Jeter is GEDA in 1870 Census

Here's the 1870 census. It states that they all were from Virginia.
Also, the info is all over the place.

1. Phonetic spelling of the surname (here, it is spelled 'GEDA')
2. The son James is the actual property owner
3. The brother Jerry (Jeremiah) is not 63 yrs old ( he's more like 19)

James would be approx 2-3yrs in 1850 and 12-13 in 1860.
There are quite a few slave owning Jeters throughout VA - with slaves in that age range.
I couldn't discern anything with the 1850 & 1860 slave censuses.

In 1880 they're in separate households but they all claim VA as their birthplaces.
I have no maiden name for Emeline.

I'm trying to find where in Virginia they come from.
~~~
Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

Tracking Michelle Obama's Slave Roots

[From CNN.com]


~~~
Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

James Jeter my Great Grandfather

Bradford Argus; Thursday, January 5, 1882
Photo copy from the Bradford County Historical Society, 1997.

-James Jeder (colored) having the last few days exibited signs of insanity - by telling everybody how much money he had made, and singing in the streets, &c., - was on Monday taken to the insane department of the poor-house, where the pure air of the country may restore him.
~~~
Bradford Reporter; March 23, 1882
Photo copy from the Bradford County Historical Society, 1997.

-James Jeeder, a colored man of this place, who became insane, and was taken to the County House, a few weeks ago, died there on Saturday evening last. His remains were brought to this place and interred on Tuesday. He was about 32 years of age.

Sooo..... did my Great Grandfather go nuts or did he catch a virus?
I can tell you this; he died before his last child, Emmett Moore Geder, was born on 31 March 1882. Emmett is my Grandfather.
~~~
Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

John R. Jeter my 2nd Great Grandfather

Here's my 2nd Great Grandfather, John R. Jeter.
His Obituaries reads:

"Bradford Republic; March 21, 1893
-Death of a Venerable Colored man.
Some twenty-five or thirty years ago, soon after the proclamation of emancipation was issued by Abraham Lincoln, there came to Towanda, we think from Virginia, John R. Jeeder, a colored man, formerly a plantation slave.
He was a tall, boney man of powerful physique, with the habits, manners and dialect of a regular plantation negro.
He was a good humored, inoffensive man, inclined to garrulity in describing his experience of a life of nearly seventy years as a slave before coming to this place.
His principal employment here was doing chores about town, and occasionally he was utilized in standing at the door of auction rooms and crying in a stentorian voice

“Auction! Auction! Auction here genmun and ladies, walk right in. Auction! Auction!”

John R. Jeeder soon became noted and known to every one, and the good will of every body, children as well as adults, was extended to him. This aged man for the past two or three years, enfeebled by age, has been unable to support himself, has been supported by charity contributed by his colored friends to some extent and also by the Ladies Aid Society and citizens of the borough.

On Saturday evening last at ab out 6 o’clock, the subject of this sketch died at the residence of John Street, on Lombard Street, at the age, as given by himself, of 99 years.
Funeral services were observed from the M.E. Zion church, on state street, at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon.
Thus passes from our midst a long time conspicuous character on the streets of Towanda.
~~~
Daily Review; March 21, 1893
-Old Mr. Jeter Dead.

John Jeter, an aged colored man of this place, died on Saturday last about six o’clock, quite suddenly.
He was about town as usual on Friday. The old man was a familiar and well known figure upon our streets; for many years he has done the bell ringing and street calling for every auction that has been held.
Mr. Jeter was about ninety years of age.
The funeral services were held yesterday afternoon; interment at Riverside cemetery.
~~~
Bradford Reporter Journal; Thurs., Mar 23, 1893
Geder, John R., d. Sat-Towanda, age 90–colored.

The 1870 & 1880 census records state that he and his family members were born in Virginia.
That's clue #1. And if you read my post about his wife, Emeline, you know what I'm up against.
Thanks go out to the Bradford county Historical Society for providing me with this obituary.
~~~
Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"