Geiszler Genealogy

When I think of mothers on my family tree, Lura Smith tops the list of those I look forward to meeting in the afterlife. She is the adopted mother of my Grannie,  Louise Eleanor Long .  Grannie adored Lura. Lura was married to Harry Howard Long (1883-1937). The couple married in Columbus, Ohio on Jun 19, 1907. They were unable to have children and finally adopted their first child in 1916. In May 1920, a baby girl was born in Columbus, Ohio to an unwed mother. The mother died of preeclampsia. This baby girl would become my grandmother. Upon her mother's death, Baby Anderson became a ward of the State of Ohio Welfare Department. She had a caseworker, Ethel Huffman Ackerman, who wanted to place Baby Anderson in the home of Harry Long. The caseworker was a friend and classmate (at Ohio State) of Harry's sister Elizabeth Long. As Elizabeth retells the story, Ethel received Baby Anderson's birth mother's history and felt that Harry and Lura were just the parent...

With a common name like John Long, it would be easy to confuse two people as one. However, I'm 95% certain that my 3rd Great Grandfather John Long has two stones. Here's what I know about John W Long: b. 16 February 1805 in Lycoming, Pennsylvania d. 8 October 1870 in New Haven, Huron, Ohio The recorded family story by John's granddaughter Elizabeth Long (the family historian of sorts) is this: On 8 Oct 1870, John W. Long was stricken with a heart attack.  He did not die immediately so William, his third oldest son, was able to get home before he died. William had taken grain to the mill earlier in the day. In a letter from Elizabeth, she said her grandfather was buried in New Haven. The Cemetery is believed now to be called the New Haven Cemetery in Willard, Huron, Ohio. I found this stone in the cemetery: John W and Charles Long Gravemarker New Haven Cemetery Memorial # 97722636, Photographer  SavingRecordsForOurFuture The inscription is hard to read but the name does s...

Here is the third and final page of a letter written by Elizabeth Long to her great niece Penny about the Long and Marvin family. This one focuses on family tradition of Angeline Marvin's family including the mention of Sarah Burr Sommerville who I believe to be incorrectly identified. I believe Sarah Burr's last name was Sherwood. However, there might be some truth to the Sommerville last name as I can't find much about Capt. Daniel Sherwood of Connecticut and his wife Deborah Burr. Letter from Elizabeth Long to Penny Brown Geiszler, 9 October 1976; digital image held in 2010 by Devon Lee. Here is the transcription: I don't know whether you learned that when the Marvins came to Ohio from Connecticut they came in wagon (covered, no doubt) drawn by oxen. The trip took six weeks. A dozen families including other Marvin relations made the trip. Ohio was then very heavily wooded and the group had to cut their own trail part of the way. There were few roads. I'm not sure...

This is the second page of the letter from Elizabeth Long to Penny Geiszler regarding the Long Family that originated in Pennsylvania... but now includes the siblings of my great grandfather Harry Howard Long. Letter from Elizabeth Long to Penny Brown Geiszler, 9 October 1976;  digital image held in 2010 by Devon Lee. Here's the transcription: My siblings and me are: all born in 1800s in New Haven, Ohio Dan Ray b 10/7/76 died 9/15/1954 buried New Haven “Dan” not “Daniel” Gertrude b 6/30/78 died 2/1/1949 in Washington buried in New Haven Mary Agnes b 2/21/82 died 11/16/1953 in Washington buried in Havanah Ohio Harry Howard b 12/1/83 died 12/13/1937 buried in Columbus, Originally he was named Henry Howard but always used the name “Harry” Felix Angelo b 1/25/1886 died 12/23/1890 buried in New Haven Elizabeth b 12/22/1890 will not be buried, body will go to GWU Med School (The above is recorded in my personal 'birthday book” or otherwise from persona...

