SIXTH GENERATION

138. Absalom BLESSING (photo) was born on 18 May 1821 in Near Campbellstown, Pa.. He died on 31 Dec 1891 in Hummelstown Rd1, Pa.. He has descendant number 1-9-5-2. He was a stone mason and melon farmer. He was ill with heart and respiratory condition. He was buried in Sandhill Cemetery, Hummelstown RD1, Pa.. Absalom is a very unusual name. In keeping with the time period, many named their children from the bible, thus Absalom. Absalom was a son of King David of Israel. See the old testament II Samuel chapter 13. Of the 10 children to Absalom and Mary Blessing, 7 lived to maturity. The picture below is believed to be taken in Hummelstown, Pa. in the spring of 1900. It consists of Absalom's wife Mary, and some of their children and grandchildren. Sons Daniel and John Blessing were living in Lebanon, Penna. at this time and could account for the reason why neither of them were in in this picture.

(photo)

L to R Standing: Mary Daub Blessing, Rebecca Blessing Riddle, Rebecca Blessing Riddle Martin, Mary Jane Riddle or Olive Blessing Conrad, Sabina H. Blessing, Sarah Blessing Nye, Stella Nye, Mary Ann Blessing Aldinger Aschenbauch, unknown, Amanda Aldinger, Lizzie Aldinger, unknown, unknown,. L to R sitting, James Riddle, John
Aldinger, Charles Martin or Clarence Conrad, Joseph Aldinger, William Riddle, Frank Daub Blessing, Edwin Blessing, Pappy Aschenbauch, John Blessing Nye, Lafayette Franklin Ney, J. B. Smith, Ada Smith McCorkle. The baby being held by Frank Blessing could be his granddaughter Catherina Conrad or Blanche Martin, daughter of Rebecca Blessing Riddle Martin. Both children were about 6 months old when the picture was taken.

The following articles were recorded in the Hummelstown Sun:

June 29, 1888:
Mr. Absalom Blessing, the melon raiser and coon hunter has just finished his arched cellar under his barn and will now have everything in readiness the coming season to conveniently store his melons in a cool place. The prospects for a good crop, are, however, not very encouraging at the present writing. (Absalom raised watermelons)

July 18, 1888:
Mr. John D. Blessing and family from Lebanon, Pa. were guests of his parents at Sunny Side and John B. Nye of the same place last Sunday. -- John D. was Absalom's son and great grandfather of this writer. John B. Nye was the husband of Absalom's daughter, Sarah and brother-in-law of John D. Blessing. The "B" in John B. Nye was for Blessing. John B. Nye married his second cousin Sarah Daub Blessing.

April 5, 1889:
Last week two aged gentlemen, Mr. Charles Dasher, 86 and Mr. Henry Balmer, 77, left Middletown half past seven and traveled by foot to their esteemed old friend and brother-in-law, Absalom Blessing, arriving at his home at half past eleven a.m., a distance
of more than five miles. Mr. Dasher was a school teacher and taught five years in the old sexton house at the Hill Church. He taught one term under the free school system, after which he relinquished his profession. Long may these two grandpas live and be blessed with health and strength to make many more such journeys, is the wish of all their numerous friends and old acquaintances on the Hill. (Mary Daub, Absalom's wife and Charles Dasher's wife, Catherine Daub, were sisters. Hiram D. Dasher, Water St. Merchant in Hummelstown, was son of Catherine Daub and nephew of Mary Daub.)

February 22, 1889:
The remains of Mr. K. Clendenning passed through this place on their way to Campbellstown on Tuesday. Mr. Clendenning was a native of Campbellstown but at the time of his death resided in Cumberland County. The departed had a number of relatives in this community, among them, Mr. Absalom Blessing of Sand Hill. (his relationship to Absalom has not be discovered)

October 10, 1890:
Mr. Absalom Blessing has broken ground in the pursuance of the erection of a large fish pond on his farm. Mr Blessing has ample room for the erection of half a dozen ponds.
Absalom Blessing was well known in the area for his trade as a stone mason and devotion to his church.

The following Article was taken from the HUMMELSTOWN SUN of January 15, 1892 and was written just two weeks after Absalom's death.

ABSALOM BLESSING

"The subject of this brief notice was born near Campbellstown, at the extreme lower end of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania on the 18th day of May, 1821. He was the son of Christian and Sallie Blessing, being the oldest son of a family of fourteen children. His father was a cooper by trade, and during his boyhood assisted his father in his work; but
this work not proving satisfactory, he relinquished it and determined to learn the trade of stone mason. (the trade his great grandfather Anthony mastered in Germany) He learned his trade with Charles Dasher who at that time lived in the sexton house to the Hill Church. For his first year he received twenty-five cents a day. He became an expert in his business, contracted work and employed a large number of hands. He could point out the buildings by the score which he helped to erect, as you passed along with him through different parts of the country. With great earnestness he used to emphasize the importance of digging deep for a good foundation, and to his credit be it repeated, very few walls ever fell that were put up by him. The Sandhill Church, (in 1994 known as Saint Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hill Church Rd., Hummelstown Rd1, Penna.) with its fine and imposing form, stands as a fine specimen of his masterly workmanship.

(photo) Built in 1875 by Absalom Blessing

In manners he was always kind and obliging, and of the multitude of workmen he employed, very few could be found who didn't love and praise him. Always hopeful and very considerate of the feelings of others. In early years he acquired a love for the chase. Raccoon hunting was a stronger incentive to inspire and elevate his spirits than the best production of art or eloquence. When he failed to find the fame it was useless for another to try. Many a time he and his faithful dogs roamed over the hills by night all by themselves. Raccoons by the score were caught by him, and in his later years,
nothing seemed to elevate his feelings more than to spend an evening with his friends, while he recalled and with wonderful precision related the incidents of his "coon-hunting", away back in the forties and fifties. (1840's and 1850's) Sadly would he refer to the fast extermination of his much loved game in this section of the country.

