Geiszler Genealogy

With the passing of my great+ grandfather William Townsend on 13 November 1889, Mary was left a widow with several children to finish raising. Here is the Declaration for Widow's Army Pension. Declaration for Widow's Army Pension for Mary Townsend State of Ohio, County of Franklin, ss: On the 21 st day of November A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine personally appeared before me, Cornelius Black Jr a Notary Public within and for the County and State aforesaid, Mary Townsend, a resident of Edward in the County of Franklin, State of Ohio aged 44 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress, approved July 14, 1862. That she is the widow of William J Townson (written over to Townsend) who enlisted in the service of the United States at Groveport in the State of Ohio on the 2 nd day of May 1864, as a Private in Company “K” commanded by C...

I found this little gem fascinating in its brevity from the Undertaker for my 3rd great-grandfather William Townsend. Affidavit for William Townsend by Herman Sebtzky Columbus O Jan 8 89 To who it may concern I hearewith testify that on Nov. 15 th 1889 I have Buried Wm J Townson in Luthren [sic] Cemetery in Hamilton Tp Franklin Co. Ohio. Herman Sebtzky, Undertaker 24 W Main St Columbus, Ohio Columbus O. Jany 8 1890 Before me a Notary Public personally appeared before the above named Herman Sebitzky and made oath to the foregoing statement. C H Hoseman Notary Public.  KNOWLEDGE GAINED: William Townsend was buried on 15 November 1889 in Hamilton Township, Franklin County, Ohio. The undertaker was named Herma Sebtkzy and an address was given. QUESTIONS  I wonder the costs of the funeral, especially since William and Mary Townsend were so poor. The Cemetery is listed as the Luthren Cemetery in Hamilton Township. That cemetery has become known as the Obetz Cemetery i...

Here is another installment of the transcription of images from William James Townsend Civil War Pension File. This affidavit was provided by John Fearn. Civil War Pension Affidavit regarding William Townsend provided by John H Fearn. State of Ohio, County of Franklin, ss: In matter of In Pens Claim No 505.430 of William James Townson, late of Co. “K”, 1333rd Regt of Ohio Vols. Before me a Notary Public in and for said county and state personally came John H Fearn, aged 52 years, whose residence and Post Office address is No 33 South Seventh Street, Columbus Ohio. Who being by me duly sworn according to law states as follows: I am the same John H Fearn who was 2nd Lieut. In the above Co “K” 133rd Regt OVI and personally knew the above Wm J Townson in that service. I remember very well that he was with the command and participated in a force march from New Creek to Greenland Gap W.Va. And back, a distance of 50 miles in about 26  hours, in the month of May 1864 resulting in great ex...

Last week, I shared about the church participation of my 3rd great-grandfather Joseph Geissler and his wife Caroline Mack. Their son Henry Geiszler is my 2nd great-grandfather. Henry married Margertia Magdalena Hoppe 3 Jul 1882 at Zion German Methodist Episcopal Church. The trouble with them marrying in this church is that the church no longer exists under this name or as a physical property. Four years after their marriage, the church became the First German ME Church. It is believed that the name German was dropped around 1917 because of the anti-German sentiments in the US during World War I. Regardless of exact reasons, the First German ME Church became Zion Methodist Episcoal Church. During the 1960s, the Zion Methodist Episcoal Church was demolished to make room for the interstate in the Columbus area. Custody of the records of the Zion ME Church were taken over by the Livingston Methodist Church . According to their website, the Livingston Church was founded by German imm...

This installment of my ongoing series shares the physician's affidavit for my Civil War era great grandfather William Townsend. Physician's Affidavit completed by C R Clement M.D. for William Townsend of Franklin County, Ohio Physician's Affidavit. State of Ohio, County of Franklin, SS: In the Pension Cliam No. _____ of William J Townsend late of Co K 133 Reg O.V. I Personally came before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County and Sate C R Clement a citizen of Groveport whose Post Office address is Groveport Ohio well known to me to be reputable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid case as follows: That he is a Practicing Physician, and that he has been acquainted with said soldier for about 4 years and that I had no acquaintance with Wm J Townsend prior to enlistment. I attended him during his last sickness. He died on Nov 13, 1889 of acute uremia as the result of Brights disease of the kidney. He had been sufferi...

