Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Elizabeth Keliipiilani Mossman

I have made changes so please take note.
Recently came across these pictures and wanted to share. Elizabeth Keliipiilani Mossman was the daughter of William Frederick Mossman and Kamakahema. Elizabeth was born 13 September 1871 in Hawaii. She died 28 April 1943.
Elizabeth Keliipiilani Mossman
She married John Henry Van Gieson, born 4 Aug. 1846 in Darmstadt,Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany.

John Henry Gieson first came to American at age 19 according to NY Passenger Lists on 8 Feb 1866.
His first marriage was to Beke Ihihi on 13 April 1872.

  • Ceremony performed by Rev. M. Kauea, a protestant minister. Lived together 4 months, left and lived with Maikaaloa for a few years. Returned to Beke for one month in 1876 then left and moved in with Kealalaina for 3 years and had children. He and Beke divorced on 21 April 1882. Reason given was for desertion as he was living and working at the Kakaako Hospital in Oahu at the time.  John had a common law marriage to Caroline Kealalaina Philip Sweetman in Kakaako,Oahu. Caroline and John had 2 sons, Henry George Van Gieson born 15 Mar 1880 Hanalei,Kauai who had 4 wives and 17 children, he died 30 June 1948 in Honolulu. Second son was Charles Edward born 11 Jun 1883 in Hanalei, Kauai, married to Rose Liloa Parker and had 2 children, he died 16 Jun 1962 Honolulu, Oahu.  John and Elizabeth Mossman were then married and had the following children: Flora Van Gieson born 22 Oct 1885 Halawa,Hawaii she died 24 jan 1938 Honolulu, she married Manuel Noriega.  Frank Van Gieson born 28 Dec 1887 Halawa, HI died 15 Apr 1977 Honolulu,HI. He married Silvina Paulina Gomes. 
    Freida Elizabeth Van Gieson
    Freida Elizabeth Van Gieson born 8 May 1890 Halawa, HI and died 10 Sept 1969 Honolulu, she married Frank Hawkins. She later married a Mr. Watson, followed by Mr. Clay. Frederika Van Gieson born abt 1890 Halawa, HI 
    Faustina Van Gieson
    Faustina Van Gieson born 9 Oct 1893 Halawa, HI and died 12 Oct 1981 Vallejo, Sonoma, California. She married Amiel Boaz (Harry) Feener. Frances Van Gieson born 4 May 1898 in Honolulu, HI she died 15 Dec 1974 in Vallejo,CA She was married 3 times.
    Fidela Van Gieson
    Fidela Van Gieson born 22 Dec 1900 Honolulu, HI and died 28 Jan 1981 in Honolulu. She married Zenas Lemuel Williams.
    Fidora Louise Kahili Van Gieson
    Fidora Louise Kahili Van Gieson born 4 April 1903 Honolulu and died 30 July 1982 Honolulu. Please let me know if your records are different or need correct. I obtained the pictures and information from Ancestry.com. Our information and knowledge is improved in the sharing. Enjoy! Aloha, Valerie Elkins

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Clara Rohrer Mossman

Clara Mo-ko-maun-e-quay (Little Knife) Rohrer was born near Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Her mother was a full blood Ojibway (Chippewa) Indian named Mary Otauntug (or O-don-duck) born about 1830 and was a member of the White Earth Mississippi Band of the Ojibway tribe. Her mother died when she was young in a wigwam fire, possibly during a raid by the Sioux. Clara's father was Daniel Rohrer who was in the army serving as a clerk. After her mother's death, Clara was boarded with Episcopal missionaries, the Reverend James Lloyd Breck and his wife Jane.
Photo in Valerie Elkins' possession. Obtained by the Minnesota Historical Society.
This is a picture of Clara sitting on the Rev. Breck's lap. The Reverend use to take Clara around the country to raise money for his mission. Clara was tutored by highly educated teachers along with the Reverend's children. Clara was said to be very bright, she played the organ in church, lead the childrens choir and taught children to read. When the Rev. Breck's wife died, Clara was taken in by his wife's sister, Mary and her husband George Whipple. After the Sioux uprising, life became difficult for Clara as the hatred against all Indians - Sioux or not became severe. Mary and George took Clara with them when she was about 13 to Maui as they were Episcopal missionaries. Despite family legend, Clara was not an Indian Princess - as her tribe had no such hierarchy, though as a young girl I loved the story (and frankly still do!). One source has her father as a Great Medicine Man and her uncle as a chief. Clara's father Daniel was young and adventurous when he met Clara's mother, he later remarried, settled down and became a lawyer like his father Judge David Rorer of Burlington, Iowa. Daniel was head of the Republican party in Minnesota and once corresponded with Abraham Lincoln. Daniel's father, Judge Rorer was the first man to build a brick house west of the Mississippi and gave Iowa the nickname "The Hawkeye State".

