Son of George Geist and Barbara Kessler. His mother remarried after George Geist's death to Michael Boyer and after his death was living with her daughter Rebecca (Geist) Shaffer in Beaver, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania during the time of the 1880 census. She must have died shortly after the census.
Name: Cornelius Geist
Baptism Age: 0
Event Type: Baptism
Birth Date: 30 Sep 1835
Baptism Date: Nov 1835
Baptism Place: Deep Creek Valley, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, USA
Denomination: Lutheran
Organization Name: St. John's (Kimmel's) Church
Father: Georg Geist
Mother: Barbara Geist

From "Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson, and Clarion Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens, etc. Chicago, 1898"
"Cornelius C. Geist, the father of our subject, was born on August 30, 1835, in Schuylkill county, Penn., and followed farming and lumbering throughout his entire life. At an early day he removed to Jefferson county, and in 1860 removed from Porter township to Oliver township, where he was extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits...In September 1868, in Jefferson county, he was married to Mary J. J. Hice, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Martin Zirkle, of the Evangelical Association...Cornelius C. Geist, the father of our subject (William Frank Geist), died November 16, 1894, at the age of fifty-nine years, one month, and sixteen days, and was buried in Worthville cemetery. The members of his family were Elias, a farmer of Knox township...Rebecca E., now the wife of Daniel Geist; William F.; Barbara C., wife of John Thompson; Samuel T.; Robert E.; Minnie B., wife of Daniel Smith; Bertie A., wife of Charles Buzzard; Louise E., wife of McKane Wonderling; Dorsie A.; Rosanna (Reitz); and Mary J. Geist (Snyder)."

Children of Cornelius and Mary Jane (Hice) Geist:
(information provided by JMD #47663571)
1.Elias Geist (1859-1924)
2.Rebecca Ellen (Geist) Geist (1861-1932) - married David Geist
3.John B. Geist (1862-1862)
4.William Frank Geist (1863-1932)
5.Barbara C (Geist) Thompson (1865-1937) -married John Thompson
6.Samuel T. Geist (1868-1955)
7.Robert E. Geist (1870-1943)
8.Minnie B. (Geist) Smith (1873-1933)-married Daniel Smith
9.Bertha (Bertie) A. (Geist) Buzzard (1875-?) married Charles Buzzard
10.Louise Elizabeth (Geist) Wonderling (1877-1951) married Theodore McCain Wonderling
11.Dorsie A. Geist (1879-1955)
12.Cornelius Geist (1881-1953)
13.Rosanna Geist (1882-1966)
14.Mary J. (Geist) Snyder (1885-1905) (Married Craig Snyder)