• She belonged to that little band of pioneers and their noble helpmates who saw the St. Clair sweep by a dense forest, with here and there a wreath of smoke, a fallen tree, a canoe in the distance, the only signs of human life. She was born in Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass., in 1810, and was married in Ontario County, N. Y., in 1932, to Mr. James Geel, whom she met while on a visit to Michigan. They cleared and settled a large farm near Marysville, which was their home till after Mr. Geel’s death, ten years ago. In 1865, she accompanied her husband and family on an expedition to Central America, in a small sailing vessel called the Union, owned and managed by the party. No accidents were met with further than a severe storm on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and off the Bermudas, but at Nicaragua the party suffered severely from fever. After arriving in New Orleans, the boat was sold, and Mr. and Mrs. Geel returned to their old home in Michigan. About this time, they became believers in Spiritualism. She leaves two sons, Cummings and Burton Geel, and a daughter, Mrs. Bates.
283, p 317• a native of Rochester, N. Y.
283, p 572
• 1870 Census: Marysville, St. Clair, Michigan. Age 59, b MA.
1082• 1880 Census: Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan. Age 69, b MA. Widow. Parents b MA. Living in household of daughter, Corresta.
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