Descendants of John S. Niess

First Generation:

John S. Niess, b. abt 1815 d. abt 1886, m. Elizabeth Hauenstein, b. 22 Nov 1820, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, d. 9 June 1905, Rapho Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 12 known children from this marriage

Ephraim Second Generation:
Ephraim H. Niess, b. 21 October 1841, Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, d. 25 November 1915, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, m. 8 May 1864, Harrisburg, Dauphin County to Catharine L. Auxer, b. 19 April 1844, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, d. 27 May 1921, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Mary Ann Neiss, b. 9 November 1843, d. 17 November 1913, Neffsville, Pennsylvania, remained unmarried
Henry/Harry H. Neiss, b abt 1845, d. 11 Feb 1902, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, m. 21 February 1869 to Eliza Jane Wagner, b. abt 1850, six known daughters from this marriage
Gideon Neiss, b. abt. 1845, m. Kate Lichty, two known children from this marriage (Gideon may not be a member of this family!
John H. Neiss, b. 11 March 1847, Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, d. 23 August 1899, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, m. 2 October 1883, Moravian Church, Lititz, Lancaster County to Sarah A. Bruckhard, b. 10 November 1844, Silver Spring, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, d. 21 September 1923, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 2 known children from this marriage
Reuben H. Neiss, b. November 1849, d. after 1923, m. 10 April 1873 to Annie D. Collins, d. 29 March 1910, 7 known children from this marriage
Israel H. Neiss, b. 23 October 1852, d. 21 March 1923, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, m. abt 1873 to Mary Perry, b. 4 May 1853, nr. Landisville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, d. 19 March 1923, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - 5 known children from this marriage
Peter H. Neiss, b. 1 March 1853, Landisville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, d. 3 September 1917, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, m. abt 1878/79 to Alice H. Bard, three known children from this marriage
Samuel Neiss, b. about 1854, no other known information
Eliza Neiss, b. about 1858, d. aft 1876
Fannie H. Neiss, b. 1859, d. 20 October 1939, Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, m. George W. Stormfeltz, five known children from this marriage
Adam Neiss,b. 15 Aug 1863, m. 25 July 1882 to Mary Ann Fissel d. 24 January 1938, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, three known children from this marriaage

Note: On the 1900 Census, Elizabeth Neiss said she'd had 12 children, and that 9 of them were still living.

Third Generation:
Children of Ephraim H. Niess and Catharine L. Auxer

George Washington Niess, b. 22 February 1865, d. 13 June 1867
Edwin Alonzo Niess, b. 23 September 1867, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania d. 18 April 1948, Washington D.C., m. (1st)18 September 1880, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania to Carrie Virginia Carvell, b. 2 May 1868, Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, d. 13 January 1933, Washington D.C., (2nd) Florence Marie Kelly, b. 1895, Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia, d. 6 January 1944, Washington D.C.
Mary Elizabeth Niess, b. 25 June 1869, d. 10 December 1871
Catharine Amelia Niess, b. 22 January 1871, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania d. 10 May 1936, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, m. 11 August 1892, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania to Louis John Houseal, b. 6 January 1869, Maytown, Pennsylvania, d. 2 March 1938, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania - four known children from this marriage
Philip William Niess, b. 9 May 1872, d. 29 July 1872
Charles Elmer Niess, b. 26 April 1874 , d. 16 July 1874
Harriet A. Niess, b. 28 October 1876, d. 6 May 1878
John Ephraim Niess, b. 3 September 1880, d. 30 August 1923 m. (1st) 3 February 1903 to Alma Stoops, - five known children from this marriage, d. 22 August 1928, (2nd) 1913 to May Wheeler
Benjamin Franklin Niess, b. 12 August 1885, d. aft Nov. 1948 (his name appeared in Edwin's obituary) m. (1st) 18 August 1906 to Ella J. Bricker, no known information (2nd) 20 June 1913, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania to Ruth Blessing, b. 14 February 1892, d. 5 July 1972 - one known daughter from this marriage


Children of Harry H. Niess and Eliza Jane Wagner

Grace Elizabeth Niess, b. abt 1873, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, m. 15 April 1906, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania to Augustus L. Yeager, b. abt 1875, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania; 1 known child born to Grace E. Niess, Clyde Arnold Neiss, b. abt 1893, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania;
Meredith P. Niess, b. abt 1874, m. 23 April 1905, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania to Abraham J. Dewhurst, b. abt 1870;
Nellie Niess, b. abt 1879, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, m. 26 September 1901, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania to Frank K. Michener, b. abt 1870;
Lottie M. Niess, b. 27 December 1883, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, m. 6 June 1901, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania to Elmer L. Hanner, b. abt 1879;
Mary J. Niess, b. 21 March 1885, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania;
Ruth Lillian Niess, b. 19 Aug 1888, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, m. 26 January 1912, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania to William B. Thompson, b. abt 1881, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania;

Children of Gideon Neiss and Kate Lichty

Sue Neiss, b. 1868
Alice Neiss, b. 1870

Children of John H. Niess and Sarah A. Bruckhard

Albert B. Niess, b. 4 October 1884, baptized 6 May 1888, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Martha B. Niess, b. 1 April 1866, baptized 6 May 1888, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Children of Reuben H. Neiss and Annie D. Collins