He was also the most noted melon grower in these parts, and adept in judging the condition and quality of the melon. He possessed an unusual retentive memory up to his final illness, the whole civil war seemed to him as a mirror. During Rev. Link's revival in the old Hill Church, he was a seeker at the altar, then a young, strong and hearty man, where night after night he implored God's blessing for weeks, when finally his prayer
was amswered and he was a child of God. The promise which he then and there made to his Redeemer he faithfully kept and cherished. He was an earnest worker in the Sunday School during his early years, and in the church up to his death. He superintended the Sand Hill Sunday School for a number of years, and repeatedly held the different offices in his much beloved church. The Lutheran faith was so firmly ingrafted into his soul that no power on earth could cause that faith to waver in the least. As he was a firm Lutheran, so, also, was he an ardent Democrat. His party has lost its strong foothold on the Hill. Many a time he would express himself in very forcible language concerning his belief in the administration of state and national affairs.

The community in which he lived for the past 50 years has lost in him an adviser which will be a deep loss to many. His friends were legion wherever he was known. Nothing seemed to grieve him more than the thought of having made an enemy. As a neighbor nothing gave him more comfort than being able to alleviate the sufferings of those in distress. He usually had a bright and cheerful countenance and was always ready to lend a helping hand in the hour of need.

In habits he was worthy being imitated by everyone. He never indulged in strong drink nor tobacco in any form, always temperate and economical. Of this large family eight are still living, four sisters and four brothers, Mrs. Jeremiah Martin and Mrs. Phoebe Martin, Lincoln, Neb.; Mrs Franklin Collum, and Mrs Samuel Shoop, Dauphin County, Penna.;

John and Peter, Perry County, Penna.; Charles Florin, Lancaster County Penna.; and William, Harrisburg, Penna. Of his own family of ten children, his wife and seven children survive, four daughters and three sons: Mrs. Henry Aldinger, Mrs. James G. Riddle, Mrs. John B. Nye, Mrs. John B. Smith, John, Franklin and Daniel; 17 grandchildren are still living, three of whom are married. After a brief illness with the "grip", accompanied with "heart trouble" but never complaining of any pain worth mentioning, simply a breaking down of his physical powers, he peacefully fell asleep in the hope of a glorious resurrection on the morning of the 31st of December, 1891 aged 70 years, 7 months and 13 days. Internment took place on Sunday, January 3, 1892 in the old cemetery of the Sand Hill Lutheran Church, in which he had assisted in burying many who had preceded him to the spirit world. While the air was filled with falling flakes of snow, his remains were slowly carried to their last resting place, followed by an unusual concourse of people, from far and near, who came to pay their last and sad rites to the memory of a departed husband, father, brother and friend. The church was filled long before the people had all gained admission. The sermon was delivered by Rev. H. G. Snyder and George Rider from Hummelstown based on the 4th verse of the 23 rd Psalm." "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."

The year of death in the church records lists 1892 however his obit appeared in the Jan 1892 addition of the Hummelstown Sun newspaper. I have therefore listed date of death as Dec. 31, 1891. This writer is a great, great, grandson of Absalom and great grandson of Absaloms' son John Daub Blessing. On Saturday, September 24, 1983, I organized a family reunion of approximately 40 family members. Many were descendants of Absalom Blessing. We shared family history and then posed for the following picture.

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Pictured above from left,front row:Faye O. Blessing, Robert W. Blessing Nicole Allegretti, Ruth J. Blessing and Stefani Allegretti. Second row Beatrice I. Blessing, Lynn Blessing McDougall, Leigh Blessing Allegretti, Mildred Pike, Kathleen McMillan, Blanch Wallace, Esther Kantz, and Mariette Uldry. Third row:George McMillan, Jeanne Blessing,
Melody D. Nye, Patricia L. Blessing, Lillian Blessing Buck, Paula M. Blessing, Thelma Bamford, Anna Blessing Wolfe, and May Blessing Fehr. Fourth row:Donald Koons, Craig Nye, Richard E. Blessing and Russell C. Blessing. Fifth row: James K. Blessing, James A. Blessing, Alex Fehr, Robert D. Blessing, George B. Blessing Jr., Brian Wolfe, Edwin
Blessing and Alfred L . Blessing.

He was married to Mary (Polly) DAUB on 18 Oct 1842 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. Mary (Polly) DAUB was born on 27 Dec 1822. She died on 1 Nov 1911 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. She was buried in Sandhill Cemetery, Hummelstown RD1, Pa.. Absalom BLESSING and Mary (Polly) DAUB had the following children:

263 i. Peter BLESSING was born on 8 Jul 1843 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. He died on 17 Sep 1843 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. He was buried in Sandhill Cemetery, Hummelstown RD1, Pa.. He has descendant number 1-9-5-2-1.
264 ii. Christian BLESSING was born on 28 Jul 1844 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. He died on 29 Aug 1845 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. He was buried in Sandhill Cemetery, Hummelstown RD1, Pa.. He has descendant number 1-9-5-2-2.
265 iii. Henry BLESSING was born on 7 Mar 1846 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. He died on 4 Apr 1862 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. He was buried in Sandhill Cemetery, Hummelstown RD1, Pa.. He has descendant number 1-9-5-2-3.
+266 iv. Mary Ann BLESSING.
+267 v. John Daub BLESSING.
+268 vi. Rebecca Daub BLESSING.
+269 vii. Franklin Daub BLESSING.
+270 viii. Sarah Daub BLESSING.
+271 ix. Daniel Daub BLESSING.
+272 x. Elizabeth BLESSING.

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