John Geil1

M, b. 9 April 1778, d. 16 January 1866
FatherJacob Geil b. 1746, d. 1794
MotherAnna Clymer b. c 1743, d. 9 Apr 1778
     John was born on Thursday, 9 April 1778 in New Britain Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. John married Elizabeth Fretz on 22 April 1802 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. John & Elizabeth had children: Jacob [2/03/1803][m. Anna Funk], Barbara [9/16/1805-3/26/1879][m. Abraham Landis], Elizabeth [1/27/1808][m. Martin D. Rosenberger], Mark [11/25/1810-9/19/1813], Catharine [12/23/1813-11/02/1905][m. John Krabehl], Mary [7/23/1816][m. Joseph Landis], John [8/10/1819-8/26/1890], Anna [7/17/1822-12/18/1909][m. Mathew Heer] & Samuel [3/11/1825-8/01/1909][m. Elizabeth Seese]. The family lived on a farm near the Fretz Mill in New Britain Township, Bucks County, in a commodious two-story stone farmhouse. There were stone fences on the farm. He attended school only six weeks in his life. He was quite proficient in the English & German languages. Being so, he often wrote legal documenst such as wills and translated the same. He was a well respected gentleman in his community. John was a minister in the Mennonite Church. John's wife, Elizabeth, died on 5 November 1849 in Line Lexington leaving him a widower. John departed this life on Tuesday, 16 January 1866 in Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at age 87 years, 9 months and 7 days. He was buried at Line Lexington, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in Line Lexington Mennonite Church Cemetery. The inscription on his tombstone read: John Geil - Born April 9th 1778 - Died Jan. 16th 1866 - [There are several lines below this all written in German.].

Family

Elizabeth Fretz b. 24 Jun 1781, d. 5 Nov 1849

Citations

  1. [S129] Joseph H. Wenger, History of the Descendants of G. Conrad Geil & His Son Jacob Geil, pages 15-16 - No. 7. Third Generation. 2: 5) John Geil, born April 9, 1778, in New Britain Township, near Doylestown, Bucks Co., Pa., on a farm once owned by Isaac Godshall, a Mennonite minister, and later, in 1897, by Nathan Price. Mr. Geil died at Line Lexington, Bucks Co., Pa., Jan. 16, 1866. Elizabeth Fretz, born in Bucks County, Jan. 27, 1781, died Nov. 6, 1849; married April 22, 1802. John Geil was ordained to the ministry in years. He manifested an uncommon power of mind, which so ably fitted him for the position. In many ways he was a very remarkable man; tall in stature and well-proportioned; had a pleasant disposition; modest in his speech, and always looked at the bright side of things. He was not an aspirant for wealth, and yet the Lord blessed him with temporal abundance.
    Mr. Geil lived on a farm near the Fretz Mill in New Britain Township, Bucks County, in a commodious two-story stone farmhouse. There were stone fences on the farm. Mr. Geil's natural abilities were great. He possessed no special educational advantages. In fact in his day, these were few and far apart. Although he attended school only six weeks in his life, he so well acquired the German and English languages that he was often called upon to write wills, mortgages, and public documents, and settle up estates.
    Some of the ministers of the present (1912) write their sermons, or still worse, copy them from books, etc., of " high-toned " ministers. Not so with Mr. Geil. He always was ready for a sermon without the presence of the Bible or any preparation. He was a noble Christian man, whom all would do well to imitate.
    A short while before his death he preached a powerful farewell sermon to his congregation. He died at the ripe old age of 87 years, 9 months and 7 days.
    Children: Jacob [b. Feb. 3, 1803]; Barbara [b. Sept. 16, 1805]; Elizabeth [b. Jan. 27, 1808]; Mark [b. Nov. 25, 1810, d. Sept. 19, 1813]; Catharine [b. Dec. 23, 1813]; Mary [b. July 23, 1816]; John [b. Aug. 10, 1819]; Anna [b. July 17, 1822]; Samuel [b. March 11, 1825].