| GELZER: The name Gelzer - and its derivatives: Gelser / Geljer / Galzer / Geger / Gallasper / Getzer /
Geysler - is listed on South Carolina records beginning in 1732. The ethnic background of this particular lineage is Swiss-German, who, settled mainly in Colleton and Dorchester Counties in South Carolina. THOMAS S. GELZER born ca. 1764 Colleton Co., SC, was the son of John Gelzer & Sarah (last name unknown). He married 1stMISS (first name unknown) ECKELLS ca. 1784. She was the dau. of
William Eckells of Charleston District & (wife unknown). They had six (living) children:(1. Robert I. -or- Robert J. Gelzer b. ca. 1785 St. Paul's Parish, SC, m. Caroline S. McCall in 1822; 2. Thomas -or- Thomas S. Gelzer b. 1798, m. 1stSara Thomas Benoist & 2ndRosa Adela Bee; 3. Mary E. Gelzer b. ca. 1800-1802 in Colleton Co., SC, m. James A. Ackerman in 1828; 4. Sarah Eccles Gelzer
b. ca. 1812-1815 in Colleton Co., SC, m. John Welch in 1854; 5. George W. Gelzer b. ca. 1817 in Colleton Co., SC; 6. John Echols/Eccles Gelzer b. ca. 1819 in Colleton Co., SC, m. Maria Louisa Porcher Hughes
in 1859). Thomas S. Gelzer was a planter in St. Pauls Parish in Colleton Co., SC. In 1793 Thomas Gelzer, with other parishioners of the Parish of St. George Dorchester and part of St. Pauls Parish called Beech Hill, signed a petition to incorporate the United Independent or Congregational Church of the Township of Dorchester and Beech Hill. From 1802-1812 and perhaps longer he served as a board member for St. Paul's Parish Road Commission. His wife died bet. 1819 & 1820. He married 2nd to
SARAH YOU LEWIS on Sunday evening 18 June 1820 in Charleston, SC - no issue. She was born 27 August 1777 in SC, the dau. of Thomas You, a silversmith in SC, & Elizabeth Clifford. Sarah was previously married to John - or - Joseph Lewis, a merchant in Charleston. Thomas S. Gelzer died in 1827 (place of burial unknown). A complicated Court action between Sarah & Thomas Gelzer's children resulted. Sarah claimed that as
his widow, she was entitled to certain lands and premises and personal estate of her deceased husband. However, prior to their marriage, she had signed what today is known as a "pre-nuptial agreement" and she lost her case. Sarah You Lewis Gelzer died 24 April 1846 & is buried in the Circular Church Yard Cem., Charleston, SC, where a large stone memorial was erected by her "affectionate and greatful [sic] Grand Daughter." Sarah's will designated that her entire estate
"Realestate and Personal Estate" go to her granddaughter, Elizabeth Clifford Lewis. THOMAS GELZER also known as Thomas S. Gelzer, was born 12 May 1798, the son of Thomas S. Gelzer and Miss (1st name unknown) Eckells. He lived in the Parish of St. James at Goose Creek in the District of Charleston, SC; was a planter/farmer in Colleton County, SC; owned a house in Summerville, SC. He married 1st SARA THOMAS BENOIST
ca. 1824/1825 - three children. She was born 15 August 1801 prob. in St. Johns, Berkeley Co., SC, the daughter of Philip Benoist a planter in St. John's Parish & Ann (last name unknown). Sara died 18 October 1863. He married 2nd ROSA ADELA BEE on 18 January 1865 at St. Phillips Church in Charleston, SC - no issue. Rosa was born 10 (or 24) January 1823 in SC, the daughter of John Simmons Bee &
Charlotte Augusta Ladson. Thomas Gelzer died 14 July 1875 in Summerville. Rosa Gelzer died 04 January 1899. All three - Thomas, Sara, Rosa - are buried under the church extension at St. Paul's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Summerville, South Carolina. THOMAS LINING GELZER was born 03 August 1825 in Summerville, SC, the only son of Thomas Gelzer & Sara Thomas Benoist. He entered the Freshman Class
of the Charleston College and graduated in 1844; studied law, but not liking it, turned his attention to medicine, and graduated at the Charleston Medical College in 1850 and became a physician. He married 1stCLARA ANN REID, the daughter of Dr. David Evander Reid and Harriet Eugenia Wagner, both of South Carolina. Sometime before 1860, Thomas L. Gelzer moved his family (wife & four children) from SC to Jeffersonton or Jefferson, the former
