History of Hamburg, (Berks County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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John White Geary, governor of Pennsylvania, was born in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pa., Dec. 30, 1819; son of Richard and Margaret (White) Geary. His father was principal of the academy where he was prepared for college. He matriculated at Jefferson college, Canonsburg. Pa., in 1835, but was not graduated, leaving to provide for his widowed mother by teaching school. In the meantime he studied law and civil engineering and was admitted to the bar. He assisted in the survey of the Green River railroad and on public works for Kentucky and thus earned sufficient money to discharge the debts left by his father. In 1846 he joined the volunteer army in the Mexican war, having recruited the "American Highlanders" and as lieutenant-colonel of the 2d Pennsylvania joined General Scott at Vera Cruz and commanded the regiment at Chapultepec, where he was wounded, and again later in the same day at Belen Gate where he won the approbation of the commanding general, and upon the fall of the Mexican capital he was made the first commander of the conquered city and was promoted colonel of his regiment. At the close of the war with Mexico he went to California and in 1849 was made postmaster of San Francisco by President Polk with general supervision of the transportation of mails and establishing of post-offices and postal routes on the Pacific coast. The people elected him alcalde and on the organization of a municipal government for the city of San Francisco, he was elected the first mayor. He was a delegate to the state constitutional convention and was an important factor in securing to the new state the exclusion of slavery. He returned to his farm in Westmoreland county, Pa., and remained out of public life till July, 1856, when President Pierce made him governor of the territory of Kansas.' He effected peace between the rival factions striving to organize a state government and with the aid of United States troops convened the courts and restored confidence. This political movement secured the election of Buchanan to the presidency, but when Governor Geary undertook the task of securing a free-state constitution for the state, the Democratic party failed to support him and he resigned and left Kansas on March 4, 1857, and he was succeeded by Robert J. Walker, under appointment of President Buchanan. In April, 1861, he raised a regiment of 1500 men and reported for duty to General Banks at Harper's Ferry, Va. He was wounded at Bolivar Heights, captured Leesburg, Va., March 8, 1862, was made brigadier-general, April 25, and was twice wounded at the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9. On recovering he was placed in command of the 2d division, 12th army corps and led the division at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He joined the army of the Cumberland, was at the battles of Wauhatchie and Lookout Mountain, and was assigned by General Sherman to the command of the 2d division of the 20th corps in the march through Georgia. He was made military governor of Savannah on reaching the seacoast, Dec. 22, 1864, the honor being accorded him for his conduct at Fort Jackson and in the capture of Savannah, he being the first general officer to enter the city. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers early in 1865, on being mustered out of the service. He was elected governor of Pennsylvania in 1866, his opponent being Hiester Clymer, Democrat, and he was re-elected in 1869. His administration was eminently successful and on his death, eighteen days after the expiration of his second term of service, the general assembly of Pennsylvania began measures which led to the erection of a monument over his grave at Harrisburg. He was married to Margaret Ann Logan of Westmoreland county, Pa., who died in 1853. His son, Edward Ratchford, a student at Jefferson college, enlisted in the Federal army in 1861 and was killed at Lookout Mountain, Nov. 28, 1863, after fighting at Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Governor Geary was married a second time in 1858 to Mrs. Mary C. Henderson of Cumberland county, Pa. He received his A.M. degree from Jefferson in 1867. He died at Hamburg, Pa., Feb. 8, 1873.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Hamburg, (Berks County) Pennsylvania

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