143. John M. BLESSING
was born on 29 Nov 1830 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pa.. He died on
4 Feb 1894 in Sterrets Gap Perry Co Pa. He has descendant number 1-9-5-7. He
was a stone mason. John's wife Catherine died at the age of 22. Family story
is that she was scared to death by a peddler. It was assumed she had a heart
attack. She died April 30, 1864. On April 20, 1862 John and Catherine's children
were all baptized together at the Sandhill Church (St. Pauls Lutheran Church,
Rd1 Hummelstown, Pa.
Based on the Harrisburg Directories, it appears John raised his children in Harrisburg,
Pa.
When his brother Christian F. Blessing died in 1876, John moved in to the 422
Reiley St., Harrisburg, Pa. home. No record of John M. remarrying can be found.
Many Blessing relation lived in this house on Reiley Street during the ensuing
years. This writer (Robert W. Blessing) is still trying to find out why John
then moved to Sterrits Gap, Pa. where he ultimately died. The reason for the
question is; there was a John Blessing born near Sterrits Gap, in a place called
Stateland, Pa. about the same time John M. Blessing
was born. This John married Ella Reed (born near Church Town, Pa). John and Ella
went on to have 9 children. Most, if not all, of these 9 children were born
in Hickory Town, now known as Lancaster, Pa.. This writer has corresponded with
descendants of John and Ella Blessing. But to date I have not been able to tie
in this family to ours.
The Hummelstown Sun published the following February 9, 1894:
"John Blessing, a brother of the late Absalom Blessing died at his residence
at Sterretts Gap, Perry Co. and was buried at Hill Church on Wednesday."
The St. Paul's Lutheran church cemetary records do not list John M. Blessing
in their records. The Hill Church may be the one in Cleona, Pa.
The Harrisburg, Pa. city register shows John M. Blessing living at the 422 Reiley
Street, home of his brother Christian F., from 1871 to at least 1887. He, John
M., was willed the house with the provision that he care for their mother Sarah.
Sometime between 1887 and 1894, John M. moved to Sterretts Gap, Perry Co.,
Pa.
The school tuition list of 1839 lists John's birth day as December 29, 1830.
He was married to Catherine (M) (BLESSING) about 1857.
Catherine (M) (BLESSING) was born on 12 Aug 1841. She died on 30 Apr
1864 in Sandhill Dauphin Co. Pa.. John M. BLESSING and Catherine (M) (BLESSING)
had the following children:
279 i.
Sallie Ann BLESSING was born on 4 Oct 1858 in Rd1 Hummelstown, Pa.. She
has descendant number 1-9-5-7-1. Picture of Sallie Ann Blessing. Sallie never
married and lived in Harrisburg, Pa.
280 ii.
Phoebe Ann BLESSING was born on 25 Oct 1859 in Derry Township, Dauphin
County, Pa.. She died on 4 Jun 1878. She was buried in Mennonite Cemetery,
Bauchmanville Road, Hershey, Pa.. She has descendant number 1-9-5-7-2.
+281 iii.
Jeremiah Elwood BLESSING.
+282 iv.
Edwin A. BLESSING.
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