I wanted to comment on something which concerns both Geyers and Geigers. I think we are all aware that on many occasions our Geigers and Geyers have been misspelled as the opposite surname in published records and elsewhere. When posting information from these sources to the lists it is necessary to post them as they appear in the records--you just can't second guess whether the record may be incorrect unless you know it to be so from other sources. Dave Rankin (the listowner of the Geyer list) and I have for a long time been checking each other's files and commenting when we find a misplaced Geyer or Geiger. We intend to continue this practice on our lists and we each monitor the other list for that purpose. There is every bit as much to be gained by weeding out incorrect information in the records as there is in identifying the correct information. So please don't hesitate to post information for fear that something may be inaccurate in those records. And secondly please don't feel offended if either Dave or I (or anyone else for that matter) point out inaccuracies in those records. Both lists appreciate and thrive on having information from all sources posted to the list--this is how we learn. I wish (briefly) to relate an incident that happened quite some time ago. I had in my records the baptism of a George Henry Geiger on 6 June 1742 at the First Reformed Church in Lancaster County. I joked about the fact that every Geiger family known to man was attempting to trace their line of Geigers back to this George Henry Geiger. He seems to have been born at just the right time and in just the right place to be everyone's George Geiger--progenitor of their respective Geiger family. He was surely the George Geiger who went to Virginia, to Tennessee, to Ohio, to West Virginia, and he was also the George Geiger who served in the Revolution from PA and from VA, etc. Well, you get the picture--everyone wanted to claim this George Henry Geiger as their very own George Geiger. My main goal was trying to figure out WHICH Geiger family George really belonged to. But what I SHOULD have been worrying about is whether he was in fact a Geiger at all. Dave Rankin happened to stumble over a family of Geyers he was interested in in Lancaster County--and this George Henry turned out to be a GEYER and not a GEIGER at all!!! So he wasn't the progenitor of ANY of the Geiger families who were attempting to claim him But without this comparison of records--we would still be groping in the dark trying to place this George Henry GEIGER. So don't be afraid that something you post may be wrong--we will all post incorrect information from time to time. What is important is that we get the information out there to everyone in the first place for others to look at and evaluate. Joan

In a message dated 98-06-14 13:22:25 EDT, you write: > Obviously that computer translation program won't help > in this situation - does any one know of any place or resource I can turn to > get some of this translated? Sara, I think you would benefit by obtaining a book on Old German Script or at least a copy of what the alphabet looked like that was used. You are right about the letters you mention appearing differently than they would today and you are also right that unless you can put the text into today's script you could not use a computer translation service. One suggestion is just what you have done--take note of how the letters are written for the names you know and then see if you can apply those letters to the rest of the text--the same way you would decipher a code. Do we have any experts on Old German Script on the list? Someone who can help out here? Joan

Hello fellow list members. I am Dick Andis, Greencastle, IN and born in Hancock Co, IN which is right next door to Rush County where our John KIGER, JR settled in early 1800s. John's daughter, Permelia KIGER is my great grandmother, having married John Richard ANDIS. If anyone is interested in the mundane dates and particulars, I'll be happy to provide. So, first off, if anyone has any research needs in the Indiana counties of Hancock, Shelby, Rush, Fayette, Franklin, Wayne, Henry, let me know and we'll do what we can when we go over there, which is fairly regularly. Now to why I posted this msg. I am going to Miami Co. Ohio next Thursday for 3 days of research. I will probably work out of the Haynor Center in Troy, OH, which is an excellent historical source for the Miami Valley. If anyone has any western Ohio requests, I'll be happy to do what I can given the time restraints I'll have. I could stop off IN any of the following counties--first come first served: Butler, Preble, Darke, Mercer, Shelby, Miami, Clark, Champaign, Logan, Auglaize. To reiterate, those counties are ones I can STOP OFF in. If you have need for info from other counties such as Montgomery, Hamilton, Clermont, Brown, Highland, Warren, Green, Clinton, Fayette, let me know and we'll see what we can find at the Haynor Center. Dick Andis - Greencastle, IN <randis@madison.tdsnet.com>