The Rohrer's may have had some French blood in them, but they hailed from Switzerland. They were Anabaptist (Mennonites) who settled in the Lancaster area of Pennsylvania. David Rorer's father Abraham later immigrated to the Virginia area. David after becoming a lawyer, moved to Arkansas and helped found the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. Seeing that Civil War was avoidable, David moved his family to Burlington, Iowa where he became one of the town's founding fathers.
Clara was almost 17 when she became the second wife of William Frederick Mossman. They were married in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Maui, where William had donated the land for the church that the Whipples help found. Clara and William's son, William Lloyd Mossman is believed to have been named for both his father William and Rev. James Lloyd Breck. Clara and William's daughter Mary Georgina is believed to be named in honor of Mary and George Whipple. Clara and William F. Mossman had a total of 9 children born to them: Ethel Carno Mossman, William Lloyd Mossman, Mary Georgina Mossman, Elizabeth Emma Mossman, Henry Clarence Mossman, Clara Mokomanie Mossman, Mabel Alice Mossman and Ysabel Palmer Mossman and Katherine or Kate Otuntug.
Clara Mokomanie Mossman married Harald Christian Halvorsen, a Norwegian ship captain and had 8 children. Harald once served as a deputy sheriff on Kauai. Clara and Harald's second daughter, Helene Francis Halvorsen married Farmer Greenwade and had 7 children (she had 2 from a previous marriage to Carlton Cassidy). Helene and Farmer's daughters Faye (Fowler) and Sandra (Brown) were at the recent Mossman Ohana reunion along with Faye's husband Neil, their daughter Diana and their granddaughter Lauren. Sandra came with her daughter Valerie (Elkins), her son-in-law Morris and their daughters Brittany and Jacquelyn Elkins.
Clara Rohrer came a long ways from the White Earth Indian Reservation to Hawaii. She was probably the first Native American to settle in Hawaii. She was a missionary, a mother and friend to many. She made Hawaii her home. 
Would love to hear from other cousins about Clara and William's descendants. by Valerie Elkins

William Lloyd Mossman family

William Lloyd Mossman and Louisa Summer



William Lloyd is the son of William Frederick Mossman (son of Captain Thomas Mossman) and Clara Mokomanic Rohrer. He married Louisa Summer.


These are their children:
(left to right)
Henry Ashford, William Lloyd Jr.
Virgie, Doris, Blossom

Doris married Herbert Keppeler and they had two sons, Jack (John Paul) and Bruss, and a daughter, Leinani. These pictures are in the posession of Leinani Keppeler Bortles.

Leinani remembers her grandmother as Louisa Summer. Godfrey has her name as Louise Summer Miner. If anyone knows more - has any documentation - please help clarify. We would appreciate any input. Thank you, cousins.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Mary Meheuole Mossman


This is Mary Meheuole Mossman, daughter of William Frederick Mossman and his first wife, Hookupa Kikiko.

Her daughter, Minnie Awaawa, married James Kaohiai Kaonohi and they had 11 children. #10 was Gideon Kaohiai Kaonohi who married Rita Henoheanapuaonalani Lum Ho. Their son is Godfrey.

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Years Mossman Ohana!

To get us started off right, here are some ideas of the kinds of things that we can share through our family blog.Right click on the image and you can save the to your computer files.

Here is a photo of William Frederick Mossman, son of Captain Thomas James Mossman. Frederick was born in London, England in 1832 and died 22 March 1912 in Wailuku, Hawaii.


Both the above images were taken from: "Fifteenth Through Twentieth Century Mos(s)man Families of Great Britian with Descendant Migratration" by Kenneth Freeman Mosman, editor 
FHL US/CAN 929.273 M853mkf

To post a comment, you need to sign in as a registered user. We desire all in the family to share their photos, documents, certificates and news. Scan the items and save as a jpg file and email to mymossmanohana@gmail.com and we will post them for you along with any comments you want to have posted. Hope this gives you ideas on the kinds of things we can share. Aloha Cousins!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Welcome Mossman Ohana!

                  Mossman home in Scotland that later became known as the John Knox Home
Welcome family to our new blog. A place to share genealogy research, photos, stories and family news! We hope that this site will be helpful to you and your family. We welcome everyone to contribute and share their family and ancestor information.