HomeMy WebLinkAbout781Booklet, 21.5 x 15 cm. 16 pages, about the reunion of the Reesor family in 1928.
"THE
REESOR REUNION
OF 1928
and FAMILY CHART
(Copies of this booklet can be obtained from A. E. Reesor, Secretary,
Markham, Ont.)"
"PAGE 2. THE REESOR FAMILY
PETER REESOR, 1775-1854
THE HOUSE BUILT BY PETER REESOR
Peter Reesor, 1775-1854, was the oldest son of Christian Reesor. With his wife,
Esther Eby, and three children, he came to Canada in 1804 and located at Cedar
Grove, Ont. The stone house shown above was built by him about 100 years ago.
This homestead has been in the Reesor family continuously and is now owned by
Wade R. Brown, whose wife is a great grand daughter of Peter Reesor."
"THE REESOR FAMILY. PAGE 3
PREFACE
THE genealogy of the Reesor family as given in this booklet was shown at the
Reunion at Locust Hill, June 30th, 1928. The short article ""The Reesors in Canada""
is a condensed form of an address given at the same time. This material has been
prepared in its present form at the request of the officers of the Reunion.
In gathering the names and dates for the Chart an effort was made to have it as
nearly accurate and complete as possible. Some valuable data is from the pen of
the late H. A. Reesor of Toronto. Omissions and errors, no doubt, will be found.
Corrections should be reported that the exact facts may be available for future use.
Already there are some requests for a more complete Reesor Family History and a
Chart which will include all the descendants down to the present generation.
May the persual of this brief family sketch enable us to become more worthy
descendants of our forebears. May our godly heritage, which we have received,
be translated into a holy life and a faithful allegiance of our fathers' God.
Markham, Ont.
August 4, 1928
L. J. Burkholder, Compiler."
"PAGE 4. THE REESOR FAMILY
REESOR FAMILY RE-UNION
(Prom the Economist and Sun, of July 5, 1928)
The Canadian branch of the Reesor family celebrated the 124th year of the Reesor
settlement in Markham Township by holding a re-union in a beautiful park in the valley
of the little Rouge adjoining the Provincial Highway at Locust Hill on Saturday, June 30th.
This park is part of the homestead of the late Christian Reesor and still in the family,
Mr. Jonathan Jarvis being the present owner.
An all day's rain on Friday lasting well into Saturday morning doubtless kept many from a
distance away, but the weather in the afternoon was ideal and there were fully fifteen
hundred present— about 1,000 of whom signed the register. It was a most interesting
event—and thoroughlv enjoyed by all. About thirty cousins from the Pennsylvania branch
of the family were present and they received a very warm welcome.
The oldest Reesor present was Capt. Robert Reesor of the 10th line Markham. who is in
his 87th year. He is a son of Christopher Reesor and a grandson of Abraham Reesor
who came over with his father from Pennsylvania and settled on lot 8, con. 8, Markham,
still in the family and known as ""Glen Rouge"" farm. The president of the event was
Frederick E. N. Reesor, proprietor of the Locust Hill Creamery, and a son of Christian
Reesor the 2nd. A. E. Reesor of Markham was secretary, and F. Kay Reesor, a son of
Peter Reesor, was chairman.
The gathering was called to order by the president at 1.30 p.m. and all joined in singing
""God Save the King."" An interesting program largely devoted to history of the family
followed. The subjects and speakers were: ""Synopsis of the history of the Reesor
family in Canada,"" by Rev. L. J. Burkholder; ""Vocational life of Reesor family,""
by F. K. Reesor; ""Synopsis of Risser family in the United States,"" by Mr. C. Risser of
Penn., in the absence of Mr. Abner H. Risser, who was unable to be present.
Following the benediction, a group picture of the gathering was taken by Mr. Wm.
Saunders, photographer of Stouffville.
The rest of the afternoon was taken up with lunching and visiting among the cousins."
"THE REESOR FAMILY. PAGE 5
THE REESORS IN CANADA
(By L. J. Burkholder, Markham, Ont.)
In giving a historical background of this pioneer family much more credit is due to those
who blazed the trail and made history than to those who now record it. May we see to it
that those who follow us will have no difficulty in finding worthy deeds to record.
From the Christian Reesor, who with his wife Fanny Reiff and their children, came to
Canada in 1804, there have come more than 3,500 descendants. Nearly every
honourable calling and profession has been entered by members of this family.
