Esther Matilda Gann1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 3930, (1854 - 1920)
FatherJohn Gann Jr.4,5 (13 Dec 1807 - 10 Jun 1869)
MotherRachel Kauffman6,5 (17 Jan 1813 - 15 Jan 1871)

Key Events:

Birth: 21 Mar 1854, Oval, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania7,8,9
Marriage: 4 Feb 1873, St. John's Reformed Church, Williamsport, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin Riegel (25 Jan 1850 - 6 Jan 1931)10,11
Death: 11 Dec 1920, La Center, Clark Co., Washington12,13
Burial: Mt. Zion IOOF Cemetery, La Center, Clark Co., Washington14
ChartsDescendants of Jacob K. and Christiana Ohl Riegel
The Ganns of Lycoming Co. Pennsylvania

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     
Esther Matilda Gann
courtesy Denise Roberts
Esther Matilda Gann was born on 21 Mar 1854 in Oval, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania.7,8,9
     She appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Oval, Limestone Twp., Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of her parents, John Gann Jr. and Rachel Kauffman.15
     Her father died on 10 Jun 1869, when Esther was 15 years old.16,17 She appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Collomsville, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of her mother.18
     Her mother died on 15 Jan 1871, when Esther was 16 years old.19,20
     Esther married Benjamin Franklin Riegel, son of Jacob K. Riegel and Christiana Ohl, on 4 Feb 1873 in St. John's Reformed Church, Williamsport, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, with Rev. A. J. Heller officiating.10,11
     Esther was the only member of her immediate family to move west. All her siblings remained in Lycoming Co., save her brother John, who became an agent for the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Co. and lived in Norfolk, Virginia for many years. But some of her father's brothers were more adventuresome, moving to what was the frontier in their time. George moved to Ohio, and Andrew followed him then moved on to Iowa. Lewis, the youngest settled in Illinois.
     Esther and Benjamin moved to Missouri in late 1875 or early 1876 with their infant son Ralph. Her husband bought a 99-acre parcel on the eastern edge of Jackson Twp., Andrew Co., Missouri, from Christian Alfred Gann on 12 Apr 1876.21
     The seller appears to have been a distant cousin of Esther. He was from Union Co., Pennsylvania, the next county south of where she was born and raised. They were not a first cousins, but the ancestry of neither can be traced far enough to establish their actual relationship. He had come to Andrew Co. in 1868, and was joined by his father and at least one brother. It appears he was the connection that drew Benjamin and Esther to this area.
     Benjamin and Esther sold the property back to Christian Alfred Gann on 23 Nov 1877, for reasons that are unknown. He paid them $2,500 and while it is not mentioned in the deed, he evidently also re-assumed responsibility for the mortgage as it was not paid off until 5 Jun 1883. It is unclear whether this amounted to the same or a different price than they originally paid.22
     Esther and Benjamin seem to have remained in that county for at least a few months, as their second son was born there the following January. The family has not been found in the 1880 census, but it appears they moved about that time to Holt Co., the next county west, where their third son was born in 1881.23,24
     It seems likely that Benjamin's twin brother William joined them in Missouri sometime after1880, then moved with them to Kansas about 1885.25 They appeared on the 1885 State Census of Kirwin, Phillips Co., Kansas, Their children Ralph, Forest, Frank and Ida were listed as living with them, as was his brother William.26
     They were apparently renting their farm in Kansas since there is no record that they purchased property there.27
     Esther and Benjamin moved their family to Clark Co., Washington Territory, about 1892.28,29,30 She and Benjamin appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of La Center, Clark Co., Washington, enumerated 29 Jun 1900. Their children Forest, Frank and Ida were listed as living with them.31
     She and Benjamin appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of La Center, Clark Co., Washington, enumerated 26 Apr 1910. Their grandson, Cecil Reigel, were listed as living with them.32 She and Benjamin appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of La Center, Clark Co., Washington, enumerated 20 Jan 1920.33
     Esther died on 11 Dec 1920 in La Center, Clark Co., Washington, at age 66.12,13 She was buried in Mt. Zion IOOF Cemetery, La Center, Clark Co., Washington.14
     Esther died intestate (without leaving a will). Letters of administration for were issued on 31 Jan 1931 to their son Frank for the combined estate of her and her husband Benjamin, after his death. Their estates were declared to consist only of their community property, there being no personal property, and the annual rents of the real estate was less than $75 annually. A bond of $100 was required.34
     An inventory of their estate was filed on 16 Feb 1931 listing only their 20-acre property, valued at $1,500.35
     The first and final settlement of the estate was filed on 12 Aug 1931. The administrator reported that the heirs had paid the funeral expenses, expenses of last illness, and the costs of administration, and no claims had been filed. No inheritance tax was due the state because the estate was valued at less than $10,000. Distribution of the real estate to their heirs, their four children, was requested. The court approved the accounting, distributed the real estate to the heirs, and discharged the administrator two days later.36

Children:
     Children with Benjamin Franklin Riegel:

