Geer Family Association Newsletter · Geer Family Association Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 3 –...

Geer Family Association Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 3 – Copyright © 2006 Page 49

Presidents Message:Come to the 2007 GFA Reunion!!Ledyard, CT June 22, 23, 24

Geer Family Association NewsletterGeer Family Association Newsletter VOLUME 23, NUMBER 3 Gear, Geer, Geere, Gere, Etc (G/G/G) SUMMER, 2006

Members and friends of GFA—Mark your calendars right now to save the datesfor our big 2007 Reunion in Connecticut—Geer/Gere/Gear Country!! Two years ago,those who attended the Minnesota Reunion remember what a great time we had withour Region 4 family! Such a warm welcome we enjoyed, good food and good times.For the next reunion, we go back again to CT, and see George1 Geer’s gravesite, theone-room Geer Hill School House, the Geer Hill Homestead, Robert2 Geer/Gere’soriginal millstone –just retrieved by me – and much, much more.

We will enjoy meeting old friends, and making the acquaintance of new cousinsfrom all over the U.S. Talk up the event with your own families, and gather yourG/G/G memorabilia to share. This “Show and Tell” aspect of the 2004 Reunion provedto be quite a “hit!” One cousin even made up a huge fabric wall hanging incorporatingfamily photos to share her Pennsylvania Geer family with the rest of us!

Table of Contents

President’s Message ........492007 Reunion Info ...... 50-51Getting to Know ................51Samuel Geer Olin ..... 52-541901 CT Mail to Geer .......55Geer Name Origin (cont.) .56Book Review ....................57Early Geer Document .......58Historian’s Report .............58Letters to GFA ...... 59, 63-64Family Photo Album ... 60-61Geers Here & There .........62Reunion Volunteers ..........62Milestones .................. 65-67Gen’l Store News........68, 71Genealogy Song...............68Regional News ................. 69Regional Reps. ................. 69Officers & Trustees ........... 70Geer Place Name ............. 72

Check out the tentative schedule of events. Think how youcan enrich this time together by gathering up your own familymaterials/books/charts/photos to share. If you live close by, con-tact Gene Geer, our VP and let him know of your willingness toserve on the committee.

Look for the Registration form for the reunion to be in theFall issue of the Newsletter. We hope to see you all there!!

Sincerely, Ken

Ken Geer,GFAPresident

Above: Robert2 Geer [ID#

9-G] Grist Mill Stone;

Right: William F. Geer atGeer Hill School House.

Geer Family Association Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 3 – Copyright © 2006

2007 GFA Reunion Tentative Schedule of Events June 22—24 Ledyard, CT

THURS. EVENING, June 21st

- Optional meeting and meal of Officers & TrusteesFRI., June 22nd

- 9 a.m. – 12 noon —In Ledyard Church Library, Officers & Trustees & Book Comm. Meeting- 10 a.m. – 12 noon—In Ledyard Church Multi-Purpose Room, General membership comes and

sets up Geer/Gere/Gear memorabilia/charts/books for viewing.- 12 noon – 2 p.m. Lunch and Informal Welcome at Ledyard Church—meal by

Ladies Auxiliary of Church.- 2 p.m. – 4: 30 p.m. Formal Welcome. Movie and speech.- 4: 30 – 6:00 p.m. Visiting and viewing memorabiliaitems.- 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Dinner provided by Ladies Auxiliary.- 7:30 – 8:15 p.m. Speech with Q.& A.- Evening – VisitingSAT., June 23rd

- 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Breakfast at Ledyard Church.- 9:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m. GFA General Business Meeting with election of new officers and

appointment of new trustees. Committee reports. General discussion and decision about 2010meeting site. Explanation of sites to view in the locale, and distribution of map of these sites.

- 12 noon Box lunch which can be eaten at site, or taken on tour.- 12:30 – 5:00 p.m. Visiting at G/G/G homes and sites of interest. Tours.- 6:00 p.m. Dinner served at Ledyard Church.- 7:30 p.m. 2 speeches.- 8:30 p.m. Live musical entertainment. Continuation of viewing of G/G/G items and visiting.SUN., June 24th tba- Possible tour of Ft. Griswold.Committee: Officers, Raymond Geer, Richard and Eleanor Radune, Scott Bill Hirst, George Gilbert

Geer & his wife, Roseann Geer, Charlene Geer Lathrop and Sue Geer Downes. Volunteers still sought.

