I am trying to find descendants and information on the family of Christopher L. Seavers.
He immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1832 with his parents and came into the Port of
Pennsylvania. I would like to know if he came with siblings or if they had more children
when they arrived. He was born in Hanover, Germany on January 10, 1815.
His family located in Chester County. In 1835 he converted to the Christian religion and
became a life-long member of the M.E. Church. On October 23, 1837, He married Deborah
Lemar who was born in Queen Anne County, Maryland on April 20th, 1815.
He had 7 children. In 1853 he moved to Hamilton, Hancock County, Illinois with his wife
and three daughters. The girls were Caroline (Carrie), Isabella and Marilla. My
grandfather George Arista was born there in 1859. In 1860, they moved to Milan, Sullivan
County, MO. At that time I believe Caroline returned to PA where she married Henry Rankin
and had a daughter, Lizzie Rankin. Sometime between the time she was born and two years,
they moved to Keokuk, Iowa and they had Herman there.
Isabella married William Scott and had three children in MO. She died at the age of 26.
Marilla died at the age of 17 and is buried in Pleasantville Cemetery in Mystic, MO in the
plot with Christopher and Deborah. Christopher died in Keokuk on July 3rd, 1904 at
Caroline's home in Keokuk, Iowa. Deborah died on July 22nd, 1891.
My grandfather George married Melissa Ella Stahl in Green City, Mo and the moved west,
spending time in Nebraska, where my father was born, Christopher Lemar Seavers. They had
10 children. Some born in Missouri, Nebraska and the remaining in Calif. For a time,
they moved back to Oklahoma in the Enid area. My father was a teenager.
I have a picture of a cousin named Isaac Seavers (I also had an uncle named that). I do
not know if he was my great-grandfather's cousin or my grandfather's cousin. It
was taken around 1927 and he was elderly. His daughter, Minnie Stowe, was in the picture
also.
My search now is centered on Siblings of Christopher L. and George Arista. There are two
brothers and one sister that I have not been able to find as yet. I think they may have
stayed in PA because I'm sure they were older. Christopher and Deborah were 45 when
they moved to Milan and my grandfather was a year old. In the 1880 census, George was the
only one living with them in Milan.
I hope this is not too lengthy but I mention several names in case someone is familiar
with them.
My name is Joyce (Joy) Ella (Seavers) Smith
I was born on June 25, 1930, I was my father's only child.
I will have been married to Marnell Smith (a Kentuckian) for 48 years on October 3rd.
We have four children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
I hope someone can help me research the missing members of my
Seavers family.