Interesting... Benjamin F. Gieger(b1819), s/o Abraham M. Gieger & a grandson of Zachariah, married a Mary T. Coats in MS ca1846. She was born ca1821 but we do not know who her parents were. They had 8 or 9 liveborn children. After he was killed in 1863 in the Civil War, she married twice more and had two more families, but is buried beside him in Sharon Cemetery in Jones County, MS. Descendants of A.M. are looking for her parents...Maybe yoiu have provided the clue...Could he have married his Mother's sister, Aunt, or niece??? I received something from Cousin Beverly Burton of Sugarland, TX which I am sending to you; she is a ggg-granddaughter of Zachariah and has done extensive research on Eleanor and her surname...maybe you and she can work this out, as I certainly hope so...That might also identify Martha Dikes. >From: "Richard Johnston" <rjohn@bayou.com> >To: "Gerald Gieger" <giegerg@hotmail.com> >CC: "Virginia Ratcliff" <ratclif@bayou.com> >Subject: Dykes(Dikes) >Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 19:45:11 -0600 > >Hello Gerry, > >I decided to do some refreshing before sending you the info: > >Martha Dikes(Geiger) could have been a Geiger. She was from SC where I >think the Dikes, Geigers were all friend families. Benjamin F Dikes(Dykes) >married Elizabeth Coats(sp) first. It appears that Sarah born first, 1837, >Benjamin F Dykes Jr in 1835 and George Washington Dykes 1834(?). all in >SC. I suppose Elizabeth must have died. Est 1834. Benjamin could have >known Martha(one of the Geiger family) and then they were married about the >time they started for Ms. Benjamin and Martha's first child was Martha >born 1841 possibly in route. I cannot find Benjamin on any 1830 or 1840 >census. Possibly Ga or Al. They had a second child, Cynthia who was born >in Ms. > >After Benjamin Died (before 1860) Martha and Cynthia moved in with Younger >Welborn family in Jones County. (Just along the Jasper/Jones line.). Sarah >the older Girl married Younger Welborn. > >Now, Benjamin Franklin Dykes married Permilia Gunter. Their first Daughter >was Eleanor Jane Dykes. She married Zacharia Geiger. So you see Eleanor >was not Benjamin SR and Martha's Daughter but a step grandaughter. Hope >this is the correct way to identify her. > >I think the Geiger's were only about 20 mi southwest of the Dykes(Near Soso >and Stringer, Ms. > >I know this is a collateral family but you seem like the kind of man that >would want good records. > >I have shared this info with my cousin, Virginia Ratcliff. She has about >27 years of genealogy. WE are both still trying to get the few families we >are working on, Correct. I do know know what we would do with a large >group. Virginia was a Johnston, and is a decendant of Albert G Johnston >brother to my grandfather William T Johnston. They both were born near >Soso. William T my side married Melvina Dykes there in Ms and is a younger >sister of Eleanor Jean Dykes. Now Virginia's side of our family married >Anis Dykes(Mrs Benjamin Mauldin) also from Soso area. > >Hope I have not bored you too much. But Virginia and I are your >collaterals. > >Richard