Suggestions for Places to stay for Reunion 2007Blocks of Rooms reserved:

Mystic Hilton- 1 (860)-572-073120 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, CT -- 5 rooms reservedfor Thurs., 10 rooms reserved for Sat. & Sun. @ $139 pernight.Days Inn at Mystic 1-( 860) -572-057455 Whitehall Ave., Mystic, CT -- 40 rooms ReservedThurs. –Sat. @ $122.08 incl. tax per nightMystic Marriott at Groton, CT , 1-(860)-446-2600625 North Rd. (Rt. 117) -- 20 rooms reserved @ $219 pernight for Sat. & Sun.Hampton Inn 1-(860)-405-1585300 Long Hill Rd., U.S. Rte. 1, Groton, Ct10 rooms reserved Sat. & Sun. @ $116 per night

CAMPING: (No reservations pre-arranged)Strawberry Park Resort CampgroundPreston, CT—nearby1-(860)- 886-1944

These accommodations are nearby the reunion, but wecannot hold rooms for you. First come, first served.

Abbey’s Lantern Hill Inn, 780 Lantern Hill Rd, Ledyard,CT 06339 (I-95 Ex. 92) (860) 572-0483 $$$ Only 6 rooms(some with fireplaces). Breakfast.Almost in Mystic Mare’s Inn B&B, 333 Col. LedyardHwy., Ledyard, CT 06339, (860) 572-7556. (Handicappedaccom.) (I-95 Ex. 89). Pets per arrangement. Five rooms.Full breakfast. $$.Stonecroft Country Inn, 515 Pumpkin Hill Rd., Ledyard,CT 06339. (I-95 Ex. 89). Country estate, listed on NationalRegister of Historic Places with 13 fireplaces, restaurant.10 rooms. $$$$. Full breakfast. (860) 572-0771. (Handicap.access.)Two Trees Inn, 240 Lantern Hill Rd., Ledyard, CT 06339.(I-95 Ex. 92), Country-style inn, 280 rooms and suites, pool,fitness room. Restaurant.$$$$. Shuttle to casino. (800)-FOXWOODS. (Handicap. access.)


Getting to Know Each Other . . .Bob Montgomery

Bob Montgomery

Hello Everyone;Having attended the GFA Reunion and hav-

ing met all my previously unknown Cousins, I nowhave much warmer feelings about my Geer ances-tors. In fact, getting to travel all over the countryand meet new people is one of my favorite thingsabout doing Genealogy. I have been working onmy family history for about 15 years and currentlyvolunteer at the local Family History Center (FHC)in Placerville, CA. I do enjoy helping other peoplelearn more about their family history. The look ontheir faces when they make a new discovery makesall the time worthwhile.

A little of my history: I was born inThermopolis, WY in 1937. My family moved toCA in 1945 as soon as WWII was over. I grew upin Oakdale, CA and joined the navy right after HS.I spent the next 4 yrs. alternating between ship-board duty and shore duty in San Diego. After theNavy I found a great Job with IBM in 1961. Dur-ing my time with IBM I worked as a technician onmedium and large computer systems in variouscities around CA. I also had the opportunity to livein Germany for several years while working forIBM on Military contracts.

Richard Radune, Local historicalsites in the area not to be missed, withtheir relevance to the Geer/Gear/Gerefamily history, and discussion of hisbook on local history.

David Geer, My career in woodchopping and axe throwing, as wellas what I know of George1 Geer(e)and Uncas.

Ken Geer, The discovery of the Rob-ert2 Geer gristmill site, it’s recoveryand that of an older stone. Also dis-cussions of the new sites on the tour.

2007 GFA Reunion Speaker Schedule

Ginger August, What is known aboutSojourner Truth and Miss Gear/Geer.

Scott Bill Hirst. Some famous Ameri-can descendants of Geer/Gear/Gerelineage, and the RI-CT border changesover time..

I have 4 grown children and 6 wonderful grand-children, from ages 21 to 9 yrs. The oldest grandchildis living in Mexico for a year as a Missionary.

I hope to see everyone in CT [2007] for the nextReunion!

My Genealogical line isGeorge Geer #1 b. 1630Daniel #8 b. 1673Christopher #28 b. 1706Daniel #26 b. 1727Roger #88 b.1753Daniel #244 b. 1776Susan #244-6 b. 1811 Susan m. ca 1833 William P. Montgomery b.1814 NY

William Gillson Montgomery[# 244-6-2] b. 1845 PA

Elwin Bertram Montgomery[#244-6-2-6] b. 1896 NE

Fredrick Elwin Montgomery[#244-6-2-6-2] b. 1912 NE

Sam T. Geer will discuss the GeerDNA Project—it’s beginnings/implicatiions.