Joan your ability to get this translated was phenomenal! I've been trying to get some old letters translsted for years. Helene Udo Strickfaden wrote: > > In dem Ort Malsch im Landkreis Karlsruhe, Deutschland, lebten im 18. Jahrhundert mehrere Familien mit Namen Geiger. Wer seine Vorfahren auf diese Familien zurueckfuehren kann, wird gebeten, sich mit mir in Verbindung zu setzen. > Udo Strickfaden

In a message dated 98-06-14 01:11:38 EDT, txphlp44@enol.com writes: > your ability to get this translated was phenomenal! I've been > trying to get some old letters translsted for years. Helene, Babelfish is a very valuable tool and on a list such as this one with International appeal we would be wise to use it to full advantage. I would caution you that the translations are very literal--since they are done by computer. After I did the translation I went back and smoothed it out a bit. Otherwise it would have come through saying the gentleman was looking for anyone who connects to "several families of violinists in Karlsruhe." That is due to the literal translation of Geiger to "violinist." Babelfish was unable to tell it was a surname. I just have to trust Babelfish to make a better English to German translation of my reply to Udo. Languages are tricky things to work with. Joan

In a message dated 98-06-14 00:37:03 EDT, randis@madison.tdsnet.com writes: > If you have need > for info from other counties such as Montgomery, Hamilton, Clermont, > Brown, Highland, Warren, Green, Clinton, Fayette, let me know and we'll > see what we can find at the Haynor Center. Dick, I am most interested in the Clinton County Kigers if you should turn up anything on them. Most notably I am interested in Benjamin and Samuel. There is definitely more than one Benjamin Kiger. My suspicion is that the older Benjamin is the father of Oregon Trail Pioneer William Wiekle Kiger and I would like to be able to prove it or disprove it. If he is he would have been born about 1770-1780 in Virginia most likely and moved to Gallia County, Ohio and then to Jackson County (we know that for sure) and presumably on to Clinton with his wife Catharine. A Samuel was in Clinton County on the 1830 census, in Chester Twp. page 237, and Benjamin is still back in Jackson County, in Washington Twp. on page 124. By 1840 Samuel is still in Clinton Co. in Chester Twp. on page 321, and Benjamin (presumably the same one from Jackson Co.) has moved to Clinton County and is in Richland Twp. on page 347. By 1850 the Kiger population in Clinton Co. has blossomed to 5 households: Benjamin (Keger) in Chester Twp. on page 289, with a second Benjamin spelled Kiger on the same page in the same twp. Mary J. Kiger is in Wilmington on page 347, Benjamin C. is in Wayne Twp. on page 402, and Ann E. is also in Wayne Twp. on page 403. I would love to know more about any or all of them. Joan

In a message dated 98-06-13 20:26:24 EDT, you write: > I have found a reference (another researchers notes) to a John, born 2 Oct > 1803 in Martinsburg, VA, died 4 Oct 1881 in Camden, IN who married a > Susannah > Hartner in 1827 and had 3 sons, 1 daughter being the son of Anthony Geiger ( > b. > 29 Oct 1776, MD) and Mary Kirk. The dates and places for that John and my > John are too similar to ignore however, there are some inconsistencies, the > biggest being his wife. It is possible Susannah was my John�s first wife. > Any help with this line would be appreciated. Beth, I think we should point out (and I know you are already aware of this) that the John Geiger you refer to above who married Mary Kirk is the son of Anthony Geiger, who in turn is the son of Jacob Geiger and Elizabeth Schultz. Jacob is the son of Valentine Geiger, Jr. and his first wife Sarah Vetato/Wedato of Bucks County (now Northampton County) Pennsylvania. This is the Geiger family I refer to as the Henckel-Geiger family in view of their close relationship with the family of Rev. Anthony Jacob Henckel who arrived in America in 1717 along with 2 Geiger brothers (a third came later) to New Hanover Township in what is now Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. One of those 2 brothers to arrive in 1717 was Valentine Geiger, Sr. father of Valentine, Jr. named above. Valentine, Sr.'s first wife (from whom Valentine, Jr. descends) is Johanna Frederica Henckel, daughter of Rev. Anthony Jacob Henckel. Valentine's brother Johann Georg Geiger was married to another daughter of Rev. Henckel. This Geiger family came to America from Ittlingen, Northern Kraichgau, Germany. > .............2 Abraham Kiger b: 1812 in IN d: 2 September 1886 in Stuart, > Kansas > .................+Matilda Collins Henthorne b: Abt 1817 in IN m: Abt > 1832 d: > 12 Feb 1893 in MO (prob) I also want to point out (although this is not Beth's direct line) that this Kiger (not to be confused with Beth's Geigers) family had at least the one intermarriage with the Henthorn/Henthorne family and if you will look back at the information Kay Bolls posted earlier about HER Kygers--her ancestor Daniel Kyger married Anna Henthorn. We have established that these two Henthorn/Henthornes were from the same family (although separated by some years) which could indicate a connection between these two Kiger/Kyger families who originated in roughly the same geographic area. We are all looking to either prove or disprove that possibility. Joan

