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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"