The George Geddis Family of Sumter County, SC

This document is not intended to be the definitive history of the Geddis family. It represents an attempt to provide information for others to build upon. The major effort put into this document covers the years prior to 1920 in an attempt to reduce the resistance of some family members to provide information.
This history of the Geddis family is probably representative of millions of Africans abducted from their homeland into a life of slavery. This story begins in 1619 on the coast of Africa and stretches into the far distant future.
Although it has not been confirmed at this time, our ancestor probably entered the country through the port at Charleston, SC. Based on existing evidence it was in the 18th century or earlier. It is most certain that he was sold to a slave owner at one of the local auctions. It is also possible that the first owner was the source of the family name, which appears to have been Geddis, and is of Scottish or Irish origins.
There are numerous variations in the way the family name is spelled. The most likely reason for that is that the person taking the census chose to spell it that way. During the early census the spelling of names was left to the judgement of the person taking the census. It will be noted that some members of the same family will spell their name differently. Because the family name was constantly changing the author elected not to try to track name changes as they occurred.

Edward Dale Gaddis
[email protected]

My Family History

• Surname List


• Index of Individuals




• Sources

Family Photos

• Hester Gaddis James (22 KB)
  Hester was a daughter of Edward W. Gaddis. She was born in Sumter, SC.
• Aaron Hosea Gaddis (62 KB)
  Aaron was the son of Edward W. Gaddis. He was born in Sumter, S.C.
• Julia Johnson and Unknown Children. (3426 KB)
  Julia was the wife of Carolina Geddis, the mother of Edward W. Gaddis, the grandmother of Aaron Gaddis and the ggrandmother of Edward D. Gaddis.
• Laura McBride (12 KB)
  Laura was the daughter of Bauchus McBride. Laura was born in Manning, SC.
• The Children of Aaron Hosea Gaddis (59 KB)
  This picture was taken at a 1987 family reunion in Sumter, S.C.
• Sheila Gaddis (1305 KB)
  This photo was taken during our family reunion in San Diego, CA in 2003.
• Della Buckner Wright (4 KB)
  Della was the sister of Arabell Buckner Gaddis and Marion Buckner. They were all born in Sumter, South Carolina.
• Hester Gaddis James & Booker Gaddis (98 KB)
  This picture was taken at a family reunion in 1987. Hester was the daughter of Edward W. Gaddis and she was born in Sumter, S.C. Booker was the son of Aaron Hosea Gaddis and he was born in Sumter, S.C.
• Bernard Daniels Jr. (5 KB)
  Bernard is the son of Earthia Gaddis Daniels and her husband Bernard.
• Elizabeth Gaddis Cyrus (25 KB)
  Elizabeth was born in Sumter, SC. She was a daughter of Edward W. Gaddis and Arabell Buckner.
• Mary Gaddis Stewart (5 KB)
  Mary was the daughter of Edward W. Gaddis. She was born in Sumter, S.C.
• Aaron Hosea Gaddis (34 KB)
  Aaron was the son of Edward W. Gaddis. He was born on August12, 1899 in Sumter, South Carolina and died in a car accident in Belford, NJ on September 26, 1936.
• My wife Reiko (26 KB)
  My wife Reiko
• Sybil Gaddis Bartelloni (9 KB)
  Sybil was the daughter of Edward W. Gaddis. She was born in Sumter, S.C.
• Barbara Gaddis Gaudy (46 KB)
  Barbara passed away in 1999 in Red Bank, NJ.
• Earthia Gaddis Daniels. (87 KB)
  Earthia lived in Tinton Falls, NJ.
• Myrtle Gaddis Berry, (77 KB)
  Myrtle lived in Fair Haven, NJ.
• Georgianna Brewer (13 KB)
  Georgianna lived to be 104 years old. She was the daughter of George Brewer. She was born in Sumter County, SC and passed away May 23, 2002.
• Edward Dale Gaddis (1118 KB)
  Edward lived in Lancaster, Calif. after he retired from the Air Force in 1980.
• St. Luke's Church in Sumter, SC (183 KB)
  St. Luke's is the church attended by many members of the Geddis family and many members of the family are buried in both of the church cemeteries.
• Edward Dale Gaddis (317 KB)
  Edward in his 40&8 summer dress outfit in 2004.