Hello Geiger cousins, I appreciate the answers to my Antonia Geiger and Sunbury Kiger questions. This is a very friendly group! I just received a listing of Geigers who appear in the 1870 US Census for New York City (only). This only lists heads of households, but I'll be happy to look up names if anyone is interested. The name gives the locality, roll and page number in the census. Susan sbiedron@starnetusa.net

Since we are introducing ourselves, I am Beth Garland and I live in San Antonio, Texas (transplanted from central Indiana). I have Geigers on my father�s side and Kigers on my mothers side (my tree may not fork much!). So far the family lines haven't connected but you never know.... My earliest known Geiger is John Geiger. 1 JOHN GEIGER b: 2 October 1803 in VA (what is now W. VA) d: 4 October 1880 in Jay Co., IN +RUTH KELSO b: 17 Jan 1816 in Licking Co., OH m: in Licking Co., OH d: 25 Feb 1901 in Trenton, Blackford Co., IN ......... 2 SARAH E. GEIGER b: 9 October 1833 in Licking Co.,Ohio d: 14 Nov 1911 in Greene Twip, Jay Co. , IN ............. +EDWIN HUDSON b: 18 Dec 1828 in Franklin Co., Ohio m: 8 Dec 1850 in Jay Co., IN d: 5 July 1897 in Green Twp, Jay Co., IN ......... 2 Jacob Geiger b: 3 Feb 1836 in Licking Co., OH d: 1922 ............. +Phebe Emily Whitacre b: 1831 in Ohio m: 27 March 1862 in Jay Co., IN d: 8 April 1911 in Greene Twp, Jay Co., IN ......... 2 Joseph Geiger b: ABT 1839 in Licking Co., Ohio d: Bef 14 November 1911 ............. +Nettie Ledbetter b: ABT 1851 in Licking Co., Ohio ......... 2 John Geiger b: 18 October 1840 in Ohio d: 28 March 1905 in Knox Township, Jay Co., IN ............. +Mary C. ? b: 22 April 1848 in IN d: 23 June 1902 ......... 2 Abraham Geiger b: ABT 1845 in IN d: Bef 14 November 1911 ............. +Mary E. McLaughlin b: ABT 1841 in Ohio m: 26 January 1868 in Jay Co., IN d: 25 April 1912 in Jay Co., IN ......... 2 William H. Geiger d: Bef 14 November 1911 John and Ruth were in Jay County, IN in 1841. The 1880 census gives Virginia as the birthplace of John and Ruth�s parents. John and Ruth are my 3rd great- grandparents on my father�s side. I have found a reference (another researchers notes) to a John, born 2 Oct 1803 in Martinsburg, VA, died 4 Oct 1881 in Camden, IN who married a Susannah Hartner in 1827 and had 3 sons, 1 daughter being the son of Anthony Geiger (b. 29 Oct 1776, MD) and Mary Kirk. The dates and places for that John and my John are too similar to ignore however, there are some inconsistencies, the biggest being his wife. It is possible Susannah was my John�s first wife. Any help with this line would be appreciated. My earliset Kiger is John Kiger, Sr. (I use the Kiger with an "i" spelling since most of my line spelled it that way). Descendants of JOHN KIGER, SR 1 JOHN KIGER, SR b: Abt 1775 in VA? d: Aft 1832 in Hancock Co., IN .. +SARAH J. PARRISH b: Abt 1775 in VA m: 13 January 1791 in Maysville, Mason Co., KY d: Aft 1831 in Rush Co., IN .............2 Nancy V. Kiger b: 1793 in KY d: 1889 in Tipton Co., IN .................+William Simmonds m: 10 January 1810 in Dearborn Co., IN .............2 Daniel Kiger b: 6 March 1807 d: Bef 1884 .................+Charity Lines b: 31 August 1810 m: 15 November 1827 in Rush Co., IN d: 1880 .............2 JOHN KIGER, JR b: 1808 in Ohio d: 1845 in Hancock Co., IN .................+SARAH GWINNUP b: 25 Dec 1811 in OH m: 5 Feb 1830 in Rush Co., IN d: 19 Jan 1903 in Hancock Co., IN .............2 Mary Kiger .................+Joseph King m: 18 November 1830 in Rush Co., IN .............2 Adam Kiger d: 1857 in Howard Co., IN .............2 Abraham Kiger b: 1812 in IN d: 2 September 1886 in Stuart, Kansas .................+Matilda Collins Henthorne b: Abt 1817 in IN m: Abt 1832 d: 12 Feb 1893 in MO (prob) John and Sarah are my 4th great-grandparents on my mother�s side. The Kiger researchers (Joan Young, Vonda Cooper, et al) have recently helped flesh this line out. Now to find John�s parents (and Sarah�s too)�. Scot Shively (Sshiv999@aol.com) is my brother. Our family research is a joint effort and our annual genealogy research trip (this year to Ohio/Pennsylvania and anywhere else we have time for) is only about 4 weeks away! We would appreciate hearing from anyone interested in these lines. For the other lines we are researching, see my web page at http://members.aol.com/bgar134/roots.htm. Beth Shively Garland Bgar134@aol.com

