda GEESAMAN. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Marlin J. GEESAMAN.
TROY EDWARD KELLER and TRAVIS EDWARD KELLER, twins, b 18 May 1979. Parents are Judy KEESEMAN and Edward KELLER. Grandparents are Patricia HEBERLIG and Calvin C. KEESEMAN of Waynesboro, PA.
JESSE LEE DiMARTINE, b 21 Jun 1979. Parents are Linda TRESSLER and David DiMARTINE of Elkton, MD. Their first child, Nicholas, was born 16 Mar 1976.
DANA LESLIE REID, b 6 Jul 1979. Parents are Edward and Carole REED; grandparents are Frank and Verda REED of Newark, DE.
DANIEL EUGENE CARBAUGH, b 25 Sep 1979. Parents are Daniel and Cindy (GEESAMAN) CARBAUGH. Grandparents are Madeline and John W. GEESAMAN.
Josiah Franklin was the ninth child and seventh son of Josiah Elsworth and Anna Elizabeth (PENTZ) GEESAMAN. He was born 31 Aug 1876, died 26 Jan 1925. On 20 Sep 1900, he married Alvira (Elva) RODGERS. They were married at Greencastle, PA by Rev. KISSTER. Alvira was born 23 Jun 1879, died 27 Jul 1938. They are buried at Harbaugh Cemetery near Rouzerville, PA. Josiah Franklin was a carpenter and cabinet maker
Seven children were born of this marriage.
(NOTE: On p. 7 of this issue, three births are in this family line: Kelly Amber CLADY, Benjamin Andrew GLADHILL, and Daniel Eugene CARBAUGH.)
DARREN RICHARD GEESAMAN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman GEESAMAN married Yvonne Marie KRALL, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward KRALL of Ono, PA on 22 April 1978.
GERY GEESAMAN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hobart GEESAMAN of Sinking Springs, PA married Wanda KUTCH on 6 May 1978. They reside in Denver, PA.
WANDA BEA GEESAMAN, daughter of Marlin J. GEESAMAN, married Paul R. BAER on 8 Jul 1978 at Landisburg, PA Assembly of God Church.
SAMUEL NEIL GEESAMAN, son of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy GEESAMAN, married Starr Rochelle MILLER on 12 Aug 1978.
KEVIN DEAN GEEESAMAN, s/o Mrs. Helen S. GEESAMAN and the late Joseph S. GEESAMAN, was married on 16 Dec 1978 to Marla Jean CURRY in St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Quincy. Marla is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Chester CURRY.
PAMELA PASCO, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo PASCO of New Castle, DE, was married to Robert STARLING, Jr. on 10 Mar 1979. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert STARLING, Sr. The couple resides in McLean, VA.
LINDA J. DONNELL, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Muril W. DONNELL of Del City, OK, was married on 8 Jun 1979 t Joey P. CLARK, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd CLARK, Midwest City.
SUSAN KAY BONNER, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene BONNER, Quincy, was married to Paul Elam SEASE, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elam E. SEASE.
DAVID KEESEMAN was married 9 Aug 1980 to Carolyn STALEY at the South Mountain Bible Church. They reside in Waynesboro, PA.
CINDY KEESEMAN was married 25 Jul 1980 to Gary TURNER and they also reside in Waynesboro. Cindy and David are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin KEESEMAN.
ISSUE PAGES Apr 1976 William GIESEMAN m Mary Catherine MILEY 17, 39 Apr 1976 Joseph GIESEMAN m Leah KNEPPER 20 Oct 1976 Josiah E. GEESAMAN m Anna Elizabeth PENTZ 51, 52, 57 Jan 1977 Samuel Joseph m Cora PRYOR 6, 7 Oct 1977 Christopher Sylvester m Cora Belle MARSH 59, 60 Jul 1977 Mary Leah m James DUNWOODY 43, 44 Jan-Apr 77 Lambert Clayton m Minnie MONN 15, 16 Oct 1980 Josiah Franklin m Alvira (Elva) RODGERS 10, 11, 12
The record for the two remaining sons, Chester Allen and Chancy Blaine have been promised but have not been received to date. If the family wants this genealogical data printed, please send to Bernadine N. Geesaman, Box 175, Quincy, PA 17247.
Thank you for sending us Geesaman Cousins, Vol. 4, Numbers 1 and 2. These will be a valuable addition to our Family File. You may be interested to know that buried at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Lebanon are:
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What's all the noise? Here comes all of Dave's boys setting up tables -- Starting the stove -- It's the Geesaman Reunion in the grove. Uncles, aunts and cousins all arriving by the dozens. How have you been? You look great. Here's Jennie and Les from the Sunshine State. Games are played and jokes are told; all are happy -- young and old. When the shadows fall and the day is done, A wonderful memory for everyone. See you next year! You can hear them say, at the Geesaman Reunion Sunday before Labor Day. |