A Henry J. Geisert (d 5 Mar 1877 - 28y 7m 5d) is buried in Macke Cemetery with Jacob Frederick and Theresa Lüdringer Geisert. I believe that he may be the same person as John H. Geisert (m Manerva Ball), a child of Jacob and Theresa. The birth years are the same. Any chance that Henry J. and John H. are the same person with their first and middle names reversed? Does anyone have a death date for John H. Geisert?

John Henry Geisert was my Gr-Gr-Grandfather. We knew of him as Henry, so it has taken us a while to figure out that he was the same person as John H. Geisert.
According to the Illinois State Marriage Index, he married Manerva Ball on 28 Oct 1869. John Henry is on the 1870 Census in Clark Co. with Manerva, and they appear right after Jacob and Theresa Geisert's household. On the 1880 Census, Manerva shows up with her 4 Geisert children in Vigo County, Indiana. She is now married to Thomas Beasley. As shown on later Census records, Manerva and Thomas had at least 5 more children together.
We had assumed John Henry Geisert died after 1877, when his last son, Samuel Henry, was born, but before 1880, when he disappears from the Census. So, the death date you have of 5 Mar 1877 fits that assumption. Is that date from the cemetery records?
We believe John Henry was born about 1848. Do you have a more specific birth date for him?
I have more info on John Henry Geisert's family, especially his son, Martin Stanton Geisert, if you are interested.

Cindy

Thanks for the response. I have now concluded that John Henry and Henry J. are the same person. The name John Henry (or John H.) is shown on all my records except his Macke Cemetery marker, where is name is given as Henry J. I have no birthdate other than the relatively reliable date of 5 Mar 1877 calculated from his date of death and age as given on his marker (Mar 5, 1877 - 28 y 7 m 5 d).

The marker transcription comes from my own transcriptions and those from Betty Turner and Mazie M. Garver, Macke Cemetery, Clark County, Illnois, Transcriptions, Clark County Genealogical Library, Marshall, Illinois, 1972. Below are the transcriptions from that booklet for Geiserts. I agree with all except that the age of Jacob at his death should be 67 (from my own observation) not 68.

GEISERT, G/Connie, s/o J.H.&M.J. d Oct 11,1875 - 4 m 11 d
[Geisert], Henry J. d Mar 5, 1877 - 28 y 7 m 5 d
[GEISERT], Jacob F. d Oct 20,1876 - 68 y [sic]
[GEISERT], Katie R. d/o E & M d Sept 18, 1879 - 9y 1 m 10 d
[GEISERT], Kenneth Sept 21,1886 - Mar 8,1925
[GEISERT], Lillie, d/o E & M. d July 16,1876 - 21 d
[GEISERT], Mary Katherine July 17,1921 - Feb 9, 1923
p. 2
GEISERT, Theresa, w/o Jacob d Oct 25,1971 - 63 y 24 d
[GEISERT], William C. s/o F. & E. J.

I do not know if you have ever been to Macke Cemetery, but this remote, beautiful site near Big Creek is one of the most peaceful places I have ever seen. On the other side of Big Creek are the former lands of Edward Geisert. and south of the Cemetery are the farmlands of Jacob, your GG Grandfather.

I have photos of the cemetery markers for John Henry and his parents, Jacob and Theresa, which I would be glad to send you electronically though I am not certain that you can receive files of this size with your present provider.

John Henry Geisert was the brother of my great grandfather Edward Geisert.

I do have a few questions that you may be able to help me with. (1) There is a William Geisert (died young) son of F. & E. J. buried in Macke who I have been unable to identify. Interesting (and mysterious) is the fact that according to the 1870 Census he is living in an all-male household with Isaac Rhoads (age 66) and Thomas Grove (age 13). Edward Geisert married Maria Maria Emmeline Rhoads whose grandfather was Isaac Rhoads (wife died in 1868). But why would William be living with him? (2) I noticed that you gave the name of two of John Henry Geisert's children as Samuel Henry and Martin Stanton who, in the 1870 Census are given as Henry and Staunton. I assume that there are sources for these names?

