CAPT. JACOB J. GIESLER.
The Geisler family is, as the name indicates, of German descent, and
the founder of the family in America settled in Pennsylvania. From
that State Adam Geisler, father of Jacob J., went to Sullivan county,
Tennessee, with his father, about 1810. In Tennessee he married Mary
M. Devault, whose father went from Pennsylvania to Tennessee about
1810, also. Jacob J., their son, was born near Piney Flats, Sullivan
county, Tennessee, February 19, 1833. He has been many years a resident
of Washington county, Virginia, engaged in farming and milling,
living at Meadow View. Since 1871 he has held the office of school
trustee. At the residence of the bride's parents, where she was born,
near Morrells Mills, this county, he married, December 10, 1856, Catharine
D. Morrell. Their children are two sons, Jacob M., William H., and
two daughters, Mary R., Nora E.
Mrs. Geisler is a daughter of Jacob Morrell, who was a native of
Augusta county, Virginia, and whose father came from France to Virginia
at an early date. In 1827 Jacob Morrell married Mary A. Droke,
of Sullivan county, Tennessee, bringing her to the Morrell home in
Washington county.
From April, 1862, to April, 1865, Capt. Geisler was in the Confederate
States Army, commanding Company F, 59th Tennessee Infantry. He
was under Pemberton at Vicksburg and Lee at Appomattox, and in
much gallant field service received several ball and sabre wounds. His
twin brother, Henry D., was major of the same regiment, and killed near
Abingdon, December, 1864, while resisting the advance of Stoneman's
cavalry, in their raid on the salt works.