Samuel Brown, Anne "Mary Jane" Tompkins, Francis Tompkins, and Lavina

Here is another installment of the Civil War File for my 3rd great-grandfather William James Townsend of Franklin County, Ohio. This affidavits were from friends of his, William GIll and George Mansfield. Affidavits regarding William Townsend by William Gill and George Mansfield State of Ohio County of Franklin } SS. On this the 28 day of May AD 1888 personally appeared before me one of the acting Mayor of the village of Groveport in and for the County and State aforesaid William C Gill & George Mansfield. Persons well knowen to me to be Respcetable and entitled to Credit and who was both first duly sworen according to law by me they declare _________________ (illegible) as follows. That they are well and intimately aquanited with William James Townson late a private of Co. “K” 133rd Regt. O US in the war of 1861 that they know by there own personal knowledge that the Statements that James a Kile swore to in William James Townson invalid pension claim No. 505.430  are true. Th...

Witness Statement for William James Townson's Civil War Pension file State of Ohio Franklin County SS on this the 31 day of Dec AD 1883 personally appered before me Clerk Common Peas Count a cting Justice of the peace in and for the County of Franklin and State of Ohio Edward G Behm John Rohn Edwards Station persons whom I Certify to be respectable and entitled to credit and who being by me first duly Sworn according to law does on there oaths declare that they are well and intimatily aquainted with William James Townson who was a late private of Company “K” 133 L Redgt Ohio Infntry and no from there own personal Knowledge that the said William James Townson was in the hospital with the mumps and eseciplis when we was at New Creek in the State of West Virginia that he was sick as aforsaid in said hospital some lenght of time dont now remember just how long that we know the above facts by reason of being members of Said Compay and redgement and that we was personally preseant at th...

Civil War Pension Claimant Affidavit, William J Townson , Claim No 505.430  State of Ohio, Franklin County SS. In the matter of Invaled Pension Claim No 505.430 of William James Townson late private Co. “K” 133 rd Redgement Ohio Inft. Vols. personally appeared before me John J Joyce Clerk of Cort Common Pleas in and for said County and State aforsaid William James Townson the above named Claiment who being by me first duley sworing according to law. States in relation to his claims as follows. My Place of residence for the three years immedially preeding my enlistment in the above servis was in Madison Township Franklin County Ohio and my Post address was Groveport and my occupation during that period was a farmer upon my discharge from the above Servis I continued to reside in the same neighborhood up to the presant. I continued work at farmming at such times as I was physically able to work my disability was incured while I was with my Command 22 miles from New Creek Station Wes...

Affidavit to certify pension claim State of Ohio, Franklin County SS. On this the 7 th day of April A.D. 1884 personally appeared before me Deputy Clerk of Court in an for the county and state aforesaid William James Townson a resident of said County aforesaid a person whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit and who being by me first duly sworn according to law, does on this oath declare that he is the idenickal(sic) William James Townson who has made application for invaled pension which is No 505.430, and that he was in the hospital at New Creek Station West Virginia that he was treated in said hospital and that is all the hospital that he was in while in the Servs of the U.S. William James (his mark) Townson Attest: Marie E Nagle Callie Orvinges Sworn to and subscribed before on this the 7 th day of April A.D. 1884 and I do hereby certify that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim. Theo H Beck Deputy Clerk of Court of Common Pleas o...

George Geiszler with his parents: Maggie Hoppe and Henry Geiszler, c 1920s My second great-grandfather was Henry Geiszler, of Columbus, Ohio. My fellow Geiszler researcher said that Henry was in the practical horse shoeing business. I've been attempting to create a timeline to determine when this might have taken place. I constructed this time line based upon the records indicated: 1889, 1890, 1891 Columbus City Directories - occupation, stone mason 1900 US Census - occupation, car repairer 1910 US Census - laborer, General Work 1920 US Census - (Two entries) either laborer, odd job, or Well Driller in construction 1930 US Census - Can't find him (though I speculate he's living above a bar. Not sure) 1931 Death record - he dies Henry had two sons, William Joseph Geiszler and George Joseph Geiszler. My fellow genealogist is from William's line. I'm from George's line He says that William took over Henry's practical horseshoing business and pursued that as his...

