Biography contributed by Bernadette Siebert
Ida Pauline Nitschke born about 1856 in Switzerland. Her parents were German, Friedrich and Luise, but her father was sent to Montmirail, Switzerland as a House Master at one of the Brethren's four chief schools. Friedrich and Luise's five children were born during his time in Switzerland.
Her husband, Herman Waldemar Geissler was born in 1847, the third child of August and Hermine, both Germans, who travelled to the West Indies where they were Moravian missionaries from 1843 to 1870. Their six children were born during their time in St Thomas, West Indies (Virgin Islands), which made him a Danish subject. Herman had lived for a time in Bradford, Yorkshire, England and was naturalized as a British subject in 1877, saying he was a merchant and had lived in England for seven years.
In October 1878 Herman Waldemar Geissler and Ida were married in Germany and sailed for New Zealand on the barque Alaster in December that year, from London as Second cabin passengers.
Herman and Ida first settled in Katikati, Waikato where he was a storekeeper, where their first two children were born.
- Bertha Louisa (1879–1971)
- Walter Edward (1882–1947)
- Aimee Margaret (1884–1970)
- Herbert Norman (1887–1934)
- Hilda Pauline (1889–1977)
Between 1882 and 1886, they were in Te Puke, where Herman was described as a settler. Then the family moved to O’Neill Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, where Herman was an agent and Traveller for the National Trading Company.
In 1896 Herman became the Schoolmaster at the Waima Native School, Northland. Herrman also took over post office duties. And in 1903 Herman was working as a Native School Teacher at Port Awanui and Tikitiki, Gisborne, as well as being Post Master at Kahukura, transferring in 1905 to Kahukura School. After nearly ten years there, he retired to Papakura, Auckland and became the Town Clerk of the Papakura Borough Council. He applied for an endorsement of his British naturalisation papers, obtained in 1877, and this was granted in October 1914.
Herman died in 1920 in Papakura aged 72 years and was buried in the Waikumete Cemetery. Herman left an estate worth 1,250 pounds to 'my dear wife Ida… for her own and absolute use.' Ida continued to live in Papakura, now with her son Walter, who was also a schoolmaster. She died in 1930, aged 74 years, and was buried with her husband in Waikumete Cemetery. Her estate of 1,100 pounds was left half to unmarried daughter Bertha and the other half divided amongst her siblings.
Sources
PAPERS PAST New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5378, 11 February 1879, Page 2
PAPERS PAST Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9300, 13 November 1901, Page 3