In 1713 there was a Reisser family in Berne, Switzerland, Peter, our progenitor,
was one in a family of five sons. They were Mennonite Anabaptists. The Zwinglian or
State Church decreed that those who did not become members of the State Church
should be punished. Our forefathers believed that every individual should be allowed to
follow the dictates of his own conscience rather than yield to ungodly civil rulers.
They did not enter the State Church and then ""protest"" her practices nor did they try to
""reform"" her ritual. In the strictest sense, therefore, they were neither ""protestants""
nor ""Reformers."" They believed that Church and State should be separate. They taught
individual conversion and insisted upon holy living. Their fearless testimony against sin,
even in high places, brought upon them from the Protestant State Church the most bitter
persecutions. Many were imprisoned and slain for their faith. Many of these persecuted
families fled to Rhenish Bavaria (Palatinate) where, under Roman Catholic rulers,
they received more consideration than in Switzerland. Among these families were the
Reisser brothers. They sojourned here for a time. About this time William Penn,
the Quaker of Pennsylvania, invited these persecuted Christians to his province in
America. Under British rule, he assured them, they would have religious liberty.
Many hundreds of these German-Swiss Mennonites came to Pennsylvania in the
early part of eighteenth century.
Peter Risser with his wife Elisabeth and two children, Esther and John, landed in
Philadelphia Sept. 3, 1739. His brothers Jacob, Ulrich, John and Philip had preceded
him to America. Peter settled near Elisabethtown in Lancaster County, Pa. He was a
Mennonite minister. He conveyed to the Church a parcel of ground upon which was
built the Risser Meetinghouse. He died in 1804 and is buried in the adjoining cemetery.
Christian, the second son of Peter, went to Franklin County, in 1786, and lived on a
farm near Chamberburg, Pa., until he came to Canada in 1804. His brother Abraham
lived on the adjoining farm. Evidently the reason for moving to Chamberburg was that
the land was cheaper.
After the Revolutionary War those whose sympathy was with the British Government
were treated with unfairness by the Revolutionists. The new Republic was an
experiment. Many of those who had enjoyed religious freedom at the"
"PAGE 6. THE REESOR FAMILY
hands of Britain preferred to move again and hew their homes out of the forest in Canada
rather than take chances of oppression in the newly formed United States.
We believe that subsequent events prove that this move was wisely made.
In these four migrations—to Bavaria, to Lancaster, to Franklin and to Ontario—
the religious element and spiritual motives predominated. They heeded the Master's
word, ""If they persecute you in one city flee into another.""
In looking into the records of this family at least ten different spellings of the name are
found, viz., REISSER, RISSER, ROESER, RIESSER, REISSER, RISER, RESSER,
REEZER. REESER and REESOR.
The family crest which has been shown on our stationery is found not to belong to our
family. A reply to an inquiry sent to the registry at Berne, Switzerland, says that it is a
genuine Ryser crest but was issued to a family who remained in Europe and was given
about ninety years after our Peter landed in America.
The oldest descendant of our Canadian progenitor is Mr. Robert Reesor who is in his
86th year and lives on the 10th concession of Markham. He is hale and active.
The youngest descendant to be reported is Helen Elisabeth Reesor of Cedar Grove.
Christian Reesor and Fanny Reiff, when they came to Markham brought with them six
children, viz., Elisabeth, Peter, John, Barbara, Abraham and Christian.
Elisabeth married Abraham Stouffer, and has left 1,047 descendants. The village of
Stouffville is named after this family. Much musical talent is found among the Stouffer
branch.
Peter, it is said, came to Canada about two years before the others and looked out
suitable locations upon which to settle. Reesor Lake, in Whitchurch was named in
his honour. ""Reesor"" has been given to a new post office and railway station near
Hearst, Ont., in recognition of the work done by Mr. Thomas Reesor in establishing a
colony for refugees from Soviet Russia. There are 1,445 descendants in this branch of
the family.
John was the father of fifteen children. All, excepting one, married and set up a home.
At least 14 teachers have come from this branch as well as 34 other persons of note,
including nurses, missionaries, civil servants, etc.
The members of Abraham's family are not so numerous, yet this is the only branch that
has produced a member of Parliament—Hon. David Reesor. The late H. A. Reesor
was a Toronto lawyer and did valuable work in gathering historical data of the Reesor
family.
Barbara Reesor married Moses Gamble and lived near Dundas, Ont. This is the only
branch that has developed outside of York County. Manchester, England,
and Alexandria, Egypt, have descendants of this branch. Our records of the
Gambles are very incomplete.
