Published: July 05, 2008 10:42 pm         

BILL JONES | 16th century Bible endures as family heirloom

The Bible was 277 years old when it came to Johnstown in 1841, and 312 years old when it helped celebrate the 100th birthday of the U.S. in 1876. It was 365 years old when it helped swear in a vice president of the U.S. and still is in fine shape.

The Bible was printed in Cologne, Germany, in 1564 by the heirs of Johann Quentels and Gerwinus Calenius, after being translated directly from the Latin. Though printed about 110 years after the famous Gutenberg Bible, it is almost as rare.

The book has wooden covers and is bound in wild boar’s skin with type in red and black. The German Imperial Seal adorns the frontispiece, and in fact it was copyrighted by German Emperor Ferdinand Feb. 13, 1564.

The Bible is 141/2 inches long, 91/2 inches wide and 41/2 inches thick.

Some of the woodcut illustrations are sensational.

Among the many are views of Eve handing Adam the apple and an angel driving both out of the garden.

An angel with a large key is shown driving the devil out of Paradise, and there are three knights in medieval armor hanging three thieves from a tree.

It is not known how long the Bible was in the possession of the Geis family, but there was a provision that the oldest son of its curator would get possession and in turn pass it on to his oldest son, a responsibility that has continued to the current day.

We do know that it was in the possession of the grandfather of John Geis, who made an exploratory visit to the U.S. in 1838 and liked it so much that he sent for his whole family, including the woman he intended to marry, Rosina Stein.

When the family arrived in Johnstown by canal boat in 1841, John’s mother became ill and the intended trip on to Ohio had to be delayed. They were convinced to remain in Johnstown and founded stores here.

Grandpa Geis brought with him the old Bible, among other family treasures.

A few weeks passed, and one day young John Geis galloped up to the Geis house and told his prospective bride that a priest had arrived in Johnstown and they could be married that afternoon.

Her wedding finery had not been unpacked yet, but John insisted it could be a long time until another priest came to town. Rosina put on a freshly ironed muslin dress, hopped on the horse behind him and rode into town, and they got married.

Strong in the Catholic faith, the young Geis couple maintained a room in their home for missionary priests when they visited Johnstown. With a big heart and a yearn to help others, especially the poor, Rosina studied medicine at St. Vincent’s Abbey at Beatty, now Latrobe. She treated the poor without charge.

As for the old Bible, it was given to the couple’s son, William R. Geis, on his 21st birthday.

William married Mary Cantwell and they moved to Salina, Kan., in 1871, taking the Bible with them.

John Geis had established a banking house in Salina, and the Bible remained in a bank vault for a time. After that, it was moved to a marble-top safe in the Geis home.

The move to Kansas was a godsend for the Bible. Had it remained in Johnstown, it surely would have perished in the 1889 Flood.

But meanwhile, the nation’s centennial observance arrived in 1876, and the Bible was to play a role in it. It was taken to Philadelphia and placed on display, with two armed guards provided by the federal government.

The Bible made one more trip east. Edward Geis, William’s oldest son, took it to Washington for the March 4, 1929, inauguration of Kansas Sen. Charles Curtis as vice president.

He took his oath on the old Bible in the Senate chamber.

He was vice president to Herbert Hoover, who had defeated Democrat Alfred E. Smith.

Ed Geis stopped in Johnstown on his way back to Kansas. He displayed the Bible to ladies of the local Current Events Club, at the home of Mrs. Warren E. Miltenberger on Akers Street. Geis told the women he had been offered $25,000 for the book, but it would not be for sale.

Now 444 years old, the Bible is kept under glass and is still in the custody of the Geis family in Salina.

     

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