Lillie C. Neiss, b. 12 July 1873
Emma C. Neiss, b. 12 July 1873 d. 30 March 1874
Jennie C. Neiss, b. 16 May 1876
John C. Neiss, b. 5 October 1883, m. 28 November 1911 to Catharine Iske, one known child from this marriage
Stella C. Neiss, b. 4 September 1886, d. 12 July 1888
Stella C. Neiss, b. 2 March 1890
Reuben C. Neiss, b. 18 December 1892

Children of Peter H. Neiss and Alice H. Bard

Jacob Bard Neiss, m 1. Ella Sload, no children from this marriage; m 2. Effie May Doutz, b 13 Aug 1885, d. abt 13 May 1814, 2 known children from this marriage; m 3. Ethel Dunkle, b. abt 1896; m 4. 25 June 1925, Bertha Ellen Cammauf, b. abt 1897 New Holland, Lancaster County, Pennsylania,
Charles B. Neiss, m. Theresa Nixdorf; no other information
Harry B. Neiss, no known information

Children of Fannie H. Niess and George W. Stormfeltz

Milton N. Stormfeltz, m. Mary Elizabeth Baron; 2 known sons
John N. Stormfeltz, m. Hallie Bissinger; 1 known daughter
Irvin N. Stormfeltz, m. Katie Weaver; 4 known children
Elizabeth N. Stormfeltz, m. Jacob R. Nissley; no other informaiton
Fannie N. Stormfeltz, m. Jacob Springer; no other information

Children of Adam H. Neiss and Mary Ann Fissel

Sarah Neiss, b. abt 1884, m. Unknown Bowerman, no other information
Ruth E. Neiss; no other information
George Fillmore Neiss, b. abt 1881, d. before 1938, 1 known child

Fourth Generation:
Nellie Viola Niess, b. 15 August 1891, Washington D.C., d. 30 April 1976, Riverside, California, m. 16 September 1914, Washington D.C., to William Francis Sherman, b. 2 April 1891, Tampa, Florida, d. 7 November 1948, Washington D.C.
Edwin Mark Niess, b. 20 February 1893, Washington D.C., d. bef 29 January 1966, Washington, D.C., m. Lucy Marguerite Kelly, b. 15 January 1898, Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia, d. 10 September 1989, Washington D.C.

Information on John H. Niess and Elizabeth Howenstein Niess was taken from Ephraim H. Niess' death certificate. They are my brickwall in this family line right now.

Other information on Ephraim's siblings came from another Niess/Neiss family researcher - she's done a lot of work!

The information on Ephraim and Catharine Niess came from several sources. Primarily death certificates, Veteran's pension file, and copy of the Niess family Bible in the possession of the Houseal heirs.

Information on Edwin Alonzo and his heirs came from a Family Bible, Marriage Certificates, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, and many papers, letters and articles saved by Edwin A. Niess, now in my possession.

Information on the marriage of John H. and Sarah Niess and their children came from his Civil War Pension file obtained from the National Archives.

Ephraim H. Niess, Family History

Ephraim H. Niess was born to Elizabeth and John Niess, October 21, 1841 in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Little is known of his formulative years. What is known is from the Civil War forward.

He enlisted as a private on August 4, 1862, serving in Co.E, 122nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The 122nd did see action at Chancellorsville in the spring of 1863.This is detailed in article "The March of the 124th New York to Gettysburg" by Gary Lash. This article was sent to me by another of Ephraim's descendants from the Harrisburg area. His enlistment expired on May 15, 1863 and he returned home to the Mt. Joy, Lancaster County area.Ephraim He married Catharine L. Auxer, on May 8, 1864 in Harrisburg. According to an article printed upon his death, they migrated to the Harrisburg area in 1866 from Marietta, Pennsylvania, where he obtained a job at Bailey Iron Works. He worked there for almost 50 years.

Ephraim was slight of build, standing only 5' 6 3/4" tall. For a man of such a small size, he must have been very strong, for his job entailed replacing the bricks in the furnaces. To do this, he wore several layers of clothing, and went into the furnaces to replace the bricks. In those days, they did not put the fires out, since to re-start them and get them up to the proper temperature would take too much time; so the bricks were replaced while they were still hot. Can you imagine OSHA allowing that today?

He was a member of G.A.R., Post 58, and I.O.O.F., Lodge No. 160. He is buried along with his wife, Catharine Auxer Niess, her parents, Maria Lieder Auxer and Philip Kleis Auxer, Maria's mother, Susannah Lieder Kehler/Kaylor and Catharine's brother Abraham, in the Harrisburg Cemetery. His grave is marked with a flag signifying his Civil War service. His home at 117 Dock Street in Harrisburg no longer exists. There is in it's place a bridge that crosses the Susquehannah River at that point.

Catharine and Ephraim had four children that lived past infancy. Edwin was the oldest of these, and my great-grandfather. Edwin's life is chronicled on another page. Ephraim and Catharine must have been great parents to instill in their son the values he had.

If you are a Niess researcher, I'd love to hear from you! We are few and far between! I do have the name of several others - one happens to be a third cousin, the other married to a first cousin, several times removed! Perhaps we could all benefit each other!

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