Geiszler Genealogy

After visiting Ohio last May, I was frustrated with Obetz Cemetery and how disorganized their records were. So, I decided to request a gravestone photograph through Find A Grave. My request was filled by an awesome volunteer. Harry A Townsend (1877 - 1918) is the brother of my great grandmother Emma Virginia Townsend Brown (1880 - 1943). I took the picture of Emma's stone when I was at the Obetz Cemetery. It was one of the few pictures I took in this cemetery. It pains me that I was so close to Harry's stone. I can visualize this location because of the fence and Mausoleum. Nevertheless, I am so grateful to Chad Graham for his service. I love how this stone gave me a HUGE clue about Harry A Townsend. Close of Photo: Chad Graham Woodmen of the World is a large fraternal benefit society that started in 1890. Harry would have been about 13. It was originally an insurance organization. Apparently 'Early Woodmen of the World policies provided for a death and a mo...

I have a lot of tangent families in my stack of research. My mother's great aunt Anna Mulford married Dan Ray Long. They had no children but my mother adored Aunt Ana. So, when my mother became interested in genealogy, she received all of Aunt Anna's family records. I don't feel like I should spend much time on this family line. It sounds mean, but there are so many branches and connected tangents on my 'main lines' that I just need to know when too severe research ties. Nevertheless, there was a Mulford Family Bible that passed into my mother's possession. Unfortunately, that bible no longer exists. The long, tragic story that I can't share. But I do have a surviving extract from that Bible for what it may be worth: Surviving extraction from the Mulford Family Bible that no longer exists. For those who are interested, here is what this extraction says: Thomas Tillinghart Mulford b 20 May 1798 Long Island, New York d 23 Oct 1881 m 25 Mar 1821 ...

My maternal grandfather Lewis Sherman Brown , had many occupations and interests throughout his adult life. He and his wife had many long time friends who they would entertain as often as possible. They worked hard and enjoyed their free time. I'd like to share some of the interests of Grandpa Lew. Lewis Brown with his beloved Don, ca 1941 Around 1941, Lewis owned a horse named Don. His adored horse stayed at Walters Riding Academy (I couldn't find a directory listing for this). Louise could never ride Don but Lew could. It is believed that keeping the horse became too expensive for the newlyweds and was sold. \ Also in the early 1940s, Lew was a hot bread truck driver. His wife Louise related, "We were pampered back then! Lew would delivered fresh, hot bread once or twice a day to the customers on  his route. The company wouldn't give men a route unless they were married. So after we were married he got a route of all about $15 a week." Apparently Lew was reall...

Lewis Brown in World War II Uniform While Lewis Brown was a newlywed, the Japanes e attacked American ship anchored in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. On 11 December 1941, Italy and Germany declared war on the United States of America and technically entered the country into the war. Thirteen months later, Lewis enlisted in the in the Army for WWII on 4 Jan 1943. According to his World War II Army Enlistment , Lewis had completed 4 years of high school. He was capable of semi-skilled occupations in building transportation equipment. Lewis was 69 inches tall and weighed 138 lbs. He received the serial number 35620761. He was a Technical Fourth Grade for the Headquarters 1304th Engineers Construction Battalion. Lew started receiving his first immunization shots on 12 January 1943. His immunizations would continue throughout his service in the war. The last shots for Typhus, Cholera and Smallpox were administered on 13 September 1945. Scan of original, Immunization Record...

When visiting cemeteries, some just stand out to me. This is another one. I guess I'm attracted to statuary as much as to unique design. Is it the part of me attracted to graphic design? I'm not sure, but in any case, I thought I'd share this beautiful monument. Elmer E And Ruby B Boice Sec 12, Lot 128, Grave 1 Obetz Cemetery, Obetz, Ohio Elmer's Find A Grave Memorial is # 16720907

Louise and Lewis Brown About 1942, Still Newlyweds   As I posted previously , my maternal grandfather Lewis Brown married Louise Long on 27 Feb 1940. That date didn't seem wrong until I found Lewis and Louise living in separate homes during the 1940 US Census. Lewis was living with his widowed mother. He was a truck driver for a retail bakery. Family Search, 1940 United States Census, Record for Lewis Brown. Louise was living with her sister Marguerite Frohnauer who was married to Frank and had a one-year old named Barbara. Both of her parents had died prior to 1940. Louise was working as a clerk for a retail store. Family Search, 1940 United States Census, Record for Louise Long The date of the US Census was April 1, 1940. The fact that my grandparents were married in February and then not in the same home in April bugged me. My grandparents adored each other throughout their life. Did they get off to a rocky start, saying they were single just a few months later? After looking at...

Nathan Mulford and Polly Tillinghart Bible Entry Copied from Mulford Family Bible dated 1837 in possession of Penny Geiszler [the bible no longer exists] great niece of Harriett Mulford. Nathan Mulford was born July 10, 1759 Polly Tillinghart was born April 1766 Hannah Mulford was born June 18, 1790 Nathan Mulford, Jr was born March 14, 1792 Thomas Tillinghart Mulford was born May 20, 1798 Julius Foster Mulford was born March 17, 1802 Nathan Mulford died September 2, 1817 age 58 yrs Hannah Mulford died April 20, 1819 age 28 yrs Julius F Mulford died January 29, 1845 age 43 yrs Polly Mulford died January 20, 1850 age 84 yrs Bless my sweet mother's heart. She started doing genealogy in the late 70s. She had an aunt Harriet Mulford Long. Harriet and her siblings never had any children. Thus, the genealogical items found in Harriet's home when she passed, were given to my mother's mother. Thus, my grandmother gave the items to my mother when she showed an interest in...

Happy New Year! Here's a gravestone that I think of often when I remember beautiful stones from my Ohio trip last May. Enjoy. James H Deal Plot: Sect 12, lot 108, spc 4 Obetz Cemetery, Obetz, Ohio I love the coloration of this stone. I love the curvature across the top. I think the flower holders on the side are tasteful. This is just a memorably interesting marker.