I wanted to start writing the history of my great grandfather Harry Howard Long, but I had to stop. I was looking at a source citation that referred to a letter written by his sister to my mother. In the letter, there were a few nuggets about great grandfather's Long relatives and a brief mention of the Marvin family. So, I decided to pause and transcribe the letter. The original letter was three pages, so I will share the letter in three posts. Letter from Elizabeth Long to Penny Brown Geiszler, 9 October 1976; digital image held in 2010 by Devon Lee. Here is the transcription of page 1: October 9, 1976 Dear Penny: You have been on my mind for some time especially recently. I've been trying to remind myself to get at writing and then today your letter supplied the necessary push and so here's your letter. I'm afraid I can't give you a lot of information about my father's family. Father never alked much about his family. What data I have ...

I'm looking for information on John W Long and Hannah Patterson Moore as well as their children. My genealogical connection is they are my third great-grandparents through their son William Lester Long. I have some information about John and Hannah Long and their children. I would really like more documentation, family stories, and photographs. Here's what I know: John W Long born 16 Feb 1805 in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania died 8 Oct 1870 in New Haven, Huron, Ohio, United States married on 31 Dec 1845 in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Hannah Patterson Moore born 4 Aug 1841 in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania died 14 Jun 1897 in New Haven, Huron, Ohio, United States John W Long and Hannah Patterson Moore  had the following children: Mary Long (1848 -) Dr. William Lester Long (22 Jan 1849 - 28 Feb 1925) Winfield Scott Long (Nov 1850 - ) Mary E Long (30 Apr 1851 - 6 Feb 1930) Clara Adeline 'Addie' Long (16 Jun 1853 - 21 Jan 1938) Franc...

I'd love to figure out more about my 3rd great-grandmother Hannah Patterson Moore. Her mother is supposed to be from County Down, Ireland according to family legend. But the thing that stands in my way, or at least that's what I think, is the 1840 US Census. This is what I know about great-grandmother: Hannah Patterson Moore Birth 4 Aug 1814 in Clearfield, Clearfield, Pennsylvania, United States Death 14 Jun 1897 in New Haven, Huron, Ohio, United States  Her mother's name is supposed to be Jeannie Patterson. Father's last name is Moore but first name unknown.  She married John W Long in 1845 and appears as Hannah Long in Lawrence, Clearfield, Pennsylvania in the 1850 US Census. I found other evidence of her until her death in 1897.  No father's name has ever turned up. And I know very little of her mother, such as age or number of children she has. So, that also means I don't know who Hannah's siblings are. When I attempted to go back to the ...

Okay... it's 1910 and you are starting life over in a different part of the state. You're not with your husband and you have one child. The City Directory comes around and asks about your status (occupation, address, etc). As a woman in 1910, do you list yourself as a widow when you're divorced? Or do you just leave off the husband information? If you divorce, would you change your married name back to your maiden name? Or does your family have you confused and you kept your married name because you truly are a widow? I found this information FASCINATING. My mother's great-aunt Gertrude Long married a man named Edward T. Rang in Huron County, Ohio in April 1895. The marriage records in that particular year only had persons state they were at least of a certain age but no other information was recorded (i.e. parents). Edward and Gertrude Rang had a child in May 1895.The birth certificate of Edward and Gertrude's daughter identifies them by name only. By the 1...

For me, Mother's Day was on May 15th this year since my husband was out of town. So, to celebrate my Mother's Day, I want to praise a very special person. Her name is Lura Maud Smith (1884-1934). Lura was married to Harry Howard Long (1883-1937). The couple married in Columbus, Ohio on Jun 19, 1907. They were unable to have children and finally adopted their first child in 1916. In May 1920, a baby girl was born in Columbus, Ohio to an unwed mother. The mother died of preeclampsia. This baby girl would become my grandmother. Upon her mother's death, Baby Anderson became a ward of the State of Ohio Welfare Department. She had a caseworker, Ethel Huffman Ackerman, who wanted to place Baby Anderson in the home of Harry Long. The caseworker was a friend and classmate (at Ohio State) of Harry's sister Elizabeth Long. As Elizabeth retells the story, Ethel received Baby Anderson's birth mother's history and felt that Harry and Lura were just the parents for this ne...