My name is Charles McKinley, my user Id is my 66 Mustang conv, anyhow, I am working on the McKinley marriages into the Kiger family of Fairfield County, Ohio. I have four families that I am trying to fill in the holes for. Apparently they moved to different parts of the country, namely Illinois, Kansas and Missouri with the McKinleys also. I will start with the origin. My ggggrandfather William McKinley was born in Ireland circa 1779 and died in Fairfield county in 1857. He had five children, Robert 1800-1847, Joseph 1810-1867, James 1818-1883, my line, Margaret 1819-1895 who married WW Kiger, William Jr. 1821-1904, the line that moved west, and Elizabeth 1827-1893. Margaret (Peggy) married William W Kiger son of Henry and Mary Polly Walduck on 7 Dec 1837. She died on 14 Sept 1895. Both William and Margaret are buried in the Amanda Twp cemetery. Williams parents are buried in the Turkey Run cemetery, and there is a little flag stand by his grave for his war service by the way. Anyhow, here's their children that I have and the dates 1. Andrew B-1 Jul 1838, D-19 Aug 1838, Buried in Turkey Run 2. Nancy B-17 Aug 1839, D-29 Mar 1849, buried in Turkey Run 3. Mary Jane B-27 Nov 1840, D-27 Oct 1927 in Shelbyville, Ill. She married a William Henry Harrison Yakey on 7-25-1865 in Shelbyville, Illinois. Note Dates on William. 4. Minerva Elizabeth B-5 Nov 1843, D-7-Dec-1931 in Lancaster, Ohio, She married a David Brasher Markwood on 17 Sep 1871. No dates on David, but parents names though. 5. William Henry B-5 Jul 1846, D-7 Aug 1846, buried in Turkey Run believed to be a twin of Christian 6. Christian B-5 Jul 1846, D-7 Aug 1846, buried in Turkey Run 7. Murvin Mack B-4 Sep 1847, D-21 Aug 1932 in Unknown place maybe Kansas. He married a Sarah Jane Barr on 25-Nov-1869 in Fairfield County. Elizabeth B-25 Dec 1846 Fairfield, D-11 Jul 1932, believed to be Fairfield County, parents were Thomas and Hannah (Unknown) Barr. 8. Sarah Ann (Sallie) B-22 Oct 1849, D-30 Sep 1930, Fairfield, Buried in Amanda. She married a Simon Peter Crist date unknown, Simon Peter dates 1846-1931 from tombstone, no actuals or parents names. 9. Henry Walduck B-12 Feb 1852, no other info other than Marriage to a Rosa (Unknown) Maiden. 10. Betty Ann born and died about 1853, no other data. Maybe Georges Twin. 11 George born and died about 1853, no other data, perhaps another set of twins that died. 12. Ermina Christean (Emma) B-1 Jan 1854, D-5 Aug 1881 buried in Amanda. She married a William Scanlon, no dates or parents. Grave marker not probably right. 13 Phoebe B-15 Nov 1860, D-circa 1928. Married a William Hege 1843-1941 son of Peter and Mary. Dates on markers don't show actual dates only years. Now the Questions 1. Okay 2. Okay 3. Any info on William Yakey. Also it is believed that they had 5 children. I only have Phoebe (1873-1953). 4. Missing dates for Markwood. They also had 5 children, some data missing. 1. William 1872-1903 no other data. 2. Charles 1875-1915 no other data. 3. Harvey Monroe 1878-1968 have other data. 4. Myrtle J 1880, no other data. 5. Peter Boyd 1883-1976 have other data 5. Okay 6. Okay 7. Murvin Mack not sure of his or wifes burial place. Believed to have had 8 children missing lot of data. Order of birth believed to be as follows. 1. Phoebe Alda B-3-Dec-1870 in Ohio, nothing else 2. Hannah Rosetta B-21-Sep-1872 in Ohio, nothing else 3. Anna Isabel B-25-Oct-1874 in Ohio, nothing else 3. Charles Roy B-25-May-1877 in Ohio, nothing else 5. Christena believed born in Kansas after family moved in 1879 to Kansas, nothing else 6. No data. 7. No data. 8. Jennie, believed to married a Unknown Mossman, nothing else. 8. Missing husbands dates and parents, also they are believed to have had 3 children, Have no data on them either. 9. Missing spouse data, death, burial of Henry and spouse and children if any, 10. actual dates missing and burial 11. actual dates and burial missing. 12. Missing data on William dates and parents, marker not believed to be right. They had 2 children, need data. Children believed to have moved to Kansas after mothers death. 1. Norman 2. Albert (Bert) 12. Need actual dates of death for Phoebe, and actuals for William. They had 1 dau Ananbel, buried near them, believed to not have been married. If you can fill in some of the holes for me, it would be greatly appreciated.