Regional RepresentativesREGION 1 (ME, NH, CT, RI, PA, NJ, VA, WV, VT, MA, NY, MD, and DE )ME & NH Mrs. Judith A. Ewing, [email protected] ............................................................................. (207) 329-0077CT ...... Susan Geer Downes, 30 Caulkins Rd., Norwich, CT 06360 ......................................................... [email protected] ....... Scott Bill Hirst, 20 Maple Court, Ashway, RI 02804-9630 .............................................................. (401) 377-4643PA....... Jean Creznic, 120 Candlewood Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112 ....................................................... (717) 545-1839NJ ....... Ginger August, 32 Stetson Way, Princeton, NJ 08540 ................................................................. (609) 924-6391

REGION 2 (IN, WS, KY, MI, IL, and OH)IN ....... Leona Geer Wiseman, 633 N. Oakland, Mishawaka, IN 46544 .................................................... (219) 255-0293WI ....... Donald Geer, 841 W. Broadway Dr., Appleton, WI 54915 ............................................................. (414) 733-8271KY ...... Teresa M. Klaiber, c/o Deliverance Farm, 22937 Long Branch Rd., Rush KY 41168 ................... [email protected]

MI ....... Sandra Marsh, 2448 N. Sandstone Rd., Jackson, MI 49201 ........................................................ (517)750-4023

REGION 3 (NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, TN, AR, LA, and MS)NC ...... Ann Blanton Howard, Box 475, Spindale, NC 28160 ..................................................................... (704) 287-1019SC ...... Bennett (Ben) Geer Keys, 12 Victory Ave., Greenville, SC 29601 ................................................ (none available)GA ...... Robert S. Geer, Jr., 4199 Poplar Hollow Court, Roswell, GA 30075 ............................................. (770) 645-9085FL ....... Jane Geer Hyer, 1008 Brandermill Dr., Cantonment, FL 32533 .................................................... (850) 937-0963AL ....... Fay Geer Elmore, 902 Westover Dr., Homewood, AL 35209 ........................................................ (none available)

REGION 4 (IA, MN, ND, SD, NE, CO, KS, and MO)IA ........ Ms. Anna Belle Wacker, 18468 352 Ave., Bellevue, IA 52031 ....................................................... (319) 872-3681MN ..... Marilyn Geer, 214 Dogwood St., NE, New London, MN 56273 ..................................................... (320) 354-4135ND ...... Lee Geer, 1310 Western Drive, Manvel, ND 58256 ...................................................................... (701) 696-2418SD ...... Louraine Hammell, 119 Dove Rd., Pierre, SD 57501 .................................................................... (605) 224-6036NE ...... Cheryl Beery, 1851 Brent Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68506 ...................................................................... (none available)

REGION 5 (OK, TX and NM)NM ..... Roger Geer, 9920 Osuma Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 ........................................................ (505) 294-4535TX ...... Samuel Taylor Geer, 1517 Junior Drive, Dallas, TX 75208-2423 .................................................. (214) 941-3447

REGION 6 (WA, OR, ID, WY, MT, HI and AK)OR ...... Vesper Geer Rose, 12390 Sunnyview Rd. NE, Salem, OR 97301 ............................................... (503) 873-3406WA ..... (Western WA) Donna Lea Gear Loper, 16021 NE 25th St., Vancouver, WA 98684...................... (360) 256-7239WA ..... (Eastern WA) Nelson & Sarah Hall, 2450 NE 5th, East Wenatchee, WA 98002 .......................... (509) 884-4461ID ....... Jeff & Debbie Geer, 10592 Silver Fox Dr., Boise, ID 837009 ........................................................ (208) 362-3074

REGION 7 (AZ, CA, NV, and UT ).AZ ...... Arlene Whitlatch, 13019 N 23 Pl., Phoenix, AZ 85022 .................................................................. (602) 493-5177CA ...... (Fresno-South) Irving & Vi Miller, 2907 Berkeley St., Bakersfield, CA 93305 (805) 872-0460

REGION 8 (Canada) - None appointed. Membership too small to divide.

Regional News: GeerCrest Celebration in Silverton, August 2006Silverton, OR famous son Homer Calvin Davenport [ID# 1485-

4-G] was an internationally renowned cartoonist in the late 1800s andearly 1900s. He was born in Waldo Hills near Silverton on March 8th,1867. The Davenports and the Geers were prominent in the region.Homer’s mother’s family were the Geer’s, who established GeerCrestFarm in Silverton, OR.