Christian, the youngest of the six children, who came to Canada, his a unique
position in this, that persons of the first generation born in Canada are still with us
and in the prime of life. This Christian was born in the 18th century. His son,
Mr. F. E. N. Reesor, was born in the 19th and his son, Herbert, in the 20th century.
This is a long distant span.
We are glad to have received this goodly heritage from our fathers. Let us honour
our forefathers by honouring their God and serving Him. Have I been born in God's
family is a proper question for each one to ask?"
"THE REESOR FAMILY. PAGE 7
*(I) PETER RISSER, 1713-1804
was a Mennonite Minister, born in Berne, Switzerland. Because of religious
persecutions he fled to Rhenish Bavaria. With Elisabeth, his wife, and two children,
he sailed from Rotterdam to America, and landed in Philadelphia, September 3, 1739.
*(II) Esther, 1737—
John, 1739—
Catherine, 1741—
Elizabeth, 1743—
Barbara, 1745—
CHRISTIAN, 1747-1806
married
FANNY REIFF IN 1774 Moved from Lancaster Co. Pa., to Franklin Co.
1786, and came to Markham, Ont., 1804, killed by a falling tree
March 26, 1806. They have six children, viz., Elisabeth Stouffer, Peter,
John, Barbara Gamble, Abraham and Christian.
Peter, 1750-1841
Abraham, 1755—
Magdalena, 1758—
Jacob, 1764-1835
* The numerals indicate the generation to which the persons belong."
"PAGE 8. THE REESOR FAMILY
THE REESOR FAMILY. PAGE 9
*(II) CHRISTIAN REESOR, 1747-1806
married
FANNY REIFF IN 1774
Moved from Lancaster Co., Pa., to Franklin Co. 1786, and came to Markham,
Ont. 1804, killed by availing tree March 26, 1806.
JOHN REESOR, 1784-1874
married
ANNIE GROVE
Total descendants, 774
ABRAHAM 1811— Not married
FANNY REESOR
1813-1878 married
DANIEL HOOVER
Children-
Annie Stover
Henry Peter R.
Elisabeth N. Ramer
John R.
Abraham
Daniel
Benjamin
Martin
*(IV) CHRISTIAN REESOR 1814-1861
married
SUSAN BURKHOLDER
*(V) Children-
Elisabeth Pike
Anna Hoover
Henry B.
Nicholas E.
Joshua
ELISABETH REESOR 1816-1907 married
JOHN S. HOOVER
Children —
Mary Raymer
Sarah Nighswander
Esther Reesor
Nancy Reesor
Simon R.
Samuel R.
Elisabeth Burkholder
Fanny Lehman
Matilda
John R.
Jesse R.
Enos R.
Peter R.
BARBARA REESOR
1818-1897
married
MARTIN NIGHSWAN-
DER
Children-
Annie Raymer
Menno
Fanny Forsyth
Sarah McFarlane
Rosana Pringle
JOHN GT REESOR 1819-1899 married
CATHERINE BROWN
2nd MAGDALENE MCDOWELL
Children—
Abraham B.
Sarah Reesor
Susanna Forster
Martha Pike
James
Mary
ANNA REESOR, 1821—
married
JOHN RAYMER
Child—
Levi Raymer
JACOB G. REESOR
1823-1897
married
ELISABETH NIGSWANDER
Children—
Anna Brown
William
Jacob
Elisabeth Ferguson
Salena McDowell
Fanny McDowell
Martin
Matilda
Susannah
Levi
PETER RESOR, 1826-1855
married
NIGHSWANDER
Children—
Lydia Burton
Ellas
Peter
ESTHER REESOR
1828-1909
married
SAMUEL HOOVER
Children—
Adeline Nighswander
Susannah Nighswander
Mary Ramer Stover
Amos
Martin R.
John
Anna Nighswander
Joseph
MARY KEESOR
1829-1894
married
MANASSAH FRETZ
No issue
SAMUEL G. REESOR
1831-1913
married
ELISABETH HONSBERGER
2nd ESTHER MAIN
Children—
Abraham
Sarah Hutchison
Agnes Jarvis
Esther Pennock
Joshua
Joseph
Anthony
Anna Wismer
Jesse
Mary McCreight
MAGDALENA REESOR
1834-1909
married
MICHAEL FRETZ
Children—
Manasseh
Annie McDowell
John
Elisabeth Wambold
Levi
David
Josiah
BENJAMIN G. REESOR
1837-1909
married
SARAH COOK
Children—
Darius
Mary Kelly
John
Albert
JESSE G. REESOR
1840-1918
married
ELISABETH LEHMAN
Children—
Adah Dixon
Annie Honsberger
Fanny Crowder"
"PAGE 10. THE REESOR FAMILY
*(II) CHRISTIAN REESOR, 1747-1806
married
FANNY REIFF IN 1774
Moved from Lancaster Co., Pa., to Franklin Co. 1786, and came to Markham, Ont.,
1804, killed by a falling tree on March 26, 1806.