This is my line. Ken Baker Andrews, IN John Adam Geiger b. 18 Oct 1750 is the father of David below. David Geiger b. 31 Jul 1790, Shenandoah Co., VA, m. (1) 25 Oct 1808, in Fairfield Co., OH, Catherine Winegardner, d. 27 Sep 1810, Fairfield Co., OH, m. (2) 21 Nov 1811, in Fairfield Co., OH, Elizabeth Howdyshell. David died 5 Sep 1825, Fairfield Co., OH. Children by Catherine Winegardner: 2. i John Geiger b. 10 Sep 1809. ii Herbert Geiger b. 26 Sep 1810, Fairfield Co., OH, d. 16 Nov 1892, Fairfield Co., OH. Children by Elizabeth Howdyshell: 3. iii David Geiger b. 1 Oct 1821. iv Mary Geiger. v Elizabeth Geiger b. 1819. vi Margaret Geiger b. 5 Aug 1820, Fairfield Co., OH, d. 23 Sep 1821, Fairfield Co., OH. Second Generation 2. John Geiger b. 10 Sep 1809, Fairfield Co., OH, m. 2 May 1833, in Fairfield Co., OH, Mary Ann Cupp, b. 1810, d. 1891. John died 19 Jan 1889, Huntington Co., IN. Children: i Catherine Geiger b. 19 Mar 1834, Fairfield Co., OH, d. 20 Nov 1837, Fairfield Co., OH. ii Valentine Cupp Geiger b. 11 Jan 1836, Fairfield Co., OH, d. 24 Sep 1929, Huntington Co., IN. iii Herbert Geiger b. 29 Mar 1838, Fairfield Co., OH, d. 13 Mar 1913, Huntington Co., IN. 4. iv Mary Ann Geiger b. 28 Jul 1840. v John C. Geiger b. 17 Dec 1842, Fairfield Co., OH, d. 26 Sep 1850, Fairfield Co., OH. 5. vi Charity W. Geiger b. 28 MAY 1845. My great grandmother. Charity m. John A. Hite in Fairfiedl Co., OH vii Winfield Scott Geiger b. Jan 1847, Fairfield Co., OH, d. 23 Apr 1852, Fairfield Co., OH. viii Sarah Elizabeth Geiger b. 12 Aug 1850, Fairfield Co., OH, d. 22 Aug 1850, Fairfield Co., OH. ix David C. Geiger b. 1853, Fairfield Co., OH, d. Mar 1937, San Diego, CA. 3. David Geiger b. 1 Oct 1821, Fairfield Co., OH, m. 6 Jun 1844, in Fairfield Co., OH, Sarah Jane Mills, b. 1825, d. 1852. David died 1 Oct 1887, Benton Co., IA. Children: 6. i Samuel Mills Geiger b. 21 Feb 1845. ii William Geiger b. 1848. iii James Geiger b. 1850.