county seat of Camden County, GA. Jeffersonton (now demolished), located on the south side of the Satilla River, was where he lived and where he continued to practice medicine. The town of Jefferson was positioned diagonal across the Satilla River from (then) Brown's Ferry in Camden County ("Brown History & Lineage," by Marguerite M. Mathews). In the Civil War, on 15 April 1862, he was issued a commission as Surgeon of the 5th Reg. 1st Brigade 1st Division GM at Jeffersonton in Camden County (Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers - GA Dept. of Archives & Hist., Atlanta, GA). Later, he was stationed in Savannah as a Confederate surgeon in the 5th Regiment GA Cavalry commanded by Col. Clinch where he had to perform surgery without anesthesia, something that he felt was abhorrent (files of Kathleen Carmichael Adams). Clara Anne and her children returned to Unionville, SC, while her husband was away during the Civil War. On 12 November 1869, Thomas L. Gelzer sold his lot in Jeffersonton for $500.00 "All that parcel of land lying in the town of Jeffersonton known in the plan of said town as Lot No. 16 containing 200 feet square" (Camden Co., GA Deed Bk. Q p. 324). The Thomas Gelzer family is listed on the 1870 Camden Co. GA census, P. O. Satilla Mills District, where he was still a physician. Clara Anne Reid Gelzer died on 25 April 1876 in Summerville, SC. He left Camden County for Mobile, AL. He married 2nd
MARY MORROW on 23 July 1878 in Mobile, AL. She was born ca. 1850-1853 in Conecuh Co., AL. He was sent to Memphis, TN where there was an outbreak of yellow fever. He stayed until the epidemic was under control. On 04 May 1881 the family moved to Escanaba, Michigan, where Dr. Gelzer was appointed United States Marine Surgeon. His medical office was on Ludington Street; they lived on South Elmore Street. Thomas L. Gelzer died in Escanaba,
Michigan and is buried there. CHILDREN OF THOMAS GELZER & SARA THOMAS BENOIST: 1. THOMAS LINING GELZER, M.D. born 03 August 1825 in Summerville, SC; married 1stCLARA ANN REID 21 May 1850 in St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC - four children. Clara Ann Reid was born 28 November 1829 in Camden, SC & died 25 April 1876 in Summerville, SC. Thomas L. Gelzer married 2nd
MARY MORROW on 23 July 1878 in Mobile, AL - 5 children. He died 06 January 1894; she died in 1930; both bur. Lakeview Cem. in Escanaba, MI. 1. Eugene Gelzer "Bubba" born 14 May 1852 in Summerville, SC; married Margaret (last name unknown) - 2 or 3 kids; he died 03 April 1888; bur. Lakeview Cem. in Escanaba, MI. 2. Clara Ann Gelzer born 18 (or 20) February 1854 in Summerville, SC; married
James David Brown on 11 August 1872 in Camden County, GA - five children; she died 16 August 1919 in Miami, FL & is bur. at City Cemetery in Miami. Children listed under James David Brown. 3. Alice Charlotte Gelzer born 31 August 1856 in Summerville, SC; married Hugh Crawford Brown on 09 April 1884 at McKimmon nr. Owens Ferry, Camden County, GA; she died 15 February 1927 in Miami, FL; bur. at Woodlawn Park Cem. in Miami. 4. Marion Deas Gelzer "Daisy" born 20 June 1863 in Unionville, SC; married Thomas Couturier Steedman 17 July 1882 in New Orleans, LA - 4 kids; he was born 23 July 1859 in Charleston, SC & died 24 July 1920 in Spartanburg, SC; she died 25 June 1945 in Spartanburg, SC. 5. Thomas Gelzer "Tommie" born ca. 1880/1881 in AL; married (name unknown) in Escanaba, MI - (marr. listed in 22 November 1910 ed. of Escanaba Morning Press newspaper).
6. Cecil Morrow Gelzer born 1884 in Escanaba, Delta Co., MI; married? He died 27 May 1942 (in Canada?) or Escanaba, MI (Lakeview Cem. Records;); bur. Lakeview Cem. in Escanaba, Delta Co., MI. 7. Mary Gelzer born March 1886 in Escanaba, MI; died 26 June 1886; bur. Lakeview Cem., Escanaba, Delta Co., MI. 8. William Morrow Gelzer "Will" born 24 December 1886 in Escanaba, MI (date correct); married
Ona Ecke/Eche on 13 July 1915 in Escanaba, MI (Delta Co. Marr. Bk. C p. 63) - issue? She was born 1887. She died in July 1918 In Escanaba, MI (death notice in Escanaba Morning Press on 04 & 06 July 1918). He died November 1918 (death notice in Escanaba Morning Press on 17 Nov. 1918; Lakeview Cem. Records); both bur. at Lakeview Cem. in Escanaba, Delta Co., MI. The estate of William Morrow Gelzer was probated in 1918 (Delta Co. Probate Index on microfilm; listed on Delta Co. Genealogy site at Rootsweb.com).