Robert,
Thanks for all the great information on Jacob Geisert and his family.
On the unknown William Geisert you found, do you know his age when he was living with Isaac Rhoads? Could he have been working as a laborer on Isaac's farm or whatever business he had? At age 66, Isaac might have needed some younger men to help him run his farm or business.
I recently found Jacob and his family on the 1850 Census in Clark County, IL. He is listed as Jacob "Keiser". His wife's name is hard to read, but it looks almost like Loucy or Lancy. Whatever it is, it's not Teresa. Maybe this was her middle name - another mystery. Anyway, Jacob's first child is a son named Frederick. He was 16 yrs old and born in Maryland. After him, all the other children match the ones I knew about: Joseph (12), William (9), Edward (7), Henry (2), and Caroline (13). Angeline had already gotten married and moved out of the household. That was the first time I had ever seen a son named Frederick. Maybe this is the "F." on the unknown William's grave marker, and "E.J." was Frederick's wife. I haven't looked for Frederick Geisert on the 1860 Census yet, but that might be a good place to start to see if he had a son named William.
I have several original documents that show Martin Stanton Geisert's full name, including his Missouri death certificate, cemetery record and newspaper obituary. On the 1920 Census, he is listed as "Stant" Geisert. That is the nickname he went by as an adult.
One of my best sources on Martin Stanton's family and siblings was my grandmother, who was one of Martin Stanton's daughters. She passed away only about 2 years ago at the age of 96. Her firsthand knowledge was invaluable. She is the one who told me about Samuel Henry Geisert's name - he was her uncle. He is listed on the 1910 Census as Samuel H. Geisert, with his wife, Edith, in Campbell Twp, Greene Co, MO. He later moved his family to CA, where he died. My mother even remembers going to visit him in CA when she was young and said he was known to her as Uncle Henry. Guess he was another one who went by his middle name.
I would love to see the photos you have of the cemetery markers for John Henry, Jacob and Theresa. I should be able to receive them as a file. If you want to give it a try, my E-mail address is cpatricki@netzero.com.

I have found that the William C. Geisert buried in Macke Cemetery was the son of Frederick Geisert (presumably the son of Jacob and Theresa though this must be confirmed) and Eliza Jane Rhoads, daughter of Isaac and Mary Parker Rhoads. Eliza Jane married Robert Grove on 9 Nov 1854 and had a son Thomas Grove. After his death, she married Frederick Geisert on 15 Sep 1863. Their only child was William. And when Frederick died, Eliza married John A. Brysacker on 5 Sep 1867. They had two children Mary C. and George. John was dead by 1880. All three marriages occurred in Clark County and with careful research one can Census Records for all of these (but the last names are almost always misspelled, often badly). At this time, I don’t have time to go further because I am working on another book. But I will get back to this.

You are right, Teresa’s name in the 1850 Census is not Teresa (I transcribed it as Tancey) and her birthplace is given as Germany rather than France. Perhaps the Census taker had an off day. I don’t think it means anything.

I have emailed the photos. If you didn’t get them, let me know.

Robert, I know that you have done a lot of research in Clark County. Do you have a picture of the entrance of the Macke Cemetery when the arch was still there? Gary Macke is now the trustee, and he would like to restore the entrance. I kind of remember what it looked like, but he really needs a picture. Thanks for your help.

Cindi, I sent this same request to Robert. I know that you have done a lot of research in Clark County. Do you have a picture of the entrance of the Macke Cemetery when the arch was still there? Gary Macke is now the trustee, and he would like to restore the entrance. I kind of remember what it looked like, but he really needs a picture. Thanks for your help.

I have no photo of an entrance arch. Sorry. My earliest visit to Macke Cemetery was in September 2001, and I do not remember seeing an arch. Certainly it was gone by Mar 2003, when I took a photo of the entrance which had only steps leading from the roadway with a fence on either side, but nothing else. I am very pleased that this lonely, lovely, and peaceful cemetery, where my GG grandparents are buried, is being looked after.

Sorry, but I don't have any photos of the arch. My parents visited the cemetery several years ago, but the arch was gone by then. Their photos just show the same broken steps leading into the cemetery that Robert mentioned. I checked with another Geisert researcher I know - Bud Geisert. He believes the arch was made out of iron, but he didn't have any pictures of it.
Have you tried contacting the Clark County Historical Society. Maybe they would have a photo or know where to find one.
Good luck in your search.
Cindy

Thank you, Cindy. I will see what I can find from other sources. I know that I have seen a picture out there somewhere....