George Stuart Criswell, Jr. and Gertrude H. Heasley

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Husband George Stuart Criswell, Jr. ^{1 2 3}

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           Born: 6 Feb 1888 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 2 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 Aug 1930 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA
         Buried:  - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PA

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         Father: Hon. George Stuart Criswell (1850-Aft 1926) 1 4 5 6
         Mother: Flora A. Smith (      -      ) 2 3 7

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       Marriage: 17 Apr 1915 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 2 3 8

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Wife Gertrude H. Heasley ^{2 3}

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           Born: Abt 1887 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft Aug 1930
         Buried: 

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         Father: Madison Perry Heasley (      -      ) 3 9
         Mother: Fannie Reeves (      -      ) 10

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Children

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1 M Robert Madison Criswell ^{2 3}

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           Born: 12 Dec 1917 3
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef Aug 1930
         Buried: 

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2 M Richard Heasley "Dick" Criswell ³

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           Born: 20 Jul 1920 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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3 F Gertrude Anne Criswell ³

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           Born: 1 Sep 1923 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - George Stuart Criswell, Jr.

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A graduate of Allegheny College, taught for a time after graduation in the Franklin high school, afterward reading law and being admitted to practice in the courts of his native county, and is now [1919] engaged in general practice. [CAB, 433]

The Venango Citizen-Press, Franklin, PA
Wednesday, Aug 27, 1930; pg 8
KILLS SELF AT GRAVE OF HIS FATHER
George S. Criswell Shoots Self - Truck Driver Finds Body at 1 p. m. - Had Visited Grave During Morning, Seen By Supt.
SERVED AS CITY SOLICITOR
Another suicide stunned Franklin last week.
A few minutes after 1 p. m. Wednesday the body of George Stuart Criswell, aged 42, son of the late Judge George S. Criswell, was found at the grave of his father in the Franklin cemetery.
The discovery of the tragedy was made by Daniel Latshaw, a truck driver for the Franklin Cemetery Corporation. Nearby was a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver. The bullet had entered the brain near the right ear; the shot passed completely through.
News of the tragedy, which spread quickly, could hardly be believed by hosts of friends. No reason for Mr. Criswell's act is known. Coroner Lake D. Steffee was immediately called; he declared no inquest was necessary.
Born Here in 1888.
Mr. Criswell was born in Franklin on February 6, 1888, attended the public schools here, and was graduated from Allegheny College, Meadville. For a time he was an instructor in Franklin High School.
He read law and was admitted to the bar of Venango county, proving one of themost capable attorneys this city has ever known.
On April 17, 1915, he married Gertrude Heasley, who survives, together with two children, Gertrude and Dick.
On other child, Robert, died several years ago and Mr. Criswell never quite got over his death.
Surviving are three brothers- Elisha W. Criswell, of Pittsburgh; Chesney H., of Johnstown, Colo., and Clarence C. Criswell, of Texas.
City Solicitor Six Years.
For about six years he had been solicitor for the City of Franklin. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church and had been organist of the First Methodist Episcopal church for several years.
Few details of the tragedy are known. About 10 a. m. Wednesday morning Supt. Thomas E. Throngate passed near the Criswell lot, and saw George Criswell there. He talked for a few minutes with him and then went on. Mr. Thorngate thought no more about Mr. Criswell's presence there, until the truck driver brought the news that the body lay across the grave, a revolver nearby.
A Great Home Man.
Mr. Criswell's greatest interest was in his home. A man of genial nature and one who made and kept friends, he was unusually well liked. He was recognized as one of the ablest young lawyers the county has ever known, and following the death of his father, assumed many of the responsibilities that had come to Judge Criswell as a legal adviser.
News of his death cast a pall over the whole community.
Funeral services were held at the family home on Bully Hill on Friday.

The Venango Citizen-Press, Franklin, PA
Wednesday, Aug 27, 1930; pg 8
BAR ASSOCIATION ACTS AS ESCORT TO CEMETERY
Large Attendance Marks Funeral of Late George S. Criswell Held From Family Home.
The funeral of the late George S. Criswell took place at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon at the family residence on Bully Hill, with Rev. Dr. Benjamin Bunn Royer, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, and Rev. Dr. H. H. Barr, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, officiating.
There was a large attendance of friends, neighbors and professional associates, among them the Venango County Bar Association attending in a body and acting as escort on the way to the cemetery.
An impressively large number of beautiful floral emblems were banked about the casket.
Interment was in the Franklin cemetery with the following as the pall-bearers: King Gilliland, Rollin R. Bleakley, S. B. Babcock, Lee A. McCracken, of Oil City, Guy D. Harper, Charles Hetrick, of Oil City, Rood P. Steele and John A. Henderson.

1 Editor, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 810.

2 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 433.

3 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 63.

4 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 432.

5 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 266.

6 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 62.

7 Editor, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 810, 824.

8 Venango Co, PA, Marriage License, #11414.

9 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 433, 777.

10 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 777.