Citations

  1. [S156] John Gann household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, shows name as Esther M. Gann.
  2. [S5925] Register of St. Johns Reformed Church of Williamsport, pg 208, Marriages, Benj. F. Reigel and Esther M. Gann.
  3. [S1379] Ida May Angell, Decree for Registration of Birth, shows maiden name as Esther Matilda Gann.
  4. [S156] John Gann household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, shows her in household with John and Rachael.
  5. [S5914] Collins and Jordan, Genealogical and Personal History of Lycoming County, vol II pg 329.
  6. [S158] Racheal Gan household, 1870 U.S. Census, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, shown living in household headed by Racheal Gan.
  7. [S1379] Ida May Angell, Decree for Registration of Birth, shows date, town and state.
  8. [S156] John Gann household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, shows age 6 and state.
  9. [S149] Benjamin Reigel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington, shows month, year, and state.
  10. [S5925] Register of St. Johns Reformed Church of Williamsport, pg 208, Marriages, Benj. F. Reigel and Esther M. Gann, shows date and officiant.
  11. [S149] Benjamin Reigel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington, shows married 28 years.
  12. [S8720] Loose Probate Papers, Clark Co., Washington, no. 5600, Benjamin F. Reigel and Esther Matilda Reigel combined estate, Petition for Letters if Administration, 19 Jan 1931, shows date, town, county, and state.
  13. [S33] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Cemetery Records, Vol. 3, pg 196, shows year.
  14. [S33] Clark County Genealogical Society, Clark County Cemetery Records, Vol. 3, pg 196.
  15. [S156] John Gann household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania.
  16. [S5909] John Gann grave marker, Saint Peter's Lutheran Church Cemetery, shows date.
  17. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 42450946, John Gann, shows date, with year as 1861, birth as 13 Dec 1807, inscription of age as 61 yr 5 mo 23 days (which computes to 5 Jun 1869), county and state, and includes tombstone photo which is unreadable.
  18. [S158] Racheal Gan household, 1870 U.S. Census, Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania.
  19. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 42450951, Rachel Coffman Gann, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  20. [S67] Gjerde, "John Gann & Catherine Crist/Christ," e-mail to author, 10 Jun 1999, shows date, county, as Lycoming, and state.
  21. [S7469] Deeds, Andrew Co., Missouri, 38:384, Alfred C. Gann and Hannah M. Gann to Benjamin F. Reigel, 15 Dec 1877; and 22:105-6, mortgage Joel Lawrence, Lavinia Lawrence, Alfred H. Mead, and Martha Mead to William Furguson, 12 Apr 1869.
  22. [S7469] Deeds, Andrew Co., Missouri, 38:383, Benjamin F. Reigel and Esther M. Reigel to Alfred C. Gann , 15 Dec 1877; and 22:106, shows mortgage satisfied, 5 Jun 1883, by H. A. Crosby, assignee.
  23. [S168] Forest Emery Reigel, Certificate of Death, shows born 6 Jan 1878 in Missouri.
  24. [S175] Ralph O. Reigel, "Birth Date and Place of Frank William Reigel", shows Frank born 23 Apr 1881 in Mound City, Holt Co., Missouri.
  25. [S1393] B. F. Reigle household, 1885 Kansas State Census, Phillips Co., Kansas, Kirwin, shows Forest, Frank, and Ida all born in Missouri, and that the family, including William, had moved to Kansas from Missouri.
  26. [S1393] B. F. Reigle household, 1885 Kansas State Census, Phillips Co., Kansas, Kirwin.
  27. [S7348] Keesee, "Re: Deeds for Benjamin Franklin Reigel - 1881 to 1893,"Phillips County Register of Deeds e-mail to author, 30 Jan 2017, reporting he found no record for Benjamin in the grantor or grantee records from 1880 to 1894.
  28. [S884] Deeds and Mortgages Clark Co., Washington, 18:78-9, David Hurt to B. F. Reigel, deed, 25 Mar 1893.
  29. [S65] Marriages of Clark County, Washington, FHL microfilm 1206366-8, Family History Library, shows Ralph was married 25 Dec 1896 in View, Clark Co., Washington.
  30. [S170] Benjamin Franklin Riegel, Certificate of Death, shows lived in registration district 38 yrs.
  31. [S149] Benjamin Reigel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington.
  32. [S147] Benjamin F. Reigel household, 1910 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington.
  33. [S145] P. F. Reigel household, 1920 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Washington.
  34. [S8720] Loose Probate Papers, Clark Co., Washington, no. 5600, Benjamin F. Reigel and Esther Matilda Reigel combined estate, Decree Appointing Administrator, 31 Jan 1931, and Bond of Administrator, 4 Feb 1931.
  35. [S8720] Loose Probate Papers, Clark Co., Washington, no. 5600, Benjamin F. Reigel and Esther Matilda Reigel combined estate, Inventory and Appraisement, 16 Feb 1931.
  36. [S8720] Loose Probate Papers, Clark Co., Washington, no. 5600, Benjamin F. Reigel and Esther Matilda Reigel combined estate, Final Report and Petition for Distribution, 12 Aug 1931, and Order approving Final Account and Decree of Distribution, 14 Aug 1931.
  37. [S98] Benjamin Reigel Family Bible.
  38. [S65] Marriages of Clark County, Washington, FHL microfilm 1206366-8, Family History Library, extract of marriage record of Ralph O Reigel and Edith J Roberts.
  39. [S167] Ralph Orzben Reigel, Certificate of Death.
  40. [S168] Forest Emery Reigel, Certificate of Death.
  41. [S1393] B. F. Reigle household, 1885 Kansas State Census, Phillips Co., Kansas, Kirwin, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  42. [S171] Frank W. Reigel, Certificate of Death, shows mother's name as Matilda Ganna.
  43. [S8720] Loose Probate Papers, Clark Co., Washington, no. 5600, Benjamin F. Reigel and Esther Matilda Reigel combined estate, Petition for Letters if Administration, 19 Jan 1931.
  44. [S1379] Ida May Angell, Decree for Registration of Birth.
  45. [S187] Ida May Angell, Certificate of Death.