NEWSLETTER JULY 1996
I have been writing to every GUISINGER in the country that I can locate who has an e-mail address. As far as I have been able to tell, all who spell their name that way are descendants of Charles GEISSINGER, our ancestor. The name change developed in the 1812-1850 time frame as the family settled in Ohio following Charles' death.
Paula GUISINGER of Golden, Colorado and I have been researching together for years now and since she has e-mail, we correspond several times per month or even per week depending on the news we have to tell. She and I located a Steven GUISINGER and we have been working on getting his genealogy. She passed on to him our Goetzis, Austria information on Charles GEISSINGER and he was able by some means to locate in the village of Goetzis, an antique shop, called Gisinger Antique Shop. Well, one thing led to another and he corresponded with them and asked them about genealogy information. Guess what?
They wrote back to him and told him they had information on Charles GEISSINGER, our ancestor! In fact, they told him they have a lot of information on that branch of the family. We were stunned! How could they have things on Charles GEISSINGER--- yes our ancestor born in 1740? They are sending material to Steve and he will forward it on to Paula. Paula said, "I need to locate someone who can read the German script". I e-mailed her and told her I can read German and Tedi Jeen is a German script translator for our stake. Well, the material is coming. We'll see what it contains. We are excited.
We hope something new can be learned. I will get Trudy Schenk on this right away also and get her to write them and we will purchase ALL of the GISINGER information they have in their possession to obtain all the names we can on our lineage. And here we thought because the records are at a dead end in the Catholic Church that we were at the end of the line.
Here is a continuation of the information from last time on Michael MOWER, father of Henry MOWER Sr.
>From the Washington County, Maryland Church Records of the 18th Century (FHL #975.291 K28w) There is strong evidence the GEISSINGER family was tied to the MAURER family in Washington Co., MD. The name is spelled GITTINGER in some instances, but GEISINGER in others and there is no doubt that they are one in the same, but spelled differently by someone who just had a hard time spelling GEISSINGER. Very common problem as you will see from what I have included about Michael MAURER's name spelling:
1. John Jacob of Matthias Behley and wife Juliana (nee Gittingarin) b. 25 January 1792, bap. 22 April 1792. Godparents: John George Gittinger and wife Elizabeth (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 107
2. Elizabeth of Henry Fyster and wife Catherine bapt. 21 April 1794. Godparents: George Gittingen and wife (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 107
3. John George son of Michael MAURER and Catherine born 27 Feb 1794. Witnesses: John George Gittinger and wife Elizabeth. (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 107 This is probably our Michael MOWER (father of Henry MOWER Sr. and this George GITTINGER is probably Catherine GEISSINGER's brother, George GEISSINGER.
4. Anna Maria of George Kittinger and wife Elizabeth, b. 5 December 1795, bapt. 14 December 1795. Witnesses: Barbara Wethmauer (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 109
5. Maria Elizabeth of George Kittinger and wife Elizabeth b. 10 May 1797, bapt. 14 May 1797. Witnesses: George Kershner and wife Maria (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 109
6. Margaretha of Peter Ekeberger and wife Maria b. 26 November 1796, bapt. 5 June 1797. Witnesses: Michel Maurer and wife Catherine. (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 110
7. William of John Geissinger and wife Susana b. 31 December 1798, bapt. 14 April 1799. Witnesses: George Maudi and wife Margaretha. (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p.111
8. Maria, dau. of Michael MAURER and Catherine, born 18 Apr 1799, bap 13 May 1799. Witnesses: Henry Reitenauer and wife Eva. (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 111. Now, some of you out there with family group sheets will say, this can't be our Michael because we know that Henry Mower Sr. was born in December of 1798, therefore there wouldn't be a daughter born the next April. All I am saying is that I can show you a thousand examples of where people have not know the correct year they were born and it shows up on death records, census records, and all kinds of records. Henry could have been born in 1797 and he would have fit in with this family just fine. We must keep an open mind here. Without a Church record of Henry Mower Sr.'s birth, there is not much to go on--- just someone's memory. Anyway, it is interesting. Temple work is being done for all of these families and if they are ours they will be sealed together. If they are not, they are sealed as a family.
9. Dorothea of Michael Haushalter and wife Susana b. 11 January 1800, bapt. 16 March 1800. Witnesses: Philip Kieseker and wife Dorothea. (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 111 Kieseker is another GEISSINGER variation.
