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...