Surname Saturday - Joseph Geißler, A Difficult Man

In a previous post, I shared how difficult it was to find my grandfather Joseph Geißler in Columbus, Ohio between the years of 1850-1865. The more records I find about him, the more frustrating he becomes.


Let's review the first signature I noticed.

This one is on his marriage license in 1856.

(Interesting note: The 1856 marriage certificates in Franklin County, Ohio don't have much information about the person other than name, if they are of age, and the dates for the licenses. However, they do have the groom's signature which I find completely fascinating.)

This one is from the deed he signed in 1856 for property in Franklin County, Ohio.

This is an entry in the Holy Cross Catholic Church records regarding the death of his young son in 1857.
not his signature, (You'll have to click on it to enlarge it)

St James Lutheran Church Book of Life, entry regarding his son's death in 1857
not his signature

St James Registry

Note: The record says signatures from the constitution of 1847, but these families weren't in the United States until 1854, so it is believed that the signatures of members were added when they joined the church but no date was specified.

The name on his naturalization certificate of 1858. not his signature

Because of his many name variations, I have trouble deciding if I've found something pertaining to him or not. For instance, I have found a possible entry for Joseph Keizler or Keezler in the Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, but I can't prove that it is him.


I have had no luck finding him on a passenger list to determine where he came from. His naturalization certificate has him born in Baden. However, I can not find the paperwork that proceeded the certificate. Only the certificate that was has been passed down through the generations.


Joseph, dear Joseph, Where are you???? Where are you buried? When did you come to America and who are your Geißler family members?


Additional information:
b: abt 1836, Baden
1856, purchased property in Franklin Co, Ohio
m: 19 Feb 1856, married Caroline Mack in Franklin Co, Ohio
11 Oct 1858, naturalization certificate signed
26 Jul 1860, appeared in 1860 US Federal Census, in Franklin Co, Ohio
d: 5 Jul 1863, potential death date if church records are about him, otherwise, death is prior to remarriage of his wife 19 Sept 1863