McGimpsey and Moore family photos

These photos were found in my grandfather Harlan Geyer's possession and are now in my aunt's possession. These families settled in Keokuk County, Iowa, which leads me to believe that the mystery family I posted about previously today must be related.

Henry James McGimpsey, 1860, picture taken off of a glass photo

Henry James McGimpsey was born 13 Oct 1829 in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland. He came to the US sometime in 1860. On 6 May 1862, in Rock Island, IL, he married Elizabeth Hamilton from County Down, Ireland. They are my 3rd great grandparents. After the death of Elizabeth, he married Eliza McLean on 2 Jan 1868. He died 14 Nov 1907.

Rachel Moore and children, 1911
Back row: John C. Moore, James H. Moore, George C. Moore
Front row: Jane M. (Moore) McGimpsey, Rachel (Moore) Moore,
Catherine (Moore) Dusenberry

Rachel Moore was born Aug 1838 in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland. She married James Moore, also from County Down, Ireland, 5 Mar 1866 (they were from different clans). Their children were: Jane M. (Moore) McGimpsey (12 Dec 1866-6 Apr 1938), John C. Moore (23 Dec 1870-11 Dec 1949), James H. Moore (18 Aug 1873-17 Dec 1951), George Cook Moore (Apr 1880-12 Mar 1960) and Catherine (Moore) Dusenberry (8 Oct 1882-31 Jul 1974).

William and Jane Moore McGimpsey with children, 1913

Back row: Catherine Eliza, George William, and Grace Edith

Middle row: Mary Jane, Margaret, Rachel, and Hazel

Front row: William James (father), Ruth, Eva Mae, Bernice, Martin H., and Jane M. (mother)

William McGimpsey (13 Jan 1863-20 Oct 1920) and Jane Moore were married 22 Dec 1892. They had 11 children, including my great grandmother, Grace Edith (McGimpsey) Geyer (b. 1 Jan 1902).

Bear, Ginkens/Jenkins, Kirkland family photos

These photos were all in the possession of my grandfather Harlan Geyer and are now in the possession of my aunt.

Written on back: Joe Kirkland, Margaret and Samuel Bear, Will Kirkland

This photo was probably taken in the 1880's. Margaret Jane Kirkland was married to Samuel Rupley Bear on 17 Feb 1880 (they're my great-great-grandparents). The other men are her brothers Joseph Kirkland (b. 1845 in Wetzel County, WV) and William Kirkland (b. 1840 in Ohio).

Samuel R. and Margaret Bear with children, ca. 1910

The children of Samuel and Margaret Bear are: Samuel Lewis Bear (b. 1881), James Allen Bear (b. 1883), Abraham Alexander Bear (b. 1886), Ruby Caroline Bear Wells (b. 1889) and Moses Washington Bear (b. 1894).

Henry Ginkens and wife, Martha Alice Watson Ginkens, with daughters: Bessie Belle (b. 1886), Beulah Benson (b. 1887), Mary Maude (b. 1889) and Artie Alice (b. 1891)

Samuel Lewis Bear and Bessie Belle Ginkens wedding portrait

Samuel and Bessie were married 15 May 1910 and are my great grandparents. The photography studio was located in Hot Springs, South Dakota (Fall River County).

Martha Watson Ginkens with children

Bessie Ginkens Bear (b. 1886) is in the back row on the right. Her siblings are: Beulah Belle Ginkens Entsminger (b. 1887), Artie Alice Ginkens Haines (b. 1891), Lela Leota Ginkens Barnebey (b. 1893), Ardys Austin Ginkens (b. 1895) and Lloyd Leonard Ginkens (b. 1897). I'm not sure who is pictured above. Martha Watson Ginkens and Artie Alice Haines both died in 1942, so the photo was taken prior to this.

Henry Austin Ginkens (b. 1857 in IA, d. 1924 in Fall River, SD)

According to the 1920 US Census, he and Martha were divorced between 1910 & 1920, but my family don't remember hearing about this and I suppose it would have been news back then.

Mystery Family Photo taken in Richland, IA

I have been unable to identify the surname of the family in this photo. The photography studio is located in Richland, Iowa, which is in Keokuk County. Written on the back of the photo is: "Mother, Emily, Wesley, Hanna & Ellen". It was among my grandfather Harlan Geyer's belongings and is now in the possession of my aunt. Do you know who they are?

Griffith family photos

These photos were passed down to my grandfather Harlan Geyer and are now in my aunt Cherie Geyer's possession. The names of those pictured were written on the back of the photos.

Griffith Family, 1880
Back row (left to right): Grant Griffith, Lucinda Griffith, Elizabeth Griffith
Front row (left to right): John W. Griffith, Priscilla Longwell Griffith, Etta Griffith

The Griffiths and Geyers, 1912
Back row (left to right): Valentine Wagamon, Elizabeth Griffith Wagamon, Grant Griffith, Mary Kruger Griffith
Front row (left to right): Lucinda Ellen Griffith Geyer, John White Griffith, Frank Geyer

18 Jan 1849 Marriage announcements in the American Volunteer [Carlisle, PA]

From "Married," American Volunteer [Carlisle, PA] 18 Jan 1849, p.3, co. 2:

On the 11th instant, by the Rev. A. H. Kremer, Mr. JONATHAN BEAR, of West Pennsborough, to Miss MARIA BEAR, of Silver Spring township, this county.

On Thursday last, by the Rev. J. N. Hoffman, Mr. DAVID NAILOR, to Miss CATHARINE HASSLER, both of this county.

On the same day, by the same, Mr. JOHN STROCK, of Churchtown, to Miss ELIZABETH STEVENSON, of Silver Spring township.

On the 4th inst., by the Rev. John Fritchy, Mr. WM. C. BRANDT, to Miss ELIZABETH GOODYEAR, both of Monroe tp.

On the 6th inst., by the same, SAMUEL BEAR, to Miss MARY RUPLY, both of Hampden township.

The last couple listed, Samuel Bear and Mary Ruply, are my 3rd great-grandparents.

BEARs in The History of Appanoose County, Iowa

The following appears on pages 575-576 of The History of Appanoose County, Iowa containing A History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c. .. (1878, Western Historical Company, Centerville, Iowa: Appanoose County Genealogical Society, 1989), under the Johns Township section:

BEARE, ANDREW J., far., Sec. 28 ; P. O. Tranquility ; born in Mount Morris, Green Co., Penn., Aug. 30, 1829 ; located here, 1869 ; owns 240 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and Republican. His wife, Annie Kleiss, was born in Lancaster City, Penn., May 25, 1830, and married May 29, 1871. Mr. Beare enlisted in Co. F, 12th Illinois Infantry ; afterward re-enlisted in Co. F, 57th Illinois Infantry, and served four years and three months ; was in the battles at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Miss., Murfrecsboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Allatoona, Paducah, Kenesaw Mountain, Rome, Ga., Atlanta, siege of Vicksburg, and with Gen. Sherman in his amous march to the sea, and at the review at Washington ; was mustered out June 7, 1865.

Bear, J. G. F., far., Sec. 29 ; P. O. Tranquility.

Bear, G. W., far., Sec. 28 ; P. O. Tranquility.

Bear, L. A., far., Sec. 20 ; P. O. Tranquility.

My Bear ancester from this time period, Samuel Lewis Bear, born 24 Oct 1825 in Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, settled in Plano (Johns Township), Iowa between 1855-58, was not listed in the book. Justice G. F. Bear was born in Mount Morris, Green Co., PA, so is likely a brother or cousin of Andrew J. Beare.