John Geiser (1838 - 1894)

Born 1838 in Canton Bern, Switzerland

Husband of Mary Marty — married 1860 in Bern, Switzerland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 22 Jun 1894 at about age 56 in Schuyler, Colfax, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

John Geiser was an immigrant pioneer who participated in the westward expansion of the United States. Join the Immigrant Pioneers Project.

John Geiser is of Swiss descent

John Geiser was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland in 1838. He married Mary Marty. Prior to emigration, the following children were born: Anna b. 1861; John, Jr. b. 1863; Eliza b. 1866; Mary b. 1867; Frederick b. 1968; and Arnold, b. 1870. The family, with a babe in arms, emigrated to the US sometime during 1870 traveling directly to their land in Platte County, Nebraska. Four more children were born: Robert b. 1873; Emma b. 1876; Frank b. 1879; and Paul b. 1880.

John married Mary Marty (~1836 - 1889) in 1860. Their children were:

1. Anna Geiser
2. John Geiser Jr
3. Eliza Geiser
4. Mary Geiser
5. Frederick Geiser
6. Arnold Geiser
7. Robert Geiser
8. Emma Geiser
9. Frank Geiser
10. Paul Geiser.

Tragic Deaths

Daughter: Mary Geiser died at the age of 12, struck by lightening. The Columbus Journal, July 2, 1879 DIED GREISSER--A daughter of John Greisser, living ten miles west of Columbus, was killed by lightning last Wednesday afternoon while working in the garden. Her clothes were torn into shreds and set on fire, and her body slightly burned. She did not speak after receiving the shock, but appeared to live for five or ten minutes. She was about fifteen years old, and a very amiable girl." ^[1]

Wife: Mary, died suddenly 19 Nov 1889. She is buried in Gruetli Cemetery, Platte County, Nebraska.

Son: John Geiser, Jr. died 12 Nov 1890 at Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon from diphtheria. He was buried 14 Nov 1890 Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery Block: 19 Burial Space: 2S. His grave is unmarked and soon the section where he rests was used for the burial of children. Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery is located at SE 26th Ave and SE Washington St. Portland, Oregon and is an historical landmark. ^[2] The information was confirmed by officials at Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery. It is also part of his probate records. His burial location became forgotten in family memory until I located and verified it after a great deal of searching. Reference to any other burial location is incorrect.

John Geiser died 22 Jun 1894. His death was published in the Columbus Journal: "DIED GEISER--John Geiser lived on John Haney's farm four miles east of the city as a tenant. Latterly he had not been well; had been under the doctor's care, but had not been regarded as very seriously ill. On Monday he left the house about 11 o'clock and not appearing for dinner, the children went out to hunt him, finding him on the margin of the Loup river, south of the house, drowned. He leaves four children to mourn the loss of an indulgent father. There is not much to record in regard to him. He has had, in the sixty years of his earthly career, his share of trouble, among which may be mentioned the death of a daughter when twelve years old by a stroke of lightning, while she was hoeing cabbage in the garden; the loss of his wife by death a short time afterwards; the loss of his oldest son by death, after moving to Oregon. He had paid $300 of the $600 agreed on for the rent of Mr. Haney's farm, and it is supposed that he became despondent over the poor prospect ahead of him in the way of crops. Coroner Heintz went to the premises at 6 o'clock Monday evening, returning at 9, but did not think it necessary to summon a jury, as there was no doubt at all concerning the cause of death." ^[3].

Sources

1. ↑ PLATTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA BIRTHS, MARRIED and DEATHS RECORDED IN COLUMBUS NEWSPAPERS 1879 (July - December). The Columbus Journal. Nebraska Genweb Project.
2. ↑ Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery. SE 26th Ave and SE Washington St. Portland, OR. 06 Mar 2016. oregonmetro.gov
3. ↑ "The Columbus Journal." Columbus, Nebraska on Wed, May 23, 1894.

• Year: 1880; Census Place: Butler, Platte, Nebraska; Roll: 754; Page: 192C; Enumeration District: 094. Ancestry.com
• National Archives and Records Administration; Nebraska State Census; Year: 1885; Series/Record Group: M352; County: Platte; Township: Loup; Page: 16. Ancestry.com
• "The Columbus Journal." Columbus, Nebraska on Wed, May 23, 1894.
• PLATTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA BIRTHS, MARRIED and DEATHS RECORDED IN COLUMBUS NEWSPAPERS 1879 (July - December). The Columbus Journal. Nebraska Genweb Project.
• Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery. SE 26th Ave and SE Washington St. Portland, OR. 06 Mar 2016. oregonmetro.gov

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Melissa Bolton for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Melissa and others. Family Genealogy Book, Headstone.