9. Clyde/Clyve Gelzer born ca. 1893 in Escanaba, Delta Co., MI (age 7 on the 1900 Delta Co. census). He was seen as a paying patient at the main hospital in Escanaba on 31 October 1906 (Index of Hospital Patient Records 1897-1914 - Delta Co. Genealogical Web site at Rootsweb.com). He is not listed on 1910 Delta Co. census - (did he die young? - no burial record). 2. EUGENIA OLIVIA GELZER
born 09 March 1828 in Summerville, SC; married JOHN J. HANAHAN of Edisto Island on Wednesday 17 July 1844 in Charleston, SC - 4 kids.
1. E. M. Hanahan born ca. 1846 in SC (female); age 14 on 1860 census. 2. T. L. Hanahan born ca. 1852 in SC (female); age 8 on 1860 census. 3. Josephine Hanahan born ca. 1858 in SC; age 2 on 1860 SC census. 4.
Edward Seabrook Hanahan baptized 16 April 1865 in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Summerville, SC - Sponsors were: Thomas & Rosa Gelzer (St. Paul's Episc. Ch. Records p. 19). 3. SUSAN HENRIETTA LINING GELZER born 04 February 1832 in Summerville, SC; baptized on 02 September 1832 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Summerville, SC. She married WILLIAM PERCY GUERARD
on Tuesday 19 March (or May) 1863 "at the residence of the Bride's father, Thomas Gelzer in Summerville, South Carolina by Rev. Philip Gadsden" (p. 65 St. Paul's Episcopal Church Records). Five children. He was born 14 December 1836 in SC, the son of John Bull Guerard & Ann Ladson Bee (dau. of John Simmons Bee & Charlotte Augusta Ladson - South Carolina Genealogies- "Descendants of Col. William Rhett," Reprint Co., Spartanburg, 1983). Percy
was a descendant of Jacob Guerard, who along with others, brought the first shipload of Huguenots to South Carolina in 1680 (Sandlapper Magagazine of SC, article by Marguerite C. Steedman, Vol. I, No. 9, Sept. 1968). In 1846, Percy's father, John B. Guerard, purchased 1400 acres on the Satilla River near White Oak Creek in Camden Co., GA (CCG Deed Bk. O p. 136-137) where John B. Guerard, his son, John B. Jr. were in partnership with John Baily in the Steam Sawmill Co. In
1865-1870 Percy & Susan Guerard were living in Camden County, Georgia at Satilla Mills where he was a sawmill hand (fam. listed on CCG 1870 census schedule). The Percy Guerards left Camden County sometime around 1870-1871 and returned to SC. (Their fourth child was b. in SC in 1871). The fam. is listed on the 1880 SC census in Colleton Co., Collins Township -taken on 24 June 1880: Percy Guerard, head of household, farmer, age 44; Susan, wife, age 40; Sophia, dau.,
age 13, in school; Pursy [sic] Jr., son, age 11, in school; William B., son, age 9, in school; Thomas L., son, age 5. He died 10 April 1900; she died 02 (or 03) August 1910 in Charleston, SC & is buried at St. Lukes Cathedral Cemetery in Charleston, SC. 1. Sarah Ann Lining Guerard born 10 October 1864 in Charleston County, SC; died 1865 in Charleston, SC. 2. Sophia Percy Guerard born ca. 1865 in GA; married Allen Drew
in 1908; she died 1942. 3. John Percy Guerard born 08 February 1868 in GA; married 1stKathleen Bradley Jay - one daughter; married 2ndVirginia O. Brown Miller in 1912 - three children; he died 10 April 1917 in Charleston, SC. 4. William Bee Guerard born 23 February 1871 in SC; married Mattie C. Heaton
in 1904; he died 12 August 1945 & is buried at St. Paul's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Summerville, SC. 5. Thomas Lining Guerard born 1875 in SC; married Emma M. Darby in 1904; he died 1961 in Charleston, SC. CHILDREN OF JAMES DAVID BROWN & CLARA ANN GELZER: 1. ANNIE MARION BROWN born 05 August 1874 in Camden County, GA; married EDWIN NEWTON KING
in Camden County, GA - three kids; died 17 November 1940 Miami, FL; buried at City Cemetery in Miami, FL. 1. Edna Marion King born 03 March 1896 Camden County, GA; married Earl Wilson 15 July 1917 Miami, FL; died 09 December 1965 in Miami, FL; both buried at City Cemetery in Miami. 2. Robert Newton King born 18 October 1899 in Miami, FL; died 28 October 1901 in Miami; buried at City Cemetery in Miami. 3.
