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John Edward Bressler
Birth: Dec., 1847
PA
Death: Jul. 23, 1925
Clinton County
PA
Son of George Bressler 1818-1901 & Phoebe Badger 1823-1850.
COUNTY HISTORY (CLINTON Co, PA)
GEORGE BRESSLER'S (1818-1901) BRIDE DIED ON TRIP AROUND HORN
(Second story in a series of two on "Forty-Niners of Clinton County.")
Second of the Clinton Countians to brave the dangers of the trip to Ca
lifornia in search of gold, as reported to the Clinton County Historic
al Society recently in a paper written by Miss Sarah E GEARHART, was G
eorge BRESSLER, Jr., one of the settlers and builders, with Nathan HAR
VEY, of that town, he was the grandfather of Mrs. Dewey DANIS (Margare
t HUNTER 1898-1964) of Mill Hall.
"George BRESSLER, 3rd was first married to Miss Phoebe BADGER (1823-18
52)," Miss GEARHAT's report tells. "She died when their two children
, John Edward (1847-1925) and Eliza Frances (1848-1925), were young. H
e then married Eliza HENDERSHOT and started to California on their wed
ding trip in February, 1852, leaving John Edward and his little siste
with an aunt, Margaret BADGER.
SIGHTS IN NEW YORK
"George kept a diary for a while. It starts by telling that they wen
t to Lewistown, possibly by stage, on the way to Philadelphia-thence t
o New York, where the diary states they attended the first appearanc
e of Edwin FORREST in "Damon and Pythias." They also went to Barnum'
s Museum, and the American Lyceum of Fine Arts and saw some good paint
ings. They saw the Christies perform, reporting that George CHRISTIE d
anced with a "perfect looseness." At Broughams' Lyceum they saw Mrs. F
ORREST act. The diary says she is good-looking at a distance."
"On Feb. 15, 1852, George BRESSLER and his bride took the boat, "The R
ace House," a clipper ship of 550 tons burden, copper bottom, drawin
g 14 feet of water. Before they got out of the river to the sea the wi
fe became ill-sea-sick, and later he, too, was very ill. The diary con
tinues as to their illness and the ship's misfortunes-a lost mast fo
one thing.
BRIDE DIES AT SEA
Then on Feb. 26, the eleventh day out, George records in his diary: "T
hursday, Feb. 26, had the misfortune to lose my wife this morning, lac
king 15 minutes of 1 o'clock. She was committed to the deep at 5 pm.
, Latitude 35 degrees, 1 minute; Longitude 49 degrees, 10 minutes. Fun
eral services were performed by the captain. After a hymn being sung
, he read from 1 Cor., 15th Chapter commencing at the 20th verse.
"He read a prayer from the Episcopal Book after which they sang anothe
hymn. Everything was done in the best of order that circumstance wou
ld admit of…"
On Feb. 29 George noted that "the weather continues rough." But the di
ary then ended until May 24-the Queen's birthday-when he landed at Val
paraiso. BRESSLER went on to California and seems to have found a litt
le gold. Letters were addressed to him at Marysville and Comptonvill
e Calif. He spent in all seven years in California and saw exciting sc
enes of government by Vigilance Committees, claim laws and the like.
"Returning by Cape Horn, he found himself on an ill-fated ship. Yello
w fever broke out on board and many of the passengers and crew were bu
ied at sea.
CHILD MISSED FATHER
"One letter shows the tragedy at home-with the father far away seekin
g his fortune. Little Frances BRESSLER, age 11, wrote her father a let
ter including a poem, "The Lonely Child," in which she expresses her l
onging for her father who is away. A very precious poem if written b
y an eleven-year-old youngster.
"Eliza Frances and her brother grew up and married. Eliza became Mrs
. Joseph McKIBBEN and John Edward lived in Renovo where he reared a la
ge family of sons and daughters. George BRESSLER lived a good and use
ful life in Mill Hall for many years. He married a third time (Josephi
e Vanatta 1843-1875), had a large family and died in Mill Hall at th
e age of 82."
Family links:
Parents:
George Bressler (1818 - 1901)
Phoebe A Badger Bressler (1823 - 1850)
Spouse:
Sarah Elizabeth Barner Bressler (1850 - 1922)
Burial:
North Bend Cemetery, #103
North Bend
Clinton County
PA
Created by: MHunter
Record added: Oct 15, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 98980082
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1846 - 1925 (78 years)
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