10. Catharine of Michael MAURER and wife Catherine, born 12 Feb 1801, bap. 15 Mar 1801 Wit: Philippina Reitenauer
11. Philip of George Kittinger and wife Elizabeth b. 24 March 1801, bapt. 12 April 1801. Witnesses: Philip Schwengel and wife. (Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport) p. 112
We next find the Michael MOWER family living in Bedford Co., Pa in the 1810 Census Colerain, Bedford Co., Pa: Michael MOWREY 26-45 wife, 26-45, 2 sons 10-16, and 3 dau. under 10.
The 1820 Census shows him, wife, 1 dau. under 10, 1 dau. 10-16, 1 dau. 16-26. (Michael died 8 July 1829.)
Bedford County Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. 3, page 107 lists Michael Mower in Colerain Twp. 1817 Tax List. Page 115 lists him as a wagon maker in 1814 in Colerain.
FHL 331336 Orphan Court Records 27 Nov 1824 cited into court with his brother-in-law Michael Emich by brother, Jacob Mower, to settle the estate of Andrew Mower. 1 Feb 1828 both Michaels appear in court and the estate is settled.
FHL 331336 Orphan Court Records dated 25 Aug 1831 petition of Samuel Bussard, administrator of Michael Mower's estate to settle the estate. Nover. 27th 1824: On motion of James M. Russell Esq. at the instance of Jacob Mower Citation awarded against Michael Mower and Michael Emich Executors of the last Will and Testament of Andrew Mower dec. To appear before the Register at the Registers office in Bedford at least thirty days before the 4th Monday of January next and settle an account of their administration on said Estate. (30 Nov 1824 Citation issued. Sheriff returns served on both persons.) 1 Feb 1828 Came into court Michael Amick and Michael Mower, Executors of the last Will and Testament of Andrew Mower late of the Borough of Bedford, deceased, and produced the amount of their administration on said Estate. by which it appears there is a balance of forty dollars and sixty cents due said Executors and on proof being made by the Register, that notice was regularly published and the same was confirmed. By the Court. Fees were paid. 25 Aug 1831: Samuel Bussard, administrator of the good and chattels of Michael Mower late of Colerain Township, deceased, appointed to settle and adjust the rates and proportions of the remaining aspects due and payable to the respective creditors of the said Michael Mower, deceased. Want to see how the tax collectors tried to spell Michael Mower's name??
1802 Tax list: Michael Moura in Colerain Twp. FHL # 1449357 1804 Tax list: Michael Moury in Colerain Twp. (same) 1805 Tax list: Michael Mowry in Colerain Twp. FHL # 1449358 1807 Tax list: Michael Mowra in Colerain Twp. (same) 1807 Occupation list: Michael Mowrer in Colerain Twp. Waggon Maker. 1808 Tax list: Michael Mowrer in Colerain Twp. FHL 1449359 1809 Tax list: Michael Mowrer in Colerain Twp. (same) 1810 Tax list: Michael Mowrey in Colerain Twp. (same) 1811 Tax list: Michael Mowrey, waggon maker, in Colerain Twp. FHL #1449360. Also listed as Michael Moury. 1812 Tax list: Michael Mowry in Colerain Twp. (same) 1814 tax lists Michael Mowery in Colerain.
IGI for Pennsylvania shows that Andrew MAURER and wife, Barbara, are the parents for John Michael MAURER, who was born 17 Sep 1774 and christened on 25 Sept. 1774 in the St. Lukes Union Church in Nockamixion Twp., Bucks County, PA. Sponsors: Christopher BRIEL and Margaret.(FHL Film # 1029738 Page 184). Margaret, the wife of Christopher BRIEL (BRILL) was the sister of Andrew MAURER.
FHL #182378: Pre-Nauvoo Baptisms for the Dead 11 Sep 1842- 12 Aug 1843: Henry MOWER, was baptized on 22 Sep 1842 in the Mississippi River for and in behalf of: Andrew MOWER, his grandfather; Michael MOWER, his father; Jacob MOWER, his uncle; Andrew MOWER, his uncle; Charles GUYSINGER, his grandfather, Catherine GUYSINGER, his grandmother; Charles GUYSINGER, his uncle.
Thus ends what little history I have on Michael MOWER, father of Henry MOWER Sr. Michael died and is buried in Bedford Co., Pa. Henry continued to live there another 7 years until he joined the Church in 1836, moved to Illinois and left the area.