* (III) ELIZABETH REESOR, 1774-1835
married
ABRAHAM STOUFFER
Total descendants, 1047
*(V) CHRISTIAN STOUFFER
1799-1868
married
MAGDALENA RAMER
*(V) Children—
Elisabeth Sherk
Abraham
Jacob R.
Martha
Christian
John R.
Susan
Peter
IV ELIZABETH STOUFFER
1803-1848
married
DAVID BETZNER V
Children—
A daughter
Samuel
Abraham
Jacob
David
John W.
ABRAHAM STOUFFER
1806-1878
married
ELISABETH LEHMAN
Children—
John
Abraham
Samuel
Jacob
Elisabeth
Christian
Hannah
David
Simeon
JOHN STOUFFER
1808—
married
ANNA AMELIA PETERSON
Children—
Maria
Fanny
FANNY STOUFFER
1811-1861
married
FREDERICK CHENEY
2nd DAVID BETZNER
No children
JACOB STOUFFER
1813-1877
married
FANNIE REESOR
Children—
Joseph
Frederick
David
Abraham
Esther
Samuel
John R."
"THE REESOR FAMILY. PAGE 11
* (II) CHRISTIAN REESOR, 1747-1806
married
FANNY REIFF IN 1774
Moved from Lancaster Co., Pa., to Franklin Co. 1786, and came to Markham,
Ont. 1804, killed by a falling tree March 26, 1806.
*(III) PETER REESOR, 1775-1854
married
ESTHER EBY
2nd MRS. KOCH
It is reported that he came to Canada In 1801 or 1802 to look out a suitable location.
Settled in Markham 1804. Total descendants 1445.
*(V) FANNY REESOR 1800-
married
DANIEL RAMER
*(V) Children—
Christian
David
Esther Byer
Christina Doner
Anna Hoover
IV ELISABETH REESOR
1802-1852
married
IRA WHITE
V Children—
Truman P.
Benjamin
Albert
Harriet Crosby
Anthony
CHRISTIAN REESOR
1804-1826
Died of typhus fever at Lewistown, N. Y.
JOHN EBY REESOR
1806-1864
married
MARIAH BURKHOLDER
Children —
Simeon
Noah
Christian
Benjamin B.
Susannah Dlller
ESTHER REESOR
1808-1878
married
WILLIAM ARMSTRONG
Children—
Peter
Jane Scott
William
John
Thomas
Annie Jerman
Robert G.
PETER REESOR
1810-1887
married
ANNA HAMILTON
Children—
Josephus
Esther Break
Jacob
Peter
Andrew
Abram H.
Frederick K.
Solomon
ANNA MARIA REESOR
1812-1902
married
EDWARD WHEELER
Children-
George
Fanny Crosby
Mary Ann Somervllle
Adeline
Esther Saunders
Edward
John
ABRAHAM REESOR
1815-1855
married
CHRISTINA SHUNK
Children—
Annie Stouffer
Elisabeth Robinson
Flavius
Mary Spink
Abraham
Isaac
SAMUEL REESOR
1817-1901
married
FANNY BROWNSBERGER
Children —
Christina Raymer
Elisabeth Burkholder
Colin D.
Esther Wideman
Benjamin F.
Anthony
Joseph A.
Lewis H.
George E.
JOSEPHUS S. REESOR
1820-1916
married
SUSANNAH BAKER
2nd ELISABETH PIKE HOOVER
No children"
"PAGE 12. THE REESOR FAMILY
* (II) CHRISTIAN REESOR, 1747-1806
married
FANNY REIFF IN 1774
Moved from Lancaster Co., Pa., to Franklin Co. 1786, and came to Markham,
Ont. 1804, killed by a falling tree March 26, 1806.
*(III) BARBARA REESOR
married
MOSES GAMBLE
*(V) JOHN GAMBLE
married
MARIA FRANKLIN
*(V) Children—
Nellie Barber
Emma, unmarried
Louisa Cadman
Charles
John
NOTE—Information from the Gamble branch of the family is incomplete"
"THE REESOR FAMILY. PAGE 13
* (II) CHRISTIAN REESOR, 1747-1806
married
FANNY REIFF IN 1774
Moved from Lancaster Co., Pa., to Franklin Co. 1786, and came to Markham,
Ont. 1804, killed by a falling tree March 26, 1806.
