Biographical Sketch of John Geers, Texas County, Missouri >From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, from Earliest Times to the Present" Published by Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1889. ********************************************************************** John Geers is a prosperous stock man and farmer of Texas County, MO., and is the third of five children born to the marriage of William L. Geers and Desdemona Higgins, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Illinois. They were married in the latter State, and settled in Mad- ison County, where they were engaged in farming, and where the father died in 1849. His widow is still living, and is considerably advanced in years. John Geers was born in Madison County, Ill., March 20, 1841 and was reared on a farm, receiving a common school education. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Seventeenth Volunteer Infantry, United States Army, and was a faithful supporter of the "Stars and Stripes" for three years. The battles in which he took part are as follows: Pleasant Hill, Nashville, Fort Spanish, Fort Blakely and several others. He was never wounded nor taken as prisoner, and after his return to Illinois was married, February 27, 1866, to Sarah A. Radcliff, also a native of Madison County, and moved soon after to Chariton County, MO., where he engaged in farming. While his wife was on a visit to her old home she was taken ill, and died in 1871, leaving three children: Nicholas G., Okalona and Joan. Since 1874 Mr. Geers has been a resident of Texas County, and was here marr- ied November 4, 1877, to Mary E. Williams, a native of North Carolina, born July 11, 1862, and by her is the father of five children: William L., Mary C., Charles F., John E. and Lucy D. Mr. and Mrs. Geers are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Republican in his political views. He has been twice nominated for county sheriff, and although the county has a Democratic majority of 800, he came within sixty-one votes of election in the last race. He owns 524 acres of land, with about 140 acres un- der cultivation, and has been quite successful in his business enter- prises. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Debbie Linton Penny Harrell ====================================================================