Udo, thank you for posting to the list the Geigers you are researching. I hope in the near future to have more Geiger researchers in Germany and elsewhere in Europe join the list. Since I do not speak German I am relying on the Internet translation service Babelfish at the following URL <A HREF="http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/translate">AltaVista: Translations</A> to help those of us who speak English work with our German- speaking cousins. It can be of mutual benefit to all of us. Since most of our members at present are English-speaking I am taking the liberty of translating your message (using Babelfish) to help them reply to you if they find a connection to the Geigers of Karlsruhe, Germany. Joan Young, list moderator "In the village of Malsh in the district Karlsruhe, Germany, there lived in the 18th Century several families with the name Geiger. Anyone who can trace their ancestors to these families I would like to contact me. Udo Strickfaden" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Udo, danke f�r die Eintragung zur Liste des Geigers, das Sie erforschen. Ich hoffe in naher Zukunft, mehr Geigerforscher in Deutschland und in Europa zu haben die Liste anderwohin zu verbinden. Da ich nicht Deutsch spreche, das ich auf den Internet-�bersetzungsdienst Babelfish am folgenden URL baue <A HREF="http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/translate">AltaVista: Translations</A> , um uns zu helfen, die Englischarbeit mit unseren deutschsprechenden Vettern sprechen. Sie kann vom gegenseitigen Nutzen zu allen uns sein. Da die meisten unseren Bauteilen zur Zeit ich nehmen die Freiheit des �bersetzens Ihrer Meldung (Babelfish verwendend) um ihnen zu helfen auf Sie, zu antworten englischsprechend sind, wenn sie einen Anschlu� zum Geigers von Karlsruhe, Deutschland finden. Joan Young, list moderator

I see on rereading my posting that I referred to LK1 as my 3g-grandfather and Doc Kiger as my 2g-grandfather. Subtract 1 from both figures (math's not my strong point.) Sorry if I confused or annoyed. Mike Montgomery <michael@princeton.edu>

