Geise, Henry Sr. 1856-1907

GEISE, DIEHL, SCHEARK, DEIHL

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 2/20/2005 at 18:26:02

Henry Geise, Sr., died at his home in Baxter at 9:15 o’clock yesterday morning after an illness of only two days of la grippe, aged 79 years and seventeen days.

The deceased was taken sick on Friday, but his condition was not considered serious. Even on Saturday, when his daughter, Mrs. Diehl, phoned to her brother, Edward Geise, of this city, and asked that if they could do so for them to drive to Baxter Sunday. It was only because she thought it would give pleasure to the father to have them come.

Mr. and Mrs. Geise left her about 9:15 o’clock yesterday morning, just at the hour when the father passed away. They did not get the word until they reached the Hess Parsons home north of town, where the word had been brought by phone.

Mr. Geise was one of the oldest and best-known farmers in the north part of the county. He was born in Germany and came to America in the year 1856, stopping a short time in Illinois, but left that state in the fall of 1857 and came to Jasper County, Iowa, and settled on a farm four miles east of Baxter, where with his family he resided until he moved to Baxter a few years ago.

Mr. Geise was a quiet, gentle man, honorable in all his business dealings and regular in all his work and like so many of our farmers, commenced with very little, but by industry and frugality became a wealthy land owner.

One who remembers seeing him with his wife and child on their way to the new home fifty years ago, tells the writer that his all was an ox team and a wagon on which he built a small house. In this the family resided after they reached the farm until a better one could be provided.

He had been a member of the German Reform Church near his home since its organization, and it the cemetery near that church he will be laid to rest by the side of his wife, who passed away four years ago.

The funeral will be held from his late residence in Baxter Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. Rev. Edward Scheidt will officiate.

Deceased is survived by two daughters and four sons: Mrs. Etta Scheark of Iowa City, Mrs. George Deihl, Henry and Fred Geise of Baxter, Adolph Geise, who resides on the old homestead, and Edward Geise of this city. ~ The Newton Daily News, Monday, January 28, 1907, Page 1, Column 3