There are numerous pages in my ancestor William James Townsend (1842-1889) Civil War Pension Files. I'm hoping to find clues that might help me better understand his experience in the Civil War, his life after, and perhaps cracks in the brick wall of his family. I will be sharing these files once a week on Monday until April 2014. Instead of mentioning this with every entry, I'm going to simply share the pages I have and then the transcription. I will attempt to conclude each one with knowledge gain and questions generated from each file. I could use some help knowing how to create a source citation for these records. I'm a little confused on that. Thanks in advance for anyone's help in that regard. Civil War Pension Application William Townson INVALID CLAIM FOR PENSION ORIGINAL William J Townson Applicant Co. K. 133 Reg't. National Gards Vols Enlisted May 6 th , 1864 Discharged August 10 th , 1864 Filed by A.W. Shearer Alton Franklin County Ohio DECLARATION FOR AN...

Grave maker for Christoph Hoppe , son of the immigrant I would love to know more about my third great-grandfather Christian Christopher Hoppe . Derivative records present the day of 14 May 1818 as Christoph's birth date and the location is believed to be Hanover as that is the place he listed on his naturalization papers which were dated 8 Oct 1860 in Franklin County, Ohio. Great-grandfather used the name Christian and Christopher in varying spellings and combinations throughout his life. In 1860, his name is listed as Christian in the census where he is a wagon maker by trade. The census taker wrote the last name and it looks like Hoppa or Koppa. Perhaps Hoppe is an Anglicized spelling of his name. I know not. And, I know that I'm saying it wrong and have learned the name would sound more like Hoppa or Koppa. So, if I were to look for Christian Christopsher's family in Hanover, how would I go about this? What clues and strategies should I use? Should I be ...

Conrad and Marry Elisabeth Grener Someday I'd like to explore the history of Conrad Grener and his wife Mary Elizabeth Geissler. This what I know about my 2nd great-grandfather Henry Geiszler's sister. My 2nd great-grand uncle Conrad Grener is the son of Conrad Grener and Friederike Auguste Christiane Adelheide Kiesewetter. Conrad the elder was born in Baden. Conrad the younger was born 13 Aug 1853 in Alton, Franklin, Ohio. Conrad the elder was a countryman to Mary Elizabeth's birth father Joseph Geissler who was also from Baden. Conrad the elder was born about 1822. Joseph was born about 1836. There would be a 14 year gap between the two. I know when Joseph received his naturalization papers (1858), but I don't know when Conrad received his. So, did they travel together? Did they know each other in the old country? I have yet to find either Conrad in the 1860 US Census. Did they arrive after the death of Joseph and not know each other at all? Was it a simple coi...

Name on Naturalization Certificate issued in 1858 Since many records have Joseph Geißler spelled something like Keizler, I played around researching with this last name variation. I knew that Joseph was living in Prairie Township, Franklin County, Ohio in 1856 when he purchased land. From the Franklin County Plat Atlas, 1856 Joseph Geißler (here spelled Guisler), father-in-law Heinrich Mäck (here spelled Maeck) Jr, and a third man Karl Pusecker purchased three adjacent properties of ten acres each, as verified by the 1856 plat atlas. The property was adjacent to the railway.   In the 1860 US Census,  Joseph is listed with his wife Caroline and their son Henry. Interestingly, both are listed as attending school. Several adults in the community are. They are still listed beside the Mack and Pusecker families as well. Again, the family is living in Praire, Franklin County, Ohio. Year:  1860 ; Census Place:  Prairie, Franklin, Ohio ; Roll:  M653_962 ;...

When I was in Ohio in May 2012, I noticed a micorfiche draw at the Ohio History Center library that piqued my interest. It was records of still births in Franklin County, Ohio.  Birth Certificate for Baby Brown The reason this peaked my interest is the fact that I have a mystery in my family. Who were the other four? On my grand father Lewis Sherman Brown's birth record, there is a note that says his mother Emma gave birth to 9 children and only four were living at the time. I know the names of 5 of her children. But who were the other four? One daughter died in infancy. I have no birth or death record for Edna Irean Brown (14 Dec 1900 – 6 Apr 1901) except what was recorded in the family bible.  Scan of Laminated Page of Emma Brown's Bible I have wondered if I did a search of the Still Birth collection if I would find the remaining four children born to Sherman Brown and Emma Townsend. The year range would need to be between 1895 and 1918. That's a pretty big gap. My guess ...