*(III) ABRAHAM REESOR, 1790-1831
married
ANNA DETWEILER MILLER
Total descendants, 187
(V) CHRISTOPHER REESOR
1816-1846
married
MARGARET ARMSTRONG
*(V) Children—
Annie Simmonds
Elisabeth Milroy
Robert
David
IV JOHN REESOR
married
ELIZA WHITNEY
V Children—
Frederick A.
Harry A.
George W.
Frances Rolph
Sarah
Elisabeth
William J.
Mary Drummond
FANNY REESOR
married
JOSEPH JAMES Children—
Eliza James
David
Emily
Lydia
Charles
George
Harriet
Fred
Addle Manning
DAVID REESOR
married
EMILY McDOUGALL
Children—
Augusta Coburn
Jessie Holmes
Annette
William D.
Nellie Stinson
NANCY REESOR
married
HENRY R. CORSON
Children—
Arthur
Emma
Robert J.
Harry
Henrietta Augusta
PETER REESOR
Not married"
"PAGE 14. THE REESOR FAMILY
* (II) CHRISTIAN REESOR, 1747-1806
married
FANNY REIFF IN 1774
Moved from Lancaster Co., Pa., to Franklin Co. 1786, and came to Markham,
Ont. 1804, killed by a falling tree March 26, 1806.
*(III)CHRISTIAN REESOR, 1794-1877
married
ELISABETH CORNELL 2nd MELISA CORNELL
Total descendants, 65
*(IV) FANNY REESOR
married
JAMES HAWKINS *(V)
Children—
Nelson
IV WILLIAM REESOR
married
MARY CAMPBELL
2nd JANET THOMPSON
V Children—
Darius
Wellington
Wilhelmina
Pearl
CHRISTIAN REESOR
married
ELISABETH HAWKINS
Children—
Charles C.
Mary Sherk
JOHN REESOR
ANNA REESOR
DARIUS REESOR
ALBERT C. REESOR
married
BERTHA PIKE
Children—
Irene
Maude
Lloyd
VICTORIA REESOR
married
THEODORE WILLIS
Child—
Eldred
ARTHUR REESOR
married
ALICE P. SHELLEY
FREDERICK E. N. REESOR
married
LAURA FORSTER
Children—
Muriel Torrance
Winnifred Sayles
Marlon
Herbert
MAUDE REESOR
married
F. P. MILLARD
Children—
Dorothy
John
Helen"
"THE REESOR FAMILY. PAGE 15
CHRISTIAN REESOR. 1794-1877
THE HOUSE BUILT BY CHRISTIAN REESOR
Christian Reesor, 1794-1877, was the youngest son of Christian Reesor.
He came to Canada with his parents in 1804 when he was about ten years old.
They located on lot 14 in the 10th concession Markham.
He built the residence shown above and occupied it until the time of his death.
The farm has been owned by F. E. N. Reesor, president of the Reesor Reunion,
until about ten years ago."
\
"PAGE 16. THE REESOR FAMILY
The JOSEPH REESOR Family
NOTE—It has not been possible, so far, to find a definite link between this family
and the other Canadian branch of Reesors.
Located on Lot 11, Con. 8, (Markham
Village is built on part of this farm)
JOSEPH REESOR, 1777-1861
married ANNA LICHTY
JOHN L. REESOR
1811—
married
MARTHA RAMER
Children—
Fanny
David
Diana Grove
Elisabeth
Mary Reaman
FANNY REESOR
married
JACOB STOUFFER
Children—
Joseph
Abram
Esther
JOSEPH REESOR
married
LYDIA BROWN
2nd HANNAH SHANK
Children—
Susana Clendenlng
Mary Jerman
Christina Collins
Esther
Simeon
Samuel
William
Laban
Lydla
NANCY REESOR
married
WILLIAM HAMILTON
Children—
Peter
Mary Lee
Margaret
George
Sarah Lee Martin
MARY REESOR
married
ELI SHERK Children —
Joseph
Henry
Annie
ELISABETH
Not married"
"Ressor Family
Bicentennial
1804-2004
200 of this booklet was reprinted by Mothersill Printing of Bowmanville for the Reesor
Family in Canada Genealogical and Historical Society Inc., on the occasion of the
Reesor Family Bicentennial Celebration. July 2, 3 and 4, 2004 - Markham, Ontario"