I'm new to genealogical research beyond the family interview stage, but encouraged by Joan Young I am posting a query here. Actually there are three Lewis Kigers I'm interested in: LK1. My 3g-grandfather was named Lewis Kiger, according to my grandmother and her sister. He was "from North Carolina" and with his wife, Mary, had five children: John, Jerry, Lee, Sally, and my 2g-grandfather, Nathaniel Leopold "Doc" Kiger. Doc was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., May 3, 1861; moved to northeast Texas, where he married Mollie Inez Bell (b. Lloyd, Tex.); and died July 12, 1936. Their children were Cecil Merton Kiger (my grandmother, born Nov. 16, 1887, in Lloyd Tex., married Eli Burnett Bratcher Apr. 21, 1907, and died in Denton, Tex., Apr. 23, 1973); Ewell Auswin Kiger (b. Aug. 25, 1890, m. Bertha Robinson Mar. 11, 1912); Minnie Jane Kiger (b. Feb. 20, 1898, m. Claude Henry, d. 1943); and Margaret Maylene Kiger (b. Feb. 4, 1903 in Garza, Tex., m. Homer Chastain Aug. 10, 1946, d. Nov. 19, 1992, in denton, Tex.). That's all they told me when I talked with them about their family in 1965 or so. I can provide much additional data on Doc Kiger's descendants, if anyone's interested. LK2. The second Lewis Kiger I am interested in is one mentioned in Faye Moran's Kiger Family Home Page (www.erols.com/fmoran/kiger.html) and in Bob Kiger's article on the North Carolina Geiger/Kiger/Keiger family in _The Kiger Kounter_, 1:3 (Winter, 1997), 7. He was born in 1828, the 3rd-generation son of Simon Geiger (b. 1804) and Mary Elizabeth Moser (1807-1899), and married Sarah Mary Edwards (no issue listed). Among his sibs he had brothers named John and Jeremiah. LK3. The third Lewis Kiger I find mentioned in Louis H. Manarin, _North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865_ (Raleigh, N.C.: State Dept. of Archives and History, 1971), vol. 3, p. 324. He is listed as a private who resided in Forsyth Co. where he enlisted "at age 27" on Mar. 1, 1863. The same day another Forsyth Co. Kiger, Levi "age 29," also enlisted into the same outfit, Infantry Co. G of the 2nd N.C. Battalion (both survived the war). Among other service, LK3 served under General Ewell at Gettysburg, where he was wounded and captured, probably in the early action on July 1. Here are my hypotheses, which I invite you to critique: I see some reasons for identifying my 3g-grandfather LK1 with LK2. LK2's wife's name, Sarah Mary, and the names of his brothers Jeremiah and John, seem to be echoed in LK1's sons Jerry and John and daughter Sally. I am also struck by another curious echo in the names of my g-grandther Nathaniel "Doc" Kiger (1861-1936) and that of Nathaniel "Doc" Moser (1860-1936), a nephew of LK2. In favor of identifying LK1 and LK3 I have only the circumstantial naming of LK1's son "Lee" and Doc Kiger's naming of his son "Ewell," surnames of the men who were LK3's commanding officers at Gettysburg. The two Kigers of the N.C. 2nd Battalion, Levi and Lewis, look like brothers who enlisted together, but if the ages given, 29 and 27, are correct, they can't be LK2 (b. 1828) and his brother Simon Levi Kiger (b. 1822)--but I don't see any other likely candidates among the Faye Moran and Bob Kiger lists. Who are these guys? Anyway, that's my thinking, such as it is. I would appreciate any relevant information any of you might have, and, as I'm new to the genealogy business, your advice on how I should proceed from here. Mike Montgomery <michael@princeton.edu>

Hello Everyone: My name is Kay Bolls and I'm looking for the ancestors of Daniel KYGER who married Anna Henthorn. I'll take any Henthorn information you might have also...I'm not greedy. Daniel was born in PA in 1762. I am very interested in finding out if there were any Kyger's in Fayette Co. PA during that time period. My reasoning is that I found James & John Henthorn as being land owners at that time. Daniel was 34 when he married the 16 year old Anna Henthorn in 1796 in Monongahelia, WV. From there, they moved to Monroe Co., OH. Their children were born in WV and Monroe Co. The family moved to Vermilion Co. in 1832/3. Also, I would like to find more information regarding Daniel's youngest son, Adam who is my 3gggrandfather. He moved from IL to MO in the late 1850's, eventually making his home in Douglas Co. MO. I have a lot of Kyger information but it is mostly for Daniel's family. I'll be glad to share with any who are also searching. I'll be reading the list to see if I can help someone. My misc. Geiger/Kyger information is very limited. I look forward to finding these elusive Geiger families who changed their names and are making us work hard to find them. A public thank you to Joan for making this list available to us. Kay PS:Other names surnames being searched: Jacob 'The Wagonmaker' Braun-Brown/ Stillings/Mooney/Henthorn/Headley/Platter/Nuttle (Smith/Beals/Baker/ Brooksby/Clayton/Cowgill/Payne--my Quaker families)

My interest seems to lie in the later generations. Have an extremely large database and would be more than delighted to help with research. Maggie

