Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/561

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES tJE O R G E F. G E I S I N G E R w as bom in Mingham, M ass., Sept. 24, 18 2 1, and was a .Non o f Commodore David Geisingcr. The tieisinger family is o f German ancestry, and the first o f whom authentic record is known was David, who served in the w ar o f 18 12 with Great Britain. H e was a midshipman oti the United States frigate ‘‘W asp," which captured the British boat ".A tb n ta." Davnd (ieisiiiger was placed in charge of the boat with sealed orders, which he w as to deliver to any United States district attorney. H e turned his charge over to the district attorney o f .New V'ork, and immediately returned to the service. He w as promotcil at various times until he w as retired, as rear admiral of the navy. H e w as buried in Baltimore, where he died. H is children w ere: George F.. Helen and Sarah. George F . Gci.singcr attended the public schools at Hingham. and later entered W or­ cester C o llq ^ . Upon graduation he went to Baltimore, Md.. where he accepted a posi­ tion in a mercantile house. H e remained there until 1844. when he accompanied his father on a pleasure trip abroad, returning to Balti­ more two years later. In 1847 South America, and spent two years in pros(lecling, and upon returning, in 1849, made the trip out to California. Subsequently he went lo Philadelphia, where he acted as his father’s secretary at the N aval .Asylum until 1854. In June, 1855. he accepted the posi­ tion o f liookkccpcr for Grove & Brother, a prominent iron manufacturing concern of fctanville. Pa., who then operated the plant of what is now the Reading Iron Company. T hey managed the works until 1857. during which time the new ntill w as built, greatly in­ creasing the capacity. In 1857 the entire plant passed into the hands o f I. S. Waterman, Thomas Beaver. V'illiam Neal and W ashing­ ton Lee, as trustees for the Montour Iron Company, and they operated it until 1859. in which year it was purchased by Waterman & Beaver, and the name changed to the Penn­ sylvania Iron W orks. In 1868 Thomas Bcax'cr. Daniel M organ. C. Mulligan, George F. Geisingcr and Daniel Edw ards became pro­ prietors. carrying on the works until 1880. iX iring the various changes M r. Geisingcr continued to act as head bookkeeper, retaining that position during his connection with the firm. He possessed unexcelled business pro­ pensities. and proved a valuable man to have at the head o f this industry. However, in t88o, he disposed o f his interest in order that he might spend the remainder o f an unusually 31

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active life in quiet retirement; his only busi­ ness for the rest o f his days being the man­ agement o f an interest which he acquired with Daniel Edw ards and Thom as Beaver in mining and dealing in coal at Kingston, Pa., and in 1881 he made a trip to California. A fte r his death, which occurred N ov. 16, 1883. his w ife assumed his interest in the business, and has continued as a member of the firm up to the present time, conducting her affairs with characteristic ability and good judgment. M rs. Geisingcr purchased the old Shelhart rcsiilCTCc on Center street. Danrillc, remod­ eled it, and greatly improved the lawn by the addition o f shrubs and trees, converting the place into a model home, one of the finest residences in the city. She is the principal supporter of the alahoning Presbyterian Church, o f which her husband w as also a faithful member, and served as trustee. M rs. Oeisinger possesses many excellent qualities and occupies a high place in the estimation o f her many friends. W IL L IA M H. R H A W N, one o f Colum­ bia’s most prominent attorneys at law. was horn in Catawissa Oct. 1 1. 1856, son of Casper and Catherine (K ru c k ) Rhawn. H is grandfather, H en iy Rhaw n, was a native o f Montgomery county, P a., where he resided most o f his life. H e was the father o f a large family. Casper Rhaw n. father o f W illiam H. Rhaw n. w as born in 18 14. at H a lifa x, Pa., where he attended the public schools and learned the trade o f tailor. In 18 35 be w as induced to locate in Catawissa, Columbia Co.. Pa., where he built up a lucrative tailoring business, follow ing the trade until his death in 1882. H e w as united in marriage to Catherine K ruck, daughter o f Jaco b K ruck, a resident o f Berks county, and this union was blessed with seven children: Susan (K osten­ bauder); George B. : Stephen; Catherine (H aas); Ja c o b; W illiam I I ., and Jessie. M r. Rhawn w as a firm supporter of the Demo­ cratic party, taking an active Interest in local affairs. H e was fo r many years postmaster o f Catawissa, a position which he held with credit. W illiam H. Rhawn received his education in the public schools o f Catawissa and at­ tended Dickinson Sem inary, a fte r his gradu­ ation taking up the study o f law under the preccptorship o f W. II. Abbott, o f Catawissa. H e was admitted to the bar in 1879. and has since lived in Catawissa. where he maintains