Biography of Theodore Thurston Geer, 1899, State of Oregon
Surnames: Geer, Batte

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
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Oregon Native Son, Vol. 1, May 1899, page 45

THEODORE THURSTON GEER

Governor T. T. Geer was born in the Waldo hills of Marion county, March 12,
1851, soon after which he removed with his parents to Silverton, where he
remained until 1861, when he went to Salem and attended the district school
two years. On September 3, 1863, he entered the Willamette University,
remaining until April, 1865. Professor T. M. Gatch, now president of the
Agricultural College at Corvallis, was then at the head of that institution.
Among his schoolmates were Lieutenant Fred Schwatka, Hon. C. B. Moores, Sam
and Syl. Simpson, and others, now well-known native sons. For a year and a
half after leaving school, he worked on his uncle's farm in Marion county, at
the expiration of which time he went with his father to Union county, where
they engaged in the nursery business together, remaining there ten years. On
June 16, 1870, he was married to Miss Nancy G. Batte, who died between the
time of his election and inauguration as governor, and while they were on
their way to visit her relatives in Missouri, whom she had not seen for 34
years. Two daughters and a son survive as the fruit of this union. In June.
1877, he returned to Marion county, since which time he has continued to
reside on the old donation land claim of his uncle, George Foff, within a mile
of the place where he was born. In 1880, `88, `90 and `92, he was elected to
the legislature, and during the session of 1891 was speaker of the house. In
1894 he was nominated by the republican state convention as a presidential
elector, and canvassed the state for McKinley, establishing a reputation as a
ready speaker of keen wit and convincing logic, winning the enthusiastic
support of his friends and the respect and esteem of his opponents. Subsequent
to the election he was chosen by his associates to carry the vote of the state
to Washington, which he did. After the inauguration of McKinley he became a
candidate for collector of customs for the port of Portland, but was refused
the place and another was appointed, when another office was offered him, but
was promptly declined. This brought him prominently before the people of the
state, and at the convention of his party held the following April he was
nominated for governor by acclamation, being the only time in the history of
the republican party in Oregon when a governor was so nominated. While this
convention was assembling and in session, he was quietly at work on his farm
in the Waldo hills, where a committee subsequently found and notified him of
the honor conferred by his party. Here Diogenes strayed, with a commission in
hand, and, without a lantern, found an honest man tilling the soil, and called
this Cincinnatus of the West to steer the ship of state. At the election in
June, 1898, he received the largest majority ever cast for a governor in
Oregon, and was inaugurated in January of the present year. Governor Geer
first attracted attention about fifteen years ago, by voluntary contributions
to the Oregonian, in which he discussed live issues of the day, sometimes in
protracted discussions with representatives of opposing parties. In this
manner he commanded the attention of party leaders, by his freedom of thought
and action, and deep knowledge of political questions, and his advice was
sought in party councils.