Eugene Julius King born 23 March 1901 in Miami, FL; married Elsa Bertha Drews 30 October 1923 in Miami; died 30 August 1978 in Sylva, NC; buried at Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Miami, FL. 2. JAMES BEDELL BROWN "Jim" born 07 May 1876 in Camden County, GA; married HARRIETT G. "Dolly" RICHARDSON
- two kids; she is buried at City Cemetery in an unmarked grave; Jim Brown died 12 May 1951 Miami, FL; buried at City Cemetery in Miami, FL. 1. Richmond Cameron Brown born 16 April 1905 Miami, FL; died 08 August 1906; buried at City Cemetery in Miami, FL. 2. George Bedell Brown born 19 June 1907 Miami, FL; married 1st Stella Noble; married 2nd (name unknown); died 04 March 1956; buried at City Cemetery in Miami, FL.
3. FRANK HOPKINS BROWN born 15 September 1878 in Midriver, GA; married MARGUERITE JULE PACETTI 01 August 1906 at Owens Ferry, GA - six kids; he died 01 February 1954 in Miami, FL; buried at Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Miami, FL. 1. John Brown born 1907 in Miami, FL; died 1907; bur. Woodlawn Park Cem. in Miami, FL. 2. Fe Augusta Brown born 12 March 1909 in Miami, FL; married Alexander Mais
Durand in Miami, FL - no issue. 3. Frank Hopkins Brown Jr. born 17 June 1911 in Miami, FL; WWII Veteran; married Helen Boab - no issue. 4. Frances Mordina Brown born 17 June 1911 in Miami, FL; married Robert L. Evans 1948 in Coconut Grove, FL. He died 25 December 1978; she died 07 July 1990 in Hollywood, FL; both buried at Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Miami, FL. 5. Marion Glenn Brown
born 27 May 1917 in Miami, FL; WWII Veteran; never married; died 21 April 1974 in Miami, FL; buried at Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Miami. 6. John Edwin Brown born 24 February 1920 in Miami, FL; WWII Veteran; married Anna Klutsch in Miami, FL; she was born 12 April 1929 in Koln, Germany; he died 10 December 1980 in Miami, FL and is buried at Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Miami, FL; she died January 1994 & is buried at sea. 4. MARY ALICE BROWN "May"
born 17 October 1880 in Camden County, GA; married EDGAR COOPER GAUNT 12 June 1897 in Miami, FL - four kids; died 20 February 1970 in Miami, FL; both buried at Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Miami, FL. 1. James Tate Gaunt born 08 November 1900 in Miami, FL; married Lois Burghay of Brunswick, GA; died 20 December 1987; buried at Ft. Denaud Cemetery in La Belle, FL. 2. Daisy Elizabeth Gaunt
born 03 June 1903 in Miami, FL; married Ralph Hopkins Brown. 3. Carrie Mae Gaunt born 1906 in Miami, FL; married Wilfred A. Griffin; died 13 February 1992; both buried Woodlawn Park Cemetery in Miami, FL. 4. Edith Claire Gaunt born 12 October 1915 in Miami, FL; married David Chapell "Doc" Brown III. 5. CLAUDE EUGENE BROWN
born 25 May 1887 in Camden County, GA; married EDNA EARL CHEVES 10 December 1910 in Gainesville, FL - 2 kids; she was born 06 September 1889 in Waldo, FL & died 01 April 1939 in Miami; he died 28 August 1971 in Miami, FL; both buried at City Cemetery in Miami, FL. 1. Claude Eugene Brown Jr. born 21 May 1916 in Miami, FL; died 22 May 1916; buried City Cemetery in Miami, FL. 2. Mary Katherine Brown
born 30 December 1917 in Miami, FL; married Homer Keating Eldridge 11 December 1975 in Denver, CO; he was born 21 September 1920 in Ft. Collins, CO & died 22 August 1988 & buried at Grandview Cem. in Ft. Collins, CO. NEXT |