Artifact found in Emma Brown's Bible I have encountered a family by the last name of Brown from Perry County on occasion during my research. The parents are William Brown and the wife is Mary Ann Fickle. They have nine known children. Two of their children were deaf, Moses and Ferdinand Brown. In 1880 they lived with their sister Mary Brown beside my second great-grandfather Samuel Curtis Brown (b 1821 – d 1900). I've often been told to investigate neighbors because they could be relatives. I know that The Brown siblings who lived next-door to Samuel Brown were the first cousins of his wife Martha Gordon through her mother Jane Fickle Gordon. Jane and Mary Ann were sisters. What I do not know is whether William Brown (b 1815 in Baltimore, Maryland) is related to Samuel Curtis Brown (b 1821 in Baltimore, Maryland). I do not know the names of William or Samuel's father. Could they be brothers? Could they be cousins? Could they just have a popular name and birth dates so cl...

Samuel Curtis Brown b 3 Aug 1821 in Baltimore, Maryland d 14 Jan 1900 Columbus, Ohio  I've written before how difficult it is to do genealogy with the surname Brown. My brick wall is Samuel Curtis Brown. He's a traditional looking gentleman from the 1800s, don't you think? Well, here's a research investigation that I've been mulling over for several years. On 7 Nov 2006 Willy Istvan sent me the following message: I am 99.9% sure that your Brown line is connected to a Brown line which my wife is connected to. I believe that your Samuel Curtis Brown is a sibling of a Brown family that two of my wife's "cousins" are descended from. I am attaching a Brown Descendant Report that I believe to be correct. Your Samuel is a perfect match, regarding his locations, with this other Brown family. Also, if you find Samuel Brown and Martha (Gordon) in the 1870 census in Hamilton, Franklin, OH, they are living next door to 3 of Samuel's siblings, Fe...

I have no qualms about posting my deepest wish to contact distant cousins. The ones of interest for me are descendants from the following three families:  1. Michael Billman and Caroline Geisler (nee Mack) of Franklin County, Ohio 2. Allen Bricker and Caroline Geisler (marriage record spelling was Gisler) of Pleasant, Franklin, Ohio. 3. Conrad Grener and Mary Elizabeth Geisler of Prairie, Franklin, Ohio. Why? Well, because I'm hoping to learn more about Michael, Caroline, Caroline, and Mary Elizabeth (also known as Lissie). Idealistically, I would love for clues to break open the brick wall of Micheal's ancestors and that of his wife's first husband Joseph Geissler. However, I have photos of the mother and daughters, but not the step father.  I know no stories of these people. I want to know more than what the Census records can tell. Will I ever find an ancestor?

I introduced you to Catherine Caroline Gei ß ler two weeks ago and last week I shared photos that I'm not entirely certain of her children. Caroline continues to leave me with more questions than answers. Here is a taste of those questions. To remind you, according to the Holy Cross baptism records, Catherine Caroline Geissler was born May 12, 1863.  She was the daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Mack) Gei ß ler. Death Record for Caroline Bricker, died 30 May 1952 However, on her death record, Caroline's father is listed as Thomas Geisler and mother is Caroline Mack.  I am certain this is her death records because of a number of factors, but again, why would the name Thomas be on her death record? The death record was signed by her son Curtis Bricker. Prior to her death, Caroline's siblings Mary Elizabeth Geisler Grener, and Henry Joseph Geisler had died. Her husband, her mother, and stepfather had also died. So, Curtis would have had to draw upon his memory or ...

Find a Grave Rocks! Another success for my family. This time on my father's line for the Townley family which I know very little about. Martha Boyd Townley, Spring Grove Cemetery Memorial #79058389 For some people, they might wonder why I get so excited about non-blood relatives. The answer is, all relatives are important. And, collateral lines help tell the story of my family (and provide clues when needed). So... Martha Townley (nee Boyd), is not a blood relative but she is important to me.  Here's the line: Me -> Dad -> Robert Paul Geiszler  -> Evaline Townley Geiszler (nee Peak) -> Evaline Peak (nee Townley) -> brother of Evaline, John Richard Townley -> wife of John Richard, Martha Townley (nee Boyd) So Martha is a grand aunt a few generations back. My great grandmother Evaline Peak (nee Townley) welcomed any Townley visitors who would travel to Columbus. It is believed that few did, so the "Townley's of Cincinnati" were...