Homer became a political cartoonist with William RandolphHearst’s newspaper syndicate. The “Davenport Days” celebration washeld August 4-6, 2006 in Silverton, OR and included museum tours, andvisits to the GeerCrest Farm. Region 6 is very proud of the annual cel-ebration as it continues to grow and honor the contributions that HomerDavenport and the Geer family made to the area. See details of the cel-ebration online at:

http://www.davenportdays.com/biography.html andhttp://www.davenportsquest.org/

Geer Family Association Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 3 – Copyright © 2006

Trustees, Officers, and Region Map

Region 1 GFA Trustee:Paul W. GerePO Box 214,South Montrose, PA [email protected](570) 278-2187

Region 2 GFA Trustee:Jacqueline Geer Miesel [email protected] Thomas RoadMetamora, MI 48455(810) 678-3167

Region 3 GFA Trustee:James D. [email protected] Dogwood Trail,Douglasville, GA 30134(770) 942-3510

Region 4 GFA Trustee:Mark J. [email protected] Dogwood Street N.E.New London, MN 56273(320) 354-2067

Region 5 GFA Trustee:Evelyn Geer [email protected] South Harvard Ave. #336Tulsa, OK 74135(918) 749-5892

Region 6 GFA Trustee:Michele [email protected] Foxtrail Drive, N.E.Olympia, WA 98516(360) 459-0226

Region 7 GFA Trustee:Robert W. [email protected]. Box 637Shingle Springs, CA 95682(530) 672-0120

Region 8 GFA Trustee:Betty Williams505-25 George St.Toronto, Ont., CanadaM54 4L8

8 Canada

GFA Dues and Fees ScheduleRegular and Associate Life Membership fee .................................................... $250Regular and Associate Annual fee for fiscal year 2003 ..................................... $25Annual Gift Membership by a member $5 less than annual feeThree-year Membership ...................................................................................... $60Three-year Gift Membership by a member ........................................................ $50

Note: Our expenses keep going up and the paper work of yearly dues paying is in-creasing. For these reasons, your Board wants to encourage three-year memberships.Please help your GFA organization in this way and avail yourselves of no increase indues for the next three years.

GFA Web SiteDon’t forget to check-in on the Internet at: http://www.geerfamily.org

Officers of the Geer Family AssociationPresident ...................... Ken Geer, [email protected]

23 Thomas Rd, Ledyard, CT 06339, (860) 464-8657Vice President .............. Eugene W. Geer, [email protected]

558 Beers Street, Hazlet, NJ 07730Secretary - ................... Louis A. Dunlap, [email protected] 58 James Road East, Durham, CT 06422Newsletter .................... Donna Lea Gear Loper, [email protected] 16021 N.E. 25th St., Vancouver, WA 98684, (360) 256-7239Historian ...................... Ginger M. August, [email protected]

32 Stetson Way, Princeton, NJ 08540, (609) 924-6391Archives ....................... Emily Gere, [email protected] 415 O’Keefe, Menlo Park, CA 94025 (650) 329-1856Sales Chairperson ....... Jean Creznic, [email protected]

120 Candlewood Dr., Harrisburg, PA 17112-3813,(717) 545-1839 andAudrey Masalehdan, [email protected]

Registered Agent .......... George M. Geer,175 Lake Shore Dr., Colchester, CT 06415-5114


The GFA General StoreSale Items and Fees (within USA)

With exception of newsletters, international orders will be charged additional applicable airmail rate.Dues and Newsletter. ......................... $25 per year, covering the period from July I thru the following June 30. Includes three newsletters: Fall, Spring, and Summer issues. $20 one year special offer for paid members giving gift membership(s).Life Membership: $250.00College of Arms Report: ................................... A report on the Geer Crest to date. 11 Pages ...................... Price: $2.001926 Geer Family Association Meeting and Membership List: .................................................................... Price: $1.00Current GFA Membership Roster: ................... Arranged in numerical order by Zip Code. ............................ Price: $4.00Individual, Family Group and Pedigree .......... Blank forms for recording genealogical information: ............ Price: free for $1.00 postage.Revised Index of Surname Geer in History of Town of Ledyard, CT. By Ginger August. 4 pages. ............. Price: $2.00Geer Crest: A good Xerox color reproduction of the Geer Crest ( 8 1/2 x I I ),as seen on the cover of the 1991 supplement. Price: $3.00Annotated Bibliography of Books on Geer People: Including books with chapters devoted to G/G/G people/places/events.............................................................. Prepared by Ginger August. About 58 pages, updated annually. ......... Price $8.00Historical Sketch and Genealogy of George and Thomas Geer from 1621 to 1856: By James Geer, printed by Elibu Geer in 1856.