Well, as the moderator of this Geiger list, I guess it is my turn to tell about my Geigers (later Kiger). My earliest traceable Geiger ancestor is Henricus Geiger born about 1670-1680 presumably in Northern Alsace. He was living in the village of Lembach in the 1720s until his death in 1746. His occupation is listed in the Lembach Catholic Church records as "Conditiori." His wife was Johanna Hagler(in) who died in Lembach in 1737. The only known children of this couple are my ancestor Matthias Geiger and his sister Theresia Geiger. Theresia married Frederick Neusch/Neisch, schoolmaster in Lembach and also a carpenter. They had at least one descendant, Matthias Neusch, who later migrated to America where his surname evolved into Nash. It is not known whether he had any idea that relatives of his had previously come to America or whether he had any contact with his cousins once he arrived in America. Recently I have made contact with a "cousin" on the Internet who descends from this Nash family. My ancestor Matthias Geiger married Anna Mary Halter, daughter of Simon Halter, "vitriaria" in Mattstall (near Lembach). A vitriaria is a master glassblower. In 1738 Casper Wistar, a wealthy merchant in Philadelphia, sent to Europe for glassmaking experts to run his proposed glass factory to be built in Salem County, New Jersey. It was to be the first successful glassmaking operation in America. Among the four men brought over to run the glasshouse were Casper and Johann Martin Halter. Casper is known to have been Anna Mary Halter Geiger's brother and Johann Martin was in some way related no doubt. The Geigers came to America along with the glass experts although it is doubtful that Matthias was directly involved in the glassblowing process himself. It is likely he worked in the glasshouse in some other capacity as he is listed as an "operarini" in Lembach which simply means he was a worker. The group arrived in Philadelphia on the Snow Two Sisters in 1738 and settled in Salem County, New Jersey. Unlike most early arriving Geigers this family was Catholic and since no Catholic Churches could be found in New Jersey prior to the Revolution (in fact the religion was banned in New Jersey prior to the Revolution) the family can be found in the registers of the Catholic Churches at Goshenhoppen in Bally, Berks County, PA and also Old St. Joseph's RC Church in Philadelphia. The Priests from these missions visited the Geiger house in Mannington Township, Salem County and held services there in secret over a period of many years. Their house still stands today and is believed to be the oldest existing building in the state in which Catholic services were held. By the next generation--the first generation born in America--the surname for this family had uniformly become Kiger and has remained so until today. Joan

In a message dated 98-06-12 22:19:59 EDT, you write: > Son is Franz (Francis, Frank) Geiger 6 Jun 1806-10 Oct 1894. He shows up > variously as born Wierbach, Baden; Germany; and Luxembourg Georgianne, I have a book listing the German Parish records that are available for rent on microfilm from the LDS Family History Centers for Baden, Wuerttemberg, and Bavaria. I am not sure I have the right town because there is no listing for Wierbach, Baden, but there is a Werbach, Baden which I am assuming may be the same town. If so then they have Catholic baptismal records for: 1597-1656, and 1673-1900. There are also marriage records for 1597-1656, and 1673-1900; and death and burial records for the same periods of time. These records could prove helpful in determining whether your Geigers did indeed come from this town--assuming they were Catholic. The Catholic records will no doubt be in Latin and I have had some experience in translating and interpreting these Latin records. They can be difficult to decipher but usually the names are underlined by the Priests and that plus a few other words can give you the meanings. It might be worth a try for you. Joan

Searching for information on Joseph Martin Anton Geiger 1776-? and wife Maria Josepha Kuhnmunck 1778-?, both of Germany. Believe they immigrated to North Collins, NY (hamlet of Langford) in middle 1800's with one or more children. Son is Franz (Francis, Frank) Geiger 6 Jun 1806-10 Oct 1894. He shows up variously as born Wierbach, Baden; Germany; and Luxembourg. Name of first wife is unsure but believed to be Maria Anna Wolf died 30 May 1827. His second wife is believed to be Mary Ann Braun (Brown) died 14 Oct 1867. They are both buried at St. Martin's Cemetery, Langford (Town of North Collins), NY. They had 10 children. Georgianne ggbowman@msn.com

In a message dated 98-06-12 19:40:38 EDT, you write: > My interest seems to lie in the later generations. Have an extremely large > database and would be more than delighted to help with research. Maggie, my interest has always been, and will continue to be, in the early generations for all of the Geiger, Kiger, and Kyger and other variants. My role has been to try to trace the lines back and see if any meet and where they originated--regardless of whether they connect to my line of not. A ONE NAME STUDY as they call it--regardless of relationship. I feel the later generations are best left in the hands of people who descend from that particular line and wish to concentrate exclusively on it. That is why we all make a good team. A lady contacted me within the last couple days and by looking at her earliest John Kiger/Kyger I was able to point her toward 4 or 5 others working together on the line I thought was hers. I just received cc'd messages from several of the researchers in that line confirming that this was indeed her Kiger family. Now she will be able to supply the others with her branch of the family for the more recent generations while they give her the earlier information. It is mutually beneficial. Joan