More about George Armstrong Custer (b. 12/5/1839, New Rumley, OH) and his connection to the Custers of Garrett County. Hoye's says, "the name Custer was originally Kuster and the grandfather of Emanuel Custer came from Germany. The grandfather was one of these same Hessian officers over whom the colonists wasted so many curses in the Revolutionary War, and who were yet so innocent of harm and such patient faithful soldiers. After Burgoyne's surrender in 1778, many of the paroled Hessians seized the opportunity to settle in the county they came to conquer, and amongst these the grandfather of Emmanuel Custer."" Custer's father Emmanuel was considered "sedate and unobtrusive." It is said that Custer's fighting blood came thru his grandmother, daughter of the Pioneer Garlitz over the Pennsylavnia line. Graduated West Point in time to take part in the first battle of the Civil War in 1861 and Bull Run, VA. He was appointed to the 7th Cavalry in 1873 and went with his regiment to Dakota territory. Killed at the battle of Little Big Horn (aka Custer's Last Stand) - June 25, 1876. Was surrounded by the Indians under Sitting Bull, Sioux Chief in the region of the Grand River of the Indian territory, now S. Dakota. _http://collections.ic.gc.ca/beaupre/promme92.htm_ (http://collections.ic.gc.ca/beaupre/promme92.htm) Custer and the 211 men with him died fighting--including four other members of the Custer family: Capt. Thomas Custer (son?), Capt. James Calhoun (brother-in-law?), Boston Custer, and Artie Reed. Per Ross Durst, John Custer (12/18/1808-4/20/1865) m. Mary Durst (3/24/1817-1/23/1862). John was a first cousin to General George A. Custer. Grandson Emanuel, lived at Mt. Nebo. Per Hoyes Pioneer Families: General George A. Custer's grandfather was John Custer, son of Emanuel I. John was born in Virginia in 1782, and died in 1830; he married a Garlitz. Henry Bittinger was born 1778--4 years older than John Custer. John Custer settled at Cresaptown about 1803. he was a blacksmith and hotel keeper. His children were: Ann (b. 1804); Emanuel Henry (b. 12/10/1806); Mary (b. 1811); George (b. 1815)--went West; James (b. 1817)--settled in WV; Alexander (b. 1819)--settled in WV and Ellen (b. 1825)--Note the date of John's children paralleled those of Henry Bittinger. Emanuel Henry Custer, learned his father's trade of blacksmith, but at the age of 19, he left Allegany County for the West. He settled in Harrison County, OH. He married twice--his second wife being Mrs. Maria (Ward) Kirkpatrick. Their children, all born in New Rumley, OH--George, Armstrong, Nevin J., Thomas W., and Margaret E. (Calhoun). In a message dated 9/8/2006 3:48:18 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: First allow me to say how impressed I am with the Garret Co. folks and how much interest they show and share about their ancestors. The message on George A. Custer being a second cousin of Emanuel Custer III reminded me that some time ago I did some research attempting to figure out the Custer-Durst relationship of Garrett Co. For anyone interested this is what I found on Emanuel Custer, father of George A. Custer. In 1850 he was living in Harrison Co., Ohio, age 43 yrs., born in Md., wife was Mariah, age 42, in their home was George A., 10 yrs.; Nevin, 7; Thomas, 5, and Boston, who was 1 yr.old, all the children were born in Ohio. Also in this home was David Kirkpatrick, age 26 and John Kirkpatrick, age 17 yrs. both born in Ohio. ( they were the sons of Mariah who was married first to Israel Kirkpatrick). On June 13, 1870, Monroe Co., Mich. First Ward, #354, is Emanuel Custer, age 63, born in Md. blacksmith, Mariah, 62 born in Pa. Boston is 21 yrs.old and Margaret is 17 years old, both born in Ohio. In this same home was George A. Custer, age 28 yrs.old, Capt. in U.S. Army, under his name is Elizabeth, 26 yrs.old born in Mich. and Ensura, age 11 yrs.old. ( if she is the daughter of George A. Custer he would have fathered her at the age of 17 yrs.) Then on June 1, 1880 ( after the Battle of the Little Big Horn of 1876) Emanuel Custer is listed as retired, age 73, Maria, 73 yrs., and in their home is Maggie Calhoun, age 28 yrs.old. Maggie was their daughter Margaret who was married to Lt. James Calhoun, he too lost his life. Her brother, George A. Custer died. Who was the father of the Emanuel Custer married to Rebecca Friend? Also in the Family Data on Ancestry.Com I found the following: George A. Custer was married on Feb. 9, 1864 to Elizabeth Bacon (no doubt the Elizabeth, age 26, on the 1870 census) and he married secondly to a Monaseetah on 27 Nov. 1868. Who was Monaseetha and where was she in 1870, she was not on the census? I find reference to many of the Durst-Custer families as being cousins to Gen. George A. Custer but still have not figured it all out.