Hard CoverMembers .............. $30 + $3.00 Postage & handling (p& h)*Non-Members ..... $55 + $3.00 p& h* (includes one year GFA membership)

NEW ! Reprint of 1923 Geer Genealogy by Walter Geer: Hard, imprinted cover, hand bound.The basis of current George and Thomas Geer descendants’ ID # system. 460 pgs, 32 photos.

Members .............. $40 (Postage & handling included)*Non-Members ..... $65 (Postage & handling and one year membership included)

Reprint of 1991 Supplement to ’23 Genealogy: 950 pages, complete indices ofGeorge and Thomas descendants, w/ appendices.3 hole drilled, loose-leaf, coverless, shrink-wrapped.

Members .............. $35 (Postage & handling included)Non-Members ..... $60 (Postage & handling and one year membership included)

A Second Supplement to the 1923 Geer Genealogy (CD-ROM Only): Full text search of George and Thomas descendants.Members .............. $35 (Postage & handling included)Non-Members ..... $60 (Postage & handling and one year membership included)

USE THIS FORM TO ORDER ANY OF THE ABOVE ITEMS (Postage & handling included for each item, unless otherwise noted).———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Name:

Address:

City/ST/Zip:

Email and/or Phone number where we may contact you with any questions:

Qty Price Ea. = Sub- total__ Item Description____ Check yrs $__________ Dues and Newsletter @ __One Year ($25) __Two Years ($40) __Three Years ($60)____ $250.00 $__________ Life Membership @ $250 per person____ $2.00 ea $__________ College of Arms Report @ $2.00 ea.____ $1.00 ea $__________ 1926 Geer Assoc. Meeting & List @ $1.00 ea.____ $4.00 ea $__________ Current Membership Roster @ $4.00 ea.____ $1.00 ea $__________ Individual, Family Group & Pedigree @ $1.00 ea. Members only____ $8.00 ea $__________ Annotated Bibliography @ $8.00 ea.____ $33.00 ea $__________ Hist. Sketch & Genealogy of G. & T. Geer @ $33.00 ea.____ $58.00 ea $__________ Hist. Sketch & Genealogy of G. & T. Geer @ $58.00 ea., includes 1yr. New Membership____ $3.00 ea $__________ Color Copy of Geer Crest @ $3.00 ea.____ $40.00 ea $__________ Reprint: 1923 Genealogy by Walter Geer @ $40.00 ea. (Members price)____ $65.00 ea $__________ Reprint: 1923 Genealogy by Walter Geer @ $65.00 ea, includes 1yr. New Membership____ $35.00 ea $__________ Reprint of 1991 Supplement @ $35.00 ea, (Members price)____ $60.00 ea $__________ Reprint of 1991 Supplement @ $60.00 ea, includes 1yr. Membership for Non-Members____ $35.00 ea $__________ CDROM 2nd Supplement to the 1923 Geer Genealogy @ $35.00 ea, (Members price)____ $60.00 ea $__________ CDROM 2nd Suppl. to the 1923 @ $60.00 ea, includes 1yr. Membership for Non-Members____ $20.00 ea $__________ Special Gift Membership @ $20.00 for one year given by paid Members

If more than one Gift Membership is to be given, please attach a separate sheet withGrand Total: $ ____________ additional names/addresses.

Amount Enclosed (Payable to Geer Family Association)Note: Minimum purchase for Non-Members is $20.00Send Completed Form and Payment to: Louis A. Dunlap, GFASec.-Treas., 58 James Road East, Durham, CT 06422

2 Geer Family Association Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 3 – Copyright © 2006

Geer Place NameTHE GEER FAMILYASSOCIATIONPresident: Ken Geer

23 Thomas RdLedyard, CT 06339

Newsletter Donna Lea Gear LoperChair: 16021 NE 25th Street

Vancouver, WA 98684

The Geer Family Association (GFA)Newsletter is published three times peryear in the months of February, June andOctober.

Permissions: Permission to use datafound in the Geer Family Newsletter isgranted to those wishing to further theirown genealogical quest. Reproductions ofthe GFA Newsletter in whole or partis forbidden without written permission (andis never permitted for commercialpurposes). Address requests for per-mission to the Association President shownabove.Copyright © 2006. All Rights Reserved -The Geer Family Association.

Louis DunlapGeer Family Association58 James Road EastDurham, CT 06422

Address Service Requested

Presorted StandardUS POSTAGE

P A I DPERMIT NO. 37

Willimantic, CT 06226

The Geer Hill Farm (Ledyard, CT) as it was in 1918 fromOld Memories and Genealogy, by Isabelle Bonfoey—which is featured in our column of Geer Book Reviews. Seepage 57 this issue.

Geer Family Association Newsletter · Geer Family Association Newsletter, Volume 23, Number 3 –...

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